Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-08-18

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

18 AUG 1998

CONTENTS

[01] 41 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED IN EDIRNE

[02] MILLER'S VISIT TO ANKARA - PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF THE TRNC: ''THE US TRIES TO PREVENT CRISIS THAT WILL BE CAUSED BY S-300 MISSILES'' - ''MILLER WILL COME TO CYPRUS IN SEPTEMBER''

[03] FOREIGN MINISTRY EXPRESSES SATISFACTION WITH KOSOVON ALBANIANS WHO HAVE FORMED DELEGATION THAT WILL JOIN NEGOTIATIONS'' - ''WE CONSIDER NECESSARY THAT ALL KOSOVON PEOPLE INCLUDING TURKISH MINORITY ARE REPRESENTED IN NEGOTIATIONS''

[04] ECONOMIC CRISIS IN RUSSIA - KILIC, CHAIRMAN OF TURKISH-RUSSIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL OF DEIK: - ''FLUCTUATION IN RUSSIAN FINANCIAL MARKETS WILL AFFECT POSITIVELY TURKISH BUSINESSMEN WHO MAKE INVESTMENTS AND CONTRACTS WITH FOREIGN CURRENCY''

[05] EGE, UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN TRADE: - ''DEVELOPMENTS IN RUSSIAN FEDERATION HAVE BEEN AFFECTING TURKEY FOR A WHILE'' - ''SHUTTLE TRADE CAN BE INCREASED''

[06] IMMIGRANT OPERATION IN BODRUM - A TOTAL OF 331 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED

[07] SIX TURKS WHO RAISED TURKISH FLAG AT KALYMNOS ISLAND, RELEASED

[08] BLAST IN EGYPTIAN BAZAAR - A BOMB CAUSED THE BLAST - A TOTAL OF 15 SEPARATIST TERRORISTS INVOLVED WITH INCIDENT ARE CAPTURED

[09] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[10] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[11] ORTA ANADOLU MENSUCAT EXPORTS 59 MILLION US DOLLARS OF DENIM TO BLUE- JEAN GIANTS IN FIRST SEVEN MONTHS

[12] STRIKE AT INCIRLIK - OFFICIALS FROM HARB-IS LABOR UNION AND US OFFICIALS CONVENE FOR FOURTH TIME

[13] CAPTURE OF ALAATTIN CAKICI - JUSTICE MINISTRY BEGINS TO PREPARE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR THE EXTRADITION OF CAKICI, CAPTURED IN FRANCE

[14] TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS THROUGHOUT TURKEY ON MONDAY - 62 DIE, 87 INJURIES

[15] BOND TENDER FROM TREASURY

[16] MILLER, SPECIAL ENVOY TO CYPRUS OF US DEPARTMENT OF STATE ARRIVES IN ANKARA

[01] 41 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED IN EDIRNE

Officials told the A.A correspondent that 26 Iraqis, 3 Bangladeshis and one Pakistani were captured in Olacak and Kiremitcisalih Villages and the Subasi District at Meric County.

The immigrants were taken into custody for the legal proceedings.

[02] MILLER'S VISIT TO ANKARA - PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF THE TRNC: ''THE US TRIES TO PREVENT CRISIS THAT WILL BE CAUSED BY S-300 MISSILES'' - ''MILLER WILL COME TO CYPRUS IN SEPTEMBER''

Noting that the US intends to protect the balance in the region, Denktas stressed that it is the problem for which Miller should find a solution during his contacts. He added that Miller will come to Cyprus in September.

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriots have no policy or plan towards overcoming the Cyprus question by using weapons, Denktas said, ''we don't aim at governing the Greek Cypriots, being the government of whole Cyprus, planting our flag at Baphos and Limasol, but they state every day that their purpose is to carry the Greek flag to Northern Cyprus. This is the difference between us.''

Denktas emphasized that he believes Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot side administration, will do what is necessary and abandon this crazy desire, adding that it is clear that Clerides will plunge Cyprus into a disaster otherwise.

