Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-02-01

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

01 FEBRUARY

2001 Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] GOKALP, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS:

[03] PROJECT ON ''FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN TURKEY''

[04] TURKISH PEOPLE LIVING IN BULGARIA PROTEST FRENCH ADMINISTRATION

[05] CEM ASSURES MACEDONIAN SIDE THAT TURKEY WILL CONTINUE

[06] SECURITY FORCES CAPTURE NINE AFGHANI ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AT EDIRNE

[07] FOREIGN MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS GENERAL

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

AGAR ACTS AS MEDIATOR
Mehmet Agar, a deputy from the True Path Party (DYP) and former Interior Minister said that he will go to Viransehir today where Fevzi Sýhanlýoglu, the True Path Party (DYP) deputy, who had heart attack in the parliament will be buried in order to prevent the flow of the relatives of Sýhanlýoglu from Sanlýurfa to Ankara to take revenge.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

ARMENIAN SUPPORTER APPOINTED TO U.S. COMMITTEE
Adam Schiff, who is the supporter of a new resolution on socalled genocide on Armenians, has been appointed to the U.S. International Relations Committee which has a key role in the relations between Turkey and the U.S.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

GROUP OF AUTHORS AND MUSICIANS DISCUSS TURKEY'S PROBLEMS
WITH SEZER
A total of 43 authors and musicians visited President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and expressed their concern on a series of problems blocking democracy, freedom of thought and a clean society. Poet Ataol Behramoglu told the newspapers at the Presidential Palace that everybody should have the right to receive education. ''Freedom of thought should never be limited. Politicians should be honest. The unbalanced income distribution and injustice is the root of every problem in the society,'' Behramoglu said. Sezer pointed out that a clean society can only be formed by the help of authors, musicians and artists.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

THIRD DEATH IN PARLIAMENT
True Path Party (DYP) deputy Fevzi Sihanoglu became the third deputy who lost his life under Parliament's roof as a result of a fight. In 1925 Halit Pasar, deputy from Ardahan and in 1989 Abdurrezzak Ceylan from DYP were shot to death by other deputies as a result of a disagreement.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

HEAVY PRESSURE ON PROSECUTOR
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit started an investigation about Talat Salk, the Prosecutor of the State Security Court (DGM) when he wanted to get information from the representatives of World Bank, IMF and the EU. Premier Ecevit said that ''the same prosecutor exceeded his authorities before. He overshadowed the respectability of the state.'' Salk said in his part that ''I am free, I've never been weak in using my authority and I will never be. I am not worried about being dismissed.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

SEAL OF SULTAN EXHIBITION TO BE HELD IN BERLIN
The Calligraphy Collection of Sakip Sabanci, a Turkish businessmen, will be exhibited in Berlin following the previous exhibitions in New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Paris. The exhibition titled ''The Seal of Sultan'', comprises calligraphy pieces ranging from 15th century to 20th century. The exhibition sponsored by the Deutsche Bank will start on February 8, and will remain open till April 8.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

WE SAVED 1,2 BILLION DOLLARS BY CANCELLING AKKUYU NUCLEAR POWER STATION
It has been reported that Turkey has saved 1,1 billion dollars by cancelling Akkuyu Nuclear Power Station. It was reported that two experts had warned the state before its accepting the offer of one foreign company.

-BELGIAN STATE CHANNEL REVEALS TRUE FACE OF FEHRIYE ERDAL
BRUSSELS - Belgian state television RTBT which broadcasts in French revealed the true face of Fehriye Erdal, a member of the terrorist organization DHKP-C who is a suspect of Sabanci assasination.

The program which focuses on legal issues in the country explained the situation of Fehriye Erdal who is kept in Belgium into depth.

The producers of the program interviewed DHKP-C terrorists, authorities from the Turkish Justice Ministry and Sabanci family's lawyer Fernand Schmitz.

Fehriye Erdal was caught on Sept. 26, 1999 in Belgium with a false passport. Sabanci Holding's Automotive Chairman Ozdemir Sabanci, Toyota-Sa General Director Haluk Gorgun and secretary Nilgun Hasefe were killed on Jan. 9, 1996 and Erdal is one of the suspects.

Belgium turned down the Turkish government's request to return Erdal to Turkey. The Belgian government also rejected to give political asylum to Erdal and decided that Erdal should be kept under house arrest until she is tried of the crimes she committed in Belgium.

Another terrorist Bahat Kimyongur who was also interviewed for the programme told that they only targeted Turkey and did not carry out any terrorist acts in Belgium or in any other European country. But later Kimyongur confessed bombing the Turkish Airlines bureau in Brussels in 1992.

