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

ECEVIT GETS THE MANDATE BACK

President Suleyman Demirel yesterday asked Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit to try and form a new government after Trade and Industry Minister Yalim Erez told the President he could not form a Cabinet that would have the support of Parliament. This is the second opportunity Ecevit will have to form a government after originally taking 19 days late last year before handing the mandate back to the President. This time, however, Ecevit says he is confident he will be able to form a government. Speaking to reporters after a one-hour meeting with the President, Ecevit said he would finalize his Cabinet list by Friday and hand it over to Demirel. The Prime Minister-designate said he would be seeking a vote of confidence before the beginning of the Ramadan Holiday (January 18) and that he planned to present Parliament with the government's programme, pending confirmation from Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin on Tuesday. DSP authorities said that the announcement of the government's programme will occur on Tuesday, and discussion on that programme will take place on Friday; the vote of confidence would take place next Sunday. "It is possible that we can greet the Ramadan Holiday with our new government" Ecevit said. /All papers/

DEMIREL: "EVERY STEP IS IN LINE WITH THE CONSTITUTION"

President Suleyman Demirel said that efforts to establish a government were continuing in line with the related articles of the Constitution. In his written statement Demirel said yesterday that the 55th government would be in power until a new government was formed. Pointing out that a government which could be approved by Parliament had not been established yet, Demirel added that after he had evaluated the recent developments and statements of the party leaders, he decided to reappoint Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit to establish a government. The President noted that it would be quite probable that a government to be established by Ecevit would be approved of by Parliament. /Cumhuriyet/

CILLER'S CONDITIONS FOR SUPPORT

It is reported that Tansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP), places some conditions on her an outward support for a possible minority government by the Democratic Left Party (DSP). It is argued that, meeting DSP leader Ecevit -whom President Demirel gave the mandate to form the new government for the second time yesterday- Ciller expressed her party's reservations with Hikmet Ulugbay, the Minister of National Education. She said: "The nationalist-conservative personnel in the Ministry of National Education have all been removed from office. We demand sensitivity to this issue from the new government." These words were interpreted as an implicit veto against Minister Hikmet Ulugbay, and were followed by a statement by the Chairman of the Board of Higher Education (YOK), Kemal Guruz, who said; "We are standing with the Minister of the secular Republic." Both the DYP and DSP denied that the DYP had imposed certain conditions on their outward support for the new government whereas Ciller expressed that they did not have any impositions concerning the appointment of the new ministers. By contrast, according to some respectable sources, Ciller also implied in her meeting with Ecevit that the DYP wants to have a role in the appointment of the Ministers of Justice, Transportation, and Interior Affairs. In addition, Ciller also demanded some amendments in the banking law, to be enacted soon, in line with the views of her party. /Hurriyet/

BAYKAL: "ELECTIONS MIGHT BE POSTPONED"

Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), argued that cooperation between Ecevit, the Motherland Party (ANAP) and the True Parth Party (DYP) might lead to the postponement of the elections to be held in April. Baykal also said: "Everybody knows the fact that underlying this cooperation between these leaders is a concealed agreement to eliminate the threat of the Supreme Court against Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of ANAP." /Hurriyet/

CEM CRITICIZES ROME AND ATHENS

Ismail Cem, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, evaluated Turkish foreign policy matters in 1998 in an interview with the Hurriyet daily. Cem said: "Greece apparently supports the separatist PKK and the terrorist Ocalan. This support continues not only in the terrorist PKK camps in Greece but also in the statments of Prime Minister Simitis. Just as the Greek Cypriot Administration has been ridiculed by Europe over the question of S-300 missiles, Greek support for terrorism will be too. Turkey's candidacy for full membership to the EU has been prevented solely by the Greek veto among 15 other members. Yet in the last instance, the EU unmannerly follows an indiscriminatory policy towards Turkey and departs from its own commitments. Above all, Turkey's membership of the EU depends on the Turkish economy's recovery from some pathologies like high inflation and her appropriation of Europe's democratic criteria. These are by no means concessions. Surprisingly, the Italian government has recently violated its own tradition and conception of law, and turned Rome into a center and shelter for terrorism. The initiatives launched by the Italian and German Prime Ministers to bring the Kurdish question onto an international platform and to organize a relevant conference within the framework of the EU have been failed. However, we are assessing these statements and circumstances with prudence for eventually they might be temporary rather than a permanent state of mind." /Hurriyet/

