Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-11-09

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

9 NOVEMBER 2000 Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] AEGEAN AGRICULTURE RESEARCH INSTITUTE STARTS INITIATIVE TO SAVE ZEUGMA'S PLANTS

[03] NEW INITIATIVES LAUNCHED TO IMPROVE FAITH TOURISM IN GAZIANTEP

[04] FINANCE MINISTER ORAL TO PRESENT 2001 BUDGET LAW DRAFT

[05] TREASURY UNDERSECRETARY DEMIRALP SAYS PRESS CONFERENCE WITH COTTARELLI COULD BE TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY NEXT WEEK

[06] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM MEETS WITH HIS FRENCH COUNTERPART

[07] MINISTER YUCELEN: ''THERE IS NO ISSUE IN ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP ACCORD WHICH WE CAN'T FULFIL IN RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS''

[08] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM SAYS THE CYPRUS PART OF THE ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP ACCORD IS OPEN TO DISCUSSION (1)

[09] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM SAYS THE ARTICLE ON CYPRUS WAS INCLUDED IN THE ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP ACCORD AT THE LAST MINUTE TO PLEASE ONE EU MEMBER COUNTRY

[10] INAN SAYS EU'S ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP DOCUMENT CAN NOT BE ACCEPTED TOTALLY

[11] STATE MINISTER KECECILER SAYS THAT CYPRUS CAN'T BE AN ISSUE OF BARGAINING

[12] FIFTH ROUND OF PROXIMITY TALKS ON CYPRUS

[13] COUNCIL OF EUROPE MINISTERS COMMITTEE MEETINGS END

[14] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING ENDS (1)

[15] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING ENDS (2)

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

BATTLE, BRITISH MINISTER OF STATE SAYS TURKEY IS THE TARGET MARKET OF
BRITAIN
John Battle, the British Minister of State responsible for Trade, said that Turkey was one of the most important target markets of Britain. Battle who participated in the twelfth joint meeting of Turkish British Business Council, underlined the importance of the potential of Turkey, and the importance of the geographical location of Turkey. Battle added that the economic situation of Turkey had improved due to the recent reforms of the government in economy.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

ERBAKAN COUNTING DOWN DAYS
Former leader of the outlawed Welfare Party (RP), Necmettin Erbakan exhausted all the legal ways to cancel the prison sentence given to him. The High Court of Appeals yesterday rejected Erbakan's request for correction leaving him with no alternative legal way. If no legal changes are made, Erbakan will go to prison on January, 14 next year.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INCREASE 6.3 PERCENT IN SEPTEMBER
Industrial production increaded 6.3 percent last September compared to the same month of 1999. The production increase in the first nine months of the year was announced as 4.8 percent. Last year, industrial production had declined 5.8 percent.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

EU COMMISSIONER VERHUEGEN SAYS TURKEY FAILED TO MEET COPENHAGEN
CRITERIA
EU Commissioner in charge of enlargement Gunter Verheugen said Turkey still did not meet the Copenhagen criteria. He indicated that the Accession Partnership Document lists the necessary basic reforms Turkey has to realize to meet these criteria.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION HURTS TURKISH-FRENCH RELATIONS
The French Senate accepted the resolution on the so-called Armenian genocide and sent it to Parliament. Turkey responded harshly upon this and stressed that this could damage the relations between the two countries. Turkey also warned Armenia and accused this country for provoking other countries on this matter.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

EU Commissioner in charge of enlargement Guenter Verheugen interpreted the Accession Partnership Accord and said if Turkey does not make progress in the military's role in politics, human rights and the Kurdish problem, it cannot join the Union. Verheugen also told Turkey not to ignore the economic criteria. ''Any steps that are taken in this field would provide sources for Turkey and it would make the implementation of reforms easier, '' he said.

