DEMIREL GIVES MESSAGE CONCERNING NATO

President Suleyman Demirel issued a message due to the 51st anniversary of the establishment of NATO. In a written statement by the Presidential Press Centre, Demirel stated that NATO continues to form the basis of security and stability in the European-Atlantic region. /Cumhuriyet/

LAST CHANCE FOR DEMIREL EXTENSION

A second round of voting, devised to allow President Suleyman Demirel to run for another term in office, will be held in Parliament today. If the amendment proposal for Article 101 of the Constitution is passed, Demirel can be renominated as a presidential candidate during the candidacy period of April 16-26, thus becoming the most likely candidate to assume office. Conversely, if the constitutional amendment proposal is rejected by Parliament, the search for a new candidate will begin and the coalition partners will be faced with a different problem. Following a leaders' summit on Monday, the coalition partners announced that failure to pass the constitutional amendment will not represent a crisis for the government. /Turkish Daily News/

DEPUTIES REACT TO VOTE MONITORING

An agreement reached by the leaders of the coalition parties over monitoring the ballots provoked strong criticism by deputies. Today the second round of voting will be held for the constitutional amendment proposal, allowing President Suleyman Demirel to serve an additional five-year term in office. It is suggested by political circles that two separate methods could be used to ensure that enough votes are mustered in Parliament to amend Article 101 of the Constitution. Either an open voting session could be held, despite the secret voting method stipulated in the Constitution, or the red and green ballots, representing refusal and abstention, could be collected from the deputies after they actually cast their votes. /Turkish Daily News/

GERMAN PRESIDENT IN TURKEY

German President Johannes Rau will arrive in Turkey this evening to support the neighbourly relations between Turkey and Greece and Turkey's entry into the EU. Rau who will stay in Turkey until Saturday will visit the earthquake region together with President Suleyman Demirel. Rau will also visit the Greek-Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeos. Deputy from the Greens Party, Cem Ozdemir, owner of a noted Turkish tourism agency, Vural Oger, Head of the Foreign Workers Department of the IG-Metal Union, Muammer Gulbekir and Head of the Turkish Research Centre, Prof.Faruk Sen will accompany Rau during his visit to Turkey. /Milliyet/

EU HARMONIZATION TALKS STARTED

A meeting was held on Monday under the framework of European Union harmonization, chaired by Volkan Vural, the EU Coordination Committee Secretary-General. It was decided that national projects would be accelerated and would be finished by September 2000. Meanwhile, the EU will grant Turkey 300 million Euros over the next three years. This aid will be used in the restructuring of the financial sector. /Turkish Daily News/

'EUROPEAN VOICE' SUPPORTS THE TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS

The weekly 'European Voice' magazine, which is published in Belgium and which follows the developments in the candidate or member countries to the European Union (EU), criticized the EU for only addressing the Greek-Cypriot Administration during the expansion discussions of the EU and considered this manner to be a 'dead-lock.' The article, signed by Gerd Lindgren, relates that the member of the EU Commission responsible for expansion, Gunter Verheugen, clearly accepted that Klerides does not represent the Turkish-Cypriots. The article suggests that the EU should question how an Administration, which excludes 30% of its population, which has an embargo against its Republic's equal founder, and which does not even have a legal constitution, can continue these discussions. /Aksam/

UNDERWATER PIPELINE TO CARRY WATER TO TRNC

The transfer of water to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) through pipelines is now on the agenda, after the authorities were convinced of the difficulty of transporting it through water balloons, the Anatolia news agency reported. State Waterworks Authority (DSI) officials say that they have given up the latter project since the balloons burst easily and are also expensive.

TURKISH TROOPS HUNT PKK TERRORISTS IN NORTHERN IRAQ

Thousands of Turkish troops backed by air power pushed deeper into northern Iraq on Tuesday to hunt out PKK terrorists in the first offensive of the year. F-16 fighter jets based in Diyarbakir flew reconnaissance for up to 7,000 troops who have massed with artillery and armored vehicles in northern Iraq since the weekend. The offensive is designed to prevent terrorists loyal to PKK Chief Abdullah Ocalan from re-grouping with the onset of spring in Northern Iraq. /All Papers/

TURKISH DIPLOMAT PRAISED FOR SAVING JEWS

A ceremony has been held at the UN General Council chamber to commemorate the efforts of the diplomats from many countries who risked their lives in order to save Jews from the Nazi holocaust, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Turkish diplomats were among those honoured. The ceremony was held along with an exhibition entitled, "Passport to Life: Virtuous Diplomats" and was attended by relatives of 84 diplomats from 24 countries as well as some of the more than 30,000 Jews rescued by them. /Turkish Daily News/

