Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-03-01

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[01] AA News

01 March 2000 Wednesday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

LIFE STRUGGLE IN HELL
Iskender Igdir, the editor of the Atlas magazine and a member of the voluntary rescue team AKUT, fell into the cliff when he was climbing to the Agri Mountain. Igdir, who was climbing the Agri Mountain together with Nasuh Mahruki, the leader of AKUT, and his two friends, wanted to take a photograph. Igdir fell into the crack of the glacier named ''Cehennem Deresi'' (Hell Brook). The rescue teams were sent to the region. Sources said that Igdir was trained to stay alive in such conditions.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

DREADFUL ACCIDENT
Iskender Igdır, from the Turkish ''Atlas'' travel magazine slid and fell from an icy cliff at 4,200 meters altitude while climbing down the Agri Mountain accompanied by Search and Rescue Team (AKUT) leader Nasuh Mahruki and two mountaineers yesterday.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

30 ANAP DEPUTIES DON'T SIGN IT
In spite of the insistent calls of Mesut Yılmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), he could only collect 57 signatures in his party for the proposal of constitutional amendment foreseeing election of President Suleyman Demirel for a term of five years once again. 30 ANAP deputies among 87 deputies didn't sign the proposal. State Minister Yuksel Yalova from ANAP also didn't sign the proposal.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

RELIGIOUS COURSES WARNING TO GERMANY
The National Education Ministry wanted the Foreign Ministry to warn Germany about religious courses in schools of Berlin. The Ministry sent a note to the Foreign Ministry saying that ''citizens of a secular country can't get such religious courses.''

CHILDREN:WE DON'T WANT TO BE TERRORISTS
The operations staged against the terrorist Hezbollah organization continue in all over Turkey. A total of 68 children who were ''trained'' by Hezbollah members in a mosque of southeastern Sanlıurfa province, were returned back to their families. These children told the police that they don't want to be terrorists.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

KOCTAS BECOMES JOINT VENTURE WITH BRITISH B&amp;Q

Koctas, the first company of Koc Holding, signed a partnership agreement with British company B&amp;Q, a famous construction chain store. The new partnership between Koctas and B&amp;Q, which will have their shares fifty- fifty, will open a store in Istanbul or Ankara this year in an area of 10, 000 square meters. The new company which will act under the name of Koctas- B&amp;Q, aims at opening 30 markets in Turkey within five years.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

44 DETAINEES IN ANTI-NUCLEAR PROTEST
The security forces took into custody 44 persons who staged an anti-nuclear protest in Taksim district of Istanbul. The members of the ''Power Union Against the Nuclear Power Plants'' convened in front of tramcar stop in Taksim. The demonstrators shouted slogans and opened banners. A group of demonstrators lied down in front of the tramcar stop to protest the nuclear power plants. Then, the security forces detained nearly 44 protestors.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

TURKISH COMPANIES TO JOIN FAIR IN EGYPT
A total of 40 Turkish companies will participate in the ''33th Cairo International General Trade and Industry Products Fair'' which will be opened today. The fair will be open until March 10, 2000. Some of the Turkish companies which are participating in the fair are Alkim, Seray, Komili, Dalan, Kombassan, Pakpen, Motosan Motor, and Pancar Motor.

[03] DEMIREL SAYS GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS WILL BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHILE REBUILDING QUAKE HIT AREA

Demirel received Kocaeli deputy Meral Aksener and Golcuk August 17 Association at the Presidential Palace. During the meeting, the association members complained about the delay occured in the demolishing of the damaged buildings. They also said they wanted to keep the old texture of the city while restructuring it.

Demirel pointed out that the most important issue was chosing the right place to rebuild the buildings which collapsed and stressed that the geological conditions of the region must be taken into consideration while doing this.

Demirel also received members of a platform who work to raise Gebze's status from a township to a province. Demirel noted that Gebze's population was increasing every day and its management, both in terms of security and other public services, was getting more difficult. He assured the delegation members that he would work to raise Gebze's status to a province.

