PRESIDENT SEZER'S INTEREST IN CENTRAL ASIA

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will travel to Uzbekistan next month. Mr. Sezer and Uzbekistan President Islam Kerimov had decided at the UN Millennium Summit to cooperate in the fight against fundamentalist terrorism and Mr. Kerimov had invited Mr. Sezer to Uzbekistan to improve the relations between the two countries. Mr. Sezer, who will also visit Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, will convey them Turkey's message that the Central Asian countries are not alone. Supporting Turkish Foreign Ministry's initiatives to create an institutional base in Turkey's relations with the Central Asian countries, Mr. Sezer will strengthen his friendship with the leaders of these countries. /Cumhuriyet/

CONFLICTING STATEMENTS OVER ARTICLE 312

The debate over amending Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) has been inflamed by the incident over former Welfare Party (RP) leader Necmettin Erbakan's impending prison sentence. The coalition leaders make opposing statements. Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said at a press conference in Yozgat that under current conditions in the country, Article 312 should not be amended because it is a safeguard for the national unity and indivisibility of the state. On the other hand, Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party leader Mesut Yilmaz said at a press conference in Manisa that in its current form Article 312 was an obstacle for freedom of thought and expression. An amendment should be made to rectify this. /Sabah-Turkish Daily News-Cumhuriyet/

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO DISCUSS TURKEY'S ROAD MAP TO THE EU

The coalition partners will discuss Turkey's road map to the EU concerning the abolishment of the death penalty, change in the 312th article of the Turkish Penal Code, civilianizing the National Security Council and other 52 radical decisions. The report, which has been prepared by the Human Rights Coordination High Council of the Prime Ministry in accordance with the Copenhagen criteria and defined as the road map for Turkey's entry to the EU, will be open to discussion in the meeting of the Council of Ministers on Thursday. The ministers will give information about their studies on the issues. /Sabah/

ECEVIT: "AEGEAN SEA SHOULD BE A BRIDGE OF PEACE"

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit opened the new recreation area, Kordon Sunset, Alsancak in Izmir. Mr. Ecevit said at the ceremony that the Aegean region has one of the most complex structures in the world with Turkey being so intimately surrounded by the Greek islands. Mr. Ecevit added that good relations have developed since last year's quake disasters and the existing problems could be solved through dialogue. Mr. Ecevit said that Turkey does not demand an inch of Greek land or territorial waters but only a fair arrangement in the region. Ecevit said, "Arming the Greek islands contrary to international agreements and the disagreements over the continental shelf and airspace are very delicate issues. We want to solve these problems through dialogue, but Greece has not responded to us. Turkey and Greece recently carried out joint military exercises and good relations between both countries' armed forces are developing. Under these circumstances refraining from negotiations is useless. I would like the Aegean Sea to be a bridge of peace between our countries. The only way to ensure peace is dialogue." /Turkish Daily News/

AKBULUT IN BULGARIA

The Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Yildirim Akbulut and a delegation left for Sofia for a two-day official visit. Today, Akbulut will meet the Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament Yordan Sokolov, Deputy President Todor Kavalciyev, Premier Ivan Kostov, Foreign Minister Nadejda Mihaylova and Chairman of the Parliament's Foreign Affairs and Integration Commission, Asen Agov. /Turkiye/

NEW LEGISLATION YEAR BEGINS ON OCT.1

The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) will begin its new legislation year on Sunday Oct. 1st after a three month-recession. The TGNA will elect its new Speaker. Yildirim Akbulut, Hikmet Sami Turk, Kamer Genc and Sabahattin Cakmakoglu are among the candidates to become the TGNA Speaker. /Turkiye/

PAPANDREOU'S STATEMENT ON CYPRUS

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou stated that the Cyprus issue which had a significant place in bilateral relations between Turkey and Greece could damage the relations in case of a possible disagreement. Mr. Papandreou said, "The Cyprus issue does affect the relations between the two countries. We expect the Turkish side to take further steps in the proximity talks." Asserting that the United Nations Secretary- General Kofi Annan's statement emphasizing that the Turkish- and Greek-Cypriots were the political equal of the other was a `method of negotiation', Mr. Papandreou said, "Annan's statement does not mean that the UN's policy over Cyprus has changed. However, it is true that the statement has given the opportunity to some circles to interpret it as they like." He also stated that Turkey and Greece had agreed upon preparing a package concerning certain measures to increase the confidence between the two countries and discussing the package within the framework of NATO. /Cumhuriyet/

