Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-03-04

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[01] AA News

04 March 2000 Saturday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

RECORD TENDER
Is Bankasi-Dogan Sirketler Group Holding Joint Enterprise Group won the Petrol Ofisi Incorp. (POAS) tender. The joint enterprise group was the company which gave the highest proposal worth of 1 billion 260 million U.S. dollars.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL) COURTS WILL NO LONGER KEEP PEOPLE WAITING
The draft law prepared by a 20-member commission headed by Prof. Sulhi Donmezer, will be submitted to the Justice Ministry today. The draft law foresees a radical change in the judicial system. The draft law envisages ending the trial in only one court session. The draft also foresees that if the trial cannot be ended in only one court session, it will be held continuosly day after day as was done in the trial process of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization. The draft law limits the detention process, and ends the prescription.

PEACE MANEOUVRES IN AEGEAN
The rapproachment and dialogue process between Turkey and Greece will be improved by cooperation in defense. Turkish and Greek armed forces will exercise joint military maneouvres for the first time in history. The Greek armed forces will participate in the Middle Eastern Maneouvres with a frigate. The maneouvres will be staged by the Turkish Armed Forces between April 12 and 22. Turkish commanders will exercise landing in Kiparissia region of Greece within the framework of Dynamic Mix maneouvres. Turkish F- 16 war planes will pass the night in Aghialos Base of Greece.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

KOC: ''INFLATION WILL GRADUALLY DECREASE''
Rahmi Koc, the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Koc Holding, said that nobody should be demoralized and the measures should be fully implemented to achieve in the anti-inflation program of the government. Koc noted that the inflation will gradually decrease. Koc requested that the privatization should be carried out and that the budget deficits should be closed.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

PERMANENT HOUSES TO BE TENDERED
Thousands of people, who remained houseless after massive Marmara earthquake, try to live in tents and prefabricated houses under severe winter conditions. Yet, projects of permanent houses can not be concluded yet. The priority will be given to Sakarya and Kocaeli regions in permanent houses, which is expected to be tendered by mid-March.

RADIKAL (LEFT) HERE IS THE NEW CMUK
The code of criminal procedure (CMUK) draft resolution will be submitted to Justice Ministry today. The new CMUK will include:

-Higher Courts will be involved between the Courts and Appeal Courts.

-''Judicial Control'' system will be implemented instead of arrest.

-Custody period will be maximum four years, and the case will be concluded within a day.

-Telephone tapping will be limited.

EXPERTS ARE PLEASED OVER SALE OF POAS
Ugur Bayar, Chairman of Privatization Administration, said, ''POAS was one of the most important steps of privatization program. Experts of institutions like Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley, said the result was very positive.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

IRAQ WAITS FOR OUR BUSINESSMEN
A total of 150 businessmen from Turkey, for the first time after Gulf War, went to Iraq. Businessmen were pleased over the visit which lasted for five days. They wanted such visits to take place often. During the visit the sides decided in principle to increase trade volume with Iraq to 750 million U.S. dollars. Iraqi officials invited Turkish businessmen to cooperate with Iraq.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

SEVEN YEARS IMPRISONMENT DEMANDED FOR MAYORS FROM HADEP
The indictment against 22 accused, including Feridun Celik, Diyarbakir Mayor, M. Selim Ozalp, Siirt Mayor, Feyzullah Karaaslan, Bingol Mayor, and Ramazan Tekin, Diyarbakir Deputy Mayor, was concluded.

-<B>REASONED VERDICT OF ANNULMENT OF LAW</B> REGARDING RETIREMENT OF PARLIAMENTARIANS ISSUED
ANKARA - The reasoned verdict of the Constitutional Court, regarding annulment of several provisions of the law No:4234, related with the retirement of parlaimentarians, was issued in the Official Gazette on Saturday.

