Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-03-23

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

23 MARCH

2001 Friday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 23, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Turkey's firts woman pilot and the world's first war pilot Sabiha Gokcen died yesterday at Ankara Gulhane Military Hospital one day after her birthday. She was 88 years old. Gokcen had been under treatment at the same hospital for one month for a number of health problems.

Gokcen was also Ataturk's adopted daughter who encouraged her greatly when she wanted to go to the Aviation School.

FARMERS WILL NOT LONGER BE USED TO GET VOTES

The National Program which was approved by the cabinet will prevent the farmers from being used by politicians to get votes. Entering the EU is not possible unless Turkey starts supporting farmers and adopts a quota system in fishing. The financial support for farmers will be decided on when forming the yearly budget. This will prevent farmers from being used by politicians to get more votes and the state will have a certain, preplanned agriculture policy. About fishing, the amount of fish that could be caught will be determined every year regularly through quotas. The information about the fish caught will be given to the stations that will be set up at the coasts immediately after the fishermen leaves their boats, not at open markets.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

37 HOURS IN ADVANCE

The machine developed by Dr. Berk Ustundag and Lutfu Canyaran predicted yesterday's earthquake in Afyon over 37 hours in advance. The earthquake which took place yesterday morning in Afyon had a magnitude of 4.8 by Richter scale. Dr.Ustundag and Canyaran said they informed the governors' offices in Afyon and the Prime Ministry before the earthquake. The system, which is sensitive to the electric current which occurs in rocks before earthquakes, was installed in 13 spots in Marmara and Aegean. On the night of March 20 at 7.30 p.m., the system started giving warnings, Ustundag said. ''We informed the Prime Ministry about the warning through a fax. If we had a machine in Afyon, we would have been able to tell exactly where it was going to take place. We can't say this machine is hundred percent successful but we have 60 percent chances of predicting big earthquakes. We might receive better results if the state supports this project,'' he said.

BORAY URAS WALKING AGAIN

Boray Uras who walked from Istanbul to Ankara to draw attention to Turkey's traffic problem will this time walk from Ardahan to Ankara. Uras had lost her daughter Selin Uras and her fiance Erdem Celasun at a car accident last year. Meanwhile, Baran Balcioglu who was found guilty for causing the deaths of Uras and Celasun is not in jail and sources said he might try to flee the country. Selin's father Uras pointed out that there was no ban issued for Balcioglu to prevent him from leaving the country.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Representatives of the medicine industry said that the fluctuations in foreign currency stopped the import of certain medicines. Some of these medicines are vital in the treatment of a number of diseases. A number of medicines started to be sold at the black market. Medicine Industry Employers Union Chairman Bulent Ecezacibasi called on medicine companies not to stop production or import of medicine in order not to cause a serious shortage in the country.

TURKEY MIGHT HAVE NO WATER IN 2025

At a number of conferences held on the World Water Day, it was stated that the countries which will have water reserves in the next century will be the world's super powers in 2025. The London based Tearfund Foundation released a report on the water reserves which are running out. The report predicted that a total of 48 countries in 2025 will face serious water shortages which might lead to a big immigration from Africa. Turkey, unfortunately, was also listed among these 48 countries.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

After a brief meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit announced yesterday the three main goals of the National Program. ''Effective measures will be brought to the banking sector; interest and foreign currency rates will be made stable; and the macroeconomic balances will be restored,'' he said. The prime minister also indicated that the government wants to mainly focus on activating domestic resources. He said Turkey could use foreign resources as a support to activate domestic resources.

ALL 13 MEMBERS OF YUKSEKOVA GANG SENTENCED TO PRISON

Diyarbakir State Security Court (DGM) sentenced all 13 members of Yuksekova gang for charges of forming an illegal organization, smuggling drugs and weapons in 1994 and 1995 in Hakkari. There were three high ranking military personnel and politicians among the gang members. The gang members will stay in prison for periods varying between three to thirty years.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

State Minister in charge of economy Kemal Dervis who is touring a number of foreign countries in an attemp to find foreign financial resources for Turkey's new economic package received the first support from Germany yesterday. German Finance Minister stated that his government supported Turkey's ''bold economic program.'' Dervis said Turkey was in need of foreign support and pointed out that no economic program could be run without IMF support. Dervis also called on German businessmen to make investments in Turkey.

