Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-01-19

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

AA Daily

19 January 1999 Tuesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] BAKU-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE PROJECT - TURKISH AND AZERI DELEGATIONS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AIOC COMES TOGETHER IN ANKARA AND ISTANBUL

[03] OPERATIONS AGAINST DRUG SMUGGLING - NARCOTICS OFFICIALS SEIZE A TOTAL OF 2 TONNES OF HEROIN, 609.8 KG OF HASHISH, 1.4 KG OF COCAIN, 4.6 KG OF OPIUM, 173 KG OF BASE MORPHINE AND 1.3 LT OF ACID ANHYDRIDE IN ISTANBUL LAST YEAR

[04] SERBIAN MAGAZINE ISSUES AN INSTALLMENT OVER ATATURK, FOUNDER OF MODERN TURKEY

[05] TURK, NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER: - ''WE WILL NOT STOP PURSUING OCALAN WHEREVER HE GOES''

[06] TURKEY'S REACTION TO GREECE - FOREIGN MINISTRY: - ''AS A RESULT OF GREECE'S INTENTIONAL IRRELEVANCE, HISTORICAL WORKS BELONGED TO THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE PERIOD DISAPPEAR''

[07] TRT-INT'S OVERSEAS BROADCASTING - TRT BEGINS INITIATIVES TO BROADCAST IN AUSTRALIA

[08] THERMAL SPRING TOURISM IN BLACK SEA REGION - A TOTAL OF 300 THOUSAND TOURISTS VISIT THE AYDER THERMAL SPRINGS IN 1998

[09] THE FOREİGN MINISTRY: - ''D'ALEMA'S ALLEGATIONS ARE IMPROPER AND NONSENSE''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HÜRRIYET (LIBERAL)

CLINTON'S MESSAGE FOR RAMADAN FESTIVAL
The U.S. President Bill Clinton issued a message for the Ramadan Festival saying that Muslims show a great self-sacrifice and discipline by fasting during the Ramadan, the holy month of Muslims. Describing Islam as a religion of humanity and cooperation, Clinton expressed hope over the feast Eid Al-Fitr to symbolize peace all over the world.

MİLLİYET (LIBERAL)

SABAH (LIBERAL)

A BLOODY AND SNOWY RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY
Heavy snowfall paralyzed the daily life and traffic in several parts of Turkey. More than a thousand village roads were closed to traffic in te Eastern Anatolia Region and in the Black Sea Region.

Many traffic accidents occurred, causing casualties and financial damages. Death toll in the traffic accidents increased to 98 in the first three day of the holiday which will last for 9 days.

CUMHURİYET (LEFT)

RADİKAL (LEFT)

THE MHP REJECTS THE DYP
The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) rejected the proposal of the True Path Party (DYP) regarding alliance for the general elections in 18 April. Senior officials of the DYP have began contacts with the small parties such as the Great Unity Party (BBP) and Democrat Party (DP).

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

D'ALEMA: I DO NOT CARE
Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'alema said that he does not know whereabouts of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK, and ''he does not care about him at all.'' Claiming that they stressed Ocalan should be tried by an international court, but Turkely did not accept, D'Alema alleged, ''Turkey has lost the chance of judging Ocalan in a third country.''

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

ASSAILANT FAILES TO FLEE THIS TIME
Security forces captured an assailant who left a bomb at the back door of a police headquarters in Fatih District of Istanbul while the experts succeeded in defusing the bomb. Meanwnhile a bomb exploded near a police headquarters in Kartal District, injuring two persons.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Meanwhile Belarus and Ukraine stated that they do not want Ocalan on their lands.

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY STAINED WITH BLOOD
Many traffic accidents occured in different parts of Turkey as people set out to see their beloved ones during the nine days holiday for the the feast Eid al-Fitr. A total of 53 persons were killed and 79 others were injured at the accidents. The most terrible accident occured in the northern region of the Ankara motorway killing 13 people and injuring 42.

[02] BAKU-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE PROJECT - TURKISH AND AZERI DELEGATIONS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AIOC COMES TOGETHER IN ANKARA AND ISTANBUL

The Energy and the Natural Resources Ministry issued a statement saying that the Turkish and Azeri delegations and the representatives of the AIOC met in Ankara between 11-12 January and in Istanbul between 13-18 January.

The statement noted that Turkey and Azerbaijan have launched joint activities over the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline project.

Senior officials at the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, the Finance Ministry, the Environment Ministry, the Labour Ministry, the Undersecretariat of Treasury and the Prime Ministry Directorate General of Laws and Resolutions, took place in the Turkish delegation.

[03] OPERATIONS AGAINST DRUG SMUGGLING - NARCOTICS OFFICIALS SEIZE A TOTAL OF 2 TONNES OF HEROIN, 609.8 KG OF HASHISH, 1.4 KG OF COCAIN, 4.6 KG OF OPIUM, 173 KG OF BASE MORPHINE AND 1.3 LT OF ACID ANHYDRIDE IN ISTANBUL LAST YEAR

A total of 1390 people including 211 foreigners, were taken into custody while 63 pistols and 295 bullets were seized in the operations.

Officials told the A.A correspondent that the market value of the drugs is about 5 trillion Turkish Liras.

