Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-09-25

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

25 SEPT 1998

CONTENTS

[01] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ MEETS WITH ANNAN, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS - YILMAZ REQUESTS GREECE TO ESTABLISH DIALOGUE

[02] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RECEIVES ECEVIT - ECEVIT: ''EYUP ASIK DISPLAYED THE BEHAVIOR EXPECTED FROM AN EXPERIENCED POLITICIAN''

[03] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''I BELIEVE THAT ASIK'S ATTITUDE SHOWN AGAINST A PLOT AIMED AT HIM WILL BE AN EXAMPLE TO EVERYONE''

[04] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN NEW YORK - CEM MEETS WITH RICHARD HOLBROOKE

[05] NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS' MEETING - SEZGIN, DEFENCE MINISTER: - ''KOSOVO CRISIS NEEDS AN URGENT SOLUTION'' - ''THE ARCHITECTURE OF EUROPEAN SECURITY CANNOT BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT RUSSIA''

[06] BUS CARRYING TOURISTS PLUNGES INTO ROADSIDE DITCH KILLING ONE PERSON AND INJURING 20 OTHERS

[07] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[08] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[09] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (3)

[10] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''TURKEY CAN PROVIDE VERY IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS IF SHE BECOMES MEMBER OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL BETWEEN 2001- 2002

[11] SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT CETIN RECEIVES TURKEY-KUWAIT FRIENDSHIP GROUP - JAMBOUR, CHAIRMAN OF FRIENDSHIP GROUP: - ''KUWAIT OWES TURKEY''

[12] PRESS CONFERENCE OF ASIK - ASIK: ''I HAVE NEVER HELPED GANGS''

[13] GUREL, THE STATE MINISTER AND GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN: ''DAYTON AGREEMENT IS A PROCESS AND WHEN THIS PROCESS ENDS, PEACE AND COOPERATION WILL BE REALIZED IN THE REGION''

[14] OIL TRANSPORTS FROM THE STRAITS - ERSUMER, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES: ''TURKEY CAN'T BEAR TRANSPORT OF 50 MILLION TONNES OF OIL FROM THE STRAITS''

[01] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ MEETS WITH ANNAN, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS - YILMAZ REQUESTS GREECE TO ESTABLISH DIALOGUE

Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, was also in attendance at the meeting. The meeting that lasted for half an hour, focused on the regional problems and Turkey's role in the region.

Addressing the UN General Assembly after his meeting with Annan, Yilmaz stressed that Turkey has applied for being one of the 10 temporary members of the UN Security Council in 2000.

He added, ''Turkey is ready to fulfill her responsibilities for the maintenance of international peace, stability and prosperity. Turkey as a member of the UN Security Council, aims at serving regional and global peace and stability.''

Expressing Turkey's support for the confederation proposal of President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Yilmaz requested Greece to establish dialogue with Turkey. He stressed, ''Several problems from the past, most of them are related with the Aegean, still damage the relations between Turkey and Greece. We sincerely want these problems to be solved within a meaningful dialogue process.''

Mentioning the Cyprus question, Yilmaz pointed out, ''the issue of Cyprus is in a critical stage. The attitudes of Greece and the Greek Cypriot side, threaten the securities of both Turkey and the TRNC. It also damages the peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The policies of the Greek and the Greek Cypriot side towards deploying the Russian made S- 300 missiles at Southern Cyprus, escalate tension on the island. Meanwhile, the European Unions's decision to start full membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side has changed all parameters for a solution. This process, unfortunately, cause the division of the island to continue. Turkey supports the confederation proposal of 31 August 1998 of President Denktas. This proposal that has an historical importance, foresees a confederation on Cyprus. Be believe that it creates the perspective of a fair and lasting solution. The proposal saves the vital and legal interests of both sides on the island.''

Describing the deadlock in the Middle East Peace Process and the continuous suffering of the Palestinians as a source of concern for Turkey, Yilmaz emphasized that Turkey shares a joint cultural inheritance with the Arab countries and at the same time she has friendship relations with Israel.