15 TURKISH CANDIDATES IN THE WESTERN THRACE

Fifteen Turkish deputies became candidates for the early general elections that will be held in Greece on 6 April. The party in power, PASOK, nominated Galip Galip and Ahmet Mehmet in Rodop region, which has a large Turkish minority population. The New Democracy Party, which is the main opposition party, will participate in the election with Nazif Sakir and Erhan Imam. /Aksam/

FRISULLO DEPORTED

D.Giovanni Frisullo is still being tried at the No.3 Diyarbakir State Security Court (DGM) because of his support for the PKK terrorist organization during the Nevruz demonstrations two years ago in Diyarbakir. The trial was adjourned yesterday after the Interior Ministry did not give an answer in response to a report which requested Frisullo's return to Turkey. Although Frisullo is banned from entering Turkey, he arrived in Turkey on Monday morning to attend his trial. Police took him into custody at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport on the basis of Frisullo's ban on entering Turkey and deported him on Tuesday. Therefore, the Court decided that his interrogation will achieved through diplomatic means. /Milliyet/

INTERVIEW WITH CAKMAKOGLU IN JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY

An interview with the Turkish National Defence Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu has been published in the 'Jane's Defence Weekly' magazine. Among the interviews with other high-level officials published in this magazine were: Head of the Office for the Prevention of Threats, the US Defence Department, Dr. Jay Davis; Malaysian Defence Minister, Necibuddin Rezzak; Austrian Defence Minister Herbert Scheibner and KFOR Commander of the Kosovo Defence Power, General Klaus Reinhardt. /MYlliyet/

EXTRADITION OF FEHRIYE ERDAL

The High Court of Appeals, the highest level of the judicial system in Belgium decided that Turkey's request for the extradition of Fehriye Erdal, one of the accused in the murder of Ozdemir Sabanci, was right and legal. The Belgian Minister of Justice, March Verwilghen will give the final decision on the extradiction of Erdal after examining the view of the judgement. /Turkiye/

KEMAL AND BINGOL: ENVOYS OF PEACE IN UNESCO

UNESCO has decided to give the title of 'envoy of peace' to the Turkish author Yasar Kemal, singer Yavuz Bingol and the noted German literary author Gunter Grass for their contributions to world peace. Bingol said that this title was a great honour for him and added that he would continue with his efforts for peace in the future. /Milliyet/

TWO F-16 AIRCRAFT CLASH

Two F-16 aircraft which departed from Merzifon for a training flight yesterday evening clashed with one another near the Yildizeli district of Sivas. Pilot Captain Murat Ozaydin and Pilot First Lieutenant Gungor Ozer survived. Officials said that an investigation into the incident was underway. /Star/

155TH ANNIVERSARY OF TURKISH POLICE ORGANIZATION

The Turkish Police Organization is celebrating its 155th anniversary. A delegation, headed by the General Director of Security Turan Genc, visited Ataturk's Mausoleum and laid a wreath. The Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan issued a message to mark the anniversary. Stating that ensuring the peace and security of the citizens was one of the most important duties of the State, Tantan said, "It is our Security Organization which carries out this duty successfuly." He also conveyed his appreciation to the Organization's officers for their hard work, despite their economic and social problems. /Turkiye/

COMMEMORATION OF MARINE MARTYRS

The Marine Martyrs have been commemorated by official ceremonies, organized at the Office of Golcuk Fleet Commander and in Istanbul and Canakkale. The Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu and Commander of Navy Forces Admiral Ilhami Erdil issued messages. In the ceremony, at the Office of the Commander. The Fleet Commander Admiral Bulent Alpkaya said, "The modern Turkish fleet has reached today thanks to our martyrs. We will try to be worthy of them." /Turkiye/

HIGH NUMBER OF SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS IN TURKEY

Turkey is far ahead the European Union candidate and member countries in terms of the number of scientific publications. In a statement issued by the Higher Education Council (YOK), Turkey was 25th among the other countries according to the Science Citation Index (SCI) that records the number of scientific publications. Turkey was 44th in this category in 1985. /Cumhuriyet/

US INVESTORS TO BE INVITED TO IMKB

The Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp said that they would hold a 'road show' in order to promote the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) to US markets and investors. Demiralp stated that Head of the Central Bank, Gazi Ercel, Head of the Privatization Administration Board (OIB) Ugur Bayar and IMKB Chairman Osman Birsen would attend the meetings to be held in New York and Boston and added that the Turkish economy, monetary programme, privatization programme and the IMKB would be explained to US investors in order to attract these investors to the IMKB. /Milliyet/

WB SEES MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN POWER PLANNING

The World Bank is seeking a more active role in Turkey's power sector planning in order to prevent further financing deficits and a distortion in free market conditions, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The World Bank called on the Treasury to re-arrange build-operate-transfer (BOT) power schemes on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis and also to completely lift the Treasury guarantee on the financing of BOT schemes. The World Bank suggested to give finance guarantees to 18 companies at the first stage. Other companies are to sell electricity in free market conditions once a law regulating the sector is passed. The law will entail the establishment of a board to supervise the sector. Meanwhile, the State Planning Organization, Treasury and Energy Ministry are jointly drawing up an energy production and consumption plan covering a time-period until 2005.

