Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-09-03

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

03 SEPT 1998

CONTENTS

[01] ''TALEBAN GUARANTEE'' FROM TURKEY TO CENTRAL ASIAN REPUBLICS - PRESIDENT AKAEV OF KYRGYZSTAN RECEIVES IRTEMCELIK

[02] THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF REPUBLIC OF TURKEY TO BE CELEBRATED IN BELGIUM

[03] TURKEY OFFICIALLY REQUESTS EXTRADITION OF CAKICI FROM FRANCE

[04] BARZANI, THE KDP LEADER IN ANKARA - THE KDP SPOKESMAN ABDURRAHMAN: - ''WE EXPECT FRIENDSHIP AND MUTUAL GOOD RELATIONS WITH TURKEY''

[05] ECEVIT, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: - ''CYPRUS QUESTION HAS BEEN SOLVED FOR TURKEY AND THE TRNC LONG AGO''

[06] AKTAS, THE MINISTER OF INTERIOR: ''RUSSIA IS A LARGE MARKET, THE GOVERNMENT SEEKS WAYS TO OVERCOME THE CRISIS WITH A MINIMUM LOSS''

[07] ADDITIONAL MEASURES IN ECONOMY - PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ EXPLAINS ADDITIONAL MEASURES IN ECONOMY: ''THE MEASURES THAT WE HAVE TAKEN WILL PROTECT THE RESISTANCE OF TURKISH ECONOMY AGAINST THE CRISIS SEEN ON INTERNATIONAL MARKETS''

[08] ''GREEN MASSACRE'' ALLEGATIONS IN FIRTINA STREAM - FOREST MINISTRY SENDS A TEAM IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE THE ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION IN REGION

[09] ''HEY TURKEY'' EXHIBITION IN EUROPE - EXHIBITION FORMED BY WORKS OF FAMOUS TURKISH CARICATURISTS TO BE OPENED FIRST IN BERLIN

[10] TANER, THE STATE MINISTER: ''WE'VE TAKEN A SERIES OF MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN THE BANKING SYSTEM IN TURKEY AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO''

[11] ORIENT EXPRESS LEAVES ISTANBUL - A FAREWELL CEREMONY HELD AT SIRKECI RAILWAY STATION FOR ORIENT EXPRESS

[12] DATA PROCESSING '98 FAIR STARTS - MORE THAN 600 FIRMS PARTICIPATE IN THE FAIR

[13] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[14] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[15] HASHISH OPERATION IN BURSA

[16] KORUKCU, CHAIRMAN OF UNION OF BANKS: - ''GOVERNMET HAS BROUGHT MOST OF THE MEASURES AIMED AT REMOVING A PROBABLE PROBLEM''

[17] TURKEY TO PLAY 23TH MATCH UNDER DIRECTORSHIP OF DENIZLI - NATIONAL TEAM WINS SIX MATCHES AND LOSES ELEVEN OTHERS DURING PERIOD OF COACHING OF DENIZLI

[18] RUSSIA DECREASES CUSTOMS RATES

[19] THREE TURKISH COMPANIES NOMINATED FOR EUROPEAN QUALITY AWARD - ARCELIK, NETAS AND BEKO TRADE QUALIFY FOR 1998 EUROPEAN QUALITY AWARD FINALS

[20] SEMDIN SAKIK, THE SEPARATIST TERRORIST AT COURT - SAKIK SAYS THAT HE DISMISSES THREE OUT OF FOUR LAWYERS: ''MY TWO LAWYERS HAVE BEEN THREATENED, I KILLED PARENTS OF MANY CHILDREN, I DON'T WANT THE CHILDREN OF MY LAWYERS TO BE ORPHANS, TOO''

[21] NEW VISA APPLICATION OF SYRIA - SYRIAN EMBASSY IN JORDAN STOPS GIVING VISAS TO TURKISH CITIZENS WHO DON'T RESIDE IN JORDAN

[22] EXPORTS FROM AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR - EIGHT-MONTH EXPORTS INCREASE BY 14 PERCENT

[23] TURKISH UNION OF TOURIST GUIDES ESTABLISHED

[24] THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS TRAINING CONVENES - TURK, THE STATE MINISTER:''EDUCATION HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN MAKING RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS BE FELT BY EVERYONE''

[25] TURKISH TEKFEN TO SELL SPARE PARTS TO IRAQ

[26] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ WILL PAY A VISIT TO MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES

[01] ''TALEBAN GUARANTEE'' FROM TURKEY TO CENTRAL ASIAN REPUBLICS - PRESIDENT AKAEV OF KYRGYZSTAN RECEIVES IRTEMCELIK

Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, the Deputy Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry who has begun a tour in the Central Asian Republics, was received by President Askar Akaev of Kyrgyzstan.

