Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-08-27

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

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

27 AUG 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TANKER WHICH RUNS AGROUND OFFSHORE FROM THE HAREM DISTRICT OF ISTANBUL - RESCUE ACTIVITIES CONTINUE

[02] EXPLOSION AT DENIZLI FEED FACTORY - IT IS CLAIMED THAT EXPLOSION WAS CAUSED BY METHANE GAS PRESSURE

[03] LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN AFGHANISTAN - GENERAL DOSTUM AND GENERAL ABDUL MALIK IN ANKARA

[04] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ DUE TO VISIT RUSSIA OFFICIALLY IN OCTOBER - TANER, MINISTER OF STATE: ''TURKEY IS A CLOSE FRIEND OF RUSSIA''

[05] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''I WILL PUT AN END TO MAFIA WHO LEVY A TRIBUTE ON THE STATE''

[06] 67TH IZMIR INTERNATIONAL FAIR OPENS - EREZ, MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE: ''INTEREST AND ATTENDANCE AT THE INTERNATIONAL FAIRS IS AN INDICATION OF THE CONFIDENCE IN THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STABILITY OF THE COUNTRY WHICH STAGES THE FAIR''

[07] THE TRNC DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER DENKTAS: - ''CLERIDES IS PUSHED INTO A CORNER ON S-300 MISSILES'' - ''GREEKS AND GREEK CYPRIOTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERCOMING THIS PROBLEM''

[08] ''PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF TURKISH TOURISM''

[09] COAL MINE COLLAPSES - TWO PERSONS INJURED

[10] DRUG OPERATION IN EDIRNE - POLICE SEIZES 33.2 KG OF HEROIN HAVING MARKET VALUE OF NEARLY 400 BILLION TURKISH LIRAS

[11] ECEVIT DUE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

[12] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[13] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[14] BALANCE OF PAYMENTS - CURRENT BALANCE HAS DEFICIT OF 1.5 BILLION US DOLLARS IN JAN-JUNE PERIOD

[15] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 27 AUGUST 1998

[16] MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS - TURKEY WELCOMES NEWS REPORTS REGARDING REVIVAL OF PROCESS

[17] PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN OF ARMENIA TO BE INVITED TO CELEBRATIONS FOR 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF REPUBLIC

[18] INVESTIGATION FOR THE MISSING ONE TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS OF RP

[19] THE WORLD IN BRIEF - 27 AUGUST 1998

[20] MARSHY LANDS TO BE REHABILITATED

[21] EFFECTS OF ASIAN CRISIS ON TURKEY - EGE, FOREIGN TRADE UNDERSECRETARY: ''REAL OUTCOMES OF CRISIS FOR TURKEY TO BE REVEALED IN MEDIUM AND LONG- TERM''

[22] TURKEY IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO - FM: ''COORDINATION SHOULD BE PROVIDED IN THE ASSISTANCE THAT WILL BE MADE TO REFUGEES''

[23] PRIVATIZATION IN TURKEY

[24] TURKISH-INDIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL THIRD TERM MEETING

[01] TANKER WHICH RUNS AGROUND OFFSHORE FROM THE HAREM DISTRICT OF ISTANBUL - RESCUE ACTIVITIES CONTINUE

The General Directorate of the Coast Guard and Ship Rescue officials said that the rescue activities started immediately after the owner of the tanker requested help.

Officials said that they tried to rescue the tanker with steel ropes and six rescue tugboats, adding that these efforts had lead to nowhere so far.

They said that efforts to rescue the tanker will continue on Thursday with a method which they call ''Limbo'', which means by transferring the crude oil to another ship and added that 15-20 tonnes of the 140 tonnes of crude oil will be transferred to another tanker.

Officials said the Straits were closed to the traffic during the rescue activities.

The Greek flagged tanker, named the ''Crudegulf'', going from Italy to Russia, ran aground due to a technical failure at around 9:30 a.m. as it was passing via the Istanbul Straits, adding that the tanker, which was loaded with 140,000 tonnes of crude oil was 274 meters in height and 23 meters in width.

[02] EXPLOSION AT DENIZLI FEED FACTORY - IT IS CLAIMED THAT EXPLOSION WAS CAUSED BY METHANE GAS PRESSURE

Experts, sent by the Prosecutor's Office to determine the reason of the explosion, claimed that the explosion may have been caused by methane gas pressure as there wasn't the required ventilation.

There is an approximately 100 billion Turkish Lira financial loss due to the explosion.

Osman Abalioglu, Executive Board Chairman of the Feed factory, said ''an explosion happened in our factory on 25 August, which is the largest feed factory in the Balkans and the Middle East injuring 16 persons. The injured persons have no seious injuries and their treatment is underway.''

