DEMIREL THANKS TIRANA

Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, who is the first Head of State visiting the Kosovo region following NATO air strikes, has given important messages to Tirana and Skopje. Demirel, who gave the assurance that Turkey will continue to support Kosovar refugees, Albania and Macedonia, said that NATO needs full support from international society in order to become successful in its operations. Demirel also expressed his gratitude over a decision taken by the Albanian Parliament which allows NATO to use Albanian territories. Meanwhile, an official from the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that initiatives to establish a headquarter in Albania were on-going within the framework of the Albanian Parliament's decision. The official noted that a military unit would be deployed in Albania in order to coordinate humanitarian aid. The official added that a 50-soldier unit would be sent to this country. President Demirel exchanged views in Skopje, the second leg of his visit on Sunday. It is reported that Macedonian officials expressed their security concerns and they said that they wanted to be a NATO member in the future. Macedonian officials also noted that they needed Turkish support on this issue during a summit to be held in Washington on April 23-25. Demirel, who visited the tent cities set up by the Red Crescent (Kizilay) both in Albania and Macedonia, stressed that Turkey's support would continue. /Cumhuriyet/

DIPLOMATIC BREAKTHROUGH FROM NATO

NATO, which is using military methods to make Milosevic abide by international community's demands, is also increasing its initiatives for a diplomatic solution to the Kosovo problem. During a meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the NATO member countries in Brussels yesterday, a message of 'we are determined' was given. It is reported that all NATO countries are in consensus for a political solution in which Russia will also play an important role. Meanwhile, it is reported that Turkey wants a more active role during the Kosovo process not only from the military standpoint but also from the political one. Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that Turkey and Greece, two Balkan countries and members of NATO, should have taken part in NATO's Contact Group and added: "Turkey has a 500-year experience on Kosovo. Taking advantage of this experience should have been beneficial for a solution to the problem". During the meeting, Turkey also presented a package concerning stability in the Balkans. /Milliyet/

"SCIENCE AND EDUCATION IN THE OTTOMAN WORLD"

President Suleyman Demirel attended an "International Congress on Science and Education in the Ottoman World" in Istanbul. The Congress is organized by the Islam, History, Arts and Culture Research Centre of Organization for Islamic Conference. In his opening speech, Demirel said that there were very serious lessons to be taken from the history of the Ottoman Empire. He added that during the Ottoman period Balkan nations had lived in peace; however today, he added, no country in the Balkans was sheltering minority in their structure. Jordanian Prince, Hasan Bin Talal and General Director of the Centre, Dr.Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu delivered speeches at the meeting. There was also a Classical Turkish Music Concert at the end of the first day of the Congress. The Congress will end on Thursday. /Aksam/Turkiye/

ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Having just a few days left to the General Elections, party leaders are continuing their propaganda speeches. Bulent Ecevit, the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), remarked that the True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller has already exhausted herself due to her political greed. Ecevit also said, "Ciller even exceeded the Virtue Party (FP) with her recourse to religious exploitation." During his speech in Aydin, Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), demanded that the voters absolutely cast their vote in the Elections. Yilmaz pointed out that through the General Elections, Turkey will decide to go forward or backward. Recai Kutan, the leader of the Virtue Party (FP), criticized their former coalition partner, namely DYP leader Tansu Ciller. Kutan said that the DYP is not in front of ANAP in the polls as Ciller claims. Kutan emphasized that there is no such `DYP-FP' block in the Elections, implying the historic end of the political harmony between the two parties. Meanwhile, DYP leader Tansu Ciller delivered a short speech in Van, where she reiterated the possibility of a DYP-FP coalition following the Elections. /Hurriyet/

ECEVIT ISSUES A TRNC CIRCULAR

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit issued a circular which foresees that one of the departments in public institutions would conduct relations with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The circular said that, from now on, one department of every public institution would work to determine the policies to improve relations with the TRNC in every field in order to maintain harmony between public institutions. /Aksam/

