CHRONOLOGY*
JANUARY 1 - DECEMBER 31, 1995
JANUARY:
5 Turkish Red Crescent supplied some 350.000 Chechens vvho had bcen displaced due to the rccent Russian attacks vvith 11 million tons of rclief equipment.
I I Rcgarding the efforts made by some ex-deputies to form a so-callcd parliament-in-cxilc, Turkish Forcign Ministry Spokesman Ferhat Ataman statcd that the efforts of the tcrrorist organization to form a parliamcnt abroad vvere targeting territorial integrity of Turkey adding that the necessary initiativcs vvere bcing launchcd vvhile urging the U.S. and European countrics not to allovv such efforts vvithin thcir territories.
13 Turkish Dcputy Prime Minister and Minister of Forcign Affairs
Murat Karayalçın said in Trabzon that Turkcy could not bc expectcd to turn a blind eye to thc dcvclopments taking place in Chechnya and she vvas rcady to accept refugces vvho had been ncgatively affected by the ongoing vvar in thcir country. Mr. Karayalçın also statcd that Turkey vvas supporting territorial integrity of its ncighbours.
14 Undcr thc Nuclear Sccurity Convcntion vvhich came into forcc right
aftcr bcing published in the Official Gazette, Turkey is to implcmcnt intcrnational principlcs on nuclear facilities, it is to be monitorcd and to attcnd intcrnational meetings for revision.
In a statement made by Turkish Forcign Ministry Spokesman Ferhat Ataman relating to the Greek governmcnt's decision to detain ex-deputy for Iskece Ahmed Faikoğlu, it vvas said that the Greek officials secmed to be intending to add a ncvv dimension to the suppression policy they had bcen pursuing rcgarding the Turkish minority in Westcm Thrace.
15 An agrecment on encouragement and protection of investmcnt betvveen Turkey and Türkmenistan vvas approved by the Turkish Council of Ministers.
17 Thc Interstate Council established to market Türkmen natural gas through Iran and Turkey held its third meeting in Ankara under the chairmanship of Türkmen Presidcnt Saparmurad Niyazov. At the meeting attended by Turkish, Russian, Türkmen, Kazakh and Iranian delegations Ukraine's admission to thc council vvas accepted. In his opening spcech Turkish Presidcnt Süleyman Demirci, pointing out that the vvork carried out by the Council vvas thc first example of collaboration in the field of energy, stated that the natural gas pipeline project vvould vvidely contribute to thc development of Eurasia. It vvas decided, dııring the meeting, to establish three enterprises to deal vvith produetion, marketing and financing of the natural gas project.
19 The Scminar on Racism and Anti-Scmitism vvas held under thc auspices of thc Council of Europc and Turkish Foreign Ministry in istanbul.
21 U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Bili Gilman, noting that Turkey's strategic importance in its region incrcased in the post-Cold VVar era, stated his confidence at the annual meeting of Turkish-American Council held in Washington, D.C., that issucs relating to Cyprus and to thc Balkans could not be settled vvithout Turkey's contribution. Meanvvhile, U.S. Assistant Sccretary of State for Europcan and Canadian Affairs Richard Holbrookc said that the U.S. administration, vievving Turkey as a port of Europe, supportcd her entry into the customs union vvith thc Europcan Union.
29 Thc treaty cstablishing thc World Trade Organization vvas ratified by Turkey.
31 Turkish Prcsidcnt Süleyman Demirel, in a speech hc madc at the reception held by his Indian countcrpart, Shankar Dayal Sharma, drevv attention to the emergence of nevv thrcats to intcrnational peace such as ethnic nationalism, xenophobia, racism, fundamentalism and terrorism.
Mr. Demirel also recevicd Indian Finance Minister Manmohan Singh during the official visit he vvas paying to India. Mr. Demirel urged a eloser cooperation and exchange of information betvvcen Turkey and India-tvvo countrics vvhich he said vvere facing similar problems in the cconomic field.
Agreements on tourism and coopcration vvere signed bctvvccn the tvvo countries.
FEBRUARY:
2 The second meeting of the national committe vvhich vvas to prepare National Report of Turkey to submit in to the United Nations H ABIT AT II Confcrcnce started in Ankara.
1995] CHRONOLOY 2
Having attended consultation mectings among Turkey, Britain, France and Italy Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Karayalçın said that Turkey took so significant a step towards entering the customs union.
3 The report on Human Rights in Turkey which vvas prepared by the Turkish Foreign Ministry vvas delivered in the U.S. by the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C. In the report it vvas stated that every Turkish citizen regardless of his or her ethnic origin vvas making use of the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution.
6 Tirana Documcnt aiming to contribute to European security and to maintain pcacc in thc Balkans vvas signcd in Ankara by Turkish Chief of General Staff Ismai Hakkı Karadayı and his Albanian countcrpart Sheme Kosova.
