Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-05-09

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AA News

09 May 2000 Tuesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] BUSINESSMEN OF IZMIR VISIT THE U.S

[03] SOMUNCUOGLU'S DISMISSAL FROM MHP

[04] EUROPEAN BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP -TURKISH NATIONALS TO TAKE MAJOR TEST IN FINLAND PRIOR TO OLYMPIC GAMES

[05] NARCOTIC TEAMS SEIZE 50 KILOS OF MORPHINE IN IGDIR

[06] TOURISM MINISTRY AND IZMIR GOVERNORSHIP JOINTLY PREPARE CD-ROM WHICH COVERS IZMIR'S 5,000 YEAR HISTORY

[07] AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR BLOOMS IN SPRING MONTHS

[08] FIRST INTERNATIONAL THEATER FESTIVAL OF COUNTRIES SHARING BLACK SEA COASTS TO BE HELD IN TRABZON

[09] GENDARME TEAMS AND BORDER OFFICIALS CATCH 4,352 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN EDIRNE IN LAST FOUR MONTHS

[10] TENDER FOR ANKARA-ISTANBUL RAILROAD REHABILITATION PROJECT

[11] BLACK SEA COAST GUARD COMMANDERS CONVENE IN ISTANBUL

[12] PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT SAYS CAPTURE OF MUMCU'S KILLERS INCREASED PEOPLE'S TRUST TO STATE

[13] FAITH TOURISM IN TRABZON

[14] INVESTIGATION OF MUMCU ASSASSINATION -PREMIER ECEVIT AND INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN NOT GIVE INFORMATION ABOUT DETAILS OF INVESTIGATION

[15] NATION-WIDE OPERATIONS CONTINUE -15 PEOPLE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INCREASES BY 3,2 PERCENT
Industrial production increased by 3,2 percent in the first three months of this year. In last year's same period, there had been a record decrease by 9,6 percent. According to the State Statistics Authority figures, there was an increase by 1 percent in March 2000 as compared to March 1999. Production of the industrial sector increased by 2,7 in January 2000, and by 6 percent in February. The March figures indicate that there has been an increase by 1,5 percent as compared to the previous month.

SOMUNCUOGLU DISMISSED
Sadi Somuncuoglu, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputy, who had challenged his party colleagues by saying ''dismiss me, I shall not resign'' in the wake of a conflict with them over his candidacy for presidential elections, was dismissed on Monday. Upon a request by MHP leader and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit proposed to President Suleyman Demirel, that Somuncuoglu be dismissed. Demirel approved of the proposal and gave instructions for Somuncuoglu's dismissal from his post as a State Minister.

PROSECUTOR PRESENT AT INTERROGATION
State Security Court Prosecutor Hamza Keles, Ankara Police Chief Kemal Iskender, and a team from the National Intelligence Agency (MIT) are attending the interrogations of the suspects of the Mumcu assassination case. The MIT is making an assessment of the possible connections with Iran, as well as of the training that the suspects have said they had received while at camps in Iran. Ankara Police Chief Kemal Iskender said that the interrogations could last for a week, or even longer, and that they would make use of their right of extending the term of detention of the suspects in order not to miss any point.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

CAKICI: ''PUNISH ME''
Alaattin Cakici, the mafia leader who stood trial on Monday at Istanbul's State Security Court no. 6, told the jury, ''Punish me, I bow before any sentence you shall give. If I remain unpunished, the media will chase after you.'' Cakici, tried on the charge of setting up and leading a gang, stood trial together with Mukerrem Selcuk, Faruk Bayram Ozaslan, Sinan Zembil, and Mustafa Bingol. Adnan Cicek, the alleged orchestrator and organiser of Cakici's instructions did not attend the hearing, and the case was thus adjourned to a later date.

