Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-10-22

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

22 OCT 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ SAYS THAT GEORGIAN PRESIDENT SHEVARDNADZE EXTENDS FULL SUPPORT TO TRANSPORT OF CASPIAN OIL TO TURKEY VIA GEORGIA

[03] TURKISH-BULGARIAN RELATIONS - A RECOMMENDARY DECISION IS TAKEN TO CONSTRUCT A DAM ON TUNDZHA RIVER BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES

[04] TURKISH-UKRAINIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL

[05] PARLIAMENT ADOPTS DRAFT LAWS ACCEPTING JOINING OF POLAND, CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY TO NATO

[06] CONFERENCE ON ''INFLATION IN TURKEY'' - DINCMEN, UNDERSECRETARY OF TREASURY: - ''CHRONIC HIGH-INFLATION HAS BEEN ON TURKEY'S AGENDA FOR 20 YEARS''

[07] ECEVIT, THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: ''THE EXTRADITION OF OCALAN TO TURKEY WON'T CONSTITUTE AN OBSTACLE CONCERNING RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA''

[08] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY HAS TRANSFORMED INTO A DEMOCRATIC, SECULAR AND SOCIALLY LEGAL STATE''

[09] TURKEY TO PRESIDE AT WAITRO FOR TWO YEARS

[10] TURKEY-STOCK EXCHANGE - IMKB FIRST SESSION - NATIONAL-100 INDEX RISES TO 2,265.40 WITH AN INCREASE OF 38.97 POINTS

[11] NEW TERMINAL BUILDING OF VAN AIRPORT TO BE OPENED TO SERVICE ON FRIDAY

[12] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: ''THE REPUBLICAN MODEL OF ATATURK ISN'T A MODEL THAT HAS FINISHED''

[13] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''THE CHIEF OF THE SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION LEFT SYRIA ONE WEEK AGO'' ''IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED THAT THE PKK CHIEF IS IN RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND NECESSARY INITIATIVES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO THIS END''

[14] FOREIGN DEBT REPAYMENTS - 9.2 BILLION US DOLLARS REPAID IN FOREIGN DEBTS SINCE 1 JANUARY 1998

[15] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK DECREASE TO 22.2 BILLION US DOLLARS

[16] AZERBAIJANI OIL - NATIK ALIYEV, SOCAR CHAIRMAN: ''PRESIDENTS MAY SIGN A POLITICAL STATEMENT ON 29 OCTOBER IN TURKEY CONCERNING THEIR SUPPORT FOR TRANSCAUCASIAN PIPELINES CROSSING UNDER THE CASPIAN''

[17] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF THE TRNC MEETS WITH MADDEN, BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR CYPRUS - MADDEN: - ''THE NEWS CLAIMING THAT DENKTAS CAN BE ARRESTED IN BRITAIN, ISN'T TRUE''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL) SYRIA TAKES STEPS
Syria took the first concrete step after the historical agreement signed with Turkey saying that she would withdraw her support from the separatist terrorist PKK organization. The Syrian administration sent to Turkey the list of the PKK terrorists she arrested. Turkey will examine the names written on the list one by one and ask for the extradition of many of them to Turkey.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

OCALAN SURPRISE IN PKK
The separatist terrorist PKK organization doesn't know what to do due to the Turkish-Syrian agreement. It was reported that a few days before the agreement, 15 so-called commanders of the PKK and nearly 200 terrorists entered into Northern Iraq from Syria. The terrorists are expected to settle in the PKK camps in the area between Hakurk and the Zap valley.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

RUSSIANS ARE SURPRISED
Russia, which permitted Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization, to take shelter in her territory, is in a difficult position now. Russia, which accepted Ocalan to stay there for a temporary period of time and which plans to send him to a third country, is in trouble. The Russian Foreign Ministry, which still hasn't issued a statement confirming that Ocalan is in Russia, is trying to gain time.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

