TRKNWS-L Turkish Daily News (March 27, 1996)

From: TRKNWS-L <trh@aimnet.com>

Turkish News Directory

CONTENTS

TURKISH DAILY NEWS / 27 March 1996

[01] Demirel praises Hillary Clinton as 'defender of human rights'

ANKARA- President Suleyman Demirel toasted visiting U.S. first lady Hillary Clinton on Tuesday as "a distinguished defender of human rights and a supporter of justice." "The Turkish people recognize you, Mrs. Clinton, as a distinguished defender of human rights and a strong supporter of justice and welfare in your country," Demirel told Hillary Clinton during a luncheon he and Turkish first lady Nazmiye Demirel gave in her honor.

"While in Turkey, you will have the opportunity to experience our rich culture, tradition and values," he said.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, meanwhile, said that she had already decided that her first visit to Turkey would not be the last one.

"I hope I will come with my husband," she said, adding that U.S. President Bill Clinton was looking forward to meeting President Demirel who will travel to Washington on a working visit.

Accompanied by a large entourage, Hillary Clinton carried out her program in tight security measures. Clinton laid a wreath at the tomb of Kemal Ataturk, the father of the Turkish Republic who promoted women's rights and gave them the right to vote and be elected well ahead of some other European countries.

After a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at Ataturk's mausoleum on a windswept hillside in the Turkish capital, she went back to the American Embassy where the students of George C. Marshall American School attended the welcoming. "Welcome Mrs. Clinton and Chelsea," said a colorful banner which had the same words in many languages.

"I don't think we'll discuss politics today," Mrs. Clinton said at the start of her meeting with her Turkish counterpart Nazmiye Demirel, stressing that her three-day visit was strictly ceremonial.

At the luncheon hosted by the Turkish president and his wife, Mrs. Clinton said the talks in Washington would help "build on our strong friendship." After a round-table discussion with representatives of Turkish women, Mrs. Clinton attended the reception given for her by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Berna Yilmaz.

In the round-table talks, Hillary Clinton listened to Turkish women on issues relating to women. The guests included State Minister Imrn Aykut, ANAP deputy Lale Aytaman, former minister Turkan Akyol and Turkish Daily News Assistant Editor Sirma Evcan.

She is to meet Tansu Ciller, the chairwoman of the True Path Party, in Istanbul.

The highlight of Mrs. Clinton's visit to Turkey was to be a speech in Istanbul on Thursday on women's and children's rights.

She also planned to visit the ancient city of Ephesus, a site rich in biblical history on Turkey's Aegean coast.

[02] Ankara clings to Aegean offer

By Nazlan Ertan

Turkish Daily News

ANKARA- Despite Athens' determined veto that prevented the Turco-European Union Association Council meeting, Ankara clung to its olive branch, insisting that the prime minister's offer of "unconditional dialogue" was still on the agenda.

"Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz's offer was not a move to lift the Greek veto before the Association Council. This is an important offer which opens a new front to Turkey and we hope that Greece will accept it after deliberation," Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Nurettin Nurkan told the Turkish Daily News after the postponement of the Association Council.

Ankara, although blaming the postponement on Greece, said that the European Union must be aware that any failure to carry out obligations by the European Union was "an attitude that had legal consequences." In a statement released on Tuesday, Ankara reminded the European Union that the delay of contractual obligations related to the customs union due to "third factors" outside the scope of the customs union was unacceptable and would lead Turkey to reassess its own obligations toward the EU.

The statement said that Ankara had received a telephone call from Italian Foreign Minister Susanna Agnelli, who said that the "Fourteen" firmly supported Turkeys "comprehensive peace initiative to Greece." The TDN has learned that the very statements made by Yilmaz were prepared for Tansu Ciller, the prime minister of the time in June 30, 1996.

Ciller was reportedly eager to offer this "olive branch" to Greece, but because of the illness of Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, there was no counterpart in Greece.

