Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-04-09

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AA Daily

09 April 1999 Friday

CONTENTS

[01] BOMB ATTACK ON CANPOLAT, GOVERNOR OF HAKKARI - DENIZ, DRIVER OF CANBOLAT WHO WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THE ATTACK, DIES

[02] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: - ''MEMBER COUNTRIES TO NATO AND EU SHOULD OPEN THEIR DOORS TO KOSOVAR REFUGEES''

[03] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC RECEIVES CHIZOV, RUSSIA'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS

[04] THE INTERNATIONAL AMNESTY ORGANIZATION AWARDS BIRDAL, CHAIRMAN OF HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION

[05] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: - ''WE WANT CARNAGE IN KOSOVO TO COME TO AN END AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND OUR KOSOVAR FRIENDS TO RETURN THEIR HOMES IN SAFETY''

[06] NATO'S AIR OPERATION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA - TURKISH F-16 WAR PLANES GO ON A TOTAL OF 94 SORTIES AND ACCUMULATE 425 FLIGHT HOURS IN ROLE OF DEFENSE AND PATROL

[07] PRODUCTION IN AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR DROPS SIGNIFICANTLY

[08] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[09] REPO TRANSACTIONS REACH 3 QUADRILLION 618.8 TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS

[10] AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR - AUTOMOBILE SALES DECREASE 40 PERCENT IN Q1 - IMPORTS OF AUTOMOBILE REDUCES 24 PERCENT

[11] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION DECREASES BY FOUR PERCENT IN FEBRUARY

[12] DEPOSITS AT BANKS REACH 24.2 TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS ON 19 MARCH

[13] A GROUP OF TEACHERS APPLIES TO DGM TO BE INTERVENORS IN THE CASE IN WHICH OCALAN IS BEING TRIED ON CHARGES OF TREASON

[14] CREDIT VOLUME OF BANKS INCREASE BY 102.8 TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS

[15] EASTERN BLACKSEA REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN PREPARED TO ACTIVATE CAPACITY OF REGION

[16] ECONOMIC RELATIONS DISCUSSED BETWEEN TURKISH AND RUSSIAN DELEGATIONS IN OFFICIAL VISIT OF TURKEY TO RUSSIA

[17] NATO'S AIR OPERATION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA - TURKISH F-16 WAR PLANES GO ON A TOTAL OF 98 SORTIES AND ACCUMULATE 443 FLIGHT HOURS IN ROLE OF DEFENSE AND PATROL

[18] THE SEE'S REALIZE 1.1 QUADRILLION TL PROFIT IN 1998

[19] CONTACTS OF ITALIAN DELEGATION IN TRNC - HASIPOGLU, SPEAKER OF TRNC PARLIAMENT: - ''A SOLUTION ON CYPRUS SHOULD DEPEND ON A CONFEDERATION BETWEEN TWO STATES'' - CONTESTABILE, ITALIAN SENATOR: ''CYPRUS ISSUE CAN ONLY BE SOLVED BY TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE POSITION OF THE TURKS AS WELL''

[20] MEETINGS IN THE LEVEL OF CONSULATES BETWEEN TURKEY AND HUNGARY HELD IN BUDAPEST

[21] UNHCR WAITING FOR OFFICIAL DEMAND TO SEND AID FOR KOSOVAR REFUGUEES IN TURKEY - UN FIGURES INDICATE THAT A TOTAL OF 8,066 KOSOVARS HAVE SHELTERED IN TURKEY UNTIL TODAY

[22] NUMBER OF KOSOVAR REFUGUEES IN GUEST-HOUSE IN KIRKLARELI EXCEEDS 3,000 - RED CRESCENT STARTS WORKING TOGETHER WITH RED CROSS TO UNITE THE DISPERSED FAMILIES

[23] PRESIDENT DEMIREL VISITED GATA TO RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT HEALTH SITUATION OF COLONEY CEBI

[01] BOMB ATTACK ON CANPOLAT, GOVERNOR OF HAKKARI - DENIZ, DRIVER OF CANBOLAT WHO WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THE ATTACK, DIES

Officials told the A.A correspondent that a suicide bomber set off bombs strapped to his body at about 03:30 p.m. while Governor Canpolat was leaving the Government Office in Yuksekova county of Hakkari, killing himself and injuring eight people.

