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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-11-02
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CONTENTS
[01] AA Daily
[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
[03] These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in
Turkey's press on November 2, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify
these stories and does not vouch for their occuracy.
[04] HURRIYET (LIBERAL) - ---------------- ATATURK PEACE AWARD GIVEN TO
PRESIDENT ALIYEV OF AZERBAIJAN President Haydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan was
given the Ataturk Peace Award. President Aliyev expressed profound
satisfaction over receiving the award carrying the name of Ataturk, the
Founder of modern Republic of Turkey. Aliyev described Ataturk as one of
the greatest leaders, and statesmen of the 20th century.
[05] RUSSIA WAITS FOR ECEVIT Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will pay an
official visit to Russia between November 4-6 as the guest of his Russian
counterpart Vladimir Putin. Ecevit's visit to Russia aims at further
improving commercial relations with Russia. Meanwhile, Russia wants to
market her energy resources to Turkey. Joint struggle against terrorism is
expected to be high on the agenda of Ecevit's contacts in Russia.
[06] CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR THE SEVENTH TIME Bunyamin Adanali, and Unal
Osmanagaoglu, who were being tried on charges of killing seven members of
the banned Turkish Labour Party (TIP) in Bahcelievler district of Ankara in
1978, were sentenced to capital punishment for the seventh time.
[07] MILLIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- TURKISH AVIATION AGENCY HITS
GROUND The regulation of the Turkish Aviation Agency (THK) which was
established by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk with the principle that, ''the future
is in the skies'', was abolished by the Council of Ministers. The Agency
will be restructured in six months. Atilla Tacoy, the Director General of
the Agency, and other administrators have been dismissed. Two inspectors
prepared a report on the Turkish Aviation Agency. The report said that the
plane tender was given to a company which had bankrupted. The report added
that thus, the agency lost 4.3 million U.S. dollars.
[08] TWO NEW GSM PHONES ARE ON THE WAY State Minister Yuksel Yalova said
that the tender for two new Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM)
network will be announced until the new year. The new networks will be set
up in accordance with the GSM 1800 system.
[09] SABAH (LIBERAL) - --------------- MADAM CARE TO AHMET KAYA Ahmet Kaya,
a Turkish singer who praises the terrorist organization and its head
Abdullah Ocalan, received the residence permission in France by the efforts
of Mrs. Mitterand. Kaya is now living in Paris. France opened her arms to
Kaya by the initiatives of Danielle Mitterand.
[10] SHAMEFUL VISIT The public officials went to Germany rather than the
quake survivors who were invited to Germany by the German authorities. The
famous German Bad Durreheim Thermal Spring Enterprises invited 50 quake
survivors to spend two weeks in Germany. However, 50 personnel working in
Bursa, Bolu, and Sakarya went to Germany rather than the quake survivors.
[11] SEZEN AND HARIS ON THE SAME STAGE Famous pop singer Sezen Aksu and
Greek singer Haris Alexiou will share the stage to improve the Turkish-
Greek friendship in Turkey on November 6, 1999. Haris and Aksu will also
sing for friendship in Greece on November 23, 1999. CUMHURIYET (LEFT) - ----
------------ BLUE STREAM PROJECT TO BE SIGNED The additional protocol
regarded with the Blue Stream Project is expected to be signed during Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit's official visit to Russia between November 4-6. The
project will provide Turkey 16 billion cubic metres of natural gas till
2007. The U.S., Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan have reacted against the
project. Meanwhile, Turkey plans to sign the final agreement on the Baku-
Ceyhan oil pipeline project at the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Summit in Istanbul.
[12] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER AYTEKIN IN GERMANY Fevzi Aytekin, the
Environment Minister, arrived in Bonn, Germany, to attend the ''Climate
Change Environment Charter 5th Sides Conference''. Aytekin is scheduled to
make a speech at the conference which will start on Tuesday.
[13] AFTERPHOCKS CONTINUE TO SHAKE MARMARA REGION Three aftershocks with
magnitudes ranging from 2.7 to 3.6 shook Orhangazi county of Bursa province,
Bigadic county of Balikesir province, and Savastepe county of Balikesir
province in the wake of the 7.4-magnitude earthquake which devastated
northwestern part of Turkey on August 17. Meanwhile, a slight earthquake
measuring 2.7 was recorded in Marmaris county of Mugla province.