''WE WILL WANT OCALAN FROM RUSSIA''
It isn't certain whether or not the agreement signed between Turkey and Russia in 1990 concerning the extradition of criminals will be sufficient for the extradition of Ocalan to Turkey. Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, said that they don't want to damage the relations between Turkey and Russia. Hasan Denizkurdu, the Minister of Justice, said that preparations are underway concerning the extradition to Turkey of Ocalan.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

EU OVERCOMES THE GREEK VETO
The veto of Greece on the financial assistance envisaged for Turkey since 1986 has been lifted. The European Union (EU) decided to give 15 million ECUs to Turkey for three years due to the Customs Union and 135 million ECUs for economic and social assistance.

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[02] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ SAYS THAT GEORGIAN PRESIDENT SHEVARDNADZE EXTENDS FULL SUPPORT TO TRANSPORT OF CASPIAN OIL TO TURKEY VIA GEORGIA

Prime Minister Yılmaz talked with Georgian President Shevardnadze on the phone at 17:30 the same day. Responding to the questions of the A.A correspondent after his phone conversation, Yılmaz said ''I've told Shevardnadze that Turkey is very pleased about the surpression of the revolt which occurred in the western part of Georgia.''

Noting that Turkey expects the Georgian President in Turkey upon the 75th foundation anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, Prime Minister Yılmaz said ''he told me that he would be in Turkey next week to participate in the celebrations and Georgia extended full support to the transport of the Caspian oil to Turkey via Georgia.''

[03] TURKISH-BULGARIAN RELATIONS - A RECOMMENDARY DECISION IS TAKEN TO CONSTRUCT A DAM ON TUNDZHA RIVER BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES

The Governership in Edirne said that a statement on ''Recommendations to Local Administrations'' was issued at the end of the conference held in Svilengrad on 20 October.

The statement noted that ''a working calendar has to be formed in order to improve the connections between the Chambers of Industry and Trade of the two states and to create a business atmosphere. The representatives of the two countries at the conference also decided to publish a newspaper in both languages which will ease the exchange of information in the border regions, to establish joint working groups between the local administrations and to negotiate border problems. A commission will be established between the two countries for the construction of a dam on Tundzha river.''

The first cooperation conference between the local administrators of Turkey and Bulgaria was held in Edirne Province.

[04] TURKISH-UKRAINIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL

Mutlu Araz, the Acting Chairman of the BTSO, said that the volume of trade between Turkey and the Ukraine was at about the level of one billion US dollars constituting three percent of the total volume of trade, while there were many issues which can affect the commercal relations.

Pointing out that the Ukraine can obtain most of her import products from Turkey, Uraz stressed that the cooperative opportunities should be developed.

Tugrul Erkin, the Co-Chairman of the DEIK Turkish-Ukrainian Business Council, said that the two countries have extensive areas of cooperation and have taken several positive steps, but these were insufficient and the volume of trade figures weren't satisfactory.

Noting that the Turkish businessmen realized 20 million US dollars in investments in the Ukraine, which is one of the greatest iron-steel producers in the world, Erkin stated that they expect these investments to be developed.

Stating that Bursa Province in the Marmara Region has the potential to meet the import goods of the Ukraine, such as knitted clothing, soap, sugar, grain-cereals and wheat, Erkin said, ''also the Ukraine was affected from the global crisis. This crisis is a positive opportunity for the Turkish businessmen to invest in this country and this opportunity should absolutely be evaluated.''

Erkin added that the primary target should be ''increasing the volume of trade to five billion US dollars''.

Victor Yanovsky, the Co-Chairman of the Turkish-Ukrainian Business Council and that the Chairman of the Ukraine Chamber of Commerce and Trade, said that joint meetings constitute an important means for overcoming the problems and to learn the trade obstacles between the two countries.

Noting that they want to make use of Turkey's experience on economic issues, Yanovsky said that the extensive cooperative opportunities between the two countires should be evaluated.

