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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-03-08Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>AA Daily08 March 1999 MondayCONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 8, 1999. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)HERE IS THE POWER OF THE STATEThe state which seized Apo who caused trouble for years to Turkey in Kenya and brought him to the country, also managed to capture the bombers who caused bloodshed in Cankırı in less than 48 hours. THE NEW MISSILE GAME OF ATHENS MILLIYET (LIBERAL)FIRST WISH OF PREMIER ECEVIT IN DIYARBAKIR: PEACE TO EASTPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit is paying a visit to Southeast. Shortly after his arrival in Diyarbakir, Ecevit said, ''I wish peace to the people living here.'' ''Peace in East and Southeast Anatolia means peace throughout Turkey. The feudal structure of the region should be changed,'' Ecevit said. SCANDAL OF JUSTICE Guven was sentenced to 5.5 year imprisonment two years ago. The Supreme Court said, ''this punishment should be at least 15 year in preson.'' Guven was caught red-handed while he was trying to get the guns, which were used in murders, out of the prison. BOMBER CAPTURED Erturk, a member of illegal TIKKO, was wanted for killing four people during a raid he carried out with PKK terrorists on a flour factory in Tokat. SABAH (LIBERAL)SURPRISE FROM ECEVITPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit told the good news in Diyarbakir: the source package to southeast was increased from 40 trillion Turkish Liras (TL) to 300 trillion TL. Ecevit arrived in Diyarbakir to specify the implementation method of the package. Halkbank will open credit worth 250 trillion TL and ten trillion TL will be given to the company which will be set up for the collection of money owed to Iraq. The Turkish-Iranian railway was opened. CUMHURIYET (LEFT)ATHENS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE AGREEMENTSGreece left the ''sincerety pact'' with Turkey on paper. Greece whose support to PKK was clearly revealed, violates the international agreements by helping the terrorist organization. Greece also does not comply with the agreements signed by Athens and Ankara. The agreements signed by the two countries in 1930, 1933, and 1938 was violated by Greece's support to Ocalan, terrorist chief. THE PKK MONEY IN ATHENS RADIKAL (LEFT)MISSILE CRISIS IN AEGEAN HEAVES INTO SIGHTIt was revealed that Greece is planning to deploy Russian made short-range OSA missiles on the islands in East Aegean while the countdown for the transfer of S-300s to Crete is continuing. The first portion of S-300s is expected to reach Crete on 30 March via sea. The S-300s will be used by Greek-Cypriot officers who were trained in Russia. BREATHTAKING PURSUIT The car used by the assailants in their escape from Cankiri was determined within 45 minutes and found in Polatli. The two assailants, who passed gendarmerie checkpoint with false identity cards, escaped from the police raid by a hair's breadth. But one of them was captured in a coach on its way to Istanbul. Bulent Erturk, the owner of the car, was detained in Istanbul but police said he doesn't have any connection with an illegal organization. Police raided the house used by terrorists but the assailants escaped. Gendarmerie of Sivrihisar captured the assailant Kemal Erturk in a coach which was travelling to Istanbul. YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)CENTER-RIGHT COLLAPSINGBulent Tanla, a senior aide of Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, said he believes the total votes of center-right will decrease for the first time below the total votes of radical right on 18 April polls. ''According to my evaluations on the results of four general elections in last 16 years, the total votes of center-right political parties is decreasing through at about 30 percent while the islamist-radical right political parties' total votes are increasing to at about 33 percent,'' Tanla said. ''ISLAMIST FUND'' ALARM IN ELECTIONS Prime Ministry and National Security Council warned Capital Market Council and Financial Crimes Investigation Council against the islamist capital which created a fund worth 20 trillion Turkish Liras for the polls on 18 April. TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)ANAP LEADER YILMAZ: ''OUR FUTURE WILL BE PUT TO THE VOTE''Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) said, ''on 18 April, Turkey will carry out the most critical polls in her history.'' ''I promise you the power on 19 April. People know very well who struggled with terrorism by taking their lives in their hands. The honor of the apprehension of Ocalan is for our martyrs and war veterans,'' Yilmaz said. FENERBAHCE SUBMITTED TO GALATASARAY IN THE MATCH OF THE YEAR Galatasaray leads four points ahead Fenerbahce which is now ranked second. ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)NO WAY OUTKemal Erturk, one of the bomber militants, was caught in Sivrihisar after the close pursuit of the police and gendarmerie. THE WAR OF FIGURES IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING [02] ECONOMY MEETING IN DIYARBAKIR - PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''WE NOT ONLY ANNOUNCED A PROGRAMME AND PACKAGE BUT ALSO BROUGHT IT TOGETHER WITH ITS CONTENT'' - ''THE FIRMS, WHICH HAVE RECEIVABLES FROM IRAQ, WILL SET UP A MAIN COMPANY POSSESSING SHARES EQUIVALENT TO THEIR NOTE RECEIVABLES'' - ''PEACE IN EAST AND SOUTHEAST MEANS PEACE THROUGHOUT TURKEY'' - ''WE HAVE TO PROVIDE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THESE REGIONS, SPREAD EDUCATION AND GRANT PEOPLE, WHO WERE OBLIGED TO ABANDON THEIR VILLAGES, HEALTHY SETTLEMENT OPPORTUNITIES'' - ''250 TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS OF SOURCE WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THESE REGIONS FROM HALK BANK THIS YEAR''DIYARBAKIR, March 8 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Sunday regarding the economic and social measures aiming at developing East and Southeast Anatolia, ''we not only announced a programme and package but also brought it together with its content.''Addressing the meeting at the Diyarbakir Governor's Office aiming at coordinating rapid, productive and just implementation of economic and social measures taken for East and Southeast Anatolia, Prime Minister Ecevit said the aim of their visit to Diyarbakir is to specify together with the governors the implementation methods to save these regions from unemployment and poverty. Pointing out that he announced on 1 March 1999 a 15-article programme to revive the economy in the region, to meet the requirements and encourage investments, Ecevit recalled, ''with this objective, 40,5 trillion Turkish Liras (TL) source will be immediately transferred to East and Southeast Anatolia, Emergency Rule Region and the surrounding region. Noting that the programme was welcomed generally, Ecevit said, ''we arrived in Diyarbakir with Council of Ministers decrees and administrative decisions necessary for the implementation of 15 articles. Besides, the sources started to be transferred to the region.'' ''When I announced that programme, I mentioned that 40.5 TL of source is a prolific source which will rapidly activate other huge sources. We have increased the capital of Halk Bank from 75 trillion TL to 250 trillion TL. It will give loans to only our citizens, entrepreneurs, tradesmen and craftsmen and small and medium scale enterprises in East and Southeast Anatolia. Thus a 250 trillion TL supplementary source will come to the region in addition to the 40.5 trillion TL source,'' Ecevit said. Pointing out that there are merchants, who couldn't receive the value of fuel oil they brought from Iraq, Prime Minister Ecevit said thus Iraq is indebted to Turkey and the debt is over 100 million U.S. dollars. ''Our businessmen got into trouble and the economy in the region was negatively affected as those debts were not repaid. We reached an agreement with the Iraqi government. We took measures between us and finalized a formula for the border trade. The receivables of Turkish companies from Iraq will be collected with oil trade through a main company. The Council of Ministers decision, which was prepared for the appropriation of 10 trillion TL fund, is now at the level of signature. Thus the firms, which have receivables from Iraq, will set up a main company in they will have stakes equivalent to their note receivables. The receivables of those companies from Iraq will be met from the sale of seven million tons fuel- oil to be imported by that main company. When this initiative is realized, daily 500 tankers of border trade will be provided for 2-2.5 years. What will be the profits? First of all, the companies will be rapidly relieved and make other investments. Almost 15 thousand vehicles will find business opportunity through the year. Every vehicle will provide employment for nearly 20 people and 300 people will have indirect benefit,'' Ecevit said. Noting that the problems in these regions are not the problems claimed by the people creating terrorism or supposed by their western supporters, Ecevit said the feudal structure of the region should be changed. ''We have to provide economic and social development, spread education in these regions and grant the people, who were