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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-06-15Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>15 JUNE 1998CONTENTS
[01] TERRORIST ATTACKS IN SEMDINLI AND MIDYAT - THREE VILLAGE GUARDS DIESEMDINLI/MIDYAT, June 15 (A.A) - The separatist terrorists opened fire on the Radiolink Station in the Hanimgedigi region at Semdinli County of southeastern Hakkari Province, killing one village guard and injuring four others and one civil servant, it was reported on Sunday.A group of separatist terrorists attacked on Sunday night the Rediolink Station belonging to the Turkish Telekom and killed Mirhan Gureli, the village guard. The injured village guards and the civil servant were taken to the State Hospital in Semdinli. The security forces launched a large-scale operation in the region. Meanwhile, another group of separatist terrorists opened fire on Sunday night with long-range weapons on the position of the village guards overlooking Eglence village in Midyat County of southeastern Mardin Province, killing two village guards and injuring a soldier. Ismail Ozdemir (21) and M. Sait Turkcan (37), the village guards, died and a soldier was wounded in the attack. The injured soldier was taken to the Midyat Military Hospital. Security forces launched an immediate and large-scale operation. [02] CARDIFF SUMMIT - THE POSSIBILITY OF TURKEY BEING MENTIONED AS THE 12TH CANDIDATE IN THE FINAL DECLARATION SEEMS TO WEAKENCARDIFF, June 15 (A.A) - Britain, the Term President of the European Union, (EU) said in her statement issued before the Cardiff Summit that she launches great efforts to improve the relations between Turkey and the EU, however not many things should be expected concerning this issue, it was reported on Sunday.The Spokesman of the British Foreign Office stated that the initiative of France, which wants to suspend the full membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side, will probably not produce a result during the meetings. Meanwhile, diplomatic sources stress that improvement of the Turkish-EU relations and the initiative to include Turkey as the 12th candidate state in the Final Declaration will be impeded by various obstacles. Noting that Helmut Kohl, the German Chancellor and Greece oppose the activities aiming to show Turkey as the 12th candidate, the same sources added that these countries want the EU not to make decisions outside of the framework of the Luxembourg Decisions. The US also insists that a favour be made to Turkey at the Cardiff Summit, however the EU Commission thinks that this will make a counter effect. The liberation of the EU funds constitutes another important issue for Turkey, however this possibility also weakens as it can only be adopted by the EU countries excluding Greece and the EU Court can reject such a decision due to technical and legal reasons. [03] NAZARBAYEV, PRESIDENT OF KAZAKHSTAN, IN ANKARAANKARA, June 15 (A.A)- Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President of Kazakhstan, arrived on Sunday in Ankara as the official guest of President Suleyman Demirel.President Nazarbayev was welcomed by President Demirel at the Esenboga Airport. President Demirel and President Nazarbayev held a press conference at the Esenboga Airport. Addressing the press conference, President Demirel said that Turkey and Kazakhstan are two friendly countries having a strength in their regions. Stating that he was pleased with the visit of President Nazarbayev and the accompanying delegation to Turkey, President Demirel said, ''welcome to your second motherland.'' Pointing out that Kazakhstan deserved her place among the esteemed countries after she declared her independence and sovereignty in 1991, President Demirel said, ''I feel proud of the re-establishment of the cultural and historical ties between our two nations in 1991.'' ''Turkey and Kazakhstan are two friendly countries playing an important role in securing peace and stability in their regions. I believe your visit will be beneficial for the mutual interests of our two nations and for deepening our relations,'' President Demirel added. Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President of Kazakhstan, said in the joint press conference that they arrived in Turkey as the official guests of President Demirel, adding, ''I accept and know that we came to our homeland.'' ''Our two countries, in a short period, set up close relations. The best example for this relationship is that our students are studying at the Turkish war academies and several universities and also Turkish students are studying in Kazakhstan. I accept this as a signal for our common good future,'' President Nazarbayev said. ''The activities being implemented by more than 320 Turkish companies with a business and investment volume of more than 40 billion US dollars in Kazakstan is one of the good examples of the friendly relations between our two countries,'' he