Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-03-19

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

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

19 MARCH 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-ALBANIA - PRESIDENT DEMIREL MEETS WITH MEMBERS OF THE ALBANIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION AND THE SPEAKER GJINUSHI

[02] TURKEY-MONGOLIA - MONGOLIAN PRESIDENT LEAVES TURKEY

[03] WASHINGTON'S MESSAGES TO THE EU - ''RELIGION AND RACE SHOULD NOT PREVENT THE RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE EU''

[04] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW

[05] TURKEY IN BRIEF - MARCH 19, 1998

[06] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS RECEIVES CORDOVEZ - DENKTAS: ''INTERCOMMUNAL TALKS DIED''

[07] ''ATATURK AND REPUBLIC DATA BANK'' OPENED - INTERNET ADDRESS OF THE ''ATATURK AND REPUBLIC OF TURKEY'' WEB SITE IS: ''http://www.demokrasivakfi.org.tr/ataturk''

[08] GERMANY'S AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY VERGAU: ''TURKEY MISEVALUATED THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE LUXEMBOURG SUMMIT''

[09] FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND EXPRESSION - THE FILES OF THE PEOPLE IMPRISONED FOR VIOLATING ARTICLE 8 OF THE ANTI-TERRORISM LAW AND ARTICLES 159 AND 312 OF THE PENAL CODE TO BE RE-EVALUATED

[01] TURKEY-ALBANIA - PRESIDENT DEMIREL MEETS WITH MEMBERS OF THE ALBANIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION AND THE SPEAKER GJINUSHI

Reminding that he met with Recep Meidani, the Albanian President, a short time ago, Demirel stressed that there are joint historical and cultural values between Turkey and Albania and these values help to improve relations between the two countries.

Demirel said that Albania's union and stability are very important for the ethnic Albanians who live abroad and added, ''If the events in Bosnia Herzegovina ended with the triumph of Belgrade, then Kosovo would be in a more dangerous situation than it is today. We had hoped that there would not be any bloodshed. We believe that a peaceful solution will be found for Kosovo.''

Iskender Gjinushi, the Speaker of the Albanian Parliament said that their visit to Turkey aims to improve relations between Turkey and Albania and added, ''Kosovo can probably become the second Bosnia. A stable Albania can contribute to the solution of this problem.''

Reminding that Albania experienced a crisis last year and the government is still working to remove the damages, Gjinushi said that Albania wants to set up good relations with the Balkan countries.

Gjinushi also said that an international initiative is needed for the Kosovo problem.

[02] TURKEY-MONGOLIA - MONGOLIAN PRESIDENT LEAVES TURKEY

Before his departure Bagabandi attended a dinner organized by the

Foreign Economic Relations Committee (DEIK). Bagabandi said that there are gold, silver, oil and livestock sectors in his country and requested the Turkish businessmen to make investments and to cooperate in these fields.

Noting that they want to improve commercial and economic relations with foreign countries, Bagabandi stated that they are trading with 70 countries, and added that they have liberalized foreign trade, decreased the customs tax to zero and export all kinds of goods with the exception of those which are forbidden worldwide.

He also said that there are 720 companies from 50 countries in Mongolia and the investments are mostly in the fields of construction, food, textiles and mining. He said that there are many monuments built by the Turkish civilization in Mongolia and these monuments help to develop the tourism sector. He invited the Turkish businessmen to the international investors' meeting in Mongolia in June.

Burhan Kara, the Minister of State, said that Turkey wants to set up good bilateral relations with the Central Asian countries and added that the livestock sector can be very significant in the Turkish-Mongolian commercial relations.

[03] WASHINGTON'S MESSAGES TO THE EU - ''RELIGION AND RACE SHOULD NOT PREVENT THE RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE EU''

Grossman said, ''we deeply believe that Turkey should be a part of Europe and set up good relations with the EU.'' Responding to a question, Grossman said that the EU is correct in its worries about the issues of human rights, Cyprus and the Aegean Sea problems in its dialogues with Turkey. Grossman described these issues as the most important problems which Turkey must overcome, and he added that it is very normal that these issues are on the EU's agenda.

