Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-09-30

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

30 SEPT 1998

CONTENTS

[01] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM RETURNS TO TURKEY

[02] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ RETURNS TO TURKEY FROM MEXICO - YILMAZ OPENS THE DOORS OF ''AMERICAN CONTINENT''

[03] TURKEY AND GEORGIA SIGN SOCIAL SECURITY AND COOPERATION PROTOCOL

[04] MEETING OF THE SO-CALLED ''KURDISH PARLIAMENT'' IN ITALY - BATU, THE TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO ITALY: ''TURKEY WON'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RESULTS OF THIS MEETING''

[05] PERGE: A DOOR OPENING TO THE PAST WITH THE MOST SPLENDID STATUES OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE AND THE LARGEST PUBLIC BATH OF PAMPHYLIA REGION

[06] CITIZENS OF TURKEY AND VIETNAM HAVING DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS TO BE EXEMPTED FROM VISAS FOR THEIR ONE MONTH VISITS

[07] GREEN PARTY MEETING IN GERMANY - CEM OZDEMIR, A GREEN PARTY DEPUTY: ''I HOPE THAT TURKISH-GERMAN RELATIONS WILL IMPROVE''

[08] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF THE TRNC: - ''WE CAN'T GIVE DEED OF TRNC TO GREEK CYPRIOTS'' - ''THE AIM OF GREEK CYPRIOTS IS TO CANCEL THE TURKISH-GREEK BALANCE ON CYPRUS''

[09] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[10] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[11] JERUSALEM NIGHT CASE RATIFIED - SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS RATIFIES PENALTY GIVEN AGAINST YILDIZ, FORMER SINCAN MAYOR AND SIRIN, AUTHOR FROM SELAM NEWSPAPER

[12] NEW TURKEY REPORT OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE - REPORT REQUESTS TURKEY TO CONTINUE REFORMS IN THE FIELD OF HUMAN RIGHTS

[13] PREMIER YILMAZ RETURNS TO TURKEY - YILMAZ: ''I RETURN TO TURKEY WITH VERY POSITIVE IMPRESSIONS FROM MY VISITS''

[14] TIKA CELEBRATES SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDATION - FM CEM: ''TURKEY IS AN INDISPENSABLE PART OF WESTERN EUROPE, A CANDIDATE COUNTRY FOR EU MEMBERSHIP AND AN ELEMENT OF ASIAN REALITY''

[15] HAKTANIR, FOREIGN MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY: ''WE WANT ITALY TO BAN PKK BECOMING ORGANIZED''

[16] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RECEIVES SILEAV, VICE PRIME MINISTER OF KYRGYZSTAN AND ACCOMPANYING DELEGATION

[01] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM RETURNS TO TURKEY

Cem held talks with Prime Minister Jean Chretien of Canada and his Canadian counterpart Lloyd Axworthy during his visit to this country.

The Foreign Ministry's statement pointed out that Turkey and Canada decided to develop economic and commercial cooperation during the visit to Canada of Ismail Cem between 27 and 28 September.

The statement also noted that Cem proposed an action plan to the Canadian Foreign Ministry which includes various economic and political cooperation issues and this initiative was welcomed by Canada.

The Foreign Ministry stressed that a new period has started in relations between Turkey and Canada with the visit of Cem to this country.

[02] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ RETURNS TO TURKEY FROM MEXICO - YILMAZ OPENS THE DOORS OF ''AMERICAN CONTINENT''

Gunes Taner, the Minister of State, who visited Mexico together with the delegation accompanying Mesut Yılmaz, proceeded to the US to participate in autumn meetings of IMF and the World Bank.

Prime Minister Yılmaz has been the ''first Turkish Prime Minister'' who visited Mexico in 70 years.

Prime Minister Yılmaz was welcomed warmly by Ernesto Zedillo, the President of Mexico. Mexico constitutes a strategic bridge between Northern and Southern America. The meetings held between the two leaders have resulted in the signing of three separate agreements and they have also opened the way for preparation of new agreements between the two countries.

