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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

20 NOVEMBER 2000 Monday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

CRITICAL DAY FOR TURKEY IN EUROPE
The foreign ministers of the EU member countries will discuss in Brussels today the issue of including the Aegean problem between Turkey and Greece into the medium term priorities of the Accession Partnership document. The decision that will be taken in the meeting will determine the course of the relations between Turkey and the EU.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

ROTH: IF YOU KILL OCALAN, FORGET EU
Claiming that Turkey committed crimes against Armenians in the past, German Greens Party deputy Claudia Roth said that the application of lawyers of Abdullah Ocalan, the head terrorist will be discussed in the European Court of Human Rights tomorrow. Roth said that if Ocalan is killed, this will be the end of the relations between Turkey and the EU.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

SECOND SLAP TO PANGALOS
Theodoros Pangalos, the Greek Culture Minister, said, ''Turkey follows policies of Hitler, and Foreign Minister Papandreou remains silent against Turkey's bad manners,'' in his interview with the Ethnos newspaper. His statement escalated tension in Athens. Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis immediately fired Pangalos for the second time. Pangalos was sacked last year for his role in harbouring Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization PKK, in Kenya.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

RELATIVES OF MARTYRS TO ATTEND HEARING OF OCALAN
Relatives of those who lost their lives in clashes with the terrorist organization PKK, will leave for France to attend hearing of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of PKK, at the Eropean Cort of Human Rights (ECHR).

A group of relatives of martyrs visited mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of modern Republic of Turkey, and observed a minute of silence out of respect to Ataturk. Pakize Akbaba, the Chairperson of Istanbul Mothers of Martyrs Solidarity Associtaion, said that the ECHR had allowed them to attend the hearing as spectators.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

DHKP-C'S UPRISING AT PRISON
An uprising started at Aydin Prison after members of the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Frant (DHKP-C) ended their 30-day hunger strike. Inmates demolished the walls of three wards. Security forces have taken tight measures in and around the prison. The uprising ended after Aydin Governor and Republican Chief Prosecutor held talks with the inmates.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

ANOTHER SIGNATURE ON THE WAY TO EUROPE
In spite of the problems between Turkey and the European Union (EU), Turkey decided to sign in April, 2001 the Additional Protocol No. 12 to the European Convention on Human Rights. This additional protocol is on the prevention of all forms of discrimination. So, there is only the Additional Protocol 6 on Abolishment of Death Penalty left which has not been signed by Turkey so far.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

ROTH BECOMES THOROUGHLY ARROGANT
Claudia Roth, a German Greens Party deputy who came to Istanbul, said that Turkey was obliged to accept the crimes committed against Armenians.

PRODI RELIEVES TURKEY
Commission of Europe Chairman Romano Prodi said that the Cyprus issue should be solved before acceptance of the island's EU full-membership. Prodi said that they couldn't accept Cyprus' membership and that such a situation would create many problems.

FINAL CHANGE IN AMNESTY
The works on amnesty draft law which has been discussed by political cricles for a long time will be brought to the Parliament. Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said, ''this draft law targets at compensation of losses of the banks and citizens. And we will take it together with its interest.''

MINE EXPLOSION KILLS THREE WORKERS
A firedamp explosion in Mengen township of Bolu killed three of the seven workers who were trapped beneath the debris.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

GAS BEDS IN THRACE
New natural gas beds have been found in Sevindik and Gocerler regions in Thrace. The amount of natural gas in these beds is estimated to be around 2.3 billion cubic meters.

NO PROBLEM FOR ERBAKAN REGARDING AMNESTY
Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk confirmed that those who committed financial crimes would be included in the scope of amnesty. He added that there was not any problem about amnesty to Necmettin Erbakan.

-STATE MINISTER ONAL: ''WE WANT TO MAKE
PEOPLE THE OWNERS OF PUBLIC BANKS''
EDIRNE- State Minister Recep Onal said on Sunday that the banks had been used as a tool by the political power in the past, but they wanted people to be the owners of the public banks.

State Minister Onal visited Fahri Yucel, the Governor of northwestern province of Edirne.

When asked how he assessed the Justice Ministry's work on amnesty to those who committed financial crimes, Onal said, ''those who attempt to rob the public institutions from now on will be punished. The state will rapidly intervene. We excluded the finance sector from politics.''