MERGE BETWEEN TURKISH AND AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COMPANIES

America's leading chemistry and plastics company with a sales volume of 2.3 billion dollars, M.A. Hanna, bought 87% share of Tecno Polimer Company, which is active in Turkey, for 12 million dollars. The remaining part of 13% will be transferred to the American company after a period of five years. This cooperation between M.A. Hanna and Tecno Polimer was announced during a meeting that was held in Istanbul yesterday. /Aksam/

YAPI KREDI MOSCOW INCREASES ITS CAPITAL

The first Turkish bank established in Moscow, Yapi Kredi Moscow, increased its capital to 25 million dollars. A statement issued by Yapi Kredi Bank recalled how the representative office was opened in Moscow in 1988 after which Yapi Toko Bank was established with a capital of 5 million dollars in order to contribute to the improvement of the commercial relations between Turkey and Russia. The statement also mentioned how Yapi Kredi then bought all the shares of Toko Bank, changed the name of the bank to Yapi Kredi Moscow and increased its capital to 25 million dollars. /Aksam/

CHILDREN'S CHANNEL FOX IN TURKEY

Entertainment company for children, Fox Kids Europe, stated that it expanded its broadcasting net in the Eastern Europe thanks to the digital satellite television platform, Digiturk. Fox Kids will increase its number of markets to 33 after adding Digiturk, which will begin broadcasting on 15 May. General Director of Fox Kids Europe, Ynon Kreiz, stated that it was a great opportunity for expanding the Fox Kids brand. /Sabah/

DEMIRBANK TO OPEN BRANCHES ABROAD

General Director of Demirbank, Hakan Akcakayalioglu, stated that Demirbank would open new branches both in Turkey and abroad and that they would expand the borders of Demirbank with their involvement in a region from the Eastern Europe to Balkans and from Turkey to the Turkish-Speaking Countries. Akcakayalioglu spoke during a meeting held yesterday and said that they would increase the number of their branches abroad from 127 to 150. /Sabah/

ALATON AND SOROS TO OPEN FOUNDATION

Co-Chairman of the Executive Board of Alarko Holding Company, Ishak Alaton, will establish a foundation with George Soros, who is one of the biggest stock exchange speculators in the world. According to the news published in the last issue of the monthly 'Power' magazine, the foundation that will make Alaton and Soros partners will aim to make the women in the Southeastern Anatolia Region productive. /Sabah/

STRATEGIC COOPERATION BETWEEN ECZACIBASI AND GLOBESHARE

Eczacibasi Stock Exchange Joint Stock Company became strategic partners with the American Globeshare in order to create an opportunity for the Turkish investors to make investments in the electronic environment of the world stock exchanges. Deputy General Director of Eczacibasi Stock Exchange Joint Stock Company, Turgut Tokgoz, stated that their company, which started the stock exchange operations in the electronic environment thanks to their Tele Investment and Net Investment-24, again started to practice a brand new operation. /Sabah/

3RD GLOBAL DEVELOPING STOCK EXCHANGES CONFERENCE AND FAIR

The 3rd Global Developing Stock Exchanges Conference and Fair, which will be held with the cooperation of the Federation of International Stock Exchanges' (FIBV) and the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) will start today. During this conference and fair, which will be held between 5 and 7 April at Lutfi Kirdar International Congress and Exhibition Palace, the improvement of countries, problems and the solution of these problems in the capital markets and the investment opportunities for these markets will be discussed. /Sabah/

MARDIN CONGLOMERATE

Industrialists from Mardin who could not receive the loans necessary for the development of the Southeastern Anatolia Region have decided to establish a company called Mardin Investment and Development Conglomerate in order to overcome their problems. Businessmen from Mardin living in Ankara and Istanbul will also be invited to be partners in the Company. /Milliyet/

FAIR IN IVORY COAST

Turkish businessmen are looking for new markets in foreign countries. During a Fair to be held in Ivory Coast between April 18 and 23 by the Istanbul Chamber of Trade (ITO), Turkey will promote itself to African countries. Representatives of nearly 50 firms and 15 chambers headed by the ITO Chairman Mehmet Yildirim will attend the Fair. Yildirim said that the Ivory Coast was a developing market in Africa and added, "Of nearly 12 countries in Africa, the port of Ivory Cost is currently the most attractive point for foreign trade". /Milliyet/

