Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-04-17

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

17 APRİL 2001 Tuesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

MEHMET FIDANCI CAPTURED
Mehmet Fidancı, one of the suspects who is accused of killing Diyarbakır Security Chief Gaffar Okkan and five other policemen in southeastern Diyarbakır province on January 24, 2001 was captured in Diyarbakır. Fidancı, who is in the list of 26 hitmen of Hezbollah terrorist organization, said that ''I didn't use gun, I only guarded the others.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

WORLD BANK WELCOMES TURKEY'S NEW ECONOMIC PROGRAM
The World Bank welcomed the Turkish government's new economic program announced last weekend by State Minister Kemal Dervis. Releasing a statement, the World Bank said, ''with effective implementation and adequate international assistance, this program can help Turkey recover from the crisis and lay the groundwork for future sustainable growth.'' The statement noted, ''the World Bank, in particular, applauds the program's emphasis on structural policies, on measures to improve the climate for foreign direct investment and on social programs which will prepare the ground for future recovery and to provide immediate help to poor families who are coping with the new economic crisis.''

HOUSE OF DEATH
A shanty in Kucukarmutlu district of Istanbul... Five people are living on the edge of death in this house. These people have been fasting to death in order to protest F type prisons. One of them, Canan Kulaksiz, lost her life two days ago. Others are in critical condition.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

IPEK CAPTURED
Recep Ipek, the suspect of killing of 11-year-old Avsar Caldiran in Susurluk township of northwestern province of Balikesir, was captured in Bismil township of southeastern province of Diyarbakir. During his first interrogation, Ipek pleaded guilty. Ipek confessed that he had committed the homicide. A special team left for Bismil to take Ipek to Balikesir.

PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT PREVENTS THIRD CRISIS
Turkey which was shaken by two economic crises in November of 2000 and in February of 2001, escaped from a third crisis with no harm. State Minister Kemal Dervis and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Husnu Yusuf Gokalp had an argument on debts of farmers during yesterday's Council of Ministers' meeting. State Minister Dervis started to collect his dossiers and attempted to leave the meeting. Prime Minister Ecevit intervened in the argument, and made atmosphere positive again.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

NEW ECONOMIC PROGRAM TO BE SUBMITTED TO IMF
New economic program which was disclosed by State Minister Kemal Dervis last weekend, will be submitted to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) this week as a letter of intent. The letter will be taken up during the spring meetings of IMF and the World Bank between April 26 and 30. Following approval of the program, the IMF is expected to provide an assistance of 5-6 billion U.S. dollars.

TOPKAPI PALACE PRESENTED WITH GOLD MEDAL
Association of Dealers in Antiques in Barcelona city of Spain awarded Topkapi Palace in Istanbul with gold medal. Manuel Puig Vidal, the chairman of the association, presented the medal to Filiz Cagman, the director of Topkapi Palace. Speaking at the award ceremony, Cagman said, ''the Topkapi Palace has a world-wide prestige. The palace which charmed Spanish tourists was presented with gold medal due to its historical value. I hope that this award would increase number of Spanish tourists coming to Turkey.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)

THIS NIGHTMARE SHOULD END
Another inmate, who was on death fast died in western province of Izmir yesterday. Following the death of Sedat Gursel Akmaz who was 38 years old, the number of those inmates who died increased to 13. Meanwhile, the government and the Justice Ministry don't take steps to find a solution to this on-going problem in prisons. Meeting with the representatives of the Turkish Doctors Union, Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that ''I am very sorry about the deaths, yet it is not possible for us to meet with inmates.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

DERVIS AND GOKALP ARGUE AT CABINET MEETING
State Minister Kemal Dervis who is in charge of economy and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Husnu Yusuf Gokalp had an argument at the council of ministers meeting yesterday. Gokalp said the debts of the farmers should be delayed, but State Minister Dervis opposed to that telling such a decision would interrupt the new economic programme. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit calmed the two ministers.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

NINE DEMONSTRATORS ARRESTED
Nine of the 155 persons who were taken into custody following the tradesmen's protest in Ankara last Wednesday, were arrested yesterday for ''damaging public property and resisting police officers.''

-STANDARD & POOR'S DOWNGRADES TURKEY'S EXTERNAL DEBT CREDIT RATING

NEW YORK - New York-based Standard & Poor's (S&P), a leading rating organization, downgraded Turkey's external debt credit rating from B to B-. Turkey's short-term foreign currency credit rating remained at C.

Releasing a statement, the S&P said that it had taken the decision about Turkey before announcement of the new economic program by State Minister Kemal Dervis last weekend.

