DEMIREL TO VISIT ALBANIA AND MACEDONIA

Turkey, which expresses its sensitivity on the Kosovo issue on every platform, has increased its diplomatic initiatives; President Suleyman Demirel is to visit Albania and Macedonia on Sunday. In addition, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will go to Luxembourg and meet Foreign Ministers of both EU and regional countries. /Aksam/

ECEVIT VISITS KIRKLARELI REFUGEE CAMPS

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who visited the Kirklareli Gaziosmanpasa Refugee Guest House yesterday said that the Republic of Turkey would do its utmost for the Kosovar refugees. Ecevit added: "Currently, we are hosting 2,606 Kosovars. The guest house has the capacity to shelter 20,000 people. The health conditions are satisfactory. Kosovars are the heritage presented to us by history. I hope that they will be able to return to their homes in the shortest possible time". /Aksam/

SUPPORT FOR KOSOVAR REFUGEES

The EGS Group will donate clothing to the Kosovar refugees who fled from the Serbian massacre. The textile and ready-to-wear products gathered from the EGS partners will be sent to the tent cities to be established in Kirklareli and be distributed to the refugees. Meanwhile, leading institutions in the business world including the Koc Conglomerate, will donate a huge amount of aid consisting of foodstuffs and clothing to the Kosovar refugees. /Aksam/

ECEVIT: 'NATO IS BOUND TO SUCCEED'

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said in Ankara yesterday that he does not view the Yugoslav proposal of a ceasefire as a serious one. Ecevit, who participated in CNN's 'Larry King' programme live, noted that the most important issue is whether or not the Kosovars would be able to return to their homes and re-gain their passports and identity cards. A ceasefire of a few days in length does not have any meaning, he added. Ecevit also pointed out that NATO is bound to succeed during its 50th anniversary year, if not, great problems might occur throughout the world. /Milliyet/

SAMI KOHEN ON CBS

Two days ago, CBS interviewed Milliyet's foreign policy writer Sami Kohen concerning the Kosovo issue and the plight of the refugees brought to Turkey. Kohen stated that Turkey was among the first countries which lent a hand to the Kosovar refugees and said that 20,000 refugees would be hosted in Kirklareli refugee camps. Kohen stressed that Turkey would also meet the requirements of 20,000 refugees in Albania and Macedonia. Kohen added that Turkey's stance was a part of its traditional policy on the refugee issue. /Milliyet/

TURKEY'S EFFORTS TO SHELTER KOSOVARS

Turkey continues to send humanitarian aid to Kosovars who are sheltering in Macedonia and Albania while accelerating the construction of the tent-city in Kirklareli. A "Temporary Supreme Coordination Council" was established under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Interior Affairs, Cahit Bayar. The Council decided that the provision of electricity to the tent-city would be overseen by TEDAS, road and infrastructure services would be taken on by the General Directorate of Rural Affairs, communication and postal services by the Transport Ministry, security would be ensured by Interior Ministry, medical aid would be provided by the Ministry of Health and nourishment would be aided by the Turkish Armed Forces and the Turkish Red Crescent. It was reported yesterday that the Prime Ministry's Social Cooperation Foundation has already given 155 billion TL for the refugees. /Cumhuriyet/

CEM: "DO NOT LET KOSOVO TO BE ANOTHER BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA"

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem said that he had spoken to his Iranian counterpart who is also the current President of the Organization for Islamic Conference, Kemal Harrazi, a few days ago to discuss Kosovo. Cem noted that he had urged Harrazi to realize that the Islamic world ought to be more active in the issue. He added that Turkey had done her best in financial, political and also humanitarian ways for the Kosovars. Cem said, "Turkey has exerted herself in order not to let Kosovo become another Bonia-Herzegovina. Every kind of help means a great deal to the Kosovars." /Turkiye/

MACEDONIAN PRIME MINISTER PRAISES TURKEY'S EFFORTS

Macedonian Prime Minister Lupco Georgievski praised Turkey's efforts in helping the Kosovars. Georgievski said in his press meeting yesterday that, despite the economic crisis in his country, European countries or even First World countries had not helped the Kosovars seeking refuge in Macedonia; however, Turkey had met all her promises and increased her provision of humanitarian aid to the Kosovars. He added that countries all over the world should see Turkey as an example in the Kosovo issue. /Turkiye/

TURKISH BATTALION TO GO TO TIRANA

It is reported that Turkey will participate in the force to be sent to Albania. Yesterday, officials from the Office of General Staff and the Foreign Ministry discussed the possibility of Turkey sending a battalion consisting of 250-500 soldiers to the NATO Headquarters to be set up in Albania. /Milliyet/

