Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-12-04

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

04 DECEMBER 2000

Monday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] GAP REGION EXPORTS AGRICULTURAL, ANIMAL AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

INFLATION RATE UNDER 40 PERCENT AFTER 13 YEARS
The numbers of the inflation rate in November declared on Saturday. The Wholesale Products Prices increased 2.4, while consumer prices increased 3.7 percent in November. The inflation rate in wholesale products prices decreased for the first time under 40 percent after 13 years. The increase in the consumer prices is 43.8 percent.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Koehler said that he would be prepared to recommend that the IMF's decision- making board approve a Supplementary Reserve Facility to help Turkey shore up its reserves, which have been battered by a rush to dollars.

INFLATION IN NOVEMBER
The consumer prices increased by 3.7 percent in November. The increase in wholesale prices has been 2.4 percent. As of November of 2000, the annual inflation rate became 39.1 percent in wholesale prices and 43.8 percent in consumer prices.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

DRAFT PREVENTS ERBAKAN'S IMPRISONMENT
The government prepared a draft to prevent Necmettin Erbakan, the former leader of the closed Welfare Party (RP), to be put in prison, as the amnesty draft couldn't be made ready before January 14, the execution date of Erbakan's sentence. The draft was opened to signature in the Council of Ministers while the draft is expected to be opened to signature in the Parliament in the coming days. The draft is planned to be approved by the Parliament before Eid al-Fitr holiday.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

HUNGER STRIKES CONTINUE
A group of intellectuals including writers, poets, film directors, doctors ad jurists will meet with the Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk to find a solution to the problem of hunger strikes that still continue in some prisons of Turkey. The number of ''death fasters'' in prisons increased to 203.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

TWO INMATES' CONDITION SEEM CRITICAL
The hunger strikers in prisons are on their 46th day. A total of 816 inmates had gone on hunger strike to protest the F type prisons in Turkey and 137 of them are on ''death fast.'' The medical condition of two inmates namely Rýza Dumanlý and Cemal Cakmak is bad.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

CHILDREN COLLAPSE PRIME MINISTRY'S WEB PAGE
Tho hackers who introduced themselves as the children of civil servants collapsed the Prime Ministry's web page. Hackers said that their aim is to protest the 10 percent increase in civil servants' wages.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

BRIDGE OF DREAM BETWEEN TURKEY AND TRNC
The journey between Anamur, Turkey and Girne, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will be only 45 minutes by the construction of a 60 kilometer bridge between Turkey and the TRNC. The project was developed by Ahmet Vefik Alp, a professor in the Istanbul University.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

-TURKEY AND IMF TO DECIDE ON AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL FUND
WASHINGTON D.C. - While the negotiations started between the government and the IMF delegation which came to Turkey to overcome the difficulty in the Turkish financial markets, the amount of the additional fund that will be given to Turkey by IMF will become clear in the coming days.

David Hawley, the IMF Spokesman said on Monday that the details of the additional funding to Turkey will become clear during the talks. Hawley said that it is not possible to give further details on this issue.

IMF circles said that the most important part of the statement of IMF Managing Director Horst Koehler was that ''the decision on a much-needed new loan for Turkey could be taken by the IMF's board on Dec. 21.''

They also said that the additional funding will be conditional, adding that the IMF insists on implementation of strong policies and the strengethening of banking sector in Turkey.

Experts in Washington D.C. said that the amount of the Supplemental Reserve Facility-(SRF) will be determined in accordance with the 6.2 billion dollars that outflowed from Turkey and with new developments.

Experts said that the withdrawal of money by foreign banks from Turkey had a determing role in the difficulty that arose in financial markets, adding that the U.S. administration and the IMF aim at reassuring trust in Turkey and making this money return to Turkey. Experts stressed that Turkey must do its homework well to this end, adding that the amount of additional funding can decrease if this trust is re-assured in the coming weeks. An expert asserted that if the amount of the fund is high, then its payment back will be also difficult.

[02] GAP REGION EXPORTS AGRICULTURAL, ANIMAL AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS

Goods worth of 459 million 926 thousand U.S. dollars was exported to 107 countries and seven free trade zones in the same period of last year.

Abdulkadir Cikmaz, the Chairman of the Association of the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters told A.A. correspondent on Monday that 263 million 568 thousand U.S. dollars of textiles products, 85 million 404 thousand U.S. dollars of fruit, vegetable and industrial products, 69 million 167 thousand U.S. dollars of cereals, legumes, seeds and its products, 40 million 141 thousand U.S. dollars of dried fruit and one million 591 thousand U.S. dollars of animal products were exported between January- October 2000.

