Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-02-16

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

16 FEBRUARY

2001 Friday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

SINCERE SUMMIT IN BULGARIA
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer met his Bulgarian counterpart Petar Stoyanov and Romanian counterpart Ion Iliescu at the 4th tripartite summit meeting in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The presidents have taken three important decisions at the summit meeting: Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania will act together on the issues of the EU and Yugoslavia; the three countries will cooperate against terrorism; and a joint intervention force will be formed against the natural disasters.

ARGUMENT ON NAZIM
Culture Minister Istemihan Talay of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) said that the decree envisaging granting prominent poet Nazim Hikmet Turkish citizenship, would not be withdrawn. The decree escalated tension among the coalition partners after some deputies of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) reacted to it.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

SABANCI FAMILY FILES A SUIT AGAINST TERRORIST ERDAL
Sabanci family filed a suit against terrorist Fehriye Erdal, a member of the illegal Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) and one of the suspects of assasination of busuinessman Ozdemir Sabanci, on charges of the crimes she committed in Turkey. Trial process for Erdal, who is currently under custody in Belgium, will start by the end of this month.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

''THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM IS OUR LAST CHANCE''
Rahmi Koc, the Chairman of Executive Board of Koc Holding, said that they had been fully supporting the ongoing economic program. Koc stressed, ''this program is our only chance. Otherwise, inflation cannot decrease.''

BUDGET PERFORMANCE IN JANUARY OF 2001
Finance Minister Sumer Oral said that the non-interest surplus became 1 quadrillion 292 trillion Turkish lira (TL) in January of 2001. Oral said that the non-interest surplus rose 169.2 percent in January of 2001 when compared to January of 2000. The Finance Minister said that 3 quadrillion 101 trillion TL revenues including 2 quadrillion 498 trillion TL of tax collection had been raised while expenditures became 3 quadrillion 136 trillion TL in January of 2001. Oral said that interest payments reduced 35.9 percent in January of 2001. He said that those figures recorded in the beginning of second year of the disinflation program showed that the program was on the right track. Oral added that the disinflation program would continue with same determination and without any concession.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER JAGLAND IN TURKEY
Following sudden visit of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to Turkey, Foreign Minister Thorbjorn Jagland of Norway, a member of the international committee which was founded to contribute to the Middle East peace process, came to Ankara. During Jagland's contacts in Ankara, President Arafat's visit to Turkey, the latest developments in the Middle East and Turkey's role in the process will be taken up.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

ERCEL, GOVERNOR OF CENTRAL BANK SAYS INFLATION RATE TO DECREASE
ONE DIGIT NUMBER IN SUMMER
Gazi Ercel, the governor of Central Bank said that the inflation rate in Turkey would continue to decrease in coming months and added that it would reach to one digit figures in summer. Ercel said the inflation rate in January was the lowest after long years, adding that the inflation rate decreased due to the decrease in demand.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

TREASURY INCREASES AMOUNT OF BOND ISSUANCE BY 250 MILLION EURO
Treasury Undersecretariat decided to rise its 500 million Euro of bond issuance on January 30, 2001 by 250 million Euro. Treasury Undersecretariat said that the amount of 500 million Euro of bond issuance led by ABN Amro Bank and Credit Suisse First Boston was increased to 750 million Euro under same conditions. The three-year maturity 500 million Euro bond issuance with a 8.25 percent annual interest was made on January 30, 2001 and the foreign exchange raised through this issuance was deposited to Treasury's account as of February 14, 2001.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Ankara High Criminal Court no: 3 sentenced two suspects of ''Bahcelievler Case'' to capital punishment for the second time. On November 1, 1999, the Court decided to sentence suspects Bunyamin Adanali and Unal Osman Agaoglu to capital punishment on charges of ''killing seven students who were members of the Turkish Workers' Party (TIP) in Bahcelievler district of Ankara in 1978.'' After the court insisted on its first verdict, the Supreme Court of Appeals General Criminal Council of Supreme Court of Appeals will take the final verdict in the case.

