Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-04-28

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From: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>

28 APRIL 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY'S AMBASSADOR TO GERMANY VURAL: ''FOREIGN MINISTER CEM INVITED KINKEL''

[02] US: ''OUR DIALOGUE WITH TURKEY IS VERY POSITIVE''

[03] A DELEGATION TO BE ESTABLISHED TO REPRESENT TURKEY ON THE BAKU-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE ISSUE

[04] TURKISH-JAPANESE BUSINESS COUNCIL TO CONVENE IN ANKARA

[05] ISTANBUL DGM RELEASES EDMOND MIYASYAN, A FRENCH CITIZEN OF ARMENIAN ORIGIN, TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON CHARGES OF BEING A MEMBER OF A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

[06] TURKISH-OMANI FIRST TERM JEC MEETING - STATE MINISTER GURDERE: ''IMPORTANCE OF REGIONAL COOPERATION IN WORLD TRADE IS GRADUALLY INCREASING''

[07] PROTEST IN ANTALYA AGAINST SEPARATIST TERRORIST

[08] BASESGIOGLU, INTERIOR MINISTER, SAYS INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY ABOUT GOKCEK, THE MAYOR OF ANKARA

[09] TURKEY IN BRIEF - APRIL 28, 1998

[10] TOROS-1/98 AND DETERMINATION-1/98 MANEUVERS TO TAKE PLACE BETWEEN APRIL 28-30

[11] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

[12] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

[13] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (3)

[14] KOSOVO WARNING FROM TURKEY

[15] GOVERNMENT'S SUCCESS IN BUDGET IN FIRST QUARTER - REVENUES INCREASE TO OVER THE TARGET ANNOUNCED EARLIER AND DEFICIT DECREASE IN JANUARY-MARCH PERIOD

[16] WATER SUPPORT TO THE TRNC WITH ''BALLOONS'' - FIRST BALLOON LEAVES FOR THE TRNC

[17] OZER CILLER'S ''UNJUST WEALTH'' CASE STARTED - CILLER INTERROGATED IN TODAY'S HEARING

[18] MORE THAN 350 CHURCHES, CHAPELS AND MONASTRIES LOCATED IN THE CAPPADOCIA REGION

[19] PRIME MINSTER YILMAZ SIGNS CONDOLENCE REGISTER WHICH IS OPENED FOR KARAMANLIS

[20] DRUG OPERATIONS IN YUKSEKOVA AND IN ISTANBUL

[21] CLAIMS OF SAKIK CONCERNING ASSASSINATION OF OLOF PALME, THE SWEDISH EX- PRIME MINISTER

[22] TURKEY IS WORRIED ABOUT THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO: ''COORDINATION SHOULD BE REALIZED BETWEEN THE REGIONAL COUNTRIES''

[01] TURKEY'S AMBASSADOR TO GERMANY VURAL: ''FOREIGN MINISTER CEM INVITED KINKEL''

Vural went to Berlin on Monday and paid a farewell visit to Roman Herzog, the German President.

Speaking to the A.A correspondent after the meeting Vural said ''Cem invited Kinkel to Turkey and I conveyed this during the visit. But, there is no specific date.''

Vural said that during the meeting Herzog reiterated his view that Turkey was in the ''European family.'' Vural said that Herzog told him, ''of course there are several conditions which Turkey has to fulfill. We should work together within this process.''

[02] US: ''OUR DIALOGUE WITH TURKEY IS VERY POSITIVE''

James Foley, the Acting Spokesman of the US Department of State, responding to questions about the visit of Korkmaz Haktanir, the Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry to Washington, D.C., last week said Turkey was a ''close ally'', adding that there was a very positive dialogue between Turkey and the US. He said that high level contacts will continue in the coming months.

When he was reminded that Haktanir brought a file including the information that Syria and Greece expended support to the separatist terrorist PKK organization, Foley said, ''I can't speak about private talks. The US administration has declared the PKK as a separatist terrorist organization. Our views regarding the PKK are very well known.''

Korkmaz Haktanir held contacts in Washington, D.C., last week within the framework of high level bilateral political negotiations.

Haktanir met with William Cohen, the US Secretary of Defense, Strobe Talbott, the Undersecretary of the Department of State and Thomas Pickering and John Shattuck, the Assistant Secretaries of State.

