Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-08-13

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

13 AUG 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TWO TURKS ARRESTED AT GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE

[02] TERRORISTS WAYLAY A PASS AT KOP MOUNTAIN BURN TWO VEHICLES AND ROB PASSENGERS

[03] BLACK SEA OLYMPIC GAMES MEETING - STATE MINISTER SECKINER, ''THESE GAMES WILL STRENGTHEN FRIENDSHIP AMONG THE YOUTHS LIVING IN BLACK SEA COUNTRIES''

[04] ''SEA LIONS'' LEAVE FOR ALBANIA TO JOIN ''PFP'' TRAINING OPERATION

[05] ''NATIONAL TOURISM COUNCIL'' - GURELI, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE UNION OF TURKISH HOTELS:''A COUNCIL INCLUDING MEMBERS FROM THE MINISTRIES OF TOURISM, ENVIRONMENT, CULTURE AND FM SHOULD PROMOTE TURKEY''

[06] WORLD COTTON PRODUCTION - TURKEY COMES IN FIRST PLACE IN EUROPE AND IN SIXTH PLACE IN THE WORLD

[07] GULER, GAZIANTEP GOVERNOR: ''778 INVESTMENT PROJECTS ARE CARRIED OUT IN GAZIANTEP PROVINCE''

[08] HONORARY GUEST OF IZMIR INTERNATIONAL FAIR GIVES A FEMALE ELEPHANT AS A GIFT TO TURKEY - 25 YEARS OLD FEMALE ELEPHANT TO COME TO TURKEY BY 26 AUGUST

[09] TOURISTS RUSH TO SPEND THEIR HOLIDAYS AT UZUNGOL, WHICH IS A FAMOUS MOUNTAIN AND PLATEAU TOURISM CENTRE

[10] LPG TANK EXPLODES IN SAMANDAG: SIX INJURIES - THREE BUSINESS PLACES DETROYED AND 15 OTHERS DAMAGED IN EXPLOSION

[11] TURCOMANS LAY BLACK WREATH IN FRONT OF KDP REPRESENTATION IN TURKEY

[12] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[13] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[14] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 13 AUGUST 1998

[15] PRIVATIZATION OF ERDEMIR - FOUR COMPANIES SUBMIT BIDS

[16] SPORT-BASKETBALL - CHAMPION ULKERSPOR LEAVES FOR ITALY FOR TRAINING

[17] GERMANY BANS ACTIVITIES OF OUTLAWED TURKISH ORGANIZATIONS

[01] TWO TURKS ARRESTED AT GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE

The two Turks are reported to have entered the island from the Girne Port on 10 August.

They were travelling with a rented car on the Pile-Larnaka highway when the police stopped them.

[02] TERRORISTS WAYLAY A PASS AT KOP MOUNTAIN BURN TWO VEHICLES AND ROB PASSENGERS

The six separatist terrorists waylaid the pass at the highway, which is at a distance of 20 kilometers from Bayburt Province around 10:00 p.m. (GMT 19.00). The terrorists who forced the passengers in the vehicles to get out, made propaganda about the separatist terrorist organization for half an hour. Terrorists robbed the passengers in the vehicles, which gathered at both sides of the highway and then burned two vehicles and ran away.

Officials said that the terrorists who waylaid the highway can be those who had burned a hotel and killed its owner in the Uzungol Region of Trabzon Province.

Operations are underway to capture the terrorists who ran away.

[03] BLACK SEA OLYMPIC GAMES MEETING - STATE MINISTER SECKINER, ''THESE GAMES WILL STRENGTHEN FRIENDSHIP AMONG THE YOUTHS LIVING IN BLACK SEA COUNTRIES''

Addressing the meeting, Seckiner said that the olympic games will strengthen the friendship among the youths living in the Black Sea countries.

Pointing out that they have begun the preparations in order to realize the organization in the best way, Seckiner stressed the importance of the regional olympic games.

Ismet Gurbuz Civelek, the Governor of Trabzon, Erdal Ata, the Governor of Rize, Metin Ilyas Aksoy, the Governor of Samsun, Asim Aykan, the Mayor of Trabzon and other officials attended the meeting lead by Seckiner.

[04] ''SEA LIONS'' LEAVE FOR ALBANIA TO JOIN ''PFP'' TRAINING OPERATION

Addressing the ceremony held upon the departure of the military unit, Admiral Bulent Alpkaya, the Commander of the Southern Naval Forces said that 11 NATO countries including Turkey and three PFP countries will participate in the operation, which will be exercised between 17-22 August.

