Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-02-25

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>

ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

25 FEBRUARY

2001 Sunday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] RENAULT MAIS DIRECTOR GENERAL AYBAR: ''OUR SALES WERE NOT NEGATIVELY

[03] D-8 SUMMIT MEETING

[04] A RALLY HELD IN KAYSERI TO CONDEMN ARMENIAN TERRORISM

[05] D-8 SUMMIT MEETING ENDS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Temizel said, ''all banks have fulfilled their commitments as of yesterday. The banks have fulfilled all of their commitments abroad.'' Noting that change was regarded with only monetary policy, Temizel noted, ''we had to transfer to floating foreign exchange currency system due to excessive valuation. This does not mean giving up other policies and arrangements regarded with net domestic assets. The Central Bank will of course meet the liquidity requirement.'' ''Turkey should keep its calmness. Current situation of economy will be assessed. Later, Turkey will transit into a more sound structure,'' he added.

BUREAUCRATS TO PAY BILL OF CRISIS
Bureaucrats have paid the bill of current economic crisis. Central Bank Governor Gazi Ercel resigned. Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp and the Director General of Halkbank are expected to resign. Meanwhile, at the end of yesterday's four-hour summit meeting among leaders of three political parties forming the coalition government, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that rumors which spread by some circles about resignation of the government were totally baseless and removal of any minister from office was out of question.

Ecevit said that measures which would relieve the economy would start to be implemented as of the beginning of next week.

SCHAFFER: ''TURKISH ECONOMY WILL RECOVER SOON''
Dr. Helmut Schaffer, the Executive Director of World Bank in Germany, said that he was optimistic that Turkish economy would recover soon. Schaffer stressed that they had been monitoring developments in Turkish economy. He

underlined that Turkey had strong economic structure and private sector capacity. Pointing out that the World Bank had been supporting Turkey, Dr. Schaffer said that he was optimistic that Turkish economy would recover.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

BANKING DELEGATION OF IMF AND WORLD BANK DUE IN TURKEY
Banking delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank will come to Turkey on Sunday. Lalit Raina, the Chairperson of World Bank's Financial Sector Group, will lead the delegation of banking experts. The delegation is expected to concentrate its works on public banks. Banking sector's liquidity problem will be taken up during the banking delegation's visit to Turkey.

TOURISM TO SAVE TURKEY
Vural Oger, the Chairman of Executive Board of Germany-based Oger Tour, said, ''Turkey will overcome its economic problems with help of tourism.''

Oger said, ''having regard to bookings in Germany, nearly 12 million foreign tourists will come to Turkey this year. So Turkey will obtain a tourism revenue of 12 billion U.S. dollars in 2001.'' He added, ''Turkey wants to get a 8-10 billion U.S. dollars loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). But tourism sector will solve Turkey's problem. Tourism sector will provide 11-12 billion U.S. dollars this year. Spain, Italy and Greece had also experienced similar economic crises in the past. Their economies were recovered as a result of tourism.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

PASSENGER BUSH PLUNGES INTO SHOULDER OF ROAD, KILLING THREE
A passanger bus which was on its way from Istanbul to Ankara, plunged into shoulder of road near Hereke township of northwestern province of Izmit, killing three people, and injuring 12 others. The injured passengers were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.

FIRST TURKISH UNIVERSITY TO BE FOUNDED IN GERMANY
Harun Gumrukcu, the Chairman of Institute of Turkey-Europe Studies (ITES), said, ''the Turkish University that will be founded in Germany will be Turkey's new and modern door to Europe.'' Speaking at a seminar at the Berlin University, Gumrukcu said, ''the number of Turkish young people studying at universities in Germany is few. Turkish language is the fifth mostly spoken launguage in the world. We should benefit from this advantage. Turkish University will be founded in Bonn or in Berlin. At the university, education will be given only in social sciences. Education will be given in Turkish, German and English languages.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

EXPLOSION IN BAGCILAR KILLS ONE PERSON
One person died while three others were injured in an explosion in Bagcilar district of Istanbul. Gas pressure caused the explosion in a restaurant. Major damage occurred at the restaurant due to the explosion.

