Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-11-19

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

19 NOVEMBER 2000 Sunday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] EXPORTATION TO TURKISH REPUBLICS

[03] STATE MINISTER ONAL:

[04] NEW GAS ORE FOUND IN THRACE

[05] NARCOTICS TEAMS CONFISCATE 18.3 KG HASHISH AND

[06] EDUCATION TO BE RE-ARRANGED IN ACCORDANCE WITH EU

[07] STATUE OF AFRODITE BROUGHT TO BERGAMA MUSEUM

[08] OIL PRICES AND TURKEY

[09] FINAL BIDS OF IZMIT GULF TRANSITION PROJECT TO BE TAKEN ON NOVEMBER 30

[10] REHABILITATION OF FARMERS CO-OPERATIVE MARKETING ASSOCIATION

[11] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN SAUDI ARABIA

[12] SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND TURKEY

[13] TURKISH FILM RANKED FIRST IN MEDITERRANEAN FILM FESTIVAL

[14] SPORTS: THIRD WORLD JUNIOR TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS

[15] STATE MINISTER MIRZAOGLU:

[16] POLICE CONFISCATE 40 KG HEROIN IN ISTANBUL

[17] INMATES DEMOLISH WALLS OF WARDS IN AYDIN PRISON

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

SCHOOL CLOSED DUE TO HEADSCARF
The National Education Ministry closed Ozel Hilal Okullari, a private school in Usak province in the Aegean Region, because the female teachers and students wore headscarf in the school.

YILDIRIM GURSES DIES
Yildirim Gurses, a Turkish singer who sang classical Turkish music, died in his house in Istanbul due to hearth attack. Gurses, who was 61 years old, had won the big award in the Golden Microphone Song Contest held by the Hurriyet daily.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

LAST WARNING TO AMBASSADORS FROM FOREIGN MINISTRY
The ambassadors of the European Union (EU) countries were summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Saturday evening following the warnings of Premier Bulent Ecevit. Faruk Logoglu, the Foreign Ministry Undersecretary who met with the ambassadors, conveyed the ambassadors the warnings of Premier Ecevit.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

BAHCELI: ''WE HAVE TWO CONDITIONS FOR THE EU''
Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said that Turkey does not want protection, auspices and charity from the European Union (EU). Listing two conditions of Turkey, Bahceli said, ''we expect the EU to decide what kind of a Europe and a world it wants. Secondly, we wish the EU to put forward a sincere and convincing perspective in front of us.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

The foreign ministry statement said the Italian parliamentarians could not understand the reaction of Turkey against the decision of the European Parliament.

Underlining that Turkey had never committed a crime of humanity like genocide in its history, the statement stressed that there had been no genocide or order for genocide against the Armenians. The statement said, ''expressions apart from this are intentional and baseless.''

AHMET KAYA BURIED
Singer Ahmet Kaya, who had died of heart attack in Paris, was buried in Pere-Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. Songs of Kaya were played in the funeral. Gulten Kaya, wife of Ahmet Kaya, said ''her husband was misunderstood.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)

GUEST FROM EP TO TUSIAD
The Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) will meet on Monday with the European Parliament (EP) delegation headed by Daniel Cohn-Bendit which will come to Turkey to join the European Union (EU)-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Commission (JPC) meeting.

A statement of the TUSIAD said on Saturday that Erkut Yucaoglu, the Chairman of the TUSIAD Executive Board, and the members of the Executive Board will host a luncheon in honour of the delegation composed of 24 people who are the members of the EP and the political group advisers.

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

CANSIZLAR APPOINTED AS CHAIRMAN OF SPK
Dogan Cansizlar, the Finance Ministry's National Real Estates General Director, was appointed as the Chairman of the Capital Market Board (SPK). Cansizlar, who will be in office for six years, said that he willtake transparency as the basic principle.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

YILDIRIM GURSES PASSES AWAY
Yildirim Gurses, one of the stars of the classical Turkish music, passed away on Saturday morning at his home because of hearth attack. Relatives of Gurses could not find time to hospitalize him. Gurses will be buried on Monday.

CIVIL SERVANTS WERE IN KIZILAY SQUARE AGAIN
The Turkish Civil Servants Union (Kamu-Sen) had a protest on Saturday in Ankara. The civil servants attending the ''Let's claim the social legal state'' protest, started to convene in Kizilay Square. The civil servants shouted slogans.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

TOTAL OF 31 PEOPLE IN PRISON UNDER ARTICLE 312
A total of 31 people who were convicted on charges of Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), are in prison. Hasan Celal Guzel, who had earlier served his sentence in prison on charges of this article, will be re-sent to prison on charges of a second case. If no amendment is made to the article, Guzel will be in prison for four months and 26 days.

