Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-06-24

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

24 JUNE 1998

CONTENTS

[01] PARLIAMENT AGREES TO DEBATE CENSURE MOTION AGAINST ASIK, THE MINISTER OF STATE

[02] TURKISH-IMF RELATIONS - IMF CHAIRMAN MICHAEL CAMDESSUS: - ''NEW AGREEMENT WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR TURKEY''

[03] HADEP ADMINISTRATORS ARRESTED - HADEP PROVINCIAL CHAIRMAN AND FOUR ADMINISTRATORS ARRESTED

[04] CENTRAL BANK PRESIDENT ERCEL: - ''WE PREPARED A DRAFT LAW INCLUDING REMOVAL OF FIVE ZEROS FROM THE TURKISH LIRA'' - ''THE AGREEMENT WITH THE IMF IS EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED ON 26 JUNE''

[05] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN'S VISIT TO BULGARIA - CETIN: ''THERE IS NO POLITICAL PROBLEM BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES''

[06] TURKEY TO PARTICIPATE IN CHEMICAL DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN JORDAN

[07] COOPERATION WITH BULGARIA AGAINST BORDER FIRES

[08] ENERGY MINISTER ERSUMER RETURNS TO TURKEY FROM EGYPT - ERSUMER: ''WE DISCUSSED THE PURCHASE OF LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS FROM EGYPT AND CONSTRUCTION OF PIPELINE, WHICH WILL REACH ISKENDERUN''

[09] PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY - OPENING OF PARLIAMENTARY INVESTIGATION RELATED TO TURKEY'S DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN DEBTS ACCEPTED

[10] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

[11] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RECEIVES ASHRAWI, PALESTINIAN MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION

[12] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

[13] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (3)

[14] DIMITRIOS NEZERITIS, GREECE'S AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: ''THERE IS NEITHER A PKK CAMP NOR AN OFFICE IN GREECE. ANYONE WHO WANTS MAY COME AND INVESTIGATE''

[15] NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER SEZGIN IN POLAND - SEZGIN MEETS WITH POLISH PM BUZEK

[16] EU SEMINAR - KUNERALP, GENERAL DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN MINISTRY'S EU DEPARTMENT: - ''MEMBERSHIP IN THE EU ISN'T AN EASILY ACHIEVED TARGET, THERE IS A NEED FOR A SERIOUS EFFORT''

[17] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN'S VISIT TO BULGARIA

[18] DEMIREL DUE IN MOLDOVA ON THURSDAY

[19] WORLD BANK APPROVES LOAN FOR COMPULSORY EDUCATION - TWO LOAN AGREEMENTS TO BE SIGNED ON THURSDAY

[20] DSP GROUP MEETING - ECEVIT: ''PROPOSAL FOR REGIME CHANGE IS A DANGEROUS GAMBLING''

[21] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS IN VIENNA - DENKTAS WARNS GREEK CYPRIOTS WHO GIVE AN OPEN CHEQUE TO RUSSIANS WITH THE S-300 MISSILES IN ORDER TO UPSET BALANCES IN MEDITERRANEAN

[22] BASESGIOGLU, MINISTER OF INTERIOR, SENDS LETTER TO INTERIOR MINISTERS OF MEMBER COUNTRIES IN THE BSEC

[23] KEMAL BULBUL, HADEP'S ANKARA CHAIRMAN ARRESTED FOR ''ASSISTING THE SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION''

[24] NAZI GOLD - STATE MINISTER GUREL: ''TURKEY HIDES NOTHING CONCERNING THE SECOND WORLD WAR'' - ''THEY DIDN'T COOPERATE WITH RELATED COUNTRIES DURING PREPARATIONS OF REPORTS'' - ''TURKEY RETURNED ALL GERMAN PROPERTIES TO FEDERAL GERMANY''

[25] NEGOTIATIONS HELD FOR FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND BULGARIA HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED

[26] SEZGIN, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF DEFENCE, CONCLUDES HIS CONTACTS IN POLAND - SEZGIN: ''GREECE TRIES TO DEPLOY THE S-300 MISSILES ON THE ISLAND IN ORDER TO INCREASE HER BARGAINING MARGIN''

[01] PARLIAMENT AGREES TO DEBATE CENSURE MOTION AGAINST ASIK, THE MINISTER OF STATE

The debates about the censure motion, presented earlier to the Parliament by the opposition True Path Party (DYP), are expected to take place in the coming days. Parliamentary voting will tell whether or not Asik will continue his ministerial post. An absolute majority (276 votes) is required to unseat Asik, a member of the Motherland Party (ANAP).

While the coalition partners, namely the ANAP, the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and the Democratic Turkey Party (DTP), voted against debating a censure motion to unseat Asik, the DYP, Virtue Party (FP), and Grand Unity Party (BBP) voted in favor of the motion. The Republican People's Party (CHP), which provides outside support for the coalition government, was at first undecided on the motion, but later, the CHP deputies left the Parliamentary hall. Their departure tipped the balance against Asik.

