CHINESE HEAD OF STATE IN TURKEY

The Head of State of the People's Republic of China, Jiang Zemin came to Turkey on an official visit. Zemin and a delegation accompanying him were met by the Minister of State, Sukru Sina Gurel, and some Chinese people living in Ankara. Jiang Zemin stated that his aim was to develop friendship and cooperation between the two countries. In the meantime, China is willing to construct the Sandacik Dam in Mugla. /Turkiye/

ALBANIAN PARLIAMENT SPEAKER VISITS TURKEY

A group of Albanian parliamentarians arrived in Turkey yesterday as guests of the Turkish Parliament's Foreign Commission Chairman Kamran Inan. The Albanian official will visit Inan and then hold a meeting with Turkish parliamentarians on Wednesday. The Chairman of the Albanian parliamentarians will be received by Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut. /Turkish Daily News/

FIRST ROUND ON APRIL 27

The voting for the election of the 10th President of Turkey is expected to be held on April 27. The Advisory Council will convene on April 25, the last day for applications for presidential candidacy, and will determine a schedule for voting. The first, second, third and fourth ballots are expected to be held on April 27, May 1, May 5 and May 9, respectively. In case a candidate cannot meet 276 votes even by the fourth and the final round of voting, according to the Constitution, the TGNA will announce general elections immediately. /Aksam/

CILLER MEETS ECEVIT

The True Path Party (DYP) Leader Tansu Ciller will visit Premier Bulent Ecevit today at 03:00 p.m. During the meeting, the topic of presidential election is expected to be taken up. Ciller will convey her party's view concerning the subject. /Turkiye/

SAMI SELCUK DUE TO THE U.S.

Head of the Court of Appeals, Sami Selcuk, will go to the U.S. as the guest of Harvard University to deliver a series of speeches. In the meeting, during which members of U.S. Congress will also be present, Selcuk will address the European Union (EU) and wants them to include Turkey in the EU. Selcuk stated that he received the approval of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit for the speech that he will deliver. /Milliyet/

TURCO-GREEK FRIENDSHIP FAIR

A 210-person delegation headed by Chairman of the Ankara Chamber of Trade (ATO), Sinan Aygun, is going to Athens today to attend the "Turco-Greek Friendship Fair". Stating that the Fair will be inaugurated by the Minister of Industry and Trade, Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu, Aygun said that they will meet the Greek President, the Premier, and the Governor as well as the Mayor of Athens. He also pointed out that members of the Athens Chamber of Trade would be invited in Ankara and they would suggest that Greek counterparts organize a joint fair in Ankara next year. The Greek Ambassador to Ankara, Loannis Corantis, also went to Athens with the Turkish delegation. /Turkiye/

COOPERATION IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST CRIME

The "First Regional Criminalistic Symposium" will commence in Istanbul today. Authorities from Russia, Greece and Bulgaria are attending the meeting. The participants will exchange views and discuss the topics of cooperation and exchange of information for fighting crime. /Aksam/

GERMAN MINISTER: "SPEND YOUR HOLIDAY IN TURKEY"

The Interior Minister of Bavaria State in Germany, Dr. Gunther Beckstein, stated that Turkey was the safest country in the Mediterranean and suggested German citizens should spend their holidays in Turkey. Attending a reception in his honour in Belek hosted by German Consul-General in Izmir, Beckstein said that in the past Turkey faced certain problems related to terrorism, but that now, however, Turkey was a very safe country. He also underlined that the rate of crime in Turkey was not as high as in Spain or Italy and said, "Hence, I advice Germans to visit Turkey and become acquainted with the natural beauties of this country and hospitality of the Turkish people. /Turkiye/