[04] TURKISH-GREEK NGOs SIGN A COMMON WORKING PROTOCOL

Speaking in the meeting, Demet Gurol, the Director General of Foundation of Human Sources Development said that the experience acquired by the non- governmental organizations (NGOs) of the two countries will be benefitted by common aid projects.

Dimitris Stilopoulos, the Director General of Kessa Dimitra said in his part that they formed an emergency aid project following the quake disaster in Turkey and they helped Turkey.

Stilopoulos said that they will start to work within the framework of an aid project, adding ''we hope to be together with Foundation of Human Sources Development for more beneficial projects.''

After the meeting, the officials of the two organizations signed the protocol.

[05] STATE MINISTER GAYDALI: - ''WE DETERMINED THAT THERE IS SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE TRADE RELATIONS WITH IRAQ''

The 12th Turkey-Iraq Joint Economic Committee (JEC) Meetings were staged in Baghdad.

A memorandum of understanding was signed in the end of the meetings.

Speaking in the signing ceremony, Gaydali said that the meetings were very fruitful and that they decided to improve the present relations.

Gaydali noted that he believes that they will benefit from the cooperation potential.

The protocol which will contribute to the economic and trade relations, will be a turning point in the relations between two countries.

Ameer Al Rasheed, the Iraqi Oil Minister, said that they decided to improve the economic and trade relations during the meetings.

They agreed to increase the trading volume, Rasheed noted.

Rasheed stated that they expect the technical delegation and businessmen to continue such activities.

Later, Gaydali responded to the questions of the journalists.

Gaydali said that they met with nearly ten Iraqi ministers and the Iraqi Vice-President during their contacts.

They decided to have cooperation in electricity, industry, and agriculture; Gaydali noted.

Gaydali stated that they came to Iraq to discuss the increase of Turkey's share in the food purchase in return of oil program within the framework of the United Nations (U.N.) resolutions.

They reached this target, and they decided that the technical delegations will exert efforts for the natural gas purchase from Iraq, Gaydali added.

[06] STATE MINISTER ONAL'S CONTACTS IN BRUSSELS ''EU COMMISSION IS MAKING PREPARATIONS TO FACILITATE TURKEY'S FULL MEMBERSHIP TO THE EU''

A ''Participation Partnership Document'' will be prepared between Turkey and the EU this year, Onal noted and said this document will help to organize Turkey's relations with the EU until negotiations for full membership start. Onal also pointed out that his visit to Brussels will be useful to reveal the economic aspects of this document which is consisted of both political and economic elements.

''Economic and financial dialogue between Turkey and the EU has officially started,'' it was stated when Onal had a meeting with Pedro Solbes Mira, member of EU Commission who is in charge of economy on Tuesday. He also announced that a delegation from the EU Commission will visit Turkey on April 27 and 28 where they will make institutional decisions about the economic dialogue with Turkey.

Onal said they focused on financial cooperation issues between Turkey and the EU and also confirmed the amount of financial assistance which will be donated to Turkey from the EU budget, during his meeting with Solbes Mira and Guenter Verheugen who is in charge of EU Commission's enlargement. According to this, 177 million Euros will be transferred to Turkey for 3 years from Mediterranean MEDA funds. The EU also agreed to enable Turkey to benefit more from the loans of the European Investment Bank.

It was suggested that Turkey should also get a share from the 8,5 billion Euro resource which is set aside for the candidate countries. There are also efforts to release a 570 million Euros loan with a low interest rate for Turkey which was decided during the Customs Union process. Onal also noted that Turkey will get an annual share of 200 million Euros from the EU's MEDA-2 funds.

The European Investment Bank agreed to expedite the usage of 600 million Euro loan the Bank assigned for Turkey due to the earthquake disaster.