Kemal Aykurt, from the DYP, said that although Asik wasn't the Minister of the Interior or Justice, he had stated during a TV program that not only did he know where Yesil was, but that Yesil was under his and his colleagues' control. Aykurt also said by making such a statement, Asik had commited a crime under Article 296 of the Turkish Penal Code.

Asik also had said that no unsolved murder had remained since their government came to power.

[02] TURKISH-IMF RELATIONS - IMF CHAIRMAN MICHAEL CAMDESSUS: - ''NEW AGREEMENT WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR TURKEY''

Addressing a press conference he held after the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, Camdessus said there is high inflation and a budget deficit in Turkey, but the Turkish government targets to cope with these problems with a disciplined programme.

Pointing out that within the specified periods, the developments in the Turkish economy will be closely monitored with the programme and several reports will be prepared, Camdessus stressed that they are in a close and sound dialogue with the Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Gunes Taner, the Minister of State.

When asked whether or not the existing election atmosphere in Turkey will negatively affect the agreement to be signed, Camdessus said, ''this is out of the question. Elections are the most indispensible element of democratic systems.''

[03] HADEP ADMINISTRATORS ARRESTED - HADEP PROVINCIAL CHAIRMAN AND FOUR ADMINISTRATORS ARRESTED

The Aydin Governor's Office said in a statement that the security officials stopped a minubus going from Aydin to Denizli and seized a large quantity of illegal publications.

Ibrahim Alcicek (55), the HADEP Provincial Chairman, Osman Dagtekin (55), Ahmet Ozgun (41), Musa Demir (25), the executive board members were taken into custody and later arrested by the Court after their interrogation.

[04] CENTRAL BANK PRESIDENT ERCEL: - ''WE PREPARED A DRAFT LAW INCLUDING REMOVAL OF FIVE ZEROS FROM THE TURKISH LIRA'' - ''THE AGREEMENT WITH THE IMF IS EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED ON 26 JUNE''

Addressing the Assembly meeting of the Ankara Chamber of Industry, Gazi Ercel said that the Central Bank prepared a short draft law, which was composed of seven Articles, related to the removal of five zeros from the TL, adding that the name of the monetary unit would be the ''New Turkish Lira''.

The Central Bank President Gazi Ercel stated that the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was expected to be signed on 26 June, stressing that the Central Bank would also sign the agreement.

Noting that the signature of the Central Bank is very important for its credibility, Ercel stated that the Central Bank will back up its signature for 18 months.

''We are uniting the credibility of the Central Bank and the IMF, and the targets we set forth concerning the macroeconomic policies. We say that we will decrease the infation to 20 percent at the end of 18 months,'' Ercel added.

Ercel emphasized that the loss for Turkey would be 10 billion US dollars if an agreement wouldn't be signed with the IMF and this amount would come from the burden stemming from the increase in the domestic borrowing interests.

[05] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN'S VISIT TO BULGARIA - CETIN: ''THERE IS NO POLITICAL PROBLEM BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES''

Evaluating his contacts in Bulgaria Cetin told the A.A correspondent that his meetings with the government members and Speaker of the Parliament were very beneficial.

Cetin said ''we should rapidly improve relations in the fields of energy, infrastructure and investments. Agreements were signed. The Turkish entrepreneurs will make more investments to contribute to Bulgaria's economic and social development. We have seen that there is the required political will to further develop relations.''

[06] TURKEY TO PARTICIPATE IN CHEMICAL DISARMAMENT CONFERENCE THAT WILL TAKE PLACE IN JORDAN

Jordan hosts the symposium which will be realized between 24 and 25 June.

The Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said in a statement that the countries, namely Israel, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan would participate at the symposium, although they haven't ratified the agreement yet.

The aim of the symposium is to encourage the countries to participate in the international agreement. It was reported that 14 countries would attend the symposium, including Turkey, Jordan, Israel, Sudan, Bahrein, Bruney, Indonesia, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan.

The agreement bans production, usage, storage and sale of such weapons.

[07] COOPERATION WITH BULGARIA AGAINST BORDER FIRES

Sabahattin Ozcelik, the Chairman of the General Directorate of Civilian Defense, Sabri Yalin, the Department Chairman of the Istanbul Fire Brigade and the Edirne, Kirklareli and Tekirdag Fire Brigade Directors participated at the meeting.

Ozcelik told the A.A correspondent, ''we have agreed in principle that the two countries should cooperate against possible fires that may erupt at the mutual borders. Our meetings took place in a positive atmosphere.''

Ozcelik said that the next meeting will be held in Turkey ''we will make more concrete resolutions and reach a bilateral agreement'' he added.

