DEMIREL'S VISIT TO KOSOVO POSTPONED

A visit to be paid by President Suleyman Demirel to Kosovo has been postponed for security reasons. Demirel has had to cancel his visit twice because of the conflicts in Bosnia. /Star/

ASSEMBLY SUPPORTS ARBITRATION

During a vote held in the General Council of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) yesterday, 400 deputies said 'Yes' to a Constitutional amendment concerning international arbitration. The first article of the proposal foresees the amendment of the 47th article of the Constitution. All parties supported the Constitutional amendment. The second round of the proposals will be held on Friday. Meanwhile, the TGNA has decided to work 'non-stop'. Therefore, the TGNA will also work during the day from 10:00 a.m. to 24:00 p.m. /Hurriyet/

COOPERATION WITH IRAN AGAINST PKK

The sixth Turco-Iranian Supreme Security Committee meeting started in Ankara yesterday. While Yahya Gur, Interior Ministry Undersecretary, headed the Turkish delegation, Gulam Huseyin Bolendiyan, Deputy Minister of the Interior, chaired the Iranian delegation. During the meeting, Turkey proposed to hold concomitant operations against the PKK terrorist organization. Bolandiyan also met the Turkish Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan yesterday. Bolandiyan said during the meeting that Turco-Iranian relations were further developing. Bolandiyan also conveyed the official invitation of the Iranian Interior Minister to Tantan. /Hurriyet/

NEW STATEMENT BY OCALAN

The head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, who was sentenced to death at the end of his trial on Imrali Island, has declared, "If the State wants weapons to be laid down, then it should carry out its conditions". Ocalan issued a written statement via his lawyers, Mahmut Sakar, Irfan Dundar, Ahmet Avsar and Aydin Oruc, yesterday in which he remarked that they wanted to attain a Democratic Republic through great ideological and organizational transformation. He stated that democratic politics were a basic strategy for them. He added, "Our aim is to democratize the Constitution", the Anatolia News Agency reports. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that this issue could not be made into a bargaining matter.

PKK WANTS TO LAY DOWN WEAPONS

It is reported that actually not the head of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan, but the PKK itself want to lay down their weapons. Ocalan made a call for this purpose on August 2, while the PKK's so-called central committee held a meeting between July 23-29 and decided to end the armed struggle. /Hurriyet/

ONE MORE ASSAILANT CAPTURED

During operations carried out by the Istanbul Anti-Terrorism Department against the illegal TIKKO organization, the terrorist code-named 'Ali-Ismet' who was involved in the bomb attack against Cankiri Governor, Ayhan Cevik, was captured yesterday. /Aksam/

TERRORIST KILLED

One member of the PKK terrorist organization was killed during a clash between village guards and PKK members in Bingol yesterday. Officials said that a search for other terrorists was underway. /Turkiye/

NATO EXERCISE IN TURKEY

The biggest salvage exercise beneath the sea carried out by NATO will be held off the southern coast of Turkey next month. A statement issued by Admiral Nigel Essenhigh, NATO's Eastern Atlantic Commander, said that Turkey, the US, Britain, Italy, Bulgaria and Sweden would participate in the exercise to be held between September 29-October 8. Australia, Israel and Singapore will send observers. /Aksam/

PROPOSAL CONCERNING POLITICAL PARTIES LAW ACCEPTED

A proposal which envisages an amendment to the Political Parties Law was approved by the Constitutional Commission of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) yesterday. With the amendment to the 95th Article of the Law, the obstacle in front of the former Chairman of the defunct Welfare Party (RP) Necmettin Erbakan to become an independent deputy has been lifted. /Star/

TAX INVESTIGATION INTO IRAQI CRUDE OIL

The Finance Ministry has started a special investigation in order to prevent the evasion of Value Added Tax (VAT) on Iraqi crude oil. A delegation consisting of 10 people went to Sirnak last week to begin an investigation into the issue. /Star/

ANKARA-ISTANBUL RAILWAY TO BE IMPROVED

The Turkish State Railway (TCDD) will open the bidding for the renovation of the Ankara-Istanbul line and reduce travelling time between the two points from 8 to 4.5 hours, Hasan Mollaogullari, the General Manager of the TCDD, told the Anatolia News Agency correspondent. The renovation is expected to cost $250 million; the TCDD will also buy new trains for $100 million.

