Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-01-28

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AA Daily

28 January 1999 Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] WARNING FROM COE TO TURKEY TO ANNUL CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

[03] FULL MEMBERSHIP OF GREEK CYPRIOTS TO EU DIFFICULT BEFORE SOLUTION OF CYPRUS QUESTION

[04] OECD DELEGATION DUE IN TURKEY ON FEB 4

[05] LEBANON GIVES ASSURANCES THAT TERRORIST CHIEF IS NOT IN ITS TERRITORIES

[06] WOMEN'S LABOUR BELITTLED

[07] IDENTITY STRUGGL OF WESTHERN THRACE TURKS

[08] FOREIGN DEBT PAYMENTS - 423.6 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS PAID IN FOREIGN DEBT SINCE JANUARY 1, 1999

[09] TURKEY TO BECOME THE SPARE PART PRODUCTION BASE OF RENAULT - GABRIEL GIL, THE HEAD OF THE SERVICE VOUCHER DEARTMENT OF RENAULT: ''WE SEE TURKEY AS A SPARE PART PRODUCTION BASE OF THE MARKETS OF EUROPE AND THE NEARBY COUNTRIES''

[10] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK REDUCE TO 20.1 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS

[11] OYAK RENAULT AUTOMOTIVE FACTORY INCORP. STARTS TO PRODUCE INJECTION ENGINE PRODUCTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL NORMS OF EURO 2000 FOR THE FIRST TIME - CHAUVET, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE FACTORY: ''THIS NEW ENGINE IS THE SYMBOL OF OUR INSISTENCE''

[12] TURKCELL, THE GSM PHONE COMPANY IN TURKEY, FILES A LAW SUIT AGAINST GEOCELL

[13] ANKARA TO HOST 27TH INTERNATIONAL YASAR DOGU WRESTLING TOURNAMENT BETWEEN 12-14 FEBRUARY

[14] THE FORMATION OF A MULTINATIONAL MISSION FORCE BY SIX COUNTRIES IS IN ITS LAST STAGE - THE FORCE TO BE FORMED BY THE UNITS OF THE SIX COASTAL COUNTRIES TO THE BLACK SEA

[15] PRIME MINITER ECEVIT: - ''WE RECEIVED NO NEW INFORMATION CONCERNING WHEREABOUTS OF OCALAN SINCE HE LEFT ITALY''

[16] SEN, THE DIRECTOR OF TURKISH RESEARCHES CENTER: ''WE THINK THAT THE CITIZENSHIP LAW WILL BE ADOPTED IN THE PARLIAMENT IN SUMMER AND WILL BE PUT INTO EFFECT NO LATER THAN 1999 FALL''

[17] THE IMF DELEGATION MEET WITH THE OFFICIALS OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND THE DTP

[18] OFFICE OF GENERAL STAFF: - ''AN EXPLOSION AND BIG FLASH DETERMINED IN 25 MILES NORTHEAST OF MOSUL AT 12.31 ON THURSDAY'' - ''NO MISSILE TRACE OR EXPLOSION (MISSILE HIT) POINT IN TURKISH TERRITORIES WAS DETERMINED'' - ''THE DEVELOPMENTS ARE COVERED WITH GREAT ATTENTION AND TURKISH AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS ARE READY TO COUNTER ANY THREATS''

[19] CONTACTS OF IMF DELEGATION IN TURKEY - IMF DELEGATION PROCEEDS TO ISTANBUL TO HOLD TALKS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF PRIVATE SECTOR

[20] FIRST TURKISH CANDIDATE IN THE ELECTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF NORTH RHINE WESTPHALIA PROVINCE

[21] THE U.S. AIRCRAFTS BOMBS AN IRAQI ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERY IN NORTHERN IRAQ

[22] TURKEY'S OPENING POLICY TOWARDS SOUTHERN ASIA, FAR EAST AND THE PACIFIC

[23] THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE MULTINATIONAL PEACE FORCE TO BE ACTIVATED IN AUGUST - THE FIRST COMMANDER OF THE BRIGADE IS A TURKISH GENERAL

