Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-02-14

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[01] AA News

14 February 2000 Monday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

ECEVIT PRAISES FETHULLAH GULEN'S SCHOOLS
Ecevit, during a meeting with businessmen in Romania, praised Fethullah Gulen's schools where he opened in overseas countries. Ecevit said these schools had great contribution's in Turkey's promotion and said he felt proud.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

AN IMAM ARRESTED IN ELAZIG
An imam was arrested in Aricak township of eastern Elazig province in operations against the illegal terrorist Hezbollah organization. Abdulbehzat Saritunc was sent to prison.

TURKEY TAKES THREE MEDALS IN EUROPEAN KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Turkish sportsmen took one silver and two bronze medals in the European Youth Karate Championships organized in Celje, Slovenia.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

DENKTAS:''EU WANTS UNIFIED CYPRUS''
Rauf Denktas, the President of the Republic of Northern Cyprus said EU did not want to accept the membership of a Cyprus which is split into two. ''Turkey sacrificed its sons to reach a settlement in Cyprus. Our confederation proposal is a unifying suggestion,'' he said.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

DEMIREL'S FUTURE TO BECOME CLEAR THIS WEEK
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said they would apply for a constitutional change about President Demirel's term of office this week. The negotiations for presidency are expected to finalize this week while the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) is continuing to keep its distance with Demirel. It was also found interesting that Demirel cancelled his visit to the U.S. during the time of the negotiations.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

WORLD TURKISH BUSINESSMEN GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CONVENE IN ISTANBUL
World Turkish Businessmen Third General Meeting will take place in Istanbul between April 10 and 11. Almost 2 thousand Turkish businessmen will attend the meeting which will be held at the Lutfi Kirdar Congress and Exhibition Hall under the auspices of President Suleyman Demirel. President Suleyman Demirel is expected to make the opening remarks, and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit is expected to participate as a speaker. The meeting will be presided by businessman Sakip Sabanci.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

DENKTAS: ''EU DOES NOT ACCEPT GREEK CYPRIOTS''
President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said, ''the European Union (EU) does not accept a divided Cyprus. The recent rapprochement between Turkey and Greece can be resulted in a new agreement on the island.''

[03] DENKTAS:''POSITIVE ATMOSPHERE GROWING BETWEEN GREECE AND TURKEY WOULD HELP TO REACH A SETTLEMENT ON THE ISLAND''

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit met Denktas at Ankara's Esenboga Airport who returned from his official visit in Germany on Sunday night.

Denktas said they were happy about Turkish-Greek raproachment; however, the Greek Cypriots were worried about the thawing relations between the ''two main states.''

The TRNC President said during his visit to Germany, he explained to German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer their Cyprus policy. Dektas told Fischer that they wanted the unification of two equal administrations and noted that a better cooperation will be possible in Cyprus once the Greek Cypriots accept this view.

After Turkey's EU candidacy was approved, Denktas said, they had the chance to explain the Cyprus problem in EU capitals and some high level EU executives asked to visit Cyprus and he gave them appointments.

If the Greek Cypriots change their views, there will be better cooperation opportunities and Turkish-Greek friendship will contribute to the solution of the problem, he pointed out.

Ecevit said Denktas has been working to make the world hear TRNC's voice for a quarter of a century. ''TRNC's existence can no longer be denied,'' he noted.

Everybody now accepts that there is a separate state in Cyprus, Ecevit said and added that a more efficient way will be tried to reach a solution if the Greek Cypriots also admit this fact.

Denktas is expected to give a conference to Military School students in Ankara on Monday and return to TRNC on Wednesday.

[04] DIRECT SUPPORT TO AGRICULTURE PROJECT

Directorate General of Title-deeds and Cadastre's works will form the infrastructure of the Direct Support project.

Authorities from the Directorate General of Title-deeds and Cadastre told A.A that the project will become clear through the applications that will be carried out in pilot regions. They also drew attention to the definition of farmer since this effects the cost of the financial support that will be given. ''Who is farmer, who is producer, and who is producing what? We will find these out and then we'll do a production planning,'' the authorities said.

There are 60 million parcels in Turkey and more than half of this is agricultural land.

In the meantime, the World Bank finds the title-deed registration system of the Directorate sufficient to get direct support to agriculture. The World Bank also wants the training of farmers by the private sector. The World Bank wants to follow the developments in this field through an advisor company which it will choose.

