Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-03-02

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

02 MARCH 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-CASPIAN OIL - FIVE-WAY MEETING FOR BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE - FOREIGN MINISTERS INFORMED ABOUT THE ''FEASIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY REPORT OF THE CASPIAN-MEDITERRANEAN MAIN OIL PIPELINE ''

[02] TURKEY-INTERNAL - YILMAZ MEETS WITH ECEVIT AND CINDORUK

[03] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[04] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[05] TURKEY-BOSNIA JEC MEETING - FIRST TERM JEC MEETING BETWEEN TURKEY AND BOSNIA STARTS IN SARAJEVO

[06] TURKEY-GREECE - 200 THOUSAND TURKISH AND GREEK PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS TO BECOME PEN PALS THROUGH THE JOURNALISTS' PLATFORM FOR PEACE IN THE AEGEAN AND THRACE

[07] TURKEY-TAX - CHAOS IN TAX DEPARTMENTS ON THE FIRST DAY OF IMPLEMENTATION OF TAX NUMBERS

[08] TURKEY-SYRIA - CONTACTS OF FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL CETIRGE IN DAMASCUS - FM DEPUTY SPOKESMAN ATACANLI: ''COMMENCEMENT OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH SYRIA DOES NOT MEAN THAT PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED''

[09] TURKEY-NEW STRAITS REGULATION - UNDERSECRETARY OF MARITIME AFFAIRS OZKAN: ''DELAY RESULTS FROM PROCEDURE'' - FM DEPUTY SPOKESMAN ATACANLI: ''PREPARATION OF THE REGULATION IS A TECHNICAL JOB''

[10] TURKEY IN BRIEF - MARCH 2, 1998

[11] TURKEY-CASPIAN OIL - FIVE-WAY MEETING FOR BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE ENDS - FM CEM: ''THERE IS MUTUAL SUPPORT FOR THE BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE''

[12] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS - 32 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED IN EDIRNE

[13] TRNC-TURKEY - TRNC PRESIDENT RAUF DENKTAS: ''THE DOOR TO TALKS IS OPEN IF THE GREEK CYPRIOT LEADER CLERIDES INVITES ME AS PRESIDENT DENKTAS, A CITIZEN OF THE TRNC''

[14] TRNC - GIBBONS, THE AUTHOR OF THE ''GENOCIDE FILES'' IN THE TRNC - BRITISH AUTHOR GIBBONS: ''CLERIDES IS A TERRORIST, HE SHOULD BE TRIED'' - ''GREEK-CYPRIOT SIDE SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE EU EXPANSION PROCESS'' - ''THE PROPER SOLUTION ON CYPRUS IS THE PRESENT STATUS QUO''

[15] TURKEY-CASPIAN OIL (2) - FIVE-WAY MEETING FOR BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE - JOINT DECLARATION: ''MINISTERS CONFIRM THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SAFE TRANSPORTS OF CASPIAN OIL AND NATURAL GAS TO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS BY MORE THAN ONE PIPELINE''

[16] TURKEY-INTERNAL - COUNCIL OF MINISTERS CONVENES - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''WE DO NOT HAVE EARLY ELECTIONS ON OUR AGENDA'' - ''DRAFT LAW ON TAX REFORM IS AN INDISPENSABLE CONDITION FOR STRUGGLING WITH INFLATION. IF THIS IS PREVENTED, OUR GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE HELD LIABLE CONCERNING INFLATION''

[01] TURKEY-CASPIAN OIL - FIVE-WAY MEETING FOR BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE - FOREIGN MINISTERS INFORMED ABOUT THE ''FEASIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY REPORT OF THE CASPIAN-MEDITERRANEAN MAIN OIL PIPELINE ''

Responding to questions after the meeting, Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister said that the guests appreciated and were interested in the report.

''I believe that our feasibility report is a positive contribution and the other countries have not worked on such a report so far,'' said Cem.

Responding to another question, Cem stated that the report showed that the cost of the Caspian-Mediterranean Main Oil Pipeline can be less costly than expected.

Ismail Cem stressed that more serious decisions can be made regarding the Caspian oil during the consortium meeting that will be held in October.