SUMMERS PRAISES TURKEY

The US Secretary of Treasury, Larry Summers, who played a large role in coping with world economic crisis in 1998, stated that he considered the economic programme implemented by Turkey very impressive and warned Turkey not to spoil this economic programme. The Turkish State Minister responsible for economy, Recep Onal, met Summers yesterday morning, after which he said, "They are closely monitoring the economic programme implemented by Turkey. Summers arrived in Turkey with a huge file of the notes concerning the developments in Turkey. Summers stated that this programme was very impressive and that it would give positive results if it is firmly implemented. In response, we gave him information on the financial harmonization, foreign exchange rates and structural reforms." /Sabah/

GUARANTEE BY THE BRITISH MINISTER

Turkish Minister of Justice, Hikmet Sami Turk, stated that the British State Minister responsible for the internal affairs, Charles Clark, gave 'full guarantee' for the match that will be played between Galatasaray and Leeds United. Turk said, "Clark stated that security precautions were taken for the period before the match, for the match-time and for the period after the match and that the British government will ensure the security of the football players, technical staff and the audience. I do not think that there will be any unfortunate incident after this guarantee." /Sabah/

SPECIAL TEAM TO ENSURE GALATASARAY'S SECURITY

The special team, which was appointed by the Minister of the Interior, Saadettin Tantan, in order to protect Galatasaray in England, will go to Istanbul and then to England. England gave the permission to the team to bring steel waistcoats. The special team will serve as a shield for Galatasaray, wearing steel waistcoats and special eyeglasses against explosions. All the members of this team are experts in close fighting. /Sabah/

HEAD OF THE ECHR DUE TO ANKARA

The Head of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Luzius Wildhaber, who made very negative judgements on Turkey concerning the violation of human rights, will arrive in Ankara next week to participate in the activities that will be organized for the 38th anniversary of the establishment of the Court of Constitution. As part of these activities, Wildhaber will also present a declaration. The Turkish judge in the ECHR, Riza Turmen, will also arrive in Turkey with Wildhaber and will be chairman of the symposium in the first day of its meeting. The symposium will last for two days. /Sabah/

LAFARGE INCREASES ITS INVESTMENTS IN TURKEY

France's huge construction materials and cement company, Lafarge, increased its amount of investment in the Turkish market from 80 million dollars to 500 million dollars. The Chairman of Lafarge Company, Bertrand Collomb, said, "We bought Aslan Cement Company, which was the first cement factory in Turkey at that time, in 1989. Our capital was 80 million dollars during that period and the amount of our investments has reached 500 million dollars in the past 11 years. Our investment in Turkey and our cooperation with Turkey is the biggest indication of our confidence in Turkey." /Hurriyet/

NEW BIDDING BY THE GSM

After the consortiums stated that they would not enter the GSM bidding as they found the minimum price too high, the decision of the Ministry of Communications is being waited for. According to the State Bidding Law, the same companies can be re-invited to the bidding in 15 days under the same conditions. /Cumhuriyet/

MANAVGAT WATER

Israel will resume talks in order to purchase water from Turkey. The Economic Committee which convened to find a solution to Israel's water problem has decided that a price will be determined for a five-year contract for providing Israel with 45 million cubic metres of water every year from Turkey. During the meeting, the Committee also reached a decision for the establishment of facilities to purify 50 million cubic metres of water every year. /Star/

BAHCELI: "ANTI-INFLATION MEASURES WILL SUCCEED"

Chairman of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli stated that for the first time in years, a stable and coordinated government was decisively addressing the country's economic problems. He added, "We all believe that the all-out fight we have initiated against economic problems, especially inflation, will be successful. Turkey deserves this success." Bahceli was speaking at the MHP parliamentary group meeting. Bahceli stated that the economic programme appeared to be going much better than expected. He remarked that recent successes in privatization which had contributed to falling interest and inflation rates pointed to economic health. /All papers/

IMF, WORLD BANK PRAISE TURKEY'S PROGRAMME

IMF Assistant Chairman Stanley Fischer said in Washington that Turkey's economic stabilization programme has started producing positive results, which will continue in the future, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Fischer, attending IMF-World Bank spring meetings, described Turkey's anti-inflation efforts "as a programme that should be examined carefully" and said that if Turkey maintains its economic plans, it would be a model for other countries. World Bank Chairman James Wolfensohn said that the World Bank is supporting Turkey's anti-inflation programme and that his interest in Turkey is reflected in his plans to visit Turkey in May. Wolfensohn pointed out that Turkey is implementing structural measures throughout its economy in an encouraging and determined way and added that these measures should certainly be continued.

