Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-03-13

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[01] AA News

13 March 2000 Monday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

TANTAN: TELEPHONES CAN NOT BE TAPPED ILLEGALLY
Sadettin Tantan, Minister of Interior, who went to Britain as the official guest of Jack Straw, British Interior Minister, said they will bring serious punishments to telephone tapping. Speaking to journalists on his way to Britain, Tantan said, ''we issue instructions of telephone tapping in Turkey. Telephone tapping without the permission of prosecutor or judge will be punished. Legal infrastructures in this respect will be concluded soon.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

MANAVGAT RIVER FOR KINGS
Turkey will be the biggest exporter of water in the world by Manavgat project. The project came to its last stage and after the Eid-El Ahda (the feast of sacrifice) the contractor will hand over the key. An annual income of 180 million dollars is expected to be gained by today's water capacity of the river. The income will increase to 4 billion dollars with full capacity. Turkey thinks of exporting water to the Kingdom of Jordan.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

31 HYROELECTIC POWER STATIONS TO BE SET UP IN THE BLACK SEA
State Water Works (DSI) Regional Directorate plans to set up 31 hydroelectic power stations in the Eastern Black Sea region within 20 years. Nine power stations will be set up in Artvin province, seven in Giresun, six in Trabzon, five in Rize, and four hydroelectric power plants will be set up in Gumushane. According to the report which was prepared, 15.2 billion kilowatt/hour energy that will be obtained from the power stations will meet 11 percent of Turkey's energy need.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY AGAINST NUCLEAR POWER STATION
The opponents of the nuclear power station in Akkuyu, formed a ''people's assembly against nuclear power station.'' The opponents who convened in southern Mersin province said that ''we will show to everybody that this station won't be founded by the determination of villagers in Akkuyu, non- governmental organizations (NGOs), political parties, labour unions, and sensitive citizens.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)

POLICE REMEMBERS GAZI INCIDENTS
Gazi district of Istanbul where 17 persons died, was surrounded by police teams yesterday upon the 5th anniversary of the incidents. Police took into custody 382 persons during the demonstrations.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

CHANGE IN ARTICLE 312 TO BE BROUGHT TO PARLIAMENT
Ertugrul Yalcinbayir, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Constitution Commission will bring the old draft law of Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk which foresees an amendment in Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code to the agenda of the parliament after the national holiday. The proposal also brings an indirect amnesty for Necmettin Erbakan, the convicted former leader of the banned Welfare Party (RP). If the draft law is adopted, the file of Erbakan will be re-examined at Diyarbakir State Security Court (DGM) and his imprisonment can be cancelled.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

ECEVIT: ''I CAN'T ACCEPT PUNISHMENT ON ERBAKAN''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''I don't critize the court, but I can't accept lifelong punishment to the politicians.'' Pointing out that he never did ''bargain concerning Erbakan'' on presidential elections, Ecevit said election of president by people will mean ''changing of the regime.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

RAILWAY TENDER POSTPONED
The date of the tender regarding the rehabilitation of the Ankara-Istanbul railway line, was determined again. The tender, which was planned to be made on March 21, 2000, was postponed to April 28, 2000 depending on the requests coming from the companies. In case two transportation projects of the Turkish Railroad Company (TCDD) takes place, transportation between Ankara and Istanbul will reduce to four hours. Modernization project of Ankara-Istanbul railway is foreseen to be concluded within three years.

[03] AFTERSHOCKS CONTINUE

Below listed the hour, epicenter, and magnitude of the aftershocks:

Hour Epicenter Magnitude

---- --------- ---------
05.23 Bolu 2.7

10.44 Kocaeli Gölcük 3

17.31 Yalova-Cinarcik 2.7

20:24 Yalova 3.2

Meanwhile, quake measuring 2.7 on the Richter scale shook Bursa-Mudanya at 10:50, and another quake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.2 shook Elazig- Palu at 14:48.

[04] UNESCO PROJECT TO AEGEAN MUGLA PROVINCE

Tayfun Taner, Chairman of Dokuzeylul University Architecture and City Planning Department, told A.A correspondent that 20 scientists worked on the project which is related with 70 hectares of land which is in the site.

Taner said Mugla architecture has an important place in the world, adding that UNESCO supported the project because of this. He said it was not right to leave the lands which are in the site.

