Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-02-16

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

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

16 FEB 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] TURKEY-IRAN - FOREIGN MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY HAKTANIR WRAPS UP HIS CONTACTS IN IRAN - TURKEY AND IRAN IN CONSENSUS OF OPINION REGARDING THE IRAQ-UN CRISIS

[03] TURKEY IN BRIEF - FEBRUARY 16, 1998

[04] TURKEY-WINTER - BAD WEATHER ADVERSELY AFFECTS MOTORWAYS IN CENTRAL ANATOLIA

[05] TURKEY-ICC - ICC SECRETARY GENERAL CATTAUI: - ''TURKEY HAS A CONSIDERABLE ECONOMIC POSITION WITHIN GLOBAL LEVEL'' - ''I WILL MAKE RESEARCHES ON HOW WE CAN ASSIST TURKEY MORE''

[06] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

[07] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

[08] TURKEY-EU - EU COORDINATION COUNCIL MEETING - STATE MINISTER GUREL: ''WE HOPE TO COMPLETE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY TO START A NEW NEGOTIATION PROCESS WITH THE EU''

[09] TURKEY IN BRIEF (2)- FEBRUARY 16, 1998

[10] TURKEY-GREECE - FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN UTKAN: ''WE HAVE RECEIVED CONTRADICTORY RESPONSES TO OUR PEACE CALL FROM THE GREEK OFFICIALS''

[11] TURKEY-IRAQ-UN - TURKEY INSISTS ON DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION

[12] TURKEY-TAJIKISTAN - PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN RECEIVES RECEBOV HIS TAJIK COUNTERPART

[13] TURKEY-FRANCE - PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO VISIT FRANCE - ''TURKISH-FRENCH 2000'' DOCUMENT TO BE SIGNED DURING DEMIREL'S VISIT

[14] TURKEY-PAKISTAN - TURKEY AND PAKISTAN TO SET UP A JOINT MARKETING COMPANY FOR THE EXPORTS TO THIRD COUNTRIES

[15] TURKEY-INTERNAL - CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CONTINUES READING ITS FULL VERDICT REGARDING CLOSURE OF THE WELFARE PARTY

[16] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS - 61 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS INCLUDING TWO TURKISH PEOPLE CAPTURED

[17] TURKEY-INTERNAL - COUNCIL OF MINISTERS CONVENES

[18] TRNC-GREEK CYPRIOTS - TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS CONGRATULATES CLERIDES: ''YOU ARE LEADER OF THE GREEK CYPRIOTS, NOT OF CYPRUS''

[19] TURKEY-US - ANNUAL CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY THE TURKISH-AMERICAN BUSINESS COUNCIL AND THE AMERICAN-TURKISH COUNCIL TO BE HELD IN WASHINGTON BETWEEN FEBRUARY 25 AND 28

[20] TURKEY-INTERNAL - SEVEN HADEP MEMBERS ARRESTED

[21] TURKEY-MACEDONIA-BULGARIA - BUSINESS TRIP TO MACEDONIA AND BULGARIA

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL) EXCUSE TOUR FOR ALIYEV
President Suleyman Demirel spent the whole weekend with Azeri President Haydar Aliyev, who was dissappointed with Prime Minister Yılmaz regarding the claims written in the Susurluk Report. President Demirel tried to convince Aliyev all day on Saturday. Aliyev returned to his country after receiving the guarantee of Demirel.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

RADIKAL (LEFT)

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

FİNANSAL FORUM (ECONOMY)

[02] TURKEY-IRAN - FOREIGN MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY HAKTANIR WRAPS UP HIS CONTACTS IN IRAN - TURKEY AND IRAN IN CONSENSUS OF OPINION REGARDING THE IRAQ-UN CRISIS

Haktanır met on Saturday with Muhsin Eminzade, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister and he was also received by the Mohammed Khatemi, the Iranian President and Kemal Kharrazi, the Foreign Minister.

The Foreign Ministry said that the two sides welcomed the fact that the Iranian and Turkish ambassadors will reciprocally start working in Ankara and Teheran by the beginning of March.

