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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-10-17Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 17 OCTOBER 2000 Tuesday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on October 17, 2000. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)TURKS REDISCOVER WINEAn Associated Press news story said there is a growing interest in wine in Turkey and noted that Anatolia has been a land of grapes and wine since the old ages. The article said people who have been living on this old land respected the Islam's ban on alcohol for a century. But today, the article said, wine bars are mashrooming in big cities. Although most Turks are not expected to give up their traditional drink ''raki'', especially young people who are adopting a western life style are preferring wine, the article said. The article said Turkey has the fourth biggest vineyards in the world and one worth of its grapes are favourable for wine production. However, only two percent of grapes are used for wine production and the rest is eaten either as fresh or dried. Wine consumption per person annually is lower than a liter. JOINT WAR AGAINST FUNDAMENTALISTS MILLIYET (LIBERAL)EU'S CONDITION ON KURDISH LANGUAGEThe paper announces the ''Accession Partnership'' document which lists the conditions of the European Union (EU) that should be fulfilled by Turkey to become a full member. The ''homework'' of Turkey is composed of two parts, the first one is the short term ones and the other one is medium term ones. The document notes that firstly the prohibition on broadcasting in native language should be lifted. The document which was prepared by the EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen will be officially announced on November 8. PUNISHMENT FOR THOSE WHO CRITICIZE ARTICLE 312 SABAH (LIBERAL)FIRST COMPLAINT AGAINST FETHULLAH GULENArife Kaya, a mother brought a complaint against Fethullah Gulen, a sect leader and said that her son who studied in the schools of Fethullah Gulen started to say that ''it is a sin to shake the hands of a woman.'' A case is pending before the State Security Court (DGM) against Fethullah Gulen, who is in the U.S. ECEVIT:2001 SEEMS VERY CRITICAL CUMHURIYET (LEFT)CIVIL SERVANTS ARE GETTING READY FOR PROTESTS FOR ''DEGRADING''WAGE INCREASE Confederation of Public Labourers' Union (KESK) and Turkish Civil Servants Union (Kamu-Sen) are getting ready to hold protests against the ten percent wage increase offered to civil servants by the government for the first half of 2001. Criticizing the government's decision, Virtue Party (FP) Recai Kutan said the increase should have at least been 20 percent. KESK Chairman Siyami Erdem said the ten percent wage increase ''is degrading and not acceptable.'' TWO IMPORTANT SIGNATURES IN TWO DAYS RADIKAL (LEFT)GOVERNMENT CONSOLES CIVIL SERVANTSThe Council of Ministers decided to give 10 percent increase in the wages of civil servants for the first six months of 2001. The 2001 budget will be 48,4 quadrillion liras and the budget defecit will be 5.2 quadrillion liras, said Sukru Sina Gurel, the State Minister and Government Spokesman after the cabinet meeting. BAKU-CEYHAN WEEK YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)SERIOUS WARNING FROM EUKaren Fogg, the Representative of the European Union (EU) to Turkey said that abolishment of the death penalty is a precondition for full membership negotiations. She added that the view of Deputy Premier Mesut Yılmaz who thinks that Turkey can start full membership negotiations with the EU in 2001 is not realistic. Fogg said that Turkey prepared a calendar of 3-4 years to abide by the EU legislation, however she said ''even this period can't be sufficient.'' THIRD ROUND IN PARLIAMENT TODAY TURKIYE (RIGHT)PRESIDENT IN UZBEKISTANPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who came to Uzbekistan within the framework of his visit to the Central Asia, started his contacts in the country. After wrapping up his contacts in Uzbekistan, Sezer will proceed to Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and then to Kazakhstan. ERBAKAN'S APPLICATION REJECTED ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)UNIVERSITY LECTURERS WANT HIGHER EDUCATION COUNCIL TO BE CLOSEDReacting against the centralist implementations of the Higher Education Council (YOK), university lecturers said the YOK should be closed. Speaking at a meeting, lecturers said YOK which was a product of September 12 military coup, should end its anti-democratic