The visit of Prime Minister Yılmaz to Mexico has been mainly focused on accelerating economic and commercial relations on the principle of reciprocal interests. Turkey also aims at easily entering and marketing her products to the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agremeent) market where Mexico is a member and opening to South America.

Mexico, which is an oil producing country, will reach the Middle East and Central Asian Republics by having closer relations with Turkey. Mexico will also find opportunities for making new investments in Turkey which is at the natural transit route of the Caspian energy resources.

Prime Minister Yılmaz also met with various members of the Mexican cabinet and many Mexican officials are expected to visit Turkey in the coming months. Rosario Green, the Mexican Foreign Minister described the visit of Yılmaz as ''a new period in bilateral relations.''

Yılmaz also conveyed President Suleyman Demirel's invitation to Mexican President Zedillo.

A new agreement is expected to be signed between the officials from Turkey and Mexico in the coming months in the field of struggling against terrorism, drug trafficking and gangs.

[03] TURKEY AND GEORGIA SIGN SOCIAL SECURITY AND COOPERATION PROTOCOL

Addressing the signing ceremony, Mithat Seref, the Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, said that the protocol will provide cooperation in social security between the ministries and institutions of both countries.

Viktor Iashivi, the Georgian Deputy Minister of Social Security, Labour and Employment, stressed that the protocol will help to further develop the cooperative relations between the two countries.

The protocol foresees the regular exchange of information about the developments and applications in the field of social security and of experts in order to make use of experiences from both countries.

[04] MEETING OF THE SO-CALLED ''KURDISH PARLIAMENT'' IN ITALY - BATU, THE TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO ITALY: ''TURKEY WON'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RESULTS OF THIS MEETING''

Batu told the A.A correspondent, ''it is a pity for a diplomat if the relations between his country and the country to which he has been appointed are overshadowed.''

Noting that Italy attributes importance to the friendship and alliance of Turkey, Batu pointed out ''unfortunately the activities of the so-called ''Kurdish Parliament in Exile'' have overshadowed the relations between the two countries. This is also seen from the statements issued by the Foreign Ministry and Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime Minister.''

Pointing out that he took all kinds of initiatives to prevent these kind of activities in Italy, Batu said that the Italian officials told the Turkish government that they don't have any legal structure for preventing these activities.

''This excuse hasn't been accepted by Turkey as it is understood by the statements,'' Batu added.

Batu stressed that Turkey is sorry and disappointed about the fact that the extensions of the separatist terrorist organization which targets the territorial integrity of Turkey have used the Italian Parliament, adding that the activites of the terrorist organization and the permission given to that illegal organization constitute a provocation for Turkey.

Responding to a question asking whether or not he can be withdrawn from Italy, Batu recalled that Turkey reacted strongly to this development, accused the Italian government and didn't accept any excuse, adding that he thinks he can be recalled by Turkey, but this will be clear after the evaluations that will be made in Turkey within the next two days.

Pointing out that the Turkish government took the Italian government as its counterpart, Batu denied the statement of Dino Frisullo, an Italian citizen who was arrested during the Nevruz celebrations (Spring Feast of the Vernal Equinox) in Diyarbakır, who said the ''Italian defense industry firms like Alenia and Agusta have been eliminated from the tenders opened by Turkey.''

''Dino Frisullo tells a lie, his allegations are out of the question and baseless,'' Batu added.

[05] PERGE: A DOOR OPENING TO THE PAST WITH THE MOST SPLENDID STATUES OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE AND THE LARGEST PUBLIC BATH OF PAMPHYLIA REGION

The ancient city is supposed to have been founded by the Greeks 4500 years ago during the Old Bronze Age period.

The route of Saint Paul, one of the most famous missionaries of the Christians, had also passed through the city of Perge. The city having a holy meaning for the Christians, gives the visitors the opportunity of imagining St. Paul walking on the mosaics covering the floors and beholding the decorated columns.