added. President Nursultan Nazarbayev is accompanied by Kasimjomarat Tokaev, the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan; N.A. Abikayev, the Vice President of Kazakhstan; Baltas M. Tursumbayev, the Kazakh Ambassador to Turkey; T. Dosmuhamedov, the Chairman of Tourism and Sports Committee of the Kazakh Ministry of Education, Culture and Health; T. Kulibayev, the Chairman of the Kazakhoil Company and other high-ranking Kazakh officials. Kazakh President Nazarbayev started his official contacts in Ankara on Monday by visiting the Anitkabir (Mausoleum of Ataturk). [04] GEN. MERCIER, CHIEF COMMANDER OF FRENCH LAND FORCES, IN ANKARAANKARA, June 15 (A.A) - General Philippe Mercier, the Cheif Commander of the French Land Forces, met on Sunday with Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief Commander of Land Forces.Gen. Mercier, who arrived on Sunday in Ankara as the official guest of Gen. Kivrikoglu, was welcomed at a military ceremony at the Headquarters of the Land Forces in Ankara. General Mercier signed the book of honor of the Commandership of the Land Forces. Later, Gen. Kivrikoglu and Gen. Mercier held a tete-a-tete meeting. After completing his contacts, Gen. Mercier will leave Turkey on June 17. [05] WOMEN JOURNALISTS' ''ETHICS IN THE PRESS'' SYMPOSIUM - LUTZ, THE DUTCH JOURNALIST: ''TURKEY COMPLAINS OF FOREIGN JOURNALISTS, I CAN SOMETIMES ACCEPT THAT''ISTANBUL, June 15 (A.A) - Women journalists from the US, the Netherlands, Italy, India, Chili, France and Romania explained their views on the Symposium on ''Ethics in the Press,'' which is being held in Turkey, it was reported on Sunday.Addressing the opening speech, Ahmet Hakan, the Chairman of the Symposium said that the mission of the media is to educate the people and this mission is carried out by journalists. Jessica Lutz from the Dutch News Agency said that the Dutch state doesn't put limitations on the press in order to protect democracy and security. ''There is no law regarding the press in the Netherlands, in fact the contrary is true in Turkey. Where should the line be drawn to protect the society and the country?'' she said. ''We have to write and publish the truth, Turkey complains of foreign journalists concerning this issue. Turkey accuses them of writing false news. I sometimes accept that,'' Lutz added. Silvana Grippi, an Italian journalist, said that news which isn't examined well and which is not written by professionals can be dangerous. ''A good journalist should use the news in a good manner and he/she should evaluate it in a good manner,'' she added. Seref Oguz from the Turkish Milliyet newspaper said that the readers have the right to receive news, but they should also show reactions, ''the readers are quiet in Turkey,'' Oguz said. Oguz added that important problems will appear in Turkey, if ethical values can't be formed. Stephen Kinzer, the representative of the New York Times to Turkey said that the role and obligations of the press in Turkey are very important and the press should respect ethical values. [06] KOCAELISPOR'S FORWARD SABIN ILIE TRANSFERRED TO SPANISH VALENCIA - VALENCIA TO PAY 3.5 MILLION US DOLLARS FOR THIS TRANSFER TO KOCAELISPORKOCAELI, June 15 (A.A) - The Kocaelispor Soccer Club will receive 3.5 million US dollars from the Spanish Valencia for the transfer of its Romanian forward, Sabin Ilie, the brother of Adrian Ilie, it was reported on Sunday.Sefa Sirmen, the Manager of the Kocaelispor, told the A.A correspondent that Adrian Ilie, the attacker of the Valencia, proposed to his club to transfer his brother, Sabin Ilie, to the Valencia. ''Sabin Ilie couldn't play an enterprising soccer in our matches. Ilie will continue his career at the Valencia,'' stated Sirmen. [07] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)These are brief summaries of some of the leading stories in Turkey's press on June 15, 1998. The Anadolu Agency doesn't verify these stories and doesn't vouch for their accuracy.(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.) NAZARBAYEV IN TURKEY THIS WEEK IN PARLIAMENT HISTORICAL SIGNING TODAY 'SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL WON'T PASS' BRITAIN: DON'T EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM THE SUMMIT TURKISH-BRITISH TRADE MISSION LEAVES TURKEY HARDY TO VISIT TURKEY TOMORROW Meanwhile, Donald Johnston, the OECD Secretary-General, arrived in Turkey yesterday to examine private and public sector developments. /Hurriyet- Cumhuriyet/ [08] ENVIRONMENTAL SEMINAR IN HEYBELIADA - CLINTON, THE US PRESIDENT SENDS A MESSAGE TO THE SEMINARISTANBUL, June 15 (A.A) - The fifth ''Environmental Summer Seminars'' started in Heybeliada at the Haiga Triada Monastery on Sunday.The seminar started with a ceremony, where Christodulos, the Greek Archbishop, who is currently in Istanbul, also participated. Bartelomeos I, the Istanbul Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch and Rahmi Koc, a famous businessman participated at the opening of the seminar, which will take up the issue of ''Environment and Poverty.'' Bill Clinton, the US President, Pope John Paul II, Konrad Riaser, the Secretary General of the World Churches Union and George Carey, the Archbishop of Canterbury sent congratulatory messages to the seminar, which will last for two days. [09] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)These are brief summaries of some of the leading stories in Turkey's press on June 15, 1998. The Anadolu Agency doesn't verify these stories and doesn't vouch for their accuracy.