ECEVIT SLAMS FP FOR TRIGGERING A CRISIS

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stated that the Virtue Party (FP) is trying to create a 'system crisis' and added that an attempt to cancel the elections will corrupt the nation's politics and would create chaos in the country. Ecevit stated that his government is responsible for carrying Turkey to healthy elections, but that if the elections are cancelled, their true purpose will fail to be realized. Meanwhile, President Suleyman Demirel issued a declaration through the Cankaya Presidential Press Centre, saying: "Today in the newspapers I read an unfair political declaration that suggested that Cankaya is associated with calling Parliament to an extraordinary meeting. This claim is not reasonable, logical or serious". /All papers/

CAR BLAST KILLS ONE, INJURES EIGHT

An explosion believed to have been caused by a package bomb killed a taxi driver and injured eight pedestrians in suburban Istanbul yesterday, police said. They said a package believed to have contained a bomb exploded in a taxi near the entrance to the Carousel Shopping Center in the Bakirkoy district at 1.15 p.m. The blast shattered windows of nearby shops and damaged five vehicles. The taxi was totally destroyed, and its driver was killed immediately. Ambulances rushed the injured pedestrians to the Bakirkoy State Hospital to be treated for burns to the face and body. Governor Erol Cakir said there were strong indications that the blast had been caused by a bomb. He warned people to be particularly careful these days. Cakir and Istanbul Provincial Police Chief Hasan Ozdemir visited the scene. Fire fighters and police sealed off the area. Ozdemir stressed that the police would do everything possible to see that the perpetrators of the explosion would be quickly caught. /All papers/

DEMIREL STRESSES NEED TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION FOR DGMs

President Suleyman Demirel yesterday called for a constitutional change for the prosecution of the PKK chief Abdullah Ocalan. Receiving the members of the Association of Diplomatic Correspondents at the Presidential Palace, Demirel answered questions about Turkey's foreign and domestic political issues. "The State Security Courts (DGMs) were formed within the framework of the 1982 Constitution, which was appropriate for struggling against the anarchic, chaotic situation in the country. The presence of a military judge in these courts does not prevent justice. I believe that justice can be realized with the DGMs. But, when we take the criticisms from Europe into account, we have two options. Either to reject any foreign interference, or to make an exception related to this case" Demirel said. /All papers/

MESSAGE FOR THE CIVILIZED WORLD ABOUT GREECE

President Suleyman Demirel said that the civilized world is passing through an examination regarding the Ocalan case. The President also issued another warning to Greece over its support of terrorism. "This is not a declaration of war, but self-defence. Nobody should expect Turkey to sit without showing any reaction if Greece continues its support for the PKK. It is an obvious enmity. A peaceful policy does not mean passiveness" Demirel said. "All the cities, from West to East, have given martyrs to terrorism" Demirel said, pointing out Turkey's determination to rid itself of these pains and to cut all external support to terrorism. "Naturally, we expect international support and cooperation for our struggle against terrorism" Demirel said. In a clear reference to the US refusal to accept Greece as a state that sponsors terrorism, the Turkish President said that when the criteria applied to those states named as 'sponsors of terrorism' is not applied to an obvious supporters of terrorism, then the criteria will be questioned. /All papers/

CETIN IN ISRAEL

The Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Hikmet Cetin is currently on a visit in Israel. Israeli President Ezer Weizman received Cetin at a breakfast yesterday, where Cetin spoke about Greek support for the PKK terrorist organization. Weizman said that terrorism cannot be accepted and that Europe does not have a fair attitude towards Turkey. /All papers/

AKTAS GOES TO TURKMENISTAN

The Minister of Energy, Ziya Aktas, yesterday travelled to Turkmenistan for completion of the trans-Caspian natural gas deal with Ashkabad. The signing of a natural gas agreement is expected to take place during the visit. Turkish and Turkmen officials have been debating the details of the deal since February 22. In a related development, Redzhepbai Arazov, Turkmenistan's oil and natural gas minister, said yesterday that talks with the Turkish Pipeline Transportation Company (BOTAS) are still continuing for the transportation of Turkmen gas to Turkey. /All papers/

SOUTH KOREAN DELEGATION IN GAP

A delegation headed by South Korean Ambassador to Ankara, Sang Hoon Cho, arrived in Sanliurfa to make observations in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) yesterday. The delegation visited the GAP Regional Development Administration and received from information from the Deputy Regional Director of the GAP Administration, Mustafa Aydogdu. The delegation also went to Ataturk Dam and observed irrigation fields and then visited historical sites in Harran. The delegation will proceed on to Mardin today, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