9 The meeting aiming at pcaccful scttlement of Nagorno-Karabagh dispute held by CSCE Minsk Group in vvhich Turkey vvas also rcprcscntcd started in Moscovv.
10 Bosnian Foreign Minister irfan Ljubijankic arrived in Ankara for a
one-day official visit to discuss rcccnt developments in Bosnia and vvays to improve effcctivcncss of the Muslim-Crotian Fcdcration.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Said al-Sahhaf vvho arrived in Ankara for an official visit vvas received by Turkish President Süleyman Dcmirel and held talks vvith his Turkish countcrpart during vvhich nevv proposals for flushing oil from thc Kirkuk-Yumurtalık pipeline vverc handlcd.
11 Thc decision of the Turkish Council of Ministers to ratify Turkish -Libyan Joint Economic Commission's 18th Term Protocol vvas publishcd in the Official Gazctte.
The third General Assembly Mccting of the Nevvs Agcncics Union of the Turkish Speaking Countries (TKA) started in Gime (Kyrenia) of thc Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Rcprescntatives of Turkey's Anatolia Nevvs Agcncy (AA), Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) and the nevvs agcncies of Azerbaijan, Türkmenistan, Kyrgzystan and Kazakhstan attended the mccting.
12 Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Çilier and Deputy Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister Murat Karayalçın held a joint press confcrcncc on customs union. Mrs. Çiller said that once thc customs union vvas realized Turkey vvould benefit from it through consumption of goods of higher qualily, incrcascd foreing investmcnt prevention of cartels and economic and political stability in particular.
13 Turkish Foreign Minister Murat Karayalçın met vvith his Danish counterpart, Nicls Hclveg Pctersen, during the first leg of his visit to
Scandinavian countrics. Aftcr the meeting Mr. Petersen said that his country vvas in favour of Turkey's admission into the customs union.
14 Aftcr thc talks Mr. Karayalçın held vvith the Forcign Minister of Fini and, Paavo Rantanen, it vvas announced that Finland supportcd Turkcy's entry into the customs union vvithout any prcconditions being laid dovvn.
15 Forcign Minister of Svvcden Lena Hjelm-Wallcn said that her country supportcd Turkey's admission into the customs union, yet Turkey should makc furthcr progress on human rights and democratization.
21 U.S. Assistant Secrctary of State Richard Holbrooke vvho vvas in Turkey for an official visit said, at a prcss conference he held in Ankara, thal it vvould be cxtrcmely unproductivc to give the impression that human rights vvould rupture bilatcral tics bctvvccn Turkcy and thc U.S.
28 Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Çiller after having contacts in Japan drevv attention to thc fact that Turkey's ties vvith Europe on thc onc hand her relations vvilh Asia on thc othcr vvere tvvo intcrlocking phenomena vvhich necessitatcd extcnsive cooperaiton.
MARCH:
1 At his vveckly prcss conference Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ferhat Ataman statcd Turkcy's prcconditions to establish diplomatic tics vvith Armenia to bc Armenia's respeeting Azcrbaijan's territorial integrity and its vvilhdravval from the Azeri tcrritories.
Turkish Dcputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Karayalçın met vvith Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Jcan Claude Juncker as vvell as his Luxembourg counterpart Jacqııes Poos during his official visit lo Luxcmbourg. The talks held at bilatcral level vvere qualified as the maintcnancc of a constructive dialogue.
6 Aftcr attending EU-Turkey 36th Term Association Council meeting Turkish Prime Minislcr Tansu Çiller and Foreign Minister Murat Karayalçın signcd ıhe customs union accord. Adrcssing a prcss confcrcncc Mrs. Çiller said that the customs union vvas a tuming point in Turkey's tics vvith Europe, though, it vvas not thc final goal of Turkey. Mr. Karayalçın said, for his part, that the deal vvhich hc called a historic move vvould not affect thc present situation in Cyprus.
7 Turkish Prcsidcnt Süleyman Demirci on returning from his one-day official visit he paid to Romania, noted that his talks vvith his Romanian counterpart, Ion Iliescu, during vvhich it vvas determined to improve bilateral relations of commcrce vvere held in vvhat he qualified as a very positive atmosphere.
9 Philippine Prcsidcnt Fidcl Ramos arrived in Turkey as the official guest of his Turkish counterpart Süleyman Demirel. Agreements on coopcration
1995] CHRONOLOY 21
in the ficlds of culture, tourism and commerce were signcd aftcr thc negotiations held between the delegations of the tvvo countrics.
11 Turkish President Süleyman Dcmirel attcndcd the United Nations Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen. Mr. Dcmircl held bilatcral talks vvith his Azeri, Latvian, Indoncsian, Maccdonian, Estonian, Ukranian, Finnish and Sudanese counterparts as vvell.
