Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-01-03

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

03 JAN 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] ELECTION PERIOD STARTS ON MONDAY - SUPREME ELECTION BOARD WARNS ALL THE CONCERNED SIDES ABOUT THE PROHIBITIONS DURING THE ELECTION PERIOD

[03] THREE CONSORTIUMS BIDDING FOR AKKUYU NUCLEAR POWER PLANT EXTEND THEIR CREDIT OPTIONS BY ONE YEAR

[04] MALATYA CHIEF PROSECUTION STARTS AN INVESTIGATION CONCERNING NAZLI ILICAK

[05] AN INTERNATIONAL TENDER TO BE PUT OUT FOR ANKARA-ISTANBUL RAILWAY FOR ITS REHABILITATION

[06] BORROWING PROGRAMME FOR Q1 OF 1999

[07] WORLD BANK DECIDES TO GIVE A CREDIT WORTH OF 100 MILLION DOLLARS FOR SEVEN SEPARATE PROJECTS IN GAP

[08] THOUSANDS OF ASSASINATION BULLETS SEIZED IN SOUTHEAST

[09] OCALAN, THE TERRORIST CHIEF CAUSES PROBLEMS FOR THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT

[10] WHOLESALE PRICES INCREASE 54.3 PERCENT AND CONSUMER PRICES RISE 69.7 PERCENT IN 1998

[11] PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE EREZ MEETS WITH BAYKAL, THE LEADER OF CHP - BAYKAL: ''EREZ CONTINUES TO LAUNCH EFFORTS WITH DETERMINATION, WE HOPE HE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL''

[12] CORNIERE DELLA SERRA, THE ITALIAN NEWSPAPER: ''LAST DAYS OF OCALAN IN ROME'' - IL GIORNALE: ''OCALAN PROBLEM CAPTURES D'ALEMA''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL) 16 MILLION PEOPLE WORKED FOR SIX PEOPLE
Turkey was very excited yesterday concerning the big lottery which was 1.5 trillion liras. The great prize was shared among six people.

GREAT ALLIANCE
The Motherland Party (ANAP) and the Democratic Left Party (DSP) agreed upon an alliance in municipal, parliamentarian and presidential elections.

THREE TARGETS OF AKTAS
Kutlu Aktas, the Minister of Interior who is having a holiday in western province of Izmir said that the main target of the state in 1999 will be to collapse terrorism, mafia and fundamentalism.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

DON'T MAKE MOTHERS CRY
Ten million people are missing in Turkey today and two million of them are in custody. The high number of the missing people and the demonstrations carried the problem to the international arena. The demonstration of mothers who wish their children to be found held their 190th demonstration yesterday.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CINDORUK SUPPORTS EREZ
Husamettin Cindoruk, the leader of the Democratic Turkey Party (DTP) told Prime Minister-Designate Yalım Erez that ''you can choose any deputy from my party to form the government.'' After his meeting with Cindoruk, Erez pointed out that ''I am forming the government.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Ayhan Nasuhbeyoglu, the Governor of Ardahan, said the unemployment, education, health and potable water problems became very serious and due to those reasons, a total of 74 thousand people escaped from the province in last 12 years.

IMPORTANT DAY FOR EREZ
Yalim Erez, who is very sure of himself in forming the new government, has still not managed to convince the opposition parties although he said he would present the list of cabinet to President Suleyman Demirel on Tuesday or on Wednesday at the latest.

The destiny of the 56th government will become clear after today's talks with Recai Kutan, the leader of the Virtue Party (FP), and Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP).

RADIKAL (LEFT)

GREEK CYPRIOTS FIGHT WITH GREECE
The relation between Greece and the Greek Cypriot side has entered one of its worst situation since 1974. The Greek Cypriot side claimed that Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader has accepted the deployment of S-300 missiles to Crete island of Greece due to the pressure imposed upon him by Greece. Greece says on the other hand that the responsibility of the decision to deploy the missiles on Crete belongs fully to Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader.

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

''Turkey proved that she can decrease the inflation. It was seen that the economic spine of Turkey is strong. Turkey has chance to fairly adjust the income distribution in 1999 by decreasing the inflation,'' he said.

ELECTION ALLIANCE BETWEEN ANAP AND DSP
Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), and Bulent Ecevit, the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), agreed on joint candidates in urbans.

When the two-round model for local elections wasn't found practicable, Yilmaz and Ecevit decided to determine joint candidates in cities.

LOTTO BREAKS RECORD
The cash prize reached 1.5 trillion Turkish Liras (TL) in the Numerical Lotto.

