Parliament Speaker Arinc Received By Altes Prince Mikasa In Tokyo

TOKYO - Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc was received on Monday by Altes Prince Takahito Mikasa in Tokyo, Japan.
Arinc said regarding the meeting which was closed to press, ''we've already known Turkish people's interest in Japanese people, but I was pleased to see the admiration and love of uncle of Japanese Emperor to Turkish people.''
Emphasizing that they had a beneficial meeting, Arinc said that Mikasa especially touched on the archeological excavations in Kaman town of Kirsehir province in Turkey and told him that his son Tomohito would come to Turkey to see the excavations.
Arinc later met with Turkish people living in Japan in Tokyo Embassy of Turkey. Releasing a speech in a reception hosted by Turkey's Tokyo Ambassador Solmaz Unaydin, Arinc expressed his pleasure for seeing Turkish community in Japan. He said while addressing Turkish community that they should work like ambassadors in Japan.
Recalling that 2003 was celebrated as ''Turkish Year'' in Japan, Arinc said that various activities would be done throughout the year in Japan and it was important for the art, potential and values of Turkey to be known in Japan.
Noting that trade deficit was very big between Turkey and Japan, Arinc said that Japan was an important country and he added that it should be Turkey's duty to produce and sell goods to Japan with good quality.
Arýnc said that only 100,000 of 17 million Japanese who traveled the world came to Turkey, adding that this number was few and that Turkey could draw more tourists if it promoted itself well.
Recalling that people talked about a Japanese miracle or a Japanese development model for years in Turkey, Arýnc said that Turkey had many things to learn from Japan.
Noting that the development of Japan after the Second World War was a model, Arýnc said that ''we have many things to learn from this country.''
Arýnc stated that there was political stability in Turkey and that only two parties were elected to the parliament after the elections on Nov. 3. Arýnc pointed out that Turkey was launching intensive efforts to become a full member of EU, adding that the government and the opposition acted together on this issue.
Referring to the Iraqi issue, Arýnc stated that the parliament gave an important test on the Iraqi issue. ''An operation was launched in Iraq, fortunately it lasted short. I hope Turkey would launch the necessary support and effort for reconstruction of Iraq,'' Arýnc stated.
(GC-ÖÞ) 02.06.2003