Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-10-18

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

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

18 OCT 1998

CONTENTS

[01] ISMAIL CEM, THE FOREIGN MINISTER: ''FOREIGN MINISTRY AND SECURITY OFFICIALS FROM TURKEY AND SYRIA PLAN TO COME TOGETHER IN THE COMING DAYS''

[02] PROBLEMS OF TURKISH STRAITS SYSTEM - STATE MINISTER KARA: - ''WE WILL CHANGE STRAITS RULES AND REGULATIONS THIS WEEK''

[03] SEZGIN, THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: ''THE SYRIAN CRISIS IS NOT OVER YET'' - ''THE TURKISH REPUBLIC HAS EXPLAINED HER DECISION, WE ARE RESOLVED AND WE'LL DEFINITELY SOLVE THIS PROBLEM''

[04] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 18 OCTOBER 1998

[05] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 18 OCTOBER, 1998

[06] PRESIDENT DEMIREL LAYS THE FOUNDATION OF SUGAR FACTORY IN AKSARAY PROVINCE

[07] WESTERN THRACIAN TURKS SOLIDARITY ASSOCIATION HOLDS ITS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

[08] TURKEY'S PREPARATION FOR EURO - CENTRAL BANK REMOVES ECU AND REPLACES IT BY EURO IN LIST OF FOREIGN EXCHANGES ON COMMERCE

[09] EGE, THE UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN TRADE: ''MORE RESOURCES HAVE TO BE ALLOCATED FOR INCREASE IN EXPORTS''

[01] ISMAIL CEM, THE FOREIGN MINISTER: ''FOREIGN MINISTRY AND SECURITY OFFICIALS FROM TURKEY AND SYRIA PLAN TO COME TOGETHER IN THE COMING DAYS''

Ismail Cem told A.A correspondent that ''at this meeting our representatives will see whether Turkey's demands on the separatist terror subject are being met, and if they are, to what extent it is sufficient and lasting. The characteristic of our policies and initiatives will be determined according to these evaluations and after the end of these evaluations.''

''Turkey has not issued any statement concerning this issue so far due to her respect to herself and to her counterpart. As the issue was mentioned by the press in Egypt, which knew the issue, it was necessary to issue this statement,'' added Cem.

[02] PROBLEMS OF TURKISH STRAITS SYSTEM - STATE MINISTER KARA: - ''WE WILL CHANGE STRAITS RULES AND REGULATIONS THIS WEEK''

Burhan Kara attended the meeting of the ''International Black Sea Partners'', which is being established to prevent the transportation of dangerous substances through water courses and to overcome the environmental problems of the Black Sea and the Turkish Straits system.

Addressing the meeting held in Istanbul, Burhan Kara said that Turkey have concerns about the Straits, adding, ''the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits are not international watercourses. They are the watercourses allowing international crossings. Nobody can attempt to show these Straits as international watercourses.''

Giving information about the activities concerning the Straits up until now, Kara stated that the the tender period for the construction of an installation for a radar system, which will reduce the traffic risk at the Straits to the minimum level, will be concluded in near future.

Pointing out that the Strait regulation activities were also concluded and opened to the signature of the Council of Ministers, Kara said, ''within the context of the new rules and regulations, which will be named as the 'Turkish Straits Regulation', we have made several arrangements which will reduce the risk of accidents to the minimum level.''

''Even if we allow the transportation of the Caspian oil to the world markets through our Straits, the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits won't give permission to this. They have a specific capacity. Nobody has the right to claim that these Straits can allow the transportation over than their capacity. This is infeasible. We put forward our proposal for an alternative to transport the oil,'' Kara mentioned.

Stressing that the European countries, which take into consideration only the economic dimension of the Straits issue, were trying to accuse Turkey in several platforms, Kara said that ''Turkey is obliged to have her voice heard regarding her activities against environmental pollution.''

[03] SEZGIN, THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: ''THE SYRIAN CRISIS IS NOT OVER YET'' - ''THE TURKISH REPUBLIC HAS EXPLAINED HER DECISION, WE ARE RESOLVED AND WE'LL DEFINITELY SOLVE THIS PROBLEM''

Responding to questions of journalists about the Turkish-Syrian tension, Sezgin stated that ''we wish to solve this problem by diplomacy. If we can't solve this by diplomacy, we have to resort to other means, but I don't think that this will come true.''

