Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-06-28

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

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

AA Daily

28 June 1999 Monday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] BRISASPOR GETTING READY FOR INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

[03] BUDGET TALKS - BUDGETS OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS MINISTRY AND HEALTH MINISTRY ACCEPTED

[04] YALOVA, STATE MINISTER: ''PRIVATIZATION IS THE DEMOCRATIZATION OF THE STATE''

[05] NATIONAL EDUCATION MINISTER BOSTANCIOGLU RETURNS FROM HUNGARY - BOSTANCIOGLU: ''AT THE MEETING, IT WAS DECIDED TO ENCOURAGE GOVERNMENTS, BUSINESS SECTOR, SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS TO CONTRIBUTE MORE TO CONTINIOUS EDUCATION''

[06] ''HUMAN RIGHTS SEMINAR'' TO LAWYERS

[07] KOSOVO SYMPOSIUM - CHAIRMAN OF THRACIAN TURKS FEDERATION, MUSTAFAOGLU: ''TURKS WHO LIVE IN THE BALKANS EXPECT TURKEY'S ATTENTION''

[08] TURKISH SOLDIERS TO GO TO KOSOVO TO MAINTAIN PEACE

[09] EXPORTS OF GAP REGION TO 12 COUNTRIES INCREASE

[10] SYRIAN AUTHORITIES APPROVE TRANSFER OF ''EZO GELIN'S'' GRAVE

[11] PREMIER ECEVIT: ''SOME CIRCLES WANTED TO PROVOKE THE PUBLIC OPINION AGAINST THE TURKISH ARMED FORCES. BUT, OUR NATION WAS NOT DECEIVED BY THIS PROVOCATION''

[12] TURKEY BECOMES TERM PRESIDENT TO INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY

[13] IMF'S CONDITIONS FOR NEW LOAN - TURKEY HAS TO ADOPT STRUCTURAL REFORMS TO MAKE USE OF CCL

[14] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM LEAVES FOR U.S. - CEM: ''WE WANT TO BE INFLUENTIAL IN EVERY KIND OF EFFORTS TO START IN KOSOVO''

[15] ABDURRAHMAN, MEMBER OF KDP POLITBUREAU, IN ANKARA

[16] AKAYEV, PRESIDENT OF KYRGYZSTAN, DUE IN TURKEY

[17] NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY DELEGATION VISITS PARLIAMENT - INAN, CHAIRMAN OF PARLIAMENTARY FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMISSION: - ''THE MAIN TARGET IN THE BALKANS IS RELIGION RATHER THAN ETHNIC CLEANSING''

[18] CUBAN DELEGATION TO VISIT TOBB

[19] NORWEGIAN MOTHER HAUGE WINS HER LEGAL STRUGGLE - METTE SOLLIHAGEN HAUGE REGAINS HER DAUGHTER - LAWYER BULAT: ''THIS RESULT IS THE HONOUR OF THE TURKISH JUDGEMENT''

[20] TRNC TO PARTICIPATE IN SEVENTH CONGRESS OF TURKISH STATES' AND COMMUNITIES' FRIENDSHIP, BROTHERHOOD, AND COOPERATION

[21] OKUYAN, MINISTER OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY, TO VISIT TRNC

[22] GIANT TARGET IN PRIVATIZATION - YALOVA, MINISTER OF STATE: ''I WILL MAKE 50 BILLION DOLLARS PRIVATIZATION IN FIVE YEARS''

[23] TURKISH-CUBAN JEC MEETING - IRTEMCELIK, MINISTER OF STATE: - ''THE BILATERAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS DO NOT HAVE A HEALTHY STRUCTURE AND THE TRADE VOLUME IS LOW. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY THINGS TO DO''

[24] FOREIGN MINISTRY CONDEMNS VIOLENCE ATTACKS FORWARDED TO MORAL VALUES BELONGING TO TURKISH MINORITY IN WESTERN THRACE

[25] TURKEY REACTS TO TWO DRAFT RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED TO THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL CONCERNING CYPRUS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

HISTORICAL DECISION DAY AT IMRALI TOMORROW
The historical decision will be taken on Tuesday on Imrali Island. Turgut Okyay, the Chief Prosecutor of State Security Court trying Ocalan has been examining the file since last Thursday. Turgut Okyay, civilian members Huseyin Eken and Mehmet Maras will attend Tuesday's trial. Okyay is expected to close the case after reading out the court decision. Ocalan's appeal might be prolonged to September.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

AUTOMATIC TRANSITION FROM BRIDGES OF ISTANBUL ON JUNE 30
The automatic transition from the bridges of Istanbul will start on June 30, 1999. Since there is a lot of traffic in the Bogazici and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges of Istanbul, the Directorate General of Highways decided to launch ''automatic transition system'' on the bridges of Istanbul and some of the highways.

