Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-02-09

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

09 FEBRUARY

2001 Friday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] CULTURE MINISTRY PARTICIPATES IN SARAJEVO WINTER FESTIVAL

[03] TURKISH FASHION DESIGNER'S COLLECTION TO BE DISPLAYED IN NEW YORK

[04] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK CONTINUES HIS CONTACTS IN GERMANY

[05] CEM AND POWELL TO MEET FIRST TIME AT NATO MEETING

[06] PRECIPITATION DROPS BY 40 PERCENT THROUGHOUT TURKEY

[07] DSP DEPUTY PRESENTS DRAFT LAW TO FORBID MARRIAGES

[08] GERMAN EXPERTS TO GUIDE TO TURKISH COLLEAGUES

[09] TURKEY AND SWITZERLAND SIGN AGREEMENT REGARDING

[10] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK

[11] SECURITY FORCES CAPTURE 65 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN GURPINAR

[12] PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION DUE IN IRAQ

[13] TOTAL TRANSACTIONS MADE BY FOREIGN INVESTORS

[14] GENDARMERIE TEAMS CONFISCATE 154 KG BASE MORPHINE IN BASKALE

[15] G-20 DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTERS AND CENTRAL BANK DEPUTY

[16] TURKEY-ALGERIA

[17] FOREIGN MINISTRY DEPUTY SPOKESMAN DIRIOZ: ''WE ARE PLEASED WITH

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

ECEVIT: ''DON'T BE AFRAID, THERE WON'T BE EARLY ELECTIONS''
The government brought together the representatives of different sectors in yesterday's meeting. In the meeting, Premier Bulent Ecevit said, ''don't be afraid. There won't be any early elections.'' Ecevit told businessmen that the issue was brought to the agenda artificially. In a statement after the meeting, Ecevit said he reminded the businessmen that the economy would improve if political stability is maintained.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

DEPPLER PRESIDENT OF IMF SAYS THERE WON'T BE ANY DRAMATICAL
OUTCOMES IF TURK TELEKOM ISN'T SOLD
Michael Deppler, the president of International Monetary Fund (IMF) told journalists that there were not any major deviations in the economic program of the government, adding that the agreement between the government and IMF foresaw that the Turk Telekom should undergo a series of reforms. The selling of Turk Telekom isn't a must, said Deppler and added that there will not be any dramatic financial outcomes if Turk Telekom isn't sold.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

TURKISH READY-TO-WEAR PRODUCERS PARTICIPATE IN FASHION
FAIR IN DUSSELDORF
Turkish ready-to-wear producers participated in a fashion fair held in Dusseldorf in Feb. 4-6. The fair was visited by 52,000 people. Turkish models displayed outfits designed by Hakan Yildirim and Yesim Chambrey at a fashion show. Damat-Twinn's owner Suleyman Orakcioglu said Turkey's success was not only limited to this particular fair and added that Turkey has gained respect in the fashion sector in other fashion capitals of the world.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

METU STUDENTS START CAMPAIGN AGAINST MCDONALD'S
Students at the Middle East Technical University (METU) are getting ready to start a campaign against the McDonald's branch in their campus. ''The imperialist company cannot survive in our campus,'' a student representative said. Students will protest the McDonald's branch which opened in 1997 in METU campus by distributing fliers and through mass protests. Ozan Alphan who studies geological engineering said McDonalds illegally got hold of the building which was originally designed by architect Behruz Cinici as a historical looking building named ''Pastane''. Cinici later filed a suit against McDonalds and the case is still not finalized. Alphan stressed that their protests will not include violence.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

FORMER LAND FORCES COMMANDER FISUNOGLU DENIES BEING INVOLVED
IN FRAUD
Former Land Forces Commander Muhittin Fisunoglu was interrogated on Thursday by Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) for charges of committing fraud in loans given to a company when he was a member of Sumerbank Execution Council. Fisunoglu who was interrogated by Prosecutor Ercan Cengiz denied all the allegations against him. During his interrogation, Cengiz said he didn't know much about banking and he only signed certain documents as the Execution Council member.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