[03] LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN AFGHANISTAN - GENERAL DOSTUM AND GENERAL ABDUL MALIK IN ANKARA

The Uzbek General Rashid Dostum, who was the leader of the largest military force in Afghanistan several years ago, left Bamyan where he took shelter following the seizing of Mazar-e Sharif by the Taleban forces, and came to Turkey.

The diplomatic sources pointed out that General Dostum will hold contacts with the senior officials in Ankara.

General Dostum is also expected to meet with the Uzbek General Abdul Malik Pehlivan who fought together with Dostum for a long time during the civil war in Afghanistan, but later allied himself with the Taleban forces.

The same sources noted that General Abdul Malik has been in Ankara for 20 days and he held talks with several officials during this period.

The Taleban forces seized several important strongholds of the opposition in Northern Afghanistan during the latest attacks. A significant portion of the borders with the neighbouring countries, such as Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are under control of the Taleban Movement.

Meanwhile, the Taleban Movement had forced nearly 50 thousand Uzbeks, Turcomans and Tadjiks to migrate towards the south of the country after the US strike last week at the ''terrorist bases'' in the country with cruise missiles in retribution for bombings at the US Embassies in Africa and to thwart plans for new attacks.

Taleban's strict rules and application have created an increasing dissatisfaction throughout Afghanistan.

Following the latest developments in the region, Uzbekistan has tightened the security measures in the border region with Afghanistan. Kazakhstan, Tadjikistan and Kyrgyzstan held a meeting at the foreign ministry level in Tashkent in order to discuss the measures to be taken against the advances of the Taleban forces towards the north.

[04] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ DUE TO VISIT RUSSIA OFFICIALLY IN OCTOBER - TANER, MINISTER OF STATE: ''TURKEY IS A CLOSE FRIEND OF RUSSIA''

Guner Taner, the Minister of State, told the A.A correspondent that ''Turkey is a close friend of Russia'', adding that it wasn't a coincidence that he was the first statesman to visit Russia, related with the economic relations, after the crisis in Russia.

Taner pointed out that he would meet with Victor Chernomyrdin, the Russian Acting Prime Minister on Thursday.

Evaluating the crisis in Russia, Taner said that bankruptcy of the Russian economy was out of the question, adding that this country has the required infrastructure and export incomes to solve her economic problems. He said ''states won't become bankrupt, but liquidity.''

Stressing that he openly reiterated the request for the Turkish entrepreneurs to come and invest in Russia, Taner said ''this country will decrease the inflation and strengthen her economy. Developments of today will be settled eventually. However, Chernomydin, who is experienced, should set up the government soon and get support from the Duma.''

Recalling that Turkey experienced similar problems in the past, but overcame them, Taner said ''failing to make the required devaluation is the mistake of Russia. Extreme fluctuations will become balanced soon.''

Taner pointed out that the problems stemmed from the mistakes which were made in the past and the reaction of the market due to the economic principles, adding ''all these will be settled as Russia is a very large economy. The US and Europe should extend support in the end. The other states will help and assist in overcoming the problem.''

Responding to a question about how Turkey would be affected by this crisis and the measures that will be taken, Taner said ''the panic which some people want to spread about Russia fails to reflect the facts. The world is globalizing. Of course Turkey will be affected like the US and Europe.''

Taner said that it isn't certain how Turkey will be affected ''I think Turkey will be affected indirectly. The stock exchange in Turkey will be affected by the developments on the Russian stock exchange. Our contractors here won't be affected so much.''

Taner stressed that Turkey's volume of trade with Russia will be improved much in the long-term.

[05] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''I WILL PUT AN END TO MAFIA WHO LEVY A TRIBUTE ON THE STATE''

Addressing the public in Burdur where he came for several foundation-laying and opening ceremonies, Yilmaz listed the services which the government succeeded in realizing since last year, adding that the eight year compulsory education and tax reforms are the important ones.

Yilmaz said that the governments since 1991, didn't complete even one of the investments, adding ''they have done nothing for seven years. Now, they are opposing and make an alliance''.

Pointing out that he was forced to hold elections next April, Yilmaz said that their program was a three year program and that inflation may be reduced to 20 percent if he stays in the government for another year.

Yilmaz also said that his government attached a great importance to education which is one of the most serious problems in Turkey, adding that an important step was taken for the education problem with the eight year compulsory education.

[06] 67TH IZMIR INTERNATIONAL FAIR OPENS - EREZ, MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE: ''INTEREST AND ATTENDANCE AT THE INTERNATIONAL FAIRS IS AN INDICATION OF THE CONFIDENCE IN THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STABILITY OF THE COUNTRY WHICH STAGES THE FAIR''

Addressing the ceremony Erez said that the interest and attendance shown at the international fairs, is the indication of the confidence felt towards the political and economic stability of the country which stages the fair.

Noting that participation at the fair this year was more when compared with the other years, Erez said this years' attendance is an outcome of the confidence and importance felt towards Turkey.

Recalling that this year was announced as the African year, Erez said that the number of guests from the African countries increased.

