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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-03-02

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

AA Daily

02 March 1999 Tuesday


CONTENTS

  • [01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
  • [02] GREECE EXTENDS SUPPORT TO THE CHIEF TERRORIST IN COE
  • [03] KAKLAMANIS, THE GREEK PARLIAMENT SPEAKER: ''I AM AFRAID THAT A HOT CLASH CAN TAKE PLACE WITH TURKEY, NOW I AM MORE AFRAID'' - ''THE STRATEGY OF ARMED KURDISH FIGHT AIMS AT LEADING GREECE TO ARMED CLASH WITH TURKEY''
  • [04] D-8 SUMMIT - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: - ''EIGHT FRIENDLY COUNTRIES WHOSE POPULATIONS ARE MORE THAN ONE BILLION, WILL CONTRIBUTE TO SHAPING 21ST CENTURY'S WORLD''
  • [05] ILKIN, TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: - ''DELEGATION OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE WILL PROCEED TO IMRALI ISLAND''
  • [06] ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION (IKV): ''GREECE HAS PROVIDED MONEY, WEAPONS AND TRAINING TO PKK, A DRUG SMUGGLER AND TERRORIST ORGANIZATION''
  • [07] IRAQ-TURKEY NATURAL GAS PROJECT
  • [08] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN DUE TO IRELAND AS THE OFFICIAL GUEST OF PATTISON
  • [09] A TENDER ANNOUNCED FOR THE FEASIBILITY SERVICES OF THE GEMLIK NATURAL GAS POWER PLANT
  • [10] ILISU DAM PROJECT - WILSON, BRITISH TRADE MINISTER: - ''WE PLAN TO SUPPORT ILISU DAM PROJECT''
  • [11] SEVERAL VISITS EXPECTED BETWEEN TURKEY AND CHINA IN THE COMING DAYS AS AN ATTEMPT TO DEVELOP BILATERAL RELATIONS
  • [12] SECOND ENERGY CONFERENCE - AKTAS, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES: ''ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION WILL INCREASE FIVEFOLD AND CONSUMPTION OF NATURAL GAS WILL INCREASE EIGHTFOLD IN 2020 IN TURKEY''
  • [13] PIPELINE CARRYING OIL FROM KIRKUK TO TURKEY - U.S. EMBASSY OFFICIAL: ''NOBODY HAS AN INTENTION TO DAMAGE PIPELINE BETWEEN TURKEY AND IRAQ''
  • [14] TURKCELL IN KAZAKHSTAN - TURKCELL'S KCELL OPERATOR OPENED TO SERVICE BY KAZAKH PRESIDENT NAZARBAYEV
  • [15] MARC PARRIS, THE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY, SAYS AGREEMENT ON THE PROJECT IS POSSIBLE IF TURKEY ASSURES CERTAIN PART OF ITS COST
  • [16] TURKISH ARMED FORCES DELEGATION ARRIVES IN GEORGIA
  • [17] PRESIDENT DEMIREL ADDRESSES CLOSING SESSION OF D-8 SUMMIT - ''WE SUPPORT THE DHAKA STATEMENT'' - ''D-8 WILL BE SUCCESSFUL WHENEVER OUR JOINT DETERMINATION AND POLITICAL WILL EXIST''
  • [18] ECEVIT: ''SOME EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WILL HAVE TO CONDEMN THEMSELVES AFTER THE OCALAN INCIDENT''
  • [19] BRITISH TRADE DELEGATION IN TURKEY
  • [20] TRIAL OF CHIEF TERRORIST - TURKEY SENDS INFORMATION REQUESTED BY EUROPEAN HUMAN RIGHTS COURT
  • [21] GREECE FREEZES TALKS ON CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES IN THE AEGEAN - DIPLOMATIC SOURCES: - ''DECISION OF GREECE IS UNILATERAL'' - ''TURKEY WON'T PUT FORWARD A REJECTION IF NATO PROPOSES TALKS''

  • [01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

    These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 2, 1998. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

    HURRIYET (LIBERAL) JOBS FOR 120 THOUSAND YOUNG PEOPLE
    Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit announced yesterday the aid and investment programme which includes 26 provinces in eastern and southeastern regions. Employment for 120,000 young people will be provided by the implementation of the programme of 40.5 trillion liras. The decree including 26 provinces has been opened for signature. The partly-completed installations will be completed by an aid of 10 trillion liras. A source of 10 trillion liras has been allocated for projects creating employment in sectors of husbandry, carpet and rug business and greenhouse. Premier Ecevit stressed that the programme will prevent both separatist and fundamentalist terrorism in the region.

    APO CASE IS A CRIMINAL ONE
    Addressing the Developing Eight Summit (D-8) held in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, President Demirel said ''only two years have passed after the establishment of the D-8 initiative, but important progress is recorded in the concrete cooperation fields in that short period.'' President Demirel pointed out that the case of Abdullah Ocaaln, the terrorist chief is a criminal one.

    MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

    ECEVIT IS THE BEST PARTNER
    Mesut Yılmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) said that Bulent Ecevit, the Prime Minister and the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) was his best partner. Noting that time has come to lift the State Security Courts and state of emergency, Mesut Yılmaz pointed out that ''the Turkish state was too polite towards Greece, which supported the terrorist PKK. This was not true. Turkey has to re-evaluate her reaction towards Greece.''

    GIVE UP TERRORISM
    Abdullah Ocalan, the chief terrorist who is captured and brought to Imralı island, called on the PKK terrorists to give up terrorism. ''I ask the members of the PKK not to lose control due to my capture, not to launch suicide attacks and to attack anybody,'' said the chief terrorist. ''We gave 200 thousand marks to People's Democracy Party (HADEP) when it was set up and it is true that Sabri Ok, the PKK terrorist gave orders to HADEP members. We spent 50 million marks for MED-TV annually,'' he added.

    SABAH (LIBERAL)

    SWEDEN TO TAKE INITIATIVE
    The claims of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief terrorist, who said that his ex- wife Kesire Ocalan was behind the assasination of Olef Palme, effected Sweden. Swedish prosecutors who investigate the assasination came together. Jan Danielsson, the Swedish Chief Prosecutor said that they will hold contacts with Turkish officials in order to investigate the claims of the chief terrorist.

    PIPELINE IS OUT OF ORDER
    U.S. and British planes cut the Kirkuk-Yumurtalık pipeline between Turkey and Iraq halting the flow of crude oil. The damage can only be repaired in one month at the earliest.

    CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

    HOPE FOR THE SOUTHEAST
    Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit announced the aid programme for the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions. Pointing out that a total of ten trillion Turkish Liras (TL) will immediately be transferred from the general budget into the Investment Incentive Fund for 1999, Ecevit said, ''with this objective, a total of 20 trillion TL will be transferred in 2000 and the total source to be allocated will reach 30 trillion TL. Thus an opportunity to employ 8,200 people will be created.''

    RADIKAL (LEFT)

    COUNTDOWN FOR THE ELECTIONS
    The objection period for the candidate lists to the provincial election councils, ends this evening. The Supreme Board of Elections (YSK) will declare the final candidate lists on March 9, 1999. Turkish people living abroad can vote from March 25 to April 18 evening in the vote boxes put in the customs gates.

    TURKEY TO EARN MONEY FROM YATCH TOURISM
    Turkey will construct 17 yatch marinas to earn more from the yatch tourism. The Marina Investment and Managers Association said that when the Kas, Manavgat, Dalyan, Burhaniye, Finike, Cesme and Alacati marinas are constructed, Turkey will have a yatch capacity of 4,330 and will earn 10 billion U.S. dollars from yatch tourism.

    YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

    DEMIREL: ''IF THERE IS A MISTAKE, IT WILL BE CORRECTED''
    President Suleyman Demirel, who is paying an official visit to Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, gave the message that the problem arising from having military judges in the trial process of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief terrorrist, under the State Security Court (DGM) can be solved by an amendment in the Constitution.

    TOURISTIC TRAIN VOYAGES TO THE GAP REGION
    Ahmet Tan, Minister of Tourism, said that the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region will be introduced to the Turkish and foreign tourists by the train voyages to the region. Stressing that they want the students to see this region the most, Tan noted that they will apply discounts in the tickets of the students.

    TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

    AT LAST IT STARTS
    Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit announced the aid programme for the completion of investments in Adiyaman, Agri, Ardahan, Bayburt, Batman, Bingol, Bitlis, Diyarbakir, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Igdir, Kars, Mardin, Mus, Ordu, Siirt, Sivas, Sanliurfa, Sirnak, Tunceli, Van and Yozgat. Ecevit said that investment and operation credits with appropriate conditions will be given to the facilities, which ''couldn't be finished, put into service or partly opened due to like security, immigration and insufficient capital reasons'' in the provinces mostly in the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia Regions.

    PRESIDENT DEMIREL: IT WILL BE FAIR TRIAL
    President Suleyman Demirel said that a fair verdict will be taken at the trial of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of terrorist organization PKK. Demirel noted, ''Trial is a homicide trial and he will be tried fairly. No one need to doubt about it.''

    ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

    DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
    Premier Bulent Ecevit declared the aid programme to complete the investments in 26 provinces in the eastern and southeastern regions of Turkey. Ecevit also prepared a ''back to the villages and rehabilitation project'' for the mentioned regions which will help in construction of the infrastructures of the villages. Efforts to complete the health installations in the region are also launched.

    [02] GREECE EXTENDS SUPPORT TO THE CHIEF TERRORIST IN COE

    STRASBOURG, March 2 (A.A) - Greece continued its attitude of supporting the chief terrorist in Council of Europe (COE) Committee of Delegates which discussed the trial of the chief terrorist, it is reported on Monday.