14 At the third summit meeting of the Economic Coopcration
Organization (ECO) in Pakistani capital Islamabad, Turkish President Süleyman Dcmircl, addressing the representatives of thc member countrics, said that Turkey's entry into the customs union vvith thc Europcan Union vvould facilitatc Turkey's funetioning as a bridgc bctvvcen the VVestem Europe and the ECO countries.
16 Turkish Deputy Prime Ministcr and Forcign Ministcr Murat
Karayalçm attendcd the ceremony held in Washington, D.C., marking the first anniversary of thc Muslim-Croation Fcderation.
20 Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ferhat Ataman said that foreign embassics wcre informcd of thc operation Turkey launehed in Northern Iraq, acknovvlcdging that the Turkish forces vvould vvithdravv vvithin Turkey's borders as soon as their mission ended.
22 Turkish President and his Italian countcrpart, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, signcd an accord for the encouragement and proteetion of invcstmcnt, in Ankara. Aftcr the signing ceremony Mr. Dcmirel said that thc visit vvhich vvas madc at thc highest level from Italy in 48 years vvould contributc to thc improvement of fricndly relations and coopcration bctvvcen the tvvo countries. Mr. Scalfaro rciteratcd that this vvas a visit of fricndship.
23 Thc first troika meeting bclvvecn Turkey and thc Europcan Union aftcr thc realization of tlıe customs union vvas held in Ankara. The meeting vvas attendcd by Gcrman Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkcl, Frcnch Forcign Minister Alain Juppe, EU Commissioncr responsible for foreign affairs and sccurity, Hans Van den Broek, as vvcll as by Turkish Foreign Minister Murat Karayalçm.
During the meeting which vvas regardcd as an important step vvithin the framevvork of Turkish-EU ties Turkish operation in Northern Iraq, bilatcral relations, political and economic developments rccently taking place in Turkey and the Mcditcrrancan Confcrence to bc held in Novcmbcr vvere taken up.
27 Gcrman Forcign Ministcr Klaus Kinkcl announccd thal his country vvould suspend ihe military assistancc vvorth of DM 150 million Germany vvas to extend to Turkey in protest against Turkey's operation in Northern Iraq.
30 Turkish Grand National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committee approved a drafl bili envisaging the lifting of the arms embargo on Bosnia-Herzegovina.
31 Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, Hans Van Mierlo, stated that the Netherlands suspended arms sale licenses to Turkey due to the operation launehed by Turkey in Northern Iraq.
Belgian Foreign Ministry issucd a statement in which it was dcclarcd that Bclgium vvould not permit PKK supporters' initiatives aiming to form a so-called parliament-in-exile.
APRIL:
1 U.S. Assistant Secrctary of State Richart Holbrookc, at a press conference in Washington, D.C., said that the U.S. administration viewcd PKK as a terrorist organization and cxpresscd his country's support for thc Turkish governmcnt's efforts, even though not agreeing on every cffort made, to surmount the problem. Mr. Holbrookc also cxpressed the importance the U.S. attachcd to Turkey's territorial integrity.
3 Turkish Prcsidcnt Süleyman Demirel started his official contacts in Argentina. On meeting vvith his Argentinian counterpart Carlos Mcnem, Mr. Demirel dravving similarities bctvvccn his country and its peoples and those of Mencm's said that Turkey and Argentina each as a factor of stability and sccurity in its region as vvell as each one having assumcd significant responsibilitics should ccrtainly develop bilateral ties.
At a joint press conference vvith his German countcrpart in Bonn, Turkish Foreign Minister Erdal İnönü, reminding of thc temporary naturc of the Turkish forces' presence in Northern Iraq and dravving attention to thc nccessity for Turkey to deprive PKK of its cffectivencss in the region, stated that Turkey's operation against terrorism should bc understood by friendly countries. Gcrman Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, for his part, said that his country vvas in favour of a political solution vvhile comprehending Turkey's strugglc against terrorism.
Azcrbaijani Prcsidcnt Haydar Aliyev declared that Azerbaijan transferred 5% of its sharc in thc intcrnational oil consortium to Turkey.
5 Turkish Foreign Minister Erdal İnönü met vvith U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committce Chairman Bcnjamin Gilman. Mr. İnönü said that he asked thc U.S. for its contribution to thc maintcnance of peace in Northcm Iraq once Turkish forccs vvere vvithdravvn.
6 Turkish Prcsidcnt Süleyman Demirel arrived in Chile for a three-day official visit.
Thc Europcan Parliamcnt urged Turkey to end her operations in Northern Iraq.
8 Turkish Foreign Ministry issucd a vvritten statement dcclaring that the Turkish troops vvere going to vvithdravv from Northern Iraq as planned.
1995] CHRONOLOY 21
The North Atlantic Assembly Permanent Committee convened to discuss administrative and financial issucs in Marmaris, Turkey.