Taner said they have prepared a public works plan related with the 70 hectares of field which is in Mugla city center.

[05] TIGHT SECURITY MEASURES TAKEN AT SARP BORDER GATE

Yusuf Guney, the chief director of Hopa Customs, told A.A correspondent on Monday that the biggest strike on drug smugglers was blown at Sarp border gate, adding the drug trafficking will further decrease by the completion of providing electronic equipment to the gate which had been missing before.

Guney stressed that the border gate is the gate of the Far East states and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to the West.

''We seized various illegal goods worth of 22 trillion liras, tried to be brought to our country from this border gate in the recent two years. Yet, drug smuggling decreased,'' Guney added.

[06] TRANSPORTATION MINISTER OKSUZ LEAVES FOR VIENNA

Speaking at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport before his departure, Oksuz said that he will examine the activities of the companies which undertook the ''railway and speed train'' projects in Austria and France.

He will also hold bilateral meetings with his Austrian and French counterparts, said Oksuz and added that '' I will particularly discuss the method of constructing Kars-Tbilisi railway project. We hope to sign a good willing agreement regarding this issue.''

Oksuz said that the French Transportation Minister invited him to France regarding the project of ''spaad train transportation network'' planned to be founded between Istanbul and Ankara, adding ''French companies request constructing the network which is our dream for 27 years. We will discuss these issues in France.''

The French Telecom has certain doubts about the ''Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)'' tender which will be put out in Turkey, said Oksuz, adding they will try to overcome these doubts.

[07] IMKB AND IAB RECESS DUE TO EID EL-AHDA

No shares will be bought or sold at IMKB and also in IAB on 13, 14, and 15 March due to administrative leave given before the holiday.

IMKB and IAB will start to function on March 20 after the national holiday.

[08] GERMANY COMES THE FIRST IN TURKEY'S FOREIGN TRADE

Turkey exported goods worth of 5,46 billion dollars to Germany and imported goods worth of 5,88 billion dollars from this country. Germany came the top of the list of countries, which make trade with Turkey with 20.6 percent in exports and 14,5 percent in imports.

The U.S. followed Germany with a share of 9.2 percent in exports worth of 2.4 billion dollars, while Britain came the third with a share of 6.9 percent in exports worth of 1.8 billion dollars.

Italy followed Germany in imports worth of 3,19 billion dollars with a share of 7.8 percent while France came the third in imports worth of 3,12 billion dollars with a share of 7.7 percent the same year.

[09] 99 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED IN TURKISH BORDER

Gendarme forces captured 99 persons from Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, South Africa, Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria, Sri Lanka, Tunusia, Moracco, and Albania, including one British person in Uzunkopru, Meric, and Enez townships of Edirne province.

Alle Mark, from Britain told the gendarme that he wanted to cross the border illegally as he lost his passport.

The illegal immigrants were sent to Edirne Security Directorate's Foreigners' Desk to be deported.

[10] ETHIOPIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN ANKARA

Laying a wreath in the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of modern and secular Republic, the guest foreign minister also observed a minute of silence.

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Mesfin later signed the Special Book of Anıtkabir and visited the museum.

[11] RECORD INCREASE IN AUTOMOTIVE EXPORTATION

According to the estimations made by Automotive Industry Association data, total vehicle exportation in Turkey reached 18,452 in the first two months of this year. Total vehicle exportation was 5,929 in the same period of last year.

Commercial vehicle exportation was 1,393 in the first two months of last year, but it retrogressed to 935 with a decrease of 33 percent in the same period of this year. Tractor exportation in this year increased by 49 percent this period, and reached 1,628. Tractor exportation was 1,094 in January-February period of last year.

Lorry exportation decreased 78 percent; small lorry exportation decreased 98 percent; minibus exportation decreased 100 percent; midibus exportation decreased 19 percent; and bus exportation decreased 1 percent in January- February period of this year.

Meanwhile, automobile exportation, with 362 percent, became the first among vehicles.

A total of 15,889 automobile were exported in January-February period of this year. Last year's exportation was 3,442 in the same period.

[12] IN FIRST TWO MONTHS, 23.8 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF AGRICULTURAL AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS EXPORTED TO EU COUNTRIES FROM GAP REGION

In the same period last year, the region exported 22 million 108 thousand U.S. dollars of agricultural and animal products to the EU countries.