[08] ENERGY MINISTER ERSUMER RETURNS TO TURKEY FROM EGYPT - ERSUMER: ''WE DISCUSSED THE PURCHASE OF LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS FROM EGYPT AND CONSTRUCTION OF PIPELINE, WHICH WILL REACH ISKENDERUN''

Ersumer said that they discussed the issues of the ''purchase of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) from Egypt'' and the ''construction of a pipeline between Iskenderun and Egypt via the Mediterranean''.

Ersumer stated that Mahir Abaza, the Egyptian Minister of Electricity, and he exchanged views on the latest situation of the energy transfer line between Egypt and Turkey via Jordan and Syria.

Pointing out that Hamdi Al-Banbi, the Egyptian Minister of Oil, and he signed a memorandum of understanding including the transfer of natural gas to Turkey from Egypt, Ersumer said, ''in accordance with this memorandum of understanding, we stated that we accept importing natural gas from Egypt and Egypt stated that she accepts exporting natural gas with a pipeline via the Mediterranean. We decided to hold meetings between our two technical delegations in a short time to determine the construction process and the financing of that pipeline and to set the price of natural gas.''

Ersumer said that Turkey concluded the construction of the electricity lines in her territories and Egypt reached Jordan with the electricity lines, which were constructid by a Turkish company, passing the Suez Canal. ''We determined that Jordan reached Syria and a small section was left in Syria.''

Noting that they also determined that 400 megawatts of energy can be transferred among the countries in the region, Ersumer added that they will try to implement the natural gas project in a short time.

[09] PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY - OPENING OF PARLIAMENTARY INVESTIGATION RELATED TO TURKEY'S DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN DEBTS ACCEPTED

Conveying the opinions of the Republican People's Party (CHP) Group to the General Assembly regarding the proposal, Hydar Oymak, the CHP Amasya deputy, said that Turkey, since 1983, had applied domestic borrowing for the public financing. Pointing out that the domestic borrowing, which was 41.9 trillion Turkish Liras (TL) in the early 1990s, increased to 3 quadrillion 149 billion TL in 1996, Oymak stated that the term of borrowing, which was two years in 1990, decreased to 119 days in 1994.

Haydar Oymak added that the foreign debt, which was 50 billion US dollars in 1990, had now reached 83 billion US dollars.

Mustafa Unaldi said that the expenditures weren't well-planned, stressing that only 1 million US dollars were used for projects from the loan of 5.1 million US dollars allocated for privatization.

Later, the proposal was accepted after voting. In accordance with the proposal, the commission will carry out studies and investigations for three months.

[10] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

''TURKEY NOT EXCLUDED FROM EU'' Jorg Ketelsen, the Charge d'Affaires of the Turkish Representation of the EU Commission said, ''Turkey has already entered the Customs Union with the EU. Turkey is absolutely not excluded from the full EU membership process. For full EU membership, Turkey should carry out all her obligations and abide by all the necessary conditions''. Ketelsen delivered a speech at a seminar during which the EU-Turkish relations were discussed yesterday in Istanbul. He noted that Turkey had covered a great distance on the path to full EU membership and added that the recent Cardiff Summit was an example of this. /Cumhuriyet/

DEMIREL RECEIVES ASHRAWI Prof. Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, the Palestinian Minister of Higher Education, said that Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian Head of State, would visit Turkey in the shortest possible time. President Suleyman Demirel received Ashrawi yesterday. According to a statement issued by the Presidential Press Centre yesterday, Ashrawi noted during the meeting that they were sure that Turkey would continue to exert efforts to overcome the bottlenecks in the Middle East Peace Process. /Cumhuriyet/

PANGALOS PROMOTES CONTENTION Ambassador Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman noted that Theodoros Pangalos, the Greek Foreign Minister, displayed his complexes about Turkey at every opportunity. Utkan said during a press conference yesterday that Pangalos used an 'insolent and venturesome' style in the statements he gave to journalists during his visits to the Gulf countries. /Cumhuriyet/

CYPRUS CONFERENCE IN VIENNA Lutfi Seydali, the honorary representative of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Chairman of the Europe- Cyprus Council of Turkish Associations noted that if a hot conflict occurs on Cyprus, which both sides regard as a 'national cause', the southern wing of the NATO could collapse and this situation would satisfy Russia, which has always wanted a hold in the Mediterranean. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY CRITICIZES ARMENIAN THREAT Turkey condemns Armenia's threat to annex Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh region, the Foreign Ministry announced yesterday. ''This announcement by Vardan Oskanyan, the Armenian Foreign Minister, reveals once again the real intentions and uncompromising attitudes of the Armenian government towards the peace negotiations carried out by the OSCE Minsk Group'' Necati Utkan told a weekly press conference. ''The fundamental fault in the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is Armenia'', Turkey's announcement declared, noting Armenia's rejection of the Minsk Group's peace proposals for the troubled region. The Turkish statement ended by expressing a desire for the international community to make an appropriate response to the Armenian threat concerning Karabakh. /Cumhuriyet/

