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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-11-08
[01] AA Daily
08 November 1999 Monday
[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
[03] These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in
Turkey's press on November 8, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify
these stories and does not vouch for their occuracy.
[04] HURRIYET (LIBERAL) - ---------------- JET-PA IS LIKE TITAN The Finance
examined the files of Jet-Pa and issued a report on the company. The
Finance gave tax penalty to Jet-Pa which is about trillions of Turkish
liras. Jet-Pa's declared incomes were compared with its non-declared
incomes which were registered in the computer. The officials at the Finance
determined the tax rate difference between the two records as 20 trillion
Turkish liras. The transfer of shares were not officially registered. The
invoice of the expenditures were not taken. Jet-Pa did not take invoice for
296 billion Turkish lira expenditures.
[05] YASEMIN BECOMES WORLD RECORD BREAKER Swimmer Yasemin Dalkilic of
Turkey broke women's free-style diving world record in Bodrum county of
Aegean Mugla province. Dalkilic dived 68 meter deep without oxygen tubes
and broke the record. Yasemin completed her diving in 2 minutes and 27
seconds.
[06] MILLIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- CRITICAL HOURS FOR NATURAL GAS
Azerbaijani and Turkmen delegations had serious talks about the natural gas
which Turkey will purchase. Azerbaijan wants to have a quota from the
Caspian-transite Turkmen natural gas. However, Turkmenistan opposes this.
Cumhur Ersumer, the Energy and Natural Resources Minister, tries to reach a
compromise between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Ersumer said that there
will be no return from the Blue Stream Project.
[07] NGOS TO SAY FIRST WORDS IN OSCE SUMMIT The process of Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Summit starts with the meeting of
the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) of 54 countries today. A total of
3,000 people will participate in the NGO meetings. The participants will
discuss the issues including human rights, torture and child soldiers
during the meeting.
[08] SABAH (LIBERAL) - --------------- RETURN TO YOUR HEADQUARTERS
President Suleyman Demirel, who experienced three military coups, will
receive General Pervez Musharraf, the leader of the military rule in
Pakistan. Demirel will tell Musharraf to return to their headquarters as
soon as possible. Demirel told Sabah the things he will advise Musarraf.
Demirel will advise Musharraf that the worst democratic rule is much more
better than the best military rule. The second thing which Demirel will
advise is when the armed forces interferes with the politics, they become
deteriorated. Demirel will also recommend that the military coups do not
solve the problem, but opens deep wounds in the long term.
[09] TAX AND STAND-BY TO BECOME CLEAR THIS WEEK Economy circles are
starting a critical week. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is expected
to conclude the draft stand-by agreement this week. The Draft Law on
Capital Market and the Banking Arrangement Council are planned to be taken
into the agenda this week. The Earthquake Tax which was suspended due to
the criticisms, will be discussed in the Council of Ministers once more
this week. Despite the criticisms and reactions, the Earthquake Tax and the
500 Trillion Turkish Lira Additional Budget are expected to be passed from
the parliament.
[10] CUMHURIYET (LEFT) - ---------------- DSP FEELS UNEASY OVER MHP Rahsan
Ecevit, Deputy Chairperson of Democratic Left Party (DSP), meets with the
parliamentarians of DSP and investigates the government. Rahsan Ecevit, who
earlier said she did not forget the past days and the blood that was shed
at those times, voices the uneasiness felt over Nationalist Movement Party
(MHP). It was reported that Rahsan Ecevit, who meets with DSP deputies,
complained about groupings of MHP and pointed out that no concession will
be given from the amnesty of Haluk Kirci.
[11] OSCE MEETING STARTS WITH CIVILIANS Meetings of Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) start with the participation of
non-governmental organizations in Ciragan Hotel. The meetings will take
place to make preparation to the leaders' summit. The meetings will mainly
focus on human rights.
[12] RADIKAL (LEFT) - ------------- MOSCOW CRISIS IN COALITION Sadi
Somuncuoglu, Minister of State, said he found odd that two parliamentarians
from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), who were in the delegation that
went to Moscow, were not invited to the meeting which took place in
Turkey's Embassy in Moscow. Somuncuoglu said the public has seen the
unilateral concession of MHP, yet noted that ''thinking that this will
always happen, will contradict with the facts.''