    Greece rejected the draft resolution, which would be adopted at the end of the COE Committee of Delegates meeting and which notes that the chief terrorist and the PKK are ''terrorists.''

    Alev Kılıc, the Turkish Representative to the Committee of Delegates said that Turkey won't permit a document which does not underline the fact that Abdullah Ocalan is the chief of the terrorist organization, calling on the member states to be sensitive about this issue. Noting that justice is independent in Turkey, Kılıc pointed out that no intervention on justice will be allowed.

    The publication of the document, which would be adopted by the COE Committee of Delegates, has been suspended due to the objection of Turkey.

    Turkey had also rejected the idea of sending observors by COE to the hearings of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief terrorist.

    The document, wished to be adopted by the COE, was prepared by inspiring from the document adopted by the EU Council meeting held in Luxembourg last week and it is expected to be adopted in a changed form due to the objections of Turkey.

    [03] KAKLAMANIS, THE GREEK PARLIAMENT SPEAKER: ''I AM AFRAID THAT A HOT CLASH CAN TAKE PLACE WITH TURKEY, NOW I AM MORE AFRAID'' - ''THE STRATEGY OF ARMED KURDISH FIGHT AIMS AT LEADING GREECE TO ARMED CLASH WITH TURKEY''

    ATHENS, March 2 (A.A) - Apostolos Kaklamanis, the Greek Parliament Speaker said on Monday that he has always been afraid of a possible hot clash between Turkey and Greece, adding that he became more afraid after the recent developments.

    Addressing a statement to a Greek newspaper Ta Nea, Kaklamanis said ''our weakness as a state and society came out and also our international position has weakened. I am worried about it.''

    ''Greek policies and Turkish-Greek relations have to be rescued from the issue of Kurds'' said Kaklamanis, adding that Turkey has benefitted from the mistakes of Greece, thus the latter should understand that.

    ''We were the ones, not Turkey, who have created the incident of Kardak (Imia) islets just like the issue of S-300s and the problem of Abdullah Ocalan,'' said Kaklamanis, stressing that these mistakes of Greece have continued since the last century, giving the Turkish-Greek war in 1897 started by Greece as another example of these mistakes.

    [04] D-8 SUMMIT - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: - ''EIGHT FRIENDLY COUNTRIES WHOSE POPULATIONS ARE MORE THAN ONE BILLION, WILL CONTRIBUTE TO SHAPING 21ST CENTURY'S WORLD''

    DHAKA, March 2 (A.A) - President Demirel, who is currently in Bangladesh, said on Monday that eight friendly countries having a total population of more than one billion, will contribute to shaping the 21st century's world.

    Addressing the dinner hosted by Bangladeshi President Shahabuddin Ahmed, Demirel expressed satisfaction over being in Bangladesh and thanked his Bangladeshi counterpart for his hospitality.

    Pointing out that the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka has become a metropol with its population of about 8 millions, President Demirel noted that Dhaka is one of the most significant cultural and commercial centers of the world just like the capitals of other member countries to the D-8.

    Demirel added, ''D-8 is a forum which provide us the opportunity of evaluating the latest developments both in the world and in our regions at the highest level. I believe that we have reached the opportunity of working on the concrete cooperation projects which are beneficial for our nations. Let's work together for the success of our cooperation and for the prosperity of our people.''

    President Shahabuddin Ahmed of Bangladesh said in his part that the cooperation between the D-8 member contries will contribute to improvement of prosperity in the member countries.

    Meanwhile President Demirel received Hassan Habibi, the Iranian Vice President, and Amr Moussa, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, separately. Meetings focused on the bilateral relations.

    Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent over the meetings, Sermet Atacanlı, the Deputy Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, said that Hassan Habibi has requested the trade volume between Turkey and Iran to be increased at the meeting.

    Atacanlı quoted President Demirel as underlining that the business councils of the two countries should convene in order to increase the trade volume.

    Noting that the issue of border security between Turkey and Iran was also taken up during the meeting, Atacanlı said that President Demirel wanted negotiations on the border security to continue.

    Atacanlı also added that security of the Turkish representatives in Iran was also brought onto the agenda of the meeting, pointing out that Hassan Habibi promised to do their utmost on the issue.

    The Middle East peace process was the main topic at the meeting between President Suleyman Demirel and Amr Moussa, the Egyptian Foreign Minister.

    Moussa conveyed President Hosnu Mubarak's best wishes to President Demirel, and expressed Egypt's satisfaction over the relations with Turkey.

    President Demirel is scheduled to meet with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Begum Halide Ziya, the Bangladeshi opposition leader later on Tuesday.

    [05] ILKIN, TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: - ''DELEGATION OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE WILL PROCEED TO IMRALI ISLAND''

    WASHINGTON D.C., March 2 (A.A)- Baki Ilkin, the Turkish Ambassador to the U.S., said on Monday that the delegation from the Council of Europe (COE) Committee for Prevention of Torture will hold talks with Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of terrorist organization PKK, on Imrali Island on Tuesday.