Alexander the Great had also visited the ancient city in 333 B.C.

The ancient city with its theatre having a capacity of 15 thousand persons, is known by the historians as the city of artists and scientists.

The work named the Conica of Apollonius, a world wide famous mathematician and astronomer who was born in Perge, is admitted as one of the cornerstones of mathematics.

Meanwhile, sculptors from Perge had made the most splendid statues of the Roman Empire period.

The largest public bath of the Pamphylia region is located in the ancient city of Perge. The public bath had hot and cold water pools.

Responding to the questions of the A.A correspondent, Haluk Abbasoglu, the Chairman of the Excavation Activities in Perge, said that the excavations have begun 52 years ago and will continue for the next 200 years.

Reminding that only 10 percent of the ancient city has been excavated since 1949, Abbasaoglu stressed that the financial difficulties prevent excavations from being completed in a short period.

Abbasoglu emphasized that a group of 25 archaeologists try to bring a history of 3000 years between 2500 B.C. and A.D. 500, to light with fragile excavation activities.

Pointing out that the name of the ancient city of Perge was Parha during the Hittite sovereignty in Anatolia, Abbasoglu noted that they couldn't find out any works belonging to the Hittite period despite the works belonging to Bronze Age and Roman Empire periods being brought to light at the excavations.

Abbasoglu pointed out that they have found a monumental tomb and two sarcophagi at the excavations focused on the Necropol (graveyard) this year. He added that there were 30 skeletons belonging to human beings in the monumental tomb.

A great deal of glass and ceramic perfume bottles, bronze mirrors, bronze bracelets, coins, a bust of Medusa made from onyx and two golden rings ornamented with the figures of lizards were mong the historical works found in this year's excavations.

The cleaning activites of the frescoes decorating the walls of the graves, will begin on 15 October.

Meanwhile, officials from the Ministry of Culture told the A.A correspondent that the ancient city has provided revenues of 81 billion Turkish Liras this year.

[06] CITIZENS OF TURKEY AND VIETNAM HAVING DIPLOMATIC PASSPORTS TO BE EXEMPTED FROM VISAS FOR THEIR ONE MONTH VISITS

The Foreign Ministry's statement pointed out that the Council of Ministers have approved the Visa Exemption Agreement signed between Turkey and Vietnam on 11 June.

The agreement will go into effect on 1 October.

[07] GREEN PARTY MEETING IN GERMANY - CEM OZDEMIR, A GREEN PARTY DEPUTY: ''I HOPE THAT TURKISH-GERMAN RELATIONS WILL IMPROVE''

Deputies from the Union 90/Green Party, who were elected to the German Federal Parliament in the general elections held on Sunday, met in Bonn the same day.

Cem Ozdemir, a deputy of Turkish origin and Ekin Deligoz another person of Turkish origin, who was elected to the Parliament for the first time, also participated at the meeting.

Requesting both Turkey and Germany to refrain from issuing unpleasant statements about each other, Ozdemir said that a dialogue has to be established between the two countries.

Noting that the relations between Turkey and Germany affect the Turkish people living in Germany who are more than two million, Ozdemir pointed out ''the Green Party can't give any concessions from human rights. We think of making cooperation with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Turkey concerning human rights. We have worked with them for years and we'll continue to do that.''

Cem Ozdemir, who was elected to the German Federal Parliament for the first time in 1994, said that Turkey needs Europe and Germany needs European Turkey, adding ''therefore, the statesmen of the two countries should meet and start a dialogue.''

''The Green Party defends the view that Turkey should be accepted in the European Union (EU) and we say that the Copenhagen criteria should be valid for everyone including Turkey. If Turkey records progress concerning this issue, then we are ready to fulfill our promise,'' he added.

[08] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF THE TRNC: - ''WE CAN'T GIVE DEED OF TRNC TO GREEK CYPRIOTS'' - ''THE AIM OF GREEK CYPRIOTS IS TO CANCEL THE TURKISH-GREEK BALANCE ON CYPRUS''

Council, said on Wednesday, ''the Greek Cypriots try to get the title deed of Cyprus, but we won't permit this''.

