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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-04-17Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>17 APRIL 1998CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on April 17, 1998. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. You will find more detailed summaries of the main stories in the Turkish press in a few hours.HURRIYET (LIBERAL) 81 PKK TERRORISTS KILLED MILLIYET (LIBERAL)LET US GO TO THE SOUTHEAST...Terrorism is about to finish. People began to smile in the Southeast. Now the time has come for economic investments, human rights and democratization. SABAH (LIBERAL)COOPERATION DECISION AT BALKAN SUMMITThe Presidents of Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania who convened in southern Antalya Province decided to cooperate on many issues extending from the struggle against organized crimes to terrorism. They also decided to set up a free economy and trade zone. CUMHURIYET (LEFT)SECOND INVESTIGATION FROM THE PARLIAMENT TO THE SUSPICIOUS WEALTH OF DYPLEADER The Parliament accepted on Thursday an investigation motion given by the government on grounds that Tansu Ciller, leader of the True Path Party (DYP) gained two million US dollars in unjust wealth. RADIKAL (LEFT)BAYKAL IS LIKE A ''PARTNER''Deniz Baykal, leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) said that they would extend unconditional support to the government until June. Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that there would be no elections this year. The two leaders decided to hold elections next March. YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)SAKIK BROTHERS TELL EVERYTHING ''WE WERE TRAINED IN SYRIA''Semdin Sakik and his brother Arif who were caught in Northern Iraq after an operation of Turkish Armed Forces said they got military and political training in Syria after they joined in the separatist terrorist PKK organization. TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)LOYALITY TO DECEASED PRESIDENT OZALPrime Minister Mesut Yilmaz will open the monumental tomb. The monumental tomb which is 35 meters high symbolizes the ideal of Turgut Ozal, the deceased President, which is the unity of the Turkish-Islamic ideal and Western civilization. ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)A start was given for the third Bosphorus Bridge tender planned to be constructed on the Istanbul Straits, it was reported on Thursday.The third bridge will be constructed with the ''build-operate-transfer'' model. Foreign company groups will hand over the bridge to the General Directorate of Highways after operating the bridge for 10 or 15 years. FİNANSAL FORUM (ECONOMY)ELECTIONS IN ''98'' TO DYNAMITE ECONOMYGunes Taner, Minister of State, currently in Washington, D.C., to participate in the Spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank said that Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) did not favor early elections, adding that ''having elections in Turkey in 1998 would be to put dynamite to the economy.'' [02] US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ARRIVES IN TURKEYANKARA, April 17 (A.A) - William Cohen, the US Secretary of Defense arrived in Turkey at 9:30 a.m. on Friday.Tuncer Kilic, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense and Mark Parris, the US Ambassador to Turkey welcomed Cohen at Ankara's Esenboga Airport. Cohen will pay a two-day visit to Turkey as the official guest of Ismet Sezgin, the Minister of National Defense. Turkey will be the first stop on his tour to regional countries including Jordan, Egypt, Israel and Greece. Cohen is scheduled to meet with Gen. Cevik Bir, the Deputy Chief of General Staff, Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, and will stage a joint news conference with Sezgin after his contacts. President Suleyman Demirel is also expected to receive Cohen in the evening hours. Cohen will proceed to the Incirlik Base on April 18 and will leave for Jordan after concluding observations the same day. This visit of Cohen which was planned to take place in February was postponed after the tension escalated in the Gulf. Bilateral military relations, modernization of the Turkish Armed Forces, Turkish-Greek relations, the Aegean and Cyprus will be discussed during the visit. Also, within this framework, talks are expected to be held on frigates, F- 15 war planes and attack helicopters. The ''Northern Watch'' air control operation, carried out to control the no- flight zone in the northern part of Iraq, will also be discussed. William Cohen, will discuss military and strategic issues during his visits to countries including Jordan, Egypt, Israel and Greece. In Athens, Cohen will discuss the 40 F-15E type war planes which Greece wants to purchase. Realization of the purchase in question will upset the military power balance in the Aegean. The Boeing company participated in the international bid opened by Greece for the F-15E type planes. Washington, D.C. earlier gave permission to Boeing to participate in the bid, but the ratification of the US congress is required if the bid is given to Boeing. [03] CELEBI, THE MINISTER OF STATE COMPLETES HIS VISIT TO BULGARIASOFIA, April 