Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-08-06

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

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

AA Daily

06 August 1999 Friday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] SECURITIES ACCOUNT AT BANKS INCREASE TO 8.7 QUADRILLION TL

[03] HAKAN CAGLAR, WHO WAS DETAINED BY FBI, RELEASED AND SENT TO TURKEY

[04] U.S. EVALUATES OCALAN'S CALL TO PKK TERRORISTS: ''WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE ACTIONS NOT THE WORDS''

[05] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RECEIVES PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT - ECEVIT: ''WE ARE FIRST OF ALL TRYING TO MAKE THE ARBITRATION, CUSTOMS, TORTURE, SOCIAL SECURITY AND SOME OTHER PRIOR LAWS PASS THROUGH THE PARLIAMENT BEFORE IT RECESSES'' - ''OF COURSE, EVERYBODY WILL BE PLEASED, IF TERRORISM IS ERADICATED'' - ''I TOLD MR. KOH, THE U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE, THAT OUR CITIZENS OF KURDISH ORIGIN ARE REPRESENTED AT HIGH-LEVEL IN ALL STATE RANKS AND SECTIONS''

[06] TOTAL DEPOSITS AT BANKS REACH 31.4 QUADRILLION TL

[07] REPO TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN BANKS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS INCREASE BY 287.6 TRILLION TL

[08] FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''TURKEY ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO INTERNAL PEACE AND STABILITY IN TAJIKISTAN''

[09] AISEC STUDENTS' VISIT TO TRNC AND MERSIN

[10] SYRIAN DELEGATION IN THE GAP

[11] TOBB'S COUNCIL MEETING OF COMMERCIAL STOCK EXCHANGE - MIRAS, TOBB CHAIRMAN: ''8,191 COMPANIES SHUT DOWN IN FIRST SIXTH MONTHS OF THIS YEAR''

[12] TURKS LIVING IN GERMANY WISH TO SOLVE ISSUE OF DUAL CITIZENSHIP

[13] NEW-BORN CARETTA CARETTAS GO ASTRAY

[14] STATE MINISTER CAY RECEIVES SHIRIMKULOV, KYRGYZ AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY, AND AYTMATOV, COUNSELOR OF KYRGYZ PRESIDENT AKAYEV

[15] IRAQ BECOMES TARGET MARKET AGAIN

[16] PREMIER ECEVIT RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS: ''I SAID WHAT I CAN SAY ABOUT THE CALL OF ABDULLAH OCALAN, HEAD TERRORIST''

[17] BOSNIAN MINISTER'S CONTACTS IN TRNC - TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE DOES NOT WANT ANYBODY TO SEE US''

[18] CLASHES IN AFGHANISTAN - FOREIGN MINISTRY EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER NEW CLASHES IN AFGHANISTAN

[19] PREMIER ECEVIT'S LETTER TO D'ALEMA, ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER - ECEVIT GIVES POSITIVE RESPONSE TO D'ALEMA'S ''WISH OF DEVELOPING BILATERAL RELATIONS''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

FROM PKK TO OCALAN: ''AT YOUR COMMAND''
After a 48-hour silence, the so-called chairmanship council of the terrorist PKK organization extended full-support to Abdullah Ocalan's call for laying down arms and withdrawing from the Turkish territories. In its statement, it said the activities will continue on that basis. ''Ocalan, with his call for solution, has proved that he approaches to the problem very constructively. We call all our forces to carry out activities within the framework of the principles mentioned,'' the statement said.

EXPORTS OF AUTOMOBILES INCREASE 470 PERCENT
The boom in exports of automobiles to Europe continues. The Renault exported a total of 30 thousand Megane Wagon cars to Europe and the exports of automobiles increased 470 percent compared to last year. The amount of exports raised 47 percent to 1.4 billion U.S. dollars.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

CHIEF PROSECUTOR: ''EXECUTION SHOULD BE APPROVED''
Vural Savas, the Public Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Court, sent his two- page notification to the Supreme Court Criminal Department No:9, requesting the approval of the death sentence on Abdullah Ocalan. Savas defined the PKK as the bloodiest terrorist organization of the 20th century.

