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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-11-11

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

11 November 1999 Thursday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[03] These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 11, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their occuracy.

[04] HURRIYET (LIBERAL) - ---------------- TURKEY LETTER WORTH OF 3.5 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS Aviation giants of the U.S. wrote a letter of Bill Clinton, the U.S. President, and called for support for the assault helicopters joint production tender which Turkey opened. The tender worths 3.5 billion U.S. dollars. Chairmen of Bell Helicopter, Boeing, General Electric Aircrat Enginees and Lockheed Martin called for support from the White House for the tender in Turkey. The letter, carrying the signatures of administrators of four companies, said ''Turkey will not give us the tender unless it is assured that the U.S. government will give exportation licence.''

[05] CLINTON: ATATURK WAS A STATESMAN Bill Clinton, the U.S. President, sent a message to a meeting organized by Federation of Turkish American Associations (FTAA) to commemorate Ataturk. In the written statement Clinton said ''Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, famous military leader, a statesman, the man of peace who founded a nation, made a contribution to Turkey's struggle for independence and the world peace in the 20th century and that the traces of this will never be eradicated.''

[06] MILLIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- GOOD NEWS Coalition partner parties convened on Wednesday. Mesut Yilmaz, leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), who spoke after the meeting stressed that the summit was very fruitful. He said ''we have a beneficial meeting in harmony.'' Meanwhile, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit went to Cankaya palace as the summit continued. In his return he gave the good news to leaders: ''last obstacle in Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project has been overcome.'' Thus, Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline project agreement can be signed during Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit.

[07] SABAH (LIBERAL) - --------------- LOVE MASSACE OF INSANE IMAM Mehmet Kaya (34), a Turkish imam in Germany caused bloodshed when he could not marry Zubeyde Tetik (19) whom he fell in love with. Yet, the imam was married with four children. Kaya raided the house of Tetik and fired everybody he met. He killed seven people including the girl he was in love with and her father. Kaya fled after the massacre, yet German commando teams followed him. The insane imam shot himself to death when he understood he will be captured.

[08] IMF DELEGATION CONCLUDES CONTACTS The International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, led by Carlo Cottarelli, the chief of the Turkey Desk, ended their contacts with the public institutions on Wednesday The IMF delegation held contacts with State Planning Institute (DPT), Finance Ministry, Treasury Undersecretariat, Privatization Administration Board, and Central Bank officials for nearly 10 days. The IMF delegation was briefed about the 2000 year budget, and projections of the year 2001, and assessed performance criteria. Public sector balance and primary surplus of public sector are among the performance criteria adopted as the report of Stand-By agreement that will be signed with the IMF. Other performance criteria are international reserves and public section borrowing requirement. IMF delegation will start to prepare Stand-By text as of the weekend. Officials said Turkish side will begin to write ''Intention Letter'' next week. The letter will be sent to IMF.

[09] CUMHURIYET (LEFT) - ---------------- CYPRUS ARGUMENT IN SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL A very harsh argument on Cyprus issue took place in the final session of the Social International General Congress. Vasos Lissarides, Socialist Party leader of Greek Cypriot side, addressing the Socialist International session, made baseless accusations against Turkey. Lissarides blamed Turkey for occupation and ethnic cleansing. Altan Oymen, leader of Republican People's Party (CHP), who spoke after Lissarides, said Representative of Greek Cypriot side tried to enter into polemics and deviate the facts as it happened in every international meeting.

[10] FRIENDSHIP TRAIN IN SALONICA Friendship train arrived in Salonica to improve relations with Greece and commemorate the 61th anniversary of the death of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkish Republic. In the ceremony, it was said Ataturk started Turkish-Greek friendship with Greek leader Venizelos.

[11] RADIKAL (LEFT) - ------------- THE LAST 19 DAYS The state had promised that 26,000 prefabricated houses would be constructed by the end of this month. Only 1,524 families could move into the prefabricated huts. The number of huts that are about to be delivered are 3,108. Great efforts should be exerted to keep the promise.