The reasoned verdict said the provisions which were annuled, contradicted with Article 2 of the Constitution foreseeing Turkish Republic as state of law; Article 10, foreseeing equality principle; and Article 153 foreseeing the bindingness of the decisions of the Constitutional Court.

Supreme Court decided the annulment decision to take effect after three months.

President Suleyman Demirel, while approving the new law, which took effect on February 12, 2000, arranging salaries, allocations, and retirement of the parliamentarians, said, in the direction of the reasoned verdict regarding the annulment of the previous law, he would evaluate whether or not to apply to the Constitutional Court.

[04] FOREIGN MINISTERS OF TURKEY, GREECE AND BULGARIA TO MEET IN PLOVDIV

The meeting will be held with the initiative of Mihailova.

Three ministers will discuss the relations among three countries, the latest developments in the region, the regional security and the regional infrastructural projects.

The three foreign ministers will also take up the Southeastern Europe Stability Pact.

Cem, Papandreou and Mihailova will sign a joint declaration in the end of the meeting.

Following the meeting, the three ministers will fly to northwestern Edirne province by helicopter for lunch.

Then, Cem, Papandreou and Mihailova will visit Kumciftlik village of Greece.

[05] TOSKAY, MINISTER OF STATE: ''INCREASE IN INFLATION FIGURES IN FEBRUARY STEMMED FROM AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND FOOD''

Responding to the questions of journalists about inflation figures following ''Mining Sector Meeting'', staged by Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, Toskay said, they got the definite figures on Thursday.

He said, ''increase in February inflation mainly stemmed from the agriculture and food. I think, price of agricultural products increased 7.5 percent and price of good products increased 6.1 percent because of severe winter conditions. Inflation will reduce in time.''

[06] DE SOTO, ANNAN'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO CYPRUS, VISITS PILE VILLAGE

De Soto received information in the U.N. Peace Force civil police headquarters about the village.

Later, De Soto visited the village.

De Soto met separately with Ahmet Sakalli, the Turkish Cypriot headman of the village, and Hristakis Andaniu, the Greek Cypriot headman of Pile.

Sakalli told reporters that he explained Pile's problems to De Soto.

He requested De Soto to visit the village once more to have a comprehensive meeting and to have dinner together, Sakalli said.

Sakalli added that De Soto accepted to visit the village again.

De Soto will visit the Green Line on Saturday.

[07] ATACANLI, FM DEPUTY SPOKESMAN: ''NO PROBLEM,EXCEPT THE DELAYS, HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED DURING THE VISIT OF STATE MINISTER GAYDALI AND THE DELEGATION TO IRAQ''

Responding to a question, Atacanli said public representatives, journalists, or the businessmen did not meet a negative attitude.

Atacanli said there were some delays as there was a crowded delegation, and due to the deficiencies in infrastructure in transition points.

FM Deputy Spokesman said the meetings and contacts in Iraq were positive.

[08] IRTEMCELIK, STATE MINISTER, RETURNS TO TURKEY

At the Ataturk Airport of Istanbul, Irtemcelik told reporters that his visit to Vietnam, which was staged to hold the Turkey-Vietnam First Term Joint Economic Commission (JEC) Meeting, was very fruitful.

''We were received with a friendly welcome'', Irtemcelik said, and noted that he met with the Vietnamese Vice-President, Vietnamese Prime Minister, and four Vietnamese ministers.

Irtemcelik stated that they signed ''Protocol on Technical, Scientific and Economic Cooperation in Agriculture'' and ''Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology.''

The trading volume between Turkey and Vietnam is 17 million U.S. dollars at the moment, Irtemcelik stressed.

Irtemcelik emphasized that the businessmen who accompanied him during his visit, had some economic deals with the Vietnamese businessmen.

A legal infrastructure will be formed in the trade and economic relations between two countries, Irtemcelik pointed out.

Irtemcelik said that a Vietnamese delegation will visit Turkey at the end of this month.

The relations between Turkey and Vietnam are limited at the moment, Irtemcelik noted.