Officials at the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union, told the A.A correspondent on Monday that in the first two months of the year, they exported 19 million 634 thousand U.S. dollars in textiles; 413 thousand U.S. dollars in grain-cereals; 3 million 647 thousand U.S. dollars in dried fruits; and 200 thousand U.S. dollars in livestock.

The Turkish goods in greatest demand were synthetic thread, cotton thread, dried apricot, plastic sack and textiles.

The region realized 7 million 744 thousand U.S. dollars in exports to Italy; 3 million 965 thousand U.S. dollars in exports to Germany; and 3 million 632 thousand U.S. dollars in exports to Britain.

[13] GREEN LIGHT TO FORMULA-1 RACES IN TURKEY

In accordance with the information they received from the Federation of Automobile Sports of Turkey, the State Ministries responsible for Tourism and Sports started to launch initiatives to include Turkey into the ''Formula-1 Races'' chain which brings millions U.S. dollars of revenue.

Mumtaz Tahincioglu, the Chairman of the Federation, said on Monday that the two ministries in question examined the ''Ban on advertisements and promotion of tobacco and cigarette companies'' which is included in Article 3 of the Law no: 4,207.

Tahincioglu said the two ministries had the intention to remove the obstacle in front of Formula-1 with a ''law on sponsorship'' that will be legalized without ignoring the main principle of the current law.

Recalling that annual yield of the organization changed between 60 and 100 million U.S. dollars, Tahincioglu said, ''we will solve the problems with the sponsorship. We submitted a proposal about the issue to the two ministries. The misitries are carrying out a very serious work.''

According to the Federation of International Automobile (FIA) standards, great amount of investments should be made in Turkey.

The demands of the FIA are as follows:

-Convenient field for construction of race track

-Race track connected to airport and motorway

-Emergency hospital and hotels around race track

-Two separate large garages around race track

-Helicopter landing area

-Spectator and VIP lounges

-Control tower

-Spectator stands

-Social facilities

-Sports fields.

The Formula-1 races are currently hosted in Australia, Brazil, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Monaco, Canada, Britain, Hungary, Belgium, United States, Japan, and Malaysia.

[14] ETHIOPIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN ANKARA

Speaking to reporters prior to the meeting, Cem stressed that there were historical relations between Turkey and Ethiopia, recalling that Turks opened their first official representation in Ethiopia in 1905.

Cem noted that the relations between the two countries were targeted to be further developed with Mesfin's visit.

Pointing out that some Turkish companies made business in Ethiopia, Ismail Cem said they carried out a preparation for agreements like prevention of double taxation and mutual encouragement of investments.

Cem said Mesfin and he would sign a health agreement and a cooperation protocol.

Guest Minister Mesfin, in his part, expressed his pleasure with his visit to Turkey.

Noting that his visit was important for a new page in the relations, Mesfin said it was the first visit paid to Turkey by an Ethiopian foreign minister.

Defining Turkey as an anthic civilization which constitute a bridge between the East and the West, and between the North and the South, Mesfin said they wanted to add a new momentum to the bilateral relations.

The Guest Minister added that Turkey and Ethiopia could cooperate in many fields within this framework.

Seyum Mesfin will be received by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit the same day.

[15] TURKEY REACHES AGREEMENT WITH WORLD BANK ON STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT LENDING

The Board of the World Bank is expected to discuss the loan on April 11, 2000.

The Economic Reform Loan (ERL) is designed to support Turkey's reform in public expenditure management, agriculture, energy, social security, and privatization.

It will include financing for the pilot schemes in four regions in 2000. It will also support the planned restructuring of state-owned enterprises in agriculture.

In the area of energy, the ERL supports Turkey's intent to shift to a market model and rationalization of energy projects required to meet Turkey's energy generation and distribution needs under a privatized structure. It also supports measures for improving the financial position of TEAS. It will also support establishment of regulatory bodies for energy and telecommunications, and the implementation of Turkey's privatization program.

In the area of social security, the ERL supports the introduction of a private pension pillar and rationalization of accounts of pension systems and improvements in administration.

Agreements have also been reached in principle on a Financial Sector Adjustment Loan (FSAL) for 750 million U.S. dollars to support Turkey's planned reforms in the banking system including the proposed establishment of the Banking Board and the initial steps towards privatization and commercialization of the state banks.

The FSAL is expected to be taken to the Board of the World Bank for approval in May 2000.

