Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-05-04

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

04 May 2000 Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] TREASURY'S PRESS RELEASE ON INFLATION

[03] CEM AND PAPANDREOU ADDRESS A TELEVISION PROGRAM ON CNN-TV

[04] WORLD BANK-ENERGY PROJECTS

[05] TURKEY EIGHTH ENERGY CONGRESS TO BE HELD IN ANKARA BETWEEN 8-12 MAY

[06] GAP OFFICIAL ALEMDAROGLU: ''600 U.S. DOLLARS YIELD PER HECTARE HAS INCREASED TO 2.100 U.S. DOLLARS WITH START OF IRRIGATION''

[07] WORLD BANK AND TUBITAK TO CARRY OUT WORKSHOP

[08] THIRD ROUND OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION VOTING TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY

[09] ISO VOCATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS -FINANCE MINISTER ORAL: ''APRIL RESULTS ARE HOPE INSPIRING''

[10] GALATASARAY BECOMES SEVENTH AMONG MOST SUCCESSFUL TEAMS OF WORLD

[11] CULTURE MINISTER TALAY INAUGURATES CONFERENCE ON ''PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF AUDIO-VISUAL AND CINEMATOGPRAPHIC HERITAGE: LEGAL DIMENSION''

[12] TURKISH-GREEK FRIENDSHIP -STUDENTS FROM KAVALA HIGH SCHOOL OF GREECE VISIT CANAKKALE

[13] TURKEY REPAYS 357.32 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN FOREIGN DEBT BETWEEN MAY 1 AND 3

[14] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK DECREASE BY 615 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

[15] BLUE STREAM PROJECT - CONSTRUCTION OF SAMSUN-CORUM LINE STARTS

[16] FOREIGN MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY LOGOGLU: -''PRINCIPLES OF TWO STATES ON CYPRUS IS AN INDISPENSABLE PARAMETER''

[17] INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE REPORT ISSUED -REPORT SAYS EU MEMBERSHIP YET A HIGH HOPE FOR TURKEY

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AKBULUT WITHDRAWS FROM PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY
Yildirim Akbulut, the Speaker of Parliament, withdrew from the presidential candidacy. Number of presidential candidates decreased to six after Akbulut withdrew from the presidential candidacy. Staging a press conference at the parliament, Akbulut claimed that half of the the Motherland Party (ANAP) deputies supported his presidential candidacy.

LEGAL SUPPORT FROM
ECEVIT

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that it was not necessary for Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Chairman of Constitutional Court, to resign from his post as he applied for presidential candidacy. When asked if there would be a reshuffle in the cabinet, Ecevit said, ''we have not taken up the issue with Yilmaz and Bahceli. We will discuss it after the presidential elections. I think there is not a need for a change.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

AUTOMOTIVE EXPORTS INCREASE
Automotive exports brought an income of 885 million dollars in the first four months of the year 2000, with an increase by 14 percent as compared to the same period of 1999.

MOODY'S PREPARES TO INCREASE TURKEY'S RATING NOTE
Hanan Amen Salem, Turkey analyst of Moody's, one of the leading rating organizations of the world, said that compromise of government on a joint candidate in presidential elections was very important for political stability. Salem said Turkey gained credibility due to the consensus in the government about presidential candidacy. Salem said presidential elections was a test for Turkey's political stability, adding that determination of the government indicated that Turkey will pass this test easily. Stressing that Turkish economy passed the exams as of the first quarter of this year, Salem said Turkey has to focus on inflation from now on.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

POPE JOHN PAUL
II RECEIVES EUROPEAN PRIVATE SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES
Pope John Paul II received a 20-people delegation, led by George Jacobs, the Chairman of the European Industrialists and Employers Confederation (UNICE). Erkut Yucaoglu, Chairman of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD), Aldo Kaslowski, Deputy Chairman, and Bahadir Kaleagasi, the European Union (EU) representative were in attendance at the meeting. Yucaoglu asked invited Pope John Paul II to Turkey. Yucaoglu said Pope John Paul was pleased and interested when he said Turkey and Anatolia, and noted his call without giving promise.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

FOREIGN MINISTRY-STATE PLANNING
ORGANIZATION BICKERING
The bickering of governing coalition partners on administrative structure that will be formed in EU candidacy process since the Helsinki Summit and their failure in reaching an agreement cause postponement of completion of Turkey's homework. The postponement also suits interests of the circles which target at delaying full-membership negotiations.