[03] FOREIGN MINISTRY EXPRESSES SATISFACTION WITH KOSOVON ALBANIANS WHO HAVE FORMED DELEGATION THAT WILL JOIN NEGOTIATIONS'' - ''WE CONSIDER NECESSARY THAT ALL KOSOVON PEOPLE INCLUDING TURKISH MINORITY ARE REPRESENTED IN NEGOTIATIONS''

The statement of the Ministry evaluated the initiatives of the Kosovon Albanians towards forming the delegation as a significant step to find a peaceful solution to the crisis at Kosovo that has been continuing at a serious and risky level.

The Foreign Ministry also appreciated the contributions and efforts of Ibrahim Rugova, the Leader of the ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.

The statement stressed that President Slobodan Milosevic should appraise this opportunity that was put forward by the Kosovon Albanians. The Ministry noted that Turkey expects Yugoslavia to join the dialogue and negotiation process without conditions.

Emphasizing the importance of providing a lasting peace in Kosovo, the statement of the Foreign Ministry pointed out, ''Turkey considers necessary for all the Kosovon people including the Turkish minority to be represented in the negotiations and gives great importance to the legal rights of the Kosovon people to be taken under guarantee by the United Nations (UN) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).''

[04] ECONOMIC CRISIS IN RUSSIA - KILIC, CHAIRMAN OF TURKISH-RUSSIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL OF DEIK: - ''FLUCTUATION IN RUSSIAN FINANCIAL MARKETS WILL AFFECT POSITIVELY TURKISH BUSINESSMEN WHO MAKE INVESTMENTS AND CONTRACTS WITH FOREIGN CURRENCY''

Stressing that the economic crisis in Russia will cause the foreign investors to flee from the Russian stock exchange and financial markets, Kilic pointed out that these investors can orientate towards Turkey as Turkey's credit note remains positive while the other countries' notes have been decreased.

Kilic pointed out that the shuttle trade can be expected to decrease for a short while. He also added that the Russian middle class' cheap holiday preference can influence Turkish tourism positively.

[05] EGE, UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN TRADE: - ''DEVELOPMENTS IN RUSSIAN FEDERATION HAVE BEEN AFFECTING TURKEY FOR A WHILE'' - ''SHUTTLE TRADE CAN BE INCREASED''

Responding to the questions of the A.A correspondent about the economic crisis in the Russian Federation, Ege pointed out that Russia is a market that develops rapidly for Turkey. He reminded that the trade volume between the two countries was more than 4 billion US dollars and the shuttle trade increased up to 5 billion US dollars last year.

Ege stressed that the shuttle trade can be increased because of the economic crisis in Russia. He noted that the shuttle trade began when Russia couldn't realize her normal imports, adding that the shuttle trade will increase in case Russia once again becomes unable to make normal imports.

[06] IMMIGRANT OPERATION IN BODRUM - A TOTAL OF 331 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED

Officials told the A.A correspondent that there are 4 Moroccans, 7 Nigerians, 2 Canadians and 87 Iraqis among the 100 foreigners who were captured along with the 231 Turks.

The immigrants were taken into custody for the legal proceedings.

[07] SIX TURKS WHO RAISED TURKISH FLAG AT KALYMNOS ISLAND, RELEASED

The prosecutors accused the Turks with disturbing the peace and national values and leaving the port without permission.

The Turks will be tried in March 1999.

[08] BLAST IN EGYPTIAN BAZAAR - A BOMB CAUSED THE BLAST - A TOTAL OF 15 SEPARATIST TERRORISTS INVOLVED WITH INCIDENT ARE CAPTURED

Officials told the A.A correspondent that security forces captured 15 members of the separatist terrorist organization who are claimed to be involved in the incident.

