Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-09-17

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

17 SEPT 1998

CONTENTS

[01] NARAYANAN, THE INDIAN PRESIDENT IN ANKARA

[02] PRESS CONFERENCE OF PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ - ''WE ARE CLOSELY MONITORING THE STOCK EXCHANGE''

[03] EU CALLS FOR POLITICAL DIALOGUE WITH TURKEY - EP DISCUSSES TURKEY

[04] THE US WANTS TO START INDIRECT NEGOTIATIONS ON CYPRUS

[05] OZSOY, MINISTER OF HEALTH, RETURNS TO TURKEY

[06] A TURKISH BUSINESSMAN RECEIVES AUSTRIAN HONOURARY AWARD

[07] A COAL MINE COLLAPSES IN ZONGULDAK - ONE WORKER, WHO WAS TRAPPED FOR 9.5 HOURS, RESCUED

[08] MEETING OF TURKISH-ISRAELI JOURNALISTS AND INTELLECTUALS

[09] FAMOUS ROCK GROUP ROLLING STONES IN ISTANBUL

[10] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[11] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[12] BARZANI AND TALABANI, THE NORTHERN IRAQI KURDISH LEADERS MEET WITH EACH OTHER AFTER FOUR YEARS - US: ''WE ARE AGAINST THE TERRORIST PKK ORGANIZATION AND ITS EXISTENCE IN NORTHERN IRAQ''

[13] TURKEY WANTS TO HOST ENERGY CONGRESS IN THE YEAR 2003

[14] FM CEM TO VISIT CANADA

[15] TURKISH-US ENERGY JOINT WORKING GROUP CONVENES - THE US PROPOSES INTERGOVERNMENTAL ''GENERAL FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT'' FOR EXPORTS OF CASPIAN SOURCES TO FOREIGN MARKETS

[16] NARAYANAN, THE INDIAN PRESIDENT IN ANKARA ... - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''INDIA IS A LARGE MARKET FOR OUR EXPORTS WITH HER POPULATION EXCEEDING 900 MILLION''

[17] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 17 SEPTEMBER 1998

[18] NORTHERN IRAQ - PUK LEADER TALABANI MEETS BERGER, CLINTON'S NATIONAL SECURITY CONSULTANT

[19] REQUEST FOR PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO MEDIATE FOR KASHMIR PROBLEM

[20] SECURITY FORCES FIND A ''TORTURE ROOM'' BELONGING TO TERRORIST HEZBOLLAH ORGANIZATION

[21] FOREIGN DEBT REPAYMENTS - 332.2 BILLION US DOLLARS REPAID IN FOREIGN DEBTS BETWEEN 1 AND 16 SEPTEMBER

[22] CONTACTS OF TAJIK DELEGATION IN TURKEY - OSMANOV, THE TAJIK ECONOMY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER, VISITS ANDICAN, STATE MINISTER AND SPOKESMAN OF GOVERNMENT - OSMANOV: - ''OUR VISIT TO TURKEY AIMS AT DEEPENING ECONOMIC RELATIONS''

[23] IMPRISONMENT TERMS FOR ZANA, RELEASE FOR BOZLAK

[24] 15 YEARS IMPRISONMENT TERMS FOR GERMAN TERRORIST

[01] NARAYANAN, THE INDIAN PRESIDENT IN ANKARA

Sukru Sina Gurel, the Minister of State, and other officials welcomed the guest president Narayanan at the Esenboga Airport.

Sikander Bakht, the Indian Minister of Industry, Indian parliament members and the members of the press are accompanying Narayanan during his visit to Turkey.

[02] PRESS CONFERENCE OF PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ - ''WE ARE CLOSELY MONITORING THE STOCK EXCHANGE''

Following his press conference, Prime Minister answered the questions of reporters.

When asked whether or not the government was carrying out a study to postpone the tax on stocks and if an arrangement will be brought to the Parliament regarding that issue, Prime Minister Yilmaz said that first of all, they were closely monitoring the situation on the IMKB.

