Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-03-06

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

06 MARCH 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-SPAIN - DEMIREL RETURNS TO TURKEY

[02] TURKEY-MINE - CHROME MINE COLLAPSES - ONE MINE WORKER DIES

[03] TURKEY-PAKISTAN - FLOOD DISASTER IN PAKISTAN - PRESIDENT DEMIREL SENDS MESSAGE

[04] TURKEY-INTERNAL - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''CIVIL SERVANT PROTESTS ARE ILLEGAL''

[05] TURKEY-ASELSAN - ASELSAN TO DISTRIBUTE SHARE OF PROFIT - ASELSAN TARGETS TO REALIZE 52 TRILLION LIRAS OF SALE

[06] TURKEY-EU - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''I DO NOT THINK EUROPE WILL THINK OF THE EU AS A CHRISTIAN CLUB BECAUSE THIS CONTRADICTS WITH THE IDEA OF EUROPE''

[07] TURKEY-STRIKE - TIRE SECTOR DECIDES TO GO ON STRIKE

[08] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[09] TURKEY-POLITICS - LEADER OF THE CHP BAYKAL: ''THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE ACTION ON THE ISSUE OF KOSOVO'' - ''THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE CAUSES TENSIONS IN THE COMMUNITY''

[10] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[11] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (3)

[12] TURKEY IN BRIEF - MARCH 6, 1998

[13] TURKEY-COUNTY - YUSUFELI COUNTY TO BECOME HISTORY - YUSUFELI TO REMAIN UNDER WATER

[14] TURKEY-ENERGY - THE THIRD TURKISH ENERGY INDUSTRY FORUM TO BE REALIZED IN MAY

[15] TURKEY IN BRIEF (2)- MARCH 6, 1998

[01] TURKEY-SPAIN - DEMIREL RETURNS TO TURKEY

Responding to the questions of journalists at the Esenboga Airport, Demirel said that his visit to Spain was productive and added, ''Turkey and Spain as Mediterranean countries have many shared benefits concerning the economy, trade and culture.''

Pointing out that Spain understands Turkey's attitude on the decisions made at the Luxembourg Summit, Demirel said, ''we saw in our meetings both in Madrid and in the Catalonia Autonomous Region that the Spanish Government and businessmen are determined to increase investments and trade in Turkey. We will increase joint activities in these fields in the upcoming days.''

Demirel pointed out that Turkey is determined to work with Spain for using all possibilities for the welfare and stability of the Mediterranean Basin and for peace and security throughout Europe. Demirel also added, ''I saw that Spain shares the same thoughts with Turkey and is ready to take action in the areas mentioned.''

[02] TURKEY-MINE - CHROME MINE COLLAPSES - ONE MINE WORKER DIES

Asker Ates (aged 54), a mine worker, was trapped beneath the debris after the collapse of the Dedeman Chrome Mine.

The dead body of Asker Ates was removed by the rescue teams.

[03] TURKEY-PAKISTAN - FLOOD DISASTER IN PAKISTAN - PRESIDENT DEMIREL SENDS MESSAGE

The Presidential Press Center statement said that Demirel, in his message, expressed his condolences to the ones who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery for the wounded ones on behalf of the Turkish nation and himself.

[04] TURKEY-INTERNAL - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''CIVIL SERVANT PROTESTS ARE ILLEGAL''

Responding to the questions of the reporters on the plane on his return from Spain, Demirel said, ''I defend demonstrations and protests. Nobody will oppose the demonstrations staged within the law, but when you paralyze life by saying you are seeking your rights, you will inflict an unjustice on somebody else.''

Demirel expressed his regret that several incidents happened when the state security forces were trying to do their duties in response to all of these incidents.

When it was mentioned that the attitude of police was different during turban demonstrations and civil servants' demonstrations, Demirel said, ''I said that there should not be any illegal protests. The ones who want to initiate an activity should do it within the laws.''

[05] TURKEY-ASELSAN - ASELSAN TO DISTRIBUTE SHARE OF PROFIT - ASELSAN TARGETS TO REALIZE 52 TRILLION LIRAS OF SALE

ASELSAN said that the decisions taken and targets specified for 1998 in the ASELSAN Executive Board's meeting the same day were presented to the attention of the Capital Market Committee (SPK) and the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB).

It said that the executive board decided to distribute, from the capital, a 35 percent profit share as free shares from the 1997-profit of 762.3 billion Turkish Liras in the meeting.

