Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-01-04

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

04 JANUARY

2001 Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

INMATES FAMILIES ASK GOVERNMENT TO INVERVENE IN EDIRNE PRISON
Relatives of inmates who continue their death fast in Edirne F type prison called on Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk to give permission to intervene to end the prisoners' death fast. A mother of an inmate said his son was able to walk only with the help of prison guards. Others said most protesting inmates were not even able to talk and asked the government to intervene medically to save the lives of these people.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

JOINT SOLUTION PACKAGE TO REAL SECTOR
Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan said that firstly, the problems in financial sector will be solved and that a solution package for the common problems of the real sector will be implemented. Ozkan noted that the financial sector and banking sector should be fortified, adding that the government does not want to once more face a financial crisis like the crisis in November and December 2000.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

''PROGRAM WILL BE IMPLEMENTED WITHOUT ANY CONCESSIONS''
The leaders of the coalition parties decided to implement the economic program without any concessions in 2001, the second year of the three-year economic program. A written statement was released following the leaders' summit in which the economy officials also participated. The statement emphasized that the government will continue to closely follow the economic developments.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

FOUR WOMEN PRISONERS ABOUT TO DIE ON DEATH FAST
The death fast of inmates has entered its 77th day. It was reported that four women prisoners at Kutahya prison were in critical condition. Izmir Chmber of Doctors Chairman Dr. Fatih Surenkok said inmates were reacting strongly when they tried to intervene. In the meantime, representatives of certain non-governmental organizations criticized the government's intervention in prisons and asked the government to ''reveal the truths'' about the F type prisons.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

TOTAL OF 395 INMATES ON DEATH FAST
Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that many inmates ended the death fast but that new inmates started death fast. Turk said, ''103 inmates at the Sincan F type prison are still fasting to death, and 165 others are on hunger strike. 99 prisoners at the Edirne F type prison are fasting to death and 92 others are on hunger strike while 28 inmates at the Kocaeli F type prison are death fasting and 159 others are on hunger strike.'' Turk noted that there was no need to stage a new operation on the prisons.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

INFLATION DROPS SIGNIFICANTLY IN ONE YEAR
Although the government failed to reach its targeted annual inflation rate, wholesale prices decreased by 32.7 percent while consumer prices dropped by 39 percent. The government's targeted figures for wholesale and consumer prices were 20 and 25 percent. The low inflation rate increased people's confidence in the disinflation programme.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

INFLATION INSPIRES HOPE: 39 PERCENT
The consumer prices index (CPI) increased 39 percent while the wholesale prices index (WPI) climbed 32.7 percent in 2000. The CPI decreased 29.8 percent in the first year of the three-year economic program. The target of the government for the first year of the program was 25 percent.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

NEW FINES FOR TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS
The draft law which proposes increasing the sentences for those who cause a deadly traffic accident will be debated at the Parliament's Justice Commission today. The draft law proposes increasing the sentence one third for drivers who cause the death of an individual at a traffic accident. The prison sentence will not be changed to a fine. According to the current law, a person is given two to five years in prison for causing a traffic accident resulting in death. The draft law also suggests suspending the driver's licence of a person for six months for drunk driving. The driver will also have to pay a fine of 100 million TL for drunk driving.

-TURKISH AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR MAINLY EXPORTED TO GERMANY IN 2000
BURSA - The Turkish automotive sector mainly exported to Germany, France, Italy and the U.S. in 2000.

Officials of the Uludag Exporters' Union (UIB) told A.A correspondent on Thursday that 2 billion 636 million U.S. dollars was obtained from the automotive sector between January 1 and December 31, 2000.

The officials said that Turkey exported automotive products to 11 free zones and 174 countries.

Germany ranked the first among the countries where Turkey exported automotive products in 2000 with 576 million 725 thousand U.S. dollars while France, Italy and the U.S. followed Germany, the officials noted.

The officials stated that the automotive exports to the European Union (EU) states except Italy and Belgium decreased in 2000.

Chad, Congo, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Bahama Islands became the places where Turkey had started to export automotive products in 2000, the officials said.

