Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-07-29

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

29 JULY 1998

CONTENTS

[01] ROMANIAN PRESIDENT VISITS PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN - CETIN: ''TURKISH- ROMANIAN FRIENDSHIP TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO THE BALKANS''

[02] LIFTING OF IMMUNITIES - PARLIAMENTARY DECISIONS REGARDING LIFTING OF IMMUNITIES OF SEVEN DEPUTIES ISSUED IN THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE

[03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL GIVES A DINNER IN HONOUR OF HIS ROMANIAN COUNTERPART CONSTANTINESCU - DEMIREL: ''OUR COUNTRIES WORRY ABOUT SITUATION IN KOSOVO THAT BECOMES THREATENING FOR PEACE AND STABILITY IN REGION'' - CONSTANTINESCU: ''TURKEY IS READY TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE AMONG THE OTHER COUNTRIES WITH HER TRADITIONS, RICH CULTURE AND INITIATIVES''

[04] BRAZIL'S GOALKEEPER JOINS TURKEY'S CHAMPION TEAM

[05] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ RECEIVES DELEGATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION - YILMAZ: ''FOLLOWING THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS, OUR RELATIONS WITH THE EU WILL NEED A LONGER AND DIFFICULT TRANSITION PERIOD''

[06] A ''NATIONAL STRATEGY PLAN'' PREPARED ON WOMEN'S HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING - PREJUDICES BASED ON SEXUALITY TO BE REMOVED FROM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES - HUMAN RIGHTS AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH TO BE OBLIGATORY LESSONS - FREE ''CRISIS TELEPHONE LINES'' TO BE SET UP IN ORDER TO MAKE WOMEN AND CHILDREN CONSCIOUS OF THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS

[07] IKV DELEGATION VISITS FOREIGN MINISTER CEM

[08] EARLY ELECTION TO BE HELD ON 18 APRIL 1999

[09] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RECEIVES IKV DELEGATION

[10] VERBAL DEFENSE OF GULERTEKIN, TURKISH BABY SITTER

[11] SOLUTION PROPOSAL FOR TURKEY'S ENERGY PROBLEM - AEA, LEADING AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL COMPANY: - ''WE CAN TURN SEWERAGE TO ENERGY''

[12] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[13] ''SIRIUS'' SHIP OF GREENPEACE DUE IN TURKEY

[14] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[15] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (3)

[16] MUMTAZ SOSYAL, DEPUTY FROM ZONGULDAK, RESIGNS FROM DSP

[17] POSITIVE RATING FROM MOODY'S TO AKBANK CERTIFICATES

[18] PRESS CONFERENCE AT BULGARIAN TURKS' CULTURAL AND COOPERATION ASSOCIATION - EFENDIOGLU, CHAIRMAN OF THE ASSOCIATION: - ''WE STRONGLY CONDEMN GENOCIDE MOVEMENT OF SERBIANS IN KOSOVO''

[19] OIL AND NATURAL GAS PIPELINES - MESSAGES OF PRESIDENT DEMIREL AND US PRESIDENT CLINTON GIVEN TO TURKMENBASI

[20] TURKEY TRAINS 262 FOREIGN DIPLOMATS IN FIVE YEARS - FOREIGN MINISTRY GIVES FOREIGN POLICY COURSES TO YOUNG DIPLOMATS FROM MANY COUNTRIES INCLUDING CENTRAL ASIAN REPUBLICS, BALKAN COUNTRIES AND TRNC

[21] 13 MEMBERS OF THE SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION CAPTURED IN SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCE OF GAZIANTEP

[22] UYGUN, UNDERSECRETARY OF TOURISM MINISTRY: - ''OUR TOURISM TREND RISES''

[23] TURKEY GIVES HOPE ON OIL - TURKEY CAN BECOME A COUNTRY EXPORTING CRUDE OIL WITHIN FOUR YEARS

[24] ACQUITTAL OF FIVE ADMINISTRATORS OF HADEP

[01] ROMANIAN PRESIDENT VISITS PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN - CETIN: ''TURKISH- ROMANIAN FRIENDSHIP TO BE AN EXAMPLE TO THE BALKANS''

Cetin said ''relations between our two countries will be further improved at every level,'' adding ''these relations will continue on the course to becoming NATO allies.''

