ECEVIT TO VISIT NORWAY

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit is expected in Norway, where he visited 22 years ago, also as Prime Minister. It was stated that the relations between Norway and Turkey were at its highest level for the last 20 years, desired by the Turkish Armed Forces and that Norway would want Turkey to take more concrete steps concerning human rights. Ecevit will pay an official visit to Norway between 5 and 7 June. This will be the first visit to Norway on the Prime Ministerial level after 22 years. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY AND HUNGARY DETERMINED TO DEVELOP RELATIONS

Turkey and Hungary have displayed their determination to further develop bilateral relations during Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban's four-day visit to Turkey. The two countries have agreed to regular consultations of their foreign ministry officials, and to develop trade levels, which are currently far from satisfactory for both sides. Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban held a joint press conference yesterday and answered reporters' questions. Ecevit stated that the meeting between the two delegations was most successful and that both countries had the same approach to European problems. Stressing that Hungary and Turkey were closely following developments in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, Ecevit said that the existing peace in Bosnia was very fragile and needed strong backing by the international community. /All papers/

BARAK ASKS FOR ECEVIT'S HELP OVER SYRIA

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has sent a letter to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit asking him to warn Syria not to support terrorist attacks against Israel after that country's withdrawal. Israel has just completed its withdrawal from southern Lebanon, which it had occupied for 22 years. Israel has been fearing that Hizbullah, backed by Syria and Iran, might launch attacks against Israel from the regions Israel has vacated. Barak has asked Ecevit to use Turkey's influence on Syria to halt Syria's support for Hizbullah and stop supporting these kinds of group's in Lebanon. /All papers/

WOLFENSOHN SAYS TURKISH PROGRAM VITAL FOR GLOBAL PEACE

World Bank President James Wolfensohn said Turkey's economic program success was vital for not only Turkish people, but also for the global geopolitical balance, peace and stability. Addressing bankers in Istanbul yesterday, Wolfensohn indicated that Turkey's private sector and government practices play key roles in the program's success for which he pledged World Bank support. "Turkey's experience must be made known all around the world" he said, adding that the World Bank plans to base one of the proposed 15 education centers in Turkey within eight months. Wolfensohn, who arrived in Turkey late on Wednesday, urged the government to move ahead with the banking reform. He further called on Turkey to catch up with digital technology which has shown significant development in the world. Comparing Turkey to the Far East and Latin American countries, Wolfensohn stated that Turkey had capacity, desire and position for economic development. /All papers/

TREASURY TO LAUNCH EUROBOND AND SAMURAI ISSUES

The Treasury said yesterday that it has given a mandate to Deutsche Bank and Lehman Brothers for a euro-denominated bond issue, and to Nomura International for a Samurai bond. The Treasury did not hint at the size of the planned issues, but market talk was that the eurobond would be a three-year issue of up to 500 milion euros. The Treasury said the eruobond would be a floating rate note. The Samurai bond deal will likely to be concluded after eurobond, traders said. /All papers/

GERMAN STEAG INVESTS IN TURKEY

The Steag company, affiliated to the German energy producer company, RAG, will make investments worth 3.3 billion DM for the Iskenderun electricity power station. The Head of the Executive Board of the Company, Jochen Melchior, said in a statement that they would meet the 825 million DM-part of the investment from their own sources while the remaining would be met from a consortium consisting of various institutions including the Dresdner Bank. /Aksam/

FINNISH FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER TO VISIT TURKEY

Finnish Foreign Trade Minister Kimmo Sasi is to visit Turkey with a delegation of Finnish businessmen between May 29 and 31 to hold talks on strengthening the economic relations between Finland and Turkey. A seminar will be held in Istanbul by the Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK) within the framework of the visit. /Turkish Daily News/

DIGGING FINISHED AT HIZBULLAH SAFE HOUSES

Police finished digging up the building and grounds of a house in Adana's Kiremithane neighbourhood, which has been used by members of the Hizbullah terrorist organization, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Every tile in the house is being lifted and several dugouts have been found in which police say they are certain to find weapons. The interrogation of Hizbullah's so-called Aegean Commander Haci Inan began the day he was captured, May 19. It has been determined that as a result of this questioning, the places used for terrorist activities in Mersin will be uncovered. /All papers/