(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.) SOLANA: "S-300 MISSILES ARE A GREAT MISTAKE" Javier Solana, the NATO Secretary-General, has warned both the Russians and the Greek Cypriots regarding the deployment of the Russian-made S-300 missiles at the Greek Cypriot side. In a statement to the UBA news agency, Solana noted that this initiative was a ''very great mistake'' and said, ''the S-300 missiles will increase the tension in the region and cause new problems''. In response to a question from a journalist, Solana stated that a no-flight zone over Cyprus wasn't on the agenda. /Hurriyet/ HIGH MILITARY COUNCIL MEETING ARAB CONCERN OVER TURKISH-JORDANIAN-ISRAELI COOPERATION IBCA TO UPRATE TURKEY Meanwhile, officials from Moody's and Standard and Poor's will visit Turkey in the second half of July. Rating institutions which will receive the results of the IMF-Turkey report will also be given detailed information about developments in the Turkish economy. /Sabah/ GERMANY GIVES GUARANTEES REGARDING PKK 18 TERRORISTS KILLED IN THE SOUTHEAST [10] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (3)These are brief summaries of some of the leading stories in Turkey's press on June 15, 1998. The Anadolu Agency doesn't verify these stories and doesn't vouch for their accuracy.(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.) FIFTH PATRIARCHAL ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMER SEMINAR GROWING TOURISM COUNTRY: TURKEY LESS FOREIGN EXCHANGE PAID FOR OIL ATHENS TO EMBARGO FRANCE FLOODS CAUSE LOSS OF LIFE [11] KARATE: 11TH INTERNATIONAL BOSPHORUS TOURNAMENT - TURKEY BECOMES RUNNER-UP AFTER ITALYISTANBUL, June 15 (A.A) - Turkey received a total of four gold, nine silver and sixteen bronze medals at the 11th International Bosphorus Karate Tournament and became runner-up after Italy, it was reported on Sunday.A total of 200 sportsmen from Turkey, Italy, Yugoslavia, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Kuwait, Belgium, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia and Tunisia attended the tournament held at the Abdi Ipekci Sports Hall in Istanbul between June 13-14. Italy became the winner of the tournament with 15 gold, 5 silver and one bronze medal and Azerbaijan became the second runner-up with one silver and three bronze medals. [12] STATE MINISTER TURK:''STATE'S POLICY IS TO ABOLISH TORTURE''NEW YORK, June 15 (A.A) - Hikmet Sami Turk, the Minister of State Responsible for Human Rights, said on Monday, ''torture is a disgrace for humanity. The policy of the state is to abolish torture.''Turk, who is currently in the US to hold contacts there, responded to the questions of the Turkish journalists in New York. Responding to a question about the murder of Akżn Birdal, the Chairman of the Human Rights Association, Turk said ''the mission of the state is to capture the guilty people and the assailants who attacked him have been captured.'' Noting that Turkey has accepted international control concerning torture, Turk added that delegations from the United Nations (UN) and the European Commission of Human Rights can come to Turkey to make examinations. ''Yes, torture is committed in Turkey, however this is not the policy of the state, '' he said. Turk said that the Turkish police can be trained in the US concerning the issues of human rights, interrogation techniques and obtaining evidence. Turk, who will proceed to Washington, D.C., the same night after completing his contacts in New York, will meet with Madeleine Albright, the US Secretary of State, John Shattuck, the Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour and Janet Reno, the US Secretary of Justice in Washington, D.C. Turk, who will also meet members of the US Supreme Court and representatives of several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will proceed to Chicago on Thursday. [13] ''S-300 OPERATION'' AT THE DARDANELLESCANAKKALE, June 15 (A.A) - The coast guard vessels stopped and searched a Maltese-flagged ship, called ''Natasha-1'' in the Dardanelles Straits on Monday on suspicion that it was carrying the Russian anti-aircraft missile parts rather than tractors.The ship was stopped on the order of Istanbul Directorate of Customs Protection and the Canakkale Customs Protection officials, who said that the S-300 missile carrier launchers can be in the stores of the ship. The coast guard