Cetin said that high level visits contribute to the rapid development of relations in the fields of politics, economy, culture and defense, adding that this visit of the President will boost morale and will add momentum to the relations.

Cetin expressed willingness to improve relations in interparliamentary field pointing out that interparliamentary relations will play an important role in providing peace and stability in the Balkans. ''I have the idea that these relations which played an important role in the solution of Bosnia problem will also be effective in the solution of the Kosovo question.''

Emile Constantinescu, the Romanian President, expressed pleasure with visiting the Turkish Parliament, adding that his country attributed a special importance to democracy, ''I thank you for the rapid ratification in the Turkish Parliament of the agreement signed between Turkey and Romania.''

[02] LIFTING OF IMMUNITIES - PARLIAMENTARY DECISIONS REGARDING LIFTING OF IMMUNITIES OF SEVEN DEPUTIES ISSUED IN THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE

The Parliament earlier lifted the immunities of Murat Karayalcin, the Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy; Mustafa Bayram and Kahraman Emmioglu, the Virtue Party (FP) deputies; Kemal Aykurt, Omer Bilgin and Mehmet Agar, the True Path Party (DYP) deputies; and Sema Piskinsüt, the Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputy.

The Parliament lifted the immunity of Omer Bilgin, the DYP deputy, due to allegations that he used the telephones of TURBAN, a tourism enterprise of the Prime Ministry, for his election campaign when he was the General Director of TURBAN.

The FP Deputy Kahraman Emmioglu is charged with using fake customs documents to get unjust tax returns.

Mustafa Bayram, the other FP deputy who lost his parliamentary immunity, is charged with felonious homicide. Bayram claimed that he wasn't the offender, but the victim of the case, saying that he gave his gun to his cousin on the day of the incident.

Agar is charged with abusing his authority by interfering and stopping the investigation for the drug-smuggler Yasar Oz and providing for his release.

Piskinsut is also charged with abusing her authority when she was the Chief Doctor at the Aydin State Hospital during the repairs at the hospital.

[03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL GIVES A DINNER IN HONOUR OF HIS ROMANIAN COUNTERPART CONSTANTINESCU - DEMIREL: ''OUR COUNTRIES WORRY ABOUT SITUATION IN KOSOVO THAT BECOMES THREATENING FOR PEACE AND STABILITY IN REGION'' - CONSTANTINESCU: ''TURKEY IS READY TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE AMONG THE OTHER COUNTRIES WITH HER TRADITIONS, RICH CULTURE AND INITIATIVES''

Addressing the dinner, Demirel noted that good relations between Turkey and Romania contribute to regional stability. Stressing the importance of an international cooperation on the struggle against the threats and risks such as regional disputes, organized crimes, terrorism, spreading of mass destruction weapons, Demirel pointed out that Turkey and Romania that have joint values such as pluralist democracy, superiority of law and a liberal economy, should act together on such issues.

Noting that there are improved commercial relations between Turkey and Romania, Demirel stated, ''Turkey comes in the first place among the Balkan and Middle East countries to which Romania exports.'' He pointed out that thousands of Turkish companies continue their activities in Romania, emphasizing that the bilateral trade volume between the two countries will increase up to one billion US dollars with the agreements coming into force.

Mentioning the Turks living in Romania, Demirel said, ''one of the strongest friendship links between our countries is the Turkish minority in Romania.'' He expressed Turkey's satisfaction with Romania's indulgence and interest in the Turks.

Emil Constantinescu stressed that they place great importance on the relations with Turkey. He noted that Turkey has taken significant steps under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, adding that both Turkey and Romania set determined steps on modernization, democracy and welfare.

Constantinescu added, ''Turkey is ready to play an important role among the other countries in the 21st century with her rich culture, traditions and initiatives.''

After the dinner, Emil Constantinescu and the accompanying delegation left Turkey for Romania.

[04] BRAZIL'S GOALKEEPER JOINS TURKEY'S CHAMPION TEAM

Taffarel signed a preliminary 1.5 million US dollars two-year contract with the Turkish team during the World Cup in Paris on 24 June.

The Brazilian is scheduled to sign a final contract on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper saved two penalty shots at the World Cup semi- final against the Netherlands.

Taffarel's transfer from Brazil's Atletico Mineiro should boost Galatasaray's power against its big rival Fenerbahce which recently hired another Brazilian soccer player, Sergio Neves, from Saudi Arabia's Alahari team.