So Ciller, who had just experienced a difficult period between Greece and Turkey over the question of territorial waters, reluctantly postponed the initiative. The "branch" was then left for Yilmaz to offer, but relations between the two countries deteriorated steadily over a stand-off over the uninhabited rocks called Kardak by Turkey and Imia by Greece. The conflict had a spill-over to Turkish-EU relations when Greece said it would block the European Union's financial assistance to Turkey, which was part of the customs union package, in force since Jan 1.

On Monday, Ankara withheld comment on the Greek reaction to the Turkish offer until its ambassador to Greece, Umit Pamir, met with the Greek prime minister, Costas Simitis. The early negative reaction of Dimitris Rappas, a Greek government spokesman, was brushed aside by Ankara as "not a deliberated response," although Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz admitted that the "Greek side did not come up with the positive response Turkey expected." Ambassador Pamir met with Simitis on Tuesday morning, delivering him Yilmaz's offer of "unconditional dialogue and a comprehensive peace process" which did not rule out going to the International Court of Justice if dialogue and third party mediation failed.

Pamir, coming out of the one-hour meeting, said that he had explained to Simitis the developments that led to Yilmaz's declaration, as well as the new prime minister's policies and new approach towards the bilateral relations.

While Simitis' response is not known, Greek diplomatic sources in Ankara indicate that the Greek government will need time to assess the offer fully.

The European Union also appeared willing to "give both countries time" in its decision to postpone the Association Council meeting, which was scheduled for March 26, but was cancelled late on Monday night, after hours of telephone diplomacy.

"The problem stems from Turco-Greek problems," Italian Foreign Minister Susanna Agnelli said. "We hope they will solve their problems quickly." Declaring the "positive impact" of Yilmaz's statements, Agnelli nevertheless, said that the Greek side must be given time to assess the offer.

She also admitted that there had been "discussions" among Greece and its European Union partners but carefully refrained from calling them "problems."

Behind the curtain

According to Turkish diplomats, Greece's insistent veto has caused Greece to be isolated, particularly when the "Fourteen" had already agreed upon a draft that was presented to Turkey during the three hours of "flowing drafts" between Ankara and Brussels.

The draft, which Ankara accepted around 10 p.m. on Monday night, was vetoed by Greece because the draft welcomed Yilmaz's weekend declaration. The draft said that Yilmaz's words "set out a number of principles for the improvement of relations" between the two countries.

The draft said that if Yilmaz's statements could be implemented, it would open a new chapter in Turco-Greek relations.

While the draft made a reference in respect to territorial integrity, it fell short of meeting Greece's demand that "Greek territory is also the territory of Europe." The draft's reference to the International Court of Justice also fell short of Greek demands. It urged both sides to decide upon "appropriate measures" and to identify them with respect to international law, including the option of going to the International Court of Justice or seeking third-party mediation, if both sides agreed to it.

When Greece blocked the draft, the others debated whether to pass it as a declaration of the "Fourteen", but Greece argued that the "Fourteen Plus One" formula could not be valid because this was an issue of vital national interest to Greece.

While the "Fourteen" kept pressing Greece for the removal of its veto, an atmosphere of optimism was seen in Ankara -- as opposed to the earlier pessimism seen around 6 p.m. -- the very same moment Turkish political and diplomatic circles attended the Greek National Day Celebrations. Around 9 p.m., a senior prime ministerial aide said, "Everything is fine, the meeting will take place." Two hours later, it was announced that the meeting was postponed.

Despite the postponement of the meeting, Ankara still claims that Turkey had come out of the whole case with substantial gains, particularly after a statement by term-presidency Italy that "Turks and Greeks should solve their problems in a platform independent of the customs union." A French Foreign Ministry spokesman made a similar declaration in Paris, saying that the European Union, as Fifteen, had already agreed upon the customs union agreement with Turkey.

"Financial cooperation is also agreed upon and has to be respected by the Fifteen," he said.

The spokesman acknowledged that there were "some Turco-Greek conflicting points" but this was a separate question from the customs union.

