Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-04-10

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

10 APRÝL 2001 Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

There is the scenerio that 350 representatives, linked with TOBB, put pressure to make a call to the government to resign. Miras visited the headquarters in order to learn the ideas of the general staff before TOBB meeting which will take place today.

TWO RELAXING DECISIONS
Council of Ministers opened the package which relaxed tradesmen:

''Those who want to benefit from tax payment facility, have been granted a second chance. Validity period for postponement of tax debts was extended till April 30. Validity period for postponement and installments which were put into practice by the Finance Ministry on February 6, 2001 to facilitate payment of default taxes, ended on March 16, 2001. At today's meeting of the Council of Ministers, this period was extended till April 30.''

Council of Ministers also decided to impose pre-crisis 55 percent interest rate in tradesmen's default interests to Halk Bankasi instead of current high interest rates. This implementation will continue till the end of this year.

Also, the draft which will move supermarkets outside cities in order to protect the tradesmen, was adopted. According to the decision, supermarkets will not be opened in city centers, and existing ones will be moved within five years.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

16-YEAR IMPRISONMENT FOR 20 COKE CANS
An incident resembling the children who stole baklava, a special Turkish dessert, has occured in southeastern Diyarbakir province. Like the children who served many years in prison because they stole baklava, the prosecutor demanded 16-year imprisonment for four children who took 20 coke cans from the refrigerator in front of a grocery store in Diyarbakir.

YEAR-END TARGET IN DOLLAR: 1.250.000 TL
In accordance with the Treasury Undersecretariat, the U.S. dollar will not gain so much value as expected. While the contacts with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) continue, the Treasury Undersecretariat renewed its year-end targets. The officials predict the year-end inflation rate as 55 percent. One U.S. dollar which was expected to be around 1 million 75 thousand Turkish liras (TL) by the end of the year, is predicted to be equivalent to 1 million 250 thousand TL.

FROM DERVIS TO IMF:''YOU CANNOT INTERVENE
IN OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS''
State Minister Kemal Dervis was furious about the news stories that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) leaked out secrets of Turkey to Athens. Dervis, who said that nobody can intervene in Turkey's internal affairs, said, ''but, we have to respond to questions of IMF related with economy.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

SIX AIRPORTS TO BE CLOSED
The State Airports Management applied to the Prime Ministry requesting six airports which are not profitable be closed. These airports are airports in Isparta, Korfez, Sinop, Zonguldak-Caycuma, Tokat and Usak.

MYSTERIOUS VISIT
Fuat Miras, the chairman of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), had a secret meeting with Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff. This visit which was paid before the Chairmanship Council meeting shook Ankara. There were rumours that TOBB would ask for the resignation of the government and Miras wanted to learn the views of the Chief of General Staff by explaining the economic situation. As Miras said following the meeting that he would not talk until Tuesday evening and as he denied this visit, the doubts in the minds increased.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

INFLUENTIAL PRECIPITATION EXPECTED
Turkey entered to the influence of effective precipitation last night. According to the warnings made by the state meteorology affairs general directorate, there will be heavy rain showers in Southern Aegean, and Western Mediterranean. Temperatures are expected to decrease 8-10 degrees celsius. The precipitation is expected to continue on Wednesday and Thursday.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

ONE MORE PERSON DIES IN F TYPE
Gulsuman Ada Donmez, who backed the death fasts outside the prison because her brother is in F type prison, died on the 147th day of the hunger strike.

INTENSIVE WEEK OF PARLIAMENT
The government aims to pass three important laws from the parliament this week. If there is no change in the schedule, the parliament will work at the weekend. The government will call the Advisory Board for a meeting and pass the Authority Law today, the amendment to the budget on Wednesday, and the law related with the Economic and Social Council on Thursday.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Yet, Dervis noted, ''however, we are in a position to respond to the questions of the IMF regarded with economy or any other issue pertaining to the budget.''

HASAN MEZARCI COMES TO TURKEY
Hasan Mezarci, the former deputy of the outlawed Welfare Party (RP) who had been living in Germany for three years, entered Turkey on Monday from the Ipsala Border Gate in northwestern province of Edirne. Mezarci was taken to Ipsala Health Center by security officials.

