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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-10-13
[01] AA Daily
13 October 1999 Wednesday
[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
[03] These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in
Turkey's press on Oct 13, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these
stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
[04] HURRIYET (LIBERAL) - ------------------ FOUR BROTHERS TO 36 MINISTERS
Only four ministers participated in the ''Sister Family Campaign'' started
by Yasar Okuyan, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, to heal the
wounds of quake survivors. Okuyan gave forms to other ministers, but only
Cumhur Ersumer, the Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister; Mehmet Ali
Irtemcelik, the State Minister; and Koray Aydın, the Minister of Public
Works and Housing participated in the campaign. President Suleyman Demirel
only said that ''60 million families are my brothers.''
[05] F-4 PLANES CRASHES A Turkish Air Force F-4 jet crashed outside an air
base in Ankara killing the two pilots aboard. The crash occurred yesterday
about 3 kilometers from the Akıncı base outside Ankara, said a military
official. The pilots killed were lieutenants on training mission.
[06] MILLIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- IMF'S BITTER PRESCRIPTION No
agreement was reached about the budget of 2000 at Supreme Board of Planning
meeting. The government members rejected the budget and programme targeting
25 percent inflation rate which is requested by the IMF. Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit asked ''can we relieve the nation and employees a little
more?'' Tunca Toskay, the State Minister said in his part that ''no
promises should be given to IMF if we can't abide by them.''
[07] GOLF PLAYER WANTED Gloria Golf Resort in Belek, which is in southern
Antalya province prepares itself for the visit of U.S. President Bill
Clinton who will come to Turkey to participate in the Organization on
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) meeting. A good golf player is
wanted to play with Clinton who is fond of golf.
[08] SABAH (LIBERAL) - -------------- THEY SING FOR FRIENDSHIP Greek singer
Mikis Theodorakis, Maria Faranduri, and Turkish singer Zulfu Livaneli sang
for friendship in Istanbul. The ''Friendship Concert'' which had been
planned to be held in an earlier date was postponed after a quake hit
Greece. The singers sang their best-loved songs for friendship on the same
stage.
[09] A TOTAL OF 5.3 BILLION U.S. DOLLAR PRIVATIZATION IN 2000 The Supreme
Planning Board gave important decisions in its yesterday meeting which
lasted for three and a half hours. The Board decided that the privatization
target of 2000 will be 5.3 billion U.S. dollars. The Board planning
announcing tenders for selling 51 percent of the Petrol Ofisi on November
17, 1999 and selling 20 percent of the Turkish Petroleum Refineries Corp.
(TUPRAS) in the first quarter of 2000.
[10] CUMHURIYET (LEFT) - ---------------- JUSTICE MINISTER TURK: ''GANGS
ARE EXCLUDED FROM SCOPE OF AMNESTY LAW'' Hikmet Sami Turk, the Justice
Minister, said, ''nobody thinks differently about Article 313 of Turkish
Penal Code. This article is out of the scope of the amnesty.'' Turk added,
''as this article is out of the scope of the amnesty law, the content of
the law will certainly lessen in some extent,'' Turk noted that it is
impossible to give up the amnesty law because the amnesty led to
expectations among people.
[11] TURKISH-RUSSIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL Turkish-Russian Business Council will
convene in southern Antalya province between October 14 and 16, 1999.
Nearly 400 businessmen from both countries are expected to participate in
the meeting. The businessmen will discuss having a new perspective in the
bilateral relations in the fields like energy, tourism, trade, and
transportation. RADIKAL (LEFT) - --------------- WE WON'T STOP WRITING
Radikal newspaper was attacked by unknown assailants. One of the bullets
hit Mehmet Yılmaz, the director of the paper. On Tuesday morning at 04.00,
gunfire opened from a vehicle passing on E-6 highway. The assailants fired
for four times. President Suleyman Demirel, Parliament Speaker Yıldırım
Akbulut and press institutions condemned the attack.
