TRKNWS-L Turkish Daily News (March 6, 1996)

From: TRKNWS-L <[email protected]>

Turkish News Directory

CONTENTS

TURKISH DAILY NEWS / 6 March 1996

[01] Yumurtalik-Kirkuk pipeline in good shape

Turkish Daily News

ANKARA- The Yumurtalik-Kirkuk pipeline, which is the main outlet for Iraqi oil, is in good shape, according to officials from Turkey and Iraq.

The Iraqi Oil Minister Amir Muhammad Rasheed said he had reached Turkey through northern Iraq and saw, as he travelled along the pipeline, that it was not damaged.

Sinasi Altiner, Turkey's energy minister, said for his part that the Turkish portion of the twin pipeline was also in good condition.

Rasheed and his ten-man delegation went to Ceyhan Monday to examine the twin pipeline that is the main outlet of Iraqi oil from the Kirkuk fields. He also visited the port facilities in Ceyhan, Turkey's Mediterranean port, from which Iraqi oil was distributed before the pipeline's closure in 1990, shortly after Iraq invaded Kuwait. The pipeline has been closed for almost six years.

"The reopening of the pipeline will be in the interests of both Iraq and Turkey," Altiner said as he received his Iraqi counterpart before official talks.

"Iraq has suffered substantial losses, but so has Turkey," Altiner said. "We do not want to inflict any damage on a neighboring country, but we have to abide by United Nations resolutions. I hope that the talks between Iraq and the United Nations, which start on March 11, will have positive results for both." But it is still unclear whether or not Iraq will accept the terms of the U.N.'s oil-for-food deal. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein told an Iraqi delegation on Tuesday to continue talks with the United Nations on an oil-for-food deal, the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported.

Saddam's instructions were issued during a meeting attended by members of the Revolutionary Command Council, the Regional Command of the ruling Baath Party and the Iraqi delegation headed by Abdul-Amir al-Anbari.

"The meeting ... reviewed the results of the first round of talks and some of the positive points which have been achieved.

The required directives were given to the delegation to continue the talks...," the INA said.

Iraq began talks last month with the United Nations on a deal to sell $2 billion worth of oil over six months, on a renewable basis, to buy food and medicine.

The first round of the talks ended two weeks ago without agreement. A second round is scheduled for March 11 in New York.

The major part of the oil should go via the pipeline through Turkey, according to U.N. Resolution 986. Earlier, Iraq had refused the idea, saying it could not maintain the security of the pipeline because it passed through the Kurdish-controlled north.

But this time, the Iraqi minister arrived at Turkey's southeastern Habur border gate by crossing through northern Iraq. While some diplomatic observers said this unprecedented route was a sign that the Iraqi central authority and at least some of the Kurdish factions were mending fences, Ankara carefully refrained from comment.

The representatives of the two northern Iraqi Kurdish groups in Ankara made conflicting statements on the Iraqi minister's route. The liaison office of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan said the minister had held a meeting with rival leader Massoud Barzani, while the office of Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party ruled out any such meeting.

[02] Yilmaz to submit the cabinet list to Demirel

ANKARA- With the coalition protocol approved by both sides, Prime Minister designate Mesut Yilmaz will seek today President Demirel's approval for his government set up by his Motherland Party (ANAP) and True Path Party (DYP) of Tansu Ciller.

Yilmaz will submit the list to Demirel at 8.30 p.m. The President is expected to give his approval to announce since, in keeping with political traditions, the prime ministers seek his say in advance to spare themselves an unpleasant surprise after the formal presentation.

Ciller, stepping down as the leader of a troubled partnership with the social democrats that lasted more than four years for the sake of a center-right alliance with ANAP to replace it, obtained the consent of her party's executives and legislators yesterday.

