Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-02-16

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[01] AA News

16 February 2000 Wednesday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

FIRST PANDA OF TURKEY ON THE WAY
Chinese Public Security Minister Jia Chunwang will give a panda to Saadettin Tantan, the Minister of Interior and Tantan will give him a Van cat. The pretty panda will live in a zoo in Istanbul and a nurse will also come to Istanbul with the panda and train it in Istanbul.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

RUSH INTO POTATOS
While the Ministry of Agriculture Yusuf Gokalp ordered the preparation of an advertisement for consumption of the 5.5 tons of potatos, which couldn't be sold in Turkey, Esenyurt municipality gave 40 tons of potatos to citizens free of charge. The municipality will give 110 tons of potatos to citizens today.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

ECONOMY IS READY FOR IMF INSPECTION
The first meeting with IMF delegation will start today. Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp and Central Bank Governor Gazi Ercel are expected to stage a press briefing before the meetings and they will explain the studies undertaken in Turkey to fulfil the structural criteria formed within the scope of the stand-by with IMF. IMF's Chief of Turkey Desk Carlo Cottarelli will arrive in Ankara on February 18 and join the IMF delegation. The delegation is expected to stay in Turkey for 10 days and it will scrutinize the economic realizations of 1999 and take up those issues which were foreseen by the letter of intent.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

WEU WARNING FROM CEM
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said in Germany that Turkey is the country which mostly contributed to the NATO. Stressing that Turkey wants to participate in security formation, Cem said they did not want to slow down this development. Concerning West Europen Union's (WEU) security and defense policy, Cem said Turkey's contribution will be at the same level with its authorty.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

HEZBOLLAH'S WEAPONS IN VAN ARE FROM IRAN
It was revealed that Iran was the source of the weapons used by the Hezbollah terrorists who killed five policemen in Van. It was mentioned that police acted hesitantly in the operation as ''there were kids in the house''.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

WE DON'T KNOW
Bodies of Hezbollah terrorists, who were killed in the clashes in Van, were given to their families. Families said they did not know their relatives were members of terrorist Hezbollah organization. They said they cursed every kind of terrorism.

[03] AZERBAIJANI AND GEORGIAN DELEGATIONS NOT REACHED COMPROMISE YET

The Azerbaijani sources told A.A correspondent on Tuesday that the Azerbaijani and Georgian delegations could not reach a conciliation on the transit tariff price that Georgia will take per each barrel of oil which will pass through her territory.

Georgia demands 0.20 U.S. dollars of the 2.58 U.S. dollar amount which was determined to be taken per barrel while Azerbaijan thinks this amount is very high, the sources said.

The sources noted that Turkey can get only 1.59 U.S. dollars out of the total transportation price.

Hopes for reaching an agreement has not faded away by the initiatives of the Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Mithat Balkan, and U.S. President Bill Clinton's Special Envoy to the Caspian Basin John Wolf; the sources added.

If an agreement is reached between Azerbaijani and Georgian delegations, the agreement will be submitted to the parliaments of two countries for approval.

[04] BP AMOCO SAYS IT WANTS TO EXPORT NATURAL GAS TO TURKEY

Andy Hopwood, the President of the BP Amoco Azerbaijani Export Department, said that the natural gas agreement which was signed among Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia in November, formed the framework of the natural gas export from Azerbaijan.

If they take into consideration the results of the searches in the Shah Sea, this will make them confident that they can meet the demands in the market; Hopwood noted.

Hopwood stated that they can produce five billion cubic meters a year at the first stage and that they can increase this amount to 16 billion cubic meters later.

They have 150 billion cubic meter natural gas and 20 million tons of oil at the first stage, Hopwood stressed.

Hopwood emphasized that they will work together with the governments of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia to put into the market the natural gas in the winter of 2002 and 2003.

The natural gas will be transferred to Turkey through the new and present infrastructure, Hopwood pointed out.

Hopwood added that the engineering works are expected to be launched in the shortest time.

[05] DETENTION PERIOD OF ERDAL AND TWO OTHER PERSONS TO CONTINUE

The court decided to release the suspects on condition, but gave time to the Prosecutor's Office to object to the decision until this evening.

The Prosecutor's Office said that the suspects should not be released, so the Belgian Bruges Court decided to continue the detention period of the three suspects.

The lawyers of the suspects said that they will apply to the Supreme Court for the appeal of the decision.