The injured people were rushed to nearby hospital for medical treatment.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

PEARSON: ''WE SUPPORT YOU''
Robert Pearson, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, compared the stability program with the Independence War. He stressed that financial organizations in the U.S., Europe and Japan together with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank had been fully supporting Turkey. Pearson said that Turkey should not give up economic stability program, and added that the program should be revised.

HEAVY SNOWFALL IN SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA
Heavy snowfall paralyzed daily life and traffic in Southeastern Anatolia Region. A total of 1,208 village roads in Diyarbakir, Sirnak, Siirt, Mardin and Elazig provinces have been closed to traffic due to heavy snowfall. Some parts of the region cannot be given electricity.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

CILLER WANTS EARLY ELECTIONS
Tansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP), said, ''what should be done urgently is resignation of government.'' Ciller paid a visit of get well soon to former President Suleyman Demirel. Responding to questions of journalists following the meeting, she said, ''our proposal for a national comprimise government was misunderstood by some circles. We believe that Turkey should make a new beginning with a new program.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

GOVERNMENT PROMISES TO GIVE MONEY TO BANKS
Economy bureaucrats held a meeting with bank managers yesterday. At the meeting which was presided by State Minister Recep Onal, a full consensus of opinion was reached on measures which will be taken for sound functioning of markets. Central Bank Governor Gazi Ercel who did not attend the meeting announced that he had resigned.

-D-8 SUMMIT MEETING
-COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING ENDS
CAIRO - The Council of Foreign Ministers of Developing-8 (D-8) Economic Cooperation Group decided late on Saturday to provide visa facilities to businessmen of member countries.

At the meeting of Council of Foreign Ministers, the Cairo Statement which will be signed by the heads of state and government of member countries on Sunday was finalized.

Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Mithat Balkan represented Turkey in the meeting at which the issue of development of cooperation among member countries was taken up.

The Council formed by foreign ministers of member countries, is the decision-making mechanism of the D-8.

Meanwhile, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will hold a bilateral meeting with President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt early on Sunday.

-BANKING DELEGATION OF IMF AND WORLD BANK DUE IN TURKEY
ANKARA - Banking delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank will come to Turkey on Sunday.

Sources told the A.A correspondent that Lalit Raina, the Chairperson of World Bank's Financial Sector Group, would lead the delegation of banking experts.

The delegation is expected to concentrate its works on public banks.

Banking sector's liquidity problem will be taken up during the banking delegation's visit to Turkey.

-NSC TO CONVENE ON MONDAY
ANKARA - The National Security Council will convene under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on Monday.

The meeting will start at 09:30 a.m. at the Cankaya Presidential Palace.

It will be the continuation of the monthly meeting which was interrupted last Monday.

Following a row between President Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit at last week's meeting, Prime Minister Ecevit and ministers left the Presidential Palace.

Therefore, issues on the agenda of NSC could not be discussed.

These issues are expected to be taken up at tomorrow's meeting.

-D-8 SUMMIT MEETING
-PRESIDENT SEZER MEETS WITH PRESIDENT MUBARAK OF EGYPT
CAIRO - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer who is currently in Egyptian capital Cairo to attend the third summit meeting of heads of state and government of the Developing-8 (D-8) Economic Cooperation Group, met on Sunday morning with President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.

No statement has been given about agenda of the meeting.

Diplomatic sources told the A.A correspondent that bilateral relations between Turkey and Egypt and cooperation among D-8 member countries were taken up at the meeting.

-D-8 SUMMIT MEETING STARTS
CAIRO - The third summit meeting of heads of state and government of the Developing-8 (D-8) Economic Cooperation Group started on Sunday in Egyptian capital Cairo.