[02] EXPORTATION TO TURKISH REPUBLICS

Last year's exportation in the same period was 31,622 million U.S. dollars.

According to the data of Southeastern Anatolia Exporters Union, dried fruit, worth of 60,000 U.S. dollars, cereals and grains worth of 7,253 million U.S. dollars, and textile worth of 24,935 million U.S. dollars were made to Turkish Republics in January-October, 2000.

Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan are among the countries where the exporation were made the most.

[03] STATE MINISTER ONAL:

Responding to questions of reporters, Onal said that Turkey's economy was negatively affected by the global crisis and devastating earthquakes in 1999.

Onal noted that the problems of the real sector continue despite the betterment in 2000.

Onal said, ''in an economy, there can be problems in both the finance and the real sector. The government has to find solutions to these problems. A board was set up to examine and find solution to the problems. This board does not have any connection with preventing the practices of the Banking Regulation and Audit Board. The government supports the Banking Regulation and Audit Board.''

''Zekeriya Temizel, the Chairman of the Banking Regulation and Audit Board, also says that the government supports the board. Despite all these, the public opinion tries to show that these two boards are against each other. This is not true. We are a government which has managed to lift the political impact on the banking system. To this end, we set up the Banking Regulation and Audit Board,'' Onal added.

Onal stated that the board comprised of six ministers, does not carry out works regarding the banking sector.

There are institutions belonging to the banks which were transferred to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund, in the institutions in the real sector, Onal stressed.

Onal said that these institutions continue to operate.

They approach to all industrial organizations with this understanding, Onal noted.

Drawing the attention that the industrial organizations are the indispensable elements of economy, Onal said, ''if these organizations have problems, the government has to deal with them.''

[04] NEW GAS ORE FOUND IN THRACE

Osman Demirag, the General Director of Turkish Petroleum Corp. (TPAO), said on Sunday that they think the natural gas reserve in the two ore is around 2-3 billion cubic metres.

Demirag noted that they made explorations in the two hamlets and the well tests were completed.

The daily yield of the two wells are 140-150 thousand cubic metres, Demirag stated.

Demirag stressed that this amount is necessary to operate an electricity power station in the region.

They can market the natural gas obtained from the two wells to either Pipeline Transportation Inc. (BOTAS) or medium scale glass or textile companies in the region, Demirag said.

Demirag emphasized that there is a big potential for hydrocarbon in the Black Sea.

''We have a licence starting from offshore Rize. We started deep water joint searches a week ago. We invited 25 giant oil companies. Seven or eight of them were interested in the searches. They will come and see the data. When we find a partner, we will start the second stage efforts,'' Demirag said.

Demirag noted that the TPAO will store the gas of BOTAS which will com from Russia in the end of this year, adding that this project will cost 150 million U.S. dollars.

[05] NARCOTICS TEAMS CONFISCATE 18.3 KG HASHISH AND

The haul was seized when narcotics teams, acting on a tip off, examined a lorry ten days ago. 18.3 kg hashish and 1.3 kg heroin were found in secret parts of the lorry.

An operation has been launched in Istanbul and Van after the interrogations of Nizamettin Sen and Ferzande Sen, who were captured in the lorry.

Sefik Karaman, Siddik Guler, and Mehmet Turan were captured following the operations.

Ugur Gur, the Director of the Bolu Security Department, told A.A correspondent that they would not allow drug trafficking.

[06] EDUCATION TO BE RE-ARRANGED IN ACCORDANCE WITH EU

The report titled by ''Education at the Beginning of 2001'' prepared by the National Education Ministry said that works are underway to get adjusted with the education system and standards of the EU countries.

The report noted that the works are carried out under the titles like ''providing the best education conditions to the citizens and children'', ''improvement of exchange of information in education system between the European countries and Turkey'', ''collecting the documents and statistics regarding the education system of the European countries'', ''providing cooperation in high education with the EU'', ''giving efficient foreign language education'', ''providing equality in entrance to all education institutions'', ''preparing children to business life'', ''preventing unemployment by the continual education implementation.''

Researches are made in all kinds of schools, the age to start school, the education period, the compulsory education period, preparation of curriculum and school books, the lessons and schedule of schools, assessment systems, guidance services, university entrance systems, training and appointment of teachers.

Works will be carried out to guide the students at seventh and eighth grades in choosing the right occupation. Within this framework, the system in the EU countries like Germany, Austria, and Britain, are examined.

By taking into consideration the project of the EU regarding especially training personnel of the high education, Turkey will sign the Sorbone and Bologna declarations. Thus, the bilateral contact of the academic personnel and students will be ensured.

