Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-03-19

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

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

AA Daily

19 March 1999 Friday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] TAN, MINISTER OF TOURISM: - ''MILLIONS OF TOURISTS WHO VISIT TURKEY AND HAVE ENJOYABLE TIME, RETURN SAFELY TO THEIR COUNTRIES WITHOUT FACING ANY TROUBLES IN TURKEY'' - ''TURKEY IS A COUNTRY WHICH CAN DISTINGUISH TERRORISM FROM TOURISM''

[03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RECEIVES TURKISH-AMERICAN COUNCIL DELEGATION

[04] HUNT, BRITISH CHIEF COUNSELLOR IN IZMIR: - ''TERRORISM WILL NOT AFFECT THE TOURISTS COMING FROM BRITAIN TO TURKEY BECAUSE THE BRITS HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH TERRORISM FOR 30 YEARS''

[05] KUTAY, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF TURKISH DELTAPAINE: - ''WE WILL MAKE 5 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN SOUTHEASTERN SANLIURFA PROVINCE''

[06] SAVAS KUCE, TURKEY'S TOURISM COUNSELLOR IN LONDON, ANNOUNCES BRITISH MEDIA THAT ALL SECURITY MEASURES TAKEN IN TURKEY FOR SAFETY OF TOURISTS PLANNING TO VISIT TURKEY

[07] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM LEAVES FOR ROMANIA - ''THE AIM OF THIS MEETING IS TO URGE YUGOSLAVIAN SIDE TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT''

[08] TURKISH COMPANY TO SET UP A FACTORY IN JORDAN

[09] ELEVEN PERCENT OF IRRIGATION PROJECT COMPLETED IN SOUTHEAST TURKEY

[10] THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR ISSUES A CIRCULAR TO BROADEN THE SECURITY MEASURES

[11] THE PRE-STUDIES OF THE BAKU-CEYHAN PROJECT CARRIED OUT IN MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES

[12] TUSIAD: ''TURKEY MUST REQUEST ITS RIGHT SHARE FROM MEDA 2 WITHOUT LOSING TIME''

[13] TURKEY AND LITHUANIA SIGN A COOPERATION AGREEMENT ON MILITARY TRAINING

[14] EL AL ISRAEL AIRLINES CANCEL TWO FLIGHTS TO ISTANBUL AS A SECURITY MEASURE

[15] TURKEY PLEASED ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS FOR AFGHANISTAN

[16] ADAMKUS, THE LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT ADDRESSES A CONFERENCE IN ANKARA UNIVERSITY

[17] SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING - FM CEM PROPOSES ESTABLISHMENT OF A TASK FORCE IN KOSOVO TO COORDINATE HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS

[18] FM CEM RETURNS FROM ROMANIA - FOREIGN MINISTERS OF SEEC DECIDE TO SET UP A TASK FORCE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION POSSIBILITY OF WAR IN KOSOVO

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

TOFAS TO RECESS PRODUCTION AGAIN
The TOFAS workers who had to recess for fifteen days on March 8, has to recess production once more on March 22, 1999 until April 5, 1999 due to the lack of demand.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

DECREASE IN CENSURE MOTION
The Parliament accepted to include the censure motion in the agenda of the parliament with 240 to 210 votes. The number of deputies from the Virtue Party (FP) and the ''disgruntled'' deputies decreased by 14.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

JUSTICE MINISTRY FOCUSED ON ONLY OCALAN
The Justice Ministry who has given priority to Ocalan in the last two months, have suspended cases of Alaattin Cakici, Kursat Yilmaz, Gulay Atig, Aysegul Nadir, and Selim Edes. No developments have been recorded recently on these cases. The Justice Minister Selcuk Oztek who has been filling the post for three months did not speed up any projects regarding problems of law, judgement and prisons. ''We have never been so pacifized during the administration of any minister before,'' some high level bureucrats from the Justice Ministry complained.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Nazim Nacar, Dursun Soydas, Fazli Gurbuz, Dursun Ay and an unidentified person who were injured in the blast, were taken to hospital for medical treatment.

