PRESIDENT DEMIREL RETURNS HOME

President Suleyman Demirel and his French counterpart Jacques Chirac opened the "Ottoman Palace Treasuries" exhibition yesterday in Versailles Palace. Later, they visited the exhibition and were informed by Turkish officials about the 268 pieces art exhibited in the Palace. Before the opening ceremony, Demirel met representatives of the French private sector at a breakfast organized by the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK) and the French Investors' Association (MEDEF). Demirel told French investors that entrepreneurs from the two countries should set up joint ventures in third countries, particularly in the developing markets of Eurasia. Later Demirel received French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. During the reception Demirel asked Jospin to make the European Union (EU) fulfill its obligations towards Turkey. Jospin said for his part that France would make every effort to improve Turco-EU relations. Late yesterday, President Suleyman Demirel and the Turkish delegation accompanying him returned home. /Sabah/

ECEVIT PREPARING NEW GOVERNMENT

After receiving the mandate from President Suleyman Demirel, Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit has begun to take steps to form a tripartite coalition government. His first priority was to consult DSP deputies. It appears that the DSP will reluctantly support a coalition model in partnership with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The DSP MPs placed emphasis on a government model comprising the DSP, the MHP and the Motherland Party (ANAP). It is further reported that Ecevit's time-frame for consulting party leaders will be established upon the completion of the inter-party evaluations, possibly as of Thursday. /All papers/

EQUAL RIGHTS FOR TURKS IN EUROPE

Deciding on a case opened by the European-Turkish Research Institute on behalf of a Turkish citizen, the European Court of Justice laid down that EU-resident Turkish citizens be provided with rights equal to those of the native citizens of the countries they inhabit. Harun Gumrukcu, the Founding President of the Institute, said that with this decision it was resolved that 3.5 million Turkish citizens living in 15 EU countries will be treated as citizens of these countries in the economic, legal and social spheres. By virtue of this decision, the legal discrimination towards unemployed EU-resident Turkish citizens while seeking for jobs has been abolished. Those Turkish citizens who retired in a EU country and returned to Turkey will benefit from health services in Turkey. Furthermore, EU and Turkish citizens will be subject to the same taxes. /Turkey/

PRESS CENTRE IN MUDANYA

One part of the Montania Hotel in Mudanya will be made into a press centre for journalists to follow the trial of the Head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, who is currently imprisoned on Imrali Island. The press centre will offer a variety of services coordinated by the Directorate General of Press and Information. In addition to the press centre, 70 rooms at the Hotel will be allocated to journalists. /Aksam/

MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS VISIT TURKEY

Members of the European Committee on Human Rights who visited PKK Chief Abdullah Ocalan on Imrali Island stated that there was no risk of Ocalan being ill-treated and thanked Turkish officials. The members of the Committee who visited Ocalan on March 2 expressed their pleasure and satisfaction both with Turkey's cooperation during their visits and Ocalan's health situation. Committee members remarked that the place where Ocalan is currently staying was of a high standard and was fitted with modern facilities. Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema held a press conference yesterday and stated that Ocalan should face a just trial and Turkey should abide by international laws. /Aksam/

OCALAN EXECUTES 67 KURDISH PEOPLE

The writer of the pro-PKK Ozgur Gundem newspaper, Mahmut Baksi, who is living in Sweden, has made statements concerning the PKK terrorist organization and its head Abdullah Ocalan. Baksi pointed out that his sister Lamia Baksi and 67 Kurdish young people had been killed under the directives of so-called PKK commanders. These statements were published in the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper in Sweden, under the title 'Confessions of a Kurdish writer who has been living in exile since 1970". Baksi said: "I have been against the PKK for 15 years. They have placed me on their black list. Ocalan phoned me from Damascus and apologized to me for the execution of my sister Lamia who had been studying at a Medical Faculty in Sweden". /Hurriyet/