Irtemcelik added that they will exert all the efforts to improve the relations between two countries in every field.

[09] TURKISH SHIPS TO PARTICIPATE IN WAR TRAINING PROGRAM IN BRITAIN

The Naval Forces Commandership said on Friday that the TCG Salihreis Frigate and the TCG Dolunay Submarine will join the training program in the naval forces training center in Playmouth, Britain.

The frigate will leave for Britain on March 5, 2000 and the submarine will leave for Britain on March 9, the Naval Forces Commandership noted.

The Naval Forces Commandership stated that the frigate and the submarine will be trained for air defense war, underwater defense war, electronics, navigation, cruising and fire.

The frigate and the submarine will return to Turkey in May, the Naval Forces Commandership added.

[10] ERCEL, GOVERNOR OF CENTRAL BANK: - ''THE FEBRUARY FIGURES OF THE ANTI- INFLATION PROGRAM INDICATE THAT POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS STRENGTHEN''

Ercel noted that after the anti-inflation program was made public, the interest rates rapidly decreased.

The Treasury tender interest which was 125 percent in February 1999, recessed to 41.9 percent in February 2000, Ercel stated.

Ercel stressed that the monetary and currency policy's removing the currency risk premium on the interests, and the domestic and international markets' confidence in Turkey's economy caused this rapid decrease in the interest rates.

''The inflation figures in February were close to our expectations except the inflation rate in agriculture sector. The rapid decrease in the special production industry in February is the indicator that our program will reach the earlier determined targets if there will not be a deviation. The positive developments in anti-inflation program can become more definite in summer,'' Ercel said.

Ercel added that it will be a realistic approach not to expect a rapid decrease in the chronic inflation rate in the three-month term of this year and to take into consideration the increase rate of inflation in 2000 will be parallel to the increase rate of inflation in 1999.

[11] INDICTMENT AGAINST THREE MAYORS PREPARED

The indictment prepared by State Security Court (DGM) Chief Prosecutorship, said the suspects were involved in structuring of ERNK, political flank of terrorist PKK organization, in southeastern Diyarbakir province, and that the suspects were in contact with the members of the terrorist organization. The indictment said the suspects aided and abetted terrorist PKK organization.

The indictment said Abdulkadir Guzel, having the code name ''Mahsun'' who was determined to be responsible for the ERNK's Diyarbakir unit, entered the organization in 1987, and involved in many actions. He provided contact among HADEP Diyarbakir Provincial Chairmanship, Diyarbakir Municipality, and the organization.

The indictment said Guzel was in contact with Celik, and conveyed the directives of the organization to Ramazan Tekin. The indictment also said Celik met with the members of the terrorist organization at his home.

It said Abdulkadir Guzel conveyed Tekin the directives of the organization to Tekin like providing income from the municipalities and transferring them to rural areas, and giving priority to the supporters of the terrorist organization in recruiting personnel to the municipality.

The indictment said Diyarbakir Mayor Celik was taken into custody when he had been acting as the HADEP provincial chairman, because of a statement he made during the period when Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization, was brought to Turkey. It said Celik, Tekin, Karaaslan, Ozalp and Bulent Ipek, responsible for DISKI, had gone to Germany to provide finance to some projects of the municipality.

The indictment said the suspects met with Yasar Kaya, former chairman of so- called kurdish parliament in exile, Nejat Buldan, member of so-called kurdish parliament, and Hafiz Ahmet Turhalli, representative of PIK (Kurdistan Islam Party) in Frankfurt.

''An 30-people group together with the suspects, met with Murat Karayilan, having code name Cemal, member of the terrorist organization for Europe, on December 18, 1999, in a house in German-Dutch border. In the meeting, they discussed the position of the organization regarding recent developments,'' the indictment said adding that, ''Karayilan wanted the mayors to provide the municipalities to distribute free bread and clothings in regions where poor people live, or to open supermarkets to sell cheap goods to people, to form public councils composed of 10 people, to focus on social activities, increase dialogue with the chief of all local public institutions and organizations, to put an end to the lack of dialogue between the municipalities and HADEP General Headquarters, and wanted these directives to be conveyed to other mayors.''