[05] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ RECEIVES DELEGATION OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION - YILMAZ: ''FOLLOWING THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS, OUR RELATIONS WITH THE EU WILL NEED A LONGER AND DIFFICULT TRANSITION PERIOD''

Stressing there is no place for emotions in the economic affairs and foreign economic relations, Yilmaz emphasized that Turkey has many things to do during this transition period. He noted, ''we will work to intensify economic relations with the EU in accordance with the Partnership Agreement and the Customs Union Agreement and try to improve our economy.''

Pointing out, ''we told the EU that it has made mistakes about Turkey and their reactions show us that they have accepted their mistakes. We hope that they will correct their mistakes.''

Emphasizing the importance of following a realistic course instead of a chauvinistic course, Prime Minister Yilmaz said that Turkey's rightfulness should be explained with the appropriate arguments and on a correct basis.

Yilmaz congratulated the new directors of the foundation that has undertaken an important duty in the relations with the EU as a civil society organization.

Meral Gezgin Eris thanked Yilmaz for his determined attitude on the issues of the rate of increase in the salaries of the civil servants, the tax reform law and privatization.

Mentioning the relations between Turkey and the EU, Eris stressed, ''we observe that the EU doesn't show sufficient impartiality on the relations between Turkey and Greece.''

Noting that there is a goverment policy towards lifting the blockage of Greece for the full membership, Eris said that in case of lifting the blockage, the unification of the EU and Turkey can be realized.

[06] A ''NATIONAL STRATEGY PLAN'' PREPARED ON WOMEN'S HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING - PREJUDICES BASED ON SEXUALITY TO BE REMOVED FROM EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES - HUMAN RIGHTS AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH TO BE OBLIGATORY LESSONS - FREE ''CRISIS TELEPHONE LINES'' TO BE SET UP IN ORDER TO MAKE WOMEN AND CHILDREN CONSCIOUS OF THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS

The plan that was prepared by the Ministry of Health with the participation of all organizations related to the problems of women, aims to put the programs into practice in order to provide a health system which will take the lives of mothers and babies under guarantee.

Rifat Kose, the General Director of the Department of Maternal and Child Health and Family Planning of the Ministry of Health, reminded that nearly 1400 women die annually because of the health problems related to pregnancy, delivery and the post-natal period.

Kose explained some of the targets on women's health and family planning for 2000 as follows:

-The number of the health centers, private practices and clinics will be increased,

-The rate of the literacy among women will be increased up to 100 percent by 2005,

-The decrees in the tax legislation that lead to a decrease ın the income of women will be changed,

-It will be required to provide job opportunities to a certain number of women in all professions and in all public offices,

-Education programmes will be purified from the prejudices depending sexuality,

-Human rights and reproductive health will be required lessons, -Mass media will be used to make the society conscious of sexual harassment and violence against women in oficces and society,

-Protection organizations will be set up by public, privte and volunteer institutions for the women who were exposed to harassment and violence,

-Free ''crisis telephone lines'' will be set up in order to provide information to the women and children on their legal rights.

[07] IKV DELEGATION VISITS FOREIGN MINISTER CEM

Cem pointed out that Van Den Broek's letter included the message ''give us information, convey your views to us.''

Addressing a meeting with the Economic Development Foundation (IKV) delegation, headed by Meral Gezgin Eris, the Chairman and Executive Board members, Cem briefed about the Customs Union between Turkey and the EU and what Turkey has experienced during the full membership process.

Noting that there are one or two important points which the Cardiff Summit brought, Cem said one was to specify the strategy of Turkey aimed at Turkey's EU full membership. Cem said another perception which Cardiff brought was ''the candidate countries will brief about themselves until the end of 1998 and that the EU will evaluate this information through objective criteria.''

Noting that the Foreign Ministry attributed importance to this, Cem said they were not optimistic and that evaluation of Turkey through objective criteria was important.

Cem said ''according to those objective criteria, Turkey isn't in a position to go further in the process to be a full member. We know this. Yet, lifting of the discrimination and Turkey's participation in this process is important. Maybe we won't get an outcome this year, but once Turkey enters into this process, it may record very rapid development.''

