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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-05-08Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>AA News08 May 2000 MondayCONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN _These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 8, 2000. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their occuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)TREASURY: STAND-BY STARTS YIELDING RESULTSThe Treasury Undersecretariat, in assessment of the first four months of the enforcement of the stand-by agreement that Turkey had signed with the IMF, said that a considerable decrease in the inflation rate was recorded in the month of April. The Treasury said that Turkey thus gained access to a credit worth about 293 million U.S dollars. It also said that an IMF delegation was expected in mid-May, for a second revision of the stand-by agreement. TURKEY PUTS ON WEIGHT 'ECONOMIC STABILITY' CONFERENCE TO START MILLIYET (LIBERAL)SUCCESS OF THE COALITIONThe government of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit put signature under many operations that brought the perpetrators and orchestrators of many mysterious cases, assassinations and incidents of violence into light. The series of successful operations, whose no. 1 was the seizure of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, included the captures of Fehriye Erdal, one of the defendants of the Sabanci assassination, Erol Evcil, a defendant of the Malki murder case, tens of Hezbollah terrorists, and hundreds of PKK members. A MAGICAL ''SLEEPING BEAUTY'' VICTORY AFTER 10 YEARS SABAH (LIBERAL)ZULFU LIVANELI: AN IDEAL MODEL FOR YOUTHDisney Co., one of America's leading companies, put Turkish author and musician Zulfu livaneli in its 10- person list of ''Ideal Model for the Youth'' list. Livaneli was included in the said list for his ''artistic personality and his contributions to Turkey-Greece relations.'' The ten persons in the list will get together with the American youth in Orlando at the ''Millennium Dreamers'' meeting, between May 8 and 10, share their experiences with the participating youngsters, and deliver speeches. CHIBBER: ''TURKEY MAY NOT REACH ITS INFLATION TARGET, FAIR SERVES OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION ABROAD CUMHURIYET (LEFT)MURDER TO BE SOLVEDInterior Minister Saadettin Tantan said that there were the suspects of Ugur Mumcu assasination among the nine terrorists who were captured in Istanbul within scope of an operation started on February 21. ''The natiowide operations are under way,'' he said. The information and documents obtained during operations against Hezbollah on February 17 helped police to reach informative clues for Mumcu's assasination. In the interrogation, the suspects who favor having the Sharia's as the law of the land explained that they escaped from the place after planting the bomb together with Iranian spies one-two hours before the explosion. It was claimed that Muhsin Kargar Azad, the former Consul General of Iran, had planned the car-bomb attack. THERE ARE 18 RADICAL FUNDAMENTALIST ORGANIZATIONS IN TURKEY FOOTBALL TERRORISM IN BRITAIN CLAIMS ONE LIFE RADIKAL (LEFT)TWO IRANIANS IN 27 SECONDSYusuf Karakus, Abdulhamit Celik and two Iranian spies staged the car-bomb attack with the instructions of Hasan Kilic ahd Mehmet Sahin. The Iranians brought the bomb making material. The C-4 bomb was prepared in a house in Turkey. Karakus and Celik searched the street before the explosion. The two Iranian spies planted the bomb into Ugur Mumcu's car in 27 seconds and escaped from the place. ASSASINATION OF MUMCU SOLVED YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)IRAN CORNEREDIt has been known till the beginning that Iran had a finger in assasination of Ugur Mumcu but this time, the suspects ''clearly'' revealed the connection with Iran. Irfan Cagirici, a member of the Islamic Movement organization who was captured shortly after the car-bomb attack had said that they were trained in Iran and obtained weapons from Iran but it has been assumed that the attack was carried out by another radical fundamentalist organization which has connections with Iran. Seven years after the murder, Police found the organization explained by Cagirici. The nine suspects who are the members of ''Tevhid (Unification)'' organization confessed that they had prepared the bomb with the material and supplies they got from Iranians and later they gave the bomb to two Iranians in return for 500 thousand U.S. dollars. The suspects said those Iranians were visiting the