[14] RADIKAL (LEFT) - ------------- SLIGHT EARTHQUAKE SHAKES OSMANIYE A
slight earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale shook southern
Osmaniye province at 21:56 local time on Monday. Officials at the Bogazici
University Kandilli Observatory Earthquake Research Institute said that the
epicenter of the earthquake was Duzici county of Osmaniye province. The
earthquake was also felt in Osmaniye, and Kadirli county. No casualties or
financial damages were reported in the earthquake.
[15] 14 MEMBERS OF IBDA-C CAPTURED A total of 14 members of the illegal
Islamic Great Eastern Raiders-Front (IBDA-C) were captured in Istanbul
following the assasination of Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taner Kislali, the former
Culture Minister and a prominent journalist. The captured members were
planning to stage a bomb attack to protest the anniversary of the Higher
Education Board (YOK) on November 6, 1999.
[16] AN IMF DELEGATION TO COME TO TURKEY An International Monetary Fund
(IMF) delegation headed by IMF's Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli will
arrive in Ankara on Tuesday to hold contacts within the framework of the
Stand-By agreement. The IMF delegation will start its talks firstly at the
Treasury Undersecretariat, and continue to hold contacts at the State
Planning Organization, Finance Ministry, Privatization Management Board,
Central Bank, and Capital Market Board. The IMF delegation is expected to
proceed later to Istanbul to meet with the representatives of private
sector.
[17] TURKIYE (RIGHT) - --------------- BIG AWARD TO AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT
ALIYEV Haydar Aliyev, Azerbaijani President, was given Ataturk Peace Award.
After Aliyev received the award, he said that he is honoured to receive
this award. Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan always supports the Baku-Ceyhan
pipeline project. He added that the agreement on the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline
project will be signed during the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) summit.
[18] ONE BILLION U.S. DOLLAR FROM WORLD BANK The World Bank-International
Monetary Fund (IMF) Financial Sector meetings have been completed. If the
IMF signs a Stand-By agreement with Turkey, the World Bank will grant one
billion U.S. dollar credit to Turkey to be used for the structural changes
in financial sector. The credit will be used to privatize the public banks,
overcome the deficiencies in banking sector and lift the public guarantee
on the bank accounts.
[19] ISTANBUL GOVERNORS HOST DINNER FOR BANGLADESHI PRESIDENT Erol Cakir,
Istanbul Governor, hosted dinner in the honour of Shabuddin Ahmed, the
Bangladeshi President. Ahmed said that the relations between the two
countries are improving day by day. Ahmed noted that the common history,
common belief, and common values strengthen the relations between Turkey
and Bangladesh.
[20] ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) - ------------------ TAIWAN INVITES TURKISH
BUSINESSMEN Peter Win Jung Huang, the Director of Taiwan Trade Center's
Office in Istanbul, said that his country urgently needs contruction
equipment such as steel, cement, and glass, and foodstuff in the wake of
7.8-magnitude earthquake which struck Taiwan on September 21, and called on
Turkish businessmen to make more export.
[21] ENIGMA OF YALCIN OZBEY As Saadettin Tantan, the Interior Minister,
said that there was no information about capture of Yalcin Ozbey, one of
the accuseds of assasination of Abdi Ipekci, a prominent journalist, the
Justice Ministry requested extradition of Yalcin Ozbey. The Justice
Ministry has taken action after the German Interpol informed Turkey that
Ozbey was captured on charges of a different crime.
[22] PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY A.A IN INTERNET
[23] ANKARA, Nov 2 (A.A) - The photographs taken by the Photograph Service
of the Anadolu Agency (A.A) started to be transmitted via internet on
Tuesday. The photographs can be reached by the subscribers of the A.A via
internet. The A.A Photograph Service will transmit approximately 120
photographs a day. These photographs can be seen from the web-site titled
''www.anadoluajansi.com.tr''.
[24] AN IMF RESEARCH INDICATES OPERATION OF MONETARY BOARD SYSTEM IN
TURKEY IS DIFFICULT
[25] ANKARA/WASHINGTON D.C., Nov 2 (A.A) - A research conducted by the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) indicated that the operation of Monetary
Board system in Turkey is difficult. Prof. Doni Rodrik, a lecturer in the
Harward University, said in his research titled ''Economic Reforms'' that
the Monetary Board which is proposed as a radical economic measure, cannot
be successful in every country. Decisions which will arise difficulties
should be taken to make the Monetary Board system successful, Rodrik noted.