Erez pointed out that the International Izmir Fair was one of the leading fairs in the world, adding ''fairs aren't only places where goods and services are presented, but the places where technological innovations are exhibited with their social and cultural attributes.''

Rajandra Madhukar Abhyankar, the Ambassador of India, the country which is the honorary guest at the fair, said they at the same time, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the independence of India.

Abhyankar said that the infrastructure of economic relations between Turkey and India were well-established, adding that the Turkish-Indian Joint Business Council will start in Izmir on Thursday.

Mustafa Boyacioglu, the Executive Board Chairman of the Izmir Fair Services Cultural and Art Activities (IZFAS), said that for increasing competitive power and obtaining a greater market share in the globalizing world economic system the single condition was to raise the image of companies and this was achieved by the fairs.

A total of 1607 companies, 432 of them foreign, from 44 countries are participating at the International Izmir Fair. The international part of the fair will end on 3 September and the national part will end on 10 September.

[07] THE TRNC DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER DENKTAS: - ''CLERIDES IS PUSHED INTO A CORNER ON S-300 MISSILES'' - ''GREEKS AND GREEK CYPRIOTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERCOMING THIS PROBLEM''

Stressing that Clerides went to Athens in order to overcome the difficulty caused by the missiles, Denktas requested the Greek Cypriot and Greek leaders to realize that they cannot carry on the missiles game any more.

Pointing out that the Turkish Cypriots have been determined and stable on the issue of the S-300 missiles from the very beginning, Denktas noted, ''We told them that we never use the missiles as an element of bargaining. We didn't create this problem, but they created it, now they will have to solve the problem.''

[08] ''PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF TURKISH TOURISM''

Addressing the conference on ''The Past, Present and Future of Turkish Tourism'' organized by the Anadolu University Application and Research Center, Siyahhan stressed that the most important difficulty of Turkish tourism is caused by insufficient and wrong promotion. Pointing out that Austria and India form a new market for tourism, Siyahhan noted they were hopeful about the tourists coming from Indonesia and Korea, but the economic crisis that hit the Asian countries, influenced this expectation negatively.

Siyahhan also emphasized that they aim at increasing the bed capacity from 900 thousand to one million this year.

[09] COAL MINE COLLAPSES - TWO PERSONS INJURED

Officials told the A.A correspondent that Yilmaz Turan (aged 34) and Adnan Durgut (aged 34) were injured in the incident and taken to the Social Security Authority (SKK) Hospital in Eregli County.

[10] DRUG OPERATION IN EDIRNE - POLICE SEIZES 33.2 KG OF HEROIN HAVING MARKET VALUE OF NEARLY 400 BILLION TURKISH LIRAS

Officials told the A.A correspondent that an international drug gang was broken in during the operation.

Two persons, one of them Dutch, concerning the drugs were taken into custody.

The investigation concerning the incident is underway.

[11] ECEVIT DUE IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

Ecevit will start contacts on 29 August and will be received by the Bosnian President Izzetbegovich. After meeting with Haris Sladzich, the Co-Chairman of the Bosnian Council of Ministers, will receive Jardanko Prlich, the Foreign Minister and his Assistants.

Ecevit is scheduled to participate at a luncheon which Mirsad Kurtovich, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, will host in his honor following his news conference.

Ecevit will visit the Turkish Embassy following his meetings with Eyup Ganich, the Chairman of the Bosnian Federation and his assistant Vladimir Soljic.

After addressing a ceremony which will be staged due to the starting of the Dbrinja V Project, Ecevit will attend a dinner which Eyup Ganic will host in his honor.

Deputy Prime Minister Ecevit will leave for Zenica on 30 August and participate in the celebrations that will be staged for the Victory Day at the Turkish Armed Forces Commandership in Bosnia.

Ecevit will pay a visit to the Zenica Iron and Steel Factory, which is the largest iron-steel installation in the Balkans, which plans to make a joint production with Kardemir.

Ecevit will return to Turkey the same day.

[12] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

DEMIREL CELEBRATES MALAZGIRT VICTORY
President Suleyman Demirel attended the celebrations for the 927th anniversary of the Malazgirt Victory yesterday. Demirel, who first made a tour of the Alparslan First Dam, construction of which is underway in Mus, later participated at the celebrations in Malazgirt. Demirel returned to Istanbul yesterday evening. /Sabah/

ECEVIT TO VISIT BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will visit Bosnia-Herzegovina next week. Ecevit, who will go to Sarajevo on 29 August, will meet with Alia Izzetbegovic, the Chairman of the Bosnia-Herzegovinian Presidential Council. Ecevit will also meet with Haris Sladzic, the Co-Chairman of the Bosnia-Herzegovinian Council of Ministers, and Jardanko Prlic, the Foreign Minister. /Milliyet/

