Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-03-27

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

27 MARCH

2001Tuesday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 27, 2000. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

State Minister Kemal Dervis who is currently in the U.S., said, ''I want all of you to assist us. Foreign support should be provided just in time. If it comes three or four months later, economic crisis in Turkey will deepen. Amount of foreign support is important, but timing of it is more important. We will submit amendments to 15 laws to the parliament in the next two months. Leaders of three political parties forming the coalition government have supported the new economic program. I hope that these amendments would be put into practice as soon as possible.''

POLITICAL PARTIES AGREE TO LIFT POLITICAL IMMUNITY OF BAYRAM

Five political parties having seats at the parliament have agreed to lift political immunity of Mustafa Bayram, an independent deputy from Van. The Parliamentary General Assembly will debate two reports regarded with lifting the political immunity of Bayram. Then, he will be tried on charges of historical work smuggling and attempting to commit murder.

TOWARDS FINAL IN WHITE ENERGY OPERATION

Talat Salk, the Prosecutor of the Ankara State Security Court (DGM), said that he would finalize indictment about ''white energy operation'' regarded with allegations of corruption in energy tenders, in ten days. Salk will file lawsuits against suspects including Birsel Sonmez, former State Minister from Motherland Party (ANAP) and a member of Executive Board of TEAS, on charges of ''founding, leading and being a member of a interest gang''.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Kemal Dervis, the state minister for economy, obviously warned the U.S. administration and the business circles and requested their support. Dervis said, ''the timing of the support is as important as the amount of the support. The support extended to Mexico and Brazil should also be extended to us. If we wait for three to four months for the support, the crisis will deepen.''

ECEVIT AND YILMAZ: ''NOT WITHOUT DERVIS''

State Minister Husamettin Ozkan requested that the demands of the real sector be discussed and the government take immediate decisions in the Council of Ministers meeting. Some ministers from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Motherland Party (ANAP) extended support to Ozkan. But, Bulent Ecevit and Mesut Yilmaz, the two leaders, did not welcome Ozkan's call.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

General Yasar Buyukanit, the Deputy Chief of General Staff, attended the reception hosted by the Greek Embassy in Ankara upon the national day of Greece. Buyukanit, looking at Colonel Fragulis, the Greek Military Attache, who is fluent in Turkish, said, ''if the ethnic Albanians in Macedonia had not received foreign support, the situation would have not reached this point. If there had not been foreign circles supporting terrorist organization PKK, would have the terrorism continued this much?''

RAPID DISMISSAL

Five political parties represented at the parliament have agreed. The political immunity of Mustafa Bayram, an independent deputy from eastern Van province, will be lifted. The parliament was angry when Bayram tried to sell the paintings of Picasso. The Parliamentary Consultative Board decided to discuss two dossiers related with the lifting of the immunity of Bayram. If 276 deputies vote in favour of the dossiers, Bayram can be tried.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

The oil pipeline, which was constructed between the Tengiz region of Kazakhstan and the Novorossisk port of Russia, was tested yesterday. The amount of the oil transferred via Straits will increase three times and reach to 120 million tonnes. Ten tankers will pass through the straits daily. Officials said that the vessel trafic in the straits is three times busier than the Panama Channel and four times busier than the Suez Channel. Professor Bayram Ozturk, the chairman of the Turkish Marine Studies Foundation, said an accident in the Novorossisk port would cause a pollution in the eastern region of the Black Sea and added that it would not be easy to remove the outcomes of such pollution in the Black Sea. Melda Keskin, an official from Greenpeace said nobody took necessary lessons from previous marine accidents in the straits.

INTOLERANCE GROWS IN SOCIETY DUE TO ECONOMIC CRISIS

Intolerance and violant actions have started to grow in the society as the recent economic conditions has made the life unbearable for many. The decrease in the life standards and social problems also trigger the incidents. A man committed suicide in Istanbul yesterday. And three other incidents costed the lives of three other people. Professor Ozcan Koknel, a psychiatrist, said the relations between people have deteriorated in the last thirty years, adding that the people have started to use violence to express their thoughts and feelings. Immigration, unemployment and inflation are among the reasons of these actions, added Koknel.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Tuncay Ozilhan, the Chairman of Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD), accused the goverment of being late in taking necessary stops to overcome the current economic crisis. As State Minister Kemal Dervis is holding contacts in the U.S., Ozilhan left for Washington D.C. to attend the Turkish-American Business Council meetings. Ozilhan said prior to his departure, ''the government does not understand seriousness and deepness of the crisis. We are trying to explain them. But they have not taken any action yet. We do not want to act harshly. Because neither government nor country can endure another crisis.''

