10 April 2001 , Copyright Turkish Daily News

• Van den Reeck: Belgium to continue trading with Turkey despite crisis
  • A trade mission from the Brussels comes to Turkey to contact Turkish companies, for both exports and imports. Numerous meetings take place at the Chamber of Commerce between representatives of Belgian and Turkish companies, and many new contacts are made
  • 'It is important to have our presence, not only when things go well but also when they don't go so well'
• Gurel asks American Turks to support Turkey's interests
  • State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel asks American Turks in Florida to give support to the Turkish cause in the US particularly to stop Armenian allegations
• Peres: Armenian allegations are meaningless
  • On the eve of his visit to Turkey, Israeli Foreign Minister Peres says Armenian allegations are 'meaningless' and there is no similarity between the Holocaust and Armenian incidents
• Cakmakoglu: We want to boost ties with Greece
  • Stressing that his ministry is placing special importance on relations with Greece, Cakmakoglu says they want to boost ties with their neighbor
• Czech Deputy Prime Minister to visit Turkey
  • Czech Deputy Prime Minister Jan Kavan visit Turkey between April 10 and 12
• Kazakhstan dismisses fears of Bosphorus tanker jams
  • 'This issue is a far-fetched one, and we are ready to cooperate and be responsible for respecting all safety and ecological norms'

Van den Reeck: Belgium to continue trading with Turkey despite crisis

• A trade mission from the Brussels comes to Turkey to contact Turkish companies, for both exports and imports. Numerous meetings take place at the Chamber of Commerce between representatives of Belgian and Turkish companies, and many new contacts are made
• 'It is important to have our presence, not only when things go well but also when they don't go so well'

Istanbul - Turkish Daily News

There was an important reception at the Belgian Consul General in Istanbul late last week. The reception had a double objective. Firstly, a trade mission from Brussels came to Turkey to contact Turkish companies, for both exports and imports. There were meetings at the Chamber of Commerce between representatives of Belgian and Turkish companies, and several new contacts were made.

Second, during the reception, the Belgian Consul General announced that a trade attache from Brussels would be added to the consulate general to take care of trade relations between Turkish companies and those from the Brussels and Valonia regions -- an attache for the Flanders region already exists. As a result, the whole of Belgian trade will be represented with these trade attaches.

There were 15 Belgian companies in the delegation from a number of sectors, ranging from those importing marble from the area between Bursa and Afyon to sectors of high technology. Belgian Consul General Marc van den Reeck commented to the Turkish Daily News that "this was a multisectoral mission."

Van den Reeck continued: "The delegation was accompanied by officials from Brussels and with the leaders of the delegation I called on the Chamber of Industry (ISO), the Chamber of Commerce (ITO) and the Economic Development Foundation (IKV) to attend the meeting."

Participants discussed about trade relations and the financial crisis. The Belgian Consul General said they wanted, with their presence and that of trade unions and other guests, to indicate that they have confidence in the economic trade potential that Turkey represents.

Van den Reeck then said: "The mission was not prepared in response to this crisis, but what is important is that we did not cancel the meeting and mission after the crisis. It is important to have our presence not only when things go well but also when they don't go so well."

Belgian Chamber of Representative chair in Istanbul

In parallel developments, Belgian Chamber of Representatives Chairman Herman de Croo arrived in Istanbul on March 31. He came to Istanbul to open the "Turkish-Belgian Days," to take place between March 31 and April 15. As part of the events marking the 75th anniversary of the "Turkish-Belgian Trade Foundation," and seeking to develop commercial and cultural relations between Turkey and Belgium, de Croo visited the "Glass in All Its Splendor -- The Adventure of Glass and Crystal in Valonia" exhibition at the Turkish-Islamic Art Museum, and attended the "Relations" exhibition at Bilgi University, a joint work by Belgian and Turkish artists.

De Croo then went to Sakarya, a city strongly impacted by the August 1999 earthquake, to lay the foundations of schools constructed by the Belgian state. He is due to visit Duzce, another earthquake-stricken region, on April 12, to demonstrate solidarity with the local people.

Gurel asks American Turks to support Turkey's interests

• State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel asks American Turks in Florida to give support to the Turkish cause in the US particularly to stop Armenian allegations

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel stated, upon his arrival from the American state of Florida, that he had useful meetings with U.S. authorities in the state of Florida to block Armenian initiatives for the so-called genocide.

In his statement at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul yesterday, Gurel said Turkey should improve its relations with American states as well. Stressing that Florida has a very important geographic location, Gurel said Turkey could bolster its trade ties with South America through Florida. Indicating that a Floridian trade delegation would come to Turkey soon, Gurel said he had very useful talks with the American authorities.

Gurel remarked that he had listened extensively to the problems of the Turks who are living in Florida and conveyed their messages to the concerned authorities.

"The Armenian allegations have been brought up not only at the federal level but at the state levels as well," said Gurel. "We told authorities in Florida that such initiatives could seriously harm bilateral relations between Turkey and the United States even before such a draft is on the agenda. In case of such an initiative, we told our American counterparts that they should contact us on the issue. I think we got positive results in this regard."

Gurel said he had long conversations with American Turks in Florida and added that he urged them to defend the interests of Turkey in the United States.

