TURCO-GREEK SUMMIT

Within the framework of the NATO Summit, it is likely that there will be a meeting between President Suleyman Demirel and Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis. It is reported that during the meeting, which will be held upon the `desire' of the US, Demirel and Simitis will discuss the ways to recover the Turco-Greek relations. Accordingly, Simitis will assure Demirel that Greece no longer supports the terrorist PKK but repudiates its terrorist activities. In turn, Simitis will request that both countries display their good intentions for a reasonable and just solution to the question of Cyprus. /Sabah/

CEM TO MEET ALBRIGHT

Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, who is accompanying President Suleyman Demirel in the US together with Defence Minister Hikmet Sami Turk, is scheduled to meet his American counterpart, Madeleine Albright on Sunday following the closing session of the NATO Summit. The two ministers are expected to discuss a wide range of issues concerning all aspects of the relations between Turkey and the US. Also on Sunday, Cem is expected to have talks with his Turkmen counterpart, Boris Shahmuradov. The crisis in Kosovo has been included among the main topics on the agenda of the NATO summit which will start in Washington tomorrow. Before the inauguration of the NATO summit, Demirel had a busy schedule. Yesterday, Demirel met the Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge; in addition, he attended a special ceremony organized by Pittsburgh University to confer him an honorary degree. Demirel is expected to arrive in Washington today. Demirel will attend numerous meetings and programmes in conjunction with the NATO Summit, in addition to other subjects and issues. /All papers/

ANKARA BLOCKS PART OF WASHINGTON DECLARATION

Turkish diplomats in NATO who are negotiating the final declaration of the Washington summit have so far maintained their opposition to references to the European Security and Defence Initiative (ESDI) and the French-British St.Malo declaration. Ankara is concerned that the wording could be used to give the impression that the planning of future operations would be done in the European Union (EU) and carried out by NATO -within the framework of the ESDI and the EU's Common Security and Foreign Policy. This would eventually lead to an exclusion of NATO's non-EU members from the decision-making process in operations, even when the NATO sources are being used. Ankara's concern that the final declaration, if not worded carefully on the ESDI, will enable the European allies to diminish the role of NATO as the relevant decision-making body in the operations using NATO sources. /All papers/

TURKISH F-16'S TO USE BULGARIAN AIRSPACE

Due to intensive pressures from Washington, the Bulgarian Parliament will convene today to decide on whether or not Bulgarian airspace can be used by NATO aircraft. When the Rights and Freedoms Union known as the `Turkish Party' supported the Democratic Powers Union in the Government, which has been in difficulty in enacting NATO's demand because of the opposition by the Bulgarian Socialist Party, the problem has been solved. During today's voting, it is very likely that the Bulgarian Parliament will allow NATO aircrafts to use the Bulgarian airspace. Thus, an `Eastern Front' will be opened for NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia. /Hurriyet/

SYRIAN MODEL TO IRAN AGAINST PKK

Following the `Adana Accord' endorsed between Turkey and Syria last October, Turkey and Iran has reached a similar agreement for a joint struggle against the terrorist PKK organization. Accordingly, a number of measures will be taken in order to prevent the PKK militants from using the Iranian territory in their activities against Turkey. It is reported that Iran has recently responded to Turkey's persistent call for a joint struggle against the terrorist PKK. The most important reasons for this remarkable change in Iran's attitude towards PKK terrorism are Muhammed Hatemi's moderate leadership in Iran and Abdullah Ocalan's conveyance to Turkey. As part of the agreement, a direct phone line between Turkish and Iranian military officials will be established, through which commanders from both countries will discuss the current necessary measures against the PKK's activities. Those commanders will also meet if necessary and engage in a joint hot pursuit against terrorists. /Sabah/

`SO-CALLED KURDISH PARLIAMENT-IN-EXILE'

The Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sermet Atacanli noted that the Parliament of the autonomous Basque Region had decided to allocate its building for the convening of the so-called Kurdish Parliament-in-exile on February 9, 1999, and said that initiatives had been launched on this issue. Atacanli stated that the Spanish Government applied to the Spanish Constitutional Court and demanded the annulment of the decision taken by the Executive Board of the Basque Parliament. Atacanli remarked that on April 14, the Spanish Constitutional Court suspended the decision taken by the Basque Parliament. /Cumhuriyet/

REACTION TO CLINTON

The Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sermet Atacanli stated that a statement made by the US President Bill Clinton on the so-called Armenian genocide should not be 'seriously' considered. Atacanli said that the US administration was making similar statements on this issue every year. Clinton had claimed that during the last periods of the Ottoman Empire, Armenians were subject to various 'massacres and dislocations'. Clinton had said: "Following the incidents in Kosovo, the US should assume important responsibility in the creation of a new world where no such events will be re-experienced". /Cumhuriyet/

SIMITIS CRITICIZES TURKEY

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis who has been making harsh statements against Turkey following the capture of the PKK Chief Abdullah Ocalan delivered a speech at the Greek-US lobby in New York. Simitis, who is currently in the US for the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of NATO, said: "If Turkey says that she has problems with Greece, then she should apply to the Justice Court in The Hague. This is our policy. We believe that problems can be solved through this way. However, Greece cannot discuss anything concerning its sovereignty. Greek rights of sovereignty begin from Thrace and extend towards the Aegean and Cyprus". The Greek Prime Minister also talked about the situation in the Balkans and stated that the borders in this region could not be changed. /Cumhuriyet/

QUEEN TO VISIT CYPRUS

The British Foreign Ministry Undersecretary, Joyce Queen, and the British Special Envoy to Cyprus, Sir David Hannay, will go to Cyprus tomorrow to hold various contacts in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Southern Cyprus. Queen will meet TRNC President Rauf Denktas and British officials on Friday, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

OFFICIAL RESULTS TO BE ANNOUNCED IN MAY

The Head of the High Election Board (YSK), Tufan Algan, said that the unofficial results of the General and Local Elections held in Turkey on April 18 would be announced in the upcoming days while the official results would be declared at the beginning of May. Algan noted that the General and Local Elections were held together and this caused some difficulties. Algan pointed also out the high rate of participation in the Elections. /Cumhuriyet/

IRAN PLEASED OVER THE RESULTS OF ELECTIONS

Results of the General and Local Elections held in Turkey on April 18 are closely being followed by the foreign press. The Times published in Britain pointed out the trend in the Turkish policy towards nationalism and recalled the success achieved by the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and the Nationalist Action Party (MHP). Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Hamid Riza Asefi, said that good relations between Turkey and Iran would continue also with the new governments. Asefi noted that the protection of common interests in Turkish-Iranian relations depended on mutual respect. /Cumhuriyet/

`EU RESPONSIBLE FOR RISE OF ULTRANATIONALISM IN TURKEY'

The UK based newspaper, `The Financial Times', blamed the European Union (EU) for sending Turkey into the arms of ultra-nationalists in an editorial published Tuesday following the announcement of the results in the recent elections. "The EU is at least partly responsible for the popularity of both the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and Nationalist Action Party (MHP)", it stated, noting that in January, the EU states, led by Italy and Germany, were blamed for refusing to extradite the PKK Chief Abdullah Ocalan. Noting that it may take time for a new government to emerge, the Financial Times stated that the elections underlined how essential it was for the EU to pursue a coherent policy towards Turkey. /All papers/

TEMPORARY SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT

True Path Party's (DYP) Elazig Deputy Ali Riza Septioglu will be the Temporary Speaker of the Turkish Parliament during the 21st term. Septioglu, who has previously been the state minister, has been a MP for three terms. /Cumhuriyet/

EVENING STANDARD PRAISES TURKEY

The British `Evening Standard' daily praised Turkey's support for NATO in the Kosovo crisis, reporting that Turkey accepted thousands of Kosovar refugees and Turkish Air Forces actually participated in the operation. Noting that the Balkans had remained under Turkish rule for more than 500 years and most of the population speaks Turkish, the newspaper claimed, "The Greek hesitation towards Turkey prevented Greece from helping her Serbian brother." In addition, it is argued that the military aid agreement between Turkey and Albania has engendered an anxiety on the part of Greece. /Sabah/

