WARNING FOR THE PARLIAMENTARIANS

In order to surmount the crisis which has been experienced due to the proposed Constitutional amendment, the leaders of the coalition parties met yesterday. Following the two-hour meeting, a joint statement was read out by Premier Bulent Ecevit. Recalling that 324 parliamentaries had signed the Constitutional amendment proposal, the three leaders asked the parliamentarians to own up to their signatures; a decision was reached to implement all precautions needed to ensure that this happens. Possible measures were declared as 'to persuade the parliamentarians to keep their promise otherwise the government may collapse' or 'to vote on the matter showing their choice`. Before the meeting, Ecevit was received by President Suleyman Demirel and they talked for 45 minutes. /Cumhuriyet/

CEM TO SIGN JOINT ACTION PLAN WITH JAPAN

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will sign a Japanese-Turkish joint action plan during his five-day official visit to Japan which starts today. Cem's visit will be the first by a Turkish foreign minister to Japan in 13 years. Turkey and Japan aim to run their political, economic, technical and cultural relations in an organized framework by signing the joint action plan. At a press meeting in the Japanese Embassy in Ankara yesterday, First Secretary Keisuke Yamanaka told reporters that Cem and his Japanese counterpart, Yohei Kono, will touch on a variety of issues including regional matters. /Turkish Daily News/

TANTAN MEETS FBI OFFICIALS

The Turkish Minister of the Interior, Saadettin Tantan, desires the extradition of Halil Bezmen and Aysegul Tecimer, who are being investigated as a top priority by Turkey. He requested this extradition from FBI Chairman Louis Freeh who has just arrived in Turkey for the first time. Freeh started with meetings at the Ministry of Justice and later met Tantan, but this meeting was closed to the press. It was stated that during this closed meeting, Freeh supplied Tantan with information on the drug trafficking situation in Turkey and stated that he wanted Turkey to work more effectively on this issue. Freeh also met the Undersecretary of the National Intelligence Service (MIT), Senkal Atasagun. As Freeh's appointment with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit was cancelled, he met the General Director of Security, Turan Genc, and the two discussed security and cooperation issues. Freeh stated that he was pleased to be in Turkey and that they had exchanged their opinions on computer crime. /Aksam/

BENDIT'S MEETINGS IN ANKARA

Co-Chairman of the Turco-European Union Joint Parliamentary Commission (KPK), Daniel Cohn-Bendit, met the representatives of the Terrorist Victims' Association. He also visited Leyla Zana, a former Democracy Party politician who is doing time in Ankara Ulucanlar Prison, and visited the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) as part of his round of talks in Ankara. After his visit to Zana, Bendit criticized the 312th Article of the Constitution, stating that Turkey should give greater importance to the freedom of expression. /Sabah/

GEORGE W. BUSH: "I NEED TURKS"

Republican nominee for the US Presidency, George W.Bush, has stated that he needs the support of Turks both prior to and following the Election. The Head of the Federation of Turco-American Associations, Egemen Bagis, and an accompanying delegation were invited to a meeting organized by the Republicans where they met George W.Bush. Bagis said following the meeting that Turks living in the US would continue to support the Republican candidate. The Governor of New York, George Pataki, was also present during the meeting. /Turkiye/

US SUPPORTS TSK MILITARY OPERATIONS

The US supports the operations being carried out by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) against PKK terrorist organization members sheltering in Northern Iraq. The Spokesman for the US State Department, James Rubin, held a press conference yesterday and said, "The US policy on this issue is clear; we support the right of Turkey to defend itself against PKK terrorist action. However, these military operations should be limited in time and scope. Moreover, while they are being carried out, the rights of civilians should be respected". /Turkiye/

COHEN'S REQUEST

During the Turco-American annual meetings that were held last week, the American Secretary of Defence, William Cohen, pointed out that Turkey enjoyed strategic importance in terms of security for the whole Middle East region. Cohen made a statement on the plane to Israel and explained the real aim of his visit, saying, "I will continue to point out the necessity of greater cooperation between Israel, Turkey and Jordan and talk about increasing the level of security arrangements in the region." Cohen did not supply specific information on ways to develop defence relationships between Turkey, Israel and Jordan but said, "I want all the countries in the region, particularly Israel, to cooperate further as far as the sharing of information in concerned so that we can prevent terrorist organizations' actions." /Milliyet/

