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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-09-13Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>AA Daily13 Sept 1999 MondayCONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on Sept 13, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL) GANG MEMBERS WANTED TO TAKE CONTROL OF DYP ECEVIT TO TAKE OZAL'S SON WITH HIM TO U.S. MILLIYET (LIBERAL)EARTHQUAKE REPORTSThe World Bank sent a team of 10 people to disaster areas and completed a report on the economic and social outcomes of the earthquake. The report was submitted to the government and to government officials who are in charge of economy. The report draws an optimistic picture and looks at Turkish economy with confidence. The report estimated the damage as 5 billion U.S. dollars (2.2 quadrillion Turkish Liras). The State Planning Organization, on the other hand, estimated the damage as 13 billion U.S. dollars and TUSIAD proposed that it was around 15 billion U.S. dollars. The World Bank report which was written by experts in 20 days stated that tourism, transportation, energy, communication, education, housing and health sectors were the sectors that were affected most by the quake. EUROCOPTER TO BUY TURKISH TRANSCEIVERS SABAH (LIBERAL)MAFIA STEALS ORGANS FROM DEAD BODIES FOLLOWINGQUAKE DISASTER, BRITISH NEWSPAPER CLAIMS British Newspaper Mail On Sunday claims that the organ mafia was in disaster areas right after the quake where people were in a panic. Dead bodies were piled in the streets. Later doctors noticed that some organs were taken out of dead bodies. It was even claimed that livers and kidneys of heavily injured people were stolen. Some people who were reported to be alive in the first days of the disaster later disappeared. It was said that the mafia could have kidnapped them. A Turkish doctor who refused to identify himself stated that organs of a teenager was taken out and his warnings were disregarded. CRITICAL SEPTEMBER FOR TURKEY CUMHURIYET (LEFT)FOUR CONTRACTORS ARRESTED IN YALOVAFour contractors including Kenan Bas, a deputy candidate from the True Path Party (DYP) were arrested in Yalova by the court which found them guilty of ''causing people to die due to carelessness and incautiousness.'' ECEVIT TO DISCUSS BAKU-CEYHAN RADIKAL (LEFT)CRITICAL CORNERThe first ''warm'' step is taken today in Turkey-European Union (EU) relations after two years. Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister will say ''firstly our candidacy has to be confirmed'' during the EU meeting. The EU expects Turkey to have steps in democratization. The most important characteristic of the meeting that will be held in Brussels is invitation of Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister by the initiation of Yorgos Papandreu, the Greek Foreign Minister. Probably Cem won't put forward the Greek veto on ''financial protocol'' in return to the gesture of Greece. MOST DIFFICULT YEAR IN EDUCATION TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)TWO IMPORTANT MESSAGES FROM CEM TO EUIsmail Cem, the Foreign Minister who left for Brussels will explain the issues of candidacy and earthquake during the EU Council meeting today. Cem will meet with Romano Prodi, the new Chairman of the EU Commission today. BE QUICK ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)QUAKE IN EDUCATIONA total of 15 million students start school today in Turkey, but hundred thousands of them whose houses and schools collapsed, won't be happy today. A 16 years old girl living in Adapazarı said that ''I don't hear anything from my teacher and my friends, at the moment I am trying to live.'' 80 percent of schools are damaged in Adapazarı, 50 teachers are dead and 1500 of them want to be appointed to other places. In Yalova; 38 teachers died and 20 schools are damaged. [02] TURKISH-GREEK DIALOGUE - TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ISMAIL CEM AND HIS GREEK COUNTERPART PAPANDREU HOPEFUL ABOUT FUTURE TURKISH-GREEK FRIENDSHIP FOLLOWING ONE HOUR MEETING IN BRUSSELSBRUSSELS, Sept 13 (A.A) - Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister had a one hour meeting with his Greek counterpart Yorgo Papandreu at Hilton Hotel in Brussels on Sunday night where he came to join the EU Council's meeting on Monday which will be attended by the foreign ministers of 15 EU member countries.Cem who spoke to the press after the meeting said Papandreu called him on the phone and invited him to ''have coffee'' together after Cem arrived in Brussels. The Turkish Foreign Minister reminded that this was his first meeting with Papandreu after the quake disaster and said they gave mutual messages of sympathy following the earthquakes that hit both Turkey and Greece. Meetings between Turkish and Greek committees are proceeding positively, Cem noted and said they decided to start initiatives to include technical issues such as energy transfer lines in these meetings. Cem and Papandreu also widely discussed peace and security matters and talks on this theme will continue during the bilateral meeting in New York on September 23, Cem stated. Greek Foreign Minister Papandreau who also spoke to the press at Hilton Hotel in Brussels stressed that the positive atmosphere between Turkey and Greece must continue. Both Turkish and Greek people were very touched by the life saving efforts of rescue teams which brought the two nations closer and this could