Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-10-17

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

17 OCT 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''TERRORISTS AND THEIR LEADER SHELTER IN SYRIA. THIS COUNTRY SHOULD EXPEL THEM. THIS WILL NOT HAVE A CONDITION''

[02] HISTORICAL NIGHT IN LAUSANNE - 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF LAUSANNE PEACE TREATY CELEBRATED

[03] AMBASSADORS IN TRNC - ETKIN, TRNC FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTER: ''CYPRUS QUESTION CAN ONLY BE SOLVED WITH THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE EXISTANCE OF THE TWO STATES''

[04] TURKISH-ESTONIAN RELATIONS - ESTONIAN PRESIDENT MERI: - ''ESTONIA WAS INVITED TO EU NEGOTIATIONS AS A RESULT OF ITS CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT''

[05] DISCUSSIONS TO HOLD ELECTIONS IN DECEMBER - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''I DO NOT HAVE OBJECTIONS TO HOLD GENERAL ELECTIONS IN DECEMBER''

[06] ERSUMER, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES: - ''I WILL LEAVE FOR TURKMENISTAN ON MONDAY TO INITIAL THE NATURAL GAS COMMERCE AGREEMENT''

[07] A GREEK-CYPRIOT, WHO WAS DETAINED ON CHARGES OF VIOLATING TRNC BONDER, SENTENCED TO ONE MONTH IMPRISONMENT

[08] DELEGATION OF TURKISH BUSINESSMEN IN EGYPT - YAVUZ EGE, UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN TRADE: - ''EGYPT IS ONE OF THE TWO COUNTRIES WHERE EXPORTORTATION INCREASED MOSTLY''

[09] STATE MINISTER BATALLI IN BAGHDAD - BATALLI: ''WITH THIS VISIT, WE TARGET TO TAKE A STEP TO IMPROVE BILATERAL ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL RELATIONS''

[01] TURKISH-SYRIAN TENSION - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''TERRORISTS AND THEIR LEADER SHELTER IN SYRIA. THIS COUNTRY SHOULD EXPEL THEM. THIS WILL NOT HAVE A CONDITION''

Responding to the questions of reporters related with the crisis between Turkey and Syria, Demirel said Turkey clearly revealed its demands to this end.

Noting that Egyptian and Iranian sides made statements that Turkey's demands would be met, Demirel said ''Turkey is waiting now. If these promises are kept, than Turkey's concerns will be overcomed.''

When recalled the statements of Syrian officials that committees, which were earlier established, may find a solution by negotiating the joint problems, Demirel said there is only one problem, adding that taking up more than one problem will dilute the first problem.

Demirel said ''everyday, somebody dies. Terrorists who kill them shelter in Syria. Their leader is in Syria too. The only thing Syria can do is to expel them. This will not have a condition.''

[02] HISTORICAL NIGHT IN LAUSANNE - 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF LAUSANNE PEACE TREATY CELEBRATED

Erdal Inonu, Omer Inonu and Ozden Toker, children of Ismet Inonu, leader of the Turkish delegation who had signed the Treaty, participated in a reception hosted by Taner Baytok, Turkey's Ambassador to Bern and European Turkish Acedemicians Association.

Addressing the ceremony Ismet Inonu said with the Lausanne Treaty, foundation of a republic, which is an island of peace and stability in the Balkans, Causcasia and Centeral Asia, was laid.

Inonu pointed out that Lausanne was the only Peace Treaty that was carried out without a change although many wars and clashes were made.

A diplomatic crisis erupted between Turkey and Bern when Vaud Cantons opposed to the giving of Rumine Palace to Turkey for the 75th anniversary celebrations. Swiss Confederation accepted to give the Palace to Turkey upon the protests of Foreign Ministry.

Meanwhile, Franz Blankart, Undersecretary of Swiss Foreign Economic Relations Ministry, addressing the conference said a new page should be opened in diplomatic relations between Ankara and Bern.

Blankart said misunderstandings and diplomatic crisis which were experienced in the past should be left aside and comprehensive and positive steps should be taken.

Blankart pointed out that diplomacy was an art forwarded to overcoming of clashes and tensions adding that his country did not have an intention to intervene to the domestic affairs of a country.

Attributing to the crisis that was experienced with Vaud Cantons, Blankart said the only competent authority in Switzerland in the field of foreign policy was the confederation.