    Addressing a press conference, Ilkin stressed that the delegation which is currently in Istanbul, will proceed to Imrali Island on Tuesday.

    Ilkin expressed satisfaction over the U.S.' morale support for Turkey's struggle against terrorism.

    Baki Ilkin said that he does not know whether or not the U.S. had a conrete assistance in seizure of Ocalan.

    Ilkin stressed that he considered the allegations claiming that Ocalan, the chief terrorist was anaesthetized when he was brought to Turkey, within the framework of a ''misinforming campaign''.

    Reminding that terrorist chief had visited Greece third times and Russia twice before he was captured, Ilkin told the reporters that Greece was directly connected with the terrorist activities of PKK.

    Ilkin emphasized, ''From now on, Greece should be disconnected with terrorists and terrorism.''

    The delegation from the Council of Europe (COE) Committee for Prevention of Torture arrived in Istanbul on 27 February and started its inquiries in connection with the process for the trial of the chief terrorist.

    [06] ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION (IKV): ''GREECE HAS PROVIDED MONEY, WEAPONS AND TRAINING TO PKK, A DRUG SMUGGLER AND TERRORIST ORGANIZATION''

    ISTANBUL, March 2 (A.A) - The Economic Development Fund (IKV) said Monday that ''Greece has provided money, weapons and training to the PKK, which is a drug smuggler and a terrorist organization. What is the place of such kind of a state in the European Union (EU) which aims at protecting peace, democracy and human rights?''

    IKV pointed out that ''the Turkish justice does not have any lesson to take from EU countries, which think they have the right to either implement or not the principles of state of law in line with their political choices.''

    Noting that 30,000 people died in Turkey due to terroristic activities of the PKK which started in 1984, IKV said that the reason of the support extended to the terorist organization by several countries is hostile and biased feelings towards Turkey and Turkish people stemming from political, historical, economic, ethnical and religious factors.

    ''Moreover these countries tried to vent the pain of their fearful and unsuccessful policies towards the terrorist PKK and its chief, on Turkey when the chief terrorist was suddenly captured by Turkey,'' IKV said, adding the supporters of the terrorist PKK are very few in countries like Iran, Iraq, Syria, Azerbaijan and Turkey where people of Kurdish origin live.

    ''PKK does not represent Kurds and the Marxist-Leninist choice of this terrorist organization is far from representing the tendency of the people of Kurdish origin. Moreover the idea of recognition of minority rights to Kurds in Turkey as expressed in European countries time to time is also out of question. According to the Lausanne Treaty, only Jewish people, Armenians and Greeks are recognized as minorities in Turkey. Citizens of Kurdish origin have equal rights with Turkish people and they benefit from these rights. Turkey is a unitary state,'' said IKV.

    Stressing that the Turkish society will solve the problem of terrorist organization within itself, the IKV statement noted that

    ''the pressure of foreigners upon the trial process in Turkey will strengthen ideas foreseeing violation of sovereignty, intervention in internal affairs and division of Turkey. No country or institution has the right to try another country as a judge. Like all people, all states are equal.''

    IKV pointed out that the attitude of Greece, which is an ally of Turkey in NATO, which extends support to the terrorist PKK organization does not match with an understanding of modern and democratic state of law, which respects human rights.

    ''Greece acts against Turkey in all EU Summits, the Balkan Council meetings, European Parliament and Commission by using all of her opportunities. Greece is behind all of the declarations and decisions of these institutions which are against the interests of Turkey. Whetever Greece does, she knows that she will be tolerated by the EU. The EU has to give up her policy of supporting Greece and discriminating against Turkey as soon as possible. The solution is admission of Turkey to the EU.''

    [07] IRAQ-TURKEY NATURAL GAS PROJECT

    ANKARA, March 2 (A.A) - As many Western businessmen continue to carry out activities of oil-prospecting and natural gas-production in Iraq, Turkey has also speeded up efforts to this end after the embargo imposed on Iraq by the United Nations since 1991, it was reported on Tuesday.

    Within the framework of the protocols signed before, officials endeavour to bring the project regarding the natural gas production in Iraq and gas transportation to Europe via Turkey, into force.

    Officials from the Tekfen Company which has undertaken the construction of Kirkuk-Yumurtalik crude oil pipeline, have speeded up their negotiations in order to make ready the natural gas project to begin as soon as the embargo is lifted.

    Reminding that the Turkish companies have been given the right to work on five areas in accordance with the protocol signed before, the officials stressed that the sides have agreed on a large area which has an annual natural gas production capacity of 10 billion cubic metres.

    The project plans to construct a pipeline having an annual capacity of 16 billion cubic metres, from Iraq to Europe via Turkey.

    The project which is very significant for Turkey in respect to possessing natural gas wells, also envisages foreign partners.