Irtemcelik expressed Turkey's support for the Central Asian Republics at the meeting. He conveyed President Suleyman Demirel's message to Akaev inviting him to the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey.

Addressing the meeting, President Akaev thanked Demirel for his invitation.

Akaev pointed out that Turkey provides economic support to the Central Asian Republics and added that his country needs this support.

Meanwhile Askar Akaev has invited President Demirel to the opening ceremony of Kyrgyz-Turk Manas University in October.

Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik left after the meeting for Kazakhstan.

[02] THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF REPUBLIC OF TURKEY TO BE CELEBRATED IN BELGIUM

Several groups from Turkey will present the joint performance named ''Turquie: La Belle'' (Beautiful Turkey) in the cities of Charleroi and Namur between 17 and 18 September.

Meanwhile folk dances, concerts, a fashion show and a song recital will be held in the programme that will be organized in the Valon region of Belgium.

[03] TURKEY OFFICIALLY REQUESTS EXTRADITION OF CAKICI FROM FRANCE

The file concerning the extradition request was conveyed to the French Foreign Ministry along with a note from the officials at the Turkish Embassy in France.

The French Foreign Ministry is expected to convey the mentioned files to the Ministry of Justice.

[04] BARZANI, THE KDP LEADER IN ANKARA - THE KDP SPOKESMAN ABDURRAHMAN: - ''WE EXPECT FRIENDSHIP AND MUTUAL GOOD RELATIONS WITH TURKEY''

Addressing the journalists at the Esenboga Airport, Sami Abdurrahman, the Spokesman of the KDP, said that bilateral relations and other issues will be discussed during Barzani's visit to Turkey.

Abdurrahman stressed that they expect friendship and mutual good relations with Turkey.

Mentioning the complaints of the Turcomans about the attacks on the offices belonging to the Turcomans last month, Abdurrahman stressed ''the Turcomans are our brothers. We have been living with them in peace for centuries. Fanatic groups are responsible for the latest incidents in the region.''

Responding to a question about whether Barzani will meet with Celal Talabani, the Leader of the Patriotic Union for Kurdistan (PUK) during his visit to the US, Abdurrahman told the reporters, ''Barzani will go to the US first and then Talabani will visit the US after Barzani concludes his contacts. An unofficial meeting is planned between Talabani and Barzani. The meeting will focus on the issues such as establishment of the joint administration in Northern Iraq.''

[05] ECEVIT, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: - ''CYPRUS QUESTION HAS BEEN SOLVED FOR TURKEY AND THE TRNC LONG AGO''

Addressing the journalists while he was leaving the Prime Minister's Office, Ecevit reminded that Greece has rejected the confederation proposal of President Rauf Denktas of the TRNC, and said, ''If they would be realistic, they would admit that the current situation on Cyprus is also a realistic solution for them. Clashes had occurred on the island before the Turkish Peace Movement. Cyprus was in a poor condition and there were pressures on the island, but following the Peace Movement there has been a lasting peace, security, democracy and development on Cyprus. I cannot imagine a better solution than this.''

Responding to a question ''a policy towards a two-side federation had been put forward for Cyprus previously. Now, there is a new effort called a confederation. How do you evaluate this?'', Ecevit told the reporters, ''A federation will appear to be established between the European Union and the Greek Cypriot Administration after the EU has opened its doors to the Greek Cypriot side. In the near future, a regulation that is based on the recognition of two equal and independent states on the island can be considered.''

[06] AKTAS, THE MINISTER OF INTERIOR: ''RUSSIA IS A LARGE MARKET, THE GOVERNMENT SEEKS WAYS TO OVERCOME THE CRISIS WITH A MINIMUM LOSS''

Visiting the Union of Aegean Exporters, Aktas said ''Russia is a large market and it's necessary to overcome the effects of the Russian crisis in Turkey with a minimum loss. If the measures aren't sufficient, then additional measures will be taken.''

