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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-12-27Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>27 DEC 1998CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on Dec 27, 1998. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL) DEMIREL:NO ELECTION GOVERNMENT SUICIDE IN CUSTODY MILLIYET (LIBERAL)DON'T TOUCH THE JUDICIARYJudges who hear ''dark'' cases have always trouble, the judges namely Nazmi Sarvan who filed suits about Mercumek and Parsadan, Erdal Gokcen the prosecutor concerning the Susurluk case, Selim Ulas who heard the scandal about the corruption case at the Istanbul municipality, Fatma Ucar, who was the judge who heard the case of Metin Goktepe who was found dead in custody are all under pressure. CRISIS WARNING SABAH (LIBERAL)DEMIREL'S MODELPresident Suleyman Demirel proposed nine reforms that should be realized in Turkey in order to renew allover the system. Here are the proposals: ''the people should elect the President for five years in two-round elections. The authority to renew the elections should be given to the President. When the parliamentarians become ministers, they should give up being deputies. The Republican Senate which was abolished during September 12, 1980 should be set up again. The two tour election system should be adopted in Turkey. The mayors should be elected by double voting. The president should be vested with the unconditional authority to hold referendum. The mechanisms to rescue Turkey from a possible crisis should be put in the constitution and lastly reforms which increase the power of local administrations should be realized.'' CUMHURIYET (LEFT)LIMIT OF POVERTY: 256 MILLION TURKISH LIRASAccording to the research made by the Turk-Is Labor Union, the poverty limit, which was 153 million 869 thousand Turkish Liras (TL) last year, increased to 256 million 884 thousand TL this year. It said a four-member family's monthly spendings for food rose to 85 million TL. And the annual inflation rate in expenditure for food became 66.9 percent. RADIKAL (LEFT)DEMIREL OPENS THE WAY TO EREZPresident Suleyman Demirel opens the way for Yalım Erez by effectively giving the prime minister-designate more time to form a coalition government. ''The parliament has already taken to hold elections on April 18, thus there is no need to form a temporary government,'' Demirel said. ''If Erez is not able to form the government, I will assign somebody else, '' he added. TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''I WON'T DISSOLVE THE PARLIAMENT''President Suleyman Demirel, who said that the decision for elections had already been made, will not enforce Article 114. Addressing the press conference he held at the Cankaya Presidential Palace, Suleyman Demirel said he won't make a decision to renew the elections if a government is not formed until 10 January or the government to be formed fails to get the confidence vote, stressing that there won't be a lack of government in Turkey. RATE OF PRICE INCREASE FOR CIVIL Pointing out that the interim budget, which was approved by the Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission, will be most probably discussed by the Parliament on 29 December and published in the Official Gazette on 30 December, Temizel said the Council of Ministers will discuss the price increase on 31 December. ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)THREAT FROM APOTalking to a live programme of the Med Tv on the phone, Abdullah Ocalan, chief of the separatist terrorist PKK organization, said they would continue unilateral so-called ceasefire by ignoring the suicide bombings, which took place in eastern provinces, and several suicide bombings would be staged in cities if there won't be any development. Chief terrorist claimed that the Turkish generals had sent him an indirect message concerning the unilateral ceasefire. ANAP FOLLOWS ALONG AFTER BUREAUCRATS Yilmaz will include the well-known bureaucrats in the list of MP candidates for the general elections. [02] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''I INVITE THE POLITICAL PARTIES TO FORM A GOVERNMENT SOON''ANKARA, Dec 27 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel called Sunday on the political parties to form a government soon, saying ''finally it will be a government that will last for three or three and a half months. You can either participate in that or extend support to it.''Addressing a private television channel the same day, President Demirel said that the functions of President are written in the Constitution, adding appointing premiers and recognizing their resignments are among the