Cem pointed out that the Turkish-EU relations will improve more positively when compared with the past, adding that the policy Turkey followed in her relations with the EU began to give results, adding that Turkey showed the utmost interest not to reflect negative aspects to the bilateral relations with the EU member countries.

Meanwhile, Eris pointed out that Broek's letter was important and that the strategy text which Turkey prepared and submitted to the EU was extremely contructive.

[08] EARLY ELECTION TO BE HELD ON 18 APRIL 1999

The Commission that met under the chairmanship of Atila Sav, the Deputy of the Republican People's Party (CHP) from Hatay, decided to change the date of early elections determined as 25 April to 18 April because of the official three day holiday after the 23 April National Sovereignty and Children's Festival.

[09] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RECEIVES IKV DELEGATION

Addressing a meeting with a delegation of the Economic Development Foundation (IKV), headed by Meral Gezgin Eris and Executive Board Members, Demirel said that Turkey's being a full member of the EU was her decision, adding ''I am insistently saying that inflation should be one digit. Debts should be decreased and conditions of the market economy should be fulfilled.

Noting that privatization and decreasing of inflation were very important, Demirel said ''decreasing inflation directly means to balance the public finance.''

Pointing out that Turkey's entrance into the EU would be for its benefit, Demirel said ''I want to say that Turkey has to tell it to the EU. We need to correct our image as it is an unjust one.''

Demirel said that Turkey won't give up targets of full membership even if there are some hesitations'' adding that the issue of the EU hasn't yet been removed from Turkey's agenda ''imporant issues take time.''

Meanwhile, Eris said ''Turkish-EU relations are evaluated in the most realistic way and constructively.''

[10] VERBAL DEFENSE OF GULERTEKIN, TURKISH BABY SITTER

Gulertekin told the A.A correspondent that the lawyer revealed all the injustices she had to face and that the Court couldn't find a response to give against them and that the case began to turn in her favour.

Gulertekin said a jury member, who supported her, was changed and that the prosecutor assumed attitudes to make the jury give a prejudiced decision.

Gulertekin said that the news bulletins of the TV's which covered the case didn't mention the developments and they didn't want to give the news which is against the family of the child. Thus, she added, it contradicted with the US Constitution.

Meanwhile, the support group established for Gulertekin disclosed that Barbara Carmen, a writer from the Dispatch Newpaper, published in Colombus and which continiously gives negative news reports against the Turkish baby sitter, had stayed in Turkey for two years.

The group said that Gulertekin should be sent to the Buca Prison in Turkey and that the things which Carmen did in Turkey should be searched for in detail.

The Turkish lobby members said that Carmen intentionally spoke ill of Gulertekin and Turkey.

[11] SOLUTION PROPOSAL FOR TURKEY'S ENERGY PROBLEM - AEA, LEADING AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL COMPANY: - ''WE CAN TURN SEWERAGE TO ENERGY''

Guzeldere noted, ''sewerage wastes can be turned into methane gas and this gas can be used like the natural gas or can be turned into electric energy with an additional unit. Meanwhile the sewerage water can become usable water following several purification processes.

Mehmet Ali Guzeldere added that they can present project models to the municipalities on the issue.

[12] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

YILMAZ TO STEP DOWN IN DECEMBER
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz has assured the Republican People's Party (CHP) that he will resign at the end of the year following a decision by the Parliament on the election date. Yilmaz said yesterday that the Parliament will decide on the election date by the end of this week. Speaking at a Motherland Party (ANAP) parliamentary group meeting yesterday, Yilmaz said that his coalition had been working harmoniously over the last twelve months and that no one had the right to complain about its performance. Yilmaz stated that his government was still in conformity with agreements reached with Deniz Baykal, Chairman of the CHP, which supports the government from outside the coalition. According to these agreements, early elections will be held on 25 April 1999. All developments that follow his resignation will be dealt with by the president, Yilmaz said. He indicated that the formation of the new government, which was agreed on in the Yilmaz- Baykal deal, will be up to the head of state's decision. /All papers/

THREE TURKS SHOT IN SWITZERLAND
Four people including three Turks and one Swiss were killed yesterday in a restaurant in Bern, Switzerland. Four assailants shot at the people at the restaurant owned by a Turk, Garip Kirmizikaya. It is reported that investigations into the incident are continuing. /Milliyet/