Six people, who chose the six winning numbers out of 49, shared the big prize of 1.5 trillion TL.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

BANKS WAIT FOR THE GOVERNMENT
The business world and Union of Banks wait for the formation of the government by Prime Minister-Designate Yalım Erez to hold their second summit meeting. The result taken from the first meeting had difused the tension between the two sides in a great extent.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

His coach Fatih Terim also doesn't want him to leave Galatasaray. In short, Hakan Sukur is unwilling to go to Italy.

[02] ELECTION PERIOD STARTS ON MONDAY - SUPREME ELECTION BOARD WARNS ALL THE CONCERNED SIDES ABOUT THE PROHIBITIONS DURING THE ELECTION PERIOD

The political parties will notify the methods of determining their candidates for the elections to Supreme Election Board till January 8 and the deadline for civil cervants who want to run for candidacy is January 11, they have to resign from their jobs the same day.

The Supreme Board of Elections said that the date of the commencement of the election period is January 4 and warned all the concerned sides about the prohibitions that will be applied in this period.

[03] THREE CONSORTIUMS BIDDING FOR AKKUYU NUCLEAR POWER PLANT EXTEND THEIR CREDIT OPTIONS BY ONE YEAR

The German, Canadian and French consortiums, of which bids are still evaluated, applied to the Turkish Electricity Production and Transmission Corp (TEAS) and extended their credit options by one year.

The consortiums submitted their credit options for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant on 15 October 1997.

The names of the three consortiums are as follows:

-''Westinghouse - Mitsubishi Consortium'': Westinghouse (the US), Raytheone and Duke (the US), Mitsubishi Heavy Int. (Japan), Enka Construction (Turkey), MNG (Turkey).

-''AECL Consortium'': AECL (Canada), Hitachi (Japan), Itochu (Japan), Gama Industry (Turkey), Guris Construction (Turkey), Bayindir Construction (Turkey).

-''NPI Consortium'': Siemens (Germany), Hochtief (Germany), Framatom (France), Gec-Alsthom (France), Campenon Bernard (France), Garanti-Koza Construction (Turkey), Tekfen Construction (Turkey)''.

[04] MALATYA CHIEF PROSECUTION STARTS AN INVESTIGATION CONCERNING NAZLI ILICAK

The Chief Prosecution stated that it started the investigation about Ilıcak due to her speech issued on December 13, 1998 in a panel held by the Virtue Party (FP) on ''Human Rights and Women's Rights'' at Malatya People's Education Centre.

The Chief Prosecution accuses Ilıcak of ''ofeending the military forces of the state'' in her speech.

[05] AN INTERNATIONAL TENDER TO BE PUT OUT FOR ANKARA-ISTANBUL RAILWAY FOR ITS REHABILITATION

Investment permission has been taken from the State Planning Organization (DTP) for the project described as ''Fast Train'' which will contruct two- way railway lines between big cities of Istanbul and Ankara. The project is carried out by the Ministry of Transportation.

Ministry officials pointed out that the project will decrease the transportation between Istanbul and Ankara by railway to 4,5 hours, adding the railway cars will be imported from abroad.

Approximately 235 million dollars are expected to be spent for the project and the railway line is expected to be completed within two years at the latest.

[06] BORROWING PROGRAMME FOR Q1 OF 1999

Treasury said the two-year term bond issue's value date was 6 January 1999 and the maturity was 6 January 2000.

Treasury planned to realize 2.8 quadrillion Turkish Liras (TL) in revenues excluding privatization incomes, and spend three quadrillion TL excluding interest in the first three months of 1999.

The deficit was programmed to be between 150-200 trillion TL excluding interest as the considerable portion of the first installment of the Value Added Tax (VAT) and the income tax will be paid in April.

The ready money deficit is expected to be 2.5 quadrillion TL as the interest payments will be almost 2.3 quadrillion TL. Within this context, the Treasury planned to borrow 4.5-5.5 quadrillion TL from the markets.

Treasury will arrange four tenders in domestic markets. The first tender will have a two-year term; the second tender will be arranged on 12 January and will have a 13-month term and the third tender will be arranged on 15 January and will have a 14-month term and the fourth tender will take place on 26 January and will have a term of five months.

The Treasury will arrange three tenders both in February and March.

Between Janaury and March 1999, the Treasury will repay 5 quadrillion 246.4 trillion TL in domestic borrowing.

Meanwhile, the Treasury will realize 439.1 million US dollars in foreign debt repayment in January 1999. The foreign debt repayment in February 1999 will be 476.2 million US dollars and 513.9 million US dollars in March 1999.

[07] WORLD BANK DECIDES TO GIVE A CREDIT WORTH OF 100 MILLION DOLLARS FOR SEVEN SEPARATE PROJECTS IN GAP

Harput stated that the projects will be prepared by the Oklahoma State University in Japan in line with the norms of the World Bank.

Noting that seven separate projects will be carried out in Sanlıurfa and Harran plains, Harput said the cost of the projects is 175 million dollars.

