Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-04-29

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

29 APRIL 1998

CONTENTS

[01] FASSINO, THE ITALIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER'S STATEMENT TO THE A.A: ''TURKEY HAS A VITAL IMPORTANCE FOR THE STABILITY AND SECURITY OF EUROPE''

[02] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM RETURNS TO TURKEY - CEM: ''TURKEY HAS THE LARGEST RATE OF GROWTH AMONG THE MEMBER STATES OF THE OECD'' - ''OUR POLITICAL DIALOGUE WITH THE EU DIDN'T END''

[03] ITALIAN DEMONSTRATOR TO BE DEPORTED

[04] CYPRUS AND TURKISH-GREEK RELATIONS - ECEVIT : ''THE WEST SHOULDN'T CAST A SHADOW, I DON'T WANT ANY OTHER FAVOUR'' - ''THE EU WILL RING THE DOORBELL ONE DAY TO CALL TURKEY FOR FULL MEMBERSHIP'' - ECEVIT TELLS ABOUT BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE CYPRUS PEACE OPERATION AND THE HASHISH PRODUCTION DISCUSSIONS ''SOME US OFFICIALS THREATENED TO BOMB THE SULTANAHMET MOSQUE AND THE VILLAGES WHERE HASHISH IS PRODUCED''

[05] EROGLU, PRIME MINISTER OF THE TRNC: - ''THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS WON'T HAVE THE GREEK CYPRIOT PASSPORT''

[06] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''IT ISN'T TECHNICALLY POSSIBLE TO HOLD ELECTIONS BEFORE MAY 1999''

[07] THE IMF DELEGATION IN ISTANBUL - DELEGATION MEETS WITH THE DIRECTORS OF THE TUSIAD - MARTIN HARDY: ''TURKEY'S RELIABILITY IS INCREASING''

[08] TEMIZEL, THE FINANCE MINISTER: ''AUTOMATIC PRICING OF FUEL OIL HAS BEEN POSTPONED FOR 60 DAYS''

[09] THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT REPORT CALLS ON TURKEY FOR POLITICAL DIALOGUE WITH THE EU

[10] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[11] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[12] THE NUMBER OF AMERICAN TOURISTS WHO PREFER TURKEY FOR A HOLIDAY, INCREASES

[13] TAM'S MODEL PROJECT RELATED TO THE HOSTILITY AGAINST FOREIGNERS IN GERMANY

[14] HUSAMETTIN OZKAN, THE STATE MINISTER: ''THE CREDIT GIVEN TO THE KOBIs INCREASED TO 325 TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS''

[15] 24 IRAQIS CAPTURED AT DALYAN

[16] TURKEY IN BRIEF - APRIL 29, 1998

[17] SEMDIN SAKIK GIVES ADDITIONAL TESTIMONY FOR PROSECUTION

[01] FASSINO, THE ITALIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER'S STATEMENT TO THE A.A: ''TURKEY HAS A VITAL IMPORTANCE FOR THE STABILITY AND SECURITY OF EUROPE''

Responding to the questions of the A.A correspondent, Fassino stated that Turkey has to abide by all the European standards in order to be included in the European Union (EU) enlargement process.

Piero Fassino stressed that Italy will launch efforts in order to lift the veto imposed on the financial assistance which has been promised to be given to Turkey within the framework of the Customs Union and the Mediterranean Development Aid (MEDA) projects.

Fassino pointed out that the foreign policy pursued by the Italian government is not connected with the demands of any Italian political party.

Pierro Fassino said that he welcomes the release of Dino Frisullo, the Italian citizen who was arrested during the Nevruz celebrations (the Spring Feast of the Vernal Equinox) held in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır.

[02] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM RETURNS TO TURKEY - CEM: ''TURKEY HAS THE LARGEST RATE OF GROWTH AMONG THE MEMBER STATES OF THE OECD'' - ''OUR POLITICAL DIALOGUE WITH THE EU DIDN'T END''

Stressing that the organization was formed by the richest 29 countries of the world, Cem told the journalists at the Ataturk Airport that Turkey has the largest rate of growth among the member states of the organization. He reminded that Turkey's rate of growth was 8 percent in 1997.

Remarking that most of the countries in Central Asia, Caucasus and the Balkans are not members of the OECD, Cem said, ''We suggested that the OECD should improve relations with these countries. The 21st century is approaching and the borders are becoming unimportant. There won't be a separate Europe or a separate Asia in the new century.''