YILMAZ RECEIVES IKV DELEGATION
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz stated yesterday that following recent developments, relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU) would require a longer and more difficult transition period. Yilmaz, who yesterday received a delegation from the Economic Development Foundation (IKV) headed by Meral Gezgin Eris, pointed out that there were many further steps which should be taken by Turkey. Meanwhile, Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, who also received Meral Gezgin Eris and the members of the IKV executive board, noted that he had received a letter yesterday from Hans Van Den Broek, the Commissioner of the EU Foreign Affairs Commission. Cem said that Broek stated in his letter that a report would be prepared for all candidate members by the end of this year and that Turkey's report would be prepared within the framework of the Copenhagen criteria like all the other candidates. Cem added that the lettter included a message, which says, ''Please, give us information and convey your thoughts to us''. The IKV delegation headed by Eris was also received by President Suleyman Demirel yesterday. /Milliyet/

1999 TARGETS FROM CELEBI
Isin Celebi, the Minister of State, delivered a speech on ''Economic Developments within the Downward Trend in Inflation'' and furnished information about developments in the Turkish economy during the first six months of this year, and the targets for 1999. During a meeting organized by the Chamber of Industry for the Aegean Region (EBSO) yesterday, Celebi recalled that the inflation rate would be reduced to 20 percent in 1999. He said that structural reforms including privatization would be accelerated and added that it was expected that exports would total 52 billion US dollars in 2002 and 87.4 billion US dollars in 2005. /Milliyet/

GREEKS FIRE ON TURKISH BOATS
The Greek coastal security boats fired on Turkish fishing boats near Sakiz island in the Aegean Sea yesterday. A Greek government official noted that the Greek coastal security boats first warned the Turkish fishing boats verbally, however the Turkish boats didn't go back, therefore they fired warning shots at them. /Milliyet/

DEMIREL'S LETTER RECEIVES GREAT ATTENTION
A letter sent by President Suleyman Demirel to Slobodan Milosevic, the Head of the Yugoslav Federation and heads of state and governments of the member countries of the ''Yugoslavia Contact Group'' regarding the current crisis in Kosovo, has received great attention in the Balkan press. The Albanian and Serbian press especially devoted wide coverage to the letter. /Milliyet/

[13] ''SIRIUS'' SHIP OF GREENPEACE DUE IN TURKEY

Sirius will cast anchor at Bodrum Port and stay here for three days, afterwards the ship will visit Izmir and Istanbul.

The visit to Turkey of the international environmental organization aims to organize exhibitions and meetings within the framework of ''1998, the Year of Oceans.''

Members of the organization will hold peaceful demonstrations in Turkey in order to attract attention to environmental problems in Turkey. No information was given about the date and place of the demonstrations.

Greenpeace had sent one of its ships to Turkey last year in order to hold a demonstration to protest Petkim Petrokimya Holding that empties its wastes into the sea.

[14] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES DRAFT ON NATO
EXPANSION
Turkey's Parliamentary Foreign Relations Commission yesterday unanimously approved a draft resolution on the accession of Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic into the North Atlantic Alliance, but with conditions attached. Murat Karayalcin, the Deputy of the Republican People's Party (CHP), who chaired Tuesday's commission meeting, said in a written statement that the commission had added an appendix to the draft resolution ''which is to be taken into consideration'' by the governments of the NATO countries during the enlargement process. The appendix added to an article concerning the resolution's implementation by the Cabinet, calls for the fulfillment of a number of other Turkish expectations. Among these expectations are the acceleration of efforts to admit Turkey into the Western European Union (WEU) and the inclusion of the Balkan countries, particularly Bulgaria and Romania, in NATO. /All papers/

ANKARA CONDEMNS GREEK REMARKS
Turkey strongly condemned yesterday remarks by Theodoros Pangalos, the Greek Foreign Minister that the Turkish Consulate in Gumulcine (Komotini), Western Thrace, was acting against Greek national interests, and hinted at retaliation if the mission of the consulate was obstructed. ''We are concerned by Mr. Pangalos' remarks and we strongly condemn them. Undoutedly, if the Greek government tries to obstruct the mission of the Turkish Consulate in Komotini on such subjective grounds, then it will be given an immediate and reciprocal response'' a Foreign Ministry statement said. The statement emphasized that foreign missions carry out their duties under the protection of international agreements and that there was no place in international relations for threats and arbitrary position taking. /All papers/