[03] A DELEGATION TO BE ESTABLISHED TO REPRESENT TURKEY ON THE BAKU-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE ISSUE

Sukru Sina Gurel, the Minister of State and Government Spokesman briefed the reporters about the issues that had been discussed during the meeting.

Gurel said that Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, briefed the members about his visit to Azerbaijan. He said that a decree was opened to signature to establish a delegation composed of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and representatives from the Foreign Ministry to represent Turkey in international talks related of the Baku-Ceyhan issue.

[04] TURKISH-JAPANESE BUSINESS COUNCIL TO CONVENE IN ANKARA

The Foreign Economic Relations Committee said the sides will evaluate the joint business visit of Business Council and its interlocutor organization KEIDANREN to Central Asia and Caucasia.

Also, cooperation facilities aimed at Russia and the Balkan countries and potential issues of cooperation between Turkey and Japan will be evaluated during the meeting.

Nearly 150 businessmen from each country will participate at the meeting. Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Gunes Taner, the Minister of State will address the opening ceremony of the meeting.

[05] ISTANBUL DGM RELEASES EDMOND MIYASYAN, A FRENCH CITIZEN OF ARMENIAN ORIGIN, TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON CHARGES OF BEING A MEMBER OF A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

Miyasyan, who had been taken into custody by the Directorate of Anti- Terrorism and then transferred to the Istanbul DGM, was questioned by Erol Canozkan, the Republic Prosecutor. Following the interrogation, Miyasyan was released with lack of evidence to support his membership in a terrorist organization.

It was reported that Edmond Miyasyan is the Director of the Cegelec-AEG consortium that undertook the rail-laying, signalization and decoration activities of the Istanbul Metro.

[06] TURKISH-OMANI FIRST TERM JEC MEETING - STATE MINISTER GURDERE: ''IMPORTANCE OF REGIONAL COOPERATION IN WORLD TRADE IS GRADUALLY INCREASING''

Addressing the opening speech of the Turkish-Omani First Term Joint Economic Commission (JEC) Meeting, Gurdere said that the commercial relations between Turkey and Oman weren't at the required level and that he believed the relations would reach the deserved dimension with the studies to be implemented.

Pointing out that the JEC meeting was an opportunity to discuss the issues of importance in improving the commercial relations, Gurdere said, ''the trade volume, which was five million US dollars in 1980, increased to 20 million US dollars in 1997. The relations between our private sectors should be improved.''

''The Omani government is expected to implement several projects in the coming years. The Turkish contracting firms have achieved great successes abroad and this should be considered. Besides, Turkey is ready to discuss with Oman the issue of cooperation in the field of energy,'' Gurdere added.

[07] PROTEST IN ANTALYA AGAINST SEPARATIST TERRORIST

Security forces couldn't stop the protest of nearly 1,000 citizens who gathered in front of the Serik Court and slipped him away after waiting for four hours.

The group dispersed chanting slogans against the security forces after learning that Deniz Faruk Seren, the separatist terrorist, had been brought to the city of Antalya.

A part of the demonstrators went to a district where there is an intense settlement of citizens who came from southeastern regions of Turkey. Natik Canca, the Chief of the Antalya Security Department said they took extensive security measures and that this group was dispersed.

The terrorist was captured in the mountainous part of Kargi Village in Bucak County of Burdur Province on April 22, after the operations of the security forces.

[08] BASESGIOGLU, INTERIOR MINISTER, SAYS INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY ABOUT GOKCEK, THE MAYOR OF ANKARA

Speaking to reporters following the Council of Ministers meeting Basesgioglu said that investigations were underway related to Gokcek, but added that he couldn't say anything about the stage of the investigation.

Basesgioglu said they would have a more extensive statement about the issue in the coming days.

A total of 79 investigations are underway about Melih Gokcek, the Mayor of Ankara. A total of 26 of them are opened by the Ministry and 53 of them are opened by the Governorship. It has been claimed that they have turned up consequential evidence.

When it was recalled that the True Path Party (DYP) withdrew a censure motion againt Yasar Topcu, the Minister of Public Works and Housing, Basesgioglu said, ''the DYP isn't interested in serious issues.''