[13] MARMARA SHAKEN AGAIN Marmara region was shaken again on Sunday. The
epicenter of the quake, with a preliminary magnitute of 5.0, was Hendek-
Adapazari. The quake was also felt in Istanbul.
[14] TURKIYE (RIGHT) - --------------- CONGRATULATIONS YASEMIN Swimmer
Yasemin Dalkilic of Turkey broke women's free-style diving world record on
Sunday following her European record. Dalkilic meditated for about 20
minutes before she dived into the sea by jumping from a platform that was
set up for her off shore south Aegean Bodrum county. The 20 year-old
university student Dalkilic went 68 meter deep in 2 minutes and 38 seconds
without oxygen tubes and broke a world record.
[15] TWO FOREIGN FLAGGED SHIPS COLLIDE IN ISTANBUL A six thousand gross-ton
Belize-flagged vessel named ''Semele'', which entered the Istanbul Straits
from the Black Sea collided with a 16 thousand gross-ton Bulgarian-flagged
vessel named ''Shipka'' which wanted to depart from the Ahirkapi port to
enter the Istanbul Straits at about 13:00 local time. ''Semele'' sank
shortly after the accident happened 1.5 miles off-shore the Ahirkapi. The
18-member crew of ''Semele'' were rescued by the ships around. Nature
Warriors Association staged a demostration at 12:00 local time on Sunday to
get the attention to the accidents in the Straits. The accident occurred
two hours after the protest.
[16] ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) - ------------------ QUAKE FRIGTHENS PEOPLE AGAIN
Two separate afterschocks were recorded in Adapazari-Hendek on Sunday at
18:54 local time measuring 5.0, and at 19:06 local time measuring 4.3 on
the Richter scale. Prof. Ahmet Mete Isikara, Director of Research Center,
said ''it will be good if people, whose houses are damaged, do not enter
their houses.'' Seven people who got shocked following the quake, were
taken under treatment in hospitals.
[17] SAYGILIOGLU: 2000 WILL BE THE YEAR OF TOURISM Nevzat Saygilioglu,
Undersecretary of Tourism Ministry, said the year 1999 was a loss in
tourism, adding that their target will be to be successful in the year
2000. Saygilioglu said the sector will build strategy of the year 2000 on
belief tourism.
[18] ADMINISTRATORS OF AKIT NEWPAPER SUBMIT PETITION TO ECEVIT
[19] ANKARA, Nov 8 (A.A) - The administrators of Akit newspaper submitted a
petition to Premier Bulent Ecevit on Sunday. Serdar Arseven, the Ankara
Representative of Akit newspaper, and lawyer Abdullah Ciftci submitted a
petition to the Prime Ministry Cabinet Directorate concerning the detention
of Hasan Karaya, the Editor-in-Chief of Akit, and Hasan Huseyin Maden, a
member of the Broadcasting Council of Akit. When leaving the Prime Ministry,
Ciftci told the reporters that they demanded that Nuh Mete Yuksel, the
State Security Court Prosecutor, should be withdrawn from investigating
their file. They also demanded that some other prosecutors be charged to
investigate their file, Ciftci said. Ciftci claimed that the detention of
Karakaya and Maden does not comply with the laws. The petition submitted to
the Prime Ministry said that Emin Colasan, a columnist in Hurriyet daily,
wrote about the claims of a prisoner named Kasim Gencyilmaz in one of his
stories. Karakaya and Maden were taken into custody after Colasan wrote his
story, the petition noted. The petition added that the implementations
which do not comply with the laws should be ended.