DALAMAN AKKOPRU PROJECT TO GIVE LIFE TO MUGLA

The Dalaman Akkopru Dam and hydroelectric power plant project will give life to Mugla and its surroundings once it is completed. More than 35,000 acres of agricultural land will be irrigated in the Dalaman, Ortaca and Koycegiz valleys. Settlements in these regions as well as Dalaman Airport and Seka Dalaman Facilities will be protected against floods. The hydroelectric power plant will contribute 343 million kilowatt/hr of electricity to the national electricity network, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

ASO PREPARES REPORTS ON REFORMS

Parliament should pass structural reforms one-by-one said the Chairman of Ankara's Industry (ASO), Zafer Caglayan. The seven commissions founded by the ASO to prepare reports on those Bills pending on Parliament's agenda have now completed their work. Reports prepared by the Social Security, Capital Markets, Organized Industrial Zones, and Accreditation and Cheque Law Commissions have already been sent to President Suleyman Demirel, Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, other party leaders and relevant commissions.

INCOME FROM BRIDGES

The contribution of the bridges along the Straits to the economy continues unabated. From tolls taken on the Istanbul Bosphorus and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges, a total income of 16.5 trillion TL was obtained during the first six months of this year, the Anatolia News Agency reports. It is expected that the total income will exceed 30 trillion TL by the end of 1999.

HAZELNUT EXPORTS

According to information received from the Black Sea Hazelnut and Hazelnut Products Exporters' Union, 172,691 tons of shelled hazelnuts were exported to various countries, particularly in Europe, in return for $715.2 million. The 1998-1999 export year for hazelnuts wil end on August 31, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

FOREST FIRES

As a result of the 37 fires which broke out in the Bursa region during the past seven months, 34 hectares of forest have been destroyed. Officials said that strict measures were being taken against forest fires. Meanwhile, during another fire which broke out near the Osmaneli district of Bilecik yesterday, five hectares of pine were damaged, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS FROM TEKIRDAG PORT

During the past seven months of this year, $314.8 million worth of imports and $96.3 million worth of exports passed through port of Tekirdag and Marmara's Eregli port. According to information received from officials at the port of Tekirdag, the largest amount of exports was in July with a total of $25.5 million while the largest amount of imports was in May with a total of $80.9 million, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Most of the imports were from Bulgaria while most of the exports went to European countries.

500 SCIENTISTS TO WATCH SOLAR ECLIPSE

It is reported that all preparations in Corum, where the last solar eclipse of this century will be best viewed, have been completed. The Acting Governor of Corum, Ahmet Arabaci, said in a statement to the Anatolia News Agency correspondent that 500 scientists from the US, Japan and Belgium will arrive in Corum today to view the solar eclipse. Meanwhile, the solar eclipse can be watched live on Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) channels and some national channels. A concert to be staged by the Vienna Symphony Orchestra in Amasya will also be broadcast on TV channels worldwide, including CNN.

ALBANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS IZMIR MAYOR

The Albanian Foreign Minister, Paskal Milo, stated that Albanians respected Turks living in Kosovo and said: "A civilian structure in Kosovo is very important for us". Milo visited Izmir Mayor Ahmet Piristina yesterday and remarked that he was very pleased to be in Izmir. Milo pointed out the importance of the efforts made by Piristina to develop relations between the two countries and stressed that he also aimed to contribute further to improving bilateral ties. Milo reaffirmed that the good conditions in which people of Albanian origin were living in Turkey also contributed greatly to Turco-Albanian relations. Milo said that they were making every effort to ensure a peaceful and secure future in Kosovo and thanked the Turkish Government for its support. Ahmet Piristina expressed his gratitude at hosting the Albanian Foreign Minister in Izmir, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