NATIONAL PROGRAM SUBMITTED TO EU

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem submitted Turkey's National Program to the European Union (EU). Cem met with Guenter Verheugen, the EU commissioner for enlargement. Verheugen said at the meeting that Turkey should expend more efforts to lift capital punishment and to protect cultural rights.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Members of the Banks Union and the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) discussed the high credit interests. March 31 is the day when the first installment of the credits will be paid. Members of the TOBB and the members of the Banks Union convened in the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul. In the end of the meeting which lasted for three and a half hours, the members agreed on four issues. A joint commission was set up to decrease the March 31 term interests.

ISTANBUL IN DANGER

Tengiz-Novorossisk oil pipeline has been completed. While Turkey is trying to implement the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, the Tengiz-Novorossisk pipeline, which is the biggest rival of the Baku-Ceyhan, was constructed. Istanbul will be under serious danger because the Kazakh oil will be transported to the Black Sea through this pipeline and because it will be passed through the Straits by tankers.

''MAYIS SIKINTISI'' PRESENTED ONE MORE AWARD

''Mayis Sıkıntısı'' (May Boredom), a Turkish film directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan, was presented with ''Silver Rosa Camuna'' award. A statement of the NBC film company said that thus, the number of international awards that this film has been granted reached 12.

NO RETURN FROM F TYPE PRISON IMPLEMENTATION

Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that there is no return from the implementation of F type prisons. Turk noted that dormitory system will be replaced with room system in 78 prisons by the end of the year. Defining the hunger strikes and death fasts as ''committing suicide'', Turk said that prosecutors have launched investigation to determine those who incited inmates to these protests.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

State Minister Kemal Dervis held a series of meetings with World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and U.S. officials to provide financial source. U.S. authorities expressed their full support to Dervis' proposal to make structural reforms to overcome the crisis.

-STATE MINISTER DERVIS:(1)

-''WE ARE SEARCHING FOR A FINANCE OF 10-12 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS''

WAHINGTON D.C. - State Minister Kemal Dervis, who is currently in Washington D.C., said early on Tuesday that they were in need of finance support of ten to twelve million U.S. dollars and added that the decision for foreign support should be taken by April 15.

Staging a press conference at the Turkish Embassy in Washington D.C., Dervis said that he had comprehensive meetings with officials from the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and U.S. Department of the Treasury.

''If there will not be a decision for support till April 15, then it means that there is a problem,'' said Dervis.

Noting that there was a period of two weeks ahead of them, Dervis said ''the frame agreement should be completed within two weeks. We should determine the details of the program. We should also at least fulfil the first stage of social compromise in Turkey. This program will not be prepared by the technocrats and implemented after reaching an agreement with the IMF. Views of various segments of the society will be asked while preparing the program. This two week carries out importance for us. We will start meetings as soon as we return Ankara.''

-STATE MINISTER DERVIS (2):

-''ALMOST 15 LAWS OR AMENDMENTS ARE IN QUESTION''

WASHINGTON D.C - State Minister Kemal Dervis said early on Tuesday that almost 15 laws or amendments are in question.

Dervis told a press conference that taking support from all the sectors in Turkey is important.

He will re-meet with the chairmen of the labour unions, employer, tradesmen and artisan confederations, Dervis said.

Dervis noted that deliberations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will continue in the following weeks.

The international finance organizations and the U.S. Department of the Treasury want the accomplishment of the Turkish economic program, Dervis said.

Dervis stated that an IMF delegation will come to Turkey next week and that a delegation from the World Bank will visit Turkey in the middle of next week.

''Then, we hope we can announce the program and macro-economic balances and reach an agreement with the IMF on the letter of intent between April 10 and 15. Then, we need two-weeks time. We hope we can get the support of the IMF Executive Board in the end of April. There is an intensive program of legal arrangements. I expect the support of all my friends. We have to achieve all these. The legal changes will be the precondition of the program,'' Dervis said.

