Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-11-12

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

12 November 1999 Friday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

5.7 PANIC
An aftershock measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale caused panic in Adapazari. The epicenter of the aftershock which occurred at 16:41 local time was Sapanca. There were people who jumped out of the balconies. A total of 202 people injured. One person died of heart attack. The quake which lasted for 15 seconds, was felt throughout the whole Marmara region. Telephone lines were locked. Another aftershock with a preliminary magnitude of 4.4 was recorded at 16:56.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

IMF PROPOSAL TO PRIVATE SECTOR
International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, who met with high level officials of giant companies, wanted private sector to limit the salaries and the fees with 25 percent. Carlo Cottarelli, chief of IMF Turkey Desk, met with private sector representatives and conveyed their requests.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CIVILIAN NSC PROPOSAL FROM FP
Virtue Party (FP) prepared a draft envisaging change of 50 Articles of the Constitution. Under the draft which Kutan disclosed, structure of National Security Council (NSC) will be changed. It foresees election of the President once in four years.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

CLINTON TO RETURN WITHOUT ACHIEVING SOMETHING
It is mentioned that also the Cyprus question would be discussed during U.S. President Bill Clinton's visit to Turkey but the Washington administration was not expected to bring a plan or a concrete proposal. It is mentioned that a multilateral meeting was programmed concerning the Cyprus question during the OSCE Summit in Istanbul while a probable solution on the island could be found in case the equality of status between the two sides on the island.

RADIKAL (LEFT) STOCK EXCHANGE BOOMS
The index reached 8,057 points with an amazing increase and the trading volume climbed to 500 trillion Turkish Liras. Experts are cautious about the increase. The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) broke a new record yesterday. The experts, who expected the increase in the end of December, are now disconted with the current increase. The statement of Carlo Cottarelli, the IMF's Turkey desk Chief, saying, ''I hope that we will sign the letter of intention before we leave Turkey'' was also effective in the increase. Experts think that the index would slow down. The reasons of the increase were: IMF's visit to Turkey before a stand-by; expectation for an increase in the inflow of foreign capital as a result of the stand-by; decrease of interest rates to about 80 percent; expectation for a decrease of interest rates in 2000 and expectation for a recovery in other economic indicators.

DEMIREL: ''UNFORTUNATELY, WINTER IS COMING''
President Suleyman Demirel explained the report on the quake. The Radikal newspaper's observations about the seriousness of the situation were proved to be right. A high-level official said, ''erection of a total of 20 thousand prefabricated huts will be concluded till November 30.'' The President is much more optimistic: ''25 thousand of those huts will be finished, the aid of rent decreased the demand. Unfortunately, winter is coming. We have to speed up the works.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

LAST SHAPE TO BAKU-CEYHAN
Last shape was given to the agreement text prepared for Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said ''President Suleyman Demirel talked with Azeri President Aliyev and Georgian President Shevardnadze, there is no problem.''

ALARM IN ISTANBUL
A total of 33,000 people will provide security in Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit. Erol Cakir, Istanbul Governor, briefing about the measures taken in Istanbul, said a crisis center was set up in Ciragan Palace.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

ARREST IN ABSENTIA AGAINST KAPLAN
Akit newspaper's columnıst Hasan Karakaya had been kept in custody for seven days illegally due to the allegations put forward by Kasım Gencyılmaz, the head of a gang. A decision for arrest in absentia was given against Akit's another journalist Yasar Kaplan who is being tried by the Ankara State Security Court. The decision in question was given as Kaplan did not go to the DGM for interrogation.

[03] SECURITIES ACCOUNT AT BANKS INCREASES TO 10.2 QUADRILLION TL

The total securities account at banks was 4 quadrillion 576.8 trillion TL at the end of 1998.

The Central Bank said on Friday that there were a total of 10 quadrillion 31.1 trillion TL of securities in the deposit banks portfolio including 6 quadrillion 746.2 trillion TL of securities, and 3 quadrillion 284.9 trillion TL of securities over foreign currency.