Fehriye Erdal will also apply to the Gent Court on February 17, 2000 to oppose to the decision of the Bruges Court which evaluated Turkey's extradition demand as rightful and valid.

Erdal, one of the suspects of the assassination of Ozdemir Sabanci, Chairman of Sabanci Holding Automotive Group, was arrested in Belgium on September 26. Haluk Gorgun, Director General of Toyota-Sa and his secretary Nilgun Hasefe were also killed in the assassination on January 9, 1996.

Musa Asaoglu, and Hasan Saz, members of the illegal DHKP-C organization, who were arrested in a luxurious apartment in Knokke coat city together with Erdal, will be tried on charges of carrying weapons, terrorism, and using false passport.

Turkey had conveyed its request for the extradition of Erdal to Belgian Foreign Ministry on November 3, 1999. Bruges Court found the request as rightful and valid.

[06] REVUE DE LA PRESSE POUR LA JOURNEE DU 16 FEVRIER 2000

HÜRRIYET (Liberal)

LE "START" A ETE DONNE POUR LA REELECTION DE DEMIREL:

Le president Süleyman Demirel entrouvre de nouveau la porte du palais presidentiel de Çankaya a Ankara.

MILLIYET (Liberal)

"Je pense que le president Demirel obtiendra les 367 voix requises par l'Assemblee pour etre reelu president de la republique", a precise le Premier ministre.

SABAH (Liberal)

Les militants transportent les armes dissimulees sous le tchador.

CUMHURIYET (Centre-gauche)

LA PRESIDENCE DE LA REPUBLIQUE AU CENTRE DE NEGOCIATIONS:
Les leaders de la coalition vont se reunir pour debattre de la modification de la constitution pour l'election d'un president par le peuple.

RADIKAL (CENTRE-GAUCHE)

COOPERATION MIT-CIA POUR LA CAPTURE D'ÖCALAN":

Les services secrets turc et americain ont collabore pour la capture d'Öcalan.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATEUR)

Le scandale des armes disparues a Batman demontre une nouvelle fois la necessite d'un Etat de droit pour resoudre de telles affaires louches.

LA CHASSE A L'HIZBULLAH GRANDIT:
Les operations vont se repandre a travers tout le pays.

[07] ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY: ''TEST RESULTS SHOW CYANIDE LOSES ITS EFFECT IN THE INTERSECTION OF THE TISZA RIVER AND THE DANUBE INDICATE THAT THERE''

The Ministry noted that it thinks that the cyanide will lose all its effect as the Danube enters the Romanian territory.

The fish in the Tisza River started to die as the cyanide leaked out of a gold mine in Romania, the Ministry stated.

The Ministry stressed that it pursues the developments regarding this leakage.

''We have received information about this leakege by contacting the International Danube River Protection Commission. As the effect of the cyanide has decreased, it does not pose a threat for the Danube and the Black Sea anymore. However, the measurements in the Danube and the Tisza River still continue,'' the Ministry said.

The Ministry emphasized that it requested information from Turkey's embassies through the Foreign Ministry.

It also contacted the concerned universities and initiatives for measuring the Black Sea waters have been launched, the Ministry added.

[08] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''WE APPLAUD THE IMPROVING FRIENDSHIP ATMOSPHERE BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECE''

Speaking in the dinner staged in Ankara by the Kavaklidere Rotary Club, Denktas noted that a new friendship atmosphere occured between Turkey and Greece following the quakes but the friendship and diplomacy are two different things.

However, the Greek Cypriot side tries to prevent this friendship atmosphere, Denktas stated.

Denktas said that Greek Cypriot side is afraid that this friendship will reveal the realities in Cyprus.

''The Greek Cypriots are afraid that the Greece can tell them that she made a mistake in 1964 and that the Greek Cypriot side is not the legal government of Cyprus,'' Denktas added.

Denktas stressed that they do not launch initiatives with the European Union (EU) for two reasons.

One of these reasons is that the EU had not accepted Turkey's candidacy until 1999 and the other is that the Greek Cypriot side thinks that Turkey's guarantorship right on Cyprus can be annuled through the EU; Denktas emphasized.

Denktas continued, ''the Greek Cypriots thought that Turkey's guarantorship right can be annuled by assuming that Turkey could never become an EU candidate. Now, they have new plans. They want to benefit from the sincere atmosphere between Turkey and Greece. Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou is a civilized and realistic person who attributes importance to the relations with Turkey.''