[12] JORDAN WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE MANOEUVRES Joint manoeuvres between Turkey, the U.S., and Israel will take place by mid December. ''Seach and Rescue Manoeuvres'' in which naval and air units of the three countries will join in, are expected to take place in Turkish coasts between December 14 and 17. Turkey participates in ''Reliant Mermaid-2'' manoeuvres with nearly 500 helicopters and frigates. Israel is expected to send a Saar 5 type corvette, as well as many sea vehicles. Meanwhile, it was reported that Jordan and Egypt, who were invited as observers to the manoeuvres, refused the invitation.

[13] TURKIYE (RIGHT) - --------------- FLOOD OF LOVE We have commemorated Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Founder of Modern Turkish Republic, on the 61th anniversary of his death. Ceremonies in Anitkabir, Mausoleum of Ataturk, showed the flood of love. A soldier could not stop his tears in the ceremony held in Dolmabahce Palace. President Suleyman Demirel said a new state has been founded from the ashes of an Empire, and noted that people were pleased over the Republic.

[14] HARD SUMMIT OF THE COALITION PARTNERS Bulent Ecevit, Devlet Bahceli and Mesut Yilmaz, leaders of the coalition partner parties convened on Wednesday and held a meeting which lasted for 6.5 hours. Prime Minister Ecevit's visit to Russia, Chechnya tragedy, priorities of the Parliament, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Blue Stream and economic issues were discussed.

[15] ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) - ------------------ ''YOU CAN NOT SAY SHUT UP'' President Suleyman Demirel said it was impossible to overcome the tensions in religion-state relations by saying ''shut up''. Pointing out that there is enough pessimism in Turkey, Demirel said Turkey will not be able to get rid of this in case we don't rely on ourselves. Demirel said ''75 years have passed. We are still discussing this issue. There are tensions in Turkey. You can not say ''shut up''.

[16] KARAKAYA RELEASED Hasan Karakaya, a columnist of Akit Newspaper was released on Wednesday. Karakaya was taken into custody after the claims of Kasim Gencyilmaz. Karakaya was claimed to have offered 2 million U.S. dollars to Kasim Gencyilmaz to kill Yekta Gungor Ozden, the Chairman of Kemalist Thought Association and former Chairman of the Constitutional Court.

[17] TURKMENBASI TO VISIT TURKEY FOR OSCE SUMMIT - TURKMENBASI INAUGURATES MOTORWAY CONSTRUCTED BY TURKISH ''MENSEL'' COMPANY

[18] ASKHABAD, Nov 11 (A.A) - Sapharmurad Turkmenbasi, President of Turkmenistan, will visit Turkey on November 17 to participate in Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit. Turkmenbasi addressed Turkish workers after inaugurating ''Garasizlik Shah Motorway'', constructed by Turkish ''MENSEL'' company. Turkmenbasi thanked to Turkish workers due to the successful works they recorded in his country. Noting that he will pay an official visit to Turkey on November 17 for OSCE summit, Turkmenbasi said Trans-Caucasian natural gas pipeline agreement will be signed here. Turkmenbasi said Turkish houses will be heated with Turkmen natural gas soon.

[19] WORLD BANK OFFICIALS VISIT TURKEY

[20] ANKARA, Nov 11 (A.A) - Turkey became the focus of interest of the World Bank as the possibility of signature of Stand-By agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) strengthens. Johannes Linn, Deputy Chairman of the World Bank responsible for European region including Turkey, will visit Turkey on November 21-24. Linn will participate in a conference titled ''Re-structuring of Turkey and Foreign Capital Investment'' in Istanbul Ciragan Palace between November 21 and 23. Linn will proceed to Ankara on November 24, and will open new office of World Bank in Ankara. The six-people World Bank delegation that arrived in Turkey on November 5, will focus on Economic Reform Loan (ERL). This Loan is thought to be given to Turkey. The bank plans to extend one billion U.S. dollars ERL to Turkey. The ERL delegation will stay in Turkey till November 18. Another five- people World Bank delegation which arrived in Ankara on November 8 will hold contacts about energy sector and environmental issues. The World Bank delegation which visited Turkey for energy sector, will stay in Ankara till November 17. Another World Bank delegation that arrived in Turkey on November 8 on health sector, will conclude contacts on Thursday. A separate World Bank delegation is expected to arrive in Turkey on November 29 to carry out works on technopark projects till December 3.