STATE MINISTER CELEBI TO LONDON Isin Celebi, the Minister of State will go to London today as the official guest of Lord Clinton Davies, the British Minister of Trade and the Confederation of British Industrialists (CBI). Celebi will meet today with Lord Davies. Tomorrow he will attend a conference on ''Turkey'' during which Turkish businessmen and Yavuz Canevi, the Chairman of the Turkish Economy Bank, will give speeches. Celebi will try to convince the British businessmen to invest in Turkey. /Sabah/

[11] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RECEIVES ASHRAWI, PALESTINIAN MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION

The Presidential Press Center said in a written statement that Ashrawi briefed Demirel about the recent developments in the Middle East Peace Process, pointing out that Palestine was sure that Turkey's contributions will continue to overcome the bottlenecks within the framework of the process.

Demirel said that Turkey attributed a great importance to the improvement of the Peace Process without any problem which it regarded as a golden opportunity for the region, adding that Turkey carried out her initiatives to the sides and US in this respect. Demirel stressed that Turkey's contributions will continue to make the Palestinian people attain peace and affluence.

Demirel also said he would be pleased to host Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian President, in Turkey.

[12] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

IMF: ''AGREEMENT WILL BENEFIT TURKEY'' Michael Camdessus, the Chairman of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said that the ''Close Monitoring Agreement'' to be signed between Turkey and IMF will be to the benefit of Turkey. He added that the Turkish government had been applying a determined programme to decrease inflation. Camdessus also noted that they were in close dialogue with Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Isin Celebi, the Minister of State Responsible for the Economy, and the other economy officials to watch more closely the developments in the Turkish economy. Martin Hardy, the Chief of the IMF Turkish Desk, said that he believed that the staff monitoring programme would help the government in its struggle againt inflation. Regarding the agreement Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said in a speech at the Parliament yesterday that the IMF gave support to the government's economy programme and it wasn't a stand-by agreement. He added that the agreement would meet their expectations. /Milliyet/Sabah/

LIMITATION ON IRAQI OIL IN JUNE The Turkish government has decided to apply new regulations in July to bring under control the Iraqi oil and border trade in order to prevent an economic crisis. Officials announced that the application would be realised step by step and the revenue earned during the application would be saved in a fund to be used for investments in the border counties. Within this framework the annual oil need of the regions will be determined in October and the surplus oil supplies will be taken under control. It was also reported that the liquid fuel consumption tax would be increased. /Milliyet/

FINANCIAL TIMES: ''TURKEY LOOKING GOOD'' The British Financial Times, one of the leading world economy newspapers, reported yesterday that although Turkey had a coalition government, it had been successful in realizing important reforms, and in bringing the budget deficit and inflation under control. The report, by John Barham, noted that the Turkish economy had gained a new liveliness. /Milliyet/

TURKEY ASKS ANNAN TO INTERVENE ON CYPRUS Turkey has evaluated the landing of the Greek war planes at the Baphos Airbase at Southern Cyprus as ''very provocative'' and has asked Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) to prevent the Greek Cypriot Administration's efforts to sabotage peace and security in the region. Turkey has sent a letter to Kofi Annan and Antonio Monteiro, the Chairman of the UN Security Council, with Ambassador Volkan Vural, Turkey's Permanent Representative to the UN, saying that the Russian-made S-300 missiles would bring the sides on the island to the edge of a crisis. /Milliyet/

ANKARA OBJECTS TO ISRAEL'S EXPANSION PLAN Turkey yesterday expressed discontent with Israel's recent plan to expand Jerusalem's territories at the West Bank. ''The Israeli decision to expand the boundaries of Jerusalem won't contribute to stability and peace in the Middle East, although it is claimed that the plan is based on just reasons'', a Foreign Ministry statement said yesterday. /All papers/

ANKARA HOPES FOR COMMON SENSE ON KURDISH REPORT Turkey expressed her hopes yesterday that a controversial Council of Europe report about the Kurdish issue would be rebuffed in the General Assembly discussions this Thursday. Ambassador Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman, said in a weekly press conference that during the handling of the report, which states that ''the PKK is fighting for the liberation of the Kurdish people'', the rapporteurs received letters of support from the PKK. Utkan added that the report contains unfounded facts and figures. /All papers/

[13] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (3)

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

TURKEY REITERATES HER SUPPORT FOR BULGARIA Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament, on a visit to Bulgaria yesterday gave assurances that Turkey supported Bulgaria's bid for the NATO membership and praised the current state of bilateral relations. Cetin met with Petar Stoyanov, the Bulgarian President. Cetin and Stoyanov agreed that economic cooperation between the two countries from now on would concentrate on the fields of energy, infrastructure and joint investments. Cetin stated that bilateral economic relations will reach a higher level with the signing of a free trade zone agreement between Turkey and Bulgaria, which they plan to institute by the end of 1998.