TURKEY AND ROMANIA REITERATE SUPPORT FOR BALKAN PEACE FORCE
Turkey and Romania again asserted yesterday their support for the formation of a Balkan multinational peace force, which will take immediate action in case of crisis situations in the volatile region. President Suleyman Demirel received yesterday his Romanian counterpart Emil Constantinescu as a part of a bilateral consultation mechanism, which envisages meetings between Turkish and Romanian presidents at least twice a year. Speaking after the talks, the two leaders expressed their determination for the establishment of the Balkan force, about which preliminary meetings have been going on for several months. At the end of the talks between the two delegations, Foreign Ministers Ismail Cem and Andrei Plesu of Romania signed a protocol outlining a cooperation strategy between the two foreign ministers between 1998 and 2000. Commenting on the countries' joint efforts to combat terrorism, drug-trafficking and organized crime, Constantinescu stated that the related authorities of the two countries were involved in a very intensive and efficient cooperation. /All papers/

[15] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (3)

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

SWITZERLAND PLAYS DOWN TURKISH CRITICISM
Switzerland has played down Ankara's criticism of a pro-PKK terrorist organization conference held on 24 July at the Swiss city of Lausanne. A spokesman for the Federal Foreign Ministry said that the conference has been completely private and so it hadn't been necessary for the organizers to request permission. /All papers/

HOSPITAL EXPLOSION
An explosion which happened yesterday midnight at the Sea and Underwater Medical Sciences Department of the Istanbul Medical University resulted in the deaths of a doctor and two patients. Department officials announced later that the cause of the explosion wasn't understood. /Cumhuriyet/

PKK KILLS CHILDREN
A group of PKK terrorists launched a raid yesterday in the Mazidagi region, Mardin, killing two children. Security forces have begun an operation to find the terrorists. Meanwhile, it is reported that the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan has congratulated the PKK terrorists for activities during which they massacred over 3,000 animals in Van two days ago. /Cumhuriyet/

KURDISH FORUM IN US
The Washington Kurdish Institution has held a ''Forum to Solve the Kurdish Issue''. During the two-day forum held at the Carnegie International Peace Foundation Centre, the status of the Kurdish populations living in Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria was discussed. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH ENERGY DELEGATION IN US
Turkish-US Energy Working Group meetings started yesterday in Washington, D.C. The groups discussed the most advantageous route to transfer the Caspian Sea oil and natural gas to the West. Yigitguden Yurdakul, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy chaired the Turkish delegation at the meetings. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY TO SELL EURO-DOLLARS
A Salomon Smith Barney financing group representative said that Turkey was in a position to sell mid-term Euro-dollar security bonds on the American market. The representative also stated that Turkey was now better placed to seek long-term loans. /Cumhuriyet/

LE MONDE COMMENTS ON EU-TURKEY RELATIONS
An article in Le Monde newspaper comments that problems in relations between the European Union and Turkey seem to be easing. Mentioning a report by the Turkish officials recently presented to Austria which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, Le Monde notes the Turkish reaction to the EU exclusion of Turkey from its list of candidates for full-membership.

Turkey's own reports could be a base for normalizing and enhancing relations, says the article. The article also states that the EU's tactlessness and unrealistic statements by Turkish politicians led to the current bottleneck in relations. /Hurriyet/

SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTREPRENEURS MEET IN SPAIN
Within the framework of the Europartenariat programme, representatives of 3, 000 small and medium-scale enterprises from

83 different countries will come together in the Spanish city of Valencia between 12-13 November 1998. A statement by the Economic

Development Foundation, which is organizing the programme in Turkey, says that the meeting will open-up world-wide cooperation opportunities for Turkish firms. /Hurriyet/

PRIVATIZATION ACCELERATES IN FIRST HALF OF 1998
Reports show that the privatization programme which began in 1993, reached its highest point in the first six months of

1998. A total of three billion 184 million US dollars worth of revenues from privatization have so far been realized this year. This amount is approximately equal to the whole result of privatization efforts over the last 12 years. Another important privatization project, is that the transfer of energy distribution networks to the private sector will now be possible. The Constitutional Court has sent a brief summary of its decision to the Council of State permitting the transfer of energy distribution networks to the private sector. The Council of State is expected to reply soon./Sabah/