Cikmaz noted Iraq, Italy, Syria, Germany, and Britain are the countries that the region exported its goods the most, while synthetic yarn, machine carpet, cotton yarn, dried apricot and knitted textiles are the products that were exported the most from the region in the same period of the year.

Cikmaz said goods worth of 162 million 32 thousand U.S. dollars were exported to Europe, goods worth of 112 million 775 thousand U.S. dollars were exported to Middle East, goods worth of 25 million 261 thousand U.S. dollars were exported to the U.S., those worth of 32 million 248 thousand U.S. dollars were exported to the Turkish Republics, those worth of seven million 865 thousand U.S. dollars were exported to the Commonwealth of Independent States in the first ten months of the year.

Cikmaz added goods worth of 10 million 650 thousand U.S. dollars were exported to Africa, goods worth of four million 605 thousand U.S. dollars were exported to Asia, and goods worth of 104 million 435 thousand U.S. dollars were exported to other countries and free trade zones between January-October 2000.

-COAST GUARD COMMANDERSHIP TO TAKE FIRST HELICOPTER FROM
ITALIAN AGUSTA FIRM IN JANUARY, 2001
ANKARA - The project which was signed in 1996 between the Turkish Coast Guard Commandership and the Italian firm Agusta to meet the helicopter need of the Commandership has been speeded up.

The first of these AB-4132EP type helicopters will be handed over to Turkey in January, 2001.

By the formation of the new helicopter fleet, the Commandership will take under control the attempts of damaging the sea pollution, illegal fishing, and the smuggling historical works of art found in the sea bottom.

Passage of terrorists via Turkish territorial waters will also be prevented by the new fleet which will fight better with the drug trafficking, weapon and human smuggling.

-TREASURY UNDERSECRETARIAT SAYS IMF DELEGATION
EXPECTED TO STAY IN TURKEY FOR 10 DAYS
ANKARA - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) headed by Michael Deppler, the Director of the European I Department of the IMF is expected to stay in Turkey for nearly 10 days.

Treasury Undersecretariat said on Monday in a written statement that the meetings with the delegation started and continues within the framework of the statements issued by Horst Koehler, the IMF Managing Director about Turkey.

The IMF Monetary and Exchange Affairs Department Director Stefan Ingves and IMF's Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli are also in the delegation.

The Treasury said that the public opinion will be informed about the meetings with IMF when necessary.

-U.S. AMBASSADOR PEARSON SAYS HIS COUNTRY STRONGLY SUPPORTS
TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP
ANKARA - U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Robert Pearson has said that the United States strongly supported Turkey's EU membership.

Pearson paid a visit of courtesy to 9th President Suleyman Demirel at his office on Kuleli street in Ankara. After a one hour visit, Pearson told reporters that they discussed several issues that concern both countries including Turkey-EU relations, the Balkans, Caucasia, and the Middle East Peace Process. The Fact Finding Committee was another topic of discussion during their meeting, he stated.

Turkey can communicate with both Palestinians and Israelis, Pearson said and indicated that it gained the respect of both sides due to this reason.

When asked if Turkey would be a mediator, Pearson said ''Turkey should define its own role.''

Turkey has a significant contribution to the process, Pearson pointed out. The Turkish government is not only in contact with Israelis or Palestinians but also with Jordan and Egypt, the U.S. Ambassador said and added that his country appreciated Turkey's contributions in the peace process.

-GOKALP, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS:
''WE HAVE TAKEN IMPORTANT STEPS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK
OF HARMONIZATION WITH EU JOINT AGRICULTURE POLICY''
ANKARA - Husnu Yusuf Gokalp, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said on Monday that agriculture was very important for membership to the European Union (EU), adding that, ''opening of the EU gates for Turkey, to a large extend, depends on the solution of existing problems of agriculture.''

Gokalp recalled that aspects, related with agriculture, that were foreseen in the EU Accession Partnership Accord to be fulfilled, were discussed under the titles, ''Agriculture and Fishing.''

Gokalp said there were differences between Turkey's agricultural structure and the EU's agriculture structure, adding that, ''relations between Turkey and the EU in the field of agriculture form the most important part of their bilateral relations. Agricultural issues formed the most important problematic part of relations with the EU and the countries which participated in the EU afterwards. Basing on this, it would be a realistic assessment to say that Turkey's road to the EU passed from agriculture.''

Gokalp said the 57th government accelerated works to adjust the Turkish agriculture with the EU since it came to power on June 29, 1999, adding that they put ''Re-Structing and Reform Program in Agriculture,'' within this framework.

