Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-09-24

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

24 SEPT 1998

CONTENTS

[01] CEM, THE FOREIGN MINISTER: ''TURKISH-ISRAELI RELATIONS AREN'T ISSUE OF BARGAINING''

[02] HEAVY BLOW BY POLICE ON DRUG SMUGGLERS - 752.5 KG OF COCAIN SEIZED IN A BAHAMIAN-FLAGGED SHIP - 14 PEOPLE INCLUDING TWO FOREIGNERS DETAINED

[03] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ MEETS WITH SHARIF, THE PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER

[04] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RECEIVES KUWAITI-TURKISH AND TURKISH-BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS

[05] HAMID, THE GOVERNOR OF PUNJAB DUE IN ANKARA ON THURSDAY

[06] BULGARIAN STATE RADIO AND TELEVISION TO START BROADCASTS IN TURKISH

[07] CARGO SHIP RUNS AGROUND IN BOSPHORUS

[08] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''THE EU MEMBERSHIP SHOULD BE SET ASIDE'' - ''FIRSTLY THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS QUESTION SHOULD BE TAKEN AS A BASIS''

[09] TURKEY CONVEYS HER VIEWS TO THE US ABOUT NORTHERN IRAQ

[10] GANG BOSS SEDAT SAHIN IMPRISONED IN GERMANY - BERLIN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE: - ''SEDAT SAHIN WAS PUT INTO THE PRISON WHERE THE PERSONS WHO WILL BE DEPORTED ARE IMPRISONED''

[11] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[12] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[13] TURKISH-BRITISH FRIENDSHIP GROUP IN PARLIAMENT - CETIN, THE PARLIAMENT SPEAKER SAYS THAT THE TWO COUNTRIES COOPERATE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

[14] CAKICI, THE NOTORIOUS MAFIA BOSS SEEKS POLITICAL ASYLUM

[15] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 24 SEPTEMBER 1998

[16] TREASURY TO ARRANGE ONE YEAR TERM BOND TENDER INDEXED TO CONSUMER PRICES ON FRIDAY

[17] DOMESTIC BORROWING STOCK REACHES 9.4 QUADRILLION TURKISH LIRAS

[18] ETKIN, THE TRNC FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTER: ''GREEK CYPRIOTS CONTINUE TO REJECT PROPOSALS WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THEM''

[19] PROFILE OF EXPORTS FROM GAP REGION - IN FIRST EIGHT MONTHS, 342.9 MILLION US DOLLARS OF AGRICULTURAL AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS EXPORTED

[20] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF THE TRNC MEETS WITH LEADERS OF POLITICAL PARTIES BEFORE HIS VISIT TO NEW YORK

[21] STATE MINISTER ANDICAN RECEIVES LEBEDEV, RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY

[22] NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS' MEETING - OYMEN, TURKEY'S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO NATO: ''MINISTERS TO EVALUATE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN KOSOVO AND BOSNIA AS WELL AS ALBANIA''

[23] BAKU-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE - PRESIDENT EDUARD SHEVARDNADZE OF GEORGIA: - ''WE WILL SIGN THE AGREEMENT CONCERNING THE MAIN OIL PIPELINE WITH AZERBAIJANI AND TURKISH PRESIDENTS ON 9 OCTOBER''

[01] CEM, THE FOREIGN MINISTER: ''TURKISH-ISRAELI RELATIONS AREN'T ISSUE OF BARGAINING''

Cem, who is currently in New York to participate at the UN General Assembly meetings, told ''Al-Hayat'' and ''Es-Savk Al-Avsat'' newspapers published in the Arab countries, ''Turkey doesn't only try to develop her relations with Israel, but also with the Arabic countries.''

Noting that ''we can't give up one for another one,'' Cem stressed ''our friendship isn't an issue of bargaining.'' Cem emphasized the fact that the relation between Turkey and Israel ''isn't a military pact.''

Stressing that Turkey will continue to have good relations with both sides, Ismail Cem complained about the intentional exaggeration of the Turkish- Israeli relations. ''The relation is exaggerated by the Arabs and several Israeli circles,'' added Cem.

Giving information about his bilateral contacts in New York, Cem said that the use of the Iranian territories by the separatist terrorist PKK organization causes concern.

''Our security problem with Iran has to be absolutely solved,'' said Cem, adding ''it's not possible to say a positive thing about it today.''

