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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-04-28Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>28 APRIL 1998CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY'S AMBASSADOR TO GERMANY VURAL: ''FOREIGN MINISTER CEM INVITED KINKEL''BERLIN, April 28 (A.A) - Volkan Vural, Turkey's Ambassador to Germany, who was appointed to the UN Permanent Representation, paid a farewell visit to Klaus Kinkel, the German Foreign Minister and conveyed the Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's invitation to him.Vural went to Berlin on Monday and paid a farewell visit to Roman Herzog, the German President. Speaking to the A.A correspondent after the meeting Vural said ''Cem invited Kinkel to Turkey and I conveyed this during the visit. But, there is no specific date.'' Vural said that during the meeting Herzog reiterated his view that Turkey was in the ''European family.'' Vural said that Herzog told him, ''of course there are several conditions which Turkey has to fulfill. We should work together within this process.'' [02] US: ''OUR DIALOGUE WITH TURKEY IS VERY POSITIVE''WASHINGTON, D.C., April 28 (A.A) - The US said on Monday that it has a very positive dialogue with Turkey.James Foley, the Acting Spokesman of the US Department of State, responding to questions about the visit of Korkmaz Haktanir, the Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry to Washington, D.C., last week said Turkey was a ''close ally'', adding that there was a very positive dialogue between Turkey and the US. He said that high level contacts will continue in the coming months. When he was reminded that Haktanir brought a file including the information that Syria and Greece expended support to the separatist terrorist PKK organization, Foley said, ''I can't speak about private talks. The US administration has declared the PKK as a separatist terrorist organization. Our views regarding the PKK are very well known.'' Korkmaz Haktanir held contacts in Washington, D.C., last week within the framework of high level bilateral political negotiations. Haktanir met with William Cohen, the US Secretary of Defense, Strobe Talbott, the Undersecretary of the Department of State and Thomas Pickering and John Shattuck, the Assistant Secretaries of State. [03] A DELEGATION TO BE ESTABLISHED TO REPRESENT TURKEY ON THE BAKU-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE ISSUEANKARA, April 28 (A.A) - The Council of Ministers decided on Monday to set up a delegation to represent Turkey at the international level on the Baku- Ceyhan oil pipeline issue.Sukru Sina Gurel, the Minister of State and Government Spokesman briefed the reporters about the issues that had been discussed during the meeting. Gurel said that Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, briefed the members about his visit to Azerbaijan. He said that a decree was opened to signature to establish a delegation composed of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and representatives from the Foreign Ministry to represent Turkey in international talks related of the Baku-Ceyhan issue. [04] TURKISH-JAPANESE BUSINESS COUNCIL TO CONVENE IN ANKARAANKARA, April 28 (A.A) - The Turkish-Japanese Business Council, acting within the Foreign Economic Relations Committee, will hold its 11th meeting in Ankara on May 4, it was reported on Tuesday.The Foreign Economic Relations Committee said the sides will evaluate the joint business visit of Business Council and its interlocutor organization KEIDANREN to Central Asia and Caucasia. Also, cooperation facilities aimed at Russia and the Balkan countries and potential issues of cooperation between Turkey and Japan will be evaluated during the meeting. Nearly 150 businessmen from each country will participate at the meeting. Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Gunes Taner, the Minister of State will address the opening ceremony of the meeting. [05] ISTANBUL DGM RELEASES EDMOND MIYASYAN, A FRENCH CITIZEN OF ARMENIAN ORIGIN, TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON CHARGES OF BEING A MEMBER OF A TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONISTANBUL, April 28 (A.A) - The Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) released on Monday Edmond Miyasyan, a French citizen of Armenian origin, who had been taken into custody after a tip-off that he was a member of a terrorist organization that was staging anti-Turkish activities.Miyasyan, who had been taken into custody by the Directorate of Anti- Terrorism and then transferred to the Istanbul DGM, was questioned by Erol Canozkan, the Republic Prosecutor. Following the interrogation, Miyasyan was released with lack of evidence to support his membership in a terrorist organization. It was reported that Edmond Miyasyan is the Director of the Cegelec-AEG consortium that undertook the rail-laying, signalization and decoration activities of the Istanbul Metro. [06] TURKISH-OMANI FIRST TERM JEC MEETING - STATE MINISTER GURDERE: ''IMPORTANCE OF REGIONAL COOPERATION IN WORLD TRADE IS GRADUALLY