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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

1 NOVEMBER 2000

Wednesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] ASHRAWI, PALESTINIAN SPOKESMAN, SAYS THEY WELCOME PROPOSAL OF FOREIGN MINISTER CEM TO PLAY THE ROLE OF MEDIATOR IN MIDDLE EAST PEACE

[03] SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS ON INTERNET

[04] FINDINGS OF TROIA AND ARTEMIS EXHIBITED IN EUROPE

[05] TOTAL OF 41 ORGANIZATIONS IN TRNC FLY PIGEONS FOR PEACE

[06] STATE MINISTER GUREL IN GERMANY

[07] FOREIGN SHIPS TO BE REQUIRED TO RENT TUG BOAT WHILE

[08] ENERGY MINISTER ERSUMER SAYS THEY WANT TO FORM A LESS CENTRALIST

[09] IRANIAN PLANE LANDED AT DIYARBAKIR AIRPORT

[10] EDIRNE AND EVROS GOVERNORS DISCUSS PROJECT SUPPORTED BY EU

[11] SWEDISH AMBASSADRESS TO TURKEY: ''TURKEY

[12] TURKEY-MIDDLE EAST CRISIS (1)

[13] TURKEY-MIDDLE EAST CRISIS (2)

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

TOFAS SETS UP A STAND WORTH OF 1 TRILLION TL FOR AUTOSHOW 2000
Tofas Inc., one of the leading car manufacturer of Turkey, set up a stand worth of 1 trillion Turkish Liras(TL) for the Autoshow 2000 Fair, in Istanbul. Jan Nahum, the CEO of Tofas said that they prepared a small technology base for the stand, adding that they did so in order the attract the interest of the visitors to their stands. Nahum added that the visitors had paid attention to the stands of the foreign cars in the previous fairs, and they decided to establish an interesting stand for this year's fair. Meanwhile Fiat Dublo, which was manufactured with the labour support of the Turkish workers, and engineers will meet with the Turkish people for the first time. Auto Show 2000 will start in Istanbul, on November 3.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

TURKEY'S DI PIETROS
The Italian brave judge Di Pietro stroke a heavy blow on the mechanisms of corruption in Italy in 1992. Five prime ministers were tried, one prime minister went to exile and another one went to prison in Italy as a result of the efforts of Di Pietro. Zekeriya Temizel, the Chairman of the Banking Audit Board and the Minister of Interior Saadettin Tantan struggle against corruption just like Di Pietro in Italy.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

ANAP FAVOURS A LIMITED AMNESTY
Mustafa Tasar, the Acting Leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) said their party was supporting a limited amnesty, adding that they weren't considering the amnesty issue as a primary issue for the government. Noting that a limited amnetsy would fulfil the amnesty expectations Tasar said the limited amnesty would not also damage the legal system of Turkey.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

COMPROMISE BETWEEN ANKARA AND ATHENS
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou agreed on the confidence building measures package in the Aegean. Cem and Papandreou pointed out that the sides would start talks soon.

11 MORE KHKs CANCELLED

The Constitutional Court cancelled 11 decrees having the force of law (KHKs) which were adopted under the abolished Authority Law No. 4588.

Hasim Kilic, the Acting Chairman of the Consitutional Court, said the decisions will enter into force after six months following its publication in the Official Gazette. Kilic said they rejected the request of stopping the execution of the cancelled KHKs. The Constitutional Court has abolished 17 KHKs so far.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

AIR POLLUTION IN YATAGAN
The burning of coal caused an air pollution in Yatagan township of Aegean Mugal province. The sulphurdioxide ratio in the air had exceeded the normal levels, and the officials of Yatagan warned the locals not to go out, and stay at home. The mayor said that Yatagan was under the air pollution threat, and asked the authorities to take the necessary precautions. The air pollution decreased to its normal level due to the wind.

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES FROM ANKARA
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer sent a letter to French President Jacques Chirac regarding the resolution on the so-called genocide on the Armenians which has once more been brought to the agenda of the French Senate. Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi sent a letter to French Senate Chairman Christian Poncelet. Izgi also wrote a letter to Italian Parliament Speaker Luciano Violente.

