Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-11-07

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

7 NOVEMBER 2000 Tuesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

THE ECONOMIST PRAISES TURKEY
Merli Baroudi, the Risk Director of the Economist for the countries said that the economic stability was being realized in Turkey, with the stabilization in the political arena. Baroudi underlined the decrease in the annual inflation rate, adding that the decrease to the two digit numbers in the inflation rate could be considered as a huge success. Baroudi added they expected that the annual rate of inflation will be around 35 percent in Turkey by the end of the year.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

CROATIAN PRIME MINISTER INVITES ECEVIT TO HIS COUNTRY
Ivica Racan, the Croatian Prime Minister who came to Turkey as the official guest of Premier Blent Ecevit, had a tete-a-tete meeting with Ecevit before he started his official contacts. Inviting Ecevit to his country, Racan said that the Croatian President will visit Turkey.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

BESIKTAS TO ENTER INTO STOCK EXCHANGE
Following Galatasaray, Besiktas is getting prepared to go public. Besiktas Sportif Inc. which reached a deal with Is Yatirim, will enter into stock exchange next year. The successes that Besiktas marks in European Champions League will be influential on its value in the stock exchange because the revenues of the ticket offices will be added to the total revenues.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

ARMENIAN CRISIS IN FRANCE
The allegations on so-called genocide on the Armenians which led to tension between Turkey and the U.S., is now on the agenda of the French Senate. Ankara, which warned the French government by the initiatives of the Foreign Ministry, is exerting efforts similar to the action plan which was prepared against the U.S. A parliamentary delegation is holding contacts in Paris.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

TRACES OF FIRST BRAIN SURGERY
The traces of the first brain surgery was found in a skull during the excavations held in Kalehoyuk in central Kýrsehir province. The skull which is three hundred years old, demonstrated that the first brain surgery was held in the Ottoman Period. Sachihiro Omura, the head of the excavations in Kalehoyuk, said that two brain surgeries were made as the first surgery failed to be successful. Omura added it was very surprising that the person managed to survive after the first operation.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

FIRE BREAKS OUT IN A TURKISH TANKER OFFSHORE CRETE
Fire broke out in a Turkish-flagged tanker sailing 50 miles south of Crete island of Greece. One Turkish sailor died in the fire. The Greek helicopters rescued two sailors who were injured in the fire. The injured sailors were taken under medical treatment in Crete. Officials said that fire broke out due to an explosion in the hold of the tanker.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

PEARSON, AMBASSADOR OF U.S. TO TURKEY, SAYS RELATIONS BETWEEN
TURKEY AND THE U.S. WON'T CHANGE AFTER THE ELECTIONS
Robert Pearson, the Ambassador of the U.S. to Turkey said that the relations between the two countries wouldn't change after the presidential elections in the U.S.

Robert Pearson added that the new president would follow the policies of Bill Clinton regarding the policy of the U.S. towards Turkey.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

TUNISIA WAITS FOR TURKISH BUSINESSMEN
Mohammad al-Yassir, the Tunisian Ambassador to Turkey, said that Turkey is a friendly country which has importance for their country. Al-Yassir called on the Turkish businessmen to invest in his country which is like the ''door of Africa.''

-''CULTURE TRAIN'' DEPARTS FROM EDIRNE
EDIRNE - The ''Culture Train'' which will visit several cities of Bulgaria, Macedonia and Greece, departed on Tuesday from Kapikule Train Station of northwestern Edirne province. Kemal Vatan, the Chairman of Parliamentary Turkish-Macedonian Interparliamentary Friendship Group, told reporters that this tour is important for the further improvement of friendship with the Balkan countries.

Folk music concerts will be given in Skopje, Komotini and Plovdiv within framework of the project organized by the Parliamentary Balkan Countries Friendship Groups, the Prime Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, the Transportation Ministry, the Culture Ministry, the Turkish Radio and Television (TRT) Children and Youth Foundation, and the Turkish Railways (TCDD).
A documentary film titled ''Anadolu Isigi'' (The Light of Anatolia) will be shown before the concerts. The documentary film is about the traces of Turkish cultural heritage in Anatolia.

