Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morning
CONTENTS
Prime Minister-designate Bulent Ecevit of the Social Democratic
Left Party (DSP) has anounced that the first round of coalition
talks will include leaders of all political parties represented
in Parliament and will be held separately on Saturday. Ecevit
will first visit the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party
(MHP), Devlet Bahceli, and later he will meet the leader of the
Virtue Party (FP) Recai Kutan, the leader of the Motherland Party
(ANAP), Mesut Yilmaz, and the leader of the True Path Party,
(DYP) Tansu Ciller. Bulent Ecevit added that at the end of the
first round of talks they would learn about the leaders' ideas
for the new government and later he would evaluate these talks in
his party group meeting. /Sabah/
Virtue Party (FP) Deputy Aydin Menderes resigned from his party
and the party's Consultation Assembly yesterday. After his
resignation Menderes held a press conference saying that he had
no opportunity to serve his party at the moment. Menderes noted
that despite his earlier warnings and declarations of dispproval
concerning the presence of FP Istanbul MP Merve Kavakci at the
May 2 swearing-in session of Parliament, the party administration
had taken no action. He advised his party to settle the
controversy within the norms of a State of Law without escalating
the political tension. /Sabah/
The Republican Chief Prosecutor of the Court of Appeals, Vural
Savas, will open a closure case against the Virtue Party (FP)
today. The Chief Prosecutor will declare in his indictment to be
presented to the Constitutional Court that the FP has violated
the 68th and 69th Articles of the Constitution. He will draw
attention to the fact that the FP has become the focal point of
anti-secular activities and a platform for the continuation of
the defunct Welfare Party (RP). /Hurriyet/
President Suleyman Demirel attended the second day of the 24th
Economists' Week organized by Istanbul University's Association
of Economy Faculty Graduates of yesterday in Istanbul. In his
speech at the symposium Demirel said that Turkey should stand
among the ten most developed countries in the world. He added
that this development ought to be ensured in every field such as
in democracy, in the smooth running of the State and in the
welfare of society. Demirel said, "Turkey should use its
potential in a very rational way. The privatization process
should be accelerated. Turkey should also use the resources
available in the world in order to implement projected
investments worth $ 400 million within the next 20 years.
/Sabah/Aksam/
Coordination Centre officials at the Office of the Prime Minister
met yesterday to discuss the recent developments as the
'headscarf' demonstrations were spreading. The Undersecretary
for the Prime Minister, Ahmet Sagar, chaired the meeting.
National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General Lieutenant
General Tamer Akbas, the Security-Director General and high-level
representatives of the related Ministries attended the meeting
which started at 16.00 hours. The crisis over women wearing
headscarves and the latest developments in Kosovo were discussed.
/Milliyet/
Turkey accused Greece and Greek-Cyprus yesterday of escalating
the tension in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean. Foreign
Ministry Deputy Spokesman Sermet Atacanli said during a press
conference that the continuation of flights to the Greek-Cypriot
border serves only to raise the tension in Cyprus. Atacanli said
that on Wednesday four Greek fighter jets attempted to land at a
military air base in Greek Cyprus, but 'had to turn back without
landing'. He stressed that Greek and Greek-Cypriot provocation
was shaking confidence and harming stability on the island as
well as deeping the rift between both communities. The jets were
taking part in Greek Air Force military exercises near Cyprus.
Meanwhile, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, said that the Turkish-Cypriots were
ready to cooperate with the Greek-Cypriot side, but this was not
possible with the ongoing Greek-Cypriot efforts to turn their
side of the island into a military enclave. /All papers/
Turkey has reacted against a statement made by Italian Prime
Minister Massimo D'Alema to the effect that the process of PKK
Chief Abdullah Ocalan's trial was unacceptable. Turkey, which
recalled that Italy had previously sheltered the head of the PKK
terrorist organization, stressed that the Italian government had
violated international anti-terrorist agreements.
Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Sermet Atacanli held a press
conference yesterday and said that a briefing had been addressed
to Ambassadors concerning those persons who will follow Ocalan's
trial. Atacanli pointed out that foreigners who whish to follow
the trial process should apply to the State Security Court (DGM)
via their Embassies in Ankara; the decision regarding the
approval of their applications will be granted by the DGM. Turkey
had earlier declared that foreigners wishing to follow the trial
could not have the status of 'an observer', but could only attend
the trial as individuals. /Cumhuriyet/
US President Bill Clinton stated that the improving military and
economic cooperation between Turkey and the US contributes to the
peace and stability of a vast region from the Balkans to the
Middle East. Clinton issued a message on the occasion of the
annual `Turco-American Relations' conference held by the American
Friends of Turkey Association and the Turco-American Business
Council, an organization formed by the American-Turkish Council
(ATC) and the Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK). Clinton
said, "Relations between the US and Turkey are progressing
towards new, dynamic developments. These new opportunities in
front of this international bond of cooperation include the
sectors of energy, transport, agriculture, trade and
communications." President Clinton also noted that he believes
this new conference held in Washington will contribute to the
increase in cooperation, trade and investments in the energy
sector./Turkiye/
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has presented a briefing
to the representatives of 40 countries concerning the trial of
Ocalan which will start in May 31. Accordingly, the Ministry
announced that foreigners who would like to attend the trial of
the chief of the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan, must submit individual
applications, or they will not be permitted to observe the
proceedings. Deputy Spokesman Sermet Atacanli said that only
individual applications will be accepted and that no one will
receive preferential treatment. He added applications submitted
with identification cards indicating that they were affiliated to
any institution will not be authorized. Atacanli pointed out that
Ankara State Security Court's Chief Prosecutor's Office will be
responsible for deciding who will be permitted to attend the
trial. /Aksam/Turkiye/
A Turkish business delegation which is currently in the US to
attend a conference on Turco-American relations contacted
officials from the US State Department, Congress members,
representatives from the media and their counterparts. The
businessmen are members of the Turco-American Business Council,
which is active within the scope of the Foreign Economic
Relations Council (DEIK). They were asked many questions on the
political situation following the elections in Turkey,
initiatives to establish the new government, the religious
'headscarf' problem, Turco-Greek relations and the Kosovo crisis
during the meetings.
The Turkish Co-Chairman of the Turco-American Business Council,
Mustafa Koc, is heading the delegation which also includes the
Head of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association
(TUSIAD), Erkut Yucaoglu. /Hurriyet/
The Head of the General Staff's Planning and Principles
Committee, Lieutenant General Batmaz Dandin, has said that in
order to develop Turco-US defence cooperation, Ankara's debts to
the FMS should be written-off, the Defence and Economic
Cooperation Agreement should be reviewed and the US
administration should support Turkey's demands concerning
defence. Dandin, who stressed that the US administration had
imposed restrictions even on the utilization of arms which it had
previously sold to Turkey, said that this could negatively affect
Ankara's purchase of weapons from Washington.
Dandin who participated in the defence committee of the 18th
annual meeting of the Turco-American Relations Conference in
Washington stated that the Defence and Economic Cooperation
Agreement signed in 1980 was unable to meet Turkey's demands.
Dandin recalled that US military aid and loans to Turkey of
nearly $800-900 million annually in previous years have been cut
since last year. /Cumhuriyet/
By the end of a crack-down begun immediately after nine soldiers
were killed by PKK terrorists two days ago in the Yaylidere
township of Bingol, 30 PKK terrorists were killed in the same
region. Turkish Air Forces backed up ground troops during the
intense operations between the Bingol and Tunceli regions.
