Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-09-14

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

14 SEPTEMBER 2000 Thursday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on Sept 14, 2000. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Arrest warrant, issued by Edremit Prosecutor on Wednesday, against Necmettin Erbakan, former leader of the banned Welfare Party (RP), who was sentenced to one year imprisonment terms, confused the things. Edremit Gendarmerie Forces said in a written statement that Erbakan was not found at his residence in Altinoluk on Wednesday.

Later, Ankara Republican Chief Prosecutor's Office postponed the execution of one-year imprisonment sentence given to Erbakan for four months in return for 200 million lira guarantee.

THE HAPPIEST DAY OF DENKTAS

Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) became happy following the statements of Kofi Annan, the U.N. Secteray General, stressing the equality of the sides on the island. Meanwhile, Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration, did not attend the first meeting.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Great Domains.com, the world's biggest company which markets names on the internet, is marketing the name ''Turkey.com'' for 7 million U.S. dollars. Turkey.com which is owned by the Seattle based Paley Communications firm has been providing information on Turkey on the internet. The company bought the name Turkey.com on May 18, 1995 for 35 U.S. dollars a year.

Among other names marketed by Great Domains, there are America.com for 30 million U.S. dollars, Russia.com for 7,5 million U.S. dollars, Sweden.com for 7 milliion U.S. dollars, and Greece.dom for 2,5 million U.S. dollars.

107 MEASURES TO THE SOUTHEAST

All the institutions of the state worked for the region. It was revealed that most of the people wanted a ''strong, just and compassionate state.'' The problems have been divided into eight main groups. Position of the terrorist PKK organization and economic problems have been discussed. The plan, prepared for the solution of the problems, has been put into enforcement. According to the plan, public administration will be strengthened, village guards will not be put into a difficult situation, Business Organization will be set up, irrigated agriculture will be made, and personnel deficit problem will be solved by providing the personnel to work in rotation.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Carlo Cottarelli, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Turkey Desk Chief, praised Turkish government and economy at a meeting where he attended in London on Wednesday. Cottarelli said inflation reduced to the lowest level since 1986, adding that achieving such a success despite the oil crisis, is a result of the resoved and serious implementations of the government. Cottarelli said there was no difference of opinion between them and the government.

TURKISH COMPANY TO EXTRACT AZERI OIL

Petoil, private Turkish oil company, Tuesday signed an agreement worth of 178 million U.S. dollars, with the Azeri government and a U.S. company to extract oil from Azerbaijan's Kalameddin-Misovdag region.

Under the agreement, Petoil and Moncrief Oil will have 42.5 percent share, and Socar will have 15 percent share.

John Wolf, the U.S. President Bill Clinton's energy representative to Caspian basin; Vilayet Guliyev, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister; Naci Saribas, Undersecretary of Turkey's Embassy in Washington; and three U.S. senators attended the signing ceremony.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

As discussions are underway regarding who threw the poisonous barrels to the Black Sea which threatened the nature and human life in Sinop province and environs, Fevzi Aytekin, the Environment Minister, disclosed the facts 12 years after.

In a response which Aytekin gave to the interrogation motion given by the Virtue Party (FP) Parliamentarian Musa Uzunkaya, he said the barrels were brought by the ships named AKBAY-1 and Corina from Italy's Marine di Carara and Goiggio harbours to Romania's Sulina Free Zone in 1987. Aytekin said, ''it was determined by evidences that the barrels were loaded to Turkish ships having Panama flag under the control of Italian chemists, in July- August 1988, and left to the Black Sea.''

WORLD BANK CALLS FOR STRICT MEASURES

The World Bank wanted the taxes, issued in the year 2000, to be continuous, and also wanted privatization in social security, health, agriculture, energy and communication. The World Bank demanded unemployment insurance and severance pay to be lifted.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

For 15 years, it has been said education in the East could not be improved because of terrorism; however, although violence ended, nothing changed. According to the data of Education Union (Egitim-Sen), the East entered to the new education year with 3,500 closed schools. A total of 34 percent of the population inthe East does not know reading and writing. There is a need for 14,000 teachers, and there are 80 students in a classroom.

DENKTAS VERY HAPPY

Turkish side welcomed the statement of Kofi Annan, the U.N. Secretary General, stressing the equality of the sides on Cyprus. Annan, speaking before the fourth round of proximity talks on Cyprus, pointed out that everybody represents his own side, and they are equal politically. Rauf Denktas, the President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Ankara were after this statement for years.

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

Elmas Guzelyurtlu, owner of Everestbank, which was confiscated in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), emptied the bank and sheltered to the Greek Cypriots saying he ''escaped from the occupiers.''

