Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-06-05

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

05 JUNE 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKISH-GREEK RELATIONS - AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES REGARDING CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF NATO - FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''AGREEMENT SHOULD BE EXPECTED AS A CONTRIBUTION TO THE SOLUTION OF ALL OF THE PROBLEMS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES''

[02] NAZI GOLD - GUREL, STATE MINISTER: ''NO ONE HAS RIGHT TO WORK FOR MAKING TURKEY AN ACCOMPLICE TO SOMEONE ELSE'S CRIMES''

[03] CYPRUS EFFORTS OF THE UN - HERCUS, UN DEPUTY REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS MEETS WITH VURAL, TURKEY'S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO UN AND PLUMER, TRNC REPRESENTATIVE

[04] TURKISH-BULGARIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETING - VASSILEV, BULGARIAN TRADE AND TOURISM MINISTER: ''I BELIEVE THAT FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WILL TAKE EFFECT ON JAN 1, 1999''

[05] CONTACTS OF THE TADA DELEGATION IN ANKARA - STATE MINISTER TURK RECEIVES THE MEMBER OF THE DELEGATION

[06] EUROMONEY TURKEY MEETING - SUREL, PRIVATIZATION ADMINISTRATION DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: ''20 PERCENT STRATEGIC SHARE OF TURK TELECOM TO BE PRIVATIZED BY THE END OF NOV. OR DEC.''

[07] BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION SUMMIT - PRESIDENT DEMIREL MEETS WITH ARMENIAN PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN

[08] TERRORISTS ATTACK CONSTRUCTION SITE IN TUNCELI - TERRORISTS SET THREE BUSINESS VEHICLES ON FIRE

[09] ECEVIT, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, CONCLUDES HIS CONTACTS IN CHINA

[10] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

[11] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

[12] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (3)

[13] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (4)

[14] BSEC SUMMIT - BSEC CHARTER, FORMING LEGAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE SIGNED IN YALTA

[15] CINDORUK, THE LEADER OF THE DEMOCRAT TURKEY PARTY, MEETS WITH THE DIRECTORS OF THE TURKISH-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION ASSEMBLY

[16] TURKEY INDISPENSIBLE MARKET FOR FRENCH

[01] TURKISH-GREEK RELATIONS - AGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES REGARDING CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES WITHIN FRAMEWORK OF NATO - FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''AGREEMENT SHOULD BE EXPECTED AS A CONTRIBUTION TO THE SOLUTION OF ALL OF THE PROBLEMS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES''

The Foreign Ministry said in a written statement that the proposals will make a constructive contribution to the peaceful solution of all of the problems between the two countries, if Turkey and Greece can fully implement the measures.

The statement recalled that Javier Solana wanted to announce a joint agreement reached between the two countries at the end of the meetings concerning the confidence building measures during the NATO Foreign Ministers' Spring Term Meeting in Luxembourg between May 28-29.

The statement said that Turkey accepted all of these proposals and Greece conveyed a positive opinion about these proposals on June 2, although she had some reservations.

Stressing that Turkey had also defended these proposals in order to decrease the tension and to re-establish peace in the Aegean from the beginning, the statement added that the efforts carried out within the framework of the NATO are also supported.

''Turkey believes that the problems between Turkey and Greece should be solved in a just and permanent manner,'' said the statement, recalling that a peace proposal composed of five propositions had earlier been conveyed to Greece.

The statement stressed that the peace proposal wasn't accepted by the Greek side, adding that Turkey's proposal of ''acceptance of the confidence building measures as an whole'' on February 12, 1998, was realized by the Greek acceptance of proposals of the NATO Secretary General.

''Turkey hopes that harrassments seen in space naval and international air space will end by the political determination of the Greek and Turkish governments with the implemention of the 1998 memorandum as an whole,'' noted the statement.

The Foreign Ministry described the main points of the compromise reached by the two states, as it is explained by Solana as follows:

-''Turkey and Greece conveyed their political determination to the NATO Secretary General concerning the fully implementation of the memorandum of understanding as an whole.

-The two countries will continue to respect the 1988 Agreement and continue to hold contacts concerning the other confidence building measures, that can be taken up in the future.''