Noting that he explained the Cyprus question, the confederation proposal of Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Turkey's candidacy for the UN Security Council to all the foreign ministers with whom he met, Cem pointed out that generally positive reactions are shown to the candidacy of Turkey and countries such as Albania and Sudan showed a clear support for Turkey.

Referring to the issue of the Greek candidacy for 1999, Cem said that Turkey doesn't extend support to Greece concerning this issue.

Foreign Minister Cem also met with Ivan Ivanov, the new Russian Foreign Minister. The Russian Minister didn't welcome the confederation proposal of the TRNC President Rauf Denktas at his meeting with Cem.

[02] HEAVY BLOW BY POLICE ON DRUG SMUGGLERS - 752.5 KG OF COCAIN SEIZED IN A BAHAMIAN-FLAGGED SHIP - 14 PEOPLE INCLUDING TWO FOREIGNERS DETAINED

Necati Bilican, the General Director of Security, said that they had been informed that the Bahamian-flagged ''Silkeborg'', which had departed from South America, was carrying drugs.

''Then the Turkish, German and British Police started a joint action and began to monitor the ship closely. The ship, which stopped at a seaport in Spain, entered into the Mediterranean Sea. The Turkish Coastal Security boats monitored the Silkeborg with radar. When she arrived at the Mersin Seaport, the officials from the General Department of Smuggling and the Provincial Directorate of Security in southern Mersin Province seized a total of 752.5 kg of cocain hidden in 1,300 packages,'' Bilican explained.

Security officials detained 11 persons including one Chilean in Mersin; two persons including one Italian in Istanbul and one person in Ankara in connection with the drug smuggling.

The drug, which was seized in Mersin, was to be brought to Europe and Russia via Istanbul by a TIR. Police seized a TIR in Istanbul.

Stressing that the cocain, which was seized in a Bahamian-flagged ship, was the greatest amount of drug that has ever been seized in Turkey, the officials said that one gram of cocain was sold for 10-15 million Turkish Liras.

[03] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ MEETS WITH SHARIF, THE PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER

The two prime ministers discussed bilateral relations, regional and international issues and they reviewed the traditional friendship relations between Turkey and Pakistan.

The Prime Minister is expected to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister on Friday.

Responding to questions of Turkish journalists after his meeting with Sharif, Prime Minister Yılmaz said that five Mafia bosses were captured since they came to power, adding ''in fact the Mafia wants us to resign.''

Prime Minister Yılmaz said that mainly the Afghan problem was taken up during his meeting with Nawaz Sharif, adding that the issue of nuclear tests of Pakistan didn't come onto the agenda.

Meanwhile, foreign investors which addressed the meeting held by the financial institution namely ''Global Securities,'' distinguished the Turkish economy from the economies of other regional countries including Russia and the Asian countries and described the Turkish economy as positive.

Gunes Taner, the Minister of State, informed the foreign investors and administrators of the financial institutions about the potential of the Turkish economy and responded to questions at the second part of the meeting.

[04] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RECEIVES KUWAITI-TURKISH AND TURKISH-BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATIONS

The Presidential Press Office said in a written statement that President Demirel told the British delegation that the friendship between Turkey and Britain is very important, adding that the two countries have the will to work together in order to further improve the existing perfect relations. President Demirel pointed out that the interparliamentary contacts carry importance for helping the two countries in understanding each other better.

The statement noted that Ben Chapman, the Chairman of the guest parliamentary delegation said that all the political parties represented at the British Parliament attribute great importance to the friendship between Turkey and Britain. President Demirel also exchanged views with the British delegation concerning bilateral relations and regional and international issues.

President Demirel also exchanged views with A. H. Al-Jamhour, the Chairman of the Turkish-Kuwaiti Parliamentary Friendship Group concerning bilateral relations and regional issues.

[05] HAMID, THE GOVERNOR OF PUNJAB DUE IN ANKARA ON THURSDAY

The Pakistani Embassy in Ankara said that Shahid Hamid will be received by President Suleyman Demirel and meet with Burhan Kara, the Minister of State Responsible for Maritime Affairs in Ankara.

The improvement of commercial and economic relations between Turkey and Pakistan and other issues that concern the two countries will be discussed during Hamid's contacts in Ankara.

