GALATASARAY IN FINAL

Galatasaray, a Turkish soccer team, will have the chance to play in a final in the UEFA Cup, a first for a Turkish team. Galatasaray drew 2-2 with the British Leeds United in the match played in Elland Road Stadium in Leeds last night. The Turkish team will play the final on May 17 with another British team, Arsenal, in Copenhagen. /Hurriyet/

VICTORY CELEBRATIONS

Millions of Turks celebrated the victory of Galatasaray until early in the morning. President Suleyman Demirel, the Speaker of the TGNA, Yildirim Akbulut and Premier Bulent Ecevit issued messages and congratulated the players for their accomplishment. In his message, Demirel said, "We hope that Galatasaray will bring the UEFA Cup to Turkey." /Hurriyet/

BRITISH HOOLIGANS' ATTACKS

Before the match, British hooligans attacked six members of the Turkish press. Turkish journalists were beaten and their cameras were damaged. The Turkish journalists' bus was also stoned and its windows were broken. /Hurriyet/

EFES PILSEN THIRD IN EUROPE

Efes Pilsen Basketball team defeated Barcelona yesterday with a score of 75-69 yesterday and came in third in the European Basbetball League. Meanwhile, the Greek Panathinaikos team defeated Maccabi with a score of 73-67, ending the European League 1999-2000 season with a victory. /Turkiye/

CEM HOLDS TALKS IN ALGERIA

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem is in Algeria for an official visit. Cem stated that Turkey placed great importance on relations with Algeria and added that his visit would be within the framework of Turkey's opening-up-to-the-world project. Cem also said that Algeria had a trade volume with Turkey of over $1 billion and that Turkey aimed to increase that amount. Stating that political, cultural and economic relations would be discussed during his visit, Cem also mentioned that he would convey messages from President Suleyman Demirel to the Algerian President and Prime Minister. /All papers/

NEW ZEALAND'S PRIME MINISTER IN TURKEY

New Zealand's Prime Minister, Helen Clark, arrived in Turkey yesterday to pay an official visit. During meetings between the delegations of the two countries, which will be chaired by the Prime Ministers of both countries, opinions will be exchanged concerning the regional and international issues that involve both Turkey and New Zealand. Helen Clark will also attend the commemorative ceremony to honour the 85th anniversary of Canakkale War on 25 June. /Cumhuriyet/

1429TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF PROPHET MUHAMMED

The 1429th anniversary of the birth of Prophet Muhammed is being celebrated wtih various activities organized by the Directorate of Religious Affairs and the Turkish Religious Foundation. Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan delivered a speech on the occasion and said that people could learn a lot of things from Prophet Muhammed about living peacefully and happily. Meanwhile, many high-level officials including the Turkish Parliament Speaker, Yildirim Akbulut, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Chairman of the Motherland Party (ANAP) Mesut Yilmaz and the Head of the True Path Party (DYP), Tansu Ciller, have issued congratulatory messages in honour of the occasion. /Turkiye/

REFORMIST CANDIDATE FOR FP

Abdullah Gul a reformist candidate for the leadership of the Virtue Party (FP) said that 70 FP deputies supported him. Before the Congress of the FP, which will be held on May 14, Abdullah Gul is visiting his party's province organizations. During his visit to Samsun, he stated that they were loyal to Necmettin Erbakan and they felt love and respect for the leader, Recai Kutan. /Hurriyet/

SEARCH FOR BLACK SEA MILITARY COOPERATION

Chief of General Staff Gen.Huseyin Kivrikoglu spoke as the guest of honour at the Black Sea Naval Commanders meeting hosted by the Naval Command in Istanbul yesterday. He spoke of the need for cooperation among all countries with a naval presence in the Black Sea on issues such as sea traffic control, search and rescue, fishery and environmental protection. He stressed the importance of the meeting from the point of view of rapprochement, security and solidarity. At yesterday's meeting, a letter of intent concerning the Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Force (BLACKSEAFOR), which includes Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania and Russia in an effort to activate the combined navies of the littoral states of the Black Sea, wasn't signed. The reason for the failure of the signing of the letter of intent was technical in nature, said navy sources. The Black Sea Force is expected to be activated sometime next month when the naval officers of the Black Sea countries meet in Ukraine. /All papers/

PUNISHMENTS FOR TERRORISTS

Celle State Court in Germany sentenced Sonnur Yildirim, and Nese Yildirim, members of the terrorist organization DHKP-C, to 15 months and 12 months in prison respectively. The men were accused of "supporting a terrorist organization and carring out activities for a terrorist organization". Authorities pointed out that Fehriye Erdal, one of the accused in the Sabanci assasination, had a passport in her possesion with the name of Nese Yildirim when she was captured on 13 October 1999 in Belgium. /Milliyet/