Addressing a journalist who mentioned the news claiming that Olof Palme, the former Swedish Prime Minister, was killed by the seperatist terrorist PKK organization, Cem said, ''to find the murderers of Olof Palme will be great development for all of us.'' Responding the questions concerning the European Union, Cem said that Turkey follows a serious policy on the issue. Cem noted that Turkey's political dialogue with the EU didn't end and she continues to fulfill her responsibilities in the Customs Union.

Cem responded to the journalists who asked whether or not the political uncertainty effects the foreign policy, ''There is no political uncertainty in Turkey. Our government provided confidence with its continuity.''

[03] ITALIAN DEMONSTRATOR TO BE DEPORTED

Frisullo was arrested for provocating people and shouting slogans in favour of the separatist terrorist organization, PKK during the Nevruz celebrations (the Spring Feast of the Vernal Equinox) held in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır.

Police officers at the Foreigners Office said that Frisullo will be sent to Istanbul on Wednesday and will be deported.

[04] CYPRUS AND TURKISH-GREEK RELATIONS - ECEVIT : ''THE WEST SHOULDN'T CAST A SHADOW, I DON'T WANT ANY OTHER FAVOUR'' - ''THE EU WILL RING THE DOORBELL ONE DAY TO CALL TURKEY FOR FULL MEMBERSHIP'' - ECEVIT TELLS ABOUT BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE CYPRUS PEACE OPERATION AND THE HASHISH PRODUCTION DISCUSSIONS ''SOME US OFFICIALS THREATENED TO BOMB THE SULTANAHMET MOSQUE AND THE VILLAGES WHERE HASHISH IS PRODUCED''

Ecevit told a conference on the ''Latest Developments on Cyprus and Turkish- Greek Relations'' organized by Ankara University, Faculty of Language, History and Geography that the most important condition to improve the relations between Turkey and Greece is that the Western countries should leave these two countries alone.

Pointing out that neighborhood, state partnership during the Ottoman period, and close cultural influences are among the reasons for good relations between Turkey and Greece, Ecevit said that Greece has no right to complain about the Ottoman era, stating that the status of the Greeks concerning wealth and cultural freedom during the Ottoman era were better than that of the Turks.

''However the Turks suffered in some areas during the Ottoman era, the Greeks would have suffered in the same way,'' Ecevit said, stating that the Western countries started to use the Greeks against the Turks when the Ottoman Empire began to collapse.

Ecevit pointed out that the Greeks began to claim rights on Anatolia after they gained their independence, and these claims still continue.

Emphasizing the fact that very warm relations were established between the two countries under the leadership of Ataturk and Venizelos after the Turkish War of Independence, Ecevit said, ''the two countries will be able to establish very good relations if the West would leave them alone. After the establishment of the Balkan Pact, even a federation between Turkey and Greece had come onto the agenda, which is difficult even to dream about today.''

Listing the basic problems between the two countries, and the thesis of both countries on these problems, Ecevit said that Turkey regards the problems in the Aegean as a whole, and is open to discussions.

Pointing out that Greece uses her threats to extend her territorial waters to 12 miles like the ''sword of Democles'' hanging over Turkey, Ecevit said that this is an unacceptable situation and otherwise Turkey will be drowned.

Ecevit also reminded that both countries are located in the most sensitive wing of the NATO.

Stating that they started a ''silent dialogue'' with the former Greek President Konstantin Karamanlis during his premiership, Ecevit said that this dialogue was stopped by the military coup on September 12, and the coming into power of Andreas Papandreu in Greece.

Ecevit said that Russia had started to use Pan-Slavism and Pan-Orthodox concepts in her foreign policy after the Soviet Union had collapsed, and ''this policy of the Russians encouraged the Greeks to be more reckless in their relations with Turkey, and they cut off the dialogue.''

Emphasizing that it is thought, ''Turkey can't resist a Greece which is leaning her back on the EU,'' Ecevit said that ''nobody should worry. Turkey has the power to resist all kinds of oppression.''

Ecevit said that the dual policy of Greece also plays an important role in the worsening of relations between the two countries as much as the carelessness of the West.

Ecevit said that Greece, on the one hand, claims a right on Anatolia, and on the other hand, is afraid of Turkey to a level of paranoia.

Concerning the Cyprus problem, Ecevit said that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has been independent since 1964, although she has been established in 1983. ''No one has the capacity to take this independence from the Turkish Cypriots,'' he said.