also have reflections in politics, Papandreu said. The Greek Foreign Minister pointed out that Greece wanted to continue this constructive dialogue with Turkey and they were searching for ways to widen cooperation between Greece and Turkey. Papandreu said Cyprus and related issues were not mentioned during his meeting with Cem. Cem will return home on Monday night. [03] NEW AMERICAN PROPOSAL FOR CYPRUS FORESEES ''THREE SOVEREIGNTIES''NEW YORK, Sept 13 (A.A) - The American government which started a new initiative after Bill Clinton, the U.S. President appointed Alfred Moses as the Special Representative to Cyprus, prepares a new plan which foresees sovereignties of three parties on Cyprus, it is reported on Sunday.The mentioned plan foresees the idea of a third sovereign authority, besides two equal and sovereign Turkish and Greek Cypriot states, which will represent Cyprus abroad and function as an umbrella. Moses, the Special Representative of U.S. President Clinton to Cyprus and Thomas Weston, the U.S. State Department's Coordinator to Cyprus met with Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) the same day. Moses said after the meeting that their aim is to bring the sides to a negotiation table without any preconditions as soon as possible. Not referring to the new American plan, Moses said that he was encouraged by the things Denktas told him. When asked whether or not there is an American plan about the Cyprus issue, Moses said that ''the American plan aims at starting negotiations between the sides and getting a successful result.'' Meanwhile the negotiation between Denktas and Moses-Weston was not concluded in one meeting and Denktas invited Moses and Weston to breakfast on Monday. Rauf Denktas, the TRNC President who explained the position of the Turkish Cypriot side, said that ''we proposed negotiation between two states and a confederation between them. We are insistent on that.'' ''Those who want us meet with the other side should persuade the latter to give up being hostile against us,'' said Denktas, adding ''we don't want protection of the rights of the Turkish side within a Greek Cypriot republic. It should be clearly accepted that the Greek Cypriots don't have the authority to govern the Turkish side. The sovereignty of the two sides should be recognized,'' he added. [04] STATE MINISTER CAY GOES TO KAZAKHSTAN TO ATTEND COUNCIL OF COOPERATION AND SECURITY MEASURES IN ASIAALMATY, Sept 13 (A.A) - Abdulhaluk Cay, the State Minister went to Almaty on Monday to attend ''Council of the Cooperation and Security Measures in Asia'' on Tuesday.Cay and his delegation was met by Cinar Aldemir, Turkish Ambassador in Almaty and Yerlan Idirisov, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister. State Minister Cay will first visit Turkish Embassy in Almaty on Monday and attend a dinner given to his honour by Ambassador Aldemir at night. Cay will join the Council of Cooperation and Security Measures in Asia on Tuesday which will also be attended by the foreign ministers of member countries and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Foreign Ministers of 16 member countries including Turkey will sign a declaration which defines relations between member countries. In the meeting, State Minister Cay will represent Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. Ten other countries including the U.S. will be present at the meeting as observer. UN, Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Arabic Countries Union, and Central Asia Economic Union formed by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan will also attend the meeting as observers. State Minister Cay will return to Turkey on September 15. [05] TURKISH AND PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTRY DELEGATIONS COME TOGETHER FOR POLITICAL CONSULTATIONSANKARA, Sept 13 (A.A) - The delegations of the Turkish and Pakistani foreign ministries came together on Monday within the framework of the political consultations between the two countries.No statement was issued for the press before the meeting which started in the Foreign Ministry under the leadership of Korkmaz Haktanır, the Foreign Ministry Undersecretary and Shamshad Ahmad Khan, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry Undersecretary. Haktanır and Ahmad Khan met each other for a short time before the interdelegationary meeting. Bilateral relations between Turkey and Pakistan and regional and international issues that concern the two countries will be taken up during the political consultations meeting. Ahmad Khan, the guest Undersecretary will be received by President Suleyman Demirel on Monday afternoon and submit him the check of 10 million dollars collected for earthquake victims in Turkey. [06] CONTACTS OF IMF DELEGATIONANKARA, Sept 13 (A.A) - Recep Onal, the Minister of State, said on Monday that there is a need for a supplementary budget due to the earthquake.Speaking to reporters following his meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation headed by Carlo Cottarelli, the Chief of IMF's Turkey Desk, State Minister Onal said the appropriations in the budget had been decided according to the accounts before the earthquake. ''There may be a less amount of revision in the 1999 budget. The amount of 500 trillion Turkish Liras in the supplementary budget may change,'' he said. Onal said they will discuss the issue of 'revision in the economy' with the IMF in