Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-06-16

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

16 JUNE 1998

CONTENTS

[01] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ RECEIVES AMBASSADORS OF THE US AND CHINA

[02] ELECTION PROTOCOL SIGNED - YILMAZ AND BAYKAL SIGNED PROTOCOL ANTICIPATING HOLDING EARLY ELECTIONS IN APRIL

[03] STATE MINISTER TURK IN THE US - TURK: ''COUNTRIES WHO CRITICIZE TURKEY FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, HAVE MORE SERIOUS VIOLATIONS''

[04] MALTESE-FLAGGED CARGO SHIP CALLED ''NATASHA-1'' DEPARTS FROM GELIBOLU

[05] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN IN NORWAY - CETIN MEETS WITH BONDEVIK, NORWEGIAN PRIME MINISTER AND HIS NORWEGIAN COUNTERPART GRONDAHL - CETIN POINTS OUT THAT NORWAY WILL WORK TO PREVENT MED TV'S BROADCASTS

[06] EUROPEAN HUMAN RIGHTS CHARTER AND TURKEY - SALVIA, SECRETARY GENERAL OF AIHK: ''EUROPEAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND BOARD, WITH THE DECISIONS IT HAS TAKEN, MADE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS INVIOLATE''

[07] INTERIOR MINISTER BASESGIOGLU RECEIVES BOLADIAN, THE IRANIAN DEPUTY INTERIOR MINISTER - BASESGIOGLU: ''WE HOPE THAT OUR NEIGHBOURS WILL UNDERSTAND THE MOST OUR RIGHTFUL STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM''

[08] WESTERN THRACIAN TURKS - MUSTAFA, LEFTIST COALITION RODOP DEPUTY: ''ANNULMENT OF ARTICLE 19 IS A POSITIVE, BUT A SMALL STEP''

[09] BLOW FROM SLOVAKIA TO MED-TV - SLOVAKIA CANCELS THE CONTRACT THAT ENABLES MED-TV TO BROADCAST FROM SLOVAKIA

[10] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''SUMMITS BETWEEN THE LEADERS OF TURKISH REPUBLICS FORM POSITIVE FOUNDATION FOR CONSTRUCTING A JOINT FUTURE''

[11] ALI COSKUN JOINS THE VIRTUE PARTY

[12] CARDIFF SUMMIT - THE EU TERM PRESIDENT BRITAIN ACCUSES GREECE

[13] GUREL, MINISTER OF STATE: ''OUR GOVERNMENT MADE NECESSARY PREPARATIONS FOR TAKING REQUIRED ADDITIONAL MILITARY MEASURES IN CASE S-300 MISSILES ARE DEPLOYED''

[14] EDUCATION SUPPORT FROM EU TO TURKISH TOURISM - EU DONATES APPROXIMATELY TWO MILLION ECUs FOR PROFFESIONAL TRAINING PROJECT IN TOURISM SECTOR

[15] ''TURQUIE, LA BELLE'' CHARMS NEW YORK

[16] TURKEY IN BRIEF - JUNE 16, 1998

[17] TURKEY WARNS UN ABOUT KOSOVO - SFOR IN BOSNIA FOR ONE MORE YEAR

[18] THE US CAN'T PREVENT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE S-300 MISSILES

[19] SUPPORT FROM TURKISH TELEKOM TO TURKSAT-2A SATELLITE

[01] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ RECEIVES AMBASSADORS OF THE US AND CHINA

Mark Parris, the US Ambassador to Turkey, conveyed President Bill Clinton's message concerning the Cyprus problem, to Yilmaz.

The issues of the deployment of the Russian made S-300 missiles on Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot side's full membership application to the European Union and discrimination against Turkey at the Luxembourg Summit were discussed at the meeting between Mesut Yilmaz and Parris.

Yilmaz came together with Yao Kudngyi, the Chinese Ambassador to Turkey the same day.

Reminding that Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, and Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime Minister, visited China, Yilmaz stressed that the relations between Turkey and China distant from the current potentials of both countries.