implementations. TURKSAT 2-A DELIVERED TO TURKEY (SC-ÖŞ) Siegel spoke at the meeting which was held to start the Turkey leg of Lycra Assured programme. During his speech, he said all clothing, from underwear to outerwear, offers freedom and comfort to people. Noting that their most important customers are in Turkey, Siegel said Turkey would be a leading country in the world textile business in the future. DuPont Lycra's Middle East and European Sales Director Lee Miller stated that market researches and customer leanings are very important for them and they are spending one billion U.S. dollars for research and development activities annually. He said DuPont Lycra has production facilities in 11 countries and carries out marketing and sales activities all around the world. DuPont Lycra's Turkey Marketing Director Ayfun Cicek who also spoke at the meeting said the company will celebrate its 200th foundation anniversary in 2002. It has 95,000 worker in 70 countries and its turnover was 25 billion U.S. dollars in 1999, he added. After the speeches, 15 Turkish firms which participated in Lycra Assured programme were given their certificates. The firms were Akin Tekstil, Aksu Iplik, Almodo, Altinyildiz Mensucat, Anteks, Bossa, Can Tekstil, Cukurova Tekstil, Berdan, Guney Sanayi, Isko Dokuma, Kaplanteks Orme, Kipas, Mensa Mensucat, and Ozbucak Tekstil. The participating firms will have the privilege to have easy access to DuPont Lycra's new discoveries and technological developments with a relatively low cost. Lycra Authorized Factories network offers textile producers new types of thread, clothes and other DuPont novelties. At the end of the meeting, designer Arzu Kaprol's 2001-2002 fall and winter collection was introduced to the guests. All the clothes exhibited in the show were made of fabrics produced by participating firms. [02] PRESIDENT SEZER HOLDS CONTACTS IN UZBEKISTAN-JOINT STATEMENT ANNOUNCEDTASHKENT- The ''Joint Statement on the Cooperation between Turkey and Uzbekistan'' signed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Uzbek President Islam Kerimov was announced on Monday. The statement stressed determination of the two countries to improve the bilateral relations and the sides pointed out to the importance of the protection of peace, stability and security in the Central Asia in respect of the lasting peace and development in the whole world. The sides also confirmed that the immediate solution of the problems in Afghanistan by peaceful ways will serve the regional and international stability. The Turkish side reiterated its support for the proposal of Uzbekistan to found an ''International Centre to Struggle With Terrorism'' during the OSCE summit in Istanbul and the U.N. meetings. The two sides stated that their judiciary, security and other officials will have close cooperation in terrorism, organized crimes and drug trafficking. The two sides also agreed on the idea of forming an expert group to coordinate the efforts carried out against international terrorism. The Joint Statement on Cooperation Against Terrorism, Drug Traficking and Organized Crime noted that the two sides condemned terrorism in a resolved way. The statement pointed out that the two countries have the right and responsibility to protect their citizens and other persons against terrorist attacks. Besides, the sides reached an agreement to found an expert group which will exchange views and which will decide to take measures to cooperate against terrorism. The statement also noted that the two sides will make cooperation in detention and extradition of criminals, adding that the terrorist actions should not be considered as political crime. The statement stressed that no rights to take shelter, found training camps, transfer guns and military ammunition, collect money, rest, organize and propagate should be given to terrorists. The sides also underlined the importance of taking measures to prevent the terrorist organizations' accession to bank and other finance and economic institutions. Meanwhile, Uzbek President Islam Kerimov praised President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in the dinner hosted in Sezer's honour the same night and described Mr. Sezer as a ''great jurist and state leader.'' Kerimov stressed that Turkey is the first state in the East which took a step to found a democratic state, and he also praised great leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern and secular Turkey. Kerimov stressed the importance of improvement of relations between the two countries. ''We