Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-01-28

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

28 JANUARY

2001 Sunday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

BRITAIN IS NOT HONEST
The guarantee assured by the British Undersecretary Beverly Hughes to Turkey regarding the Holocaust Memorial Day turned out to be a lie. She had earlier told in Ankara that Britain won't permit the Armenian issue to become a tool in the Memorial Day. However 17 Armenians attended the day, but no Turkish representatives were invited to the meeting broadcast alive by BBC-2.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

TEMIZEL'S TEAM TO TAKE ACTION SOON
The members of the team formed by Zekeriya Temizel, the Chairman of the Banking Regulation and Inspection Board will follow the credits which couldn't be paid back to the banks.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

BANK OFFICES TO BE SOLD
An interesting formula was developed for the offices of Egebank, Yurtbank, Yasarbank and Bank Kapital which will be united within the roof of Sumerbank. The offices of these banks can be transferred to any bank which wants them, together with its personnel.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

BUREAUCRATS INTERROGATED RELATED TO OPERATION BUFFALO
Detentions of bureaucrats who were involved in meat smuggling from foreign countries to Turkey are increasing. On Saturday, Ali Yasak, a famous mafia boss who is known as ''Drej Ali'' was also taken into custody. It was reported that Yasak was solving problems between smuggling units using his ''own methods'' and he was getting money from them. In the meantime, the number of bureaucrats under custody rose to 23. The interrogation of bureaucrats is still continuing at Ankara Security Directorate's Smuggling and Organized Crime Department.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

BUFFALO MEAT SCANDAL COINCIDES WITH SUSURLUK SCANDAL
While the detentions of bureaucrats are continuing as a part of the smuggled meat operation known as Operation Buffalo, Ali Yasak, a mafia boss, was also taken into custody in Istanbul on Friday night. This shows that the buffalo meat scandal coincides with Susurluk scandal.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

CAKMAKOGLU:''TERRORISM IS NOT COMPLETELY OVER''
National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said during a news programme on TGRT tv channel that although Turkey reached an important point in fight against terrorism, terrorism was definitely not completely over. ''Following Ocalan's capture, terrorism slowed down, but it's still existing,'' he said. ''Gaffar Okkan's murder is a good example for local officials. We must take a lesson from it.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

TURKISH RESCUE TEAMS GO TO INDIA TO SAVE LIVES
Following the earthquake which hit India's Gucerat state, a rescue group of 35 people from Turkey went to this country to participate in the efforts to save lives. The rescue team formed by AKUT and Yuksel-Tepe Rescue and Civilian Defense members left from Istanbul on a military plane. AKUT Chairman Nasuh Mahruki who went to India with his 12 men said that they left right after the Indian Foreign Ministry's call for help.

-TRNC PRESIDENT RETURNS HOME FROM TURKEY
LEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas returned home on Saturday night after completing his contacts in Turkey.

Speaking at Lefkosa's Ercan Airport, Denktas said ''the disasterous incident which took place during our visit in Turkey helped the Turkish nation to unite more,'' referring to the assasination of Diyarbakir Security Director Gaffar Okkan and five policemen. ''The Turkish nation will not disintegrate by such murders. Despite our sorrow, I was pleased to see a nation which is progressing on Ataturk's principles.''

When asked if he expected UN Secretary General's Cyprus Special Representative Alvaro De Soto to come up with a new suggestion, Denktas said ''No, I don't think he will have a new suggestion. He has come to understand why we're not participating in the sixth round of talks.''

''I will try to explain to him that this is not the way leading to an agreement,'' Denktas continued. ''Greek Cypriots are trying to corner us. One should know nothing about the Cyprus conflict or the Greek Cypriots' politics in order to not to understand this. For 37 years they have been insisting on walking on a wrong road and they think they reached the road's end. We will not fall into this trap. I will remind De Soto one more time about these matters.''

-TURKISH SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM OF 35 PEOPLE LEAVES FOR INDIA
ANKARA/KAYSERI - The plane carrying the Turkish rescue team of 35 people to India left from Kayseri with a 90 minute delay due to weather conditions on Saturday night.

There are Search and Rescue Association (AKUT), Yuksek-Tepe Research and Rescue (GEA), and Civil Defense members in the group going to India's Ahmetabad city to participate in the efforts to save lives and help quake survivors.

On the plane, there are 12 AKUT members, 8 GEA members and 15 members from the Civil Defense totalling up to 35 people.

-''HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY'' HELD IN BRITAIN
-ARMENIANS ALSO PARTICIPATED IN MEMORIAL DAY DESPITE WARNINGS OF TURKEY
LONDON - The ''Holocaust Memorial day'' was held in Britain on Saturday also by participation of Armenian representatives despite Turkey's reaction. Although Korkmaz Haktanır, the Turkish Ambassador to Britain didn't participate in the memorial day broadcast live by BBC-2 channel, the latter announced as if Haktanır was present there.

