Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-04-21

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[01] AA News

21 April 2000 Friday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

DEMIREL CONGRATULATES GS
President Suleyman Demirel said ''we expect UEFA cup from Galatasaray which qualified to the final.'' President Demirel congratulated Galatasaray soccer team which beat Leeds United on Thursday night. Presidential Press Centre said President Demirel noted in his statement that ''our nation is very happy and proud of Galatasaray which qualified to the UEFA cub final for the first time as a Turkish team. I wish success for the team in the final match that will be held in Copenhagen.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

BRITISH HOOLIGANS START RUCKUS AGAIN
The bus carrying the Galatasaray supporters who have complimentary tickets was stoned on its way to the Elland Road Stadium in Leeds on Thursday. Leeds hooligans who gathered on a bridge rained stones on the bus which was also carrying Galatasaray managers and Football Federation officials breaking of the windows of the bus. Nobody was injured in the attack.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

23 APRIL CELEBRATED
The 23 April National Sovereignty and International Children Festival started to be celebrated in Istanbul by various activities. Meanwhile the first children congress will convene under the leadership of Istanbul Governor Erol Cakır between 26-27 June.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

EFES BECOMES THIRD IN FINAL FOUR
Efes Pilsen beat Spain's FC Barcelona 75-69 in Euro League Final-Four on Thursday and ranked third. Efes Pilsen also led 41-34 at half time. This is a great success of Efes Pilsen.

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

GREAT PROVOCATION IN ATHENS
A group of fanatic Greeks who raided the hotel where the Turkish business delegation stayed, burnt the Turkish flag. The group of 50 persons shouted slogans like ''Izmir and Istanbul are ours,'' and ''Turks Out of Greece.'' The Turkish business delegation went to Athens to participate in the Turkish-Greek Friendship Fair. Greek policemen only watched the events which took place around 20.00 local time.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[03] GALATASARAY MAKES HISTORY - GALATASARAY BECOMES FIRST TURKISH SOCCER TEAM TO REACH FINAL IN EURO CUPS

In the Turkish football history, Goztepe and Galatasaray had played semifinal but failed to qualify to the final in the past.

After failing to qualify to next round in Champions League, Galatasaray ranked third in its group and joined the UEFA Cup.

In the previous rounds, Galatasaray eliminated Italy's FC Bologna, Germany's BV Borussia Dortmund and Spain's Real Mallorca.

Galatasaray, this season, has still not received a defeat in its last ten matches in European competition.

Together with his goal in Leeds, Galatasaray's striker Hakan Sukur has scored 27 goals in European cups.

Meanwhile, Turkish private television channel Kanal D's cameraman Uygar Gurkan was attacked by British soccer fans in a clash erupted between British police and soccer fans.

British soccer fans broke the camera of Gurkan who was injured slightly in the attack.

BBC television reported that several people including Sky TV and two of its journalists had been injured in the violence.

[04] TURKEY CELEBRATES GALATASARAY'S SUCCESS

People rushed into streets carrying Turkish and Galatasaray flags in their hands to celebrate the victory of Galatasaray.

People in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Azerbaijan also celebrate Galatasaray's victory.

[05] TWO SLIGHT TREMORS IN BALIKESIR

Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Centre recorded the first quake at 23.02 local time on Thursday and 06.12 local time on Friday which measured 2.6 and 2.8 on the Richter scale.

[06] CHINESE PRESIDENT JIANG LEAVES TURKEY FOR GREECE

Jiang and his wife Wang Yeping were seen off by a military ceremony at Ataturk Airport attended by State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, Istanbul Mayor Erol Cakır and other officials.

[07] FOREIGN TRADE UNDERSECRETARY TUZMEN: ''GREECE IS AN IMPORTANT MARKET WITH AN INCOME OF 12,000 DOLLARS PER CAPITA''

The Turkish-Greek Friendship and Cooperation Fair which is held in Athens, has been the most concrete step taken to improve the cooperation between the businessmen of the two countries.

