Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-10-11

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

11 OCT 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKISH TRADE POLICIES TO BE INSPECTED BY WTO IN GENEVA

[02] BALKAN SUMMIT TO START IN ANTALYA ON MONDAY

[03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL SPEAKS WITH EGYPTIAN, AZERBAIJANI, ROMANIAN AND KYRGYZ PRESIDENTS ON THE PHONE

[04] THREE HUNTSMEN, WHO WERE ABDUCTED BY SEPARATIST TERRORISTS IN CENTRAL SIVAS PROVINCE, RELEASED

[05] CONFERENCE ON ''WOMEN IN 21ST CENTURY'' - STATE MINISTER SAYGIN, ENVIRONMENT MINISTER AYKUT AND BERNA YILMAZ, WIFE OF PREMIER YILMAZ, ARRIVE IN BULGARIA

[06] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - BAUER, AN AMERICAN OFFICIAL: ''WE SUGGEST SYRIA TO COMPLETELY AND PERMANENTLY END HER SUPPORT TO THE TERRORIST PKK''

[07] 20TH INTERCONTINENTAL EURASIA MARATHON RACE - MOGES OF ETHIOPIA TAKES GOLD IN MEN'S CATEGORY WHILE GALUSHKO OF BELARUS RANKS FIRST IN WOMEN'S CATEGORY

[08] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - ALIYEV, THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN: ''WE ARE WITH TURKEY CONCERNING THE TENSION WITH SYRIA''

[09] STATE MINISTER TANER RETURNS TO TURKEY

[10] SEZGIN, THE DEFENSE MINISTER: ''OUR MILITARY UNITS ARE PROTECTED WELL''

[11] GREAT INITIATIVE FROM TURKISH STUDENTS IN THE US

[12] DENIZKURDU, THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE: ''THE GOVERNMENT HAS PREPARED A DRAFT LAW TO STRUGGLE WITH ORGANIZED CRIME''

[13] ELECTION OF ARMENIAN PATRIARCH IN TURKEY

[14] EGE, UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN TRADE: - ''THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY TO DOUBLE TRADE VOLUME BETWEEN TURKEY AND EGYPT''

[15] FIRST INTERNATIONAL GAP-98 FAIR CONCLUDES

[16] SEARCH-RESCUE'98 MILITARY EXERCISE TO TAKE PLACE WITH CIVILIAN- MILITARY COOPERATION

[17] TURKISH ENTREPRENEURS' INVESTMENTS IN TOURISM SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

[01] TURKISH TRADE POLICIES TO BE INSPECTED BY WTO IN GENEVA

The Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade (DTM) said that a Turkish delegation led by Yavuz Ege, the Undersecretary of the DTM, will participate in the meetings which will take place in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Mechanism will inspect the Turkish trade policies for the second time. This inspection is carried out in every four years. The first inspection was realized in 1994.

The Mechanism will observe mainly the progress recorded in the Turkish trade policy since 1994.

In the meetings, the macro-economic indicators like growth, public financing, foreign currencies, monetary policies, inflation, interest rates, balance of payments and foreign trade structure; the trade policies like the measures affecting the exports and imports; and the trade policies at the sectoral level like energy, agriculture, industry and services, will also be examined.

[02] BALKAN SUMMIT TO START IN ANTALYA ON MONDAY

The Foreign Minister Cem is accompanied by the officials from the Foreign Ministry.

The Balkan Summit, which will be hosted by the President Suleyman Demirel, will start in Antalya on Monday with the participation of high-level officials from Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece and Yugoslavia.

[03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL SPEAKS WITH EGYPTIAN, AZERBAIJANI, ROMANIAN AND KYRGYZ PRESIDENTS ON THE PHONE

Presidential Press Centre said that Hosni Mubarak, the Eyptian

President called President Demirel the same day, who also spoke with Haydar Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan on the phone.

President Suleyman Demirel took up the Kosovo problem with Emil Constantinescu, the Romanian President and he also spoke with Askar Akayev, the Kyrgyz President on the phone.