Recalling that they had publicly announced the arrangements to be made to solve the negativities on the capital market stemming from some misunderstandings regarding the new tax reform law, Prime Minister Yilmaz said, ''our observation is that these markets were indexed to the foreign markets and adversely affected by the develoments abroad, not by the arrangements brought with the tax law. However, in addition to the tax law arrangements, some measures, which can taken concerning the IMKB, are on the agenda. We don't hesitate to take these measures if we are of the opinion that these will be beneficial.''

Responding to another question, Prime Minister Yilmaz said that he didn't want to make a detailed explanation about the arrangements concerning the IMKB.

Noting that they have received the opinions of the concerned organizations and a very comprehensive activity was being carried out, Prime Minister Yilmaz added, ''while this study is being carried out, the developments on the market are also closely monitored. The earlier announcement of these measures may adversely affect these markets. However, I want to re- emphasize that we are very sensitive to these developments.''

[03] EU CALLS FOR POLITICAL DIALOGUE WITH TURKEY - EP DISCUSSES TURKEY

The report prepared by Edward McMillan Scott, the British conservative deputy about the operation of the Customs Union was discussed by the European Parliament (EP) the same day.

Hans Van Den Broek, the EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs said that the political dialogue between Turkey and the EU has to start again.

Noting that the EU doesn't want to isolate Turkey, Broek asked Turkey, which didn't participate at the London Conference, to attend the second European Conference, which will be held on 5 October.

Turkey, which wasn't placed on the list of candidate states after the Luxembourg Summit, had broken off political dialogue with the EU and refused to participate at the London Conference.

Pointing out that the financial assistance which was foreseen to be given to Turkey has to be freed, Broek stated that the EP has a serious role to play with this objective.

Recalling that the EU leaders ordered the EU Commission during the Cardiff Summit to start technical activities which will liberate the assistance to Turkey, Broek said that these activities are underway.

A majority of the European Parliamentarians accepted during the discussions that the EU has become more advantageous than Turkey concerning finance after signing the Customs Union agreement with Turkey.

However, the European parliamentarians ignored the financial commitments of the EU towards Turkey and they reiterated their criticisms against Turkey concerning democracy and human rights.

The report, which will be voted on at the EP at Thursday's session, gives suggestions to Turkey about human rights, democracy, Cyprus and Greece, but it doesn't give a satisfying message to Turkey concerning her requests such as ''including her in the status of the other candidate countries'' and ''liberation of financial assistance.''

The report expresses sorrow about the curtailment of the political dialogue between Turkey and the EU after the Luxembourg Summit.

The report also expresses the desire of the European parliamentarians to improve the Customs Union with Turkey, but the insistent attitude of the European Parliament concerning conditional financial assistance to Turkey is expected to continue.

[04] THE US WANTS TO START INDIRECT NEGOTIATIONS ON CYPRUS

Kenneth Brill, the US Ambassador to Lefkosa told Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader and Yannakis Casulides, the Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister on Tuesday that the US launched efforts to start indirect negotiations.

The Greek Cypriot administration rejected the proposal of the US.

Brill said after the meetings on Tuesday ''we are trying to bring the sides to negotiations.''

Kenneth Brill also said that the confederation proposal of Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) ''is useful and positive as it is not a military, but a political proposal,'' adding that the US is examining the proposal.

[05] OZSOY, MINISTER OF HEALTH, RETURNS TO TURKEY

Speaking to reporters at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, the Health Minister Ozsoy said that the health ministers of 51 countries and the representatives of international organizations participated at the meeting.

Pointing out that at the meeting, he handed over his WHO 47th Regional Committee Chairmanship mission to his Danish counterpart, the last year activities were also evaluated at the meeting.

Noting that Turkey will realize a more close cooperation with the WHO in the coming periods, Ozsoy said that the WHO will carry out its services especially for the Balkans, Caucasus and the Central Asian Turkish Republics through Turkey.

Stating that at the meeting, he gave information about the individual health insurance planned to be implemented in Turkey, Ozsoy said that the WHO officials promised to support Turkey on this issue.