The authorities reminded that the World Bank started a similar project in Romania which covered 4 million farmers. This figure in Turkey is 10 times greater than in Romania, but Turkey has a better infrastructure compared to Romania, they noted.

On the other hand, only 35 percent of Turkey's parcels is registered in the computer system in Turkey. Authorities said they need 3 years to computerize title-deed information and 10 years to computerize cadastre registration. They need 103 million U.S. dollars for the computerization project.

A data-base for the Finance Ministry and courts will be formed once the computerization project is completed.

[05] CONSTRUCTION OF UNDER-WATER PART OF BLUE STREAM PROJECT STARTED

The Italian ENI company started the construction of the pipelines which will transfer natural gas from Russia to Turkey under the Black Sea.

Besides the ENI company, French Bouygues company, Katran-K and Japanese Mitsui, Sumitomo and Itochu companies are working in this project.

The first part of the initiatives includes the engineering, the examination of the under-water route, the determination of the special equipment that will be used in the construction of the under-water pipelines and the tests.

The Russian natural gas will be transferred from Zapolyarnoye and Beregovoye regions of Russia to Izoblynoye region. Later, the natural gas will reach Samsun through the pipelines constructed under the Black Sea.

[06] TURKS LIVING IN FRANCE, LAUNCH SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN AGAINST ARMENIAN DRAFT

The Turkish Associations Federation started to send the signatures collected in the campaign which was launched against the possibility of including the so-called Armenian genocide draft in the agenda of the French Senate, to Jacques Chirac, the French President; Christian Poncelet, the Chairman of French Senate; Lionel Jospin, the French Prime Minister; and Hubert Vedrine, the French Foreign Minister.

The French Senate is expected to discuss whether or not to include the draft in the agenda of the Senate during the Speakership Council which will be held on February 22, 2000.

The draft which was ratified by the French Parliament and submitted to the Senate for approval, foresees the official recognition of so-called Armenian genocide allegation in France.

Officials said that the Armenian lobby in France will play an important role in the inclusion of the draft in the agenda once more.

Turkey expressed concern over the inclusion of the draft in the agenda of French Senate last week by calling the French Ambassador to Turkey to the Foreign Ministry and by the initiatives of Turkey's Embassy in French Foreign Ministry.

[07] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''LASTING PEACE CANNOT BE ENSURED IF THE ACTUAL SITUATION ON CYPRUS IS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION''

Demirel had a meeting with Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Turkey supports reaching a lasting peace on Cyprus from the very beginning, Demirel noted.

Demirel said, ''there are two actual states on Cyprus at the moment. Assuming the state which is in the south of the island as the state of the whole island, and denying the existence of the TRNC block the peace initiatives.''

''I hope the Cyprus proximity talks will become successful and next steps can be taken. Turkey and the TRNC have always put forward their good will for reaching peace on the island,'' Demirel added.

Demirel stated that Denktas carried out the proximity talks with good will.

He hopes that the third round of proximity talks will also be successful, Demirel added.

Denktas said that they want the recognition of the sovereignty and democracy of the TRNC within the framework of the rights and liberties.

''We want the Greek Cypriots to establish a friendship under equal conditions, to unite in some definite areas and to fulfil the international responsibilities under a single Cyprus flag which depends on the principle of two states,'' Denktas said.

Denktas noted that the Greek Cypriot side's policy of converting the island into a Greek Cypriot republic, is an invalid policy.

Denktas said, ''Turkey has a guarantorship right on Cyprus which results from the international agreements. Turkey will never permit the establishment of a Greek Cypriot republic.''

He hopes that the Cyprus proximity talks will give positive results, Denktas stated.

Denktas continued, ''we expressed our ideas to the diplomats during the Cyprus proximity talks. No developments were marked in Cyprus by claiming that there is a single state on Cyprus. The Greek Cypriots spent all the money they should have spent on whole Cyprus, on themselves; they got armed under the title of 'legal Cyprus government' and they pursued a policy which closed its doors to the peace talks.''

''Now, they continue their activities to own whole of Cyprus by their initiatives in the European Union (EU). We felt uneasy when the EU closed its doors to Turkey. The announcement of Turkey's EU candidacy indicates that the Greek Cypriot policy is in an impasse,'' Denktas added.