[24] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: - ''NEWS CLAIMING THAT IRAQ LAUNCHED MISSILES TO TURKEY, ARE NOT TRUE''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

PARTIES REFUSE ALLIANCE ALLEGATIONS
The Motherland Party (ANAP), True Path Party (DYP) and Democratic Left Party (DSP) on Wednesday refused the allegations that several parties were seeking for alliance before the elections. Prime Minister Ecevit pointed out that they will enter the elections with their own powers, adding that DSP will come out as the first party in elections.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

MARMARA GOES...
Marmara tanker, which was burnt in the Armutlu off shores, was withdrawn to Imrali Island by seven ships with steal ropes. Orhan Barda, Deputy Chairman of Ship Rescue Administration said they would make the tanker to run aground to prevent it from sinking and added barriers were put to prevent pollution in the sea.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

THE CANDIDATES ARE PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED
60 percent of the candidates applying to parties were revealed to be previously convicted. The previous convictions of the candidates are traffic crimes, fight, robbery, rape and wounding which are not crimes that prevent them from being elected. Yet some of the candidates were revealed to be convicted of crimes like perpetretion and misuse of belief which are obstacles to be elected.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

COURT RESISTS ON ITS DECISION
Case of the policemen who were tried of torturing young people in Manisa, continued on Wednesday. Chairman of the Court insisted on his decision of acquittal which he had given earlier against the decision of Supreme Court. Deputies from Republican Peoples' Party (CHP) and U.S. jurists also followed the case.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

IMF STILL HOPEFUL
Talks started with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation after hopes faded regarding the issuing of the two laws having importance for Turkey to find credit. Zekeriya Temizel, Minister of Finance, said the budget should be issued whereas Martin Hardy, IMF Turkey Desk Chairman, said ''I hope draft laws on budget and banks will be issued.''

YEN� Y�ZYIL (LIBERAL)

ECEVIT FORMULA TO IRAQ
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will submit an alternative plan to the U.S. for the integration of Iraq to international community. Ecevit's ''Regional Security Plan'' prepared in 1996, will be updated and will be sent to the U.S. Ecevit mentioned about this plan to Mark Parris, the U.S. Ambassador early this week and Parris expressed readiness to evaluate the plan.

T�RK�YE (RIGHT)

THE U.S. WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HIT IRAQ FROM INCIRLIK
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem who clarified attacks of the U.S. planes towards Iraq said it was not possible for the planes which take off from Incirlik base for routin enforcement over the no-fly zone in Northern Iraq to attack or to bomb Iraq under the provisions of the agreements. Nothing that the Northern Watch Operation aims at preventing any danger, Cem said ''the planes only will make self-defense if they meet a danger.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

ECEVIT: THERE ARE ONES WHO WANT CRISIS
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit evaluated the statements of Deniz Baykal, leader of Republican Peoples' Party (CHP), towards Feb 28 process as ''nonsense''. Ecevit said several circles are as if feel uneasy in case regime will be healthy and that Turkey will reach tranquility. He said ''we will enter elections by leaving concerns for elections behind.''

[02] WARNING FROM COE TO TURKEY TO ANNUL CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Speaking on the signature of European Agreement regarding Britain's annulment of capital punishment, Tarchys said 40-member COE should be a region which is totally purified by capital punishment.

Recalling that Latvia was about to annul capital punishment, Tarchys wanted Turkey, Albania, Russia and Ukraine among the countries who annul capital punishment. Tarchys defended the idea that although capital punishment was not implemented in the year 1998, this punishment should be annuled as a whole.

[03] FULL MEMBERSHIP OF GREEK CYPRIOTS TO EU DIFFICULT BEFORE SOLUTION OF CYPRUS QUESTION

Dietrich Kastrup, Permanent respresentative of Germany to the U.N., staged a news conference in New York and said simultaneous efforts were carried out to solve the problem.

