Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-07-03

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NEWS

03 JULY 2000 Monday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] KEMAL SUNAL PASSES AWAY

[03] FOREST FIRE IN CANAKKALE

[04] MCMFORMED VESSELS ARRIVE AT IZMIR PORT

[05] SIX NON EU-MEMBER NATO ALLIES, INCLUDING TURKEY, TO HAVE CONSULTATION MEETINGS

[06] KEMAL SUNAL PASSES AWAY (2)

[07] TURKEY BAR ASSOCIATION WORKING ON NEW TURKISH CONSTITUTION

[08] DTM RELEASES FOREIGN TRADE FIGURES

[09] PERFORMANCE CRITERION FULFILLED IN Q2

[10] FIRE BREAK OUT IN FORESTS OF MARMARIS, BODRUM AND CESME

[11] FIRE IN BODRUM PUT OUT

[12] ESDI CONSULTATION MEETING POSTPONED

[13] 40 PREFABRICATED HUTS CONSTRUCTED BY MUNICH MUNICIPALITY HANDED OVER TO ADAPAZARI MUNICIPALITY

[14] INFLATION RATES IN JUNE

[15] INFLATION RATES (2)

[16] ESDI CONSULTATION MEETING POSTPONED (2)

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

BAHCELI: FOR THE SAKE OF STABILITY
Devlet Bahceli, the State Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, said that the ruling government is needed to secure the future and for the sake of stability of the country in response to criticisms against the government. Bahceli, who held talks with his party colleagues the other day in Afyon, criticised the fundamentalist media in its attempt to solve the 'turban' issue by themselves, and said the authority to bring that problem to a solution was the Parliament.

PARLIAMENTARY SOCCER TEAM DUE TO BOSNIA
The Parliamentary soccer team, consisting of deputies, is going on Tuesday to Bosnia for a friendship match. The team, established with the purpose of improving interparliamentary relations by means of sports events as well, will play against the Bosnian Parliamentary soccer team in Sarajevo on July 4.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

TURKISH STARS IN AUSTRIA
The Turkish Stars, participating in the Airpower 2000 aviation show, hosted for a second time by the Austrian Air Force, received great interest and applause from spectators. The Turkish Stars participated in the event with a staff of 51, and 10 F-5A Phantom type jets. Airpower 2000, a 2-day event, took place in Zeltweg, with the participation of 300 warplanes from 22 countries.

DISPUTE OVER POISON
IZAYDAS, the waste incineration facility in which two workers had died of poisoning 11 days ago as they tried to open up the collector lines, is under inspection after the accident, in which one other worker had been hospitalized in critical condition. Officials are now investigating into allegations that the waste incineration facility had been functioning unlicensed.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

AN IRANIAN-REGISTERED PASSENGER BUS PLUNGES INTO CLIFF
An Iranian-registered passenger bus carrying 43 Iranians plunged into a cliff in eastern Erzurum province, injuring 39 people. Four of the injured were in critical condition. The bus, which was on its way from Tehran to Istanbul, rolled after crashing into a construction site.

TURKEY WINS NINE GOLD MEDALS
The 14th International Bogazici Judo Tournament in Istanbul ended. A total of 153 judokas from 12 countries participated in the two-day tournament. Turkey won nine gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals and came on the first place in the tournament.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

GAP, 8TH BIGGEST PROJECT OF THE WORLD
South East Anatolia Project (GAP) is the eighth biggest project of the world. gAP covers Adiyaman, Batman, Kilis, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Mardin, Siirt, Sanliurfa, and Sirnak and is estimated to have been completed at a cost of 32 billion U.S. dollars. Once the project is completed, 28 percent of Turkey's total water potential will be taken under control through the dams that are built on Tigris and Euphrates. GAP will increase economic proceeds 4,5 times in the area. This will create employment for 3,8 million people living in the south east. Agricultural production is expected to increase from 12 million tons to 23 milllion tons.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

NATIONAL DISASTER ADMINISTRATION TO BE SET UP NATIONWIDE
Professor Ahmet Mete Isikara, Director of Kandilli Observatory and Seismological Research Center of Istanbul's Bogazici University said that the General Directorate of State of Emergency Administration would develop such an administrative model so as to decrease risks, maintain better and quicker preparation in cases of disasters, and take rapid action. Professor Isikara said that the unit, attached to the Prime Minister's Office, had been set up two weeks ago, and had been based on a strategic plan, and added that the World bank had a project pertaining to this plan.

