Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-11-15

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

15 NOV 1998

CONTENTS

[01] THE 15TH FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRNC - PRESIDENT DEMIREL AND PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ SEND CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES TO TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS - DEMIREL: ''THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRNC CONSTITUTES A HISTORICAL TURNING POINT CONCERNING THE CYPRUS MATTER''

[02] ATTACKS ON TURKISH JOURNALISTS IN ROME - FM: ''WE STRONGLY CONDEMN AND PROTEST THESE SHAMEFUL ATTACKS''

[03] WEU COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETINGS - WEU TO DISCUSS ''THE SITUATION OF THE WEU AND DEVELOPMENTS IN KOSOVO AND ALBANIA''

[04] MEASURES TAKEN IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY AGAINST POSSIBLE ATTACKS BY SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION INCREASE - OPERATIONS ARE UNDERWAY IN NORTHERN IRAQ

[05] ARREST OF OCALAN, THE CHIEF OF THE SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION PKK - SUPPORTERS OF THE TERRORIST PKK CONVENE IN ROME

[06] CELEBRATIONS ARE HELD FOR THE 15TH FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRNC - GUREL, THE STATE MINISTER:''NOTHING CAN BE ACHIEVED BY IGNORING THE REALITIES AND THE EXISTANCE OF THE TRNC ON CYPRUS''

[07] OZ, A PRISONER TAKES AN ITALIAN PRISONER HOSTAGE IN METRIS PRISON, ISTANBUL

[08] ECEVIT, THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: ''PKK IS NOT ONLY DESTINED TO DEFEAT IN ITS ARMED STRUGGLE, BUT ALSO IN ITS POLITICAL STRUGGLE''

[01] THE 15TH FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRNC - PRESIDENT DEMIREL AND PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ SEND CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES TO TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS - DEMIREL: ''THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRNC CONSTITUTES A HISTORICAL TURNING POINT CONCERNING THE CYPRUS MATTER''

President Demirel said in his message that the establishment of the TRNC is a historical turning point concerning the Cyprus matter, adding that ''the existance of the TRNC is guarantee of peace, security and stability in our region.''

Presidential Press Centre quoted the words of President Demirel as ''Turkey will continue to extend maximum support to Turkish Cypriot people by being conscious of her historical and legal obligations. We appreciate the resolution of the Turkish Cypriot people to become an equal member of the international society within the framework of agreements and we believe that this will come true.''

Prime Minister Yılmaz said in his message to Rauf Denktas and Dervis Eroglu, the TRNC Prime Minister that the TRNC, which was established upon the basis of modernity and democracy, has proved that she is indispensable in respect of peace and stability in the region and she has also progressed much in the fields of politics and economy during the last 15 years. ''I am sure that the Turkish Cypriot people will be able to make the whole world accept her rightfulness in the end,'' he added.

[02] ATTACKS ON TURKISH JOURNALISTS IN ROME - FM: ''WE STRONGLY CONDEMN AND PROTEST THESE SHAMEFUL ATTACKS''

Foreign Ministry said that the members and supporters of the separatist terrorist organization PKK attacked the representatives of Turkish press and media in Rome the same day, adding that ''we strongly condemn and protest these shameful attacks; we expect the prevention of such attacks and request the Italian officials to arrest the attackers and bring them before the court.''

The statement went on saying that ''we request the Italian officials to take the necessary measures in a serious manner to provide fully the security of the representatives of the Turkish Republic, other institutions and Turkish citizens who live in Italy.''

The statement pointed out that Massimiliano Bandini, the Italian Ambassador to Turkey was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and the expectations and requests of Turkey were conveyed to the Italian Ambassador by Korkmaz Haktanır, the Foreign Ministry Undersecretary and to the Italian officials by the Turkish Embassy in Rome.

[03] WEU COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETINGS - WEU TO DISCUSS ''THE SITUATION OF THE WEU AND DEVELOPMENTS IN KOSOVO AND ALBANIA''

Ismet Sezgin, the Deputy Prime Minister and National Defense Minister and Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister will participate in the meetings which will last for two days. The ministers of the WEU member states will take up the situation of the WEU, the developments in Kosovo and Albania and the operational abilities of the WEU before entrance of the EU Amsterdam Agreement into enforcement and the NATO meeting which will be held in April 1999.

Before the WEU Council of Ministers meeting, the annual meeting of the West European Armament Group (WEAG) and the EU-WEU Forum will be held. Later a seminar on cooperation in defense industry will take place.

Meanwhile, Ismail Cem will come together with Joschka Fischer, the German Foreign Minister, who will come to Italy for the WEU meetings. Cem will also meet with Lamberto Dini, the Italian Foreign Minister about the developments following the arrest of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization in Rome.

