Anadolu News Agency: News in English, 00-05-15

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CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] RECAI KUTAN IS THE LEADER OF FP AGAIN -KUTAN GETS 633 VOTES, GUL GETS 521 VOTES

[03] SUPREME COURT PRESIDENT SELCUK RETURNS HOME FROM U.S

[04] EIGHT OF NINE SUSPECTS, TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WITHIN THE SCOPE OF ''UMUT'' OPERATION, ARRESTED BY ANKARA DGM

[05] STATE MINISTER ONAL: ''WE ANTICIPATE A 5,5 PERCENT ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE IN 2000, AND A GREATER RATE FOR THE FOTHCOMING YEAR''

[06] NECDET YUKSEL, MEMBER OF ILLEGAL TEVHID ORGANIZATION, CONFESSES THAT HE PLANTED THE BOMB ON THE CAR OF AHMET TANER KISLALI

[07] INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN VISITS SECURITY DEPARTMENT AND GETS INFORMATION ABOUT SUSPECTS WHO WERE CAPTURED IN CONNECTION WITH KISLALI MURDER

[08] EXPLOSION IN FATIH DISTRICT -TWO PEOPLE INJURED

[09] SLIGHT QUAKE JOLTS CENTRAL ANATOLIAN KONYA PROVINCE

[10] FINANCE MINISTER ORAL: ''WE WILL DEAL A HEAVY BLOW ON INFLATION IN 2000''

[11] ERSUMER, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, LEAVES FOR JORDAN

[12] ADMIRAL ERDIL, NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER, LEAVES FOR GREECE TO ATTEND ''MARCOMET-00''MEETING

[13] STATE MINISTER MIRZAOGLU RETURNS HOME FROM CUBA

[14] ARAB TOURISM AGENCIES IN YALOVA TERMAL

[15] GREENPEACE PROTEST IN ISTANBUL

[16] PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO HAND OVER PRESIDENCY TO SEZER ON TUESDAY

[17] QUEEN SOFIA OF SPAIN LEAVES TURKEY

[18] SECURITY FORCES DISCOVER SECOND ARSENAL OF ILLEGAL TEVHID ORGANIZATION

[19] ANKARA TO HOST DELEGATIONS FROM WORLD BANK, IMF AND OECD UNTIL END OF MAY

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

YALOVA: 6 PORTS MUST BE PRIVATISED IN 3 MONTHS
State Minister Yuksel Yalova said on Sunday, that 6 ports, including the port of Kusadasi, have to be privatised in three months' time. Yalova, who carried out inspections at the port of Kusadasi, an Aegean port that hosts about 1500 boats and vessels every year, said that the state had to pull hands from the ports, and pave the way for their privatisation.

TURKEY ATTENDS CRITICAL MEETING
National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu will be representing Turkey at the West European Union Foreign and Defense Ministers Spring Term Meeting, which is to take start on Monday in the Portuguese town of Porto. Foreign Minister Ismail cem, who was also to attend the meeting, decided not to go in the wake of intense operations by security forces to unveil the mysteries of the Mumcu and Kislali assassination cases, particularly, to avert a possible diplomatic crisis with Iran, Turkey's south eastern neighbor, understood to have had active involvement in the two incidents. At the meeting, Turkey will underline the importance of refraining from dividing the security concept in Europe, with referance to the European Security and Defense Initiative.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

''INFLATION BRIEFING'' TO MILITARY
Officials from the Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and Turkish Exporters' Board (TIM) will pay a visit to the General Staff Chief's office this week in pursuit of support to anti-inflationist efforts. The chairmen of the TOBB and the TIM, who will pay a visit to general Staff Chief General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, will furnish him with information on the latest results of the economic reform program, and the ''Turkey is defeating inflation'' campaign.

DP'S 50TH FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY
The 50th foundation anniversary of the Democrat Party (DP) was observed on Sunday with ceremonies in Ankara and Istanbul. True Path Party leader Tansu Ciller, who delivered a speech at the ceremony at Celal Bayar Kiosk, qualified May 14th 1950, the day when the Democrat Party had come to power, as ''the coronation of democracy''.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

OYAK-RENAULT INCREASES PRODUCTION BY 54 PERCENT
Turkey's automotive sector produced 78 thousand 452 vehicles in the first four months of the year 2000, and in company standings, Oyak-Renault ranked first in production figures, with 42 thousand 48 vehicles. This indicated a 54 percent increase in the company's production as compared to the same period of the previous year. Oyak-Renault was followed by Tofas, which produced 24 thousand 290 vehicles.