Speaking at the summit meeting, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh which will turn over the term presidency to Egypt, said that poverty had been continuing although wars and clashes came to an end in many parts of the world.

Noting that there was a disadvantageous situation against developing countries in economic and political fields, Sheikh Hasina stressed that D-8 member countries should expend efforts to remove this situation.

-MEDICAL GREEN CARD HOLDERS EXCEED TEN MILLION IN TURKEY
ANKARA - The number of 'green card' holders, a card that provides free medical care for people in need, has exceeded ten million in the ninth year of this practice. The system recently started to falter because a lack of funds in the budget.

Director of the Health Ministry Treatment Services, Vasfi Ulusoy told the A.A correspondent that there were currently 10,110,172 green card holders which translates to one out of every six or seven people in Turkey. Ulusoy said the increasing green card holders is causing budget deficits.

''We had asked for 330 trillion Turkish lira (TL) for this fund but we were given only 105 trillion TL,'' he remarked adding that all state hospitals were obliged to serve patients with green card.

The bill which enabled the state meet the cost of the medical treatment of the needy passed on June 18, 1992. Since then, the state has been paying for the hospital costs of green card holders totalling up to trillions of TL.

Health Minister Osman Durmuş said ten million was definitely not a correct figure. He pointed out that certain people who are covered by other social security agencies also own a green card because they cannot get an appointment at an hospital through these agencies.

''Some people have double cards. In no other country in the world, you can have social security and also a green card. We are working to prevent this from happening,'' he said.

-D-8 SUMMIT MEETING STARTS
-BANGLADESH TO HAND OVER TERM PRESIDENCY TO EGYPT
CAIRO - Bangladesh will hand over term presidency to Egypt at the third summit meeting of heads of state and government of the Developing-8 (D-8) Economic Cooperation Group in Egyptian capital Cairo.

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is expected to deliver a speech at the summit meeting.

Presidents of Turkey, Egypt, Nigeria, Indonesia and Pakistan, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, and Foreign Minister of Iran are in attendance at the one-day summit meeting.

At the end of the summit meeting, Cairo Declaration and an agreement providing visa facilities to businessmen of member countries will be signed.

The summit meeting is expected to focus on improvement of relations among member countries.

[02] RENAULT MAIS DIRECTOR GENERAL AYBAR: ''OUR SALES WERE NOT NEGATIVELY

Speaking at inauguration of Renault MAIS branch office in Izmir, Aybar said that Turkey needed confidence and morale in a crisis atmosphere.

''We are pleased to open such an office in such a period when Turkey needs confidence and morale. A brilliant future awaits Turkey. Turkey will take its place in the global economy. Automotive industry is a developing market in Turkey. We will see the days in which one million cars are sold a year, '' he said.

Noting that Renault had a 23 percent share in the Turkish automobiles market, Aybar said ,''approval of resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians by France did not negatively affect our sales. Renault has been selling motor vehicles in Turkey for thirty-one years. Our automobiles became Turkish production. With this respect, political developments do not affect our sales.''

-D-8 SUMMIT MEETING
CAIRO - Bangladesh handed over term presidency to Egypt at the third summit meeting of heads of state and government of the Developing-8 (D-8) Economic Cooperation Group in Egyptian capital Cairo.

Speaking at the summit meeting, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt described the world as a medallion with opportunities on one of its surface, and difficulties on the other.

He noted that underdeveloped and devoloping countries could not benefit from opportunities of the globalization.

Referring to international economy and finance organizations, Mubarak said that these organizations should assist developing countries to solve their economic problems, finding new markets for their products, and recovering from global financial crises with least damage.

Mubarek stressed that industrialist countries should give up their protective approaches.

Mubarak called on member countries to cooperate in trade, finance and in struggle against poverty.

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer is also expected to deliver a speech at the summit meeting.