    [08] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN DUE TO IRELAND AS THE OFFICIAL GUEST OF PATTISON

    ANKARA, March 2 (A.A) - Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of Parliament and an accompanying delegation will pay an official visit to Republic of Ireland as the guest of Seamus Pattison, the Speaker of the Irish parliament, it was reported on Tuesday.

    Cetin will be received by Irish President Mary Mc Aleese later on Wednesday. He will then come together with Pattison.

    Hikmet Cetin is scheduled to meet with Dick Spring, the former Foreign Minister and former leader of the Labour Party, on 4 March. The same day, Cetin will receive Gay Mitcel, an Irish deputy from the main opposition party, David Andrews, the Irish Foreign Minister, Michael Ferris, a deputy from the Labour Party, and the members of the Institute of the European Affairs.

    Cetin and accompanying delegation will return to Turkey on Sunday after making observations at several facilities.

    Huseyin Yildiz, a deputy from Mardin, Turhan Guven, a deputy from Icel, Ali Dincer, a deputy from Ankara, Tamer Kanber, a deputy from Balikesir, and Selahattin Beyribey, a deputy from Kars will accompany Cetin during his official visit to Ireland.

    [09] A TENDER ANNOUNCED FOR THE FEASIBILITY SERVICES OF THE GEMLIK NATURAL GAS POWER PLANT

    ANKARA, March 2 (A.A) - Turkey took the first step for the Gemlik natural gas power plant, one of the natural gas projects aiming at meeting high energy demand in Turkey, it is reported on Tuesday.

    The Energy and Natural Resources Ministry announced tenders for the feasibility services of the Gemlik power plant which will be constructed with ''Build-Operate-Transfer'' model.

    The officials said that the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry will receive the tenders from many companies for the realization of the feasibility services which is the most important step in the construction of the power plant in this week.

    The power plant will produce 1.8 billion kwh of energy in the coming years.

    An international tender will be announced for the construction of the power plant after the feasibility studies are completed.

    [10] ILISU DAM PROJECT - WILSON, BRITISH TRADE MINISTER: - ''WE PLAN TO SUPPORT ILISU DAM PROJECT''

    LONDON/DIYARBAKIR, March 2 (A.A) - Brian Wilson, the British Trade Minister, said on Tuesday that they plan to support Ilıca Dam project in Turkey.

    Wilson told the BBC Radio, ''The dam is a delicate issue politically, socially and environmentally, and that is exactly why very detailed and intensive studies will take place on all of these fronts before any decisions are reached.''

    He described a news report claiming that if British construction company Balfour Beatty wins the main contract, the British Government will allocate hundred millions of U.S. dollars, as totaly wrong.

    The Guardian newspaper reported that Balfour Beatty was offered 200 million pound (320 million U.S dollars) to contract for the dam, and that Britain's Export Credit Guarantee Department had agreed to underwrite that sum. The newspaper said that the World Bank had declined to support the project because it breached a United Nations convention designed to get neighbouring states to share water resources fairly.

    Wilson confirmed that the World Bank would not participate, but said several other countries were also considering whether or not to provide guarantees for the necessary loans.

    ''We are one of the eight export credit guarantee agencies around the world which are jointly looking at the merits or demerits of the project,'' Wilson emphasized.

    Turkey, Britain, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland have established a consortium for Ilısu Dam on the Tigris River which will cause historical Hasankeyf County of Batman in Southeastern Anatolia Region, to be inundated.

    Officials told the A.A correspondent that Ilisu dam which will produce 4 billion kilowatt-hour energy annually and provide employment of 7 thousand people, will flood 68 villages and hamlets.

    Works are underway to evacuate the villages and to deliver some of the historical works.

    Meanwhile environmentalists claim that the Ilisu dam on the Tigris River, 65 km from Turkey's borders with Iraq and Syria, will jeopardize the Middle East peace process and force thousands of people to leave their homes.

    An environment group named as the Friends of the Earth alleged that the dam will flood 15 towns and 52 villages and displace some 20,000 people.

    [11] SEVERAL VISITS EXPECTED BETWEEN TURKEY AND CHINA IN THE COMING DAYS AS AN ATTEMPT TO DEVELOP BILATERAL RELATIONS

    ANKARA, March 2 (A.A) - There will be several governmental visits between Turkey and China in the coming days as an attempt to develop relations between the two countries.

    Korkmaz Haktanir, Undersecretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will visit China on March 14, 1999. On the same days, the Chinese Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade will come to Turkey. The Chinese head of Parliament is also expected to visit Turkey in April.

    Yao Kuangyi, the Chinese Ambassodor in Ankara, said these mutual visits carry great importance in improving the bileteral relations between the two countries and added that his next goal will be to have Jiang Zemin, the Chinese Head of State to visit Turkey. Kuangyi pointed out that the 1999 is the rabbit year symbolizing speed accoring to the Chinese calender, therefore they wish to speed up the development process of Turkish-Chinese relations.

    Ismail Cem, the Foreign Affairs Minister and Bulent Ecevit, the Prime Minister had visited China when he was the Deputy Prime Minister during the administration of the 55th government.