Dervis pointed out that they have started high-level contacts with the IMF, World Bank, and the U.S. Treasury and mentioned very serious figures.

''We discussed how the budgetary figures, banking system, the situation of the public banks, and the debts can be turned into a treasury debt in one night. We also debated the Central Bank currency and monetary policy and the foreign support necessary for the program. We have not mentioned an exact figure or a decision. We saw that the IMF, World Bank and the U.S. Treasury supported the program and what Turkey wants to do,'' Dervis said.

Dervis stated that he held his contacts in Washington D.C. in a positive atmosphere and that they discussed the measures necessary for enabling non- interest surplus to 4 percent and the Central Bank policies.

Turkish government does not have a currency target for the time being, Dervis said, noting that the currency will be determined by the market but they do not want any big daily rise in the currency.

Dervis continued, ''the currency market will be free. We do not have a currency target which is not announced. The currency will exactly go to the same place where the markets head. But, we will take necessary measures for an orderly functioning. This gave beneficial results in some other countries.''

''Starting the program with a competitive currency will help the success of the program. It will help the currency revenue. This framework will occur in some time within the framework of the growth process based on exportation and tourism,'' Dervis said.

Dervis added that they compare the crisis in Turkey with the crises in some countries like Brazil, Korea and Mexico and that they want Turkey to be supported.

-STATE MINISTER DERVIS (3):

-''I HOPE THAT WE WOULD GET A RESULT''

WASHINGTON D.C. - State Minister Kemal Dervis said early on Tuesday, ''we want foreign banks not to decrease their engagements in Turkey.''

Dervis staged a press conference at the Turkish Embassy in Washington D. C., and responded to questions of journalists.

When asked on the Stand-By agreement signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dervis said, ''what is important is to reach a compromise and to extend repayment terms.''

Responding to a question, State Minister Dervis noted, ''during my contacts, I stressed that decision regarding foreign support should be taken immediately. They are aware of importance of timing. I held detailed and concrete talks with U.S. officials. IMF, Treasury and World Bank want our program to be successful. We should explain them how we will achieve success in our program. They want us not to experience another financial shock in a long period of time.''

State Minister Dervis said, ''foreign support should be provided in the next two weeks. Relevant decision will be taken in coming days. The next two weeks are extremely critical for us. Taking this decision is an important step. It can take three to six weeks to add the foreign support to our budget. But the decision should be taken in April the latest.''

Dervis told reporters, ''you should not expect something certain before two weeks. If a decision is not taken in the next two weeks, it means that we cannot get a result. But I hope that we would get a result.''

He said that he planned to come to the U.S. next month.

When asked about his meeting with Transportation Minister Enis Oksuz, Dervis said, ''I met with Oksuz for the first time. He explained his point of view. I believe that we would solve problems of the Turkish Airlines (THY) and Turk Telecom.''

Noting that they could not reveal the economic program before two weeks, Dervis said, ''I cannot say that we have provided foreign support. But I held very positive talks. We aim at providing a structure to prevent Turkey from experiencing economic crisis once in six months or once in a year.''

Responding to another question, State Minister Dervis said, ''we do not have much alternatives. We have to develop the economic program. Legal arrangements will be beneficial to Turkey. I inform Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on development every day. Other coalition partners also support us. Without a new economic program and foreign support, Turkey cannot shift to growth from current economic crisis. We have to realize this program. I think that we have the necessary common sense and support of the public opinion.''

CONTENTS

[01] STATE MINISTER DERVIS (4):

[01] STATE MINISTER DERVIS (4):

Responding to questions of reporters following his press conference, Dervis said that foreign support is not a gift but is a debt.

Dervis noted that it is wrong to search for Turkey's future abroad and that this is the main dimension of the strategy.

''Millions of U.S. dollar loan will be added to the current high amount of debt. For example, if we add 25-30 billion debt to Turkey's current debt, this will not be for the benefit of Turkey. As in the Ottoman era,'' Dervis said.

Dervis stated that to overcome this crisis in the short term, Turkey only needs an additional source which can be rapidly repaid.

