Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-09-09

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

09 SEPTEMBER 2000 Saturday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] UNITED NATIONS MILLENIUM DECLARATION

[03] UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM SUMMIT -PRESIDENT SEZER MEETS WITH HIS CROATIAN, LITHUANIAN, AZERBAIJANI AND MOLDOVAN COUNTERPARTS

[04] ''SENTRAZBAT-2000'' TRAINING EXERCISE TO STARY ON SUNDAY

[05] TOBB SENDS LETTER TO BELGIUM ABOUT FEHRIYE ERDAL

[06] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC DUE TO NEW YORK

[07] UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM SUMMIT -ILDEM INFORMS JOURNALISTS ON PRESIDENT SEZER'S BILATERAL CONTACTS

[08] ACCIDENT CLAIMS TWO LIVES IN BLUE STREAM PROJECT

[09] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE STABILITY PACT PARLIAMENTARIANS' SUMMIT

[10] MILD EARTHQUAKE JOLTS SAVASTEPE

[11] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AKBULUT DUE TO CROATIA

[12] NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU IN PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

[13] HAPPINESS IN FAMILY HOME

[14] BRITISH SUPPORT TO RECONSTRUCTION OF YALOVA

[15] ANADOLU AGENCY WINS TWO AWARDS

[16] SPORTS-ROWING -26TH BALKANS YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS IN GREECE

[17] INTERNATIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE IN TRNC ENDS

[18] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS LEAVES FOR U.S.

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

PRESIDENT SEZER TO RETURN TO TURKEY ON SUNDAY
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer met with President Rexhep Meidani of Albania, President Alia Izetbegovic of Bosnia-Herzegovina, President Stipe Mesic of Croatia, President Valdas Adamkus of Lithuania, President Haydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan, and President Petru Lucinschi of Moldova within framework of the United Nations Millennium Summit. President Sezer who wrapped up his bilateral contacts in New York, will leave Turkey later today. He is expected to arrive in Turkey on Sunday.

AUSTRIAN AIRLINES PLANE MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING AT ATATURK AIRPORT
An Austrian Airlines plane which was flying from Ankara to Vienna made an emergency landing at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul after a three-year-old girl aboard the plane suddenly felt ill. Three-year old girl Sara Hakim Ibrahim had a sudden chest pain shortly after the plane had taken off from Ankara, and the palne made an emergency landing at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul. Doctors at the Airport examined the little girl who is a cardiac patient suffering from heart murmur, and gave her oxygen. The little girl was later taken to the Bakirkoy State Hospital.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

TURKISH FOLK DANCE GROUP WITHDRAWS APPLICATION TO BELGIUM FOR VISA
Izzet Israel Biton, the organizer of the visit of a Turkish folk dance group to Belgium, said that they withdrew their visa application from the Belgian Consulate. It was claimed that Belgium did not give visa to Turkish Folk Dance Group as it believed the fold dance group members would abduct Fehriye Erdal, a member of the illegal Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) and one of suspects of assasination of businessman Ozdemir Sabanci in 1996.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

IT IS CONNECTED TO SUSURLUK
The investigations launched by the Interior Ministry inspectors about the Uzi weapons that had been lost in Batman revealed that two gangs, the Sweets and the Tarzans which are at loggerheads in southern Adana province were in connection with the Susurluk scandal. In the large-scale operation launched by security forces in Istanbul, Mersin and Adana, three Uzi weapons were found in a Mercedes car in Mersin. One Uzi weapon had been found in the Mercedes which crashed a lorry in Susurluk, revealing secret relations among the police, mafia and politicians. It was revealed that the Mercedes confiscated in Mersin was the car which was sold two years ago by Ibrahim Sahin, the former Acting Chairman of Special Force Department, and a suspect of the Susurluk case.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

SUSPECTS OF UMUT CASE REMAINED SILENT
Suspects Ferhan Ozmen and Necdet Yuksel remianed silent again during yesterday's trial of 17 suspects who were captured during the ''Umut'' (Hope) operation which was launched to find murderers of journalist-writer Ugur Mumcu, and later covered 22 incidents including assasinations of Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taner Kislali, Prof. Muammer Aksoy and Dr. Bahriye Ucok, at the Ankara State Security Court (DGM) no: 2. The court delegation decided to send suspects Yuksel and Ozmen who requested to receive medical treatment due to their psychological illnesses, to a hospital in central Eskisehir province to determine whether or not they were psychologically normal.

