PRESIDENT DEMIREL IN THE PHILIPPINES

President Suleyman Demirel went to the Philippines yesterday as an official guest of his Philippino counterpart, Joseph E. Estrada. Demirel, who is the first Turkish President to visit the Philippines, is accompanied by Minister of Defence Hikmet Sami Turk, Minister of Trade and Industry Metin Sahin, Minister of Tourism, Ahmet Tan, businessmen, journalists and representatives of some business unions. Demirel attended the banquet given by the Turkish Ambassador to Manila, Veka Inal last night. It is expected that the President and the Turkish delegation will sign some important agreements in the Philippines. The visit aims to improve trade relations between the two countries. /Sabah/Aksam/

ECEVIT: "DO NOT INTERVENE IN TURKEY'S INTERNAL AFFAIRS"

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit held a press conference for foreign journalists together with minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem yesterday in Ankara. In answering to a question, Ecevit stated, "There is no correlation between Turco-EU relations and the Abdullah Ocalan issue. European governments should not put pressure on Turkish courts. We cannot accept such an outrage; this would be very discreditable to the Turkish courts and Turkish judiciary system as they are totally independent." Further questioned, Ecevit remarked that the Repentance Bill would be discussed after the 18 April elections in Parliament. Regarding Greece's complicity in the in Ocalan issue Ecevit said, "If Greece had had no relations with the PKK, there would not have been such political turmoil today in Greece. It is known that there are PKK camps in Greece and Ocalan had a Greek-Cypriot passport when he captured. Greece should realize that she should not intervene in Turkey's internal affairs." Also, Ismail Cem invited Greece to be an "honourable and good" neighbour. Ecevit said in answer to a question that the operation in Northern Iraq had already been completed but if the Turkish government found it necessary, there would be further operations in the region. /Sabah/Aksam/

FIRST CONFESSIONS FROM OCALAN

Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the terrorist PKK organization, began to give vital information concerning international support for the outrageous activities of the PKK. Following his conveyance to Turkey via a successful operation carried out by Turkish Special Forces, Ocalan drew a detailed account of Greek material and logistic support for PKK terrorism in his first affidavit before State Security Court Attorneys and several other state officials in Imrali Prison. Ocalan said, "I was supplied with the diplomatic Greek-Cypriot passport, which I was using when I was captured, by Greek officials. Greece has supported the PKK movement for years. At Lavrion Camp near Athens, Greek military officials trained PKK militants in guerilla techniques and explosives. Moreover, Greece always sponsored us in terms of both weapons and missiles." Ocalan also remarked that he had been personally aided by the Russian right-wing radical leader Vladimir Jirinovski as well. Ocalan's cross-examination has been carried out by the State Security Court Attorneys, Nuh Mete Yuksel, Talat Salk and Hamza Keles; officials from the Chief of General Staff, the National Intelligence Service and the Police Organization have also attended his inquisition. It is reported that Ocalan will be brought before the National Security Court Judge tomorrow. Meanwhile, Nuh Mete Yuksel, one of the State Security Court Attorneys, declared that it is impossible for Ocalan to benefit from the "Penitence Law", which is expected to be enacted by Parliament immediately the elections in April. /Hurriyet/

TURKEY ATTRACTS ATTENTION OF EU

Turkey's Permanent representative to the European Union (EU), Nihat Akyol, turned the attention of EU members to Greece's role in the Ocalan issue and to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's recent statements on the issue during EU Council meetings in Luxembourg. Akyol remarked that Greece had sheltered a terrorist wanted by EU countries in general, and supported activities against the territorial integrity of the Republic of Turkey. Ambassador Akyol asked the EU to protect its fundamental principles and requested that Greece apply these principles. /Aksam/

GREECE OPENS ITS ARMS TO A TERRORIST

Greece stated that it will grant the right of political asylum to one of the three terrorists who accompanied Ocalan. In a statement he made to a news agency the Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesman did not give any information as to the identity of the terrorist. /Turkiye/

US WANTED OCALAN ALIVE AND UNHARMED

The US, which contributed greatly to the operation to bring the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan to Turkey, wanted Ocalan's delivery to Turkey without being wounded. Ankara, which has already decided to try Ocalan, gave the green light to Washington's demand and the operation was successfully carried out. Meanwhile, Turkey has stated unequivocally that the final decision on Ocalan is completely in the hands of the judicial system. /Milliyet/

ISRAEL: "WE DID NOT HAVE ANY ROLE IN THE OCALAN OPERATION"