    [12] SECOND ENERGY CONFERENCE - AKTAS, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES: ''ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION WILL INCREASE FIVEFOLD AND CONSUMPTION OF NATURAL GAS WILL INCREASE EIGHTFOLD IN 2020 IN TURKEY''

    ANKARA, March 2 (A.A) - Ziya Aktas, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said on Tuesday that Turkey has to increase electricity production fivefold until the year 2020 to meet the increasing demand.

    Addressing the Second Turkey Energy Conference held at the Hilton Hotel in Ankara, Aktas said that the Turkish economy has 8-10 percent annual growth rate.

    Energy Minister Aktas said that the existing 114 billion kwh electricity consumption is expected to increase to 290 billion kwh in 2010 and increase to 547 billion kwh in 2020.

    Aktas pointed out that in parallel to the increase in consumption, the established production capacity, which was 23,000 MW in 1988, should increase threefold in 2010 and fivefold in the year 2020.

    Aktas said that 42,000 kwh supplementary capaity should be added to the existing capacity till the year 2010 and 44,000 kwh new capacity should be created until 2020 to this end.

    Noting that this growth necessitates an annual investment worth 4.5 billion U.S. dollars till 2010, Aktas recalled that in order to overcome the capital shortage in the field of energy, the government is encouraging the domestic and foreign capitals to enter into the sector with methods like Build-Operate-Transfer and Transfer of Operation Right.

    Aktas said that the natural gas consumption, which reached 10 billion cubic meters in 1998, is expected to increase to 54 billion cubic meters in 2010 and to 81 billion cubic meters in 2020.

    Pointing out that there are several projects regarding the transfer lines to pass via Turkey in addition to the existing Kirkuk-Yumurtalik oil pipeline and the natural gas pipeline coming from Russia, Aktas said that among those projects, they gave the priority to the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline and to the route which will bring the Turkmen netarual gas into the Western markets.

    Noting that they are launching intense efforts to realize those projects, Aktas said, ''however, this doesn't mean that we forgot other projects.''

    [13] PIPELINE CARRYING OIL FROM KIRKUK TO TURKEY - U.S. EMBASSY OFFICIAL: ''NOBODY HAS AN INTENTION TO DAMAGE PIPELINE BETWEEN TURKEY AND IRAQ''

    ANKARA, March 2 (A.A) - An official at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara said on Tuesday that nobody has an intention to destroy the pipeline between Turkey and Iraq and the U.S. will cease self-defense measures if Iraqi Head of State Saddam Hussein gives up his threats targeted the U.S. pilots.

    Speaking to the A.A correspondent, the U.S. Embassy official said, ''nobody has an intention to damage Turkey's pipeline with Iraq. Such kind of events may occur as long as the Iraqis continue to hold together civil and military facilities.''

    Pointing out that they aimed at the targets which constitute physical threat against the U.S. pilots, the official said that the radio relay station, which was bombed two days ago, was used for specifying the targets by transmitting the data, which is collected by radars, to the anti- aircraft systems.

    Iraq has announced that the pumping center of the pipeline carrying oil from Kirkuk to Turkey was destroyed during an air strike by the coalition aircraft.

    The U.S. announced that they hit a radio relay station and it was out of question that the air strike targeted the pipeline.

    [14] TURKCELL IN KAZAKHSTAN - TURKCELL'S KCELL OPERATOR OPENED TO SERVICE BY KAZAKH PRESIDENT NAZARBAYEV

    ALMATY, March 2 (A.A) - The Kcell operator, one of the foreign investments of the Turkcell Communications Services Corp. after Azercell and Geocell, was opened to service by Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President of Kazakhstan, it was reported on Tuesday.

    Kcell the third investment of Turkcell on the Silk Road after Azercell in Azerbaijan and Geocell in Georgia, will cover eastern Astana, southearn Almaty and western Aktobe cities till the end of 1999.

    Kcell is expected to have 160 thousand subscribers in the year 2000 with a 100 million U.S. dollars investment planned to be made until the end of 1999.

    In accordance with the contract to be valid for 15 years, Turkcell will have 51 percent share in the Kazakhstan Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) company while the Kazakh Telekom company will have 49 percent stake.

    [15] MARC PARRIS, THE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY, SAYS AGREEMENT ON THE PROJECT IS POSSIBLE IF TURKEY ASSURES CERTAIN PART OF ITS COST

    ANKARA, March 2 (A.A) - Marc Parris, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey stated on Tuesday that any agreement on the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline is possible only if Turkey assures a certain amount of the pipeline's cost.

    Parris who spoke at the conference organized by The Economist magazine at the Ankara Hilton Hotel, said he is trying develop the U.S.- Turkey relations in the energy field.

    Parris, who briefed the conference participants about the studies carried in the Caspian region and the Turkmen pipeline, said the East-West energy hall is for the interest of the Caspian countries, as well as Turkey and the Unites States.