[09] TURKEY IN BRIEF - APRIL 28, 1998

The Union of Aegean Municipalities said in a written statement that the meeting to which some deputies and executive board members of the Turkish Union of Municipalities, Municipal Unions would attend, would start at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday.

The meeting will be held to have the Local Administrations Law become effective as soon as possible, to accelerate the process of local administrations and democratization, to remove the limitations on the financial sources of the municipalities and to convey to the public and the Parliament the common wishes of the municipalities.

ISTANBUL - The people, who immigrated to Turkey from Bulgaria between 1994 and 1997, should submit a written declaration of their properties by May 14 to the Municipalities in Bulgaria.

The properties of the immigrants, who don't apply to the Municipalities until May 14, will be expropriated.

ANKARA - The Informal Sector Statistics Second Meeting of the Experts Group will be held in Ankara on Tuesday.

The statistics related to the Informal Sector, which is composed of the people and entrepreneurs who work without any social security, street sellers, sellers in a market and those with a low-income or low- productivity who work in an environment where healthful working conditions haven't been sufficiently assured, has continued to be of increasing importance in recent years.

The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) said in a written statement that the Informal Sector Statistics First Meeting of the Experts Group was held in New Delhi, India, between May 20 and 22, 1997.

A total of 35 representatives from several countries and international organizations will participate in the two-day meeting in Ankara.

[10] TOROS-1/98 AND DETERMINATION-1/98 MANEUVERS TO TAKE PLACE BETWEEN APRIL 28-30

The maneuvers will take place between April 28 and 30 with the participation of land, sea and air forces on the territories of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and in the international waters and air space of the Eastern Mediterranean.

The General Staff General Secretariat said in a written statement that during the maneuvers which were targetted at the testing of the methods of land, sea and air cooperation and naval war, air defense, underwater defense war, air support and raid training of the Air Forces to tactical targets will be realized.

The Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Units deployed in the TRNC and two frigates of the Southern Group Commandership will participate in the exercise.

The statement said that high-ranking civilian and military personnel will participate at the observation day which will take place on April 30, 1998.

[11] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.)

CETIN TO RECEIVE HONORARY DOCTORATE
Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, will go to the US today. Cetin will receive the title of honorary doctorate from Florida Atlantic University which will be presented in Washington, D.C., on May 5. Cetin will return to Turkey on May 9. /Hurriyet/

BOEING BRIEFS TURKISH AIR FORCE
The American Boeing Company will give a briefing to General Ilhan Kilic, the Chief of the Turkish Air Force and other high level commanders about the F-15 Eagle fighter bombers, produced by Boeing, which Turkey intends to purchase. Greece had also made a bid to purchase the F-15 fighter-bombers which is one of the reasons why Turkey moved to buy them. William Cohen, the US Secretary of Defense, who promised during his recent visit to Ankara to persuade the US Congress not to prevent arms sales to Turkey, wants to persuade Turkey spend its defense expenditures in the US, and gave permission to Boeing to give a demonstration of its products in Turkey. /Milliyet/

GOVERNMENT SUMMIT TOMORROW
Husamettin Cindoruk, the Chairman of the Democratic Turkey Party declared yesterday that the leaders of the parties constituting the coalition government will convene tomorrow to evaluate the latest discussions about the suggestion of an early election. /Milliyet/

ADMIRAL CROWE RECEIVES ATATURK AWARD
The Ataturk Society of America has decided to give the ''Ataturk Peace and Democracy Award'' to Admiral William Crowe, the former US Chief of General Staff. Since its founding, the association has given this award to Robert Byrd, the US Senator, Richard Holbrooke, the US Special Envoy to Cyprus; and Gen. Cevik Bir, the Turkish Deputy Chief of General Staff. Admiral William Crowe will receive his award during a ceremony to be held in May. /Hurriyet/

SALOMON CALLS FOR INVESTMENTS IN TURKEY
The Salomon Smith Barney Investment Bank has called on investors to make further investments in countries such as Turkey, Russia and Poland, which have attractive developing markets. Officials from Salomon Smith Barney have noted that there are positive expectations for huge growth rates in Turkey for 1998. /Hurriyet/

CELEBI ATTENDS OECD MEETING
Isin Celebi, the Minister of State, attended yesterday a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Replying to questions from the Turkish journalists during a press conference, Celebi said, ''Turkey shouldn't move into an election economy because its economy is now picking up. Budgetary discipline should be complied with and the programme now being implemented should also continue in 1999.''

