DEMIREL SENDS A LETTER TO ARAFAT

President Suleyman Demirel sent a letter to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat expressing Turkey's uneasiness concerning the demonstrations in support of the chief of the PKK, Abdullah Ocalan, and Virtue Party (FP) MP Merve Kavakci. In his letter Demirel said that Turkey has supported the Palestinian cause since the beginning on every occasion Drawing attention to the the fact radical groups in Palestine have been demonstrating in support of Ocalan, Demirel declared that Turkey was aggrieved by this stance. /Aksam/

ECEVIT TO INITIATE SECOND ROUND OF COALITION TALKS

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who conducted the first round of coalition talks with leaders of other parties represented in Parliament last Saturday, declared yesterday that he intended to hold a second round of coalition talks on Monday. However, he said he has not decided whether to meet all the party leaders or just those with whom he intends to establish a partnership in government. Ecevit said that the Democratic Left Party (DSP) Assembly will meet on Sunday, discuss developments and make their evaluations. /Sabah/

CROATIAN DEPUTY PM RADIC IN TURKEY

Croatia's Deputy Prime Minister Jure Radic arrived in Ankara yesterday on an official visit, the Anatolian News Agency reported. Radic will be received by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit tomorrow and hold talks with State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel and Tourism Minister Ahmet Tan. Radic will leave for Croatia on Sunday.

BRITISH TRADE MINISTER IN ISTANBUL

British Trade Minister Brian Wilson paid a visit to the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) on Wednesday to press for greater partnership and investment between Turkey and Britain. Wilson has indicated that he believes the visit will build on the already-existing good commercial relations between the two countries. The M inister is leading a select business team from various sectors such as health care, construction, energy, and water. Following their talks in Istanbul, the British trade delegation went to Ankara and visited Energy and Natural Resources Minister Ziya Aktas in his office. After the meeting, Aktas told journalists that British companies are extremely interested in energy projects in Turkey. In addition to the construction of power plants and dams, British firms want to invest in Turkish natural gas, oil and irrigation projects, added Aktas. Wilson also met State Minister Hikmet Ulugbay to officially sign the protocol aiming at developing economic, commercial and financial relations between Turkey and Britain. /Aksam/

IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SUMMONS TURKISH ENVOY

The Turkish Ambassador to Tehran, Sencer Ozsoy, was summoned late on Wednesday to the Iranian Foreign Ministry where he held talks with Iranian Housing and Border Security Minister Penahi Azar. Ozsoy said the Minister expressed a request from Iran for cooperation between Turkish and Iranian border guards to investigate a recent incident in the border area. He added that he would convey the Iranian Minister's request to the proper authorities in Ankara. /All papers/

GREEK PROVOCATION IN THE AEGEAN

A Greek Coastguard vessel opened fire on a Turkish fishing boat early yesterday morning off the Kuşyakasi coasts near Ayvacik in Canakkale. Later, they took three Turkish fishermen, one of whom was wounded, to Midilli Island. According to the Athens News Agency (ANA), the Turkish fishing boat had refused to turn back to Turkish waters and the fishermen had resisted Greek Coast-guards with knives. /Aksam/

KYRGYZ DEFENCE MINISTER PAYS TURKEY A VISIT

Kyrgyzstan Defence Minister Lt. General Mirzakan Subanov paid a visit to his Turkish counterpart Hikmet Sami Turk. At a press conference following the meeting between the two associates, Turk stated that Kyrgyzstan is a friendly country upon which Turkey places great value. He added that since 1992, when Turkey recognized the independency of Kyrgyzstan over 70 agreements and protocols had been signed between the two nations and noted that an additional protocol had been signed envisaging that Kyrgyz Air Force pilots receive technical training in Turkey. /Turkiye/

IBDA/C-PKK RELATIONSHIP

The Islamic Eastern Pioneering Front (IBDA/C) organization has reached an agreement with the PKK to begin concerted attacks. The IBDA/C which is aiming to increase its supporters in Turkey has tried to reach its goals via the PKK. It is reported that IBDA/C and PKK representatives met at the beginning of May in Istanbul and decided to act together. It has also been said that the outlawed DHKP/C will participate in the actions with them in the near future. /Hurriyet/