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ariel Sharon, said that his country in no way participated reponsibility in the operation in Kenya during which the chief of the terrorist organization Abdullah Ocalan had been captured. Meanwhile, an unindentified expert from the American Intelligence Service (the CIA) said to the New York Times Newspaper that they had been working in cooperation with the Turkish Intelligence Service (MIT) since early January. They added that the CIA, MIT and the Greek Intelligence Service had participated in the operation. They also pointed out that MOSSAD, the Israeli Intelligence Service, had not had any role in the operation. /Sabah/

D'ALEMA APPLIES TO EU

The Italian Prime Minister, Massimo D'Alema, wanted the European Union (EU) to urge Turkey to spare the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan's life if he is found guilty of terrorism. The Spanish 'El Mondo' newspaper quoted D'Alema as saying that Europe should call on Turkey to give Ocalan a just trial. D'Alema added: "This is because Europe is against the death penalty. Also, Europe should seek a solution to the Kurdish problem". /Cumhuriyet/

DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST TURKEY CONTINUE

Demonstrations condemning the capture of the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan by Turkey continued yesterday in various countries including Iran, northern Iraq, Greece, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium and Sweden. Meanwhile, 380 people who had participated in demonstrations in various districts of Istanbul were taken into custody yesterday. Members of Istanbul Security Office's Anti-Terrorism Department have tightened their security precautions. In an additional development, the Greek Honorary Consulate in the Iskenderun district of Hatay has been evacuated. Two days ago, a handbag, thought to contain a bomb, had been placed in front of the Consulate. It is reported that Honorary Consul Alexandra Glyptris has been in Istanbul for a while. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH UMRANIYE CONSULATE MOVED

Turkish Umraniye Consulate was moved for security reasons due to attacks by the PKK terrorist organization as a result of Ocalan's capture. It was reported that Consulate staff were temporarily moved to Tebriz. Meanwhile, separatists attacked the Turkish Red Crescent building in Suleymaniye, Northern Iraq. Officials reported no casualties at the end of the attack. /Sabah/

`OCALAN MET PANGALOS AND SIMITIS'

A PKK terrorist, Semsi Kilic, who accompanied the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan during his trip from Italy to Russia, Greece and Kenya, talked about Ocalan's capture and said that they did not know that they were being taken from Greece to Kenya and they only learned the reality of the situation on the plane. Semsi Kilic wrote an article in 'Ozgur Politika' newspaper (Free Politics), a pro-PKK publication, and blamed Russian Prime Minister Primakov for his negative attitude towards Ocalan. Kilic remarked that while they were in Greece, Ocalan had met the Greek Prime Minister Simitis, Foreign Minister Pangalos, the Ministers of the Interior and of Public Order and the Chief of the Intelligence Service. Kilic stated that Greek officials told Ocalan that they would find him a third country. Kilic said that Ocalan arrived in the Greek Embassy in Nairobi on February 1 and stayed there until the day he was captured. /Milliyet/

`WE ALWAYS PUT THE BLAME ON TURKEY'

The Sunday Telegraph newspaper published an article written by Kevin Myers yesterday. The article entitled 'We always put the blame on Turkey' noted that the Ottoman Empire has been shown in an unfair light throughout history and recalled that the Ottoman Empire never discriminated against the minorities. The article stated that the British react negatively to the word 'Ireland'; the world reacts in the same way when Turkey is mentioned. /Milliyet/

SANBERK: "THE TRIAL WILL BE FAIR"

Turkey's Ambassador to London, Ozdem Sanberk, who was invited onto "Breakfast With Frost', a talkshow programme broadcast on BBC TV, said that no one should doubt that the PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan, would face a fair trial. The Ambassador noted that there was no discrimination between Kurds and Turks in Turkey. Replying to a question on whether Ocalan is able to meet a lawyer, Sanberk said: "He has the right to have a Turkish lawyer, the same as other Turkish citizens". /Milliyet/

`EP DECISION IS POLITICAL'

German parliamentary member Renate Heinisch, who submitted a positive report on Turkey to the European Parliament in order to remove any obstructions to Turkey's participation in the "European Union Education and Youth Programmes", said that the reason for Turkey's exclusion from these programmes was entirely political. He added that further developments would depend on the smooth running of the Ocalan case. Heinisch noted that decisions in the European Parliament were mostly made according to trends as opposed to logic. He pointed out that Greek parliamentary members and the Communists in particular were against Turkey's participation. /Cumhuriyet/

MED-TV BROADCASTS TO BE INVESTIGATED IN BELGIUM

It is reported that the Belgian Ministry of Internal Affairs is going to launch an investigation into MED-TV broadcasts. It is said that the Belgian intelligence service STAATSVEILIGHEID recorded MED-TV broadcasts during the last few days in which there are announcements urging for demonstrations against the capture of Ocalan and for terrorist activities to begin against Turks. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Luc Vandenbosche, said that they would not permit such propoganda to be transmitted via tv stations and warned those involved in MED-TV about their responsibility for any violent action against Turks in Belgium. /Aksam/Sabah/