Ozsoy added that he had also held bilateral contacts with the health ministers of Denmark, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Iceland and Macedonia.

[06] A TURKISH BUSINESSMAN RECEIVES AUSTRIAN HONOURARY AWARD

Addressing the ceremony, Hannes Farnleitner, the Austrian Minister of the Economy said that Turkey is a part of Europe economically and he believes that the political problems will be overcome.

Haluk Taner, the General Director of the PIMAS Corporation, which is one of the largest plastic producers in Turkey, received this honourary award for his contributions to the Austrian economy and to the economic and commercial relations between Turkey and Austria.

The Austrian counterparts of Taner, who is a successful administrator of the PIMAS, which is a subsidiary of the ENKA Holding, nominated Taner for the award two years ago. After the approval of the two countries and of Thomas Klestil, the Austrian President, Taner deserved to receive one of the most distinguished awards of Austria.

Addressing the ceremony, Farnleitner, the Austrian Minister of the Economy, praised the contributions of Haluk Taner, adding that ''there is a need for a stable economic growth within the framework of the European Union (EU) and here is one of the miracles of Turkey.''

Responding to the question of the A.A correspondent after the ceremony, Taner said that the plastic industry in Turkey is in third place in the world after Germany and Britain from the aspect of quality, noting ''the Turkish economy is in an extraordinary dynamism. In every country I visit they talk about our success, they are even jealous of us.''

[07] A COAL MINE COLLAPSES IN ZONGULDAK - ONE WORKER, WHO WAS TRAPPED FOR 9.5 HOURS, RESCUED

Sedat Sahin, 33, who was stuck in the 17th coping of the mine after the collapse occurred in the afternoon during the fortification activities, was rescued after 9.5 hours.

Sahin was immediately taken to the SSK Regional Hospital in Zonguldak.

Sahin told the A.A correspondent that he had realized during the fortification activities that a pile of coal like a flood was coming from the ceiling towards him and the fortification team.

Stating that he saw his friends managed to escape from the debris, Sahin said, ''but it was too late for me, because the mass came from the place where I was working and my feet were trapped. I was so afraid, but I believed that I will be rescued. It's great to be alive!''

[08] MEETING OF TURKISH-ISRAELI JOURNALISTS AND INTELLECTUALS

The meeting, which was held with the contributions of the Israeli Consulate General and the Israeli Cultural Attaché's Office in Istanbul, the cultural, historical and geopolitical issues that concern Turkey, Israel and the Middle East.

Turkish and Israeli intellectuals focused on the development of relations between the peoples of the two countries, pointing out that the two countries have to communicate in the intellectual and social fields.

Noting that Turkish and Israeli intellectuals have a mission to play to provide communications between the two countries, the speakers gave examples from joint activities that can be made in the social, artistic and cultural fields such as artistic performances like theatres, operas, exchange of students and translation of the books of Turkish-Israeli writers.

The speakers also stated that this meeting has to be repeated in the coming years.

[09] FAMOUS ROCK GROUP ROLLING STONES IN ISTANBUL

The Rolling Stones together with their families arrived at the Ataturk Airport at 2:00 a.m following their concert in Athens, Greece, on Wednesday.

The British rock group, the Rolling Stones, will give a concert on 19 September at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium.

The Rolling Stones, which performed concerts in several countries, will conclude its 106-concert ''Bridges to Babylon'' tour after the Istanbul concert.