Military sources announced that operations will continue
unabated. /Aksam/
The Mayor of Tunceli, Hasan Korkmaz, from the Republican People's
Party (CHP), True Path Party (DYP) mayoral candidate, Seyfi
Kilic, and the Head of the Chamber of Trade and Industry, Celal
Yasar, in addition to a person called Ali Kizilkaya were remanded
on charges of supporting the PKK terrorist organization. Korkmaz,
Kilic, Yasar and Kizilkaya were remanded by Malatya No.1 State
Security Court (DGM) yesterday and sent to prison. /Hurriyet/
Of the 11 police officers charged with the manslaughter of
journalist Metin Goktepe in 1995, six were sentenced to seven
years and six months' imprisonment for involuntary manslaughter
in Afyon Criminal Court while five others were acquitted of the
charges. /All papers/
Mehmet Aslan, the Chairman of the Gaziantep Trade Chamber (GTO),
declared that they are inviting tenders for the transport of 2
million tons of crude oil which will be imported from Iraq in
payment to Turkish exporters. Aslan said that following the
agreement that 49 Turkish exporters' claims on Iraq would be
repaid in crude oil, they immediately invited tenders for the
transport of the oil and initiated talks with Halkbank and TUPRAS
(Turkish Oil Refineries Corp.) to this end. Aslan added that this
practice will have quite positive impacts on the economic and
social life of Southeastern Anatolia. /Turkiye/
The Foreign Trade Undersecretariat and the Antalya Exporters'
Union will organize a "Trade Delegation Programme" between 16-18
May in Sanliurfa, part of the efforts to improve the Eastern and
Southeastern regions. With the programme it is aimed to gather
the businessmen of the region and exporters from other regions in
Turkey, to inform them about the GAP project and recent
investments in the Harran Plateau and to create new investment
opportunities. A display of regional exports goods will also be
opened under the auspices of the programme. /Aksam/
Ziya Aktas, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said
that on condition that the Ministry remains under the Democratic
Left Party (DSP) in the new government, they will support foreign
and national private entrepreneurs in the energy sector. Arriving
in Washington in order to attend a conference concerning Turco-US
relations, Aktas pointed out that they would try to re-regulate
the present legal constraints on the ownership of power plants to
try to encourage foreign capital investment in Turkey. He said,
"We want to enact new regulations in the energy sector in order
to grant the right of international arbitration to foreign
enterpreneurs in the case of possible problems."
Remarking that significant developments have recently taken place
in the Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline Project and the Trans-Caspian Natural
Gas Project which are strategically important for Turkey, Aktas
said, "The Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline Project has already become a
national cause. Possible changes in the government will not
change Turkey's sensitive attitude to this issue." /Turkiye/
The increase in the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) Index
continued yesterday. The IMKB National-100 Index increased by
10.036 % and reached 5,590.75 points.
Meanwhile, Central Bank foreign exchange reserves have increased
by over $2 billion during the first four months of this year.
According to Central Bank data, foreign exchange reserves, which
stood at $19.721 billion at the end of last year, increased by
$2.018 billion and rose to $21.739 billion on April 30. As of
April 16, gold reserves were $1.012 billion while foreign
exchange reserves at commercial banks amounted to $10.708
billion. /Hurriyet/
Where as the rate of Turkish exports to EU countries has
increased, the rate of imports has decreased. According to data
from the State Institute of Statistics (SIS), Turkish exports to
EU countries increased by 3.3 % during the first two months of
1999 and rose from $2.047 billion to $2.114 billion. Imports to
EU countries decreased by 29.8 % and fell from $3.509 billion to
$2.464 billion. /Cumhuriyet/
Growth in the employment capacity of the private sector is being
observed and is in line with the positive signals coming from the
economy. According to a survey by the Central Bank, the
employment rate in the private sector, which was 4.3 % in
February, increased to 6.7 % in March. /Cumhuriyet/
The Gendarmes captured yesterday a total of 61 immigrants in
Meric country of Edirne, who were trying to proceed to Greece
illegally, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Officials said that
the immigrants will be deported once the legal proceedings are
completed.
Ali Oymak is also to be brought to Turkey; he is one of the
assistants of Kursat Yilmaz, a Turkish criminal figure, who was
captured in Bulgaria and extradited to Turkey. It is reported
that the procedures for Oymak's extradition have been completed.