[08] DTM'S REPORT ON FOREIGN TRADE

The report said total exports in 1999 decreased 3.8 percent, and exports of especially steel-iron were affected negatively by the Asia crisis, and all of the sectors were badly affected by the Russia crisis according to the Exporters' Union data.

It said the negative effect of Russia crisis on foreign trade reduced but it would take a specific time to reach the former level in exports to Russia.

The report said there were sharp decreases in exports of agricultural goods, mining products, metals except iron, all chemical industry products except mineral fuel and oil, organic and inorganic chemical substances, steel-iron products, textiles, ready-to-wear products, glass, electric machines and evices, shoes and leather clothings according to the data of the State Institute of Statistics (DIE) for January-November 1999 period.

During this period, the exports of motor vehicles increased 76.4 percent.

It said the exports in January 2000 increased 8.4 percent according to the data of the Exporters' Union.

There were considerable increases especially in exports of leather products, automotive industry products, electric and electronic devices and machines.

It said the exports of textiles and ready-to-wear products recorded an increase after a declining trend that continued till the ed of 1999, inspiring hope to total exports in 2000.

The report said the exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) increased 1.5 percent for the first time since March 1998 while declining trend in exports to Middle Eastern countries continued also in January 2000 with a 2,9 percent decrease.

It said the exports to Northern Africa dropped 12,1 percent while the exports to the U.S. started to increase since September 1999 as a result of the supplementary quotas, and the exports to the U.S. increased 24.3 percent in January 2000.

The highest increase in exports in January was recorded in automotive products with a 65.7 percent while exports of olive and olive oil decreased 68.2 percent.

Meanwhile, the decrease in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) last year led to an important shrinkage in imports.

The impots decreased 14.6 percent in January-November 1999 period compared to same period in 1998.

[09] TURKEY PROPOSES TO TAKE PART IN EU RAPID DEPLOYMENT FORCE

Foreign Ministry sources said Turkey defends setting up an institutional framework which will enable full participation of the non-EU member European countries to the new structure, protecting and further developing the acquisitions in the WEU.

Ankara, within the framework of provisions included in Strategic Concept and Washington Summit statement, thinks that a daily planning should be done, and regular participation to consultations should be provided on issues regarding European security.

Sources said other issues which Turkey adopted related with the issue are:

''-Full and equal participation of Turkey in the process of operations under the pioneership of the EU in which NATO facilities and abilities will be used, and its implementation stage.

-In operations under the pioneership of the EU in which NATO facilities and abilities will not be used, Providing participation of Turkey to decision making process and full and equal participation of Turkey to decision mechanism related with the operation.

Ankara attributes importance to the establishment of an institutional relationship between NATO and the EU basing on ''reciprocity and transparency,'' and believes that it will be beneficial if this relationship is carried out in the basis of a framework agreement that will be staged between the two organizations. Ankara is a member of the NATO, and formal candidate of the EU.

Meanwhile, Ankara decided to announce its proposal to join in the EU Rapid Deployment Force, and started required initiatives. The EU Rapid Deployment Force was decided to be established during the EU Helsinki summit. Ankara wants to join in the Force as a sign of its will to contribute to the efforts to improve ESDI. Ankara proposes to join in the force with a unit in brigade level, that is supported by adequate number of sea and air elements.

The Helsinki summit adopted a basic target that the EU member countries should keep ready a 60,000 people Rapid Deployment Force, composed of 15 brigades as of the year 2003, to be transferred to a crisis region in 60 days within the framework of a military operation.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem sent letters to Foreign Minister of Portuguese, the EU Term President, and foreign ministers of other EU member countries, and conveyed Turkey's views and expectations pertaining to temporary and permanent structures that were decided to be estabished in Helsinki summit.

Efforts were initiated in Helsinki summit for the formations like Political and Security Committee, European Military Committee, and Military Headquarters, within the framework of European Joint Security and Defense Policy.

Turkey, acting on the fact that it contributed a lot to European security and defense since 1952, plans to carry out its initiatives in high level to meet its expectations regarding participation of new structuring.

Ankara expects the EU to show the common sense to determine a satisfactory arrangement regarding the participaton of European NATO allies which are not the EU members, like Turkey.