Hamid, the Governor of Punjab Province of Pakistan will visit Ataturk's Mausoleum in Ankara and later proceed to the western province of Izmir.

[06] BULGARIAN STATE RADIO AND TELEVISION TO START BROADCASTS IN TURKISH

The Bulgarian Parliament approved the new radio and television law in its session on Wednesday.

In accordance with the new law, which will enter into effect following the ratification of Petar Stoyanov, the President of Bulgaria, the Bulgarian State Radio and Television will start to give place to programmes in the Turkish language during its daily broadcasts including the regions where the Turkish people are living.

The Radio and Television law also includes the privatization of the second TV channel, the ''EFIR-2'' of the Bulgarian State Television (BNT).

[07] CARGO SHIP RUNS AGROUND IN BOSPHORUS

SENA, which was carrying 900 tonnes of scrap iron from the Constanta Harbour in Romania to the Hereke Seaport, grounded offshore at Bostanci due to a mistake of the personnel.

When Erman Cebi, the captain of the SENA with 15 crew, requested help, the units of the General Directorate of Coastal Security and Ship Rescue started their activities to rescue the ship.

Officials said that the ship was not affecting the traffic in the Straits.

[08] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''THE EU MEMBERSHIP SHOULD BE SET ASIDE'' - ''FIRSTLY THE SOLUTION OF THE CYPRUS QUESTION SHOULD BE TAKEN AS A BASIS''

''Firstly the Cyprus question has to be solved so that a situation can arise on the island which will permit the representation of the two former partners namely the Turkish Cypriot people and the Greek Cypriot people,'' said Denktas.

Evaluating the news saying that the EU countries of Italy, France and Spain, will ask for a freezing of the EU membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side until a political solution is found for the Cyprus question, Denktas pointed out that ''this attitude of the mentioned countries shows that they started to understand the fact that the Turkish and Greek Cypriots live separately upon their own wills and there are two peoples, two separate democracies and two governments on the island.''

Pointing out that the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots have been living separately for 35 years on the island, Denktas stressed that one of them doesn't have the right to govern the other.

Noting that his confederation proposal is a constructive one aimed at uniting the states of two peoples under one roof, Denktas said that the TRNC is a reality and an agreement which ignores the TRNC can't be made.

[09] TURKEY CONVEYS HER VIEWS TO THE US ABOUT NORTHERN IRAQ

Turkey expressed her hesitations and reservations to the US during the meeting held with Martin Indyk, one of the high ranking officials at the US Department of State.

The Turkish side expressed her concern about the agreement reached between Jalal Talabani, the leader of the Patriotic Union for Kurdistan (PUK) and Massoud Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in Washington, D.C., and said ''it is the Iraqi people who will decide on the future regime in Iraq, including Northern Iraq. It isn't a correct approach to make this decision in Washington, D.C. Everyone should respect the decision that will be taken by the Iraqi people.''

The Turkish side said that the international observors have to watch the elections that will be held in Iraq, noting that the arrangement that will be made in Northern Iraq have to be ''temporary and local''. Turkey stressed that the territorial integrity of Iraq has to be protected and the separatist terrorist organization shouldn't have the freedom to move there.

[10] GANG BOSS SEDAT SAHIN IMPRISONED IN GERMANY - BERLIN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE: - ''SEDAT SAHIN WAS PUT INTO THE PRISON WHERE THE PERSONS WHO WILL BE DEPORTED ARE IMPRISONED''

The Berlin Ministry of Justice issued a statement saying that Sedat Sahin was being kept in the ''Kopenick Deportation Prison'' in the Kopenick region in Berlin.

The statement said the decision about the deportation of Sedat Sahin will be made according to the initiatives of Turkey.

Meanwhile, the officials from the press office of the Berlin Directorate of Security told the A.A correspondent that they determined that Sedat Sahin wasn't involved in any crime in Berlin.

The press office said that the Berlin police was launching an investigation into Sahin's possible relations with the underground in Berlin where he resided for nearly 8-10 months.

The police officials, who declined to give information about the passport of Sedat Sahin, said that they were inquiring about the passport.

The legal experts pointed out that the deportation of Sahin to Turkey will be difficult if he seeks asylum.

Meanwhile, Necati Bilican, the General Director of the Security, said that Sedat Sahin, the leader of an organized criminal organization, was carrying a fake Italian passport.