functions of the President. ''President appoints someone who is most likely to form such a government that can get the vote of confidence, this is the appreciation of President. The thing I have done is correct under the constitution and it is not against any procedures and customs,'' said Demirel. Noting that Yalım Erez, who was assigned by him to form the government has not met with anybody yet, Demirel said ''at the moment nobody knows what kind of a government will be formed. We should wait and be patient for a few days. We should see who will respond to my call.'' Responding to a question asking about the claims saying that the arrival of the chief of the separatist terrorist organization in Italy caused the ''politicization'' of the separatist terrorist organization, President Demirel said that many countries accept the PKK as a separatist terrorist organization. ''No body should back terrorism, but contribute to the struggle,'' said President Demirel, adding that ''the Western world has come to the point of accepting the fact that PKK is a separatist terrorist organization and its chief is also a terrorist. The world's eyes are open now, Turkey has achieved success at this point. I told European countries that PKK is a terrorist organization and Ocalan is the chief of that terrorist organization,'' said President Demirel. Pointing out to the meaningless of saying that ''it was not good to force the chief of the separatist terrorist organization to leave Syria,'' President Demirel said Turkish citizens are subject to violence and soldiers are attacked by the separatist terrorist organization, adding if Ocalan continued to stay in Syria, it would have meant the continuance of murders of Turkish citizens. [03] EREZ TO START MEETING WITH PARTY LEADERS ON MONDAYANKARA, Dec 27 (A.A) - Yalım Erez, the Minister of Industry and Trade, who was assigned to form the government, will start to meet with party leaders on Monday, it is reported on Sunday.Erez will come together with Recai Kutan, the leader of the Virtue Party (RP) at 10.00 local time on Monday. Later Erez will meet with Mesut Yılmaz, the Prime Minister and the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) at 13.00 local time and with Bulent Ecevit, the Deputy Prime Minister and the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) at 15.00 local time the same day. Yalım Erez will visit Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) at 12.00 local time on Tuesday. Erez has not received a response to the appointment he asked from Tansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP). Erez will meet with the leaders of the other political parties in the parliament on Wednesday and complete his first round contacts with party leaders. The draft law on the interim budget which was adopted by the Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission will be taken up by the parliament on Tuesday. [04] EREZ, THE MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE: ''NO BODY SHOULD HAVE ANY DOUBT, I WILL FORM THE GOVERNMENT''ISTANBUL, Dec 27 (A.A) - Yalım Erez, the Minister of Industry and Trade, who was assigned to form the government, said on Saturday that ''no body should have any doubt, I will form the government and I am sure I will get the vote of confidence.''Responding to questions of journalists, Yalım Erez stated that he won't make any comment about the speeches of President Suleyman Demirel and the party leaders. Noting that he will form the government with the highest number of votes of confidence, Erez said if an election government is set up, they will overcome all of the problems together with the parliament. ''I will form a government which will get its power from the parliament, I am searching for a broad-based reconciliation. The sepeed of the government should be the same with the parliament, if this is the case, we'll overcome all the problems,'' said Erez. Responding to a question, Erez said the postponement of elections is out of question, adding ''no power can postpone the decision taken by the parliament.'' [05] GAP REGION REALIZES 16.4 MILLION DOLLARS IN 11-MO EXPORTS TO THE USGAZIANTEP, Dec 27 (A.A) - The exports from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Region to the US in the first eleven months of 1998 increased 7.8 percent to 16 million 447 thousand US dollars, it was reported on Sunday.In the same period last year, the region had realized 15 million 249 thousand US dollars in exports to the US. Officials at the Southeast Anatolian Exporters' Union said that they exported 12 million 78 thousand US dollars of dried fruits; 4 million 233 thousand US dollars of textiles and 136 thousand