KARAYALCIN TO BE CANDIDATE FOR ANKARA MAYORSHIP

The Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy and former Ankara Mayor, Murat Karayalcin, has been announced as the candidate for the Ankara Mayorship by his party. The CHP organized a party assembly yesterday to determine its candidates for metropolitan mayorships. At the conclusion of the meetings it was announced that Karayalcin accepted the CHP's request that he stand as candidate for the Ankara mayorship. /Sabah/

DEBATE RAGES IN GERMANY

The debate over plans by Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to reform citizenship laws and offer dual nationality to millions of resident foreigners continues to rage in Germany. In the meantime, Turks living in Germany are expecting to be granted dual citizenship rights, said the Turkish Ambassador to Germany, Tugay Ulucevik. Ulucevik noted yesterday that the children and grandchildren of Turks who moved to Germany after the 1960s have been socially integrated into Germany and that, in effect, these young Turks are in many ways culturally German. "Thus, it would be appropriate for the German government to reach a decision compatible with this positive development" Ulucevik said. However, the Head of the German Parliament's legal affairs committee, opposition Conservative Rupert Scholz, warned that granting passports to foreigners would be 'unconstitutional' and 'dangerous' for Germany, reported the German Press Agency (DPA). /All papers/

ATHENS BLASTS ANKARA ON FIR STATEMENT

Athens was angered by Turkish accusations that it could not cope with the crowded air traffic in the Aegean area and that Ankara should be given that task. Greek government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said that Ankara's statement on the Flight Information Region (FIR) line was 'false and baseless'. Speaking at a press conference, Reppas accused Turkey of creating tension with Greece. /All papers/

ASELSAN STRIVING TO BUILD BLACK HAWK EQUIPMENT

Aselsan, the state-run military electronics industry, is lobbying to produce the electronic systems of Sikorsky's UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters which will be bought by Turkey, the Anatolia news agency reports. Turkey had decided to obtain 50 Black Hawks through direct procurement. Talks are said to be in progress between Turkish Defence Ministry officials and the Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. to minimize the cost of the purchase. The systems Aselsan wants to produce in Turkey include the cruising systems, night-vision equipment and advanced radios. Aselsan is also party to talks with Sikorksy; if a deal is reached, it will build $35 million-worth of equipment for the helicopters. /All papers/

DRUGS RAID

During an operation carried out by security members in Gaziantep, 2.6 kilos of hashish were seized while five people were taken into custody, the Anatolia news agency reports. Officials noted that an investigation into the incident was on-going.

ACCOMPLICES OF DHKP/C ARRESTED

In Denizli, seven of the eight people taken into custody accused of aiding and abetting illegal DHKP/C terrorists were arrested yesterday. Eight people questioned at the Directorate of Anti-Terrorism were taken to the Courthouse where they gave evidence to the Prosecutor-in-charge. One of those questioned was released. /Turkiye/

GEN.KIVRIKOGLU IN ESKISEHIR

The Chief of General Staff, Gen.Huseyin Kivrikoglu, along with other Armed Forces Commanders, went to Eskisehir yesterday to watch Air Force exercises. Kivrikoglu and the other Commanders reportedly discussed the recent political issues concerning the country. The Chief of General Staff is returning to Ankara today. /All papers/

US TO TRANSFER ANOTHER FRIGATE TO TURKEY IN FEBRUARY

One out of three Perry-class frigates Turkey will purchase from the US will be transferred to the Turkish Navy in mid-February, the Anatolia news agency reports. The frigate, which will be named "TC Gelibolu F493", will be handed over to the Turkish Navy during a ceremony to be held in San Diego.

FOUR TEAMS FOR THE EURO FROM YAPI KREDI

Yapi Kredi Bank formed a Euro Preparation Group within itself to deal with the implementations concerning the Euro. The group directed by Deputy Directors General Selcuk Tamer and Naci Sigin formed four teams to make the necessary arrangements in fields related to law, regulations, marketing, and education, technology and management of resources. To train all the staff in the bank a strong database on the Internet has been formed, and to inform the clients a Website has been set up. Yapi Kredi Bank is conducting all foreign exchange transactions in Euros. /Turkiye/

FOREIGN DEBT PAYMENTS

Turkey paid off $54.2 million of its foreign debts during the first week of 1999. According to Central Bank data, the Treasury paid $37.8 million, the Central Bank paid $1.3 million and the state-run Administrations receiving General and Supplementary Budgets paid out $15.1 million towards foreign debts on January 1-6, 1999. The total foreign debts paid off last year were $12.5 billion, the Anatolia news agency reports.

