Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-10-02

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

2 OCTOBER 2000

Monday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] GENERAL MOFAZ, CHIEF OF ISRAELI STAFF, DUE IN TURKEY

[03] PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION IN U.S.

[04] TEXTILE WORTH OF 103,3 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS EXPORTED FROM GAP REGION IN EIGHT MONTHS

[05] PASSENGER BUS PLUNGES INTO SHOULDER OF ROAD, KILLING FIVE PEOPLE AND INJURING 15 OTHERS

[06] ELEVEN MEMBERS OF HADEP ARRESTED

[07] TURKEY INTERNET FOUNDATION TO GIVE ATTRACTIVE AWARDS EVERY YEAR TO ENCOURAGE INTERNET USAGE

[08] MOHACERANI, IRANIAN MINISTER OF CULTURE AND ISLAMIC GUIDANCE, RECEIVES A.A DELEGATION

[09] CEM SAYS TURKEY WILL OPEN NEW PAGE IN RELATIONS WITH UZBEKISTAN

[10] MISSING GERMAN DIVER FOUND IN BOSCAADA

[11] TREASURY UNDERSECRETARY DEMIRALP: -''ECONOMIC PROGRAM WILL LEAD TURKEY TO NEW HORIZONS, AND BRING FORTH NEW OPPORTUNITIES''

[12] IMF DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEY IN SECOND HALF OF OCTOBER

[13] FM CEM IN UZBEKISTAN -CEM:''THE THREE DIMENSIONS OF OUR RELATIONS WITH UZBEKISTAN ARE ECONOMY, TERRORISM AND POLITICS''

[14] TURKEY TO PARTICIPATE IN SOUTH AFRICAN FAIR AS GUEST COUNTRY

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

MCMAHON:''TURKS HAVE HIGHER CHANCES AT QUALIFIED LEADER COMPETITION''
Amrop International and The Hever Group, two ''brain hunter'' firms which find high level executives for many companies, recently merged and formed the world's biggest human resources network. The architect of this giant merging Amrop-Hever Alliance Chairman Paul McMahon thinks that Turkey, compared to other countries, have very high chances at the qualified leader competition. According to McMahon, Turks are affected by more than one culture and this is a big advantage in this competition.

The company's only office in Turkey is Amrop Turkiye and it has been active since 1996. Dr. Yesim Toduk Akis is the only Turkish partner of Amrop-Hever Alliance.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

BAYKAL ELECTED AS NEW LEADER OF CHP ONCE AGAIN
Deniz Baykal was elected as the new leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) on Sunday. Baykal received 543 votes at the third round of vote during the CHP's 11th Convention. Baykal thanked all members of the CHP, and said, ''I will do my utmost to unify the CHP.'' He had resigned from his party's leadership after the CHP's defeat in general elections in 1999.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

GARCIA: ''THEY SHOULD FIRST LOOK INTO THEIR ONW HISTORY''
Bernard Garcia, the French Ambassador to Turkey, referred to resolution regarded with so-called genocide on Armenians which was brought onto agenda of the U.S. House of Representatives International Relations Committee.

Recalling that a similar resolution would be taken up at the French Senate on October 17, Garcia said that great countries should look into their own histories before giving lessons to Turkey.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

DIPLOMATIC PROBLEM BETWEEN TURKEY AND BULGARIA
Turkey did not approve Bulgaria's application to appoint Stiliyan Rusinov Varbanov as the Consul General in Edirne after Beyza Untuna, the Turkish Consul General in Burgas, had recalled to Ankara on September 24 upon the Bulgarian government's request. The Foreign Ministry said that it was impossible for Ankara to accept the Bulgarian government's reason for its decision about Turkish diplomat Untuna for whom it said that she was carrying out activities which did not suit the principle of not intervening in domestic affairs. ''Naturally, Turkey's relations with Bulgaria depend on Bulgaria's position. Our wish and preference is the continuation of development of mutual relations,'' it added.

37TH ANTALYA GOLDEN ORANGE FILM FESTIVAL STARTS
The 37th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival will start. The main theme of the festival will be ''peace'' after the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared 2000 as the ''Year of Peace''. Within framework of activities, two Turkish and two Greek parliamentarians together with actors, actresses, poets and scientists headed by the Turkish-Greek Women's Peace Initiative will place a ''peace wreath'' to the Manavgat River. Safiye Qaddafi, the wife of Libyan Leader Colonel Muammer al-Qaddafi, and their daughter Dr. Ayse Qaddafi will be in attendance at the festival. The 37th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival will end on October 5 with the award ceremony.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

WARNING FROM PARLIAMENT TO U.S. ON ARMENIAN RESOLUTION
A declaration signed by the members of all parties in Parliament, stressed that the congressional resolution on the so-called Armenian bill would damage the cooperation between Turkey and the United States. The declaration asked Armenian administrators to stop their activities in third countries and try to build good relations with Turkey.

