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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-02-08Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 08 FEBRUARY 2001 Thursday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 8, 2000. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)PARLIAMENT ACCEPTS NEW BY-LAWProposal envisaging change in the parliamentary by-law was accepted. Last week, the proposal caused fistfights at the parliament which resulted in demise of Fevzi Sihanlioglu, a deputy from the True Path Party (DYP). MPs from the DYP left the General Assembly Hall as a reaction to the proposal. VERBAL ATTACK ON JUSTICE MINISTER TURK MILLIYET (LIBERAL)SERVANTIE DISMISSEDAlain Servantie, the Turkey Desk Chief of the European Union (EU), who sent an official letter to the illegal PKK organization in the previous months, was removed from the office. Sources from the European Commission said this act was due to the new structure formed in the EU about Turkey. Turkey Desk Chief position in the EU was upgraded to level of Deputy Directorate General. A high ranking official from the EU said the relations between Turkey and the EU would be intensified in coming days and it was important to strengthen the position of Turkey Desk in the EU. From now on, the Turkey Desk was connected to Michael Leigh who is British. NO RELIEF FOR HEZBOLLAH IN DIYARBAKIR SABAH (LIBERAL)HIKMET TO BE GIVEN HIS TURKISH CITIZENSHIP BACKA decree was prepared to give poet Nazim Hikmet his Turkish citizenship back. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit became the first politician signing the decree. Hikmet was denaturalized in 1951. In the past week, Culture Minister Istemihan Talay requested annulment of denaturalization of Hikmet, saying, ''many things changed both in the world and in Turkey. Nazim Hikmet became an international value.'' COALITION PARTNERS TO MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF REAL SECTOR At the meeting, measures to be taken to accelerate real sector's works and to solve problems of this sector will be discussed. Representatives of real sector will submit their proposals to the leaders. Meanwhile, leaders of coalition partners will come together with ministers responsible for economy on Friday to assess proposals put forward by representatives of real sector. APO'S CONFESSION: ''I FEEL MYSELF JUST LIKE AN EMPTY SACK'' CUMHURIYET (LEFT)MEDAL OF MERIT TO A TURKISH DOCTORHikmet Ulus, a Turkish surgeon in Cologne city of Germany was awarded with the Medal of Merit of the Presidency. The medal of merit was given to Ulus by Fritz Schramma, the Mayor of Cologne, on behalf of President Johannes Rau. Ulus has been living in Germany since 1979 and given this medal due to his successful studies in pediatric surgery. BIG INVENTIONS OF CHILDREN RADIKAL (LEFT)ECEVIT: ''NO RETURN IN OUR STRUGGLE AGAINST CORRUPTION AND INFLATION''Premier Bulent Ecevit said that it was imposible for them to deviate from the the current economic program and struggle against corruption. Ecevit continued to say, ''now it is harder to maintain the stability in politics and economy.'' Noting that the inner conflicts between the parties of the coalition had never affected the implementation of the policies, Ecevit said the obstacles were created by small groups in the state. ''I have never witnessed such an attitude among the high ranking bureaucrats of the state,'' he said. Answering the questions about the economic summit which will be held with the representatives of the real sector, Ecevit said the aim of the summit was to be informed about the problems of the sectors. ONAL: ''THERE WOULDN'T BE ANY DEVIATION FROM ECONOMIC PROGRAM'' TURKIYE (RIGHT)THERE IS NO TIME TO WASTEPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that the parliamentary by-law was changed to enable the parliament to work rapidly. Criticizing the opposition's statement which said, ''don't do the job hastily and carelessly,'' Bulent Ecevit said, ''not only the government but also Turkey has to act quickly. Because, we are determined to solve long-standing problems and reduce the inflation.'' He said that they were trying to settle not only stability but also dynamism in the economy. WE DON'T WORRY ABOUT EARLY ELECTIONS VIDEO FOOTAGE ACCEPTED AS EVIDENCE DENKTAS: ''FRANCE DID A SHAMEFUL THING'' PROF COSAN'S BODY TO BE BROUGHT TO TURKEY TODAY ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)FRANCE WARNING FROM EUROPEFrance complaint to the European Union (EU) about Turkey which imposes sanctions on it. EU warned Turkey. Turkey which puts embargo on France is likely to face tough days. Because, France complaint to the EU saying that Turkey violated Customs Union commitments by imposing embargo. After the complaint, Council of Europe warned Turkey to abide by the rules of the Customs Union. It asked government whether or not embargo was a government policy. Meanwhile, Nesrin Nas from Motherland Party (ANAP) said that Turkey might pay a great amount of compensation due to the embargo. FP CASE RETURNS TO STARTING POINT LAST JOURNEY TO MOTHERLAND TELEON PUNISHED TO PAY 1.6 TRILLION TURKISH LIRA IN FINE [02] TWO SHIPS COLLIDE AT BLACK SEA END OF ISTANBUL STRAITSISTANBUL - A Turkish-flagged cargo vessel