[07] ADDITIONAL MEASURES IN ECONOMY - PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ EXPLAINS ADDITIONAL MEASURES IN ECONOMY: ''THE MEASURES THAT WE HAVE TAKEN WILL PROTECT THE RESISTANCE OF TURKISH ECONOMY AGAINST THE CRISIS SEEN ON INTERNATIONAL MARKETS''

Prime Minister Yılmaz said during his meeting held with the Executive Board members of the Union of Banks that there is a liquidation problem on the financial markets in spite of the positive developments in the economy, adding that they decided to implement a series of measures in order to prevent the further escalation of this problem and they decided to implement these measures in the coming weeks.

Prime Minister Yılmaz announced the additional measures that will be taken as follows:

-At first, it was decided that the implementation about the evaluation of public bonds to be issued before 1 January 1999 with their purchase prices. This means the protection of the rights of the buyers.

-It was decided to remove the withholding for the public shares by 1 October 1998.

-It was adopted to decrease the withholding rate on deposit interests by 1 January 1999 and to equalize it with the withholding rate implemented on repurchasing (repo) interests.

-Also, it was decided to give tax privileges to public bonds to encourage long-term public bonds.

Prime Minister Yilmaz defined these additional measures as the subjects which were asked by the financial markets to overcome the liquidity squeeze.

''With these measures, we hope the financial markets will protect themselves from the effects of the crisis stemming from the international financial markets. These are the measures which will protect the Turkish economy's power and resistance against the crisis on the international markets.

Mesut Yilmaz said that it is impossible to think that Turkey will never be affected from the crisis in the short-term when the dimensions of that international crisis are taken into consideration.

Yilmaz stressed ''the success in the economic programme'' and ''Turkey's being exposed to that crisis with a high-level of foreign exchange reserves'' are the two important factors enabling Turkey to overcome the crisis with a minimum loss.

''The financial markets have helped us in this issue up until now. Our government will always abide by the perception of the market economy. To intervene especially on the financial markets is out of the question. This is valid for all markets. We expect them to support the government in the implementation of the Tax Reform which carries vital importance for the success of the economic programme. I hope the measures will help in overcoming the crisis,'' Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz mentioned.

Noting that the fluctuations on the international markets continue since the start of the crisis in Russia, Yilmaz said that the programme in the Turkish economy will be pursued without being affected by all of these developments.

''We have been informed on the statistics for August. These statistics show a full-concordance with the targets of the economic programme. We expect to obtain nearly three quadrillion Turkish Liras of revenues excluding interest. Besides, the Gross National Product growth rate, which was announced as 8.1 percent in the first quarter of 1998, decreased to 4 percent in the second quarter and it was 6.3 percent in the first half. This shows that the economy started to freeze. The foreign exchange reserves continue to remain at higher levels despite the negative developments. Also, the statistics, which will be announced on Thursday, will reveal that the decrease in inflation continues,'' Prime Minister Yilmaz stressed.

[08] ''GREEN MASSACRE'' ALLEGATIONS IN FIRTINA STREAM - FOREST MINISTRY SENDS A TEAM IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE THE ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION IN REGION

The report prepared following the investigations says, ''no trees have been cut so far in the region and the power station doesn't damage wildlife.''

Some sources had put forward allegations such as ''hundreds of trees have been cut for the construction of the power station'', and ''56 thousand trees will be cut and 2,460 species of plants will become extinct.''

[09] ''HEY TURKEY'' EXHIBITION IN EUROPE - EXHIBITION FORMED BY WORKS OF FAMOUS TURKISH CARICATURISTS TO BE OPENED FIRST IN BERLIN

The exhibition organized by the Caricature Foundation and the branches of the Ataturk Association in Germany, will be opened first in Berlin on 7 September.

The caricatures of Ali Ulvi Ersoy, Turhan Selcuk, Ferruh Dogan, Tan Oral, Nezih Danyal, Piyale Madra, Kamil Masaraci, Semih Poroy, Izel Rozental, Ercan Akyol, Atila Ozer, Eray Ozbek, Muhammet Sengoz, Ahmet Aykanat and Sami Caner will be displayed at the exhibition.

Tan Oral, Piyale Madra and Nezih Danyal will attend the opening ceremony of the exhibition in Germany that will be remain open until 20 September.

The exhibition will be opened in Hamburg on 27 September.