`CHILDREN ARE THE GUARANTEE OF PEACE'

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who yesterday received chidren coming from 23 foreign countries for the celebrations of the April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Festival, pointed out that children and the youth were the guarantee of peace and noted that the April 23 Children's Festival was the first official festival celebrated by children in the world. Ecevit said: "This proves the importance attached by the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Ataturk, to children and the youth." The 21st International April 23 Children's Festival will also be celebrated with various activities throughout the country tomorrow. /Cumhuriyet/

TAN IN NEW YORK

Tourism Minister Ahmet Tan, who is still in New York to attend the United Nations (UN) Tourism and Environment Ministers' Meeting, said that some foreign circles had started counter-propaganda against Turkey prior to the tourism season. He added that mass media in some countries were responsible for the cancellation in reservations before the tourism season by disseminating the news claiming that "the PKK announced fight in touristic regions in Turkey". Tan added that a covert tourism blockade was tried to be conducted against Turkey with the pretext of the process of trial of the chief terrorist. /Milliyet/

KURSAT YILMAZ ARRESTED

Kursat Yilmaz, a Turkish criminal figure who has been captured in Varna, Bulgaria, and later extradited to Turkey, was arrested and put into Eskisehir Special-Type Prison yesterday. /Cumhuriyet/

OPERATIONS AGAINST ILLEGAL ORGANIZATION

Five members of the illegal DHKP-C organization who have been taken into custody because they had thrown molotov-cocktails to a cafe in the Bagcilar district of Istanbul were arrested by the Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) yesterday. /Cumhuriyet/

IKDP REPRESENTATIVE IN ANKARA

Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) Representative, Necirvan Barzani came to Ankara yesterday upon the official guest of the Turkish Foreign Ministry. During the official meetings which will start today, the economic situation in Northern Iraq and Turkey's financial contribution to the region will be discussed. /Aksam/

FOREIGN INVESTORS PREFER IMKB

Foreign investors showed their trust in Turkey on the eve of the establishment of a new government. German Deutsche Bank transferred Turkish share stocks from Neutral to Overweight. Financial expert Scot Schwager said in his recent report that if the new coalition government implements reforms in banking, social security and privatization, there would be a 10,000 point increase in the Istanbul Stock Exchange - 100 Index. Financial circles in London said that the establishment of a stable government in Turkey would decrease the risk rate of the Turkish shares compared with those of other developing countries. /Milliyet/

JCR MAINTAINS TURKEY'S `BB' FINANCIAL RATING

Japanese rating agency JCR has left Turkey's 'BB' financial rating unchanged. The JCR announced said that Turkey has made progress in its disinflation programme within the framework of the Staff Monitoring Agreement signed with the IMF. Additionally, Turkey was relatively less affected (than other countries) by the financial crisis in Russia. In this respect, it was added that 'BB' indicates that the post-election government could be successful in its future economic policies. /All papers/

CONSENSUS IN SOCIAL SECURITY

Efforts towards an extensive social security reform, which will be of critical importance to the new government, continue. Very recently the `Reform Commission', composed of representatives from the Turk-Is, Hak-Is and DISK trade unions, the TISK employers' union, the SSK (Social Security Institution) and the DPT (State Planning Organization), have reached a consensus on certain regulations to improve the social security system. Accordingly, the retirement age has been adopted as 58-60. The state will have a 10% premium contribution to the social security system. Besides, a pay increase in the form of social aid will be added to wages. /Sabah/

TURKISH SUBMARINE COMMENDED IN BRITAIN

Participating in a pre-war preparation manoeuvre led by the British Navy, `Preveze', the first submarine produced in Turkey, was highly commended among a number of world-renowned warships and submarines. In the manoeuvres held with the participation of Turkish, British, Dutch, German, Italian, Spanish and Canadian naval forces, `Preveze' achieved great success with its capability to evade radars and sonars. /Sabah/

