Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-03-21

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

21 MARCH 1998

CONTENTS

[01] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM DUE IN GERMANY FOR KOSOVO

[02] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN EGYPT

[03] PANGALOS RESPONDS NEGATIVELY TO FM CEM'S INVITATION

[04] HELICOPTER PURCHASE

[05] DENKTAS-CORDOVEZ MEETING

[06] TURKISH-SYRIAN RELATIONS

[07] NEWROZ CELEBRATIONS

[08] WEU'S ''CRISEX-98'' MANEUVER

[01] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM DUE IN GERMANY FOR KOSOVO

The Contact Group which will covene for a second time to find a peaceful solution to Kosovo question will negotiate with the concerned countries to this end. Foreign Minister Cem's visit to Sweden, planned to take place on March 24, is postponed due to his visit to Germany.

A high ranking Foreign Ministry official, responding to A.A correspondent's question to this end, said the Contact Group wanted to get the views of the concerned countries and that FM Cem will participate in the meeting within this framework.

Cem earlier went to Belgrade to convey a written message of President Suleyman Demirel to Yugoslavian president Milosevich.

[02] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN EGYPT

Speaking before his departure Cem told reporters that he would negotiate on bilateral relations which have been enliven between Turkey and Egypt earlier.

Development of bilateral relations and regional questions will be taken up during Foreign Minister Cem's contacts in Egypt. The visit takes places within the framework of ''neigborhood initiative'' which he earlier started to provide peace and stability in the Middle East.

Cem is scheduled to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Foreign Minister Amr Mousa.

Cem is expected to return to Ankara on March 23 after concluding his contacts here.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Egptian Foreign Minister Amr Mousa and his wife paid a visit of coustesy to Cem.

[03] PANGALOS RESPONDS NEGATIVELY TO FM CEM'S INVITATION

Pangalos conveyed his response to Ali Tuygan, Turkey's Ambassador to Athens, in return for the five-Article proposal package prepared by Cem.

The response note of Pangalos said he rejected proposals of Cem and reiterated his demand to meet during Western European Union (WEU) Ministers meeting that will take place in Rhodos in May.

Greek press said Pangalos in his response note claimed that Turkey failed to assume a constructive attitude in bilateral relations and reiterated allegations that Turkey should go to the International Court of Justice in the Hague for the solution of bilateral questions.

Turkey on Feb 12 prepared and submitted a proposal package to Greece to solve bilatarel problems and Greek Foreign Minister Pangalos rejected these proposals on Feb 20.

Ankara responded to the note of Athens dated Feb 20 on March 11 and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem separately sent a letter and invited Pangalos to Ankara.

[04] HELICOPTER PURCHASE

Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ismet Sezgin, Defense Industry Undersecretary Yalcin Burcak, Italy's Ambassador to Ankara Massimiliano Bandini and Giuseppe Orsi, the representative of Agusta Company participated in the ceremony.

Addressing the signature ceremony Sezgin said Turkey should preserve its legal rights and interests on the seas and coasts. He said Coastguard Commandership was responsible for struggle against organized crime and smuggling, for controlling refugee traffick and urgent intervention to accidents in the sea.

Sezgin said with the five helicopters that will be purchased now, Coastguard Commandership will be able to control from air more effectively.

Italian Ambassador to Ankara Bandini said borders of the country should be protected against dangers and illegal immigration and that the helicopters, which Turkey purchased will contribute to this end.

[05] DENKTAS-CORDOVEZ MEETING

Speaking after the meeting Denktas said they held hundereds of meetings before adding that a new world could be created if an outcome could be reached after each meeting.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Greek Cypriot Leader Glafcos Clerides rejected Denktas' call to negotiate on the basis of two states.

Clerides said he would not accept the proposal conveyed by Diego Cordovez.

Cordovez said he informed Clerides about the proposal of Denktas for the UN Security Council to change the basis of negotiations and to hold the talks between two separate states. He said ''naturally Clerides rejected the proposal.''

Cordovez said his mission was within the assignment given to the UN Secretary General and linked with concrete resolutions adding that ''the side which wants to change the mission should apply to the UN Security Council.''

[06] TURKISH-SYRIAN RELATIONS

Studies are underway about the date of the visit. Policy change in government and in Foreign Ministry lies under the basis of new process initiated with Syria. Turkey included the goal to improve positive relations with neighboring countries. This is regarded as an important step in this ''new starting.''

Government sources pointed out that several changes took place in the policies of the ministry after Korkmaz Haktanir was appointed to Foreign Ministry Undersecretariat adding that ''there will not be policy with angriness, speaking is our art'' understanding prevailed in the new process.

Government sources said Israel should not feel uneasy over the developments in Turkish-Syrian relations.

Turkey speeded up initiatives to provide a lasting peace and security atmosphere in the Middle East especially after the calming down of the recent crisis between Iraq and the UN.

Foreign Ministry the Middle East Department General Director Aykut Cetirge went to Damascus and took first steps of a new start with Syria. During his meeting with Syrian deputy Foreign Minister, terrorism, water question, Turkish-Israeli relations and ''neighborhood forum'' initiative were taken up.

Ankara identified these contacts as a ''new start'' but added that this did not mean that problems between the two countries were solved.

[07] NEWROZ CELEBRATIONS

President Demirel issued a message and celebrated Newroz. In the message Demirel said Turkish nation formed a life style on the territory it has been living on with its radical and rich traditions, love for humanbeings and nature and with its tolarated and peaceful attitude.

Demirel said Newroz, which expressed hapiness and hope for future, was one of the most beautiful bairams of Turkish nation, celebrated by many societies in Central Asia, Caucasia and in the Middle East for long years.

Demirel said Newroz was a symbol of peace, tolarance and friendship which humanity was in need of.

''We should celebrate Newroz, which is a symbol of peace, friendship and harmonization between humanbeings and nature for thousands of years, within its own meaning and should not allow people who aim at distorting our peace giving Newroz other meanings'' Demirel said.

Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz also issued a message and said ''Newroz took its place in our cuture after being celebrated as a bairam symbolizing national unity and brotherhood.''

Yilmaz said ''I hope Newroz to warm the hearts of all citizens, be a strong tie of our national unity and integrity and want it to be celebrated as the symbol of the nation's inseparable unity.''

[08] WEU'S ''CRISEX-98'' MANEUVER

Foreign Ministry statement said the aim of CRISEX-98 was to ''test crisis administration methods and mechanisms of WEU, and to preserve WEU's crisis administration ability.''

Various European countries and countries who are full members and associate members of the WEU will participate in the meeting in question.

Turkey, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Britain, Spain, Sweden, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Portugual, Romania and Greece will participate in the meeting.

Foreign Ministry statement said Turkey, within the framework of the importance it attributed to WEU, actively participated in its activies.

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