Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-10-22

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

22 OCTOBER 2000

Sunday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] GENERAL CENSUS THROUGHOUT TURKEY

[03] GENERAL CENSUS STARTS AT 08:00 A.M. IN ISTANBUL

[04] HEALTH MINISTER DURMUS RETURNS TO TURKEY

[05] STATE MINISTER CAY:

[06] IMF DELEGATION TO COME TO TURKEY ON OCTOBER 24

[07] RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER KASYANOV DUE TO TURKEY

[08] DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME TO END ON OCTOBER 29

[09] TREASURY TO HOLD TWO AUCTIONS THIS WEEK

[10] MODERNIZATION OF C-130 TRANSPORT PLANES

[11] FORD OTOSAN TO PRODUCE DOMESTIC LORRY ENGINE

[12] TURKEY DAYS FESTIVITY IN COLOGNE

[13] TWO CHILDREN INJURED WHEN FUSES THEY FIND DETONATE

[14] 75 TURKISH POLICE OFFICERS ASSIGNED IN KOSOVO

[15] PRICE OF ONE BARREL OIL REACHES 27.7 U.S. DOLLARS

[16] DESTINED GLORY-2000 MANEOUVRES

[17] TURKEY: FROM FIRST CENSUS TO TODAY

[18] FINANCE MINISTER LEAVES FOR CANADA TO ATTEND G-20 MEETINGS

[19] TURKEY AND NETHERLANDS TO COOPERATE IN GAP REGION

[20] URGUP TO HOST INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON

[21] GENERAL CENSUS HELD THROUGHOUT TURKEY

[22] 16TH OIC ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL COOPERATION STANDING

[23] WITHDRAWAL OF RESOLUTION ON SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS

[24] DPT'S MONTHLY REPORT:

[25] GENERAL CENSUS THROUGHOUT TURKEY

[26] TURKISH TEXTILES SECTOR AND U.S. MARKET

[27] INVESTMENT FROM YIMPAS HOLDING IN KYRGYZSTAN

[28] STATE MINISTER USENMEZ IN CHINA

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

51 TURKISH FIRMS TO TAKE PART IN INTERNATIONAL FOOD FAIR ''SIAL 2000''
A total of 51 Turkish firms are taking part in the ''SIAL 2000'', one of the most important food fairs in the world which will start in Paris, France on Sunday. The fair will be held in Paris's Nord Villepinte neighborhood between October 22-26. A total of five thousand companies from ninety countries will attend the fair.

''WE DID NOT FORGET YOU''
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taner Kislali, the former Culture Minister and prominent journalist-writer, was commemorated throughout Turkey in the first anniversary of his assasination in a car-bomb attack. The first ceremony was held in front of Kislali's house in Cayyolu district of Ankara. Kislali's wife Nilufer Kislali, his daughter Altinay Kislali, Cankaya Mayor Haydar Yilmaz, Yenimahalle Mayor Tuncay Alemdaroglu, Hikmet Ulugbay, the former State Minister, representatives from the Republican People's Party (CHP), personnel of the Cumhuriyet newspaper, and members of the Kemalist Thought Association (ADD) were in attendance at the ceremony. Addressing the ceremony, Onder Sav, the Secretary General of CHP, said, ''our wound has not been healed yet. It is still bleeding. Our pain and anger did not die down. We miss him everyday. Prof. Dr. Kislali was a symbol of enlightment and loyalty to the Republic.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Acting on a tip-off, narcotics officials searched a lorry and confiscated 57 kg of heroin hidden in the vehicle. The drug which had been brought from Iran would have been sold in Germany, officials said. In the operation, seven people were taken into custody while the lorry and three automobiles were seized. Officials said that the market value of the drug was nearly 500 billion Turkish lira. A full investigation into the drug smuggling is under way.

NEARLY ONE MILLION PEOPLE WORK IN GENERAL CENSUS
Nearly 950,000 people were assigned in census. A 07:00 a.m. curfew was established throughout Turkey for the 14th census. Those who leave their houses, will be sentenced to imprisonment terms from three months to six months.

