Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-09-28

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

28 SEPTEMBER 2000 Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS DEPARTS FROM NEW YORK

[03] GALATASARAY COACH LUCESCU: -''I BELIEVED ON MONDAY THAT WE WOULD WIN THE MATCH''

[04] GAZIANTEP CHAMBER OF INDUSTRY TO PROMOTE ZEUGMA IN THE INTERNET

[05] DENIZLI PROVINCE EXPORTS 150 PRODUCTS TO 100 COUNTRIES

[06] CLINTON ADMINISTRATION INTENSIFIES EFFORTS AGAINST THE BILL ON THE SO- CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS

[07] ALBRIGHT WARNS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE REGARDING THE BILL ON SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS

[08] TOBB CHAIRMAN MIRAS SENDS LETTER TO U.S. PRESIDENT CLINTON: -''WE, AS THE TURKISH FREE WILL, BELIEVE AND TRUST THAT YOU, THE U.S. PRESIDENT, AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WILL NOT PERMIT THE INCIDENTS THAT RELEGATED TO THE PAGES OF HISTORY TO BE DISTORTED AND TURNED INTO ELECTION TOOLS''

[09] TURKEY AND SYRIA SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

[10] STATE MINISTER CAY: -''FARABI, WHO WAS THE SECOND TEACHER FOLLOWING ARISTOTLE IN THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY, WAS THE FOUNDER OF ISLAM PHILOSOPHY''

[11] PRIVATIZATION OF TURK TELEKOM AND THY

[12] UZUNKAYA FROM FP PREPARES INVESTIGATION MOTION REGARDING GENOCIDE ON INDIANS IN THE U.S. AND RACISM ON BLACK PEOPLE

[13] TURKISH FESTIVAL TO BE ORGANIZED IN ROME IN OCTOBER

[14] TURKISH-GEORGIAN JOINT BORDER MANOEUVRES TO BE PERFORMED ON FRIDAY

[15] 30 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS EXPORTATION FROM GAP TO EASTERN EUROPE

[16] THY TO START FLIGHTS TO WARSAW

[17] NEW LEGISLATION YEAR TO TAKE START ON OCTOBER 1

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

U.S. SHOULD FIRSTLY CLEAN ITS HISTORY
Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff, emphasized that the draft law on so-called Armenian genocide is a wrong decision. Kivrikoglu said that the countries should firstly take into consideration their own histories before giving such a decision. U.S. President Bill Clinton called Hastert, the Speaker of U.S. House of Representatives, and requested the rejection of the draft law. The draft law is expected to be accepted by the International Relations Committee on Thursday.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

ARCELIK AND VITRA AWARDED
The ''Success Award'' of the European Quality Administration Foundation were given to Turkish Arcelik and Eczacibasi Vitra companies. The ''Big Award'' went to Nokia Mobile Phones.

BOMB ATTACKS IN ISTANBUL
A petrol bomb was hurled to two ATMs in Istanbul the previous night. Unidentified assailants planted two resonant bombs in front of Kadikoy Police Organization. One of the bombs exploded. The other bomb was defused by the bomb experts.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

IT SHOULD NOT BE CLOSED
Mehmet Turhan, the rapporteur in the Virtue Party (FP) case, did not find the evidence that was put forward by Chief Prosecutor Vural Savas as sufficient. Turhan said that the allegations saying that the Virtue Party was the focal point of anti-secularist activities and the continuation of the Welfare Party (RP), could not be proved. Turhan noted that the European Convention on Human Rights should be taken into consideration when deciding about the closure of political parties. Turhan said, ''the conditions that require the closure of Virtue Party have not occured yet. The case should be rejected.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Robert Pearson, the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, left for the U.S. to hold talks about the sanctions which Turkey could implement against the U.S. in case the bill is approved.

National Security Council (NSC) will convene on Friday to discuss action plan on the issue.

PLAN TO OVERCOME SEZER IN KHK
Council of Ministers will convene today and discuss the decree with the force of law (KHK) regarding the privatization of three public banks. It was reported that the Government could step back and submit the KHK to the Cankaya Palace once again after making required arrangments in the points which President Ahmet Necdet Sezer opposed.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

In the positive scenario, financial adjustment will continue, and comprehensive reforms will be realized in public expenses, financial management, social security, agriculture and banking. Private investments will be promoted in energy and infrastructure. Privatizations will continue.

If the political harmonization is spoiled, the things foreseen in the ''positive scenario,'' will not be implemented. National Income Per Capita can only be 3,000 U.S. dollars in the year 2003. The inflation will be in three digits.

ECEVIT: LAY DOWN THE ARMS FOR PEACE
Supporters of the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) protested Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who went to southeastern Siirt province for the Village Project. Speaking against the protests, Ecevit said, ''terrorism threat continues. Those who want peace should lay down the arms.''

