Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-08-12

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AA Daily

12 August 1999 Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] REPENTANCE DRAFT LAW SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT

[03] LABOUR PLATFORM TO GO ON NATIONWIDE STRIKE ON FRIDAY

[04] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''ON MY PERSONAL VIEW ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION, THE CHANGE IN THE POLITICAL PARTIES LAW DOES NOT LIFT THE BAN ON ERBAKAN''

[05] CHANGE IN POLITICAL PARTIES LAW - THREE ARTICLES OF PROPOSAL ADOPTED

[06] TURKEY-IRAN HIGH SECURITY COMMISSION'S MEETING

[07] PREMIER ECEVIT: ''IF TURKEY CLOSES ITS DOORS TO FOREIGN CAPITAL, SHE WILL BE DAMAGED BY THAT''

[08] PREMIER ECEVIT - ''LABOUR PLATFORM HAS THE RIGHT TO SHOW THEIR REACTION, BUT THEY SHOULD DO THIS LEGALLY''

[09] PREMIER ECEVIT: - ''STATE CAN'T BARGAIN WITH A CONVICTED HEAD TERRORIST EITHER AROUND A TABLE OR IN OTHER PLACE''

[10] PREMIER ECEVIT: ''PROBLEM OF PRISONS HAS TO BE SOLVED''

[11] U.S. PRESIDENT CLINTON TO ATTEND OSCE SUMMIT - CLINTON TO STOP BY ATHENS FOLLOWING OSCE SUMMIT

[12] TURKEY'S GEOTHERMAL RICHNESS - ORHAN MERTOGLU, TURKEY GEOTHERMAL ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN: ''TURKEY COMES SEVENTH IN THE WORLD IN GEOTHERMAL SOURCES, BUT USES ONLY ONE PERCENT OF THIS RESOURCE''

[13] COURT OF APPEALS TO BE FORMED TO EASE BURDEN OF SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

[14] POET, WRITER, POLITICAL SCIENTIST HEYECAN NAZLI VEZIROGLU GIVEN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE AT 26TH INTERNATIONAL ART AND COMMUNICATION CONGRESS IN LISBON

[15] SUPPORT FROM TOBB TO INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION - MIRAS, CHAIRMAN OF TOBB, SAYS TOBB ARBITRATION COURT FINDS CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE RELATED WITH INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION AS APPROPRIATE

[16] CAY, MINISTER OF STATE, CONCLUDES CONTACTS IN MOSCOW

[17] LABOUR PLATFORM HOLDS SIT-IN IN FRONT OF COUNCIL OF STATE

[18] JOINT PRESS RELEASE ON ARBITRATION

[19] REACTION FROM PREMIER ECEVIT TO LABOUR PLATFORM - ECEVIT: ''THIS GOVERNMENT IS VERY OPEN TO COMPROMISE BUT AGAINST AND CLOSED TO EVERY KIND OF INSISTENCE''

[20] 6.3 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS PAID IN FOREIGN DEBT SINCE JANUARY 1, 1999

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL) SUN FEAST
Thousands of scientists, who went to Europe, were regretful that they didn't come to Turkey to observe the last solar eclipse of the millennium yesterday. Scientists and tourists who were in Turkey watched a wonderful visual feast. The eclipse was totally observed in Amasya, Diyarbakır, Elazıg, Kastamonu, Siirt, Sivas, Tokat, Tunceli, Batman, Sırnak and Corum provinces. The American television channels CNN and MSNBC broadcast the eclipse live in Turkey. Two billion people in the world watched the solar eclipse.