When asked about the place Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK, Sezgin said that ''the thing that matters is not the place of Ocalan, but the end of Syrian support to PKK terrorism.''

Noting that Syria indirectly attacks Turkey according to the principles and resolutions of the United Nations (UN), Sezgin pointed out that ''indirect attack is also a crime and this crime should be punished.''

[04] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 18 OCTOBER 1998

The celebrations will continue for two weeks in Kazakhstan.

NEW YORK - After the Federation of Turkish-American Associations (FTAA), the ''United Turkish-American Associations (UTAA)'' was established in New York, it was reported on Sunday.

Yahya Sengul, the Secretary General of the UTAA, said that the establishment of the UTAA stemmed from the requirement for finding solutions to the urgent problems which raised in parallel to the increase in the number of the Turkish people who settled in the US after winning the ''citizenship lottery''.

DIYARBAKIR - The ''Southeast'98 First International Industry and Trade Fair'' will be opened on 24 October in southeastern Diyarbakir province.

President Suleyman Demirel will attend the opening ceremony of the fair.

GENEVA - Hikmet Cetin, the Parliament Speaker left Lausanne, Switzerland on Sunday where he participated in the activities held upon the 75th foundation aniversary of the Turkish Republic.

Cetin will hold a press briefing at Ataturk Airport on his arrival in Istanbul concerining his visit to Switzerland.

[05] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 18 OCTOBER, 1998

Rauf Denktas, the President of the TRNC, hosted a luncheon in the honor of the delegation including the Ambassadors and high-level officials. Speaking to reporters following the luncheon, Denktas said that he briefed the guest delegation about his 20-day ''informative'' visits to the US and European countries, aiming at conveying the rightful case of the Turkish Cypriots.

The Ambassadors and high-ranking officials later left for Ankara. The delegation includes Berhan Ekinci (Chairman of Inspection Committee), Omur Orhun (General Director of International Security Affairs), Gunaltay Sibay (Ambassador to Dublin), Erhan Ogut (Ambassador to Ottowa), Yaman Baskut (Ambassador to Tokyo), Erkan Gezer (General Director of Consulate Affairs), Ates Balkan (Ambassador to Warsaw), M. Nuri Yildirim (Ambassador to Ulan Bator), Salahattin Alpar (Ambassador to Zagreb), Mengu Buyukdavras (Ambassador to Nairobi), Naci Akinci (Ambassador to Rabat), Dogan Akdur (Ambassador to Bishkek).

ISTANBUL - Porto Rican world-famous pop singer Ricky Martin, who gave splendid concerts in Turkey within the framework of the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the founding of the modern Republic of Turkey, left Turkey on Sunday.

Prior to his departure, Martin said that he was very pleased over the interest shown for him and that he will pay a further visit to Turkey in near future.

ISTANBUL - Lennart Meri, the Estonian President, who concluded his visit to Turkey as the official guest of President Suleyman Demirel, returned to his country on Sunday.

Addressing a statement at Ataturk Airport before his departure, Meri stated that his contacts in Turkey were very beneficial, adding that he is pleased to see that the relations between Turkey and Estonia improve day by day.

[06] PRESIDENT DEMIREL LAYS THE FOUNDATION OF SUGAR FACTORY IN AKSARAY PROVINCE

Addressing the foundation ceremony, President Demirel said that ''the aim of all of these efforts is to create a rich, developed, big and strong Turkey.''

''Sugar factories have brought prosperity to the regions where they are constructed,'' said Demirel, recalling that sometimes Turkey imports sugar from other countries.

Stressing that Turkey has to meet her sugar need first, President Demirel said that later she has to look for new markets to export this sugar.

Noting that France has extended big support to realization of this installation, President Demirel said that ''I would like to thank to French President Jacques Chirac. This installation is a good example of Turkish- French cooperation and we think that the Turkish-French friendship carries importance for the world peace and for European peace. Morover, this installation will contribute to our friendship between Turkey and France.''

[07] WESTERN THRACIAN TURKS SOLIDARITY ASSOCIATION HOLDS ITS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The 45th Regular General Assembly of the Solidarity Association of the Western Thracian Turks was held at the Atakoy Olympic House in Istanbul.