[20] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''THERE IS NO NEED TO WORRY ABOUT ISSUE OF
PRESIDENCY''
[21] ANKARA, Nov 8 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel said on Sunday that
there is no need to worry about the issue of presidency. Demirel responded
to the questions in the Pulse of the Politics programme which was broadcast
in state-run TRT-1 channel. ''Turkey is a constitutional state. There are
rules in the Constitution. If these rules are implemented and a president
cannot be chosen in the fourth round, then an election will be held,''
Demirel said. When asked about his evaluations on the possibility of
changing the Constitution to be elected as the President once more, Demirel
noted that he has been saying for nearly 20 years that the president should
be elected by the public. The parliament could not choose a President after
the term in office of Fahri Koruturk, the sixth President, ended; Demirel
recalled. That day, they proposed that the public should choose the
president, Demirel noted. Demirel continued, ''this is my idea. But, I will
not launch campaigns for this. I cannot try to have the majority of the
parliament. Because this is a political incident. I am over the politics in
my present position. The parliament can solve this problem as it solves the
other problems of Turkey.'' Only Turkey, Greece, Italy, and Germany do not
choose the president directly, Demirel stated. Demirel said, ''in the end,
Turkey will reach this point. But, Turkey has another problem. Turkey
cannot tolerate an instability any more. She has to maintain stability. She
has to improve the superiority of the national will. The national will has
to choose the president.'' Demirel continued, ''in my opinion, the
extension of the term in office is wrong. Premier Ecevit also said this.
The power of the person who will become the president should not be zeroed.
If you extend the term in office, then that person becomes like a corpse.
Let's do what is right.''
[22] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''14,000 TEMPORARY HOUSES TO BE DELIVERED TILL
NOVEMBER 15 IN QUAKE ZONE''
[23] ANKARA, Nov 8 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel said on Sunday that a
total of 14,000 temporary houses will be delivered to the quake survivors
till November 15. Addressing ''the Pulse of Politics'' program broadcasted
in TRT-1 Channel, Demirel said quake was again the main topic of the agenda
of Turkey. Demirel noted that 34,000 temporary houses were built for the
quake survivors and that one third of them were delivered, adding that
Housing and Public Works Ministry told him that 14,000 houses will be
delivered as of November 15. Pointing out that 79 contractors worked for
the construction of temporary houses, shifting of the rubble, and for
infrastructure, Demirel said most of the 34,000 temporary houses will be
delivered by the end of November. Demirel said the tents were gradually
removed in Golyaka and Duzce countries, and noted that ''the train is put
on the right track.'' Demirel said the construction of 60,000 permanent
houses and demolished public installations will be put out to tender till
March 15. Responding to a question about Chechnya, Demirel said Russia was
the neighbour of Russia, ''we can not interfere to the domestic affairs of
this country, yet things happen in Chechnya which attract the attention of
all world.'' Demirel said Chechnya was an Autonomous Republic, and that
Russia and Chechnya earlier had tried to solve their conflict with arms yet
reached an agreement in the end. Demirel said, ''they tried to use weapons
again. All the world and Turkey want the problem to be solved through
peaceful ways. Civilian people should not suffer damage. Russia should
listen to the voice of the world. The world doesn't regard this incident as
terrorism. Everybody says this problem should be solved through peaceful
means.''
[24] PREMIER ECEVIT RECEIVES KAIHARA, JAPANESE HYOGO GOVERNOR
[25] ANKARA, Nov 8 (A.A) - Premier Bulent Ecevit received Toshitami Kaihara,
the Governor of Japanese Hyogo State, on Monday. Ecevit said that Japan
assisted Turkey following the massive earthquake. Not only the financial
aspects, but also the moral aspects of this aid carry importance, Ecevit
noted. Japans, especially the residents of Kobe which is one of the cities
in the Hyogo State, shared the pains of Turkey, Ecevit stated. Ecevit
stressed that Turkish nation is grateful for the Japanese nation. Kaihara
expressed his condolences to Ecevit for those who were killed in the
devastating quake in August. Stating that they saw the prefabricated huts
in Adapazari, Kaihara said this indicates that the region is gradually
being reconstructed.
[26] 32ND BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL FAIR - TURKEY COMES AMONG FIVE COUNTRIES
MOSTLY REPRESENTED IN FAIR
[27] ANKARA, Nov 8 (A.A) - The Turkish firms which come among the five
countries which are mostly represented in the 32nd Baghdad International
Fair, are pleased with the interest shown in the fair. Forum Fair company,
which organized the Turkish firms' participation in the fair, said that the
Baghdad international fair started last Monday and it will end on November
10. The Turkish pavilion in which the Iraqi high ranking officials are also
interested, has been founded in an area of nearly 1500 square meters.