ROMANIA IS THE NEW ADDRESS FOR PKK

Turkish police officials have announced that it is understood that the terrorists who launched the recent bombing attacks in Istanbul had been trained in Romania. Proof of this had been reported to the Romanian police, they said adding that Romanian security teams had immediately started rounding-up operations on 27 April and captured 14 PKK terrorists together with bombing-making equipment. /Sabah/

TURKEY WARNS EGYPT

Attempts to hold a conference entitled `Support for the Kurdish Question' with the participation of some famous figures such as Muhammed Faik, the former Egyptian Minister of Information and the leader of the Arabic Human Rights Organization, and Necip Mahfuz, the Nobel-prize-winning novelist, has strained Turco-Egyptian relations. In this respect, the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs warned the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and demanded information on the issue. /Turkiye/

MITCOTAKIS CONFESSES GREEK CYPRIOT MASSACRES

The former Greek Prime Minister Konstantinos Mitcotakis has confirmed the maassacres carried out by Greek Cypriots against Turkish Cypriots nearly 26 years ago in Cyprus. Mitcotakis said in an statement to the Ta Nea newspaper published in Greece that Greek Cypriots governed by Makarios murdered Turkish Cypriots. This statement was also covered in the Fileleftheros newspaper published in Southern Cyprus. /Aksam/

REJECTION OF ARMENIAN DRAFT DECISION

A draft decision on the so-called Armenian genocide prepared by Greek member of Parliament Nikos Papakyriazis on behalf of the Socialists, the largest group in the European Parliament (EP), has not been placed on the EP agenda. The draft decision proposes the celebration of 24 April as 'International genocide day' and wants Turkey to officially recognize the genocide. The draft also points out that this issue has an important place in Turco-EU relations. /Hurriyet/

TARSCHYS: "TURKEY IS AFFECTIONATELY TIED TO EUROPE"

The Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Daniel Tarschys, said in a statement to the daily 'Hurriyet' newspaper on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Council of Europe that Turkey, which became a member of the Council in 1950, was tied to the strengthening of European solidarity. He recalled that the then Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz who attended a summit of heads of state and government from the Council of Europe in Strasbourg in October 1997 had said: "Europe needs harmony and united action in the field of social unity and solidarity. In the social arena, the Council of Europe might become the focal point of Europe". /Hurriyet/

INONU REJECTS PARTY LEADERSHIP

Erdal Inonu rejected an offer to become the new leader of the defeated Republican People's Party (CHP), party officials said yesterday. Inonu founded the Social Democrat Party (SODEP) in 1983 and served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1991-1993 and also briefly as Foreign Minister. "I am not a candidate for the leadership of the CHP. A new leadership team must be elected. This is what we are waiting for", said Inonu to members of the press yesterday in Istanbul. /Aksam/

PRAISE FOR TURKEY

The General Secretary of the Islamic Conference Organization (ICO) Izeddin Laraki, has said that Turkey is one of the three countries which is exerting itself as far as the Kosovo issue is concerned. Laraki added that Serbians aimed to move Muslims out of their hometowns. He noted that Turkey has contributed greatly to relieving the Kosovo crisis through offering aid to both Kosovars and diplomatic circles. /Sabah/

TURKEY GAINS POWER BY AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL

Close relations between Turkey and Israel have boosted Turkey's confidence in the region and have distanced her from the sensitivities of Arab countries, an annual report by the London-based Institute of International Strategic Studies (IISS) said. The report claimed that in recent years Turkey has been implementing a more decisive foreign policy which has modified the pattern of its foreign relations. Turkey's close ties with Israel have boosted her confidence in the region as a significance source of influence, said the report adding that even more friendly ties between Turkey and Iran constituted a strong balancing factor against Afghanistan and Syria. /Sabah/

ULUGBAY:"THERE ARE POSITIVE SIGNALS COMING FROM TURKISH ECONOMY"

State Minister responsible for economy, Hikmet Ulugbay, has said that the increase in the rate of inflation in April stemmed from the increase in oil prices on international markets and the high rate of real interest. Ulugbay, in reply to questions posed by Reuters, stated that despite these negative issues, there were positive signals coming from the Turkish economy. /Aksam/