IMPORTANT EXCEPTION IN REPENTANCE LAW
The draft law on repentance which was submitted to the parliament by the government brought an important exception: those who injured or killed soldiers or police officers, won't benefit from the law. The draft law also excluded Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization and Semdin Sakık, a leading terrorist, by noting ''those who set up an armed gang and direct it, won't benefit from the law.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

SUPPORT TO THOSE HAVING WAGES
A new arrangement has been put forward by the draft law which makes changes in some tax laws. The parliament adopted the draft law which protects those having wages. Under the new law, wages from which tax is paid through deduction, won't be subject to tax declaration.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

STUDENTS OF AIR ACADEMY IN CAMP
Students of the Air Academy who will form the commandership rank of the Turkish Air Forces are trained in a manoeuvres camp in Yalova. Totally 730 students including 55 woman and 70 foreign students are trained in many fields from fighting to shooting for five weeks. Woman students are appreciated as they are very successful.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

EMPLOYEES GO ON ONE DAY STRIKE TOMORROW
The Labour Platform had a meeting on Wednesday night participated by high level executives of labour unions and decided to go on a one day strike on Friday. Confederation of Public Labourers (KESK) Chairman Erdem stated that the government was not planning to change the social security draft law which is opposed by millions. Confederation of Turkish Labour Unions (Turk- Is) Chairman Bayram Meral also said they would use their power that comes from production.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

MHP-ANAP IN AGREEMENT
The Motherland Party (ANAP) extended support to the proposal of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) which wants to give a chance to students wearing head scarves and graduates of religious high schools to study in universities. The proposals which were separately prepared by the coalition parties will be taken up by the National Education Commission today.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

U.S. ENERGY SECRETARY TO COME TO TURKEY
Bill Richardson, the U.S. Energy Secretary will be in Istanbul on August 16 to discuss Baku-Ceyhan and Caspian natural gas projects with Turkish authorities. It was reported that the meetings will primarily focus on problems faced in Baku-Ceyhan project and how the new discovered natural gas sources in Azerbaijan would effect the energy balance in the region.

[02] REPENTANCE DRAFT LAW SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT

In accordance with the bill, the persons, who set up the terrorist organization or take part in the administrative and commanding staff, can't benefit from the Repentance Law.

In accordance with an Article of the bill, the terrorists, who killed or wounded security forces, will be excluded from the scope of the law.

Noting that the Repentance Law, which had been put into effect in 1995 for the dissolution of the terrorist organization, was annuled, the statement of reasons said, ''however, the draft law in question was prepared to accelerate the dissolution of the terrorist groups, which started to collapse, and as many terrorists still want to benefit from the law.''

The validity of the law, which will be discussed by the Parliamentary Justice Commission in coming days, will be six months.

[03] LABOUR PLATFORM TO GO ON NATIONWIDE STRIKE ON FRIDAY

Siyami Erdem, the Chairman of the Labour Platform, told the A.A correspondent that the Labour Platform's Technical Committee, which is composed of the high-level officials at the Platform member non- governmental organizations, held an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday.

Erdem said the Committee decided to go on a one-day nationwide strike for ''the withdrawal of the Social Security Draft Law, prevention of the amendment foreseeing international arbitration and to protest increase in salaries of civil servents.''

The Committee also decided to hold demonstrations on August 14 and 15.

[04] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''ON MY PERSONAL VIEW ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION, THE CHANGE IN THE POLITICAL PARTIES LAW DOES NOT LIFT THE BAN ON ERBAKAN''

Addressing a programme broadcasted by the private television channel Kanal 6, Ecevit said the government's performance in harmony enables the parliament to work rapidly. Noting that the attitude of the opposition also contributes to this, Ecevit said, ''I am pleased when the parliament works rapidly. All of the deputies contribute to this.''

Responding to a question about the rumours that ''he has poor health'', the Prime Minister said such kind of rumorus were put forward from time to time, adding, ''however, it is totally baseless. Everybody can get sick but thanks God that I am not ill.''

When asked whether the change in the Political Parlies Law has any connection with the ban on Necmettin Erbakan, Ecevit said, ''today, the draft for a change in the law in question is a law of concord to a constitutional amendment which was prepared in the process of 1995. All of the political parties of that period approved this. The realization of this became unfeasible even the issues about the ban on Mr. Erbakan were not in the agenda in Turkey. The issue of lifting the ban on Mr. Erbakan was absolutely out of question. On my personal view about the Constitution, I think this law won't lift the ban.''