Guzelyurtlu, who was missing for 48 hours, was revealed to flee to the Greek Cypriot side. Guzelyurtlu pumped 24 trillion lira of the 12,000 TRNC citizens to his companies before he fled.

Guzelyurtlu who also wanted ''protection,'' from the Greek Cypriot administration, was sent to a third country which was not disclosed.

BURHAN ESEN FROM DYP RESIGNS AND JOINS ANAP

Burhan Esen, a deputy from Batman, resigned on Wednesday from the True Path Party (DYP) and joined the Motherland Party (ANAP).

After resignation of Isen, number of DYP deputies decreased to 84 while number of ANAP deputies increased to 88.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff, visited the house of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of the Modern Turkish Republic, in Salonica in Greece. Kivrikoglu said, ''it is impossible not to feel excitement after visiting such a place.''

Kivrikoglu is in Greece to attend NATO Military Committee meeting.

AUTUMN EFFORTS IN TOURISM

As Turkish tourism breaks records in 2000 summer, it was reported that winter tourism may also break records following the influential promotions.

Huseyin Baraner, General Adviser of Oger Tour, pointed out that Turkish tourism recorded a great success this year, adding that this will continue in winter months. ''A total of 100 German tourists made reservations to Oger Tour only for October. Many tourists from Germany will visit Turkey in winter.''

OCTOBER AGENDA OF THE PARLIAMENT IS INTENSE

Turkish Parliament will start its new legislation year on October 1 following three months recess. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will address the opening of the meeting.

Following the opening of Legislation Year, General Assembly will give 10 days break to its works, and during this period, the candidates will apply to become Parliament Speaker.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

A legal mistake, which will interrupt Turkey's efforts to be a full member of the EU, was prevented at the last minute with the common will of Hikmet Sami Turk, the Justice Minister. The arrest warrant which Ibrahim Can Demircioglu, the Edremit Prosecutor, issued against Necmettin Erbakan, former leader of the banned Welfare Party (RP), and that genderma forces were looking for Erbakan fell like a bomb to the agenda of the country. Political and legal circles agreed that the EU process will be wounded in case the decision was implemented.

-PROXIMITY TALKS ON CYPRUS

-DENKTAS:''WE WILL CONTINUE THE TALKS TODAY''

NEW YORK, Sept 14 (A.A) - Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Wednesday met with Alvaro de Soto, special representative of Kofi Annan, the U.N. Secretary General, to Cyprus.

Speaking after the meeting which lasted one hour and 15 minutes, Denktas said, ''we will continue the talks on Thursday.''

Glafcos Clerides, leader of the Greek Cypriot administration, refused to take part in the U.N. talks, and sent a letter seeking clarification from Annan regarding a statement issued by the secreteray-general yesterday.

Greek Cypriot sources said Secretary General will absolutely respond to the letter of Clerides, and defended that withdrawal of Greek Cypriot side from the talks was out of question.

Meanwhile, it was claimed that Annan said he ''backed up his statements,'' following the reactions coming from the Greek Cypriot side.

However, the U.N. Spokesmen said they were not in a position to confirm that Annan made such a statement.

-BILATERAL TALKS OF FM CEM IN NEW YORK

NEW YORK - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, currently in New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly 55th term works, held separate meetings with the foreign ministers of Cuba, Syria, Mexico, Slovenia, and Jordan.

Huseyin Dirioz, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, said bilateral relations between Turkey and those countries were discussed during the meetings.

Pointing out that Felipe Perez Roque, the Foreign Minister of Cuba, will visit Turkey at the beginning of next year, Dirioz said exerting joint efforts for the success of the Middle East peace process was discussed in Cem's meeting with Faruq Al-Shara, the Syrian Foreign Minister.

Dirioz said works are under way on the ''principles document,'' which will determine the framework of relations between Turkey and Syria.

Dirioz said Alojz Peterle, the Slovenian Minister, called for Turkey's support regarding his country's membership to the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to NATO, adding that regional develoments and the Middle East peace process were discussed during Cem's meeting with Abdulilah Hatib, the Foreign Minister of Jordan.

-FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN NEW YORK

-CEM MEETS WITH HIS FRENCH AND MACEDONIAN COUNTERPARTS

NEW YORK - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem continues his bilateral contacts in parallel to the U.N. General Assembly works.

Foreign Minister Cem met with Alexandr Dimitrov, the Macedonian Foreign Minister, and Hubert Vedrine, the French Foreign Minister, as well as Chris Patten, the European Union (EU) Commission's member responsible for Foreign Relations, on Wednesday afternoon.