FORESTS ON FIRE
About 30 hectares of forest land in Izmir's Seferihisar township, burnt into ashes because of a cigarette end thrown out of a passing by car. The blaze wrought damage on another 10 hectares, but as taken under control quickly by helicopters. Another forest fire in Canakkale burnt 10 hectares of forest land.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

GAP IS EIGHTH WONDER OF MODERN TIMES
South Eastern Anatolia Project (GAP) is the eighth biggest project of the world. There are bridges, electric power plants and valley projects in the first seven whých are located in various countries. GAP covers Adiyaman, Batman, Kilis, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Mardin, Siirt, Sanliurfa and Sirnak which is ten percent of the total Turkish land. A total of 32 billion U.S. dollars will be spent on GAP once it is completed. By the end of 1999, 44 percent of the project was finished.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

KUTAN:''POLITICAL PARTIES SHOULD NOT BE CLOSED''
Virtue Party (FP) leader Recai Kutan said political parties should not be closed unless they absolutely have to be banned and this should be done as a final resort. ''Party closures should no longer be a punishment in the 21st century,'' Kutan said. He also stated that the President, Chairman of the Constitutional Court, Chairman of the Supreme Court earlier said the FP cannot be closed according to the Constitution.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

TURK: ''AMNESTY LAW WILL BE HIGH ON PARLIAMENTARY AGENDA''
Hikmet Sami Turk, the Justice Minister, said that the Amnesty Law would be high on the parliamentary agenda at the beginning of new legislation period. Turk said, ''I have earlier conveyed my views to the leaders of the coaltion regarding the conditions of prisons and the things that should be done on amnesty. I sent a letter to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Devlet Bahceli, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and Mesut Yilmaz, leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), briefing them on the prisons and amnesty.'' Pointing out that total capacity of prisons in Turkey was 72,575 people, Turk said, ''72,523 of this capacity is full. Number of vacant places is 52. This shows normal capacity of prisons. Some prisons have more prisoners than the capacity.''

[02] KEMAL SUNAL PASSES AWAY

Officials told the A.A correspondent that Sunal who had arrived at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul to leave for Trabzon province in Black Sea Region, had a hearth attack.

He could not be saved despite all medical efforts.

[03] FOREST FIRE IN CANAKKALE

Orhan Yuksel, the Provincial Director of Forestry in Canakkale, told the A.A correspondent that five fire-fighting planes, four helicopters, fire- fighting teams and gendarmerie units rushed to area to extinguish the fire.

Yuksel said that 10 hectares of forested area were burnt down to ashes in the fire which was taken under control.

A full investigation into the fire is underway.

[04] MCMFORMED VESSELS ARRIVE AT IZMIR PORT

Addressing a press conference aboard the HS Aliakmon Command Support Ship, Cdr. Ioannis Grammatikatis from Greek Naval Forces who will serve as the commander of MCMFORMED till May, 2001, said that TCG Erdek (minehunter, Turkey), HS Aliakmon (command support ship, Greece), HS Kischli (mine sweeper/minehunter, Greece), FGS Bad Rappenau (minehunter, Germany), ITS Alghero (minehunter/sweeper, Italy), HNMLS Scheveningen (minehunter, Netherlands), and BNS Crocus (minehunter, Belgium) would stay at Izmir Port between July 2-5.

The MCMFORMED which had been activated on May 26, 1999 had been commanded firstly by Italy.

Greece has taken over the mission on May 8, 2000.

Turkey will take over the command of MCMFORMED between May 2001 and May 2002 from the current commander Greece.

The force is a permanently established multinational maritime force and its role is recognized as a standing naval force. As such it will be a part of the Allied Command Europe Reaction Forces, primarily for use in the southern region and if required available to deploy throughout the NATO area and outside of it also.

The force is designed to meet the demands of the post Cold War geopolitical situation by being available for immediate deployment in times of tension, crisis or conflict.