MIGROS TO OPEN 150 NEW MARKETS

The General Director of Migros Shopping Centre, Oktay Irsidar, stated that they aimed to realize a 30 %-growth rate in real basis in the year 2000 and to receive a turn-over worth $1.2 billion. He added that they also aimed at obtaining $130 million from their markets in foreign countries. Migros is also planning to open 150 new markets this year. Irsidar remarked that they would open three markets in Moscow, two in Kazakhstan and one in Azerbaijan and one in Sofia. /Milliyet/

SEKER CHICKEN IN CENTRAL ASIA

Seker Chicken Company will make new investments this year. The Head of the Executive Board of the Seker Chicken Company, Ali Bor, said that with the financial sources received from the offering of their shares to the public, they would set up the biggest integrated facilities for producing chicken in Turkey in May. He added that they would also export chickens to Central Asian Countries and Turkish-Speaking Republics. Bor pointed out that they aimed to receive a turn-over 25 trillion TL this year. /Milliyet/

TURKEY'S EXPORTS UP 2 % IN FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR

Turkey's exports rose by 2 % to $6.5 billion in the first quarter of the year as compared to the same period of last year, the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) announced yesterday. In March exports of ferrous and nonferrous metals rose the most, by 34.2 %, followed by cement and ceramics which experienced a 16.0 % rise and other industrial products saw an increase of 9.5 %. /Turkish Daily News/

THREE TURKISH FILMS TO BE SHOWN AT WASHINGTON FILM FESTIVAL

The International Film Festival, 'Filmfest DC', which is organized in Washington, will also include three Turkish films. The booklet of the festival applauded the success of Turkish cinema. Turkish films entitled 'Harem Suare' by Ferzan Ozpetek, 'Gunese Yolculuk' by Yesim Ustaoglu and 'Propoganda' by Sinan Cetin will be shown in this festival as well as other films from other countries between 5 and 16 April in Washington. /Cumhuriyet/

AKBANK JAZZ FESTIVAL

The Akbank 10th Jazz Festival is beginning tomorrow in Ankara. The Festival brings the world famous international and Turkish jazz masters together between April 6 and 9. This year, Emin Findiklioglu, Andy Sheppard, Burhan Ocal, Seamus Blake Quartet and Ilhan Ersahin Quartet will stage in Ankara. /Hurriyet/

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

A RESPECTED GUEST BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

Columnist Sami Kohen comments on German President Johannes Rau's visit to Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows: "It is very unfortunate that President Rau's visit coincides with the ballot on the amendment of the Constitution concerning the term of office of the president. We would have liked the first visit by a German President after an interval of 14 years to take place in a more politically stable atmosphere. Nevertheless, the visit of the German President has great importance. The significance of Rau's visit is due to Rau's own personality and the new stage Turco-German relations has entered. President Rau who was elected last year, is an experienced politician and a friend of Turks. During the time he served as Prime Minister in the State of Northern Rheine-Westphalia, he took a stand in favour of Turks as regards most issues concerning them. Rau's visit comes at a time when the relations between Turkey and Germany have started to improve. Rau's visit provides a further opportunity to enhance these relations. Certainly it would be wrong to expect concrete results from this visit. Issues such as the 'Leopard tanks' will not be taken up during this visit, but left to German Chancellor Shroeder's expected visit in September. During the visit of the President, Germany's support for Turkey's full-membership in the EU, the Cyprus question, the situation of the Turks in Germany and Turco-German partnership will be discussed. It is also clear that Rau will express his opinions on human rights issues in Turkey as an old friend. He is pleased with the Turco-Greek dialogue and expects this improvement in relations to continue. Germany, who hosted the President of TRNC, Rauf Denktas, for the first time has displayed a realistic attitude towards the Cyprus issue, different than that of other Western nations. The visit of Rau may bring a new impetus to Turco-German relations, if the internal political turmoil in Ankara does not cast a shadow over it."

OPINIONS OF STATE MINISTER ON AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION BY ESEN UNUR (STAR)

Columnist Eser Unur writes on the voting for the amendments to the Constitution. A summary of his column is as follows: "There are news items which need no comment, such as the statement by the State Minister Responsible for Human Rights Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik. On the issue of amending the Constitution, Irtemcelik said that democracy is not the name of a regime where stability of the country depends on a particular person. "Democracy is not the the name of a regime where you would not take into account the results of a ballot. Democracy is not a regime where you will slander those who do not share your views. Turkey will not remain under suspicion and will overcome these impositions she has been subjected to." Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, following a few days of consideration has repated the same statement he made following the ballot in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). "What worries me is that some circles really debate voting secretly and show the colour of the votes they did not cast. If this path is followed, this will humiliate the deputies,lessen the respect felt for the TGNA, erase all the trust in those implementing it and the Constitution would be violated. The Constitution requires the rule of secret ballot for amendments on the Constitution. To turn them into open ballot would violate the Constitution. I do not believe the deputies will resort to such a method whatever pressure may come and wherever that pressure comes from. "

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