Nearly 2,000 persons attended the ceremony held in ''Great Hall'' in the British parliament.

John Simpson, the speaker of the ceremony claimed that Haktanır, the Turkish Ambassador was present in the Great Hall although Haktanır had earlier officially announced that he wouldn't go to the ceremony.

Haktanır on the other hand, was following the developments in the Embassy at the same time.

Fergal Keane, a British writer and one of foreign policy correspondents of BBC was the only person who openly claimed that ''a genocide was committed on Armenians.''

Meanwhile a group of nearly 500-600 Turks, Turkish Cypriots and Azerbaijanis who convened in front of the British parliament protested the British government.

Turks who intensified their protests particularly during the arrival of the British Prime Minister Tony Blair and and Home Secretary Jack Straw in the parliament, shouted slogans condemning the broad inclusion of the so-called ''genocide'' claims put forward by Armenians.

The group also carried banners written ''Give Up So-called Genocide Claims, Look at Realities,'' ''Who Will Give an Explaination For Three Million Muslim Turks Who Died During the First World War?,'' and ''Why Do People Forget About Genocide Committed by Greek Cypriots?'' on them.

-TOURISM MINISTER MUMCU SAYS 2001 WILL BE EVEN BETTER THAN 2000
FOR TOURISM SECTOR
ANTALYA - Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu has said that they would bring a solution to Antalya region's infrastructure problems, such as sewer and waste disposal, in the next two years and added that the Tourism Ministry assigned 70 percent of its investment budget to this city.

Mumcu discussed the necessary measures that need to be taken this year in Antalya with Antalya Governor Ertugrul Dokuzoglu, Tourism Ministry Investments General Director Haluk Akar, mayors and head officials of Alanya, Manavgat, Kemer and Serik.

After a seven hour meeting, Mumcu said at a press conference that they put aside 5 trillion TL which is the 70 percent of Tourism Ministry's investments budget to solve Antalya's tourism related problems.

''Last year was a very good season in tourism, but this year will be even better,'' Mumcu said. Tourism Ministry's promotion campaigns yielded positive results in 2000 and the data his ministry received so far are signaling a very successful tourims season for Antalya, he explained.

Dwelling on Antalya's infrastructure problems, Mumcu said they were mostly focusing on waste disposal and sewer problems.

Besides the five trillion TL which will come from the Tourism Ministry, there will be additional cash flow from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and local administrations which will amount to 12 trillion TL.

Mumcu said 50 percent of tourists who come to Turkey are staying in either Antalya or Mugla, therefore they were planning similar investments also for Mugla.

The tourism minister said they were targeting to host 30 million tourists a year adding that they would need new four or five star hotels to achieve this.

-EU COMMISSIONER RESPONSIBLE FOR ENLARGEMENT VERHEUGEN
SAYS THERE CAN BE NO EUROPE WITHOUT TURKEY
DAVOS - Guenter Verheugen, European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement said on Sunday that a Europe without Turkey is not possible, adding that Turkey takes serious and resolved steps on the way to full membership.

Verheugen, who is in Davos for the World Economic Reform meetings, responded to the questions of A.A correspondent. Stressing that Turkey is a very important country for the EU as a geostrategic and economic potential, Verheugen said that Turkey has proved that she is resolved to be a full member of the EU.

Verheugen said that the most important issue for Turkey to be a full member of the EU is Cyprus, noting that other issues can be solved in some way. He added he believes the Cyprus issue can be solved.

Turkey should continue taking concrete steps, he said adding that they only expect her to take some more concrete steps. He stressed that EU is not a Christian club and it is open to all the democratic values.

He said they want to see Turkey in EU.

-TURKISH-AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS FEDERATION HOLDS PROTEST AGAINST
FRANCE IN NEW YORK
NEW YORK - Turks living in the United States held a demonstration in New York on Saturday to protest the French Parliament's passing a resolution recognizing the so-called Armenian genocide in 1915.

Turkish American Associations Federation (TADF) organized the protest.

The protestors carried banners saying ''Armenians massacred 2.5 million Muslims'' and ''France awarded rape and murder''. They also distributed to people photographs of killings committed by Armenians in Erzurum.

The protest which lasted for four hours despite New York's freezing cold ended after the Turkish protestors left a black wreath at the door of the French Consulate.

-ETSO CHAIRMAN ALAMUT:''TURKISH CUSTOMS SHOULD BE RESTRUCTURED
TO ADJUST TO DEVELOPMENTS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE''
EDIRNE - The current state of Turkish customs and problems faced in bringing EU standards to these customs were discussed at a meeting in Edirne on Saturday.

