Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-09-19

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From: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>

AA Daily

19 Sept 1999 Sunday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] WORLD BANK 1999 WORLD DEVELOPMENT REPORT - TURKEY PROMOTES FROM 23TH PLACE TO 22ND PLACE IN GNP CRITERIA

[03] U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S 54TH TERM ACTIVITIES TO START ON MONDAY

[04] YUCELEN, STATE MINISTER: ''WE WILL FIND A SOLUTION TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS RESULTING FROM THE FUEL OIL WHICH ENTERS INTO TURKEY FROM THE BORDER''

[05] GURTUNA, ISTANBUL MAYOR PAYS A VISIT TO ATHENS

[06] TURKEY-U.S. TEXTILE MEETINGS TO START IN WASHINGTON D.C. ON WEDNESDAY

[07] TURKEY EXPORTS TO INDIA THE MOST IN JANUARY-AUGUST PERIOD

[08] TURKISH POSTAL ADMINISTRATION CHOSEN AS MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE BOARD OF UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION AND DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL

[09] TURKEY-OMAN JEC MEETING - KECECILER, STATE MINISTER: ''WE HAVE TO INCREASE OUR BILATERAL TRADE TO 200 MILLION DOLLARS AT FIRST STAGE''

[10] CONTACTS OF YILMAZ, ANAP LEADER, AND ERSUMER, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTER, IN MOSCOW

[11] GURTUNA, ISTANBUL MAYOR VISITS REGIONS HIT BY QUAKE IN ATHENS

[12] YALOVA, STATE MINISTER STAGES A PRESS BRIEFING: - ''COST OF DAMAGE IN TUPRAS REFINERY IS FORESEEN AS 115 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS'' - ''95 PERCENT OF THIS AMOUNT WILL BE MET BY INSURANCE FIRM''

[13] YALOVA, STATE MINISTER STAGES A PRESS BRIEFING: ''WE'LL PUT OUT ORUS, TURBAN AND ETA TO TENDER WITHIN COMING FEW DAYS''

[14] BURNS, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO GREECE: ''WE ARE READY TO HELP IN MAKING DIALOGUE BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECE DEAL WITH MAIN ISSUES''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL) HAVE A GOOD SLEEP
The security of Topkapı Palace in Istanbul depends on God! A security official was sleeping when the treasury room was full of tourists on July 5, 1999. We can't know who stole the handmade Koran from the palace, but we can say that the security in the palace is very weak.

THREE RELIGIONS UNITE IN ISTANBUL
The Armenian church in Balat district of Istanbul had a very interesting ceremony last week. Hundreds of moslem, Christian and Jewish people both in Turkey and coming from Canadia, Germany, France and Australia waited for a miracle. Everybody prayed God to make their relatives and friends be healthy.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

TOLLS DOUBLED
Tolls on both Istanbul's bridges across the Bosphorus doubled overnight. The toll for cars increased to one million Turkish liras.

GOVERNMENT CAN ONLY COLLAPSE WITHIN ITSELF
Mesut Yılmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) who went to Moscow, had a promise from mayor of Moscow who said he would send 10,000 tents to Turkey. Speaking to reporters in the plane, Yılmaz said ''the government can collapse only within itself.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

NEW PERIOD IN CONSTRUCTION
Turkey is in a process of questioning everything that has been done till today in the construction sector. The process of construction will be reconstructed.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

WTO TO CONVENE IN CHILI
The World Tourism Organization (WTO) will make its last meeting in this century in Santiago, capital of Chili, between September 24 and October 1, 1999. Erkan Mumcu, Tourism Minister, will also participate in the meeting. The tourism ministers of nearly 60 countries are expected to participate in the meeting and the ministers will discuss the ''draft on the ethical principles in tourism.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)

INTERNATIONAL IBS COMPANY SAYS DEATH TOLL IS MORE THAN ANNOUNCED
The International IBS Marketing Research Services company said that the death toll in Avcilar, Degirmendere, Golcuk, Izmit, Sakarya and Yalova is more than announced. The survey carried out by the company indicated that the death toll is two times more than the toll officially announced. The survey also said that only 17 percent of the buildings are strong and that the tendency to emigrate from the region is 28 percent.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

TOWARDS A NEW PERIOD WITH EU
Romano Prodi, the Chairman of the European Union (EU) Commission said that he favours to improve relations with Turkey.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

CAY, STATE MINISTER, IN BAKU FOR BAKU-CEYHAN
Abdulhaluk Cay, the State Minister, went to Baku to represent President Suleyman Demirel in a ceremony held for the fifth anniversary of the Azerbaijani International Oil Consortium (AIOC). Cay will emphasize that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline will make significant contributions to the regional stability and welfare.