CUDI TV INSTEAD OF MED-TV

Cudi TV station, established after the MED-TV broadcasts were suspended by the British Independent Broadcasting Institution (ITC), started its broadcasts yesterday. The TV station broadcasts via the same satellite and channel as MED-TV. /Cumhuriyet/

HIZBULLAH FOLLOWS PKK

Hizbullah militants who have almost lost their foothold in city centres in the Southeastern region have switched their activities to rural areas. Officials reported that Hizbullah militants have established gangs in the Cinar and Karacadag districts with the help of the outlawed PKK terrorist organization. Adding that chief of the organization, Huseyin Velioglu, remains in the region near the Iran-Iraq border under the control of the Iranian Hizbullah organization, the report claimed that the organization had carried out attacks in the same manner as PKK actions in the region. Intelligence services noted that Hizbullah chief Huseyin Velioglu had met PKK representatives by means of the Kurdistan Hizbullah Party leader Ethem Barzani, and asked the PKK for support in order to widen the scope of their activities in rural areas in the Southeastern region of Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/

STABILIZATION TO CONTINUE

The Democratic Left Party (DSP), which is likely to be the major party in the coalition government to be formed in the next few weeks, has determined both its conditions for the government protocol and the goals to be pursued through the 1999 Budget Law on the basis of their aim to `continue the anti-inflation programme' which was implemented last year. Due to the current stagnation in the Turkish economy, however, certain measures in the programme which may result in a relative contraction within the economy will be revised. It is reported that the outlines of the economic policies, which the DSP will present to its possible coalition partners, are compatible with the major principles of the existing programme. Yet, included in the draft programme which has been prepared by Hikmet Ulugbay, the Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister responsible for the Economy, Zekeriya Temizel, the former Minister of Finance, and Hakan Tartan, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, a 2-year `smooth transition period' which would be adopted by the IMF and the World Bank is envisaged. Accordingly, the main objective of the new programme is to decrease the rate of inflation to 3%, the only acceptable level for the EU, by means of structural reforms. In this respect, priority will be given to the enactment of the Banking Law. In addition, the DSP regards the implementation of the credit agreement made with the IMF as being among the most important conditions for a possible coalition government. /Milliyet/

OECD PRAISES TURKEY'S ECONOMIC PROGRAMME

The Economic Cooperation and Development Organization (OECD) has prepared an early report concerning the Turkish economy prior to the economic report that it will issue in June. The preliminary report noted that Turkey has been applying successful economic measures in its struggle to decrease inflation over the last two years. It is also stressed that Turkey has achieved tax reforms. The evaluation report added that this should be supported by privatization, social security and banking reforms in order to obtain improved results. /Hurriyet/

NEW US UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE SUPPORTS TURKISH ECONOMIC POLICIES

Stuart Eizenstat, recently appointed Undersecretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs, has said that he supports Turkey's current economic policies and is following developments in the Turkish economy. He met State Minister Hikmet Ulugbay in Washington for meetings with the World Bank and the IMF. It is expected that Eizenstat will play an important role in a financial aid agreement to be signed between Turkey and the IMF. /Turkiye/

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES INCREASE

The Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves increased by $ 470 million at the end of the first week of May. According to Central Bank reports, foreign exchange reserves which were $ 21.7 billion on 30 April, increased to $ 22.2 billion at the end of 7 May. Same sources reported that Turkey's national reserves also increased to $ 33.6 billion as of 22 April. /Aksam/

UNION LEADERS FROM THREE CONTINENTS

An International Conference at which hundreds of union leaders from three continents are to meet in Balikesir will start today. The Conference is being organized by DISK Genel-Is Union. Germany, Britain, France, Spain, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Russia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, India, Colombia, Venezuela, Benin and Burkina Faso will attend the Conference between 14-16 May. It is reported that unemployment, international cooperation among unions and how to increase the effectiveness of unions are some of the topics to be covered during the Conference. /Cumhuriyet/

OIC MEETING ENDS IN ISTANBUL

The 15th Committee Meeting of the Islamic Conference Organization's Permanent Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation ended in Istanbul. Chairman Orhan Guvenen, who is the Head of the Turkish State Planning Organization (DTP), said in his closing speech at the end of the Conference that the organization should be improved in order not to be left behind in the developments of the next century. /Turkiye/

