Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-10-07

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

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

07 OCT 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TENSION WITH SYRIA - HARRAZI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, HOLDS A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH CEM

[02] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ WILL INFORM THE PARLIAMENT ABOUT THE SYRIAN ISSUE TODAY

[03] AGREEMENT AT JOINT DEFENSE INSTALLATIONS - FM: ''WE WELCOME THE OVERCOMING OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN TURK HARB-IS LABOUR UNION AND THE US AIR FORCES''

[04] PRESIDENT DEMIREL'S MESSAGE TO HIS TURKMEN COUNTERPART TURKMENBASI

[05] CENSURE MOTION AGAINST TOPCU, THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SETTLEMENT IS ACCEPTED TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE PARLIAMENT

[06] FIRST INTERNATIONAL GAP'98 FAIR - A TOTAL OF 55 THOUSAND PEOPLE VISIT THE FAIR SO FAR - ALEMDAROGLU, REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF GAP REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION: - ''FAIR BRINGS TECHNOLOGY TO THE REGION''

[07] INVESTIGATION MOTION CONCERNING CILLER, THE LEADER OF DYP IS ACCEPTED AT PARLIAMENT

[08] PARLIAMENT DECIDES TO CARRY OUT AN INVESTIGATION ABOUT PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ AND EREZ, THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE

[09] OIL PRODUCTION IN ADIYAMAN - TPAO PRODUCES 8.6 MILLIONS BARRELS OF OIL WITHIN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR

[10] TANER, THE STATE MINISTER IN THE US - TANER ASKS FOR SUPPORT OF CHP FOR REGULATIONS THAT WILL BE REALIZED IN THE FIELD OF SOCIAL SECURITY

[11] MODERN DANCE GROUP TO GREET AUDIENCE WITH ''ALICE IN ANKARA'' ON 19 OCTOBER - MICHAEL POPPER, A LEADING ENGLISH CHOREOGRAPHER, DIRECTS THE PERFORMANCE: - ''THIS IS THE ALICE'S WORLD IN ANKARA FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF AN ENGLISHMAN IN TURKEY''

[12] ''TURKISH COMPLEX'' OF GREECE REFLECTS IN TELEPHONE CALL CARDS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT UP FOR SALE IN TOURISTIC REGIONS

[13] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 7 OCTOBER 1998

[14] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - DEMIREL RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS MEETING WITH MUBARAK, THE EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT: ''WE EXPLAINED IN A FRIENDLY MANNER TO MUBARAK THAT TURKEY IS VERY UNEASY AND THE ISSUE IS VERY SERIOUS''

[15] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS' MEETING STARTS - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''WE WILL TAKE UP TURKISH-SYRIAN RELATIONS AT THE MEETING''

[16] GUREL, MINISTER OF STATE, LEAVES FOR MOLDOVA - GUREL: ''WE COULDN'T TRANSFER SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO POLITICAL PARTIES AS THE SYRIAN CRISIS DEVELOPED VERY RAPIDLY''

[17] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN: ''PARLIAMENT AND NATION HAVE ALWAYS UNITED ON TURKEY'S NATIONAL ISSUES''

[18] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - UTKAN, FM SPOKESMAN: ''WE WILL RETURN TO FRIENDLY RELATIONS IF SYRIA GIVES UP SUPPORT TO PKK TERRORISM''

[19] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - KORKMAZCAN, ACTING PARLIAMENT SPEAKER: ''SYRIA WILL BE MADE OBLIGED TO FULFILL TURKEY'S DEMANDS''

[20] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS' MEETING ENDS - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ STRONGLY WARNS SYRIA

[21] TENSION WITH SYRIA - SYRIA HAS EXTENDED SUPPORT TO TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 1960s WHICH AIMED AT DISTORTING ORDER IN TURKEY

[22] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - ECEVIT, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: ''I HOPE THAT SYRIA WON'T DARE TO COMPETE WITH TURKEY AND I ADVISE THEM TO BE WARY''

[01] TENSION WITH SYRIA - HARRAZI, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER, HOLDS A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH CEM

Addressing the journalists at the reception organized for the Armed Forces Day of Egypt, Hussein Lavasani, the Iranian Ambassador to Turkey, said that the two foreign ministers have exchanged opinions in the conversation.

Responding to the question on whether or not he wants to mediate between the two countries, Lavasani stressed, ''Turkey stated before that she doesn't want a mediator.''