Asked about the amount of this support, Dervis said, ''this is almost 10-12 billion U.S. dollar support. We are searching for this support. I can visit Britain or Italy tomorrow and meet with their treasury ministers. But, when I met with these ministers, a source will not be immediately extended. We will complete the program and announce the finance package by reaching an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). If this is not achieved until April 15, we will accept there is a problem.''

When asked about legal changes which have to be made by the parliament, Dervis said that changes should be made in the law of THY price control, Telekom law, law for providing additional source for the public banks, laws on reconstruction and the natural gas.

Responding a question saying that whether the priority is helping private sector or the poor people, Dervis said that the private sector is the engine of the growth in Turkey.

''The private sector will be the engine of the investments and technological changes. The private sector has to be supported by re- arranging the markets. Also, there should not be any conflicts between the public and private sector. But also the state has another important duty other than putting the markets into order. The state undertakes responsibilities like arranging distribution of income and providing equality of possibilities,'' Dervis said.

Dervis continued, ''the state will have to work much. Unfortunately, this monetary accident is a burden on the economy. We have to be fair in the distribution of that burden. We have to find additional source close to 1 percent of the national income. Arrangements which will enable this burden to be shared by not only workers but also wealty people, are needed. We are working on the details. We will try to enable the fair distribution of the burden.''

When asked what kind of reforms Turkey will make rather than 15 legal arrangements, Dervis said that these laws will not be enough to settle down things in Turkey.

Dervis noted that the Central Bank law is also among the 15 legal arrangements which are planned to be made and that after these laws are passed, new legal arrangements will be made.

Asked about the situation of political balances, Dervis said that politics is the basis of democracy.

Dervis noted that an unreal politics will push Turkey into a crisis.

''Sometimes, the societies do not develop directly. Sometimes the societies develop rapidly, sometimes they are obstructed. As I have said before, a serious crisis makes changes which cannot be normally be made, possible. Turkish society has understood that the path cannot be continued with the former inflation policies,'' Dervis said.

Dervis also said, ''citizens are affected the most by the inflation and the borrowing. This should be made in a normal borrowing policy. A person who is implementing a realistic policy can take serious steps by believing in this.''

When asked whether or not he will meet with opposition parties, Dervis said that he will meet with the opposition leaders in the following days.

-FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN U.S.:
-''OUR NATIONAL PROGRAM HAS BEEN WELCOMED''
WASHINGTON D.C. - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said early on Tuesday, ''the National Program submitted to the European Union (EU), has been welcomed.''

Baki Ilkin, the Turkish Ambassador to the U.S., hosted a reception in honor of Cem and State Minister Kemal Dervis who are currently in Washington D.C. to attend the annual meeting of the Turkish-American Council and to hold contacts with U.S. oficials.

Respornding to a question about the National Program, Foreign Minister Cem said, ''the EU Council and Commission released statements. Guenter Verheugen, the EU commissioner for enlargement, also made a statement. We can consider these statements positive in general. We cannot expect everyone to satisfy equally with each page and each line of these national programs. But Turkey's National Program has been welcomed. Verheugen also expressed his satisfaction.''

Cem told reporters, ''the U.S. is interested in issues regarded with our cultural geography. We cannot think in the same way on every issue. But we exchange our opinions. What I will do in Washington D.C. is to exchange opinions with U.S. officials.''

Cem stressed that the latest developments in Macedonia would be taken up within framework of the developments in the Balkans.

When asked whether or not he would bring onto agenda Turkey's losses stemming from embargo imposed on Iraq, Cem told reporters, ''I have already brought this issue on the agenda.''

Responding to another question, Cem said, ''both Foreign Ministry and I assist State Minister Dervis in every occasion.''

-IMF: ''THERE IS A COMPROMISE IN DERVIS-KOHLER MEETING
THAT TURKEY IS OBLIGED TO PREPARE A NEW CONVINCING PROGRAM''
WASHINGTON D.C. - Conny Lotze, the spokesman of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said on Tuesday that Turkey and the IMF has reached a compromise that Turkey should prepare a convincing new program.

Lotz, who made statements regarding the meeting of State Minister Kemal Dervis and IMF Managing Director Horst Kohler, told A.A. correspondent that Dervis and Kohler had a very beneficial and constructive meeting.