TWO GREEK F-16 WAR PLANES ON CYPRUS
A total of two Greek war planes landed at Baf Air Base in Greek Cypriot side within framework of the ''Niciforos'' exercises. State-run Greek television channel said that the war planes would spend the night at the air base.

TURKEY CONDEMNS ISRAEL
The United Nations General Assembly condemned and accused Israel of using force against civilians. The United Nations has decided to form a mechanism to investigate the incidents. Turkey casted vote in favor of the resolution. Safak Gokturk, the Deputy Representative of Turkey to the United Nations, criticized Israel's use of force against civilians. Meanwhile, Israel rejected accusations.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

INCIDENT IN AEGEAN SEA
A total of 672 illegal immigrants of Afghan, Pakistani and Iraqi origin aboard a Turkish vessel, were captured ashore to the island of Chios after the vessel was caught in stormy weather. The immigrants including 458 men, 70 women and 144 children, were given shelter in a stadium and elementary school in the island town of Purgi after being taken off a Turkish-flagged freighter. The freighter Founda had set off from the Turkish port of Canakkale and was heading for Italy but gale-force winds forced it to anchor off Chios.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

FIRST SNOWFALL
While the cold and showery weather starts to affect Turkey, it snowed on altitudes. Snow reached ten centimeters in Ilgaz Mountain, five centimeters in Samanli Mountain, forty centimeters in Giresun Egribel Mountain, and three centimeters in Uludag Mountain.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

SARACOGLU BANNED FROM GOING ABROAD
Rusdu Saracoglu, a former minister who gave testimony to the State Security Court within scope of the investigation into Egebank, was banned from going abroad. The Sisli Prosecutor's Office reacted to statement of Saracoglu who said, ''I couldn't fine an authority to give testimony three days ago.''

COMMANDS FOR CENSUS
The immigration wave from capital Ankara to other provinces due to census continued rapidly despite extraordinary measures on Saturday. The Ankara Municipality officials cooperated with the police and stopped many passenger buses. Some of the threats of Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek against the people who wanted to leave Ankara are as follows: ''You pay super-tax for garbage collection and additional fee for water and natural gas. You can't be a natural gas subscriber. The food, old age and fuel aid stops.''

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

MASSACRE WITH INJECTION
Belen Mayor Cemil Yilmazlar said that 1,500 Turkish soldiers who had been injured during the World War I had been killed by Armenian doctors with poisonous injections.

SIX TERRORISTS KILLED
Six of the terrorists who had massacred three villagers bloodthirstily in eastern Hakkari province, were killed in an operation launched by security forces.

ATHENS GIVES UP EXERCISES
The Turkish planes intervened in the Greek planes which continued air-space violations in the Destined Glory-2000 exercises. Greece withdrew from the exercises.

HEROIN SMUGGLING WORTH TRILLIONS
In an operation launced by Narcotics officials in Gaziosmanpasa district of Istanbul, 57 kilograms of heroin which had been put into packages was confiscated. The market price of the heroin which would have been smuggled to Germany is one trillion Turkish lira.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

ECEVIT SHOWS INTEREST IN TROUBLES OF PEOPLE
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit is also concerning himself with the complaints of people. A total of 16,242 written applications were made to the Prime Ministry in September and 85 percent of those petitions was about complaints of citizens and some organizations.

[02] GENERAL CENSUS THROUGHOUT TURKEY

A 07:00 a.m. curfew has been established throughout Turkey.

End of the curfew will be publicly announced by the governor's offices and offices of head of district through press and media organs.

Everybody in Turkey including tourists will be counted while the Turkish citizens living abroad won't be included in the census.

The tourists joining tours to Turkey can continue their visit after they are counted at the airports or the hotels they are staying. The tourists who come to Turkey personally should stay inside during the curfew. Those who pass Turkey in transit won't be counted.

