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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-10-10
[01] AA Daily
10 October 1999 Sunday
[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
[03] These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in
Turkey's press on Oct 10, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these
stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
[04] HURRIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- THERE IS ANOTHER CHANCE The
Turkish national soccer team drew German team 0-0 in the European
Qualifying match. Germans were happy about the score, as we played better,
but couldn't have a goal. Our chance of playing in Euro 2000 still
continues.
[05] CASINO KING ESCAPES TO CARIBEANS Sudi Ozkan, who has two giant casinos
in Sofia and who can't come to Turkey due to fright, escaped to Caribeans
as he was afraid of being killed. Ozkan can't come to Turkey as he has a
great amount of tax debt in Turkey.
[06] MILLIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- IMF:VALUE ADDED TAX SHOULD BE
LIFTED International Monetary Fund (IMF) proposed Turkey to lift value
added tax. IMF thinks that the system does not work effectively. The paper
thinks that this system should not be totally lifted, but corrected in some
important aspects.
[07] PRESIDENT DEMIREL SPEAKS ABOUT ECONOMY Speaking in the tenth general
assembly meeting of Turkish Independent Accountants', Financial
Consultants' and Authorized Financial Consultants' Chambers Union (TURMOB),
President Demirel said that the inflation is not a commercial or economic
event, but rather a monster which deteriorates the society in all aspects.
First condition of decreasing the inflation is privatization and the second
condition is overcoming the high interest rates, said Demirel. SABAH
(LIBERAL) - -------------- FIRST SNOW OF THIS YEAR FALLS ON ILGAZ MOUNTAIN
The first snow of this year fell on the Ilgaz Mountain. The Ilgaz Mountain
had the first snow of this year due to the cold and rainy weather. The
officials said that the thickness of the snow was seven centimetres.
[08] STATE MINISTER ONAL:''TWO BILLION U.S. DOLLARS TO QUAKE SURVIVORS''
State Minister Recep Onal said that the expenditures in the disaster region
will reach 1 billion dollars by the end of this month, adding the total
expenditure can reach 2 billion dollars till the end of this year. Onal
noted that if a non-interest surplus of 5 percent is provided in the budget
of 2000, the inflation rate will absolutely decrease to 25 percent at the
end of 2000.
[09] CUMHURIYET (LEFT) - ---------------- U.S. DISCLOSES LIST OF TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS Terrorist PKK and DHKP-C organizations were included in the
list of terrorist organizations disclosed by the U.S. State Department with
the directives of Madeleine Albright, the U.S. State Secretary. The part of
the list which concerned the terrorist PKK organization stressed that this
terrorist organization targetted establishing an independent Kurdish state
in southeastern part of Turkey. Noting that the primary targets of PKK are
Turkish government and security forces in Turkey, the list stated that the
PKK found a moderate atmosphere in Syria, Iraq and Iran to settle.
[10] STATE MINISTER GUREL LEAVES FOR U.S. Sukru Sina Gurel, the State
Minister, left for the U.S. Prior to his departure from the Ataturk Airport
of Istanbul, Gurel said that he will later proceed to Canada. Emphasizing
that he will meet with the Turks living in the U.S. and Canada and the
representatives of the Turkish associations and organizations during his
visit to these two countries, Gurel noted that he will visit Washington
D.C., New York, Chicago and Los Angeles cities of the U.S. and Toronto and
Ottawa cities of Canada during his ten-day visit.
[11] RADIKAL (LEFT) - --------------- EDUCATION MINISTRY TO SEND WORKING
CHILDREN TO SCHOOL A project of the National Education Ministry and
International Labour Organization (ILO) is underway to make working
children go to school. Officials said that the project will first be
implemented in Adana, Ankara, Diyarbakır, Icel, Istanbul and Van provinces.
[12] EDUCATION TO START TOMORROW Metin Bostancioglu, the National Education
Minister, said that the education in the disaster zone will start on
Monday. Speaking in an opening ceremony of a school in Lefkosa, capital of
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Bostancioglu noted that the
education cannot be neglected and postponed. Stressing that there is a race
in education field in the world rather than a military race or industrial
race, Bostancioglu stated that those who win this race will lead all the
other countries in the 21st century.
[13] TÜRKİYE (RIGHT) - ---------------- TURKEY-MIDDLE EAST-EUROPE ENERGY
COOPERATION Turkey-Middle East-Europe will be connected to each other by
energy lines. Officials said that the Balkans interconnected energy system,
which will also include Turkey and Greece, has been decided to be set up.