Later, Cem met with Irakli Menagarishvili, the Georgian Foreign Minister and Kassymzhomart Tokayev, the Kazakh Foreign Minister.

[02] TURKEY-INTERNAL - YILMAZ MEETS WITH ECEVIT AND CINDORUK

In the summit, Mesut Yılmaz, the Prime Minister and the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) met with Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), and Husamettin Cindoruk, the Leader of the Democratic Turkey Party (DTP).

Addressing the journalists after the summit, which lasted for nearly four hours, Bulent Ecevit said that the coalition partners are in accord in every field, and added that there is no election on the agenda.

Ecevit pointed out that a detailed statement will be given by Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz on Monday.

[03] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

DEMIREL TO VISIT SPAIN
President Suleyman Demirel will go to Spain tomorrow for a three-day official visit. Demirel will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Tourism Minister Ibrahim Gurdal and State Minister Isin Celebi. The talks there are expected to focus on Turkey's relations with the European Union (EU). In an interview with the leading Spanish paper El Pais, Demirel said that he was waiting for ''friendly nations (such as Spain) to correct the mistake they made against Turkey''. Demirel will meet with King Juan Carlos, Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and the leading Spanish officials to boost bilateral, regional and international relations. /Sabah/

PIPELINE SUMMIT IN ISTANBUL
A meeting of the oil-producing countries of the Caspian Sea started yesterday with cautious support for a pipeline through Turkey. Turkey brought together Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to see whether it could win a political commitment for its pipeline proposal. Georgia joined the meeting as another transit route candidate. In their opening remarks, foreign ministers talked of varying levels of support for the Turkish proposal, bringing oil and gas from Azerbaijan's capital on the Caspian, Baku, to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. ''I believe a unified approach will be secured at this meeting on delivering Caspian oil and natural gas by pipelines to the international markets,'' the Turkish President Suleyman Demirel said in a statement read at the meeting. It is expected that the meeting will end today with a joint declaration of political commitment to the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. /All papers/

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS MEET BANK REPRESENTATIVES
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, State Minister Gunes Taner and Finance Minister Zekeriya Temizel met Saturday with representatives of the banking sector to discuss the impacts of the tax reform initiated by the government. During the meeting, the fears of bankers that the new tax regulations will impose too heavy burdens on banks were discussed. In a statement after the meeting, Minister Taner said that bankers have voiced full support for the reforms. /Hurriyet/

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT
The cabinet has approved the project on ''national dialogue on the strategies for struggling against poverty in Turkey'', which was signed by the Turkish Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Within the framework of the project, Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV), in cooperation with the UNDP, will research the problems of poverty and unemployment in Turkey and their impact on social development. /Cumhuriyet/

DAYLIGHT-SAVINGS TIME ADJUSTMENT ON MARCH 29
This year's daylight-savings time adjustment, aimed at providing more use of daylight hours, thereby saving energy, will be made on March 29. According to information received from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, clocks should be set one hour ahead at 1:00 a.m. on March 29.

(To be continued)

[04] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

ERSUMER RETURNS TO TURKEY
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Cumhur Ersumer has stated that they received full support in the US, where they promoted the feasibility report of the Baku-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline. Noting that an agreement was signed with the US Secretary of Commerce William Daley, Ersumer said, ''With this agreement, for the first time, the US companies in Turkey will construct hydro-electric power plants with their own credits''. /Milliyet/

BURNS: ''APPLY TO THE HAGUE FOR THE AEGEAN''
Nicholas Burns, the US Ambassador to Greece, has noted that the problems of the continental shelf and Kardak islet should be brought to the Court of Justice in The Hague. In a statement to the Kathimerini newspaper, Burns said that the US government supported the solutions to the problems at the international court and that Turkey should accept this. Noting that the US was against armament in the Aegean Sea, Burns called upon Turkey and Greece to find a solution to their problems. Burns said that international efforts were continuing to resolve the Cyprus problem and he added, ''the Cyprus problem plays a critical role in Turco-Greek relations''. /Milliyet/