US dollars of grain- cereals to the US in the first 11 months of this year. Officials said that they also realized 128 thousand US dollars in exports to Brazil; 15 thousand US dollars in exports to Honduras; 1817 thousand US dollars in exports to Canada; 220 thousand US dollars in exports to Mexico and 56 thousand US dollars in exports to Uruguay between January-November 1998. Officials said they exported mostly dried apricots, cotton thread, pistachio, woven and cotton textiles and towels to those countries. [06] RONCONI, AN ITALIAN SENATOR: ''THE CHIEF TERRORIST WON'T BE PROBABLY IN ITALY IN THE NEW YEAR''ROME, Dec 27 (A.A) - Maurizio Ronconi, an Italian senator from the Italian Democratic Catholic Centre Party said on Saturday that ''Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK won't be probably in Italy in the new year.''Noting that another country will host the chief terrorist in the new year, the Italian senator stated that the details of the agreement with the mentioned country has been completed, however this bargaining is carried out not by the Italian Foreign Minister or Italian Foreign Ministry, but by a ''high ranking official.'' Ronconi probably points out to Francesco Cossiga, the leader of the Italian Republican Democrats Union as ''the high ranking official'' although he does not give his name. Cossiga, who visited Libya a short time ago, denied the claims on his return from Libya saying that he did not bargain with Libyan officials to send the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK to Libya. Meanwhile Giuliano Pisapia, the lawyer of the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK said that ''after Turkey declared that it is difficult for her to abolish the death penalty, it became obvious that the extradition of the chief terrorist to Turkey is not possible under the Italian constitution and laws.'' Pisapia pointed out that they are only responsible for the legal and physical protection of Ocalan. The Committee of Judges of the Rome Court of Appeal will evaluate the extradition request of Augusto Sinagra in the name of Turkey and his request asking to take new police surveillance measures for Ocalan, the chief terrorist on Monday. Oliviero Diliberto, the Italian Minister of Justice rejected the application of Giovanni Malerba, the Italian prosecutor concerning the implementation of new surveillance measures for Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK. [07] SUMMIT OF WORKERS' LABOR UNIONSANKARA, Dec 27 (A.A) - Bayram Meral, the Chairman of the Turkish Trade Unions Federation (Turk-Is); Salim Uslu, the Chairman of the Turkish Confederation of Workers' Rights Labor Unions (Hak-Is), and Ridvan Budak, the Chairman of the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK); will hold a tripartite meeting on 29 December at the Turk-Is Headquarters to evaluate the problems closely concerning the workers and especially the issue of ''dismissal of workers'', it was reported on Sunday.The three Chairmen will discuss the measures, which should be taken against the intense dismissal of workers, and the proposals for the solution of problems of workers at the meeting to be held upon a request of DISK. Turk-Is, Hak-Is and DISK will specify their common expectations from the new government and announce them publicly with a communique. The Chairmen of these three non-governmental organizations will first of all request the new government to bring into force the laws on labour security and unemployment insurance. [08] UZUN, WHO WAS KEPT IN CUSTODY FOR DRUG SMUGGLING AND MURDER CHARGES COMMITS SUICIDE IN DETENTION IN ISTANBUL POLICE OFFICEISTANBUL, Dec 27 (A.A) - Hasan Uzun, a person who was taken into custody by the police for drug smuggling and murder charges committed suicide in detention on Saturday.The Istanbul Directorate General of Security said that Huseyin Uzun, who was kept into custody was taken to the toilet upon his own will. Police said Uzun was later found dead as he hanged himself in the toilet with strips of his blanket given to him in custody. Huseyin Uzun, who was wanted by police on drug smuggling charges, surrendered to police last week and immediately accused the three police officials of links to the drug world. Hasan Ozdemir, the Istanbul police chief said that an investigation has been launched into Uzun's death, adding that the incident is a suicide. Ozdemir stressed that they requested an inspector regarding the incident. [09] STATE PLANNING ORGANIZATION'S REPORT ON ''MACRO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS IN 1998''ANKARA, Dec 27 (A.A) - The total exports will be 27 billion US dollars, the total imports will