ONAL: ''TURKEY WILL REACH OUR GROWTH RATE TARGET''
Recep Onal, State minister in Charge of Economy, said that Turkish economy had entered a period of recovery in late October-early November last year, and pointed out that Turkey was sure to reach her growth rate target of 5,5 percent, foreseen for the year 2000. Onal,who delivered a speech at a seminar on Sunday, said that Turkey had implemented five anti-inflationist programs over the past ten years, that none of them succeeded, but that the newly implemented economic program had already started yielding fruits, and was sure to cure the chronic inflationist tendencies.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Yuksel said he got paniced after ''Umut'' operation, and left the weapons of the illegal organization in a field in Yenipecenek village in Sincan, a suburb of Ankara.

CONGRESS ENDED, STRUGGLE WILL CONTINUE
Recai Kutan won the leadership of Virtue Party (FP) hardly in the First Regular Congress of FP. Kutan was re-elected with 633 votes. Abdullah Gul, candidate of the reformists, recorded a success and got 521 of the 1154 valid votes.

Efforts of reformists, despite the attitude of Necmettin Erbakan, who was politically banned, were the beginning of a new era in FP. Gul and his staff, who were dismissed from the party administration, are expected to speed up struggle within the party.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

MARMARA TO BE SOLVED TILL 2002
Prof. Naci Gorur, Dean of Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Mining Engineering Faculty, said the place, magnitude, dept, and risks of the quake in Marmara Sea could be determined till the year 2002. Pointing out that they did not definite data regarding Marmara, Gorur said, seismological studies of Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) were kept secret.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

The second helicopter is expected to be delivered to Air Forces Commandership within a month.

CHIEF PROSECUTOR: ''SCENERIES IN TVS ARE ENOUGH''
Vural Savas, Chief Prosecutor of Supreme Court, who filed a suit to the Constitutional Court to close Virtue Party (FP), speaking about yesterday's FP congress, said ''everything occurred in front of the eyes of Constitutional Court members.''

Slogans ''Erbakan, Champion of Islam,'' were chanted in the congress.

Mehmet Ali Sahin, one of the jurist staff of the party, who made defense together with Seref Malkoc, FP Trabzon Deputy, in the Constitutional Court in closure process of FP, said several slogans, chanted in favor of Erbakan, will create difficulty for the party in FP's closure case. He defined the situation as ''unfortunate.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

THIRTY COUGARS IN 5 YEARS
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), one of Turkey's leading defense industry establishments, put signature under yet another success in the field of defense. Within the framework of the Phoenix program, whose contract had been signed on February 13, 1998, TAI completed the production and the assembly of the first two helicopters. TAI officials said that the delivery of the first Cougar to the Turkish air Forces Command would take place on May 31, 2000 with a ceremony. The second helicopter is expected to be delivered to Air Forces Command in a month's time.

EXPLOSION IN FATIH INJURES 2
An evening explosion at a lower ground floor flat in an apartment in Istanbul's Fatih district injured two people, and caused panic among the inhabitants. Officials have not yet determined the cause of the blast, but are investigating into the incident with the help of bomb experts and narcotics teams.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

QUAKE RAPPROACHMENT
Turkish-Greek rapproachment continued in NATO Research Seminar. Turkish and Greek scientists pointed out that Northern Anatolia fault line concerned both countries.

DEMIREL TO BRIEF ABOUT HIS SEVEN YEARS
President Suleyman Demirel, on the last day of his stay in Cankaya Palace, will pay a visit of farewell to Anitkabir. Demirel will later speak to press and brief about his seven year term in office.

[02] RECAI KUTAN IS THE LEADER OF FP AGAIN -KUTAN GETS 633 VOTES, GUL GETS 521 VOTES

A total of 1195 delegates out of 1238 registered ones casted votes. Kutan got 633 of the 1151 valid votes and became the leader. Meanwhile, Abdullah Gul, the other candidate for leadership, got 521 votes.

Kutan was born in southeastern Malatya province in 1930. He graduated Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Civil Engeneering Faculty in 1952.