Sevket Sak, Erkan Baran and Dogan Dilci who entered Turkey together with Mezarci, were also taken into custody.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

PROTESTS OF TRADESMEN YIELDS IN RESULT
The tradesmen, who have been demonstrating for days, got what they wanted. The government accept some part of the decisions which the tradesmen expected. The Council of Ministers, which convened on the 45th day of the economic crisis, accepted some part of the demands of the tradesmen. The Council of Ministers decided to make 2.7 percent increase to the salaries of civil servants in April.

PUBLIC SULTANATE TO END
The governent, within the framework of the savings measures which it had taken on Monday, decided to sell most of the lodgings of the parliament, public and social installations, holiday villages and public vehicles.

-731 COMPANIES AND 4.146 FIRMS ARE CLOSED DOWN IN THE
FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE YEAR
ANKARA - State Statistics Institute (DIE) said on Tuesday that 731 companies and 4,146 firms were closed down in the first three months period of the year.

According to the statistics of DIE, 1,658 new companies, 1,430 of them are incorporated, were set up in March. When it is taken into consideration that 2,524 companies were opened in the same period of last year, number of companies, which are opened this year are 34.31 percent below last year.

The areas which the newly established companies will act are listed as:

A total of 566 are in wholesale and consumer, motorcycle, motor vehicle and individual goods and repair of house goods sectors; 282 of them of are in manifacturing sector; 233 of them are in construction sector; 162 of them are in real estate, renting and business activities; 151 of them are in transportation, storing and communication sector; 70 of them are in hotel and restaurant business; 60 of them are in financial foundation activities; 36 of them are in health and social services; 33 of them are in agriculture, hunting and animal breeding sector; 32 of them are in education services; 19 of them are in social and personal service activities; 12 of them are in mining sector, and two of them are in public administration and defense and obligatory social security sector.

Number of companies which was opened in January-March period of the year 2000, are 8,124, and this figure was realized as 9,596 this year. Thus, number of companies which opened in three-months period, increased 18.12 percent when compared with the same period of last year.

The number of companies and cooperatives, which were closed in March, was determined as 166. This figure was determined as 115 last year same period. Number of companies and cooperatives which were closed in the first three months increased 24.11 percent and reached 731.

According to DIE, number of firms which were opened in March, was 1,008. A total of 1,618 firms were opened last year in March. Thus, number of firms which opened this year, decreased 37.7 percent.

-MHP GROUP MEETING (1)
-DEPUTY PREMIER AND MHP LEADER BAHCELI SAYS PROPOSALS SUCH AS
'TECHNOCRATS' GOVERNMENT' OR 'NATIONAL COALITION' ARE UNUSUAL
ANKARA - Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and deputy prime minister said on Tuesday that proposals such as ''technocrats government'' or ''national coalition'' are unusual.

''When the parliament or the government comes to a halt, it is important to find a solution to the problems by the natural methods of the politics,'' Bahceli said in the MHP's parliamentary group meeting.

Stressing that the administrators of the country have to be both sensitive and calm, Bahceli said that the cost of ignoring this obligation is very severe.

''We must be very careful about those persons who open to debate the institution of politics in an arbitrary way, because the most healthy way of overcoming the difficulties of the country is to have a social consensus in the society. Accusing the politics and the politicians in critical periods is one of the easiest ways,'' Bahceli said.

Bahceli said that the parliament has worked more than ever during their government, adding that Turkey changed its governmnets by 11 times in 1990s. Stressing that the state couldn't find a solution to its basic problems due to changing governments, Bahceli said that the problems went deeper.

Bahceli said that non-political solutions to the country will give harm to the country, adding that the alternative of politics should again be politics.

''Not only the political parties or politicians, but also all the sections in the society and all professional groups have to attribute utmost importance to 'clean' politics,'' Bahceli said.

Bahceli noted that the state is not late in installing the economic and political atmosphere which the nation is longing for, adding that there is no crisis which can't be solved by good will and cooperation.

(to be continued)

-MHP GROUP MEETING (2)
ANKARA - Devlet Bahceli, the Deputy Prime Minister and the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said on Tuesday that there are important conclusions that the 57th government and the political parties forming the government have to draw from the current crisis and discussions.

Speaking in the MHP group meeting, Bahceli said that the problems and indefiniteness caused by the crisis lead to reactions in the society.

Bahceli noted that the most important and urgent item of the agenda of the country and the politics is re-activating economy and reviving the people.

''It is not possible for the administration and the parties which are aware of their responsibilities against the nation and the country to escape from these responsibilities. But, there is another issue which is as important as this. It is obvious that those who had direct or indirect roles in the current economic situation have to make a similar self-criticism,'' Bahceli said.

