DEMIREL TO VISIT TURKMENISTAN

President Suleyman Demirel will go to Turkmenistan tomorrow to discuss obstacles in the way of improvements of the Trans-Caspian pipeline. Demirel will search for solutions on disagreements over the amount of natural gas to be piped between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. During the visit, Demirel will have talks with his Turkmen counterpart Turkmenbasi concerning the Trans-Caspian pipeline and will make it clear that Turkey is determined to buy natural gas from Turkmenistan. /Cumhuriyet/

ARTICLES 69, 86 AND 101 TO BE DEBATED THIS WEEK

The first Parliamentary voting session for the proposal to amend Articles 69, 86 and 101 will be held on April 29. Also the second significant phase of the presidential election process, to be completed by May 15, together with the constitutional amendment proposal, approved by the Parliamentary Constitutional Commission after a 10 hour-heated debate, will be on Wednesday's agenda. The deputy chairmen of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) and the Motherland Party (ANAP) parliamentary groups will tomorrow request that the Advisory Council convene so that a decision to start the debates on March 29 in Parliament regarding the constitutional amendments can be made. The date of the second session for the debates will also be decided. /Turkish Daily News/

FP: ARTICLE 69 SHOULD BE AMENDED

Virtue Party (FP) Chairman Recai Kutan said that Article 69 of the Constitution should be amended in a way which Turkey could be proud of and that the article should not be considered a concern of his party alone, the Anatolia News Agency reports. According to Kutan, Paragraph seven of Article 69, which stipulates that a political party which is a continuation of a banned party, even if it has a diferrent name, can be closed down, constitutes a real danger to the existence of the FP.

AMNESTY TO RETURN TO PARLIAMENTARY AGENDA

The Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that Parliament will re-debate the Amnesty Law Proposal, previously vetoed by President Suleyman Demirel, after the constitutional amendment debate regarding the presidential election and the term of presidency is over, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The Justice Minister also stated that a new structuring of the legal system is a must and that basic laws should be revised in accordance with 21st century understanding. Turk stated that the revision of basic codes, such as the Turkish Penal Code and the Turkish Civil Code are already underway.

UNIVERSITY RECTORS AT CANKAYA PALACE

The eighth 'Rectors' Meeting` presided over by President Suleyman Demirel and attended by 72 University Rectors, the Minister of National Education, Metin Bostancioglu and the Chairman of the Higher Education Institution (YOK), Kemal Guruz, was held at Cankaya Palace. During a speech made by Demirel, he stated that he was proud of the point reached by the 72 universities, however, a comprehensive reform should be implemented as soon as possible. He also emphasized that academicians' salaries were low and the government should try to improve them. /Turkiye/

NSC MEETING

The National Security Council (NSC), presided over by President Suleyman Demirel, will convene today at 3 p.m., at Cankaya Palace. During the monthly regular meeting, the NSC will discuss the topics in the agenda. /Turkiye/

TURKISH AND ARMENIAN BUSINESSMEN TO MEET IN WASHINGTON

A member of the Turco-American Business Council and the Chairman of the Turco-Armenian Business Development Committee, Kaan Soyak, said, "Turkish businessmen will meet with American businessmen of Armenian origin working in the US, on 29 March, on which the Turco-American Business Council will visit Washington." /Hurriyet/

YALOVA'S STATEMENT

Turkish State Minister responsible for privatization, Yuksel Yalova, now in Azerbaijan as the official guest of the Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Danyal Ahmetov, made a statement to 'Hurriyet' daily newspaper stating that the POAS and Tupras' shares being offered to the public were positive developments. Turkish Airlines (THY) will also go to public with share offers. Yalova also suggested that Koc and Sabanci Holding should merge and said that they should be in cooperation in the field of airlines. /Hurriyet/

TURKISH TEXTILE PRODUCER IN PARIS

Oteks Textile Company, which produces textiles from bedsheets to curtain for over 125 luxury hotels and holiday villages, has begun to work for hotels in Paris. Oteks Textile produced all the materials for Le Pera Hotel in Paris except for the furniture and carpets. A member of the Executive Board of Oteks Textile Company, Koral Yilmaz, stated that all the fabrics needed by Le Pera Hotel came from Turkey and that they had also decorated many hotels in Siberia, Malta, Bucharest, Gibraltar, Almati, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). /Hurriyet/