Addressing the congress, Gurel said, ''the Western Thracian Turks have made efforts to have their identity spread in the region and will continue to do so despite the restriction of their rights of education, beliefs and development.''

Pointing out that Greece undertook every malicious action against the Turks living in Western Thrace, Gurel stressed that Greece will suffer losses as long as she continues such attitudes.

Noting that the government supports the federation established by the Bosnia Sanjak Culture Association, the Associaton for Supporting Immigrants and Solidarity Association of the Western Thracian Turks, Gurel said, ''because, the hearts of the Turkish people living in the modern Republic of Turkey can't beat differently from the hearts of our relatives in the Balkans and Rumelia.''

Ahad Andican, the Minister of State Responsible for the Turkish Republics, said that the Western Thrace issue has been continuing almost since the Lausanne Treaty.

''Western Thrace is the situation where a European country, which is claimed to be the basic element of the European culture, freely pursues the policies for the assimilation and eradication of different ethnic groups within itself,'' Andican stated.

Noting that Western Thrace had struggled for years and this struggle should be monitored by not only Turkey, but also every organization in Europe, Andican stressed that Turkey doesn't consider the issue as the ''issue of foreign countries or an issue which concerns the political parties and the governments'', and all of the governments should back the issue.

Stating that the mayors, who will be elected in the elections that will be held in Western Thrace in the near future, have to reflect the problems of Western Thrace to Europe in detail and they should find solutions, Andican said that the federation, which was established by the Western Thracian Turks, should be changed into a confederation as soon as possible.

Yildirim Aktuna, the Minister of State, said that he had seen the problems of the Western Thracian Turks during his visits to the region since 1995 and there are several problems which should be solved urgently.

Pointing out that Turkey has to strengthen the Western Thracian economy, Aktuna said, ''Turkey has to be more realistic and more radical and she has to pursue policies hindering Greece.''

Nahit Mentese, the senior aide of Tansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP), said that the Solidarity Association of the Western Thracian Turks was carrying out a sacred mission and the Western Thracian Turks are supported by the government and the nation.

Touching on the problems between Turkey and Greece, Mentese said that the Turkish people should unite against external problems.

Hayri Kozakcioglu, the senior aide of the DYP leader Tansu Ciller, said that the government spould develop a national policy for the solution of such problems.

''The economic problems of Western Thrace should be solved. We will overcome the problems.

[08] TURKEY'S PREPARATION FOR EURO - CENTRAL BANK REMOVES ECU AND REPLACES IT BY EURO IN LIST OF FOREIGN EXCHANGES ON COMMERCE

This decision of the Central Bank will be valid by 1 January 1999.

The Decision No. 32 On the Protection of the Value of the Turkish Lira and the Central Bank's communication regarding the Prime Ministry's Undersecretariat of the Treasury's concerned announcement were published in the Official Gazette.

In accordance with the communication, which will enter into effect on 1 January 1999, the ECU was removed while the EURO was added into the Central Bank's list of foreign exchanges on commerce, which was included in Article 1 of the I-M Circular's part titled ''Convertable and Non-Convertable Foreign Exchanges'' to be valid by 1 January 1999.

By 1 January 1999, one ECU will be equal to one EURO.

[09] EGE, THE UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN TRADE: ''MORE RESOURCES HAVE TO BE ALLOCATED FOR INCREASE IN EXPORTS''

Ege, who is currently in Egypt and holding contacts there, responded to questions of journalists in Cairo.

Noting that businessmen have important roles in increasing exports, Ege said that ''more sources have to be allocated and such kind of possibilities will be provided in 1999.''

Mentioning about the figures foreseen for exports in 1999, Yavuz Ege said that ''the targets can be revised within the year and they can be revised due to positive and negative developments which can't be controlled by us. An exportation of 30 billion dollars in 1999 can be possible.''

Responding to a question about foreign exchange rates, Ege said that the Turkish lira changes continiously in front of foreign currencies, adding that ''more than half of our trade is with the European Union (EU) countries. If the EU currency gets more value compared to other currencies, this will have a positive influence on us. The Euro will be valid by the beginning of the coming year. This will also have a positive influence on us.''

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