KOH REQUESTS KURDISH PARTY
Herald Koh, the Assistant U.S. Secretary of State, said, ''Kurds want to benefit from the basic human rights including the freedom of expression of their own language and culture and the right of setting up political parties that represent their interests.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

PKK IS LAYING DOWN ARMS
The terrorist organization announced to the whole world that it obeyed the instructions of Abdullah Ocalan and it will lay down its arms and leave Turkey.

The so-called chairmanship council said it was openly announcing that it will obey Ocalan's call as of September 1, 1999.

KOH: ''WE SUPPORT TURKEY''
Herald Koh, the Assistant U.S. Secretary of State, said, ''the U.S. has always supported Turkey's right of defending herself against PKK. However, it is undeniable that most of the Kurds do not support violence.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

TURKISH DIVISION ONE TO KICK-OFF
The 1999-2000 season of the Turkish Soccer Division One will start today. Galatasaray today will host Gaziantepspor. Together with Galatasaray, also Fenerbahce, Besiktas and Trabzonspor are ready for the new season.

PROPOSAL FOR DEVALUATION
The banking circles proposed devaluation to overcome economic problems. The Secretary General of the Turkishbank said although evaluation won't be a lasting solution, it would bring some benefits to overcome the economic problems.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

YILMAZ: ''RETIREMENT AGE WILL BE ADOPTED EXACTLY IN THE SAME WAY''
When the government delayed the talks on Social Security Draft Law, the Turk-Is labour union suspended today's strike. However, Mesut Yilmaz of the Motherland Party (ANAP) said, ''the bill will be legalized exactly in the same way.''

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

''Actually, as you know, the Repentance Draft Law was submitted to the Parliament to ease the annihilation of separatist terrorism. We are presenting this to the Parliament with the partial Amnesty Draft Law. I believe it will also be beneficial if it is adopted before the Parliament recesses. As the state, we want the annihilation of terrorism without any deviation from our security. We are trying to fulfil our responsibilities about this issue,'' the Prime Minister noted.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

General Ilhan Kilic, Commander of the Air Forces; Admiral Salim Dervisoglu, Commander of the Naval Forces; General Cevik Bir, Commander of the First Army; General Dogu Aktulga, Commander of Army in Aegean; and General Necati Ozgen, Commander of War Academies will retire. General Ergin Celasin, Secretary General of General Staff, has been appointed as the new Commander of Air Forces; Admiral Ilhami Erdil, Commander Fleet, as the new Commander of Naval Forces; General Hilmi Ozkok, Deputy Chief of General Staff, as the new Commander of the First Army; General Cetin Dogan, Commander of Gendarmerie Public Order, as the new Commander of the Army in Aegean.

THERE IS TORTURE IN TURKEY
Torture has always caused trouble to Turkey. Despite the efforts for democratization, Hikmet Sami Turk, the Minister of Justice, made a painful confession yesterday: ''There is torture in Turkey.''

Turk who got angry to the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Motherland Party (ANAP) and True Path Party (DYP) deputies at the Parliamentary Justice Commission, said Turkey was shown as the ''worst country'' in the West concerning torture.

[02] SECURITIES ACCOUNT AT BANKS INCREASE TO 8.7 QUADRILLION TL

The total securities account at banks was 8 quadrillion 396.2 trillion TL on July 18.

The Central Bank data shows that there were a total of 8 quadrillion 648.2 trillion TL of securities including 6 quadrillion 19.8 trillion TL of securities, and 2 quadrillion 628.4 trillion TL of securities over foreign currency at the deposit banks portfolio.

The securities over TL at deposit banks are composed of 1 quadrillion 805.5 trillion TL in trasury bonds, 3 quadrillion 980.2 trillion TL in state debenture bonds and 174.3 trillion TL in stocks.