Mieanwhile representatives of Turkish firms and Iraqi officials came
together at the ''Turkish Day'' dinner held by the Iraqi Embassy on
November 3. The two sides noted in that meeting that the commercial
relations between the two countries have to be upgraded to the level before
the Gulf Crisis. The fair is a good opportunity to reach this goal, they
stressed. The number of those who visit the 32nd International Baghdad fair,
is expected to exceed two million people. Meanwhile a ''Turkey Export
Products Fair'' will be held in April, 2000 in Baghdad after the interest
shown to the Turkish firms in the fair was taken into consideration.
[28] PERVAIZ MUSHARRAF IN TURKEY - PRESIDENT DEMIREL:''STATES HAVE TO
RESPECT EACH OTHER AND THEIR IDENTITITIES''
[29] ANKARA, Nov 8 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel said on Monday
regarding the visit of General Pervaiz Musharraf, the leader of the
Pakistani military administration to Turkey that ''states must respect each
other and their identitities.'' ''The way he came to power is another issue,
'' Demirel told reporters. ''Musharraf had said that he was affected by the
coup in Turkey, you were also banned from politics after the coup in
Turkey. Will you tell him to return back to democracy and his military
mission?'' asked journalists to Demirel. Demirel responded to that by
saying ''Turkey is a great state and Pakistan is a close friend of Turkey.
Friendships are between nations and states. Administrations come and go. It
is not convenient for me to say the things I will tell the administrator of
another country who visits our country.'' President Demirel said that state
is an important concept and each state has its own identity.
[30] OSCE TAKES RESOLUTIONS UNANIMOUSLY
[31] VIENNA, Nov 8 (A.A) - The Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) still takes resolutions unanimously. The organization could
achieve to keep up with the new obligations and to shape itself up in
accordance with these obligations from the very beginning. The most obvious
example of this is the ''Consensus Minus One'' rule which was adopted in
1992. An interesting aspect of the organization is that the resolutions
taken do not have any legal bindings. Despite this, the resolutions which
are taken unanimously by the organization and which are based on mutual
commitments rather than international agreements, have significant
political power. In other words, the decision process of OSCE can operate
slowly because it takes long time to pursuade the member countries. But,
the countries can impose political pressure on the country which does not
obey the decision taken by the organization. The highest authority of the
decision process of the organization is the Presidents' and Prime
Minister's Summit which will be held in Istanbul next week. The Council of
Ministers which convene by the summits held every two or three years, can
take high-ranking decisions. However, the Permanent Council which convenes
in Vienna every Thursday, is the real decision organ of the organization.
Yalim Eralp, Turkey's Representative to the Permanent Council, not only
carries out his responsibilities in this council for three years but also
he is considered among the contractors of the Istanbul Summit. Armenia
blocked the proposal which Turkey submitted to the Lizbon Summit in 1996,
saying that a summit should be held in Istanbul for a long time. Howevery,
Armenia had to obey holding a summit in Istanbul on the intensive pressures
of the U.S.
[32] OSCE ISTANBUL SUMMIT - LAST SUMMIT OF THE CENTURY IN ISTANBUL
[33] ANKARA, Nov 8 (A.A) - Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
(CSCE) process, which started as a result of efforts of Soviet Union in the
year 1950's, turned into a compromise when relations between the East and
the West softened at the beginning of 1970's. The West made Eastern Bloc
countries accept its willingness to interfere with democratization and
human rights issues in Warsaw Pact countries, in return of the Soviet Union
and Warsaw Pact's demand to accept ''recognization of the borders.''
Economic cooperation was added to this compromise as a third dimension.
Long negotations period which started in Helsinki in 1973, resulted in
signing of Helsinki Final Charter in the negotiations held between July 30-
August 1, 1975, which was the main document of CSCE process. The Final
Charter, which all European countries, (except Albania,) Canada and the
U.S. signed, was divided into three parts called ''Basket''. The first one
of these parts was ''confidence building measures, security, and document
regarding some parts of disarmament'', the second one was ''document about
economy, science, technology and environment fields'', and the third one
was ''cooperation in humanitarian and other fields.'' Main Helsinki
principles, that will show the ways to mutual relations in the first basket,
were defined briefly as:
[34] ''-Sovereign equality of countries - Avoiding use of force and threat
of force - Immunity of borders - Territorial integrity of countries -
Solution of conflicts through peaceful methods - Not interfering in
domestic affairs of countries - Respect to human rights - Respect to basic
freedoms (freedom of thought, belief and religion) - Equal rights of people
and right to determine their own faith - Inter-state cooperation and
importance attributed to cooperation - Fulfilment of liabilities and
commitments within the framework of international law with good will.''