OPERATION IN ELAZIG

During a conflict between Turkish security forces and the PKK terrorist organization in the Aricak district of Elazig, one terrorist was killed yesterday, Elazig Governor Lutfullah Bilgin said in a written statement. He added that operations in the region were on-going, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

PREPARATIONS FOR OCALAN'S TRIAL

Mahmut Sakar, one of the lawyers of the PKK Chief Abdullah Ocalan, said that eight proposals declared in the press last week as Ocalan's demands would constitute a general framework for a solution to the problem. Sakar, who arrived in Mudanya yesterday to go to Imrali Island together with lawyers Niyazi Cam, Cihan Erbas and Fehim Gunes, made a statement to journalists and noted that the number of lawyers who were given the power of attorney totalled 70. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH BRIGADE TO NORTHERN IRAQ

It is reported that Bolu Second Commando Brigade will also participate in the cross-border operations being carried out by Turkish security forces against the PKK terrorist organization in northern Iraq. During the operations in northern Iraq, more than 50 terrorists have been killed, officials noted. /Hurriyet/

THREE PKK MILITANTS CAPTURED WITH EXPLOSIVES

Due to intense efforts by the Anti-Terrorism Department of the Istanbul Police, three PKK terrorists were captured with very powerful bombs which could result in a massacre. It is revealed during the police investigation that the terrorists have been specially trained in explosives at the Laura camp in Greece. According to the codified messages sent by high-level executive militants, the terrorists were ordered to "kill at least 100 people through direct action in crowded places." The police reported that the terrorists were preparing for a sensational bombing towards Izmit Municipal Palace. /Sabah/

A NEW DECISION FOR MED-TV IS ON THE WAY

The Independent Television Committee (ITC), which suspended the pro-PKK Med-TV's broadcasts due to its overt support for terrorism, announced that a new decision concerning Med-TV's status is on the way. The Spokesman of the ITC declared that the Med-TV officials presented their defence before the Commission last Friday and that it is very likely that the Commission would make a new decision for Med-TV these days. /Sabah/

IMAGE OF TURKISH TOURISM IS BEING RENEWED

In order to prevent the misleading information about Turkish tourism aggravated after the capture of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the PKK terrorist organization, a new campaign has been initiated under the leadership of the Association of Turkish Hosts (TUROB). Accordingly, journalists from all around the world will be brought to Turkey for promoting Turkish tourism. Ali Gureli, the Chairman of the TUROB, remarked that this joint project with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism will shift the focus of their promotion from foreign tourists to foreign journalists. /Turkiye/

EXTRADITION OF IBRAHIM BINGOL

The Turkish Justice Ministry started initiatives for the extradition of Ibrahim Bingol, who is a member of the illegal Dev-Sol organization and has been captured in Brussels. Ibrahim Bingol, who escaped from the Ankara Central Closed Prison while he was being tried by Ankara No.1 State Security Court (DGM) for killing Retired Lieutenant-General Hulusi Sayin, was captured in Brussels three days ago. Bingol's trial is continuing in absentia. /Cumhuriyet/

RUSSIAN JOURNALISTS ARE EMBARASSED

Twenty Russian journalists, invited by the Union of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB) to show that anti-propaganda carried out in Russia and European countries against Turkey is not real, were embarassed of their articles when they saw the tourism heaven, Antalya. Russian journalists said: "Turkey is really a secure country. We visited all the historical and touristic sites in Antalya. We have not seen even one weapon". Russian journalists have previously written that 'there are tanks on the streets of Antalya'. /Hurriyet/

ELECTION EXPENSES AMOUNT TO 1 QUADRILLION TL

It is reported that expenses spent for the General and Local Elections to be held on April 18 will total 1 quadrillion TL. According to a research made by the weekly 'Economist Magazine', many sectors such as plastic, transportation, advertisement, public relations, printing, rent a car and photography have become active. Elections created business opportunities for many sectors. /Hurriyet/

TREASURY BONDS

The Treasury will export 12-month (371 days) bonds today. The repayment of the bonds will be realized on April 19, 2000. A net sale between 450 and 650 trillion TL is envisaged to be acheived from the exports of the bonds. /Hurriyet/