October. [07] CONTACTS OF IMF DELEGATIONANKARA, Sept 13 (A.A) - Recep Onal, the Minister of State, said on Monday that the works concerning the debenture bond issue to the U.S. were underway but they have still not taken a final decision on whether or not there would be such a debenture bond issue.Speaking to reporters following his meeting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation headed by Carlo Cottarelli, the Chief of IMF's Turkey Desk, State Minister Onal gave information about the debenture bond issue guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury, and the earthquake debenture bond. Noting that the initiatives for both issues continue, Onal said, ''the works concerning the debenture bond issue to the U.S. are underway but we have still not taken a final decision on whether or not there would be such a debenture bond issue.'' Responding to a question about the revision in the economic targets for the year 2000, the State Minister said, ''I have indirectly stated that we have to talk about a revision in the targets for 2000. However, even if the earthquake programme is included in the budget, it will be implemented as a separate programme. With the help of the supplementary budget, the economic targets will be revised.'' [08] CONTACTS OF IMF DELEGATIONANKARA, Sept 13 (A.A) - Recep Onal, the Minister of State, said on Monday that there was a need for concrete figures about the earthquake disaster to determine the dimensions of the the total aid that would be obtained from international organizations.Onal stated that the figures for the physical damages caused by the quake and the records like the production and taxes in the region were important for international organizations, countries and the aid that would be received. Noting that the talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation headed by Carlo Cottarelli, the Chief of IMF's Turkey Desk, mostly focused on the earthquake, Onal said that the stand-by issue would be discussed at the meetings in the U.S. and in Turkey in October. Pointing out that there were three stages at their talks; the first stage was the general service programme, the second one was the borrowing programme and the third stage was the earthquake programme, the State Minister said as the Ministry, they were interested in the issue of earthquake financing. ''The talks gave us hope that we can provide this financing in the shortest time with most appropriate conditions,'' he said. Responding to a question about the IMF aid, Onal said the IMF loan had a very low cost price and had a maturity of 15 years. State Minister Recep Onal stated that a letter of intent concerning the emergency IMF aid was ready to be sent. Onal stressed that the government would need a supplementary budget to cope with the economic burden of the quake. Recep Onal said that the revision in the economy, which would constitute a basis for a stand-by with the IMF, would be made in October. Responding to a question about the earthquake damage, Onal said, ''when we calculate the economic losses, it is one of our basic production lands. If the production loss and the decrease in tax collection are added into the calculation, various results may be reached according to various assumptions.'' [09] EU COUNCIL'S DECISION REGARDING TURKEY: ''WE ARE RESOLVED TO HELP TURKEY''BRUSSELS, Sept 13 (A.A) - European Union (EU) Council, composed of foreign ministers of EU member countries, on Monday approved of a written final statement concerning Turkey in its monthly regular meeting.The statement which expressed the Council's deep sorrow over the quake disaster in Turkey and included condolence messages, noted that EU promised for cooperation and aid to lessen the sorrow of Turkish people. The Council ordered its executive organs to transfer the aid envisaged for Turkey rapidly. The Council said ''an important aid'' is being examined for reconstruction in the quake region, adding that this aid was planned as European Investment Bank credit and noted that also a big share will be given to Turkey from the Mediterranean Fund MEDA. The EU Council said the long term negative economic results of the quake disaster should be taken into consideration and pointed out that financial aid, which was foreseen for Turkey, should be released soon. The Council called on European Parliament to exhibit a constructive approach to this end. The statement expressed pleasure that Foreign Minister Ismail Cem accepted the invitation of the EU and will meet with the foreign ministers. The Council said Turkish-EU relations, and the aid of the EU for reconstruction following the quake, will be discussed during meeting with Cem. [10] AUSTRALIA'S AID TO VICTIMS OF QUAKEANKARA, Sept 13 (A.A) - Australia will provide two million Australian dollars additional assistance to help the victims of the devastating earthquake in Turkey, it was reported on Monday.The Australian Embassy in Ankara said the additional one million Australian dollars to the International Federation of the Red Cross and one million Australian dollars to the UNICEF will assist to address the many facets to the relief effort such as immediate needs for shelter, clothing, hygiene, water and sanitation, food, medical care, education, and community psycho- social support. Noting that all Australians are aware of the devastating effect of the earthquake, the statement said the Australian trade representatives