AKBULUT PULLS OUT OF RACE
Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut, the main challenger to the government's opposition- endorsed candidate for the presidency, said that he pulled out of the elections. With Akbulut's withdrawal, only six candidates are left in the presidential race. Yildirim Akbulut's withdrawal has greatly boosted the chances of Constitutional Court Chairman Ahmet Necdet Sezer in Friday's third round.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

TOURISM MINISTY RESTARTS COMMERCIALS IN
BRITAIN
The Ministry of Tourism which suspended Turkey's promotional activities in Britain following the violent incidents that occurred between Galatasaray and Leeds United fans in Istanbul, will soon restart its commercials on British tv and radio channels. Turkey will continue its promotional activities with the ''same concept, same strategy and same intensity'', the Ministry announced. Printed ads have been continuing due to signed agreements. Meanwhile, Turkey Hotel Owners Union Honorary Chairman Ali Gurel said the reservations for Turkey were at a good level. Britain is a very important and growing market for Turkey with its more than 1 million tourists, Gurel said and praised the Tourism Ministry's decision to restart commercials.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

INFLATION DOCUMENT TO BE OPENED FOR SIGNATURE
The ''national reconciliation document'' of the ''Turkey is overcoming inflation'' campaign will be opened for signature in whole country. The campaign was launched by the Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) and Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM). The ''national reconciliation document against inflation'' had been opened for signature with a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace on April 21. The document will be put to signatures of industrialists, exporters, traders, self-employed and people of other sectors in nearly 400 places in Turkey by this week.

CILLER: ''SEZER WILL RECEIVE MORE THAN 400 VOTES IN THIRD ROUND''
Tansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP), said that Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the Chairman of Constitutional Court, would receive more than 400 votes in the third round for the presidential elections, and would be elected as new president of Turkey.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

OUR RATING TO INCREASE
Moody's, a rating organization, announced that the Turkish economy had passed the class as of the first quarter of the year, and that it would upgrade its rating on Turkey in a very short time.

DEMIREL: ''I WILL SERVE FOR 50 YEARS MORE''
President Suleyman Demirel stressed that he had successfully fulfiled his mission. ''I have served this country for 50 years. I can serve for 50 years more with the support of the Turkish people,'' he stated.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

REPROACHFUL FAREWELL
Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut who was shown as the strongest rival of Ahmet Necdet Sezer in presidential elections withdrew from candidacy. ''Revelation of free will was blocked with illegal and anti- democratic methods,'' he said.

GALATASARAY STARTS REAPING
Galatasaray and Antalyaspor charmed the spectators in yesterday's Turkish Cup final played in southeastern Diyarbakir province. Both teams played enterprising football and scored eight goals. Galatasaray won 5-3 after they scored three goals in extra time. Galatasaray will play the UEFA Cup final and is now the strongest candidate for First Division Championship.

[02] TREASURY'S PRESS RELEASE ON INFLATION

Treasury, in its press release, said that the increase in wholesale prices index (TEFE) was 2.4 percent and the increase in consumer prices index (TUFE) was 2.4 percent in April.

It said the same rates had been 5.3 percent and 4.9 percent in April 1999.

Treasury said the inflation rates in April 2000 were lower than the rates in previous months of the year and in 1999 despite the serious increase in the prices, new season in clothing and increase in agricultural goods.

It said the 1.9 percent decrease in manufacturing industry price-increase rates was positive.

Noting that the ongoing comprehensive economic program which focused on the disinflation target was a totality composed of financial, monetary and foreign exchange policies and structural reforms, it said that the effects of this program on the inflation started to be seen gradually, stressing that this positive affect would be perceived more by degrees.

Treasury said that acceleration of structural reforms especially privatization, achievement in Central Bank's currency targets, continuation of decreasing trend in deposits and domestic borrowing interest rates and positive effect of decrease in niterest burden on budget performance were the factors for the decrease in inflation rates in April.

Noting that confidence had been settled as a result of successful continuation of disinflation and economic stability program, it said that international rating organizations had affirmed their positive outlook on Turkey.

Treasury added that the prices were expected to decrease gradually in coming months.