The private sector giants of Turkey including Koc, Enka, Eczacıbası and Yasar Holding, which took part in the fair, held various business contacts in Athens.

Greek businessmen said that they can undertake joint investments with Turkish businessmen first in Southeastern Europe and then in the Far East, adding certain Turkish businessmen can undertake the construction of some installations necessary for Olympiad Games of 2006 which will be held in Greece.

Greek side also proposed to make cooperation with Turkey in the sea trade.

Undersecretary of the Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen told A.A correspondent that Greece has to be considered as an important market with a national income of 12,000 dollars per capita.

''We have a trade volume of 710 million dollars with Greece at the moment. We should increase this amount to 2 billion dollars as soon as possible,'' said Tuzmen.

Tuzmen noted that Turkish private sector can sell qualified goods to Greece, particularly industrial products.

[08] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING STARTS

Yasar Okuyan, the Minister of Labour and Social Security will inform the cabinet about the draft he prepared to decrease the premium ratio of Social Security Authority (SSK) and Self-Employed Pension Fund (Bag-Kur).

Fevzi Aytekin, the Minister of Environment will inform the cabinet members about environmental problems in Nevsehir province.

The cabinet is also expected to take up the recent developments on the agenda of the country.

Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources told reporters before the meeting that today is the last day in the nuclear power station tender, adding the Turkish Electricity Production Inc. (TEAS) Executive Board will give a decision due to the reply that will be given by the Prime Ministry.

[09] PROFILE OF EXPORTS FROM GAP REGION

In the same period of the year, the export to the Commonwealth of Independent States rose 45.3 percent to 2 million 37 thousand U.S. dollars.

In the same period last year, the region exported 7 million 613 thousand U.S. dollars of agricultural products to East European countries and 1 million 402 thousand U.S. dollars of agricultural products to the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Officials at the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union, told the A.A correspondent on Friday that in the first three months of the year, they exported 9 million 436 thousand U.S. dollars in textiles; 43 thousand U.S. dollars in grain-cereals; and 826 thousand U.S. dollars in dried fruits to East European countries while they exported 1 million 436 thousand U.S. dollars in textiles; 413 thousand U.S. dollars in grain-cereals; and 188 thousand U.S. dollars in dried fruits to the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The majority of the goods were exported to Russia and Romania, and the Turkish goods in greatest demand were dried apricot, cotton thread, carpets, synthetic thread, plastic sack, textile and pistachio.

[10] ANAP BALIKESIR DEPUTY GUNER APPLIES FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION - GUNER SAYS HE WON'T WITHDRAW EVEN IF YILMAZ OF ANAP BECOMES A CANDIDATE

Guner submitted his petition for candidacy to the Parliament the same day.

The applications for presidential election started on April 16, and the first candidate was Mehmet Ali Buyukerman, a deputy of the Democratic Left Party (DSP).

Staging a press conference at the Parliament, Agah Oktay Guner said, ''I have applied for the candidacy without any shadow on me.''

Guner said that the Presidency was a mission which bore serious and important responsibilities.

''The political party leader's efforts to solve the issue is a strangeness while there are many deserving competent people in the Parliament who can fulfil this duty. Groups do not take decision on presidential election but the members of parliament act on their free will. Expending efforts to make some guidings by ignoring the free will failed in the first phase, and besides, the second phase seems to create chaos,'' he said.

Stressing that the President should be neutral in accordance with the Constitution so there shouldn't be any political bargaining, Guner said that he put himself for this mission by relying on the free will of the members of the parliament out of such bargainings.

Guner added that he would not withdraw even if Mesut Yilmaz of the ANAP became a candidate.

Agah Oktay Guner was born in Bayburt province in the Black Sea region in 1937. After graduating from the Ankara University Faculty of Law, Guner continued his education at the Turkish and Middle East Institute of Public Administration, French Planning Superior School and Sorbonne University.