Yilmaz invited his Chinese counterpart to Turkey, and he conveyed the letter of invitation to Yao Kudngyi.

[02] ELECTION PROTOCOL SIGNED - YILMAZ AND BAYKAL SIGNED PROTOCOL ANTICIPATING HOLDING EARLY ELECTIONS IN APRIL

Yilmaz and Baykal signed the protocol which includes holding early general elections and local elections in April, and which also included the support of Baykal to reform drafts and the establishment of a government under the leadership of an independent Prime Minister.

Deniz Baykal said that the protocol was signed and that he would disclose it in the Party Group meeting on Tuesday.

Yilmaz and Baykal met on June 3 and agreed on the conditions which were included in the protocol.

[03] STATE MINISTER TURK IN THE US - TURK: ''COUNTRIES WHO CRITICIZE TURKEY FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, HAVE MORE SERIOUS VIOLATIONS''

Responding to the questions of the A.A correspondent, Turk noted, ''Greece prevents the Turkish people living in Western Thrace from becoming developed, educated, economically improved and electing their own religious leaders according to the freedom of religion that was foreseen in the Lausanne Agreement.'' He pointed out that the attitude of Greece is contrary to the international agreements and human rights, and added the Turkish minority living in Western Thrace should make use of the rights given by the Greek Constitution.

Stressing that they will carry this issue to the international platforms, Turk added, ''Turkey assesses seriously all the criticisms on the issue. We aim to make Turkey a country where no human rights abuses occur.''

Turk proceeded to Washington, D.C., after he completed his contacts in New York. He will meet with John Shattuck, the Assistant Secretary of State Responsible for Human Rights, on Tuesday.

After his meeting with Shattuck, Turk will receive the representatives of the Human Rights Watch (HRW), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Committee for Protecting Journalists (CPJ).

Turk is scheduled to meet with the ''two most important names in the Clinton Cabinet'', Madeleine Albright, the US Secretary of State, and Janet Reno, the US Secretary of Justice, on Wednesday.

Turk will proceed to Chicago on June 18, and return to Turkey on June 19.

[04] MALTESE-FLAGGED CARGO SHIP CALLED ''NATASHA-1'' DEPARTS FROM GELIBOLU

The captain was given permission to depart with a fax message coming from Ankara.

The cargo of the Natasha-1 will be brought to the Alexandria Harbour in Egypt.

Meanwhile, a Foreign Ministry official, speaking to the A.A correspondent on the phone said that the cargo on the Natasha-1 ship belonged to Egypt.

The official said there was a difference between the annoucement of the ship about her cargo and the cargo she is carrying, adding that her cargo should be known for the security of cities. ''It might be waste or dangerous items,'' he added.

[05] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN IN NORWAY - CETIN MEETS WITH BONDEVIK, NORWEGIAN PRIME MINISTER AND HIS NORWEGIAN COUNTERPART GRONDAHL - CETIN POINTS OUT THAT NORWAY WILL WORK TO PREVENT MED TV'S BROADCASTS

Addressing the journalists after his meetings, Cetin stated that the bilateral talks focused on the problems between Turkey and the Western countries.

Cetin pointed out that the good relations between Turkey and Norway shouldn't be affected by the factions, associations and organizations, and added that negative examples of this had occurred in the past. He said, ''Turkey applied to Norway for the purchase of the Penguin missiles in 1992, but Norway didn't sell the missiles to Turkey because of the incidents in Southeastern Turkey. In response to Norway's decision, Turkey decided to prevent the Norwegian companies from joining the defence tenders in Turkey. We took up this incident at the meeting and found it extremely wrong. Such disputes shouldn't occur among the members of the NATO.''

Pointing out that the relations between Turkey and the European Union and the decision made at the Luxembourg Summit were also discussed at the meeting, Cetin noted that Norway doesn't approve the EU's discrimination against Turkey. He stressed that Norway decided not to enter the EU after two referenda.

Noting that MED TV, the broadcasting organization of the separatist terrorist PKK organization, which was prevented in Slovakia, is attempting to operate in Norway, Cetin said that the senior Norwegian official promised to prevent MED TV's broadcasting in Norway.

