Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-02-25

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From: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>

25 FEB 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] TURKEY-INTERNAL - NUMBER OF DEPUTIES OF THE VIRTUE PARTY INCREASES TO 116

[03] TURKEY-HIJACK - THY PLANE HIJACKED WHILE ON A FLIGHT FROM ADANA TO ANKARA

[04] TURKEY-QUAKE - EARTHQUAKE IN DENIZLI

[05] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION - 21 IRAQIS CAPTURED IN KUSADASI

[06] TURKEY-QUAKE - EARTHQUAKES SHAKE DINAR AND MARMARIS

[07] TURKEY-UN - UN SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN THANKS FOREIGN MINISTER CEM

[08] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[09] TRNC-UN - TRNC REPRESENTATIVE TO NEW YORK AMBASSADOR PLUMER: ''BAF BASE IS CONTRARY TO THE 1960 AGREEMENTS''

[10] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[11] TURKEY-AZERBAIJAN - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''I INFORMED THE AZERI PRESIDENT ALIYEV ABOUT THE COUP IN AZERBAIJAN'' - ''THE TURKISH STATE DID NOT TAKE PART IN THE COUP''

[12] TURKEY IN BRIEF - FEBRUARY 25, 1998

[13] NORTHERN IRAQ - KDP: ''WE HAVE NOT REJECTED PEACE WITH BAGHDAD, BUT THERE IS NO SUCH INITIATIVE AT THE MOMENT'' - KDP AND PUK REPRESENTATIVES TO CONVENE IN SAKLAVA THIS WEEK

[14] TURKEY-GEORGIA - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ DUE IN GEORGIA

[15] TURKEY-TRNC - TRNC PRIME MINISTER EROGLU IN ANKARA

[16] TURKEY-WEATHER - TEMPERATURES TO DROP IN THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL SECTIONS

[17] TURKEY-EU - TURKEY'S AMBASSADOR TO VIENNA AKBEL: ''WE ASKED FOR SUPPORT FROM THE AUSTRIAN TERM PRESIDENCY FOR THE RAPPROACHEMENT OF TURKEY AND THE EU''

[18] TURKEY-INTERNAL - ACCORDING TO A POLL 70 PERCENT OF THE PUBLIC FOUND THE GOVERNMENT'S STRUGGLE AGAINST GANGS TO BE ''INSUFFICIENT'' - 11.60 PERCENT OF THE PUBLIC THOUGHT THAT FREEDOM OF THOUGHT IS APPLIED FULLY AND 56 PERCENT THOUGHT IT IS APPLIED PARTLY - 67 PERCENT FOUND THE ATTITUDE OF POLICE IN DEMONSTRATIONS TO BE ''VIOLENT AND PARTIAL'' - TURKISH PEOPLE DID NOT WELCOME ''EUTHANASIA''

[19] TURKEY-MALAYSIA - TURKEY AND MALAYSIA SIGN ''AGREEMENT FOR MUTUAL ENCOURAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF INVESTMENTS'' AND ''COOPERATION AGREEMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF FOREIGN TRADE''

[20] TURKEY-FOREIGN POLICY - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM DUE IN JORDAN AND AMBASSADOR UTKAN TO QATAR AFTER THE FOREIGN MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY HAKTANIR'S IRAN AND MIDDLE EAST DIRECTOR GENERAL CETİRGE'S SYRIA VISITS - UTKAN: ''TURKEY IS IN CONTACT WITH IRAN, KUWAIT SYRIA AND JORDAN''

[21] TURKEY-GREECE - ANKARA NOT PLEASED WITH THE RESPONSE OF ATHENS - FM SPOKESMAN UTKAN: ''GREECE IS THE ONLY COUNTRY REJECTING DIALOGUE''

[22] TURKEY-JAPAN - JAPANESE AMBASSADOR TOYAMA IN SIVAS - ATSUKO TOYAMA: ''I ANNOUNCE THAT TURKISH-JAPANESE FRIENDSHIP HAS STARTED''

[23] TURKEY-BULGARIA - TURKISH PARLIAMENTARIAN DELEGATION CONCLUDES ITS CONTACTS IN BULGARIA - BULGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER NADEJDA MIHAYLOVA: - ''WE PROVIDED AN ATMOSPHERE OF FULL CONFIDENCE'' - OSCE PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLY TURKISH GROUP CHAIRMAN TEKIN ENEREM : ''WE REACHED A CONSENSUS ON EVERY ISSUE''

[24] TURKEY-SYRIA - MEETINGS ''TO RESTART THE DIALOGUE PROCESS WITH SYRIA'' WERE POSITIVE - CEM'S PLAN FOR PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE ISSUE OF THE ''STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM'' WERE DISCUSSED IN DAMASCUS

[25] TURKEY-PIPELINE - FIVE WAY MEETING FOR BAKU-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE

[26] TURKEY-INCB-DRUG - TURKEY RESPONDS TO INCB DRUG REPORT ''LINKS OF THE PKK WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING ARE VERY CLEAR''

[27] TURKEY-BRITAIN - THE BRITISH COUNCIL MOVES TO ITS NEW BUILDING - CULTURE MINISTER ISTEMIHAN TALAY OPENS THE BRITISH COUNCIL'S NEW BUILDING

[28] TURKEY-TRNC - DENKTAS SPEAKS TO THE A.A - ''I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INVITATION FROM COOK AND I DO NOT EXPECT ANY''

[29] TURKEY-GREECE - ANKARA NOT PLEASED WITH THE RESPONSE OF ATHENS - FM SPOKESMAN UTKAN: ''GREECE IS THE ONLY COUNTRY REJECTING DIALOGUE''

[30] TURKEY-SYRIA - MEETINGS ''TO RESTART THE DIALOGUE PROCESS WITH SYRIA'' WERE POSITIVE - CEM'S PLAN FOR PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE ISSUE OF THE ''STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM'' WERE DISCUSSED IN DAMASCUS

