Basyn - Yayın ve Enformasyon Genel Müdürlüğü

US State Department Spokesman Jamie Rubin said that intensive armament in Cyprus was disturbing, and noted that Turkey had the right to apply to the UN Security Council to convey its anxiety over the establishment of a new military base in Baf, Southern Cyprus. The US State Department Spokesman urged both communities on the island to refrain from moves that could end in a new escalation of tensions on the island. /Hurriyet/

TURCO-EGYPTIAN CULTURAL COOPERATION

Culture Minister Istemihan Talay paid an official visit to Egypt on January 14-19. Commenting on his contacts with Egyptian officials, Minister Talay said that a number of important decisions for improving bilateral cultural relations had been taken. In line with these decisions, Turkish and Egyptian specialists will cooperate in researching archives as well as in the restoration of Turkish monuments in Egypt. /Hurriyet/

TANER MEETS WITH IMF

State Minister Gunes Taner had yesterday a one-hour meeting with IMF Chief of the Turkish Desk, Martin Hardy, and World Bank Deputy Chairman Ajan Chibber. In a press conference after the meeting, Taner gave details about the decisions reached during the discussions. The World Bank will continue to support ongoing infrastructural projects and education reforms in Turkey. At the same time, World Bank officials promised to extend programme credits if the Turkish government manages to carry out structural reforms. Commenting on relations with the IMF, Minister Taner said that Turkey needed no new stand-by agreements, but will instead cooperate with the IMF in the implementation of a stabilization programme. Late in February Taner is planning to pay a visit to Washington to work out details related to this programme with IMF officials. /Sabah/

TURKISH COMPANY SETS UP COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK IN BAKU

The Turkish Alcatel-Teletas company will undertake an ambitious project for the modernization of the Baku telephone system. Alcatel-Teletas general Director Lutfi Yener signed last Friday a related agreement with Azerbaijani Communications Minister Nadir Ahmetov. /Sabah/

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS APPOINTS AMBASSADOR TO LIBYA

At a meeting yesterday, the Council of Ministers decided to appoint Mufit Ozdes as ambassador to Libya. Former Turkish Ambassador in Libya, Ates Balkan, has been called back to Ankara following a recent diplomatic crisis in bilateral relations caused by Libyan leader Muammer Kaddafi's controversial remarks about Turkey. /Sabah/

KARADAYI CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Chief of General Staff Gen.Ismail Hakki Karadayi said yesterday that international terrorism and ethnic conflicts headed the list of new risks and threats faced by the world. Karadayi delivered a speech at the opening session of a Defense Policies and Military Doctrine Seminar held by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which began yesterday in Vienna. The seminar will deal especially with new balances and threats and call for more international cooperation. /Cumhuriyet/

WELFARE PARTY TOPS AGENDA OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

The closure of the Welfare Party (RP) by the Constitutional Court topped agenda of the Winter-Term General Council Meetings of the Parliamentarian Assembly of the Council of Europe. Political Committee Chairman of the Assembly, Hungarian Parliamentarian, Andreas Barsony, said that before a justification decision of the Constitutional Court is issued, it would be wrong to make a legal comment on the issue. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister of Britain, the current EU Term-President, Robin Cook, said that there was no pre-condition regarding the participation of Turkey in the European Conference. Cook said: "The doors of the European Conference are open to Turkey". He noted that he would be pleased with the participation of Turkey in this conference to be held on 12 March and said: "Our efforts to strengthen political dialogue with Ankara will continue". He stated that they would also establish a dialogue with Turkey regarding the refugee flow to Europe. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY EXAMINING US DECISION

Turkey has begun to examine the US decision to cut military aid to Turkey and Greece. It is reported that the decision will be evaluated within the context of the Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement and strategic cooperation between the two countries. Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ambassador Necati Utkan held a press conference yesterday and said that although no official statement had made by the US government regarding this issue, information had arrived through international news agencies. /Cumhuriyet/

CEM IN BONN

Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem delivered a speech at the Consuls-General Meeting, which began yesterday in Bonn and said that when Turks living in Europe join forces and become unified, they could provide a better future for themselves and their children. Ismail Cem will meet with German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel today. He will also come together with representatives of the Turkish associations which are active in Germany. /Milliyet/

ATHENS SAYS 'NO' TO ANKARA'S INVITATION

Greece has rejected an invitation made by Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit via Milliyet daily newspaper. Ecevit had said: "Let's come together in Ankara and start a dialogue". Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said: "We do not view this call as positive. Turkey has been extending this invitation for a long time. However we do not agree on this". Reppas claimed that Ecevit's call was against 'international law'. Repass said: "Turkey should accept the general authority of The Hague". /Milliyet/

TURKISH CULTURE IN FRANCE

Turkey will attend the "16th Expolangues '98-2 International French Culture Festival and show traditional "Karagoz" shadow theatre. Turkey will also participate in the marriage fair called "Marriage au Carrousel" by displaying Thracian wedding-dresses. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY PLANS NEW AIRPORT, TECHNO-PARK IN ISTANBUL

The Turkish government has decided to lay the foundations for an international airport and an advanced technology park in Istanbul's Kurtkoy district in order to take the first crucial steps to meet its 21st century needs. During a press conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin yesterday revealed the plans concerning the $10 billion giant project, saying that the infrastructure will be constructed by the state, and the rest of the project will be carried out by the private sector. /All papers/

TURKEY TO BUY MORE ELECTRICITY FROM BULGARIA

Turkey will increase the amount of electricity it is currently buying from Bulgaria to 2.5 billion kilowatts/hours (kwh) per year, Turkish Energy Minister Cumhur Ersumer told reporters yesterday, following a meeting with Bulgarian Energy Minister Ivan Siliaski, in which the issue was discussed. Turkey is now buying 1.8 billion kwh of electricity from Bulgaria. In order to increase the amount of electricity, a new electricity line will be to Hamitabad, Ersumer continued. /All papers/

ANKARA CRITICIZES SYRIAN COMMENTS ON WELFARE PARTY

Ankara described the Syrian defense minister's words last Tuesday -that Turkey will become like Algeria due to the ban on Welfare Party -as wishful thinking, adding: "Turkey does not need to take any lessons from Syria, neither on democracy nor on religious tolerance". Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan said: "The remarks are inappropriate and uncalled for", when addressing the weekly press conference yesterday. /All papers/

TURKEY HOLDS BEST INTERNET PROMOTIONAL WEB SITE

The Turkish Tourism Office in New York declared that Turkey's Internet web site, which aims to promote tourism opportunities and consists of more than 200 pages, has been chosen the best of its kind. The address of this web site is: http//www.turkey.org/turkey The Tourism Office also noted that the number of American tourists visiting Turkey increased by 11% in 1997 and reached 365 thousand. /Hurriyet/ END