INCREASING''ANKARA, April 28 (A.A) - Metin Gurdere, the Minister of State, said on Monday that the importance of regional cooperation in world trade was gradually increasing.Addressing the opening speech of the Turkish-Omani First Term Joint Economic Commission (JEC) Meeting, Gurdere said that the commercial relations between Turkey and Oman weren't at the required level and that he believed the relations would reach the deserved dimension with the studies to be implemented. Pointing out that the JEC meeting was an opportunity to discuss the issues of importance in improving the commercial relations, Gurdere said, ''the trade volume, which was five million US dollars in 1980, increased to 20 million US dollars in 1997. The relations between our private sectors should be improved.'' ''The Omani government is expected to implement several projects in the coming years. The Turkish contracting firms have achieved great successes abroad and this should be considered. Besides, Turkey is ready to discuss with Oman the issue of cooperation in the field of energy,'' Gurdere added. [07] PROTEST IN ANTALYA AGAINST SEPARATIST TERRORISTANTALYA, April 28 (A.A) - Hundreds of citizens demonstrated and wanted the separatist terrorist who was brought to the Court to be given to them in Serik County in southern Antalya Province. The terrorist could be rescued by making him wear military clothing.Security forces couldn't stop the protest of nearly 1,000 citizens who gathered in front of the Serik Court and slipped him away after waiting for four hours. The group dispersed chanting slogans against the security forces after learning that Deniz Faruk Seren, the separatist terrorist, had been brought to the city of Antalya. A part of the demonstrators went to a district where there is an intense settlement of citizens who came from southeastern regions of Turkey. Natik Canca, the Chief of the Antalya Security Department said they took extensive security measures and that this group was dispersed. The terrorist was captured in the mountainous part of Kargi Village in Bucak County of Burdur Province on April 22, after the operations of the security forces. [08] BASESGIOGLU, INTERIOR MINISTER, SAYS INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY ABOUT GOKCEK, THE MAYOR OF ANKARAANKARA, April 28 (A.A) - Murat Basesgioglu, the Minister of the Interior, said on Monday that investigations were underway in the Ministry of the Interior and the Governorship related to the allegations about Melih Gokcek, the Mayor of Ankara.Speaking to reporters following the Council of Ministers meeting Basesgioglu said that investigations were underway related to Gokcek, but added that he couldn't say anything about the stage of the investigation. Basesgioglu said they would have a more extensive statement about the issue in the coming days. A total of 79 investigations are underway about Melih Gokcek, the Mayor of Ankara. A total of 26 of them are opened by the Ministry and 53 of them are opened by the Governorship. It has been claimed that they have turned up consequential evidence. When it was recalled that the True Path Party (DYP) withdrew a censure motion againt Yasar Topcu, the Minister of Public Works and Housing, Basesgioglu said, ''the DYP isn't interested in serious issues.'' [09] TURKEY IN BRIEF - APRIL 28, 1998IZMIR - The Aegean Mayors will hold a meeting in Ankara to set up a common platform, it was reported on Monday.The Union of Aegean Municipalities said in a written statement that the meeting to which some deputies and executive board members of the Turkish Union of Municipalities, Municipal Unions would attend, would start at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday. The meeting will be held to have the Local Administrations Law become effective as soon as possible, to accelerate the process of local administrations and democratization, to remove the limitations on the financial sources of the municipalities and to convey to the public and the Parliament the common wishes of the municipalities. ISTANBUL - The people, who immigrated to Turkey from Bulgaria between 1994 and 1997, should submit a written declaration of their properties by May 14 to the Municipalities in Bulgaria. The properties of the immigrants, who don't apply to the Municipalities until May 14, will be expropriated. ANKARA - The Informal Sector Statistics Second Meeting of the Experts Group will be held in Ankara on Tuesday. The statistics related to the Informal Sector, which is composed of the people and entrepreneurs who work without any social security, street sellers, sellers in a market and those with a low-income or low- productivity who work in an environment where healthful working conditions haven't been sufficiently assured, has continued to be of increasing importance in recent years. The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) said in a written statement that the Informal Sector Statistics First Meeting of the Experts Group was held in New Delhi, India, between May 20 and 22, 1997. A total of 35 representatives from several countries and international organizations