consider the Turkish state as an important and reliable partner and we are ready to develop our relations in all fields,'' he added. -ALBA INC. FROM NAZILLI EXPORTS TROUTS Noting that the trouts are processed there, Alton said that the fish is exported to many countries mainly Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. Altın said that they process and pack 600 tons of trout in a year, adding that trouts are cleaned and packed under hygienic conditions. Altın noted that they bring 2 million dollars of foreign exchange to Turkey in return of the trouts they exported. Noting that Alba is the biggest trout production centre of the Balkans, Ozer Altın noted that ''80 people are employed in our installations.'' -GAP'S EXPORT TO AMERICAN CONTINENT DROPS 20 PERCENT The GAP region exported 339,000 U.S. dollars worth of beans, grains and seeds, 9,188,000 U.S. dollars worth of dried fruits and 12,536,000 U.S. dollars worth of textile products. Turkey's highest export was to the United States which was worth of 17,376, 000 U.S. dollars. Cotton and synthetic thread, dried apricots, and cotton textile products constituted a major part of Turkey's export. -INTERNATIONAL OLYMPICS COMMITTEE CONGRATULATES SEZER AND -TURKEY AND EU COMMISSION DISCUSS The sides will also explain their expectations about the issue at the meetings. The meetings between the delegations at the technical level will also continue on Wednesday. Following the Helsinki Summit, Turkey and the EU decided at the Turkey-EU Association Council which convened on April 11, 2000, to liberate the services and state purchases reciprocally. -2001 EXPECTED TO WITNESS BIG COMPETITION IN EUROPEAN TOURISM Drawing attention to a noticeable drop in Spanish tourism, Baraner said this country is now especially trying to draw tourists in winter. ''Therefore, Turkey immediately has to start promotion activities for this winter.'' Baraner said 1,000 German tourism marketers will be hosted in Antalya on November 4-8, through Oger Tour's efforst. At the end of their four day stay, Baraner said, the tourism marketers would get to know Turkey better, and therefore they would be more successful to draw German tourists to the country. -FEWER TURKISH WORKERS ARE GOING ABROAD TO FIND EMPLOYMENT There are currently 2,110,000 Turkish workers living in Germany which is 61.4 percent of Turkish workers living abroad. The population of Turkish workers and their families is estimated as 3,462,000 all around the world. It was observed that, in recent years Turkish workers started preferring Turkish republics to find employment. Turks who are going abroad with a tourist visa, are mostly preferring Bulgaria, Romania, and Bosnia-Herzegovina which are close to Turkey. -PRIVATIZATION OF VAKIFBANK The KHK, regarding making changes in Vakiflar Bankasi Turkish Corp. Law, had been issued in the Official Gazette dated July 26, 2000. Within the scope of the KHK in question, with a change that was made in Vakiflar Bankasi Turkish Corp., B group shares belonging to the Vakiflar General Directorate, could be sold through public offering. In the same KHK, it was pointed out that a decision could not be taken for the sale of A group shares before the sale of these shares. It was also noted that Council of Ministers would be authorized in sale of A group shares. Within the framework of the arrangements that were brought with the KHK, a provision was included which said quantity of the capital of the Bank and nominal value of each share, would be pointed out in the Bank main agreement. Another change was that the shares have been separated into A, B, and C groups, and would be registered to name. The Bank Administrative Assembly would be composed of eight members to represent owners of A,B, and C group shares. -TURKISH-IRANIAN SECURITY TALKS END Cotur said, ''we want continuation of this development including other fields.'' Cotur said he met with Iranian Interior Minister Abdulvahid Musevi Lari within the framework of the contacts, and noted that statements of Lari, regarding mutual frienship and cooperation understanding, pleased them. Gulamhuseyin Bolandiyan, the Iranian Deputy Interior Minister responsible for security affairs, said smuggling of goods, which was made in the joint border, was discussed, and noted that an agreement has been reached to prevent it. Pointing out that drug trafficking was taken up during the talks, Bolandiyan said Turkey, which is on a transit line, should make cooperation and set up ''security belt,'' to prevent smuggling. Bolandiyan also said