TREASURY BORROWS MINIMUM AT AUCTION

The Treasury borrowed at the lower end of its pre-announced range at a 14-month bond auction yesterday, selling a net worth of 2.003 quadrillion TL in papers, meeting less than half of the bids for a total of 4.3 quadrillion TL. Annual average compounded yielded was seen at 32.18 %, which dealers regarded as being in line with market expectations. Nominal sales at the auction totalled 2.7 quadrillion TL. The Treasury has said in its monthly borrowing progamme that it would borrow in a range between 2 quadrillion TL and 2.3 quadrillion TL. Additionally, bonds worth a total of 209 trillion TL were sold to the public sector at the going rate. At a three-month bill auction, which was also held yesterday, the Treasury sold a net worth of 697 trillion in papers against a total bid of 808.9 trillion TL. Annual average compounded yield was 37.69 %. The Treasury is today servicing domestic debt to the tune of 3.6 quadrillion TL. Its repayments in April total 4.6 quadrillion TL. /Turkish Daily News/

ERDEMIR EARNS $62 MILLION IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS

State-run iron and steel producer ERDEMIR's Managing Director Sener Macun declared that his company earned $62 million in net profits in the first three months of this year. He said that ERDEMIR had set its sales target for over $1 billion for 2000 and had allowed for $170 million in investment spending. He said that ERDEMIR's production had increased by 49 % to 829,000 tons, total sales by 39 % to 775,000 tons and exports by 113 % to 120,000 tons in the first three months. He added that the company's turn-over increased by 74 % to $243 million in the first quarter of the year 2000. /All papers/

IRAQ, TURKEY MOVE TO BOOST BILATERAL TRADE

Iraqi officials said yesterday that Iraq and Turkey were moving toward increasing bilateral trade to the pre-1991 Gulf War level of $2.5 billion. "There are positive signs in this respect" Iraqi Trade Minister Mohammed Mehdi Saleh told reports after opening an exhibition of Turkish products in Baghdad. Trade with Turkey has slumped to $200 million a year, most of it under terms of Iraq's UN-supervised oil-for-food deal. "During the last three and half years of the memorandum of understanding, total volume of trade with Turkey reached $600 million", Saleh said. More than 60 Turkish companies are exhibiting at the Baghdad International Fair. Among products on display were foodstuffs, medicines and medical equipment, farm machinery, cars, power spare parts, telecommunications goods and textiles. /Turkish Daily News/

MALAYSIA PURCHASES ARMOURED VEHICLES FROM TURKEY

Meetings to discuss the sale of armoured vehicles from Turkey to Malaysia have been completed. Turkey will sell 211 armoured vehicles worth $300 million to Malaysia. Officials from the National Defence Ministry said that this would be the highest export figure in the Turkish arms industry. /Star/

JOINT ENERGY SYSTEM TO BE FORMED IN THE BALKANS

There are plans to form a "Balkan Countries Joint Energy System" which will include Turkey, the Anatolia News Agency reports. When taken into account, along with the Middle Eastern Joint Energy System, this system should serve to enhance Turkey's reputation as a very important energy corridor. Countries that have signed up for the system include Greece, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Austria among others. The system is expected to contribute greatly to the commercial potential and economies of those countries. Anatolia also reports that Turkey will participate in a future project with Europe that will guarantee energy integration. In line with the agreement which Turkey and the other participating countries have signed, construction on the system is due to begin in two years' time. The first technical talks on the system were held in Vienna last year, and deliberations will continue in an as-yet-unnamed country in the near future. The energy system project is planned to be operational by the year 2005.

