Compact version |
|
Sunday, 17 November 2024 | ||
|
Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-03-02Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>02 MARCH 1998CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-CASPIAN OIL - FIVE-WAY MEETING FOR BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE - FOREIGN MINISTERS INFORMED ABOUT THE ''FEASIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY REPORT OF THE CASPIAN-MEDITERRANEAN MAIN OIL PIPELINE ''ISTANBUL, March 2 (A.A) - The Turkish, Kazakh, Georgian and Turkmen Foreign Ministers and the Azeri Deputy Foreign Minister, who convened in Istanbul to discuss the transport of Central Asian oil to the Western markets via Baku-Ceyhan, were informed on Sunday about the ''Feasibility and Environmental Study Report of the Caspian-Mediterranean Main Oil Pipeline'' which was prepared by the Turkish state run pipeline company (BOTAS).Responding to questions after the meeting, Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister said that the guests appreciated and were interested in the report. ''I believe that our feasibility report is a positive contribution and the other countries have not worked on such a report so far,'' said Cem. Responding to another question, Cem stated that the report showed that the cost of the Caspian-Mediterranean Main Oil Pipeline can be less costly than expected. Ismail Cem stressed that more serious decisions can be made regarding the Caspian oil during the consortium meeting that will be held in October. Later, Cem met with Irakli Menagarishvili, the Georgian Foreign Minister and Kassymzhomart Tokayev, the Kazakh Foreign Minister. [02] TURKEY-INTERNAL - YILMAZ MEETS WITH ECEVIT AND CINDORUKANKARA, March 2 (A.A) - The members of the coalition government met at the Prime Ministry residence on Sunday.In the summit, Mesut Yılmaz, the Prime Minister and the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) met with Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), and Husamettin Cindoruk, the Leader of the Democratic Turkey Party (DTP). Addressing the journalists after the summit, which lasted for nearly four hours, Bulent Ecevit said that the coalition partners are in accord in every field, and added that there is no election on the agenda. Ecevit pointed out that a detailed statement will be given by Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz on Monday. [03] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)These are brief summaries of some of the leading stories in Turkey's press on March 2, 1998. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.) DEMIREL TO VISIT SPAIN PIPELINE SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS MEET BANK REPRESENTATIVES INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT DAYLIGHT-SAVINGS TIME ADJUSTMENT ON MARCH 29 (To be continued) [04] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)These are brief summaries of some of the leading stories in Turkey's press on March 2, 1998. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.) ERSUMER RETURNS TO TURKEY BURNS: ''APPLY TO THE HAGUE FOR THE AEGEAN'' ATTACK BY NEO-NAZIs It is reported that neo-Nazis attacked a Turkish and a Iraqi person two days ago in the Magdeburg district of Germany. Magdeburg police noted that five out of six attackers have been detained. /Milliyet/ 155 PKK TERRORISTS KILLED IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS IRANIAN AMBASSADOR IN ANKARA ''FUNDAMENTALISTS BASED IN GERMANY'' S-300 CONDITION BY GREEK CYPRIOTS TURKISH CONTRACTORS TO BUILD ''BLUE STREAM'' PIPELINE [05] TURKEY-BOSNIA JEC MEETING - FIRST TERM JEC MEETING BETWEEN TURKEY AND BOSNIA STARTS IN SARAJEVOANKARA/SARAJEVO, March 2 (A.A) - The first term meeting of the Turkish- Bosnian Joint Economic Commission (JEC), which will discuss the issue of the improvement of commercial and economic relations, started in Sarajevo on Monday.The Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade said that the Turkish delegation will be headed by Sukru Sina Gurel, the Minister of State during the meetings which will last until March 6. The statement noted that new opportunities for cooperation will be determined regarding the commercial and economic relations between the two countries, credit relations will be discussed and the Turkish side will ask to have more opportunities for the reconstruction of Bosnia. The possible fields of cooperation such as industry, transportation, energy, agriculture, tourism, standardization and customs will be discussed during the meetings. ''It is aimed to improve cooperation between the two countries in the fields of science and technology,'' noted the statement. The signing of the