Canpolat and Colonel Tahir Cebi, Chief Commander of Gendarmerie Regiment in Hakkari, were slightly injured while Canbolat's driver and bodyguard were seriously wounded.

Cetin Deniz, the driver of Canpolat later died as he was being transferred to eastern Van province by helicopter.

Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent on phone, Nihat Canpolat stressed, ''several people who were thought to be in connection with the attack, have been taken into custody. Such attacks will not daunt neither me nor the Turkish state.''

Security measures have been tightened in Yuksekova county in the wake of the suicide attack.

President Suleyman Demirel, Hikmet Cetin, Speaker of Parliament, and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit have sent messages to Canpolat in order to condemn the obnoxious attack. They have also expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Cetin Deniz.

[02] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: - ''MEMBER COUNTRIES TO NATO AND EU SHOULD OPEN THEIR DOORS TO KOSOVAR REFUGEES''

Addressing journalists following the meeting, Cem stressed that more effective coordination is necessary among organizations such as the EU, NATO, and the UNHCR.

Cem pointed out that Turkey which has historical and cultural ties with the region, has also been affected negatively by Kosovo crisis. Reminding that Turkey has called her allies, the EU countries and the member countries to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to do their utmost in order to ease pains of those who were forced to leave their homes as a result of ethnic cleansing, and to put an immediate end to the carnage in Kosovo, Cem reiterated that Turkey, the only member state to the Alliance keeping her borders open for the refugees, has set up camp-sites for 20 thousand Kosovar people.

Stressing that the immigration waves had effected stability in the Balkans before and this effect had continued for years, Cem told reporters, ''a considerable part of the Turkish nation is formed by immigrants who came to Turkey from the Balkans.''

Noting that Germany, the term president of the EU, thanked Turkey for her approach to the Kosovo crisis and for her support for the Kosovar refugees, Cem also emphasized, ''I think we need more contribution from each other in such periods.''

[03] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC RECEIVES CHIZOV, RUSSIA'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS

Addressing the meeting, Denktas said that they will come together with Glafcos Clerides, the leader of Greek Cypriot administration, only to discuss confederation proposal.

Describing his meeting with Chizov as positive and productive, President Denktas stressed, ''they aim at solving the Cyprus question, and they want two sides to come together in order to solve the problems. But he has to put the formula of such a meeting before. We will come together with Clerides only to discuss confederation proposal.''

When asked why Cyprus question could not be solved for 36 years, Denktas quoted Clerides, ''I am aware of that I am not the government of the Turkish Cypriots. I know that I do not represent the Turkish Cypriots. But the whole world recognize me as the Cypriot government. Do you expect me to say whole world, 'No, I am not the Cypriot government'.''

President Denktas also stressed that Turkish Cypriots want the whole world to correct this mistake.

Vladimir Chizov said in his part that he held ordinary contacts on the island, reminding that he also held talks both in Ankara and in Athens.

Recalling that he came together with Thomas Miller, the Special Coordinator of the U.S. State Department to Cyprus, and Detlev Graf Zu Rantazu, Germany's Special Representative to Cyprus, within the framework of the efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Cyprus question, Chizov said that he will meet with Sir David Hanney, Britain's Special Representative to Cyprus, in Moscow later this month.

Chizov also added that he will maintain contacts on the island along with Aleksander Avdayev, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, who is expected to arrive on the island later on Thursday.

Georgi Muradov, the Russian Ambassador to Cyprus, accompanied Chizov during his visit to the island.

[04] THE INTERNATIONAL AMNESTY ORGANIZATION AWARDS BIRDAL, CHAIRMAN OF HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION

Addressing the journalists just before the ceremony, Volkmar Deile, Secretary General of the International Amnesty Organization's section in Germany, stressed that their visit to Turkey aims at showing the solidarity of human rights movement.

Hans-Joachim Vergau, the German Ambassador to Turkey, and the representatives from the embassies of Belgium, Finland and France in Ankara, were also in attendance at the ceremony.

