Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-01-09

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[01] AA News

09 January 2000 Sunday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

BAHCELI:''IT WOULD NOT HURT COALITION GOVERNMENT''
Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) said his party's views regarding the execution of Abdullah Ocalan will not be affected by the report of Nationalist Intelligence Unit. Responding to Ecevit's remarks, Bahceli said his party was not acting emotional. The MHP leader also stressed that execution of Ocalan will not cause trouble for the coalition.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

7+? FORMULA
Here is the dialogue that took place between Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and President Suleyman Demirel last week in Presidential Palace.

Ecevit told Demirel: ''We are thinking of proposing a constitutional change to make you remain as the President if you also find it appropriate.'' President Demirel said in his part that the President should be elected by people. ''If this is not realized, president should be elected for a term of five years and he can be elected twice,'' Demirel said. Premier Ecevit added that ''the term can be either five years or seven years. This issue will come clearer in the leaders summit that will take place on January 12.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

50 BUSINESSMEN STILL MISSING
A total of 50 businessmen which the illegal and fundamentalist Hezboullah organization kidnapped two years ago are still missing. It is claimed that Hezboullah terrorist organization is opposed to Zehra Foundation which is against violence. Those businessmen are believed to be the members of the Zehra foundation.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

NO SECOND CHANCE FOR CASANOVA
The Supreme Court of Appeals gave an interesting decision regarding a case in which a women wanted to divorce from her husband as he is agressive, does not have a permanent job and who has love affairs with other women. The Supreme Court dismissed the decision of the lower court which didn't permit the women to divorce from her husband.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

PRICE INCREASES ON ELECTRICITY AND OIL WILL BE LOW
Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources said his ministry was working to keep the price increases low in order not to negatively affect the targeted inflation rate. ''The government, ministries, producers and people must fulfill their tasks to reach our economic targets, '' Ersumer said. Speaking about the nuclear power plants which the government is discussing to set up in Turkey, Ersumer said Turkey greatly needed nuclear energy.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

IMF CANNOT OPEN BUREAU IN ANKARA
IMF's demand to open a bureau in Ankara made the government uncomfortable. The politicians who oppose an IMF bureau believe that such a bureau would give the impression that IMF is controlling the government's economic activities. Recep Onal, the State Minister said ''the government does not find IMF to open a bureau in Ankara appropriate right now.'' Carlo Cottarelli, head of Turkey Desk of IMF had announced IMF's decision to open a bureau in Ankara and said this unit would operate during the period of the stand-by agreement.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Minister. Bahceli defended the view that Ocalan, the head terrorist should be executed, adding yet this issue won't effect the coalition government. Bahceli added that his view won't change by the reports that will be submitted to him. Bahceli evaluated the proposition of Ecevit to extend the term in office of President Demirel as ''his personal view.''

[03] SLIGHT TREMORS SHAKE TURKEY

Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Centre recorded a slight tremor measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale in southwestern part of Hatay province (the Mediterranean) at 12.48 local time and another one measuring 3.0 on the Richter scale in Gemlik-Bursa province at 13.49 local time.

Meanwhile an aftershock measuring 3.2 on the Richter scale was recorded in Kaynaslı township of Bolu province at 13.06 local time on Sunday.

[04] DIYARBAKIR-ANKARA AND DIYARBAKIR-ISTANBUL THY FLIGHTS CANCELLED DUE TO BAD WEATHER

Meanwhile Istanbul-Nevsehir flights of THY were also cancelled due to heavy snow in Nevsehir.

[05] 22 PERSONS DIE IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS ON RAMADAN EVE AND FIRST DAY OF RAMADAN HOLIDAY

A total of 22 persons died and 86 others were injured on the Ramadan eve and first day of Ramadan holiday(Eid El-Fitr) in traffic accidents that took place in various parts of Turkey.

[06] TURKISH-GREEK COOPERATION IN FISH BREEDING

Aruoba told A.A that the Greeks were interested in fisheries on Aegean coast. ''If the partnership takes place under equal conditions, it will be good. Otherwise the big fish eats the small fish,'' he said.