HUGE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP FOR ALUMINIUM

A letter of intention has been signed for a strategic partnership between Alcoa Inc., the biggest aluminium producer based in Pittsburgh, the US, and Turkey's Kibar Holding Company. The agreement was signed by the Deputy Chairman of Alcoa, Richard L.Fisher, and the Head of the Executive Board of the Kibar Holding Company, Asim Kibar. Within the guidelines of the agreement, the two sides will jointly prepare working plans for close cooperation in six months' time, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

STATE MINISTER CAY IN MOSCOW

State Minister Abdulhaluk Mehmet Cay went to Moscow on an official visit yesterday. A statement issued by the State Ministry said that Cay will meet various officials during his visit to last until August 12 and discuss relations between Turkey and the Russian Federation. Cay will also open a leather fair organized by a Turkish firm in Moscow and meet Turkish businessmen in Russia, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

22 IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED

Twenty-two people including 14 Iranians, seven Iraqis and one Afghan who attempted illegally to cross from Turkey to Greece were captured in Edirne yesterday. These people were later sent to the Edirne Security Office in order to be deported, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

TARKAN ON INTERNET

The CNN TV channel's "World Beat" programme broadcast last Saturday hosted the renowned Turkish pop-music singer, Tarkan. This programme was also issued on CNN's Internet Web site. /Hurriyet/

TURKISH TOUR ORGANIZERS ABROAD

Sixteen Turkish tour organizers which bring tourists from foreign countries to Turkey have launched new plans under the umbrella of the Tour Organizers' Association (TOD) in order to overcome the troubles in this sector. The TOD General Secretary, Huseyin Baraner, said that they would try to encourage and develop the tourism sector within universal rules. /Hurriyet/

ADVISORS TO POAS AND TUPRAS

The companies which will offer consultancy services concerning the privatization of the Petroleum Office Joint Stock Company (POAS) and TUPRAS have been determined. The advisor for POAS will be Deloitte Touche-Turkey while the advisor company for the privatization of TUPRAS will be Salomon Smith Barney. A written statement issued by the Privatization Administration Board said that plans for the privatization of the two institutions were underway. /Hurriyet/

$200 MILLION IN LOANS FOR IS BANK

An agreement to provide $200 million in syndication loans to the Turkish Is Bank from international markets was signed in London yesterday. A statement issued by Is Bank yesterday said that 35 international banks were putting up the loans to be used to finance exports. /Hurriyet/

COMMISSION APPROVES TOUGHER PENALTIES FOR TORTURERS

Turkey has completed the first leg of a legislative process, when completed, will introduce tougher penalties for those who apply torture to suspects and prisoners. After an appeal by Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk, Parliament's Justice Commission approved yesterday a bill providing a wider definition of torture and increasing the upper limit of prison terms for those convicted of applying torture from the current five years to eight years. /All papers/

TURKEY'S FIRST FIRE-EXTINGUISHING AIRCRAFT

Turkey's first fire-extinguishing aircraft was modernized by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) engineers and workers within the context of a proposal made by TAI for a permanent way to fight forest and industrial fires from the air. The aircraft has been based at the Antalya air base for the period August 8-22 to operate at the disposal of the Ministry of Forestry. /All papers/

EPHESUS: NOMINEE FOR THE WORLD HERITAGE LIST

The Culture Ministry will nominate the ancient city of Ephesus and the Karain Cave for a place on UNESCO's World Heritage List. When the application papers are completed, the application will be sent to UNESCO, according to information received from the Culture Ministry. /Hurriyet/

SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZED INDUSTRY

It is reported that 29 Organized Industrial Regions and 16 Small Industrial Sites will take advantage of a decision previously announced by the Ministry of Trade and Industry to offer them a lower rate of interest. This will come into effect between August 1, 1999, and June 30, 2000. /Aksam/

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL'S GENERAL SECRETARY, CUMHUR ASPARUK

