Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-09-04

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

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

04 SEPT 1998

CONTENTS

[01] BELGIAN POLICE ENDS INTERROGATION OF CAKICI

[02] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS' MESSAGE CONVEYED TO ANNAN, THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL - DENKTAS TO MEET WITH ANNAN IN NEW YORK

[03] SEZGIN, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE: - ''INCITEMENT OF WAR WILL BE BENEFICIAL NEITHER FOR US NOR FOR GREECE''

[04] SAVAS, THE SUPREME COURT PROSECUTOR, ASKS FOR THE APPROVAL OF PUNISHMENT AGAINST TAYYIP ERDOGAN, ISTANBUL MAYOR

[05] FEEE TAKES BACK SOME BLUE FLAGS IN SPAIN AND ITALY - BLUE FLAG SYMBOLIZES CLEANLINESS OF BEACHES AND MARINAS - TURKEY HAS BLUE FLAGS AT 46 BEACHES AND TEN MARINAS

[06] CELEBI, STATE MINISTER: - ''NO DEVIATION IN OUR INFLATION TARGET''

[07] ''AUDIO LIBRARY'' FOR THE BLIND

[08] ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY STOPS ACTIVITY OF SARAR PLANT

[09] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[10] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[11] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (3)

[12] ECEVIT, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, DUE IN THE TRNC

[13] KDP LEADER BARZANI IN ANKARA - ECEVIT, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, AND FM CEM RECEIVE BARZANI

[14] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INCREASES ONE PERCENT IN JULY AND SIX PERCENT WITHIN FIRST SEVEN MONTHS

[15] HAKTANIR GIVES A LUNCHEON IN HONOUR OF BARZANI, LEADER OF KDP

[16] FLOOD DISASTER IN BANGLADESH - PRESIDENT DEMIREL SENDS MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE TO AHMED, HIS BANGLADESHI COUNTERPART

[17] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC REACTS TO DECISION TAKEN AT THE SUMMIT OF NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT - ''WE WILL RESIST AGAINST UNFAIRNESS''

[18] A TOTAL OF 59 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED

[19] ECEVIT, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, RECEIVES KDP LEADER BARZANI - ECEVIT: ''IRAN AND SYRIA CLEARLY SUPPORT PKK'' - ''KDP GIVES SUPPORT TO TURKEY'S STRUGGLE''

[20] TURKEY EXPORTS SHIPS TO WESTERN COUNTRIES

[01] BELGIAN POLICE ENDS INTERROGATION OF CAKICI

Alaattin Cakici, a leading name in the Mafia, was interrogated by the Belgian police for two days at the main police headquarters in Nice.

Frederic Chambomaud, the lawyer of Cakici in Nice, refused to give information about the details of the interrogation.

Chambomaud is expected to hold a press conference or issue a press announcement next week.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry officially requested the extradition of Cakici from France yesterday. The files concerning the extradition request were conveyed to the French Foreign Ministry along with a note from the officials at the Turkish Embassy in France.

According to the French laws, the Foreign Ministry will send the mentioned files to the Ministry of Justice. Then the files will be investigated by the Court of Appeals composed of three judges, in the Aix en Provence region.

In case the court makes a decision to refuse the extradition of Cakici, then the government has no right to change the decision. If the court decides in favor of the extradition, then the Ministry of Justice has the right to make the final decision. In order to extradite Cakici, Elizabeth Guigou, the French Minister of Justice, should issue a legal decision that is signed by President Jacques Chirac.

[02] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS' MESSAGE CONVEYED TO ANNAN, THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL - DENKTAS TO MEET WITH ANNAN IN NEW YORK

Denktas requested Annan in his letter to evaluate the proposal carefully.

The UN sources confirmed that the letter of Denktas has been presented to the Secretary General's Office, but no information has been received because Kofi Annan is currently in South Africa.

Pointing out that Annan met with Glafcos Clerides, the Leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration, in Durban, South Africa, the UN Spokesman gave no details about the agenda of the meeting.