TURKEY COMPLAINS ABOUT ATHENS
Turkey submitted several documents proving connections between Greece and the terrorist organization PKK, to Javier Solana, the Secretary General of the NATO who paid a one-day official visit to Turkey. Solana met with President Suleyman Demirel, Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of Parliament, Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, and Hikmet Sami Turk, the National Defense Minister. Turkey wanted Solana to warn Greece by stressing, ''we will not discuss bilateral matters unless Greece gives up supporting terrorist organization.''

TURKISH ENVOY TO ALBANIA
A Turkish diplomat was charged as the new special envoy of Daniel Tarchys, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (COE) for Albania. Reyhan Akant will start her new mission on April 6, 1999 in Albanian capital Tirana. Akant will closely follow for a year whether or not Albania, which became a full member of the Council of Europe (COE) in 1995, complies with the conventions and the norms of this Council, which carries out efforts to enhance democracy and human rights.

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

IMF: IF THERE IS NO STABILITY, THERE WILL BE NO MONETARY AID
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its report about ''An Overview on the Global Economy and International Monetary Markets'' that the political instability in Turkey can hamper the financial aid.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

A TOTAL OF 12 TURKISH PILGRIMS DIE
Officials at the Directorate of Religious Affairs said that twelve of nearly 55 thousand Turkish hajj pilgrims, who arrived in Medina and Mecca, died due to several reasons. Seven of pilgrims including five women lost their lives in Medina and five of them died in Mecca. Officials also added that most of the Turkish hajj pilgrims died due to cardiac insufficiency stemmed from high temperature and tiredness.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

ALMOST 500 GAS CANNISTERS EXPLODE IN EASTERN AGRI
The blast of nearly 500 gas cannisters after an explosion and fire at a gas cannister depot in eastern Agri province caused panic among the residents. Police is investigating the reason for the explosion in which there were no casualties.

[02] TAN, MINISTER OF TOURISM: - ''MILLIONS OF TOURISTS WHO VISIT TURKEY AND HAVE ENJOYABLE TIME, RETURN SAFELY TO THEIR COUNTRIES WITHOUT FACING ANY TROUBLES IN TURKEY'' - ''TURKEY IS A COUNTRY WHICH CAN DISTINGUISH TERRORISM FROM TOURISM''

Addressing a speech in a dinner held by the Skal Association, an association of the tourism institutions, Tan said, ''I want to recall that tourism was increasing in the years when the terrorism was present in Turkey. Millions of tourists who visit Turkey and has enjoyable time, safely return to their countries without facing any troubles.''

Stating that their first aim is continuing their efforts of protecting the historical, cultural, and natural wealth of Turkey in the threshold of the 21st century, Tan said that they want to share this with the following generations.

Tan drew the attention to the rapid development in the Turkish tourism.

Antonio Espinosa, the Chairman of the World Skal, said that tourism meant peace and peace meant friendship, adding that the attacks towards democracy is a crime.

Espinosa noted that he, the representatives of 80 countries, is in Turkey to show that he is against terrorism and in solidarity with the tourism authorities in Turkey.

Espinosa stressed that none of the reasons of the terrorists can be accepted.

[03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RECEIVES TURKISH-AMERICAN COUNCIL DELEGATION

Addressing the meeting, Nancy Kaseaum Baker noted she believes that her visit to Turkey will contribute relations between the U.S. and Turkey to be further improved.

Recalling that she came together with Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, besides the representatives of Turkish business circle,

Baker described her contacts in Turkey which focused on the NATO's current role and regional agreements regarding the NATO, as very positive and productive.

President Demirel remarked that the Turkish-American Council has a significant and useful role in the relations between two countries that depend on reciprocal respect.

Demirel underlined, ''I met with Javier Solana, the Secretary General of the NATO, today. Turkey has been a member state to the Alliance for 47 years. Turkey has proved that she is a powerful member to the NATO that provides peace in Europe, the Middle East and in the rest of the world. The last two years were the stage for interesting developments. I remind you the Paris Agreement envisaging Russia to undertake protection of Europe besides the NATO. This document signed by Russian President Boris Yeltsin, accepts integrity of Europe and its democratic existence. The situation in the Middle East, the Caucacus and Europe in the wake of the USSR's collapse in 1991, required contribution of all countries to peace. Turkey has the second biggest military power in NATO after the U.S. We are proud of our military. Our military is an army very well trained, disciplined, and equipped. On the other hand, our army is a shool for the armies of other countries.''