FARMS IN SOUTHEAST

Ata Group, which has an important role in the realization of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), will establish farms in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions in order to develop milk production and animal husbandry together with the Koc Conglomerate. A member of the Executive Board of the Tab Food annexed to the Ata Group, Erhan Kurdoglu, noted that they would set up farms in the Southeast and said: "There will be employment opportunities for thousands of people due to these farms to cost $18 million". /Turkiye/

ULUGBAY CONTINUES HIS CONTACTS IN WASHINGTON

Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Hikmet Ulugbay said: "We are discussing the details of an applicable plan". Ulugbay who replied to questions posed by journalists in Washington two days ago noted that Turkey needed no urgent aid. Ulugbay recalled that Turkey managed to safeguard itself from the global crisis through its own opportunities and measures and said that there was an atmosphere of confidence in the markets. /Turkiye/

'BE FAIR'

The Sceretary-General of the Western European Union (WEU), Jose Cutileiro, said that discrimination on the EU membership should be resolved as soon as possible. Delivering a speech at the 50th year conference of NATO, Cutileiro stated that there are currently three countries, which are NATO members but not EU members, including Turkey. He recalled that there are also countries, which are EU members but not NATO members. Cutileiro said: "Europe should immediately solve this problem". /Turkiye/

KIVRIKOGLU WARNS GREECE

Meetings of the Military Committee, which is the highest military decision body of NATO and consists of chiefs of general staff from member countries, ended yesterday in Brussels. The Turkish Chief of General Staff, Gen.Huseyin Kivrikoglu, who represented Turkey at the meetings, noted that he expressed Turkey's concerns on Greek stance regarding the struggle against terrorism. He stated that this issue was taken up during the meetings even though it was not on the official agenda. Gen.Kivrikoglu, who is also the Honorary Head of the Military Committee, said that he presented some concrete evidences to NATO allies concerning terrorism. Meanwhile, Washington said that tension between Turkey and Greece would harm NATO organization and asked them to avoid actions which would increase the present tension between them. /Milliyet-Turkiye/

11 TERRORISTS KILLED

During operations between Turkish security forces and members of the PKK terrorist organization in Tunceli, Diyarbakir and Bingol, 11 PKK terrorists were killed while two terrorists were captured. During the conflicts, one security official died, according to a statement made by the Emergency Rule Region. /Turkiye/

COURT OF APPEAL APPROVES PKK MEMBER'S SENTENCE

The 9th Criminal Department of the Court of Appeal ratified the 15-year imprisonment for the German citizen Eva Juhnke, a member of the PKK terrorist organization, and said that her sentence was 'proper and acknowledged by law'. Juhnke, who was captured in 1997, had been previously sentenced to the 15-year imprisonment by the Van State Security Court (DGM). The 9th Criminal Department of the Court of Appeal, which completed its investigation, ratified the decision of the Van DGM yesterday. /Turkiye/

RECEP MIZRAK RESIGNS FROM ANAP

Recep Mizrak, a deputy from central Kirikkale province, resigned yesterday from the Motherland Party (ANAP). After this resignation, the number of ANAP seats in the Parliament decreased to 135, while the number of the independent deputies increased to 29, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

GREECE TO OPEN 'APOGATE' FILE

An inquiry on the scandal which emerged in Greece folowing the capture of the PKK chief Abdullah Ocalan in Kenya will be opened today. Within the framework of the inquiry which is called 'Apogate' by the Greek press, Greek politicians, diplomats and secret service members will be brought to the court. /Turkiye/

DENKTAS MEETS GERMAN ENVOY

Yesterday, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, had talks with Germany's envoy to Cyprus, Detlev Count Zu Rantzau, who is seeking to convince the Turkish Cypriots to join the Greek Cypriot accession process to the EU. Speaking after the meeting, Denktas said that he received Rantzau not as the envoy of the EU presidency, currently held by Germany, but as the envoy of Germany and told him that "Southern Cyprus' EU application is a great Byzantine plot". Today, Denktas is scheduled to have talks with US State Department Special Coordinator for Cyprus Thomas Miller. /All papers/

SABANCI CHOSEN 'MOST SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN'