ERSUMER VISITS EGYPT Turkey and Egypt signed on Monday a memorandum of understanding concerning the pipeline which will transport natural gas from Egypt to Turkey. Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, who is currently in Egypt as an official guest of Hamdi Al-Banbi, the Egyptian Minister of Oil, continues to hold contacts in Egypt.

TURKISH-JAPANESE COOPERATION IN MINING The third course of a Training Programme for the Third Countries on ''Research and Evaluation of Underground Resources'', which was organized together with the General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA) and by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will be concluded on 29 June.

BALKANS INTERNATIONAL PEACE FORCE MEETING A Balkans International Peace Force meeting started on Monday in the Greek capital of Athens with the participation of military experts from seven Balkan countries and representatives from the US and Slovenia as observers. The structure of the peace force, the place of the headquarters and financial issues will be discussed at the meeting which will last until 26 June. Turkey is being represented by a military delegation led by General Koksal Karabay.

NEW ASTRONOMY AND AVIATION COUNCIL Responding to a question on the new Turkish Scientific and Technological Institute (TUBITAK) projects, Rustu Kazim Yucelen, the Minister of State responsible for the institute, said in a Parliamentary session yesterday that a rough draft law concerning the setting up of a ''national astronomy and aviation council'' would be submitted to the Council of Ministers. The council will coordinate astronomy education programmes, participate in international astronomy projects and carry out research on satellite and spacecraft technology. /Hurriyet/

DENKTAS COMMENTS ON LATEST EVENTS ON CYPRUS Before leaving for Vienna where he will participate in a conference on ''Cyprus'' organized by the Diplomatic Academy of the Austrian Foreign Ministry, Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) commented yesterday on the problems created by the deployment of the Greek fighter planes by the Greek Cypriot administration. Answering a question put by a journalist about what he thought about the Greek President's claim that he hadn't been informed of the deployment, Denktas said that he might be pretending to be unaware because Greece had completely failed in her plans. He also noted that Greece's aggressive policy threatens not only Cyprus, but the entire region./Hurriyet/

TURKEY RAISING STRAITS ISSUE AT EXPO'98 As a participant at the EXPO'98, a maritime fair organized in Lisbon, Portugal, Turkey will try to promote interest in the dangerous situation involving the Turkish Straits, that is, the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. Turkish officials will stress that the straits are being threatened by Russian and Ukrainian vessels transporting oil or other explosive substances through the narrow, but vital straits. /Hurriyet/

[14] DIMITRIOS NEZERITIS, GREECE'S AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: ''THERE IS NEITHER A PKK CAMP NOR AN OFFICE IN GREECE. ANYONE WHO WANTS MAY COME AND INVESTIGATE''

Responding to the questions of reporters about the ''Greek-PKK'' relations, Nezeritis said, ''There are news reports saying that the separatist terrorist PKK opened camps and an office in Greece. I have applied to Turkish Foreign Ministry to inform us about the location of the PKK camps, but I couldn't get a response. The Greek Government will never tolerate the activities of the representation of a violent organization and will never let them do it. Two or three Parliamentarians may have visited the PKK camp, but this won't interest the Greek Government.''

Nezeritis said, ''what will be Greece's benefit to support the separatist terrorist PKK? Do we want instability? This is like a fire that may spread everywhere.''

Responding to a question, Nezeritis said that there were several problems with Turkey and that they may be overcome with peaceful initiatives, adding that he got angry against people who always regard Turkey and Greece as enemies.

[15] NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER SEZGIN IN POLAND - SEZGIN MEETS WITH POLISH PM BUZEK

Sezgin is currently holding contacts in the Polish capital of Warsaw as the official guest of Janusz Onyszkiewicz, the Polish Minister of Defense.

Sezgin met with Branislow Komorowski, the Chairman of the Polish Parliamentary Commission for Defense, and with the Polish Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek. The Polish side asked for the approval of an official support decision from Turkey for the membership of Poland in the NATO. Sezgin stated that the decision will be approved by the Parliament as soon as possible. Sezgin said that they were ready to launch every king of initiative to bring the military relations between Turkey and Poland to the ideal level.

The Polish Prime Minister Buzek held a press conference following his meeting with Ismet Sezgin.

Pointing out that they were attaching great importance to the improvement of relations in every field, Buzek said that the free trade agreement, which is one of most important steps in the improvement of economic relations, will be signed in a short time.

Sezgin will return to Turkey on Wednesday after being received by Aleksander Kwasniewski, the President of Poland.