Yilmaz also revealed Turkey's views on the issues such as the UN reform, Kosovo crisis, relations between Turkey and Greece, Cyprus question and the deadlock in the Middle East Peace Process.

Yilmaz asked that the Armenian occupation of the Azerbaijani lands be ended.

Mentioning the UN's role and significance, Yilmaz stressed that there can be no excuse for terrorism.

[02] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RECEIVES ECEVIT - ECEVIT: ''EYUP ASIK DISPLAYED THE BEHAVIOR EXPECTED FROM AN EXPERIENCED POLITICIAN''

Speaking to reporters following the meeting Ecevit said that Eyup Asik, the Minister of State, resigned from his deputyship and that he conveyed this to the Parliamentary Chairmanship.

Ecevit said that Asik decided to apply to the State Security Court (DGM) with a request to accept the allegations against him as a denouncement. He alsod decided to resign from the Ministry of State.

Ecevit said he discussed the issue with Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, adding that the procedure related to the resignation of Asik will take effect when Yilmaz returns to Turkey.

Ecevit said that Asik told him that he decided to resign not to cause further unpleasant discussions.

[03] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''I BELIEVE THAT ASIK'S ATTITUDE SHOWN AGAINST A PLOT AIMED AT HIM WILL BE AN EXAMPLE TO EVERYONE''

Yilmaz, currently in New York, made a statement and said ''I talked to Asik on the phone on Thursday morning. Asik always showed sensitivity towards the struggle against the gangs and illegal implementations and contributed a lot to this end''.

Yilmaz pointed out that it was clear that there was a plot against Asik and that ''this plot will fail.'' Yilmaz said no other government showed the courage and determination that his government showed in the struggle against gangs, adding that this struggle would continue.

Yilmaz said he had never talked with Alaattin Cakici, the notorious Mafia boss, in his life and that he had never met him.

Yilmaz said that the approaches of several political leaders and columnists were impatient, adding that they could have waited some more time.

Prime Minister Yilmaz also pointed out that he believed that Asik would be acquitted from all the accusations, adding that recent developments didn't affect his program and that he will proceed from New York to Mexico.

Responding to the allegations revealed after the confirmation of the penalty given to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Mayor of Istanbul, he said that the decisions of the judiciary were binding to the government, adding that everybone has to respect the decisions.

[04] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN NEW YORK - CEM MEETS WITH RICHARD HOLBROOKE

Cem explained the confederation formula of President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in detail to Holbrooke.

Cem's advisers, Thomas Miller, the US Special Coordinator for Cyprus, and Mark Parris, the US Ambassador to Turkey, were also in attendance at the meeting.

Addressing the journalists after the talks, Necati Utkan, the Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, evaluated the meeting, and said that the US hasn't put forward a new proposal for Cyprus.

Utkan stressed that Cem expressed once again at the meeting Turkey's concern with the deployment of the Russian made S-300 missiles at Southern Cyprus.

He added that at the meeting the sides exchanged views concerning the present and future on the issue of Cyprus.

President Rauf Denktas of the TRNC will meet with Richard Holbrooke during his visit to New York next week.

[05] NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS' MEETING - SEZGIN, DEFENCE MINISTER: - ''KOSOVO CRISIS NEEDS AN URGENT SOLUTION'' - ''THE ARCHITECTURE OF EUROPEAN SECURITY CANNOT BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT RUSSIA''

Addressing the journalists, Sezgin reminded that they discussed the latest developments in Kosovo at the meeting.

Stressing the importance of the resolution reached by the United Nations' Security Council with the participation of Russia concerning the Kosovo crisis, Sezgin pointed out, ''the international community has ratified its determination on ending the clashes in Kosovo and finding a lasting solution before the crisis becomes a humanitarian tragedy. The NATO has started legally the activities aimed at forming the necessary forces for a possible movement in order to support the efforts of the international community.''

Stressing that Turkey attributes great importance to the crisis because of the Turkish minority in the region, Sezgin told the reporters that we expressed Turkey's concern with the issue at the meetings.

Sezgin emphasized that the Turkish minority should be represented at the political negotiations.