Grossman also stressed that the obstacles such as religion and race should not be a part of the relations. He said, ''if these issues are not mixed up with each other, the solution of the problems become a decision made by the Turkish people. I believe that Turkey wants a solution. Therefore, the US and the EU should keep their doors open to Turkey.''

Noting that Turkey is very significant for the US in many fields,

Grossman said that Turkey has become an important market for the American companies.

Grossman said that the US wants to set up successful relations with Turkey and hopes that good bilateral relations can help to solve the problems of human rights, Cyprus and the Aegean region. Grossman also added that the United Nations and the US will work to solve the Cyprus problem this year.

[04] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW

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

TURKEY REPRESENTED AT INTERNATIONAL WATER CONFERENCE
An "International Water Conference" is starting in Paris today. Organized by French President Jacque Chirac, who is acutely aware that 1.5 billion people in the world suffer from a lack of water, this conference will seek ways to find concrete solutions to overcome water shortages. The conference will continue for three days in the Paris UNESCO building and will be attended by representatives from 79 countries. Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Ersumer will participate on Saturday, by presenting a briefing about Turkey's water resources and the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP). /Hurriyet/

UN THREATENING THE TRNC
The United Nations Secretary General's Special Cyprus Envoy, Diego Cordovez, after arriving on Cyprus where he is intending to reinforce contacts between the two sides living on the island, gave a sharp warning to the Turkish Cypriot government that the attention currently being given to the Cyprus issue might come to an end if there were intentions of using this attention to gain advantage. ''Ignoring the United Nations' interest could lead to tragic consequences. I am trying to prevent this happening,'' Cordovez said yesterday. Observers say there are parallels between Cordovez's current remarks and those of the Greek Cypriot Leader Glafcos Clerides who on March 14 said on the Greek radio that the UN Security Council would exert pressure on the Turkish side which refuses to agree to participate in the negotiations without having international recognition. Observers are sure that the Turkish side will be accused of being the uncompromising side on Cyprus, in a report that Cordovez will present to the United Nations at the end of March. /Hurriyet/

FP SEATS IN PARLIAMENT INCREASE TO 141
Independent deputy for Erzurum Abdulillah Fırat yesterday joined the Virtue Party (FP). The number of FP seats in Parliament has thus increased to 141, and the number of independent deputies has dropped to 18. /Sabah/

SIX TERRORISTS KILLED IN THE SOUTHEAST
Six PKK terrorists were killed yesterday in clashes with security forces in Bingol Province. In Tunceli Province, one terrorist gave himself up to the security forces. At the same time in Batman two people were killed in terrorist attacks, and two others were injured. /Sabah/

SEZGIN GIVES STATEMENT TO GREEK TV STATION
Ismet Sezgin, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense in statement to the Greek Mega television channel said that Turkey had discussed signing an anti-aggression agreement with Greece. He added that "hot clashes" between Turkey and Greece in the Aegean would be "impossible". /Cumhuriyet/

83rd CANAKKALE ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATED

A warrior's monument, honouring the soldiers who fought and died at the Battle of Canakkale, was dedicated yesterday in a ceremony attended by the Chief of General Staff Ismail Hakki Karadayi.

Attending the 83rd anniversary ceremonies of the Battle of Canakkale, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz made an opening speech. He said, "Turkey has already proved her military power. She will be one of the leading democratic countries on the threshold of the 21st century. Now we should strengthen our democracy, economy and defense in order to be a model country in the world." /Cumhuriyet/

THREE-DAY MEETING ON "BALKAN PEACE FORCE" ENDS

A three-day meeting in Ankara to discuss the formation of a multi-national military force to prevent a possible crisis in the Balkan region has ended. It is expected that a military force of between three or five thousand will be based either in Edirne, Turkey or Filibe (Plovdiv), Bulgaria.