[12] GOOD OLD DAYS Kemal Akkaya, one of the former economy ministers and
favourites of late President Turgut Ozal is accused of corruption. Akkaya
can't pay his debts to many businessmen. A suit has been filed against him
in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
[13] TÜRKİYE (RIGHT) - ---------------- TURKISH PRODUCTS IN EGYPT Turkel
Fuarcilik, a Turkish company which organizes fairs, will organize Turkish
Export Products Fair in Cairo, Egypt, between November 17 and 20, 1999.
Many products including food, automotive, automotive by-industry,
construction equipment, chemicals, electrical and electronical devices,
plastic materials, and shoes will be exhibited in the fair.
[14] ARMED ATTACK ON MILLIYET CENTER IN ISTANBUL Unidentified assailants
opened gunfire on Dogan Media Center in Bagcilar district from a car early
on Tuesday morning. There were no reported casualties. The incident
happened when unidentified assailants opened gunfire on Dogan Media Center
at 05:00 local time. A bullet hit on the room of Mehmet Y. Yilmaz, Editor
in Chief of Radikal Newspaper.
[15] ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) - -------------------- ENERGY SUMMIT AT
PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE A summit was held at the Presidential Residence in
Cankaya district of Ankara. Turkey's energy policy was discussed in the
summit which was headed by President Suleyman Demirel. Premier Bulent
Ecevit; Devlet Bahceli and Husamettin Ozkan, the deputy prime ministers;
Cumhur Ersumer, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Energy and Natural
Resources Minister; Foreign Minister Ismail Cem participated in the summit.
[16] EU REPORT TO BE ANNOUNCED TODAY The European Union (EU) Commission
report about the candidate countries will be officially announced this
afternoon. The report will reflect the commission's ideas about each of the
candidate countries and the developments marked in these countries in last
year. Romano Prodi, the Chairman of the EU Commission, will submit the
report to the European Parliament at 4.00 p.m. local time. The reports will
be distributed to the press organs at the same time.
[17] U.S. TAKES INITIATIVES FOR TURKEY'S EU CANDIDACY
[18] WASHINTON D.C., Oct 13 (A.A) - The U.S. administration started to take
initiatives for recognition of Turkey's candidacy status to the European
Union (EU) by the efforts of Tom Weston, the U.S. State Department's
Special Coordinator to Cyprus. Weston takes initiatives before Helsinki
Summit to be held in December, in Britain, Germany, Spain, Belgium, and
Norway for Turkey's membership to the EU. Diplomatic sources in Washington
D.C. said on Wednesday that Alfred Moses, U.S. President Bill Clinton's
Special Representative for Cyprus will hold contacts in Ankara on Thursday
and he is expected to meet with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Moses will
also hold contacts in Athens together with Weston between 16-18 October
after wrapping his contacts in Ankara which will last for two days. Moses
and Weston will proceed to Cyprus on October 19 and return to the U.S. on
October 21. Sources recalled that Richard Holbrooke, the former
representative of Clinton to Cyprus and U.S. Permanent Representative to
U.N. had earlier taken initiatives in France and Germany for Turkey's
candidacy. Moses and Weston, who are known as the ''Holbrooke Team'' think
that ''if the way to EU candidacy opens for Turkey, an initiative can also
be taken regarding Cyprus issue.''
[19] TURKISH-RUSSIAN BUSINESSMEN TO COME TOGETHER IN ANTALYA
[20] ANTALYA, Oct 13 (A.A) - The Seventh Joint meeting of the Turkish-
Russian Business Council will start in southern province of Antalya on
Thursday. Turkish and Russian ministers and high ranking officials will
participate in the meeting. The existing situation of Turkish-Russian
economic relations and developments expected to take place in 2000s in
various sectors will be taken up in details in the meeting. Bilateral
relations in basic cooperation sectors like energy, tourism, trade and
transportation will also be taken up by a new perspective. Firstly making
cooperation in small and medium scale enterprises (KOBI) between the two
countries and improvement of inter-regional direct relations between Turkey
and Russia will be discussed in the meeting. The agreement foreseing
foundation of Turkish-Russian Regional Business Committee will be signed in
the meeting. Panels on various issues will be held in the meetings which
will last till October 16. Turkish and Russian businessmen will hold
bilateral contacts after the meeting on regional cooperation opportunities.