''The parliament approved a draft law on privatization of three public banks. We want to make people the owners of these banks. From now on, they can never extend loans with political purposes. They can never participate in an investment with political purposes. Not only the private banks' but also public banks' coffers were emptied. We have to take back this money from those people. Our main target is to provide the funds again. The parliament will take the final decision and I believe that it will take the most appropriate decision,'' he said.

''The 57th government gave the start for a very comprehensive three-year economic programme which aimed at more investments, more growth and development, more employment and income. What we have been carrying out for ten months is a promising programme. In parallel to the recovery in economic activities, the Turkish economy is expected to grew by more than six percent,'' he added.

-EXPORTS OF DRIED APRICOTS REDUCE 16 PERCENT
GAZIANTEP- Exports of dried apricots from the Southeastern Anatolia in the first ten months of 2000 decreased 16.1 percent to 23,622 tons in return for 36 million 181 thousand U.S. dollars.

In the same period of 1999, a total of 19,206 tons of apricots had been exported in return for 43 million 87 thousand U.S. dollars.

The share of dried apricot in total exports from the region decreased from 9.4 percent to 7.9 percent in first ten moths of 2000.

Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Association Chairman Abdulkadir Cikmaz said that they exported dried apricots mainly to France, Britain, Australia, Italy, The United States, Germany, Israel, Romania, Saudi Arabia and Greece.

Cikmaz added that the unit price of dried apricot had reduced 31.8 percent in first ten months of 2000 compared to same period of 1999.

-OPEL'S DIRECTOR GENERAL SPRANGER SAYS
TURKEY IS A VERY DIFFERENT AND RICH MARKET
IZMIR - Opel's Director General Hardy Spranger said on Monday that the Turkish market is very lively, adding that ''Turkey is a very different and rich market.''

Responding to questions of A.A correspondent, Hardy Spranger said that the growth rate of the Turkish economy is high, adding that it has an important place among the rising markets in the world.

Spranger said that he is happy to invest in Turkey, adding that ''the dynamics of Turkey ease overcoming economic crisis in Turkey. Turkey was not affected much by the economic crisis in Asia.''

The most important factor of the aliveness of the Turkish economy stems from the population of 70 million, said Spranger and added that the market is continuously active as the majority of the population is composed of young people.

Spranger said that in countries where there is young population, there is continuous change, adding that the preferences of the young people guide the market. He added that the foreign capital investors invest safely in Turkey as the latter is a rapidly developing market and has a young population.

Spranger said that the number of cars for each 1,000 persons in Turkey is 65, adding that this is 400 cars even in Romania. The automobil sector in Turkey is promising, said Spranger and added that Opel trusts the Turkish economy.

-SOCCER - UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
-GALATASARAY TO TAKE ON AC MILAN OF ITALY
ANKARA - Galatasary will take on AC Milan of Italy in its first group match in the second phase of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

The match will be played at the Guiseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan, Italy.

The fixtures for second stage group matches in the Champions League:

Tuesday, November 21:

Group A:

Valencia CF (Spain) v SK Sturm Graz (Austria)

Manchester United (Bratian) v Panathinaicos (Greece)

Group B:

AC Milan (Italy) v GALATASARAY (TURKEY)

Paris Saint Germain (France) v Deportivo La Coruna (Spain)

Wednesday, November 22:

Group C:

FC Bayern Munih (Germany) v Olympique Lyon (France)

Spartak Moscow (Russia) v Arsenal (Britain)

Group D:

AFC Leeds United (Britain) v Real Madrid CF (Spain)

RSC Anderlecht (Belgium) v SS Lazio Rome (Italy)

-DPT'S MONTHLY REPORT: ''TURKISH LIRA GAINED 5.1
PERCENT IN VALUE IN FIRST TEN MONTHS OF THE YEAR''
ANKARA- The State Planning Organization (DPT) said on Monday that the Turkish lira (TL) gained 5.1 percent in value in the January-October period of 2000.

According to the DPT's monthly report, the target for change in the currency basket comprising 1 U.S. dollar+0.77 Euro was reached in first ten months of the year.

As of October of 2000, the increase in the currency basket compared to December of 1999 became 20 percent while the increase in U.S. dollar currency became 28.6 percent and increase in German mark currency became 8.9 percent.

Thus the Turkish lira gained 5.1 percent in value in the January-October period of 2000 on the 1987:100 real curreny basis comprising 1 U.S. dollar+1.5 German marks.

As of end of September of 2000, the total credit volume rose 51.8 percent compared to same period of 1999.

