Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-08-30

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

30

AUGUST 2000 Wednesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] PRESIDENT SEZER TO MEET WITH U.S. PRESIDENT CLINTON IN NEW YORK

[03] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS SAYS HE WOULD DEFEND TRNC IN NEW YORK ON SEPTEMBER 9

[04] 78TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREAT VICTORY CELEBRATED

[05] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AKBULUT:''LIMITING THE PRESIDENT'S POWER CAN BE DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENT AFTER DECREE''

[06] 79 BUILDINGS IN BEYPAZARI DAMAGED DURING EARTHQUAKE ON AUGUST 22

[07] FINANCIAL SECTOR ADJUSTMENT LOAN -WORLD BANK CAN GIVE 20 MILLION DOLLARS TO BANKING REGULATION AND INSPECTION COUNCIL

[08] TURKISH EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. SENDS PROTEST LETTER TO DALLAS MORNING NEWS

[09] TURKEY'S THIRD SATELLITE TO BE LAUNCHED SOON

[10] DPT TO START REGIONAL MEETINGS

[11] GROUP OF 104 MOUNTAINEERS REACH AGRI'S SUMMIT

[12] 30 AUGUST-VICTORY DAY CELEBRATED IN TRNC -TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS:''TODAY IS TURKS' DAY OF PRIDE''

[13] BELGIAN FM CONFIRMS TRIAL OF ERDAL IN BELGIUM

[14] 38 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED ON TURKEY-IRAN BORDER

[15] GERMAN CHIEF PROSECUTORSHIP FILES A SUIT ABOUT SOCALLED COORDINATOR OF TERRORIST PKK

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

TEMPERATURES TO RISE
The rainy and cool wheather which took control in Turkey for a certain period of time will go away and the temperatures will rise again as of Thursday. The temperatrues will increase by 10-12 degrees.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

THREE FORMULAS FOR ERDAL
The Belgian government convened in an extraordinary session to solve the problem of Fehriye Erdal, one of the suspects of Ozdemir Sabancı assassination in Turkey. They focused on three proposals, firstly to evaluate the extradition of Erdal in return of the crime file that will come from Turkey. Secondly they thought of sending her to another country. Thirdly they thought they could try her in Belgium.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

WE ARE DETERMINED ABOUT OMBUDSMAN
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that they are determined about the ombudsman system. Ecevit didn't deny the news saying that this post would be proposed to Suleyman Demirel, but he said that ''we didn't discuss the details that much.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

NEW DEFENSE PROJECTS WITH ISRAEL ON THE WAY
Turkish authorities told Israeli Prime Minister Barak during his visit to Ankara that Turkey did not exclude Israel from its defense biddings. Turkish authorities stated that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will be renewed in the next 20 years which will cost 150 billion U.S. dollars and assured Barak that Turkey also expects Israel to participate in the biddings. National Defense Minister Cakmakoglu said the cooperation between the two countries cannot be limited with only a few projects.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

INSPECTION ON HEAD OFFICIALS
Those head officals who don't participite in receptions if alcholic drinks are given to people, who don't shake hands with women and who take medical report from doctors on national days will be inspected by the governors from now on. A total of ''253 head officials who extend support to fundamentalist activities in 37 provinces'' will be appointed to provinces where there are authoritarian governors.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

HOPE FOR LOW INFLATION IN AUGUST
There are expectations for low inflation rate in August. Researchers are expecting the wholesale prices between 0.8 and 1.7 percent. Last year in August wholesale prices was 3,3 percent. Experts are expecting the consumer prices to be between 1 and 3,5 percent this months which was 4,2 percent last August.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

THIRD APPOINTMENT WITH IMF
A delegation headed by IMF Turkey Chief Carlo Cottarelli is coming to Turkey on Wednesday for a third review. The IMF delegation will start its contacts with State Minister Recep Onal and Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp on August 31, Thursday. Cottarelli said Turkey representative Odd Per Brekk has completed his preliminary studies on economic data, therefore their visit would be more productive.