halted the Natasha-1 ship offshore from the town of Gelibolu and began an initial inspection of its hold. A team of military experts were later expected to board the vessel, sailing from Russia to Egypt with a Russian crew. Officials suspected the vessel was carrying ramps for the S-300 missiles. [14] TURKEY IN BRIEF - JUNE 15, 1998ANKARA - The 152nd anniversary of the foundation of the Turkish Gendarmerie was celebrated on Sunday with a ceremony held at the Commandership of the Gendarmerie Academies.Gendarmerie Lieutenant-Colonel Yunus Nebioglu, the Chairman of the Military Courses department of the Commandership of the Gendarmerie Academies, said that the Gendarmerie will continue to secure peace and stability in the country. OSLO - Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament, arrived on Sunday in Norway as the official guest of Grondahl, the Norwegian Speaker of the Parliament, after concluding his contacts in Sweden. Hikmet Cetin will meet with the Norwegian Prime Minister Bondevik and the Speaker of the Parliament Grondahl and Foreign Minister Vollebekaek. Cetin will be received by the Norwegian King Harald V. SELCUK - The 12th International Izmir Festival started on Sunday at the Ephesus Antique Theater with a magnificent concert. More than 300 artists performed Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. Nearly five thousand people gave a standing ovation after the concert. BERGAMA - The 62nd International Bergama Kermis (Fair) was concluded on Sunday with several activities. The ten-day Bergama Kermis is the second kermis in the world after the festival at Lyon city of France and the first kermis in the Turkey. KARS - Security forces captured on Monday two people trying to bring gold to Armenia illegally from eastern Kars province. Officials said that security forces, acting on a tip-off, began to closely monitor a car having an Armenian license plate. The security forces stopped the car belonging to the Armenians Sargis Topchyan and Girgor Melikyan, and found 8.5 kg of gold in hidden compartments of the car. Officials said that the gold was uninvoiced and has a market price of 13 billion Turkish Liras. [15] TURKISH-IMF RELATIONS - TURKEY BECOMES THE MOST ''TRANSPARENT COUNTRY'' AMONG DEVELOPING COUNTRIES CONCERNING ECONOMIC DATAANKARA/WASHINGTON, D.C., June 15 (A.A) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) thinks that Turkey has become the ''most transparent country'' among the developing countries concerning economic data, it was reported on Monday.The IMF experts said that Turkey comes in first, particularly among the developing countries in Asia concerning the transparency in her public sector, adding that the declaration of economic data in a correct and regular manner increases the trust of foreign capital investors in the Turkish economy. The IMF experts think that the transparency of the data found in the Turkish economy protected Turkey from the shock wave of the Asian crisis. The economy officials attribute importance to the transparency in the economic field within the framework of the new principles adopted by the IMF last year, adding ''The Project of Data Systems'' which is prepared by the Treasury is a very good example of this. The technical arrangements concerning the Project have nearly finished and the project, which is expected to be implemented in the autumn, will announce regularly the daily data about the State Economic Enterprises (KIT) and domestic and foreign finance situation to the public opinion. Recalling that the domestic and foreign investors want to obtain correct and fast information about the country in which they plan to make investments, the officials added that investors who get information at first hand won't be worried about making investments. [16] THE TERRORIST WHO SURRENDERED TO TURKISH EMBASSY IN BEIRUT TO BE TRIEDISTANBUL, June 15 (A.A) - A suit will be commenced against Fuat Karadag on charges of ''being a member of an illegal organization'', it was reported on Monday. Fuat Karadag, who was planned to be sent to Turkey after his training at a terrorist camp in Syria, escaped from the separatist terrorist PKK organization and surrendered to the Turkish Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.The Istanbul State Security Court's Public Prosector's Office prepared a written indictment, saying that Fuat Karadag was earlier sentenced to 15 year imprisonment for ''murder'' and then sent to Kayseri, Nevsehir and Adiyaman prisons, but escaped from the Adiyaman prison to Syria via southestern Gaziantep Province. The indictment said that Karadag spent 25 days at one camp of the separatist terrorist PKK organization in the Syrian capital of Damascus and then he was subjected to political training at another camp in the region between October 1997 and March 1998, and later he escaped from the camp with another terrorist, Ramazan Mahmutoglu, and surrendered to the Turkish Embassy in Beirut while he