DEMIREL AT HOME

President Suleyman Demirel was back to Turkey after attending the D8 Prime Ministers' and Presidents' Meeting in Bangladesh. Immediately after returning home, Demirel attended the Turkish Energy Conference, organized by "The Economic" magazine in Ankara. He said in his speech at the conference that electricity is a must in the industrialization of a country. He added that Turkey ought to increase its electric production to 114,000 megawatts in 2010-2020; however, he noted Turkey would have to look for foreign investors to reach its target. Demirel stressed that Turkey had the 16th biggest economy in the world but it would have to be among the first ten countries. /Turkiye/

DEMIREL SENDS A CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO STOYANOV

President Suleyman Demirel sent yesterday a congratulatory message to Petar Stoyanov, Bulgarian President, for the National day of Bulgaria, the Anatolia news agency reports. The Presidential Press Centre said in its statement that Demirel conveyed his sincere congratulations and best wishes to Stoyanov for the welfare and the prosperity of the Bulgarian people on behalf of the Turkish nation and on behalf of himself.

ALBANIAN PRIME MINISTER VISITS ANKARA

Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Mayko arrived yesterday in Ankara on an official visit; Mayko was welcomed by his Turkish counterpart. At the end of the meeting between Ecevit and Mayko, Ecevit said that Kosovo was also of concern to Turkey. Following the meeting Ecevit said that Turkey would support Albania in terms of its security because Albania was in a region encircled by danger. Following the meeting, Mayko was received by President Suleyman Demirel and attended a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Ecevit. /Aksam/

ECEVIT CHANNELS ENERGY TOWARDS THE ECONOMY IN THE SOUTHEAST

After announcing the economic package aimed at the improvement of the Eastern and Southeastern regions, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and eight Ministers will go to the region on Sunday. Ecevit and the Ministers accompanying him will discuss the measures have to be taken in order to be successfully implement the package. Ecevit said yesterday at a press conference at the Prime Ministry that they aimed to ensure that the 40 trillion TL fund is used in the fastest rapidly and most logical way in the region. He added that regional governors, who know the region and its people very well, would help them in the allocation of the funds, which are foreseen as part of the economic package. /Aksam/

ATHENS UNDER THREAT

The Greek government, who was failed to conceal its support for terrorism, is trying to alter the goal-posts. Following the increase in tension between Ankara and Athens, the Greek government is now faced with the uncertainty of renewed tension in the Aegean and concerning Cyprus. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned Greece that the recent tension between the two countries would be reflected in reflect to the Aegean and Cyprus issues. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing a new book, entitled "Greece and PKK Terrorism", in which Greek-PKK relations are proved and backed-up with evidence. The book will bring the issue to the attention of European public opinion. On the other hand, the Turkish Ambassador to Vienna, Omer Akbel, criticized the attitude of the European Union (EU) concerning the PKK terrorist organization and stated that terrorist activities could not be excused. In his speech to the APA, the Austrian news agency, Akbel stressed that Greek-PKK relations had been unveiled with the capture of Ocalan. He added it was a pity that Athens evaluated a negative event for Turkey as a positive event for Greece. Also, Turkey's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), Volkan Vural, delivered a speech to the UN Correspondents' Association (UNCA) saying that Greek Ministers resigned as they had not protected Ocalan well enough; however, he added, they felt no responsibilty for their wrong-doing. The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, furthermore, warned its offices abroad to be aware of a possible attacks against them. The Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Neils Helveg Peterson, said that the terrorist organization would take hostages with the aim of ensuring that Ocalan were set free. On the other hand, Ocalan's second-in-command (at the top of the terrorist organization), Semdin Sakik accused Ocalan of being a dictator. During the court case yesterday held at Diyarbakir State Security Court (DGM), Sakik rejected his responsibility for the killing of 33 Turkish soldiers in an incident in 1993 and claimed that he had only followed Ocalan's orders. Sakik noted that if he had not obeyed Ocalan's orders, then Ocalan would have had him executed. He said that he had not planned any incident but he had only been obeying his orders. Eight PKK members have been detained, charged with organizing demonstrations against the capture of Ocalan in Kenya. Militants were taken into custody, charged with the crime of "giving support to the terrorist organization" by Ankara DGM. /Turkiye/Aksam/

COMMONSENSE CALL FROM MITCOTAKIS

The former Greek Prime Minister Konstantin Mitcotakis, said: "Greece is in a very diificult position with regard to Turkey". He described the Simitis government as very weak and called on it to alleviate the political crisis in the country. Mitcotakis added: "The crisis in Turco-Greek relations is extremely dangerous. The Turkish side is very enraged; however, it is exaggerating the situation somewhat". /Milliyet/