[10] TANER, THE STATE MINISTER: ''WE'VE TAKEN A SERIES OF MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN THE BANKING SYSTEM IN TURKEY AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO''

Responding to the questions of journalists together with Prime Minister before the meeting with the Turkish Union of Bankers, Taner said that the banks united and became stronger in the globalizing world, adding ''it will also be possible to see this trend in Turkey in the future.''

Noting that they count on the open market system and the government attributes great importance to fulfilling the competitive conditions of this system, Taner pointed out ''in countries where the inflation rate is high, the banks have to increase their capital as much as the inflation rate every year and in fact, they have to further increase it in order to strengthen the sector.''

Pointing out that when the banking system strengthens its capital, the banks will have the chance to be stronger and get advantages on the market, Taner stressed ''besides that, all the banks including the smallest to the largest ones have the right to engage in business on the market. It's not correct to get things from others by force on this market and this is part of the philosophy of the government's economic programme. But if you ask what will happen in 1999 and in the coming years, then we guess that you'll see all of our banking systems will strengthen their capital and they will make progress to this end, because there are clear indications showing that.''

[11] ORIENT EXPRESS LEAVES ISTANBUL - A FAREWELL CEREMONY HELD AT SIRKECI RAILWAY STATION FOR ORIENT EXPRESS

A farewell ceremony was held at the Sirkeci Railway Station for the Orient Express that came to Turkey again after years with 126 passengers for the 75th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey.

Addressing the ceremony, Cavit Kavak, the Minister of State, said that the journey of the Orient Express to Turkey on the 75th year of the Republic of Turkey is very meaningful.

[12] DATA PROCESSING '98 FAIR STARTS - MORE THAN 600 FIRMS PARTICIPATE IN THE FAIR

Addressing the opening speech of the fair, Rusen Yaykın, the General Director of the Interpo computer firm, said that the data processing sector in Turkey will take its place in the world's data processing sector by growing three fold within three years. Yaykın added that this means an annual growth of 45 percent.

Noting that data processing is the way to overcome the crisis, Yaykın said that they will launch efforts to spread the use of the internet to houses and small enterprises and they will reconstruct all the sectors with the data processing culture.

Behcet Envarlı, the Chairman of the Association of the Turkish Data Processing Industry, said that there will be a big gap in the future among societies that reach the information age and the ones which can't reach it.

Noting that the growth potential is very large in the field of data processing, Envarlı said ''there is a nine percent growth rate in the data processing sector in the world in 1998. This is a market worth of 765 billion US dollars. Turkey, which has a share of 0.002 percent of this market, is one of the most lively markets in the world in this sector.''

The Data Processing Technologies Fair and the 15th National Data Processing Congress will be held within the framework of the Data Processing '98 Fair, which is held by Interpo and supported by TUSIAD, the Turkish Association of Industrialists and Businessmen.

The products and services of 612 firms will be presented and a total of 273 meetings will be held in the Information and Communication Technologies Fair, which is a part of the Data Processing '98 Fair.

The fair, which is expected to have 600,000 visitors, will be open until 6 September.

[13] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

YILMAZ DECLARES EXTRA ANTI-CRISIS MEASURES
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz announced new measures over and above those announced on 28 August, in order to prevent external factors from aggravating the liquidity shortage and to prevent this shortage from threatening the government's borrowing programme. Yilmaz met with members of the Union of Banks yesterday in Ankara and later on addressed press members. He said that they wanted to minimize the effects of the recent crisis on the Turkish economy and in the medium term they wanted to convert the crisis into an opportunity. Yilmaz insisted that intervention in the financial or any other markets was out of the question and the government would firmly obey the rules of the free market economy. /All papers/

BARZANI IN ANKARA
Mesut Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), arrived in Ankara yesterday, where he is scheduled to have meetings with senior Turkish government officials. After talks with the Foreign Ministry diplomats in Ankara today, Barzani will be received by Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister and Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament on Friday. He will also attend a working lunch given by Korkmaz Haktanir, the Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, on Friday. /Sabah/

ANKARA REQUESTS ON GREEK SIDE TO RECONSIDER THE PROPOSAL
Turkey requested Greece and Southern Cyprus yesterday to reconsider the recent Turkish Cypriot proposal for the establishment of a Cyprus confederation as an ultimate solution on the island. Necati Utkan, the Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, said at a press conference yesterday that if the proposal was wasted, then the tension situation on Cyprus might reach an even more agitated level, which could pave the way for a permanent division of the island. He added that it was a serious proposal without any tactical aim and based on the realities on the island. /Hurriyet/