[02] NAZI GOLD - GUREL, STATE MINISTER: ''NO ONE HAS RIGHT TO WORK FOR MAKING TURKEY AN ACCOMPLICE TO SOMEONE ELSE'S CRIMES''

Reminding that Turkey was among the countries that waged war against Nazi Germany in contrast to the other four countries,

Switzerland, Sweden, ''Franco's Spain'' and ''Salazar's Portugal'', which were pointed out in the report of the US Department of State issued on May 7, 1997, Gurel noted that the World Jewish Community was (WJC) also surprised with the allegations about Turkey. He stressed that Turkey wasn't mentioned at the meeting organized by the WJC in Oslo last year.

Gurel stressed that they prepared a report and sent it to the British officials to be issued by the London Conference Secretariat. He added that before Turkey's response is issued, the US Department of State issued the second report on June 3. He said, ''we don't understand why our report wasn't issued by the British Conference Secretariat, though we sent it at the end of last March''.

''Meanwhile two days before the second report was to be issued, a news claimed that the accusations directed at the other countries were hardened in order to pacify Switzerland. In addition to this Simon Wiesentheal, who is known as the most respected Jewish leader, pointed out the dangers of discussing those who are guilty together with those who are innocent in his statement to the Newsweek magazine.''

Emphasizing that Turkey wasn't impartial during the Second World War, but she remained out of the war, Gurel said that Turkey which embraced the Spanish Jews in 1492, was always a shelter for the Jews who fleed from the cruelty of the European countries. He reminded that the Jews preferred Turkey after they were forced to leave their homes by Hitler's Germany.

Gurel described the absence of the names in the report of nearly 20 Turkish diplomats, including Selahattin Ulkumen and Necdet Kent, who were awarded by the Israeli Government, as ''amazing and important''.

Sukru Sina Gurel added, ''About 100 Jewish professors who fleed from Nazi Germany, found jobs at the Turkish universities. The Turkish diplomats saved thousands of Jews from death and helped more than 100 thousand Jews to escape from Europe to Palestine. Whereas the US applied a quota during the War and accepted only 20 thousand Jewish people. We request all the Jews living in the US or Israel to respond on behalf of Turkey to these unfair and wrong allegations''.

Pointing out that as the result of the appeasement policies of France and Britain, Hitler made his plan for acquiring all of Europe, Guler said, ''Turkey had no responsibilities for the developments concerning the gold looted from the Jews. She was trying to protect her territorial integrity against the threats of Stalin and Hitler.''

[03] CYPRUS EFFORTS OF THE UN - HERCUS, UN DEPUTY REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS MEETS WITH VURAL, TURKEY'S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO UN AND PLUMER, TRNC REPRESENTATIVE

Ann Hercus met on Wednesday with the Representatives of the Greek Cypriot administration and Greece.

It was reported that Vural and Plumer disclosed the past of the Cyprus question in detail to Ann Hercus. Vural and Plumer told Hercus that the sides should be realistic if they want a solution on Cyprus, adding ''new parameters and ideas are required to this end.''

Ann Hercus said that she would fulfill her duty in absolute impartiality and honesty and noted what the Turkish side told her.

Meanwhile Vural and Plumer said that the Turkish side will continue to carry out cooperation with the UN on Cyprus and pointed out that they supported the Secretary General's good will mission.

[04] TURKISH-BULGARIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETING - VASSILEV, BULGARIAN TRADE AND TOURISM MINISTER: ''I BELIEVE THAT FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WILL TAKE EFFECT ON JAN 1, 1999''

Addressing the fifth joint meeting of the Turkish-Bulgarian Business Council, Vassilev said that the assignment of the governments was to further intensify the relations.

Vassilev said they wanted to improve relations in the fields of trade, energy, banking and transportation and pointed out that they were ready to extend support to the Turkish companies on every issue.

Noting that the problem related to the Ziraat Bank branch in Sofia will be overcome soon, Vassilev said ''we welcome the opening of branches of important banks in Bulgaria.''

Faruk Erkoc, the Co-Chairman of the Turkish-Bulgarian Business Council said that Bulgaria wasn't only a neighbor of Turkey, but a gate linking it to Europe and mentioned the important cooperation potential between the two countries which hasn't been evaluated yet.

Erkoc said that the signature of the Free Trade Agreement will accelerate bilateral relations and the improvement of bilateral trade to one billion US dollars.