Guner later served as a director at the State Planning Organization, Ankara Chamber of Commerce and Turkish Institude of Standards.

Guner who also served as the Trade Ministry Undersecretary entered the Parliament in 1977 elections as a Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputy, and served as the Trade Minister of the coalition government.

Guner was tried in the case opened against the MHP after the military coup on September 12, 1980 but he was acquitted.

Guner continued his political life when he was elected as a deputy of ANAP from Konya province in 1995. Guner became a senior aide of the ANAP leader, and served as the Culture Minister in the ANAP-DSP-Democratic Turkey Party (DTP) coalition government.

Guner was elected as a ANAP deputy from Balikesir province in the 1999 general elections.

Guner wrote a plenty of books in fields of politics and social life, economy.

Guner is married and has five children.

[11] SPORTS - WRESTLING - INTERNATIONAL YOUNG MEN'S GRAECO-ROMAN AND FREE STYLE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS START IN ANTALYA

A total of 67 wrestlers from 8 countries are competing in the free-style while 113 wrestlers from 13 countries are competing in the graeco-roman.

A total of 64 Turkish wrestlers are representing Turkey in the championships.

[12] MEETING OF COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ENDS

State Minister and Government Spokesman Tunca Toskay staged a press conference after the meeting.

Toskay said that the cabinet had decided to seek special measures for the general census on October 22, 2000 especially in the quake zone.

Toskay said the Council of Ministers had decided to implement a 25 percent increase in payment of Social Security Authority (SSK) and Social Security Agency for Artisans and Self-Employed (Bag-Kur) premiums.

Toskay stated that the cabinet had decided to discuss and open to signature the draft laws on sale of 20 percent of Vakifbank Group B shares.

Responding to a question, the Government Spokesman said that the issues of tender for a nuclear power plant in Akkuyu and ban on music at resorts after midnight were not discussed in the meeting.

[13] CEREMONIES TO TAKE PLACE IN JAPAN TO COMMEMORATE CREW OF ERTUGRUL WARSHIP

The General Staff issued Friday a statement and said that the Turgutreis Frigate would depart from Golcuk on April 25.

It said the Turgutreis Frigate would visit Portsaid port of Egypt, Djibouti port of Djibouti, Madras port of India, Singapore port of Singapore, Kobe, Kushimoto and Tokyo ports of Japan, Port Kelang of Malaysia, and Aqaba port of Jordan during her cruising.

Turgutreis Frigate will return to Turkey on July 17, 2000.

While returning from her friendship visit to Japan, the Ertugrul Warship hit the rocks in Oshima Cape on September 18, 1890 and sank.

In the accident, 587 Turkish crew lost their lives.

[14] PROSECUTOR INDICTS TERRORIST OSMAN OCALAN, BROTHER OF HEAD OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

The indictment prepared by the Diyarbakir DGM Chief Prosecutor's Office said that ''Huseyin-Ferhat'' code-named suspect Osman Ocalan's aim was ''to set up a Kurdish state based on Marxist-Leninist principles by separating a part of the territories of Turkey through armed struggle'', and he was a member of the so-called central committee of the terrorist PKK organization which killed tens of thousands of innocent people and security personnel with its acts of violence throughout Turkey.

The indictment said suspect Osman Ocalan was directly responsible for the terrorist PKK's actions as a result of his contributions to the terrorist organization's strategy.

The indictment said suspect Osman Ocalan had earlier worked as the terrorist PKK's leading official in Iran and Libya, and later he had organized terrorist actions as the top official responsible for Haftanin, Zeli, and Hakurk camps in Northern Iraq where the PKK terrorists received training.

The indictment sought capital punishment to suspect Osman Ocalan in accordance with Article 125 of the Turkish Penal Code.

[15] COALITION PARTNERS TO CONVENE ON SATURDAY

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP); Devlet Bahceli, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of State and leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP); and Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), will convene at 02:00 p.m. at the Prime Ministry Office.

The leaders summit is expected to focus on presidential elections.