Edirne Trade and Industry Chamber Chairman Bulent Alamut said that ''international trade was changing at a head-spinning speed, therefore Turkish customs had to be restructured to adjust to these novelties.''

''Greece is an EU country. Turkey and Bulgaria are EU candidates. These three countries are forming a global bridge for foreign capital,'' Alamut said. ''Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria have very important investments and across-borders cooperation. Turkey has foreign trade volume of 755 million U.S. dollars with Greece and 600 million U.S. dollars with Bulgaria. We are working to increase this amount to one billion with each of these two countries. Increasing working hours at Pazarkule Border Gate from seven to 24 hours, and modernizing Kapikule Border Gate and improving customs services will increase trade.''

Bulgarian Svilengrad Customs Director Peter Mihalilov said their customs had come fully computerized and they were operating in line with EU standards since they passed a customs law in 1997.

Edirne Trade Market Chairman Mustafa Yardimci asked for authorities' help to prevent meat smuggling at customs gates.

-STATE MINISTER KECECILER SAYS TURKEY TO JOIN EU
FOR PROSPERITY AND HAPPINESS OF ITS PEOPLE
EDIRNE - Mehmet Kececiler, the State Minister said on Saturday that it was a right decision for Turkey to join NATO and Council of Europe in the past, adding that ''Turkey will join the EU for prosperity and and happiness of its people.''

Speaking in a panel discussion on ''Customs At the Door of EU'' Kececiler said that ''Turkey has declared its target of joining the EU before many other countries. Now Turkey is a candidate country.''

Kececiler said that there are things that must be done by candidate countries, adding that ''there are certain criteria to abide to be a full member of the EU, and we do our best to abide by them. They want us to have a single digit inflation rate, which is to our advantage.''

Kececiler said that Turkey is the only muslim country of the Council of Europe, adding that ''it means that the European culture and regime is not after founding a religious union. If there are persons who want to keep Turkey aside the EU, they are in minority in EU. Will we be divided when we join the EU? No. There is no country that was divided when it joined the EU. There is no need to be frightened or worried.''

Recounting that Turkish customs gates joined the EU in 1996 by the customs deal, Kececiler said that ''we are candidate to the EU, yet we are also a member of the Customs Union. Kapıkule, Gurbulak custom gates of Turkey are all European customs. Thus we have to have EU standarts in our customs gates.''

-TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS RECEIVES UN SECRETARY GENERAL'S
SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS DE SOTO
LEFKOSA - Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) received on Sunday Alvaro De Soto, the U.N. Secretary General's Special Representative to Cyprus.

Speaking after the meeting, Denktas said that it was a difficult meeting and he explained the situation and his ideas to De Soto.

Denktas said that he explained to the special envoy why the new round of talks was not necessary, adding that ''the reason of getting no result from the five rounds of talks is the recognition of the Greek Cypriot side as the legitimate government. If you want to have an island get united under the roof of confederation, you should accept our equality. There are two separate democracies, two separate governments and two separate peoples on the island. There are two former partners of the Cyprus Republic which was overthrown in 1963. If such an atmosphere is wanted to be prepared, the existance of the two governments has to be accepted.''

Wher journalists asked him if he expected a new development, Denktas said it is very early to say something now, adding that he will meet with De Soto tomorrow.

De Soto said in his part that he will meet with Denktas and the Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides once again on Monday. He didn't respond to questions of journalists.

-PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION GOES TO SWEDEN
ISTANBUL - A parliamentary delegation of five deputies headed by Acting Parliament Speaker Nejat Arseven left for Stockholm on Sunday as the guest of Swedish Deputy Parliament Speaker Anders Bjorck.

Prior to their departure from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Arseven told reporters that he was accompanied by Mustafa Kamalak from the Virtue Party (FP), Fikret Uzunhasan from the Democratic Left Party (DSP), Kemal Kabatas from the True Path Party (DYP) and Nail Celebi from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

Arseven said they would exchange opinions with their Swedish colleagues on human rights, supremacy of law, and democratization. Arseven also pointed out that he would discuss the constitutional amendment which the Turkish Parliament is working on with Anders Bjork.

The delegation is expected to have a meeting with EU Advisory and Foreign Relations committees and also meet with Swedish Parliament Speaker and Foreign Minister.

A reporter reminded Arseven of the news report broadcast on Sweden's state tv channel which referred to Diyarbakir as ''the capital of Kurdistan.'' Arseven said ''the Turkish Republic is a unitary state and its capital is Ankara. Moreover, there has never been segregation against Kurds in the Turkish history. I will bring this issue up during our contacts and ask them to be more sensitive on this matter.''

The parliamentary delegation will return home on Jan. 31.