TRANSPORT ALLIANCE IN THE BALKANS

Under the auspices of the Southeastern European Community Initiative (SECI), 11 Balkan countries, including Turkey, endorsed an agreement in order to remove the administrative, technical and legal impediments faced in highway transportation on April 28 in Greece. Hasan Basri Aktan, the Minister of Trasnport who signed the agreement on behalf of Turkey, noted that this agreement would mitigate much of the trouble Turkey experiences in highway transportation. Endorsed by Albania, Bosnia-Herzagovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey, the agreement aims to adapt highway transportation between these countries to EU norms. Accordingly, the parties agreed that a non-quota system will be established among these countries whereas procedures regarding transport will be simplified. In addition, the World Bank will provide loans to SECI countries for different projects. Meanwhile, in order to ensure the efficient participation of the private sector in these ventures implemented as part of the SECI, a Business Advisory Council has been established with the participation of Costa Carras from Greece and Rahmi Koc from Turkey. /Turkiye/

TURKEY: THE GREATEST POWER IN THE REGION

In the annual report of the International Institute for Strategy published by Oxford University, it was reported that Turkey and Iran were great powers in the Middle East counter-balancing Afghanistan and Syria. The report said that Turkey had created changes in its foreign policy in order to be more determined and added: "Close relations between Turkey and Israel, supported by the US, have further strengthened Turkey's self-confidence". The report pointed out that Turkey was keen to keep herself at a distance from Arab concerns. The report also devoted wide coverage to the developments concerning the aftermath of the capture of the PKK Chief Abdullah Ocalan. The report stressed that Ocalan's demand for political asylum had been rejected by many European countries and added that this incident had damaged both Turco-Italian and Turco-Greek relations. /Aksam/

TUSIAD DELEGATION IN US

The Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) is visiting the US for the second time in recent months. The 17-person TUSIAD delegation headed by Erkut Yucaoglu has gone to the US to attend Turco-American Business Council meetings. The delegation will hold a series of meetings in Washington until May 7. /Aksam/

TOBB ALLOCATES $10 MILLION FOR TURKEY'S ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN

The Head of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), Fuat Miras, remarked that TOBB had earmarked $10 million to promote Turkey abroad initially and pointed out that this figure would increase next year. Miras said that they would promote Turkey with a series of advertising campaigns in many countries such as EU countries, the US and Russia. Miras added: "We will erase the popular misconception of Turkey and Turkish people abroad and will try to explain the truth of the situation. We will promote the production, investment and business potential in Turkey". /Aksam/

SIX AWARDS FOR THY

The International Transportation Commissioners' and Agencies' Association awarded the best airlines of the year. In a survey which evaluated all Turkish and foreign airlines in Turkey in addition to Turkish Airlines (THY), the members of the Association determined the best company of the year in six categories of air cargo transportation. THY received six awards in six categories. The THY won first prize in the categories of 'Airline with the best cargo service both to and from Europe' and 'Airline with the best cargo service both to and from North America'. In the other four categories, the THY came second in three categories and came third in another. Meanwhile, a both Turkish anti-terrrorism team and Turkish Airlines (THY) pilots have been awarded with the '1998 Conway Secure Skies' prize due to their success in thwarting hijackings. The presentations were held in Madrid yesterday. /Aksam/

WORLD PACKAGING AWARD FOR PINAR GROUP

According to a written statement issued by the Yasar Corporation, the firm has been operating in the food sector for 25 years under the name of Pınar. It added that Pınar's yogurt cartons were given the most practical and hygienic packaging award in the retail food sector by the US-based Worldstar Packaging Organization. The award will be presented at the Interpak'99 Fair in Dusseldorf, Germany. Meanwhile, the Turkish company Enka has into partnership with the British Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P and O) in order to construct a container port in Turkey. It is reported that the total cost of the construction is estimated at $ 200 million. /Sabah/