The school where Ataturk had his education in Manastir city of Greece, will be visited.

A ceremony will be held in the house in Salonica where Ataturk was born, on November 10 to commemorate Ataturk on the 62th anniversary of his death.

The train will return to Istanbul on November 12.

-FACTORY CLOSED DOWN IN CINE AS IT POLLUTED THE ENVIRONMENT
AYDIN- The Akmaden Factory in Cine township of Aegean Aydin province, was closed down on Tuesday as it polluted the environment. Following the application of locals of Cine to the Environment Directorate in Aydin Province, the Directorate decided that the factory should be moved to another place to avoid the pollution in the township.

Selahattin Akozan, the General Manager of Akmaden said that they would move the factory to another place as they attributed importance to the health of the people in Cine.

Noting that they would move to their new factory building which was currently under construction, Akozan said the new facilities of Akmaden would not pollute the environment.

-33TH INTERNATIONAL BAGHDAD FAIR
-TURKISH COMPANIES ATTRACT VISITORS
ANKARA - A total of 103 Turkish companies which attended the 33th International Baghdad Fair attracted the visitors.

A statement of the Forum Fair Organization Inc. said on Tuesday that the other countries that participated in the fair and the Iraqi people paid great interest to the Turkish pavilion.

The statement noted that significant business contacts were held during the fair.

By taking into consideration the interest paid to the Turkish pavilion and the demand of the participants, a Turkish export products fair will be staged in Iraq in April 2001, the statement added.

The International Baghdad Fair will be open till November 10.

-GAZIANTEP EXPORTS 6.9 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR OIL IN NINE MONTHS
GAZIANTEP - Southeastern Gaziantep province exported 6.9 million U.S. dollar margarine and vegetable oil in the first nine months of 2000.

Gaziantep exported 10,401 tons of margarine and vegetable oils in return for 6 million 912 thousand U.S. dollars between January and September 2000.

Gaziantep's exports decreased 31.2 percent in the first nine months of 2000 when compared to the same period in 1999.

A total of 12,303 tons of margarine and vegetable oil were exported from Gaziantep in return for 10 million 41 thousand U.S. dollars in the same period in 1999.

The margarine and vegetable oil were mainly exported to Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Romania.

-FINDINGS OF ZEUGMA UNDER RESTORATION
GAZIANTEP - The findings of the Zeugma ancient city are being restorated for display in various museums.

Kemal Sertok, the Coordinator of the excavations in Zeugma told the A.A. reporter on Tuesday that the works were continuing in order to make the artifacts ready for display.

Noting that the restoration works were being carried out with the latest techniques, and equipment, Sertok said the mosaics excavated in the Ancient city were being completed in the laboratories.

Sertok said the restoration works were being carried out by fifteen experts, adding that the centre headed by Italian Roberto Nardini was conducting the works.

''The buildings and artifacts which are excavated in Zeugma are being documentated digitally. The researches of the Turkish, British, and the French experts will be promoted to the world through the internet,'' Sertok said.

-CHILDREN OF THE WORLD-HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION COMPLETES ITS
WORKS IN REGIONS HIT BY EARTHQUAKE
IZMIT- The French organization for the Children of the World-Human Rights, completed its works in the regions hit by the earthquake.

Genevieeve Guyot, the Turkey Chief of the organization said that they founded social and education centres in the regions hit by the earthquake, and that these centres should continue to operate in the regions where the permanent houses were built for the quake survivors.

Guyot told the A.A correspondent that the organization founded 16 social and education centres for the children aged between 0-6, 7-15, in Marmara Kocaeli and northern Duzce provinces.

Guyot noted the centres were operating close to the prefabricated huts and tent cities, adding that they gave education to the children about theather, music, painting, and sports, and that the families of the children had also benefitted from these programmes.

Pointing out that the officials of the organization would leave the region by the end of November, Guyot said that the activites of the organization should continue in the region where the permanent houses were built.

Guyot added that they were continuing the activities together with the Turkish Children's Protection Association and that the Association should search for a sponsor to carry out the activities in the region.

