Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-03-16

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[01] AA News

16 March 2000 Thursday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

CLINTON OFFICIALLY NOMINATES NEW AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA
The U.S. President Bill Clinton said that he had appointed Robert W. Pearson as Ambassador to Turkey. Pearson was assigned in Paris. After Pearson's appointment is announced in the U.S. Senate, he is expected to change place with Mark Parris, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey. Pearson, a career foreign service officer, has a background in European and security issues. His last posting was as Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy to France since 1997. Peason had acted as assistant diplomat in NATO permanent representation for five years before 1997. The new ambassador, who was appointed to Ankara, worked in China and New Zealand as well as his assignment in the U.S. National Security Council (NSC).

PRESIDENT HAVEL POSTPONES HIS VISIT TO TURKEY
President Vaclav Havel of Czech Republic postponed his visit to Turkey scheduled for next week. He was hospitalized on Tuesday after suffering from gastroenteritis which provoked the bronchitis. He was scheduled to visit Istanbul and Izmir provinces in Turkey.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN RETURNS TURKEY
Saadettin Tantan, the Interior Minister who waid an official visit to Britain, said that they had reached an agreement over signing the Security and Cooperation Agreement between Turkey and Britain. ''After signing this agreement, all criminals that are wanted by Turkey through Interpol will be returned to Turkey,'' Tantan said. When asked if there was any development about the return of Nurettin Guven and Gulay Asliturk who live in Britain, Tantan noted that Britain would extradite all criminals after the agreement is signed.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

GALATASARAY TO TAKE ON REAL MALLORCA
Galatasaray will play UEFA Cup quarter final first leg away with Spain's Real Mallorca tonight. The match will start at 10:30 p.m. Turkish local time. Galatasaray Coach Fatih Terim said, ''Mallorca beat Ajax and Monaco. But this time, we will be the winner.''

KOC TO UNDERGO SURGERY TODAY
Koc Holding Executive Board Chairman Rahmi Koc, who broke his arm while skiing in Aspen, will undergo surgery in New York today. Aspen skiing center in Colorado, the U.S. is one of the tough ski runs in the world.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

DEFENSE OF INTERIOR MINISTRY
The Interior Ministry is finding all kinds of excuses not to pay compensation to the Supreme Court Department no:8's Chief Judge whose private telephone talks were tapped. In its defense, the Interior Minstry said, ''we tapped telephone talks of many people. The state can't protect itself from difficulty, if we pay compensation.'' The Ministry which found 25 billion Turkish Liras compensation demand of the Chief Judge, said that the person whose telephone talks were tapped couldn't claim that he was harmed. ''It will be more realistic if it is mentioned that the principle of the state of law will be harmed by the action.''

[03] MILD EARTHQUAKES OCCUR IN MEDITERRANEAN SEA AND MUGLA

Officials at the Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Seismology Institute told the A.A correspondent that they recorded two earthquakes measuring 4.1 and 3.0 on the Richter scale, in the Mediterranean Sea and Koycegiz township of Mugla province at 09:41 a.m. and 09:38 p.m.

Meanwhile, 2.5-magnitude afterschock shook Kocaeli province at 06:36 p.m.

[04] SEVGILI, SIIRT DEPUTY OF ANAP, TO BE LAID TO REST IN MECCA

Officials at the Directorate General of Religious Affairs told the A.A correspondent that Ataullah Hamidi, a deputy of ANAP from southeastern Batman province, would leave for Saudi Arabia to attend the funeral.

Sevgili will be laid to rest in Cennet-ul Mualla later on Thursday.

Sevgili had a heart attack in Arafat Valley which is one of the most important places for pilgrims.

He was first taken to a field hospital of the Red Crescent. Later he was transferred to a hospital in Mecca. Despite all the efforts to save his life, Sevgili died in the hospital.

Meanwhile, President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit expressed their condolences over demise of Sevgili, and implored God's strength upon all who are grieving.

[05] HEALTH MINISTER DURMUS RETURNS TO TURKEY

Addressing reporters at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Durmus said that he had paid a visit to Israel as the guest of his Israeli counterpart Solomo Benizri.

He noted, ''we scrutinized the agreement which was signed between the two countries in 1995 in the fields of health and medicine.''

Durmus added that his visit to Israel would consolidate improvement of relations between Turkey and Israel, two leading countries in the region.

[06] THREE MILD EARTHQUAKES OCCUR IN MARMARA SEA

Officials at the Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Seismology Institute told the A.A correspondent that they recorded three earthquakes ranging from 2.6 to 3.3 on the Richter scale, in the Marmara Sea between 01:50 a.m. and 03:53 a.m.

[07] ILLEGAL ORGANIZATION'S LEADING MEMBER RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATIONS IN TURKEY IMPRISONED

Gulmez who is called ''Aris'' by the TKP/ML TIKKO terrorists was captured in Istanbul on March 8 and brought to Tokat province in Black Sea region.