''The prices of aquaculture products in the world are determined in Italy. Greece is the biggest producers of cultivated fish in the Mediterranean basin. There is Greek capital in Italian distribution firms. Greece has a production capacity of 50 tons of fish annually. Greece reached this capacity through the support of the EU,'' he explained.

Speaking about the health benefits of eating fish, Aruoba said ''People whose grey brain cells are not renewed cannot catch up with computer technology. Renewing grey brain cells depend on the intake of Omega 3 fatty acids. Human body cannot synthesize this fatty acid on its own, it has to take it from fish and other sea food.''

The consumption of sea food per person is 24.5 kilograms in Greece, 22 kilograms in Italy, 19 kilograms in France, 42 kilograms in Spain and only 4 to 5 kilograms in Turkey, Aruoba pointed out.

He also stressed that aqua farms did not cause any pollution in seas. He said there was no government support in this sector in Turkey and they only took loans from Ziraat bank which are unsufficient.

[07] RECOVERED KORAN NOT THE ONE STOLEN FROM TOPKAPI PALACE

Security officials said that police detained three people they suspected of stealing a 14th-century Koran that went missing from the old Ottoman Topkapı palace in September.

Closer examination, however, showed that the Koran had come from a mosque in the Aegean resort town of Kusadasi. Its value and age wasn't immediately known.

The suspects allegedly had tried to sell it for 50-60 billion Turkish liras.

[08] 1,685 TURKISH CYPRIOTS PASS TO GREEK SIDE OF CYPRUS TO VISIT HALA SULTAN TOMB

After completing their registration procedures, the Turkish Cypriots went to Larnaka by 33 buses. UN Peace Keeping Force and Greek Cypriot police are accompanying the buses.

The Turkish Cypriots will return to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in evening hours.

In the framework of a good will agreement in 1997 between Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek administration and Rauf Denktas, the President of TRNC, Turkish Cypriots are allowed to visit Hala Sultan tomb on two religious holidays and Greek Cypriots can also visit the Andreas Monastery in Dipkarpaz in TRNC three times a year. Turkish Cypriots are also going to Erenkoy once a year which is in Greek part of the island.

[09] MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, GOKALP: ''WE'LL VOTE FOR EXECUTION OF OCALAN''

Gokalp said that ''we want the transfer of Ocalan's dossier to the parliament as soon as possible and we'll vote for execution of him. The views of MHP are well known.''

[10] NARCOTIC TEAMS SEIZE MORE THAN 2 TONS OF HEROIN AND 5.5 TONS OF HASHISH LAST YEAR

There were 2,850 smuggling incidents last year. During the operations, police seized 2 tons 849 kilograms of heroin, 5 tons 434 kilograms of hashish, 288 kilograms of basic morphin, 226 kilograms of opium, 13 kilograms of cocain and 26 tons 296 kilograms of acid anhidrite.

A total of 6,121 people were arrested during the operations. There is a 4 percent increase in the number of smuggling cases and 1 percent rise in the number of smugglers compared to 1998.

The smugglers were caught while trying to send a big portion of these drugs to European countries. The amount of drugs seized in Turkey last year constitutes 38 percent of those which were seized in the world.

Iranians topped the list of drug smugglers caught in Turkey. A big majority of narcotic operations were carried out in Istanbul and Van.

[11] STATE MINISTER ONAL: ''WE'LL ALSO PRIVATIZE ZIRAAT BANK''

Visiting the office of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) in Orhangazi township of Bursa, Onal mentioned about the privatization of public banks.

Halk Bank and Emlak Bank will also be privatized, said Onal, adding ''we continue our studies to support farmers, not to impose taxes on them.''

Onal said that lands which can be cultivated and the products which can be cultivated in these fields will be determined all over Turkey and advantageous ones will be proposed to farmers.