UNDERSECRETARY OF FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY IN TURKEY

The Undersecretary of French Foreign Ministry and EU Term President, Loic Hennekinne, arrived in Turkey at the weekend to pay an official visit. Starting his contacts today, Mr. Hennekinne will convey his views on the reforms that Turkey should pursue to be a full EU member to the Turkish officials. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH PATENT INSTITUTE TO BE A PARTY TO EUROPEAN PATENT ACCORD

The Turkish Patent Institute is preparing to be a party to the European Patent Accord, signed by the countries which are full EU member. By signing the accord which aims at establishing a common patent law among the European countries, Turkey will take an important step on its path towards the full EU membership and achieving harmonization with the European economy. Turkey will be represented in the executive board in which the decisions related to the European Patent Accord are made. Turkey's membership will start on Oct. 1. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY IS WORLD'S 18TH LARGEST ECONOMY

Turkey has the 18th largest economy in the world, with a $394.1 billion gross national product (GNP) calculated in purchasing power parity, according to the World Bank's new report 'World Development Indicators 2000'. Economists forecast that Turkey will soon achieve a higher position due to this year's estimated growth rate of five to six percent. Currently, Turkey ranks below Indonesia, Australia and Argentina, but above South Africa, Thailand, Iran and Poland in the list of the world's largest economies. /Sabah/

NATO MANOEUVRES IN GIBRALTAR

The TAPON-2000 Naval Manoeuvres organized by the Spanish Commander of the Fleet will start in the Strait of Gibraltar with the participation of the NATO forces. Turkey will also take part in the manoeuvres. /Cumhuriyet/

BLACK SEA JOINT-2000 MANOEUVRES BEGIN

The Black Sea Joint-2000 Manoeuvres, one of the planned manoeuvres of the Turkish Naval Forces, is going to begin today. It will be carried out on Sep. 18-22 under the command of Rear Admiral Murat Bilgel. Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia and Ukranie are also participating in the manoeuvres, while Azerbaijan is attending as an observer. /Turkiye/

HELICOPTER BIDDING BEGINS

The first official meeting to choose the licence holder company for the production of 145 tactic attack helicopters to meet the need of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will begin today. The first meeting will be held with the American Bell Textron Company in Ankara today. The meeting will be attended by the fore-mentioned company and the Defence Industry Undersecretariat and the Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI) officials. /Aksam/

TURKISH WINE IN MEMORY OF JESUS CHRIST

The More and More Company produced a special wine from the grapes in the sacred regions in Anatolia on the occasion of the 2000th anniversary of the birthday of Jesus Christ. More and More Company's Customer Director, Sebnem Yilmaz, stated that they had signed an agreement with Kavaklidere Wine Factory and that they had produced 140,000 bottles of red wine on which the pictures of Jesus Christ were printed. Yilmaz added that this special wine called 'Canawedding' will be presented to Pope 2nd Jean Paul, who will visit Turkey in December. /Aksam/

TURKISH CREATIONS TO BE EXHIBITED IN PARIS

Turkish creations will be exhibited in Paris, London and New York within the framework of the promotion program prepared by the Istanbul Ready-to-Wear and Textile Exporters' Association and the Istanbul Textile Raw Materials Exporters' Association. Atil Kutoglu will display a fashion show in New York on 21 September, Huseyin Caglayan on 27 September in London and Dice Kayek and Ece Ege on 10 October in Paris. During these fashion shows, two photograph exhibitions called 'Istanbul Through the Eyes of Huseyin Caglayan' and 'Istanbul Through the Eyes of Ece Ege' will be opened. /Aksam/

TURKISH DIRECTOR RECEIVES AWARD FROM GREECE

A film entitled 'Babami Hirsizlar Caldi' (Thieves Stole My Father), which was shot in Switzerland by the Turkish Director Esen Isik, became the first in the Film Festival that was organized in Drama, Greece. Isik, who has been living in Switzerland for 10 years, was given an award of 1 million Drahmis. This film also won an award in the Clermont-Ferrand Film Festival held in France last February. /Cumhuriyet/

GOLD MEDAL IN JUDO

On the second day of the 27th Olympics in Sydney, Turkey won her second gold medal in judo for the first time in her history. Huseyin Ozkan, a sportsman in judo, came first in the 66 kilo category, defeating his French rival Larbi Benboudroud in the final. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer sent a message and congratulated Ozkan. Turkey has won her first gold medal in weight-lifting with a world record of Halil Mutlu in the 56 kilo category. /Turkiye/

FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...

A TALE OF GENOCIDE BY SUKRU ELEKDAG (MILLIYET)

Retired Ambassador Sukru Elekdag writes on the genocide claims which the Armenian lobby has been carrying on for years. A summary of his column is as follows: "Famous American statesman and inventor Benjamin Franklin once said that generally historians do not write what has really happened but what they want to believe in. This is true in many cases. For example, during war years history has always served for the demands of the day. In fact, in the course of the First World War, Western States have used the incidents taking place during the deportation of Armenians from Anatolia as propaganda against the Ottoman Empire by distorting them. During the war years, France, Russia and even America led by Britain manipulated history or stood idly by while it was being manipulated against the Ottomans whom they regarded as their enemy. What is worse is that later they believed their own fabrications. The British who occupied Istanbul searched for evidence against the Turkish military and civilian officials they exiled to the island of Malta for 30 months but had to release them when they could not find anything of importance against them. On the other hand, Armenian officials were stressing the fact that they had fought in the ranks of the allied powers and were officially a party to the war so long as they kept the hope of establishing an Armenian State on the Ottoman territory as foreseen in the Treaty of Sevres. However, when the Treaty of Sevres was abrogated they held on to the Armenian Genocide as made up by the Western States. During the 10 years (1979-1989), I served as Ambassador in Washington the activities of the Armenian lobbly to pass a bill from the US Congress accusing Turkey of Armenian Genocide continued incessantly. As a result of these efforts and with the strong support of the Greek lobby, Armenians were able to bring a bill to the floor of the General Council of the House of Representatives. However, in both cases where heated discussions took place the bills were rejected. The rejection of these claims which are seen as undisputed facts by the Armenian lobby, their supporters and a majority of the Americans angered the Armenian circles. Not knowing what to do they wanted to declare the Turkish Ambassador as 'persona non grata'. Deputy Speaker Tony Coelho presented a draft law to the House of Representatives with the signature of 60 deputies with that purpose. This attempt failed. However, the interesting point is that, the incident which led President Wilson to declare Ottoman Ambassador Ahmet Rustem Bey as 'persona non grata' on 19 September 1914 was also concerned with the Armenian claims. In an article he sent to the 'Washington Star' Rustem Bey had replied that the American Press had defamated the Ottoman Empire with the groundless claims of oppression on the Armenians and other Christian subjects and that Washington had to learn how to treat the blacks humanely. Following Robert Kocharian's election as the President in 1998, it has been Armenia's primary aim to have the 'Armenian Genocide' accepted in international forums. The Armenian diaspora is being governed directly by the Armenian Government and Ambassadors. The first aim of Yerevan is to get a large amount in compensation from Turkey and then bring demands for territory. It should be known that if a bill is passed concerning the genocide in the US House of Representatives, decisions in the same vein will be accepted by the parliaments of all European Countries and our relations with the EU will be left under the influence of the Armenian question. Armenian economy which is in shambles and the country needs the air corridor for the humanitarian aid and foodstuff it imports from Turkey over Georgia and Iran. Therefore, as a first step the air corridor should be closed down. Yerevan's courage stems from the fact that Ankara would not defend its own national interests not to offend America. If we have a little self-respect we should prove that this is not the case."

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