    ''This strategic framework explains why the United States has long supported the development of multiple pipelines out of the Caspian. From the beginning, we have thought that the best way to ensure that pipelines would be build on commercially viable terms, in an acceptable time-frame, is to ensure that no one country controls all the pipeline routes,'' he said.

    The Ambassador stressed that as much as the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, Turkmenistan natural gas pipeline also carries importance for the United States.

    Touching the subject of Iranian natural gas, Parris said '' The United States opposes these routes on both political and exonomic grounds. Politically, iran's polities and actions abroad remain profoundly disturbing: support for terrorism; disrupting the Middle East Peace Process; seeking to attain weapons of mass destruvtion. We oppose new foreign investments which would allow iran to fund such pursuits. Our opposition will not change, barring major changes in iranian policy and actions.''

    Parris said that his country is not against the Blue Stream project however the construction of multiple pipelines at the same time might be difficult because this would require each of the countries located in the region develop their own energy policies.

    Speaking of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, the Ambassador said any agreement is possible only if Turkey can assure a certain part of the cost of the Baku- Ceyhan pipeline.

    Parris drew attention to the decreasing international investments in Turkey, then he added ''i remain convinced hat Turkey will fully meet its pressing domestic energy needs, and create the market that will finance Trans- Caspian pipeline, only if it simplifies its investment regime. To put the matter bluntly, the better Turkey's investment regime, the easier these projects will be to finance and more secure Turkey's energy future will be.''

    Responding a question about the profitability of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline at this stage, Parris said it is wrong to evaluate the project only in terms of material profitibility and one should also consider its environmental, geostrategical, geopolitical and regional factors.

    Parris also made it clear that the United States has no intention of preventing Turkey or any other legal buyers from purchasing iraqi oil.

    [16] TURKISH ARMED FORCES DELEGATION ARRIVES IN GEORGIA

    TBILISI, March 2 (A.A) - A delegation from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) arrived on Tuesday in Tbilisi, Georgia to hold a series of contacts.

    The delegation led by General Engin Alan, the Chief Commander of the TSK Special Forces, met with Grigor Katamadze, the Deputy Defense Minister of Georgia.

    Following the meeting, General Alan said that Turkey will extend every kind of support for the development of the Georgian Armed Forces and for the construction of military facilities.

    Pointing out that the military cooperation between two countries should be improved, Georgian Deputy Defense Minister Grigor Katamadze said that Turkey attaches importance to the Georgian Armed Forces' gaining strength.

    General Engin Alan will be received by Georgian Defense Minister Davit Tevzadze and Coni Pirtskalashvili, Chief of General Staff.

    [17] PRESIDENT DEMIREL ADDRESSES CLOSING SESSION OF D-8 SUMMIT - ''WE SUPPORT THE DHAKA STATEMENT'' - ''D-8 WILL BE SUCCESSFUL WHENEVER OUR JOINT DETERMINATION AND POLITICAL WILL EXIST''

    DHAKA, March 2 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel said on Tuesday that the Developing-Eight (D-8) will be successful whenever their joint determination and political will exist, adding that they support the Dhaka statement.

    Addressing the D-8 Summit's closing session, President Demirel said that the Dhaka statement reflects in a realistic manner the expectation of the D- 8 and opinions and concerns about the global economic developments.

    ''Of course, it is not an easy thing to record a rapid progress in multilateral cooperation among eight countries in the different parts of the world. The becomes more clear when their memberships in different regional organizations and groups are taken into consideration. From this perspective, first of all we have to overcome the problems stemming from this situation in ored to enable the D-8 to be successful. To this end, we have to cooperate in reflecting our dynamism and creative and imaginative power in the D-8 initiative,'' President Demirel noted.

    Demirel said keeping alive and strengthening the support and interest of the publics in this initiative is an indispensable fact for the success of the D-8.

    ''I believe we have to benefit at the maximum level from the creativity and dynamism of our private sectors for the success of this initiative. Unfortunately, we failed to draw the attention of our businessmen in the D- 8 sufficiently. The D-8 Business Forum will convene in 2001 but can we wait until 2001? High-level officials should intensify the activities for a rapid step concerning this issue,'' President Demirel said.

    Pointing out that the D-8 summit will be held once every two years, Demirel said that convention of the concerned ministers every year as a result of the U.N. meetings is a positive step.

    Meanwhile, President Demirel will attend the dinner given by Bangledeshi Prime Minister Shiekh Hasina Wazed at the Sheraton Hotel.

    President Suleyman Demirel will return to Turkey on Wednesday.

    [18] ECEVIT: ''SOME EUROPEAN COUNTRIES WILL HAVE TO CONDEMN THEMSELVES AFTER THE OCALAN INCIDENT''

    ANKARA, March 2 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Tuesday that ''If they (the Greek Government) question their conscience, we can form a dialogue with them more easily. We always wanted this from the very beginning,'' when he was asked if he interpreted the Greek Head of Parliament's words as a ''sign of softening.''