[06] EUROPEAN HUMAN RIGHTS CHARTER AND TURKEY - SALVIA, SECRETARY GENERAL OF AIHK: ''EUROPEAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND BOARD, WITH THE DECISIONS IT HAS TAKEN, MADE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS INVIOLATE''

Salvia, currently in Turkey as the guest of the Galatasaray University, held a conference for lawyers on ''the European Human Rights Charter and Turkey.''

Noting that the European Human Rights Charter was a ''fair jurisdical protection system'' Salvia recalled that the charter was a constitutional text and that European Human Rights Court was a Constitutional Court.

Salvia said that the charter included 40 countries today, adding that this number will be increased to 45 with the participation of countries such as Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Mentioning the freedom of expression, Salvia said that this was the basis of democratic society, adding that this was related to tolerance.

[07] INTERIOR MINISTER BASESGIOGLU RECEIVES BOLADIAN, THE IRANIAN DEPUTY INTERIOR MINISTER - BASESGIOGLU: ''WE HOPE THAT OUR NEIGHBOURS WILL UNDERSTAND THE MOST OUR RIGHTFUL STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM''

Addressing the meeting, Basesgioglu noted, ''We hope that our neighbours will understand the most Turkey's rightful struggle against terrorism that has been lasting for 14 years, but some countries, unfortunately, apply to the separatist terrorist PKK organization for their problems with Turkey. I believe that these countries will see that the problems can be solved diplomatically and peacefully.''

Pointing out that there are good relations between Turkey and Iran, Basesgioglu noted, ''our relations were depleted for a short time, but we want to maintain good relations with Iran. Turkey never aimed at intervening in the internal affairs of any country.''

Basesgioglu noted that Turkey is sensitive about internal security, just like the other countries, he added, ''the continuation of the meetings will intensify the relations between Turkey and Iran.''

Gholamhossein Boladian said that their visit to Turkey aims at improving relations between the two countries, especially on the issue of security and described the long border between Turkey and Iran as the border of friendship.

[08] WESTERN THRACIAN TURKS - MUSTAFA, LEFTIST COALITION RODOP DEPUTY: ''ANNULMENT OF ARTICLE 19 IS A POSITIVE, BUT A SMALL STEP''

Speaking to the Elefterotipia daily, Mustafa said he hoped that this will be a step taken towards changing the discriminative attitude faced by the Western Thracian Turkish minority.

Mustafa said ''annulment of this discriminative article is absolutely positive, but the Greek government should show more courage.''

Mustafa said that minorities should be regarded as a bridge for peace and cooperation between the peoples.

Mentioning the election of the Muftis, which is one of the largest problems of the Western Thracian Turkish minority, Mustafa said that the implementation to appoint Muftis by Athens was unacceptable.

Mustafa proposed that the Muftis to be elected from among 3-5 candidates who will be shown by the leaders of the minorities.

[09] BLOW FROM SLOVAKIA TO MED-TV - SLOVAKIA CANCELS THE CONTRACT THAT ENABLES MED-TV TO BROADCAST FROM SLOVAKIA

Officials from the Foreign Ministry told the A.A correspondent that the decision made during the visit to Slovakia on June 11 of Korkmaz Haktanir, the Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, was confirmed by Slovakia.

Haktanir who went to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, to attend the consultation meeting, met with the Slovakian State Secretary, Slovakian Deputy Speaker of the Parliament and the Slovakian Foreign Minister.

The bilateral trade volume between Turkey and Slovakia was decided at the meetings to be increased up to 200 million US dollars by the end of 1999.

Korkmaz Haktanir requested the young Slovakian diplomats to attend the courses opened at the Foreign Ministry Training Center.

[10] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''SUMMITS BETWEEN THE LEADERS OF TURKISH REPUBLICS FORM POSITIVE FOUNDATION FOR CONSTRUCTING A JOINT FUTURE''

President Suleyman Demirel hosted a dinner in honor of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the Kazakh President, currently in Turkey on an official visit.

