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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-10-22

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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


[01] AA Daily

22 October 1999 Friday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[03] These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on October 22, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

[04] HURRIYET (LIBERAL) - ------------------ TURKEY SHAKEN Dark forces chose Prof. Ahmet Taner Kislali, a scientist and journalist, this time. Kislali was killed when a bomb left on his car exploded. Kislali could escape from the death if he felt suspicious of the package.

[05] THEY ADMIRE ATATURK DAM The U.S. trade delegation which currently holds contacts in Southeastern Anatolia visited the Ataturk Dam on Thursday which is the vital point of Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP). The members of the delegation, who were briefed on the Ataturk Dam, said they were amazed by the greatness of Dam.

[06] MILLIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- FIND THE MURDERER THIS TIME The last victim is Ahmet Taner Kislali who was killed in a bomb blast. The ''honour promises'' given to cupture the murderers are forgotten everytime. He faxed his article to his newspaper, kissed his baby and left home to give lessons to his students. The bomb which was fastened to the windshield wiper of his car exploded at the moment he touched it. Turkey waits for the murderers to be found.

[07] TRAP TO TURKEY Provocation increases and terrorism escalates as relations improve with the European Union (EU). Everything started with the massive earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale. On the one hand Turkish-Greek relations improved and on the other hand the biggest step of the latest years was taken and ways of EU were opened for Turkey. Prime Minister returned home with positive impressions and a moderate atmosphere was experienced with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Yet, there were circles who felt uneasy over the developments. Provocation started with incidents in Ulucanlar prison in Ankara, execution without judgement, Islamic-style headscarf provocation, arson in Gokceada and murder of Ahmet Taner Kislali, former Culture Minister followed.

[08] SABAH (LIBERAL) - -------------- ANKARA UNABLE TO SOLVE Assasinations in Ankara which targetted intellectuals like Kislali and which create anger in the public cause suspicion as they remain unsolved. Muammer Aksoy was shot death in front of his house on January 31, 1990. Bahriye Ucok was killed with a bomb attack on October 6, 1990. A package was sent to her home in which there was a bomb. Ugur Mumcu was killed in a car-bomb attack.

[09] LEOPARD TO PARTICIPATE IN GIANT TANK TENDER Ankara expressed pleasure over the attitude of German government which gave permission to Kraus Maffei Wegmany company to participate in the tender for production of 1000 tanks. Turkish Armed Forces attribute great importance to the tender. Officials at Defense Industry Undersecretariat said participation of the Germany company in the project, worth of 7 billion U.S. dollars, will increase competition atmosphere.

[10] CUMHURIYET (LEFT) - ---------------- TARGET IS REPUBLIC A political science professor, the columnist for the Cumhuriyet newspaper and former Minister of Culture, was killed in a car-bomb attack. Ahmet Taner Kislali, who did not give concession from the secular Republic, left his house to go to the Ankara University Faculty of Communications to give lecture to his students after faxing his column to the Cumhuriyet daily. He saw a package on the bonnet of his car while he approached his car. When he opened the door of his car with his right hand, he picked up the package, which was put between the windshield wiper and the bonnet, with his left hand, and the bomb detonated. Ahmet Taner Kislali lost his life in the blast. Officials said a pipe bomb had been tied to the windshield wiper with a fishing line. The funeral of Kislali will take place tomorrow.

[11] RADIKAL (LEFT) - --------------- DOES MY MURDER MEAN SALVATION? Ahmet Taner Kislali became the last target of the powers, which are the enemies of human rights, democracy and intellectual Turkey. These powers earlier killed Abdi Ipekci, Cetin Emec, Turan Dursun, Muammer Aksoy, Bahriye Ucok, Musa Anter and Ugur Mumcu, who were the defenders of the Republic and secularism.

[12] EXPERTS CONFUSE PEOPLE Ahmet Mete Isikara, the Director of the Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Institute, said that the tremor measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale which had occured two days before 10-12 kilometers from Istanbul was a new earthquake. He claimed that the possibility of the occurance of an earthquake measuring 6.3 or more than 6.3 on the Richter scale in Turkey was 63 percent. Assistant Prof. Ruhi Saatcilar, the Deputy Director of the Seismology Department of TUBITAK, said they don't expect strong quakes in Istanbul.

[13] VERDICT TO BE ISSUED ON NOVEMBER 25 Abdullah Ocalan, in his written defense he sent to the Supreme Court, said he is the one who can stop violence while his lawyers in the last appeal hearing, defended that execution of their client would negatively affect peace process. The court decided to convene again on November 25 to issue its verdict about Ocalan's appeal. If the court reverses the DGM's verdict, the retrial of Ocalan will start. If the death sentence is approved, the dossier will be sent to the parliament. If the parliament approves the sentence, it will be submitted to the President for approval.