[05] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: - ''WE WANT CARNAGE IN KOSOVO TO COME TO AN END AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND OUR KOSOVAR FRIENDS TO RETURN THEIR HOMES IN SAFETY''

President Suleyman Demirel received on Thursday Prime Minister Ecevit. Addressing journalists following the meeting, Prime Minister Ecevit pointed out that the meeting focused on the latest developments in Kosovo. He told reporters that he informed President Demirel about his visit to the refugee camp-site in Kirklareli.

Prime Minister Ecevit reminded that President Suleyman Demirel will pay official visits to Macedonia and Albania on Sunday.

When asked, ''will President Suleyman Demirel stress Turkey's sensivity over the issue of Kosovo crisis during his visits to Macedonia and Albania, '' Prime Minister Ecevit noted, ''as you know, we aim at setting up several tent-sites in Macedonia and Albania. The necessary equipments have been sent to the region. President Suleyman Demirel will make observations in the sites. He will also evaluate the latest situation in the region with his Macedonian and Albanian counterparts. I believe that these contacts will be so useful.''

Responding to a question whether or not a ground operation is in question, Ecevit noted ''no, a ground operation against Yugoslavia is not in question for the time being. I hope that a ground operation will never be required.''

Referring to the suicide bomb attack on Nihat Canpolat, Governor of Hakkari, Ecevit expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Cetin Deniz, the driver of Canpolat who was seriously injured in the suicide bomb attack and later died as he was being transferred to eastern Van province by helicopter.

[06] NATO'S AIR OPERATION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA - TURKISH F-16 WAR PLANES GO ON A TOTAL OF 94 SORTIES AND ACCUMULATE 425 FLIGHT HOURS IN ROLE OF DEFENSE AND PATROL

The General Staff Martyr Journalists Hasan Tahsin Press and Information Center issued a statement saying that the Turkish F-16 war planes deployed in Ghedi, Italy, participated at the operation in ''air defense role''. Within this scope, Turkish war planes have accumulated a total of 425 flight hours.

[07] PRODUCTION IN AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR DROPS SIGNIFICANTLY

The production in automotive sector was 101,596 in the first three months of 1998. The automobile production, on the other hand, dropped by 50 percent and became 30,319 in January-March period of 1999, the Otomotive Industrialists Association announced.

In March 1999, the automobile production dropped to 12,549 after a 45 percent decrease from March 1998. The production of commercial vehicles and tractors also dropped by 47 and 45 percent respectively.

[08] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

WASHINGTON: KOSOVARS AND KURDS CANNOT BE COMPARED
The American administration made a harsh reply to circles who have been trying to resemble people of Kurdish origin in Turkey to Kosovars. James Rubin, the U.S. Foreign Ministry Spokesman stated that Turkey is a democratic country and also a member of the NATO who is looking for a peaceful solution to the Kurdish question. Rubin added that Turkey does not commit an ethnic cleaning and does not force civilians out of their homes in masses.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Office requested the video-records of the meeting. It was mentioned that the ''Abuse of Religion'' can be the support of a lawsuit opened for the closure of a political party in accordance with the Constitution and Political Parties Law.

Meanwhile, the Ankara State Security Court Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation against the administrators of the Virtue Party (FP) with charges of insulting the Turkish flag with the FP flags hung in the streets due to polls.

20 MPS USE ELECTRICITY ILLEGALLY
It was revealed that 20 deputies used electricity illegally at the Residences of Pariamentarians in Ankara.

Hakan Tartan, the Minister of Labor and Social Security, sent a statement to Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of Parliament, saying that a total of 20 MPs including former cabinet members didn't subscribe to the Turkish Electricity Distribution Corp. (TEDAS).

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Boeing 737's have been involved in 46 accidents in 32 years. The researchers decided that there is a production fault in the Boeing 737's.

BOEING'S DEFENSE
The malfunction which caused the deadly accident in Ceyhun show resemblances with the report prepared by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Warren Brown, Boeing's Public Relations person came to Istanbul as soon as he heard about the accident. Brown stated that Boeing 737's were the safest planes in the world and added that they have to wait until the black box is opened to make an announcement.

Brown also said they do maintenance on the planes regularly and added that the command systems in the tails have been recently renewed. He stressed that the accuracy of the NTSB report must be proved.