PERES SAYS TURCO-GREEK RELATIONS AFFECT MIDDLE EAST

Israel's Regional Cooperation Minister Simon Peres, who attended a three-day conference in Athens entitled "Regional Security", stated following a meeting with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou that an improvement in Turkish-Greek relations would affect a very large area that included the Middle East. /Turkish Daily News/

US SENATOR RICHARD SHELBY VISITS ANKARA

Sen.Richard Shelby was in Ankara yesterday meeting with senior Turkish and US government officials. Shelby, a Republican from Alabama, is Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, a member of the Appropriations Committee and a senior member of the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Issues relating to US-Turkish relations, particularly regional security issues, were expected to be discussed. /Turkish Daily News/

TURCO-GREEK TOURISM TO BRING RELATIONS CLOSER

The Turco-Greek Tourism Summit held on the Greek island of Kos has arrived at decisions which aim to develop the peace gestures between Turkey and Greece into concrete tourist and trade cooperation. A Turkish delegation went to the island as the guest of the Association of Kos Travel Agencies. At the summit, a plan was formulated to facilitate one-day visas between the two countries. Also, weekly joint Turkish-Greek ventures to carry tourists to the US, Canada, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Australia were discussed. The Turkish delegation announced a goal of attracting 1 million Greek tourists to Turkey. Members of the Turkish delegation suggested that Greece open consulates in Marmaris and Mugla in order to ease visa procedures. They also proposed a decrease in the cost of visas from their current price of 15 million TL. /All papers/

MORE THAN 2,000 CHILDREN FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD IN TURKEY

The 80th annual April 23rd Children's Festival celebrations started on Monday April 17 with diverse activities taking place all over Turkey. This year's main celebration venue is Izmir's ancient district of Selcuk. The activities are sponsored by the Selcuk Municipality and Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT). More than 2,000 children from 40 countries in Europe, South America and the Far East are attending this year's festival programme. /Turkish Daily News/

TURKISH ARTISTS IN FRANCE

Defne Sesin Okay, Nermin Er, Gokce Okay Delagrange and Stephane Delagrange's works of art are being exhibited at Saint Aubin Luigne Municipality in France. Defne Okay's 25 black and white photographs, Stephane Delangrange's sculptural work and lithography, Gokce Delagrange's pictures painted on sculpture and glass with acrylic and Nermin Er's sculpture will be exhibited during this exhibition, until 23 April. /Cumhuriyet/

DARUSSAFAKA HIGH SCHOOL TO REPRESENT TURKEY

Two students from Darussafaka High School will represent Turkey with two scientific projects during the International Scientific and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) that will be organized in the U.S. between 7 and 12 May. These two students, Raziye Saykili and Orhan Orhan, were also invited to the gathering of '20 super children of Turkey' by the Ankara Municipality. /Cumhuriyet/

INTERNATIONAL FASHION FAIR IN ISTANBUL

The International Istanbul Fashion Fair will be held on September 14-17 at the TUYAP Fair Centre. During the fair organized by the IF Consortium, many kinds of products including underwear and fashion accessories will be exhibited. More than 400 firms are expected to attend the fair. /Star/

PANATHINAIKOS DEFEATS EFES PILSEN

The Greek basketball team, Panathinaikos, defeated the Turkish team, Efes Pilsen, at the Final Four Match of the European Basketball League with a score of 81-71 yesterday. Therefore, Efes Pilsen lost its chance to play the final. Efes Pilsen will play the Spanish team, Barcelona, tomorrow to place third in the European Basketball League. /Star/

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

CANKAYA BY GUNGOR MENGI (SABAH)