The school books and curriculum of the EU countries are examined. Within this framework, a joint effort is carried out by Georg Ecker School Books Institute. Works are underway to enable harmonization on the issues included in the school books of history and geography, with the EU education policies.

The control mechanisms for private schools, vocational and technical schools and nurseries were determined by making researches on the control mechanism in the EU countries.

In accordance with the principles determined for the control mechanism, the schools will start to be inspected as of this school year.

[07] STATUE OF AFRODITE BROUGHT TO BERGAMA MUSEUM

The ancient site in Bergama township of Aegean Izmir province will be inundated by the waters of Yorthanli dam.

The Statue of Afrodite, which was removed from its place in the ancient site almost 15 days ago, started to be displayed in the museum.

Ahmet Yavas, the Curator of the Bergama Museum, said that the Statue of Afrodite and other artifacts found during the excavations in ancient Alleino site will later be displayed in a museum which will be built in Bergama.

[08] OIL PRICES AND TURKEY

In accordance with a report titled ''Developments in the Global Oil Prices and Turkey's Oil Importation'' prepared by the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, the increase in global oil prices had negative impact on Turkey.

Turkey's crude oil importation which was 2.1 billion U.S. dollars in 1998, increased 32 percent to 2.8 billion U.S. dollars in 1999 and climbed 56 percent to 2.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2000 although the amount of oil that Turkey purchased decreased.

A significant decrease in oil prices until the end of the year is not expected.

If Turkey's oil invoice increases 50 percent by the end of this year, 1.4 billion U.S. dollar additional burden will be imposed on the economy and this amount will be equivalent to 0.7 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is estimated for 2000.

[09] FINAL BIDS OF IZMIT GULF TRANSITION PROJECT TO BE TAKEN ON NOVEMBER 30

Dincer said that an extension or postponement of the tender is not in question.

Three leading companies of the world have submitted bids for the tender, Dincer noted, adding that the project will be constructed in build-operate- transfer model.

The project is expected to cost almost two billion U.S. dollars.

The Izmit Gulf Transition Project was postponed until November 30 as the consortia which submitted bids for the tender requested this postponement on September 27.

The project foresees the construction of multi-level interchange on Ankara- Istanbul motorway. Thus, the Istanbul-Bursa highway will be shortened.

[10] REHABILITATION OF FARMERS CO-OPERATIVE MARKETING ASSOCIATION

Rehabilitation program of the associations will be concluded in four years with the finance support of the World Bank. At the end of this period, the associations will get rid of giving service to the ''politicans and workers, '' and will begin to give service only to its 750,000 partners.

Within the framework of the rehabilitation, the associations will dismiss personnel more than its capacity, and make them retire, and will sell their immoveables that are not related with its fields of activity.

Co-operatives, which are not active or productive, will be closed or united, and their purchases will no longer be a burden to the Treasury. However, the Treasury will pay some debts of the associations, and will pay the severance pays.

The fields where the loan of the World Bank would be used were determined, and a text has been prepared in this respect. The text is ready to be submitted to the World Bank Executive Board meeting, foreseen to take place in Washington D.C. by the end of this month.

According to this, 166 million U.S. dollars of the 360 million U.S. dollars loan of the World Bank will be used in rehabilitation of the associations.

[11] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN SAUDI ARABIA

Cem conveyed President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's message to King Fahd.

Bilateral economic and political relations as well as the developments regarded with the Middle East peace process were discussed during Cem's meeting with Al-Faisal.

Cem also visited an international Turkish school, that is linked with National Education Ministry.

[12] SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND TURKEY

Witschi-Cestari, who spoke to A.A correspondent, evaluated the importance of sustainable development for Turkey.

Pointing out that the concept of sustainable development, which gradually became important in the recent years in global level, was human centered, Witschi-Cestari said, ''a development model, which uses and administers limited sources in the best way, and which protects the environment gained importance. This is what was meant by sustainable development. The economic development of today's people should not be from the expense of the coming generations. Their future should not be mortgaged.''

Witschi-Cestari defined the position of Turkey as ''complicated,'' due to sustainable development, noting that Turkey has on the one hand own characteristics a rich country has with high international level ''know- how'' capacity, and on the other hand has people who have low level income and life standarts.

Witschi-Cestari said Turkey's main problems were the difference of development between the regions, villages and cities, and women and men.

He said underdeveloped regions should not be dependent on the aid they will be given from the developed regions, adding that the underdeveloped regions should produce their own sources, and form a development model in which they can turn their own sources into development.

For example, Witschi-Cestari said, people who come from rural regions immigrate to big cities for education and business, adding that efforts should take place to overcome differences between the regions, and facilities should be provided to them in their own regions.

Pointing out that urbanization was experienced intensely in Turkey, Witschi- Cestari said urganization should not be in monopoly of some metropolises.