obliged to leave their villages, healthy settlement opportunities. We should improve education and health services. Besides, we re-opened the railway between Turkey and Iran to increase border trade,'' Ecevit stressed. ''I believe peace in East and Southeast Anatolia means peace throughout Turkey. While we were preparing the investment and development programme, we had the opinions of the businessmen and several organizations. This enabled us to prepare a realistic programme,'' Ecevit said. Following the meeting, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''the meeting was very successful and beneficial. I am leaving Diyarbakir with great hopes.'' [03] TURK, MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENSE: ''FOREIGN COUNTRIES STARTED TO PERCEIVE TURKEY'S POLICY BETTER''TRABZON, March 8 (A.A) - Hikmet Sami Turk, the Minister of National Defense, said on Sunday that Turkey's policy has recently started to be perceived better abroad.Turk, who arrived in Trabzon to attend the panel discussion to be organized by the Association of Turkish Women upon the ''8 March World Women's Day'', said his visit to the U.S. was very beneficial and positive. Speaking to reporters, Turk said, ''during my visit, I conveyed information to the U.S. Secretary of Defense especially about the damage at the pipeline occured when the U.S. planes dropped bombs. I expressed Turkey's view and opinion about the issue. Thus, they carried out the necessary investigation and study. Operation Northern Watch is very important for the Turkish-U.S. relations, for the use of bases in Turkey, and for Northern Iraq policy. From now on, the U.S. will show the necessary sensitivity to this issue.'' Stressing that no suggestion was put forward to himself during and after the NATO member defense ministers' meeting about the trial of the chief terrorist, Turk said, ''the chief of the terrorist organization is now in the hands of the independent Turkish courts. The necessary thing will be carried out within the framework of laws.'' [04] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN RETURNS TO TURKEY - CETIN: ''IRELAND SHOWS UNDERSTANDING TO TURKEY'S STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM''ANKARA, March 8 (A.A) - Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the parliament, returned on Sunday to Turkey after concluding his four-day official visit to Ireland as the guest of Seamus Pattison, the Speaker of the Irish Parliament.Staging a press conference at the Esenboga Airport in Ankara, Cetin said that he held very beneficial contacts in Ireland. ''Ireland once again confirmed her support to Turkey's full-membership to the European Union (EU). Ireland suffered a lot from terrorism, so she approaches with understanding Turkey's struggle against terrorism and the level Turkey reached in this struggle,' Cetin said. ''During my contacts, I gave information about the fair and just trial of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the terrorist PKK organization. They said they hope that trial will support Turkey's friends. They want us not to please the enemies of Turkey,'' Cetin said. [05] INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN WESTERN ASIA CONVENES IN ISTANBULISTANBUL, March 8 (A.A) - The International Commission for Security and Cooperation in Western Asia meeting, which was organized by the TODA Global Peace and Politics research Institute carrying out activities in the U.S., was conluded on Sunday in Istanbul.Addressing a press conference staged after the two-day commission meetings at The Marmara Hotel, Majit Tehranian, the Chairman of the Commission, said the duty of the commission is to provide security and cooperation among Gulf countries Bahrein, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. Pointing out that the commission also aims at creating an atmosphere for the signature of a non-agression pact and arms inspection agreements in the future, Tehranian said that the diplomats academicians of Gulf countries and representatives of the U.N. Security Council permanent members China, France, Russia, the U.S. and Britain participated in the commission meetings. [06] COLD WEATHER AND RAIN EFFECTIVE IN ANATOLIA THIS WEEKANKARA, March 8 (A.A) - Turkey will be affected by the cold weather as of Monday which is moving from the Balkans, according to the information given by the State Meteorology General Directorate.The Marmara, the Aegean, the west Mediterranean and the Central Anatolia will receive rain and showers. The temperature is also expected to drop in these regions. On Tuesday, the whole country, except for the western Marmara and coastal Aegean, will be rainy. Snow is also expected at higher