Noting that the parties reached a compromise that Turkey should prepare a convincing program, Lotz said the IMF would continue their meetings with Turkish officials within the framework of frame agreement which was announced on March 19.

-GENERAL BUYUKANIT, DEPUTY CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF:
''IF ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN MACEDONIA HAD NOT RECEIVED FOREIGN SUPPORT,
THE SITUATION WOULD HAVE NOT REACHED THIS POINT''
ANKARA - General Yasar Buyukanit, the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, said on Monday regarded with Greece's decision to restrict its military expenditures, ''each country develops its own concept.''

General Buyukanit who was in attendance at a reception hosted at the Hilton Hotel in Ankara to mark Greece's National Day, responded to questions of journalists.

When recalled by a journalist that Greek Defense Minister Akis Tsohatsopoulos stated that they would decrease military expenditures, General Buyukanit stressed that each country determined its own military requirements.

General Buyukanit said, ''in military field, we make projects for 15-20 years. Military issues are long-term issues.''

When asked of the latest developments in Macedonia, General Buyukanit said, ''if ethnic Albanians in Macedonia had not received foreign support, the situation would have not reached this point. If there had not been foreign circles supporting terrorist organization PKK, we would have not lost many people.''

Referring to news reports claiming that NATO requested Turkey to send soldiers to Macedonia, General Buyukanit said that these news reports were baseless.

When asked whether or not Turkey would decrease its military expenditures in line with new economic program, General Buyukanit said, ''the economic program has not been revealed yet. At the same time, we have not taken a decision in which field we would decrease our expenditures.''

General Buyukanit emphasized that the Turkish Armed Forces had some priorities.

-ERSOY, CHAIRMAN OF ATSO:
-''WORKS ARE UNDER WAY TO CONSTRUCT THE EIGHTH CITRIC ACID FACTORY
OF THE WORLD IN ADIYAMAN BY PARTNERSHIP OF AN ISRAELI FIRM''
GAZIANTEP - Zafer Ersoy, the chairman of Adiyaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ATSO), said on Tuesday, ''works are under way to construct the eighth citric acid factory of the world in southeastern province of Adiyaman by partnership of an Israeli firm.''

Releasing a statement, Ersoy noted that they had been carrying out a series of works for economic, social and cultural development of Adiyaman.

''Adiyaman is a unique region in which all kinds of facilities have been provided for foreign investors. We also plan to set up a comprehensive rehabilitation center for the disabled people,'' he emphasized.

He added, ''works are under way to construct the eighth citric acid factory of the world in Adiyaman by partnership of an Israeli firm. The factory will produce citric acid for foodstuff and textile sectors. The project is expected to cost nearly 60 million U.S. dollars.''

-TRNC DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AKINCI SAYS THEY WILL
CONTINUE COALITION GOVERNMENT UNDER THEIR PRINCIPLES
LEFKOSA - Mustafa Akinci, the deputy prime minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the leader of the Communal Liberation Party (TKP), said on Tuesday that they will continue the coalition government under their principles.

Evaluating the party assembly meeting which was held on Monday evening, Akinci said that they reached a consensus to continue to be in the government for the solution of the problems of the country.

Akinci noted that they will continue to say what they know and to exert efforts as much as they can.

They will try to overcome the problems together with their coalition partners and Turkey, Akinci stated.

Akinci said that they also debated the Cyprus question in their meeting.

They defended the European Union (EU) membership following a possible solution, Akinci noted, expressing belief that the problem can be solved through dialogue.

Akinci pointed out that the policy concerning Cyprus question is determined together with Turkey and that their views should also be taken into consideration.

He does not agree with those who think that their attitude harms the national case, Akinci said.

Akinci noted that there can be some differences and points of views in the coalition governments but that the partners should respect to these differences in points of views.

They need urgent assistance of Turkey to overcome economic problems, Akinci stated.

Akinci said that they make consultations with Turkey to reduce the transportation fees by half.

The return ticket between Turkey and TRNC will be decreased to 50 U.S. dollars, Akinci said, adding that 12.5 million U.S. dollar source is necessary for this target.

-IZTO TO TAKE PART IN INTERNATIONAL MOSCOW TRAVEL AND TOURISM MINISTER
IZMIR, March 27 (A.A) - The Izmir Chamber of Commerce (IZTO) will take part in International Moscow Travel and Tourism Fair.