After the joint energy project of Turkey with four Middle Eastern countries
namely Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and Syria, which is still underway, Turkey will
also take part in another important energy project in the Balkans.
[14] PREFABRICATED HUTS TO BE READY NEXT WEEK Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit
and the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) said that certain
prefabricated residence units which are being constructed, will be ready
next weekend. Speaking after the DSP meeting, Ecevit said that Party
Assembly members, ministers and group administrators gave detailed
information about the problems faced in the disaster region. Ecevit said,
''new measures are on the way. Starting from next weekend, the settlement
units composed of prefabricated huts will start to open. We are sorry that
citizens who live in tents are also effected badly by rain. However the
possibilities of Turkey and the whole world are limited.''
[15] ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) - -------------------- RTUK TO BECOME LIKE
MILITARY BARRACKS The Press Council criticized the draft law on Supreme
Radio and Television Board (RTUK) prepared by the government. ''When we
compare the law in force with the draft law, we see that these provisions
of the latter seem a clear threat that stands in front of the freedom of
communication,'' the Council claimed.
[16] DEMIREL: ''STATE SHOULD WITHDRAW FROM THE BANKS'' President Suleyman
Demirel said that the first condition to decrease the inflation below ten
percent is the privatization. Demirel added that the second condition is
overcoming the high interest rates.
[17] AFTERSHOCKS CONTINUE TO SHAKE DISASTER ZONE
[18] ISTANBUL, Oct 10 (A.A) - The aftershocks continued to shake the
disaster zone following the devastating earthquake in August, on Sunday.
The Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Center and Seismology
Institute said that eleven aftershocks were recorded from 5.30 p.m. on
Saturday afternoon to 5.58 a.m. Sunday morning. The epicenters, hour and
the magnitudes of the aftershocks are listed below:
[19] Date: Hour: Magnitude: Epicenter: - ---- ----- ----------- ----------
09.10.99 17.30 2.9 Akyazi-Adapazari " 18.24 2.9 Hendek-Adapazari " 21.30
3.2 Yunak-Konya " 21.48 2.9 Marmaris-Mugla " 22.01 2.9 Goynuk-Bolu " 23.40
2.9 Kirkagac-Manisa 10.10.99 00.32 3.3 Izmit " 00.42 2.6 Cinarcik-Yalova "
01.05 2.6 Cinarcik-Yalova " 02.16 2.7 Hendek-Adapazari " 05.58 3.1 Marmaris-
Mugla
[20] Meanwhile, quakes shook Marmaris county of Mugla province, central
Konya province and Bolu province.
[21] STATE MINISTER GUREL IN WASHINGTON D.C.
[22] WASHINGTON D.C., Oct 10 (A.A) - Sukru Sina Gurel, the State Minister
and the government spokesman, arrived in Washington D.C., the first leg of
his visit to the U.S., on Sunday. Gurel will meet with the representatives
of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA) and the
representatives of the associations of the Turkish students in the U.S.
during his contacts in the U.S. Later, Gurel will visit Chicago and Los
Angeles and depart for Ottawa, capital of Canada, and Toronto, an important
city in Canada.
[23] TURKISH AGRICULTURE DELEGATION COMPLETES CONTACTS IN UZBEKISTAN
[24] TASHKENT, Oct 10 (A.A) - The Turkish agriculture delegation completed
contacts in Uzbekistan on Saturday. The delegation headed by Ali Ihsan
Gultekin, the Agricultural Enterprises General Director (TIGEM), returned
to Turkey. Gultekin told A.A correspondent that their contacts in
Uzbekistan were very positive and that a delegation from Uzbek Agriculture
and Water Works Directorate will visit Turkey. Emphasizing that the Uzbek
delegation will visit the TIGEM enterprises, Gultekin noted that the water
cannot be used efficiently and the animal breeding is not at the desired
level in Uzbekistan. Gultekin said, ''we explained them our experiences.
Our experiences drew their attention. These contacts should be increased.''
[25] U.S. ASKS EU NOT TO ISOLATE TURKEY FROM ESDI
[26] WASHINGTON D.C. Oct 10 (A.A) - The decision of Prime Minister Bulent
Ecevit and the U.S. President Bill Clinton to act together to prevent
isolation of Turkey from the new European defense initiative of the
European Union (EU), started to yield results. The U.S. conveyed its view
in a meeting with other NATO countries and EU member states last week that
Turkey has to have an equal right to speak with other EU members within the
initiative of European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI), sources said
on Sunday. U.S. officials had said that the U.S. still played the biggest
role regarding the defense of Europe and reminded that the EU thought of
benefitting from the U.S. opportunities for ESDI. U.S. officials had
pointed out that as long as an independent European defense system was not
set up, non-EU countries like the U.S. and Turkey should not be isolated
from ESDI. ESDI does not foresee equal right to speak to Turkey. During the
last NATO summit held in Washington D.C. in April, Turkey said if she was
isolated from the decision making in ESDI, she would veto the transfer of
NATO opportunities in Europe to ESDI. The U.S. administration which didn't
extend full support to Turkey in the summit, said during Ecevit-Clinton
meeting held on September 28 that it would give support to Turkey about
ESDI.
[27] TALAY, CULTURE MINISTER, OPENS GORDIAN MUSEUM
[28] POLATLI, Oct 10 (A.A) - Istemihan Talay, the Culture Minister, opened
the Gordian Museum on Saturday. Speaking in the ceremony held for the
opening of the Gordiam Museum which was shown as a candidate to ''2000 Year
European Museum Award'', Talay said that Turkey and Turkish nation believe
that the values of thousand year Anatolian history belong to themselves.
Emphasizing that the Gordian museum which was ''a small village museum''
turned into a ''cultural heritage which deserves the European Museum
Award'', Talay noted that the belief and efforts of the people living in
Polatli county helped this change. Stressing that Turkey participated in
the campaign titled ''Europe: a joint heritage'' which was launched in
Bucharest on September 11, 1999; Talay said, ''we will also participate in
this campaign which will transfer the traces of Anatolia to the European
cultural heritage in the following decade by the theme saying 'future is
the trace you leave behind.' This is the concrete evidence of our unity
with the European cultural values.'' Later, Talay opened the museum.
Gordian was the center of Phrygia, an ancient civilization that lived in
Polatli county of Ankara.
[29] CONCERT GIVEN IN BRUSSELS FOR QUAKE SURVIVORS
[30] BRUSSELS, Oct 10 (A.A) - A concert was given in Brussels, the capital
of Belgium, for the quake survivors on Saturday. More than 20 singers,
including Nedim Nalbantoglu and Nesko Nesev, Gultekinler, Erken Ogur and
Ismail Demircioglu and Husna sang for the quake survivors in Turkey. The
revenues from the tickets sold at 600 francs which is equivalent to nearly
eight million Turkish liras, will be donated to the quake survivors to
provide prefabricated huts. The organizators informed the audience about
the quake disaster and called them to help the survivors in the concert.
The officials said that the aid would be sent to Turkey through the non-
governmental organizations.
[31] MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS GOKALP: ''I WON'T PERMIT
ANIMAL SMUGGLING''
[32] ANKARA, Oct 10 (A.A) - Husnu Yusuf Gokalp, the Minister of Agriculture
and Rural Affairs said on Sunday that the animal sector is in a bad
situation due to animal smuggling into Turkey from the Iranian and Iraqi
borders. Responding to questions of A.A. correspondent, Gokalp said that
''I won't permit animal smuggling.'' Noting that annualy 400-500 thousand
cattles and 4-5 million sheep are brought illegally to Turkey, Gokalp
stated that Turkey loses 200-250 trillion Turkish liras of tax income due
to these animals having a market value of 300-350 trillion liras. Pointing
out that the terrorist organization PKK gets a commission of 10-15 percent
from the illegal animal trade and earns annually 30 trillion Turkish liras,
Gokalp said that a strike was blown on the animal smuggling due to the
measures they took in September. ''We guess that nearly 10,000 animals are
kept waiting in the border, I won't permit that,'' said Gokalp, adding the
animal markets were closed as of September 13 in Hakkari, Van, Agrı, Igdır
and Sırnak; animal trade stopped and continious controls were held in motor
ways. Gokalp stressed that he could go and stay in Hakkari for few weeks to
prevent animal smuggling if necessary.
[33] COAST AEGEAN MUNICIPALITIES UNION MEETING
[34] KUSADASI, Oct 10 (A.A) - The Turkish and Greek delegations came
together at a dinner on Saturday. The delegations which attended the Coast
Aegean Municipalities Union meeting, gathered together in front of the
municipality hall of Kusadasi county of western Aydin province prior to the
dinner. The two delegations started to walk from the municipality hall
until the caravansaray where the dinner was to be held. Following the walk,
Fuat Akdogan, Kusadasi Mayor, and Fligos Petruskas, Samos Mayor, set free
peace pigeons. Akdogan said that the pigeons were the symbol of peace and
brotherhood and that the pigeons will meet each other whereever they go.
Petrukas said that they will carry out efforts for becoming sister cities
and that they consider Kusadasi as their sister city at the moment. Later,
the delegations entered into the caravansaray to participate in the dinner.
The administrators of the Kusadasi Chamber of Commerce made a statement
during the dinner titled ''For a Peaceful Trade in the Aegean.''
Emphasizing that the problems arising from visa procedures between Turkey
and the Islands should be solved, the statement said, ''the necessary
initiatives to make the legal arrangements for the coastal trade should be
carried out and fulfilled. The term of staying in Turkey which is 24 hours
at the moment, should be extended for the tourists who come from the Greek
Islands. We wish that the Turkish and Greek chambers of commerce continue
the cooperation to improve the peace between the two countries.'' Meanwhile,
the aid collected in Samos for the quake survivors in Turkey arrived in
Kusadasi. The Greek delegation which fetched the aid materials said that
they brought clothes and food. The Greek delegation will leave Kusadasi on
Sunday.
[35] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT'S VISIT TO RUSSIA
[36] MOSCOW, Oct 10 (A.A) - Turkey and Russia are claimed on Sunday to sign
a document foreseing ''cooperation in struggle against international
terrorism and separatism'' during the visit of Premier Bulent Ecevit to
Moscow next month. This document is expected to incorporate common measures
in the struggle against ''terrorism and and separitists,'' said Interfax
agency based upon the Russian sources, adding this can be signed after the
meeting between Ecevit and Vladimir Putin, the Russian Prime Minister on
November 5. One source said ''the Turkish side expressed her interest of
signing such a document.'' Ecevit's visit to Russia is planned to be held
between 4-6 November.
[37] FOREIGN SUPPORT TO GAP
[38] ANKARA, Oct 10 (A.A) - The efforts to use foreign resources in the
construction of water units within the framework of the Southeastern
Anatolia Project (GAP) were accelerated. The officials at the Directorate
General of State Water Works told A.A correspondent on Sunday that Turkey
started holding contacts with consortiums including the Spanish and Israeli
companies. The officials said that Turkey launched contacts with the
consortiums for the two significant irrigation project to put into effect
the financial protocol signed among Turkey, Spain and Israel in 1998.
Emphasizing that the necessary construction and finance agreements will be
signed with the Israeli Tahal Consulting Eng company for the Yaylakovasi
Project and with Spanish Plasticos Mondargon company for Bozova Irrigation
Project in the shortest time, the officials noted that the works concerning
the two irrigation projects can be started next year. The officials added
that the necessary finance for the projects will be met by the foreign
loans provided by the related companies. The Turkish companies approved by
the Spanish and Israeli companies, will also take place in the irrigation
projects.
[39] COAST AEGEAN MUNICIPALITIES UNION MEETING
[40] KUSADASI, Oct 10 (A.A) - The Turkish and Greek journalists who
followed the Coast Aegean Municipalities Union meeting issued a joint
declaration on Sunday. Emphasizing that they desire lasting friendship and
brotherhood, the journalists asked the politicians of Turkey and Greece not
to stand in front of the peace demands of the two nations. Pointing out
that they consider the quake tragedies in two countries as an important
step for peace, the journalists said, ''we do not want to become the
instruments of the international weapon monopolies which only think of
their own interests and try to make the two nations enemies and the efforts
of making the two nations passive by digressing them from their common
interests. We, the Greek and Turkish journalists, think that the
politicians of the two countries should not be an obstacle for the peace
and friendship demands of the two nations.'' ''The journalists of the two
countries want to say that we neither want to have an artificial hostility
which is created by today's world conditions and nor a transitory
friendship caused by the Marmara and Athens quakes. We desire mediums, in
which the lasting friendship and brotherhood that are set up by the
governments and politicians of the two countries, will prevail,'' the
journalists added. The declaration also called the Turkish and Greek press
agencies to pursue a broadcasting policy which will improve the friendship
and brotherhood rather than a policy which provokes hatred and hostility.