17 (A.A) - The 13th period meeting of the Bulgaria- Turkey Economic and Technological Commission (JEC) meeting organized in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, ended on Thursday.The protocol concerning the mutual agreement of the sides has been signed between Isin Celebi, the Minister of State, on behalf of Turkey, and Valentin Vasilev, the Minister of Trade and Tourism, on behalf of Bulgaria. The protocol foresees cooperation in the fields of industry, shipbuilding industry, agriculture, tourism, transportation, free trade zone and customs. Addressing the journalists after the meeting, Celebi pointed out that they discussed commercial and economic relations between Turkey and Bulgaria and the sides reached an accord to improve the relations. He noted that they will work to encourage the special sector meetings which undertake the main duty in commercial and economic relations, the mutual participation at fairs, exhibits and seminars. Celebi said that Bulgaria will support the ''The Balkan Countries Trade Development Center'' which will be established in the building of the Export Development Study Center of Turkey. He added that they agreed to develop the cooperation between the customs officials in both countries, to set up a joint customs point to speed the transactions and to open the Hamzabeyli-Elhovo border gate. Noting that the energy cooperation between Turkey and Bulgaria will be increased, Celebi said that Turkey will buy more electricity from Bulgaria and the two countries will work together for the modernization of the existing gas pipelines. Stressing the importance of privatization, Celebi invited the Turkish and Bulgarian firms to participate in the privatization process. Vasilev described the protocol as an evidence of the good neighbourhood relations between the two countries. [04] PARLIAMENT GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS ARTICLE ONE OF THE DRAFT LAW EXTENDING THE PERIOD OF TIME FOREIGNERS CAN STAY IN TURKEYANKARA, April 17 (A.A) - The Parliament General Assembly adopted on Wednesday article one of the draft law extending the period of time foreigners can stay in Turkey to five years.Necati Cetinkaya, Konya Deputy of True Path Party (DYP), which decided on a partial boycott of Parliament, voiced the views of his party related to the second article of the draft. Under the first article of the draft which was adopted the period of time foreigners can stay in Turkey was extended from two to five years. This time will be extended or shortened according to the principle of reciprocality of the Ministry of the Interior. [05] GREEKS HARASS TURKISH BUSINESSMEN IN THE AEGEAN SEA - UNAL, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ESIAD: ''THE GREEK CONSUL TO IZMIR CALLED US AND APOLOGIZED''IZMIR, April 17 (A.A) - Tufan Unal, the Chairman of the Aegean Association of Industrialists and Businessmen (ESIAD), said on Thursday that Andrea Fryganas, the Greek Consul to Izmir, called and apologized to them for the harassment at the Ikizce (Kardak) Rocks and Kos Island.Unal said, ''the Greek Embassy and Greek Consul to Izmir called us and conveyed their regret about the event. Fryganas apologized on behalf of his country and I believe that he was really sorry. He offered to come together and find a solution by holding talks. Meanwhile, the Greek Ambassador to Turkey send us a fax message and said that they will investigate those who were responsible for the harassement and let us know the latest developments. We hope that this event will put an end to the tension between Turkey and Greece.'' During the recent holiday period, three businessmen from Izmir and their families hired some local cruise boats to sail around the Aegean Sea coastline. They also sailed around Kardak island where they were confronted by a Greek Navy assault boat, which harassed them until a Turkish Navy vessel came along and saved them all from a difficult situation. After spending a night in Bodrum, the three families sailed on to the Greek island of Kos where again they were subjected to harassment and attacks when even the young children on the island pelted them all with rubbish. At the first opportunity, they all left the island and returned to Turkish waters. Later the businessmen noted that Greek police officials on the island did nothing to help them. [06] EU-CIVILIAN INITIATIVE MEETING - EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION TO MEET WITH CHAIRMEN OF TURK-IS, DISK, TISK, TOBB AND TESKANKARA, April 17 (A.A) - A group of Deputies from the European Parliament (EP) will convene with the Chairmen of the Federation of Turkish Trade Unions (Turk-Is), the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK), the Confederation of Turkish Employers' Unions (TISK), the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) and the Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen and Small Artisans (TESK) in Ankara.Turkey's full membership in the European Union (EU) and developments in Turkey about democratization will be discussed during the meeting which will be held between the Chairmen of non-governmental organizations and EP members. The participants will also re-evaluate the issues which had been taken up during a meeting that took place in Strasbourg city in France between Sept 16 and 17. [07] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)These are brief summaries of some of the leading stories in Turkey's press on April 17, 1998. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.) CHP LEADER SUPPORTS POLLS IN MARCH '99 BALKAN LEADERS AGREE TO FIGHT CRIME In another significant move, the three parties agreed to establish a free trade zone among themselves. Turkey and Romania have already established such an area. With the completion of a bilateral free trade agreement with Bulgaria, the trilateral free trade zone is expected to be realized in the years between 2000-2005, and negotiations on the issue are expected to begin before the end of 1998. /All papers/ MULTINATIONAL PEACE FORCE IN THE BALKANS COHEN IN ANKARA SEZGIN GOING TO ROMANIA AND AUSTRIA MILITARY OPERATIONS CONTINUE IN SOUTHEAST Meanwhile, Turkey has presented the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva with a proposal condemning terrorism. The proposal will be discussed on Friday and Turkey is expected to emphasize the supression of terrorism during the commission's meeting which will take place next year. /Hurriyet/ [08] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)These are brief summaries of some of the leading stories in Turkey's press on April 17, 1998. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.) US: PKK STATEMENTS ARE UNFOUNDED GREECE APOLOGIZES TO TURKEY THIRD BRIDGE FOR ISTANBUL WORTH 200 TRILLION TL PARLIAMENT CLEARS WAY FOR CILLER'S TRIAL FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES INCREASE EU THREATENS TURKEY POLICE PURSUE DRUG SMUGGLERS OPENING CEREMONY OF MAUSOLEUM FOR TURGUT OZAL TURKEY, GEORGIA SIGN DEFENCE MEMORANDUM ''ATATURK INTERNATIONAL PEACE AWARD'' PRESENTED TO AMERICAN HISTORIAN CINEMA FESTIVAL IN ISTANBUL [09] DENKTAS MEETS WITH SCHUSSEL, THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF AUSTRIALEFKOSA, April 17 (A.A) - Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), met with Wolfgang Schussel, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Austria, on Thursday.Addressing the journalists after the meeting, Denktas said, ''We will think what to do if the European Union invites us as the TRNC.'' Stressing that they will hold talks only on a state to state basis from now on, Denktas said that shuttle diplomacy is necessary for the solution of the Cyprus problem. Dektas said that they discussed at the meeting the latest situation on the island after the EU started the full membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side. Schussel pointed out, ''we want to see a reunited Cyprus in the EU.'' Wolfgang Schussel also met with Glafcos Clerides, the Leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration, and Gustave Feissel, the UN Secretary General's Special Deputy Representative to Cyprus. Austria will take over the EU's 6 month period presidency from Britain on July 1. [10] TURKEY IN BRIEF - APRIL 17, 1998TBILISI, April 17 (A.A) - General Ismail Hakki Karadayi, the Chief of General Staff, met on Thursday with Zurap Zhvaniya, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament. Karadayi said that the two countries share many joint values, adding, ''I saw that a really friendly nation is living in Georgia''.Karadayi said that they discussed at the meeting the relations between the two countries and the development of military cooperation. In the meantime it was reported that the importance of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline which is being planned for the transports of the Caspian oil via Georgia and providing cooperation for securing the oil pipeline were also stressed during the meeting. General Karadayi attended the dinner in honour of him given by Burak Gursel, the Turkish Ambassador to Georgia. He will return to Turkey later today. ANKARA - The agreement concerning ''the mutual encouragement and security of the investments'' signed between Turkey and the Ukraine on November 27, 1996 in Ankara has been approved by the Council of Ministers on Thursday. According to the approval, the agreement will come into force when the exchange of information is completed. The agreement which will be valid for ten years, aims to encourage the economic developments between two countries. WASHINGTON, D.C. - Gunes Taner, the Minister of State, is due to proceed to New York on Friday. Taner, who came to the US to join the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, met with Thomas Hardy, the Chief of the IMF Turkey Desk and Stuart Eisenstad, the Assistant Secretary of State Responsible for the Economy on the second day of his visit to the US. It was reported that Taner and Eisenstad discussed bilateral economic relations and energy policies. Meanwhile, Taner met with Stanley Fisher, the Deputy Chairman of the IMF, for the second time. LEFKOSA - Huseyin Aslan, the Director General of EGE-KOOP which plans to construct 5 thousand residences in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), came to the TRNC on Thursday to hold talks. Aslan who was received by Rauf Denktas, the President of the TRNC, and Dervis Eroglu, the Prime