[21] CULTURE MINISTER TALAY LEAVES FOR ZAGREB
[22] ANKARA, Oct 13 (A.A) - Istemihan Talay, the Culture Minister, left for
Zagreb on Wednesday. The Culture Ministry statement said that Talay went to
Zagreb, Croatia to open the ''Ottoman Works of Art Treasuries'' exhibition.
Emphasizing that Talay will submit the good will message of President
Suleyman Demirel to Franjo Tujman, Croatian President; the statement noted
that a total of 150 works of art which are preserved in Topkapi Palace and
three museums in Istanbul, will be displayed in the exhibition. The
statement added that the exhibition will be open between October 14 and
November 30, 1999. Noting that Talay will be received by Croatian President
and Prime Minister during his visit, the statement stressed that the
exhibition will improve the friendship and the cultural ties between the
two countries and bring the two nations closer to each other.
[23] TURKISH-GREEK BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETING ENDS
[24] ATHENS, Oct 13 (A-A) - The Turkish-Greek Business Council meeting
ended on Tuesday. The meeting was held under the chairmanships of Sarik
Tara and Panayotis Kutsikos in Athens. Staging a joint press conference
following the meeting, Tara and Kutsikos said that the meetings were very
positive and that they decided to set up working groups which will carry
out efforts to improve the cooperation between the two countries.
Emphasizing that the working groups will carry out efforts on fields like
insurance, banking, sea transportation, marketing, transportation, small
and medium scale enterprises, construction, tourism and cooperation with
the third countries, Tara and Kutsikos noted that the proposals of the
working groups will be discussed in the next meeting of the council which
will be held in Istanbul in February. Stressing that the working groups
will be composed of experts, Tara and Kutsikos stated that the Turkish and
Greek groups will firstly convene separately and then meet each other to
shape up the proposals. Tara and Kutsikos added that they will inform the
Turkish and Greek governments about these proposals aiming at improving the
cooperation between the two countries. Pointing out that the efforts of the
Turkish and Greek businessmen were not useless, Tara and Kutsikos stressed
that the trading volume between the two countries increased from 300
million U.S. dollars to 800 million U.S. dollars in a few years despite the
problems. Responding the questions, Tara said that he think that the
atmosphere in Athens was very positive and that the businessmen should do
their best to improve the relations. Emphasizing that the Athens meeting
was held in parallel with the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)
Business Council meeting, Tara noted that the meeting lasted for only two
hours. Stressing that they will convene again in Istanbul in the second
part of February, Tara stated that they will discubb all the issues in
details then. The Turkish delegation will leave Greece on Wednesday.
[25] ''ENERGY SAVING COMMITTEE TO CONVENE IN BERLIN''
[26] ADANA, October 13 (A.A) - ''Energy Saving Committee by Storing
Energy'' meeting will take place in Berlin between November 1 and 3. The
Committee acts as the sub-unit of International Energy Agency (IEA) which
Turkey carries out its Term Presidency. Energy systems which are friendly
to environment will be discussed during the meeting. Prof. Dr. Hunay Evliya,
Secretary General of the Committee, said the aim of the committee was to
collect the studies on the issue under one roof and to speed up studies for
the solution of energy problem. Stressing that news of disasters come from
all over the world recently, Evliya said measures should be taken to
prevent disasters that were caused by humanbeings. He said ''we seriously
support that energy problem should be solved with systems that is friendly
to environment.''
[27] FRENCH ''TOURISM MEDAL OF HONOR'' TO THOSE DEALING WITH TOURISM
[28] ISTANBUL, Oct 13 (A.A) - Those who deal with tourism sector, were
given ''Tourism Medal of Honor'' which is the French medal of state, on
Tuesday. Talha Camas, the Chairman of Turkish Union of Travel Agencies
(TURSAB); Ali Korur, the owner of the Korur Tourism; and Yusuf Duru, the
owner of the Duru Tourism, were given French medals in a ceremony held in
Ankara. Eric Lebedel, the French Consul General in Istanbul, said that the
relations with Turkey and France improved in recent years, and that they
think that it will be appropriate to decorate the Turkish tourism sector
dealers with the ''Tourism Medal of Honor''. Emphasizing that the number of
tourists coming from France to Turkey increased 30 percent except this year,
Lebedel noted that they aim at increasing the number of French tourists
visiting Turkey by making earlier reservations for 2000. Later, Lebedev
decorated Camas, Korur, and Duru with the French medals.