[02] PRESIDENT SEZER TO MEET WITH U.S. PRESIDENT CLINTON IN NEW YORK

The date and time of President Sezer's meeting with U.S. President Clinton is expected to become clear within few days.

Clinton-Sezer meeting will be the first high ranking meeting between Turkey and the U.S. following the election of Sezer as the President.

[03] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS SAYS HE WOULD DEFEND TRNC IN NEW YORK ON SEPTEMBER 9

''This is a defense of freedom. People who formed a state would confront all difficulties to make that state survive,'' Denktas said. Noting that they left behind bad days, Denktas said ''with Turkey's help, they will reach even better days.''

''Like it happened during the War of Independence, there could be people who are against the struggle but they should not break people away from the right path,'' he said. ''Our road is Ataturk's road, it is the road to independence. We will walk hand in hand on this road.''

Dwelling on the economic issues, Denktas said they would overcome economic troubles also through the help of Turkey. ''But we should also work to do better in our country. We should do that by not giving empty promises to people but by doing sacrifice. We cannot go back,'' he stated.

Criticizing those who spoke against Turkey, Denktas said, their efforts are in vain. ''What they are doing is openly serving to Greek Cypriots,'' Denktas said.

Noting that people want unity, Denktas said if Turkey leaves Cyprus alone, they will end up in ''mass graves.''

People are concerned about the money, and some circles are abusing this situation, Denktas said and asked people not to lose faith in the state.

[04] 78TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREAT VICTORY CELEBRATED

Chief of General Staff Huseyin Kivrikoglu, Land Forces Commander Hilmi Ozkok, Naval Forces Commander Ilhami Erdil, Air Forces Commander Ergin Celasin, Gendarme General Commander Aytac Yalman and National Security Council Secretary General Cumhur Asparuk attended the ceremony.

After laying a wreath on Ataturk's tomb, Kivrikoglu signed the special book of the mausoleum.

''The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) which has become the most modern and powerful armed forces of its region will continue to protect Turkey against enemies inside and outside Turkey and it will deserve the trust of the Turkish nation,'' Kivrikoglu wrote. ''The Turkish Armed Forces is always in the service of the Turkish nation as an assurance of democratic and secular state and the state of law.''

[05] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AKBULUT:''LIMITING THE PRESIDENT'S POWER CAN BE DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENT AFTER DECREE''

Akbulut who attended the Parliament Speakers Meeting in New York told A.A correspondent that Turkey should decide what is good for it in terms of political stability among various kinds of presidential systems. He said it is too early to say if the necessary majority will exist for a constitutional change or not. He also noted that he has not yet decided whether he should be a candidate to become the Parliament Speaker or not.

''President Sezer, during the speeches he gave before he was elected, stated that the president has too much power which contradicts with the parliamentarian system,'' Akbulut said. ''Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit also said that the president's power should be reconsidered. The government and the president agree on this matter.''

''The executive organ belongs to the president and the government according to the existing Constitutution,'' Akbulut went on to say. ''The presidency could become symbolical or it could stay as it is. If it stays as it is, people will discuss if Turkey should switch to presidential or semi- presidential system.'' Refraining to state his own personal opinion on this issue, Akbulut said Turkey should decide which is more beneficial for it.

When asked what would happen if the decree regarding the civil servants is sent to the Parliament, Akbulut said ''it is possible that the decree might pass as a law.'' ''But it doesn't seem very easy,'' he said.

Responding to a question on the general situation of the country, Akbulut said the government is implementing the disinflation programme to recover economy. ''Even if the inflation ends up being one or two points over the targeted rate, it can be considered as a good result. The interest rates have dropped and the budget deficit can be kept at a reasonable level. Therefore I approve the government's decision,'' Akbulut said.