EXPORTS OF AUTOMATIVE SECTOR INCREASED BY 61 PERCENT
The exports of the automative sector increased by 61 percent in the first five months of 1999 when compared with the same period of 1998. A total of 31,645 vehicles were exported in the first five months of 1999. The figures of the Automative Industry Association (OSD) indicated that the share of the exports in the production was realized as 28 percent in the mentioned period.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

MEDICINE SALES DROP DOWN TOO
People whose purchasing power dropped cannot even efford to buy the most essential needs like medicine and baby food. A total of 27 percent drop was observed in medicine sales in the last two months, The sales of baby food decreased by 40 percent. The cheapest antibiotics and baby food are seven million and three and a half million respectively.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

OCALAN UNEASINESS IN GOVERNMENT
The government is discussing the stance which will be shown against the international public opinion if Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization, is sentenced to capital punishment.

SNOW FALLS ON ERCIYES MOUNTAIN
Snow fell on the Erciyes Mountain since there was a sudden decrease in the temperature. The officials said that snow fell on the summit of the Erciyes Mountain and that the temperature of the skiing resort decreased by 10 to 15 percent.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

GULEN'S SCHOOLS ARE LIKE PUZZLE
Metin Bostancioglu, the National Education Minister, said that the schools of Fethullah Gulen in Turkey were proved to be 'clean' in the end of the investigation, but that they could not control the schools which are in foreign countries. Bostancioglu noted that the schools were not registered in Gulen's name, but in the names of some foundations, but that this does not mean that the ideology of these schools are different from the ideology of Gulen. Bostancioglu stated that they will continue to control these schools.

TURKEY STILL CHALLENGES FOR QUARTER FINAL
Turkish (A) National Team beat Germany by 63 to 55 in the second-round matches of the 31st European Basketball Championship. Thus, Turkish National Team still challenges for the quarter final. Turkey will play her last match in the second round of the tournament with Czech Republic at 7.30 local time today.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

SHOCK STATEMENTS FROM TANTAN
The Interior Minister, Tantan said he would end the hatred towards the Security Department. ''There are traitors within the honourable security forces who work for their personal interests. It is time to expel them from the organization,'' Tantan said.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[02] BRISASPOR GETTING READY FOR INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

Halil Sayin, the Brisaspor coach told the A.A. correspondent that the team will first participate in Turkey Championship in Isparta on July 3-4 before the two international competitions.

Brisaspor will compete at one of European's biggest organizations ''Fiat Grand Prix Tour Gemenc'' in Hungary between July 6 and 10 followed by ''International Romania Tournament'' between July 13 and 18. The team will cycle a total of 2000 kilometers in both tournaments.

''We aim to increase our team's experience through such international competitions. We will compete well and become a strong team in Europe. We have training everyday and cycle between 80 to 150 kilometers daily,'' Sayin said.

[03] BUDGET TALKS - BUDGETS OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS MINISTRY AND HEALTH MINISTRY ACCEPTED

Speaking at the General Assembly, Husnu Yusuf Gokalp, the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister, said that they will pass a Law on Lands and a Law on the Insurance of the Agricultural Products.

Stressing that they carry out efforts on many projects to overcome the problems of the agriculture sector, Gokalp stated that the Law on the Insurance of the Agricultural Products is the most prior project among the others and that the state will meet some of the insurance premium which the farmer will pay.

Gokalp noted that they will find new resources to solve the present problems, adding that to this end they will submit a Draft Law on the Revolving Fund as soon as possible.

Later, Osman Durmus, the Health Minister, said that only 40 trillion Turkish liras were allocated for investments in this sector and that the Ministry cannot make any other investments with this money because the Ministry have some debts to the contractors.

Durmus noted that they only aim at completing the construction of the village clinics and hospitals this year; adding that a total of 213 personnel is employed within the framework of the Ministry.