ASELSAN added that the executive board decided to propose the starting date of profit distribution to be May 29 to the General Council in the meeting.

[06] TURKEY-EU - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''I DO NOT THINK EUROPE WILL THINK OF THE EU AS A CHRISTIAN CLUB BECAUSE THIS CONTRADICTS WITH THE IDEA OF EUROPE''

Demirel responded to the questions of reporters on the plane on his return from Spain where he paid an official visit.

When asked if he had the impression during his negotiations that the Luxembourg resolutions carried the seal of Germany, Demirel said ''these are not secret to anybody.''

Responding to another question about Turkish-EU relations, Demirel said that Turkey would continue to repeat her own thesis and defend her case.

Responding to another question Demirel said that he did not think Europe adopted the EU as a ''Christian Club'' adding that ''because this is contrary to the idea of Europe. The Great Europe could not be realized as being only a Christian club.''

Demirel recalled that during his contacts in Spain he met with the coalition partner, the Basque Nationalist Party leader and pointed out, ''he has been involved in the Basque activity from the very beginning, but he told me that he was not a terrorist. He said that they did not have any connection with the separatist terrorist PKK organization, although the PKK applied to us, we had nothing to do with them.''

[07] TURKEY-STRIKE - TIRE SECTOR DECIDES TO GO ON STRIKE

Addressing the employees at Brisa, Ismail Gurel, the Chairman of Izmir Bureau of the Lastik-Is, said that they were the responsible persons for the decision to go on strike.

Pointing out that they had proposed a wage of 250 million Turkish Liras for the workers, but the employers decided that the wages should be 180 million Turkish Liras, Gurel said that there was not anything that could do except make a decision to go on strike.

Gurel said that they were ready for every offer for negotiations from the employers, although they made the decision to go on strike. If they cannot reach an agreement, then they will implement the decision.

[08] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.)

SPAIN SUGGESTS PATIENCE
Leaders within the Spanish administration have once again declared that although Spain supports Turkey's efforts to join the European Union (EU), Turkey too must be patient and respond to the situation in line with current EU thinking.

Continuing with his official visit to Spain, President Suleyman Demirel and his wife have met with many Spanish officials and done much to deepen ties between Spain and Turkey. In an atmosphere of goodwill, the Spanish government leaders have recommended that Turkey should win over Germany and work for full support from other EU countries- ''all of which will take time. Turkey needs patience'' noted one official.

When President Demirel and his wife were invited to the royal residence in Madrid for an evening meal in their honour, King Juan Carlos made some telling comments on similarities between the Turkish and Spanish regimes and stressed the deep friendship between Spain and Turkey. He noted too that pride needed to be tempered with understanding and wisdom.

President Demirel and his entourage concluded their visit and arrived home last night. /All papers/

ALBRIGHT: ''TURKEY TAKING POSITIVE STEPS ON HUMAN RIGHTS''
Madeleine K. Albright, the US Secretary of State, delivering a speech before the House Appropriations ''Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programmes'' subcommittee chaired by Rep. Sonny Callahan (Republican) of Alabama, said, ''We continue to urge the Turkish government to make really systematic human rights reforms''. ''I think it's a point that we make very loudly to them. They took some positive steps in 1997. They lifted the state of emergency in three provinces, and they have reduced the maximum pre-arraignment detention period in the southern regions. And they have granted provisional amnesties to six jailed editors''.

Concerning the EU, Albright said, ''Some of the reasons that the Turks are not members of the EU involve more than just human rights issues. We are talking with our EU friends about this. We strongly support the expansion of the EU into central and eastern Europe, and Turkey's desire to be a part of that process''. /Sabah-Milliyet/

FP BECOMES LEADING PARTY IN PARLIAMENT
Six more former Welfare Party deputies joined the Virtue Party (FP) yesterday bringing the number of this party's parliamentary seats to 140. The FP now holds the majority of the seats in the Parliament, with the number of independent deputies dropping to 19. /Sabah/

PM YILMAZ RECEIVES JEWISH REPRESENTATIVES
Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz talked with representatives from the American Jewish organizations yesterday, and called for further improvements in Turco-American relations, which he described as an ''expanding partnership''. Yilmaz said that Turkish and US investors could undertake joint projects in Central Asia and expressed gratitude for American support for the proposed Baku-Ceyhan natural gas and oil pipelines. He also stressed that there were some ''sensitive points'' in current bilateral relations due to the activities of some ethnic lobbies in the US Congress.