TURKEY TO BE PAID COMPENSATION

American President Bill Clinton and Syria's Head of State, Hafiz Esad, met in Geneva yesterday to activate the Middle East peace talks and it was stated that an agreement concerning two important issues had been made during the secret talks between Syria and Israel. According to the news on Syrian army's radio station, Israel and Syria reached an agreement on the future of Israeli companies working at the Golan Heights and concerning the water. Syria had decided not to take water from sources coming from the Jordanian River but meet its needs for water from the Euphrates River in Turkey and that the US will give financial aid to Turkey as compensation, in return. /Cumhuriyet/

LOW FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE TARGET

The Central Bank will announce its foreign exchange rate for the first three months of the year 2001 by the end of the month. It is expected that the rate of increase will be 1% for the first three months. The Central Bank, which met its target for foreign exchange rates and the monetary programme for the year 2000, will announce foreign exchange increase rates for the first three months of the year 2001 by the end of the week. There will not be a change in the foreign exchange increase rates for the remaining nine months of this year. /Cumhuriyet/

RUSSIAN PEOPLE TO VOTE IN ISTANBUL

A ballot-box was put in the Russian Embassy in Istanbul for the election of the Russian Head of State. Nearly 500 Russian people, who either live in Istanbul or were visiting Istanbul as tourists, voted. In addition, an election commission of nine people was set up to monitor the process and was chaired by the Consul General, Stanislav Osadciy. /Cumhuriyet/

ZIRAAT BANK INTERNATIONAL A.G.

The Frankfurt Central Branch and affiliated branches of Ziraat Bank will be turned into a corporate body, Ziraat Bank International A.G. As part of a decision of the Council of Ministers, the Deutsche Turkische Bank A.G. of Ziraat Bank, with a capital of 100 million DM will become Ziraat Bank International A.G. with all its assets and liabilities. /Aksam/

ALGERIANS IN LALELI

One fifth of the suitcase trade from the Laleli market in Istanbul is with Northern African countries even though Russia, Romania and Turkish-Speaking countries are also involved in the suitcase trade. According to information received from officials of Algerian Airlines, an average of 10-15 tons of suitcase trade in one week is carried out by their passangers. The Head of the Laleli Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (LASIAD), Ayhan Karahan, said that Algeria and Tunisia were hope-inspiring for the Laleli market and stated that commercial relations with Algeria had been in progress since 1983. He added that trade with countries such as Algeria increased by 150 % when compared to the years prior to 1998. /Aksam/

ANKARA'S KURDISH CONCERN

Following a three-year interval, Turco-EU political relations will be resumed. A meeting of the Turco-EU Association Council will be held in Luxembourg on April 11-12 and issues such as Cyprus, human rights and democratization will be debated. It is reported that Turkey is concerned over the final declaration to be issued following the summit. Ankara is worried that unacceptable conditions on issues of human rights and the Kurdish problem may be stipulated. During a meeting of the Council which convened again following the Luxembourg Summit, the approval of the minority rights of Kurds was requested. Turkey's harmonization programme with EU legislation is underway. /Aksam/

CLOSE OBSERVATION ON VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS

The Turkish-Speaking Countries' General Assembly, held in Samsun and attended by 900 delegates from 33 countries, ended yesterday. At the end of the three-day meeting, it was decided that an Observation Committee of Human Rights Violations by Turkish-Speaking Countries would be set up. A proposal was also adopted that until the Committee is established, a Legal Commission will monitor human rights violations. During the Assembly, the genocide in Chechnya was condemned and it was decided that initiatives should be launched for the establishment of the Turkish Union of Inter-Parliamentary Legal Commissions. It was also decided to establish a Science and Culture Academy of the Turkish-Speaking World to develop their common language. /Aksam/