Rodrik enamurated some of these difficulties as the freezing of the prices
and the regular arrangement of the prices. A tight banking system is the
precondition of this system, Rodrik stated. The Monetary Board system fixes
the official monetary unit to an international monetary unit and it takes
the place of the Central Bank. Thus, it directs the monetary supply. The
IMF proposes this system to the countries where the inflation rate is so
high to decrease the inflation to a one-digit figure and to reach stability
by decreasing the interests. The inflation rate of the countries which
regularly apply this system, decreases and the interest rates reduce a year
after the system is started to be implemented.
[26] IMF DELEGATION IN ANKARA
[27] ANKARA, Nov 2 (A.A) - International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Turkey Desk
Chief met on Tuesday with Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp. Speaking
to reporters following the meeting, Selcuk Demiralp said, ''the important
thing for us is to sign the stand-by agreement, and announce to the world
and public opinion that Turkey took an important step concerning the
financial discipline.'' ''With the stand-by agreement, we will announce
Turkey's financial discipline to the world. We expect to sign a stand-by
that will be in effect as of the beginning of 2000. We are preparing for
this agreement,'' he said. Demiralp said that the IMF delegation led by
Cottarelli would stay in Turkey for three weeks.
[28] IMF DELEGATION IN ANKARA
[29] ANKARA, Nov 2 (A.A) - International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Turkey Desk
Chief Carlo Cottarelli said on Tuesday that they are now in Turkey for the
talks on a stand-by agreement. Speaking to reporters following the meeting
at the Treasury Undersecretariat, Cottarelli said they would conclude the
document and letter of intention about the stand-by agreement before
leaving Turkey. Cottarelli said the document and the letter of intention in
question would be later submitted to the IMF Executive Directors' Board.
Responding to a question, Cottarelli said the amount of the financial aid,
which would be given to Turkey within the framework of the stand-by
agreement, has not become clear yet, and the aid in question was given in
accordance with specific rules. Carlo Cottarelli said that the detailed
works on the 2000 year budget have not been finalized yet.
[30] IMF DELEGATION IN ANKARA
[31] ANKARA, Nov 2 (A.A) - Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp said on
Tuesday that an important support would be obtained from the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) as a result of a stand-by agreement, and the support in
question would be related with the balance of payments. Following his
meeting with IMF's Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli, Demiralp said the
amount of the financial aid would be discussed later. ''The loans that the
IMF will give are clearly mentioned in its regulations. An important amount
of support will come to Turkey from the IMF after the stand-by agreement.
The support in question will be about the balance of payments,'' Demiralp
said. Noting that the stand-by was a comprehensive agreement, Demiralp said
the economy would be discussed at the meetings which would mainly focus on
''public finance, budget, and public general balance''. Recalling that the
talks on stand-by agreement started in the U.S., Demiralp said the 2000
year budget was prepared within that framework. Pointing out that the IMF
delegation would stay in Turkey for two or three weeks, Demiralp said the
IMF delegation would make an evaluation in Washington D.C. after its
contacts in Turkey.
[32] IMF DELEGATION IN ANKARA
[33] ANKARA, Nov 2 (A.A) - International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Turkey Desk
Chief Carlo Cottarelli said on Tuesday that he hoped a stand-by agreement
would be signed with Turkey, and stand-by loan would be approved by the IMF
Executive Directors' Board till the end of 1999. Speaking to reporters
following the meeting at the Treasury, Cottarelli said the stand-by was an
agreement which has connections with structural reforms among which
agricultural reform and privatization are very important. Noting that they
would focus on those reforms within the scope of their visit, Cottarelli
stressed that the social security reform which was adopted by Turkey was an
important step. Responding to a question, Cottarelli said the amount of the
loan which would be given to Turkey within the framework of the stand-by
agreement has not become clear yet. Pointing out that they need more
detailed information about the budget, Carlo Cottarelli said, ''we came
here because we believe that the 2000 year budget is in parallel with our
expectations.''
[34] TURKEY AND TRNC TO SIGN COOPERATION PROTOCOL IN FORESTRY
[35] LEFKOSA, Nov 2 (A.A) - Forestry Minister Nami Cagan and Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Agriculture and Forestry Minister Irsen
Kucuk will sign an ''Assistance and Cooperation Protocol'' on Wednesday.