Education Cooperation Protocol and the establishment of a Turkish Education Center in Bosnia are also expected to be discussed. The Turkish side is expected to propose the commencement of negotiations regarding the Prevention of Double Taxation between the two countries. The Protocol of the first term JEC meeting is expected be signed on March 6. The statement added that the 25 billion US dollars trade volume between the two countries does not reflect the real potential. [06] TURKEY-GREECE - 200 THOUSAND TURKISH AND GREEK PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS TO BECOME PEN PALS THROUGH THE JOURNALISTS' PLATFORM FOR PEACE IN THE AEGEAN AND THRACEIZMIR, March 2 (A.A) - A total of 100 thousand Turkish primary school students and 100 thousand Greek primary school students will become pen pals, it was reported on Monday.Suleyman Gencel, the Turkish Spokesman of the Journalists' Platform for Peace in the Aegean and Thrace, told the A.A correspondent that the project, which is planned to be implemented in August, will be one of the most important steps of civilian initiatives for peace in the Aegean. ''The project for 100 thousand Turkish and 100 thousand Greek primary school students to become pen pals is the initiative of our platform. The Turkish Egitim-Sen will define the list of students and will set up a teacher-group to lead those students, while the Greek students' list will be defined by a Greek teacher-group. We are planning to implement this project in August,'' Platform Spokesman Gencel said. Gencel said that Pashalidis Kitrobilides, the Chairman of the Athens-based Asia Minor Research Center which has a 50-year history and has a rich written and visual archives regarding Eastern Anatolia, will visit Izmir on March 4. Kitrobilides will hold several contacts regarding the cultural values created together by the Turkish and Greek groups who have lived in the Aegean region until the beginning of the 21st century. Meanwhile, three Greek businessmen will come to Izmir through the end of March to hold contacts to set up a basis for cooperation as the guest of the Association of Young Aegean Businessmen (EGIAD). [07] TURKEY-TAX - CHAOS IN TAX DEPARTMENTS ON THE FIRST DAY OF IMPLEMENTATION OF TAX NUMBERSANKARA, March 2 (A.A) - The necessity of obtaining a tax number when buying or purchasing automobiles and for administrators and partners of companies, entered into force on Monday.The regulation is issued by the Ministry of Finance, but the implementation created chaos in the tax departments the first day. The regulation of the Ministry of Finance forbids purchasing and selling cars to those people who do not have a tax number. Likewise, the founding partners, president and members of executive boards and director generals of new capital companies are obliged to obtain a tax number. Officials of the Ministry of Finance said that the procedure to obtain a tax number takes only seven minutes at normal times, but on the first day it takes half an hour due to chaos. Officials also noted that the Ministry ordered the tax departments to help citizens who wish to obtain tax numbers and to give priority to their procedures. Real persons can apply to the tax departments and receive their tax numbers by showing a copy of their identity card. Those who violate the regulation will be punished. [08] TURKEY-SYRIA - CONTACTS OF FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL CETIRGE IN DAMASCUS - FM DEPUTY SPOKESMAN ATACANLI: ''COMMENCEMENT OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH SYRIA DOES NOT MEAN THAT PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED''ANKARA, March 2 (A.A) - The Foreign Ministry, which accelerated its efforts to consolidate a lasting peace and atmosphere of security in the Middle East after the recent crisis in the Gulf, sent Aykut Cetirge, the Foreign Ministry General Director of the Middle East Department, to Syria for a ''new beginning.''Addressing a weekly press briefing held for foreign journalists, Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Sermet Atacanli stated that ''this new beginning with Syria does not mean that the problems between the two countries have been solved.'' Atacanlı pointed out that the issues of terrorism, water problem, Turkish- Israeli relations and the initiative of the ''Neighbour Forum'' were taken up during the visit of Cetirge to Damascus. Noting that Cetirge met with Adnan Omran, the Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister and other high ranking officials in Damascus, Atacanli added that the two sides exchanged views about the issues that concern the two countries. Atacanli pointed out that the expectations of Turkey regarding