SEZER DUE IN CYPRUS

Tomorrow, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will go to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for an an official visit at the invitation of the President Rauf Denktas. During the visit, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Minister of State Sukru Sina Gurel will accompany President Sezer. /Turkiye/

NEW APPOINTMENTS

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer appointed Fehmi Ulusoy, a member of the High Court of Appeals, to the permanent membership of the High Council of the Judjes and Public Prosecuters among the three candidates proposed by the General Council of the High Court of Appeals. In the meantime, President Sezer appointed Prof. Dr. Erdogan Tezic as the Rector of the GS University, in place of the Rector Prof. Dr. Yildizhan Yayla, whose term in office will end on July 3rd. /Turkiye/

PREMIER BULENT ECEVIT IN SANLIURFA

Yesterday Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit visited Sanliurfa, accompanied by his wife, Rahsan Ecevit and the Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputies from the region. Ecevit attended the openning ceremony of the social facilities at the Harran University and then addressed to citizens. He said, "The power of DSP comes not from Ecevits but the nation. Our emblem is dove. It is a symbol of peace. As DSP strengthens, so does the peace." During their visit to the Zeugma Antic City, Ecevit and his delegation were briefed by Governor Muammer Guler about the rescue work of the city which will remain under the waters of the Birecik Dam. /Hurriyet/

EU EXCLUDES TURKEY FROM ESDI DECISION_MAKING

The European Union excluded Turkey from the decision_making mechanism of the European Security and Defence Identity (ESDI) at its summit in Santa Maria de Feira, Portugal, yesterday. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement in which it announced that Ankara was not satisfied with the Feira conclusions regarding ESDI. The statement said that the EU should not expect Turkey to automatically agree that NATO facilities can be used by the EU. Ankara called on EU members to reverse its decision at its next summit in Nice, France, in December. /Turkish Daily News/

UN DEADLOCKED IN CYPRUS

Even if it had been an indirect statement, the United Nations had recognized the TRNC in December. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, in his report concerning the extention of the six-month term of the peace-keeping force in Cyprus had noted that the approval of the TRNC should also be sought. However, as a result of the pressure applied by the Greek-Cypriots and the Greeks these words were taken back in the next report. At present Turkish-Cypriots are preparing to apply sanctions on the UN Peace-keeping force which had served for 25 years on the island./Star/

'ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP' ON THE AGENDA OF THE EU

Alain Sevantie who is newly appointed to the Turkish Department of the EU Commission, came to Ankara. During his talks, Sevantie is expected to discuss the 'National Program' to be prepared by Turkey. The financial aid foreseen to be given to Turkey within the framework of the accession partnership programme will also be discussed during his meetings. /Cumhuriyet/

EU CALL ON TURKEY TO MOVE

The EU has claimed that, Turkey which was noted for the steps it took prior to the Helsinki EU Summit, has slowed down with the acceptance of its candidacy. The EU heads of state and government who met in Feira, Portugal did not make any statements concerning Turkey on the final communique but chose to repeat their expectations once more. The EU statement said, "In the light of the Helsinki decisions, the Council expects more progressive and concrete developments on human rights issues, order of law and the judicial system." /Milliyet/

CAPITAL PUNISHMENT MAY BE ABOLISHED IN 2001

Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk, proposed to abolish the capital punishment for crimes other than those covered by the Article 125 of the Penal Code. Turk stated that if capital punishment is included in the amendments to be made in the Penal Code, it could be abolished in 2001. The Justice Minister who stated that whenever the abolishment of death sentence is brought to the agenda, a wrong prejudice is formed in the minds of the public to that this change is requested for Ocalan and his supporters. Turk, noted that death sentence can be lifted by preserving exceptions. He said, "The Article 6 of the European Human Rights Protocole stipulates that death sentence can be carried out in stiuations of 'war' or 'low intensity conflicts.'" /Milliyet/