[21] QUOTAS TO BE ONCE AGAIN A PROBLEM IN CUSTOMS UNION

[22] ANKARA, Nov 11 (A.A) - The World Trade Organization (WTO) which found the quotas put by Turkey on textiles and ready-wear with the aim of providing harmonization to the Customs Union ''contrary to liberal trade'', did not change its decision also for Turkey's appeal. Sources said on Thursday that Turkey, who appealed in July the decision of the panel that had been formed within the structure of the WTO upon India's complaint, was found unjust also in the appeals phase. Turkey received the decision about the appeal on October 21. The appeal decision, which includes the abolishment of textile quotas, is expected to become clear at the meeting that will take place in Geneva on November 19. In accordance with the Customs Union, which entered into effect on January 1, 1996, Turkey shared the textiles and ready-wear quotas that is put by the European Union (EU) on the third countries. Within this scope, Turkey put quotas on 32 countries in parallel to the EU policies. In parallel to the EU policies, the number of countries on which the quotas are implemented decreased to 21 as of 1999. Within the framework of the GATT 1994 rules, India applied to the WTO in February 1998 saying that Turkey could not restrict imports of textiles and ready-wear. The panel, which was set up within the structure of the WTO, submitted its first preparatory report on March 3, 1999. Turkey was found unjust about the quota implementation in accordance with the preparatory decision. Turkey appealed the decision in July 1999. The report of the appeals organ is expected to be discussed and approved at the meeting in Geneva on November 19. The decision of the panel is very important for both the future of the Turkey-EU customs union and the enlargement process of the EU. In case of abolishment of quotas, the customs union agreement between Turkey and the EU won't be abided by.

[23] TURKEY-CZECH REPUBLIC - AGREEMENT TO PREVENT DUAL TAXATION AND TAX EVASION TO BE SIGNED ON FRIDAY

[24] ANKARA, Nov 11 (A.A) - Turkey and Czech Republic will sign an agreement on Friday to prevent Dual Taxation and to Prevent Tax Evasion. The signatories of the agreement will be Sumer Oral, Minister of Finance, and Pavel Martlik, Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister. The agreements targets overcoming taxation problems in economic and trade relations. Finance Ministry Press and Relations with the Public Consultancy said the shrinking effect of double taxation on the transfer of technology, man-power, and capital will be removed in accordance with the agreement. Meanwhile, it was reported that number of agreements Turkey signed to prevent double taxation will reach 60. A total of 39 of them took effect.

[25] U.S. SENATE SUPPORTS TURKEY'S PARTICIPATION IN EUROPEAN DEFENSE INITIATIVE

[26] WASHINGTON D.C., Nov 11 (A.A) - The U.S. Senate approved on Thursday a draft law foreseeing the continuation of the NATO's essential role in defense of Europe and Turkey's full-participation in the European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI) initiative. The draft law on ''the U.S.'s NATO Policy'' that was prepared by Jesse Helms, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and seven leading senators, was approved by the Senate general assembly. Critisizing some circles in the European Union (EU) which want the NATO have a secondary role in defense of Europe, the decision stressed that the primary situation of the NATO should not be weaken. The decision emphasized that the countries which are NATO members but are not full-member of the EU, should never be excluded from the initiative, and they should be given place in the decision mechanisms. The decision in question of the U.S. Senate was evaluated as an important development that will contribute to the thesis of Turkey who earlier received the Bill Clinton administration's support for the ESDI initiative.

