Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-05-16

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

16 MAY 1998

CONTENTS

[01] ANKARA FEELS UNEASY AS US ACCUSES TURKISH SIDE IN CYPRUS QUESTION

[02] PERIOD OF RESIDENCE OF FOREIGNERS - DRAFT LAW INCREASING PERIOD OF RESIDENCE OF FOREIGNERS FROM TWO YEARS TO FIVE YEARS TAKES EFFECT

[03] REACTION FROM DENKTAS TO US - DENKTAS: ''US SHOULD FIRST OF ALL STOP THE INJUSTICE OF GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE BEFORE BLAIMING TURKISH SIDE''

[04] FIREBOMB THROWN TO MUNICIPALITY BUILDING IN SOUTHEASTERN GAZIANTEP PROVINCE

[05] FIRST ECONOMY SUMMIT OF THE TURKISH STATES ENDS

[06] TURKKAN, KOSOVO SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN:: ''LET US BE SENSITIVE OVER THE VIOLANCE IN KOSOVO''

[07] PM YILMAZ MEETS B'NAI B'RITH CHAIRMAN BAER

[08] CLINTON THANKS CHIRAC OVER HIS POLICY REGARDING TURKEY

[09] MENZIR, MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION: ''THERE IS NO PROBLEM RELATED WITH KARS-TBILISI RAILWAY PROJECT''

[10] 17TH TURKISH DAY MARCH IN THE US

[11] SHADOW CASTED OVER IMPARTIALITY OF RED CROSS

[01] ANKARA FEELS UNEASY AS US ACCUSES TURKISH SIDE IN CYPRUS QUESTION

Necati Utkan, Foreign Ministry Spokesman, told a written statement that James Rubin, the US State Department Spokesman had staged a news conference on Thursday and blamed Turkish side over the stalemate in Cyprus issue during the recent contacts of Richard Holbrookein the island.

Utkan noted that statement of Spokesman Rubin could pave ways for Greek- Greek Cypriot side to assume a more uncompromising attitude adding that ''equal, impartial and balanced attitudes are required in Cyprus.''

The US Embassy Charge d'Affairs was summoned to Foreign Ministry and the uneasiness felt over the issue was conveyed to him.

Utkan in his statement said he told the US Charge d'affairs that statements of the Spokesman Rubin caused hesitations.

[02] PERIOD OF RESIDENCE OF FOREIGNERS - DRAFT LAW INCREASING PERIOD OF RESIDENCE OF FOREIGNERS FROM TWO YEARS TO FIVE YEARS TAKES EFFECT

Under the adopted draft law, the period of residence of foreigners in Turkey will be five years. This period may be extended four times. Yet, this limit may be extended and decreased due to the principle of reciprocity.

There will no longer be any charges for obtaining the residence permits.

It was also reported that the draft law foreseeing the lifting of the visa obligation for the foreigners who go abroad and return to Turkey before their period of residence expires was adopted in the Committee.

Under the draft law, the visa obligation won't be required for the foreigners who have a residence permit in Turkey if they go abroad and return before the period expires.

This change was made to provide parallelism with the international implementations and to reduce the bureaucratic obstacles for foreigners who have a residence permit in Turkey.

[03] REACTION FROM DENKTAS TO US - DENKTAS: ''US SHOULD FIRST OF ALL STOP THE INJUSTICE OF GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE BEFORE BLAIMING TURKISH SIDE''

Denktas said the US should first of all stop the injustice of the Greek Cypriots made to Turkish Cypriots adding that ''the US should do this if there US equity.''

Denktas called on Kenneth Brill, the US Representative to Greek Cypriot side, and voiced his reaction to the US to this end.

Denktas said Greek Cypriot side ignored the US calls and warnings not to deploy Russian made S-300 missiles adding that ''if there is the US equity, we want them to stop this injustice, we want them not to cast shadow over our equality.''

[04] FIREBOMB THROWN TO MUNICIPALITY BUILDING IN SOUTHEASTERN GAZIANTEP PROVINCE

The device exploded breaking the windows of the building and causing fire in the archieves room. The fire could be extinguished before spreading to other parts of the building.

A large scaled investigation was launched into the explosion.

Meanwhile, it was also reported that a hand grenade, left between the two apartments, in Gurler district in Kirikkale province, caused panic.

Security forces came to the spot acting on a tip off and rendered the hand grenade ineffective.

Eye-witnesses said a man left the nylon bag on the spot and fled.

[05] FIRST ECONOMY SUMMIT OF THE TURKISH STATES ENDS

First Economy Summit of the Turkish States ended with a closing session on Friday.