Seven experts from the Boeing firm came to Adana to make researches at the accident scene.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

''The NATO will fulfil its responsibilities, it has to do so. The NATO won't give up a work it started. These people will return back to their homelands. Today's situation is a temporary situation,'' President Demirel said.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES ARE MISSING
Only 55 thousand of 70 thousand of refugees were able to be traced. It is thought that the Serbs might have forced others into Kosovo to use them as live shields. The splitting of the families while they are sent to other countries has also been criticized. The western resources said that the luckiest of the refugees are the ones who were sent to Turkey.

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

In the first quarter of 1998, the production at the sector was 101,596 peices.

FOREIGN TRADE DEFICIT DECREASES TO 55.7 PERCENT IN JANUARY
The foreign trade deficit decreased to 403.9 million U.S. dollars when imports and exports slowed down due to the global crisis.

Turkey's exports in January 1999 reduced 19.2 percent to 1 billion 773.1 million U.S. dolars and her imports dropped 29.9 percent to 2 billion 177 million U.S. dollars.

TALKS WITH IMF TO RESUME THIS MONTH
The Turkish economy officials will brief the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the latest developments in the Turkish economy atthe IMF-World Bank meetings to take place in Washington D.C. between 27-28 April.

An IMF delegation will visit Turkey in May. An agreement will probably be signed after August.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

The Kalevit Saniter Seramik Sanayii A.S. and Compania Roca Radiodores S.A. set up a joint venture namely ''RocaKale'' which targets to make a 60 million U.S. dollars investment in next five years. The annual sales is targeted to be 50 million U.S. dollars at the end of the fifth year.

PLANE WRECKAGE BEING EXCAVATED
Experts say that the reason for the crash of ''Trakya'' plane will become clear when the black-box is recovered and this will take 5-6 months.

Officials said they digged seven-eight meters in depth and reached one of the landing gears.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

A terrorist, who jumped in front of the car of the Governor, detonated the bombs he strapped on his body killing himself, and injuring Governor Canpolat, his driver, bodyguard and Colonel Tahir Cebi, the Chief of Gendarmerie in Hakkari.

Cetin Deniz, the driver, died as he was being transferred to Van.

[09] REPO TRANSACTIONS REACH 3 QUADRILLION 618.8 TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS

The repo transactions of the banks reached to 3 quadrillion 208.3 trillion Turkish liras on March 12 and to 3 quadrillion 618.8 trillion on March 19.

The reverse repo transactions between banks and their customers increased from 44.1 trillion Turkish liras to 78.8 trillion Turkish liras between March 12 and 19.

The repo transactions among financial institutions increased 64.1 trillion Turkish liras and reached to 159.4 trillion Turkish liras on March 19

The reverse repo transactions among financial institutions increased from 747.3 trillion Turkish liras to 869.6 trillion Turkish liras between March 12 and 19.

[10] AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR - AUTOMOBILE SALES DECREASE 40 PERCENT IN Q1 - IMPORTS OF AUTOMOBILE REDUCES 24 PERCENT

A total of 64,427 automobiles were sold in the first quarter of 1998.

The Association of Automotive Industrialists (OSD) data shows that the sales of domestic automobiles dropped 48 percent to 22,627 pieces and the sales of imported automobiles reduced 24 percent to 15,884 pieces in the first qurter of 1999.

Between January and March 1998, a total of 43,604 domestic automobiles were sold while the sales of imported automobiles was 20,823 pieces.

The sales of light commercial vehicles including minibus and small lorry decreased 34 percent to 16,133 pieces. The total sales in the first quarter of 1998 was 24,457 pieces.

A total of 8,915 domestic light comercial vehicles and 7,218 imported light commercial vehicles were sold in the first three months of the year. In this period, the sales of domestic light comercial vehicles decreased by 25 percent and the sales of imported light comercial vehicles reduced by 43 percent.

The imports of automobiles dropped 24 percent from 20,823 to 15,884 pieces.

The imports of automobiles from the European Union (EU) countries decreased by 31 percent and the imports of automobiles from the Far Eastern countries reduced by 4 percent while the imports of automobiles from Eastern Block countries increased by 19 percent.

In the first quarter of 1999, the imports of light commercial vehicles decreased 48 percent from 12,587 to 7,218 pieces.

