Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-08-13

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

13 AUGUST 2000 Sunday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT:''I CAN SAY THAT I AM SORRY ABOUT THE DECISION TAKEN ABOUT FETHULLAH GULEN''

[03] TURKISH-LIBYAN PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP GROUP IN TRIPOLI

[04] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT STOYANOV RETURNS TO HIS COUNTRY

[05] KAZAKH PRIME MINISTER TOKAEV IN ANTALYA

[06] TURKEY-LIBYA FRIENDSHIP GROUP IN TRIPOLI

[07] STUDENT WHO STOLE OSS EXAMINATION BOOKLETS, CAPTURED

[08] ACTRESS OZIPEK DIES

[09] STATE MINISTERS KECECILER AND BAL JOIN LAYING FOUNDATION CEREMONY IN SAKARYA

[10] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''DEVOUT CITIZENS SHOULDN'T BE WORRIED ABOUT THE DECREE ON CIVIL SERVANTS''

[11] ''UMUT OPERATION'' CASE TO START ON MONDAY

[12] IMF-FINANCE IN DEVELOPING MARKETS

[13] GERMAN STUDENTS VISIT AGIRNAS HAMLET WHERE ARCHITECT SINAN WAS BORN

[14] POLICE SEIZE 131 HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS IN MIDYAT

[15] NUMBER OF TOURISTS ARRIVING AT ANTALYA AIRPORT IN 24 HOURS EXCEEDS 41, 000

[16] 20TH WORLD POETS' CONGRESS TO BE HELD IN GREECE

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

GUZIN OZIPEK DIES
A famous actress Guzin Ozipek died at the age of 75 around 19.30 local time yesterday.

ARCAHEOLOGICAL RUSH TO ZEUGMA
A group of archaelogists will join the excavations that are going on in Zeugma ancient city. The Ministry of Culture accepted the application of Zeugma Initiative Group. Besides the Mineral Resarch and Exploration Institution (MTA) delegation who came to the region will carry out geological research.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

The Standard & Poor's and Moody's, two rating organizations, expressed their ideas about Turkey. Two organizations said that Turkey is on the correct route and that the marks of the Latin American governments increased after they decreased the inflation rate. The rating organizations noted that the coalition government in Turkey will have benefits following the implementation of this programme. The organizations said that they will watch Turkey for three months and that the increase in Turkey's rating depends on core inflation, current balance and increase in prices.

TUNNEL DUG BY BOWL
It was revealed that the inmates in Kahramanmaras prison dug a nine-metre tunnel by bowls. The inmates convicted of terrorist crimes ventilated this tunnel by the bellows they made by table clothes and overcoats.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

OZIPEK DIES
Guzin Ozipek, a prominent theatre player and actress, died in Marmara University Hospital where she was kept under medical treatment. Ozipek, who was the grandmother in Turkish serial ''Bizimkiler'' (Our Family), was 75 years old. Ozipek died of complications caused by lymphoma.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

GULEN IN U.S.
Fethullah Gulen, the leader of Nur sect in Turkey, noted that he wouldn't return to Turkey although he is wanted in Turkey because there is a court decision arresting him in his absentia. Sources said that Gulen and his community live in a farm in the U.S.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

ECEVIT HAS SOFTER ATTITUDE
The Prime Minister said yesterday that ''the thing that is important is the attitude the President will have from now on particularly when the decree is submitted to him for the second time. The President doesn't have the right to return for the second time a draft law or a decree having the force of law (KHK) without signing it. Yet he can apply to the Constitutional Court. I hope Mr. President won't have an attitude other than that. This issue shouldn't be kept on the agenda anymore. I am not hurt in anyway.''