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

YILMAZ: ''EVERYBODY WILL BECOME PROSPEROUS BY THE EU''
Mesut Yilmaz, the Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister, said that the European Union (EU) membership constitutes the last but most important phase of Turkey's modernization. Yilmaz noted that Turkey's EU membership has very clear and objective reasons and that they are in favour of integration with the EU because these reasons and criteria required for EU membership coincide with each other. Yilmaz also said that the EU will improve the life standards of Turkish people.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Yilmaz, who also addressed the meeting of Izmir Chamber of Trade (IZTO), pointed out that the main difficulty in the European Union (EU) membership was the fulfilment of the political requirements. ''Turkey should complete the requirements within three years if it is sincere and resolved on the EU membership.''

WARNINGS FROM THE PRESIDENT TO SYRIAN MINISTER
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer pointed out that Turkey is willing to set up relations with Syria, like the other neighbors, which is based on mutual respect to sovereignty and territorial integrity, and not intervening to each others' internal affairs.

Sezer received Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan, and Syrian Interior Minister Mohammad Harba, and pointed out that Turkey and Syria are two important countries located in the same region, and pointed out the importance of international cooperation in struggle against terrorism.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

TREMOR IN CANKIRI
Cankiri province in central Anatolia was rocked by a mild earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale on Wednesday.

Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Institute said that the epicenter of the earthquake which had happened at 03:19 p.m. was Orta township of Cankiri.

[02] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS DEPARTS FROM NEW YORK

The 4th proximity talks on Cyprus started on September 12 and ended on Wednesday.

Denktas said he would not stay in Istanbul this time, but will visit Ankara to hold contacts with the Turkish officials before leaving for Geneva for the 5th round of talks.

The U.N. on Wednesday disclosed that 5th round of talks will take place in Geneva in November 1-10.

[03] GALATASARAY COACH LUCESCU: -''I BELIEVED ON MONDAY THAT WE WOULD WIN THE MATCH''

Following the match, Lucescu told a press conference that they reached their target, which was to win three points in the match.

Lucescu noted that he is pleased about the footballers who replaced the ace footballers in this match and that they were disciplined in the match.

When asked whether or not he would quit if Galatasaray was defeated in this match, Lucescu said he did not think of a defeat in this match.

Meanwhile, Emre Belozoglu was seriously injured in his leg in the match.

Doctors said that footballers who suffer from such an injury cannot play football for one month.

[04] GAZIANTEP CHAMBER OF INDUSTRY TO PROMOTE ZEUGMA IN THE INTERNET

Nejat Kocer, the Chairman of Gaziantep Chamber of Industry, said on Thursday that although their chamber was an economic organization, it was sensitive about the cultural and historical assets of the region and that it aims at promoting Zeugma in the internet.

The people visiting the web-site can receive information about the history of Zeugma, the artifacts unearthed in the ancient site, maps of the ancient site, stories of the mosaics, how to go to Zeugma, and the excavations.

The graphic illustrations of the artifacts excavated from Zeugma, and ''Gipsy Girl'' mosaic are also being displayed in the web-site.

The web-site which is currently transmitted in Turkish, will also be transmitted in English in the coming days.

The site can be reached from http://www.zeugmaweb.com

[05] DENIZLI PROVINCE EXPORTS 150 PRODUCTS TO 100 COUNTRIES

Aygoren told A.A corresspondent that the tax collected from Denizli was around 114 trillion Turkish Liras in 1999.

Aygoren said, ''a total of 150 different products are exported to 150 countries. We exported 1 billion U.S. dollar textile products in 1999. Almost 60 percent of our textile exports are composed of towels and bathrobes.''

It has become more difficult to penetrate into the World market due to competition, said Aygoren, adding that problems faced in transportation were the biggest obstacle in exports from Denizli.

''The construction of the airport in Denizli hasn't been finished yet. As the customs procedures cannot be carried out in Denizli, cargoes cannot be directly exported from Denizli,'' said Aygoren.

Reminding A.A correspondent that 10 companies functioning in Denizli are among the biggest 500 companies of Turkey, Aydogan said a total of 2,500 small and medium scale enterprises were operating in Denizli.

Aydogan stressed that Denizli's industry had improved in the recent years, adding that the energy crisis was creating a problem for the investors in Denizli.

[06] CLINTON ADMINISTRATION INTENSIFIES EFFORTS AGAINST THE BILL ON THE SO- CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS

Sandy Berger, Clinton's National Security Consultant, met with Baki Ilkin, Turkey's Ambassador to Washington, and stressed that Clinton administration would do its best to prevent the adoption of the bill.