[03] CEM AND PAPANDREOU ADDRESS A TELEVISION PROGRAM ON CNN-TV

Addressing a television program on the CNN-TV together with his Greek counterpart George Papandreou, Cem noted, ''the Europeans have been trying to exclude Turkey by connecting it with Islam for a long time. Negative prejudices were influencial in their approach towards Turkey. But they left all these prejudices behind. Now they have assumed a more realistic attitude. I believe that everything was progressing in a positive direction.''

Referring to the Cyprus question, Cem said, ''the two sides on Cyprus will come to a conclusion if they come together, take truths into consideration, show respect to each other's sovereignty, and recognize separate parliaments within democracy. If they succeed in these, a peaceful atmosphere of reconciliation will be created on the island.''

Meanwhile, Greek Foreign Minister Papandreou said in his part that they were always in favor of dialogue.

Papandreou pointed out that they supported the bizonal and and bicommunal federation proposal put forward by the United Nations.

He stressed that recent dynamism in relations between Turkey and Greece should be upheld.

Noting that the latest developments between the Turkish and Greek people and non-governmental organizations were promising, Papandreou said that any failure in finding a solution to the Cyprus question would affect negatively relations between Turkey and Greece.

Papandreou also referred to close cooperation between the two neighbouring countries during the war in Kosovo and quake disasters which hit both countries last year.

Emphasizing that Greece was likely to become the 12th nation using Europe's common Euro currency, Papandreou said that it would contribute to reform process in Turkey and joint investments between Turkish and Greek businessmen.

He said that expressions in the annual terrorism report of the U.S. State Department regarded with Greece, were exaggerated.

[04] WORLD BANK-ENERGY PROJECTS

Sources said on Thursday that the World Bank experts had proposed the Treasury to extend guarantee to the energy projects till 2005 which had found financing.

The Bank experts said that the guarantees which had been given up until now brought burden on Turkey, adding that the free market principle in energy sector and the balance of the continuing disinflation program would be destroyed in case of extension of guarantee to more companies except 3-4 projects.

Experts stated that the amount of ratification awaiting energy power plant portfolio of Turkey was very high, adding that the projects which had priority should be put into practice within the development plan after the having the opinion of the State Planning Organization (DPT).

Sources said the Wrold Bank experts and the officials at the Treasury, DPT and Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources would come together again next week.

Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and the Deputy Prime Minister, earlier stated that feasibility reports of 46 projects had been finalized, and they were waiting for the approval pf Treasury and DPT.

[05] TURKEY EIGHTH ENERGY CONGRESS TO BE HELD IN ANKARA BETWEEN 8-12 MAY

The Congress and Fair were organized by the World Energy Council's (WEC) Turkish National Committee under the leadership of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.

WEC's Turkish National Committee issued a statement, saying that the Congress targeted at evaluating energy and technology for sustainable development in the 21st century and bringing proposals to solve the national energy problems.

Noting that several issues like development and strategies of energy sector, conventional resources, new and renewable energy resources would be discussed during the Congress, it said that three panel discussions on ''university-industry cooperation in energy sector'', ''financing problems'', and ''oil and natural gas supply: pipelines and strategies'' would be held within the framework of the Congress.

President Suleyman Demirel is expected to address the opening session of the Congress in which almost 900 delegates will participate.

Meanwhile, more than 30 domestic and foreign companies will attend the Fair.

[06] GAP OFFICIAL ALEMDAROGLU: ''600 U.S. DOLLARS YIELD PER HECTARE HAS INCREASED TO 2.100 U.S. DOLLARS WITH START OF IRRIGATION''

''We have to add a 100 thousand hectares of land into irrigation sector each year,'' he said.

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Alemdaroglu said that the GAP which was one of the giant regional development and integrated projects in the world had increased the added value in the region.

Alemdaroglu said that the producers had to make production based on cotton and approached sensitively toward irrigation techniques and fertilization for a continuous increase in added value.

''We are obliged to add a 100 thousand hectares of land into the irrigation sector of the GAP which was planned to be finalized in 2010. The 600 U.S. dollars yield per hectare has increased to 1.200 U.S. dollars with the start of irrigation. If we multiply this with 130 thousand hectares for the Harran Plain, it means almost 200 million U.S. dollars of yield. And if we multiply the added value it creates, it means a half billion U.S. dollars yield for the plain,'' he stated.

Noting that GAP not only brought fertility but also changed the social life in the region, Alemdaroglu said that the social events in the region became more active with the GAP.