GREEK CYPRUS UNDERSTANDS ITS FAULT

The Leader of the Greek-Cypriot Administration, Glafkos Klerides, accepted responsibility for their present negative situation as a result of their faults in the political arena. Attending the meeting in Lefkosa concerning the 40th anniversary the end of EOKA terrorist activities, Klerides noted that Turkey had not applied enough pressure to force the application of the UN resolutions concerning Cyprus. Claiming that 37 % of the island was under the control of Turkey, Klerides accepted that they had not shown the appropriate diplomatic flexibility and political maturity in solving international problems. /Aksam/

`PKK SHOULD BE DISARMED'

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer claimed that the capture of the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan has given a golden opportunity to Turkey to solve the Southeastern problem. Fischer said: "A fair trial of Ocalan would be in Turkey's favour". Fischer pointed out that the PKK should be disarmed and channelled towards a peaceful solution. He also stressed that Southeastern Anatolia was Turkey's domestic problem. /Milliyet/

COUNCIL OF EUROPE TO HOLD MEETING ON OCALAN

In Paris, on Friday, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will be discussing the trial of the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who has been imprisoned in Turkey since February 15, the Anatolia news agency reports. Liaison officers will hold talks in Ankara with Turkish officials and will request them to prepare grounds for Ocalan to be tried following the principles of the Council of Europe.

TURK MEETS COHEN IN WASHINGTON

The annual meeting of the Western European Union (WEU) Transatlantic Forum in Washington ended yesterday. Turkish Defence Minister Hikmet Sami Turk, who was among the 16 visiting European Defence Ministers attending the conference, took the opportunity of meeting US Secretary of Defence William Cohen. Turk explained that his talks with Cohen had centered on the Transatlantic Forum's agenda as well as Turco-US bilateral issues. He indicated that another issue he touched upon was Turkey's order for Sikorsky helicopters, saying that he had sought Cohen's support in expediting the process, which Cohen promised that he would do. Turk remarked that this purchase would affect others to be made in the future. Turk left Washington today. /All papers/

TURK: "HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT IS UNJUST"

Hikmet Sami Turk, the Minister of Defence, evaluated the Human Rights Report as unjust. Turk, who is still in the US attending the Transatlantic Forum Conference of the Western Europe Union (WEU), met NATO member countries' Defence Ministers and the US Secretary of Defence, William Cohen and later he delivered a speech to the Washington Institute. Holding a press conference at the Turkish Embassy in Washington, Turk claimed that the US Secretary of State was acting unfairly against Turkey following the recent Human Rights Report it had issued. Turk said, "There have been some very important developments in Turkey concerning human rights; however, they were not reflected in the report." Turk added that he had been given a detailed breifing by Pentagon concerning the bombing of the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik oil pipline and he had been assured that there would be a far-reaching inquiry into the incident. /Turkiye/

MILITARY MEASURES AGAINST PKK IN EUROPE

Many European countries have decided to mobilize their armies against those PKK militants who turned Europe into a battlefield following the capture of the PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan. While Switzerland has mobilized a 2000-man Special Forces Unit, Germany, which is on the alert due to the Newroz celebrations, will use Federal border guards. Meanwhile, it is reported that at the PKK's Mako camp in Iran, 11 militants died in an armed conflict between terrorists supporting Osman Ocalan and Cemil Bayik, who have been competing for the leadership of the terrorist organization since the capture of Abdullah Ocalan. /Hurriyet/

CETIN IN IRELAND

Hikmet Cetin, the Parliament Speaker, went to Ireland yesterday as the official guest of his Irish counterpart, Seamus Pattison. It is reported that Cetin and the Turkish delegation accompanying him will be received by Irish President, Mary Mc Aleese, and later meet Seamus Pattison. The Turkish delegation will return home on 7 March after completing their round of meetings in Ireland. /Turkiye/

BRITISH CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF IN TURKEY

Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen.Huseyin Kivrikoglu hosted his British counterpart, Gen.Sir Charles Guthrie yesterday. Guthrie, who was welcomed by a military ceremony, later visited Naval Forces Commander Admiral Salim Dervisoglu and Air Forces Commander Gen.Ilhan Kilic. During his round of visits, Guthrie said: "Relations between the Armed Forces of the two countries are very good. I admire and respect the Turkish Armed Forces". /Sabah/

IRAQ: "PUMPING COULD BEGIN ANY TIME"