Giving behind the scenes information about the Cyprus Peace Operation realized when he was the Prime Minister, Ecevit said that the free hashish production, in spite of the pressures from the US, was the main reason for the arms embargo imposed on Turkey after the operation. Ecevit said that the reason for this embargo is known as the Cyprus Peace Operation by the public, but this is wrong.

Ecevit also said that some US officials threatened to bomb the Sultanahmet Mosque and the villages where the hashish is produced.

Stating that it is not possible for the TRNC today to join a European Union where Turkey is not a member, Ecevit said that Turkey's steps follow every step taken by the EU and the Greek Cypriots. The three declarations signed by President Suleyman Demirel and the TRNC President Rauf Denktas constitute the examples of these steps, he said.

Pointing out that Turkey and the TRNC are integrated economically and politically, Ecevit stressed that the TRNC isn't a burden to Turkey, and Turkey has the capacity to meet all the economic needs of the TRNC.

Emhpasizing that peace and security have prevailed since the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation on the island, Ecevit said, ''this means that peace, prosperity, democracy, and freedom came to Cyprus after the operation. Then, where is the problem?''

Ecevit also said that it became a fashion among the Western countries to appoint a representative for the Cyprus question, and the problem is caused by those who interfere.

Concerning the Greek Cypriot side's intense armament efforts, Ecevit said that the TRNC has a strategic importance for Turkey. ''The TRNC is the guarantee of Turkey. It is out of the question that these two countries will be separated from each other.''

Concerning the relations with the EU, Ecevit said, ''the world is round. It doesn't start with the EU, and doesn't finish with the EU. There is another Europe outside of the EU.''

[05] EROGLU, PRIME MINISTER OF THE TRNC: - ''THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS WON'T HAVE THE GREEK CYPRIOT PASSPORT''

Addressing a television programme named Akis, Eroglu noted that no one has been put on trial so far for carrying a Greek Cypriot passport, but they are working on a draft law concerning the passports. He said that the freedom of travel of the Turkish Cypriots is not limited.

Eroglu pointed out that they share the same views with Turkey on the Cyprus problem, and stressed that they will accept negotiations only in the framework of the two separate states on the island.

Reminding that Richard Holbrooke, the US Special Representative to Cyprus, due to come to the island on Friday, Dervis Eroglu said that they expect Holbrooke to bring new proposals and views concerning the Cyprus problem.

[06] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''IT ISN'T TECHNICALLY POSSIBLE TO HOLD ELECTIONS BEFORE MAY 1999''

Addressing the Motherland Party (ANAP) Group meeting, which was close to the press, Mesut Yılmaz stated that the Supreme Election Board told him, ''if local and general elections are held together, then it won't be possible to hold them before May 1999.''

Prime Minister Yılmaz informed his party about his meeting with Deniz Baykal, the leader of Republican People's Party (CHP) on April 23, 1998.

Quoting Baykal as saying, ''we'll support you until October and we can talk about elections in October,'' Prime Minister Yılmaz said, ''I told Baykal that I am not vested with the authority of my partners to discuss elections in October.''

Noting that they reached an agrement with Baykal concerning the issue that there won't be elections until 1999, Yılmaz stressed that they don't have any agreement about the pre-election government.

Yılmaz pointed out that Baykal had said after the meeting,

''a pre-election government will be set up in October,'' adding that the statements of Baykal during the meeting and afterwards are contradictory.

[07] THE IMF DELEGATION IN ISTANBUL - DELEGATION MEETS WITH THE DIRECTORS OF THE TUSIAD - MARTIN HARDY: ''TURKEY'S RELIABILITY IS INCREASING''

Addressing the journalists after the meeting, Martin Hardy said that Turkey's reliability is increasing with the latest developments in the private sector and in the Turkish economy. Hardy described the privatization of the GSM as a significant step for the economy.

Avoiding discussions about the disputed elections in Turkey, Hardy pointed out that they have trust in Turkey's future.

Tuncay Ozilhan, the Deputy Chairman of the TUSIAD, noted that they discussed economic issues in the meetings. Ozılhan told the reporters that their inflation expectations are varying between 70 and 75 percent for 1998. He added that to make the reforms legal and to hold the elections next year will be useful for the economy.