The National Security Council's General Secretary was discharged from duty after the assignment of General Ergin Celasin to the Air Force Command and thus, General Cumhur Asparuk was assigned to this job as of 30th August. The Council of Ministers' decision related to General Asparuk's new duty was promulgated in the Official Gazette yesterday. /Cumhuriyet/

BLACK SEA DOCUMENTARY FROM GERMANS

The German WDR television channel will shoot a documentary on the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. A four-member team has begun to film the documentary in the mountains of Coruh and Kackar. /Aksam/

YIMPAS SETS UP THREE HOTELS IN GAP REGION

The Yimpas Company will open three hotels in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region within the next three years. The General Director of Yimpas Hotels, Tarik Altug, said that Yimpas has opened four hotels in Turkey, while the first hotel in the GAP region was opened in Kahramanmaras this year. The next hotels will be opened in Sanliurfa and then in Diyarbakir, he added. /Turkiye/

SECOND TRADITIONAL TURKISH FESTIVAL IN CALIFORNIA

The Turco-American Association of California (TAAC) reported that Turkey's historic and tourist sites as well as its art are being promoted at the second Turkish Culture Festival which started on Sunday in Monterey, California on the Pacific coast. Last year about 4,000 people came to the Festival on August 29 and 30. The TAAC said that they will also be samples of Turkish cuisine and displays of folk dances at the Festival, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

1500 YEAR OLD CHURCH'S MOSAIC FLOOR UNCOVERED IN KILIS

An excavation team from Hacettepe University has unearthed the mosaic floor of a 1500-year-old church near Oylum Hoyuk in Kilis, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Four human skeletons were found in tombs as well as two crosses and nails which are thought to have been used in the church's construction. Meanwhile, the ruins of a city which goes back to the Hittites some 4,000 years ago have been found in the village of Cavlum in Eskisehir, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

INTERNATIONAL 16-YEAR BOSPHORUS CUP TENNIS TOURNAMENT

The International 16-Year Bosphorus Cup Tennis Tournament started in Istanbul on August 9, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Nearly 100 tennis players from 10 countries besides Turkey are participating in the tournament organized by the Turkish Tennis Federation.

BOXING: TURKEY WINS ONE GOLD AND TWO SILVER MEDALS

Turkey has won one gold and two silver medals in the fourth European Boxing Championship which was organized in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Selcuk Aydin competing in the 54 kg category beat his Russian opponent in the final match and took the gold medal. Meanwhile, Hakan Dolunay in the 48 kg and Serdar Ustunel in the 57 kg were defeated by their Ukranian opponents, and won silver medals.

RESTORATION PREPARATIONS ON NEMRUT

The Turkish Democracy Foundation's President, Bulent Akarcali, has said that Nemrut Mountain will make a great contribution to Turkish tourism and to the promotion of Turkey in general, reported by the Anatolian News Agency. Akarcali, conducting research on Nemrut Mountain with the International Nemrut Foundation's President, Maurice Crijins, said, "It is impossible to watch this historic treasure being ruined." Akarcali reiterated that they had signed a protocol with the Minister of Culture, Istemihan Talay in March in order to restore the historic artifacts on Nemrut. He added, "As part of the agreement we made with the Ministry, we want to begin the restoration work as soon as possible. The Ministry should give the go-ahead to save Nemrut before it is too late." The International Nemrut Foundation's President, Maurice Crijins, declared that they wanted to restore King Aniochos' Mausoleum and the giant god statues on the top of Nemrut Mountain. Crijns complained that they had been delayed in spite of the protocol they signed in March, "The Project's Science Council is ready. The restoration was to begin on the 5th of June. We informed the Science Council, consisting of German, Dutch and French members of this. As part of the protocol we signed with the Ministry, the financing of the restoration and all archaeological logistics will be met by engineers and their team; the Ministry will be the controller and supervisor of the project. Our team came to Kahta but the papers required for us to begin work were not sent to the Adiyaman Governor's Office. I do not know why they are making us wait. All the procedures needed for this scientific work are ready." Crinjs, said that they will carry out all the scientific burden of the project with the Turkish Democracy Foundation. He further stated, "We are waiting for approval to save the ruined remains of Nemrut, which was put on UNESCO's World's Cultural Heritage List, using a budget of 4 million dollars. We are waiting for the Ministry's approval to start the restoration work."