Turkish Interpol officials will go to Sofia on May 10 and bring
him to Turkey. /Milliyet/
Avni Musullu, or Sari Avni, was sentenced yesterday in Istanbul's
No.2 State Security Court (DGM) to eight years and nine months in
prison and fined 388 billion TL for hashish smuggling. He had
also been accused of smuggling 6.2 tons of heroin abroad, but the
charge could not be substantiated. /Aksam/
Disbank will establish a bank in the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC). According to a statement issued by Disbank to the
Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB), the capital of the bank will
total $1 million. /Hurriyet/
The television production facility set up by Vestel in the
Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa will be opened on May 8. Vestel
televisions will be produced as part of the initiatives in Africa
which have been implemented since 1997. Initially, they will be
exported to Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe from Ethiopia; first
year projections estimate that 25,000 televisions will be
manufactured. /Hurriyet/
It is expected that Turkey will sign an agreement with Japan for
a $ 870 million credit for the construction of the
Gebze-Haydarpasa-Sirkeci-Halkali Suburbun Train Project. Turkish
officials announced that a certain amount of the money loaned by
the Japanese credit institution, OECF, will be used to meet the
cost of the architectural infrastructure of the project. /Sabah/
Article 50 of the Turkish Straits Sea Traffic Order Regulations
regarding the 'right of free crossing and right of simple
crossing' was annulled, the Anatolia News Agency reports.
Maritime circles appear not to be satisfied with the throwing
open to tender of a new radar station to enchance the safety of
the Turkish Straits, the Anatolia News Agency reported. Radar
control is not enough, said one maritime expert, urging that
extra measures be taken to prevent an increase in traffic through
the Straits. "Faced with increasing traffic, authorities in
control stations struggle to carry out their duties in primitive
conditions while trying to ensure the safe passage of giant
vessels." The setting up of radar stations along Turkey's two
straits, the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles, will take place in
2001.
The European Environmental Training Foundation increased the
number of 'Blue Flags' given to Turkey, which are the symbol of a
clean sea, from 46 to 64. While there were 10 marinas granted a
'Blue Flag' last year, this year this number rose to 11.
/Hurriyet/
Retur Tourism company which brings Spanish and South American
tourists to Turkey is promoting Turkey to nine Spanish
journalists. The General Director of Retur Tourism, Iskender
Cayla, stated that advertising carried out by various
institutions in the sector was insufficient. He said that
rational solutions should be reached in order to revive the
tourism sector. /Cumhuriyet/
One of the leading weekly German magazines, Stern, in its recent
issue evaluated the crisis in tourism throughout the world. Stern
also concentrated on Turkey and said that Turkish representatives
of the tourism sector were doing their utmost to revive the
sector, which has been negatively affected by the war in the
Balkans. The magazine stated that in tourist sites in and around
Antalya, measures to ensure the safety of tourists were being
taken. /Hurriyet/
Forestry Minister Arif Sezer, attending the opening of a seminar
on forestry in Bolu, said that they had purchased 24 helicopters
in order to combat forest fires effectively. Sezer pointed out
that 6,500 hectares of forests were destroyed during fires last
year; these helicopters, which have been purchased to prevent
these fires, cost 3.4 trillion TL. /Hurriyet/
The `TCG Gelibolu' frigate, the fourth of the frigates which were
purchased from the U.S., was welcomed by the Fleet Commandership
in Golcuk in a ceremony on Thursday. The TCG 'Gelibolu' frigate
is able to fire harpoons and standard guided missiles. The fifth
frigate, "TCG Gokceada", will come to Turkey in the following
months, the Anatolian agency says.
Stoyan Stalev, the Bulgarian Ambassador to Turkey, said on
Thursday that there is an imbalance in exports between Turkey and
Bulgaria. Addressing industrialists and businessmen from
Kayseri's Chamber of Industry, Stalev noted that his country had
overcome the political transition period and completed
privatization initiatives in many fields other than heavy
industry, the Anatolian Agency reported.