However, he said, ''the economic measures are putting pressure on people with fixed income such as villagers, civil servants, workers and retirees. The government should also take measures which will help to recover their situation.''

[06] 79 BUILDINGS IN BEYPAZARI DAMAGED DURING EARTHQUAKE ON AUGUST 22

Housing Directorate stated on Wednesday that two buildings were heavily damaged, seven buildings suffered moderate damage while 71 of them suffered only minor damage.

Among the public buildings, Urus Merkez Primary School and Urus Health Center were damaged. Authorities decided on the area where prefabricated buildings will be erected to replace these two damaged buildings.

National Education Director Zeki Eryucel said they will build a prefabricated school with eight classrooms. Since the cosntruction of the prefabricated school will not end before the schools open, Eryucel said they are considering to send children to various schools in the city center of Beypazari until the prefabricated school is ready.

People who were affected by the quake were distributed 150 packs of non- perishable food which was sent to the region by Ankara Governor's Office.

[07] FINANCIAL SECTOR ADJUSTMENT LOAN -WORLD BANK CAN GIVE 20 MILLION DOLLARS TO BANKING REGULATION AND INSPECTION COUNCIL

Speaking to A.A correspondent, Raina, who heads the World Bank and the IMF delegation which prepared the report on Turkey's financial sector, said that the government promised to privatize public banks and they expect this promise to be fulfilled.

The only impediment that stands in front of the Financial Sector Adjustment Loan (FSAL) is the issue regarding the privatization of public banks, Raina said and pointed out that the credit is kept waited for that purpose. ''If the legal regulation is made on the issue, the loan will be released,'' Raina noted.

The World Bank Executive Directors will free the first part of the loan which is 390 million dollars when the legal regulation about public banks is undertaken. If the all regulations within the financial sector are completed, the second half of the loan will also be given to Turkey.

Meanwhile the FSAL was increased by 20 million dollars and it reached 780 million dollars. Officials pointed out that this credit of 20 million dollars can be given to the Banking Regulation and Inspection Council.

[08] TURKISH EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. SENDS PROTEST LETTER TO DALLAS MORNING NEWS

The letter said ''the article was a sad example of research journalism.'' The letter which was signed by the Undersecretary Namik Tan said the article titled ''Secret War-The Kurds'' was overshadowed by the journalist's prejudices.

The article referred to people of Kurdish origin in Turkey as ''the suppressed minority which is exposed to discrimination.'' Tan said ''on the contrary, Turkey respects the ethnical variety of its citizens. ''Including our Kurdish citizens, there are 26 ethnic groups which enjoy the same rights and responsibilities with the rest of the society. They participate in all levels of public and social live.''

Responding to the article's accusation over human rights violations in Turkey, Tan said the article does not even mention the PKK terrorism which cost the lives of innocent civilians. He said fight against terrorism is Turkey's moral obligation.

The article which refers to South East Turkey as ''Kurdistan'' claimed that freedom of expression is oppressed by the government in Turkey. Noting that these accusations are baseless, Tan said ''the official language of Turkey is Turkish. However, there are 28 radio stations and five tv channels broadcasting in Kurdish as well as many Kurdish newspapers and magazines.''

Tan, responding to the article which said Ataturk's ideology was ''impossible'', said that Ataturk aimed to create a Turkish identity which embraces all citizens and it helped to form a modern and secular state.

[09] TURKEY'S THIRD SATELLITE TO BE LAUNCHED SOON

Turk Telekom General Director Hakki Alpturk told A.A correspondent that Turksat 2A will be placed next to Turksat 1 C and will cover the area from the west of Europe to the Chinese Wall.

Since Turksat 2B and Turksat 1C are on different eclipses, they cannot be used as alternatives for each other but Turksat 2A and Turksat 1C could be used as alternatives when a glitch occurs in one of them.

Since there are other satellites waiting to be launched, Turksat 2A will wait for its turn, Alpturk explained. ''It is expected to be launched in September but there could be a few days delay. Weather conditions should also be favourable.''