President Denktas conveyed three messages to Annan in his letter:

-''we expect the Secretary General and the other related UN units to evaluate the proposal carefully.''

-''within this context, we expect the UN to suggest to the Greek Cypriot side the starting of negotiations with us.''

-''I expect you as the Secretary General to give information to the UN Security Council on my confederation proposal.''

Meanwhile, President Rauf Denktas will come together with Annan in New York at the end of this month.

The sources close to the UN told the A.A correspondent that Denktas will come to New York on 29 September and stay there until 4 October.

Denktas is expected to meet with the Chairman and the members of the UN Security Council.

Rauf Denktas is scheduled to attend the annual coordination meeting of the Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC) on 1 October. He will then proceed to Canada in order to address a meeting that will be organized by the TRNC associations in this country.

President Denktas is also expected to attend the meeting that will be organized by the Turkish-American Associations for the 75th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey in Washington, D.C., between 8 and 10 October.

[03] SEZGIN, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE: - ''INCITEMENT OF WAR WILL BE BENEFICIAL NEITHER FOR US NOR FOR GREECE''

Addressing the Third Peace Festival organized by the Didim Municipality, Sezgin stressed that Turkey aims at living in peace forever.

Sezgin added, ''We should remain friendly with our neighbour Greece. We will struggle against those who aim at damaging the principle of Ataturk, the Founder of the Republic of Turkey which is 'Peace in the nation, peace in the World'.''

Mehmet Soysalan, the Mayor of Didim, said that they believe Greek-Turkish friendship exists, emphasizing that they have been organizing festivals for three years in order to improve this friendship.

[04] SAVAS, THE SUPREME COURT PROSECUTOR, ASKS FOR THE APPROVAL OF PUNISHMENT AGAINST TAYYIP ERDOGAN, ISTANBUL MAYOR

Savas, in his notification to the Supreme Court of Appeals where the case was appealed, said ''the goals of the fundamentalists in Turkey can be realized only with civil war and bloodshed.''

Pointing out that the poem recited by Erdogan at a meeting mentions persons who tried to demolish the minarets, and silence the ezan (call to prayer), and burn the Korans, Savas asked if there are such people in Turkey. Savas, also said that the speech of Erdogan gave the impression that Turkey was occupied by enemy forces.

Savas said that the judges will continue to punish the politicians who commit crimes just like everybody else.

Savas also said that it was appropriate that the punishment was not postponed and wasn't transformed into fine.

Tayyip Erdogan, was sentenced by the Diyarbakır State Security Court to a term of imprisonment of 10 months and 716 million 666 thousand 666 TL fine with charges that he tried to provocate the people to hatred and enmity through religious and racial differences. If the Supreme Court of Appeals approves the punishment of Tayyip Erdogan, then he will lose both his position as the Mayor of Istanbul and the right to be a candidate in the elections.

[05] FEEE TAKES BACK SOME BLUE FLAGS IN SPAIN AND ITALY - BLUE FLAG SYMBOLIZES CLEANLINESS OF BEACHES AND MARINAS - TURKEY HAS BLUE FLAGS AT 46 BEACHES AND TEN MARINAS

Officials from the Ministry of Tourism told the A.A correspondent that the FEEE has examined 34 beaches and 7 marinas in Croatia, Italy, Spain, Slovenia and Britain for the International Blue Flag supervisions.

Lene Feldthus Andersen, the Coordinator of the FEEE, stated that eight beaches and one marina in Spain and Italy, were removed from the scope of the European Blue Flag Campaign because of the unacceptable negativities.

A total of 1,927 beaches and 571 marinas in 19 European countries that provide the criteria for environmental management, environmental education, providing information, security and services, have been awarded with the Blue Flag this year.

There are 46 beaches and 10 marinas which have been awarded with the Blue Flag in Turkey.

The Blue Fag Award provides significant advantages for Turkey as for the other countries.