Noting that the operation will be staged as a part of the initiative the NATO decided to take in order to establish security and to strengthen the stability in Albania and Macedonia and to solve regional crisis peacefully, Alpkaya said ''the army, naval and air forces of 14 countries will exercise activities such as search-rescue, air support and medical treatment in order to support peace. One amphibious fleet, four F-16 airplanes, one transport airplane, one frigate, one landing vessel and logistical support elements from Turkey will participate in the manoeuvre.''

[05] ''NATIONAL TOURISM COUNCIL'' - GURELI, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE UNION OF TURKISH HOTELS:''A COUNCIL INCLUDING MEMBERS FROM THE MINISTRIES OF TOURISM, ENVIRONMENT, CULTURE AND FM SHOULD PROMOTE TURKEY''

Gureli told the A.A correspondent that they have prepared a report to be submitted to the Higher Planning Board, adding that the report can be useful for the Board, ''a National Tourism Council has to be established,'' he said.

''First of all Turkey has to have a logo, which will be accepted by all sectors. All firms which export and which are interested in tourism and textiles should use this logo. This logo should reflect a modern and young Turkey,'' Gureli added.

Noting that the movies that will be made about Turkey, the guests who will be invited to Turkey, advertisements of Turkey should be carried out by following a promotion strategy, Gureli pointed out that the Foreign Ministry and Ministries of Culture, Environment should stress the tourism dimensions of Turkey in the receptions and invitations which are hosted by them.

Gurel added that they will submit their proposals concerning the promotion of tourism to Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz next week.

[06] WORLD COTTON PRODUCTION - TURKEY COMES IN FIRST PLACE IN EUROPE AND IN SIXTH PLACE IN THE WORLD

According to the report of Prof. Dr. Erdem Koc and Emel Ceyhun Sabir from the Cukurova University, Department of Textile Engineering, the US and China have the largest cotton production in the world. Turkey, Pakistan, Brazil, Greece, Iran and Israel take place among the countries that increase their cotton production.

The report pointed out that 50 percent of the cotton is produced in the Cukurova and Southeastern Anatolia region, 44 percent in the Aegean region and 6 percent in the Antalya region.

The cotton production is expected to increase in the Southeastern Anatolia region with the Southeastern Anatolia Project.

Turkey imports cotton to Uzbekistan, the US, Egypt, Azerbaijan, Israel, Russia, Syria, Turkmenistan and Greece.

[07] GULER, GAZIANTEP GOVERNOR: ''778 INVESTMENT PROJECTS ARE CARRIED OUT IN GAZIANTEP PROVINCE''

Noting that the economic and social aspect of Gaziantep will change when the existing investments are completed, Guler stated that ''the infrastructural services in the second organized region have been completed. The foundations of the free area, refining installations and the Gaziantep-Sanlıurfa Highway will be laid in the coming days.''

Pointing out that the number of irrigated areas will increase from 7,000 hectares to 180,000 hectares when the irrigation investments are completed in Gaziantep, Guler said ''Gaziantep is an industrial and trade city, moreover it is a transportation centre at an important crossroads.''

Guler said that if a peaceful atmosphere is established in the Middle Eastern countries, if the embargo imposed on Iraq is lifted and if the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) is completed, then the importance of Gaziantep will further increase.

Stressing that the efforts to modernize the Gaziantep Airport will be completed soon, Guler said that Gaziantep is the centre of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) in all respects.

[08] HONORARY GUEST OF IZMIR INTERNATIONAL FAIR GIVES A FEMALE ELEPHANT AS A GIFT TO TURKEY - 25 YEARS OLD FEMALE ELEPHANT TO COME TO TURKEY BY 26 AUGUST

Dr. Hussein Olgun, the Director of the Izmir Zoo, told the A.A correspondent that the 25 year-old female elephant will become the congenial companion for the 60 year-old Pak Bahadur.

A delegation composed of the veterinarians from the Bombay Zoo in India came Turkey in order to make observations at the place where the female elephant will live.

[09] TOURISTS RUSH TO SPEND THEIR HOLIDAYS AT UZUNGOL, WHICH IS A FAMOUS MOUNTAIN AND PLATEAU TOURISM CENTRE

Officials said that 95 percent of the 18 hotels are full at Uzungol, which have approximately 1,000 beds, adding that measures have been taken in the region after the separatist terrorists killed the owner of a hotel.