Durmus stressed that a total of 35,000 assistants applied for job to their ministry and that a total of 55,000 graduates of health vocational schools are waiting to be employed.

Durmus added that they will increase the number of the cancer diagnosis centers from 15 to 32.

Later, the voting for the budgets of the two ministries was held.

In the end of the voting, the 1999 budgets of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ministry, the Health Ministry, and the Directorate General of Agriculture Reform were accepted at the Parliamentary General Assembly.

[04] YALOVA, STATE MINISTER: ''PRIVATIZATION IS THE DEMOCRATIZATION OF THE STATE''

Speaking in a programme named ''Pulse of the Policy'' which was broadcast in state-run TRT television channel, Yalova noted that the privatization is a relation between the state and the citizens, and that there has to be a social agreement about privatization.

Stressing that the privatization is a new concept, Yalova stated that the privatization has philosophical, sociological, judicial, and religious dimensions.

Pointing out that they will take the consent of the parliament and President Suleyman Demirel when carrying out initiatives for privatization, Yalova emphasized that they will realize privatization together with the government, the Constitutional Court, and the Council of State.

Drawing the attention that the participation of the press is important for this issue, Yalova said that the participation of all the sectors of Turkey is necessary to realize the privatization.

When asked when the privatization initiatives will be launched, Yalova noted that the initiatives started as the government programme was read out at the parliament.

[05] NATIONAL EDUCATION MINISTER BOSTANCIOGLU RETURNS FROM HUNGARY - BOSTANCIOGLU: ''AT THE MEETING, IT WAS DECIDED TO ENCOURAGE GOVERNMENTS, BUSINESS SECTOR, SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS TO CONTRIBUTE MORE TO CONTINIOUS EDUCATION''

Bostancioglu returned from Hungarian capital Budapest where he attended the European Education Ministers Conference between June 24 and 26. The Minister was invited to the conference for the first time since Turkey started contacts with the European Union.

Replanning and cooperation in education, reorganization of education and to make it a transitory period between school and work were discussed at the conference. ''Life long education'' was also among the articles mentioned in the conference's final declarations. It was decided that the governments, business sectors, social organizations, and individuals must be encouraged to contribute more to continious education. At the meeting, it was also agreed to recover education in Kosovo which suffered from the war. Bostancioglu pointed out that the conference was very helpful for Turkey.

Speaking about Turkey's reaction to invitation of Greek Cypriot side to the conference, the Minister said. ''We showed our reaction with a declaration. We explained to them that the Greek Cypriot side cannot represent the whole Cyprus and there is a separate society on the island which is Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and presented it in writing. In the meantime, the representatives of Greek Cypriot side left the hall and their signboard was removed. So the matter did not cause any discussions,'' Bostancioglu stated.

Upon a question about Fethullah Gulen's schools, the Minister said these schools were not registered to Gulen's name but to various foundations. ''We continiously inspect these schools, courses and dormitories. I don't have a concrete evidence against secularism and Turkey's unity. This matter is carried out like a government policy. The Ministry of National Education will fulfil its task, you musn't worry,'' the Minister said.

Upon a question about ''acting teachers'', Bostancioglu said they were evaluating different alternatives to solve teacher problem and do whatever was necessary.

[06] ''HUMAN RIGHTS SEMINAR'' TO LAWYERS

The issues including the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights and the reflections of these decisions towards the domestic law were discussed in the seminar.

Prof. Dr. Durmus Tezcan; a lawyer who represents Turkey in European Court of Human Rights; Hasip Kaplan, the lawyer of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization; Prof. Dr. Bakir Caglar, and Prof. Dr. Osman Dogru participated in the seminar.

Speaking in the seminar, Hasip Kaplan said that the politics and the law are the powers which direct the society and claimed that there is a ''decrease in the quality of the politics'' in recent days.

Kaplan noted that the lawyers who apply to the seminar can be better in their task and that they have an education of conscious.

Stressing that Turkey made new arrangements in accordance with the results of the lawsuits which were filed against her in the European Court of Human Rights, Kaplan gave examples about these lawsuits and stated that the period of detention was decreased in Turkey and that the parliament started to discuss the legal arrangements concerning the civil servants.

Kaplan emphasized that the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights is effective on the domestic law of the countries which signed the European Convention on Human Rights.

