Demirel Decorated With Medal Of Merit By Moldova

KISHINEV (AA) - Suleyman Demirel, former president of the Republic of Turkey, was decorated with the medal of merit by Moldova.
     President Vladimir Voronin of Moldova decorated Demirel with the medal of merit at a ceremony at the Presidential Palace.
     Speaking at the ceremony, Demirel said that the medal was the sign of perfect bilateral relations between Turkey and Moldova.
     Recalling that he had visited Moldova for three times during his term in office as the president, Demirel said that he had done everything in his power to enhance the bilateral relations between the two countries.
     ''Turkey, which takes place in the middle of regions affecting most by the uncertainties and difficulties, has launched many important initiatives to change the instability in its region into an atmosphere of cooperation, solidarity and prosperity,'' he said.
     Meanwhile, President Voronin of Moldova thanked Demirel for his valuable contributions to development of the bilateral relations.
     Following the ceremony, President Voronin and Demirel will attend an international conference on ''10th Anniversary of Foundation of Autonomous Region of Gagauz and Unity of Moldovan People''.
     Demirel will also be decorated with the honorary doctorate by Moldovan University of Pedagogics the same day.
     He is expected to return to Turkey on Thursday.
     After being prime minister three times, respectively in 1975-1977, 1977-1978 and 1979-1980, Demirel served as the president of the Republic of Turkey between 1993 and 2000.
     (UK-MS)
2004-12-22