[09] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

WANTED TURKISH MAFIA BOSS CAPTURED IN FRANCE
Alaattin Cakici, one of the top crime figures in Turkey, was captured yesterday in Nice, France. As a result of a joint operation of Turkish National Intelligence Service (MIT), Marseilles Police and French Intelligence Service, Cakici was arrested along with a female companion and a bodyguard at a Nice hotel. /All papers/

TEN ARRESTED JUST BEFORE JOINING PKK
Ten people were arrested in Van as they were about to be sent to Keleres, the PKK training camp in Iran. Anti-terror teams raided a house in Van after receiving intelligence that five people were to be sent to Keleres to be trained militarily and politically by the PKK. It is reported that fake identity cards, a pistol, bullets and illegal documents were found in the house. /Cumhuriyet/Milliyet/

DUFF AND PHELPS REAFFIRMS BB- RATING FOR TURKEY
The Duff and Phelps Credit Rating Cooperation (DCR) has informed Turkey that it reaffirmed its BB- long term foreign currency rating. The US-based agency assigned a long-term local currency rating of BB+. The Central Bank, with foreign currency reserves of around 26 billion US dollars, maintains a tight grip on the money markets. The country's fiscal position has shown an improvement this year under an economic programme monitored by the IMF. /Hurriyet/

ANTI-TERRORIST BRANCH APPREHENDS BOMBER
The anti-terrorist branch has apprehended a PKK terrorist who planted a bomb in the Misir Bazaar in Istanbul on 9 July, when seven people died in an explosion. The terrorist admitted planting the bomb, and said that he had been trained in Greece, the police officials say. Another 21 people have also been taken into custody in connection with the slaughter. /Hurriyet/

TPAO, AMACO TO JOINTLY DRILL FOR OIL
The Turkish Petroleum Joint Stock Company and Amaco, a Dutch petroleum company, will jointly drill for oil in the Mediterranean regions of Adana and Antalya. Amaco will share 13 licenses allowing TPAO to search and drill for oil in the region. /Hurriyet/

SLAUGHTER BY PKK IN NORTHERN IRAQ
The Voice of the Iraqi Kurdistan Democracy Party Radio reports that the PKK terrorists staged 170 attacks against civilians in Northern Iraq. The report says that the PKK abducted 35 persons and killed 20 including women and children. Mesut Barzani, the leader of the party, speaking on the radio, asked the PKK to withdraw from Northern Iraq. /Hurriyet/

COOPERATIVE ASSEMBLY '98
Army, navy and air exercises attended by the NATO member countries, Partnership for Peace (PFP) members and Eastern European countries started yesterday in Albania. The exercises called ''Cooperative Assembly '98'' will end on 22 August. Nearly 1,700 troops from 14 countries including Turkey are participating in the exercises. Admiral Joseph Lopez, the Commander of the Southern European NATO Forces, noted that the exercises were a message to the conflicting sides in Kosovo. /Milliyet/

[10] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT FOR KOSOVO
The Foreign Ministry officials said yesterday that they were pleased with the news which notes that the Kosovo Albanians will participate in the meetings to be held with the representatives of the Republic of Yugoslavia. It is reported that the meetings will be an important step for a peaceful solution to the Kosovo problem. /Cumhuriyet/

INTERNATIONAL MATHEMATICS SYMPOSIUM
An ''International Mathematics Symposium'' jointly organized by the Kocaeli University, the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Mathematics, Colorado University, Nebraska University and Moscow State University started yesterday in Sapanca, Iznik. /Cumhuriyet/

BEYPAZARI FACILITIES TO BE SET UP BY TURKS
The establishment of Beypazari Trona (mineral water) facilities, one of the leading projects opened by Turkey to foreign investments, will be realized by Turkish firms. A partnership agreement between the Eti Holding, which has opened a tender for the facilities and Bayindir and Park Holding will be signed in the forthcoming days. The investments will cost nearly 100 trillion TL. The Beypazari facilities have the richest mineral water reserves in the world. The foreign companies have previously proposed that they could establish the facilities in between seven and 10 years. However, the Turkish firms noted that they could establish the facilities in five years' time. /Cumhuriyet/

TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
As a result of various accidents throughout Turkey yesterday, 56 people died and 78 people were injured. The traffic accidents occurred at Corum, at Tarsus County of Icel Province, in Ispir County of Erzurum Province, on the Isparta-Gelendost highway and at Elbeyli County of Kilis Province. /Cumhuriyet/

TANER: ''RUSSIAN CRISIS NOT EXPECTED TO AFFECT TURKISH ECONOMY''
The crisis in Russia won't affect Turkey, believes Gunes Taner, the Minister of State Responsible for the Economy. Replying to the questions of journalists Taner said that the devaluation in Russia wasn't a surprise given the fluctuations in the global economy and said that none of these developments can affect Turkey. Russia can survive if she improves her trade relations with Turkey, which is her second largest trade partner after Germany, Taner said. Meanwhile, Isin Celebi, the Minister of State, said that all the necessary measures had been taken to protect Turkey from the crisis in Russia. /Sabah/

SIX TURKS TO BE TRIED IN GREECE AFTER RAISING TURKISH FLAG
Six Turks have been arrested and subsequently released in Greece after raising a Turkish flag on an electricity pole at the port of the Aegean island of Kalymnos (Kilimli) and then photographing the scene. In their testimony to the Greek police the Turks reportedly claimed that they had raised the Turkish flag and took pictures in front of it ''to have a memento for the future''. /Cumhuriyet/

UZBEK TURKISH-MADE SUGAR PLANT OPENS
The construction of the first Turkish-made sugar plant abroad has been completed in Uzbekistan. The plant in Horezm, Uzbekistan, will begin operations in September at full capacity. It was constructed with the partnership of the state-run Turkseker and Yuksel Construction Company. It cost approximately 100,000 US dollars to construct. This was financed by the Uzbek government and a loan provided by the Turkish Eximbank to Uzbekistan.

330 ILLEGAL MIGRANTS DETAINED
The police have detained more than 330 suspected illegal migrants on the western Aegean coasts as they prepared to leave Turkey, local government officials said on Monday. The Mugla Provincial Governor's office said that 231 Turkish citizens, 87 Iraqis, seven Nigerians, four Moroccans and 2 Canadians were arrested late on Sunday while they were waiting to board boats in the woods next to the shore. /Milliyet/

[11] ORTA ANADOLU MENSUCAT EXPORTS 59 MILLION US DOLLARS OF DENIM TO BLUE- JEAN GIANTS IN FIRST SEVEN MONTHS

The officials from the plant told the A.A correspondent that the Central Anatolia Textiles, exported 17 million 637 meters of denim in the first seven months of 1998 to the US, Italy, Britain, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Hungary and Croatia for 59 million US dollars.

Officials said that the exports of denim in the first seven months of this year increased by 28.8 percent compared with the same period last year, despite the crisis in the world economy and especially in the textile sector.

In the same period in 1997, the plant exported 12.1 million meters of denim for 45.8 million US dollars.

Officials said that the denim, which was produced at the Central Anatolia Textiles, was purchased by the Mavi Jeans, Levi's, Lee, Wrangler, Rifle, Calvin, 2000 and Colin's.

Pointing out that they were exporting 95 percent of their total production, officials said that they targetted to export 32 million meters of denim for 80 million US dollars by the end of the year.

[12] STRIKE AT INCIRLIK - OFFICIALS FROM HARB-IS LABOR UNION AND US OFFICIALS CONVENE FOR FOURTH TIME

The US Embassy Press Center said in a written statement that the officials from the Harb-Is Labor Union and from the US Air Forces convened for the fourth time in the last week.

Pointing out that the aim of both sides was to put an end to the strike which entered its 26th day, the statement stressed that the US shows respect for Turkey's laws related to labor, adding that the US side proposed a 30 percent salary increase for all workers, an increase proportional to the inflation to be determined by the official statistics every three months and a payment of 270 million Turkish Liras at the first stage for each worker.

Noting that a 30 percent increase for each working hour of all workers without considering rank, seniority and length of service was unfair, the statement said that the implementation would be an unjust treatment for the workers who had been working at the military facilities for many years.