On the second day of the OECD meeting, Ismail Cem, the Turkish Foreign Minister, who is also attending the meeting, will deliver a speech. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/

GREECE SAYS ''NO''
A meeting of the Foreign Ministers from the 15 countries of the European Union (EU) was held yesterday. During the meeting, Greece noted that she wouldn't remove her veto on financial aid to be extended to Turkey and refused the demands of the EU countries to that effect. Greece came to the meeting with a 13-page document on ''Turkish provocation against Athens for 25 years'' and repeated her usual claims. Greek officials also stated that due to the Turkish provocation in the Aegean, problems between the two countries couldn't be solved. /Hurriyet/

SAKIK DEMANDS ''REPENTANCE PARDON''
It is reported that the high-level leader from the PKK terrorist organization, Semdin Sakik, who was caught during an operation in northern Iraq and later brought to Diyarbakir, has declared that he wants to take advantage of the Repentance Law. It is also reported that Sakik has given 400 pages of testimony during 10 days of questioning. /Hurriyet/

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CELEBRATES 36 YEARS
During a meeting held yesterday on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of the founding of the Constitutional Court, Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the Chairman of the Court, delivered a speech and noted that there was no alternative for anti-secular parties other than closing them down. He said, ''the state and society can't be governed with the rules of religion. And without secularism, we can't speak about freedom and democracy.'' The Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament, Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime Minister, Hikmet Ulugbay, the Minister of National Education, Ismet Sezgin, the Minister of Defense and many military and high-level judicial members attended the meeting. /Hurriyet-Sabah/

[12] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.)

HENRY FORD AWARD FOR TURKISH ASS. PROF.
Ass. Prof. Levent Yilmaz, a lecturer from the Istanbul Technical University, has been given the ''Henry Ford Conservation Award'' jointly by the Henry Ford Foundation and the Council of Europe. Yilmaz received his award for his ''International Mediterranean Project''. /Hurriyet/

NEW AMBASSADOR OF BURKINA FASO
Beatrice Damiba, the Ambassador for Burkina Faso, presented her letters of credence to the Turkish President Suleyman Demirel yesterday. Ambassador Damiba was welcomed with an official ceremony at the Presidential Villa. /Sabah/

NO GREEK PARTICIPATION IN THE NATO MANEUVERS
Commander Yannis Papatheodosiu, the Spokesman for the Greek General Staff, announced yesterday that the Greek army wouldn't take part in the NATO ''Distant Thunder 98'' exercices planned to be carried out in the Aegean Sea and East Mediterranean between May 4-14. He noted that this decision has been taken for reasons already stated. /Milliyet/

TURKISH WOMAN JOINS ELECTIONS IN NETHERLANDS
Nebahat Albayrak (29), a young Turkish woman living in the Netherlands, will be one of the candidates running for the ruling party of the Netherlands, the Workers' Party (PvdA), in the parliamentary elections to be held on May 6. Albayrak, well-educated and experienced in public affairs, is both favoured and praised by Prime Minister Wim Kok who says ''she will be the representative of the Turkish people living in the Netherlands in the 'multi-coloured' Dutch democracy.'' /Milliyet/

RIZE FREE TRADE ZONE OPENS
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said on Sunday that the free trade zones were important within the framework of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), adding, ''we will increase the number of free zones.'' Addressing the ceremony held upon the opening of the Rize Free Zone, Yilmaz stated that another free zone would be opened in Samsun. /All papers/

PKK OPERATION IN ANTALYA
During operations conducted in and around Antalya, four terrorists have been killed and four others arrested. According to the Governor of Antalya, a considerable quantity of ammunition, documents and weapons have also been seized. It has also been reported that two civilians who were backing the terrorists have been arrested. /Cumhuriyet/Hurriyet/

TURKEY INVITES OMAN TO SHARE IN PRIVATIZATION
Turkey has invited Oman to share in privatization in the energy and oil sectors. Speaking at a First Joint Economic Committee meeting, Metin Gurdere, the Minister of State said that Oman was interested in a 9 billion US dollar privatization project in the oil sector, adding that BOTAS was ready to sign long-term agreements. Gurdere noted that the Istanbul Stock Exchange was making project facilities available to foreign investors. /Cumhuriyet/

[13] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (3)

(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.)