The protocol foresees planning in the field of forestry, protection of
forests in the TRNC and supply of equipment and air support from Turkey to
extinguish forest fires. The protocol also foresees cooperation in border
applications of new forest fields in the TRNC and land survey. The Forestry
Ministry will supply the spare parts of the vehicles, which were donated to
the TRNC for use in the field of forestry, in accordance with the protocol.
Turkey will supply plants and seeds to develop plantation in the TRNC in
accordance with the protocol, which foresees cooperation in afforestation
that is being carried out within framework of the TRNC Forestry Master
Plan. Turkey and the TRNC will cooperate in the national park projects and
training, and those activities will be specified with annual plans in
accordance with the protocol.
[36] EU-MEDITERRANEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCILS SUMMIT TO TAKE PLACE IN
ANTALYA BETWEEN NOVEMBER 4-5
[37] ANTALYA, Nov 2 (A.A) - The fifth summit of the European Union (EU)-
Mediterranean Economic and Social Councils, which is the civil dialogue
platform of the EU-Mediterranean Cooperation, will take place in southern
Antalya province between November 4 and 5. Officials said President
Suleyman Demirel, Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut, State Minister
Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, EU Economic and Social Committee Acting Chairman
Ania Margareta Regnell, and Turkey-EU Joint Consultation Committee Co-
Chairman Husamettin Kavi would address the opening session of the summit
that would be held at the Talya Hotel in Antalya. Almost 150
representatives of countries like Algeria, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany,
Greece, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Palestine, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia,
and Turkey, and international organizations, and members of the EU Economic
and Social Committee are expected to participate in the summit. The EU-
Mediterranean Cooperation which 12 EU and 15 Mediterranean countries have
memberships, started with the EU-Mediterranean Ministers' Conference which
was held in Barcelona between November 27-28, 1995. The EU-Mediterranean
Cooperation gained a civil dialogue platform status with the Economic and
Social Councils Summits in last four years in Madrid, Paris, Casablanca,
and Lisbon. Turkey regularly attended these four meetings.
[38] IMF DELEGATION'S CONTACTS IN ANKARA CONTINUE
[39] ANKARA, Nov 2 (A.A) - An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation
led by IMF's Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli visited on Tuesday the
State Planning Organization. Following the meeting, Cottarelli said they
discussed the macro economic targets for the year 2000. The IMF delegation
which started its contacts in Ankara the same day by visiting the Treasury
and the State Planning Organization, is expected to meet with the officials
at the Finance Ministry, Privatization Management Board, Central Bank,
Capital Market Board and public banks.
[40] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN CROATIA - TURKEY AND CROATIA DETERMINED TO
DEVELOP ECONOMIC RELATIONS
[41] ZAGREB, Nov 2 (A.A) - Turkey and Croatia are determined to develop
economic relations. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem launched initiatives in
Croatia to develop the economic relations between the two countries. Cem,
who came to Croatia on Monday, met with Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Tuesday. In the joint press briefing held
after the meeting, Cem thanked to Croatian nation for its help to Turkey
following the massive earthquake disaster on August 17. Cem said that the
general elections which will be held in Croatia next month, will start a
new process in improvement of democracy in Croatia. Cem stated that he
proposed Croatian officials to bring high ranking diplomats of the two
countries together to find ways to develop eceonomic relations. Turkey is
looking forward to signing free trade agreement with Croatia, said Cem and
added that cooperation in tourism should also be developed. The
international society should launch more efforts for reconstructuring
Kosovo, said Cem and noted that the two countries decided to be more active
in the Southeastern Europe Stability Pact. Cem pointed out that Turkey and
Croatia are indispensable countries of Europe whether or not they are the
members of the EU. ''Yet these two countries' joining the political
dimension of EU will contribute a lot to EU,'' added Cem. Granic said in
his part that they proposed a free trade agreement to Turkey and they want
to cooperate with Turkey regarding the highway project that will be built
in Adriatic coast. Turkey, Croatia, and Bosnia plan to form a group for
better implementation of Dayton agreement, stated Granic and added that
Turkey, which is among both NATO and Islamic countries, carries great
importance for them. Cem was later received by Croatian Prime Minister
Zlatko Matesa. Matesa told Cem that ''Turkey has to reflect its political
influence in Southeastern Europe also to economic field.''