Addressing the closing session Taner mentioned about Asian crisis and stressed the importance of the global integration. Taner said the investment did not have a religion or language and that atmosphere for pure competition should be provided for the realization of the investment.

Taner said ''do not be afraid of change. We should be in an effort to attract 400 billion dollar investment facility by entering into rivalary atmosphere.''

Noting that the 21st century would be the year of telecommunication, electronics and energy, Taner said all the world was settled in the energy center. He also defended that the best way to distribute the natural gas and oil in Turkish Republics would be through Turkey.

[06] TURKKAN, KOSOVO SOLIDARITY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN:: ''LET US BE SENSITIVE OVER THE VIOLANCE IN KOSOVO''

Turkkan staged a news conference to brief about the incidents experienced in Kosovo and said Kosovo incidents started long years ago yet that it reached to such grave dimensions for a short time ago.

Turkkan said people of Kosovo were defenseless and without a weapon adding that ''Serbs launch every kind of policy to brought the violence in Kosovo to the final stage.''

[07] PM YILMAZ MEETS B'NAI B'RITH CHAIRMAN BAER

Baer is the Chairman of the B'nai B'rith institution who acts related with the gold which were claimed to be taken and by Nazi's from the Jews during World War II and which were later lost.

Speaking after the meeting Baer said ''Eizanstand Report'' prepared by the US State Department on the issue would be published within two weeks. Baer defended the view that main goal of the report was not Turkey adding that ''we want Turkey not to act very harsly if any negative aspect appears in the report and we wish this will not damage Turkish-US-Israeli relations.''

He said this report not only covers Turkey but also 16 other countries. ''The best thing Turkey would do is to open its registrations, which we already believe clear. Baer said the most important thing was to illumunate that part of the history.

Baer said President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz attributed importance to the cooperation on the report.

[08] CLINTON THANKS CHIRAC OVER HIS POLICY REGARDING TURKEY

Mike McCurry, White House Spokesman told a news conference that Clinton and Chirac held a bilateral meeting.

Mike McCurry said the two leaders talked about India, Pakistan, ban on nuclear testings, and Indonesia issues. He said they also took up in details the Middle East peace prcoess and Kosovo issues.

McCurry said President Clinton thanked to French President Chirac over his policy regarding Turkey and due to the role he played in this respect.

Bill Clinton, during his contacts with the European leader stressed the importance of Turkey and tell them that European Union (EU) should open its gates to Turkey. The US administration supports Turkey's full membership to EU and notes that Turkey's place was Europe.

Clinton in a speech which he made earlier in front of German leaders said ''Open gates of EU to Turkey.'' Clinton will bring the issue of Turkey during US-EU summit that will take place in London.

[09] MENZIR, MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION: ''THERE IS NO PROBLEM RELATED WITH KARS-TBILISI RAILWAY PROJECT''

Speaking after his meeting with Merab Adeisvili Menzir said cooperation related with three projects were taken up.

Menzir said a good will protocol will be signed soon for the realization of the rehabilitation of Batum Airport by Turkey. Menzir said the project was planned to cost 15-16 million dollars and that it will be realized within two years.

Minister of Transportation Menzir said they also agreed on the construction of railway cables in Artvin and Alanya adding that the issue will be taken up during Turkish-Georgian JEC meeting that will take place in June.

Meanwhile, Eduard Shevardnadze, Georgian President, said Kars-Tbilisi railway project will be economically beneficial for the two countries.

Addressing a meeting with Menzir, Shevardnadze said Turkish-Georgian cooperation increased everyday and expressed belief that construction of Kars-Tbilisi railway will be implemented rapidly.

Menzir also conveyed a letter of Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz to Shervardnadze.

[10] 17TH TURKISH DAY MARCH IN THE US

Demirel issued a message for the Turkish community living in the US due to the ''17th Turkish Day March.''

The message said a brilliant future waits for Turkey adding that Turkish community represents Turkey successfully in every field in the US.

Demirel in the messag said Turkish-US relations rapidly in every field and that Turkish community has a great contribution and support to this improvement.

[11] SHADOW CASTED OVER IMPARTIALITY OF RED CROSS

Red Cross staged an exhibition titled ''War and Humanbeings''which only included the photographs of Armenian photographers related with Armenian- Azeri war. The photographs reflected Armenian hostages in Azerbaijan. It did not include any photograph regarding hostages, martyrs and woundees of Azerbaijan.

Turgut Er, Press consultant in Turkey's Embassy in Baku, said a shadow was casted over the impartiality of the Red Cross.

Er hanged several photographs covering massacred Azeri people in Nagorno- Karabakh war, Hocali genocide and Cyprus on the boards.

Also, there were no photographs in the exhibition showing the massacred Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus and their sufferings.

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