-RESTORATION WORKS IN SUMELA MONASTERY CONTINUE
TRABZON - The restoration works in Sumela Monastery continue as the number of the tourists visiting the place is increasing everyday.

Adil Yazar, the Governor of northern Trabzon province said on Tuesday that the restoration works in the Monastery were being conducted successfully, and that the monastery was in a better condition.

Noting that they had prepared a project of three years for the restoration of the Monastery, Yazar said the main parts of the Sumela Monastery had already been restorated.

''Both the Ministry of Culture and the Governorship of Trabzon are exerting efforts to complete the works in the Monastery. We are in need of five trillion Turkish Liras(TL),'' Yazar said.

Yazar noted the Sumela Monastery was an important touristic place both for the region and Turkey, adding that the number of the tourists visiting the Monastery was increasing.

''We will reconstruct the road to the Monastery in 2001, and will do as much as we can to complete the deficiencies in the restoration of the Monastery,'' Yazar added.

-COUNCIL OF EUROPE MINISTERS COMMITTEE
MEETING TO START IN STRASBOURG ON WEDNESDAY
STRASBOURG - Council of Europe Ministers Committee will convene in November 8-9 and will approve a statement which targets making Europe to be a continent that is totally purified from capital punishment.

The statement will make references to the decision taken by the Council of Europe, at a meeting which took place in Rome in November 3-4, regarding abolishment of capital punishment. Recalling that capital punishment has not been executed in Europe for a long time, the statement will call on all the member countries to approve the 6th protocol foreseeing abolishment of capital punishment.

Turkey is the only country which did not sign the 6th protocol among the 41 members of the Council of Europe. Ukraine, Georgia, Russia, and Albania signed the protocol but have not approved it so far.

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will represent Turkey during the meetings where developments in Caucasia and recent situation in Yugoslavia would be reviewed.

FM Cem is scheduled to meet with Lamberto Dini, the Foreign Minister of Italy, which is the Term President of Council of Europe, and also with Hubert Vedrine, the Foreign Minister of France which acts as the Term President of European Union.

-MILITARY ATTACHES VISIT MAUSOLEUM OF ATATURK
ANKARA - Military attaches of several countries visited on Tuesday the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of modern Republic of Turkey, within framework of Commemoration Week.

The military attaches headed by General Fevzi Turkeri, the Chairman of Intelligence Unit of General Staff, and General Helge Lerider, the Austrian Military Attache in Turkey, laid a wreath to the mausoleum, and observed a minute of silence out of respect to Ataturk.

Following the ceremony, General Turkeri signed the book of the mausoleum saying,

''Great Leader Ataturk,

As the defenders of democratic and secular Republic of Turkey, we aim at spreading your principle 'Peace at Home, Peace in the World' to the whole world by setting up peaceful and friendly relations.

We are proud of being in your presence together with foreign military attaches who are charged in Turkey.

We reiterate our admiration for your great statesmanship, commandership and leadership.''

Meanwhile, General Helge Lerider, the Chairman of Ankara Military Attaches' Union and Austrian Military Attache in Turkey, also signed the book saying, ''Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was an extraordinary soldier, politician and statesman. Turkey, Europe and the whole world owe him. Because he made a valuable contribution to peace in the world by founding stable and modern Turkey.''

A total of 45 military attaches were in attendance at the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Greece was represented at the ceremony by land, air, naval and defense attaches.

-TURKISH-ITALIAN CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM SIGNED
ANKARA - Turkish-Italian Cultural Exchange Program was signed on Tuesday by Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Sencar Ozsoy and Italian Foreign Ministry Cultural Affairs Director General Gianfranco Facco Bonetti.

Speaking after the signing ceremony staged in Foreign Ministry, Ozsoy said framework of the cultural cooperation, which these two countries would make between 2000-2003, was drawn, and noted that this framework determined minimum level.

Responding to a question, Ozsoy said the program would be beneficial for the improvement of cultural relations with the EU in Turkey's full membership process to the EU.