HIZBULLAH OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTHEAST

Turkish Security Forces started operations against the terrorist Hizbullah organization, another terrorist group in the Southeastern region. It is reported that a campaign is in progress to capture the head of the organization, Huseyin Velioglu and his members, who are still in Northern Iraq. Velioglu is at the top of the most-wanted terrorist list. /Sabah/

TEMIZEL: DSP ISTANBUL CANDIDATE

The Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stated yesterday that Finance Minister and Istanbul Deputy Zekeriya Temizel is a candidate to run for the Mayorship of Istanbul. Ecevit pointed out that Temizel was experienced in local administration issues as well as in the economy. He remarked that Temizel would resign today. /Cumhuriyet/

ARMAMENT IN SOUTHERN CYPRUS

It has been reported that the Greek Cypriot Administration spent TL 162.5 trillion on armaments in 1998. The armament expenses of the Greek Cypriot Administration have constituted 5.5 % of its Gross National Product; Greek Cypriot radio announced that this is the highest figure seen among Middle Eastern countries. /Cumhuriyet/

TL 120 TRILLION IN INCENTIVES IN JANUARY

The Treasury Undersecretariat issued a total of 121 investment certificates worth TL 119.9 trillion in January 1999. According to a notification published in the Official Gazette, these investment certificates aim to employ 7,187 people. /Cumhuriyet/

EXIMBANK SEEKS FOREIGN LOANS

After three years, Eximbank opens new avenues towards Japan. Representatives of the Japanese branch of Eximbank invited to Turkish Eximbank officials to Japan in March to discuss a $ 200 million loan. Meanwhile, World Bank experts have completed their negotiations with Turkish officials concerning a $ 200 million loan to be given to Turkey and have taken the report to the US to be approved. Chairman of Eximbank Ahmet Kilicoglu said that loans extended to exports would increase by 39 % in 1999. He added that in 1998 Turkish exports had increased by 2 % despite the global economic crisis. /Sabah/

DRUGS SEIZED AT CUSTOMS HAVE INCREASED 21-FOLD

Due to the efforts to suppress drug trafficking in 1998, drugs valued at 27.6 trillion TL were seized during various operations carried out by security forces at several Customs posts, whereas drugs valued at only 1.3 trillion TL had been seized in 1997. Therefore, compared to the previous year, a 21-fold increase was seen in the value of drugs seized coming through Customs in 1998. It is reported that security forces captured approximately 600 kgs of heroin, 171 kgs of morphine, 600 kgs of cocaine, 1.5 kgs of hashish and 310,000 Captagons during several operations at Customs posts in 1998. /Hurriyet/

5,131 PEOPLE DEPRIVED OF CITIZENSHIP

A decision by the Council of Ministers to deprive 5,131 people of their citizenship was issued in the Official Gazette yesterday. The decision was made due to the applications by many Turkish citizens living in Germany wishing to take advantage of their dual citizenship rights in this country. /Cumhuriyet/

ARMENIAN PATRIARCH TO VISIT NEW YORK

The Turkish Armenian Patriarch Mutafyan will go to New York today. Mutafyan, who will meet Armenian ethnic groups in the US, will return to Turkey on March 1. Archbishop Sahan Sivaciyan will accompany Mutafyan on his visit to the US. /Cumhuriyet/

CULTURAL AND TRADE OFFENSIVE IN SPAIN

Turkey is preparing to start a cultural and commercial offensive in Spain. In addition to Turkish private companies, official organizations will also take part in the 'Turkish Export Products Fair' to be held on 15-18 March in Barcelona. Due to the celebration of the 700th anniversary of the Ottoman Empire, copies of 19th century silver and china candelabras, 22 silver mirrors and hand woven carpets will be on display at the Fair. /Turkiye/

INVESTOR KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES

Turkey is living through its most prosperorus years following the increase in commercial expansion up to foreign countries since the 1980s. Many Turkish companies are establishing factories and opening stores, one after another in all corners of the world. Turkish firms entering a restructuring process, have been successful in producing new products according to the demands of their clients and in providing a good service to the client. The companies in the textile and food sector are leading in this world-wide expansion./Turkiye/

ALUMINIUM PRODUCTION TO INCREASE

Eti Holding, which is the only Turkish public institution to produce aluminium, will speed up its modernization initiatives to increase the capacity of the Konya Seydisehir Aluminium Plant. The facilities, which were established using Russian technology 30 years ago, will be modernized using state-of-the-art technology and its output capacity will be increased. /Cumhuriyet/