Responding to the questions of the A.A correspondent, Denktas stressed, ''the transition to a federation with two regions and two sides isn't possible any more on Cyprus. The real purpose of the Greek Cypriots who aim at making the agreements signed in 1960 invalid, it to damage the Turkish- Greek balance.''

Criticizing the UN Security Council and the European Union (EU) without naming them, Denktas noted, ''those who treat the Greek Cypriots as the legal government of whole island, prevented the solution of the Cyprus question. I have conveyed my opinions to the UN Security Council.''

Denktas pointed out, ''Glafcos Clerides, the Leader of the Greek Cypriot side Administration who refused to discuss the issue of sovereignty during the negotiations in Glion, Switzerland, and requested the guarantee system to be changed, destroyed the federation parameters when he applied to the EU for full membership.''

President Denktas stressed, ''the confederation is a proposal that foresees the unification of two separate communities and their governments at a point. It is the result of good intentions and the facts.''

[09] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

TURKEY AND MEXICO SIGN THREE AGREEMENTS
Signaling Turkey's increasing interest in Latin America, Prime

Minister Mesut Yilmaz completed yesterday a two-day visit to Mexico during which three agreements on bilateral cooperation were signed. Yilmaz met with Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo and delegations from the two countries had bilateral talks aimed at outlining ways of developing economic relations. The two sides also agreed to accelerate their struggle against drug-trafficking. During his stay in Mexico City, Yilmaz also met with the members of the Mexican Businessmen's Association and briefed them on the state and pace of development in the Turkish economy. Yilmaz invited Mexican entrepreneurs to invest in Turkey and to establish a Turco-Mexican Business Council.

DENIZOLGUN VISITING US
Arif Ahmet Denizolgun, the Minister of Transportation and Communications, noted yesterday that their first target was to realize the Istanbul tube tunnel project. Denizolgun went yesterday to the US to attend a Meeting of Ministers for a Summit on Economic Developments in the World about to be held in Washington, D.C. Denizolgun said in a statement prior to his departure from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport that the transport ministers from many countries would participate in the meeting during which especially recent developments in telecommunications would be discussed.

PKK CAMPS IN IRAN
It is reported that there are 16 camps belonging to the PKK terrorist organization in the settlement areas near the Turkish border of Iran, and there are PKK liaison bureaus in five big cities of Iran. /Cumhuriyet/

ITALY REPLIES TO TURKEY'S WARNINGS
The Italian government has replied to Turkey's warnings about a meeting of the so-called Kurdish Parliament-in-exile in Rome yesterday and said, ''there is nothing in our power to prevent it''. Members of the so-called arliament held a press conference together with a group of Italian parliamentarians yesterday. Two Russian deputies, the Chairman of the Armenian Party from Lebanon, the Deputy of the New Democratic Party from Greece, the Deputy of the Social Democrat Party from Romania, a deputy of Palestinian origin from Israel and a politician from southern Cyprus also attended the meeting. Inal Batu, the Ambassador to Italy, sent a letter to Pierro Fascino, the Undersecretary of the Italian Foreign Ministry and denounced the meeting of a terrorist organization at the Italian Parliament and added that the meeting could lead to an enormous crisis between Turkey and Italy. Batu also had telephone conversations with Romano Prodi, the Italian Prime Minister, last Saturday to prevent the meeting from being held at the Italian Parliament. However, these efforts didn't yield any results and the meeting of the so-called Kurdish Parliament was held at the Italian Parliament yesterday. /Cumhuriyet/