Minister, said that they had completed the technical studies and they are ready to begin the construction. NEVSEHIR - A total of 930 children from 48 countries who came to Turkey to join the 20th April 23 International Children's Festival organized by the TRT (Turkish National Radio and Television Broadcasting Organization), will visit the historical and touristic places of Nevsehir on April 25, it was reported on Friday. Kursat Numanoglu, the Mayor of Urgup County, pointed out that the April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Festival is the first and only children's festival in the world, and they will do their utmost to host the children from all over the world. IZMIR - It was reported on Thursday that 21 groups from 16 countries will join the 6th Karsiyaka International April 23 Children's Festival. Addressing a press conference, Kemal Baysak, the Mayor of Karsiyaka, said that 800 children and 200 musicians will join the festival which will be held between April 18-24, and they will form a ''Friendship Forest of the Children of the World'' on Yamanlar Mountain. ANKARA - Rustu Kazim Yucelen, the Minister of State, and Ivıca Kostovic, the Croat Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Science and Technology, signed a scientific cooperation protocol on Thursday. The protocol foresees the cooperation on the issues of information, telecommunications, marine biology and technology, medicine and ecology. [11] ANTALYA SUMMIT.. - PRESIDENTS STAGE JOINT NEWS CONFERENCEANTALYA, April 17 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel said on Thursday that the meeting realized between the Presidents of Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria was very beneficial. Demirel requested all the regional countries to participate in the agreement signed to struggle against terrorism and organized crimes.The Presidents of Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria staged a joint news conference after the signature ceremony. Addressing the joint news conference Demirel said that the exchange of views of the three Presidents was very useful. Demirel recalled that in a summit which took place in Varna on Oct 3, 1997, the Presidents decided to sign a cooperation agreement to struggle against terrorism and organized crime and pointed out that ''the agreement signed today gives facilities to struggle effectively against terrorism and organized crime.'' Demirel said that during the meeting they agreed that the most important security issue of the Balkan region was the situation in Kosovo. Demirel noted that there was a consensus of opinion between Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria to solve this question, adding that this question should be solved peacefully and by supporting the legal rights of the Albanians, Serbs, Turks and other people. He said ''such a solution should be based on the full respect of the territorial integrity of Yugoslavia, UN law and the standards of the OSCE.'' Noting that Turkey strongly supported the full membership of Romania and Bulgaria to the NATO, Demirel said, ''Turkey has an initiative to establish a multinational Balkan Peace Force to contribute to efforts to preserve peace in the region. Our related experts convened in Bucharest on Thursday and recorded important developments to realize this initiative.'' Demirel said that cooperation between the countries increased in the field of security as well as political and economic fields and identified this meeting as a very important step. Demirel said that one of the most important outcomes of the Antalya meeting was to make a decision to establish a ''Free Economy and Trade Zone.'' Meanwhile, addressing the joint news conference, Petar Stoyanov, the Bulgarian President said the agreement included practical measures to struggle against organized crimes and struggle against terrorism. Emphasizing that the agreement was open to other regional countries and required cooperation, Stoyanov said that none of the countries was able to overcome this problem on its own. Emil Constantinescu, the Romanian President stressed the importance of overcoming differences between the regional countries. The Romanian President said that the atmosphere of cooperation was also open to other Balkan countries and emphasized that ''fright balance'' should be turned into ''hope balance.'' The three presidents signed the ''Agreement on Terrorism, Organized Crime, Illegal Drugs, Laundering of Black Money, Smuggling of Weapons and Human Beings and Cooperation Against Other Important Crimes'' at the end of the meeting. The agreement which foresees the strengthening of existing cooperation between the three countries in the stated fields, urges them to cooperate against terrorisms and organized crime, to set up mechanisms that will provide a rapid exchange of information and to increase high ranking contacts. These three Presidents issued a joint declaration following the tripartite summit. The joint declaration said that the Presidents exchanged views on stability and security issues in Southeastern Europe and the Black Sea region. The Presidents stressed the importance of the international organizations to provide democratic development