terrorism have been explained once again to the Syrian officials and Cetirge informed them about Turkish-Israeli relations by stressing that this cooperation is not directed at any third country. Pointing out that Cetirge gave information to the Syrian officials about the visit to Iran of Korkmaz Haktanir, the Foreign Ministry Undersecretary, Atacanli added that the initiative of the ''Neighbour Forum'' was also discussed. Responding to a question asked about whether Turkey's policy towards Syria has changed, Atacanli said, ''the thing which is important is not to close the communication channels with Syria. However our concern regarding the relation of Syria with terrorism still continues.'' Atacanli added that the Syrian high ranking officials could visit Ankara in the coming days, but the visit of Foreign Minister Cem to Damascus has not been planned at this stage. [09] TURKEY-NEW STRAITS REGULATION - UNDERSECRETARY OF MARITIME AFFAIRS OZKAN: ''DELAY RESULTS FROM PROCEDURE'' - FM DEPUTY SPOKESMAN ATACANLI: ''PREPARATION OF THE REGULATION IS A TECHNICAL JOB''ANKARA, March 2 (A.A) - The Regulation on the Straits, which aims to regulate the passages through the Straits, is at the stage of approval, it was reported on Monday.Resat Ozkan, the Undersecretary of Maritime Affairs said that there is no insufficiency in the new regulation and the delay regarding the announcement of it to the public stems from procedure. Ozkan pointed out that the approval of the regulation by the concerned ministries is necessary, and when it is ready, it will be submitted to the Council of Ministers. Sermet Atacanli, the Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman told a weekly press briefing that the preparation of the regulation is a technical job. [10] TURKEY IN BRIEF - MARCH 2, 1998ANKARA - Nejat Ural, the General Director of the Tea Authority (Caykur) said on Monday that an annual amount of at least 20-30 thousand tonnes of contraband tea has entered the Turkish market recently.Ural told the A.A correspondent that the teas of Indian, Chinese and Arabic origin enter Turkey from the borders in the Southeast via Mersin, Adana and Cyprus. ANKARA - Officials of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources said on Monday that ''methane gas'' which is found in large quantities in the marshy areas and in the coal mining regions, was opened to research and operations by putting it into the context of the mining law. Officials said that they do not have definite statistics about the methane gas reserves in Turkey as they have not realized any research studies, but the real dimension will be understood with the research studies that will be undertaken in the future. ISTANBUL - Fikret Evyap, the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Evyap Soap, Oil, Glycerine Industry and Trade Inc., one of the giant companies of the Turkish cleansing sector, said on Monday that Turkey became the main country in the production and export of soaps as the result of investments realized in the soap sector and globalization. Fikret Evyap said that their exports of soaps to the former Soviet Union, the Balkans, the Middle East and North Africa has rapidly increased in recent years. ISTANBUL - The delegation of the Association of Democratic Industrialists and Businessmen (DEMSIAD) led by Fermani Altun, the Chairman of the DEMSIAD High Consultation Council and the Chairman of the Association of Exporters and Importers (TIDER) will visit the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) between March 4 and 5, it was reported on Monday. Assistant Prof. Altan Lacin, the Secretary General of the DEMSIAD, said in a written statement that the DEMSIAD delegation and the TRNC Chamber of Commerce will hold several economic meetings. The statement said that Fermani Altun and the accompanying delegation will meet with Dervis Eroglu, the TRNC Prime Minister and Hakki Atun, the TRNC Speaker of the Parliament Atun on March 4. The delegation will be received by the TRNC President Rauf Denktas on March 5. The exports, imports and investment opportunities between Turkey and the TRNC will be evaluated in the meetings. ANKARA - The Council of the Association of Turkish Women will organize an international conference titled ''The Profile of Women in the Balkan Countries'' at the Vakifbank Conference Hall in Ankara on March 4 within the framework of the ''World Women's Day'' on March 8, it was reported on Monday. The representatives from Macedonia, Romania, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina will attend the conference which aims to provide communication between the European Women Councils, to set up and improve communications between