[31] TURKEY-INCB-DRUG - TURKEY RESPONDS TO INCB DRUG REPORT ''LINKS OF THE PKK WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING ARE VERY CLEAR''

[32] TURKEY-TRNC - DERVIS EROGLU'S MEETINGS - THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE TRNC EROGLU MET WITH THE NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER SEZGIN - MINISTER SEZGIN: ''THE TURKISH CYRPRIOTS DO NOT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THE BAF BASE OR THE S-300 MISSILES. TURKEY IS A STRONG STATE'' - ''WE WILL CONTINUE TO HELP IMPROVE THE TRNC ECONOMY''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL) VICTORY OF PASSANGERS
One person who hijacked a Turkish Airlines plane on a flight from Adana to Ankara and who claimed to be on a mission from God, was captured and made inoperative by the passengers. The plane carrying five crew and 63 passengers took off from Adana at 9:05 p.m. on Monday night and the hijacker whose name was Mehmet Dal tried to hijack the plane to Iran by claiming that he was carrying a bomb in a teddy bear.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

RADIKAL (LEFT)

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

FİNANSAL FORUM (ECONOMY)

[02] TURKEY-INTERNAL - NUMBER OF DEPUTIES OF THE VIRTUE PARTY INCREASES TO 116

The same day, 59 of the former deputies of the Welfare Party, which was closed by the Constitutional Court, joined the Virtue Party.

Meanwhile, 31 former deputies of the banned Welfare Party, including Hasim Hasimi, Oguzhan Asilturk, Bulent Arinc and Fehim Adak have not yet joined the Virtue Party.

[03] TURKEY-HIJACK - THY PLANE HIJACKED WHILE ON A FLIGHT FROM ADANA TO ANKARA

The RJ-100 type plane took off from Adana at 9:00 p.m. and landed in Diyarbakır airport at 10:46 p.m. the same night. Mehmet Dal tried to hijack the plane to Iran by claiming that he was carrying a hidden bomb in a teddy bear.

Later Dal freed 20 passengers, including eight people who were ill. The passengers made great efforts to persuade Dal and at last a group of passengers seized the hijacker as special forces were entering the plane through the front and back doors. Dal was taken from the plane.

Mehmet Dal, a 31-year-old Turk, who had demanded to be flown to neighbouring Iran, had no clear purpose in seizing the plane and was not acting on behalf of a group, officials said.

They said there was no bomb in the toy bear.

[04] TURKEY-QUAKE - EARTHQUAKE IN DENIZLI

The officials from the Istanbul Kandilli Observatory Institute said that the quake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.1 on the Richter scale occurred at 08:58 a.m.

Officials said the epicenter of the earthquake was Denizli and the surrounding region.

There were no immediate casualties or damage in the region.

[05] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION - 21 IRAQIS CAPTURED IN KUSADASI

Officials said that acting on a tip off, they captured the Iraqis, who wanted to escape illegally to the Greek islands, on Dip Burnu Tavsan Island of Kusadası.

The Iraqis will be deported after the legal proceedings are completed.

[06] TURKEY-QUAKE - EARTHQUAKES SHAKE DINAR AND MARMARIS

The officials from the Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Seismology Institute said that the quake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.1 on the Richter scale occurred at 04:08 p.m. on Tuesday.

Officials said the epicenter of the earthquake was Dinar.

There were no reported casualties or damage in the region.

Meanwhile, another mild quake shook Marmaris County of the Aegean province of Mugla the same day.

The Kandilli Observatory Seismology Institute officials said that the earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.3 on the Richter scale occurred at 5:11 p.m. Officials said that the epicenter of the quake was offshore Marmaris.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage in the region.

[07] TURKEY-UN - UN SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN THANKS FOREIGN MINISTER CEM

Kofi Annan thanked separately the Foreign Minister Cem, Bill Clinton, the US President, Boris Yeltsin, the Russian Head of State, Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian Head of State, King Hussein of Jordan, Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister and Jacques Chirac, the French President for their contributions and support to the solution of the crisis.

Noting that the ''maintaining peace can be achieved by showing that the international community is powerful,'' the UN Secretary General Annan said that if the international community comes together, all kinds of problems can be overcome.

[08] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

(Derived from Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.)

THY PLANE HIJACKED
An RJ 100-type Turkish Airlines (THY) passenger plane, which took-off from Adana last night for Ankara, was hijacked and forced to fly to Diyarbakir. The hijacker, Mehmet Dal (31), was overpowered by the crew and passengers in the aircraft at 2:00 a.m. /Milliyet/

KARADAYI TO VISIT MOSCOW
Gen. Ismail Hakki Karadayi, the Turkish Chief of General Staff is planning to visit Moscow as the guest of the Russian Chief of General Staff. Gen.Karadayi attended a celebration party last evening at the Russian Embassy in Ankara on the occasion of the Russian Federation Army Day.

Meanwhile, Ismail Cem, the Turkish Foreign Minister will go to Jordan tomorrow for a two-day official visit. Cem will meet with the Jordanian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. Cem will also meet with King Hussein of Jordan at a luncheon. /Milliyet/

BLAIR WARNS GREEK CYPRIOTS ABOUT S-300 MISSILES
After the US, Britain has also declared that Russian-made S-300 missiles should not be deployed in southern Greek Cyprus. According to the Greek Cypriot radio, Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister sent a message to Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot Leader and tried to persuade him not to deploy S-300 missiles on the island. Blair also called upon Clerides to demonstrate ''good intentions'' with regard to the rightful demands of the Turkish Cypriots for equal political status.

Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), has stated that he will not meet with Sir David Hannay, the Cyprus Special Envoy for Britain, who is expected to arrive on Cyprus tomorrow. Denktas noted that visa restrictions imposed by Britain on only Turkish Cypriots and not Greek Cypriots, was unfair. /Milliyet/

20 PKK MILITANTS KILLED
Twenty militants of the PKK terrorist organization have been killed in overnight clashes, it was reported yesterday by government officials in southeast Turkey. During the clashes, two Turkish soldiers also died. The office of the emergency rule region said that clashes broke out in the mountains near Diyarbakir, when PKK separatists shot at an army patrol on Monday night. Fighting continued until morning. The bodies of 20 militants, along with their weapons, were recovered Tuesday morning, the office said in a written statement. /Milliyet/

DEPAR STARTS POLITICAL LIFE
The Changing Turkey Party (DEPAR), formed under the chairmanship of the former Democratic Left Party (DSP), and now led by independent deputy Gokhan Capoglu, has submitted a petition for establishment to the Ministry of the Interior. With the founding of DEPAR, the number of political parties in Turkey has increased to 35. Capoglu said that with the establishment of the party, the choices will be made even clearer to the undecided segment of the population. /All papers/

ATHENS AGAIN POINTS TO ICJ
Greece yesterday conveyed its official response to Turkey's five-point initiative for peaceful settlement of all current Aegean disputes, in which it focused again on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague as the forum where bilateral disputes should be solved.

Turco-Greek disputes in the Aegean include the following basic issues: territorial waters and airspace, the continental shelf, Flight Information Region (FIR) lines, militarization of the Aegean islands and the ownership of some islands. However, Greece maintains that the continental shelf is the only issue of friction. /All papers/

MULTILATERAL DISCUSSION ON BAKU-CEYHAN
An important meeting will be held in Istanbul on March 1 for a broad discussion of Turkey's proposal for the construction of an oil pipeline extending from the Azerbaijani capital of Baku to Turkey's southern port of Ceyhan. With the participation of the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Turkey, the countries involved will exchange ideas and seek a common consensus on the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. /Milliyet/

DORON IN TURKEY
Chief Rabbi of Israel Bakshi Doron and the delegation accompanying him met with Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz, head of the Chairmanship of Religious Affairs, on Monday at his Ankara office, as a part of their visit to Turkey. Doron said that rather than political and military relations, cultural and religious rapprochment between Turkey and Israel was an essential element. Doron also commented that Jews in Turkey live in a peaceful and tolerant environment which he admired.

Yilmaz said that this year a peace conference would be organized on Mount Ararat at the suggestion of the European Churches' Union. Later on Tuesday afternoon, Doron visited Istemihan Talay, the Minister of Culture as well. /All papers/

(To be continued)

[09] TRNC-UN - TRNC REPRESENTATIVE TO NEW YORK AMBASSADOR PLUMER: ''BAF BASE IS CONTRARY TO THE 1960 AGREEMENTS''

Emphasizing that the construction of the Baf Base to be opened for the use of Greek planes is contrary to the 1960 agreements, Ambassador Plumer stated in the letter that the armament expenditures of the Greek-Cypriot side increased to over two million US dollars a day after the signing of the joint defense agreement between Greece and the administration of the Greek-Cypriot side and that expenditure is the highest armament expenditure in the world when the per capita amount is considered.

''The S-300 missiles that the Greek-Cypriots are planning to deploy in southern Cyprus will destroy the balance of power between Turkey and Greece, '' said Plumer in the letter, adding that this issue is contrary to the draft resolution approved by the Security Council in 1996.

The letter sent to Annan by Plumer was also published as a UN document.

[10] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.)

QUADRILLION ALLOCATED FOR EDUCATION
Speaking at a meeting held in Ankara to evaluate the capital investments planned for the eight-year compulsory education programme, Hikmet Ulugbay, the Minister of National Education stated that in order to provide a modern infrastructure for primary education, a total one quadrillion TL in resources had been allocated from the investment budget of the 1998 ministry consolidated budget. /Hurriyet/

TURKISH EXPORT GOODS IN HONG KONG
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council Representative in Turkey discussed applications directed towards increasing the economic trade potential of Turkey in Hong Kong in a seminar on "Hong Kong, the Best Trade Partner in the Far East". Yakup Barouh, the Turkish Representative of the Council, said that Hong Kong was still the best country in the Far East with which to trade and added that products of companies which would like to export to Hong Kong could be exhibited free in a fair to be organized there. Joseph Lee, the European Director and Mehmet Yildirim, the Chairman of the Istanbul Chamber of Trade, also attended the seminar.

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS IN WASHINGTON
Necdet Menzir, the Minister of Communications went to the US yesterday to attend a American-Turkish Council Meeting. Before his departure, Menzir said that they would explain the "Bosphorus Railway Tube Tunnel" or "Marmaray" Project and the "Gebze-Halkali Underground Road Projects" at the Council. /Sabah/

TURKISH DIPLOMACY WINS ADMIRATION
Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's efforts to ensure a regional cooperation agreement in the Middle East is still being talked about in Baghdad. Cem's efforts during the crisis have gained more importance now that the crisis is over. Diplomatic circles have noted Turkey's cooperation with France and Russia to end the crisis. Accordingly, Cem's visit to Jordan to be realized this weekend is being closely followed by Baghdad. Iraq welcomes Turkey's stance against a military solution. /Sabah/

FP EMERGES AS MAIN OPPOSITION PARTY
More than 100 deputies from the outlawed Welfare Party (RP) joined the newly established Virtue Party (FP) yesterday. The FP officials applied yesterday to the Parliamentary Administrative Council for the establishment of a party group and held their first party group meeting. The FP is now the largest opposition party in the Parliament. /Sabah/

TUSIAD MEETING ON HUMAN RIGHTS
The Turkish Businessmen's and Industrialists' Association (TUSIAD) held a meeting yesterday on democratization in Turkey. Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament also attended the meeting and said that the duty of the state to protect human rights ought to be included in the Constitution. He called on political parties to agree on passing the necessary legal regulations for initiating a drive for democratization and protection of human rights in Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH MINORITY IN GERMANY
According to the Turkish Research Centre based in Germany, the number of Turks migrating to Germany has increased greatly since the 1960s. Turks living in Germany number more than two million, and represent three percent of the total German population. Officials from the Turkish Research Centre say that Turks in Germany could be regarded as a minority. /Cumhuriyet/