was planning to infiltrate into Turkey in May 1998. The indictment is asking for a 15 to 22.5 year imprisonment sentence on charges of ''being a member of an illegal organization'', taking into consideration the confessions of Karadag, the statements of Mahmutoglu and the content of the records. The indictment said that the file of Ramazan Mahmutoglu was transferred to the Malatya State Security Court after splitting the causes of the action. The date of the hearing of Fuat Karadag and the place of the trial will be determined in the coming days. [17] FM CEM: ''BRITAIN, THE EU TERM PRESIDENT IS IN A GOODWILLED AND CONSTRUCTIVE APPROACH''ANKARA, June 15 (A.A) - Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister said on Monday that an overall evaluation will be made after the policies pursued towards Turkey become definite during the Cardiff Summit of the European Union (EU), adding that the news published in the press which show the Foreign Ministry as the source are only an ''invention.''Cem stated that he issued a written statement to prevent any misunderstandings concerning the news. Noting that the Foreign Ministry has obtained some partial information about the Cardiff Summit, which started the same day and Cem stressed that Britain, the EU Term President shows a goodwilled and constructive approach in her proposal. Pointing out that the draft proposal will be discussed at the EU Summit, Cem stated, ''the decisions are made unanimously at the EU Summit meetings. Turkey won't make an evaluation before the draft resolution of Britain becomes final and the decision is announced.'' Stressing that the solution of conflicts among the EU countries will be both to the interest of Turkey and also the EU, Cem said ''our Ministry conveys its own views to its counterparts in order to abolish some kinds of EU approaches, which we consider to be wrong. I also directly meet with the concerned Foreign Ministers.'' [18] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''THE CYPRUS QUESTION CAN'T BE SOLVED UNLESS A BALANCE IS SET UP BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES CONCERNING ECONOMY AND POLITICS''GIRNE, June 15 (A.A) - Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Monday that the Cyprus question can't be solved unless a balance is set up between the TRNC and the Greek Cypriot side concerning the economy and politics.Addressing a meeting held in Girne, the TRNC President Denktas stated that the path to peace is through the economy and businessmen and industrialists have a key role in it. Noting that the Greek Cypriots use the economy as a weapon, Denktas said, ''however this is a false hope. The bridges between the TRNC and Turkey should improve with a full integration and the bureaucratic impediments should be removed.'' Denktas stressed that the Greek Cypriots have been struggling for years to integrate Cyprus with Greece by using the Greek money, adding ''the Greek Cypriots think that they have come to the last stage and have nearly succeeded with the decision of the EU to start full membership negotiations with them. Unfortunately, we couldn't explain the rightfulness of the TRNC and Turkey concerning the Cyprus question to those who consider the Greek Cypriots as the government of Cyprus.'' Denktas said that they don't avoid negotiations and they are ready for discussions. Dervis Eroglu, the TRNC Prime Minister said that when the TRNC gains her economic independence, she will be more strong. ''The region will transform into an energy region with the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. If the potential of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) are taken into account, the importance of the TRNC will be understood better,'' Eroglu added. [19] AKKUYU NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - ACTIVITIES CONTINUE RAPIDLY WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE TENDERANKARA, June 15 (A.A) - The tender, which was opened by the Turkish Electricity Production and Distribution Corporation (TEAS) for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, is nearly concluded while the activities of the commission, which was established to specify the consortium to build the power plant, are rapidly continuing, it was reported on Monday.The officials from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources told the A.A correspondent that the activities for bringing the bids of the participant consortiums to the same level were finished. The representatives of the Spanish Empresarios Aqrupatos Internacional Company, which is giving counseling services to the TEAS for the nuclear power plant tender, are expected to meet with the officials from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources to discuss the report they presented earlier. The names of the consortiums bidding for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant tender and their bids are as follows: 1- NPI (French-German), Siemens (German), Framatome, GEL-A (French-German), Campenon Bernard-Hochtief (French-German), Simko, Garanti Koza, STFA, Tekfen (Turkish): 2 billion 393 million US dollars. 