The imports of light commercial vehicles from the EU countries reduced by 34 percent, the imports of light comercial vehicles from the Far Eastern countries fell by 46 percent and the imports of light comercial vehicles from the Eastern Block countries dropped by 73 percent.

The market share of the imports of automobiles in the first quarter of the year became 41 percent and the market share of the imports of light commercial vehicles was 45 percent.

[11] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION DECREASES BY FOUR PERCENT IN FEBRUARY

The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) said that the production at the mining sector fell by 8.6 percent and the production at the manufacturing sector dropped by five percent while it increased by 3.4 percent at the electricity, gas and water sector.

The comparative industrial productions at sectors in February 1998 and 1999 according to the DIE statistics are as follows: . PRODUCTION INCREASE (percent)

Name of Sector FEB 1999 FEB 1998

-------------------------- ---------- --------
TOTAL INDUSTRY -4.0 16.8
MINING INDUSTRY -8.6 23.3
MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY -5.0 17.0
-Food Industry -1.4 26.6

-Textiles Industry -30.8 6.8

-Paper and Printing Industry -47.3 31.6

-Chemistry Industry 7.6 0.5

-Earthenware Industry -7.4 19.4

-Metal Main Industry 0.0 11.1

-Machinery Industry -4.3 38.2

ELECTRICTY, GAS &amp; WATER SECTOR 3.4 13.4

</PRE>

[12] DEPOSITS AT BANKS REACH 24.2 TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS ON 19 MARCH

The total deposits, which was 23 quadrillion 966.5 trillion TL on 12 March, increased by 287.5 trillion TL in one week.

The deposits st banks rose by 831.8 trillion TL between 5 and 12 March. Thus there was an increase of 1 quadrillion 119.3 trillion TL in two weeks.

The Central Bank data shows that the deposits at banks excluding the inter- bank deposits was 22 quadrillion 240 trillion TL.

Between 12-19 March, the TL deposit climbed 55.2 trillion TL to 12 quadrillion 148.3 trillion TL on 19 March. The TL deposit was 12 quadrilion 93.1 teillion TL on 12 March.

The foreign exchange deposit accounts, which was 10 qaudrillion 83.2 trillion TL on 12 March, increased 184.3 trillion TL to 10 quadrillion 267.5 trillion TL on 19 March.

As of 19 March, the total TL deposit at the public banks was 7 quadrillion 710.8 trillion TL, the total TL deposit at private banks was 4 quadrillion 349.1 trillion TL and the total TL deposit at the foreign banks was 88.4 trillion TL.

Meanwhile, the interbank deposit total was 1 quadrillion 814 trillion TL which is composed of 1 quadrillion 15 trillion TL of TL deposit, and 799 trillion TL of foreign currency deposit.

[13] A GROUP OF TEACHERS APPLIES TO DGM TO BE INTERVENORS IN THE CASE IN WHICH OCALAN IS BEING TRIED ON CHARGES OF TREASON

The members of the trade union submitted a petition which covers their demand to be intervenors in Ocalan case to the Ankara DGM.

An official from the trade union said that the Republic of Turkey is a big state and that Turkey will try the ones who apply violence in Turkey in front of the whole world.

The official said that their trade union applied to the DGM to be intervenors in the case because many teachers were killed in the attacks of the terrorist organization PKK.

[14] CREDIT VOLUME OF BANKS INCREASE BY 102.8 TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS

The credit volume was 13 quadrillion 804 trillion TL on 12 March.

The Central Bank data shows that 13 quadrillion 217.9 trillion TL loans were given to non-financial sector and 688.9 trillion TL loans were given to financial sector as of 19 March.

As of 19 March, the Central Bank gave 738.7 trillion TL indirect credits, the deposit banks gave 11 quadrillion 422.9 trillion TL credits, and the development and investment banks gave 1 quadrillion 56.3 trillion TL loans to non-financial sector.

As of 19 March, the Central Bank gave 7.7 trillion TL credits, the deposit banks gave 382.7 trillion TL credits, and the development and investment banks gave 298.5 trillion TL loans to financial sector.

[15] EASTERN BLACKSEA REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN PREPARED TO ACTIVATE CAPACITY OF REGION

Orhan Guvenen, the DPT Undersecretary said the DOKAP aims to activate the potential of Artvin, Bayburt, Giresun, Gumushane, Ordu, Rize and Trabzon provinces and decrease the development differences between the region and the rest of Turkey.