[08] TEMIZEL, THE FINANCE MINISTER: ''AUTOMATIC PRICING OF FUEL OIL HAS BEEN POSTPONED FOR 60 DAYS''

Temizel told journalists after the Supreme Planning Council meeting, which was headed by Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz, that the automatic pricing would cause unjust competition in the markets at the moment.

''After it has been found out that the new system would cause unjust competition due to foreign taxes imposed on oil products, the new system has been postponed until an arrangement is made in this field,'' said Temizel.

Responding to the questions of journalists, Temizel pointed out, ''there is no need to increase the price of fuel oil products at the moment. The price of fuel oil is also inexpensive in the world markets.''

''The price of fuel oil in Turkey is higher than in the world markets. We decided to lift the taxes on fuel oil to decrease its price in Turkey. After all the arrangements are made, the free system will be implemented concerning fuel oil,'' Temizel said.

[09] THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT REPORT CALLS ON TURKEY FOR POLITICAL DIALOGUE WITH THE EU

The report generally took up the Turkish-EU relations after the customs deal was signed with Turkey and it also discussed political developments, reforms, human rights in Turkey and the issues of the Aegean and Southeastern Turkey. The report stressed that the existing agreements between Turkey and the EU should be fully implemented, including the financial cooperation and called on the two sides to launch efforts to normalize their bilateral relations.

Emphasizing the fact that the full membership of Turkey in the EU shouldn't cause any hesitations, the report noted, ''the joining in the Customs Union is an important step concerning the full membership of Turkey.''

The report pointed out that the EU should extend support to Turkey in overcoming her problems and said that political and economic bonds between Turkey and the EU should be strengthened.

The report and its draft resolution will be discussed by the EP Foreign Affairs Commission before being submitted to the EP.

[10] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES EXCEED 24 BILLION US DOLLARS
The Central Bank foreign exchange reserves increased by 2 billion US dollars over the last 10 days, reaching 24.2 billion US dollars. Replying to questions from journalists following a meeting of the General Council yesterday, Gazi Ercel, the Head of the Central Bank said that 1 billion US dollars of this increase had come from the GSM licence transfers of Telsim and Turkcell, two mobile telephone companies, on April 27. /Sabah/

SEVEN TERRORISTS KILLED
Seven members of the PKK terrorist organization have been killed, two terrorists have been wounded and one captured alive during the current operations being carried out in Mus, Bingol, Diyarbakir and Bitlis. The number of terrorists killed in this region during the last few days has reached 41. /Sabah/

CALL FOR DIALOGUE FROM EUROPE
A report on Turkey discussed by the European Parliament yesterday calls for political dialogue. The report, prepared by the British conservative parliamentarian Edward McMillan-Scott, said that the Customs Union was a step towards Turkey's full EU membership, and called on Ankara to establish political dialogue with the EU, which has been suspended for a while. The report also noted that the current agreements between Turkey and the EU, including financial cooperation, should be fully implemented and that efforts should be exerted for the normalization of relations. /Sabah/

VISIT OF CONDOLENCE FROM PM YILMAZ
The Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz went to the Greek Embassy in Ankara yesterday and signed the book of condolences opened for the former Greek President Konstantin Karamanlis, who passed away on April 23. Later, Yilmaz met with the Greek Ambassador Dimitris Nezeritis for 20 minutes. Following the meeting, Yilmaz noted that he had extended his condolences to Nezeritis on the death of Karamanlis. /Sabah/

21 PEOPLE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
A total of 21 members of the illegal DHKP-C organization have been taken into custody during the operations against organizations preparing for illegal May 1 activities. /Hurriyet/

FUEL HIKES POSTPONED FOR TWO MONTHS
The High Planning Council, headed by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, convened yesterday and decided that automatic fuel price implementations envisaged to be applied on May 1 would be postponed for two months. Following the meeting, Zekeriya Temizel, the Minister of Finance made a statement and said that this decision had been taken because of certain conditions creating unfair competition in the market. /Hurriyet/

GREAT INTEREST IN THE IS BANK SHARES
Foreign investors in New York are showing great interest in the Is Bank shares. Within the framework of privatization, 12.3 percent of the Is Bank's shares have been put on sale. Ugur Bayar, the Head of the Prime Ministry Privatization Administration, who went to New York to promote the shares, said that they were very pleased with the interest they were receiving in New York. /Hurriyet/