SOUTHERN EUROPE CONFERENCE

The conference entitled 'Political, Economic and Social Developments in Southern Europe,' jointly organized by Ankara University's Center of European Community Research Centre (ATAUM) and the Foundation of Friedrich Ebert, will be held today. Former diplomat Dr. Emil Mintchev will attend the conference as speaker. The conference will be held at the conference hall of ATAUM and start at 02:00 p.m. /Cumhuriyet/

WORLD'S RADIOCOMMUNICATION CONFERENCE

Turkey is expected to earn an income of nearly 150 million dollars from the WCR-2000 World's Radiocommunication Conference that will be held between 1 May and 2 June in Istanbul. Minister of Communications, Enis Oksuz, stated that Turkey could not been effective in the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which was established in 1850 by 20 countries and which included the Ottoman Empire among its founding members. Oksuz stated that during the WCR-2000, many important decisions concerning the countries involved will be taken. Minister of Tourism, Erkan Mumcu, stated that Rumeli Fair and Exhibition Hall was restored in six months so that this conference could be held. Mumcu added that 3,500-4,000 people are expected to arrive in Istanbul to attend the conference. /Aksam/

"WE TRUST IN TURKEY"

Ian Coonar, General Director of the Global Movable Assets, stated that the year 2000 would be a good one both for Turkey and stock exchange. He stressed that positive improvements would be obtained in the macro-economic figures and they planned to open 50 branch offices. In the first three months of the year 1999, the net profit of the Global Movable Assets was 381 billion TL, while it realised 5,893 trillion TL for the same period this year. /Milliyet/

WARM RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND ITALY

There is a boom in commercial relations between Turkey and Italy, with a significant rate of capital flowing from Italy to Turkey. Epson, affiliated to the Japanese Seiko Epson Group, has entered the Turkish market with an Italian licenseship. An official from the Epson Italia Company held a press conference two days ago and said that Epson, one of the biggest companies in the world in the fields of information technologies, electronics and optic equipment, has serious goals in Turkey and that they would increase their investments in order to achieve these goals. The Head of the Executive Board of Epson Italia, Guilo Rentocchini, said, "Turkey is in a rapidly developing period during which it is integrating with Europe. The Turkish economy is buoyant." /Turkiye/

TURCO-GREEK PARTNERSHIP

Turkish Industry and Trade Minister Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu said yesterday that the recent rapprochement between Turkey and Greece would prove a good basis for establishing a permanent peace in southeastern Europe. Tanrikulu made these remarks at a speech given at the opening ceremony of the 'Turco-Greek Friendship and Cooperation Fair' and the 'Turco-Greek Businessmen's Convention' in Athens yesterday. He said that Turkey wants to develop positive relations with Greece, and that the large number of Turkish firms attending the Fair (99) proves that the Turkish business community also wants better ties with its western neighbour. Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou's written message to the opening ceremony was read aloud by the Greek Ambassador to Turkey, Joannis Korantis. It said that the futile tensions between the countries should be put aside. "We have more points in common than differences", Papandreou wrote. Meanwhile, a group of businessmen from the Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) visited the Athens Chamber of Industry and Commerce. ATO Chairman Sinan Aygun proposed forming three-member workshop groups for strengthening ties between Turkish and Greek private sectors. The ATO delegation also visited Athens and met Mayor Dimitris Avramapoulos. Avramapoulos told the Turkish delegation that the rapprochement between Turkey and Greece is a historic opportunity. He added that he would do his best to support Turkey's EU membership plans. /All papers/

GREEKS ATTACK TURKISH FLAG

A 20-person group of Greek nationalists attacked a Turkish flag in front of the Athenaeum Inter Continential Hotel where members of the Ankara Trade Chamber and Turkish businessmen were being accommodated in Athens. Chanting slogans, fanatics lowered the Turkish flag from the flagstaff and then burned it. After the group left, Turkish businessmen, who were in Greece to attend the "Turco-Greek Friendship and Cooperation Fair", hoisted a new Turkish flag emblazoned with the Turkish Anthem. /Hurriyet/

ZEMIN MEETS BUSINESSMEN TO BOOST TRADE

Chinese Head of State Jiang Zemin, who has come to Turkey with a large delegation of businessmen in a bid to increase China's share in Turkish markets, has met with business circles in Istanbul. China, which sees Turkey as one of the most promising markets of the developing world, wants to bolster commercial ties in every possible field, from energy to transportation. Zemin arrived in Istanbul yesterday morning from Ankara. Following a visit to the Beko Electronics factory in Beylikduzu, Zemin visited a number of tourist sites. He was scheduled to see the Yerebatan and St.Sophia. He leaves Turkey on Saturday. /All papers/