Turksat 2A will be Europe's biggest satellite in terms of it covering range and power.

[10] DPT TO START REGIONAL MEETINGS

The proposals for solution of the problems in the region will be evaluated in Erzurum meeting and in Diyarbakır meeting on September 5.

State Minister and Deputy Premier Devlet Bahceli, some ministers and a delegation composed of the concerned ministries and public institutions are expected to attend the meeting in Erzurum.

Meanwhile eight experts groups composed of 70 experts completed the first stage of their study in 21 provinces namely Agrı, Ardahan, Artvin, Bayburt, Erzurum, Erzincan, Gumushane, Igdır, Kars, Batman, Bingol, Bitlis, Diyarbakır, Elazıg, Hakkari, Mardin, Mus, Siirt, Sırnak, Tunceli and Van.

The 8th Five Years Development Plan attributes great importance to plannings in regions and provinces when compared to the previous plans.

[11] GROUP OF 104 MOUNTAINEERS REACH AGRI'S SUMMIT

The climb was a part of the activities of the Victory Week. The mountaineers started climbing from 4,200 meters at early morning hours.

The first team of 40 mountaineers which reached the summit observed a minute of silence for the memory of Ataturk and others who lost their lives in war and sang the National Anthem.

Mountaineering Federation Chairman Alaattin Karaca told A.A correspondent that they are climbed in separate groups since they were 104 people.

For the first time such a large group of mountaineers climbed Agri. The group was formed by mountaineers from Turkey, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Israel, Yugoslavia, Russia, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Ukraine, and Pakistan.

[12] 30 AUGUST-VICTORY DAY CELEBRATED IN TRNC -TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS:''TODAY IS TURKS' DAY OF PRIDE''

The first ceremony in Lefkosa was held at Ataturk Monument. The Special Book of the Monument was signed by TRNC President Rauf Denktas, the Turkish Ambassador to Cyprus Ertugrul Apakan and the Turkish Cypriot Peace Forces Commander General Sukru Sarıısık.

Denktas stressed in the Special Book that today is the victory day of the Turks, adding that 30 August is the opening door to the Republic.

Ertugrul Apakan, the Turkish Ambassador to TRNC said in his part that 30 August is the day which changed the fate of the Turkish nation, adding that the Turkish nation continues its resolved attitude of reaching the modern civilization level.

General Sarıısık said in his part that 30 August is not only the holiday of the Turkish nation, but of all the nations which lived under the slavery of other countries.

The Victory Day is celebrated on the whole TRNC with various activities.

[13] BELGIAN FM CONFIRMS TRIAL OF ERDAL IN BELGIUM

Following the publication of the news by a Belgian newspaper the same day, the Belgian Foreign Ministry noted that Erdal would be tried in Belgium for forming a gang, carrying unlicensed gun and forgery.

De Financieel Ecomische Tijd newspaper, which is published in Belgium said the same day on its first page that the Belgian government decided to try Erdal in Belgium.

[14] 38 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED ON TURKEY-IRAN BORDER

Thirty-seven of the immigrants were Afghanian including women and children. There was also one Bangladeshi man among the immigrants.

The immigrants, during their interrogation, said they fleed from Taliban's administration in Afghanistan.

[15] GERMAN CHIEF PROSECUTORSHIP FILES A SUIT ABOUT SOCALLED COORDINATOR OF TERRORIST PKK

Chief Prosecutorship said that Sait H. who was 35 years old, undertook the task of coordinatorship in seven regions of Germany on behalf of the terrorist PKK organization since December 1999.

The statement noted that the suspect organized political activities, collected money from people by force and determined the socalled administrators of the PKK.

Sait H. who was arrested in March this year, entered Germany by a false passport in May last year.

Sait H. is also accused of bringing other members of the terrorist organization through illegal ways to Germany.

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