-TREASURY ASSURES THAT NO CHANGES ARE NECESSARY IN
GENERAL TARGETS OF 3-YEAR PROGRAMME
ANKARA - Evaluating the inflation rate for last month, Treasury Undersecretariat stated on Monday that although consumer and wholesale prices were higher than expected, the difference is not significant enough to create a deviation from the general targets of the 3-year economic programme.

The November inflation was announced as 2.4 percent in wholesale and 3.7 percent in consumer prices. In the first 11 months of this year, wholesale and consumer prices rose by 30.2 and 35.7 percent which indicates to the lowest inflation rate since 1986, the Treasury announced.

Although both consumer and wholesale prices are higher than expected, the difference is not significant enough to deviate from the general targets of the 3-year inflation programme, it was pointed out in the announcement.

''The recent fluctuations in the markets are temporary and it is the result of a short term liquidity shortage,'' it was said. ''Measures are being taken to provide the liquidity which the markets need. The IMF and World Bank support will help the Central Bank's in its efforts to create liquidity. No changes in the general economic targets are necessary since the government continues the programme with determination and it receives the support of the IMF and the World Bank.''

-BANKING BOARD CHAIRMAN SAYS TURKISH NATION WILL
NOT ACCEPT TO LIVE IN CORRUPTION
ANKARA - Banking Regulation and Audit Board Chairman Zekeriya Temizel said on Monday that the Turkish nation will not accept to live in corruption and stealing.

Temizel has delivered a speech at the Political Sciences Faculty of the Ankara University on the university's 141st foundation anniversary.

Comparing 1970 when he started studying at this university, to our day, Temizel said the civilian society is becoming better organized and more influential every passing day. The understanding of democracy has also changed, Temizel pointed out.

Societies have started realizing that good governing determines their fate, Temizel said. Corruption which is a result of bad governing hurts nations' economies, discourages investments therefore slows down development, he elaborated. Human focused social development is possible only by preventing corruption, he also asserted.

''Good governing can't be initiated in a country overnight through the imposition of an international institution or a national authority,'' Temizel went on to say. ''Good governing is a process. I don't think it is possible for Turkey to enter a long lasting development process without good governing, regardless of the amount of financial source or support.''

Temizel said it was not enough only for the state to get to know the principles of good government, adding that because bad government is not a characteristic that only belongs to the state.

Temizel said solution of the problem was not in the statements calling for minimization of the state, and added that, ''because minimization of the state is perceived as weakening of the state. This is the most important problem in front of the state reform.''

Temizel said, ''if fictitutious exports, tax refund, invoice, banking and similar incidents fill the agenda of Turkey, we should accept that there was a general interruption in the system, and stressed that this should be accepted. ''We should lift this ghost curtain that is over the fate of Turkish people related with future.''

Temizel said that making the development sustainable is very important and requested that the incidents which will cause problems in Turkey's struggle to this end should never be forgotten.

''We will hear systematic voices soon. But, the conditions created by this are obvious. Turkey does not deserve living under these conditions. Turkey is not a country which can accept to live in corruption, theft and bad luck. Those who struggle against these are implementing the laws. The requirement of the laws are fulfilled without making any discrimination,'' Temizel said.

Temizel continued, ''Does Turkey have to continue to live in the system of the money launderers and smugglers? Or, how can you differentiate between those who say that people do not have the chance to live when these do not exist? We think that Turkey and Turkish people cannot accept these. We do not accept these. I think our society is more qualified than those. People who want good administration against these and the non-governmental organizations should oppose to these.''

It will be difficult and take time to open a new page for Turkey's future by overcoming pollution in society, Temizel noted.

Temizel stated that not fading the hopes that the pollution in society will end, continuing the struggle against the pollution, and all the institutions' taking part in this struggle are important.

-IMF DELEGATION HEADED BY DEPPLER MEETS WITH STATE MINISTER ONAL
ANKARA - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation headed by Michael Deppler, the European I Department Director, met on Monday with State Minister Recep Onal.

Carlo Cottarelli, the IMF's Turkey Desk Chief, and Stephen Ingves, the IMF's Monetary and Exchange Affairs Department Director, also participated in the meeting.

-NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU GOES TO BRUSSELS
ANKARA - National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu has said that the position of Turkey's allies and EU members were not satisfactory regarding Turkey's expectations from the European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI).
Cakmakoglu went to Brussels on Monday to attend the NATO Defense Ministers Meeting.

Prior to his departure from Ankara's Etimesgut Military Airport, he briefed the audience on the activities he would attend in Brussels.