[16] EU SEMINAR - KUNERALP, GENERAL DIRECTOR OF FOREIGN MINISTRY'S EU DEPARTMENT: - ''MEMBERSHIP IN THE EU ISN'T AN EASILY ACHIEVED TARGET, THERE IS A NEED FOR A SERIOUS EFFORT''

The seminer, which was organized by the Center for Pratical Training of the Istanbul Bar Association of Lawyers, was concluded with a session on ''The Turkish-EU Relations: Today and the Future''.

Addressing the seminar, Kuneralp said that the economic integration with the EU was provided for when the Customs Union, which constitutes an instrument for the full-membership, was realized.

Pointing out that the EU pursues a discriminative policy against Turkey when its approach to the other candidate countries is taken into consideration, Kuneralp showed the stipulation for the solution of the Cyprus issue as an example.

Evaluating the Cardiff Summit decision for preparing a report each year about the improvement process for Turkey's membership as a positive development, Kuneralp said, ''considering the membership as an easily achieved target isn't true. There is a need for a serious effort. The membership is difficult but it isn't impossible. I believe Turkey will achieve what the other candidates had achieved.''

[17] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN'S VISIT TO BULGARIA

Addressing the meeting Bikirciev said that the Bulgarian government attributed great importance to relations between the two countries, adding that the visit to Turkey of Ivan Kostov, the Bulgarian Prime Minister, expected to take place in the autumn, will make a positive contribution to the relations between the two countries.

Responding to the questions of the Bulgarian press Cetin said that political relations between the two countries were an example to the region and the world. ''We negotiate how we will increase economic and trade relations. We also have relations in the fields of energy and infrastructure. Turkey purchases electrical energy from Bulgaria. Russian natural gas is coming via Bulgaria. The two countries have reached a consensus of opinion to increase natural gas. The transports of the Turkmen natural gas to Europe via Bulgaria, participation of the Turkish entrepreneurs in energy projects and the free trade agreement were discussed'' he added.

Responding to a question related to the repayment with money of the electrical energy purchased from Bulgaria, Cetin said ''Turkey may repay with the investments that Turkish businessmen will make in these countries in return for electrical energy. This may be a build-operate-transfer model or any partnership.''

Cetin later attended the reception of the Turkish Embassy before departing from Bulgaria.

Mentioning the situation of the Turkish citizens in Bulgaria, Cetin said, ''these people play the role of a bridge to establish positive relations. We want the Turkish people here to get an equal share from democratic rights, development and welfare. We will have a meeting with the separated families in the future''.

Cetin said that the talks also focused on the incidents experienced in Kosovo, adding that they reached a consensus of opinion that there were disturbing developments in the region.

Cetin later left Bulgaria for Romania. Cetin will participate at the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Parliamentarian Assembly meeting.

[18] DEMIREL DUE IN MOLDOVA ON THURSDAY

Sukru Sina Gurel, Ahat Andican and Isin Celebi, the Ministers of State, Murat Karayalcin, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission, representatives of the professional institutions, businessmen and the press will accompany Demirel during the visit.

President Demirel had visited Moldova in 1994.

The Presidential Press Center statement recalled that Demirel had held meetings with the Moldovan President Petru Lucinschi at various forums before, adding that the two presidents had met at the BSEC Summit which had taken place in Yalta this month.

The statement said that Turkey had established close friendship and cooperation relations with Moldova since 1991, when it gained independence. The statement said that cooperation in the field of education was also of importance in the relations between the two countries.

The statement said that an agreement to prevent dual taxation is expected to be signed during Demirel's visit and Demirel is scheduled to address the Turkish and Moldovan businessmen. Also, the Moldovan Technical University will award Demirel with an honorary doctorate.

Demirel will also visit the Gagavuz Place which has a special status in Moldova. The statement said that the Gagavuz people, within the framework of autonomy provided to them, preserve their identities in their native country and contribute to the development of country as citizens respecting Moldova's territorial integrity.

[19] WORLD BANK APPROVES LOAN FOR COMPULSORY EDUCATION - TWO LOAN AGREEMENTS TO BE SIGNED ON THURSDAY

The World Bank Executive Board approved the first part of a 600 million US dollars loan to the Ministry of National Education.

The loan agreement will be signed on Thursday by Gunes Taner, the Minister of State, and James Wolfenson, the President of the World Bank.

The World Bank said that the goal of the project is to increase the capacity of eight year compulsory education and raise the quality of education.

The loan will be repaid within 15 years.

Meanwhile, Gunes Taner, the Minister of State, is expected to proceed to Washington, D.C., from New York.

Taner will also sign a loan of 270 million US dollars with the World Bank, which will be used for the financing of the reconstruction and development of Turkey's national electricity transfer network.

Taner and the delegation with him will continue contacts regarding the ''Staff Monitoring Programme'' which will be signed with the IMF. The agreement is expected to be signed during the contacts of Taner in Washington, D.C.