[03] GENERAL CENSUS STARTS AT 08:00 A.M. IN ISTANBUL

Officials at the Istanbul Governor's Office told the A.A correspondent

that a 05:00 a.m. curfew had been established in Istanbul.

Nearly 177 thousand officials started to count people beginning from 08:00 a.m.

[04] HEALTH MINISTER DURMUS RETURNS TO TURKEY

Speaking to reporters at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Durmus said that Sallam and he had discussed the issues concerning Turkey and Egypt in the field of health and taken up the bilateral and international health problems.

Durmus said that they had also assessed the cooperation activities that were being carried out in accordance with the ''Agreement on Cooperation in Fields of Health and Medicine'' that had been signed by Turkey and Egypt on July 26, 1999.

Noting that he had visited several health organizations in Egypt, Durmus said that he had also met with Egyptian Prime Minister Atef Ebeid.

[05] STATE MINISTER CAY:

Cay attended inauguration of Samal Towers Business Center which was constructed by a Turkish company in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Addressing the inauguration, Cay stressed, ''Turkish businessmen are more active than the politicians in the Turkish Republics which have come to the forefront in Eurasian geography since the beginning of 1990s. Turkish businessmen have proved their success in every field in this geography from St. Petersburg to Siberia. They have made many investments in the region despite all negative conditions.''

Later, Cay departed from Almaty after wrapping up his contacts in Kazakhstan.

Cay had accompanied President Ahmet Necdet Sezer during his tour to Turkish Republics in Central Asia.

He had also attended celebrations to mark 1500th anniversary of foundation of Turkistan, one of the oldest cities in Central Asia, in which

Hodja Ahmet Yesevi Shrine restored by the Turkish International Cooperation Agency (TICA), was inaugurated.

[06] IMF DELEGATION TO COME TO TURKEY ON OCTOBER 24

IMF's Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli will arrive in Ankara on October 28 or 29.

Sources said on Sunday that the IMF delegation would start meeting with economy bureaucrats at the Treasury Undersecretariat on October 25.

Cottarelli would arrive in Ankara later than the IMF delegation as some high-level economy bureaucrats including Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp and Central Bank Governor Gazi Ercel would be in Montreal, Canada to attend G-20 Finance Ministers' and Central Bank Governors' meeting between October 24-25.

IMF delegation will hold meetings related to the third review which had been held in Istanbul and Ankara between August 30 and September 12 but couldn't be finalized.

The IMF delegation headed by Cottarelli had left Turkey before concluding the third review and decided to come back to Turkey at the end of October as the works on 2001 year budget had not been finalized yet.

The IMF delegation is expected to stay in Turkey for almost two weeks.

The supplementary letter of intent which will be prepared after the meetings between the IMF delegation and Turkish economy bureaucrats is foreseen to be taken up by the IMF Board in December.

[07] RUSSIAN PRIME MINISTER KASYANOV DUE TO TURKEY

Russian Prime Ministry Press Center quoted Kasyanov as saying on Saturday, ''trade volume between Turkey and Russia decreased seriously in 1998 during the economic crisis in Russia. But the trade volume has begun to increase again as a result of the great potential between the two countries.''

Noting that Russia had had the opportunity of strengthening its place in Turkey's weapon market, Prime Minister Kasyanov recalled that Turkey had been purchasing defense equipment from Russia for a long time.

Prime Minister Kasyanov stressed that continuation of weapon transfer would be high on his agenda in Turkey.

Noting that issue of fuel and energy transfer from Russia to Turkey would be brought onto agenda of his contacts in Turkey, Prime Minister Kasyanov said, ''we will take up the Blue Stream Project within this framework. We will start to install natural gas pipeline in the Black Sea bed soon.''

Noting that he would also come together with Turkish business circles, Kasyanov noted that new projects would be taken up at the meeting.

[08] DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME TO END ON OCTOBER 29

The summer-time implementation which started at 01.00 a.m. on March 26 by advancing the standart time by one hour, will end at 02:00 a.m. on October 29.