''However, when the Cyprus question is taken into consideration, we face a 125-year policy. He expects commitments from Turkey. He wants the Turkish- Greek relations to be a model for Cyprus. He says that Turkish Cypriots should be given regional autonomy and the problem should be solved. They think that the problem will be solved when they make us a municipality,'' Denktas added.

Denktas reiterated that they want a confederation based on the principle of the states on Cyprus.

''If this does not happen, they will say that this is their internal affair and ask the others not to interfere. We want to create an atmosphere in which the Greek Cypriots cannot say, 'this is our internal affair. Don't interfere.' We are exerting efforts for a lasting peace. Then, Turkey will not have to interfere with the affairs of Cyprus. To this end, we want an agreement which will be signed between two separate states,'' Denktas said.

Denktas noted that he defended this thesis during the Cyprus proximity talks held in New York and Geneva and that this made Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides angry.

''He left the table. He issued a document and this document aimed at converting whole Cyprus into a land of Greek people,'' Denktas said.

Denktas stated that during his contacts in Europe, he wanted to find the answer to the question on whether or not Turkey can integrate with the EU in case she implements all the necessary reforms.

''The answers I received all said that time is needed for the integration. They all told me that this process can take 10 to 15 years. Although I asked why it would take 10 or 15 years, they did not answer. However, they said that they need time to accept Turkey,'' Denktas added.

[09] CYPRUS NEGOTIATION PROCESS TO CONTINUE MUCH FASTER

The Security Council President Arnaldo Listre issued a statement the same day and reiterated that ''the status-quo on Cyprus can't be accepted.''

''Security Council members commended the continuing commitment shown by the parties to the talks process, and welcomed the fact that the talks had been conducted in a positive atmosphere and without preconditions. The Council members encouraged the U.N. Secretary General and U.N. special representative to continue their efforts towards a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus question,'' Listre said.

The first round of proximity talks foreseing to form a common ground to solve the Cyprus issue, was held in New York in December, 1999 and its second round was held in Geneva in the beginning of February this year. A third round of talks is to begin in New York on May 23.

Alvaro de Soto, the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Representative to Cyprus informed the Security Council members about the second round of proximity talks the same day and responded to questions. Diplomatic sources said that De Soto told the Council members that ''the second round of proximity talks were concluded by success and he hopes the process will continue by gaining speed in the third round.''

De Soto also complained that the concerned sides didn't abide by the prohibition to speak put by the U.N., added that ''yet this attitude didn't affect the general goings-on of the talks.''

De Soto said that all issues about the Cyprus question were discussed during the second round. These issues called ''4+3'' are listed as: 1)Determination of the territory that will be left to the sides and its borders, 2)Exchange of property 3)Creating an atmosphere of confidence between the two sides 4)Disarmament 5)Guarantorship of Turkey 6)Recognition of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and 7)the confederation proposal put forward by the TRNC President Rauf Denktas.

Alvaro de Soto will visit Cyprus and the United Nations Peace-Keeping Forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in March. Soto is expected to settle in Cyprus in July.

[10] IMF DELEGATION STARTS ITS CONTACTS IN ANKARA

Sources said the IMF experts would visit Treasury Undersecretariat, Central Bank, State Planning Organization and Finance Ministry and get information about economic developments.

Sources said the IMF experts would collect economic statistics of 1999 till Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli will arrive in Turkey on February 18.

Carlo Cottarelli will come to Ankara on Friday and start his contacts.

Cottarelli earlier said they would take up economic realizations and performance criteria till December 1999 during the first meeting they would pay to Turkey within the framework of the stand-by deal.

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Cottarelli said they would give priority to the performance criteria.

Noting that they would also discuss the 2000 year economic programme, Cottarelli said they would discuss developments in January and targets for the future in the second part of the talks.

Cottarelli added that they expected to leave Turkey on February 26 but they would stay in Ankara till the end of the month if the talks were extended.

[11] LES PARTIES AZERBAIDJANAISE ET AMERICAINE REITERENT LEUR FIDELITE AU PROJET BAKOU-CEYHAN

"Lors de l'entretien, par ailleurs, le president Clinton a reitere son soutien a la resolution du conflit au Haut-Karabakh, dans le cadre d'un programme et d'une solution sur lesquels les parties azerbaidjanaise et armenienne pourront s'entendre", a-t-il declare.