In the letter, President Sezer expressed the uneasiness Turkey felt over the resolution, and gave the message that Turkish-French relations would be damaged a lot in case the resolution is adopted.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

DAMASCUS EXTENDS OLIVE BRANCH
Bashar Al-Assad, Syrian Head of State, will send Abdulhalim Haddam, the Vice President, to Turkey. Khaddam will convey Assad's message to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

Turkish-Syrian relations enter into a development process with the new approach brought by Bashar Assad, who came to the ruling following the death of Hafez Assad. Khaddam will also meet with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

DENKTAS GOES TO GENEVA HOPELESSLY
Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) left for Geneva on Tuesday to attend the fifth round of proximity talks. Before his departure, Denktas said Greek Cypriot side did not have the intention to make compromise, adding that the Greek Cypriot side thought they did not need the compromise. The fifth round of proximity talks will begin on Geneva, Switzerland, today.

The fifth round of proximity talks are envisaged to take place between November 1 and 10. President Denktas and Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot side, have not come together since the face-to-face meeting in Troutbeck near New York in July 1997.

[02] ASHRAWI, PALESTINIAN SPOKESMAN, SAYS THEY WELCOME PROPOSAL OF FOREIGN MINISTER CEM TO PLAY THE ROLE OF MEDIATOR IN MIDDLE EAST PEACE

Pointing out that Turkey itself would decide for the role it would play in the region, Ashrawi said they welcomed the proposal of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem for Turkey to play the role of mediator or similar roles in the peace process. Ashrawi said Turkey was a Moslem and secular country, and a regional power.

Ashrawi said he wanted to define Turkey's role in the region again not only within the framework of its relations with Europe, but also within the Middle East realities, and relations with its Arab neighbours and historical allies.

Ashrawi said he expected Turkey to be a country which brings more cooperation and harmonization, and also expressed hope that Turkey would play a constructive role in the peace process.

Ashrawi, who also mentioned Turkey's water purchase to Israel, said he earlier met with a Turkish delegation and asked why Turkey did not donate some of the water to Palestine while transporting water to Israel. Ashrawi said he also told the Turkish delegation that Israel stole the water of Palestine and left them without water, and later sell the water to them with market prices.

[03] SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS ON INTERNET

Here are the web pages where views regarding the issue are discussed.

Site Address

http://www.ermenisorunu.gen.tr

http://www.mfa.gov.tr/

http://www.members.tripod.com/

armanian-murderers

http://www.atam.gov.tr

http://www.ataa.org/

http://www.ftaa.com/

http://www.turkey.org

http://www.turant.com/

http://www.kultur.gov.tr

http://www.world.std.com/%7Etacs/

http://www.atahouston.org

http://www.avsam.org/

http://www.turk-info.de/

http://www.angelfire.com/ma2/ermeni/

http://www.emu.edu.tr/inaf/

http://www.armenianterror.com/

[04] FINDINGS OF TROIA AND ARTEMIS EXHIBITED IN EUROPE

The artifacts of the Troia ancient city will be displayed in three cities of Germany in 2001, under the scope of ''Dream and Reality'', while the artifacts of the Artemis Temple will be exhibited in Austria under the scope of ''Artemission''.

''Dreams and Realities'' exhibition will be first held in Sttutgart between March 17 and June 17. The exhibition will also be held in Braunschweig between July 14 and October 14, and in Bonn between November 16 and February 12, 2002.

The artifacts which will be displayed in this exhibition will be selected among the artifacts in Istanbul Archeology Museum, and other museums.

Meanwhile, the ''Artemission'' exhibition which will be opened in Vienna in October 2001, will remain open till January 2002.

[05] TOTAL OF 41 ORGANIZATIONS IN TRNC FLY PIGEONS FOR PEACE

The organizations including the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the Patriotic Unity Movement (YBH), freed pigeons at Ledra Palace Border Gate wishing peace to be ensured on Cyprus as soon as possible.

Ahmet Barcin, the Chairman of Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers Union, called on the leaders representing the two sides on Cyprus to behave in common sense during the fifth round of Cyprus proximity talks.

Barcin said that they want a lasting peace on Cyprus.

Barcin added that they are in favour of the continuation of the talks in the form of face-to-face.

[06] STATE MINISTER GUREL IN GERMANY

Addressing a news conference which he staged with Osman Koruturk, Turkey's Ambassador to Germany, Gurel said important issues have been brought to the agenda during his contacts, adding that harmonization of the Turkish citizens to the community was the most important one.