Cakmakoglu is accompanied by a delegation formed by the representatives of Chief of General Staff and the Foreign Ministry. The Chief of General Staff will attend a series of meetings until Dec. 6 during his stay in Brussels. On Tuesday, the Defense Planning Committee, the Nuclear Planning Group and the North Atlantic Council will have meetings. The NATO-Russian Permanent Joint Council meeting will also be held on the same day and it will be attended by the Russian Defense Minister.

Cakmakoglu said he would have bilateral meetings with Russian and Albanian defense ministers in Brussels. ''Every one of these meetings is important to us but the ESDI constitutes a major part of our agenda,'' he noted.

''The position of our allies and EU countries regarding Turkey's expections from the EDSI don't satisfy us, but our contacts are continuing,'' he pointed out.

Kosovo and Bosnia will be other topics of discussion, Cakmakoglu said adding that developments among countries which contributed to SFOR and KFOR will also be reviewed.

This meeting will in a way set the atmosphere for the NATO Foreign Ministers and EU Foreign Ministers summit in Nice, Cakmakoglu indicated.

When asked if Turkey would openly express the veto issue regarding the ESDI at the meeting, Cakmakoglu said the talks would shape Turkey's position on this matter.

-ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP ACCORD ADOPTED (1)
-FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER VEDRINE SAYS
THE NEW FORMULA THEY FOUND ON CYPRUS IS ACCEPTED
BOTH BY TURKEY AND THEM
BRUSSELS - Hubert Vedrine, the Foreign Minister of France, the European Union (EU) Term President, said on Monday that a compromise has been reached on the Accession Partnership Accord in the direction of Helsinki summit.

Vedrine told a press conference that the document was important for both Turkey and the EU, adding that the new formula they found on Cyprus was accepted by both Turkey and them.

Vedrine said he met with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem before the lunch, and that Cem also confirmed the document, noting that the document in general sense referred to the solution of Cyprus question. Vedrine said the 15 EU members, including Greece, found the document as positive.

Meanwhile, Guenter Verheugen, the EU Commissioner for enlargement, said the Accession Partnership Accord was the best scenerio that could be thought, and noted that both sides (the EU and Turkey) should ''do their homework in the best way.''

Verheugen said the enlargement strategies would reach success by the decision taken today.

Pointing out that the document underlined the Helsinki principles, Verheugen said they should show that the Helsinki principles are working.

Verheugen said the Accession Partnership Accord was the cornerstone for Turkey's passage to democracy and rule of law, adding Turkey should be in close cooperation with the EU during changing process.

-ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP ACCORD ADOPTED (2)
BRUSSELS - The statements made by Hubert Vedrine, the Foreign Minister of France, the European Union (EU) Term President, regarding the Accession Partnership Accord, led to different comments because the text which was approved, has not been distributed yet.

Vedrine refrained from making detailed statement while he said that Foreign Minister Ismail Cem approved the text on which the 15 EU countries reached a compromise, on the phone.

Vedrine said that the Cyprus question was included in a paragraph within the framework of the ''political dialogue'' and gave the message that there will not be a deviation from the Helsinki line as Turkey wished.

What is important and clear is reaching a compromise in the direction of the Helsinki summit, Vedrine said, adding that this is a success.

Vedrine noted that many discussions were made on words and that the basic principles like the peace, stability, regional cooperation and good neighbourly relations were emphasized in the document, adding that adjustment to these principles are requested.

The last shape of the Accession Partnership Accord has not been distributed to the press yet.

-ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP ACCORD ADOPTED (3)
ANKARA - Attention is drawn on how Turkey had been included in the Helsinki final statement after Hubert Vedrine, the Foreign Minister of France, the European Union (EU) Term President, announced that a compromise was reached on the Accession Partnership Accord in the direction of Helsinki summit.

In the final statement of the Helsinki Summit which had been held between December 10-12, 1999 and in which Turkey's EU candidacy was officially announced, the Cyprus and Aegean issues and relations with Turkey were expressed as follows:

-''The European Council stresses the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the U.N. Charter, and urges candidate states to make every effort to resolve any outstanding border disputes, and other relevant issues.''

-''Failing this they should, within a reasonable time, bring the dispute to the International Court of Justice.''

-''The European Council will review the situation relating to such disputes in particular concerning the repercussions on the accession process, at the latest by the end of 2004.''

- The EU also underlines the necessity to adjust to political criteria drawn by the Copenhagen criteria to start the full membership negotiations.

The part of the Helsinki summit final statement, related with Cyprus, briefly said:

''-The European Council welcomes the launch of the talks aiming at a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem on December 3, 1999 in New York, and expresses its strong support for the U.N. Secretary General's efforts to bring the process to a successful conclusion.