[04] THREE HUNTSMEN, WHO WERE ABDUCTED BY SEPARATIST TERRORISTS IN CENTRAL SIVAS PROVINCE, RELEASED

Akif Aksu, Ramazan Hatip, Yildirim Candir, Enis Apaydin and Kubilay Hatip, the huntsmen met with a group of separatist terrorists while they were hunting near the feet of the Genc Ali and Yilan Mountains.

The terrorists took hostage three huntsmen namely Akif Aksu, Ramazan Hatip and Yildirim Candir while other huntsmen Enis Apaydin and Kubilay Hatip managed to escape from the ambush.

Security forces launched an operation in the region when they were informed about the abduction. As a result of the operation, the terrorists released the huntsmen and fled away.

However, security forces continue their operation to capture the terrorists.

Acting Governor Guler told the A.A correspondent that the abducted huntsmen were in good health.

[05] CONFERENCE ON ''WOMEN IN 21ST CENTURY'' - STATE MINISTER SAYGIN, ENVIRONMENT MINISTER AYKUT AND BERNA YILMAZ, WIFE OF PREMIER YILMAZ, ARRIVE IN BULGARIA

Berna Yilmaz, the wife of the Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz; Isilay Saygin, the Minister of State responsible for Family and Women; and Imren Aykut, the Minister of Environment, arrived in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia late on Sunday to participate in the conference.

Mine Cevik, the Editor of the Turkish Daily News; Meral Gezgin Eris, the Chairwoman of the Economic Development Foundation; and Gulten Das, a member of the Turkish Women's Union, will also attend the conference.

The ''First Ladies'' and the representatives from women associations of several countries will take up the issue of ''Women and World in the 21st Century'' in the conference at which Hillary Clinton, the wife of the US President Bill Clinton, will attend as honorary guest.

[06] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - BAUER, AN AMERICAN OFFICIAL: ''WE SUGGEST SYRIA TO COMPLETELY AND PERMANENTLY END HER SUPPORT TO THE TERRORIST PKK''

Addressing the annual meetings of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations, Bauer recalled that the US administration describes and has declared the bloody PKK as an ''international terrorist organization.''

Noting that the US exerts efforts to overcome the tension between Turkey and Syria by diplomatic ways, Bauer stated that ''Syria has to end the separatist terrorism in her territories.''

Stressing that the PKK leaders are in Syria and they know that Syria extends support to the separatist terrorist organization, Dana Bauer underlined the fact that nobody should make a connection between the Turkish-Israeli close relations and the tension which escalated between Turkey and Syria due to the support of Syria to terrorism.

Responding to a question, the American official said that the separatist terrorist organization PKK has a political office in Greece, but they don't have any information saying that there are terrorist training camps in Greece. ''We'll take the necessary steps if we get concrete information proving that,'' he added.

Tansu Okandan, a Foreign Ministry official said that ''14 years is a long time to be patient, but we finally lost our patience towards Syria.''

Dana Bauer stated that Turkey has a central status in American foreign policy and the interest for Turkey in the US has increased in parallel to that. ''Turkey has become a central country in the region,''he said.

Stressing that Turkey has to integrate with all institutions of Europe and the US supports full membership of Turkey to the US, Bauer pointed out that the S-300 missiles will upset the balances in the region and they do their best to prevent the delivery of the missiles to the island.

Syria is included in the US list of countries which support terrorism.

[07] 20TH INTERCONTINENTAL EURASIA MARATHON RACE - MOGES OF ETHIOPIA TAKES GOLD IN MEN'S CATEGORY WHILE GALUSHKO OF BELARUS RANKS FIRST IN WOMEN'S CATEGORY

In the marathon race, which was held in 42 km 195 meters long course, Stephan Langat of Kenya ranked second with 2:16.12 seconds and Sambu Andrea took the bronze medal with 2:16.55 seconds.

Meanwhile, in women's category, Natalia Galushko of Belarus took the gold medal with 2:08.10 seconds and Andriana Barbu of Romania became the runner- up with 2:40.15 sec. The Turkish marathon racer Serap Aktas took the bronze medal in women's category with 2.41.00 sec.