and preserve peace in Bosnia, adding that full support of these organization to the implementation of Dayton agreement was very important. The Presidents said that the measures that will be taken against Yugoslavia should consider the political and economic stability of the region and that no damage would be given to the interests of the region. President Suleyman Demirel later hosted a dinner in honor of the quest Presidents. Demirel also held separate tete-a-tete meetings with the Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov and Romanian President Emil Constantinescu on Friday morning. The leaders exchanged views on bilateral political and economic issues during these meetings. [12] THE DIRECTORS OF THE TUSIAD MEET WITH MARTIN BANGEMANN, THE MEMBER OF THE EU COMMISSIONISTANBUL, April 17 (A.A) - The directors of the Turkish Association of Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) met with Martin Bangemann, the European Union Commission Official Responsible for Industry and Information Technologies in Istanbul on Thursday.Bulent Eczacibasi, the Chairman of the High Consultation Councel, and Muharrem Kayhan, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, represented TUSIAD at the meeting. Addressing the journalists after the meeting, Kayhan said, ''We expressed to Bangemann Turkey's disappointment in the EU-Turkey relations after the Luxembourg Summit. We also told Bangemann that we found positive points in the European Commission's document, 'The European Strategy for Turkey' published in March.'' Reminding that Turkey has reserves for the political dialogue with the EU, Kayhan said, ''Turkey has already pointed out that she will continue her political and economic initiatives on the issues concerning economics and the Customs Union. TUSIAD has a positive attitude about the Customs Union. In the meantime, we asked Bangemann if there was a political will behind the sentence, ''the financial aids which the EU has to make to Turkey in the framework of the Customs Union'' in the document and he answered that there was. [13] BASESGIOGLU, THE MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR: ''INTERROGATION PROCESS OF SEMDIN SAKIK UNDERWAY''ANTALYA, April 17 (A.A) - Murat Basesgioglu, the Minister of the Interior said on Thursday that the interrogation process of the separatist terrorist was underway and would continue for some time and pointed out, ''with the statements of this person, the collapse of the separatist organization may be accelerated.''Basesgioglu, who participated at the Summit of the Turkish, Bulgarian and Romanian Presidents, responding to the questions of reporters said, ''the interrogation of Sakik still continues. I can't make a statement about what he confessed for the security of the investigation.'' Basesgioglu said that with the information which this person will give, the collapse of the organization could be accelerated. The Interior Minister said that Turkey was resolved to put the final point on the issue of terrorism within one or two years, adding that with the successful operations of the Turkish Armed Forces, important steps were taken to destroy the organization. Basesgioglu said that unfortunately, from the confessions of the terrorists, it was understood that they were trained in neighboring countries and received logistic support. Noting that Turkey wanted to live in peace with her neighbors, Basesgioglu said, ''we want the Balkans, the Middle East and the Black Sea to be an island of peace.'' [14] THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE VATICAN WANTS HELP FOR RELIGIOUS SERVICES FROM THE MAYOR AND GOVERNOR OF BODRUMBODRUM, April 17 (A.A) - The issue of the religious services for foreigners living in Turkey, was discussed in Bodrum on Thursday.Monseigneure Patros Vakas Kuncekli, the Representative of the Vatican, and Monseigneure Bernardini Guisetti, the Researcher from the German Catholic Church, visited Ugur Boran, the Governor of Bodrum, and Tugrul Acar, the Mayor of Bodrum, and exchanged opinions about what can be done for the religious requests of foreigners. At the meeting organized to discuss the application of a German priest from Istanbul about the two orthodox churches at Bodrum Kadikalesi and at Torba to be opened for worship, it was decided that this application should be done by the societies of the foreigners in the framework of the Lausanne Treaty. Acar and Boran said that they will provide all kinds of help on religious issues for foreigners. [15] THERE IS A GREAT PROBABILITY OF DEPLOYING THE BALKAN PEACE FORCES IN WESTERN EDIRNE PROVINCEANTALYA, April 17 (A.A) - There is a great probability of deploying the multinational peace force in western Edirne Province, it was reported on Friday. The peace force is planned to be set up as an urgent multinational force to intervene at the moment of a crisis in the Balkans.After Greece withdrew its proposal of Salonica as the place to deploy the Balkan Peace Force and with the request of Turkey, Romania withdrew its proposal for Kostence, the probability for Edirne increases. Bulgaria, at any moment, may withdraw its proposal for Plovdiv. Observers said that Emil Constantinescu, the Romanian President said that