"The method to solve them is another question. Those differences may be solved between Turkey and Greece, and the method to solve this difference is dialogue between Greece and Turkey, which might be facilitated by the European Union," he said.

[03] Washington applauds Yilmaz appeal

By Ugur Akinci

Turkish Daily News

WASHINGTON - The recent appeal of Turkish prime minister Mesut Yilmaz to Greece to open a dialogue in order to settle historical disputes has been received very positively in Washington.

White House

Commenting on Yilmaz' call on Greece to begin a "comprehensive process of peaceful settlement" of long standing bilateral disputes in the Aegean, a White House official told TDN the following: "We've seen prime minister Yilmaz' statement. Turkey and Greece have ultimate responsibility for addressing and resolving the serious issues which divide them. As a close friend and ally of both states we welcome any and all efforts for both sides to bridge the gaps between them peacefully and to improve the atmosphere between them as good neighbors and allies." Yilmaz, in his statement, referred to the possibility of "third party mediation" as well. The White House official told TDN that no such request has been received from Turkey, nor has it been offered by Washington, to act as a mediator between Turkey and Greece.

State Department

When asked what the State Department's reaction was to Yilmaz's call for dialogue with Greece, the department spokesman Nicholas Burns said "we're very pleased to see Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz's remarks. They're positive and constructive remarks," Burns said.

"I think he is taking the situation in a direction that it should go. There must be peace between Greece and Turkey. We want Greece and Turkey to get along, to resolve their problems in a mutually satisfactory way. [Yilmaz] has taken a very positive step at the beginning of his tenure as prime minister to signal to the Greek government and to the Greek people that Turkey does want to have a peaceful future with Greece. It's positive." As to the possibilities of "third party mediation" that Yilmaz referred to, Burns was more forthcoming than the White House official quoted above. "We've often said ... that whenever we can be helpful to both parties, we will ... If they'd like us to be involved in some way, I'm sure we'd consider a specific request." But Burns also added that "I'm not aware of any request, however, that we become a referee or an arbiter." When reminded of the "cold shoulder" that Athens has reportedly turned on to Yilmaz's call, Burns said "we hope very much that a call for peace and reconciliation and for discussions to resolve problems would be met in a similar vein with a similar degree of interest in putting problems behind them. There's an opportunity now, there's a new Greek government, there's a new Turkish government ... an opportunity for two leaders and for new governments to get together and resolve problems, and we'd encourage them in that direction."

Action vs. Words

A senior State Department official, talking to a group of Turkish journalists after the daily briefing, said "when a new prime minister makes a statement on an important issue like this I think that is an action." With that remark, the official was replying a non-Turkish journalist's remark that "action," and not words, was needed to resolve the issues between Turkey and Greece. "I think he is trying to signal that there is an interest in Ankara in working productively with Athens. We think that is positive." About US mediation in Cyprus, the official said "I think we'll be active this year. We want to be active but I don't have anything new on Cyprus."

Washington Post

The Washington Post focused on Yilmaz's statement in a story filed from Ankara by Kelly Couturier. In her comprehensive essay, Couturier mentioned Yilmaz's overtures towards settling the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute and Kurdish cultural rights as well. "Yilmaz stressed that he was seeking a lasting solution to all outstanding issues, which in addition to the Aegean disputes include the status and treatment of Greek minorities in Turkey and vice-versa," she said.

Pro-Trade Government

Another US daily, Journal of Commerce, studied the economic program of the ANAP-DYP coalition government headed by Yilmaz under the headline: "Rise of pro-trade coalition government helps ease business fears about Turkey." The essay by Josh Martin said "Turkey's new coalition government has begin to ease business community's fear of an Islamic government rising on Europe's doorstep." But the Yilmaz' government "faces difficult economic and political challenges," Martin said.

"The Turkish economy has been staggered by massive deficit spending, stubbornly high unemployment, a collapsed currency, and double- and triple-digit inflation. Yet the needed austerity measures are likely, at least in the short term, to boost the Islamist opposition. Business leaders and trade officials in the United States have been specially concerned," the Journal of Commerce said.