-FISCHER, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF IMF, DUE IN TURKEY
ANKARA - Stanley Fischer, the First Deputy Chairman of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will come to Turkey to attend the Group-20 (G-20) meetings.

Sources told the A.A correspondent on Friday that Fischer was expected to arrive in Istanbul on Sunday to attend the G-20 meetings to be held between February 18 and 19.

Fischer will proceed to Ankara from Istanbul on Tuesday.

He is expected to depart from Turkey on Wednesday after holding contacts with government officials.

Fischer's contacts in Ankara are expected to focus on banking sector and privatization.

-MINISTRY OF NATIONAL EDUCATION TO ORGANIZE INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR
ANKARA - The Ministry of National Education will organize an international seminar to spread of education in Turkish as optional courses in various schools in Europe, sources said on Friday.

Officials said the Council of Europe has announced 2001 year as the European Year of Languages in order to underline the importance of learning a foreign language.

The ministry of education will organize an international seminar within the framework of the year and aims at spreading of education in Turkish as optional courses in Euroepan countries.

The ministry will be in cooperation with the Council of Europe about the issue and plans to organize an international seminar in autumn with the participation of representatives of the countries which are the members of the Council of Europe.

The Council of Europe and the European Union (EU) will organize a ceremony and a meeting to mark the official start of the European Year of Languages in Lund city of Sweden between February 18 and 20.

Officals from ministry of education and universities will attend the meeting.

-TRIPARTITE BALKAN SUMMIT MEETING
-THREE PRESIDENTS STAGE A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE
PLOVDIV - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, President Petar Stoyanov of Bulgaria and President Ion Iliescu staged a joint press conference at the end of two-day tripartite Balkan summit meeting in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Speaking at the press conference, President Sezer said, ''the tripartite summit meeting which is being held once in a year among Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania is one of best models of cooperation and solidarity. At the summit meeting in Plovdiv, we scrutinized developments in cooperation fields agreed previously among the three countries. We have reached a full consensus of opinion to further improve economic and commercial relations, and to deepen our existing cooperation in struggle against terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and arm smuggling.''

Noting that issues regarded with stability in the region were also taken up at the summit meeting, President Sezer told reporters, ''an atmosphere of lasting peace and stability should be created in Kosovo to settle a comprehensive stability in the Balkans. Therefore, it is vitally important to form a pluralist democratic administration in Kosovo and to provide participation of all national communities in this administration. At the summit meeting, we also discussed the recent developments in Southern Serbia within scope of the developments in Kosovo. We all expressed our concerns about acts of violence in the region. We exchanged opinions on democratic developments in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its return to the international community. Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania support Yugoslavia's steps taken on the path of democratization.''

President Sezer told reporters, ''we as the president of Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania share the similar opinions on that regional and international formations such as the Southeast European Countries Cooperation and the Southeast European Stability Pact, have undertaken important duties for economic development of the begion and for settlement lasting peace and stability in the region.''

''We also scrutinized developments in implementation of decisions taken at the First Finance Congerence held in Brussels in March of 2000 within framework of the Stability Pact. We concentrated on our contries' contribution to success of the Pact,'' he emphasized.

President Sezer noted, ''Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania are in the process of the European Union (EU) full membership. We discussed progresses recorded in our countries in the full membership process at the summit meeting.''

Noting that Turkey had been supporting NATO membership of Bulgaria and Romania, President Sezer told reporters, ''I believe that this tripartite summit meeting process among our countries would make an important contribution to development of regional cooperation and partnership in the Balkans. Turkey will continue to expend efforts to this end in the future.''

Responding to a question, President Sezer said that several countries were included in the structure of NATO following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

He said, ''NATO Summit will be held in Czech capital Prague in 2002. At the summit, new member countries will be announced. Turkey is in favor of membership of Bulgaria and Romania at the first phase. We will continue to support Bulgaria and Romania.''

Following the joint press conference, President Sezer left Plovdiv for Ankara.

The private airplane carrying President Sezer and his entourage took off from the Krumovo Airport at 11:00 p.m.

President Sezer was seen off by Tahsin Burcuoglu, the Turkish Ambassador to Bulgaria, and other Bulgarian officials.