Bilican said that a unit including the officials from the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and the Security went to Germany last week for the capture of Sedat Sahin.

Necati Bilican stressed that the police, in accordance with its combating organized crimes, at first captured Baybasinler, then Kursat Yilmaz, Alaattin Cakici and Sedat Peker, and the German Police detained Sedat Sahin in Berlin yesterday.

Pointing out that Sedat Sahin was wanted with an Interpol international capture decision, Bilican said that the MIT and Security officials determined the contact addresses of Sahin in Germany and informed the German Police on these addresses.

''Sedat Sahin's wife Buket Erener gave birth in Berlin. The German police was informed on this event and on her address. The German Police captured Sahin late on Wednesday in Berlin,'' he mentioned.

[11] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

YILMAZ MEETS US FINANCE, INVESTMENT LEADERS
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who is attending the 53rd term meetings of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, briefed yesterday the US finance and investment circles on the Turkish economy. Yilmaz delivered a speech during a conference on ''Turkey: Emergence of a New Era'' jointly organized by the Turkish-American Society and Global Securities, a leading US investment institution. Noting that he was aware of the US investors' concerns on the impact of the current global economic crisis on the Turkish economy, Yilmaz said that the structure of the Turkish economy was strong enough to resist this crisis and that the economic programme applied by the Turkish government will overcome the crisis. /Milliyet/

SEZGIN IN PORTUGAL
Ismet Sezgin, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, went to Portugal yesterday to attend an unofficial meeting of the NATO Defense Ministers. Prior his departure from Ankara's Esenboga Airport, Sezgin noted that this unofficial meeting of the NATO Defense Ministers is held once a year and pointed out that the meeting was important, because it sheds light on the later official meeting of the NATO Defense Minister to be held in Brussels. Sezgin stated that during the meeting, international issues and NATO's functions would be discussed. Sezgin, who will proceed on to Macedonia following his visit to Portugal, will return to Turkey on 27 September.

752.5 KG OF COCAINE SEIZED IN MERSIN
As a result of operations carried out by members of the Security Department, 752.5 kilograms of cocaine were seized yesterday in Mersin. It was reported that the cocaine found in a cargo vessel flying the Bahamian flag is the largest amount confiscated in Turkey to date. Fourteen people have been taken into custody in connection with the incident, it was reported.

KUWAITI-TURKISH FRIENDSHIP GROUP
Members of the Turkish-Kuwaiti Interparliamentary Friendship Group are meeting in Turkey. Yasin Hatiboglu, the Chairman of the Turkish-Kuwaiti Friendship Group and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, noted during the meeting that relations between the two countries were further developing and said that cooperation should also be deepened for the solution of international problems.

SYRIA-PKK CONNECTION
Sermet Atacanli, the Deputy Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, said in a weekly press conference yesterday that Syria has given no reply to Turkey's security concerns regarding Syrian support for the PKK terrorist organization. Atacanli noted that they sincerely wanted to develop Turkish- Syrian relations and added that the desire and the framework to achieve this goal has been expressed to Syria many times.

TURKISH-EU RELATIONS
Fabrizio Barbasso, the Director of the European Commission to Turkey, will arrive in Turkey tomorrow to hold various contacts regarding the Customs Union (CU) Agreement between the European Union (EU) and Turkey. Sermet Atacanli, the Deputy Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, said in a weekly press conference yesterday that meetings to be held at the technical level with Barbasso aimed at deepening the CU Agreement. Atacanli pointed out that the EU should carry out its obligations for the provision of financial assistance to Turkey. He added that obstacles hindering Turkish-EU cooperation should be removed and no discriminative stance should be assumed by the EU against Turkey.

WORLD BANK OFFICIALS IN TURKEY
The World Bank will organize a conference on ''the Year 2000 Syndrome'' in Istanbul. During the conference, the affects of the year 2000 syndrome on important sectors such as communications and finance will be discussed. In addition to officials from the World Bank, Orhan Guvenen, the Undersecretary of the State Planning Organization (DPT) and Yavuz Ege, the Undersecretary of Foreign Trade, will also attend the conference. /Sabah/

SENTENCE FOR ERDOGAN
The Supreme Court of Appeals yesterday upheld a ten-month prison sentence for Istanbul Mayor Recep Tayyip Erdogan who was found guilty by the State Security Court in Diyarbakir in April ''for inciting hatred based on religious differences'' in a speech at a political rally. Now the court decision will go to the Ministry of the Interior, which will ask the Council of State to end Erdogan's tenure as mayor. /All papers/