When asked whether the change would make the closure of political parties difficult, Ecevit stated that he thinks the political parties should not be closed very easily.

Responding to another question, the Prime Minster Ecevit said any bargaining to lift the ban on Necmettin Erbakan was out of question.

[05] CHANGE IN POLITICAL PARTIES LAW - THREE ARTICLES OF PROPOSAL ADOPTED

The proposal, which was renewed by Ahmet Iyımaya, a deputy of the True Path Party (DYP) in this legislation term, brings regulations which try to harmonize the Law with the change made in the Constitution in 1995.

The first article of the proposal includes the legal framework. The second article lifts Article 5/3 of the Political Parties Law that lists the foundation principles of political parties and upon which targets the parties can't be founded, as these principles are also stated in the Constitution and other laws.

The third article allows political parties to have representations abroad by subsidiary institutions like woman and youth branches.

The articles were accepted by all deputies in the parliament except Kamer Genc, a DYP deputy.

The discussion on the draft law will continue on Thursday.

[06] TURKEY-IRAN HIGH SECURITY COMMISSION'S MEETING

Turkish and Iranian delegations headed by Ambassador Ugur Ziyal, the Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary and Hasan Restigar Penah, the Iranian Order Forces Representative met at the Interior Ministry at 10 a.m. The talks ended when the Iranian side left the meeting at 10.45p.m. and did not return.

According to the information obtained, the delegation members went to the Iranian Embassy to evaluate the point reached at the meeting with their Deputy Foreign Minister Gulam Hussein Bolandiyan and told the Turkish side that they would return in half an hour. The delegation was reached by phone when they didn't come back to the meeting. Iranian delegation said they were too tired and would continue the meeting on Thursday morning. As a result, the Evaluation and Meeting Minutes which were supposed to be signed at 5 p.m. were not initialed.

The sides failed to reach an agreement on many issues at the meeting. When Turkey expressed its demands about PKK camps in Iran, the Iranian delegation denied the existence of such camps.

Other issues discussed during the meeting. They were the operations carried out against People's Combatants which opposes the regime in Iran and the terrorist organization PKK. Turkey asked to be allowed to continue operations against terrorists in the Iranian side of the border if the operations on the border moves outside the Turkish border. Iran rejected this proposal of Turkey and said Turkey had to inform the Iranian security forces to continue the operation if such an incident occured.

Yahya Gur, the Interior Ministry Undersecretary and Gulam Hussein Bolandiyan, the Iranian Deputy Interior Minister did not attend the meeting.

[07] PREMIER ECEVIT: ''IF TURKEY CLOSES ITS DOORS TO FOREIGN CAPITAL, SHE WILL BE DAMAGED BY THAT''

Addressing a programme broadcast by the private television channel Kanal 6, Ecevit responded to a question asking whether or not there is a difference between his old political understanding and his approach today about international arbitration, he said ''when my old party -Republican People's Party (CHP)- was strongly supporting statism, my understanding of statism was not very strict.''

''I think that Turkey won't face dangers today like she faced in the past. Due to the developments in the world economy and the end of the the cold war, I thought that we must abide with these developments,'' said Ecevit, adding Turkey needs serious sources and the state won't be able to undertake the investments which will provide these sources.

When asked how much foreign capital is expected in projects of Turkey after international arbitration is adopted in the parliament, Ecevit said ''there are many institutions wishing to invest in Turkey. The third bridge in Istanbul is a great project. There are foreigners who want to construct it on the model of build-operate and transfer.''

Noting that contracting firms put forward the necessity of arbitration before undertaking these projects, Ecevit said that Turkey faces a serious energy problem, and if it is not solved in few years, Turkey will face a more serious energy crisis in the future.

Responding to a question about Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline, Ecevit said that ''the U.S. thinks that it is the rightest choice. I am hopeful about that issue. The approach of the U.S. as a world state does not only stem from economic and commercial reasons. It is a project which Turkey will lead in respect of security and strategy.''