[02] WORLD BANK 1999 WORLD DEVELOPMENT REPORT - TURKEY PROMOTES FROM 23TH PLACE TO 22ND PLACE IN GNP CRITERIA

The World Bank 1999 World Development Report indicated that the activity in Turkey's economy showed a stable increase in accordance with the 1988 figures.

The report said that the GNP of Turkey which was 199.5 billion U.S. dollars in 1997 increased to 200.5 billion U.S. dollars in 1998.

The report noted that Turkey is in the 89th place in the national income per capita criteria. Although Turkey's national income increases rapidly, the national income per capita is still 3,160 U.S. dollars. This figure is insufficient when compared with the developed countries.

The report stated that Turkey which showed a significant economic activity in the last decade, promoted from low middle-class category to high middle- class category.

The report added that the global economic crisis negatively affected the GNP rate and the rates of the national income per capita.

[03] U.N. GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S 54TH TERM ACTIVITIES TO START ON MONDAY

Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister will represent Turkey in the meetings.

Cem who came to New York on Saturday, works with Volkan Vural, Turkey's Permanent Representative to the U.N. and other diplomats today. Cem will address the General Assembly on Thursday afternoon.

After participating in the opening session of the meetings, Cem will meet respectively with his Spanish counterpart Abel Matutes, Belgian Foreign Minister Eric Derycke, the Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jacques Poo and the Danish Foreign Minister Niels Helveg Petersen.

Turkish-EU relations and the decision that will be taken about Turkey in Helsinki summit are expected to form the main issue that will be taken up during Cem's contacts with his counterparts.

The activities of the U.N. General Assembly will start by the speeches of Kofi Annan, the U.N. Secretary General and Theo-Ben Gurirab, the Chairman of the General Assembly.

U.S. President Bill Clinton is expected to address the General Assembly on Monday.

Glafkos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader is also expected to issue his speech on Thursday.

Yorgo Papandreu, the Greek Foreign Minister who will speak in the General Assembly on Wednesday, is expected to meet with Ismail Cem on Friday.

The opening meetings of the U.N. General Assembly will last for two weeks and end on October 2.

Diplomats pointed out that the Cyprus question is not expected to be taken up specially in the General Assembly this year.

However, Kofi Annan is expected to invite Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cypurs (TRNC) and Glafkos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader to head-to-head negotiations in the beginning of October.

[04] YUCELEN, STATE MINISTER: ''WE WILL FIND A SOLUTION TO OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS RESULTING FROM THE FUEL OIL WHICH ENTERS INTO TURKEY FROM THE BORDER''

Speaking in the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Petroleum Products Employers Trade Union (PUIS), Yucelen noted that the private distribution companies can apply different deadlines due to the legal gap.

Stressing that the Petrol Ofisi Corp. (POAS) which is a public institution will revise the freedom of application about this issue, Yucelen stated that the POAS enters into a rapid privatization process and that they want to fulfil this process in the shortest time.

Recommending that the branches of Petrol Ofisi should set up a system to control each other, Yucelen stressed that he agrees that the profit rates of the branches are low and that he will inform Cumhur Ersumer, the Energy and Natural Resources Minister, about this issue.

Recalling that a commission was set up after the government was formed to examine the border trade issue, Yucelen said, ''the measures to be taken and the path to be followed will be determined in accordance with the decisions of the commission and will be submitted to the Council of Ministers. We have launched an implementation to employ our citizens living in the eastern and southeastern Turkey. We will overcome the problems. We will find a solution which will please everybody.''

[05] GURTUNA, ISTANBUL MAYOR PAYS A VISIT TO ATHENS

Dimitri Avramopulos, the mayor of Athens welcomed Gurtuna by kissing him on the cheek at Athens Airport.

Issuing a statement at the ariport, Gurtuna said that their visit is a symbolic, but a sincere one.

''Our visit has a serious meaning, if the warm relations between the two peoples becomes permanent, politicians will also abide by this atmosphere. Thus a historical process and period will start,'' said Gurtuna.

Avramopulos who responded to the words of Gurtuna by saying ''we share the same idea,'' added that ''we also should launch efforts for starting this period.''

Noting that the visit of Gurtuna is very important for them, Avramopulos said that they will visit regions hit by the quake in Athens by helicopters with Gurtuna and explain the recent situation in Athens to him.

Gurtuna will stay for a short time in Athens, said Avramopulos, adding they accept this visit as a ''start'' and they wish Gurtuna to come to Athens for a longer time.

''I wish our friendship will be continuous,'' said the mayor of Athens.