-STATE MINISTER TOSKAY: ''FLUCTUATION IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES
WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MACRO BALANCES ARE SETTLED DOWN''
ABANT - State Minister Tunca Toskay said on Sunday that fluctuation in foreign exchange rates would continue until macro balances were settled down, adding, ''850 thousand Turkish lira for one U.S. dollar is a reasonable rate.''

Responding to the A.A correspondent's question, Toskay who is attending a meeting on ''Crisis in Construction Sector'' at the Bolu Buyuk Abant Hotel said that manufacturing sector was under pressure due to high interest rates in banking sector and liquidity shortage so manufacturing sector should be relieved.

Noting that fluctuation in foreign exchange rates would continue until macro balances were settled down, Toskay said, ''850 thousand Turkish lira for one U.S. dollar is a reasonable rate.''

Regarding the increase in credit cards interest rates made by banks, Toskay said, ''price of a non-existing thing increases. This increase happened as there is not more money in the market. On my personal view, it is normal.''

Regarding the National Security Council (NSC) meeting on Monday, Toskay said, ''I don't want to comment on a meeting in which I don't participate. However, it is not an obligation for a person to like other person. The important thing for the state is fulfilment of its duties.''

When recalled of rumors about resignation of Central Bank Governor Gazi Ercel, Toskay said, ''he is a hard-working bureaucrat. I don't want to comment on this issue.''

[03] D-8 SUMMIT MEETING

Speaking at the third summit meeting of heads of state and government of the Developing-8 (D-8) Economic Cooperation Group in Egyptian capital Cairo, President Sezer said, ''global economic conditions entail developing countries to take up economic problems more seriously and with new methods. Negativities in global economy are much more effective in developing and underdeveloped countries.''

(To be continued)

-COMMERCIAL RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND RUSSIA
TRABZON - Trabzon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TTSO) prepared a report on economic and commercial problems with Russia and solutions to these problems.

The report said, ''according to foreign trade data, Russia is the most important commercial partner of Turkey following collapse of the Soviet Union. Commercial relations between Turkey and Russia have further improved recently as a result of new elements to revive trade. It is clear that important changes have occurred in Russia in recent years. These changes have inevitably reflected to Russia's commercial relations with other countries. Till the second half of 1980s, commercial relations between Turkey and the Soviet Union were at a low level. Commercial relations have accelerated since then as a result of natural gas agreement, Eximbank loans and other finance mechanisms. Taking into considiration mutual trade potential of the two countries, these changes will affect economic policies of Turkey and the Russian Federation.''

''Turkey's and Russia's benefitting from each other's economic experiences is a great opportunity. The two countries should well-understand each other, consolidate their historical and cultural characteristics, and carry their economic relations to a joint platform in order to make these experiences more beneficial,'' it said.

Referring to shuttle trade between Turkey and Russia, the report noted, ''shuttle trade has made an important contribution to economies of both Turkey and Russia. It is necessary to prepare a legal ground for shuttle trade and to develop alternative marketing methods. Turkey and Russia have a great business potential.''

Underlining importance of making joint investments in free areas with the aim of improving commercial relations between Turkey and Russia, the report added, ''an increase in Trabzon Free Area's activities will be beneficial for both countries. Such a development will revive economy and affect foreign trade positively.''

-SPORTS - WATER POLO
-TURKEY BEATEN BY ROMANIA 1-7
ISTANBUL - Romania beat Turkey 7-1 in the International Water Polo Tournament in Istanbul on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Ukraine beat Poland 10-6, and Belarus beat Bulgaria 11-6.

After these results, Ukraine won the tournament, Romania was ranked second, Poland was ranked third while Turkey was ranked fifth.