Additional projects totaling 500 million U.S. dollars to support the implementation of reforms under the framework of ERL in agriculture and social security and improve social safety nets are also being initiated by the Government and the World Bank. The Bank teams to prepare these projects will arrive in April to begin work on them. The preparation of these projects is expected to be completed in 2000.

[16] PRIME MINISTRY OPENS 15 PRIVATIZATION TENDERS

The announcement about the tenders was published in today's Official Gazette.

In accordance with the announcement, nine enterprises belonged to Turkish Cellulose and Paper Manufacture (SEKA), and Meat and Fish Authority (EBK), and their public shares in Karadeniz Bakir Isletmeleri (Karadeniz Copper Enterprises-KBI), Takim Tezgahlari Sanayi ve Tic. A.S. (Machine Tools Industry and Trade Corp-TAKSAN), Turkiye Motor Sanayi ve Tic. A.S. (Turkish Motor Industry and Trade Corp-TUMOSAN), Sinai Tesisler A.S. (Industrial Facilities Corp-TUSTAS), Turkiye Muhendislik Musavirlik ve Muteahhitlik A.S. (Turkish Engineering, Counselling, and Contracting Corp-TUMAS) and Meyve ve Buzlu Muhafaza ve Enternasyonal Nakliyat A.S (Fruit and Frosted Protection and International Transportation Corp-MEYBUZ) will be privatized with block sale/asset sale method.

The sealed tender will be based on negotiations and bargaining. If the tender commissions see it necessary, the tenders will be finalized with auctions with the participation of the bidders.

The bidder can submit bids for more than one enterprise or public shares.

According to the statement issued by the OIB, the nine enterprises of two institutions and their public shares in six companies are as follows:

Bid Bond

Name of Enterprise (U.S. dollar) Deadline

-------------------- -------------- ----------------
-SEKA

.Afyon Enterprise 500.000 April 24, 2000

.Balikesir Enterprise 500.000 April 24, 2000

.Bolu Enterprise 200.000 April 24, 2000

.Kastamonu Enterprise 750.000 April 24, 2000

.Bolu Enterprise's Social

Facilities 50.000 April 24, 2000

.Ardanuc Enterprise 20.000 April 10, 2000

-EBK

.Diyarbakir Meat Combine 100.000 April 10, 2000

.Kayseri Meat Combine 100.000 April 10, 2000

.Fatsa Fish Products Entr. 100.000 April 10, 2000

Management's

-------------------- Bid

Share Nominal Share Bond

Name of Company In Company In Company (Thousand)

(percent)(Thousand TL)(U.S. dollars) Deadline

--------------- ------ ------------- ------- -------------
Karadeniz Copper 99.9752 12.496.897.595 1.500 April 24, 2000

TAKSAN 100 8.000.000.000 750 April 24, 2000

TUMOSAN 100 6.000.000.000 750 April 24, 2000

TUSTAS 63.87 60.679.900 50 April 10, 2000

TUMAS 49 4.900.000 100 April 10, 2000

MEYBUZ 99.57 99.572.620 200 April 10, 2000

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[17] CULTURE MINISTER TALAY LEAVES FOR FRANCE

Talay will attend on Tuesday opening ceremony of exhibition named ''Letters in Gold: Examples of Ottoman Calligraphy Art from Sakip Sabanci Museum of the University of Sabanci'' at the worldwide famous Louvre Museum.

The collection comprises of 71 works including imperial decrees, tugras (sultan's signatures), and manuscript Korans belonged to a period from 15th century to 20th century.

The exhibition will remain open till May 29.

The ''Letters in Gold'' collection was displayed at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Los Angeles Country Museum of Art, and at the Arthur M. Sackler Museum of the University of Harward in 1998 and 1999.

Nearly 350 thousand people visited the exhibition in the U.S.

[18] HANNAY, BRITIAN'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS, IN CYPRUS

No statement was given about agenda of the meeting.

Later, Hannay proceeded to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and met with Serdar Denktas, the leader of the Democrat Party (DP), and Mehmet Ali Talat, the leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP).

While Hannay refrained from responding to questions about agenda of his meetings, Serdar Denktas stressed that an agreement on Cyprus could be possible only with recognition of sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot side.

Denktas added that Hannay did not put forward any proposals or plans at the meeting.