Gurel pointed out that Turkish citizens living in Germany should be individuals who contribute to the society with their efforts, adding that, ''however, the harmonization should not mean assimilation or depriving off the identity. Our citizens should preserve their cultural identities.''

Responding to a question about gradually growing racist tendencies and xenophobia, Gurel said, ''racism is a tendency which increases throughout the whole Europe, not only in Germany.''

Gurel pointed out that Germans was a nation which experienced great sufferings and caused sufferings for others throughout their history, and noted that long term culture policies would bring great benefits to them.

Stressing that they reduced the problems to the minimum regarded with the ''Pink Card,'' which were distributed to facilitate denaturalization proceedings in order to get German citizenship.

Gurel said they wanted Turkish children living in Germany to speak Turkish well, and noted that it was impossible to get better education before learning the mother tongue.

''We have concerns regarding the quality of education in Germany on the issue. We will continue our talks to find a solution to the problems,'' Gurel stressed.

Speaking about the religion courses given in some German schools, Gurel said, ''we make warnings that Turkey is different from the other Moslem countries regarding the education of Islam. We try to prevent the fundamentalists to give lessons. We tell the German officials that fundamentalist movement could form a threat also against Germany.''

Gurel is scheduled to meet with German Interior Ministry Otto Schily, and will meet with the Turkish academicians and student representatives.

[07] FOREIGN SHIPS TO BE REQUIRED TO RENT TUG BOAT WHILE

Noting that even the world's most modern ships can have technical failures such as locked engine or wheel, Mirzaoglu said noone can guarantee that these won't happen during the passage.

''Our straits are open to international navigation, however these ships have to take safety measures. We cannot allow tankers weighing 100,000 tons to pass through our straits without a tug boat. This would be an unacceptable mistake,'' Mirzaoglu commented.

Maritime Undersecretariat has started working to pass a legal regulation that would not allow tankers carrying petroleum or petroleum by-products or heavy ships without hiring a tugboat. International maritime community will be informed about this regulation once this decision is approved.

Mirzaoglu stated that sufficient number of tug boats are available at the Coast Guard Security and Ship Rescue General Directorate. He said that he hoped all circles especially the International Maritime Organization would support this decision.

[08] ENERGY MINISTER ERSUMER SAYS THEY WANT TO FORM A LESS CENTRALIST

Since the financial cost of the required investments is too high, Ersumer said it is not possible to implement these projects using public financial sources. ''We have started intensive works to start projects using several different models of financing in order to draw both domestic and foreign capital to electric energy sector,'' he stated.

Turkey's electric energy demand is expected to increase 8-10 percent annually in early 2000's, Ersumer remarked and indicated that the total established electric energy power should be doubled by 2010 to meet this demand.

In the last two years, Ersumer went on to say, more than half of the production power plants which started operation have been Turkish private sector investments. Foreign investments, on the other hand, have not reached the desired level due to legal limitations, he elaborated. Ersumer said they are aiming for legal amendments in order to make the investments more attractive for both Turkish and foreign private sector. ''The international arbitration which was regarded as the biggest obstacle by foreign creditors was resolved by a constitutional amendment,'' he also noted.

Ersumer said it is important for his ministry to form a less centralist and freer electricity sector. ''It is our biggest goal to use our energy resources more cleverly, minimize their negative effects, and varify energy services through additional technologies,'' he added.

[09] IRANIAN PLANE LANDED AT DIYARBAKIR AIRPORT

Following the meeting, Meric told the A.A correspondent that he met with Celaleddin Nemini, the Chairman of Western Asia Desk of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, on Wednesday morning.

Meric said that Nemini told him that they feel deep sorrow and uneasiness about this incident.

Nemini accepted that Turkey has the right to control in accordance with the international conventions, Meric noted.

Meric stated that Nemini said that they feel uneasy about Turkey's conducting such searchs very often.

Meric said that he told Nemini that Iranian side's not having cooperation led to the escalation of the tension.

The wrong stance of the pilot escalated the incident on Tuesday, Meric noted.

Meric stated that the pilot had earlier returned by rejecting to land at the Diyarbakir airport and that then, he entered into Turkey's airspace again and accepted to land at the Diyarbakir airport.