UN SECRETARY-GENERAL ACKNOWLEDGES TURKEY
The UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has averted a possible military attack against Iraq, expressed yesterday his gratitude to several statesmen, including Ismail Cem, the Turkish Foreign Minister, for their support in finding a peaceful solution to the Iraq-UN crisis. /Hurriyet/

OECD DEFINES NEW PRINCIPLES IN COMPETITION
A Common Trade and Competition Group Meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which is being held in Paris, made a series of decisions having impact on foreign companies investing in Turkey. At the meeting, where Turkey was represented by a delegation from the Competition Council headed by Aydin Ayaydin, new principles were also agreed upon concerning foreign banks. Aydin Ayaydin noted that all these new decisions and principles were obligatory for Turkey as well as the other OECD members. According to Ayaydin's statement, the underlying principles are based on equality between foreign and domestic investments and confidentiality of information submitted to the competition councils. The new principles lift several restrictions on foreign companies and banks expanding abroad. /Hurriyet/

TURKISH-LIBYAN RELATIONS RESTORED
Turkey's relations with Libya have been restored officially. Relations with this country long since damaged by remarks made by Libyan Leader Kaddafi when former Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan visited that country, have slowly been improving. President Suleyman Demirel yesterday received the new Libyan Ambassador to Ankara, who presented his credentials. /Hurriyet/

[11] TURKEY-AZERBAIJAN - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''I INFORMED THE AZERI PRESIDENT ALIYEV ABOUT THE COUP IN AZERBAIJAN'' - ''THE TURKISH STATE DID NOT TAKE PART IN THE COUP''

Responding to the questions on the ''32. Gun'' (Thirty-second Day) broadcast on a private channel, President Demirel said that Turkey attributes importance to the independence of Azerbaijan. Demirel pointed out that he informed Aliyev during the UN meeting on March 11, 1995, in Copenhagen about the preparations of Rusen Cevadov to stage a coup in Azerbaijan. Demirel said that he asked Alivey not to participate in the Economic Cooperation Organization meeting that would be held in Pakistan on March 13, 1995.

''I was informed by the National Intelligence Service and the latter was informed by one of its representatives in Baku. One or two Turkish citizens took part in this attempt, but the Turkish state did not. I am the head of the state and I have to say this to my people,'' said Demirel.

President Demirel stressed that the murdering of people on the orders of the state is out of question and he attributed importance to the legal state.

''One should solve the problems within the legal state,'' said Demirel, responding to another question about the Susurluk scandal.

Noting that the Susurluk incident should be discussed, President Demirel added that no one has the right to reveal the secrets of the state.

[12] TURKEY IN BRIEF - FEBRUARY 25, 1998

Addressing the Turkish-Malaysian Trade Seminar organized by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO), Aziz said that the national currencies had lost in value and the stock exchanges had adopted a declining trend as a result of the economic crisis in the Asian countries.

''These do not indicate our performance and economic foundation. Malaysia will provide for a stable improvement and development,'' Rafidah Aziz said.

Pointing out that the trade volume between Turkey and Malaysia reached 461 million US dollars last year, Rafidah Aziz said that amount constituted 0.3 percent of the Malaysian total foreign trade volume of 158 billion US dollars.

Guest Minister Aziz said that he expects the commercial relations between the two countries will improve especially in the fields of electronics, computers and accessory products, detergents, soaps, wooden materials, iron- steel, floor coverings (ceramics, linoleum, parquet) and citrus fruits.

Stating that they will sign an agreement for protection of mutual investments with Turkey, Rafidah Aziz said, ''The Turkish and Malaysian private sectors will cooperate in third countries and our two countries will jointly use their common resources, experience and infrastructures.''

ANKARA - Ismet Sezgin, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, received on Tuesday Admiral Joseph Lopez, the Chief Commander of the NATO South European Allied Forces.

Sezgin said that Admiral Lopez and he exchanged views on the issues concerning the NATO and the region in the meeting.

Admiral Lopez said, ''the cold war ended but we have a new enemy and that is instability. Turkey is surrounded by the instability in the regional countries. We want the stability to be protected and to be continued. Turkey plays the key role in this process.''

ASHKABAT - The entrepreneurs from central Kayseri Province are seeking investment opportunities in Turkmenistan, it was reported on Tuesday. These entrepreneurs went to Turkmenistan within the context of the visit organized by the Association of Businessmen from Kayseri.

Nearly 100 businessmen from Kayseri met with the Turkmen managers of the private and public sector companies and decided to invest in that country.

The businessmen returned to Turkey the same day.

ERZURUM - Prof, Dr. Ismail Hakki Aydin, the Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Ataturk University, Medical Faculty, Aziziye Hospital in eastern Erzurum Province, was entitled to the US Biography Institute's Chairmanship Honourary Award, it was reported on Wednesday.

The institute rewarded Aydin for his contribution to humanity with his international research and discoveries in the field of neurosurgery.

[13] NORTHERN IRAQ - KDP: ''WE HAVE NOT REJECTED PEACE WITH BAGHDAD, BUT THERE IS NO SUCH INITIATIVE AT THE MOMENT'' - KDP AND PUK REPRESENTATIVES TO CONVENE IN SAKLAVA THIS WEEK

Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent, the KDP Representative to Ankara Safeen Dizai said that ''the KDP has never rejected making peace with Baghdad. The peace negotiations that started between the KDP and PUK on Feb 13 are still continuing, but we have not held any initiative to make peace with Baghdad at the moment.''

Shazad Saib, the Representative of the PUK to Ankara, said responding to the same question that ''at the moment there is no such initiative.''

The PUK and KDP reached an agreement during the peace negotiations, which started in Saklava on Feb 13, but they could not solve the issue of the reciprocal return of prisoners of war. The PUK Representative Saib claimed the contrary to the A.A correspondent by saying that they are working to ''determine the prisoners of war.''

The KDP Representative Dizai stressed that the peace negotiations will not end as the issue of prisoners of war has not been solved, ''in fact this is a technical problem,'' he said.