Gurtana later expressed condolences over the demise of Yannis Kranidiotis, the Greek Deputy Foreign Minister and his son due to a plane crash.

''We believe in this: the remedy of pain is love. Pain lessens by sharing it, whereas love increases by sharing it. We came here to share your pain. This closeness will set up a very serious friendship and love bridge between Turkish and Greek peoples. We wish peace to install our region and basin. I believe that Istanbul and Athens will succeed in that,'' Gurtuna added.

[06] TURKEY-U.S. TEXTILE MEETINGS TO START IN WASHINGTON D.C. ON WEDNESDAY

Kursad Tuzmen, the Undersecretary of the Foreign Trade and Don Johnson, the Chief Textile Negotiator of the U.S. Trade Representation will preside the two delegations during the meetings, which will last for two days.

Prime Ministry Foreign Trade Undersecretariat recalled that ''Turkey requested on September 28 to meet with the American officials by sending them a note as the quota amounts in Turkish exports of textile and ready-to- wear clothes to the U.S. don't meet the need of the exporters.'' The statement pointed out that an agreement was reached to hold the mentioned meetings between 22-23 September in Washington D.C.

''Turkey's exports of textile and ready-to-wear-clothes to the U.S. is regulated by Agreement on Reciprocal Limit in Trade signed on January 1, 1995 within the framework of the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Textile and Cloth. The agreement foresees gradual decrease of quotas till 2005, when all the qoutas will be lifted. The U.S. applies a restriction in the category of 21 textile and 21 ready-to-wear clothes of Turkey. The exports of Turkey to this country in the two sectors was 743 million dollars in 1996, 867 million dollars in 1997 and 998 million dollars in 1998. Turkey's exports of textile and ready-to-wear clothes form 45 percent of the total exportation of Turkey to this country, '' the statement added.

[07] TURKEY EXPORTS TO INDIA THE MOST IN JANUARY-AUGUST PERIOD

The figures of the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat indicated that Russia was the country where Turkey exported the less by 68.7 percent.

The figures showed that the highest increase in Turkey's exports was recorded in the exports to Yemen by 430 percent and the highest decrease in Turkey's exports was recorded in the exports to Russia with 64.9 percent.

The figures indicated that Turkey exported products worth of 96 million U.S. dollars to India in the mentioned period. Bangladesh with 20 million U.S. dollar exports and Pakistan with 102 million U.S. dollar exports followed India.

Turkey exported products worth of 357 million U.S. dollars to Russia while she exported seven million U.S. dollar products to Chili and 12 million U.S. dollar products to Kyrgyzistan.

[08] TURKISH POSTAL ADMINISTRATION CHOSEN AS MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE BOARD OF UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION AND DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL

The Directorate General of Postal Administration statement said that the 22nd Congress of the UPU was held in Beijing, China between August 23 and September 15, 1999.

The statement noted that Turkish Postal Administration was chosen as the members of the executive boards of the Administrative Council and Postal Administration Council of the UPU and as the deputy chairman of the Administrative Council.

Emphasizing that Thomas Leavy, the Director General of UPU, and the representatives of the member countries promised to help Turkey following the quake disaster, the statement stressed that a representative of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Postal Administration who is not a member of the UPU, also participated in the congress under the auspices of Turkish delegation.

The statement said that the Turkish Postal Administration submitted a declaration to the UPU Secretariat, emphasizing that the Greek Cypriot delegation has no right to represent Cyprus and the Turkish nation on Cyprus.

[09] TURKEY-OMAN JEC MEETING - KECECILER, STATE MINISTER: ''WE HAVE TO INCREASE OUR BILATERAL TRADE TO 200 MILLION DOLLARS AT FIRST STAGE''

Participating in the seminar namely ''Investment Opportunities in Turkey and Oman,'' held within the framework of the Turkey-Oman Second Term Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meetings held in Muscat, the capital of Oman, Kececiler stated that Turkey attributes great importance to strengthening commercial and economic relations with Oman.

Noting that all appropriate conditions will be formed to enable the firms of the two countries to carry out their cooperation activities, Kececiler pointed out that an important part of the agreements which will form the legal infrastructure of commercial and economic relations will be concluded during the JEC meetings.

''Turkey's share in Oman total trade is very low like 0,2 percent. We have to increase our bilateral trade to 200 million dollars,'' said Kececiler, adding the lack of information, contact and promotion between firms caused the low amount of trade between the two contries.

Stressing that a Business Council has to be formed to regularly bring together businessmen of the two countries, Kececiler said that certain Turkish exports are exported to Oman via Dubai and this increases the cost of Turkish exports.