Evaluating the latest developments in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sezgin said that the maintenance of the joint mission force is necessary for the stability and security of the Balkans. He added that the humanitarian aids of Turkey to Bosnia-Herzegovina will continue. Mentioning the importance of the relations between Russia and the NATO, Sezgin said, ''the architecture of European security cannot be considered without Russia.''

[06] BUS CARRYING TOURISTS PLUNGES INTO ROADSIDE DITCH KILLING ONE PERSON AND INJURING 20 OTHERS

Officials told the A.A correspondent that one Afghan citizen named Naci whose surname has not been determined yet, died in the accident.

The injured persons were taken to the hospitals in Erzurum, Agri and Eleskirt.

[07] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

TURKISH REQUEST FOR DIALOGUE WITH GREECE
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who is currently in New York to attend the 53rd term-meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN), delivered a speech at the General Assembly yesterday. Yilmaz said that Turkey was a nominee for the Security Council for the year 2000 and that diplomatic initiatives had been started to that end. Yilmaz issued a request to Greece for dialogue and supported a proposal made by the Turkish Cypriot President Rauf Denktas for the establishment of a Confederation on Cyprus. Yilmaz expressed Turkey's views on the crisis in Kosovo, Turkish- Greek relations and the Middle East Peace Process. Yilmaz also requested Armenia to withdraw from the Azerbaijani territories. He stated that Turkey shared a joint cultural heritage with the Arab nations, but added that Turkey was nevertheless, a friend of Israel. /Cumhuriyet/

DENKTAS REPLIES TO CLERIDES
Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said that the 1960 Guarantee System on Cyprus was a national system and added that the Turkish Cypriots were against the infringement of the system. Denktas noted that the Greek Cypriots were trying to weaken the 1960 system and turn it into an international guarantee system. Denktas sent a written statement to Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot side yesterday and said that a proposal expressed by Clerides in New York to increase the number of guarantor states in Cyprus was a ''Byzantine game''. Denktas stated that the Cyprus problem stemmed from the guarantee system and said, ''the problem is that despite international agreements, Cyprus is being manipulated into a Greek state''. Meanwhile, Aleksey Alfadok, the Deputy Chairman of the Defense Committee of the Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, said yesterday that if Turkey intervenes during the transportation of the Russian-made S-300 missiles to Southern Cyprus, then they will regard this as a reason for war and retaliate militarily. /Cumhuriyet/

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT
A Turkish-Slovakian Joint Economic Commission First Term Meeting protocol has been approved by the Turkish Council of Ministers. A decision concerning this approval was published in the Official Gazette yesterday. According to the protocol, volume of trade between Turkey and the Slovakian Republic will total 200 million US dollars by the year 1999 and the activities of the institutions related to the encouragement of trade will be improved.

BRITISH-TURKISH FRIENDSHIP GROUP
Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament, said that Turkey and Britain are cooperating through international institutions and are pursuing similar policies. Cetin yesterday received Ben Chapman, the Chairman of the British- Turkish Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group and an accompanying delegation. Cetin said during the meeting that bilateral relations between Turkey and Britain date back 400 years. Chapman said that good relations between the two countries should be further developed through their parliaments.

ANDICAN RECEIVES AMBASSADOR LEBEDEV
Alexander Lebedev, the Russian Federation Ambassador to Turkey, said that the Russian-made S-300 missiles purchased by the Greek Cypriot Administration wouldn't create any political problems between Turkey and Russia. Ahad Andican, the Minister of State, who received Lebedev yesterday, said that Turkey and Russia were two important countries in Eurasia and added that Russia was of great significance for Turkey from the economic standpoint.

GERMAN SUPPORT FOR SOUTHEAST
A ''Family Health Project'' will be applied by the Ministry of Health and the German Technical Cooperation Institution (GTZ). According to a written statement made by the GTZ, the project will be implemented in Diyarbakir, Mardin, Gaziantep and Kilis. The statement noted that Turkey was on the way to European Union (EU) membership and that this cooperation in the health sector between Turkey and Germany would contribute to that goal.