Despite the possibility that it might "increase the already severe unemployment (realistically put at 20%)," the privatization effort will receive boost from Yilmaz's government, Martin said.

"'This government sends a clear statement supporting a continuation of the privatization program,' launched by Mr. Ozal, a Turkish diplomat in New York said. 'This is a pro-free-trade government.'" "The new ministers of foreign affairs, industry and trade, and energy are all strong supporters of private sector and free trade," Martin added.

[04] PM: Provide Comfort cannot remain the same

TDN Parliament Bureau

ANKARA- Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said the Parliament will vote Thursday on a new mandate extension for the Operation Provide Comfort (OPC), but ruled out continuing stay for the Western planes protecting Iraqi Kurds under the existing status.

Yilmaz, who heads a center-right minority coalition between his Motherland Party (ANAP) and the True Path Party (DYP), said the new three-month term would enable his government to carry out the necessary changes in the status governing the OPC.

Under the OPC which dates to 1991, a U.S.-British-French air force comprising 48 warplanes and an array of support aircraft and helicopters patrol an air exclusion zone north of the 36th parallel to deter an Iraqi attack on Kurds administering their "safe haven" in the north.

Despite the agitation by opposition parties which blame the OPC for the "power vacuum" in northern Iraq facilitating entrenchment there of Turkey's own rebel Kurds, Turkish governments have pushed through past extensions without difficulty, arguing that the presence of the force allows Turkey softens Western reaction to its incursions into Iraq in pursuit of the separatist rebels.

The Turkish and American officials are currently engaged in negotiations for a new format to the OPC that would address the concerns. These reportedly include more clearly defined "rules of engagement" to prevent skirmishes between the Western planes and Iraqi units which, in the past caused headaches for Turkey.

Despite the current efforts to improve the terms of the OPC and the military recommended new extensions without setting a time limit, the government this time needs the support of the opposition Democratic Leftist Party (DSP) for the new extension deemed vital by the United States and its European allies.

Although having promised to provide indirect support to the coalition by blocking no-confidence votes, DSP leader Bulent Ecevit recently made his support to the OPC extension conditional on guarantees that it would not harm Turkey's security, and the interests of the Turkmens in northern Iraq would also be safeguarded. Ecevit, openly suspecting the United States of trying to set up an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq, also sought guarantees that the OPC would not undermine Iraq's territorial unity.

Addressing his party's deputies, Yilmaz said the (military dominated advisory body) National Security Council had left the duration of the new mandate to the government, adding that his government would explain to the United States and other allies the impossibility of keeping the OPC under its present status.

Noting that the OPC was first launched for the self repatriation of about a million Iraqi Kurds who fled to Iran and Turkey after their failed uprising in 1991 and later to provide security for those who returned, Yilmaz said over the five years that past since then every extension was supposedly made for the "last time."

The prime minister said it was not possible to say from now for how long the OPC would be needed, but it was definite that it will not stay under the same status which has given rise to worries concerning Turkey's own security.

Yilmaz said the opponents of the OPC focused mainly on the "void of authority" it is said to have created (by curtailing Baghdad's sovereignty in the area) and the umbrella the Western planes allegedly provided for activities which may in time disrupt the territorial integrity of Iraq.

But on the other hand, Yilmaz argued that putting an immediate end to the mandate of the OPC would amount to an hostile act towards Turkey's allies. He said, therefore, the government was seeking to be given a "reasonable time" to permit a smooth phase-out.

He said by limiting the last extension to three months, Turkey had given the message to its allies that it needed some additional guarantees.

So, the government will request on Thursday another three months which it will make use of to carry out comprehensive improvements.

These, he said will cover enhanced Turkish control on the operations of the Western force, plus some arrangements that will eliminate the Turkish worries regarding Iraq's territorial unity.

"We shall explain all our worries to our allies, starting with the United States, in plain terms. We shall tell them that it is not possible for this government to push through the extension by itself."