STRONG MESSAGE FROM ECEVIT
Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit sent a strong message to Italy about the so-called Kurdish Parliament meeting yesterday. Although Italy knew that Turkey was very sensitive about the Kurdish issue, they let the Kurdish Parliament-in-exile gather in Rome, said Ecevit adding, ''Italy's attitude is indefensible. Italy has broken the agreement between Turkey and Italy on the struggle against terrorism. The Turkish state and government have shown the necessary reaction. However, our relations won't be as close as before.'' Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament, said that he had talked to his Italian counterpart on the phone pointing out that the recent event at the Italian Parliament was ''unsuitable'' and would certainly damage Turco-Italian relations. /Hurriyet/

TURKEY IN THE MISSILE CIRCLE
The Middle East has become a region full of missiles. The range of the Scud- C missiles made in Northern Korea and purchased by Syria covers the Central, Southeastern and Eastern Anatolian regions of Turkey, while the range of the Iranian Sahab-3 missiles covers all of Central and Eastern Anatolia, including the capital city of Ankara. According to The Economist, an international economic magazine, Iran will try out a new missile system at the beginning of next year. /Cumhuriyet/

BAGHDAD AND DAMASCUS WANT WATER DIALOGUE
It was reported that Iraq and Syria want to establish dialogue with Turkey on sharing water resources. The Iraqi newspapers note that the call for dialogue was made because of the increasing dam projects realized by Turkey on the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Meanwhile, Salih Yildirim, the Minister of State Responsible for the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), said that there was nothing about the GAP developments to concern Iraq./Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH-INDIAN CASE
An application for a complaint against Turkey by India to the World Trade Organization (WTO) will be discussed in Geneva between 5-6 October. During the hearing, Turkey will explain her reasons for restrictions against India stemming from the Customs Union Agreement signed between Turkey and the European Union (EU). /Cumhuriyet/

FINANCIAL CLEARANCE DAY
One of the most important aspects of the new tax reform is the 30 September ''financial clearance day'', which encourages people who have unrecorded income in the form of cash, foreign exchange, cheques, bonds and other movable assets to deposit their assets in banks on 30 September for one day, in order to legalize them. Zekeriya Temizel, the Minister of Finance, said yesterday that the financial clearance day was meant to benefit the public, and added that it wasn't an invention for taxing unrecorded income./All papers/

DEMIREL: ''RUSSIAN CRISIS COULD HURT TURKISH TRADE''
The financial turmoil in Russia could unfavourably affect Turkey's foreign trade and hurt its economy, President Suleyman

Demirel declared in Istanbul yesterday. Turkey exports more than 10 billion US dollars in goods a year to Russia. If there is a decline in Turkish exports to Russia, it could worsen Turkey's balance of payments deficit, Demirel warned. Demirel was speaking at the awards ceremony for the highest taxpayers, exporters and foreign currency earners of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO). /All papers/

[10] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

CEM COMPLETES VISIT TO CANADA
Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, completed on Monday a one-day visit to Canada, which was defined as 'productive and positive'. Cem had talks with Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy on ways of boosting bilateral political and economic ties, as well as on persisting international problems such as the situations in Northern Iraq, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Russia. The talks were held in a very friendly and sincere atmosphere.

NSC CONVENES TODAY
The National Security Council (NSC) meets today under the chairmanship of President Suleyman Demirel. At the meeting, domestic and foreign-based problems as well as recent events concerning the country will be discussed. /Cumhuriyet/

KYRGYZ COMMITTEE VISITS EDUCATION MINISTRY
Hikmet Ulugbay, the Minister of Education, met with the Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Boris Silaev and Sovetbek Toktamusev, Minister of Education, Science and Culture. The Kyrgyz representatives congratulated Turkey on the 75th year of the Republic of Turkey.