AUSTRIAN CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF IN TURKEY
Karl Majcen, the Austrian Chief of General Staff, who is in Turkey on a short visit, visited Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff, yesterday. The two high-ranking soldiers exchanged ideas. /All papers/

GOVERNOR OF PUNJAB IN ANKARA
Shahid Hamid, the Governor of Punjab, Pakistan's largest province, came to Ankara yesterday for a brief visit. During his visit, Hamid will have talks with Burhan Kara, the Minister of State for Maritime Affairs, on matters of bilateral interest and the expansion of trade and commercial ties between Turkey and Pakistan. Hamid is visiting Turkey on the invitation of the Governor of Istanbul. He wll also visit Izmir, before returning to Pakistan. /All papers/

[12] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

TURKISH EXPORTS TO CIS AND EASTERN EUROPE INCREASE
Exports of agricultural and animal products from Southeastern Anatolia to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Eastern European countries increased by 45.2 percent and 182.3 percent in the first eight months of 1998, respectively. The dollar amounts for these exports come to 11.84 million US dollars and 25.49 million US dollars to the CIS and Eastern European countries, respectively.

TURKISH BANK BRANCHES ABROAD
The Turkish banks altogether have 88 branches or representative offices abroad. The Ziraat Bank has the highest number of branches abroad, with 17. Halkbank, Pamukbank and Akbank are the other three banks with the highest number of foreign branches. Forty-five of the branches, more than half, are in Germany.

SOUTHERN CYPRUS REJECTS YET ANOTHER PROPOSAL
The Greek Cypriot Administration rejected yesterday a proposal by Rauf Denktas, the Turkish Cypriot President, for the establishment of a joint independent commission to deal with the settlement of mutual property claims and compensation issues on Cyprus. Christos Stylianides, the Greek Cypriot Government Spokesman, who is in New York for UN General Assembly sessions, disapproved of the proposal saying, ''the Security Council resolutions stipulate that immigrants should return to their homes''. In a related development, Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot Leader, who is also in New York, said that the number of guarantor states should be increased in the event that an ultimate settlement is reached on Cyprus.

CETIN MEETS WITH IRISH COUNTERPART
Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament, received yesterday a delegation of Irish parliamentarians led by Seamus Pattison, the Irish Speaker of the Parliament. Speaking at the meeting, both Cetin and Pattison expressed hope that Ireland's recent decision to open an embassy in Ankara would considerably contribute to the improvement of bilateral relations.

NORWEGIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION VISITS CETIN
A visiting Norwegian Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission paid a visit yesterday to Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament, in Ankara. ''We hope that this visit will further develop friendly and cooperative bilateral relations between Turkey and Norway, two NATO allies,'' Cetin said. Later in the day the commission visited Murat Karayalcin, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission in the Parliament.

SEDAT SAHIN CAUGHT IN BERLIN
Sedat Sahin on the Interpol red bulletin wanted list has been caught in Berlin, Germany.

Officials from the Police Department in Berlin state that Sahin was caught in a joint operation with the Turkish police. Sahin has been involved in various armed incidents and is being accused of ordering the murder of Mehmet Nafi Capan, once involved in an illegal drug selling operation.

ITALIAN TECHNOLOGY IN DENIZLI AND GAZIANTEP
The Italian Foreign Trade Industry (ICE) and the Italian Association of the Producers of Textile Machines (ACIMIT) have organized meetings on ''Italian Textile Machines'' in Denizli and Gaziantep. The first meeting was held in Denizli on 22 September and the other will be held in Gaziantep on 24 September. A total of 18 Italian firms are participating in the meetings.

TURCO-ITALIAN PUBLICATIONS DEAL
A leading company in the Italian publications market, De Agostino Geography Institute, and Turkish Media Holding have decided to establish a joint venture in Turkey. With this deal, Media Holding targets to increase its sales of books and CDs.

CHP DELEGATION TO VISIT GERMANY
A delegation from the Republican People's Party (CHP) will visit Germany to observe the German general elections that will be held on 27 September 1998 and to hold various contacts. The CHP delegation will hold a press briefing on 25 September on ''Political Developments in Turkey, CHP Policies Directed Towards Europe and the German General Elections'' and will also participate in activities at the Cologne Municipality Palace within the framework of ''Intercultural Dialogue Week'' on 26 September.