AKKUYU NUCLEAR POWER-STATION BIDDING

The Akkuyu Nuclear Power-Station bid, which was opened by Turkish Electricity Production and Distribution Joint Stock Company, is about to be decided. The period of the validity of the proposals of three consortiums, which attended this bidding, will come to an end this evening. These three consortiums competing for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power-Station bid are as follows: Westinghouse-Mitsubishi Consortium, AECL Consortium and NPI Consortium. /Star/

30 % OF EUROPEANS SUPPORT TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP

According to the results of a public opinion survey conducted by polling firm Eurobarometre among EU member countries, 30 % of Europeans support Turkey's membership in the EU, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The survey, which questioned 16,000 citizens from 15 EU member countries, also showed that 59 % of Europeans throught it was not right for the EU to expand eastward by including the Greek Cypriot Administration and Malta, while 43 % supported the EU's expansion. Sweden was most supportive of the expansion, while France was least supportive.

TURKEY, WORLD BANK ELABORATE FURTHER ON FARM REFORM

Turkish officials and World Bank agriculture experts who arrived in Turkey on April 17 are continuing to expand the proposed farm reform which entails provision of direct income aid to farmers instead of support purchases and subsidized lending. The experts are scheduled to depart on April 29. The experts, headed by World Bank Turkey Director Ajay Chhibber, on Wednesday reviewed progress on the reform at a joint meeting with Agriculture Minister Husnu Yusuf Gokalp and other Turkish officials, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES UP

The Turkish Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves rose by $76 million to $23.2 billion in the week ending April 20, the bank announced yesterday. The bank said its gold reserves remained unchanged at $1.01 billion. It stated that commercial banks' foreign exchange reserves stood at $14.1 billion on March 31, according to the most recent figures available. Meanwhile, the Central Bank said a total of $3.8 billion had been transferred out for sovereign debt repayments since January 1. /All papers/

BAGHDAD FAIR WELCOMES TURKISH FIRMS

The Second Turkish Export Products Fair in Baghdad, opened by Iraqi Minister of Trade Muhammed Mehdi Saleh on April 17, has received intense attention from Baghdad residents. In a press statement issued by Forum Fair Company, Forum's General Manager Bilgin Aygul said that it was right to hold this fair following the Turco-Iraqi joint economic a commission meeting in February. "The commission meeting resulted in $200 million export contract. And this fair will also contribute to growth of mutual trade". Turkish Ambassador to Iraq, Selim Karaosmanoglu and Foreign Trade Undersecretariat (DTM) officials visited the fair yesterday. The fair ends today. /Turkish Daily News/

TUNISIA PLANS TO BUY TURKISH FERTILIZER PLANT

Tunisian state-owned fertilizer producer Chemical plans to team up with the Union of Turkish Agricultural Credit Cooperatives to bid for a fertilizer plant in Samsun slated for privatization this year. The Tunisian company, which presently supplies substantial quantities of raw materials or diammonium phosphate (DAP) in Turkey, will provide the raw materials for production at the Samsun plant and capital for its upgrade in the future, the union's general director, Rasit Dogan Enhos, said. The partners will hold an equal stake in the company which will bid for the sell-off. /Turkish Daily News/

PREPARATION WEEKEND SEMINAR

AIESEC's branch in Istanbul will organize the 'Preparation Weekend Seminar,' sponsored by Iktisat Bank, for 100 university students who have the right to work as a trainees with scholarships abroad. Coskun Aral, Eleanor Burton, Prof. Dr. Toktamis Ates and Dr. Umit Yazman will attend this seminar, which will be organized in Koc University's campus in Istinye on Saturday. /Cumhuriyet/

ISK-SODEX FAIR TO BE ORGANIZED IN ISTANBUL

The Heating, Cooling, Air Conditioning Apparatus, Ventilation, Insulation, Pump, Sanitary Installations and the Water Purifying Technologies Fair (ISK-SODEX), organized for the fourth time, was opened yesterday at the World Trade Centre. Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Yasar Okuyan, attended the opening of this fair and delivered a speech, saying that any of the problems facing Turkey can be solved. /Star/

TURKEY AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT MARKETS FOR PEPSI COLA

Turkey is among the most important markets of Pepsi Cola. Confidence in Fruko Tamek Holding Company, which is Pepsi Cola's distributor in Turkey, grew stronger when it received the award of 'Best Bottler' among the countries in which Pepsi is being sold. Thus, Turkey became the centre of the region in Pepsi distribution, and the Turkish-speaking republics were attached to Turkey in 1999. Pepsi Cola's Deputy Chairman, Massimo F. Amore, met the Chairman of the Executive Board of Fruko Tamek Holding Company, Melih Sipahioglu, and said that they trusted in the Turkish youth and believed in the potential of the countries surrounding Turkey. /Milliyet/