Iranian Consulate and had connections with the Iranian Intelligence Service. Muhsin Kargar Azad, who is one of these two Iranians, had been deported together with eight Iranians in 1995 with charges of having involved in assasinations of journalists Cetin Emec and Turan Dursun. The Iranian Embassy refused the connections with Iran. CEM: ''WE DON'T HURRY IN AEGEAN'' TURKIYE (RIGHT)BRAVO TANTANInterior Minister Tantan who is determined to struggle with terrorist organizations and organized crime gangs solved the murder of Ugur Mumcu. During the portfolio of Tantan who was once upon a time a legendary police chief, the heads of organized crime gangs like Alaattin Cakici, Sedat Sahin, Kursat Yilmaz, Avyaz Korkmaz were captured and extradited to Turkey. Tantan said, ''as a result of an operation started on February 21, nine leading terrorists including the suspects of Ugur Mumcu assasination were captured.'' PUBLIC SUPPORT TO SEZER HOOLIGAN VIOLENCE IN BRITAIN 4.4-MAGNITUDE QUAKE IN MALATYA ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)MURDERERS CAPTUREDInterior Minister Saadettin Tantan issued a written statement on police operations in Istanbul, saying that nine terrorists including murderers of journalist-author Ugur Mumcu had been captured. ''The nationwide operations continue,'' Tantan said and added that the accused were questioned firstly in Istanbul. Tantan said they put ban on press as it was a secret investigation. Those nine suspects were later brought to Ankara under tight measures. Ugur Mumcu was assasinated on January 24, 1993 in a car-bomb attack. IRAN: ''WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONNECTION WITH THE SUSPECTS'' DIALOGUE BASE TO EURASIA [02] STATE MINISTER ONAL GOES TO SYRIA _ISTANBUL - State Minister Recep Onal said on Sunday, that Turkey is in favor of pursuing a policy based on national and regional interests, and added, ''Within this framework, we want to normalise ur relations with our neighbor Syria, and strengthen economic reltions.''Onal took off on Sunday evening for Damascus, where he is to attend the long delayed Mixed Economic Commission meetings. Speaking to newsmen before taking off from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Onal said that the trade delegation accompanying him during his 3 day visit to Syria, would be carrying out contacts with various officials and representatives of Syrian business circles, and added that he hoped every member of the delegation would exert efforts for the success of the Turkish Export Goods Fair to take place in Damascus. ''Turkey's traditional foreign policy has been based upon Ataturk's principle 'Peace at Home, Peace in the World'. Within this context, Turkey wants to base her economic and commercial relations with her neighbors on transparency and a fine balance. This is the way to render economic and commercial relations sustainable and concrete. We want to turn Turkey into the economic center of the Middle East. The extension of this intention involves not only political, but also economic relations. This is why I am taking a business delegation with me in this trip,'' Onal said. ''Our government is trying its best to meet the demands of the people. Our membership in the G-20 and our candidacy for EU membership are our advantages. We possess the most modern army of the Middle East. And that is the source of our power. We expect great public interest in the Turkish Export Goods Fair, which is part of the Fopreign Trade undersecretariat's efforts to further develop commercial relations with our neighbors. There is a great commercial potential for Turkey in Syria, we can increase our trade volume with Syria to one billion dollars,'' Onal added. Onal said in reply t a question if the 'water problem' would be taken up during his visit, that the 'water problem' was a political issue and added, ''We will focus only on economic issues.'' Onal is accompanied by Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursat Tuzmen, high level bureaucrats from various govermental bodies, and over 100 businessmen in his 3-day visit to Syria. The last Mixed Economic Commission meeting between Turkey and Syria had taken place in 1988. Until this year, they were cancelled due to Syria's PKK policies. State Minister Onal and the delegation accompanying him will return home on May 11. [03] SUSPECTS OF MUMCU'S ASSASINATION BROUGHT TO ANKARA _ANKARA - The suspects of assasination of journalist-author Ugur Mumcu were brought to Ankara late on Sunday.The nine suspects who were captured in Istanbul were brought to Ankara by Ankara State Security Court (DGM) Republican Prosecutor Hamza Keles, Anti-Terrorism Department Chief Cavit Cevik and anti-terrorism teams. The suspects were later interrogated at the Ankara Security Department's Anti-Terrorism Directorate. Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan said on Sunday that they captured nine leading terrorists including suspects of Mumcu's assasination within scope of operations. [04] SPORTS-EUROPEAN TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS - TURKEY BECOMES CHAMPIONPATRAS - The 13th European Taekwondo Championships in Patras, Greece ended on Sunday.At the end of the four-day championships at the Dimitrios Tofalas Sports Hall, Turkey took four gold and four bronze medals and became the champion. Turkey became the champion for the first time since 1990. [05] SPORTS-INTERNATIONAL FREE STYLE WRESTLING TOURNAMENT -TURKEY WINS 3 GOLD, 5 SILVER AND 2 BRONZE MEDALSANKARA - The 28th International Yasar Dogu Free Style Wrestling Tournament in Ankara ended on Sunday.The categories and medallists are as follows: 54 kg Gold : Mervere Almatin (Kazakhstan) Silver: Mevlana kulac (Turkey) Bronze: Largap Danduopy (Russia) 58 kg Gold : Harun Dogan (Turkey) Silver: Petro Toarka (Ukraine) Bronze: Aleksandre Kolyvanov (Russia) 63 kg Gold : Soslan Tomaev (Russia) Silver: Apheze Andsor (Ukraine) Bronze: Jamso Ukhamafapon (Russia) 69 kg Gold : Ahmet Gulhan (Turkey) Silver: Artour Tavka Zakhov (Russia) Bronze: Askorov Almazbek (Kyrgyzstan) 76 kg Gold : Aliev Chamil (Russia) Silver: Gokhan Yavaser (Turkey) Bronze: Mirlan Moldaliev (Kyrgyzstan) 85 kg Gold : Chadartsrv Macharbek (Russia) Silver: Nuri Zengin (Turkey) Bronze: Vadim Laliev (Russia) 97 kg Gold : Gueorgui Gogchelidze (Russia) Silver: Kasif Sakiroglu (Turkey) Bronze: Ahmet Dogu (Turkey) 130 kg Gold : Aydin Polatci (Turkey) Silver: Zekeriya Guclu (Turkey) Bronze: Ziya Guler (Turkey) [06] TRANSPORTATION MINISTER OKSUZ: ''WE ARE NEGOTIATING WITH 7 COUNTRIES FOR THE RE-CONSTRUCTION OF TUVASAS''AKYAZI - Enis Oksuz, Minister of Transportation said on Sunday that studies and negotiations for the re-construction the the Adapazari installation of Turkish Wagon Industies Inc. (TUVASAS), which had been damaged in the August 17th earthquake, are being continued.Speaking to newsmen during his visit to the Akyazi township of Sakarya, Oksuz said that negotiations regarding the re-construction of the said factory with seven countries were underway, and that there was no question of building that factory somewhere else, as had been promised to the people. Noting that their intention was to build a more modern factory with the help of foreign capital, Oksuz said, ''TUVASAS shall be rebuilt again in Adapazari.'' Completing his visit to Akyazi, Transportation Minister Enis Oksuz proceeded to Istanbul, where he was to attend an award giving ceremony. [07] TREASURY TO HOLD AUCTION TO SELL 15-MONTH PAPERS ON TUESDAYANKARA - The Treasury will hold an auction on Tuesday to sell 15-month debenture bonds.Treasury foresees a net sale between 500-700 trillion Turkish Liras (TL). The value date of the debenture bonds is May 10, 2000 and the maturity is August 22, 2001. Meanwhile, Treasury will repay 679.6 trillion TL in domestic borrowing on May 10. [08] FOREIGN TRADE INDICESANKARA - The imports amount index decreased 27.7 percent and exports amount index reduced 12.4 percent in January 2000 when compared with the indices in December 1999.According to the data of the State Institute of Statistics (DIE), the exports amount index rose 23.1 percent and the imports amount index climbed 50.7 percent in January 2000 when compared with indices in January 1999. According to the 12-month averages, the exports amount index increased 6.1 percent and the imports amount index rose 2.9 percent. The exports prices index increased 1.1 percent while the imports prices index fell 0.5 percent in January 2000 when compared with indices in December 1999. The exports prices index dropped 9.3 percent while imports prices index increased 3.3 percent in January 2000 when compared to indices in January 1999. According to 12-month averages, the exports prices index reduced 7.5 percent and the imports prices index decreased 4.7 percent. [09] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INCREASES 3.2 PERCENT IN Q1ANKARA - The total industrial production increased 1 percent in March and 3.2 percent in first three months of 2000.The industrial production had decreased 12 percent in March 1999 and 9.6 percent in first quarted of 1999. According tdo the State Institute of Statistics (DIE) ''Monthly Industrial Production Index'', the production