ECEVIT BACKS SUGGESTION BY DENKTAS
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who will visit the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Saturday, said yesterday that he supported a suggestion by Rauf Denktas, the President of the TRNC, that a confederation should be established between the TRNC and the Greek Cypriot Adminitration. /Milliyet/

NEIGHBOURS 'COOPERATE' WITH PKK
Turkey's southern and eastern neighbours, Syria, Iraq and Iran, have reportedly been cooperating with the PKK terrorist organization to ethnically cleanse their own Kurdish populations. According to intelligence sources, Iraq has been inciting the ongoing conflict involving rival Kurdish factions in its north, while providing the PKK with arms and money. Syria has been using force against her own ethnic Kurdistan population by compelling young people to join the PKK. Sources added that Syria's moves to help Abdullah Ocalan, the PKK leader, was actually a disguised attempt to ethnically cleanse her own population of Kurds. Iran is also using the PKK to sweep out her ethnic Kurdish population, according to the sources, adding that the three countries might also be aiming to undermine the current regime in Turkey by cooperating with the PKK. /Hurriyet/

ARMED ATTACK ON ESENYURT MAYOR
Dr. Gurbuz Capan, the Mayor of Esenyurt, a district in Istanbul, was attacked yesterday by a young boy (14). Later, the assailant surrendered to the police. It is reported that the health situation of Capan was good. Investigations into the incident are continuing. /Cumhuriyet/

CAKICI FILE IN FRANCE
The Foreign Ministry sent a file to France with a special courier yesterday prepared by the Ministry of Justice, which demands the extradition of Alaattin Cakici, the head of a large criminal organization. Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman, held a press conference yesterday and replied to the questions of members of the press. He said that the Turkish Embassy in France would present the file to the French judicial authorities together with a note. Utkan added that these procedures would be completed by the end of this week. Turkey wants the extradition of Cakici because of six crimes he has committed in Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/

[14] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

NUCLEAR PHYSICISTS MEET IN ISTANBUL
A ''Balkan Nuclear Physicists Meeting'', during which basic issues in nuclear physics are explained and the results of daily studies are discussed, is continuing in Istanbul with the participation of nearly 100 scientists from 19 countries including Spain, Yugoslavia, Sweden, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Macedonia, Britain, Belgium, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Japan, the US and Turkey. The meeting organized by the Istanbul University will last until 10 September. /Cumhuriyet/

SILK ROAD TOUR BEGINS
A tour of the ''Silk Road'' organized by the Ministry of Tourism in order to promote the caravansaries and inns on the route of the Silk Road will begin tomorrow with a press conference to be held by Ibrahim Gurdal, the Minister of Tourism. A total of 36 press members and tour operators from 17 countries will participate in the tour, which will end on 10 September. /Cumhuriyet/

FRANCE GRANTS RADAR TO GREEK CYPRIOTS
According to an article in the Phileleftheros newspaper published in the Greek Cypriot Administration, France will grant a new radar system to the Greek Cypriot National Army. With this new system, the Greek Cypriot Army will be able to observe Turkey. The article noted that all the expenses of the new system would be met by the French Government. /Cumhuriyet/

RAPID INCREASE IN IMKB
There was an increase in the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) yesterday. The second greatest increase of 288 points in the New York Stock Exchange two days ago enabled the IMKB to increase by 5.58 percent yesterday. Officials noted that the ups-and-downs in the index weren't good for the market. /Cumhuriyet/

THREE TURKISH FIRMS VIE FOR EUROPEAN QUALITY AWARD
Hazim Kantarci, a member of the European Quality Administration Fund Administrative Board, yesterday stated that three Turkish firms, Arcelik, Netas and Beko were qualified for the finals in the contest for the ''European Quality Award''. Kantarci said that three Turkish firms had entered the contest in two separate categories. While Arcelik, and Netas would compete in the category of large scale companies, Beko will compete in the category of small and medium scale enterprises. /Hurriyet/

BMC FOR ENGLISH MARKET
The BMC Professional, the first Turkish truck, which was displayed at the Hannover 57th Commercial Vehicles Fair for the second time is ready for use on the roads in England. The BMC wants to get hold of 10 percent of the English market where 12 thousand trucks are sold every year, aims to sell 1, 200 trucks to that country. Contacts for the sale of trucks have already been made and the mass production of BMC Professional is to start in two months. /Hurriyet/