Erkoc said that there are more than 1,600 Turkish joint ventures and companies in Bulgaria for the total investment of 33 million US dollars and added that a total of 114 Bulgarian companies operate in Turkey and that the total capital of them is nearly half a million US dollars.

[05] CONTACTS OF THE TADA DELEGATION IN ANKARA - STATE MINISTER TURK RECEIVES THE MEMBER OF THE DELEGATION

Stressing that human rights abuses are a universal problem, Turk said that Turkey is a democratic and social state showing respect for human rights and the supremacy of laws.

Pointing out that human rights abuses were described as crimes in the Turkish laws, Turk noted, ''it isn't correct to say that there are no human right problems in Turkey. Just as the other countries have problems, Turkey also has problems related to human rights abuses.''

Emphasizing that efforts of the ministers and states aren't sufficient to prevent human rights abuses, Turk added, ''to make the Turkish people conscious about human rights, we have arranged lectures on 'Citizenship and Human Rights' and 'Democracy and Human Rights' to be given in the schools. Meanwhile several seminars about the issue are being organized at the universities and police academies and the TRT (Turkish Radio and Television) broadcasts panels and programmes concerned with human rights.''

Turk emphasized that the death penalty hasn't been applied in Turkey for years, and will be completely abolished by a draft law.

Mentioning the relatives of the missing people, mostly known as the ''Saturday Mothers'', Turk said, ''the experts from the Ministry of the Interior gave information about the fate of the missing people, but the families continue to try to find their family members.''

Tamer Acikalin, the Chairman of the Assembly, said that they have been working to promote Turkey to the world since 1979, and added, ''we can't reach the required output because of the negative image of Turkey in foreign countries and the hostile lobbies using these issues as a weapon against Turkey.''

[06] EUROMONEY TURKEY MEETING - SUREL, PRIVATIZATION ADMINISTRATION DEPUTY CHAIRMAN: ''20 PERCENT STRATEGIC SHARE OF TURK TELECOM TO BE PRIVATIZED BY THE END OF NOV. OR DEC.''

Addressing the ''Euromoney Turkey: Investment in the Future'' meeting Surel said that the Turkish Telecom, which is identified as a ''Money mint machine'', obtained 3.5 billion US dollars in income last year and that this figure will hit to 4.5 billion US dollars this year and 5.3 billion US dollars in 1999.

Noting that the share of the Turkish Telecom in the Gross National Product (GSMH) is 0.6 percent and that it has a potential to double this ratio in a short time.

Briefing about the strategy that will be followed in the privatization of the Turkish Telecom, Surel said that 51 percent of it will remain in Turkish government, 10 percent of it will be given to the Postal Affairs and a 20 percent strategic share will be sold as a block.

Surel said that other shares will be supplied to the Telecom workers and to the public.

Surel said that the analysis related to the sale was completed, the legal framework was prepared, and confirmation of the government was obtained and that a new law would be issued. He said that the tender will be opened in November and the sale will be concluded in December.

[07] BLACK SEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION SUMMIT - PRESIDENT DEMIREL MEETS WITH ARMENIAN PRESIDENT KOCHARIAN

Leonid Kuchma, the Ukranian President also attended the first five minute part of the meeting that lasted for 35 minutes.

No statement has been made concerning the meeting.

The two leaders attended the signing ceremony with the other leaders of the member states to the BSEC, after the meeting.

[08] TERRORISTS ATTACK CONSTRUCTION SITE IN TUNCELI - TERRORISTS SET THREE BUSINESS VEHICLES ON FIRE

The terrorists forced the workers, who were working on the construction of a canal that will provide potable water for southeastern Tunceli Province, to get on a truck belonging to the work site.

They later released the workers and set the truck on fire.

The Governor of Tunceli said that the financial damage was approximately 60 billion Turkish Liras, adding that operations were underway to capture the terrorists.

[09] ECEVIT, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, CONCLUDES HIS CONTACTS IN CHINA

Ecevit was received by the Chinese President Jiang Zemin, and also held talks with senior Chinese officials during his visit to China.

Ecevit and the accompanying delegation will arrive in Turkey tomorrow morning.