Officials at the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry told the A.A correspondent on Sunday that the summer-time which was adopted together with the European countries, lasted for 217 days this year.

More than 15 trillion Turkish lira was gained by energy saving.

Nearly, 390 million kilowatt hours of energy, which will be saved by daylight savings, is equal to one-year capacity of a middle-size thermic power station.

Nearly 390 million kilowatt hours of energy, which was saved by summer-time implementation, is equal to one-year capacity of a middle-size thermic power station.

[09] TREASURY TO HOLD TWO AUCTIONS THIS WEEK

Treasury will hold its second auction in October on Monday by selling three- month maturity bonds.

The value date of the bonds is October 25, 2000 and the maturity is January 24, 2001 while Treasury foresees to raise net 228 trillion Turkish lira (TL).

Treasury will hold its last auction in October on Tuesday, October 24, 2000 by selling 14-month (413-day) debenture bonds.

The issue date is October 25, 2000 and the maturity is December 12, 2001 while Treasury foresees to raise net 400-500 trillion TL.

Meanwhile, Treasury will repay 1 quadrillion 521 trillion 414 billion TL in domestic borrowing in October.

[10] MODERNIZATION OF C-130 TRANSPORT PLANES

The bids of the companies for transformation of the C-130 planes were taken on October 16, 2000 in accordance with the investment program of the Defense Industry Undersecretariat.

These seven transport planes will gain inter-continental flight capacity as a result of the modernization project which will be financed by the Defense Industry Development and Support Fund.

A total of 25 million U.S. dollars will be spent on the project.

The works on modernization will be carried out at the Air Forces Commandership's facilities in central province of Eskisehir.

Leading defense companies from countries like the Unites States, Britain, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Italy, France and Singapore are interested in the project.

Israel Aircraft Industries Limited, American Lockheed Martin Aircraft and Logistics Centers, Singapore Technologies Aerospace, French Thomson-Csf International and Spanish CASA are among these companies.

[11] FORD OTOSAN TO PRODUCE DOMESTIC LORRY ENGINE

The works on prototype have started and the new lorry engine which will be 100 percent Turkish product will start to be produced at the end of 2002 at the Ford Otosan's factory in Inonu.

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Product Development Unit Leader Dr. Vedat Akgun said that Ford Otosan had an important market share in Turkey especially in lorry production.

[12] TURKEY DAYS FESTIVITY IN COLOGNE

Gurtuna who had come to Germany to inaugurate the ''Cologne Turkey Days'' that is organized between October 20-22 with the slogan ''Let's Set Up Bridges Between Turkish and German Peoples'' left for Turkey after attending the cocktail party hosted by Cologne Mayor Fritz Schramma.

More than eighty thousand Turkish citizens are living in Cologne.

[13] TWO CHILDREN INJURED WHEN FUSES THEY FIND DETONATE

Sources said that Ayhan Oymen, 8, and Cendar Demir, 7, who had went to the mine region to collect waste coal found five fuses.

Two of the fuses exploded when the children took them, tearing off Oymen's three fingers and injuring Demir.

The children were hospitalized.

[14] 75 TURKISH POLICE OFFICERS ASSIGNED IN KOSOVO

Security Directorate General's Social Services Department Chairman Cevdet Ozgur and U.N. Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Police Forces Deputy Chief Stefan Felar were also in attendance at the ceremony that was held at the Grand Hotel in Pristina, Kosovo.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ozgur said that they were proud of the Turkish policemen serving in Kosovo. ''In accordance with Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's principle of 'Peace At Home, Peace In The World', Turkey contributes to peace in the world and peace in the Balkans.''

Stefan Felar said in his part that the Turkish policemen were serving security in Kosovo by fulfilling their mission with great responsibility and self-sacrifice.

[15] PRICE OF ONE BARREL OIL REACHES 27.7 U.S. DOLLARS

Sources said on Sunday that Turkey had purchased one barrel of oil for 9.9 U.S. dollars in 1999, the price of one barrel oil increased to 27.7 U.S. dollars in 2000.