The Turkish-Ukrainian Business Council eighth joint meeting will be concluded on Thursday.

[05] PARLIAMENT ADOPTS DRAFT LAWS ACCEPTING JOINING OF POLAND, CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY TO NATO

The Parliament discussed the draft laws separately and later adopted them.

The Parliament said that the Council of Ministers has to implement the provisions of these laws by taking into consideration the following points:

-Turkey has to concentrate on the efforts aimed at the realization of the full memsbership of Turkey in the Western European Union (WEU) by respecting the fact that security is an indivisable integrity,

-Turkey's material contribution to the NATO shouldn't decrease and the shares she obtains from the infrastructure funds of the NATO shouldn't decrease due to the enlargement of the NATO,

-Turkey has to support the open door policy of the NATO concerning the Southeastern European countries, particularly Bulgaria and Romania which want to become members of the NATO.

Hasan Korkmazcan, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament, said that the principles are instructions of the Parliament to the government, adding that the Parliament will closely monitor the cabinet whether or not it abides by these issues.

[06] CONFERENCE ON ''INFLATION IN TURKEY'' - DINCMEN, UNDERSECRETARY OF TREASURY: - ''CHRONIC HIGH-INFLATION HAS BEEN ON TURKEY'S AGENDA FOR 20 YEARS''

The conference on ''the Problems Regarding Decreasing Inflation in Turkey'' started on Thursday at the Conference Hall of the Undersecretariat of the Treasury in Ankara.

Addressing the opening speech, Yener Dincmen said that a multi-dimensional and resolute attitude should be pursued in the struggle against inflation and the opinions of every sector were very valuable during that process.

Stressing the importance of the points of view of the private sector, academic circle and international organizations about that struggle, Dincmen said that one of the basic goals of the conference was to create an atmosphere for providing an opportunity for conveying the opinions.

Yener Dincmen said that the political stability was very important for the determined implementation of the stability programmes in the struggle against inflation and that he believed this struggle is sustainable.

[07] ECEVIT, THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: ''THE EXTRADITION OF OCALAN TO TURKEY WON'T CONSTITUTE AN OBSTACLE CONCERNING RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA''

Responding to the questions of journalists about the recent developments concerning Ocalan, Ecevit said ''I don't have any information about the recent developments''.

When asked whether or not there will a new political crisis, Ecevit said that he didn't think so.

Ismet Sezgin, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister National Defense said that he shared the same opinion with Ecevit.

[08] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY HAS TRANSFORMED INTO A DEMOCRATIC, SECULAR AND SOCIALLY LEGAL STATE''

Sending a message to an international conference on ''Ataturk and Modernity'' held at the Ankara University, Faculty of Political Sciences, President Demirel said that the Republic of Turkey was established with a great claim of reaching modern civilization and providing the benefits of modern civilization to all of her citizens, adding that a great progress was recorded to this end during the last 75 years.

President Demirel said in his message ''Turkey was successful to a considerable extent concerning her aims of development. The declaration of the Republic of Turkey was a great revolution. Radical changes took place in our economic, social, political life and a modern society has emerged within a new state structure with the realization of the subsequent reforms.''

''Laws and rules dominate the Turkish state rather than people. The basic principles and freedoms are under the guarantee of the Constitution. All individuals have equal rights and freedoms irrespective of their language, religion, gender and ethnic origins,'' said Demirel.

Noting that Turkey where a majority of the citizens are Moslem, is the only country among the 55 Islamic countries which can harmonize traditions, modernity and Islam all together due to the characteristics of Turkey, Demirel said ''Turkey is an island of peace, stability and security with her democratic and secular structure in a region where there are clashes based on religious and ethnical origins.''

[09] TURKEY TO PRESIDE AT WAITRO FOR TWO YEARS

The General Assembly of the WAITRO, which was established in 1970 by the United Nations (UN) for cooperation in research and development activities, was held in Warsaw, Poland. Following the elections held at the WAITRO General Assembly, at which Turkey was represented by the TUBITAK, Omer Kaymakcalan was appointed as the new President of the WAITRO for two years.