altitudes in central regions. There will be a noticable fall in the temperature in the western regions. The rain and cold weather will prevail until Thursday in the eastern regions. [07] ARSENAL-LIKE CELL - PLENTY OF BOMBS, FUSES, BOMB MECHANISMS, STOLEN CAR LICENSE PLATES AND BANKBOOKS FOUND IN CELLANKARA, March 8 (A.A) - A plenty of bombs were seized in an arsenal-like cell in Polatli used by the illegal terrorist organization TKP/ML TIKKO which staged assasination attempt against Cankiri Governor Ayhan Cevik, it was reported on Sunday.It was determined that the Nami Cagan, the then Minister of Labor and Social Security, laid the foundation of dispensary 50 meters away from the cell where the security forces confiscated the illegal organization's balance sheet, notes for its illegal activities and plans for attacks in future. Kemal Erturk, a terrorist, was captured while other two terrorists including one woman are still wanted. In the cell, security forces seized a number of bombs, fuses, bomb mechanisms, license plates of the car used in bomb attack on Cankiri Governor Ayhan Cevik and stolen license plates, bankbook, licences of the stolen cars, snow masks, nails showing the effect of sharapnel in explosives, field glasses, electronic devices giving information about the distance of explosives, repair sets used in assembling those exlosives, medical equipment, clothes and boats to be worn in rural area. Security forces confiscated also the remote-control instrument exploded the dynamites which were used in car bomb explosion which killed three persons and injured Cankiri Governor. [08] THE TRIAL OF OCALAN, TERRORIST CHIEF - OKCUOGLU AND KAPLAN, THE LAWYERS, TO MEET OCALAN ON TUESDAYMUDANYA, March 8 (A.A) - The lawyers who will defend Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the terrorist organization PKK, will go to Imralı Island to get proxy on Tuesday.Ahmet Zeki Okcuoglu registered in Istanbul Lawyers Bar told A.A that he will go to Imrali Island together with Lawyer Hasip Kaplan to get proxy from Ocalan. Okcuoglu said that Public Notary Hacıbey Erdogan will also go to the island with them, and the proxy will be organized in presence of the notary. Okcuoglu said that they postponed their visit to Imralı Island which they planned for today to Tuesday. Meanwhile Huseyin Cınar, one of the public prosecutors of Mudanya province, went to Imralı Island to take over the assignment from Ayhan Koksal, the prosecutor who worked in Imralı for a while. Koksal will return to Mudanya after he hands over his assignment to Cınar. The prosecutors who work in Mudanya are working rotatingly in Imralı Prison which was transformed into a closed prison. [09] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''CONVENTION OF SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL IN COMING DAYS IS OUT OF QUESTION'' - ''IF THE SYRIAN AUTHORITIES ACCEPT, OUR BORDER-NEIGHBOR BROTHERS CAN COME TOGETHER AS OF THE NEXT RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY''ANKARA, March 8 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Monday that it is out of question that the Supreme Military Council will hold a meeting in the coming days.Speaking to reporters, Ecevit said, ''convention of Supreme Military Council in the coming days is out of question.'' Responding to a question about the health of Cankiri Governor Ayhan Cevik, who was injured in a car bomb explosion, Ecevit said, ''the brain surgery of Cevik was very successful. He has a pulmonary problem. I was informed that his health condition is now better than two days ago.'' When asked whether or not there will be meetings which are not blocked with wire fences during religious holidays on the Syrian border, Ecevit said, ''our border-neighbor brothers can come together as of the next religious holiday, if the Syrian authorities accept.'' When asked whether or not he discussed the issue with the Syrian authorities, Ecevit said, ''I hope their attitude will be positive.'' [10] LEBANIDZE, GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA: - ''BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE HAS VITAL IMPORTANCE FOR BOTH TURKEY AND GEORGIA''SAMSUN, March 8 (A.A) - Tariel Lebanidze, the Georgian Ambassador to Ankara, said on Monday that the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline has a vital importance for both Turkey and Georgia.Lebanidze, who went on a journey covering the provinces having shores to the Black Sea, visited the same day Metin Ilyas Aksoy, the Governor of Samsun. Noting that the aim of his visit is to futher intensify the relations between Turkey and Georgia, Tariel Lebanidze said, ''after she gained her independence, Georgia entered into