9 Turkish Foreign Minister Erdal inönü attended Mcditerranean Coopcration Forum meeting in Paris. After thc mccting Mr. inönü held bilateral talks vvilh his Frcnch, Italian and Spanish counterparts. Addressing a press conference Mr. inönü said that Turkey's demoeratization efforts vvere not due to the request made by the European Parliamcnt but they vverc the result of Turkish people's vvill.
10 After the meeting of Turkish President Süleyman Dcmirel and Brazilian President Fcmando Henriquc Cardoso during Mr. Demircl's visit to Brazil, minutes of understanding on coopcration in the fields of culturc, education, commcrcc, industry, and tourism as vvell as on visa cxcmption and political consultations bctvveen foreign ministers of the countrics vvere signed.
11 A U.S. delegation under the chairmanship of Undersecrctary of State Strobc Talbott held talks in Ankara vvith Foreign Minister Erdal İnönü and Algan Hacaloğlu, Minister of State responsible for human rights. Mr. Talbott called the negotiations useful.
12 Foreign Minister Erdal inönü stated that by permitting the formation of a so-called Kurdish Parliamcnt-in-exile vvithin her tcrritories the Nethcrlands contradiclcd vvith NATO's common valucs and thc fricndly relations bctvveen the tvvo countrics.
The accord envisaging an inerease by 5% in Turkey's shares in the Caspian Sea oil consortium vvas signed by Prime Minister Tansu Çiller and Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev in Azeri capital, Baku.
14 Turkey recallcd its ambassador to the Nclherlands for
"consultations".
Dutch Foreign Minister Hans Van Micrlo stated in thc Haguc that the opening cercmony of "Kurdish Parliament-in exile" vvas not held under the permission of his country.
15 Foreign Minister Erdal İnönü attended a mccting of foreign
ministers of the Black Sea Economic Coopcration Organization in Alhens. 17 Thc third term mccting of Turkcy-Nevv Zcaland Joinl Economic Commission started in Ankara.
19 Prime Minister Tansu Çiller, on a visit to the U.S., met vvith U.S. President Bili Clinton. Bilateral political and cconomic issucs as vvcll as regional questions and terrorist activities in particular vvere the subjccts of the negotiations.
20 The NATO Council formcd by thc parliamcnt representatives of 16 member countries convened at the rcquest of Turkey for an emergeney session. Thc permanent representative of Turkey condemned the stancc of the
Netherlands for tolerating the opening of a so-called Kurdish Parliament-in-exile in its territories.
25 Thc 80th annivcrsary of the Allied landigns at Gallipoli was commemorated at two ccremonies held in Çanakkale and Anzak Bay. Delegations from Australia, New Zealand and Canada attended the first ceremony.
26 Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ferhat Ataman declarcd that the Netherlands vvas placed on red list as a country vvhich lost its reliable partner qualification.
Thc Parliamcnlary Asscmbly of llıc Council of Europe rccommendcd that Turkey should bc suspended from its representation in ıhe Council of Europe unless it improved its human rights record.
M A Y :
1 During the negotiations in Ankara he held vvith thc visiting Dcputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Türkmenistan, Boris Slıihmuradov, Forcign Minister Erdal inönü said that thc tvvo countrics' coopcration constituted a strong povver in vvorld politics. Mr. Slıihmuradov calling Turkcy his country's majör ally statcd that ıhc tvvo countrics vvere cxtcnsively coopcrating in the cconomic ficld.
4 Grcck ambassador to Turkcy vvas summoncd to the Forcign Ministry and handcd a protest note due to a stone-throvving protest against Minister of State Yıldırım Aktuna outside the Turkish consulatc building vvhile hc vvas visiting Salonika, Greece.
In a joint communique relcased aftcr Forcign Minister Erdal Inönü's official visit to Azerbaijan, it vvas stressed that Karabakh vvas an inseparable part of Azerbaijan and Armenia should progress tovvards vvitlıdravving from Ihe territories it had invaded as soon as possible.
5 Turkey and Iran signed in istanbul an accord on importing Iranian natural gas to Turkey for a period of 23 years.
8 Turkey vvas represented by Prime Minister Tansu Çiller in thc ceremony held in Paris to mark thc 50th annivcrsary of V-E Day.
9 Prime Minister Tansu Çiller attended the ccremony held in Moscovv on the occasion of thc 50th annivcrsary of the ending of the Sccond World War.
12 Turkcy and the U.S. initialcd a tax agrccmcnt in Washington, D.C. 16 Turkcy acccptcd the final act of Westem Europcan Union Council of Ministers vvith Ivvo reservations relating to tvvo articles of thc act. Arlicle 39 statcd that Ihe Council of Ministers vvelcomed the decision of the Permanent
1995] CHRONOLOC.Y 215
Council to admit Cyprus and Malta into the WEU in üne vvith the devclopments in the tvvo countries' ties vvith the EU. Turkey's second rescrvation vvas about an annex to thc final act on cx-Yugoslavia.
