ANKARA - Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc left for Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday as the official guest of Bosnia and Herzegovina Parliament House of Representatives Speaker Sefik Dzaferovic.
Prior to his departure, Arinc replied to questions of reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport.
When recalled there were some tense days last week and asked whether or not this tension would reflect to National Security Council (NSC) meeting, Arinc said, ''NSC meeting is held in Turkey almost every month. Agendas which are determined by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer are discussed at the meetings. As you know, a declaration is issued after the meeting. I don't think that there is an extraordinary situation. NSC meeting will be held on its own agenda.''
Parliament Speaker Arinc who informed reporters about his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina said that Turkey's cultural and historical relations with that country continued improving during and after war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Stating that Turkey supported unconditionally sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina and put forth its policy on that issue by concrete steps, Arinc said that his visit to that country had a special importance since it was the first visit which would be paid at high ranking level between the two countries after general elections in Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Istanbul deputy Huseyin Kansu and Mersin Deputy Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat and Republican People's Party (CHP) Mardin deputy Mahmut Duyan accompany Arinc in his visit.
(EÖ-AÖ) 28.04.2003