[08] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

TURKISH-CANADIAN ECONOMIC COOPERATION
A joint declaration following a high-level commercial and economic meeting between Turkey and Canada was signed yesterday in Ankara. Yavuz Ege, the Undersecretary of Foreign Trade, and Robert Wright, the Canadian Deputy Minister of International Trade, signed the declaration. Delivering a speech at the signing ceremony, Ege noted that the meeting between the delegations of the two countries had been very beneficial. Wright noted that the second meeting would be held in Canada. During the meeting, it was decided that an agreement for the prevention of double taxation should be signed as soon as possible and cooperation between the Turkish Eximbank and the Canadian Economic Development Institution should be further developed.

OPERATIONS IN SOUTHEAST
During operations carried out by the Turkish security forces against the PKK terrorist organization in southeastern Anatolia, 16 PKK terrorists were killed yesterday, according to a statement made by the Emergency Rule Region. One terrorist surrendered to security forces in Catak County of Van Province. /Cumhuriyet/

HUMBOLDT SYMPOSIUM
A Balkan Countries Humboldt Symposium organized by the Humboldt Foundation will begin today in Istanbul. During the symposium, issues such as the protection of historical assets in the Balkans, archaeological research, science, politics and the environment will be discussed. The symposium will end on 27 September. /Cumhuriyet/

GUREL MEETS WITH BORMAN
Nami Cagan, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, received yesterday the Onur Borm an, the Minister of Labour and Social Security of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Gurel said at the meeting that the TRNC would live forever under the guarantee and security of Turkey and the Turkish people. Gurel recalled that a project for the transportation of water from Turkey to the TRNC with huge balloons had been brought into operation and pointed out that that real aim was to transport water via undersea pipelines. He added that technical studies on this were already underway. Borman said that meetings were being held between the delegations of the two countries and added that within the framework of an agreement in social security, Turkish and TRNC workers would have mutual rights. /Cumhuriyet/

STATE MINISTER ASIK RESIGNS
Eyup Asik, the Minister of State and Motherland Party (ANAP) parliamentary representative for Trabzon, resigned yesterday as full details of his connection with a leading underworld figure were published. The connection between Asik and Alaattin Cakici, now facing imprisonment in France, has rocked the government, and statements by Cakici implicating Asik and other leading political figures has created a storm in Ankara. Yesterday Eyup Asik phoned directly to Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz who is in New York attending the 53rd term meetings of the UN General Assembly and verbally handed in his resignation from both the government and the Parliament. /All papers/

GREECE CLAIMS AIR SPACE VIOLATION
According to Greek news sources, Athens yesterday claimed that Turkish fighter planes had violated Greek air space over the islands of Sakiz and Limni. The claims have no concrete support and Ankara has made no statement to refute the claims. /Sabah/

STOCK EXCHANGE LOOKING UP
Following recent waves of depression in the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB), yesterday's trading started to look a bit brighter with new money pushing up the figures for trade and stock dealing. The new activity follows in the wake of a government package to ease the pressure on the stock exchange stemming from the financial crash in Russia and the monetary crisis in Asia. /Milliyet/

EXPORTS INCREASE
Figures issued yesterday by the State Planning Organization (DPT) show that exports during the last eight months show an increase of 11.4 percent in real terms. Imports went up 9.4 percent in the same January- August period. The latest reports show that the economy is still following the same three- year upward trend and that in real terms the government is keeping to its budget targets. /Milliyet/

[09] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (3)

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

PIPELINE AGREEMENT SOON
Agreement on the proposed Baku-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline project is expected soon according to reports from Georgia. Eduard Shevardnadze, the Georgian Head of State, is quoted as saying that sides are moving into a position where an agreement can at last be signed. The Tbilisi Interfaks news agency reports that a signing ceremony could take place on 9 October. /Milliyet/

BAYAR AND ERCEL ON THE LIST
Ugur Bayar, the Chairman of the Privatization Administration, and Gazi Ercel, the President of the Central Bank, have been given a place among the leading 600 world financial figures. On the list there are many noted individuals including the Chairman of the US Federal Reserve Bank and the Chairman of International Monetary Fund (IMF). /Cumhuriyet/