[16] ENERGY MINISTER SAYS TENDER FOR AKKUYU NUCLEAR POWER PLANT COULD BE POSTPONED FOR THREE MONTHS

The deadline for submitting bids for the tender ended as of today.

Speaking to reporters, Ersumer said, ''if the finalization of the stability program is taken into consideration, the nuclear power plant tender has to be postponed for three months.''

Ersumer stated that he had received a document on the nuclear power plant from the Prime Ministry and they conveyed this document to the General Directorate of Turkish Electricity Production and Distribution Corp (TEAS).

''The document sent by the Prime Ministry says that priority of the stability program and expectation of the results of the borrowing program are at our discretion. I conveyed the document to the TEAS Directorate General. I hope that also TEAS will take this document into consideration, '' he said.

''As far as I understood, a new postponement is in question. First of all, the performance till April will be evaluated, and the first two quarters will be taken up. I think the TEAS Directorate General will postpone the tender within these limits,'' he said.

[17] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN ALGERIA - TURKEY-ALGERIA COOPERATION AGREEMENT SIGNED

According to the state-run Algerian News Agency (APS), Cem and Yousfi signed an official report on the bilateral co-operation, at the end of their talks at the El-Mithak residence in Algiers.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Cem said, ''we agreed to develop economic co-operation and we agreed for an action plan to promote the relations between the two countries.''

Meanwhile, Youcef Yousfi noted, ''Turkey possesses a considerable industrial potential, a know-how and a high technology. We are expecting that Turkish companies will seize the opportunities that are currently present in order to form an economic and industrial partnership in all fields.''

Responding to a question about the position of Algeria as for the accession of Turkey at the European Union (EU), Yousfi declared, ''I am glad that the Europeans have overcame a certain numbers of psychological hindrances so that Turkey can adhere to the European Union.''

During their talks, Cem and Yousfi discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and Turkish-Algerian commercial cooperation.

In addition, the two parts adopted an action plan to promote the relations between the two countries. For this purpose, they decided to gather the Joint Committee of the Turkish-Algerian cooperation in Algiers before the end of the year.

They also decided to gather the Turkish-Algerian Business Council in Istanbul between May 29-30.

The two parts also agreed to gather the experts of both ministries in charge of culture and to develop partnership in the fields of transport and communications, in particular as regards maritime transport.

[18] EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 5,2 ON RICHTER SCALE JOLTS DENIZLI

Officials at the Istanbul-based Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Seismology Institute told the A.A correspondent that the earthquake was centered on Honaz township of the province.

[19] DOMESTIC BORROWING STOCK AS OF MARCH REACHES 26.6 QUADRILLION TURKISH LIRAS

The Treasury Undersecretariat issued a statement on Friday and said that the domestic borrowing stock had been 22 quadrillion 920 trillion 145 billion TL at the end of 1999.

The total domestic borrowing stock was composed of 24 quadrillion 881 trillion 145 billion TL of debenture bonds issue and 1 quadrillion 797 trillion 999 billion TL.

The domestic borrowing stock as of the end of 1999 and March 2000 is as follows:

. END OF 1999 MARCH 2000
. (BILLION TL)
-------------- ------------ -----------
Debenture Bond 19.683.392 24.881.145

-Cash 16.960.758 21.763.250

-Non-Cash 2.722.634 3.117.896

Bonds 3.236.753 1.797.999

Advance 0 0

Currency Difference 0 0

TOTAL 22.920.145 26.679.144
Guaranteed Borowing 84.903 72.008

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[20] POWERFUL EARTHQUAKE JOLTS DENIZLI (2)

The quake which was felt in a vast area, sent people out to the streets in panic.

Communication was cut in the township due to the quake.

Schools were evacuated immediatly.

Officials told the A.A correspondent that some buildings were slightly damaged in the quake.

Damage assessment works are underway in Honaz.