Bahceli continued, ''it should be known that those who do not do this sincerely and seriously, regardless whether they are members of politics, trade or media, do not have the right to blacken and accuse others. Everybody knows how our economy has been administered for the last 10-15 years and how the sources of the country were wasted. It is a reality that the reason of the current problems is also the main reason in current economic situation. This reason is not conjunctural but structural.''

The main deadlock in Turkey's economy is that the current financial system and the debt stock can no more be sustainable, Bahceli said.

Bahceli noted that this means ''the sea ends and the economic course gives red alarm.''

The reasons which deepened this main factor is more than one, Bahceli stated, noting that current situation depends on negligence and extravagance which have been continued for years.

Many reasons like not having a strong infrastructure in the banking system and public finance and the excessive extravagance and corruption deepened and accelerated the crisis, Bahceli said.

Bahceli went on saying, ''it should not be forgotten that a structural change should occur in every field after urgent intervention in the economic crisis is made. If this does not occur, it will be inevitable to face such crisis. In other words, if the structural problems and moral deficiencies which lead to economic crisis are not overcome, crisis will continue to occur.''

Overcoming this crisis is the most important mission, Bahceli said.

They will not refrain from doing what is necessary to overcome the crisis, Bahceli stated.

Bahceli said, ''on one hand, Turkey should heal the economic and social wounds and on the other hand, it should continue to end the corruption. When these struggles are carried out simultaneously and in a determined way, social reaction and non-confidence will rapidly be replaced with common sense and solidarity.''

The prior issue is to accomplish the economic betterment process, Bahceli noted, adding that everybody has to fulfil his responsibilities.

(End)

-STATE MINISTER DERVIS SAYS THE THING THAT MATTERS IS NOT ONLY TO
PROVIDE STABILITY, BUT ALSO TO UNDERTAKE STRUCTURAL REFORMS
ANKARA - State Minister Kemal Dervis said on Tuesday that the thing that matters today is not only to provide the stability, but it is also to undertake the structural reforms which the Turkish society expected for years by benefitting from this opportunity.

Dervis said that the new economic programme which will be announced will be a programme of transition to growth and reconstruction beyond stability.

Dervis visited the Chairman of Confederation of Turkish Employers' Unions (TISK) Dervis Gunday the same day.

''The main goal is to bring both stability to the country, but also to change the structure in Turkey and to make the growth have a more sustainable basis,'' said Dervis in the meeting.

Dervis pointed out that if the stability is provided today and disturbed again after six months, the nation and the economy will suffer from that.

-STATE MINISTER DERVIS RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS
-HE SAYS GOVERNMENT WILL ANNOUNCE PROGRAMME THIS WEEK
ANKARA - State Minister Kemal Dervis said on Tuesday that the economic programme would be announced this week.

Responding to questions of journalists during his visit to Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Artisans (TESK), Dervis said that they work very hard, thus he can't tell the exact day of announcing the economic programme.

The outlines of the economic programme are already known, adding that there won't be a big surprise in certain issues. There maybe some additions in other issues.

Dervis said that he believes that they will announce the programme as a package this week, stressing ''I can't announce the date now.''

Upon another question about foreign support, Dervis said that he can't talk about it now. Dervis said that there are serious studies carried out about this issue, adding that the efforts continue.

Dervis said that the foreign support will come from IMF, World Bank and powerful countries which are friends of Turkey, adding that ''I can't announce its amount now. But I hope that it will meet our needs. But first of all, the details of the programme should be announced. The public opinion and experts both in Turkey and abroad should see the details of the programme. After that, the support will be extended rapidly.''

Dervis said that he met with Fuat Miras, the Chairman of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) for two times in the last three weeks, adding that ''many dimensions of the programme are known by the public opinion. For instance, everybody knows the studies in certain laws. Details about the budget are not known, we are trying to give a last form to that. The statements saying that one section of the society knows part of the programme, while others don't, are not true.''

Dervis said upon a question about defense expenditures that ''I should state clearly that the authority to determine the size of the budget belongs to Turkey. No institution or another organ can impose anything on us particularly about defense. We set up our expenditure plans ourselves. We can't permit any foreign body to get involved in our expenses.''

-STATE MINISTER DERVIS SAYS THE THING THAT MATTERS
TODAY IS TO HAVE ECONOMIC GROWTH
ANKARA - Kemal Dervis, the State Minister said on Tuesday that ''today the thing that matters is to have economic growth, if we can't do that in June and July, we will all be sorry.''