protocol, which was earlier signed regarding the drug trafficking, should be put into implementation, and that the commissions should start working. Bolandiyan also said they discussed the terrorist groups which used the territories of the two countries against the other country, and noted that Turkish and Iranian side reached full consensus to exchange information. Bolandiyan said reciprocal visits and meetings prevent the negative propaganda, adding that they decided to hold Turkish-Iranian Security Sub- Committee meetings in eastern Van, Hakkari and Agri provinces, and also in Iran's Salmas, Urumieh, and Maku cities once in four months. Bolandiyan said high ranking security officials of the two countries discussed cooperation, and noted that existing problems have been solved, ''we hope there will be a close cooperation between the high ranking commanders soon.'' Bolandiyan said during the meetings they stressed the policy not to intervene to the each others' internal affairs, adding that required mechanisms were foreseen to take this under guarantee. The Iranian Deput Interior Minister said Turkey paid compensation for the killings, injuries, and loss of goods which occurred as a result of a bombing which Turkish planes made by mistake. During an operation of the Turkish warplanes on July 18, 1999, a missile hit a military post and tribe tents in Piran Shahr border region in Iran killing five Iranians, one of them soldier, and injured 10 Iranians. -GENERAL CENSUS TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 22 IN TURKEY The temporary outcomes of the census, will be declared in a week after the census and the data about 15-20 provinces will be completed by the end of the year. The concrete outcomes of the census will be declared in 18 months' time. -TURKISH FOOD TO COMPETE IN GREECE Noting that he would prepare various examples of the traditional Turkish cuisine, Yalcin said he would compete against the Chinese, French, Italian, and the Taiwanese cuisine which were considered as the best cuisines of the world. Yalcin noted that this festival would contribute to the friendship between Greece and Turkey, and that he believed that the Anatolian cuisine would be the favourite of the contest. [03] EUROPEAN BUSINESS WORLD GIVE FULL SUPPORT TO THE MEMBERSHIP OFTURKEY TO THE EUROPEAN UNIONBRUSSELS- The Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE), declared in its document named ''Attitude Against the Enlargement of the EU'' that the ''European business world is giving full support to the membership of Turkey''. The document was distributed to the press in Brussels on Tuesday. UNICE, while reflecting its views and assesments about the candidate countries, congratulated the steps taken for the participation in the EU. UNICE also noted that they were determined to support the efforts of Turkey in adjusting the Copenhagen criteria. The document said, ''Turkey is one of the most important actors of the European economy,'' adding that the Customs Union brought a strong economic harmony between Turkey and the EU. UNICE drew attention to unregistered economy and the differences between the regions of Turkey, and said the participation of Turkey in the EU, would change the geostrategic situation of the EU, and Turkey would be the second high populated country of the EU. Meanwhile, the problems that the European business world faces in Turkey, and between the relations of Turkey and the EU were also assessed in the report. UNICE said that reforms should be made in the public markets, and the tenders, and that the restrictions in estate purchasing, banking, and energy prevent the foreign participation. -AFC LEEDS UNITED IN ISTANBUL Peter Ridsdale, the Chairman of Leeds United Club, said a friendship has been set up between Besiktas and his team, and noted that he believed no incidents will occur before and after the match which will take place on Wednesday. [04] NONE OF THE CANDIDATES COULD GET THE REQUIREDVOTES IN THE THIRD ROUND TO BE PARLIAMENT SPEAKERANKARA- None of the candidates managed to get the required votes to be the Parliament Speaker in the third round of vote. Murat Basesgioglu, the Motherland Party (ANAP) Parliamentarian, got 260 votes with the support of the True Path Party (DYP) and Virtue Party (FP). Meanwhile, Omer Izgi from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which was supported by the Democratic Left Party (DSP), got 251 votes. Mail Buyukerman, the Independent Parliamentarian got only one vote.
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