[14] TÜRKİYE (RIGHT) - ---------------- ASSASINATION OF TRANQUILITY Prof. Ahmet Taner Kislali, former Culture Minister writer of Cumhuriyet Newspaper, was murdered with a bomb planted on his car. It was reported that Kislali received death threats for sometime. Kislali died when the bomb which was planted in the windshield of his car exploded.

[15] APPEAL HEARING OF THE HEAD OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATION CONCLUDED Ocalan's defense was read out in the appeal hearing. His lawyers, relatives of martyrs, and representatives of several countries participated in the hearing. The hearing was postponed to November 25, 1999 to examine the file and to announce the decision.

[16] ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) - -------------------- BOMB TO TURKEY Transportation of Azeri oil whets whole world's apetite. We are living the days in which even the people, who stay away from the most economical Baku- Ceyhan line due to some political concerns, relent, and we approach to the happy ending. During these days, bombs detonate which proves the concerns to be right and leave Turkey to the instability. We are achieving turning points in the path to membership to the European Union, which is our 30- year dream. There is the most appropriate basis that we couldn't find up until now. Even Greece, which raises obstacles, relented. Without any more delay, one intellectual was killed in a car bomb blast. The house of a Greek woman of Turkish nationality was set to fire. The demand in the public opinion for civilizing the Constitution and forming a democratic state sturucture aiming at promoting freedom reached a level that can't be prevented: People, politicians and jurists want ''democracy''. And the EU put forward conditions regarding global democratic values in front of us for the things it will share with us. While we are feeling glad that it will happen this time, we were startled with a bomb.

[17] DIRECTION IS SUSURLUK Ersonmez Yarbay, the Chairman of ''Ugur Mumcu Commission'', stressed that the assailant will be captured if a serious investigation is carried out. Yarbay said the early statements about assasinations could aim at deviating the target and changing the direction of murder. Mehmet Elkatmis, the Chairman of the Susurluk Commission, stressed that the information saying that somethings changed after the Susurluk scandal and the gangs were destroyed turned out to be nothing after the assasination of Kislali. Fikri Saglar, a member of the Susurluk Investigation Commission, said, ''Turkey is rapidly recording progress in democratization, and all of these developments disturb the founders of the Susurluk order.''

[18] KISLALI'S FUNERAL TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY

[19] ANKARA, October 22 (A.A) - Funeral of Prof. Ahmet Taner Kislali who died in a car-bomb attack on Thursday will be held in Ankara on Saturday. Funerals in four separate places will be held for Kislali. The first funeral will be held in front of Parliament at 9:30 local time. Later, Kislali's body will be taken to the Faculty of Communications where he gave lectures to his students. Later, the hearse of Kislali will be taken to the front of Grand Theatre at 12:00 local time. The hearse will be brought in front of Cumhuriyet newspaper Ankara office at 14:00 for another funeral, and then it will be taken to Kocatepe Mosque. Then, he will be taken to Karsıyaka cemetary to be buried.

[20] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''ASSAILANTS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ESCAPE FROM JUSTICE''

[21] ANKARA, October 22 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel said on Friday that all institutions of the state were alert to clarify the car-bomb attack against Prof. Ahmet Kislali, the columnist of Cumhuriyet newspaper. President Demirel who visited Ankara Bureau of Cumhuriyet newspaper said that the murderers and the forces behind these murderers will not be able to escape from Turkish justice. ''The incident will be clarified,'' he added. Demirel later wrote on a special notebook opened for Kislali. He said: ''Prof. Ahmet Taner Kislali, I wish you God's mercy. You were the target of murderers, the real target was the Turkish Republic, Turkish nation and its tranquility. I condemn the assailants who committed this crime and the ones behind them. They will not be able to reach their dark targets. Our nation mourns for you.'' While leaving Ankara Bureau of Cumhuriyet newspaper, Demirel told reporters that he extends his condolences to the ones who love Kislali and to the whole nation. When asked if there was a development related with the interrogation, Demirel said ''there will be.''

[22] PRESIDENT DEMIREL:''OUR ECONOMY CAN COMPETE WITH EUROPEAN ECONOMY''

[23] ANKARA, Oct 22 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel said on Thursday that the Turkish economy has reached the level of competing with the European economy. President Demirel received David Rockefeller, the Honourary Chairman of the U.S. Foreign Relations Council and the accompanying delegation. Demirel said that Turkey is in a very important region of the world and she has such neighbours which have many problems. ''We are a very good friendly country of the U.S., and we have democracy and free market economy,'' he said. ''We've nearly finished our integration with Europe, we are a member of NATO, and we will be the full member of the European Union (EU),'' Demirel noted. Turkey has commercial relations with nearly 135 countries, said Demirel, adding that ''our economy can compete with European economy, we sell industrial goods to these 135 countries. Our trade volume is 75 billion dollars and our industry develops.'' President Demirel added, ''Turkey with a population of 65 millions live in peace for 75 years and we have been able to cope with the problems we have with our neighbours without causing the emergence of any conflict.''