The protocol foresees a five-year alliance with Yilmaz taking the first turn at rotating premiership until the end of the year, Ciller taking over for the next two years, Yilmaz getting back the post in the fourth and a DYP deputy heading the partnership in the fifth and final year. The protocol also stipulates cooperation between the two parties for the next presidential election in 2000.

The document, signed on Sunday by the two leaders, incorporates agreement on a structural reform for the state, and a rapid privatization.

To mollify her deputies resenting her subordination to Yilmaz despite DYP's 135-to-126 lead in the 550-seat assembly, Ciller said she had to make the sacrifice in order to bar the way to power for the Islamists who bagged 158 seats in the Dec. 24 election.

After finalizing the Cabinet list following the approval of the coalition protocol by both sides, Yilmaz sought the night appointment with Demirel.

If Demirel signals his consent without requesting any changes, the 53rd Turkish Cabinet will be formed by 33 members.

Parliament sources said contrary to earlier expectations, Necmettin Cevheri, a top aide for Ciller, will not take part in the Cabinet as Yilmaz's deputy. Faced with likely challenges at the DYP congress in November, Ciller will need Cevheri's support as the head of party organizations.

DYP sources said party big guns Nahit Mentese or Hasan Ekinci were likely to fill the post of deputy prime minister reserved for the party in the alliance.

Addressing separately her party's executives and deputies on the last day of her premiership, Ciller explained reasons for allowing Yilmaz to take the first turn after having adamantly refused it in earlier negotiations, saying that "history has once again knocked on the door of the DYP (for self-sacrifice)." She said the move had become necessary to prevent the rule by Islamists and to complete the unity of the center-right.

Ciller said earlier Tuesday, when she met with Foreign Minister Deniz Baykal who leads the junior partner in the outgoing coalition, the Republican People's Party (CHP), to make an assessment of four years of partnership which accomplished many important tasks. But she said distance remained to be covered in privatization, speeding up the judicial procedures and improving the education and health services.

[03] Turkish General Staff issues public relations guidelines for southeast

By Hayri Birler

Turkish Daily News

ANKARA- The Turkish General Staff (TGS) has warned the units engaged in combat against the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the southeast against exhibiting the mutilated corpses of the slain terrorists to the people, military sources said.

The TGS officials told the Turkish Daily News that all the orders and directives issued regarding the conduct of relations with the civilian population ever since the army units took up internal security functions had been compiled in a book titled "The Guidelines for Public Relations and Ways to Win over the Population"

The book had reportedly been distributed to the officers and non-commissioned officers in the area and was used as a textbook in classes for the enlisted personnel. "The aim is to show the people that the state is by the side of the people in the combat against terrorism and to increase the people's support to the state in the combat."

Rules for searches and operations

The book contains the following instructions for the troops taking part in the searches or operations against the separatist militants.

"While conducting searches, do not harm the property of the local people. If some damage is inadvertently caused, pay the damage. Do not conduct searches with harsh and irregular methods. Act with restraint towards women and the elderly. Do not search the women yourselves. Employ policewomen, midwives, nurses, woman teachers or trustable women among the locals. Do not assign the village guards to conduct house searches by themselves. Coordinate the searches with the local officials.

after the searches make sure that you obtain signed statements by the villagers that their property have not been harmed, and keep these records. These documents should bear the signatures of the village headmen or elders. In case some damage has been caused and its exploitation is likely, try to record it with film or video cameras.

While conducting the searches, be vigilant against the boobytraps or active intervention from the terrorists. Never neglect the security precautions so as not to cause any damage.

Do not forget that you can come face to face with a terrorist any moment."

The instructions further urged the unit commanders to declare own casualties and rebel dead and wounded with detailed information on the engagements, including their exact time and places. The book warned that "rumors and suspicions thrive where there is no flow of reliable information."

The unit commanders were also urged to strictly heed the following instructions:

"Carefully list everything taken from the slain terrorists; don't allow any robbery. Avoid coercing people by exhibiting the mutilated bodies of slain terrorists at village squares with the intended message of "see what happens."; such attitudes, may indeed scare the people, but they will not give the state an agreeable image; on the contrary it damages its reputation."