[10] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

YILMAZ HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE
Motherland Party (ANAP) Leader and Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz described 30 September as a ''financial clearance day'', when in accordance with a Finance Ministry circular, all Turkish citizens will be required to deposit their cash, foreign exchange, certificates of deposit and similar assets in the bank. Putting the new tax reform into effect represents a turning point for

Turkey, he stated during a press conference organized on the publication of the circular. /All papers/

KIVRIKOGLU IN NORWAY
Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff, has gone to Oslo, Norway, after attending three-day NATO Military Committee meetings in Copenhagen, Denmark. Kivrikoglu and his fellow commanders were welcomed with a military ceremony in Oslo. Later they watched a display by special units of the Royal Guard./Milliyet/

NO CHANGE IN EU
The European Union (EU) Commission issued a call yesterday to revive political dialogue between Turkey and the EU that was severed following the Luxembourg Summit. A report written by British Conservative Deputy Edward McMillan Scott on the Customs Union Agreement between Turkey and the EU was discussed yesterday at the European Parliament. The EU Commission's Foreign Relations Comissioner Hans Van Den Broek said yesterday that political dialogue between Turkey and the EU should be revived. Broek noted that the EU didn't want to exclude Turkey and called on Turkey to participate at the Second European Conference to be held on 5 October. /Cumhuriyet/

JORDANIAN F-16s IN TURKEY

The Jordanian military aircraft will hold training flights in Turkish airspace next month. Intelligence cooperation between Turkey and Jordan is also underway. Jordan, a country with one of the best intelligence networks in the Middle East, relays information regarding the activities of the PKK terrorist organization in the region to Ankara. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY: ARRANGEMENT FOR NORTHERN IRAQ SHOULD BE TEMPORARY
Turkey said yesterday that any arrangement to fill the authority vacuum in Northern Iraq should be temporary and should lay the necessary ground for a more efficient struggle against the PKK terrorist organization. Referring to the ongoing consultations between the two Iraqi Kurdish leaders, Jalal Talabani and Massoud Barzani and the US officials in Washington, D.C., Necati Utkan, the Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry said at a press conference that any arrangement to be made in Northern Iraq as a result of these talks should be a ''temporary order''. Utkan added that Talabani and Barzani will inform Ankara about their talks in Washington, D.C., when they return. /All papers/

ANKARA URGES CANCELLATION OF S-300 MISSILES
Turkey said yesterday that a postponement and not a complete cancellation, of the Greek Cypriot plans to deploy Russian-made S-300 missiles on Cyprus will further aggravate the situation on the island. ''Arbitrary decisions for postponement won't bring a solution to the present problems, won't change the essence of the issue and will even cause the present situation to deteriorate'', Necati Utkan, the Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry n said in a written statement. ''It is obvious that neither Turkey nor the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) can tolerate the utilization of the S-300s as a constant element of threat'' Utkan stressed. /Cumhuriyet/

ANKARA ACCEPTS LIBYAN EXPLANATION
Ankara expressed satisfaction yesterday with a Libyan explanation that members of the PKK terrorist organization had participated in a recent official parade in Tripoli without the previous knowledge of the Libyan authorities. Necati Utkan, the Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, said at a press conference yesterday that Libya had assured Ankara that it would take action and investigate the controversial incident in which PKK members paraded in an official ceremony organized for the 1 September anniversary of the Libyan revolution. Tripoli has stated that it would punish those responsible for the incident, Utkan added. /All papers/

TURCO-BULGARIAN AGREEMENT
The Bulgarian Parliament approved yesterday a ''Free Trade Agreement'' which was signed between Turkey and Bulgaria in Sofia in July. The agreement, previously approved by the Turkish Parliament, thus comes into effect. According to the

Turkish-Bulgarian Free Trade Agreement, customs rates for industrial products between the two countries will be gradually reduced and be zero in 2002. The agreement also foresees the establishment of free trade zones between the two countries.

TURKISH-IRANIAN RELATIONS
Necati Utkan, the Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry held a press conference yesterday and said that during the visit of Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, to Iran, Iranian officials expressed their concern about the Turkish-Israeli cooperation agreements. Utkan added, ''they noted that Iranian concerns were stemming from Israel not from Turkey''. Utkan also stated that the recent situation in Afghanistan was causing anxiety. He pointed out that during Cem's visit to Iran, it was agreed that a multi- party coalition should be established in order to overcome the tension in Afghanistan.