YEN� B�NYIL (LIBERAL)

OECD ISTANBUL CENTER OPENED
Istanbul Center of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) was opened. Addressing the opening ceremony, State Minister Abdulhaluk Mehmet Cay said that Istanbul Private Sector Development Center which has been active since 1994, would be more productive at its new and better equipped building. Cay noted that OECD, Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) and the German government's Techical Aid Association (GZT) would jointly run the activities at this center. He also said that the partners signed a 5-year agreement. Cay, OECD Secretary General Donald Johnston, Istanbul Governor Erol Cakir, and Istanbul Stock Market Exchange (IMKB) Chairman Osman Birsen attended the opening.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

COTTARELLI CAUSES TROUBLE IN ANKARA
Business circles and politicians behaved coldly towards IMF's Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli's new demands including especially abolition of tax return. When Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said that he was busy, Cottarelli met with Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz.

EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS BALIKESIR
An earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale rocked Bal�kesir province in the Marmara Region at 08:47 a.m. yesterday. Some buildings suffered damage in the earthquake.

PRESIDENT RECEIVES SEVERAL INVITATIONS
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer continued to hold bilateral contacts within framework of the U.N. Millennium Summit. President Sezer received invitations from most of his counterparts he met with.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

AGCA'S RELEASE FROM PRISON REJECTED
Trial of Mehmet Ali Agca who was extradited to Turkey by Italy, on charges of three different extortion with the request of imprisonment terma from 45 years up to 60 years continued yesterday. The Court adjourned the hearing, and rejected his lawyer's request for his release from prison.

TALABANI: ''LET'S SHARE KIRKUK''
The weekly Turkish magazine ''Aksiyon'' reported that Jalal Talabani, the leader of the Patriotic Union for Kurdistan (KDP) one of the Kurdish groups in Northern Iraq, had proposed Turkey to share Kirkuk. The magazine said that Talabani was trying to get closer to Turkey while the Turkish officials had only listened to Talabani's offer.

[02] UNITED NATIONS MILLENIUM DECLARATION

The declaration was signed by 155 presidents and nearly 30 kings crown princes and prime ministers.

The declaration said, ''we, heads of state and government, have gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 6 to 8 September 2000, at the dawn of a new millennium, to reaffirm our faith in the organization and its charter as indispensible foundations of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world. We recognize that, in addition to our separate responsibilities to our individual societies, we have a collective responsibility to uphold the principles of human dignity, equality and equity at the global level. As leaders, we have a duty, therefore, to all the world's people, especially the most vulnerable and, in particular, the children of the world, to whom the future belongs. We reaffirm our commitment to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, which have proved timeless and universal. Indeed, their relevance and capacity to inspire have increased, as nations and peoples have become increasingly interconnected and interdependent. We consider certain fundamental values to be essential to international relations in the 21st century. These include freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature, shared responsibility.''

In the ''Peace, Security and Disarmament'' part of the declaration it was said,

-''We will spare no effort to free our peoples from the scourge of war, whether within or between states, which has claimed more than five million lives in the past devade. We will also seek to eliminate the dangers posed by weapons of mass destruction.''

-''We resolve therefore:

-to strengthen respect for the rule of law,

-to make the United Nations more effective in maintaining peace and security,

-to strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations,

-to take concerted action against international terrorism,

-to redouble our efforts to implement our commitment to counter the world drug problem,

-to intensify our efforts to fight transnational crime in all its dimensions, including trafficking as well as smuggling in human beings and money laundering,

-to minimize the adverse effects of United Nations economic sanctions on innocent populations.''

The declaration gave place to measures to be taken for development and poverty eradication, and issues of protection of environment, human rights and democracy.

The declaration said, ''we will spare no effort to promote democracy and strengthen the rule of law, as well as respect for all internationally recognized human rights and freedoms including the right to development. We resolve, therefore:

-to fully respect and uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

-to strive for the full protection and promotion in all our countries of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights for all,

-to combat all forms of violence against women and to implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,

-to take measures to ensure respect for and protection of the human rights of migrants, migrant workers, and their families, to eliminate the increasing acts of racism and xenophobia in many societies,

-to ensure the freedom of the media to perform their essential role and the right of the public to have access to information.''