DEMIREL TO VISIT MACEDONIA
President Suleyman Demirel will pay a visit to Macedonia between 2-3 October aimed at boosting bilateral relations with the young Balkan Republic. Agreements on agricultural, as well as technical and scientific cooperation will be signed, a Foreign Ministry statement said. /All papers/

TURKEY DENOUNCES GREEK 'GENOCIDE' RESOLUTION
Ankara strongly condemned yesterday a recent resolution of the Greek Parliament which has declared 14 September as a day of remembrance for the 'genocide' of the Greek minority by the Turkish state without having any historical basis. ''We condemn and protest this resolution'' a Foreign Ministry statement said. ''With this resolution the Greek Parliament, which in fact has to apologize to the Turkish people for the large-scale destruction and massacres Greece perpetrated in Anatolia, not only sustains the traditional Greek policy of distorting history, but she also displays that the expansionist Greek mentality is still alive'' the statement added. /All papers/

KOSOVO ISSUE TO BE DISCUSSED IN ISTANBUL
The Strategic and Social Research Foundation of the Marmara Group is going to organize a meeting, a ''Kosovo Conference'', on 7 October in Istanbul. Former Foreign Minister Murat Karayalcin will give the opening speech of the meeting during which the deepening crisis in Kosovo will be discussed. Speakers, journalists and representatives from Kosovo and Turkey will attend the meeting. /Sabah/

TURKISH BANK IN KAZAKHSTAN
Demirbank will open an office in Almaty as the second private Turkish bank in Kazakhstan. The present capital of the Demir-Kazakhstan Bank, which is based only on Turkish capital, is 6 million US dollars which is planned to increase to 12.5 million US dollars by the end of the year. /Sabah/

IRANIAN GENERALS TO VISIT ANKARA
Iran will send a high-level military delegation within the next few months to Ankara in order to restore relations with the Turkish Chief of General Staff, damaged because Iran supports the PKK terrorist organization and fundamentalist activities in Turkey. According to diplomatic sources the meeting was organized by the Foreign Ministry during Ismail Cem's visit to Iran in mid-September. /Hurriyet/

'18 MARCH' SUBMARINE IN PLYMOUTH
One of Turkey's most modern navy vessels, the TCG '18 March' submarine, arrived in Plymouth, Britain, on 29 September where she will be used in educational exercises to teach submarine defense tactics to the British Navy. The '18 March' will remain in Plymouth until 2 November. /All papers/

[11] JERUSALEM NIGHT CASE RATIFIED - SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS RATIFIES PENALTY GIVEN AGAINST YILDIZ, FORMER SINCAN MAYOR AND SIRIN, AUTHOR FROM SELAM NEWSPAPER

The Supreme Court of Appeals today disclosed the decision given for the demand of the defendants for appeal. Demirel Tavil, the Chairman of the Penalty Department said it was determined that the defendants were the members of the outlawed illegal Hezbollah organization which acts in several neighboring countries and which has an aim to establish a state based on religion and that they made the propoganda of the organization.

Tavil said the decision against Bekir Yildiz was ratified by a majority of votes on grounds that he aided and abetted an outlawed organization and that he incited people to hatred and enmity by discriminating against class, religion and region.

The Department also confirmed the decision given against Nurettin Sirin, who was sentenced to 17 years six months imprisonment terms on grounds that he was a member of the Hezbollah organization.

The Department also ratified the decision given against Selcuk Oz, Alim Cicekci, Burhan Polat, Mustafa Akbeyaz and Nuri Niyazioglu who were released.

Bekir was taken from the post by the Ministry of the Interior after the controversal ''Jerusalem Night'' which was staged on 31 October 1997. Yildiz lost his competence to be elected due to some clauses of the Constitution.

[12] NEW TURKEY REPORT OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE - REPORT REQUESTS TURKEY TO CONTINUE REFORMS IN THE FIELD OF HUMAN RIGHTS

Barsony visited Ankara and southeastern Diyarbakir Province and held a series of contacts with Turkish officials at the beginning of September.

Barsony who prepared a draft report following his visit to Turkey, asked for new legal arrangements to be prepared on the issue of freedom of speech, freedom of meeting and the rights of the arrested people.

Barsony also advised Turkey to make cooperation with the Venice Commission on the issue of Constitutional reforms.

The Venice Commission investigates whether or not the Articles in the Constitutions of the member countries contradict with the principles of the Council of Europe. Prof. Ergun Ozbudun represents Turkey at this Commission.