will participate in the two-day meeting in Ankara. [10] TOROS-1/98 AND DETERMINATION-1/98 MANEUVERS TO TAKE PLACE BETWEEN APRIL 28-30ANKARA, April 28 (A.A) - Toros-1/98 and Determination-1/98, the planned maneuvers of the Turkish Armed Forces will start on Tuesday.The maneuvers will take place between April 28 and 30 with the participation of land, sea and air forces on the territories of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and in the international waters and air space of the Eastern Mediterranean. The General Staff General Secretariat said in a written statement that during the maneuvers which were targetted at the testing of the methods of land, sea and air cooperation and naval war, air defense, underwater defense war, air support and raid training of the Air Forces to tactical targets will be realized. The Cyprus Turkish Peace Forces Units deployed in the TRNC and two frigates of the Southern Group Commandership will participate in the exercise. The statement said that high-ranking civilian and military personnel will participate at the observation day which will take place on April 30, 1998. [11] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)These are brief summaries of some of the leading stories in Turkey's press on April 28, 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.) CETIN TO RECEIVE HONORARY DOCTORATE BOEING BRIEFS TURKISH AIR FORCE GOVERNMENT SUMMIT TOMORROW ADMIRAL CROWE RECEIVES ATATURK AWARD SALOMON CALLS FOR INVESTMENTS IN TURKEY CELEBI ATTENDS OECD MEETING On the second day of the OECD meeting, Ismail Cem, the Turkish Foreign Minister, who is also attending the meeting, will deliver a speech. /Hurriyet-Cumhuriyet/ GREECE SAYS ''NO'' SAKIK DEMANDS ''REPENTANCE PARDON'' CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CELEBRATES 36 YEARS [12] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)These are brief summaries of some of the leading stories in Turkey's press on April 28, 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.) HENRY FORD AWARD FOR TURKISH ASS. PROF. NEW AMBASSADOR OF BURKINA FASO NO GREEK PARTICIPATION IN THE NATO MANEUVERS TURKISH WOMAN JOINS ELECTIONS IN NETHERLANDS RIZE FREE TRADE ZONE OPENS PKK OPERATION IN ANTALYA TURKEY INVITES OMAN TO SHARE IN PRIVATIZATION [13] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (3)These are brief summaries of some of the leading stories in Turkey's press on April 28, 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.) GREEK PROVOCATION IN THE AEGEAN US GRANT TO TURKEY IMF DELEGATION COMING TO TURKEY THY BUYS TWO AIRBUSES WORLD BANK SUPPORTS TURKISH AGRICULTURE NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TALKS TO TURKISH JOURNALISTS US DETERMINES TO UNTIE CYPRUS KNOT In Ankara, Sermet Atacanli, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman said yesterday that Turkey favoured an urgent solution, but emphasized that no solution could be reached unless the existence of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) was recognized. /Cumhuriyet/Hurriyet/ YUSUF BOZKURT OZAL LEAVES POLITICS FOR HEALTH REASONS TURKEY INVITES SEVEN ADVISERS FOR TELEKOM SELL-OFF Hakki Surel, head of the Telekom privatization unit at the Privatization Administration, said letters had been sent to Lehman Brothers, Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley, Rothschild, ABN Amro and Salomon Brothers. He added, ''They will send us their offers by May 26 and then the tender commission will chose by the first week of June the company to act as an adviser.'' /Sabah/ [14] KOSOVO WARNING FROM TURKEYPARIS, April 28 (A.A) - Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, sent a letter to the Contact Group members stressing that Turkey expressed great concern about the developments occurring in Kosovo and called for more sensitivity on the issue.Cem, currently in Paris to participate in the OECD meetings, told the Turkish press reporters that in the letter in question they requesting the Contact Grop members to activate soon and play an active role in the solution of the question. Noting that Turkey was afraid that the Kosovo conflict would turn into the problem experienced in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cem said that Turkey also expressed concern that the question would be pulled into the Russian- Orthodox axis. Pointing out that the actions taken by the Contact Group so far were not satisfactory, Cem said the letter sent to the Ambassadors in Ankara of the Contact Group member countries warned them to do what was required. Cem said that the letter also reiterated the concerns voiced by him during his meeting with the Contact Group member countries in Bonn. The Foreign Ministers of the Contact Group member countries will convene in Rome on Wednesday. [15] GOVERNMENT'S SUCCESS IN BUDGET IN FIRST QUARTER - REVENUES INCREASE TO OVER THE TARGET ANNOUNCED EARLIER AND DEFICIT DECREASE IN JANUARY-MARCH PERIODANKARA, April 28 (A.A) - The government reached its targeted expenditures in the January-March 1998 period, it was reported on Tuesday. The revenues increased to over the government's