Recalling that no absolute attitude was determined with EU to this end, Kastrup said it was even difficult to imagine full membership of Greek Cypriot side to EU before the problem is solved politically.

Noting that there were lots of things to do to improve human rights, German permanent representative rejected the news reports that EU was a Christian club and that Germany was the obstacle lying in front of Turkey's EU full membership.

[04] OECD DELEGATION DUE IN TURKEY ON FEB 4

A Treasury Undersecretariat statement said during the visit which will take place within the context of Economic Development and Observation Committee activity, the OECD delegation will evaluate developments in 1998 and expectations for 1999.

OECD delegation will meet with the public and private sector representatives in Ankara and Istanbul within the framework of the observations.

[05] LEBANON GIVES ASSURANCES THAT TERRORIST CHIEF IS NOT IN ITS TERRITORIES

Nazim Dumlu, Turkey's Ambassador to Beirut, told A.A correspondent that he called on Lebanon Foreign Ministry to investigate and clarify the issue following the news reports which appeared in media that terrorist chief was in Lebanon.

Dumlu said Lebanese diplomats gave assurances that terrorist chief was not in the territories of Lebanon. The diplomats said Ocalan left Lebanese territory long years ago and he will not be able to come back.

[06] WOMEN'S LABOUR BELITTLED

In her report entitled ''The Insufficiencies in Assesment of Women's Labour, '' she claimed that women's labour isn't fully appeared in statistics.

''The duties such as delivering baby, raising child, looking after family, doing home chores, cooking which are fulfilled mostly by women don't appear in the estimations of national income and not included among the economical activities,'' she said in her report.

''Generally the money which has been earned by women as a free family worker is added to men's income section,'' she pointed out in her report.

In the study, she stated that the insufficiencies in appreciating the roles of women and grading them correctly, inevitably lead to severe mistakes, both in macro and micro levels.

''The insufficiency mentioned above inevitably leads to belittle women's labour, and discrimination of sexes by ways of employing women in low paid or non paid jobs. All these ultimately end up with the exploitation of women,'' she underlined in her report.

[07] IDENTITY STRUGGL OF WESTHERN THRACE TURKS

The Western Thrace Turkish Association officials said during the meetings Greek administration's oppression and ''assimilation policies'' imposed on Turkish minority will be explained to international public.

Galip Galip, minority Deputy; Ismail Rodoplu, former minority Deputy; Nazmi Arif, Friendship Equality and Peace Party Chairman; and Necmi Hasanoglu, London Western Thrace Turkish Association Chairman will address the meetings.

Meanwhile, it was reported that economic, political, cultural, religious and political pressures put on Western Thrace Turkish minority by Greece still continue.

Recalling that Greek Supreme Court in the year 1987 had taken a decision that there was ''no Turks'' in Western Thrace, the officials said the signboards belonging to Turkish minority in Komotini and Xhanti were pulled out as there was the word ''Turk'' on them.

The officials said a demonstration was staged on Jan 29, 1988 to protest the pressures put on Turkish minority in Western Thrace, adding that Turkish minority demanded Greek administration to implement minority rights stemming from citizenship and agreements. They said they started a struggle to seek for their rights against the pressure policies to eradicate Turkish identity systematically.

Officials said Greek administration, who could not accept the rightful demands of Turkish minority, tolarated the attacks of Greeks and that approximately 100 Turks were wounded and business places belonging to Turks were plundered in these attacks.

Officials pointed out that lunatic Greeks may stage new attacks and provocations following the meetings of Turkish minority.

[08] FOREIGN DEBT PAYMENTS - 423.6 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS PAID IN FOREIGN DEBT SINCE JANUARY 1, 1999

The Central Bank data shows that the Treasury paid 289.64 million U.S. dollars; the Central Bank repaid 31.15 million U.S. dollars; and the Defense Fund paid 56.76 million U.S. dollars in foreign debt between January 1-27, 1999.

