Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-03-04

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

04 MARCH

2001 Sunday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

The State Statistics Institute (DIE) said that the inflation in WPI increased 2.6 percent and 1.8 percent in CPI in February 2001 when compared with February 2000. The inflation rate in February 2000 was 67.5 percent in WPI and 69.7 percent in CPI.

''I HOPE WE WILL OMIT ZEROS FROM TURKISH LIRA''
State Minister Kemal Dervis said that he cannot get used to quadrillions, expressing hope that they will omit zeros from the Turkish lira (TL) one day. When a journalist asked if he became a minister upon the proposal of Stanley Fischer, the IMF First Managing Director, to Prime Minister Ecevit, Dervis said, ''Prime Minister takes his own decisions.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

ECEVIT: DERVIS IS DETERMINED
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit had a lunch with state minister Kemal Dervis on Saturday afternoon. Responding to the questions of reporters following the lunch, Ecevit said, ''I have good impressions. Mr. Dervis is very realistic and determined. He knows the difficulties. He has realistic approaches. I believe that he will be successful.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

HIS ASSISTANT IS DAUGHTER OF MINISTER
State Minister Kemal Dervis will work together with Oya Unlu, the daughter of State Minister Fikret Unlu. Oya Unlu was the assistant of Dervis when he was working in the World Bank. Oya Unlu, who went to the U.S. last summer, will take office soon.

OZKAN: ''I DID NOT MAKE THE BANK GIVE CREDIT TO ANYBODY''
Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Husamettin Ozkan responded to the claims regarding the Halk Bankasi. Ozkan said, ''I did not give instruction for giving credit to a person, company or a group. I did not intervene to the appointments and the bank administration. All the reports about the bank were submitted to the prosecutor's offices.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

LEADERS IN ANKARA DURING HOLIDAY
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi, Premier Bulent Ecevit, and deputy prime ministers Devlet Bahceli and Mesut Yilmaz will spend the Eid al-Adha holiday in Ankara. Recai Kutan, the leader of the Virtue Party (FP), will also spend the holiday in the capital. Tansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP), will go to the U.S. while Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP), will be in southern Antalya province.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Ozkan issued a written statement after news reports saying that permission was not given to interrogate officials of Halk Bankasi, which is a related institution of his ministry.

Ozkan continued, ''all the credits given from the Halk Bankasi were given before the date I took over the State Ministry. All these credits were investigated by the authorized organs. There are not any information or documents that the bank administrators used the bank for their personal interests by using or giving credits.''

INFLATION IS 26.5 PERCENT
The lowest inflation of the recent years was realized when the price increases, which came in the last days of the month due to the crisis, were not reflected in the fitures. The inflation is 26.5 percent in wholesale prices and 33.4 percent in consumer prices.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Pointing out that it was not possible to provide justice in distribution of income with high inflation, Dervis said, ''I can not get used to quadrillion. I wish we will omit zero one day.''

ORAL: NO NEW TAXES
Finance Minister Sumer Oral said on Saturday that there is no additional tax in the new period.

Oral said the crisis in Turkey's economy was rapidly overcome and the markets started to normalize.The crisis occurred due to the liquidity shortage in the financial sector, Oral said, noting, ''Turkey is a strong country. It has the strength to overcome the problems.''

Oral said that a good beginning was made for the budgetary practices this year. He does not have any hesitations about reaching the tax targets this year, Oral noted.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

35,000 SIGNATURES FOR HADEP MEMBERS
People's Democracy Party (HADEP) Diyarbakir Provincial Organization sent 35, 000 signatures to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit which they collected to find Serdar Tanis, the HADEP Silopi Provincial Chairman, and Ebubekir Deniz, an administrator of the party. Tanis and Deniz were lost 36 days ago.

-INFLATION RATE IS THE LOWEST RATE IN LAST 14 YEARS
ANKARA - The annual inflation rate in February 2001 is the lowest rate recorded in the last 14 years.

The inflation rate in the wholesale prices index (WPI) was 26.5 percent and in the consumer prices index (CPI) was 33.4 percent in February 2001.