The studies target the year 2020 through its both short and long term integrated regional development projects. The possible investment projects will be determined and certain sectors will be given priority in eastern Blacksea region.

Guvenen also added that they will analyze the current social-economic state of the region and evaluate the development capacity of transportation, trade, tourism and food sectors which depend on local resources.

In the light of these evaluations, Guvenen said, a regional development strategy wil be formed which will lead to an activity plan. The project studies will start this month and expected to be completed within 14 months. Two Turkish and 14 Japanese experts are participating in the studies.

[16] ECONOMIC RELATIONS DISCUSSED BETWEEN TURKISH AND RUSSIAN DELEGATIONS IN OFFICIAL VISIT OF TURKEY TO RUSSIA

The Foreign Trade Undersecretariat said that the issues including commercial relations, energy, engineering, industry, and transportation sectors were discussed in the meeting in which Ege, Russian Economy Minister, Deputy Energy and Oil Minister, Deputy Finance Minister, the director of the Gasprom company, the director of the Foreign Economic Relations Bank, and Central Bank participated.

The two delegations exchanged views about the measures that can be taken to revive the commercial and economic relations which has a tendency to stagnate following the crisis in Russia in August 1998.

The Turkish delegation proposed that starting to apply the provisions of the Natural Gas Agreement concerning the purchase of goods and services from Turkey in return of natural gas will be very useful for Russia which lost great part of her revenues due to the decrease in the oil prices.

The Turkish delegation also noted that Russia's purchasing goods within the same framework in the following years will be very useful in reviving the commercial relations.

Both delegations agreed to take measures to overcome the problems which can prevent the improvement of the registered trade and the luggage trade between the two countries.

The investment credit which is used in four different projects in Russia and which was opened by the Turkish Eximbank was an issue which was revised in the meetings.

The Turkish delegation stated that the same credit can be used in the project of constructing a sugar factory in Russia only if the problems between the customer company and the Turkish contractor company is solved.

Both delegations had come to an agreement to realize the fourth period meeting in the Turkish-Russian joint economic commission in the first half of July 1999.

A protocol was signed between the two delegations in the end of the meetings.

[17] NATO'S AIR OPERATION AGAINST YUGOSLAVIA - TURKISH F-16 WAR PLANES GO ON A TOTAL OF 98 SORTIES AND ACCUMULATE 443 FLIGHT HOURS IN ROLE OF DEFENSE AND PATROL

The General Staff Martyr Journalists Hasan Tahsin Press and Information Center issued a statement saying that the Turkish F-16 war planes deployed in Ghedi, Italy, participated at the operation in ''air defense role''. Within this scope, Turkish war planes went on a total of 98 sorties and accumulated a total of 443 flight hours.

The statement stressed that Serbia's ethnic cleansing campaign continues in Kosovo, and number of Kosovar people who were forced to leave their homes and have become refugees, increased up to 798 thousand. 293 thousand of Kosovar refugees are in Albania, 136 thousand of them are in Macedonia, 60 thousand in Montenegro and 15 thousand in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Meanwhile, 5,542 Kosovar refugees have entered in Turkey from the Kapikule Border Gate, and 2,509 refugees have arrived in Turkey by planes. The number of Kosovar refugees coming to Turkey reached up to 8,051. A total of 2,738 of refugees have been provided shelters in Gaziosmanpasa camp-site.

[18] THE SEE'S REALIZE 1.1 QUADRILLION TL PROFIT IN 1998

The figures of the Treasury Undersecretariat indicated that the overall revenues of the SEEs reached 10.5 quadrillion liras in 1998, including 9.7 quadrillion Turkish liras from the sell of goods and services, 755.8 trillion Turkish liras from the revenues and profits outside the activities, 19.9 Turkish liras from different revenues.

The overall expenditures of the SEEs were realized as 9.7 quadrillion Turkish liras in 1998 while the fee and salary payments of the SEEs reached 1.4 quadrillion Turkish liras in the same period.

The Undersecretariat foresees that the overall revenues of the SEEs will reach 16.1 quadrillion in 1999 while their overall expenditures will reach 15.8 quadrillion Turkish liras and the payments of fees and salaries will exceed 2.2 quadrillion.