Turkey had repaid a total of 12 billion 494 million U.S. dollars in 1998.

[09] TURKEY TO BECOME THE SPARE PART PRODUCTION BASE OF RENAULT - GABRIEL GIL, THE HEAD OF THE SERVICE VOUCHER DEARTMENT OF RENAULT: ''WE SEE TURKEY AS A SPARE PART PRODUCTION BASE OF THE MARKETS OF EUROPE AND THE NEARBY COUNTRIES''

Gin, who joined the opening ceremony of the spare part warehouse and the new motor assembly line of Renault's factory in Bursa, responded the questions of the journalists.

Stating that their trading strategy is the happiness of the consumers, Gil said, ''I believe that we have made a giant leap forward in satisfying the Turkish consumers by these new investments.''

Stressing that they can now send the spare parts of Renault to everywhere in Turkey in no longer than 24 hours, Gil said, ''we have different ideas for Turkey. We see Turkey as not only a base of spare parts for the domestic market, but also for the foreign markets. We see Turkey as our spare part production base.''

Gil added, ''we give the priority to shipping these spare parts from Turkey to European markets and to the markets in the region. This is valid for every model produced in Turkey. We are in contact with our friends in Turkey. We search the opportunities of producing spare parts for European and other markets and putting these new projects into effect.''

[10] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK REDUCE TO 20.1 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS

The Central Bank data shows that the foreign exchange reserves, which decreased by 230 million U.S. dollars between January 15-22, reduced to 20 billion 163 million U.S. dollars as of 22 January.

The Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves were 20 billion 393 million U.S. dollars in 15 January.

Meanwhile, according to the 31 December-based statistics, Turkey's total international gross reserves increased 382 million U.S. dollars to 31 billion 754 million U.S. dollars between 25-31 December.

The international gross reserves of Turkey were 31 billion 372 million U.S. dollars in 25 December.

[11] OYAK RENAULT AUTOMOTIVE FACTORY INCORP. STARTS TO PRODUCE INJECTION ENGINE PRODUCTION IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL NORMS OF EURO 2000 FOR THE FIRST TIME - CHAUVET, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE FACTORY: ''THIS NEW ENGINE IS THE SYMBOL OF OUR INSISTENCE''

Manuel Gomez, the International Director of the French Renault Group and the head of the Executive Committee of OYAK Renault, and Jacques Chauvet, the Director General of OYAK Renault, attended the opening ceremony of the new injection engine assembly line in the factory in Bursa.

Jacques Chauvet, who defined this new motor as the symbol of their claims in industrial sector, drew the attention to the competitiveness of Renault in the international markets and to the importance it attaches to the Turkish market in his speech in the opening ceremony.

Stating that the injection and multi valve engines are produced in compliance with the European norms, Chauvet said, ''Renault is competetive in the international markets. Turkey is very important for us. Our new engine is a symbol of our competetiveness in the industrial strategy. This new engine accelerates Turkish automotive sector and its by-industry.''

Stressing that the new production lead to a modernization opportunity to the Turkish automotive by-industry, Chauvet noted that this new investment in the economic stagnation period indicates that they trust Turkey.

Renault spended 102 million French Francs (5.9 trillion Turkish liras) to this new investment. The factory will produce 612 injection engires with 1.6 and 1.4 litres and 8 valves a day. These new engines will be assembled to Renault 9, Megane and Megane Wagon cars.

[12] TURKCELL, THE GSM PHONE COMPANY IN TURKEY, FILES A LAW SUIT AGAINST GEOCELL

Esat Temimhan, TURKCELL's representative in Georgia, said that the GEOCELL violated the agreements which were signed between them and that it did not pay 4.5 million U.S. dollars to TURKCELL, which accounts for the 40 percent of the TURKCELL's share under the agreements.