GREEK PROVOCATION IN THE AEGEAN
Turkey has begun initiatives to prevent Greek efforts to include the islets in the Aegean Sea in the European Union (EU) Environment Protection Project. Briefing the EU Commission and the EU member countries, Turkey stated that Greece aimed Turkey and the EU to confront eachother. Sermet Atacanli, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman said in his weekly press meeting that ''Turkey wants this issue, like the other Aegean issues, to be solved through negotiations. Turkey rejects every kind of unilateral step that Greece takes within this region.'' /Cumhuriyet/

US GRANT TO TURKEY
Turkey and the US have signed four agreements regarding a grant of 848,000 US dollars to Turkey. According to the agreements, the grant will be used for feasibility studies for a Water Control Project for the Diyarbakir Municipality, communications and energy projects, and in feasibility studies for the construction of a cement factory. /Cumhuriyet/

IMF DELEGATION COMING TO TURKEY
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation is coming to Turkey today. The delegation, which will meet with a Turkish delegation headed by Gunes Taner, the Minister of State and carry out studies in Turkey for almost two weeks, will start contacts in Istanbul to discuss the Turkish economy with financial circles. The IMF delegation will visit Ankara on 30 April to meet with officials responsible for the economy. /Cumhuriyet/Hurriyet/Milliyet/

THY BUYS TWO AIRBUSES
The Turkish Airlines (THY) has agreed with the Airbus Industrie to buy two A340-300 airbuses which will be delivered in April 1999 and April 2000. It is reported that Turkey will pay 100 million US dollars each for the airbuses. /Cumhuriyet/

WORLD BANK SUPPORTS TURKISH AGRICULTURE
The World Bank has prepared a report which envisages direct income support for farmers. According to the report, farmers and their crops will be registered to calculate the annual income and farmers will be encouraged to stop over-production. The World Bank representatives said that Turkish tea producers will be the first to be affected by the new subsidy project. They added that with the application ''indirect subsidies'' will be lifted and that farmers will be paid directly in cash. /Sabah/

NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TALKS TO TURKISH JOURNALISTS
Knut Vollebaekg, the Norwegian Foreign Minister, preparing to host his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem in Oslo next week, said to the Turkish journalists yesterday that his government considers Turkey as a ''country with an important role to play in Europe''. He said that he will discuss human rights and Kurdish issues with Cem, but added that his government has no intention of playing the role of mediator. Vollebaekg said that he welcomed the Turkish government's efforts to improve the Turkish economy. /All papers/

US DETERMINES TO UNTIE CYPRUS KNOT
The US is determined to solve the Cyprus issue with Richard Holbrooke, the Special Presidential Envoy to Cyprus. High level diplomatic sources have announced that Holbrooke will go to the island on Friday with the intention of not leaving until a breakthrough has been reached. Holbrooke's assistant Thomas Miller, the US Department of State's Special Envoy for Cyprus, recently said that Holbrooke's mission was very important and wouldn't have any ''artificial time constraints''.

In Ankara, Sermet Atacanli, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman said yesterday that Turkey favoured an urgent solution, but emphasized that no solution could be reached unless the existence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was recognized. /Cumhuriyet/Hurriyet/

YUSUF BOZKURT OZAL LEAVES POLITICS FOR HEALTH REASONS
Yusuf Bozkurt Ozal, the Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Party (DP) has resigned from his party and quit politics. Ozal, speaking to the press at the Ayas Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital, said that he has been suffering from health problems for some time and received treatment at the hospital. He said that his doctors had advised him to leave politics in order to recuperate fully. /All papers/

TURKEY INVITES SEVEN ADVISERS FOR TELEKOM SELL-OFF
Turkey has sent letters of invitation to seven international companies to bid for services as an adviser for the sale of the Turk Telekom, privatization officials said on Monday.

Hakki Surel, head of the Telekom privatization unit at the Privatization Administration, said letters had been sent to Lehman Brothers, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Rothschild, ABN Amro and Salomon Brothers. He added, ''They will send us their offers by May 26 and then the tender commission will chose by the first week of June the company to act as an adviser.'' /Sabah/

[14] KOSOVO WARNING FROM TURKEY

Cem, currently in Paris to participate in the OECD meetings, told the Turkish press reporters that in the letter in question they requesting the Contact Grop members to activate soon and play an active role in the solution of the question.