STRUGGLE AGAINST DRUGS
At a meeting held in Istanbul recently, a series of decisions were made aimed at struggling against drugs. The meeting was chaired by Isilay Saygin, the Minister of State Responsible for ''Women's Rights and Family" and the head of the High Council for the Struggle against Drugs. A ''Narcotics Intelligence Network'' will be built up and an anti-drugs campaign will be launched to limit the spread of drug addiction. Families, school administrators, shopkeepers, municipalities and non-governmental organizations are all expected to contribute to the network. /Milliyet/

SETTLEMENT AREA DATING BACK 10,000 YEARS
One of the first settlement areas, which dates back 10,000 years, has been found in Aksaray. During the excavations carried out in the Asikli Village of Aksaray by a delegation headed by Prof. Ufuk Esin, Chairman of the Pre- History Department of the Istanbul University Literary Faculty, it has been discovered that people living in this area were using sun-dried bricks while they were building houses and they were engaged in agriculture and hunting. /Cumhuriyet/

[15] HASHISH OPERATION IN BURSA

Acting on a tip-off, the narcotics teams raided the house belonging to Nedim M. in Mezit Village at Inegol.

Narcotics officials siezed the drug hidden in secret places in the house.

Nedim M. was taken into custody.

[16] KORUKCU, CHAIRMAN OF UNION OF BANKS: - ''GOVERNMET HAS BROUGHT MOST OF THE MEASURES AIMED AT REMOVING A PROBABLE PROBLEM''

Addressing a press conference he held following the meeting to which Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, the Gunes Taner, the Minister of State, and Zekeriya Temizel, the Minister of Finance attended, Unal Korukcu said that the economic measures, which have been implemented sinve the beginning of the year, gave better results than expected, and the briefing with statistics reassured them.

Stressing that they should also make a sacrifice, Unal Korukcu said that they, as the members of the Union of Banks, were pleased with these measures.

Korukcu mentioned that the Asian crisis have been effective in specific regions in the world for nearly one year and it is impossible for Turkey to be outside boundaries of those influences.

Unal Korukcu said that it is natural to take measures to prevent Turkey from entering into a probable crisis.

Recalling that the tax laws and regulations, which went into effect to remove some mistakes in the Turkish economy, brought further burdens to almost everyone, Korukcu said, ''although, tax collection is necessary and a principle, we have been voicing for a long time the inconveniences of a rapid implementation of this collection with several regulations which will create structural problems. The officials evaluated the issues brought onto agenda by us regarding a more suitable solution which won't increase the problems of the banks and all sectors, and they showed a positive approach.''

When asked whether or not all their expectations were met, Korukcu said, ''no, this isn't possible. We have to make a sacrifice because the anti- inflationist policies were successful and the programmes are pursued successfully. We, as the Union of Banks, were pleased with those regulations.''

[17] TURKEY TO PLAY 23TH MATCH UNDER DIRECTORSHIP OF DENIZLI - NATIONAL TEAM WINS SIX MATCHES AND LOSES ELEVEN OTHERS DURING PERIOD OF COACHING OF DENIZLI

The National Team won six matches, lost eleven others and tied in five matches during the period of coaching of Denizli.

Mustafa Denizli became the coach of the national time for the first time in the 1986-87 season. He has begun his second period in 1996 following his predecessor Fatih Terim.

The results of the matches played during Denizli's second period on duty, are as follows:

Date Place Opponent Result

---------- -------- ----------- ------
14 Aug 1996 Istanbul Moldova 2 - 0

30 Aug 1996 Brussels Belgium 1 - 2

02 Oct 1996 Paris France 0 - 4

10 Nov 1996 Istanbul San Marino 7 - 0

14 Dec 1996 Cardiff Wales 0 - 0

12 Feb 1997 Denizli Finland 1 - 1

02 Apr 1997 Bursa Netherlands 1 - 0

30 Apr 1997 Istanbul Belgium 1 - 3

12 Jun 1997 Japan Croatia 1 - 1

15 Jun 1997 Japan Japan 0 - 1

20 Aug 1997 Istanbul Wales 6 - 4

10 Sep 1997 San Marino San Marino 5 - 0

11 Oct 1997 Amsterdam Netherlands 0 - 0

21 Jan 1998 Antalya Albania 1 - 4

18 Feb 1998 Tel Aviv Israel 0 - 4

22 Apr 1998 Russia Russia 0 - 1

[18] RUSSIA DECREASES CUSTOMS RATES

The Russian Customs Committee prepared 17 draft laws, which foresee a change in the Regulation on Customs and submitted them to the government by taking into consideration the crisis observed in the economy.

