PROSECUTORS DEMAND DEATH FOR OCALAN

In their closing arguments during the trial of the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, prosecutors reiterated that Ocalan should be sentenced to death. The presentation of the prosecutors' final arguments indicated that the trial is quickly approaching its end and could conclude before the end of the month, judicial observers said. After an unexpectedly short two-hour session yesterday, the court ruled for the adjournment of the case to June 23 to give Ocalan's lawyers time to prepare for his final defence. /All papers/

DEMIREL: "GREECE IS AMONG THE MAIN SUPPORTERS OF TERRORISTS'

President Suleyman Demirel said yesterday that Greece was pursuing hostile policies against Turkey in every area and added: "Greece is among the main supporters of the PKK terrorist organization". Demirel received the Head of the Foundation for Children with Leukemia, Dr.Ustun Ezer, and the Head of the Thrace-Rumelia-Balkan Association, Esref Yazicioglu, yesterday. He further remarked that Greece was also not carrying out its obligations towards the Turkish minority living in Western Thrace; Demirel declared: "These cannot be ignored". /Cumhuriyet/

BELGIAN VISA FOR MED-TV

MED-TV, whose broadcasts have been halted by the British TV watchdog, the 'ITC', due to its support for the PKK terrorist organization, resumed broadcasting via the Eutel-Sat satellite from Belgium nearly one week ago. MED-TV is now broadcasting 12 hours a day under the name of 'CTV'. /Hurriyet/

LE FIGARO COVERS STRICT SECURITY MEASURES ON IMRALI ISLAND

The 'Le Figaro' newspaper published in France devoted wide coverage to the strict security measures in force on Imrali Island where the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, is being tried. The impressions of French correspondent Eric Biegala, who followed the trial, were given in an article entitled 'Imrali: a prison island under strict security'. The article said that state-of-the-art technology was being used to implement these measures, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

HEAVY BLOW AGAINST PKK

At the end of security forces' operations in Eruh district of Siirt seven terrorists were killed. Elsewhere, a group of terrorists attacked a village in the Ulukale township of Tunceli killing two civilians. As a result of mopping-up operations by the security forces in and around the regions, four more terrorists have been killed. Meanwhile, two terrorists surrendered to security units in Bingol. According to officials at the end of a crack-down in the Hafik region of Sivas, five members of the outlawed TKP- ML TIKKO were seized with their weapons. /Turkiye/

SCHROEDER: "I AM SORRY"

Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has expressed regret that Germany could not manage to secure any rapprochement between Turkey and the EU during its Presidency. Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Schroeder said that they aimed at outlining an explicit calendar on advancing Turco-EU rapprochement, but had failed to do that due to the objections raised by a few Union members. /All papers/

CEM TO VISIT GERMANY

Tomorrow in Cologne, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will take part in a meeting during which stability in the Balkans will be discussed. The meeting will be attended by EU Troika countries consisting of Austria, Germany and Finland, and the Southeastern European countries. It is expected that Cem will meet Foreign Minister Joscha Fischer of Germany, the country which will pass on the EU Presidency to Finland on July 1. /Hurriyet/

IRAN CONGRATULATES ECEVIT

The First Deputy to the Iranian President, Hasan Habibi, sent a congratulatory message to Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. According to the IRNA news agency, Habibi congratulated Ecevit on his re-appointment as Prime Minister and said that he hoped bilateral relations between Turkey and Iran would further develop. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY HOSTS GEORGIAN-ABKHAZIAN PEACE TALKS

Starting from Monday, Turkey undertook the role of host to settle the border problem between Abkhazia and Georgia. Talks are being held in Istanbul and have attracted attention from a variety of countries. Committees of 25 members each from Georgia and Abkhazia are attending the meeting, as are 10-member committees representing Georgians and Abkhazians who live in Turkey. The talks are dealing not just with political and security aspects but with its economic, human and social aspects as well. /All papers/

RICCARDIONE IN ANKARA

Frank Riccardione, the special US representative for transition in Iraq, arrived in Turkey late on Monday for talks on the future of Iraq. Riccardione is expected to have talks with Turkish Foreign Ministry officials and brief them on the recent meetings between the Iraqi dissidents and high-level American officials in Washington. /All papers/