The Venice Commission especially investigates the constitutions of the Eastern European countries who newly participated in the Council of Europe and gives the legal advises.

The officials in Turkey feel uneasy diplomatically as their constitution is under investigation by the Venice Commission as Turkey has beeb involved in this organization since 1949 as a founder member.

The members of the Welfare Party (RP), which was closed by the Constitutional Court, requested that Turkey's constitution be investigated by the Venice Commission in January.

Meanwhile, it was also reported that Barsony, who is at the same time the Cyprus Rapporteur of the COEPA, began to prepare a report related to Cyprus and wanted to visit the Turkish and Greek Cypriots in October to this end.

[13] PREMIER YILMAZ RETURNS TO TURKEY - YILMAZ: ''I RETURN TO TURKEY WITH VERY POSITIVE IMPRESSIONS FROM MY VISITS''

Speaking at the Esenboga Airport Yilmaz said he participated in the US at the UN General Assembly meetings and had the opportunity to convey the views of Turkey concerning the problems in the world and principles of Turkish foreign policy when entering the 21st century.

Noting that he met Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, Yilmaz said ''we have discussed what kinds of changes should be made in the structuring of the UN to fulfill its international function.''

Yilmaz said that on the issue of Cyprus, he had the opportunity to express that Turkey supports the proposal of Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for the confederation proposal and that he has conveyed his views related to various international problems.

Yilmaz said ''I met with Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistani Prime Minister, and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, during the General Assembly activities and had the opportunity to discuss bilateral relations as well as mutual problems in the region in which we all live.''

Yilmaz pointed out that he also participated in a series of economy meetings and clarifed how the Turkish economy was affected following the recent economic crisis in the world. Yilmaz said that he told the foreign entrepreneurs that there are investment possibilities in Turkey which will be beneficial in the short-term.''

Recalling that he paid a 2-day visit to Mexico after the US, Yilmaz said ''although there is a diplomatic relation dating back 70 years between Mexico and Turkey, no such official visit was held earlier.'' Yilmaz said that Mexico, both a member of the NAFTA and a bridge between North and South America, is a key country for Turkey to diversify her foreign trade relations.

Yilmaz noted that Turkey and Mexico signed three agreements and that they agreed to conclude bilateral meetings for cooperation to struggle against terrorism, crimes, drug trafficking, the preservation of investments and the prevention of double taxation.

[14] TIKA CELEBRATES SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS FOUNDATION - FM CEM: ''TURKEY IS AN INDISPENSABLE PART OF WESTERN EUROPE, A CANDIDATE COUNTRY FOR EU MEMBERSHIP AND AN ELEMENT OF ASIAN REALITY''

Addressing the meeting held upon the sixth anniversary, Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, said, '' Turkey is of course an indispensable part of Western Europe. Turkey is of course a candidate country for the European Union (EU) membership and also Turkey is an element of the Asian reality.''

Cem said that the TIKA was the result of a true foresight that Turkey realized at the right time.

Pointing out that the TIKA is an organization of the 21st century, Ismail Cem said that the role of Turkey and the status of her contributions in the period where the Eurasian fact is emerged were earlier realized.

''Turkey prepares herself for the 21st century with the new states with whom she has shared the same history, culture, belief and language. Turkey is the only country having the characteristic of sharing the common history with 26 independent states,'' Cem stressed.

Emphasizing that Turkey's characteristic of being an Asian and European country have helped the TIKA in developing itself, Cem said, ''the power of Turkey in Asia stems from her quality of being European. Turkey is entering the 21st century with the consciousness of this special privilege.''

Cem mentioned that the Afghanistan issue also affects Central Asia, the Iranian-Pakistani disputes came onto the agenda and the economic crisis in Russia has brought new political formations in a geography which hasn't yet settled down.

''Within this unsettled geography, Turkey has reached a position enabling herself to give assistance along with the contributions of the TIKA,'' Cem added.