He told Nemini during the meeting that there is a lack of confidence between the two countries, Meric said, adding that he also emphasized that Iran does not want to make cooperation to overcome this lack of confidence.

The Iranian plane which was on the way from Tehran to Damascus with 155 passangers, landed in southern Diyarbakır province upon the demand of Turkish authorities on Tuesday.

The plane was searched and then it was permitted to take off.

Officials said that they can search planes if they are suspicious of the planes for carrying military equipment and weapons according to an agreement reached with Iran.

[10] EDIRNE AND EVROS GOVERNORS DISCUSS PROJECT SUPPORTED BY EU

The two delegations are discussing the projects regarding the assistance that the European Union (EU) extends to the candidate countries.

Glorgos said that the relations between the two countries have further improved following the devastating earthquakes in both countries.

The EU sent money to Turkey for the Interreg program for the first time, Glorgos noted.

Glorgos stated that this indicates how much they work for the region and that their initiatives will continue.

The Interreg program will be further improved, Glorgos added.

Yucel said that the regional initiatives will be beneficial for the improvement of the relations between the two countries.

The relations among the universities will be an example for the Interreg, Yucel noted.

Yucel stated that he believes that the relations between the two nations will become warmer by these initiatives.

A press statement is expected to be released in the end of the meeting.

[11] SWEDISH AMBASSADRESS TO TURKEY: ''TURKEY

The Swedish delegation headed by Andersson visited Diyarbakir Mayor Feridun Celik.

Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Andersson said that they knew that several things in Turkey had changed and they had come to Diyarbakir to hold several contacts.

Stating that they met with the Governor and other officials during their visit to eastern province of Tunceli, Andersson said that terrorism had been eradicated in the region and Turkey had recorded progress in its struggle against terrorism. ''However, we saw that a great number of people are unemployed in the region,'' she said.

''We want to fulfil our responsibilities to help Turkey enter the EU. Turkey should enter the EU as soon as possible. We saw that the tension in the region eased and this is a promising development. We want Turkey be a EU full-member after completing economic and legal reforms. We are friends of Turkey and we want to see Turkey in the EU. Actually, we want this more than Turkey. We want Turkey to lift the emergency rule,'' Andersson said.

Diyarbakir Mayor Celik said that he was pleased with the visit of the Swedish delegation and that Turkey was expending efforts to integrate with Europe.

[12] TURKEY-MIDDLE EAST CRISIS (1)

Stating that the fact-finding committee couldn't have more than seven members, Yaseen said that the ninth President of Turkey Suleyman Demirel, former U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher, former South African President Nelson Mandela and U.S. Senator George Mitchell were among the proposed names for membership to the fact-finding committee.

When asked what they expected from the fact-finding committee, Yaseen said, ''even the name of the committee suffices to explain our expectations. The committee will investigate the facts and bring to light the people responsible for the incidents. It is very important to reveal the facts although the committee does not have the authority to punish someone.''

(To be continued)

[13] TURKEY-MIDDLE EAST CRISIS (2)

Staging a press conference, Yaseen recalled that Israel had been founded in accordance with the U.N. Security Council's Resolution No:181, defending the view that Israel was currently not abiding by some resolutions of the U.N. Security Council, harming international legitimacy of the U.N. Security Council.

Accusing the Israeli officials of not being realistic and not taking lessons from their own history, Yaseen said, ''how can the current actions of a state which complains about genocide be explained? Young and innocent people are losing their lives. Israel should have taken lessons from its own history. We expect Israel to act in accordance with the international laws and resolutions of the U.N. Security Council.''

Responding to a question, Yaseen said that the United States administration had been disappointed to some extent as the Summit at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh had failed to bring definite results.

Yaseen commented that the United States wanted to reduce the tension in the Middle East but it was making these efforts over a wrong path.

Stating that the U.S. was making recommendations to the Palestinian side to cease the clashes, Yaseen said the United States requests the wrong side to calm the tension, adding the shooting side should be stopped.

Stressing that peace in the Middle East would be beneficial for not only Palestine but also all of the states in the region, Yaseen said that they expected Turkey to persuade Israel that peace would serve interests of all people in the region.

Responding to another question, Yaseen said that they were the side which proposed Suleyman Demirel's membership to the

fact-finding committee.

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