[29] ROCK CONCERT IN THE U.S. FOR QUAKE VICTIMS
[30] CHICAGO, Oct 13 (A.A) - A rock concert was organized in Chicago, the
U.S., on Wednesday as an expression of sympathy for the quake victims who
were left homeless and destitude by the quake disaster. The concert was
organized in cooperation with the Turkish Consulate General in Chicago, and
several American music bands. More than 400 people watched the concert at
the ''House of Blues''. Yavuz Aktas, Turkish Consul General in Chicago,
noted that the fund which was raised from the concert, has been donated to
the quake victims.
[31] YALOVA, MINISTER OF STATE, IN ATHENS
[32] ATHENS, October 13 (A.A) - Yuksel Yalova, Minister of State, said on
Wednesday that Turkey's privatization target for 2000 was 5 billion U.S.
dollars. Addressing Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Business Council,
which takes place in Athens, Yalova pointed out the investment requirements
of the Black Sea region. Stressing that privatization was a means of
accelarating foreign investments, Yalova mentioned the steps taken in
Turkey and the plans that have been prepared. State Minister Yalova said
''For the first time in 10 years we have a stable Coalition Government,
determined to deliver results. This Parliament is working hard to pass long
awaited laws. Probably the most important of these is the Constitutional
change regarding the inclusion of international arbitration in contacts
dealing with public utilities. Through this change, the concept of
privatization has entered the constitution, and the road has been opened
for international arbitration of potential problems that foreign investors
may face in their investments in Turkey. Many projects that were stalled
will take off, and we believe that many investors who were hesitating will
now move in.'' Noting that the Government was aware of the necessity to
introduce further regulations, bring in checks and balances, and create a
favourable environment for investors, Yalova said ''our government is also
aware of the need to implement the privatization program as fast as
possible, and my own ministry is trying hard to do it carefully, without
overlooking its legal and social implications.'' ''The privatization
programme for the second half of this year and the first half of the year
2000 has been reviewed following the earthquake and new programme has been
prepared. Among the companies that are within the framework of the new
programme, the state maritime transportation company, Deniz Nakliyat
Sirketi, will be privatized through a recently opened tender. In this
framework, tenders have also been opened for two state insurance firms
Ankara Sigorta and Guven Sigorta'' Yalova said. Yalova said ''new tenders
will be announced for the forestry products firm ORUS, a hotel and real
estate belonging to the state tourism company TURBAN, and textile plants
belonging to Sumer Holding, These wil be followed by new tenders for the
privatisation of state enterprises of various sizes and sectors. Among thse
are Turkish Airlines, Turk Telekom, two large petrochemical complexes, the
state share in the Eregli Isdemir steel plant and several banks.'' Yalova
said ''according to the planned new calender, in the last quarter of 1999,
a tender will be announced for the privatization of the majority shares of
the biggest oil distribution company Petrol Ofisi. Last year there was a
tender to privatise this company and a bid was made for 1.2 billion U.S.
dollars. Althought the sale decision was made, the tender was later
cancelled. The privatization of this important company that will attract
both local and foreign firms will be re-launched this year.'' ''In the
first quarter of the year 2000, local and overseas public offering of
Tupras, the state oil refineries, will be realised. Solomon Smith Barney
has been selected as the underwriter for this privatization. This is
expected to attract much attentionl among investors'' Yalova said, adding
that ''I will not go into further details but merely point out that our
privatization target for 2000 is 5 billion U.S. dollars. Drawing attention
to the considerable volume of Turkish investments in BSEC countries, Yalova
said ''the Turkish investors already engaged in this region have acquired
much experience and would make useful partners to European investors
seeking to get a foothold in this region with such a promising development
potential.'' He said the scope for cooperation between the BSEC and the EU
in the field of investments is enourmous and we must all strive to obtain
maximum benefits form these possibilities. Yalova said ''this programme,
together with our new legislation, reduced inflation and structural reforms
will lead to a marked increase in the inflow of foreign investments to
Turkey.'' Yalova will depart Greece on Thursday morning.