Noting that Turkey was afraid that the Kosovo conflict would turn into the problem experienced in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cem said that Turkey also expressed concern that the question would be pulled into the Russian- Orthodox axis.

Pointing out that the actions taken by the Contact Group so far were not satisfactory, Cem said the letter sent to the Ambassadors in Ankara of the Contact Group member countries warned them to do what was required.

Cem said that the letter also reiterated the concerns voiced by him during his meeting with the Contact Group member countries in Bonn.

The Foreign Ministers of the Contact Group member countries will convene in Rome on Wednesday.

[15] GOVERNMENT'S SUCCESS IN BUDGET IN FIRST QUARTER - REVENUES INCREASE TO OVER THE TARGET ANNOUNCED EARLIER AND DEFICIT DECREASE IN JANUARY-MARCH PERIOD

The Ministry of Finance's General Directorate of Accounts announced the budget implementation results for March 1998.

The statement said that the expenditures were three quadrillion two trillion Turkish Liras (TL) as of the end of March and that 815 trillion TL of the total expenditures were paid to personnel and 77 trillion TL of the total expenditures were composed of the other current expenditures and 53 trillion TL were paid for investments.

The government made two quadrillion 57 trillion TL in transfers in the first quarter. A total of one quadrillion 380 trillion TL in total transfers was composed of domestic borrowing and 95 trillion TL in total transfers was used for the foreign debt interest payments.

In the first quarter of 1998, a total of 137 trillion TL was transferred to the State Employees' Pension Fund, 108 trillion TL to the Social Security Administration (SSK), 90 trillion TL to the Social Security Agency for Artisans and the Self-Employed (BAG-KUR), 36 trillion TL to the State Economic Enterprises and 14 trillion TL was used for other transfers. A total of 67 trillion TL was used for the reject-return part of the transfers.

Thus the budget expenditures increased by 137.5 percent as of the end of March 1998 compared with the previous year.

Meanwhile, the budget revenues in the January-March 1998 period increased 141.7 percent to two quadrillion 41 trillion TL compared with the statistics in 1997.

A total of one quadrillion 641 trillion TL of the total revenues was composed of tax revenues. The increase in the tax revenues in the first quarter of this year was 137.9 percent compared with the previous year. The income from the special revenues and funds was 243 trillion TL and it was 123 trillion TL from the normal revenues excluding taxes. The government provided 34 trillion TL of income from the added budget revenues.

The Ministry of Finance foresaw three quadrillion TL in expenditures and 1.9 quadrillion TL in revenues for the first quarter. The interest payments remained 120 trillion TL below the targeted payment of 1.5 quadrillion TL in the same period.

The budget deficit, which was foreseen to be 1.1 quadrillion TL, was 961 trillion TL in the first quarter.

[16] WATER SUPPORT TO THE TRNC WITH ''BALLOONS'' - FIRST BALLOON LEAVES FOR THE TRNC

Within the scope of the project, the giant water balloon having a capacity of nearly ten thousand cubic meters to transfer water will return back to Turkey after being filled into the storage depot. The balloon's length is 117.5 meters, its width is 23.3 meters and its height is 5.6 meters.

Addressing the ceremony held upon the test voyage, Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said that they had realized this for the first time in the world.

Pointing out that the transfer from Soguksu, Anamur, of one cubic meter of the water to the TRNC would cost 55 cents, Ersumer said that this would be realized by donations.

Ersumer said that Turkey was ready to give water to any country that has a need for it.

Dogan Altinbilek, the General Director of the State Water Works (DSI), said that the construction of the water filling platform would be concluded on May 15 and that they would test the balloons on the sea until that date.

Altinbilek said that at the first stage they would transfer water with three balloons.

The Soguksu Project foresees the annual transfer of seven million cubic meters of water to the TRNC. The balloons are provided by the Norwegian firm Nordic Water Supply.

Meanwhile, a total of three million cubic meters of water will be transferred to the TRNC in the first year.