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

INFLATION GUESSED TO BE BETWEEN 31-34 PERCENT
Experts guess the inflation rate in 2000 to be around 31-34 percent. This is 10 percent over the target of the government.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

KAZAKH PRIME MINISTER IS IN ANTALYA FOR HOLIDAY
Kazakh Prime Minister Kasim Comart Tokaev and his family came to southern Antalya province to spend their holiday. Tokaev will spend ten days in Kemer township of Antalya with his wife Nadejda and son Timur.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

INVITATION FOR GAPROPARK IN DIYARBAKIR
The Gapropark Project which is planned to be constructed in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region by Alarko Holding and with the support of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ministry, excited local people. Cinar Mayor Vecdi Arzu said that he will allocate 30,000 acres of his personal land for this project free of charge if this project is implemented in Diyarbakir. Arzu noted that they want this project to be implemented in Diyarbakir and that this project will revive the economy in the region.

[02] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT:''I CAN SAY THAT I AM SORRY ABOUT THE DECISION TAKEN ABOUT FETHULLAH GULEN''

Ecevit responded to questions of Samanyolu television channel.

When asked how he evaluated the decision given by the State Security Court (DGM) about Gulen, Ecevit said ''I don't have the right to discuss the decisions of judiciary. But as a human being I can say that I am sorry about the decision. I hope this trial process will acquit him in the end.''

[03] TURKISH-LIBYAN PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP GROUP IN TRIPOLI

The group includes Gonul Saray Alphan, a deputy of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), Osman Muderrisoglu, a deputy of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Celal Esin, a deputy of the Motherland Party (ANAP), Sevgi Esen, a deputy of the True Path Party (DYP), and Mukadder Basegmez, a deputy of the Virtue Party (FP).

The members of the group firstly met with Turkish citizens living in Libya.

This visit carries importance to overcome the tension which escalated in the relations between the two countries almost three years ago.

Following the visit of Necmettin Erbakan, the Prime Minister then, the bilateral relations had nearly broke off.

Diplomatic sources said that efforts are underway to settle down the relations between the two countries for some time.

The diplomatic sources added that the visit that Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal paid to Libya last May was important for the officials of the two countries understanding each other's ideas and feelings.

[04] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT STOYANOV RETURNS TO HIS COUNTRY

Antalya Governor Ertugrul Dokuzoglu, Antalya Police Chief Mehmet Yazici and some other officials saw off Bulgarian President Stoyanov, his wife Antonino, his son and daughter from Antalya Airport.

[05] KAZAKH PRIME MINISTER TOKAEV IN ANTALYA

Tokaev, his wife Nadejda and son Timur will spend their ten-day holiday in Kemer township of Antalya.

[06] TURKEY-LIBYA FRIENDSHIP GROUP IN TRIPOLI

The Friendship Group members visited on Saturday Turkish Embassy Primary School in Tripoli and listened to the complaints of Turkish citizens there.

The ways to improve the bilateral relations between Turkey and Libya were taken up in the meetings with Libyan Congress Foreign Affairs Secretary Suleyman El Suhubi and other officials.

El Suhubi proposed to sign a cooperation protocol between the two parliaments which foresee regular visits.

The Libyan side also expressed its uneasiness over the existing cooperation between Turkey and Israel in a diplomatic way during the meeting. The Libyan side reminded the Turkish side about the support Libya gave to Turkey during the Cyprus Peace Operation.

''You sign agreements with Israel, which is an enemy of Arabs and muslims. Will you welcome if we set up friendship with Greece?'' asked El Suhubi.

El Suhubi noted that the relations between the two countries were fine till Turgut Ozal became the Eight President. ''News were published in Turkey against Libya following that period and these were not denied by Turkish officials,''' claimed El Suhubi. They are determined to improve relations with Turkey in spite of certain uneasiness, he added and stressed that they will never give up friendship with Turkey.

Mukadder Basegmez, a member of the group and a Virtue Party (FP) deputy said in his part that ''I regard the words of Suhubi as a will to set up good relations between Turkey and Libya.''

El Suhubi said this was true.

The group leader Gonul Saray Alpan from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) said in her part that Turkey doesn't have hostility policy aganist any country in the world. The Turkish diplomacy follows Ataturk's principle of ''peace in the country peace in the world.''