[08] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - ALIYEV, THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN: ''WE ARE WITH TURKEY CONCERNING THE TENSION WITH SYRIA''

Responding to a question after voting for presidential elections held in Azerbaijan the same day, Aliyev stated that they are friend of Turkey and they are with Turkey concerning the problem with Syria.

Aliyev added that President Suleyman Demirel phoned him on Saturday.

[09] STATE MINISTER TANER RETURNS TO TURKEY

Taner, during his visit to the US, held a series of contacts with the high- level representatives from international financial organizations including the IMF and the World Bank.

In those meetings, State Minister Taner explained the representatives about the latest developments in the Turkish economy briefing them on the 1999 budget and economic policies, which will be pursued in 1999, and called foreign entrepreneurs to invest in Turkey.

Gunes Taner had said that an IMF delegation will arrive in Turkey this week to hold meetings within the context of the Staff Monitoring Agreement between Turkey and the IMF.

Taner had also addressed a luncheon at the New York Palace and briefed the US business circles and bankers on the latest situation of the Turkish economy and energy issues.

[10] SEZGIN, THE DEFENSE MINISTER: ''OUR MILITARY UNITS ARE PROTECTED WELL''

Responding to questions of journalists about the Syrian crisis, Sezgin stated that Syria can't attack Turkish troops. ''Syria can't do anything, in case of a clash, everything will finish in 24 hours,'' he added.

Noting that Turkey tries to solve problems with Syria by diplomacy, Sezgin said that ''we wish to apply diplomacy to its latest point. However if problems can't be solved by diplomacy and if all the ways are blocked, we'll not be responsible from the things that will happen. The Arab countries should think and evaluate the situation well. A hostile attack is launched from one moslem country to another moslem country. This is an indirect attack, which is a crime under the UN Charter. They continue to commit this crime. This does not match with friendship, islam, neighbourhood and international law. We tell them not to do such things. We've warned them for the last time and I hope that our neighbour will carefully evaluate our wishes and do what is necessary.''

Responding to another question about the developments in Kosovo, Sezgin pointed out that international society and NATO launch all kinds of efforts to prevent the reoccurance of another Bosnian tragedy in Kosovo.

[11] GREAT INITIATIVE FROM TURKISH STUDENTS IN THE US

The representatives of 67 different associations, which were established by Turkish students studying in 50 states of the US, convened for the first time during the annual meetings of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations in Washington, D.C.

Turkish students studying in several states in the Eastern part of the US have taken a step for founding an organization and convened under three different associations.

The representatives of all of the Turkish students' associations attended the meeting in Washington D.C.

Baki Ilkin, the Turkish Ambassador to Washington D.C., and three Turkish Consul Generals, also participated in the meeting.

The aim of Turkish students is to strengthen the communication among them and carry out activities to introduce Turkey, Turkish history and culture in the US.

There are 7,700 Turkish students who are registered in the US. However, it is estimated that the total number is 13-14 thousand when the other Turkish students, who are not recorded, are included in this calculation.

Addressing the meeting, Ambassador Ilkin, who played a key role in the gathering of Turkish students, said, ''struggling against the Greek-Greek Cypriot and Armenian lobbies in the US necessiates great effort. I invite you to turn out their efforts to be nothing. Our students constitute an important potential for the introduction of Turkey.''

[12] DENIZKURDU, THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE: ''THE GOVERNMENT HAS PREPARED A DRAFT LAW TO STRUGGLE WITH ORGANIZED CRIME''

Denizkurdu stated that the parliament will start to discuss the drafts which foresee reforms in Turkish law within two weeks, adding that the parliament will take up firstly the draft law on organized crime.

Noting that the trial process concerning the gangs will be eased, Denizkurdu pointed out that the draft law gives necessary authority to judges and prosecutors concerning gang cases and the draft law also brings new regulation to find out those people who provide financial source to this organization. We need political will and political stability to end these incidents in Turkey.''