intense commercial relations with the provinces having shores to the Black Sea. First, we experienced very tough periods. However, we overcame the bad days with the help of these commercial relations. There are more than a hundred Turkish-Georgian joint companies in Samsun, Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, Rize and Artvin. The Baku- Ceyhan pipeline is one the huge projects of Turkey and Georgia. I believe this project will be finalized as soon as possible. When it is concluded, it will make great contributions to the economies of Turkey and Georgia. We strongly support this vital project.'' ''We are very sensitive to terrorism. We never compensate terrorism and will continue to do so. Our President was rescued from two assasination attempts. The people, who are feeding terrorism, started to seek ways to get rid of this trouble. We don't have such concern,'' Georgian Ambassador said. [11] MEETING OF PARLIAMENT SPEAKERS OF EUROPEAN-MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES ENDS - GURKAN, ACTING PARLIAMENT SPEAKER: ''I EXPRESSED THAT THE SUPPORT GIVEN TO TERRORIST ORGANIZATION BY SOME ALLIES CREATES A SERIOUS UNEASINESS IN TURKEY''ANKARA, March 8 (A.A) - The European-Mediterranean Countries' Parliament Speakers Meeting, of which opening speech was addressed by King Juan Carlos of Spain on Sunday on Mallorca island, was concluded on Monday.The meeting's final document, which foresees interparliamentary cooperation among those 27 countries, mentioned that ''terrorism is the first important factor threatening democracy.'' Talking to the A.A correspondent on the phone, Uluc Gurkan, the Acting Parliament Speaker, said that he found the opportunity to express Turkey's sensitivities for cooperation in the Mediterranean basin. Noting that he also expressed that the support given to terrorism by some allies creates a serious uneasiness in Turkey, Gurkan said that he stressed that the support can reach dimensions threatening the cooperation in Mediterranean. ''I mentioned that PKK is a bloodiest terrorist organization and some foolish friends in Europe try to grant the terrorist organization a legal structure giving rise to exploitation of West by terrorism with the principles of West. I stressed that terrorism shouldn't be legalized whether with fear or with negligence,'' Gurkan said. ''I responded the questions of the Spanish press. I told them that there is not any oppression or pressure on Kurds in Turkey, everybody uses the right of majority and any reason can't legalize terrorism,'' Gurkan said. Representatives from the European Union member countries and Turkey, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Malta and Greek-Cypriot side attended the meeting. [12] TWO HIGH LEVEL U.S. OFFICIALS TO VISIT ANKARA THIS WEEKANKARA, March 8 (A.A) - The U.S. State Department Special Coordinator to Cyprus, Thomas Miller and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State responsible for the Middle East, Martin Indyk will come to Ankara on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.Miller, who will be in Ankara on Tuesday morning will first be received by the Foreign Ministry's Deputy Undersecretary Ambassador Faruk Logoglu and then by Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister. Miller will meet with Sukru Sina Gurel, the State Minister responsible for Cyprus, in the afternoon and then proceed to Athens, the second leg of his trip. After Athens, Miller will go to Cyrus to have contacts with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as well as the Greek Cypriot administration. Yannakis Casulides, foreign minister to the Greek Cypriot administration reported that Miller's trip to Cyprus aims to start a dialogue between Rauf Denktas, the TRNC Prime Minister and Glafkos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration. The Turkish government, during its talks with Miller, will once again bring up the issue of support given to the terrorist organization by Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration. It will be stated that this might bring some ''additional problems'' to the already existing Cyprus question. Ankara's second guest, Indyk who will come to Ankara on Wednesday, will have contacts with Turkish government officials on Thursday and Friday. [13] MEETING BETWEEN TURKISH AND SUDANESE DELEGATIONS STARTSANKARA, March 8 (A.A) - Mustafa Osman Ismail, Sudan's Foreign Minister met his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem on Monday.During the talks, Cem drew attention to the historical and cultural closeness between Turkey and Sudan and stated that the economic ties between the two countries have also become stronger recently. ''Besides