the Turkish voluntary women's organizations and those in the Balkan countries. EDIRNE - The computer system installed at the Kapikule Border Gate will be put into service in the following days, it was reported on Monday. The customs officials will be able to control the motor vehicles easily and prevent smuggling. LEFKOSA - The ''First Culture and Art General Assembly'' will convene on March 3 in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to contribute to the development of the Turkish Cypriot culture and art. Several artistic activities will be organized within the framework of the activities of the general assembly which will also be attended by some artists from the Balkan countries. ISTANBUL - Nami Cagan, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, left on Monday for the Azerbaijani capital of Baku. Prior to his departure, Cagan said that they will sign a cooperation agreement with Azerbaijan concerning working life, employment and social security. Nami Cagan will be received by the Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev and Prime Minister Artur Rasizade. Cagan will return to Turkey on March 5. ANTALYA - The targeted trade volume for the Antalya Free Zone is one billion US dollars, it was reported on Monday. Tugrul Yalciner, the General Director of the Antalya Free Zone, told the A.A correspondent that the trade volume of the zone since its establishment has reached 740 million US dollars. The zone was set up in 1988. ZONGULDAK - The Canakcilar Ceramics Factory realized 2.3 trillion Turkish Liras in exports last year, it was reported on Monday. Mehmet Canakci, the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Canakcilar Ceramics Inc., told the A.A correspondent that they exported bathroom ceramic tiles to Germany, Greece, Israel, Macedonia, Algeria, Tunisia, Belarus, the Ukraine and Azerbaijan. BURSA - The number of plants and companies working for the textile industry which made a great contribution to the industrialization of Bursa Province has increased to over eight thousand, it was reported on Monday. The Bursa Chamber of Commerce data shows that the number of those employed in the textile industry in Bursa has reached 60 thousand. IZMIR - The representatives of the local enterprises formed with German capital or German partners in the Aegean Region and the western section of the Mediterranean Region convened in Izmir on Monday. The representatives of the companies convened at the Ege Palas Hotel upon an invitation from Manfred Unger, the German Consul General in Izmir and held contacts to intensify their relations with the German Consulate General. Nearly 50 representatives, Consul General Unger and Marc Landau, the official from the German-Turkish Istanbul Chamber of Foreign Trade exchanged opinions on economic issues and reviewed their targets for the future by discussing their problems. [11] TURKEY-CASPIAN OIL - FIVE-WAY MEETING FOR BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE ENDS - FM CEM: ''THERE IS MUTUAL SUPPORT FOR THE BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE''ISTANBUL, March 2 (A.A) - Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister said on Monday that a mutual support was extended to the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline during the five-way meeting held in Istanbul, adding that ''I'm sure this project will be implemented, but it would be wrong to assume that it is a completed deal at this stage.''The five-way meeting which brought together in Istanbul the Kazakh, Georgian, Turkmen Foreign Ministers and the Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister to discuss the transports of Central Asian oil to the western markets, ended with the declaration of the joint statement the same day. Giving information about the joint statement on behalf of the guest ministers, Cem stated, ''the aim of the meeting was to set up the political basis regarding the transports of energy, to draw the political framework and to speed up the future developments within the framework of the common interests of the concerned countries.'' Noting that the foreign ministers focused on the solution of disagreements particularly in the Caspian Region as soon as possible, Cem pointed out that the ministers reached a consensus of opinion regarding the continuation of these types of visits. Cem said that the invitation of the Georgian Foreign Minister to hold the next meeting in Tbilisi was also taken into consideration. ''The Baku- Ceyhan pipeline can not be realized only by the good will of the concerned countries and by our work. It depends on many things,'' said Cem. Stressing that a briefing was held for participants about the Straits, Cem