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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-10-25Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 25 OCTOBER 2000 Wednesday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on October 25, 2000. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)HIGH STATE OF ALERT IN INCIRLIK BASEThe U.S. put the Incirlik Air base on a high state of alert, for a possible terrorist attack of Usame ben Ladin, who is a fundamentalist Islamic terrorist. The alert ''Charlie'', is the phase before the state of war. The personnel of the base weren't permitted to leave the base, and tight security measures were taken in the base. An American official from the base said that they started a closed circuit TV broadcast in the base, adding that other bases in Bahrein, and Qatar were also on a heightened state of alert. TURK, MINISTER OF JUSTICE SAYS THAT THE RECENT RIOTS IN THE PRISONS MILLIYET (LIBERAL)ARMENIAN RESOLUTION POSTPONED TO NEXT WEEK AT ITALIAN PARLIAMENTThe Italian Parliament could not discuss the resolution on the so-called Armenian genocide during yesterday's meeting due to limited time. The resolution was the 15th article on the Italian Parliament's agenda. The resolution foresees official recognition of the so-called genocide by the Italian government. Meanwhile, the French Senate is also trying to bring up the so-called genocide issue which was approved in their Parliament in 1998. Socialist and communist senators yesterday agreed to include the issue in the ''urgent matters'' meeting which will be held on November 7. FOREIGN INVESTORS AND BANKS BOOST TURKEY'S MORALE REGARDING ITS SABAH (LIBERAL)TANTAN IS SUCCESSFULA high ranking commander said that the Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan is very succesful. ''If there is nobody which tries to hamper him, Mr. Tantan will cope with all organized crimes,'' he said, adding that ''other banks will follow the bailed-out Egebank.'' PISKINSUT COULDN'T BE RE-ELECTED CUMHURIYET (LEFT)ITALIAN RESEARCH VESSEL TO START RESEARCHES IN MARMARA SEAA vessel belonging to Italian Scientific Research Center(CNR), will make researches in Marmara Sea, starting from October 27. The project is supported by CNR, Turkish Naval Forces, Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Institution(TUBITAK), and Mineral Research and Administration Institute(MTA), and the fault lines will be examined in a detailed way. Samples will be taken from the soil of the Marmara Sea, and the ages of the fault lines and when they had broken will be examined through the researches. CYPRUS WARNING TO EU RADIKAL (LEFT)TURKEY PROMISES TO ABOLISH DEATH SENTENCETurkey's promise to abolish the death sentence before 2002 will also be included in the National Document that will be prepared before starting full membership negotiations with the European Union (EU). Turkey thinks of bringing life-sentence instead of the death penalty in 2001. The contacts held for the preparation of the Accession Partnership Document have also been intensified. Meanwhile, the EU changed the paragraph of the document about the relations with Cyprus and Greece and submitted it to Turkey. A high ranking European diplomat said that the new paragraph is to the advantage of Turkey. INTERVENTION LIKE TERROR YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)FIRST STEP TAKEN FOR MERNIS PROJECTAlive and dead 120 million Turkish citizens will be given an identity number on October 28, 2000 as the first step of the Central Population Management System (MERNIS) project which aims to gather identity information of all Turkish citizens in a computer system. The identity number which will be assigned to each person by computers cannot be changed. People can find out their new identity numbers on www.nvi.gov.tr. Confidentiality will be important and personal information will not be revealed on the internet. When MERNIS is completed people will not have to stay indoors for a census. Access to social security, tax, health and similar services will be easier for people. MERNIS is also expected to improve public services. TURKEY AND RUSSIA STARTS NEW PERIOD IN RELATIONS TURKIYE (RIGHT)CAKMAKOGLU:WE EXPECT GOOD NEIGHBOURHOODNational Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, said regarding the tension with Greece that ''we shouldn't be pessimistic. The thing that matters here is to turn the neighbourhood between the two countries into a friendship.'' Cakmakoglu pointed out that they favour to have good relations with Greece. PEARSON:TURKEY IS OUR MOST POWERFUL ALLY ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)QUAKE SURVIVORS ARE OUT IN THE STREETS ALSO THIS WINTERSome tents and prefabricated huts were flooded yesterday in Izmit due to heavy rains. Quake survivors whose tents were flooded tried to discharge the water using shovels. People also had to fight with the cold weather when the temperatures dropped significantly. Some basements