[42] A.A
[01] AA Daily
02 November 1999 Tuesday
[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
[03] These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in
Turkey's press on November 2, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify
these stories and does not vouch for their occuracy.
[04] HURRIYET (LIBERAL) - ---------------- ATATURK PEACE AWARD GIVEN TO
PRESIDENT ALIYEV OF AZERBAIJAN President Haydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan was
given the Ataturk Peace Award. President Aliyev expressed profound
satisfaction over receiving the award carrying the name of Ataturk, the
Founder of modern Republic of Turkey. Aliyev described Ataturk as one of
the greatest leaders, and statesmen of the 20th century.
[05] RUSSIA WAITS FOR ECEVIT Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will pay an
official visit to Russia between November 4-6 as the guest of his Russian
counterpart Vladimir Putin. Ecevit's visit to Russia aims at further
improving commercial relations with Russia. Meanwhile, Russia wants to
market her energy resources to Turkey. Joint struggle against terrorism is
expected to be high on the agenda of Ecevit's contacts in Russia.
[06] CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR THE SEVENTH TIME Bunyamin Adanali, and Unal
Osmanagaoglu, who were being tried on charges of killing seven members of
the banned Turkish Labour Party (TIP) in Bahcelievler district of Ankara in
1978, were sentenced to capital punishment for the seventh time.
[07] MILLIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- TURKISH AVIATION AGENCY HITS
GROUND The regulation of the Turkish Aviation Agency (THK) which was
established by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk with the principle that, ''the future
is in the skies'', was abolished by the Council of Ministers. The Agency
will be restructured in six months. Atilla Tacoy, the Director General of
the Agency, and other administrators have been dismissed. Two inspectors
prepared a report on the Turkish Aviation Agency. The report said that the
plane tender was given to a company which had bankrupted. The report added
that thus, the agency lost 4.3 million U.S. dollars.
[08] TWO NEW GSM PHONES ARE ON THE WAY State Minister Yuksel Yalova said
that the tender for two new Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM)
network will be announced until the new year. The new networks will be set
up in accordance with the GSM 1800 system.
[09] SABAH (LIBERAL) - --------------- MADAM CARE TO AHMET KAYA Ahmet Kaya,
a Turkish singer who praises the terrorist organization and its head
Abdullah Ocalan, received the residence permission in France by the efforts
of Mrs. Mitterand. Kaya is now living in Paris. France opened her arms to
Kaya by the initiatives of Danielle Mitterand.
[10] SHAMEFUL VISIT The public officials went to Germany rather than the
quake survivors who were invited to Germany by the German authorities. The
famous German Bad Durreheim Thermal Spring Enterprises invited 50 quake
survivors to spend two weeks in Germany. However, 50 personnel working in
Bursa, Bolu, and Sakarya went to Germany rather than the quake survivors.
[11] SEZEN AND HARIS ON THE SAME STAGE Famous pop singer Sezen Aksu and
Greek singer Haris Alexiou will share the stage to improve the Turkish-
Greek friendship in Turkey on November 6, 1999. Haris and Aksu will also
sing for friendship in Greece on November 23, 1999. CUMHURIYET (LEFT) - ----
------------ BLUE STREAM PROJECT TO BE SIGNED The additional protocol
regarded with the Blue Stream Project is expected to be signed during Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit's official visit to Russia between November 4-6. The
project will provide Turkey 16 billion cubic metres of natural gas till
2007. The U.S., Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan have reacted against the
project. Meanwhile, Turkey plans to sign the final agreement on the Baku-
Ceyhan oil pipeline project at the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Summit in Istanbul.
[12] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER AYTEKIN IN GERMANY Fevzi Aytekin, the
Environment Minister, arrived in Bonn, Germany, to attend the ''Climate
Change Environment Charter 5th Sides Conference''. Aytekin is scheduled to
make a speech at the conference which will start on Tuesday.
[13] AFTERPHOCKS CONTINUE TO SHAKE MARMARA REGION Three aftershocks with
magnitudes ranging from 2.7 to 3.6 shook Orhangazi county of Bursa province,
Bigadic county of Balikesir province, and Savastepe county of Balikesir
province in the wake of the 7.4-magnitude earthquake which devastated
northwestern part of Turkey on August 17. Meanwhile, a slight earthquake
measuring 2.7 was recorded in Marmaris county of Mugla province.