Meanwhile, some technical personnel of Turkish origin resigned from their posts in GEOCELL, which activates in Tbilisi and has 30.000 subsidies in Georgia, as a result of the oppressions they faced in the company, it is reported.

[13] ANKARA TO HOST 27TH INTERNATIONAL YASAR DOGU WRESTLING TOURNAMENT BETWEEN 12-14 FEBRUARY

Wrestlers from Bulgaria, Canada, France, Romania, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Macedonia, Lithuania, Britain, Slovakia, Finland, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Spain are expected to participate at the tournament.

Meanwhile Kazarian, a leading Referee Instructor of FILA, and his assistant Juruli will give a three-day seminar to nearly 50 referees during the tournament.

Turkey came on the first place with 5 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medals last year.

[14] THE FORMATION OF A MULTINATIONAL MISSION FORCE BY SIX COUNTRIES IS IN ITS LAST STAGE - THE FORCE TO BE FORMED BY THE UNITS OF THE SIX COASTAL COUNTRIES TO THE BLACK SEA

Two experts meeting has been held in Turkey and Romania within the framework of the efforts launched in 1997, by the attendance of Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Ukraine, Russian Federation and Turkey.

The mentioned force is foreseen to be formed as a ''Call Force''.

The mission force, which will be formed by the units of the six coastal countries to the Black Sea, will hold maneouvres and operations of search- rescue and mine search-find and will make humanitarian aids.

The commandership of the force which will not have a headquarter will be undertaken by the member countries in one-year terms.

The mission force will start mission firstly in the Black Sea.

[15] PRIME MINITER ECEVIT: - ''WE RECEIVED NO NEW INFORMATION CONCERNING WHEREABOUTS OF OCALAN SINCE HE LEFT ITALY''

Addressing the journalists, Ecevit noted that different rumours and gossips continue regarded with the issue.

Responding to a question whether a Scud missile launched from Iraq was destroyed in air near Diyarbakir Province in Southeastern Anatolia Region by Patriot missile or not, Ecevit told the reporters, ''we received such an information, but I think it is not regarded with the Incirlik Base. If I hear something new, then I will share it with you.''

[16] SEN, THE DIRECTOR OF TURKISH RESEARCHES CENTER: ''WE THINK THAT THE CITIZENSHIP LAW WILL BE ADOPTED IN THE PARLIAMENT IN SUMMER AND WILL BE PUT INTO EFFECT NO LATER THAN 1999 FALL''

Sen said in a press conference held in the Turkish Journalists' Association (TGC) that the amendments in the citizenship law and Germany's European Union (EU) Term Presidency started a positive period in the Turkish-German relations.

Pointing out that the Kohl government, which ruled Germany for 16 years, was ended by the elections held in September; Sen recalled that the Turkish people living in Germany joined the last elections and that three persons with Turkish origin was elected as deputies.

Sen added that the political parties which promised to make amendments in the Germany's policy about foreigners before the elections, came to the power and that they are preparing a draft law concerning the amendments in the Citizenship Law.

Stressing that this draft law foresees granting German citizenship to the ones who have been living in Germany for over eight years, Sen said that the draft law does not foresee the annulation of the former citizenship of the foreigners living in Germany.

Sen added, ''I think that the citizenship law will be adopted in the parliament in summer and will be put into effect no later than 1999 fall. The Turkish Researches Center assumes that the number of German citizens with Turkish origin will reach from 220.000 to one and a half million, then.''

Noting that the Turkish-German relations which was nearly broken off during Kohl government period has become better during Schroeder government, Sen said, ''the new government left the approach which takes into consideration the cultural and religious differences and which was shared by the Kohl government about Turkey's membership to the EU. This new government disclosed giving a concrete schedule for Turkey's membership process. Turkey can have a positive dialog with this new government and can think that the Term Presidency of Germany is a period which will be positive for Turkey's membership.''

