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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-10-14
[01] AA Daily
14 October 1999 Thursday
[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
[03] These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in
Turkey's press on October 14, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify
these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
[04] HURRIYET (LIBERAL) - ------------------ 72 FUNCTIONARIES TO 72 BABIES
Unbelievable scandal at the Parliament. There are 72 functionaries for 72
babies at the day nursery serving for the deputies and personnel at the
Parliament. Defining the situation at the day-center as a ''scandal'',
Osman Pepe, the Parliament Administrative Committee Chairman, said, ''there
should be ten or fifteen employees working at this creche if the
regulations is obeyed.'' Besides, a total of 23 people were employed at the
day nursery at the residence-site of deputies. These functionaries of this
''imaginary creche'' are called ''automated teller machine civil servants''
as they are paid without working.
[05] TAX RETURN TO BE ANNULED The Higher Planning Council adopted the
lifting the tax return for the salaried. Thus, 300 trillion Turkish Liras
(TL) revenue will be obtained only from the retired. The Finance Ministy
proposed to prevent the income loss of the salaried with an additional
salary increase in case of annulment of tax return.
[06] DENIZLI: ''IRELAND IS A HARD OPPONENT'' Turkey will play the first leg
of European Soccer Championship play-off with Ireland in Dublin on November
13. The second leg will take place in Turkey on November 17. Mustafa
Denizli, the Coach of Turkey, said, ''it is a tough draw. We have to score
more away goals.''
[07] MILLIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- MINISTER GETS ANGRY A. Kenan
Tanrikulu, the Minister of Industry, harshly criticized the 2000 year
budget bill, which was prepared in accordance with the promise given to the
IMF, saying, ''the social eye of this budget is blind. Let's call
Cottarelli to prepare a budget for us. There can't be such an obeyance to
the IMF. Bureaucrats think that the state is a chicken to be plucked.''
''The Treasury fails in arranging the cash flow. They failed in paying the
money to the quake survivors in time,'' he said.
[08] EUROPE AT LAST The EU Commission prepared a report for the Nelsinki
Summit which will take place on December 10-11: ''Turkey has to be accepted
as a candidate now.'' Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said the President and
he discussed the decision of the EU Commision, and said it was a hopeful
move. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said, ''there are parts that I don't
agree with but it meets our expectations.'' Recai Kutan of the Virtue Party
(FP) said, ''Turkey has to remove the deficiencies but the EU has to give
up putting Turkey off with trumped-up excuses.''
[09] SABAH (LIBERAL) - -------------- STATE BORROWS MONEY FROM MAFIA It was
revealed that the Bayrampasa Prison administration, which couldn't find
financing for the transfer of some prisons to some other prisons, borrowed
1.5 billion Turkish Liras from notorios mafia boss Alaattin Cakici's nephew
Kenan Ali Gursel who was killed in a shoot-out between the inmates.
[10] PAKISTANI FULL-GENERAL PERVEZ MUSHARRAF LIVES IN ANKARA FOR SIX YEARS
The leader of the military coup in Pakistan Full-General Musharraf lived in
Ankara for six years and speaks Turkish perfectly. The father of General
Musharraf worked in the Pakistani Embassy in Ankara and later in the CENTO
which was dissolved. Later, he became the chairman of the Turkish-Pakistani
Friendship Association. Musharraf who came to Turkey when he was seven and
spent six years in Turkey, is now speaking Turkish fluently.
[11] CUMHURIYET (LEFT) - ---------------- GOVERNMENT: ''A NEW PERIOD WILL
START'' The Foreign Ministry welcomed the EU Commission's report which was
announced yesterday. The Foreign ministry said ''a new period'' will start
between the sides if Turkey's candidacy is approved at the Helsinki Summit.
Premier Bulent Ecevit said the report was a hopeful signal of development.
[12] MINISTRY PERSONNEL ARE FOLLOWERS OF FETHULLAH Osman Ak, the former
Deputy General Director of Ankara Security Department for Intelligence who
was tried with the ''telephone tapping'' case, said the Interior Ministry
started to take Fethullah Gulen, the leader of the fundamentalists, under
protection when they started to prepare a report on Fethullah's followers
upon the request of the Security Department.