MALAYSIAN GUEST

Turco-Malaysian meetings on defense industry cooperation have begun in Ankara. Within this framework, the Malaysian Chief of General Staff, General Zahidi Bin Hj Zainuddin, visited his Turkish counterpart Huseyin Kivrikoglu in his office. Meetings between the military delegations of the two countries were held at the Ministry of Defence under the chairmenship of Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, the Minister of Defense, and the Malaysian Chief of General Staff, General Zainuddin. /Turkiye/

POPEYE MISSILES PROJECT AWAITS TREASURY APPROVAL

Approval from both the Turkish and Israeli Treasuries will pave the way for the start of the joint manufacture in Turkey of air-to-ground Popeye missiles under an Israeli licence, the American-based 'Defence News' magazine has reported. The magazine said that the $200 million project which was agreed upon in 1997 cannot begin without the approval of the two countries' Treasuries and the working-out of the details of an Israeli private sector loan supported by the Tel Aviv government. /All papers/

BAHCELI: "WE HAVE TO MAKE SACRIFICES FOR THE COALITION"

Nationalist Action Party (MHP) Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli stated yesterday that coalition governments can only be formed if the sides make sacrifices. Bahceli stressed that none of the partners will be able to fulfill all of the promises made to their grassroots or implement all of the items stated on their election platforms and in their party programmes. Bahceli claimed that the ongoing Ocalan case is being carried out successfully and that Turkey has proven the independence of its legal system. /All papers/

DEMIREL APPROVES THE APPOINTMENT OF SEL

It is reported that a decree issued concerning the appointment of Cuneyt Sel as the Treasury Undersecretary has been approved by President Suleyman Demirel. The decree concerning this appointment will be published in the Official Gazette today. /Hurriyet/

CHINA SUPPORTS ANNAN'S INITIATIVES

The Chinese Head of State, Ciang Zemin, said that he supported the initiatives of the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, to find a just and rational solution to the Cyprus problem through a series of meetings. Zemin met the Greek-Cypriot Leader, Glafkos Klerides, who is paying a six-day visit to China. Zemin stated that the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus should be respected and added that they wanted to develop friendship and cooperation with Cyprus. /Cumhuriyet/

OCALAN'S ITALIAN FAN BEING TRIED

The Italian suspect Domiano Giovanni Frisullo, whose one-year imprisonment decision had been cancelled by the Court of Cassation, was tried before Diyarbakir No.3 State Security Court (DGM). The court postponed the trial in order to await the reply of Ankara DGM. Frisullo tried to disseminate PKK propaganda during the Nevruz celebrations last year. /Aksam/

ANOTHER ARMENIAN MONUMENT IN FRANCE

It is reported that the Municipal Authorities in Grenoble unveiled a monument on June 5, 1999, to commemorate the so-called Armenian genocide. The monument was erected despite pressure from the Turkish Embassy in France under the auspices of the French Foreign Ministry. It has been remarked that this will further increase hostility against Turkey. A written statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that the monument was aimed at damaging Turco-French relations and stated that scientists who are conducting international research have found evidence that there was no Armenian genocide. /Cumhuriyet/

ALAATTIN CAKICI IN COURT

Alaattin Cakici, who was granted a conditional release after being sentenced to six months for entering France on a false passport, will appear in a French court again today, the Anatolia News Agency reports. An Axi En Provence court will reach a final decision today on Cakici's attorneys' request to be released on bail and kept under house arrest until the procedures for his extradition to Turkey are completed.

TANTAN: "INTERIOR MINISTRY IS FOUNDATION OF THE STATE"

Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan sent a circular to the governors of 80 cities and related organizations yesterday in which he stated that the responsibilities of the Interior Ministry were not limited only to those of security issues and local administration. "The Interior Ministry is the foundation of the state, clearing the path for other public institutions, and ministries to serve in the best way possible", the Anatolia News Agency reported Tantan as saying.