The inflation rate in WPI was 26.4 percent and in CPI was 31.6 percent in March 1987.

Below listed the inflation rates in WPI and CPI since 1980:

WPI (PERCENT)

----- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---
Jan 89.1 86.4 24.5 32.3 32.8 54.9 37.9 23.5 53.6 71.0 60.2

Feb 133.2 47.4 23.9 30.6 34.1 56.9 34.3 23.7 59.6 69.3 62.0

April 122.7 34.1 34.2 27.8 45.6 51.3 28.7 27.2 68.5 61.4 61.5

May 119.0 33.1 32.5 28.2 53.1 44.6 28.0 31.1 64.2 64.0 58.4

June 109.8 37.9 23.9 28.1 58.2 36.3 30.9 30.5 67.7 70.0 51.3

July 103.5 37.8 25.3 27.1 55.2 38.0 31.9 31.1 68.4 74.7 46.4

Aug 100.0 37.2 25.5 27.3 56.9 36.1 29.8 34.5 69.0 74.7 45.9

Sept 100.9 36.6 23.5 28.5 57.3 36.6 29.0 34.4 71.7 75.5 47.8

Oct 104.7 29.6 21.2 31.0 58.1 38.9 27.7 33.9 76.0 72.6 49.3

Nov 96.9 27.3 21.1 35.0 57.5 38.0 25.7 35.7 80.2 69.7 50.2

Dec 94.7 25.6 24.8 40.1 53.5 38.2 24.5 48.9 69.7 69.0 49.2

Months 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

----- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---
Jan 48.8 69.0 52.7 60.6 156.8 64.9 78.0 92.5 50.0 66.4 28.3

Feb 49.7 69.0 52.7 68.0 149.8 63.0 78.6 89.6 48.3 67.5 26.5

April 55.1 63.0 54.0 125.3 91.2 69.9 72.8 83.3 50.0 61.5

May 54.2 59.5 57.3 138.6 78.4 73.7 74.6 79.9 50.0 59.2

June 54.1 57.7 60.6 137.6 77.3 76.2 75.7 76.7 50.3 56.8

July 57.9 57.1 65.2 128.8 80.0 76.3 80.7 72.1 52.4 52.3

Aug 58.3 57.3 63.5 126.5 80.3 79.0 83.4 67.4 53.7 48.9

Sept 56.3 60.1 60.0 129.6 79.2 79.8 85.4 65.9 54.4 43.9

Oct 54.6 63.3 57.0 136.9 75.1 82.8 87.5 62.0 55.2 41.4

Nov 56.3 62.7 61.4 137.0 71.6 85.7 88.4 58.6 56.3 39.1

Dec 59.2 61.4 60.3 149.6 64.9 84.9 91.0 54.3 62.9 32.7

CPI (PERCENT)

----- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---
Jan 84.9 89.9 25.9 28.9 36.1 52.8 41.0 30.3 59.6 74.3 60.0

Feb 133.7 51.7 28.8 29.2 34.8 55.4 38.8 31.6 63.8 72.6 59.5

April 133.0 36.5 31.2 29.5 42.5 49.5 33.6 37.0 74.5 62.5 63.5

May 138.7 30.5 31.1 30.0 48.5 46.4 33.0 41.1 70.2 62.8 63.6

June 136.5 31.2 26.9 29.5 56.0 36.5 37.2 37.7 74.1 67.7 62.6

July 127.8 31.3 25.4 29.5 55.9 37.1 37.8 37.7 75.5 72.4 56.3

Aug 116.8 32.2 26.6 30.8 56.1 37.3 35.5 38.9 78.4 73.3 54.8

Sept 109.4 31.3 24.4 31.0 54.3 40.9 32.3 39.7 81.8 73.1 59.3

Oct 110.9 26.5 25.0 34.3 53.0 43.5 33.7 36.4 86.4 73.3 60.3

Nov 99.2 26.4 25.1 36.1 53.1 44.5 30.6 41.7 87.5 69.4 61.3

Dec 93.7 27.1 26.3 37.1 49.7 44.2 30.7 55.1 75.2 68.8 60.4

Months 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

----- ---- ---- ---- ----- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- ---- ---
Jan 62.0 78.5 59.8 69.6 130.6 78.1 75.7 101.6 65.9 68.9 35.9