A total of 777.9 trillion TL of foreign currency securities at these banks are abroad while there is a total of 64.7 trillion TL of treasury bonds and 1 quadrillion 573.5 trillion TL of state debenture bonds among the domestic securities.

The total securities account at the development and investment banks was 104.4 trillion TL.

[03] HAKAN CAGLAR, WHO WAS DETAINED BY FBI, RELEASED AND SENT TO TURKEY

Celestine Armstead, the Spokesman of the FBI, said that there was no evidence against Caglar.

Hakan Caglar, 35, whose visa expired on June 6, was deported after he had released, and sent to Turkey with a plane from Atlanta.

The FBI earlier announced that it was holding Caglar as he constituted a ''potential threat'' against the national security of the U.S.

Spokesman Armstead defended that there was not any mistake or contradiction in the attitude of the FBI, which firstly detained and later released Hakan Caglar.

Hakan Caglar, 35, attracted the suspicion of law enforcement officials when he retrieved his luggage from a U-Haul truck on Tuesday and paid cash for a one-way ticket to Turkey at Valdosta airport.

All 217 passengers on Flight 40 to Istanbul were asked to get off the plane for a security sweep that included luggage.

Seven passengers were questioned and the flight to Istanbul departed after Caglar's detention.

[04] U.S. EVALUATES OCALAN'S CALL TO PKK TERRORISTS: ''WE TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE ACTIONS NOT THE WORDS''

Responding to a question about the cease-fire call by Ocalan during a press conference, James Rubin said that they were aware of a series of statement of Ocalan since his apprehension, adding that their opinion about putting an end to armed struggle was that they will welcome the ending of the terrorist activities of the organization.

Noting that the terrorist organization did not give up terrorist activities in the past, Rubin said, ''thus, we take into consideration the actions not the words.''

[05] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RECEIVES PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT - ECEVIT: ''WE ARE FIRST OF ALL TRYING TO MAKE THE ARBITRATION, CUSTOMS, TORTURE, SOCIAL SECURITY AND SOME OTHER PRIOR LAWS PASS THROUGH THE PARLIAMENT BEFORE IT RECESSES'' - ''OF COURSE, EVERYBODY WILL BE PLEASED, IF TERRORISM IS ERADICATED'' - ''I TOLD MR. KOH, THE U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE, THAT OUR CITIZENS OF KURDISH ORIGIN ARE REPRESENTED AT HIGH-LEVEL IN ALL STATE RANKS AND SECTIONS''

Speaking to reporters following his 45-minute meeting with President Suleyman Demirel, Ecevit said he briefed the President on the performances of the parliament and draft laws.

Noting that the political parties, which have parliamentary groups, have been working for two days on the laws that have to be adopted before the parliament recesses, Ecevit said, ''as far as I know, the interparliamentary talks still continue. We are first of all trying to make the arbitration, customs, torture, social security and some other prior laws pass through the parliament before it recesses. We are doing our best to let the opposition to assume an important attitude towards all of the bills we want to legalize. I informed Mr. President about these issues. We discussed the problems in the country.''

When reminded that ''the the PKK terrorists in Germany decided to lay down their arms upon the call by Ocalan,'', Ecevit said, ''of course, everybody will be pleased if terrorism ends. We will never bargain with somebody to this end. Actually, as you know, the Repentance Draft Law was submitted to the Parliament to ease the annihilation of separatist terrorism. We are presenting this to the Parliament with the partial Amnestry Draft Law. I believe it will also be beneficial if it is adopted before the Parliament recesses. As the state, we want the annihilation of terrorism without any deviation from our security. We are trying to fulfil our responsibilities about this issue.''