Meanwhile, the negotiations aimed at stopping the strike didn't bring a positive result on Monday.

Mustafa Acet, the Chairman of the Turkish Harb-Is Branch in Adana, told the A.A correspondent that they made every effort to reach a consensus but the employer didn't show sincerity.

''We don't reject the negotiations. However, we never sit at the negotiation table if our demands aren't accepted,'' he stressed.

[13] CAPTURE OF ALAATTIN CAKICI - JUSTICE MINISTRY BEGINS TO PREPARE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR THE EXTRADITION OF CAKICI, CAPTURED IN FRANCE

Seref Unal, the General Director of International Law and Foreign Relations at the Ministry of Justice, responding to the A.A correspondent's questions, said they have initiated the necessary activities for the return of Cakici.

Recalling that they earlier prepared documents according to the judicial system of the US, acting on the allegations that Cakici was in this country, Unal said ''but the US returned this file saying that Cakici wasn't there. Now we are updating the file. It isn't possible to conclude them in short time because the file is comprehensive. However, we will conclude the documents in the shortest possible time, because the issue is very important.''

Unal said there was an agreement between Turkey and France regarding the extradition of criminals, adding that a 40-day period is foreseen for sending the documents to France.

When recalling the allegations that the extradition of criminals who were tried requesting capital punishment weren't possible, Unal said that the French government will decide on the extradition.

Cakici was arrested in a hotel in Nice along with a female companion and his bodyguard, who was armed with a pistol.

Meanwhile, it was reported that no information could be found in the Foreign Ministry records, related to the red passport in the name of ''Nedim Acar'' found with Cakici.

Sources pointed out that red passports provide diplomatic immunity and could only be given with the permission of the Foreign Ministry, adding that there were suspicions that the passport found was false.

Necati Utkan, Foreign Ministry Spokesman, said the diplomatic passport was not given by the foreign ministry.

The Foreign Ministry officials said that the extradition of Cakici will be made through diplomatic channels.

There are nine decisions for arrest in absence for Cakici related with one case in Bursa and eight in Istanbul.

[14] TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS THROUGHOUT TURKEY ON MONDAY - 62 DIE, 87 INJURIES

The most tragic and upsetting accident occurred in Corum in the Black Sea region. Two cars collided head on, killing Ali Nihat Eyuboglu, the former Technical Director of the A.A, his wife Nurten Eyuboglu, his son Serkan Eyuboglu and the people in the other car, Yalcin Sahin, Kadriye Sahin and Alper Sahin. In the same accident, Eyuboglu's daughter Aydan and two other people were injured.

In other tragic traffic accidents occurred in Icel, Erzurum, Isparta, Kilis, Eskisehir, Sivas, Kayseri, Izmir, Kirsehir, Ordu, Kahramanmaras, Adiyaman, Canakkale, Mugla, Agri, Gaziantep, Malatya, Cankiri, Bursa, Zonguldak and Antalya Provinces, a total of 56 persons died and 84 others were injured.

[15] BOND TENDER FROM TREASURY

The Treasury sold 313 trillion 365 billion Turkish Liras (TL) in bonds in the tender for which the total offer was 550 trillion 448 billion TL.

The composite interest with withholding was 109.09 percent while the composite interest without withholding was 99.95 percent and the simple interest without withholding was 75.65 percent.

The repayment of the three-month term bonds will be made on 18 October 1998.

The Treasury realized its previous three-month term bond tender on 17 March 1998 and the annual gross interest was 89.14 percent.

[16] MILLER, SPECIAL ENVOY TO CYPRUS OF US DEPARTMENT OF STATE ARRIVES IN ANKARA

Miller, who was welcomed by the officials at the US Embassy in Ankara, said he didn't bring a plan related to the Cyprus question, adding that he only wanted to talk with the Turkish officials.

During his two-day visit in Ankara, Miller is scheduled to talk first of all with Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister.

Miller will later meet with Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime Minister and Sukru Sina Gurel, Minister of State Responsible for Cyprus.

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