-D-8 SUMMIT MEETING
-PRESIDENT SEZER (2):
-''WE ATTRIBUTE GREAT IMPORTANCE TO PARTICIPATION
OF NEW MEMBERS IN THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION''
CAIRO - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Sunday, ''we attribute great importance to participation of new members in the World Trade Organization (WTO).''
Speaking at the third summit meeting of heads of state and government of the Developing-8 (D-8) Economic Cooperation Group in Egyptian capital Cairo, President Sezer said, ''a world trade system which was divided into giant economic blocks that were formed by industrialized countries can bring forth disadvantageous results to developing and underdeveloped countries. Turkey attributed great importance to participation of new members in the WTO and spread of WTO system.''

President Sezer thanked Bangladesh which has carried out term presidency of D-8 successfully for the last two years, and to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh.

President Sezer wished success to Arab Rebuplic of Egypt which has taken over D-8 term precidency from Bangladesh, and to President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.

He stressed, ''I am pleased with being with you in Egypt at the third summit meeting of D-8 Group which was formed as a result of our initiatives and which has made valuable contributions to development of cooperation and friendly ties among our countries.''

Noting that he wanted to share his opinions about some international economic problems and about D-8's formation, President Sezer said, ''the D- 8 Group has become a more attractive formation in the international platform. If we act together on international and regional issues and strengthen economic and commercial dimensions of the D-8, the D-8's international activity will increase in coming years. We, as member countries to the D-8, have rich natural resources and human sources. These assets can bring forth new opportunities to diversify and improve our relations.''

''The world economy which has recently overcome the negative effects of the financial crisis which erupted in Southeastern Asia in 1997 and rapidly spread to the whole world, has come face to face this time with negativities stemming from signals of recession in economies of great members of international system and fluctations in oil prices. Besides, protective approaches of developed countries in international trade, their decreasing aid for development and increasing foreign debts interrupted development of developing and underdeveloped countries,'' he said.

Underlining importance of decreasing negative effects of recent developments in the world economy on economies of developing and underdeveloped countries, President Sezer stressed that international economic and financial organizations should provide comrehensive contributions to developing and underdeveloped countries.

President Sezer said, ''industrialized countries can also face some problems in the globalization process. It is a fact that industrialized countries are well-equipped to overcome these problems. Industrialized countries are expected to support other countries needing urgent aid of international community. This support should include factors such as more technical cooperation, more investments and lessening foreign debt burden. Today, poverty became one of the most important global problems. Imbalance in income distribution among countries has increased considerably. We can take important steps in struggle against poverty by developing D-8's economic and commercial dimensions.''

He noted, ''international organizations are expected to produce solutions to problems such as poverty, economic and social development. Turkey has been supporting reforms within framework of international finance system. In the last five decades, liberalization and technological advancements in international trade have led to a general increase in world prosperity. But developing countries' share in the world trade did not increase in parallel to this development. At the same time, underdeveloped countries' share in the world trade has been reducing gradually.''

President Sezer continued, ''if international trade system works fairly, it can play a positive role in solving the problem of development. The WTO has become an important international organization to this end. A world trade system divided into giant economic blocks formed by industrialized countries can bring forth disadvantageous results to developing and underdeveloped countries. Therefore, Turkey attributes great importance to participation of new members in the WTO and to spreading of WTO system. Turkey is in favor of

beginning of a new round of commercial negotiations within framework of the WTO and adoption of an approach taking into consideration rights and benefits of all members within framework of these negotiations.''

He emphasized that trade among member countries to the D-8 should be increased.

''As a result of developing commercial relations in the D-8, our share in global trade will increase. When private sector's role in economic development of countries is taken into consideration, private sector should undertake pioneership in the D-8. Private sector should take part in works aiming at foundation of an international trade and marketing company,'' he noted.

President Sezer said that signing of the agreement providing visa facilities to businessmen would make important contributions to cooperation among D-8 member countries.

He added, ''we attribute importance to foundation of an international trade and databank network in regard to use of technology and modern communication facilities in trade among our countries and the D-8's trade with other countries.''