[27] OSCE WARNING FROM TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS

[28] LEFKOSA, Nov 11 (A.A) - Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said on Thursday that solution was being sought for the Cyprus question through indirect talks so any initiative to block the solution ways should not be launced at the summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Istanbul, and the terminology that will upset the Turkish Cypriots should not be used. Denktas said, ''we wish a terminology that will once again upset us won't be used in the Summit. We wish decisions and statements saying 'we recognize a single government in Cyprus, and this is the Greek Cypriot government' which do not esteem the rights, laws, and realities won't be made in the Summit.'' U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan has said, ''the OSCE Summit in Istanbul will be a forum in which common problems like the Cyprus question will be discussed.'' Denktas said it would be evaluated by everybody if an initiative to block the solution ways was launched in the Summit. ''Probably, there are very important issues on the agenda of the OSCE. However, the Cyprus issue is the Turkish Cypriots' case of rights and freedom. It is Turkey's case of geopolitical interest. It is the case of prevention of the destruction of the Turkish-Greek balance that occurred as a result of the 1960 international agreements. I am once again emphasizing that it will be once again evaluated, and our rights and freedoms will be reviewed again if they accept decisions showing that they will continue the unjust treatment that started 36 years ago toward the Turkish Cypriots,'' he stressed.

[29] BAKU-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE PROJECT - ECEVIT: ''BOTH MR. SHEVARDNADZE AND MR. ALIYEV ARE DETERMINED IN THE PROJECT''

[30] ANKARA, Nov 11 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Thursday that President Suleyman Demirel talked to both Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze and Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev, and the two Presidents were determined in the Baku-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline project. President Suleyman Demirel stated that all problems concerning the Baku- Ceyhan project were solved. When reminded of this statement of the President, Ecevit said, ''actually, there was not a disagreement concerning the Baku-Ceyhan project.'' '''Besides, everbody knows that we want to purchase Turkmen natural gas. Mr. President talked to Mr. Aliyev and Mr. Shevardneadze yesterday. Both Mr. Aliyev and Mr. Shevardnadze are determined in the project. There is not a hesitation concerning the issue, '' he said.

[31] FRIENDSHIP TRAIN ARRIVES IN ATHENS

[32] ATHENS, Nov 11 (A.A) - The Friendship Train which was organized by the Turkish Radio and Television Broadcast Organization (TRT) and the Directorate General of State Railways, arrived in Athens on Thursday. Fikret Unlu, the State Minister responsible for sports; Yorgos Murmuris, the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Greek State Railways; and Ali Tuygan, Turkey's Ambassador to Athens, welcomed the train. Later, Unlu responded to the questions of the Greek journalists. A very good friendship project has been launched between Turkey and Greece in the recent days, Unlu said. The best examples of this friendship can be observed in sports and arts today, Unlu noted. Unlu said, ''the searches for friendship and peace started after the quake disasters which hit both countries. The friendship which started between Ataturk and Venizelos, is gradually improving. We are proud of this. We think of improving this friendship in every field.'' ''Perfect organizations are being held. Yesterday, the Telekom had a basketball match. Today, there is the Abdi Ipekci award ceremony. All these are the organizations which improve the friendship between Turkey and Greece. Besides, the two nations are friends for years, '' Unlu added. Unlu stated that the history should be relegated to the pages of history and both countries should take steps for the future. The residents of Athens can visit the Ataturk Museum which is in the Friendship Train. Turkey's Embassy in Athens will host a reception in the honour of the Friendship Train.

[33] THE OLDEST SCHOOL OF BULGARIA'S KIRCAALI HAMLET BURNS

[34] SOFIA, Nov 11 (A.A) - The oldest high school of Kircaali hamlet of Bulgaria where many Turks live, burned on Thursday. The ''Otets Paisiy'' high school of Kircaali started to burn at 4.00 a.m. early on Thursday. The fire brigade could not put out the fire despite all the efforts. Thus, the school cannot be used any more. The security forces said that they think that the fire was a sabotage. Some circles think that young people who are addicted to drugs could have set ablaze the high school. The security forces noted that the interrogation concerning the fire has been launched. The high school was constructed in 1913 and it was considered among the cultural monuments of Bulgaria. Nearly 1000 students were being educated in the school.