"Never forget that you represent the state"

The book of military etiquette required the commanders to assist the poor, sick and destitute in their areas of responsibility by organizing provision of water and food, the repair of their houses and the harvest of their crops. "If you see people walking on the road, give them a ride if you have a place in your vehicle," the book advised.

"When you have to address the people, do not assemble the people at the houses of the headman, sheikh or the wealthy, but pick open spaces as the village square, village coffeehouse , the mosque courtyard or the school garden. Politely persuade the important personages that this was meant as no offence to them.

The villagers will make you offerings to ensure that you will act tolerantly. Accept the people's offerings but sparingly. Pay back with cigarettes, tea, sugar or canned rations.

Make use of every opportunity to convince that you are sharing their joy and grief. Help them bury their dead, attend funerals, pay condolence visits. For, according to local traditions, those who visit the house of dead for condolences cannot be an enemy.

Attend the mass prayers at religious occasions. Give tips to children. attend the weddings and join in the folk dances.

Have prayers recited for your fallen soldiers and invite the locals to the ceremony. In Ramadan, respond to invitation from the villagers to break the fast together. Organize fast breaking meals yourselves and make sure the village poor are invited beside the wealthy.

If you have to procure supplies locally, never haggle over prices. On the contrary, pay more than the normal price. Buy from different shops instead of taking only from one. Thus, you will not only show that you do not discriminate between the people, but at the same time you will win gratitude of the less well-to-do retailers.

Never forget that you represent the state in the places you serve. The trust and respect you evoke in people will increase their trust, respect and loyalty to the state," the booklet said.

[04] Turkey calls for cooperation against terrorism

By Nazlan Ertan

Turkish Daily News

ANKARA- Turkey, urging Israel to continue the peace process despite the recent attacks, took the opportunity to urge all regional countries to "mobilze all resources" to cooperate against terrorism.

Diplomatic officials told the Turkish Daily News that Turkey, which severely condemns the attacks, had already send its condolences regarding the Tel Aviv mall bombing on Monday.

"There is no indication so far that the visit of President Suleyman Demirel to Israel, scheduled for March 11 to 14, is to be cancelled," a spokesman for the Turkish Foreign Ministry told the Turkish Daily News.

On the contrary, Demirel's visit will be the highest manifestation of the Turkish view that the "fight against terrorism" should not be omitted from the Middle East peace process. The peace talks between Israel and Syria have been suspended as Israel called back its team from the United States.

The series of attacks shows that terrorism remains the main threat in the region and has the strength to upset the peace process, a Turkish diplomat familiar with the file told the Turkish Daily News.

"Our policy is that the threat posed by terrorism should be addressed seriously in the course of the peace talks," the diplomat said. "We believe this can be done through international cooperation." As peace talks proceeded between Syria and Israel, Ankara grew increasingly worried that Syria's support of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) along with other terrorist groups would be ignored by the international community. Ankara also appeared worried that Syria would be taken off the United States' list of countries sponsoring terrorism.

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Onur Oymen, on a visit to Israel earlier this year, obtained Tel Aviv's word that Israel would not make peace with Syria until the latter ends its support of terrorism.

A written statement made by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Tuesday said that the attacks targeted the peace process which had been started by the courageous leaders of the region.

"We hope that the peace efforts will not be damaged by the attacks," the statement said.

The two countries, Turkey and Israel, have a bilateral accord of cooperation against terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime.

In January, Ankara seized six arms-laden trucks from Iran.

Although Turkey's first impulse was to say that the arms were going to the PKK, it was disclosed Monday by the Interior Ministry that the arms were going to Hamas, which has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Israel.

Ankara is also worried that the Islamic suicide bombings may upset the stability of Israel, a Western-oriented democracy which Turkey regards as a natural partner in the Middle East.

