Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-08-21

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

21

AUGUST 2000 Monday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] WATER POLO: INTERNATIONAL ISPOLO TOURNAMENT -TURKEY BECOMES FIRST

[03] BAHCELI:''WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL NOT TO LET DESTRUCTIVE AND SEPARATIST ELEMENTS SURVIVE IN OUR STATE''

[04] GAZIANTEP EXPORTS 5,7 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR FLOUR

[05] TURKEY'S RATING NOTE

[06] 50 PERCENT OF TOURISTS ENTER TURKEY FROM ANTALYA MERKEZ AND ISTANBUL ATATURK AIRPORTS IN FIRST SIX MONTHS OF YEAR

[07] URGUP MAYOR ODEMIS TO REQUEST SUPPORT OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS FOR INCLUSION OF CAPPADOCIA AMONG NEW SEVEN WONDERS OF WORLD CANDIDATES

[08] ''MILLENIUM SUMMIT'' IS MOST IMPORTANT MEETING THAT U.N. WILL HOLD IN SEPTEMBER

[09] TREASURY TO HOLD TWO TENDERS

[10] ''KARTAL-2'' OPERATION IN BURSA

[11] NEW VAT RATES ENTER INTO FORCE IN TRNC

[12] PICASSO'S PAINTING BROUGHT TO URFA

[13] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM DUE IN PALESTINE

[14] LORD NAZIR AHMET MEETS WITH FP LEADER KUTAN

[15] MGK TO CONVENE ON WEDNESDAY

[16] PRESIDENT SEZER RETURNS KHK FOR SECOND TIME -''ACCORDING TO THE PRINCIPLE OF SEPARATION OF POWERS LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIARY USE THEIR SOVEREIGNTY IN THEIR OWN FIELDS''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

OGER:''TOURISM INCOME WOULD REACH 25 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS''
Germany's leading tourism operator Oger-Tur Chairman Vural Oger said there is a potential of 6 million 700 Germans who can visit Turkey in one year. Oger claimed that Turkey's tourism income would reach 25 million U.S. dollars in the next five or six years. Noting that Turkey overcame the crisis it experienced in 1999, Oger said Turkey achieved a big revival in tourism in 2000 through the implementations of the Tourism Ministry.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

TURKEY TO GO ON A G-20 TOUR
A delegation will go to the Canadian capital Toronto on Wednesday to make preparations for the G-20 countries finance ministers and central bank chairmen summit which will be held in October. Strong foreign debt administration, negative effects of globalization on income distribution and poverty and preventing crisis of private sector are some of the topics the delegation members will focus on during their contacts.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

ACTOR NASIT LAID TO REST
Actor Selim Nasit, who passed away on Friday due to pancreas cancer, was laid to rest. A ceremony was held in Taksim State Theatres in Istanbul for Nasit, who died at 72. Following the ceremony, Nasit's body was laid to rest in Zincirlikuyu Cemetery.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

FOREST FIRES
A total of 17 hectares of forest were burnt in fires which broke out in 14 places throughout Turkey. Fire report said that 14 forest fires broke out in Istanbul, Mersin, Zonguldak, Antalya, Mugla, Ankara, Eskisehir, Amasya, Sinop, and Izmir the previous day. The report noted that all fires were taken under control. A total of 21,411 hectares of forest were burnt in 1, 388 fire broke out since the beginning of 2000.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

FLAMES IN AEGEAN
Fire broke out in forested areas in Bodrum, Fethiye and Milas townships of Aegean Mugla province, Ayvacik township of Aegean Canakkale province, and Bergama township of Aegean Izmir province. Two hectares of forest were burnt in Bodrum, 53 hectares of forest were burnt in Milas, 45 hectares of forest were burnt in Fethiye while 27 hectares of forest were burnt in Canakkale.