Kimyongur is one of the terrorists who attacked Foreign Minister Ismail Cem last Nov. when he was giving a speech at the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission. She said DHKP-C took responsibility of Sabanci assasination but claimed that Erdal has no link with this killing.

Belgian Intelligence Service Spokesman Jean-Baptiste De Smet told during the program that DHKP-C was a dangerous terrorist organization and it uses blackmailing and treatening methods in Europe.

The program also included the views of Turkish security and intelligence units and said it was impossible that Erdal had no link to the assasination.

Belgian Justice Minsiter Antoine Duduesne said Erdal was a terrorist threatening public security, therefore she was not given political asylum. Because of the continuation of death penalty in Turkey, Duduesne said the Belgian government was not returning her to Turkey. Erdal could be extradited after she is tried for her crimes in Belgium, he explained.

Erdal who was also interviewed for the program said she was scared and she didn't feel safe. She said she didn't want to be extradited and want to find shelter in an EU country.

-IZMIT GULF PASSAGE BID CANCELLED BECAUSE OF FRENCH
PARTICIPATION IN BOTH CONSORTIA
ANKARA - Public Works and Housing Ministry Koray Aydin announced on Thursday that the bidding for the Izmit Gulf Passage project has been cancelled since both consortia who participated in the bidding had French partners.

Aydin said they had earlier stated that they would employ such sanctions against France if this country didn't annul Parliament resolution on the so- called Armenian genocide.

''After the French president ratified the resolution, our ministry reconsidered the bidding of Izmit Gulf Passage and decided to cancel it since both consortia who participated in the bid had French partners. Our Ministry will continue its firm attitude on this matter,'' he explained.

On Nov.2 2000, the ministry had announced the bid to construct a Gulf passage and a highway. Bouygues S.A. - Vinsan Inc. and I.B.K.O. Consortium- Tekfen Construction Inc. groups had given offers.

-KONUKOGLU, CHAIRMAN OF SANKO HOLDING SAYS TURKEY TO GAIN POWER IN
TEXTILE SECTOR NEXT DECADE
GAZIANTEP - Abdulkadir Konukoglu, the chairman of Sanko Holding, said on Thursday that Turkey will reach to a very powerful position in the textiles sector in 10-15 years time.

Recalling that British, French and Italians had become very powerful in the textiles sector, Konukoglu said Turkey would become a very powerful country in the textiles sector in the next decade.

Turkey should make the necessary preparations for this process and establish the necessary infrastructure said Konukoglu and added ''we should mainly product textile goods which have value added tax. A fashion and trade mark should be established and the developments, demands in the textiles sector should be considered.''

Noting that they were operating in yarn, knitting, and weaving sub-sectors of the textiles sector, Konukoglu said they were the biggest company in Turkey and the third biggest in the world.

Konukoglu pointed that the best high quality cotton of Turkey was cultivated in Aegean Izmir province and that they also launched initiatives to reach the same quality in the cotton cultivated in the Southeast Anatolia Project (GAP) region.

Turkey produces 850 thousand tonnes of cotton annualy said Konukoglu and added the Turkish sector would have a better year when compared to 2000.

-LAW PROFESSOR AT PARIS UNIVERSITY BOUKRIS:''GENOCIDE LAW
DOESN'T BRING ANY PUNISHMENT AGAINST PEOPLE WHO DENY THE GENOCIDE
AGAINST ARMENIANS''
PARIS - Paris University law professor Armand Boukris has said that the law on the so-called Armenian genocide did not bring any punishment against people who deny the genocide against Armenians in 1915.

Boukris told the A.A on Thursday that the genocide law and the Gayssot law which applies to those who deny the Holocaust were completely different. He added that it was possible to punish people who deny genocide against Armenians only by passing a separate law. The law on the so-called Armenian genocide, he pointed out, could form basis for such a law in the future.

The Gayssot law takes its name from the French Transportation Minister Jean Claud Gayssot who prepared the law. Before the approval of the resolution at the Senate, Gayssot told Turkish reporters that the law was widely criticized because it limits freedom of thought and research. He had also stated that he didn't support attempts to include Armenian genocide in this law.

According to the Gayssot law, anybody who denies that a genocide took place against Jews during the World War II is sentenced to one year in prison.

The law which was ratified by French President on Tuesday says ''France recognizes the Armenian genocide in 1915.''

-ANKARA CHIEF PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ISSUES WARRANT OF APPREHENSION
FOR TWO MHP DEPUTIES IN RELATION TO DEATH OF SIHANLIOGLU
ANKARA - Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office issued on Thursday warrant of apprehension for two deputies of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) within the scope of the investigation launched into the death of True Path Party (DYP) Fevzi Sýhanlýoglu, who died of an heart attack.