CALL ON BELGIUM: YOU TRY FEHRIYE

Following the denial of Fehriye Erdal's request for political asylum, Turkish Justice Ministry has began intensive lobbying acitivites not to let Erdal set free. It has been learnt that the Justice Ministry has launched intiatives with the Belgium Justice Ministry expressing its opinions that Erdal should be tried in Belgium. Justice Ministry officials already sent a letter to Belgium stating that a third country did not have the right to try Fehriye Erdal. /Milliyet/

BAN ON HADEP (PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC PARTY) MEMBERS LIFTED

Diyarbakir Mayor Feridun Celik, Bingol Mayor Feyzullah Karaaslan and Siirt Mayor Selim Ozal, members of HADEP attended the trial at the Second State Security Court in Diyarbakir. The Court lifted the ban on mayors' travel abroad./Milliyet/

MINISTER OF HEALTH DUE IN TUNISIA

The Minister of Health, Osman Durmus, is going to Tunusia today at the invitation of his Tunisian counterpart, Hedi Mhenni. Minister Durmus will sign agreements on cooperation in health and medicine areas between the two countries. He is expected to return Turkey on June 25. /Turkiye/

FOREST FIRE IN BODRUM

During the fire broke out yesterday in the Torba district of Bodrum 200 hectares of forest has been destroyed. Seven people, besieged in the region, were rescued by helicopter. The Governor of Mugla, Lutfi Yigenoglu, stated that the fire was caused by a cigarette butt. In addition to military units, citizens and forest teams, 50 fire extinguishing vehicles and five helicopters participated in putting out the fire. In the meantime, in the Cubucak district of Marmaris, one hectar forest of cluster pine was reduced to ashes. /Turkiye/

TURKEY WANTS SUPPORT OF ICO MEMBER COUNTRIES

Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a meeting to inform the Islamic Conference Organization (ICO) member countries' representatives in Ankara and asked for their support on the election of Ambassador Yasar Yakis as the General Secretary of the ICO. Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ugur Ziyal, delivered a speech during the conference and said, "We are holding contacts with our friends in Bangladesh. We hope that we will reach a consensus on this issue and find a solution." /Cumhuriyet/

DEFENCE NEWS: "FIRST STEP EXPECTED FROM DAMASCUS"

'Defence News', which is one of the defence magazines in the US, wrote that Damascus should take the first step so that a rapprochement between Turkey and Syria can be obtained after the death of Hafiz Esad. Defence News wrote, "After the problem of Abdullah Ocalan was solved, the tension between Syria and Turkey decreased but there is not any change in Syria's policies concerning the water issue and Hatay. If Beshar, who took his place after the death of his father, Hafiz Esad, follows a reasonable policy concerning the issue of water and Hatay, Turkey will respond to it positively." /Cumhuriyet/

PARRIS IN CANAKKALE

America's Ambassador to Turkey, Mark Parris, stated that Turkey does not only consist of Ankara. Parris and the accompanying delegation went to Canakkale and visited the Governor of Canakkale, Ekrem Ozsoy, and the Mayor of Canakkale, Ismail Ozay. Ambassador Parris stated that he previously had visited other sites of Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/

EARTHQUAKE IN MARMARA REGION DISCUSSED IN SWITZERLAND

The Conference of Ministers on "Crises Management" was organized in Freiburg, Switzerland, and a declaration that envisages the increase of international cooperation and communication was issued at the end. The earthquake that occurred in Turkey was discussed in details during this conference. In the course of the conference, the earthquake that occurred in the Marmara Region was considered as the reason for the European countries to determine a common strategy and to form a more effective coordination. This meeting brought 37 international institutions and 52 countries together for the first time and the problems and the experiences that resulted from the earthquake that occurred in the Marmara Region were mentioned. /Cumhuriyet/

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY FOR IZMIR

Work to find solution to the energy problem in Izmir has been continuing. During a visit he paid to Izmir Metropolitan Mayor, Ahmet Piristina, the Chairman of the Union of European Geothermal and Turkey Association of Geothermal, Orhan Mertoglu, stated that Izmir had a big geothermal energy potential and in the case of using those sources, 464,000 buildings could be heated and 4.6 million tons of carbondioxide gas would be prevented from mixing to air. /Aksam/