ATTACK BY NEO-NAZIs

It is reported that neo-Nazis attacked a Turkish and a Iraqi person two days ago in the Magdeburg district of Germany. Magdeburg police noted that five out of six attackers have been detained. /Milliyet/

155 PKK TERRORISTS KILLED IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS
Security forces are continuing their operations in the Southeast region to make the PKK separatist terrorist organization inactive. During the clashes 155 terrorists have been killed, 24 have been detained alive and nine of them have surrendered. Within the same period, 14 soldiers have been killed and three village guards wounded. Military sources said that operations would continue until the separatist terrorists are swept out of the region. /Sabah/

IRANIAN AMBASSADOR IN ANKARA
Levasani, the new Iranian Ambassador to Turkey is expected to take up his post this week. According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Sencar Ozsoy, Turkey's Ambassador to Iran will also be starting his duties in Teheran at the same time as his Iranian counterpart. /Sabah/

''FUNDAMENTALISTS BASED IN GERMANY''
According to the German weekly magazine, ''Focus'', the fundamentalist Turkish organizations tried to form a base in Germany. The magazine reported that the organizations were financially supported by the National View Organization. The report noted that German security officials would take the necessary measures to prevent the activities of the fundamentalist organizations, activities of which had been limited in Turkey by the closure of the Welfare Party (RP). Ralf Borttscheller, the German Senator said that the National View Organization would be banned in Germany because of its fundamentalist activities. /Sabah/

S-300 CONDITION BY GREEK CYPRIOTS
The new Defense Minister of the Greek Cypriot Administration Yannakis Omiru repeated the Greek Cypriot opinion that in case of an agreement on disarming and demilitarizing the whole island, then the S-300 missiles would not be brought to Cyprus. In his first message to the press as defense minister, Yannakis Omiru claimed that it was the sovereign right of the Greek Cypriot Adminstration to enhance its defense. Calling on the US and the EU to use their influence on Turkey, Omiru blamed Turkey for destabilizing the region and said, ''Pressure must be applied on Turkey.'' /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH CONTRACTORS TO BUILD ''BLUE STREAM'' PIPELINE
The Turkish companies Haznedaroglu and Oztas together with the Russian Stray Transgaz company have established a consortium for the construction of a part of the ''Blue Stream'' pipeline to carry Russian natural gas to Turkey. The consortium will materialize the construction of the Black Sea part of the pipeline to be built at a depth of 2,000 meters, and the Samsun- Ankara part of the project. /Hurriyet/

[05] TURKEY-BOSNIA JEC MEETING - FIRST TERM JEC MEETING BETWEEN TURKEY AND BOSNIA STARTS IN SARAJEVO

The Undersecretariat for Foreign Trade said that the Turkish delegation will be headed by Sukru Sina Gurel, the Minister of State during the meetings which will last until March 6.

The statement noted that new opportunities for cooperation will be determined regarding the commercial and economic relations between the two countries, credit relations will be discussed and the Turkish side will ask to have more opportunities for the reconstruction of Bosnia.

The possible fields of cooperation such as industry, transportation, energy, agriculture, tourism, standardization and customs will be discussed during the meetings.

''It is aimed to improve cooperation between the two countries in the fields of science and technology,'' noted the statement.

The signing of the Education Cooperation Protocol and the establishment of a Turkish Education Center in Bosnia are also expected to be discussed.

The Turkish side is expected to propose the commencement of negotiations regarding the Prevention of Double Taxation between the two countries.

The Protocol of the first term JEC meeting is expected be signed on March 6.

The statement added that the 25 billion US dollars trade volume between the two countries does not reflect the real potential.

[06] TURKEY-GREECE - 200 THOUSAND TURKISH AND GREEK PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS TO BECOME PEN PALS THROUGH THE JOURNALISTS' PLATFORM FOR PEACE IN THE AEGEAN AND THRACE

Suleyman Gencel, the Turkish Spokesman of the Journalists' Platform for Peace in the Aegean and Thrace, told the A.A correspondent that the project, which is planned to be implemented in August, will be one of the most important steps of civilian initiatives for peace in the Aegean.

