Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-09-28

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

28 SEPT 1998

CONTENTS

[01] ITALY MEETING OF THE SO-CALLED KURDISH PARLIAMENT - ECEVIT, THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: ''THIS IS A VERY UNPLEASANT EVENT''

[02] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ IN MEXICO

[03] SEMINAR ON ''STRUGGLING AGAINST SMUGGLING AND ORGANIZED CRIMES''

[04] ELECTIONS IN GERMANY - SCHARPING, THE SPD GROUP LEADER: ''WE'LL LAUNCH EFFORTS TO MAKE FOREIGNERS ADAPT BETTER TO GERMANY''

[05] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS IN ISTANBUL

[06] FM: ''THE STATEMENT CONCERNING APPOINTMENT OF TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ WAS ISSUED BY USING THE USUAL DECISION MECHANISMS''

[07] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[08] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[09] WORLD BANK-IMF ANNUAL JOINT MEETINGS TO START ON TUESDAY

[10] NORTHERN IRAQ - THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE: ''WE UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN OF TURKEY''

[11] ERSUMER, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, LEAVES FOR BOSNIA- HERZEGOVINA

[12] TURKEY GIVES A NOTE TO ITALIAN EMBASSY IN ANKARA DUE TO THE PERMISSION OF ITALIAN PARLIAMENT FOR THE GATHERING OF ''THE SO-CALLED KURDISH PARLIAMENT''

[13] ERCEL, PRESIDENT OF CENTRAL BANK: - ''THERE ISN'T THE POSSIBILITY OF DEVALUATION IN TURKEY''

[14] ECEVIT, THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: ''IRAN OPENS SOME REGIONS AT OUR BORDER TO PKK WHO FIND OPPORTUNITY TO INFILTRATE INTO TURKEY''

[15] UNDERSECRETARIAT OF FOREIGN TRADE TO ORGANIZE ''FOREIGN TRADE WEEK'' BETWEEN 5-11 OCTOBER

[16] EU EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT THE END OF THE POLITICAL LIFE OF ERDOGAN, THE MAYOR OF ISTANBUL

[17] UNDERSECRETARIAT OF DEFENSE INDUSTRY TO PURCHASE SIX ''MINESWEEPERS'' FOR NAVAL FORCES COMMANDERSHIP WITH 600 MILLION US DOLLARS TENDER

[18] TURKEY IS PLEASED WITH THE ELECTIONS HELD IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

[19] EU'S BAN ON IMPORTS OF AQUACULTURAL PRODUCTS FROM TURKEY

[01] ITALY MEETING OF THE SO-CALLED KURDISH PARLIAMENT - ECEVIT, THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: ''THIS IS A VERY UNPLEASANT EVENT''

Responding to a question at the Esenboga Airport before leaving for the eastern province of Van, Ecevit said ''this is a very unpleasant event. The Foreign Ministry reacted to this in a very clear manner. I know this doesn't stem from the attitude of the Italian government. This was realized with the efforts of the Communist Party and several deputies.''

Referring to the general elections held in Germany and the victory of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) , Ecevit said that ''I hope the elections will be beneficial for the German nation and our citizens in Germany. The Christian Democratic Party (CDP) became the opposition power after being in power for a long time, this is a natural result of pluralist democracy.''

[02] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ IN MEXICO

Prime Minister Yýlmaz, who will visit Mexico as a guest of Ernesto Zedillo, the Mexican President, is expected to return to Turkey on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, will proceed to Canada from New York for an official visit.

Cem, who will meet with Lloyd Axworthy, the Canadian Foreign Minister during his visit to Canada, will return to Turkey on Tuesday.

Mesut Yýlmaz is the first Turkish Prime Minister to pay an official visit to Mexico.

Prime Minister Yýlmaz together with his wife, Cavit Kavak and Gunes Taner, the Ministers of State, visited the National Anthropology Museum in Mexico City.

Mesut Yýlmaz will meet with Ernesto Zedillo, the President, on Monday and the two countries will sign various agreements. Zedillo will host a dinner in honour of Prime Minister Yýlmaz the same day.

[03] SEMINAR ON ''STRUGGLING AGAINST SMUGGLING AND ORGANIZED CRIMES''

The seminar was organized by the General Directorate of Security's Chairmanship on Struggling Against Smuggling and Organized Crimes Department.