SECURITY REPORT

In a report prepared by the General Directorate of Security about the Kurdish Islamic Movement (KIH), it was declared that the organization has been sending its members to the El-Ezher University, Mısır, to be trained as militants. It was also pointed out that the main purpose of the KIH, established against Hizbullah, is to gain members for the PKK. The strategy of the organization, headed by Abdurrahman Durre and established in Northern Iraq at the Zeli Camp, which belongs to the PKK, was expressed thus: "to reveal that the secure Republic of Turkey is irreligious, against Islam and in collaboration with its enemies." The report also talked about the activities of the KIH: to form sub-committees to convey the publications of the organization to the lower sections; to educate the people periodically; to improve ties with the other Islamic Organizations and to set up Koran courses. /Cumhuriyet/

AMMUNITION STOCKPILE SEIZED

During operations in the Akyazi district of Sakarya, a great deal of ammunition stolen from the military stores in Southeastern Anatolia which was supposed to be sold to terrorist organizations in Istanbul, was seized by members of the Security Office in Sakarya. Four people were taken into custody regarding the incident. Officials said that operations in the region were in progress. /Cumhuriyet/

IKV REACTION AGAINST GREECE

The Economic Development Foundation, the representative of the Turkish private sector in the European Union (EU), has attacked Greece for its uncompromisingly hostile attitude towards Turkey. It is stressed that sabotaging Turco-EU relations has become Greece's 'national security policy'. It is noted that as a result of the Greek attitude and veto Turkey's name had not been mentioned in the final communique issued at the end of the Cologne Summit last week. "Although Turkey's attitude has been very constructive towards Greece and has concerned a dialogue process, she constantly receives a very hostile response," said the report. The report added, "Turkey is curious about how long the EU will approve of the illegal attitude of Greece?, How would the EU protect its decision-making mechanism from misuse?" /Turkiye/

INCREASE IN INDUSTRY

The Industrial Production Index increased 5.0 % in April compared to the same period last year. It is predicted that the 7.2 % increase in the production industry will have a positive effect on the Industrial Index. Officials announced that the greatest increase in the production industry has been in the food sector with an increase of 11.7 %. There was also an increase of 7 % in the textile industry in April as for the same period of last year. /Sabah/

OIL IN RETURN FOR DEBTS

The Turkish economy will receive 150 trillion TL in kind from Iraq in return for its unpaid debts; Iraq imported construction materials from Turkey but has not paid off its debts yet. The Turkish Constructors Union, the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and Tupras decided to set up a company in Iraq so that Iraq can pay off its debts by selling oil via this company to Tupras. The import of the oil will be undertaken by this company and no money will be paid to Iraq. According to the agreement signed between Turkish and Iraqi officials this will be valid for two years and during this period of time two million tons of crude oil to cover Iraq's debts of $ 80 million will be imported into Turkey. /Sabah/

MUSIAD URGES GOVERNMENT TO REVIVE ECONOMY

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's government must introduce emergency measures to revive the economy, the new Chairman of the pro-Islamic Independent Businesmen's and Industrialists' Association (MUSIAD) declared yesterday. "Turkey can only revive the economy with radical measures" MUSIAD's new Chairman, Ali Bayramoglu, told a conference in Istanbul. /All papers/

TURKISH AERIAL DEFENCE POWER BETTER THAN EUROPE'S

Brigadier General Ihsan Aygun, the Commander of Eskisehir First Main Jet Base, said that Turkey is better than Europe in terms of aerial defence power. Remarking that Turkey is the second power in aviation following the US, Aygun said, "No European country can compete with us in aviation." /Aksam/

TAI AT THE PARIS AIR SHOW '99

This year, for the first time, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), will be taking part in the Paris Air Show '99 between June 13-20. TAI's vision is to meet competition through the process of continuous improvement and to be recognized in world markets as a company that produces reasonably-priced high-quality products to schedule. /All papers/

US, RUSSIAN AND TURKISH COOPERATION IN TOURISM

Turkish and Russian businessmen convened in Istanbul yesterday to find solutions to the crisis in the tourism sector. The Head of the Turco-Russian Business Council, Yavuz Kilic, said that a new tourism market in US-Russia-Turkey triangle should be established and added: "The imbalance in the trade volume between Turkey and Russia could be overcome with arevival in tourism". Turkish and Russian businessmen evaluated cooperation opportunities between the two countries. The Russian Consul-General in Istanbul, Stanislav Osadyic, remarked that red tape should be overcome in order to increase the trade volume between the two countries. /Cumhuriyet/