in Izmit's city center were also inundated after three days of continuing rain. POPULATION OF VILLAGES INCREASE IN QUAKE HIT REGION [02] SOLOMON, MEMBER OF TURKISH LOBBY SAYS BUSH WOULD TRYTO RECONCILE TURKEY AND ARMENIA IF HE WINS THE PRESIDENTIALELECTIONS WASHINGTON, D.C (A.A) - Bob Livingston, Chairman of Livingston-Solomon- Solarz lobbying firm who was hired by Turkey to protect Turkey's rights in the United States said Republican presidential candidate George W.Bush would try to reconcile Turkey and Armenia if he wins the presidential elections. Livingstone stated that the Jewish groups in the United States also had an important role in the withdrawal of the resolution regarding the so-called Armenian genocide. He explained that these groups were aware that any resolution that would harm Turkey would have also yielded negative results for Israel. Lobby group member Gerald Solomon said the lobby which agreed to receive 1.8 million U.S. dollars from Turkey for its services, had great contributions in the resolution's defeat. Solomon said they ''deserved the money they got.'' Livingstone who is Republican Party's former Louisiana representative, said they successfully continued their efforts to block the resolution's discussion at the House of Representatives until the beginning of August. However, he explained, an unexpected situation emerged when House Speaker Dennis Hastert supported the resolution. Noting that the Turkish government, the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C., his lobby group, and the U.S. administration displayed a powerful cooperation, Livingston said, the last minute letter of U.S. President Bill Clinton also had a strong influence on Hastert's decision to withdraw the resolution. Former Republican New York representative Solomon said the crisis in the Middle East, the possibility of a terrorist attack and the threats caused by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein were also other contributing factors to the resolution's withdrawal. Solomon stated that they spoke with over 400 House members in the days right before the resolution's withdrawal, therefore, he said Turkey would have had a chance to escape the resolution even if it had been voted on on the House floor. Due to intensive election campaigns, Democratic and Republican president candidates, Al Gore and Bush did not take any action against the resolution because of worries to lose votes, Livingstone said and remarked that U.S. President Bill Clinton took an initiative on the matter. Noting that the Armenian lobby could try to bring up the same subject in the next legislative term, Livingstone said Republican presidential candidate Bush, would work to reconcile Armenia and Turkey if he becomes the next U.S. president. Speaking on the efforts of Republican representative Dan Burton and Democratic representative Tom Lantos, Solomon said their contributions were indispensible during the fight over the resolution. ''We put our knowledge and experience in this business. We are working with invaluable assistants. Lobbying is no cheap business. I believe that without our efforts, the resolution would have passed. Therefore, we have deserved the money we got,'' Solomon commented. Livingston remarked that if the Turkish government agrees, they are ready to sign another one year contract with Turkey next year in March. [03] TURKISH DOCTOR TRANSPLANT OVARY FOR THE FIRST TIMECHICAGO, Oct 25 (A.A) - Kutluk Oktay, a Turkish doctor, transplanted the ovary of a cancer patient to her arm before the radiation treatment, for the first time in the world.Oktay told A.A correspondent on Wednesday that this operation could also be made in a tube baby department of a Turkish hospital. Oktay said their aim to make such an operation was to make the women to be able to give birth again, after losing their ovaries in a cancer treatment, or after an ovary operation. Noting that they had to freeze tissue before the treatment, Oktay said this could easily be done in a tube baby department of a Turkish hospital. In this new treatment, the tissue which is taken from the patient is frozen, and once it is frozen, can be transplanted to the patient till she is 50 years old. The tissue is later transplanted to the arm of the patient. Oktay indicated that the bodies of the patients weren't adapting the tissues transplanted from another person, and said that women who would undergo an ovary operation, or who would have a cancer treatment should request the doctor for the transplantation of her own tissues. Oktay who is currently working in the University of Texas, was selected as one of the best doctors in the U.S., by the New York magazine, and the Castle&Connoly Institute. [04] FINANCE MINISTER ORAL SAYS MOST IMPORTANT AIM OF 2001BUDGET PROGRAMME IS THE DETERMINATION TO COPE WITH INFLATION''MONTREAL, Oct 25 (A.A) - Finance Minister Sumer Oral said on Wednesday that Turkey has to decrease the inflation rate to one digit