BDDK TO MEET WITH BANK REPRESENTATIVES

The Banking Regulation and Inspection Agency (BDDK) will meet with the executives of all private banks in Turkey in order to assess the the affect on recent economic fluctuations on the banking sector. BDDK chairman Engin Akcakoca will start his meetings today in Ankara and Istanbul.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursat Tuzmen has said that the floating foreign currency rates had a good effect on the export. He also indicated that Turkey might exceed the 31 billion U.S. dollar export target which was set up for 2001. ''There are a number of oil rich countries whose purchasing power increased after the floating of the U.S. dollar. Automative, ceramic, electronic, iron and steel sectors might be the lucky sectors of this year,'' Tuzmen said.

CONTENTS

[01] BDDK TO HOLD MEETINGS WITH PRIVATE BANKS

[01] BDDK TO HOLD MEETINGS WITH PRIVATE BANKS

BDDK Chairman Engin Akcakoca and his team will meet with banks' representatives in Istanbul and Ankara. The meetings will start on Friday and last five days.

-TUNISIAN PRESIDENT VISITS ATATURK'S MAUSOLEUM
ANKARA - President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia visited Ataturk's Mausoleum Anitkabir on Friday morning.

Bin Ali signed the special mausoleum book and later toured the Ataturk museum.

After his contacts with Turkish officials in the capital, the Tunisian president will leave Turkey on Friday night.

-PROSECUTOR KANADOGLU:''FP HAS BECOME THE CONTINUATION OF
OUTLAWED RP UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME''
ANKARA - Supreme Court Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu sent his views regarding the closure case of the Virtue Party (FP) to the Constitutional Court on Friday.

Kanadoglu, in his 12-page explanation, indicated that the outlawed Welfare Party (RP) was shut down after it became a center for anti-secular activities. He added that FP which was founded after the RP was shut down had become a continuation of the outlawed RP under a different name.

Kanadoglu asked the Constitutional Court to bring a five year ban against the founders of the FP and terminate the deputyship of parliamentarians Ismail Alptekin and Mehmet Ozyol.

The FP will be asked to make a last defense within 15 days after Kanadoglu's statement is sent to the party.

-DIYARBAKIR DGM REJECTS SAKIK'S APPLICATION
DIYARBAKIR - One of the top leaders of the PKK terrorist organization Semdin Sakik's application to benefit from the repentance law was rejected by Diyarbakir State Security COurt.

-FOREIGN MINISTER CEM DUE TO BRUSSELS
-CEM TO VISIT VERHEUGEN AND PRESENT NATIONAL PROGRAMME
ANKARA - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will leave for Brussels on Saturday together with Secretary General for European Union (EU) Volkan Vural to present the National Programme to the EU on behalf of Turkey.

Releasing a statement on Friday, Foreign Ministry said that Cem would hold contacts in Brussels between March 24-26 after the Council of Ministers approved the National Programme on March 19.

Noting that Cem would carry out works with the relevant Turkish representations on relations between Turkey and the EU, the statement said that also Volkan Vural would attend those works.

Ismail Cem and Volkan Vural were scheduled to meet with EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen early on March 26 and submit the National Programme on behalf of Turkey.

Turkish Ambassador in the EU Nihat Akyol conveyed the National Programme to the EU on the same day when it was announced to the Turkish public opinion and it was sent to the capital cities of the EU countries.

Cem is expected to proceed to the United States following his meeting with Verheugen.

-NPAA OF TURKEY SAYS CERTAIN CHANGES SHOULD BE MADE
IN REGULATIONS REGARDING TRANSPORTATION
ANKARA - The National Program for the Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA), which is prepared to harmonize the arrangements in Turkey with the norms of the European Union (EU), includes arrangements in transportation, sources said on Friday.