In the ''Strengthening the United Nations'' part of the declaration, it was said, ''we will spare no effort to make the United Nations a more effective instrument for pursuing all of these priorities: the fight for development for all the peoples of the world; the fight against poverty, ignorance and disease; the fight against injustice; the fight against violence, terror and crime; and the fight against the degradation and destruction of our common home. We resolve, therefore:

-to reaffirm the central position of the General Assembly as the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations and to enable it to play that role effectively,

-to intensify our efforts to achieve a comprehensive reform of the Security Council in all its aspects,

-to further strengthen the Economic and Social Council and the International Court of Justice

-to further strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and national parliaments,

-to give greater opportunities to the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and civil society in general to contribute to the realization of the organization's goals and programs.''

[03] UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM SUMMIT -PRESIDENT SEZER MEETS WITH HIS CROATIAN, LITHUANIAN, AZERBAIJANI AND MOLDOVAN COUNTERPARTS

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem was in attendance at the meetings.

[04] ''SENTRAZBAT-2000'' TRAINING EXERCISE TO STARY ON SUNDAY

The Central Asian Peace Battalion was formed by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Within scope of the multi-national military, the Turkish and U.S. Armies' paratroopers will stage an airborne exercise.

The military exercie will officially start on September 13.

In addition to Sentrazbat founders Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Mongolia and Russia, and NATO allies Turkey, the U.S. and Britain are participating in the military exercise.

France and Ukraine are participating as observers.

Sentrazbat-2000 targets to develop tactical, technical and working principles for the peace support and humanitarian aid operations.

[05] TOBB SENDS LETTER TO BELGIUM ABOUT FEHRIYE ERDAL

Miras sent a letter to Federation of Belgian National Chambers of Commerce and Trade Chairman Guido Peleman, saying that Belgian's indulgent attitude towards Erdal deeply upset the Turkish business circle.

Stressing that the commercial and economic relations between the two countries had been developed in a very pleasing way, Miras said that the TOBB had expended every effort within this framework.

Miras said that the indulgence displayed by Belgium towards Fehriye Erdal who had been actively involved in the group which killed Ozdemir Sabanci, a distinguished businessman of the Turkish private sector, was upsetting.

Miras said, ''such an indulgent treatment can't be shown to a terrorist who was involved in assasination of three innocent and estimable people. Such an attitude will serve terrorism.''

''Whatever its purpose is and whatever its kind is, terrorism will not be beneficial to any person or any circle. It is a fact that such an attitude displayed towards a terrorist will create negative effects on the relations between countries.

Dear Chairman, I am sure that you will understand the sensitivities of the Turkish business world, and express this to the relevant circles,'' Miras added.

[06] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC DUE TO NEW YORK

Addressing journalists at the Ercan Airport prior to his departure, President Denktas said, ''the proximity talks aim at preparing ground for meaningful negotiations. We explained our comprehensive opinions during the talks to accelerate the preparation process. Our proposals are based on opinions of experts. The Greek Cypriot side called us to the face-to-face talks. The proximity talks are being held because holding face-to-face talks is not possible at this point.''

''The Greek Cypriot side is continuing to deceive the world by using the false title of 'Cypriot government' which it usurped by the means of weapon. The Greek Cypriot side describes the Turkish Cypriots as a minority on the island, and Turkey as occupier. It is not meaningful to hold face-to- face talks with the Greek Cypriots because they do not intend to accept the facts,'' he emphasized.

President Denktas told reporters, ''we put everyting on the table because we want to reach a solution soon. But we saw the Greek Cypriots' goals in the newspapers. Their goals are clear. They simply want continuation of Republic of Cyprus, changing guarantorship system, withdrawal of Turkish soldiers from the island, deployment of a multi-national force on Cyprus, finalization of their plans by entering into the European Union (EU) as soon as possible, and removal of Turkey's all rights and authorities on Cyprus. We are existing on this island. We are one of the two equal founders of the Partnership Republic. The Greek Cypriots who destroyed this partnership by using forces, could not eradicate the Turkish Cypriots. A new state has emerged on the island. As two former partners and as two states, we have been living side by side for years. Turkey has broughtforth peace to the island. Let's set up friendship bridges between the two sides by using it.''

