EREZ TO MEET KUTAN TODAY

The Prime Minister-designate Yalim Erez's Cabinet list will reportedly be submitted for the President's approval tomorrow, providing that the problem of the distribution of the ministerial positions is solved. It is also predicted that President Suleyman Demirel will officially approve the Cabinet list by Wednesday at the latest in order to facilitate the formation of the 56th government. President Demirel's announcement that he will not use his Constitutional right of abolishing Parliament 45 days after the collapse of the government, which would be January 10, buys Erez the extra time he may need to comfortably pursue a new government model. Some political party administrators are maintaining that Erez can concentrate on further rounds of talks with party leaders and reach a solution sometime next week. Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal met Erez, wishing him success but refusing to be drawn on whether the CHP would join an Erez-led government. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Baykal said that Erez is carrying out his work with good intentions and decisiveness and added that the CHP supports Erez's efforts. Erez briefed Baykal regarding the meetings he had already held with other party leaders. The two may meet again in the next few days. Meanwhile, Erez is scheduled to meet Virtue Party (FP) leader Recai Kutan today. /All papers/

ELECTION PERIOD BEGINS TODAY

The election period for the forthcoming national and municipal elections, to be held on April 18, 1999, starts today. The calendar for the dual elections was determined by the Supreme Board of Elections (YSK) almost a week ago. According to the YSK timetable, the deadline for political parties to inform the YSK of the criteria and methods they will employ in defining their candidates is Friday, January 8, 1999. Primary elections to determine the candidates for both elections could be held on February 14, 1999 if a political party requests this, the YSK suggested. Public workers who plan to announce their candidacy or who will be presented as candidates, must submit their resignations from their posts by Jnauary 11, 1999 at the latest. Those who want to enter the elections as independent candidates must apply to the provincial election councils by February 24, 1999. The YSK has decided on the controversial issue of how Turks living abroad will cast their votes, ruling that they will be able to vote at Customs' Posts, beginning on March 25, 1999. Election campaigning will begin on April 8, 1999. Campaign speeches by political parties on radio and television stations will start on April 10, 1999. The election campaign will end on April 17, 1999 at 6:00 p.m. /All papers/

UNREGISTERED BULLETS IN SANLIURFA

In the Siverek district of Sanliurfa, a southeastern province of Turkey, a large cache of ammunition, including anti-aircraft shells and armour-piercing bullets, has been found. Three people have been taken into custody. /Cumhuriyet/

1998 PROFILE OF PKK

The year 1998 was the year in which the most efficient struggle against the terrorist organization, which is responsible for all the bloody acts of violence not only in the East and Southeast but also in various other regions of Turkey, was undertaken, the Anatolia news agency reports. In operations carried out against the terrorist organization last year, 1,843 of the terrorists were captured dead, 29 injured and 155 alive and 118 of them surrendered themselves. During the operations, 311 police officers died. Last year, three planned operations were undertaken, but the most efficient and biggest one was 'Operation Murat', which was carried out in April. Twenty-four generals and 39,500 soldiers participated in the operation, which covered Diyarbakir, Elazig, Mus and Bingol; nearly 200 terrorists were seized.

'EU DOOR NOT CLOSED'

The German President Roman Herzog said: "The EU door has never been closed to Turkey". In a statement to the Bild newspaper, Herzog said: "The EU should not be open for only Christian societies. However, in order to enter the EU, some conditions should be abided by; Turkey has managed to achieve two of them". Pointing out that religious and state affairs were separated in Turkey and economic development had been achieved, Herzog added: "You have to be in charge of a real state of law for the EU and you have to show it by your implemented policies". /Milliyet/