The 17th Istanbul International Medical Equipment and Hospital
Installations Industrial Fair organized by Intertex A.S. was
opened yesterday. The Fair attended by 50 Turkish and foreign
firsm will stay open until Sunday. /Cumhuriyet/
For the 700th anniversary of the establishment of the Ottoman
Empire an enchanting celebration programme has been organized in
Budapest. The Turkish Embassy in Budapest organized the programme
which already lasted for one week. Last night, a fashion show was
held to exhibit Ottoman clothes and Turkish singers and folk
groups performed for the audiences. /Aksam/
A Turkish ski team has attended the World Ski Trainers' Show
Championship held in Colorado, America and came 20th out of 36
countries. The prowess of the Turkish team was watched with great
pleasure by the audience. /Sabah/
The First Turkish World Women's Congress, organized by the
Foundation for Turkish World Studies, started in Istanbul
yesterday attended by 85 delegates from 37 Turkish communities
all over the world. Prof. Dr. Turan Yazgan, the Head of the
Foundation who delivered a speech during the opening ceremony of
the Congress, said, "Our aim is to reach a unity of language and
thought in the Turkish world. This actually depends on the unity
of the alphabet. While no single nation anywhere in the world
uses even two different alphabets, the Turkish nation reads and
writes in 30 different alphabets. Yet we have to implement a
common alphabet as soon as possible; only Turkish mothers can
achieve this goal." The Congress, which will continue for three
days, focuses on the status of women and on those social,
political and legal regulations needed to improve this status.
/Turkiye/
The noted Algerian singer, Enrico Macias, who stated that he was
in Ankara for a concert after an absence of 33 years, said: "The
tickets for my concert were sold-out on the first day. This is
wonderful! I will come to Turkey again". Macias who performed
yesterday in the Ankara International Music Festival recalled
that his ties with Turkey dated back to the Ottoman Empire. He
said: "I view Turkey as my own country. Turks have protected me
and my descendants". /Hurriyet/
Turkish writer and director Fatih Akin who was born in Hamburg,
Germany, will be given the 'Otto Sprenger' award. According to a
statement issued by the Sprenger Foundation, the film 'Kurz and
Schmerzlos' directed by Akin has been granted this award worth DM
20,000. Akin's award will be presented to him during a ceremony
to be held today.
Turkish writer Emine Sevgi Ozdamar has been granted the Adelbert
von Chamisso Award, worth 20,000 DM, given by the Robert Bosch
Foundation. This award has been granted since 1995 to those
German-language writers who are not of German origin or who
learnt German in another cultural environment. `Das Leben ist
eine Karawaserei' of Ozdamar is being defined by literary critics
as a quite vivid robust epic text. Meanwhile, the Foundations's
Encouragement Award, worth 10,000 DM, has also been granted to a
Turkish writer, Selim Ozdogan, who was born in Cologne in 1971.
/Turkiye/
Fethiye Oludeniz (Dead Sea) is hosting the Extreme Sports
Festival for the first time in Turkey. The Festival is being
attended by many sportsmen from various countries during which
competitions such as bungee jumping, sky diving and motocross
will be held. /Milliyet/
The 5th International Ankara Caricature Festival will be
organized between May 7 and 11, 1999, the Anatolia News Agency
reports. Addressing a press conferece, Nezih Danyal, the Chairman
of the Caricature Foundation, noted that nine international
exhibitions, a symposium on 'Caricature and Philosophy' and a
cartoon performance will be organized with the participation of
many Turkish and foreign caricaturists, scientists and artists.
Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz, the Head of Department of the Religious
Affairs, said yesterday that the Department wil open a cultural
centre in New York and a research centre in Washington D.C. to
provide centres for the Turkish population living there, the
Anatolia News Agency reports.
Seven marbles historical wroks belonged to the Roman Empire
period and four wooden panels belonged to the Ulu Mosque in
Divrigi county of Sivas, will be returned to Turkey, the Anatolia
News Agency reports.