REACTION TO NATO
Ambassador Onur Oymen, the Permanent Representative to the NATO, said yesterday that the Cyprus problem wasn't on the NATO agenda, and that sending a NATO force to the island wasn't under discussion. Oymen said yesterday, ''The NATO isn't the organization to find a solution to the problem and it never has been considered as such. Turkey is closely following the matter. Cyprus isn't the problem of the NATO.'' /Sabah/

[16] MUMTAZ SOSYAL, DEPUTY FROM ZONGULDAK, RESIGNS FROM DSP

Following the resignation of Sosyal, the number of the DSP deputies decreased to 61 and the number of the independent deputies increased to 12.

The most recent distribution of seats in the Parliament is as follows:

FP (Virtue Party).........................: 145

ANAP (Motherland Party)...........: 138

DYP (True Path Party)................: 96

DSP (Democratic Left Party).......: 61

CHP (Republican People's Party)..: 55

DTP (Democratik Turkey Party)...: 21

BBP (Great Union Party)..............: 8

MHP (Nationalist Movement Party): 3

DP (Democrat Party).....................: 1

DEPAR (Changing Turkey Party)...: 1

INDEPENDENT...........................: 12
VACANT......................................: 9

[17] POSITIVE RATING FROM MOODY'S TO AKBANK CERTIFICATES

The total cost of the certificates is 250 million US dollars.

Certificates are guaranteed with the payments of the Visa, MasterCard, Europay and American Express to Akbank.

These payments are taken under guarantee with the money which the tourists visiting Turkey will spend by using the credit cards in question.

[18] PRESS CONFERENCE AT BULGARIAN TURKS' CULTURAL AND COOPERATION ASSOCIATION - EFENDIOGLU, CHAIRMAN OF THE ASSOCIATION: - ''WE STRONGLY CONDEMN GENOCIDE MOVEMENT OF SERBIANS IN KOSOVO''

Efendioglu organized a press conference at the association in order to protest ethnic genocide on the people of Kosovo, and requested all countries to take urgent measures to stop the genocide.

Pointing out that the Serbians aim to create a second Bosnia in Kosovo, Efendioglu noted that the Serbian forces opened fire on the civilian society living in Lapasnik, Koronare and Rijevo, centre of settlements on the road between Pristina and Ipek.

Stressing that Serbians kill people including the elderly and the children, with torture, rape woman and use the old people as a target for target practice, Efendioglu wanted the issue of setting up an international force between the Balkan countries to be strengthened.

[19] OIL AND NATURAL GAS PIPELINES - MESSAGES OF PRESIDENT DEMIREL AND US PRESIDENT CLINTON GIVEN TO TURKMENBASI

Yaman Baskut, the Deputy Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, and Richard Morningstar, the Private Consultant of President Clinton, met with Turkmenbası on Tuesday evening related to the development of the Caspian Basin and energy issues.

Baskut said that the Turkish-US initiative will add momentum to the realization of the energy and transportation system of the Caspian basin.

Morningstar briefed about the context of Clinton. He said it included the draft of an interstate agreement aimed at creating an Eurasian energy corridor and development of oil and natural gas basins.

This draft agreement covers Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan and realization of oil and natural gas oil pipelines reaching Turkey and their financial framework.

Morningstar said that realization of the pipeline, extending from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan and then to Turkey via Georgia, and that this will contribute to the overcoming of conflicts about the sharing of oil beds in the Caspian Sea between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.

Stressing that Turkey expended full support to this natural gas pipeline, Morningstar said ''this support proves that Turkey and the US made a unity of power on this project.''

The Turkish and the US officials will proceed to Baku and Tbilisi to hold talks on joint proposals.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Russia, which closely follows the developments, is getting prepared to bring together the countries which have shores on the Caspian Sea, in Moscow on 1 September.

[20] TURKEY TRAINS 262 FOREIGN DIPLOMATS IN FIVE YEARS - FOREIGN MINISTRY GIVES FOREIGN POLICY COURSES TO YOUNG DIPLOMATS FROM MANY COUNTRIES INCLUDING CENTRAL ASIAN REPUBLICS, BALKAN COUNTRIES AND TRNC

Diplomats from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Moldova, Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia Herzegovina, Macedonia, Palestine and the TRNC participated in the foreign policy courses in Turkey.