IMF: TURKEY'S CREDIBILITY IS IMPROVING
Martin Hardy, Head of the Turkish Desk of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and his accompanying delegation visited the Turkish Association of Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) yesterday. Martin Hardy noted that there was development in the private sector and in the Turkish economy and that Turkey's credibility was improving. Pointing out that they believed that the present Turkish government would continue with its economic reforms, Hardy said that he would meet later with officials from the government in Ankara. /Hurriyet/

ECEVIT CRITICIZES THE WEST
Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime Minister said at a conference on ''Recent Developments in the Cyprus Issue and Turkish-Greek relations'' in Ankara yesterday that those who particularly helped to erode relations between Turkey and Greece were their Western allies. Ecevit noted that the Turkish- Greek relations were going through a period of chronic tension./Hurriyet/

ASSOCIATION COUNCIL MEETING WITH EU COULD BE POSTPONED
It is reported that because Greece refused to lift her veto on financial aid to Turkey during a meeting of the European Council held in Luxembourg two days ago, a Turkish-EU Association Council meeting planned to be held on 25 May could be postponed. On the other hand, while there are no negotiations being held at the political level between Turkey and the EU, meetings at the technical level are continuing. Eric Van Den Linden, the Head of the Turkish Desk of the EU Commission, came to Ankara last week and discussed technical details of the Association Council meeting with the Turkish diplomats. /Hurriyet/

ITALIAN JOURNALIST RELEASED
Damiano Giovanni Frisullo, the Italian journalist who was taken into custody because of participating in demonstrations during the recent Nevruz celebrations (Spring Feast of the Vernal Equinox) in Diyarbakir, was released yesterday. Frisullo, who displayed a photograph of a female terrorist and shouted slogans, noted in his defense that he had had no intention of interfering in Turkey's domestic affairs and added that all he wanted was peace. /Hurriyet/

PALESTINIANS CRITICIZE TURKEY
The Palestinian Minister Faysal Huseyni criticized yesterday the relations between Turkey and Israel. Noting that Turkey and Palestine shared a number of things in common, Huseyni said that developing countries like Turkey should think more about what the results of stronger ties with Israel could lead to. ''While other countries develop their ties with Israel, we get pushed more into the background'' complained Huseyin.

It is anticipated that in the near future Faysal Huseyni will visit Ankara to talk about developments in the region. /Cumhuriyet/

[11] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

CYPRUS CONFERENCE ON THE HORIZON
Reports from Cyprus have taken on a more positive note as plans for a more ''comprehensive'' approach to the problems there are taken up by the US special representative Richard Holbrooke. Starting from May 2, new initiatives between the two communities on the island will get started, leading up to a four-party conference to bring the leaders together- especially the Northern Cyprus President Rauf Denktas and Leader of the Greek Cypriot side Glafcos Clerides. /Cumhuriyet/

US FILM ABOUT ATATURK
In a move to introduce the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Ataturk, to the American public, the US Public TV services channel is preparing to make a film about the developments in Turkey at the turn of the century. The film will be ready to be shown by the end of October this year to mark Turkey's Republic Day. It is planned that the film will be shown in a number of countries and throughout the US through at least 360 TV channels.

Turkey's Net Holding Group and other organizations have a share in the production costs which have been budgeted at 550 thousand US dollars. /Cumhuriyet/

''NEW ATLANTIC INITIATIVE CONGRESS'' IN ISTANBUL
The annual meeting of the ''New Atlantic Initiative Congress'' will be opened by President Suleyman Demirel in Istanbul on Monday, May 3. State leaders, academicians and diplomats are going to discuss international and strategic issues closely related to Turkey, such as ''Democracy and Islam'', ''Turkey's Role in Regional Stability and Security'', ''Protection of Peace: Bosnia, Kosovo and Other Places''.

Strobe Talbott, the US Acting Secretary of State, Nathan Sharanski, the Israeli Minister of Trade, Nadezhda Mihailov, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister, Steven Solarz, the former US Congress member, Morton Abramowitz, the former US Ambassador to Turkey and Mark Parris, the present Ambassador, and Ahmet Celebi, the President of the Iraqi National Congress are expected to attend the three-day meeting at the Ciragan Palace, Istanbul. /Cumhuriyet/Milliyet/

HAKKARI SUMMIT
President Suleyman Demirel, Ismet Sezgin, the Deputy Prime Minister, Gen. Ismail Hakki Karadayi, the Chief of General Staff and the force commanders went to Hakkari yesterday. Demirel spoke to the public at the 3rd Gendarmerie Border Brigade in Yesilova. Later he went to Hakkari and visited the Mountain Commando Brigade and was briefed by Rasim Betir, the Commander of the 2nd Army Corps. /Milliyet/

