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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-03-25Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>25 MARCH 1998CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (1)These are brief summaries of some of the leading stories in Turkey's press on March 25, 1998. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.) PANGALOS CALLS FOR 'NO-FLY ZONE' OVER CYPRUS Pangalos extended a conditional olive branch to both Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots during an interview on the American CNN television by lending his nominal support to the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot EU membership. Pangalos claimed that Greece wants to see not only the Turkish Cypriots, but also Turkey in the EU. He told the CNN that if Ankara removes the 'obstacles' it is placing in the way of Cyprus joining the EU, then Greece will lift its veto of EU funds for Turkey. /Milliyet/ CEM ACCUSES ATHENS OF CHAUVINISM After a meeting in Ankara with Diego Cordovez, the UN Special Envoy to Cyprus, Cem said, ''Pangalos should know that there is no similarity between Cyprus and the Kosovo issue. Greece cannot grant autonomy to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in the way that Serbia has to Kosovo. However, his statement on the CNN television shows once more that the obstacle to solving the Cyprus issue is Greece, not Turkey." /Cumhuriyet/Milliyet/ LOGAN, "TURKEY HAS PRIORITY FOR ECONOMIC RELATIONS" David Logan, the British Ambassador to Turkey, said that Turkey was among the 14 countries to which England gives priority for economic relations. Logan noted that these 14 countries had promising futures and that Turkey was one of these countries. He stressed Turkey's importance to England by saying that the trade volume between Turkey and England was 2.5 billion US dollars. He added that in recent years more Turkish businessmen had been investing in England. /Milliyet/ GREEK CYPRIOT SECURITY PROPOSAL Speaking on the Greek RIK television programme, Kasulides said that if such a zone could be made effective, then there would be no need to deploy the Russian-made S-300 missiles on the Greek Cypriot side of Cyprus. The deployment of missiles on the island is a very highly sensitive issue between the two communities on the island. /Milliyet/ GREEK CYPRIOTS IGNORE US WARNING Turkey has already made it clear that if the missiles are actually deployed, then serious measures will be taken to restore the balance of military force on the island. The Greek Cypriot administration has described Clinton's warning as nothing more than an idle threat. /Hurriyet/ TURKISH ARMY CARRYING OUT OPERATIONS IN SOUTHEAST ANATOLIA Because of the conflict at the top levels of the terrorist organization, a lot of terrorists might well surrender, military officials said yesterday, noting the number of those who have already surrendered. Meanwhile, the Turkish Army has also launched military operations in the Black Sea region, aimed at preventing the PKK from continuing terrorist activities there. /Milliyet/ (To be continued) [02] TURKEY-PRESS REVIEW (2)These are brief summaries of some of the leading stories in Turkey's press on March 25, 1998. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.) EMERGENCY RULE EXTENDED THE VIRTUE PARTY INCREASES PARLIAMENTARY SEATS POLICE STRIKE A HEAVY BLOW AGAINST THE ILLEGAL TIKKO ORGANIZATION TURKISH TOURISM IN MOSCOW ECEVIT-CORDOVEZ MEETING He said that Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Kofi Annan will meet in Geneva on March 28. /All papers/ [03] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IS IN BONN - CEM MEETS WITH MARC GROSSMANBONN, March 25 (A.A) - Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, who arrived in Bonn to attend the meeting about the Kosovo problem organized by the former Yugoslavia Contact Group with the paricipation of the foreign ministers of the regional countries, met with Marc Grossman, the US Assistant Secretary of State, on Wednesday.Addressing the journalists after the meeting which lasted for an hour, Cem said that they discussed the Kosovo issues and energy during the meeting. Cem noted that the issues determined in the negotiations between Mesut Yilmaz, the Prime Minister, and Madeleine Albright, the US Secretary of State, have not been working well. Cem said Turkey is already holding talks with the neighbouring countries about the Kosovo problem. He also added that there will not be bilateral negotiations between himself and his German counterpart Klaus Kinkel. Cem will meet with the foreign ministers of the regional countries before attending the meeting of the former Yugoslavia Contact Group. [04] EXPORTS OF HAZELNUTS - FOREIGN EXCHANGE INCOME FROM EXPORTS OF HAZELNUTS INCREASES TO OVER 722 MILLION US DOLLARSTRABZON, March 25 (A.A) - The foreign exchange income from the exports of hazelnuts in the first seven months of the 1997-1998 export-season, which started on September 1, 1997, increased to 722.1 million US dollars, it was reported on Wednesday.The officials from the General Secretariat of the Black Sea Exporters' Union told the A.A correspondent that Turkey exported 158.7 thousand tonnes of hazelnuts between September 1, 1997 and March 20, 1998. Officials said that nearly 146 thousand tonnes of the total hazelnuts were exported to the European countries. Officials said that the amount of the hazelnuts exported in first seven months of this season increased by 22.01 thousand tonnes and the amuont of the foreign exchange income rose by 226 million US dollars compared to the same period in the previous season. In the same period of the previous season, the amount of the hazelnuts exported was 136.6 thousand tonnes and the foreign exchange income was 496.2 million US dollars. The foreign exchange income is expected to increase to over one billion US dollars in the 1997-1998 export