Observers said the attitude adopted by Madeleine Albright, the U.S. State Secretary, and by Berger favoring Turkey would not influence the voting in the International Relations Committeee, but hopes increased for Turkey in the stage of voting in the General Assembly of the House of Representatives.

[07] ALBRIGHT WARNS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE REGARDING THE BILL ON SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS

Albright responded to a question of Doug Bereuter, Republican Nebraska parliamentarian, regarding the influence of the bill on the so-called genocide on Armenians, on the Turkish-U.S. relations.

Albright said that was a very important issue, and that it kept their minds busy. She said passage of the bill may damage the national interests of the U.S. and bilateral relations with Turkey. Turkey is a NATO ally, and in cooperation with the U.S. on Cyprus talks, Upper Karabakh process, and in Iraq, Albright said, adding that, she thought this bill should not go further.

Albright said Bill Clinton, the U.S. President issued a statement on April 24 every year recognizing the incidents in which many Armenians lost their lives in 1915, and that he assured the Americans that such incidents would not be repeated anymore.

Albright said they told both Turkey and Armenia that they could neither deny nor forget the history, and noted that taking legislative measures, like in this draft resolution, may give damage to their efforts aiming at improving relations between Turkey and Armenia. Also this will not contribute to the settlement of peace and security in the region, she said.

The U.S. State Secretary pointed out that many people have information on the issue, adding that officials of the U.S. foreign services knew very much about the issue. However, Albright noted the draft resolution would cause damage at the moment.

The draft resolution foreseeing the U.S. State Department personnel and officials of other departments to be educated on the so-called genocide on Armenians, and envisaging the U.S. President to issue an official statement reconizing the so-called genocide on April 24 every year, will be voted in the International Relations Committee today.

If the bill is adopted, it will either be send to General Assembly of the U.S. House of Representatives or sent to Regulations Committee and wait for the related procedure to function.

If the draft law is not adopted in the General Assemby before the House of Representatives recess by mid-October, it can not be raised to the agenda again till the new legislation period that will start on January.

[08] TOBB CHAIRMAN MIRAS SENDS LETTER TO U.S. PRESIDENT CLINTON: -''WE, AS THE TURKISH FREE WILL, BELIEVE AND TRUST THAT YOU, THE U.S. PRESIDENT, AND DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WILL NOT PERMIT THE INCIDENTS THAT RELEGATED TO THE PAGES OF HISTORY TO BE DISTORTED AND TURNED INTO ELECTION TOOLS''

Miras said in the letter, ''we, as the Turkish free will, believe and trust that you, the U.S. President, and the distinguished members of the U.S. House of Representatives will not permit the incidents that relegated to the pages of history to be distorted and turned into election tools.''

Miras noted that the Turkish free will felt deep sorrow and was surprised by the adoptation of the draft law on so-called Armenian genocide by the International Operations and Human Rights Sub-Commitee of the U.S. House of Representatives.

''All the Armenian society in Turkey, including the Turkish citizens with Armenian origin, important businessmen and industrialists, intellectuals and artists, and especially the Patriarch of Turkish Armenians, felt deep sorrow over this adoptation and condemned it through the press,'' Miras said.

Miras stated that initiatives which will cause hatred and enmity, will bring no benefits to any country and humanity in the days when the world is getting more global and when every country has to exert efforts for peace, tranquility, cooperation, and humanity.

''I am sure you and the distinguished members of the House of Representatives will take into consideration this reality,'' Miras added.

[09] TURKEY AND SYRIA SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan and Syrian Interior Minister Mohammad Harba signed the document.

Following the signing ceremony, Tantan said that the protocol on cooperation in security is important for the development of relations between the two countries.

Tantan noted that within this framework, all issues concerning the Interior Ministry, especially struggle against terrorism, organized crimes, drugs, struggle against false documentation and money laundering, exchange of information and experience were taken up.

Harba said that Syria has never been a source which disturbs Turkey, adding ''this issue is over. We want to close this page.''

[10] STATE MINISTER CAY: -''FARABI, WHO WAS THE SECOND TEACHER FOLLOWING ARISTOTLE IN THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY, WAS THE FOUNDER OF ISLAM PHILOSOPHY''

Speaking in the international congress on ''Farabi Heritage and World Heritage'' organized by the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA), Cay said that the main feature of the Middle East philosophy between the fourth and 15th century was that it took religion as a basis. Cay noted that the western and eastern philosophies of this era were very different from each other.

Cay stated that the Christianity caused recession period in the West in the Middle East while Islam, which prevailed the West in the same period, tolerated the scientific and philosophic studies.

Cay stressed that the Islamic scholars and scientists gave momentum to their researches those days.

Farabi mainly worked on physics and geometry, Cay added.

Many scientists from Kazakhstan, Turkey, Iran, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, and Tajikistan are participating in the congress which will last for two days.