-TRIPARTITE BALKAN SUMMIT MEETING
-THREE PRESIDENTS STAGE A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE (2)
PLOVDIV- President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, President Petar Stoyanov of Bulgaria and President Ion Iliescu staged a joint press conference at the end of two- day tripartite Balkan summit meeting in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Speaking at the press conference, President Stoyanov said that they had held positive meetings.

President Stoyanov stressed that the tripartite summit meetings had made important contributions to common stability and security in the region.

Noting that the tripartite summit meeting process did not target any country, President Stoyanov said that the meetings were open to anyone, and added that they came together for their own goals and regional stability.

Recalling that the tripartite summit meetings became traditional, President Stoyanov said that this year's summit meeting had focused on struggle against international organized crimes, terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and arm smuggling.

Stoyanov stressed that Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania were determined to cooperate in struggle against international organized crimes, terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and arm smuggling.

Stressing that Southeastern Europe should not be kept apart from rest of Europe, President Stoyanov said that the Balkans was an inseparable part of Europe.

Meanwhile, President Iliescu expressed his satisfaction over assessing the latest developments in the Balkans with his Turkish and Bulgarian counterparts.

President Iliescu told reporters that the presidents had been in full consensus of opinion on almost every issue taken up at the summit meeting.

Noting that all three countries were candidate to the European Union (EU), President Iliescu said, ''we all target to become full member of the EU. We should carry out works as partners, not as rivals.''

Responding to a question about terrorist organization PKK, President Iliescu said that the issue was brought onto agenda of the summit meeting, and stressed that Romania was ready to fulfil President Sezer's request.

President Iliescu added that Romania and Turkey had been cooperating with each other on the issue of terrorist organization of PKK.

-GENDARME TEAMS CONFISCATE 20 KG HEROIN IN HATAY PROVINCE
ANTAKYA - Gendarme teams confiscated 20 kg heroin concealed in a bus in southern Hatay province on Friday.

The gendarme teams, acting on a tip off, stopped a bus in Guzelburc region.

The heroin was found in packages hidden under the stairs of the bus.

Bedi Yogun, the driver of the bus, and Ozcan Emek, who was reported to have connection with the incident, were taken under custody.

Investigation is underway regarded with the incident.

-TRAIN SERVICES BETWEEN TURKEY AND IRAQ TO RESUME
ANKARA/BAGHDAD - The train services between Turkey and Iraq which interrupted because of the Persian Gulf War, will resume, sources said on Friday.

The issue came to the agenda in the meeting of the Iraqi communications and transportation minister and the parliamentary delegation, which paid an official visit to Iraq recently.

In the meetings, it was revealed that officials of both countries were in agreement to resume the train services between Baghdad and Istanbul which were interrupted ten years ago.

Ahmad Murtada Ahmad Khalil, the Iraqi minister of transportation and communication, said in the meeting that the motorway and railway transportation between Turkey and Iraq should be improved for a better commercial relation between the two countries and requested to put Baghdad Express back into service.

Recalling that their views on the issue were conveyed to the Turkish side, Khalil said they did what they had to do on the issue.

Sources said Enis Oksuz, the minister of transportation, was positive in resuming the train services between Turkey and Iraq adding that the initiatives on the issue would be finalized as soon as possible.

The train services between Istanbul and Baghdad could resume this year if nothing extraordinary happened, added officials.

-TUBITAK LAYS REGULATIONS FOR BIO-TECHNOLOGICAL STUDIES AND
ACTIVITIES OF GENETIC ENGINEERING IN TURKEY
ANKARA- Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) formed the regulatory framework for bio-technological studies and activities of genetic engineering in Turkey, sources said on Friday.

Namik Kemal Pak, the chairman of TUBITAK told A.A. correspondent that TUBITAK had set up a working group in bio-technology and genetics, adding that they laid the regulations for activities in this field.

''We proposed the setting up of a national council which will make the necessary arrangements to develop the technologies in bio-technology and genetics in Turkey, and which will take necessary measures to prevent any kind of damage on human health during the marketing of the products in Turkey,'' said Pak.