GERMANY PRAISES TURKISH SECURITY

While some European countries are urging their citizens not to go to Turkey on holiday, a German security firm said that security measures in Turkey were all in place. The Coordinator of the German EISUS Security Institute, Eberhard Kummel, remarked that all tourist facilities in Turkey were secure. Kummel, who has been meeting officials in Belek, Kemer and Antalya over the past two weeks, stressed that safety was extremely important for tourists and said that there were strict security measures in place in Turkey. /Hurriyet/

TOURISM SECTOR DIRECTED TOWARDS ARAB COUNTRIES

The Ministry of Tourism and the Turkish private tourism sector are looking for new markets. With this in mind, they will launch a public relations offensive on the Middle East; 31 members of the press and representatives of tourism agencies from Kuwait, Saudia Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain and Egypt will be received today and tomorrow in Istanbul. At a meeting organized by the Ministry of Tourism yesterday in Istanbul, foreign guests, their Turkish counterparts and other senior Turkish officials exchanged views on ways to contribute to the Turkish tourism sector. /Turkiye/

TURKCELL ON THE WAY TO WALL STREET

Turkcell, the leading GSM company in Turkey, has declared that it plans to quote its shares on Wall Street and to offer part of them to the public this year. Oksan Atilla, the Public Relations Manager of Turkcell, said, "Recently we have applied to the US Securities and Exchange Commission in order to go public". Atilla remarked that they are planning to offer part of their shares to public this year, while according to Reuters, the Finnish Sonera Corp., which ownes 41% of Turkcell, has not objected to Turkcell's quotation decision. /Aksam/

$13 MILLION FOR ALTERNATIFBANK

Alternatifbank Corp. has received a total $13 million loan from foreign markets. The one-year credit, which has been provided by a consortium led by the Westdeutsche Landesbank and the Standard Bank in London, will be used to finance exports. The credit agreement was endorsed in Istanbul between Alternatifbank and six other participating banks. /Aksam/

PRODUCTION STARTS IN THRACE POWER STATION

Thrace Power Station has started to produce commercial electricity. The station is the first private power station established by international capital along the lines of the "Build-Operate-Transfer" model. The total cost of the project was $ 600 million. The General Director of the station, Thomas Wheelock, said that they were proud of their work on infrastructure in the energy sector in Turkey undertaken with the cooperation of the Turkish government. He added that they would sell the energy to be produced to a state institution, TEAS. /Sabah/

ENERGY COOPERATION WITH FRANCE

Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, declared that bargaining talks concerning the joint Yusufeli HAS project are in progress, following his meeting with Dominique Maillard, the French Industry Ministry's Undersecratary. Remarking that the Aliaga LPG power station has also been approved by the Council of State, Ersumer said that another joint venture with France is underway concerning a coal-fired power station in Tufanbeyli, Adana. /Aksam/

AUTOMOTIVE FAIR IN ISTANBUL

500 automotive and manufacturing companies from 23 countries will attend the 3rd International AEF Auto '99 and AEF'99 Industy Fairs between 10-13 June in Istanbul. The Fairs will be organized by the only foreign fair organizing company, Hannover Messe International, at the TUYAP Fair and Congress Centre in Istanbul. It is expected that world-famous international automotive and manufacturing companies will attend the fair. /Turkiye/

PRODUCTION OF CEMENT

The production of cement in the first quarter of 1999 reached 6.6 million tons while a total of 868 thousand tons of cement was exported in the same period, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Officials said that they expect the total cement production to reach nearly 30 million tons.

SECURITY OFFICIALS SEIZE INDIAN HEMP

Security officials seized yesterday a total of 726 thousand roots of Indian hemp that is being used in production of hashish, in operation they launched in Siverek, Sanliurfa, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

LECTURE AT ISTANBUL UNIVERSITY

As part of the Student Exchange Programme of Istanbul University, the Rector of Clinch Valley College, Virginia University, Prof.Jay Lemmons and his deputy Brent Kennedy, delivered a lecture about higher education in the US at Istanbul University yesterday. /Cumhuriyet/

HISTORY TO LIGHT

In Sanliurfa in order to bring history to light, archaeological digs have been in progress on 15 tumuli and other ruins. Hamza Gulluce, the Deputy of Director of Sanliurfa Museum, said the studies have being implemented are being carried out by both the local and foreign scientists, in the Lidar and Hassek tumuli, Cavi Farm and Nevali Cori. He also added that, during the excavations on the sites, used as settlements between B.C. 8000 and 2000 B.C., they have reached the Iron Age. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH FILM'S SUCCESS IN FRANCE