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

U.S. STYLE-PEACE -BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)

Yilmaz Oztuna, a columnist in the daily 'Turkiye' newspaper, says the following in his article today: "The US wants to enter the third millenium by establishing a peaceful world. It controls the balance of power in various regions. How we pity those states which are not considered important from this standpoint.. We call this system: 'Pax Americana'. On the American continent, a harmonious system which is not opposed to the US, except for Cuba, is in place. Western and Central Europe have already established an order and they are in cooperation with the US, whether voluntarily or not. Washington also wants to maintain peace in Eastern Europe and the Near East. It is involved in certain countries such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Israel and Northern Iraq. It is evident that the US wants to include Eastern Europe in the European system. It thinks that it will be beneficial for Turkey to have a place in this system. The US should agree with Turkey on the issues of Cyprus, the Aegean, Southeastern Anatolia and Northern Iraq. Washington sees human rights as being of great significance, as does the EU. We have no objection to this. However, some countries such as the US and Russia have nuclear and biological weapons. Washington should also initiate plans on this issue. However, I think that it is unable to achieve an atmosphere conducive to negotiations with Moscow and Beijing".

THE CAREFUL TRANSITION FROM WAR TO PEACE -BY DOGAN HEPER (MILLIYET)

Dogan Heper is a columnist on the daily Milliyet newspaper. This is an article by him published in Milliyet. It is sinking in that PKK terrorism that lasted for 15 years has come to an end. But what kind of an end will it be? It was a turning point for Turkey to capture Apo and bring him to Turkey. The PKK did not expect it but it happened. Now some elements have intersected at the same dated crossing point and point out that the curtain will fall on PKK terrorism. First of all, the Turkish Armed Forces' success in mopping up terrorism... From now on no-one can resist this fully-equipped, experienced and determined security force in the cities and the rural areas of the South East. It is obvious. The PKK is experiencing difficult days in Northern Iraq because of Ankara's determined manner. Probably as a result of this, the PKK wants to find a place for itself in Iraq by demanding a ceasefire with Barzani, in Northern Iraq. The main theme of the meetings between Turkey and Iran that began yesterday in Ankara is PKK terrorism. Turkey wants Iran to abandon its support of the PKK in any way whatsoever. Ankara is even offering Tehran the possibility of jointly-held military operations on the border. All these negotiations and the detente between two countries show that PKK will have a hard time. To parallel these issues, Apo has made some sincere or artificial initiatives towards PKK terrorism and the importance of this cannot be denied. Of course, we also should add America's Assistant State Secretary Koh's visit to Turkey, which was centred in the South East. Are all these initiatives just a coincidence? As a compatriot, we should only care about the result; coincidence or not, it is not so important. We should be glad of these developments if they are to Turkey's advantage, for her peace or for the welfare of 65 million people. But of course we should enjoy these developments without ceasing to be careful. On Sunday, in this column while saying "let us be ready for surprises", we listed these: Apo's ceasefire order; Koh's political intervention which he started in Turkey; Washington licensed new formation in North Iraq. They all show us that the South East problem is being examined in the U.S.A and that it is the last stage in the planning. Obviously if there is such a plan, its aim is to draw the problem to the political arena. This change will make the South East problem more complicated. A news item from the Dem Agency seems to justify these lines. The day before, the PKK's Central Commitee stated that they will be not for terrorism, but for a political struggle and the Commitee declared its principle that it prefers not to be in conflict with the new world order shaped by the U.S.A. In the declaration, it was emphasized, "The newly-shaped world order governed by the U.S.A has shaped all areas, including the Middle East. Even if some forces within the Middle East resist this new order, they will have to take their place within the new process." All these show that the terrorists want to redirect their aim towards politics. Turkey should be experienced enough not to lose the things she gained on the battle field in the political arena.

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