Meanwhile, pro-Islamic Welfare Party (RP) made clear that it will keep agitating against the presence of the Western force.

Addressing the RP deputies who make up the strongest faction in the 550-seat parliament, veteran Islamist Necmettin Erbakan charged that the main objectives of the OPC was to serve the U.S. interests, to turn Muslims against fellow Muslims and create tensions in the region.

He said no independent country could accept the presence of a foreign military force on its soil.

Erbakan said in contrast to the consistency of RP's opposition to the Provide Comfort, other parties which opposed the extension of its mandate in the past were now championing its extension.

Erbakan also accused Ecevit of contributing to the dismemberment of Iran while professing care for its unity.

[05] Prime minister says Turkish economy sick throughout

ANKARA- Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said Tuesday the Turkish economy was sick throughout as it faced serious macroeconomic disequilibria.

Yilmaz, speaking to his Motherland Party's (ANAP) parliamentary group, said the government had failed to appropriate funds for investments, which was a considerable barrier to sustainable growth.

He pledged however that the government was not considering imposing fresh taxes. It would instead consider other options to create extra financing, he added.

The prime minister said the 1996 budget, only in the first couple of months this year, had produced a deficit of TL 270 trillion, adding that the deficit could climb further to reach TL 400 trillion at the end of April.

"The deficit target for the whole of 1996 will be reached in the first four months only. It is practically impossible to meet Turkey's investment needs under the current fiscal constraints," he told the ANAP group.

He emphasized that the 1996 budget would appropriate as little as TL 200 trillion to finance all investments during the year, adding, however, that Turkey needed that TL 200 trillion for proposed energy investment only if it wished to avoid a power shortage.

"It seems to be impossible to restore economic stability with that budget. We are however not considering any new taxes," Yilmaz said.

"The social security departments alone have TL 200 trillion worth of deficits. Under the circumstances, I would have no other alternative than concluding that the economy is sick throughout." He argued that his ANAP government had handed over in 1991 those social security departments without any debts but since then they have come to the brink of bankruptcy.

Yilmaz said social security reform should be taken as top priority and all political parties should be convinced to contribute.

The prime minister also pledged swift privatization of state firms in the next month.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Lutfullah Kayalar ruled out on Monday any possibility of a domestic debt rescheduling or restructuring.

"Our government has no plan for a domestic debt rescheduling or restructuring," Kayalar told a parliamentary commission.

Turkey's domestic debt stock is not a source of concern, he said, even though the bulk is short-term.

Domestic debt stock stood at TL 1,777 trillion last month -- nearly 17 percent of the country's total gross national product.

[06] Bulent Ecevit visits Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Gaza

Turkish Daily News

ANKARA- Bulent Ecevit, the chairman of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), visited Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Gaza on Tuesday, the Anatolia news agency reported.

Ecevit said that the building of a democratic and secular Palestine would save Turkey from loneliness in the Middle East -- a place not noted for its secular, democratic states.

He noted that Israel's current blockade of Palestine mostly affects the public, not terrorists. He said that normal life is paralyzed in Gaza, unemployed is sky-high and many cannot even find food. "It is difficult for Arafat to fight radical organizations under these conditions," Ecevit said.

Ecevit pointed out that the claims of Arafat regarding the cooperation of Islamic and Jewish fundamentalist terrorist organizations were very serious. "I have been thinking for a long time that some Arabic countries do not want an independent Palestine and Arafat gave me the impression that he also shares my view," said Ecevit.

Ecevit also noted that Palestinians attached a great importance to education and that they wanted to teach Turkish to their children, but he noted with regret that there was no Turkish Culture Center in the country.

Arafat said after the meeting that they expected more support from Turkey, and added that the embargo of Israel is causing a tragedy for Palestinian people. "Israel not only closed the borders but also prevented our production, imports and exports.

If the foreign policy of Israel continues like this, it will be to the benefit of the fundamentalists," said Arafat, adding that he had sent evidence of this to the Israeli administration.