The Treasury which borrowed money from the domestic market with a 111.1 percent interest rate in first three quarters of 1999 succeeded to make domestic borrowing with a 37.9 percent interest rate in the same period of 2000.

Meanwhile, the average maturity decreased from 431 days to 417 days.

-TREASURY TO HOLD AUCTION ON TUESDAY TO SELL 18-MONTH DEBENTURE BONDS
ANKARA - Treasury will hold an auction on Tuesday to sell 18-month debenture bonds.

The value date of these debenture bonds is November 22, 2000 and the maturity is May 15, 2002.

The net sale in the auction is expected to be between 150-250 trillion Turkish lira.

Meanwhile, Treaury will repay 130 trillion 604.2 billion TL in domestic borrowing on Wednesday, November 22.

-PROF. DR. BENIDITO BRAGA, CHAIRMAN OF IWRA:
-''IWRA EXECUTIVE BOARD'S MEETING WILL BE HELD IN
2001 IN TURKEY HAVING A GREAT PROJECT LIKE GAP''
GAZIANTEP- Foreigners are interested in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) which is envisaged to be finalized in 2010 with a public expenditure of 32 billion U.S. dollars.

The GAP project will provide employment to 3.8 million people. It will irrigate 1.7 million hectares of arable field. Annual electricity production of hydroelectric power plants in the GAP region will be 27 billion kilowatt-hour. The GAP project will make an important contribution to regional prosperity.

The GAP Review, the publication organ of the Directorate General of GAP Regional Development Authority, quoted Prof. Dr. Benidito Braga, the Chairman of the International Water Resources Association (IWRA), as saying that the GAP was very important for developing countries.

Prof. Dr. Braga said that the IWRA Executive Board's meeting would be held in Sanliurfa, Turkey, having a worldwide great project like GAP.

IWRA is a non-profit and non-governmental organisation established to conduct multi-disciplinary work on water issues.

Meanwhile, Naser Bateni, the Chief Engineer of Water Resources of California, the U.S., described Turkey as an ''extraordinary country''.

Bateni said that he expected Turkey to become a leading country in its region in coming years.

-DEFENSE INVESTMENTS IN 2001
ANKARA - The 2001 year is expected to be the investment year of the defense industry.

Sources said on Monday that Turkey will put the prior defense projects into practice in 2001 if Treasury gives the necessary approval.

Within scope of the supply and investment projects with defensive purposes, the licensor companies will be selected for the 145 strike helicopters and 1000 new generation tanks projects that will strengthen the logistic structure of the Turkish Armed Forces.

Domestic contribution to these two projects will be high. These two projects will cost ten billion U.S. dollars and be financed by the Defense Industry funds.

After the assessment of the Defense Industry Undersecretariat, the negotiations with the American Bell Textron company for the 145 strike helicopters started, and these talks are expected to be finalized early in 2001.

In case of a failure in negotiations with the Bell Textron, the negotiations will continue with the Israeli-Russian consortium.

The selection of the licensor company for production of 250 of the 1000 new generation tanks will be made early in 2001. German, Freanch, U.S. and Ukranian companies are bidding for the five billion U.S. dollars project.

Meanwhile, the tender for purchase of four Awacs planes will also be finalized. The estimated cost of the project is 1.5 billion U.S. dollars and American Boeing and Rahthean companies are bidding for the tender.

Besides, Turkey will take the final decision about production of 32 F-16 planes next year. If the Air Forces Commandership makes such a request, the Turkish Aerospace and Industries (TAI) will start preparations for production of this third tranche planes.

Meanwhile, the C-130 cargo planes modernization project will be finalized early in 2001. Ten companies are bidding for this tender, and nearly 30 million U.S. dollars investment will be made within scope of this modernization project.

-FIFTH BIGGEST PAPERBOARD FACTORY OF WORLD TO BE OPENED IN CORLU
ISTANBUL- The fifth biggest and most modern corrugated paperboard factory of the world will be opened in Corlu, Istanbul on Wednesday, November 22.

Turkish Eren Holding constructed the factory which cost 150 million U.S. dollars, and Eren Holding's Modern Cardboard Industry company increased its corrugated paperboard production from 100 thousand to 300 thousand tons.

The factory will make 45 percent of total production of the sector.

-PRESIDENT SEZER ISSUES STATEMENT ON WORLD CHILDREN'S RIGHTS DAY
ANKARA- President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Wednesday that it is everybody's mission to abide by the international conventions particularly on education and health to leave a good world for children.