In Turkey's Term Presidency, the WAITRO Executive Board will be composed of the representatives of Poland, Mexico, Canada, the Netherlands, Russia, Brazil, Egypt, Nigeria and Sri Lanka.

The WAITRO, which has more than 200 members from 20 countries, carries out activities in six fields such as environment technologies, small and medium scale enterprises, energy, women's place in technology, information technologies and food technologies.

[10] TURKEY-STOCK EXCHANGE - IMKB FIRST SESSION - NATIONAL-100 INDEX RISES TO 2,265.40 WITH AN INCREASE OF 38.97 POINTS

At the close of the first session, the financial index increased 33.59 points to 2,762.13, the industrial index rose 44.14 points to 1,783.52 and the services index climbed 49.33 points to 3,282.88. The financial shares gained 1.23 percent in value, the industrial shares gained 2.54 percent in value and the services shares gained 1.53 percent in value compared to Wednesday's second session close.

A total of 186 of the 280 shares gained in value, 39 shares lost in value while the prices of 55 shares didn't change.

The trading volume in the morning session was 45.1 trillion Turkish Liras.

[11] NEW TERMINAL BUILDING OF VAN AIRPORT TO BE OPENED TO SERVICE ON FRIDAY

The General Directorate of the State Airports Management (DHMI) written statement said that the passenger potential of Southeastern Region and eastern Van region is gradually increasing and that the existing installations are inadequate to meet the needs.

The newly constructed Van Airport Terminal has a 1.2 million passenger capacity and was established on a closed area of 6,000 square meters.

[12] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: ''THE REPUBLICAN MODEL OF ATATURK ISN'T A MODEL THAT HAS FINISHED''

A total of 81 academicians and researchers from various countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, the US and Australia will address the conference.

Addressing the opening of the speech, Ismail Cem said that ''Mustafa Kemal resisted and overcame the foreign powers which wanted to end a historical reality and end our civilization. Mustafa Kemal prevented that.''

Noting that the republican model of Ataturk, the founder of the modern and secular Turkey, is a modern model which aims to change everything in society.

Cem said ''our model hasn't finished, it represents an eternal search and renewal.''

Pointing out the importance of secularism, Cem said that ''secularism is the most important element of the republic.''

Cem stated that Turkey is the only example of a country which has shared history with 26 independent states, but this didn't resemble a classical colonization.

[13] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''THE CHIEF OF THE SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION LEFT SYRIA ONE WEEK AGO'' ''IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED THAT THE PKK CHIEF IS IN RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND NECESSARY INITIATIVES HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO THIS END''

Noting that the same sources have confirmed that the chief of the PKK is in the Russian Federation, Prime Minister Yılmaz stated that Turkey has taken the necessary initiatives concerning this issue.

Before the Council of Ministers meeting, Prime Minister Yılmaz said ''there are positive developments concerning the three policies that have been pursued by the government for a long time in a resolved manner.''

''We hope that the Russian Federation will prevent the PKK chief from directing the terrorism from Russia and the Russian officials will extradite this person to Turkey within the framework of the friendship and neighbourhood relations which we aim to further improve. Turkey will launch efforts to make all kinds of efforts concerning this issue. However, the chief of the PKK was obliged to leave Syria and this is a very important success concerning our struggle with the separatist terrorist organization, '' said Prime Minister Yılmaz.

''Moreover, Syria has committed not to permit the chief of the PKK to enter Syria, not to permit the activities of PKK camps in Syria, to arrest the PKK militants who are still in Syria and to give the list of these PKK militants to Turkey under the agreement signed between Turkey and Syria in the southern province of Adana. Syria has also confirmed that she wouldn't cooperate with the terrorist organization and she accepted the formation of a mechanism which will realize all of these,'' said Yılmaz.