Below listed the ten countries and free zones to where Turkey exported automotive products the most in 2000:

COUNTRY EXPORTS (THOUSAND U.S DOLLAR) CHANGE (PERCENT)
1999 2000
-------- -------- ------------------ ----------------
Germany 625.118 576.725 -7.7

France 382.388 377.832 -1.1

Italy 208.022 276.220 32.7

The U.S. 142.134 165.232 16.2

Ist.Leath.Free Zone 137.932 134.201 -2.7

Britain 131.815 99.237 -24.7

Algeria 85.291 76.341 -10.4

Egypt 69.718 74.548 -6.9

Belgium 40.338 58.629 45.3

Spain 60.292 46.134 -23.4

-TREASURY TO ARRANGE TWO TENDERS ON FRIDAY
ANKARA - The Treasury Undersecretariat will arrange two tenders on Friday.

The Treasury will arrange 6-month (184-day) bond and 14-month (408-day) bond tenders on Friday.

The bonds will be issued on January 8, 2001 while the repayment of the 6- month bonds will be July 11, 2001 and that of the 14-month bonds will be February 20, 2002.

The Treasury foresees a 1.5-1.650 quadrillion Turkish Liras (TL) of net borrowing at the tenders.

Meanwhile, the Treasury will repay 2 quadrillion 586.3 trillion TL domestic debt in January.

-PUBLIC INVESTMENTS TO BE AROUND 6 QUADRILLION 887 TRILLION TL
ANKARA - The public investments are expected to be around 6 quadrillion 887 trillion Turkish liras (TL) in 2001.

In accordance with the Investment Program for 2001, Turkey will invest the most in the energy sector. The energy sector investments are expected to be around 1 quadrillion 570 trillion TL.

The transportation sector will follow the energy sector in the investment program for 2001 with 1 quadrillion 543 trillion TL while the education sector will be at the third place in Turkey's public investments for 2001 with 1 quadrillion 152 trillion TL.

The state foresees 503 trillion TL investments for the agriculture sector, 400.7 trillion TL for health and 469.6 trillion for the manufacturing industry.

The public sector will allocate 12.9 trillion TL for the housing sector and 121.6 trillion TL for the mining sector.

-SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT JUNG SENDS LETTER TO TURKISH SOLDIERS
DUE TO 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF KOREAN WAR
ERZURUM - South Korean President Kim Dae Jung sent a letter to thank the Turkish soldiers who battled in the Korean War due to the 50th anniversary of the war.

Guntekin Alpugan, the chairman of the Combatant Martrys' Association, told A.A correspondent on Thursday that the letters that Jung sent to thank the Turkish soldiers who battled in Korea 50 years ago under the flag of the United Nations (U.N.) will be delivered to those soldiers or their families in ceremonies held throughout Turkey on January 6.

Reminding A.A correspondent that 731 Turkish soldiers died in the Korean War, Alpugan said that 8,137 of 12,000 Turkish soldiers who battled in the war are still alive.

Alpugan noted that Turkish nation helped many countries during its history and that the Korean nation has never forgotten the aid of the Turkish soldiers during the Korean War.

Jung said in his letter that they sincerely thank everybody who made contributions to protect the Korean Republic and the free democracy of the world during the Korean War half a century ago.

Jung added, ''besides, we commemorate those who sacrificed themselves to protect Korea. We want to once more express our gratitude and to further improve our brotherhood upon the 50th anniversary of the Korean War. Also, we will exert efforts with the sister countries to promote the humanity and to contribute to the global peace. We once more thank for your self- sacrifice during the Korean War.''

Turkey sent 5,090 soldiers to Korea on October 17, 1950 who were commanded by General Tahsin Yazici. A total of 15,000 Turkish people battled in Korea between 1950 and 1953.

-TURKSAT 2A TO BE LAUNCHED ON JANUARY 8
ANKARA - Turkey's third satellite Turksat 2A will be launched from the Kourou base in French Guiana in South America on Jan.8. The launching will be broadcast live.

The construction of the satellite started in 1997. 75 percent of its is owned by Turk Telecom while 25 percent belongs to Alcatel Space company. Turksat 2A will be placed on the same coordinate with Turksat 1 C and it will replace Turksat 1C when a failure occurs in this satellite.

Fixed transmitters of the satellite will provide high power band access to Turkey, Cenral and Eastern Europe, Western Asia, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon. The other two mobile transmitters will cover Middle East, Western Russia, Ukraine, South Africa and Indian Peninsula. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan will also benefit from the satellite.

The 300 million U.S. dollar satellite will also provide uninterrupted and fast internet access to rural areas. The satellite will be used to give better internet service between Europe and Asia.

Turksat 2A has 32 channels and the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will use two of these channels making Turkey the fifth country in NATO which has a military communication satellite.