The PUK Representative Saib pointed out that the negotiations between the PUK and KDP will continue and a committee including high ranking officials from the both sides will convene in Saklava this week.

[14] TURKEY-GEORGIA - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ DUE IN GEORGIA

Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman addressing the weekly news conference said this visit will be the third official visit at the Prime Ministerial level to Georgia, which gained her independence in 1991.

Bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues, cooperation and stability will be discussed during Yilmaz's visit.

[15] TURKEY-TRNC - TRNC PRIME MINISTER EROGLU IN ANKARA

Dervis Eroglu was welcomed by Sukru Sina Gurel, the Minister of State at the Esenboga Airport. Dervis Eroglu is accompanied by Serdar Denktas, the TRNC Minister of State and Deputy Prime Minister; Salih Cosar, the TRNC Minister of Finance; Erdal Onurhan, the TRNC Minister of the Economy and Taner Etkin, the TRNC Foreign Minister and Minister of Defense.

Sukru Sina Gurel said at the airport that Dervis Eroglu will hold official contacts in Turkey and that several meetings will be held between the Turkish and the TRNC delegations to further improve the cooperation between the two countries in several fields.

The TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu said that the two countries continue to launch initiatives to deepen the cooperation.

Pointing out that the TRNC delegation will meet with President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Chief of General Staff Gen. Ismail Hakki Karadayi, Eroglu said, ''we will brief Demirel, Yilmaz and Karadayi on our position. We will hold contacts regarding our security and future.''

Turkey and the TRNC will sign an ''Economic and Commercial Cooperation Agreement'' during Eroglu's visit to Turkey.

[16] TURKEY-WEATHER - TEMPERATURES TO DROP IN THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL SECTIONS

According to the General Directorate of the State Meteorological Works, Turkey has been under the influence of a warm weather front since last weekend. Temperatures are above the seasonal norms.

The latest estimates said that cold and rainy weather coming from the Black Sea will affect the northern and eastern sections.

The rainy weather is expected to end on Friday.

Temperatures which are above the seasonal norms will drop in the northern and central sections and reach the normal temperatures for this time of year.

[17] TURKEY-EU - TURKEY'S AMBASSADOR TO VIENNA AKBEL: ''WE ASKED FOR SUPPORT FROM THE AUSTRIAN TERM PRESIDENCY FOR THE RAPPROACHEMENT OF TURKEY AND THE EU''

Noting that continuation of discrimination by the EU against Turkey would cause very serious damages, adding that he expected support from the Austrian term presidency, which will take over the post on July 1, 1998, for the Turkish-EU rapproachement.

Akbel said that deficiencies in the democratic system and human rights issue were present in the Central and Eastern European countries and in Greek Cypriot side and warned that ''the thought that we are not accepted only because we are Moslem has become more widespread in Turkey.''

When told that the European Conference was created especially for Turkey, Akbel said ''you are trying to make us believe that this is good for us instead of accepting that the EU has made a mistake by isolating us.''

Mentioning the Southeast problem, Akbel said that bargaining with the terrorists could not even be thought and that the operations of the Turkish Armed Forces in Northern Iraq served not only to struggle against terrorism, but also to preserve Iraq's territorial integrity which is very important for Turkey.

[18] TURKEY-INTERNAL - ACCORDING TO A POLL 70 PERCENT OF THE PUBLIC FOUND THE GOVERNMENT'S STRUGGLE AGAINST GANGS TO BE ''INSUFFICIENT'' - 11.60 PERCENT OF THE PUBLIC THOUGHT THAT FREEDOM OF THOUGHT IS APPLIED FULLY AND 56 PERCENT THOUGHT IT IS APPLIED PARTLY - 67 PERCENT FOUND THE ATTITUDE OF POLICE IN DEMONSTRATIONS TO BE ''VIOLENT AND PARTIAL'' - TURKISH PEOPLE DID NOT WELCOME ''EUTHANASIA''

The A.A correspondent reported that the Organization of Criminal Law, Criminology and Human Rights which was established in 1997 and led by Prof. Dr. Bahri Ozturk from the Dokuz Eylul University, made a countrywide poll with the participation of 8,386 people. 3,686 women and 4,700 men participated in the poll. 10 current questions were asked in the poll.

According to the poll, Turkish public did not find the government's struggle against gangs in the state to be sufficient. 15.50 percent answered the question as ''sufficient'' and 69.78 percent answered as ''insufficient'' while 14.72 percent gave no answer to this question.

One of the most striking results of the poll reflects the public's opinion about the state institutions. 14.17 percent trusted the police, 12.22 the gendarmes, 11.50 the prosecutors, 21.85 the judges and 40.26 trusted none of the state institutions. 67.86 percent of the public found the attitude of police in demonstrations to be ''violent and partial'', 23.04 percent thought that the police are right in their attitude and 9.10 percent avoided an answer to this question.

11.60 percent of the public thought that freedom of thought is applied fully, but 56.77 percent thought it is applied partly, 21.95 percent defended that freedom of thought is not applied at all and 9.67 percent did not answer the question.

Despite all the measures, beating was accepted as ''an ordinary event''. Results of the poll show that public found the saying ''beating comes from the heaven'' to be correct. 22.67 percent of the people taking part in the poll said that they have never been beaten, but 77.33 percent said they have been beaten.

41.16 percent were beaten by parents, 6.34 percent by police and the gendarmes, 7.77 percent by teachers and 22.06 percent by officials and relatives.

Turkish people did not welcome euthanasia (the painless killing of the ill or old people in order to end their sufferings). Responding to the question ''Is euthanasia a right?'',

49.85 percent said, ''No, medicine can find a solution to diseases'' and 40.26 percent said, ''Yes, man should decide whether to live or to die, humane death is a right''.

The Public's opinion about culture, sports and health was also questioned in the poll.

42.52 percent preferred to be treated in private hospitals, 5.85 percent in state hospitals, 21.55 percent in the university hospitals and 27.84 percent abroad. 2.54 percent preferred to go hodjas instead of doctors.