Cay is expected to return to Turkey on Saturday.

[11] PRIVATIZATION OF TURK TELEKOM AND THY

Officials of the Privatization Administration Board said that they have not fixed the rate yet.

The officials noted that the target of THY's privatization is to decrease the share of the state below 50 percent but that they have not yet decided whether or not to open tender for the block sale of 51 percent of the shares.

Efforts are underway to also fix the sale strategy for the Iskenderun Iron and Steel Factories (ISDEMIR), the officials stated.

The officials said that the sale strategies will become definite following the contacts with the concerned ministry.

The officials stressed that the privatization strategy for the Turk Telekom will also become definite following the meeting of the tender commission.

The meeting which was scheduled to be hold among Ugur Bayar, the Head of the Privatization Administration Board; Ibrahim Hakki Alpturk, the Director General of Turk Telekom; Esref Ayvaz, the Director General of the State Economic Enterprises (SEE) Department of the Treasury Undersecretary; Cemal Kucukzozen, the Chairman of the Capital Market Board; and Hasan Tekeli, the General Director of Communication Department of the Transportation Ministry; last week, was postponed.

Meanwhile, the Privatization Administration Board cancelled the sale of the 49 percent public shares of the Tumas Engineering, Consultancy and Contractor Inc. to the Kipman Construction-Koksal Consortium because the consortium did not fulfil its liabilities required by the tender specifications.

[12] UZUNKAYA FROM FP PREPARES INVESTIGATION MOTION REGARDING GENOCIDE ON INDIANS IN THE U.S. AND RACISM ON BLACK PEOPLE

The motion pointed out that genocide on the Indians was ''one of the biggest genocide of the history,'' adding that destruction of armless people with the most modern weapons of the era remained in the pages of history as a black stain.

The investigation motion will be submitted to the Parliament Speaker's Office till October 2.

[13] TURKISH FESTIVAL TO BE ORGANIZED IN ROME IN OCTOBER

Turkey's Embassy in Vatican City and Turkish-Italian Friendship Association will organize Turkish festival between October 16 and 19 in the memory of Pope John XXIII, who was beatificated in recent weeks.

Pope John XXIII, who worked in Turkey between 1935 and 1944, will be commemorated in the festival in which music, art and fashion shows, and panel discussions will be held.

Officials of Turkey's Embassy in Vatican said on Thursday that Vatican's Foreign Minister Jean-Louis Tauran will address the opening remarks of the festival on September 16.

A panel discussion will be held in St. Andrea al Quirinale Church which was constructed in 13th century and restored in 15th century. Giulio Andreotti, permanent senator who was one of former prime ministers of Italy, is expected to join the panel discussion.

A concert will be given by famous Turkish singer Ahmet Ozhan in the end of the panel discussion.

Paintings of Ertugrul Ates will be exhibited during the festival. A fashion show in which the fabrics that famous Turkish boutique Vakko created by being inspired by the Ottoman designs, will be held.

The festival is expected to contribute to Turkey's promotion and improvement of belief tourism.

[14] TURKISH-GEORGIAN JOINT BORDER MANOEUVRES TO BE PERFORMED ON FRIDAY

Border units from Turkey and Georgia will participate in the meeting which will be performed in Turkgozu Border Military Post in Posof township in Ardahan province.

The scenerio of the manouevres depends on the prevention of illegal passages from one country to the other.

The manoeuves will last one day.

[15] 30 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS EXPORTATION FROM GAP TO EASTERN EUROPE

Exportation, worth of 19.9 million U.S. dollars, was made last year in the same period.

The biggest exportation was made to Romania with 17.3 million U.S. dollars. Dried apricots, cotton thread, synthetic thread, and machine carpets were among the products that were exported.

[16] THY TO START FLIGHTS TO WARSAW

Planes will take off Istanbul at 2.45 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and they will depart Warsaw for Istanbul at 4.55 p.m. the same days.

The direct flights will be held by THY's B-737 planes.

Thus, the number of destinations to where THY flies will rise to 77.

[17] NEW LEGISLATION YEAR TO TAKE START ON OCTOBER 1

Adjustment to the EU laws will be priority of the Parliament in the new legislation year, laws related with constitutional amendments and democratization are expected to top the agenda.

Murat Basesgioglu, the Motherland Party (ANAP) Group Deputy Chairman, pointed out that they expected the new legislation year to be very intense, and noted that the main intensity will focus on the regulation changes for adjustment to the EU.

Aydin Tumen, the Democratic Left Party (DSP) Group Deputy Chairman said the 21st Term Parliament carried out very rapid and intense agenda, adding that most of the draft laws were legalized one by one.

Meanwhile, Bulent Arinc, the Virtue Party (FP) Group Deputy Chairman, said required amendments for democratic and civilian constitution should be made soon.

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