Stressing that production of crop dusters constituted the basic project for cooperation in industry which was carried out in coordination of Turkey, President Sezer said, ''I want to state with satisfaction that first exemplary model of this plane has been produced as a result of the works carried out within structure of the Turkish Aerospace Industries, and it has successfully ended test flights. Undoubtedly, participation of experts from member countries in technical meetings and their contributions helped us to reach such a stage. Financial and technical contributions of our partners in the D-8 and their cooperation with Turkey will enable start of production of this plane as a D-8 project.''

Stating that another field of cooperation which had been proposed by Turkey covered environmental issues, President Sezer said that today, environmental problems became one of the prior issues in regard to protection of natural balance of the earth and health of next generations, and that it would be beneficial to exchange experts and hold educational programs about those issues among the members countries.

Noting that works in field of agriculture especially in food safety which had been continued so far should be diversified and continue, President Sezer said, ''our common target should be expending efforts to solve problems of our population living in the rurals and extending loan and information support to the small and medium scale enterprises which play important role in commercial life in the rurals.''

Stressing that support to those projects could be obtained also from the United Nations sources, President Sezer said that they should extend support to also the works on development of human sources.

Emphasizing that matters related with the banking and finance sectors had been gradually gaining importance within framework of conditions of today's world economy, President Sezer said that successful works had been carried out in all of those fields within structure of the D-8 in previous term.

''I am pleased to hear that the first working meeting on energy will be held in Nigeria. In this way, also the energy issues will be included in the fields in which we are carrying out an effective cooperation. Energy will continue to be a vital matter for all countries. With this respect, we should cooperate in this field more effectively,'' the President said.

''I hope the process of our cooperation within framework of the D-8 will bring the most successful results for our countries and nations. We sincerely believe that we will record further progress within structure of the D-8 under term presidency of Egypt,'' President Ahmet Necdet Sezer added.

(End)

-TRNC PARLIAMENT SPEAKER HASIPOGLU ARRIVES IN ANKARA
ANKARA - Parliament Speaker Ertugrul Hasipoglu of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) arrived in Ankara on Sunday on an official visit.

Murat Sokmenoglu, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, welcomed Hasipoglu and accompanying parliamentary delegation at Ankara's Esenboga Airport.

Addressing journalists at the airport after his arrival, Hasipoglu said that they wanted to reach an agreement based on two separate states on the island.

The delegation formed by Onder Sennaroglu from the National Unity Party (UBP), Mustafa Arabacioglu from the Democrat Party (DP), Dervis Akter from the Communal Liberation Party (TKP) and Kadri Fellahoglu from the Republican Turkish Party (CTP).

The delegation will start its contacts in Ankara on Monday morning by visiting Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of modern and secular Republic of Turkey.

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will receive the delegation.

The delegation is expected to depart from Turkey on Wednesday.

-KSO INCLUDED IN THOMAS REGISTER GUIDEBOOK
KONYA - Thomas Register of European Manufacturers, the European industrial buying guide, included Konya Chamber of Industry (KSO) members in its guidebook.

KSO deputy director Hasan Angi told the A.A correspondent on Sunday that Thomas Register which has been acting as an industrial guide since 1898 included KSO members' products and by-industry products in its guidebook for free of charge.

Belgium-based Thomas Register which included over 185,000 industrial suppliers, organised by 10,000 industrial product classifications, in 6 languages, and from 17 European countries in its guidebook, distributes its guidebook once in every six moths for free.

[04] A RALLY HELD IN KAYSERI TO CONDEMN ARMENIAN TERRORISM

Dr. Mahmut Sarikaya from the Azerbaijani Culture Association, said, ''a number of people were massacred by Armenians in Hocali on February 26, 1992.''
Stressing that French parliament which accused Turkey of committing genocide on Armenians had been trying to mislead the public opinion, Sarikaya noted, ''France has accused Turkey of committing genocide on Armenians without feeling ashamed of gory massacres it committed in the past. We condemn such shameless and impudent decision.''