and a Cambodian flagged cargo vessel collided with each other at the Black Sea end of the Istanbul Straits early on Thursday.The officials said Camdocian-flagged ''Med Glory'' vessel which was bringing goods to southern Iskenderun province from Russia, collided with the Turkish-flagged ''Akaylar-2'' vessel which was en route to Black Sea. The crew of the 6,600 deadweight tonne(dwt) ''Med Glory'' vessel were rescued by the rescue teams as the ship faced the risk of sinking. The officials said the 2,258 deadweight tonne(dwt) ''Akaylar-2'' vessel did not suffer serious damage. -EXPORTS FROM GAP REGION TO CIS In 1999, the region exported 11 million 206 thousand U.S. dollars of agricultural products to the CIS. Officials at the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union, told the A.A correspondent on Thursday that in 2000, they exported 6 million 565 thousand U.S. dollars in textiles; 1 million 245 thousand U.S. dollars in grain-cereals; and 2 million 448 thousand U.S. dollars in dried fruits. -ARAFAT RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS OF TURKISH JOURNALISTS President Arafat received a group of Turkish journalists in his residence in Gaza. Speaking at the meeting, Arafat said that the Palestinian side insisted on maintaining the peace process. When recalled by journalists about news reports which said that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had a new peace plan, Arafat said that Israel had put forward new condition regarded with Jerusalem. When asked whether or not Oslo Process came to an end, Arafat said that the process did not come to an end. When asked whether or not he would shake hands with Ariel Sharon who had refused to shake Arafat's hand, President Arafat stressed, ''do not forget that I had shaken hands with Rabin in the White House.'' Arafat told Turkish reporters, ''I told your president, prime minister and foreign minister that I would accept what Turkish people accepted.'' When asked when independent state of Palestine would be founded, Arafat said that this decision was not up to only him, but also to the central council. When asked of Sharon's plans about Jerusalem, Arafat said that not only Palestine, but also Arab world, Islamic countries, the Christians and the United Nations would not accept Sharon's plans. When asked whether or not Palestinian people have engulfed in pessimism following election of Ariel Sharon, Arafat said, ''the Palestinians have been facing violence for a long time. These are our holy territories. Our people do not forget their history and their religion.'' Noting that Turkey had good relations with Israel, Arafat said that they expected Turkey to put pressure on Israel to make peace. -BIGGEST NATIONAL PARK OF TURKEY TO BE ESTABLISHED IN GOLBASI The Environment Preservation Department of the Environment Ministry organized a competition regarding the establishment of the national park. The national park which will be established in a land of 130 hectares, will become the biggest national park of Turkey. With the competition, the Environment Preservation Department aims at assessing the different options in setting up an a national park that would be in harmony with the flora and the fauna of the region. The competition is expected to start in February and will be finalized in June 2001. -VURAL, TURKEY'S SECRETARY GENERAL FOR EU: Speaking at a meeting on ''Turkey on the Path to Europe'' which was organized by the Marmara Group Strategic and Social Researches Foundation, Vural said that the draft composed of 1,500 pages and included all aspects of the life. Vural said, ''the draft includes all adjustment works which Turkey will carry out in 3-4 years on the issues such as justice, energy, agriculture, fishery and transportation.'' Noting that the National Program was taken up in short and medium term, Vural stressed, ''Turkey should carry out these works not only to become a EU full member, but also to become a sound country. The National Program includes obligations of a contemporary society. The National Program is an important opportunity for reconstruction of Turkey like the first years of the Republic.'' Vural stressed that Turkish political authority had adopted the EU full- membership as an indispensable national target. He noted, ''the Accession Partnership Accord has not been concluded for the EU. A frame regulation will be finalized till end-February. So the Accession Partnership Accord will gain legality.'' Noting that the EU's enlargement was not endless, Vural said, ''Turkey will either use these opportunities in time or it will be excluded from the process. If we miss this train, it will be so hard to catch it again. Turkey has the necessary power to carry out all these conditions. There is no need to be afraid.'' Referring to difficulties in the EU process, Vural said, ''Turkey is an uncommunicative country. Sometimes, we cannot realize developments in the world. We have some prejudices. There are enemy powers. Turkey experiences a factor of separatist terrorism. Foreign circles' support to separatist terrorism created concerns in Turkey. There are also threats against secular republic. The EU membership is not an easy process. Turkey and other countries can have different options except