The Turkish and foreign tourists continue to walk around in the mountains and plateaus in the region.

[10] LPG TANK EXPLODES IN SAMANDAG: SIX INJURIES - THREE BUSINESS PLACES DETROYED AND 15 OTHERS DAMAGED IN EXPLOSION

Three business places were destroyed and 15 others were damaged in the explosion.

Zuheyir Ipek, the owner of the restaurant, Yahya Selcuk, Necdet Bugday, Mehmet Akkaya, Yusuf Kala and Sinan Bacanak were injured in the explosion. The injured persons were taken to the Antalya Private Mediterranean Hospital.

[11] TURCOMANS LAY BLACK WREATH IN FRONT OF KDP REPRESENTATION IN TURKEY

Approximately 30 members and administrators of the association came in front of the KDP Representation shouting slogans, carrying banners and protesting Mesud Barzani, the leader of the KDP.

A statement was read which recalled that the KDP Forces attacked the Turcoman institutions on 10 August, several Turcomans were arrested and their houses were plundered.

Stressing that the KDP administration, which always talks about human rights, has violated human rights itself, the statement added ''we invite the world public opinion to condemn the tribal and outdated behaviours of the KDP administration, which is a violent administration, and to take steps for an urgent solution.''

The protesting group which left the black wreath in front of the KDP Representation, later dispersed.

[12] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

PRESIDENT DEMIREL VISITS FLOOD DISASTER AREA
President Suleyman Demirel yesterday paid an inspection visit to the flood disaster area in Trabzon. Demirel was briefed about the disaster by Ismet G. Civelek, the Governor of Trabzon, but adverse weather conditions prevented the president from travelling to Beskoy, the town hit worst by the flood. In a short speech Demirel addressed the families of the flood victims. ''We have always compensated for damage, the state has the power. All the government officials are working hard to bring life here back to normal.'' A rescue team has begun search operations to find the missing people in Beskoy. Heavy rains have obstructed the operations. The number of missing people has been announced as 43; 12 bodies have been found so far. /Hurriyet/

TURKEY EXTENDS CONTRACT WITH PATTEN BOGGS
Turkey has extended her contract with Patten Boggs, a US law firm, for three months. In line with a one year contract signed on 15 September 1997, Patten Boggs has been conducting lobbying activities for Turkey in the United States. Patten Boggs's responsibilities are: to advise Turkey on legal and economic issues, to contribute to Turkey's international business relations, to represent Turkey on legal issues and to elevate Turkey's relations with the US administration and the US public. Turkey has paid two million US dollars to the firm and will pay 500 thousand US dollars more for the additional three month period. /Hurriyet/

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES UP
The Central Bank foreign exchange reserves rose again to over 26 billion US dollars, increasing by 595 million US dollars in the first week of August. /Hurriyet/

51 COUNTRIES TO PARTICIPATE IN IZMIR FAIR
A total of 276 companies from 39 different countries will participate in the 67th Izmir Fair. Many domestic companies will also be represented at the fair. The number of countries participating in the fair will be 51 with the countries which will only participate at the International Folk Dances Festival and the 4th International Art Days Festival. /Hurriyet/

HAVELSAN GETS NATO AQAP 150 QUALITY CERTIFICATE
Air Electronic Industries Corporation (HAVELSAN) has been awarded the NATO Quality Guarantee Requirements for Entry Improvement (A-QAP150) certificate. Following the application of HAVELSAN in March 1998, the NATO officials examined the criteria of all the documents of the HAVELSAN application and made the award. This is the first time that the AQAP 150 certificate has been given to a company in Turkey. /Milliyet/

TURKISH SOLDIERS OFF TO ALBANIA
A Turkish unit which will participate at the ''Cooperative Assembly-98 Partnership for Peace Training Exercises'' under the auspices of the NATO in Albania departed from the Foca harbour yesterday. Bulent Alpkaya, the Naval Commander of the Southern Region, said that the aim of the exercise is to ensure peace and security in Albania and Macedonia with the support of the NATO. /Milliyet/

MINISTER GURDAL: ''INCREASE IN TOURISM REVENUES''
In the first half of 1998, the number of tourists coming from European countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) decreased by 7.5 percent while the number of tourists from Eastern European countries increased by 23.8 percent, said Tourism Minister Ibrahim Gurdal on Wednesday. He added that tourism revenues had increased 15.6 percent during the last year, reaching 808 million US dollars. /Sabah/

