Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-02-15

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

AA Daily

15 February 1999 Monday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] PREMIER ECEVIT: ''WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THE PKK TERRORISTS WHO LEFT SYRIA ARE IN IRAQI TERRITORY''

[03] BOMB ATTACK ON A BANK IN KARTAL DISTRICT OF ISTANBUL

[04] DECISION OF BASQUE PARLIAMENT CAUSES DISCUSSION IN INTERNAL POLITICS OF SPAIN - KDP: ''THE SO-CALLED KURDISH PARLIAMENT CAN'T REPRESENT KURDS''

[05] MISSING MOUNTAINEER FOUND DEAD

[06] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT MEETS WITH AZIZ, IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

[07] FIRE AT EL HAMRA CINEMA IN A HISTORICAL BUILDING IN BEYOGLU DISTRICT OF ISTANBUL

[08] LINN, WORLD BANK'S DEPUTY CHAIRMAN TO ARRIVE IN ANKARA ON TUESDAY

[09] GEN. NEWTON, THE U.S. AIR FORCES EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMANDER IN ANKARA

[10] TURKISH FOOD PRODUCTS AT INTERNATIONAL CHICAGO FOOD FAIR

[11] CHIEF TERRORIST BEGS PRIMAKOV, THE RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER TO REMOVE THE OBSTACLE TO HIS REQUEST OF POLITICAL ASYLUM

[12] ''SHORT LIST'' OF THE FOUR BILLION DOLLARS OF HELICOPTER TENDER EXPECTED TO BE ANNOUNCED TILL FEBRUARY 20 - 50 HELICOPTERS TO BE PRODUCED AT THE FIRST STAGE

[13] CONTACTS OF IRAQI DEPUTY PREMIER IN TURKEY - TAREQ AZIZ: ''MEETINGS WERE VERY POSITIVE, WE HAVE A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE WITH TURKISH SIDE''

[14] NEGOTIATIONS ON BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE

[15] TOFAS TO PRODUCE CARS FOR EGYPT AND RUSSIA IN 1999 - JAN NAHUM, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF TOFAS: - ''WE AIM AT 200 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR EXPORTS IN 1999''

[16] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: - ''TURKISH CYPRIOTS WANT PEACE ON THE PRINCIPLE OF TWO-STATE''

[17] ECEVIT-AZIZ MEETING - PREMIER ECEVIT: - ''WE DISCUSSED ALL ISSUES CONCERNING TURKEY AND IRAQ''

[18] NEWS IN BRIEF - FEBRUARY 15, 1999

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL) AZIZ IN TURKEY
Tareq Aziz, the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister whose visit to Turkey caused uneasiness in the U.S. administration, entered Turkey yesterday from Habur border gate. He came to eastern province of Diyarbakır by a helicopter and to Ankara by a military plane. Aziz is expected to meet with Bulent Ecevit, the Prime Minister on Monday morning. Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister said on Sunday that they will welcome Aziz with good will and hospitality, adding ''our policies can't change by one visit.''

OCALAN APPLIES FOR ASYLUM IN GREECE
Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK is probably in Russia. Meanwhile Britta Bohler, the German lawyer of Ocalan said that they applied to the Netherlands for the second time, but they could not get a response. Ocalan also applied to Greece to get political asylum on February 13.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

SABAH (LIBERAL)

OCALAN BEGS GREECE
Abdullah Ocalan, who is frightened of being extradited to Turkey by Russia, asked Greece to grant him political asylum right and to provide his security. An Italian newspaper claimed that baby killer Ocalan is in one African country.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

SEARCH FOR BALANCE IN ANKARA
Tareq Aziz, whose earlier visits to Turkey were postponed for twice came to Turkey for an official visit yesterday. Turkey will request Iraq to abide by the U.N Resolutions and not to support the separatist terrorist organization PKK. Prime Minister Ecevit is also expected to bring ''Iraq peace plan'' composed of 12 articles and prepared by his party at his meeting with Aziz.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

AKTAS, CANDIDATE OF IZMIR
Mesut Yılmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) said that the candidate of ANAP for Izmir mayor is Kutlu Aktas, the former minister of interior.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[02] PREMIER ECEVIT: ''WE KNOW THAT SOME OF THE PKK TERRORISTS WHO LEFT SYRIA ARE IN IRAQI TERRITORY''

Responding to a question asking whether or not the news saying that ''6000 PKK members who fled from Syria have set up a camp in north of Baghdad'' would be taken up during his meeting with Tareq Aziz, the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister, Ecevit said ''I don't know the details, but we know that some of the PKK terrorists who left Syria are in Iraqi territories. We'll certainly bring this issue to the agenda tomorrow.''