for the EU. But integration is very important in globalization process. Turkey should well- assess its options.'' Vural noted that Turkey's EU candidacy would have positive impacts on its relations with other countries. When asked of Turkey's exclusion from the EU's military structure, Vural said, ''we do not take part in the decision-making mechanism of the military structure because Turkey is not a full member yet. Turkey reacts to this development rightfully. Meanwhile, they say that they were technically right.'' Vural added that they attributed great importance to civil society's contribution. -SHIP ACCIDENT AT BLACK SEA END OF ISTANBUL STRAITS (2) Officials told the A.A. correspondent that the stern section of the Cambodian-flagged ''Med Glory'' vessel, which collided with Turkish-flagged ''Akaylar 2'' cargo vessel, completely sank. The crew of the vessel was rescued by the rescue teams and two tugboats are getting prepared to pull the vessel to a safe place. Officials added Turkish-flagged ''Akaylar-2'' vessel had not suffered serious damage. According to statistics of the Maritime Undersecretariat show that 323 seperate accidents happened in Istanbul and Canakkale Straits in the last four years. Number of the accidents, casualties, injuries and lost people in last four years are as follows: Year Accidents Casualties Injuries Lost People ------ ---------- ----------- ----------- ---------- Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP); Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP); and Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Husamettin Ozkan are in attendance at the meeting which will start at 11:00 a.m. at the Prime Ministry Office under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP). Fuat Miras, the Chairman of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB); chairman of Izmir Chamber of Commerce, Istanbul Chamber of Industry, Ankara Chamber of Industry, and Kayseri Chamber of Industry; Tuncay Ozilhan, the Chairman of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD); Okan Oguz, the Chairman of the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM); Dervis Gunday, the Chairman of the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Artisans (TESK); Faruk Yucel, the Chairman of Union of Chambers of Agriculture (TZOB); Refik Baydur, the Chairman of the Confederation of Turkish Employers' Unions (TISK); Halit Narin, the Chairman of the Textiles Employers' Union; and Cengiz Kaptanoglu, the Chairman of the Chamber of Maritime Trade are attending the meeting. Recep Yazici represents iron-steel sector; and Osman Tunaboylu, the Chairman of Turkish Banks' Union and Director General of Ziraat Bankasi, Ekrem Keskin, the Secretary General of Turkish Banks' Union, and directors general of Halkbank, Vakifbank, Emlakbank, Yapi-Kredi Bankasi, Is Bankasi, Akbank, Garanti Bankasi, Kocbank, Dis Ticaret Bankasi, TEB, Eximbank, Pamukbank and Sekerbank represent banking sector at the meeting. Problems of real sector and proposals for solution of these problems will be assessed at the meeting. -MONTHLY INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INDEX FOR DECEMBER OF 2000 DIE stated that industrial production decreased 4.2 percent in December of 2000, over to the same month of the previous year from the result of monthly industrial production index. It declared that manufacturing industry production decreased by 4.3 percent, mining industry production decreased by 10.0 percent and electricity, gas and water production decreased by 0.9 percent in December of 2000, over to the same period of the previous year. The statement released by DIE said total industrial production increased by 5.4 percent and manufacturing industry increased by 5.6 percent, electricity, gas and water industry increased by 7.3 percent and mining industry decreased by 4.5 percent in twelve months of 2000, over to the same period of the previous year. -PRESIDENT MESIC OF CROATIA: Staging a press conference, President Mesic said that the most important issue in United Europe was the principle of constant borders. President Mesic stressed that Cyprus issue would be solved in United Europe. Noting that Cyprus issue was not the only problem in United Europe, President Mesic said, ''there are other problems in the European Union (EU) process as serious as Cyprus issue. If Bosnia-Herzegovina targets to become a member of United Europe, most of these problems will be solved automatically. All serious problems are being solved step by step. If the scenario is unity of Europe, all problems including Cyprus issue will be solved.'' President Mesic stressed that the Cyprus issue should be solved through dialogue between the sides instead of external influence. Noting that he had held very positive contacts in Ankara, President Mesic said that his contacts had focused on relations between Turkey and Croatia, latest developments in the region, and the recent situation in Yugoslavia. President Mesic thanked Turkey for its support to Croatia's integration process with Europe and NATO. Noting that economic relations between Turkey and Croatia were far away from the desired levels, President Mesic said that inter-delegationary visits between the two countries in the future would