FUEL IMPORTS FROM THE BORDER INCREASE

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stated that the amount of fuel which enters Turkey from the Silopi and Habur border gates increased by 100 %. Ecevit said: "We are exerting efforts for the increase of trade in the region. Therefore we have increased the amount of fuel imports from the Silopi and Habur border gates from 75 tones to 150 tons. We believe that this will bring a liveliness to the region". /Hurriyet/

US TEAM IN ADANA

A five-member US delegation continues its research in Ceyhan, Adana to find out the black-box of Boeing 737 plane which crashed last week in Adana region. Officials announced that two black-boxes were already found but the third one which comprises the final part of dialogues has not been found yet. /Aksam/

TRT STARTS CAMPAIGN FOR KOSOVO

Istanbul Television organizes a campaign for Kosovars. Representatives from the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) said that the campaign entitled "Everything for Kosovo" would be held with the cooperation of Turkish Red Crescent. Citizens who would like to contribute to the campaign will donate to the bank accounts opened for Kosovars. The campaign is going to be limited with two hours during which there will be a live programme on TV today. At the end of the programme the total amount of donation will be determined. /Aksam/

ISO-9001 QUALITY LICENCE FOR ITO

The Istanbul Chamber of Trade (ITO) was given the ISO-9001 Quality Licence. It is the first time in Turkey that a service institution was given the licence. Speaking at the ceremony held yesterday in Istanbul, ITO Chairman Mehmet Yildirim said that ITO was the greatest economic institution of Turkey. /Aksam/

TURKISH CLOTHING SECTOR IS RECOVERING

The Chairman of the Turkish Clothing Industrialists' Association, Bulent Atik and members of the Executive Board held an evaluation meeting yesterday. Atik said they were hopeful that after the stability atmosphere is created following the 18 April Election, the improvement in clothing sector will increase. Selman Bilal, Head of the Executive Board, said for his part that there had been an important development in the sector and they expected more positive developments following the elections. /Aksam/

MORGAN STANLEY: "TURKISH ECONOMY IS IMPROVING"

One of the leading US investment banks, Morgan Stanley predicted that the rate of inflation in Turkey would continue to decrease and at the end of the year it would be 46 %. A report prepared by the bank noted that the Gross National Product (GNP) was expected to increase to 5.2 % in 2000. Morgan Stanley claimed that Turkish economy would improve in line with its policies determined by Turkish economists. The report listed the reasons of the downward trend in the inflation rate as follows: the limitation applied to agricultural prices; the seasonal downward trend in prices; limited financial policies and the control of the Central Bank on financial developments. /Aksam/

MORNINGSTAR IN ISTANBUL

The US Special Representative responsible for Energy Policies of Caspian Basin, Ambassador Richard Morningstar, arrived in Turkey. Morningstar met Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Ziya Aktas yesterday in Ankara. Morningstar and Aktas discussed the recent developments in Baku-Ceyhan crude oil and Turkmenistan natural gas pipeline issues. After the meeting, Morningstar arrived in Istanbul in order to attend a meeting on the "Transportation of Caspian Oil to Western Markets" to be held today in Istanbul. /Aksam/

ITALIAN DELEGATION DEPARTS FROM TRNC

An Italian delegation, composed of many parliamentarians and businessmen, held contacts and observations in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) before departing the TRNC yesterday. The Italian delegation which listened to the views of the Turkish Cypriots and which got information about the latest developments also met the businessmen in the TRNC.

CLAYDERMAN SINGS FOR MARTYRS' FAMILIES

The world-renown pianist and singer Richard Clayderman presented a concert in Istanbul yesterday in support for the families of Turkish Air Forces' martyrs. Delivering a speech before the concert, Lieutenant General Cumhur Asporuk, Head Staff of the Turkish Air Forces and the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Eagle Foundation, said that the Foundation tries to meet every kind of social and economic needs of the relatives of those who sacrificed their lives for the Turkish Air Forces. /Sabah/

MARBLE '99 IN IZMIR

The Marble '99 Fair, a marble, natural stone and technologies fair, will be held between April 15-18, 1999, the Anatolia News Agency reports. An official from Izmir Fair Services, Cultural and Artistic Affairs Trade Corp. (IZFAS) said that 316 companies, including 114 foreign companies, will participate in the fair which is held for the fifth time.