In 15 years, Turksat 2A is expected to bring an income of 1.5 billion U.S. dollars. The broadcast of Turksat 2A can be watched using satellite dishes which has a diameter of 50 to 60 centimeters.

The satellite weighs 3,400 kilograms and it has an electricity power of 9, 000 watts. After Turksat 2A starts giving service, Turkey will broadcast on 66 channels through Turksat 1B, Turksat 1C and Turksat 2A.

Turk Telekom authorities told the A.A that the satellite will be separated from the rocket within 20 minutes after its launching. After its separation from the rocket, the satellite will be placed on its orbit by giving commands from control stations.

-IMF DELEGATION DUE IN TURKEY ON JANUARY 12
ANKARA/WASHINGTON D.C. - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation will come to Turkey on January 12.

Officials told A.A correspondent on Thursday that the IMF delegation will pay a visit to Turkey every month in the first quarter of 2001.

The IMF delegation headed by IMF Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli will stay in Turkey for one week.

The delegation will mainly deal with the banking sector and will debate the measures to be taken within the framework of the Supplemental Reserve Facility (SRF) and the privatization program.

The first quarter of this year is very important, the IMF officials said, emphasizing that the first three months will be closely followed to maintain the economic program and that the IMF delegation will visit Turkey every month in the first quarter.

The IMF officials said that the IMF delegation will pay visits to Turkey every three months following the first quarter if the targets of the program is reached.

The IMF will follow whether or not the economic performances which were targeted in the Letter of Intent are fulfilled and within this framework, it will release the remaining part of the loan, the IMF officials noted.

The officials said that the IMF will be in coordination with the World Bank.

-TREASURY FORESEES 33 QUADRILLION TL DOMESTIC BORROWING THIS YEAR
ANKARA - The Treasury foresees 33 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL) domestic borrowing in 2001.

Officials told A.A correspondent on Thursday that Turkey will exceed its foreign borrowing target which was planned to be around 7.5 billion U.S. dollars this year.

The Treasury which will arrange the first tender of the year on Friday foresees a net borrowing of 1.5-1,650 quadrillion TL.

The Treasury targets at repaying 9 quadrillion 374 trillon TL domestic debt in the first quarter of 2001.

-POLICE CRACKED DOWN ON HUMAN SMUGGLERS IN 2000
ANKARA - Turkish police carried out successful operations in 2000 against human smuggling which is one of the biggest problems of European countries.

A total of 2,799 illegal immigrants were caught in police operations last year.

According to the Security General Directorate, 155 operations were carried out against human smugglers who wanted to use Turkey like a bridge to take immigrants to European countries. A total of 137 smugglers including 7 foreigners were caught in these operations. The immigrants paid 3,000 to 10, 000 U.S. dollars each to human smugglers to go to European countries. 1,514 of the 2,799 illegal immigrants were of foreign origin. The foreign immigrants were mostly from Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Morocco. A majority of these immigrants were caught in Mugla, Cankakkale and Van. Human smugglers are mostly active in Bingol, Sanliurfa, Kahramanmaras, Elazig, Antalya, Mugla, Balikesir, Aydin, Edirne, Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir.

According to a report prepared by Smuggling and Organized Crime unit of the Security Directorate, human smuggling has social, economic and political causes. The report said human smuggling increased in the recent years because many people want to live in prosperous European countries. Laws in European countries which prohibit political asylum is another factor that encourages illegal immigration, it was stated.

-COUNCIL OF MINISTER CONVENES
ANKARA - The Council of Ministers convened on Thursday under the chairmanship of Premier Bulent Ecevit.

The economy and the latest developments regarding the prisons are expected to be discussed in the meeting which started at the Prime Ministry at 11.15 a.m.

-TREASURY CASH PROJECTIONS AND BORROWING PROGRAMME
-CASH BALANCE DEFICIT BECOMES 12.4 QUADRILLION TL IN 2000
ANKARA - The total cumulative revenues became 30.1 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL) while the non-interest expenditures became 23.8 quadrillion TL on the cash basis in 2000.

According to the Tresury Undersecretariat's figures of the ''Cash Projections and Borrowing Program'' for the fourth quarter of 2000, the cumulative total revenues were 30 quadrillion 124.9 trillion TL, the non- interest expenditures were 23 quadrillion 809.9 trillion TL, and the non- interest surplus was 6 quadrillion 315 trillion TL.

After the 18 quadrillion 710.1 trillion TL (or 20 quadrillion 367 trillion TL including interest tax), the deficit in Treasury's cash balance became 12 quadrillion 395 trillion TL.