be 27 billion US dollars and the current transactions deficit will nearly be 1.5 billion US dollars at the end of 1998 while the recession in the export markets is expected to continue also in 1999, it was reported on Sunday.The State Planning Organization (DPT) issued a report on ''Macro Economic Developments in 1998,'' saying that the targets, which were foreseen in the programme were achieved in the first half but the crisis in Russia slowed down the positive development seen in the expectations occured in the same period. Pointing out that only the tax reform was realized among the structural reforms foreseen in the programme, the report said that the necessity for a speedy realization of reforms regarding especially the social security and the financial sector still continued. Recalling that the growth rate was 4.4 percent at the end of third quarter, the report said the growth rate was expected to be between 4-4.5 percent at the end of 1998 and that the slowness in the Gross National Product (GNP) increased and domestic demand was the natural result of the financial and revenue policies. The increase in consumption spendings, which was programmed to be 2.3 percent in real-value this year, is expected to be 3.9 percent. The increase in public consumption, which was foreseen to be 3.2 percent, is expected to be 9.7 percent, and the increase in special consumption, which was programmed to be 2.2 percent, is expected to reach 3.1 percent. Noting that the exports increased 3.1 percent to 25.5 billion US dollars between January-November 1998 according to the records of the exporters' unions, it said, ''when the nine-month realizations and the estimations for the last quarter of 1998 are taken into consideration, it is estimated that the exports will be 27 billion US dollars, the imports will be 48 billion US dollars and the current transactions deficit including the shuttle trade will remain at about 1.5 billion US dollars at the end of this year.'' Recalling that the budget revenues were 10.6 quadrillion Turkish Liras (TL) and the budget spendings were 13.7 quadrillion TL between January-November 1998, the report said that the former would be 11.7 quadrillion TL and the latter would be 15.5 quadrillion TL at the end of 1998. [10] MKEK REALIZES 5.8 MILLION DOLLARS OF EXPORTS TO 22 COUNTRIESANKARA, Dec 27 (A.A) - The Machinery and Chemical Industry Institution (MKEK) realized a total of 5.8 million US dollars in exports to 22 countries in the first eleven months of 1998, it was reported on Sunday.The Directorate General of MKEK data shows that a total of 2 million 436.8 thousand US dollars arms and munitions were exported to Bosnia-Herzegovina, and this amount constituted 41.7 percent of MKEK's total exports. As of the end of November 1998, MKEK realized 5 million 831.7 thousand US dollars in exports to 22 countries including the US, Britain, Israel, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Burundi, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and France. MKEK imported a total of 15,297,647 arms-munitions including 8,514 pistols, 133 rifles and 15,289 thousand cartridges worth 5 million 317.9 thousand US dollars in the same period. [11] ITALIAN DANIEL COMPANY BIDDING FOR MODERNIZATION PROJECT OF ERDEMIRANKARA, Dec 27 (A.A) - The Italian Daniel firm submitted a 86 million US dollars bid for the Eregli Steel and Iron Enterprises' (ERDEMIR) ''Completion of Modernization of Capacity Increase Project'' of which project-package is worth of 50 million US dollars, it was reported on Sunday.The ERDEMIR's tender in question was held on 15 December. The Italian Daniel company gave a 86.6 million US dollars bid while the most appropriate bid was presented by the Japanese Mitsubishi with 56.4 million US dollars. ERDEMIR is expected to choose the company which gave the most appropriate bid. The Itachi-Hitachi (Japan), Kvarnedr Metals (Britain), Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan), Marubeni Corp-NNK (Japan), Voest Alpine (Austria) and Daniel (Italy) are bidding for the modernization project while ERDEMIR is still evaluating the bids. [12] EXPORTS FROM BODRUMMUGLA, Dec 27 (A.A) - A total of 363 thousand US dollars of foreign exchange income was obtained from the exports of wooden yachts, carpets, pileless carpets and sponges to several European countries from Bodrum county of Mugla province in the Aegean Region, it was reported on Sunday.The officials from the Bodrum Chamber of Commerce said that the timber yachts were exported to Portugal, France, Britain, Greece and Italy; the sponges were exported to Greece and the carpets and pileless carpets were exported to the US, Austria, Argentina and Switzerland. Officials said the unrecorded exports from of aquacultural products, wooden yachts, carpets, pileless carpets, citrus fruits and other foods from the county to several countries increased over to 15 million US dollars. [13] ABAC, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF DCR, DUFF PHELPS TURKEY: - ''NAME OF CRISIS IN TURKEY IS BOTTLENECK OF FOREIGN FINANCING''ANKARA, Dec 27 (A.A) - Selcuk Abac, the deputy Chairman of the international rating organization DCR, Duff Phelps Turkey, said on Sunday that the crisis in Turkey stemmed from the bottleneck of foreign financing.Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Abas said, ''the name of the crisis in Turkey is foreign source bottleneck'', claiming that Turkey's credibility was low while entering 1999, she was experiencing foreign source shortage, and thus international investors kept themselves away from Turkey. Stressing that the new government, in order to overcome the crisis, was obliged to carry out implementations aiming at removing the lack of confidence, Abac said, ''financing methods, which can build confidence in foreign markets, should be pursued in order to increase Turkey's credibility. The economic promotion should be made better. A stand-by agreement should be signed with the IMF. The credit of the banking sector should be raised by making the inspection mechanisms more effective. The rating implementations should be wide-spreaded and the local rating should start to secure transparency and reliance in the economy.'' ''These developments will enable Turkey to hold the general elections in April 1999 without facing the conditions of crisis,'' Abac added. [14] TRADITIONAL ATATURK RACE STARTS - SIX FOREIGN ATHLETES ATTEND THE RACEANKARA, Dec 27 (A.A) - The traditional ''Great Ataturk Race'' started from Dikmen district in Ankara at 15:05 local time on Sunday.The first race was held in 1936 upon the order of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey, due to his arrival in Ankara on 27 December 1919. A total of 19 men and 23 women athletes are attending the Great Ataturk Race of which course is 10.800 meters in length. Two Ethiopian, two American, one British and one French athletes are also attending the 63rd Great Ataturk Race. [15] MIRSAD TO WORK OUT AGAIN WITH EFES PILSENISTANBUL, Dec 27 (A.A) - Mirsad Turkcan, a basketball player who was drafted by Houston Rockets, a US basketball team in the NBA, will stage a press conference on 28 December due to his return to his former club Efes Pilsen, it was reported on Sunday.Mirsad Turkcan, who decided to come back to Turkey due to the ambiguity in the NBA and who will play for Efes Pilsen in accordance with his contract, will be greeted once again with Efes Pilsen fans after the press conference which will take place at 11:30 local time at the Efes Pilsen Club building in Istanbul. Turkcan will start to work out again with Efes Pilsen by tomorrow. [16] UNDERSECRETARY OF ITALIAN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE: ''THERE IS A NEED FOR A EUROPEAN CONSTITUTION''ROME, Dec 27 (A.A) - Franco Corleone, the Undersecretary of the Italian Ministry of Justice evaluated on Sunday the developments that took place after the arrival of the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK in Rome, adding that ''this incident has shown that the political and legal unity is weak in Europe.''Corleone said that there is a need for European Constitution, adding ''if this is not the case, there is nothing in our hands to solve a problem like the one concerning Abdullah Ocalan, the terrorist chief.'' Addressing an interview to the Italian Corriere della Sera newspaper, Corleone claimed extradition of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief terrorist to Turkey was not possible. Responding to a question asking how this incident will be solved, Corleone said that the chief of the terrorist separatist organization PKK is ready to leave Italy for another country. [17] TURKISH ATHLETES WIN 63RD GREAT ATATURK RACE IN BOTH MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CATEGORIESANKARA, Dec 27 (A.A) - Metin Sazak of Turkey won the 63rd Great Ataturk Race in men's category, and Nuray Surekli of Turkey finished the race in first place in women's category on Sunday.A total of 142 athletes including 23 women attended the 63rd Great Ataturk Race which was organized upon Ataturk's arrival to Ankara on 27 December 1919. A total of 3.5 billion Turkish Liras award was given to the sportsmen and women finished the race in top three places. Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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