number, adding that ''the most important aim of the 2001 budget programme is the determination to cope with the inflation.'' Speaking to A.A correspondent in Mortreal, where the G-20 meeting will be held, Oral said that the inflation rate decreased to 50 percent on average for the first time in 13-15 years. ''Turkey has to sustain its economic and financial balances in the shortest time possible,'' said Oral and added that the Turkish nation does not deserve an inflation rate which is around 50 percent. Turkey's determinism to succeed in the economic programme has been welcomed by the international plaftorm, said Oral and added that ''the implementation of the programme and the budget shows that the target will be reached.'' Oral said that the reforms on taxes and expenditure have to be carried out at the same time, adding that ''we took up the income target of the budget at the leaders summit. The sources of all of them are known.'' Mentioning the non-interest budget surplus, Oral said that the surplus reached 7,6 quadrillion liras, which is more than expected at the end of September this year. They expect it to reach 11 quadrillion liras in 2001, he said. Oral stressed that the non-interest budget surplus will make the public balance healtier and it will save the budget from interest mortgage. Turkey recorded great sucess both by being a member of the G-20 and a candidate of the European Uinon (EU) while entering the new century, said Oral. ''The G-20 platform is composed of the 'rising' countries which have adapted the free market economy and which have the leadership position in their regions. Representatives from IMF, World Bank, European Central Bank and the EU also participate in the Platform's meeting,'' said Oral. Oral added that he will meet with the U.S. Secretary of Treasury Lawrence Summers upon Summers's request. [05] U.S. SIXTH FLEET AND NATO STRIKFORSOUTH COMMANDER ADMIRALJOHNSON VISITS NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER ADMIRAL ERDILANKARA, Oct 25 (A.A) - United States Sixth Fleet and NATO Striking and Support Forces Southern Region (STRIKFORSOUTH) Commander Vice Admiral Gregory Johnson visited on Wednesday Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ilhami Erdil. Admiral Erdil said before the meeting that relations between the Turkish and the U.S. Naval Forces had started nearly 100 years ago, recalling that the Ottoman Fleet had purchased the Mecidiye cruiser from the U.S. in 1903. Stressing that a total of 150 different warships had been transferred from the U.S. since 1946, Admiral Erdil said that the relations also covered intense personnel training, logistic and maneouver training activities. Stating that the U.S. warships had paif almost forty visits to the Turkish ports and bases, Admiral Erdil said, ''we are pleased with these visits especially to our Aksaz Base that is positioned in the intersection point of the Aegean and Mediterranean.'' ''Today, the relations between Turkey and the U.S., the two friendly and allied countries, have reached a point that we can define as an advanced partnership. With this respect, the Turkish and U.S. Naval Forces are continuing their balanced relations and mutual cooperation in order to contribute to peace and stability in this strategical region of Eurasia,'' he said. Vice Admiral Johnson said that Admiral Erdil and he had found the opportunity to take up the bilateral relations during the Third Naval Force Symposium in Venice last week. Stating that Admiral Erdil had invited him to Turkey, Vice Admiral Johnson said that he had been serving as the Commander of the Sixth Fleet for two weeks and this was his first official visit to Turkey. ''I am very pleased with paying my first visit to our close and sincere ally.'' Noting that there had been sound and good relations between Turkey and the U.S. especially since 1947, Johnson said that he believed the relations would further improve in the future. Responding to a question about the developments at the Incirlik Base, Vice Admiral Johnson said that they were encountering a specific threat, and that they had taken measures against this threat. Stressing that those measures did not have any connection with the Turkey- U.S. relations, Johnson said that they appreciated the cooperation of the Turkish Armed Forces and government. [06] TURKEY-EU RELATIONS-FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''EU MEMBERSHIP NEGOTIATIONS WILL BEHELD WHEN TURKEY FEELS ITSELF READY'' ANKARA, Oct 25 (A.A) - Huseyin Dirioz, the Deputy Spokesman of Foreign Ministry, said on Wednesday, ''European Union (EU) membership negotiations will be held when Turkey feels itself ready.'' Dirioz responded to questions of journalists at a weekly press conference. When asked whether Turkey had pledged the EU to annul capital punishment, Dirioz said that the issue was under authority of the parliament. Dirioz added that he was on the position to confirm or reject the news reports regarded with