Mel Salberg, who spoke on behalf of the Jewish delegation, stressed that Turkey was of great importance both for the US and Israel and expressed gratitude for Turkish hospitality to Jewish refugees in the past. /Sabah- Milliyet/

ASPEN INSTITUTE MEETING
A young leaders study group on ''The Future of the Balkans'' assembled by the Aspen Institute, Berlin, is holding a five-day meeting in Istanbul. In a bulletin issued following a press conference, the Aspen Institute called for an end to violence in Kosovo and proposed that the Former Yugoslavian Contact Group serve as a mediator to provide for an exchange of views between the sides involved. It was noted in the bulletin that every possible means of preventing further violence, including military force, should be employed.

President Suleyman Demirel will deliver the final speech on Saturday, before the closing dinner when Hikmet Cetin, the Turkish Speaker of the Parliament, will speak on the future of the Balkans. Leo Tindemans, the Chairman of the Commission, former Prime Minister of Belgium and Member of the European Parliament, will be a special guest of honour. /Sabah- Milliyet/

''TURKEY KEY COUNTRY IN THE EU MEMBERSHIP FOR CYPRUS''
Hans van den Broek, the EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, emphasized yesterday Turkey's importance in the accession of Cyprus as a member in the EU. ''Turkey has a key role in the EU membership process for Cyprus. That's why the EU wishes to maintain warm relations with Ankara'', Broek said at the Greek Cypriot side. Broek arrived on Cyprus on Wednesday for talks on how the Turkish Cypriots can be included in the EU entry negotiations. Along with Broek, Britain's Cyprus envoy Sir David Hannay also held talks at the Greek Cypriot side with the same objective.

Hannay said that the general desire of the EU was for Cyprus to become an EU member as a bizonal, bicommunal federation and that this was possible only with the Turkish Cypriot participation in the entry talks. However, he stated that if the Turkish Cypriots refuse to participate, then the ''talks will start with the Greek Cypriots only''. /Milliyet/

(To be continued)

[09] TURKEY-POLITICS - LEADER OF THE CHP BAYKAL: ''THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE ACTION ON THE ISSUE OF KOSOVO'' - ''THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE CAUSES TENSIONS IN THE COMMUNITY''

Republican People's Party (CHP) said on Thursday that ''the government should take action on the issue of Kosovo.''

Receiving the members of Coordination Board of Kosovo and the associations of ethnic Thracians, Baykal said that many people died or were wounded after the Serbian police forces' attack which began on Thursday morning and people have begun to flee from their homes. Baykal said that the events in Kosovo are the reflections of the civil war in Bosnia and added, ''the US and Britain have begun initiatives on the issue. The Turkish Government should take action as well.'' Baykal pointed out that the CHP has prepared a general negotiation proposal on the issue.

Addressing the journalists after the meeting, Baykal said that the government's attitude causes tension in the community. Baykal also added, ''the government should have been in cooperation with the trade unions from the beginning.''

[10] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.)

DEMIRBANK SECURES $70 MILLION SYNDICATED LOAN
Turkey's Demirbank signed an accord for a $70 million two-year syndicated loan, representatives said yesterday. Twenty-seven banks, led by Societe Generale, American Express and Baden Wurttembergische Bank, participated in the pre-export financing facility, initially planned for $50 million. The agreement was signed on Tuesday in London. Demirbank gave no other details. /Sabah/

CIVIL SERVANTS HOLD NATIONWIDE STRIKE
The public sector employees throughout the country halted or slowed down work yesterday in order to protest a government bill limiting their union rights. Members of the Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK) staged a sit-down strike in downtown Ankara in further protest following clashes with police on Wednesday.