18 In a joint statcment issued after the fifth meeting of Turkish, Croatian and Bosnian foreign ministcrs in Zenica it vvas statcd that thc forcign ministcrs of thc three countries vicvvcd the Muslim-Croatian fedcration, also open to thc Scrbian side, as the most appropriate solution to thc Bosnian question.
19 intcrnational Atatürk Pcacc Avvard vvas rcceived by Turkish Red
Crescent Socicty.
23 Turkey and thc People's Republic of China signed agrecmcnts on prcvention of doublc taxation and cultural coopcration during Prcsidcnt Süleyman Demirel's visit to China.
Turkey announced that shc placed South Africa on a red üst in response to thc decision taken by this country to suspend arms sales to Turkey.
24 The rcgulatory commission of the Wcstcrn Europcan Union approved a proposal to grant Turkish dcputies thc right to vote in Assembly meetings and commissions.
28 Addrcssing businessmen during his visit to Hong Kong President Süleyman Dcmirel said that Turkey could gain a lot by cooperating vvith thc countries of the Far East.
30 Having been approved by the Council of Ministcrs 1992 Maritime Agrecmcnt bctvvcen Turkey and Gcorgia vvhich had been signed in Tbilisi vvas published in thc Official Gazette.
Presidenl Süleyman Dcmirel met vvith his Indoncsian counterpart Suharto during his visit to Indoncsian capital Jakarta. A coopcralion protoeol in the ficld of agriculture vvas signcd bctvvcen Turkey and Indoncsia during the visit.
31 Turkey announced that shc placed Dcnmark on red list in response
to Denmark's dccision to halt military sales to Turkey though arms sales bctvvcen tvvo countrics vvere negligable.
J U N E :
3 Thc establishment of a multi-national rapid rcaction forcc in Bosnia-Herzegovina vvas agrccd on at a meeting attendcd by thc dcfcncc ministcrs of 15 NATO and EU contries in Paris. Six countries ineluding Turkey proposed to contribute to the multi-national forcc.
6 Slovcnian Prcsidcnt Milan Kucan arrived in Turkey as thc official gucst of President Süleyman Dcmircl. Mr. Demirci noted that Slovcnia might actively take part in the restoration of pcace and stability in thc Balkans.
30 A Turkish parliamentarian delegation under the chairpersonship of Minister of State Aysel Baykal left for Pakistani capital Islanıabad to attend the İst International Conference of Women Parliamentarians of Müslim Countries.
31 A border post at Posof-Türkgüzü vvas opencd by Prcsident Süleyman Demirel and Georgian Presidcnt Eduard Shevardnadze.
AUGUST:
7 Foreign Minister Erdal inönü arrived in Belorussion capital, Minute, to initial a friendship and cooperation agrccment vvith his Bclorussian countcrpart.
10 Turkey and Bosnia-Herzcgovina signed an agrccment on military training as vvcll as on teehnieal and scicntific cooperation in the military field vviıhout violating the arms embargo on Bosnia.
12 Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a vvritten statement expressing deep sorrovv över the exccution of tvvo Turkish citizens in Saudi Arabia on charges of drug trafficking, though the Foreign Ministry had taken scveral initiatives for saving their lives in accordance vvith humanitarian considerations and general values of the international community.
15 Turkey and the U.S. signed an accord on struggle against drug trafficking and its illegal usage under vvhich the U.S. vvould extend $ 370.000 to Turkey for its struggle in this regard.
After lhe negotiations betvveen Prime Minister Tansu Çiller and Kazakh Presidcnt Nursultan Nazarbayev, Turkey and Kazakhstan signed agreements on prevention of double taxation, judicial cooperation, extradition and proteclion of plant and animal life.
16 Turkey and Kyrgyzstan signed agreements regarding the establishment of a joint cconomic commission, coopcration on environmental proteetion as vvell as on investments and banking during Prime Minister Çiller's visit to this country.
17 Having met vvith Türkmen Presidcnt Saparmurad Niyazov Prime Minister Çiller signed tvvo agreements.
18 "Humanitarian Inilitative for Bosnia" -a group of Turkish academicians, politicians, authors and artists left for Bosnia-Herzcgovina via Split, Croatia.
George Stefanopoulos, U.S. President Bili Clinton's aide arrived in Ankara to discuss Turkish-Greek relations and the Cyprus dispute.
27 The direetive providing for flight security vvithin Turkish air space vvas publishcd in lhe Official Gazette.
1995] CHRONOLOY
28 The third submit meeting of Turkish republics held in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, ended. Representing Turkey President Süleyman Demirel underlined the significance of closer ties between the six friendly countries.