INTELLIGENCE CHAMPIONSHIP IN ISTANBUL
The seventh World Intelligence Games Championship started in Istanbul yesterday. Nearly 300 persons are competing in the championship which will last until 27 September. /Hurriyet/

TANER TO ATTEND IMF MEETINGS
Gunes Taner, the Minister of State, will attend the IMF-World Bank annual meetings on 29 September. A delegation headed by Taner will detail Turkey's achievements and economic targets./Hurriyet/

ALTERNATIVE KURDISH SUMMIT IN ANKARA
Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, who is currently in New York to attend the 53rd term-meeting of the UN General Assembly, noted yesterday that a Kurdish Federation in Northern Iraq was unacceptable to Turkey. It was reported that a meeting to be attended by Massoud Barzani, the Chairman of the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP), and Jalal Talabani, the Chairman of the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK) will be held in Ankara in November. Cem said that a decision on the future regime in Northern Iraq couldn't be decided in Washington, D.C., and added that the Iraqi people should decide on this. He also noted that Iraqi territorial integrity should be preserved and terrorist activities shouldn't be permitted. Cem held a press conference in New York yesterday and said that the Kosovo problem should be solved as soon as possible. Cem also expressed Turkey's views on Turkish-Israeli relations and the proposal for the establishment of a confederation on Cyprus./Hurriyet/

INONU COMMEMORATED
Ismet Inonu, the first Prime Minister and the second President of the Republic of Turkey, was commemorated yesterday. A ceremony marking the 114th anniversary of Inonu's birth was held at the Anitkabir(Ataturk's Mausoleum). Inonu's memorial is also at the Anitkabir. /Milliyet/

CAKICI SENTENCED TO SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT
Alaattin Cakici, the head of a large criminal organization in Turkey, was sentenced yesterday to six months' imprisonment in France for entering that country with false documents. Another top gang member, Murat Guler, was also sentenced by the French court to six months' imprisonment. /All papers/

PERINCEK TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
Dogu Perincek, the Chairman of the Workers' Party (IP), Mehmet Bedri Gultekin, the General Secretary, and four other party members were taken into custody yesterday because a connection between the IP and the PKK terrorist organization was discovered after an investigation by the Ankara State Security Court (DGM). /All papers/

DYNAMIC MIX-98
Dynamic Mix-98 (DM-98), NATO's largest war game for 1998, will be held between 1-21 October in Italy, Turkey and Greece, with the participation of 11 NATO member states. /All papers/

SCHROEDER'S STATEMENT TO MILLIYET
Gerhard Schroeder, the Chairman of the German Social Democrat Party (SDP), made a statement yesterday to the daily Milliyet newspaper and said that they wouldn't close the door of the European Union (EU) to Turkey. He added that there couldn't be a union based on religious values. Schroeder expressed the importance of the 160,000 Turkish voters living in Germany./Milliyet/

[10] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''TURKEY CAN PROVIDE VERY IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS IF SHE BECOMES MEMBER OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL BETWEEN 2001- 2002

Speaking about his speech made at the UN General Assembly, Yilmaz said a very important process is going on in the world at the moment and that this process is identified as ''globalization.'' Yilmaz recalled that he, as the Prime Minister, told about Turkey's attitude and basic principles in Turkish foreign policy towards the developments in the world on the threshold of the year 2000.

Yilmaz pointed out that the gap between the develop and underdeveloped and rich and poor gradually grew as there was an ongoing economic crisis at the international level, adding that ''the importance of the role of the UN in the peaceful solution of the conflicts in the world increased in such an atmosphere.''

Stressing that the UN should be reformed to fulfill this assignment, Yilmaz said that Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, has a reform plan to this end and that Turkey extended full support to this reform plan.

Yilmaz also said that he conveyed the views of Turkey concerning the international conflicts in this region and added ''I told them that Turkey solved its 50-year conflict with Bulgaria through dialogue and that this should be an example for the solution of the conflicts with Greece.'' Yilmaz said ''I stressed that we believe that every kind of conflict may be solved if there is political will and political willingness and pointed out that Turkey continuously invites Greece for dialogue.''

