DEMIREL RECEIVED TALBOTT

Turkish President Suleyman Demirel received the American Deputy Secretary of State, Strobe Talbott, and the delegation with him. During the meeting, Talbott gave a presentation on the works of the Minsk Group and on his contact with officials from Azerbaijan and Armenia during his visit to these two countries. In addition, the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline scheme and the Caspian natural gas venture were discussed during the meeting. Talbott reiterated U.S.A.'s support for the implementation of these two projects as soon as possible. /Aksam/

DEMIREL'S CONDOLENCES TO ARMENIA

While the raid on the Armenian Parliament by three terrorists who held the Members of Parliament hostage was being evaluated by an American delegation coming from Erivan to Cankaya Presidential Palace, President Suleyman Demirel sent his condolences to Armenian President Robert Kocaryan. Demirel's message drew a great of deal attention, since Turkey has no diplomatic relation with Armenia. Premier Ecevit commented on the attack as, "a worrying situation for the region". /Cumhuriyet/

WE CELEBRATE OUR REPUBLIC

The 76th anniversary of the establisment of the Turkish Republic is going to be celebrated throughout the country, at our foreign missions and in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, beginning from this afternoon. /Turkiye/

ECEVIT'S SCHEDULE IN RUSSIA

The schedule for Ecevit's visit to Russia between 4th and 6th November was organized during a meeting that was held yesterday. The Undersecretary of the National Intelligence Agency (MIT), Senkal Atasagun, will also visit Russia. However, Atasagun will not be in Ecevit's delegation. Deputy Prime Minister and the Energy Minister Cumhur Ersumer, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ismail Cem, State Ministers Rustu Kazim Yucelen and Suayip Usenmez and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Husnu Yusuf Gokalp will company Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit during his visit. /Sabah/

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL CONVENES

The National Security Council (MGK) headed by President Suleyman Demirel convened on Wednesday at the Presidential Palace in Cankaya. During the five-and-a-half-hour meeting, domestic and international subjects were discussed. In a statement issued after the meeting, it was said, "The Government will give maximum effort and efficiency to the seizure of the murderers of Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taner Kislali." At the meeting, it was also decided to recommend the government to ensure that private education centres give a modern education to their students. Moreover, the MGK suggests the extension of the State of Emergency in five provinces for four more months, while abolishing it in Siirt province, and the continuation of the fight against separatist terrorism. /Turkiye/

DIGNIFIED RAPPROCHEMENT WITH ATHENS

Foreign Mİnister Ismail Cem, who is in Athens to attend the Black Sea Economic Cooperation's Foreign Ministers' Council Meeting, met his Greek counterpart George Papandreu. Following the meeting, Minister Cem said that progress had been obtained at the meetings between the committees of the two countries, and an interim report has being prepared. He also pointed out that the issues between the two countries cannot be solved in a short time, however the process is heading in an positive direction. The Greek Foreign Minister also evaluated the Turco-Greek dialogue and expressed their pleasure at the progress made so far. Minister Ismail Cem said in his statements to the British Reuters and French AFP news agencies that to cast Turkey aside would be a mistake for Europe. /Cumhuriyet/

URFA GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO SYRIA

Rakka's Governor, Muhammed Ahmed Naffak, has issued a special lunch invitation to Sanliurfa's Governor, Sehabettin Harput. During the lunch, the two governors discussed border trade and the problems existing between the two countries. Sanliurfa's Governor and the delegation with him first visited Talabyat, then signed a cooperation protocol with Governor Muhammed Ahmed Naffak in Rakka. /Sabah/

CHI HAOTIAN IN ANKARA

The Chinese Central Military Committee's Deputy Chairman and National Defence Minister, Chi Haotian, is in Turkey as the guest of the National Defence Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu. Following his meeting with Cakmakoglu, he was received by President Suleyman Demirel. In an official statement, Haotian said that Ataturk and Mao were the great revolutionaries of the 20th century. /Hurriyet/

TGNA BREAKS HISTORIC RECORD

The Turkish National Grand Assembly (TGNA) implemented the Customs Draft Law of 253 articles in 3.5 hours and, thus, has broken a record. A special meeting was held in the General Council concerning this Law, which had been a long drawn out issue for many years. After the parties had reached an agreement, the draft law, which had been discussed in 13 sections instead of discussing its articles one by one, was accepted by the unanimous vote of the 225 deputies who attended the session. /Sabah/

ADDITIONAL TAX OF 4.5 QUADRILLION

The Ministry of Finance has stated that in order to reach the year 2000's Budget targets and to repair the damage caused by the earthquake as soon as possible, additional taxes should be implemented in a short period of time. After the draft Budget for the year 2000 had been prepared and sent to the TGNA, work on attaining the income target set, which is envisaged in the draft, was speeded up. Within the framework of this draft budget, "earthquake" taxes are once again on the agenda. It was stated that during this work, the issue of re-arranging the tax rates which are present in the draft was seen on the agenda again; a decision concerning this issue will be taken following top-level meetings. However, officials pointed out that the "earthquake" tax rates, expected to amount to 600 trillion TL, should not be decreased too much, otherwise it will become impossible to reach these targets . The Government will make the "earthquake" tax legal and receive an additional tax from banks. Tax-payers will be burdened with an additional tax, making a total of 4.5 quadrillion TL together with the increase in other taxes. /Aksam/

PRIVATIZATION IN TURKEY

Privatization Administration (OI) Chairman Ugur Bayar stated that the privatization agenda envisaged for the year 2000 is very different to the preceding ones. He noted that after the first few are launched, the rest will follow. Bayar said, "The best example will be seen during the privatization of the Petroleum Company. I believe there will be a high level of participation in the tender and the Company will be sold at a price deemed to be proper." He added that there was no chance of implementing privatization improperly. Bayar also said that that priviatization was a must for Turkey, and work was underway to make a start on the scheme. /Sabah/