[13] RADIKAL (LEFT) - --------------- CEM: ''IT IS SATISFACTORY'' The EU
Commission's ''progress report'', which gave the green light, pleased
Ankara. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said he found the report satisfactory,
adding, ''the Commission has a specific influence. However, the issue is
not concluded here. A similar decision has to be given at the Helsinki
Summit.''
[14] NATURAL GAS TALKS ANGERS PRESIDENT Turkey's natural gas projects were
discussed at the Presidential Palace in Cankaya, Ankara. President Suleyman
Demirel told the Foreign Minister and the Minister of Energy and Natural
Resources, ''mere talk won't get anything done. Bring me concrete
projects.''
[15] TÜRKİYE (RIGHT) - ---------------- CONCERN FOR DISEASE Health Minister
Osman Durmus said, ''the danger of epidemics is awaiting our people if the
tent-cities won't be evacuated as soon as possible before winter.''
[16] 501 MILLION DOLLERS FROM IMF The IMF Executive Board approved to give
a 501 million U.S. dollars loan to Turkey within the scope of the emergency
loan.
[17] 2000 YEAR BUDGET IS 45 QUADRILLION Despite the maximum cutback and
efforts to increase the revenues, the 2000 year consolidated budget
spendings can't be below 45 quadrillion Turkish Liras.
[18] ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) - -------------------- DENKTAS PREPARED IN
ADVANCE Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC) who is waiting for the visit of Alfred Moses, the U.S.
President's Speciel Representative to Cyprus, spoke clearly: ''there can't
be a solution without us.'' Acting prudently towards the efforts of the
U.S. for a solution on Cyprus, Denktas said the U.S. did not interest in
the Cyprus question for the first time. He said that Bill Clinton's Special
Representative to Cyprus Alfred Moses, who will meet him next Tuesday,
should first of all listen to the sides before bringing any package.
Refusing to accept the opinion of the U.S.'s being the fourth guarantor
state after Turkey, Greece, and Britain, Denktas said, ''the Greek-Cypriots
are in favour of U.S.'s guarantorship to dilute the guarantorship on the
island.'' Denktas reiterated that they won't attend direct talks without
the recognition of the TRNC as a separate state.
[19] EU ENDORSES US OVER TO US The European Union (EU) Commission reprt,
which will affect the process of our relations with the EU, was announced
yesterday. The report proposed the EU Council to accept Turkey's candidacy
at Helsinke Summit. The Commission adopted the statement: ''Turkey has to
be accepted as a candidate now.'' Noting that the negotiations for full-
membership can't start till Turkey complies with the political criteria,
the report said Turkey has to give up human rights abuses and make the laws
concordant to the EU.
[20] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RECEIVES BULGARIAN FM MIHAILOVA
[21] ANKARA, Oct 14 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel Thursday received
Nadejda Mihailova, Bulgarian Foreign Minister. Pointing out that the
relations between Turkey and Bulgaria are very well and improving day by
day, Demirel said he defends the Turkish-Bulgarian friendship in every
opportunity. Emphasizing that he thinks this friendship is in its highest
level nowadays, Demirel noted that not only Bulgarian President Petar
Stoyanov but also the Bulgarian Prime Minister and the other Bulgarian
officials attribute importance to this friendship as much as Turkey.
Stressing that nearly all kinds of agreements, including the free trade
agreement, was signed between the two countries, Demirel drew the attention
that the trade volume between the two countries reached 600 million U.S.
dollars. Noting that many Turkish enterpreneurs started to make business in
Bulgaria to contribute to the development of this country, Demirel stated
that Turkey opened banks in Bulgaria. Demirel continued, ''additional to
the improvement of the bilateral relations, we had cooperation in not only
Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSCE) but also in the diplomatic and
political relations with this country and the Balkans. We have taken joint
steps for the security and stability of the Balkans.'' Emphasizing the
cooperation of the two countries in the Kosovo dispute, Demirel stressed
that they will continue their relations with the present understanding,
cooperation and trust. Demirel thanked Bulgaria for the aid and assistance
she sent following the quake disaster. Mihailova said that the relations
between the two countries continuously improve and that the improving
relations contribute not only to the two countries but also to the regional
stability. Emphasizing that the cooperation will continue to increase the
welfare, Mihailova noted that they discussed the bilateral relations and
the regional problems during his contacts in Ankara. Stressing that they
discussed the multi-national peace force headquarters which was established
in Plovdiv, Mihailova stated that this is the indicator of setting up a new
climate in the Balkans. Noting that they discussed the visits which will be
paid by Bulgarian Parliament Speaker and the Chairman of the Bulgarian
Foreign Relations Commission during his contacts, Mihailova stressed that
President Stoyanov will probably pay an official visit to Turkey in the
first months of 2000. Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, also participated
in the meeting.
[22] PRESIDENT DEMIREL DUE IN KOSOVO
[23] ANKARA, Oct 14 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel will go to Kosovo
for one-day visit on Friday. The Foreign Ministry statement said on
Wednesday that Demirel will visit Turkish units which work under the
auspices of Kosovo Force (KFOR). Emphasizing that Demirel will meet with
the kinsmen and hold contacts with the leaders of the Kosovars, the
statement noted that Demirel will visit the Turkish cooperation offices in
Prizren and Pristina which work to provide the cooperation of the
humanitarian aid facilities to Kosovo. Noting that Turkey has strong
historical, humanitarian, and cultural ties with Kosovo, the statement
stressed that Turkey did not refrain from any self-sacrifice and carried
out all kinds of efforts to solve the problems from the very beginning.
Pointing out that Turkey tried to contribute to the efforts of establishing
lasting peace and stability in Kosovo and healing the wounds; the statement
emphasized that Demirel's visit will be held within this framework. The
statement added that Demirel visit will indicate the close attention that
Turkey pays to the problems in Kosovo and that it will improve the present
ties between Turkish people and Kosovars. Demirel will be accompanied by
General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff, and Sabahattin
Cakmakoglu, the National Defense Minister, during his visit.
[24] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''TOURISM IS NOT ONLY A MATTER OF MONEY''
[25] ISTANBUL, Oct 14 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel said on Thursday
that tourism is not only a matter of money. Speaking in the ceremony held
upon the Award Ceremony held by the Union of Turkey's Travel Agencies
(TURSAB), President Demirel stated that tourism is a matter of promotion,
integration with the world and being respected by others for Turkey.
''Turkey has to reach its goal of 1.5 million bed capacity, 25 million
tourists and 15 billion dollars of income to be gained from tourists till
2010,'' said Demirel. Noting that there is a difficulty in tourism and
conditions abroad also effect it negatively, President Demirel pointed out
that tourists coming from Russia decreased as there is an economic
difficulty in Russia. ''Germany told its people not to go to Turkey by
giving terrorism in Turkey as a reason, which is not true. This is not our
fault,'' said Demirel, stressing that lobbies all arond the world act
against Turkey. ''We must explain and promote ourselves better abroad and
act in an organized way,'' said Demirel, adding ''the state will take all
kinds of measures to make tourism enterprises survive.'' Demirel said that
the tourism income which was 100 million dollars in 1970s increased to 10
billion dollars towards 2000 and this is a perfect development. He added
that there is an investment of 30 billion dollars in tourism sector in
Turkey.
[26] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT RECEIVES MOSES, CLINTON'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO
CYPRUS
[27] ANKARA, October 14 (A.A) - Alfred Moses, U.S. President Bill Clinton's
Special Envoy to Cyprus, said on Thursday that his meeting with Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit was ''friendly and constructive.'' Prime Minister
Ecevit received Moses, who is currently in Turkey within the framework of
his tour covering Ankara, Athens, and Lefkosa. Speaking to journalists
following the meeting, Moses said he had met with Ecevit in Washington D.C.
on September 28, adding that this visit was a continuation of the meeting.
Moses said he is scheduled to meet with Glafcos Clerides, Greek Cypriot
leader, and President Rauf Denktas of the Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC) to take further steps ''within the framework of principles.''
Clinton's Special Envoy said his meeting with Ecevit took place in a
friendly atmosphere, noting that it was a constructive meeting. Mark Parris,
the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, was also present at the meeting.
[28] ECEVIT SENDS THANK YOU MESSAGE TO HABIBI
[29] TEHRAN, October 14 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on Wednesday
sent a thank you message to Hasan Habibi, the First Deputy President of
Iran for the Iranian aid sent to quake survivors. Turan Morali, the Turkish
Ambassador in Tehran visited Habibi and submitted him Ecevit's message.
Prime Minister Ecevit in his message said that Turkey wanted to develop its
relations with Iran. Habibi told Morali that Turkey and Iran must extend
their cooperation in every field and they must not allow minor incidents to
damage their good relations. ''Tension in bilateral relations never helped
neither Iran nor Turkey. As two Muslim countries, we must work to develop
our relations,'' Habibi said. Ambassador Morali also visited the Iranian
Trade Chamber on Wednesday and discussed possible ways to develop trade and
economic relations between the two countries.
[30] ERSUMER, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTER, MEETS VYAHIREV,
CHAIRMAN OF GAZPROM COMPANY
[31] ANTALYA, Oct 14 (A.A) - Cumhur Ersumer, the Energy and Natural
Resources Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, met with Rem Vyahirev,
the Chairman of the Executive Board of Russian Gazprom company which
processes Russia's natural gas resources, on Thursday. Meeting after the
opening ceremony of Turkish-Russian Business Council Seventh Joint Meeting,
Ersumer and Vyahirev exchanged views about the delay of the signing of the
protocol concerning the implementation of ''Blue Stream Project.''
Following the meeting, Ersumer said that they discussed the efforts to
revive the present natural gas pipelines and to increase the amount of
natural gas. Emphasizing that they exchanged views about the protocol
regarding the ''Blue Stream Project'', Ersumer noted that the Foreing
Ministry, Finance Ministry, Energy and Natural Resources Ministry, and the
State Ministry Responsible for the Treasury carry out joint efforts for the
arrangement of the protocol. Stressing that the team which carries out the
efforts will give the final shape of the protocol after its meeting held on
October 23, 1999; Ersumer stated that they have not carried out efforts
about the solution of the problems. He added that they exchanged views
about the solution and they decided that the experts should meet each other
once more. Responding a question, Ersumer stressed that four ministries
continue to examine the draft protocol submitted by Russia and that he
received detailed information about the draft protocol from the Gazprom
Executive Board. Noting that Turkey can purchase 14 billion cubic metres of
natural gas from the present natural gas pipeline, Ersumer emphasized that
they try to increase the amount of the natural gas that Turkey purchases
and that Turkey can purchase seven billion cubic metres of natural gas at
the moment. Vyahirev said that they discussed the protocol and that time is
necessary for the solution of some issues since many Turkish ministries
deals with the issue. Emphasizing that they have to carry out and conclude
the necessary initiatives in the shortest time, Vyahirev noted that they
have made significant investments in Russia for the Blue Stream Project.
Vyahirev added that there is no return from the project.
[32] CLINTON IS NOT HOPEFUL FOR A SOLUTION ON CYPRUS BEFORE 2001
[33] WASHINGTON, Oct 14 (A.A) – U.S. President Bill Clinton who expresses
in every opportunity his desire to find a solution for the Cyprus question
before his term of office is concluded, said he is not hopeful for a
solution on Cyprus before the year 2001 even if the U.S. Congress does not
raise more difficulties in front of him. Mike Hammer, the U.S. President's
National Security Spokesman, said on Thursday that the continuous
prevention of the President by the Congress in foreign policy like in the
approval of the Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty makes reaching the targets
difficult. Hammer said Cyprus and Northern Ireland are among the targets
that are prevented from reaching a solution but the President sees a
solution unlikely before January 2001 even if the Congress does not raise
more difficulties.
[34] FM CEM RECEIVES MOSES, U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY TO CYPRUS
[35] ANKARA, Oct 14 (A.A) - Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, Thursday
received Alfred Moses, the U.S. President Bill Clinton's Special Envoy to
Cyprus. Following his meeting with Cem, Moses will be received by Premier
Bulent Ecevit and President Suleyman Demirel. Moses, who is accompanied by
Thomas Weston, the U.S. State Department Special Coordinator to Cyprus, is
expected to visit Athens and Lefkosa following his contacts in Ankara. The
U.S. officials and Premier Ecevit had planned Moses' visit to Turkey during
Ecevit's visit to the U.S.