''Resource problem is not the sole problem,'' Onal said.''As it was stated by the 15 EU member countries at the Helsinki Summit, the financial cooperation between Turkey and the EU has to be collected under a single roof and this structure should help Turkey's efforts prior to its joining the EU. The Commission stated that they are currently working to create a legal frame for this cooperation,'' Onal explained.

Guenter Verheugen who said they were working to facilitate Turkey's membership to the EU is expected to visit Ankara between March 9 and 11.

[07] TOPKAPI TREASURES EXHIBITION OPENS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

The exhibition consisting of 200 pieces which belong to the Ottoman era will stay open at Corocoran Museum until June 15.

Culture Minister Istemihan Talay; U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott; Marc Grossman, Deputy Secretary of State in charge of European Affairs and former U.S. Ambassador to Ankara; Congress members and Alexandros Filon, Greek Ambassador to Washington D.C., were present at the opening of the exhibition.

James Rubin, former U.S. State Department Spokesman and his wife Christiane Amanpour who is the chief correspondent of the CNN also attended the opening.

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation is the biggest sponsor of the Topkapi Treasures exhibition while American Express, Boeing, Turkish Airlines, and Vakko also had financial contributions to the organization of the exhibition.

Among the 200 pieces, there are some pieces which were never taken out of Topkapi Museum before. After Corcoran Museum the exhibition will move to the San Diego Museum in California and stay there until September 24, 2000. The pieces will later be exhibited at Fort Lauderdale Art Museum in Florida between October 15 and January 14, 2001 which will be its last stop in the U.S.

[08] NEW LETTER OF INTENT GIVEN TO IMF TO BE DISCUSSED AT IMF EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS COUNCIL IN APRIL

The letter of intent notes the developments that took place after the signing of the stand-by agreement on December 22, 1999 and the commitments regarding the measures that should be taken. The letter of intent and the report prepared by the IMF delegation headed by Carlo Cottarelli, the Chief of IMF Turkey Desk, will be taken up by the IMF administration.

The short letter of intent notes that there are measures which should be taken within the framework of IMF delegation's report.

After the approval of the letter of intent by the IMF Executive Directors Council, the second half of the money which is 305 million dollars will be deposited in the acount of Central Bank.

This year, Turkey will submit a letter of intent to IMF Executive Directors Council in every three months which will explain developments and the measures that should be taken.

The main letter of intent submitted to IMF in December was composed of 64 articles.

[09] WORLD BANK'S DIRECTOR TO TURKEY CHHIBBER: ''IMF REGARDS TURKISH ECONOMY POSITIVELY''

Visiting the first organized industry region in Sincan district of Ankara, Chhibber told A.A correspondent that the views of IMF about Turkey were generally positive and Turkey generally does the things she should do.

Chhibber who said that the inflation rate was a bit high in January this year, added that he hopes the inflation will decrease in the coming months.

[10] DSP GROUP MEETING - PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''NO BARGAINING TOOK PLACE AND NO CONCESSIONS WERE GIVEN WHILE DECIDING TO SUBMIT CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE PROPOSAL TO PARLIAMENT TOGETHER''

''No bargaining will take place and no concession will also be given from now on,'' Ecevit added.

Speaking in the opening of the group meeting of DSP, Ecevit stated that ''bargaining is a tool of compromise,'' adding ''yet, no barganing took place regarding Article 69 of the Constitution.''

Ecevit stressed that no bargaining took place regarding another amendment in the Constitution, adding ''the change of proposal in Article 86 of the Constitution also reflects the general tendency in the parliament. The three constitutional changes are all reasonable. But I couldn't understand the reason of the view saying that the three of them should not be submitted to the parliament at the same time.''

[11] SUMELA MONASTERY READY FOR RELIGIOUS BELIEF TOURISM

The Tourism Ministry prepared brochures and sent them to international travel agencies.

Tourism Directorate's authorities said reservations already were made at some accomodation facilities in the area. Cemal Akcay, Chairman of Blacksea Tourism Managements Union, said they were expecting the reservations reach 100 percent this summer.

Culture Directorate's officials, on the other hand, said the restoration and repair works of the monastery continued and added that this would not cause any trouble to the people touring the area.

They have taken measures to deal with the increasing number of tourists and reorganized a route which will be followed to climb the monastery.

In the meantime, works are underway to standardize the 15 kilometer long highway between Sumela and Macka township. The sharp turns of the road are made wider to make driving easier.

[12] FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''WE WISH THE ELECTIONS IN IRAN WILL BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE FRIENDLY IRANIAN NATION''

Sermet Atacanli, the Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman, told the weekly press conference that the Iranian elections, the first round of which was completed, reflect the will to improve the democracy in Iran.

Atacanli stated that they wish the elections in Iran will be beneficial for the friendly Iranian nation.

The Iranian elections will lay the groundwork for the improvement of the Turkish-Iranian relations which started to be improved as Mohammed Khatami, the Iranian President, took over the presidency; Atacanli stressed.

Atacanli added that President Suleyman Demirel, Premier Bulent Ecevit and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem sent congratulatory messages to their Iranian correspondents as the first round of Iranian elections were successfully completed.

[13] FOREIGN MINISTRY:''SITUATION THAT ERUPTED IN CHECHNYA IN RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS IS STILL WORRYING''

Sermet Atacanlı, the Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman told a weekly press briefing that the international public opinion expects Russia to carry out the necessary investigation about the claims of human rights violations by being faitful to its international obligations.

Atacanlı pointed out that Russia appointed a special representative to examine issues such as human rights, basic freedoms and citizen rights in Chechnya and it also permitted Council of Europe (COE) Human Rights Commissioner Gill Robles to visit the region. These developments are pleasing and Turkey welcomes them, said Atacanlı.

''We consider necessary the establishment of an atmosphere which will heal the wounds caused by the clashes erupted in Chechnya and reaching a permanent, peaceful and legitimate solution based on human rights and law for the wellbeing of Chechen people and overcoming the instability threat in the region,'' Atacanlı said.

Atacanlı pointed out that the humanitarian aid given to Chechen refugees continues, adding an emergency aid equipment of 32 tons composed of food, clothes and medicine were sent to Georgia on February 27 to be given to Chechen refugees.

Atacanlı said that efforts are underway to set up a mobile small restaurant for poor people in Ahmeta valley of Georgia, adding efforts are underway to send the part of the EU funds allocated for Chechen people, which couldn't be used due to the bad conditions.

Atacanlı noted that more than 300 Chechen refugees of women, old persons and children who have relatives in Turkey, were accepted to Turkey.

[14] EU COMMISSION'S TURKEY DESK CHIEF LINDEN SAYS GAZIANTEP HAS AN IMPORTANT PLACE IN TURKEY'S PATH TO EU

Mesut Olcal, the Secretary General of the Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce (GTO), said that Linden sent a letter to Mehmet Aslan, the GTO Chairman.

Linden said in his letter that Gaziantep and its surrounding play an important role for Turkey's relations with the EU; Olcal noted.

Olcal quoted Linden as saying that he will visit Gaziantep within the framework of his following visits to Turkey.

Olcal also quoted Linden as saying that it will be an honour for them to discuss the problems of the small and medium scale enterprises, and the EU's contributions to these enterprises.

Linden also said in his letter that Gaziantep has laid a groundwork to benefit from the cooperation with the EU Commission and to conduct stable initiatives, Onal added.

[15] WORLD BANK'S DIRECTOR TO TURKEY CHHIBBER: ''TURKEY IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL ECONOMIES AMONG WORLD BANK MEMBERS''

Chhibber went to Sincan First Organized Industry Region accompanied by Zafer Caglayan and visited the facilities there.

Later at a joint press briefing he staged with Caglayan, Chhibber said the 57th government made important decisions to pull down the inflation rate.

Combat against inflation should be done persistently without interruptions, he said and noted that the government made a successful start to its economic programme.

If the interest rates reflect to real economy, the economy will revive, he commented. He also said the construction activities in the quake struck area will positively affect the whole industry and boost economy.

Chhibber said there were two important reforms that will positively affect the industrialist. This is creating individual retirement funds in banking and social security fields, he explained.

Chhibber reminded that the World Bank can give loans to organized industry regions in technological innovation and marketing fields. The World Bank also gives loans for export, he added. The World Bank presented 250 million U.S. dollar loan to Turkey and they will review the interest rate of this loan, Chhibber said.

Another loan model given to organized industry regions aims to make these regions adopt European Union's standards from the technical and environmental aspects.

Chhibber also said he was hoping that the contacts with the Turkish government about the restructuring the energy sector would be finalized until Friday.

Energy issue is an essential element of the economic reform loan, he said and noted that he would discuss the matter again after State Minister Recep Onal returns home from Brussels.

Chhibber said they made progress during the talks and believed that the negotiations would be finalized within the next two days.

[16] EASTERN ANATOLIA REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (DOKAP) PROMOTED IN ISTANBUL

Yoshio Koyama, Project Advisor of JICA said they entered the project after the Turkish Government asked for technical support from Japan. He also noted that they would also help Turkey during the implementation stage of the project.

The project covers the 7 eastern Blacksea provinces Trabzon, Ordu, Bayburt, Gumushane, Samsun, Rize, and Artvin. It aims to strengthen the region's economic structure and create employment opportunities as well as raising the income level.

The project will start in 2001 and last until 2020 and it targets a development rate of 4 to 7 percent annually in the region.

The infrastructure in the region will be improved as the first stage of the project. The project also aims to improve transportation between East Black Sea region, Eastern and Southeastern Turkey. Another goal is to build Black Sea Highway and Integrated Port Network.

The project will support industry and trade in the region. Production and marketing center will be formed for small and medium scale enterprises. There will be a series of innovations in fair organization, tourism, and telecommunication networks.

The project will cover agriculture, forestry, fisheries, industry, tourism, and trade areas.

The attenders of the meeting called on the industrialists to make investments in Black Sea region.

[17] MOBILE PHONE TENDER - OKSUZ, MINISTER OF TRANSPORTATION: ''INCREASE IN NUMBER OF MOBILE PHONE OPERATORS, WILL PROVIDE US TO KEEP UP STANDARDS IN EUROPE AND THE U.S.''

Oksuz spoke to A.A correspondent after tender announcement, regarding new license that will be given to mobile phones, was issued in today's official gazette. He said a competition period will start with the tender in mobile phone.

Oksuz said after the conclusion of the tender, number of companies, who give mobile phone services, will reach to five, adding that, ''the developed countries in Europe, and the U.S., number of companies which are interested in the issue changes between 3 and 5. Our citizens will reach a good quality and long term facilities within this competition atmosphere. Their expenses will reduce. The complaints made so far will also decrease. I mean, we are tranferring the issue to the market economy. We will control it. The tender will be transparent. It will be announced to the whole world both in Turkish and in English through Internet.''

Responding to a question about the monthly constant fee taken from the mobile phone subscribers, Oksuz said, ''we have taken required measures after the complaints. We are planning to offer an amendment in this respect to Council of Ministers. Thus, we will overcome the bottleneck which causes uneasiness.''

The government opened tenders Wednesday for two mobile telephone licenses. The operator licenses have a base price of 650 million U.S. dollars each, the Transportation Ministry said.

The tenders are the first major privatization deal under the government's anti-inflation program which is backed by the International Monetary Fund. The government has pledged to sell 7.6 billion U.S. dollars of state assets in 2000.

Turkey's mobile market is currently run by two operators: Turkcell, a partnership between Turkey's Cukurova group and Finland's Sonera; and Telsim, owned by Rumeli Holding, with Motorola Inc. a minority shareholder.

[18] A.A

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