[10] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

DEMIREL WRITES TO WARN CHIRAC
Turkey is continuing with her efforts to halt the approval of a draft resolution about an alleged turn of the century Armenian massacre by Turks, which will be discussed in the French Senate following the initial approval by the French Parliament. President Suleyman Demirel of Turkey yesterday sent a letter to his French counterpart, Jacques Chirac. Calling on him to use his influence on the Senate, Demirel states, in this letter, that approval of the draft resolution will encourage ultra-nationalist Armenian terrorists who formerly executed many attacks on Turkish diplomats especially in France. With the intention of halting the draft, the Turkish members of the Turco-French Friendship Group will go to France on Monday. Mumtaz Soysal, the Deputy of the Democratic Left Party will lead the group. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY AWAITS DECISION OF FRENCH PARLIAMENT
Yalcin Burak, the Undersecretary of the Defense Industry, said that if the draft bill about a so-called massacre on Armenians was legalized by being approved by the French Parliament, then the French companies would be excluded from bidding for Turkish defense industry projects. Burak noted that the French GIAT company had already put in a bid for a tank project and that Aerospatiale was showing interest in a helicopter production project. But, he added, before announcing the bid results, they would wait for the final decision of the French Parliament. /Milliyet/

US: ''WAIT AND SEE ON CYPRUS''
Richard Holbrooke, the US Special Representative to Cyprus, and Tom Miller, the Cyprus Coordinator for the Secretary of State, yesterday gave a briefing to the members of the US Congress about recent developments on Cyprus. Holbrooke said that it would be difficult to reach a long-lasting solution in the region if the sides didn't have the will to do so. Holbrooke and Miller noted that at the moment there was no improvement in the direction of a federal solution and that they had to ''wait and see'' what would happen. /Milliyet/

TURKISH INTERIOR MINISTER TO TAKE PART IN UN MEETING AGAINST DRUGS
The United Nations will organize a conference on the ''struggle against drugs'' between June 8-10. During the conference, where Murat Basesgioglu, the Minister of the Interior, will represent Turkey, countries will be called on to take the necessary measures in their banking systems to prevent drug smugglers from laundering dirty money. /Cumhuriyet/

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY MARKED IN TURKEY
The second Bodrum Environmental Film Festival started in Bodrum yesterday when a foreign film, ''Microcosmos'' was screened. The festival has also organized a film contest in which ten full-length films will be shown. Participated in by some Turkish parliamentarians, a panel on ''Politics and the Environment'' will be held today. /Cumhuriyet/

YILMAZ-BAYKAL MEETING REDUCES UNCERTAINTY
A key meeting between Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) has reduced the uncertainty in the country's financial markets, ING Barings Turkey country manager said yesterday. Yilmaz said after Wednesday's meeting that he would step down at the end of this year, making way for an interim government to take the country to early elections in April 1999.

John McCarthy, the Country Manager, told Reuters in an interview that the decline in the inflation rate was encouraging and would be a positive signal to foreign investors. ING Barings opened a branch in Istanbul in October after operating in Turkey for six years with only a representation office. /All papers/

[11] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

TURKEY AND GREECE TO IMPLEMENT SAFETY MEASURES
Turkey and Greece have agreed to fully implement the Confidence-Building Measures (CBMs) agreed to in 1988, which aim at reducing tension between the two countries and avoiding dangerous accidents in the Aegean, NATO Secretary-General Javier Solana announced yesterday. A press release from the NATO headquarters in Brussels said, ''Both sides have informed (Solana) of their intention to implement fully the agreements reached in 1988 between the then Foreign Ministers Papoulas and Yilmaz. The NATO statement also said that the two sides have declared their willingness to continue talks with Solana in order to clarify and strengthen the CBM implementations. The Secretary-General and the two countries intend to explore opportunities for greater mutual information exchange and coordination, offered by the emerging NATO air command and control system (ACCS), it added.

Following Solana's announcement, Turkey expressed optimism that by implementing the CBMs, the incidents and obstructions in the Aegean would come to an end and that this step would create a positive atmosphere where all bilateral problems could be settled peacefully. ''The upcoming military exercises in the Aegean will constitute an opportunity to measure to what extent the obligations will be accomplished'' a Foreign Ministry statement said. /Milliyet/

FOURTH SUMMIT OF BSEC IN YALTA
The Fourth Summit of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) is taking place in Yalta, the Ukraine. The Foreign Ministry said in a written statement that the main topic of the agenda was the signing of the ''BSEC Provision'', which will turn the BSEC into a regional economic organization.