TURKISH AND CUBAN PEOPLES UNITE
The Cuban Caricatures Exhibition, organised jointly by the caricaturists' associations of Turkey and Cuba, opens on Tuesday at Ankara's 'Gallery of Modern Arts'. The caricatures of Cuban artists will be on exhibit in Turkey, and shortly after the closing of this exhibition, the works of Turkish caricaturists will be introduced to Cubans. The mutual exhibition will be the first of an annual event. It will open at 18.00 hours local time on Tuesday, and will last until May 13.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

DEMIREL'S BLACK LIST
President Suleyman Demirel, in his last week at the Presidential Palace, sent fairwell letters to presidents of 80 countries. He left Qaddafi, Essad, and Saddam out of his list. Demirel addressed to the presidents either as ''Dear Friend'' or ''Mr. President''. Only in his letter to U.S. President Bill Clinton, Demirel wrote ''Dear Bill''. He excluded Qaddafi for insulting Turkey, Essad for supporting PKK, and Saddam Hussein as he is boycotted by the western world.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

THERE IS AZAD UNDER EVERY STONE
Former Iranian Deputy Consul General in Istanbul, Muhsin Karger Azad who is claimed to be one of the perpetrators of Mumcu assasination was also involved in the killing of Cetin Emec. Azad is one of the top names in Mumcu assasination. The assasination attempt against Matilda Manukyan was also planned by Azad. Azad's name was previously mentioned during the interrogation of Irfan Cagirici who is the suspect of Cetin Emec.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

COLOR OF PASSION AND BETRAYAL
The gala of 'Samson and Delilah', the famous operawork of Camille Saint-Saens takes place this evening at 20.00 hours local time at Istanbul's Ataturk Culture Center. The Istanbul Opera and Ballet House artists are performing this brilliant work of art in the 40th foundation anniversary of the House. The performance will be the first in Turkey. The colors of passion and betrayal are painted by Youri Vamos. 'Samson and Delilah' will be performed also within the framework of the 7th Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

IKV DELEGATION IN ANKARA
An Economic Development Foundatiuon delegation to be chaired by Meral Gezgin Eris, will attend a reception by President Suleyman Demirel, which he is to hold on the occasion of the ''Europe Day'' at Cankaya Palace. The delegation will also pay a visit to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, and furnish him with information on their contacts with EU Commission officials and permanent representatives of the member countries during their stay in Brussels between April 24 and 28.

IMF DELEGATION DUE IN TURKEY
The Treasury Undersecretariat released the monthly stand-by implementation report, and made an assesment of the latest developments in Turkish economy. The report said that the IMF unleashed in late April, a 293 million dollar credit, within the framework of Turkey's 'Special Drawing Right'. The report said that an IMF delegation would come to Turkey in the second half of May to have talks with officials in a second revision of the implementation of the stand-by agreement.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

NEW HINTS FOUND IN INVESTIGATION OF MUMCU'S ASSASINATION
All hints are leading to Iran in the investigation of Mumcu's assasination. The information obtained suggests that Iranian intelligence service SAVAMA is directly responsible for the assasination. The interrogation of nine suspects is expected to also shed light to the killings of Bahriye Ucok, Ahmet Taner Kislali, and Muammer Aksoy. A total of 97 people have been taken under custody so far after the interrogations. Motherland Party leader Mesut Yilmaz, when asked if the Iranian link of the assasination would cause friction between Turkey and Iran, said ''he hopes it would not.'' ''However, the Iranian government must change its secretive attitude on this issue. Our bilateral relations must be based on a realistic ground, '' Yilmaz said.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

FP CHAIRMAN CANDIDATE GUL IS HOPEFUL ABOUT CONGRESS: ''CHANGE IS
INEVITABLE''
Abdullah Gul who is a candidate to become the new Virtue Party (FP) leader said if he wins the congress, their party will have a better administration. Gul who visited Zaman newspaper said ''there will be no change in arguments, but the methods will change.'' Gul also stressed that they will not separate from the FP but said ''change is inevitable.''