After going to a Turkish language course for one month, the foreign diplomats had vocational training courses in English.

These countries, which are confronted with many complicated and serious problems in the transition to a market economy and democratic structure, need experienced personnel who have had education in world standards. The Foreign Ministry provides an opportunity to young diplomats by giving vocational courses to them.

[21] 13 MEMBERS OF THE SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION CAPTURED IN SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCE OF GAZIANTEP

Adem Aydemir, the Police Chief said in a press briefing that these people, who were taken into custody, tried to train members of the separatist terrorist organization by establishing an illegal committee and they committed various crimes like burning one work machine, one soldier and two Ataturk busts.

''Those who were taken into custody, were preparing to commit new crimes om the anniversary of the first crime committed by the separatist terrorist PKK organization on 15 August 1984 in Eruh County of Siirt Province,'' said Aydemir.

[22] UYGUN, UNDERSECRETARY OF TOURISM MINISTRY: - ''OUR TOURISM TREND RISES''

Addressing the meeting organized by the Tourism Ministry in Urgup County of Nevsehir Province, Uygun noted that the data for July is promising hope, despite the news claiming that 1998 and the next year would be so bad in tourism.

Requesting the representatives of the tourism sector to be optimistic, Uygun pointed out, ''the number of tourists increased between 35 and 40 thousand in July 1998 compared with the same period last year. Especially, the German tourists show a great interest in Turkey.''

Stressing that they hold talks with the Ministry of Finance in order to reduce the rates of the value added tax (VAT) in tourism, Uygun said that the ''airport tax levied on foreigners'' that was 15 US dollars, will be decreased to 10 US dollars.

Ahmet Bayram, the Chairman of the Cappodocia Tourism Enterprises Association (KAPTID) said that Turkey remains indifferent to the developments in the field of tourism, pointing out that analyses should be made to determine what causes the decreases in the number of tourists.

Bayram also noted, ''activities should be realized to protect Turkey's cultural heritage.''

[23] TURKEY GIVES HOPE ON OIL - TURKEY CAN BECOME A COUNTRY EXPORTING CRUDE OIL WITHIN FOUR YEARS

The Aladdin Middle East Company, a leading petroleum company, will begin the most serious and the largest oil-prospecting activity of Turkey near the border area with Syria in August.

Officials from the company told the A.A correspondent that they are hopeful about Turkey becoming self-sufficient in crude oil with the project that is being carried out to the south of Mardin Province.

The oil found in Turkey comes from the deep oil reserves under Saudi Arabia. Officials also noted that the seismic research will be concluded in the region at the end of this year and they will start to evaluate the data. In the direction of the results of thr research the first oil well will be opened in the second half of 1999.

Meanwhile the oil with high gravity found in Soysali Village at Ceyhan County of Adana Province following an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter Scale continues to create excitement in Turkey.

Mehmet Oklu, the Governor of Ceyhan County, told the A.A correspondent that the results of the first analyses determined the gravity of the oil as 21.7.

[24] ACQUITTAL OF FIVE ADMINISTRATORS OF HADEP

Police took strict measures for the session, which was heard the same day.

Mehmet Turgut Okyay, the judge said that a seven page document titled ''the Kurdish Problem and Solution Proposals,'' was found in the house of Kemal Bulbul, the Chairman of the HADEP in Ankara, who was tried for another crime.

Murat Bozlak, the Chairman of the HADEP claimed that the document, which was found in the office of the HADEP on 10 February 1998 didn't belong to the party.

Okyay stated that Bahattin Cesur, one of the suspects said that ''students are deceived in the southern province of Adana and are made members of the separatist terrorist organization.'' Bozlak responded to this by saying that this statement isn't binding for the whole party, adding that those who committed a crime should be punished.

Mustafa Ozer, one of the lawyers of the suspects claimed that the HADEP case is distant from being legal, adding that the accusations made concerning his clients are abstract.

Ozer added that a third party can leave several documents at an office if the party administrators are arrested.

Yusuf Alatas, another lawyer, claimed that the HADEP is being tried to keep it out of the political platform.

Okyay, the judge said after a short time that the court decided to release the five suspects.

The HADEP case has been postponed to a later date, but the five administrators of the HADEP party are still being detained.

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article