When asked whether or not the General Staff has a report saying that ''international arbitration shouldn't cover energy investments,'' Ecevit said that ''I didn't receive such information from the armed forces, the General Staff knows very well the serious economic conditions of Turkey. Such a concern has not been conveyed to us.''

[08] PREMIER ECEVIT - ''LABOUR PLATFORM HAS THE RIGHT TO SHOW THEIR REACTION, BUT THEY SHOULD DO THIS LEGALLY''

Ecevit answered the questions of Bahar Tunali, and journalists Fikret Bila and Emin Colasan on the private tv channel Kanal-6 on Wednesday night.

Responding to a question about the decline in Turkey's export rate, Ecevit said ''you are right, we have to solve this problem. The private sector works very well in this field. We have some shortcomings in opening to the world. One of the reasons why we were affected by the financial crisis is that Turkey did not work hard enough to find foreign markets.'' The Prime Minister said they were working in this field.

''The retirement age in 1960's were 60. Some very wrong decisions were taken in the last years. The retirement age was decided as 38 for women and 43 for men. Retirement under 60 for men exists only in one African country. We proposed a soft transition process and the already acquired rights will not be affected. For those who are starting to work, the retirement age for men will be 60 and 58 for women. Except for this, we are open to negotiations on every issue. We talked with labour unions. We had an agreement with Turk-Is. Their demands, as Bayram Meral said, were met by 90 percent. We dropped the number of premium paying days,'' Prime Minister said about the contradictry social security draft law.

About the one day strike of the Labour Platform, Ecevit said they had the right to show their reactions even if they were not right. ''But they have to do this legally. They don't have to stage an illegal demonstration to convey theır demands to us,''.

[09] PREMIER ECEVIT: - ''STATE CAN'T BARGAIN WITH A CONVICTED HEAD TERRORIST EITHER AROUND A TABLE OR IN OTHER PLACE''

Addressing a programme broadcast by the private television channel Kanal 6 about the recent call of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization PKK about ''laying down arms,'' Ecevit stated that ''I don't even want to discuss this issue and I can't say anything about the application of death sentence given to Ocalan when the trial process still continues.''

When asked whether or not there is an international and official pressure upon the government about this issue, Ecevit said that ''there is no pressure on us. The U.S. sees that Turkey faces important problems due to the threat of terrorism. Turkey's importance in respect of American strategical interests is significant. Sometimes the U.S. puts forward some suggestions as she does not know the conditions of Turkey.''

''Suddenly Italian Premier Massimo D'Alema has started to pursue a different strategy, I think Europe has also started to understand that Turkish public opinion becomes more sensitive against resistance and pressure coming from outside. Greece also feels the necessity of setting up dialogue with Turkey,'' Premier Ecevit said.

''Are the calls of Ocalan seen as an opportunity?'' asked journalists to Ecevit who said ''it is seen that the PKK has understood the fact that it won't get any results by terrorism. In fact we have to meet the economic and social needs of that region. Only that region in Turkey has feudal structure due to historical reasons. This has prevented the industrialization in that region.''

Responding to a question about the initiatives of forming a Kurdish state in Northern Iraq, Premier Ecevit said that ''as you know Northern Iraq became an unstable region following the Gulf Crisis, there is an authority gap in the region. A state structure has started to come out de facto there, in fact this structure is more modern than the one in Baghdad. The U.S. can have a policy supporting that state formation or not. This development can cause some troubles for Turkey in the future. But the Kurdish clans have the problem of co-existance. It is also understood that the U.S. won't achieve any results by trying to form an opposition in Iraq by depending the elements outside this country. A more realistic approach is necessary to solve the Iraqi problem. Searching for a solution by respecting the territorial integrity of Iraq is a positive approach in respect of both Turkey and for sensitive balances. The PKK can take steps to fill the authority gap and this can cause serious problems for the whole region and Iraqi people. The U.S. can't overthrow the Bagdad administration and can't find solution to existing problems.''