[14] RADIKAL (LEFT) - ------------- SLIGHT EARTHQUAKE SHAKES OSMANIYE A
slight earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale shook southern
Osmaniye province at 21:56 local time on Monday. Officials at the Bogazici
University Kandilli Observatory Earthquake Research Institute said that the
epicenter of the earthquake was Duzici county of Osmaniye province. The
earthquake was also felt in Osmaniye, and Kadirli county. No casualties or
financial damages were reported in the earthquake.
[15] 14 MEMBERS OF IBDA-C CAPTURED A total of 14 members of the illegal
Islamic Great Eastern Raiders-Front (IBDA-C) were captured in Istanbul
following the assasination of Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taner Kislali, the former
Culture Minister and a prominent journalist. The captured members were
planning to stage a bomb attack to protest the anniversary of the Higher
Education Board (YOK) on November 6, 1999.
[16] AN IMF DELEGATION TO COME TO TURKEY An International Monetary Fund
(IMF) delegation headed by IMF's Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli will
arrive in Ankara on Tuesday to hold contacts within the framework of the
Stand-By agreement. The IMF delegation will start its talks firstly at the
Treasury Undersecretariat, and continue to hold contacts at the State
Planning Organization, Finance Ministry, Privatization Management Board,
Central Bank, and Capital Market Board. The IMF delegation is expected to
proceed later to Istanbul to meet with the representatives of private
sector.
[17] TURKIYE (RIGHT) - --------------- BIG AWARD TO AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT
ALIYEV Haydar Aliyev, Azerbaijani President, was given Ataturk Peace Award.
After Aliyev received the award, he said that he is honoured to receive
this award. Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan always supports the Baku-Ceyhan
pipeline project. He added that the agreement on the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline
project will be signed during the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) summit.
[18] ONE BILLION U.S. DOLLAR FROM WORLD BANK The World Bank-International
Monetary Fund (IMF) Financial Sector meetings have been completed. If the
IMF signs a Stand-By agreement with Turkey, the World Bank will grant one
billion U.S. dollar credit to Turkey to be used for the structural changes
in financial sector. The credit will be used to privatize the public banks,
overcome the deficiencies in banking sector and lift the public guarantee
on the bank accounts.
[19] ISTANBUL GOVERNORS HOST DINNER FOR BANGLADESHI PRESIDENT Erol Cakir,
Istanbul Governor, hosted dinner in the honour of Shabuddin Ahmed, the
Bangladeshi President. Ahmed said that the relations between the two
countries are improving day by day. Ahmed noted that the common history,
common belief, and common values strengthen the relations between Turkey
and Bangladesh.
[20] ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) - ------------------ TAIWAN INVITES TURKISH
BUSINESSMEN Peter Win Jung Huang, the Director of Taiwan Trade Center's
Office in Istanbul, said that his country urgently needs contruction
equipment such as steel, cement, and glass, and foodstuff in the wake of
7.8-magnitude earthquake which struck Taiwan on September 21, and called on
Turkish businessmen to make more export.
[21] ENIGMA OF YALCIN OZBEY As Saadettin Tantan, the Interior Minister,
said that there was no information about capture of Yalcin Ozbey, one of
the accuseds of assasination of Abdi Ipekci, a prominent journalist, the
Justice Ministry requested extradition of Yalcin Ozbey. The Justice
Ministry has taken action after the German Interpol informed Turkey that
Ozbey was captured on charges of a different crime.
[22] PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY A.A IN INTERNET
[23] ANKARA, Nov 2 (A.A) - The photographs taken by the Photograph Service
of the Anadolu Agency (A.A) started to be transmitted via internet on
Tuesday. The photographs can be reached by the subscribers of the A.A via
internet. The A.A Photograph Service will transmit approximately 120
photographs a day. These photographs can be seen from the web-site titled
''www.anadoluajansi.com.tr''.
[24] AN IMF RESEARCH INDICATES OPERATION OF MONETARY BOARD SYSTEM IN
TURKEY IS DIFFICULT
[25] ANKARA/WASHINGTON D.C., Nov 2 (A.A) - A research conducted by the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) indicated that the operation of Monetary
Board system in Turkey is difficult. Prof. Doni Rodrik, a lecturer in the
Harward University, said in his research titled ''Economic Reforms'' that
the Monetary Board which is proposed as a radical economic measure, cannot
be successful in every country. Decisions which will arise difficulties
should be taken to make the Monetary Board system successful, Rodrik noted.