in manufacturing which had decreased 13.2 percent in March 1999 increased 0.2 percent in March 2000. The production in mining sector which had decreased 10.4 percent in March 1999 increased 0.2 percent in March 2000. The production in energy sector which had decreased 1.5 percent in March 1999 increased 8.5 percent in March 2000. In the first three months of 2000, production in mining sector fell 3.2 percent while production in manufacturing sector rose 3.6 percent. The production in energy sector in the first quarter of 2000 increased 2.9 percent. The total industrial production in January-March 1999 period had decreased 9.6 percent. [10] FERRO, CHAIRMAN OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE OF CUBAN PARLIAMENTANKARA - A Cuban parliamentary delegation headed by Ramon Pez Ferro, the Chairman of International Relations Committee of Cuban Parliament, arrived in Ankara on Monday as the official guest of Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission.The Cuban delegation will be received by Vecdi Gonul, the Acting Speaker of Parliament, later in the day. The delegation is scheduled to meet with Ridvan Budak, the Chairman of the Turkey-Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group, the same day. Ferro will come together with Kamran Inan, the Chairman of Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission, on Tuesday. The Cuban delegation will be received by Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, and Sukru Sina Gurel, the State Minister, on Wednesday. The delegation will proceed to Istanbul on Thursday after holding meetings with leaders of the political parties. [11] TURKEY-PAKISTAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION - RAFI, CHAIRMAN OF KARACHI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY: ''OUR TRADE WITH TURKEY IS NOT SUFFICIANT''IZMIR - Amjad Rafi, the Chairman of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said on Monday that trade between Turkey and Pakistan was not sufficient.Pakistani trade delegation headed by Amjad Rafi, visited the Izmir Chamber of Commerce (IZTO). Addressing the meeting which was held with the participation of Turkish and Pakistani businessmen, Rafi noted that they exported textile, fabric, leather, sports equipment, sesame and rice to Turkey and imported industrial products, plastic materials and transportation device from Turkey. Stressing that commercial relations did not reflect the friendship between the two countries, Rafi noted that trade volume between Turkey and Pakistan which was 208 million U.S. dollars in 1995-1996 period, should be increased. Rafi stressed that Pakistan wanted to increase its export of leather, fresh fruits and vegetables and rice to Turkey. Prof. Dr. Cengiz Pinar, the Secretary General of Izmir Chamber of Commerce, noted that the current trade volume between Turkey and Pakistan was far from the desired level. Meanwhile, Yasar Eren, the Honorary Consul of Pakistan in Izmir, said that Pakistan always supported Turkey in every platform. Eren called on the Turkish businessmen to increase their investments in Pakistan. [12] ISEDAK MONITORING COMMITTEE'S 16TH MEETING TO START ON TUESDAYANKARA - Organization of Islamic Conference Economic and Commercial Cooperation Permanent Council (ISEDAK) Monitoring Committee's 16th meeting will start at the Marmara Hotel in Istanbul on Tuesday.According to the statement issued from the State Planning Organization (DPT), the attendees will discuss the developments for the implementation of Economic Cooperation Action Plan, relations with the World Trade Organization (WTO), and strengthening small and medium scale enterprises in the globalizing world. The meeting will start with an opening speech which will be delivered by DPT Undersecretary Akin Izmirlioglu. On the last day of the meeting, May 11 Thursday, a report will be formed consisting of recommendations for the 16th ISEDAK meeting which will be held between November 23 and 26, 2000 under the supervision of President Suleyman Demirel. Delegations from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Iran, Burkina Faso, Kuwait, Indonesia and Uganda are expected to participate in the meeting. [13] SECURITY FORCES CONFISCATE 205 KG OF ACID ANHYDRIDE AT KAPIKULE BORDER GATEEDIRNE - Security forces confiscated on Monday 205 kg of acid anhydride, one of the raw materials of heroin, in the Kapikule Border Gate in Edirne province.Acting on a tip-off, security forces stopped a truck which was on its way from Romania to Turkey. They impounded 205 kg of acid anyhdride hidden in the vehicle. In the operation, two