When asked what Harold Koh, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for human rights and he discussed at their meeting, Ecevit said, ''Mr. Koh and I held a beneficial meeting. He told me that there were misunderstandings stemming from the news about his impressions in southeastern Diyarbakir province. He gave information about his impressions there. He mostly talked about the information given to him about the widespread torture. I told him that we took the necessary measures. He actually knows that we issued a circular on this issue. The draft law that will enable the government to take more effective and dissuasive measures against torture, started to be discussed by the Parliamentary Justice Commission. He knows all of these. He is aware that our government is expending the necessary effort to this end. Some of his observations may be disturbing for us, but these are the observations of the official of a friendly country.''

When asked whether there would be a probable change in the Political Parties Law during the talks of the Interparliamentary Consensus Commission at the Parliament, Ecevit said that the Virtue Party (FP), for its support to the Arbitration and Customs Law, asked them to accept it requests regarding the Political Parties Law.

When reminded about the statement of Koh during his press conference saying, ''we urge the Turkish government to give political and cultural rights to the people of Kurdish origin,'' Ecevit said, ''he told this also to me and I told him that our citizens of Kurdish origin are represented at high- level in all state ranks and sections. There are our citizens of Kurdish origin working at highest ranks in Turkey. Every job is open to the people of Kurdish origin. Besides, it is impossible to make a Turkish-Kurdish discrimination. Because, families have joined each other for years. I told him that we don't have a concept of racial discrimination, we don't need to search the roots of people, the Turkish nation came into existence by the people of different ethnic roots who came from different countries and who joined with each other without discrimination for centuries. I told him that most of the deputies came from the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia are of Kurdish origin; there is no need to set up contact with the terrorist organization which wants to separate Turkey in order to hold talks about our citizens of Kurdish origin or to be an interlocutor; and this will be wrong and unacceptable.''

[06] TOTAL DEPOSITS AT BANKS REACH 31.4 QUADRILLION TL

The Central Bank data shows that the total deposit which was 30 quadrillion 525.5 trillion TL on July 16 increased to 31 quadrillion 405.2 trillion TL on July 23.

When the inter-banks deposits are not considered, the total deposit, which was 27 quadrillion 594.4 trillion TL on July 16, increased 797.6 trillion TL to 28 quadrillion 392 trillion TL on July 23.

The total TL deposits increased 461.4 trillion TL to 15 quadrillion 645.5 trillion TL on July 23. The total TL deposit was 15 quadrillion 184.1 trillion on July 16.

As of July 23, the total TL deposit was composed of 10 quadrillion 15 trillion TL deposits at public banks, 5 quadrillion 384.8 trillion TL of deposits at private deposit banks and 65.5 trillion TL of deposits at foreign banks.

The foreign exchange accounts at banks increased 336.2 trillion TL to 12 quadrillion 746.5 trillion TL on July 23.

[07] REPO TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN BANKS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS INCREASE BY 287.6 TRILLION TL

The Central Bank data shows that the repo transactions, which were 3 quadrillion 596.8 trillion TL on July 16, increased to 3 quadrillion 875.4 trillion TL on July 23.

The reverse repo transactions, which were 87.6 trillion TL on July 16, rose 16.4 trillion TL to 104 trillion TL on July 23.

The repo transactions among the financial organizations fell 2.4 trillion TL to 1 quadrillion 683.2 trillion TL on July 23. The total repo transactions amount was 1 quadrillion 685.6 trillion TL on July 16.

The reverse repo transactions among the financial organizations, which were 1 quadrillion 393.4 trillion TL on July 16, decreased 5.9 trillion TL to 1 quadrillion 387.5 trillion TL on July 23.

[08] FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''TURKEY ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO INTERNAL PEACE AND STABILITY IN TAJIKISTAN''

The Foreign issued a statement recalling that the leader of the United Tajik Opposition announced that the United Tajik Opposition armed forces were abrogated and the units belonged to those forces joined the Tajikistan Armed Forces.

Noting that this was welcomed by Turkey, the statement said an important step was taken in Tajikistan in the way for security and stability.

The Foreign Ministry stated that step was also a beneficial development for the normalization of the political and social life.

