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

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[01] AA News

03 April 2000 Monday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

4.5-MAGNITUDE AFTERSHOCK JOLTS ADAPAZARI
A moderate aftershock measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale, jolted Adapazari province at 09:57 p.m. on Sunday. The aftershock was centered on Sapanci township of the province. It was also felt in Istanbul and other neighbouring provinces. The aftershock sent residents out to the streets from their homes in panic. Meanwhile, two aftershocks measuring 4.7 and 4.2 on the Richter scale, were recorded in southern Kahramanmaras province.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

PKK MEMBER CAPTURED DURING PRISON VISIT
A fugitive PKK member sentenced to 15 years and wanted by the Sanliurfa Police Department was captured during a visit he paid to his friends at Burdur Correction Facility. Abdurrahman Donder, who aroused suspicion among the prison guards, was taken into custody and taken to the Anti-Terrorism Department. Donder was put in Burdur prison after giving his testimony at the Republican Court.

SAFE-HAVEN FOR DEERS
The number of deers in the Catacik Woods in he Mihaliccik township of Eskisehir reached 3,000. The project had been started in 1987, when two injured deers were mated and taken under protection. The 33,000-acre wood is home to many healthy deers today, with a strict ban on hunting.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

RECEP ONAL:''WE WOULD CATCH THE EU AT THE END OF THE THIRD
YEAR OF THE ECONOMIC PROGRAMME''
Recep Onal, State Minister in charge of economics, said they will definitely reach their inflation target. ''At the end of the third year of our economic programme, we will reach the EU's economic criteria,'' he said. He also noted that the programme should be assessed after June. ''It is difficult to break the dependence on interest and inflation,'' he said.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

DEMIREL DOES NOT WITHDRAW
President Suleyman Demirel who has received several parliamentarians at the Presidential Palace, showed that he was not intending to withdraw before he gets the result of second round of voting. Most of the deputies he spoke with were from the True Path Party (DYP). Following their meetings with Demirel, some parliamentarians said he looked anxious and worried while others said he looked very relaxed and even made jokes.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

120 POINTS NO LONGER ENOUGH FOR COLLEGE
The increasing number of applicants for the Student Selection Exam (OSS) is pulling up the points required to qualify for the following exam, which is the Student Placement Exam (OYS). According to a report by the Institution of High Education (YOK), the support limit for even the least popular bachelor's degree program will be 135 points. The former support limit was 120.

RACE FOR GSM
The deadline to submit the bids for the GSM tender ends on Monday. The bids for the establishment and operation licences of two new GSM systems, will be announced on monday before the participants, who will also be let known if their bids are in compliance with the specifications. There are 28 companies vying for the tender.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

CUBAN PRESIDENT CASTRO TO VISIT TURKEY FOR THE SECOND TIME
The Parliamentary Turkish-Cuban Friendship Group decided to invite President Fidel Castro of Cuba to Turkey. Castro had come to Turkey for the first time during the Habitat Summit in Istanbul in 1996.

TURKISH-GREEK FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION FAIR IN ATHENS
The Turkish-Greek Friendship and Cooperation Fair will be organized in Greek capital of Athens between April 20-23. The fair was described as a significant opportunity to further improve the latest raproachement between the two countries. A total of 90 Turkish companies will take part in the fair.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT MAKES NO COMMENT
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit returned to Turkey from India where he paid a four-day official visit. Addressing journalists at the Esenboga Airport, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''I believe that positive and productive steps had been taken to further improve bilateral relations between Turkey and India, and to strengthen regional and international peace and stability during my visit to India.'' Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ecevit refrained from responding to questions about Wednesday's final vote in parliament on proposals for a constitutional amendment.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[03] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT RETURNS TO TURKEY

Devlet Bahceli, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State welcomed Prime Minister Ecevit at the Esenboga Airport in Ankara.

Addressing journalists at the Esenboga Airport, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''I believe that positive and productive steps had been taken to further improve bilateral relations between Turkey and India, and to strengthen regional and international peace and stability during my visit to India.''

Recalling that he had the opportunity to meet with Indian President Kocheril Raman Narayanan and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, Prime Minister Ecevit told reporters that his meetings had focused on bilateral relations between the two countries.

''We had discussed measures to be taken to further improve economic and commercial relations between Turkey and India, and to cooperate with the third countries. During my visit to India, a memorandum of understanding to set up a political consultation mechanism between foreign ministries of the two countries, an agricultural cooperation and a cultural exchange program were signed. I believe that positive and productive steps had been taken to further improve bilateral relations between Turkey and India, and to strengthen regional and international peace and stability during my visit to India,'' Ecevit said.