At the end of the meeting in which Turkey, Bulgaria, Albania, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia and the U.S. participated, it was announced that in line with the Southern European Defense Ministers Process, other regional countries could later contribute to the force. /Cumhuriyet/

"BATTLE OF CANAKKALE" STAMPS

With the cooperation of the Turkish General Directorate of Postal Services and the New Zealand Postal Administration, the "Battle of Canakkale" commemoration stamps were introduced during a cocktail party last night in Ankara. Necdet Menzir, the Minister of Transportation and Rifat Serdaroglu, the Minister of State attended the cocktail party. /Cumhuriyet/

[05] TURKEY IN BRIEF - MARCH 19, 1998

The three-parliamentarian TRNC delegation led by Atay Ahmet Rasit, the TRNC Foreign Minister and Minister of Defense, met with Kyrgyz deputies and the officials from the Ministry of Science and Culture, and Chamber of Commerce and Industry during their two-day visit to Bishkek.

The delegation also visited the Kyrgyz State University and met with the professors of the university and then met with the Turkish businessmen in Kyrgyzstan.

The TRNC delegation proceeded to Azerbaijan, the last stop of the visit. The delegation earlier visited Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.

LEFKOSA - The imprisonment period of Yorgos Zellos and Andreas Konstantinou, the two Greek Cypriot fishermen, was extended by the Security Court of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), it was reported on Wednesday.

Ilker Sertbay, a Military Judge, ruled to extend the imprisonment period of the two fishermen by two days following the request of the Military Prosecutor to finalize the investigation.

The TRNC Coastal Security Command officers captured the two Greek Cypriot fishermen last Saturday in the Derinya region when they violated the TRNC territorial waters.

ISTANBUL - The 21st Photograph Exhibit of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas was opened in Istanbul on Wednesday.

However, Denktas could not participate in the opening of the exhibit at the Toprakbank Art Gallery due to his illness.

Denktas has previously opened photograph exhibits in the US, Britain, Australia, Italy, France, Poland and the Turkish Republics.

The exhibit will remain open until April 6 and then will be opened in Ankara between April 14 and May 6.

TEHERAN - Sencar Ozsoy, the Turkish Ambassador to Iran presented on Wednesday his letters of credence to the Iranian Foreign Minister Kemal Harrazi.

Ozsoy said in the meeting with Harrazi that there was a broad basis for a cooperation between Turkey and Iran.

ANKARA - The first day envelopes and the commemoration stamps on the subject of the ''Battle of the Dardanelles'' were introduced to the media on Wednesday.

The stamps and envelopes will be issued in Turkey and New Zealand through the coordination of the Turkish General Directorate of Postal Services and the New Zealand Postal Administration.

ISTANBUL - The Renault's light-weight commercial motor vehicle ''Kangoo Express'' was introduced on Wednesday in Istanbul with a performance of a ''Magic Revue'' including famous French magicians.

A total of five thousand Kangoo Express is expected to be sold this year.

GAZIANTEP - The exports of thread and textile products from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region in the first two months of 1998 increased 45.4 percent to 36.9 million US dollars, it was reported on Thursday.

The exports of thread and textile products in the same period last year was 25.4 million US dollars.

Abdulkadir Cikmaz, the Chairman of the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union, told the A.A correspondent that they exported thread and textiles to Syria, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Italy, Jordan, Spain, France, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, the US, Israel, Portugal, Russia, Greece and Algeria.

ANKARA - The Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and the Turkish Philharmony Association said on Thursday that they will support the ''classical music'' project of the Ankara Police Department.

Responding to the questions of the A.A correspondent, Nedim Tanrikulu, the Director of the Symphony Orchestra, said that they will prepare special classical music tapes for the police forces.

In the meantime the members of the Rapid Deployment Forces were invited to the CSO's weekly concert.

TEHERAN - Sencar Ozsoy, Turkey's Ambassador to Iran presented his letter of credence to Kemal Harrazi, the Iranian Foreign Minister on Wednesday.

Ozsoy said that the historical and cultural links between the two countries can help to improve the relations.

Noting that Turkey wants to develop relations with Iran, Ozsoy said that the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and the D-8 Group are the proper platforms for the cooperation between Turkey and Iran.

Harrazi said that he hopes the relations will be developed between the two countries during the course of Ozsoy's stay in Iran.