Valeri Draganov, the Chairman of the Committee said in a press briefing ''our proposals foreseeing change in the customs regulations have been approved by Victor Chernomyrdin, the Russian Prime Minister. Thus we'll decrease the customs rates and we'll launch efforts to make the customs mechanisms work more rapidly and more rationally in line with daily conditions.''

''There is no need to have high customs rates in today's conditions seen in Russia as there is no hope to revive the internal production in a short period of time,''he said.

Measures will be taken by Russia aimed at accelerating the entrance of consumer commodities into the country and increase their quantity.

''The customs laws in Russia today mean a protection policy at the customs, '' said Dranagov, adding that imports have to be eased in order to protect the interests of the domestic consumers.

''The existing customs rates are too high, when we further increase them, importers find other ways to sell their products at our market, consequently the income we are expecting to get from customs duties doesn't increase, but decreases. We have to increase the entrance of commodities into our country and we have to prevent a panic in our market. Our stock of imported goods is decreasing everyday, because people rush to buy them,'' said Draganov, adding that they will also accelerate the customs transactions for importers.

The Russian officials told the A.A correspondent that the draft laws foreseeing changes in imports haven't been adopted yet.

[19] THREE TURKISH COMPANIES NOMINATED FOR EUROPEAN QUALITY AWARD - ARCELIK, NETAS AND BEKO TRADE QUALIFY FOR 1998 EUROPEAN QUALITY AWARD FINALS

Hazim Kantarci, a member of the Executive Board of the EFQM, said that all of the Turkish companies, which had made applications since 1995, qualified for the finals.

Recalling that the Brisa won the grand prize in 1996 in the category of large-scale enterprises; the Beksa won the same award in 1997 in the category of small and medium-scale enterprises and the Netas received the European Quality Success Award both in 1996 and 1997, Kantarci said that this year, the Arcelik and the Netas will vie for European Quality Award in the finals of the large scale enterprises category while the Beko Trade will compete in the category of small and medium-scale enterprises.

This year, a total of nine companies will compete in the category of large- scale enterprises; two companies to compete in the public sector; four companies to compete in the independent small and medium-scale enterprises category, while five companies will compete in the category of dependent small and medium-scale enterprises from ten countries.

The names of the companies to win awards will be announced at the European Quality Forum to be held on 22 October at the Congress Hall in Paris.

The EFQM Business Perfection Forum'99 will be organized in Brussels between 6-7 October, while Turkiy will host the ''2000 Forum'' in Istanbul.

[20] SEMDIN SAKIK, THE SEPARATIST TERRORIST AT COURT - SAKIK SAYS THAT HE DISMISSES THREE OUT OF FOUR LAWYERS: ''MY TWO LAWYERS HAVE BEEN THREATENED, I KILLED PARENTS OF MANY CHILDREN, I DON'T WANT THE CHILDREN OF MY LAWYERS TO BE ORPHANS, TOO''

The court session started on Thursday morning at the State Security Court in the eastern province of Diyarbakır and Sakık told the court session, ''I had earlier asked for additional time and I had asked three lawyers to represent me at the court. But today, I dismiss Dogan Zengin, the lawyer, who couldn't come to the court session. Meanwhile, Sabahattin Korkmaz and Fatma Incesu came to the prison and told me that they were threatened as they would represent me at court. We discussed the issue and I told them that I killed the parents of many children and I don't want their children to be orphans, too. I dismissed them and now only Sedat Cınar will be my lawyer.''

Sakık said that he was confined in a room for the last two years because he was isolated within the separatist terrorist organization, then he escaped and was taken into custody at the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) headquarters in Northern Iraq for one month. ''I have been in solitary confinement for approximately three months after I was captured. In this respect, I won't be able to keep my attention for a long time and I wish to defend myself in writing.''