TOURISM INCOME INCREASES
According to a survey on foreign visitors made by the State Institute of Statistics (DIE) and the Tourism Ministry, 999,430,000 US dollars in income was obtained by the tourism sector during the first three months of this year. /Cumhuriyet/

KOHL: ''GERMANY SUPPORTS TURKEY''
Helmut Kohl, the German Chancellor, said on Wednesday during a press conference at which the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union announced a joint election programme that Germany and Turkey were old friends and couldn't be split apart. ''Turkey is a promising country and it has great importance both from an economic and strategic point of view. We are on the side of Turkey,'' said Kohl. The chancellor, however, defended the current German citizenship law, which is being criticized by the two million Turks living in Germany for not allowing them to have dual German and Turkish citizenship. /All papers/

ANKARA ASKS KDP NOT TO ATTACK TURCOMANS
At a press conference yesterday in Ankara, Mustafa Yaycili, a member of the Board of Directors of the Turcoman Front and Chairman of the Iraqi National Turcoman Party, accused the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), led by Massoud Barzani, of trying to eliminate the Turcoman tribespeople from Northern Iraq. He warned that if the international community doesn't take any measures against KDP attacks, the outcome could be tragic. Meanwhile, Sermet Atacanli, the Deputy Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, confirmed that a group of KDP peshmergas had attacked Turcoman settlements in Arbil. He acknowledged that the KDP officials in Ankara had been invited to the Foreign Ministry to discuss the issue and were asked to stop the attacks. /Cumhuriyet/

[13] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

THY TO RECEIVE NEW AIRBUS AIRLINERS
As part of its plans to expand its fleet, the Turkish Airlines (THY) is getting ready to purchase a second package of five Airbus

A340-300 passenger planes. In addition, a contract between the Airbus Industries and THY includes an offset deal that will open the way for the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) to manufacture component parts for the Airbus. Under the offset agreement for procurement of the new airliners, the TAI will start manufacturing component parts worth 11 million US dollars for each Airbus plane in the Turkish fleet. Although each A340-300 model costs around 125 million US dollars, the THY will purchase the planes at an earlier agreed price of between 95 million US dollars - 105 million US dollars. /Sabah/

TREASURY: ''S AND P TRUSTS TURKEY''
A written statement from the Undersecretariat of the Treasury said yesterday that international institutions and investors trusted Turkey and that is why the Standard and Poor's credit rating company has increased Turkey's credit grade from ''stable'' to ''positive''. It quoted, ''during a period in which the credit grades of many countries have been down-graded to ''stable'' or ''negative'' because of the financial crisis in the Asian markets, the trust of the international institutions and investors in the Turkish economic programme and Turkey's financial performance has also been confirmed by Standard and Poor's''. /Sabah/

DUFF AND PHELPS RATE TURKEY
Duff and Phelps (D and P), a US credit rating company, will disclose its new credit rate for Turkey today. It is reported that the credit rate will be increased. The D and P representatives noted yesterday that Turkey's Staff Monitoring Agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the government's economic stability programme, which aims to reduce the rate of inflation, were positive developments. /Sabah/

20 MILLION US DOLLAR SYNDICATION CREDIT FOR EGS BANK
The EGS Bank has set-up new syndicated credits worth 20 million US dollars from the international markets. A written statement by the EGS Bank noted that following a first syndicated credit worth 25 million US dollars in September 1997, the total credits received by the EGS Bank from international markets amounted to 45 million US dollars. An agreement regarding the new credit facility organized by the Bank of New York was signed yesterday in Istanbul. /Sabah/

TURKISH DIPLOMAT IN WORLD PRESS
The world press has given wide coverage to the death of the Turkish diplomat Zeki Kuneralp, regarded as one of the architects of the Turkish- British political relations in the 1970s. The Times, Daily Telegraph, the Independent and Herald Sun newspapers praised Kuneralp (84), who died on 26 July 1998. /Sabah/

PKK TERRORISTS SET TWO CARS ABLAZE
Terrorists of the PKK terrorist organization, stopped cars travelling on the Erzurum-Bayburt highway, robbed the passengers and made PKK propaganda, then later set ablaze two cars. It was reported that operations to capture the terrorists are continuing in the region. /Sabah/