the political relations, we will also talk about cooperation in defense and military fields as well as a common approach against terrorism, '' Cem said. Cem pointed out that Turkey and Sudan have been in good dialogue during the period when Turkey faced the terrorism problem and said, ''I would like to thank Sudan on this matter.'' The Sudanese Foreign Minister also stressed that they want to develop bileteral and international relations between the two countries. Ismail reminded that his country has difficulty in drilling out oil and said, ''we will be able to drill out and sell oil by the end of June and we will use the cash for the infrastructure studies.'' The talks between Cem and Ismail continued closed to the press after the signing of an agreement which proposes political coooperation between Turkey and Sudan. Ugur Ziyal, Deputy Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry and Ali Englin Oba, Turkey's Ambassador in Khartum were also present during the meeting. The Sudanese Foreign Minister is also expected to meet with the President Suleyman Demirel as well as Hikmet Cetin, the Parliament Speaker on Monday. [14] TURK, MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENSE: ''THERE IS A VERY BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEPLOYMENT OF S-300 MISSILES ON GREEK-CYPRIOT SIDE OR CRETE'' - ''GREECE FAILED IN ALL OF HER EVERY ACTIVITIES AGAINST TURKEY'' - ''THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE SINCE THE APPREHENSION OF THE CHIEF TERRORIST''TRABZON, March 8 (A.A) - Hikmet Sami Turk, the Minister of National Defense, said on Monday that there is a very big difference between the deployment of S-300 missiles, which will be purchased from Russia by Greece, on the Greek-Cypriot side or Crete.Speaking to reporters, Turk recalled that it was earlier planned that the S- 300s will be deployed on the Greek-Cypriot side. ''However, as a result of the pressure which came from Turkey, the S-300s couldn't be deployed on the southern part of Cyprus. Later, Greece decided to deploy them on Crete. Turkey doesn't accept also this situation. Actually, the NATO has to oppose to this situation. However, there is a big difference between the deployment of S-300 missiles, which will be purchased from Russia by Greece, on the Greek-Cypriot side or Crete. The most important difference is the distance,'' Turk said. Pointing out that Greece should oppose to terrorism, Turk said, ''this country should make an international cooperation against terrorism with all states, especially with Turkey. We, as the neighbor countries, should get on well with each other as a result of the geographical situation. However, Greece never assumed such an attitude. She fought against Turkey during the War of Independence and on Cyprus in 1974. Despite all of these, Greece failed in all of her activities against Turkey.'' Responding to a question about the support given to the terrorist organization by Greece, Turk said, ''this attitude of Greece will never provide profit for her. We saw the most important example for this in Syria. Despite everything, we believe the Greek politicians will have the common sense. But everything has an appropriate time. Turkey will find the appropriate time to protect her interests.'' Giving response to the news claiming that the developments during the apprehension of the chief terrorist were contrary to human rights, Turk said, ''there was not any violation of human rights during the capture of the chief terrorist. Otherwise, even one criminal can't be caught. There is a fair legal system in Turkey. The chief terrorist will also benefit from this system.'' [15] CALL FOR EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF PARLIAMENT - THE DEPUTIES WHO ARE NOT TAKEN TO LISTS OF POLITICAL PARTIES FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS APPLIED FOR PARLIAMENT TO RECONVENE TO DELAY ELECTIONSANKARA, March 8 (A.A) - A group of deputies who are not selected as candidates by their parties for 18 April general elections, have applied on Monday for parliament to reconvene on March 10 to ''discuss the general situation of the country.''Hikmet Cetin, parliament speaker, said that he will examine the context and form of the application, and he will explain in the shortest time if he will call the parliament to convene or not. The deputies who gathered signatures to call the parliament to convene and cancel the election decision, completed their efforts to collect signatures on Monday. They had started to collect signatures almost two weeks ago. The application was presented to Cetin by Virtue Party (FP) deputy Abdulkadir Oncel and Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Mahmut