''The first condition of that is to respect children's rights,'' said Sezer.

Issuing a message upon the World Children's Rights Day, Sezer said that ''we have to fulfil our mission to protect the whole world's children's rights without making any discrimination on grounds of religion, language and race.''

Sezer said that the recognition of children's rights in one country is one of the factors that show the social advanced level of that country.

-PRIVATIZATION OF PUBLIC BANKS
ANKARA- The privatization initiatives that will be carried out in the banking system started to become clear after the parliament adopted the law on the privatization of Ziraat Bankasi, Halk Bankasi and Emlak Bankasi.

In accordance with the law, the Treasury Undersecretariat will appoint the administration of the banks to ensure objectivity in the financial situation, capital resources, and personnel.

The period of making these banks autonomous will be three years.

The other administrators and the personnel of the banks will be appointed by a commission set up by the Treasury Undersecretariat and the Banking Personnel and Inspection Board.

The personnel who are still working in the above mentioned public banks, can continue to work in the banks which will be given autonomy. The performances, the experiences, the behaviours in the bank and outside the bank, the efficiency of the personnel who are still working in these banks, will be important items in determining whether or not to dismiss the personnel.

The personnel who are still working in the above mentioned public banks can be transfered to the Treasury, Prime Ministry, Health Ministry, National Education Ministry and the Social Security Agency.

The number of personnel who will be transferred to the above mentioned institutions is 12,271.

The Parliamentary General Assembly adopted on November 15 the government bill which foresees granting Emlakbank, Ziraat Bankasi and Halk Bankasi of Turkey autonomous structure and preparation of them for privatization within three years.

The aim of the government bill is to restructure Ziraat Bankasi, Halk Bankasi and Emlakbank in a way to ''enable them to carry out activities according to principles of contemporary banking and international competition, to speed up the process of their privatization and to prepare procedure for sale of their shares and to sale 100 percent of their shares to private sector.''

The banks will operate as autonomous incorporated companies, and will function according to profitability and efficiency principles, and private law provisions.

-TANTAN, INTERIOR MINISTER:
''SETTLEMENT FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED FOR PEOPLE
WHO WANT TO RETURN TO THEIR VILLAGES''
ANKARA- Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan said on Monday that settlement facilities would be provided for people who would voluntarily want to return to their villages in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions. Tantan said terrorist activities, which continued in Eastern and Southeastern regions for a long time, were rendered ineffective.

Speaking at the Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission talks, Tantan said ''return to village and rehabilitation'' projects were underway to set up social and economic structure in the region.

Tantan said Bitlis, Mus, Bingol, Tunceli, Van, Batman, Diyarbakir, Mardin, Siirt, and Sirnak provinces of the Eastern and Southeastern regions were taken in the scope of the ''Return to Village and Rehabilitation Project.''

Tantan said 2.8 trillion lira allocation given to the projects for the year 2000, were sent to the provinces.

The Interior Minister pointed out that the efforts aimed at making people more productive, and increasing the level of education of the regional people. Tantan also said they targeted to eradicate terrorism from the minds.

Tantan pointed out that efforts were launched also to organize civilian defense, rescue, and emergency aid services with modern understanding following the massive August 17 earthquake.

Interior Minister Tantan said Central Population Administration System (MERNIS), which is the biggest and important informatics project of Turkey, was put into implementation to make the population services reach a contemporary and modern structure.

Tantan said with the project they aimed at setting up communication network between the central and township population administrations in 2001, and noted that they also targeted production and distribution of new identity cards that can not be copied.

-TURKISH MINEX 2000 EXERCISE TO BE STAGED IN AEGEAN SEA
IZMIR- Ugur Yigit, the Mine Fleet Commander, said on Monday that the Turkish Minex 2000 Exercise will be staged in the Aegean Sea by the participation of the Turkish and allied naval forces.

Yigit told a press conference that Turkey will host the exercise between November 20 and December 1.

The exercise targets at developing training and cooperation in mine war between the Turkish Naval Forces and allied naval forces, Yigit said.

Yigit noted that the Turkish Minex 2000 Exercise was planned by the Fleet Commandership and will be commanded by the Mine Fleet Commandership.

Turkey, France, Italy, Germany, Greece, Spain and the U.S. will join the exercise, Yigit stated.