Le Haut-Karabakh, enclave situee en territoire azerbaïdjanais, se trouve sous l'occupation armenienne depuis la fin d'une guerre, (fevrier 1988-mai 1994), qui a oppose azerbaidjanais et armeniens et qui a fait plus de 20.000 morts, en majorite des civils azerbaidjanais tues par les troupes armeniennes.

D'autres azerbaidjanais ont ete obliges de quitter le territoire et vivent aujourd'hui en exil.

Des accords ont ete signes en novembre dernier sous l'egide de Washington concernant la realisation du projet d'oleoduc strategique reliant Bakou a Ceyhan (Turquie), via Tbilissi.

[12] LA TURQUIE RETIRE SA CANDIDATURE DU CONSEIL DE SECURITE DE l'ONU

"Car la candidature pour un siege au sein du Conseil de securite de l'ONU necessite d'importantes ressources financieres", ajoute la meme source.

La Turquie a fait campagne depuis 1995 pour obtenir un des deux sieges de membre non-permanent au Conseil de securite alloues au pays occidentaux a l'occasion des elections d'octobre 2000.

L'Italie, la Norvege et l'Irlande briguent egalement ces sieges.

Le Conseil de securite a cinq membres permanents: les Etats-Unis, la Russie, la Republique Populaire de Chine, la France et la Grande-Bretagne et 10 membres non-permanents qui sont elus par l'Assemblee generale de l'ONU pour un mandat de deux ans.

[13] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM ADDRESSES DIE WELT: ''TURKEY'S JOINING EU AS A FULL MEMBER WON'T LAST LONGER THAN 15 YEARS''

Ismail Cem, who is currently in Berlin to participate in the meeting of Turkish consul generals of West Europe, addressed German Die Welt newspaper and said that giving EU membership perspective to Turkey at Helsinki summit is very meaningful for Turkey.

Turkey is more advantageous when compared to other candidate countries, said Cem and added that Turkey is the only candidate country which is a member of the customs union among others.

There is a delay in certain fields regarding fulfillment of political criteria, said Cem and pointed out that Turkey launches efforts to fulfil these criteria as soon as possible.

''Our membership to the EU is not that far. Our full membership to the EU won't last longer than 15 years,'' Cem said.

There is difference of opinion between Turkey and the EU countries about Southeastern problem, said Cem and added that Turkey is traditionally a state of tolerance and stressed that Turkey does not discriminate people in respect of race or origin.

Reminding that Turkey has not executed death penalty for 15 years, Cem said that many government members and himself support the abolishment of the death penalty in Turkey.

Cem said that the influence of military in Turkey isn't that much as claimed by West European countries, adding that Turkey abides by the majority of the decisions taken by the European Court of Human Rights.

Turkey tries to develop the southeastern Anatolian region, but the rooted feodal system makes difficult the implementation of development projects in that region, Cem said.

Foreign Minister Cem pointed out that the dam projects in the region cause differences of opinion with Syria, adding these projects are not harmful for any neighbouring country and in fact more water is given to Syria.

''We take seriously the concerns of Syria, but we think that they are not reasonable,'' said Cem and noted that negotiations will be held with Syrian officials in the first week of March.

The relations with Syria, Iraq, and Iran develop in a positive way in the last three years, said Cem and added that there is rapproachment with Syria particularly in the struggle with terrorism.

Referring to relations between Turkey and Greece, Cem said that ''in our meetings with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, we don't ignore the existing problems, but we also don't exaggerate them.''

Cem said that he believes the problems between the two countries will be solved in the near future, reminding Greece played a positive role for Turkey's candidacy at Helsinki summit. ''We can benefit from the experiences of Greece,'' said Cem.

Germany also played a positive role regarding Turkey's membership to the EU, said Cem and added that there is much progress recorded with this country in many fields.

Cem reminded that the trade volume between Turkey and Germany reached 12 billion dollars, adding Turkey wants to buy 1000 Leopard-II tanks from Germany, but contacts are also underway with other countries.

[14] TURQUIE-ECONOMIE: - DIVERS

Il se trouve a la tete d'une importante delegations de 120 personnes, precise-t-on de source officielle.

"Il est necessaire pour la Turquie et l'Italie de s'orienter vers une nouvelle cooperation plus large", a-t-il declare en ajoutant: "mon objectif: intensifier les relations economiques et commerciales entre la Turquie et l'Italie".