Prime Minister Ecevit refrained from responding to questions about Wednesday's final vote in parliament on proposals for a constitutional amendment.

When asked whether or not he would come together with leaders of the coalition partners, Prime Minister Ecevit told reporters he had no comment to make on meeting he planned with coalition leaders.

Meanwhile, Rahsan Ecevit, the wife of Prime Minister Ecevit; Abdulhaluk Cay and Edip Safter Gaydali, the State Ministers; Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister; and Istemihan Talay, the Culture Minister, who accompanied Prime Minister Ecevit during his visit to India, also returned to Ankara.

[04] TURKISH ARTISTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ''WORLD COLORS FESTIVAL'' IN FRANCE

The paintings, statues, and ceramic works, 138 in number, of 51 turkish artists will be on exhibit in Saint Germain Chapel between April 25th and May 14th.

The works of Aleattin Aksoy, A. Onay Akbas, Erdal Alantar, Beril Anilanmert, Ilgi Adalan, Koray Aris, Mustafa Ata, Mehmet Aksoy, Mustafa Altintas, Ozdemir Altan, Tomur Atagok, Rahmi Aksungur, Habip Aydogdu, Bedri Baykam, Erdinc Bakla, Ferruh Basaga, Kezban Arca Batibeki, Sadan Bezeyis, tulay Tura Bortecene, Saim Bugay, Zahit Buyukisleyen, Bubi, Ibrahim Ciftcioglu, Zehra Cobanli, Burhan Dogancay, Tanju Demirci, Devrim Erbil, Adem Genc, Alos (Ali Teoman Germaner), Mehmet Gun, Neset Gunal, Gungor Guner, Meric Hizal, Balkan Naci Islimyeli, Ergin Inan, Ekrem Kahraman, Omer Kalesi, Husamettin Kocan, Birol Kutadgu, Ziyatin Nuriev, Zekai Ormanci, Abdurrahman Oztoprak, Kemal Onsoy, Bunyamin Ozgultekin, Gungor Taner, Metin Talayman, Fatma Tulin, Alp Tamer Ulukilic, Omer Uluc, Utku Varlik, and Hanefi Yeter will be displayed in the exhibition.

[05] THREE TURKISH MOVIES TO BE SCREENED AT WASHINGTON FILM FESTIVAL

Within the framework of the ''Filmfest DC'', due to take place between April 5th and 16th, three Turkish movies will be screened, namely ''Harem Suare''- a 1996 production directed by Ferzan Ozpetek, ''Gunese Yolculuk'' (A Trip to the Sun)- a 1999 production by Yesim Ustaoglu, and ''Propaganda''- a 1999 production directed by Sinan Cetin, with English subtitles.

In the brochure, where Turkish cinema was also introduced briefly, it was said that Turkish cinema focused on a depth of character and a plot, a story, instead of juxtaposing Hollywood-like colours and special effects.

It said that the quality of the films were constantly increasing, and Turkish films were receiving much applause from international audiences.

[06] MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER OFFICIAL SAYS TURKEY'S ECONOMIC PROGRAM NECESSITATES A STRONG AND STABLE GOVERNMENT

Speaking to A.A reporter, Bisat who is in charge of international investment of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, said that Turkey was no longer in a position to stage political crises, and continued:

''Foreign capital is very content with the new economic program of the government. There is a ''Presidential Question'' occupying the top of Turkey's agenda these days, but we believe that this will not bring about a governmental deterioration.''

''We neither think that anyone would want early elections before this government's new economic program attains a success. The program is being continued because both Turkish businessmen and the bureaucratic circles believe that it should be continued. The developments until now are rather positive. There is a relative falling trend in the rate of inflation, and this falling trend is sure to continue, so long as the program is continued, '' Bisat added.

Noting that the Turkish people had to be determined about implementing this program, and convinced tht it would succeed, Bisat said that this depended largely on the government's stability and strength.

Bisat said it was yet too early to comment on the success of the program, just by looking at the results of the first three months, and said a healthy evaluation could not be made before July.

He added that foreign investors planning to do business in Turkey were now at the stage of 'wait and see'.

[07] BENDIT, CO-PRESIDENT OF EU-TURKEY JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION, IN ANKARA

Addressing journalists following the meeting, Bendit said that they discussed the latest developments in Turkey.