[21] NEW VISA APPLICATION OF SYRIA - SYRIAN EMBASSY IN JORDAN STOPS GIVING VISAS TO TURKISH CITIZENS WHO DON'T RESIDE IN JORDAN

The Foreign Ministry said that Turkish citizens, who are living on the Arabian Peninsula, particularly those who will return to Turkey via the Jordanian-Syrian route, have to get visas from the Syrian Representations in the countries where they are residing or from the Syrian Embassy in Ankara.

[22] EXPORTS FROM AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR - EIGHT-MONTH EXPORTS INCREASE BY 14 PERCENT

The Secretariat of the Uludag Exporters' Union said that in the first eight months of 1998, the exports, which were realized through the Uludag Motor Vehicles and By-Industry Exporters' Union, went from 986ç9 million US dollars to 1 billion 125 million US dollars, while the majority was composed of by-industry products.

It said a total of 692.2 million US dollars in spare parts were exported in the same period in 1998.

The names of the products exported and the amounts of exports in thousand US dollars in the January-August 1998 period are as follows:

. Export (Thousand Name of Product US Dollars)

-------------------------- -------
Tractor 11,592

Bus-Minibus-Midibus 137,253

Automobiles 97,388

Trucks 14,368

Special Purpose Motor Vehicles 1,220

Work machines 5,272

Ships and Floating Vessels 70,239

Bicycles and Motorcycles 14,835

Aircraft and Aeronautical Vehicles 74,219

Agricultural machines 3,192

Tank and armoured vehicles 3,736

Towing vehicles 268

Automotive by-industry 692,171

Total 1,125,753

[23] TURKISH UNION OF TOURIST GUIDES ESTABLISHED

T. Ahmet Sensilay, the Chairman of the TUREB and the Chairman of the Istanbul Chamber of Guides, told the A.A correspondent that they will publicly announce the goals and activities of the union at a press conference on 12 September.

Recalling that the newly established National Tourism Council held its first meeting in Ankara and the activities of the council carries great importance for the formation of Turkey's tourism policy, Sensilay said that they set up the TUREB to bring the observations of the tourist guides into the tourism sector.

[24] THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS TRAINING CONVENES - TURK, THE STATE MINISTER:''EDUCATION HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN MAKING RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS BE FELT BY EVERYONE''

The National Committee for Human Rights Training convened the same day.

Addressing the opening speech at the meeting, Hikmet Sami Turk said that the Republic of Turkey was established upon the respect felt for human rights.

The committee will prepare in the meeting the national programme proposal which foresees the implementation of the UN Human Rights Education Action Plan in Turkey.

The national committee, which will inform the Human Rights Coordinator Supreme Council about its evaluations concerning the programme, will also complete the tasks given to it by the Supreme Board.

The National Committee, which will convene every month, is composed of fifteen members including one representative from the Prime Ministry, Justice, Interior, Foreign Ministry, National Education, Health and Culture Ministries, four representatives from the voluntary institutions which work in the field of human rights and four university professors who engage in research on human rights.

[25] TURKISH TEKFEN TO SELL SPARE PARTS TO IRAQ

The equipment and spare parts, which will be sold by the Tekfen, will cost 8.6 million US dollars.

Meanwhile, the UN officials said that there should be sufficient money in the related fund for the active realization of the sale, which was approved.

The UN Security Council, in order to provide an opportunity for Iraq to increase its oil production capacity, permitted the repair of the Kirkuk- Yumurtalik and the Kirkuk-Mina al Bekir pipelines and oil production facilities by purchasing 300 million US dollars of spare parts.

The cost of the equipment approved by the Sanctions Committee together with the Tekfen's reached 34 million US dollars.

Thus, Iraq has to import 266 million US dollars in spare parts to increase the oil production capacity.

[26] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ WILL PAY A VISIT TO MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES

The Foreign Ministry said that regional and international problems, particularly bilateral relations and the Middle Eastern Peace Process will be discussed during Prime Minister Yılmaz's visit to these countries.

The Foreign Ministry said that several agreements will also be signed which will constitute the legal framework of the cooperation among Israel, the Palestinian National Administration and Turkey.

Prime Minister Yılmaz will meet with Jordanian Crown Prince Hasan Bin Tallal who represents the Jordanian King Huseyin, Fayez Taravneh, the Jordanian Prime Minister and Defense Minister, the Israeli President Ezer Weizmen, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and Yaser Arafat, the Palestinian Head of State.

Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz will be accompanied by ministers, parliamentarians, public institutions, the business world and representatives of the media.

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