[12] MHP LEADER DEVLET BAHCELI SAYS HIS PARTY NEVER ACTS EMOTIONALLY

''Turkey has very serious problems which we have to overcome. We have to be rational and patient. We are behaving calmly in many incidents and following an honest policy. We are trying to establish a coalition culture in the country. MHP speaks little and acts rationally. Those who consider this a weakness do not understand us,'' he said.

Parties which have different views formed the 57th government, Bahceli noted. ''If you use the opportunities for your party's interests, the coalition will not last long. We take place in the coalition because Turkey needs a stable and permanent government,'' Bahceli said and added that they wanted to work in harmony with coalition partners.

''We know Turkey's problems. In 2023 we will celebrate the 100th foundation anniversary of the Turkish Republic and we want to make Turkey a prosperous country free from socio-economic problems and terrorism in 2023. This is what we are working for,'' Bahceli concluded.

[13] AFTERSHOCKS CONTINUE

Bogazici University's Kandilli Observatory recorded two minor earthquakes in Bolu-Kaynasli at 5.34 p.m and in Bolu-Golyaka at 9.29 p.m. on Saturday. The magnitude of the quakes were 3.3 and 2.2 respectively.

[14] ONE RAILWAY CAR OF CARGO TRAIN GO OFF THE RAILS AND TWO OTHERS OVERTURN - NO CASUALTIES

The train schedules were delayed for nearly eight hours due to the accident which took place near Erenkoy Train Station of Istanbul at 1.30 a.m. today due to the collapse of the railway by heavy rain.

Officials said that one way of the line was opened as of 9.15 a.m.

[15] GERMAN POLICE DOES NOT ALLOW PKK SUPPORTERS TO SET UP A STAND IN FESTIVAL IN MUNICH

A group of PKK supporters working at Mesopatamia Publishing House which works as a sub organization of PKK set up a stand in a festival in Munich. When the group started selling books, tapes, badges and posters of the chief terrorist Abdullah Ocalan, the German police closed the stand since PKK's activities were banned in Germany.

Despite the warnings of the police, six people who tried to sell propaganda materials secretly were taken under custody. German police also launched a raid at Mesopotamia Publishing House's bureau at midnight. During the operation, they found many organizational material and cash. The police also confiscated books, posters and organizational documents found in the houses of militants.

[16] AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT ALIYEV LEAVES FOR TURKEY

Aliyev is expected to be in Ankara around 16.00 local time.

Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline Project and the relations between the two countries are expected to be taken up during Aliyev's visit to Ankara.

[17] ANTALYA TARGETS TO HOST 3 MILLION TOURISTS IN 2000

Ahmet Barut, the Chairman of Mediterranean Hotel Managers Union (AKTOB) said he was not pessimistic and hoping to have 3 million visitors in Antalya like in 1997.

''Our prices are very low compared to our rivals. A general atmosphere of sympathy was formed in Europe towards Turkey,'' he noted.

The next three months are important for Turkey, he went on to say. ''There will be tourism fairs in the next three months in Europe and Russia. We are expecting 3 million tourists but everybody must work very hard to reach this target. If we make our sales now, there will be an increase in the number of tourists and also in the income. It will be bad for us if the tourists wait for the last minute because last minute sales are done at a lower rate,'' he explained.

Speaking about different alternatives in tourism, Barut said golf tourism started becoming significant in Belek region. ''However five golf fields are not sufficient. Investors are reluctant to make investments because of the economic crisis. If the indications are good in tourism, investors will start making new golf fields,'' he said.

[18] CERTAIN MINE FIELDS TO BE PRIVATIZED

The majority of these mine fields, whose legal usage rights will remain in TKI, are in Manisa, Erzincan and Edirne provinces.

The coal which will be found by the private sectors will be sold to TKI in a specific period.

[19] ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTER ERSUMER SAYS TURKEY MUST TURN ITS RESOURCES TO INVESTMENTS

Ersumer noted that the construction of the Can Thermic Central which is planned to be built in Canakkale's Can township will start in January.

Negotiations continue to find credit for the central. ''If everything goes in the right track, we are planning to lay its foundation this month. 500 people will be employed in the construction of this thermic central,'' Ersumer said.

[20] AGREEMENT ON NATURAL GAS - IRANIAN OFFICIAL:''WE ARE COMMITTED TO GAS AGREEMENT''

An Iranian official from the Iranian Oil Ministry told Iranian Daily Newspaper on Sunday that they are committed to the agreement and Iran wants to show its good will to strengthen the bilateral relations by lighting the torch.

''Iran has taken all the necessary measures to implement the existing agreement,'' he added.

Iranian Oil Ministry officials had earlier said that the pipeline was completed and they would light a torch on the border to show that the pipeline reached the border.

A delegation headed by Gokhan Yardım, the Director General of state-run Pipeline Oil Transportation Inc. (BOTAS) is expected to arrive in Tehran on Monday to hold contacts about the agreement which was signed in 1996.

[21] EFFORTS TO RESCUE AGITRE SHIP TO START AFTER DIVERS GIVE DAMAGE REPORT

The ship which weighs 3,993 gross tons was carrying 5,000 tons of sugar from Denmark to Batum. The ship ran aground at the narrowest point of Canakkale Strait, at Nara Cape.

Canakkale Strait Control Traffic Station authorities are warning the ships that pass from this narrow passage and informing them about Agitre.

[22] SNOW BLOCKS MANY VILLAGE ROADS IN KAYSERI AND CANKIRI

Rural Affairs Directorate's teams are working to clear the village roads as well as Ankara-Cankiri highway.

In Kayseri, 93 village roads still remain closed to traffic and efforts continue to clear the roads in this area.

[23] PREMIER ECEVIT:''URGENT PROBLEM OF GOVERNMENT IS THE REQUEST OF ECHR ABOUT POSTPONEMENT OF THE EXECUTION OF PUNISHMENT GIVEN TO HEAD TERRORIST''

''If we don't abide by this request, it is clear that we'll have trouble in the international arena,'' said Ecevit, adding that abiding by this request of ECHR which is a ''precautionary decision'' is a ''national obligation'' in respect of binding agreements.

Issuing a statement about the issue, Premier Ecevit said that the problem of whether Ocalan should be hanged or not is the issue of the parliament, not the goverment.

''If we give a positive response to ECHR, the death penalty given to Ocalan, the head terrorist won't be invalid, it won't be annuled, only its execution will be postponed for a certain period of time. In that period we can calculate calmly the advantages and disadvantages of the execution of the capital punishment. The separatist terrorism has come the stage of dissolution by the resolved attitude of our state. An unnecessary opportunity shouldn't be given to those who want to revive terrorism. In the framework of these realities and needs, I hope that we won't have difficulty in reaching a compromise during the leaders summit on January 12. The coalition government composed of three parties aroused trust both in internal and external public opinion. No government coalition partner wants overshadowing this atmosphere of hope and trust. We are walking on a very critical bridge. I suppose the coalition parties will attribute special importance to keep the balance of that bridge,'' Ecevit added.

[24] DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU:''NO TERRORIST MOVEMENT IN THE WORLD COST THE LIVES OF 36,000 PEOPLE''

''No terrorist movement cost the lives of 36,000 people,'' Cakmakoglu stressed.

Responding to a question about Prime Minister Ecevit's attitude towards capital punishment, Cakmakoglu said Ecevit has always been against death penalty in principle.

Execution of Ocalan and abolition of death penalty must be kept separate, Cakmakoglu noted. ''If you abolish death penalty, you should consider what will be demanded from you in the long term,'' he added. Cakmakoglu also added that he didn't believe this incident will result in a government crisis.

''Because the government has no task in the legal process regarding Ocalan's punishment. It is the task of the Parliament to decide. Our government is working in harmony except for Ocalan issue. Ocalan's execution will be discussed at the leaders summit on January 12,'' he said.

[25] EDIRNE CEREAL MARKET TO SIGN CREDIT AGREEMENT WITH WORLD BANK

Mustafa Yardimci, the Chairman of Edirne Trade Stock Market told A.A that said they were among the stock markets which were being founded in Turkey and they would take credit from the World Bank to meet some of the necessary conditions.

The World Bank Credit will be used to purchase laboratory equipment, computers, drying systems and to build a purchasing hall. Yardimci said they would become one of the four cereal stock markets in Turkey.

[26] CIRKIN, FROM JUSTICE COMMISSION SAYS OCALAN DOSSIER CAN BE DISCUSSED FIRST

Cirkin told A.A that the statements of Emin Karaa, the Chairman of the Commission bind himself not the Commission.

Cirkin stressed that ''Ocalan dossier can be taken up first without executing the death penalties of others.''

[27] HEAVY SHOWERS FLOOD QUAKE HIT AREA

In Sakarya's Kaynarca township many chickens perished when the nine chicken farms flooded, each containing 9,000 chickens. Ceaseless showers are also negatively affecting the transportation. The road between Adapazari and Kandira was closed to traffic due to flooding.

In Kocaeli, the basements of houses at sea level and tent cities flooded. Quake survivors staying at Izmit's Dogukisla and Anitpark tent cities and Golcuk's Piyalepasa and Degirmendere's Cumhuriyet tent cities are struggling with flood which made some of their goods unusable.

Gurkan Say, the Director of Kocaeli Meteorology said the precipitation will decrease after Tuesday and it will be partly cloudy on Thursday in Kocaeli region. The temperatures are expected to drop to -1 Celcius at nights and remain between 4 and 6 Celcius during the day.

[28] AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT ARRIVES IN ANKARA

Aliyev was welcomed by President Suleyman Demirel, Ankara Governor Yahya Gur and other officials at Esenboga airport.

Aliyev is expected to receive Premier Bulent Ecevit, Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kıvrıkoglu, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem on Monday.

[29] MINOR QUAKES IN IZMIR AND HATAY

Bogazici University's Kandilli Observatory recorded an earthquake measuring 3 by Richter scale in Izmir-Menemen at 2.03 p.m. and another one measuring 3.7 in Hatay-Dortyol at 2.07 p.m.

An aftershock was also felt at 10.38 a.m. in Kaynasli, Bolu measuring 3.1.

[30] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT SAYS LATEST REPORT OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATION NOT EXTRAORDINARY

Ecevit said MIT informed the Prime Ministry about all the domestic and foreign security issues that they have information about and the latest MIT report was not an exception to it.

''Turkey suffered from separatist terrorism for 15 years. We will do our best to prevent it from reoccuring,'' he added.

[31] ALIYEV ARRIVES IN ANKARA (2) - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''IMPORTANT EFFORTS ARE EXERTED FOR PEACE IN CAUCASUS''

Issuing a statement at Esenboga Airport after welcoming Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev, President Demirel stated that they will review the bileteral relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan and various problems in the region during the visit of the guest President.

Peace is sought in the Caucasus, said Demirel noting that important parts of the Azerbaijani territory are under occupation and nearly 1,5 million Azerbaijanis live in tents.

''Peace in the whole Caucasus is important for everybody and it is also important for Azerbaijan,'' said Demirel.

Stressing that peace is also important for Turkey which is a neighbour of the Caucasus region, Demirel hoped the year 2000 to bring peace to the Caucasus.

''The region will reach this peace by the talented administration of Azerbaijani President Aliyev,'' Demirel added.

Aliyev said in his part that he is pleased to be in Turkey together with friends during the Ramadan holiday (Eid El-Fitr) and he also congratulated the new year and Ramadan holiday of Turkish people.

Aliyev said that Turkey and Azerbaijan evaluate together the developments in the world and in the region in respect of their policies, adding this is beneficial for both countries. Aliyev said that they will discuss the recent developments in the Caucasus region during his visit to Turkey.

Aliyev pointed out that Turkey supports the right cause of Azerbaijan regarding the conflict with Armenia, adding they announced a ceasefire with

Armenia, but peace hasn't been installed yet. Aliyev stressed that the problems in the region can't be solved without the participation of Turkey and the events in the Caucasus can't be solved without Turkey.

A.A

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