Most of the people liked Turkish folk songs. 30.94 percent liked listening to folk music, 27.90 percent Turkish classical music, 21.52 percent pop music, 11.59 percent arabesque and 8.05 percent liked listening to classical music.

People liked to watch sports instead of engaging in sports themselves. 23.32 percent participated in sports events, but 43.13 percent preferred to watch sports events.

Despite all encouragement, Turkish people do not read books.

41.09 percent said that have not read a book for a year. 21.95 percent had read less than 2 books, 21.41 percent had read more than 2, 9.91 percent had read more than 6 and 5.64 percent had read more than 12 books.

[19] TURKEY-MALAYSIA - TURKEY AND MALAYSIA SIGN ''AGREEMENT FOR MUTUAL ENCOURAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF INVESTMENTS'' AND ''COOPERATION AGREEMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF FOREIGN TRADE''

Gunes Taner, the Minister of State responsible for the economy and Dato Seri Rafidah Aziz, the Malaysian Minister of International Trade and the Economy signed the agreement.

Taner said after the signing ceremony that the existing foreign capital of 1.2 billion US dollars should be at first increased to ten billion US dollars and then to an annual amount of 30 billion US dollars in order to enable foreign capital to realize more investments in Turkey.

Taner said that the trade volume between Turkey and Malaysia is nearly 500- 550 million US dollars and Turkey purchased nearly 300 million US dollars of goods from that country.

Later, Turkey and Malaysia signed the ''Cooperation Agreement for Development of Foreign Trade'' in a ceremony attended by Cavit Kavak, the Chairman of the Turkish-Malaysian Joint Economic Commission (JEC) and Rafidah Aziz.

The Turkish Study Center for the Development of Exports (IGEME) and the Malaysian MATRADE organization will carry out the agreement.

The agreement foresees the exchange of information and personnel and market research studies between the two countries.

Tne trade volume between the two countries was 218.1 million US dollars in the January-July 1997 period. Turkey realized 80 million US dollars in exports to Malaysia, while she imported 138.1 million US dollars of goods from that country in the same period last year.

Turkey exported electrical and iron-steel products to Malaysia, while she imported agricultural goods from that country.

[20] TURKEY-FOREIGN POLICY - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM DUE IN JORDAN AND AMBASSADOR UTKAN TO QATAR AFTER THE FOREIGN MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY HAKTANIR'S IRAN AND MIDDLE EAST DIRECTOR GENERAL CETİRGE'S SYRIA VISITS - UTKAN: ''TURKEY IS IN CONTACT WITH IRAN, KUWAIT SYRIA AND JORDAN''

Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister will go to Jordan on Wednesday for a two- day visit and present Turkey's peace and stability plan. Addressing a weekly press conference, Ambassador Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman, said, ''the Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's visit aims to establish security and cooperation in the Middle East.''

Noting that the issue of peace and stability in the Middle East will be discussed with the countries surrounding Iraq soon, Utkan told the journalists that officials from the Foreign Ministry will hold meetings with Iran, Kuwait, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Ambassador Korkmaz Haktanir, the Foreign Ministry Undersecretary held talks in Iran early in February. Ambassador Aykut Cetirge, Director General of the Middle East, Africa and International Political Organizations, is currently holding talks in Syria.

Utkan said that he will visit Qatar after Cem's visit to Jordan.

Stressing that the United Arab Emirates offered an ''economic corridor'' in the Dubai meeting, Utkan said that cooperation on pipelines, railways and telecommunication networks can preserve stability in the Middle East.

[21] TURKEY-GREECE - ANKARA NOT PLEASED WITH THE RESPONSE OF ATHENS - FM SPOKESMAN UTKAN: ''GREECE IS THE ONLY COUNTRY REJECTING DIALOGUE''

Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman told a weekly news conference that Greece could not conform with Turkey's good will and stressed that the concerned countries extended the necessary support to Turkey's constructive approach. He said, ''Greece, once again assumed an uncompromising role.''

Utkan said that Greece's note of reply and foreign policy showed that her aim was to consolidate tension in the Aegean and to have the problems with Turkey remain unsolved. Utkan said that Greece once again avoided the methods anticipated by international law.

The Greek government in its note of reply said that Turkey should go to the International Court of Justice in the Hague. Evaluating this, Utkan said, ''Greece, in the name of international law, has mislead the world for years by trying to show a perception of law to be true which it distorted. Still, with the initiatives of the Turkish government, all countries concerned have realized what is what.''

Utkan emphasized that the choice of the International Court of Justice in the Hague, on which Greece has insisted, was not the only method in international law.

Utkan said that the misleading of the Greek government in the international platforms has lost effectiveness with the initiatives of Turkey, adding that, ''the Greek government has become peevish as it is aware of this.'' He said that Greece has hidden under the method of ''not meeting and not talking'' in response to the proposals of Turkey and stressed that, ''the Greek government has preferred to consolidate tension in the Aegean in the direction of its own domestic policy concerns and foreign policy interests. Greece with this government policy which prefers tension, has assumed the responsibility of an unwanted accident that may erupt in the Aegean.''

Utkan said Turkey's policy will be disclosed again with a diplomatic note after discussing the views included in Greece's note of reply.

When he recalled that Theodoros Pangalos, the Greek Foreign Minister was ready to meet with Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, Utkan stressed that Turkey, in the note of peace which it presented to Greece on Feb 12, proposed a meeting where high ranking representatives of the Foreign Ministries would convene.

Utkan also said that all the countries concerned, mainly the EU and the US, will be given the necessary information on the issue.

[22] TURKEY-JAPAN - JAPANESE AMBASSADOR TOYAMA IN SIVAS - ATSUKO TOYAMA: ''I ANNOUNCE THAT TURKISH-JAPANESE FRIENDSHIP HAS STARTED''

Japan sent equipment aid to 132 primary schools in the Central Anatolian province of Sivas. Addressing the delivery ceremony Toyama said, ''my visit to Sivas is a good memory for me. I hope that Turkish-Japanese relations would further be improved.''