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

Tuzmen who is also the Chairman of the World Economic Processing Zones Association (WEPZA) briefed the journalists on the 20th annual conference on ''Dynamic Transformation of Economic Zones in Development Process'' in Taiwan between September 24-26. Tuzmen said that Taiwan which has 22 million population makes 120 billion U.S. dollar exports and 100 billion U.S. dollars imports a year as a result of the ''share of production'' model.

KILICOGLU: ''FOREIGN LOANS WILL BE POSTPONED DUE TO KHK''
Eximbank General Director Ahmet Kilicoglu said that it became certain that foreign loans which were planned to be given to Turkey would be postponed as the decree with the force of law (KHK) on privatization of three public banks had been vetoed by the President. ''Nobody should doubt that this situation will harm Turkey's credibility,'' he said. Kilicoglu stressed that recovery of the Russian economy would absolutely have positive effects on the Turkish economy.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

During his 80-page speech, Sezer also said the authority of the president should be limited, a new constitution should be prepared, a tax reform should be started and the death penalty should be lifted.

KUTAN:''WE SUPPORT EU REFORM''
Kutan said ''80 percent of people and all political parties want to start an EU reform,'' and added that his party is ready to give any kind of support to the government in Turkey's EU candidacy process.

Kutan, after assessing his contacts in Brussels, said everybody agrees that Turkey's membership will enrich the EU. Kutan thinks the EU wants to give a message to the whole world by accepting Turkey. The message is that ''the EU is not a Christian club, and it has more than one culture and religion.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[02] GENERAL MOFAZ, CHIEF OF ISRAELI STAFF, DUE IN TURKEY

Issuing a written statement, the General Staff said on Monday that General Mofaz would meet with General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff, and with Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, the National Defense Minister.

General Mofaz will visit Istanbul, Antalya and quake-stricken Adapazari and Golcuk.

He is expected to depart from Turkey on Saturday.

[03] PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION IN U.S.

Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, a deputy from the Motherland Party (ANAP); Metin Ergun, a deputy from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP); Temel Karamollaoglu, a deputy from the Virtue Party (FP); Tayyibe Gulek, a deputy from the Democratic Left Party (DSP); and Ayfer Yilmaz, a deputy from the True Path Party (DYP), will attend a meeting which will be organized at the Turkish Embassy in Washington D.C. the same day.

The delegation will meet with officials from the Livingston-Solomon and Solarz firms, and partake in a luncheon to be hosted by the Turkish- American Council.

Later in the day, the delegation will meet with Benjamin Gilman, the Chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives International Relations Committee.

[04] TEXTILE WORTH OF 103,3 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS EXPORTED FROM GAP REGION IN EIGHT MONTHS

Last year's textile products export was 73 million 551,000 U.S. dollars.

Textile products' share in the whole export of GAP region increased from 20.9 percent to 29.1 percent since last year.

South East Anatolia Textile and Raw Materials Exporters Union Chairman Adil Sani Konukoglu told A.A correspondent that the products included cotton, synthetic and knit towels, as well as machine woven carpets.

Konukoglu said Kazakhstan, Romania, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Italy, Belgium, Greece, France, Algeria, Russia, Israel, Azerbaijan, the United States, Germany, Portugal, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, Australia and Sweden are other leading textile exporters.

[05] PASSENGER BUS PLUNGES INTO SHOULDER OF ROAD, KILLING FIVE PEOPLE AND INJURING 15 OTHERS

According to the preliminary reports, five people were killed while 15 others were injured in the accident.

Their identities could not be determined yet.

[06] ELEVEN MEMBERS OF HADEP ARRESTED

They were taken into custody last week.

Resul Sadak, the Provincial Chairman of HADEP in Sirnak; Rustem Bayar, Mehmet Cakar, Nihat Usal, Cengiz Balik, Rezzak Inan, Nezir Ayan, Yakup Kur, Temel Kurar, Izzet Belge and Tahir Kutlu were sent to Sirnak Republican Chief Prosecutor's Office after their interrogation at the Security Department.