[06] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS RECEIVES CORDOVEZ - DENKTAS: ''INTERCOMMUNAL TALKS DIED''

Responding to a question of a reporter of ''whether or not the intercommunal talks would be taken onto the agenda'', Denktas said ''Intercommunal talks died, even their bargaining is out of the question.''

Denktas also said that he did not want to talk much before the meeting.

The UN Secretary General's Special Advisor Cordovez when asked if he brought an invitation for a meeting, said ''there is an invitation.''

Meanwhile, Cordovez also met with the representatives of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

[07] ''ATATURK AND REPUBLIC DATA BANK'' OPENED - INTERNET ADDRESS OF THE ''ATATURK AND REPUBLIC OF TURKEY'' WEB SITE IS: ''http://www.demokrasivakfi.org.tr/ataturk''

Addressing the ceremony held at the Turkish Council of Scientific and Technical Research (TUBITAK), Cavit Kavak, the Minister of State, said that the ''Ataturk and Republic of Turkey Web Site'' was the result of a serious study.

Kavak said that the international community would get to know and understand Mustafa Kemal Ataturk better through this project.

The internet address of the Ataturk and Republic of Turkey Web Site is:

''http: //www.demokrasivakfi.org.tr/ataturk''

[08] GERMANY'S AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY VERGAU: ''TURKEY MISEVALUATED THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE LUXEMBOURG SUMMIT''

Addressing a conference titled ''Europe and Turkish-German Relations'', Vergau said that Turkey and Germany have very strong economic and social relations emphasizing that these relations will be maintained in the future.

Criticizing that Turkey became sensitive after the Luxembourg resolutions and isolated herself from the European Union process, Vergau said, ''Turkey misevaluated the resolutions of the summit. Turkey is a giant having a great potential. All Europeans believe that Turkey is located in an economically and strategically key point so that Turkey should have close links. Any opposition of Germany to Turkey on the issue is out of the question.''

Vergau said that they could not understand why Turkey assumed an attitude as if searching for the guilty one, although she was expected to fulfill the determined criterion.

Vergau said that Germany will continue to support Turkey and will extend efforts for the release of financial aid that was promised when Turkey entered the Customs Union. He said Germany thought that the Greek veto was unjust and that they hoped that blockage will be lifted soon.

Noting that putting pressure on Greece was risky, Vergau said ''we do not believe that beating Greece with sticks will result in positive outcomes. Our main principle in the EU is dialogue and using the method of persuasion in our approaches. Greece's negative attitude is clear. I am angry that Greece acts like a naughty child.''

[09] FREEDOM OF THOUGHT AND EXPRESSION - THE FILES OF THE PEOPLE IMPRISONED FOR VIOLATING ARTICLE 8 OF THE ANTI-TERRORISM LAW AND ARTICLES 159 AND 312 OF THE PENAL CODE TO BE RE-EVALUATED

The draft law foreseeing changes in some Articles of the Penal Code and Anti-Terrorism Law to ease the restrictions on the freedom of thought and expression was presented to the Parliament.

According to the draft, the withdrawal of the decision for a conditional release will only be possible in case of an imprisonment punishment binding the individual freedom for a long time.

The decision of a conditional release cannot be withdrawn for an imprisonment punishment binding the individual freedom for less than one year.

The person, who defames and damages the Turkish Nation, the Parliament, Government, Ministries, Military, Police and Courts, can be sentenced to six months to three years imprisonment, and the person, who openly defames and damages the Republic of Turkey, can be sentenced to 15 days to six months imprisonment in accordance with the law.

The person, who publicly praises an action that the Law defines as a crime or ostensibly incites people to disobey the laws, can be sentenced to six months to two years imprisonment.

The person, who publicly incites people to hold an enmity and grudge against each other by taking into consideration the social class, race, religion and sect differences, can be sentenced to one year to three years imprisonment.

The draft also foresees the change of Article 8 of the Anti- Terrorism Law.

In accordance with this Article, the people, who make oral, written or visual propaganda and hold meetings, demonstrations or marches to destroy the indivisible integrity of country and nation of the Republic of Turkey, can be sentenced to six months to two years imprisonment and can be given a fine of 50 million to 200 million Turkish Liras.

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