SUPPORT FOR BAKU-CEYHAN VENTURE

While the meetings concerning the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline venture were underway, the American Trade Agency promised to give 250 thousand dollars more in survey loans. Loans from the American Trade Agency for the project have reached a total of 1.3 billion dollars. Officials from BOTAS stated that problems concerning the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline scheme have begun to be removed rapidly. The meetings, at which AIOC, BP-AMOCO and officials from Azerbaijan were also present, are expected to continue until next week, including Sunday. Furthermore, it was reported that the Turkish Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, had been briefed by officials from the Ministry of Energy before his visit to Russia. /Aksam/

CD-ROM ON THE STRAITS

The problem of safety in the Straits, discussed for years by the public, has for the first time been presented on a CD-ROM prepared by the Ari Group. Ari plans to explain the safety problems of the Straits, one of the most important problems in Turkey to the world on a CD-ROM entitled "S.O.S". The General Co-ordinator of the Ari Group, Kemal Koprulu, stated that it was the first time such a thing had been undertaken to inform the international community of such a problem. /Aksam/

OTTOMAN BANK IN EUROPE

The Ottoman Bank's new branch in Luxembourg has launched its services. General Director Aclan Acar, Luxembourg's Minister of Justice Luc Frieden, Minister of the Interior Michel Wolter, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lydie Polfer and Minister of Culture Erna Hennicot-Shoepges attended the bank's opening ceremony. The Ottoman Bank's branch in Luxembourg comprises a staff of 10 who undertake portfolio management and external trade transaction services. /Aksam/

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

ATHENS AND STOCKHOLM ON THE EVE OF HELSINKI - BY ILTER TURKMEN (HURRIYET)

Former Ambassador Ilter Turkmen comments on the stances taken by Greece and Sweden. A summary of his column is as follows: "Doubts arose concerning Greek policy when the Greek Foreign Minister, George Papandreu, denied the statement he made on October 25 in Athens to the members of the Turco-Greek Forum. I was also present at the Forum and the Minister made those statements which appeared in the Turkish press. He not only said that Greece did not have any specific request to make before the acceptance of Turkey's EU candidacy, but also added that this candidacy should not be left on paper but be implemented. He later explained what he understood from a "real candidacy" and that was to be able to benefit from all EU aids, participate in all programmes and contribute to a "dialogue of essence". The Minister also stated that some EU members insisted on conditions prior to the candidacy acceptance and added that Greece was not among them. It is a clear statement that Greece supports Turkey's candidacy unconditionally. The reason for Papandreu's harsh denial concerning these statements can only be explained by domestic policy considerations. The term in office of the current Greek Parliament ends at the end of Autumn 2000. As the PASOK party and the New Democracy party seem to be running neck and neck, election sensitivity is being felt even today. In almost all parties there are those who believe that the approach towards Turkey is extreme and that the Greek concessions have been left unanswered. As in his statement during the "Taksim Meetings", in the course of the Turco-Greek Forum the Greek Foreign Minister repeated that Greece had some expectations from Turkey which could not be described as "conditions". One of them concerns Cyprus. The Greek Foreign Minister knows that the Cyprus question cannot be solved until the Helsinki Summit and, therefore, desires a positive development in the search for a solution. He is not insistent on the subject because if he can prove that the Turkish side is intransigent he hopes to convince countries such as Germany, Italy, France and Holland, who believe that the Greek-Cypriot Administration should not be accepted into the EU, to think otherwise. Greece's real aim is to persuade other countries not to oppose the Greek-Cypriot Administration's entrance to the EU. Therefore, the Turkish and TRNC stance, which is understood as closing the door to all negotiations is preparing a positive backdrop for Greek tactics. As Greece sees the Turkish position on the unclaimed islets and rocks as intervention in her rights of sovereignty, Greece has another expectation. That is an official and clear statement by Prime Minister Ecevit that Turkey does not have any demands on Greek territory. The problem in Sweden stems from the character of the Foreign Minister and his affinity to the Kurdish members of Parliament. Some EU countries, and even Norway who is not an EU member, are trying to influence Stockholm. The leading names in the Turkish private sector are doing everything in their power. However, although a short time is left in the run-up to the Helsinki Summit, the Turkish Government stays aloof. The members of the Government are touring the rural areas in Turkey.Foreign policy has to have greater importance attached to it."

DETERMINATION OF STATEMENT - BY FIKRET BILA (MILLIYET)

Columnist Fikret Bila comments on the message issued following the National Security Council meeting. A summary of his column is as follows: "The declaration issued at the end of the National Security Council (MGK) meeting held yesterday stated the determination to continue in the fight against reactionary activities and to discover the assassin of Kislali. Both the military and the civilian members of the Council agreed that the Kislali assassination had been an attempt to create an atmosphere of "chaos". It was learned that there was complete harmony between the views of the military, the President, and the Prime Minister. A subject the MGK is resolved on is to continue the fight against reactionaryism in private schools. The Report on Private Education Institutions prepared after the July meeting of the MGK was discussed. It was decided to continue search into the economic and financial ties of these schools with Foundations and companies by inspectors within the Prime Ministry, Financial Ministry and the Foundations. The military members of the MGK brought up the problem of Bills prepared following the 28 February decisions but which are still waiting to be passed by the Parliament. The Government members informed them on the latest situation and stated that they will give priority to these Bills. The MGK meeting held yesterday can be described as embodying the determination to shed light on those murders where the murderers are unknown, as in the policy followed against Syria and supported by the military." *** Due to the celebration of Republic Day in Turkey on Friday 29th October, we will not be able to prepare our "Turkish Press Review" site. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

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