Yilmaz said on the issue of the Cyprus question, that Turkey fully extends support to the proposals put onto the agenda by Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to bring a solution based on a confederation and that this should be considered as a realistic proposal and that he conveyed that this was in accord with the past approaches of the UN.

[11] SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT CETIN RECEIVES TURKEY-KUWAIT FRIENDSHIP GROUP - JAMBOUR, CHAIRMAN OF FRIENDSHIP GROUP: - ''KUWAIT OWES TURKEY''

Addressing the meeting, Cetin said that there are close ties between the two countries. He reminded that Turkey has contributed to Kuwait during Iraq's occupation in 1990.

Ali El-Jambour thanked Turkey for her support to his country.

Noting that they are aware of Turkey's loss caused by taking the side of Kuwait, Jambour pointed out, ''Kuwait owes Turkey.''

Jambour also added that peace and stability couldn't be established in the region yet, stressing that Iraq has refused to release the Kuwaiti captives.

[12] PRESS CONFERENCE OF ASIK - ASIK: ''I HAVE NEVER HELPED GANGS''

Asik said the aim of the press conference was to disclose the reasons for his resignation, adding that he will mention some warnings and possible developments.

Asik said ''I want to call out to the columnists: I have never extended any help to the gangs. The struggle against gangs and the Mafia was the foremost aim of my political life. All the members of gangs are my enemies. Although I suffered from the risks of this, I never quailed. I didn't stage this news conference to apologize. I didn't engage in any illegal behavior. I was the first one who put the first document to the state achives related to Yesil in 1990.''

Asik said that when he was acting as the Chairman of the Parliamenteray Human Rights Commission, he investigated the activities of Mahmut Yildirim, nicknamed ''Yesil'', adding that he also investigated murders by unknown perpetrators and the statements related with the killing of Ugur Mumcu, the author, to be investigated again.

Stressing that as a Parliamentarian, it was his duty to struggle against the gangs, adding ''I held many talks with confessors of the separatist terrorist organization, the murderer of the Sabanci incident, and with Cakici. I briefed the concerned people about the information I got from them.''

Asik said the information he gave was in the Security Department, National Intelligence Undersecretariat and Ankara Republic Chief Prosecutor's Office, adding that he also briefed Istanbul State Security Court.

Asik also said he had warnings that there were gangs apart from the others adding that ''It will be revealed that the incident discussed today is a plot.''

[13] GUREL, THE STATE MINISTER AND GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN: ''DAYTON AGREEMENT IS A PROCESS AND WHEN THIS PROCESS ENDS, PEACE AND COOPERATION WILL BE REALIZED IN THE REGION''

Addressing the opening of the ''Humboldt Symposium of the Balkan Countries, '' at Istanbul Technical University, Gurel stated that ''everyone should attribute importance to the Dayton Peace Agreement. Dayton is a process and when this process ends, peace and cooperation will be realized in the region, however this process hasn't ended yet. There are many things which should be done in the Balkans and the former Yugoslavia.''

Dr. Hans Joachim Vergau, the German Ambassador to Turkey also addressed the symposium, which will end on 27 September.

Scientists from the Balkan countries will take up issues like protection of historical works of art, archaeological research, science, politics and environmental problems in the Balkans during the symposium.

[14] OIL TRANSPORTS FROM THE STRAITS - ERSUMER, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES: ''TURKEY CAN'T BEAR TRANSPORT OF 50 MILLION TONNES OF OIL FROM THE STRAITS''

Speaking to the A.A correspondent Ersumer said that the most important and indispensable attribute for Turkey was the straits.

Ersumer said that the straits are our historical and cultural assets that no one can oppose, adding that Turkey has to protect them.

Noting that the attitude of the US administration on the issue of the Baku- Ceyhan oil pipeline was so absolute that it cannot be discussed by anyone, Ersumer said the important issue was the transport of the Kazakh oil to Baku and that the US officials launched initiatives to mediate.

Ersumer said that Turkey prepared herself for the coming meeting that will take place next month, adding that they expected the route to be specified as the Baku-Ceyhan.

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