The NPAA foresees strengthening and enhancing the competition capacity of the aviation sector in Turkey and also foresees clarifying the status of the Turkish Airlines (THY).

Legal arrangements would be made to remove the problems of passengers who can't fly due to excessive reservation and to establish reservation networks with computers within the framework of the NPAA.

The number of the personnel working at the Civil Aviation General Ditrectorate would be increased for a better monitoring of the sector.

The regulations regarding the pilot and operation licences would also be changed in accordance with the EU standards.

According to the program, a cooperation should be maintained among the Transportation and Environment Ministries to better implement the regulation on noise of planes. The program says that it is necessary to make investments to monitor and evaluate the level of the noise created by planes.

NPAA stresses that the regulation on investigation of air plane crashes should also be in line with the EU arrangements.

For the railway transportation, the NPAA emphasizes that a training should be given to the personnel and the management staff of the Turkish State Railways (TCDD) to switch from merely public service to a service mentality with commercial focus.

According to the NPAA two directorates of TCDD related with infrastructure will be merged to maintain the management of infrastructure works from one center.

The program proposes to make the necessary changes to make its maritime standards to be compatible with the EU.

The NPAA foresees to harmonize the decrees of the Turkish Trade Law on maritime with the related EU norms.

Noting that the inspection rates in maritime were at a lower rate when compared to rates foreseen by the EU norms, the program said those rates should be brought to the level of the EU norms when Turkey became the full member of the EU.

-TUNISIAN DELEGATION HEADED BY TUNISIAN MINISTER OF INDUSTRY VISITS TOBB
ANKARA - A Tunisian delegation headed by Moncef ben Abdallah, the Tunisian minster of industry, paid a visit to the Union of Chambres and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) on Friday.

Delivering a speech during the visit, Yavuz Zetinoglu, the deputy chairman of TOBB, said Turkey and Tunisia should further develop the business opportunities in contracting, technological cooperation and joint investments.

Zeytinoglu said they were expecting that the historical ties between two countries have an effect on political and economic relations.

There is a potential for cooperation especially in agriculture and automative, added Zeytinoglu.

Tunisia was a gateway for Turkey to enter the markets in Africa, said Zeytinoglu and added that agreements signed on tourism, civil aviation, preventing double taxing, maritime transportation, encouragement for investments, showed the political compromise between Turkey and Tunisia.

Zeytinoglu said it is businessmens' duty to further improve the relations and added ''I am sure we have every opportunity to improve mutual investments and cooperation in trade.''

The Turkish businessmen would evaluate the proposals from Tunisia to increase the trade relations in a balanced way, added Zeytinoglu.

Moncef Ben Abdallah, the minister of industry, said in his part that trade relations between Turkey and Tunisia could be further improved especially in textiles, food and electricity sector.

Ben Abdallah said the products, which could be manufactured through joint investments in industry, could be marketed to countries in Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

-JOINT PROJECT OF TREASURY AND WORLD BANK (1)
-TREASURY DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY KARAOZ: ''WE WILL
FOCUS ON DIRECT FOREIGN CAPITAL INVESTMENTS''
ANKARA - Treasury Deputy Undersecretary Aydin Karaoz said on Friday that they would focus on the direct foreign capital investments which displayed a balanced attitude even in crisis periods.

Introduction of the ''Administrative Obstacles In Front of Investments In Turkey'' project which is being implemented jointly by the Treasury Undersecretariat and World Bank was made and results of the works on ''Assessment of Situation of Investments'' were taken up at a meeting organized the same day at the Treasury Undersecretariat building.

Making the opening remarks of the meeting, Karaoz said that many countries had taken serious steps in last two decades to liberalize their economies to increase the domestic and foreign investments.

Stressing that expected development in investments couldn't be provided in several countries despite the steps taken in liberalization and many legal and political initiatives, Karaoz said that increasing global trade volume and capital flow gave rise to increase in productivity, growth and employment.