- Le chef du bureau charge de la Turquie au FMI, (Fonds Monetaire International), Carlo Cottarelli arrivera le 18 fevrier en Turquie pour des entretiens officiels.

Ses collaborateurs sont deja a Ankara, precise-t-on.

[15] PERMANENT HOUSING FOR QUAKE SURVIVORS IN MARMARA REGION

There are currently 50,000 people who need housing except for those who were left homeless after the November 12 earthquake, and 29,000 of them applied to the Ministry for housing so far.

The Ministry's studies also revealed that 4,364 work places also need to be rebuilt. No research has yet been done to find out how many people are entitled for housing after November 12 earthquake.

Authorities are planning to build 4,920 residences north of Ferizli in Sakarya for 22,140 people. 7,500 residences are planned to be built around Karaman village of Sakarya which will be inhabited by 33,750 people.

In Bekirpasa neighbourhood of Kocaeli 4,455 residences will be built for 20, 048 people. 13,050 people will live in 2,900 residences south of Golcuk.

Authorities said they agreed on an area to build the residences in Yalova and they are still working to find suitable area for quake survivors in Bolu and Duzce.

Construction of residences will be put out to tender in March.

The constructions will start in April and they are expected to be mostly completed before the end of the year. The buildings will have maximum three stories and they will reflect both traditional and modern architecture.

[16] RESIDENTS OF FIVE VILLAGES START PROTEST MARCH TO BERGAMA

The villagers of Camkoy, Narlica, Ovacik, Asagikiriklar, and Yenikoy, convened in Camkoy Square early this morning and started to walk to Bergama, which is nearly 12 kilometres away.

The villagers started their protest march in the Izmir-Bergama Highway, shouting slogans and under the tight measures of the gendarme forces.

Oktay Konyar, the Spokesman of the Bergama Environment Execution Board, said that they hope that the government will not remain silent against the gold mine which will work with cyanide following the disaster faced in Romania.

Konyar said, ''these people are defending their right to live. They do not only defend their right to live but defend the right to live of all the living things. They are protesting by walking in the streets, by being the opposition, and by resisting.''

The Esmeralda company which caused the disaster in Romania, is the partner of Eurogold which wants to establish the gold mine in Bergama, Konyar claimed.

Konyar continued, ''these companies led to massacres in the world. They do not only kill the living things, but also the human beings. They led to disasters by taking every kind of risk and overcoming every obstacle to produce gold. But, they cannot do this in Bergama, in Turkey, Esme, Haymana, and Efemcukuru because the citizens are aware of realities. The residents of Bergama are the pioneers of the other citizens.''

The protest march continues without any incidents. The police and the gendarme forces warn the people not to walk on the highway.

Despite the police and gendarme forces called the villagers to disperse twice, the villagers continue their protest.

[17] BRITISH TRAVELLER MAGAZINE PUBLISHES FOUR PAGE ARTICLE ABOUT CAPPADOCIA

Apart from Andrew Finkel's article about Cappadocia illustrated by mesmerizing fairy chimneys, the magazine also included some suggestions for those who were planning to travel to the area.

Finkel writes that a rural scene first welcomes you to Cappadocia. Later, you find yourself in the middle of an alluring place formed by volcanic eruptions in pliocene period occuring from 10 to 2 million years ago, Finkel says and gives a detailed account of the region's history.

Drawing attention to Cappadocia's significance for the Christians, Finkel tells about many churches and monasteries that are found among the fairy chimneys.

The walls in the open air museum are decorated with unusually beautiful frescoes, he writes. Finkel concludes his article by strongly suggesting readers to see Cappadocia and gives detailed suggestions for those who might be tempted to visit Cappadocia.

[18] IMF EXPERTS SAYS SETTING A FLEXIBLE TARGET FOR INFLATION RATE IS BETTER FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WHICH COMBAT INFLATION

In a study carried out by IMF expert Eric Clifton, it was said that inflation target must be between a flexible range in order not to cause confusion in the markets. According to Clifton, having an inflexible target for inflation and then failing to reach that target decreases the trust in the markets and gives Poland and Philippines as an example which failed to pull down the inflation rate in their countries to the desired level.

Setting a more flexible range have more successful consequences in the countries which try to pull down the inflation rate within a certain period and programme. Besides, Clafton says, an inflexible inflation target causes instabilities in the interest rates. If the inflation rate stays in the targeted range, then economy authorities will have the chance to loosen their monetary policies, he added.