US: "TURKEY AND KOSOVO ARE NOT COMPARABLE"

James Rubin, the US State Department Spokesman, remarked yesterday that those who compare and contrast the brutal tragedy caused by the Serbians in Kosovo and the Kurdish question in Turkey are being unjust to Turkey. Rubin said, "Turkey is a democratic country and it seeks a peaceful solution to the Kurdish question. Turkey, one of our NATO allies, has never committed acts attesting to genocide such as evacuating civilians from their homes and deporting them." /Sabah/

KOC AND ATA ESTABLISH ANIMAL BREEDING FARMS IN THE EAST

The largest animal breeding farms in Turkey will be established in Southeastern Anatolia. Koc Holdings and the Ata Group have recently agreed on the project which will cost $20 million. The farms will be predominantly established in Diyarbakir, Adiyaman and Sanliurfa, and the first farm will begin production in 6 months' time. Koc and Ata plan to raise the number of farms to 20 in three years. /Sabah/

ENERGY BREAKTHROUGH IN EAST

The principles concerning the implementation of the decree which foresees a reduction in the cost of electricity for some investments in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia have been determined. Losses stemming from the reduction will be subsidized by the Treasury. /Aksam/

FOREIGN INVESTORS IN IMKB

Hayri Cetinkaya writes today in Hurriyet on recent developments in the Stock Exchange. Cetinkaya claimed that the Stock Exchange was tired due to bonus earnings of over 80 % bonus earnings during the last two months. "At the end of the first of trading day after a nine-day-long religious holiday, unexpectedly, the Stock Exchange broke its previous record. Foreign investors were the main reason for this rapid increase. There had been a clear 3.5 trillion TL transfer to the market on the first day and it reached 7 trillion TL yesterday. Foreign investors bought mostly Is Bank and Garanti Bank shares during the first day. On the second day of the week they directed their attentions to Akbank, Sabanci Corp., and Erdemir shares. This continuation of the buoyancy on Stock Exchange is closely related to the fresh cash transfer on the Stock Exchange." /Hurriyet/

TURKISH BANKS' PROFIT FOR 1998

As of 1998, the Turkish banking sector held 1.1 quadrillion TL. According to the Central Bank's 1998 Economic Report, the banking sector's clear profit margin increased by 57.2 % compared with the same period of 1997. Over the same period of time, the total interest revenue of the sector increased by 35.2 %. /Hurriyet/

TREASURY RECEIVES FOREIGN BORROWING WORTH $200 MILLION

The Treasury received $200 million worth of foreign loans in international markets yesterday. The borrowing has been achieved by means of increasing the value of dollar-based Eurobonds exported last December by an additional $200 million. The bonds due in 2008 have a `put option' in 2003. The amount of the bonds will be paid to the Treasury on April 14th. /Sabah/

WORLD BANK DELEGATION IN TURKEY

Two experts from the Social Security Department of the World Bank arrived in Turkey yesterday to examine the social security system. The World Bank delegation will make a middle and long-term projection of the social security system by obtaining information on the social security system in Turkey. The delegation will prepare a 'social security system' model for Turkey. /Aksam/

CROATIAN TRADE DELEGATION IN IZMIR

The Chairman of the Economy Chamber of the city of Split in Croatia, Jadranka Radovanic, has stated that they want to develop their commercial relations with Turkey and especially with Izmir. Radovanic, who visited the Izmir Chamber of Trade yesterday, said that Croatian exports to Turkey consisted of raw leather worth $69 million annually, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

BSEC MEMBER COUNTRIES GATHER IN BAKU

Representatives from the member countries of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Region gathered yesterday in Baku, Azerbaijan. During the meeting, social and economic problems in BSEC countries were deliberated, the Anatolia News Agency reports. At the end of the meeting, a draft social security plan for retired people in BSEC countries was approved.