''The project for 100 thousand Turkish and 100 thousand Greek primary school students to become pen pals is the initiative of our platform. The Turkish Egitim-Sen will define the list of students and will set up a teacher-group to lead those students, while the Greek students' list will be defined by a Greek teacher-group. We are planning to implement this project in August,'' Platform Spokesman Gencel said.

Gencel said that Pashalidis Kitrobilides, the Chairman of the Athens-based Asia Minor Research Center which has a 50-year history and has a rich written and visual archives regarding Eastern Anatolia, will visit Izmir on March 4.

Kitrobilides will hold several contacts regarding the cultural values created together by the Turkish and Greek groups who have lived in the Aegean region until the beginning of the 21st century.

Meanwhile, three Greek businessmen will come to Izmir through the end of March to hold contacts to set up a basis for cooperation as the guest of the Association of Young Aegean Businessmen (EGIAD).

[07] TURKEY-TAX - CHAOS IN TAX DEPARTMENTS ON THE FIRST DAY OF IMPLEMENTATION OF TAX NUMBERS

The regulation is issued by the Ministry of Finance, but the implementation created chaos in the tax departments the first day.

The regulation of the Ministry of Finance forbids purchasing and selling cars to those people who do not have a tax number.

Likewise, the founding partners, president and members of executive boards and director generals of new capital companies are obliged to obtain a tax number.

Officials of the Ministry of Finance said that the procedure to obtain a tax number takes only seven minutes at normal times, but on the first day it takes half an hour due to chaos.

Officials also noted that the Ministry ordered the tax departments to help citizens who wish to obtain tax numbers and to give priority to their procedures.

Real persons can apply to the tax departments and receive their tax numbers by showing a copy of their identity card.

Those who violate the regulation will be punished.

[08] TURKEY-SYRIA - CONTACTS OF FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL CETIRGE IN DAMASCUS - FM DEPUTY SPOKESMAN ATACANLI: ''COMMENCEMENT OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH SYRIA DOES NOT MEAN THAT PROBLEMS ARE SOLVED''

Addressing a weekly press briefing held for foreign journalists, Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Sermet Atacanli stated that ''this new beginning with Syria does not mean that the problems between the two countries have been solved.''

Atacanlı pointed out that the issues of terrorism, water problem, Turkish- Israeli relations and the initiative of the ''Neighbour Forum'' were taken up during the visit of Cetirge to Damascus.

Noting that Cetirge met with Adnan Omran, the Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister and other high ranking officials in Damascus, Atacanli added that the two sides exchanged views about the issues that concern the two countries.

Atacanli pointed out that the expectations of Turkey regarding terrorism have been explained once again to the Syrian officials and Cetirge informed them about Turkish-Israeli relations by stressing that this cooperation is not directed at any third country.

Pointing out that Cetirge gave information to the Syrian officials about the visit to Iran of Korkmaz Haktanir, the Foreign Ministry Undersecretary, Atacanli added that the initiative of the ''Neighbour Forum'' was also discussed.

Responding to a question asked about whether Turkey's policy towards Syria has changed, Atacanli said, ''the thing which is important is not to close the communication channels with Syria. However our concern regarding the relation of Syria with terrorism still continues.''

Atacanli added that the Syrian high ranking officials could visit Ankara in the coming days, but the visit of Foreign Minister Cem to Damascus has not been planned at this stage.

[09] TURKEY-NEW STRAITS REGULATION - UNDERSECRETARY OF MARITIME AFFAIRS OZKAN: ''DELAY RESULTS FROM PROCEDURE'' - FM DEPUTY SPOKESMAN ATACANLI: ''PREPARATION OF THE REGULATION IS A TECHNICAL JOB''

Resat Ozkan, the Undersecretary of Maritime Affairs said that there is no insufficiency in the new regulation and the delay regarding the announcement of it to the public stems from procedure.

Ozkan pointed out that the approval of the regulation by the concerned ministries is necessary, and when it is ready, it will be submitted to the Council of Ministers.

Sermet Atacanli, the Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman told a weekly press briefing that the preparation of the regulation is a technical job.

[10] TURKEY IN BRIEF - MARCH 2, 1998

Ural told the A.A correspondent that the teas of Indian, Chinese and Arabic origin enter Turkey from the borders in the Southeast via Mersin, Adana and Cyprus.