A total of 52 foreign delegates from several countries such as Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands and 40 Turkish delegates are participating in the seminar at the Police Morale Training Center at Baltalimani.

The seminar includes the measures which will be taken to achieve success in international cooperation in struggling against organized crimes.

[04] ELECTIONS IN GERMANY - SCHARPING, THE SPD GROUP LEADER: ''WE'LL LAUNCH EFFORTS TO MAKE FOREIGNERS ADAPT BETTER TO GERMANY''

Addressing a press briefing in Bonn, Scharping stated that they want to improve the relations between Turkey and Germany, adding that ''we'll focus on our relations with Turkey to clarify Turkey's perspective in the European Union (EU).''

Scharping added that Turkey has to exert efforts concerning human rights and the rights of minorities.

[05] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS IN ISTANBUL

Denktas, who arrived in Istanbul upon the invitation of Hurriyet newspaper and a private television channel, will leave for New York on Tuesday.

Taner Etkin, the TRNC Foreign Minister and Minister of Defense and Osman Ertug, the TRNC Undersecretary of Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Defense accompany Denktas during his visit.

The TRNC President Denktas will meet with Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General and Richard Holbrooke, the US mediator in New York.

Denktas, who will also participate in the annual Foreign Ministers meeting of the Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC) in New York, will continue to hold contacts in Washington, D.C., Canada, Norway and Denmark.

[06] FM: ''THE STATEMENT CONCERNING APPOINTMENT OF TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ WAS ISSUED BY USING THE USUAL DECISION MECHANISMS''

The Foreign Ministry said ''Prime Minister Mesut Yýlmaz and Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, who were in New York, had earlier been informed about the issue and the statement was issued after getting their approval.''

Deputy Prime Minister Ecevit said on Saturday that Turkey would upgrade her representation in Iraq to the embassy level and requested Iraq's approval to this end.

A news published in the press had claimed ''Prime Minister Yýlmaz and Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, hadn't earlier been informed about the decision.''

[07] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

YILMAZ IN MEXICO
Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz after attending a United Nations General Assembly meeting and holding contacts in New York, went to Mexico yesterday for an official visit. Cavit Kavak, the Minister of State, Prime Ministry consultants and high-level officials accompanied Yilmaz. Mesut Yilmaz and the Turkish delegation, all of whom are the official guests of Mexican President Carlos Salinas, will return to Turkey tomorrow. /Sabah/

TURKEY: NOMINEE TO HOST 1999 TOURISM DAY
Ibrahim Gurdal, the Minister of Tourism, held a press conference on the occasion of ''27 September World Tourism Day'' and said that Turkey was an official nominee to host the celebrations for the World Tourism Day to be held in 1999 by the World Tourism Organization. President Suleyman Demirel also issued a statement, saying, ''everyone has to work together to make Turkey the golden country of the 21st century''. Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz also issued a statement that said, ''in order for the tourism sector, which plays an important role in the development of the country, to improve the historical, cultural and natural beauties of Turkey must be promoted internationally in a more efficient way through rational policies''. /All papers/

ANCIENT TROY WILL LIVE AGAIN
Istemihan Talay, the Minister of Culture, attended a ceremony yesterday on the occasion of handing over the promotion rights worth 125 billion TL from the Mercedes car firm, the main sponsor of the excavations in the ancient city of Troy, Canakkale. Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Arendt Axel, the Representative of Mercedes Benz in Turkey, and many guests also participated in the ceremony. Talay said in his speech that ancient Troy would be a touristic district and that peaceful messages would be issued to the world from Canakkale, once a War of Independence battleground. /Milliyet/

IRAQ CAUTIOUS ABOUT ECEVIT'S REMARKS
Iraq remains cautious about the remarks by Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime Minister, that openly criticize recent US attempts to facilitate a joint Kurdish administration in Northern Iraq. Al-Thawra, a publication of the governing Ba'ath Party, said in its Sunday editorial under the title, ''Turkey understood late'', that the sudden concern about the US agreement shown by Turkey is because of her own interests, not because of any concern about the national security and unity of Iraq. The editorial said that Turkey had supported the use of the ''Kurdish card'' against Iraq. Ecevit expressed concern on Saturday that a recent agreement between Northern Iraqi Kurdish leaders to create a joint administration in Northern Iraq might endanger Iraq's territorial integrity. In a written statement, Ecevit said that the deal between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) stemmed from the need for a ''federal basis'' for Iraq's unity. ''This has increased our concern that Iraq's territorial division will be perpetuated'' Ecevit said. /All papers/