they supported Bulgaria's proposal for Plovdiv, but this stemmed from ''lack of information.'' It was reported that the Romanian Chief of General Staff sent a letter to Turkey saying that they accepted the proposal for Edirne. [16] TRADE VOLUME TARGET OF FREE TRADE ZONES: 8 BILLION US DOLLARS...ANKARA, April 17 (A.A) - The trade volume of the free trade zones is targeted to be eight billion US dollars this year, it was reported on Friday. The trade volume last year was 5.5 billion US dollars.If the free trade zones achieve this target, then ten percent of Turkey's foreign trade volume, which was foreseen to be 80 billion US dollars for 1998, will be realized by the free trade zones. According to the monthly report of the Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade's General Directorate of Free Trade Zones, the trade volume of the active free trade zones had increased by 52 percent and reached 5.5 billion US dollars last year, compared with the statistics in 1996. The report said that this amount constituted 7.6 percent of Turkey's total foreign trade volume of 72 billion US dollars in 1997. The report said that 22 percent of the total trade volume was realized with the European Union (EU) countries, eight percent with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, seven percent with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, 49 percent with Turkey and 14 percent with other countries in 1997 within the free trade zones. The report said that the industrial products had a 78 percent share, agricultural products had a 21 percent share and mining had a one percent share in the total trade volume last year. The report said that a total of 684 companies including 395 domestic and 289 foreign firms were active and a total of 8,750 people were employed in the free trade zones as of the end of 1997. The report said that the Rize, Samsun, Adana-Yumurtalik, Istanbul-Trakya, Kayseri, Trakya (Corlu) and the Izmir Menemen Leather free trade zones, whose places and borders were decided by the Council of Ministers, were planning to be active this year. The annual trade volumes of the free trade zones according to the statistics of the Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade are as follows: (thousand US dollars) Free Trade Zones 1996 1997 --------- --------- MERSIN 1,650,132 1,792,600 [17] EARTHQUAKES IN THE EASTERN REGIONERZURUM, April 17 (A.A) - Hikmet Yilmaz, the Civilian Defense Director of the eastern Erzurum Province said on Friday that 90 percent of the earthquakes which happened in past two years were in Eastern Anatolia, adding, ''we should get prepared for a probable strong earthquake.''Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Yilmaz said that the people in the region were not prepared for an earthquake and that they should be conscious of these incidents. Yilmaz said 92 percent of the land in the region was on top of the fault belt, adding that the people and the officials should be alert for earthquakes at any time. Recalling that 30,000 people died in the Erzincan earthquake in 1939, 600 again in the Erzincan quake in 1992 and 200 people died in the quake in 1983, Yilmaz said, ''we should learn to live with earthquakes, but we should live cautiously.'' Listing the measures that should be taken before and after an earthquake Yilmaz said, ''strong buildings should be constructed and earthquake alarms should be made periodically. Heavy equipment like the bookshelves should not be attached to walls. Water and foodstuffs which will be used at least for one week should be stored, a radio, torch, first aid bag and fire extinguisher should be kept. He said people should be calm during earthquakes and be careful about things like a television set that may explode during a quake. People should keep away from exterior walls and windows and should remain under tables or doorsways. Yilmaz said that people should give up multi-flat projects and that a network of strict control was required to this end. [18] FOREIGN TRADE STATISTICS - TURKEY REALIZES 4 BILLION US DOLLARS IN EXPORTS AND 6.8 BILLION US DOLLARS IN IMPORTS IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1998ANKARA, April 17 (A.A) - Turkey realized four billion 65 million US dollars in exports and six billion 829.2 million US dollars in imports in the January-February 1998 period, it wes reported on Friday.The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) said that the exports increased by 4.5 percent and the imports increased by 1.7 percent in the first two months of this year compared with same period in 1997. Turkey made three billion 889.4 million US dollars in exports and six billion 713.6 million US dollars in imports in the first two months of 1997. The foreign trade deficit, which was two billion 824.2 million US dollars in the January-February 1997 period, decreased 2.1 percent to two billion 764.1 million US dollars in the same period this year. In parallel to this, the ratio of exports meeting imports, which was 57.9 percent in the first two months of 1997, increased to 59.5 percent in the same period in 1998. The foreign trade statistics for February 1997 and 1998 and for the January- February 1997 and 1998 periods