Setting up a Turkish Trade Centre in Muscat will contribute to pormoting Turkish commodities in this country, said Kececiler, adding the sectors of agriculture, food, tourism, construction equipment and contractorship are the leading sectors which can be reciprocally developed between Turkey and Oman.

''I invite Omani businessmen to invest in Turkey and cooperate with us,'' said Kececiler.

Shaki Salem Bin Al Khalily, the Omani Industry and Trade Chamber said in his part that the cooperation between the two countries have to be promoted and joint investments can later be undertaken in third countries.

Many Turkish and Omani businessmen participated in the seminar.

[10] CONTACTS OF YILMAZ, ANAP LEADER, AND ERSUMER, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTER, IN MOSCOW

Addressing to the Turkish businessmen, Yilmaz said that he asked for the support of the leaders of the Russian political parties to make the Russian Parliament ratify two agreements signed between Turkey and Russia which will improve the economic relations.

Yilmaz noted that he emphasized this issue in his meetings with Yuri Lujkov, the leader of the Motherland movement in Russia, and Gennadi Zuganov, the leader of the Communist Party which is the biggest party in Duma, the sub- branch of the Russian parliament; adding that the two leaders promised to give support for the two agreements.

Later, Yilmaz participated in the breakfast which was held by the Russian- Turkish Businessmen Union. The Turkish Trade Center which is planned to be opened in Moscow in 2001, was introduced during the meeting. The center will cost 35 million U.S. dollars and 300 Turkish companies will serve there.

Speaking in the meeting, Yilmaz drew the attention to realizing such projects when Russia is in crisis and recommended Turkish businessmen making permanent investments in this country.

Stressing that Russia is one of the most important trading partners of Turkey and the trading volume between the two countries was four billion U.S. dollars despite the crisis, Yilmaz noted that Russian tourists are at the second place among the tourists who visit Turkey and that they will probably promote to the first place this year.

Yilmaz said, ''all these indicators show that Russia is among the most important partners of Turkey and will be one of the significant markets for Turkey in the future despite the economic crisis.''

Yilmaz continued, ''the crisis will probably continue in the following years. But, the crisis are significant terms for opportunities. Turkish businessmen will undergo an examination and will be successful in this examination. We believe in the future of this country and to this end, we call the businessmen to utilize this crisis and to make permanent investments. When the western investors leave this country, I ask you to utilize this crisis.''

Stressing that it is necessary to export goods to this country and to import goods from this country, Yilmaz stated that they signed the Blue Stream natural gas pipeline project because they thought that it was necessary to have reciprocal trade and realize exports and imports at the same time.

Noting that the Blue Stream is one of the most significant projects in the world, Yilmaz stressed that Turkey will purchase 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas from Russia as the capacity of the western line of the pipeline which carries natural gas from Russia increased and that Russia will meet 60 percent natural gas demand of Turkey in 2007.

Yilmaz added that this will increase Turkey's exports to Russia.

Stating that the government attributes importance to improvement of economic relations with Russia, Yilmaz emphasized that they consider the crisis in Russia as an opportunity to improve the relations and they promise to support the businessmen.

Yilmaz said that the visit of Premier Bulent Ecevit which is planned to be held in November on the invitation of Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister, will be an important step for improvement of the economic relations.

[11] GURTUNA, ISTANBUL MAYOR VISITS REGIONS HIT BY QUAKE IN ATHENS

Gurtuna, who firstly visited Metamorfosis region in north of Athens with Dimitri Avramopulos, the mayor of Athens, made observations in the rubble of five-storey Ricomex plastic factory, which collapsed due to the quake.

Avramopulos, the mayor of Athens told Gurtuna that more than 30 persons died in the factory, 7-8 persons were pulled alive from debris and three of them were rescued by the Turkish voluntary search and rescue team AKUT.

''I wish we won't have such disasters again in Turkey and Greece,'' said Gurtuna, expressing condolences for those who died in the quakes.

Later the two mayors visited 28 districts in four regions by helicopter.

Gurtuna told A.A correspondent after the tour that ''firstly we saw undamaged regions, later devastated regions. They set up tent cities, we saw them. We got information about the damage and death toll.''

[12] YALOVA, STATE MINISTER STAGES A PRESS BRIEFING: - ''COST OF DAMAGE IN TUPRAS REFINERY IS FORESEEN AS 115 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS'' - ''95 PERCENT OF THIS AMOUNT WILL BE MET BY INSURANCE FIRM''

Staging a press briefing, Yalova stated that ''as it was earlier announced to the public that the damage caused by the massive quake and fire, our gross sales loss is 246.9 trillion Turkish liras in 1999 and the share of this amount in the 3,6 quadrillion sales programme foreseen for 1999 is 7 percent.''