President Suleyman Demirel went to the Ukraine yesterday to attend the summit. The presidents and prime ministers of the 11 member states of the BSEC will attend the summit./All papers/

PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO VISIT KAZAKHSTAN
President Suleyman Demirel will go to Kazakhstan to attend the Fifth Summit of the Presidents of the Turkish-Speaking Republics on June 8. The Foreign Ministry said in a written statement that the summit will be organized in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, on June 9 and will focus on the developments of the bilateral relations between the Turkish-Speaking States. Demirel will return to Turkey after he attends international ceremonies to promote Astana, the new capital of Kazakhstan, on June 10./Türkiye/

BULGARIAN-TURKISH BUSINESS COUNCIL
A Turkish-Bulgarian Joint Business Council Meeting started yesterday in Istanbul with the participation of Isin Celebi, the Minister of State and Valentin Vassilev, the Bulgarian Minister of Tourism. The Ministry of State said in a written statement yesterday that the talks will focus on trade and economic relations between the two countries, adding that these meetings will help to facilitate the flow of trade information and create new fields of cooperation. /Milliyet/

[12] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (3)

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

UN AWARD FOR TURKISH PROFESSOR
Prof. Melih Boydak, the Chairman of the Forestry Faculty of Istanbul University, has been presented with the UN Global 500 Environment Award and will receive his award during a ceremony to be held in Moscow today. Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General and Boris Yeltsin, the Russian Head of State will also attend the ceremony. /Hurriyet/

ISTANBUL STOCK EXCHANGE TRADING UP
As a result of an agreement reached between Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) yesterday, the shares on the Istanbul Stock Exchange increased by 6.3 percent. In line with this increase, the rate of inflation and and interest is decreasing. The index in the stock exchange totalled over 4,000 points while the transactions volume reached 150 trillion TL. /Hurriyet/

COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE IN ISTANBUL
A World Radiocommunications Conference will be held in Istanbul in 2000 during which the World Telecommunications' Union will determine the communications infrastructure of the 21st century. During the conference, which will last for five weeks, Turkey will find the opportunity to market Turksat satellites and technical criteria for the best services in communications will be determined. /Hurriyet/

DTP DEPUTY ISIK JOINS DYP
Metin Isik, the Istanbul Deputy of the Democrat Turkey Party (DTP) joined the True Path Party (DYP) yesterday. The DYP seats increased to 93 with the addition of Isik, while the number of DTP seats dropped to 21. /All papers/

EUROPEAN AWARD FOR TURKISH HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATION
The seventh European Human Rights Award is to be given to the Human Rights Foundation (IHV) in Turkey. The Ministers' Committee of the Council of Europe released a written statement yesterday saying that this year the award will be given to the IHV and to Clara Lubich, who is the founder of the Focolare Movement in Italy, as well as to the Committee for the Administration of Justice in Northern Ireland. The statement said that the IHV deserved the award because of its prominent efforts for the protection of human rights. /All papers/

ECEVIT CALLS FOR CLOSER RELATIONS WITH CHINA
Turkish investors shouldn't miss the huge economic opportunities in China, a country which is becoming an economic giant, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said yesterday at the end of his six-day official visit to China. Visiting Shanghai, Ecevit emphasized that Turkey should enter into a close cooperation with China on economic and trade relations, in which fields the country is becoming a major power player, he said. /All papers/

OPERATIONS AGAINST PKK
Eight PKK terrorists were killed yesterday in operations carried out within the state of emergency region, while five village guards were injured in a rocket attack by PKK terrorists. The security forces also found yesterday two German tourists who had been kidnapped by PKK terrorists near Agri. Meanwhile many alleged militants of illegal organizations were apprehended yesterday during operations by anti-terrorist forces in various parts of the country. /Sabah/

[13] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (4)

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

JEC MEETING BETWEEN TURKEY AND IRAN
The Turkish-Iranian Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meetings will be held between June 8-12 in Teheran, with the participation of Rifat Serdaroglu, the Minister of State. It is expected that a memorandum of understanding will be signed during the meeting. /All papers/

OPERATIONS AGAINST HEZBOLLAH
Security forces continue their operations against the Hezbollah members in the Batman Region in Southeastern Anatolia. During recent operations, arms and bombs belonging to the organization have been seized. Military sources have announced that the organization, which aims to establish a state system based on religious law, was responsible for the recent series of killings in the region. The Hezbollah organization has been conducting illegal activities in Turkey's southeast region since 1980. /Milliyet/

[14] BSEC SUMMIT - BSEC CHARTER, FORMING LEGAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE SIGNED IN YALTA

With the signature of the BSEC Charter by the leaders of the member countries, the BSEC, which was created with the Bogazici Declaration dated June 25, 1992, the organizational and legal structure of BSEC as a regional economic organization was confirmed officially.