The two sides decided to revive Turkish-Iranian security mechanisms and in this framework Turkey will host the first meetings of the Joint Security Committee and Supreme Security Commission. Moreover, the Turkish-Iranian Joint Economic Commission meeting, which will also discuss transportation issues, will be held in Teheran.

Turkey and Iran share similar points of view and concerns regarding the crisis between Iraq and United Nations (UN) and in this framework the two countries decided to be in close contact and exchange views.

The Foreign Ministry noted that the two countries, which attribute great importance to protection of the territorial integrity of Iraq and a solution of the crisis by peaceful methods, think that the UN Security Council Resolutions should be fully implemented. The two sides also expressed their concern about the use of military force which will cause harm to the people of Iraq and the region.

Haktanır conveyed the message of President Suleyman Demirel to the Iranian President Khatemi and expressed the views of Turkey concerning regional developments.

Khatemi told Haktanır that Iran attributes great importance to Turkey and wishes to cooperate with Turkey in all fields. Khatemi also stressed that the interests of Turkey and Iran, which are two neighbourly and friendly countries, are linked to each other.

[03] TURKEY IN BRIEF - FEBRUARY 16, 1998

The methods and the rules of the procedure regarding the implementation of the ''Definition of the Concept of Originating Products and the Protocol-D Regarding Methods of Administrative Cooperation'', which were mentioned in Article 18 of the free trade agreement, were determined by the regulation.

In accordance with this decision, the products mentioned in the regulation will be accepted as the products originating in one country.

LEFKOSA - The New Cyprus Party (YKP) Leader Alpay Durduran and the Lefkosa Independent Deputy Ozker Ozgur established a new left-wing political party named the ''Patriotic Unity Movement'' (YBH) in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), it was reported on Sunday. Ozker Ozgur was earlier dismissed from the Republican Turkish Party (CTP).

A written application was sent to the TRNC Interior Ministry two days before regarding the establisment of an Islamic party named ''Our Party''.

GAZIANTEP - Mustafa Tasar, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said on Monday that they will create employment for nearly 50 thousand families when the ''Turkish Livestock Improvement Project'' concludes.

Pointing out that they will present the project to the Council of Ministers' for approval when a source of 225 trillion liras is obtained, Tasar said that the project will provide an annual contribution of 156 trillion liras of contribution to the economy.

ANKARA - The Ministry of Tourism prepared a project to revive the historical ''Silk Road'' with the aim of diversifying tourism, spreading it throughout the country and making the tourism potential operational, it was reported on Monday.

The Ministry of Tourism, in order to introduce the historical and cultural values of the Silk Road to the world, has organized a ''Silk Road'' promotion activity in which foreign tour operators, travel agencies and managers will participate.

The activity will take place between September 1 and 9, 1998 and will include Istanbul, Kayseri, Nevsehir, Aksaray, Konya, Isparta and Antalya.

[04] TURKEY-WINTER - BAD WEATHER ADVERSELY AFFECTS MOTORWAYS IN CENTRAL ANATOLIA

The Directorate General of Highways said that the Sivas-Kangal, Pınarbası- Gurun and Gurun-Sivas motorways have been closed to traffic due to snow and snowdrifts.

Meanwhile, the snow which started in the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri on Sunday, closed 154 village roads in the Counties of Pınarbası, Sarız and Sarıoglan of Kayseri Province.

The Village Services officials said that activities are underway for opening the village roads to transportation again.

Meanwhile, the Kayseri-Malatya motorway, which was closed to traffic on Sunday night due to snow, opened to transportation again on Monday morning.

[05] TURKEY-ICC - ICC SECRETARY GENERAL CATTAUI: - ''TURKEY HAS A CONSIDERABLE ECONOMIC POSITION WITHIN GLOBAL LEVEL'' - ''I WILL MAKE RESEARCHES ON HOW WE CAN ASSIST TURKEY MORE''

Cattaui, who came to Ankara to hold contacts with the members of the ICC Turkish National Committee and to realize useful cooperation, held a press briefing at the Ankara Sheraton Hotel.

''I will make studies on how the ICC can be of greater assistance to Turkey, '' Cattaui said, adding that Turkey has a powerful position within the ICC.