Besides, Turkey which had paid 1.4 billion U.S. dollars in return for importing 14.5 millions tons of crude oil in first seven months of 1999 was obliged to pay 2.2 billion U.S. dollars in return for importing 11.5 million tons of crude oil in the same period of 2000.

The price of one barrel oil imported by Turkey in first seven months of 1999 and 2000 are as follows: (U.S. dollar)

MONTH 1999 2000
-------- ------ ------ JANUARY 10,
3 24,5
FEBRUARY 9,9 26,4
MARCH 10,8 27,4
APRIL 13,8 23,8
MAY 14,3 25,1
JUNE 16,1 27,7
JULY 17,2 26,8

[16] DESTINED GLORY-2000 MANEOUVRES

The General Staff released a statement on Saturday on Greek war planes' violation of air space over unarmed islands in the Aegean Sea within framework of the Destined Glory-2000 maneuvers.

Recalling that Greek troops and six F-16 warplanes arrived in northwestern Balikesir province on October 7 to participate in the amphibious operation, the statement noted that Greek and Turkish warplanes flew together within framework of maneuvers on October 9 and 10.

The statement noted, ''when the flight routes of Greek warplanes taking off from Greece were tried to be passed over Limnos and Ikarya islands which were unarmed in accordance with the international agreements, NATO South European Forces Commandership cancelled flight routes over these islands upon Turkey's objection. Later, Greece ceased its flights within scope of the maneuvers, and continued participating in other activities.''

''Following this development, the NATO commanderships carried out a series of works with good will in order to continue to the maneuvers without interruptions. A plan which envisages the Greek warplanes taking off from Greece to fly in accordance with international agreements and under NATO's control, was put into practice with Greece's approval. Within framework of this new arrangement, the flights restarted on October 18. The NATO Commander responsible for air operation cancelled Greek warplanes' flights after Greek warplanes taking off from Greece attempted to fly in air space over Limnos Island despite NATO air command control units' warnings. Similarly, NATO Commander responsible for air operation cancelled flights from Greece on October 20 after Greek warplanes taking off from Greece on October 19 violated air space over unarmed Aghios Efstratios Island three times. Later, several NATO Commanders have taken action. They said that landing operation would start on October 20 and asked Turkey to allow flights from Greece. They assured that if Turkey allowed the flights, the Greek warplanes would fly in accordance with NATO rules and international agreements. Upon the request, Turkey allowed the flights from Greece on October 20 for the safety of maneuvers. Despite all these good will approaches, one of the Greek warplanes violated the rules on October 20. Turkey sent a message to relevant NATO authorities. In its message, Turkey requested NATO to take all necessary measures to prevent such initiatives during the flights scheduled to be held on October 21. Turkey added that it would take all appropriate active measures to prevent violation attempts unless NATO fails to take requested measures. On October 21, NATO announced that it closed the maneuvers zone after the Greek war planes violated rules again. In spite of this announcement, the Greek warplanes continued to violate NATO and flight security rules. Upon this, Turkey prevented Greek warplanes' flights and forced them to return to their bases. The NATO Commander responsible for air operation stated that other filghts from Greece the same day were suspended. Turkey warned relevant NATO authorities that if Greek war planes continued to violate NATO and flight security rules, undesired results could emerge,'' the statement emphasized.

The statement noted, ''NATO South European Naval Forces Headquarters issued a message about a ten-mile air space and a six-mile territorial waters border implementation in ongoing maneuvers in the Aegean Sea for the safety of the maneuvers. Turkey reacted harshly to such an approach which meant, to some extent, depreciation of six-mile status of territorial waters and air spaces in the Aegean Sea in accordance with the international laws. Turkey launched necessary initiatives at the relevant NATO authorities for cancellation of the message in question. Following these developments, the Commander of NATO South European Naval Forces issued a second message cancelling the first one, and made the necessary correction.''