Witschi-Cestari said rural area should be developed in a way that will meet the requirements of modern society, and noted that local capitals should be produced and there should be increase in level of income.

Witschi-Cestari said women in developed countries took active roles in production and decision making process, adding that women should be trained and take place in production in decision making mechanisms in local level.

The U.N. official stressed the importance to giving more authority to the local administrators for the sustainable development, adding that important steps have been taken by the GAP Regional Development Administration Chairmanship within the framework of GAP.

Witcshi-Cestari said important developments were recorded toward the young people within the framework of the project, and noted that efforts were underway to include women to production and participation of them to the social life. Important initatives take place regarded with the small and medium scale enterprises, he said, and noted that they can come together and launch joint initiatives.

Recalling that all the aspects that are included in the sustainable development understanding were included in the 8th five-year development plan, Witschi-Cestari said private sector's further efforts in this respect were also important.

Witschi-Cestari said Turkey's full membership to the EU was in question, adding that the things that should be done to reach the goal are clear. He said Turkey should do all these if it want to be a member of the EU.

[13] TURKISH FILM RANKED FIRST IN MEDITERRANEAN FILM FESTIVAL

The Turkish film named ''Mayis Sikintisi'' (May Boredom) was chosen the first among 13 films by the jury.

The film is directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan.

In the ''Films Shown in Brussels'' part of the festival, the Turkish film named ''Propaganda'' which was directed by Sinan Cetin ranked the second among 40 films by the votes of the watchers.

The festival is held every two years.

[14] SPORTS: THIRD WORLD JUNIOR TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS

A total of 1012 sportsmen from 60 countries joined the championships.

Turkey became the third in group standings following South Korea and Taiwan.

[15] STATE MINISTER MIRZAOGLU:

The tanker named ''Chem.Urkmez'' which was produced in Celik shipyard in Tuzla, was launched with a ceremony.

Speaking in the ceremony, Mirzaoglu said, ''our country will turn into an energy distribution center due to the oil transit terminals which will be built in the Black Sea as the Novorossisk and Supsa pipeline is opened and in East Mediterranean as the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline is opened. We target at planning the investments that will be made on the Turkish tanker fleet by taking into consideration not only Turkey's oil and oil product transportation but also international transportation towards the third countries and at having an important place in the global oil and oil product transportation.''

Mirzaoglu continued, ''meeting our oil and oil products need with Turkish- flagged tankers uninterruptedly carries special strategical importance. We should not only preserve our present tankers but also include new tankers to the fleet.''

Turkey is ranked the 35th in the sea trade volume, Mirzaoglu said, adding that cooperation with Cuba is underway following the meetings which were held in May 2000.

Mirzaoglu stated that 13 ships will be constructed and that they think that the project will cost 200-400 million U.S. dollars.

The Turkish Industry Development Bank will provide 50 million U.S. dollar loan for the ship construction, Mirzaoglu said.

Mirzaoglu stated that efforts are underway to form Maritime Ministry in the possible shortest time.

The problems faced in maritime sector can be overcome if necessary legal arrangements are made and if the obstacles in front of the sector are lifted, Mirzaoglu stressed.

Mirzaoglu said that they target at increasing the capacity of the Turkish naval trade fleet to 20 million DWT next year.

The ship traffic and data system for the Istanbul and Canakkale straits will start to be operated in June 2001, Mirzaoglu added.

[16] POLICE CONFISCATE 40 KG HEROIN IN ISTANBUL

A statement of the Istanbul Police Organization said that police, disguising as buyers, contacted with a gang smuggling drugs.

Three people were detained when the police met with the sellers.

Upon the testimonies of these detainees, 40 kilograms of heroin was confiscated.

In another operation, a person who was trying to sell 500 ''Extacy'' pills was captured.

Meanwhile, a person who sold drugs and who bought drugs were taken into custody in Beyoglu district of Istanbul. A total of 32 ''Extacy'' pills were confiscated in this operation.

The Istanbul Police Organization has confiscated 40 kilograms of heroin, 620 ''Extacy'' pills, 1.5 kilograms of hashish, 900 grams of marijuana, and 150 grams of opium in a week.

A total of 13 people were detained in these operations.

The market price of these drugs was 1.5 trillion Turkish liras.

[17] INMATES DEMOLISH WALLS OF WARDS IN AYDIN PRISON

A total of 36 inmates who were convicted of terrorist crimes, have been on hunger strike for one month.

The inmates demolished the walls of wards 1,3 and 5 and altogether started an unrest.

Aydin Republican Chief Prosecutor Mustafa Adagul came to the prison and started to talk with the protestors.

Meanwhile, tight security measures were taken in and around the prison.

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