When asked about his impressions on the Central Asia, President Demirel said, ''Of course there are several problems, but Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan have been improving rapidly since they became independent just eight years ago. Meanwhile, number of Turkish businessmen making investments in the Turkish Republics is increasing.

President Demirel stressed that Turkey will be the ''energy terminal'' of these countries having rich natural sources. He thanked the U.S. for her support to the project envisaging transportation of Turkmen natural gas to Europe via Turkey.

Referring to the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline project, President Demirel remarked, ''Works continue. I think the construction of the pipeline will begin before the end of this year.''

[04] HUNT, BRITISH CHIEF COUNSELLOR IN IZMIR: - ''TERRORISM WILL NOT AFFECT THE TOURISTS COMING FROM BRITAIN TO TURKEY BECAUSE THE BRITS HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH TERRORISM FOR 30 YEARS''

Addressing a speech in a reception he gave after the British government declared Turkey as one of the most important economic markets in the world, Hunt said that 9,000 British tourists came to Turkey in 1998 and that this number will increase more and more this year, adding that terrorist attacks will not affect the Brits.

Pointing out that terrorism is not only the problem of Turkey, Hunt emphasized that this is the problem of many countries in the world.

Stating that Britain is used to terrorism, Hunt noted that the Brits have been living together with terrorism for 30 years due to the Northern Ireland dispute.

Noting that they are preparing a statement for the British tourists who will come from Britain to Turkey, Hunt said that the statement is about the attacks of the terrorist organization PKK in Turkey and that the statement noted that the PKK will not give damages to the tourists, adding that there is nothing to fear about.

Stressing that terrorism is overcome but that it takes too much to do this, Hunt added that Turkey will be successful in her struggle against terrorism.

Pointing out that there are representatives of 250 British companies in Turkey and that Britain follows the U.S. in the foreign investments in Turkey, Hunt noted that the investments will increase in the following years.

Drawing the attention that Britain is the sixth in the list of the foreign investments in Turkey, Hunt said that their aim is reaching to the second place.

[05] KUTAY, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF TURKISH DELTAPAINE: - ''WE WILL MAKE 5 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN SOUTHEASTERN SANLIURFA PROVINCE''

Kutay noted that they prepare for setting up a factory in Sanliurfa to supply high-quality cotton seeds for the regional producers.

Noting that the projects for the investments to be made in Sanliurfa Organized Industry Zone are underway, Kutay stated that the first U.S. company in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) will be Deltapain.

Stating that they will start the investment which is foreseen to be carried out using five million U.S. dollars in 2000 and that it will be completed within a short time as six or seven months, Kutay said, ''textile sector carries importance for the Turkish economy. The raw material of the sector is cotton, as it is known. A record increase is expected in the cotton production in GAP. Our aim is making this expectation come true.''

Stressing that improving the quality of the Turkish textile products are as important as increasing the cotton production, Kutay drew the attention that the quality of the textile sector and ready-made clothes starts with the seed.

Pointing out that their company aim at supporting the efforts of the farmers in increasing the cotton production with qualified seeds and in improving the quality of the products, Kutay added that they sent the technical agricultural bulletin named ''Pamuk'' (Cotton) which includes information about the cotton production, to ten thousand farmers in the region.

[06] SAVAS KUCE, TURKEY'S TOURISM COUNSELLOR IN LONDON, ANNOUNCES BRITISH MEDIA THAT ALL SECURITY MEASURES TAKEN IN TURKEY FOR SAFETY OF TOURISTS PLANNING TO VISIT TURKEY

Kuce said the terrorist organization started a campaign to hamper Turkish tourism after the capture of chief terrorist Ocalan. The terrorist organization tried this before but was not successful, he said. The British Foreign Ministry, in the statement it released for its citizens who plan to visit Turkey, did not warn them against any unsafe situation.

The Counsellor reminded that last year a total of 9,5 million tourists, including one million of British citizens, visited Turkey and none of them were influenced by terrorism. He said tourism is the biggest force that bring nations together and encourage people to show tolerance and understanding to each other. The international public opinion should not take these campaigns into consideration, he pointed out.

Kuce also came together with Turkish tour operators on Wednesday and listened to their views on the matter. The both sides agreed that both the Counsellor and the tour operators should contact the British media as well as the British Foreign Ministry to explain them that there was no situation to effect tourists in Turkey.