Mufit Ozdes, the Turkish Ambassador to Libya said in his part that the Turkish-Israeli relations are misunderstood and Libya was misinformed.

''The relations of Turkey with Israel never went beyond the relations of some Arab countries with Israel. Besides there is military cooperation, not military alliance between Turkey and Israel. The agreement signed with Israel in this field was also signed with other 38 countries,'' Ozdes noted.

Ozdes pointed out that having close relation with Israel also gives Turkey the opportunity of putting pressure on this country about the Palestinian problem. ''Arafat wanted us to put pressure on Israel, we do this at the moment,'' Ozdes added.

The visit of the Friendship Group is an important one as it is the first one paid at the political level following the visit of the Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan then, to Libya in 1996.

[07] STUDENT WHO STOLE OSS EXAMINATION BOOKLETS, CAPTURED

Sources said on Saturday that a policeman from Istanbul Police Organization started to go to Marmara University's Theology Faculty as a student after the OSS booklets were stolen from this faculty in 1999.

The sources noted that this policeman determined that Ors, a sophomore, had not come to school for a long time.

The police which could not find Ors' blood samples among the samples that were taken from all students and personnel of the faculty following the stealing, started be suspicious about Ors, the sources stated.

The sources stressed that after the security forces had learnt that Ors went abroad, they issued warrant of arrest and called on all border gates to be careful.

The sources emphasized that Ors, who came to Agri Dogubeyazit Border Gate on Friday to enter into Turkey, was captured.

The security forces brought Ors to Istanbul, the sources noted.

The sources emphasized that the finger prints and blood samples of Ors were taken.

Whether or not the finger prints on the OSS booklets belonged to Ors will become clear on Sunday, the sources noted.

The sources stated that also the blood samples will be examined.

The sources added that the Uskudar Republican Prosecutor's Office permitted the police to take under custody Ors for four days for interrogation.

Assailants had entered into a classroom in Marmara University's Theology Faculty before the OSS exam in 1999 by breaking the window and had stolen two exam booklets.

Then, the exam was postponed.

The security forces had taken the blood samples of 2,210 students, 150 lecturers and 40 personnel in this faculty and tried to match these samples with the blood found on the other booklets.

Ors, who went to eastern Malatya province where his family was living following the stealing, went to Romania to escape from the police and to find a job.

When he could not find a job, he returned back to Turkey.

As he was afraid of being captured, he went to Iran and then to Pakistan.

Ors, who returned back to Turkey after some time, was captured in Dogubeyazit Border Gate.

[08] ACTRESS OZIPEK DIES

Officials of the hospital said that Ozipek, who was kept in the intensive care unit, died of complications caused by lymphoma at 7.30 p.m. despite all efforts to save her.

Ozipek was hospitalized when she suffered from exhaustion and fever on August 2.

As her health condition became more critical, she was kept under medical surveillance in the intensive care unit.

Ozipek was born in Istanbul in 1925. She started his theatre career by the play titled ''Ednan Bey Duymasin'' (Mr. Ednan Should Not Hear) in Muammer Karaca Theatre.

She became famous by his role ''Cibali Karakolu'' (Cibali Police Station).

She took the stage in several plays like ''Kesanli Ali Destani'' (Epic of Ali From Kesan), ''Bit Yenigi'', ''Gigi'', ''Yaygara Yetmis'', ''Hizmetciler'' (Servants), ''Ah Biz Esekler'' (We, The Donkeys), ''Sosyalizm Geliyor Savulun'' (Socialism Is Coming, Stand Aside), ''Asiye Nasil Kurtulur'' (How Can Asiye Be Saved), ''Kaktus Cicegi'' (Cactus Flower).

She played in several movies including ''Yaprak Dokumu'' (Fall of Leaves), ''Ah Mujgan Ah'', and ''Bir Teselli Ver'' (Give Me A Consolation).

She was the grandmother in famous Turkish serial ''Bizimkiler'' (Our Family). She also had a role in serial ''Yazlikcilar'' (People On Summer Holiday).