EU'S OCALAN GAME

European Union (EU) countries insist on not calling Abdullah Ocalan by the term "terrorist" and support Ocalan's statement that he had abandoned his weapons and would make politics. Ocalan's official request for political asylum from Italy will be decided on 23 February. If a negative result ensues, Ocalan will have the right to object to the decision. Thus Ocalan has the chance to stay in Rome with the support of the EU. Behind closed doors, most of the EU countries are in full agreement with the Rome administration, on the Ocalan issue but in front of the public they act as if Italy is standing alone. This is another dimension of the European game against Turkey. If Ocalan is granted a political identity in Italy, then the PKK will be incorporated into the EU. /Turkiye/

'OCALAN WILL LEAVE ITALY'

The Italian newspaper, Corniere della Serra, said under the headline "Last hours of Ocalan in Rome" that the leader of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, had met representatives from one of the former Soviet Union republics in his villa in Rome. According to the newspaper, the said country was ready to provide the conditions demanded by Ocalan. The newspaper noted that the Italian government was planning to announce the news after Ocalan leaves Rome and goes to a third country. Meanwhile, the Ocalan issue continues to create problems for the Italian coalition government. One of the partners of the coalition government, Social Democrat Party leader Enrico Baselli, made a statement to the Il Giornale newspaper criticizing the policy of the government regarding the Ocalan issue and said that Ocalan should be deported as soon as possible. Basseli stated that the Italian government has not exerted itself sufficiently to find an ideal solution to the Ocalan problem and said: "Ocalan has never given me the impression that he is a peaceful leader. His new year message confirms my opinion". Baselli stated that he has never regarded the idea of the establishment of an international tribunal to try Ocalan as serious. He also said that while there were serious problems regarding the former Yugoslavia, it was not realistic to establish an international tribunal for the PKK leader. /Sabah/

OCALAN THREATENS ITALY

Threatening Italy which is seeking another country to send him to, the PKK leader Ocalan said: "No one can impel me to leave. You are the ones who brought me here. Unless you can solve the question of peace, we will invade Europe through immigration." Meanwhile, the Italian media drew attention to the fact that Massimo D'Alema, the Italian Prime Minister, had begun to pay the price of sponsoring Ocalan. "Il Giornale" reported that Ocalan had cornered D'Alema and reminded its reader that although the Prime Minister had promised to solve the problem three weeks ago, hitherto efforts had not generated any solutions. /Hurriyet/

INFLATION RATE REDUCES

The struggle against inflation was achieved last year despite the world crisis, economic stagnation and the government crisis. According to State Institute of Statistics (DIE) data, the wholesale price index in December 1998 decreased by 2.9 points when compared to December 1997 while consumer prices decreased by 1.8 points. The government of Mesut Yilmaz achieved the target of '51 % inflation' in the 1998 budget with a minor deviation. /Sabah/

FIRST BORROWING OF 1999 FROM TREASURY

Within the guidelines of the Cash Management and Borrowing Programme during the first quarter of 1999, the Treasury will put out its first tender of the year on January 5, 1999. It is announced that the repayment date for the exports of two-year term bonds will be January 6, 2001. The interest rate for bonds with a three-month coupon payment will be declared today. /Milliyet/

FOREIGN INVESTMENT BACK TO TURKISH MARKETS

The General Director of the Ege Investment Stock Exchange Corporation, Irfan Sakin, said that foreign investment was coming back to Turkey following the improvement in the syndication positions of the banks. Pointing out that the Stock Exchange was directly related to political stability, Sakin added that after the establishment of the new government, there would also be stability in the price of share certificates. /Turkiye/

INTERNAL POLITICAL STRIFE IN SOUTHERN CYPRUS

The political aftermath of the decision to cancel the deployment of Russian-made S-300 missiles is expected to bring further internal political troubles to the Greek Cypriot Administration this week. Defence Minister Yiannakis Omirou and Education and Culture Minister Lyrcourgos Kappas, both from the Socialist Party (EDEK) wing of the Greek-Cypriot coalition government, are to formally resign today. The EDEK Central Committee held a meeting on Saturday to cement the earlier decision to withdraw from the government. The resignation of the two EDEK Ministers will embarrass Greek-Cypriot Leader Glafkos Klerides but will not affect his government, because under the Presidential system he can remain in power until the end of his five-year term in 2003. Klerides may seek a coalition with another party. /All papers/