ANKARA - Officials of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources said on Monday that ''methane gas'' which is found in large quantities in the marshy areas and in the coal mining regions, was opened to research and operations by putting it into the context of the mining law.

Officials said that they do not have definite statistics about the methane gas reserves in Turkey as they have not realized any research studies, but the real dimension will be understood with the research studies that will be undertaken in the future.

ISTANBUL - Fikret Evyap, the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Evyap Soap, Oil, Glycerine Industry and Trade Inc., one of the giant companies of the Turkish cleansing sector, said on Monday that Turkey became the main country in the production and export of soaps as the result of investments realized in the soap sector and globalization.

Fikret Evyap said that their exports of soaps to the former Soviet Union, the Balkans, the Middle East and North Africa has rapidly increased in recent years.

ISTANBUL - The delegation of the Association of Democratic Industrialists and Businessmen (DEMSIAD) led by Fermani Altun, the Chairman of the DEMSIAD High Consultation Council and the Chairman of the Association of Exporters and Importers (TIDER) will visit the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) between March 4 and 5, it was reported on Monday.

Assistant Prof. Altan Lacin, the Secretary General of the DEMSIAD, said in a written statement that the DEMSIAD delegation and the TRNC Chamber of Commerce will hold several economic meetings.

The statement said that Fermani Altun and the accompanying delegation will meet with Dervis Eroglu, the TRNC Prime Minister and Hakki Atun, the TRNC Speaker of the Parliament Atun on March 4.

The delegation will be received by the TRNC President Rauf Denktas on March 5.

The exports, imports and investment opportunities between Turkey and the TRNC will be evaluated in the meetings.

ANKARA - The Council of the Association of Turkish Women will organize an international conference titled ''The Profile of Women in the Balkan Countries'' at the Vakifbank Conference Hall in Ankara on March 4 within the framework of the ''World Women's Day'' on March 8, it was reported on Monday.

The representatives from Macedonia, Romania, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina will attend the conference which aims to provide communication between the European Women Councils, to set up and improve communications between the Turkish voluntary women's organizations and those in the Balkan countries.

EDIRNE - The computer system installed at the Kapikule Border Gate will be put into service in the following days, it was reported on Monday.

The customs officials will be able to control the motor vehicles easily and prevent smuggling.

LEFKOSA - The ''First Culture and Art General Assembly'' will convene on March 3 in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to contribute to the development of the Turkish Cypriot culture and art.

Several artistic activities will be organized within the framework of the activities of the general assembly which will also be attended by some artists from the Balkan countries.

ISTANBUL - Nami Cagan, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, left on Monday for the Azerbaijani capital of Baku.

Prior to his departure, Cagan said that they will sign a cooperation agreement with Azerbaijan concerning working life, employment and social security.

Nami Cagan will be received by the Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev and Prime Minister Artur Rasizade.

Cagan will return to Turkey on March 5.

ANTALYA - The targeted trade volume for the Antalya Free Zone is one billion US dollars, it was reported on Monday.

Tugrul Yalciner, the General Director of the Antalya Free Zone, told the A.A correspondent that the trade volume of the zone since its establishment has reached 740 million US dollars.

The zone was set up in 1988.

ZONGULDAK - The Canakcilar Ceramics Factory realized 2.3 trillion Turkish Liras in exports last year, it was reported on Monday. Mehmet Canakci, the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Canakcilar Ceramics Inc., told the A.A correspondent that they exported bathroom ceramic tiles to Germany, Greece, Israel, Macedonia, Algeria, Tunisia, Belarus, the Ukraine and Azerbaijan.

BURSA - The number of plants and companies working for the textile industry which made a great contribution to the industrialization of Bursa Province has increased to over eight thousand, it was reported on Monday.

The Bursa Chamber of Commerce data shows that the number of those employed in the textile industry in Bursa has reached 60 thousand.

IZMIR - The representatives of the local enterprises formed with German capital or German partners in the Aegean Region and the western section of the Mediterranean Region convened in Izmir on Monday.