The securities over TL at deposit banks are composed of 1 quadrillion 964.9 trillion TL in trasury bonds, 5 quadrillion 537.7 trillion TL in state debenture bonds and 175.2 trillion TL in stocks.

A total of 981.4 trillion TL of foreign currency securities at these banks are abroad while there is a total of 38.7 trillion TL of treasury bonds and 1 quadrillion 652.1 trillion TL of state debenture bonds among the domestic securities.

The total securities account at the development and investment banks was 148.1 trillion TL.

[04] TURKEY AND CZECH REPUBLIC SIGN AGREEMENT ON PREVENTION OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND TAX EVASION

Sumer Oral, the Minister of Finance, and Pavel Martlik, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance of the Czech Republic, signed the agreement.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Sumer Oral said a new dimension was added into the commercial relations between the two countries.

Recalling that the Czech Republic liberalized her economic system, Oral said the Czech Republic had been realizing a stable development since 1993 and this was reflected in the prosperity of the Czech Republic.

Noting that the foreign trade volume of the Czech Republic was 55 billion U.S. dollars, Oral said the trade volume between Turkey and the Czech Republic was 160 million U.S. dollars and this amount should be increased.

Oral added that the two countries could cooperate in several fields like transportation, tourism, civil aviation and agriculture.

Guest Minister Pavel Martlik said they attached importance to the development of relations between Turkey and the Czech Republic, and they would expend every kind of effort to this end.

[05] IVANOV, RUSSIAN FM, SPEAKS TO A.A

Russia also stressed that it wanted to see an OSCE centered security system as an outcome of Istanbul Summit. It said this system should take into consideration the security interests of Russia instead of a system behaving ''discriminatively'' against itself.

Igor Ivanov, Russian Foreign Minister, spoke to A.A correspondent before the OSCE summit. He said this summit was the last summit of the century. He said an important step will be taken in development of Europe's security and cooperation system, if problems can be solved in Istanbul.

Ivanov said security interests of European countries should not be violated while establishing the new security system of Europe, adding that it will be clarified in ''Istanbul Summit'' if this can be achieved or not.

When asked if he would like to see the new OSCE security system taking the place of the weakened military flank of NATO, Ivanov used ''discrimination'' for the enlargement of NATO.

Ivanov said ''security of a group of states in Europe can not be provided by damaging security interests of others. Istanbul Summit should determine the OSCE's new functions that can preserve the interests of European countries without making discrimination.''

He said if discriminative tendency in Europe continues, increase of security can not be mentioned, and added that security can be provided only if it covers all European countries.

Ivanov expressed belief that Istanbul Summit will be able to overcome all problems and people can enter the 21st century in a positive atmosphere.

Ivanov said context of the two basic documents will be determinant for the establishment of this new security system. He said ''talks are still underway on these documents.''

Ivanov pointed out that the first one is the ''European Security Charter''. The context of this document, brought to the agenda by the Russian side, has been discussed in technical talks before the Summit. Moscow wants the content of this document to be in a way to make the ''new security structure in Europe to weaken military flank of NATO, and establish a new OSCE-centered system.''

Ivanov noted that the second document to be discussed in Istanbul would be the ''updated version of Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty.'' Ivanov said several revisions can be made on the Agreement if all the concerned sides agree.

Ivanov said ''we hope that Georgian and Moldovian administrations can take a more constructive position and contribute to the solution of the global problems.''

[06] INTERNATIONAL FINANCE SUMMIT - DEMIREL:''DEMOCRACY AND PEACE CANNOT PREVAIL ON EARTH UNLESS ECONOMIC PROSPERITY IS SHARED BY THE WHOLE WORLD''

In the message Demirel sent to the international finance summit titled ''Finance '99 Turkey:Investment to the Future'', he said political structures and relations have changed in the globalized world as much as the economic structures.

Today, a democracy which respects human rights and law, and a free market economy is spreading to the whole world and they are becoming common values which define the 21st century. Developments in transportation, communication are causing changes in economic, social and political structures and economic borders are removed. The world is gradually opening to bigger competitions and markets. Labour, capital, services and enterprises play an important role in this huge market, Demirel explained.