[10] PREMIER ECEVIT: ''PROBLEM OF PRISONS HAS TO BE SOLVED''

Addressing a programme broadcast by the private television channel Kanal 6, Premier Ecevit said that ''we are resolved to release those who were put in prison due to crimes of thought.''

Noting that the government took into consideration the sensitivity of the people while preparing the Draft Law on Repentance, Premier Ecevit said that ''the architectural structure of prisons and the system of dormitories have to change. Prisoners can't be allowed to act like a state within the state.''

Responding to a question asking whether or not they are ''restless'' of being the coalition partner of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Premier Ecevit said that ''we don't have any complaints as we have a great harmony between us.''

Ecevit added that the parliament will have a recess before the end of this month.

[11] U.S. PRESIDENT CLINTON TO ATTEND OSCE SUMMIT - CLINTON TO STOP BY ATHENS FOLLOWING OSCE SUMMIT

Anti-Turkish lobbies in Washington D.C., has been trying to prevent Clinton's visit to Turkey and claimed that the U.S. should be represented at a lower level at the meeting. Clinton's decision to attend the OSCE summit in Istanbul caused disappointment in these circles.

The U.S. President's plans to stop by also Athens which indicates that the U.S. administration is sensitive about keeping a good balance in its relations between Turkey and Greece.

Highest level of representatives from about 50 organization members are expected to participate at the OSCE summit. The meeting will be the last summit of the 20th century.

[12] TURKEY'S GEOTHERMAL RICHNESS - ORHAN MERTOGLU, TURKEY GEOTHERMAL ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN: ''TURKEY COMES SEVENTH IN THE WORLD IN GEOTHERMAL SOURCES, BUT USES ONLY ONE PERCENT OF THIS RESOURCE''

Turkey's first geothermal energy resource was discovered in Izmir in 1963 and central heating was first tried in this city, Mertoglu said during the Turkey Geothermal Association's meeting in Izmir. Izmir is still the richest city in geothermal resources and 70 percent of Turkey's geothermal resources are found in the Aegean region.

Mertoglu reminded that Turkey has geothermal resources at more than 600 points and this was a big opportunity for the country. Geothermal energy which is decribed as ''green energy'' is used in many fields including heating, cooling, electricity and production of chemicals and has a significant contribution to economy, he pointed out and added that more than 50,000 residences used geothermal energy in heating.

Mertoglu stated that Turkey could not use this potential it possesses effectively and used only one percent of its geothermal energy resources although it came seventh in the world in this field.

''In the last decade, Turkey started to use this resource in tourism, heating and cooling , electricity and chemical industry. Geothermal energy is very important for us because of environmental and economic reasons. We cannot be dependent on foreign countries as we have possess our own resources,'' he continued.

Governors of Izmir, Manisa, Balikesir, Aydin, Afyon, Denizli and Kutahya as well as mayors of some cities and university lecturers attended the meeting.

[13] COURT OF APPEALS TO BE FORMED TO EASE BURDEN OF SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS

The commission formed by the Justice Ministry had completed its studies on the preliminary draft. However Hikmet Sami Turk, the Minister of Justice, requested the inclusion of court of appeals in the preliminary draft. After making this change, the draft will be submitted to Turk in the coming days and later it will be discussed by the Council of Ministers.

The formation of court of appeals aims at sharing the burden of the Supreme Court of Appeals and to transform the Supreme Court of Appeals into a real appeal court. Court of appeals will appeal the verdicts of local courts in some cases.

Officials stressed that the burden of the Supreme Court of Appeals is too much, adding it acts like a first degree appellate court in some cases and this removes its real character.

