Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-09-25

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AA Daily

25 Sept 1999 Saturday

CONTENTS

[01] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AKBULUT: - ''MERVE KAVAKCI WILL BE AGAIN A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT IF THE INTERIOR MINISTRY SENDS AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT STATING THAT SHE IS A TURKISH CITIZEN''

[02] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT DUE TO U.S.

[03] CEM MEETS WITH ALBRIGHT

[04] NEW YORK, Sept 25 (A.A) - Ismail Cem, Foreign Minister, met on Friday with Madeleine Albright, the U.S. Secretary of State, in New York. At the meeting, Albright conveyed the U.S.' suggestion to Cem, and asked Turkey to support the international call for the two leaders on Cyprus to start unconditional negotiations. Turkish officials did not give any detailed information about the meeting between Cem and Albright, but told the A.A correspondent that the meeting was positive. Meanwhile, the U.S. sources pointed out that the Washington Administration has given priority to bring two leaders together in New York within framework of the call of Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the United Nations. Diplomatic sources noted that the U.S. expects Turkey to convince President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to start the negotiations. At her meeting with Cem, Albright gave signals that the U.S. President Bill Clinton will reiterate the same suggestions when he come together with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. The meeting between Prime Minister Ecevit and President Clinton will take place at the White House on Tuesday. The issue of ''Cyprus Pressure'' which was brought onto agenda of the bilateral talks at the United Nations General Assembly meetings, is expected to discussed during President Clinton's visits to Turkey and Greece in November, and during the European Union (EU) Summit in Helsinki in December. In earlier statements, President Denktas stressed that he would not participate in the negotiations unless TRNC's state status is recognized on the international platform.

[05] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM MEETS WITH HIS ISRAELI COUNTERPART LEVY - CEM: ''WE DISCUSSED REGIONAL ISSUES'' - LEVY: ''THERE WAS NOT A JOINT OPERATION OF TURKEY AND ISRAEL''

[06] NEW YORK, Sept 25 (A.A) - David Levy, the Foreign Minister of Israel, said Turkey and Israel had not practiced a joint operation against anybody, adding that Turkey was contributing to the Middle East peace process completely, it was reported on Friday. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem met with David Levy at the Turkish House in New York. When asked following the meeting whether Turkey and Israel had staged a joint operation, David Levy said, ''there was not such a military operation. These relations are not against anybody. These are friendly and peaceful relations. We were always ready for cooperation concerning the peace process. These statements include not only the peace between Israel and the Arab countries but also the peace in the whole region. Turkey is a very important country of this region and she completely conributes to this process.'' Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said they had discussed the regional issues, adding, ''we have reiterated our support to the peace process.'' Noting that hey had also reviewed the bilateral relations, Cem said, ''we do not have any concerns about any issue.'' Later, Ismail Cem met with his Greek counterpart Yorgo Papandreu at the U.N. Plaza Hotel.

[07] CEM MEETS WITH HIS IRAQI COUNTERPART AL-SAHAF

[08] NEW YORK, Sept 25 (A.A) - Ismail Cem, Foreign Minister, met on Friday with his Iraqi counterpart Mohammad Al-Sahaf in New York. Responding to questions of journalists following the meeting which lasted for 35 minutes, Cem thanked Iraq who sent humanitarian aid worth of 10 million U.S. dollars in the wake of the 7.4-magnitude quake which devestated northwestern Turkey on August 17. Cem told the reporters that the foreign ministry undersecretaries of the two countries would come together in Ankara in coming days. The meeting is expected to focus mainly on economic issues. Stressing that Turkey's opinion regarded with the United Nations Security Council's draft resolution concerning Iraq, was conveyed to the members of the Security Council, Cem recalled that Iraq did not adopt the draft resolution. Meanwhile, Al-Sahaf did not make any statement after the meeting.