President Denktas stressed that they would continue to defend their rights at the fourth round of proximity talks.

He emphasized, ''the Greek Cypriots have been playing a game for 37 years, but they could not reach anywhere. An agreement based on the principle of two states should be reached. Guarantorship system should continue. Two former partners should live as neighbors. Dispute on the island should be solved with an exchange of properties. The issue of membership to the EU will be taken up after the dispute on the island is resolved and statutes are determined. There are people close to Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides. They want to implement the Acritas Plan. We are bringing comprehensive proposals and good intent to New York. We hope that the Greek Cypriots would make use of these.''

[07] UNITED NATIONS MILLENNIUM SUMMIT -ILDEM INFORMS JOURNALISTS ON PRESIDENT SEZER'S BILATERAL CONTACTS

Addressing the meeting, Ildem said, ''during President Sezer's meeting with his Croation counterpart Stipe Mesic, the issue of increasing cooperation between the two countries in the fields of health, social security, culture and tourism through bilateral visits was discussed. President Mesic thanked Turkey for its support to his country's participation in the Partnership for Peace Project within framework of the unification between Europe and Atlantic. President Mesic invited Sezer to Croatia, and Sezer accepted the invitation in principle. ''

''President Sezer referred to Turkey's candidacy to the European Union (EU) at his meeting with President Valdas Adamkus of Lithuania. President Sezer stressed that Turkey should take its deserved place in the EU. Noting that they wanted to cooperate with Turkey in the EU membership process, President Adamkus asked for Turkey's support in improving relations between Lithuania and NATO,'' he told reporters.

''President Sezer's visit to Azerbaijan between July 11-12 and the latest developments in Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project were taken up during his meeting with President Haydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan. President Sezer also came together with President Petru Lucinschi of Moldova. The meeting focused on bilateral relations, and President Lucinschi invited President Sezer to his country,'' he said.

When asked whether or not President Sezer held talks during the reception hosted by U.S. President Bill Clinton in honor of heads of state and government, Ildem said, President Sezer shook hands and had brief coversations with leaders.''

When asked how Cyprus question was brought onto agenda of meeting between President Sezer and U.S. President Clinton, Ildem told reporters, ''issues which I enumarated yesterday, was taken up in a balanced way in regard to timing. The Cyprus question was discussed within this framework. It is out of question to focus on a single issue.''

[08] ACCIDENT CLAIMS TWO LIVES IN BLUE STREAM PROJECT

Officials told the A.A correspondent that a pipe fell on workers Ali Keskin, 25, and Salim Sozeri, 28.

Keskin and Sozeri lost their lives in the accident.

A full investigation into accident is underway.

[09] SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE STABILITY PACT PARLIAMENTARIANS' SUMMIT

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Alpar said that the Stability Pact targeted at integration of southeast European countries with the European and Atlantic organizations and at peace, stability and economic development in the regional countries.

Alpar said that several projects in fields of politics, economy and human rights had been developed through the works carried out so far, and concrete continuation of those projects was on the agenda.

Noting that there were projects which would economically contribute to the region, Alpar said that the short, medium and long term projects were developed by the regional countries.

Pointing out that there were also projects aimed at political, economic and social development appropriate to the European Union (EU) norms, Alpar said that positive developments would occur in the regional countries with the implementation of the Stability Pact.

Recalling that a ''Zagreb Declaration'' was expected to be approved at the end of the summit, Alpar said that the Stability Pact was acting as a bridge to the regional countries' participation in the EU.

Stressing that the Stability Pact was an important initiative which was supported by the EU, the U.S. and the neighboring countries, Alpar said that also international organizations were supporting the Stability Pact.

Emphasizing that Turkey would make important contributions to the Pact, Alpar said that Turkish Eximbank would extend loans to the regional countries.

''Nobody doubts that the Stability pact will be successful. The Pact will make important contributions to confidence and stability in the region,'' he said.

Alpar added that an action plan would also be approved at the end of the summit, including recommendations for the spread of interparliamentary cooperation to every field.

[10] MILD EARTHQUAKE JOLTS SAVASTEPE

Officials at the Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory Seismology Institute told the A.A correspondent that the quake was centered on Savastepe.