Pak said the National Biosecurity Council, which will implement the regulations outlined by TUBITAK in bio-technology and genetic engineering, will be an autonomous institution, adding that a draft law was being prepared for the foundation of the council.

Stressing that Turkey was carrying out works in this field in coordination with the European Union (EU), Pak said this issue had also come to the agenda of the EU recently.

The regulations in genetics are the adaptations of the EU regulations to Turkey, added Pak.

-PRESIDENT SEZER RETURNS TO TURKEY
ANKARA- President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Friday that the Summit, which took place in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, confirmed the will to improve relations and cooperation among the three countries in every field.

President Sezer, who spoke to reporters in Ankara's Esenboga Airport, said the fourth Summit provided a benefical exchange to improve cooperation and to set up a lasting peace and stability in the Balkans.

Sezer said, ''we exchanged views on terrorism, fight against organized crimes, and other daily issues closely concerning our region. I can say that the Plovdiv Summit was extremely beneficial as it gave facilities to us to exchange views with the Bulgarian and the Romanian Presidents on democratic developments experienced in Yugoslavian Federal Republic since last year, Kosovo problem, and effects of regional organizations on the security and stability of our region.''

''In separate meetings we had with the Bulgarian and Romanian presidents during the meeting, we discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues concerning our countries,'' Sezer noted.

Sezer said he also met with Ahmet Dogan, the leader of Rights and Freedoms Movement (HOH), and Selim Mehmed, the Chief Mufti of the Muslims in Bulgaria, and the delegations accompanying them.

Sezer said the meetings were very beneficial to learn the problems and wishes of Turkish kinsmen living in Bulgaria, and noted that, ''we believe that Turkish minority in Bulgaria is an element strengthening relations with this country.''

Sezer said the Tripartite Summit Meetings gave opportunities for the three countries to take further steps on economic and security issues. Stressing that the meeting contributed to the stability of the region, Sezer said, ''we believe that this cooperation, developed by the three countries, would be an example to the other countries.''

Sezer also said cooperation among these three countries, who are candidates to the membership of the European Union (EU), contributed to the efforts in membership process.

Sezer said the next Summit Meeting will be staged in Turkey, adding that its date will be set through diplomatic channels.

-TURKEY-SYRIA RAPPROACHMENT
-COMMISSIONS SIGN PROTOCOL
KILIS - Initiatives to improve economic, social, and cultural relations between Turkey and Syria continue.

The commissions, which were set up following the visit of Sallah Kennec, the Aleppo governor, a few days ago, convened in Oncupinar Customs Gate and signed a protocol.

The protocol gives facilities to the Syrian citizens to pass to Turkish side freely after 31 years, and to celebrate the feast of sacrifice.

The protocol also foresees the Syrian and Turkish citizens to give presents to each other which don't exceed 200 U.S. dollars. The protocol also covers the Turkish citizens to pass to Syrian side to celebrate the feast of sacrifice with their relatives.

The protocol includes reducing the problems experienced between the two countries in transit trade, and foresees cultural activities and exchange of students.

-FOREIGN MINISTER CEM MEETS WITH NORWEGIAN
FOREIGN MINISTER JAGLAND
ANKARA- Foreign Minister Ismail Cem met Friday with Thorbjorn Jagland, the Norwegian foreign minister, who is currently in Turkey on a working visit.

Interdelegationary meetings started after the tete-a-tete meeting of two foreign ministers.

Prior to interdelegationary meetings, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem told reporters that political and economic relations between Turkey and Norway has been improving. He added that both countries has an increasing cooperation especially in energy sector in recent years.

Both countries had common concerns on certain issues, said Cem and added, ''Norway has a very active and influential role in the Middle East. Norway is carrying out the chairmanship of the international force in Hebron of which Turkey is also a member. Norway is constanly making contacts with sides. We will evaluate these issues in our meetings.''

Cem added he would also convey the outcomes of the meeting he previously held with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to Jagland.

Recalling that Norway was also elected as the member of the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council, Cem said, ''thus, Norway has a function in our relations with the Security Council.'' Cem noted they would explain the views of Turkey to Norway on Cyprus issue.