President Rauf Denktas of the TRNC also received Sir David Hannay.

President Denktas said that he would explain the Turkish Cypriots' attitude once again at the meeting.

Ergun Olgun, the Undersecretary of TRNC Presidency; Necati Munir Ertekun and Mustafa Evran, the advisers of President Denktas; Tahsin Ertugruloglu, the TRNC Foreign Affairs and Defense Minister; Osman Ertug, the Undersecretary of TRNC Foreign Affairs Ministry; and Edward Clay, the British High Commissioner in Lefkosa; were in attendance at the meeting.

Hannay will partake in a dinner along with TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu; Mustafa Akinci, the TRNC Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State; and Tahsin Ertugruloglu, the TRNC Foreign Affairs and Defense Minister.

On Tuesday, Hannay will meet with representatives of Greek Cypriot political parties.

Hannay is expected to depart from the island after staging a press conference at the Ledra Palace later in the same day.

Sir David Hannay is expected to pay a visit to Ankara at the end of March.

[19] ANNIVERSARY OF GAZI INCIDENTS - 366 OUT OF 382 DETAINESS RELEASED

Police revealed that one of the detainees had been wanted by the Istanbul Anti-Terrorism Directorate while 15 others were deserters.

A group of nearly 500 people had gathered in Gazi district on Sunday to mark the 5th anniversary of incidents where 17 people were killed.

[20] INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN IN LONDON - TANTAN MEETS WITH HIS BRITISH COUNTERPART STRAW

Tantan, who is currently paying a three-day official visit to Britain as the guest of the British government, started his official contacts with a visit to a criminal laboratory.

Following his visit to the criminal laboratory, Tantan held a 30-minute meeting with Straw in the British Home Department.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Tantan recalled that there was not a security cooperation between Turkey and Britain so he proposed to give the start for works to this end.

Noting that the Embassies of Turkey and Britain would give the start for diplomatic and technical works, Tantan said the two countries would cooperate in struggle against cross-border crimes like human smuggling, illicit drugs trafficking, and arms smuggling.

Stating that they brought onto the agenda every issue that concerned Turkey, Tantan said they also discussed extradition some persons to Turkey.

''Actually, this extradition issue is included in the security cooperation agreement,'' he said.

When reminded of the television broadcast of the terrorist PKK organization via Britain, Tantan said, ''we discussed this too. Mr. Straw told me that there was an important legal preparation in the Parliament to this end.''

Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan will visit Prime Ministry Defense and Overseas Affairs Department Chairman Nick Gibbons the same day.

[21] TURKEY REACTS AGAINST SYRIA'S ATTITUDE IN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM FAIR OF BERLIN

Syria prepared a map to be distributed in its stand in the fair, and included Hatay and Iskenderun which are within the borders of Turkey in its territories.

Erkan Mumcu, the Tourism Minister, said, ''even Syrian President Hafez al- Assad cannot enter into Hatay without passport.''

Asim Temizgil, the Turkish Consul General in Berlin, said that they warned Syria regarding the maps.

Temizgil added that they would warn Syria once again.

[22] HEAVY SNOWFALL PARALYZES DAILY LIFE AND TRAFFIC IN ARTVIN

A total of 280 village roads were closed to traffic in the province due to bad weather conditions.

Highway teams are working to clear roads with snowblowers.

[23] PEOPLE KILLED IN FIREBOMB ATTACK ON BLUE MARKET COMMEMORATED

Families and relatives of the people killed in the firebomb attack gathered on the ''13 March Martyrs'' street near the Blue Market.

Later, the group came in front of the Blue Market and observed a minute of silence.

Families who left a banner and 13 carnations on the pavement in front of the Blue Market, saying, ''we won't forget you''.

Meanwhile, it was seen that the Blue Market was restored and a fire exit was built.

The Blue Market management was accused as the market did not have a fire exit at that time.

Blue Market's owner Ibrahim Tasli, Sales Manager Fevziye Sahinoz, and customers Seval Balci, Ilknur Keles, Filiz Soydemir, Umit Ayyurek, Ayse Akin, Husnu Kanar, Nese Ruscuk, Zeynep Nezahat Beyazgul, Sonnur Atalay, Sen Yesildagi, and Meltem Ozkilic were killed in the firebomb attack on March 13, 1999.