OGER CONTINUES WITH HIS STRUGGLE

Vural Oger, the owner of the Oger Tour company, which is active in Hamburg, Germany, said that he was doing his best to promote Turkey abroad. Oger is struggling against the powers behind the PKK which are trying to harm Turkish tourism by saying that there are terrorist activities being carried out in Turkey. Almost 807,000 German tourists visited Turkey last year with Oger Tour. Vural Oger said in an interview in the German 'Focus' magazine that there had been a significant decrease in the number of tourists visiting Turkey this year adding that this was because of exaggeration by the media. Oger remarked that 8,000 policemen were now on duty to oversee safety in Antalya and stressed that Turkey was as safe as other European countries. /Aksam/

FAZ SUPPLEMENT ON TURKEY

One of the leading German newspapers, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), published a six-page supplement on Turkey yesterday. The supplement entitled 'Economic Partner: Turkey' mainly explained the economic opportunities to be enjoyed in Turkey. The supplement said that the Turkish economy was developing and was an important bridge for German investors. It quoted the words of Turkish Tourism Minister Ahmet Tan who said that Turks viewed tourists as the 'Guests of God' and the Turkish state and nation guaranteed the safety of their guests. The Head of the German Industrialist's Union, Hans Olaf Henkel, also stated in his article that Turkey was a reliable business partner. /Hurriyet/

TURKISH `LOGO' SOFTWARE WILL GO PUBLIC IN THE US

Logo Software Corp., the first software exporter in Turkey and the leading firm in the sector, plans to go public in the US. Remarking that Turkish investors are unable to evaluate technology firms, Tugrul Tekbulut, the Chairman of the Executive Board of Logo, said, "Investors tend to consider our material fixed assets. Yet we cannot have material fixed assets. We have our non-material fixed assets, i.e. our experience and intelligence." Tekbulut claimed that they will grow seven times over the next five years, saying "We have established a firm in Germany. We are in cooperation with Microsoft. Our goal is to expand in Germany, the centre of Eastern Europe." /Turkiye/

THIRD ASIAN GROUP IFAP MEETING

The third of the Asian Group meetings of the International Federation of Agriculture Producers (IFAP) will be held in Samsun between May 12 and 15, the Anatolia News Agency reports. A Turkish Agricultural Chambers' Union (TZOB) statement said that a work-shop, in which the Uruguay issue and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade will be discussed, will be held on the first and second days of the conference. The IFAP Asian Group meeting will be held on the third day of the conference. Rasid Pertev, the Deputy Secretary-General of IFAP, experts from the World Bank and other institutions will join the meeting.

IZOCAM TO EXPORT TO RUSSIA AND IRAN

Izocam, a glass manufacturer, aims at the Russian and Iranian markets. Ali Ihsan Yalcin, the General Director of Izocam, which is affiliated to the Koc Holding Company, said during an annual assessment meeting yesterday that they would channel their energies towards new markets and aim to export goods worth $14 million by the end of this year. /Hurriyet/

37TH TURKISH CUP

The 37th Turkish Cup will meet its new owner this evening during the final match between Besiktas and Galatasaray. The Final will begin at 8 p.m. and the referee will be Oguz Sarvan. Galatasaray earlier won this cup 11 times while Besiktas has won it five times. /Aksam/

35TH INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENTIAL CYCLING TOUR OF TURKEY

The 35th International Presidential Cycling Tour of Turkey, which is included in the 1999 seasonal programme of the International Cycling Federation, started from Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge in Istanbul. A total of 48 sportsmen from Romania, Iran, Bulgaria, Egypt, Albania and Uzbekistan, including two Turkish cycling teams, participated in the tournament, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

WORLD INTER-UNIVERSITIES WEIGHT-LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Turkish weight-lifters continue to achieve good results at the World Inter-Universities Weight-Lifting Championships in Japan, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Abdulaziz Alpak, who competed in the 105 kg category, took two silver and one bronze medal with 175 kg in snatch, 212.5 kg in clean and jerk, and 387.5 kg in total.

OTTOMON WORKS OF ART IN CHRISTIE'S

The world famous auction centre in London, Sotherby's, will organize an auction on 17 June to sell Ottoman works of art. During the auction, ceramics and silver goods, photographs, pictures, weapons, textiles and porcelain from the Ottoman Period will be auctioned off. Meanwhile, Spink auctioneers, a British company, will hold two auctions to sell gold, silver and copper money from the Islamic Period. The first auction will be on 25 May and the second one will be on 13 October. /Sabah/

IZMIT CITY THEATRE IN EUROPE

Izmit City Theatre Company will attend the 11th International Istanbul Theatre Festival on 23 May and will perform the play 'Roberto Zucco' written by a Frenchwoman Marie Koltes. Later, the group will go to Amsterdam in the Netherlands to attend a theatre festival between 21-30 June. At the end of the year, the theatre group will stage performances in Strazbourg's State Theatre and later in Marseilles' Toursky Theatre. Izmit City Theatre Group decided to begin to promote its activities not only in Turkey but also abroad. Izmit and Amiens, a town in France, signed the Amiens Project Agreement to construct an artistic and cultural bridge between the two cities. As part of the project an exchange programme will be set up with artists from Izmit attending study programmes by French artists in Amiens and French actors coming to Izmit. Their joint productions will be performed both in Turkey and France. /Cumhuriyet/

2ND INTERNATIONAL ACOUSTIC GUITAR FESTIVAL

Istanbul's Bilgi University's 2nd Acoustic Guitar Festival will be held between 5-7 May. World-famous guitar players will stage concerts for three days in Istanbul. Nora Buschmann, who is German, and Onder Focan and Trio Lacuerdo will give perform. On the second day of the Festival, the Corsican player Marco Meloni, the Spaniard Michel Aranda, and the Argentinian Pablo Marquez will perform and onthe last day of the festival the Turkish Erkan Ogur guitarist and the Argentinian Quiqe Sinesi will play for guitar lovers. /Sabah/

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

HARD COALITION - BY EMIN PAZARCI (AKSAM)

Columnist Emin Pazarci writes on the possibilities of a future coalition government. A summary of his column is as follows: "Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday listened to the opinions of the MPs from the Democratic Left Party (DSP). He tried to determine what the grassroots is thinking, what the sensitivities of the DSP parliamentary group are and where hesitancy is concentrated. The DSP group shares the same hesitancy as Ecevit towards the National Action Party (MHP). Their concerns are concentrated on some key Ministries such as Education, Interior Affairs and Justice. The questions on their minds are the same. "To what degree will the MHP reflect its views in a probable coalition? Will it try to appoint its supporters to the Ministries? What kind of an administration style would it display? The MHP is an unknown quantity for the DSP and therefore there are some concerns and doubts about it. The situation is no any different for the MHP. The members of the MHP too have some misgivings towards the DSP. They also are concerned about the Education, Interior Affairs and Justice Ministries. However their style is different. The MHP at the moment does not seem to imposing itself on some Ministries. The Chairman of the Party, Devlet Bahceli, will express their sensitivities when a proposal for a coalition comes from Ecevit and request from him not to offend these sensivities. Devlet Bahceli is waiting silently for Ecevit's offer. He believes Ecevit should first express his own views. He does not want to make any statements committing his party to certain rules. Furthermore, he has warned the members of his party not to talk too much and not to express their opinions before learning the views of others. On the election of the Speaker of Parliament, he is quite determined. The MHP will not be in a bargaining position and will support its own candidate. When the two parties are equally sensitive on some issues its hard for them to come together. That is why Ecevit has asked for the views of the Motherland Party (ANAP) for a probable coalition with the True Path Party(DYP). However, the Chairman of ANAP, Mesut Yılmaz, does not favour such a probability. Therefore Ecevit and Bahceli have to come together. Naturally, their misgivings and principles will be discussed. Following serious deliberations they will try to establish a common base. Ways to overcome the impossible will be sought. What they have to do to succeed is to leave egocentric policies aside and work for the interests of the country. Certainly both parties should act in good-will. A DSP-MHP coalition may not be easy but it not impossible."

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