ONAY TOURING EUROPE

World-renowned pianist Gulsin Onay, who had held concerts with 36 famous orchestras, will be playing in front of European audiences in the coming days. Onay who attended the musical days held at King's Hall organized by Newcastle University, was a success in performing works of Beethoven and Chopin successfully. /Turkiye/

"BLUE ANGEL" AWARD FOR TURKISH FILM IN BERLIN

At the 49th Berlin Film Festival, the Turkish film "Gunese Yolculuk", (A Journey to the Sun) by Yesim Ustaoglu won the "Blue Angel" Film Award and a DM 50,000 prize. The film was also presented with the Peace Award last week. The film has already been invited to many film festivals in Europe. /Sabah/

METEOROLOGY ON INTERNET

The State Meteorology General Directorate has opened a Web Site on the Internet; contact: www.meteor.gov.tr. Everyone will be able to learn general weather situation details for Turkey from this Web Site. /Cumhuriyet/

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

TURKEY AND THE NEW MIDDLE-EASTERN ORDER - BY CUNEYT ULSEVER (HURRIYET)

Cuneyt Ulsever, a columnist in the `Hurriyet' daily, reflects on the new social and political order in the Middle East in the 1990s, and Turkey's role in the newly-emergent concerns in the region. Ulsever writes: "Turkey has been affected by the poverty-wealth paradox of the `new world disorder' in terms of `political Islam' and the `Kurdish question'. Now the US takes an active interest in the new Middle East order. Thus, within the framework of this new state of affairs, Turkey must determine her attitude in a reasonable way; in addition, she must gauge the range of the `stones' within the theory of the `game' though a correct analysis of data provided by `real-politique'. In this new game, Turkey's ally is unequivocally the United States, for the interests of the two countries are inevitably intertwined. Moreover, it is very likely that the 21st century will be moulded in Eurasia, because industry and know-how (Europe), the market (China) and energy (the Middle Asian Turkish Republics) will meet via this corridor. The US will recognize this fact. On the other hand, the US contends that she cannot fortify the efficacy of her policies in the Middle East without removing Saddam from office. In the course of the US policies towards Iran and Syria, Turkey and Israel should remain faithful friends while Iraq is an ever-growing trouble as such. In this respect, a peaceful Turkey which complies with Western civic norms will be to the advantage of the US more than ever. Just as it was in the pursuit and capture of Ocalan.. Now Turkey had been granted a remarkable opportunity to alter her `lame-democrat' image, to which Europe refers to our detriment. Now, what is to be done is as follows: 1. A total reform should be initiated in order to place individual rights and freedoms (of not only our Kurdish citizens but of all of us) under special protection. 2. All villages evacuated in Southeastern Anatolia should be repopulated by their people, all damages should be compensated for and a comprehensive educational reform should be implemented in the region. 3. Private sector investments in the region should be supported and reinforced. 4. The `village-guard' system in the region should immediately be abolished and security should be ensured by official forces. 5. The heroin trafficking through Turkey should be analysed and those who are engaged in this business should be captured. 6. The new order in Northern Iraq should be evaluated not in terms of paranoia but with a critical awareness of `real-politique'. It should be understood that the US cannot succeed in this region without persuading Turkey. 7. Ocalan's punishment will be meted out by the independent Turkish courts. However,Turkey should find herself a `counterpart' who can legitimately represent our citizens of Kurdish-origin, otherwise we cannot explain our new policies in the region. "

FACTS THAT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED - BY EMRE KONGAR (CUMHURIYET)

In his column in Cumhuriyet, Emre Kongar writes about the facts that should be borne in mind concerning the Ocalan affair. A summary of his column is as follows: "We have to bear in mind some facts so as not to make any mistakes while revelling in the excitement of the capture of Ocalan and his return home to stand trial. First of all, the Southeastern problem is not only a Kurdish issue; the Kurdish issue points only to a group of problems within a web of problems. Besides the Kurdish issue, there are the problems of 'regional development', 'the unjust distribution of income', 'human rights', 'the intervention of foreign powers concerning oil in the Middle East', 'the conflict overwater with our neighbours', and 'the problem of security stemming from the desires of those states trying to establish their regimes in our country' and many more could be cited. Secondly, the Kurdish problem, only a part of the Southeastern problem, is not only made up of the attacks of the PKK terrorist organization. In addition to the PKK, there are the problems of ultra-nationalism, employment, education, international drug trafficking, feudal system and the village guard among others. Within this complex web of problems the attacks of PKK have overshadowed the others it initiated a hot war... The leadership within the PKK is of importance but up to date there is no significant proof of Ocalan's leadership qualities. Therefore, the expectation that these attacks would stop are not realistic...The success of Turkey in capturing Ocalan and bringing him home will be achieved by correctly evaluating the international conjuncture... Turkey should show the same success in the arena of international law and politics. "

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