ANKARA - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Yusuf Buluc said on Thursday, ''in its note, the Russian Federation asked us to ban activities of Chechen Republic of Ickeria in Turkey.''
Speaking at the weekly press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Buluc said, ''Russian Ambassador to Turkey Aleksander Lebedev has conveyed the Russian Federation's note. In its note, the Russian Federation asked us to ban activities of Chechen Republic of Ickeria in Turkey.''
''The request was taken up by the authorities. At the end of the discussion, the authorities have come to the conclusion that the organization in question does not exist in Turkey, and it is out of question to ban activities of a nonexistent organization,'' he said.
When a reporter showed Buluc a calling card of a woman who introduced herself as representative of Ickeria, and said that there were telephone numbers on the calling card in Turkey, Buluc said, ''anyone can print any cards. Some people can assume such immoral attitudes.''
Responding another question, Buluc said, ''the Russian Federation's note includes only the issue of banning activities of Chechen Republic of Ickeria in Turkey.''
Noting that their invitation to President Vladimir Putin to pay a visit to Turkey had still been valid, Buluc added, ''we do not expect latest developments to affect historical relations between Turkey and Russian Federation.''