Arafat said that his administration was making every effort to prevent terrorism, stressing the fact that many terrorists had been arrested and weapons seized.

He further noted that Hamas was supported by Iran and some other Arabic countries.

Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres asked Ecevit to convey a message to Arafat. According to diplomatic sources, in his message to Arafat, Peres underlined that Israel "has not divorced the peace process" and asked the Palestinian leader to act more diligently against the fundamentalist terror organization, Hamas.

[07] President Demirel banks Republicans in Washington

News Analysis

By Ugur Akinci

Turkish Daily News

WASHINGTON - A look at President Suleyman Demirel's official schedule, especially the list of the "opinion makers" he will meet with in Washington, reveals that his advisers are counting too much on the Republican movers and shakers of a bygone era -- most of whom have been out of the loop since the Clinton victory in 1992. Perhaps Demirel's advisers are even rooting for a Bob Dole victory in November -- despite Dole's vociferous support of the "Armenian Genocide" cause, on the one hand, and Clinton's proven support of many positions held by Ankara, on the other.

How else one can explain scores of Republican has-beens like Alexander Haig and James Schlesinger that Demirel will spend his precious time with in an era of Democratic resurgency?

Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey and Rep. Lee Hamilton of Indiana are the only Democrats of consequence that Demirel will be meeting with on the Capitol Hill. But as luck would have it, the former is retiring from Senate this year and the latter is a no-holds-barred critic of Turkey from Cyprus issue to military assistance. Some choice indeed. The other crucial Democrat, Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia is a valiant friend of Turks who will also be retiring soon from the US Senate.

Haven't Demirel's staff observed the way Democrats are bouncing back after the disastrous standoff between Clinton and Congress that ended up shutting down the whole US government? Most of the American public thought Republican partisanship was the factor to blame in the crisis that brought millions of federal workers to the brink of unemployment. Most felt that Republicans were over-reaching their mandate to shrink the big government.

Especially after President Clinton's State of the Union address in which he declared an end to the era of big government and thus stole the trump card of the Republican deck, Democrats proved that they are ready for November 1996 presidential elections. The fiery Newt Gingrich was suggested to cut back his public appearances and the GOP chiefs told him to hold his tongue in check. Latest cover of the liberal The New Republic flashed that a Democratic comeback might be on its way. The conservative National Review admitted the Republican establishment was in disarray.

Issues & Expectations

TDN learned that President Demirel will try to build on the positive impressions created during Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott's recent visit to Turkey. Talbott was reportedly impressed by the fact that Turkish political system can hold free elections, as was demonstrated once more on December 24, and peacefully bring to power a government elected by the people. Demirel will underline the fact that Turkey is a strong, stable and reliable democracy that the US can count on, the sources say.

Question of terrorism and what to do against it, will undoubtedly be among the top topics that the two presidents will discuss during their White House meeting. Demirel and Clinton will obviously draw strength from their collaboration at Sharm el-Sheik summit. Yet, despite the total agreement between the two NATO allies on the fight against terrorism, it is not clear at this point whether Turkey will succeed to have US endorse Ankara's specific anti-terror proposals such as the formation of an international center to monitor and combat terrorism.

Another sensitive point is the way to approach Syria. Turkey has a legitimate grievance for the aid and comfort Damascus is giving to the PKK. American leaders mentioned many times that the issue has been "raised" every time Amb. Dennis Ross visits Hafiz al-Asad -- with no discernible results to satisfy Turkey.

Turkey wants the US to adopt more concrete measures against Syria, perhaps like economic sanctions or restrictions on trade by third-parties, yet US involvement in Syrian-Israeli peace track prevents more vigorous Turkish prodding on the issue. The last thing Mr. Demirel wants to convey is the image of a Turkey "insensitive" to the outcome of the "peace process" in Middle East, sources say.

Observers in Washington admit that the timing of Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz's call on Greece for "historic dialogue" has been perfect. Now the ball is squarely in Greek court.