PAKISTANI PILOTS TO BE TRAINED IN TURKEY

An agreement between the Republic of Turkey and the Pakistani Islamic Republic to train Pakistani Air Forces personnel in Turkey was signed. According to the agreement ratified by the Council of Ministers on 10 December 1998, pilots of the Pakistani Air Force will be trained at the Air Health Examination and Physiological Training Centre in Eskisehir. Pakistani pilots will be trained on how to get used to the effects of centrifugal force, orientation, flying at lower altitudes, night flying and the use of ejector seats. The courses which will be given in English are foreseen to last a week for each member of staff. The cooperation agreement between the two countries was published in the Official Gazette yesterday; it is now in effect. /Turkiye/

PROTEST AGAINST OCALAN

Authors and intellectuals of Kurdish origin reacted against Ocalan's insulting speech towards Kurds and members of the PKK organization in his statement on MED-TV. Thirty-three Kurdish origin intellectuals issued a written statement saying: "To insult other people is against human rights, international law and agreements and also it is against human dignity. Broadcasting such words through MED-TV is against broadcasting ethics." Meanwhile, in "Ozgur Politika" (Free Politics) newspaper, the publication of the PKK terrorist organization in Germany, these thirty-three intellectuals who critized Ocalan, were threatened. /Cumhuriyet/

OCALAN'S LAST DAYS IN ITALY

After Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema's statements yesterday there is an expectation that the chief of the terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, will leave the country. The Italian "Il Giornale" newspaper reported that Ocalan asked for two more days last Wednesday to decide whether to go to South Africa or not. It was pointed out that Ocalan's departure from Italy is awaited with bated breath; it is to be noted that there are no problems in relations between Italy and South Africa, thus neither Turkey nor the US would react to Ocalan's departure from that country. Meanwhile, the Italian "Il Manifesto" newspaper said that Italian Prime Minister D'Alema forced Ocalan to leave the country. /Sabah/

S-300 MISSILES TO CRETE

The Russian Ambassador to Southern Cyprus, Georgi Muradov, said that if Russian made S-300 missiles were sent to Crete this should be done under the supervision of Russian military exports. In his statement to the Greek Cypriot LOGOS TV channel Muradov added that as the missiles system was particularly complicated, it required the utmost care and security to set up the system. Thus, he noted, Russian military experts would attend when the system were set up on the island. Muradov also claimed that Moscow was unhappy about S-300 missiles not being stationed in Southern Cyprus. Meanwhile, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, invited Georgi Muradov to an information session concerning the recent news that the Greek-Cypriots intend to buy TOR-M1 missiles instead of S-300 from Russia. After the meetings, both sides did not make any statement. /Cumhuriyet/

WORLD FAMOUS ARCHEOLOGISTS TO IZMIR

Turkey will host an important archeological excavation next summer. Turkish and foreign archeologists will remove a sunken monolith from the Classical Period, which is the only fixed one in the world, in Cesme, Izmir. It is announced that the buried monolith dates from 5 B.C. /Aksam/

INCREASE IN AUTOMOTIVE EXPORTS

Exports of the Turkish automotive industry increased by 13.2 percent in 1998 when compared to the previous year and reached $ 1.7 billion. In December 1998, the total export was $ 153.3 million. According to the Uludag Exporters' Union, 64 percent of the total export in 1998 was from side associated industries concerned with spare parts. It was announced that there was a great increase in satellite automotive industry exports in 1998. Meanwhile, it is reported that an important development in the automotive sector was in tractor exports which increased by 18 percent in 1998 and reached $ 1.8 billion. /Aksam/

BUSY DAY AT INCIRLIK AIRBASE

Yesterday Incirlik Airbase lived through a very busy day. F-15, F-16, Awacs and Rover aircrafts left the airbase early in the morning and they returned to base at almost noon. It is announced that the aircraft made reconnaissance flights over the 36th parallel in Northern Iraq. Meanwhile, the Iraqi "Babil" newspaper, belonging to Uday Hussein, claimed that Turkey and Iran merely watched the developments in the region as spectators. /Aksam/

ISTANBUL AIRLINES FLIES TO 56 POINTS ABROAD

The private company, Istanbul Airlines, which set up its service 13 years ago, has flights to 56 different points in Europe and 12 centres in Turkey with its 19 Boeing type-planes. Istanbul Airlines comes second to Turkish Airlines within Turkish aviation. The Chairman of the Executive Board of Istanbul Airlines, Safi Ergin, noted that they aimed to increase their share of air transportation by purchasing new Boeing 737-800 type planes next April. /Sabah/