Nearly 100 people attended the rally.

Following the rally, they marched to the Cumhuriyet Square with Turkish, and Azerbaijani flags in their hands.

Later, they dispersed peacefully.

-TURKISH AIRPORTS GETTING READY FOR EU
ANKARA - Efforts have been intensified to modernize Turkey's airports and increase flight security as a part of the initiatives to increase Turkey's tourism revenues.

The State Airports General Directorate (DHMI) which implemented its last flight security project in 1985, will soon complete bidding preparations for a radar system.

The project proposes installing PSR and SSR systems in six different points in Turkey including Ankara and Istanbul.

DHMI will run the 500 million U.S. dollars project with international aviation company Eurocontrol.

DHMI will spend a total of one billion U.S. dollars to increase capacity and modernize Antalya, Bodrum, Izmir's Adnan Menderes, Istanbul's Ataturk, and Ankara's Esenboga airports.

EU norms and tourism revenues are two important considerations of the authorities to make improvements in these airports.

The modernization project which will be carried out by ''build-operate- transfer'' model is expected to be completed in five years.

The modernization cost will be met by non-budget resources.

-LABOR AND SOCIAL SECURITY MINISTER OKUYAN: ''IT IS WRONG TO HOLD ONLY
BUREAUCRATS RESPONSIBLE FOR LATEST CRISIS. ALL OF US WERE RESPONSIBLE
INCLUDING THE BUSINESS CIRCLE''
ISTANBUL - Labor and Social Security Minister Yasar Okuyan said on Sunday, ''it is wrong to hold only bureaucrats responsible for the latest crisis. All of us were responsible including the business circle.''

Okuyan responded to questions of journalists following a ceremony which was held at the Koc University in Istanbul to mark 75th anniversary of foundation of the Koc Holding.

When asked what he thought about Central Bank Governor Gazi Ercel's resignation, Okuyan said that some bureaucrats could resign and some bureaucrats could be removed from office. ''However, the important thing is to revise the economic program against new developments, and put these revision decisions into practice with determination.''

Okuyan said that the government had taken some measures about the economy and that those measures would start to be implemented gradually as of Monday.

''Foreign exchange and interest rates were engulfed with a short term panic. However, we will see that the markets will reach a more regular trend as of tomorrow as a result of measures. I think that fluctuations can continue till the end of religious holiday. After the religious holiday, the system will be absolutely settled down,'' he said.

Recalling that Central Bank Governor Ercel had announced at the beginning of the economic program that a floating foreign exchange rates regime would be adopted, Okuyan said that it had been planned to transit into this system at the end of June or beginning of July of 2001.

''However, revision in the economy came on the agenda five months before the schedule. We should not focus on these. We should look to the future. We don't waste time to seek responsible people. This is assessed by the public opinion. We have to fulfil our duties and settle this economic program on a stable and specific track,'' he added.

[05] D-8 SUMMIT MEETING ENDS

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer who represented Turkey at the summit meeting, left Egypt for Turkey.

-SPORTS-BASKETBALL
-MEN'S EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW TO BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 26 IN ISTANBUL
ISTANBUL - The official draw for the final round of the 32nd European Basketball Championship for Men will be held at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul on February 26.

With the completion of the Semi-Final Round of the European Championship for Men on Saturday, January 27, 2001, the following teams have qualified for the Final Round:

''Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Slovenia and Ukraine.''

The top seven teams from the European Championship 1999 plus the host country, Turkey, received an automatic qualification:

''France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Russia, Spain and Yugoslavia.''

The Championship will take place between August 31 and September 9, 2001. The format of the Final Round will be four groups of four teams each, playing round robin with the best placed of each group proceeding to the Quarter-Final. The second and third teams in each group will then play direct elimination games for the other four spots in the Quarter-Final.

The draw for the Final Round will take place at 17:00 on February 26, 2001 at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul.

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article