Toyama later left for Ankara after visiting historical and touristic places in Sivas.

[23] TURKEY-BULGARIA - TURKISH PARLIAMENTARIAN DELEGATION CONCLUDES ITS CONTACTS IN BULGARIA - BULGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER NADEJDA MIHAYLOVA: - ''WE PROVIDED AN ATMOSPHERE OF FULL CONFIDENCE'' - OSCE PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLY TURKISH GROUP CHAIRMAN TEKIN ENEREM : ''WE REACHED A CONSENSUS ON EVERY ISSUE''

The Turkish parliamentarian delegation including four members of the Turkish Group of the Organization on Security and Cooperation for Europe (OSCE) Parliament Assembly concluded its contacts in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia after meeting with Nadejda Mihaylova.

Pointing out that the intense contacts between the parliamentarians of the two countries will contribute to the improvement of cooperation, Mihaylova said, ''I believe our two countries would attain the impossible if we established the necessary will.''

Tekin Enerem, the Chairman of the Turkish Group of the OSCE Parliament Assembly Istanbul Deputy, said that they have reached a consensus on every issue with the Bulgarian administration.

Tekin Enerem told the A.A. correspondent that the real intention of their visit to Sofia was to prepare a basis for cooperation between the Turkish and Bulgarian OSCE Assemblies before the OSCE General Council in Copenhagen in July.

The Turkish parliamentarian delegation will return to Turkey the same day.

[24] TURKEY-SYRIA - MEETINGS ''TO RESTART THE DIALOGUE PROCESS WITH SYRIA'' WERE POSITIVE - CEM'S PLAN FOR PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE ISSUE OF THE ''STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM'' WERE DISCUSSED IN DAMASCUS

Cetirge was received by Faruk Shara, the Syrian Foreign Minister and Adnan Omran, the Deputy Minister on Wednesday. After completing his contacts in Damascus, Cetirge is expected to return to Istanbul this evening.

Responding to the questions of the A.A correspondent, Ambassador Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman said, ''Turkey's contact with Syria is within the regional peace and stability programme which was made known during the Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's attempts to find a diplomatic solution to Iraqi crisis.''

Noting that Cem's visit to Jordan on Thursday will be in the same scope, Utkan told the A.A correspondent that Turkey is trying to prepare the ground for dialogue with Syria.

[25] TURKEY-PIPELINE - FIVE WAY MEETING FOR BAKU-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE

The five-way meeting, scheduled to be attended by the producing countries in the Caspian region and countries which are on the transit route, will take place in Istanbul under the leadership of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem between March 1 and 2, is important for Turkey for three main reasons.

A high ranking official of the Foreign Ministry, responding to the questions of the A.A correspondent said the primary goal of the meeting was to inform the four countries in question about the feasibility studies of the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline. The same official said in case the participating countries clarify their attitude, a joint communique of the meeting will be issued in favor of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, adding that activities were underway for the realization of this pipeline.

He said the other aim of the meeting was to make known to the participating countries the dangers with which the Straits will be confronted.

The same official said the other aim for the meeting was to provide an Azerbaijan-Turkmenistan accord, adding that overcoming the problems between the two countries was important for Turkey.

Meanwhile, addressing the weekly news conference Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman said that the meeting in question will take place in Istanbul between March 1 and 2.

Azerbaijan will be represented by Araz Azimov, the Deputy Foreign Minister during the meeting.

[26] TURKEY-INCB-DRUG - TURKEY RESPONDS TO INCB DRUG REPORT ''LINKS OF THE PKK WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING ARE VERY CLEAR''

Figen Ok, Turkey's Permanent Representative to the UN Vienna office, put pressure to confirm that the drug-terrorism link is in both the INCB reports and the political declaration of ''the Struggle Against Drug Trafficking'' which the UN General Assembly will hold in New York.

Asim Arar, Undersecretary of the Permanent Representation, responding to the questions of the A.A correspondent about the INCB report said that several contacts took place with various countries on the issue and stressed the importance of the systematic flow of information which will come from Turkey.

[27] TURKEY-BRITAIN - THE BRITISH COUNCIL MOVES TO ITS NEW BUILDING - CULTURE MINISTER ISTEMIHAN TALAY OPENS THE BRITISH COUNCIL'S NEW BUILDING

Addressing the opening ceremony which David Logan, the British Ambassador to Turkey also attended, Istemihan Talay said that the British Council has made very important contributions to Turkish culture and art.

Dr. David Drewy, the General Director of the British Council, said that the participation of Istemihan Talay at the opening ceremony was of considerable importance for the British Council.

Pointing out that the aim of the British Council is to contribute to the improvement of cultural relations and cooperation between Turkey and Britain, Drewy said that they have increased their cultural activities in Turkey recently.

[28] TURKEY-TRNC - DENKTAS SPEAKS TO THE A.A - ''I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INVITATION FROM COOK AND I DO NOT EXPECT ANY''

Responding to the questions of the A.A correspondent, President Denktas said that the British Government knows the views of the Turkish Cypriot people about the EU and its determination.

Denktas said that the unilateral application of the Greek Cypriot side to the EU could not be regarded as an application made on behalf of ''Cyprus'' and stressed that ''such an application should have been vetoed by the guarantor country Britian from the very first day.''

Denktas stressed that he would not negotiate the EU issue with anybody.

President Denktas said the other sides expected his country to unite with Greece within the EU structure and support ''an application of Greek Cypriot side to own whole Cyprus by abolishing Turkey's rights on Cyprus.''

''Authorized organs of the TRNC have not applied for EU membership. According to the proposal of the UN Secretary General, this issue could not be brought onto the agenda before the solution of the Cyprus question. This may only be brought onto the agenda with the referendum of the two sides. The Turkish side, in this referendum will observe the Turkish-Greek balance within the framework of the 1960 agreements. No concessions will be given from the geopolitical and effective guarantorship rights of Turkey on Cyprus.''