[07] WORLD BANK AND TUBITAK TO CARRY OUT WORKSHOP

Many Turkish and foreign scientists will participate in the workshop, entitled as ''Assessment, Repair, and Strenghtening of Buildings Against Tremors''.

An Executive Committee consisting of academicians and NGO representatives will guide the workshop, which will take place between May 5th and 6th at TUBITAK'sFeza Gursoy Conference Hall.

On the first day of the workshop, the guests will convey their views and experiences in Turkey. In the following sessions of the workshop, a committee will be formed to reach a compromise on a document suggesting methods of damage assessment and repair of stricken buildings.

The World Bank is financing the foreign guests' efforts and activities to repair the buildings within the framework of the workshop.

[08] THIRD ROUND OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION VOTING TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY

The Parliamentary General Assembly will convene at 3.00 p.m. on Friday under the auspices of Ali Iliksoy, one of the acting parliament speakers.

The deputies will vote for six presidential candidates by secret voting.

Below listed the names of the presidential candidates who will join the third round of voting:

Mail Buyukerman ....... Independent Eskisehir Deputy

Dogan Gures ........... Deputy of True Path Party (DYP)

Ahmet Necdet Sezer..... Constitutional Court Chairman

Sadi Somuncuoglu ...... Deputy of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)

Nevzat Yalcintas ...... Deputy of Virtue Party (FP)

Rasim Zaimoglu ........ Deputy of DYP

In accordance with the Constitution, a candidate should get 276 votes in favour which is the absolute majority of the deputies, in the third round of voting to become the president.

If the absolute majority cannot be reached in the third round, two of the candidates who receive the highest votes, will attend the fourth round on May 9.

Also, a candidate should get 276 votes in favour to become the president in the fourth round of voting.

If a president is not elected in the fourth round, then the parliament will renew the elections.

President Suleyman Demirel will continue his post until a new President is elected.

A total of 12 deputies had run their candidacy for the presidency and Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the Constitutional Court Chairman, was nominated as the presidential candidate by the compromise of five political parties.

Gonul Saray Alphan, a deputy of the Democratic Left PArty (DSP), and Turhan Imamoglu, a deputy of the DSP, announced that they withdrew from the elections a day before the first round of voting.

Oguz Aygun, a DSP deput, Agah Oktay Guner, a deputy of the Motherland Party (ANAP), and Ahmet Iyimaya, A DYP deputy, said that they withdrew from the elections prior to the second round of voting.

Yildirim Akbulut, the Parliament Speaker, said on Wednesday that he also withdrew from the presidential elections.

The votes that the candidates received in the first and second round of voting are as follows:

Candidate First Round Second Round -----------

A. Necdet Sezer 281 314

Nevzat Yalcintas 61 66

Sadi Somuncuoglu 58 32

Yildirim Akbulut 56 88

Dogan Gures 35 22

Ahmet Iyimaya 10 Withdrew

A. Oktay Guner 5 Withdrew

Rasim Zaimoglu 7 3

Oguz Aygun 4 Withdrew

Mail Buyukerman 3 2

If the president is elected in the third round of voting, the Chairmanship Council and the Parliament Speaker will sign a minute and notify the new president about the result of the elections.

The Tenth President of Turkey will take oath at the Parlimentary General Assembly on May 16, 2000.

Later, the new President will take over the post from Suleyman Demirel, the Nineth President of Turkey.

The new President will be in office until May 16, 2007.

[09] ISO VOCATIONAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS -FINANCE MINISTER ORAL: ''APRIL RESULTS ARE HOPE INSPIRING''

Sumer Oral attended the 3rd Joint Meeting of Vocational committees of Istanbul's Chamber of Industry (ISO). Oral said that the aim of the program was to pull down the inflation rate down to reasonable levels, and maintain a healthy growth rate.

Oral said that Turkey had to strengthen her financial balances in the shortest time possible, and build a powerful economy on these concretke grounds.

''The economic reform program is consistent in itself; and together with it, we are also considering other reforms pertaining to banking, customs law, social security regulations, and arbitration law.

The success that the government made in the first three months of this year is a very satisfactory picture. There is a great increase in the amount of the taxes collected. This indicates that the economy is gradually livening,'' Oral said.