The Turkish film "Masumiyet" (Innocence), directed by Zeki Demirkubuz will be shown at French cinemas starting on 7 July. The film was nominated in the Venice, Mardel Plata, Strasbourg, Selonica, Hambourg and Vancouver Film Festivals. It received the "Great Award" and the "Best Actor Award" in the Angers Festival, "Great Award" in Paris and the "Great Award" in the Oslo Film Festival. The Turkish Culture Consulate in Paris will organize a special showing on 14 July to promote the film to members of the press. /Sabah/

27TH INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

The 27th International Music Festival is going to start today with the participation of very exclusive world musicians. 400 Turkish and 400 foreign musicians will stage 30 concerts and performances during the Festival which will end on 2 July. The opening ceremony will be held at the Ataturk Culture Centre with a performance by the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra. /Sabah/

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

NOW IT IS UNDERSTOOD - BY ALI KIRCA (SABAH)

Ali Kirca, a columnist for `Sabah', reflects on the last session of Ocalan's trial before the State Security Court (DGM). Kirca writes: "This is our last article from the Mudanya-Imrali line, at least for 15 days. The `Imrali prisoner' will drop from the agenda for two weeks. The `essence' of this trial was revealed yesterday. Indeed, the `axis' of the trial was drawn up in the beginning. In other words, the axis was obvious when the decision was reached to `exhaust Ocalan by trying him' rather than liquidating him through `another' way. It could not be perceived at that time, but it is apparent now; this axis is the `prosecutor-Ocalan' axis or. more clearly, the `state-Ocalan' axis. The very state itself, which has been fighting against Ocalan for 15 years, desired to punish him. Even the fact that the charges were based on the 125th Article of the Turkish Penal Code rather than the 149th or others shows the direction of this choice. This Article of the Turkish Penal Code is a `political' one and it paves the way for a `political' defence. In this respect, the `indictment' emphasized the `political charges' which embodies this Article. Hence, both Ocalan's cross-examination and his own defence were full of `political' matters. This time, the prosecutor (the state) replied to Ocalan's political defence and tried to undermine the ground on which he based his political concerns. Apparently, the trial has been constructed on this axis. The state was trying to justify its 15-year struggle against terrorism to the entire world through revealing the illegitimacy of the other party on a legal basis. Therefore, it is understood that certain elements, which we considered `missing' at the beginning of the trial, were consciously held `low-intensified'. For instance, we maintained that the joint attorneys should comprise a number of leading penal republican lawyers in Turkey. Instead of such a `civilian' defence, the task to `cope with' Ocalan has been carried out by prosecutors (or by the state) again. Moreover, we argued that along with the relatives of martyrs, the presence of the relatives of those `civilian victims' in the court hall would also be important. However, the real symbol of the state's struggle against terrorism were the relatives of the martyrs. Therefore, their presence in the hall was more compatible with the main axis of the trial. We thought that, due to such deficiencies, this so-called `historic' trial did not seem that `historic'. However, given the main axis of the trial revealed in the 13-page dictum of the prosecutors, it becomes apparent that this trial is indeed more historic and more meaningful than it was previously considered to be. If this trial had been based on charges pertaining to the 149th Article, a single murder would have been tried in each session. But now, on the final day of decision of this trial, not each individual murder but a total `politics', or a `treason' will be punished. This is why this trial is definitely an historic one."

WHAT WILL THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS DO FOR THE EU? - BY DOGAN HEPER (MILLIYET)