[09] 10 TERRORISTS KILLED WHILE TWO OTHERS SURRENDER TO SECURITY FORCES

[10] DIYARBAKIR, Sept 25 (A.A) - A total of ten terrorists were killed in the operations launched by the security forces in southeastern Batman, Sirnak and Diyarbakir provinces, and eastern Tunceli province, it was reported on Saturday. Officials at the Emergency Rule Region Governor's Office told the A.A correspondent that two terrorists have surrendered to the security forces in Yuksekova county of Hakkari province, and in Silopi county of Sirnak province. Meanwhile, one terrorist was captured in Cirali region in Tunceli province. Operations are underway in the region.

[01] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AKBULUT: - ''MERVE KAVAKCI WILL BE AGAIN A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT IF THE INTERIOR MINISTRY SENDS AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT STATING THAT SHE IS A TURKISH CITIZEN''

Akbulut, who opened the Fierra company's plaza in Ankara, answered the question of journalists.

When reminded of the rumors that Merve Kavakci could be again a member of the Parliament after becoming again a Turkish citizen by marrying with a Turkish man, Akbulut said, ''Merve Kavakci will, of course, again a deputy if the Interior Ministry sends us an official document stating that she is a Turkish citizen.''

When asked whether Merve Kavakci's membership to the Parliament depended on the Interior Ministry, Akbulut said, ''of course...There is a General Directorate of Citizenship. If an official document saying that she gained Turkish citizenship is submitted to the Parliament, Merve Kavakci will of course be again a deputy.''

''For the time being, Kavakci is not a deputy because she is not a Turkish citizen. In accordance with the Constitution and Election Law, a person should be a Turkish citizen to be elected as a deputy,'' he said.

Kavakci was stripped off Turkish citizenship as she had taken oath of allegiance to the U.S.

The Council of State dismissed the case initiatied to reverse an earlier ruling to revoke the Turkish citizenship of Merve Kavakci.

[02] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT DUE TO U.S.

The Prime Ministry Press Center issued a statement saying that

Cumhur Ersumer, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources; Recep Onal, State Minister; Ismail Cem, Foreign Minister; Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu, Industry and Trade Minister; and several deputies will accompany Prime Minister Ecevit during his visit to the U.S.

Ecevit who will come together with Turkish businessmen on Monday at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C., is expected to visit the tomb of the American Unknown Soldier the same day.

Prime Minister Ecevit is scheduled to meet with Al Gore, the U.S.

Vice President on Tuesday at the White House. Later, he will come together with the U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Rahsan Ecevit, wife of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, will come together with Hillary Clinton, first lady of the U.S. in a luncheon.

Later on Tuesday, Ecevit will make a speech at the Washington Institute For Near East Policy.

On Wednesday, Ecevit will receive separately James Wolfhenson, President and Chairman of Executive Directors of the World Bank, and Michael Camdessus, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), at the Blair House.

He will attend the luncheon at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel's Ball Room which will be hosted by the National Press Club.

Ecevit will also hold talks with Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives; Jesse Helms, Chairman of Foreign Relations Committee of the U.S. Senate; and with several senators.

After attinding the opening ceremony of the annual meetings of the Turkish- American Associations Assembly on Thursday, Ecevit will proceed to New York.

In New York, Ecevit will receive representatives of the Jewish Organizations in the U.S., and directors of Turkish-American Associations Federation.

Ecevit who will come together with Henry Kissinger, the U.S. former Secretary of State, and with several opinion makers at breakfast on Friday, is scheduled to attend the meeting which will be organized by the Turkish- American Council and the Foreing Economic Relations Committee.

He is expected to attend the meetings of the Foreign Policy Association, and the Industrialists and Businessmen Association of Turkey (TUSIAD).

Ecevit and accompanying delegation are expected to return to Turkey on October 2.

Prime Minister Ecevit will stage a press conference at the Esenboga Airport prior to his departure.

