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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-01-26Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 26 JANUARY 2001 Friday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 26, 2000. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)DIYARBAKIR CRIES FOR ITS MARTYRSAssasination of Police Chief Gaffar Okkan and five other policemen sent people out to the streets in grief in southeastern Diyarbakir province. Residents carrying Turkish flags, chanted slogans such as ''Gaffar was our father,'' ''They murdered our father,'' ''Gaffar, you will never die,'' ''We condemn terrorism,'' and ''Martyrs never die, the motherland will not be divided''. Some shopkeepers closed their doors to protest the armed attack. They laid carnations to the scene of the attack. Meanwhile, four of at least 16 assailants who are members of the terrorist Hezbollah organization, were identified. They were identified as Hasim Alabalik who committed 156 homicides, Guli Kinay, Nurullah Gulsever and Abdulvahip Ekinci. 460 WASTED BULLETS FOUND IN SCENE OF ATTACK POLISH FOREIGN MINISTER BARTOSZEWSKI VISITS POLONEZKOY MILLIYET (LIBERAL)''TURKEY: COUNTRY OF OPPORTUNITIES''The World Economic Forum said that Turkey was the most rapidly developing economy in Europe and the leading household appliances and automobiles producer in the region. A report on ''Turkey: Country of Opportunities'' was prepared within framework of the WEF Annual Meeting started in Davos, Switzerland. The report said that the Turkish economy had grew 6.5 percent on gross national product basis in last five years despite the earthquakes in 1999. Noting that Turkey would grew 5.5 percent in next ten years according to estimations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last week, the report said that it would mean that economic growth in Turkey would be two-fold of the growth in the EU in next ten years. The report added that Turkey was now waiting for foreign investors. GAFFAR WINS SABAH (LIBERAL)''I SAW THE ASSASINATION''An undientified woman who witnessed assasination of Police Chief Gaffar Okkan and five other policemen, write a letter and gave it to the Diyarbakir Governor Serhadli. The letter says, ''I saw the assasination. Four people opened fire. They were carrying long-range weapons. Later, they hid their weapons under their coats, and entered nearby stores. They forced eveyone in the stores to leave. Then, they managed to escape from the scene of the attack by acting as if they were policemen. CUMHURIYET (LEFT)VISA CRISIS BETWEEN TURKEY AND BULGARIAA visa crisis took place between Ankara and Sofia after the Bulgarian consulates in Turkey raised difficulties in giving one-year ''multi-entry visa'' to Turkish businessmen and rejected most of the visa applications of Turkish citizens who wanted to visit Bulgaria. The Turkish Embassy in Sofia said that a diplomatic note had been sent to the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry on January 17 to clarify the issue. KOKSAL: ''FEAR OF LOSING VOTE LAYS BENEATH APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION'' RADIKAL (LEFT)HEROIN OPERATION IN GEBZENarcotics officials impounded 7.2 kg of heroin in Gebze township of northwestern Kocaeli province. Acting on a tip-off, narcotics officials stopped an searched an automobile which was on its way from southeastern Gaziantep province. They confiscated 7.2 kg of heroin hidden in secret parts of the vehicle. Two people were taken into custody in connection with the incident. TUSIAD'S LETTER TO FRANCE ''a total of 60 votes are required for annulment of the resolution. 40 of these votes exist at the French Senate. We expect MEDEF to launch initiatives to obtain remaining 20 votes. If MEDEF sends TUSIAD's statement to members of parliament and senate, we will consider its effort a positive step to further improve relations between Turkey and France.'' TURKIYE (RIGHT)ISRAEL WINS TENDER FOR MODERNIZATION OF M60 TANKSNational Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said, ''we will carry out modernization of M60 main battle tanks together with Israel.'' Cakmakoglu stressed, ''negotiations with Israel's IMI Company have not concluded yet. However, we are in full consensus of opinion to modernize M60 main battle tanks with the participation of the Israeli company.'' Cakmakoglu criticized some circles which claimed that Turkey had allocated a great amount of source to defense purchases from its budget, saying, ''we have still supply projects. We attribute great importance to 11 of them. Finalization of other projects will take 20-30 years. On the contrary of claims of these circles, prior programs are being financed not by the National Defense Minister, but by Defense Industry Support Fund. It means that only one third of these programs is being met by the budget.'' ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)OKKAN TO BE LAID TO REST TODAYGaffar Okkan, the Police Chief of Diyarbakir, who was assasinated on Wednesday in an armed attack, will be laid to rest later today in his hometown, Hendek township of northwestern Sakarya province. -DUVAL, CANADIAN AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: Addressing a meeting organized by the Business Life Solidarity Association (ISHAD), Duval stressed that commercial relations between Turkey and Canada had been further improving day by day. Noting that the trade volume between Turkey and Canada hed been still far away from the desired level, Duval recalled that trade volume between the two countries increased to 465 million U.S. dollars in recent years. Emphasizing that Canada attributed great importance to commercial relations with Turkey, Duval said that they considered Turkey an important platform for commerce and investment, and the most ideal partner for Canada's investments in Caucasus and Central Asia regions. Noting that Canada was one of the biggest foreign capitals in Turkey with investments worth of 297 million U.S. dollars, Duval underlined that Turkey and Canada should sign an agreement to prevent double-taxation. -24.6 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF CHEMICALS In 1999, the region exported 21 million 818 thousand U.S. dollars of chemicals. Officials at the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union told the A.A correspondent on Friday that the majority of the goods were exported to member countries to the European Union (EU), Morocco, the U.S., Republic of South Africa, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Romania, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. -FOUNDATION OF VESSEL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT INFORMATION AND The works on construction and installation of the national and international vessel traffic system that the Maritime Undersecretariat foresees to install at the Istanbul and Canakkale Starits will start with a ceremony to be held on January 28, 2001 on the occasion of laying the foundation of the system in Istanbul. American Lockheed Martin company won the international tender for construction and installation of the system of which foundation will be laid by Ramazan Mirzaoglu, the Minister of State for Maritime. The system was foreseen to be finalized within nearly a year. After the system is put into use, the number of vessel accidents at the Straits will be reduced to minimum and safe vessel crossings will be provided. The Maritime Undersecretariat will finance the project from its own funds and almost 20 million U.S. dollars will be spent on the project. Nearly thrity public organizations and institutions including Environment Ministry, Customs Directorate General, relevant units of the Coast Guard Commandership and Maritime Enterprises will benefit from the system which includes also two different monitoring station and fifteen towers, nine in Istanbul and six in Canakkale Straits. -IMF'S FIRST DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR FISCHER SAYS TURKEY Fischer who is in Davos to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting, told the A.A correspondent that the markets have started to become balanced since the last economic crisis. Turkey took necessary measures in economy and to this end, they believed that the recovery would continue with the same speed, Fischer said. Fischer noted that the privatization and banking sector were two important issues, stating that the privatization program should be maintained and the measures in the banking sector should continue. Stressing that the IMF would continue to support Turkey, Fischer said that if the program was implemented with determination, Turkey would reach the macro-economic targets. -TUSIAD REVISES ITS ESTIMATIONS ABOUT MACROECONOMIC FIGURES IN 2001 According to the TUSIAD's macroeconomic scenario in 2001, the inflation rate in the wholesale prices index (WPI) is 21.4 percent, the growth rate is 2.4 percent and one U.S. dollar currency at the end of 2001 is 721 thousand 138 Turkish lira (TL). Below is the TUSIAD's macroeconomic scenario prepared on January 15, 2001: . TUSIAD 2001 MACROECONOMIC SCENARIO . 2001 . Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Annual Program -------- ------- ----- ----- ------ ------- ------- ------ Inflation (WPI)* 26.5 21.3 20.5 18.2 21.4 15.2 Reserve Money * 43.2 37.5 26.8 24.2 32.1 Con.Bud.Inc.(TL trillion) 9,278 9,864 10,071 11,788 41,001 43,127 Con.Bud.Exp.(TL trillion) 10,085 11,583 11,983 13,323 46,975 48,360 Con.Bud.Bal.(TL trillion) -806 (1,720) (1,913) (1,535) (5,974) (5,233) Interest Exp.(TL trillion) 3,978 3,746 3,854 5,108 16,685 16,680 Con.Bud.Bal.(USD billion) -1.2 -2.4 -2.6 -2 -8.2 -7.3 Non-Interest Bud.Bal. 7.3 7.5 (rate at GNP %) Consolidate Budget Bal. -4.0 -3.4 (rate at GNP %) Nom.Foreign Exch. Curr. (TL/USD) 684,786 704,906 730,826 764,034 721,138 714,000 Nominal Foreign Exch. Curr. 21.7 15.7 13.2 12.5 15.6 14.5 Real Foreign Exch.Curr.(92=100) 96.2 96 94.9 95.3 95.6 93.3 Real Foreign Exch. Curr.