Pointing out that Turkey said that she does not execute capital punishments and the European Court of Human Rights approved this in ''Erhan Ilkay case'', Kaplan said that Turkey showed this as an example when she requested the extradition of Alaattin Cakici, a notorious mafia boss, and Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization, and she said that she does not execute capital punishment.

Prof. Dr. Durmus Tezcan said that most of the lawsuits which are carried out in the European Court of Human Rights resulted in the disadvantage of Turkey.

Tezcan also said that the decisions of this Court led to many positive changes in Turkish law.

[07] KOSOVO SYMPOSIUM - CHAIRMAN OF THRACIAN TURKS FEDERATION, MUSTAFAOGLU: ''TURKS WHO LIVE IN THE BALKANS EXPECT TURKEY'S ATTENTION''

''610th Anniversary of Kosovo Battle and Kosovo Problem'' Symposium was organized by Thracian Turks Federation as a part of the celebration activities of 700th Anniversary of Foundation of Ottoman Empire.

Mustafaoglu said that the war now ended and it was time to determine Kosovo's future. ''Our neighbour Greece, although it was against the NATO operation sent soldiers to the region and now they have efforts to help Kosovo economically through Salonika Harbour. Turkey must be rapid. Turks who live in the Balkans need Turkey's attention. Turkey must try to develop its economic, social, and cultural ties with its relatives who live in the Balkans,'' he explained.

Financial possibilities to rebuild Kosovo were discussed during the second session of the conference headed by Prof. Ilter Turan, the rector of Bilgi University. Dr. Sule Kut of Bilgi University who spoke at the conference said everyone agrees to keep the borders in the Balkans as they were, but Kosovo is regarded separately from these countries. The Serbian leader Milosevic went too far and this caused the western observors discuss Kosovo's independence freely, Kut explained. ''This subject is not mentioned among official circles, but the think-tanks in the West started talking about Kosovo's independence seriously,'' she stated. Kut also added that Bosna model can be applied in Kosovo.

Prof. Celik Kurdoglu, the Executive Board Member of Foreign Economic Relations Council stated that 1,5 to 2 billion US dollars were needed to reconstruct Kosovo. ''It is difficult to find this money in the international community,'' he stressed. ''If Turkey forms a fund for the reconstruction of Kosovo, Turkish contractors can do business in Kosovo,'' Kurdoglu underlined.

[08] TURKISH SOLDIERS TO GO TO KOSOVO TO MAINTAIN PEACE

The Turkish troops will go to Kosovo in five groups. The first group will follow Mamak-Edirne-Prizren route and will leave on June 30. The second group will go on July 1, the third on July 2, and the third on July 3 by train.

The last Turkish troops will leave Ankara's Esenboga Airport by Turkish Airlines plane on July 6. These troops will first go to Skopje and then to Prizren.

[09] EXPORTS OF GAP REGION TO 12 COUNTRIES INCREASE

Abdulkadir Cikmaz, the Chairman of the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union, told A.A correspondent that the exporters of the region reached all of the countries which can be a market after the Gulf War and that their target is reaching any place where the consumers exist.

Emphasizing that there is an increase in the rates of the exports when compared with the figures of 1998; Cikmaz noted that the exports to Austria, Ireland, Macedonia, Bosnia Herzegovina, the Republic of South Africa, Egypt, Tunisia, China, New Zealand, Portugal, and Greece increased in the first five months of 1999.

Stressing that the increase in the exports of this region is the indicator of their efforts of not only protecting their present markets, but also finding new markets; Cikmaz stated that if an additional premium is given for the exports of the region, their efforts will be rewarded and will reach their target.

[10] SYRIAN AUTHORITIES APPROVE TRANSFER OF ''EZO GELIN'S'' GRAVE

The efforts of Ezo Gelin's brother Kenan Bozgeyik, her other relatives and Oguzeli Governorship finally started giving fruits. The Syrian delegation who visited Oguzeli county last week told that they got the Syrian authorities' approval for the grave's transfer. Ezo Gelin's daughter Celile Abuzer will be able to visit her mother's grave freely once her passport procedures are completed, he added.

Guler said they were determined to keep the Barak culture alive with its songs, art, folklore, foods, and hospitality, and continued: ''After the grave's transfer, the house where she was born in Dokuzyol village will be restored and turned into a museum. We will keep Barak culture alive with Ezo Gelin,'' he stated.

