Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-04-06

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[01] AA News

06 April 2000 Thursday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

DEMIREL:''YOU DID YOUR BEST''
During the leaders summit, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit called President Demirel on the phone and said he and other coalition leaders were very sorry about the result of the voting.'' Demirel responded by saying ''You did your best. I thank you all.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

FROM ECEVIT TO DEMIREL: I WOULD LIKE TO CONVEY OUR SORROW ON BEHALF OF
MYSELF AND GOVERNMENT
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit called President Suleyman Demirel on the phone during leaders' summit which took place after the voting. The short telephone conversation between the two veteran politicians was sentimental. Demirel thanked to the support extended to him, and noted, ''you did your best.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

GOVERNMENT CONTINUES
Following the voting, Ecevit, Bahceli and Yilmaz said at a joint press briefing: ''We respect the Parliament's decision, the coalition government will continue to work in harmony.'' Ecevit said the people wanted stability and noted that he wasn't thinking of resigning. ''What the government has to do is to work hard to complete structural reforms and economic programme, '' Ecevit told Sabah.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

BLOODSHED AT SEMI-FINAL FIRST LEG MATCH
Two people died when a group of British soccer fans who came to Turkey together with the Leeds United Club prior to Thursday's UEFA Cup semi-final first leg match with the Galatasaray Club, kicked up a row in Taksim Square in Istanbul late on Wednesday.

British hooligans, who cause trouble whereever they go, this time caused bloodshed in Taksim square in Istanbul. Fighting erupted as a group of 15 Leeds United fans left a bar in Taksim district, and harrassed the passengers of a van. Some passerby Galatasaray fans reacted to this.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

CREDITS TO BE GIVEN TO SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES
IN QUAKE HIT REGION
Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (KTKB) will give a 10 million U.S. dollar credit to small and medium scale enterprises which suffered loss in the earthquake disaster. The credit will have a six month maturity term. The interest rate will be 11.5 to 12 percent. KTKB chairman Ersoy Volkan said the credit was the first one given by the Bank to Turkey.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

Ecevit, on Wednesday morning, wanted the parliamentarians to cast their votes openly, and he himself casted his white vote by showing. Yet, all these efforts were in vain.

In a news conference which he staged together with Bahceli and Yilmaz following the voting, Ecevit said the government would continue. However, everybody knew that nothing would be as it was in the past.

STRONG SOUTHWEST WIND HITS MARMARA
The storm which affected Marmara and Aegean region, hit Istanbul on Wednesday evening. The steam boat tours were cancelled. The strong southwest wind caused electricity and water cut.

Meanwhile, temperatures are expected to drop with heavy rain as of Friday.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

KUTAN:''THE RESULT IS NOT A SURPRISE''
Virtue Party (FP) leader Recai Kutan said the result of vote for extenting the term in office of the president was not a suprise. ''It wasn't a surprise. We were expecting it,'' Kutan told reporters. When asked who would be the candidate for president from his party, Kutan said it was too early too discuss that.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

TUPRAS' FINAL APPLICATION PERIOD STARTS
The final application to buy shares in 15 percent public offering of Turkish Oil Refineries Inc (Tupras) started on Wednesday. The final application period will end on April 7 and the firm sale price of shares will be announced on April 10.

The sale prices will be set at the end of final application and according to total domestic and foreign demand. Investors will deposit total price of their demand with the 33 thousand Turkish Liras (TL) ceiling price of the price-limit between 31 thousand-33 thousand TL.

[03] TURKEY'S THIRD SATELLITE TO BE LAUNCHED IN AUGUST

Turksat-2A will be the most powerful satellite of Europe, and TV broadcastings can be watched from Atlantic to China with very small antennas with Turksat-2A.

The satellite, which costed 60 million U.S. dollars, is expected to bring a income of one billion U.S. dollars in 15 years.

Production of Turksat-2A started in January 1, 1998 by Eurasiasat company, and main fitting of the satellite was completed in February 2000. Eurasiasat company was founded in November 1996 with the partnership of Turk Telekom and French Alcatel Space.

The appropriateness tests of the satellite started in space atmosphere. Turksat-2A satellite will be sent to Guiana in July.

Turksat-2A will be settled in 42 degree East longitude together with Turksat-1C, which carries Turkey's tv channels. Internet and data communications will be more rapid and without interruption.

Constant transmitters of Turksat-2A will reach to nearly 620 million people by providing communication with Turkey, Central and East Europe, Central and West Asia, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon, which are the target markets of the company.

Due to the second moveable transmitter, the satellite will be able to give service to the Middle East, West Russia, Ukraine, South Africa, and Indian peninsula.

Turksat 2A, which will act in a wide fan, will allocate satellite transmitter capacity for television service, short broadcasting service for live special organizations, and for news which will be given from the spot.

The satellite is expected to bring a revenue of one billion U.S. dollars in 15 years. Most of the revenue is expected to be obtained from television companies which give DHT services, and from the television program distributors.

Also, important income will be obtained from the canals, which will be rented for telecommunication services.

Applications started for those who want to make use of the facilities of Turksat-2A.

[04] FOREST FIRES CONTINUE

Fires destroyed 3,548 hectares of forest area.

Fire-fighting teams have succeeded in taking under control 75 of the fires while 8 forest fires are still continuing.

Releasing a statement, the Forestry Ministry said on Thursday that a crisis management center had been set up within structure of the Directore General of Forestry to deal with the issue.

No casualties were reported in the forest fires.

Meanwhile, a total of 70 dwellings were burnt to ashes in Kiraz village in Ivrinde township of Balikesir province, Suleymanlik village in Manyas township of Balikesir province, and in Tabanli and Camoba villages in Yenice township of Canakkale province

The Forestry Ministry called on residents living in rural areas, to be more sensitive about protection of forests.

[05] PRESIDENT DEMIREL AND GERMAN PRESIDENT RAU DUE TO BOLU

The Presidential Press Center said on Thursday that Turkey and Germany signed a protocol on September 21, 1999 and that in accordance with this protocol, Turkey would allocate suitable field for the construction of new houses and assemble the infrastructure while Germany would construct the permanent houses and hand them over to the quake survivors.

A total of 454 houses which are constructed in Bolu Highways Region will accomodate 2,500 quake survivors.

The houses include one living room, one bath-toilet, and one bedroom.

All the houses were equipped with three bunk beds, six beds, one kitchen unit, one table, six chairs, curtains, electrical cooker, one hot water heater, and one heater.

[06] A DELEGATION LED BY GULER, A.A PRESIDENT GENERAL DIRECTOR, VISITS ANITKABIR

The delegation, headed by Guler and including the administrators and workers of Anadolu Agency, visited Anitkabir on the occasion of 80th anniversary of the establishment of the agency.

Guler laid a wreath, including red and white carnations and writing ''Anadolu Agency'', to the Mausoleum of Great Founder Ataturk.

Then, Guler and the accompanying Anadolu Agency delegation, observed a minute of silence in respect of Ataturk.

Later, Guler signed the Anitkabir Special Book.

Guler wrote, ''Great Ataturk,

Anadolu Agency which you established, is 80 years old. It continues to protect and maintain your principles. We will not make concessions of secular, modern and democratic Republic of Turkey. We continue to herald Turkey's voice to the world, which was the target you showed us. May God rest You in peace.''

Meanwhile, the workers of Anadolu Agency's Istanbul Regional Directorate laid a wreath to the Cumhuriyet Monument in Taksim district of Istanbul, observed a minute of silence and sang the National Anthem.

[07] GERMAN PRESIDENT RAU IN ANKARA

At the ceremony held for the German President Johannes Rau who is visiting Turkey, Demirel said Germany had a special place in Turkey's foreign policy.

Demirel said the 2.3 million Turkish citizens living in Germany make Turkish-Germany relations even more exceptional. ''Our citizens who have been living in Germany for 40 years form a bridge of friendship between the two countris. We appreciate the close attention President Rau pays to our citizens' problems,'' Demirel said at the ceremony.

''We will always remember with gratitude the solidarity and help sent by Germany after the quake disaster in our country,'' Demirel said and added that he and Rau will visit the prefabricated huts built by Germany in Bolu.

Demirel also noted that Rau was the first German president visiting Turkey in the last 14 years and stressed that his visit was a sign of recently intensifying relations between the two countries.

''We are pleased that the mistake made by Luxembourg decisions was corrected in Helsinki. I would like to stress one more time that Turkey appreciates Germany's determined approach to help Turkey integrate with Europe,'' Demirel went on to say.

He also stated that Rau had great services to create international peace and develop a dialogue between religions and cultures.

German President Rau visited Ataturk's mausoleum on Thursday morning and laid a wreath to Ataturk's tomb. Here, Rau said without Ataturk Turkey would not have now been a modern country.

Europe's decision to grant the EU candidacy to Turkey is a sign of mutual trust, Rau said and added that friends should be honest towards each other and speak things openly. ''Both sides have to get ready for each other. If they work hard for this, they would reach their target,'' Rau commented.

Rau reminded reporters that he will visit the prefabricated huts that were built by Germany by quake survivors and said this symbolized the solidarity between Turkish and German peole.

Rau said he visited Greece before Turkey and at the end of the political discussions in Athens, he believed that the cooperation which started between the two countries will continue.

Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut, State Minister Tunca Toskay and other authorities also attended the ceremony.

[08] INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN: ''TURKEY ATTRIBUTES IMPORTANCE TO ESTABLISHMENT OF LASTING STABILITY IN THE BALKANS''

Speaking in the opening ceremony of the ''Council of Europe 12th Ministers Responsible for Local Administrations Conference'', Tantan noted that Turkey continues its efficient cooperation in bilateral and multilateral platforms with the Balkan countries and has historical, humanitarian, and cultural relations with these countries.

Tantan stated that this conference was planned to be staged between October 7 and 8, 1999 but was postponed due to the devastating quake which hit Turkey in August 1999.

Following the quake, the countries and nations gave a good example of solidarity, Tantan stressed.

Tantan emphasized that the role of the local administrations in local social services and the local democracy part of the ''Southeastern Europe Stability Pact'' will be discussed in the conference.

The improvement of cooperation and partnership in local democracy is important, and the cooperation is a source of information for the countries who want to implement reforms in this field, Tantan pointed out.

Tantan said, ''Turkey attributes importance to the establishment of lasting stability in the Balkans. To this end, Turkey supports the stability pact which targets at settling democracy in the Balkans, restructuring the economy of the regional countries, and meeting the security requirements.''

''The target of the meeting is contributing to the lasting stability and establishing good-neighbourly relations in the Balkans,'' Tantan added.

[09] BRIGHT FUTURE AWAITS TURKISH TOURISM

A study by the World Tourism Organisation, entitled as ''Tourism: Europe's Vision of 2020'' estimated that the number of tourists to visit Turkey in the year 2000 would reach 10.2 million.

The same document gave 17.1 million as the estimate for the year 2010, and 27 million for the year 2020. According to these figures, there is an estimated 5.5 annual rate of growth foreseen for the tourism sector.

Turkey, which ranks 12th favorite country for holiday makers, is estimated to rank 9th in the year 2010, and 7th in 2020.

France is believed to have remained as the favorite of holiday makers in 2020, and Spain would rank 2nd, Britain 3rd, Italy 4th, Russia 5th, and the Czech Republic 6th.

Below are the estimated number of tourists to visit the following countries, and the estimated growth rates of these countries:

(Million people)

ESTIMATES AVERAGE GROWTH
----------------- RATE
COUNTRIES 1995 2000 2010 2020 1995-2020
--------- ------- ------- ------- ------- ----------
FRANCE 60.0 71.7 88.2 106.1 2.3
SPAIN 38.8 49.1 61.0 72.9 2.6
BRITAIN 23.5 27.7 38.0 53.8 3.4
ITALY 31.1 36.0 43.9 52.5 2.1
RUSSIAN FED. 5.8 16.5 30.0 48.0 8.5
CZECH REP. 16.5 - - 44.0 4.0
TURKEY 7.1 10.2 17.1 27.0 5.5
HUNGARY 20.7 16.2 20.2 24.7 0.7
AUSTRIA 17.2 16.7 19.8 23.1 1.2
GERMANY 14.8 17.0 18.5 20.0 1.2
SWITZERLAND 11.5 12.1 14.4 17.4 1.7
GREECE 10.1 11.7 14.3 17.1 2.1
PORTUGAL 9.5 10.6 13.0 16.0 2.1
BULGARIA 3.0 3.2 6.2 10.6 5.2
CROATIA 1.3 4.9 7.5 10.0 8.4
ROMANIA 3.0 3.5 5.7 8.5 4.3
ISRAEL 2.2 2.4 3.1 3.9 2.3
SLOVENIA 0.7 1.2 1.9 3.1 6.0
MALTA 1.1 1.2 1.5 1.8 2.0

[10] KSB ADMINISTRATORS ARRIVES IN ANKARA

The administrators of the Confederation of the Turkish Labour Unions (Turk- Is), the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK), and the Confederation of the Public Workers' Unions welcomed the workers who started the march from Kocaeli on April 4 to protest the privatization initiatives.

Mustafa Kumlu, the Turk-Is General Financial Secretary, said that the employment security law should be passed against the increasing privatization initiatives.

Ergin Alsan, the Spokesman of the KSB, said that all the workers back the ''social state principle'' which was written in the Constitution.

Later, a group including the representatives of the workers, went to the parliament to explain their problems and requests to the political parties.

[11] STATE MINISTER YUCELEN SPEAKS ON THE OCCASION OF THE 80TH FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY OF A.A

The exhibition at the A.A Art Gallery, in which 38 photographs, including award winning pictures, was inaugurated on Thursday by State Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen.

The inauguration was followed by a ceremony at the Conference Hall. In the speech he delivered at the ceremony, Yucelen said that Ataturk, a great leader aware of the advantages of forming a public opinion during the war of liberation, had opened the Anadolu Agency, and added:

''Ataturk had determined the target of A.A during its foundation; and it was to stick with the universal principles of journalism. From old- fashioned means, the A.A improved its technologies at the same time with world's leading news agencies, and today, it is able to make use of the latest technology, reaching its subscribers via satellites and the world wide web.

''The A.A has 22 regional offices across the country, and 21 offices abroad, and it is actively working together with such leading agencies as Agence France Presse, Associated Press, and Reuters, and the national agencies of many countries 365 days a year and 24 hours a day.''

Yucelen aded that the Anadolu Agency was now getting ready to publicise its unique news and pictures archive in digital format for the use of its users.

Mehmet Guler, the Chairman of Executive Board and Director General of A.A, pointed out that both the news and the pictures were being transmitted to the whole world via satellites, and that the Agency was in a constant process of modernization and upgrading to catch up with the latest technologies.

The ceremony was attended by Rustu Kazim Yucelen, State Minister Edip Safter Gaydali, Minister of Labor and Social Security Yasar Okuyan, Director General of Press and Information Aydin Sezgin, Democratic Left Party MP from Istanbul Erol Al, President of Turkish Journalists' Union Ziya Sonay, members of the Executive Board of the A.A, and employees of the agency.

[12] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''MOTION WAS DISCUSSED AND REJECTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION''

Demirel and Johannes Rau, the German President who is paying an official visit to Turkey upon the invitation of Demirel, staged a joint press conference.

Responding the questions of the journalists, Demirel noted that everything in Turkey is held in front of whole nation as it is held in Europe and democratic countries.

Demirel stated that there is free elections, free parliament, free press and free justice in Turkey and whatever happened at the parliament yesterday occured totally with democratic rules.

A total of 406 deputies from four political parties, submitted a motion for constitutional amendments, and this motion was discussed and rejected under the Constitution, Demirel stressed.

Demirel emphasized that Turkey's friends in Europe should not feel uneasy because Turkey will not only protect its democracy, but also it will improve its democracy and continue to develop.

When asked what he will do after May 16, 2000, Demirel said, ''don't ask questions regarding internal policy. Our guest will stay in Turkey for two days. If you have questions to ask him, you can ask. You can always find me here.''

Rau said that he is also interested in this issue.

[13] TURKEY AND ESTONIA SIGN AGREEMENT ON SECURITY COOPERATION

Minister of the Interior Saadettin Tantan, who delivered a speech at the signing ceremony, held at Istanbul's Conrad Hotel, said that the agreement covered not only information exchange, but also such crimes as narcotics smuggling, organised crimes, terrorism, money laundering, and human smuggling, and added, ''the agreement foresees cooperation against cross- border crimes.''

Estonian Interior Minister Tarmo Loodus underlined that the agreement was of crucial importance for both countries, and expressed contentment over the signing of such an important agreement.

The agreement foresees exchange of information on means and methods of fighting against drugs smuggling and organised crimes, exchange and training of personnel to function in operations against such crimes, setting up of a joint commission for sustainable cooperation, and appointment of mutual police contact officials.

[14] VALIDITY TERM OF BIDS OF CONSORTIA IN NUCLEAR POWER STATION TO END ON THURSDAY

The Turkish Electricity Inc. (TEAS) had requested on March 9, 2000 that the consortia should extend the term of their bids until April 7 and that they should send the letter of acceptance to the TEAS headquarters until March 21.

Then, the consortia had submitted the letter of acceptance to the TEAS.

Below listed the three consortia which had submitted bids for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Station tender:

Westinghouse-Mitsubishi Consortium: ''Westinghouse (the U.S.), Raytheone ve Duke (the U.S.), Mitsubishi Heavy Int. (Japan), Enka Insaat (Turkey), MNG (Turkey).

AECL Consortium: AECL (Canada), Hitachi (Japan), Itochu (Japan), Gama Endustri (Turkey), Guris Insaat (Turkey), Bayindir Insaat (Turkey), Ansoldo (Italy), Daiwoo (South Korea)

NPI Consortium: Siemens (Germany), Hochtief (Germany), Framatom (France), Gec-Alsthom (France), Campenon Bernard (France), Garanti-Koza Insaat (Turkey), Tekfen Insaat (Turkey).

[15] FOREST FIRES IN CANAKKALE - 240 HECTARES OF FOREST LAND DESTROYED

The A.A correspondent reported that 40 hectares of forest land burnt in the Kaynarca and Ilicabasi villages, 50 in Ozancik village of Can township, and 150 hectares in the Taban, Camoba, Sogucak, Ballicay, and Saricay villages of Yenice township.

A delegation led by vice governor of Canakkale Mehmet Cubuktar is carrying out investigations in the region. Officials said that two people were detained in connection with the forest fires.

[16] ROMANIAN BUSINESSMEN VISIT QUAKE REGION

Officials from Romania's 50 largest construction companies, Chairman of the Turkish-Romanian Trade and Industry Chamber Tamer Atalay, and Chairman of the Cenk Demir Inc. Executive Board Vefa Kücük paid a visit to Sefa Sirmen, Mayor of Izmit.

Tamer Atalay said that the access of the 50 largest construction companies into Turkey would be very beneficial for both parties, and added:

''We would like to take part in tenders for permanent housing units. The cost of our constructions will be very low, and the quality will be high. I believe that you should give us a chance to display our expertise.''

Sirmen replied by saying, ''we are ready to cooperate,'' and added:

''We attach great importance to permanent housing units, and we will be very happy to see you among the contractors in the next set of tenders.''

[17] NOTORIOUS HOOLIGANS INVOLVED IN MANY INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE

Here is an outlook of hooligan violence and their results:

-1974, Feyenoord: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was closed for 2 European Cup matches.

-1975, Paris: Leeds United was banned from European Cup games for 2 years.

-1977, Luxembourg: many houses, shops, and vehicles were vandalised.

-1980, Torino: British team was fined with 8,000 pounds.

-1981, Basel: Britain was fined with 60,000 pounds to recover material damage by hooligans.

-1983, Rotterdam: 30 people was injured.

-1984, Paris: Britain was fined with 800,000 pounds, one person was killed by gunfire.

-1985, Brussels: 39 people died in Heysel Stadium. All British soccer teams were banned from European Cup games indefinitely.

-1989, Hillsborough: 95 people died, at least 200 others were injured.

-1990, Italy: 200 hooligans were expelled from Rimini.

-1993, Holland: 1000 hooligans were detained, 100 were found guilty in connection with street fights in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

-1993, Istanbul: 133 hooligans were detained, 6 were arrested.

-1995, Dublin: match was cancelled on the 27th minute

-1997, Rome: 40 hooligans were arrested for plundering shops and offices.

-1998, Luxembourg: 100 hooligans were banned from the stadium.

-1999, Glasgow: 160 hooligans were arrested.

[18] PREMIER ECEVIT SAYS THEY WILL HAVE LEADERS' SUMMIT

Responding to the questions of the journalists, Ecevit said, ''the voting held at the parliament yesterday, indicated that the democratic rules are being applied in Turkey. The leaders of the coalition partner parties had different ideas, but we respect to the decision taken by the parliament. We will meet each other next week to evaluate the present situation.''

When asked whether the new presidency candidates will be chosen from the parliament or out of the parliament, Ecevit said, ''this is an issue which concerns the leaders of the coalition partner parties. We will convene in the beginning of next week. I think it is not correct to release a statement before that day.''

Rseponding a question on whether or not the Democratic Left Party (DSP) will nominate a candidate for presidency, Ecevit said that he does not want to talk about this issue at the moment.

When asked how this present situation will affect the economic stability, Ecevit said, ''we felt uneasy that the political and economic stability would be deteriorated. But, the government will exert all efforts to prevent this deterioration. The results of the voting will not affect the government.''

Responding a question on whether or not he is still uneasy about economic stability, Ecevit noted, ''we wish that we will not face any instability. The government has preserved the political and economic stability until today. We will do our best to prevent the deterioration from now on.''

When asked whether or not President Suleyman Demirel told him anything about his ideas to return back to active politics, Ecevit said that they did not discuss this issue.

[19] A.A

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