[33] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT EXPRESSES SORROW OVER MILITARY COUP IN PAKISTAN
[34] ANKARA, Oct 13 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Wednesday
that he deplored the military coup in Pakistan, but he was not bewildered.
Responding to questions of journalists, Prime Minister Ecevit noted, ''We
do not intervene in domestic affairs of Pakistan. We wish such an
interruption in democracy to come to an end as soon as possible without
bloodshed.'' When asked about possible results of the military coup in the
region, Ecevit accentuated, ''I am extremly deplored, but I was not
bewildered. Pakistan has been living through an increasing political unrest
for a long time. The opposition united against Pakistani Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif. His own party also reacted him. Pakistan encountered
difficulties in her relations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Mr. Sharif decided to withdraw military troops out of Kashmir. The
Pakistani General Staff raised an objection against his decision. When all
these developments occurred one after the other, I felt suspicious. I am
extremely deplored.'' Describing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as a talented
statesman, Ecevit underlined, ''We do not intervene in domestic affairs of
Pakistan. Relations between Turkey and Pakistan are friendly relations
between the two nations.''
[35] NUCLEAR POWER PLANT TENDER
[36] ANKARA, Oct 13 (A.A) - Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and
Natural Resources and the Deputy Prime Minister, said on Wednesday that the
deadline for bidding for Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant tender was extended to
December 31, 1999. Ersumer received Jean Marc Duval, the Canadian
Ambassador to Ankara. When reminded of the issue that the Akkuyu nuclear
power plant project tender would be concluded on October 15, Ersumer said,
''October 15 is the option date. However, there is a rule in the
specifications allowing the extension of tender process for once. In
accordance with this, it was extended by one year in 1998. As the Ministry
and the Turkish Electricity Production and Distribution Inc (TEAS), we
carried out all necessary works.'' ''Consequently, we discussed the issue
with the coalition partners. We reached an agreement on the extension. As
of December 31, 1999, we will ask the companies to be dependent on their
options for a more three-month period. The tender process will continue if
they accept this. There won't be any change,'' he said.
[37] TUSIAD DELEGATION DUE TO ROME
[38] ROME, Oct 13 (A.A) - Delegation of the Turkish Industrialists and
Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) which started its tour including capitals
of European Union (EU) countries, in Brussels, will proceed to Italian
capital Rome on October 18 from Finnish capital Helsinki. The delegation
will leave Rome for Paris on October 20. The delegation will begin to hold
contacts in Rome on October 19 by meeting with Italian Prime Minister
Massimo D'Alema. The delegation is scheduled to come together with the
officials of Italian General Industry Confederation (Confindustria) the
same day. A joint press conference will be staged after the meeting.
[39] FOREIGN MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY TO VISIT IRAN
[40] ANKARA, Oct 13 (A.A) - Korkmaz Haktanir, the Undersecretary of the
Foreign Ministry, will leave for Iran on October 17 for political
consultations. Addressing his weekly press conference, Sermet Atacanli, the
Deputy Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, said Korkmaz Haktanir will hold
contacts between October 17-18 in Tehran upon the invitation of Iranian
Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Aminzadeh. Atacanli said the bilateral
relations, regional and international issues will be discussed at the
political consultations.
[41] MILITARY COUP IN PAKISTAN - FOREIGN MINISTRY: - ''WHAT IS IMPORTANT
FOR TURKEY IS THE MATERIALIZATION OF PAKISTANI PEOPLE'S EXPECTATIONS IN AN
ATMOSPHERE OF PEACE AND STABILITY''
[42] ANKARA, Oct 13 (A.A) - Sermet Atacanli, Deputy Spokesman of the
Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday that what was important for Turkey was
the materialization of Pakistani people's expectations in an atmophere of
peace and stability. Addressing the weekly press conference, Atacanli noted,
''Turkey and Pakistan have succeeded in setting up friendly relations in
spite of the geographical distance between them. We are closely monitoring
the developments in Pakistan. It was understood that there were no serious
clashes, and no casualties. Turkish citizens living in Pakistan, are in
good condition. Turkish Embassy in Islamabad and the Turkish Consulate
General in Karachi are continuing to work.'' Recalling that Bozkurt Aran,
Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan, had lost his family in a traffic accident,
and returned to Turkey, Atacanli told reporters that a new Ambassador could
not be appointed to Pakistan. When asked about the dispute between Pakistan
and India over Kashmir, Atacanli said, ''Turkey has extended full support
to the implement of international conditions and legality rules in the
issue.''