The Turkish Ministry of Culture will participate in the `Opera
Evenings', organized by the Opera Department of the Macedonian
National Theatre. According to the statement issued by the
Ministry, State Opera and Ballet artists Naci Ozguc, Senol
Talinli, Suat Arikan and Birgul Su Aric will represent Turkey
between May 9-31 in Scopje. /Turkiye/
Sedat Sertoglu, a columnist for `Sabah', reflects on Russian
plans for energy resources in the Caspian Region. Sertoglu
writes:
"We have recently noted in this column that Russia wants to
expand her scope of influence in Caucasia and the Middle East.
She aims to take hold of, or at least to be able to manipulate
according to her own interests, the petroleum and natural gas
resources in the region. That is quite dangerous for Turkey...
Mortimer Zuckerman is the Editor-in-Chief of the US News and
World Report. He published quite an interesting essay in the
latest issue of the magazine issued yesterday; Zuckerman also
addresses the `same danger'. He notes that if Russia achieves her
goals concerning the energy resources in the Caspian Region, not
only will she become richer she will also obtain new strategic
opportunities. Remarking that Russia intends to establish an oil
cartel together with Iran and Iraq in the region, he states that
Turkey is among the countries which will be negatively affected
by such development. Zuckerman adds that if Russia succeeds in
establishing an energy cartel including Iran and Iraq in the
Caspian Basin and the Middle East, it is likely that Saudi Arabia
will also eventually participate in such an alliance. He
emphasizes that Russia has already taken steps to implement this
plan and criticizes the Clinton Administration for remaining
inert in the face of this dangerous Russian policy, noting that
the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project should definitely be completed.
Now it becomes clear that we have to spoil this Russian game
which is of a vital importance for Turkey. For this reason, we
have to take steps to influence both the Clinton Administration
and the US Congress. To this end, we may also cooperate with
Israel, who has an effective lobby in Washington. For as far as
we are informed in Washington, there is a Russian lobby within
the US Administration as well. Jewish circles are also aware of
the danger. They know that the implementation of the Primakov
Doctrine will also result in a great deal of damage to Israeli
interests. Moreover, Turkey should intensify her diplomatic
efforts not only towards Washington but also towards Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Turkmenistan and Khazakstan, warning them of the dangers
of this Russian game which will harass them in the future.
It is not only the task of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to
prevent this game. Other institutions also have to help this
Ministry. In particular, the Ministry of Energy and Natural
Resources must immediately implement measures. We have to get
into action as soon as possible, if not earlier."
Columnist Sami Kohen from the daily 'Milliyet' writes on the
views of Europeans towards Turkey. A summary of his column is as
follows:
"It is very hard to understand the recent stand taken by
Europeans towards Turkey. They want to see Turkey on their side;
however they are doing everything they can to push Turkey far
away from themselves. Following the recent Election, European
diplomats and analysts stated that the 'nationalists' had come to
power in Turkey, and this would be reflected in Turkey's policy
towards Europe. They also added that the main reason for this
result was the negative policy the EU had followed towards
Turkey. From the prestigious 'Times' newspaper to 'Time'
magazine, many influential organs of the press suggested that if
the West did not want Turkey to change its foreign policy, they
should change their own policy towards Ankara. However, it is
understood that the leading politicians and institutions in
Europe still insist on their old ways and display the same
negative attitudes.
The main elements in the draft resolution prepared by the seven
political groups in the European Parliament, the legislative
organ of the EU, show that these circles view the "Ocalan case"
only from their own viewpoints and their norms. For example, they
believe that the State Security Court is not independent and
therefore the trial would not be "fair". The existence of
'capital punishment' under Turkish law is another factor which
casts a shadow on the trial. They are also critical of the
decision not to permit foreign "observers" to follow the trial.
The European Parliament is also complaining about the harassment
of Ocalan's lawyers and obstructions preventing them from working
properly.