Addressing the dinner, Demirel said such visits contribute to the strengthening of existing deep and strong relations between the two countries.

Mentioning the contributions of the Turkish businessmen in the relations between the two countries, Demirel said ''we have been very pleased to see the efforts of the Turkish companies in transforming Astana into a modern capital city.''

Demirel said that the 21st century will be the century of Eurasia, adding that a brilliant future waits for the Turkish world, which is located in the heart of Eurasia, adding that Kazakhstan, which is a piece of Eurasia, always followed a peaceful and balanced foreign policy and took the place she deserves in the international community.

The Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said that he was very pleased to be in Turkey and stressed that due to objective reasons, the Turkish-Kazakh relations will never lose their superiority in the foreign policies of the two countries.

[11] ALI COSKUN JOINS THE VIRTUE PARTY

Coskun presented his petition on the issue to the Chairmanship of the Parliament.

Following the addition of Coskun to the FP, the number of the FP deputies increased to 145, while the number of independent deputies went down to 12 in the Parliament.

[12] CARDIFF SUMMIT - THE EU TERM PRESIDENT BRITAIN ACCUSES GREECE

The Spokesman of the European Union Term Presidency stated that the afternoon session of the summit concerning the expansion of the EU focused on the relations with Turkey.

Pointing out that the EU countries want to revive the relations with Turkey and send positive signals to Turkey as a sign of it, the Spokesman noted, ''the 14 member states accepted it, but one country raised an objection against the decision.''

In the closure declaration prepared by Britain, the EU Term President, it was pointed out that the EU will give priority to the 12 countries during the expansion process and the same criteria will be applied to the candidate countries. Turkey, without being named in the declaration, is among the candidate countries.

But Greece which claims ''there are only 11 candidate countries for us. The Cardiff Summit can't go against the decisions made at the Luxembourg Summit'', is contrary to the above mentioned declaration.

Turkish diplomatic sources noted that the declaration prepared by Britain referred to the April 29 decisions and put conditions for the improvement of the relations with Turkey.

Diplomatic sources stressed that the conditions mentioned are unacceptable for Turkey.

Meanwhile Germany's attitude towards Turkey is expected to be effective at Tuesday's meetings.

[13] GUREL, MINISTER OF STATE: ''OUR GOVERNMENT MADE NECESSARY PREPARATIONS FOR TAKING REQUIRED ADDITIONAL MILITARY MEASURES IN CASE S-300 MISSILES ARE DEPLOYED''

Gurel spoke about the items on the agenda discussed at the Council of Ministers' meeting.

Gurel recalled the search made of the Maltese-flagged ship and was asked if they had received information that these pieces of weapons were the S-300 missile ramps. Responding to this question, Gurel said that Burhan Kara, the Minister of State, briefed about the situation to the Council of Ministers. He pointed out that the Maltese-flagged ship is going to Alexandria with the cargo she loaded from Russia. Gurel said that the search was a procedure within the framework of the Montreux Straits Agreement.

Gurel said that Turkey many times disclosed the attitude she would assume in case the S-300 missiles are deployed at the Greek Cypriot side, adding that not only the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), but also the entire region and countries in proximity to the region are closely related to the issue and stressed that the missiles were a threat to the region.

[14] EDUCATION SUPPORT FROM EU TO TURKISH TOURISM - EU DONATES APPROXIMATELY TWO MILLION ECUs FOR PROFFESIONAL TRAINING PROJECT IN TOURISM SECTOR

According to a written statement made by the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry, considering the developments and investments recorded in the tourism sector, according to a finance agreement signed between the EU and Turkey, is carrying out the ''Professional Training Project in the Tourism Sector.''

With the project the Ministry aims to establish a center at Kemer, Antalya, to give training at an international level. The project is expected to last for four years.

The estimated cost of the project will be 2,445 million ECUs. A 445,000 ECU portion of the project will be met by Turkey.

The Ministry of Tourism will stage promotion programs including Aydin- Denizli-Mugla, Istanbul-Trakya-Bolu and Antalya-Burdur-Isparta regions to reach the goals of the project.