[11] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

53 PKK TERRORISTS KILLED
It was reported that 29 members of the PKK terrorist organization were killed during an operation yesterday in the Beytussebap

District of Sirnak. According to the Emergency Rule Region officials, during operations carried out since 11 September, 53 PKK terrorists have been killed. /Cumhuriyet/

ATES WARNS SYRIA
Gen. Atilla Ates, the Land Forces Commander, warned Syria yesterday and said, ''Syria has been sheltering Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the PKK terrorist organization, for a long time. Syria shouldn't exploit our goodwill''. Ates was briefed by military officials from the Border Command in Reyhanli along the Turkish-Syrian border yesterday. /Cumhuriyet/

UNCTAD CALLS FOR RESTRICTION OF CAPITAL FLOW
The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has published its ''Trade and Development Report, 1998''. The report was announced by Economics Professor Korkut Boratav of the Ankara University at the UN Information Centre in Ankara yesterday. The UNCTAD suggests a financial safety mechanism for national currencies that are under speculative attack. The report defends the right of countries that have heavy debt obligations to restrict capital flow and stresses that this right should be regarded as similar to the safety measures that are required by the World Trade Organization's rules for foreign trade. /All papers/

NARAYANAN IN TURKEY
The Indian President K.R. Narayanan arrived in Ankara late on Wednesday for a two-day official visit. Narayanan is expected to meet with his Turkish counterpart Suleyman Demirel on Thursday following an official welcoming ceremony. He will later have talks with Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime Minister and Ismet Sezgin, the Minister of Defense. /All papers/

AKIN BIRDAL: NOMINEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD
The largest political group in the European Parliament, the Socialists, have nominated Akin Birdal, the President of the Human Rights Association (IHD), for this year's Saharov Human Rights Award. The final decision on the winner will be made by the

Parliament's chairmanship after all the groups determine their nominees. /All papers/

YILMAZ TO ATTEND UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz is preparing to launch a new diplomatic initiative to garner international support for Turkey to become a rotating member in the UN Security Council in 2001, it was reported. Yilmaz is scheduled to be in New York on 22 September and will give a speech two days later at the General Assembly to announce Turkey's intention of being nominated for the Security Council membership. /All papers/

U.S SUPPORTS BAKU-CEYHAN ROUTE
Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, met yesterday with Ambassador Richard Morningstar, the US Special Envoy to the Caspian Region. At the end of the meeting, Morningstar said that they supported the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline for the transportation of Caspian oil to European markets. He added that the construction of the pipeline should be started by the end of 1998 without further delay. /Sabah/

BANKING SEMINAR IN ISTANBUL
The Turkish Union of Banks and international credit rating institution, the Thomson Bankwatch, will organize a seminar on 28

September in Istanbul. The structure of the banking systems in countries like China, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, South

Korea and Hong Kong will be discussed during the seminar, which will be chaired by the Hong Kong Director of Thomson Bankwatch. /Sabah/

FRENCH AWARD TO YASAR KEMAL
''Ecureuil'', the Foreign Literature Award of the Bordeaux Book Fair, France, was given to world-famous Turkish author Yasar

Kemal. Yasar Kemal was presented with the award as he is both regionally and universally popular and successfully represents his country's culture. Kemal will be presented with his award on 21 September in Ankara by representatives of the French government. /Milliyet/

PRESS COUNCIL WORLD CONGRESS
The General Council and the World Congress of the World Association of Press Councils (WAPC) will be held between 19-21 September in Istanbul. Abuse of the principles of the profession and a mechanism to examine these abuses will be discussed during the meeting. /Milliyet/

ARAB UNION DENOUNCES TURKISH-ISRAELI COOPERATION
Foreign ministers from the Arab Union member countries gathered yesterday in the Egyptian capital of Cairo. Delivering a speech during the opening of the meeting, Ismet Abdulmecit, the General Secretary of the Arab League, said that improvement in Israel's military relations with Turkey threatened the national interests of the Arab countries. Noting that a statement by Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, that Israel will develop a regional security system in cooperation with Turkey, had much worried them. Abdulmecit requested Turkey to review her relations with Israel. Faruk el Sara, the Syrian Foreign Minister, also noted the unease the Arab leaders felt because of the Israeli-Turkish military cooperation. /Hurriyet/