EXPO-98 FAIR
Berna Yilmaz, the wife of Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz arrived yesterday in Lisbon with a delegation of 28 to visit the Expo-98 Fair. Cavit Kavak, the Minister of State, Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Yasar Okuyan, the Deputy Chairman of the Motherland Party and friends and businessmen were among the delegation visiting Lisbon. After touring Expo-98 the delegation later visited the museum founded by Nubar Gulbenkian. /Hurriyet/

TURKISH LIRA WON'T BE DEVALUED
Visiting Russia at a time when the country has fallen into a deep monetary crisis, Gunes Taner, the Minister of State, said that Turkey was concerned over the latest developments in Russia, but added that there was no cause to panic in Turkey. In his statement Taner said that a devaluation of the Turkish Lira similar to that of the Russian ruble was not in question. Adding that it isn't coincidental that he was the first minister responsible for the economy to visit Russia, Taner said that Turkey was a friend of Russia and that she would do everything in her power to help Russia during these difficult days. He added that Turkey would prove her friendship by holding higher level contacts in the near future. Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz will visit Moscow in October. /Hurriyet/

HEROIN OPERATION
During an operation jointly carried out by the Istanbul Narcotics Department and German Narcotics Department, five kilograms of heroin were seized in Istanbul yesterday. In connection with the incident, 15 persons, including eight in Germany, were taken into custody. /Sabah/

CREDIT FOR UNITED GARANTI
The United Garanti Bank International (UGBI) in the Netherlands, affiliated with the Turkish Garanti Bank, has signed a syndication credit worth 75 million US dollars. According to a statement made by the UGBI, an agreement concerning the credit was signed in Amsterdam yesterday. A total of 19 banks participated in the credit. /Sabah/

PRIVATIZATION EFFORTS TO INCREASE
Ugur Bayar, the Chairman of the Privatization Administration, said that 80- 90 percent of their privatization income target, which they announced earlier as 4.5 billion US dollars for 1998, has been achieved. Bayar noted that the fourth quarter of the year would be full of privatization initiatives. Bayar made a speech at a meeting of the Ankara Chambers of Industry yesterday and stated that political stability was essential for the achievement of the privatization targets. /Sabah/

RESCUE OPERATIONS FOR GREEK TANKER
Rescue operations are continuing for a Greek tanker, which went aground two days ago in the Bosphorus Straits due to a technical failure. One vessel and five Coast Guard Administration tugs are participating in the rescue operations. Officials noted yesterday that the giant tanker is carrying 170, 000 tons of crude oil, 20,000 tons of which will be transhipped to another vessel. Officials said that traffic through the straits could be affected during these rescue operations. /Sabah/

[13] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

ELECTIONS FOR PATRIARCH IN OCTOBER
Sahan Sivaciyan, the Deputy Patriarch of the Armenians living in Turkey, visited Erol Cakir, the Governor of Istanbul yesterday. Noting that an election board had been established for the election of the Patriarch and that Pilo Atan, the Chairman of the Board, was continuing his initiatives, Cakir said that the Armenians living in Turkey could elect their patriarch according to their own free will. Sivaciyan said that the elections would be held in October. /Sabah/

TURKEY TO MAKE PEACE BETWEEN AFGHAN LEADERS
General Rashid Dostum, the Afghan leader, came to Ankara yesterday after attending meetings in Iran about establishing an opposition front against the Taleban forces in Afghanistan. It is reported that another Afghan leader, Malik Khan came to Ankara 20 days ago. Turkish officials are trying to establish peace between the two leaders. Dostum had meetings with technical level officials in the National Intelligence Service (MIT) yesterday and later in the week he is expected to meet with deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister and Ahat Andican, the Minister of State. /Cumhuriyet/

19 REPORTED DEAD IN OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTHEAST
A total of 19 persons have been killed in operations conducted by the security forces against the PKK in southeastern and eastern Turkey. The regional security centre in Diyarbakir said that 12 members of the PKK and two Turkish soldiers had been killed during the clashes. Military sources reported that operations would continue in the region. Five other PKK militants have been killed in the eastern Anatolia province of Erzincan. /Cumhuriyet/Sabah/

''TURKEY HAS UNTIL 25 SEPTEMBER TO DEMAND CAKICI'S EXTRADITION''
Turkey has until 25 September to request the extradition of the underground figure Alaattin Cakici, wanted in Turkey on charges of murder, Necati Utkan, the Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. In his weekly press conference Necati Utkan said that the Foreign Ministry was closely following the current situation of Turcomans who are under attack from the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) forces, adding that Turkey attached great importance to supporting the Turcoman tribes people. /Sabah/Cumhuriyet/

MESUT YILMAZ TO VISIT MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz will visit Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Administration between 5-8 September. According to a statement from the Prime Ministry Press Office, Yilmaz will be in Jordan between 5-6 September and will have talks in Israel and with the Palestinian leadership between 7- 8 September. The Prime Minister will be accompanied by businessmen and journalists during his Mideast tour. /Milliyet/

PRO-PKK OFFICE BANNED IN GERMANY
The Ministry of the Interior of the German Federal State of Hessen has banned the actvities of the ''International Frankfurt People's House''. In a written statement released by Hessen's Ministry of the Interior, and reported on Wednesday, it was declared that the organization acted as if it were performing all the functions of the previously closed ''Frankfurt Kurdistan

Information Center''.