[15] ''TURQUIE, LA BELLE'' CHARMS NEW YORK

Models presented the examples of Turkish fashion, caftans and velvets embroidered with silver thread, baggy trousers and wedding gowns.

The string quartet formed by Julide, Mete Yalcin and Murat and Mine Cangal, performed music from Mozart and Ulvi Cemal Erkin.

The Izmir Folk Dance Group performed examples of the Turkish folk dances such as the zeybek and the Sheikh Shamil.

Volkan Vural, the Turkish Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and Fuat Tanlay, the Turkish Consul General in New York attended the show.

''Turquie, la belle'' will be performed in Chicago and Washington, D.C., after New York.

[16] TURKEY IN BRIEF - JUNE 16, 1998

No statement has been made about the agenda of the meeting.

Johnston will meet with President Suleyman Demirel and Isin Celebi, the Minister of State on Tuesday.

ANKARA - Asen Agov, the Chairman of the Foreign Policy and Integration Commission of the Bulgarian Parliament, and the accompanying delegation, who came to Turkey as the official guest of the Chairmanship of the Parliament, met on Monday with Uluc Gurkan, the Acting Speaker of the Parliament.

Addressing the meeting, Gurkan described Bulgaria as a very important country for Turkey. He added that Turkey is pleased with ending of the tension between the two countries.

The Bulgarian delegation will leave Bulgaria on Thursday after concluding their contacts in Ankara and Istanbul.

[17] TURKEY WARNS UN ABOUT KOSOVO - SFOR IN BOSNIA FOR ONE MORE YEAR

Volkan Vural, the Turkish Permanent Representative to the UN, stressed during the Security Council meeting, ''several states which are parties to the Bosnian conflict should fully abide by the humanitarian aspects of the Dayton Peace Agreement.''

Noting that violence occurs, particularly when the refugees return to their houses, Volkan Vural requested the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to set up full diplomatic relations with the Bosnian government.

The UN Security Council decided during the same meeting to extend the term of office of the SFOR (The NATO Force for Preserving the Stability in Bosnia) in Bosnia for another year.

Therefore, the SFOR has been authorized to take all kinds of preventive measures, including the use of force against any threat of attack.

The SFOR will also have the power to control the Bosnian airspace, this power is valid for both civilian and military aircraft.

The resolution, which extends support to the Dayton Peace Agreement, asks all countries to cooperate with the International Court of War Criminals and to bring the war criminals to the Court to be tried.

The Security Council has also extended the term of office of the international police force until 21 June 1999.

[18] THE US CAN'T PREVENT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE S-300 MISSILES

The US administration waits for the concrete results of the Cardiff Summit of the EU and the Turkish-Greek reconciliation which aims to prevent the clashes in the Aegean due to the efforts of Javier Solana, the NATO Secretary General.

The US hopes that if the security increases in the Aegean and if ''appeasing steps'' are taken at the Cardiff Summit to slow down the full membership negotiation process with the Greek Cypriot side, then these may calm down Turkey.

The US is very concerned about the possible reactions of Turkey in response to the deployment of the S-300 missiles at the Greek Cypriot side.

The US believes that if Turkey doesn't react militarily to the deployment of the S-300 missiles, then she and the TRNC can take various steps, such as opening Maras to settlement and announcing to the world that the negotiation process has ended on the island.

Various sources point out that taking such measures by Turkey and the TRNC, which are not military, will produce more effective results than a military reaction.

[19] SUPPORT FROM TURKISH TELEKOM TO TURKSAT-2A SATELLITE

The decision of the Ministers of State related to the issue was published in the Official Gazette. The Council of Ministers made this decision to provide financing for the TURKSAT-2A Satellite ordered by the Eurasiasat S.A.M company, which was set up by the Turkish Telecommunications Corporation and the French Aerospatiale with a capital of 20 million US dollars, and to strengthen the capital structure of the Eurasiasat S.A.M company.

In accordance with this decision, the Turkish Telecommunications Corporation is allowed to purchase 19.4 million US dollars in debenture stock that will be issued by the Eurasiasat S.A.M. company.

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