Denizkurdu stressed that they aim to decrease the number of cases that are pending before the courts from 8-10 millions to two millions and they aim to revise the legal education system.

[13] ELECTION OF ARMENIAN PATRIARCH IN TURKEY

The Clerical General Committee had earlier determined the ten delegates who would vote for the election of the Patriarch. The 83rd Patriarch Karekin 11 died on March 10, 1998.

On October 14, the ten clergymen will elect the 84th Patriarch together with 79 civilian delegates who will be elected by Turkish Armenians on Sunday.

[14] EGE, UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN TRADE: - ''THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY TO DOUBLE TRADE VOLUME BETWEEN TURKEY AND EGYPT''

Ege issued a written statement evaluating the Turkish-Egyptian trade volume prior to the visit of a Turkish delegation including 100 businessmen to Egypt aiming at promoting the Turkish export goods.

Pointing out that Egypt was one of the regional countries having the highest economic potential, Ege said, ''however, our trade potential is lower than it should be. We can double this trade volume in a short time. We have several opportunities.''

Stressing that their visit to Egypt will bring positive results, Ege said, ''we are planning to start negotitations for a Free Trade Agreement until the end of the year. We think we will finalize the agreement in a short time. When the agreement is concluded, our trade volume will increase.''

The Turkish businessmen's visit which was coordinated by the Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade, will take place between 16-19 October.

The Turkish delegation will include the representatives of the automotive industry and by-industry, and the forestry products, chemistry, machinery, construction, food, electric-electronics, packaging, steel-iron sectors.

The Turkish businessmen, during their visit, will hold bilateral contacts with their Egyptian counterparts.

Within the context of the visit, a seminar on ''Trade and Investment Opportunities between Turkey and Egypt'' will be organized.

[15] FIRST INTERNATIONAL GAP-98 FAIR CONCLUDES

Erkan Alemdaroglu, the General Director of the GAP Regional Development Administration, said that the fair was supported by nine establishments including the GAP Regional Development Administration, Sanliurfa Governorship and Sanliurfa Chamber of Industry.

Pointing out that a total of 250 thousand people had visited the fair in one week, Alemdaroglu said that ''this proved the degree of attention and interest in the fair. We lived the enthusiasm of bringing latest technogical goods to the GAP.''

The fair, which was organized by the International Pyramid Fair Organization company, included sectors like agriculture and food, construction industry, hardware, plastic and packaging, durable consumer goods, furniture and households, forestry products, sport and hunting equipments, automotive and by-industry, leasing, banking, electric, computer, hi-tech, telecommunication and automation technology, textiles, ready-to-wear, fashion, shoe and leather technology.

[16] SEARCH-RESCUE'98 MILITARY EXERCISE TO TAKE PLACE WITH CIVILIAN- MILITARY COOPERATION

The State Ministry responsible from Maritime Affairs said that the military exercise which will be carried out by the coordination of Air Forces and with the participation of vessels and aircraft will take place offshore Erdek and eastern part of Bandýrma.

The Ministry of Interior, Undersecretariat for Maritime Affairs, Land, Sea and Air Forces, Gendarmerie, Coastal Security Command, Directorate General of Civilian Aviation and General Directorate of Civilian Defense will participate in the military exercise which is planned by General Staff.

[17] TURKISH ENTREPRENEURS' INVESTMENTS IN TOURISM SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

The Turkish entrepreneurs' investments in the field of tourism spread a wide geography including 19 countries like Yemen, Cuba, Tunisia and the US.

The officials from the Association of Tourism Investors told the A.A correspondent that the 25 Turkish firms who are association members started investments in the field of tourism. Some of those projects were opened to service while the construction process of some of them still continues.

The Turkish companies, which have 34 projects like holiday resorts, hotels and villas in 19 countries, realized nine projects in Russia.

Turkmenistan followed Russia with four projects while the Turkish entrepreneurs concluded three projects in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Meanwhile, Turkish companies also realized or continue projects and field investments in Cuba, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic.

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