No cancellations have been reported so far on the lists of the big companies which organize tours from the United Kingdom to Turkey.

[07] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM LEAVES FOR ROMANIA - ''THE AIM OF THIS MEETING IS TO URGE YUGOSLAVIAN SIDE TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT''

Addressing a statement at Esenboga Airport before leaving for Romania, Cem stated that ''we, as the Balkan countries think that the eruption of a war in Kosovo will create serious results not only for Yugoslavia, but for the whole region.''

Cem said that Turkey does its best in order to prevent this, adding there is another dimension of the issue for Turkey, as Kosovo is a part of the Turkish history.

''You do your best in some issues, but you can't get a result, this is what has exactly happened in Kosovo. Kosovo is the pain in our heart. I hope this meeting will contribute to urging Yugoslavian side to sign the agreement,'' said Cem.

Besides Turkey and Romania, foreign ministers of Bulgaria, Macedonia and Greece participate in the meeting.

During the meeting in Bucharest, the support of regional countries to the Kosovo peace negotiations that are going on between the concerned sides in Paris will be announced.

Ismail Cem is expected to return to Turkey the same evening.

[08] TURKISH COMPANY TO SET UP A FACTORY IN JORDAN

The company said in its statement that the tender announced by Jordanian Magnesia Company which is worth of 80 million U.S. dollars covers the engineering, assurance of the equipment-goods and the construction.

The construction and assembly of the project which will be completed in 22 months will be realized by Atilla Dogan company and the engineering and design services will be realized by Agra Monenco, while the equipment and goods will be assured jointly.

The Jordan magnesa company will produce magnesium oxide, which is a high- quality insulator used in industry, by using sea water.

[09] ELEVEN PERCENT OF IRRIGATION PROJECT COMPLETED IN SOUTHEAST TURKEY

A total of 1.7 million hectars of agricultural land will start to be irrigated by this project. More than 183 thousand hectars of land was earlier began to be watered as a part of the GAP.

Mardin-Ceylanpinar and Sanliurfa-Harran valleys will get the biggest share of the irrigation after the construction is completed.

A significant increase in agricultural production has been observed after the first irrigation started in 1995 in the GAP region. The cotton production in Harran Valley has reached to 800 thousand tones which is 25 percent of Turkey's total cotton production. The cotton production is expected to rise to 1.2 million tons once the irrigation project is completed.

The regional agricultural production value was 65.4 million U.S. dollars when the irrigation first started in 1995 in the south east, and this figure reached to 85.1 million dollars in 1997. The agricultural production value per person in Harran Valley's sample area is also reported as four thousand and 350 U.S. dollars.

[10] THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR ISSUES A CIRCULAR TO BROADEN THE SECURITY MEASURES

The circular which is signed by Cahit Bayar, the Minister of Interior, and which is sent to 80 governorships, recalled that the Law Concerning the Protection of Some Institutions and Organizations foresees the protection of the public and private workplaces which can cause negative results in the social life of Turkey, in case they are hindered from national economy, security and work.

The circular emphasized that the law envisages the establishment of some private security branches within some institutions and organizations, as well as the measures taken by the security forces of Turkish Republic.

The circular said, ''the efforts to adopt a new law to overcome some problems which occur in the implementation of this law are carried out by our Ministry. I request that sufficient policemen will be charged in the public and private organizations and institutions, in some crowded areas including gross markets, hospitals, shopping malls, hotels, cinemas, closed and open parking lots. I also request that the instructions should be carried out within the control of the governors and that our Ministry should be informed about the results.''

[11] THE PRE-STUDIES OF THE BAKU-CEYHAN PROJECT CARRIED OUT IN MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES

The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources said in its statement that the AIOC delegation, the officials from the Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Finance, and the Undersecretariat of Treasury participated in the meetings.

The statement noted that the studies on the documents which are submitted as pre-studies by the AIOC were examined in the meetings.

The statement pointed out that the delegations exchanged views about the introduction of the system, the characteristics of the project, the most important activities in the project, the payment schedule and some other principal issues.

Noting that the documents which will include the details that will be prepared by AIOC and SOCAR, the Azerbaijani state oil company, the statement also said that the parties will come to an agreement about the final form of the documents in April.

