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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-03-08Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>08 MARCH 1998CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-KOSOVO - TURKEY CONTINUES TO LAUNCH PEACE INITIATIVES BEFORE THE UN - UN SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN SUPPORTS FM CEM'S VISIT TO BELGRADEANKARA, March 8 (A.A) - Turkey continues to launch initiatives before the United Nations (UN) to find a peaceful solution to the Kosovo conflict, it is reported on Saturday.Responding to a question, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan said that Turkey continues to launch effective efforts to find a peaceful solution to the developments in Kosovo region. Utkan pointed out that UN Security Council should take up the issue and appoint a special representative, adding that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan welcomed the visit of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem to Belgrade. ''UN Secretary General has told us that he carefully monitors the developments in Kosovo and he will pay attention and evaluate the proposals of Turkey,'' said Utkan. [02] TURKEY-YUGOSLAVIA - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN BELGRADE - CEM TO CONVEY A MESSAGE OF PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO YUGOSLAVIAN PRESIDENT MILOSEVICANKARA, March 8 (A.A) - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem left for Belgrade, the capital of Yugoslavia on Saturday evening.Addressing a statement before his departure, Cem said that Turkey thinks that bloodshed should stop in Kosovo. Noting that Albania, Macedonia, Yugoslavia and Bulgaira have been informed about Turkey's views regarding this issue, Cem stated that ''I hope my visit will be a good initiative for peace.'' Foreign Minister Cem left for Belgrade to convey a special message of President Suleyman Demirel, who proposes ''moderation'' to Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic. Cem will be received by Miloseciv on Sunday morning and then interdelegationary meetings will start. Ismail Cem will also participate in the lunch that will be hosted by Yugoslavian Foreign Minister Zivadin Jovanovic the same day. Turkey is concerned over the developments in Kosovo, because incidents that can erupt in the Balkans can have repercussions in Turkey. In this regard, Prime Minister Mesut Yżlmaz made a phone call with Yugoslavian President Milosevic on Friday saying that Turkey hopes the conflict to be solved through dialogue. [03] TURKEY-THE BALKANS - THE FUTURE OF BALKANS CONFERENCE - PRESIDENT DEMIREL ''I INVITE YUGOSLAVIAN LEADERS TO ACT CALMLY AND IMPLEMENT THE PRINCIPLES OF OSCE''ISTANBUL, March 8 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel said on Saturday that if one does not pay enough attention to the serious developments in Kosovo, all the Balkan countries can be negatively effected by this, adding that ''I invite the leaders of Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to act calmly and implement the principles of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).''Addressing a closing speech to the ''The Future of the Balkans Conference'', President Demirel stated that the stability of the Balkans has always carried a vital importance for international peace and security, particularly for Europe. Noting that the Balkans has been described as the powder keg of Europe since the 19th century due to ethnic nationalism, President Demirel pointed out that ''every Balkan country has minority conflict with its neighbours, therefore all countries in the region have been suspicious about the others.'' President Demirel stressed that nations can only live together by democracy, adding that ''we have to set up democratic peace in countries and between countries. If this is not the case, dangers such as ethnic cleasing will continue to threaten us.'' Demirel said that democracy is the only guarantee to exercise the right to be different, adding that ''Turkish foreign policy has always attributed importance to the regional cooperation in the Balkans.'' ''Turkey believes that the Balkan countries should work together to end conflicts by respecting the principles of democracy, tolerance, supremacy of law and human rights. Countries should give up Parochialist approaches meaning interpretation of the history in a wrong way,'' he said. Mentioning the serious developments in Kosovo, President Demirel said that ''these incidents started to threaten regional and international peace and stability. Mistakes of the past should not be repeated and violence should stop.'' ''If the Balkan countries join European Union (EU), the problems between them stemming from borders, minorities and religion will also disappear,'' said Demirel. Responding to questions of participants, President Demirel said that the problems of the Balkans are not new, adding that his message to Yugoslavian President Milosevic is a ''good will message.'' Responding to a question regarding the Luxembourg Summit, President Demirel stressed that ''the Luxembourg decision does not mean isolation of Turkey from Europe.'' President Demirel said the Cyprus problem is not directly between Turkey and Greece, but between the two sides in the island, so it can be solved between the latters. [04] TURKEY-GERMANY-EU - UNGER, GERMAN CONSUL GENERAL TO IZMIR: ''POSITIVE OPINIONS EXIST TO ACCEPT TURKEY TO EU''IZMIR, March 8 (A.A) - Manfred Unger, German Consul General to Izmir, said on Saturday that ''positive opinions have existed regarding the acception of Turkey to European Union (EU) after the Luxembourg Summit.''Addressing to Turkish-German Cultural Affairs Association, Unger stated that the association plays an important concerning scientific and cultural activities between Turkey and Germany. Responding to a question asked whether he supports accession of Turkey to EU, Unger said that ''There are various commissions of EU. Turkey should not be pessimistic before trying various ways. Germany had earlier explained its positive views regarding Turkey's entrance to customs union. Turkey can not join EU soon, but it is on the right way.'' [05] TURKEY-FRANCE - MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS TASAR: ''WE REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH MY FRENCH COUNTERPART TO MAKE COOPERATION IN AGRICULTURAL SECTOR''ANKARA/PARIS; March 8 (A.A) - Mustafa Tasar, the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister, said on Sunday that he reached an agreement with French Agriculture Minister to make cooperation.Addressing a statement in Paris, Tasar stated that he met his French counterpart to improve bilateral relations between the two countries in the field of agriculture. Tasar pointed out that the works of ''Agricultural Technical Committee,'' which was set up within the framework of ''Agricultural Cooperation Agreement'' signed in 1989 between the two countries, were taken up during the meeting. ''We decided to cooperate in animal husbandry, in Southeastern Project (GAP) region in the field of food industry and animal husbandry and in Central Asian Republics,'' he said. Recalling that he also participated in Organization on Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) ministers meeeting, Tasar added that developments recorded in agricultural policies of OECD member countries were evaluated and he informed member countries about the situation in Turkey. [06] TRNC-GREEK CYPRIOTS - TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''CLERIDES LOSES A CHANCE BY REJECTING OUR LETTER''ADANA, March 8 (A.A) - Rauf Denktas, the President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, said on Sunday that ''Glafkos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot side, loses a great chance by rejecting the letter which we have sent.''Responding to a question of a journalist, Rauf Denktas stated that ''the Greek Cypriot side will continue to have mistakes and I do not think that European Union (EU) will think positively about us.'' ''The reason of Clerides to reject the letter is completely invalid. This shows that the policies of the Greek Cypriot side to assume responsibility over the whole island still continues. We asked them to give up this policy by sending this letter. There are two people in Cyprus and they are partners. The ones who break this partnership is the Greek Cypriots. We expect the European Union (EU) to accept the existance of two states, two different people and two different democracies in the island,'' he said. Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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