Turkish-Greek relations, Caucasus, and the situation in the Balkans were discussed during Cem-Vedrine meeting. Speaking at the meeting, Cem conveyed Turkey's sensitivity over the draft bill on so-called genocide on Armenians. Meanwhile, the French Foreign Minister reiterated that they were against legalization of such a draft bill.

It was also reported that Cem and Vedrine reached consensus to continue contacts within the preparation process of accession partnership document.

Huseyin Dirioz, the Foreign Ministry Spokesman, pointed out that increase of investments to the Balkans, and cooperation issues between the EU and the Mediterranean countries were mainly discussed in the meeting of Cem with Chris Patten.

Foreign Minister Cem is scheduled to meet with Javier Solana, the EU Political and Defense Official, the Foreign Ministers of Iraq, Belgium, and Israel, and Kofi Annan, the U.N. Secretary General, on Thursday.

-FOREIGN MINISTER CEM AND TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS MEETS

NEW YORK - Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem met on Wednesday to discuss the recent developments after Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader, refused to take part in the proximity talks on Cyprus. Consultants of Denktas and Cem also attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, Clerides met with George Papandreou, the Greek Foreign Minister. No statement has been issued following the meeting. However, the Greek Cypriot sources claimed that Clerides may not attend the talks unless a statement comes from Kofi Annan, the U.N. Secretary General, regarding the written statement he made on the first day of talks.

Meanwhile, the TRNC President Denktas said he would meet with Alvaro de Soto, Annan's special envoy to Cyprus, on Thursday afternnon.

-PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AKBULUT TO LEAVE FOR BULGARIA ON SEPTEMBER 17

ANKARA - Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut will visit Bulgaria on September 17 as the official guest of Yordan Sokolov, the Parliament Speaker of Bulgaria.

Akbulut and an accompanying delegation will meet with Sokolov on September 18.

Todor Kavalciev, the Acting President, will receive Akbulut the same day. Akbulut will also meet with the Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov and Foreign Minister Nadejda Mihailova.

On September 19, Akbulut will proceed to Plovdiv to meet with Ivan Comakov, the Mayor, and on the last day of his visit to Bulgaria, Akbulut will meet with Stefan Sofiyanski, Sofia's Mayor.

Akbulut is expected to return to Turkey on September 20.

-COUNCIL OF MINISTERS CONVENES

ANKARA - The Council of Ministers convened on Thursday under the leadership of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. The meeting started at 11.05 local time.

Mehmet Kececiler, the State Minister, is expected to brief about the draft decree with the force of law regarding restruction of Customs Undersecretariat.

Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, the National Defense Minister, will give information about the re-structuring of Military Recruitment Office. Meanwhile, Fevzi Aytekin, the Environment Minister, will brief about his visit to Japan.

Husnu Yusuf Gokalp, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, will give information within the framework of agriculture reform works.

The Council of Ministers is also expected to discuss the implementation of the decisions taken in Leaders' Summit which was held on Tuesday to discuss the economic developments.

-''THERE IS NO OTHER CAPPADOCIA IN THE WORLD'' CAMPAIGN

NEVSEHIR - Cappacodia and the Aegean region will have priority in promotion works of the year 2001.

Yusuf Erbay, the Governor of Nevsehir, stressed that Tourism Ministry gave priority to the sun and sea tourism in the Mediterranean region in its promotion program this year, adding that this caused an important increase in number of tourists visiting the Mediterranean region.

Erbay said works will be held to give priority to Cappadocia and the Aegean region which have natural beauties and cultural values.

Pointing out the importance of state-university-private sector cooperation, Erbay said, ''the promotion works will be carried out with the slogan, 'There is No Other Cappadocia in the World,' and that they will exert every kind of efforts.''

-NATO MILITARY COMMITTEE MEETING -NAVAL AND AIR FORCES STAGE JOINT EXERCISE

ISTANBUL - The air and naval elements of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) staged a joint exercise off Tuzla on Thursday within scope of the 139th NATO Military Committee Meeting and 2000 Military Committee Tour's part in Turkey.

The exercise started at 08 a.m. with the arrival of the chiefs oof General Staff of 19 NATO allies at the flag ship TCG Salih Reis Frigate casted off Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul.

The guest chiefs of general staff were briefed on the joint exercise by the Fleet Commandership high-ranking officers.

Chief of General Staff General Huseyin Kivrikoglu and his counterparts later wore the hats given to them by the Fleet Commandership officers.