focus on improvement of economic relations. Noting that Croatia had an army appropriate to the NATO standards, Mesic added that the two countries could cooperate in the military field. -TRANSFER OF ISDEMIR TO ERDEMIR Staging a press conference on transfer of Isdemir to Erdemir, another leading steel-iron producer, Yalova said that the decision about the Isdemir was taken by taking into consideration Turkey's position and future in international steel-iron sector and Iskenderun's and Erdemir's future in Turkey. Yalova said that the decision aimed at protecting rights of employers and employees. Noting that share of flat iron bars in total production in the world was 65 percent and share of straight iron bars was 35 percent, Yalova said that those rates were 20 and 80 percent in Turkey. Yalova said that the reason for this was preference of wrong technology and failure in catching modern technology progress. Yalova said that Turkey faced liability of payment of more than 1.3 billion U.S. dollars of foreign exchange each year for imports of flat iron bars. He said that Erdemir which would take over Isdemir would pay the 50 million U.S. dollars of cost in four equal installments. ''We have limited the payment with a symbolic amount as Erdemir will make at least 750 million U.S. dollars investment in there,'' he said. -FIRE OPENED ON POLICE VEHICLE IN DIYARBAKIR Sources said that two armed assailants opened fire on the police vehicle patrolling on the Sezai Karakoc Boulevard where Diyarbakir Police Chief Gaffar Okkan and five policemen were martyred on January 24, 2001. Security forces launched an operation. Officials did not make any statement whether or not there were casualties in the armed attack. -PRESIDENT MESIC OF CROATIA ARRIVES IN IZMIR State Minister Fikret Unlu and Izmir Governor Alaaddin Yuksel welcomed President Mesic at the Adnan Menderes Airport. Yuksel hosted a luncheon in honor of President Mesic. Speaking at the luncheon, President Mesic pointed out that his contacts in Ankara had focused on bilateral relations and regional problems. Noting that there were good relations between Izmir and Split city of Croatia, President Mesic said that he wanted to pay a visit to Izmir to this end. State Minister Fikret Unlu; General Cahit A. Sarsilmaz, the Chairman of Commandership of Aegean Army; Yusuf Ali Karaman, the Deputy Mayor of Izmir; Selahattin Alpar, the Turkish Ambassador to Croatia; Tonino Picula, the Croatian Foreign Minister; Pave Zupan, the Croation Tourism Minister; and Ivan Jakovcic, the Croatian Minister of Integration with Europe; also partook in the luncheon. President Mesic will visit the House of Virgin Mary, the ancient city of Ephesus, the Selcuk Museum and the Saint Jean Basilica. -EXPLOSION OCCURS AT SECURITY DEPARTMENT IN ISTANBUL Preliminary reports said that four policemen were injured in the blast. Sources told the A.A correspondent that the explosion occurred at the third floor in which Bomb Disposal Bureau takes place during works to defuse a bomb. The injured policemen were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. All windows in the third floor of Block C were shattered in the blast. -FIRE OPENED ON POLICE VEHICLE IN DIYARBAKIR (2) Sources said that one of the assailants who had escaped following their armed attack entered an apartment on 36th Street in Sehitlik neighborhood. The assailant shot one or two times at security forces who pursued him, sources said. They added that security forces would launch an operation in the apartment soon. -FIRE OPENED ON POLICE VEHICLE IN DIYARBAKIR (3) Sources said that security forces launched an operation by throwing smoke bombs at the apartment where one of the assailants had entered after their armed attack on the police vehicle patrolling on the Sezai Karakoc Boulevard where Okkan and five policemen were martyred on January 24. Security forces captured the assilant in the operation together with the gun he used in armed attack. Meanwhile, security forces who pursued the other assailant also captured him in Benu Sen region. -EXTERNAL DEBT PAYMENTS The Central Bank data shows that the Treasury paid 179.2 million U.S. dollars; the Central Bank repaid 12.02 million U.S. dollars; and the administrations with general and consolidated budgets paid the remaining 12.5 million U.S. dollars in foreign debt between February 1 and 17. Turkey repaid 10 billion 44.6 million U.S. dollars in foreign debt in 2000. -FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK According to the Central Bank's weekly bulletin, the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves which had been 25 billion 691 million U.S. dollars on January 26, increased to 25 billion 928 million U.S. dollars on February 2. Meanwhile, total foreign exchange reserves of banks and private finance organizations increased by 49 million U.S. dollars from 15 billion 258 million U.S: dollars to 15 billion 307 million U.S. dollars as of January 19. Meanwhile, the international reserves comprising gold reserves of Turkey and foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank, commercial banks and private finance organizations decreased 401 million U.S. dollars from 42 billion 860 million U.S. dollars to 42 billion 459 million U.S. dollars as