[10] GALATASARAY BECOMES SEVENTH AMONG MOST SUCCESSFUL TEAMS OF WORLD

Galatasaray, which will play for the championship in the Union of European Federations Associations (UEFA) Cup this month, became the seventh in the list of the International Football Federation's History and Statistics Department (IFFHS) in April with 276.5 points.

In accordance with the IFFHS list, the first ten football teams of the world are as follows:

Team Country Points

---------------------- -------- ------
1-Manchester United FC Britain 326

2-SS Lazio Roma Italy 308

3-FC Barcelona Spain 298

4-FC Bayern Munich Germany 296

5-Real Madrid CF Spain 293

6-FC Chelsea Britain 284

7-Galatasaray Turkey 276.5

8- Valencia CF Spain 276

9-SE Palmerias Brazil 258

10-CD America Colombia 235.5

There are no other Turkish teams among the 100 most successful football teams of the world.

In accordance with the list, the other Turkish teams and their places in the list are as follows:

Team Points Place ------ -----

MKE Ankaragucu 112.5 102
Besiktas 99.5 129

Fenerbahce 80.5 184

Antalyaspor 80 185

Gaziantepspor 76.5 201

Trabzonspor 69 241

Samsunspor 60 294

[11] CULTURE MINISTER TALAY INAUGURATES CONFERENCE ON ''PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF AUDIO-VISUAL AND CINEMATOGPRAPHIC HERITAGE: LEGAL DIMENSION''

The conference on ''Protection and Development of audio-Visual and Cinematographic Heritage: Legal Dimension'', organised by Turkey, the term president of the Council of Europe's Audiovisual EUREKA, started on Thursday at the Odakule Conference Hall of Istanbul Chamber of Industry.

Culture Minister Istemihan Talay said in his speech that Turkey had a rich audio-visual heritage, that Turkey's significance in Europe's history could not be neglected, and added:

''Yet another dimension of Europe's cultural heritage is the audio-visual and cinematographic heritage, which should be evaluated seperately from the other works of art. Movies, for instance, are the products of team work; and in the end, they turn to be the common property of the people. They are the most concrete pieces of evidence of the everyday lives of societies, reflecting the social, cultural and economic structures.''

The conference, held with the participation of representatives from East European and Mediterranean countries, and which will end tomorrow, will stage discussions on ''Protection of Audio-Visual and Cinematographic Works and Material'', ''Categorisation of Audio-Visual and Cinematographic Works and Material Owners'', ''Types of License Agreements Signed Between Archive Owners and Users'', and ''Contracts with Right Owners''.

[12] TURKISH-GREEK FRIENDSHIP -STUDENTS FROM KAVALA HIGH SCHOOL OF GREECE VISIT CANAKKALE

The 10-student group paid a visit of courtesy ot Governor Ekrem Ozsoy of Canakkale.

George Trikaliotes, a teacher at Kavala High School told Ozsoy that he was very happy to be in Canakkale, and added, ''We were welcomed very warmly in Canakkale, a Turkish city we had decided to visit as part of efforts to further develop our friendly relations. We wish our friendship will last a whole life long.''

Ozsoy presented the students with books about Canakkale, and Trikaliotes with a plate.

The Greek students, who are in Canakkale as the guests of their Turkish friends, will tour around Canakkale and environs until May 6th. The guest students are reportedly hosted by the Turkish students' families.

Canakkale High School officials said that Turkish students at Canakkale High School would go to Greece as the guests of their friends at Kavala High School.

[13] TURKEY REPAYS 357.32 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN FOREIGN DEBT BETWEEN MAY 1 AND 3

The Central Bank data shows that the Treasury repaid 350.17 million U.S. dollars; the Central Bank repaid 4.45 million U.S. dollars; the administrations with general and added budgets repaid 2.70 million U.S. dollars in foreign debt between May 1 and 3, 2000.

Meanwhile, a total of 4 billion 356.20 million U.S. dollars of foreign debt has been repaid since the beginning of the year.

[14] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK DECREASE BY 615 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

The Central Bank data shows that the foreign exchange reserves, which was 22 billion 952 million U.S. dollars on April 21, decreased 615 million U.S. dollars to 22 billion 337 million U.S. dollars as of April 28.

Meanwhile, according to the April 14-based statistics, Turkey's total international gross reserves were 38 billion 545 million U.S dollars.