TURCO-UKRANIAN AGREEMENT

The Council of Ministers has approved the ratification of the '1999 Implementation Plan between the Office of the Turkish General Staff and the Ukranian Defence Ministry signed between Turkey and Ukraine along the guidelines of an agreement on training in military, technical and scientific cooperation, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

IRAQI NATURAL GAS PROJECT IN PROGRESS

It is reported that Iraq has achieved a breakthrough in the joint project which envisages natural gas exports to Turkey. An official from the Iraqi oil resources made a statement to Reuters yesterday and said that the project initiated according to an agreement signed between Turkey and Iraq in 1997 was in progress. /Aksam/

PETKIM IS SEEKING AN ADVISER

Petkim (Petro-Chemical Industry) has initiated meetings with Morgan Stanley Dean Witter for its advisory services during the company's drive towards privatization. It is expected that an agreement will be reached by the end of the meetings with this consultancy company, chosen as the most convenient from the standpoint of price and technology during the bidding for advisory services to Petkim. Following the agreement, the advisory company will determine a privatization strategy and prepare the required legal and technical infrastructure. /Aksam/

KURSAT YILMAZ TO BE BROUGHT TO TURKEY

Kursat Yilmaz, a Turkish criminal figure currently under arrest in the Varna district of Bulgaria, will be brought to Turkey. It is reported that the extradition process taking place between the Justice Ministries of Turkey and Bulgaria has reached the final stage. Kursat Yilmaz will be extradited to Turkey in the upcoming days. /Aksam/

BOMBERS CAPTURED

A car which entered Turkey from the Ipsala Border Gate in Edirne was found to contain three bombs; three people have been taken into custody regarding the incident. It is reported that the bombs were being brought from Germany. An investigation into the incident is being carried out jointly by members of the Anti-Terrorism Departments of Edirne and Istanbul Security Offices. /Aksam/

ATHENS ISSUES A PASSPORT TO PKK MEMBER

While the problem beginning with the discovery that PKK Chief Abdullah Ocalan was carrying a Greek Cypriot passport persists, a Greek passport in the name of Lutos Makaros was seized during an operation against the PKK terrorist organization in Bingol. It is reported that following the incident, the General Directorate of Security sent an informative paper to the Foreign Ministry. The Foreign Ministry, which is investigating the issue, has contacted Greek officials. /Milliyet/

'PKK DOES NOT REPRESENT KURDS'

The Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly Reporter to Turkey, also nominated as the General Secretary of the Council of Europe, Walter Schwimmer, said that the Western public had committed a great mistake in believing that the 'PKK represents Kurds'. Schwimmer in a statement to the Die Presse newspaper pointed out that the PKK was continuously threatening the regional people. Schwimmer also stated that there have been important developments in human rights and criminal law in Turkey in recent years. /Milliyet/

HARSH RESPONSE TO ATHENS

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has described the criticism of Turkey by the Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis in his speech on Greek policy concerning the Kosovo issue as a 'feeble approach'. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Simitis' criticism of Turkey shows that Greece regards every issue through the spectacles of hostility towards Turkey. /Milliyet/

16 OUT OF 88 MEMBERS OF HIZBULLAH ARRESTED

Sixteen out of 88 members of the illegal Hizbullah organization who were captured a short time ago in the operations held in Diyarbakir were arrested in the hearing of the Diyarbakir State Security Court (DGM) held yesterday, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

NEW FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY

President Suleyman Demirel received Jean Claude Cousseran, new French Ambassador to Turkey, at the Presidential Palace in Ankara yesterday. Cousseran submitted his letter of credentials to Demirel, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

EUROPEAN-MEDITERRANEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS' CONFERENCE

The third of European-Mediterranean Partnership Foreign Ministers' Conference will take place in Stuttgart on April 15-16, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Turkey's MEDA programme will also be discussed during the conference and Turkey's share in the funds will be asked to be increased.

GLOBAL FINANCE CONFERENCE IN TURKEY

Istanbul's Bilgi University (BILGI) is hosting the 1999 Global Finance Conference organized by the Global Finance Association comprising leading figures in the world financial circles. 150 professionals from various countries are participating in the Conference which began in The Marmara Hotel yesterday. The main theme of this year's Conference has been decided as `Global Risk Management'. According to a statement issued by BILGI, this conference is important for Turkish financial agencies in establishing significant contacts with global organizations during this period of global economic and financial crisis. The sponsors of the Conference are the Central Bank, the Istanbul Stock Exchange, the Istanbul Chamber of Trade and Commerce, Turkish Airlines, Arthur Andersen and Demir Yatirim. /Sabah/

WORLD THEATRE GROUPS IN ISTANBUL

The 11th International Istanbul Theatre Festival, organized by the Istanbul Culture and Arts Foundation, will be held between 19 May and 4 June. German group "La Fura Del Baus" will stage one of the plays of Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe to celebrate the 250th annivesary of his birth. Another German group "Dusseldorfer Schauspielbaus" will also perform a Goethe play. During the festival Turkish and Greek actors will meet in the play, "Heracles", under the directorship of Theodoros Terzopoulos. The play will be the joint production of the Greek "Attis Theatre" and the International Istanbul Theatre Festival. The Brazilian theatre group, "Macunaima" will attend the Festival for the first time. Istanbul City Theatre, Ankara State Theatre, Istanbul State Theatre, Ankara Ekin Theatre, the Kent Players, Aksanat Production Theatre, Bilsak Theatre Studio and Adana State Theatre will represent Turkish theatre groups at the Festival. /HUrriyet/

11TH INTERNATIONAL IZMIR FILM FESTIVAL

The 11th International Film Festival will be organized between April 8-11, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Meanwhile, Huseyin Baradan who was awarded with the Golden Artemis, received his award in a ceremony held yesterday.