GET READY FOR BLUE STREAM

To get ready for the infrastructure of the natural gas coming from Iran and Russia, by means of Blue Stream project in 2001, BOTAS, will have ten separate pipelines constructed. Today, BOTAS will invite firms for pre-adequacy. After the completion of the pipelines by 2002, the consumption of natural gas, currently consumed in Bursa, Eskisehir, Ankara and Istanbul will spread to 57 cities. /Hurriyet/

EMPLOYERS DON'T WANT GOVERNMENT CRISIS

Businessmen reacted against the recent disputes in politics, beginning with "Supreme Court". Repeating their desire for the continuity of stability, businessmen warned the government. In his speech at the Gaziantep Industry Chamber, the Chairman of the Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges (TOBB), Fuat Miras, asserted that Turkey was being pulled into a chaos. He said, "Give up fighting with each other. We are not pulling back our support but calling on you." The Chairman of the TUSIAD, Erkut Yucaoglu, also stated that they did not want a government putting political stability to a second place. He also added, "Turkey doesn't need an early election." /Aksam/

IMKB BECOMES PARTNER OF BAKU STOCK EXCHANGE

Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) became the partner of Baku Stock Exchanges with a share of 5.26%. In a statement issued by the IMKB, it was stated that IMKB joined in Baku Stock Exchanges as the 19th partner on an equal level as the other partners. /Cumhuriyet/

BUDGET DEFICIT DECREASED

According to the State Institude of Statistics, in May, consolidated budget deficit is 6.7 quadrillion TL, 4 quadrillion TL of which is the surplus that does not include interest payments. /Sabah/

AYDIN DOGAN CARICATURE COMPETITION

The jury for the 17th Aydin Dogan International Caricature Competition organized by Aydin Dogan Foundation, will convene on June 27th in Antalya at Falez Hotel. The jury, headed by a caricaturist from Argentina, Guillermo Mordillo, will evaluate 372 caricatures of 347 artists from 89 countries in the world. The selected works will be exhibited at Falez Hotel in Antalya between June 29th and July 7th. The Award ceremony will be held on November 9th in Ankara. The first prize of the competition was determined as eight thousand dollars. /Hurriyet/

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

UN'S ZIGZAGS

Columnist Sami Kohen of Milliyet in his column comments on the UN stance concerning Cyprus. A summary of his column is as follows: "At the end of last year, a report, submitted by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to UN Security Council, was regarded as a victory both in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Ankara. In the report, for the first time, it was stated that UN Peace_keeping Force in Cyprus should cooperate with TRNC officials and should get the approval of the Turkish Cypriot authorities. The above-mentioned sentences which were put as an addendum to the UN Secretary General's Peace Mission report, was evaluated by the Turkish side as the confirmation of existence and equal sovereignty of TRNC. But last week in the UN Secretary General's report submitted the the UN Security Council concerning the extention of the term of the UN Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus for another six months has not included this addendum and this development has shocked TRNC and Ankara. Why UN's Cyprus policy changed against the Turkish side in six months? First of all we have to realize the fact that the said addendum has been included in the UN Secretary General's "report" not in the UN Security Council's "resolution". In the resolution there is no change concerning the UN policy on Cyprus. The new development is the addendum which was put in the UN Secretary General's report. But this is not binding. Unfortunately, because of Athens' harsh reaction and threats, Annan was forced to withdraw. These are the results of this development. *Before using the words "victory" or "defeat", we have to consider the content and diplomatic maneouvres. *The change of opinion by Annan in such a short time, has cast shadows on his credibility. *The UN has taken the responsibility to solve the Cyprus question. But its zigzags and its inconsistency has shown that the UN will not be able to tackle this problem in the future. This event took place on the eve of the Cyprus talks in Geneva and may negatively effect the success of the talks. The Turkish side will react to UN's attitude. But to show a very harsh reaction, may cause an adverse. If Denktas does not attend the talks in Geneva, this may create more problems. The most practical and effective measure for TRNC will be the limitations of movements to be applied to UN soldiers in TRNC soil."

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