[04] MEASURES TAKEN IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY AGAINST POSSIBLE ATTACKS BY SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION INCREASE - OPERATIONS ARE UNDERWAY IN NORTHERN IRAQ

Several groups within the separatist terrorist organization PKK which has entered into a dissolution process, can stage attacks and measures are taken against such possibilities in Southeastern Turkey. The operations in Southeastern Turkey continue.

Meanwhile, the operation of the Turkish Security Forces against the PKK terrorists in Northern Iraq is underway. Clashes took place in Northern Iraq especially near Iranian border, while war planes bombed the camps of the terrorist organization.

It has been reported that Osman Ocalan, one of the socalled commanders of the PKK and the brother of Abdullah Ocalan, has escaped to Iran.

High ranking officials of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) told A.A correspondent that Iran, Iraq and Talabani, the leader of the Patriotic Union for Kurdistan (PUK) must also show a definite attitude against the terrorist PKK.

[05] ARREST OF OCALAN, THE CHIEF OF THE SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION PKK - SUPPORTERS OF THE TERRORIST PKK CONVENE IN ROME

The supporters of the terrorist PKK had clothes and scarves symbolizing the colours of the outlaw PKK and they wait for others to come as their number is not much.

Necessary measures do not seem to be taken by Italian officials and the number of the police officers is not more than four in the area.

A group of separatists wait near Termini Station and the other group has convened near Celio Hospital and they wait for other separatists to join them.

The demonstrators are expected to march to Vittoria Square, hold a demonstration in front of the Italian parliament and then disperse.

Meanwhile, Unsal Ergel, correspondent of the NTV private television channel and Cengiz Ozkarabekir, correspondent of Star private TV channel, who were wounded by separatists on Saturday, left for Turkey on Sunday. Ergel will have an operation in Turkey.

Inal Batu, the Turkish Ambassador to Italy will welcome Ismet Sezgin, the Defense Minister and Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister and inform them about the recent developments.

Batu reiterated that the Italian officials denied the news saying that the chief of the separatist terrorist organization came to Italy by invitation.

Meanwhile Luigi Saraceni a deputy from the Italian Greens Party who was asked to be the lawyer of Ocalan by Luigi Manconi, the leader of the Italian Greens Party, said on Saturday that he met with Ocalan.

Saraceni added that Ocalan seeks for political asylum from Italy and denied the news saying that Ocalan went on a hunger strike.

[06] CELEBRATIONS ARE HELD FOR THE 15TH FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY OF THE TRNC - GUREL, THE STATE MINISTER:''NOTHING CAN BE ACHIEVED BY IGNORING THE REALITIES AND THE EXISTANCE OF THE TRNC ON CYPRUS''

Addressing the ceremony, Sukru Sina Gurel, the State Minister said that nothing can be achieved by ignoring the realities and the existance of the TRNC on the island.

Noting that Turkish Cypriots have been struggling with a mentality which does not accept their equality, sovereignty and their right to govern themselves for 36 years, Gurel pointed out that Turkey does not favour tension and conflict, on the contary she desires security and stability in the region.

Stressing that Turkish Republic is the guarantor of peace on Cyprus, Gurel added that ''we can permit the things that happened before 1974 within line with our historical and legal obligations.''

''There are two equal and separate peoples, democratic orders and states on the island today,'' said Gurel, adding that Turkey's effective and de facto guarantee to the TRNC will continue.

Gurel added that the commencement of full membership negotiations between the European Union (EU) and the Greek Cypriot side will contribute to the division on the island.

[07] OZ, A PRISONER TAKES AN ITALIAN PRISONER HOSTAGE IN METRIS PRISON, ISTANBUL

Yasar Oz and a group of his friends took Mario Calesebati, an Italian prisoner hostage, whose proceedings for extradition to Italy continue. It is reported that Oz and his friends say they will not let him free unless Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization is extradited to Turkey.

Hasan Denizkurdu, the Minister of Justice confirmed the news.

[08] ECEVIT, THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: ''PKK IS NOT ONLY DESTINED TO DEFEAT IN ITS ARMED STRUGGLE, BUT ALSO IN ITS POLITICAL STRUGGLE''

Addressing to people in Balıkesir province, Ecevit said that ''a few weeks ago, the Russian parliament was praising for the separatist terrorist PKK and the Italian parliament was permitting the socalled parliament of the PKK to convene in Italian parliament. However the resolution of Turkey caused the two countries to behave in common sense. Meanwhile Germany demanded to try Abdullah Ocalan. The US and Britain said yesterday that they support the struggle of Turkey against PKK terrorism. These developments show today that PKK is destined to defeat in all arenas.''

Addressing a statement at Esenboga Airport the same day before leaving for Balıkesir province, Bulent Ecevit added that if several West European states attempt to embrace the chief of the separatist terrorist organization, they will have to deal with a dreadful trouble of terrorism themselves.

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