The Prosecutor's Office sent the warrant to Ankara Police Director regarding its request for apprehension of MHP deputies Cahit Tekelioglu and Mehmet Kundakcý.

The warrant was issued within the scope of Article 83/2 of the Constitution. The article in question says:

''A deputy who is alleged to have committed an offence before or after election, shall not be arrested, interrogated, detained or tried unless the Assembly decides otherwise. This provision shall not apply in cases where a member is caught in the act of committing a crime punishable by a heavy penalty and in cases subject to Article 14 of the Constitution if an investigation has been initiated before the election. However, in such situations the competent authority shall notify the Turkish Grand National Assembly immediately and directly.''

-CEREMONY HELD AT PARLIAMENT FOR SIHANLIOGLU
ANKARA - A ceremony was held on Thursday for True Path Party (DYP) deputy Fevzi Sihanoglu who died of an heart attack after a fight in Parliament on Tuesday night.

Police took wide security measures before the ceremony which started at 10.30 a.m.

DYP, Motherland Party (ANAP) and Virtue Party (FP) were represented by a large number of deputies. Some ministers and deputies from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) didn't come to the ceremony and there was noone from the Nationalist Movement Party's (MHP) administration.

Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Virtue Party (FP) leader Recai Kutan, former president Suleyman Demirel, Deputy Prime Minister and ANAP leader Mesut Yilmaz, DYP leader Tansu Ciller, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, many ministers and deputies were there. Several members of Sihanlioglu's family were also at the ceremony.

Ecevit, Yilmaz and other government officials expressed their condolences to Sihanlioglu's family.

Independent deputy from Elazig Mehmet Agar told reporters that ''those who were involved in the fight are now regretting and they have a guilty conscience.'' When asked if there might be a blood feud between Sihanlioglu's family and those who were involved in the fight, Agar asserted that this was not going to happen.

Parliament witnessed one of its most crowded days of its history.

Sihanlioglu's body was sent to Sanliurfa, his home town, where he will be laid to rest. Many people in Sanliurfa are mourning. Some shop owners did not open their shops on Thursday. Sihanlioglu's family members told the A.A that ''They weren't angry at any political party or any person.'' ''If there is a crime, the justice will decide over that,'' they said.

-TURKEY'S COAL PRODUCTION INCREASES SIGNIFICANTLY
ZONGULDAK - Turkey Coal Institution (TTK) has announced a production increase in coal mines compared to last year.

TTK General Director Omer Yenel told the A.A on Thursday that there was a 75,909 tons of increase compared to last year in coal mines under TTK's control in Kozlu, Karadon, Armutcuk, Amasra and Uzulmez.

''Our coal production is increasing every day,'' he continued. ''We are having a significant contribution to the Turkish economy through coal production. We are targetting to produce of 2,900,000 tons of coal before the end of this year.''

Currently there is a total of 19,151 miners employed by TTK. 14,588 of them are working underground.

-TRABZON GOVERNOR YAZAR SAYS WINTER TOURISM TO DEVELOP IN BLACK SEA
REGION

TRABZON - Adil Yazar, the governor of northern Trabzon province said on Thursday that the winter tourism would develop in the Black Sea region with the new facilities that would be set up at Mount Zigana.

Pointing out that the winter and plateau tourism had improved in the Black Sea region during last years, Yazar said they wanted to host tourists in the winter season too.

''We will set up a ski center at Mount Zigana. With this center the winter tourism in the Black Sea region will develop. The center is the joint project of Trabzon and Gumushane governorship offices. The project of the facilites will be completed and put out to tender this year,'' said Yazar.

-ATATURK'S RESPOND TO AN AMERICAN JOURNALIST ABOUT SO-CALLED GENOCIDE
ON ARMENIANS:''AN IMPARTIAL DELEGATION COULD COME AND MAKE RESEARCHES
ON THE ISSUE IN OUR COUNTRY''
ERZURUM - Professor Enver Korukcu, the head of Science-Literature Department of the Ataturk University said on Thursday that Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, told an American journalist that an impartial delegation could make researches in Turkey about the allegations on so- called genocide on Armenians.

This respond of Ataturk is included in the historical archives, said Korukcu.

According to the research book titled, The Subject Index of the Ataturk's Speeches, Ataturk, who evaluated the allegations of an American journalist on so-called genocide on Armenians which took place in the United Telegraph daily on January 17, 1921 said:''The rumors that Turks had massacred Armenians aren't reflecting the truth. You may trust that none of these are correct. We welcome the arrival of an impartial delegation to Turkey which would make researches that would document the reality. We also advise everybody to read the latest reports of the Near East American Aid Delegations in Armenia on the issue.''