Businessman Sakip Sabanci has been chosen the 'most successful businessman' for the third time by students at the Pertevniyal Lycee. Sabanci received 252 votes to be chosen the most successful businessman. /All papers/

430,000 COMPUTERS SOLD IN 1998

The highest growth rate was achieved in the market of Turkish information technology in 1998. The sale incomes of the Turkish information technology increased by 26.7 % in 1998 when compared to 1997 and reached $2.010 billion last year. Among this total, $623.7 million was obtained from PC sales amounting to 430,000 computers. /Sabah/

LEGAL ADVISER FOR THE SALE OF TELEKOM

A legal commission will be elected for the privatization of Turkish Telekom. Seven separate proposals have arrived to be the legal adviser for the sale of Telekom. The foreign firms are as follows: Weil, Gotshal and Manges; Freshfields; Linklaters and Pains; Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen and Hamilton; White and Case; Slaughter and May; Danton Guner Fox and Gibbens, Plimton and Debevoise. A decision will be given during a meeting to be held on March 15. /Sabah/

SO-CALLED GENOCIDE NOT ON THE AGENDA

The French Senate postponed to bring the issue of the so-called Armenian genocide onto the agenda. A decision on the 'so-called Armenian genocide draft law' will be given during a session to be held on March 23. The view of the French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin will also be received. /Sabah/

'ORGANIZED CRIMES DESK' ESTABLISHED

The Minister of Justice, Prof.Selcuk Oztek, has established a Desk for the "Struggle Against Organized Crimes" at the Justice Ministry. The Desk aims to effectively struggle against organized crimes and capture the perpetrators of the organized crimes. /Sabah/

PROFILE OF EXPORTS FROM GAP REGION

The Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region exported a total of 1,180 tonnes of sheep in the first two months of 1999 and obtained an income of $4.160 million, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Meanwhile, Turkey obtained $545.6 million from its exports of hazelnuts since September 1, 1998, which is the first month of the 1998-1999 export year.

ACET IN KOSOVO

Ahmet Acet, the Turkish Ambassador to Belgrade, visited Kosovo on Tuesday and held talks with Ibrahim Rugova, the Leader of the ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo. The meeting focused on the latest developments in Kosovo and the interim peace agreement reached during the peace talks held in Rambouillet, France, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

TURKISH-SUDANESE TRADE COPPERATION IN AFRICA

Sudan is ready to help Turkey's accession into African markets, said Sudanese Economic and Foreign Relations Minister Mustafa Osman Ismail. Ismail and his accompanying delegation visited the Istanbul Trade Chamber (ITO) yesterday to discuss developing relations between Turkey and Sudan. /All papers/

"OCALAN COMMITS AN OFFENCE AGAINST HUMANITY"

Prof. Bakir Caglar, who represented Turkey at the European Court of Human Rights in the past, claimed that Ocalan should be tried with the claim of an "offence against humanity" instead of an "offence against the State". Caglar noted that crimes against the state were not acceptable in Europe and that Turkey ought to try Ocalan with an offence against humanity at the Criminal Court. /Milliyet/

ALBRIGHT ASKS GREECE TO SOLVE ITS TERRORISM ISSUE

The US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, said that Greece was unsuccessful in the struggle against "terrorism". During her meeting with the leader of the main opposition party in Greece, the "New Democracy Party", Kostas Karamanlis, Albright said that Washington was very cautious concerning the claims that the PKK had received support from Greece. Mentioning the 17 November organization, she noted Greece was the only country in the European Union which had not solved the "terrorism" issue within herself. /Milliyet/

"TIME TO INVEST IN TURKEY"

International finance institution ING Barings, which has offices in New York, London and Hong Kong, said in its recent economic report before the 18 April elections that Turkey's future was very bright. The report on strategies of the global emerging merket economies claimed that the elections would not change the structure of the Parliament in Turkey. Regarding Turkish economy, it was reported that the support of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for Turkey was very important in order to encourage international financial circles towards Turkey. The report predicted that Turkey's growth rate would highly increase in 2000. /Aksam/

TURKISH CHAIRWOMAN TO THE UN

Prof. Yakin Erturk, the Sociology Department of the Middle East Technical University (METU), was elected as the chairwoman to the United Nations (UN) Women's Improvement Department. At the 42nd Term Meeting of the Committee of the Women's Status of the UN on 1 March 1999, Erturk handed over her new post. Women's rights, economic and political improvement of women, establishment of the gender equality in every plan and programme of the UN system are some of the topics within the responsibility of Yakin Erturk. /Aksam/