[02] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ WILL INFORM THE PARLIAMENT ABOUT THE SYRIAN ISSUE TODAY

Responding to the questions of journalists, Prime Minister Yılmaz said ''I'll give information to the Parliament on Wednesday.'' Noting that President Suleyman Demirel issued a statement about the meeting held with Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian President, who came to Ankara on Tuesday, Prime Minister Yılmaz said ''there won't be another statement about the same issue.''

[03] AGREEMENT AT JOINT DEFENSE INSTALLATIONS - FM: ''WE WELCOME THE OVERCOMING OF THE CONFLICT BETWEEN TURK HARB-IS LABOUR UNION AND THE US AIR FORCES''

The Foreign Ministry said that the conflict which has been going on between the two sides for a period of time has been solved and a collective labor agreement will be signed on Wednesday.

[04] PRESIDENT DEMIREL'S MESSAGE TO HIS TURKMEN COUNTERPART TURKMENBASI

Demirel expressed condolences to the families of the thousands of people who died in the major earthquake in 1948.

The Presidential Press Center quoted Demirel as saying, ''the Turkmen people have succeeded in overcoming such a disaster and in making Ashkhabad, that had been leveled to the ground in the earthquake, a more magnificent capital under the leadership of President Saparmurat Turkmenbasi of Turkmenistan. Turkey is proud of assisting her Turkmen friends.''

Demirel also reiterated his belief in the good relations between Turkey and Turkmenistan in the future.

[05] CENSURE MOTION AGAINST TOPCU, THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS AND SETTLEMENT IS ACCEPTED TO BE DISCUSSED AT THE PARLIAMENT

The censure motion was voted in the Parliament and the parliamentarians decided to discuss the motion which was brought against Topcu. Uluc Gurkan, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament said that the discussion date will be determined by the Parliamentary Consultation Council.

[06] FIRST INTERNATIONAL GAP'98 FAIR - A TOTAL OF 55 THOUSAND PEOPLE VISIT THE FAIR SO FAR - ALEMDAROGLU, REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF GAP REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION: - ''FAIR BRINGS TECHNOLOGY TO THE REGION''

More than 500 domestic and foreign companies display their products of agriculture and food, plastic and packaging, construction industry, hardware, durable consumer goods, furniture, forest industry, sports and hunting equipment, automotive, leasing, banking, computer, electricity, hi- tech, telecommunications, textiles, ready-to-wear clothing, fashion, shoes and leather at the fair.

Responding to the questions of the A.A correspondent, Erkan Alemdaroglu, the Regional Director of the GAP Regional Development Administration, expressed satisfaction at the great interest in the fair, and stressed, ''the fair has brought the latest products of high-technology to the region. Producer firms come together with the consumers at the fair.''

The fair will remain open until 11 October.

[07] INVESTIGATION MOTION CONCERNING CILLER, THE LEADER OF DYP IS ACCEPTED AT PARLIAMENT

Saffet Arıkan Beduk from the DYP, recalled that the parliamentary investigation proposal which was given by Zekeriya Temizel from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) was rejected by the Parliament in 1996, adding ''therefore the discussion of this proposal once again isn't legally possible.''

Abdulkadir Bas from the Motherland Party (ANAP) said that a new situation arose after the submission and rejection of the investigation proposal concerning Ciller two years ago.

Bas stated that while there are some people who are in prison concerning the secret fund, others are outside due to their parliamentary immunity, adding ''we have to try Ciller and ease the public conscience.''

[08] PARLIAMENT DECIDES TO CARRY OUT AN INVESTIGATION ABOUT PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ AND EREZ, THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE

The parliamentary investigation proposal which was submitted to the Parliament by Ismail Kalkandelen from the True Path Party (DYP) was accepted with the votes of the Virtue Party (FP), DYP and Republican People's Party (CHP). The Motherland Party (ANAP), Democratic Left Party (DSP) and Democrat Turkey Party (DTP) voted against the motion.

Under Article 100 of the Constitution, the investigation will be conducted by a commission of fifteen members chosen by lot on behalf of each party from among three times the number of members the party is entitled to have on the commission. The commission will submit its report to the Parliament within two months. If the investigation is not completed within the time allocated, then the commission will be granted a further and final period of two months.

Erez said that the factory which will be constructed will export 700 million US dollars to one billion US dollars annually, adding that the government shouldn't be accused for bringing these kinds of investments to the country.