Ozsoy said besides the support that would be taken from the EU, Turkey would make use of the experiences of Italy in this respect.

Bonetti, who signed the Program on behalf of Italy, said he was proud of signing the program, and noted that the program would positively effect Turkey's membership process to the EU as well as the bilateral cultural relations.

-EUROMONEY CONFERENCE
-STATE MINISTER YALOVA: ''WE OBTAINED THREE
BILLION U.S. DOLLARS FROM PRIVATIZATION''
ISTANBUL- State Minister Yuksel Yalova in charge of Privatization said on Tuesday that they were pleased with obtaining the privatization income of last fifteen years just in one year.

''We have obtained three billion U.S. dollars but as Turkey, we should consider the issue differently as we spend one billion U.S. dollars of this income with outdated business administration understanding,'' he said.

Speaking at a conference on ''Turkey: Business, Finance and Investment'' organized by the Euromoney, Yalova said that it had been seen that concept of privatization in Turkey was changed into a social compromise.

''We say that we obtained privatization income of last fifteen years in just one year. We are pleased with that. However, I don't agree with this. I am obliged to think about how the enterprises that are put into scope of privatization program are wasting billions of U.S. dollars every day as the currently existing system has not been changed yet,'' he said.

Stressing that enterprises like steel-iron factory Iskenderun Demir Celik, paper producer Seka and State Railways suffered great financial loss, Yalova said, ''we obtained a three billion U.S. dollars income but as Turkey, we should consider this differently if we spend one billion U.S. dollars of this income with an outdated business administration understanding.''

''We have to increase the number of shareholders and settle the sharholder democracy. If we fail to eradicate such an outdated understanding, we will interpret the concepts of property and state,'' he said.

-SPORTS - JUDO
-ANTAKYA TO HOST MEVLANA JUDO UNDER-15 WORLD CUP
ANTALYA - Antakya will host the Mevlana Judo Under-15 World Cup between November 11 and 12.

A total of 150 judokas from Turkey, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan,

Bulgaria, Romania and Kosovo will participate in the Mevlana World Cup.

-FORD BOARD MEMBERS TO VISIT TURKEY ON NOVEMBER 11
ISTANBUL - Ford Motor Company Europe's Board Chairman Nick Scheele and Deputy Chairman David Thursfield will come to Turkey on November 11.

Scheele and Thursfield will attend a ceremony that will be held on the occasion of delivery of housing units constructed by the Ford Motor Company and Ford Otosan in quake-stricken Golcuk township of Kocaeli for quake survivors.

State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Public Works and Housing Minister Koray Aydin are expected to attend the ceremony.

Rahmi Koc, the Chairman of the Executive Board of Koc Holding, the partner of Ford in Turkey, will also attend the ceremony.

Sources said that Ford Motor Company Board Chairman William Clay Ford Jr wouldn't attend the ceremony.

The project for 116 housing units in Golcuk started on May 30, 2000 and cost 2.5 million U.S. dollars.

-TURKEY AND BULGARIA SIGN POSTAL AGREEMENT
ANKARA - Turkey and Bulgaria signed an agreement on Tuesday that will enable setting up a cargo transportation company and provide vacation opportunities for postal workers in both countries.

Postal Management General Director Dursun Dagasan said in a written statement that the agreement was an important step for the Eurasia Postal Union which is planned to be formed in the future.

Dogasan said they are trying to set up a system in which Turkish and Bulgarian postal managements will set up a company that will serve the shuttle trade with Balkan and Slavic countries. Later other countries from Asia, Caucasia and Balkans will also join this system, he said. There will also be seminars on automation, he explained.

The agreement also envisages the postal personnel of both countries to have vacation opportunities in each other's country. The host country will meet all the costs of the vacation except for travel costs. Dogasan said this would be a big motivation for employees.

-SAMURAI DEBENTURE BONDS START TO BE TRANSACTED AT IMKB
ISTANBUL- The transaction of the 50 billion Japanese yen nominal-valued debenture bonds at the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) started on Tuesday.

These debenture bonds had been issued by the Treasury on November 2, 2000 at the Japanese Samurai market.