* 4 4.8 6.4 5 5 2.9 Nom. Interest (composite%) 58.9 49.1 39.3 31.5 44.7 Real Interest (composite%) 25.6 22.9 15.6 11.3 18.9 Imports (USD billion) 12.4 12.6 13 12.9 50.9 54.5 Exports (USD billion) 6.9 7.2 7.7 8.9 30.9 31.0 Foreign Trade Balance -5.4 -5.4 -5.3 -4 -20.1 -23.5 (*) Annual difference compared with the same period of previous year -DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ MEETS WITH SWISS ECONOMY MINISTER Following the meeting, Yilmaz told reporters that they mainly debated the energy sector and that Switzerland was very interested in the energy sector. Recalling that the Swiss companies had undertaken the finance of the Ilisu dam, Yilmaz said, ''Swiss companies want to have wider cooperation with us in energy sector. And, I said that we are ready for a wider cooperation but first of all, the financing of the Ilisu dam should be met.'' ''In the beginning of February, the Foreign Trade Undersecretary and his Swiss counterpart will meet each other during the Turkey-Switzerland Joint Economic Commission (JAC) meeting. In that meeting, the fields in which the economic relations can be promoted will be debated,'' Yilmaz added. Yilmaz said that the Swiss companies were foreseen to make more investments espcially in tourism sector and that Switzerland comes fifth among countries investing in Turkey. Recalling that Switzerland has made 800 million Swiss franc investments in Turkey, Yilmaz said that Swiss companies wished to increase this amount. Stating that the Turkish Airlines (THY) and the Swiss Air were cooperating, Yilmaz noted that the Swiss Air has been closely interested in the privatization of THY from the very beginning. Yilmaz stated that Swiss people wanted to take part in Turkey's privatization program. ''We discussed all these issues. They told me that the financing issue of the Ilisu dam will be solved in the shortest time. We also debated the dimensions of our economic relations. We agreed that the bilateral relations were very good.'' When asked whether or not he would meet with Stanley Fischer, the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) First Deputy Managing Director who is in Davos, Yilmaz said that he could meet if he is asked to meet with him. -ANOTHER TUNNEL REVEALED IN CANAKKALE PRISON The tunnel had been dug in a toilet in C-9 ward where illegal DHKP/C member prisoners were staying. Officials said that the tunnel led towards the Block-A which also comprises the managing center. Officials added that their searches in the prison were under way. Almost 300 PKK member inmates are still staying at the prison. -TERRORIST ATTACK IN DIYARBAKIR In the armed attack staged on Wednesday on the Sezai Karakoc Boulevard, Police Chief Okkan and policemen Atilla Durmus, Sabri Kun, Selahattin Baysoy, Mehmet Kamali and Mehmet Sepetci were martyred and policemen Nuri Bozkurt, Mustafa Dincer, Fatih Gokcek and Veli Goztepe were injured. Speaking to the A.A correspondent, officials said that after observation of the wasted bullets found in the place, it was estimated that eleven Kalashnikov rifles had been used in the attack while Russian-made Makarof hand-gun which was found in the scene of attack was not used. Meanwhile, security measures were increased at the border gates to prevent assasins from escaping abroad. -GAFFAR OKKAN LAID TO REST Following the Friday prayers and funeral prayer performed at the Hendek Great Mosque, Okkan's coffin was brought to the Hendek Cemetery with an ambulance. Okkan's family and his relatives, Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan, Labor and Social Security Minister Yasar Okuyan, Interior Ministry Undersecretary Saim Cotur, Security Director General Turan Genc, former Interior Minister Mehmet Agar, former Security Director General Necati Bilican, high level officials from the Interior Ministry and security, military officials, some governors, police chiefs, Diyarbakirspor soccer team and many people attended the funeral at the cemetary. Later, Okkan was laid to rest and soil which was brought from Diyarbakir was put on his grave. -TRANSPORTATION MINISTER: ''COMPANIES WHICH SUBSCRIBE TO THE Speaking to journalists, Oksuz said that broadcasting via the satellite can start in first week of February. Stressing that partnership with France in satellite was under way, Oksuz said, ''this is a continuing partnership. The partners have concluded their works. Turkey has the operation right. France does not have even the chance to intervene in the satelilite. From now on, we will act in tenders and similar things according to the attitude of the French government.'' -FOREIGN MINISTER CEM SAYS GOVERNMENT ADOPTS PRINCIPLES AND Releasing a statement as a response to the motion submitted by Nazli Ilicak, a deputy of the Virtue Party (FP), Cem said that the convention which was prepared by the COE two years ago and which has to be signed by 14 countries in order to take effect, was opened to signature on January 27, 1999. Cem noted that Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Macedonia have ratified the convention. Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Ukraine, Britain, the non-member states the U.S. and Bosnia- Herzegovina have signed the convention but the ratification procedures in these countries have not been concluded yet, Cem stated. Cem said that the implementation of the convention will be monitored by the ''Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), which started functioning on May, 1 1999. Belgium, Bulgaria, Greek Cypriot administration, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Macedonia, Britain, the U.S. and Bosnia-Herzegovina are the members of this formation, Cem noted. Cem stated that Turkey took part in the preparation of the convention from the very first moment and that the government adopts the principles and provisions of the convention. The Criminal Law Convention on Corruption lists the measures that should be taken within the general principles of the criminal law to have an efficent cooperation among the side countries in the struggle against corruption and bribery, Cem said. Cem continued, ''before the ratification of the convention, our national regulations may necessitate some changes. Particularly, some amendments to our laws on bribery of foreign public officials, bribery in the private sector and bribery of international civil servants will ensure our laws adjustment with the provisions of the Convention.'' ''The Convention will totally be transferred in our domestic law after the ratification. But, our signing the Convention before these amendments is an important and necessary step that will indicate our determination in struggle against bribery and corruption,'' Cem said. Cem added that the Foreign Ministry, Justice, Interior and Finance ministries, the Capital Market Board and the Competition Board are working in coordination for the ratification of the Convention. -DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ MEETS WITH EU COMMISSIONER VERHEUGEN Following the meeting, Yilmaz told reporters that he informed Verheugen on the national program and that the national program will have been submitted to the EU Commission by the end of February. Yilmaz said that the frame regulation will be debated by the European Parliament until February 15 and that after the frame regulation is approved, the national program can be submitted to the EU Commission. He also discussed the Turkey-EU relations and other issues with Verheugen, Yilmaz noted. Responding to a question, Yilmaz said that the national program is a very comprehensive initiative and that he told Verheugen that giving priority to some issues in national program will be harmful. He said that the EU also knows about the issues over which Turkey has sensitivity. Yilmaz stated that the Cyprus question was brought to the agenda in the meeting and that he expressed the problems that may occur if the Greek Cypriot administration becomes a EU member without reaching a political solution on the island. Yilmaz said, ''we expressed the factors which are indispensable for us regarding the Cyprus question.'' He told Verheugen that some of the developments marked following the Helsinki Summit were negative, Yilmaz pointed out, noting that Turkey's not being included in the EU until 2010 led to negative reflections in Turkey. Yilmaz quoted Verheugen as saying that Turkey was not named in the EU program until 2010 because all the countries which were named in the program until 2010 were the countries, the full membership negotiations of which had been started. Yilmaz said that Verheugen told him that Turkey was not in this perspective. Yilmaz noted that Verheugen backs the start of full membership negotiations with Turkey in the possible shortest time. Responding to questions of reporters, Yilmaz said that Turkey fulfils all the requirements of the stand-by agreement signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with determination and will continue to do so. On another question, Yilmaz said that there was a delay in Trans-Caspian natural gas pipeline but the Blue Stream Project is being implemented and the Iranian natural gas pipeline project is carried out. Responding to a question on relations with Syria, Yilmaz said that the visit of Syrian President may start a new era between the two countries and that Turkey aims at improving economic relations with Syria. -A JEWELRY WORKSHOP IN ISTANBUL ROBBED Sources said that two unidentified people threatened Yusuf Demir, the owner of a jewelry shop in third floor of Omur apartment on Gedikpasa street in Eminonu district in Istanbul, and rendered him ineffective. The assailants who tied Demir up stole 15 thousand U.S. dollars in the workshop and escaped. Investigation is under way. -BRITISH OCEANOGRAPHY SHIP ARRIVES IN ANTALYA HMS Herald's Commander Captain D.S.J. Tilley RN visited Antalya Governor Ertugrul Dokuzoglu. British Consul in Antalya Jane Baz was also in attendance at the meeting. Speaking at the meeting, Dokuzoglu said that 59,070 tourists had come to Antalya in first 25 days of 2001. Noting that most of those tourists were German and Russian, Dokuzoglu briefed the British commander on tourists visiting Antalya. Stating that also British tourists visited Antalya, Dokuzoglu said, ''however, British tourists prefer to visit Mugla region.'' Captain D.S.J. Tilley RN said that it was his first visit to Antalya. ''We have been making researches in the Mediterranean for seven months. Antalya is a magnificent city.'' There are 107 personnel including 12 officers at the HMS Herald ship which will stay in Antalya until February 12.
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