''-The European Council underlines that a political settlement will facilitate the accesssion of Cyprus to the EU.''

''-If no settlement has been reached by the completion of a accession in negotiations, the Council's decision on accession will be made without preconditions. In this case, the European Council will take account of all relevant factors.''

-''The European Council also welcomed recent positive developments in Turkey as well as its intention to continue its reforms towards confirming with the Copenhagen criteria.''

-''Turkey is destined to join the EU on the basis of the same criteria applied to the other candidate states. Building on the existing European strategy for Turkey, like other candidate states, will benefit from a pre- accession strategy to stimulate support to its reforms.''

-''This will include enhanced political dialogue. Turkey will also have the opportunity to participate in Community programs and agencies and in meetings between candidate states and the union in the context of the accession process.''

-''Appropriate monitoring mechanisms will be established. With a view to intensifying the harmonization of Turkey's legislation and practice with the acquis, the EU Commission is invited to prepare a process of analytical examination of the acquis.''

-ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP ACCORD ADOPTED (4)
BRUSSELS - Authorized diplomats of France, the European Union (EU) Term President, gave on Monday information about the changes made in the Accession Partnership Accord.

The diplomats said that titles named ''Developed Political Dialogue and Political Criteria'' were included in the ''short term objectives'' and ''medium term objectives'' chapters of the document.

Under the ''Developed Political Dialogue and Political Criteria'' title in the short term objectives chapter, the statements regarding Cyprus were expressed by starting with the words, ''in accordance with the Helsinki line...''

Under the ''Developed Political Dialogue and Political Criteria'' title in the medium term objectives chapter, the border disputes were expressed.

French officials said that a diplomatic compromise was reached due to the high diplomacy level.

-IMF EUROPEAN I DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR SAYS HE DOES
NOT WANT TO MAKE STATEMENTS FOR TIME BEING
ANKARA - Michael Deppler, the European I Department Director, said on Monday that he does not want to make statements regarding their contacts for the time being.

Responding to questions of journalists following their meeting with State Minister Recep Onal, Deppler said that he does not make any statements at this stage.

Carlo Cottarelli, the IMF's Turkey Desk Chief, and Stephen Ingves, the IMF's Monetary and Exchange Affairs Department Director, also participated in the meeting.

-ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP ACCORD ADOPTED (5)
-DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ:
-''THE FIRST NEWS WE HAVE RECEIVED INDICATE THAT A COMPROMISE
IN THE DIRECTION OF OUR WISHES HAS BEEN REACHED''
ANKARA - Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said Monday that the first news they have received indicate that a compromise in the direction of Turkey's wishes regarding the Accession Partnership Accord, has been reached.

Responding to questions of reporters, Yilmaz said, ''we have only heard about the statement made by French Foreign Minister so far. We will make a detailed evaluation when we see the full text. But, the first news we have received indicate that a compromise in the direction of our wishes has been reached.''

When a reporter reminded him that some formulas regarding Cyprus are mentioned, Yilmaz said, ''that is over. I say that.''

When asked whether or not a leaders' summit will be held, Yilmaz said a leaders' summit may be held.

-PREMIER ECEVIT DUE TO NICE
ANKARA - Premier Bulent Ecevit will go to Nice, France, to attend the meeting of the heads of state and government of the European Union (EU) member conutries.

Sources told A.A correspondent on Monday that Ecevit will go to Nice on December 6.

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and the bureaucrats of the Foreign Ministry and Prime Ministry will accompany Ecevit during his visit.

Ecevit is expected to return to Ankara on December 7 after wrapping up contacts in Nice.

-ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP ACCORD ADOPTED (6)
-ANKARA FINDS DOCUMENT SATISFACTORY FOR FURTHER
DEVELOPMENT OF TURKEY-EU RELATIONS
ANKARA - Turkey found the statement of Hubert Vedrine, the Foreign Minister of EU Term President France, about adoption of the Accession Partnership Accord satisfactory for ''further development of Turkey-EU relations''.

A high-level official at the Foreign Ministry told the A.A correspondent on Monday that the accord would be subjected to an official process late on the same day. ''Thus I can't say that this document has been adopted before we see that this document has been officially confirmed. However, we know what has been adopted.''

Stating that the EU process of the document has not been finalized yet, the official said, ''however, we know that it has been politically adopted by the Ministers' Council. We think that the approval process should be waited although it is a formality.''

When asked whether or not the document was positive for Turkey, the official said, ''Turkey thinks that it is sufficient enough for further development of Turkey-EU relations.''

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