''As a reliable member of NATO, Turkey takes all measures to protect its rights and interests stemming from international law as it is expending efforts to carry out the maneuvers. Turkey closely monitors all developments,'' the statement added.

[17] TURKEY: FROM FIRST CENSUS TO TODAY

65.3 million in Sunday's census.

A total of 14 censuses held in Turkey except for 1997's population calculation.

The first census was held in 1927 and the second one was held in 1935.

Since 1935, censuses have been held in each five years.

The Sunday's census is expected to count approximately 65.3 million Turkish people.

This means that Turkey's population increased by 384 percent compared to its population in 1927.

Between 1927 and 1935, Turkey's average rate of increase in population was 21.1 in a thousand.

This figure increased 28.5 in a thousand between 1955 and 1960.

The lowest rate of increase in population was 15 in a thousand recorded between 1990 and 1997.

Number of provinces was 63 in 1927's census. This number increased to 80 in 1997, and to 81 in 2000.

Number of townships which was 328 in 1927, increased to 849 in 1997.

Meanwhile, number of villages decreased from 39 thousand 901 to 36 thousand 699 between 1927 and 1997.

Number of municipalities increased from 460 to 2 thousand 835 in the same period.

While number of women was higher than men's in 1927, number of men was higher than women's in 1990.

In 1927, 24 percent of Turkey's population was living in cities. This figure increased to 65 percent in 1997.

[18] FINANCE MINISTER LEAVES FOR CANADA TO ATTEND G-20 MEETINGS

Speaking to reporters prior to his departure from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Oral said that the G-20 Finance Minister's second meeting would be held in Montreal between October 24-25.

The first meeting was held in Berlin, Germany between December 14-15, 1999.

Noting that the G-20 which had been formed after the financial crisis which had started in Far East in 1999 and later spreaded to whole world was an ''unofficial'' platform, Oral said, ''the prior issue of the agenda of the meeting will be 'what can be done to prevent the problems stemming from globalization and overcome these problems?' Besides, what can be done to prevent financial crises or reduce their effects will be discussed.''

Stating that he would hold bilateral contacts with the finance ministers of the G-20, Oral said, ''we will have the opportunity to assess and discuss the world eceonomy. Together with me, Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp and Central Bank Governor Gazi Ercel are leaving for Canada.''

Later, Oral left Istanbul for New York, the U.S., Oral will proceed from New York to Montreal.

[19] TURKEY AND NETHERLANDS TO COOPERATE IN GAP REGION

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, TEMAV's Sanliurfa Office Chairman Halil Bolukoglu said that they cooperated with the NMCP to organize the publication services more effectively.

[20] URGUP TO HOST INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON

Yusuf Dag, the Chairman of ERVAK, told the A.A correspondent on Sunday that nearly 150 representatives and scientists from Turkey, New Zealand, France, Yugoslavia, Russia, Germany, Azerbaijan and Romania would attend the six- day congress.

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Culture Minister Istemihan Talay and Suleyman Demirel, the former President of Turkey, are expected to attend

inauguration of the congress.

Participants will also visit historical and touristic places in Cappadocia, Nevsehir.

[21] GENERAL CENSUS HELD THROUGHOUT TURKEY

A total of 75 airport personnel were assigned at the desks.

Officials told the A.A correspondent that four of seven tourist ships cancelled their tours to Kusadasi township of western Aydin province due to general census while three others arrived at Kusadasi Port.

A total of 1,800 tourists were sent to ancient city of Ephesus by buses.

Meanwhile, a group of children violated curfew in some neighborhoods in

southern Adana province.

Security forces intervened in the children and warned them to return to their houses.

The children set up barricades in streets, and threw stones to security forces.

In quake-stricken Kocaeli province, quake survivors burst into tears as they were responding to questions about their previous places of residence and family members who passed away.

In eastern Erzincan province, a person who did not want to be counted, was taken into custody.

Later, he was counted and released.