[24] GEORGIA CALLS TURKISH INVESTORS TO PURCHASE INACTIVE FACTORIES

Giorgi Djandgava, the Consul General of Georgia in Trabzon, said, ''we should not only trade, but also invest in production. With this objective, many inactive factories in Georgia can be evaluated,'' recalling that there was Sarp Border Gate between Turkey and Georgia.

Making a statement to the monthly Trade Magazine of the Trabzon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Giorgi Djandgava said that the relations between Turkey and Georgia should not be dependent upon only trade.

''In Georgia, there are many economically important large and small factories which became inactive due to several reasons. The Turkish investors can put those factories into operation again. We call the Turkish investors and entrepreneurs to purchase and operate those facilities alone or together with the Georgian businessmen,'' he added.

[25] OPERATIONS AGAINST TERRORIST HIZB-UT TAHRIR ORGANIZATION

Later, Kilickaya was brought to Ankara.

Meanwhile, Muhammed Hanifi Yagmur, one of the leading names of the terrorist organization, was captured in Ankara.

Police searched houses belonged to Kilickaya and Yagmur, and confiscated illegal document, floppy discs, and fax machines.

Interrogation of the two is continuing in Ankara.

They will be tried by the Ankara State Security Court on Tuesday.

The Hizb-ut Tahrir aims at founding a caliphate state based on the Sharia religious law.

The organization has not staged any armed attacks so far.

The Hizb-ut Tahrir which was founded by Takiyyuddun En Nephani in Jordan in 1953, tries to be organized in Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, and Britain.

[26] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT RECEIVES MESFIN, ETHIOPIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

Ugur Ziyal, the Deputy Undersecretary of Foreign Ministry, was in attendance at the meeting which lasted half an hour.

At the meeting, Mesfin stressed that Ethiopia attributed great importance to cooperation with Turkey.

He conveyed good wishes and greetings of Ethiopian Premier to Ecevit.

Prime Minister Ecevit invited his Ethiopian counterpart to Turkey through Mesfin.

[27] U.S. TO PRESENT GENERAL BASER WITH LEGION OF MERIT

Releasing a statement on Monday, the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Ankara said that the award would be in recognition of General Baser's exceptionally meritorious service between August 1998 and August 1999 as Commander of Headquarters of Allied Forces Southeastern Europe in Izmir.

The award ceremony will be held on March 20.

Mark Parris, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, will be in attendance at the ceremony.

[28] STATE MINISTER GAYDALI'S CONTACTS IN NIGERIA

The State Ministry said Gaydali and the accompanying delegation were received by Nigerian President Olesegun Obasonjo and the Nigerian Vice President, and the delegation held contacts with several Nigerian ministers.

It said Gaydali submitted President Suleyman Demirel's letter, which expresses Turkey's support to democratization process in Nigeria, to Nigerian President Obasonjo.

It said State Minister Gaydali also conveyed Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut's friendship message to the Nigerian Parliament Speaker.

Meanwhile, the State Ministry said the JEC Momerandum of Understanding that was signed between Turkey and Nigeria mentioned that the Nigerian government encouraged and extended support to the Turkish companies to undertake the infrastructural projects in Nigeria.

''At the end of the meetings between the Turkish and Nigerian military delegations, the Military Cooperation Frame Agreement and Military Training Cooperation Agreement were initialled, and the agreements in question were decided to be signed in Ankara in the shortest time frame,'' it said.

[29] GAP TO BE BROUGHT TO INTERNATIONAL PLATFORMS

The Prime Ministry GAP Regional Development Management issued a written statement and said the GAP would be discussed in several sessions of the Tenth World Water Congress organized by the International Water Resources Association (IWRA) in Melbourne, Australia between March 12-17, and it would be promoted in the Congress exhibition.

GAP Management Chairman Olcay Unver who will undertake IWRA Secretary General mission on March 16 for the 2001-2003 period, will make the opening remarks of a session on Region Management.

GAP will be introduced also in the Second World Water Forum organized by the World Water Council (WWC) in The Hague between March 17-22.

A delegation led by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer will attend the Ministers' Conference which will be held in parallel to the Forum between March 21-22.

The results of the Ministers' Conference will be included in The Hague Declaration.

GAP Management representatives will attend a seminar which will be organized by Germany's Wurttemberg State Economy Ministry to encourage German companies to incest in GAP region and cooperate with domestic investors.

[30] A.A

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