the issue. When asked of news reports saying that the Cyprus question and the Aegean dispute had been included in the Accession Partnership Document prepared by the European Comission, Dirioz recalled that the document was reflection the EU's opinions, thoughts and expectations. Noting that the European Commission had held consultations with Turkey as it was preparing the document, Dirioz told reporters, ''but it does not mean a negotiation. Turkey's opinions will be put forward in a document which will be prepared by Turkey.'' Stressing that Turkey's opinion about the Cyprus question was clear, Dirioz noted that the sides should support the process on the issue. Dirioz recalled that the same issue was put forward at the Helsinki Summit last year. When asked whether or not a copy of the Accession Partnership Document was sent to the Foreign Ministry, Dirioz that the Foreign Ministry did not have anything about the document. Responding to another question, Dirioz said that all relevant units and sides were in coordination in works regarded with the EU. [07] TURKEY-NEW ZEALAND FIFTH TERM JEC PROTOCOL SIGNEDANKARA, Oct 25 (A.A) - State Minister Abdulhaluk Mehmet Cay said on Wednesday that the commercial and economic relations between Turkey and New Zealand would further improve on the basis of mutual interest in accordance with the memorandum of understanding they signed. Cay and New Zealand's Agriculture and Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton signed the Turkey- New Zealand Fifth Term Joint Economic Commission (JEC) Protocol with a ceremony.Speaking at the ceremony, Cay said that it had been revealed during the JEC meeting that several opportunities to increase bilateral relations existed. Stressing that the relevant organizations and institutions should be encouraged to put into practice the issues included in the protocol, Cay said, ''the cooperation between our two countries should not be limited only with the issues included in the memorandum of understanding. New fields of cooperation should be set through mutual efforts of our relevant organizations.'' Guest Minister Jim Sutton said that New Zealand had perceived at the battlefields during the Gelibolu landing that it was an independent nation. Sutton said Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's statements had changed the ties into a continuous friendship between Turkey and New Zealand while the landing could have been defined by others as an obstacle between the two countries. Noting that the trade had sharply decreased despite good friendly ties between Turkey and New Zealand, Sutton said that this decreased had stemmed mostly from the crisis in the Russian market which resulted in decrease in sales of leather and trade of goods. Sutton said that earthquake engineering, education sector and geothermal energy were the fields in which the two countries could cooperate. [08] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK ADDRESSES ''STRUGGLE AGAINSTHUMAN SMUGGLING'' CONFERENCEROME, Oct 25 (A.A) - Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said on Wednesday that none of the countries can cope with cross-border crimes like illegal human smuggling by itself, adding that the states should make cooperation with good will. Addressing an international conference titled, ''Struggle Against Human Smuggling,'' staged in Rome, Turk said many people felt the need to look for more secure places to continue living because of political and economic problems and wide spread human rights violations. Turk said several countries implemented encouring policies to the political refugees, adding that this may be among the reasons of illegal immigration. Turk said people, who were deceived by the illegal guides, smugglers, and terrorist organizations, got involved in various crimes in the countries they went. Recalling that illegal human smuggling was organized by crime and terrorist gangs, which work as international networks, Turk said human smuggling was an important financial source for the terrorist organizations. Justice Minister Turk said Turkey was a stage to immigration activities throughout the history, adding that Turkey was accepted as a transit country due to instabilities in neighboring countries and due to its geographical position, for the foreigners who wanted to pass to Western Europe through illegal ways. Pointing out that many people entered to Turkey with the help of crime and terrorist organizations, Turk said the number in question was 40,250 people at the end of July. Turk said Turkish regulations envisaged crimes for the illegal work and worker smuggling, and noted that several measures had been taken to struggle against human smuggling. Turk said those measures were training of border officials, increasing check points. He added that there was an obligation for the citizens of 25 countries, which have intense violations on illegal transit passages, visa and residence permit, to have 100 U.S. dollars