[10] MEMBERS OF TURKISH AND GREEK CYPRIOT POLITICAL PARTIES CONVENE IN BUFFER ZONE

The Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot parties which convened by the initiatives of Dusan Rosbora, the Slovakian Ambassador to the Greek Cypriot side, evaluated the developments recorded in Cyprus question.

Following the meeting, Rosbora said that the meeting was held in a positive atmosphere and that both sides expressed their ideas about the Cyprus question.

The members of the political parties are ready to join the following meetings, and the next meeting will be held on May 8, 2000; Rosbora added.

Mustafa Akinci, the TRNC Deputy Prime Minister and the leader of the Socialist Liberation Party (TKP); Gungor Gunkan, the TKP Foreign Affairs Secretary; Serdar Denktas, the leader of the Democratic Party (DP); Mehmet Ali Talat, the leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP); and Alpay Durduran, a member of the Patriot Union Movement (YBH); participated in the meeting.

On behalf of the Greek Cypriot side, Keti Clerides of the Democratic Mobilization Party (DISI); Statis Kittis of the Democratic Party (DIKO); Dimitris Christophias and Vera Policarbon of the communist AKEL party; Vasos Lissarides and Doros Theodorou of the socialist EDEK party; George Vasiliu and Andres Ladas of the United Democrats (EDI); and Rudos Michalka, the third secretary of the Slovakian Embassy, joined the meeting.

[11] TURKEY AND CHINA SIGN AGREEMENT FOR COOPERATION IN COMBATTING CROSS- BORDER CRIMES

After their two-hour meeting at the State Guest-House in Beijing, Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan and Chinese Public Security Minister Jia Chunwang signed the ''Agreement for Cooperation in Combatting Cross-Border Crimes''.

The agreement, which is composed of twelve articles, foresees exchange of information and experience, education and technical support, and cooperation in combatting international terrorism, illicit drug and arms trafficking, human smuggling, counterfeiting and money laundering.

The agreement stressed that measures would be taken against separatist activities targetted territorial integrities of both countries.

Addressing the ceremony, Tantan said, ''Turkey and China are the countries that are developing in their regions, and they are candidate countries for being the power their regions.''

Tantan said the security cooperation agreement will pioneer the development of economic and political relations, and bring friendship and relations between Turkey and China to a higher level.

Tantan said the Chinese side briefed them on the Falun Gong sect, which became a serious problem in China, and the Uighur issue was evaluated within the scope of struggle against terrorism.

Jia Chunwang, in his part, said they attach great importance to Tantan's visit, adding that the agreement will bring peace to the Turkish and Chinese peoples.

Later, Saadettin Tantan and accompanying delegation visited Beijing Public Security Control Center. The Turkish delegation was given a briefing in the Center, and Tantan met with Beijing Public Security General Director Qiang Wei.

Addressing the meeting, Qiang Wei expressed his pleasure over the progress recorded in relations between Turkish and Chinese police and gendarme.

Tantan, who will meet with Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji early on Tuesday, will later proceed to Shanghai.

The Turkish delegation will leave China on Thursday.

[12] FM CEM: ''EACH STEP FORWARD PAVES THE WAY FOR NEW STEPS''

Cem spoke in the opening ceremony of the two-day meeting which is held in Berlin with the participation of Turkey's chief consuls in Western Europe.

Turkey has become a world state and is taking the most pretentious renewal steps of her history, Cem noted.

Cem stated that a new Turkey is being formed up with her understanding, institutions, relations, democracy, economy, and geography.

''We are making reforms in our economic habits, production technology, and organizational skills. We have to make reforms because we want to be among the pioneers of the universal reforms rather than being the rear guards,'' Cem said.

Cem stressed that Turkey is determined about her foreign policy.

''This determination creates confidence among our interlocutors and are respected. Our attitude which looks for the common points of the mutual interests, provides opportunity for constructive formations. Each step forward in foreign politics paves the way for new steps. Turkey has become a world state which accelerates the development of the changing world but which claims the basic values of the humanity,'' Cem added.

Cem emphasized that the European Union (EU) and Turkey started to discuss the free movement and the public tenders, but that this is not the expected way of free movement.

Some services and the high-ranking officials will freely move between Turkey and the EU, Cem pointed out.

All these developments will have positive reflections on the 3,5 million Turkish citizens living in Western Europe, Cem said.