DENKTAS GOES TO NEW YORK
Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), will fly to New York from Istanbul on Monday. Denktas warned the Greek Cypriots about the S-300 missiles set to be deployed in the southern part of the divided island. Denktas made the following remarks in an interview with a TRNC newspaper, ''the Greek Cypriot insistence on installing the S-300 missiles will only harm themselves. We have taken the necessary measures''. Denktas explained that his reason for going to New York was to inform relevant parties about recent developments.

PREVEZE NAVAL VICTORY
The 460th anniversary of one of Turkey's unforgettable naval war victories, the ''Preveze naval victory'', was celebrated along with Naval Forces Day at a ceremony at the Naval Forces Headquarters and in many cities throughout Turkey, including Istanbul and Izmir, over the weekend. /Sabah/

PARLIAMENT OPENS ON 1 OCTOBER
The Parliament will commence the new legislative year on 1 October and will immediately begin working quickly to keep pace with its intensive schedule, it was reported over the weekend. President Suleyman Demirel will make an opening speech and the occasion will be marked with a reception to be held by Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of the Parliament.

[08] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

U.S. GUARANTEE TO ANKARA
James Rubin, the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, said that the agreement signed between the Northern Iraqi Kurdish leaders Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani in Washington, D.C., last week aimed to fill the power gap in the region. He added that in the agreement it was very clear that the territorial integrity of Turkey and other regional countries would be protected and supported. /Sabah/

A NEW CHAPTER FOR TURKEY
As a new authority comes to power in Germany after yesterday's general elections, a new chapter will open for Turkish citizens living in Germany. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) gives importance to dual citizenship which will make it easier for Turks to have German citizenship without losing their Turkish citizenship. The SDP also supports Turkey's European Union membership. /Sabah/

FOUR TERRORISTS KILLED IN TOKAT
During clashes between security forces and PKK terrorists in the Black Sea Golumlu County of Tokat Province four terrorists were killed. Military sources later reported that operations would be continued in and around the region. /Sabah/

NORTHERN IRAQ ISSUE ON AGENDA
An agreement, reached between Massoud Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, and Jalal Talabani, the leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, with the mediation of Madeleine Albright, the US Secretary of State, on 17 September in Washington, D.C., will be on the agenda of a regular monthly meeting to be held by the National Security Council on 30 September. The agreement, which has paved the way for a federation to be formed by the Kurdish groups in Northern Iraq, will also be evaluated during a foreign policy summit to be held in the Presidential Residence on 9 October. Other issues concerning Turkish foreign policy will also be on the agenda of the two meetings. /Cumhuriyet/

US SECRETARY OF ENERGY VISITS TURKISH SCIENTIST
Bill Richardson, the US Secretary of Energy, visited over the weekend Dr. Ali Erdemir at the Chicago Technology Museum, where there is an exhibition on the work of Dr. Erdemir. While there, Richardson congragulated Dr. Erdemir on his invaluable work in the applied sciences. Richardson also said that he was planning to visit Turkey during upcoming commemoration festivals celebrating the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey. /Cumhuriyet/

US CONSTRUCTION MAGAZINE TO PRINT TURKEY SUPPLEMENT
ENR, a weekly magazine on construction published by the McGraw- Hill group, which has a circulation of 430 thousand, will present a supplement on Turkey with its 28 October issue. The supplement, prepared in cooperation with the Turkish Economic News Agency (TEBA), includes the business potential in the Turkish construction sector, international successes of Turkish contractors and ways to cooperate with Turkish contractors. /Hurriyet/

FOREIGN DEBT REPAYMENTS
Turkey repaid a total of 496.8 million US dollars in foreign debts between 1 and 23 September. The Central Bank data shows that the Treasury repaid 401 million US dollars, the Central Bank repaid 21.6 million US dollars, the Ministry of National Defense Industry repaid 34.2 million US dollars and the Defense Fund repaid 40 million US dollars in foreign debts within the first 23 days of September. A total of 8,202 billion US dollars in foreign debts has been repaid since the beginning of this year.