The ships taking part in the exercise will visit the Izmir Harbour today and tomorrow and Kusadasi Harbour between November 25 and 26, Yigit said.

Pierre Patrick Christement of the French Naval Forces and Lieutenant Colonel Gramma Tikakis of Greece also participated in the press conference.

-GALATASARAY SOCCER CLUB IN ITALY
MILANO- Galatasaray soccer club of Turkey arrived in Italy on Monday.

Galatasaray will play on Tuesday an away match with AC Milan of Italy in the Second Tour of the European Champions League.

Galatasaray soccer club will train for the match in the San Siro Stadium at 7.00 p.m. on Monday.

-TEMIZEL, CHAIRMAN OF BANKING REGULATION AND AUDIT BOARD,
MEETS WITH PREMIER ECEVIT AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OZKAN
ANKARA - Zekeriya Temizel, the Chairman of Banking Regulation and Audit Board, met on Monday with Premier Bulent Ecevit and Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan.

Following the meeting which lasted for two hours, Temizel said that he will do everything he can about the people who were the victims of offshore banks.

Temizel noted that he will make the concerned institutions take all the measures that can be taken regarding this issue.

-ANKARA DOES NOT WANT DETERIORATION OF ITS RELATIONS WITH EU
ANKARA- Ankara does not want the deterioration of its relations with the European Union (EU) when the tension in Turkey-EU relations escalated due to the efforts to include the Aegean issue to the Accession Partnership Accord.

The solution of the Cyprus question was included in the short-term priorities chapter of the Accession Partnership Accord on November 8.

An official of the Foreign Ministry told reporters on Monday that they want the continuation of relations with the EU which are on the right track.

The official said, ''we do not want the deterioration of Turkey-EU relations. There is a problem, but we do not want this problem to deteriorate the relations. The EU is also aware of this. But, if a problem like the Aegean comes to the agenda at the last minute, this will deteriorate the relations.''

Turkey's goal is full membership to the EU, the official said, adding that Turkey should not give up this goal.

''There is not anything like withdrawing from our candidacy due to the latest developments. I did not hear anybody talking about the withdrawal from candidacy,'' the official also said.

Touching on the national program, the official noted that they hope that a result which will not postpone the preparation of national program will come out of Brussels.

Efforts are underway regarding the national program, the official stated.

The official said that every development influences the other and that both the EU and Turkey should fulfil their responsibilities to continue the relations without any deficiencies.

Stating that Sweden will become the new term president of the EU, the official noted that Sweden only criticizes human rights in Turkey.

When asked his evaluations about the inclusion of the resolution on the so- called genocide on the Armenians into the agenda of Europe after it was withdrawn from the agenda of the U.S., the official said that besides Turkish-Armenian relations, they are working on how they can drop such allegation from the agenda.

The official said, ''we should not think that everybody in Europe are against us. Because, we see that everybody is not against us from the results of the voting. A great deal of the parliamentarians voted in favour of Turkey.''

The official added that issue of Armenia should be ''examined more in depth.''

-TURKEY-IRELAND POLITICAL CONSULTATION MEETING TO BE HELD IN DUBLIN
ANKARA - Turkey-Ireland political consultation meeting will be held in Dublin, Ireland, on November 22.

A statement of the Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the political consultation meeting will be held between delegations headed by Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Kurtulus Taskend and Richard Townsend, the Irish Foreign Ministry's Political Director.

The statement said that the delegations will exchange views on the bilateral relations, Turkey-European Union (EU) relations, and current international and regional problems.

-EU COUNCIL POSTPONES APPROVAL OF ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP ACCORD
BRUSSELS- The European Union (EU) Council said on Monday that it could not conclude the discussions regarding the Accession Partnership Accord, and noted that it postponed the result to December.

Hubert Vedrine, the Foreign Minister of France, the EU Term President, told a press conference that the discussions on Turkey's Accession Partnership Accord could not be concluded and the discussions were postponed to December.

The French officials said that the target is being in line with the Helsinki resolutions.

Greece insisted that further steps should be taken and clearer statements should be included in the accord, the French officials noted.

The French officials said that the searches to reach a compromise on a text which can also be accepted by Turkey, will continue.

EU Term President France made a statement through the spokespersons that National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu will be in Brussels on Tuesday and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will attend the Europe Conference which will be held in Socheaux, France, on November 23 and in which the ministers of candidate countries will participate.

France noted that thus, there are opportunities to hold intensive contacts.

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