GREEK OPPRESSION ON MINORITIES

Greece subjects Turkish, Albanian and Macedonian minorities in Western Thrace to great oppression. These minorities are excluded from Greek citizenship, they do not have the right to work in a state institution, to practice their religion freely or to own property in Western Thrace. Greece denies the rights of Turks in line with the Lausanne Treaty and also denies the Turks their Turkish identity, calling them a "Muslim society". /Turkiye/

FOREST FIRES IN 1998

In 1998, 6,743 hectares of forest were burnt in 1,924 fires in Turkey, the Anatolia news agency reports. According to the Department of Forest Protection and Fire Fighting within the Forestry General Directorate, carelessness and negligence resulted in 976 fires which caused the loss of 2,880 hectares of forest, and 278 forest fires and the loss of 988 hectares of forest were the result of arson. Electric power lines, traffic accidents and lightning are cited as other causes of forest fires.

187 DAMS IN 1998

The State Water Works opened 187 dams, 316 dam lakes and 2.5 million hectares of land to irrigation last year. The Antalya-Gazipasa, Burdur-Bozcay-Bademli, Isparta-Sarkikaraagac projects and the Antalya Drinking-Water Project are almost completed. Antalya-Caybogazi and Isparta-Sorgun dams are planned to be completed next year. /Turkiye/

FIRST CREDIT OF THE YEAR TO GAP (SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA PROJECT)

The Governor of Sanliurfa, Sahabettin Harput, stated that $100 million credit has been provided by the World Bank for seven separate projects to be carried out in the Sanliurfa and Harran valleys. Governor Harput added that the projects were going to be prepared by the Oklahoma State University in line with the norms of the World Bank. Harput noted that seven separate projects would be carried out in two main groups to improve agricultural land and rural settlement areas and stated that these projects would cost $175 million. /Cumhuriyet/

TAI TO PRODUCE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT

The Turkish Aviation and Space Industry (TAI), which proved its success in the system integration and F-16 projects, will produce unmanned aircraft for the Turkish Armed Forces. TAI planned the first unmanned aircraft in Turkey and brought it to the production phase. The aircraft will be used to follow smugglers, put out forest fires, control traffic and watch the borders. Their most important function will be to pin-point and destroy ballistic missiles. /Aksam/

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES

The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources plans to establish wind-powered stations by 2020. According to the Ministry officials, they will construct the power stations with the reserve ability to use fossil fuels in order to keep the stations running when there is no wind. /Aksam/

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS RATIFIED

The Council of Ministers ratified the agreements Turkey signed with Jibouti, Holland and Spain. These agreements were published in the Official Gazette yesterday. Turkey aims to improve its highway transportation following the Highway Transport Joint Commission Meeting Protocol signed with Holland. In addition, the aim is to protect common interests concerning Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (KOBIs) with an accord signed with Spain. The agreement to improve economic and trade relations, signed with Spain, envisages the increase in trade volume between the two countries. /Cumhuriyet/

NINE CULTURAL HERITAGES FROM TURKEY TO UNESCO

Troy, a legendary city in the history of civilization, has been added to the World Heritage List of UNESCO. Troy, which is in northeastern Anatolia, is the ninth place in Turkey to have been added to the list. Formerly, Istanbul, Safranbolu, Bogazkoy (Hattusas), Mount Nemrut, Xantos-Letoon and Divrigi Ulu Mosque were enlisted as cultural heritages whereas Pamukkale and Goreme-Cappadocia were written down as both cultural and natural heritages. The Turkish Ministry of Culture is making continuous efforts to register Ephesus city and Karain caves as World Heritages. /Hurriyet/