in Turkey continue to search for the cooperation possibilities between the Turkish construction companies and the Australian prefabricated building suppliers with a view to the affected regions' long-term reconstruction needs. [11] FRENCH MINISTER MOSCOVICI: ''WE'RE WORKING ON TURKEY'S CANDIDACY PERSPECTIVE''BRUSSELS, Sept 13 (A.A) - Pierre Moscovici, the French State Minister responsible for European Union (EU) affairs, said on Monday that they were working on Turkey's candidacy perpective in Helsinki.Recalling that Foreign Minister Ismail Cem had been received by French President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Lionel Jospin in Paris, Moscovici said they wanted progress in sensitive issues. Noting that they hoped the new atmosphere between Turkey and Greece will ease the solution, Moscovici said, ''we feel the existence of a chance at the Helsinki Summit. Approach is positive.'' The French minister added that he hoped a solution would be reached during the three-month period till the Helsinki Summit. [12] UTKAN, TURKEY'S AMBASSADOR TO ROME: ''A NEW PAGE IS OPENED IN RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND ITALY. DINI'S VISIT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS AN INDICATION FOR THE RESUMPTION OF RELATIONS''ROME, Sept 13 (A.A) - Necati Utkan, Turkey's Ambassador to Rome, said on Monday that a new page would be opened in relations of Turkey and Italy. Utkan said, ''Dini's visit to Turkey is important because it is an indication for the resumption of relations.''Speaking to Italian private news agency Adnkronos, Utkan said they worked hard to rebuild positive relations of the past between the two countries, and defined the visit of Dini as a point of start for exchange of views and a close cooperation again on mutual interests. ''The first things people remember was Infernetto (the district where the head of the terrorist organization stayed in Rome) and Via Male (name of the street where the villa which the head of the terrorist organization stayed) when the name of Italy mentioned. Turkish people acted very sensitively because friendship relations with Italy were wounded. Yet, many things changed following the quake which shook Turkey. Turkish people will never forget the aid Italy sent.'' Mentioning about Turkey's application to be a candidate of European Union (EU), Utkan said, ''we should respect to several criteria. Turkish government exerts efforts to reach the best standarts on human rights issue. EU will see these changes and recognize Turkey's candidacy status.'' [13] SPEECH OF FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN EU COUNCIL - ''QUESTIONING TURKEY'S EUROPEANISM IS AMAZING''BRUSSELS, Sept 13 (A.A) - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem who participated in a luncheon given by the European Union (EU) Council upon an invitation, met with the foreign ministers of 15 countries which are members of the EU.Addressing the luncheon, Cem said it was amazing to question Europeanness of Turkey. Cem started his speech by thanking to the moral and material support of the EU countries after the earthquake which hit Turkey and he briefed about the quake. Cem said, ''because of the quake, we should review some of the economic plans we have made for next year. I have confidence that European Investment Bank will have a considerable contribution to our efforts to heal the wounds of the quake.'' Noting that economic infrastructure did not receive a serious damage from the quake which shook an important industry region, Cem said the factories may return to their normal capacity in a short period of time. ''Nevertheless, an important reconstruction duty waits for us in the coming term,'' Cem pointed out. Cem took up Turkish-EU relations ''within its histocial depth'' and noted that ''as the country and people, we are in a position where the civilizations intersect.'' Briefing about Turkey's historical links with Europe, Cem said ''it is interesting that the leaders who founded the Republic of Turkey were inspired by the systems of the Western countries while forming a democratic community and a secular republic although they fought against the Western occupation forces in the battle field. This situation gives an evidence to our pragmatic aspects as well as our ability to overcome past problems of Turkey and to create a new future.'' ''We regard ourselves both European and Asian, and we evaluate this pluralism as richness,'' Cem said, pointing out that ''to this end, we are amazed when European dimension of our identity is questioned.'' Cem said, ''if being European is a historical and geographical definition, I want to say that we experienced 700 years of our history in Europe and as a European state and that we still continue this. If being European is based on a definition due to culture, the scene becomes more complicated. Yet, if being European is based on a religious criterion, then, the existing model can not be appropriate. However, if European Culture is defined with elements like democracy, human rights, legal state, equality of men and women, and secularism, as the EU did, then this will mean we share contemporary European Culture for 75 years and contribute to it although we need some more advancement in some points.'' Pointing out that terrorism wave was the main source of the difficulties which Turkey had been exposed while improving some aspects of democracy, Cem