[12] TUSIAD: ''TURKEY MUST REQUEST ITS RIGHT SHARE FROM MEDA 2 WITHOUT LOSING TIME''

In the announcement, it was said that the financial cooperation between Turkey and the European Union (EU) came in two packages. One of them is the funds vetoed by Greece within the EU. The other one is the MEDA funds which are within the framework of the Mediterranean cooperation. The MEDA works through the EU Commission's donations and the European Investment Bank credits. The MEDA 1 ends this year.

The report said a total of 4 billion Euro donations and 2,3 billion Euro credits given by the European Investment Bank have been shared among the Mediterranean countries by considering their populations and their gross national products (GNP). The report also said Turkey got a very ''unbalanced'' share from MEDA 1.

''Turkey's share remained only at nine percent while it is supposed to be around 33 percent according to its population and 30 percent according to its gross national product. Other countries received their right share. Turkey was given only 370 million Euro from MEDA since it was already suggested to give Turkey 370 million Euro from the Customs Union funds. However, the Customs Union is a different integration procedure. Greece is already vetoing the Customs Union funds. If the European Parliament brings additional conditions to Turkey's use of MEDA funds, this will have a negative effect on Turkey. As a result Turkey could not use an important part of this fund,'' it said in the statement.

TUSIAD also pointed out that the same unbalanced situation might continue during MEDA 2 programme and added the amount of European Union Commission's donation amount has not yet been determined. The European Investment Bank is expected to increase its credits from 2,3 billion to 3 billion Euro for MEDA 2.
TUSIAD strongly advised that, independent from the CU funds that are vetoed by Greece, Turkey must demand its right share from MEDA 2 budget. When Turkey's population and its gross national product is considered this number reaches to 1,2 billion Euro donations and 900 million Euro credits.

[13] TURKEY AND LITHUANIA SIGN A COOPERATION AGREEMENT ON MILITARY TRAINING

General Hilmi Ozkok, the Deputy Chief of General Staff and Povilas Malakauskas, the Lithuanian Deputy Defense Minister signed the agreement.

Addressing the signing ceremony, General Ozkok said that the agreement will further strengthen the bilateral relations in the field of military training.

General Ozkek stressed that this agreement which will constitute the legal base of the cooperation between the two countries in the field of military training will be followed by other agreements and protocols.

Malakauskas, the Lithuanian Deputy Defense Minister said in his part that the events in the north can also effect the southern countries and all problems can be solved at the same time, adding they attribute great importance to cooperation with Turkey in the field of military training.

Malakauskas also visited Hikmet Sami Turk, the Defense Minister before the signing ceremony.

Turk said after the meeting that there are friendly relations between the two countries, adding the military cooperation between Turkey and Lithuania work in benefit of the two countries and there is a consensus of opinion to make a cooperation in the field of defense industry.

Recalling that Baltic countries and Lithuania wish to join NATO as full members, Turk pointed out that Turkey evaluates these initiatives within the framework of the ''Open Door Policy'' of NATO's enlargement process. ''Turkey also supports Lithuania's membership to the NATO,'' he added.

[14] EL AL ISRAEL AIRLINES CANCEL TWO FLIGHTS TO ISTANBUL AS A SECURITY MEASURE

Nahman Clainman, the General Director of the El Al Airlines told A.A correspondent on the phone that ''the cancel of the flights is only valid for today. We've decided to take measures against possible attacks that can come out due to Nevruz celebrations.''

Clainman stated that the flights will be normalized after Sunday. Responding to a question asking whether or not they were subjected to any terrorist threat, he said ''I can't give any information about it, I can't talk on behalf of security officials.''

Meanwhile Daniel Saada, the Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesman said that El Al Airlines took this decision without consulting with them. Saada pointed out that the Israeli government did not warn those who would visit Turkey.

[15] TURKEY PLEASED ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS FOR AFGHANISTAN

Foreign Ministry said that ''Turkey has always defended the view that a solution can't be found for the Afghan problem by war and stresses that the installation of a permanent peace and stability can be possible only by the establishment of a broad-based government upon which all Afghan groups reach a consensus.''

The Northern Afghan Alliance and representatives of Taliban forces came together between 11-14 March in Ashkabat under the auspices of the UN Special Mission for Aghanistan and they discussed issues of declaration of ceasefire, establishment of a broad-based government, exchange of prisoners and holding of elections.