The study also points out that countries like Israel who set a flexible target for themselves, generally become more successful in combating inflation.

[19] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: - ''DELAY OF GERMAN CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER'S VISIT TO TURKEY, DOES NOT AFFECT RELATIONS BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES''

Staging a press conference prior to his departure for Turkey, Cem noted that there were good relations between Turkey and Germany.

Cem said, ''Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit would like like to host Mr. Schroeder at an earlier date possible. But statesmen's visits can be delayed occasionally. We have good relations with Germany. Of course, there are some divergences between the two countries which is very natural. Delay of German Chancellor Schroeder's visit to Turkey does not affect our relations with Germany.''

Referring to Turkey's candidacy to the European Union (EU), Cem stressed, ''Germany made a considerable contribution to solution of Turkey's rightful matter in the EU. Turkey's EU candidacy is more important than candidacy of any other countries. Turkey is a very significant country with regard to balances of Europe, Eurasia and the world. Only the candidacy was sufficient for a strategical change.''

Emphasizing that conservative circles in Germany were disturbed by Turkey's EU candidacy, Cem said, ''German opposition parties did not welcomed Turkey's candidacy. They claimed that the EU's identity was changed after announcement of Turkey's candidacy. It is not that wrong. But this change was a positive one. They consider it as a negative change. We will try to speak to them. We understand their sensivity. We will try to set up dialogue with them to explain Turkey's conditions.''

Underlining the difficulty of serving to 3.5 million Turkish people in Western Europe, Cem said these people expected sympathy and understanding.

Stressing the importance of education of Turkish citizens living abroad, Cem said that they were representing Turkey.

Later, Cem left Berlin for Turkey.

[20] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''WE DEFENDED OUR CASE AND BELIEFS''

Denktas returned to the TRNC where he left on January 31, 2000 to participate in the second tour of proximity talks.

At the airport, Denktas noted that they had the opportunity to take up their case, beliefs, and the attitude of the Greek Cypriot side in Geneva.

The foreign diplomats held pleasing contacts in Geneva, Denktas stated.

Denktas stressed that the written statement that Greek Cypriot side leader Glafcos Clerides issued in Geneva put forward the Greek Cypriot thesis, and that they felt sorry when they saw that the thesis had not been changed.

''They want to own whole of Cyprus by the proximity talks. They earlier aimed at owning whole of Cyprus by the Akritas plan but they could not be successful in this plan,'' Denktas said.

Denktas emphasized that Clerides started to see the realities and that one day he will not oppose to a formation of two states.

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, who is a realistic person, had earlier said that the Turkish people and Greek Cypriots should take lesson from the cooperation between the Turkish and Greek nations and that the Turkish Cypriots should be granted regional autonomy, Denktas recalled.

Denktas pointed out that they felt sorry about Papandreou's regional autonomy proposal.

No agreement can be reached in Cyprus without the signature of the TRNC and without the recognition of the political equality of two sides, Denktas said.

Denktas noted that the external stones should change their attitudes and that thus, the Greek Cypriots can change their attitude.

His contacts in Germany were very positive, Denktas stated.

Denktas stressed that he met with the Turkish businessmen working in Germany and that these businessmen want to invest in the TRNC.

The Greek Cypriot side held contacts with the foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) countries, and asked them to turn a blind eye to TRNC, Denktas emphasized.

Denktas pointed out that the EU countries should listen to the Turkish Cypriots and understand the injustice which the TRNC faces for 36 years.

Responding a question on the third round meetings, Denktas said that if the third round meetings can be staged without any delays, this can mean that they are to mark a success.

The necessary groundwork should be laid for the face-to-face meetings, Denktas noted.

The equality should be recognized and both sides should be in a balance for the face-to-face talks, Denktas stated.

Denktas added, ''we have to be patient. We will get prepared for the third round talks with the support of Turkey.''

[21] "LE JOUR VIENDRA OU CLERIDES ACCEPTERA UNE FORMATION POLITIQUE A DEUX ETATS A CHYPRE", DECLARE DENKTAŞ

"Ce que les chypriotes grecs n'ont pas reussi a faire par la force des armes dans le passee, (rattacher l'ile a la Grece), ils essaient de le faire maintenant par la voie d'entretiens", a-t-il ajoute.