ERDEMIR INCREASING ITS REVENUES

The General Director of the Eregli Iron and Steel Factory (Erdemir), Tanju Argun, said that their target is to enter the top 10 in Europe. He added that at the beginning of the year there had been a decrease in the revenues of Erdemir due to fluctuating rates of exchange, however, he added, since April an increase in revenues met the loss. He noted that Erdemir is one of the leader institutions to take Turkey to the next century. /Aksam/

TENTH BRANCH OF BANCA TURCO ROMANA

Banca Turco Romana, the bank of the Bayindir Group in Romania, opened its tenth branch in the country. Remarking that Banca Turco Romana uses a higher technological infrastructure compared to its local competitors, Levent Yorukoglu, the General Manager of the Bank, stated that they will open eight more branches in Romania this year. According to data provided by the Romanian Central Bank, Banca Turco Romana holds 40% of the total volume of transactions on the bond market in Romania. /Sabah/

CHINESE WANT TO BUY TURKISH PRODUCTS

During a meeting on Turco-Chinese relations in Istanbul, Chinese Consul-General, Li Bing Kong, invited Turkish investors to come in his country. Kong said, "We are ready to cooperate with Turkish investors. We want to buy more Turkish products." It is reported that the trade volume between China and Turkey was $831 million last year. /Milliyet/

DUTCH PARTNER TO PORCAN

Porcan Holdings, one of the leading firms in the Turkish information sector, has signed a `strategic merger agreement' with the Dutch-based Mackley International Co. M.Sevki Can, the Chairman of the Executive Board of Porcan, remarked that the Holdings is an investment firm and said, "Our vision is to develop through establishing funds for those firms and projects which have a promising future in the technological arena." Can also noted that they are planning to go public in the year 2000. /Sabah/

ALI KIBAR APPOINTED AS HONORARY CONSUL

Ali Kibar, the Vice Chairman of the Executive Board of Kibar Holdings and the Chairman of the Executive Board of Hyundai Assan, has been appointed as the Honorary Consul of South Korea to Istanbul due to his remarkable success in the development of the economic and social relations between South Korea and Turkey. /Sabah/

THY SELLS PLANE TO CYPRUS TURKISH CYPRUS AIRLINES

Turkish Airlines (THY) sold an Airbus A 310/203 to Cyprus Turkish Airlines, reports the Anatolian News Agency. According to the statement sent to the Istanbul Stock Exhange (IMKB) by the THY, the plane was delivered to Cyprus Turkish Airlines on Wednesday due to a 15-million-dollar agreement.

TURKISH TOURISM ON INTERNET

Turkey's touristi regions, Turkish cuisine, daily life and tourist activities in Turkey will be promoted on the Internet. Information in English concerning Turkish tourism can be reached t the Internet address: "http://tourism.gov.tr" . The foreign bureaus of the Ministry of Tourism have web-pages also written in German, French, Italian and Japanese. /Aksam/

ISTANBUL MUNICIPAL THEATRE IN FRANCE

Istanbul Municipality Theatre continues to present its plays abroad during the summer season. A play by Moliere, At he End of Autumn or The Bourgeois Gentleman" will be staged in Marseilles on May 18-19 within the context of the 700th anniversary celebrations of the Ottoman Empire, reported the Anatolian News Agency.

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

ECEVIT'S SUCCESSFUL MANEOUVRE - BY YALCIN DOGAN (MILLIYET)