Dervis said that it is their mission to support the sections which were negatively affected from the economic crisis, adding that the source that will be transferred to these sections will be transferred from the budget in a transparent way.

Dervis visited the same day Dervis Gunday, the Chairman of Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Artisans (TESK).

Dervis said that the structural reforms have to be undertaken and the stability has to be provided.

Dervis stressed that a reasonable amount of source from the budget should be transferred to the sections of the society which are in the poorest condition.

''But this has to be given in the most transparent way in which everybody will see. We mustn't return to the system of service losses or put dynamite on the banking sector both to the state and private banks,'' Dervis said.

Dervis noted that the source has to be given in a way which won't cause service losses or increase in inflation afterwards.

''In fact, I believe that if all of us become successful, interest rates will decrease, everybody will live a good life,'' said Dervis.

Dervis noted that when the economic programme is announced, Turkey will get a considerable amount of foreign support.

''We are positive about the amount of budget support in this transition period, reconstruction is a long process. But after getting the support, we shouldn't drift the country into another crisis and we must take reformist steps altogether,'' Dervis.

Dervis also stressed that the struggle shouldn't be given up thinking that things will go fine in summer.

''I expect support from you, we should walk together to this target,'' he added.

-FM CEM AND ISRAELI FM PERES STAGE JOINT PRESS BRIEFING (1)
ANKARA - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem met on Tuesday with Shimon Peres, the Israeli deputy prime minister and foreign minister who holds contacts in Ankara.

Staging a joint press briefing with Peres after their meeting, Cem said that Peres is not only a foreign minister, but also a statesman who won the Nobel Peace Prize due to his efforts for peace.

Cem said that Peres supported certain issues related to Turkey due to his personal choice, adding that they discussed Turkish-Israeli bilateral relations and discussed ways of further improving them in the meeting.

Cem said that they also discussed issues of carrying out common work in agriculture, the method of bringing Manavgat brook's water to Israel and

ways of improving regional cooperation between private sectors at the meeting. Cem said that Peres has certain ideas about this issue, adding that they also discussed cooperation between Turkey, Jordan and Israel in high technology.

Cem said that the Middle East Peace Process and the developments in the region is another issue that was taken up, adding that ''the Middle East is a geography where Turkey lived and directed together with Israeli and Palestinian people for 400 years. It is a very important geography in respect of Turkey, and in respect of our sensitivities. We've always tried to contribute to formation of peace in this geography, to prevent the killing and starvation of children. We try to contribute to the peace process in a modest way.'' Cem said that Peres gave information to him about the recent developments, adding that they conveyed Turkey's anaylsis to Peres about peace process.

Upon a question about the project of bringing water of Manavgat brook to Israel, Cem said that it is not the foreign ministries of the two countries which will take decision about this issue, adding that the negotiations on the price still continue.

When asked about the expectation of Turkey from Israel about the peace process, Cem said that he does not favour the usage of the word 'expectation' adding that Turkey thinks that Israel should continue to launch efforts for solution of the problem and at the same time it should struggle with terrorism.

When journalists told Cem that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat asked support from Turkey for abolishment of the economic embargo imposed on Palestine during his recent visit to Turkey, Cem said ''Turkey has always suggested the two sides to be more understanding towards each other. In fact we also wanted the economic sanctions to be lessened reasonably. Israel has taken certain positive steps about this issue, it can be discussed whether it has been enough or not. I hope more things can be done.''

Upon another question, Cem said that they discussed economic issues within the framework of improving the bilateral relations at the meeting.

-ANAP GROUP MEETING
-YILMAZ SAYS CITIZENS ARE RIGHTFUL IN THEIR REACTIONS
ANKARA - Mesut Yilmaz, the deputy prime minister and the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said on Tuesday that the citizens are rightful in their reactions.

Speaking in the ANAP group meeting, Yilmaz said, ''we closely follow the reactions. But, I want to tell my citizens that although Ankara is late in some initiatives, it is not sleeping. Ankara's eyes and ears are on its citizens. We know that the citizens are losing their patience. But, it is obvious that steps taken immediately and without any plans will make the conditions worse.''

Yilmaz continued, ''it is easy to demolish, but it is hard to reconstruct the things that are demolished. We are trying to put in order the things without causing new damages. Also, our citizens should put forward their reactions without causing harm and damages. We should behave with common sense.''