It is reported that oil pumping along the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik oil pipeline, which was damaged during a bombardment by US and British aircraft on Sunday, could begin any time. An official from the Iraqi Oil Ministry said: "We want to complete the repair of the oil pipeline in the shortest possible time. We are making every effort to find a solution to this problem, because we want the pipeline to work not temporarily but permanently". A report given by the Director of the Iraqi Humanitarian Aid Programme, Benon Sevan, to the UN Security Council, also remarked that the pipeline would be able to go into operation immediately. US State Department Spokesman James Foley said in a statement that the US had not aimed at the oil facilities in its attacks against Iraq. Foley stressed that they were cooperating with the Turkish government in an investigation into this incident. /Sabah/

YALCINTAS: "TURKEY HAS TO REQUEST COMPENSATION FROM THE US"

The Deputy Chairman of the Virtue Party (FP), Prof. Nevzat Yalcintas said that Turkey had to request compensation from the US government for its bombing which put the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik oil pipeline out of service. Recalling that the Turkish economy had been negatively effected by the tension between the US and Iraq, Yalcintas said that Turkey had lost $ 35 billion up to now. He claimed that the US ought not to bomb the oil pipeline which was of vital importance to Turkey./Turkiye/

"APPLICATIONS SHOULD DIRECTED NOT PROHIBITED"

The Chairman of the Supreme Election Board, Tufan Algan, said that speeches by party leaders should not be prohitited. Algan noted, "If we censor the speeches of party leaders on our television channels, we will act against the Constitution." Stressing the importance of reporting the news via the media, Algan said, "If the news is presented with the aim of propaganda, this will be wrong. The Prime Minister's and Ministers' manifetos are news; it is useless to restrict them. It is impossible to cencor political parties." Algan added that all broadcasting restrictions during the election period aimed to ensure that all political parties have an equal opportunity but, he continued, they did not aim to ban them. He noted that political party leaders should be able to issue statements on radio and television channelsand and the media would evaluate these speeches, adding that this was the most natural process of democracy. Algan stressed that censosrhip cannot be accepted in democratic legal States. /Turkiye/

PUBLIC PROSECUTOR WANTS DEATH PENALTY FOR SAKIK BROTHERS

The trial of Arif and Semdin Sakik, leading PKK members captured during an operation by Turkish Security Forces in Northern Iraq, continued yesterday at Diyarbakir's No.1 State Security Court (DGM). Semdin Sakik who delivered a speech at the hearing said: "I have been struggling with the PKK since 1993; I have prevented more bloodshed than I have caused". The Public Prosecutor said that Semdin Sakik committed the crime of dividing the territorial integrity of Turkey and added that, according to the 125th Article of the Turkish Penal Code, the Sakik brothers should face the death penalty. Meanwhile, 15 students from the Adana Cukurova University who demonstrated against the capture of the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan have been taken into custody. /Sabah/

PKK MEMBERS KILL ONE SOLDIER

Members of the PKK terrorist organization ambushed a military vehicle patrolling the Mardin-Diyarbakir highway yesterday. Sergeant Mehmet Sahin died and five soldiers were wounded. Meanwhile, 30-35 people, who allegedly planted a bomb at the Turkish Airlines (THY) office in Rome during the demonstrations last week to protest against Turkey's capture of the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan were up in front of Rome's Public Prosecutor yesterday. It was decided to arrest six of the suspects; those who have been arrested are reportedly of Italian origin and members of the left-wing Freedom Movement. /Sabah/

BLOW AGAINST HIZBULLAH

Rustam Manutkulov who allegedly planned a bomb attack against Uzbekistan's Head of State Islam Kerimov one month ago in Tashkent has been taken into custody at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport. The interrogation of Manutkulov, who was captured in a joint operation by Turkish and Uzbek police, is in progress at the Anti-Terrorism Department. Manutkulov allegedly holds a position within the hierarchy of the illegal Islamic Terrorist Organization, Hizbullah, in Uzbekistan. /Sabah/

LOWEST RATE OF INFLATION FOR EIGHT YEARS

The rate of inflation, which hasn't fallen below 50 % for eight years, has finally fallen to 48.3 %; the wholesale price index was 48.4 % in January 1991. The annual consumer price index has also dropped to 63.9 %, its lowest level in six years. According to data issued by the State Institute of Statistics (DIE), the monthly price increase in February was 3.4 % in the wholesale price index and 3.2 % in the consumer price index. The two-month inflation rate in Turkey stands at 7.1 % in wholesale prices and 8.1 % in consumer prices. /Sabah/