[14] POET, WRITER, POLITICAL SCIENTIST HEYECAN NAZLI VEZIROGLU GIVEN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE AT 26TH INTERNATIONAL ART AND COMMUNICATION CONGRESS IN LISBON

''I stated that Kemalist reforms unearthed the intellectual woman potential and in our day Turkish women make themselves heard in every field including bureaucracy, academics, law, politics, press, art, science and technical fields. I stressed that Turkish women's existence and leadership will be increasingly felt in the 21st century,'' Veziroglu explained.

Among the 147 artists and writers only Veziroglu had the chance to submit two presentations. Her second presentation was about the 700 years of Ottoman Empire. Veziroglu, in her speech, emphasized that the Ottoman Empire had a very high level of tolerance towards people of different religions and ethnicity and attributed great importance to art.

Some participants who were not familiar with the image of a Turkish woman thought she was selected specially for the congress. ''The world still does not know Turkey or Turkish women,'' Veziroglu noted.

She also stressed that such congresses and seminars were very useful to promote Turkey and for lobbying.

[15] SUPPORT FROM TOBB TO INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION - MIRAS, CHAIRMAN OF TOBB, SAYS TOBB ARBITRATION COURT FINDS CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE RELATED WITH INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION AS APPROPRIATE

Miras, TOBB Chairman, issued a written statement and said the thing they want to do with the Constitutional change was to ''legalize and implement International Arbitration in internal law by confirming and implementing the agreements.''

Miras said the conflicts which erupted in national and international issues may be solved by the expert arbitrators who are included in the list of this arbitration organization and by implementing provisions of TOBB Arbitration Charter.

Miras pointed out that accepting International arbitration in principle in the Constitution and legalizing it will prepare an appropriate legal atmosphere for Istanbul to be a center of international arbitration like Paris, London, Zurich and Vienna. Miras said ''we believe that administrative and legal measures should be taken and required organizations should be established to turn Turkey into an arbitration center.''

Miras said arbitration issue was very important to speed up the investments with the participation of foreign companies and providing economical development by this way.

[16] CAY, MINISTER OF STATE, CONCLUDES CONTACTS IN MOSCOW

Speaking to A.A correspondent after his contacts, Cay said he had the chance to see leather fair opened by Turkel Fair in Moscow, adding that he also met with Vyaceslav Mihailov, Russian Federation Nations Policy Minister in the same day.

''Our meeting was very positive. We stressed in particular the importance of cooperation between Turkey and Russia in relations with the newly appeared republics in former Soviet Union.''

Cay recalled that he later held observations in a hospital building, Efes Pilsen Facotry and Ramstore-I shopping center, which are all initiatives of Turkish businessmen in Moscow, adding that ''we had the facility to see the success of Turkish businessmen in Russia. It seems that relations will be further improved in the near future and economic potential between Turkey and Russia will increase.''

Cay noted that ''I believe that important steps will be taken in the future.''

Minister of State said he will make evaluations with the Prime Minister and other ministers related with the results of his visit to Russia.

[17] LABOUR PLATFORM HOLDS SIT-IN IN FRONT OF COUNCIL OF STATE

Before the sit-in, Siyami Erdem, the Chairman of the KESK, defended that the first performance of the government was the price increase against the public. Noting that the economic power of the public decreased, Erdem said, ''as if these were not troubles, they are trying to adopt two more bills. One of these is the social destruction bill foreseeing retirement in the grave and the other is the arbitration which will darken Turkey's future.''

Pointing out that they have been trying to provide the withdrawal of the bills which are against the labourers, Erdem said, ''tomorrow, the workers will use their power coming from the production to carry out their greatest resistence against the most serious attack on them. We expect the government to understand the message of this great strike. The loser will never be the public.''

''The 57th government was formed, and the 58th and 59th governments will also be formed. This great solidarity will continue until the formation of a government which meets the demands of people. We want to be directed by the policies for which the public takes the decision not by the political triggers of the IMF in Turkey,'' he said.

The Labour Platform members dispersed peacefully following the sit-in which took almost half an hour.