[22] 16TH OIC ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL COOPERATION STANDING

The high-level experts from the committee will convene under chairmanship of State Planning Organization Undersecretary Akin Izmirlioglu on Monday and Tuesday and finalize their works on preparations for the issues on the agenda.

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will preside the opening session on Wednesday, October 25.

Following the opening session, President Sezer will receive the heads of the participating countries' delegations, and presidents and directors of participating international organizations.

State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli will preside the Ministers' session that will be held in Wednesday afternoon.

The issues like ''evaluation of developments in the world economy, developments about implementation of Economic Cooperation Action Plan and relations with the World Trade Organization'' will be high on the agenda of the meeting.

Delegations headed by the ministers in charge economic affairs of OIC member or observer sixty countries and representatives of OIC Secretariat General and OIC organizations will attend the meeting.

The meeting will end on Thursday, October 26 with a closing session that will be presided by Bahceli.

[23] WITHDRAWAL OF RESOLUTION ON SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS

Recalling that the resolution was pulled from the House floor after an eleventh hour appeal by U.S. President Bill Clinton, McKeeby said in his report, ''efforts by the Armenian diaspora to redress an historically controversial injustice, as well as election-year gamesmanship by legislators, may still have a significant impact on the future of American foreign policy from the Balkans to the Caspian to the Persian Gulf. The incident is emblematic of the American failure to clearly define its overarching national priorities in the post Cold War world, allowing parochial interests to remain an ever-present 'sword of Damocles' dangling over American strategic imperatives.''

Noting that the resolution described as 'a political bombshell', harmed

Turkey's national and threatened the U.S.-Turkish strategic partnership,

McKeeby said, ''a successful resolution in the future may spur the parliaments of Europe to follow suit, adding yet another qualification for Turkey to satisfy before realizing its long-standing goal of membership in the European Union (EU). Parallel to the consideration of the resolution in the House, similar resolutions have been proposed in the parliaments of France and Italy by members of the Armenian diaspora. Meanwhile, a campaign in Brussels to insert language relating to the 'Armenian Genocide' into the Accession Partnership Agreement, the next step for Turkey's EU membership bid, was rejected by the European Parliament. While the resolution by itself is unlikely to ultimately derail Ankara's relationship with Europe, Turkey's cooperation in facilitating the reconciliation of the Cyprus conflict would, for example, almost certainly be affected.''

''The most worrisome consequences of a chill in the U.S.-Turkish strategic relationship for Washington lie to the south. Operation Northern Watch has kept Saddam Hussein in check, a key foreign policy goal of the Clinton administration. While Turkish officials declared that recent moves to reestablish ties with Baghdad are completely unrelated to the deliberations in the proceedings in the House. But the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with Iraq has been widely debated among Turkish policymakers in recent years, not least because supporting U.S. sanctions have cost approximately 30 billion U.S. dollars in lost revenues to the Turkish economy over the past decade, according to Turkish sources,'' he said.

McKeeby added, ''recent weeks have thus illustrated that a post Cold War consensus on American foreign policy remains as elusive as it is desperately needed. Further afield, the incident also underlines the necessity of a new generation of impartial historians to return to the archives in order to reassess this chaotic period of Eastern Europe's history in order to answer numerous questions long overlooked by both sides concerning the events of 1915-1923.''

[24] DPT'S MONTHLY REPORT:

In its monthly report, DPT stressed that the change in the currency basket in the first three quarters had occurred at the targeted level.

The report said that the increase in the currency basket (1 U.S. dollar+0.77 Euro) had become 18.6 percent as of September 2000 when compared to end-1999. In this period, the increase in U.S. dollar currency became 26.1 percent and the increase in German mark currency became 9 percent.

Thus, the TL gained 4.2 percent in value in the first nine months of 2000 according to the real currency index (1 U.S. dollar+1.2 German marks).

Meanwhile, the share of Euro in the currency basket which had been 43.6 percent at end-1999 decreased to 40.5 percent at end-September 2000.