IMKB INDEX RISES

The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) index increased by 2.59 % yesterday while the transaction volume rose to 112.5 trillion TL. Expectations of a low rate of inflation positively affected the IMKB and the Index attained 3,916 points yesterday. /Milliyet/

EXPORTS INCREASE

Exports increased by 0.9 % in February. Export figures supplied by the exporters' unions totalled $2.217 billion in February 1998, and reached $2.244 billion this year. The Chairman of the Turkish Exporters' Centre (TIM), Okan Oguz, said in a statement that February figures showed that the trend begun in the second half of 1998 has not altered. /Sabah/

FORD ENTERS CENTRAL ASIA WITH KOC

An important step has been taken to achieve Turkey's target of becoming a bridge for Western companies in the Central Asian market. Ford Motor Company products, one of American automotive giants, will be marketed by Ram Auto, part of the Koc Holding Conglomerate, in Central Asia. The 'Ford Sale and Service Centre' was opened by the Turkish Ambassador to Almati, Kurtulus Taskent. Ram Auto, which previously entered Kazakhstan with Tofas banner, will now enter the minibus, jeep and truck market with Ford. /Sabah/

FOREIGN RETAILERS IN THE SOUTHEAST

One of the leading retailers in Europe, Metro AG opened the biggest shopping centre of the Southeastern region in Gaziantep, investing 120 million DM inconjuction with its Turkish partner, Tepe Group. It is reported that 2,000 people are to be employed by the centre. During the opening ceremony, Mayor Ali Kantur said he believed that the investment would imporve the standard of living of regional people. Levent Kucuklerli, the Chairman of GBS Foreign Trade, which brought the project to fruition on behalf of Metro AG, said that they aimed to open 25 new shopping centres in Konya, Adana, Eskisehir, Izmit and Istanbul over the next five years. /Turkiye/

FIRST INDUSTRIAL FACILITY IN HAKKARI

The first industrial facility, comprising a concrete-producing section and ice production workshop, established by the private sector has been unveiled in Hakkari. Hakkari Governor Nihat Canpolat noted that they wish for the number of these types of industrial facilities to increase and they would extend every support to enterpreneurs who wish to make such investments. It is reported that the facilities cost 50 billion TL to build. /Sabah/

GAZIANTEP SHOPPING CENTER

Despite certain domestic and international political troubles, Turkey is making vital steps on the road to economic development. The latest exmaple of its kind is Gaziantep Shopping Center, constructed by the M1 Tepe Group, a gigantic investment worth 80 million DM. The plant unifies many national and international brands under the same roof and has provided employment for 2,000 persons. /Hurriyet/

EDUCATION BREAKTHROUGH IN EAST

National Education Minister Metin Bostancioglu has called on the non-governmental organizations to contribute to the initiatives launched in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia. Bostancioglu suggested that women who speak English but do not work in Eastern or Southeastern Anatolia should apply to become teachers. /Sabah/

KORKMAZ YIGIT RELEASED

The trial of businessman Korkmaz Yigit and the six administrators from Bankexpress charged with illegally extending credit from the Bank continues at Beyoglu Second Criminal Court. Yigit has been released on bail set at 3 billion TL; however, he has been prohibited from leaving the country. Yigit has been imprisoned in Kirklareli Prison for 115 days. /Sabah/

BRITISH TRADE DELEGATION IN TURKEY

A delegation from the London Trade and Industry Chamber, one of the biggest trade chambers of Britain came to Turkey on Monday. The delegation held talks with Yavuz Ege, Foreign Trade Undersecretary, Ugur Bayar, Chairman of Privatization Administration and Zafer Cagalayan, Chairman of Ankara Industry Chamber, the Anatolia news agency reports. The British delegation left Turkey yesterday.

FOOD SECTOR INCREASES ITS TARGETS

The ISUGA'99 International Food Industry and Trade Fair to be held between 15-21 November 1999 was promoted yesterday in Istanbul by Naim Duzenli, the Chairman of the Turkish Food Industry Employees' Union. Duxenli remarked that Turkey had the infrastructure need but the present potential should be actuated. He pointed that they ought to look for new markets and that fairs were the best way to find those markets. /Turkiye/

EXAMINATION FOR FOREIGN DOCTORS

The Higher Education Board (YOK) has decided that foreign medical university students from the Turkish-Speaking Republics and the Balkans, who are to come to Turkey to receive specialist training in medicine, will be examined by the university they applied to. Those who are successful in the examinations will be able to begin their special medical training. Moreover, those who have already graduated from medical universities in Turkey and want to receive further specialist training in medicine will have to enter for the 'Specialist Training Examination' (TUS). A certain proportion of these students will be allocated places. /Sabah/

NUMBER OF TOURISTS INCREASES

A total of 90,270 tourists arrived in Antalya by air, the Anatolia news agency reports. The number of tourists who visited Turkey in February increased by 25 % compared to the same month last year and this pleased the representatives of the tourism sector in Turkey.