Peres: Armenian allegations are meaningless

• On the eve of his visit to Turkey, Israeli Foreign Minister Peres says Armenian allegations are 'meaningless' and there is no similarity between the Holocaust and Armenian incidents

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres who started his one-day official visit to Turkey today, has stressed that the Armenian allegations of genocide was meaningless. Supporting Turkey's thesis that history should be dealt with by historians over the Armenian issue, Peres said:"We reject attempts to create a similarity between the Holocaust and the Armenian allegations. Nothing similar to the Holocaust occurred. It is a tragedy what the Armenians went through but not a genocide."

In an exclusive interview to the Anatolia news agency, Peres said Israel should not determine a historical or philosophical position on the Armenian issue but added: "If we have to determine a position, it should be done with great care not to distort the historical realities."

Speaking from Tel-Aviv on the eve of his visit to Turkey, Peres praised Turkey's contributions to the peace process and characterized Turco-Israeli relations as "extremely good." Indicating that Turkey and Israel are in the same boat, Peres said he did not think Intifadah would negatively affect bilateral relations between Turkey and Israel.

'A new Middle East still possible'

Despite escalating tension in the region, Peres said a new Middle East was still possible by bolstering economic cooperation among regional countries. Stressing that even the hawkish Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has changed, Peres said the right wing Likud Party has revised their target of Great Israel and now accepted the need to reach a compromise with the Palestinians.

Peres claimed that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat made two mistakes recently and had prevented the advancement of peace talks. Remarking that Arafat did not accept former U.S. President Bill Clinton's proposal to take over than 96 percent of West Bank, Peres said Palestinians have missed a big opportunity. Peres argued that Arafat committed his second mistake by reinitiating the Intifadah.

Remarking that the security committee between Palestinians and Israelis have resumed coming together, Peres said he still hoped that talks would start again and the road to peace would be kept open.

Peres, today, will meet with his counterpart Ismail Cem and will then be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. He will also meet Economy Minister Kemal Dervis and former President Suleyman Demirel. Peres will leave Ankara late in the evening.

Cakmakoglu: We want to boost ties with Greece

• Stressing that his ministry is placing special importance on relations with Greece, Cakmakoglu says they want to boost ties with their neighbor

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Turkish Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said on Monday, parallel to the Foreign Ministry's efforts, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) also wanted to improve ties with Greece.

Cakmakoglu met with his Canadian counterpart Arthur Eggleton yesterday in Ankara and replied reporter's questions before the meeting.

He said he would discuss bilateral and regional issues including European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) with visiting minister.

Asked what he thought about the reports published in Greek media in recent days that International Monetary Fund (IMF) had asked Turkey to cut its military budget before giving financial aid, Cakmakoglu replied that he had known of no such of IMF demand.

Criticizing the news taking place in the Turkish media in recent days over Turco-Greek relations he said: "The press created a wrong image as the Greek side having first brought up the proposal. We offered a package of proposals having 17 articles to Greece one and half years ago envisaging the taking of significant steps to further ties, but we have not received any response so far. We have been able to reach an agreement on only one issue -- to notify each other about military exercises in the Aegean Sea well before an exercise starts in an effort to prevent the simultaneous practice of exercises -- within this time. But we have not received any other responses to any other proposals including the sweeping of land mines on the borders of the two countries."

Stressing that his ministry is placing special importance on relations with Greece, Cakmakoglu remarked: "We want to boost ties with our neighbor. Turkey places importance on Greece. To improve Turkish-Greek friendship is among our goals and it is also our desire to secure peace in the Aegean Sea. Even though it has not been provided to find solutions for essential issues so far, we are happy to continue dialogue between Greece and Turkey."

Czech Deputy Prime Minister to visit Turkey

• Czech Deputy Prime Minister Jan Kavan visit Turkey between April 10 and 12

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Jan Kavan will pay an official visit to Turkey between April 10 and 12.

According to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry, Kavan will be received by Parliamentary Speaker Omer Izgi, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli as well as Foreign Minister Ismail Cem during his stay in Ankara.

Kavan and his delegation will travel to Istanbul on April 12 after attending meetings in Ankara to come together with Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK) and Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (KEIK) officials there. The visiting minister will leave Turkey on the same day.

Kazakhstan dismisses fears of Bosphorus tanker jams

• 'This issue is a far-fetched one, and we are ready to cooperate and be responsible for respecting all safety and ecological norms'

Ankara - Turkish Daily News

Kazakhstan's foreign minister said on Monday that fears of tanker congestion in the Turkish Straits resulting from increased Kazakh oil exports were unfounded and safety standards would be respected.

The Bosphorus, crossed annually by some 50,000 vessels, of which 14 percent carry oil, will see more tanker traffic from the Russian port of Novorossiisk when oil is loaded from a new pipeline leading from Kazakhstan's giant Tengiz field.

"This issue is a far-fetched one, and we are ready to cooperate and be responsible for respecting all safety and ecological norms," Kazakh Foreign Minister Yerlan Idrisov said in a news briefing in the Kazakh capital.

"One cannot accept restrictions which have nothing to do with economics," Idrisov said.

The Turkish government voiced concerns last month that tankers carrying oil from the new Russian-Kazakh pipeline might delay and imperil passage of other vessels through the straits linking the Black Sea with the Mediterranean.

Novorossiisk, Russia's main Black Sea export outlet, is due to start filling tankers with Kazakh oil this summer.

Analysts say the multinational Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) will transport some 7-8 million tons (140,000-160,000 barrels per day) of oil through the pipeline this year.

The CPC will eventually transport 67 million tons a year (1.34 million bpd).

"The problem of cargo passage via the Bosphorus did not emerge simultaneously with the launch of CPC," Idrisov said. "Of course, we understand that safety issues must be respected, and there are international treaties addressing this issue."

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