Its employment comprises a mix of both sea and in-port time, providing maritime presence throughout the NATO area, or out of it, and demonstrating the solidarity and the cohesion of the Alliance while remaining prepared to carry out any contingency mission.

Command of the force rotates among participating nations. Various nations contribute to the force's multinational command staff on a yearly rotating basis.

The force normally consists of four to six MCMV's plus a command support ship. Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, UK, and the US are the nations contributing to the force on a permanent or a case by case basis.

[05] SIX NON EU-MEMBER NATO ALLIES, INCLUDING TURKEY, TO HAVE CONSULTATION MEETINGS

Later, representatives of six NATO members which are Turkey, Norway, Iceland, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic are expected to have a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

Diplomatic channels in Brussels said it is not yet known at what level these countries will be represented at the meeting. Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Kurtulus Taskent and Western European Union (WEU) Permanent Representative Temel Iskit are expected to represent Turkey at the meeting. Representation level of other countries will become certain on Monday.

Solana's press personnel said Norway planned everything and the schedule of the meetings will become clear also on Monday.

Norway suggested that the six NATO members should come together at 7 p.m. (Turkish local time) and later meet with Solana at dinner. The six non-EU member NATO allies don't have a clear and a common attitute against the EU which excluded them from the decision making mechanism of European defense identity. Only Iceland supports Turkey which assumed a very harsh attitute against the EU on this matter. Norway and Poland are only ''interested'' in this issue, while Hungary and the Czech Republic prefer to stay distant from these discussions. Diplomatic observers said under the existing conditions they don't expect an effective result from Monday's meetings.

[06] KEMAL SUNAL PASSES AWAY (2)

Officials told the A.A correspondent that Sunal went aboard the plane to leave for Trabzon province in Black Sea Region together with his son Ali Sunal and his friend Cem Davran.

He had a heart attack before the plane take off from the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul. Plane crew called health teams, but Sunal could not be saved despite all medical efforts.

Body of Sunal was taken to morgue at the International Hospital.

Sunal who was born in Istanbul in 1944, graduated from the University of Marmara Faculty of Communication. He became famous with his comedy films.

Sunal who was one of the greatest comedians of the Turkish cinema, was presented with the Best Actor Award in the Antalya Film Festival in 1977.

Some of his famous films are as follows:

''Blue Bead (Mavi Boncuk)'', ''Stupid (Salako)'', ''Hababam Class (Hababam Sinifi)'', ''Hanzo'', ''King of Doorkeepers (Kapicilar Krali)'', ''Foster Brothers (Sut Kardesler)'', ''Bullock Pasha (Tosun Pasa)'', ''King of Dustmen (Copculer Krali)'', ''Boob Apti (Avanak Apti)'', ''Grind Saban (Inek Saban)'', ''Polite Feyzo (Kibar Feyzo)'', ''King of Watchmen (Bekciler Krali)'', ''King of Goal Scorers (Gol Krali)'', ''Zubuk'', and ''Propaganda''.

[07] TURKEY BAR ASSOCIATION WORKING ON NEW TURKISH CONSTITUTION

Ozgen told A.A correspondent that they are working on a new constitution draft and they will present it to Parliament once it is finished.

Pointing out that there are many deficiencies in articles which define individual liberties in the current Turkish Constitution, Ozgen said the constitution grants a liberty but then lists several exceptions which would constitute situations that would limit that liberty, and finally reduce that liberty to almost nothing.

''The Constitution should be brief,'' Ozgen said and added that detailed statements that should exist in regular laws should be excluded from the Constitution.

''What we need in a constitution is description of basic principles and responsibilities of the state and Parliament. There is no reason to include details in it,'' he asserted.

Ozgen stated that the Constitution must also guarantee independence of justice and make it clear that defense is an unseparable part of justice. ''Therefore, instead of discussing changing this or that article of the Constitution, we have decided to prepare a new one all over again.''

Recently, some lawyers of gang members are reading out press statements on behalf of their clients who are in prison and this is damaging the image of their profession, he said. ''Unfortunately, among us there are those who act against the principles of our profession. Bars should be very careful about these lawyers. Bars have the authority to start an investigation about them. Bars should detect these lawyers and immediately start disciplinary action about them.''