TURKISH ARMED FORCES SUSPEND ITS RELATIONS WITH FRENCH MILITARY
The reactions against the adoption of the law on so-called genocide on Armenians continue. The government excluded the French companies from the military tenders. The Turkish Armed Forces decided to suspend the military relations with France. The statement of the Turkish Armed Forces said that the contacts with the French military circles, which were in the schedule of the Turkish military for 2001, were suspended until a second order.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

VURAL, SECRETARY GENERAL FOR EU SAYS DETERMINED ATTITUDE IS
NECCESSARY FOR NATIONAL PROGRAM
Volkan Vural, the secretary general for European Union (EU) said the draft of the National Program was almost completed and would be submitted to the government in coming days. However, said Vural, preparing this program isn't enough, and a determined attitude should be pursued to fulfil the targets mentioned in the program.

[02] CULTURE MINISTRY PARTICIPATES IN SARAJEVO WINTER FESTIVAL

Releasing a written statement, the Ministry of Culture said Anadolu Selen Choir will represent Turkey in the festival and give a concert on March 8 in Sarajevo within the framework of the festival.

The choir will also give a concert in Mostar on March 9, and in Zenica, the city where Turkish troops are deployed, on March 10.

[03] TURKISH FASHION DESIGNER'S COLLECTION TO BE DISPLAYED IN NEW YORK

The 2001 fall-winter collections of famous fashion designers are being promoted in the week.

Mehmet Ezen, the Consul General of Turkey in New York, will give a reception in honour of Atil Kutoglu on February 14. Officials from Istanbul Textile and Confection Exporters Association (ITKIB) which sponsors Kutoglu will also attend the reception.

[04] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK CONTINUES HIS CONTACTS IN GERMANY

Following the meeting, Turk said just like Germany they wanted to set up regional supreme courts in Turkey.

Noting that the function of these courts and maintaining a law unity among those courts were important, Turk said he received information from the chairman of the supreme court about how the problems faced in practice were solved in Germany.

We exchanged our views on the judicial system, said Turk and added that the regional courts which are foreseen to be set up in Turkey would both speed up the judiciary system and would contribute to the system in pursuit of fair trials.

Turk, who will attend a cocktail party that will be given by the mayor of Tubingen, will give a conference titled ''Law in Turkey and the Judiciary Reform'' in Tubingen University on Saturday.

Turk, will then return to Turkey.

[05] CEM AND POWELL TO MEET FIRST TIME AT NATO MEETING

Diplomatic observers in Washington, D.C said that they were expecting a close dialogue to start between Turkey and the United States after the meeting of Cem and Powell.

Sources said Bush administration's approach in Iraq and developments that will follow Ariel Sharon's election as prime minister in the Middle East will require Turkey and the United States maintain close and continious contacts. The same sources indicated that the latest developments in the Middle East will increase Turkey's strategic importance even more for the United States.

Washington D.C.'s support to Ankara on the European Security and Defense Initiative (ESDI) will be vital at the NATO meeting in Brussels. The Bush administration is expected to adopt a satisfying attitude for Turkey on the ESDI issue.

Turkey and the United States share the same concerns about European Union's efforts to form a defense system partially independent from NATO. Turkey is concerned about being excluded from this defense formation while the United States thinks that ESDI would seriously weaken NATO.

Turkish government officials will ask the Bush administration to continue support for Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline project which was supported by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, during the contacts with U.S. government representatives in the next few months.

Defense cooperation and Cyprus are the other topics that are to be raised during the meetings.

[06] PRECIPITATION DROPS BY 40 PERCENT THROUGHOUT TURKEY

The drop is 23.8 percent compared to the same period of last year. Decrease in rain and snow is 30 percent in coastal line while it is as high as 50 percent in central regions.

The State Meteorology General Directorate have studied the measurements done at 107 stations in Turkey. In the last four months, 190.1 milimeter of rain fell in one square meter compared to the average of 313.9 milimeter. Last year's average was 249.4 milimeter.