Stating that the German government will put forth Turkey's full membership issue in the EU Summit in June 1999, Sen said that he expects that Turkey can become a full member of the EU in 2015-2018.

[17] THE IMF DELEGATION MEET WITH THE OFFICIALS OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE AND THE DTP

The delegation which firstly visited DTP exchanged views with the officials of DTP about the events of 1998 and the schedule of 1999.

The delegation which later visited the Minister of Finance held meetings in technical level with the officials of the ministry.

Responding the questions of the journalists after their meeting, Hardy said that they discussed how Turkey realized the provisions of the Staff Monitoring Agreement which was signed in July.

The delegation will hold contacts with the officials of the Treasury and Central Banks and later leave for Istanbul to hold contacts with the representatives of Turkish private sector.

[18] OFFICE OF GENERAL STAFF: - ''AN EXPLOSION AND BIG FLASH DETERMINED IN 25 MILES NORTHEAST OF MOSUL AT 12.31 ON THURSDAY'' - ''NO MISSILE TRACE OR EXPLOSION (MISSILE HIT) POINT IN TURKISH TERRITORIES WAS DETERMINED'' - ''THE DEVELOPMENTS ARE COVERED WITH GREAT ATTENTION AND TURKISH AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS ARE READY TO COUNTER ANY THREATS''

A written statement from the Office of the General Staff said:

''An explosion and big flash was determined in 25 miles northeast of Mosul at 12.31 today (January 28, 1999).

In spite that some sources evaluated this explosion and flash was caused by the launching of a missile, no missile trace was determined in Turkish air space or no explosion (missile hit) point was determined in Turkish territories in relation with this incident.

The developments are covered with great attention and Turkish air defense systems are ready to counter any threats.''

[19] CONTACTS OF IMF DELEGATION IN TURKEY - IMF DELEGATION PROCEEDS TO ISTANBUL TO HOLD TALKS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF PRIVATE SECTOR

Members of the delegation came together with the senior officials from the State Planning Organization and bureaucrats from the Finance Ministry this morning.

The IMF delegation also met with the officials of the Central Bank and the Undersecretariat of Treasury today.

Members of the delegation are scheduled to come together with the representatives of the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Assocuiation (TUSIAD), the Union of Banks and several banks in Istanbul within the framework of the Staff Monitoring Programme signed last July.

The delegation is expected to return to Ankara on Sunday and maintain talks with the officials until February 8.

-DENKTAS, TRNC PRESIDENT:
''WE WILL NOT MEET WITH THE GREEK CYPRIOTS FROM NOW ON'' ''SAYING 'IT IS
OVER' IS ALSO A POLICY''
ANKARA, Jan 28 (A.A) - Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said on Thursday, ''TRNC is a real thing, it exists. We will not meet with the Greek Cypriots from now on. We do not find it necessary to talk with them. Saying 'it is over' is also a policy.''

Speaking in an interview in a television channel of the TRNC, Denktas said, ''a confederation means 'accept my state and then I will cooperate with the Greek Cypriots and I start discussing the elements of unification.' This is what the world wants, and the confederation issue has started to be discussed in Greek Cypriot side.''

Denktas noted that by seeming to discuss the principles for years, they have lost 20 years in vain and that now they are at the stage of confederation.

Stating that the Greek Cypriot side has rejected and will reject the proposal of conferation, Denktas added, ''thus, we will not reach to a point. Let the world see that the Greek Cypriots reject..., that the Greek Cypriots want nothing but to take over whole Cyprus. Let the world see!''

Denktas said that he expected the the coalition government to hold contacts with Turkey and meet in the same path.

[20] FIRST TURKISH CANDIDATE IN THE ELECTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF NORTH RHINE WESTPHALIA PROVINCE

Bulent Arslan, the head of the Turkish-German Forum of the German Christian Democratic Union Party, announced his candidancy for the membership of the executive committee.