A total of 937.7 kg of heroin, 1 tonne 340.2 kg of hashish, 8.6 kg of cocain, 28.6 kg of opium, 84 lt of acid anhydride, 351.9 kg of base morphine and 24 thousand of drug pills were seized in 1997.

[04] SERBIAN MAGAZINE ISSUES AN INSTALLMENT OVER ATATURK, FOUNDER OF MODERN TURKEY

The installment named ''Kemal Pasha - Father of Modern Turkey'', deals with Serbian and Yugoslav public reactions on events in early Republic of Turkey and Ataturk's ''warm personal relations'' with Serbian and Yugoslav Royal Family members.

The first chapter, published in the latest issue of NIN under the title of ''Balkans' Allies'' refers to a period after October 28, 1925 when two countries established friedly diplomatic relations.

The NIN serial is based on a new book in Serbian ''Mustafa Kemal in Yugoslav Public'' which was published recently by the NEA Publishing House.

It deals with the ''spirit of time between two World Wars and the great Yugoslav public interest in Turkey'' as well as the reforms of Ataturk.

The NIN claimed that Ataturk and King Alexander of Yugoslavia who was killed in 1934 by a pro-fascist terrorist in Marceilles, were having a close cooperation as statesmen and were sharing warm personal friendship.

Belgrade based weekly magazine reminded that Turkey had joined the Balkans Pact following King Alexander's first official visit to Istanbul in October 1933.

NIN also quoted Ataturk as describing Yugoslav people as noble and calling King Alexander as a faithful friend, and printed a photo of a Turkish military troop marching through Belgrade on the day of King Alexander's burial.

[05] TURK, NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER: - ''WE WILL NOT STOP PURSUING OCALAN WHEREVER HE GOES''

Pointing out that Turkey has been struggling against one of the most brutal terrorist organizations of the history which claimed more than 30 thousand lives for 15 years, Turk stressed that Ocalan will be rendered ineffective as soon as possible.

Noting that Ocalan has lost his influence over the separatist terrorist organization PKK, Turk stressed, ''rivalry has begun in the organization for leadership. The Republic of Turkey does not admit terrorists as her interlocutor. We do our utmost to render Ocalan ineffective. The crisis with Italy which supported sincerely Turkey's full membership to the European Union (EU) and recognized the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) so far, is nothing but misfortune.''

[06] TURKEY'S REACTION TO GREECE - FOREIGN MINISTRY: - ''AS A RESULT OF GREECE'S INTENTIONAL IRRELEVANCE, HISTORICAL WORKS BELONGED TO THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE PERIOD DISAPPEAR''

The Foreign Ministry accused the Greek government of leaving the historical works to the destructive conditions of nature and time.

The statement pointed out that the Hamzabey Mosque, one of the most beautiful architectural works in Salonica, has come to the point of collapse.

The Foreign Ministry pointed out, ''this fact shows that Salonica could become the Cultural Capital of Europe as a result of political pressures of Greece. Such titles given to cities before reaching a real cultural understanding, is nothing but a misleading.''

Stressing that Greece has been destroying the traces of the Turkish-Ottoman civilization within the framework of a sistematic policy, the statement of the Foreign Ministry noted that destroying the cultural works of a joint history of 500 years is not a civilized manner.

The Foreign Ministry called Greece to abandon such a mentality attacking the historical and cultural heritages, and to reach a maturity which will enable herself to improve the relations with Turkey.

The Poshposh Dervish Lodge, the Dedeagac Mosque and many historical buildings belonged to the Ottoman Empire period take place among the destroyed cultural heritages.

[07] TRT-INT'S OVERSEAS BROADCASTING - TRT BEGINS INITIATIVES TO BROADCAST IN AUSTRALIA

Officials at the Directorate General of the TRT told the A.A correspondent that they aim at bringing up the project to the President Demirel's visit to Australia between 18-21 February.

The project will cost about 2.5 million U.S. dollars.

[08] THERMAL SPRING TOURISM IN BLACK SEA REGION - A TOTAL OF 300 THOUSAND TOURISTS VISIT THE AYDER THERMAL SPRINGS IN 1998

Officials told the A.A correspondent that the number of tourists increased 20 percent compared with the figures of 1997.

More than 12 thousand foreign tourists, mostly from Germany and the Netherlands, prefered to spent their holiday in Ayder Thermal Springs.

The Ayder Thermal Spring is recommended for especially those who suffer from sciatica and rheumatism.

[09] THE FOREİGN MINISTRY: - ''D'ALEMA'S ALLEGATIONS ARE IMPROPER AND NONSENSE''

Stressing that the Italian government distorted the process of law with political influences, the Foreign Ministry pointed out that the Italian government did not fulfil its obligations in accordance with the international agreements over struggle against terrorism.

The statement criticized Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema's words claiming that Turkey did not cooperate with Italy for the issue of international court.

Describing D'Alema's allegations that he will begin initiatives for the issue to be investigated on the international level as ''improper and nonsense,'' the statement emphasized, ''such allegations which were put forward under the threat and pressure of the terrorist organization, are neither real nor serious.''

Pointing out that Turkey has displayed a clear attitude which is based on the international laws, from the very beginning, the Foreign Ministry called the Italian government to fulfil its obligations and cooperate with Turkey against terrorism.

Stressing that Turkey's struggle against terrorism will continue, the Foreign Ministry added, ''Ocalan will account for his brutal acts wherever he flees.''

A.A

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