[09] OIL PRODUCTION IN ADIYAMAN - TPAO PRODUCES 8.6 MILLIONS BARRELS OF OIL WITHIN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR

Officials told the A.A correspondent that the TPAO realizes 57 percent of whole oil production in Turkey by producing an average of 26 thousand barrels of oil with high-gravity from the 160 oil-wells in 18 areas in Adıyaman Province.

The TPAO aims at increasing the oil production and also continues the oil exploration activities in Gaziantep and Hatay Provinces and test production activities in Kilis and Sanliurfa Provinces.

[10] TANER, THE STATE MINISTER IN THE US - TANER ASKS FOR SUPPORT OF CHP FOR REGULATIONS THAT WILL BE REALIZED IN THE FIELD OF SOCIAL SECURITY

Responding to the questions of journalists in Washington, D.C., the US, where he is participating in the autumn term meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, Taner said that if a new government comes to power at the end of the general elections in Turkey, it has to abide by the Close Monitoring Programme which was signed with the IMF.

Taner stated that Turkey won't have any problems in her trade with Russia, which suffers from an economic crisis, adding ''on the contrary, we can increase the amount of the natural gas we import from Russia.''

Emphasizing the fact that there isn't an economic crisis in Turkey, Taner stated that Turkey isn't included among the countries in the report of Standard and Poors called ''the 16 Countries which will Catch Contagious Diseases''.

''Our agreement signed with IMF is for two years, but we revised some of our targets for 1999 due to the existing conditions, for instance we can say that we will have an inflation rate of 30 percent in 1999. We want to keep the growth rate at 3 percent and we have to get the support of the Parliament in order to realize these parameters,'' said Taner.

Responding to a question, Taner pointed out that devaluations are made in economies controlled by the state, but the free trade economy is valid in Turkey.

''The balance between supply and demand determines the prices in Turkey,'' added Taner.

Meanwhile, Taner met with Johannes Lynn, the Deputy Chairman of the World Bank and representatives of banks and financial institutions such as the ABN Amro Bank, Solomon Brothers, Sumitomo Bank, Bank Gesellschaft Berlin, Commerzbank, Bank of Paribas and Societe General.

Taner also participated at a reception held by Union of Turkish Banks.

[11] MODERN DANCE GROUP TO GREET AUDIENCE WITH ''ALICE IN ANKARA'' ON 19 OCTOBER - MICHAEL POPPER, A LEADING ENGLISH CHOREOGRAPHER, DIRECTS THE PERFORMANCE: - ''THIS IS THE ALICE'S WORLD IN ANKARA FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF AN ENGLISHMAN IN TURKEY''

Responding to the questions of the A.A correspondent, Michael Popper, a leading English Choreographer who has been working in Turkey for 5 years, said that they are staging the performance for the 100th anniversary of the death of Lewis Carroll, the author of ''Alice in Wonderland''.

Popper describes his performance as ''Alice's world in Ankara from the perspective of an Englishman in Turkey.''

Popper has previously directed several performances such as ''Art for a More Understandable World'', ''Do Not Go'' and ''Irresistibly Charming''.

The costumes for the performance are designed by Nursun Unlu. Tuncay Kalyon is preparing the decor and Matthew Ridout is designing the accessories that will be used in the peformance.

[12] ''TURKISH COMPLEX'' OF GREECE REFLECTS IN TELEPHONE CALL CARDS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT UP FOR SALE IN TOURISTIC REGIONS

The Greek Telecommunications Institution (OTE) has put a picture depicting a bloody event between the Ottomans and Greeks on the front face of the telephone call cards.

In the picture painted by Evgenios Spatharis in 1988, three Greek soldiers shoot dead a Turkish soldier and try to stab one other. The card is described as the hostile manner of the Greek politicians who use the relations between the two countries for propaganda.

Impartial historians stressed that the Ottoman Empire had never treated the Greek people badly and showed respect for their rights and freedoms during its domination over Greece for 500 years.

Even Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, had removed the Greek flag which was put on the floor for him to step on at the liberation of Izmir, as a retaliation to the Greek commanders and soldiers who had stepped on Turkish flag when they occupied Izmir, saying, ''the flag is the honour of a nation. No one can play with the honours of a nation.''

[13] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 7 OCTOBER 1998

The Secretariat General of the Chief of Staff issued a written statement saying that General Kivrikoglu held contacts with Major General Degeratu and high-level military officials during his visit to this country. He was also received by President Emil Constantinescu of Romania and by Victor Babiuc, the Romanian Minister of Defence.