Recalling that the issue of amnesty was taken up at the meeting, Bendit noted that they discussed whether or not the amnesty would include political crimes.

Bendit said that he got the impression from his meeting with the representatives of human rights associations that many contradictory developments had occurred in Turkey since the EU's Helsinki Summit in December, 1999.

He noted that the Europeans perceived arrest of mayors from the HADEP, and imprisonment of Akin Birdal, the former Chairman of IHD, as complicated signals.

Meanwhile, Yavuz Onen, the Chairman of Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TIHV), told reporters, ''the meeting focused on the issues of amnesty, political amnesty, health situation of Leyla Zana, the former deputy of the Democracy Party (DEP), imprisonment of Akin Birdal, and extension of the term of the emergency rule in eastern and southeastern provinces.''

Noting that positive and negative developments occurred in Turkey since Bendit's last visit to Turkey in December, 1999, Onen said, ''we briefed him on the government's positive decision about Abdullah Ocalan in January. We also informed him about negative developments such as arrest of mayors.''

Bendit will visit Leyla Zana in the prison later today.

Bendit is expected to stage a press conference after his contacts.

[08] POSITIVE SIGNALS FROM U.S. REGARDING ATTACK HELICOPTER TENDER

General Michael Boots, Chairman of the Turkey-U.S. Organisation for Defense Cooperation (ODC), who participated in the annual meeting of the Turco- American Council, said that there were positive developments regarding the export license which has to be given to U.S. companies involved in the transfer of weaponry planned to be sold to Turkey. He pointed out that the progress Turkey had recently been making in her human rights record, and the economic reforms she had recently implemented played an important role in these positive developments.

Diplomatic observers said that Ankara faced lesser resistance from Washington when it came to purchasing defense material, particularly over the past year.

The same sources said that U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen made a gesture to the Turkish side during Friday's luncheon, and uttered words of praise addressed to Turkey.

Cohen had said that Turkey was an element of stability in the middle of such troubled regions as the Caucasus, the Balkans, and the Middle East, and announced that Ankara would be admitted into the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program.

A Turkish diplomatic source told the A.A reporter that ''The words uttered by Mr. Cohen were what we had been longing to hear. The U.S. Defense Secretary not only expressed in very realistic terms, the important role that Turkey played as an element of stability, but he also refrained from making any comments of negative character about our country.''

King Cobra, the U.S. designed attack helicopter and Black Shark, a joint production of Italian International and Russia-Israel are vying in the tender. Turkey is expected to announce her final decision by June 15th.

[09] TURKISH DOCTOR RIFAK PAMUKCU DEVELOPS MEDICINE WHICH KILLS CANCEROUS PROSTATE CELLS

The research report which was announced at the American Research Association's congress, said Apotosyn attacks the cancerous cells with two different mechanisms.

Pamukcu's medicine was used in clinical tests and it was found effective against the polyps in large intestine cancer cases as well.

Pamukcu said Aptosyn was mainly effective in fighting against prostate cancer. The medicine decreases the androgen receptor concentration and eliminates the effect of cancerous cells. Aptosyn causes the cancerous cells to commit suicide and therefore eradicates them while not causing any harm in the healthy tissues in the prostate.

Rifat Pamukcu who is the second president of Cell Pathway firm in Pennsylvania tried two more medicines from the same class, CP248 and CP461, and proved that they prevent the secretion of antigens (PSA). Pamukcu annouced that the medicine not only decreases PSA in the blood but also eradicates cancerous cells in the prostate.

The results of clinical tests on people will be announced during the American Urology Congress which will be held in Atlanta on May 1. Pamukcu said he tested his medicine on 96 patients. Pamukcu and his friends tested the medicine on men whose prostate cancer reoccured following a prostate operation. The doctors gave Aptosyn to half of the patients and Placebo (water mixed with sugar) to the other half for one year.

At the end of the research, there was a significant drop observed in the PSA rate in the patients who were given Aptosyn. Other patients who took Placebo had an increasing amount of PSA in their bloods.

Aptosyn is the first example in its group and has been recorded in the world medical history.

Cell Pathways firm applied to the U.S. Health Department to obtain permission to use Aptosyn in patients who also suffer from large intestine cancer. The medicine which is studied by the Health Ministry, can soon be used against Polyposis Syndrome in patients with large intestine cancer.

Pamukcu told A.A that they will make new clinical tests on Aptosyn and added that people from Turkey can also volunteer to be used in his clinical tests. He said those who are interested can visit the website of Cell Pathways and get the necessary information. The website also lists the necessary conditions that have to be found in the patients. The webside of Cell Pathways ''http://www.cellpathways.com''.

Pamukcu said he will visit Turkey this summer.

[10] TURKEY-EU JPC CO-CHAIRMAN BENDIT IN ANKARA

Addressing the relatives of martyrs in the meeting at the Ankara Representation of the European Commission, Bendit said Turkey should forget the past, adding he was not judging PKK's oppression and cruelty but the path for peace couldn't be revenge.

Defending that peaceful solution for the southeast problem depended on mayors who were elected democratically, Bendit claimed that the capital punishment including also the death sentence handed down on Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist PKK organization, could create a crisis between Turkey and the EU.

Bendit said Turkey was free to choose its own way but membership to the EU and continuation of death sentence contradicted with each other.

He said that IRA made use of the U.S.'s mediation to reach a peaceful solution with Britain and that Turkey could make use of the EU.

Hamit Kose, the Chairman of the Association of Victims of Terrorism, said in his part that Turkey was a unitary state.

''Guilty people should serve their sentences. You are saying that Turkey can't enter the EU if Ocalan is executed. If Turkey will enter the EU as a result of a terrorist like Ocalan and if this will become an issue of bargaining, than Turkey mustn't enter the EU, this will be much more better, '' he said.

Accusing Europe of being ''hypocritical'', Kose said the European countries had extended logistic support to PKK and later they came to Turkey to give human rights lesson.

''Where was Europe when thousands of people were killed by PKK? Nobody has a right to give human rights lesson to us,'' he stressed.

Bendit said he understood the feelings of relatives of martyrs but the final solution for Turkey was membership to the EU.

[11] FOUR DEAD BODIES UNEARTHED IN DIYARBAKIR

The security forces found four dead bodies in the excavations which were launched after Seyhmuz Kinay, a member of the terrorist Hezbollah organization who was captured in Batman, had told the police that there were dead bodies in this empty field.

The excavations continue in the field.

[12] FIVE CONSORTIUMS SUBMIT BID FOR GSM TENDER

These five consortiums are as follows:

''Consortium 1: Dogan Holding-Dogus Holding-Sabanci Holding and Spanish Telefonica,

Consortium 2: Genpa-Atlas Yapi-Norwegian Telenor-Mobile Communications,

Consortium 3: Is Bank-Telecom Italy,

Consortium 4: Fiba-Suzer Holding-Finansbank-Nurol Holding and French Telecom,

Consortium 5: Koctel Telekomunikasyon and SBC Communications Inc.''

[13] TURKBANK TENDER CASE - COURT RULES TO RELEASE BUSINESSMAN EVCIL PENDING TRIAL

Evcil was captured five months ago in Bursa with charges of ''conspiring against the official tender for the privatization of Turkbank'' and ''setting up a gang to commit crimes''.

The court decided to release Evcil pending trial in Turkbank case taking into consideration the fact that he is currently staying in prison because he is currently being tried in another case, and he testified for Turkbank tender case.

However, Evcil will stay in prison as he is being tried with charges of ''setting up a gang to commit crimes'', ''inciting to murder businessman Nesim Malki'' and ''obtaining beneficial interests by threatening''.

The Istanbul DGM no:6 is also hearing this case which was filed with the request of capital punishment and a heavy imprisonment sentence of 27 years up to 44 years for Evcil.

[14] WORLD BANK DELEGATION VISITS TREASURY UNDERSECRETARIAT

Officials told A.A correspondent that the delegation is expected to stay in Turkey for a week.

The delegation including experts of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will hold contacts in the Treasury Undersecretariat, Central Bank and the public banks, the officials said.

The officials noted that the World Bank delegation is expected to examine the initiatives regarding the privatization of the public banks.

Turkey and the World Bank had earlier agreed in principle upon the financial sector adjustment loan worth of 750 million U.S. dollars.

The World Bank Executive Board will discuss the ratification of the release of the first part of this loan worth of 375 million U.S. dollars within the framework of the report which is expected to be submitted to the board in May.

[15] INFLATION IN MARCH 2000 - CONSUMER PRICES INCREASE 2.9 PERCENT AND WHOLESALE PRICES INCREASE 3.1 PERCENT

The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) said Monday that the annual inflation in wholesale prices as of March 2000 became 66.1 percent, and the annual inflation in consumer prices as of March 2000 became 67.9 percent.

Meanwhile, according to 12-month averages as of March 2000, annual inflation rate in wholesale prices became 57.8 percent, and annual inflation rate in consumer prices became 66.1 percent.

The monthly and annual comparisons of last five-year price increases according to DIE's 1994=100 based wholesale and consumer prices index are follows:

Monthly Inflation

------ ------------------------- --------------------------
Month 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

----- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- ----- ---- ---- ---- ----
Jan 9.8 5.6 6.5 3.6 5.8 8.3 5.9 7.2 4.8 4.9

Feb 5.8 6.2 4.6 3.4 4.1 4.5 5.7 4.4 3.2 3.7

Mar 7.0 6.0 4.0 4.0 3.1 5.6 5.4 4.3 4.1 2.9

Apr 8.1 5.5 4.0 5.3 6.7 6.6 4.7 4.9

May 4.1 5.2 3.3 3.2 4.5 4.7 3.5 2.9

Jun 2.7 3.4 1.6 1.8 2.5 2.9 2.4 3.3

Jul 2.4 5.3 2.5 4.0 2.1 6.3 3.4 3.8

Aug 3.8 5.3 2.4 3.3 4.8 6.2 4.0 4.2

Sep 5.1 6.3 5.3 5.9 6.1 7.3 6.7 4.2

Oct 5.5 6.7 4.1 4.7 6.5 8.3 6.1 6.3

Nov 5.1 5.6 3.4 4.1 5.2 6.6 4.3 4.2

Dec 3.9 5.4 2.5 6.8 3.4 5.1 3.3 5.9

Annual Inflation

. ------------------------ -------------------------
Month 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

----- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- -----
Jan 64.9 78.0 92.5 50.0 66.4 78.1 75.7 101.6 65.9 68.9

Feb 63.0 78.6 89.6 48.3 67.5 77.5 77.7 99.3 63.9 69.7

Mar 65.3 77.0 86.0 48.2 66.1 79.3 77.3 97.2 63.5 67.9

Apr 69.9 72.8 83.3 50.0 80.8 77.2 93.6 63.9

May 73.7 74.6 79.9 50.0 82.9 77.5 91.4 63.0

Jun 76.2 75.7 76.7 50.3 82.9 78.0 90.6 64.3

Jul 76.3 80.7 72.1 52.4 81.2 85.2 85.3 65.0

Aug 79.0 83.4 67.4 53.7 81.9 87.8 81.4 65.4

Sep 79.8 85.4 65.9 54.4 79.3 89.9 80.4 64.3

Oct 82.8 87.5 62.0 55.2 79.6 93.2 76.6 64.7

Nov 85.7 88.4 58.6 56.3 80.4 95.8 72.8 64.6

Dec 84.9 91.0 54.3 62.9 79.8 99.1 69.7 68.8

[16] ONE MORE DEAD BODY UNEARTHED IN DIYARBAKIR

Thus, the number of dead bodies unearthed in an empty field in Cinar township, reached five.

Four dead bodies which were unearthed by the police this morning, were identified. These dead bodies were the bodies of Hatip Pirizade, Aziz Basak, Yasin Ozalp, and Yilmaz Gokce.

The excavations are underway in the region.

The security forces had found four dead bodies this morning in the excavations which were launched after Seyhmuz Kinay, a member of the terrorist Hezbollah organization who was captured in Batman, had told the police that there were dead bodies in this empty field.

[17] BIDS OF FIVE CONSORTIUMS FOR TWO NEW GSM NETWORKS FOUND APPROPRIATE

The issue of whether or not those bids are technically appropriate will become definite on April 12.

The bids of these five consortiums were evaluated by the tender commission at the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.

The commission found those bids appropriate to join the tender but the commission will announce whether or not those bids are technically appropriate at 02:00 p.m. on April 12, and the first consortium to win the first licence will become definite.

Sources said the other four consortiums will compete with each other in an auction to win the second licence.

These five consortiums are as follows:

''Consortium 1: Dogan Holding-Dogus Holding-Sabanci Holding and Spanish Telefonica,

Consortium 2: Genpa-Atlas Yapi-Norwegian Telenor-Mobile Communications,

Consortium 3: Is Bank-Telecom Italy,

Consortium 4: Fiba-Suzer Holding-Finansbank-Nurol Holding and French Telecom,

Consortium 5: Koctel Telekomunikasyon and SBC Communications Inc.''

A.A

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