HEALTH MINISTER DURMUS ADMITS THAT IMPORTED BLOOD WAS NOT STUDIED
Regarding allegations of Turkey's importing contaminated blood, Health Minister Osman Durmus said there was bureaucratic negligence during the process of blood import. Speaking at a press conference, Durmus said since the blood samples have not been studies, he cannot certainly say they were infected with HIV or Hepatite. ''But I cannot claim the opposite either,'' he said. Noting that the blood products in question were imported to Turkey in 1992, Durmus remarked that if these blood products carried AIDS or Hepatite, there would have been a sharp increase in these diseased in Turkey and stressed that that did not happen.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

BINAY, DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF TURKISH CENTRAL BANK SAYS THE KEY FOR FOREIGN
CAPITAL IS PRIVATIZATION
Sukru Binay, the Deputy Governor of the Turkish Central Bank who spoke at 'Turkey: Business, Finance and Investment'' conference, organized by Euromoney said that the flow of the foreign capital to Turkey would contribute to the success of the economic programme. Binay added that the key for the foreign capital flow was privatization.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

YILMAZ, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SAYS TURKEY TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES FOR
ACCESSION TO EU
Mesut Yilmaz, the Deputy Prime Minister, and the Minister of State said that Turkey would overcome the obstacles for full membership in the Europeaon Union (EU). When asked whether or not inclusion of Cyprus issue in the ''short-term proposals'' like political criteria would create a problem to Turkey, Yilmaz told reporters, ''our government's interlocutor is the EU Council. There is an agreement which was reached at the Helsinki Summit in December, 1999. What is valid for us is this agreement.''

[02] AEGEAN AGRICULTURE RESEARCH INSTITUTE STARTS INITIATIVE TO SAVE ZEUGMA'S PLANTS

The Aegean Agriculture Research Institute is collecting samples of plants which grow on this land in the Plant Gene Bank. Institute Director Ertug Firat told the A.A that they are keeping these plant samples which used to grow in the area in order to be able to show them to next generations.

The institute which was founded in 1963 aims to protect the plants all around Anatolia. The Plant Gene Bank currently has 100,000 plant species.

Since 1963, the Institute has saved most of the plant types which were otherwise would have disappeared under the dams. Firat said that they will finish collecting the plant samples before the area is flooded by the waters of the Birecik dam.

[03] NEW INITIATIVES LAUNCHED TO IMPROVE FAITH TOURISM IN GAZIANTEP

Mehmet Dogan, the Director of the Tourism Directorate in Gaziantep said on Thursday that Gaziantep was located at the gateway of the plain between Fırat and Dicle rivers and that the plain was described as the ''Garden of Heaven'' in several holy books.

Dogan noted Gaziantep had been a crossroad for many religious beliefs since the ancient times, and added that there were many buildings belonging to Judaism, Islam, and Christianity in Gaziantep.

Noting that there were also buildings dating back to the ancient times, Dogan said, ''Doliche which is located close to the Duluk village of Gaziantep, is the site of Baal temple to Teshup, one of the major Hittite gods.''

Dogan pointed out that they launched an effective tourism campaign in order to benefit from these historical assets in the faith tourism.

''We printed brochures to promote these assets, and sent them to the concerned people and institutions who will contribute to the faith tourism in Gaziantep,'' Dogan added.

[04] FINANCE MINISTER ORAL TO PRESENT 2001 BUDGET LAW DRAFT TO PLANNING AND BUDGET COMMISSION TOMORROW

The commission will recess for four days and the debates on the budget will be held on Nov. 15, Wednesday.

The budgets of Prime Ministry and related institutions will be debated on Nov. 16, Thursday. The Commission will complete talks on the budget draft law in 12 days.

There will be meetings on Saturdays and Sundays.

The debates will end on Dec. 1, Friday.

[05] TREASURY UNDERSECRETARY DEMIRALP SAYS PRESS CONFERENCE WITH COTTARELLI COULD BE TUESDAY OR WEDNESDAY NEXT WEEK

Demiralp told reporters that the issue of public economic enterprises (KITs) have not yet become clear. During the meetings with IMF, Demiralp said, 2000 and 2001 will be both discussed therefore the debates will be comprehensive.