[02] BUSINESSMEN OF IZMIR VISIT THE U.S

The 23-men business delegation got together with their U.S colleagues at a reception in New York held by Turkey's Consul General in New York Mehet N. Ezen.

The Turkish businessmen are to meet also with the municipal board officials of New York.

Speaking to the A.A correspondent about the campaign, Ekrem Demirtas, Executive Board Director of the Izmir Chamber of Trade, said that their aim was to turn Izmir into an internationally renowned 'world metropolitan', and added that they had got into contact with about 900 New York companies with the initiatives of a U.S promotion company.

Noting that they would be proceeding to Miami after completing their contacts in New York, Demirtas said that they would make similar tours to Paris and London in late 2000 and early 2001, and that their future itinerary also included San Francisco and Los Angeles.

''Izmir is a heaven for '3rd Age' tourists, that is to say, tourists over 55 years of age. Plus, the U.S tourists, visiting Izmir and environs, have to know that they will also find the opportunity to become pilgrims by taking a few hours' trip inland. However, we have to make extensive promotion of our country; and this is not something we can manage by counting on a couple of thousand dollars to be provided by the state. The private sector has to mobilise all its means for this purpose,'' Demirtas said.

[03] SOMUNCUOGLU'S DISMISSAL FROM MHP

In the same issue, it was stated that State Minister Tunca Toskay will replace Somuncuoglu. It was also noted that State Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen will fill in for Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik who resigned from his post.

[04] EUROPEAN BOXING CHAMPIONSHIP -TURKISH NATIONALS TO TAKE MAJOR TEST IN FINLAND PRIOR TO OLYMPIC GAMES

Along with Russian and Ukranian nationals, the Turkish nationals will be one of the three teams to compete in all categories in the championship, which will take place with the participation of 192 sportsmen from 36 countries.

The Turkish National team consists of the following names:

Ramazan Ballioglu: 48 Kg

Halil Ibrahim Turan: 51 Kg

Agasi Agaguloglu: 54 Kg

Ramaz Phaliani: 57 Kg

Shalva Phaliani: 60 Kg

Nurhan Suleymanoglu: 63,5 Kg

Bulent Ulusoy: 67 Kg

Firat Karagollu: 71 Kg

Gokhan Kazas 75 Kg

Yildirim Tarhan 81 Kg

Mehmet Hendem 91 Kg

Kurban Gunebakan 91+ Kg

[05] NARCOTIC TEAMS SEIZE 50 KILOS OF MORPHINE IN IGDIR

Acting on a tip- off, the teams started following a jeep which was carrying drugs. The teams which searched the jeep found 50 kilograms of morphine which were put in bags of one kilo.

The accused said they bought the morphine from Iran for 70,000 U.S. dollars and were planning to send it to other countries through Turkey and Nahcevan.

The market value of the drug was 250,000 U.S. dollars.

[06] TOURISM MINISTRY AND IZMIR GOVERNORSHIP JOINTLY PREPARE CD-ROM WHICH COVERS IZMIR'S 5,000 YEAR HISTORY

Karamete told A.A the CD which was prepared jointly by the Tourism Ministry and Izmir Governorship, comes in English, French, and German language. The CD is formed by images and text and they last for 17 minutes. Bergama, Selcuk, Foca, Cesme and Odemis and various civilizations who inhabitated in these areas are shown in the CD.

Karamete noted that Christianity, Judaism, and Islam lived together in Izmir and said Izmir was one of the few cities where one can see mosques, synagogues and churches together.

The CDs will soon be sent to Turkey's foreign promotion undersecretariats, embasssies and travel agencies which organizes tours to Turkey. Some local tourism centers and bureaus will also receive a copy of the CD.

[07] AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR BLOOMS IN SPRING MONTHS

Sabri Ozdemir, Chairman of the TOFAS based Bursa branch of Turkish Metalworkers' Union said that the markets were enlivened in the positive deelopments in economy, that 600 new workers had been employed at TOFAS over the past month, and that the total number of TOFAS employees had thus reached 3,750.