    When a journalist reminded of the European socialist parties' attempt to issue a decision to condemn Turkey, Ecevit said these are usual incidents.

    ''But from now on, some European countries will have to condemn themselves. Some European political circles will have to criticize themselves especially after the Ocalan incident which will reveal some facts.''

    [19] BRITISH TRADE DELEGATION IN TURKEY

    ANKARA, March 2 (A.A) - A delegation from the London Trade and Industry Chamber which is one of the biggest trade chambers of Britain came to Turkey on Monday.

    The delegation who is formed by the representatives of 12 British companies and headed by Lord Paul, Britain's Trade Ambassador and the manager of Caparo Group company, visited Turkish Iron-Steel Producers Association, Turkish-British Business Council and Foreign Capital Association in Istanbul.

    The delegation who proceeded to Ankara on Tuesday, held talks with Yavuz Ege, Foreign Trade Undersecretary; Ugur Bayar, Chairman of Privitization Administration and Zafer Cagalayan, Chairman of Ankara Industry Chamber.

    The British delegation is expected to leave Turkey on Wednesday morning.

    [20] TRIAL OF CHIEF TERRORIST - TURKEY SENDS INFORMATION REQUESTED BY EUROPEAN HUMAN RIGHTS COURT

    STRASBOURG, March 2 (A.A) - Turkey sent information about capture and trial of the chief terrorist to the European Court of Human Rights, it was reported on Tuesday.

    The Court rejected the demand of chief terrorist's lawyers for a cautionary measure before his trial, but in accordance with Article 54 of its charter, the Court called Turkey to clarify the detention and apprehension of chief terrorist and to give an urgent response to the issue of permission to the lawyers to speak to him.

    Turkey in her response said that the trial process continues within the framework of the principles of the state of law and recalled that the lawyers were allowed to meet with the chief terrorist.

    Turkey explained in details that the trial process is not contrary to the Council of Europe (COE) conventions.

    The lawyers of the chief terrorist applied to the Court last week to make complaint about Turkey in accordance with Article 39 of the Court's charter regarding the cautionary measure and in accordance with Articles 2, 3, 5 and 6 of European Human Rights Convention concerning torture, fair trial, right of living.

    The Court rejected the lawyers request for a cautionary measure about permission to the lawyers to meet with the chief terrorist and his examination by doctors he will choose.

    [21] GREECE FREEZES TALKS ON CONFIDENCE-BUILDING MEASURES IN THE AEGEAN - DIPLOMATIC SOURCES: - ''DECISION OF GREECE IS UNILATERAL'' - ''TURKEY WON'T PUT FORWARD A REJECTION IF NATO PROPOSES TALKS''

    ANKARA, March 2 (A.A) - Diplomatic sources said on Tuesday that Greece's announcement that she froze the talks on the Package for Confidence- Building Measures in Aegean Sea was a unilateral decision.

    Greek Government Spokesman announced the same day that the talks on the Package for Confidence-Building Measures in Aegean between Turkey and Greece were frozen at ''this stage''.

    Speaking to the A.A correspondent, diplomatic sources said that a meeting about the confidence-building measures was not foreseen to be held in coming days within the initiative of Javier Solana, the Secretary General of NATO and Turkey did not have an intention to say that ''we won't attend'' if such a talk was foreseen.

    Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Hasan Unal, a professor at the Bilkent University International Affairs Department, said, ''in one respect, Greece has acted earlier. She continues to oppose and resist. She seems like she is not aware of the level of Turkey's anger against herself due to the terrorist PKK organization PKK issue.''

    Unal said that Greece's announcement of her decision to freeze the talks together with her claims that the Turkish planes ''violated'' the Greek airspace was worth of attention.

    Pointing out that Greece for a long time has not claimed that the Turkish planes ''violated'' her airspace and there has been a mutual softening atmosphere in Aegean, Professor Unal said, ''as a result of the initiatives of the Secretary General, NATO was inspecting the region from Brussels by taking photographs of the two sides. NATO was always preparing reports to clarify the violation claims.''

    Noting that the attitude of Greece gives great harm to the softening atmosphere in Aegean, Unal said, ''Greece was caught red-handed while supporting the terrorist organization. Even if Greece did not apologize to Turkey and did not accept that she is guilty, she still challenges Turkey in spite of seeking a way for consensus.''

    NATO Secretary General Javier Solana announced in June 1998 that the Turkish and Greek delegations reached a consensus on the Confidence- Building Measures in Aegean.

    The articles on which the two countries reached an agreement were as follows:

    -a common aspect will be determined about military activities.

    -mutual respect will be shown to territoreal integrity and sovereignty.

    -manoeuvres will not be exercised in Aegean during summer and national holidays.

    -before the manoeuvres, the two countries will inform each other.

    -the two countries can't stage naval and air exercises at the same time.

    -''red telephone line'' will be set up to decrease the tension during a crisis and to enable the Prime Ministers to set up direct contact.

    A.A


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