Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-10-03

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

03 OCT 1998

CONTENTS

[01] PRESIDENT DEMIREL IN MACEDONIA - OFFICIAL CONTACTS BETWEEN DEMIREL AND GLIGOROV CONCLUDED - COOPERATION AGREEMENTS SIGNED BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES

[02] SEZGIN, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE: - ''MANOEUVRES CAN BE HELD IN MEDITERRANEAN FOLLOWING THE DYNAMIC MIX'98 MANOEUVRES''

[03] FOREIGN MINISTRY EXPRESSES SATISFACTION OVER EFFORTS AIMING AT REVIVING MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

[04] HIGH-LEVEL US OFFICIALS: - ''SYRIA SHOULD STOP SUPPORTING THE SEPARATIST TERRORIST PKK ORGANIZATION''

[05] TENSION WITH ITALY - ROME PREFERS TO KEEP SILENT

[06] MEETINGS OF THE IMF AND THE WORLD BANK - STATE MINISTER TANER TO BEGIN HIS CONTACTS

[07] BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE - TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN WORK ON THE AGREEMENT DRAFTS

[08] EU FORGETS ITS COMMITMENTS TO TURKEY - YILDIZ, UNDERSECRETARY OF MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY PARTICIPATES IN EUROPEAN-MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES INDUSTRY MINISTERS MEETING

[01] PRESIDENT DEMIREL IN MACEDONIA - OFFICIAL CONTACTS BETWEEN DEMIREL AND GLIGOROV CONCLUDED - COOPERATION AGREEMENTS SIGNED BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES

Mustafa Tasar, Minister of Agriculture and Village Affairs and his Macedonian counterpart signed the cooperation agreements covering ''Cooperation Agreement on Animal Health'' and ''Plant Protection and Quarantine Agreement.''

Rustu Kazim Yucelen, Minister of State and Macedonian Minister of Science signed ''Scientific and Technology Cooperation Protocol.''

Demirel, currently on an official visit to Macedonia met Tito Petkovski, Macedonian Parliament Speaker and they staged a joint news conference following the meeting.

Addressing the news conference Demirel said Turkey and Macedonia supported peace and stability in the Balkans. Demirel noted that views of the two countries on Kosovo question was parallel stressing that this was also appropriate to the approach of the international community.

Pointing out the frequency of the reciprocal visits between the two countries and recalling that there were 33 bilateral agreements between the two countries, Demirel said ''these are important to show the level of our relations.''

Demirel said ''existing 100 million dollar trade volume between the two countries is below the level of the potential of the two countries. Market economy is valid in both of these countries. Businessmen should increase their efforts to this end. A Free Trade Agreement should be signed betweeen the two countries and I hope that this will be signed before the end of this year.''

Demirel also pointed out that there are postive relations between the countries in fields of culture, education and defense cooperation.

Noting that regional problems were taken up during the talks, Demirel said both of these countries supported peace and stability in the Balkans. Demirel stressed that the most important problem in the region was the Kosovo question adding that ''our views are parallel to this end and appropriate to the approach of the international community. We wish the problem to be solved rapidly through dialogue and without being escalated further more, with the contribution of international community.''

Demirel noted that Macedonia will the first country which will be effected if things get worse in Kosovo and added that Turkey understood the concerns of Macedonia to this end. ''I would like to stress that Turkey attributes a great importance to the preservation of the stability in Macedonia and that we are resolved to continue to expend support to this country.''

Gligorov, Macedonian President, noted that they were willing to intensify contacts with Turkey.

Noting that economic cooperation between the two countries were not adequate, Gligorov called on trade relations and joint investments to be improved. Gligorov stressed the importance of the signature of Free Trade Agreement.

Kiro Gligovorov identified the situation in Kosovo as ''concerning'' and called on the Kosovo question to be solved through dialogue, by preserving territorial integrity of Yugoslavia and respecting to the rights of minorities.

Meanwhile, a Joint Declaration related with the meetings of Demirel and Macedonia was issued. Under the declaration, the two Presidents pointed out that Kosovo question should be solved throught peaceful ways and within the territorial integrity of Yugoslavian Republic. The two Presidents also reached to a consensus of opinion that a status should be recognized to Kosovo which respect to the ethnical, religious and cultural specialities of all minorities, taking legal rights under guarantee, and basing on a democratic pluralist administration.

[02] SEZGIN, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE: - ''MANOEUVRES CAN BE HELD IN MEDITERRANEAN FOLLOWING THE DYNAMIC MIX'98 MANOEUVRES''

Responding to the questions of the journalists, Sezgin stressed, ''we have warned Syria many times not to allow the terrorism to become state policy. It is unacceptable within the framework of the friendly relations, and the principles of democracy. Turkey had signed an agreement with Syria in 1992, when I was the interior minister. This agreement was put into practice for a certain period. They had evacuated the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. Afterwards Syria has insisted on her own way. Every one is aware of Syria's support to the separatist terrorist organization claiming innocent lives.''