Yalcin Dogan, a columnist in `Milliyet', reflects on Prime Minister Ecevit's recent successful strategy on the way to a new coalition government. Dogan writes: "Bulent Ecevit, the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), has been quite careful since he was given the mandate to form the new government. Although he was given the mandate ten days ago, he has not yet taken a concrete step towards the formation of the new government. This is because Ecevit has serious reservations about some fundamental issues like the `headscarf' and the Ministry of National Education. Ecevit is trying to estimate how the DSP and the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) can come together, given their substantial differences with regard to these issues. Yet there is an obvious Election result, i.e. the MHP, one of the winners of the Election, has to take part in the new government. Otherwise, an Opposition block consisting of the MHP and the Virtue Party (FP) would be an unhealthy alternative for Turkey. Rather than thinking about the usefulness of a government inclusive of the MHP, Ecevit considers the difficulties of it. Displaying the `difficulties' of such a coalition, he tries to persuade the MHP to give further concessions. Apparently, he has had some success with this maneouvre. Ecevit expresses his reservations about a partnership with the MHP on every occasion. During his meeting with Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz, he emphasized a formula `without the MHP'. He insisted that the Ministry of National Education remain under the auspices of the DSP. He even said, `Otherwise, we may investigate the possibility of a DSP-ANAP-DYP (True Path Party) government'. Indeed, Ecevit has not started coalition meetings in their real sense. There is no such classical development as meetings between party leaders to deliberate on the outlines of a possible government, or between effective party representatives in order to discuss the details of the coalition. The tip of the iceberg reflects only expectations to the public. Beneath this there are the protocols of all three parties to consider, i.e. of the DSP, MHP and ANAP, concerning their conditions imposed on a possible coalition government. Yet those protocols still remain in place as tentative policy exercises by these parties. Nevertheless, there is a file which was handled by Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the MHP, to Bulent Ecevit, concerning the question of the appointment of the parties' own cadres to positions in the state. According to the MHP, such `cadres' movement has been most intensively experienced during the last two governments. After going `around the houses', then, everybody returns to the initial path: DSP-MHP-ANAP. Ecevit is the best party leader who knows how to share his reservations and achievements with the public. And he takes advantage of it to a great extent."

SOFTENING OF STANDS - BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)

Columnist Fikret Bila from "Milliyet" writes on the formation of a new coalition government. A summary of his column is as follows: "Following Ecevit's second round of discussions, Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan, who has taken on the responsibility of mediation, will meet the Chairman of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), Devlet Bahceli, on Tuesday. Ozkan met the Chairman of the Motherland Party(ANAP), Mesut Yilmaz, yesterday. Ozkan's shuttle diplomacy prior to Ecevit's discussions, reveals the infrastructure of the 57th government. Ozkan will meet Bahceli and Yilmaz for a second time before Monday. The basis for a coalition between the Democratic Left Party (DSP), the Motherland Party (ANAP) and the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) will be prepared by Monday, before Ecevit meets Bahceli and Yilmaz. Have the "sensitive" issues between the DSP and the MHP been solved? This question can be answered positively as a softening of rigid opinions was reached on the 'headscarf' question which stood as the most sensitive issue between the two parties. It can be said that this question was not a setback for the formation of a government following discussions between Bahceli and Ozkan. The Chairman of the MHP indicated that his party is not going to impose a solution on the issue. However, he also stated that this has been brought to the level of a social problem and must be taken out of the hands of politicians. He has also said that such an issue did not exist 15 or 20 years ago, not until the politicans took up this problem. The DSP has understood from this reply that if the MHP takes its place in the government it will not demand any administrative or legal changes. Thus this problem will not be a barrier to the formation of a government. Starting from this point, it is expected that new steps towards a coalition government will be taken during Ozkan's discussions with Bahceli and Yilmaz. If no new problems arise, the division of the Ministries among the parties and the election of a Speaker to the TGNA will be solved. In case Ozkan reaches this stage during his meetings, Ecevit will bring the coalition proposal to these leaders on Monday after obtaining the views of the President on the issue".

SPECIAL KOSOVO

NATO AND TURKEY DISCUSS DETAILS

Military talks between NATO and the Turkish General Staff are still in progress over technical details. A General Staff statement on Thursday said that NATO aircraft would take part in air strikes leaving from bases located in Western Anatolia, The statement said that further information concerning the latest developments would be made available later. Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense William Cohen stated that the air strikes against Yugoslavia will become more intensive and effective after the inclusion of the bases in Turkey and Hungary. Since the beginning of the operation in late March, eleven Turkish military jets have been participating in the air strikes against Yugoslavia. The planes are stationed at Ghedy Air Base in Italy. /Aksam/

CEM: "WE DO NOT DECLARE WAR"