INTERNATIONAL MEETING IN ISTANBUL
An international meeting will be held in Istanbul between 8-9 October among the French and German Chambers of Trade and with 20 European companies and their partners to improve industrial and trade partnerships. A written statement about the meeting said that the meeting aims at improving business partnerships between companies of the Mediterranean countries within the framework of the European ECIP programme.

[09] WORLD BANK-IMF ANNUAL JOINT MEETINGS TO START ON TUESDAY

The meetings in which Turkey will be represented by a delegation led by Gunes Taner, the Minister of State, will continue until 8 October. The Turkish delegation is expected to hold meetings with the officials from international financial organizations as well.

In addition to several issues, the financial crises in Asia and Russia and their negative effects at the global level will also be discussed in the regular annual joint meetings of the World Bank and the IMF.

The first three days of the ten-day joint meetings were planned to be the ''preparation period''.

In that period, the participant governors meet with the representatives from financial organizations or with each other while the Temporary Committee, Development Committee and several organizations like the Developed-10 and Developed-24 hold meetings and announce their opinions with communiqués.

The annual regular meetings offer official or unofficial consultation opportunities to almost 2,000 participants.

The seminars and several activities, which are held during the meetings, create the opportunity to develop a positive, rapid and creative dialogue among the governments' officials and the representatives of the private sectors and the representatives of the World Bank and the IMF.

The topic of this year's seminars will be ''Information Economy''.

The issues of ''Changing Dynamisms of Global Finance'', ''Information and Technology for Development'' and ''Regional and National Opportunities'' will be discussed in 30 sessions to be held within the context of the Information Economy seminar.

The seminars will also include the issues of ''changing dynamics of investment flow at the global level and their possible effects on the financial structure of the global economy'' and ''obstacles in front of information and information technologies''. The programme of the seminars offers to the participant several perspectives for the investment strategies of the member countries.

Turkey hosted the World Bank-IMF meetings in 1955.

[10] NORTHERN IRAQ - THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE: ''WE UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN OF TURKEY''

The Press Centre of the US Embassy in Ankara issued a statement the same day including the earlier statement of James Rubin, the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs of the US Department of State about the issue.

Rubin said last Friday that the agreement reached between the Kurdish groups is in accord with the Ankara Process, which respects the territorial integrity of Turkey and other countries in the region.

Rubin reiterated that the US describes the separatist terrorist PKK organization as a terrorist organization.

[11] ERSUMER, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, LEAVES FOR BOSNIA- HERZEGOVINA

The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources issued a written statement saying that Minister Ersumer will hold meetings with Edhem Bicakcic and Haris Silajdzic, the Co-Prime Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina; Mirsad Kurtovic, the Bosnian Minister of Foreign Trade and Economy; Mirsad Salkic, the Bosnian Minister of Energy and Industry; and the high-level officials from the Energroinvest and the B-H Gas companies during his three-day visit.

During this visit, the officials from Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina will sign a memorandum of understanding including the mutual cooperation opportunities in the energy sector in accordance with the common interests of the two countries, and the officials of the General Directorate of BOTAS and the Bosnia-Herzegovina Gas Company will sign a protocol for the trade of natural gas.

Also, the officials of the General Directorate of the Temsan Corp. and the Energoinvest Company will sign a Commercial and Technical Cooperation Protocol.

[12] TURKEY GIVES A NOTE TO ITALIAN EMBASSY IN ANKARA DUE TO THE PERMISSION OF ITALIAN PARLIAMENT FOR THE GATHERING OF ''THE SO-CALLED KURDISH PARLIAMENT''

Diplomatic sources said that Massimiliano Bandini, the Italian Ambassador to Turkey was summoned to the Foreign Ministry two times last week and a note explaining the concern of Turkey about the event was submitted to him.

The Turkish officials told Bandini about Turkey's concern and expectations about the issue and Bandini promised to do his best.

The Italian Parliament requested the Italian parliamentarians in a letter signed by 14 Italian deputies to participate in the first meeting of the ''so-called Kurdish Parliament in exile'' which will be held on 29 September. The meeting will be held at the Italian Parliament and on 30 September with a conference on ''making Kurdish and Turkish people come closer to each other''.