[06] CELEBI, STATE MINISTER: - ''NO DEVIATION IN OUR INFLATION TARGET''

Responding to the A.A correspondent's question whether the negative results of the economic crisis in Russia will affect the government's inflation target, Celebi said, ''we continue our coherent course in our struggle against inflation. The continuing decrease trend in the level of inflation shows that there is no deviation.''

[07] ''AUDIO LIBRARY'' FOR THE BLIND

Celal Polat, the Director of the Altinokta Association for the Blind branch in Kocaeli, told the A.A correspondent that they aim at helping blind persons who cannot make use of libraries.

Polat pointed out that the cassettes of the books, textbooks and newspapers are prepared in the audio library.

The library will provide services with cassette-players, cassettes and earphones.

Polat requested financial support for the audio library that will cost nearly three billion Turkish Liras.

[08] ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY STOPS ACTIVITY OF SARAR PLANT

Officials from the Ministry of the Environment told the A.A correspondent that they have determined that the plant was emptying sewerage waste into the Porsuk Stream.

The Ministy has stopped several units of the plant until the problem is solved.

[09] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

DEMIREL TO VISIT BAKU
President Suleyman Demirel will arrive in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku on 7 September to participate at the ''International Silk Road Conference'', it was reported. Demirel, who will attend the conference's session on 8 September, will hold bilateral contacts with the presidents and prime ministers of the participating countries. /Türkiye/

AUGUST INFLATION RATE SATISFIES TANER
The coalition government of Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz expressed pleasure yesterday with the August price increase indices disclosed by the State Institute of Statistics (DIE) that showed an almost 4 percent decrease in the country's 12-month inflation rate. Gunes Taner, the Minister of State Responsible for the Economy, declared that the decrease in the monthly inflation rate was a result of the effective and determined application of the government anti-inflationary policies. He predicted that the decline in the inflation rate would continue despite all the natural disasters at home and the financial crises experienced abroad. He emphasized that the government's economic programme would be implemented without deviation, appealing to the private sector to help the government in its fight against inflation. /All papers/

YILMAZ ON SOUTHEASTERN TOUR
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz started his three-day southeastern region tour. At Sanliurfa, on the first leg of his tour, he laid the foundation of the Sanliurfa-Gaziantep highway. At the foundation laying ceremony, Yilmaz said that Turkey had been late to bring such services to the region. He added that they aimed to construct highways throughout Turkey and connect these highways to the border gates. Regarding the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Yilmaz noted that they planned to finish the GAP projects in 12 years. He stressed that both domestic and foreign capital had already started to flow to the GAP after production started in the region. ''We are determined to prepare Turkey for the 21st century,'' said Yilmaz. Mesut Yilmaz also attended the opening ceremony of the Harran 1 and Harran 4 dams, saying that with the irrigation of the Harran Plain, production would increase. /Milliyet/

US FLEXIBLE REGARDING CONFEDERATION
The US government has stated that the Greek Cypriot Administration and Greece were quick to reject the confederation proposal made by the Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas. According to the news in the Greek press, the US suggested that decisions should be made in a cool manner and proposals should be better evaluated by the international public. It was reported that during the private contacts of the US diplomats on the island, officials noted that Denktas' proposals included some positive points. /Cumhuriyet/

EXPORTS INCREASE BY 3.2 PERCENT
According to the Turkish Exporters' Assembly, exports increased by 3.2 percent in August when compared with the same month last year. Exports increased by 5.8 percent during the first eight months of this year and reached 18,144 billion US dollars. Meanwhile, automotive exports during the January-August period increased by 14 percent and reached 1,126 million US dollars when compared with the same period last year. It was reported that most of the exports were by-industry products. /Cumhuriyet/

THY-SWISS AGREEMENT
According to a statement made by the Turkish Airlines (THY), a joint marketing company will be established between the THY and Swiss Cargo. The company will be based in Istanbul. /Cumhuriyet/

[10] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

NATO TO HOLD THREE MANEUVERS
Member nations of the NATO and the Partnership for Peace Programme (PFP) will be taking part in three separate maneuvers within the coming months. One of the maneuvers will be hosted by Turkey. A statement by the Land Forces Headquarters said that 27 NATO and PFP countries will be gathering in Macedonia between 10-18 September for the Cooperative Best Effort-98 exercises. The second exercise called Centrasbat-98 will take place among the US, Russia, Caucasus and Central Asian countries as well as Turkey between 21-28 September. The third NATO-PFP exercise will be hosted by Turkey near the city of Istanbul. The exercise will be held between 29 September- 5 October and will be called Peaceful Bridge-98. /All papers/

BARZANI COMPLAINS ABOUT IRANIAN INTERFERENCE
Meeting with foreign diplomats yesterday in Ankara, Mesut Barzani, the Leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) complained about the Iranian influence on the region. In his meetings, Barzani expressed his concerns about the ongoing Iranian interference in Northern Iraq and in particular Iranian interference with his rival, Celal Talabani, the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Barzani later went to the General Staff headquarters for meetings with the military officials. Barzani will be received today by Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime Minister and Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament. Barzani will travel to Washington, D.C. on Saturday. /All papers/

TRIAL OF SAKIK
The trial of Semdin Sakik, who was one of the leading field commanders of the PKK terrorist organization, began yesterday at the Security Court in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir. Asked whether he was responsible for the killing of five security officers in 1985 and of 33 recruits of the Turkish Armed Forces in 1993 in the Southeast, Sakik said he didn't give the orders. On the contrary, he asserted that the orders were given by another PKK commander, Celal Barak. He also accused the PKK chief Abdullah Ocalan, whom he claimed instructed Barak, of ordering the killings. Sakik said he had disputes within the organization and came at loggerheads with Ocalan. ''I wouldn't have quit the organization if I hadn't had regrets'' he added. Sakik's trial will resume on 14 October. /All papers/

''PKK IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN IRA AND ETA''
''The anti-terrorism struggle in Turkey is being carried out within the framework of the Constitution and under political, administrative and legal supervision'' said Hasan Denizkurdu, the Minister of Justice. He was speaking at the opening of the Council of Europe's (CE) Parliamentarian Assembly's Laws and Human Rights Commission yesterday in Istanbul. The CE parliamentarians' three-day meeting has attracted participants from 40 member countries. Speaking with reporters following his speech to the CE parliamentarians, Denizkurdu said that his ministry had no action on the proposal of an amnesty for prisoners in jail. He pointed out that there was a draft which had been prepared by the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and according to the Turkish Constitution, it was a matter for the Parliament to handle. /All papers/

UNDERSECRETARY OF THE TREASURY: IMF SUPPORTS TURKEY
Yener Dincmen, the Undersecretary of the Treasury, yesterday stated that the fall in the interest rates showed how appropriate the decisions made by the government were. Dincmen also noted that no concessions were made from the programme agreed upon with the IMF and that these decisions would be supported by the IMF. Dincmen also gave the first signals for foreign loan borrowing after October. /Sabah/

[11] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (3)

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

STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL
Barlas Ozener, the Ambassador to Israel, stated that Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, was mistaken in his view that the Turkish- Israeli military cooperation formed a security framework in the region. Noting that Israel first and foremost had to make peace with her neighbours and then the countries in the region could be called on to join a security network. Ambassador Ozener added that the Middle Eastern countries wouldn't enter into such a framework without the establishment of peaceful conditions. /Sabah/

STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR TO US
Baki Ilkin, Turkey's recently appointed Ambassador to Washington, D.C., stated that Turkey didn't intend to sit at the same table with the terror network PKK, responsible for the death of many innocent people. Ilkin also pointed out the contradictory stands displayed by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) which was trying to bring water to the island and the Greek Cypriot Administration which was trying to deploy missiles on the island. Ilkin noted that, he did not believe Russia would intervene if these missiles were deployed on the island and Turks shot at these missiles. /Sabah/