[24] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS VISITS HARRAN

[25] SANLIURFA, October 22 (A.A) - Rauf Denktas, the President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus said on Friday that Harran which he described as the cradle of civilization and history, had a very bright future. Denktas came to Sanliurfa to attend the activities of 9th International Culture and Art week. The TRNC President, on the second day of his tour, visited the ruins of the first known university in the world as well as the huts with domical roofs which are famous in the area. Harran is a very attractive spot for tourists both from the architectural and historical aspects, he told reporters. ''Harran has a very bright future. If we promote this place to the world, they will like and support Turkey more. Scientists will come here to make researches. We must work together to make this happen,'' Denktas said.

[26] REACTION TO KISLALI'S ASSASINATION - MANY CITIZENS VISIT CUMHURIYET NEWSPAPER

[27] ANKARA, Oct 22 (A.A) - Many citizens visited on Friday Cumhuriyet Newspaper and expressed condolences following the assasination of Professor and journalist-writer Ahmet Taner Kıslalı. Besides citizens, Dogan Tasdelen, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment, Isın Celebi, a deputy from the Motherland Party (ANAP) and Aydın Sezgin, the Director General of Press and Information also visited the Ankara office of Cumhuriyet newspaper. Visitors who met with Mustafa Balbay, the Representative of the newspaper in Ankara and expressed him their condolences, also signed the special book opened for Kıslalı.

[28] MURDER OF KISLALI - PREMIER ECEVIT:''ALL CONCERNED INSTITUTIONS LAUNCH EFFORTS TO FIND ASSAILANTS''

[29] ANKARA, Oct 22 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Friday about the murder of Ahmet Taner Kıslalı that all the concerned institutions of the state launch efforts in collabration to find the assailants. Ecevit responded to questions and stressed that public opinion is very grieved and uneasy about the murder of Kıslalı, who was a respected person due to his character and profession both as a writer and political scientist. Those responsible for the murder can't be found in one or two days, said Ecevit and added that all the concerned state institutions like Ministry of Interior, Security, National Intelligence Institution (MIT) and gendarmerie launch necessary efforts. ''Certain media organs create such an atmosphere as if our state is weak regarding such issues, this is not true and just approach. One shouldn't forget the fact that those who committed many political crimes were captured during the 55th, 56th and 57th governments. The leading members of the separatist terrorist organization PKK were captured. Many leading gangs and mafia members and those responsible from staging bomb attacks and assassinations were arrested,'' said Ecevit. Ecevit reminded that the murder of Olof Palme couldn't still be clarified. ''The thing that matters is not to panic in such periods. Our nation should not distrust itself and state. Because if necessary attention is not paid regarding this issue, those who commit such crimes reach their goals, because they act to make people distrust the state and democracy. This opportunity shouldn't be given to them,'' said Ecevit. ''Those responsibles from the murders of Muammer Aksoy, Bahriye Ucok and Ugur Mumcu couldn't be found. Various claims were put forward regarding the investigations. Does not this increase distrust?'' asked journalists to Ecevit. Ecevit responded to that by saying ''you should also think of those who were captured. Many criminals and murderers were captured in the last two-three years. The leading names of the terrorist PKK organization were captured. If one evaluates the events as in your question, this creates unnecessary demoralization. The state has been very successful in its struggle with such kind of events. I hope a positive result can be taken about this issue as soon as possible.'' Ecevit said that he has not any information about who staged the attack, adding the Council of Ministers didn't convene today as many ministers are out of Ankara.

[30] CETINKAYA, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF CUMHURIYET NEWSPAPER SAYS ONE PERSON TAKEN UNDER CUSTODY RELATED TO KISLALI'S ASSASINATION

[31] ANKARA, Oct 22 (A.A) - After visiting Kislali's family on Friday, Hikmet Cetinkaya, the Editor-in-Chief of Cumhuriyet Newspaper told reporters that the person whom he reported to the police related to Kislali's assasination was taken under custody in Istanbul. Cetinkaya said that Akit Newspaper showed Kislali as a target in an article it published on May 13, 1999. ''This newspaper had targeted Gumushane Bar Chairman in the past and had him murdered. I am denouncing this newspaper to all republic prosecutors from here. The headline of Akit today calls Kislali 'a Kemalist despot militant'. We want to know if the correspondents, writers and personnel of this newspaper have links with IBDA-C, Hezbollah, Islamic Movement and other illegal Islamic fundamentalist organizations,'' he said. Hakki Suha Okay, the Chairman of Ankara Bar stressed that Kislali was massacred like Bahriye Ucok and Ugur Mumcu for defending democrat and secular thought. ''These acts will not intimidate our people. Democrats and defenders of the Republic will continue on their way,'' he concluded.