CILLER GOES TO US
Tansu Ciller, the Leader of the True Path Party (DYP), went to the US yesterday. During her visit, Ciller will address academics at Boston University on 29 September and in Princeton University on 1 October. /All papers/

CARGO VESSEL GOES AGROUND
Navigating the Marmara Sea, a Turkish cargo vessel carrying 1,900 tons of scrap-iron bought from Romania went aground at Bostanci in Istanbul. /Cumhuriyet/

[13] TURKISH-BRITISH FRIENDSHIP GROUP IN PARLIAMENT - CETIN, THE PARLIAMENT SPEAKER SAYS THAT THE TWO COUNTRIES COOPERATE IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament, received the same day Ben Chapman, the Chairman of the British-Turkish Interparliamentary Friendship Group and the accompanying parliamentary group.

Noting that the bilateral relations of Turkey and Britain have a history of 400 years, Cetin stated ''there are common values such as democracy, human rights and supremacy of law which bind the two countries. These common values contribute to the formation and development of relations between the countries. Turkey and Britain cooperate in European and international institutions and generally pursue similar policies.''

Ben Chapman said that the existing good relations between Turkey and Britain should be further improved between the Parliaments.

[14] CAKICI, THE NOTORIOUS MAFIA BOSS SEEKS POLITICAL ASYLUM

Yuzuak told the A.A correspondent that the crimes attributed to Alaattin Cakıcı and his reason for being wanted are generally concerned with the events that happened before 1980 and they will make a political defense for that.

Meanwhile, Alaattin Cakıcı is seeking political asylum in France.

Frederic Chaubonnau, the French lawyer who was charged by the court to defend Alaattin Cakıcı, told the A.A correspondent that Cakıcı applied on Wednesday to the Nice Governorship for political asylum.

Chaubonnau said that the governorship would send this application to the OFFRA, the Protection Office for Refugees and Stateless Individuals in Paris and his application will be evaluated there.

Cakıcı can be imprisoned for up to two years for entering France with a fake passport.

[15] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 24 SEPTEMBER 1998

In accordance with the protocol, the volume of trade between the two countries will be increased to 200 million US dollars as of the end of 1999.

ALIAGA - Australian cyclist Mac. B. Ddlecombe, 52, who started his world tour from Canberra, Australia, and Northern Irish cyclist Derrick Rea, 27, who started his world tour from Northern Ireland, are now touring Turkey after meeting in Istanbul, it was reported on Thursday.

The cyclists said they have pedalled 10 thousand kms up until now during their world tours.

ISTANBUL - The ''Balkan Countries Humboldt Symposium'', which was organized by the Associations of Scholars of the Humboldt Foundation, will start on Friday in Istanbul.

The symposium on ''protection of historical artifacts in the Balkans and archaeological research, science and politics, and environmental problems'' will end on 27 September.

IZMIR - A leading German textile company, the Hugo Boss, will realize production in Izmir, it was reported on Thursday.

The foundation of the facility will be laid on 1 October.

ANKARA - Several concerts will be held on Friday and Saturday in Ankara within the context of the First International Ankara Culture and Art Festival, it was reported on Thursday.

ANKARA - Seamus Pattison, the Speaker of the Irish Parliament, and the accompanying delegation visited on Thursday Yalim Erez, the Minister of Industry and Trade.

The issues of ''economic and commercial relations between Turkey and Ireland, further cooperation fields and the European Union'' were discussed during the meeting.

[16] TREASURY TO ARRANGE ONE YEAR TERM BOND TENDER INDEXED TO CONSUMER PRICES ON FRIDAY

The Treasury foresees 250-400 trillion Turkish Liras in sales. The issue date for the bonds was specified to be 30 September 1998 while the repayment will be made on 29 September 1999.

In the previous 364-day (one-year) bond tender indexed to the TUFE held on 14 September 1998, the Treasury sold 174 trillion 376 billion TL in bonds while the accepted real yield rate was 30 percent.

Meanwhile, the Treasury will realize the second greatest domestic borrowing repayment of the month on 30 September. The Treasury will realize 457 trillion 394.2 billion TL in domestic borrowing repayments.