TURKEY URGES CONTACT GROUP TO ACT ON KOSOVO
Turkey has urged the Contact Group to act against an increasing turbulence in Kosovo, the Foreign Ministry announced yesterday. The written statement emphasized, ''Turkey is monitoring the situation in Kosovo with concern and is making efforts towards ending the crisis.'' Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister also urged the members of the group to take action in a letter addressed to them. Talking to reporters at an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) meeting in Paris, Cem said in his letter that he feared that a tragedy similar to the one in Bosnia could happen again in Kosovo. /Milliyet/

YILMAZ-VERGAU MEETING
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz received yesterday Hans Joachim Vergau, the German Ambassador to Turkey. After the meeting Prime Minister Yilmaz said that they had discussed bilateral relations which have been cool for sometime, and the membership process of Turkey into the European Union (EU).

Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz also met yesterday with Mark Parris, the US Ambassador to Turkey. Yilmaz said after the meeting that they had exchanged views on the Cyprus issue. /Milliyet/

ITALY CALLS ON GREEK CYPRUS TO RECOGNIZE DENKTAS AS HEAD OF STATE
Following the United States, Italy has now demanded that Greek Cyprus recognize the Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas as ''head of state of the Turkish Cypriot federation''. The Greek Cypriot government spokesman Christos Stilianides confirmed that the Italian demand had been conveyed to the Greek Cypriot leader Glafkos Clerides through the Italian Embassy in Nicosia. /Milliyet/

TURKISH BUSINESSMEN'S COUNCIL MEETING IN IZMIR
The Second World Turkish Businessmen's Congress will be held between 30 April and 1 May in Izmir with the participation of 1,350 Turkish businessmen from 42 countries. The congress is organized by the Aegean Economic Development Foundation (EGEV) and the Turkish Foreign Trade Foundation (TDV). Sahire Erturan, the General Secretary of the EGEV, said that it was expected that together with the foreign mission representatives 1,600 businessmen will attend the meeting. /Milliyet/

GREECE SAYS SHE WILL CONTINUE TO VETO EU AID TO TURKEY
Theodoros Pangalos, the Greek Foreign Minister said that Greece would continue to veto the release of the European Union (EU) financial aid to Turkey but would ''conditionally'' accept the conventions of the Turkey-EU Association Council. The EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg on 27 April agreed to release 375 million ECU (140 million US dollars). Only the Greek delegation refused to give consent. Speaking at a press conference later in the day, Pangalos said that the Turco-Greek dispute over the Aegean islet of Kardak should be brought before the International Court of Justice at the Hague. During Monday's meeting, Greece agreed that Turkey should be invited to join a Turkey-EU Association Council meeting in late May, but refused to bend on any move that would persuade the Turks to take part in the EU.

In a related development on Tuesday, Dimitri Reppas, the Greek government spokesman said that Greece and Turkey have exchanged protests over Athen's plans to use the EU money to fund sustainable tourist development on some Aegean islands, the ownership of which, Ankara claims, is undetermined. /Cumhuriyet/

TRIAL WATER BALLOON ON ITS WAY TO THE TRNC
A giant water-filled balloon left on Tuesday from Antalya for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on a trial journey as part of Turkey's project to supply the drought-stricken TRNC with drinking water. The balloon, which holds 10,000 cubic metres of water will bring water to the TRNC. The balloons carrying the water are supplied by a Norwegian firm. Speaking at the inauguration of the trial journey, Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources said that the project was the first of its kind in the world. /Sabah/

OLAF PALME MURDER CLAIMS UNDER INVESTIGATION
Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime Minister, said that authorities were investigating details in the PKK terrorist leader Semdin Sakik's confession which states that the PKK was responsible for the 1985 assassination of the Swedish Prime Minister Olaf Palme. Sukru Sina Gurel, the Minister of State, told reporters yesterday that authorities had briefed the Swedish officials on the latest claims in the murder case. /Hurriyet/

TURKISH-GREEK WOMEN WORK ON TRUST-BUILDING
Thirty women from Turkey and Greece are expected to meet in Bodrum and on Cos Island following initiatives by various women's organizations. A conference will take place on Cos between April 30 and May 1 and the Greek and Turkish women, especially academicians, housewives and journalists, will arrive in Bodrum on May 2 to continue their discussions. The four-day meeting will end with a press conference on May 3.