said, ''the more we are saved from the limitations of terrorism, the more speed of democratic reforms will gain momentum. We are in a process to overcome terrorism.'' Briefing about the legal reforms in Turkey, Cem stressed that misunderstandings stemmed from difference of perceptions. Foreign Minister Cem stated that ''as efforts were under way to analyze and understand the social aspects of Turkey, the usage of criteria based on race as a means of basic examination, cause wrong assumptions.'' Cem noted that the ethnical roots of citizens in Turkey were not regarded as a determining element. [14] SPEECH OF FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN EU COUNCIL - THREE PROPOSALS FROM CEM TO EU: - ''LET US REFRAIN FROM CONFLICTED ATTITUDE, AND WORK TOGETHER'' - ''PUT AN END TO DISCRIMINATION'' - ''OFFICIALLY DECLARE TURKEY'S CANDIDACY''BRUSSELS, Sept 13 (A.A) - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem who participated in a luncheon given by the European Union (EU) Council upon an invitation, met with the foreign ministers of 15 countries which are members of the EU and evaluated latest position of Turkish-EU relations.Addressing the luncheon, Cem recalled that Turkey was in a partnership relation with the EU since 1963, and stressed that Turkey integrated with the economic dimension of EU. Cem said this position required initiation of the process which will provide Turkey to be a side to the political dimension of the EU. Mentioning about the contributions which the EU may provide to Turkey and Turkey may provide to the EU, Cem said he wanted to make three proposals: ''In order to improve our relations, we should reciprocally refrain from the conflicted attitude which appears occasionally. The problems can be solved more effectively when the concerns and sensitivities of the other side is taken into consideration in general. I believe that we will create a more beneficial and productive understanding for Turkey, the EU and Europe when we work together. Western Europe, through a long term of its history, regarded Turkey as 'the other'.'' Stating that the indications showing that this unfortunate discrimination will be left behind, increase, Cem added that ''further improvement of this positive tendency should be a joint responsibility.'' Foreign Minister Cem noted that he expected a ''just and open decision'' during the summit meeting that will be held in Helsinki in December, and pointed out that he believed that Turkey should officially be declared as a candidate. ''Resolution of the EU dated December 1997 regarding the expansion, caused a rightful reaction in Turkish public. It was hard to understand the discriminative evaluation between Turkey and other 10 countries and Greek Cypriot side. A limited development and more positive understanding revealed in the summits which followed that one. An appropriate psychological atmosphere prevails in the relations between Turkey and the EU, and we must take the advantage of this,'' Cem said. Foreign Minister Cem said that Turkey will start a preparation process after declaration of its candidacy officially, and will abide by the Copenhagen criteria, adding that ''I believe that there is a brilliant future for Europe and that Turkey will contribute to this future.'' [15] TURKISH-EU RELATIONS - TURKISH-EU JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION TURKISH FLANK AND EP FLANK TO MEET ON THURSDAYANKARA, Sept 13 (A.A) - Turkish-European Union (EU) Joint Parliamentary Commission Turkish Flank Chairmanship Council and European Parliament (EP) Chairmanship Council will convene on September 16 in Strasbourg.Kursat Eser, Co-Chairman of Turkish-EU JPC, who will lead Turkish Flank during the meeting, issued a written statement and stressed that the talks which will take place before the scheduled meeting of the Union in Helsinki were very important as Turkish-EU relations were going through a sensitive period. Eser said the agenda of 45th Turkish-EU JPC meeting which will take place in Brussels in November, will be determined during the meetings, adding that this meeting would be the first official contact of the new legislation periods of the two Parliaments. Kursat Eser pointed out that they will contact with the chairmen of several political groups and commissions in European Parliament during a scheduled visit they will pay to Strasbourg between September 14 and 16. [16] NOMINATION OF AKUT TO NOBEL PRIZE - PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''OUR FRIENDS DESERVE EVERY KIND OF AWARD''ANKARA, Sept 13 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Monday that the Search and Rescue Association (AKUT) and other rescue teams fulfilled a very important humanitarian assignment, adding that ''they deserve every kind of award.''When recalled the discussions regarding nomination of AKUT to Nobel Prize, Ecevit said, ''our friends deserve every award. Of course, a base inspection must be done related with the Nobel prize. I have the tendency that rescue teams, mainly AKUT, fulfil a humanitarian assignment.'' When a journalist recalled the views that relations will be negatively effected due to the nomination of AKUT and a rescue team from Greece to Nobel Prize, Ecevit said, ''I think it is not true to say anything before a base is prepared. Yet, as I said, they deserve every kind of award.'' [17] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RECEIVES AHMED KHAN PAKISTANI