[03] CEM MEETS WITH ALBRIGHT

[04] NEW YORK, Sept 25 (A.A) - Ismail Cem, Foreign Minister, met on Friday with Madeleine Albright, the U.S. Secretary of State, in New York. At the meeting, Albright conveyed the U.S.' suggestion to Cem, and asked Turkey to support the international call for the two leaders on Cyprus to start unconditional negotiations. Turkish officials did not give any detailed information about the meeting between Cem and Albright, but told the A.A correspondent that the meeting was positive. Meanwhile, the U.S. sources pointed out that the Washington Administration has given priority to bring two leaders together in New York within framework of the call of Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the United Nations. Diplomatic sources noted that the U.S. expects Turkey to convince President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to start the negotiations. At her meeting with Cem, Albright gave signals that the U.S. President Bill Clinton will reiterate the same suggestions when he come together with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. The meeting between Prime Minister Ecevit and President Clinton will take place at the White House on Tuesday. The issue of ''Cyprus Pressure'' which was brought onto agenda of the bilateral talks at the United Nations General Assembly meetings, is expected to discussed during President Clinton's visits to Turkey and Greece in November, and during the European Union (EU) Summit in Helsinki in December. In earlier statements, President Denktas stressed that he would not participate in the negotiations unless TRNC's state status is recognized on the international platform.

[05] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM MEETS WITH HIS ISRAELI COUNTERPART LEVY - CEM: ''WE DISCUSSED REGIONAL ISSUES'' - LEVY: ''THERE WAS NOT A JOINT OPERATION OF TURKEY AND ISRAEL''

[06] NEW YORK, Sept 25 (A.A) - David Levy, the Foreign Minister of Israel, said Turkey and Israel had not practiced a joint operation against anybody, adding that Turkey was contributing to the Middle East peace process completely, it was reported on Friday. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem met with David Levy at the Turkish House in New York. When asked following the meeting whether Turkey and Israel had staged a joint operation, David Levy said, ''there was not such a military operation. These relations are not against anybody. These are friendly and peaceful relations. We were always ready for cooperation concerning the peace process. These statements include not only the peace between Israel and the Arab countries but also the peace in the whole region. Turkey is a very important country of this region and she completely conributes to this process.'' Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said they had discussed the regional issues, adding, ''we have reiterated our support to the peace process.'' Noting that hey had also reviewed the bilateral relations, Cem said, ''we do not have any concerns about any issue.'' Later, Ismail Cem met with his Greek counterpart Yorgo Papandreu at the U.N. Plaza Hotel.

[07] CEM MEETS WITH HIS IRAQI COUNTERPART AL-SAHAF

[08] NEW YORK, Sept 25 (A.A) - Ismail Cem, Foreign Minister, met on Friday with his Iraqi counterpart Mohammad Al-Sahaf in New York. Responding to questions of journalists following the meeting which lasted for 35 minutes, Cem thanked Iraq who sent humanitarian aid worth of 10 million U.S. dollars in the wake of the 7.4-magnitude quake which devestated northwestern Turkey on August 17. Cem told the reporters that the foreign ministry undersecretaries of the two countries would come together in Ankara in coming days. The meeting is expected to focus mainly on economic issues. Stressing that Turkey's opinion regarded with the United Nations Security Council's draft resolution concerning Iraq, was conveyed to the members of the Security Council, Cem recalled that Iraq did not adopt the draft resolution. Meanwhile, Al-Sahaf did not make any statement after the meeting.

[09] 10 TERRORISTS KILLED WHILE TWO OTHERS SURRENDER TO SECURITY FORCES

[10] DIYARBAKIR, Sept 25 (A.A) - A total of ten terrorists were killed in the operations launched by the security forces in southeastern Batman, Sirnak and Diyarbakir provinces, and eastern Tunceli province, it was reported on Saturday. Officials at the Emergency Rule Region Governor's Office told the A.A correspondent that two terrorists have surrendered to the security forces in Yuksekova county of Hakkari province, and in Silopi county of Sirnak province. Meanwhile, one terrorist was captured in Cirali region in Tunceli province. Operations are underway in the region.

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