"Mais viendra le jour ou le drirgeant de la partie chypriote grecque, Glafcos Clerides, acceptera un pouvoir a Chypre base sur le principe de deux Etats", a-t-il precise.

A Geneve, M. Denktaş avait participe a deux tours d'entretiens indirectes avec M. Clerides concernant le probleme chypriote, sous l'observation d'Alvaro de Soto, representant special pour Chypre du secretaire general de l'ONU Kofi Annan.

La RTCN et la Turquie posent comme condition prealable a une solution sur l'ile la reconnaissance de la RTCN et proposent la creation d'une confederation.

Chypre est divisee en deux secteurs, turc au nord et grec au sud, depuis l'operation de paix de la Turquie en 1974 en riposte a un coup d'Etat des nationalistes grecs qui voulaient rattacher l'ile a la Grece.

[22] 2000 YEAR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PILOT PROJECT

Ankara Governor's Office hosted the promotion meeting of ''2000 Year Environmental Education Pilot Project'' developed by Environment and National Education ministries on Wednesday.

Noting that education has an important role in raising environmental awareness, Aytekin said.

''The facilities that will be constructed in Turkey have to be durable and survive natural disasters like quakes and floods. Investors and ministries must be very careful. That is why no decision has been yet taken about setting up a nuclear power plant,'' he said.

Yahya Gur, the Ankara Governor and Chairman of Protection of Environment Foundation (ANCEVA) said the ''2000 Year Environmental Education Pilot Project'' will be run at 16 elementary and 6 pre-elementary schools. The project aims to raise environmental awareness and will end on June 5 World Environment Day. Gur also noted that they wanted to widen the project and try it at all schools.

They bought iron baskets in which the students will put waste products like paper, glass, and plastic bottles in the application phase of the project. ''If we collect 1 ton of paper, 5 tons of wood will be saved. It takes 200 years for a plastic bag that is thrown in the nature to dissolve and mix with soil,'' Gur noted and asked inhabitants of Ankara to give support to their waste collecting campaign.

Nelka Inanc, the Head of Education Deparment of Environment Ministry said the students will be taken to garbage dumps within the framework of the project which will start on February 21. They will form environment teams in schools and they will give awards to students who showed good performance at the end of the project on June 5.

[23] TURQUIE-ECONOMIE : - DIVERS

"Nous, (les italiens), voulons retourner aux bons vieux jours dans nos relations avec la Turquie", a declare le ministre italien au commerce exterieur, Pierro Fassino.

"L'Italie est un pays qui veut cooperer avec la Turquie", a-t-il precise en reiterant le soutien de Rome a la candidature de la Turquie a l'Europe.

"Le Premier ministre italien Massimo D'Alema plannifie une visite en Turquie", a-t-il declare.

- Le Comite de consultation economique et social mixte turco-europeen se reunira jeudi a Bruxelles.

Au sommet d'Helsinki en decembre 99, les Quinze avait reconnu la candidature a l'Ue, (Union europeenne), de la Turquie.

[24] TURKISH COMMUNITY IN ASSEN REACTS AGAINST INITIATIVES TO BUILD AN ARMENIAN MONUMENT

Members of Turkish community visited the municipality and demanded annulment of decision allowing the construction of the monument.

Releasing a written statement after meeting with municipality officials, Turkish community stressed that the monument could damage peaceful and friendly atmosphere between Turkish and Dutch people.

Expressing their concerns over the monument, Turkish community in Assen called on municipality officials not to submit to an Armenian person's desire.

The statement noted that Nikolay Romashuk who wants to build the monument, was misleading officials by making different statements to municipality and to public opinion.

It emphasized that Romashuk's real target was to make people believe that Turks applied ''genocide'' on Armenian people, adding that this would mean insulting the Turkish nation.

The statement also stressed that the Turkish community in Assen would continue its legal struggle to stop construction of the monument.

Romashuk applied to the Assen Municipality to build a 7x4-metre monument in the entrance of the city. The municipality first accepted the application, but rejected it later. Romashuk's second application was accepted by the municipality officials. The Assen Municipality allowed Romashuk to build a monument in city graveyard.

While Assen Municipality says that the monument would not be too big and there would not be words referring to genocide on it, Romashuk defends that the monument would symbolize genocide on Armenian people.