target and the deficit decreased in the first quarter.The Ministry of Finance's General Directorate of Accounts announced the budget implementation results for March 1998. The statement said that the expenditures were three quadrillion two trillion Turkish Liras (TL) as of the end of March and that 815 trillion TL of the total expenditures were paid to personnel and 77 trillion TL of the total expenditures were composed of the other current expenditures and 53 trillion TL were paid for investments. The government made two quadrillion 57 trillion TL in transfers in the first quarter. A total of one quadrillion 380 trillion TL in total transfers was composed of domestic borrowing and 95 trillion TL in total transfers was used for the foreign debt interest payments. In the first quarter of 1998, a total of 137 trillion TL was transferred to the State Employees' Pension Fund, 108 trillion TL to the Social Security Administration (SSK), 90 trillion TL to the Social Security Agency for Artisans and the Self-Employed (BAG-KUR), 36 trillion TL to the State Economic Enterprises and 14 trillion TL was used for other transfers. A total of 67 trillion TL was used for the reject-return part of the transfers. Thus the budget expenditures increased by 137.5 percent as of the end of March 1998 compared with the previous year. Meanwhile, the budget revenues in the January-March 1998 period increased 141.7 percent to two quadrillion 41 trillion TL compared with the statistics in 1997. A total of one quadrillion 641 trillion TL of the total revenues was composed of tax revenues. The increase in the tax revenues in the first quarter of this year was 137.9 percent compared with the previous year. The income from the special revenues and funds was 243 trillion TL and it was 123 trillion TL from the normal revenues excluding taxes. The government provided 34 trillion TL of income from the added budget revenues. The Ministry of Finance foresaw three quadrillion TL in expenditures and 1.9 quadrillion TL in revenues for the first quarter. The interest payments remained 120 trillion TL below the targeted payment of 1.5 quadrillion TL in the same period. The budget deficit, which was foreseen to be 1.1 quadrillion TL, was 961 trillion TL in the first quarter. [16] WATER SUPPORT TO THE TRNC WITH ''BALLOONS'' - FIRST BALLOON LEAVES FOR THE TRNCANTALYA, April 28 (A.A) - The project to transport water by ''balloon'' from Turkey to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to find a short-term solution to the water problem of the TRNC was started on Tuesday.Within the scope of the project, the giant water balloon having a capacity of nearly ten thousand cubic meters to transfer water will return back to Turkey after being filled into the storage depot. The balloon's length is 117.5 meters, its width is 23.3 meters and its height is 5.6 meters. Addressing the ceremony held upon the test voyage, Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said that they had realized this for the first time in the world. Pointing out that the transfer from Soguksu, Anamur, of one cubic meter of the water to the TRNC would cost 55 cents, Ersumer said that this would be realized by donations. Ersumer said that Turkey was ready to give water to any country that has a need for it. Dogan Altinbilek, the General Director of the State Water Works (DSI), said that the construction of the water filling platform would be concluded on May 15 and that they would test the balloons on the sea until that date. Altinbilek said that at the first stage they would transfer water with three balloons. The Soguksu Project foresees the annual transfer of seven million cubic meters of water to the TRNC. The balloons are provided by the Norwegian firm Nordic Water Supply. Meanwhile, a total of three million cubic meters of water will be transferred to the TRNC in the first year. The water will be collected in the depot installations constructed at the northern shores of the TRNC and will be sent to Gazimagosa via Guzelyurt- Lefkosa with the existing water network. The cost, process and the money which will be spent for the filling areas will be met by the funds which the Ministry of State has allocated for the TRNC. If this system works, then all the water that flows to the sea will be used in the same manner and Turkey will sell this water to countries which have a water shortage. [17] OZER CILLER'S ''UNJUST WEALTH'' CASE STARTED - CILLER INTERROGATED IN TODAY'S HEARINGANKARA, April 28 (A.A) - The trial of Ozer Ucuran Ciller started on Tuesday for the alledged ''misuse of power'' and on the grounds that he gave an incomplete document to the Investigation Commission established by the Parliament to investigate the allegations that Tansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP), had gained unjust wealth and misused her duty. Ankara Republic Chief Prosecutor's Office requested a term of imprisonment varying from three years to five years.The verdict said that Sadik Avundukoglu, the Provincial Chairman of the Democrat Turkey Party (DTP), the complainant, gave a petition to the Prosecutor's