Ali Gulmez is the person who gave the instructions for the car-bomb attack against Ayhan Cevik, former Governor of Cankiri province.

Ayhan Cevik was seriously injured, his bodyguard Nurettin Cinsoy, and three persons who were passing-by, including two students, were killed in the car- bomb attack on 5 March 1999 in Cankiri.

[08] NATIONAL EDUCATION MINISTER BOSTANCIOGLU LEAVES FOR PORTUGAL

Addressing reporters at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul prior to his departure, Bostancioglu noted that he would attend the European Union (EU) Education Ministers Conference in Lisbon between March 17-18.

Bostancioglu stressed that programs of ''Leonardo Da Vinci II'' in the field of professional and technical education, and ''Socrates II'' in the field of general education, would be officially introduced during the conference.

Underlining the importance of inclusion of Turkey into the EU's education programs, Bostancioglu pointed out that works were underway on the ''EU Mediterranean Countries Cooperation Program''.

Bostancioglu emphasized that the EU programs were significant opportunties for reconstruction of Turkish education system.

Bostancioglu is expected to return to Turkey on Sunday.

[09] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK: ''ABOLISHMENT OF ARTICLE 312 IS OUT OF QUESTION''

Speaking to reporters, Turk said, ''this article is a very important issue that concerns the national integrity and unity. However, freedom of thought article can be expressed in a much more expanded frame. A revision can be carried out by changing the motive of threat against security of public into the factor of crime. This issue should be taken up first of all by the government.''

Minister Turk said there were people who worried that a change in the article could weaken struggle against fundamentalism.

''For example, Supreme Court Chief Judge Vural Savas and Chief of General Staff General Huseyin Kivrikoglu are among those people. We have to remove this concern. The balances in a revision must be taken into consideration. However, it should not be considered that this change does not aim to save a specific person. It should be considered that this change is an advanced step in the way for democratization,'' he said.

Responding to a question, the Justice Minister said that the amnesty draft law would be discussed after the religious holiday, Eid Al-Adha.

[10] ATATURK DAM PRODUCES 2.3 BILLION KWH ENERGY IN FIRST 70 DAYS OF 2000

The Ataturk Dam and HPP, the key facilities of the giant development project Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), supply 12 percent of energy production in Turkey.

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Nevzat Erdem, the Director of Turkish Electricity Production Corp's (TEAS) Ataturk Dam and HPP, told that two billion kwh energy was produced in January and February, and 300 million kwh energy was produced in first ten days of March at the Dam and HPP.

''We have reached a considerable amount with the production since the beginning of 2000. We produced 10.5 billion kwh energy in 1997, and 11 billion kwh energy in 1998. However, we only produced 7.5 billion kwh energy last year. Our target is to exceed the amount of energy produced in previous years,'' he added.

[11] GROSSMAN, THE U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE: - ''TURKEY'S SUCCESS IS NECESSARY FOR EUROPE'S SUCCESS''

Addressing a conference organized by the Middle East Forum, Grossman underlined importance of Turkey's strategical position among the Balkans, Middle East, and Caucasus.

Saying that Iran and Iraq which threat the region, were among Turkey's neighbours, Grossman emphasized that the Upper Karabakh problem and war in Chechnya jeopardized peace and stability in the region.

Reminding that Turkey and the U.S. had been cooperating for years within framework of the NATO, Grossman described Ankara's contribution to the NATO, its participation in the Peace-Keeping Force in Kosovo, and its support to the Middle East peace process as considerable contribution to security.

Pointing out the positive improvement in relations between Turkey and Israel, Grossman recalled that a significant rapproachement took place between Turkey and Greece in the past months.

Grossman said that Turkey and Greece, two allied countries should launch initiatives to find a peaceful solution to the Cyprus question.

Noting that significant progress had been recorded in the fields of democracy and human rights in Turkey since June, 1999 when the 57th government led by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit came to power, Grossman said that the U.S. appreciated Turkey's efforts.

Grossman noted that the Turkish government was on the right direction in regard to carrying out reforms.

He said they believed that Turkey's efforts would succeed in extending the freedom of thought and putting an end to torture.

[12] ''LEYLA ZANA'' CRISIS BETWEEN TURKEY AND EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO BE SOLVED

Joint Parliamentary Commission's (JPC) European flank, which acts as a bridge between the Parliament and the European Parliament, had postponed last month its visit to Turkey with the pretext that it was not allowed to visit Leyla Zana, the closed Democracy Party's (DEP) deputy who is currently serving her imprisonment sentence.

In the JPC's Wednesday's meeting, it was stated that Turkey allowed ''Green Group member Daniel Cohn Bendit to visit Zana as a citizen, not as the JPC Co-Chairman''.

Bendit, who will come to Turkey on April to, is expected to visit Zana on April 3.

After Bendit's visit, the JPC will hold its adjourned meeting between May 29-31.

[13] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: - ''WE AIM AT BECOMING ONE OF TEN MOST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD''

Releasing a message to mark the Eid Al-Adha, President Demirel said, ''religious ceremonies are days when unity and solidarity are consolidated, and happiness and joy are shared. Every one should forget disappointments and embrace each other.''

''Turkey has achieved great success on the international platform last year. It intensified optimism towards the future. All we need is self- confidence to further improve. Our struggle against inflation should continue. The Turkish people fully support government's comprehensive economic program. We should succeed in our struggle. We aim at becoming one of ten most developed countries of the world in the first devade of the 21st century. Turkey should complete its economic reconstruction by protecting its political stability and social peace,'' Demirem emphasized.

He added, ''fundamentalist and separatist terrorism threat regime and social peace in Turkey. We should be determined in our struggle against fundamentalism and separatism.''

Yildirim Akbulut, the Speaker of Parliament, said in his message, ''pomlitical parties at the parliament are working in an atmosphere of a great reconciliation. We can easily overcome any problem with unity and solidarity.''

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''Eid Al-Adha symbolizes social solidarity, peace, and affection. Islam is the guarantee of national unity. The most serious betrayal to Islam is separatism and terrorism. Gruesome homicides of the separatist terrorist organization which are claimed to be committed for the sake of the God, revealed jeopardy of making religion an instrument of policy. God save us from such jeopardies.''

[14] OUTLOOK ON TURKEY'S EXPORTS

According to statistics of the Exporters' Unions, the total exports to the U.S. in the first two months of 1999 was 366 million U.S. dollars.

Turkey's exports to several countries in the January-February period of 1999 and 2000 and the differences are as follows:

Exports

(million U.S. dollars)

Name of Country Jan-Feb 1999 Jan-Feb 2000

--------------- ------------ ------------
United States 366 456

France 222 285

Britain 237 290

Italy 253 300

Iran 18 33

India 40 10

Syria 52 30

Azerbaijan 55 34

Tunisia 52 32

Pakistan 27 7

[15] PROMOTION OF TURKEY

The Promotion Specialization Commission, in its report, said many anti- Turkey lobbies abroad managed to receive some results from their efforts to create negative image against Turkey.

It stressed that those negative developments badly affected Turkey's foreign policy, foreign trade and tourism relations, and damaged its interests.

Noting that negative and harming activities could continue in next years, it said a Promotion Council and a Promotion Coordination Group should be established to prevent these.

The report said the Council should be led by the Prime Minister and composed of concerned ministers, chairmen of some professional institutions and chairmen of non-governmental organizations.

It said the Council would also arrange annual use of Prime Ministry Promotion Fund, distribution of source and take macro economic decisions.

The report said the Promotion Coordination Group would carry out works and activities with the participation of Promotion Council member organizations and institutions.

It said the Group's main task would be inform other concerned institutions on works on promotion abroad, and commercial, industrial and cultural activities and fairs.

[16] 103 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED

Immigrants including Azerbaijanis, Afghans, Palestinians, Iraqis, Iranians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, were taken into custody for violating the Turkish borders and the passport law.

Officials told the A.A correspondent that the immigrants would be deported once the legal proceedings are completed.

[17] STATE MINISTER YALOVA: ''WE'LL OBTAIN 7.6 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS INCOME FROM PRIVATIZATION BY THE END OF THE YEAR''

Speaking to reporters, Yalova said the local administrations reform should comply with the criteria of the Council of Europe.

''The local administrations reform should be made as soon as possible to enable the municipalities to be influential in authorization and financial sources,'' he said.

State Minister Yalova said that a total of 7.6 billion U.S. dollars income would be earned from privatization till the end of 2000, and 5.2 billion U.S. dollars part of that income would be obtained from the privatizations under authorization of the Privatization Administration Board.

Yalova noted that they took up privatization in three phases like privatizations under authorization of Privatization Administration Board, privatizations led by Energy and Natural Resources Ministry and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) tenders opened by the Transportation and Communications Ministry.

[18] REMAINS OF A BYZANTINE CHURCH UNEARTHED IN KUSADASI

Naile Gocen Cukurova, the Chairperson of Kusadasi Promotion Foundation (KUTAV), told the A.A correspondent on Thursday that they unearthed remains of a Byzantine church during preparation works on Kustur Beach.

Meanwhile, Fuat Akdogun, the Mayor of Kusadasi, said that the church would be taken under protection as soon as possible.

[19] SIXTH INTERNATIONAL ANKARA CARICATURE FESTIVAL TO BE HELD BETWEEN MAY 5-9

Releasing a statement on Thursday, the Caricature Foundation noted that the festival would be organized in cooperation with the Culture Ministry, the Directorate General of Press and Information, the Turkey Representation of European Commission, and several European Caricature associations.

A total of 12 caricature exhibitions will be opened within scope of the festival.

A.A

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