Noting that being a part of the world economy which gradually became dependent on each other brought together some potential risks and dangers, Karaoz said that portfolio investments were easily affected by some speculative factors.

Stating that Turkey couldn't get the necessary and sufficient share in foreign capital due to several reasons, Karaoz said, ''our aim is to bring the investment atmosphere in Turkey to a proper level. With this objective, we target to form a platform basis where both domestic and foreign investors easily carry out activities by making necessary changes in regulations and implementation.''

-PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE'S CHIEF CONSULTANT FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
ILDEM SAYS PRESIDENT SEZER BELIEVES THAT THERE WILL BE
AN INTERACTION BETWEEN NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR EU AND
ECONOMIC PROGRAMME
ANKARA - Tacan Ildem, the Presidential Office's Chief Consultant for Foreign Affairs said on Friday that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer believes that there will be an interaction between the national programme for adoption of acquis (NPAA) prepared for EU membership and the economic programme, and the success that will be achieved in one of them will also positively affect the success in the other one.

Tacan Ildem explained the views of President Sezer about the NPAA prepared by the Turkish government in a press briefing the same day.

Ildem said that President Sezer regards the approval and declaration of NPAA which is a sign of the political determination for EU membership, as a positive step and an important stage in full membership process.

Ildem said that President Sezer regards the Copenhagen criteria which the EU candidate states have to abide as a requirement of modernization, adding that ''the president evaluates these criteria as the conditions which must be fulfilled not only as the EU wants them to be met, but as a means which will provide recognition of freedoms and rights as a response to the citizens' needs and which will further improve the economic and social development and increase the prosperity level. President Sezer believes that the things that must be done from now on is to undertake the constitutional and legal reforms mentioned in the national programme for adoption of acquis and to take steps for democratization. The President is resolved to support the efforts of the parliament and the government to put into practice the reforms mentioned in the NPAA.''

Ildem said that Sezer also hopes the economic programme which will make stronger the economy to reach success and he also supports the efforts exerted to this end.

''President Sezer thinks that the implementation of NPAA and economic programme which directly concern our future has to continue fully and in line with the calendar by the contributions of the all concerned institutions, and he thinks that the support of the all sections of the society will have a role in the success of both programmes,'' Ildem said.

Ildem said that State Minister Kemal Dervis who is charged in economy was received by President Sezer after he took oath in the parliament, adding that State Minister Dervis informed Sezer about the steps that will be taken for the formation of the economic programme. Ildem added that President Sezer hopes these efforts to continue in the best way and to yield successful results.

-FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES CLAIMS ABOUT ENERGY MINISTER
ERSUMER'S VISIT TO U.S.
ANKARA- Foreign Ministry denied on Friday various claims about the visit of the Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer to the U.S.

Issuing a written statement about the question asked to the Ministry about the issue, Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said that Energy Minister Ersumer wanted to meet with the new U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham upon the world energy council meeting held in Baltimore, but as Abraham wouldn't be in Washington D.C. at that time, Ersumer cancelled his visit.

Dirioz recounted that the news published on March 21, 2001 claiming that Ersumer decided to visit the U.S. one month ago in order to discuss Baku- Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and other related issues with U.S. officials, but as he couldn't get any response to his request for an appointment, he cancelled his visit to the U.S.

Dirioz indicated that Ersumer was invited to the World Energy Council's meeting held between 19-22 March, 2001 in Baltimore by the Council's Chairman as a speaker in the meeting together with the ministers of certain other countries.

''Ersumer decided to sign a regulation on energy technology cooperation prpeared between the U.S. Energy Department and the Turkey's Ministry of Energy and to meet with the new U.S. Secretary of Energy during his visit, '' said Dirioz.

Dirioz noted that they asked the Turkish Embassy in Washington D.C. to find out if the U.S. Secretary of Energy's schedule was appropriate for a meeting and signing ceremony.