Ezo Gelin who was born in Dokuzyol village of Oguzeli county and later lived in Syria, became associated with concepts of love, honour, pride, beauty, longing for homeland, and patience, following a life spent in hardships.

Ezo Gelin who bore nine children during her life time died of tuberculosis after her husband was sent to jail for smuggling in Syria. After her death, she was buried on the side of Bozhoyuk hill looking over Turkey as she asked to be buried at a spot ''where her grave can see Turkey.''

[11] PREMIER ECEVIT: ''SOME CIRCLES WANTED TO PROVOKE THE PUBLIC OPINION AGAINST THE TURKISH ARMED FORCES. BUT, OUR NATION WAS NOT DECEIVED BY THIS PROVOCATION''

When Ecevit came to the Prime Ministry, the journalists asked him some questions recalling that the ''report'' which was claimed to have some negative statements against the Islam religion and which was denied by the Presidency, Prime Ministry, the Office of the Chief of General Staff, and the National Security Court, is still being discussed.

Ecevit said that this is a very saddening event and that some circles wanted to provoke the public opinion against the Turkish Armed Forces but that the Turkish nation was not deceived by this provocation.

Ecevit said, ''why? Because, our nation knew that the Armed Forces does not say a negative thing against our religion and prophet. To this end, our nation was not deceived. The efforts of some circles to create a situation as if there were such report, is a very saddening event and cannot be forgiven.''

When asked a question about the studies of change in the Constitution regarding the international arbitration, Ecevit stated that the studies do not have its final shape.

Meanwhile, Sukru Sina Gurel and Hikmet Ulugbay; the State Ministers; Yasar Okuyan, the Labour and Social Security Minister; Nami Cagan, the Forestry Minister; Osman Durmus, the Health Minister; and Sumer Oral, the Finance Minister; came together to give the final shape to the Draft Law on Social Security Reform.

[12] TURKEY BECOMES TERM PRESIDENT TO INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY

Dr. Halime Paksoy, the Deputy Director of Environmental Research Center of Cukurova University, was elected as term president while Prof. Hunay Evliya became the Secretary of the Board during the executive board meeting held in Sweden's Lulea city between June 14 and 16, 1999.

Evliya and Paksoy reminded that Cukurova University signed the ''Storing Energy for Energy Saving'' agreement on behalf of Turkey in 1995 and they have been representing Turkey since that date. ''This development is important to show to the world that Turkey cares for environmental systems, '' they stated.

''We hosted the meetings of some study groups. The management of Annex14 set up in a meeting in Antalya was also given to us. This group will study the cooling systems that can be used in all climates around the world. We will organize meetings and seminars in Turkey during the period we serve as president. We will carry out research and development studies on the subject of energy saving and its storage. We will also try to include non- European countries to the group. China, Israel, and South Korea are the countries we will contact first,'' they explained.

Paksoy stressed that storing thermal energy was very important to save energy which is already used successfully in Sweden. A very advanced technology is not required to store thermal energy and Turkey has everything that is needed. The air conditioning systems are commonly used in Turkey and they work with electricity which is an expensive method, they pointed out. The telephone systems are negatively affected during an electricity break down, Paksoy reminded and added that they are discussing thermal energy storage with cellular phone companies.

[13] IMF'S CONDITIONS FOR NEW LOAN - TURKEY HAS TO ADOPT STRUCTURAL REFORMS TO MAKE USE OF CCL

Turkey has to adopt structural reforms to benefit from the CCL.

According to the informations compiled from the IMF's new principles by the A.A correspondent, the CCL, which was formed as a part of the IMF's high- interest Contingency Credit Programme following the crisis in Brazil targets to prevent the world from the contagious effect of possible crises that can erupt in future.

However, the member countries have to fulfil these conditions to make use of this new loan opportunity.

Besides, they have to follow a transparent policy appropriate to international economic standards in the fields from the banking system to borrowing structures and statistics.

The country which gains the opportunity to make use of the CCL having the characteristic of short-term urgent loan, also accepts the condition for being exposed to regular and open inspections by the IMF.

Experts stress that the IMF aimed at strengthening the structures of the member countries and ''medicates before the illness'' in order to prevent the possible crises to change into epidemics.