-INTERDELEGATIONARY MEETINGS HELD BETWEEN TURKEY AND GEORGIA
-CAKMAKOGLU AND TURKISH DELEGATION LEAVES GEORGIA FOR TURKEY
MARNEULI - National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu who participated in the opening ceremony of Marneuli military airport in south of Tiblis, Georgia, said on Sunday regarding the news saying that Armenia gave protest note to Georgia due to the openening of this airport that ''we wish Armenia to act in common sense.''

Meetings were held between the delegations of the two countries following the opening ceremony of Marneuli Military Airport.

The Turkish delegation which was headed by Cakmakoglu was composed of military officials and the Georgian delegation was composed of Parliament Speaker Zurab Zhvania, Defense Minister David Tevzadze and other military officials.

Speaking after the meeting, Cakmakoglu said that Turkey's aid and support to Georgia will continue in line with her economic capacities.

Cakmakoglu said that they work on projects which will further strengthen the relations between the two countries.

Cakmakoglu reminded reporters that Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze will come to Turkey on Monday and this visit will further improve the relations.

When a journalist asked Georgian Defense Minister Tevzadze if Armenia gave a protest note to Georgia as Marneuli military airport was repair and re- opened by Turkish Air Forces, Tevzadze said that he was not informed about this issue. He said that this airport was buiLt for stability, not for fight.

Cakmakoglu said in his part that Turkey pursues a policy based on having good relations with all countries. These basic values are also valid for the neighbours of Turkey and for Caucasus, he said adding that ''we respect independence, territorial integrity, sovereignty rights and vital interests of our neighbours. We expect Armenia to think like that and act in common sense. We expect Armenia to withdraw from the territories it invaded in Azerbaijan. They can achieve nothing by these protests. Every country has the right to take the measures needed to be taken for its defense.''

Cakmakoglu commented that the airport was repair for defensive purposes and it will contribute to regional peace.

Cakmakoglu and the Turkish delegation later left for Ankara.

-DEIK DELEGATION TO VISIT PARIS
ISTANBUL - Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK) will go to France to have official contacts in an attempt to annul the French Parliament's resolution on the so-called Armenian genocide.

A written statement from DEIK said on Sunday that Turkish-French Business Council Chairman Aldo Kaslowski will go to Paris on Jan. 30 accompanied with a delegation. The group will have meetings with leading representatives of the French business world and the Senate Chairman.

During their two day visit in Paris, the delegation will try to gain the French business world's support for the cancellation of the resolution.

-TOKAT SECURITY DIRECTOR ALTINPINAR:''TERRORISTS CAN'T REACH
THEIR PURPOSES BY KILLING OUR POLICEMEN''
TOKAT - Tokat Security Director Yusuf Altinpinar condemned the terrorist attack which killed Diyarbakir Security Director Gaffar Okkan and five policemen.

''These terrorists should know that they can't reach their purposes by killing our policemen,'' he said.

Speaking to the A.A, Altinpinar said he served as Deputy Director at Diyarbakir Security Directorate before he was appointed to Tokat.

''I worked with Gaffar Okkan two years and nine months. Words would not suffice to describe him,'' he said. ''He was a reformist, a patriot, a patron of the homeless. He used to find homeless children and help them. He used to ask everybody's opinion at the organization, he would even consult with people of lowest rank.''

-GOVERNMENT PROLONGS RESIDENCE PERMITS OF BOSNIAN PEOPLE
LIVING IN TURKEY UNTIL 2002
ISTANBUL - State Minister Abdulhaluk Mehmet Cay announced on Saturday that the government prolonged the residence permits of people from Bosnia- Herzegovina until 2002.

Cay said that people who fled the war in Bosnia are still living in Turkey. ''We are hoping that these pople can return their homes after solving their problems. But we don't want them suffer hardships during their stay in our country. Therefore we've extended the residence permits of people from Bosnia-Herzegovina until 2002.''

-GROUP CALLED ''LIBERAL MOVEMENT'' PROTESTS
FRENCH RESOLUTION ON SOCALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
ISTANBUL - A group of persons who called themselves ''Liberal Movement'' protested the resolution on socalled genocide on Armenians which was adopted by the French parliament, by putting a lock on Air France's door in Taksim, Istanbul on Sunday.

The group carrying banners written ''Turkish People Don't Forget Genocide in Algeria,'' ''Feel Ashamed France'' ''We Condemn France'' written in French, later put the lock which was 5 kg on the door of the Air France.

Bilhan Oz, the leader of the movement told the press that ''France, which is the country of Madame Mitterand killed 2,019,600 persons in Algeria, 1, 268,900 persons in Uganda, 300,000 persons in Tunisia and the killings continued in Corsica.''

Oz said that the world does not see these realities, adding that the Turkish people should not prefer Air France to fly to any place in the world and they should not buy French products.

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