CENTRAL BANK PRESS RELEASE
Turkey's Central Bank and the government's multi-faceted plan to lower the nation's annual inflation rate is already showing good results, the Central Bank says. ''The new figures, especially the wholesale price index (WPI), demonstrate that we have made a good start towards reaching our immediate goal of cutting the annual inflation rate to half of what it was in 1997, by the beginning of 1999'' says Gazi Ercel, the Governor of the Central Bank. ''Once we achieve that level and the effects of the other reforms begin to be felt, public confidence should rise dramatically. This will all combine to help Turkey achieve a 10-precent inflation rate in 2000 and reach the ultimate target of single-digit inflation sometime in 2001''. /All papers/

[14] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 13 AUGUST 1998

Lambrecht expressed his satisfaction with being in Bodrum and stressed that Bodrum houses ornamented with the bougainvilleas have charmed him.

Georges Lambrecht invited Acar to Wielsbeke.

The two mayors stated they have decided to improve relations between Bodrum and Wielsbeke.

MARDIN - The 5th Anatolia Tour of the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra continues with the concerts in the Southeastern Anatolia region, it was reported on Wednesday.

More than 2 thousand people watched the concert in Mardin last night.

Prof. Dr. Ersin Onay said that they are very pleased with the Anatolian people who show great interest in the concerts.

The Bilkent Symhony Orchestra had previously given concerts in Siirt and Batman.

A giant mobile stage is being used for the concerts.

The Orchestra will give its next concert in Sirnak.

BAGHDAD - A ''Turkish Medicine and Medical Equipment Exhibition'' will be opened within the framework of the International Baghdad Fair next Saturday, it was reported on Thursday.

Dr. Yahya Enneccaar, the Director of the Medicine Promotion Bureau of the Iraqi Ministry of Health, said that the exhibition aims to improve relations between the two countries.

The Turkish experts will also give medical conferences in Baghdad.

[15] PRIVATIZATION OF ERDEMIR - FOUR COMPANIES SUBMIT BIDS

The Chairmanship of Privatization Administration (OIB) said that they had sent letters of invitation to seven companies and four of them submitted bids to give mediating and counseling services in the privatization of a part of 51.66 percent public share in the ERDEMIR.

The names of the companies are the Banker's Trust, the Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Co. Ltd. - ING Barrings, the HSBC and the Solomon Smith Barney.

The OIB had sent letters of invitation also to the Goldman Sachs International, the Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. and the SBC Warburg and Union Bank of Switzerland.

Following the evaluation of technical and financial bids, the bidding companies will be invited for verbal presentation on 17 August.

The company to win the tender is asked to choose a domestic mediating company to be the co-leader in the public offering on the condition of getting the final approval from the OIB.

[16] SPORT-BASKETBALL - CHAMPION ULKERSPOR LEAVES FOR ITALY FOR TRAINING

The Ulkerspor, which signed contracts with Ricky O'Neal Winslow, Kemal Tunceri, Serdar Tabay and Cevad Alihodzic, will continue its preparations for the new season with an eight-day training camp in Bormio, Italy.

The Ulkerspor, during this period, will play preparatory games with several leading European basketball teams.

[17] GERMANY BANS ACTIVITIES OF OUTLAWED TURKISH ORGANIZATIONS

The Federal Ministry of the Interior statement said both of the two illegal organizations, the Revolutionary People's Salvation Party (DHKP-C) and the Turkish People's Salvation Party (THKP-C) which have a total of 1,300 members, got involved in argument for leadership and were responsible for a series of murders and attempted murders and attacks on Turkish institutions and organizations based in Germany.

Speaking in Bonn, Kanther said, ''the decision for banning which were given after talks with the Provincial administrations, is the best response that could be given to the two extreme leftist Turkish organizations, which didn't hesitate to kill people in the middle of the streets.''

Kanther pointed out that the financial sources of these organizations, which threatened the domestic security and public order in Germany were the money collected illegally. Noting that the decision for banning also covered the publications having separatist contents, Kanther said that within this framework, they may confiscate the ''Salvation'' which is the publication organ of the DHKP-C and the newspapers broadcast by THKP/C as illegal publications.

The ban, effective immediately, means that the two groups will be stripped of their assets and forbidden from continuing their activities in Germany. Any representation of the insignia of the two groups is also illegal.

Kanther said, ''the Federal government will work in coordination with the provincal administrations and will carry out its struggle against criminals having extreme right or left tendencies.''

Activities of the outlawed Dev-Sol organization had been banned in Germany in 1983.

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