HUMAN RIGHTS COURT TO DISCUSS RP's APPLICATION

The European Court of Human Rights will examine an application by representatives of the former Welfare Party (RP), which was outlawed by the Turkish Constitutional Court about a year ago. Sevket Kazan, one of the senior members of the party, declared yesterday that their file will be on the agenda of the meetings to be held by the sub-committee of the court between 19-26 September. /Cumhuriyet/

[12] BARZANI AND TALABANI, THE NORTHERN IRAQI KURDISH LEADERS MEET WITH EACH OTHER AFTER FOUR YEARS - US: ''WE ARE AGAINST THE TERRORIST PKK ORGANIZATION AND ITS EXISTENCE IN NORTHERN IRAQ''

While efforts are underway in order to solve the conflicts between the two groups in Northern Iraq, Barzani and Talabani are expected to meet each other for the second time and Madeleine Albright, the US Secretary of State will also be present at the meeting.

Giving information about the meetings, a US official described the Barzani- Talabani meeting as ''warm,'' adding that the desired results still couldn't be reached.

The same official pointed out that the aim of the meetings held in Washington, D.C., is to revive the Ankara Process.

Noting that the US administration is against the separatist terrorist PKK organization and its existance in the region, the US official pointed out that the ''Patriotic Union for Kurdistan (PUK) and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) also have problems with the PKK.''

The US administration wants Barzani and Talabani to be in a dialogue, to end the clashes permanently, to return to the Ankara Process, to act in unity against the Saddam administration and to operate the institutions and structures concerning the administration in Northern Iraq.

[13] TURKEY WANTS TO HOST ENERGY CONGRESS IN THE YEAR 2003

Pointing out that Turkey has a great chance among the five other candidate countries, Ersumer added that the issue will be discussed in January and a decision will be made in February.

Ersumer said that the second tripartite meeting between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia concerning the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline may be held on 7 October, probably in Azerbaijan. The first meeting was held in May 1998.

Ersumer, who continues his contacts with the US oil and energy companies, met with the officials from the AMACO oil company and the Pacific Corp., which invested in Turkey in the field of electricity.

Ersumer later visited the Turkish stand at the exhibition organized within the structure of the Energy Congress, and got information from the Turkish company's officials.

During his meeting with the officials from the Pacific Corp., the US partner of the Suzer Holding, which won the tenders opened for the transfer of operation rights of the Kemerkoy, Yatagan and Orhaneli thermal power plants, Ersumer got information about a new power plant.

Pointing out that the TEAS and the TEDAS will carry out studies on the ''Virtual Power Plant'' which increases the electricity productivity without increasing the capacity, Ersumer said, ''thus Turkey will have a virtual power plant in the future.''

Ersumer later met with the officials from the oil company AMACO, a company in the Caspian oil consortium.

The issues of the ''Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline Project'' and ''AMACO's investment projects in Turkey'' were discussed at the meeting.

[14] FM CEM TO VISIT CANADA

Ismail Cem will proceed to Ottowa, the capital of Canada, on 27 September.

After meeting with Lloyd Axworthy, the Canadian Foreign Minister, on 28 September, Cem will leave Canada for Turkey.

Meanwhile, Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will proceed to the city of Toronto, Canada, after wrapping up his contacts in New York. He will participate in a meeting that will be held by the TRNC Associations and meet with the Turkish Cypriots in this country.

Rauf Denktas, who will come to New York on 29 September, will also meet with Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General.

Addressing the annual coordination meeting of the Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC) on 1 October in New York, President Denktas will also hold a press briefing for the foreign press members there.

Denktas is expected to participate in the meeting which will be held by the American Turkish Associations between 8-10 October upon the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey.