people including driver of the truck, was taken into custody. Officials told the A.A correspondent that the market value of the drug was 50 billion Turkish Liras. [14] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC: ''A DEFINITE DATE FOR THIRD ROUND OF PROXIMITY TALKS HAS NOT BEEN SET YET''LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Monday, ''a definite date for the third round of proximity talks in New York has not been set yet.''President Denktas received Donald Bandler, the U.S. Ambassador to the Greek Cypriot side. Addressing journalists following the meeting, President Denktas said that a definite date for the third round of proximity talks had not been set yet. Meanwhile, Bandler noted that they needed several days before setting a date for the third round of proximity talks. The third round of talks which were planned to start on May 23 in New York were jeopardized after Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration, underwent colon surgery last week to remove a polyp. [15] WORLD RADIOCOMMUNICATION CONFERENCE STARTS IN ISTANBULISTANBUL - Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said on Monday that following the important developments in the telecommunication field, Turkey is getting ready for bigger investments.World Radiocommunication Conference started in Istanbul on Monday where the attendees will take decisions which will shape the future of global communication. Devlet Bahceli who spoke at the opening said the advancements in the telecommunication technologies will affect all other areas in the 21st century. Information technologies which covers telecommunication, communication, computers and electronic sectors will be the main characteristics of the new age, Bahceli said and stressed that it is impossible to stay outside of global relations. ''Those who want to stay outside of global relations will have to suffer its consequences. Because globalization has an economic, technological and international dynamics which cannot be denied by any country or society. Those who participate in this process and those who master the globalization's techniques will benefit in the end,'' Bahceli commented. Bahceli said Turkey has to be open to novelties. ''We have the necessary accumulation and a rich civilization to achieve this. We can contribute to the creation of a more honest and a more balanced world by integrating our cultural and moral values of the Turkish and Islamic world with the dynamics of the globalizing world.'' Turkey recently took the first steps of a development programme in its telecommunication system, Bahceli said and also reminded the listeners that Turkey Telecommunication-Regulation Authority was formed three months ago. The Telecommuication-Regulation Authority will operate independently and play a very important role in restructuring this sector, Bahceli noted. He also stated that the state will completely withdraw from telecommunication sector until 2003 opening it to full competition. [16] MILITARY VEHICLE OVERTURNS, KILLING TWO SOLDIERS AND INJURING FOUR OTHERSDARENDE - A military vehicle overturned in Darende township of eastern Malatya province on Monday, killing two soldiers and injuring four others.The military vehicle plunged into shoulder of road near Gumusludere region in Balaban hamlet. Turan Mutluturk and Mehmet Ugrasan lost their lives in the accident. Turgay Cinar, Mehmet Karakoc, Cabir Ozmen and Sabati Gumus who were injured in the accident, were rushed to Malatya State Hospital for medical treatment. [17] PROSECUTOR KELES WHO RUNS MUMCU INVESTIGATION SAYS THEY ARE SCRUTINIZING LINKS WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES, MAINLY IRANANKARA - Regarding the ongoing investigation about the assasination of journalist-writer Ugur Mumcu, Ankara State Security Court (DGM) Prosecutor Hamza Keles said they are evaluating every single detail they encounter.The investigation has been deepened after nine ''high level'' members of a terrorist organization were caught in Istanbul, including the murderers of Mumcu last Saturday. Keles told A.A that they are trying to determine the roles of nine suspects in the murder and investigating their links with foreign countries, mainly Iran. Keles reminded reporters that Istanbul DGM banned tv channels and newspapers to reveal the details of the investigation for reasons of confidentiality. Nine people including Mumcu's murderers were caught in Istanbul last Saturday and later they were brought to Ankara accompanied by Prosecutor Hamza Keles, Ankara Security Directorate Head of Anti-Terrorism Department Cavit Celik