[43] A TOTAL OF 104 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED
[44] EDIRNE/MUGLA, Oct 13 (A.A) - Security forces intercepted on Wednesday
a total of 104 people in Edirne and Mugla provinces as they were trying to
proceed to Greece illegally. Immigrants including 16 Afghans, 11 Iraqis, 69
Iranians, 4 Moroccans, and one Algerian, were later taken into custody for
violating the Turkish borders and the passport law. Officials said that the
immigrants will be deported once the legal proceedings are completed.
[45] SWISS AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA IN ANTALYA
[46] ANTALYA, Oct 13 (A.A) - Andre Faivet, the Swiss Ambassador to Ankara,
said on Wednesday that they want to further improve their relations with
Turkey in the fields of economy and tourism. Faivet paid a visit of
courtesy to Ertugrul Dokuzoglu, who was newly appointed as the Governor of
Antalya. Noting that he has been in Turkey for four years and he came to
Antalya for two times to pay official visits, Faivet said he was deeply
impressed by the natural and historical beauties in Antalya. Pointing out
that Antalya is a very important touristic region, Faivet said they want to
further improve the relations between Turkey and Switzerland in the fields
of economy and tourism. Stating that they gave the start for a new
implementation to serve Swiss people who visit Turkey, Faivet said they are
trying to establish Information Offices in several provinces in Turkey to
this end. ''We set up information offices in Mersin, Trabzon, Gaziantep and
Samsun provinces. We want to develop our relations with Turkey,'' he said.
[47] FOREIGN MINISTRY: - ''WE EXCEPT EU TO DECLARE OUR CANDIDACY UNDER
EQUAL CONDITIONS WITH OTHER CANDIDATES''
[48] ANKARA, Oct 13 (A.A) - Sermet Atacanli, Deputy Spokesman of the
Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday that Turkey excepted the European Union
(EU) to declare her candidacy under equal conditions with the other
candidates. Addressing the weekly press conference, Atacanli recalled that
the Helsinki Summit which will be held in December, was also called as the
enlargement summit. Atacanli emphasized, ''We except the EU to declare our
candidacy under equal conditions with other candidates.'' Atacanli also
added that the Foreign Ministry was helding contacts with the EU organs on
the developments.
[49] TUSIAD DELEGATION DUE IN ROME
[50] ROME, Oct 13 (A.A) - Delegation of the Turkish Industrialists and
Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) which started its tour including capitals
of European Union (EU) countries, in Brussels, will proceed to Italian
capital Rome on October 18 from Finnish capital Helsinki. The delegation
will leave Rome for Paris on October 20. The delegation will begin to hold
contacts in Rome on October 19 by meeting with Italian Prime Minister
Massimo D'Alema. The delegation is scheduled to come together with the
officials of Italian General Industry Confederation (Confindustria) the
same day. A joint press conference will be staged after the meeting.
[51] MANDELIS, GREEK TRANSPORTATION MINISTER, DEPARTS TURKEY
[52] ISTANBUL, Oct 13 (A.A) - Haralambos Anastasios Mandelis, Greek
Transportation and Communication Minister, departed Turkey on Wednesday.
Mandelis who had came to Turkey yesterday, watched the ''Friendship
Concert'' which was organized in cooperation with the General Labour
Confederation of Greece (GSEE), the Confederation of the Turkish Labour
Unions (Turk-Is), the Labour Confederation (Hak-Is), and the Confederation
of Public Workers' Trade Unions (KESK) for the quake victims. He also came
together with Enis Oksuz, Transportation Minister.