TURKISH OFFICIALS DISCUSS PKK
Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, General Hilmi Ozkok, Second Commander-in Chief of the General Staff and Ergin Celasin, the General Secretary of the National Security Council (MGK), met yesterday at the Foreign Ministry to discuss the separatist terrorist PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan's recent plans to seek a political base in Europe. They drafted the strategy that the Turkish Representations will apply against the PKK's political campaign abroad. At the meeting, Russia's recent decision to establish a military facility in southern Cyprus was also discussed. /Cumhuriyet/

[14] BALANCE OF PAYMENTS - CURRENT BALANCE HAS DEFICIT OF 1.5 BILLION US DOLLARS IN JAN-JUNE PERIOD

The Central Bank said that in the first half of this year, when compared to the same period last year, the current deficit decreased by 34.7 percent.

Current deficit in the January-June period of 1997 was 2.3 billion US dollars. The statement said that the increase of import expenses by 3.7 percent and the increase of export incomes by 2.4 percent and decrease in the shuttle trade by 14.7 percent, the foreign trade deficit increased 11.4 percent and reached 7.5 billion US dollars.

It was also reported that in the first half of this year, a total of 5.9 billion US dollars in foreign borrowing was repaid.

According to the Balance of Payments Balance Sheet, 3.6 billion US dollars of the foreign borrowing payments for last year was capital and 2.2 billion dollars was the payment for interest.

This means, Turkey, in the first half of this year, made a repayment of foreign borrowing which is 26.6 percent more when compared with the same period last year.

[15] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 27 AUGUST 1998

The ambassadors of the US, Italy, India, Pakistan, Japan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Jordan, the military attachés of Russia, Germany, France and the US, several Uzbek bureaucrats and Turkish businessmen were in attendance at the reception at the Turkish Embassy in Uzbekistan.

Addressing the reception, Colonel Ugur Kurucuk, the Turkish Military Attaché to Uzbekistan, said, ''this isn't only the day of the Turkish Armed Forces, but at the same time it is the day when the War of Independence resulted in victory.''

Kurucuk also congratulated the 7th Independence Holiday of Uzbekistan.

ISTANBUL - The 6th International BMW Cup Yachting Competitions organized by BMW, Borusan Automotive, the Distributor of Land Rover in Turkey, and Open Sea Competition Club, will begin in Istanbul tomorrow, it was reported on Thursday.

A total of 35 yachts will participate at the competitions that will last for three days.

The competitions will end on 30 August.

VAN - The Gendarmes captured four Iranian and Iraqi immigrants who entered Turkey illegally in Sirimli Village in Saray County and Kayrak Village in Baskale County of Van Province, it was reported on Thursday.

Mustafa Rahmanli (aged 18), Behmen Mirzai (aged 15), Jabbar Mahmut Alamiriy (aged 50) and Ali Jabbar Mahmut Alamiriy (aged 21) were taken into custody.

ISTANBUL - The Turkish National Olympiad Committee's Olympic Philately Group (TMOK) won five silver and three bronze medals at the ''Budapest-98 International Olympiad and Sports Stamps Competition within the scope of the 17th European Athletics Championship, it was reported on Thursday.

Meanwhile Georgina Kovacs, a Hungarian swimmer, won the special award of the TMOK with her collection ''Swimming is My Life''.

[16] MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS - TURKEY WELCOMES NEWS REPORTS REGARDING REVIVAL OF PROCESS

Necati Utkan, the Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, evaluated the news reports saying that the talks between the Israeli and Palestinian delegations were resuming. Utkan said, ''these reports give the hope that the differences of opinion between the Israeli and Palestinian delegations, related with the US Peace Plan, were narrowing.''

Utkan stressed that he requested the sides to evaluate well the opportunity, within the framework of the US Peace Plan, to revive the Middle East Peace Process again and reiterated that this process was important for regional peace and stability.

[17] PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN OF ARMENIA TO BE INVITED TO CELEBRATIONS FOR 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF REPUBLIC

Armenian Presidency stated that they have welcomed the invitation, but they haven't yet decided whether Kocharian himself or a representative of his will attend the celebrations.

Meanwhile, the AFP News Agency quoted Kasya Abgarian, the Adviser of Kocharian, as saying that Kocharian has accepted in principle to send a delegation to Turkey in order to attend the celebrations.

Necati Utkan, the Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, told the A.A correspondent that they haven't yet received an official response from Armenia to President Demirel's invitation.