PKK PRESENCE REDUCED IN SOUTHEAST

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) have intensified their efforts to promote cultural, economic and social improvements in eastern and southeastern Anatolia, the Anatolia News Agency reports. A press tour of some certain areas in eastern and southeastern Anatolia was organized by the Chief of General Staff Headquarters. Upon the press group's arrival in Van, the first stop on the tour, Gendarmerie Forces Lt.Cdr.Gen.Kemal Yilmaz gave a briefing on TSK activities in the region. In his speech, Yilmaz stated that besides its primary duty of protecting the country against the terrorist enemy, the TSK was now trying with its utmost ability to assist locals in improving their standard of living. He added that in an endeavour to revive the economy in the region, close contact with the Chamber of Commerce had been maintained by the Gendarmerie, and locally produced goods had been marketed in various parts of the country while local handicrafts produced were being exported to other countries. /All papers/

COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKPORT AND REUTERS

Reuters cooperated with Turkport, which is the media portal of Turkey. The addresses of the finance channel, which will be able to be accessed, are as follows: www.reuters.turkport.com and www.turkport.com. General Director of Turkport, Omer Erginsoy, and the General Director of Reuters, Sameeh El Din, stated that the amateur investors will be able to reach financial information of high quality thanks to this cooperation. /Turkiye/

FIRST TURKISH PROFESSOR IN ATHENS

It was stated that Kemal Peskesci, who is from Rhodos, was the first academician of Turkish origin to become a professor in Greece. 'Eksusia' daily, which is published in Athens, pointed out the achievements of Peskeci, who is a lecturer at one of the most respectable educational institutions in Greece, Athens Technical University, and stated that the number of Muslims, who receive higher education in Greece was only 240. /Turkiye/

VESTEL TO BECOME A BRAND IN THE US

Vestel Company, which works in cooperation with Microsoft, is aiming at being the third biggest company in the world in the year 2005. General Coordinator of Vestel Group of Companies, Metin Caglar, held a press conference yesterday, during which he stated that they had become in cooperation with Microsoft and that they would create the brand of Vestel in the US. Caglar added that they would announce the productions, which they developed with Microsft, in three months and that they would appear in the market first under the name of Vestel USA, and then under the name of Vestel. /Sabah/

PAPER FABRICS OF ECZACIBASI OPEN IN YALOVA

The new production facility of Ipek Paper, which is one of the institutions of Eczacibasi Holding Company, was opened in Altinova, Yalova with a ceremony. Bulent Eczacibasi delivered a speech during the ceremony, saying, "We have been holding opening and foundation-laying ceremonies for thirteen years. We laid four foundations in Ipek Paper, the first foundation of which was laid in 1969. Meanwhile, Eczacibasi's partner in producing cleansing paper, Ford James' Chairman to Europe, John Lundgern, stated that they have been in the Turkish market for 12 years, during which they have carried out two important investments. Lundgren added that they were willing to continue their activities with the same strategy from now on as well and that they were confident in the potential of Turkey and the neighbouring countries. /Sabah/

COOPERATION IN EDUCATION

Minister of National Education, Metin Bostancioglu, signed the protocol of cooperation in education with the Romanian Minister of Education, Andrei Marga yesterday. Then Bostancioglu met Hungary's Minister of Education, Zoltan Pokarni and stated that relations with this country would be improved much more. Within the framework of this cooperation, which aims at rewriting the geography and history course books, the mutual equivalence in the diploma of high school and universities will be ensured. /Cumhuriyet/

TOURISTIC BOOM IN APRIL

The expected boom in tourism occurred at last in April and a record was broken in the number of tourists arriving in Turkey in April. In a statement issued by the State Institute of Statistics, it was stated that the number of tourists, who arrived in Turkey in April, increased by 69.1% and reached 721,128. The number of the tourists who arrived in Turkey by plane reached 508,163 and the number of those who arrived by highway increased by 7.2%. In addition, there was an increase in the number of those who arrived by ferry by 18.1%. /Hurriyet/

SUCCESS OF THE TURKISH AIRLINES

A success regarding the security and care of planes of the Airbus type and their on-time departure was achieved beyond world standards. Airbus industry, which is one of the joint companies of France, Germany, England and Spain, issued a graphic that shows the management of all airlines in the world, which are used in the fleets of A 310 types of planes, in a secure way. Turkish Airlines became the first among the hundreds of airline companies, which use nearly 4,000 planes of the Airbus type in 140 countries. /Hurriyet/