CHP'S PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: ERDAL INONU

As the Constitutional amendment package concerning the election of the President has reached an impasse, the Republican People's Party (CHP) has authorized its Leader, Altan Oymen, to meet party leaders in the TGNA to discuss the presidential candidacy of Erdal Inonu, the Honorary Chairman of the CHP. Following the ballot tomorrow in the TGNA, Oymen will begin attemps to organize these meetings. /Cumhuriyet/

DIFFERENT VIEWS IN VIRTUE PARTY

The Virtue Party (FP), which could not bargain over the 69th Article of the Constitution, has split in two prior to the ballot which will be held tomorrow in the plenary session of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). Oguzhan Asilturk, the Shadow Chairman of the Party, defended the view that, although their proposed amendment to Article 69 would be rejected, the FP should nevertheless support the amendment package. Asilturk said, "Article 69 is still a gain even in its present state." /Cumhuriyet/

ITALY DISCUSSES SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

During the General Council meeting of the Italian Assembly, the so-called Armenian genocide was discussed. A proposal was submitted by the Head of the Northern Union Party's Parliamentary Group, Giancarlo Pagliarini, signed by 136 members of Parliament, to approve the recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide. No date has been set for the ballot, but some parliamentarians claimed that it could be held on April 6. /Turkiye/

TAJIKISTAN COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER VISITS ANKARA

The Tajik Minister of Communications, Faruk Muhiddinov, has visited his Turkish counterpart, Transport Minister Enis Oksuz, the Anatolia News Agency reports. During his visit, he reiterated the friendly and fraternal ties between the two countries and said that Turkey was supporting several communications projects in his country. He added that the Land Communications Treaty signed by Turkey and Tajikistan was the first international agreement to be signed by his country. Muhiddinov then touched on feasibility studies being conducted by Turkish contractors for building a road linking Tajikistan to China.

POLICE UNEARTH FIVE MORE HIZBULLAH VICTIMS IN DIYARBAKIR

Turkish police dug up five bodies from a field yesterday where the remains of five more people killed by the Hizbullah terrorist organization are thought to be buried, witnesses said. The discoveries have brought the number of suspected victims of the Hizbullah organization found so far to 64. The organization is blamed for a wave of killings across Turkey in the 1990s. /All papers/

TURKISH DOCTOR'S ACHIEVEMENT

A drug called 'Aptosyn' (Exisulind) developed by Turkish doctor Rifat Pamukcu, who lives in the US, is destroying the cells of prostate cancer without damaging surrounding healthy tissues according to a report announced during the American Research Union's Congress in San Francisco. Pamukcu, who intends to visit Turkey in the summer of this year, is the Deputy Chairman of a firm called Cell Pathways based in Pennsylvania; the company has applied to the US Health Department for a patent to use this drug to treat patients with cancer of the large intestine as well. The Internet address of the firm is as follows: http://www.cellpathways.com. /Turkiye/

TURKES TO BE COMMEMORATED

The former leader of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), Alparslan Turkes, who died three years ago will be commemorated today at memorial events. A special ceremony, to be attended by MHP Chairman Devlet Bahceli as well as Alparslan Turkes' wife Seval Turkes, will be organized in Ankara to mark the anniversary of his death. /Turkiye/

EUROPEAN UNION TO SUPPORT TURKEY FINANCIALLY

When Turkey prepare projects, it will receive funding to the tune of 10 billion dollars from the European Union (EU) over seven years. After a visit by State Minister Recep Onal, Central Bank Chairman Gazi Ercel and Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp to the EU Commission and the European Investment Bank, the amount of funding that can be freed up by the EU for Turkey was determined. The Treasury and the State Planning Organization will form a special working group in accordance with the EU format and public projects, as well as those of non-governmental organizations and local administrations, will be financed by the EU. /Sabah/