[03] AMBASSADORS IN TRNC - ETKIN, TRNC FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTER: ''CYPRUS QUESTION CAN ONLY BE SOLVED WITH THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE EXISTANCE OF THE TWO STATES''

Taner Etkin, TRNC Foreign and Defense Minister, addressing a welcoming ceremony staged for the delegation, said the Ambassadors came to TRNC under Structural and Functional Cooperation Protocol and to get informations about Cyprus question and TRNC issues.

Stressing that Cyprus question could only be solved with the acceptance of the existance of the two states in Cyprus, Etkin said the world gradually began to see the facts.

Etkin thanked to Turkish Ambassadors who work hard to announce the justified struggle of Turkish Cypriots to the world.

Berhan Ekinci, leader of the delegation, pointed out that Cyprus question was a mutual national case adding that they felt a special responsibility to announce the justified case of Turkish Cypriot people to the world.

The delegation, composed of 12 Ambassadors and high ranking officials, is expected to leave the Island on Sunday.

The delegation includes Berhan Ekinci (Chairman of Inspection Committee), Omur Orhun (General Director of International Security Affairs), Gunaltay Sibay (Ambassador to Dublin), Erhan Ogut (Ambassador to Ottowa), Yaman Baskut (Ambassador to Tokyo), Erkan Gezer (General Director of Consulate Affairs), Ates Balkan (Ambassador to Warsaw), M. Nuri Yildirim (Ambassador to Ulanbator), Salahattin Alpar (Ambassador to Zagreb), Mengu Buyukdavras (Ambassador to Nairo bi), Naci Akinci (Ambassador to Rabat), Dogan Akdur (Ambassador to Bishkek).

[04] TURKISH-ESTONIAN RELATIONS - ESTONIAN PRESIDENT MERI: - ''ESTONIA WAS INVITED TO EU NEGOTIATIONS AS A RESULT OF ITS CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT''

Adressing the meeting, which was organized by the Turkish-Estonian Business Council at the Swissotel in Istanbul, the Estonian President Meri, who currently pays an official visit to Turkey, said, ''Estonia is a Central European country. We started economic reforms when we were saved from the former Soviet Union's clutches.''

Pointing out that they left behind the previous period following the reforms in Estonia, Meri said that the Estonian economy, which was dominated by free trade, gained a dynamic structure.

The guest President Meri said, ''the development of the Estonian economy stems from several reasons. Our constitution puts a balanced budget liability on the Parliament. We established a monetary board. We implemented an open trade regime. We have a universal revenue collecting system. We don't restrict foreign investors by offering methods to draw foreign capital inflow in privatization.''

Aslan Onel, the Co-Chairman of the Turkish-Estonian Business Council, said for his part that the economies of Turkey and Estonia have complementary characteristic.

Pointing out that the trade volume between the two countries was 19 million US dollars in 1996, Onel said that the commercial relations between the two countries couldn't reach the desired level although the trade volume increased to 37 million US dollars last year.

[05] DISCUSSIONS TO HOLD ELECTIONS IN DECEMBER - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''I DO NOT HAVE OBJECTIONS TO HOLD GENERAL ELECTIONS IN DECEMBER''

Responding to the questions of reporters Demirel said the only solution to calm down politics is the elections adding that Parliament has several diffuculties in issuing of laws, this should not continue till April.

Demirel said decision for elections was taken with the votes of 488 members of the Parliament and pointed out that people of a country has the right to reveal what they think.

Demirel said the Parliament provided a unity in solution of problems like Cyprus question, Kosovo question, terrorism issue and conflict with Syria.

[06] ERSUMER, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES: - ''I WILL LEAVE FOR TURKMENISTAN ON MONDAY TO INITIAL THE NATURAL GAS COMMERCE AGREEMENT''

Addressing a programme broadcasted by the NTV, Ersumer said that there were a lot of reasons for the realization of the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline.

Pointing out that Turkey in any way finds a way to supply her own oil demand, Ersumer saıd ''if those reasons were taken into consideration, ıt wıll be understood that Turkey doesn't want the Baku-Ceyhan only for her needs. Besides, the Turkmen natural gas will be transported to Europe via Turkey. The Turkish Republics will transfer an important economic source to their budgets and their level of prosperity will increase.''