The TL deposit decreased on real basis due to rapid decrease in TL interest rates after the stability program had been put into practice while the foreign exchange accounts increased as the U.S. dollar gained in value against Euro.

As of the end of September, the deposit banks' foreign exchange accounts increased 43.9 percent when compared to end-1999, and the TL deposits increased 16.6 percent.

The credit volume increased 51.8 percent in September when compared to end- 1999 as a result of decrease in interest rates.

The average interest rate in domestic borrowing auctions which had been 111.1 percent in September 1999 decreased to 37.9 percent in September 2000 and the average maturity decreased from 431 to 417 days.

[25] GENERAL CENSUS THROUGHOUT TURKEY

Panamanian-flagged passenger ship ''Palamal'' and Swiss-flagged passenger ship ''Azur'' anchored at Antalya Port.

A total of 750 passengers of Italian, British, German, Spain and Swiss origin and 375 crew aboard the Azur, and 145 passengers and 163 crew aboard the Palamal were counted by census-takers.

Tourists are being asked five questions prepared in British, German and Russian languages.

Tourists are being given forms during passports checks at the Antalya Airport.

A total of 20 census-takers were assigned at the census office at the airport.

Tourists are allowed to continue their excursions and program in Antalya after being counted.

[26] TURKISH TEXTILES SECTOR AND U.S. MARKET

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Kesci said that Turkey should offer this agreement to the United States as a means of compensation in return for the withdrawal of the resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians from the U.S. House of Representatives.

''There will be presidential elections in the near future. Despite this, the United States made very important concessions to India. If the governments proposes this, there are many senators, industrialists and businessmen in the U.S. who will support us. Thus, the governments should start to act strategically right now,'' he said.

''The Turkish government should immediately launch initiative for a free trade agreement with the U.S.,'' he said.

Noting that the one billion U.S. dollars of trade volume in the U.S. market would decrease if this was not proposed, Kesci said, ''we have specific quotas, of course. However, a free trade agreement will lift not only the quotas but also the taxes. Otherwise, it becomes impossible for us to endure this while those in Africa and Caribbean Islands sell it tax-free. If the taxes are lifted, we can have the chance to sell it much more expensive as our goods are of high quality.''

Responding to a question, Kesci said, ''Iraq is our real market from which we refrain due to international commitments. We were selling 4 billion U.S. dollars products to Iraq in 1984 and 1985. We stopped it due to international commitments and commitments to the U.S. The way to re-develop the relations is based on harmony with the United Nations, the U.S. and international commitments. It was a reaction of the government and businessmen but it can't be solved by reaction. We should reach a compromise and sign a free trade agreement.''

[27] INVESTMENT FROM YIMPAS HOLDING IN KYRGYZSTAN

Speaking at the ceremony, Yimpas Holding Board Deputy Chairman Abdullah Ornek said that they had invested in 22 countries. ''The roofed area of our malls is 1.5 million square meters. Besides, our nearly thirty factories are giving services. Our Aytac trademark offers more than 450 different goods to people.''

Recalling that Yimpas had invested in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Ornek said that they came to Kyrgyzstan upon invitation of Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev.

Ornek said that the five-star hotel which would comprise of 116 rooms, 59 suites and a royal suite would be constructed on a 57,560 square meter area.

Ornek said that 1,500 people would be employed at the hotel and mall.

Sources said that the construction of the hotel and mall in the city-center of Bishkek would cost 100 million U.S. dollars and conclude in one year.

[28] STATE MINISTER USENMEZ IN CHINA

Usenmez and accompanying delegation who had come to China as the guests of Chinese Personnel Minister Song Defu visited the Shanghai Museum.

Also TODAIE General Director Prof. Dr. Turgay Ergun is accompanying Usenmez in his visit.

State Minister Usenmez and accompanying delegation will visit the Pudong Development Region early on Monday.

The Turkish delegation will be briefed on the local personnel system and reforms at the Shanghai Personnel Department in Monday afternoon.

State Minister Usenmez's visit to China will continue till November 1.

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