Meanwhile, the principal payment became 20 quadrillion 113.6 trillion TL including 3 quadrillion 637.6 trillion TL external debt and 16 quadrillion 476 trillion TL domestic borrowing.

Total external and domestic debt servicing became 38 quadrillion 823.6 trillion TL (or 40 quadrillion 480.5 trillion TL including interest tax). Treasury borrowed 21 quadrillion 178.8 trillion TL (excluding 3 quadrillion 330.2 trillion TL average sales and 102.7 trillion TL option) by auctions in 2000.

-EXPLOSION IN POLICE STATION IN SISLI
-SUICIDE BOMBER USES EXPLOSIVES
ISTANBUL - Suicide bomber Gultekin Koc used explosives in the bomb attack on the security department in Sisli township of Istanbul, sources said on Thursday.

A high-level official at the Istanbul Security Department told the A.A correspondent that suicide attacker Koc had wrapped his body with explosives and entered the police station and later he detonated those explosives on the forth floor, killing himself and a police officer and injuring seven people.

He said that the experts were still investigating how many explosives the suicide bomber wrapped to his body and what kind of a detonation system he used.

Officials revealed that attacker Gultekin Koc who had left the Sakarya University Construction Engineering Faculty while he was studying the third class, had been taken into custody on charges of involving in incidents in Kadikoy township of Istanbul on May 1, 1996, and that he had been wanted by the Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) as he had been sentenced to 3 years and 9 months in prison on charges of ''aiding and abetting to members of illegal organization''.

Officials revealed that Koc had benefitted from the Law on Release From Prisons and Suspension of Punishments as his sentence had been given in accordance with Article 169 of the Turkish Penal Code so the warrant of arrest of Koc had been lifted within framework of the same law.

Officials said that Koc who had got passport from the Istanbul Security Department in 1997 had applied to the German Consulate to get visa but he couldn't go to Germany as his application had been rejected.

Meanwhile, Istanbul Anti-Terrorism teams had raided the house of Koc's family in Esenler district in Istanbul in June 2000, and Koc's father had told the security forces that his son Gultekin Koc was in Switzerland.

-MEETING OF COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ENDS
ANKARA - The meeting of the Council of Ministers presided by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit ended.

The meeting at the Prime Ministry building started at 11:15 a.m. and lasted for almost three hours.

State Minister and Government Spokesman Tunca Toskay is expected to make a statement on the issues discussed at the meeting.

-SCHRODER SALOMON SMITH BARNEY: ''THERE ARE POSITIVE
DEVELOPMENTS IN FIELDS OF INFLATION AND INTERNATIONAL RESERVES''
ANKARA/LONDON - 04.01.2001 - International investment consulting group Schroder Salomon Smith Barney (SSSB) said on Thursday that there were positive developments in Turkey in fields of inflation and international reserves.

In an analysis, SSSB said that the inflation had been in decreasing trend and the inflation had decreased below 40 percent as 32.7 percent in wholesale prices and 39 percent in consumer prices in 2000.

It said that there had been recently foreign exchange inflow to the Central Bank, and that the international gross reserves had decreased to the level before the crisis.

SSSB said that the treasury auction which would be held on Friday was also important, and that other developments in the economy were promising.

-EXPORTS RISE 0.9 PERCENT TO 27.219 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN 2000
ISTANBUL - Exports from Turkey in 2000 rose 0.9 percent to 27 billion 219 million 45 thousand U.S. dollars when compared to exports in 1999.

According to the statistics of the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM), exports in December of 2000 reduced 5.4 percent to 2 billion 325 million 753 thousand U.S. dollars.

Total exports in 1999 had been 26 billion 981 million 422 thousand U.S. dollars.

Sectoral breakdown of exports in December of 1999 and 2000 and their difference according to the sttistics of exporters' associations are as follows:

. DECEMBER (USD 1.000)
. ------------------- Difference

. 1999 2000 (percent)

------------------------ --------- --------- -------
1.AGRICULTURE
A-Vegetal Products