Sezgin pointed out, ''It is clear for every one that Syria does not give up her stubborn manner. Patience has a limit. We prefer solving the problems by the ways of diplomacy, but even the diplomacy is over at one point. In that case we will do what is necessary. I believe that diplomacy is not over yet.''

Responding to the questions about the military flights over the border region with Syria, Sezgin noted, ''some units of the Turkish Armed Forces hold training activities in that region.''

[03] FOREIGN MINISTRY EXPRESSES SATISFACTION OVER EFFORTS AIMING AT REVIVING MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS

The Foreign Ministry's statement pointed out, ''Turkey wants the efforts of the US towards reviving the peace process to be successful, and called the two sides not to miss such an opportunity which is extremely significant for the regional peace and stability.''

The statement also welcomed the news sayżng that the difference of opinion between Israel and Palestine becomes narrow and that the sides approach to a solution.

[04] HIGH-LEVEL US OFFICIALS: - ''SYRIA SHOULD STOP SUPPORTING THE SEPARATIST TERRORIST PKK ORGANIZATION''

Evaluating the statements of the senior Turkish politicians regarded with Syria, US officials pointed out that Ankara and Damascus should overcome the problems between themselves by using the ways of diplomacy and consultations.

Reminding that Washington has been calling Syria to stop supporting a separatist terrorist organization for a long time, the same officials also noted that they have no information that will confirm the deployment of the military troops on the border region between Syria and Turkey.

Describing the PKK as a cruel terrorist organization claiming innocent lives, the US Administration puts Syria into the list of the countries ''supporting terrorism'' every year.

[05] TENSION WITH ITALY - ROME PREFERS TO KEEP SILENT

The Italian Foreign Ministry sources pointed out that the Rome will follow ''wait and see'' policy.

The same sources stressed that Italy does not plan to recall Massimiliano Bandini, the Italy's Ambassador to Turkey, adding that the Rome Administration refrains from activities that can escalate the tension in the relations between Turkey and Italy.

Turkey has decided to recall Batu to Turkey following the meeting of the so- called Kurdish Parliament in exile at the Italian Parliament with the participation of several Italian deputies.

[06] MEETINGS OF THE IMF AND THE WORLD BANK - STATE MINISTER TANER TO BEGIN HIS CONTACTS

Taner is scheduled to come together with the senior officials from both the IMF and the World Bank and the representatives of the several finance intitutions and organizations

Yener Dincmen, the Undersecretary of Treasury, and Gazi Ercel, the President of the Central Bank, accompany Taner during his visit to the US.

Report named ''Economic Aspect of the World'' organized within the framework of the autumn meetings, briefly gives place to Turkey.

Noting, ''the will towards overcoming the financial imbalance, has been strengthing in Turkey. Turkey's struggle against high inflation improves as a result of active money policies. She has succeeded in taking the influences of the fluctuation in global finance markets under control.'', the report pointed out, ''but the economic crisis that hit Russia, can effect negatively the external situation of Turkey's economy.''

The report also stressed, ''Turkey should save the macroeconomic discipline, strengthen the banking system, maintain reforms in the fields of tax and social security in order to take the financial stability under guarantee.''

[07] BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE - TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN WORK ON THE AGREEMENT DRAFTS

Officials of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources told A.A correspondent that although Turkey conveyed the draft agreement to the Baku administration, the draft agreement that will be prepared by Azerbaijan has not been reached to them. They said they expect the draft agreement to be conveyed next week.

SOCAR, Azeri national oil company wants to determine the model of the pipeline by making an intergovernmental agreement with Turkey and Georgia before the consortium which will construct Baku-Ceyhan pipeline is determined.

According to the feasibility studies made by German PLE company, Baku- Ceyhan pipeline will start from the Sangachal therminal near Baku and end in Ceyhan via Georgia.

The pipeline which is planned to be 1730 km will have 468 km in Azeri territories, 225 km in Georgia and 1037 km in Turkish territories.

Meanwhile, it was reported that a Turkmen delegation headed by Yollu Kurbanmuratov, Turkmen Deputy Prime Minister, will come to Turkey to hold contacts.

Transportation of Turkmen natural gas to western markets via Turkey will be taken up during the meeting.

[08] EU FORGETS ITS COMMITMENTS TO TURKEY - YILDIZ, UNDERSECRETARY OF MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY PARTICIPATES IN EUROPEAN-MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES INDUSTRY MINISTERS MEETING

European-Mediterranean Industry Ministers Conference started in Klagenfurt city of Austria, which currently acts as EU term presidency, on Saturday.

Omer Yildiz, Undersecretary of Industry and Trade Ministry, who headed the Turkish delegation participating in the meeting said he would invite members of the EU to keep their promises.

Yildiz said ''EU, within the context of MEDA fund, gives Egypt and Morocco an aid which is three times more than it promised to Turkey.''

''General industry strategies, cooperation facilities in this field, setting up information network, and efforts and contributions to the countries'' are among the issues that will be taken up in European- Mediterranean Industry Ministers Conference.

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