Feb 63.5 77.8 58.2 73.0 130.0 77.5 77.7 99.3 63.9 69.7 33.4

April 62.1 74.0 59.0 107.4 94.3 80.8 77.2 93.6 63.9 63.8

May 62.5 69.9 65.0 117.8 82.4 82.9 77.5 91.4 63.0 62.7

June 64.9 65.8 67.2 115.8 84.4 82.9 78.0 90.6 64.3 58.6

July 68.6 65.8 73.1 109.3 86.5 81.2 85.2 85.3 65.0 56.2

Aug 71.0 65.5 71.2 108.0 89.9 81.9 87.8 81.4 65.4 53.2

Sept 66.9 67.7 68.2 111.1 91.3 79.3 89.9 80.4 64.3 49.0

Oct 66.5 69.2 67.2 116.3 88.3 79.6 93.2 76.6 64.7 44.4

Nov 66.8 68.6 69.6 119.7 83.8 80.4 95.8 72.8 64.6 43.8

Dec 71.1 66.0 71.1 125.5 76.9 79.8 99.1 69.7 68.8 39.0

-TOURISM MINISTER MUMCU MEETS WITH OGER AND CHAIRMAN OF
GERMAN TRAVELLING AGENCIES UNION
BERLIN - Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu met on Saturday with Vural Oger, the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Oger Tour, and Klaus Laepple, the Chairman of the German Travelling Agencies Union.

Oger said that they expect Turkey to exert more efforts to promote its image abroad.

Mumcu, who was in Berlin to visit the international tourism fair opened in Berlin, Germany, said that they exert efforts in different fields and that they are exerting efforts to make the Turkish music bands give concerts in Germany.

Mumcu later met with Laepple.

Following the meeting, Laepple said that they debated the reservations to Turkey and that they saw that the reservations to Turkey were at a high level.

They also debated the financial crisis in Turkey, Laepple noted, adding that the DRV is planning to hold a meeting in Turkey in 2002 or 2003.

-DEMONSTRATION FROM DUTCH TURKISH FEDERATION
TO CONDEMN FRENCH PARLIAMENT
AMSTERDAM - The Dutch Turkish Federation staged a demonstration in front of the French Embassy in The Hague to condemn the decision of the French Parliament accepting the law on so-called genocide on Armenians, and laid a black wreath in front of the Embassy building.

The Turkish Federation, including more than 60 associations, also presented a letter to the French Embassy disclosing why they opposed to the law on so- called genocide on Armenians.

The letter, which was disclosed to the public by Ismet Harmankaya, the Chairman of the federation, said a law, which was accepted regarding an issue which the Turkish community was sensitive on, would prepare a basis for the other countries to take similar laws onto their agenda. It said this would encourage the attacks of Armenian terrorist organizations to Turks, adding this would also jeopardize the security of Turkish community living in Europe.

The letter stressed that the French politicians should assess their own history before the history of others.

The letter said the law on so-called genocide on Armenians brought an accusation to the Turkish community which it did not deserve, noting that this was an insult to the ancestors of today's generations.

''Turkish and French people have lived in peace for years, they exchanged culture and continued trade relations throughout the history. We have not understood with which reasons they wanted to disrupt this tranquility atmosphere. We present this black wreath to you to remind that manners of the politicians, who were in an effort to disrupt the tranquility between the peoples of the two countries, are unacceptable,'' the letter said.

The letter noted that there should not be enmity but friendship feelings between the peoples and the nations, adding that, ''we wish common sense to prevail and we also wish exclusion of such kind of laws, which incite enmities, from the agenda.''

-FOREIGN AID EXTENDED BY TURKEY
ANKARA - The official foreign aid that Turkey extended increased 11.4 percent in 1999 when compared with the previous year.

The State Statistics Institute (DIE) announced on Saturday the definite results of 1998 and the temporary results of 1999.

In accordance with the results, the total of Turkey's official aid was 446 million 501 thousand 386 U.S. dollars in 1999 while it was 400 million 777 thousand 298 U.S. dollars in 1998, including 55 million 361 thousand 204 U.S. dollar official donation, 23 million 930 thousand 859 U.S. dollar membership fees of international organizations and 321 million 485 thousand 235 U.S. dollar other official payments.

Turkey's official payments in 1999 was comprised of 42 million 777 thousand 977 U.S. dollar official donation, 82 million 493 thousand 469 U.S. dollar membership fees of international organizations, and 320 million 229 thousand 940 U.S. dollar other official payments.

In accordance with the figures of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Development Aid Committee, 36 million 787 thousand 382 U.S. dollars of the foreign aid was extended to the developing countries, 5 milliion 45 thousand 359 U.S. dollars was extended to the countries, the economies of which are developing, and 945 thousand 236 U.S. dollars to other countries in 1999.

The donations to the developing countries in 1999 included 12.6 million U.S. dollar project and program assistance, 11.7 million U.S. dollar technical cooperation, 12.4 thousand U.S. dollar food aid, and 10 million U.S. dollar emergency aid.

Turkey paid 7 million 469 thousand 497 U.S. dollar membership fee to the United Nations (U.N.), 9 million 856 thousand 929 U.S. dollars to the international development agency and 53 million 66 thousand 230 U.S. dollars to the regional development banks in 1999.

In 1999, Turkey granted 8.9 million U.S. dollars to Bosnia-Herzegovina, 6.4 million U.S. dollars to Albania, 3.2 million U.S. dollars to Kazakhstan, 2.2 million U.S. dollars to Azerbaijan, 2 million U.S. dollars to Kyrgyzstan, 1.9 million U.S. dollars to Turkmenistan, 1.9 million U.S. dollars to Central Asia, 1.1 million U.S. dollars to Thailand, and 1.9 million U.S. dollars to Macedonia.

-FOREIGN MINISTRY REACTS TO THE DECISION OF TALEBAN
FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF AFGHAN STATUES
ANKARA - Huseyin Dirioz, the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, evaluating the decision of Afghanistan's ruling Taleban movement to demolish statues in the country, said, ''such a destruction can not be justified by any reason.''

Responding to a question on the issue, Dirioz said, ''such an action, which targeted demolishing some archeologic monuments, which formed a part of the world culture and Afghanistan's cultural accumulation, meant depriving the coming generations of this culture.''

Dirioz said they shared the reaction of the international organizations, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the public on the issue.

-STATE MINISTER KECECILER:
-''THE IMPORTATION OF ANY PRODUCT WHICH MAY LEAD TO DISEASES LIKE
THE HEPATITIS, AIDS AND MAD COW WILL NOT BE PERMITTED WITHOUT TESTS''
ANKARA - State Minister Mehmet Kececiler said on Sunday that the importation of any product which may lead to diseases like the hepatitis, AIDS and mad cow will not be permitted if the control document is not shown and the tests are not done.

Kececiler released a statement about the claims that the blood samples and animal products which may cause mad cow were permitted to enter into Turkey through the customs gates without any controls.

The products are evaluated in two categories in the foreign trade, including the products which need permit for importation and exportation and the products, the importation and exportation of which are free, Kececiler said.

Kececiler noted that importation permit is necessary for the blood samples and animal products.

The fodder and animal products are controlled by the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ministry while the blood samples are under the responsibility of the Health Ministry, Kececiler said.

Kececiler noted that the analysis of these products are under the responsibilities of these ministries.

The importation of any product which may lead to diseases like the hepatitis, AIDS and mad cow will not be permitted if the control document is not shown and the tests are not done, Kececiler stated.

Kececiler said, ''under Turkey's international commitments, Turkey has to facilitate its trade and simplify customs practices. To this end, when the importers, who take the pre-permits from the Health and Agriculture and Rural Affairs ministries and show these documents to the customs officials, complete their customs practices, it is not possible for the customs administration to prevent the imported product from entering into Turkey.''

-PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT RELEASES MESSAGE FOR THE FEAST OF SACRIFICE
ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Sunday that Turkish nation protected its unity even under the most difficult conditions, noting that this was the guarantee that it would overcome all the problems. ''I believe that the economic problems we have experienced recently would be overcome within this framework.''

Prime Minister Ecevit issued a message due to the Feast of Sacrifice.

According to a statement released by Premiership Press Center, Ecevit's message said, ''our national celebrations are the symbol of national unity and social solidarity. Our nation protected its unity even under the most difficult conditions, this is a guarantee that our nation will overcome all the problems.''

-TURKISH CUISINE IN NEW YORK
NEW YORK - Turkish cuisine will be introduced in New York, the U.S., within this month by the cooperation of the Istanbul Ciragan Hotel and one of the leading luxurious hotel of New York ''The Plaza.''

The ''Ciragan Hotel Kempinski'' will offer Turkish food in ''The Plaza'' hotel between March 19 and 28.

''The Plaza'' hotel is introducing the cuisine and wines of a country to the American people every year.

The appetizers which are the core of the Turkish cuisine, several khebabs, and special Turkish desserts like the baklava will be offered in ''The Plaza'' hotel.

The chefs who will come from Turkey will bring pepper, olive oil, and thin sheet of dough to New York to use these ingredients in the Turkish food which will be cooked in New York for ten days.

-DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BAHCELI ISSUES MESSAGE
DUE TO FEAST OF SACRIFICE
ANKARA - Devlet Bahceli, the State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, said on Sunday that all measures should be taken quickly to overcome the economic crisis which was experienced recently. Bahceli said, ''I wish, our nation, being in unity and integrity, would save the economy from the fragile basis, and make it reach a more healthy and stable condition.''

Bahceli issued a message due to Feast of Sacrifice, and said, ''our government is exerting efforts to overcome the losses caused by the economic quake. Our country will reach to the position it deserves with its well-educated human potential, rich natural resources, historical and cultural heritage and democratic developments.''

-STATE MINISTER DERVIS:
''WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THE PROBLEMS WITH MY
FRIENDS WHO KNOW ECONOMY WELL''
ISTANBUL - State Minister Kemal Dervis said on Sunday that they discussed the problems together with his friends who knew economy well.

Responding to the questions of reporters, Dervis said he would meet with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem on Sunday.

When asked which issues would be discussed during the meeting, Dervis said, ''of course the international relations. Economic and diplomatic relations should be carried out together.''

Responding to a question if economists suggested a proposal, Dervis said the economists have very valuable ideas. Dervis also said they were trying to set up a team.

-0.2-1.3 PERCENT RISE IN PETROL PRICES
ANKARA - The petrol prices were increased 0.2-1.3 percent on Sunday.

Officials said that one liter of unleaded petrol will be sold at 680 thousand Turkish liras (TL) in Ankara, at 680 thousand 300 TL in the Anatolian side of Istanbul and 681 thousand 500 TL in the European side of Istanbul and 678 thousand 700 TL in western Izmir province.

Below listed the former and new petrol prices in Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir:

. Unleaded Super Normal

. Former New Former New Former New

--------------- ------- ------ ------ ------- ------ --------
ISTANBUL
-Anatolian side 671,500 680.300 671,500 680.500 644,100 652.600

-European side 672,700 681.500 672,600 681.600 645,200 653.700

ANKARA 671,100 680.000 671,200 680.200 643,700 652.200
IZMIR 669,900 678.700 670,000 679.000 642,500 651.000
. Kerosene Diesel oil Fuel oil

. Former New Former New Former New

----------- ------ ----- ----- ----- ------ -----
ISTANBUL
-Anatolian side 518,600 524,500 497,800 503,200 254,000 255,100

-European side 519,800 525,700 499,100 504.500 252,100 253,200

ANKARA 528,400 534.300 506,400 511.800 262,900 264.000
IZMIR 516,900 522.800 496,000 501.400 248,000 249.600
Fuel Oil 6

. Former New

--------------- ------- -----
ISTANBUL
-Anatolian side 165,800 166.300

-European side 164,000 164.400

ANKARA 161,900 162.400
IZMIR 160.300 160.800

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