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, said that Turkey's opening of air bases to NATO did not mean that Turkey was declaring war against Yugoslavia. He added that Turkey is only meeting her responsibilities as a part of NATO. Cem stressed that the Kosovo issue is of utmost importance in Turkey's foreign policy, however, he added, Turkey does not hold any enmity against the Yugoslav people. He said that the Office of the Chief of General Staff will conduct the allocation of bases in conjuction with NATO. /Hurriyet/

NUMBER OF KOSOVAR REFUGESS IN TURKEY REACHES 15,500

The Interior Ministry announced yesterday that a total of 15,500 brefugees, who are obliged to leave Kosovo due to oppression and massacre, arrived in Turkey. The Ministry issued a statement saying that 6,928 Kosovar refugees have entered Turkey from the Kapikule Border Gate in Edirne, 6,939 others have arrived at the Corlu Airport in Tekirdag and 1,633 of them have arrived at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul. It said that 6,604 of those kosovar refugess are hosted at the Gaziosmanpasa Immigrants' Guesthouse in Kirklareli, reported the Anatolia News Agency.

TURKISH F-16s FLY 1,341 HOURS IN NATO OPERATION

Turkish F-16 fighters participating in the NATO operation against Yugoslavia have accumulated a total of 1,341 flight hours, reports the Anatolian News Agency. According to data provided by the General Staff Information Centre, NATO fighters returned to their bases after flying for 568 hours on Wednesday and early on Thursday without any losses.

WOUNDED KOSOVAR MILITIAMEN IN TURKEY

Three wounded Kosovar militiamen from the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) were brought to Turkey for treatment. They arrived yesterday at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport and were immediately taken to Istanbul's Capa Hospital. /Aksam/

CONTEMPORARY TURKISH ARTISTS EXHIBITION OPENS FOR KOSOVO

'A Contemporary Turkish Artists Exhibition' organized by Cultural Art Foundation (KUSAV) to help Kosovo will open on May 19 at Dolmabahce Cultural Center. The exhibition's income will be sent to Kosovo. The exhibition can be seen until May 23, reported the Anatolian News Agency.

FROM KOSOVO TO NORTHERN IRAQ - BY ENIS BERBEROGLU (HURRIYET)

Columnist Enis Berberoglu expounds on the opening up of Turkish air bases to NATO. A summary of his column is as follows: "Turkey's decision to open up its air bases to NATO to aid the Kosovo operation bears a significance far greater than its responsibility towards NATO as a member of the Alliance. The support given by Turkey, and new NATO member Hungary to US policies have balanced the scales of power which had turned against Washington. We have to recall that a few members of NATO are opposed to the policies of the Organization and the US which planned to force Yugoslavia to listen to reason. They are Athens, which opposed the air strikes from the first day onwards, Germany, whose coalition government of Social Democrats and Greens came near to splitting over the crisis, and Italy, who is afraid of an influx of refugees... It is clear that Russia is being dragged into a political chaos...The barrier in front of the US, who wants to export the New World Order to the Balkans, is no longer Russia but her European allies. If the Kosovo operation turns into a never-ending story as it has in Iraq, the Democrats will find themselves in a very difficult position just before the approaching elections in the US. Therefore, Turkey's contribution to US millitary plans with the support she has provided by opening up her bases should be greatly appreciated. First of all, Serbian defence systems which have become used to air strikes coming from the same direction will be confused.Secondly, the number of sorties will increase and Serbia will be hit all day long. Do the US and Turkey, who have confirmed the alliance between them, differ in their policies towards Iraq? We believe that this is the question which will present some problems for Ankara. From 1994 onwards, the US has been approaching the Middle East from the Ankara-Tel Aviv axis. However, the warming of relation between the US and Iran during the Kosovo operation in order to keep Iraq under control is muddling heads. The agreement between Ankara and Tel Aviv on Northern Iraq is clear. That they jointly wish to preserve the territorial integrity of Iraq and are against the formation of an independent Kurdish state is the main reason for this alliance from Turkey's point of view. On the other hand, it is also known that Iran is planning to divide Iraq and form a Shiite state under her protection. It is also evident that an independent Kurdish state will be within the sphere of Iran's influence. It should not be forgotten, at least by Turkey's allies, that she views Kosovo and Northern Iraq in the same light."

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