INFLATION RATE DECLINES

The inflation rate figures for March were declared yesterday by the State Institute for Statistics (DIE). Accordingly, the wholesale price index increased by 3.1% compared to last month, and consumer price index increased by 2.9%, the latter being remarkably lower than market expectations. By March, the annual inflation rate was 66.1% for wholesale and 67.9% for consumer prices. So, the trend for the inflation rate figures reveals the beginning of a decline. /Hurriyet/

INDEPENDENT INDUSTRIALISTS' AND BUSINESSMEN'S ASSOCIATION'S REPORT

Chairman of the Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD), Ali Bayramoglu, announced their report entitled 'Constitutional Reform and the Democratization of the Administration' during a press conference at Ciragan Palace. Their views outlined in this report are that local administrations should be made autonomous, the General Staff should be attached to the Ministry of National Defence, the duties of the National Security Council (NSC) should be decreased and the General Secretary of the NSC should be appointed from among civilian public officials, the duties and responsibilities of the NSC and the legal character of the decisions it takes should be defined concretely in the Constitution and, finally, that the Religious Affairs Board should be made autonomous. /Aksam/

GAP INVESTMENT COMPANY SPONSORS BOOK

A book entitled "Economic Integration and the European Union", written by the Economic and Administrative Sciences' Faculty of Harran University, has been published with the support of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Investment Company. The book supplies information to its readers on the state of Turco-EU relations and on other institutions such as EFTA, NAFTA etc. /Turkiye/

TOBB SEMINAR

The Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) has organized a seminar on "The Industrial Management of Private Sector Companies in Muslim Countries and the Development of their Marketing Capabilities" with the support of the Islamic Development Bank and the Islamic Chamber. In addition to those from Turkey, representatives from private companies and trade chambers from Egypt, Yemen, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Iran are attending the seminar which will continue until April 6, 2000. /Turkiye/

FOREIGNERS TRUST IN TURKISH GOVERNMENT

Amer Bisat, who is responsible for international investments by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, one of the leading investment advisory banks in the world, has said that the economic programme implemented by Turkey has been awaited impatiently in Turkey for many years. He added that, nevertheless, however this programme could only be carried out by a powerful and stable government. Bisat pointed out that they were of the opinion that no-one would wish for an early election in Turkey until this economic programme has been completed successfully. /Turkiye/

TREASURY'S BOND ISSUE

The Treasury will issue 16-month bonds today; a total of 200-350 trillion TL is expected to be obtained from the sale. The repayment date for the bonds will be August 22, 2001. The Treasury will also issue three-month and 14-month bonds on April 18 and 21-month bonds on April 25. /Turkiye/

FIVE CONSORTIA BID FOR NEW GSM LICENCES

Five consortia submitted bids for two new mobile phone GSM network licenses, the Transport Ministry announced yesterday. The tender commission immediately started evaluating the five bids in terms of their compliance with specifications. The winner of the first license is set to be unveiled on April 12. The second license will be leased to one of the other bidders in a separate bidding round and the price offered must be higher than the one quoted for the first license. /Turkish Daily News/

TUPRAS SALE SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 12

Brokerage house Garanti Investment Securities filed with the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) yesterday for the sale of a 15 % stake in state-run oil refinery TUPRAS to take place at the IMKB Wholesales Market on April 12, Garanti announced yesterday. Garanti Investment Securities, leader of the consortium arranging the public offering, noted that a final share price would be unveiled after preliminary subscriptions for the TUPRAS public offering are finalized between April 5 and 7. /Turkish Daily News/

FUEL TANKERS HALTED AT BORDER

Sanliurfa Governor Sahabettin Harput has said that surplus fuel oil will be unable to enter the country and that overloaded tankers coming in from northern Iraq will be halted at Habur Customs, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Harput then stated that those tankers that had been kept waiting at the border post were fined and then given permission to continue their journey, but that next time they will not be allowed in the country.