31 U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce, Jeffrey Garten, visiting Turkey explained the U.S. administration's "big emerging markets" strategy of vvhich he vvas the architect. Mr. Garten said that he savv a much strongcr Turkey in the years ahead, as the bridge betvveen Europe and Asia. Turkey had been iisted as one of the "big emerging markets".
Prime Minister Tansu Çiller arrived in Georgian capital, Tbilisi, to hold talks vvith Georgian President Shevardnadzc regarding marketing of Azeri oil via Gcorgia.
SEPTEMBER:
4 President Süleyman Demirel met vvith his Bosnian countcrpart, Alija Izzetbegovic, at the presidential palace in Ankara. Mr. Izzetbcgovic said that they vvould not make concessions to thc Serbian side on territorial division and expressed his country's desire to join NATO.
5 Bosnian President Izzetbegovic, Prime Minister Tansu Çiller and U.S. Assistant Secrctary of State Richard Holbrooke held a submit mccting in Ankara. Prime Minister Çiller stated territorial integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina as an indispensable factor for a lasting solution vvhile she exprcssed Turkey's proposal of launehing an air raid on Serbian targets.
7 A Strategic Research Center vvhich vvould funetion to carry out rcsearch studies on Turkish foreign policy and international relations as vvcll as to examine foreign policy from a perspeetive also extending to the future vvas founded under the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
8 The tripartite meeting betvveen the foreign ministers of Turkey, Syria and Iran started in Iranian capital Tehran.
10 President Süleyman Demirel met vvith thc President of Tajikistan, Imamali Rahmanov, during his visit to this country. The tvvo countrics signed agreements on environment, air transport, science and technology.
12 President Süleyman Demirel visited Mongolia.
A meeting on Northern Iraq including representatives from the U.S., Turkey, Britain started in Dublin.
19 Meeting vvith Lilhuanian President Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas, President Süleyman Demirel said that pcace-loving countrics should not tolerate resorting to force in international relations. Mr. Brazauskas, for his part, said that his country shared common objeetives, thus contributing to the significancc of bilateral relations.
20 Turkey and Lithuania signed an agreement envisaging coopcration on training, science and tcchnology as vvell as consultations in thc military field.
21 German Ambassador to Ankara H.J. Vergau announced that Germany decided to lift the arms embargo imposed on Turkey as well as suspension of arms sales to Turkey.
22 A cooperation agreement on training, technology and science in the military field was signed betvveen Turkey and Estonia.
28 Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a written statement expressing Turkey's pleasure due to the Palcstinian-Israeli accord which Turkey regarded as a proof that nothing could bc achicvcd by armed conflict and terrorism in the Middle East.
30 Foreign Minister Erdal İnönü met in Ncw York with his Greek counterpart Karolas Populias. The two foreign ministers camc together on the occasion of thc annual meeting of the U.N. General Assembly. Turkey's proposal for upgrading the dialoguc bctvvcen thc tvvo countrics, Grcck Cypriot side's bid for EU membership vvere the main issucs taken up during the meeting.
OCTOBER:
2 Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Nurettin Nurkan expressed Turkey's readiness for resuming a constructive dialogue vvith Greece, beginning vvith holding talks on cultural cooperation.
4 The establishment of a joint parliamentarian group betvveen Turkey and the Czech Rcpublic vvas agrccd upon during the visit paid to Turkey by a delegation of six Czech deputies. Czcch Republic's joining NATO, relations vvith Russia in the post Cold War era, issue of the Mediterranean and Middle East and Turkey's bccoming a party to the Central European Frce Trade Arca vvere dealt vvith during the talks betvveen the Czech delegation and Turkish deputies.
7 Turkish Foreign Ministry Undcrsecretary Onur Öymcn announced that Turkish Cooperation and Development Agcncy (TIKA) and Turkish Red Crescent Society vvere assigned to coordinate humanitarian and economic assistance to Bosnia-Hcrzegovina extendcd by the Organization of thc Islamic Conference countries.
9 Thc international consortium formcd to dcal vvith thc Caspian Sea oil favoured the proposal madc by Turkey-marketing the long-term oil to thc Wcst via a pipeline to be constructcd över Gcorgia vvhich vvould run aeross Turkey.
11 In a statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry it vvas stated that the Grcck government's decision to ehange the Turkish language books for nevv ones vvritten by a Greck vvhich had been sparking protests among
1995] CHRONOLOY
Turkish students living in Gümülcine (Komotini), tskccc (Xhanti) and Meriç displayed Greecc's negligcnce of binding statemcnts of Lausanne Pcace Trcaty providing for the changes to be made in the educational system only be decidcd by the relevant minority.
12 The Syrian ambassador to Turkey was summoned to Turkish Foreign Ministry vvhich issued a statement dravving attention to the escalation of terrorist incidents vvhich vvere concluded due to strong evidence to bc thc result of Syria's sheltering the terrorist organization's members vvithin its territories. Turkey vvithdrevv 10 of its 18 F-16 fighter aireraft funetioning vvithin the framevvork of operation "Deny Flight" over Bosnia duc to thc recent positive developments.