Cem continued, ''the problems that the Turkish citizens face for centuries, can be solved in a more high-ranking level in the EU. The Foreign Ministry is doing its best to positively reflect the results of the meetings with the EU, to our citizens.''

The Turkish citizens are not provided the visa facilities which the EU ensured to some of the candidate countries, Cem noted.

Cem said, ''we are also the pursuer of this issue. We are searching whether or not this application can have positive reflections on the Turkish citizens living in Europe. I want to inform everybody that the EU formation does not have an additional reflection on Turkey at this stage.''

The Turkish citizens living in Western Europe carry importance for Turkey, Cem stated.

Cem continued, ''our people is the bridge of the friendship between Western Europe and Turkey. They are the most important representative of Turkey in Western Europe.''

The success and the activities of the Turkish citizens living in Western Europe will contribute to Turkey's success and activities and to the developments that will be recorded by Turkey in the EU, Cem added.

The representatives of the Foreign Ministry, State Ministry responsible for the Turks living abroad, the Interior Ministry, the National Defense Ministry, the Justice Ministry, the Labour and Social Security Ministry, the National Education Ministry, the National Security Council General Secretariat, and the Religion Affairs Directorate; and Turkey's chief consuls and consuls in Germany, Austria, Denmark, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Britain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Norway are participating in the meeting.

[13] UTRECHT AID-TO-TURKEY FOUNDATION TO CONSTRUCT SCHOOL IN QUAKE ZONE

Bulent Okyay, the Chairman of the Foundation, told A.A correspondent on Monday that the foundation which was set up following the August 17 quake, managed to collect one million Dutch Florins which is equivalent to 279 billion Turkish liras.

A total of 470,000 Dutch Florin of this amount was met by the Utrecht Municipality, Okyay said.

Okyay noted that they will construct a 16-class elementary school in Sogutlu township of quake-hit Adapazari province.

They plan completing the construction of the school until the following school year, Okyay stated.

Okyay stressed that he will visit the region in the end of this month, and launch the initiatives for the construction of the school.

They will continue to collect aid until the school is constructed, and they expect that the aid will exceed 1.2 million Dutch Florins then, Okyay added.

[14] PRESIDENT DEMIREL:''WRONG EVALUATIONS ARE MADE BY CONSIDERING ONE OF MY STATEMENTS''

President Demirel said in a written statement published by Presidential Press Centre that wrong evaluations are made by taking up one of his statements.

The statement reminded the questions asked to President Demirel on February 12 and his answers to them as follows:

Question: Isn't the way of paying the money contrary to the logic of the functioning of the state?

Answer: The state acts in accordance with the conditions of the situation, meaning it can't always follow up the routine, particularly when the high interests of the state necessitate so. I don't mean the state acts unlawfully. But it has the right to to act beyond the routine.''

President Demiral also reminded the answer he gave to a question asked to him today:

Q: How do you evaluate the reaction of the Union of Bars against your statement saying that ''sometimes the state can act beyond the routine?''

A:I don't know what the Union of Bars said, but the other part of my statement is missing there. I said that 'the state can sometimes act beyond the routine, but it shouldn't act unlawfully. The state buys things and it does this in several forms. It puts out things to tender when it is necessary. This is what I say by 'routine.''

In another interview Demirel said that ''the state can't protect unlawful acts. The state can't murder people and order people to kill others. The state wants everything to be legitimate. Even when the state uses force, it uses legitimate force.''

[15] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS IN MILITARY ACADEMY: ''THERE IS PEACE BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECE, BUT ONE SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS THINKING CAN IT BE A GAME?''

Addressing to students in his conference on ''Cyprus question'' held in Military Academy in Ankara, Rauf Denktas said that Cyprus has a very important geopolitical importance for Turkey. He reminded the words of Ataturk, who said that ''if Cyprus is in the hands of enemy, it means that the supplies of Turkey are blocked.'' Turkey can't give up Cyprus, he said.

Denktas stressed that Greece and the Greek Cypriot side hasn't still given up its wish of claiming ownership over Cyprus, adding ''while making an agreement with these people, we should make one which they can't tear away like they did in 1960s.''

Turkish Cypriots suffered a lot for 11 years till the Peace Operation of Turkey staged in 1974, said Denktas and addressed to students saying ''War is not a good thing. You are trained here not to attack, but to protect this country.''