[32] PARTICIPANTS OF SECOND BLACK SEA DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ALL AGREE THAT TURKEY MUST DEVELOP TRADE WITH CIS COUNTRIES

[33] TRABZON, Oct 22 (A.A) - Ali Osman Ulusoy, the Acting Chairman of Turkey Chambers and Commodity Exchanges Union (TOBB) said on Friday that trade with Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries was very important for Turkey's future. The Second Black Sea Development Council's meeting organized by the Association for Protection of Black Sea (KOK) started in Trabzon. Ulusoy who spoke at the meeting stressed that Turkey must strengthen its good relations with CIS countries and develop trade with them. Ulusoy said the Black Sea region did not receive sufficient support from the government to build infrastructure. Ali Riza Uzuner, the KOK Chairman reminded that some balances changed in Turkey after the quake. He said the Eastern Black Sea region could be the new industrialization line. The non-governmental organizations started significant activities to change the underdeveloped nature of the region, he added. ''We are searching for solutions. We are presenting projects to public and private institutions. Turkey started searching for new alternatives in industrialization. The Eastern Black Sea has some advantages because it is out of the quake zone. We must build the Trabzon-Erzurum railroad which Ataturk wanted to build 75 years ago and connect to South East,'' Uzuner explained. Atalay Sahinoglu, the Chairman of Istanbul Trade Chamber said Black Sea is Turkey's only region which is left outside the quake zone. ''The land is not suitable for industrialization. But there are ongoing projects about this. I believe that industrialization will increase in the region which carries the lowest earthquake risk,'' he said. Adil Yazar, the Trabzon Governor reminded that the gross national product of Black Sea region was much lower than Turkey's avarage and said economic development was crucial for Black Sea provinces. Regional Development Plan must be completed in a very short time to help the economic development of the region, he said.

[34] PANEL DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC DEFICITS - FINANCE MINISTER: ''WE WILL COLLECT SOME MORE TAX''

[35] ANKARA, Oct 22 (A.A) - Finance Minister Sumer Oral said on Friday that they will make the tax system more productive in the new period, and they will collect a little more tax. Addressing a panel discussion on ''Public Finance Deficits and Their Effects on Economy'', Oral said the difference between Revenue Budget and Expenditure Budget reached 12 percent. ''We must decrease the 12 percent deficit in public balance to 3 percent. It decreased below three percent in 1986. How this difference between the income and spendings grew? Nothing changes if the revenues increase by five percent and the expenses increase by 7 percent. We have to decrease the expenses and increase the income,'' he said. Oral stressed that Turkey couldn't control the interests and the social security deficits. Oral said the share of interests in the budget had been 1.9 percent of the Gross National Product (GNP) in 1985, but it increased to 13 percent in 1999. Noting that the rate of tax revenues in the GNP had been 10.8 percent in 1985, Oral said, ''the share of tax revenues was more than fivefold of interest expenses in 1985. However, the interest was 13 percent and the tax income was 18 percent in 1999. There was a five percent difference.'' Pointing out that the share of social security deficits in the budget was 0.6 percent in 1985 but 3 percent in 1999, Oral said, ''together with the interest, it will be 16 percent. However, the tax revenues is 18 percent. This is the bottleneck.'' Sumer Oral said the foreseen money that the social security organization will take from the budget will increase from 2.3 quadrillion Turkish Liras (TL) to 2.7 quadrillion TL. Oral said it was not clear whether the 3.8 quadrillion TL, which was foreseen for 2000, would be sufficient. Oral said there would be a five percent non-interest surplus, and the borrowing would shrink and the inflation would be decreased to a reasonable level if the budget targets for 2000 are achieved. ''The civil servants' wages will increase over the rate of inflation in 2000,'' he said. Finance Minister Sumer Oral said Turkey has to follow a serious programme to solve the problems, adding that they will make the tax system more productive to this end. Oral added that they will collect some more tax in the new period, but they will make this collection in a fair frame.

[36] FINANCE MINISTER: ''QUAKE TAX WILL BE DISCUSSED BY GOVERNMENT''

[37] ANKARA, Oct 22 (A.A) - Finance Minister Sumer Oral said on Friday that the Earthquake Tax will be discussed by the government. Speaking to reporters, Oral said the tax system should be more productive, and the privatization incomes should increase. When reminded of his statement saying, ''we will collect some more tax'', Oral said, ''of course, the system will collect naturally. There will be increases in revenues in the 2000 year budget. More tax does not mean that we have to adopt a tax law. We will increase more the revenue taxes. It will increase from 18 percent to 19 percent.''

A.A
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