TARGET 2000: FOREIGN CAPITAL OF 2 BILLION DOLLARS

Chairman of the Association of Foreign Capital (YASED), Faruk Yoneyman, delivered a speech, saying, "Although the number of foreign brands in Turkey has increased, the sales are not tremendously high. The flow of foreign capital in the world amounts to 650 billion dollars and 3/5 of this amount goes to developing countries. In this respect, Turkey's share has amounted to nearly 800 million dollars since 1990. However, during the first three months of the year 2000, there has been an important increase in the amount of foreign capital. According to the official numbers, the permission given by the State for the introduction of foreign capital suprassed 520 million dollars. As YASED, we are expecting this amount to suprass 2 billion dollars by the end of this year." /Milliyet/

SABANCI TEXTILE TO MERGE WITH FOREIGN COMPANIES

The Chairman of the Textile Group of Sabanci Holding, Yakup Gungor, stated that they were preparing to merge with the foreign companies in order to improve the textile sector. Gungor added that they had discussed this issue with a foreign company that has a higher level of marketing and creativity, and that they were also continuing their meetings so that Yunsa, Bossa 5 and Eksa can merge with foreign companies.

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

AFTER THE KURDISH CONFERENCE BY HASAN MESUT HAZAR (TURKIYE)

Columnist Hasan Mesut Hazar comments on the Kurdish Conference held in the US. A summary of his column is as follows: "At the beginning of the week, a conference entitled "The Kurds' Search For Identity" was held at American University in Washington. The conference which turned into a show for the Kurdistan Democrat Party (KDP) of Mesut Barzani, did not go beyond reiteritaing what is already known. Before the conference, some newspapers wrote that Turkey was strongly opposed to it and had given a stern diplomatic 'note' to the US not to allow it. However, these reports were totally groundless. Both the Turkish Embassy in Washington and the US State Department Director of Northern Iraqi Affairs, Francis J. Ricciardone, denied these allegations. What is more, Turkey helped KDP leaders Necirvan Barzani and Sefik Gazzaz travel from Erbil to Washington via Diyarbakir. It would be out of the question for Turkey to intervene in an international conference in a foreign country. However, it was true that Turkey had some concerns over the titles of both the conference and those attending. The titles KDP leading members chose to call themselves formed the basis for these concerns. What was meant by calling Necirvan Barzani "Prime minister" and Dr. Sefik Gazzaz 'minister'? As there is no independent state in Northern Iraq, the use of these titles was both provocative and improper. Turkey expressed these opinions to those whom it concerned openly and without exaggeration. It stated that as long as these concerns were not answered it would take a stand against the conference. As nothing was done, it took a stand and no Turkish official attended the conference. Prof. Serif Mardin and Prof. Dogu Ergil who were announced as presenting a paper to the conference decided against participating. American speakers attending the conference showed the utmost sensitivtiy in not using words or taking positions which would upset Turkey. Due to the stand Turkey has taken and the title he used, Necirvan Barzani was not given an appointment by the US State Department. Speaking at the conference, US State Department Director of Northern Iraqi Affairs, Francis J. Ricciardone stated clearly that the US policy in Northern Iraq had not changed and would not change; the US did not have a Kurdish policy. He added that the US saw Kurds as citizens of the countries they lived in and that solving the Kurdish question was not the responsibility of the US. "We are against the establishment of a state for Kurds or any other ethnic minority. We believe the territorial integrity of Iraq is essential for peace and stability in the region." The most striking result of the conference was the clear evidence without Turkey nothing could be done. We hope that members of KDP which felt the presence of Turkey in their bones will evaluate the situation accordingly."

IT IS NOT OVER YET BY SEDAT SERTOGLU (SABAH)

Columnist Sedat Sertoglu comments on the Presidential Election in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. A summary of his column is as follows: The voters in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus supported President Rauf Denktas in the first round of the presidential race. When the time came for the second round, the other candidate Dervish Eroglu, announced that he will withdrew from the race. The most important point which attracted our attention during the election on the island was that the voters in the TRNC expressed the desire for peace to the candidates. We believe that President Denktas has understood this message and will do everything to achieve it. However President Denktas cannot do it all by himself. Ankara has to leave its 'hawkish' attitude aside and support Denktas in following a path of commonsense, far-sighted vision and reason. The withdrawal of Dervish Eroglu from the Presidential race has been a development that favours Turks. However, it is not enough because Eroglu has not been governing TRNC well either economically or politically. Therefore, TRNC should call early general elections and elect a strong personality who can represent the Turkish-Cypriots, and govern the TRNC well as Prime Minister. "

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