Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-03-28

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

28 MARCH 1998

CONTENTS

[01] NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STATEMENT

[02] SUMMER TIME IMPLEMENTATION STARTS

[03] ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH CENTRAL ASIAN STATES

[04] TURKISH-US RELATIONS

[05] ITALIAN UNDER ARREST IN TURKEY

[06] NEW PROPAGANDA TRICK OF GREEK CYPRIOTS

[07] DENKTAS-ANNAN MEETING - DENKTAS CALLS ON UN TO HALT NEGOTIATIONS WHICH EU WILL HOLD WITH THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE

[08] IRAQI TURKMEN FRONT: ''TODAY IS THE SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF ALTUKOPRU MASSACRE''

[09] ISRAELI DELEGATION IN SANLIURFA

[01] NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STATEMENT

A statement was issued at the end of the regular meeting of the NSC that was held under the leadership of President Suleyman Demirel expressing pleasure to see that there was necessary good intention and existing will for the struggle against the mentality of a group of people who wish to condemn the Turkish people to a backward way of life."

The statement said freedom of religion and conscience was used by the citizens who have sincere religious feeling adding that limitation of it was regardless of question. It said they reached to a full consensus of opinion that religious feelings could not intervene to state affairs and politics. ``It is everybody's duty to protect the basic principles of the Turkish Republic and even the slightest of concessions in this matter is out of the question.''

The statement stressed that as legal procedures were implemented against anti-regime activities, they would refrain from statements and illegal attitudes which will offend citizens who have sincere relgious feelings. It said this struggle should be carried out within the principles of democratic and secular legal state.

"Complete agreement was reached that religious beliefs should definitely not be mixed with politics or the workings of the state" the statement said.

NSC General Secretariat issued the statement after the six hour meeting. The statement stressed that giving concession from the preservation of the basic qualities of the Turkish Republic mentioned in the Constitution was regardless of question.

The statement underlined that tolaration against activities forwarded to the regime, ignoring the laws, would encourage those people and insitutions adding that they have reached to a consensus of opinion that implementation of existing laws with determination and issuing of the newly prepared laws from the Parliament speedily were very important.

NSC General Secretariat's statement said:

1- NSC convened on March 27 in Presidential Palace under the leadership of President Suleyman Demirel and with the participation of Prime Minister, Chief of General Staff, Council member Ministers, Force Commanders and NSC Secretary General and held its regular meeting.

2- The Council reviewed general security throught the country and internal and external developments effecting this. The Council also generally evaluated struggle against terrorism and the measures and activities that will be taken to this end.

a- Struggle against the separatist terrorist organization, which was created artificially with the promotion and support of several countries who regarded strong existance of Turkish Republic as a threat to themselves, reached to success within the framework of principles of law and respect to human rights and with the extreme efforts of security forces. It is also pleasing to see that activities of the separatist terrorist organization could be taken under control within the country and abroad.

b- In order to get a further improvement in this success and in an effort to maintain tranquility and security without interruption in every part of our country:

1- Struggle against terrorism will continue with determination with the participation of all national force elements,

2- Basic infrastructure investments, initiated in Eastern and Southeastern region after being adopted in the Parliament, should be reflected in daily life of these people soon.

3- State-citizen harmonization should be realized in the highest level with the completition of the vacant positions with experienced personnel.

4- While taking all these measures, facilities should not be given to the separatist terrorist organization and all interior and exterior support should be halted.

- PREVENTION OF FUNDAMENTALIST ACTIVITIES
``The existing goodwill and determination of the government that is required to combat the mentality of a minority intent on carrying Turkey to a non-contemporary way of life, was noted with pleasure,'' the statement said.

Yet, it was revealed that several people and institutions, carried out efforts to exploit religious feelings of our people for their own interests.

During the meeting, foreign political incidents closely concerning Turkey's security was also reviewed and the council evaluated steps taken to further strengthen private relations between Turkey and TRNC and iniatives of Turkey to find a peaceful solution to the incidents happening in Kosovo and its probable affect to the regional peace.