[35] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK INCREASE TO 24.5 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS

[36] ANKARA, Nov 11 (A.A) - The foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank increased to 24 billion 544 million U.S. dollars. The Central Bank said on Thursday that the foreign exchange reserves, which climbed by 579 million U.S. dollars between October 28 and November 5, increased to 24 billion 544 million U.S. dollars as of November 5. The Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves were 23 billion 965 million U.S. dollars on October 28. Meanwhile, according to the October 22-based statistics, Turkey's total international gross reserves increased 891 million U.S. dollars to 37 billion 856 million U.S. dollars between October 15 and 22. The international gross reserves of Turkey were 36 billion 965 million U.S. dollars on October 15. As of October 22, Turkey's international reserves were composed of 1 billion 11 million U.S. dollars in gold reserves; 24 billion 786 million U.S. dollars in the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves; and 12 billion 59 million U.S. dollars in the commercial banks' foreign exchange reserves.

[37] GARDNER, UNICEF PROGRAMME COORDINATOR, SAYS EDUCATION AND HEALTH OF CHILDREN ARE PRIOR ISSUES WHICH CONCERN THEM

[38] KOCAELI, Nov 11 (A.A) - William Gardner, the Programme Coordinator of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), said on Thursday that the education and the health of the children are the prior issues which concern them. Gardner informed the journalists about the Reconstruction Plan for the Turkish Children. They are interested in the education and health of the children whose psychological conditions were deteriorated after the quake, Gardner said. UNICEF came to Turkey immediately after the quake and started initiatives, Gardner noted. Gardner stated that the UNICEF team prepared a report on children in three days. The UNICEF will work on four main issues in the project which will last for six months, Gardner stressed. Gardner enumarated these four issues as the education of the children, the psychosocial treatment, healthy nutrition and water and hygienic installation. The related ministries will continue the initatives they launched in these fields after they leave Turkey in February, Gardner emphasized. Gardner pointed out that 12.5 million U.S. dollars was collected from the world countries for this project which will be implemented in Turkey. The assistance to Turkey will continue, Gardner added. Later, Gardner introduced the Reconstruction Plan for the Turkish Children to Kutluay Oktem, the Disaster Area Coordinator Governor, and other officials in Kocaeli. Philippe Heffinck, the UNICEF Representative in Turkey; Oktem; Idris Kurtkaya, Sakarya Deputy Governor; Natik Vahit Abbasoglu, Yalova Deputy Governor; and Sinan Yaggun, Bolu Deputy Governor; participated in the meeting.

[39] TALKS ON INTERIOR MINISTRY'S BUDGET START - INTERIOR MINISTER: ''TURKEY SHARES THE SAME VALUES AND TARGETS WITH WESTERN DEMOCRACIES IN THE FIELDS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND BASIC FREEDOMS''

[40] ANKARA, Nov 11 (A.A) - The Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission started on Thursday to discuss the bill for the Interior Ministry's 2000 Fiscal Year Budget. Addressing the meeting, Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan stressed that Turkey shared the same values and targets with the Western democracies in the fields of human rights and basic freedoms. Tantan noted that several important steps were taken in Turkey with the aim of bringing the standards in the human rights field to the highest level. ''The basic target followed while taking these steps was to enable the Turkish people to make use of all of the basic freedoms which exist in all democratic countries, and as its natural result, to completely fulfil the commitments that were undertaken with international agreements we signed,'' he said. Tantan recalled that Turkey signed a series of agreements most of which foresaw influential control mechanisms within the framework of the U.N, European Council and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Tantan said abolishment of the security forces' implementations, which had the chracteristic of being the source for the allegations of human rights abuses, was very important.

A.A
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