The representatives of the companies convened at the Ege Palas Hotel upon an invitation from Manfred Unger, the German Consul General in Izmir and held contacts to intensify their relations with the German Consulate General.

Nearly 50 representatives, Consul General Unger and Marc Landau, the official from the German-Turkish Istanbul Chamber of Foreign Trade exchanged opinions on economic issues and reviewed their targets for the future by discussing their problems.

[11] TURKEY-CASPIAN OIL - FIVE-WAY MEETING FOR BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE ENDS - FM CEM: ''THERE IS MUTUAL SUPPORT FOR THE BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE''

The five-way meeting which brought together in Istanbul the Kazakh, Georgian, Turkmen Foreign Ministers and the Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister to discuss the transports of Central Asian oil to the western markets, ended with the declaration of the joint statement the same day.

Giving information about the joint statement on behalf of the guest ministers, Cem stated, ''the aim of the meeting was to set up the political basis regarding the transports of energy, to draw the political framework and to speed up the future developments within the framework of the common interests of the concerned countries.''

Noting that the foreign ministers focused on the solution of disagreements particularly in the Caspian Region as soon as possible, Cem pointed out that the ministers reached a consensus of opinion regarding the continuation of these types of visits.

Cem said that the invitation of the Georgian Foreign Minister to hold the next meeting in Tbilisi was also taken into consideration. ''The Baku- Ceyhan pipeline can not be realized only by the good will of the concerned countries and by our work. It depends on many things,'' said Cem.

Stressing that a briefing was held for participants about the Straits, Cem added that Turkey attributes great importance to the security of the Straits and the Turkish people.

Responding to a question, Cem added that the mutual support of the participant states to the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline was also included in the Joint Declaration.

[12] TURKEY-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS - 32 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED IN EDIRNE

Acting on a tip off, the Edirne Province Gendarmerie Commandership officials captured 13 Bangladeshis near the toll collection sections of the TEM Highway and six Iranians near the Kızkapan Village in Kasan County of Edirne Province.

Meanwhile, the border patrols during their controls captured two Iraqis in Gemici Village in Uzunkopru County; four Romanians in Pasayigit Village in Ipsala County; six Iraqis in Doyran Village and one Albanian in Bosna Village of Edirne Province.

These illegal immigrants said in their hearings that they were trying to escape to Greece.

[13] TRNC-TURKEY - TRNC PRESIDENT RAUF DENKTAS: ''THE DOOR TO TALKS IS OPEN IF THE GREEK CYPRIOT LEADER CLERIDES INVITES ME AS PRESIDENT DENKTAS, A CITIZEN OF THE TRNC''

Rauf Denktas pointed out that the issue of full membership to the EU has been voiced in order to sabotage the Gali's Set of Ideas.

Addressing a statement to the press, Denktas called to Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot side, by saying, ''Let's meet and talk as state to state. If you agree, I am there. The door to talks is open if you invite me as President Denktas, a citizen of the TRNC.''

Denktas warned Clerides that if the Greek Cypriot side joins the EU, Cyprus will be divided into two, ''I advise you to give up weapons and missiles,'' he said.

Noting that the statement of Clerides regarding the establishment of a federation does not mean anything, Denktas stressed that first of all the equality and sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot people should be accepted for the establishment of a federation on Cyprus.

Recalling that he rejected the invitation of Britain due to the visa imposed upon Turkish Cypriots, Denktas criticised Britain for inviting Clerides as the President of Cyprus.

''It is not correct for the TRNC to accept invitations to discuss EU membership, as we are ignored,'' said Denktas.

[14] TRNC - GIBBONS, THE AUTHOR OF THE ''GENOCIDE FILES'' IN THE TRNC - BRITISH AUTHOR GIBBONS: ''CLERIDES IS A TERRORIST, HE SHOULD BE TRIED'' - ''GREEK-CYPRIOT SIDE SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE EU EXPANSION PROCESS'' - ''THE PROPER SOLUTION ON CYPRUS IS THE PRESENT STATUS QUO''

Gibbons, who collected his three books in the ''Genocide Files'', having the attribute of a document that sheds light on the period between 1963- 1974, visited the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and said that the Greek administration should not be included in the European Union (EU) expansion process as it committed inhuman crimes against the Turkish Cypriots before 1974.