It is believed that during Ocalan's trial which will start at the
end of the month, similar complaints and criticisms will be
heard. This bears the danger of leading to a tense, difficult
period in mutual relations due to the harsh reactions such
European interventions would draw in Turkey. The acceptance of
conditions imposed by the Europeans concerning the Ocalan trial
by the Turkish public, which is highly sensitive on the issue
cannot be expected. Some Europeans understand this point, others
do not.
The Europeans should know that taking the State Security Courts
out of the system or abolishing capital punishment at this point
is not a realistic expectation. However, the important point is
to prevent this issue from becoming a subject of dispute between
Turkey and Europe. Therefore, the Europeans should not insist on
conditions such as the abolition of the State Security Courts or
capital punishment.
Despite all of these develoments, Turkey should not pretend to be
deaf to the voices coming from the West and instead of taking a
defiant stand, she should be careful to improve her standards of
human rights and freedoms, and her justice system. Practical
solutions could be found concerning the 'observers' and an
atmosphere where the lawyers could work as they wish could be
provided.
We should not wait for the suggestions or intervention of others
to implement the conditions needed for the best interests of our
country."
FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS
ECEVIT TO BEGIN COALITION TALKS ON SATURDAY
FP DEPUTY MENDERES RESIGNS FROM HIS PARTY
SAVAS OPENS CLOSURE CASE AGAINST FP
DEMIREL: "TURKEY TO BE AMONG THE 10 DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IN THE
WORLD"
MEETING AT THE PRIME MINISTRY
ANKARA: "GREECE AND GREEK CYPRUS ESCALATING TENSION"
ANKARA REACTS AGAINST D'ALEMA
CLINTON PRAISES TURKEY
"NO PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT OF FOREIGNERS"
TURKISH DELEGATION IN US
DANDIN: "FMS DEBTS SHOULD BE WRITTEN-OFF"
30 PKK TERRORISTS KILLED
TUNCELI MAYOR ARRESTED
SIX POLICE OFFICERS CONVICTED IN GOKTEPE CASE
IRAQI OIL ON THE WAY
INVESTMENT IN GAP
ENERGY SECTOR TO BE OPENED TO FOREIGN INVESTORS
IMKB INDEX RISES
EXPORTS TO EU
EMPLOYMENT IN PRIVATE SECTOR INCREASES
A TOTAL OF 61 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED
EXTRADITION OF ALI OYMAK
PRISON SENTENCE FOR `SARI AVNI'
DISBANK IN TRNC
VESTEL TO PRODUCE TELEVISIONS IN ETHIOPIA
JAPANESE CREDIT FOR MARMARAY PROJECT
ONE ARTICLE OF TURKISH STRAITS SEA TRAFFIC ORDER REGULATIONS
ANNULED
SAFETY OF THE STRAITS
TURKEY HAS 64 BLUE FLAGS
TURKEY PROMOTED TO FOREIGN JOURNALISTS
STERN CONCENTRATES ON TURKEY
24 NEW FOREST FIRE-FIGHTING HELICOPTERS
TCG `GELIBOLU' IN GOLCUK
STALEV, BULGARIAN AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: "EXPORTS BETWEEN TURKEY
AND BULGARIA ARE UNBALANCED"
MEDICAL FAIR IN ISTANBUL
OTTOMAN NIGHT IN BUDAPEST
TURKISH SKI TEAM IN THE US
THE WOMEN OF THE TURKISH WORLD MEET
ENRICO MACIAS STAGES CONCERT IN ANKARA
FATIH AKIN RECEIVES OTTO SPRENGER AWARD
AWARD FOR TURKISH WRITERS
EXTREME SPORTS FESTIVAL IN FETHIYE
5TH INTERNATIONAL ANKARA CARICATURE FESTIVAL
DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS TO OPEN A CULTURAL CENTRE
SEVEN MARBLE HISTORICAL WORKS TO BE RETURNED TO TURKEY
TURKISH OPERA ARTISTS TO GO TO MACEDONIA
FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS ... FROM THE COLUMNS
THE RUSSIAN GAME - BY SEDAT SERTOGLU (SABAH)
BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE SAYS ANYTHING...- BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)