[20] DSP GROUP MEETING - ECEVIT: ''PROPOSAL FOR REGIME CHANGE IS A DANGEROUS GAMBLING''

Addressing his party group meeting Ecevit said that he didn't think of entering into a debate with President Suleyman Demirel ''but the regime he tried to bring onto the agenda foresees the most strict Presidential system and has drawbacks for the secular, democratic parliamentarian regime in Turkey.''

Ecevit said the regime established by Ataturk, the founder of the Modern Republic of Turkey, based on a solid parliamentarian democracy and pointed out that the proposal made by Demirel was just the opposite of this.

Ecevit said that Demirel wanted people to directly elect the head of state, heads of states to give shape to the Council of Ministers as he wants, to dissolve the Parliament when he falls into contradiction, and to hold elections every two years.

Noting that although an election was seen in the future there are comprehensive reforms on the agenda, Ecevit said that stability should be sought in public administration and in forming national policies.

Ecevit said that they wanted to evaluate the last 8-10 months period in the most benefical way.

[21] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS IN VIENNA - DENKTAS WARNS GREEK CYPRIOTS WHO GIVE AN OPEN CHEQUE TO RUSSIANS WITH THE S-300 MISSILES IN ORDER TO UPSET BALANCES IN MEDITERRANEAN

The TRNC President Denktas, who came to Vienna for a three-day official visit, met with Kurt Waldheim, the UN Former Secretary General and former Austrian President and explained the recent developments on Cyprus at the Vienna Diplomacy Academy.

Noting that the membership of the Greek Cypriots in the European Union (EU) is against the intercommunal negotiations, Denktas pointed out, ''we are ready to accept unification on the island, however the unification should be realized between two equal entities.''

Stressing that the world makes a big mistake by not understanding the fact that there is no concept such as the ''Cyprus nation'' and the Greek Cypriots can't represent the Turkish Cypriots.

Pointing out that he came to Vienna to explain the importance the Greek Cypriot side and Greece attribute to armaments, Denktas said that he doesn't discuss this issue with the EU members, however he tries to inform them.

''Do you have any expectations from Austria, who will be the EU Term President in 10 days?,'' asked the A.A correspondent and Denktas said ''we don't expect anything concrete from any country. We only want them to understand that we won't submit to any injustice and we won't give up our state.''

Noting that the TRNC expects the UN Security Council to revise the Cyprus question, Denktas said ''but we don't know whether Russia, which sells missiles to the Greek Cypriot administration and the US, which is submissive to the Greek lobby can realize this or not. Moreover, Britain takes a position near Greece by forgetting her guarantorship responsibilities in order to protect her bases on the island.''

Denktas stressed that the EU should have the courage to discuss the Cyprus question as a European problem in order to accept unilaterally the Greek Cypriot side in the EU, adding that if this is the case, then the TRNC will have closer relations with Turkey, ''it means Cyprus will be divided into two.''

Meanwhile, the Austrian state television used the term ''the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus'' for Rauf Denktas.

[22] BASESGIOGLU, MINISTER OF INTERIOR, SENDS LETTER TO INTERIOR MINISTERS OF MEMBER COUNTRIES IN THE BSEC

Stressing that the organized crimes rise rapidly, Basesgioglu pointed out that the actions of these organizations form a serious threat against the democracy, reforms and stability of the member states in the BSEC. He added that the national efforts and the bilateral cooperations aren't sufficient for the struggle against organized crimes and terrorism. Therefore, the member states of the BSEC should set up regional cooperation mechanisms.

Reminding that the second meeting of the Temporary Experts Group will be held in Athens, the capital of Greece, Murat Basesgioglu noted, ''the individual efforts of the countries aren't enough to prevent drug smuggling that is a crime against humanity organized by the international crime organizations. The measures should be taken to reduce the drug trafficking on the Balkan route and the Northern route. The terrorist actions damaging the basic right to live, target not only the security and the territorial integrity of the countries, but their legal governments. The increase of the terrorist actions shows that no country is exempt from terrorism''.

Pointing out that there are close relations between terrorism, organized crimes and drug smuggling, Basesgioglu emphasized that drug trafficking is the main source of income of the terrorist organizations.

Basesgioglu stressed that a multilateral agreement that will be signed by the members states of the BSEC should be more extensive in order to provide peace and determination in the region against the threat of the terrorist actions and to maintain a more effective and concrete cooperation between the member countries on the struggle against drug smuggling.

Murat Basesgioglu noted that the ''Black Sea Police Organization- Blackseapol'' and the ''Drug Determination and Analysis Laboratory'' should be set up in order to provide a permanent, continuous and rapid information network among the member countries.

Noting that the application of the ''mutual appointment of the communications experts'', that was pointed out in the joint declaration of the First Meeting of the Interior Ministers of the BSEC on 17 October 1996, will cause finance problems and won't be practical, Basesgioglu stressed that the communications experts should gather at a center and this center should become an organization with the name of the ''Black Sea Police Organization - Blackseapol''.

[23] KEMAL BULBUL, HADEP'S ANKARA CHAIRMAN ARRESTED FOR ''ASSISTING THE SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION''

Bulbul, who was brought to the court from the Ankara Anti-Terrorism Office, where he was taken into custody, gave testimony to Nuh Mete Yuksel, the Prosecutor who is carrying out the investigation. Bulbul was later arrested and then put into prison.

The State Security Court had started an investigation about a speech of Bulbul made on 2 March 1998 and the documents seized in his house. Bulbul was taken into custody two days ago.

[24] NAZI GOLD - STATE MINISTER GUREL: ''TURKEY HIDES NOTHING CONCERNING THE SECOND WORLD WAR'' - ''THEY DIDN'T COOPERATE WITH RELATED COUNTRIES DURING PREPARATIONS OF REPORTS'' - ''TURKEY RETURNED ALL GERMAN PROPERTIES TO FEDERAL GERMANY''

Addressing a press conference, Gurel pointed out, ''if they aim to make an impartial evaluation concerning the Second World War, they should appeal not only to the American documents, but also the British and French documents. The reports prepared with a subjective methodology instead of a scientific one, and this approach made the reports nothing but an historical gossip. They should have cooperated with the related countries during the preparations of the reports''.

Reminding that the veteran Ambassador Kamuran Gurun mentioned the Nazi gold and German properties in his writings on ''Rowing Against the Current'', Gurel noted that Numan Menemencioglu, the Foreign Minister at that time, expressed the issues of Nazi gold and chrome to the Parliament in 1944. Gurun says in his writings, ''Turkey returned all the German properties to the Germany without expecting anything. The German estates in the other countries were liquidated and Germany had to buy embassy buildings again. The Turkish Government lifted all restrictions on the German estates in Turkey in 1959''.

Mentioning the chrome sale from Turkey to Germany during the Second World War, Gurel told the reporters, ''Turkey didn't accept any Nazi gold in return for the chrome sales''. He added, ''Turkey didn't send chrome to Germany until January 1943 and the sending of chrome that lasted from January 1943 to the spring of 1944, was stopped at the request of Turkey's allies Britain and France. Turkey sent chrome to Germany in return for goods, not gold or money. We can document these details whenever it is necessary''.

Gurel stressed that Turkey returned the German properties that were seized in return for the debts to Federal Germany between 1957 and 1960 in the framework of the understanding of the ''NATO Alliance''.

Sukru Sina Gurel pointed out that the people accusing Turkey about the German properties, should now ask for these goods from Germany.

[25] NEGOTIATIONS HELD FOR FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND BULGARIA HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED

The Undersecratariat of the Treasury said that the agreement which was initialed on 19 June, is foreseen to be signed during the visit of the Bulgarian Prime Minister to Turkey.

The statement stressed that the agreement which will be signed with Bulgaria mainly covers industrial products and foresees ease in entering into reciprocal markets concerning several agricultural products.

When the agreement enters into force, approximately 70 percent of the industrial exports of Turkey to Bulgaria will be exempt from tax. The taxes on other products will decrease by 55 percent and be zero by the beginning of 2002.

The trade between the two countries is expected to accelerate with the free trade agreement. The trade volume between the two countries was approximately 584.7 million US dollars in 1997.

[26] SEZGIN, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF DEFENCE, CONCLUDES HIS CONTACTS IN POLAND - SEZGIN: ''GREECE TRIES TO DEPLOY THE S-300 MISSILES ON THE ISLAND IN ORDER TO INCREASE HER BARGAINING MARGIN''

Addressing the journalist after being received by President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland, Sezgin stressed that Greece aims to increase her bargaining margin by deploying the S-300 missiles on the island. He pointed out that these efforts of Greece failed and the US and the member states of the NATO criticized Greece for threatening the security and stability on Cyprus and in the Eastern Mediterranean. He added that the NATO countries described the attitudes of Greece as a ''madness''.

Emphasizing that Turkey always defends friendship and peace, Sezgin told the reporters, ''we said at the very beginning that the problems can be solved through dialogues''. He added that Turkey took all the necessary measures against the threats of Greece.

Mentioning his meeting with President Kwasniewski, Sezgin noted that the meeting focused on the issues of military and defence cooperation between Turkey and Poland, the expansion of the NATO and Poland's membership in the NATO.

Reminding that he conveyed President Suleyman Demirel's invitation to Kwasniewski, Sezgin noted that Kwasniewski will visit Turkey next April.

Stressing the importance of the Free Trade Zone that will be signed between the two countries, Sezgin pointed out that this agreement will contribute to the improvement of cooperative relations.

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article