[15] TURKISH-US ENERGY JOINT WORKING GROUP CONVENES - THE US PROPOSES INTERGOVERNMENTAL ''GENERAL FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT'' FOR EXPORTS OF CASPIAN SOURCES TO FOREIGN MARKETS

The Turkish-US Energy Joint Working Group convened in Houston, in the US, the same day. The Turkish side was led by Yurdakul Yigitguden, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, and the US delegation by Robert Gee, the Assistant Secretary of Energy.

Undersecretary Yigitguden said that the US had proposed in the meeting an intergovernmental framework agreement which includes not only the Baku- Ceyhan oil pipeline, but also all of the sources in the region and all the pipelines.

Pointing out that they were positive about the proposal which will include the regional countries like Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Turkey, Yigitguden said, ''we requested the US side to send their drafts. They already have the drafts we earlier prepared. Those drafts can be used for the agreements to be signed by all of the countries in the region.''

When asked whether or not the US will be a party to that general framework agreement, Undersecretary Yigitguden said, ''no, this will be an agreement among the countries in the region. If it will be a framework agreement, it can include all the transit routes. This is correct and we agree with that.''

[16] NARAYANAN, THE INDIAN PRESIDENT IN ANKARA ... - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''INDIA IS A LARGE MARKET FOR OUR EXPORTS WITH HER POPULATION EXCEEDING 900 MILLION''

Addressing the ceremony, President Demirel said that they aim to develop the economic and commercial relations between Turkey and India, adding ''India is a large market for our export goods with her population exceeding 900 million.''

Noting that if the two countries launch efforts reciprocally, Demirel said that the volume of trade between the two countries can rapidly increase, adding that India is one of the advanced countries in the world concerning science and technology, particularly in the fields of remote sensing techniques, biotechnology and software technologies.

President Demirel said that they will exchange views with the guest President about development of bilateral relations and regional and international problems.

Narayanan, the Indian President said that he was the Indian Ambassador to Turkey during the 1970s and he felt like he was coming to his second homeland when he came to Turkey this time.

Noting that Turkey and India have been having close relations for approximately 1,000 years, Narayanan pointed out that India had been affected much during her independence struggle from the Turkish War of Independence and the views of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern and secular Republic of Turkey.

''We have to revive our relations in the fields of economy, politics, culture and science and we have to transform them into a real neighbourhood relation,'' said Narayanan.

After the interdelegationary meetings between the two countries, three agreements aimed at improving the bilateral relations are expected to be signed.

[17] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 17 SEPTEMBER 1998

Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein, came on 10 September to Turkey in order to proceed to the Adigene, Georgia, to attend the ''Circassian Festival'' on 29 September.

BERLIN - The ''Third Turkish-German Psychiatry Congress'' started on Wednesday in Berlin, Germany.

The congress will continue until 21 September.

PRISTINA - As a result of the cooperation among the Tan, Gligoriye and Bojovic publishing houses in the Kosovonian capital of Pristina, the book named ''Night-Day'' by Mira Morkovic, the wife of Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic and the leader of the Yugoslavian Left Party, was translated into Turkish, it was reported on Wednesday.

The ''Night-Day'', which was translated from the Serbian language into the Turkish language, will also be promoted in Turkey.

ISTANBUL - The officials of the Gendarmerie Provincial Commandership in Istanbul seized a total of 30 thousand roots of indian hemp planted on 30 acres of land in Catalca.

The Gendarmerie soldiers destroyed the indian hemp and detained Ferhat Ozcan, the owner of the field.

[18] NORTHERN IRAQ - PUK LEADER TALABANI MEETS BERGER, CLINTON'S NATIONAL SECURITY CONSULTANT

The PUK statement said that Talabani, currently in Washington,

D.C., within the framework of the US efforts to provide a compromise between the Kurdish groups in Northern Iraq, met węth Samuel Berger, the Assistant to the President Bill Clinton for National Security.

The PUK statement said that the recent situation in Iraq and Northern Iraq and possible peaceful solutions to the KDP-PUK separation were discussed.

Talabani also expressed the necessity of the Kurdish groups being encouraged on security needs and to expend efforts for the implementation of the UN Resolution No. 688.