Rodrik enamurated some of these difficulties as the freezing of the prices
and the regular arrangement of the prices. A tight banking system is the
precondition of this system, Rodrik stated. The Monetary Board system fixes
the official monetary unit to an international monetary unit and it takes
the place of the Central Bank. Thus, it directs the monetary supply. The
IMF proposes this system to the countries where the inflation rate is so
high to decrease the inflation to a one-digit figure and to reach stability
by decreasing the interests. The inflation rate of the countries which
regularly apply this system, decreases and the interest rates reduce a year
after the system is started to be implemented.
[26] IMF DELEGATION IN ANKARA
[27] ANKARA, Nov 2 (A.A) - International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Turkey Desk
Chief met on Tuesday with Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp. Speaking
to reporters following the meeting, Selcuk Demiralp said, ''the important
thing for us is to sign the stand-by agreement, and announce to the world
and public opinion that Turkey took an important step concerning the
financial discipline.'' ''With the stand-by agreement, we will announce
Turkey's financial discipline to the world. We expect to sign a stand-by
that will be in effect as of the beginning of 2000. We are preparing for
this agreement,'' he said. Demiralp said that the IMF delegation led by
Cottarelli would stay in Turkey for three weeks.
[28] IMF DELEGATION IN ANKARA
[29] ANKARA, Nov 2 (A.A) - International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Turkey Desk
Chief Carlo Cottarelli said on Tuesday that they are now in Turkey for the
talks on a stand-by agreement. Speaking to reporters following the meeting
at the Treasury Undersecretariat, Cottarelli said they would conclude the
document and letter of intention about the stand-by agreement before
leaving Turkey. Cottarelli said the document and the letter of intention in
question would be later submitted to the IMF Executive Directors' Board.
Responding to a question, Cottarelli said the amount of the financial aid,
which would be given to Turkey within the framework of the stand-by
agreement, has not become clear yet, and the aid in question was given in
accordance with specific rules. Carlo Cottarelli said that the detailed
works on the 2000 year budget have not been finalized yet.
[30] IMF DELEGATION IN ANKARA
[31] ANKARA, Nov 2 (A.A) - Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp said on
Tuesday that an important support would be obtained from the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) as a result of a stand-by agreement, and the support in
question would be related with the balance of payments. Following his
meeting with IMF's Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli, Demiralp said the
amount of the financial aid would be discussed later. ''The loans that the
IMF will give are clearly mentioned in its regulations. An important amount
of support will come to Turkey from the IMF after the stand-by agreement.
The support in question will be about the balance of payments,'' Demiralp
said. Noting that the stand-by was a comprehensive agreement, Demiralp said
the economy would be discussed at the meetings which would mainly focus on
''public finance, budget, and public general balance''. Recalling that the
talks on stand-by agreement started in the U.S., Demiralp said the 2000
year budget was prepared within that framework. Pointing out that the IMF
delegation would stay in Turkey for two or three weeks, Demiralp said the
IMF delegation would make an evaluation in Washington D.C. after its
contacts in Turkey.
[32] IMF DELEGATION IN ANKARA
[33] ANKARA, Nov 2 (A.A) - International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Turkey Desk
Chief Carlo Cottarelli said on Tuesday that he hoped a stand-by agreement
would be signed with Turkey, and stand-by loan would be approved by the IMF
Executive Directors' Board till the end of 1999. Speaking to reporters
following the meeting at the Treasury, Cottarelli said the stand-by was an
agreement which has connections with structural reforms among which
agricultural reform and privatization are very important. Noting that they
would focus on those reforms within the scope of their visit, Cottarelli
stressed that the social security reform which was adopted by Turkey was an
important step. Responding to a question, Cottarelli said the amount of the
loan which would be given to Turkey within the framework of the stand-by
agreement has not become clear yet. Pointing out that they need more
detailed information about the budget, Carlo Cottarelli said, ''we came
here because we believe that the 2000 year budget is in parallel with our
expectations.''
[34] TURKEY AND TRNC TO SIGN COOPERATION PROTOCOL IN FORESTRY
[35] LEFKOSA, Nov 2 (A.A) - Forestry Minister Nami Cagan and Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Agriculture and Forestry Minister Irsen
Kucuk will sign an ''Assistance and Cooperation Protocol'' on Wednesday.
The protocol foresees planning in the field of forestry, protection of
forests in the TRNC and supply of equipment and air support from Turkey to
extinguish forest fires. The protocol also foresees cooperation in border
applications of new forest fields in the TRNC and land survey. The Forestry
Ministry will supply the spare parts of the vehicles, which were donated to
the TRNC for use in the field of forestry, in accordance with the protocol.
Turkey will supply plants and seeds to develop plantation in the TRNC in
accordance with the protocol, which foresees cooperation in afforestation
that is being carried out within framework of the TRNC Forestry Master
Plan. Turkey and the TRNC will cooperate in the national park projects and
training, and those activities will be specified with annual plans in
accordance with the protocol.
[36] EU-MEDITERRANEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCILS SUMMIT TO TAKE PLACE IN
ANTALYA BETWEEN NOVEMBER 4-5
[37] ANTALYA, Nov 2 (A.A) - The fifth summit of the European Union (EU)-
Mediterranean Economic and Social Councils, which is the civil dialogue
platform of the EU-Mediterranean Cooperation, will take place in southern
Antalya province between November 4 and 5. Officials said President
Suleyman Demirel, Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut, State Minister
Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, EU Economic and Social Committee Acting Chairman
Ania Margareta Regnell, and Turkey-EU Joint Consultation Committee Co-
Chairman Husamettin Kavi would address the opening session of the summit
that would be held at the Talya Hotel in Antalya. Almost 150
representatives of countries like Algeria, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany,
Greece, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Palestine, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Tunisia,
and Turkey, and international organizations, and members of the EU Economic
and Social Committee are expected to participate in the summit. The EU-
Mediterranean Cooperation which 12 EU and 15 Mediterranean countries have
memberships, started with the EU-Mediterranean Ministers' Conference which
was held in Barcelona between November 27-28, 1995. The EU-Mediterranean
Cooperation gained a civil dialogue platform status with the Economic and
Social Councils Summits in last four years in Madrid, Paris, Casablanca,
and Lisbon. Turkey regularly attended these four meetings.
[38] IMF DELEGATION'S CONTACTS IN ANKARA CONTINUE
[39] ANKARA, Nov 2 (A.A) - An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation
led by IMF's Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli visited on Tuesday the
State Planning Organization. Following the meeting, Cottarelli said they
discussed the macro economic targets for the year 2000. The IMF delegation
which started its contacts in Ankara the same day by visiting the Treasury
and the State Planning Organization, is expected to meet with the officials
at the Finance Ministry, Privatization Management Board, Central Bank,
Capital Market Board and public banks.
[40] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN CROATIA - TURKEY AND CROATIA DETERMINED TO
DEVELOP ECONOMIC RELATIONS
[41] ZAGREB, Nov 2 (A.A) - Turkey and Croatia are determined to develop
economic relations. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem launched initiatives in
Croatia to develop the economic relations between the two countries. Cem,
who came to Croatia on Monday, met with Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister Mate Granic on Tuesday. In the joint press briefing held
after the meeting, Cem thanked to Croatian nation for its help to Turkey
following the massive earthquake disaster on August 17. Cem said that the
general elections which will be held in Croatia next month, will start a
new process in improvement of democracy in Croatia. Cem stated that he
proposed Croatian officials to bring high ranking diplomats of the two
countries together to find ways to develop eceonomic relations. Turkey is
looking forward to signing free trade agreement with Croatia, said Cem and
added that cooperation in tourism should also be developed. The
international society should launch more efforts for reconstructuring
Kosovo, said Cem and noted that the two countries decided to be more active
in the Southeastern Europe Stability Pact. Cem pointed out that Turkey and
Croatia are indispensable countries of Europe whether or not they are the
members of the EU. ''Yet these two countries' joining the political
dimension of EU will contribute a lot to EU,'' added Cem. Granic said in
his part that they proposed a free trade agreement to Turkey and they want
to cooperate with Turkey regarding the highway project that will be built
in Adriatic coast. Turkey, Croatia, and Bosnia plan to form a group for
better implementation of Dayton agreement, stated Granic and added that
Turkey, which is among both NATO and Islamic countries, carries great
importance for them. Cem was later received by Croatian Prime Minister
Zlatko Matesa. Matesa told Cem that ''Turkey has to reflect its political
influence in Southeastern Europe also to economic field.''
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