Within the framework of dialogue on a "Eurasian energy corridor" passing from east to west through Turkey, Washington is discussing with Ankara about strengthening the possibility of constructing Baku-Ceyhan oil and natural gas pipelines. Robert W.Gee, assistant secretary for Policy and International Affairs of the US Department of Energy, and William C.Ramsay, deputy assistant secretary of State for Energy, Sanctions and Commodities, are meeting in Ankara with Turkish officials from the Foreign and Energy Ministries.
Gee and Ramsay paid a courtesy visit to Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and met with Energy Minister Cumhur Ersumer. Cem told reporters that there is a project to start a regional political dialogue between Turkey and the US. The outcome of the completion of a Eurasian energy corridor, Cem said, is that Turkey will become the main terminal for Eurasian energy. US Secretary of Trade William Daley will arrive in Ankara next week to participate in follow-up talks on US-Turkish cooperation, following Gee and Ramsay's departure from the capital on Tuesday. Turkish Energy Minister Ersumer will visit Washington accompanying Turkmen President Saparmurad Niyazov in February for what they hope will be persuasive talks for the construction of a Turkey-Iran-Turkmenistan pipeline. /All papers/
Total industrial production increased by 8.2 % in November 1997 compared to the same month last year, which was 5.7 %. Total industrial production during the January-November 1997 increased by 10.3 % when compared to the same period last year, which was 6.5 %. /Milliyet/
One of the leading French newspapers Le Figaro reports that French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine has been unable to persuade Ankara to participate in the European Conference. An article by Baudouin Bollaert also noted that Athens has so far given no signals about lifting its veto on EU aid worth 18 billion frank to Turkey. /Milliyet/
The US High Court has rejected a case opened by 299 Turkish naval crew members working on a Turkish support destroyer, which was damaged by two missiles fired by the US aircraft carrier in Saratoga in 1992. The Turkish naval seamen are claiming negligence on the part of the US administration in the incident, which occurred during a NATO exercise in the Saros Gulf when two Turkish seamen died and many more seamen were injured. /Milliyet/
Nevsehir Governorship stated that last year 1,489,200 tourists visited Cappadocia. The number of tourists in 1997 increased by 23 % compared to last year. It is expected that more than 2 million tourists will visit Cappadocia this year. /Hurriyet/
US Ambassador to Turkey Marc Grossman has stated that excluding Turkey from the EU was a political decision and said: "The EU will come to realize its mistake and change its decision in the future. The US views Turkey as a European country". /Hurriyet/
A delegation from the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) arrived in Ankara yesterday. The delegation will hold talks with many officials including British and US officials in Ankara to revive the Ankara process. /Hurriyet/
Enka Construction Company has been awarded a place among the top 10 foreign companies of 1997 in Russia, following a survey conducted by one of the leading economic magazines Russian Review published in English. /Sabah/
The production of durable goods increased by 23 % in the first 11 months of 1997. According to the industrial production index issued by the State Institute of Statistics as of November, the total production of refrigerators, washing machines, washing up machines and ovens increased by 23 % during the 11 months. /Sabah/
The Automotive Industry Association has reported that the Turkish automotive industry produced 400 thousand vehicles in 1997. Further automotive market expanded by 44 %, because of increases in the sales of both domestic and imported automobiles. /Cumhuriyet/
Istanbul exchange shares tumbled in daylong panic sales on Monday, shattering several support levels amid concerns caused by the growing Asian crisis and some worries about domestic political issues, brokers said. "The market experienced a strong sale which was started by foreigners. Sales may continue in early trade tommorow, but I expect some reaction buying to emerge in the afternoon," said Engin Ertam from Bayindir Securities. The IMKB National-100 index closed at 3,199.67, down 10.8 percent or 387.44 points from Friday, but off slightly from a late low of 3,175.34. The market showed a 3.9 percent gain last week. Daily volume showed little change at 66.5 trillion lira ($314 million) from Friday's 65.3 trillion lira ($310 million). /All papers/
The Constitutional Court unanimously accepted on Monday Chief Prosecutor Vural Savas' request to impose an injuction on a Treasury grant of TL 1.23 trillion to be given to the Welfare Party (RP) this year, until the closure case filed against this party is finalized.
Following a nearly three-hour meeting of the Constitutional Court, Judge Guven Dincer made a statement and said he and his colleagues had examined the application filed by High Appeals Court Chief Prosecutor Vural Savas for the issuance of an injuction on the TL 1.23 trillion ($5.82) Treasury grant to be given to the RP this year. /All papers/