Grain-Cereals 101,523 103,600 2.0

Tobacco 41,368 32,189 -22.2

Hazelnut and Products 60,809 51,542 -15.2

Fruit-Vegetal Products 61,821 46,533 -24.7

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables 5,350 3,760 -29.7

Dried Fruits and Vegetables 34,508 23,415 -32.1

Olive and Olive Oil 27,887 53,358 91.3

Flower 1,660 1,081 -34.9

B-Animal Products

Live Stock, Water Products 18,923 14,010 -26.0

C-Wooden and Forestry Products

Wooden and Forestry Products 41,115 42,571 3.5

2. MANUFACTURING
A-Processed Products On Basis Of Agriculture

Textiles and Raw Material 236,599 201,490 -14.8

Leather and Products 45,190 49,560 9.7

Carpet 27,288 25,188 -7.7

B-Processed Oil Products

Chemicals and Products 141,443 167,734 18.6

C-Industrial Products

Ready-to-wear 663,497 604,696 -8.9

Iron and Other Metals 252,871 268,110 6.0

Motor Vehicles & By-Industry 307,237 274,525 -10.6

Electric, Electronic Machines 249,254 254,358 2.0

Cement and Earthenware 67,787 62,933 -7.2

Other Products 6,262 4,435 -29.2

3. MINING
Minerals and Metals 67,317 40,665 -39.6

-------------------------- --------- --------- ------
TOTAL 2,459,709 2,325,753 -5.4
-MEETING OF COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ENDS (2)
ANKARA - State Minister and Government Spokesman Tunca Toskay said on Thursday, ''at today's Council of Ministers meeting, it was decided that all ministries should act in accordance with targets of the economic programme.''

Addressing journalists following the three-hour meeting, Toskay said that problems in mining sector were assessed during the meeting.

Toskay told reporters, ''the draft law on setting up industrial regions was also discussed at the meeting. This draft law aims at removing important bureaucratic obstacles in front of Turkish and foreign investors. If this draft law is legalized, both Turkish and foreign investors will invest in Turkey more easily. It will create a positive impact in increase of foreign investments in Turkey. All ministries will prepare their own opinions on the draft law in one week. During the next Council of Ministers, the draft law will be given its last shape.''

Recalling that yesterday's summit meeting among leaders of three political parties forming the coalition government had focused on economic issues, Toskay said, ''at the end of the first year of three-year economic programme, the inflation rate has decreased to 30 percent for the first time in 14 years. At today's Council of Ministers meeting, it was decided that all ministries should act in accordance with targets of the economic programme.''

Later, Toskay responded to questions of journalists.

(To be continued)

-MEETING OF COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ENDS (3)
ANKARA - State Minister and Government Spokesman Tunca Toskay said on Thursday, ''we will use the source which has been allocated in order to support export, with an appropriate strategy aiming at seizing a healthy trend of increase in medium and long term.''

Addressing journalists following the Council of Ministers meeting, Toskay recalled that a considerable amount of money had been allocated from 2001 year budget to support export.

He stressed, ''we will use the source which has been allocated in order to support export with an appropriate strategy aiming at seizing a healthy trend of increase in medium and long term. The Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade has finalized its preparatory works on the issue.''

When recalled by a journalist that a commission had been set up to maintain commercial activities of banks which were transferred to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund, Toskay told reporters, ''as you know, some enterprises are in difficult conditions. Measures to be taken for these enterprises are not special measures. The progress of economy depends on creation of policies which will create facility in sectors in question. Our works are under way to this end.''

Responding to another question, Toskay said that yesterday's suicide bomb attack on the Security Department in Sisli township of Istanbul was not brought onto agenda of the meeting.

(End)

-FOUR TURKISH AND FOUR GREEK YOUNG
JOURNALISTS TO GO TO U.S. FOR EDUCATION
ANKARA - Seven journalism organizations which have been cooperating to solve vocational problems will send four young journalists to the United States for education.

Association of Parliamentary Journalists Chairman Kemal Saydamer, European Journalists' Association Turkey Section Chairman Dogan Tilic and Contemporary Journalists' Association Chairman Ismet Demirdogen staged a press conference at the parliament on Thursday.

Saydamer recalled that seven journalism associations had been cooperating to solve vocational problems.

Saydamer said that within the framework of their cooperation, they would send four young journalists to the U.S. for education.

Saydamer added that also the journalism organizations in Greece would send four young journalists to the U.S. for education.

Dogan Tilic said that young journalists Burcu Caglayan from TV 8, Seda Erdem from ATV, Aycan Alp Erozalp from ETV and Irep Guner from Kanal D would go to the U.S. on February 17.

Tilic said that the Turkish and Greek journalists would receive vocational training at leading newspapers and television channels in Washington D.C. and Minnesota.

The Turkish and Greek journalists who would carry out joint works in Greece between May 20-25 and in Turkey between May 25 and June 2, would prepare a TV programme, he added.

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