added that Turkey attributes great importance to the security of the Straits and the Turkish people. Responding to a question, Cem added that the mutual support of the participant states to the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline was also included in the Joint Declaration. [12] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS - 32 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED IN EDIRNEEDIRNE, March 2 (A.A) - The Edirne Gendarmerie officials captured on Monday 32 illegal immigrants of foreign origin trying to escape to Greece.Acting on a tip off, the Edirne Province Gendarmerie Commandership officials captured 13 Bangladeshis near the toll collection sections of the TEM Highway and six Iranians near the Kızkapan Village in Kasan County of Edirne Province. Meanwhile, the border patrols during their controls captured two Iraqis in Gemici Village in Uzunkopru County; four Romanians in Pasayigit Village in Ipsala County; six Iraqis in Doyran Village and one Albanian in Bosna Village of Edirne Province. These illegal immigrants said in their hearings that they were trying to escape to Greece. [13] TRNC-TURKEY - TRNC PRESIDENT RAUF DENKTAS: ''THE DOOR TO TALKS IS OPEN IF THE GREEK CYPRIOT LEADER CLERIDES INVITES ME AS PRESIDENT DENKTAS, A CITIZEN OF THE TRNC''LEFKOSA, March 2 (A.A) - Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Monday that the Turkish Cypriot side will never join the European Union (EU) if Turkey is not represented there.Rauf Denktas pointed out that the issue of full membership to the EU has been voiced in order to sabotage the Gali's Set of Ideas. Addressing a statement to the press, Denktas called to Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot side, by saying, ''Let's meet and talk as state to state. If you agree, I am there. The door to talks is open if you invite me as President Denktas, a citizen of the TRNC.'' Denktas warned Clerides that if the Greek Cypriot side joins the EU, Cyprus will be divided into two, ''I advise you to give up weapons and missiles,'' he said. Noting that the statement of Clerides regarding the establishment of a federation does not mean anything, Denktas stressed that first of all the equality and sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot people should be accepted for the establishment of a federation on Cyprus. Recalling that he rejected the invitation of Britain due to the visa imposed upon Turkish Cypriots, Denktas criticised Britain for inviting Clerides as the President of Cyprus. ''It is not correct for the TRNC to accept invitations to discuss EU membership, as we are ignored,'' said Denktas. [14] TRNC - GIBBONS, THE AUTHOR OF THE ''GENOCIDE FILES'' IN THE TRNC - BRITISH AUTHOR GIBBONS: ''CLERIDES IS A TERRORIST, HE SHOULD BE TRIED'' - ''GREEK-CYPRIOT SIDE SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE EU EXPANSION PROCESS'' - ''THE PROPER SOLUTION ON CYPRUS IS THE PRESENT STATUS QUO''LEFKOSA, March 2 (A.A) - Harry Scott Gibbons, the famous British author known for his research on the Cyprus issue, said on Monday that Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek-Cypriot side, is one of the leading terrorists who utterly destroyed Kucuk Kaymakli in 1963 and thus he should be tried by the International Court of War Criminals like Radovan Karadzic, the ex-leader of the Bosnian Serbs.Gibbons, who collected his three books in the ''Genocide Files'', having the attribute of a document that sheds light on the period between 1963- 1974, visited the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and said that the Greek administration should not be included in the European Union (EU) expansion process as it committed inhuman crimes against the Turkish Cypriots before 1974. ''The full-membership of Turkey to the EU is blocked with the claim of human rights abuses in Turkey. If this is the issue, then the Greek-Cypriot side should not be included in the EU for its human rights abuses and massacres on northern Cyprus before 1974. Several experts should come to the island to make research and observations in order to reveal the truths, '' Gibbons said. Stressing that he wrote the truth not the claims in his book, Gibbons said, ''the rights of the Turkish Cypriots were abused several times. My book should be used as a source for a realistic solution on the island.'' Emphasizing that there is no difference between the massacres in Bosnia- Herzegovina against the Muslims and on Cyprus against the Turkish Cypriots, Gibbons said that the international community remained silent for both massacres. Harry Scott Gibbons said that the most appropriate solution on the island is the present status quo, adding