896 THOUSAND TOURISTS VISIT CAPPADOCIA
A total of 896 thousand tourists visited Cappadocia, the land of fairy chimneys, underground cities and churches carved out of stone, near Nevsehir in Central Anatolia during the past eight months. The head of the Tourism Directorate in Nevsehir Province said yesterday that a 60-strong mission from JATA, the largest tourism agency in Japan, would arrive in Cappadocia between 19-20 September. /Hurriyet/

UN APPROVES SPARE PARTS SALE TO IRAQ BY TEKFEN
The United Nations' Sanctions Committee approved the sale of 8.6 million US dollars worth of spare parts and other kinds of materials to Iraq by a Turkish firm, Tekfen. The materials will be used for repairing the Kirkuk- Yumurtalik pipeline. The approval is in accordance with a decision by UN Security Council which allows the purchase of 300 million US dollars worth of spare parts for repairing the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik and Kirkuk-Mina el Bekir pipelines. /Hurriyet/

EXIMBANK SUSPENDS LOANS TO RUSSIA
The members of the Board of Eximbank, the official exports and imports bank of Turkey, said yesterday that they would be more cautious in considering loan demands from Russia, because of the economic uncertainty in that country. Out of 350 million US dollars planned to be extended to Russia by the Eximbank, 50 million US dollars has so far been delivered. /Hurriyet/

[12] ECEVIT, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, DUE IN THE TRNC

Ecevit is scheduled to meet with President Rauf Denktas of the TRNC.

Bulent Ecevit will also hold talks with Hakki Atun, the Speaker of the TRNC Parliament, Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu, Serdar Denktas, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State and Taner Etkin, the Foreign Minister and Minister of Defence.

Mehmet Ali Talat, the Leader of the Republican Turkish Party and Mustafa Akinci, the Leader of the Socialist Liberation Party, will be received by Ecevit.

Ecevit will participate in the ''Yesilirmak Resistance and Solidarity Day'' ceremonies and attend the National Lottery Anatolia High School and Girne Rehabilitation Center foundation-laying ceremonies.

[13] KDP LEADER BARZANI IN ANKARA - ECEVIT, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, AND FM CEM RECEIVE BARZANI

The meeting focused on the latest developments in Northern Iraq and Barzani's contacts in the US in the coming days.

High-level officials from the Foreign Ministry were also in attendance at the meeting.

[14] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INCREASES ONE PERCENT IN JULY AND SIX PERCENT WITHIN FIRST SEVEN MONTHS

According to the results of the ''Monthly Industrial Production Index'' of the State Institute of Statistics (DIE), the production on a sectoral-basis has been increased 6.3 percent in the mining industry and 9.4 percent in electricity, gas and water sector. In contrast, the manufatured goods industry has decreased 0.5 percent. The total industrial production has increased 6.6 percent within the first seven months of this year compared with the same period last year.

The increase has been realized in the mining industry at 15.9 percent, in the manufactured goods industry at 5.6 percent and in the electricity, gas and water sectors at 10.4 percent.

[15] HAKTANIR GIVES A LUNCHEON IN HONOUR OF BARZANI, LEADER OF KDP

Aykut Cetirge, the General Director of the Middle East Department, Oguz Celikkol, the Deputy Director of the Department and Sami Abdurrahman, the Spokesman of the KDP, were in attandance at the luncheon.

Barzani is expected to meet later today with Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament.

[16] FLOOD DISASTER IN BANGLADESH - PRESIDENT DEMIREL SENDS MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE TO AHMED, HIS BANGLADESHI COUNTERPART

The Presidential Press Center quoted President Demirel as saying in his message, ''I have learned about the flood disaster claiming hundreds of lives and causing a great damage with deep sorrow. I am sending my condolences to you and the families of thoso who lost their lives in flood disaster on behalf of the Turkish people.''