A Turco-Bclarus agreement envisaging coopcration in thc fields of education, scicnce, culture and sports vvas published in thc Official Ga/ette.
13 NATO and the WEU commcmoratcd thcir first collaboration regarding the monitoring of the U.N. arms embargo on Yugoslavia in the Adriatic by holding a "Sea Day" off Antalya, Turkey, during vvhich vvarships from Turkey, Germany, Spain and Portugal participated.
15 Turkey vvas ranked 27th in total vvealth and 97th in GDP per capita, vvith an average of $34.000 ycarly, according to the World Bank figures.
22 President Süleyman Dcmirel delivered a specch at thc U.N. headquarters in Ncvv York on the 50th annivcrsary of thc United Nations. Addressing the General Asscmbly, Mr. Dcmirel underseored thc need for preventive diplomacy, cspecially in the cases of struggle against any form of aggression, for a "more democratic and more responsible" Securily Council, for redefinition of the conccpt of collcclive security and for finding nevv financial resources for the organization to carry out its tasks.
23 President Süleyman Demirci, Albanian President Sali Bcrisha, Bulgarian President Zhelyu Zhclev and Macedonian Parliament Spcakcr signed a declaration in Ncvv York relating to the construction of a vvcst-cast highvvay extending from Albanian Port city of Durres to istanbul, Turkcy, a project regarded by the Pan-European transport confcrcncc in March as a priority for Central and Eastern Europe.
24 President Süleyman Demirel, Bosnian President Alija îzzetbegovic and Croatian President Franjo Tudjman signed an agrement on the establishment of a joint poliçe forcc vvhich vvould "providc physical and symbolic comfort" for Bosnian rcfuges, vvith Turkey and Croatia each providing 50 of the total 200 poliçe officiers and Bosnia-Herzegovina the rest. The term of the mission of the poliçe force vvhich vvould be mainly deployed in Velica Kladuca vvas determincd to be 6 months, though renevvable. In a joint declaration the three presidents callcd for the representation of Turkey in the expanded International Contact Group.
28 Turkish Grand National Assembly extended the mandate of Provide Comfort for another six months.
NOVEMBER:
3 The Sixth Antalya Security and Cooperation Conference organized by the Turkish-Atlantic Council started to discuss recent devclopments in the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Caucasus in the light of ncw European security structure. The conference was also attended by NATO Executive Secretary Leo Verbruggen and former Secretary-Gcneral of thc WEU William Van Eekelen.
6 Turkey vvas representcd by Prime Minister Tansu Çiller at the funcral ceremony for Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin vvho had been assasinated tvvo days ago.
7 Addressing the eleventh meeting of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooppration (COMCEC), an organ of the Organization of the Islamic Confcrcncc, Turkish Presidcnt Süleyman Demirel especially emphasized the need for a more dynamic structure and role for COMCEC, the importance of rise in the economic grovvth rates of developing countries, thc impact of the establislıment of a World Trade Organization on vvorld trade, also dravving attention to thc need for finding appropriate means to deal vvith thc problems in Bosnia-Hcrzegovina, Azerbaijan, Somalia and Rvvanda.
8 The International Atomic Energy announced that it vvould establish a regional center in Turkey. Turkish Foreign Ministry urged Russia to comply vvith the CFE Trcaty.
10 Turkish Foreign Ministry, issuing a vvritten statcmcnt, stated that Turkish diplomats in Bulgaria had acted completely in keeping vvith the status of international obscrver during the reccnt local eleetions just as they done before.
12 Tvvo joint transportation protocols aiming to develop land, railvvay, navigation and aviation transportalion-one bctvvcen Turkey and Bulgaria and the other bctvvcen Turkey and Romania-vvere published in thc Official Gazette.
13 Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Deniz Baykal attended the WEU foreign ministers meeting held in Madrid.
15 The Liberal and Christian Democrat groups in thc European Parliament decided no to delay the vote on customs union bctvvcen Turkey and the EU.
16 Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Çiller met vvilh her Spanish counterpart Felipe Gonzalez vvhose country vvas holding thc Europcan Union term presideney during her official visit to Spain.
1995] CHRONOLOY
20 Turkey urged Russia to comply with the principlcs of the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty envisaging reduction of nearly 50.000 heavy vveapons systems from the Atlantic to the Urals. In a statement Turkish Foreign Ministry said that it vvas natural for Turkey to expect the strict adherencc it displaycd from ali rclevant parties.