Ankara is concerned that the attacks will cause a backlash in the peace process, particularly if the Jewish state is forced to counter violence with violence.

"The extremist Israeli right wing may benefit from these attacks, which will be an outcome that would benefit none of the countries that want peace in the region," a Turkish diplomat said.

[05] Parliament speaker Kalemli in Georgia, meets Shevardnadze

ANKARA- The recently-elected speaker of the Turkish Parliament, Mustafa Kalemli, on his first official visit abroad, met Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze on Tuesday, the Anatolian news agency, reporting from Tiblisi said.

While in the Georgian capital, Kalemli was hosted by his counterpart, the speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Zurab Zuvania.

President Shevardnadzde conveyed his greetings to Kalemli on his recent election and said he was grateful that he had selected Georgia as his first country to visit since becoming speaker of the Parliament.

Shevardnadze said his sentiments also reflected those of the Georgian people.

Earlier in the day Kalemli, in an address to the Georgian Parliament, said that if the close ties between the speakers of the Parliaments of the two countries were emulated by all deputies and political parties, this would contribute to bringing the two peoples together.

"Important responsibilities befall our national Parliaments in the region... I believe in the importance of close ties of cooperation between the Parliaments of countries in the region for the sake of instilling peace in the Caucasus," Kalemli said.

Kalemli went on to tell the Georgian legislators that the development of ties between Turkey and Georgia was not only to the benefit of the two countries but also the region.

Kalemli pointed out the sensitive geography that Turkey is located in. He said that Turkey today was working to overcome violations of international law in the Balkans and the Caucasus while at the same time trying to ward off threats to its territorial integrity.

Touching on Abkhazia, a region of Georgia where separatist rebels have been waging a war against Tiblisi, Kalemli said that the settlement to this problem had to take note of the territorial integrity and independence of Georgia as well as the need to respect human rights.

Referring also to the importance of oil pipelines in the region for carrying Caspian oil to international markets, Kalemli said that such pipelines going over Georgia and Turkey would bring great political and economic advantages to the two countries.

Kalemli, who was accompanied by a group of Turkish deputies on his visit to Georgia, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Tiblisi in the afternoon.

[06] Turkey rejects tripartite water talks under Arab League's shadow

ANKARA- Turkey, which categorically calls for tripartite water talks with neighboring Iraq and Syria, ruled out such talks within the framework of the Arab League.

Yasar Yakis, Turkey's ambassador to Cairo the seat of the Arab League said that the tripartite talks should be direct, rather than under the League, to which Turkey is not a member.

Yakis had just met Ismet Abdulmecid, the secretary-general of the League, who reportedly told Yakis that the Arab body wanted Turkey to "make an agreement that would give a guarantee to Syria for its water needs." Syria, the downstream country for the Euphrates, has been lobbying fervently with the Arab world to push Turkey to make an agreement on the allocation of Euphrates water.

Ankara says that Turkey, Iraq and Syria should first come together for technical talks and work out the inventory for respective land and water needs. This offer has so far been refused by Iraq and Syria.

[07] Fener Patriarch demands help from Greece on Orthodox church issue

Turkish Daily News

ANKARA- Fener Greek Patriarch Bartolomeous demanded assistance from Athens to remove the tension which has arisen between him and Moscow Patriarch Aleksios due to the Estonian church, the Anatolia news agency reported on Tuesday.

A delegation from the Fener patriarchate, headed by Kadikoy Metropolitan Ioakim, flew to Athens to hold negotiations with the Greek Foreign Ministry. The delegation will give information to officials from the Greek Foreign Ministry regarding the aim of taking the Orthodox church in Estonia, which caused the severing of relations between Fener and Moscow, under the auspices of the Fener patriarchate.

Meanwhile, Aleksios visited the Greek Embassy in Moscow, and noted that there was no problem with Greece, the problem was between the Fener and Moscow patriarchates.