''The aim of the project is to realize a sustainable agricultrual model in 152.3 hectares of field which will be open to irrigation in Sanlıurfa and Harran plains by advanced agricultural technics. Morover the projects aim to construct village roads, to provide drinking water and to support agriculture. 200,000 people who are living in villages in plains will benefit from the projects. 45 percent of the population lives in rural areas and 70 percent of them earn their living by agriculture in the two plains,'' said Harput, adding Japan will donate 300,000 dollars to carry out the preliminary preparations.

The Japanese firm at Oklahoma State University will complete and present the projects till February 28, 1999.

[08] THOUSANDS OF ASSASINATION BULLETS SEIZED IN SOUTHEAST

Security forces acting on a tip-off stopped the lorry on the Siverek- Diyarbakir motorway Selim Pinar region.

Security forces found 49 cannisters in 20 each five-liter plastic barrels hidden in the five-ton diesel oil tank of the lorry.

A total of 3,080 incendiary and armour-piercing bullets, 21,180 bixi rifle bullets, 80 anti-aircrafts and 15,785 Kalashnikov rounds were confiscated.

Officials said the bullets were to be brought to southern Mersin province.

Investigation into the incident is underway.

[09] OCALAN, THE TERRORIST CHIEF CAUSES PROBLEMS FOR THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT

Enrico Baselli, the leader of the Italian Social Democrat Party, which is one of the coalition parties of the Italian government told Italian newspaper Il Giornale that the terrorist chief has to be deported as soon as possible and he critized the policy of the Italian government concerning the terrorist chief.

Baselli pointed out that the Italian government has not done what was necessary for the ideal solution of the crisis that erupted after the arrest of Ocalan in Italy, adding ''Ocalan has never created an impression of a peaceful leader for me and his message for the new year also confirms my view.''

Basselli stressed that the most appropriate solution for Italy is to remove the terrorist chief from Italy in order to prevent a possible conflict or to deport him.

Noting that he has never considered seriously the idea of establishment of an international court to put Ocalan on trial, Baselli said that it was not a realist idea.

Baselli added that the unwillingness of Germany which did not request the extradition of Ocalan caused the problem to be more complicated.

[10] WHOLESALE PRICES INCREASE 54.3 PERCENT AND CONSUMER PRICES RISE 69.7 PERCENT IN 1998

The inflation rate in December 1998 for wholesale prices bacame 2.5 percent while the inflation in the consumer prices was 3.3 percent.

Meanwhile, according to 12-month averages as of December 1998, the annual inflation in wholesale prices was 71.8 percent while the annual inflation in consumer prices was 84.6 percent.

[11] PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE EREZ MEETS WITH BAYKAL, THE LEADER OF CHP - BAYKAL: ''EREZ CONTINUES TO LAUNCH EFFORTS WITH DETERMINATION, WE HOPE HE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL''

Addressing a statement after the meeting, Baykal said that Yalım Erez informed him about his earlier contacts, adding he may come together with Erez again in the coming days.

''Erez met with other party leaders a short time ago, but we could not meet each other. I think I will have the opportunity to meet with Erez again. Mr. Erez continues to launch efforts with determination, we hope his efforts will be successful,'' said Baykal.

Responding to a question asking whether or not he has the impression that Erez will be able to form a government, Baykal stated that ''it can be possible and it has to be. This is Turkey's need, Turkey seeks a government. We extend support to Erez's efforts to this end and all of us have to help him.''

[12] CORNIERE DELLA SERRA, THE ITALIAN NEWSPAPER: ''LAST DAYS OF OCALAN IN ROME'' - IL GIORNALE: ''OCALAN PROBLEM CAPTURES D'ALEMA''

Corniere Della Serra newspaper said in an article with the headline ''Last Days of Ocalan In Rome'' that Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist PKK organization, made a bargaining late on Saturday at his dwelling near Rome with the officials from a country of which name was not announced.

The newspaper claimed that the country was ready to fulfil the chief terrorist's demands and conditions.

It said terrorist chief Ocalan was getting prepared to leave Rome secretly for a third country and later he would announce the situation.

The newspaper claimed that the lawyers of Ocalan said he would go to one of the former Soviet Union countries.

It said Ocalan might also leave for the Netherlands, Belgium, Libya, Austria but the Austrian government had informed Rome that it was unwilling to accept the terorist in question.

Meanwhile, Il Giornale daily said in its news titled ''Now Ocalan Captured Premier D'Alema'', that Ocalan's staying in Rome continued to cause troubles for the Italian government.

It said that the chief terrorist wanted to stay in Italy, mentioning Ocalan's threat saying, ''if you don't make us comfortable, Europe will face an invasion of refugees.''

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