Emphasizing that Turkey is one of the leading five countries among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries whose exports and imports have rapidly improved, Cattaui said that from an economic standpoint Turkey has a very important geographical location at the global level.

[06] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)

(Derived from Newsspot of the Turkish Directorate of General Press and Information.)

YILMAZ: ''TURKEY CANNOT BE DRAWN INTO AN ADVENTURE
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, commenting on Turkey's Iraq crisis policy that Turkey must not be drawn into an adventure, and that Turkey did not want to make enemies.

During an opening ceremony in Kirikkale, Yilmaz said that the Turkish Armed Forces were powerful enough to deal with every threat against Turkey. He added, ''Turkey has a very important place in the Balkans, Caucasia and the Middle East. Turkey uses its military, geographic, economic and human resources at international levels. Our government has already taken the necessary measures to avoid being negatively affected by the current Iraq- U.S. crisis.'' /Hurriyet/

CEM IN CHINA
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said yesterday that China was among those countries which had given full support to Turkey's diplomatic efforts to peacefully end the Iraqi crisis. While meeting with Chinese First Deputy Foreign Minister Tian Zengpei, Cem said that along with China, Russia and France had expressed full support for Turkey's efforts to prevent a military strike against Iraq and preserve peace in the Middle East. Cem noted that China is an active member of the UN Security Council. Emphasizing the economic dimensions of the visit, Cem stated that Turkey was looking for ways to increase economic relations with China, adding that this was why a large group of businessmen accompanied him on the visit.

Cem said he would convey a goodwill message from President Suleyman Demirel to China's President Jiang Zemin. Cem will return home on February 25, after a visit to Vietnam. /All papers/

HAKTANIR IN TEHRAN
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Korkmaz Haktanir discussed the Iraqi crisis with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami who shared the neighbourly concerns of Turkey, during Haktanir's high-level contacts in Tehran on Saturday. During the meetings, Haktanir and Iranian officials agreed to stay in close contact over matters related to the standoff. Both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining Iraq's territorial integrity and that a solution be found by peaceful means. Both sides expressed the deep concern they felt about the grave consequences of a possible military strike against the people of Iraq, and how this would affect the surrounding countries, according to a statement from the Foreign Ministry.

Haktanir, who also met Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, stated that the two countries will exchange ambassadors at the beginning of March. The statement said both sides had agreed to revive security cooperation, with Turkey hosting the first meeting of the Joint Security Committee and Supreme Security Commission. The statement said the two sides also agreed to cooperate on transportation, the active functioning of chief consulates in the two countries and economic issues. /Milliyet/

(To be continued)

[07] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)

(Derived from Newsspot of the Turkish Directorate of General Press and Information.)

MENZIR IN MONACO
Minister of Communications, Necdet Menzir, flew to Monaco over weekend along with five deputies and 30 journalists, to participate in the signing of an accord for the construction of the Turksat-3 satellite by the Eurasiasat company. The order for construction of a fourth satellite will reportedly be given soon. /Cumhuriyet/

TAJIK PARLIAMENT SPEAKER IN TURKEY
Tajikistan's Parliament Speaker, Safarali Recebov, has arrived in Istanbul at the invitation of Turkish Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin. Recebov will tour Istanbul and then Ankara, leaving Turkey on February 19. /Hurriyet/

OTTOMAN ARCHIVES TO BE MOVED TO NEW SITE
The Archives Directorate has launched a project to save the nation's extensive Ottoman archives, which are currently in danger of mouldering away in seven separate storage facilities which are no longer adequate. The Defense Ministry has supported the project by providing the Gulhane military hospital building in Ankara as a new site. The building will be restored and converted in order to house the millions of Ottoman documents. /Sabah/

NEW STUDY ON TURKEY'S FULL EU MEMBERSHIP CANDIDACY
Turkey's large population and relative lack of economic development were two of the main factors behind Turkey not being included on the list of full membership candidates at the EU's Luxembourg summit last December, a new study has concluded. Turkey, with its population of some 63 million and the inadequate state of its economy, would have brought to the EU ''a burden which would have been hard to bear'' claims the study conducted by the Germany-based Centre for Turkey Studies. /Sabah-Milliyet/

US FINDS TURKEY'S AEGEAN INITIATIVE 'ENCOURAGING'
''We are encouraged by recent expressions of willingness by both Greece and Turkey to move forward energetically to resolve longstanding disputes,'' US State Department Spokesman James Rubin said on Friday. ''As you know, the US is committed to supporting our Greek and Turkish allies in the effort to achieve genuine security and partnership in the region.''