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

TURKISH SINGER IN MONACO
Turkish pop music singer Ajda Pekkan went to Monaco to give a concert. Prior to her departure, Pekkan said that she will give a concert under the name ''Turkey's Pride'' in Monte Carlo Sporting Music Hall constructed on the sea in Monaco.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

28 DAMS AND HES ARE SOLUTION FOR TURKEY'S ENERGY SHORTAGE
Twenty-eight dams and the Hydro-Electric Power Plant (HES) are expected to be built before 2009. When all these projects are completed, they will produce 24,792 megawatt/hour energy annually. The dams will be built in Artvin, Hakkari, Elazig, Mus, Gumushane, Sirnak, Siirt, Rize, Erzincan, Karaman, Eskisehir, Bingol, Sanliurfa, Tunceli, Erzurum and Icel.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

POSITIVE INDICATIONS IN TOURISM
Turkish tourism is reviving through a series of correct decisions. The increase in the number of tourists is 39,7 percent this year. Authorities are expecting 25 billion U.S. dollars of income from tourism in the next five years. In the first six months of 2000, Turkey was visited by 3 million 910 tourists. Most of these visitors came from Germany and Russia.

[02] WATER POLO: INTERNATIONAL ISPOLO TOURNAMENT -TURKEY BECOMES FIRST

Turkey drew with Romania 4-4 on the last day of the tournament.

As Turkey recorded one victory and one draw, it ranked at the first place in the end of the tournament.

Romania came the second, Belarus became the third, and Israel ranked the fourth in the end of the tournament.

[03] BAHCELI:''WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL NOT TO LET DESTRUCTIVE AND SEPARATIST ELEMENTS SURVIVE IN OUR STATE''

''The basics of justice is to punish the guilty and protect the innocent,'' Bahceli said. ''There is no reason for people who were never involved in separatist activities to feel uncomfortable regarding the regulations that are brought. Especially, there is no reason for our religious citizens to feel any doubt.''

Bahceli said Turkey should achieve eliminating threats directed against it without damaging the principles of deocracy and state of law. He added that Turkey, despite all the difficulties it faces, will continue to strengthen the state of law and also fight against the separatist powers.

''The recent incidents have showed that the truth is not perceived very well or it is not known... One should guess well where those who want to change or totally lift the Article 312 of the Turkish Penalty Law want to reach in the end. Those who criticize the Turkish nationalism or the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) will be ashamed in front of the nation tomorrow like they were yesterday.''

Dwelling on the Turkish economy, Bahceli said the economy which was already shrinking became even worse after the earthquakes and added that ''the MHP put itself under a big load in this period.''

Noting that the 57th government achieved significant reforms, Bahceli said there is an increase in industrial production and the inflation rate started to decline. ''The drop in the inflation and interest will encourage investments and unemployment will decrease,'' he added.

There are certain people in Turkey who are bothered by the dropping inflation rate, Bahceli said and also added that some political circles are cooperating with them.

''Social and economic instability are like twins. Therefore, fight against inflation is not enough for us. We should also correct the income distribution and maintain social justice,'' he said.

[04] GAZIANTEP EXPORTS 5,7 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR FLOUR

In accordance with the figures of Southeastern Anatolia Exporters Union, the flour exports of Gaziantep decreased 53 percent in seven months of 2000 when compared with the same period in 1999.

Gaziantep exported 60 thousand 306 tons of flour in return of 12 million 221 thousand U.S. dollars in first seven months of 1999.

Iraq, Iran and Azerbaijan ranked at the first place in flour exports of Gaziantep.

[05] TURKEY'S RATING NOTE

In accordance with the information that A.A correspondent obtained from Moody's recent analysis, there can be an increase in Turkey's rating in the short term, and criteria required for this increase are observed.

Moody's analysis said that the government is backed by great deal of parliament and that Turkey started to be observed on July 24 for a possible increase in its rating.

The analysis noted that in parallel to decrease in interest rates, the inflation has a decreasing tendency.

But, it is hard to reach 20 percent inflation rate in consumer prices index (CPI) in the end of this year, the analysis said.

The analysis stated that to make the decrease in inflation and interest rates lasting, financial adjustment, structural reforms and privatizations should be materialized.

The growth in current balance deficit, the increase in foreign borrowing, continuation of sensitivity of public finance towards domestic and foreign shocks are the issues that concern the organization, the analysis stressed.

Moody's analysis emphasized that Turkey's European Union (EU) candidacy is very important and said that the candidacy process will be a motivation for Turkey to continue its reforms.

Moody's had not changed Turkey's rating which was ''B1'' last November but changed its economic appearance from ''stable'' to ''positive.''