When asked whether or not Incirlik base will be discussed during the meetings with Aziz, Prime Minister Ecevit said ''all issues that concern our relations can come to agenda.''

[03] BOMB ATTACK ON A BANK IN KARTAL DISTRICT OF ISTANBUL

The assailants came to the bank on Rahmanlar Bagdat street around 01.00 on Sunday night and threw the molotov cocktail which did not explode, however they opened fire which broke the windows of the bank. Later the assailants fled the scene.

Officials said operations are underway to capture the assailants.

Meanwhile another assailant attempted to stage an arson attack on the ATM of Vakıfbank's branch in Fatih district. Police officers extinguished the fire, which caused minor damage to the machine.

An investigation is underway concerning the incident.

[04] DECISION OF BASQUE PARLIAMENT CAUSES DISCUSSION IN INTERNAL POLITICS OF SPAIN - KDP: ''THE SO-CALLED KURDISH PARLIAMENT CAN'T REPRESENT KURDS''

While centralist parties, the Populist Party, which is in power and the main opposition party namely the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) accuse the separatist Basque nationalists of using the so-called ''Kurdish parliament'' in order to violate the constitution, the Basque nationalists claimed that the government and the centralist parties consider this issue as an opportunity to wear Basque people out.

The discussions between supporters of the unitary state and separatists in Spain intensifies on Spanish internal political and legal arrangements more than on Turkey and the so-called ''Kurdish parliament.''

Three big associations of Spanish judges issued statements on Saturday supporting the attitude of the government pointing out that the government is authorized to decide on foreign policy issues.

Spanish press organs publish news about Turkish-Spanish economic relations nearly every day. The news stresses that the place of Turkey in Spanish economy comes before the Southeastern American countries expressing concern of the Spanish firms that make business with Turkey.

Meanwhile, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) sent a statement to the Basque newspapers saying that ''the so-called 'Kurdish parliament is not the representative of the Kurdish people and was not elected by people's will and through democratic ways.''

[05] MISSING MOUNTAINEER FOUND DEAD

The body of Mutlu Acar was found in upper regions of Oksuz Bogazı.

Efforts to rescue the missing climber, who climbed Karcı Dagı together with his three friends on February 7 and who was later lost, were carried out by various rescue teams and by citizens. The rescue teams were also in danger due to heavy snowfall.

[06] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT MEETS WITH AZIZ, IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Aziz was welcomed by Ecevit and Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister at Prime Ministry building. After meeting with five minutes alone, Ecevit and Aziz proceeded to the room where the interdelegationary meetings take place.

The Turkish deleation is headed by Bulent Ecevit, the Prime Minister and is composed of Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister; Korkmaz Haktanır, the Foreign Ministry Undersecretary; General Yasar Buyukanıt, the Chairman of General Staff's Operation Department; Umit Pamir, Counsellor of Prime Ministry; Selim Karaosmanoglu, Turkish Charge D'Affaires to Iraq and Ugur Ziyal, Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary. The Iraqi delegation is headed by Tareq Aziz including Faruq Al Hicazi, the Iraqi Ambassador to Turkey and other high ranking Iraqi officials.

[07] FIRE AT EL HAMRA CINEMA IN A HISTORICAL BUILDING IN BEYOGLU DISTRICT OF ISTANBUL

The fire started due to an unknown reason at ''El Hamra Cinema'' on Istiklal Street around 23.15 local time causing major damage at the cinema. The fire was put out by the intense efforts of fire brigades at 00.30.

The historical building which was seriously damaged by the fire was also used by French Theatre, which was one of the most important theatres of the Reform Period during Ottoman reign. The building had the character of being the oldest ''Istanbul Theatre'' by maintaining its shape.

[08] LINN, WORLD BANK'S DEPUTY CHAIRMAN TO ARRIVE IN ANKARA ON TUESDAY

Linn is expected to be received by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Hikmet Ulugbay, the Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister who is responsible from economy.

Linn, who will stay in Ankara for one day will leave Turkey for Russia the same day.

Officials said that the issue of the financial support that will be extended by the World Bank to Turkey will be taken up at the meetings with Linn, who is expected to stage a press briefing before leaving Turkey.

[09] GEN. NEWTON, THE U.S. AIR FORCES EDUCATION AND TRAINING COMMANDER IN ANKARA

Newton told journalists that ''I am proud of visiting great leader Ataturk on behalf of American people and the U.S. armed forces.''