Later, Salih Reis Frigate which was escorted by TCG Oruc Reis Frigate departed for off Tuzla.

The air and naval elements of the TSK successfuly performed their joint exercise which was watched by the guest chiefs of General Staff.

The land and air elements of the TSK will stage a joint exercise in the Pinarhisar-Kaynarca region in Kirklareli within scope of the NATO Military Committee Meeting later in the day.

-IKV CHAIRMAN MERAL GEZGIN ERIS:''TURKEY HAS TO

REACH THE STANDARTS FORESEEN BY COPENHAGEN CRITERIA''

ISTANBUL - Meral Gezgin Eris, the Chairman of the Economic Development Foundation (IKV) said on Thursday that Turkey has to reach the standarts foreseen by the Copenhagen political and economic criteria, which are a pre- condition of joining the EU.

Staging a press briefing, Meral Gezgin Eris said that Turkey couldn't reach a serious development to abide by Copenhagen criteria in the nine months following the Helsinki summit.

Eris noted that a report listing the measures that should be taken to abide by the political criteria prepared by the Human Rights Coordinator Supreme Board was submitted to the government, but a clear attitude has not been put forward regarding the report as a consensus was not reached between coalition parties.

Eris said that the most important development seen in the economic field is the economic stability programme, adding that success in the economic programme without any deviation carries vital importance.

The ''Accession Partnership Document'' which will determine the fields that have priority within the framework of the Copenhagen criteria will be announced in November, said Eris and noted that the ''financial package'' which will bring all the financial aid to Turkey under one roof will be completed in the same period.

''We expect the EU to prepare the Accession Partnership Document in a way which will act towards Turkey on equal basis with other candidate countries and which will prepare Turkey to full membership negotiations. We also expect the financial package to be prepared in a way which will take into consideration the needs of Turkey as a candidate country. Turkey has to insist on all its demands about the promised financial aid to her,'' he said.

Eris noted that all kinds of financial and technical aid that will support Turkey in her candidacy process carry great importance, adding that the scope and amount of the funds used by Turkey for the moment is very limited.

Turkey is not in the framework of the MEDA programme prepared for the Mediterranean countries and the other candidate countries can benefit from various funds, he said.

Eris noted that an annual national income of 3000 dollars annually and an inflation rate of 50 percent can't enable Turkey integrate with the EU economy. The stability programme should be implemented with resolution, said Eris.

Meral Gezgin Eris said that Mesut Yılmaz, the Deputy Premier and the State Minister has to undertake important missions in the coming period.

-IKV CHAIRMAN MERAL GEZGIN ERIS:''TURKEY HAS TO

REACH THE STANDARTS FORESEEN BY COPENHAGEN CRITERIA''

ISTANBUL - Meral Gezgin Eris, the Chairman of the Economic Development Foundation (IKV) said on Thursday that Turkey has to reach the standarts foreseen by the Copenhagen political and economic criteria, which are a pre- condition of joining the EU.

Staging a press briefing, Meral Gezgin Eris said that Turkey couldn't reach a serious development to abide by Copenhagen criteria in the nine months following the Helsinki summit.

Eris noted that a report listing the measures that should be taken to abide by the political criteria prepared by the Human Rights Coordinator Supreme Board was submitted to the government, but a clear attitude has not been put forward regarding the report as a consensus was not reached between coalition parties.

Eris said that the most important development seen in the economic field is the economic stability programme, adding that success in the economic programme without any deviation carries vital importance.

The ''Accession Partnership Document'' which will determine the fields that have priority within the framework of the Copenhagen criteria will be announced in November, said Eris and noted that the ''financial package'' which will bring all the financial aid to Turkey under one roof will be completed in the same period.

''We expect the EU to prepare the Accession Partnership Document in a way which will act towards Turkey on equal basis with other candidate countries and which will prepare Turkey to full membership negotiations. We also expect the financial package to be prepared in a way which will take into consideration the needs of Turkey as a candidate country. Turkey has to insist on all its demands about the promised financial aid to her,'' he said.

Eris noted that all kinds of financial and technical aid that will support Turkey in her candidacy process carry great importance, adding that the scope and amount of the funds used by Turkey for the moment is very limited.

Turkey is not in the framework of the MEDA programme prepared for the Mediterranean countries and the other candidate countries can benefit from various funds, he said.

Eris noted that an annual national income of 3000 dollars annually and an inflation rate of 50 percent can't enable Turkey integrate with the EU economy. The stability programme should be implemented with resolution, said Eris.

Meral Gezgin Eris said that Mesut Yılmaz, the Deputy Premier and the State Minister has to undertake important missions in the coming period.