ZIRAAT BANK ACCELERATED INDIVIDUAL CREDITS TO INCREASE DEMAND

The volume of individual credits by Ziraat Bank for the last 10 months mounted from 9 to 80 trillion Turkish liras. Selcuk Demiralp, the General Director of the bank, said: "Instead of financing advertisement, we maintained credit interests at a plausible level. During a period of contracted demand, our bank fulfilled a significant economic as well as social function." Demiralp also noted that they tend to rank first in individual crediting among the banks in 1999. Ziraat Bank is a public corporation and currently the largest bank in Turkey. /Hurriyet/

TUBITAK WILL SEND A MINI SATELLITE

It is reported that TUBITAK (Turkish Scientific and Technological Researh Institution) will launch a mini satellite for date gathering and communication in the first months of the next year. The satellite will cover Turkey and the Central Asian Republics. /Hurriyet/

HAPPY END IN NATIONAL LOTTERIES

The top prize in the Numerical Lotto 6/49, which had reached $5 million invested by 16.5 million players, was divided between six lucky participants from six cities at the weekend. It is reported that none of the winners has come forward yet because of the possibility to be disturbed by relatives or friends, or threatened by the mafia. Meanwhile, it is also reported that one of the four winners of the top prize in the National New Year Lottery is Mahir Hilenoglu, the Chairman of the Samandagi Christian Society at Hatay, a Southeastern Anatolian city. /Hurriyet/

FROM THE COLUMNS..FROM THE COLUMNS..FROM THE COLUMNS.. WHAT SHOULD BE DONE? -BY SEDAT SERTOGLU (SABAH)

Sedat Sertoglu, a journalist from the daily Sabah newspaper, says the following in his article today: "In the US, there is a principle based on declaration. The thing that is declared is regarded as accurate..until the opposite occurs...Months ago, we wrote following the Holbrooke-Denktas-Klerides meeting in Cyprus, that S-300 missiles will not arrive on the island...Now, it is evident that we are right. We have to look at further issues without locking onto the 'deployment of S-300 missiles on Crete'..because something is happening in the UN both in the General Council and in the Security Council. Attemps are being made to achieve something...And these are the signals which have been arriving in Ankara...Turkey's only foreign problem is not Cyprus. We have a lot of problems. When you look at our neighbours, you will understand what I am trying to say..However Cyprus is a 'huge' problem. It seems that one again we will confront this problem frequently this year. The European Union (EU) has taken a great step forward following the approval of the Euro; this is a huge step towards a European United States..There will be no DM, Franc or other currencies..only one currency will be used. In developed countries, there will be two currencies: the Dollar and the Euro. As far as we manage to evaluate the world's tendency, we will be able to pursue accurate policies and make healthy and applicable decisions. In 1999 and in 2000, there will be new formations, alliances or hostilities in the world. We should predict these and assume our position in advance. If we know what to do before the oppression is unbearable, we will not panic and become giddy; all related institutions can re-form themselves according to new circumstances../Sabah/

WOMEN HAVE TO DOMINATE POLITICAL LIFE -BY CELAL TOPRAKOGLU (CUMHURIYET)

Celal Toprakoglu in his column in Cumhuriyet deals with the women's right to be represented in Parliament. A summary of his column is as follows: "Turkish women gained the right to be elected to municipal and provincial assemblies on 3 April 1930, to be elected to the post of alderwoman in 1933, and were granted rights of suffrage on 5 December 1934. Women began to be represented in all of the decision-making bodies in society following the reforms achieved during the Republican era. Turkish women are indebted to the reforms of the Republic for the respected place they hold in society today. However, Turkish women could not carry their influence in economic, social and cultural life to the political arena. Women influence almost 50% of business life and are dominant in many service sectors such as teaching, banking and the Stock Exchange, but would not se able to gain the same status in the political arena. Turkish women have to overcome this political framework and stamp their political identity on politics. They have to be represented in equal ratios with the men they are working alongside in the central decision-making organs of the political parties. This could be attained by the women themselves and when this is achieved the indifference to and loss of trust in politics could be overcome". /Cumhuriyet/

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