NOT FOR SALE

Kingstown, St. Vincent - Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves announced in Parliament on January 16, 2003 that no ambassadorial office is up for sale by his country. He made the announcement during his Ministerial Statement and informed the nation of a Turkish national who wanted to "buy" an ambassadorial post.

Dr. Gonsalves informed the nation that soon after he and h is Unity Labour Party (ULP) took office, he received a call from someone in Grenada informing him that a Turkish national was seeking an appointment with him. Dr. Gonsalves said he also had a call from a local businessman, who was also seeking an appointment for the Turkish national, Peter Capeller. He said the businessman informed him that Capeller was interested in constructing an international hotel in St. Vincent.

An appointment was granted and on June 5, 2001 Dr. Gonsalves said he received the local businessman, Capeller and another gentleman in his office. Dr. Gonsalves said Capeller was acting on behalf of Memit Fadil Akgunduz.

According to the Prime Minister, Capeller said the Turkish businessman was interested in investing in a hotel and a car assembly plant. "He (Capeller) said government should accord him (the Turkish businessman) a diplomatic passport", Dr. Gonsalves said of his meeting with Capeller and the Turkish businessman. He said Capeller also produced a letter from a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, which indicated that contact was made with the past New Democratic Party (NDP) administration.

Dr. Gonsalves said Capeller wanted to conclude what he started with the NDP, and stated he had made an informal offer of US$100,000.00 for Akgunduz's diplomatic status. "At this point I asked (Christian) Cims Martin to join us and asked Capeller to repeat the story", Dr. Gonsalves said. Martin is this country's Financial Advisor.

"I told Capeller that whilst we are interested in investment, we do not sell offices in this country", Dr. Gonsalves said. "If Mr. Arkgunduz wishes to invest, there is a process". Dr. Gonsalves said he had forgotten all about the meeting in his office with Capeller until Capeller's name surfaced in a Turkish newspaper recently.

Dr. Gonsalves said the Turkish newspaper quoted Capeller as alleging that he was to receive a Vincentian passport, presumably for Memit Fadil Akgunduz but that the deal had fell through. The newspaper also quoted Capeller as claiming to have in his possession a Vincentian passport.

"I had the Commissioner of Police checked (the information) and found no record that Capeller had a Vincentian passport of a diplomatic kind or any other kind", Dr. Gonsalves said. "I cannot say if Capeller was given a passport unofficially".

Dr. Gonsalves went on to state that many persons like Capeller, "with all sorts of schemes" try to see him on a daily basis and that he has to screen many of them.  "I want to repeat.... This government does not sell offices", Dr. Gonsalves stated emphatically." I take a strong position against official corruption" Capeller is known to be a Grenadian diplomat in Europe.