TURKISH DICE KAYEK, A WORLD BRAND

Turkish fashion-house in France, Dice Kayek organized a fashion show at the 'Carrousel du Louvre" in Paris. The owners of the firm, Ece and Ayse Ege sisters and their partner Alinur Velidedeoglu, said after the show they had proved that Turkish fashion was very influential in global markets with fashion-shows they had organized during recent years in Paris. Turkish Ambassador to Paris, Sonmez Koksal, said after the show that the "Autumn 2000" fashion show was highly appreciated by the audiences. Sonmez gave a reception at the Turkish Embassy in Paris on the occassion of the show. /Hurriyet/

TURKISH BEGENDIK GROUP BUYS AIRPORT IN HUNGARY

Turkish Begendik Group bought the Debrecen Military Airport in Hungary. The officials of the group said that they had paid $ 2.6 million to the airport. After the modernization of the airport they would establish a free zone and a giant shopping center. Ozkan Ayberk, a senior representative of the Begendik Group, said that they would modernize the airport in order to become an international airport within three years and later the operation of it would be given to an international firm. He added that they aimed to establish a free zone and a shopping center within the area. Ayberk finally noted that they would use Russian historical buildings within the complex by means of tourism. Turkish and Hungarian officials announced that the sale agreement would be signed on 25 March, 1999 in Bulgaria./Hurriyet/

SIEMENS: TURKEY IS OUR BRIDGE TO CENTRAL ASIA

Siemens, one of the leading establishments of the industrial automation in the world, announced that they planned to reach the Middle East and Turkish-speaking Republics via Turkey. Klaus Wuchere, chairman of the automation department of Siemens, said that Turkey had a geopolitical importance in its region and very positive relations with Turkish-speaking Republics. And that, he added, Siemens wanted to reach the Central Asian markets through Turkey. Wuchere pointed out that they would also ask for Turkish engineers' experiences and knowledge in their investments both in the Middle East and the Central Asia markets. /Hurriyet/

US DEMANDS TURKEY'S SUPPORT TO TOPPLE SADDAM

During his visit to Ankara, Martin Indyck, the US Deputy Secretary of State, will request the support of the Turkish government in order to topple Saddam. The main theme of the deliberations, which will start today, is the question of Northern Iraq and the US base in Incirlik, Adana. It is reported that Indyck will very probably demand from his Turkish counterparts that they allow the US fighters from Incirlik to fly through those regions out of Northern Iraq as well. Yet it is also learnt that Ankara will strictly refuse this proposal. Moreover, Turkey will express her perturbation by the intensive US attacks towards Iraqi targets and very recently, by the bombing of the Kirkuk-Yumurtalik oil pipeline. /Hurriyet/

DEMIREL TO ROMANIA

President Demirel goes to the Sinaia city of Romania in order to attend the third tripartite summit held with the participation of the Presidents of Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria. /Cumhuriyet/

ONE-TRILLION-TL CASE AGAINST RP

The case opened against 79 members of the de-funct Welfare Party (RP), including its latest Chairman Necmettin Erbakan and Deputy Chairmen Sevket Kazan and Ahmet Tekdal, with the charge of `defrauding a public institution, and thereby violating the Code of Political Parties', continued yesterday at the Ankara 9th Criminal Court. The former representatives of the de-funct RP were blamed with pretending that the party headquarters had allocated the 1997 Treasury Aid, worth one trillion TL, to party organizations in 71 provinces although the funds were very probably spent to elsewhere. The public attorney wants the accused de-funct RP members to be sentenced to 3 to 8 years of imprisonment. The judge postponed the trial to April 3. /Cumhuriyet/

ROBUST CREDITS TO SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA

Taci Bayhan, the General Director of the Turkish Development Bank (TKB), declared that funds worth 10 trillion TL are ready to be allocated to those incomplete investments in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia within the framework of the recent decisions. In a press conference concerning various dimensions of crediting in the region yesterday, Bayhan also noted that, compared to other regions, there are less problems in the repayment of loans in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia. /Cumhuriyet/