[18] INVESTIGATION FOR THE MISSING ONE TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS OF RP

The Ankara Republic Chief Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation for the missing one trillion Turkish Liras.

A delegation composed of a group of prosecutors, concluded the investigation made upon the denouncement of Savas and submitted the preliminary reports to Mehmet Ali Karaatli, the Acting Chief Prosecutor, who deputized the Ankara Republic Prosecutor's Office.

During the investigation of the accounts for the past year of the RP, one trillion Turkish Liras, composed of the aid obtained from the Treasury, the donations and the interest were ''missing.''

The Ministry of Finance officials said that following the decision of the Constitutional Court to close the RP on 16 January 1998, documents were prepared that the money in question was sent to the local offices, but it was later understood that the money wasn't sent to the local offices.

[19] THE WORLD IN BRIEF - 27 AUGUST 1998

SINGAPORE - Fears of global shockwaves from Russia's financial crisis dragged the Tokyo stocks down three percent and drove the Australian and Canadian currencies to all-time lows as investors belted up for a wild ride. From Washington to Paris, world leaders urged Russia to take stern steps to dig itself out of its crisis as the spectre of global recession haunted the financial markets.

LONDON - The mark slid against other major currencies and European shares suffered renewed losses as investors nervously watched the fate of Russia's debt and currency market.

LONDON - The Scottish lawyer acting for two Libyans accused of the 1988 Lockerbie airliner bombing said he didn't expect a trial for at least a year -- and the pair hadn't agreed to leave Libya. Britain and the United States are pressing Libya to accept their plan to have the trial held in the Netherlands under Scottish law.

UNITED NATIONS - A key UN arms inspector has resigned from his post with an angry blast at the Security Council, the United States and the UN Secretary General for not standing up to a defiant Baghdad in uncovering the weapons of mass destruction. The criticism by Scott Ritter, a 37 year-old former US Marine Corps Captain repeatedly involved in standoffs with Iraq, was leveled in a letter to Richard Butler, the Chief Weapons Inspector, on Wednesday. Ritter headed teams which penetrated Iraq's concealment efforts.

KINSHASA - Soldiers loyal to President Laurent Kabila patrolled the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo after a night of uncertainty passed calmly with no immediate sign of fresh rebel action. Residents reported a heavy military deployment across the city, but they said that the government forces appeared to be in control, even in the sprawling eastern suburb of Masina, which was heavily infiltrated by rebels on Wednesday.

HARARE - Zimbabwe is sending more troops to the Democratic Republic of the Congo where it has about 600 soldiers supprting President Laurent Kabila, the official Herald newspaper reported.

WILMINGTON, North Carolina - Hurricane Bonnie hit coastal North Carolina with floods that cut new inlets in at least two barrier islands and spawned damaging tornadoes further inland, officials said. Despite widespread damages, no casualties were reported. More than a half a million persons had been evacuated from the coastal areas prior to the landfall of the hurricane.

NAIROBI - A key suspect in the bombing of the US Embassy in Nairobi has been sent to the United States from Kenya, a US official told the Reuters. ''I can confirm that Khalid Salim was flown to the United States last night with FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) agents. I do not know if he has arrived yet or not,'' the official, who asked not be identified, told the Reuters.

CAPE TOWN - The US explosives experts joined South African police searching for evidence after the bombing of Cape Town's Planet Hollywood restaurant earlier this week. Police spokesman Wicus Holtzhausen told the Reuters that investigators from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who helped investigate the bombing of the US Embassy in Nairobi earlier this month, arrived at the scene.

TEL AVIV - A small bomb exploded in the heart of Tel Aviv, injuring at least 12 persons near the city's main synagogue, according to police who said that they believed the Arab militants were behind the attack.

SHENZHEN, China - Thirty criminals were put to death in a mass firing squad execution in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, local newspapers reported. They were sentenced on Wednesday morning as part of a national ''Strike Hard'' anti-crime campaign and were immediately taken away to be shot.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Janet Reno, the US Attorney General, has decided to order a new preliminary investigation into Vice President Al Gore's fund- raising activities, the Department of Justice officials said. Facing mounting political pressure from the Republicans in Congress, Reno has decided to open a 90-day inquiry into Gore's fund-raising telephone calls to determine if an independent counsel should be appointed, they said.

TOKYO - Japan was gripped by a new mass poisoning scare after bottles of lethal disinfectant described as a diet drink were sent to a teacher and 23 students at a Tokyo high school. Police said the only student who drank the liquid was in hospital in serious condition with a badly burned throat, including a blister the size of a golf ball and breathing difficulties.

BEIJING - Anti-flood workers in China's central Hubei province are working around the clock to reinforce soggy dikes, while school openings may be postponed in some water-logged areas, state media and officials said. The Yangtze River's worst floods since 1945 saw a seventh flood crest arrive in Hubei Province's Honghu city Thursday morning, a city anti-flood official said.