[11] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AKBULUT DUE TO CROATIA

Parliament Speakers of Turkey, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland will be in attendance at the meeting.

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Canada, Lithuania, Latvia, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Britain will be represented at the deputy premiership or ministerial level.

Representatives of the European Parliament, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Mediterranean, the Council of Europe and the West European Union will also attend the meeting.

At the end of the summit, ''Zagreb Declaration'' will be issued.

The declaration will underline importance of the Stability Pact in integration of Southeast European countries with Europe-Atlantic world.

The declaration will also call for more stability both in the region and in the whole world.

It will stress that it would be beneficial to develop interparliamentary cooperation in order to implement the Stability Pact's tasks.

The summit will start on September 12 with a speech which will be delivered by Zlatko Tomcic, the Speaker of Croation Parliament.

Akbulut will address the summit on September 13.

He is expected to return to Turkey on September 14.

[12] NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU IN PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Cakmakoglu and accompanying delegation left for Beijing after visiting the prominent Underground Army Museum.

Cakmakoglu will be received by Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao.

He is expected to depart from Beijing late on Sunday.

[13] HAPPINESS IN FAMILY HOME

Within scope of the ''Exchange Program'' between Turkey and Greece in 1924, the Greeks living in Guzelyurt (Gelveri) emigrated to Greece while Turkish people living Greece emigrated to Gelveri and moved to the houses of those Greek people.

Greek people who emigrated to Greece from Anatolia where they had lived for centuries gave the name ''Nea Kalvari'' which means ''New Gelveri'' to the region they settled in Greece.

Those Greek people who couldn't find the opportunity to visit their family home for long years came to Gelveri as a result of the efforts of their children and grandchildren after 67 years.

This process which started ten years ago has continued up until today.

A 100-person group of people visited Gelveri this year, and the leader of this group Kaplandis A.I Osifidis said, ''all of us are very happy to be here.''

Noting that they grew up with the stories told us by their parents, Osifidis said, ''most of the people who left Gelveri are not alive. However, what they told us is still in our minds. We are very happy to find the opportunity to once again visit our family home.''

Stating that they would continue such visits every year, Ofisidis said, ''we make new friends in our every visit. We leave here with feelings which can't be explained. Those who come here are hosted at the houses where their parents or grandparents had lived. You can't know what that means. These are the moments that can't be explained.''

Stressing that they could express their feelings in Turkish language they were taught by their parents, Osifidis said that such visits would intensify the friendship between Turkey and Greece.

''Traditional Turkish hospitality is well-known in the world. We are treated with respect at the houses we are hosted. We are friends forever,'' he said.

[14] BRITISH SUPPORT TO RECONSTRUCTION OF YALOVA

The memorandum of understanding on Reconstruction Implementation Plan for Yalova was signed by Aydin and Nick Raynsford, the Biritish Minister of State for Public Works and Housing.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Aydin said that Britain showed great sensitivities to rehabilitation of the quake-stricken region, and prepared a master plan for Yalova within this framework.

Defining the master plan as a ''very beneficial work'', Aydin said that the master plan took every detail about reconstruction into consideration. ''I think that this master plan will undertake an important role in reconstruction of Yalova.''

Stressing that they would together expend efforts to implement the master plan which included waste water purification plant, rehabilitation of potable water system, regional hospital, regional university and tourism master plan, Aydin thanked the British companies which extended support to the master plan.

British Minister of State Raynsford said that they had decided to extend assistance for reconstruction of the region when they visited the region one year ago.

Raynsford said that an agreement had reached on February 10 within this framework, and the consortium which was set up with the help of the Britain Earthquake Consortium and contributions of the British companies operating in Turkey started working on a master plan for Yalova.

Raynsford said that latest technology was used in the master plan as Yalova was situated in quake zone.

Officials said that the estimated cost of the master plan would be 850 million U.S. dollars.

[15] ANADOLU AGENCY WINS TWO AWARDS

The Diyarbakir-based GGC announced the most successful journalists of the year on Saturday.