Columnist Dogan Heper writes on relations between Turkey and the EU. A summary of his column is as follows: "It is hard to understand the EU policy being followed concerning Turkey; on the other hand, it is not easy to comprehend the stand Turkey is taking in relation to the EU. During the Cologne Summit the EU countries did not even mention the name of Turkey. Therefore, we have to take up our relationship with the EU in Parliament as a national cause and discuss it thoroughly. We have to find out the rights and wrongs in this long and unsuccessful policy, find out where we have gone wrong, and show up those responsible. Having done that the coalition partners should determine a new policy concerning these relations. The Cologne Summit reveals that Turkey is being excluded from Europe and is being left out of the European Security and Defence Identity (ESCI) built within the EU. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's statement to the effect that Turkey does not need anyone and she has already been in Europe for 500 years cannot lessen the importance of our exclusion from the EU and the new defence system. The belief that, due to our membership of the Customs Union, we are already in the EU cannot be an excuse for such behaviour. It is no more credible that during the Cologne Summit although the majority of EU members favoured Turkey's membership, Greece was the only one who vetoed it. On this issue, Greece is being used as an excuse by the other countries. Since Turkey's untimely display of friendship towards Greece did not change the situation at the Summit in Cologne, this policy can be defined as a mistake by Ankara. The decision by the Turkish Government that from now on Ankara will not place the 'EU question' onto its agenda unless a new and favourable development occurs has been conveyed to Europe. We will see the reactions to this decision in the future. The Europeans led by Greece and Italy are excluding Turkey both from the EU and the new defence mechanism. Turkey, the staunch ally of NATO, defender of the whole of Europe during the Cold War and a source of troops at the time is being isolated today. To render this exclusion ineffective by following a rational, insistent and stable policy is in the best interests of Turkey. The question is: how will this be achieved?"

WASHINGTON AWAITS PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT - BY HASAN CEMAL (MILLIYET)

Columnist Hasan Cemal writes on Prime Minister Ecevit's expected visit to the US. A summary of his column is as follows: "Washington awaits the visit of Prime Minister Ecevit after a 20-year interval. The US wants the visit to take place as soon as possible because it wants a fresh beginning with Prime Minister Ecevit and to revive Turco-American relations. Naturally, the visit has another aim and that is to prepare the background for President Clinton's expected visit to Istanbul for the OSCE Summit. That is to say, the US wants to obtain some promises from Ankara on the human rights issue before arranging the visit. On the other hand differing views are prevalent in Ankara on the question of the visit. Ankara believes that the date for such a visit could be set in September. Additionally, tying Clinton's visit to other conditions is not looked on favourably by Ankara. In the past, the US policies and Ecevit's views were not in harmony. Washington found Ecevit ultra-nationalist or statist. However, the policies followed by Ecevit as Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister during the last two years have changed his image in the US. The close cooperation enjoyed between Turkey and the US on both Kosovo and Iraq and Ecevit's views on these issues have influenced his image in Washington. Furthermore, his statements on economic matters such as the banking reform and social security reform have had an impact. On the other hand, the rise of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) has been a surprise to Washington; the MHP is an unknown quantity in the US. Moreover,the nationalistic views it represents are not favoured by the circles in the Democrat Party. Washington probably favoured a coalition of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and the Motherland Party (ANAP). However, when this did not materialize, it acted pragmatically. The US knows that it has to cooperate with the Government in power and the common interests and strategic partnership of the two countries are more important. Therefore, Washington awaits Ecevit to begin afresh. Democrats in the US Congress had opposed the holding of the OSCE conference in Istanbul, using Turkey's record on human rights as an excuse. At the time President Clinton had insisted on the issue but now Washington seems to say that President Clinton will come to Turkey if she makes some efforts to improve her human rights record. Ankara seems bothered by this approach." * * * *

SPECIAL KOSOVO

G-8 MINISTERS AGREE ON KOSOVO PEACEKEEPING FORCE RESOLUTION

The G-8 countries agreed yesterday on a UN Security Council resolution authorizing a peacekeeping force for Kosovo with NATO at the core of the operation, US State Department Spokesman James Rubin said. The action, at a foreign ministers' meeting, followed instructions to the hesitant Russian delegation, which resisted the role for NATO as part of the settlement in the Yugoslav province. Rubin said the resolution 'meets all of our objectives', including keeping NATO at the centre of the force, the withdrawal of Serb forces from Kosovo and calling for cooperation with the war crimes tribunal in The Hague. /All papers/

NUMBER OF KOSOVAR REFUGEES IN TURKEY

The number of Kosovar refugees, who arrived in Turkey after escaping from the oppression in Kosovo, increased to 17,025 including 5,435 children, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Releasing a statement, the Interior Ministry said that a total of 7,310 Kosovar refugees are being hosted at the Gaziosmanpasa camp in Kirklareli. Meanwhile, Turkish F-16 war planes that participate in NATO's air strikes against Yugoslavia accumulated a total of 1,912 flight hours.

OLD ISSUES