The rain analysis of last 40 years in Turkey demonstrated a decrease of rain in 1999 and 2000. However, similar decrease in precipitation was also observed between 1970 and 1974 and between 1989 and 1990.

Meteorologists are expecting rain fall at seasonal averages in the next three months. Temperatures are estimated to be over the seasonal averages.

[07] DSP DEPUTY PRESENTS DRAFT LAW TO FORBID MARRIAGES

Ozdogu's proposal suggests to forbid marriages also between children of paternal and maternal uncles and aunts. The proposal's goal is to decrease the number of handicapped children who are born to couples who are linked by blood.

Around 3.7 percent of babies are born with birth defects in Turkey. A study carried out among handicapped people showed that 24 percent of blind people and 20 percent of deaf people have parents who are linked by blood.

Ozdogu said that the next generations will be healthier if the draft law is passed.

[08] GERMAN EXPERTS TO GUIDE TO TURKISH COLLEAGUES

The project's goal is to develop human resources in the DPT by creating a new personnel policy and strategy.

Germany will send experts and educational equipment worth of 100,000 German Marks. It will also pay 23,000 German Marks for the project's implementation.

The Turkish government will appoint educators who will give on the job training to DPT personnel and executives. It will also provide coordination services to the project.

German experts coming from Germany will give consultancy to their Turkish partners. Improving the current personnel policy and on the job training programs of the DPT are targetted through the project.

A second project between the two countries aims to protect Bayburt region from erosion. One of the goals of the project is to raise the standard of living for people who live in rural areas in Eastern Turkey.

[09] TURKEY AND SWITZERLAND SIGN AGREEMENT REGARDING

During his 2-day visit, Tuzmen delivered a speech on the latest developments in the Turkish Economy and economic relations between Turkey and Switzerland at a conference held in Zurich.

Tuzmen and Syz signed the memorandum of understanding on high level trade and economic consultations on behalf of their countries on Feb. 6, in Bern.

On the same day, Turkish and Swiss sides also exchanged views on increasing bilateral trade, prevention of double taxation, investment opportunities, cooperation between the small and medium sized enterprises of the two countries, activities of the Turkish-Swiss Business Council, highway transportation and energy cooperation.

On Jan.-Nov., 2000 Turkey's export to Switzerland was 212 million U.S. dollars and its import from this country was 814 million U.S. dollars.

[10] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK

According to the Central Bank's weekly bulletin, the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves which had been 19 billion 635 million U.S. dollars on December 26, 2000 increased to 25 billion 928 million U.S. dollars on February 2.

Meanwhile, total foreign exchange reserves of banks and private finance organizations decreased by 1 billion 410 million U.S. dollars from 16 billion 717 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 increased 5 billion 97 million U.S. dollars from 37 billion 362 million U.S. dollars to 42 billion 459 million U.S. dollars as of January 19.

Gold reserves remained at 1 billion 9 million U.S. dollars.

[11] SECURITY FORCES CAPTURE 65 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN GURPINAR

Sources said on Friday that Gendarmarie teams patrolling around Sungubayir hamlet of Topsakal village in the township intercepted a group of people who had entered Turkey illegally and were about to be frozen to death.

Officials said that 63 of those people were of Iraqi origin and two of them were Afhgan origin, and they would be deported once the legal procedures were completed.

[12] PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION DUE IN IRAQ

The parliamentary delegation will stay in Iraq between 12-15 February and the delegation will also take medical stuff with it.

The delegation headed by deputy Suat Caglayan, from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) has six doctors in it.

The delegation will visit hospitals and non-governmental organizations in Baghdad and will be received by some Iraqi ministers.

Caglayan said that Iraq has become one of the most important neighbours of Turkey both politically and strategically in the last ten years.

Recounting that the United Nations (U.N) decided to implement some sanctions on Iraq after the Gulf War, Caglayan said that the embargo which was implemented in the beginning without any concessions, was appeased a little bit within the framework of the programme ''Oil for Food'' as mothers and children suffered a lot by the embargo.

''Negotiations are held at every level to improve the trade between Iraq and Turkey,'' said Caglayan, adding that Turkey also extended medical aid to Iraq.