according to the DIE data are as follows: (million US dollars) FEBRUARY DIFF. JAN-FEB DIFF. 1997 1998 percent 1997 1998 percent ------- ------- ------- ---- ------- --------- ----- Imports 3,100,0 3,732,0 20.4 6,713,6 6,829,2 1.7 Deficit -1,249,1 -1,765.7 41.3 -2,824,2 -2,764.1 -2.1 Meeting Average 59.7 52.7 57.9 59.5 Meanwhile, the DIE said that Turkey's imports from the European Union (EU) increased 0.3 percent to three billion 384.3 million US dollars in the first two months of 1998. The DIE data shows that Turkey made three billion 374.2 million US dollars in imports from the EU in the same period in 1997. Turkey's imports from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries increased 18.3 percent from 160.3 million US dollars to 189.6 US million dollars. The imports from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries rose 4.8 percent, while the imports from the non-OECD member countries decreased 4.2 percent in the January-February 1998 period. In the same period, the imports from the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) member countries rose 18.5 percent, the imports from the Turkish Republics increased 23.1 percent and the imports from the Commonwealth of Independent States rose 33.8 percent. The increase in Turkey's exports to the EU countries was 5.7 percent in the first two months of this yar. The exports to the EU, which were one billion 888.6 million US dollars in the same period last year, increased to one billion 995.5 million US dollars in the first two months of this year. Turkey realized two billion 549.8 million US dollars in exports to the OECD countries and one billion 515.1 million US dollars in exports to the non- OECD member countries in the January-February 1998 period. In the same period, the exports to the BSEC countries increased 16.7 percent, exports to the CIS countries rose 12.9 percent and the exports to the Turkish Republics went up 7.6 percent, while the exports to the Organization of Islamic Conference decreased 2.9 percent and the exports to the Economic Cooperation Organization dropped 5.5 percent. [19] PRESIDENT DEMIREL MEETS WITH ROMANIAN PRESIDENT CONSTANTINESCUANTALYA, April 17 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel held a tete-a-tete meeting on Friday with Emil Constantinescu, the Romanian President, currently in the southern province of Antalya to participate in the Summit.Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Demirel said that the close cooperation between Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania was perfect. Stressing that these three countries had a very important role within the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), Demirel said that there were nearly 4,000 Turkish undertakings in Romania and that this number had also increased in Bulgaria. Demirel said that an energy meeting called the ''Tale of the Two Seas'' will be held in Istanbul on May 25 and pointed out that ''our relations will continue. He said cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields is the desire of these three countries.'' Demirel pointed out that there were Turkish minorities in Bulgaria and Romania and that these people played the role of a bridge between Turkey and the people in these countries. [20] DECISION IN THE OUTLAWED LEFTIST ORGANIZATION'S CASE - 16 OF THE 32 SUSPECTS SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT TERMS VARYING FROM THREE YEARS AND NINE MONTHS TO LIFE IMPRISONMENTISTANBUL, April 17 (A.A) - Sixteen of the 32 suspects, who were members of the outlawed extreme leftist DHKP/C organization and responsible for killing three people, two of them policemen, were sentenced to imprisonment terms varying from three years and nine months to life imprisonment. Sixteen of the suspects were released due to insufficient evidence.Of the suspects arrested Kadir Kaya, Mehmet Kayihan, Ali Ates, Ismet Unver, Huseyin Celik, Muhammet Gucum, Seyit Gulmez, Sefenur Tezgel, Aydan Odabas, Gulperi Ozen, Fatma Guzel, Ayla Ozcan and Ural Eroglu participated in the hearing which took place at the State Security Court No. 1. The convicts who were asked to say their final word, noted that they had a revolutionist and democratic personality and that they wouldn't accept the decision of the court. The Court Delegation said that Kadir Kaya, Mehmet Kayihan, Ali Ates, Ismet Unver, Huseyin Celik and Muhammet Gucum were sentenced to death on grounds that they were in an effort to change constitutional order by force. The Delegation later changed the decision to life imprisonment under Article 59/1 of the Turkish Penal Code. Sefenur Tezgel, Aydan Odabas, Gulperi Ozen, Fatma Guzel, Ayla Ozcan, Ihsan Cibelik and Ural Eroglu were sentenced to 12 years and six months imprisonment terms on grounds that they were members of an outlawed organization. Seyit Gulmez, Sukru Ozdemir and Muzaffer Aktas were sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment terms as they aided and abetted the outlawed organization. The delegation later decided to release Seyit Gulmez by considering the time he he had spent in prison. The others were released. [21] LANDSLIDE DANGER IN THE BLACK SEA PROVINCE OF GIRESUN - 34 HOUSES TO BE EVACUATED IN