2- AECL (Canadian), Kuaerner John Brown (British), Hitachi (Japanese), Daiwoo (South Korean), Ansoldo (Italian), Guris, Gama, Bayindir (Turkish): 2 billion 571.6 million US dollars. 3- Westinghouse (USA), Mitsubishi (Japanese), Enka-MNG (Turkish): 3 billion 278.6 million US dollars. [20] ''S-300 OPERATION IN THE DARDANELLES STRAITS (2)ANKARA, June 15 (A.A) - Prime Minister Mesut Yżlmaz said on Monday that searches continue on the ''Natasha-1,'' the Malta-flagged ship, which was stopped in the Dardanelles Straits on Monday on suspicion that it was carrying the Russian anti-aircraft missile parts.Prime Minister Yżlmaz received the same day Donald Johnston, the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Responding to a question at the meeting, Yżlmaz said that authorities are examining the ship, which was halted offshore from the town of Gelibolu. [21] NAZARBAYEV, PRESIDENT OF KAZAKHSTAN, IN ANKARA (2) - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: - ''OUR TARGET IS TO REALIZE MORE COOPERATION IN EVERY FIELD''ANKARA, June 15 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel said on Monday that their target is to realize more cooperation in every field, stressing the importance of the development of the relations between Turkey and Kazakhstan.Following the interdelegationary meetings held within the framework of the contacts of the Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, who is currently holding official contacts in Turkey, President Demirel said that Turkey always supported the reforms in Kazakhstan following her independence. Pointing out that the relations between the two countries have futher developed, Demirel said, ''in last six years, we set up relations that can be developed within thirty years.'' Noting that he believes the visit of President Nazarbayev to Turkey will accelerate the relations between Turkey and Kazakhstan, President Demirel said that President Nazarbayev and he discussed the regional issues in their tete-a-tete meeting which was held in a friendly atmosphere. President Nazarbayev, who is currently holding contacts in Turkey as the guest of President Demirel, stressed that the two countries don't have any differences of opinion. Emphasizing that the trade volume between the two countries should be increased to one billion US dollars, President Nazarbayev said that to this end, he gave the necessary instructions for preparing a project including the development of the bilateral relations. Meanwhile, within the framework of the contacts of President Nazarbayev, Turkey and Kazakhstan signed a Tourism Cooperation Agreement to develop the relations. Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister; Ahat Andican, the Minister of State Responsible for the Relations with the Turkish Republics; Ibrahim Gurdal, the Minister of Tourism and other high-ranking officials attended the interdelegationary meetings. Following the interdelegationary meetings between Turkey and Kazakhstan, President Demirel and President Nazarbayev made observations on the map of the Trans-Caucasus Energy Corridor. [22] S-300 OPERATION IN THE DARDANELLES STRAITS (4) - SEVEN MOBILE MISSILE CARRIER RAMPS FOUND IN THE MALTESE-FLAGGED CARGO SHIPGELIBOLU, June 15 (A.A) - Officials found on Monday seven mobile missile ramps in the Maltase flagged ship, called the ''Natasha-1,'' which was stopped the same day offshore from the town of Geliboli in the Dardanelles Straits.An examination has been carried out by the Istanbul and Canakkale Directorates of Customs and it has been found out that there are seven mobile missile ramps hidden in the stores under the deck where there were 142 tractors, which were declared on the manifest of the ship. It isn't certain for now whether or not these ramps belong to the S-300 missiles. Moreover many boxes having a length of 1-1.5 meters and a width of 50 cm were found in the cargo ship during the inspections headed by Ali Balkan Mete, the General Director of the Istanbul Customs' Protection Office. The customs officials wait for the arrival of military experts on the ship for the opening of these boxes. Officials say that probably the spare parts belonging to the missile ramps can be found in these boxes. Customs officials stressed that ships which carry such kind of military equipment should inform the Turkish officials 24 hours before passing through the Straits, adding that the Maltese-flagged ship didn't inform the officials. Meanwhile, the crew on the ship attempted to drop the lid of the store weighing five tonnes onto the boat carrying journalists including the A.A correspondent. Customs officials added that they wait for the military experts and legal proceedings can only start after the latter's report. Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |