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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-10-21
[01] AA Daily
21 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 21, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify
these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
[04] HURRIYET (LIBERAL) - ------------------ REASON FOR ARSON IS NOT
''ETHNIC ORIGIN'' Marianti Sozde, a Greek origin Turkish woman whose house
in Gokceada was burnt by arsonists, said, ''I definitely don't believe that
my house was set on fire as I am a Turkish citizen of Greek origin.''
''Some people wanted my son, who was killed in the fire, for a long time.
They wanted to separate us, and they threatened me. I am confused. I was
acquainted with the father of my son Aleks in Gokceada. He and I made love
in August 1994 but our relationship ended the same year in September when
his father called him back. I gave birth to Aleks in Athens. I don't know
what I can do now. I love freedom. I can go to Istanbul. I prefer to stay
in my homeland Turkey,'' she said.
[05] GAMBLING HOUSE IN CARIBBEANS Sudi Ozkan who preferred Bulgaria after
the casinos were closed in Turkey, oriented himself to international
markets. It was reported that Ozkan purchased an island in Caribbeans and
opened a gambling house there.
[06] MILLIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- NIGHTMARE RETURNS BACK Istanbul
woke up when a quake occured at 2.15 am. last night. When the life started
to get normalized and the numbers and magnitudes of tremors started to
decrease, the quake once more became a fear. All the people rushed into the
streets due to the quake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale. The epicenter
of the quake was the Islands. The quake was also felt in Bursa and Edirne.
[07] THE GREATEST MAFIA BOSS UGURLU CAPTURED Abuzer Ugurlu, one of the
greatest mafia bosses of the period of military coup in September 1980, was
captured in his daughter's house. Ugurlu who was a drugs and arms smuggler,
was detained in August 1995 related with seven kilograms of cocaine.
However, he was released due to lack of evidence. Ugurlu was wanted in
absentia for four years.
[08] SABAH (LIBERAL) - -------------- MERVE TO GET MARRIED Merve Kavakci is
preparing herself for a second marriage. Kavakci who was earlier married
with a U.S. citizen, has two children from her ex-husband. Now, Kavakci
will get married with an engineer. This engineer was also married before
but he did not have any children from his ex-wife.
[09] ''THIS POWER PLANT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED'' Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister
of Energy and Natural Resources, said that the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant
will be constructed although some people opened banners in the sky. The
members of the Greenpeace organization who protested the nuclear power
plants by climbing on the top of the Bogazici Bridge of Istanbul, were
deported yesterday. Ersumer said that he felt sad about this protest and
reiterated that he will not give up this project although people opened
banners in the sky.
[10] CUMHURIYET (LEFT) - ---------------- INTERVENTION IN JUDGEMENT Turkish
Bars Union Chairman Eralp Ozgen said warning the prosecutor's office has
the meaning of giving instructions to judgement. Republican Women's
Association Chairperson Senal Sarihan stressed that the covered warning to
Nuh Mete Yuksel by the President and the Prime Minister meant the
prevention of the investigation which started in accordance with the
procedure, by the parliamentary officials and executive power. Yekta Gungor
Ozden, the former Chairman of the Constitutional Court, said that any
individual does not have the right to warn the judgement, judges and
prosecutors in a state of law, and interfere with their activities.
[11] GALATASARAY FLOORS TURKEY THIS TIME Our representative in the UEFA
Champions' League, Galatasaray, drove itself to despair for qualifying to
second round after receiving a 0-5 defeat against Britain's FC Chelsea.
This result was the most grave defeat of Galatasaray which joined the
Champions' League for the fifth time.
[12] ANAP AND MHP OPPOSE TO BAN ON HEADSCARF The rule saying, ''the women
deputies can't attend the meetings of the Parliament and parliamentary
commissions by wearing headscarf'' was included in the proposal which was
prepared by the coalition partners for a change in the By-Law but the
Motherland Party (ANAP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) members at the
Constitutional sub-commission announced that they were opposed to the ban
on headscarf.
[13] RADIKAL (LEFT) - --------------- PREMIER ECEVIT: ''WE HAVE REACHED A
COMPROMISE ON AMNESTY'' Premier Bulent Ecevit said that they gave an
example of a democratic compromise on amnesty. ''As a result of the
cooperation of all the parties, the elements which make the people uneasy
were eliminated in a wide sense,'' he added.
[14] THREE AGREEMENTS IN OSCE SUMMIT Three agreements will be signed during
the Istanbul Summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE). The Foreign Ministry officials said that an agreement which
will confirm the adoptation of the Vienna document, an implementation
agreement and a final act will be signed during the summit which will
convene between November 18 and 19, 1999.
[15] TÜRKİYE (RIGHT) - ---------------- OCALAN'S APPEAL TO BE HEARD TODAY
The Supreme Court is expected to give a decision today for Ocalan who was
sentenced to ''death'' by the Ankara State Security Court (DGM) No:2 for
treason. The intervenor lawyers, relatives of martyrs, and veterans will
also attend today's hearing. If the Court approves the death sentence, the
verdict will become definite.
[16] DREAM TO BECOME TRUE Turkey will be the energy center of Europe in new
century. The BP-Amoco's approval to the Baku-Ceyhan, which is the key
project that will make us be the ''energy bridge'' between Asia and Europe,
was welcomed in the U.S. Besides, the developments about the Blue Stream,
Turkmen, Azerbaijani, and Iranian natural gas give hope. Turkey is entering
the ''golden age'' in energy. Meanwhile, U.S. Energy Secretary Bill
Richardson said the BP-Amoco's approval of the Baku-Ceyhan as the east-west
pipeline route was an ''important milestone''.
[17] MERVE CRISIS SUSPENDED The crisis, which erupted when Ankara DGM
Prosecutor Nuh Mete Yuksel wanted to question Merve Kavakci at her house at
midnight, was suspended. The statement of Parliament Speaker Yildirim
Akbulut saying, ''Kavakci's membership to parliament can be deemed
suspended.'' removed ''search and interrogation'' from the agenda while
everybody is now waiting for the decision of the Council of State.
[18] ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) - -------------------- KUTLULAR, LEADER OF NUR
SECT, RELEASED Mehmet Kutlular, the leader of the Nur (Divine Light) Sect
and the owner of Yeni Asya newspaper, was released by Ankara State Security
Court (DGM). The lawyers of Kutlular applied to the court asking the
warrant of arrest on Kutlular to be lifted. Later, Ankara DGM decided to
release Kutlular.
[19] U.S. INTEREST IN GAZIANTEP Twenty U.S. companies examine the
investment opportunities in southeastern Gaziantep province. The U.S.
delegation headed by Stuart E. Jones, U.S. Consul to Adana, met with the
industrialists in Gaziantep. The local businessmen said that they are ready
to cooperate with the U.S. companies.
[20] DEMIREL CONDEMNS CAR-BOMB ATTACK AGAINST KISLALI
[21] ANKARA, Oct 21 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel condemned on
Thursday the bomb-attack which killed Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taner Kislali, former
Minister of Culture and journalist. Meanwhile, Yildirim Akbulut, Speaker of
Parliament; Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit; Devlet Bahceli, Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of State; Sadi Somuncuoglu, State Minister; Yasar
Okuyan, Labour and Social Security Minister; Istemihan Talay, Culture
Minister; and Mesut Yilmaz, Leader of the Motherland Party sent messages of
condolence to Kislali's relatives.
[22] KISLALI KILLED IN A CAR-BOMB ATTACK
[23] ANKARA, Oct 21 (A.A) - Ahmet Taner Kislali, a former Minister of
Culture, and a journalist-author, was killed when a bomb exploded under his
automobile early on Thursday. Kislali who was seriously injured in the car-
bomb attack was immediately taken to the Bayindir Hospital in Ankara. But
he died in the hospital. The bomb under the automobile exploded at about
09:40 local time when Kislali started the engine of his automobile in front
of his house in Doktorlar Site in Cayyolu district in Ankara. The lungs of
Kislali suffered serious damage and one of his arms was torn away in the
explosion.
[24] KISLALI KILLED IN CAR-BOMB ATTACK
[25] ANKARA, Oct 21 (A.A) - Ahmet Taner Kişlali, former Minister of Culture
and journalist, was killed in an explosion which occurred as he was taking
a nylon bag which had been left on the window of his automobile early on
Thursday. The witnesses told the A.A correspondent that Kislali left his
house at about 09:30 local time. The bomb exploded when Kislali started to
shake the nylon bag left on his car's window. Kislali lost an arm in the
explosion and was immediately taken to hospital, but later died in the
hospital. The automobile of Kislali started to burn after the explosion.
The fire was later extinguished by the fire-brigades. The gendarmerie
officials started to collect evidences in the scene. The guard of the
residence was taken to police station for interrogation.
[26] KISLALI KILLED IN A CAR-BOMB ATTACK
[27] ANKARA, Oct 21 (A.A) - Dr. Muammer Yuksel said on Thursday that the
heart of Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taner Kislali, former Minister of Culture and a
journalist, stopped functioning and he was unable to breathe when he was
taken to the hospital. Dr. Muammer Yuksel, the Director of Emergency Room
at the Bayindir Hospital in Ankara, said Kislali was brought to the
hospital at 10:04 local time, but his heart and respiratory system had
stopped functioning when he was brought to hospital. Dr. Yuksel said they
stopped treatment to revive Kislali at 10:25 as he did not respond to the
treatment.
[28] KISLALI KILLED IN CAR-BOMB ATTACK
[29] ANKARA, Oct 21 (A.A) - Arif Emirhan, the gardener of the residences
where Ahmet Taner Kıslali was living, said on Thursday that the explosion
occurred when Kislali took the nylon bag that had been left on the window
of his automobile. Arif Emirhan, who was questioned by the Gendarme
officials, said he witnessed the explosion which happened at about 09:30
local time. ''The professor left his house, and later he opened the door of
his car and got into his car. Later, he got out of the car when he realized
a nylon bag standing on the window of his car. An explosion occurred when
he took that nylon bag,'' the gardener said. The gardener said he saw
Kislali's left arm was torn away in the explosion, and he rushed to help
Kislali. Meanwhile, the bomb-disposal experts said the bomb could be
connected to the bonnet of the automobile with a fishing line or could be
sensitive to movement. The Combat Terrorism officials said the car-bomb
attack could be staged by the illegal fundamentalist Islamic Great East
Raiders-Front (IBDA-C) organization.
[30] APPEALS HEARING OF THE HEAD OF THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION - OCALAN
CLAIMS THAT A NEW SOCIAL AGREEMENT IS NEEDED
[31] ANKARA, October 21 (A.A) - The defense of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of
the terrorist organization, was read by Irfan Dundar, his lawyer, in the
appeals hearing in the Supreme Court on Thursday. In his defense, Ocalan
said the speech of Sami Selcuk, the Chairman of the Supreme Court, in the
opening of new judicial year, was very important in democratization of the
country. Ocalan claimed that the call he made on September 1 in World Peace
Day reduced actions of the terrorist organization. He defended that these
developments had positive reflections in the public. Ocalan claimed that
the speech of Selcuk in the opening of judicial year was important for the
democratization of the country and he defended that arrangements that will
be made in legal field will help illumination of Turkey's future. Ocalan
noted that thus the ''uprisings'' in Turkey's history will end. Pointing
out that the criticism which the country should be democratized came from
the state ranks and from outside, Ocalan said foundation of the Republic
was a historical need and step, adding that the World War was an obstacle
in front of Turkey's democratization. Claiming that interferences of the
army in various dates prevented the projects that will be realized in
democratic field, Ocalan defended that this process is discussed radically
now. Pointing out that the discussions started following the Marmara quake
that the state should change, Ocalan said, ''civilian community tries to
assess its role with its own power.'' Defending that solution facilities
should be revealed before making left-right, military-civilian, ruling-
opposition discrimination, Ocalan said an actual and historical agreement
is being searched. Claiming that there have been ethnical conflicts and
coups for 200 years yet a basic social agreement could not be signed,
Ocalan said: ''This is the deficiency which the Republic experienced, but
did not deserve. The social agreement which could not be done, made itself
felt in every field. It is obvious that there is the lack of freedom of
thought. This position of the society shows itself in basic incidents like
the quake.'' Giving examples from various countries in his defense, Ocalan
said nations coming from different roots may live together in countries
like Switzerland, Russia, Australia, and the U.S. Pointing out that
differences in a country and living freely formed the basis of enrichment
of democracy, Ocalan said ''success of rich and analytical element of
democratic system has been proved.'' Defending that social agreement
concept should be understood that it is important and indispensable, Ocalan
mentioned the implementations made to this end in the Ottoman period.
Recalling that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit presented a ''firman from the
Ottoman Empire related with the human rights'' to the U.S. President Bill
Clinton during his visit to this country, the head of the terrorist
organization said ''this is the understanding which we look for today.''
Stating that there was not assimilation by force in the Ottoman period,
Ocalan noted that Turkish Republic was founded as a contemporary state.
[32] APPEALS HEARING OF THE HEAD OF THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION
[33] ANKARA, Oct 21 (A.A) - The defense of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the
terrorist organization, was read by Irfan Dundar, his lawyer, in the
appeals hearing in the Supreme Court on Thursday. In his defense, Ocalan
said, ''it became dialectic when the Republic of Turkey showed the same
success in the social field. No community can live together with such
dialectic of chaos. The matter of this case should be considered under the
light of the facts. During the foundation process of the republic, Kurdish
people's existence was accepted. But after the republic, refusal of their
existence, and ban on the Kurdish language, has created the uprising. This
is important to understand the near past, and to make a social agreement.''
Ocalan defended that it was not possible to establish a healthy system
without overcoming these problems. He also underlined that a separatist
uprising could not be accomplished. Ocalan noted that the ''official law''
should not be limited to tight and restricted articles in his trial. He
added, ''I had fought not against the essence of republic, but against the
oligarchical deflection of it. This case will be resulted in democratic
republic, and its constitution.'' Claiming that policy has degenerated in
Turkey, Ocalan pointed out that several countries have succeeded in
overcoming such problems. Ocalan alleged that Turkey's initiatives to curry
favour with the West, did not solve the problems. He said that law has
nothing to do against it. Describing the jurisdiction as the third power,
Ocalan noted, ''It is worthless to enumerate the republic. But, it is
necessary to become democratic. Otherwise, Turkey cannot even protect her
current situation.'' Abdullah Ocalan said, Turkey's economic, and social
structure has improved, and her cultural accumulation has become adequate
after all these developments. He noted that a reality of law has also been
formed in Turkey, adding, ''the fact under the current discussions of
democracy is that. Without doing this, every steps will backslash.'' Ocalan
claimed that constitutions were abolished as a result of the coups in the
history of republic. He added that several circles could express themselves
on a level which they did not deserve, and national and social law could
not be formed to this end. Claiming that there was a general uprising
condition in the society, Ocalan said, ''but, I do not defend the fight. It
was done exceedingly.'' Defending that a step should be taken to transit
into the historical social agreement, Ocalan claimed that changes in the
articles would not solve the problems. Noting that differences of thought,
religious belief, and living cannot be intervened when the new social
agreement is made, Ocalan said that the freedom and the equality would be
the basic of the competition. Head of the terrorist organization noted that
social affluence would emerge when differences of thouhgt, religious
beliefs, and culture are accepted. He added that state's fatherhood, and
deity of religions would be unnecessary after the freedom is taken under
legal guarantee. Referring to the Nazim Hikmet's lines, ''Free just like an
alone tree, and brotherly just like a forest,'' Ocalan noted that social
peace will come true after all these are done. Abdullah Ocalan also added,
''I repent that I did not live like a city-dweller. If this order led to
this, it is guilty.''