Yilmaz even touched upon the issue of "third-party mediation" that Greek Foreign Minister Pangalos championed with The Hague in mind.

State Department officials were clear that Yilmaz's "very positive" statements were not just mere words, but demonstrated a willingness to "act." So now President Demirel can fairly ask President Clinton to demand Greece to match the Turkish "action." The meeting at the White House will also be an ideal opportunity for Demirel to express his desire to establish a dialogue with his Greek counterpart. "Dialogue," afterall, is a Greek word, as Undersecretary Onur Oymen never fails to remind.

On Nagorno-Karabakh problem, Yilmaz again paved the way for Demirel by announcing the Turkish willingness to open land corridor to Armenia provided Yerevan displays some "clear signs of progress" towards a peaceful settlement of the dispute between Armenian and Azerbaijan. The Turkish President is expected to be cooperative on Nagorno-Karabakh while reminding Clinton that the word "genocide," as used in "Armenian genocide," still stirs strong emotions of injustice and unfairness among a majority of Turks -- no matter how incomprehensible it may come across to Armenian-Americans. The two leaders are expected to find a compromise solution for the proper way in which Clinton should address his rich and powerful Armenian constituency in an election year.

There are two "extensions" which will probably be brought up by Clinton and Demirel: The extention of Operation Provide Comfort; and the extention of the State of Emergency in Southeast.

The former will be decided upon by the Turkish Parliament at the end of March. The latter has been extended for the last time until July 19, 1996. TDN sources say Demirel will underline the great economic cost at which Provide Comfort has been extended so far. These days, Jordan and Greek-Cyprus are mentioned as two alternative sites to which the Operation can be moved to if Turkey rejects to extend it. The discussion of "the alternatives" might form a crucial part of the their discussion.

The final extention of the State of Emergency has reportedly impressed the US leadership as a manifestation of democracy's strength in Turkey. Demirel, in return, is expected to stress the difference between observing human and citizens' rights and fighting terrorism.

If the letters faxed to Yilmaz and Clinton in the last two days is any indication, President Demirel might be subjected to detailed human rights questions wherever he goes in Washington.

Such questions might be linked to objections against arms sales to Turkey. That's when the Turkish President might call the US leadership to task to support Turkey not for the human rights violations in its past but for the great potential of "enhanced partnership" opportunities in its future.

[08] Undersecretary Oymen predicts `new era' in Turco-Russian ties

ANKARA- Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Onur Oymen, on completing official talks in Moscow with senior Russian officials, predicted on Tuesday the beginning of a new "era in ties" between the two countries.

"We were met with very close understanding. We also found the opportunity to clear up some speculation that had previously come out in the press. A new era in our ties is beginning," Oymen said.

Oymen held seven hours of talks on Monday with Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov during which, official sources say, the whole range of issues concerning bilateral Turco-Russian ties were taken up in a "frank and open manner." The Anatolia news agency quoted Oymen on Tuesday telling Turkish reporters during a briefing on his talks with Russian officials that they had also seen at first hand that means exist to also settle the outstanding problems between the two countries.

Oymen said that there would be increased diplomatic traffic between Turkey and Russia in the coming period and indicated that the Russian side had accepted Turkish Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay's invitation to Foreign Minister Yevgeni Primakov to visit Turkey.

He said that the Russian foreign minister would be visiting Turkey in April or May and added that Gonensay would be visiting Moscow, although the date for this is still to be set.

Oymen also indicated that the long-awaited visit by President Boris Yeltsin to Turkey would have to wait at least until after the elections in Russia planned for June.

He also announced that First Deputy Prime Minister Oleg Soskovets would be visiting Turkey in the shortest possible time to attend the meetings of the Turkish-Russian mixed Economic Committee.

According to information provided by Oymen the Turkish and Russian sides also agreed that he undersecretaries of the two countries should meet twice a year to exchange ideas on bilateral and regional issues of concern to Ankara and Moscow.