[15] HAKTANIR, FOREIGN MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY: ''WE WANT ITALY TO BAN PKK BECOMING ORGANIZED''

Responding to the questions of journalists, Haktanir said ''we don't want to react to Italy for show only. Italy made a mistake and we expect her to correct this grave mistake.

Haktanir said ''our nation, country is confronted with this attitude of Italy. Can a NATO member country allow the meetings of a separatist terrorist organization which aim at the territorial integrity of another NATO country? We want Italy to disclose that they won't let the PKK become organized in Italy.''

Haktanir said that the Italian government said they couldn't intervene in the decisions of their Parliaments, adding ''we consider the commitments of the NATO member countries. Italy should correct this mistake if the commitments of the NATO and the international promises and Turkish-Italian friendship have a meaning. The issue here is to urge Italy to review the situation.''

Haktanir said that if the Italian government doesn't approve of the decision of the Parliament, then it should do what is required.

Meanwhile, it was reported that tension in Turkish-Italian relations may negatively affect the economic relations. It is expected that Italy won't be included in the tenders in Turkey which reach nine billion US dollars. Italy may not be included in the tenders which will be opened for the purchase of attack helicopters worth 3.5 billion US dollars, tanks for the Land Forces Commandership which cost 4.5 billion US dollars and minesweeper ship tender, armoured vehicles and unmanned air vehicles.

Metin Bostancioglu, the Democratic Left Party (DSP) Group Chairman also condemned this attitude of Italy, adding ''we evaluate this issue as a hostile attitude to Turkey and failure to show respect for the territorial integrity of Turkey.''

Addressing a written statement Bostancioglu said that this meeting of the so-called Kurdish Parliament in Exile will damage relations between the two countries. Bostancioglu said that the Italian Government ignored all its obligations within the context of the struggle against terrorism and within the framework of the NATO and that it didn't stop this initiative.

Bostancioglu also asked the other friendly countries in Europe not to be a tool of the targets of the separatist terrorist PKK organization.

Meanwhile, the Chairmanship of the Marmara Group Strategic and Social Research Foundation sent a note of protest to Massimiliano Bandini, Italy's Ambassador to Turkey as Italy allowed the meeting of the so-called Kurdish Parliament in Exile in Italy with the initiatives of the Italian Parliamentarians.

''As a non-governmental organization, we evaluate this attitude of Italy as unfortune as Italy is a political ally of Turkey in the Council of Europe and military ally in the NATO'' the statement added.

It said ''we condemn this attitude of the Italian Parliament which tried to embrace this separatist organization which targeted the division of Turkey and which is an enemy of its own origin and we also express regret due to the interest you show to these people who commit human crimes''.

Saffet Arikan Beduk, the True Path Party (DYP) Group Chairman also criticized this meeting, saying ''it isn't acceptable that Italy embraces a separatist terrorist organization which aims at splitting up Turkey.'' He said ''this attitude is also dangerous for Italy, because terror is like a mine and it cannot be known where it will explode.''

Meanwhile, the administrators of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) laid a black wreath in front of Italian Embassy in Ankara and protested the meeting in question.

[16] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RECEIVES SILEAV, VICE PRIME MINISTER OF KYRGYZSTAN AND ACCOMPANYING DELEGATION

President Demirel received the same day Boris Sileav, the Vice Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, and the accompanying delegation.

Sovetbek Toktamushev, the Kyrgyz Minister of Education, Science and Culture; Prof. Dr. Karabek Moldovaev, the Rector of the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University; Tolomush Okeyev, the Kyrgyz Ambassador to Turkey; and Ekrem Ceyhun, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Manas University, also attended the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, Demirel said that he will pay an official visit to Kyrgyzstan on 14 November.

Pointing out that they were attaching great importance to the Manas University, Demirel said, ''it isn't an easy thing to establish and develop a university, but a very good start has been realized.''

Noting that Turkey and Kyrgyzstan have very good relations in every field, Demirel said, ''I believe the Manas University will be a very concrete bridge between our two friendly countries and nations.''

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