Foreign Ministry said that ''Turkey hopes this meeting held in Ashkabat by the contributions of Turkmen officials and the efforts of the UN Special Commission for Afghanistan will constitute a start for installation of permanent peace in Afghanistan.''

[16] ADAMKUS, THE LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT ADDRESSES A CONFERENCE IN ANKARA UNIVERSITY

Adamkus, woh came to Turkey for a three-day official visit upon the invitation of President Suleyman Demirel, stated that Lithuania which gained her independence in 1991, aims at being members of institutions like NATO and the European Union (EU).

Noting that Lithuania attributes great importance to being a part of a free and democratic international system, Adamkus pointed out that his country's economy was governed from one centre during the Soviet administration and they try to overcome the difficulties of the free market economy after they gained their independence.

Stressing that his country aims at being a part of western institutions like other Baltic countries like Latvia and Estonia and they expect support from Western countries including Turkey concerning this issue.

Emphasizing that the isolation of several countries from NATO can cause new tensions in the region, Adamkus expressed his belief that the EU will accept both Turkey and Lithuania as members in the future.

Pointing out to the importance of the implementation of exchange programme among Turkish and Lithuanian university students, Adamkus said that they will be pleased about seeing Turkish students in Lithuania.

[17] SOUTHEAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING - FM CEM PROPOSES ESTABLISHMENT OF A TASK FORCE IN KOSOVO TO COORDINATE HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS

It was mentioned that Foreign Minister Ismail Cem made the proposal to establish a Task Force.

In their statement, the Foreign Ministers of SEEC countries expressed their deep concern over the ongoing conflict in Kosovo that carries the risk of spill over effects, thus endangering peace and stability in the region, considering the deteriorating humanitarian situation and the consequences that can be caused by the new waves of refugees into the neighboring countries.

''At this critical moment the Ministers underlined the utmost importance of restraint on both sides and called for immediate cessation of hostilities. The latest build-up of troops in Kosovo by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) has added to the gravity of the situation. Existing agreements in this regard should be fully respected,'' the statement said.

Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the immediate peaceful settlement of the Kosovo crisis on the basis of substantial autonomy for Kosovo, in full respect for the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the FRY. They appealed to the parties concerned to ensure the fullest possible protection of the rights of all inhabitants, citizens, national minorites and the ethnic communities, in accordance with the relevant international norms and principles.

''Emphasizing that the Paris talks may represent a last opportunity for a political settlement of the crisis, the Ministers welcomed the signing of the Interim Agreement for Peace and Self-Government in Kosovo by the delegation of the Kosovan Albanians. The Ministers urged the FRY to sign, as well, the Agreement at the earliest stage. In this respect, the Ministers expressed support for an international Force that will assist the implementation of the Agreement,'' the statement said.

The Ministers stressed that the signing of the Rambouillet Agreement will pave the way for incorporating the FRY in European and international institutions. The Ministers consider that this solution will free the neighboring countries from the serious negative repercussions for the current instability in the region.

[18] FM CEM RETURNS FROM ROMANIA - FOREIGN MINISTERS OF SEEC DECIDE TO SET UP A TASK FORCE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION POSSIBILITY OF WAR IN KOSOVO

Speaking to reporters at the Esenboga Airport in Ankara after his arrival from Bucharest Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of SEEC countries, said that the aim of their meeting was to make a last call for peace.

Cem said that the Foreign Ministers called the Yugoslavian side to accept the document agreed on in Paris.

Noting that they, as the Turkish side, made a very important proposal at the meeting, Cem said they decided to establish a Task Force within the framework of the Balkan cooperation and within the possibility of a more negative continuation of the situation in Kosovo.

Pointing out that the force in question will put forward an action against the possible difficulties in the Balkans on the occasion of a war, Cem said that the Embassies of member countries in Romania gave the start for the initiatives to this end.

''We hope that there won't be any necessity to bring further these initiatives and the lives of the Kosovan Albanians will be secured. However, a quite hopeful future is not seen for Kosovo,'' Cem said.

Stating that the first initiative started in the Term President Romania, Cem said they took into consideration especially the possibility of the difficult situation that Albania and Macedonia may face.

When recalled that western countries started to evacuate their Embassies in Belgrade, Cem said that the Turkish Ambassador and Undersecretary are busy.

A.A

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