TOKYO - Torrential rain in parts of Japan sent rivers spilling over their banks and set off landslides that left 10 persons dead and at least five others missing, local authorities said.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida - A Delta 3 rocket carrying a US communications satellite exploded in a 225 million US dollar fireball on Wednesday night, soon after blasting off from Cape Canaveral on its maiden flight. The 12- story rocket, built by Boeing burst into flames, scattering fiery debris across the evening sky, a little more than a minute after liftoff at 9:17 p.m. EDT (0117 GMT).

[20] MARSHY LANDS TO BE REHABILITATED

The officials from the Ministry of Forestry told the A.A correspondent that a unit including the experts from the World Bank and United Nations and the Turkish experts were sent to marshy regions to make research. The expert- unit concluded its studies in the marshy region in Bursa Province in the Marmara Region, while it continues research in the marshy regions in central Konya, Kayseri and Nigde Provinces. The unit will finish its reports in September and submit them to the General Directorate of National Parks, Hunting and Wildlife.

The Ministry of Forestry, in accordance with the reports, will cooperate with the Ministries of the Environment, Culture, Public Works and Housing, National Defense, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and with the concerned organizations like the State Water Works, Motorways and with municipalities in order to specify the measures that should be taken at the marshy lands.

[21] EFFECTS OF ASIAN CRISIS ON TURKEY - EGE, FOREIGN TRADE UNDERSECRETARY: ''REAL OUTCOMES OF CRISIS FOR TURKEY TO BE REVEALED IN MEDIUM AND LONG- TERM''

Yavuz Ege told the ''Ekonomik Forum'' magazine, which is the monthly press organ of Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) that the negative results of the Asian crisis on Turkey is the decrease in world trade and its deviating effects. ''As a result Turkey may be confronted with great competition in several products,'' he said.

Describing the positive effects of Asian crisis on Turkey as ''opportunities of cheap imports to Turkey and the status of her to be an alternative country, which can attract the foreign capital that leaves Asia, '' Ege pointed out that the crisis in the field of finance has spread to the field of the real economy.

Noting that the enterprises which are closed in countries having a financial crisis caused a decrease in the exports of the firms of these countries, Ege stressed that the Turkish firms can have new opportunities in markets where these firms get weaker.

''However, the cheapening effects of the crisis seen in the Far East haven't still been reflected in the costs of the Turkish firms. The Turkish leather industry is also being negatively influenced by the conditions which confront the South Korean firms which buy raw leather from other countries,'' said Ege, adding that the iron-steel exports of Turkey are also being negatively affected by the crisis.

[22] TURKEY IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO - FM: ''COORDINATION SHOULD BE PROVIDED IN THE ASSISTANCE THAT WILL BE MADE TO REFUGEES''

The Foreign Ministry said in a written statement that the concerned sides preferred to solve the conflict by use of force rather than negotiations and this caused a humanitarian tragedy in the region, adding that all kinds of efforts should be launched to solve the conflict in Kosovo, as the number of refugees and people who are forced to leave their country has reached 200,000.

Recalling that Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister sent letters to his counterparts in the Southern European countries after he visited the Tropoje refugee region near Kosovo, the statement added that Cem attributed importance to assistance that will be given to the Kosovonian refugees and he brought the project of the ''Southeastern European Humanitarian Assistance Initiative for Kosovonian Refugees'' to the attention of the other Foreign Ministers in his letters.

The statement added that the project aims to make the humanitarian assistance institutions take steps in Kosovo and to provide ''coordination in the assistance that will be made.''

Pointing out that the Red Crescent in Turkey sent humanitarian aid to refugees in this country when President Suleyman Demirel visited Albania, the Foreign Ministry added ''the humanitarian assistance, that will be prepared by the Red Crescent won't only reach Albania but also Kosovo.''

The Foreign Ministry stressed that Turkey will continue to hold contacts with other countries in order to meet the humanitarian needs of the Kosovonians, adding that the Yugoslavian officials are expected to continue their cooperation in efforts aimed at reaching the humanitarian aid to the Kosovonians as soon as possible.

[23] PRIVATIZATION IN TURKEY

The total income from the realized privatizations was 4.5 billion US dollars while the target for privatization in 1998 is 12.2 billion US dollars.

According to the Privatization Administration Board (OIB) report on ''Privatization in Turkey'', the privatization activities started in 1984 with the ''transfer to the private sector'' implementations aimed at concluding the half-constructed public facilities or building a new facility.

Within the framework of the programme, which has been pursued to put the public shares in the public organizations or corporations into the scope of privatization, a total of 173 organizations were put into the scope of privatization. Later, twenty of those organizations were removed from the scope, while there are still 40 organizations and some real estate properties to be privatized.