''The full-membership of Turkey to the EU is blocked with the claim of human rights abuses in Turkey. If this is the issue, then the Greek-Cypriot side should not be included in the EU for its human rights abuses and massacres on northern Cyprus before 1974. Several experts should come to the island to make research and observations in order to reveal the truths, '' Gibbons said.

Stressing that he wrote the truth not the claims in his book, Gibbons said, ''the rights of the Turkish Cypriots were abused several times. My book should be used as a source for a realistic solution on the island.''

Emphasizing that there is no difference between the massacres in Bosnia- Herzegovina against the Muslims and on Cyprus against the Turkish Cypriots, Gibbons said that the international community remained silent for both massacres.

Harry Scott Gibbons said that the most appropriate solution on the island is the present status quo, adding that the Greek-Cypriot side should now leave the Turkish Cypriots in peace.

[15] TURKEY-CASPIAN OIL (2) - FIVE-WAY MEETING FOR BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE - JOINT DECLARATION: ''MINISTERS CONFIRM THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SAFE TRANSPORTS OF CASPIAN OIL AND NATURAL GAS TO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS BY MORE THAN ONE PIPELINE''

The joint statement noted, ''the ministers confirmed the importance of transports of regional resources to international markets by more than one pipeline, which are convenient in respect of economics and trade by taking into account the consolidation of independence, security, economic development and prosperity of the countries concerned.''

The statement also stressed that the ministers understood the concerns of Turkey regarding the heavy navigation traffic in the Turkish Straits.

The statement noted that safe navigation is also important for not only the people living in Istanbul, but also for the countries which use the Straits quite often.

The statement said that the guest ministers were informed about the feasibility report of the Caspian-Mediterranean and Baku-Ceyhan Oil Pipelines and reached an agreement concerning the determination of the contributions of these countries to this project.

The ministers stressed during the meeting that the status of the Caspian Sea should be determined with an agreement that will be made among the countries sharing the same coastline within the framework of the international principles of law.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Cem met with Boris Sahmuradov, the Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and Araz Azimov, the Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister the same morning.

[16] TURKEY-INTERNAL - COUNCIL OF MINISTERS CONVENES - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''WE DO NOT HAVE EARLY ELECTIONS ON OUR AGENDA'' - ''DRAFT LAW ON TAX REFORM IS AN INDISPENSABLE CONDITION FOR STRUGGLING WITH INFLATION. IF THIS IS PREVENTED, OUR GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE HELD LIABLE CONCERNING INFLATION''

Addressing a statement before the Council of Ministers meeting, Yılmaz said that the three leaders of the government reached an agreement upon the Draft Law on Tax Reform, Draft law on Social Security Institutions, Draft law on the Change in the Capital Market and Draft Law on Local Administrations, adding that ''we regard the Draft Law on Tax Reform as an indispensable condition for struggling with inflation. If this law is prevented, our government will not be held liable concerning inflation.''

Prime Minister Yılmaz pointed out that the three leaders decided to support the proposed law which regulates the participation of students in religious courses in the summertime.

Noting that the three leaders decided to adopt the draft law foreseeing a change in the articles on freedom of thought and expression in the Turkish Penal Code and Draft law on Labor Unions for Civil Servants as soon as possible, Yılmaz stated that the three leaders also decided to make important economic decisions by discussing them at the Cabinet and Supreme Planning Board.

''Girls will not be forced to cover or uncover their heads,'' Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz told reporters, adding that the decision was made in order to ''respect the traditions and customs'' observed by the students.

Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz stressed that the government has been very succesful in respect to achieving its targets and re-establishment of political stability in the country.

Pointing out that the government has been set up as a performance government, Yılmaz stressed that the main aim is to prepare Turkey for the 21st century.

Yılmaz stated that the coalition leaders foresee the continuation of the policy pursued towards the European Union (EU), adding that ''the three leaders are in a consensus of opinion regarding improvement of relations with Iraq, as long as the latter fulfils her commitments towards the United Nations (UN) and continuation of the support extended to the TRNC in all fields.''

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