Cottarelli's delegation is expected to leave Turkey on Friday or Saturday.

[06] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM MEETS WITH HIS FRENCH COUNTERPART

Cem met with his French counterpart at a meeting staged during Council of Europe Ministers Committee, and conveyed the uneasiness Turkey felt over the resolution that was adopted in the French Senate. Cem also conveyed the message that bilateral relations would be damaged in case the resolution is legalized.

Vedrine said the French government was against the resolution and noted that they wished the relations not to be effected by the resolution.

Cem also conveyed the reactions of Turkey against the expressions, regarded with Cyprus, that were included in the Accession Partnership Accord.

[07] MINISTER YUCELEN: ''THERE IS NO ISSUE IN ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP ACCORD WHICH WE CAN'T FULFIL IN RESPECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS''

Yucelen had contacts in Anamur township of southern Icel province and later responded to the questions of journalists.

''In fact, we've concluded our studies in the human rights issues stated in the Accord and we've taken measures. We did that because we thought these were necessary for the Turkish people, our reason of doing them was not to enter the European Union (EU) only. We don't study human rights just to join the EU. The Council of Ministers will discuss the Accord in detail and a statement will be issued today. We will prepare the National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA). When preparing that, we will declare which issues we will fulfil and which of them we won't fulfil,'' said Yucelen.

Yucelen stated that the Human Rights Coordination Supreme Council prepared a road map and informed the public opinion about it, adding that ''we took the support of the government about this issue and we started our regional meetings in various parts of the country.''

Yucelen added that the inflation rate constitutes the number one issue on the agenda of the government.

[08] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM SAYS THE CYPRUS PART OF THE ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP ACCORD IS OPEN TO DISCUSSION (1)

Cem, who is currently in Strasbourg to participate in the Committee of Ministers meeting of the Council of Europe (COE), said that the part of the accord on Cyprus damaged the image of the EU which respects law.

''The part on Cyprus is not a goal as some people say, but it is an offside and thus it is invalid for us,'' said Cem.

Cem stressed that that part of the Accord won't contribute to the initiatives aiming at the solution of the problem in Cyprus, adding ''Turkey won't change its policy on Cyprus.''

Cem said that they evaluated the Accord positively on the whole, adding that the government will give importance to improvement of individual rights and freedoms within the scope of the Constitution.

[09] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM SAYS THE ARTICLE ON CYPRUS WAS INCLUDED IN THE ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP ACCORD AT THE LAST MINUTE TO PLEASE ONE EU MEMBER COUNTRY

''This part of the Accord is legally strange and lame,'' said Cem and noted that the article on Cyprus is contradictory and thought-provoking.

''It seems as if it is beyond the articles of the Helsinki final declaration, but there are also strange expressions,'' said Cem.

Foreign Minister Cem said that the article on Cyprus contradicts with the official letter sent by the Prime Minister of the EU Term President Finland Paavo Lipponen to the Premier Bulent Ecevit and the statements of the EU officials during their bilateral contacts with Turkish officials.

Noting that such an initiative will damage the efforts aiming at the solution of the problems on the island, Cem said that this attitude will encourage the uncompromising attitude of the Greek Cypriot side.

Cem said that such approaches regarding the Cyprus question won't change the policy of Turkey about Cyprus, adding that ''we didn't accept connecting the Turkish-EU relations with the Cyprus issue from the beginning, and we won't accept it in the future.''

Foreign Minister Cem said that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is very uneasy about such initiatives.

[10] INAN SAYS EU'S ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP DOCUMENT CAN NOT BE ACCEPTED TOTALLY

Evaluating the Accession Partnership in question, Inan said this was a document that was prepared unilaterally, and that it determined the EU Commission's point of view on Turkey. Inan said Turkish government will prepare its own document after examining this, and will submit it to the Commission.