The statement pointed out that General Kivirkoglu's contacts focused on the membership of Romania in the NATO, partnership activities for peace in the Balkans, cooperation in the defence industry, bilateral relations between the armed forces of both countries and the other joints issues.

The Chief of Staff noted in its report that such mutual visits contribute to the positive relations and cooperation between the two countries.

ANKARA - Admiral Salim Dervisoglu, the Commander of the Naval Forces, will leave for Italy tomorrow in order to join the take-over ceremony of Admiral T. Joseph Lopez, the Commander in Chief of the NATO Allied Forces of Southern Europe, and to the symposium on ''Regional Naval Forces'', it was reported on Wednesday.

Admiral Dervisoglu will hold official contacts with the high level military officials during his visit to Italy.

ISTANBUL - Narcotic officials seized on Wednesday 2.2 kg of heroin and took a total of 5 persons, four of them are foreigners, into custody.

Officials told the A.A correspondent that acting on a tip-off the narcotics officials found out the drugs in a suitcase at the Ataturk Airport, which were brought to Istanbul from Van and would have been transferred to Bologna, Italy, via Turkey.

One Senegalese, one Ghanian, one Rwandan and one American were taken into custody along with a Turkish citizen.

Investigation concerning the incident is underway.

ISTANBUL - The Ministry of Culture, Istanbul State Turkish Art Music Chorus will begin the new concert season with the ''Republic Concert'' on 18 October, it was reported on Wdnesday.

Adnan Mungan, Munip Utandi, Cetin Korukçuoglu, Sakine Kanbur and Ufuk Caba will sing the works of the famous Turkish composers such as H. Sadun Arel, Munir Nureddin Selcuk, Refik Fersan, Faize Ergin and Cevdet Cagla.

[14] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - DEMIREL RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS MEETING WITH MUBARAK, THE EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT: ''WE EXPLAINED IN A FRIENDLY MANNER TO MUBARAK THAT TURKEY IS VERY UNEASY AND THE ISSUE IS VERY SERIOUS''

Responding to the questions of journalists in the central province of Konya, President Demirel stated that everyone has to be calm and the main issue is to protect the important interests of Turkey.

Responding to a question asking whether Mubarak brought a message from Syria, President Demirel said ''the issue will be discussed at the Parliament in the afternoon and the Turkish public will be informed. The President of a friendly country visits countries when he sees that there is a tension in the region, but he doesn't play the role of a mediator. More than 30,000 people died in Turkey, there is a bloody incident in Turkey, which is separatist terrorism. Many innocent citizens, police officers, teachers, administrators and soldiers died in Turkey. Syria supports this separatist terrorism, we have said this many times. We are losing our patience and this continues for 15 years. Syria is still backing the separatist terrorist organization.''

''Why do other countries support Syria? Does it mean that they support the fact that Syria permits terrorists to enter into Turkey in order to kill innocent people? This can't be understood and it can't be explained by Arab solidarity,'' said Demirel, adding that there wasn't anything new in our meeting yesterday with Mubarak, the Egyptian President. ''We told him that Turkey is very uneasy about the situation and Turkey's complaint isn't a threat, but it has to be evaluated well,'' said Demirel.

President Demirel added ''we want everyone to be calm, all the rational methods and common sense will be used.''

[15] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS' MEETING STARTS - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''WE WILL TAKE UP TURKISH-SYRIAN RELATIONS AT THE MEETING''

Addressing the opening ceremony of the meeting Yilmaz said that the agenda of the meeting would be limited to relations with Syria, adding that the issue will be discussed in all its dimensions.

Recalling that Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian President, visited Syria before and after his visit to Turkey, Yilmaz said that Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, will brief the Council of Ministers about relations with Syria.

Responding to a question about whether or not a response came from Damascus and the period of time Turkey will wait, Yilmaz said they would answer the questions after the evaluation of the Council of Ministers, adding that his scheduled meeting in the Parliament will be open to the press.

[16] GUREL, MINISTER OF STATE, LEAVES FOR MOLDOVA - GUREL: ''WE COULDN'T TRANSFER SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO POLITICAL PARTIES AS THE SYRIAN CRISIS DEVELOPED VERY RAPIDLY''

Gurel left for Moldova to participate at the First Term meetings of the Moldovan-Turkish Joint Economic Commission (JEC).