[06] 50 PERCENT OF TOURISTS ENTER TURKEY FROM ANTALYA MERKEZ AND ISTANBUL ATATURK AIRPORTS IN FIRST SIX MONTHS OF YEAR

According to the State Statistic Institute (DIE), 1 million 39,341 foreign tourists entered the country from Antalya Merkez Airport which is 26.6 percent of all tourists who visited the country during this time.

A total of 923,031 tourists entered Turkey from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport which constitutes 23.6 percent of the tourists.

In the same period, 341,056 foreign visitors entered the country from Edirne's Kapikule border gate.

Below are the other points of entrance and the number of tourists who entered Turkey from these points:

Mugla Dalaman Airport 237,182

Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport 151,220

Aydin-Kusadasi (by ship) 136,678

Mugla Milas-Bodrum Airport 125,924

Kirklareli-Derekoy border gate 100,649

Edirne-Ipsala border gate 86,801

Kilis-Oncupinar border gate 86,685

[07] URGUP MAYOR ODEMIS TO REQUEST SUPPORT OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS FOR INCLUSION OF CAPPADOCIA AMONG NEW SEVEN WONDERS OF WORLD CANDIDATES

Odemis told A.A correspondent on Monday that they have launched a campaign titled ''There Is No Other Cappadocia In the World'' to enable Cappadocia be included among the candidates for new seven wonders of the world survey launched by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Odemis noted that besides foreign press organs, they will wrote letters to Bartholomeos I, the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch, Mesrob Mutafyan, the Armenian Patriarch, and the Pope, the spiritual leader of the Catholics.

This opportunity should be seized to introduce Cappadocia and to make it one of the important tourism centers, Odemis stated.

Odemis added, ''we hope the unique natural beauties in Cappadocia will be appreciated as one of the seven wonders of the world.''

[08] ''MILLENIUM SUMMIT'' IS MOST IMPORTANT MEETING THAT U.N. WILL HOLD IN SEPTEMBER

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will represent Turkey in this summit which will be held between September 6 and 8.

Heads of state and government of 188 countries, will attend the meeting that will be held in New York.

Sezer will make a speech in the summit.

Following this summit, foreign ministers annual meeting will be held.

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will represent Turkey in this meeting.

Cem will hold bilateral contacts with his counterparts, including Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, during this annual meeting.

The ''Parliament Speakers Conference'' organized jointly by the U.N. and Interparliamentary Union (IPU) will start in New York on August 30 and continue until September 1.

Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut will represent Turkey in this meeting.

Akbulut will address the conference on August 31 and hold bilateral contacts with other parliament speakers.

Parliament speakers of 150 countries will attend the conference, the main theme of which will be the parliamentary vision and international cooperation in the threshold of third millenium.

One of the September meetings that has importance for Turkey is the fourth round of Cyprus proximity talks held under auspices of U.N.

The proximity talks will start on September 12 and continue until October.

Rauf Denktas, the President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration, will attend the proximity talks.

Alvaro De Soto, the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus, will conduct the talks.

[09] TREASURY TO HOLD TWO TENDERS

The Treasury will arrange one 11-month bond tender and 18-month debenture bond tender.

The value date of 11-day bond tender will be August 23 and the maturity will be July 18, 2001.

The Treasury foresees a net sale between 850 trillion Turkish liras (TL)to 1.1 quadrillion TL in this tender.

The value date of the 18-month bond tender will be August 23 and the maturity will be February 20, 2002.

Also, the Treasury foresees a net sale between 850 trillion and 1.1 quadrillion TL in this tender.

The Treasury will repay 4 quadrillion 248.5 trillion TL domestic debt on August 23.

[10] ''KARTAL-2'' OPERATION IN BURSA

Necip O., the President of the Executive Board of Marmara Textile Inc., Mustak B., Executive Board member, Ejder O., Financial Consultant and Cevdet A., the Financial Consultant were firstly sent to Forensic Medicine.

After the health examination there, the suspects were transferred to the judiciary and they started to give testimony to the prosecutor on duty.

[11] NEW VAT RATES ENTER INTO FORCE IN TRNC

Hudaverdi Ekemen, the Director of Incomes and Tax Department of TRNC said that the new VAT rates will be implemented as 0,3,9,13 and 20 percent according to the different goods and services.

Turkish Cypriots rushed to markets on Sunday and bought their needs before the new VAT rates entered into force.

Various sections of society reacted to the new VAT rates.