The water will be collected in the depot installations constructed at the northern shores of the TRNC and will be sent to Gazimagosa via Guzelyurt- Lefkosa with the existing water network.

The cost, process and the money which will be spent for the filling areas will be met by the funds which the Ministry of State has allocated for the TRNC.

If this system works, then all the water that flows to the sea will be used in the same manner and Turkey will sell this water to countries which have a water shortage.

[17] OZER CILLER'S ''UNJUST WEALTH'' CASE STARTED - CILLER INTERROGATED IN TODAY'S HEARING

The verdict said that Sadik Avundukoglu, the Provincial Chairman of the Democrat Turkey Party (DTP), the complainant, gave a petition to the Prosecutor's Office on Nov 3, 1997, and said that Ozer Ciller gave an incomplete document to the Investigation Commission established by the Parliament to investigate the allegations that Tansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP), had gained unjust wealth and misused her duty.

The verdict said, ''after the investigations, it has been revealed that the report dated Jan 6, 1998 determined that there was 89.9 billion Turkish Liras in unjust wealth.''

Last week the Parliament decided to open a new investigation into the allegations that the Ciller family had accumulated millions of dollars in unaccountable wealth.

[18] MORE THAN 350 CHURCHES, CHAPELS AND MONASTRIES LOCATED IN THE CAPPADOCIA REGION

Officials told the A.A correspondent that the Christians fled from the pressure of the Roman Empire and settled in the Cappadocia region by the 4th century A.D. The Christians built churches underground to take shelter.

The Christians also built more than 10 churches during the period of the Ottoman Empire. Six of these churches can be visited. Mustafa Mizrak, the Mayor of Goreme, said that it is ''a great omission'' not to include Cappadocia among the places where the celebrations of the 2000th year of the birth of Jesus Christ will be held.

[19] PRIME MINSTER YILMAZ SIGNS CONDOLENCE REGISTER WHICH IS OPENED FOR KARAMANLIS

Prime Minister Yılmaz was welcomed by Dimitri Nezeritis, the Greek Ambassador to Turkey.

''I present my condolences to the Greek people upon the death of Konstantin Karamanlis, the distinguished statesman,'' said Yılmaz and then he met with Nezeritis.

Responding a question after the meeting, Nezeritis said that they didn't discuss the topics on the agenda with Prime Minister Yılmaz.

Officials at the Greek Embassy stated that President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Speaker of the Parliament Hikmet Cetin had also signed the register.

[20] DRUG OPERATIONS IN YUKSEKOVA AND IN ISTANBUL

The teams acting on a tip-off, searched the house of Sabri Cakan. The drugs were buried in the ground near the Cakan's house.

Sabri Cakan has been taken into custody. The investigation regarding the incident is underway.

Meanwhile 3 people who tried to sell 1.1 kg of heroin were captured in Istanbul, on Tuesday.

The narcotics team acting as a buyer, contacted Medeni Daldal and his two friends and caught them in the act of trying to sell.

Officials said that the heroin, which was brought from Van, was about to be sold in Istanbul.

[21] CLAIMS OF SAKIK CONCERNING ASSASSINATION OF OLOF PALME, THE SWEDISH EX- PRIME MINISTER

Gurel said before the meeting that Sakık said in his first statement that Palme was assassinated by the PKK, adding that the Turkish and Swedish officials will compare their information about the assassination.

Meanwhile, Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State said on Tuesday that the claims of Semdin Sakık, one of the leading members of the separatist terrorist PKK organization, who alleged that the PKK assassinated Olof Palme, the Swedish Ex-Prime Minister, are being examined.

Mesut Yılmaz, the Prime Minister, on the other hand, said that he wil not comment at the moment concerning the confessions of Sakık.

[22] TURKEY IS WORRIED ABOUT THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO: ''COORDINATION SHOULD BE REALIZED BETWEEN THE REGIONAL COUNTRIES''

The Foreign Ministry recalled in a written statement that armed clashes took place in the border region between Yugoslavia and Albania and Turkey expressed her concern about the Kosovo problem to the Contact Group member countries, which will convene on April 29 in Rome.

''Turkey told the member countries that the regional countries should collaborate with each other concerning the measures that will be taken to diffuse the tension in Kosovo,'' noted the statement, adding that the issue has been conveyed to the US by Korkmaz Haktanır, the Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry.

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