Kutan worked as Deputy Chairman of National Welfare Party (MSP) in 1973. He was a parliamentarian in 1977, and worked as the Minister of Settlement. Kutan was elected as deputy from Malatya in 1983, and worked as Minister of Energy and Natural Resources in 1996.

On May 17, 1998, Kutan was brought to the leadership of FP with the decision of Founders Committee.

Kutan is married, with three children.

[03] SUPREME COURT PRESIDENT SELCUK RETURNS HOME FROM U.S

Speaking to the A.A correspondent at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Selcuk said that he had carried out contacts with various officials during his visit, which he had made upon the invitation of the Harvard University, and added that his visit had been very yielding from Turkey's standpoint.

''People showed great interest in my speech. But unfortunately, I saw that many Americans still had prejudices about Turkey. I tried to help them eliminate their misjudgements about Turkey,'' Selcuk said.

Referring to his talks with Harold Koh, Assistant Secretary of State in Charge of Human Rights, Selcuk said, ''I saw that his knowledge about Turkey was limited to media reports, and had no scientific basis. When I told him my opinion, he said he had been a bad lawyer. I tried to help him overcome his prejudices about Turkey.''

''I believe that my visit has been rather beneficial for my country; and I shall make more visits abroad in an effort to gain impetus to Turkey's EU membership process. I consider membership in the European Union, as a means of salvation for the Turkish judiciary.''

[04] EIGHT OF NINE SUSPECTS, TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WITHIN THE SCOPE OF ''UMUT'' OPERATION, ARRESTED BY ANKARA DGM

Hamza Keles, DGM Republican Prosecutor; Cevdet Volkan, Ankara DGM Republican Prosecutor; and Semsettin Ozcan, Republican Prosecutor; interrogated the suspects Yusuf Karakus, Abdulhamit Celik, Mehmet Ali Tekin, Mehmet Sahin, Talip Ozcelik, Arif Tari, Hasan Kilic, Fatih Aydin, and Muzaffer Dagdeviren.

Eight suspects were later sent to Alternate Judgeship with a call for arrest after their interrogation which lasted for six hours.

Karakus and Celik, who were interrogated by Ramazan Aksan, Alternate Judge of Ankara DGM no:2, were arrested on grounds that they got involved in the murder of Ugur Mumcu. Tari was arrested on charges of ''aiding and abetting Ugur Mumcu murder.'' Decision for arrest was given against Dagdeviren, Aydin, Sahin, Tekin, and Ozcelik on grounds that they were members of the illegal Tevhid organization.

Meanwhile, DGM did not interrogate Hasan Kilic, who was taken into custody during the operation. Additional custody period was given to Kilic.

The suspects were sent to Ankara Prison under tight security measures.

[05] STATE MINISTER ONAL: ''WE ANTICIPATE A 5,5 PERCENT ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE IN 2000, AND A GREATER RATE FOR THE FOTHCOMING YEAR''

A seminar on ''Anti-Inflationist Program, Unregistered Economy, and Its Effects on Social Policies'', organised by the Union of Turkish Textile Industry Employers started on Sunday in the Aegean town of Marmaris.

State Minister Recep Onal, who delivered a speech at the seminar, said that Turkey had implemented five anti-inflationist programs over the past 10 years, but that none of them had succeeded in pulling down the inflation rate, which had reached as high as 80 percent. He pointed out that the chronic inflationist tendencies resulted mainly from structural weaknesses and deficiencies in financing bodies.

Noting that the latest economic reform program had been shaped on the basis of transparency, Onal said, ''Our aim is to maintain a sustainable debt level, and to obtain a surplus in the consolidated public sector balances. In order to render the public and budgetary recovery sustainable, the state has to have a greater authority, and close our debts with the income obtained from privatisation programs.''

[06] NECDET YUKSEL, MEMBER OF ILLEGAL TEVHID ORGANIZATION, CONFESSES THAT HE PLANTED THE BOMB ON THE CAR OF AHMET TANER KISLALI

Yuksel was captured after the confessions of Hasan Kilic, one of the leading members of Tevhid organization.

Yuksel confessed the names of people who involved in the murder, and also confessed that he was the one who planted the bomb on the car of Ahmet Taner Kislali.

Ferhan Ozmen, reported to be the ''brain'' of the organization, was captured in Istanbul upon the confessions of Yuksel. Ozmen was brought to Ankara. Earlier, Hakki Sanli was captured following the confessions of Kilic.