1999 PROJECTS IN TOURISM

Remarking that the targets of Turkish tourism is no longer confined to certain groups of countries, the Minister of Tourism, Ahmet Tan, said that they want to develop their relations with China, Philippines, Malta, Romania and Egypt to this end. Tan said, "We will host more than 10 million tourists and display our decisiveness to become one of the leading countries in world tourism in the next century." /Cumhuriyet/

HAZELNUT EXPORTS

Turkey has obtained $533.9 million from her exports of hazelnuts since September 1, 1998, the first month of the 1998-1999 export years, the Anatolia news agency reports. Officials at the Black Sea Union of Hazelnut Exporters told the Anatolia news agency correspondent that Turkey exported a total of 130 thousand 153 tonnes of hazelnuts to more than 80 countries.

ISTANBUL BRIDGES BRING SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CASH

The bridges connecting the two continents in Istanbul are providing a significant amount of financement for highway constructions through the fees collected from vehicles. A total of 2.157 trillion TL was collected from the vehicles which used Fatih Sultan Mehmet and Bogazici bridges in the first month of 1999, the Anatolia news agency reports.

HUMANITARIAN AID TO BANGLADESH

The Red Crescent yesterday sent its second part of humanitarian aid to Bangladesh, which faces problems following the torrential rain disaster. Red Crescent Directorate General said in its statement that 12-ton food, medicine and medical equipment were sent from Ankara to Bangladesh by a military transportation plane, the Anatolia news agency reports.

THIRD OF THE EXPERTS MEETING

The Third Experts meeting concerning the formation of the Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group (BLACKSEAFOR) was held in Istanbul between February 24 and 26, 1999, with the participation of the experts from Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine, the Anatolia news agency reports. The joint statement issued following the meeting said that the foreseen initiatives to promote the regional cooperation between the coastal countries to the Black Sea will enhance the peace and security in the region.

TURKISH-BULGARIAN RELATIONS

The Turkish-Bulgarian Regional Joint Border Commission held a meeting at the Captain Andreowa Border Gate in Bulgaria, the Anatolia news agency reports. The Commission holds meeting once every six months. Following the meeting, the Commission announced that Turkey and Bulgaria do not have any problem concerning the border. The next meeting will be held in Edirne six months later.

TURKISH WOMAN LEADS WORLD-WIDE FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION

One of the nine officials who control theworld-wide TIR transportation is a Turkish woman, Yildiz Kasikci; she was successful in becoming a member of the "TIR Control Board", recently established under the auspices of the UN. The Board will implement strict measures in the selection of freight transport firms in order to prevent smuggling. /Hurriyet/

`TREASURE OF THE CENTURY' BACK TO HOME

The `Treasure of the Century', including more than 2000 silver coins smuggled to the US from Elmali, Antalya in 1984, will be brought to Turkey next month. The current possessor of the treasure, William Koch, one of the 200 richest people in the US, has declared that he will return the coins to the Turkish Ministry of Culture without waiting for a court decision which has been deliberating the case for 10 years. /Cumhuriyet/

FIRST TILE MUSEUM IN KUTAHYA

The Turkish art of tile-making, famous for its Kutahya and Iznik tiles from the Ottoman period, will be honoured with a museum. Turkey's first tile museum will be opened by the Culture Minister, Istemihan Talay, tommorrow in Kutahya. /Aksam/

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

HOW DOES THE OCALAN ISSUE REFLECT ON CYPRUS? - BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

" Because of the Ocalan issue, there is anxiety both in Greece and the Greek Cypriot Administration. Support extended by Greek Cypriot administrators and politicians for many years to the PKK terrorist organization has not remained a 'secret'. Following the capture of the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, it became all too evident. Now, Greek Cypriot leaders criticize each other and Greek Prime Minister Simitis for not sufficiently protecting Ocalan and the PKK. The Greek Cypriot Leader Klerides is puzzled; he has been is subject to harsh criticism from the Opposition following the S-300 fiasco. The Greek Cypriot press reports that the administration is taking military and political measures against the Turkish threat. Next week, the Special Representative of the current EU Presidency, Rantzau, followed by US Special Coordinator Miller, will go to Nicosia. Their main aim is to ease the tension and risk of conflict which has arisen as a result of the Ocalan issue."

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