Leaders of the 12 countries which confirmed the BSEC Charter, stressed that they request the interest and support of the international organizations such as the UN, European Union (EU) and OSCE.

The BSEC Charter, which confirms the absolute structure of the organization, will act within the framework of the principles of international law which are generally adopted and the principles which are in the Paris Charter for a New Europe and in the Helsinki Final Charter.

The Charter said that the organization aims at cooperation in every field to provide social welfare and sustainable development for the member countries. It also said that adoption of new members depends on an unanimous vote.

The Charter Foreign Ministers' Council is the only regular decision taking organ of the BSEC. Functions of BSEC International Permanent Secretariat based in Turkey, the BSEC Assembly Secretariat, the BSEC Business Council and the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank based in Salonika were identified.

Activation of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank soon, which will form the financial impetus of the BSEC, is important for implementing concrete projects of the new organization.

In a document issued at the summit, the leader said that preparations of the bank which was founded last year should be concluded soon and that it should start service.

Thus, a new regional cooperation organization was created in which Turkey is included and played an active role, after the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) that united Iran, Pakistan and the Central Asian countries.

The document, which was issued after Yalta Summit, stressed that the BSEC, on the one hand, should deepen cooperation in the existing fields and on the other hand, should adapt to the world which is in a rapid change by opening new fields of cooperation. The document said ''this requires the BSEC to determine an economic agenda aimed at the future to accelerate economic growth and to fulfill the requirements of the information age.''

The document said ''We confirm our committments that we will go to free trade and accord in foreign trade regimes, abiding by the principles and implementations of the World Trade Organization.''

''We believe that the private sector is the locomotive power of the BSEC process to reach the target of concluding intergovernmental cooperation'' it said.

The statement expressed pleasure about the establishment of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank and expressed expectations that the bank will start activities soon.

The document noted that the observer status is expected to be given to the Black Sea Cooperation Organization in the UN General Assembly and mentioned the special importance of the BSEC and EU relations.

It said that the BSEC at the same time was a base preparing the way to a United Europe of the 21st century and forms an historical opportunity to create a joint future, step by step. Thus, the Black Sea Region will have stability and affluence in the next century and will be an attractive economic region for the investments.

[15] CINDORUK, THE LEADER OF THE DEMOCRAT TURKEY PARTY, MEETS WITH THE DIRECTORS OF THE TURKISH-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION ASSEMBLY

Addressing the meeting on behalf of the Turkish-American Association's Assembly, Taner Acikalin noted that the Assembly was established in 1979, and added, ''We aim to give the message that the relations between Turkey and the G-7 countries are very significant. Meanwhile, the US is a super power and important for Turkey. As in many countries, hostile lobbies act against Turkey in US as well. We work to render these lobbies ineffective.''

Cindoruk stressed that the relations between Turkey and the US have historical bases, and the two countries have a joint democratic system. He thanked the members of the Assembly for their efforts against the acts of the hostile lobbies.

[16] TURKEY INDISPENSIBLE MARKET FOR FRENCH

The French companies, which realize many projects with Turkish companies, also feel uneasy about the adoption of a draft resolution on the so-called genocide on Armenians by the French Parliament, which also received intense reactions from Turkey.

The French assumed responsibilities on a series of important projects in Turkey, extending from transportation to communications, energy and pipeline construction, from the purchase of military equipment to potable water and sewerage projects.

France also expends efforts to win many projects and tenders which are on the agenda.

After the adoption of the draft resolution by the French Parliament, the French entrepreneurs began to be afraid that they will lose the Turkish market.

Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Foreign Capital of the Undersecretariat of the Treasury data said that a total of 22.9 billion US dollars in foreign capital permissions were given in the 18 years since 1980 and a 5,153 billion US dollar portion of this belongs to France.

The first step in the privatization of the cement sector was realized with the French companies and the first Cement factory was sold to to the French Societe Company for 120 million US dollars.

''Military Investments'' are among the investment projects in which French companies participate or are getting prepared to bid.

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