''These are the days to be in solidarity. The state should protect its citizens and the society should protect its state. Employers should protect his employees. This government is not permanent. It is so natural that every government will leave the place to another when its term in office expires. But, it is not possible for anybody to undertake the responsibility of leaving the country without a government or of holding an election when the economy is on the operating table,'' Yilmaz added.

Yilmaz noted that the government is aware of its responsibilities and that they want to see the opposition to be aware of its own responsibilities in the current situation.

He believes the opposition parties will extend the necessary support to the initiatives launched to overcome the current crisis, Yilmaz stated.

Yilmaz said that the government indicated that it is sensitive over the problems of the tradesmen by the decisions it has taken.

Those who want to provoke and divert the protests should not be given opportunity, Yilmaz added.

-ANAP GROUP MEETING (2)
ANKARA - Mesut Yilmaz, the deputy prime minister and the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said on Tuesday that they believe that the crisis which caused disaster at the same time brings opportunities.

Speaking in the ANAP group meeting, Yilmaz said, ''whoever headed this government would take similar measures. Similar problems are faced in Argentine, Brazil, South Korea and Indonesia. Even, Japan is shaken by a financial crisis. Similar crises occured in Russian Federation and many South Asian countries. The way to overcome the crisis is to re-activate a competitive free market economy which is opening to the world. The problems can be solved by strengthening the democracy and increasing the efficiency of the parliament.''

Changes in many laws including the Political Parties Law and the Election Law are among the proposals to solve the crisis, Yilmaz noted.

Yilmaz said, ''we are pleased that the demands for legal changes are brought to the agenda. We are ready to give support to make these changes.''

Firstly, economic decisions have to be taken and implemented, Yilmaz stated.

Yilmaz said that the two main mistakes in Turkey is underestimating economy and not freeing daily lifes, beliefs and ideas of people.

Ensuring the economic welfare of the citizens and freeing the daily lives and beliefs of people are the factors to strengthen a state, Yilmaz emphasized.

Yilmaz continued, ''what we mean by reconstruction of the state is correcting the wrong system. Our aim is to change the roles of the state and citizens. That is, to set up a structure in which the state will serve the citizens, not the citizens will serve the state. The system which exists as the state in front of us is in fact a very deep pit. Everybody is get lost in this pit. It is possible to conclude all the investments of Turkey only by the losses of the public banks. We can build another Turkey by the losses of the companies in the financial system and the public institutions. It is not possible even for the strongest country in the world to endure this wrong system.''

By implementing the economic program, Turkey can be ranked among the most developed ten countries in the world in a short time, Yilmaz noted.

Yilmaz said, ''to achieve this, firstly the political parties should leave aside their own interests. We have to reach a compromise to implement the economic program and to overcome the current crisis. We should reach a compromise on overcoming the crisis, and finding radical, comprehensive and lasting solutions to our problems and implementing these solutions.''

''We believe everybody will be in compromise because thinking the opposite is treason. But, only compromise is not enough. Adjustment is needed. The state should be in harmony with the nation. The coalition should be in harmony with the opposition. A harmonious work of the parliament will ensure the solution of many problems in the shortest time,'' Yilmaz added.

Yilmaz said that they can either walk in the path of Great Founder Ataturk and reach the level of modern civilizations.

''But in this path, we should not panic and be determined. We should be patient and behave with common sense. The end of this path is the salvation of Turkey,'' Yilmaz said.

Yilmaz stated that if they walk in the opposite part of that road and if they panic against problems, they will search for current Turkey.

''The opposite part of the road is beside the poor African countries. We have to decide now. We will either walk from this road or the other one,'' Yilmaz added.

(End)

-TREASURY SELLS 668.3 TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS
NOMINAL-VALUED SIX-MONTH BONDS
ANKARA - The Treasury Undersecratariat sold on Tuesday 668.3 trillion Turkish liras (TL) nominal-valued bonds in the six-month bond auction.

The total bid had become 1 quadrillion 327.1 trillion TL and the net sale became 424.3 trillion TL.

The annual simple interest rate became 115 percent and the annual composite interest rate became 148.06 percent.

The value date of these six-month bonds is April 11 and the maturity is October 10.

Treasury will repay 1 quadrillion 22.6 trillion TL in domestic borrowing on April 25.

The Treasury had sold 1 quadrillion 411.5 trillion TL bonds in the 126-day bond auction which was held on April 3.

The gross annual interest became 107.83 and the gross composite interest was 150 percent in that bond auction.

-FM CEM AND ISRAELI FM PERES STAGE JOINT PRESS BRIEFING (2)
ANKARA - Israeli Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres said on Tuesday that high inflation is a disease, adding that yet the common efforts and will of human beings is stronger than this disease.

Staging a joint press briefing with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Peres said that the inflation in Turkey is around 60 percent, but it was around 400 percent in Israel when he was the prime minister. Peres said that he will tell State Minister Kemal Dervis in their meeting that he should not be effected by that as human beings are more powerful than inflation.

Peres said that Israel beat the high inflation rate, adding that he is sure that Turkey will do it, too.

All people in the country have to launch efforts to win this struggle, Peres said adding that he would tell the story of how Israel did it and

how it became a success to Dervis. He added that their struggle with inflation has become a classical example of struggling with inflation in modern economy.

When asked if the Israeli lobby would extend support to Turkey for its finding finance from G-7s and the U.S., Peres said that the warm feelings of Israeli and Jewish communities towards Turkey is known very well, adding he hoped this would help.

Peres said that Turkey is a country which plays an important role in its region, adding that the bilateral relations have become more meaningful in the last years and they have speeded up.

Peres pointed out that Israel has started to cooperate with Turkey in many issues today which were not possible in the past, adding that these fields spreaded to many fields like industry, agruculture, high technology and defense. Peres said that he knows the difficulties Turkey has today, adding that when the wings started to come out, there is pain in shoulders. ''I can see these wings coming out and the pain Turkey has today stems from transformation from a walking nation to a flying one. I was impressed by the potential your country has,'' he added.

When a journalist asked if he regards bombing Palestinians as the best method as a person who had earlier won Nobel Peace Prize, Peres said that ''no, but recent Israeli attacks were retaliation for strikes against Jewish settlements. If there wouldn't be mortar shelling of Jewish settlements, there wouldn't be a reply. Israel has never started bombing or opening fire.

Today they fired mortar shells at a Jewish settlement. Certainly there is a reply of that.''

After the press briefing Peres and Cem entered the dining hall, but they turned back after one minute and Peres said ''the best way is to stop

shooting and talk peace. Today the representatives of both sides will meet and I hope they will find a way that will end the reciprocal shootings. Our future depends on peaceful talks.''

Peres shared the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize with Arafat and the late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin for starting Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking.

(end)

-TURKISH-FRENCH PARTNERSHIP IN ENERGY
-ALARKO AND SNET FIRMS SIGN STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
ISTANBUL - Société Nationale d'Electricité et de Thermique (SNET), the French energy firm and Alarko companies group signed on Tuesday a strategic partnership agreement to be partners in Altek Alarko Electricity Statitions Management and Trade Inc. (ALTEK).

Following the completion of the legal procedures, 20 percent of Altek's shares will be allocated for public offering in the IMKB.

The half of the remaining 80 percent of shares will belong to Alarko Holding and the half will belong to SNET firm.

If the public offering does not come true till June 30 by Alarko Group, the half of the 20 percent of shares allocated for public offering will be sold to SNET. In this case, public offering will come true at a later date.

Altek firm is expected to increase its shares in the market by developing its electricty production and distribution activities both in the country, and also in North Africa and in former Societ republics by the partnership agreement signed with SNET, which is a leading firm of France in energy.

SNET and Alarko Firms Group will be represented equally in the Executive Board of Altek and the Executive Board President will be elected among the candidates proposed by Alarko.

The director general of the firm will be appointed by Alarko and its deputy director general responsible for finance will be appointed by SNET.

Addressing the ceremony, Alarko Holding's Executive Board President Ishak Alaton said that Turkey would come out of the recent crisis, adding that the French firm's signing this agreement in Turkey irrespective of the crisis is very important.

SNET Executive Board President and Director General Andre Sainjon said in his part that this agreement has laid down the foundation of a partnership which will last long. He added that this agreement will also strengthen the relations between Turkey and France.

Noting that their firm is a state firm, Sainjon said that ''France is the numer one investor in Turkey. There are 250 French companies in Turkey.''

-TOBB ISSUES DECLARATION SAYING THAT TRUST IN GOVERNMENT
HAS DECREASED AND IT HAS TO RESIGN
ANKARA - The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) issued on Tuesday a final declaration at the end of the meeting in which nearly 350 chairmen of chambers and stock exchanges participated.

The declaration noted that the trust in the government has lessened, adding that the government has to resign in order to fulfil the necessity of the situation today.

(to be continued)

-TOBB ISSUES DECLARATION (2)
ANKARA - The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) issued a final declaration on Tuesday.

The declaration, issued in the end of the Chairmanship Council meeting, said that the confidence in the government has been shaken and the government should resign.

The reason of the current economic situation is that the political will was unwilling about the structural programs despite all the warnings, the declaration said.

The declaration continued, ''another reason is that the political will delayed privatization initiatives and did not rearrange the banking system. The ministers and bureaucrats acted with the mentality that they knew everything. And, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) remedies were not implemented by taking into consideration Turkey's realities.''

An economic program can be accomplished if it indexed on production, employment and exportation, the declaration emphasized.

The declaration noted that decreasing the inflation depends on this.

''Politics, which is the requirement of the democratic system that is the way to achieve these, hit the ground in Turkey. The system is nearly blocked and all the society should discuss this issue. The country is interrogating the system today. The theme of this interrogation is the reconstruction of the political parties law, election law, the Constitution and the state. Resisting against the reconstruction of the politics damages the democratic parliamentary regime. To this end, we will start to implement our strategic action plans one by one,'' the declaration said.

The declaration stated that struggle against corruption should be made in a determined way.

Saving in the state should really be made, the declaration said, requesting the number of ministers be decreased to 22.

The declaration said, ''the government is late in overcoming the crisis. It watched the fire when it was spreading around. Nothing has been done for 50 days. The confidence in the government has been shaken. The government should resign. It is the democratic right and duty of the non-governmental organizations to express their concerns about the initiatives of the administrations. To this end, we are determined to use our democratic rights.''

The declaration noted that the deputies can solve the problems of the soldiers, tradesmen, industrialists, workers, civil servants and can make the re-arrangements like the inter-party and election laws which can provide the reconstruction of the state and ensure the rule of law.

The deputies can also provide a new formation which can accelerate the production, employment and exportation, the declaration said.

The declaration added that they will protect the secular, democratic Turkish Republic and ensure its integration with the developed countries by firstl integrating with the society.

(End)

-DETAILS OF SAVING MEASURES IN PUBLIC SECTOR ANNOUNCED
ANKARA - The details of the saving measures which are foreseen to be taken in the public sector and which were prepared by officials of the Prime Ministry, Finance Ministry, State Planning Organization (DPT) and Treasury Undersecretariat, were announced on Tuesday.

The measures which are foresen to be taken in order to have productivity in usage of public sources and to decrease public expenses, were submitted to the Council of Ministers meeting on Monday.

The saving measures in the public sector have three parts: those related to personnel, vehicles and flats provided to public employees.

The measures related to personnel in the public sector foresee transfer of the personnel which is not needed much in one department to another department where they are needed.

Those who had retired earlier won't work in the public institutions and those who resign from the public sector won't be re-admitted to the sector if he/she resigned five years ago. University professors and instructors will be exempt from this application.

The temporary appointments of civil servants in all public institutions including local administrations both in the country and abroad will be stopped except in cases in which there is the necessity. There will be no transfer of personnel from local administrations to other public institutions. The institutions won't demand on their own any increase in wages of their personnel.

Measures related to health note that ''The medical reports and prescriptions given to persons will be re-arranged in order to prevent usage of them by others. The ambulances of institutions other than those of Armed Forces, Security General Directorate and Social Security Agency (SSK) will serve the 112 emergency service run by the Health Ministry.''

No new projects will be proposed by public institutions within the framework of the implementation of the 2001 investment programme and these institutions will abide fully by the saving measures in expenses related to annual projects.

Public institutions will no longer rent or purchase flats, camps, training or social facilities for public employees in Turkey or abroad.

Vehicles which are older than 12 years will be sold. No vehicles will be allocated for personnel other than the ministers and undersecretaries if not necessary. All the automobiles which are outside the scope of the Vehicle Law, will be sold.

Certain phones in the public sector will be closed to unnecessary national and international talks, and telephone talks will be limited with three minutes.

The fees of public social facilities will be re-fixed in a way which will meet the costs of these facilities, and no subsidies will be given from any other source to these installations.

The application results related to all the foreseen saving measures will be notified to the Finance Ministry and Prime Ministry in reports covering three months.

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