season that will end on August 31, 1998. Officials said that one quintal of the standard hazelnuts was 440 US dollars last week while it was 462 US dollars in the previous season. [05] KOSOVO QUESTION - TURKEY WELCOMES IMPLEMENTATION OF EDUCATION AGREEMENTANKARA, March 25 (A.A) - Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan said on Wednesday that it was pleasing that existing agreement related with the education rights of Kosovian Albanians began to be implemented.Addressing a weekly news conference, Utkan mentioned about recent development in Kosovo and noted that recent dialogue between Albanians in Kosovo and Serbian Administration and implementation of education agreement increased Ankara's pleasure. Recalling that Turkey carried out a persistent attitude about the implementation of education agreement, Utkan said ''it will be possible to add more chance to the ongoing cautious optimism with the validity of this agreement.'' Utkan said Foreign Minister Cem carried out his contacts in Bonn within the framework of Contact Group members' meeting. [06] SAKIK'S SURRENDER TO KDP - FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN UTKAN: ''SIGNS THAT PKK CAME TO THE END OF THE ROAD ARE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS''ANKARA, March 25 (A.A) - Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan said on Wednesday that there were several signs indicating that separatist terrorist PKK organization came to the end of the road, adding that these were ''natural and positive'' developments.Addressing weekly news conference, Utkan responded to question regarding the surrender of Semdin Sakik to Iraqi Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP). Sakik was once second man of the separatist terrorist organization. Utkan said they have no more information but that Sakik surrendered to KDP and stressed that he was not in a position to confirm several allegations regarding surrender of Sakik. [07] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''I WILL TELL THE SAME THINGS TO ANNAN THAT I TOLD CORDOVEZ''LEFKOSA, March 25 (A.A) - Rauf Denktas, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President said on Wednesday that he would tell the same things to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan what he told to Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Diego Cordovez.Denktas who participated in a TV program by telephone stressed that they were in a corner point, and added that he would go to Geneva to tell Annan what he also told to Cordovez. Noting that European Union (EU) was not in the agenda of TRNC, Denktas said ''we should have an equal status in the EU under equal conditions. They reject our existent status and aimed at reducing it. They gave harm to us with their decision that Cyprus Republic is equal to Greek Cypriot Republic.'' Denktas said if negotiations start with the Greek Cypriot side and the EU by the end of this month, they will have no hope again to unite under the name of ''Cyprus.'' Denktas stressed that they were serious in being recognized and that they were in full unity and integrity to this end. Denktas and Annan will come together on March 28 in Geneva. [08] FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''THERE WILL BE NO IMPROVEMENT IN CYPRUS WITHOUT TWO EQUAL STATES''ANKARA, March 25 (A.A) - Foreign Ministry Spokesman Necati Utkan said on Wednesday that there would be no improvement in Cyprus question unless existence of two separate states are being recognized in Cyprus.Addressing a weekly news conference, Utkan responded to questions regarding contacts of the UN Secretary General's Cyprus Special Envoy Diego Cordovez. Utkan said a formula should be found to bring the two sides under two equal status ''only after this they may start negotiations under equal status.'' Evaluating the words of Cordovez that the situation would be very bad if intercommunal talks do not start, Utkan said ''we should not perceive this as a threat. It is now clear that it is impossible to carry out intercommunal talks with understanding. Everybody began to see this fact. Yet, of course negotiations are required. Responding to a question about the evaluation of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) that UN Peace Forces assigned in Cyprus was siding ''Greek Cypriot side'', Utkan said the sides convene two times a year to maintain the existence of Peace Forces. Utkan said there is a frozen situation at the moment. TRNC President Denktas and TRNC Administration may have several concerns.'' Evaluating the words of Greek Cypriot side defense minister Yannakis Kasulides that Cyprus should turn into a place of no flight zone and the words of Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos regarding disarmament in stages under NATO control, Utkan said ''first they do unacceptable things and create uneasiness. And then they call on everybody to think for preventing the affects of this monster they created.'' Defining the news reports in Greek Cypriot newspapers about himself as ''arrogant threats'', Utkan identified this as a tactic confusing seriousness with arrogancy. Utkan recalled that opening of BAF air base and deployment of S-300 missiles to the Island were being investigated and noted that ''armament efforts of Greek Cypriot side in the Island will be countered with same kind of measures.'' Foreign Ministry Spokesman Utkan said Turkish-TRNC Partnership Council will have its first meeting in Ankara on March 31, adding that five ministers from TRNC and several deputies will participate in the meeting where the base of ''special political relations'' will be specified. [09] MILITARY TRAINING PLANE CRASHES - ONE FIRST LIEUTENANT AND ONE LIEUTENANT DIEANKARA, March 25 (A.A) - Turkish Air Forces' one training plane crashed in the Menemen Valley on Wednesday. One first lieutenant and one lieutenant died in the crash.The Secretariat General