KANLICA VILLAGEGIRESUN, April 17 (A.A) - Landslides, which happen due to a change in structure of the land as the snow started to melt, began to threaten the security of life and property in the Eastern Black Sea region, it was reported on Friday.Three houses were evacuated due to a landslide in Kanlica Village of Yaglidere Province at Giresun Province. According to an investigation by the Ministry of Housing and Public Works teams, it was determined that 31 other houses were also in danger. Alaaddin Cakirmelikoglu, Director of the Public Works of the province told the A.A correspondent, ''we have started an evacuation process because of the danger of landslides. Families who had to leave their homes will be sheltered near their relatives. We will start construction of new houses in the shortest possible time.'' [22] DENKTAS, TRNC PRESIDENT: ''IF THE GREEK CYPRIOTS BRING THE S-300 MISSILES TO THE ISLAND, WE WILL DO WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR MARAS''ELAZIG, April 17 (A.A) - Rauf Denktas, the President of the Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Friday that if the Greek Cypriots bring the S-300 missiles to the island, then they would do what is required for Maras. Denktas said that the only goal of the Greek Cypriots was to remove the rights of the Turkish Cypriots on the island.Speaking to reporters during his meeting with Lutfullah Bilgin, the Governor of eastern Antalya Province, Denktas said that their aim was to prevent these efforts and to preserve the rights of these two equal communities. Denktas said that Hans Van Den Broek, the European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Commissioner said that Turkey can't prevent the entrance of Cyprus into the EU, adding that Broek didn't know the Cyprus question or else he spoke like this on purpose. Denktas said that they had nothing to talk with the EU because of statements like this. Recalling that he told Broek that it was not Cyprus which applied to the EU, but the Greek Cypriots, ''we should be together to make this application. We aren't together, but have been separate for 34 years'', Denktas said, ''they accepted the bloody-handed Greek Cypriot administration as the legal government and they want us to bow to this. We have nothing on our agenda like a meeting with the EU. There is nothing intercommunal anymore.'' [23] TUSIAD DELEGATION TO MEET WITH PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT AND DTP LEADER CINDORUK IN ANKARA BETWEEN APRIL 20-21ISTANBUL, April 17 (A.A) - The Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) delegation led by Muharrem Kayhan will come to Ankara to hold contacts with government members and politicians, it was reported on Friday.A 40-member TUSIAD delegation that will pay a two-day visit to Ankara to continue the dialogue started in the meeting with Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), will be received by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on April 20. The TUSIAD delegation will meet with Ahat Andican, the Minister of State, and then the members of the Turkish-European Union (EU) Joint Parliamentarian Commission at lunch the same day. The TUSIAD delegation will meet with M. Oltan Sungurlu, the Minister of Justice; Hikmet Sami Turk, the Minister of State and Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister on April 21. The delegation, the same day, will also meet with Husamettin Cindoruk, the leader of the Democrat Turkey Party (DTP). Meanwhile, Muharrem Kayhan, the Chairman of the Tusiad, said that the issue of the ''economy'' was one of the topics on the agenda of the meetings. Kayhan added that they would also discuss the issues regarding the EU during their contacts in Ankara. It was reported that the TUSIAD, which oversees economic diplomacy in the opinion of the EU, continues the dialogue with the political parties and that it will also meet with the leaders of the the political parties other than the CHP, Motherland Party (ANAP), Democratic Left Party (DSP) and DTP. [24] RATE OF CAPACITY USE IN MARCH 1998 80.7 PERCENTANKARA, April 17 (A.A)- The rate of capacity use in March 1998 was 80.7 percent, it was reported on Friday. The same rate was 80.8 percent in March 1997.The results of the State Institute of Statistics' ''Monthly Poll for the Trends of the Manufacturing Industry'' covering 571 business places were announced. According to the Poll, the Insufficient Domestic Demand was one of the reasons for the business places' not working at full-capacity in March 1998 and that the Insufficient Domestic Demand, which was 58 percent last year, was 48 percent in March 1998. The Inadequacy of the Foreign Market, which was 13.6 percent in March 1997, reduced to 11.9 percent this year and the Financial Inadequacies decreased from 5.6 percent to 2.9 percent. The Raw Material Inadequacy in Domestic Products decreased from 3.8 percent to 2.4 percent. The Problems of Workers, one of the factors preventing the business places from working at full-capacity, increased from one percent to 4.3 percent this year. The Inadequacy of Imported Raw Materials also increased from one percent to 1.2 percent in March. 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