In February of 2001, S&P lowered Turkey's rating from B+ to B.

S&P said that Turkey would repay 5 billion U.S. dollars in external debt in the second half of May, and added that Turkey would repay another 5 billion U.S. dollars in June.

-GAP EXPORTS 7,3 MILLION DOLLARS OF PRODUCTS TO COUNTRIES
IN AMERICAN CONTINENT IN FIRST THREE MONTHS
GAZIANTEP - Southeastern Anatolian Region (GAP) exported agricultural and industrial products worth of 7,3 million U.S. dollars to the countries in American continent with a decrease of 13,4 percent in the first three months of 2001 compared to the same period last year.

GAP exported products worth of 8,4 million U.S. dollars in the same period last year.

According to the data of the Southeast Anatolian Exporters Union, GAP region exported 158,000 U.S. dollars of cereals, seeds; 2,3 million U.S. dollars of fruit and 4,8 million U.S. dollars of textile to the American continent.

GAP region exported products worth of 6,2 million U.S. dollars to the U.S.; 599,000 dollars to Canada; and 493,000 dollars to El Salvador, Honduras, Argentina, Brazil, Dominican Republic, and Trinidad and Tobago.

-DIYARBAKIR GOVERNOR SERHADLI STAGES A PRESS CONFERENCE (1)
DIYARBAKIR - Cemil Serhadli, the Governor of Diyarbakir, said on Tuesday that Mehmet Fidanci, one of the suspects of assasination of Gaffar Okkan, the former police chief of southeastern province of Diyarbakir, was captured with a false identity card arranged in the name of Mehmet Bekci.

Serhadli staged a press conference together with Diyarbakir Police Chief Attila Cinar.

Speaking at the press conference, Serhadli said that suspect Fidanci had joined in assasination of Okkan and five other policemen on January 24 2001, with a Kalashnikov rifle, a hand-gun and a hand-grenade.

(To be continued)

-TURKEY-NETHERLANDS LAND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION MEETING STARTS
-TWO COUNTRIES SIGN NEW AGREEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION
ANKARA - Turkey-Netherlands Land Transportation Commission meeting started on Tuesday.

The two countries signed an agreement on international highway transportation before the meeting which will last for two days.

Ahmet Balcı, the Transportation Ministry deputy undersecretary signed the agreement on behalf of Turkey and Sjoerd Gossens, the Dutch Ambassador to Turkey signed the agreement on behalf of the Netherlands.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Balcı said that the international highway transportation agreement which was signed between the two countries in 1971 will terminate by the signing of the new agreement prepared in line with today's circumstances.

Balcı pointed out that the agreement aims at regulating the transit passanger and goods transportation between the two countries and via these countries.

Gosses said that the new agreement has the character of strengthening the economic and political relations between the two countries.

Noting that he hopes the economic crisis to be overcome soon and the inflation rate to be taken under control, he said that Turkey will overcome the crisis like it did in the past.

-STATE MINISTER AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BAHCELI:
-''POSITIVE REACTIONS TO ECONOMIC PROGRAM INCREASE
OUR HOPES FOR FUTURE''
ANKARA - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said on Tuesday, ''sections of Turkish society and international finance circles welcomed the new economic program which was unveiled by State Minister Kemal Dervis last weekend. These positive reactions increase our hopes for the future.''

Speaking at the MHP's parliamentary group meeting, Bahceli referred to social impacts of the economic crisis stemmed from long-standing problems.

Bahceli underlined importance of overcoming syndrome of uncertainty and providing normal growth dynamism ie social and economic lives.

''The new economic program's prior target is to settle an atmosphere of relief and confidence. Sections of Turkish society and international finance circles welcomed the new economic program which was unveiled by State Minister Dervis last weekend. These positive reactions increase our hopes for the future. I hope that we would remove heavy effects of crisis and accelerate our economic growth. At the same time, we should take steps to prevent such crisis,'' he stressed.

Bahceli noted, ''the second important factor is to resettlement of economic and social balances which were damaged during crises in November of 2000 and in February of 2001, on the basis of sustainable economic growth. After economic program results in success, inflation will reduce, unfair distribution of income will be removed, and social program will be put into practice to provide social support to our poor people.''

Bahceli stressed that the most important reason of difficulties in Turkey was bad and extravagant administrations.

Expressing his hope over success of the new economic program with the support of the society, Bahceli added, ''all programs can have some deficiencies. But we can intervene in these problems in the program rapidly. Support of our people and of non-governmental organizations is very important in regard to the program's success.''