The award winner journalists are as follows:

News: Bulent Okutan (DHA)

Health News: Ismail Gezici (DHA)

Education News: Huseyin Kacar (SHA)

Interview: Gursel Eser (A.A)

Photograph: Sabit Cekin (A.A)

Page-Setting: Soz Newspaper (Diyarbakir)

Newspaper Printing: Olay Newspaper (Diyarbakir)

TV News Program: NTV's Bureau in Diyarbakir

TV Program: TRT GAP TV

TV News: Ferit Arslan (Channel D)

TV Image: Adnan Simsek (IHA)

The journalists will be presented their awards in a ceremony that will be held on September 30.

[16] SPORTS-ROWING -26TH BALKANS YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS IN GREECE

In men's 2,000-meter single sculls, Tufan Turanli left behind his Yugoslavian, Greek, Romanian, Bulgarian and Macedonia opponents.

Tufanli finished the course in 7 minutes 30 seconds.

In men's double sculls, Akin Saatci and Osman Evrensen on Turkey won silver medal.

The championships will end on Sunday.

[17] INTERNATIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE IN TRNC ENDS

At the closing session of the conference, the participants took up the issue of embargoes imposed on TRNC, and fully supported the Turkish Cypriots' struggle for freedom and recognition.

The participants also condemned the Greek Cypriot side's initiatives to prevent the conference.

Ikbal Sobhan Chowahury, a delegate from Bangladesh, said that there were affinities in Bangladeshi and Turkish Cypriot peoples' struggle for freedom.

Noting that she saw traces of genocides on the Turkish Cypriots, Chowahury said, ''the Greek Cypriot side threatened me saying if I go to the Northern Cyprus, I would never be allowed to enter Greece'. I came to the TRNC by taking the risk of not entering Greece once again. I will never hesitate to explain the Turkish Cypriots' rightfulness. I hope that the Turkish Cypriots would acquire their independence like Bangladeshi people.''

Pointing out that she was deeply impressed by President Rauf Denktas of the TRNC, Chowahury wished that the Green Line dividing Cyprus would be a finish line for an agreement in which the both sides will have equal rights.

Chowahury added that the embargo imposed on the TRNC was contrary to the human rights.

Slovka Jodanovik, a delegate from Macedonia, said that she was exposed to threats of the Greek Cypriot side and Greece when she had received invitation to conference.

Jodanovik said, ''I believe that I have took the right decision to come to the TRNC.''

Rama Gunasingam, the Secretary General of WAPC, thanked the Turkish Cypriot Press Council for the successful organization.

Gunasingam said that final statement of the conference was approved by 150 delegates from 22 countries.

The statement called on all press and media institutions to be more active in defending and developing human rights.

Next conference of the WAPC will be held in Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka in February 2001.

[18] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS LEAVES FOR U.S.

President Denktas and his entourage left for New York, the U.S., to attend the fourth round of proximity talks which will start on September 12.

Addressing journalists at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul prior to his departure, President Denktas said, ''the proximity talks aim at preparing ground for meaningful face-to-face negotiations. Confederation is the most appropriate and valid solution for Cyprus. The matter is how the partners that have separated from each other and administred themselves separetly for 37 years, can cooperate, and under which conditions these partners can be seen as a single Cyprus in the international arena. We are very sincere. It is our right to expect the same sincerity from the Greek Cypriot side. We want the Greek Cypriot side to announce the whole world that they are neither our government nor our state. We want them to prioritize the reconcilition instead of full membership to the European Union (EU). We want them to be realistic, to lift embargoes and to act friendly.''

''We do not sit at the negotiation table for tactical purposes. But we sit at the negotiation table sincerely and seriously for a reconciliation on the island,'' he said.

President Denktas told reporters, ''the Greek Cypriots should give up considering the Turkish Cypriots as minority. They should also understand that they are not the legal government of whole Cyprus. This is only way to start face-to-face talks.''

Tahsin Ertugruloglu, the TRNC Foreign Affairs and Defense Minister; Ergun Olgun, the Undersecretary of TRNC Presidency; Osman Ertug, the Undersecretary of TRNC Foreign Affairs and Defense Ministry; Prof. Dr. Mumtaz Soysal, the Adviser of President Denktas; Necati Munir Ertekun, the Special Adviser of TRNC Presidency for Political Affairs; and Mustafa Evran, the Director of Political Affairs, are accompanying President Denktas.

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