KUMBARACIBASI RESIGNS FROM CHP

Deputy Chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Member of the Executive Board (MYK) of the party, Onur Kumbaracibasi, resigned from his duties in his party yesterday. In his written statement Kumbaracibasi said that CHP suffered a historical defeat at the end of the 18 April elections. He added: "Party administration has great responsibility in this defeat and I belive that component authorities of the party ought to resign as a sign of their respect for the public, to their voters and party organization and especaally for themselves." /Hurriyet/

NEW ZEALAND FOREIGN TRADE MINISTER TO VISIT ANKARA

New Zealand's Minister for International Trade, Dr.Lockwood Smith, will be coming to Turkey today for a five-day visit to improve bilateral ties between Wellington and Ankara. Smith will visit Ankara, Bursa, Canakkale and Istanbul and intends to conduct dialogue between Turkey and New Zealand at a senior political level. In addition he will meet senior private sector representatives to discuss trade and economic issues. Smith will attend the annual ANZAC Day commemoration on Gelibolu (Gallipoli) Peninsula.

ISRAEL NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATED IN ANKARA

Israeli Ambassador to Ankara, Uri Bar-Ner organized a reception in Ankara on the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the establishment of the Israel State. Deputy of the President and the Speaker of the Parliament Hikmet Cetin, Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Hikmet Ulugbay, State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, Second Commander in Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok, former Chief of General Staff I. Hakki Karadayi, Undersecreta ry of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Korkmaz Haktanir, deputies and senior officials attended the reception. Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to Ankara Mark Parris, who attended the reception, evaluated the 18 April elections saying that there were very stable and good relations between Turkey and America. "We believe that these relations will continue with the new coalition government to be established," said Parris. /Aksam/Turkiye/

'BELGIAM WEEK' IN ANKARA

Belgian Embassy in Ankara will organize a 'Belgian Week' in Ankara between April 26 and May 1, 1999 to introduce Belgium with her various aspects. Belgian Ambassador to Ankara, Alexis Broyhns said that they aimed to improve cultural and trade relations between the two countries. He noted that a Belgian economy delegation including the representatives of 25 companies would come to Turkey and visit Ankara. Noting that one of the traditions of Belgium was comics, Broyhns stressed that they would open an exhibition, titled 'Belgian Comic Stripes as an Art', will be opened to reflect the cultural life of Belgium. He noted that they would hold a "Belgian Food Festival" in Ankara Hilton Hotel to introduce Belgian food and the "Pierre Lognay Trio", a Belgian jazz trio, would give a concert at the Middle East Technical University (METU). /Turkiye/

RAMSTORE IN KAZAKHSTAN

Koc Corporation will open a Ramstore supermarket on 9 May in Almati, Kazakhstan. It wil be the first and the biggest shopping and cultural centre in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Koc family will attend the opening ceremony of the Ramstore which has 50 shops, fast-food restaurants and cinema halls in it. /Aksam/

HALUK OZYAVUZ IN LISBON

Haluk Ozyavuz, the Deputy Chairman of the Administration Council of Cevher Corporation, went to Portugal yesterday to represent Turkey at the World's Young Businessmen's Competition. The competition organized every year by the world's biggest communication network WORLDCOM will take place in Lisbon between April 22 and 24. Businessmen coming from 21 countries will give information about over 400 projects. /Aksam/

THE US COCA-COLA BELIEVES IN TURKEY'S FUTURE

Head of the Eurasian Region of Coca-cola Cem Kozlu said that a new chapter was opened for Turkey following the 18 April elections. He added a powerful and stable government would be established and Turkey would continue with its development. Speaking at the "Business World and Young Dialogue" seminar organized by Aegean Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association in Izmir, Kozlu said that foreign investors wanted a powerful government to fight against inflation and maintain stability in the Turkish economy. He noted that Coca-Cola Group believed in the bright future of Turkey. /Hurriyet/Aksam/

GERMANS SHOW GREAT INTEREST IN TURKISH TECHNOLOGY

Artesis company of the Koc Group is attending the Trade and Industry Fair in Hannover, Germany. The "MQM and MCM Early Warning Systems" developed by Artesis firm highly attracted the attention of German industrialists. Turkish officials announced that the system had already been experienced in space and aeronautics sector, and in the production of helicopters, planes and electrical motors and got very positive results. /Aksam/

REPRESENTATIVES FROM `EL PAIS' IN ISTANBUL

Representatives from the `El Pais' newspaper published in Spain visited the Turkish Journalists' Association (TGC) yesterday. They furnished information to the TGC Chairman Nail Gureli and to the members of the executive board concerning the 10th Expotecnia '99 Fair to be held by Spain in Istanbul on June 1-6. /Cumhuriyet/

"BUILDING'99 ISTANBUL FAIR"

International Building'99 Istanbul Fair was opened at the TUYAP Fair and Congress Centre. General Secretary of the International Building Centers' Union (UICB), Kjell Kogstad made the opening speech of the fair. 400 national and foreign firms are attending the fair which will end on 25 April. It is reported that there will be seminars, exhibitions and panels during the fair. /Turkiye/

ANTALYA EXPO CENTRE OPENS

Antalya Expo Centre (AEC) which was built by Antalya Fair Services Cooperation (ANFAS) was opened yesterday with 'Auto Show '99', the Anatolia News Agency reports. Sadik Badak, ANFAS Administration Council Chairman, said that Antalya which is Turkey's leading agriculture and tourism city, is becoming a city of fairs. "AEC will become the biggest fair centre of the Mediterranean region of Turkey and will make great contributions to the region's economy" he added. The Fair Centre which cost $10 million will bring $10 million from every fair to Antalya's economy.

FAZIL SAY IN PARIS

A renowned Turkish pianist Fazil Say will participate in a music and dance festival to be held in Saint-Denis, Paris between June 2 and July 1. Say will play Mozart's No.21 concerto and the Ma Mere l'Oy of Ravel accompanied by the Orchestra National d'ile-de France during his concert on June 12. /Cumhuriyet/

FIRST MODERN TURKISH PAINTINGS IN YOZGAT MOSQUE

The embroidered paintings in the Yozgat Capanoglu Mosque, which is the first example of modern Turkish architecture in the late Ottoman period, are subject to great interest by national and international experts. Prof. Hakkı Acun from Gazi University said, "These paintings are the first examples of modern Turkish art." /Sabah/

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

WHY WAS THE VIRTUE PARTY NOT SUCCESSFUL? - BY ZEYNEP ATIKKAN (HURRIYET)

Zeynep Atikkan, a columnist for the `Hurriyet' daily, stands for a correlation between the rise of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) and the decline of the Virtue Party (FP). She writes: "A particular section of society allocated all its energy to topple the Islamist Virtue Party (FP). The `Turkey is on the way to become a new Algeria' hysteria of the West has been widely adopted in our society. In the end, Turkey surrendered to a psychology which prevented her from estimating the possible scheme of things following the April 18 Elections. Yet we all know since Sunday that the FP, the party which would allegedly come second according to all writers, has receded to the third position by gathering only 15% of the votes. This result is not a consequence of the active campaign carried out against the FP; rather, it is rooted in the fact that the Welfare Party (RP) - Virtue Party (FP) line has undermined itself. Therefore, while pursuing the reasons for the rise of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), one should also take into consideration the reasons for the decline in the votes for the FP. It can be derived from the results of these Elections that the religious traditionalism has refreshed its agenda on April 18. Voters in Central Anatolia preferred the MHP rather than the FP. But why? 1. Merely 15% of Turkish society forgave Erbakan, the leader of the now-defunct RP, who was seriously rebuked by Qaddafi in Lybia as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey. 2. Time has passed away and everybody has understood Erbakan's choices do not overlap with those of even the poorest sections of society. 3. The RP's conception of `import Islam', closer to that of the Arab world, has not been adopted by Turkish society. 4. In addition, this psychology has even been strenghtened due to the Arab indifference towards Bosnia and Kosovo, undermining the idea of Islam internationalism. 5. Meanwhile, the militants of the Islamic movement did not forgive the RP for its inability to perpetuate its power in government. 6. Erbakan's hegemonic interventions after Kutan's leadership disillusioned the voters. The question of leadership has lead religious traditionalism to seek a new address. 7. The Kurdish element discarded the RP-FP line in Parliamentary elections. 8. The RP's indifference towards irregularities seriously affected the direction of those `borrowed' votes. Consequently, the Virtue Party has declined to 15 % unexpectedly. However, the voters should have been pleased with the FP's policies in local administrations, because the Party has proven successful in Local Elections to a great extent. The picture is very clear. I suppose those who panicked are either the ones who are not self-confident or the ones who view their own country through the eye of a foreigner."

THE GREY WOLF FLAG ON THE WAY TO ORAN - BY ERTUGRUL OZKOK (HURRIYET)

Columnist Ertugrul Ozkok from the `Hurriyet' daily expresses his view that the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) must read the results of the Election carefully in order not to make any mistakes. A summary of his column is as follows: "There is a giant grey wolf flag on the way to Oran where a great majority of parliamentarians and politicians live. Therefore they see this flag on their way to downtown Ankara. However such a flag bothers some who remember the chaotic days before the September 12 coup even though they may not have any prejudice towards the Nationalist Action party (MHP) to which this emblem belongs. The changing process in the Nationalist Action Party is viewed as positively by politicians. However if some incidents have etched bad memories in the minds of people, these symbols are certain to awake them. Apparently the public trusts in the personality of the leader of the MHP, Devlet Bahceli. It should not be forgotten that following the September 12 coup, the MHP has gone through an important transformation. It is the party of a 'thinking' movement. It has the capability of analyzing and evaluation. Therefore I believe that it will assess the results of the recent Election. This election has shown that no party should accept the votes it got for granted and believe that the voters will always vote for them. The coalition with the Welfare Party disturbed the public with its symbolic actions to give religious character to the Republic. The left should also stop viewing the MHP as a society of grey wolves. People who had held radical views, and had served as militants of the right and left are in high-level positions today and they accept their mistakes and maintain their lives and futures on this autocritic. I have been reading Devlet Bahceli's interviews since the Election day. There was nothing in his words to cause concern. He said they would not exclude the local administrators from the People's Democracy Party (HADEP). Therefore those who want to present the MHP as a classic racist party should evaluate his words carefully. Today Turkish nationalism is aware of the boundaries between racism and modern patriotism. In fact, nothing else can be expected from a society which has inherited the legacy of an empire. "

ATATURK'S NATIONALISM IS THE WINNER - BY DR.A.REBII TINMAZ (AKSAM)

Rebii Tinmaz, a columnist for the `Aksam' daily, expresses his views on the rise of nationalist politics in recent Elections. He writes: "Democracy can survive only among people who view it as a lifestyle. Certain things done in the name of democracy may only help some antidemocratic institutions. Sometimes they have helped fascism, sometimes religious fundamentalism, and sometimes ethnic nationalism. Therefore, April 18 Elections held great importance. The tension before the elections was mainly due to a sociopsychological division. It has been seen that there was no need for concern. Policies on exploitation of religious feelings, ethnic nationalism could be stopped. Briefly, there was no gateway to separatism. The success of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) in coming out first from the elections shows that the nationalism of Ataturk has won. MHP's success in getting the second place confirms this judgement. When setting the aim to bring the national culture to the level of modern states, Ataturk gave a simple definition for Turkish nation. Here, Turkish nation is described as the people engendering the Republic of Turkey, regardless of their ethnic origin. Our Republic is based on the Turkish society and its culture. The awareness of the people of their culture will serve to strengthen them." Note: Turkish Press Review will not be issued tomorrow on the occasion of the April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Festival.

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