(To be continued)

-MAN CAUGHT IN KAHRAMANMARAS WITH ALLEGED VAN GOGH PAINTING
KAHRAMANMARAS - One man was captured in Kahramanmaras while he was trying to sell a painting which is allegedly by Van Gogh for three million U.S. dollars, it was reported on Tuesday.

Police contacted 38-year old Faruk Namli and pretended as a buyer. Security Directorate Smuggling and Organized Crime Director Murat Karausta indicated that the 85 cm x 57 cm painting without a signature was smuggled from Northern Iraq to Turkey. The painting is depicting veiled women selling rugs. Karausta said the painting will be submitted to the Culture Directorate and added that it could also be sent to Istanbul Painting and Sculpture Museum to be examined.

Faruk Namli's interrogation is continuing.

-DIYARBAKIR GOVERNOR SERHADLI STAGES A PRESS CONFERENCE (2)
DIYARBAKIR - Diyarbakir Governor Cemil Serhadli said on Tuesday that Mehmet Fidanci, one of the suspects of assasination of Gaffar Okkan, the former police chief of southeastern province of Diyarbakir, was captured with a false identity card arranged in the name of Mehmet Bekci.

Serhadli told a press conference that suspect Fidanci had joined in assasination of Okkan and five other policemen on January 24 2001.

The efforts of the security forces continue and they hope they can capture other assailants soon, Serhadli said.

Serhadli noted that Fidanci told police that he joined the terrorist Hezbollah organization in 1991 and that since that day, he worked in the military, interrogation units and joined the armed unit of the terrorist organization Hezbollah in Diyarbakir.

Serhadli listed the attacks in which Fidanci had joined:

- killing Abdullah Ay in Silvan township on May 31, 1992,

- killing Mehmet Kelesoglu in Silvan township on November 7, 1992,

- killing a person working in Silvan township in 1993,

- injuring a villager in Silvan township in 1993,

- killing Mehmet Hamit Fidanci in Diyarbakir on October 19, 1997,

- killing Halis Guneyli in Diyarbakir on July 30, 1997,

- killing Mahmut Ergun in Diyarbakir on September 19, 1999,

- killing Mehmet Sehmiz Ozturk in Diyarbakir on September 29, 1999,

- killing Cahit Tekdemir, whose family said on July 5, 1999 that Cahit was lost,

- assassinating Gaffar Okkan and five other policemen and injuring five other policemen on January 24, 2001 by a kalashnikov rifle, a gun and a hand grenade.

Serhadli said that Fidanci confessed that he stood at the corner of Eflatun Park in the assassination of Okkan and five other policemen and he used a gun in the attack.

When asked how many people took part in the attack, Serhadli said, ''the interrogation still continues. To this end, I think it is wrong to give such information. After the interrogation ends, we will make a clearer statement.''

Asked if Fidanci used a gun in the attack, Serhadli said, ''there are some wrong news stories in some newspapers. There were not any guns or weapons on the suspect when he was captured. Efforts are underway. We think that the weapons may have been hidden somewhere else. Some journalists develop their own ideas and theories and write these theories. Nothing is proved to be true before the interrogation ends. After the interrogation ends, we will inform you.''

Serhadli noted that Fidanci ran away on foot following the attack.

Responding to questions about the operation in which Hasan Sariagac, a member of terrorist Hezbollah organization, was killed, Serhadli said that they tried not to kill this person, but unfortunately he was killed in the operation.

Serhadli said, ''ten people were living in that house. Five of them were children and two of them were women. The operation was very successful. Our target was to capture the assailants to illuminate the attacks. But, he was killed in the operation.''

-TRNC PRIME MINISTER EROGLU RECEIVES FOREIGN MINISTER CEM
-CEM: ''CYPRUS QUESTION IS COMMON CAUSE OF TRNC AND TURKEY''
LEFKOSA - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Tuesday that Cyprus question is the common cause of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Turkey.

TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu received Cem, who is paying an official visit to TRNC.

Eroglu said that besides Turkey, TRNC also has economic problems and that he believes they can overcome the problems together with Turkey.

Cem's visit is important because they can discuss the Cyprus question, Eroglu noted.

Eroglu said, ''there is a policy we have put forward related with Cyprus and we follow this policy together with the motherland.''

A solution on Cyprus will never be possible if they do not take action from the reality of existence of two states on the island, Eroglu stated.

Cem said that he will learn about the views of Eroglu and his staff.

''Cyprus is our common cause. Cyprus is the common cause of TRNC and Turkey, '' Cem said.