Aslan, who is the member of the party since 1991, said, ''I think that the elections will be competitive. If I am elected as a member of the executive board of the party, I will try to represent the Turkish people living in Germany and to be influencial in the adaptation policy of the party.''

[21] THE U.S. AIRCRAFTS BOMBS AN IRAQI ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERY IN NORTHERN IRAQ

A spokeswoman from Incirlik base told A.A correspondent that two F-15 fighter-bombers responded with three precision-guided bombs after they had been targeted by an anti-aircraft artillery this afternoon when they were on a routine patrol of the no-fly zone in Northern Iraq.

Stating that the F-15s returned to the base, the spokeswoman said that the damage to the Iraqi missile site was currently being assessed.

The spokeswoman said that the enforcement of no-fly zone in Northern Iraq will continue.

[22] TURKEY'S OPENING POLICY TOWARDS SOUTHERN ASIA, FAR EAST AND THE PACIFIC

Addressing the journalists before the meeting, Cem gave information about the opening policy, and stressed that Turkish Ambassadors to mentioned countries come together to discuss the policy in details at the meeting.

Noting that the main target of the Turkey's opening policy is to strengthen the relations with the mentioned countries and to further improve the foreign economic relations.

Meanwhile Korkmaz Haktanir, The Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, called the private sector to show more interest in such regions.

Yalcin Tug, the Turkish Ambassador to Thailand, Halil Dag, the Turkish Ambassador to South Korea, Ahmet Ermisoglu, the Turkish Ambassador to New Zealand, Mehmet Guney, the Turkish Ambassador to Indonesia, Yaman Baskut, the Turkish Ambassador to Japan, Daryal Batibay, the Turkish Ambassador to People's Republic of China, Ferhat Ataman, the Turkish Ambassador to Malaysia, Onder Alaybeyli, the Turkish Ambassador to Vietnam, Yusuf Buluc, the Turkish Ambassador to India, Bozkurt Aran, the Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan, Fusun Cetintas, the Turkish Ambassador to Singapore, Veka Inal, the Turkish Ambassador to the Philippines, and Erdinc Ulumlu, the Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh, were in attendance at the meeting.

[23] THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE MULTINATIONAL PEACE FORCE TO BE ACTIVATED IN AUGUST - THE FIRST COMMANDER OF THE BRIGADE IS A TURKISH GENERAL

The Southeastern Europe Multinational Peace Force, which is also named as ''Southeastern Europe Brigade'', will hold its first maneouver in December 1999.

Turkey will contribute to this peace force with a mechanized infantry battalion, a reconnaissance division, an artillery battery and units of fortification, it is reported.

The four attendant countries, which are Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania and Greece, will host the headquarter of the peace force in four year terms.

The commandership of the peace force will be rotated by two year terms among the participant countries starting from Turkey.

[24] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: - ''NEWS CLAIMING THAT IRAQ LAUNCHED MISSILES TO TURKEY, ARE NOT TRUE''

Addressing the journalists following the meeting held within the framework of the Turkey's opening policy towards the Southern Asia, Far East and the Pasific, Cem stressed that the mentioned news were confirmed neither by the place which announced it nor by the Turkish officials.

The Office of the General Staff also stated that an explosion and a big flash was determined in 25 miles northeast of Mosul at 12:31 p.m. today, but in spite that some sources evaluated this explosion and flash was caused by the launching of a missile, no missile trace was determined in Turkish air space or no explosion (missile hit) point was determined in Turkish territories in relation with this incident.

Responding to a question about the usage of the Incirlik Base in the Southern Adana Province, Cem emphasized, ''planes which take off from our own base, are dependent on our own rules.''

Meanwhile Senkal Atasagun, the Undersecretary of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) held talks with Cem at the Foreign Ministry.

Officials at the Foreign Ministry told the A.A correspondent that several military officials who visited the ministry today, were not related with the meeting between Cem and Atasagun.

A.A

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