ECEVIT TO VISIT FOREIGN COUNTRIES

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will give more importance and time to the foreign policy after 5 May, the day on which the third ballot of the presidential election takes place. After the new President is elected, Ecevit will pay his first visit abroad, that is, to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Then Ecevit will pay an official visit to Norway between 5 and 7 June. Meanwhile, Ecevit postponed his visit to Pakistan. /Aksam/

FOREIGN PRESS: "SEZER IS THE RIGHT CHOICE"

The foreign press supports Ahmet Necdet Sezer for Turkish President and considers the fact that the leaders reached a consensus on Sezer to be a very positive development. The 'New York Times' daily wrote that the Parliament would send positive signals for the political future of the country by electing the Head of the Constitutional Court, Sezer to be the President. This newspaper added that Sezer would be a perfect choice for this duty. The German 'Die Welt' newspaper also published a long article about Sezer. This newspaper wrote that all the presidents in Turkey were either from the military origin or a politician but that Sezer was a jurist and not a member of any party. 'Die Welt' added, "Sezer believes not in political power, but in the supremacy of law. He belongs to the new generation, which favours reform. He will be supported not only by the politicians and the army, but also by Europe for his ideas." /Sabah/

CEM AND PAPANDREOU: STATESMEN OF THE YEAR

Turkish Foreign Minister, Ismail Cem, and his Greek counterpart, George Papandreou, were presented the award of "the Statesmen of the Year" by the East-West Institute, at a ceremony held in New York yesterday. The two ministers also had a two hour-meeting and reviewed the issues between the two countries, including Cyprus. After the meeting, Greek Foreign Minister Papandreou said that the meeting was held in a very positive atmosphere and emphasized that Cem was the counterpart with whom he met most often. /Hurriyet/

WARNING THE US CONCERNING ARMENIA

Turkey has warned the US concerning the so-called Armenian genocide allegations, for which sought support especially in the US Administration and Congress recently. Turkish Foreign Minister, Ismail Cem, declared Turkey's annoyance, which was also stated during the National Security Council's last meeting, due to the US stance regarding the so-called Armenian genocide draft bills, at his meeting with the US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright in New York. Cem said, "If the US supports Armenian efforts, relations between Turkey and the US will be seriously damaged." Following the separate meetings with the US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright and Greek Foreign Minister, George Papandreou, Ismail Cem participated in a Turco-American-Greek tri-summit. The three Ministers exchanged their views on various issues and Albright also expressed her happiness with the Turco-Greek rapprochement. /Hurriyet/

SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Israel has stated that there was no change in its official policy concerning the so-called Armenian genocide and remarked that Education Minister Yossi Sarid has expressed his personal views. Israeli Education Minister Sarid suggested that the so-called Armenian genocide should be tought in Israeli schools. /Cumhuriyet/

CAKMAKOGLU IN BELGIUM

National Defence Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu went to Belgium yesterday to hold a series of talks. Brigadier General Niyazi Hatipoglu saw off Cakmakoglu at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport. /Cumhuriyet/

JUSTICE MINISTER IN MONGOLIA

An "Agreement for Judicial Assistance on Legal, Commercial and Penal Issues between the Republic of Turkey and Mongolia" and a "Protocol for Cooperation between the Justice Ministries of the Republic of Turkey and Mongolia" were signed yesterday in Ulan Batur. Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk signed the agreement and the protocol on behalf of Turkey while Justice Minister Dashpuntsag Ganbold signed on behalf of Mongolia. /Cumhuriyet/

COOPERATION WITH YEREVAN

A cooperation agreement between the Ankara and Yerevan Universities was signed in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, yesterday. The agreement signed by the Rector of the Yerevan State University Gagik Martirosyan and the Rector of Ankara University Gunay Akbay consists of an exchange of students and other areas of cooperation. /Cumhuriyet/

DENKTAS-GAMA MEETING

The President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, met the Portuguese Foreign Minister, Jaime Gama, the Term President of the European Union. After the 1.5-hour meeting, Denktas stated that they exchanged their views on various topics. /Turkiye/

VURAL'S NEW DUTY

The daily 'New York Times' stated that the Turkey's Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), Volkan Vural, will undertake a difficult duty, that is, he will explain to the European Union (EU) why Turkey is a proper country for candidacy and he will also have to convince Turkey that the EU is worth being a member of. This article, written by Douglas Frantz, continues as follows: "After his experience as Turkey's Ambassador to Germany for three years and as the Ambassador to the UN for two years, Vural formed good relations with the European diplomats, who attended the discussions with the EU. He wants Turkey to be candidate to the EU in the year 2004. Although he is visiting Ankara often during the latest weeks to discuss the EU issue, Parliament has not approved his becoming the General Secretary to the European Union yet. /Sabah/

HIZBULLAH OPERATIONS CONTINUE

Seven members of the Hizbullah terrorist organization have been formally arrested at a court in Bitlis, reported the Anatolia News Agency. One other suspected was released without charge. One more Hizbullah member was detained in a police operation in Adapazari. The terrorist is a member of the Hizbullah youth wing and had already been sentenced by Diyarbakir State Security Court (DGM) to three years, nine months in prison. He was sent to Geyve Prison. In another operation in Diyarbakir a further eight people, including a teacher and a doctor were detained and then arrested by Diyarbakir DGM for being Hizbullah members.

THREE PKK MEMBERS KILLED IN BINGOL

Three members of the PKK terrorist organization, who entered into a conflict with security members during an operation that was held in the rural area of Bingol's district of Genc, were killed. In addition, a soldier died during the operation. These operations continued for two days and the operations are underway to catch the other members of the PKK, who escaped. /Sabah/

YIRCALI TO ATTEND THE ICC MEETING

International Chamber of Commerce's (ICC) ordinary meeting will be held in Budapest, Hungary this year. A delegation, who will be chaired by the ICC's Turkish National Committee's Co-President and the Chairman of Balikesir's Chamber of Industry, Rona Yircali, will represent Turkey during this meeting. Yircali stated that this meeting was very important due to the fact that it gives new acceleration to the contacts between Turkey and the European Union. During the various sessions of the meeting, during which the "Place of the New European Formations in the World' will be discussed, the Turkish economy will be on the agenda and the Turkish delegation will explain the latest situation in the Turkish economy. /Aksam/

KON-TARIM 2000 FAIR OPENED

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Husnu Yusuf Gokalp, issued a speech during the opening ceremony of Kon-Tarim Fair, the third this year, and stated that input should be decreased so that production prices can be decreased to the level of world prices. Gokalp added, "We will meet officials from the Treasury and the Ministry of Finance and decrease fuel oil to the level of world prices. We are very much aware of the problems farmers face. In the future, the money that will be received by the farmer will be increased. /Sabah/

SEZGINLER FOOD COMPANY TO BE OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC

One of Turkey's largest fast-consuming products distributor, Sezginler Food Company, will be traded in the stock exchange. Chairman of the Executive Board of Sezginler Food Company, Sezgin Elmas, will offer 20% of its nominal capital to the public. Elmas stated that they want the public to have a share in their company in order to achieve healthier growth. /Sabah/

AKMAN HOLDING'S NEW BUILDINGS

Akman Holding, which is the biggest concentrated fruit juice producer, will add liveliness to the social and commercial life of Ankara with Akman Condominium, Akman Emporium and Akman Medicorium that will be built. Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of Akman Holding Company, Ali Akman, stated that this project will be the first in terms of its style and place in Turkey. Akman added, "Akman Emporium, which was constructed as a shopping centre on an area of 12,000 square meters, looks like a space ship. Akman Condominium has a total of 222 apartments including the studio, duplex and residences. The apartments in Akman Condominium has a variety of security precautions and also includes the best equipped health centre in the Middle East." /Aksam/

523 MILLION DOLLARS FROM AMERICAN EXIMBANK

American Eximbank stated that they approved the loan amounting to 523 million dollars so that the two energy power-stations in Turkey will be constructed with American technology. In a statement issued by the American Eximbank, it was declared that the loan amounting to 334 million dollars for the construction of Gebze electricity power-station and the loan amounting to 189 million dollars for the construction of Adapazari electricity power-station were approved. American Eximbank also stated that they would conclude their evaluation concerning the attempt to establish an electricity power-station in Izmir. /Aksam/

ENERGY SAVINGS BOARD TO MEET IN TURKEY

A meeting of the Energy Storage Board of the Energy Savings Group board of directors is to convene in Turkey over May 24-25, reported the Anatolia News Agency. According to an announcement made by the group's general-secretary, Professor Hunay Evliya, the aim of the meeting is to gather the energy storage and energy savings efforts of countries all over the world under one roof. This will facilitate the rapid dissemination of research information and accelerate energy savings projects. They will also look into environmentally friendly ways of utilizing air conditioning systems.

NO RESULT FROM GSM TENDER

Four consortia that had been re-invited to bid for the second GSM 1,800 network backed off yesterday, as they found the base price of $2.5 billion too high. The Minister of Transport Enis Oksuz stated a new tender would be opened if there was a need for it and the price would be determined according to market conditions. /Turkiye/

WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY

"May 3 World Press Freedom Day" is being celebrated today. A message issued by the Turkish Journalists' Association (TGC), said that journalists were the defenders of the freedoms of thought, expression, information, dissemination of information and communications. /Turkiye/

MEDICINE CONGRESS

Twenty-one doctors from Yale University who attended " The First Medicine After the Graduation Education Congress" which was held in Antalya last week by the sponsorship of Ihlas and Koc Holdings, proceeded to Istanbul after travelling to Cappadocia. The doctors visited 'Turkiye Hospital' and stated that they will continue to cooperate with Turkish doctors. /Turkiye/

BLACK SEA COASTAL SECURITY MEETING

The "Black Sea Coastal Commanders' Meeting" to be attended by coastal security officials from Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia and Ukraine started in Istanbul yesterday. The meeting, hosted by the Coastal Security Command, will last until May 11. /Cumhuriyet/

WORLD BANK: "PRIVATIZE THE PUBLIC BANKS"

The World Bank put forth a condition for the initial part of the financial sector adjustment loan worth $375 million to be extended to Turkey saying that the public banks should be privatized. Officials from the World Bank said that if the arrangements for the privatization of the public banks are not realized by the date when the World Bank's fiscal year ends on June 30, the loan could be postponed until next year. Vakifbank, Ziraat Bank, Halkbank and Emlakbank are expected to be privatized initially. /Cumhuriyet/

BARCLAYS BANK IN TURKEY

It is reported that Barclays Bank based in London has applied to the Treasury to open a representative office in Turkey. The Head of the Executive Board of Barclays, Sir Peter Middleton, stated that the office would be opened in Istanbul and said during a press conference that they aimed to provide financial sources to important projects in the sectors of energy, petroleum and telecommunications. /Cumhuriyet/

QAD'S BREAKTHROUGH IN TURKEY

The QAD firm, which serves in the fields of Institutional Resources Planning and e-business, has increased the number of its companies in Turkey by 100 % within just one year. The Director of the QAD Europe, Asia and Middle East Marketing, John Hunt, delivered a speech at a conference and said that their aim was to enlarge their services in the sectors of automotive, consumer products, food-beverage, electronics, medicine and medical equipment. /Cumhuriyet/

SUPPORT FROM SPAIN

The Spanish government will grant $1 million for the Tuz Lake Environmental Integrated Project prepared by the Ministry of the Environment. Spain will also extend low-rate loans for the project, the total cost of which amounts to $87.5 million. The Minister of the Environment, Fevzi Aytekin, said that the project would be immediately initiated with the construction of the Konya Purification Facilities. /Cumhuriyet/

GULERSOY AMONG 500 NOTED EUROPEANS

The "Baron's Who Is Who" encyclopaedia has determined the 500 most successful Europeans of this century. Among the list, Celik Gulersoy from Turkey is mentioned among many other statesmen, scientists and artists. Gulersoy has written many articles concerning restoration and reconstruction of works to preserve the cultural and historical assets in Istanbul. He also established an "Istanbul Library". /Cumhuriyet/

TUSIAD DELEGATION AT THE VATICAN

Turkish Industrialists' and Buisnessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Erkut Yucaoglu and two assistants went to Vatican City as part of a 20-person delegation of the European Industralists' and Employers' Confederation (UNICE), led by George Jacobs, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The reason for the meeting of European businessmen with his holiness was to help promote trade and social relations, said Yucaoglu. Yucaoglu spoke with the pontiff, saying, "I have come from Turkey and Anatolia, the cradle of civilization. I would like to invite the Christian world, starting with Your Eminence, and through your assistance, to come to Turkey." He added that the pontiff became very interested at the mention of Anatolia and that he would make a note of kind invitation while not making any promises. Yucaoglu expressed his hopes that the inclusion of a Turkish delegation on a business visit to the Vatican would further facilitate Turkey's entry into the EU.

EXPORTS UP 3.3 % IN APRIL

Turkey's exports in April increased by 3.3 % compared to last year's figures. The Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) reported that goods and services worth $2.144 billion were exported in April this year. Turkey's total exports for the first four months also increased by 2.6% to $8.787 billion. Industrial product exports increased by 7.4% in April. Ready-to-wear clothing exports increased by 10.8 % in the same month, while electronics and machinery goods' exports increased by 11.5 % and non-iron metal exports increased by 30.5 %. /All papers/

DCR ASSIGNS RATINGS TO HURRIYET

Duff and Phelps Credit Rating Co. (DCR) assigned a "BB-" rating to the foreign currency debt of media giant Dogan Holding's mass circulation daily Hurriyet, DCR Turkey announced yesterday. DCR also assigned a "BBB-" rating to Hurriyet's local currency debt. The agency said Hurriyet wsa a leading newspaper in Turkey with a strong financial structure and the key company in the Dogan group. /All papers/

TURKCELL TO LAUNCH LARGEST IPO IN TURKEY

Turkcell plans to luanch the largest ever initial public offering (IPO) in Turkish capital markets to float 15 % of its stocks, Yaki Kredi Yatirim, the leader of the planned offering, announced yesterday. Turkcell shares will also be quoted on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) at the same time as the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB), Yapi Kredi Yatirim said in a press release. Wall Sreet investment banks Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter will serve as global co-leaders of the IPO. Brokerage houses Ak Yatirim, Demir Yatirim, Garanti Yatirim, Is Yatirim and Pamuk Yatirim will serve as domestic co-leaders. /All papers/

ONAL: "LIFTING SIX ZEROES FROM TL IS NOT ON THE AGENDA"

State Minister Recep Onal said that when the inflation rate decreases to single-digit figures, then removing six zeroes from TL might be taken into consideration. Onal attended a conference organized by the "Finance World Magazine" and said that a psychological atmosphere that aids the lifting of six zeroes should be put in place throughout society. Onal pointed out that the positive results of the economic programme should not make the government give up further initiatives. /Milliyet/

PLASTICS ART EXHIBITION IN FRANCE

"Turkuaz-2000, 'A Section From The Modern Turkish Plastics Art' Exhibition" will be open by May 14 at Saint Germain Church in Amiens province of France. At the exhibition, 46 Turkish artists' paintings, sculptures and ceramics are being displayed. /Turkiye/

TURKISH PAINTERS' EXHIBITION

The Yapi Kredi Culture Centre Kazim Taskent Art Gallery will organize an exhibition on "The Paris School and Turkish Painters" with the cooperation of the French Culture Centre between May 5 and June 10. In the exhibition, works of art in modern Turkish painting and other works of art from the Paris School and from other European countries will be presented. /Cumhuriyet/

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

OBSTACLE FOR HARMONIZATION BY GUNGOR MENGI (SABAH)

Gungor Mengi is a columnist in the daily 'Sabah' newspaper. A summary of his article is as follows: "The Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) warned the government, the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) and the public concerning the fact Turkey's tempo in harmonizing with the European Union (EU). We are wasting time that should be used to achieve European quality, by making up artificial problems. We say, 'Turkey's democratic future is in the hands of Europe' but we do not take the necessary steps for this purpose. The picture that was taken by UNICEF is very clear: 14.2% of the population in Turkey are living below the poverty level. 31 of every 100 people are deprived of decent plumbing and 26 of every 100 people are deprived of the healthy drinking water. The solution to this situation is a revolution in courage and thinking, which will force Turkey with to meet the standards of the EU. Paranoia derived from the fear of change places an obstacle in the way of our obligation to harmonize."

HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES IN FOREGN POLICY BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the importance of human rights issues on foreign policy. A summary of his column is as follows: "To what degree should human rights play a determining role in foreign policy? Should democracies give priority to bringing countries violating human rights into line or should they continue their relations thus improving their own interests? What sort of a policy should be followed in the 21st century? These questions were discussed during the annual conference of International Press Institute held in Boston. Among the famous names attending the conference were former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Council of Europe Secretary General Walter Schwimmer, EU parliamentarian Emma Bonino, EU Council member Christopher Patten and representative of Singapore at the UN, Kishore Mahbubeni. These discussions displayed the serious differences of opinion on the relations between human rights and politics observed in the international community. Indeed, democratic countries cannot determine the importance that should be given to human rights in foreign policy. The views expressed in the discussion showed that there were two contrasting schools of thought. The first one was 'real politics' and the second being 'ideal politics.' Former US Secretary of State Kissinger defended real politics and stated that we were living in world where solutions were far from perfect. The behaviour of today's human rights' activists recalled that of the Crusades, Nazis and Communists who insisted on having their own ideologies accepted. Certain circles did not take historic or strategic considerations into account. 'It is true that human rights are violated in many parts of the world. It is possible to take a stand against it and defend democracy. However, it would be wrong to impose these according to our own standards. This can cost us dearly. What is more, to establish good relations with these countries and the revolution in technology, such as with the internet, will eventually lead them to accept our norms. We have to remember that it took 400 years to establish democracy in the West.' Other panelists believe that it is a moral and material obligation to make human rights a basic issue in foreign policy. They add that as much as it is a responsibility it is also in the interests of their countries. They believe that real friendships can only be built thus. Democracies should not sacrifice human rights for their own interests. It is apparent that there is no agreement on the subject of human rights and democracy in international relations. That is why different policies are followed in regards to various countries. Today foreign policy is mainly influenced by national interests."

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