ALIYEV IN ISTANBUL
Visiting Azeri President Haydar Aliyev, arrived in Istanbul on Friday. On a three-day visit to Turkey, Aliyev held meetings with President Suleyman Demirel and received Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Parliamentary Speaker Hikmet Cetin separately at his hotel. ''We want to settle disputes with Armenia by peaceful means,'' Aliyev told reporters prior to a meeting with Cetin. ''Karabakh should become an autonomous region. Armenia should withdraw from all Azeri territories and allow refugees to return to their homelands,'' Cetin said. Aliyev on Friday received a ''Statesman of the Year'' award from NTV, the Turkish television news channel. /Hurriyet/

[08] TURKEY-EU - EU COORDINATION COUNCIL MEETING - STATE MINISTER GUREL: ''WE HOPE TO COMPLETE A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY TO START A NEW NEGOTIATION PROCESS WITH THE EU''

The EU Coordination Council convened the same day under the leadership of State Minister Gurel.

Speaking at the meeting, Gurel recalled that the Council had decided during its first meeting to set up 14 sub-committees regarding the operation of the Customs Union between Turkey and the EU.

Noting that these committees completed their studies and submitted their main reports to the Ministry, Gurel added that an overall evaluation will be made concerning these reports during today's meeting.

''Our government has evaluated the decision made during the EU Luxembourg Summit and explained that a comprehensive and multi-dimensional political dialogue with the EU was not possible unless the EU changed its discriminatory attitude towards Turkey. Our attitude within this framework continues. However improvement of our relations with the EU within the framework of the Customs Union is one of our targets, but this also depends on fulfilment of obligations by the EU,'' said Gurel.

Responding to the questions of journalists, Gurel said that Turkey is the side which has to prepare proposals regarding Turkish-EU relations and the Council tries to function to this end.

[09] TURKEY IN BRIEF (2)- FEBRUARY 16, 1998

The newly appointed Ambassador Forsyth presented his credentials to President Demirel at the meeting.

ANKARA - Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz received on Monday Mark Parris, the US Ambassador to Turkey.

Ambassador Parris said after the meeting that Prime Minister Yilmaz and he exchanged views regarding the crisis in Iraq, adding that there is no further development regarding the issue.

ANKARA - The number of foreign tourists visiting Turkey in January 1998 increased by 14.65 percent compared to the same period last year, it was reported on Monday.

The Ministry of Tourism said that a total of 344,955 tourists visited Turkey in January 1998, adding that the number in the same period last year was 300,872.

The statement said that 22.17 percent of the tourists came from the Commonwealth of Independent States, 15.86 percent from Germany, 15.44 percent from Romania, adding that other tourists were Bulgarian, Israeli, US, Greek, Yugoslavian, Iranian, British and French citizens.

ANKARA - A Turkish technical delegation led by Hasan Gemici, the Minister of State, left on Monday for Sudan to pay an official visit. The delegation will then proceed to Cibuti.

The delegation will hold official contacts in the two countries until February 23.

EDIRNE - The Turkish-Bulgarian motorway was closed on Sunday to traffic at 22:30 due to flooding on the Bulgarian side.

Motor vehicles are not allowed to leave the country from the Kapikule Border Gate due to the flooding between the Bulgarian Kapitan Andreowe Border Gate and Haskova.

[10] TURKEY-GREECE - FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN UTKAN: ''WE HAVE RECEIVED CONTRADICTORY RESPONSES TO OUR PEACE CALL FROM THE GREEK OFFICIALS''

Addressing a press briefing for foreign journalists, Utkan said that the Foreign Ministry has received various, sometimes contradictory responses from the Greek officials in response to the peace call from Turkey.

Underlining the fact that Turkey's peace call was an important document, Utkan stated, ''the call incorporates several important proposals and warnings regarding the neccessity of refraining from behavior that could harm bilateral relations.''