The profit of the SEEs in 1998 reached 1.1 quadrillion Turkish liras while this number is expected to reach 1.6 quadrillion liras in 1999.

The losses of the SEEs in the mentioned year was realized as 376.4 trillion Turkish liras while this number is expected to reach 585.6 trillion liras.

The profits and losses of the SEEs between 1994 and 1999 are as follows: YEAR PROFIT-LOSS(TL)
------------- ----------------------
1994 -84.4
1995 17.1
1996 200.5
1997 532.1
1998 (revised) 1.144.3

1999 (program) 1.636.1

</PRE>

[19] CONTACTS OF ITALIAN DELEGATION IN TRNC - HASIPOGLU, SPEAKER OF TRNC PARLIAMENT: - ''A SOLUTION ON CYPRUS SHOULD DEPEND ON A CONFEDERATION BETWEEN TWO STATES'' - CONTESTABILE, ITALIAN SENATOR: ''CYPRUS ISSUE CAN ONLY BE SOLVED BY TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE POSITION OF THE TURKS AS WELL''

Hasipoglu received an Italian delegation of senators, deputies, and businessmen headed by Augusto Sinagra, Italian Honoury Representative in the TRNC.

Emphasizing that there are two states on Cyprus and this is the reality, Hasipoglu said that there is peace on Cyprus since 1974 and that this peace depends on the existence of the two states.

Informing the Italian delegation about the historical development of the Cyprus issue, Hasipoglu noted that the Greek Cypriots ended the federation which was set up in 1960 by the force of weapons to rule the whole island and that they fired the Turks from the government.

Hasipoglu added that the Turks were forced to live in three percent territory of the Island between 1963 and 1974 despite they were living in 40 percent territory of Cyprus before.

Stressing that the Greek Cypriots wanted to govern whole island by realizing a coup d'etat in 1974, Hasipoglu stated that Turkey intervened this situation by using her rights as a guarantor and that she saved not only the Turkish Cypriots, but also the Greek Cypriots.

Pointing out that the existence of the Turkish army on the Island resulted in the end of the clashes and the economic improvement of the both sides, Hasipoglu stressed that the national income per person in Greek Cypriot side increased by three times when compared with the period before 1974 and that this situation proves that the Turkish army is not an occupier but a peace protecting army.

Hasipoglu said that one side's efforts to rule the other can cause a new war on the Island, and create a situation similar to Bosnia and Kosovo, adding that the European Union's (EU) decision of having unilateral negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side is a blow for peace.

Hasipoglu said that they hope that Italy, which is an effective member of the EU, will think for a second time about this issue.

Domenico Contestabile, the Italian Senator and the spokesman of the delegation, said that he believe that the Cyprus issue can only be solved by taking into consideration the position also of the Turks.

Pointing out that the Greek Cypriots applied to the EU as the ''government of Cyprus'', Contestabile noted that the position of the Turkish Cypriots should be taken into consideration in the decision process of the EU.

Contestabile said that he hopes that the Cyprus issue can be solved to the benefit of the Turkish Cypriots.

Augusto Sinagra, the Italian Honoury Representative in the TRNC, pointed out that Cyprus has not faced any incidents since 1974; adding that their contacts will be very useful.

Italian delegation was received by Tahsin Ertugruloglu, the TRNC Foreign and Defense Minister.

[20] MEETINGS IN THE LEVEL OF CONSULATES BETWEEN TURKEY AND HUNGARY HELD IN BUDAPEST

The meetings in the level of consulates of Turkey and Hungary was held between the Turkish delegation headed by Erkan Gezer, the Director General of the Consulate Affairs of the Foreign Ministry, and the Hungarian delegation headed by Gyorgi Zanathy Martin, his Hungarian counterpart.

The delegations discussed the application of the present agreements between Turkey and Hungary and the international conventions and exchanged views about taking measures to carry out these agreements without any problems.

Both delegations underlined that measures should be taken to overcome and ease the problems which the two countries face like visa procedures and the permission of settlement.

The delegations agreed that an information campaign should be launched between the two countries to meet the visa demands of the Turkish citizens who want to go to Turkey via Hungary due to the Kosovo crisis and to provide them a safe journey.