Security forces had confiscated 3 hand bombs and a long-barrel gun in houses and vehicles of the detainees.

[07] TURKEY INTERNET FOUNDATION TO GIVE ATTRACTIVE AWARDS EVERY YEAR TO ENCOURAGE INTERNET USAGE

Internet Higher Council and Foundation's founding member Dr. Mustafa Akgul said 80 founding members of the foundation will make the application in the first week of October.

Dr. Akgul said the foundation's goal is to help internet usage grow in line with national, economic, social and cultural targets. It also targets to make internet usage widespread in all segments of the society.

Noting that their foundation will be giving awards to encourage internet usage, Akgul said they will also organize competitions in elementary and high schools, as well as small and medium size enterprises with the same purpose. Akgul noted that their awards will be of significant amount. The awards, Akgul said, will be either computer equipment worth of 10,000 to 50, 000 U.S. dollars or it could be cash.

Subscriptions to the foundation could be on individual or institutional basis, Akgul said and added that they will send subscription letters to public offices, companies and non-governmental institutions in the next ten days.

[08] MOHACERANI, IRANIAN MINISTER OF CULTURE AND ISLAMIC GUIDANCE, RECEIVES A.A DELEGATION

Mohacerani received Mehmet Guler, the President General Director of the Anadolu Agency and an accompanying delegation, that is currently in Tehran.

Speaking at the meeting, Mohacerani said Turkey and Iran had mutual cultural civilization and historical past, yet don't use all the potential they have.

Pointing out that Islamic countries get most of the reports related with each other from the big international agencies, Mohacerani said leading news agencies show their faces in the way they want. The Iranian Minister stressed that A.A and IRNA have improved relations, so they expect each other to transmit honest, realistic, and accurate news reports about each other.

Mohacerani expressed hope that positive relations between A.A and IRNA would help the people and administrators to understand each other better, adding that relations between the two agencies is one of the best ways to help the improvement of bilateral relations.

Mehmet Guler, the President General Director of the A.A, pointed out that Iran and Turkey have mutual history and cultural values, adding that, ''as the two agencies, we are assessing the contributions we can make to the economy, culture, and policy of the two countries basing on these mutual values.''

Guler said, ''we agree that the point of view of the international news agencies toward our countries are not similar to ours,'' adding that, ''as Iran is our neighbour, we are interested in the developments and changes in this country. We benefit from the advantage of being neigbors, and think that news agencies of the two countries should help the politicians.''

Pointing out that the relations could be further improved by giving priority to the points in which they can reach agreement instead of focusing on the differences, Guler said, ''as long as we know each other well, we can solve the mutual problems easily. Every country has its own laws, circulars, and facts. We look at Iran by knowing these, and expect Iran to look at us in a similar way.''

[09] CEM SAYS TURKEY WILL OPEN NEW PAGE IN RELATIONS WITH UZBEKISTAN

Meetings between Turkish and Uzbek delegations started on Monday under the leadership of Cem and Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov.

Before the meetings between delegations, Cem and Kamilov had a private meeting which lasted for an hour.

Cem, in a statement he made before the meetings, said his visit to Uzbekistan aimed to advance Turkish-Uzbek relations which are already at a good level.

''Turkey will always support Uzbekistan,'' Cem said and added that he believed Uzbekistan would overcome the obstacles it sometimes faces.

Speaking after the meetings, Kamilov said he believed the relations between his country and Turkey would improve after Monday's meetings between the two delegations. He also drew attention to the meeting between Turkish and Uzbek presidents in New York.

Kamilov said, during the meetings, they will focus on President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's visit to Uzbekistan as well as regional developments.

During his meeting with Cem, Kamilov said they discussed international terrorism, drug and arms smuggling, and fundamentalism and they agreed on a joint combat between Turkey and Uzbekistan against these threats.

Cem and his delegation will visit historical Samarqant and Bukhara

Samarqant cities which Kamilov said was an expression of Cem's respect for Uzbek history and culture.

The meetings later continued closed to the press.

[10] MISSING GERMAN DIVER FOUND IN BOSCAADA

Officials told the A.A correspondent that Muhldaver was in good condition.

The Coast Guard Commandership has launched an investigation into the incident.