FOREIGN MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARYANKARA, Sept 13 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel received on Monday Shemshad Ahmed Khan, the Undersecretary of the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, and the accompanying delegation.President Demirel stated that Pakistan has been sending aid to Turkey since the massive earthquake in the Marmara Region and expressed gratitude over Pakistan's aid. Recalling that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had come to Turkey and made observations in the quake regions, the President said, ''our relations with Pakistan are very special. The aid sent by Pakistan in this situation is an example to the relations.'' Stressing that the disaster had not finished yet, President Demirel said, ''a short while ago, another strong quake happened. I hope there are no casualties.'' Guest Undersecretary Ahmed Khan expressed sorrow over the losses in the quake on behalf of Pakistani people. Later, Ahmed Khan submitted a ten million U.S. dollars aid cheque to President Suleyman Demirel on behalf of the Pakistani government and people. The meeting, which was also attended by Korkmaz Haktanir, the Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, and Karamatullah Khan Ghori, the Pakistani Ambassador to Ankara, was later closed to press. [18] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RECEIVES NIGERIAN DELEGATIONANKARA, Sept 13 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel received the Nigerian delegation headed by Pogu Bitrus, the Special Representative of the Nigerian President, on Monday.Demirel said that the relations between Turkey and Nigeria gradually improve and that Turkey follows the democratization process of Nigeria. Informing the delegation about the Marmara quake, Demirel noted that the disaster was not still over and that some tremors also shook the zone today. Emphasizing that the pains will be eased by the aid of the friendly countries, Demirel thanked Nigeria for her aid to Turkey. Bitrus said that they felt great sorrow over the quake and that the relations between the two countries are improving. Bitrus submitted the cheque worth of 100,000 U.S. dollars and the letter of the Nigerian President to Demirel. [19] JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE OF CEM AND HALLONENBRUSSELS, Sept 13 (A.A) - Tarja Hallonen, Foreign Minister of Finland, and the term President of European Union (EU), said on Monday that they were aware of the importance of including Turkey within the structure of Europe.Foreign Minister Ismail Cem who participated in a luncheon given by the European Union (EU) Council upon an invitation, met with the foreign ministers of 15 countries which are members of the EU. Cem staged a joint news conference together with Tarja Halonen, Foreign Minister of Finland, and Hans van den Broek, EU Commission's Foreign Relations member. Hallonen who first addressed the news conference, defined meeting between Cem and the Council as ''very positive, beneficial, and fruitful.'' Hallonen said news reports related with another quake came when we were talking about aid that will be sent to Turkey due to the massive earthquake and reflected concerns and sorrows of EU. Hallonen said all elements of the Turkish-EU file were discussed in her meeting with Cem and noted that importance of relations between Turkey and EU were openly stressed. Finnish Minister said the EU will take all required decisions to lessen the sorrows of Turkish people because of the quake, and noted that they were conscious of the importance of including Turkey within the structure of Europe. Hallonen said democratic-legal reforms in Turkey encouraged the EU. Addressing the news conference Foreign Minister Ismail Cem thanked for the moral and material contributions of EU member countries and their peoples. Pointing out that he carefully listened to the views, proposals, and criticisms of the EU ministers and regarded them as beneficial contributions, Cem said there were several differences of mentality and perception. Cem said he invited the EU ministers to a luncheon in Istanbul during Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Summit that will take place in November. Responding to the questions of reporters, Cem said positive developments were recorded in relations with Greece, yet noted that Greece did not lift its vetoes in the EU. He stressed that humanitarian aid and economic commitments should not be confused. Cem said it was wrong to think that nothing is on the right path in Turkey, adding that there were several delays in solution of some difficulties. Cem said terrorism has an important share in these delays, and noted that Turkey was overcoming this problem now. When asked if ''the political dialogue between Turkey and EU resumed'', Cem said ''he preferred cooperation approach to conflicts.'' Hallonen in her part said he visited Ankara after the massive earthquake, met with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and got information about the reforms. She said Ankara Government promised that the reforms will continue and that they will deepen dialogue with Turkey and that the atmosphere and their point of view was very positive. Cem later left the Council to stage a news conference for Turkish journalists. A.A Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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