Sources at the Turkish Embassy in Rome had condemned persons who are connected with the illegal terrorist organization for holding a press briefing at the Italian Parliament and also the participation of several deputies at the meeting of the so-called Kurdish Parliament.

Inal Batu, the Turkish Ambassador to Italy, had conveyed Turkey's concern about the issue to Romano Prodi, the Italian Prime Minister, Luciano Violante, the Italian Speaker of the Parliament, and Italian Foreign Ministry officials.

The Italian officials are expected to give a response to Turkey the same day.

[13] ERCEL, PRESIDENT OF CENTRAL BANK: - ''THERE ISN'T THE POSSIBILITY OF DEVALUATION IN TURKEY''

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Gazi Ercel said that the Turkish Lira- foreign currency balance in the market is being closely monitored within the framework of the monetary policy, stressing that within this atmosphere, it is impossible to consider a devaluation in Turkey.

''There isn't a possibility of a devaluation in Turkey. Everything is under our control. There isn't any problem in the balance of payments, our foreign exchange reserves are at a comfortable position, the Turkish Lira isn't overvalued and has lost value since the beginning of the year,'' he said.

Stressing that the declining trend of inflation continues, Gazi Ercel said, ''inflation has been in a declining trend since we started to implement the economic programme in January. I believe we will achieve our target for the inflation rate at the end of the year.''

''The Central Bank is independent and this is the most important factor that puts Turkey into a special place among other developing countries. This independence enables us to carry out a healthy control over the monetary policy. The most important problem for the Asian crises were that the central banks in Asia are dependent. But the Turkish Central Bank is independent,'' he emphasized.

Stressing the importance of the Central Bank's role in controling the inflation, Ercel said that they were realizing a successful cooperation with the Treasury.

''Both the Central Bank and the Treasury show the same sensitivity to public financing. I don't give credit to the public sector. If you give credit to the public sector, then it returns to you as a foreign exchange request and this results in high inflation. I give the money to the financing sector for a night or week, and then take it back. They can get Turkish Liras from us if they bring foreign exchange,'' he mentioned.

''Foreign exchange can find its value freely in the market. The price should be fixed where it finds its value. It is inconvenient to adjust a national currency with a fixed foreign currency. We saw the inconveniences of this in the Asian countries and in Russia. The Central Bank pursues a successful inflation and foreign exchange policy. The market can purchase foreign exchange with the amount of Turkish Lira we create.'' he said.

Stressing that there are several factors that separate Turkey from other developing countries, Ercel said, ''the balance of payments is more healthy than other developing countries. The budget policy is more successful; the surplus excluding interest is in the framework of expectations and the tax revenues started to increase''.

[14] ECEVIT, THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: ''IRAN OPENS SOME REGIONS AT OUR BORDER TO PKK WHO FIND OPPORTUNITY TO INFILTRATE INTO TURKEY''

Addressing the local people in the eastern province of Van, Ecevit stated that the separatist terrorist organization tries to prevent development and prosperity in Eastern and Southeastern Turkey, adding that the Turkish nation doesn't discriminate against people based on race.

''The separatist terrorist PKK organization which alleges that it thinks of Kurdish people, in fact wants the Kurdish people not to develop, not to find a job and not to be educated, because it wants to divide the country. Our local people are aware of these games and the power and effectivity of the separatist terrorist organization decreased to a considerable extent. The source of the power which wants to divide Turkey isn't in Turkey, but in Syria, Iran, Greece and Northern Iraq,'' said Ecevit.

Ecevit said ''Recently Iran opens some regions at our border to the PKK which infiltrates into Turkey, particularly to Van Province. I believe that the Iranian President Khatemi is uneasy about this situation, but there may be some people or powers which don't abide by the decisions of Khatemi. I ask these people not to fight with us.''

Requesting businessmen and entrepreneurs to invest in the eastern and southeastern Turkey, Ecevit said ''in the past they couldn't come to the region due to security reasons, but now the region is safe.''

Noting that the government is in a coalition, Ecevit said that it has started a struggle against the gangs and Mafia.

[15] UNDERSECRETARIAT OF FOREIGN TRADE TO ORGANIZE ''FOREIGN TRADE WEEK'' BETWEEN 5-11 OCTOBER

Several activities will be held within the context of the week, which will be organized by the Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade (DTM) between 5-11 October.