Drawing the attention to the point reached in Cyprus question, Cem said, ''when we used to defend this case differently 15 years ago, we are defending it in a higher level. We can conclude our rightful case for the benefit of Turkish Cypriot nation.''

Cem will later attend the luncheon hosted in his honour by TRNC President Rauf Denktas.

-TRNC PARLIAMENT SPEAKER HASIPOGLU RECEIVES FOREIGN MINISTER CEM
-HASIPOGLU: ''WE WANT AN AGREEMENT DEPENDING ON PRINCIPLE
OF EXISTENCE OF TWO STATES ON THE ISLAND''
LEFKOSA - Ertugrul Hasipoglu, the Parliament Speaker of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), received on Tuesday Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.

Hasipoglu said that they want a lasting agreement depending on the principle of the existence of two states on the island.

A peaceful atmosphere was ensured on Cyprus by the 1974 Peace Operation, Hasipoglu noted.

Hasipoglu stated that Cem's visit boosted morale of Turkish Cypriots.

''Cyprus question is the security cause of Turkey. It is a cause of protecting the existence of Turkish Cypriot nation. Shortly, it is the national cause of Turkish nation,'' Hasipoglu said.

Hasipoglu emphasized that a solution based on the principle of existence of two states on the island will be a real agreement, otherwise, the problem will continue.

''It is very dangerous that two nations which do not trust each other, live together. Relations can be improved in an atmosphere of confidence which will be set up after an agreement based on the principle of existence of two states on the island. We are in favour of reaching an agreement in a short time. Not peace, but an agreement,'' Hasipoglu said.

Hasipoglu continued, ''because there is peace on the island. There is not a war or dying people. There is an increase in the national income. Nobody can shout 'there is no peace, but occupation.' There cannot be such peace in an occupation. The real peace had been provided by the deterring feature of the Turkish Armed Forces.''

Showing India-Pakistan and Palestine besides Cyprus as examples, Hasipoglu said that there are still problems whereever Britain intervened in.

Hasipoglu noted that when the existence of British sovereign bases continue, mentioning single sovereignty on Cyprus cannot be accepted.

Expressing his confidence in Turkey and Turkish Armed Forces, Hasipoglu said, ''we have reached today and I hope we can reach better days together.''

Cem said that they are debating how the current cooperation between Turkey and TRNC can be developed within the framework of foreign politics.

Cem and the accompanying delegation later attended the luncheon hosted by TRNC President Rauf Denktas.

-REPORTERS GIVEN VIDEO FOOTAGES OF FIDANCI'S INTERROGATION
DIYARBAKIR - The video footages of the interrogation of Mehmet Fidanci, one of the suspects who were involved in Diyarbakir Security Director A. Gaffar Okkan's killing, were distributed to reporters on Tuesday. Fidanci was caught recently with a false ID card at Diyarbakir's Baglar district.

Certain parts of Fidanci's interrogation was not included in the video footages in order not to harm the ongoing investigation.

''I was told what we were going to one day before the killing but they didn't tell me where it was going to take place. They called me at 3 p.m. and told me to be at the Security Department at 5.30 p.m. So I came to Alipinar bridge. I had a hand granade, one Kalashnikov weapon and a gun. Then, we saw the cars coming and I heard shootings. I also started shooting at the cars as I stood as the corder of Eflatun Park. Later, I ran away back to the bridge. Then, I went to the cemetery and walked home from the back streets,'' Fidanci recounted in his interrogation.

-ECEVIT SAYS MARKETS' REACTION TO ECONOMIC PROGRAM IS POSITIVE
ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has said that the markets showed a positive reaction to the new economic program.

Ecevit responded to reporters' questions upon arriving the Democratic Left Party (DSP) headquarters on Tuesday.

''Our people were expecting such a signal. Trust between the state and the people is very important. I believe this will be followed by even more positive indications in the coming days,'' he commented.

When asked if a disagreement occured during Monday's cabinet meeting among coalition members, the prime minister said ''The purpose of cabinet meetings is to discuss things. Different opinions are put forward and debated at these meetings. It is sad that exaggerated news are leaking most of the time to the media which is causing speculations. We're trying to prevent this.''

Responding to a question on the death fasts which entered its 180th day, Ecevit said, ''it is very sad that people are sacrificing their lives for the sake of continuing a terrorist act. I'm calling on families of inmates and NGOs to convince death fasters to end their protests.''

When asked if he received a reply from the G-7 countries regarding financial aid to Turkey, Ecevit said these countries were waiting for the economic program to be shaped to help Turkey.

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