The maturity of these bonds which were quoted at the IMKB is November 27, 2003.

The annual interest rate of these bonds is three percent.

-EU ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP ACCORD
-STATE MINISTER MIRZAOGLU: ''GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED
ON THE ISSUE OF ENTERING EU''
ANKARA - State Minister Ramazan Mirzaoglu said on Tuesday, ''the government is determined on the issue of entering the European Union (EU). It is our constant target.''

Addressing journalists, Mirzaoglu said, ''our government's determination on the issue of EU accession process is well-known.''

When recalled about the EU's attitude towards the capital punishment, Mirzaoglu said, ''these are details. Our government is determined on the issue of entering the EU. It is our constant target.''

Meanwhile, Culture Minister Istemihan Talay described announcement of the EU Accession Partnership Accord on Wednesday as a positive step in Turkey's membership process.

-''DEDE KORKUT DAYS'' START IN CULTURE MINISTRY
ANKARA - ''Dede Korkut Days,'' staged by the Culture Ministry which will take up Dede Korkut with various dimensions, started in Culture Ministry Culture Center.

Istemihan Talay, the Culture Minister, who spoke at the opening of the symposium, pointed out that, ''Culture Ministry evaluates a great personality like Dede Korkut with a scientific approach in front of public, and tries to fulfil its responsibilities in the best way.''

Pointing out that the symposium was in fact the meeting of culture and history, Talay said, ''this symposium is a wide dimensional work directed to analyze the qualities of Turkish nation and its past experiences in the identity of Dede Korkut that examines our roots deeply.''

Talay said Dede Korkut, with its folk tales and legends, is everywhere in the region extending from Central Asia to Anatolia where there are the traces of Turkish culture, adding that he will be discussed in the symposium with all dimensions.

Meanwhile, Seyhan Livanelioglu, the Director General of Public Culture Reseach and Development, pointed out that they aimed at examining Dede Korkut, who has an important place in Turkish culture history, with different points of views and convey it to the coming generations.

-DEFENSE INDUSTRY UNDERSECRETARY SAYS THEIR BIGGEST GOAL IS
TO SET UP A NATIONAL DEFENSE INDUSTRY BASED ON HIGH TECHNOLOGY
ANKARA - Defense Industry Undersecretary Dursun Ali Ercan said on Tusday that Turkey is one of the few countries which has the chance to set up a powerful defense industry.

Ercan said their aim is to set up a national defense industry based on high technology which exports defense products to other countries, when he spoke at a symposium on the 15th foundation anniversary of the Defense Industry Undersecretariat.

The defense expense per person in Turkey is 120 U.S. dollars which is the three percent of the national income per person, he said. Noting that Turkey assigns 4.2 percent of its gross gross national product to defense, Ercan said this figure is 7.2 percent in Syria, 6.8 percent in Iraq, 8.2 percent in Armenia, 4.7 percent in Greece, and 3.7 percent in Bulgaria. These figures show that Turkey's defense expenses is reasonable and it is the minimum amount necessary to maintain its power and its deterring force, he elaborated.

Turkey should stop being only a buyer in world defense markets, Ercan asserted and said their biggest goal is to manufacture products with high technology and also export them. He also said that gaining superiority in defense industry which requires an extremely high technology calls for uninterrupted efforts which will last for generations.

''When the limited energy resource is taken into consideration, it becomes clear that design, labour, research and development need more attention,'' Ercan said. He also stated that domestic resources should be used at maximum level in raw materal.

-INTERNATIONAL NAVAL WAR ACADEMIES
MARITIME COMPETITION STARTS IN ISTANBUL
ISTANBUL - The Fourth International Naval War Academies Maritime Competition which is held to mark anniversary of foundation of the Naval War Academy and Maritime High School started in Istanbul on Tuesday.

The competition will cover swimming, yachting, seafaring, sea pentathlon and life saving events.

Sources said sixty-nine sportsmen from Turkey, the United States, France, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Britain, Sweden, Italy, Poland, Romania and Russia are attending the competition.

The competition will end on Thursday.

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