Inan pointed out that Turkey should work very hard on the document in question, and should make serious changes.

''The first problem stems from the language of the document. There may be wishes and requests to Turkey, a candidate country. Contradiction of several implementations or legal provisions in Turkey to the world and the EU standarts may be brought onto the agenda. However, their attitude in applying to a dictating language and continous precautions is disturbing. Secondly, issues that should not take place in this document have been included.''

Pointing out that the Aegean conflict and the Cyprus issue were not discussed as a precondition, but included as a reminder showing the 2004 as a base. ''This time, they went beyond this and took Cyprus question in the agenda of the year 2001. It is given among the medium term urgent affairs, and unfortunately in the atmosphere of a precondition. They aim to say that solution of Cyprus question is the precondition to start full membership negotiations with Turkey. Acception of this is impossible.''

Inan said, ''there is a concerning outcome of this expression: that is, the EU had an attitude supporting Greece on Cyprus and the Aegean issues, and Greece dictated whatever it wanted to the EU. This is naturally very disturbing. Turkey will accept to be the member of the EU under equal conditions with the other candidates, yet if they think of getting a price, and if they think of getting it from a national case like Cyprus, it is impossible. No government, parliament or the Turkish nation can accept to pay such a price. What does this mean? This is the revealing of a new pretext again to prevent Turkey's full membership if Turkey does not accept this pressure.''

Recalling that 12 of the 13 candidate countries knew the negotiation calendar, and that negotiations continue with six of them, Inan said talks started with the Greek Cypriot side by violating the international agreements.

Stating that the EU itself blocked solution of Cyprus question, Inan said, ''Southern Cyprus administration does not feel the need of finding a solution since it started full membership negotiations. It will join the EU, and take the first step to the covered Enonis, and continue a policy to drag the North with itself this or that way; thus, opening the way for it to be engulfed by Greece in the EU which Turkey does not exist.''

Pointing out that the EU has the responsibility of the failure to record an improvement and not finding a solution to Cyprus question, Inan said, ''if the EU insists on it and accepts Southern Cyprus as a full member despite everything, then, it will undertake the responsibility for the de facto partition of Cyprus.''

Inan said Cyprus condition was included at the last moment among the issues which have priority in the direction of Greek demands, adding that, ''this is not a medium way, but directly the Greek way.''

[11] STATE MINISTER KECECILER SAYS THAT CYPRUS CAN'T BE AN ISSUE OF BARGAINING

Responding to questions of journalists before the Council of Ministers meeting about the Accord which was announced by the EU Commission on Wednesday, Kececiler said that a statement will be announced about the issue after the cabinet meeting.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer said that Turkey will never make the Cyprus issue an issue of bargaining.

The Minister of Tourism Erkan Mumcu said that the government wants Turkey to integrate with EU and the world, but this does not mean giving up the interests of Turkey.

[12] FIFTH ROUND OF PROXIMITY TALKS ON CYPRUS

The non-paper, which is not binding and which does not mention ''confederation or federation,'' states that a common state will be founded on the island. The document foresees open recognition of the political equality of the two sides in the common state and it also foresees the founder states' having one sovereignty.

The non-paper referred to the statements of Annan as stated below:

Annan expresses pleasure over the fact that the essence of the issue is being discussed, adding that there is still a long way in front of us.

-Annan says they will do their best to ease the talks in addition to the statement he issued on September 12 which stressed the political equality of the two sides,

-The talks are held within the framework of the U.N. Security Council Resolution No. 1250 which permits the discussion of all issues which don't include any preconditions on the table and which foresees the talks' taking into consideration all the resolutions of the U.N.

-Each side represents itself, one side does not represent the other side,

-The agreement which will be accepted has to have a calendar and mechanism and there should be a basic rule of this compromise. Besides, there should be an executive organ related to the common state; and the security arrangements, the territory regulations and the property regime have to be adopted.