[09] AISEC STUDENTS' VISIT TO TRNC AND MERSIN

The tour, which is organized by Adana and TRNC offices of

AISEC, started in TRNC the same day and it will end on August 8. Foreign students will visit historical and touristic places in Mersin province and TRNC during the tour.

AIESEC provides students opportunities of internship abroad to help them have a responsible and global point of view and to develop their skills.

[10] SYRIAN DELEGATION IN THE GAP

The delegation headed by Salih Kiris, Syrian Chairman of Rakka Agriculture Chamber, visited Sehabettin Harput, Governor of Sanliurfa.

Addressing the meeting, Harput said that relations with Syria have been further improving.

Harput added, ''Syrian delegation will hold contacts about the issues of agriculture and new irrigation technics. We are pleased with our cooperation with neighbouring Syria in the field of agriculture.''

Later, Syrian experts held contacts with the officials at the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture.

The delegation is expected to leave for Syria later today.

[11] TOBB'S COUNCIL MEETING OF COMMERCIAL STOCK EXCHANGE - MIRAS, TOBB CHAIRMAN: ''8,191 COMPANIES SHUT DOWN IN FIRST SIXTH MONTHS OF THIS YEAR''

Adressing the opening of the meeting, Fuat Miras, the Chairman of TOBB said that ''a heavy blow was struck on the dynamism of the Turkish private sector which was appreciated by the whole world due to the application of financial zero year, because it couldn't use its own sources while trying to overcome the bottleneck of finance.''

Noting that totally 8,191 firms shut down in the first six months of this year, Miras pointed out that the recent economic measures taken by the government will increase production, investment and employment.

''Thus tradesmen, workers and employers will have better days. TOBB will continue to give priority to the interests of the country and to develop ideas and proposals to this end. The inflation rate has to be controlled to make Turkey benefit from the globalized world economy. To this end a stability programme covering harmonization policies of monetary, finance and structure has to be prepared and be applied in resolution. Implementation of such a policy will also help us in making an agreement with the IMF covering credit possibilities,'' Miras said.

Stressing that international arbitration does not contradict with the rights of the national sovereignty rights, Miras said that the model of build-operate and transfer will be operative by the implementation of the international arbitration. Thus investments of infrastructure will be speeded up, he added.

[12] TURKS LIVING IN GERMANY WISH TO SOLVE ISSUE OF DUAL CITIZENSHIP

Keskin told a press briefing that his meetings with the state and government officials were positive and beneficial, adding in his meeting with Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Bahceli told them that they will launch efforts to bring the issue to the parliament.

Noting that they also met with Sukru Sina Gurel, the State Minister, Keskin said that Gurel will also convey the issue to the government.

Keskin said that they will come together with Mesut Yılmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) today.

Keskin said that the Turks living in Germany request the change in Turkish law that won't lead to their loss of Turkish citizenship.

Keskin pointed out that Turkish people living in Germany should have the German citizenship without losing the Turkish citizenship as long as they don't commit a crime that necessiates their losing of the Turkish citizenship in respect of law.

Stressing that such kind of an application is valid in countries like Iran, Greece, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, Afghanistan, and Yugoslavia for years, Keskin said that Articles 20 and 21 of the law of Turkish Citizenship should change like in the following:

''Article 20: Those who acquire Turkish citizenship by birth can't be denaturalized in cases except the cases listed in the last paragraph of the Article 21 and 26.

Article 21: Turkish citizenship who acquired citizenship of another country is obliged to notify their new position to the Turkish officials with the necessary information and documents within one year following their naturalization. If they don't fulfil this condition, they can loss Turkish citizenship by the decision of the cabinet upon the proposal of the Ministry of Interior.''

Keskin also requested the abolishment of Articles 22,23, 25/a and the second sentence of the Article 29.

The Association of Turkish Society in Germany which was established in 1995, which aims at making Turks living in Germany to have equal rights in the fields of politics and culture, has the character of being an ''umbrella organization'' together with 200 associations which work in the same Organization.