Noting that sales loss and profit loss are confused in some statements issued to the media by various sources, Yalova said that sales loss is described as profit loss, adding this is not true.

Stressing that plant-2 and plant-5 crude oil units of Izmit Refinery will start to function in a period less than four months, Yalova gave information about the targets aiming to be reached till next year as follows:

''Izmit refinery:19.500 cubic meters/day, Izmir refinery: 38,000 cubic meters/day, Kırıkkale refinery: 16,000 cubic meters/day, Batman Refinery: 2500 cubic meters/day: totally 76,000 cubic meters/day = 22.1 million ton/year. Starting from September 1, 2000 the total capacity will reach 92, 500 cubic meters/day = 27.6 million tonnes/year.''

Yalova pointed out that efforts launched to operate again Izmit Refinery which was heavily damaged by the massive earthquake on August 17 continue, adding there won't be any problem in distribution of the product.

''Our firm will reach its goals targetted for 1999 without resorting to additional measures such as increasing price or costs,'' said Yalova, adding no problem will arise in the country about meeting the need of fuel oil products due to the fire in Izmit refinery.

Yalova emphosized that the production loss of TUPRAS is being met by the production increase in Izmir and Kırıkkale refineries, adding there won't be any decrease in supply of fuel oil products in Turkey, because if there is any need, it will be imported.

Yalova, the State Minister summed up the working programme of TUPRAS's production till Izmit refinery starts to function, as follows:

TUPRAS Programme before quake and fire:

Izmit Refinery: 36,000 cubicmeters/day,

Izmir Refinery: 37,734 cubic meters/day,

Kırıkkale Refinery: 12,593 cubicmeters/day,

Batman Refinery: 2,317 cubicmeters/day

Total: 88,647 cubicmeters/day =

24,7 million tonnes/year

Existing Programme:

Izmit Refinery -

Izmir Refinery: 38,000 cubicmeters/day,

Kırıkkale Refinery: 16,000 cubicmeters/day

Batman Refinery: 2.500 cubicmeters/day

Total: 56.500 cubicmeters/day.

A capacity of 21.6 million ton/year is provided if the oil which was processed till today is taken into consideration.

Noting that Izmir and Kırıkkale refineries will function with high capacity and the unprocessed crude oil amount will be 3,1 million tons, Yalova added that ''thus 1.5 million tons of petrol product will be met by imports.''

[13] YALOVA, STATE MINISTER STAGES A PRESS BRIEFING: ''WE'LL PUT OUT ORUS, TURBAN AND ETA TO TENDER WITHIN COMING FEW DAYS''

Staging a press briefing, Yalova stated that certain parts of Taksan, Tumosan, Asilcelik and Turkish Agricultural Equipment Institution, five institutions belonging to Sumer Holding and Et-Balık Institution will be put out to tender in the last quarter of this year.

Recalling that the Chairman of the Privatization Administration Chairmanship put out Ankara Insurance and Guven Insurance firms to tender, Yalova pointed out that ''we will take into consideration the specialities of the Southeatern region as we also noted in our coalition programme while putting out public institutions to tender.''

Responding to a question, Yalova said that ''I am regretful about the fact that Turkey comes among the countries which couldn't actively realize privatization although she accepted to do this 15 years ago.''

[14] BURNS, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO GREECE: ''WE ARE READY TO HELP IN MAKING DIALOGUE BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECE DEAL WITH MAIN ISSUES''

Issuing a statement to Kathimerini newspaper published in Athens, Burns said that the approach of the Turkish and Greek peoples following the quake disasters in the two countries is encouraging, adding ''we hope important results to come out about important issues.''

Noting that the U.S. welcomes the bilateral meetings held between diplomatic delegations of Turkey and Greece, Burns said that ''however the thing that matters here is the fact that whatever the two countries do they do it by themselves. This is the best method in respect of genuine peace and natural relations.''

Madeleine Albright, the U.S. State Secretary will also take up the Cyprus problem during her contacts with Ismail Cem, the Turkish Foreign Minister and Yorgo Papandreu, the Greek Foreign Minister next week, said Burns, adding ''diplomats can never take steps back. We are resolved to do everything that is possible to install peace on Cyprus.''

Referring to the relations of Turkey with the European Union (EU), Burns said that the U.S. has been supporting for a long time the formation of such a relation which will carry Turkey to EU membership.

Stressing that they asked Greece and the EU to give candidacy status to Turkey, Burns added that ''we believe that U.S. and EU's having healthy and natural relations with Turkey will be useful for all of us.''

A.A

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