[17] DOMESTIC BORROWING STOCK REACHES 9.4 QUADRILLION TURKISH LIRAS

The Treasury issued a written statement saying that the domestic borrowing stock, which was 6 quadrillion 283 trillion 425 billion TL at the end of 1997, increased 49.9 percent to 9 quadrillion 415 trillion 715 billion TL in the January-August 1998 period.

The amounts of domestic borrowing stock between the end of 1997 and 31 August 1998 according to the Treasury statistics are as follows:

. Domestic Borrowing Stock

Months (Billion TL)

---------- -------------
Dec 1997 6,283,425

Jan 1998 6,637,689

Feb 7,011,819

Mar 7,379,467

Apr 7,870,862

May 7,979,280

Jun 8,389,591

Jul 8,996,243

Aug 9,415,715

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[18] ETKIN, THE TRNC FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTER: ''GREEK CYPRIOTS CONTINUE TO REJECT PROPOSALS WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT THEM''

Addressing the journalists, Etkin said that the Greek Cypriot side immediately rejected the proposal of Rauf Denktas, the TRNC President, without evaluating it, which suggested the establishment of a joint and autonomous commission to discuss the issue of exchange of property between the two sides on the island.

Noting that the Greek Cypriots make a mistake by acting like this, Etkin stated ''we expect that they will evaluate these proposals in time. We, as the Turkish side proposed a goodwilled proposal. This goodwill opens the way for the solution of the Cyprus question and it will end this problem. This is the last chance.''

Etkin said that he will leave for New York together with Rauf Denktas at the end of September and participate in the Foreign Ministers' meeting of the Islamic countries and hold various contacts there.

[19] PROFILE OF EXPORTS FROM GAP REGION - IN FIRST EIGHT MONTHS, 342.9 MILLION US DOLLARS OF AGRICULTURAL AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS EXPORTED

In the same period last year, the region exported 407 million 517 thousand US dollars of agricultural and animal products to 68 countries.

In the January-August 1998 period, Turkey entered into new markets like Ireland, Northern Ireland, Qatar, Palestine, Latvia, Slovenia, Yugoslavia, Ethiopia, Nambia, Senegal, Mexico, Bangladesh, South Korea, Nepal and Pakistan while she lost the South Yemeni, Serbian, Nigerian, Malaysian, Thailand and Canary Islands' markets.

Abdulkadir Cikmaz, the Chairman of the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union, told the A.A correspondent that in the first eight months of the year, they exported 191 million 373 thousand US dollars in textiles; 111 million 81 thousand US dollars in grain-cereals; 29 million 157 thousand US dollars in dried fruits and 11 million 377 thousand US dollars in livestock.

''The majority of the goods were exported to Iraq, Syria and Italy and the Turkish goods in greatest demand were carpets, synthetic thread and flour, '' he mentioned.

''We realized 93.1 million US dollars to Europe in exports; 164.9 million US dollars in exports to the Middle East; 46.5 million US dollars in exports to the Turkish Republics; 11.8 million US dollars in exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States; 5.2 million US dollars to Africa; 10.7 million US dollars to the American continent; 2.7 million US dollars to Asia and 8.1 million US dollars in exports to other countries in the first eight months of 1998,'' Cikmaz added.

[20] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF THE TRNC MEETS WITH LEADERS OF POLITICAL PARTIES BEFORE HIS VISIT TO NEW YORK

Addressing the journalists, Denktas explained the aim of the meeting as exchanging opinions on the latest developments following the confederation proposal.

Mehmet Ali Talat, the Leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) stressed that the Cyprus process has been deadlocked, adding that the two sides should come together in order to overcome the deadlock.

Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu, Serdar Denktas, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State, and Taner Etkin, the Foreign Affairs and Defence Minister, were also in attendance at the meeting.

[21] STATE MINISTER ANDICAN RECEIVES LEBEDEV, RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY

Addressing the meeting, Andican reminded that Turkey attributes great importance to Russia in the field of the economy.

Andican pointed out that they will discuss with Lebedev at the meeting the issues of Turkish businessmen in Russia, the shuttle trade and the economic crisis in Russia.

Describing the sales of the S-300 missiles to the Greek Cypriot side as a significant commercial business for Russia, Alexander Lebedev stressed, ''the mentioned missiles won't cause a political crisis between the two countries. Consultations concerning the missiles are being held on the bilateral and multilateral levels. I will be pleased with the sign of an agreement concerning the sales of missiles with the S-300s to Turkey during my mission period.''