of January 19. -DIYARBAKIR GOVERNOR: ''FIRE WAS NOT OPENED ON POLICE VEHICLE'' Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Serhadli said that police had wanted to stop two people as they got suspicious about these two people in Sehitlik neighborhood. Police opened fire into the air as those two people had not obeyed police warnings and escaped from the area, he said. ''Police became suspicious about two people while they were patrolling around the Sehitlik neighborhood and wanted to stop them. However, those two people did not listen to police warnings and started to escape, and police opened fire into the air. It is out of question for these people's opening fire on the police car. There were not any casualties. One of them was captured in the operation,'' he explained. -TURKEY-FOREIGN CAPITAL In a report on ''Capital Flows to Emerging Market Economies'', IIF said that net private capital flows to major emerging market economies including Turkey were projected to reach 166 billion U.S. dollars in 2001 as a result of sharp cut in the United States interest rates in early January. It said that direct portfolio investments in Turkey which had been almost 300 million U.S. dollars in 2000 would reach 3 billion U.S. dollars in 2001. Noting that stocks in Turkey had lost 49.8 percent in value in 2000, the report said that stocks gained 16-17 percent in value since the beginning of 2001. It said that a boost to liquidity resulting from the sharp cut in U.S. interest rates in early January, and some easing in near-term concerns about the position of Turkey and Argentina, in the wake of susbtantial assistance packages with constructive private sector engagement, has contributed to an easing of spreads and signs of a recovery in bond issuance early in 2001. Noting that after output fell 5 percent in 1999, growth in Turkey rebounded to nearly 6 percent in 2000 reflecting strong confidence and a sharp decline in interest rates as the IMF-supported stabilization plan was implemented at the start of the year, it added that a more constrained credit environment, reflecting the difficulties of the banking system, sharply higher interest rates, and fiscal contraction, are likely to combine with weaker export market growth in slowing growth to 2 percent in 2001. -FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN GAP REGION Four American and German oil companies were also operating in the region. According to a research carried out by economists Ahmet Duzgor and Hasan Kilic on ''The Interest of Domestic and Foreign Companies In GAP Region'', both foreign and domestic investors were interested in the region. Fifteen foreign companies including German MAN, Bulgarian Sanex, Iraqi Bizaf, Israeli Netafim and American COVTEX companies have investments in the region. Companies from the U.S., Germany, Italy, Iraq, Sweden, Bulgaria, and Israel will operate in fields ranging from natural gas and energy production to textiles sector, from irrigation facilities to potable water pipe manufacturing. Foreign companies prefer to make investments in Mardin Free Trade Zone, southeastern Diyarbakir, Adiyaman, Sanliurfa and Gaziantep provinces while the investments of Italian, American, and Swedish companies which have Turkish parteners are under operation in the region. The foreign oil companies are also operating in the GAP region where much of the oil production of Turkey was made. American Alaaddin Middleeast, N.V.T. Perenco and G.I; German Dowell and Schlumberger companies were conducting oil prospecting works in southeastern Adiyaman and Diyarbakir provinces. -FOUR TERRORISTS KILLED IN KEMAH Sources said on Thursday that a clash had erupted between security forces patrolling around the rural area in Kemah and terrorists. They said that security forces had killed four terrorists when they responded to their warnings by opening fire. Operations in the region are under way. -SHIP ACCIDENT AT BLACK SEA END OF ISTANBUL STRAITS (3) The crew of the ship except the captain and two vice-captains who are still aboard their ship underwent a medical examination and were taken to the police station for their interrogation. Officials said crewmen were of Ukranian origin. Aslan Dede, the director of Vessel Rescue Directorate said the works to rescue Med Glory vessel were under way, adding that there wasn't a risk of sinking for the vessel. Two tugboats would pull the vessel to a dockyard in Tuzla, Dede added. -CLOSURE CASE OF FP The Constitutional Court decided yesterday to combine the supplementary indictment submitted by Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu with the ongoing closure case of FP. A certified copy of the supplementary indictment was sent to the Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor's Office. Later, the Office notified the supplementary indictment to the FP. The FP is obliged to present its pre-defense within 15 days. The FP has the right to request additional time to present its pre-defense. The Constitutional Court will assess the FP's request for additional time. If the FP does not request additional time, Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Kanadoglu will announce his opinion on the merits of the case.
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