A CONFERENCE IN ANKARA

A conference on the future of the clean fossil fuel system in the sustainable development process of Europe and Asia will be held between May 26 and 29, in Ankara, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

TURKISH STAR IN US

Gulsah Akkaya is a Turkish girl who plays basketball for the Lynn University team in the US. These days Gulsah Akkaya is highly acclaimed by many people; she will probably play in the WNBA (Women's NBA League) in the upcoming period, it is reported. /Milliyet/

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

"THE ATMOSPHERE BEFORE THE ELECTIONS" -BY TANER BERKSOY (CUMHURIYET)

Taner Berksoy deals with the economic atmosphere in Turkey prior to the Elections. Berksoy said that after the long religious holiday, Turkey in rounding the final bend before the run-up to the elections. He claimed that there was a calm (election) atmosphere when compared to recent years; there were no arrogant or highly-strung election campaigns to be seen before the 18 April Elections. Berksoy noted that political tension was very low, whereas there was a Spring-like atmosphere prevailing in the economy. Claiming that there was a very positive buoyant atmosphere in economis circles Berksoy continued, "It was expected that political uncertainty would cause some negative developments in the economy, prices would increase and there would be a depression in the market. However, these predictions came to nothing; the contrary in the true position. In fact, interest rates have decreased, the Stock Exchange has reached a record and foreign exchange rates remain stable. Finally, there has been a general liveliness prevailing within the economy. The optimistic atmosphere, which was expected to come after the 18 April Elections, has already been reached. There is a correlation between the positive atmosphere in the economy and the relaxation of the political arena. Political tension has not increased and it seems that parties with a radical base have been losing their ground during this process. With these developments the economy has gained a positive atmosphere. The recent atmosphere in the economy shows that the economic players expect a government which will cause no instability in the economy after the 18 April Elections. They have determined their positions with this in mind. They think that the coming goverment will be a copy of the last one. Furthermore, the economic administration of the new government will place the economy on a stable footing instead of making hazardous choices. I hope that the rational attitude of voters in the 18 April Elections and the optimism of the players in the economy will result in protection from economic instability. We need this result." /Cumhuriyet/

"WHERE ARE OUR MOSLEM BROTHERS?" -BY HASAN PULUR (MILLIYET)

Columnist Hasan Pulur comments on the approach of the West towards Turkey and tries to analyze its reasons. A summary of his column is as follows: "To say that the West is prejudiced against us does not mean that we do not have any faults. Certainly there are points on which the West is perfectly justified in critising us, but it is an undeniable fact that while doing so their actions are prejudiced ...When NATO was bombing Serbia to stop the atrocities perpetrated by the Serbs, a part of Europe showed Southeastern Turkey as an example: "If you are bombing the Serbs, bomb Turks too, if not, do not pour your bombs on Serbia." What could be the reasoning behind this?... Albanians and Kurds! These views coming from the West were echoed by their "Master's Voices" in Turkey... In fact, there is no similarity between the Albanians and the Kurds; as Albanians are deported and expelled from their countries, Kurds are being treated as first class citizens. They can hold offices such as that of the Presidency or the Speaker of the Parliament with no opposition from anyone...Certainly, there has been a migration on the part of some Southeastern people; pressed between the gangs and the state forces, the have been migrating for 15 years... But where? To the most advanced regions of the country. Nobody asked them why they were going there nor why they came. Furthermore, in 1974 Kosovo was granted autonomy and this right was retracted in 1989. Taking all these into consideration we can say that the West is acting with prejudice. But their biased approach does not give us the right to forget our faults, and shortcomings... At the moment we are helping the Albanians by establishing tent-cities for 20,000 people and if Macedonia it permits we will establish a similar one there. What is France doing? Where are Madame Mitterand and her colleagues who blamed us for the plight of Kurdish deportees who had taken shelter in Turkey, escaping the atrocities of Saddam? Where are the Moslem brothers of Albanians such as Kuwaitis, Libyans, and all other Arab States such as Syria, Iran and Iraq?"

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