The indictment said Karayilan later held separate meetings with the mayors.

It said, Celik, together with seven mayors, participated in ''Local Administrations Conference'' between February 8 and 23, 2000 upon the invitation of Germany's Hannover Mayor, and made statements together with seven mayors who are all from HADEP. The indictment noted that the suspects distributed a press release which brought negativities that the minorities met, and which supposedly critized Turkish Republic's policies on the issue.''

The part of the indictment related with suspect Guzel, said he attended mountain cadre of the terrorist organization in 1996 and trained on explosive devices and bombs. Later he was sent to southeastern Diyarbakir province. Guzel made time bombs in order to stage attacks. He left one of the bombs in front of a electricity transformer in Industry Site in 1996, yet that security forces found the bomb.

The Prosecutor demanded up to 15 years imprisonment terms against Abdulkadir Guzel, Ramazan Tekin, Mustafa Yildiz, Sadullah Ozdemir, Mehmet Maksut, Medine Yakut, Sebiha Zengin, and Hayrettin Aktepe under Article 168/2, 31, 33, and 40 of Turkish Penal Code (TCK), and up to seven years imprisonment terms against Mehmet Arslan, Omer Tas, Seyit Ahmet Ocalan, Tahir Burkankulu, Huseyin Utanc, Omer Ozer, Haci Kaydi, Ilhan Kazikci, Recai Kazikci, Keziban Kazikci, Huseyin Akman, Feridun Celik, M. Selim Ozalp, and Feyzullah Karaaslan under Article 169, 31, and 40 OF TCK.

Trial of the suspects will begin in the coming days.

[12] PARLIAMENTARY CHAIRMANSHIP COUNCIL TO BE INFORMED ABOUT CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENCY IN APRIL

The draft program of the presidential elections has been prepared.

The presidential elections procedures will be completed between April 26 and May 15.

The new president will start his term in office by taking the presidency oath on May 16.

Article 102 of the Constitution foresees a secret vote for the presidential elections.

Under the article, the election process will start 30 days before the termination of the term in office of the President and will be completed within 30 days.

The candidate list should be submitted to the Parliamentary Chairmanship Council within the first ten days and the election process should be completed in the rest twenty days.

The deputies can run their own candidacy or they can be nominated as president by other deputies.

However, for nominating a person out of the parliament, the signatures of 110 deputies are necessary.

The first voting will be held on April 27 and the second voting will be held on May 2.

A total of 367 votes in favour should be provided in both votings to be elected as the president.

If a president cannot be elected in two votings, a third voting will be held on May 9. 276 votes in favour should be provided in the third voting to be elected as the president.

If a president cannot be elected in the third voting, a fourth and last voting will be held on May 15.

Two candidates who will take the most votes in the third voting, will compete with each other in the fourth voting.

Also, 276 votes in favour is necessary for being elected the president in the fourth voting.

If 276 votes in favour is not provided in the fourth-round voting, the parliament will renew the elections.

If a president is elected, the parliament will notify the new president with a minute.

Thus, the president will take oath on May 16 and start his or her term in office.

[13] FP LEADER KUTAN: - ''IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR US TO SUPPORT ANY PROPOSALS IF THE ARTICLE 69 OF THE CONSTITUTION IS NOT AMENDED''

Speaking in the opening ceremony of the FP Consultancy Assembly, Kutan noted that the planned amendment of article 69 of the Constitution is related with binding the democratic order in Turkey on strong principles.

Following the meeting, Kutan told reporters that the government proposed to amend the article 69 of the Constitution and that they welcomed this proposal.

Kutan noted that it is a ''shame of democracy'' to close a political party on the eve of Turkey's accession to the European Union (EU).

''Article 103 of the Political Parties Law was amended a short time ago. To this end, it will also be reflected to the Constitution,'' Kutan added.

Kutan stated that only a political party which is involved in terrorism and which receives financial support from abroad, can be closed.

Responding a question on the constitutional amendment which will ensure the election of the president for an additional five-year term, Kutan said, ''it is impossible for us to support any proposals if the article 69 is not amended. This change is not related with the FP. This change is related with binding the democratic order in Turkey on strong principles. Of course, the FP will benefit from this change.''

[14] CMUK DRAFT RESOLUTION SUBMITTED TO JUSTICE MINISTER

The commission, which was set up in order to prepare the code of criminal procedure (CMUK), which is convenient to the requirements of the date, concluded its works, and submitted CMUK draft resolution to Turk, Minister of Justice.

Speaking at the meeting, Turk recalled that CMUK, which is in force, was adopted in 1929, adding that the amendments made so far, were inadequate when compared with the current conditions.

Pointing out that the concepts human rights and democratization gained importance following World War II, Turk said, ''our country has been a side to all the agreements regarding human rights and freedoms in the U.N. level. It gradually became obligatory to reflect and include the basic principles like; right to have fair trial, right to keep silent, equality in usage of accusation and defense rights, to our internal law.''

Turk recalled that program of the 57th government foresaw taking of measures to provide the jurisdiction function in an effective and productive way. He said Justice Ministry set up a commission to make required amendments in CMUK against the social, political, and economic changes.

Turk said the draft resolution will be sent to various universities, jurists, judgement organs, and profession institutions, adding that the commission will convene again according to the views that will be obtained from these institutions, and a final shape will be given to the draft resolution.

Turk said one of the most important changes foreseen in the draft resolution was the establishment of judicial control mechanism. With this, Judge of the criminal court of peace, upon the request of Republican prosecutor, may decide for taking the suspect under judicial control instead of arrest.

The suspect, who will be taken under judicial control, will be subjected to several obligations like, not going outside the areas which the judge determined and applying to competent authorities in periods.

He said one of the changes which the draft resolution brought was the postponement of public cases, and noted that if the suspect gets a decision for conviction within the period of postponement, a public case will be opened. Otherwise, it will be decided that there was no reason for legal proceedings.

The draft resolution also includes return of the indictment, and its refusal. According to this, if the court which will hear the case, finds a trivial deficiency in the indictment, it may return it to Public Prosecutorship for conclusion. If the court decides that the indictment has the qualities which the law foresees, it will accept the law.

The position of being the suspect will start after the acceptance of the indictment. The cases will be resulted in sessions following one after the other, and a decision will be given in one day if possible.

According to this, the verdict cannot be implemented if a public case is opened against the suspect for the first time, if a conviction appeared that the suspect will not commit a crime again, if it was decided that there was no need to sentence him according to his individual specialities, if the loses stemming from the crime is overcome and if the tranquility which was spoilt because of the crime is returned.

If the punishment of the action of the suspect is only up to three years imprisonment terms, the court will subject the suspect to ''controlled freedom'' measure which it will determine between one or two years. If the suspect fails to fulfil his responsibilities, the verdict, which was postponed, will be disclosed.

The draft resolution said the judge may decide for telephone tapping upon the request of Republican prosecutor, if evidences can not be found in other ways.

According to the draft resolution, the aspects regarding the examination of the suspect or the accused, are arranged again.

The person who is arrested will be interrogated within 24 hours, in case of crimes which were committed collectively, this period can be increased to 48 hours.

[15] MOUNTAINEER IGDIR BURIED

After a commemoration ceremony was held in the building of the Atlas magazine, Igdir was taken to a mosque in Atakoy district for ritual ceremony.

Fikret Unlu, the State Minister for Sports; Ridvan Budak, a deputy of the Democratic Left Party (DSP); Aydin Ayaydin, a deputy of the Motherland Party (ANAP); Meral Aksener, a deputy of the True Path Party (DYP); Ahmet Bahadirli, Bakirkoy Mayor; Nasuh Mahruki, the leader of the voluntary search and rescue team AKUT; and many members of the AKUT including Selcuk Kahveci and Kuvvet Lordoglu; participated in the funeral.

[16] CMUK DRAFT RESOLUTION SUBMITTED TO JUSTICE MINISTER

With the draft resolution, the witnesses can be invited to the court with developed communication devices. Also, the judge may order the witness, whom he decided to be listened, be ready in the hearing.

Expert witnessing is arranged again, and those people will be elected from the list which is determined by provincial justice commissions every year.

The searches in offices of lawyers can be made by the judges or Republican Prosecutor.

Arrest in absentia will be removed, the suspect and his lawyer should be present to give a decision for arrest. Arrest warrant can be adequate to bring the suspect. Yet, these principles will not be valid for the suspects who escaped abroad.

The period of arrest reached international standarts.

The lawyers were given the right to meet with the suspect or the accused in every stage of the investigation or prosecution.

Prof. Sulhi Donmezer, Chairman of the commission who prepared CMUK draft resolution, wanted the draft resolution to be legalized soon and take effect.

He said, thus the number of cases that will be opened to European Court of Human Rights will reduce, and noted that the legal reform, which has been initiated, was different from the legal reform which had taken place in the year 1920.

Justice Minister Turk, responding to a question, pointed out that Turkey can not remain indifferent to the developments in Europe, and pointed out that, ''yet, an application has not been adopted in Europe in general yet. Turkey will evaluate these in the future.''

[17] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: - ''A SOLUTION ON CYPRUS CAN BE PROVIDED AS TODAY'S SITUATION IS REGISTERED''

Denktas spoke in the panel discussion which was held by TRNC Presidency, Turkey's Embassy in TRNC, and the Hacettepe University Foreign Policy Institute.

The reason of the Cyprus question was the violation of the human rights of the Turkish Cypriots, Denktas noted.

Denktas stated that the question was wrongly diagnosed until today.

''They are trying to solve the problem without putting forward any remedies. Unfortunately, the international community behaves under a mentality of 'you flatter me and then I flatter you.' And, the third parties who are concerned with the question, think of their own interests, '' Denktas said.

Denktas stressed that the Greek Cypriot church is the biggest factor which curbs the problem and that this insitution washes the brains of the Greek Cypriot youth and teaches it that the Turks are the biggest enemies.

''I am 75 years old and the Greek Cypriot side is still trying to turn Cyprus into a Greek island. The Turkish Cypriots are struggling to prevent this initiative. The Turkish Cypriots established their own independent state. 75,000 people died for this. We are determined to protect our freedom, sovereignty, rights, and Turkey's rights,'' Denktas said.

Denktas emphasized that the ''Cyprus Republic'' which was established in 1960, was not a national state and was a partnership republic.

This republic was established to be free and to be saved from being a colony, Denktas pointed out.

Denktas said that however, the real target of the Greek Cypriots was to annex Cyprus with Greece.

If people continue to wrongly diagnose the Cyprus question, it will be impossible to reach a solution on the island; Denktas noted.

Denktas stated that a new approach is necessary about the Cyprus question because the Cyprus question is not a problem of minority and occupation as the Greek Cypriots are introducing to the international arena.

The real problem has to be solved between two equal sides, Denktas stressed.

Denktas emphasized that Cyprus is also the homeland of the Turks and that they want to live as two good neighbours on the island.

The Greek Cypriot side prepared the Akritas Plan to annex the island with Greece, Denktas recalled.

Denktas added, ''if Turkey or the Turkish Cypriots prepared and implemented a plan similar to the Akritas Plan, I would be in prison now.''

[18] A.A

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