Greece's tactics is to make the Cyprus an EU issue without making Turkey a member of the EU, said Denktas, adding Greece plays the game of claiming ownership over Cyprus and urges Turkey to withdraw its soldiers from TRNC alleging that there is no need for her guarantee.

''The right which does not depend on sovereignty is not a right,'' said Denktas.

Responding to questions, Denktas said that they had earlier proposed Greek Cypriot side to solve the problem of mosquitos. ''We told them that

'mosquitos fly everywhere and let's kill them together,' but they told us no,'' said Denktas.

Upon a question about his meeting with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, Denktas said that the event was a big one, but it does not mean recognition of TRNC. Denktas said he hoped other EU countries would adopt the same approach.

''If others want us to be united, they should accept that we are 'two.' If you put a bridge between us, we can unite,'' Denktas said responding to another question.

Turkish-Greek friendship is ''rational,'' said Denktas, yet he added that one should be cautious. Describing Greek Foreign Minister Yorgo Papandreu as a ''constructive, gentle and rationalist'' politician, Denktas said that it will be better if Greek Premier Costas Simitis wins the elections of April 9.

''I hope the Greek government will re-evaluate the Cyprus question,'' Denktas said.

[16] FM CEM:''TANK ISSUE IS GERMANY'S INTERNAL PROBLEM''

Speaking to Turkish journalists, Cem said that German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer's invitation of TRNC President Rauf Denktas to Germany and their meeting was a positive development.

Denktas had the opportunity to directly explain the situation on Cyprus for the first time, said Cem and added that ''He'll have the opportunity to explain his right Cyprus matter in EU platforms from now on, so the effectivity of our national matter will strengthen. I consider this as an important change. This event and other formations which I expect to occur following that will give a new power to TRNC and Turkey.''

Cem stressed that Turkey's policy on Cyprus won't be effected by the EU candidacy, and added that ''I tell you this from the beginning, the same attitude of us continues. We expect the EU to examine the rightfulness and views of TRNC more carefully, listen to the right voice of TRNC and the EU platforms to be more sensitive about the problems of Turkish Cypriots. After the meeting with Fischer, Denktas can have some other important contacts within the EU plaftorm.''

Responding to a question about the German Leopard II Tanks, Cem said that ''Turkey opened a tender, those who wish can join it. This is Germany's own matter.'' When asked whether this tank issue can come to the agenda in his meeting with Fischer tomorrow, Cem said ''I don't think so. Germany expects friendship from Turkey and Turkey expects the same from Germany.''

Cem added that the reforms are undertaken in Turkey for the interests of Turkey not as EU wanted them.

[17] BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE PROJECT - FM DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY BALKAN: ''THE NEGOTIATIONS CAN YIELD A RESULT''

Mithat Balkan, the Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary who came to Baku to participate in the negotiations that started between Azerbaijani and Georgian working groups, told A.A correspondent that they aim at solving the problems.

''We further record progress. The issue has technical details and we work on these details,'' he said. They aim at urging the parliaments of the concerned countries to approve the project till the end of February, he added.

Georgian and Azerbaijani sides try to solve the problem of sharing the transit tariff fee.

Besides Mithat Balkan, the U.S. President Clinton's Special Counselor for Caspian Basin John Wolf is also expected to attend the working group's meeting on Tuesday.

[18] TURKISH-GREEK PAINTING EXHIBITION

Talay, who participated in the exhibition of Turkish and Greek painters staged for Turkish and Greek quake survivors, said that ''quake diasters didn't only reveal the pains, but also love and feelings.''

Artists are the architects of the friendship bridge between the two countries, said Talay.

Yannis Korantis, the Greek Ambassador to Turkey said in his part that ''when art speaks, diplomacy stops speaking. When I saw the spirits of Turkish and Greek artists this evening, I believed that this will be more effective than diplomatic efforts.''

The exhibition of the Greek painters including, Yannis Adamakis, Georgia Bliagu, Rena Dimitropoulos, Yevso Papadaki and Yorgos Cilalis, the Director of the Athens Aenaon Arts Gallery; is held with the cooperation of Ankara Branch of State Arts Academy Graduates' Association and Athens Aenaon Arts Gallery.

The exhibition will be open until February 27, 2000.

The same exhibition will be held in Greece between April 3 and 27, 2000.

[19] A.A

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