Speaking about the protest of the public sector employees, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that the timing for the protests was wrong. ''If everyone takes to the streets everytime a bill is discussed in Parliament, this means that pressure is being inflicted on the Parliament, and therefore it may have a negative effect on the Parliamentary processes'' Yilmaz told reporters in Ankara. /All papers/

EU: TURKEY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE ROAD
Yues Devellennes, the Head of the EU Commission,International Relations Department Competition Board, has noted that with the establishment of a similar board in Turkey, Turkey was moving onto the right path, but added that further obligations had to be met regarding transportation and monopolization for full EU accord. Develennes added, ''The Competition Board must be independent, however it needs political support''.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES UP
The Central Bank foreign exchange reserves increased by $1.025 billion last week and reached $19.422 billion. Turkey has paid out $2.366 billion in foreign debts from the beginning of the year until 4 March. /Milliyet- Sabah/

ISRAELI DIAMOND DEALERS FOCUS ON TURKEY
Israel, which has long chanelled most of its exports to the Far Eastern market, has discovered Turkey, thanks to the recent financial crisis. Chairman of the Israeli Diamonds and Valuable Stones Bourse, Moshe Nissan, has confessed that although Israel has in the past undermined the Turkish market, following the Far Eastern crisis Israel has come to view the Turkish market as one of the potentially largest. Noting that Turkish jewellery was even better than Italian jewellery, Nissan said that 33 Israeli companies participated in the 13th International Jewel, Ornament and Watch Fair in Istanbul. /Sabah-Cumhuriyet/

ATHENS INVITES KARADAYI
It is expected that General Ismail Hakki Karadayi, the Turkish Chief of General Staff, will go to Athens on 6-7 April as the guest of his Greek counterpart Athanasios Tsoganis. Greece is currently the term-president of the Western European Union (WEU). Karadayi, who will participate in a meeting of the WEU military leaders, will discuss military issues in Turco- Greek relations with Tsoganis. Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Greek Parliament, Apostolos Kaklamanis, has invited Hikmet Cetin, the Turkish Speaker of the Parliament to Athens. /Sabah/

(To be continued)

[11] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (3)

(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.)

FT SUGGESTS RECONSIDERING EU INVITATIONS
In an article that appeared in the previous day's issue of the Financial Times newspaper, it was claimed that Turkey might ''punish itself'' by not accepting the latest invitations of the European Union. The article, which evaluates a report aimed at preparing Turkey for full membership in the EU, stated that Turkey might ignore invitations to attend the upcoming meetings because of annoyance at not being included among the candidate countries for full EU membership. The paper also comments on the Turkish economy, suggesting that Turkey should make structural changes in the economy in order to eliminate budget deficits that could cause hyperinflation. /Hurriyet/

GREEK HARASSMENT OVER AEGEAN SEA
Holding maneuvers in international airspace over the Aegean Sea, two Turkish F-16 aircraft were harassed by four Greek F-16s, the Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said. /Hurriyet/

GERMAN PKK MEMBER
German citizen Eva Juhnken (32), suspected of being active in the PKK camps in Northern Iraq, has been handed-over to Turkey by representatives of the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP) It is claimed that five German citizens worked for the PKK organization in Germany and then they went to the PKK camps in northern Iraq in 1993. German terrorists used to promote the PKK are often introduced to German and European journalists who visit the region. An interview with five PKK terrorists, who learned to speak both Turkish and Kurdish, was broadcast by MED TV last month. /Milliyet/

HARSH REACTION FROM DENKTAS TO HANNAY
Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), reacted harshly to the European Union (EU) Term Chairman Britain's Special Envoy to Cyprus Sir David Hannay, who said that Cyprus would be included in the EU without the Turkish side. Denktas said that an illegal application could not be turned into a legal one by using threats. Denktas pointed out that Hannay's threatening statements could not alter the determination of the TRNC administration and people not to attend the upcoming EU negotiations if imbalances between Turkey and Greece were not addressed. /Cumhuriyet/

''TURKEY SHOULD START KOSOVO INITIATIVES''
Leader of the Republican Peoples' Party (CHP), Deniz Baykal yesterday received representatives of the Roumelian Businessmen's Association, Kosovo Coordination Council and Pristina Association in Istanbul. At the meeting Baykal made a call both to the Turkish government and to the world to halt the massacre going on in Kosovo. Baykal added that Turkey would begin initiatives with NATO and the Western European Union (WEU) to stop the bloodshed in Central Europe.

Chairman of the Kosovo Coordination Council Celalettin Olmezcan said that Turkey and Kosovo had historical and political ties stretching back 520 years. He added that the people of Kosovo were looking for help from Turkey.