[41] COAST AEGEAN MUNICIPALITIES UNION MEETING
[42] KUSADASI, Oct 10 (A.A) - The Turkish and Greek delegations which
participated in the Coast Aegean Municipalities Union meeeting, issued a
statement on Sunday. Fuat Akdogan, the Chairman of the Union, and Fligos
Petruskas, the Mayor of Samos, read out the statement. Drawing the
attention that the Turkish and Greek nations are ''neighbours and friends'',
the statement said that they believe that the Aegean will become the global
center of culture, tourism and trade again when the two countries have
relations based on mutual love and respect in the light of good
neighbourhood, friendship and brotherhood. The statement continued, ''we,
the representatives of the Turkish and Greek nations which share the two
banks of Aegean, promise to make the Aegean the sea of friendship and
brotherhood which will increase the economic level of the two nations. We,
the representatives of Turkish and Greek nations, announce that we love
each other, we take into consideration the aspects that unite us rather
than the aspects that divide us and we welcome a happy future.'' Akdogan
proposed having sister municipalities between Turkey and Greece and the
delegations decided that Samos and Kusadasi should have the leading role
for this initiative.
[43] TARKAN, FAMOUS TURKISH POP SINGER, GIVEN GOLDEN RECORD AWARD
[44] MUNICH, Oct 10 (A.A) - Tarkan, the famous Turkish pop singer, was
given the Golden Record Award by the German Universal Record Deutchland
music company on Sunday. Tarkan was rewarded with this award because his
albume titled ''Simarik'' (Spoiled) sold 250,000 in Germany. Speaking after
the ceremony held in Munich, Tarkan said that none of the Turkish singers
managed to sell this amount of cassettes or CDs. Tarkan said, ''nowadays,
the Germans and the European people listen to Turkish music. I aim at
preparing a cassette in which I sing in English and thus show that I am
successful in singing songs in English.'' Emphasizing that he is waiting
for the passing of some regulations from the parliament that would let
Turkish men pay their way out of compulsory 18-month military service,
Tarkan noted that then, he will return to Turkey.
[45] MACRO ECONOMIC INDICATORS OF 2000
[46] ANKARA, Oct 10 (A.A) - The government focuses on the surplus which the
general public economic balance will give in 2000 budget regarding her
agreement to be signed with IMF. The officials of the Treasury, State
Planning Organization (DPT), Finance and Central Bank, who work on the
general macro economic indicators before the Supreme Planning Council
meeting that is foreseen to be held next week, say that the IMF also gives
further importance to general economic balance and focus on non-interest
surplus. The non-interest general economic balance is expected to give a
surplus of 3.75 percent at the level of the Gross National Income (GNP) in
2000 by decreasing the debts of municipalities, limiting expenditures of
State Economic Enterprises (KIT) and increasing non-budgetary incomes.
Officials who say that the non-interest surplus on the basis of GNP was 1.1
percent in 1999 budget, foresee the non-interest surplus to be 2-2,5
percent in the budget of 2000. The consolidated budget expenditure is
expected to be 43.5-47.5 quadrillion liras. While this year's defecit is
expected to reach 10 quadrillion liras, the one in 2000 is expected to be
14-15 quadrillion liras. The Wholesale Goods Prices Index will probably be
between 30-38 percent by the end of 2000 and the deflation is expected to
be 43 percent. Officials pointed out that the target in inflation can
deviate from the target of 25 percent and this figure has to be revised
next year. The average interest rate is expected to be 45 percent.
Officials pointed out that the total interest next year can reach 20
quadrillion liras regarding domestic debt and they guess the total budget
income to be at the level of 29-29.5 quadrillion liras. Regarding
privatization, an income of 4-5 billion dollars can be gained by
privatizing Turkish Telecom, power plants and Petroleum Inc. (POAS). While
the IMF say 2-2.5 quadrillion liras can be collected by additional tax,
officials think that only 1-1.5 quadrillion liras can be collected. If the
Value Added Tax (VAT) is increased by 1-2 marks, an income of 500 and 600
trillion liras can be created. Regarding public investments, an investment
worth of 3.5 and 4 quadrillion liras is expected to be undertaken and 2.5
and 3 quadrillion part of it will be allocated to quake region. Officials
expect the flow of 1-1.5 quadrillion liras of foreign capital to Turkey in
infrastructural investments particularly in transportation sector due to
the adoption of the law of international arbitration. Stressing that the
growth rate is difficult to be guessed, officials said that this can only
come clear by the beginning of next year, adding the growth rate in 2000
budget can be between 5.5 and 6 percent. Meanwhile the increasing import of
Turkey can upset the current account balance and lead to a defecit of 2
percent of GNP. IMF had calculated, within the framework of close
monitoring agreement, the negative effects of the quake on economy and put
certain figures to make the Turkish economy decrease the inflation rate in
2000. IMF had asked the government to take measures in order to prevent the
budget defecit to pass beyond 10 quadrillion liras in 2000.
A.A
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