[21] ''ISTANBUL-PARIS FRIENDSHIP'' AGREEMENT SIGNED

Addressing the signing ceremony, Gurtuna said Gurtuna said he believed the agreement would be beneficial for both cities.

''The agreement we have signed with the Paris Municipality covers the fields of social life, culture, sports events, tourism, urban planning, economic development and youth,'' he said.

Gurtuna said the agreement also included mutual training of personnel, restoration of buildings and urbanization.

''I wish the agreement will be beneficial for both Istanbul and Paris. We will implement good projects in both cities. I think the works for our cities will serve the humanity,'' he said.

Paris Deputy Mayor Picourt said in his part that, ''we are pleased with signing this agreement which will contribute to our works.''

Noting that there were many things for Istanbul and Paris administrations to learn from each other, Picourt said that they planned to hold a meetings between the Mayors of Istanbul and Paris in the shortest time frame.

[22] A 3.7-MAGNITUDE AFTERSHOCK FOLLOWS MAJOR QUAKE IN DENIZLI

Officials at the Istanbul-based Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Seismology Institute told the A.A correspondent that the aftershock which was centered on Honaz township, occurred at 03:29 p.m.

[23] SUPREME BOARD OF PRIVATIZATION APPROVES SALE OF POAS

Within the framework of the OYK's approval, 51 percent of POAS shares was decided to be sold to the Is Bankasi-Dogan Holding consortium in return for 1 billion 260 million U.S. dollars.

[24] ''TURKEY OVERCOMES INFLATION'' CAMPAIGN - NATIONAL MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AGAINST INFLATION: - ''PARTICIPATION OF OUR CITIZENS IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST INFLATION WILL ACCELERATE DECREASE IN INFLATION''

The national memorandum of understanding was signed on Friday by President Suleyman Demirel.

The document stressed, ''it was revealed that Turkey could not maintain its economic and social development in an atmosphere of high inflation. The pre- condition to increase level of prosperity in Turkey, decreasing the rate of inflation. Participation of our citizens in the struggle against inflation will accelerate decrease in inflation.''

''The State will protect social justice principles in structural reforms and will be sensitive to warnings and proposals of the society. We as all non-governmental organizations, media, universities and citizens, will monitor and supervise developments in the State's struggle against inflations and its applications in the structural reforms within framework of the laws,'' the document emphasized.

Meanwhile, web-sites, e-mail addresses, information lines, communication bureaus have been formed for the Struggle Against Inflation Campaign.

[25] EIGHT PEOPLE DETAINED IN OPERATION AGAINST ILLEGAL DHKP-C

Officials said they were informed that the illegal DHKP-C organization was planning to provoke the Workers' Day on May 1, and those eight people including two doctors, two nurses and two civil servants were planning to stage bomb attacks on public buildings in Ankara.

These illegal DHKP-C members were sent to the Ankara State Security Court (DGM) after their interrogation.

[26] GREECE CONDEMNS DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST TURKEY

Staging a press conference, Reppas stressed that the demonstration which was held by a small group, did not reflect true feelings of the Greek people.

Underlining the importance of showing respect to the flag that is a national symbol of every country, Reppas emphasized that setting fire on flags was contrary to Greece's national interests.

A group of nearly 30 people had held a demonstration in front of the Intercontinental Hotel where a group of Turkish businessmen who came to Greece to attend Turkish-Greek Businessmen meeting, were staying. They had set on fire a Turkish flag.

The demonstrators were identified as members of the illegal and extreme rightist Hrisi Avgi (Golden Dawn) organization.

After Greek police dispersed the group, the Turkish businessmen hoisted the Turkish flag again.

[27] DEMIRBANK OPENS BRANCH OFFICES IN VARNA AND COLOGNE

Demirbank issued a statement and said that the number of group's branch offices abroad reached 18.

Noting that the group's target was to increase this number to 33 at the end of the year, the statement said a total of 567 people were employed at those 18 branch offices of which total capital was 87 million U.S. dollars.

[28] A.A

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