Noting that they are against the prison protocol, Ozgen said lawyers are patted down by prison security personnel when they go to visit a client and claimed that this is humiliating. ''We are not against going through the metal detection gate, but performing a pysical body search to a lawyer is humiliating.''

[08] DTM RELEASES FOREIGN TRADE FIGURES

The report also estimated a decrease for the increasing import rates, and a relatively milder increases for exports in the forthcoming terms.

According to the DTM assessment report, the decrease in agricultural exports effected both April and January-April export performance of Turkey.

The report said the high prices set for agricultural goods could be the reason behind the plunge in exports, as well as the plunge in production due to bad weather conditions. Despite the decrease in exports of certain industrial goods, there was still an overall increase by 17,7 percent in the month of April, and by 6,7 percent in the January-April period.

The rate by which the exports of mining products regressed was 10,8 percent in the month of April, and the January-April figures indicated a 0,6 percent fall as compared to the same period of the previous year.

Turkey's exports to EU countries, which had regressed by almost 10 percent in the month of March, enjoyed an increase by about 15 percent in April, the greatest contribution to which, was a sounding 18,6 percent increase in Turkey's exports to Germany. Exports to CIS countries increased by 17,1 percent in this same month.

The United States was the second country in Turkey's increasing exports, with 11 percent.

The assessment report pointed at the significant increase in crude oil prices as the major factor in the high-rate increasing imports.

Though there was a decrease by 25,5 percent in the amount of crude oil imports, there was a gain of value by 72,4 percent.

In its conclusion, the report estimated a further decrease of imports in the forthcoming terms, and high-rate increases in exports.

[09] PERFORMANCE CRITERION FULFILLED IN Q2

The Central Bank issued a statement saying that the average of last five work days of each quarter regarding the Net Assets which was accepted as the performance criterion within framework of the stand-by deal with the IMF was agreed to be under -1,200 trillion Turkish lira.

''The last five work days average in June became -1,295.1 trillion Turkish lira and thus the performance criterion in question was successfully fulfilled also in the second quarter,'' it said.

''Meanwhile, the 'Money Base' became 4 quadrillion 630.7 trillion Turkish lira as of June 30, 2000, and this amount will be taken into consideration in (+/-) five percent fluctuation in Net Assets in next quarter. Thus the Net Assets corridor will be between -1,431.5 trillion lira -968.5 trillion lire,'' it said.

It added that the rate of increase in currency basket (1 U.S. dollar+0,77 Euro) would be 1.3 percent in the third quarter.

[10] FIRE BREAK OUT IN FORESTS OF MARMARIS, BODRUM AND CESME

Officials of Mugla Forestry Regional Directorate said that fire broke out in pineland between Icmeler and Turunc hamlets of Marmaris at 1.00 p.m.

The officials noted that three helicopters and nearly 150 people joined the efforts to put out the fire in Marmaris.

They received information that fire broke out in a forest in Mumcular hamlet of Bodrum and that the personnel of the Forestry Regional Directorate left for Bodrum, the officials stated.

The officials stressed that fire also broke out in forest in Aladag hamlet of Cesme townships.

The officials added that efforts are underway to take under control the fire which broke out in forests of Marmaris, Bodrum, and Cesme.

[11] FIRE IN BODRUM PUT OUT

Officials of Mugla Forestry Regional Directorate told A.A correspondent that the fire in Mumcular hamlet of Bodrum broke out as dry grass caught fire and that it was immediately put out.

The officials said that the fire which broke out in a forest between Icmeler and Turunc hamlets of Aegean Marmaris township continue.

The fire in Marmaris cannot be taken under control due to the wind, and the number of fire-extinguisher helicopters in Marmaris, was increased to five since the residential areas are close to the spot of the forest fire, the officials added.

Meanwhile, some people living in the residential areas close to the spot of the fire, started to cut the bushes in their gardens as the wind started to blow more stronger, and fearing that the fire cannot be taken under control by the evening.

Efforts are underway to put out the fire in Marmaris.

[12] ESDI CONSULTATION MEETING POSTPONED

The meeting was earlier scheduled to be held in Brussels the same day.