[13] TOTAL TRANSACTIONS MADE BY FOREIGN INVESTORS

According to the IMKB statistics, foreign investors' total purchases became 989 million 579 thousand U.S. dollars and their total sales became 735 million 519 thousand U.S. dollars last month.

The top ten shares transacted on behalf of account of foreign banks, brokerage houses or individuals in January of 2001 are as follows:

. (USD)
Name of Share Purchase Sale

----------------- ------------ ----------
Yapi Kredi Bankasi 135,767,820 95,319,534

Garanti Bankasi 112,780,052 64,153,029

Turkcell 96,728,822 94,315,570

Is Bankasi-C 98,399,798 39,153,029

Koc Holding 67,897,831 37,735,811

Vestel 45,996,884 53,048,931

Akbank 56,834,125 37,757,597

Tupras 46,679,366 11,774,327

Dogan Yayin Holding 28,849,418 26,750,544

Sabanci Holding 36,752,615 15,937,325

[14] GENDARMERIE TEAMS CONFISCATE 154 KG BASE MORPHINE IN BASKALE

Sources said on Friday that acting on a tip-off, gendarmerie teams raided a house in Duztepe hamlet in Yolmacayir village in the township, seizing 154 kg 830 grams of base morphine.

Officials said that market price of the illicit drug was almost 900 billion Turkish lira.

They added that gendarmerie teams took two people into custody in connection with the drug smuggling.

[15] G-20 DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTERS AND CENTRAL BANK DEPUTY

Treasury Undersecreatriat said on Friday that the meeting aimed to prepare the ground for the annual meeting of G-20 platform's ministers and set the schedule, place and agenda of this annual meeting.

It said that Turkey would be represented by the Treasury Undersecretary at the meeting.

''The meeting will focus on decisions which can be taken by international organizations and national authorities to maximize benefits of globalization and minimize its negative effects, strategies which can be developed at international platform, fair participation of all nations in international trade and steps which can be taken to increase this level,'' it added.

[16] TURKEY-ALGERIA

It said that Gemici and Medelci had opened the fair on February 6, and that 130 Turkish companies representing food, electric-electronic, machinery, automotive by-industry, textiles-ready-made clothing, durable consumer goods and construction equipment sectors joined the fair.

Within framework of the visit, State Minister Gemici had met with Algerian Prime Minister Ali Benflis, Trade Minister Mourad Medelci, Energy and Mines Minister and Turkey-Algeria JEC Co-Chairman Chakib Khelil, Transportation Minister Hamid Lounaoucu, Public Works and Settlement Minister Amara Ben Younes and National Solidarity Minister Djamel Ould Abbes, the DTM said.

DTM said that State Minister Gemici had held a meeting with the Turkish businessmen who attended the fair.

Speaking at the meeting, Gemici said that Turkish businessmen should utilize more business and investment opportunities by settling in Algeria and making partnerships in the Algerian market which was opening to international competition.

Noting that Algeria would be the starting point for reaching the other African countries, Gemici said that initiatives aimed at joint investments in mounting and production in Algeria would create new market opportunities.

During the visit, Turkish and Algerian sides had agreed to open a Turkish- Algerian Joint Bank or a brach office of a Turkish bank in Algeria and hold the Sevent Term JEC meeting in May of 2001 in Algeria and send a Turkish engineering delegation to Algeria in the shortest time frame.

[17] FOREIGN MINISTRY DEPUTY SPOKESMAN DIRIOZ: ''WE ARE PLEASED WITH

The General Staff Secretariat General released a statement and said, ''a team of four military personnel who were patrolling around the Turkish- Greek border on February 8, 2001, accidentally crossed the Greek border at 05:30 p.m. The personnel who were hosted at the Greek Border Headquarters for a period of time were escorted back to the Turkish side at midnight the same day.''

When asked whether or not there was a certain date for visit of Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou to Turkey, Dirioz said, ''at the moment, there is not a detailed information. However, such visits are beneficial if they aim at continuation of constructive cooperation between Turkey and

Greece.''

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