[09] STATE MINISTERS KECECILER AND BAL JOIN LAYING FOUNDATION CEREMONY IN SAKARYA

Speaking in the ceremony, Kececiler said that people and businessmen of central Konya province were mobilized for quake-stricken Sakarya province and they decided to construct dwellings and schools in this province.

Kececiler noted that Turkey is taking measures following the devastating earthquake which rocked Marmara Region on August 17, 1999 and that the houses are being constructed on strong foundations.

Thanking the people and businessmen of Konya who extend support to quake- hit Sakarya province, Bal said that the dwellings will be constructed on strong foundations from now on and that they will be earthquake-resistant.

Bal noted that they will turn the lands belonging to the Treasury into mass housing areas.

The foundation of the dwellings that will be constructed by the loan provided by the World Bank, will be laid within two weeks, Bal added.

The construction of the high school having 24 classrooms and the elementary school having 16 classrooms will be finished in the second half of 2000- 2001 school year.

The construction of 300 dwellings, the area of which will be 100 square metres, will be completed by the end of this year.

The dwellings, elementary and high schools will cost almost five trillion Turkish liras (TL).

[10] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''DEVOUT CITIZENS SHOULDN'T BE WORRIED ABOUT THE DECREE ON CIVIL SERVANTS''

The parliament can't adopt decrees fast, said Ecevit and added that ''but we must be quick this time. Many evidences regarding dangerous connections in the state have been found.''

Responding to questions of private Samanyolu television channel, Ecevit said that ''some people work as public officials who support both separatist movements, anti-secular movements and who contradict with the basic principles of the state.''

Ecevit noted that there are some difficulties in implementing effective disciplinary rules against these people, adding ''it is natural for the state to claim ownership on its basic principles. The necessity of overcoming the lack of sanctions in this field has come out particularly after the murders of Hezbollah have been seen. Some supporters of Hezbollah are public officials. Besides those who support the separatist movement work as civil servants.''

''Turkey is a country where the right to freedom of religion and conscience is practiced broadly. Thus there is no need for those who don't mix religious affairs with public affairs or who don't support separatist movements, to get worried,'' said Ecevit.

Upon another question, Ecevit said that the KHK was not prepared to dismiss certain group of people.

''Those who attempt to act against the basic principles of the state and the Constitution can't remain as civil servants,'' stressed Ecevit.

Prime Minister Ecevit pointed out that the disciplinary acts that will be brought when the KHK enters into force will not be arbitrary.

''Our jurist friends examined the laws and saw that there are some deficiencies in the issue. We think a KHK is necessary,'' Ecevit said.

When asked why they don't want to adopt a law about the issue, Ecevit said ''we face a urgent situation. Particularly the Hezbollah incident showed that some of the supporters of that terrorist organizations were public officials.''

Ecevit noted that if KHK enters into power, it will come before the parliament at the end of a certain period.

''Is there is a state crisis for the moment?'' asked the journalist to Ecevit who said that ''I stated that if the President returns back the decree to the cabinet for the second time, a state crisis can emerge. At this stage, a crisis is out of question.''

''The Constitution does not empower the President to return back KHKs to the cabinet. But Mr. President prefered that as if there is such a provision under the Constitution. There is no right under the Constitution to send back the law or decree for the second time. If he wishes he can apply to the Constitutional Court,'' Ecevit said.

Upon a question, Ecevit denied some claims saying that certain lists were already prepared to dismiss civil servants.

[11] ''UMUT OPERATION'' CASE TO START ON MONDAY

A total of 17 suspects will stand trial in Ankara State Security Court (DGM).

Hakki Suha Okay, the Chairman of Ankara Bar, told A.A correspondent on Sunday that the lawyers of people whose relatives were assassinated, will request to participate in the trials as intervenors.

Suspects, lawyers of suspects and people whose relatives were assassinated are expected to watch the trial.

The court delegation will include chief judge Huseyin Eken and members Mehmet Maras and Yunus Karabiyikoglu.