Mak Parris said in his part that the presence of U.S. General Newton in Turkey reflects the importance of the Turkish-American military cooperation. Parris added that this also shows the importance attributed by the U.S. to her relations and cooperation with Turkey.

Responding to a question about the contacts of Tareq Aziz, the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister in Ankara, Parris said ''I don't have any other thing to add to the statement issued by U.S. State Department Spokesman last Thursday. We'll have a clearer attitude after the meetings.''

When asked whether or not there will be a contact among American and Turkish officials regarding Incirlik Air Base today, Parris said that ''all activities concerning the bilateral military cooperation will be discussed.''

[10] TURKISH FOOD PRODUCTS AT INTERNATIONAL CHICAGO FOOD FAIR

Turkish frozen food products, Turkish canned food, marmalade, olive oil, tomato products, macaroni, beans, dried fruit and vegetable will be presented at the fair.

Meanwhile experts point out that the food product market in the U.S. needs new products, adding that those firms which want to sell products to this country have to undertake research concerning the marketting in the U.S.

Turkish businessmen in Chicago said that Turkey can export food more than textiles, adding Turkish firms should undertake investments directed at firms marketting wholesale food in the U.S.

[11] CHIEF TERRORIST BEGS PRIMAKOV, THE RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER TO REMOVE THE OBSTACLE TO HIS REQUEST OF POLITICAL ASYLUM

Ocalan, the chief terrorist noted in the statement which was published by ERNK, which is one of the organs of the separatist terrorist organization PKK that he asked Russian, Italian and Greek governments for political asylum.

Begging Primakov, the Russian Prime Minister for help, the chief terrorist asked the Russian government to show a special sensitivity towards his asylum request. The chief terrorist stressed that he expects the Russian Premier to take into consideration the view of Duma, the lower chamber of Russian parliament, which called on the government to grant political asylum to him on November 4.

[12] ''SHORT LIST'' OF THE FOUR BILLION DOLLARS OF HELICOPTER TENDER EXPECTED TO BE ANNOUNCED TILL FEBRUARY 20 - 50 HELICOPTERS TO BE PRODUCED AT THE FIRST STAGE

The ''short list'' will be sent to Defense Industry Execution Committee including the Prime Minister for the final decision.

Firms which will enter the ''short list'' together with the Turkish Aviation and Space Industry (TAI) will later submit their final industrialization proposal.

At the first stage 50 helicopters, at the second stage another 50 helicopters and lastly 45 helicopters will be produced.

Ten attack helicopters are foreseen to be taken from the firm which will win the tender in order to meet urgent needs.

[13] CONTACTS OF IRAQI DEPUTY PREMIER IN TURKEY - TAREQ AZIZ: ''MEETINGS WERE VERY POSITIVE, WE HAVE A VERY CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE WITH TURKISH SIDE''

Aziz, who is currently paying a visit to Turkey upon an invitation from Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, responded the questions of reporters following the interdelegationary meetings held at the Prime Ministry building. Pointing out that he would stage a press conference after wrapping up his contacts in Turkey, Aziz said, ''we have had a very beneficial dialogue with the Turkish Prime Minister and delegation. The dialogue has been sincere and neutral. We have discussed bilateral relations. We discussed our legitimate concerns in a friendly and open manner. I hope that this sincere and objective dialogue will help Turkey and Iraq reach a good understanding about their own concerns and improve their bilateral relations.''

Noting that the main question was the ''foreign interference'', Aziz said, ''when we remove the foreign interference we can make a good degree of understanding and cooperation. Because Turkey and Iraq are neighbors, and friends. They have lots of thing in common. The security of Turkey is in connection with the security of Iraq. We should not allow the foreigners to interfere in our relations.''

[14] NEGOTIATIONS ON BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE

The high-level officials at Azerbaijani national oil company SOCAR and the consortium's operation company AIOC are expected to attend the meetings to take place in Ankara.

The Inter-Government Agreement, one of the two agreements Turkey and Azerbaijan are negotiation on, is nearly finalized.

The other agreement, the Host-Government Agreement which prepares the legal and commercial infrastructure necessary for the financing of the project and for the commercial rules, is also nearly concluded.

The two sides reached compromise on the two of four articles during the meetings, which started in Ankara on 11 January and continued in Istanbul between 13-18 January 1999.

Following the negotiations in Ankara, the Host-Government and Inter- Government Agreements are expected to be signed in March 1999.

In accordance with the Constitution, the Parliament has to approve those two agreements within 90 days.

Within the framework of the meetings, Turkey conveyed her two different packages including her commercial proposal to Azerbaijani government in July and August 1998.