-FOURTH INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY CONGRESS CONTINUES

ANKARA - The Fourth International Economy Congress at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara continues.

Akiva Offenbacher from the Israeli Central Bank who participated in Thursday's session as a speaker gave information about the Israeli experience which constitutes an example for the strategy about transition from stability program based on foreign exchange currency to the inflation target.

Professor Benjamin Friedman from the Harvard University talked in another session presided by Central Bank Governor Gazi Ercel and gave information about the threats against the monetary policy of the electronic period in banking.

-ISO PRESIDENT KAVI:

''FIRST HALF OF 2001 IS THE MOST IMPORTANT

PERIOD OF THE THREE YEAR ECONOMIC PROGRAMME''

ISTANBUL - Husamettin Kavi, the President of the Istanbul Industry Chamber (ISO) Executive Board said on Thursday that the first half of the 2001 year is the most important period of the three-year economic programme.

Kavi said that there is no need for revision in the programme, adding that the budget planning of the 2001 year should take into consideration the existing structure of the public sector and the administration understanding.

Responding to a question about the privatization, Kavi stressed that Turkey entered 2000 year with a very fast privatization programme. ''Turkey has to take out privatization from the shadow of politics,'' said Kavi.

Answering another question about the IMF and the stability programme, Kavi said that ''Turkey called the IMF for 16 times and signed a stand-by agreement. The government displays a resolved attitude this time and says there is no return back from the programme. We think that this resolution of the government is important. In my opinion there is no need for revision in the programme. The inflation target of 20 percent can be reached in the first quarter of the 2001, but certain measures seem to be necessary in exports and imports.''

-TOURISM INVESTMENTS IN GAP REGION

GAZIANTEP - The Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Regional Development Management Department said on Thursday that the tourism investments which were foreseen by the GAP Master Plan in 1999 remained at the rate of 24.3 percent.

Sources said on Thursday that although the GAP Master Plan foresaw big tourism investments in the GAP region, the investments in this field remained at a very low rate at the end of 1999.

Within the framework of GAP, a total of 6 quadrillion 555 trillion 431 billion Turkish liras (TL) were spent by the end of 1999, and the share of the tourism sector in this amount was 6 trillion 83 billion TL.

Although the public sector couldn't reach its' aims for the tourism sector, private sector is building luxury hotels in the region. The private sector requests the government to promote the cultural and historical assets of the region and to construct the infrastructure necessary for the investments.

The historical assets of the region became known to the world after the rescue program of the ancient city of Zeugma. There are several historical sites in the region such as Statues from Kommagene Kingdom at Mount Nemrut, ancient city of Duluk.

-MEDITT ANTALYA TOURISM FAIR TO BE HELD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 23-25

ANTALYA - Meditt Antalya-Mediterranean International Tourism fair will be held at Antalya Expo Center between November 23-25.

Halim Bulutoglu, the General Manager of Ekin Fair Organization company briefed the representatives of the tourism organizations on the fair.

Bulutoglu noted that a total of 7 thousand tour operators and travel agencies had been invited to the fair, adding that they had received a number of application to the fair both from Turkey and abroad.

Martin Bruckenbry, the Chairman of the Tour Operators' Federation and representatives of big travel agencies such as Thomas Cook and TUI, will stage conferences during the fair.

''The fair will be one of the biggest fairs in the Mediterranean. Our country, and health, congress, golf, culture and sea tourisms will be promoted through this fair,'' Bulutoglu said.

-FOOD 2000, SHOP DESIGN 2000, FRANCHISING

2000, CLENAX 2000 FAIRS START IN ISTANBUL

ISTANBUL - Food 2000, Franchising 2000, Clenax 2000, Shop Design 2000 fairs started on Thursday at the CNR Fair Center in Istanbul.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the fairs, Riza Rencberoglu, the Deputy Undersecretary of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ministry, said that food sector had recorded progress in last decade, and that further improvements would occur in coming years.

A total of 500 companies both from Turkey and abroad are participating in Food 2000 fair in which new technologies in sector are being demonstrated. A total of 40 thousand professional visitors are expected to visit the fair.

A total of 150 companies are participating in the Shop Design 2000 Fair which is expected to be visited by the managers of hypermarkets, hotels, motels, business centers and architects.

Companies which want to give franchises in Turkey and companies which will provide capitals for franchise system are participating in Franchise 2000 fair. A total of 100 companies are participating in the fair.

A total of 50 companies are participating in the Cleanex 2000 Fair and 40 thousand people are expected to visit the fair.

The fairs will continue till September 17.

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