Isık. Cetin told reporters that he should answer the meeting call in 7 days in accordance with the regulations of the parliament. Pointing out that the deputies want the parliament to convene at 10 March, Cetin said, ''even if it is decided to convene the parliament, this won't be at 10 March. Also, the motive of the motion should be valid. I will go through these.'' The motion said that the parliament could not find enough time to discuss adequately the changes abroad and in Turkey after the decision to go to early elections. ''The needs in legislation which cause intense discussions among the public opinion could not be met. Finally, the discussions started internationally concerning the legal dimension of struggle against terrorism, makes it compulsory for the parliament to convene.'' [16] CAR BOMB EXPLOSION IN CANKIRI - GOVERNOR AYHAN CEVIK RECOVERS FROM CRITICAL CONDITIONANKARA, March 8 (A.A) - Ayhan Cevik, the Governor of Cankiri who was injured in the assasination attempt, recovered from the critical condition, it was reported on Monday.Prof. Dr. Metin Cakmakci, the Head Doctor of the Hacettepe University Medical Faculty Adults Hospital, issued a written announcement saying that Governor Cevik regained consciousness and easily sets up communication. ''The respiration of Governor Ayhan Cevik is partly supported by artificial respiratory system. He still can't eat normally. At this stage, there is not any problem concerning his brain surgery. Except the possible complications, he overcame the critical condition,'' head doctor said. Meanwhile, Muammer Altinsoy, the driver of the Governor of Cankiri, will be discharged from the hospital the same day. Mehmet Ezgi, one of the eight people injured in the car bomb explosion, was got out of intensive care service while Alpay Evirgen, another injured person, is still at the intensive care service. [17] TURKEY GIVES AN ACCOUNT OF THE CAPTURE OF CHIEF TERRORIST TO EUROPEAN HUMAN RIGHTS COURTSTRASBOURG, March 8 (A.A) - Turkey sent the second part of the information regarding the capture of the terrorist chief Ocalan, to the European Human Rights Court (EHRC), it was reported on Monday.The diplomatic sources stated that Turkey sent the information about the defense rights of the chief terrorist to Strasbourg last week and the technical information regarding his capture on Monday. The EIRC had earlier asked Turkey to clarify urgently the arrest and the detention of the chief terrorist and his access to his lawyers. The EIRC asked Turkey to try Ocalan at fair and independent courts. The letter sent to Turkey by the EHRC included the following points: -The applicant's rights regarding getting a fair trial should be guaranteed under the 6th article of the Human Rights Agreement. -The applicant's defense rights including his right to meet with his lawyers should be respected. -The applicant should select his own lawyers and he should be able to use his personal application rights at the Human Rights Court. The jurists had evaluated these articles as a demand not to try the chief terrorist at the State Security Court. The EHRC had also asked Turkey to inform it about the measures taken regarding these articles. [18] GENERAL STAFF: - ''NEWS REPORTS CLAIMING THAT A HELICOPTER BELONGED TO THE TURKISH ARMED FORCES WAS SHOT DOWN KILLING 20 SOLDIERS ABOARD, AND NEWS CLAIMING THAT 8 SOLDIERS WERE KILLED IN AN AMBUSH, ARE NOTHING BUT LIES''ANKARA, March 8 (A.A) - The Office of the General Staff stated on Monday that news reports issued by several foreign news agencies claiming that a helicopter belonged to the Turkish Armed Forces was shot down killing 20 soldiers aboard, and the news claiming that 8 soldiers were killed in an ambush, are nothing but baseless lies.The Office of the General Staff issued a statement saying, ''news reports claiming that a helicopter belonged to the Turkish Armed Forces was shot down killing 20 soldiers aboard, and the news claiming that 8 soldiers were killed in an ambush, were issued by the international news agencies and television channels such as Reuters, CNN, BBC News, AP, AFP in 8 March 1999. These news reports which are totaly baseless, were put forward intentionally by the DEM, the news agency of the terrorist organization PKK, in order to to camouflage the fact that the organisation is disintegrating and leaderless and to raise the morale of its supporters.'' The statement also stressed, ''such baseless news reports can be distributed in future. These reports should not be taken serious. The official authorities will continue to inform public opinion accurately and impartially at the right time.'' A.A Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |