Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-04-16

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[01] AA News

16 April 2000 Sunday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

DENKTAS:I AM NOT SURE ABOUT MY WIFE'S VOTE
The people in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) cast votes yesterday to elect their new president who will govern the country for five years. Independent candidate Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) had 43.67 percent and National Unity Party's candidate Premier Dervis Eroglu gained 30.14 percent of the votes cast in the presidential election held in TRNC on Saturday. As none of the candidates had more than 50 percent of the votes, a second round will be held between Denktas and Eroglu on April 22. Meanwhile Rauf Denktas said that ''I am not sure about my wife's vote as she wants to see me near her rather than seeing me in office.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

TENDENCY IN SUMMIT
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit met with both coalition and opposition leaders yesterday. Later he received General Huseyin Kıvrıkoglu, the Chief of General Staff. Mesut Yılmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) summed up the situation: ''the tendency of the summit is to elect the president from the parliament and to elect him/her in the first round.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

OPPOSITION:A PERSON OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT CAN BE CANDIDATE
Recai Kutan, the leader of the Virtue Party (FP) said that ''our priority is to elect the president from the parliament,'' adding they don't insist on that and if the conditions change, a candidate outside the parliament can also be chosen.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

POLISH PRESIDENT'S VISIT TO TURKEY
Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski, who is currently in Turkey for an official visit, left Ankara for western province of Izmir yesterday and visited House of Virgin Mary and Ephesus ancient city there.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

PEOPLE VOTE FOR CEM
While political parties search for an honest and democrat president, the public surveys show that many people want to see Foreign Minister Ismail Cem as the president.

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

AMERICAN FISCAL CIRCLES' MESSAGE TO TURKEY
The Turkish delegation explained the three-month results of the economic programme implemented in Turkey. American fiscal circles told the delegation that ''if you implement the programme without any concessions, you won't need to apply to IMF once again.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[03] PREMIER ECEVIT: - ''CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENCY WILL BE NOMINATED AS OF SUNDAY''

Following his meeting with Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff, Ecevit told reporters that they had a very beneficial meeting and that Kivrikoglu expressed his expectations about the presidential elections.

Ecevit reminded reporters that he met with the leaders of the opposition parties and that these meetings were all beneficial.

He later met with the leaders of the ruling parties and informed them about his meetings with the opposition leaders, Ecevit noted.

Responding to the questions of the journalists on what Kivrikoglu's expectations are, Ecevit said, ''they are the expectations of a distinguished commander who wants the best for Turkey and who knows Turkey's problems.''

Responding to another question, Ecevit said that the parliament will start to receive the names of the candidates on Sunday.

Ecevit said, ''the candidates will be determined by elimination. I cannot give details at the moment.''

Ecevit noted that they did not mention a name for presidency during his contacts.

When asked whether or not Kivrikoglu mentioned a name for the presidency, Ecevit said, ''no.''

Responding to another question, Ecevit noted that they will start to learn the candidates as people start running their candidacies.

Ecevit added that they can hold a leaders' summit on Monday.

[04] PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS - APPLICATIONS START FOR CANDIDACY

The first candidate has been Mehmet Mail Buyukerman, a deputy from the Democratic Left Party (DSP).

When journalists asked him if he got the approval of his leader Bulent Ecevit, Buyukerman said ''we are a democratic party. Mr. Ecevit can understand me and this is a constitutional right. As people has the right to be sick, they also have the right to be a candidate.''

Under Article 101 of the Constitution which determines the qualifications and impartiality of the president, it says that ''The President shall be elected for a term of office of seven years by the parliament from its own members who are over 40 years of age and who have completed their higher education or from Turkish citizens who fulfil these requirements and are eligible to be deputies.''

The nomination of a candidate for the Presidency of the Republic from outside the parliament shall require a written proposal by at least one- fifth (110 deputies) of the total number of deputies. The President of the Republic can't be elected for a second time.

The application to the Parliament's Speaker's Office for candidacy will end at 24.00 local time on April 25.

The Parliamentary Advisory Board will convene and determine the date of voting. Under the Constitution, there shall be at least a three-day interval between the ballots and the election will be completed between April 26-May 15, 2000.

In the first two ballots, candidates should gain a two-thirds majority of the total number of members (367 votes). If this can't be obtained, a third ballot shall be held and the candidate who receives the absolute majority of votes shall be elected. If this is not the case, a fourth ballot will be held between the two candidates who receive the greatest number of votes in the third ballot. One candidate needs 276 votes to be elected as the president. If the president can't elected also in this ballot, the parliamentary elections will be immediately re-held.

[05] POLISH PRESIDENT KWASNIEWSKI VISITS HOUSE OF VIRGIN MARY

Kwasniewski received information about the House of Virgin Mary from the priests.

Then, Kwasniewski lit a candle and prayed. He also signed the honorary book in House of Virgin Mary.

Later, Kwasniewski proceeded to Ancient Ephesus Site.

Kwasniewski received information from Cengiz Icten, one of the archeologists of the Ephesus Museum.

After visiting the Ephesus, Kwasniewski and the accompanying delegation proceeded to Kusadasi township of the Aegean Region.

Kwasniewski participated in the dinner given in his honour by Muharrem Goktayoglu, the Aydin Governor, on Saturday night.

Polish President Kwasniewski got sick in the dinner.

Ilhan Yigitbasioglu, the Foreign Ministry Protocol General Director, told A.A correspondent that Kawasniewski's nose bled and that the doctor immediately started medical treatment.

Yigitbasioglu said that Kwasniewski's health was fine after 15 minutes.

Kwasniewski and the accompanying delegation stayed in Kusadasi on Saturday night.

[06] NAVAL FORCES COMMANDERS OF COUNTRIES HAVING COASTS TO BLACK SEA TO CONVENE IN ISTANBUL

General Secretariat of the Naval Forces Commandership said on Saturday that the third meeting of the ''Black Sea Naval Forces Commanders'' will be held in Istanbul. The first of the meeting was held in Romania and the second one was held in Bulgaria.

Besides Turkey, the naval forces commanders of Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania and Ukraine and the Russian Black Sea Fleet Commander will participate in the meeting.

Albanian, Azerbaijanian and Greek naval forces commanders, Italian fleet commander, NATO South European Allied Forces Commander and NATO South European Naval Forces Commander will be present in the meeting as observers.

General Huseyin Kıvrıkoglu, the Chief of General Staff will attend the morning session of the meeting on April 20 as the honourary guest and issue a speech.

Meanwhile TCG Barboras frigate of Turkish fleet and war ships of Russia, Ukraine and Romania will visit Istanbul port.

Experts will continue to work on the Black Sea Naval Cooperation Mission Group (BLACKSEAFOR) draft agreement. The countries aim at improving the confidence among them and to improve the cooperation among naval forces.

The Black Sea Naval forces commanders will discuss the measures that can be taken to improve the relations between the naval forces of their countries during the meeting.

[07] U.S. CLOSELY WATCHES TRNC PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Sources said that although the U.S. didn't officially recognize the TRNC, it closely monitors the developments there and the second round of the election that would be held.

Sources stressed that the important thing for the U.S. is the rapid advancement started within the framework of U.N. for the solution of the Cyprus question.

The U.S. administration is ready to make cooperation with the new president during the third round of the proximity talks that is foreseen to start in New York on May 23, sources added.

[08] STATE MINISTER ONAL: - ''WE TOLD WORLD BANK AND IMF OFFICIALS THAT WE CAN REALIZE 10 BILLION U.S. DOLLAR PRIVATIZATION THIS YEAR''

Onal, who is in Washington D.C. for the spring term meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, told A.A correspondent that this means that Turkey can exceed this year's privatization target which is 7.6 billion U.S. dollar.

He separately met with Stanley Fisher, the Acting IMF Chairman, James Wolfensohn, the Governor of the World Bank, and Johannes Linn, the Deputy Governor of the World Bank, Onal noted.

Onal stated that they explained the developments in economic policy in their meetings and that the IMF and World Bank officials found the economic developments positive.

''They had some drawbacks of Turkey's privatization policy but these drawbacks ended following the last Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) tender,'' Onal said.

Onal stressed that he, Wolfensohn and Linn discussed the structural reforms and that they committed to accelerate the reforms like the agricultural sale cooperatives and the liquidation of the funds.

He and the World Bank officials also took up the independent audit reports of the banks which were transferred to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund and the rehabilitation of these banks, Onal emphasized.

Onal said that they told the officials that there was a slow down in the implementation of the reports due to the constitutional amendment discussions but that they will implement the reforms rapidly.

''World Bank Governor Wolfensohn will come to Turkey between May 25 and 27 and meet with Premier Bulent Ecevit. He will examine the projects in Anatolia which are supported by the World Bank. Wolfensohn wants to see how the quake loan given to Turkey, operates. Also, he said that he can have a holiday in the touristic regions of Turkey,'' Onal added.

Onal noted that they discussed banking with Stanley Fischer and that Fischer gave priority to the foreign currency policy.

Fischer told him that the Turkish Lira's gaining value in the short term is not that much important for the policy which is being implemented and that it is obligatory to look at the averages, Onal stated.

Onal stressed that Fischer welcomed the transparency policy and that he requested this policy to be continued.

Fischer is also pleased about the formation of the Banking Regulation and Audit Board, Onal added.

[09] EIGHT SHIPS OF NATO MEDITERRANEAN PERMANENT NAVAL FORCE TO ANCHOR AT MARMARIS HARBOUR

The Naval Forces Commandership said on Saturday that eight ships will visit Marmaris within the framework of the ''Eastern Mediterranean/2000 Invitation Maneouvres.''

The Mediterranean Permanent Naval Force was formed in 1992 and it is one of the instantaneous reaction forces of NATO.

The Permanent Naval Force which is formed by the ships of the ally countries, took mission in the NATO operation carried out in Adriatic.

Also, the Permanent Naval Force participated in many operations of NATO, Partnership For Peace, and Invitation Maneouvres.

The citizens can visit eight NATO frigates between April 19 and 20, 2000.

[10] GALATASARY COACH TERIM LEAVES FOR BRITAIN

Prior to his departure, Terim told reporters that he will have the opportunity to watch Leeds United and Arsenal, which will be the possible rival of Galatarasaray if Galatasaray qualifies to the finals.

When asked whether or not he has taken measures against the reactions of Leeds United's fans, Terim said, ''I am a footballer. I am going to Britain in the name of football. I am going there in the name of technique. The Brits also know this.''

''We are sportsmen. We are in favour of peace. We are not in favour of fight. But, I am ready for reactions. Maybe they can feel better if they react to me. And, when the players go to Britain, the tension will have been over,'' Terim added.

[11] TURKEY WINS ONLY ONE MEDAL IN EUROPEAN WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Mehmet Ozal, in 97 kilos, became the bronze medalist.

Serkan Ozden, in 85 kilos, was defeated by Andrei Batura of Belarus by 7-3 in the last day of the championship which is being held in Moscow.

Erkan Dundar, in 58 kilos, was among the eliminated wrestlers since he could not take on with Armen Nazaryan of Bulgaria in the quarter finals as he was injured.

No Turkish wrestlers will participate in the final matches which will be held on Sunday evening.

[12] PREFABRICATED CLASSROOMS OPENED IN DUZCE WITH CONTRIBUTIONS OF WIFE OF GERMAN CONSUL-GENERAL TO IZMIR

Eight classrooms were constructed in the garden of Avni Akyol Elementary School.

Eyup Sener, the headmaster of the school, thanked Unger for being beside themselves in their hard days.

Ferdinand Tome, a representative of the German Embassy in Ankara, said that such assistance is the evidence that the Germans are always beside the Turkish people.

Tome noted that Germany needed assistance many years ago and that Turkey was among the countries which played an important role in the development of Germany.

[13] TRNC YSK ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL RESULTS OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

The distribution of the votes is listed below:

Rauf Denktas ....................... 42,820 (43.67 percent)

Dervis Eroglu ...................... 29,555 (30.14 percent)

Mustafa Akinci ..................... 11,469 (11.70 percent)

Mehmet Ali Talat ................... 9,834 (10.03 percent)

Arif Hasan Tahsin .................. 2,545 (2.60 percent)

Sener Levent ....................... 899 (0.92 percent)

Turgut Afsaroglu ................... 553 (0.56 percent)

Ayhan Kaymak ....................... 369 (0.38 percent)

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Salih Dayioglu, the Chairman of the YSK, told A.A correspondent that since none of the candidates won 51 percent of the votes in the elections held on Saturday, another round of elections will be held between Rauf Denktas, the independent candidate who received the highest rate of votes, and Dervis Eroglu, the candidate of the National Unity Party, on April 22, 2000.

[14] TURKISH-POLISH BUSINESS COUNCIL MEETING - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''TURKEY AND POLAND ARE TWO PARTNERS WHICH SHARE THE SAME DESTINY IN CONSTRUCTION OF NEW EUROPE''

Speaking in the Turkish-Polish Business Council meeting held in Ceylan Intercontinantel Hotel in Istanbul, Demirel said that both countries share common economic and political visions due to their membership in Europe and Europe-Atlantic structure.

Turkey and Poland have similar structural problems and both countries take important steps to be in harmony with European economy, stressed Demirel. ''Full membership to the EU which will be realized soon will create bright opportunities for businessmen of the two countries,'' said Demirel.

Demirel said that Turkey is the only candidate country which has customs deal with EU, adding ''Turkey's economy has shown its power to be in harmony with the EU economy in the last five years. Turkey was able to increase its trade volume in a consederable extent in spite of the global economic crisis. Turkey comes the first in OECD countries with the annual growth rate of 5 percent during the last 30 years. Turkish businessmen played a leading role in this success of the Turkey's economy.''

Demirel said that Poland improved the liberalization efforts in trade and investment and it is an attractive place for foreign capital.

The direct foreign investments reached 30 billion dollars in the last five years, said President Demirel and added that they encourage Turkish firms to increase their economic activities in Poland.

''The trade volume between our countries reached 300 million dollars in 1999. Nearly 700 Turkish businessmen work in Poland. The majority of the agreements which constitute the legal framework of the economic cooperation has been completed. I would like to say that the Free Trade Agreement which is very important will enter into force on May 1, 2000. This agreement will diversify the relations among our businessmen and help in reaching the goal of 1 billion dollars of trade volume between the two countries,'' Demirel said.

Turkish construction companies undertake many projects in the Balkans, Middle East and Central Asia, said President Demirel and pointed out that Turkish construction companies will find opportunities to realize the Polish projects worth of 45 billion dollars.

President Demirel said that Turkish and Polish construction companies can undertake common investment in highway construction and NATO infrastructure projects in Poland and in third countries.

[15] POLISH PRESIDENT KWASNIEWSKI: - ''POLAND AND TURKEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CLOSE TO EACH OTHER DESPITE THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES''

Speaking in the ''Turkish-Polish Business Council Meeting'', Kwasniewski noted that Poland is in the 50th place in Turkey's imports and that he believes there are many things to be done in this field.

The cooperation should be improved and increased, Kwasniewski stated.

Kwasniewski stressed that there are many cooperation opportunities in energy and that they can have cooperation in Turkey's transportation infrastructure, especially the modernization and enlargement of the railway network.

The mining and ship construction are the other fields in which they can have cooperation, Kwasniewski emphasized.

Kwasniewski said that by having cooperation, the dynamic cooperation between 1970s and 1980s can be caught up.

He believes that success can be marked in joint investments made in Poland, Turkey, and third countries, especially the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Kwasniewski noted.

Kwasniewski stated that Poland and Turkey are allies within the framework of NATO since last year and that this alliance paved the way to closer relations in weapon industry.

Despite the global crisis, Poland's economy is in good condition, Kwasniewski stressed.

Kwasniewski emphasized that the reforms which are being implemented since the beginning of 1990s, are beneficial and that the foreign investments in Poland reached 40 billion U.S. dollars between 1990 and 1999.

The international globalization process is gaining momentum, Kwasniewski said.

Kwasniewski added that the realistic partners who arise confidence and credibility, will gain in this process and that he hopes Turkey and Poland will be such partners.

[16] 107 KG HEROIN SEIZED IN ISTANBUL

The Istanbul Narcotics Directorate said that the security forces formed a check point in Bahcelievler district of Istanbul.

A car which realized that there was a check point in the road, changed its way and the police started to follow this car, the Directorate noted.

The Directorate stated that the driver stopped the car and tried to run away but the police captured the driver.

When the security forces searched the car, they confiscated 107 kilograms of heroin, the Directorate stressed.

The Directorate added that the efforts to capture four persons who were involved in the drug smuggling, are underway.

A total of 108 kilograms of heroin, 500 grams of hashish, 100 grams of cocaine and 500 drugs were seized in Istanbul in a week.

The domestic market price of the drugs is 2 trillion Turkish liras and the foreign market price of them is 3 trillion Turkish liras.

[17] ICTEN, ARCHEOLOGIST OF EPHESUS MUSEUM: - ''WE HAVE GAINED EVIDENCE AND DOCUMENTS PROVING THAT THERE WAS A STRONG JEWISH SOCIETY IN THE EPHESUS''

Icten noted that the documents wrote that there was a synagogue in the Ephesus but that they have not yet excavated such a construction.

They have not lost their hope and that the searches continue, Icten stated.

Icten stressed that they have found two basins in Ephesus similar to the stone basins which were situated beside the synagogue found in ancient Sardes site.

''But, the other constructions which are complementary constructions for the synagogues, have not been found yet. We have only found the menorah, the holy candelabrum of the Jews having seven branches, in an inscription seized in the stairs of Celsus Library and inscription warehouse. We have also found a tombstone which was written in Hebrew, near Ephesus,'' Icten said.

Icten emphasized that the history of Western Anatolia Jews goes back to fourth century B.C. and that the documents said that a synagogue was constructed in second century B.C.

The Western Anatolia Jewish society was formed in 1605, Icten said.

Icten continued, ''Izmir was known for being the center of the high-level Jewish training in 19th century. Izmir was considered as a small Jerusalem those years. The number of Jews had reached 50,000. To this end, it is obvious and definite that Jews lived in the Ephesus.''

The Israeli people should be informed about this, Icten said.

Icten added that thousands of Jews can visit Ephesus.

[18] 688,401 FOREIGNERS VISIT TURKEY IN FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 2000

In accordance with the figures of the State Statistics Institute (DIE), German, Romanian and Bulgarian citizens stood in the first three place in the list of the people visiting Turkey.

A total of 92,414 Germans, 79,945 Romanians and 24,551 Bulgarians visited Turkey in the first three months.

Turkey hosted many people from European countries in the mentioned period.

The share of the European countries in the distribution of visitors is 25.4 percent, that of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is 18.8 percent, that of the Asian countries is 15.1 percent and that of the African countries is 2.2 percent.

[19] SUKUR, A GALATASARAY FOOTBALLER: - ''WE SHARE PAIN OF LEEDS''

Prior to the match which will be played between Galatasaray and Leeds United in Britain, the Times interviewed with Sukur.

The Times wrote that Sukur said Turkish nation felt great sorrow over the tragedy in Istanbul but that assuming the whole nation as responsible for this tragedy, cannot be accepted.

The Times also wrote that Sukur said they were affected by the tragedy and that the Galatasaray footballers were in pain and stress as much as the footballers of the Leeds United.

The daily said that Hakan tried not to hurt a Brit when he was being interviewed.

[20] A.A

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