Prior to his departure from the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Gurel said that Moldova can be considered as a very important trading partner for Turkey when her geographical position and natural resources are taken into consideration.

Pointing out that a delegation including the representatives of the public and private sectors also left for Moldova, Gurel said that he believed considerable progress will be recorded during the meetings on the issues of joint investments and improvement of trade.

Recalling that the Turkish Eximbank provided a 35 million US dollar loan for the irrigation project to be implemented in the region in Moldova where the Gagavuz Turks are living, Gurel mentioned that they will also discuss the issue of the implementation of this project.

Responding to a question, Gurel said, ''the problem with Syria has a 15 year history. As the crisis developed very rapidly, we couldn't transfer sufficient information to the political parties''.

Noting that the Council of Ministers will convene on Wednesday to discuss the issue and Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz will brief the Parliamentary General Assembly on the subject, Gurel said, ''of course, the political parties have the right for getting information about such a national issue.''

Gurel will return to Turkey on 10 October.

[17] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN: ''PARLIAMENT AND NATION HAVE ALWAYS UNITED ON TURKEY'S NATIONAL ISSUES''

Speaking to the reporters, Cetin recalled that the Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz will brief the Parliament on the Syrian crisis the same day.

When asked whether or not there is the possibility of a war, Cetin said, ''I can't say something now. However, I can say that the issue is very serious.''

When asked whether on not the Parliament will make decision about war, Cetin said, ''what kind of a decision? There is not a such a request. In Turkey, concerning the national issues, the Parliament and the public have always been united. Also, the political parties, when necessary, have always given support without considering political differences. We didn't receive such a request.''

[18] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - UTKAN, FM SPOKESMAN: ''WE WILL RETURN TO FRIENDLY RELATIONS IF SYRIA GIVES UP SUPPORT TO PKK TERRORISM''

Addressing the weekly news conference, Utkan responded to a question concerning the Turkish-Syrian tension. Utkan said ''we think that there will be no reason that will prevent the normalization of friendly relations if Syria gives up this support.''

Noting that the support Syria extended to separatist terrorism was extremely grave and that it poisons relations, Utkan said ''Syria should isolate herself from the PKK terrorism. Only after this a dialogue can be established.''

When asked why Turkey reacted now although it knew this support of Syria for years, Utkan said ''because there has been a gradual build-up of tension. A special situation is out of the question.'

Recalling that Abdullah Ocalan, chief of the separatist terrorist organization was visited in Damascus by many foreign parliamentarians, Utkan said ''two British parliamentarians in July 1998, a Spanish delegation in August and some Italian parliamentarians visited him in September.'' Utkan said ''it has been observed that some Russian parliamentarians contacted with Ocalan in October in Damascus. ''If we remember that Syria has been extending support to terrorism since 1960, it can be understood why there has been a gradual build-up of tension.''

Pointing out that Syria also didn't respond to request of the declaration of principles from Turkey, Utkan said that when the interests and proposals of other countries were made to Syria with this objective are taken into consideration, it is revealed that the most important thing is to give Syria the message.

Utkan stressed ''this isn't a problem between Turkey and the Arab countries, but directly a problem between Turkey and Syria.'' When evaluating the reactions of the Arab countries, Utkan said this support given within the framework of the solidarity of the Arab countries shouldn't be a confirmation of terrorism.

Responding to a question, Utkan said that statements of Muammar al-Qaddafi, the Libyan leader, which supported Syria were ''unnecessary and unsuitable.''

Utkan said there was no connection of the Turkish-Israeli relations with the Turkish-Syrian relations, adding that it was understood that this issue was used for exploitation in the Arab world.

Pointing out that Adnan Omran, the Syrian Foreign Minister, was handed a 12 article declaration of principles for the solution of problems through dialogue during his visit to Ankara, Utkan said Omran refrained from obtaining this document in writing and then the Turkish Embassy in Syria gave the document to the Syrian Foreign Ministry.

The Syrian Embassy on Tuesday claimed that Turkey didn't give a ''declaration of principles'' document to them.

[19] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - KORKMAZCAN, ACTING PARLIAMENT SPEAKER: ''SYRIA WILL BE MADE OBLIGED TO FULFILL TURKEY'S DEMANDS''

Hasan Korkmazcan, who is in southern Antalya Province for the seminar on ''Transportation Technology and European Integration'', which was organized together by the European Council Parliamentary Assembly and by the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Parliamentary Assembly, responded to the questions of reporters about the relations between Turkey and Syria.