[12] PICASSO'S PAINTING BROUGHT TO URFA

Sanlıurfa police chief Sedat Hasay said that M.T., B.Y. and İ.K. were captured upon the claims saying that the painting would be sold in Sanlıurfa.

Hasay noted that four other persons were captured, adding that one of them confessed that he had the painting in Hatay. The police teams went to Hatay, found it and brought it to Sanlıurfa, Hasay added.

Hasay noted that İ.K. purchased the painting from peshmergas in Northern Iraq and brought it to Turkey.

''This painting was completed in the year 1903 in Barcelona city of Spain and its market price is guessed to be 17 million dollars,'' he noted adding that there was no relation between these persons and the suspects who were earlier captured while trying to sell another painting of Picasso in western Izmir province.

The painting had been stolen from Kuwait.

[13] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM DUE IN PALESTINE

Diplomatic sources said on Monday that Cem will come together with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in Gazza.

Cem will convey the evaluations of Turkey about the Middle East Peace Process and exchange views with Arafat.

Arafat came to Turkey on August 5 to get support for the Palestinian casue.

[14] LORD NAZIR AHMET MEETS WITH FP LEADER KUTAN

Chatting with Kutan before the meeting, Lord Ahmet said that he came to Turkey as a friend, not as a respresentative of any political party or mentality. Britain supports the entrance of Turkey to the European Union (EU), Ahmet said and noted that he could criticize some points as a brother, but this can't harm brotherhood.

Nazır Ahmet denied the claims saying he said ''fortunately I am not Turk,'' stressing that ''I am here as a friend of Turks.''

Upon a question, Ahmet said that the British Embassy in Ankara is informed about his visit to Turkey, adding that he went to the Embassy the same morning.

Ahmet noted that there is no conflict between his views and the views of the Embassy, noting that he will meet with the officials of the British Foreign Ministry when he returns to his country.

The meeting was later closed to the press.

Before meeting with Kutan, Lord Ahmet also meet with Saffet Arıkan Beduk, the True Path Party (DYP) Acting Group Chairman. No statement was issued after the meeting.

Meanwhile it was noted that Lord Ahmet also wanted to meet with the ANAP acting group leaders, but as they were outside Ankara, that meeting couldn't be held.

[15] MGK TO CONVENE ON WEDNESDAY

The monthly meeting of MGK will start at 09.30 a.m.

The issues at the agenda will be discussed at the meeting.

Meanwhile Land Forces Commander Gen. Atilla Ates and Gendarme General Commander Gen. Rasim Betir will participate in the MGK meeting for the last time because they will retire as of August 30.

[16] PRESIDENT SEZER RETURNS KHK FOR SECOND TIME -''ACCORDING TO THE PRINCIPLE OF SEPARATION OF POWERS LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIARY USE THEIR SOVEREIGNTY IN THEIR OWN FIELDS''

''The laws and KHKs are different from each other, as the latter was not covered by the rule of publishing the laws,'' Sezer said.

Sezer stressed that the view saying that the President should sign the decrees submitted by the government to him without discussing them, is not true within the rules of the parliamentary regime.

''The President is obliged not to sign a draft decree having the force of law which contradicts with the Constitution,'' he noted.

''Article 6 of the Constitution says that ''Sovereignty is vested in the nation without reservation or condition. The missions of the legislative, executive and the Judicial powers were explained by Articles 7,8 and 9 of the Constitution. The principle of separation of powers was adopted in the Constitution. According to this principle, these three powers use their sovereignty in their own fields and they don't intervene with the missions of each other. Article 89 and 104/b of the Consitution empowers the President to 'promulgate' not sign or approve the laws. Decrees are prepared by the executive power, thus the KHKs are related to the 'regime of decrees' in respect of method. Article 104 of the Constitution talks about the mission of a President to issue KHKs and sign decrees. The thing foreseen by the promulgation of 'signing decrees'' is not only a mission, but also an authority. Article 8 of the Constitution says that the excutive power will be carried out by the President and the Council of Ministers. We can't regard one head of the executive power as the 'authority' and the other one as the 'official' who is in charge of signing the decrees prepared by the former. Article 104 of the Constitution talks about 'duties and powers' of the President. Thus, signing the decrees is both a duty and an authority. A Constitutional Court decision dated 27.04,1993 noted that the office of presidency is not an office of only ''approval'' and ''promulgation.''

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