Utkan added that Turkey hopes to receive a positive response from Greece regarding the steps decided to be taken within the framework of the Madrid declaration.

[11] TURKEY-IRAQ-UN - TURKEY INSISTS ON DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION

Addressing a press briefing for foreign journalists, Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman said, ''we believe that all diplomatic methods have been taken into consideration and tried and we hope that the contacts of the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan will be useful.''

''The crisis will conclude in one way or another, but we hope that it will be solved peacefully,'' said Utkan, adding that any military intervention will cause harm to not only Iraq, but also to other countries in the region. ''Iraq should abide by the UN Security Council Resolutions to prevent such a military strike,'' he added.

Reiterating that Turkey attributes importance to the territorial integrity of Iraq, Utkan pointed out that a programme should be prepared in order to lift the economic embargo on Iraq as soon as possible.

''Turkey has taken all the precautions against negative influences that can arise during a possible military operation,'' said Utkan.

[12] TURKEY-TAJIKISTAN - PARLIAMENT SPEAKER CETIN RECEIVES RECEBOV HIS TAJIK COUNTERPART

Before the meeting, Cetin said that Turkey is one of the first countries that accepted the independence of Tajikistan.

Hikmet Cetin said that they launched efforts to implement the agreements signed between Turkey and her sister country Tajikistan.

Cetin stated that the visit of Recebov will contribute to the improvement of friendship between the peoples of the two countries and the parliaments.

Seferali Recebov said that he believes the relations for which foundations were laid by the mutual visits of the Presidents of the two countries in 1993 and 1996 will be further improved by his visit.

Recebov stated that they benefited from the structure of the Turkish State when preparing the Tajik Constitutional Law.

[13] TURKEY-FRANCE - PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO VISIT FRANCE - ''TURKISH-FRENCH 2000'' DOCUMENT TO BE SIGNED DURING DEMIREL'S VISIT

Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman told a press briefing that regional and international issues, particularly bilateral relations will be discussed during President Demirel's visit to France.

Utkan said that President Demirel will meet with President Jacques Chirac, Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, Economy, Finance and Industry Minister Dominique Strauss Kahn, State Reform Minister Emile Zuccarelli, Pierre Moscovici, the French Minister Responsible for European Affairs and Senator Jean Paul Delevoye, the Chairman of Municipalities during his stay in France.

A document named ''Turkey-France 2000'', which was prepared during the visit to Turkey of the French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine, aimed at speeding up Turkish-French bilateral relations, will also be signed during Demirel's visit.

President Chirac will also present President Demirel with an Honourary award.

[14] TURKEY-PAKISTAN - TURKEY AND PAKISTAN TO SET UP A JOINT MARKETING COMPANY FOR THE EXPORTS TO THIRD COUNTRIES

Burhan Kara, the Minister of State for Maritime Affairs and Ishaq Dar, the Pakistani Minister of Commerce, signed the agreement after deliberations by the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC).

The protocol signed includes ''the setting up of a joint marketing firm between the two countries for the exports of products to third countries'', ''joint efforts between the construction firms of the two sides for cooperative ventures in Central Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe'', and ''cooperation between the Karachi Stock Exchange and the Istanbul Stock Exchange for cross listing of the shares of Turkish and Pakistani companies''.

Discussions were also held on the possible Turkish participation in the Pakistan Steel Mills and in other infrastructure projects in Pakistan.

Both Turkey and Pakistan agreed on the need to upgrade shipping transport to help growth in bilateral trade.

In order to promote contacts between the people of the two countries, it was agreed to finalize the Cultural Exchange Programme early and facilitate the issuing of visas to their nationals.

[15] TURKEY-INTERNAL - CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CONTINUES READING ITS FULL VERDICT REGARDING CLOSURE OF THE WELFARE PARTY

Addressing a short statement after the end of the first session in the morning, Deputy Chairman Guven Dincer said that the delegation continues to read the draft on the legal grounds of closing the RP, adding that the full verdict will be submitted to the Prime Ministry to be published in Official Gazette after completing the revision of the draft.