Ozdemir said that the daily production reached 380 vehicles with the implementation of the double shift system.

Ismail Dursun, Chairman of the OYAK RENAULT based Bursa branch of Turkish Metalworkers' Union said that the daily production of the installation had reached 580, and added,

''With the implementation of the double-shift system, we retired some of our workers, and appointed some others to different positions.''

[08] FIRST INTERNATIONAL THEATER FESTIVAL OF COUNTRIES SHARING BLACK SEA COASTS TO BE HELD IN TRABZON

The festival which is organized by the State Theaters General Directorate will be participated by six drama groups from Moldovia, Ukraine, Russia, Romania, Georgia, and Turkey.

The plays will be performed at Atapark Haluk Ongan Stage, Black Sea Technical University Fatih Education Stage, and Huseyin Kazaz Culture Center.

On the other hand, the traditional theater competition of Trabzon municipality will be organized betwen May 23 and June 2. Students of several high schools in Trabzon will compete in the organization.

There will be an award ceremony for the three winning schools on June 5.

[09] GENDARME TEAMS AND BORDER OFFICIALS CATCH 4,352 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN EDIRNE IN LAST FOUR MONTHS

Edirne Gendarme Commander Colonel Hami Cakir told A.A that they continue their effective struggle against illegal immigrants on the borders. He also noted that some of those who were caught belonged to terrorist organizations.

''Last year, our gendarme teams caught 8,000 of the 17,000 foreigners. We are getting finger prints of all people who are caught on the borders. When we compare these finger prints with others, we sometimes come across with people who have been involved in terrorist activities,'' he explained.

Gendarme and border officers caught 1,430 people in January, 1,338 people in February, 608 people in March, and 976 people in Edirne in April.

The illegal immigrants, during their interrogations, said that they were planning to pass to Greece and from there to other various European countries.

Many of the immigrants who are trying to illegally enter Turkey are Bulgarian citizens with Turkish origin who want to come to Turkey to be with their families.

Immigrants who are caught are sent to Edirne Security Directorate's Foreigners Department to be deported.

[10] TENDER FOR ANKARA-ISTANBUL RAILROAD REHABILITATION PROJECT

TCDD officials told the A.A correspondent that the proposals would be assessed in a maximum of 180 days, but that the tender would have been concluded much earlier than that.

The rehabilitation project, which is to enable trains to travel through the Ankara-Istanbul corridor in 5-5,5 hours in the first stage, and 4 hours in the second, is estimated to have been completed in 34 months.

The project will not only reduce the length of the journey, but it will also provide customers with better quality standards and increased comfort.

Officials said that the project would also make railroad transportation a more attractive alternative to highway transportation.

The consortia bidding for the tender are as follows:

''Yapi Merkezi, Nurol Inc., Usluer'', ''Alsim-Alarko, DHL (Spain), G&O (Spain)'', ''Tekfen, Vias (Spain), Elecnor (Spain), Cobra (Spain), Dimetrnic (Spain), Ineco (Spain), Inabensa (Spain)'', ''Limak, Mustafa Ozcan, Ircon (India)'', ''Turan Hazinedaroglu, Oztas, BTC (Germany), HCE (Germany)'', and ''Gunsayil Inc., Azvi (Spain)''.

[11] BLACK SEA COAST GUARD COMMANDERS CONVENE IN ISTANBUL

Admiral Yalcin Ertuna, coast guard commander, said in his inauguration address, that he was happy to host the first of such a meeting.

Noting that cooperation agreements in the field of coastal security had been signed over the past ten years between Turkey and such countries as Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia having coasts to the Black Sea, Admiral Ertuna said:

''These agreements serve for further developing our relations based on such friendly grounds, the Black Sea coast guard commanders meeting carries great significance from the standpoint of solidarity, cooperation, security and coordination among us.''