"Today's modern civilization requires cohabitation and working together. Democracy and peace cannot prevail on earth unless economic prosperity is shared by the whole world," Demirel added.

The whole world is talking about constructing an international financial architecture for the 21st century. Globalization is making regional and global integration unavoidable while spreading competition to the world, Demirel noted.

"What we need today is to make markets and trade more free, institutions more transparent and create conditions for competition. The competition is not only important in developed economies but also in developing ones. Developing economies must implement some structural changes rapidly. Privatization must continue to be a priority for these countries," Demirel said.

[07] INTERNATIONAL FINANCE SUMMIT

Demirel who spoke at the international finance summit ''Finance '99 Turkey: Investment to the Future'' said globalization was a dynamic concept which gains new dimensions every day. Turkish enterpreneurs are very well aware of this fact and therefore they started producing for the world markets, he noted.

Turkish economy is one of the ten rising economies of the world and it is currently the biggest economy in the Eastern Europe, the Balkans, the Blacksea and Caspian basins, and the Middle East, Demirel reminded. Turkey is closely following the developments in globalization process and fulfilling its requirements, he added.

[08] TURKEY-IMF TALKS - TREASURY UNDERSECRETARY DEMIRALP SAYS THEY PLAN STAND-BY AGREEMENT TO BE VALID FOR THREE YEARS

Selcuk Demiralp, the Treasury Undersecretary said they planned the stand-by to be valid for three years.

Deppler met with Demiralp in Ankara where he came for one day. Carlo Cottarelli, the Head of Turkey Desk of IMF also attended their meeting. Deppler, responding to reporters' questions after the meeting, said the believed the agreement would be beneficial both for Turkey and for IMF.

''I am very happy to have talked to Selcuk Demiralp. We discussed many details about the agreement. There is an expression in English, the devil is hidden in details. We are happy to see that we agree on these details before we progress further. The common wish of both sides is to finalize these talks. But there are still many empty areas that need to be filled. Cottarelli will do this in the next 10 days,'' he explained.

When asked what these details were, he said they had to be sure they were ''at the same frequency.'' ''The things I heard from Demiralp are relieving, '' Deppler told journalists. Deppler said Turkey must reach a balanced growth rate and drop its inflation as desired by both the IMF and Turkey, he added.

Upon another question, Deppler said they didn't discuss the cash amount which will be granted to Turkey by the stand-by agreement and added that this will be resolved after the negotiations in the U.S.

Cottarelli told reporters that they would present the agreement's text to IMF's Executive Board before December 24.

Demiralp reminded that Deppler will meet with State Ministers Recep Onal, Tuncay Toskay and Finance Minister Sumer Oral on Friday afternoon.

''We planned the agreement to be valid for three years. We are targeting to pull down the inflation to 25 percent in the first year and to 10 percent in the second year,'' Demiralp said.

[09] TURKEY-QATAR POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS

The talks led by Korkmaz Haktanir, the Undersecretary of Foreign Ministry and his Qatari counterpart Adurrahman Bin Hamad El Atiya focused on all aspects of bilateral relations and ways to develop these relations.

The Foreign Ministry said regional cooperation and problems as well as international issues related to UN and Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) were also discussed.

Both sides exchanged opinions on development of economic relations, cooperation in military and defense fields and agreed to hold the Turkey- Qatar Joint Economic Commission in the first months of the 2000.

The first Turkey-Qatar political consultations meeting was held last year.

[10] FAO GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS START TODAY - AGRICULTURE MINISTER GOKALP TO LEAVE FOR ROME

Turkey's Representation to FAO said the general assembly meetings will last till November 23 and FAO's budget for 2000 will be accepted and a new director general will be elected for a term of six years.

Husnu Yusuf Gokalp, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs will also leave for Rome today to participate in the meetings.

Gokalp will vote for Turkey in the election of FAO Director General and address the general assembly on November 15.

He will also meet with the agriculture ministries of certain countries including India, Cuba, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Gokalp will return to Turkey on November 17.

[11] NATO'S PARLIAMENTARIANS ASSEMBLY MEETINGS START

Turkey is represented by 11 parliamentarians led by Tahir Kose, Istanbul deputy of Democratic Left Party (DSP) at the meeting which is attended by 225 parliamentarians from 19 countries.

Many NATO related subjects including Kosovo, NATO's new policy and new allies, Europe Security and Defense Identity, the financial crisis in Asia and its aftermath, NATO-Russia relations will be discussed at the meetings where 22 reports will be evaluated.

Kose said at the meetings the Turkish delegation will stress that the ethnic minorities in Kosovo should live in security and Kosovo's ethnic structure should be preserved. They will also explain that the Europe Security and Defense Identity (ESDI) could not be created if non EU-member countries are not included.

Kose said Turkey which has an important role in Europe's defense through its NATO membership should take a place in the ESDI and be granted equal conditions.

NATO Parliamentarians Assembly will end on November 15 1999 with the General Council's meeting. A joint declaration is expected to be read out at the end of the meetings.

[12] INTERNATIONAL FINANCE SUMMIT - CENTRAL BANK DIRECTOR ERCEL: ''TURKISH BANKS DEVELOPED CONSIDERABLY IN FINANCIAL AND INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS''

Ercel stressed that the existing risks the banks face are inspected by the Treasury and the Central Bank.

Speaking in the conference on ''International Finance Banking and Finance Technology,'' Ercel pointed out that Turkey has a floating and administered foreign exchange reserve.

''Turkish banks are open to risks of credit, liquidity, interest and foreign exchange. Banks have been able to struggle with them with various technics. We closely monitor the developments,'' he said.

Ercel stressed that when the newly established Banking Inspection Council starts to function, it will help in measuring and preventing the financial risks.

Efforts have been launched to solve the problem of 2000 year for 2.5 years, said Gazi Ercel and ended that he does not think a serious problem will come out in Turkey due to that.

[13] DENKTAS:''I'M READY FOR INDIRECT TALKS''

Denktas repeated once again that he was against face to face talks. ''The leaders cannot come together before resolving the status problem,'' he said.

Responding to reporters, Denktas said he was waiting for Annan to make an invitation to the sides in Cyprus.

''Our statements are very clear. We have been asking for indirect talks, we don't accept face to face talks. We want the indirect talks to take place in Cyprus. Secretary General Annan wants to organize it in New York. There are efforts to start these talks outside the island. We are also considering these suggestions. We will discuss if our status is approved or not during the indirect talks,'' he explained.

Denktas also answered questions regarding the OSCE summit which will take place in Istanbul next week. Denktas said Glafcos Clerides will represent the ''Cyprus Republic'' with a fake title.

''We have no place there. But if OSCE is an institution that respects human rights, supremacy of law and justice it will not produce decisions by listening to only one side, it will also listen to the other side,'' Denktas added.

In the meantime, the Association of Supremacy of Law gave its traditional award to Denktas for his contributions to the world peace. The award was presented to him by the Association's Chairman Erdem Akyuz.

[14] CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF KIVRIKOGLU:''TURKEY HAS THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF F-16'S AFTER THE U.S.''

Kivrikoglu attended the ceremony during which the latest F-16's produced by the Turkish Aviation and Space Industry (TAI) were given to the Turkish Air Forces.

He said equipment and defense was required to avoid instability and vaguenesses in the international field and stressed that Turkish Air Forces possessed the necessary equipment and defense to be used as a deterring force.

Kivrikoglu noted that Turkey needed facilities to complete modernization projects to make Turkish Air Forces stronger. ''Turkish Air Forces are powerful enough to defend itself and F-16's will continue to be superior planes in the long years to come,'' he said.

Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, the National Defense Ministry who also spoke at the ceremony reminded that TAI produced 278 F-16 planes so far of which 46 were given to Egypt.

[15] PREMIER ECEVIT:''CRISIS DESK STARTED TO WORK IMMEDIATELY''

''Citizens should be ready for all kinds of possibilities without getting panic,'' said Premier Ecevit.

Speaking to reporters, Ecevit said that the epicenter of the quake is Duzce, Golyaka and its surroundings.

Fire broke in some buildings and some buildings collapsed there, said Ecevit and added that ''measures started to be taken immediately. Civil defense teams left for Bolu with nine vehicles, 28 personnel and ambulances. Our state minister Hasan Gemici and Minister of Public Works and Housing Koray Aydın left for the region. The health ministry sent 12 ambulances and medical teams. Aftershocks continue in the region, yet they decreased from the magnitude of 5 to 4.

Responding to a question, Ecevit said that all the necessary aid stuff were sent to the region.

''There is no problem of settlement in Duzce, because all the prefabricated buildings have been completed,'' he added.

[16] PM ECEVIT: ''THE DEATH TOLL HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED AS 17 UNTIL NOW''

Ecevit told the reporters who were waiting outside the Prime Ministry that he talked with Duzce Head Official on the phone.

Ecevit said, ''unfournately, the situation in Bolu is very severe. The death toll has been announced as 17 until now. But, many buildings collapsed in the quake. We think that there are many people who are trapped under the rubble. The works to shift the rubble and rescue people alive under the debris are intensified.''

The fire brigade building in Duzce collapsed and many officials working in this building were trapped under the debris, Ecevit noted.

Ecevit stated that the lorries carrying aid to Duzce will arrive in this county in the shortest time.

Responding to a question, Ecevit stressed that Duzce was the main place which was rocked by the quake.

When asked about the number of injured, Ecevit said that the number of injured is very high.

[17] PRESIDENT DEMIREL:''WE FACE A SERIOUS SITUATION''

President Demirel got information from Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and other officals about the quake.

''Mr. Premier, the ministers and governors are working. The armed forces is also at work,'' he said.

Responding to a question, Demirel said that he didn't guess the visit of U.S. President Bill Clinton to Turkey and OSCE summit would be effected by the quake.

[18] U.S. PRESIDENT CLINTON'S NATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANT BERGER SAYS QUAKE WHICH HIT DUZCE TODAY DOES NOT AFFECT CLINTON'S SCHEDULE

Berger staged a press conference at the White House and gave information about Clinton's Turkey schedule.

She thinks that Ankara and Istanbul were not damaged in the quake, Berger noted.

Berger stated that they are beside the Turkish nation who is suffering from the previous quake disaster.

Clinton's Turkey programme is not cancelled at the moment but they will continue to follow the developments, Berger stressed.

Berger emphasized that Turkey can either be a bridge between the Islam world and Europe or can be in struggle with her neighbours and unstable in the following century.

The U.S. prefers the first choice and Turkey carries importance for the U.S., Berger pointed out.

Berger said that Clinton referred to this role of Turkey in one of his speeches.

They want Turkey to be a progressive, moderate, democratic and secular Islam country and to constitute a model for the other Islamic countries, Berger noted.

Turkey has marked significant developments in human rights after the government was formed under the premiership of Bulent Ecevit, Berger stated.

Berger stressed that human rights act was passed and Turkey's position in human rights is much better than before.

But there are many things Turkey should do in this field, Berger emphasized.

Clinton will reflect his ideas on human rights issue in Turkey to Ecevit and President Suleyman Demirel during his visit to Turkey, Berger pointed out.

Berger said that they want the solution of Cyprus question and they will launch efforts to this end during Clinton's visit.

Berger added that they do not know whether or not they can mark concrete developments on this issue.

[19] FM CEM SAYS FOREIGN SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS TO ARRIVE IN TURKEY AS OF TOMORROW MORNING

Cem told the reporters that Turkey needs search and rescue teams following the quake.

The Turkish rescue teams have already arrived in the quake zone, Cem noted.

Cem stated that Turkey has contacted many foreign countries and asked them to send rescue teams.

They are in contact with Greece, Algeria, Israel, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Denmark; Cem stressed.

They hope that the rescue teams will start arriving in Turkey as of Saturday morning, Cem emphasized.

When asked whether or not the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit will be postponed due to the quake, Cem said, ''no, postponement is out of question at the moment.''

Responding to another question, Cem said that George Papandreu, Greek Foreign Minister, called himself after the quake.

They talked about the issue of search and rescue team, Cem added.

A.A

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