[18] JOINT PRESS RELEASE ON ARBITRATION

Prof. Dr. Mumtaz Soysal, the Chairman of the KIGEM Foundation; Yekta Gungor Ozden, the Chairman of the Association of Kemalist Thought, and law professors Rona Aybay, A. Ulku Azrak, Pertev Bilgen, Cem Erogul, Ersan Ilal, Yavuz Sabuncu and Yildirim Uler called everybody to oppose to the amendment for international arbitration.

''Bowing to the arbitration demands of the external circles, which want to make use of the current problems in the country, means undertaking a very important responsibility concerning the future of the next generations. Knowing that how Turkey is proved to be wrong even in the most rightful cases, which are brought into the international platforms especially in this period, is sufficient to estimate the results of international arbitration,'' the statement said.

''We kindly announce to the public opinion that the efforts of the political staff including especially the President, for adopting such a law without having sufficient information about international arbitration are very inconvenient,'' the statement stressed.

[19] REACTION FROM PREMIER ECEVIT TO LABOUR PLATFORM - ECEVIT: ''THIS GOVERNMENT IS VERY OPEN TO COMPROMISE BUT AGAINST AND CLOSED TO EVERY KIND OF INSISTENCE''

Speaking to journalists about the strike plans of Labour Platform, Ecevit said there are many facilities in Turkey to seek for rights through legal ways, adding that he believed that it was undesirable to insist on illegal strikes although all these ways are open.

Ecevit said ''getting used to it will cause anarchy in the society and in administration. I believe that labourers will not benefit from this. Besides, 57th Government is very open to compromise. The government did its best to provide compromising facilities before the draft law related with social security came to the Parliament. Important steps have been taken to this end. Bayram Meral, Chairman of Turk-Is, issued a statement a few days ago and said 90 percent of their demands were met. As I said, this government is open to compromise but opposes to insistence. Besides, there is no need for insistence. Because, this government is not only open to compromise but at the same time attributes importance to social justice. If they had come to us with a compromising attitude and through legal ways, it would be more easy to reach results that will satisfy everybody.''

Pointing out that 57th government was respectful to labour, Ecevit recalled that more than half of Turkey's population were villagers and farmers and that they did not have the chance to strike.

Noting that the government could provide the necessary sources despite the source problem which it faces, Ecevit said ''the postponed product costs of the farmers began to be paid. Required sources could be provided despite extreme difficulties.''

Ecevit said ''the government takes into consideration the requirements of its people and decided to meet the problems although there was not strike.''

Ecevit said Labour Platform at the same time started a campaign against arbitration. ''They even can define it as treachery. Yet, if steps can not be taken that will facilitate internatonal arbitration, there will be a pause in investments in Turkey.''

Reiterating that the government did not bow to any insistence, Ecevit said ''I believe that Constitutional change to this end will pass from the parliament in a positive way. Recent votings proved this.''

When a journalist asked ''it is reported that Labour Platform will meet with Minister of Labour and Social Security and Planning and Budget Commission Chairman, is that true?'', Ecevit said ''we have always been open to dialogue. Yet, as I said before we are closed to insistence if they try it in the streets through illegal strikes. Because, there will be the danger that all the country may be dragged into anarchy.''

[20] 6.3 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS PAID IN FOREIGN DEBT SINCE JANUARY 1, 1999

The Central Bank data shows that the Treasury paid 5 billion 228.6 million U.S. dollars; the Central Bank repaid 274.7 million U.S. dollars; the Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Industry paid 453.8 million U.S. dollars; the Defense Fund paid 17.33 million U.S. dollars and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was repaid 318.9 million U.S. dollars in foreign debt between January 1 and August 11, 1999.

Meanwhile, a total of 374.5 million U.S. dollars of foreign debt was repaid between August 2 and 11.

The foreign debt payment was 432.01 million U.S. dollars in January; 765.75 million U.S. dollars in February; 770.55 million U.S. dollars in March; 836.41 million U.S. dollars in April, 680.99 million US dollars in May; 718.55 million U.S. dollars in June, and 714.64 million U.S. dollars in July 1999.

A.A

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