Office on Nov 3, 1997, and said that Ozer Ciller gave an incomplete document to the Investigation Commission established by the Parliament to investigate the allegations that Tansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP), had gained unjust wealth and misused her duty. The verdict said, ''after the investigations, it has been revealed that the report dated Jan 6, 1998 determined that there was 89.9 billion Turkish Liras in unjust wealth.'' Last week the Parliament decided to open a new investigation into the allegations that the Ciller family had accumulated millions of dollars in unaccountable wealth. [18] MORE THAN 350 CHURCHES, CHAPELS AND MONASTRIES LOCATED IN THE CAPPADOCIA REGIONNEVSEHIR, April 28 (A.A) - More than 350 churches, chapels and monastries are located in the Cappadocia region, one of the most important touristic places in Turkey, it was reported on Tuesday. Most of these religious places are in good condition.Officials told the A.A correspondent that the Christians fled from the pressure of the Roman Empire and settled in the Cappadocia region by the 4th century A.D. The Christians built churches underground to take shelter. The Christians also built more than 10 churches during the period of the Ottoman Empire. Six of these churches can be visited. Mustafa Mizrak, the Mayor of Goreme, said that it is ''a great omission'' not to include Cappadocia among the places where the celebrations of the 2000th year of the birth of Jesus Christ will be held. [19] PRIME MINSTER YILMAZ SIGNS CONDOLENCE REGISTER WHICH IS OPENED FOR KARAMANLISANKARA, April 28 (A.A) - Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz signed on Tuesday the condolence register which was opened for Konstantin Karamanlis, one of the former presidents of Greece, who died on April 23.Prime Minister Yılmaz was welcomed by Dimitri Nezeritis, the Greek Ambassador to Turkey. ''I present my condolences to the Greek people upon the death of Konstantin Karamanlis, the distinguished statesman,'' said Yılmaz and then he met with Nezeritis. Responding a question after the meeting, Nezeritis said that they didn't discuss the topics on the agenda with Prime Minister Yılmaz. Officials at the Greek Embassy stated that President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Speaker of the Parliament Hikmet Cetin had also signed the register. [20] DRUG OPERATIONS IN YUKSEKOVA AND IN ISTANBULVAN/ISTANBUL, April 28 (A.A) - The narcotics teams seized 29 kg of heroin and 39 kg of hashish which were buried in the ground, in Yuksekova County of Hakkari Province, it was reported on Tuesday.The teams acting on a tip-off, searched the house of Sabri Cakan. The drugs were buried in the ground near the Cakan's house. Sabri Cakan has been taken into custody. The investigation regarding the incident is underway. Meanwhile 3 people who tried to sell 1.1 kg of heroin were captured in Istanbul, on Tuesday. The narcotics team acting as a buyer, contacted Medeni Daldal and his two friends and caught them in the act of trying to sell. Officials said that the heroin, which was brought from Van, was about to be sold in Istanbul. [21] CLAIMS OF SAKIK CONCERNING ASSASSINATION OF OLOF PALME, THE SWEDISH EX- PRIME MINISTERANKARA, April 28 (A.A) -Sukru Sina Gurel, the Minister of State received Katarina Berggren, the Swedish Chargé d'Affaires on Tuesday and informed her about the confessions of Semdin Sakık concerning the assassination of Palme.Gurel said before the meeting that Sakık said in his first statement that Palme was assassinated by the PKK, adding that the Turkish and Swedish officials will compare their information about the assassination. Meanwhile, Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State said on Tuesday that the claims of Semdin Sakık, one of the leading members of the separatist terrorist PKK organization, who alleged that the PKK assassinated Olof Palme, the Swedish Ex-Prime Minister, are being examined. Mesut Yılmaz, the Prime Minister, on the other hand, said that he wil not comment at the moment concerning the confessions of Sakık. [22] TURKEY IS WORRIED ABOUT THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO: ''COORDINATION SHOULD BE REALIZED BETWEEN THE REGIONAL COUNTRIES''ANKARA, April 28 (A.A) - Turkey is worried about the situation in Kosovo and she is initiating efforts for the solution of the existing crisis, it was reported on Tuesday.The Foreign Ministry recalled in a written statement that armed clashes took place in the border region between Yugoslavia and Albania and Turkey expressed her concern about the Kosovo problem to the Contact Group member countries, which will convene on April 29 in Rome. ''Turkey told the member countries that the regional countries should collaborate with each other concerning the measures that will be taken to diffuse the tension in Kosovo,'' noted the statement, adding that the issue has been conveyed to the US by Korkmaz Haktanır, the Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry. Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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