[36] EU COMMISSION'S TURKEY REPORT
[37] BRUSSELS, Oct 14 (A.A) - The Socialist Group harshly criticized Klaus
Haensch, a German socialist parliamentarian who assumed a negative attitude
at the discussions at the European Parliament following the annuoncement of
Turkey Report of the European Union (EU). Haensch said, ''it would be a bad
and dangerous example to grant candidacy status to a country which does not
show respect to basic criteria like human rights'' during the briefing of
EU Commission Chairman Romano Prodi, and Gunter Verheugen, a Commission
member for foreign affairs, following the announcement of the report. The
European Parliament Socialist Gruop released a written statement saying
that Haensch reflected his ''personal attitude'' with his statement which
''does not represent the views of the Socialist Group''. The statement,
which was made on behalf of Socialist Group Chairman Enrique Baron,
recalled that ''the 180-member powerful Socialist Group thinks that
Turkey's EU full-membership will constitute an important contribution to
the EU's future, and peace, and security in Europe, and it has defended
this opinion for long years.'' The statement said this opinion was stressed
in a decision made by the European Union last week. Recalling that Turkey
would be asked to provide complete concordance to Copenhagen criteria
including human rights and minorities prior to the start of full-membership
negotiations, the statement emphasized that the Socialists do not agree
with the personal opinions of Haensch.
[38] EU COMMISSION REPORT - FOGG, TURKEY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMISSION:
''A BALANCED ATTITUDE EXHIBITED TOWARDS TURKEY''
[39] ANKARA, October 14 (A.A) - Karen Fogg, European Union (EU)
Commission's Turkey Representative, said on Thursday that a balanced
attitude was exhibited towards Turkey and noted that Turkey's full
membership to EU can be long lasting. Speaking to reporters, Fogg briefed
about the expressions of the Advancement Report of EU Commission prepared
for the candidate countries. Pointing out that making a speculation about
the timing of membership process would be dangerous, and that this process
will be long like it was for the other candidate countries, Fogg once again
listed the steps mentioned in the report and which should be taken to
promote and support reforms in Turkey. Fogg said as it was mentioned in the
report, they attributed importance to human rights issue and that this
issue not only interested them but also discussed in a large circle in
Turkey. Fogg listed the other steps mentioned in the report as: - Enhancing
political dialogue, with particular reference to the issue of human rights,
and providing the option of association with the common positions and
actions taken under the Common Foreign and Security Policy; - Co-ordinating
all sources of EU financial assistance for pre-accession within a single
framework; - The possibility for full participation in all EU programmes
and agencies - Adopting an Accession Partnership combined with a National
Programme for the adoption of the Acquis; - Establishing mechanisms similar
to those which operate under the Europe Agreements to monitor
implementation of the Accession Partnership; - With a view to harmonising
Turkey's legislation and practice begining a process of analytical
examination of the acquis. Responding to the questions of reporters, Fogg
said they were not intended to put pressure on Turkey by presenting several
conditions, adding that efforts of governments and formal organs were not
adequate for EU membership. She said efforts of non-governmental
organizations of that country was required to this end. Pointing out that
the ''sovereignty'' problem caused fierce discussions in some EU countries
such as Britain, Fogg said that this issue has not been discussed
sufficiently in Turkey. Noting that Turkey was a member of many
international organizations like NATO and that all these institutions
limited sovereignty of member countries to an extend, Fogg said they met
several incorrect expressions in several media organs regarding starting
date of Turkish-EU full membership negotiations. Fogg said none of the
Turkish officials she met so far has demanded initiation of the
consultations immediately, and noted that Turkish officials wanted criteria
implemented on other candidate countries to be valid for Turkey. When asked
what changed in EU's point of view about Turkey's candidacy since
Luxembourg summit in 1997, Fogg said the sides could understand each other
better in the past two years.
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