MODERN KYRGYZ CARAVAN IN ANKARA

The Kyrgyz "Great Silk Road and Contemporaneity Caravan", which has been travelling to celebrate the 3000th anniversary of the establishment of the Us city on the historical Silk Road and thus promote Kyrgyz traditions, culture and art to the world, came to Ankara. The Caravan started its trip on 21 December by visiting Tehran and it came to Turkey on 31 December. Continuing its performances in Van, Trabzon and Samsun for five days, the Caravan came to Ankara yesterday to give performances for four days. /Sabah/

GREENPEACE MEMBERS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY

At a demonstration in Izmit, Greenpeace members scuffled with security guards as they chained themselves to the doors of a solid waste disposal facility, which is still active despite a closure decision from the Environment Ministry. Following a tense standoff between demonstrators and the facility's security guards, the demonstrators were taken into custody. /All papers/

RELIGIOUS LEADERS MEET IN THE RAMADAN DINNER

A Ramadan dinner organized by the Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation brought together the leaders of all celestial religions in Turkey. Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz, the Chairman of the Directorate of Religious Affairs, gave a speech during the dinner, and said: "Unless peace between religions is ensured, world peace will remain as a dream." Some of the religious leaders attending the dinner were as follows: Fener Greek Patriarch Bartolomeos, the Turkish Armenians' Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan, the Latin Catholic Community Leader Louis Palatre, the Armenian Catholic Community Leader Ohannes Colakyan, the Turkish Syriacs' Eternal Community Leader Yusuf Cetin, the Turkish Syriacs' Catholic Patriach Deputy Leader Yusuf Sag, Istanbul Representative of the Vatikan, George Marovitch, and Leon Odani, the representative of Turkey's Chief Rabbi David Asseo. /Hurriyet/

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

AGENDA OF THE GOVERNMENT -BY TAHA AKYOL (MILLIYET)

Taha Akyol, a columnist from the daily 'Milliyet' newspaper, says the following in his article today: "The government to be established by Ecevit is moderate in its stance regarding an agreement with the IMF. Finance Minister Zekeriya Temizel says: 'An agreement with the IMF is essential, because Turkey should obtain foreign resources and this depends on an agreement with the IMF'. Temizel pointed out the importance of the laws on the Banks and on the Social Security Institution (SSK) during the meetings with the IMF. Ecevit also discussed these two laws during his meeting with Ciller. Ciller said: 'We will support the SSK Law, however, we have some reservations regarding the Law on Banks'. Now, meetings necessary to resolve these 'reservations' will be held by Finance Minister Zekeriya Temizel from the government, and by Ufuk Soylemez and Cihan Pacaci from the True Path Party (DYP). Temizel stated that despite the world crisis, the Turkish economy was continuing to be confidence-inspiring and added: 'All deposits in Turkey are under the guarantee of the State. So, there is no problem from this standpoint. However filling the legal vacuum stemming from the annulment decision by the Constitutional Court will further strengthen the Turkish banking system'. And this is one of the facilitating elements to obtain foreign credits. What is the DYP saying? The DYP regards the enactment of the Law on Banks to fill the legal vacuum as essential. However, Cihan Pacaci and Ufuk Soylemez from the DYP say that they have objections to 14 articles. They view the 'Arrangement and Control Institution' envisaged by the Law on Banks as 'very bureaucratic and politic' and they note that this institution ought to be engaged in the Treasury and Banking. Temizel noted that they were open to negotiations which would pass the law. I heard the same statements both from Temizel and Soylemez: 'The assignments to the Banking Institution' should be made by the government to be established following the General Election'. The initiatives on the Law will begin following the establishment of the government". /Milliyet/

TWICE ROASTED -BY VEYSEL GANI (TURKIYE)

Columnist Veysel Gani is discussing dual citizenship in his column. A summary of his column is as follows: "Europe and particularly Germany are living through unpredictable days in relation to foreigners. Discussions concerning the 27 September elections which led to the fall of the Kohl government after 16 years are still going on. The basis for the propaganda campaign of the present ruling parties, 'Reform on Citizenship Law' is creating debates. The ruling parties are resorting to delays in fulfilling their promises. Not only Turks but all foreigners in Germany should pursue the fulfillment of their rights. Otherwise they will lose them. Turkish citizens in Germany reached a strategic plateau both in their vote potential and economic strength; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has to use this power appropriately. The State should closely follow these developments as this is a right obtained which has been lost to the two previous generations. In fact, all foreigners should be in pursuit of this right". /Turkiye/

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