[35] CSCE had gone through a very important stage with 1990 Paris Charter.
The period when Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact entered collapse period and
when Berlin Wall collapsed, deeply influenced CSCE period. Paris Charter
was signed in this transition period. The start was symbolized with a
slogan ''Europe takes step to a new period.'' Paris Charter formed the
first move of establishment of Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE). It has been decided that two summits will take place in
Paris once in two years. Also, a high level officials committee,
secretariat, Conflict Prevention center, free elections office and OSCE
Parliamentarians Assembly was formed in 1991. As a result of the
initiatives led by Turkey, memberships of former Soviet Union countries and
countries which are located in the geography extending from Kazakhstan to
Georgia, to OSCE were adopted. Helsinki Summit held in 1992, confirmed the
1975 Helsinki principles. It gave OSCE the will of change. A new dialogue,
negotiation and cooperation forum was formed. The summit in 1994 was held
in Budapest, Hungarian capital. ''Budapest Summit'' formed the final stage
of the establishment of OSCE as new institutions were decided to be formed
in the summit. It has been decided in that Summit to turn Conference on
Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) into Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as of January 1, 1995. A document
regarding political and military dimensions of security was also adopted.
The 1996 summit took place in Lisbon, Portugal. Turkey submitted its
candidacy to host the following summit. The summit which had to take place
in 1998, was postponed to 1999 due to the difference of opinions caused by
the approaches of Russia and the U.S. within OSCE. The counter-statements
of Armenia and Greek Cypriot side not to hold last summit of the century in
Istanbul, were overcomed due the efforts of Turkey.
[36] OSCE ISTANBUL SUMMIT
[37] VIENNA, Nov 8 (A.A) - Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE), which will stage the last summit of the century in Istanbul,
is not known by public as much as other organizations. More than 1400
officials work in center of Council of Europe (COE) in Strasbourg, yet only
200 people work in Secretariat of OSCE in Vienna. The Secretariat of the
OSCE in Vienna is situated at a fourth floor of a shopping center. OSCE
applies to different ways to reduce its expenses. Permanent representatives
of the countries convene at meeting halls in Hofburg Palace of Austrian-
Hungarian Empire every Thursday. Salaries of more than 2.500 international
experts assigned in OSCE missions are paid by their countries. The 180-
million U.S. dollar budget of the organization is not much when compared to
other organizations. The biggest expense of OSCE is sent to missions in
regions where important clashes and problems take place. The U.S., Germany,
France, Britain, Italy and Russia meet the biggest share of the budget of
the organization. The organization has 14 observation missions. A total of
88 percent of the budget of the organization is spent to these missions. In
other words, OSCE tries to spend this money to regions which have problems.
The U.S. allocate money to the missions with a rate of 12.4 percent. Yet,
Turkey participates in the budget of the organization with 1 percent rate
and the number of Turkish officials in the missions is less.