TURKEY WARNS KDP

Turkey will once agin warn the Kurdistan Democrat Party (KDP), led by Mesut Barzani, about the recent developments in northern Iraq. A delegation headed by the Prime Minister of the so-called government of the KDP in northern Iraq, Necirvan Barzani, arrived in Ankara two days ago. Turkish officials stated that they could receive Barzani as a party member and rejected the demand by the KDP delegation to meet high-level officials. It is reported that meetings to be held with the KDP delegation today will be only on a technical level. During the talks, Turkey will express concerns over KDP's activities in the region. Following a decrease in activities by the PKK terrorist organization, positive developments are being experienced in relations between Ankara and the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK), headed by Celal Talabani. It is reported that IPUK support for the PKK has decreased by a significant rate. /Aksam/

TURKISH FISHERMEN BACK IN ISTANBUL

As a result of the Turkish Foreign Ministry's efforts, 42 Turkish fishermen detained earlier in the week, on suspicion of poaching in the Black Sea near the Ukraine, were released on Saturday. Two fishermen were required to stay in the Ukraine for further questioning. /Turkish Daily News/

DALAMAN AIRPORT MODERNIZED

Dalaman Airport, an important access point for Turkey's major tourist centers such as Marmaris and Bodrum has been modernized to serve visitors better, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Speaking to the agency the deputy chief director of the airport, Durmus Duman, said that with the completion of the construction of additional aprons, the number of aprons in the Airport had risen from 10 to 21. This will facilitate simultaneous landings and take offs of many more planes. Last year, more than 80 % of the 1.2 million tourists visiting the region used Dalaman Airport.

WORLD THEATER DAY MARKED TODAY

World Theater day is being marked today all over the globe. On this occasion, state theaters will be free of charge and hold receptions to mark the day. The World Theater Day declaration, which is traditionally written every year by a theater artist and which was this year prepared by the State Theaters General Director Rahmi Dilligil, said that the theaters should be transformed into places where humanitarian values are applauded. /Turkish Daily News/

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION IN ANKARA

A delegation of European Parliament Socialist Group parliamentarians is set to arrive in Ankara today. The delegation, headed by Enrique Baron from Spain comprises Swedish parliamentarian Pierre Schrori, German parliamentarian Jannis Sakellariou and Austrian Hannes Swoboda. The delegation will be in Ankara for two days. /Turkish Daily News/

NEW GSM NETWORK BIDDING TO START ON APRIL 3

The number of companies applying for licence transfers in the Transport Ministry's two new GSM 1800 mobile phone systems has reached 30. Communication General Directorate officials have said that the international bidding process for the licence transfers will start on April 3. The Transport Ministry will sell one of the three licences to Turk Telekom, and the other two to bidding companies. It expects $1.6 billion revenues from the transfer. The two new mobile phone network systems are planned to start operating in July at the latest, at the same time as the network to be allocated for Turk Telekom. /Turkish Daily News/

EXPLOSION IN TPAO OIL-WELL

An explosion took place in a Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) oil-well in Manisa.The explosion is reported to have occurred due to high gas pressure in the well. The well, 2,100, metres deep, was opened three months ago. Luckily the explosion did not cause a fire inside the well, firemen told the Anatolia News Agency. Bits of metal scattered around in the explosion caused damage to a house near the well but no injuries or casualties were reported.

DECISION DAY FOR HELICOPTER VENTURE

The final decision will be declared today for 145 tactics-attack helicopters' joint production venture to meet the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces in 21st century. The American King Cobra, the Italian A-129 and the Russian-Israeli Kamov-IAI and the KA-50-2 Erdogan models are competing for the 4-billion dollar tender. The Minister of National Defense, Sabahattin Cakmakoglu is expected to make the announcement today. /Turkiye/

TURKS AND GREEKS HAND IN HAND

In addition to the Greek-Cypriots, Turkish-Cypriots have been motivated to help Andreas Vasiliu, a six-year old boy, suffering from blood cancer. Today, 500 Turkish-Cypriots ,living the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), will give blood at the Ledra Palace situated on the Green Line. The President of the TRNC, Rauf Denktas, supports the campaign and said, "This is a humanitarian case. I congratulate all citizens who gave blood for Andreas." The Greek-Cypriot Leader, Klerides, also expressed his pleasure for the support of the Turks. /Turkiye/

SAVARONA IN THE US

Ataturk's yatch Savarona, leased by Kahraman Sadikoglu for 49 years, continuing to sail in Miami after a trip from Caribbeans-New York. 'The Floating Palace` has been admired for its furnishings and decorations and hosted to many famous persons. Billioner Micky Arison was the last to hold a big party on board. /Sabah/

FLOATING POWER PLANTS

The Minister of Energy and National Resources and Deputy Prime Minister Cumhur Ersumer stated that traveling and floating power plants would be constructed to meet the gradual increase in energy demand. The number of mobile power plants, tested in the second half of the year 1999 in the Southeast, is to be increased, and in tourist areas, especially in summer, floating power plants will be leased to support the national power network. /Sabah/

OTTOMAN CERAMICS AND TILES DUE IN PARIS

Suna and Inan Kirac will exhibit their private collections of 187 invaluable samples of Iznik and Kutahya's ceramics and tiles in Paris, between April 1 and July 2. /Sabah/

FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN RUSSIA BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)

Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on the Russian Presidential Election and its possible consequences. A summary of his column is as follows: "The Presidency of the Russian Federation was vacated by Boris Yeltsin who left Vlamidir Putin whom he had assigned to act as Prime Minister in his place. The strongest candidate for the first round of the Election is Putin. However, if he doesn't receive 50% of the vote the result will not be known until after the second round ballot. If a second ballot is held, he is still thought to be the strongest candidate. Putin is trying to bring law and order to his country with an authoritarian rule. The situation Russia is in shows that it is a very difficult task. The Mafia rules more than half of the economy, and people are suffering acutely. Today the Russian Federation is the largest territorial State in the world and has the sixth largest population. However, its national gross income is not as twice as much as Turkey's. It is feared that Putin's authoritarian character may tend towards radicalism. One of the reasons for this concern is that he is from a KGB background. The genocide he has carried out in Chechnya also shows that he does not care an iota about OSCE norms and in general human rights issues. What is more, the war in Chechnia continues and Russia who has the greatest arms store in the world is still producing weapons on a large scale. Russia has a reputation of exporting her domestic problems to foreign countries and creating new problems in the world. If Russia wants to expand towards Caucasia and Turkistan, world peace will be disrupted. Relations between Ankara and Moscow could worsen. However, Putin has stated that Russia wants to participate in the Caucasus Peace Project proposed by Demirel. For international peace Russia has to modernize her democracy and economy for international peace. The infrastructure, personnel and the potential required for this exist within the country. A modern Russian Federation will come into being in a very short time if she can behave rationally."

THE NEW SITUATION IN CAUCASIA BY SUKRU ELEKDAG (MILLIYET)

Former Ambassador Sukru Elekdag reports on the developments in the Caucasus. A summary of his column is as follows: "Although commentaries appearing in the Turkish press view the developments concerning the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline optimistically, the reality does not appear to be so. The financial problems concerning the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, the present rate of oil produced in Azerbaijan, the opposition of Russia to the project show that it is not clear where or under which conditions the economic feasibility of the venture will be certain. In these circumstances, to think that the project could be financed is nothing more than a dream. In fact, the international consortium responsible for managing Azerbaijani oil opposes the Baku-Ceyhan project as they believe it to be expensive and politically dangerous. Instead they propose first to construct Baku-Supsa pipeline and then when Azerbaijan reaches sufficient level of production, to construct a line from Supsa to Ceyhan. The US and Turkey together with Azerbaijan oppose such a project for fear that it would be an alternative to the Baku-Ceyhan. The pioneering role of the US in the revival of Trans-Balkan pipeline, which is indeed a rival to Baku-Ceyhan, rouses suspisicions of the intentions of Washington. Figures show that if the Trans-Balkan pipeline is carried out, there will be no oil left for the Baku-Ceyhan to transport. These issues bring to mind the questions as to whether the Clinton Administration is changing its support for the Baku-Ceyhan to the Trans-Balkan and Baku-Supsa pipelines. If this is true, Turkey has to review her relations with Russia and Iran."

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