[25] LA TURQUIE SE DECLARE PRETE A DES PRELEVEMENTS D'EAU EN CAS DE L'ARRIVEE DE LA CYANURE EN MER NOIRE

"La pollution a des chances d'arriver jusqu'a la mer Noire et la Marmara mais la concentration de cyanure devrait tomber sous la barre du taux legal", a-t-il declare par ailleurs.

Il souligne la necessite d'un accord international entre les riverains de la mer Noire en matiere de dechets toxiques pour empecher d'autre catastrophes de ce genre.

La pollution au cyanure, propagee accidentellement a partir d'une mine d'or roumaine debut fevrier, a poursuivi sa progression sur le Danube lundi, contaminant la Yougoslavie apres la Hongrie, et menaçant la Bulgarie.

Mardi matin cette pollution, partie du nord ouest de la Roumanie, n'avait pas encore atteint le secteur roumain du Danube.

Les experts roumains font valoir que le debit actuel du Danube, de 8.000 a 9.000 metres cubes par seconde, superieur a la moyenne, entrainera une forte dilution du cyanure.

[26] PAPANDREOU, GREEK FM, CLAIMS THAT ATHENS GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTED EQUALITY POLICY ON WESTERN THRACE TURKISH MINORITY

Papandreou met with Mehmet Emin Sinikoglu, and Mehmet Serif Damatoglu, who were appointed as Mufti of Xhanti and Dimetoka, yet were not recognized by Turkish minority.

Speaking after the meeting, Papandreou defended that Athens Government applied an equality policy on Turkish Minority in the basis of European principles. ''All the Balkan countries, which are our neighbours, should respect to these principles to maintain positive relations.''

Sinikoglu and Damatoglu, the Muftis appointed by Greece, speaking after their meeting with Papandreou and Costis Stefanopoulos, Greek President, claimed that Western Thrace Turkish Minority are living within the framework of equality principles.

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem had met with Mehmet Emin Aga and Ibrahim Serif, the elected muftis of Xhanti and Komotini, during his visit to Athens. Aga and Serif had voiced the problems which Western Thrace Turkish Minority have to face.

Greece, which restricts religion freedom of Turkish Minority in Western Thrace, does not recognize Aga and Serif, who were elected by Western Trace Muslim Turkish people.

[27] JPC EUROPEAN FLANK POSTPONES A MEETING SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN ANKARA ON FEBRUARY 22-23

JPC European Flank hold a session today, and decided to postpone the meeting with the pretext that Constitutional Court rejected their request to visit Leyla Zana, former deputy of banned Democracy Party (DEP), in prison.

A total of 10 parliamentarians voted in favor of the postponement of the visit in the session led by Daniel Cohn Bendit, Chairman of JPC European Flank. Only one parliamentarian voted against the postponement.

Most of the European parliamentarians said Pauline Green, Claudia Roth, and Catherine Lalumiere, former members of European Parliament, visited Zana in prison in the past, and critized that the visit was not allowed this time.

JPC members claimed that sensitivity of European Parliament should be understood by Turkey.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Nicole Fontaine, Chairperson of European Parliament, had sent a letter to Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut, to give facilities for visiting Zana in prison.

Turkey opposed to the visit of European parliamentarians under Article 152 and 155 of prisons regulations which forbid prisoners to meet with people except their relatives and lawyers.

Speaking at the meeting Cohn Bendit said they did not want to create a crisis because of Zana, yet that a chairmanship council should be convened soon including JPC's Turkish members, and that they should seek for ways to work together in a better way.

[28] PRESIDENT DEMIREL SPEAKS TO WALL STREET JOURNAL: ''30-40 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS FOREIGN CAPITAL WILL FLOW TO THE COUNTRY WITHIN 3-4 YEARS''

Speaking to Wall Street Journal, one of the influential daily of the U.S. finance circles, Demirel said those investments will be in the field of nuclear energy power plants, gas cycling stations, and electrity power plants.

Wall Street Journal claimed that the figures given by Demirel were ''the most optimistic estimations, and even two times the targets of the government'', and noted that, ''the estimations were the personal estimations of Demirel, and based on the struggle against inflation program which is supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF)''

In his statement to the Wall Street Journal, Demirel said, ''Turkey will definitely change. We have a high morale. This is an opportunity. Turkey will exert efforts to reach the European Union (EU) standarts in every field.''

Recalling that President Demirel offered a stability pact for the Caucasus, the daily quoted Demirel as saying, ''we do not desire to rule the Caucasus. They are trying to prove that they are independent, and we help them.''

[29] A.A

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