[53] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM DUE TO LATIN AMERICA AND CROATIA
[54] ANKARA, Oct 13 (A.A) - Ismail Cem, Foreign Minister, will start on
Sunday his tour to Latin America, including Cuba, and Venezuella. Cem's
contacts in these countries will focus on the issue of further
strengthening economic and commercial relations. Meanwhile, Cem is planning
to pay a visit to Greece with the aim of attending the foreign ministers
meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) which will be held in
Salonica between October 27-28. Cem is expected to come together with his
Greek counterpart Yorgo Papandreu to discuss the latest developments in
Turkish-Greek dialogue, Turkey's full membership to the European Union (EU),
and the Cyprus question. Ismail Cem is also scheduled to pay an official
visit to Croatia as the guest of his Croatian counterpart Mate Granich on
November 2. Within framework of his visit to Croatia, Cem is expected to
take up issues such as bilateral relations, Kosovo crisis, and other
regional and international matters with Croatian officials. Cem is
envisaged to visit Sweden and Denmark which have assumed an abstaining
attitude towards Turkey's full membership to the EU, in the second half of
November.
[55] LOIZIDOU CASE - FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''THE COMMITTEE OF DELEGATES HAS
PRETENDED NOT TO SEE THAT THE CASE IS A PART OF THE CYPRUS QUESTION TAKING
UP THE CASE LIKE A SEPARATE INCIDENT''
[56] ANKARA, Oct 13 (A.A) - The Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the
European Council Delegates Committee discussed the Titina Loizidu case like
a separate incident and pretended not to see that the case was a part of
the Cyprus question. Addressing his weekly press conference, Sermet
Atacanli, the Deputy Spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, said Turkey put
forward that she didn't agree with the decision by casting a negative vote.
Recalling that Turkey complies with the decisions of the European Court of
Human Rights concerning Turkey without exception even if ''she does not
agree with the content'', Atacanli said, ''however, the Loizidu case, as it
was mentioned even in the court decision itself, is an exceptional case.
Thus, it necessitates an exceptional procedure. It was expected that the
Delegates Committee, which is a political organ, could understand this
exceptional characteristic of the case. However, the Delegates Committee,
with this interim decision, has taken up the Loizidou case as if it was a
separate case by pretending not to see that the case is a part of the
Cyprus question.'' Atacanli stressed that Turkey supports the statement of
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which is the real side of
the case, and the liquidation of mutual property claims on Cyprus is one of
the main dimensions of the Cyprus question. Recalling that the U.N.
Secretary General mentioned this issue in his last good-will report,
Atacanli said, ''liquidation of property demand of Loizidou and similar
demands will be made with a comprehensive solution for the Cyprus question.
The TRNC has taken an important step to this end. The TRNC has proposed the
solution of this problem through property exchange and compensations, and
establishment of a Joint Commission to this end. We think that the proposal
is the most appropriate and realistic frame for the solution of the
Loizidou and similar cases.'' The European Court of Human Rights had made a
ruling which orders Turkey to pay compensation for ''depriving'' Titiana
Loizidou, a Greek-Cypriot woman, of her property rights in the TRNC and
provide her with free access to the property in question.
[57] SPORTS-SOCCER-EUROPE PLAYY-OFF DRAW - TURKEY TO TAKE ON IRELAND
[58] AACHEN, Oct 13 (A.A) - Turkey will take on away Ireland in the
European Championship play-off first leg on November 13 in Dublin. The draw
for the European Championship play-offs was made on Wednesday in Aachen,
Germany:
[59] Ireland v Turkey Scotland v England Israel v Denmark Slovenia v
Ukraine
[60] The first legs will be played on November 13 or 14, and the second
legs on November 17.
[61] Meanwhile, also the draw for European Under-21 Championship play-offs
was made in Aachen:
[62] Poland v Turkey Portugal v Croatia Czech Republic v Greece Netherlands
v Belgium Norway v Spain Yugoslavia v England Russia v Slovakia France v
Italy
[63] The first legs will be played on November 14, and the second legs on
November 17 and 18.
A.A
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