Meanwhile, the IMF, from now on, will attach more importance to institutional reforms. The countries should absolutely finalize institutional reforms if they want to establish confidence against the private sector and markets and so continue their growth.

The countries, which are economically growing and decreasing the inflation, can't receive the IMF's full support if they can't finalize institutional reforms.

The IMF delegations from now on will take into consideration whether the member countries are implementing new principles during their routine consultation visits in accordance with Article 4, and they submit their evaluations with final reports to the IMF Executive Directors' Board.

The IMF states that such kind of economic developments are transitory if institutional reforms like ''social security, privatization, transparency, and good administration'' are finalized.

[14] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM LEAVES FOR U.S. - CEM: ''WE WANT TO BE INFLUENTIAL IN EVERY KIND OF EFFORTS TO START IN KOSOVO''

Ismail Cem left for the U.S. to attend the meeting of the ''Kosovo Friends Group'' which will take place in New York on June 30 with participation of foreign ministers of twelve countries.

Prior to his departure from the Ataturk Airport, Cem recalled that the responsibility of forming an interim administration in Kosovo was given to the U.N. Secretariat General.

Cem emphasized that the U.N. Secretariat General undertook important responsibilities like forming political structure for the future of Kosovo, forming democratic institutions and reconstructing the economy.

Cem stated that an ''Advisory Committee'', which is composed of the foreign ministers of the U.N. member twelve countries including Turkey was established to fulfil those responsibilities.

Noting that the U.N. Secretary General invited him to the meeting on the Kosovo question, Cem said, ''the Kosovo question is very important for Turkey. We want to be influential in all of the initiatives to be launched in Kosovo. We want Turkey to exist in administrative and political formations and in reconstruction of the economy.''

Stressing that the activities of the Advisory Committee will be very important, Cem said that the U.S., Britain, France, China, Russia, Canada, Japan, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Greece, and Turkey will take place in the Committee.

''Before the eruption of the Kosovo crisis, we, at international meetings, expressed that the experiences of countries in the Balkans like Turkey should be made use of.''

Foreign Minister Cem added that he will hold a bilateral meeting in New York with Yorgo Papandreu, the Greek Foreign Minister.

When asked what he thinks about the news which say that ''the U.S. will move some of her activities into Cyprus from Incirlik, and Cyprus will be changed into a NATO base'', Cem said that this is not a serious claim.

[15] ABDURRAHMAN, MEMBER OF KDP POLITBUREAU, IN ANKARA

The Foreign Ministry said Abdurrahman met early the same day with Ugur Ziyal, the Deputy Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry.

A high-level official at the Ministry said that Abdurrahman told Ziyal that they couldn't get a result from the meetings between KDP and PUK in Washington D.C., and that the meetings will continue in Northern Iraq.

Sami Abdurrahman stopped by Ankara before the Washington meetings between June 16-25, and briefed the Turkish officials on the process of implementation of the Washington Agreement and the difficulties about the process.

[16] AKAYEV, PRESIDENT OF KYRGYZSTAN, DUE IN TURKEY

Releasing a statement, the Foreign Ministry said that the existing friendly relations and the multi-dimensional cooperation between Turkey and Kyrgyzstan will be discussed during Akayev's official visit.

The statement said the Turkish-Kyrgyz Business Council will convene during the visit at which the two Presidents will also exchange opinion about regional and international issues.

The Foreign Ministry said Turkey hopes that the visit of Akayev will speed up further improvement of the Turkish-Kyrgyz relations which are at the perfect level.

[17] NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY DELEGATION VISITS PARLIAMENT - INAN, CHAIRMAN OF PARLIAMENTARY FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMISSION: - ''THE MAIN TARGET IN THE BALKANS IS RELIGION RATHER THAN ETHNIC CLEANSING''

At the meeting, Pedro Holstein-Camphillo asked Inan what he thinks about the situation in the Balkans. Kamran Inan said the religion is taken as the target in the Balkans rather than the ethnic cleansing, adding that peace can't be discussed as long as Milosevic is in charge.

Noting that the change of the clashes in the region into a Third World War was prevented by the existence of the NATO, Inan said Russia is trying to be influential in the region but her economic situation don't permit this.

Responding to another question, Inan said some of the neighbours of Turkey failed although they targeted the democracy and stability in Turkey. Noting that the the stability and peace in the region can be secured only if all of the countries have democratic regime, Inan said defending the human rights can't mean defending the rights of terrorists.