TURCO-RUSSIAN TRADE CENTRE

The "IPT Rostov Turkish-Russian Trade Centre", the first Turkish wholesale and retail selling centre in Russia, will be opened in the first half of 1999, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

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

BALKAN POLICY -BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

In his column in 'Milliyet' daily, Sami Kohen writes on the recent developments in and the policy pursued on Kosovo. A summary of his column is as follows: "Macedonian President Krio Gligorov has tried to explain the helplessness of his country in the face of the flow of Kosovar refugees and said, "We requested from Turkey to help us in taking this issue to NATO, the EU and in asking Western countries to take some of these refugees, to cancel or postpone our debts." Albanian President Recep Meidani, in a press conference following his meeting with Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, voiced the burden the refugee crisis brought on his poor country and asked for financial help like the "Marshall aid" and for Turkey's support on the issue. The important point is that these leaders, who want to have their voice heard by the world, are asking for Turkey's intermediation and support to reach their goal. Furthermore, they are showing Turkey's example to the whole world in providing urgent humanitarian aid and the Turkish support lent to their governments ... This shows us a Turkey whose friendship, and influence is sought, a country respected and trusted. Demirel's visit has shown to the world the role of Turkey as a 'regional power'. "

DEMIREL AND THE KOSOVO CRISIS - BY SEDAT ERGIN (HURRIYET)

Sedat Ergin, a columnist for the `Hurriyet' daily, reflects on the current active participation of President Demirel in the efforts to resolve the Kosovo crisis. Ergin writes: "President Demirel's recent visit to Macedonia and Albania also proved useful to display to the international community Turkey's attitude towards the Kosovo crisis. Through a visit at the Presidential level, Turkey has expressed her sensitivity, based on a feeling of responsibility as a country in the Balkans, towards the massacres. Along with the material aid provided by Turkey to the outraged Kosovar people, Turkey implies her support for Kosovo in terms of two refugee camps established by the Turkish Red Crescent in both countries. Meanwhile, Turkey's high quota for accepting refugees also indicates her alertness concerning the terrible conditions encountered by Kosovars. During his visit to Macedonia and Albania, President Demirel raised the tone of his criticism against the leadership of Milosevic, pronouncing the term `genocide' for the first time. In addition, Demirel does not have a rigid commitment for the future political status of Kosovo. Answering the question of a journalist who asked whether the President preferred autonomy or independence, Demirel stressed that this issue would be clarified according to the consequences of the current military operation. In general, one can state that Demirel's attitude towards the Kosovo crisis is quite active and granitic as compared to the relatively `prudent' attitude of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this respect, one can observe the predominant effect of his reasons to cooperate with NATO on Demirel's specific point of view. These may be summarized as follows: 1. Demirel considers NATO the only legitimate `means' to stop Milosevic. Yet the President has certain reservations for a land operation. 2. Demirel describes the Greek attitude to Kosovo as "They always want to share the profit but not the loss." 3. The President believes that NATO will be the most important forum for protecting the values of the civilized world in the next century. 4. While Turkey's great disillusionment with Europe continues in the post-Luxembourg Summit period, Demirel considers the solidarity among NATO as an invaluable opportunity to strengthen the position of Turkey in the Western World and to compensate for the Turkey's loss of ground in the above mentioned period. 5. NATO is a very important institution which bridges the US and Europe. Turkey's future role within the EU is uncertain. However, Turkey has a robust stance in the US-led NATO. The maintenance of this institution ensures Turkey's integration process with the West. Therefore, given that the future of NATO is also being tested during the Kosovo crisis, the present conflicts in the Balkans are of vital interest for Turkey due to their indirect consequences."

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