-The comprehensive solution will be submitted to the referendum in each side on Cyprus and the changes in the solution can only be made by a referendum.

-Annan says they work on a common agreement text and they expect contributions from each side.

-Annan says they have refrained from using labels concerning the essence of the issue.

-A comprehensive solution should foresee a new partnership and the political equality of the two sides should be openly recognized by the solution.

-The new partnership should have only one international identity and a common and one sovereignty stemming from the founder states. The founder states can't unite the whole of the island with Turkey and Greece and can't separate the island from the common state. One side can't oppress the other side. There should be only one citizenship of the common state and human rights and basic freedoms should be taken under guarantee.

-There should be a common government of a common state. There should be basic laws of the common state. Equality should be respected and this equality should not base on numerical equality.

-The founder states should have their own basic laws. One founder state shouldn't intervene with the administration of the other state.

-The solution shouldn't impede the membership to the European Union (EU). Speical regulations have to be undertaken about the membership of Cyprus to the EU.

-International Law has to be taken into consideration regarding the issue of property. The basic rights of the individuals should be respected.

-Maximum number of Greek Cypriots should be settled in the territories foreseen to be given to the Greek Cypriot side. The least number of Turkish Cypriots should be forced to leave their homes during this arrangement.

-The security concerns of the two countries should be taken into consideration. The security system on the island in 1960 should be maintained. Equal number of Turkish and Greek soldiers should deploy on the island. The Turkish and Greek Cypriot armies should be dissolved. No arms should be permitted to arrive on the island.

-The U.N. Peace Keeping Force and the U.N. police should continue to exist on the island for a certain period of time.

Annan says they don't want the two sides to respond to these suggestions immediately.

Annan stressed in the non-paper that he wanted the two leaders to come together in January in Geneva, adding Alvaro De Soto will go to Cyprus. Annan requested the two sides to help him.

Although Kofi Annan warned the two sides not to give information to the press about the talks, the Greek Cypriot side leaked the non paper to the press. This caused uneasiness both in the U.N. and the Turkish side.

Annan said on Wednesday that ''he conveyed his general observations about method and essence of the problem regarded to certain issues, adding he wouldn't tell them there. ''I requested the same things from the leaders.''

[13] COUNCIL OF EUROPE MINISTERS COMMITTEE MEETINGS END

Speaking during the Ministers Committee meetings, Cem said they wished acception of the two countries to the membership together will open the ways for Armenia to withdraw from the Azeri territories which they occupied.

Cem also said full membership would also contribute to the democratization process in the two countries.

Cem, who also mentioned Chechnya problem, said position of the refugees and those people who were forced to leave their homes, at a time when winter approaches, was a source of concern, and noted that efforts should be exerted to solve humanitarian issues primarily.

FM Cem said they expected Russia to take required measures for a peaceful solution through political dialogue under decisions of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Meanwhile, a statement was issued at the end of the meetings demanding Europe to be a continent that is totally purified from the capital punishment.

The statement, which made references to the decisions that were adopted during Council of Europe's meeting held in Rome last week, called on all the member countries to approve the 6th protocol envisaging abolishment of capital punishment.

Cem departed from Strasbourg at the end of the meetings.

[14] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING ENDS (1)

Pointing out that the point which was reached was a new and important stage in the EU membership process, the statement said continuation of harmonization between the EU and Turkey in basic targets and principles, and prevention of turning the differences into ''problems,'' were important.

Sukru Sina Gurel, the State Minister and Government Spokesman, following the Council of Ministers meeting, disclosed the evaluation of the government regarding the EU Accession Partnership Accord.

Recalling that Turkey was accepted as the candidate country to the EU during the EU summit held in Helsinki in December 1999, Gurel said the EU Commission announced the document it prepared for Turkey, like it did for the other candidate countries.