Within the framework of the programme, the OIB realized the sale/transfer of shares and assets of 131 organizations and a total of 113 organizations were privatized without leaving any public share. There are still public shares in 13 organizations which were partly privatized by the methods of block-sale, public offering, international offering, sale at the Istanbul Stock Exchange or asset-sale.

A total of 4.5 billion US dollars of income has been obtained since 1984 while the net inflow as of 1997 was 3.2 billion US dollars.

The targeted privatization for 1998 was 12.2 billion US dollars of which the cash inflow from other implementations including the OIB's privatization implementations in 1998 is 9 billion US dollars while a 1 billion 965.5 million US dollar portion of this target was realized.

A total of 1 billion US dollars of the realized privatization in 1998 was provided from the GSM lines license transfers, while 965.5 million US dollars was gained from privatization implementations. Also, the contracts of 1.2 billion US dollars in implementations came to the signing-level.

Together with the 1.3 billion US dollars of dividend yield obtained from the organizations which were put into the scope of privatization and 374 million US dolars of the other sources, the total sources between 1985-1996 reached 4.8 billion US dollars.

In the same period, a total of 4.6 billion US dollars were spent within the framework of privatization implementations. Almost 60 percent of the total expenditures were composed of capital participation in the organizations in the scope of privatization and financings which were transferred as debts.

The most preferred method for the privatization was the block-sale. A total of 45 percent of the total privatizations were realized by this method, while 16 percent were realized by international offering, 15 percent by public offering, 12 percent by the sale on the IMKB and 12 percent by the facility/asset sale.

The tender/sale procedure for the organizatione in the scope of privatization continues. The name of these companies are as follows: the Petrol Ofisi Corp, the Turkish Maritime Enterprises Co, the Sumer Holding Corp, the Orus Forestry Products Industry Co, the Turban Tourism Co, the Deniz Nakliyatý T.A.S. (Maritime Transport Turkish Corp), the Ankara Anonim Turk Insurance Co., the Guven Insurance Trade and Co, the Turkish Airlines, and the Erdemir Eregli Iron and Steel Factories Co.

The privatization of the Turk Telekommunications Co. continues within the framework of the Law No. 4161 which went into effect on 5 August 1997.

Meanwhile, in accordance with the decision of the Privatization Supreme Committee, the Turkish Fertilizer Industry Co.(Tugsas), the Istanbul Fertilizer Industry Co (Igsas), the Asil Steel Industry and Trade Co, the Etimesgut Wooden Industry and Trade Co (Etag), the Takim Tezgahlari Industry and Trade Co (Taksan) and the Turkish Motor Industry and Trade Co (Tumosan) were put into the scope of privatization on 21 August 1998.

[24] TURKISH-INDIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL THIRD TERM MEETING

Addressing the Turkish-Indian Business Council Third Term Meeting, Saygin recalled that India was perticipating at the 67th Izmir Internatioal Fair as a guest country, adding, ''I believe the Business Council meetings, which constitute an important opportunity for improving the existing relations between our two countries, will make considerable contributions to the development of the commercial and economic cooperation.''

Pointing out that the commercial relations between Turkey and India had entered into an inclining trend in recent years, Saygin said, ''however, these relations haven't reached the desired level yet. The volume of trade, which was recorded as 135 million US dollars in 1991, increased to 360 million US dollars last year. However, you can easily see that it is possible that the amount can increase over this level when the economic and commercial potentials of our two countries are taken into consideration. Within this framework and within the lights of the recent developments in the Turkish and Indian economies, I believe that the private sectors are responsible for developing the bilateral commercial relations.''

Noting that the mutual visits of the delegations including the Turkish and Indian private sector representatives and businessmen should be supported, Saygin said, ''because, one of the basic problems in the bilateral commercial relations is the mutual lack of information about the market potentials of Turkey and India.''

Emphasizing that also the government attaches great importance to the activities of the Turkish-Indian Business Council, Saygin said, ''both the Turkish and Indian governments have created an available atmosphere aimed at accelerating the mutual joint investment initiatives and drawing foreign investments to their countries. I believe we should obtain the maximum benefit from this. Thus we, as the governments, should encourage our companies to seek mutual investment opportunities and turn these opportunities into concrete projects.''

Noting that she was pleased with the activities started by the two countries in the field of cooperation in science and technology, Saygin said, ''I hope these joint efforts in a short time will bring concrete results which will contribute to the economic developments of our two countries.''

R.M. Abhyankar, the Ambassador of India to Turkey, said that the Turkish and Indian companies cooperate especially in textile paints, chemistry sector and computer software systems.

Stressing that the trade between Turkey and India will further develop, Abhyankar said, ''it can be difficult to reach a result in the bilateral relations. The delegations pay mutual visits. A few months ago, an Indian delegation came to Turkey and held contacts with the representatives of the Turkish tobacco and textile sectors and observed the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP). The Turkish durable-goods manufacturers had reached an agreement to realize production in India. They will also produce tractor spare parts.''

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