Columnist Gungor Mengi writes on the Presidential Election. A summary of his column is as follows: "Concerns regarding the eruption of a crisis over the Presidential election are fading fast. Conditions for stability as envisaged by the international credit rating institution Standard and Poor's will be realized. We shall have a new president on 16 May and the Coalition Government will remain in power. Yesterday, this guarantee was also given by the Chairman of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), Devlet Bahceli. Only the candidacy of Mesut Yilmaz could disrupt the harmony of the Coalition, and yesterday this possibility was reduced. A leading official from the Motherland Party (ANAP), Mehmet Kececiler said that the Chairman of ANAP would not be a candidate. Ecevit and Bahceli shared a sensitivity in not attempting to direct the parliament with their orders. This mean that the president may be elected from among the members of parliament. Two days ago, Prime Minister Ecevit stated that he had two names on his mind and yesterday Bahceli said he had two names on his mind. They said that they have not discussed these names with each other, but thils is difficult to believe. Only seven days are left for finalizing the names of the candidates and still there are no candidates for the presidency. The main reason given for this is as not to wear out the names. This brings to mind two possibilities; there is no one whose name could not be worn out or Turkish politics is a swamp and the President should be protected from sinking into it. Both are bad possibilities!"

SIMITIS AND SPRING ATTACK BY EROL MANISALI (CUMHURIYET)

Columnist Erol Manisali analyzes Turkish-Greek relations. A summary of his column is as follows: "Prime Minister Kostas Simitis won the General Election in Greece. The Prime Minister will continue the policy he began to follow last year. He was instrumental in the U-turn in Greek policy towards Turkey. Since 1955 Athens followed a crisis policy in Turco-Greek relations. This started with Colonel Grivas' arrival in Cyprus. After 1981 when Greece became an EU member, it escalated its policy against Turkey. Following 1990 it was in an undeclared war against Turkey within the changing world conditions. Between 1990-1999 she began attacking on all fronts with the backing of EU. However, Athens could not achieve its purposes with a crisis policy. Former French President Giscard d'Estaing in a statement issued by the magazine "Geopolitique" said that Greece would use Turkey's candidacy to take what it wanted. Clever politician Simitis saw that Greece could gain nothing by a crisis policy. Such a policy only served to strengthen Turkey's hand. The international community has begun to view Turkey's requests as just, when compared with temperamental Greece. Moreover, when Ocalan was seized, Athens was caught red handed. Greece had been reduced to the status of a terrorist state. Somehow, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs called on Greece to cooperate. It was just the time for a U-turn. The call had come from Ankara anyway and Simitis extended the hand of friendship. He would not follow an open crisis policy. What they have previously been unable to achieve would be provided within the "friendship police." Instead of holding the fire in his hand Simitis thought to use a tong.The tong he would use was the EU as Turkey was granted an EU candidacy status. Prior to the Helsinki Summit, Simitis bargained with the 14 EU members. In return for granting the EU candidacy status to Turkey two conditions of Greece would be recognized, and they were, first, that the issues concerning the Aegean dispute be taken to the International Court of Justice at the Hague in 2004 and second, that the Greek Cypriot Administration would be admitted to the EU representing the entire island even if the Cyprus disagreement was not resolved. These were the points that Greece wanted to resolve in the last nine years. Simitis achieved success regarding these points through peaceful diplomacy. From now on, Brussels will apply pressure to Turkey. First, Turkey will have to take a step back in Cyprus and then in 2004, the Aegean dispute will go to The Hague. Now, both Greece and the EU expect Turkey to fulfil the Helsinki conditions and the pressure has been applied by the EU while Greece extends a hand of friendship. Last week Simitis stated to news agencies that Turkey had entered a new circle with the Helsinki summit and that it had to fulfil the conditions foreseen . As Greece was moving on to peaceful policy, the benefits it would bring to Greece were becoming apparent. One of them was the softening of Ankara's resistance. During the crisis policy Ankara was better able to protect its interests. Secondly the internal balances in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) were upset. With the carrot of entering the EU, a unitary state on the Island could be more easily established and when this state is admitted to the EU, all difficulties could be solved."

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