Also the meetings between EU Foreign Policy and Joint Defense Chief Javier Solana with the Alliance's six members (Turkey, Norway, Iceland, Poland, Hungary and Czech Republic) won't be held.

Solana's spokesmen said the meeting had been postponed as there were not enough participation of ministers.

[13] 40 PREFABRICATED HUTS CONSTRUCTED BY MUNICH MUNICIPALITY HANDED OVER TO ADAPAZARI MUNICIPALITY

In the hand over ceremony of 40 prefabricated huts, Sakarya Governor Cahit Kirac said that people of Adapazari felt great sorrow following the earthquake but that this sorrow was eased by the helping hands of friends.

Kirac noted that the internal and external relief efforts helped ease to heal the wounds.

The Germans were among those who sent aid to the quake zone at the first stage, Kirac stated.

Kirac stressed that the Germans contributed to the solution of transitory accomodation problem by constructing 600 prefabricated huts in Alancuma village and 40 others in Arifiye hamlet.

Kirac added that the Germans also sent six fire-brigade vehicles to the municipality.

Bonno Ziegler, the Deputy Munich Mayor, said that the good relations between Turkey and Germany, were further improved following the earthquake.

Ziegler noted that they thought that constructing huts in the quake-zone would be the best assistance to Turkey following the quake and that they constructed 40 dwellings in Adapazari.

Adapazari Mayor Aziz Duran said that German's Munich Municipality extended significant assistance to their municipality.

Duran added that they are grateful for the six vehicles that the Germans donated to their municipality.

Later, the prefabricated huts were handed over to the quake survivors.

[14] INFLATION RATES IN JUNE

DIE said that the last one-year inflation rate as of June 2000 became 56.8 percent in wholesale prices, and 58.6 percent in consumer prices.

The first six-month inflation rate became 18.5 percent in wholesale prices, and 17.8 percent in consumer prices, it stated.

Meanwhile, the annual inflation rate according to 12-month averages as of June 2000 became 59.7 percent in wholesale prices, and 65.2 percent in consumer prices.

[15] INFLATION RATES (2)

The annual inflation rate had been 50.3 percent in wholesale prices, and 64.3 percent in consumer prices in June 1999.

The monthly and annual inflation rates in wholesale and consumer prices since 1996 are as follows:

Monthly Inflation

Annual Inflation

[16] ESDI CONSULTATION MEETING POSTPONED (2)

The meeting, which was planned to take place with the proposal of Norway, was postponed to an uncertain day.

NATO and the EU sources said Iceland, Norway, and Czech Republic were to attend the meeting at ministerial level, Poland and Hungary at the level of undersecretary, and Turkey was to attend in the level of deputy undersecretary to the meeting.

Six members of the Alliance were planned to meet with Javier Solana, the EU Foreign Policy and Joint Defense High Representative this evening at dinner.

Kurtulus Taskent, Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary, and Temel Iskit, Western European Union (WEU) Permanent Representative, were planned to represent Turkey during the meeting.

Solana was not positive toward the meeting as the participation level would be low.

Diplomatic sources said following the EU's Feira Summit, exclusion of non- European Union (EU) member NATO allies from the ESDI decision mechanism became certain, and noted that harsh statements of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit were influential in Brussels.

Speaking after the summit, Prime Minister Ecevit had said participation of Turkey to today's meeting at ministerial level was unnecessary. Ecevit defined decisions of the EU as ''illogical, merciless, and abnormal.''

Ecevit also gave the message that Turkey may use its veto trump card when necessary.

Sources said actual reason of the postponement of today's meeting was that Turkey refused participation at ministerial level.

It was reported that it was known from the beginning that no concrete result would be obtained as there was not a real compromise among six NATO allies.

Poland, Hungary, and Czech Republic, who gave priority to candidacy period to the EU, refrained from creating tension, and Norway approached the issue only for domestic policy reasons.

Iceland, which supported Turkey in real sense, does not have armed forces although it was a NATO member.

Sources close to Solana don't hide that Ankara's attitude ''created concern, '' and claimed that, ''ways for the dialogue were not closed, and that persuasion talks would be made.''

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