[34] APPEAL HEARING OF OCALAN - FROM OCALAN'S WRITTEN DEFENSE: - ''I DON'T
BELIEVE THE REPUBLIC IS ANTI-KURD''
[35] ANKARA, Oct 21 (A.A) - Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist
organization, said in his written defense on Thursday that he does not
believe the Republic is anti-Kurd, adding that the Republic is a blessing
for the Kurds. Irfan Dundar, one of Ocalan's lawyers, read out Ocalan's 30-
page written defense during the appeal hearing at the Supreme Court
Criminal Department No:9. Learning Turkish language enriches Kurds, but the
education in Turkish language of Kurds is prevented, Ocalan claimed. He
added, ''as a free individual, a person's being a citizen of the Republic
is an honor.'' Defending that he always called for peace for the democratic
Republic, Ocalan said, ''we don't demand privilege. We don't want either a
separate state, or a federation, or autonomy. Actually, there is no need
for these in a democratic compromise.'' Claiming that repetition of
assimilation is meaningless on the eve of the 21st century, Ocalan defended
that democratization of the Republic is as important as the Constitution.
Defending that he made all of those calls for the sake of peace and
brotherhood, Ocalan said he doesn't think there will be a change in the
decision which was made in accordance with Article 125 of the Turkish Penal
Code. Ocalan claimed that his call for the PKK terrorists to lay down their
arms would be formalized at the congress of the terrorist PKK organization.
In his final part of his written defense, Ocalan said, ''I believe that my
people's living in the democratic Republic as free individuals is the most
true way. I call for peace and brotherhood.'' Later, Ocalan's written
defense dated October 1, 1999 which was sent by Ocalan to the Supreme Court
Criminal Department No:9 was included into the dossier. Later, Ercan Kanar,
one of Ocalan's lawyers, defended his client against the court's statement
of reasons, trial procedure, and kind of crime. Lawyer Ercan Kanar defended
that the trial was held under extraordinary conditions. Claiming that the
decision of the Supreme Court is important for the opening of a new page,
Kanar defended that the understanding of a free criminal law is not
dominant in the trial at local court. ''It is easy to call the accused a
baby-killer, and a monster. However, this can't solve the problems. Judges
are also philosophers and sociologists. Judges have to search the real
reasons lying under the offense,'' he claimed. ''Offense and accused are
not miraculous. The economic, political, and social reasons of the crime
should be evaluated by the judges,'' Kanar said. Claiming that the case is
a political case, Kanar defended that Kurds were excluded from being the
basic factor in Turkey except the first period of the Republic. Defending
that the refusal of ''Kurdish reality'' was the main reason for this case,
Kanar claimed that the 280-page decision of the local court has not
reasons. Lawyer Kanar later criticised the court verdict. Defending that
the Code of Criminal Procedure was not complied since the apprehension of
Ocalan, Kanar claimed that the capture of Ocalan was also contrary to the
domestic and international laws. Claiming that the Prime Ministry Crisis
Management Center is determining factor in the case, Kanar claimed that
there was not a warrant of arrest for Ocalan. Defending that the case must
be heard at the State Security Court (DGM) in southeastern Diyarbakir
province where most of the terrorist activities were staged, Kanar claimed
that the people who suffered damage from the crime, were not taken into
consideration during the determination of intervenors. Claiming that the
limitation in the number of intervenor and defense lawyers was contrary to
the laws, Kanar defended that the publicity was not provided at the
hearings on Imrali Island. ''The state provided the unilateral reflection
of the case, and in the direction of its inclination through the Turkish
Radio and Television and the Anadolu Agency. The defense of the accused's
lawyers was not reflected to the public opinion,'' he claimed. When Kanar
said they were beaten by the policemen who were charged to guard them after
the hearing in Ankara on April 30, 1999, one of the intervenor lawyers said,
''do you accuse the policemen who protected you? Do you defame the
policemen?'' When the atmosphere got tensed, Chief Judge Demirel Tavil
tried to reconcile the lawyers. Addressing the spectators, Tavil said the
right of defense is sacred, and it should be endured. Lawyer Kanar claimed
that the evidences were not evaluated, and the reports on records of
material losses due to the terrorist activities were not discussed.
A.A
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