Following the inauguration speech of Admiral Ertuna, the participants, namely Viacheslav Dimitrov, Bulgaria's Border Patrol Director, Georgia's Border Units Commander General Valery Cheidze, Romania's Border Patrol Coast Guard Chief Anatolie Zemba, Russia's Federal Border Patrol Coast Guard Chief Konstantinovic Logvinenko, and Ukraine's Coast Guard Border Patrol Chief Igor Alferiev posed for a family picture.

The participants then went behind closed doors to exchange views on means of increasing cooperation and further developing relations.

[12] PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT SAYS CAPTURE OF MUMCU'S KILLERS INCREASED PEOPLE'S TRUST TO STATE

Ecevit, together with Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan, made a statement about the operations carried out to find Mumcu's murderers.

''The success of the security forces against Hezbollah, and the capture of Mumcu's killers increased people's trust to the state,'' Ecevit said.

Ecevit congratulated Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan, and Security General Directorate's teams for their outstanding success in the operations.

''The security organization's operations are not only targeting individuals who committed these murders but also their financial and foreign links and the organizations behind these individuals,'' Ecevit said.

Ecevit also noted that confidentiality is essential in some situations during the coarse of the investigation and said that the press showed understanding for the broadcasting ban brought by the State Security Court.

[13] FAITH TOURISM IN TRABZON

Cemal Akcay, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Establishments of Black Sea (KATBID) said on Tuesday, that the Greeks had historic roots in the Black Sea region, in the eastern sections in particular, and added,

''We expect a great number of Greek tourists in Trabzon this year. A special promotion campaign in Greece will be conducted for this purpose. We will participate in the International Tourism Fair, which is to take place between May 13 and 16 in Athens. A total of 37 provinces of Turkey will be introduced at the fair, and we, as the representatives of Trabzon, will promote our town with slide and video shows and brochures.''

Akcay said he and the managers of various hotels of Trabzon participating in the fair, would do their best to promote Turkey and their town.

[14] INVESTIGATION OF MUMCU ASSASSINATION -PREMIER ECEVIT AND INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN NOT GIVE INFORMATION ABOUT DETAILS OF INVESTIGATION

Here are the questions asked by journalists to Ecevit and Tantan and the responds to them:

Question:''Are the killers of Ugur Mumcu among the nine persons who are under custody?''

Tantan:''It will be appropriate for us not to speak as the investigation is carried out in confidentiality.''

Question:''There seem to be certain contradictions with the expressions used and the incident.''

Tantan:''Let's not make comments on these issues. It is very detrimental to make comment on such issues without filing the case.''

Question:''There are certain information about Iran in the investigation. What will be done against Iran?''

Tantan:''As I said before it is not good to talk about these issues without filing the public case.''

Ecevit:''If some issues are announced before the appropriate time, the investigation can't be carried out in a succesful way. I trust you as I know journalists can understand this issue. The Minister of Interior will issue the necessary statements when the time comes.

Question:''Did you receive any information about other unsolved murders within the framework of this investigation?

Tantan:''It is very early to say something about the issue for the moment.''

Question:''What are your comments about this success which came after seven years? Does the security forces work with a different concept? ''

Tantan:''There is both the government and parliament support behind our security forces, as long as this continues and when we act by respecting the rules of the legal state, we'll get better results.''

Ecevit:''First of all the resolution of Mr. Tantan and his expertise have been very effective in this success.''

[15] NATION-WIDE OPERATIONS CONTINUE -15 PEOPLE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY

Sources said police detained eight people including an imam in their operations in city-center and Develi township with charges of carrying out activities for illegal terrorist ''Selam (Salutation)'' organization.

Officials said interrogation and investigation were under way.

Meanwhile, eight people were detained the same day in northwestern Edirne province within the scope of nation- wide operations.

Sources said anti-terrorism teams had taken into custody eight people including a university student with charges being members of illegal terrorist ''Selam'' and ''Tevhid (Unification)'' organizations.

Officials said interrogation and investigation were underway.

_ A.A _

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