[13] NEW-BORN CARETTA CARETTAS GO ASTRAY

A group of tourists and staff of the Club Nena Holiday Complex, carried the Caretta Carettas which were heading towards the lights of the hotel on the shore, into the sea in buckets.

Nadir Akcelik, the Chairman of the Executive Board of Club Nena Holiday Complex, told the A.A correspondent, ''the Caretta Carettas laid their eggs in the beach this year for the first time. We deployed several security staff in the beach to take care of the eggs.''

Meanwhile, Mehmet Capraz, Governor of Manavgat, said that a meeting will be held on August 9 to discuss necessary measures to protect the Caretta Carettas.

[14] STATE MINISTER CAY RECEIVES SHIRIMKULOV, KYRGYZ AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY, AND AYTMATOV, COUNSELOR OF KYRGYZ PRESIDENT AKAYEV

Addressing the meeting, Cay said that there are historical and cultural bonds between Turkey and Kyrgyzstan.

Underlining that Kyrgyzstan has taken positive steps towards transition into the free market economy and democracy since she gained her independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cay noted that there is a productive progress in the relations between the two countries.

Cay added, ''Turkey is pleased with Turkish businessmen's contribution to the development of Kyrgyzstan, and improvement of commercial relations.''

[15] IRAQ BECOMES TARGET MARKET AGAIN

Within this framework, the 32nd International Fair which will be organized in Iraqi capital Baghdad between November 1-10, 1999, is very important for Turkish exporters.

Iraq which was allowed to sell oil worth of 5 billion 256 million U.S dollars in accordance with the U.N. Resolution dated May 21, will purchase food, detergent, medicine and medical equipment worth of 3 billion U.S. dollars.

The International Baghdad Fair provides a significant opportunity to the firms which want to export goods to Iraq.

Turkish firms are expected to take part in the fair with their agricultural equipments, automotive sub-industry products, detergent products, construction equipments, food, and medical equipments.

The deadline for the application to the fair is determined as October 15, 1999.

[16] PREMIER ECEVIT RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS: ''I SAID WHAT I CAN SAY ABOUT THE CALL OF ABDULLAH OCALAN, HEAD TERRORIST''

Ecevit responded to questions of journalists and following are the questions asked to him and his answers to them:

Question:''Abdullah Ocalan made a statement today by the mediation of his lawyers. He said that his earlier call was not issued for tactical purpose and shared your views of fulfilment of obligations by everybody. What do you think about it?''

Ecevit:''I said what I can say about this issue.''

Question:''Do you have any information about PKK terrorists' leaving the country after the statement of Ocalan?''

Ecevit:''I don't want to talk about details.''

Question:''You accused those who oppose international arbitration of being against modernity and gave the example of being opposed to the construction of the Istanbul Strait in 1970s. It has been found out that you were against that, too those times. How do you evaluate that?''

Ecevit:''It is true. I told the DSP group that we have rescued ourselves from some prejudice. There are some issues which I opposed in the past, but now I think differently about them today. The world, Turkey, our region and technology change rapidly. Certainly we will re-evaluate some of our views in line with the changes in the world, country and technology.''

Question:''A council has convened to determine the parliamentary calendar. Have you received a result?''

Ecevit: ''Their meeting continues.''

Question:''They gave a break, is there an interim decision?''

Ecevit: ''No, maybe they wanted to take a short break to relax. There is nothing like that.''

Question:''Is there any bargaining?''

Ecevit:''We search for a compromise. Democracy necessitates that.''

Question:''The Virtue Party (FP) wishes to make some changes in the Law of the Political Parties, what do you think about it?''

Ecevit:''It is not correct for me now to say something while the negotiations continue.''

[17] BOSNIAN MINISTER'S CONTACTS IN TRNC - TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE DOES NOT WANT ANYBODY TO SEE US''

Denktas said ''we want our friends to see the realities. The Greek Cypriot side does not want anybody to see us'' in the meeting.