Ozmen was one of the leading members of illegal Tevhid organization, and one of those who planned Kislali murder.

[07] INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN VISITS SECURITY DEPARTMENT AND GETS INFORMATION ABOUT SUSPECTS WHO WERE CAPTURED IN CONNECTION WITH KISLALI MURDER

Tantan was briefed about the stages of ''Umut'' operation, and the suspects who got involved in the murders of Ugur Mumcu and Ahmet Taner Kislali.

Tantan departed from Ankara Security Department around 23.00.

[08] EXPLOSION IN FATIH DISTRICT -TWO PEOPLE INJURED

Reason of the explosion, which occurred in Yesilova Apartment in Kucuklanga Street, could not be determined yet.

Those who were wounded immediately hospitalized. Financial damage was reported in the house.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Basri Toren (31), who was slightly wounded in the explosion, was taken into custody by Istanbul Narcotics Department Directorate in connection with the incident, with the suspicion that the exposion may be connected with drug production.

[09] SLIGHT QUAKE JOLTS CENTRAL ANATOLIAN KONYA PROVINCE

There are no reported casualties or financial damage in the quake. Yet, citizens rushed to street in panic.

Kandilli Observatory officials told A.A correspondent that the quake, which occurred at 01:19 local time, was measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale.

The epicenter of the quake was Ilgin township.

[10] FINANCE MINISTER ORAL: ''WE WILL DEAL A HEAVY BLOW ON INFLATION IN 2000''

Sumer Oral, who participated in a seminar on ''Anti-Inflationist Program, Unregistered Economy, and Its Effects on Social Policies'', organised by the Union of Turkish Textile Industry Employers on Sunday, said in the speech he delivered there, that economic powers had taken power oevr from political and military balances in our age, and that countries had as much say as their economic powers allowed.

Oral said that Turkey had to maintain stability in public finance balances, and pull down the deficit rate by the Gross National Product from 11 percent down to 2-3, in order to render the economy even stronger.

Oral pointed out that tne Anti-Inflation and Economic Reform Program implemented recently by the government, whose major aim, he said, was to shrink the budget deficit, was perfect in itself, appreciated by international monetary and financing bodies, and the introducer of structural reforms.

''Political stability plays a determining role in the sustainability of this program. We shall implement this program accurately and step by step, and yield the fruits we have long been expecting. We shall maintain an economic growth rate of 5,5 percent in the year 2000. And I see no reason why we should not,'' Oral said.

[11] ERSUMER, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, LEAVES FOR JORDAN

Speaking to journalists at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport before his departure, Ersumer said he will meet with energy ministers of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, and Syria, adding that they will discuss Energy Ring Line, planned to be set up around the Mediterranean.

Pointing out that Egyptian and Jordanian sides of this line was completed, Ersumer said works were still underway in Syrian side.

Ersumer also said they would discuss technical committee decisions, membership of Lebanon, and willingness of Libya to participate in the project.

Ersumer is expected to return to Turkey on May 17.

Turkey carries out a series of projects aiming to provide integration of electricity networks with Asian, European, and the Middle East countries.

[12] ADMIRAL ERDIL, NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER, LEAVES FOR GREECE TO ATTEND ''MARCOMET-00''MEETING

Speaking to A.A correspondent at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Admiral Erdil said Greece will host NATO Southern Region Naval Forces Meeting this year. Erdil said naval forces commanders of NATO Southern Region and countries, which are included in Partnership for Peace program, will participate in the meeting in Athens.

Erdil said naval issues will be discussed during the meeting which will last till May 18.

''Within the course of the talks, we will examine the incidents in the region from the military front. Also, NATO's future, and relations between NATO Southern Region Naval Forces will be discussed. We will provide improvement of relations with the Partnership for Peace countries.''

Admiral Erdil said he will meet with Greece's Naval Forces Commander, within the framework of his bilateral contacts, adding that they did not have a special agenda item.

Erdil is expected to return to Turkey on May 18.

[13] STATE MINISTER MIRZAOGLU RETURNS HOME FROM CUBA

State Minister Ramazan Mirzaoglu, who was in Havana as the official guest of Cuban Minister of Transportation Alvaro Perez, returned home on Sunday.

Speaking to reporters at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Mirzaoglu said that his contacts with a Cuban delegation consisting of the representatives of the public and private sectors had been very yielding from the standpoint of Turkey.