Stressing that the flow of 100 million tonnes of oil, which will be drilled from the Caspian Region, to the Black Sea and transportation of this oil to Europe via the Turkish Straits were out of question, Ersumer said, ''especially for the last one year, we have launched initiatives in accordance with our policies and truths regarding the Baku-Ceyhan. We never made it means of politics.''

Stressing that he will leave for Turkmenistan on 19 October to initial the natural gas commerce agreement, Ersumer said, ''I hope the agreement will be signed on 29 October during the Turkmen President Saparmurad Turkmenbasi's visit to Turkey.''

[07] A GREEK-CYPRIOT, WHO WAS DETAINED ON CHARGES OF VIOLATING TRNC BONDER, SENTENCED TO ONE MONTH IMPRISONMENT

Sotiriu, who was detained on 10 October on charges of violating the TRNC border, appeared at the Military Court on Friday.

Ilker Sertbay, the TRNC Military Judge, didn't find pursuasive Sotiriu's defence saying, ''I didn't know that permission is required for entering the TRNC. I was to return to the Greek-Cypriot side after touring the Magusa.''

Stressing that thare has been a Turkish state on the northern part of Cyprus since 1974, Judge Sertbay said that the violation of the TRNC territories is a ''heavy offense'' and the TRNC Penal Code foresees imprisonment terms up to two years or 200 million Turkish Liras fine.

Judge Sertbay, at first, sentenced the Greek-Cypriot citizen to 200 million TL fine, but later changed the decision into one-month imprisonment when Sotiriu said he won't pay that fine.

Sertbay said that Kriakos Sotiriu's car, which was seized by the TRNC Police, will be given back to Sotiriu and they will allow him to talk with his family.

[08] DELEGATION OF TURKISH BUSINESSMEN IN EGYPT - YAVUZ EGE, UNDERSECRETARY OF FOREIGN TRADE: - ''EGYPT IS ONE OF THE TWO COUNTRIES WHERE EXPORTORTATION INCREASED MOSTLY''

Addressing the ''information meeting'' aiming at briefing the Turkish businessmen who participated in the Turkish delegation's visit to Egypt, Yavuz Ege said that Egypt is evaluated as the ''target contry, target market'' as a result of her dynamism in recent years.

Pointing out that Egypt has a stable economy, Ege said, ''the foreign capital investments in Egypt have also increased.''

Yasar Yakis, Turkey's Ambassador to Cairo, said for his part that Egypt's Gross Domestic Product is 60 billion US dollars and the per capita income is at about 790 US dollars.

''The Egyptian Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves are 20 billion US dollars and their currency is stable against the US dollar. They have two industrial zones. The foreign entrepreneurs, who invest in these areas, are exempt from tax for ten years. Unskilled labor price is three-fold lower than the price in Turkey. It is advantageous for selling goods to the third countries,'' Ambassador Yakis stated.

[09] STATE MINISTER BATALLI IN BAGHDAD - BATALLI: ''WITH THIS VISIT, WE TARGET TO TAKE A STEP TO IMPROVE BILATERAL ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL RELATIONS''

The Turkish delegation is led by the Mehmet Batalli, State Minister and the Iraqi delegation is headed by Amir Muhammad Rasheed, Iraq's Minister of Oil.

Addressing the opening speech of the meeting, Rasheed said that the visit of the Turkish delegation is important to strengthen the economic and commercial relations between Turkey and Iraq, adding he was sure that this visit will help establishment of new foundations for joint economic cooperation between Turkey and Iraq.

Rasheed stated that this visit will serve for the common interests of the two countries and he expressed hope that they will bring the commercial relations into a good level, stressing that the relations between Turkey and Iraq will further develop in the future.

State Minister Batalli said for his part that the goal of their visit was to take a step for the development of the economic and commercial relations and for the expansion of the trade volume between Turkey and Iraq.

Batalli emphasized that Turkey will take every measure to develop the joint economic cooperation and give the businessmen the means to accomplish it.

Stating that the embargo, which has been imposed on Iraq since 1990, damages not only Iraq but also Turkey, Batalli said he hoped the embargo will be lifted as soon as possible and he believed the relations between Turkey and Iraq will further improve in the future.

The State Minister Batalli and the accompanying delegation are expected to meet the same day with the Iraqi Ministers of Trade and Finance; and to be received on Sunday by Taha Yasin Ramazan, the Vice President of Iraq, and meet with the Iraqi Minister of Transportation.

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