Stressing the strategical importance of the region, Inan said Turkey will be the energy corridor between the East and the West.

[18] CUBAN DELEGATION TO VISIT TOBB

Jesus Perez Othon, the Cuban Minister of Light Industry, will stage a conference on ''Cuban economy, perpectives and business opportunities'' to the Turkish businessmen during the visit.

Issuing a statement, TOBB said the Turkish businessmen and Cuban delegation members will hold bilateral contacts following the conference.

It said the Cuban businessmen will get information about the Turkish industry, Turkish market, products, and prices, and new business opportunities, will hold contacts in Ankara, Istanbul, and Bursa.

The statement said the Cuban trade delegation is interested in hotel equipments, foodstuffs, medicine raw material, and hygenic equipments, oil, fuel oil, mine, metals, steel-iron, banking, real state business, transportation, textile raw materials, and every kind of hypermarket products.

[19] NORWEGIAN MOTHER HAUGE WINS HER LEGAL STRUGGLE - METTE SOLLIHAGEN HAUGE REGAINS HER DAUGHTER - LAWYER BULAT: ''THIS RESULT IS THE HONOUR OF THE TURKISH JUDGEMENT''

Mette Sollihagen Hauge together with her daughter Selma and her lawyer Murat Bulat staged a press conference at the Norwegian Embassy in Ankara to share their legal victory and the happiness of coming together again.

Explaining the case at the press conference, Mette Sollihagen Hauge and her lawyer Murat Bulat said, ''Mette Sollihagen Hauge and her ex-husband have a son and a daughter namely Mehmet and Selma. Selma was abducted by his father while Selma and Mehmet were spending their holiday in Turkey in August with their father, and Mehmet was sent back to Norway to his mother. The father, who was retired from work due to a mental problem, kept Selma as a hostage and demanded several things from the mother. Since that time, Selma was prevented from seeing her mother and brother (except a 1.5 hour meeting at a room near her father), and her address was kept secret.''

Noting that the local court decided to give the guardianship of Selma to the mother, lawyer Bulat said the Ankara Basic Civil Court No:22, which once again took up the case when the Supreme Court had serious concerns about the mental condition of the father, decided to give the guardianship once again to the mother while the appeal session will take place tomorrow.

Pointing out that the court decided to give parentship to the mother when the father who was imprisoned on charges of ''forging documents'', escaped from security forces, lawyer Bulat said the mother and her daughter came together last Friday, and the mother won her struggle.

''This result is the honour of the Turkish jurisdictiont,'' Bulat stressed.

Mother Mette Sollihagen Hauge said both mother and father are important for a child, and her daughter Selma can see her father in accordance with the verdict of the Court.

[20] TRNC TO PARTICIPATE IN SEVENTH CONGRESS OF TURKISH STATES' AND COMMUNITIES' FRIENDSHIP, BROTHERHOOD, AND COOPERATION

Rauf Denktas, the President of the TRNC, and Dervis Eroglu, the Prime Minister of the TRNC, will leave the TRNC on July 1 to attend the Congress which will take place in Denizli province in the Aegean Region.

Almost 900 delegates of Turkey, TRNC, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, autonomous republics in Russia, and Turkish federations in several countries will attend the Congress to start on June 2.

TRNC President Denktas will proceed to Istanbul following the opening of the Congress while the TRNC delegation will return to the TRNC on July 5.

[21] OKUYAN, MINISTER OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY, TO VISIT TRNC

Okuyan will attend the signing ceremony for the Turkey-TRNC Labour and Social Security Cooperation Protocol which was initialed on 10 May 1999 in Ankara. Yasar Okuyan will leave the TRNC on July 1.

Meanwhile, a technical delegation will arrive today in the TRNC to prepare reports on the measures than will be taken together with Turkey concerning unregistered workers.

[22] GIANT TARGET IN PRIVATIZATION - YALOVA, MINISTER OF STATE: ''I WILL MAKE 50 BILLION DOLLARS PRIVATIZATION IN FIVE YEARS''

Responding to the questions of reporters about privatization, Yalova said that taking decisions together with the people living in the region concerning privatization eases their works, adding that he gave the decision for privatization of the Mersin Seaport during his visit to that region.

Yalova said that he requested support from the Chairman of Bar, Republican Chief Prosecutor, and Chairman of Association of Journalists for privatization of the Mersin Seaport.