Releasing a written statement, the IZTO said on Tuesday that two officials from IZTO's Foreign Economic Relations Department would promote Aegean Region and western province of Izmir at the International Moscow Travel and Tourism Fair.

More than 2 thousand firms represented 120 countries at last year's fair.

-TERRORIST ORGANIZATION HEZBOLLAH IS AFTER SENSATIONAL ACTIVITIES
LIKE KIDNAPPING CHILDREN
ANKARA - Following the heavy blow struck on the Hezbollah terrorist organization last year, the organization is after sensational activities.

Ankara Security Directorate sent a note to all of its units on Tuesday and said it was informed that the terrorist organization Hezbollah would kidnap children and this information was confirmed by the intelligence units.

Anti-terrorism teams and regional police stations were asked to take the necessary measures in provinces and towns and to observe suspicious looking persons.

A high ranking security official said that the Hezbollah terrorist organization adopted to undertake speculative activities and it ordered its members to do such attacks. He added that the organization could kidnap students in order to frighthen them or to get money. He stressed that the children of rich persons and high ranking officials could be kidnapped by the terrorist organization Hezbollah, adding that very broad security measures have been taken.

-IS BANK DIRECTOR OZINCE: ''BANKINGS SECTOR'S FINANCIAL
STRUCTURE SUFFERED SERIOUS DAMAGE IN 2000''
ISTANBUL - Turkiye Is Bank General Director Ersin Ozince has said that besides the decrease in the banking sector's profitibility, the sector's financial structure also suffered serious damage in 2000.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Ozince assessed the developments in the finance sector and Is Bank's activities in 2000. He indicated that the crisis which hit Turkey in November in 2000 caused a decrease in the banking sector's profibility.

''The net profit of the sector in the first nine months of 1999 was 2.6 billion U.S. dollars. It declined 97 percent to 86 million U.S. dollars in the same period of 2000,'' he said.

Despite the negative developments in economy, Ozince said Is Bank was able to preserve a strong financial structure. He said his bank had the highest capital like in the previous years. Is Bank's capital increased 138 percent and reached one quadrillion TL, while the bank's savings increased 56 percent to 4,6 quadrillion TL, he said.

''Is Bank comes first among banks with private capitals with its capital volume. For years, we have been using our savings as a stable and permanent resource. This also demonstrates people's trust in our bank,'' he elaborated.

Ozince said the bank's active volume increased 64 percent to 7,7 quadrillion TL which is the highest among banks with private capitals.

''Despite the cash shortage after November, 2000, we increased our loans 79 percent compared to the previous year in order to assure the economic stability program's continuation,'' he explained. ''The changes in legal and economic conditions in 2000 caused a decrease in the banking sector's profibility performance. Even in such an environment, we managed to be the second in terms of gross profit.''

Ozince stressed that Is Bank had undertaken an entrepreneurship mission since its foundation and it continued to invest in a number of fields which are vital for Turkey. Setting up a GSM 1800 operator and winning the bid for 2 billion 525 million U.S. dollars with Italian Telecom Italia group was one of these achievements. Through their cooperation with Telecom Italia, Is Bank is aiming to give good quality service to its customers.

During his speech, Ozince said he believed that Turkey would implement structural reforms as soon as possible and create a strong economy.

-HISTORIAN SIMSIR:''OUR MISTAKE IS TO THINK THAT ARMENIAN ISSUE IS OVER''
ANKARA - Historian and retired ambassador Bilal Simsir has said that the Armenian problem was burried in the history for Turkey with the Lausanne Treaty. ''Our mistake is to think the Armenian issue is over,'' he added.

Speaking on the history of the Armenian problem at Atilim University, Simsir said the Armenian minority in the Ottoman Empire became less faithful upon the provocations of European countries. The ethnic balance in the empire was disrupted and this led to separatism, he explained.

''The dreams to found an Armenian state was based on the Berlin Agreement in 1878,'' Simsir continued. ''The plan was to found an Armenian state which covered six provinces in an area of 254 square kilometers. Acting to reach this goal, Armenians set up armed gangs and began their terrorist acts in 1890 for the first time. They even tried to assasinate Abdulhamit II in the empire's capital, Istanbul.''