Cem said Norway was carrying out the chairmanship of the U.N. Committee for Sanctions Imposed on Iraq, adding that Turkey continued its relations with Iraq with the approval of Norway.

Jagland in his part thanked to kind statements of Cem and said Turkey was playing a significant role in Middle East peace process, adding that Norway was also trying to contribute to the process.

We would also discuss the recent situation in Middle East, said Jagland.

Noting that Turkey and Norway had common interests in European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI) initiative, Jagland said Turkey had an important role in defense of Europe.

Jagland added they would also discuss the Iraq issue in the meetings.

Ugur Ziyal, and Kurtulus Taskent, the deputy undersecretaries of Foreign Ministry also attended the meeting.

-IMF-TREASURY JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE POSTPONED TO NEXT WEEK
ANKARA - The joint news conference, that is expected to be staged by Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp and Carlo Cottarelli, the Chief of IMF Turkey Desk, today is postponed to next week.

Treasury officials said Stanley Fisher, the first deputy manager of the IMF, is expected to visit Turkey to attend G-20 meeting that will take place in Istanbul in February 18 and 19.

The officials said the joint press conference was postponed within this framework.

-MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
-FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''WE HAVE SIMILAR APPROACHES WITH NORWAY''
ANKARA- Foreign Ministry said on Friday that approaches of Turkey and Norway, regarding the Middle East peace process, were similar to each other.

Huseyin Dirioz, the deputy Foreign Ministry Spokesman, addressed the weekly news conference and responded the questions of reporters regarding the contacts of Thorbjorn Jagland, the Norwegian Foreign Minister.

Pointing out that bilateral relations were mainly discussed in talks, Dirioz said developments in the Middle East peace process were among the important agenda items.

Dirioz said Norway played a role in the peace process starting from the beginning, noting that Norway had benefical contributions. Dirioz said Turkey started to have more contributions recently.

Recalling that Turks were also among the international observers working in Hebron city of Palestine, and that Norway acted as the chairman of the observers, Dirioz said Turkey and Norway have similar approaches.

Dirioz said Turkey supported the idea of the international observers to assign international observers to other regions apart from Hebron, adding that this depend on the agreement between Palestine and Israel.

Dirioz said ideas of Norway in this respect were close to Turkey.

Responding to a question, Dirioz said Turkey proposed to assign international observers to the other regions apart from Hebron.

Dirioz said developments on European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI) were discussed during the contacts of the guest minister, adding that views of Turkey and Norway were also close on the issue.

-CONCESSION AGREEMENT OF AKTAS ELECTRICITY CORP
ANKARA- The Council of State Administrative Cases Department General Assembly finds the concession agreement, regarded with assigning AKTAS Electricity Corp. to distribute and trade electricity energy services from the Asian side of Istanbul, as inappropriate to the laws.

The General Assembly annuled the decision of the 10th Department regarding the rejection of the cancellation of the agreement.

The Council of State Administrative Cases Department General Assembly uttered the last word regarding the case which was opened with a call to annul the concession agreement that was signed between Energy and Natural Resources Ministry AKTAS Electricity Corp. to assign AKTAS with distributing electricity and trade services in Asian side of Istanbul.

The General Assembly annuled the concession agreement, signed between AKTAS Electricity Corp. and Energy and Natural Resources Ministry, which it found inappropriate to the laws.

The General Assembly said there was not ''public benefit,'' in the agreement.

-BAHCELI DUE TO TURKMENISTAN ON SATURDAY
ANKARA- Devlet Bahceli, the deputy prime minister and the minister of state, will go to Turkmenistan on Saturday for a series of officials contacts.

Bahceli will attend the ceremonies that will be held to mark the National Day of Turkmenistan within the framework of his visit.

Bahceli will make statements regarding his visit to Turkmenistan prior to his departure from Ankara's Esenboga Airport.

Abdulhaluk Cay, the minister of state; Osman Durmus, the minister of health; Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu, the minister of industry and trade, will accompany Bahceli during his visit.

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