that the Greek-Cypriot side should now leave the Turkish Cypriots in peace. [15] TURKEY-CASPIAN OIL (2) - FIVE-WAY MEETING FOR BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE - JOINT DECLARATION: ''MINISTERS CONFIRM THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SAFE TRANSPORTS OF CASPIAN OIL AND NATURAL GAS TO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS BY MORE THAN ONE PIPELINE''ISTANBUL, March 2 (A.A) - The five-way meeting held in Istanbul which discussed the transports of Central Asian oil to the western markets by the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline and realization of the Euroasian Energy Corridor, ended on Monday with the declaration of a Joint Statement.The joint statement noted, ''the ministers confirmed the importance of transports of regional resources to international markets by more than one pipeline, which are convenient in respect of economics and trade by taking into account the consolidation of independence, security, economic development and prosperity of the countries concerned.'' The statement also stressed that the ministers understood the concerns of Turkey regarding the heavy navigation traffic in the Turkish Straits. The statement noted that safe navigation is also important for not only the people living in Istanbul, but also for the countries which use the Straits quite often. The statement said that the guest ministers were informed about the feasibility report of the Caspian-Mediterranean and Baku-Ceyhan Oil Pipelines and reached an agreement concerning the determination of the contributions of these countries to this project. The ministers stressed during the meeting that the status of the Caspian Sea should be determined with an agreement that will be made among the countries sharing the same coastline within the framework of the international principles of law. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Cem met with Boris Sahmuradov, the Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and Araz Azimov, the Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister the same morning. [16] TURKEY-INTERNAL - COUNCIL OF MINISTERS CONVENES - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''WE DO NOT HAVE EARLY ELECTIONS ON OUR AGENDA'' - ''DRAFT LAW ON TAX REFORM IS AN INDISPENSABLE CONDITION FOR STRUGGLING WITH INFLATION. IF THIS IS PREVENTED, OUR GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE HELD LIABLE CONCERNING INFLATION''ANKARA, March 2 (A.A) - Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz said on Monday that there are no early elections on the agenda of the government.Addressing a statement before the Council of Ministers meeting, Yılmaz said that the three leaders of the government reached an agreement upon the Draft Law on Tax Reform, Draft law on Social Security Institutions, Draft law on the Change in the Capital Market and Draft Law on Local Administrations, adding that ''we regard the Draft Law on Tax Reform as an indispensable condition for struggling with inflation. If this law is prevented, our government will not be held liable concerning inflation.'' Prime Minister Yılmaz pointed out that the three leaders decided to support the proposed law which regulates the participation of students in religious courses in the summertime. Noting that the three leaders decided to adopt the draft law foreseeing a change in the articles on freedom of thought and expression in the Turkish Penal Code and Draft law on Labor Unions for Civil Servants as soon as possible, Yılmaz stated that the three leaders also decided to make important economic decisions by discussing them at the Cabinet and Supreme Planning Board. ''Girls will not be forced to cover or uncover their heads,'' Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz told reporters, adding that the decision was made in order to ''respect the traditions and customs'' observed by the students. Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz stressed that the government has been very succesful in respect to achieving its targets and re-establishment of political stability in the country. Pointing out that the government has been set up as a performance government, Yılmaz stressed that the main aim is to prepare Turkey for the 21st century. Yılmaz stated that the coalition leaders foresee the continuation of the policy pursued towards the European Union (EU), adding that ''the three leaders are in a consensus of opinion regarding improvement of relations with Iraq, as long as the latter fulfils her commitments towards the United Nations (UN) and continuation of the support extended to the TRNC in all fields.'' Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |