RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER IN TURKEY

The Prime Minister of Russian Federation, Mikhail Kasyanov arrived in Ankara yesterday to pay an official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. During the meetings held yesterday, bilateral political and economic relations were discussed. Stressing that Turkey was Russia's traditional and important partner, Mr. Kasyanov said, "We accept Turkey as a partner rather than a rival." He added they attach great importance to the "Blue Stream Project" and they aimed to implement the first gas transport next fall. The Russian Premier was also received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Mr. Kasyanov is expected to travel to Samsun today and observe the construction of the pipeline under the Black Sea. /Turkiye/

ARMENIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE IN ANKARA

An "Armenian Research Institute" will be established in Ankara to fight worldwide allegations of the Armenian genocide. The institute will investigate Armenian culture and history in detail in order to respond to allegations by scientific researches. The Institute will open the Ottoman archives, often mentioned during recent discussions on the so-called Armenian genocide, to the public via the Internet. Retired Ambassador Omer Engin Lutem was named as the head of the Institute. Cooperating with the Avrasia Strategic Reserches Center, the Institute will initially consist of 10 expert academicians and retired diplomats. Trying to contribute to the education of academicians interested in the Armenian history, the Institute will provide those academicians with various scholarly opportunities. /Cumhuriyet/

DE SOTO IN CYPRUS

The UN Special Representative to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto began his contacts yesterday before the fifth round of the proximity talks begin in November. Mr. De Soto met first with Greek-Cypriot leader Glofkos Clerides and made no comment to the reporters after the meeting. He then met with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas. Mr. Denktas said if the Greek-Cypriot side retained its stance against UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's statement declaring Turkish-Cypriots and Greek-Cypriots as political equals, the TRNC would withdraw from the talks. Mr. Denktas also said, "The Greek-Cypriot side is continuing its arms build up. This will not be beneficial for anybody." /Cumhuriyet/

ISRAELI UNDERSECRETARY LIEL TO UPDATE TURKEY ON PEACE PROCESS

Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Alon Liel begins a two-day visit to Turkey today in a bid to convey Israel`s position over the latest developments in the region. Mr. Liel, who officially takes up his new post on Nov. 1, will be received by Foreign Minister Ismail Cem today. He will also meet Turkish diplomats, including Undersecretary Faruk Logolu, Deputy Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, Turkekul Kurttekin and Feridun Sinirlioglu tomorrow. Diplomatic sources say Liel's visit will focus on the latest developments in the Middle East Peace process. Mr. Liel 's visit was seen as an attempt to update Turkey's role in the peace process. /Turkish Daily News/

DENKTAS ACCUSES GREEK-CYPRIOTS

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas accused Greece and Greek-Cypriots yesterday of risking a dangerous escalation of tension after mock dogfights between Greek and Turkish warplanes near Cyprus. The events reflected a general strain in ties between Greece and Turkey, triggered by disputes over military maneuvres. Greece withdrew from the NATO exercise, Destined Glory 2000, after the Turkish Air Force forced its planes to abandon flights over two demilitarized Aegean islands. The Greek Cypriot media claimed yesterday that Greek-Cypriot anti-aircraft radar locked onto two Turkish F-16s Sunday, overflying a military air base near the western town of Paphos. "You can`t lock your radar onto Turkish planes, it means an act of war if you`re not careful.", said the TRNC President Denktas before his meeting with the UN Special Representative to Cyprus, Alvaro De Soto. /Cumhuriyet-Turkish Daily News/

CYPRUS AND AEGEAN BECOME NEW CONDITIONS FOR TURKEY'S FULL EU MEMBERSHIP

Greece ensured that Cyprus and problems regarding the Aegean Sea will be included in the Accession Partnership document for Turkey's full EU membership. If the document is accepted in its current form, Turkey will be obliged to solve the problems with Greece regarding Cyprus and the issues related to the Aegean in order to become a full EU member. It was stated that the related paragraph was included into the document after EU Commissar responsible for enlargement, Gunter Verheugen, visited Greece last week. Officials from the Turkish government said the new paragraph has to be in line with the Helsinki accord. An expression outside the accord's framework would mean imposing "new conditions" on Turkey, contradicting the equality principle with other candidate states. /Milliyet/

PAPANDREOU'S CALMING STATEMENT

Regarding the tensions in Cyprus and the Aegean Sea, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said the crisis would not affect rapprochement between Turkey and Greece. Mr. Papandreou said, "Greece will support Turkey's full EU membership against all odds. I believe the disputes between Turkey and Greece will be solved totally once Turkey becomes a full EU member. The differences in opinions arising from a military exercise cannot affect the rapprochement process between Turkey and Greece." /Sabah/

NEW SECULAR SCHOOLS IN CENTRAL ASIAN STATES

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's proposal for opening secular schools such as vocational schools and English teaching high schools in the Central Asian States was accepted by Kazakhi and Uzbeki presidents. Kazakhstan alloted three buildings for the Turkish schools. Education agreements will be signed first with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and later with other Central Asian states. State Minister Abdulhaluk Cay said the existing Turkish schools, sponsored by the supporters of Fethullah Gulen, must abide by the rules of the country. Apart from Uzbekistan, no other state has complained about these schools. /Hurriyet/

AIR FORCE COMMANDER TO GO TO DENMARK

The Commander of the Turkish Air Force, Air Chief Marshall Ergin Celasin will travel to Denmark to attend a European Air Forces Commanders (EURAC) conference. He is expected to return to Turkey on Thursday, Oct. 26. /Turkish Daily News/

FIRST RESULTS OF THE CENSUS

The first unofficial results of the census carried out in Turkey last Sunday have been announced. Accordingly, Turkey's population reached 65,800 million an increase of 3 million since 1997. The population numbers for Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir are 10,021 million, 4,018 million and 3,610 million respectively. The greatest change in population was seen in Kahramanmaras which recorded a 70% increase. /Hurriyet/

FAULTH LINE EXPLORATION IN MARMARA SEA

Following the French research ship, Le Suroit, an Italian ship "Odin Finder" will cary out research studies in the Sea of Marmara. Beginning Oct. 27, Italian experts and scientists from NATO, ITU, TUBITAK, MTA, and the University of Columbia start the joint research to examine effects on Istanbul of a possible earthquake occuring in the Sea. /Milliyet/

HOTBIRD 2000 SPECIAL PRIZE TO CHANNEL D

Turkish Channel D (Kanal D) received one of the most prominent broadcasting awards in the world. Channel D received the Hotbird 2000 Special Prize in Italy. The jury, which consisted of famous reporters and members of media, praised the success of the Channel D's programs. /Sabah/

PROJECT AWARD TO MEDIALAND

The Public Relations firm Medialand was granted "The most Successful Public Relations Work Award" in the environmental field for its project "The Rebirth of Coal" at the GWA (Golden World Award) Public Relations Project Competition held in Chicago. 166 projects from 25 countries entered the competition at the Millenium Congress organized by the worlds two greatest Public Relations Organizations, IPRA and TRSA. The president of the board of directors of Medialand, Erguder Tinova, took the award. /Aksam/

THE TOPKAPI TREASURY IMPRESSED AMERICA

The exhibition "Topkapi Treasury", celebrating 700th anniversary of founding of the Ottoman Empire, held in Fort Lauderdale USA drew great interest. In a review by "Miami Herald" newspaper it was pointed out that the Topkapy Palace is no less splendourus than palaces in Europe. The exhibition in the Fort Lauderdale Art Museum, with more than 200 works, will last until February 28, 2001. /Aksam/

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

FROM PEACE TO DISAGREEMENT? BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

Columnist Sami Kohen writes on the recent disagreements with Greece over the Aegean. A summary of his column is as follows: "When six Greek F-16 planes landed at Balikesir Airport six weeks ago, they were received by flowers and demonstrations of friendship. Following this event, a Greek unit landed on Turkish territory for the first time in 78 years at Doganbey Bay, near Izmir. Major Dimitris Dados who led the unit said that he felt at home in Turkey. This event taking place within NATO's Destined Glory manoeuvres carried the warm climate between Turkey and Greece, which prevailed for some time, to the military field. In fact, last month, mettings were held first by the Chiefs of the General Staff and then by the Defence Ministers of both countries. They issued a message saying the rapprochement between the two countries could be carried to this sensitive area. Thus, Turkish and Greek troops came together with this hope within the framework of the NATO manouevres. Not only were these hopes dashed in the midst of the maneouvres by the disagreement, but the withdrawal of the Greek troops also dealt a harsh blow to the steadily developing rapprochement. The disagreement stemmed from the intent of Greek planes to fly in the air corridors over the Limnos and Ikaria islands. Turkey believes these islands should have a demilitarized status in accordance with the Lausanne Treaty. Therefore, the air corridors around the islands should be left out of the manoeuvres. The entrance by Greek jets into this airspace led Turkish planes to intercept them. Ankara warned that such incidents could lead to unwanted consequences. Upon this warning, Greece requested NATO moneuvres be cancelled. When NATO refused this request, Greece unilaterally withdrew its planes and other forces just as the manoeuvres were concluding. If we leave the controversial technical point aside, the heart of the matter can be summarized thus: Greece has used this manoeuvre as an opportunity to have her position on islands' status, one of the Aegean issues accepted de facto. Ankara's harsh reply is aimed at preventing this, showing that Turkey will not allow a 'fait accompli'. Turkey believes that as long as various problems concerning the Aegean are not taken up in a dialogue, the status quo should be continued. Therefore, Turkish Foreign Ministry was sending a message 'Now that we have entered a process of rapprochement and friendship with Greece, we must find solutions to the problems in order to continue.' Foreign Minister Ismail Cem presented a 'security package' concerning the military issues in the Aegean. Athens did not respond. Indeed, if the spring climate between the two countries is not desired to end in dismay, disagreements should be discussed and analyzed through and through. Otherwise, the exaggerated friendship climate can suddenly become clouded. This nay provide an opportunity to listen to the discordant voices coming from Athens. Greece wants to use the European Union and the European Security and Defence Identity as aces so her views will be accepted. Such a policy could suddenly disrupt the confidence established between the two states in a year and a return to old tensions could be seen. All these efforts and hopes would have been in vain."

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