Prime Minister Yılmaz added that Turkey welcomes the approach of Syria and the Turkish government will closely monitor her implementation.

[14] FOREIGN DEBT REPAYMENTS - 9.2 BILLION US DOLLARS REPAID IN FOREIGN DEBTS SINCE 1 JANUARY 1998

The Central Bank data shows that the Treasury repaid 7 billion 597.7 million US dollars; the Central Bank repaid 299 million US dollars; the Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Industry repaid one billion 184.2 million US dollars and the Defense Fund repaid 175.8 million US dollars in foreign debts between 1 January and 22 October 1998.

Meanwhile, a total of 654 million US dollars in foreign debts were repaid within the first three weeks of October.

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; 621.1 million US dollars in May; 165.9 million US dollars in June; 1 billion 242.8 million US dollars in July; 860.9 million US dollars in August and 897.6 million US dollars in September 1998.

[15] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK DECREASE TO 22.2 BILLION US DOLLARS

The Central Bank data shows that the foreign exchange reserves, which dropped by 64 million US dollars between 9-16 September, increased to 22 billion 247 million US dollars as of 16 September.

The Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves were 22 billion 311 million US dollars on 9 October.

Meanwhile, according to the 2 October-based statistics, Turkey's total international gross reserves increased 2 billion 97 million US dollars to 35 billion 862 million US dollars.

The international gross reserves of Turkey were 33 billion 448 million US dollars on 4 September.

As of 2 October, Turkey's international reserves were composed of 1 billion 125 million US dollars in gold reserves; 22 billion 20 million US dollars in the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves; and 12 billion 718 million US dollars in the commercial banks' foreign exchange reserves.

[16] AZERBAIJANI OIL - NATIK ALIYEV, SOCAR CHAIRMAN: ''PRESIDENTS MAY SIGN A POLITICAL STATEMENT ON 29 OCTOBER IN TURKEY CONCERNING THEIR SUPPORT FOR TRANSCAUCASIAN PIPELINES CROSSING UNDER THE CASPIAN''

Aliyev also said that although it was reported that a decision related to the route of the main pipeline would be made this month, he won't be able to give a date at the moment and stressed that negotiatons are underway to this end.

Natik Aliyev said that the political statement, which is in question to be signed by the Presidents of Azerbaijan, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Georgia, wouldn't mean determination of the route of the oil pipeline.

Aliyev said that a Joint Study Group composed of officials from SOCAR and AIOC, the international consortium, carried out contacts with the Turkish delegation and worked on the draft intergovernmental agreement.

Natik Aliyev expressed hope that an agreement would be reached to this end, adding that similar meetings will be held with the Georgian delegation.

Responding to a question, Aliyev said that experts were observing the proposal of Russia related to the main oil pipeline. Aliev said ''Russia sent her proposal very late. We aren't focused on the Russian route very seriously. Our studies are carried out mainly with Turkey and Georgia''.

Pointing out that he couldn't give a concrete date about the route of the main oil pipeline, Natik Aliyev said ''although it has been earlier said that the decision would be made in October, talks are still underway.''

Mentioning the financing of the construction of the main oil pipeline, Natik Aliyev said that they were looking for financial sources for the financing.

Meanwhile, Al Gore, the US Vice President, sent a message to the Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev and said that they preferred the oil of the countries which are on the eastern parts of the Caspian to be transported with the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline.

The message recalled that the US supports the Baku-Ceyhan project.

[17] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF THE TRNC MEETS WITH MADDEN, BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR CYPRUS - MADDEN: - ''THE NEWS CLAIMING THAT DENKTAS CAN BE ARRESTED IN BRITAIN, ISN'T TRUE''

Responding to a question of the journalists following the meeting, Denktas described the baseless allegations as an exaggeration of Greece and the Greek Cypriot side administration and added that it is the new campaign of the Greek Cypriots aimed at sabotaging his contacts in several countries in order to express the facts on the island.

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