Stressing that conscience of public is essential in privatization, Yalova said, ''if the conscience of public is full of question marks that can create discussions about legitimacy, then that initiative can't achieve any success.''

Emphasizing that the regional characteristics and the strategical situation of the organization which will be privatized, should be taken into consideration, Yuksel Yalova stated that also journalists have to participate in those initiatives for the control of privatization.

[23] TURKISH-CUBAN JEC MEETING - IRTEMCELIK, MINISTER OF STATE: - ''THE BILATERAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS DO NOT HAVE A HEALTHY STRUCTURE AND THE TRADE VOLUME IS LOW. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY THINGS TO DO''

The second term meeting of the Turkish-Cuban Trade, Economic, and Industrial Cooperation Joint Commission was held at the hall of the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat.

The Turkish delegation was led by State Minister Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik and the Cuban delegation was headed by Jesus Perez Othon, the Minister of Light Industry of Cuba.

Giving information about the Turkish economy at the meeting, Irtemcelik explained the rules that Turkey implement in exports of goods.

Noting that he belives Cuba will make a great contribution to the development of Turkey's economic relations with the region in accordance with her policy for opening to Latin America and Caribbean, Irtemcelik said Turkey will constitute a bridge between Cuba and the Central Asian and Middle Eastern countries.

Pointing out that the bilateral trade volume, which was six million U.S. dollars in 1990, couldn't increase over to 1.4 million U.S. dollars in 1998, Irtemcelik said, ''these realities do not reflect the potentials of Turkey and Cuba.''

Stressing the importance of participation in fairs, exhibitions, and seminars to be organized in both countries to establish a balanced structure for bilateral trade, Irtemcelik said the Agreement for Prevention of Double Taxation, which is very important for the cooperation between the Turkish and Cuban trade development centers and for the credit facilities to be offered by the Turkish Eximbank to the Cuban side, will be signed as soon as possible.

Irtemcelik added that all of the preparations for the agreement for joint production of cigars and tobacco will be finalized in near future.

Cuban Light Industry Minister Jesus Perez Othon said, ''this meeting will be the turning point of our relations in future,'' expressing his pleasure for holding a meeting in the Republic founded by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

Guest Minister said they evaluate the importance attached by Turkey to Cuba, as an entrance to Latin America and Caribbean, within the framework of the strategies to develop and vary commercial and economic relations with the world.

Othan said, ''we can cooperate in agriculture, textiles, animal husbandry and medical equipment, and develop our relations.''

[24] FOREIGN MINISTRY CONDEMNS VIOLENCE ATTACKS FORWARDED TO MORAL VALUES BELONGING TO TURKISH MINORITY IN WESTERN THRACE

A Foreign Ministry statement expressed regret that 14 gravestones in Asagi district graveyard in Xhanti, belonging to Western Thrace Turkish minority members, were broken by unidentified assailants.

The statement said ''it is furthermore regrettable that this ugly attack coincides at a period when Greek Foreign Minister talks about a cooperation in cultural field between the two countries.''

Foreign Ministry statement wanted the responsibles of the attack in question to be captured soon and brought in front of justice and wanted required efforts to be expended to prevent the repetition of such attacks.

[25] TURKEY REACTS TO TWO DRAFT RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED TO THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL CONCERNING CYPRUS

Volkan Vural, Turkey's Permanent Representative to the U.N., and Aytug Plumer, TRNC Representative to New York, during their meeting with Jagne, pointed out that the draft resolutions were the copy of view issued after G- 8 summit.

Recalling that Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement including its views related with the issue immediately after G-8 summit decisions, Vural stressed that the statement was valid for the draft resolutions.

Vural gave a copy of the statement to the Council Chairman.

Pointing out that Turkey and TRNC will carry out its cooperation with the U.N. Peace Forces (UNFICYP) within the framework of resolutions which TRNC government will take, Vural and Plumer said ''it is out of question for Turkey and TRNC to accept these resolutions as these two draft resolutions mention about Greek Cypriot side as the (Cyprus government).

The U.N Security Council is expected to adopt draft resolutions on Tuesday, which designate Kofi Annan, Secretary General, to call Denktas and Clerides to negotiation table for bilateral talks in autumn, and which extends mandate of peace forces till December 15.

A.A

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