Lebedev stressed that Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz's visit to Russia in coming months will also be discussed at the meeting. He added that Turkey and Russia are important partners for each other.

[22] NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS' MEETING - OYMEN, TURKEY'S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO NATO: ''MINISTERS TO EVALUATE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN KOSOVO AND BOSNIA AS WELL AS ALBANIA''

Ismet Sezgin, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense represents Turkey during the meetings.

The Kosovo crisis, Bosnia-Herzegovina and preparations regarding the Washington Summit that will be held in April next year are among the issues that will be on the agenda of the NATO ministers.

If the required compromise could be reached among the ministers, then the necessary official process will be started for making the air operations go into effect.

Turkish sources say that Turkey in principle will participate in every kind of operation that the NATO will hold in the region and that this was told to the alliance authorities.

The ministers of defense will review the atmosphere following the elections in Bosnia and developments related to the NATO forces and the general atmosphere in the Balkans.

Onur Oymen, Turkey's Permanent Representative to NATO, speaking to the A.A correspondent about the meetings said that the ministers will evaluate the recent developments in Albania as well as Kosovo and Bosnia.

Oymen said that expansion of the NATO, new strategic concepts, Russia and her relations with cooperation partners will be discussed. Oymen said that the NATO concluded military preparations to use in Kosovo when necessary, adding that this problem has political and humanitarian dimensions.

Noting that stability in the region was very important, Oymen said ''Turkey, which is the largest NATO country in the region, is a country which has Turkish citizens in the Balkans and a country which follows the developments there. Such meetings are means for Turkey to express her views.''

Recalling that the steps that will be taken by the NATO depended on the developments in the region, Oymen said ''all of us want the problem in Kosovo to attain a peaceful solution and to reach a ceasefire. If this atmosphere is created, then transportation of humanitarian aid, normalization of life, and reaching to peaceful solutions through negotiations will be faciliated. All these are very difficult in an atmosphere of clash. A humanitarian tragedy is expected in the coming winter months if this negative atmosphere is not ended. We do not have much time.''

Responding to questions about the interpretations that NATO lost credit due to Kosovo, Oymen said ''people should be very careful while making such interpretations. What is expected from NATO, doesn't the alliance perform its assignments? The NATO isn't the only organization targeting the preservation of peace. It wouldn't be realistic to wait for everything from the NATO. Protecting the credit of NATO is a joint effort of all the alliance members. The steps we will take should be in harmonization with our commitments in international field. This is a sensitive balance, we should be careful''

Noting that Turkey, from the very begining played a very active role in these studies, Oymen stressed that Ankara showed the same sensitivity to Kosovo to what it had shown for Bosnia.

Apart from Turkey and the Netherlands, the Parliaments of all the NATO member countries approved of NATO's expansion. The candidate countries wait for Ankara's confirmation.

It was reported that the Netherlands will confirm NATO's expansion in the coming days.

Speaking on the issue Oymen said ''Ankara revealed its views related with the issue. Last December, the Foreign Minister signed an agreement foreseeing expansion of the NATO with three new members. Oymen said that signing of the agreements is under authorization of the governments and confirming it, according to our constitutional system, under the responsibility of the Parliament. We can't comment on the decision of the Parliament. However, it is known that this agreement was earlier confirmed by the Parliamentary Foreign and Defense Commissions.''

Oymen said ''what is important under international law is the confirmation of the Parliaments. The agreement can't go into effect before the Parliaments of the 16 member countries approve it. The target is to conclude this process before the Washington Summit.

[23] BAKU-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE - PRESIDENT EDUARD SHEVARDNADZE OF GEORGIA: - ''WE WILL SIGN THE AGREEMENT CONCERNING THE MAIN OIL PIPELINE WITH AZERBAIJANI AND TURKISH PRESIDENTS ON 9 OCTOBER''

Shevardnadze stressed, ''the route has been determined and won't change in the future. This will be an historical event for both Southern Caucasia and the other countries.''

Pointing out that Georgia becomes a transit country for the transportation of Central Asian and Russian natural gas and oil to the south, Shevardnadze also mentioned the project aimed at reviving the historical Silk Road, and said, ''Georgia is one of the countries taking a part in this realistic project.''

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