The international gross reserves of Turkey were 37 billion 727 million U.S. dollars on April 7.

As of April 14, Turkey's international reserves were composed of 1 billion 11 million U.S. dollars in gold reserves; 23 billion 116 million U.S. dollars in the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves; and 14 billion 378 million U.S. dollars in the commercial banks' foreign exchange reserves.

[15] BLUE STREAM PROJECT - CONSTRUCTION OF SAMSUN-CORUM LINE STARTS

The construction of the Samsun region portion, which constitutes about 200 kilometres of the total 501 kilometre long line along Ankara-Temelli and Samsun Carsamba, started with a ''welding ceremony''.

Governor of Samsun Metin Ilyas Aksoy, Mayor Yusuf Ziya Yilmaz, officials from the Oztas-Haznedaroglu-Stroytransgaz (OHS) Consortium-the consortium responsible for the construction of the Turkey portion of the pipeline-, BOTAS officials, Italian ENI Group officials, and Gasprom officials attended the ceremony in the Cinik region of Tekkekoy township.

With the Blue Stream project, Turkey will receive Russian natural gas from the reserves in Zapolyarnoye, and Bregegovoye via the United Natural Gas Distribution Network and the Black Sea. The Italian ENI Group and Russia's Gasprom are constructing the portion running across Russian territory, while Italian SAIPEM is constructing the Black Sea portion.

Within the framework of the ''Blue Current'' project, Turkey will receive a total of 365 billion cubic meters of natural gas in the forthcoming 25 years. The project is planned to have been completed by April 2001.

[16] FOREIGN MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY LOGOGLU: -''PRINCIPLES OF TWO STATES ON CYPRUS IS AN INDISPENSABLE PARAMETER''

Logoglu responded to the questions on the latest situation in Cyprus question and the third round of Cyprus proximity talks which were planned to be started on May 23, during his visit to Anadolu Agency (A.A).

Logoglu noted that Turkish side will not take a backward step from the principle of two states and that this is an indispensable parameter.

The aim of the proximity talks is laying the groundwork for the face-to-face meetings, Logoglu stated.

Logoglu stressed that this target was not accomplished in the first two rounds of Cyprus proximity talks.

The two sides on Cyprus informed Kofi Annan, the United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General, about their ideas on fundamental issues during the first two rounds, Logoglu emphasized.

Logoglu said that two sides accepted to apply a new method in the third round of proximity talks but it is not clear yet what the change will be.

''Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is going to the third round proximity talks after it determines comprehensive parameters and after it get prepared,'' Logoglu said.

Logoglu added that these parametres include proposals which are in consonant with the strategical basic interests and the realities on the island.

Meanwhile, Turkey continues to support Rauf Denktas, the TRNC President who is expected to go to the U.S. this month for the third round of proximity talks.

Diplomatic sources said that Denktas may visit Ankara prior to his visit to the U.S.

The diplomatic sources also said that President Suleyman Demirel will pay a farewell visit to TRNC on Saturday.

Demirel's visit is the indicator of the support that Turkey extends to Denktas, the diplomatic sources added.

[17] INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE REPORT ISSUED -REPORT SAYS EU MEMBERSHIP YET A HIGH HOPE FOR TURKEY

The report, which reserved space to Turkey in its Europe section, covering the developments also in Russia, Serbia, and Northern Ireland, said that the most striking thing about the 1999-2000 period in Turkey was ''the diminishing of the atmosphere of despair and the emergence of a more optimistic and hopeful attitude among people.'' It warned however, that things could easily turn upside down anytime, and Turkish people could sink back into pessimism.

The report said that the August and November quakes revealed, unveiled the mysteries behind many questions of corruption, and that ''Turkish politics seemed to have reached the verge of collapse in the late summer months'', but that from January 2000 onwards, things started getting better and better, and this progress was crowned by the people's boosting morales, particularly in the wake of Turkey's admission as a candidate EU member.

The report called attention to the bettering of relations between Turkey and Greece and said ''All at once, Turkey seemed to have been faced with no serious problems''. It said that these positive developments were followed by a series of good news heralding the beginning of the anti-inflationist period.

Reiterating that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit had been making hope inspiring statements to the effect that Turkey could catch up with European Union standards and reach a point where she could meet all requirements of the Union by 2002, the report said ''Still, full membership in the EU is yet a high hope for Turkey.''

A.A

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