[19] REQUEST FOR PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO MEDIATE FOR KASHMIR PROBLEM

Nezih Demirtepe, the press consultant of the Turkish-Pakistani Cultural Association gave a statement ''our wish is that the Kashmir problem will be discussed during the talks between the two Presidents.''

The statement went on saying ''a strong mediator is required for the solution of the Kashmir problem which is the only question between India and Pakistan. This should be the Republic of Turkey and her experienced President Demirel.''

Demirkent said that Pakistan extended support to Turkey on the Cyprus question since 1974 and that it defended Turkey's thesis during the UN General Assembly meetings.

[20] SECURITY FORCES FIND A ''TORTURE ROOM'' BELONGING TO TERRORIST HEZBOLLAH ORGANIZATION

Reminding that Yusuf Karaduman, the Imam of the Dogubeyazit Fatih Mosque, was killed by the Hezbollah terrorists last March, Irfan Kenanoglu, the Governor of Dogubeyazit County, told the A.A correspondent, ''one of the murderers has been captured and then sentenced to imprisonment. The other three terrorists involved in the incident including Cemal Arvas, fled and couldn't be captured yet.''

Security forces found several rings on the walls, ropes and bands in the secret torture room.

The investigation concerning the incident is underway.

[21] FOREIGN DEBT REPAYMENTS - 332.2 BILLION US DOLLARS REPAID IN FOREIGN DEBTS BETWEEN 1 AND 16 SEPTEMBER

The Central Bank data shows that the Treasury repaid 240.81 million US dollars; the Central Bank repaid 19.12 million US dollars; the Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Industry repaid 32.26 million US dollars and the Defense Fund repaid 40 million US dollars in foreign debts in the first 16 days of September.

Meanwhile, a total of 8 billion 37.30 million US dollars in foreign debts were repaid since 1 January 1998.

The foreign debt payment was 1 billion 346.7 million US dollars in January; 916 million US dollars in February; 785.8 million US dollars in March; 765.8 million US dollars in April and 621.1 million US dollars in May 1998; 1 billion 165.9 million US Dollars in June; 1 billion 242.8 million US Dollars in July and 860.9 million US Dollars in August 1998.

[22] CONTACTS OF TAJIK DELEGATION IN TURKEY - OSMANOV, THE TAJIK ECONOMY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER, VISITS ANDICAN, STATE MINISTER AND SPOKESMAN OF GOVERNMENT - OSMANOV: - ''OUR VISIT TO TURKEY AIMS AT DEEPENING ECONOMIC RELATIONS''

Addressing the meeting, Andican said that he will evaluate relations between Turkey and Tajikistan with Osmanov. He added that the latest developments in Afghanistan will also be discussed at the meeting.

Reminding that they held useful talks with the Turkish businessmen in Istanbul during the first days of their four day official visit to Turkey, Davlat Osmanov pointed out that their visit aims at deepening the economic relations between Turkey and Tajikistan.

Osmanov also stressed that the volume of trade between the two countries isn't at the desired level, although everal trade agreements were signed between them.

[23] IMPRISONMENT TERMS FOR ZANA, RELEASE FOR BOZLAK

Zana is currently serving a 15-year sentence for separatism. The court also found 16 other people guilty on the same charge and ordered prison terms of between one and two years and a fine.

The court decided to release Murat Bozlak, the leader of the HADEP, who was charged in the same case and postponed the case about Ali Riza Yurtsever, the responsible editor of the magazine.

[24] 15 YEARS IMPRISONMENT TERMS FOR GERMAN TERRORIST

Eva Juhnke, a separatist terrorist, and her lawyers Eren Keskin and Kerem Sida didn't attend the trial.

The court delegation said that Juhnke's 15-page additional defense was translated into Turkish, adding that it was determined that Eva was included in the separatist terrorist organization from 1983 to 15 December 1997 and that her crime was definite.

The court also decided that the 11 month term, in which Juhnke remained under arrest, will be deducted from the sentence and that she had the right to appeal under Article 305 of Criminal Trial Procedure Law (CMUK).

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