SALAH BIRSEL PASSES AWAY

Salah Birsel, a famous Turkish poet and essayist, passed away due to a heart attack yesterday morning. Birsel gained remarkable interest for his satiric poems within the 1940 generation of litters. After 1960s, he wrote numerous essays in which he reinvoked less known words and idioms of the daily language, and introduced expressions original to his poetry. /Cumhuriyet/

RUSSIAN AND US PAINTINGS IN ATAKOY

Numerous paintings by some world-renowned Russian and American artists will be exhibited at the Atakoy Yunus Emre Cultural Center until March 25, including those by Ana Dergara, Susan Jameson, Itzchak Tarkay, Stephen Whittle, Vladimir Sorokovoy, Valentin Shulga, Guari Tzharov, Novojilo, Melnikov and Einikkeva. /Hurriyet/

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

SURREALISM IN POLITICS - BY ILHAN SELCUK (CUMHURIYET)

Ilhan Selcuk, a columnist in the `Cumhuriyet' daily, reflects on the recent attempt by 116 MPs in order to postpone the April Elections. Selcuk writes: "Andre Breton, the father of surrealism, says, `There is such a special place within our spirit that, when we look from this point of view, the life and death, the past and future, the real and imaginery, the expressed and unexpressed, and even the upwards and downwards are no more contradictory.' Parliament is going to convene through the attempt of those alleged `disgruntled' MPs. How do the media interpret this? `Shameless alliance...' `Civil coup d'etat...' `Immorality...' Well, what is the name of the Council to be convened? `Turkish Grand National Assembly.' When did we begin to call the assemblage of Parliament as a `coup d'etat'? When did it become `immorality'? We have entered a surrealist era in politics. An avantgarde painter said, `The camel is a surrealist horse.' Yet what are we seeing now? A camel, a horse, or a donkey? The European media have initiated a crusade in order to undermine the trial of the terrorist PKK chief, Abdullah Ocalan. Not only the Western media have denied the independence and neutrality of the State Security Courts (DGMs), but the European Court of Human Rights has also issued similar resolutions. What should Turkey do, then? To convene Parliament as soon as possible, to amend the Constitution and civilianize the DGMs, and thus, to cease the hostile campaign against Turkey in the international community. Parliament should have been called into congregation not by the `disgruntled' MPs but by the `peaceful' ones; that would be synonymus with carrying out a democratic and national mission. What did not they do that? What makes the difference between the disgruntled and the peaceful? The disgruntled were placed at the bottom of the list and the peaceful ones at the top! The postponement of the elections may lead to a further turmoil. Yet whatever their purpose has been, they succeeded in convening Parliament. Now we will wait and see whether they are going to amend the Constitution and civilianize the DGMs."

THE ADDRESS OF THE CALL: US ETC... - BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

Sami Kohen, a columnist in the `Milliyet' daily, reflects on the recent statements by President Demirel concerning Greek support for the terrorist PKK organization. Kohen writes: "In a press conference yesterday, President Demirel reiterated his statements that he had made in the Philippines last month. The essence of his call is as follows: Greece should cease supporting PKK terrorism. She should prove this through direct policy measures. The international community should also denounce PKK terrorism. Persons, institutions and states in civilized countries should not sponsor but confront the terrorism against Turkey. The address of the new message of President Demirel is not only Greece but also the civilized world, namely the US and Europe, and those institutions like NATO, the EU, UN and OSCE. The reason for this second call by the President is the recent efforts by those civilized countries to ease the strain between Turkey and Greece. However, they ignore that it is Turkey who has been subject to an outrageous terrorism for more than 15 years, and it is Greece who has supported such terrorist activities. Turkey expects her allies to keep their promises concerning a common attitude against terrorism. In other words, this call has been made to the US and Europe, and Turkey expects them to intervene in the question in order to alter Greece's approach towards terrorism. However, the Greek government frequently denies its support for the PKK, thereby refusing the concrete demands of President Demirel; in turn the President accentuates that there are sufficient evidence proving the ties between terrorism and Greece, and describes her as a terrorist country and a rogue state. In view of the fact that there is no change in Greek convergence with terrorism, what will Turkey do? President Demirel implies that Turkey will continue its patient and calm manner and intensify her efforts on third parties, that may have indirect influence on Greece to correct her fault. On the other hand, this does not mean the implementation of weak policy goals for the part of Turkey. Thus, Demirel says, `I am speaking of self-defence and not of war. Turkey is a peaceful country. Yet a peaceful policy does not refer to a deficient policy and a silent Turkey."

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