The indictment prepared by Ankara DGM Republican Prosecutor Hamza Keles said that the illegal ''Jerusalem Warriors'' organization aimed at toppling the constitutional order by gun force in the end of chaos and replacing the constitutional order with an Islamic state similar to the one in Iran.

The indictment requests capital punishment for nine suspects, imprisonment terms not less than 22 and a half years for two suspects, imprisonment terms between 15 years and 22 and a half years for four suspects, and imprisonment terms between four and a half years and seven and a half years for two suspects.

[12] IMF-FINANCE IN DEVELOPING MARKETS

In accordance with IMF's report on ''Finance In Developing Markets'', the eurobonds that Turkey issued were the bonds that draw the highest interest among the developing countries following Russia's bonds.

The report said that the debenture bonds that Turkey issue continue to draw the attention in international markets as a reflection of the confidence in Turkey's economic programme.

Touching on the borrowing capacity of Turkish banking system, the report said that Turkish banks achieved to take syndicated loan in very appropriate conditions from the European markets.

Showing Akbank as an example, the report added that this bank took loan with the lowest costs since September 1997.

[13] GERMAN STUDENTS VISIT AGIRNAS HAMLET WHERE ARCHITECT SINAN WAS BORN

Ernst Struck, a lecturer of Wurzburg University, said that all the world knows Architect Sinan and that they came to central Kayseri province to learn about Sinan and see the Seljuk works of art.

They did not even dream of seeing such an interesting underground city, Struck noted.

Mehmet Osmanbasoglu, Agirnas Mayor, said that they exerted efforts to introduce Agirnas and to boost tourism in this hamlet.

Osmanoglu added, ''the underground city attracts tourists. We want to restore the Agirnas Agiosprokeopios Church which was the church of the Greek people who used to live in this hamlet, to revive the tourism in Agirnas where the house in which Architect Sinan was born and the fountains he constructed are situated.''

[14] POLICE SEIZE 131 HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS IN MIDYAT

Police, disguised as buyers, got a deal with Sabri Sayaci, a jeweller who sells historical artifacts in Midyat, to buy some artifacts.

Sayaci, who wanted to sell 131 historical artifacts to the police in return of 50 billion Turkish liras (TL), was captured red-handed.

There were trays having human and animal figures on them, one cross, one earthenware painting, many seals, a statue of deer, and bracelets among the confiscated historical artifacts.

Police started to interrogate Sayaci.

[15] NUMBER OF TOURISTS ARRIVING AT ANTALYA AIRPORT IN 24 HOURS EXCEEDS 41, 000

Officials of Antalya Airport told A.A correspondent on Sunday that this is a record broken in Antalya Harbour.

The officials said that 20,183 passangers arrived at the airport between 11.00 and 24.00 local time on Saturday and 21,000 tourists entered into Turkey from this airport between 24.00 and 11.00 local time on Sunday.

[16] 20TH WORLD POETS' CONGRESS TO BE HELD IN GREECE

The Congress will be organized by World Culture Arts Academy based in the U.S. and be directed by Tsigaridas International Relations and Press Union.

Almost thousand poets and artists from 40 countries will join the Congress.

Seminars on poems and literature, European poem competitions, world literary text and photographs competition, and European prose competitions will be held within framework of the congress.

Touristic excursions will be organized within the scope of the congress. These excursions will include Istanbul, Izmir, House of Virgin Mary, ancient Ephesus site, and Bodrum.

Husamettin Olgun, an otorhinolaryngologist in Bursa Social Secuity Agency (SSK) Hospital who wrote four poem books, whose poems were translated into several languages, and who is a member of the World Culture Art Academy, will make a speech on ''Friendship and Peace In Turkish and Greek Poems'' in the Congress.

Olgun said that he thinks that this Congress is an opportunity to further improve the friendship and peace which have started to develop between Turkish and Greek nations for some time.

Olgun added that he wants to seize this opportunity.

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