with them for the each day they would stay in Turkey. Stressing that illegal human smuggling was an organized crime, Turk said a concrete separation should be made between the economic refugees and others who were exposed to cruelty. Turk said, ''extreme tolerance to the economic refugees, who show their position as a human right problem, encourage illegal organizations. Attitude of several countries which make an open discrimination between illegal refugees having economic reasons, and the political refugees, encourage illegal immigration, and renders the efforts to control the illegal refugee immigration wave ineffective.'' Recalling that Turkey many times brought illegal human smuggling to the attention of the international community, Turk underlined that none of the countries can cope with the illegal cross border crimes by itself. Turk proposed technical and operational cooperation and communication offices to be set up between the countries, adding that the expenses of the burden of the struggle should be shared by the countries. [09] CUBUKCU, CHAIRMAN OF AMERICAN-TURKISH ASSOCIATION ASSEMBLY:''RESOLUTION ON SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS CANCELLEDBECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE IT WOULD GIVE TO TURKISH-U.S. RELATIONS, AND WITH THE INFLUENCE OF MIDDLE EAST CRISIS, NOT BECAUSE OF ITS CONTENTS'' WASHINGTON D.C., Oct 25 (A.A) - Tolga Cubukcu, the Chairman of the American- Turkish Associations Assembly (ATAA), said on Wednesday that resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians was cancelled because of the damage it would give to Turkish-U.S. relations and with the effect of the crisis in the Middle East, not because of its contents. Cubukcu issued a written statement and said defense of the Turkish side against the resolution was perceived as ''the denial of genocide.'' Cubukcu said, ''it is obvious that the success, which is gained in the Congress by basing on Turkey's regional and strategic importance, is not repeated in the U.S. public opinion. Unfortunately, Turkey preferred inactivity and silence on the issue for years unless a crisis erupts.'' Cubukcu said a systematical campaign has not been started in Turkey against the anti-Turkish campaigns carried out especially in the U.S., and noted that required sources were not allocated. Pointing out that the resolution would be taken to the agenda once again, Cubukcu said, ''great importance should be attributed to the Armenian allegations regarded with the so-called genocide,'' and noted that several circles in Turkey still thought that this issue was not so important, and should not be exaggerated. Cubukcu said, ''unless Turkey develops a strategy which will focus on the essence of the issue, it would be impossible for Turkey to prevent such initiatives. However, it is clear that the actual target of the supporters of such kind of political initiatives, is to disrupt Turkey's relations with the Western world and Turkish-U.S. relations. Thus, such kind of initiatives again serve to the target of these lobbies.'' [10] RESOLUTION ON SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS IN ITALIAN PARLIAMENT-JUSTICE MINISTER TURK: ''IT IS NOT THE BUSINESS OF LEGISLATIVEMECHANISM'' ROME, Oct 25 (A.A) - Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said on Wednesday, ''it is not the business of legislative mechanism,'' regarding the resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians which is expected to be debated by the Italian parliament. Turk who is currently in Italian capital of Rome to attend a conference on ''Struggle Against Human Smuggling'', told the A.A correspondent that ''we do not want to distort historical facts. Also we do not deny historical facts. But a parliament cannot take a decision on such an issue. It the business of historians.'' ''We should not act with political factors and thoughts. We should leave the issue to historians. We should open all archives to everyone. I do not believe that Italian parliament would approve the resolution. I conveyed my views to Italian Interior Minister Enzo Bianco,'' he said. Turk emphasized that the resolution would play havoc with improving relations between Turkey and Italy. Meanwhile, Turk held bilateral talks with his Macedonian and Albanian counterparts at the last day of the conference. Noting that his contacts were very beneficial, Turk said, ''Turkey fulfils its responsibilities to prevent illegal migration.'' When asked whether or not Turkey had pledged the European Union (EU) to annul capital punishment, Turke stressed, ''annulment of capital punisment is an obligatory condition for whole EU countries. Therefore, Turkey will lift death sentence one day. We should provide reconciliation among all political parties at the parliament. The new penal code commutes capital punisment to life imprisonment.'' Turk is expected to return to Turkey on Thursday.
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