The ''Foreign Trade Week, which will be held for the first time this year, will be periodically organized in the second week of October every year.

Within the context of the week, several introductory and informative activities will be held to increase exports nationwide.

During the week, educational programmes will be broadcast, panel discussions and symposiums will be held, the most successful exporters will be determined at the sectoral levels and the successful TIR drivers and ship-captains will be awarded.

Omer Berki, the General Director of the Exports Department of the DTM, told the A.A correspondent that the aim for organizing such a week was to make the public become conscious about the issue of exports.

[16] EU EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT THE END OF THE POLITICAL LIFE OF ERDOGAN, THE MAYOR OF ISTANBUL

Austrian Embassy in Ankara issued a statement about the view of the EU on the issue.

Noting that the EU is sorry about the approval of the imprisonment of Erdogan by the Supreme Court of Appeals, the statement pointed out, ''the EU is concerned about the effects of the decision on the principles of democracy and freedom of expression which permit expression of politicians' views in a manner which doesn't involve an element of violence.''

Stressing that the EU recognizes the independence of the Turkish judicial organs, the statement noted, ''on the other hand, the EU emphasizes the importance of respecting human rights in all countries, especially those which are concerned with the Copenhagen criteria.''

Turkey wants the Copenghagen criteria to be valid for herself, which are valid for countries wanting to join the EU and also she wants to be equally treated with other candidate countries.

[17] UNDERSECRETARIAT OF DEFENSE INDUSTRY TO PURCHASE SIX ''MINESWEEPERS'' FOR NAVAL FORCES COMMANDERSHIP WITH 600 MILLION US DOLLARS TENDER

Within the context of the tender which was opened for this purchase, the companies should submit their bids for minesweepers, which will cost 600 million US dollars, until 16 October.

The SSM sent letters of invitation to several leading companies in the world. The purchase will be financed by the Defense Industry Support and Development Fund.

The SSM planned to have one of these vessels constructed abroad and five of them in the civilian and military shipyards in Turkey. Several companies from France, Britain, Germany, Spain and the Ukraine submitted their bids. Officials said that the number of bidding companies can increase until the deadline.

Those six minesweepers, which will be equipped with hi-tech instruments, were foreseen to be included in the fleet by the year 2002.

[18] TURKEY IS PLEASED WITH THE ELECTIONS HELD IN BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

The Foreign Ministry said in a written statement that elections are an important stage concerning the full implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement and establishment of a pluralist democracy and stability in the country.

The Foreign Ministry pointed out that the administrators who will come to power in Bosnia-Herzegovina will have an important mission concerning the establishment of a permanent multi-ethnical, multi-cultural and multi- religious structure within the internationally recognized borders of the country.

The statement stressed that the steps that will be taken by Bosnia- Herzegovina in line with political and economic stability, will contribute to peace and security in the region and all of Europe.

''Turkey will continue to extend support and give assistance to Bosnia and her new administrators as long as they abide by the Dayton Peace Agreement, '' said the statement, adding that the high percentage of participation in elections held under the auspices of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) shows that the Bosnian people desire to have a role in determining their own future.

[19] EU'S BAN ON IMPORTS OF AQUACULTURAL PRODUCTS FROM TURKEY

Nihat Akyol sent a informative note to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs saying that the file, which is related to the EU's measure against the imports of aquacultural products and which was submitted to the Commission on 28 July 1998 and evaluated by the members of the Commission on 8 September 1998, was discussed by the EU Permanent Veterinarians' Committee meeting on 22 September 1998.

As a result of his contacts with the Commission officials, Akyol said that the Committee announced in that meeting that the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs had presented to the member countries a comprehensive file and the members of the Committee were expecting the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs to collect the complementary information and submit it to the Committee in a short time.

''Within this perspective, we were informed that the Committee proposed that rather than imposing a complete ban on the aquacultural products from Turkey to continue the existing implementation for a further period by taking into consideration the improvements in Turkey. The Commission officials briefed us that the representatives of the member countries welcomed the developments and they didn't give a proposal about making the ban more extensive,'' he said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs will submit the complementary information in October through Turkey's Permanent Representation to the EU.

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