AGRICULTURAL FAIR IN THE SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA PROJECT (GAP) REGION

The AGRO-GAP 2000 International Agricultural Fair, which was organized by the GAP Regional Development Administration and the Istanbul Fair Company, is being held between 6 and 9 April in the GAP region. Turkey's biggest Agricultural Fair, covering an area of 12,000 square metres, will be attended by more than 100 companies, which will exhibit all kinds of agricultural tools, machinery and services. /Sabah/

2ND INTERNATIONAL CERAMICS, PORCELAIN AND GLASS TECHNOLOGIES FAIR

The 2nd International Ceramics, Porcelain and Glass Technologies Fair will be organized in the TUYAP Beylikduzu Fair and Congress Centre, Istanbul, by the ASDF Fair Company between 6 and 9 April. The raw materials and chemicals used in the production of ceramics and bricks, machines and their spare parts will be exhibited at this Fair. It is expected that 194 companies will attend. /Aksam/

METU ART FESTIVAL

'Second Art Festival`, organized by the Middle East Technical University (METU), in partnership with the Culture Ministry, the Turkiye Is Bank, the Kasra Company and UPS, began yesterday. The Festival will last until April 16 and all revenue will be donated to those students who cannot afford their education. A plastic art exhibition, a concert by the Mersin Chamber Orchestra, a slide and film show and discussion panels are among the events in the Festival. /Hurriyet/

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

THERE SHOULD BE NO CRISIS BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)

Columnist Oztuna comments on the ballot on the Constitutional amendments. A summary of his column is as follows: "Turkey is waiting for the ballot in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. According to press and political circles, the election of the President is still the most important issue on the agenda. This is of great significance as it could lead Turkey to a crossroads. However, the people are not interested in this election but in managing their own budgets. Politicians of all tendencies are appearing on every TV channel and explaining their views. However, the people have lost all trust in politicians; the proportion of votes received by each party is an indication of this fact. Things should not have reached such a stage, as the execution of the national will depends on the supremacy of the Parliament. The people became poorer and lost trust in the politicians they had voted for. If a political crisis erupts to top it all, the economy will slump. We hope that the politicians use their commonsense and act to prevent a crisis. Certainly every government has an alternative. The collapse of the present government will result in a political and economic crisis."

WHAT IS GOING ON IN ARMENIA? BY SEMIH IDIZ (STAR)

Columnist Semih Idiz writes on Turco-Armenian relations and the internal developments taking place in Armenia. A summary of his column is as follows: "It is understood that the speech Armenian President Robert Kocharian delivered at the Georgian Parliament last week in support of the "Caucasus Pact" proposed by Turkey, has created unrest both in Moscow and in pro-Russian circles in Armenia. This stance also shows that different countries view the Caucasus Pact differently. In other words, it can be seen that Russia and her supporters approved this proposal so as to be able to intervene from within. It has been stated that Moscow sees this proposal, voiced by President Suleyman Demirel and supported by the US, as part of Western plan to make headway in the Caucasus. Therefore, it is clear that Russia, who had previously applied pressure on Georgia and Azerbaijan to recapture her political and military influence in the Caucasus, will direct similar pressures towards Armenia. While Kocharian is in Tbilisi giving out pro-Western signals, it is noteworthy that the Armenian Armed Forces with the support of Russia and under the leadership of pro-Russian commanders, has launched military manoeuvres. Kocharian was seen as a powerful leader until recently but is not viewed as such today. His initiative to bring his country into the Western camp has weakened his position due to strong opposition to such a move in Armenia. However, there is another factor to take into consideration which makes it more difficult for Kocharian to follow this policy and that is the Armenians of the Diaspora living in Europe and the US. They are harassing Turkey. What they are not aware of is that unless Armenia can find a way to get along well with Turkey, there is no opportunity for Armenia to open up to the West. So long as the Armenians of the Diaspora bother Turkey, they are preventing the chances of that happening. The Armenians in the US and Europe are well-to-do, are preventing Armenia battling various economic hardships from getting out of Russia's sphere of influence and forming an independent political and economic identity. They are scratching open old wounds."

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