[38] SIGNIFICANT PART OF PERFORMANCE CRITERIA OF STAND-BY AGREEMENT BECOMES
CLEAR
[39] ANKARA, Nov 8 (A.A)- Significant part of the performance criteria of
the stand-by agreement which will be signed with the International Monetary
Fund (IMF), became clear. The officials told A.A correspondent on Monday
that the public sector general balance and the non-interest surplus of the
public sector are the leading aspects of the performance criteria. The IMF
attributed importance to the public sector general balance including the
consolidated budget, local administrations, State Economic Enterprises
(SEEs) and the funds, since June, the officials said. The officials noted
that the other performance criteria are the international reserves, the net
domestic assets, and the public sector borrowing requirement. The IMF
delegation headed by Carlo Cottarelli, the Chief of Turkey Desk of IMF,
carries out works on the estimation of the public sector general balance,
the officials stated. The public sector general balance will be announced
in three-month terms from now on, the officials stressed. The officials
emphasized that the IMF delegation has difficulty in estimating the
municipalities' borrowing requirements. The IMF pursues a different method
in estimating the public sector borrowing requirement and the delegation
focused on the losses of the public banks, the officials pointed out. The
officials said that the IMF delegation emphasizes that the public sector
borrowing requirement rate of Turkey should not be more than ten percent of
the Gross National Product (GNP). The total public sector borrowing
requirement is planned to be 12.1 percent of the GNP rate in 2000, the
officials noted. They added that this rate will be 15.1 quadrillion Turkish
liras in 2000. The IMF delegation will visit Turkey every three months
after the stand-by agremeent is signed, the officials stated. The officials
stressed that the delegation will visit Turkey to see whether or not the
performance criteria are caught up. They added that the delegation will
give the instruction to release the credit installments. The stand-by
agreement which was planned to have a maturity of two years can have a
maturity of three years, the officials emphasized. The officials recalled
that the letter of intention which was submitted to the IMF Executive
Directors' Board for the emergency aid credit, emphasized that a strong
anti-inflation programme can only be supported by a three-year standby
agreement. A three-year standby agreement can be possible for the
implementation of structural reforms including the ones in agriculture,
financial sector and privatization; and for the encouragement of the
reforms together with the World Bank's structural harmony credits.
[40] GEORGIAN PRESIDENT SHEVARDNADZE: ''TURKEY HAS AN IMPORTANT PLACE IN
SOLUTION PROCESS OF GEORGIAN-ABKHAZIAN PROBLEM''
[41] TBILISI, Nov 8 (A.A) - Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, the
Georgian President said on Monday that Turkey plays an important role in
solution process of Georgian-Abkhazian problem. In a press briefing held
the same day, Shevardnadze stated that Turkey has always said that she is
ready to take an active role in solution process of Georgian-Abkhazian
problem. He added that this issue will be discussed once again during the
Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Summit in
Istanbul. The Georgian President said that in his phone talk with President
Suleyman Demirel, they took up Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline project, Blue
Stream and Trans-Caspian natural gas pipeline projects. Turkey has a very
important role in the region and Georgia wants to improve her relations
with Turkey, said Shevardnadze and noted that he considers the Blue Stream
Project as an important project.
[42] GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER IN ANKARA
[43] ANKARA, Nov 8 (A.A) - German Interior Minister Otto Schilly arrived on
Monday in Ankara as the official guest of Interior Minister Saadettin
Tantan. The guest minister was welcomed by Interior Minister Tantan at the
Esenboga Airport. Speaking to reporters at the airport, Tantan said the
guest German Interior Minister arrived in Turkey to further improve the
cooperation between the Turkish and German Interior Ministries, and to
visit the quake zone. ''I hope the cooperation will increase. I believe Mr.
Schilly's visit will contribute to this,'' he said. German Interior
Minister Otto Schilly said Germany is Turkey's traditional friend, and the
donations made by Germany after the strong quake were the best expressions
of friendly feelings. ''I hope my contacts in Turkey will contribute to
recovery of the relations between our two countries. Germany is one of the
countries which want Turkey to carry out cooperation with the European
Union (EU) at a higher level. I wish my contacts will contribute to this,''
he said. Schilly said he shared the grief of the Turkish people over the
losses in the quake. ''We sent some concrete aid and will continue to do
so. Besides, we will do our best for the continuation of the EU's aid to
Turkey,'' he said. Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan said, ''Germany is
one of the countries which rushed to help Turkey shortly after the
earthquake. The Turkish people are grateful to Germany.''
[44] TUSIAD'S CONTACTS IN NETHERLANDS - NETHERLANDS EXTENDS FULL-SUPPORT TO
TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP
[45] THE HAGUE, Nov 8 (A.A) - Annemarie Jovitsma, the Deputy Prime Minister
of the Netherlands, said on Monday that the Netherlands extended full-
support to Turkey's European Union (EU) membership. The Association of
Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) delegation, which continues
its contacts in European countries to express the Turkish business world's
opinions about the relations between Turkey and the EU, started its
contacts in The Hague. The TUSIAD delegation headed by Erkut Yucaoglu, the
Chairman of the TUSIAD Executive Board, met with Jovitsma at the Prime
Ministry building. Following the meeting, Jovitsma said they gave full-
support to Turkey's EU membership without a prejudice, and they will defend
their opinion at the Helsinki Summit. Noting that Turkey has to fulfil the
Copenhagen criteria for EU membership, Jovitsma said the things that have
to be fulfilled to this end should be implemented with a programme.