[17] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC REACTS TO DECISION TAKEN AT THE SUMMIT OF NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT - ''WE WILL RESIST AGAINST UNFAIRNESS''

Addressing the journalists after he met with several foreign ambassadors, Denktas reminded that the Non-Aligned Movement had previously taken another unilateral and unfair decision making the Turkish Cypriots a minority on the island and describing Turkey as an ''occupier'' in 1983.

Stressing that they had invited the Turkish Cypriots to the negotiations with this decision, Denktas noted that then they have founded the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Denktas added, ''the principle of justice is to avoid making a decision without listening to the sides. The Non-Aligned Movement makes decisions by listening to just one side, a side which has been known for their barbarous actions such as massacring whole population of many villages where Turkish Cypriots lived, including babies and the elderly for 35 years. No one, of course, will respect such decisions. The Greek Cypriots are aware that such a decision won't help the Cyprus question at all.''

[18] A TOTAL OF 59 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED

The Gendarme teams acting on a tip-off captured 52 Iraqis, one Afghan, 4 Bangladeshis and 2 Sri Lankans.

The illegal immigrants were taken into custody for violating the Turkish borders and the passport law.

Officials said that the immigrants will be deported once the legal proceedings are completed.

[19] ECEVIT, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, RECEIVES KDP LEADER BARZANI - ECEVIT: ''IRAN AND SYRIA CLEARLY SUPPORT PKK'' - ''KDP GIVES SUPPORT TO TURKEY'S STRUGGLE''

Addressing a press conference after the meeting along with Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, Ecevit said that Iran and Syria clearly support the separatist terrorist PKK organization.

Ecevit pointed out that Barzani's visit to Turkey before he goes to the US is a proof of the strong relations between Turkey and the KDP.

Stressing that Iran has some problems caused by her relations with Celal Talabani, the Leader of the the Patriotic Union for Kurdistan (PUK), Ecevit noted, ''several elements of the separatist terrorist PKK organization who have taken shelter in Iran, attack Turkey while they are using Iran as a base. However, the cooperation between Turkey and the KDP make their infiltration more difficult.''

Mentioning the news claiming that Iraq also supports the PKK organization, Ecevit emphasized that Barzani has confirmed the mentioned news.

Emphasizing that the PKK is a separatist terrorist organization, Ecevit told the reporters that supporting the PKK will damage Iraq more than it damages Turkey.

Meanwhile, responding to a question about whether he will discuss the relations with the PKK during his visit to Iran in the coming days, Cem stressed that he will hold talks in the direction of the interests of Turkey.

Describing his meeting with Barzani as very useful and productive, Ecevit emphasized that the KDP gives support to Turkey's struggle against the separatist terrorist organization.

Pointing out that they have set up a cooperative relationship with Barzani's party that depends on mutual confidence, Ecevit said that Barzani will come to Turkey again after his visit to the US. Ecevit noted that Turkey attributes importance to the territorial integrity of Iraq for regional peace and stability, adding that Barzani and his friends share the same opinion.

Mentioning Turkey's worry about the situation of the Turcomans, Ecevit stressed that Barzani has expressed their deep sorrow about the latest attacks on Turcoman's offices. He added that they have told Barzani that the Turcomans are the elements of balance in the region.

Responding to a question about whether he will mediate between Barzani and Talabani in Washington, D.C., Ismail Cem stressed, ''there is no initiative for a reconciliation between Barzani and Talabani.''

[20] TURKEY EXPORTS SHIPS TO WESTERN COUNTRIES

Addressing a press conference, Akoguz said that the ship industry has been developing in Turkey in recent years.

Akoguz noted that they are constructing four ships of 5500 DWT for the German Ferrostaal firm. He added that their rapid construction is praised by the German shipowners.

Pointing out that ship construction provides a total of 600 million US dollars in foreign exchange earnings annually, Akoguz told the reporters, ''the total worth of the 15 ships whose construction is still continuing, is nearly 200 million US dollars.''

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