The package given in July includes the incentive implementations valid in Turkey, tax and seaport regulations and the technical datum of the project. The second package, which was presented to the Azerbaijani side in August and stressed that it was open to negotiation, includes commercial offers including also passing fee.

[15] TOFAS TO PRODUCE CARS FOR EGYPT AND RUSSIA IN 1999 - JAN NAHUM, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF TOFAS: - ''WE AIM AT 200 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR EXPORTS IN 1999''

Murat Selek, TOFAS Deputy Director General, told A.A correspondent that they will evaulate 1998 figures and will discuss the selling of the automobiles like Palio, Siena and Palio Weekend.

Stating that Palio model is heading to be a world car, Selek said, ''we aim at selling one million Palio automobiles. There is a stagnation in the automotive sector in Turkey and in the world, but we will overcome this. The automotive sector cannot be affected from this daily stagnation.''

Selek noted that 260 million U.S. dollars investment was made for the three new models of TOFAS.

Jan Nahum, the Managing Director of TOFAS, said that they exported 25,000 cars at an amount of 100 million U.S. dollars to many countries in 1998.

Nahum said that they aim at exporting 35,000 or 40,000 automobiles and spare parts at a price of 200 million U.S. dollars.

Stressing that they will export Palio Weekend model as of March, Nahum said, ''we export to many countries at the moment. We planned a 'Kartal' model carrying seven persons for Egypt. We will start the production of Palio model in Egypt in September.''

Emphasizing that they will send TOFAS-Fiat 178 and its spare parts to Morocco, Poland, India and South Africa, Nahum said, ''we will produce Siena model in Egypt in September and we are planning to produce it in Russia by the end of 1999.''

[16] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: - ''TURKISH CYPRIOTS WANT PEACE ON THE PRINCIPLE OF TWO-STATE''

Pointing out that Hercus did not reach the level of presenting a proposal during the contacts she was holding with the two sides, Denktas told reporters that both sides had experienced uneasiness during the EOKA period, Denktas said that the Greek-Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides is a wise man awaring of the realities on the island but he could not express the truths as the world failed to see them.

Stressing that the Turkish Cypriots want peace on the basis of two-states, Denktas said, ''because, this is the only formula which won't give the opportunity for the Greek-Cypriots to destroy once again in five years an agreement which may be reached.''

Denktas emphasized that the Greek-Cypriots would not be allowed to repeat their lies after they had destroyed the 1960 Republic.

''Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek-Cypriot administration, is a man who knows that they are not the government of the Turkish Cypriots. Also, the Greek-Cypriots know that they don't have the right to administrate the Turkish Cypriots. They can't achieve something by saying lies to the world. The issue should be solved on the principle of two- states,'' President Denktas said.

Pointing out that Britain is the country which is most responsible for the Cyprus issue, Denktas said Britain should stop her unfair treatment against the Turkish Cypriots.

Denktas said Britain supported Macarios with her bases on the island although it was known that the Cyprus issue had been created by the Greek- Cypriots.

The TRNC President Denktas stressed that it was Britain which brought the Greek-Cypriots into a position of ''legal government''.

[17] ECEVIT-AZIZ MEETING - PREMIER ECEVIT: - ''WE DISCUSSED ALL ISSUES CONCERNING TURKEY AND IRAQ''

Prime Minister Ecevit staged a press conference following three-hour interdelegationary meeting between Turkey and Iraq.

Pointing out that Iraq's re-gaining her integrity and the conclusion of embargo imposed on Iraq would also relieve Turkey, Ecevit said, ''I told this to Mr. Aziz. Turkey launches every contribution and initiative to this end. However, also the Iraqi administration should take some concrete steps.''

[18] NEWS IN BRIEF - FEBRUARY 15, 1999

The fourth of the seminars will be held between May 3 and 30, 1999.

BRUSSELS - A 17 year-old Turkish girl was chosen as ''the Queen of the Carnaval'' in the festival held in Belgium by her dressing as the ''darling'' on St.Valentine's Day.

PARIS - The exhibition titled ''Istanbul- The Door Opening to the East'' which will be held by KUSAV, the foundation to protect and promote cultural and artistic heritage, will be opened in the ''Galeries La Fayette'' shop of Paris, the capital city of France, on Thursday.

The Anatolian clothes will be introduced to the French people in the exhibition in which the Turkish life style, food and clothes, the furniture, the rugs, the carpets, the ceramics and the jewellery which will put forward the life of the Ottoman dynasty will be displayed.

A.A

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