and security units. [18] TURKEY-SYRIA FOURTH TERM JOINT ECONOMIC COMMISSION MEETING STARTS IN DAMASCUSDAMASCUS - The Turkey-Syria Fourth Term Joint Economic Commission meeting started in Syrian capital of Damascus on Monday.Recep Onal and Mohammed Al-Imadi, Syrian Economy Minister, presided the meeting. Addressing opening of the meeting, Recep Onal, the State Minister, said ''I believe that the Turkey-Syria Fourth Term Joint Economic Commission meeting which is being held for the first time in 12 years, would make a valuable contribution to further improve economic and commercial relations between the two countries.'' Onal said, ''total amount of foreign capital in Turkey has increased up to 12.2 billion U.S. dollars. As a result of resolute economic policy of the government, Turkey became one of the most rapidly growing economies among member countries to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This process will continue in coming years although a massive earthquake had devastated Turkey's industrial heartland last year.'' ''Turkey provides a liberal and safe atmosphere of investment for the foreign capital. Announcement of Turkey's candidacy to the European Union (EU) was an approval of Turkey's economic and social development. Such a decision will affect positively Turkey's relations with neighbouring countries. The Turkish government aims at further improving economic and commercial relations with neighbouring and regional countries. The current trade volume between Turkey and Syria is far from the desired level. Both countries have the necessary potential to increase the trade volume,'' Onal said. Noting that a trade delegation came to Syria within framework of the Joint Economic Commission meeting and ''Turkish Export Products Fair'' was opened in Damascus, Onal added, ''the fair and bilateral talks between the Turkish and Syrian businessmen will make a considerable contribution to improvement of commercial relations.'' Meanwhile, Mohammed Al-Imadi said in his part that Turkey was one of the strongest commercial partners of Syria. Al-Imadi noted that the current trade volume between Turkey and Syria should be increased in coming years. He proposed to establish a Turkish-Syrian business council to form the necessary legal framework and infrastructure for improvement of cooperation. Al-Imadi also added that the Prevention of Double Taxation Agreement and the Mutual Encouragement and Protection of Investments Agreement should be signed as soon as possible. Following the opening speeches, inter-delegationary meetings started. [19] WORLD RADIOCOMMUNICATION CONFERENCE - TRANSPORTATION MINISTER OKSUZ SAYS HE HOPES CONFERENCE WOULD BRING SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS OF CIVIL AVIATIONISTANBUL - Transportation Minister Enis Oksuz who spoke at the World Radiocommunication Conference said Turkey should not stay behind the advancements in the telecommunication field in the world.Oksuz said that the range of frequency which was assigned for third generation of cell phones was not sufficient and noted that there is a need for a wider frequency range. ''We are hoping that a new frequency range would be assigned to these systems during this conference because industrialists need this frequency urgently,'' Oksuz added. The second important issue is a broadcast system direct from the satellite and there is a plan agreed in 1977 over this subject, Oksuz said, however, the countries which were formed after this date needed frequency channels to use this system. It is important to make an effort to make all countries able to use the frequency spectrum equally, Oksuz said and added that he hopes they would not face any serious problems to resolve this matter. Speaking about the importance of air navigation systems, Oksuz said they received complaints from international and national civilian aviation organizations. He said they also hoped problems related to civilian aviation would also be resolved at the conference. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary General Yoshio Utsumi thanked Turkey for its generous support for the organization of the conference. Utsumi said the conference was the biggest event in ITU's history. ''Istanbul is a communication bridge between the continents, cultures and people. Therefore, we are very happy that the conference is held here,'' he said. Health Minister Osman Durmus and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu were also present at the opening. _ A.A _ Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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