''Our Embassy was informed that the U.S. Secretary of Energy Mr. Abraham will be out of Washington at those dates, but he would be pleased to meet with Ersumer on an other date. Ersumer told the Foreign Ministry that he decided not to go to the U.S. due to his heavy schedule in Turkey,'' Dirioz said.

-JOINT PROJECT OF TREASURY AND WORLD BANK (2)
-WORLD BANK REPRESENTATIVE IN TURKEY CHHIBBER: ''THERE IS NOT
ANY REASON FOR TURKEY NOT TO DRAW DIRECT FOREIGN CAPITAL''
ANKARA - World Bank Representative in Turkey Ajay Chhibber said on Friday that Turkey's share was less than 1 billion U.S. dollars if the investment volume on global basis in last decade was taken into consideration, adding, ''there is no reason for Turkey not to draw foreign capital.''

Introduction of the ''Administrative Obstacles In Front of Investments In Turkey'' project which is being implemented jointly by the Treasury Undersecretariat and World Bank was made and results of the works on ''Assessment of Situation of Investments'' were taken up at a meeting organized the same day at the Treasury Undersecretariat building.

Speaking at the meeting, Chhibber said that the amount of portfolio investments in Turkey in last decade was 7-8 billion U.S. dollars while total direct foiregn investments was less than 1 billion U.S. dollars, adding that such portfolio investments were very dangerous.

Noting that direct investment of foreigners could play a very important role in Turkey's development, Chhibber said that Europe was in Turkey's backyard due to Turkey's strategic position, stressing that Europe constituted a serious market for Turkish products.

Chhibber said that Turkey drew less direct foreign capital than other countries although it had a very good educated manpower potential, sound infrastructure and Customs Union deal with the European union (EU).

Noting that Turkey had an open economy, Chhibber said that rate of total amount of investments made by domestic entrepreneurs in last decade in the gross domestic produc was 19 percent.

''If private entrepreneurs make investments, also foreign investors should make investments. However, it is not like this. This is a puzzle. This should be solved. Turkish private sector did not act willingly to encourage the direct foreign capital. I believe that Turkey's opinion about direct foreign capital will change gradually. Foreign capital and domestic capital are not rivals,'' he said.

Noting that there were many reasons Turkey's failure in drawing direct foreign capital, Chhibber said that they saw that the government was determined to draw direct foreign capital.

Meanwhile, responding to a question following the meeting, Chhibber said that World Bank would take up dimensions of support to Turkey including the Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) in Washington D.C. next week.

Noting that he would leave for Washington D.C. tomorrow to attend those meetings, Chhibber said that finnacial support should be extended to Turkey.

(End)

-WORLD WATER COUNCIL GOVERNORS' MEETING STARTS IN SANLIURFA
SANLIURFA - The World Water Council Governors' Meeting, which was held to mark the World Water Day, started in southeastern Sanliurfa province on Friday.

Delivering a speech at the meeting, Dogan Altinbilek, the director of the State Water Works (DSI) said on Friday that the water level in several dams weren't at a good level due to recent drought and added that Turkey is in a critical position in energy.

It was understood that the dams are the insurances for drought, added Altinbilek.

Altinbilek said 26 countries didn't have sufficient water resources and added that this number would reach to 50 in seven years' time.

Altinbilek noted Firat (Euphrates) and Dicle (Tigris) rivers constituted one fifth of the water resources in Turkey, adding that people living in the Southeast Anatolia Project (GAP) region only had a share of four percent in the national income.

Altinbilek said they were trying to materialize a regional development model based on water and land sources to increase the share of the region in national income.

Olcay Unver, the director of GAP Region Development Directorate, said in the meeting that insufficient water resources would gradually become a global problem, adding that the pollution of the water resources was another big problem.

Turkey is one of the most influential members of the World Water Council said Unver and added that the water resources should be improved, managed an used in line with the sustainable social economic development.

Unver noted Turkey was among the countries which improved its water resources and used its sources in development, adding that the GAP project contained every international principal to use water resources in development.

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