of the General Staff said that a SF-260 D type training plane crashed at 2:30 p.m. after taking off and that the reason for the plane's crash was unknown. It said the First Lieutenant Yildirim Erdogan and Lieutenant Yavuz Eracar died in the crash. The detailed investigation related to the accident are underway. [10] TURKISH-EU RELATIONSANKARA, March 25 (A.A) - Sumer Oral, Chairman of Parliamentary Research Commission on Turkish-EU relations, said on Wednesday that approach of European Union (EU) on full membership issue was ''a complete discrimination, adding that Turkey should not be expected to accept this attitude.''Addressing a news conference in the Parliament after the conclusion of the Commission studies, Oral said the Commission prepared a report to this end and submitted it to the Parliamentary Chairmanship. Noting that they talked to various sections during the studies Oral said ''Turkey's mail goal in its relations with the EU has been towards full membership from the very beginning.'' ''EU failed to fulfill its obligations stemming from partnership agreements. Especially the obligations in financial and institutional cooperation fields are serious deficiences in this field.'' Oral said the Commission supported the attitude of the government after Luxembourg summit. Oral identified resolutions of Luxembourg summit as ''unfortunate'' adding that Turkey lost confidence in the EU after these decisions. ''The EU should leave its double standart policy to normalize relations,'' he stressed. [11] BALKAN COUNTRIES' MEETING ENDSBONN, March 25 (A.A) - Balkan Countries Meeting staged in Bonn upon the invitation of former Yugoslavian Contact Group to find a solution to Kosovo problem ended on Wednesday. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem represented Turkey during the meeting.Speaking after the meeting Cem said they convened as regional countries and agreed on general frameworks. Cem said ''we have expressed our sensitivity on several issues and proposals for changes,'' adding that Turkey's views and proposals were adopted by the attending countries. Foreign Minister Cem held a brief meeting with Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Yorgo Papandreu after the meeting. Cem said ''we are extending efforts to follow a joint way. This meeting is a positive development.'' [12] MANISA CASE - FIVE ARRESTED DEFENDANTS RELEASEDIZMIR, March 25 (A.A) - Izmir State Security Court (DGM) Wednesday decided to release the five arrested defendants, who began to be judged for a second time after Higher Court of Appeals annuled the Court's decision.The arrested defendants Faruk Deniz, Askin Yegin, Ali Goktas, Emrah Sait Erda and Levent Kilic were released after the judgement. Sixteen people, including high school students, were taken under custody in 1995 on charges of carrying out activities on behalf of extreme leftist illegal organization DHKP-C in Manisa province. Twelve were arrested after being sent to İzmir State Security Court. One of the accused, who was under 15, was taken to children's court. And the remaining ten were sentenced to various imprisonment terms. Last week, the Higher Court of Appeals annuled the DGM's decision with the justification of ''insufficient investigation.'' The first trial of the case re-started on Wednesday with 13 defendants, including five who were arrested. But the court decided to release also these five arrested defendants. The Manisa Penal Court acquitted on March 11 the ten policemen accused of torturing these defendants during their custody. The court had ruled unanimously that there was no evidence to support the claims of torture or maltreatment. [13] CONTACT GROUP MEETINGBONN, March 25 (A.A) - Contact Group Foreign Ministers meeting staged in Bonn to take up Kosovo crisis ended on Wednesday with a joint statement.''Former Yugoslavian Contact Group'' Foreign Ministers, composed of the US, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and Italy issued an 13-Article statement at the end of the meeting and gave four weeks time to Belgrade Administration to initiate a dialogue with Kosovonian Albanians immediately and without pre-condition to solve Kosovo question through peaceful means. The statement said they saw various developments after the last meeting of the Contact Group which took place on March 9 and also called on further improvement from Yugoslavia to this end. The statement called on the sides to convene soon to determine the framework of the dialogue process of the sides and stressed that nothing that will postpone this process be accepted. Bonn statement called on Yugoslavian Head of State Slobadan Milosevic to fulfill the demands of the Contact Group which had been told during London meeting adding that the group will convene four week later to evaluate if Yugoslavia extended necessary efforts to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. The statement said if Contact Group, decides that Yugoslavia has taken positive steps, it will review previous sanctions imposed on this country, including the weapons embargo. It also said that if no improvement could be recorded within this four weeks, new sanctions will be implemented on Yugoslavia. The statement said the problem should be solved within the framework of respect to Yugoslavia's territorial integrity, the UN Regulation, Helsinki Human Rights Charter and within the within the standarts of OSCE. Contact group said terrorism will never be accepted yet added that Serbian police's pressure and violance in Kosovo under the name of struggle against terrorism would not be legalized. Contact Group said they were in consensus of opinion that sanctions that will be imposed on Yugoslavia will be taken considering the political and economic stability of Southeastern Europe and other neighboring countries. Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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