''The Turkish side does not have any objections to the visit of our guests to the Greek Cypriot side. We don't want to marry with the Greek Cypriot side, but only make an agreement with them,'' said Denktas in response to Rızanbegovic who asked him ''do you want to marry with the Greek Cypriot side?''

''Confederation is their last remedy, Greek Cypriots should evaluate that well,'' said Denktas.

Rızanbegovic said in his part that he appreciates TRNC President Denktas, adding ''when I was in high school, my uncle was lawyer. I am aware of the great struggle the Turkish Cypriots have been carrying out for a long time and I follow the developments on Cyprus.''

Noting that the Turkish side becomes powerful day by day, Rızanbegovic said that he also visited the universities in TRNC and admired them.

''The future of a country which attributes such importance to education will be also fine,'' said Rızanbegovic, adding that President Denktas has contributed a lot to the success of education in TRNC.

Responding to a question, Denktas, the TRNC President said that the appointment of Richard Holbrooke, the former U.S. Special Representative to Cyprus as the U.S. Permanent Representative to U.N. and appointment of Tom Weston in place of him won't make a change in respect of the Cyprus question.

Denktas stressed that Weston has to change his view of ''there is only one government on Cyprus which is Greek Cypriots,'' as Turkish Cypriots can never accept that.

[18] CLASHES IN AFGHANISTAN - FOREIGN MINISTRY EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER NEW CLASHES IN AFGHANISTAN

Releasing a statement, the Foreign Ministry reminded that the clashes erupted in Afghanistan causing casualties and financial damages, as a result of the military operation launched by the Taleban forces in the region of the north of capital Kabul, and several other parts of the country.

Pointing out that a number of civilians were forced to be displaced due to the clashes, the statement underlined that the residents are facing with the threats of stagnation and contagious diseases.

Recalling that the Tashkent Declaration including peaceful solutions, was issued at the end of the ''6 plus 2 Group'' meetings which were held with the participation of the conflicting fractions in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries on July 19, the statement expressed deep concern over the renewed clashes and humanitarian problems stemming from the clashes.

Calling on all sides to put an end to the clashes as soon as possible, the statement also stressed that Turkey supports the efforts of the United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General's Special Representative for Afghanistan within this framework.

The statement also expressed wish over the 6 plus 2 Group members to launch necessary initiatives to put an end to the clashes and to send humanitarian aid to the civilians who were forced to leave their homes.

[19] PREMIER ECEVIT'S LETTER TO D'ALEMA, ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER - ECEVIT GIVES POSITIVE RESPONSE TO D'ALEMA'S ''WISH OF DEVELOPING BILATERAL RELATIONS''

Premier Ecevit shared the views of D'Alema who wishes improvement of relations, in the letter signed by him on Friday and he also referred to the importance of holding reciprocal visits among the high ranking officials of the two countries to overcome the recent negative period in Turkish-Italian relations.

The Italian Prime Minister D'Alema said in his friendly message sent to Premier Ecevit at the end of July that he attributed great importance to relations with Turkey, adding ''they consider Turkey as a possible partner of the European Union (EU) and extend support to Turkey's membership to the EU.'' D'Alema also had expressed his wish of the two countries' entering into a high ranking meeting process as soon as possible.

It has been reported that Ecevit signed the letter he sent to D'Alema in reply this afternoon and the letter will be conveyed to the Italian Foreign Ministry by the mediation of Turkish Embassy in Rome on Monday, at the latest.

Meanwhile, firstly Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister and Lamberto Dini, the Italian Foreign Minister will come together in Istanbul on September 16 within the framework of commencement of a new period in bilateral relations. Dini will come to Istanbul within the framework of the ceremonies to be held upon the 700th foundation anniversary of the Ottoman Empire.

Cem and Dini recently came together in Sarajevo and had a positive meeting aiming at improvement of relations.

A.A

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