Joritsma stressed the fulfilment of the programme would take time so the
full-membership might necessitate a specific time.
[46] IRAQI HEALTH MINISTER IN TURKEY
[47] ANKARA, Nov 8 (A.A) - Iraqi Health Minister Umid Mithad Mubarak
visited on Monday Health Minister Osman Durmus. Addressing the meeting,
Durmus said Turkey will assist Iraq in the services like food, medicine,
medical treatment and preventive medicine. ''However, this can be possible
only with cooperation. I hope Iraq will show understanding,'' he said.
Minister Mubarak said Iraq could receive medicine and food from other
countries in return for food due to the embargo imposed by the United
Nations (U.N.) Mubarak said the health services couldn't be given properly
and the potable water was not clean in Iraq due to the embargo. Noting that
the Iraqi children were facing the risk of polio as the health services
were insufficient, Mubarak said the Iraqi children, at least, had to be
protected with vaccine. Recalling that their relations with the Turkish
companies were good before the embargo, Mubarak said they were in favor of
cooperation between Turkey and Iraq. Health Minister Osman Durmus said they
attached importance to polio in Iraq, and they thought it sould be taken
under control. Pointing out that the relations between Turkey and Iraq had
reached a specific level before the resolution for oil-for-food and
medicine, Durmus said the trade between the two countries decreased from 90
million U.S. dollars to 30 million U.S. dollars due to the embargo. Turkey
and Iraq will sign an agreement on ''Cooperation in Health and Medical
Field'' on Tuesday.
[48] PREMIER ECEVIT RECEIVES GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER
[49] ANKARA, Nov 8 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit received on Monday
German Interior Minister Otto Schily. The meeting started at 16.00 local
time and lasted for nearly one hour. Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, the State
Minister responsible for human rights was also present at the meeting.
Southeastern problem, Turkey-European Union (EU) relations and human rights
came to the agenda of the meeting. Schily told Ecevit that a minority group
in Germany speak a language namely ''zorbish'' and the German government
does not punish the group due to that. Ecevit stressed that Kurdish
language is spoken in Turkey without any difficulty. Human rights were also
taken up at the meeting and Ecevit told the guest minister that the
punishment terms given for crimes of torture have been increased. The guest
minister also told that Turkey has to do her best to be the member of the
EU.
[50] ANNAN, SECRETARY GENERAL OF UNITED NATIONS, TO CALL ON DENKTAS AND
CLERIDES TO NEGOTIATE
[51] NEW YORK, Nov 8 (A.A) - Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the
United Nations, said on Monday that he would call on President Rauf Denktas
of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and Glafcos Clerides,
the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration, to negotiate in New York in
near future. Annan said that he had not set a definite date yet, adding
that negotiations were underway with the sides and the guarantor countries.
Reiterating that he had not reached a final decision, Annan noted that he
would decide on the issue within one month. Annan is expected to attend the
Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) Summit in Istanbul between
November 17-19. He is also scheduled to pay an official visit to Turkey
between November 19-22. Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent,
Annan stressed that the problems could only be solved through dialogue.
Annan told the A.A correspondent that the European Union (EU) and the U.S.
were also interested in the Cyprus question because it could escalate
tension in the region. Annan expressed wish over the detente in relations
between Turkey and Greece to make a considerable contribution to ease the
tension. Annan recalled that he held contacts with Alfred Moses, the
Special Representative of U.S. President Bill Clinton to Cyprus, and
received encouraging reports from Moses. He stressed that they had also
taken into consideration the United Nations Security Council's proposals
with the aim to give the final form to the current packet. Annan said that
the Cyprus question was a significant problem in the region. He described
the Cyprus question as a potentially dangerous problem. Annan reminded that
he had brought Denktas and Clerides together two times in Troutbeck near
New York, and in Glion, Switzerland. He underlined that a new initiative
should be launched to further improve this process. Noting that the Cyprus
question was not only the problem of the people living on the island, Annan
emphasized that the Cyprus question was a regional problem.
A.A
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