Denktas reiterated that he would not meet with Sir David Hannay, Britain's Special Envoy to Cyprus as Britain imposed visas for Turkish Cypriots and added, ''an injustice has been done to our government although it did not deserve it. Displaying a reaction on behalf of my people is my right. I will only discuss the Cyprus question with Sir David Hannay when this injustice is lifted.''

Denktas said he would not discuss the EU issue with Hans Van Den Broek, the EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, when he comes to Cyprus in March.

Denktas pointed out that his government decided that negotiating with the diplomats coming from the EU would not be productive and added that he shared the same views.

He said the EU, with its recent decision, classified Turkish Cypriots with Armenian and Maronit minorities and pointed out that the EU showed Cyprus as a ''Greek Cypriot Republic'' and the Turkish Cypriots as a minority.

[29] TURKEY-GREECE - ANKARA NOT PLEASED WITH THE RESPONSE OF ATHENS - FM SPOKESMAN UTKAN: ''GREECE IS THE ONLY COUNTRY REJECTING DIALOGUE''

Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman told a weekly news conference that Greece could not conform with Turkey's good will and stressed that the concerned countries extended the necessary support to Turkey's constructive approach. He said, ''Greece, once again assumed an uncompromising role.''

Utkan said that Greece's note of reply and foreign policy showed that her aim was to consolidate tension in the Aegean and to have the problems with Turkey remain unsolved. Utkan said that Greece once again avoided the methods anticipated by international law.

The Greek government in its note of reply said that Turkey should go to the International Court of Justice in the Hague. Evaluating this, Utkan said, ''Greece, in the name of international law, has mislead the world for years by trying to show a perception of law to be true which it distorted. Still, with the initiatives of the Turkish government, all countries concerned have realized what is what.''

Utkan emphasized that the choice of the International Court of Justice in the Hague, on which Greece has insisted, was not the only method in international law.

Utkan said that the misleading of the Greek government in the international platforms has lost effectiveness with the initiatives of Turkey, adding that, ''the Greek government has become peevish as it is aware of this.'' He said that Greece has hidden under the method of ''not meeting and not talking'' in response to the proposals of Turkey and stressed that, ''the Greek government has preferred to consolidate tension in the Aegean in the direction of its own domestic policy concerns and foreign policy interests. Greece with this government policy which prefers tension, has assumed the responsibility of an unwanted accident that may erupt in the Aegean.''

Utkan said Turkey's policy will be disclosed again with a diplomatic note after discussing the views included in Greece's note of reply.

When he recalled that Theodoros Pangalos, the Greek Foreign Minister was ready to meet with Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, Utkan stressed that Turkey, in the note of peace which it presented to Greece on Feb 12, proposed a meeting where high ranking representatives of the Foreign Ministries would convene.

Utkan also said that all the countries concerned, mainly the EU and the US, will be given the necessary information on the issue.

[30] TURKEY-SYRIA - MEETINGS ''TO RESTART THE DIALOGUE PROCESS WITH SYRIA'' WERE POSITIVE - CEM'S PLAN FOR PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE ISSUE OF THE ''STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM'' WERE DISCUSSED IN DAMASCUS

Cetirge was received by Faruk Shara, the Syrian Foreign Minister and Adnan Omran, the Deputy Minister on Wednesday. After completing his contacts in Damascus, Cetirge is expected to return to Istanbul this evening.

Responding to the questions of the A.A correspondent, Ambassador Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman said, ''Turkey's contact with Syria is within the regional peace and stability programme which was made known during the Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's attempts to find a diplomatic solution to Iraqi crisis.''

Noting that Cem's visit to Jordan on Thursday will be in the same scope, Utkan told the A.A correspondent that Turkey is trying to prepare the ground for dialogue with Syria.

[31] TURKEY-INCB-DRUG - TURKEY RESPONDS TO INCB DRUG REPORT ''LINKS OF THE PKK WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING ARE VERY CLEAR''

Figen Ok, Turkey's Permanent Representative to the UN Vienna office, put pressure to confirm that the drug-terrorism link is in both the INCB reports and the political declaration of ''the Struggle Against Drug Trafficking'' which the UN General Assembly will hold in New York.

Asim Arar, Undersecretary of the Permanent Representation, responding to the questions of the A.A correspondent about the INCB report said that several contacts took place with various countries on the issue and stressed the importance of the systematic flow of information which will come from Turkey.

[32] TURKEY-TRNC - DERVIS EROGLU'S MEETINGS - THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE TRNC EROGLU MET WITH THE NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER SEZGIN - MINISTER SEZGIN: ''THE TURKISH CYRPRIOTS DO NOT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THE BAF BASE OR THE S-300 MISSILES. TURKEY IS A STRONG STATE'' - ''WE WILL CONTINUE TO HELP IMPROVE THE TRNC ECONOMY''

Dervis Eroglu, the Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the TRNC delegation met with Sezgin.

In a statement, Eroglu said that the economy should be improved for the survival of the TRNC and added that their visit to Ankara aims at an agreement which will help the economy.

Stressing that the security of the people living in Northern Cyprus is also important for the survival of the TRNC, Eroglu stated that the Turkish Armed Forces are the guarantee of the citizens of the TRNC.

Criticising the Greek Cypriot Administration's full membership application to the European Union, Dervis Eroglu said that

''the EU's decision disappoints both the TRNC and Turkey. Their ignorance on the existing international agreements was a big mistake.''

Pointing out that the TRNC is both Turkey's national honour and national problem, Ismet Sezgin said that the TRNC is under Turkey's security and added, ''the Turkish Army brought not only security but democracy to the island''.

Criticising the EU for abandoning the 1959 and 1960 agreements and meeting with the Greek Cypriot Administration for the full membership application to the union, Sezgin said, ''the EU will recognise its mistake and will correct it.''

Noting that Turkey offered to hold meetings with Greece on Cyprus issue, Sezgin said that they did not have response to their proposals''.

Mentioning that Turkey will do whatever is necessary to maintain peace and stability on the island, Sezgin also said that Turkey will continue to assist the TRNC economy.

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