[21] UNHCR WAITING FOR OFFICIAL DEMAND TO SEND AID FOR KOSOVAR REFUGUEES IN TURKEY - UN FIGURES INDICATE THAT A TOTAL OF 8,066 KOSOVARS HAVE SHELTERED IN TURKEY UNTIL TODAY

Metin Corabatir, the Spokesman of the UNHCR in Turkey, told A.A correspondent that the United Nations (UN) is very grateful to Turkey since she acts very generously and rapidly for the Kosovar refuguees and that the UN is waiting for the demand of Turkey to provide aid for the refuguees staying in northwestern Kirklareli province.

Drawing the attention that the people who escaped from Kosovo have been granted the status of refuguee by leaving the territories of Yugoslavia and by going to other countries, and thus, the situation is turned into an international problem, Corabatir recalled that their task is to provide the security of the refuguees.

Pointing out that the delay in the demand of Turkey can affect the contribution of the international community for the refuguees in Turkey, Corabatir said that the UNHCR gave money to the Kosovars from their fund which was allocated for the Bosnian refuguees in Kirklareli before receiving the demand of Turkey.

Corabatir emphasized that the UN can only add more money to this fund when Turkey officialy demands aid from the UN.

Corabatir noted that a total of 8,066 refuguees arrived in Turkey on Thursday, adding that they are trying to overcome the problem of dispersed families which occurs due to the carelessness of Macedonian officials in the procedures.

Stressing that the UNHCR officials try to take control in the camps to carry out the discharging procedures carefully, Corabatir stated that they have marked a success in their studies for this issue.

Stating that there are some logistic problems in providing help for the Kosovars who escaped from Yugoslavia, Corabatir stressed that only 8 out of 13 planes which carried aid material landed on the Tiran airport yesterday.

Noting that one of the criteria of the UNHCR for the refuguees is realizing a civilian and humanitarian aid, Corabatir said that the best and the ideal thing for the UNHCR is to provide shelter for the refuguees in neighbour countries to ease the return of these refuguees to their own lands.

[22] NUMBER OF KOSOVAR REFUGUEES IN GUEST-HOUSE IN KIRKLARELI EXCEEDS 3,000 - RED CRESCENT STARTS WORKING TOGETHER WITH RED CROSS TO UNITE THE DISPERSED FAMILIES

The Red Crescent started working together with the Red Cross to unite the dispersed families.

The efforts to place 500 refuguees who came to the guest-house on Thursday and on Friday by the International Immigration Organization are underway.

The refuguees are living the pain of ''being dispersed'' because they were forced to get on the buses and planes in chaos. The ones who lost their relatives in this chaotic situation firstly try to reach their relatives by the help of the phones and the officials.

People stand in long queues in front of the telephone boxes to get information about their relatives, and the Turkish and the foreign journalists who are on mission in the camp help these people by letting them use their mobile phones.

An official from the Red Crescent said that the biggest problem for them is comforting the Kosovar refuguees who lost their families during the migration, and that there are 13 children who lost their families in the camp, adding that the officials are interested in these children.

The official noted that they charged the refuguees who can speak both Turkish and Albanian in the efforts to find and unite the dispersed families.

Stressing that efforts are carried out to find the dispersed families throughout the world by the initiative of the Red Crescent, the official stated that they will send the lists of the dispersed families to Geneva after they prepare them and that then they will start the efforts of uniting the families.

[23] PRESIDENT DEMIREL VISITED GATA TO RECEIVE INFORMATION ABOUT HEALTH SITUATION OF COLONEY CEBI

General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff, and General Rasim Betir, the Commander of Gendarme Forces, accompanied President Demirel during his visit to the GATA Hospital.

Addressing journalists, President Demirel expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Cetin Deniz, the driver of Canpolat who was seriously injured in the suicide bomb attack and later died as he was being transferred to eastern Van province by helicopter.

President Demirel stressed, ''those who aim at damaging the public order in Turkey will be frustrated.''

Emphasizing that these kinds of attacks target welfare of the country and safety of the nation, President Demirel underlined, ''such attacks will not daunt neither the Turkish state nor the Turkish nation. These are nothing but villainy. There are particular centers directing people to such actions. The Turkish state has taken all necessary measures against them.''

A.A

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