The sides also agreed to have meeting between technicians from the two countries on the Middle East peace process, and cooperation against organized crime, terrorism, and drug smuggling.

Oymen went on to say that they had received very positive signals from the Russian side on the question of preventing the activities of the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) in Russia.

He said he had received assurances from Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov that they were trying hard to prevent the activities of the PKK, which is outlawed in Turkey.

"There is a working group set up within the framework of the Sharm el Sheikh process and it is going to meet in Washington soon. Turkey and Russia will cooperate during these meetings.

The relevant officials form the two foreign ministries dealing with illegal activities will also meet soon to discuss joint actions against terrorism," Oymen said.

Oymen also disclosed that the Russian side had prevented a radio station that the PKK was trying to set up on Russian soil.

Asked if he believed the Russian's were sincere in these promises, Oymen said that keeping promises was the basis of good will in bilateral relations between nations.

"We predict that they will keep their words and are expecting them to," Oymen said.

He went on to indicate that the Russian side was satisfied with Turkey's position on the Chechen crisis but still mentioned the concern that Moscow felt because of individual actions in Turkey in connection with this crisis.

Oymen said he had also underlined in his talks with his Russian colleagues that Turkey also stood opposed to actions such as the hijacking of ferry boats, and raiding of hospitals which the Chechen rebels have done recently.

Touching on the subject of pipelines to carry Caspian oil to world markets, Oymen said there was much speculation in the press on this subject and added that doubts resulting from such speculation had been cleared up during his talks with Ivanov.

"Russia in a very open manner told us this: 'We do not desire to see one country hold the monopoly over the whole of the oil in Central Asia and the Caucasus or over the pipelines involved.

Of course all of this will be done by means of multilateral pipeline projects. We do not object to one of these pipelines running from Baku to Ceyhan (on Turkey's Mediterranean coast).

In fact we are even prepared to cooperate with Turkey in this regard,'" Oymen said.

He added that Russia also understood the mounting concern in Turkey over the increased risk to the environment that would attend the increased tanker traffic going through the Turkish Straits as Caspian oil is transported to world markets.

But, he said, the Russian side did not bring up the issue of Turkey's tightening of security regulations for ships going through the straits -- an issue over which Moscow has voiced displeasure over in the past.

He added that the two sides had also arrived at an agreement in principle that Turkmenistan natural gas should be transported to Turkey over Russia and Georgia.

Providing information on other agreements the two countries have arrived at, Oymen said that Turkey would, over a 15-year period, buy hard coal from Russia valued at $500 million.

The sides also agreed that there were possibilities for the two countries to cooperate in areas such as the reconstruction of Bosnia-Herzegovina, and joint projects in Central Asia, China and other far eastern countries. They agreed to encourage private companies from the two countries in this context.

Russia also removed the obstacles it had placed on Turkish Airlines flights from Istanbul to Osaka in Japan which will represent a five hour shortening of the route between these two points and also create the possibility of direct flights to Beijing.

The Russian also informed the Turkish side that it was planning on bringing an exemption from visas on diplomatic passports and on relaxing visa requirements for businessmen.

[09] Armenian border gate to be reopened

ANKARA- Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said on Tuesday that the Alican Border Gate, between Turkey and Armenia, would soon be reopened in a move to contribute to the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

"We are only awaiting for these two countries to announce an agreement in principle at the peace negotiations which are currently taking place," Yilmaz said in a speech on foreign policy.

Noting that he had also discussed this issue with the president of Azerbaijan, Haidar Aliev, Yilmaz repeated that Turkey would never take any steps which went against Azerbaijan's interests.

Speaking on relations with Syria, Yilmaz said that disputes on the issues of terrorism and water were still continuing.

"Not only do they not fulfill their obligations on terrorism, in the international platform they act against Turkey with respect to the water issue as well," Yilmaz said.

Noting that there also existed problems with Armenia and Iran, and that the authority vacuum in Northern Iraq was still paving the way for terrorist attacks on Turkey, Yilmaz concluded that Turkey was surrounded in a ring of disputes.