Dincer stressed that if the draft attains its final form in the afternoon session, then the verdict can be published in Monday's or Tuesday's Official Gazette.

[16] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS - 61 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS INCLUDING TWO TURKISH PEOPLE CAPTURED

The Gendarmes captured 46 Iraqis and one Romanian in a region near Uyuklutatar village. Two Turkish people were captured in the same region while trying to enter Bulgaria illegally.

Meanwhile, 12 Iraqis, who were captured near Ipsala and Uzunkopru Counties of Edirne Province, said that they came to the region to enter other countries illegally.

Officials said that the Iraqis detained will be deported.

[17] TURKEY-INTERNAL - COUNCIL OF MINISTERS CONVENES

The Council of Ministers will mainly discuss the issues of the draft law which foresees a change in several articles of the Turkish Penal Code and Article 8 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, the approval of the Supplementary Sixth Protocol of the European Convention on Human Rights which foresees annulment of the death penalty, developments and measures in importation, measures that will be taken in response to the recent regional developments and possible repercussions of the Gulf crisis on the Turkish economy.

[18] TRNC-GREEK CYPRIOTS - TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS CONGRATULATES CLERIDES: ''YOU ARE LEADER OF THE GREEK CYPRIOTS, NOT OF CYPRUS''

The TRNC President Denktas said that he can only meet with Clerides as the leaders of the ''two states'' on the island.

Denktas stressed that the Turkish Cypriot government, press, institutions and non-governmental organizations should altogether oppose the presentation of Glafcos Clerides as the ''President of Cyprus'' and explain to the world that this is not true.

Meanwhile, the TRNC President Denktas stressed that an Islamic party named ''Our Party'', which applied to the Ministry of the Interior, can not be established in the TRNC, because such a party is against the Turkish Cypriot Constitution.

[19] TURKEY-US - ANNUAL CONFERENCE ORGANIZED BY THE TURKISH-AMERICAN BUSINESS COUNCIL AND THE AMERICAN-TURKISH COUNCIL TO BE HELD IN WASHINGTON BETWEEN FEBRUARY 25 AND 28

The issue of ''cooperation opportunities'' for several sectors will be discussed during the conference.

Mustafa Koc, Chairman of the Turkish-American Business Council Chairman and Deputy Chairman Yilmaz Arguden held a press briefing and gave information about the conference in which Turkish-American relations will be discussed.

Mustafa Koc said that the investment opportunities in energy, food, defense industry, agricultural products, telecommunications, culture, banking- finance, tourism, infrastructure, health and education fields and cooperation in the Balkans and Aegean will be discussed during the conference.

Yilmaz Arguden said that the US Ministry of Commerce had registered Turkey as one of the ten emerging markets in the world.

[20] TURKEY-INTERNAL - SEVEN HADEP MEMBERS ARRESTED

HADEP leader Murat Bozlak, Deputy Chairman Mehmet Saten, Secretary General Hamit Geylani, Deputy Secretary General M. Zeynettin Unay and other party members namely Ishak Tepe, Melik Aygun and Ali Rıza Yurtsever are convicted of charges of working for the separatist terrorist organization PKK under Article 168-1 of the Turkish Penal Code.

State Security Court Prosecutor Talat Salk said that 50 other members of HADEP will be taken into custody.

The seven were detained last week after police examined the party's headquarters to search for documents linking the party to the separatist terrorist organization PKK.

Many HADEP members were convicted last year after a party rally in which a Turkish flag was cut down and replaced with a flag symbolizing the separatist terrorist organization PKK.

[21] TURKEY-MACEDONIA-BULGARIA - BUSINESS TRIP TO MACEDONIA AND BULGARIA

Necati Utkan, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman said that Turkish delegations of Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (KOBI) will visit several countries within the framework of the measures taken by the Foreign Ministry to present KOBI to foreigners and promote exports.

The Turkish KOBI delegation will meet with Boris Rikalovski, the Macedonian Economy Minister and Dusan Petrovski, the Chairman of the Economy Chamber and hold bilateral contacts with Macedonian businessmen in Skopje between Feb 16-18.

The delegation will proceed to Bulgaria on February 19 and hold contacts there until February 21 with the Bulgarian officials, institutions and businessmen.

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