22 Turkey vvelcomcd the initialing of a peace accord by Bosnian President Alija Izzetbegovic, Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic in Dayton, Ohio. In his messages of congratulations to each of the three presidents Turkish President Süleyman Demirel, contcnt in seeing peace bcing restorcd in Bosnia-Hcrzcgovina at the end of a proccss during vvhich Turkey had played an aetive role, underseored the significancc of the nced to fully implcment the principlcs of the peace accord.
Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that Turkey vievved thc pcacc accord as "thc beginning of pcacc, stability and cohabitation" vvhich could only become lasting on the basis of economic strcngthcning of the region. The symposium on thc socio-economic problems of the Turkish vvorld and thc Turkey experiencc started in istanbul.
24 Thc Turkish intcrnational Coopcration Agency (TIKA) opened an office in Bosnian capital Sarajevo.
26 Syrian charge d' affairs in Ankara vvas summoncd to thc Foreign Ministry to bring the incidcnts of infiltration of terrorists from Syria to Turkey to the attention of Syria vvhose failure to take preventive mcasures against terrorism vvas sccn as an obstaele to the development of bilateral ties.
27 During Prime Minister Tansu Çiller's visit to Sarajevo Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina signed an agreement on air transportation.
Thc European Union and 12 Mediterrancan countrics including Turkey agreed upon holding meetings on politics and security, economics and trade and cultural and human affairs during the EU-Mediterranean confcrcnce held in Barcelona, Spain.
DECEMBER:
4 Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that Turkey vvould be plcascd to see extensive measures for the improvement of conditions of Turkish minority living in thc VVestem Thrace rather than partial and insufficient steps, referring to the Grcck government's decision to lift the barriers around thc Turkish village of Şahin ineluded in the restricted military zone.
5 Turkish Prime Minister Tansu Çiller met vvith German Chancellor Hclmut Kolıl to discuss Turkcy-EU ties as vvell as the recent developments in Bosnia.
6 Turkish President Süleyman Demirel sent a message of good vvill to Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, expressing Turkey's desire to improve bilateral relations.
At a meeting of the North Atlantic Cooperation Council held in Brussels Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Deniz Baykal said that Turkey was ready to contribute to a multi-national force to be deployed in coordination with the Organization of European Sccurity and Cooperation for the solution of the Azeri-Armenian dispute.
7 The Westem European Union Parliamentary Assembly endorsed a report, prepared by British Deputy Lord Finsberg, proposing Turkey, an associate member, to upgrade its membership status by being ineluded in the framework of Articlc 5 of the Brussels Trcaty due to its strategic importance.
Turkish Prcsidcnt Süleyman Dcmirel arrived in Baku for a three-day official visit to Azerbaijan. Dravving attention to the consistcncy in Turkish Forcign Policy on finding a peaceful solution to the Azeri-Armenian question Mr. Demirel said that the improvement of bilateral tics betvveen Turkey and Azerbaijan vvould bc a gain not only for the region but for thc vvorld as vvell.
8 Turkish citizens living abroad began to east their votes for the general eleetion at the border gates in accordance vvith thc reccnt constitutional amendments.
13 The European Parliament approved of the customs union betvveen Turkey and the European Union.
14 Turkey vvas represented by Deputy Prime Ministcr and Foreign Minister Deniz Baykal at the signing ceremony in Paris of thc pcacc pact ending four years of vvar in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Meanvvhile, Turkish President Süleyman Demirel, in his message, emphasized the neccssity to punish the ones responsible for the inhuman violcnce.
16 Turkish Prime Ministcr Tansu Çiller came together in Madrid vvith the leaders of the European Union troika -France, Spain and Italy-, voicing Turkey's vvill to join the EU as a full member.
24 General eleetions vvere held in Turkey.
27 Turkish Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ömer Akbcl said that Turkey called on the Europcan Parliament vvhich adopted a resolution on human rights in Turkcy-in sharp contrast vvith its previous resolution emphasizing "its refusal to engagc in any dialogue vvho corroborate, assist, sponsor or carry out terrorist acts of any kind"- to bc morc rcalistic in its stance.
28 President Süleyman Demirel met vvith the president of thc Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Rauf Dcnktaş, in Ankara. In a joint dcclaration issued after the summit meeting bctvvcen the tvvo presidents Turkey and the Turkish Rcpublic of Northern Cyprus reiterated their commilmcnt to a bi-zonal and bi-communal federal settlement based on the sovereign equality of the Turkish Cypriot and the Greck Cypriot sides, the continuation of full and effective guarantee of Turkey until thc final settlement and after it to fully
1995] CHRONOLOY
ensure the security of the TRNC ineluding taking the necessary counter-measures. The two sides reaffirmed that the customs union between Turkcy and thc EU did not inelude any provisions hindering commercial and economic relations betvveen Turkey and the TRNC, Turkey and thc TRNC also confirmcd to make joint efforts to ensure the lifting of ali restrictions on the TRNC in the intcrnational arena and to establish a permanent consultation mechanism in ordcr to intensify elose cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countrics.