Ergun Zoga, a member of the Council, said that Turkey was one of the most powerful Balkan countries, and that Turkey should therefore exert every effort to establish stability in the region. /Milliyet/

TURKS IN DUTCH MUNICIPALITY ASSEMBLIES
Almost 60 Turkish citizens living in the Netherlands have won seats in the municipality assemblies in different cities. Twenty Turks have won seats in the Amsterdam Municipality Assembly, 10 in Rotterdam and 30 other Turkish citizens have won seats in different areas of the Netherlands. /Milliyet/

[12] TURKEY IN BRIEF - MARCH 6, 1998

Metin Gurdere, the Minister of State, said in the commission's meeting that the profit of the Vakiflar Bank, which made 85 million US dollars in profit in 1996, reached 195 million US dollars last year.

All of the (B) group shares, which constitute 20 percent of the bank's capital, will be sold at the Stock Exchange by the General Directorate of Vakiflar Bank.

ISTANBUL - A ten-member German parliamentarian delegation visited the Istanbul State Security Court on Thursday and met with Erdal Gokcen, the Chief Prosecutor.

It was reported that the Bavaria City Conservative Activist Christian Socialist Unity Party deputies met with Gokcen to get information about the legal status and life standards of people who had returned to Turkey from Germany.

ISTANBUL - The Turkish-French seminar titled ''The French Technologies in the Fields of Medicine and Hospitals'' will start on Friday at The Marmara Hotel.

The new technologies implemented in the field of medicine in France and the new developments in hospital policy will be introduced at the seminar.

ANTALYA - Hasan Kacmaz, the Chairman of the Setur Marinas, said on Friday that they could not reach the targets for the 1997 yacht tourism season.

Kacmaz said that they expected a 20-30 percent increase in the number of yachts visiting Turkey in the 1997 tourism season but the increase remained at 4-5 percent.

[13] TURKEY-COUNTY - YUSUFELI COUNTY TO BECOME HISTORY - YUSUFELI TO REMAIN UNDER WATER

Yusufeli County which was established in a valley on the Coruh River in 1950 will become a dam within the context of the project that was confirmed during the term of the 54th government. Five French companies as well as Dogus Holding concluded contacts for the construction of the Hydroelectric Plant and the Yusufeli Dam.

President Suleyman Demirel is expected to lay the foundation for the Yusufeli Dam in May. The dam is planned to produce 10,468 billion kilowatts/hour of energy.

The construction of the Yusufeli Dam and Hydroelectric Plant will start on the Coruh Rivar within the context of a protocol signed between Turkey and France. The protocol also includes constructuion of the Artvin Borcka and Muratli Dam and Hydroelectric Plants.

[14] TURKEY-ENERGY - THE THIRD TURKISH ENERGY INDUSTRY FORUM TO BE REALIZED IN MAY

The forum will be jointly organized by the American A PennWell Europe Conference Company and the Independent Energy Mazagine at the Istanbul Ceylan Inter-Continental Hotel.

Information will be given about the project facilities in the electricity and natural gas sector in Turkey, legal arrangements, its financing and activities for privatization during the Forum which is aimed at promoting the Turkish energy sector to foreign enterpreneurs.

[15] TURKEY IN BRIEF (2)- MARCH 6, 1998

Reminding that Turkey and the Czech Republic had signed a military training agreement, Sezgin said in the meeting that the military training agreement would set up a powerful basis for a copperation in the defense industry.

ANKARA - The industrial production increased 4.2 percent in January compared with the averages in same month last year, it was reported on Friday.

The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced the January 1998 results of the monthly industrial production index.

The production in the mining industry increased 18.6 percent; 2.9 percent in the manufacturing industry and 7.5 percent in the gas, electricity and water sector in January 1998 compared with the same month averages in 1997.

KIRSEHIR - The Petlas Tire Factory, which was sold to the Kombassan Holding within the scope of privatization, will start to produce tires for the F-16 planes, it was reported on Friday.

Adnan Sahin, the General Director of the Petlas factory in Kirsehir Province, told the A.A correspondent that the Air Force ordered F-16 plane tires from them and that they have prepared the necessary infrastructure to this end.

SANLIURFA - The fish farming project to be implemented at the Ataturk Dam and the trout farming to be implemented in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region will create new employment branches, it was reported on Friday.

Within this project implemented by the Bozova District Governor's Office near Catak Village of Bozova County in southeastern Sanliurfa Province, the fish farmers produced their first batch of trouts.

ANKARA/PARIS - Mustafa Tasar, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, attended on Friday a panel discussion titled ''Consumers' Interests Regarding the Reliability of Food in the International Framework'' at the OECD Agriculture Committee Ministers' Meeting in Paris.

Tasar said that the criterias should be specified to provide for the reliability of all elements in food technology.

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