[02] SUMMER TIME IMPLEMENTATION STARTS

The clocks will be set ahead one hour at 1 a.m. early on Sunday for summer time.

This years' implementation will end on October 25, 1998.

With this implementation that will last for seven months, approximately 7.7 trillion lira will be saved due to energy.

[03] ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH CENTRAL ASIAN STATES

Addressing a conference titled ''Improvement of Economic Relations between Turkey and Central Asian States'' staged by Economic Development Foundation, Andican stressed that this geogpraphy should be perceived as development project in abroad.

Andican said Turkish Republics reached to 26 billion dollar trade volume adding that ''we have nearly 1.3 billion dollar trade volume. This is five percent in their foreign trade volume.''

Andican also wanted the geography to be taken into consideration stressing that ''our future rivals here is China, India and Pakistan.''

Pointing out the importance of improving reciprocal trade, Andican said in regional insfrastructure investments Turkey should bring its technology to the region with the capital of Europe and the US and that it may take over a role to provide transmission to open markets.

[04] TURKISH-US RELATIONS

Addressing a meeeting staged by Aegean Industrialists and Businessmen Association and Aegean TV's Voice of America Worldnet Channel, Parris said Turkish-US relations intensified as approaching to 21st century.

Parris noted that priority was given to energy, trade and investment, security and cooperation, regional cooperation, Cyprus and Greece issues in the relations of the two countries adding that the US President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz reached to an agreement to this end.

Mentioning about the importance of Aegean region in the relations of the two countries Parris said the region has a serious potential due to relations.

David Aaron, the US Commerce Department Undersecretary, participated in the meeting through worldnet system from Washington and responded to the questions of reporters.

Aaron said the US has a serious interest in Turkey and that it was a lasting one. He said they were aware of Turkey's economic loses due to Iraqi crisis.

Recalling that Turkey was a developing market for the US, Aaron said Turkish and the US businessmen will come together at a meeting scheduled to take place in Istanbul.

Aaron said final decision related with the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline roject will be given in October adding that ''countries in the region decided to search for the probabilities. The issue will be clarified in October.''

Responding to a question why they oppose to Turkey's project to get natural gas from Turkmenistan via Iran, Aaron said they opposed to the passage of many pipelines from Iran. Noting that they were aware that Turkey was in need of energy, Aaron said Iran was not the only way in this respect.

[05] ITALIAN UNDER ARREST IN TURKEY

Italian Foreign Ministry issued a statement following the meeting and said Gurkan was summoned upon the request of Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini. The statement noted that Foreign Ministry wanted Dino Frisullo, arrested in southeastern Diyarbakir province during Newruz celebrations to be released immediately and his return to Italy to be provided.

The statement said Serri, during the meeting said Italian Parliament and public who covered the developments with concern, wanted the incident to result in positively.

The statement noted that Serri said Italy well understood and supported Turkey's wish to be integrated to Europe.

Italian Foreign Ministry wanted to know if a formula could be found under the Turkish laws to provide release of Frisullo, Chairman of Senza Confini Association.

Italian Foreign Minister General Secretary Umberto Vattani also called Gurkan to the Ministry and wanted immediate release of Frisullo who was arrested during Newruz celebrations in Diyarbakir. Gurkan told Vattani that there were laws in Turkey.

Diplomatic sources of the two countries said they did not want Turkish- Italian relations to be damaged due to this incident.

Rome Embassy sources identified Serri-Gurkan meeting as ''positive'' adding that this initiative to save an Italian citizen was natural.

[06] NEW PROPAGANDA TRICK OF GREEK CYPRIOTS

EU, which remembered TRNC journalists at the last moment, telephoned press insitutions in TRNC last Thursday through its representation in Southern Cyprus and made the invitation.

EU said the hotel expenditures in Brussels will be paid by the ''Cyprus Republic's Embassy in Brussels.''

Most of the TRNC press institutions said they gave up the idea of covering the meeting when they were informed that the hotel expenditures would be paid by the Greek Cypriot Side.

Representative of a newspaper based in TRNC told A.A correspondent that Greek Cypriot Side, by paying the expenditures, in an effort to create a new propaganda took to itself.

[07] DENKTAS-ANNAN MEETING - DENKTAS CALLS ON UN TO HALT NEGOTIATIONS WHICH EU WILL HOLD WITH THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE

Speaking to press after the meeting Denktas said ''Cyprus question could not be solved through showing sticks to the sides'' adding that they were persistent in finding a new formula.

Denktas said the UN Security Council should accept that Greek Cypriots could not be the government of Turkish Cypriots adding that a new formula should be prepared to this end.

Denktas said decision of EU to start full membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side hampered efforts to find a solution to the problem in the Island.

Denktas expressed regret that Britain, the EU Term President, presented a call of the Greek Cypriot Leader Glafcos Clerides to include representatives from the Turkish side in full membership talks as a ''generous proposal'' adding that participation of TRNC in a delegation where Greek Cypriot Side is taken as interlocutor was regardless of question.

Denktas who accused EU to bow the blackmails of Greece said ''Greek Cypriot delegation can not represent Turkish side in full membership talks and can not sign decisions which also bind Turkish side.''

Noting that EU resolutions abolished parameters and efforts of the UN which lasted for long years and contradicted with the initiatives, Denktas said ''a new situation erupted with the intervention of the EU, the measures we have taken are not against the UN. Neither we nor Turkey will bow to these.''

Denktas said the UN Security Council should evaluate well the recent development which gave facilities to Greek Cypriot Side to continue under the name of Cyprus Government.

Denktas said developments in Cyprus will lead the region to a crisis and stressed that it was regrettable that nobody stopped armament of Greek Cypriots.

Denktas said he gave the message to Annan that they will not continue intercommunal talks as if nothing happened after a decision of the EU which gave facilities to Greek Cypriots as the government and which sentenced TRNC to the minority status.

TRNC President told Annan that intercommunal talks turned to talks symbolizing injustice adding that ''this is not my decision but the Parliament's. We want you to evaluate your approach under the light of these facts.''

Meanwhile, the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan reiterated his call to resume intercommunal talks in Cyprus during his meeting with Denktas.

A UN Spokesman told press after the meeting that Annan was dissapointed that Denktas rejected the proposal of the UN Secretary General Cyprus Special Adviser Diego Cordovez to resume talks.

The Spokesman said Annan told Denktas that there was no other way but to resume intercommunal talks for the solution of the question.

Annan will present a report to the Security Council about Cyprus in the coming days.

[08] IRAQI TURKMEN FRONT: ''TODAY IS THE SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF ALTUKOPRU MASSACRE''

A written statement of the Iraqi Turkmen Front said troops of the Iraqi Head of State Saddam Hussein began to get revenge from the people after being thrown from Kuwait.

The statement said massacre of the Iraqi troops continued in Tuzhurmatu, Tazehurmatu, Kirkuk and Altunkopru cities for two days and that more than a hundered people were killed. The statement also recalled that 83 Turkmens were forced to leave their homes and killed under gunfire.

The statement said ''we say we will not be overcomed by such an inhumane state terrorism and continue our justified democratic struggle and we comemorate the ones who were killed.''

[09] ISRAELI DELEGATION IN SANLIURFA

A delegation headed by Holding Coordinator Clubla Clas came to Sanliurfa upon the invitation of Israeli Embassy to hold observations in GAP. The delegation got information from the GAP Adminisration and from Sanliurfa Governor Sahbettin Harput.

Harput said ''Sanliurfa is an important investment center for great institutions and industrialists. The region turned into an attraction center. International organizations call for information about our project and they want to invest in. We will be glad to see investment of this Israeli company investing in the region.''

Clas in his part said they have examined the project and that they were affected by GAP. He said the project was a great one that will improve Turkey. Our company is interested in the region and we are seeking for partners to make joint investments.''

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