STATE PLANNING ORGANIZATION'S STATEMENT

State Planning Organization (DPT) is aiming at helping Turkey to be among 10 countries whose economy is the most developed in the year 2023, which is the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the DTP. In addition, the DTP envisages that the municipal population, which is 60% now, will reach nearly 90% again in the year 2023. DTP's perspective plan by the year 2023 and its eighth Five-Year Development Plan, was discussed at the Higher Planning Council, which was gathered yesterday and chaired by the Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. During this meeting, which was attended by nearly 60 Ministers and bureaucrats, DTP Undersecretary, Akin Izmirlioglu, also issued a speech. /Hurriyet/

ARCELIK PRODUCES AIR-CONDITIONING APPARATUS WITH LG COMPANY

Arcelik, which aims at being one of the best five durable goods companies in Europe, cooperated with LG Company from Southern Korea to open its facility in Gebze. Chairman of the Exective Board of Koc Holding Company, Rahmi Koc, issued a speech during the ceremony, saying, "The lion's share is divided among the developed and industrialized countries. The developing countries, such as Turkey, are struggling to take their shares from the remaining investments and commerce. These countries have to find the ideal partner to ensure this." Arcelik and LG have equal shares in the Arcelik-LG Air-Conditioning Apparatus Joint Stock Company, which is LG Electronics' only production facility in this region. /Hurriyet/

KECECILER TO VISIT IRAN

While it is uncertain whether or not President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will attend the meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Iran between 6 and 10 June, it was stated that the State Minister Mehmet Kececiler would represent Turkey on the Ministerial level in Iran. If Turkey, which attended the previous meetings on the Presidential level, will be represented on the same level again, then President Sezer will pay his first visit abroad to Iran. If Sezer does not perform this visit, then Kececiler will represent Turkey. If Sezer will perform this visit, then Kececiler will carry the title of 'the Minister who accompanies the President.' /Hurriyet/

TURKEY-CUBA COOPERATE IN AGRICULTURE

Turkish Agriculture Minister Husnu Yusuf Gokalp stated, after meeting Cuban Agriculture Minister Alfredo Morales, that Turkey has a great potential to supply agricultural machines to Cuba. Gokalp stated that they signed a protocol with the Cuban minister to develop cooperation on agricultural matters. He said that Turkish experts could work to raise the quality of cotton production in Cuba, added that Cuban experts could be trained at the Nazilli Cotton Research Center, and cotton types made available according to the climate of the relevant country. /All papers/

TUPRAS TO ESTABLISH A JOINT REFINERY WITH FOREIGNERS

The General Director of the TUPRAS, Husamettin Danis, said that they aimed at establishing a joint refinery together with foreign oil companies. Danis delivered a speech at the Sixth International Co-Generation and Environment Conference yesterday in Istanbul and stated that the long-term target of the TUPRAS was to gain a leading position in the energy sector. /Milliyet/

BAKU-CEYHAN, TURKMEN GAS PROJECTS STILL COURSE

Officials from Turkey, Azerbaijan and the US have reiterated that the projects to transfer Turkmenistan natural gas and Azerbaijan oil to Turkey are still on course and denied that they have stalled. Energy Minister Cumhur Ersumer said the claims that Turkey lagged behind in the competition over the energy resources of Central Asia and the Caucasus did not reflect the truth. Ersumer delivered a speech at the Parliamentary Industry Commission. According to Ersumer, a deal has already been signed between Turkey and Turkmenistan, stipulating that Turkmenistan would sell natural gas to Turkey starting from 2003 and as for the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline project that will carry Caspian basin oil to Turkey, there is nothing to be done on the table, implying that there is no legal obstacle on the way to moving to the implementation phase. As for the Trans-Caspian Pipeline Project, the consortium PSG that will construct the pipeline and Turkmenistan President Turkmenbasi have not yet reached an agreement. In the meantime, the chairman of the foreign relations department of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), Valeh Aleskerov, said in a statement yesterday that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline was the most proper decision to be made for the transfer of Azerbaijani oil to world markets. /All papers/

PARLIAMENTARIANS FROM NATO MEMBER COUNTRIES MEET TODAY

Parliamentarians from NATO member countries will convene for the start of their spring meetings in Budapest today. The Turkish delegation led by Tahir Kose flew to Hungary yesterday. Kose stated that 16 reports would be considered by five committees during the meetings and added that Turkey's views about the European Security and Defence Identity (ESDI) would be considered a priority at the meeting. /All papers/

TURKISH AND GREEK COOPERATION IN NATO EXERCISE

Greek Defence Minister Akis Cohacopulos stated after his meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis that the Greek and Turkish Armed Forces had cooperated well in NATO's Exercise Dynamic Mix which started on May 20. Mentioning Turkish-Greek relations, he said that Greece's attitude to the relations betwen the two countries was very clear and added that he believed that Turkey would become a member of the EU, which would make for even closer relations between the two. /Turkish Daily News/

HOME TEXTILE FAIR

The 'International Sixth Home Textile Fair' organized by the Home Textile Association and the TUYAP Fair Company was opened yesterday. A total of 216 firms from 18 countries are attending the fair opened by Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu. The fair will remain open until May 28. /Star/

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

WARM CLIMATE IS NOT ENOUGH BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the warm climate observed in Turkish-Greek relations today. A summary of his column is as follows: "The warm climate in Turkish-Greek relations which has been observed for the time is pleasing. Every day news concerning new contacts, meetings or a show of friendship is mentioned in the newspapers. Most of these activities take place between two peoples, but some of these are on an official level. For example, the landing of Turkish jets on Greek soil after many years, and Turkish-Greek airforce officers' conducting joint manouevres are important events. On an official level, the Foreign Ministers of both countries who are meeting on various occasions have decided for the Turkish and Greek Foreign Ministry, Political Affairs Directors to meet with the aim of strengthening relations. It seems that both sides have agreed upon the fact that the time has come to hold talks pertaining to the essence of matters. Retired Admiral Guven Erkaya's proposal concerning the abolishment of the Aegean Army should be considered under the light of these events. Unfortunately,the proposal by Erkaya has been distorted by some newspapers and led to unnecessary discussions. It is true that at this stage, this proposal concerning the abolishment of the Aegean Army is not in Government's agenda. The Chief of General Staff has just exchanged views on the subject. Erkaya, relying on his experience and information, has stated his views to the concerned offices as an advisor. These views may or may not be taken into consideration after evaluation. However, all views expressed in the proposal should be reflected correctly to the general public. The report proposes a a new method of consultations for the Aegean issue. It suggests that the problems concerning the Aegean should be taken as whole not one by one. In the report where views on issues such as territorial waters, air space, Flight Information Region, disputed islands and the continental shelf are expressed, there is nothing like the unilateral abolition of the Aegean Army as a gesture towards Greece. Erkaya also proposes a parallel working group to be established to contribute to the consultations. These proposals should be evaluated as a whole while passing from a 'warm climate' towards 'talks of essence'."

SEZER SHOULD GO TO TEHRAN BY DOGAN HEPER (MILLIYET)

Columnist Dogan Heper comments on Turkish-Iranian relations. A summary of his column is as follows: "It is difficult to understand Turkish policy towards Iran during the recent years. Sometimes it blows hot, sometimes it blows cold. There is a difference of opinion and stance between the Foreign ministry and other autorities. It seems that Foreign Ministry wishes to follow a more moderate stand towards Iran. Taking this into consideration, it is believed that President Sezer should attend the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) meeting to be held in Tehran in June. Furthermore, this is an international meeting, and attendance to such a meeting does not mean an official visit to Iran. If Sezer does not attend such a meeting, Turkey may lose the advantages it may gain at an international conference. It is clear that the improving of relations between Turkey and Iran is to the benefit of both countries. Iran is a state with deep-rooted ties to a glorious past. For years it competed with the Ottoman Empire but particularly after the proclamation of the Turkish Republic, the border between the two states was an area where calm and peace reigned until the PKK terrorist organization took shelter there. It is also certain that the Humeini Revolution attempted to export a new regime to its neighbours. Tehran may wish Turkey would become a theocratic state, however Turkey is not as weak as to let a neighbouring state change its democratic and secular character. Turkey is a role model for Iranians as well as the whole Islamic world with its democratic, secular and modern State. At present Turkey cannot prevent the activities of some Iranian organizations in Turkey. There are a few millions of Iranians in Turkey. As any relation between these organizations and Iran cannot be established yet, Turkey should follow a path in line with its own interests and should express to Iran the benefits of improving official relations and cooperation. Both Iran and Ankara should not permit the relations to get out of hand and this can only be done by continuing talks."

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