[12] THE NUMBER OF AMERICAN TOURISTS WHO PREFER TURKEY FOR A HOLIDAY, INCREASES

Officials from the travel agencies in Washington, D.C., told the A.A correspondent that 364 thousand Americans visited Turkey last year. Officials said that most of the tourists who make bookings for Turkey, are over 45 years old and this shows that ''conscious tourists'' prefer Turkey.

American tourists form 6 percent of the tourists who visit Turkey, but they include 14 percent of the tourism income. Some American churches arrange religious tours in Turkey and in recent years, American writers and film producers are interested in the historical and religious places in Turkey.

The Turkish tourism experts say that they work for promoting Turkey with tourism fairs, conferences, seminars and other activities in the US.

American tourists who visited Turkey said that they were fascinated with the historical monuments, the hospitality of the Turkish people and the Turkish foods.

[13] TAM'S MODEL PROJECT RELATED TO THE HOSTILITY AGAINST FOREIGNERS IN GERMANY

Addressing a press conference, Prof. Dr. Faruk Sen, the Director of the TAM, said that the project aims, '' to determine the problems between the Germans and non-Germans in Essen and Duisburg, and make these groups sensitive to each other.''

Sen pointed out that the German people's ignorance about Islam, and the unemployment which was caused by the bad economic conditions, gives rise to the problems, stressing, ''good intentions between the two nations solves the problems.''

[14] HUSAMETTIN OZKAN, THE STATE MINISTER: ''THE CREDIT GIVEN TO THE KOBIs INCREASED TO 325 TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS''

Husamettin Ozkan said in a written statement that the support extended to the KOBIs will continue, adding ''we believe that the financial opportunities that are offered to KOBIs should be effective and productive. This will be possible not only with the increase in the credit volume, but also by rational changes in the credit conditions which are valid for the KOBIs. In this framework, the limits of industrial credits for the manufacturer KOBIs increased from 50 billion Turkish Liras to 100 billion Turkish Liras.''

Noting that an important competitive power will be provided for the KOBIs by the increases in credits, Ozkan added, ''we believe that the existing performance of KOBIs will improve in the short-term and that they will contribute to development of country both in the medium and long-term.''

[15] 24 IRAQIS CAPTURED AT DALYAN

Officials said that the Iraqis were brought to Antalya first and then to Dalyan by bus to leave for Greece and Italy and later they were left alone.

Acting on a tip-off, the security officers captured the 24 Iraqis including three children and five women.

[16] TURKEY IN BRIEF - APRIL 29, 1998

The new terminal has an annual capacity of 3 million passengers and costed 20 trillion Turkish Liras. It is expected that it will produce an annual income of nearly 5 trillion Turkish Liras.

Mesut Yilmaz will join the ''Congress of the Turkish Businessmen Living Abroad'' before the opening ceremony.

ANKARA - Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz met with Hans-Joachim Vergau, the German Ambassador to Turkey, on Tuesday.

Vergau told the reporters that they had a very useful meeting which lasted for one and one quarter hours, while Yilmaz made no statement concerning the meetings.

TEHERAN - Sencar Ozsoy, the Turkish Ambassador to Iran, was received by Dr.Hasan Habibi, the First Vice President of Iran, and Huccetulislam Ismail Sustari, the Iranian Minister of Justice, on Tuesday.

Ozsoy who started the negotiations with the senior officials in Iran after he presented his letters of credence on April 5 to Muhammed Khatemi, the Iranian President, met with Ali Ekber Hashemi Rafsanjani, the former President of Iran, last Saturday.

BOSTON - Tansu Ciller, the Leader of the True Path Party (DYP), who is in Boston to attend the World Women Leaders' Summit, joined a meeting organized by the Boston World Problems Council, on Wednesday. Ciller said that she believed that the Islamic votes are under 10 percent in Turkey, and called for an early election.

[17] SEMDIN SAKIK GIVES ADDITIONAL TESTIMONY FOR PROSECUTION

Semdin Sakık, who was arrested by the Diyarbakır State Security Court after being captured by the Security Forces in Duhok city of Northern Iraq, was brought to the Diyarbakır State Security Court for the second time on Tuesday night.

Sakık gave additional testimony and issued important statements about the separatist terrorist organization for the Prosecution.

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