[11] TREASURY UNDERSECRETARY DEMIRALP: -''ECONOMIC PROGRAM WILL LEAD TURKEY TO NEW HORIZONS, AND BRING FORTH NEW OPPORTUNITIES''

Addressing a meeting which was organized by the World Bank and Treasury Undersecretariat, Demiralp said, ''increases in life standards and social security will be success of this program. Economic program, which has been put into practice within framework of the agreement signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), is one of the most important economic developments in Turkey's history. Economic program will lead Turkey to new horizons, and bring forth new opportunities.''

''Turkey allocated great amounts of money to investments during the last two decades. We spent nearly 20 billion U.S. dollars for the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), one of the nine biggest projects in the world. With the GAP project, 27 billion kilowatt/hour electricity will be produced and more than 1 million hectares of cultivated field will be irrigated,'' he noted.

Demiralp said, ''European Union (EU) full membership will help Turkey in providing economic stability and economic development. Financial arrangements and banking reform will increase foreign investors' confidence in Turkey. We expect flow of direct foreign capital of billions of U.S. dollars into Turkey in near future.''

[12] IMF DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEY IN SECOND HALF OF OCTOBER

Following the submission of the bill on the 2001 Financial Year Budget to the parliament till October 17, Cottarelli will probably come to Ankara after October 20.

The delegation headed by Cottarelli who came to Turkey at the end of last August, this time wants to examine the budget figures submitted to the parliament.

[13] FM CEM IN UZBEKISTAN -CEM:''THE THREE DIMENSIONS OF OUR RELATIONS WITH UZBEKISTAN ARE ECONOMY, TERRORISM AND POLITICS''

Cem came together with Turkish and Uzbek businessmen following the meeting of the Uzbek Foreign Economic Relations Minister Elyar Ganiev with Turkish and Uzbek businesmen.

Speaking to businessmen, Cem said that the new page opened in the relations between the two countries should be evaluated well.

Businessmen said that the thing that matters for them is the good relations between the two countries.

Uzbek officials said that the bilateral relations, rather than concrete projects were generally taken up in the meeting between Ganiev and Turkish and Uzbek businessmen.

Sources pointed out that the meetings were beneficial for both sides, adding that the sides didn't ask for concrete request from each other.

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Cem visited the Martrys Monument in Yunusabat region of Tashkent, laid a wreath there and observed a minute of silence there.

Cem later came together with Ganiev in the lunch.

[14] TURKEY TO PARTICIPATE IN SOUTH AFRICAN FAIR AS GUEST COUNTRY

Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursad Tuzmen went to South Africa to attend the opening of the fair which he described as ''one of the most important fairs in Africa.'' During his stay, Tuzmen will also have contacts with South African authorities.

A statement released from the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat said South Africa which is among Turkey's target countries in export is the biggest market of African continent. It was stated that this country will become a very important market for exporters in the future. Noting that this country is also a good center to export goods to other African countries, the statement said this country also offers a significant potential to Turkish contractors.

Tuzmen said during his stay in this country he will have contacts with South African Trade and Industry and Public Works ministers. He will promote Turkish counseling and contracting firms and he will seek joint business opportunities with South Africa in other African countries.

Noting that Turkish businessmen currently has an investment of 60 million U.S. dollars, Tuzmen said they will try to make good use of the South Africa International Trade Fair.

A total of 27 Turkish firms representing textile, clothing, automotive and sub-industry, durable goods, elecricity sectors will participate in the fair in Johannesburg on October 3-7.

The Turkish delegation headed by Tuzmen will return home on October 5.

Sources told the A.A correspondent that the South Africa International Trade Fair is one of Africa's most important fairs. A total of 750 companies from 38 countries are expected to participate in the fair. Over 30,000 people are expected to visit it.

Experts said participation in the fair is important to reach the markets of South Africa's neighbouring countries.

Turkey exported goods worth of 73 million U.S. dollars in 1998. This figure dropped to 59 million in 1999. Turkey imported goods worth of 152 million U.S. dollars from South Africa in 1998 and 124 million U.S. dollars in 1999. Textile, clothing, automotive, food, electricity, and cement hold important place in Turkey's exports to South Africa. Turkey purchases chiefly coal, steel, iron, and other metals from South Africa.

South Africa also exports significant amounts of gold. This country sold gold worth of 336 million U.S. dollars in 1998 and 276 million U.S. dollars in 1999.

The agreement signed this year between Turkey and South Africa to increase mutual investments has not yet taken effect. Besides commercial and economic cooperation agreements whose negotiations have been completed, another agreement to prevent double taxation is expected to be signed next year between the two countries.

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