Pointing out that the initiatives for the solution of the tension proved that a solution will be found in the near future, Korkmazcan said, ''Turkey has been facing an armed attack since 1984. Those attacks were prevented and their roots were eradicated within the country. Now, it is the time for destroying the external source of those attacks.''

Stressing that all of the countries in the world are of the same opinion that Syria constitues the center for the external terrorism and Syria was included on the list of ''terrorist states'', Korkmazcan emphasized, ''we are determined to eradicate terrorism wherever it shelters.''

Responding to another question, Korkmazcan said, ''Turkey's stepping back is out of the question. The world also accepts that the terrorism against Turkey grows through external supports. The terrorism against Turkey didn't originate from domestic problems. We have lost a considerable part of our economic resources and a total of 30 thousand people died due to the terrorist attacks continued for 14 years. Despite our efforts to secure peace, Syria has continued her support for terrorism and made an effort to gain time with every initiative for a solution. Now, Syria will be made obliged to fulfill our demands. Otherwise, Turkey's initiatives for the solution of the problem will be concluded in a very short time.''

When asked what he thinks about the support of the Arab countries to Syria, Korkmazcan said, ''we will wait and see. Our experiences in the past shed light to us on the issue.''

[20] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS' MEETING ENDS - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ STRONGLY WARNS SYRIA

Speaking to reporters Yilmaz said that Syria's support to the separatist terrorist organization was taken up exclusively, adding that during the meeting of the Council of Ministers they decided to announce several aspects to the public.

Yilmaz said ''as an outcome of the brave efforts of the Turkish Armed Forces and the other security forces, separatist terrorism has been rendered ineffective within our borders and that it began to need foreign support.''

Yilmaz pointed out that eradicating separatist terrorism to preserve territorial integrity and security of our citizens is the leading responsibility of our government, adding '' the Council of Ministers evaluated that the most important obstacle preventing us from reaching this target is the support of Syria to the separatist terrorist organization for years.''

Yilmaz said that the Council of Ministers decided to take every kind of deterrent measure against Syria if it continues to extend support to terrorism and that it also decided that activities will be accelerated to inform international organizations and third countries to this end.

[21] TENSION WITH SYRIA - SYRIA HAS EXTENDED SUPPORT TO TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF 1960s WHICH AIMED AT DISTORTING ORDER IN TURKEY

Diplomatic sources told the A.A correspondent that evidence related to the Syrian-PKK relations are important when the tete-a-tete meetings of the high level officials and Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization are taken into consideration. Meanwhile, it was also reported that the evidence in question formed an important part of the file which Turkey gave to Hosni Mubarak, the President of Egypt.

A high level diplomat said that Syria, since the beginning of the 1960s has sheltered the terrorist organization, aimed at distorting order in Turkey, adding that Syria provided every kind of logistic support to the separatist terrorist PKK organization, allocated camps and exempted Kurds in Syria from military service if they participate in the separatist PKK. The same diplomat said that Syria tolerated drug trafficking and got a share from this.

It was also reported that the Turkish security forces had captured nearly 500 terrorists of Syrian origin who are involved in the PKK and that most of them are still being tried at the State Security Court.

Diplomatic sources also said that talks which were held between Ocalan and several officials from several countries were determined in detail.

They were officials from Greece, Germany, Britain, Italy, Russia, the US and Spain.

[22] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - ECEVIT, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: ''I HOPE THAT SYRIA WON'T DARE TO COMPETE WITH TURKEY AND I ADVISE THEM TO BE WARY''

Addressing his party group meeting, Ecevit pointed out that problems stemming from Syria were in the agenda of Turkey for 15 years, adding that these problems should be carried into the agenda of the world.

Ecevit said there has also been the negligence of Turkey for many years, adding ''I am sure that many politicians and statesmen don't know anything about the problems of Turkey and Syria, although Syria was responsible for the killings of our martyrs''.

Ecevit said that Turkey's patience has become exhausted in response to the hostile attitude of Syria and that Turkey has to apply every method to dry up this de facto source of the separatist terrorism.'

''Of course, we should use the weapons of politics before the weapons of war. The leading requirement of these politics is to inform the Arab countries and the public on the issue. The Foreign Ministry has launched a detailed study in this respect. We are evaluating all possibilities and the choices that should be followed.''

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