Gurel said the document clarified what Turkey should do in every field to adjust with the EU regulations in candidacy process, and noted that it determined a strategy specifying what Turkey should do as medium and short term targets.

The government statement said that the Accession Partnership Accord was a document unilaterally prepared by the EU Commission for Turkey, like all the candidate countries.

In fact, accession partnership documents are not texts negotiated with the candidate countries. Nevertheless, the officials of the commission contacted with the government before the document was prepared for our country. During the contacts, our views and sensitivities regarding the issues that would be included in the document were conveyed to the commission officials. It is seen that the document was in line with the expressions and manners of Helsinki Summit Final Statement in many issues. The document reiterates the elements of the political dialogue within the framework of the 4 and 9 (A) paragraphs of the Helsinki summit decisions.

The Cyprus issue, which was given place among the targets, primarily concerns the two sides on the Island. Turkey will continue to base on the Helsinki summit decisions on Cyprus. Turkey, which takes Cyprus and the EU candidacy separately, will discuss the document announced on Wednesday under the light of the principles mentioned above.

''Our government which aims at meeting the needs of the Turkish people in all fields and which aims at increasing their life standarts, will continue their comprehensive reform studies undertaken in the fields of political, economic and social fields. Turkey fulfils its obligations determined within the framework of the international agreements in the human rights field. The important thing that matters for countries in the human rights field is the state's principle of non-discrimination among its citizens. The basic rights and freedoms of the citizens in Turkey have been taken under guarantee by the Constitution and the laws.''

''It is seen that the things stated by the EU Commission for further improvement of the democratization and human rights issues in Turkey, in the Accession Partnership Document are in harmony in great extent with the Human Rights Coordinator Supreme Board's report which was adopted by the government as a reference and study document. Turkey will continue to launch efforts to this end within the scope of the preparation of the National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA).''
''There can be some differences of opinion, assessment and priority between the EU and Turkey in various issues in the candidacy process. The thing that matters is the continuation of the harmony between the EU and Turkey regarding the basic targets and principles; the prevention of these differences' turning into problems; the EU's evaluation of the progress which was recorded and will be recorded by Turkey on the way to EU membership in an objective way. In this framework, we expect the EU to launch efforts to further improve the relations between us.''

''The protection of the mutual trust, dialogue and good will in our relations and the fulfillment of the reciprocal obligations carry great importance. Both sides have important roles to play in this framework. We expect the EU to fulfil its obligations as soon as possible in order to operate the Accession Partnership Document and the EU Council to approve the Frame Regulation prepared by the EU Commission without any delay.''

''Turkey is determined to launch efforts to reach its goal of becoming a full member to the European Union (EU) within the framework of the basic characters of the Republic and the indivisibility of the country. We wish this important and new stage reached on the way to EU membership to be beneficial for our country.''

[15] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING ENDS (2)

Gurel, who read out the government statement that was issued following the Council of Ministers meeting where Accession Partnership Accord was discussed, responded to the questions of reporters.

When asked when Turkey would be a member of the EU and if Cyprus question would be a problem for the membership, Gurel said, ''long before, we have conveyed to the EU side that we could not link Turkey's membership process to the EU with the solution of Cyprus issue. We don't have any intention to give up this attitute.''

Responding to a question what would be the attitude of Turkey regarding Cyprus from now on, and what Turkey would do on the issue till to the council meeting, Gurel said, ''there is no need for Turkey to take any special initiative regarding the Cyprus issue. In fact, the Cyprus issue is one that directly interests both sides on the island, namely the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cypriot side. If a solution which will satisfy the both sides will be found, the both sides have to launch efforts together and at the same time. Turkey has always been the side which supported the efforts launched to this end.''

When a journalist asked Gurel if they would request the exclusion of the Cyprus part from the Accession Partnership Document, Gurel said that ''today, I've conveyed you the results of the Council of Ministers meeting. It is clearly seen why Turkey is sensitive about certain issues stated in the document. This will also be conveyed to the concerned sides.''

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