Noting that the Turkish soldiers protected the Armenians during the deportation process, Konukcu said some of the gang members who killed Armenians without the information of the Ottoman Empire were tried in the Military Court and executed.

Many Turkish soldiers who protected the Armenians during the deportation process were also killed in the attacks of the gangs, said Konukcu.

Emphasizing that these information was taken from the Western sources and Ottoman archives, Konukcu said the gangs had attacked Armenians at Kemah passage of eastern Erzincan province and 300 Armenians and many Turkish soldiers were killed in the attack.

Konukcu noted this number had later been reflected to the German Embassy as 2,500 and 25,000 to the Americans adding that the realities were distorted.

[02] GOKALP, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS:

The Preservation of Soil and Agricultural Irrigation in the Restructuring Process of Agriculture symposium held in Ankara.

Delivering a speech at the symposium, Gokalp said agricultural issues should be taken up as a whole and to this end a restructuring process in agriculture was necessary.

A declaration was submitted after the symposium which said Turkey was among nineteen countries in the world which didn't have any soil reserves left, adding that although the water sources of Turkey was considered as a big potential in the region, Turkey wasn't a country rich in water sources.

The declaration said the agricultural fields were used for other purposes adding that social- economic problems appeared as the investments in the sector were wasted.

[03] PROJECT ON ''FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IN TURKEY''

The project is titled ''Freedom of Expression in Turkey in Its Legal and Social Dimensions'' and it has been prepared by the Liberal Thought Association. Ninty percent of the project's cost will be met by the EU.

Ihsan Duran Dagý, a lecturer in International Relations Department of the Middle East Technical University and the director of the programme said that the project was prepared as the freedom of thought and expression in Turkey is a basic problem.

Karen Fogg, the Representative of the EU to Turkey also participated in the meeting held to introduce the programme.

Dagý stressed that the European Court of Human Rights punished Turkey in many applications brought against it saying the latter violated Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights which protects the right to freedom of expression.

Fogg said in her part that they attribute great importance to the project, adding that the project will help in understanding of the liberal thought in Turkey in a better way.

''I have great expectations about the project and I believe this project will contribute to formation of tolerance in the society,'' she said.

The project aims at determining the problems in the field of freedom of expression and thought and proposing solutions.

[04] TURKISH PEOPLE LIVING IN BULGARIA PROTEST FRENCH ADMINISTRATION

The Shumen Muslims Union based in Shumen province of Bulgaria sent a protest letter with 300 signatures to the French Embassy in Sofia.

Noting that the politicians shouldn't interfere to the studies of the historians, the letter said: ''the French parliament isn't an historical research institution. If the politicians attempt to reveal the historical realities, like the French parliament did, a chaotic situation will be created as the outcomes won't be scientific. The French parliament should first investigate the historical truths in the French history. The French parliamentarians should make accounting for what France did in Algeria.''

[05] CEM ASSURES MACEDONIAN SIDE THAT TURKEY WILL CONTINUE

Cem who is in Macedonia for an official visit met with his Macedonian counterpart Srgjan Kerim on Thursday afternoon. After the meeting, Cem told reporters that Turkish-Macedonian relations were at a ''perfect'' level and he thanked Kerim for his invitation.

Cem pointed out that Macedonians of Turkish origin and Turks with Macedonian origin formed a bridge between two nations.

Cem announced that they decided to hold the Joint Economic Commission's meetings in Turkey in spring.

Cem said Turkey supported Macedonia's NATO membership and added that Turkey will intensify cultural relations with this country.

Macedonia has the necessary background to apply for EU membership, Cem said and pointed out that it was important that Macedonia should apply for membership to start this process.

[06] SECURITY FORCES CAPTURE NINE AFGHANI ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AT EDIRNE

The officials said one of the Afghanis was in a coma, and the others had bruises and dog bite marks on their bodies.

During his interrogation Muhammed Nesim Kerimi, one of the Afghanis, claimed that he illegally sneaked into Bulgaria and claimed that the Bulgarian soldiers sent him to Turkey after taking his clothes off and after taking his money.

Kerimi was under medical treatment for three days and the doctor said the man was in a terrible condition when he was brought to the hospital.

The officials recounted that they found two dead Afghanis whose bodies were brought to the Turkish side in January.

[07] FOREIGN MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS GENERAL

Guliyev said Turkey's support helped greatly to Azerbaijan's entrance to the Council of Europe and he thanked the Turkish government.

According to the Turkish Embassy in Baku, Guliyev and Calislar also focused on the so-called genocide law which was ratified by the French President Jacque Chirac and Azerbaijani-NATO relations.

Azerbaijani side openly expressed concern about the so-called genocide law. Calislar and Guliyev said the upcoming elections and domestic politics were the main factors why the law was passed.

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