He said that he had talks with various ministers and officials, and had received information about the installation during his tour around CDM Havana Dockyard's container and passenger terminals.

Noting that he had carried out the initial talks on a ''Bilateral Maritime Agreement'' to be signed between Turkey and Cuba, Mirzaoglu said, ''The agreement carries great significance from the standpoint of Turkey's trades with the Latin American countries. We will have reached South America, too, once we have developed cooperation with Cuba.''

Referring to the crew of the Cemre-1 vessel, still held by Cuban officials due to a commercial disagreement, Mirzaoglu said that the Turkish embassy in Cuba would make the necessary initiatives for the return of the 22 crew members. The crew has been in Cuba since January 26 2000.

[14] ARAB TOURISM AGENCIES IN YALOVA TERMAL

An 50-people group, including press members from the Middle East countries, got information about historical and cultural riches of the city during their visit to Yalova Tourism Provincial Directorate.

Aral said Termal was one of the leading thermal springs of the world, adding ''we have an example complex with historical and natural beauties. Our installations did not receive damage in August 17 massive earthquake.''

[15] GREENPEACE PROTEST IN ISTANBUL

The ten activists, who arrived in front of the Consulate building at 08.45 local time, managed to chain themselves on the main gate despite police and embassy guards' intervention.

They opened banners reading ''Release Greenpeace Volunteers, Stop the Burning'' in Turkish, English, and Japanese.

The protesters said they would give a letter to the Consul-General, to be sent to the Japanese Ambassador in Ankara, and claimed that their action received the support of also Amnesty International. They added that Greenpeace activists all over the world were protesting Japan today, in unison.

The protesters were unchained by the police and were detained.

[16] PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO HAND OVER PRESIDENCY TO SEZER ON TUESDAY

Demirel and Sezer will later hold a tete-a-tete meeting.

Following the meeting, a seen off ceremony will be staged for Demirel and his wife.

[17] QUEEN SOFIA OF SPAIN LEAVES TURKEY

The Queen and her company were seen off from Ataturk Airport's State Guesthouse by Ismail Altunal, Foreign Ministry Representative in Istansbul, and officials from the Spanish Consulate in Istanbul.

[18] SECURITY FORCES DISCOVER SECOND ARSENAL OF ILLEGAL TEVHID ORGANIZATION

Necdet Yuksel who confessed planting the bomb in Prof. Ahmet Taner Kislali's car described to the police where Tevhid's second arsenal is.

Ankara Anti-Terrorism and Intelligence units found the arsenal close to the other arsenal which was discovered on Saturday. The arsenal contains eight guns, many silencers, cartridges and many C-4 type explosives.

A high level officer said they continue to open more boxes and added they thought the second arsenal also contained as many guns as the first arsenal.

Operations are continuing.

[19] ANKARA TO HOST DELEGATIONS FROM WORLD BANK, IMF AND OECD UNTIL END OF MAY

Experts of IMF Turkey Desk will arrive in Ankara on Monday night and on Tuesday they will start examining the economic developments that occured in Turkey from 1999, December through 2000, May. The IMF experts will start their official contacts with government officials on May 17, Wednesday.

IMF Head of Turkey Desk, Carlo Cottarelli will come to Istanbul on May 18, Thursday. Cottarelli will meet with representatives of banking and business world in Istanbul and get their views regarding the economic developments and measures that that have been taken in this field.

Cottarelli will come to Ankara on May 22. During his second week in Turkey, he will visit Treasury Undersecretariat, State Planning Organization, Central Bank, Finance Ministry, Privatization Administration Chairmanship and other economy related institutions. Cottarelli will return to Washington, D.C. with his delegation after completing his contacts in Ankara.

World Bank Chairman James Wolfensohn will come to Istanbul on May 24 accompanied by Deputy Chairman Johennes Linn. Wolfensohn will come together with representatives of the private sector in Istanbul on May 25. He will also speak at a panel meeting and visit the earthquake hit area.

Wolfensohn will come to Ankara on May 26 and have meetings with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, some ministers and deputies as well as several high level economy authorities.

Worlfensohn will go Malatya to on May 27 to visit projects which are run by World Bank support. Wolfensohn will leave Turkey on the same day.

A delegation from OECD will come to Ankara on May 20 and start its official contacts on May 22. The OECD delegation will prepare a ''Turkey Report'' about the economic developments in Turkey.

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