Simsir said that the international community based the Armenian problem on the deportation of Armenians in 1915, and they ignore the countless Armenian attacks which resulted in the deaths of the Turks before that. He indicated that Britain wanted to try Turkey after the Moudros Cease Fire Agreement, but the British didn't find the Armenian reports credible. Simsir stressed that there was no trace of genocide in the U.S. or Ottoman archives.

The Ottoman government deported and sent the Armenians to different places in order to prevent rebellions, Simsir said. ''Big sufferings are always caused by big wars,'' he continued. ''The Ottomans did not aim to terminate the Armenian race by deporting them,'' he stressed. ''Turkey was acquitted in 1921 after Britain's initiative to try Turkey. For Turkey, the Armenian problem was burried in the history through Lausanne Treaty by the then Prime Minister Ismet Inonu. Our mistake is to think that this problem is over. Armenians never stopped working and they brought up the issue to the international community's attention.''

-ANAP LEADER YILMAZ: ''EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT
NOW IN TURKEY IF ANAP WAS THE RULING PARTY ON ITS OWN''
ANKARA - Motherland Party (ANAP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz has said ''Everything would have been very different in Turkey today if ANAP was the ruling party on its own rather than a coalition partner.''

Speaking at his party's group meeting on Tuesday, Yilmaz said State Minister Yuksel Yalova and Deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Tasar directed baseless accusations against his party.

''If we were the ruling party, the National Program would have had a different content and depth,'' he said. ''Turkey would have been at a different level in privatization. Turkey would have been at a more advanced point in the restructuring of the state, democratization and expansion of freedoms. But unfortunately, we are not the only governing party. Therefore, we have to adjust our style and activities accordingly and this is what we're doing.''

''If we're not responding to wrong accusations against us, this is not because we have nothing to say. It is because, as ANAP, we are aware of our responsibility and we know what a coalition means. These accusations against ministers from our party should end. Politics should be dealt with courtesy, nobody has the right to turn it into an ugly occupation.''

Yilmaz said Turkey was going through a very critical period. ''The government which was founded after the elections in 1999 managed to maintain political stability,'' he said and added that Turkey cannot tolerate even the slightest unstability today.

''If political stability is disrupted, we cannot recover the situation. ANAP cannot take this responsibility. Therefore, I'm expecting all our friends to act with patience and common sense despite all wrong accusations directed against them,'' he said.

''We have to be patient until the economy recovers. We hold Turkey's interests above everything,'' Yilmaz said. ''Of course, our friends will eventually respond to these accusations. But these accusations should not make us behave the same way. The partnership we're in requires us act with patience.''

-PREMIER ECEVIT ISSUES CIRCULAR IN LINE WITH U.N SECURITY COUNCIL'S
RESOLUTION TO TIGHTEN SANCTIONS AGAINST TALIBAN
ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit issued a circular on Tuesday in line with the U.N. Resolution requesting the member states to tighten sanctions against Taliban.

The U.N. Security Council's resolution adopted on January 19, 2001 asked U.N. member states to stop sale and transfer of weapons, ammunition, military vehicles and similar equipments to the region controlled by Taliban.

The circular also said that according to the U.N. resolution, the member countries' officials, representatives and consultants who contact with Taliban in military and security issues should be withdrawn and persons having other nationalities should be suggested to leave Afghanistan.

The issues that are wanted to be abided by the U.N. resolution, as the circular mentions are as follows:

''-Decreasing the number of personnel in representations of countries which have diplomatic relations with Taliban,

-Controlling the movements of Taliban members in member countries and closing Taliban representations there,

-Closing 'Ariana' offices of Afghan Airways,

-Freezing the financial assets of persons and organizations who have connection with Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaida terrorist organization,

-Stopping the sale of chemical substances used in producing acetic anhydride,

-Rejecting the flight permission applications of planes who take off and land at Taliban region (except for humanitarian reasons),

-Not permitting the entrance of and transit passages of all high ranking Taliban officials to the member country, (except for humanitarian reasons.)''

The circular stressed the necessity of abiding by sanctions under the international law, adding that ''all concerned public institutions should be sensitive in fulfilling these measures and giving information to the Foreign Ministry about the measures taken.''

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