Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-04-25

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>

ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

25 APRİL 2001 Wednesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] PARLIAMENTARY INTERIOR AFFAIRS SUB-COMMISSION PROPOSES

[03] BSEC FOREIGN MINISTERS' COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD IN MOSCOW

[04] EXPORTS RISE 11.2 PERCENT BETWEEN JANUARY 1 AND APRIL 19

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Selcuk made a radical start without wearing a headscarf during a ceremony staged for the new members of the committee.

THE MOST CRITICAL QUESTION FROM MILITARY TO DERVIS
State minister Kemal Dervis, in the National Security Council (NSC) meeting, which he attended for the first time, met with a very critical question of the military flank.

The question asked if political conditions like Cyprus and European Security and Defense Policy were put forward to them in foreign source talks.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

The prosecutor's office, which did not prepare a report as a requirement of the constitution, pointed out that Ersumer committed the crime mentioned in Article 366/2 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

CREDIT TO DERINER DAM FROM AKBANK
Under the leadership of Akbank and ABN AMBRO Bank, syndicated loan, worth of 330 million U.S. dollars, was provided for the Deniner Dam and Hyroelectric Power Plant project. Partnership share of Akbank in the credit in question is 220 million U.S. dolllars. Is Bankasi and Pamukbank also took place as participants in syndication.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

BUSH'S SLAP ON ARMENIANS
U.S. President George W. Bush disappointed the Armenian lobby in the U.S. by the statement he issued on April 24. Bush didn't use the words ''genocide'' and ''massacre'' in the statement and this pleased Turkey and angered the Armenian lobby.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

THOSE WHO COOPERATED WITH GUNMEN ARE WANTED
The gunmen who occupied Swiss Hotel in Istanbul on Sunday night and who call themselves the ''Chechnia Fight Group,'' will be accused of occupying an hotel, taking hostages, and being members of a terrorist organization. Meanwhile security forces try to find the people who cooperated and abetted with terrorists.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

DEATH FASTS CONTINUE
Two bills which foresee improvements in the F type prisons were submitted to the parliament yesterday. The bill will be discussed in the Parliamentary Justice Commission this week. The government hopes that the bills which amend Article 16 of the Anti-Terrorism Law and which foresee formation of follow-up committees, to end death fasts in prisons.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

FINAL DEFENSE FROM FP
The Virtue Party (FP) submitted its last defense to the Constitutional Court within the framework of the closure case against FP.

Mustafa Kamalak, a deputy of the FP, presented the last defense of the FP to Sadi Buyukeren, the secretary general of the Constitutional Court.

The Constitutional Court had given the FP an extra time of 15 days to prepare its last defense after listening to the verbal statements of Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

The first summit had taken place in 1992. The summit aims to further improve social, economic, political and cultural relations among the Turkish Republics.

OIL REPORT FROM DPT TO NSC
In the report, which was presented by the State Planning Organization Mining Special Experts Commission, to National Security Council (NSC), said the Black Sea was very important in searches for oil and natural gas, and wanted works in seas to be accelerated.

Pointing out that Turkey imported more than half of its need in natural gas and oil from foreign countries, the report said searches within the country should be carried out by thinking that the natural gas was a strategic raw material.

-STATE MINISTER DERVIS LEAVES FOR U.S.
ANKARA - State Minister Kemal Dervis who is in charge of economy, left Turkey on Wednesday for the U.S.

The plane which will take Dervis to Zurich first, left Esenboga Airport of Ankara at 8.10 a.m.

Dervis will participate in the IMF meetings to be held in Washington D.C. between 26-30 April and proceed to New York on May 1 where he will meet with representatives of international finance circles. Dervis, who will later proceed to Germany, is expected to meet with creditor banks there.

-PARLIAMENT ADOPTS BILL WHICH AMENDS CENTRAL BANK LAW
ANKARA - Parliament adopted early on Wednesday the bill which makes amendmends in the Central Bank Law. Central Bank won't give money in advance to the Treasury and public institutions or give credits to them.

No authority will be able to give orders to the Central Bank, and a Money Market Committee will be set up within the body of the Central Bank.

The general preamble of the bill said the need to make amendments to the law occurred within the framework of the developments recorded with the world, mainly the European Union norms, regarding economic conditions and central banking since 1970, when Central Bank Law had taken effect.

The preamble said the bill, which was prepared within this framework, pointed out that the principle target of the Turkish Republic Central Bank was to provide price stability, and that the bank was the only authorized and responsible in determining and implementing the monetary policy of the bank. The functions, which the bank undertakes with the new arrangement, are listed as below:

''-The bank, aiming to continue to fight against inflation which is its primary target, is equipped with the assignment and authority to determine the inflation target together with the government.

The bank is authorized to provide price stability, to directly determine monetary policy means used in central banking to provide price stability, and to fight against inflation.

-In order to realize its principle target, the bank is envisaged to benefit from open market operations, foreign exchange and effective operations, discount rate, advanced money operations, cash reserve requirements and other monetary policy means which it would find as appropriate.

-In order to provide effectiveness in realization of price stability, Money Market Committee is set up within the body of the bank considering the implementations in the world.

-To increase the analytical and statistical sufficiency, required by the inflation targets, the bank is authorized to collect every kind of statistical informations that will be regarded as necessary to cover the developments in economy and balance of payments, and all statistical informations pertaining to financial system.

-Within the scope of the authority and assignment to provide stability in financial system, the bank is authorized to take required measures to cover the system and make evaluations to strengthen the basis of the financial system, and to prevent the risks in financial system to spread to the sector in general.

-TRANSPARENCY
The preamble said that the bank was charged to establish and maintain an efficient and reliable payment system by benefiting from techological developments to provide macro-economic balances as a whole.

The preamble noted that the bank is foreseen to support the growth and stability policies of the government not to contradict with the aim to provide price stability.

The Central Bank enabled the control of the profit and loss calculations in the balance sheet by independent control organizations to provide the transparency when determining the monetary policy, the preamble stated.

The preamble pointed out that the law foresees the presentation of reports on the bank transactions to the Council of Ministers two times a year, the preparation of term reports related with the implementation and the announcement of these reports to the public.

The provision that none of the authorities will be able to give orders to the bank to ensure the bank reach its main targets and economic principles and to use its authorities efficiently and independently.

The bill on Central Bank authorizes the Central Bank in determination and implementation of the monetary policy of the country and authorizes the Bank to determine the inflation target together with the government.

The bill is one of the legal arrangements that aim at overcoming the economic crisis.

The bill which determines the main target of the Central Bank to provide the price stability, also provides harmony with the EU norms.

The bill which regulates the basic mission and authorities of the bank in a new systematic, notes that the bank should not take any orders from any authorities in order to reach its basic aim.

The basic authorities of the bank are stated as follows:

''The authority of issuing paper money belongs to Central Bank.

-The Bank is authorized to use the tools of monetary policy stated in this bill and to determine and implement other tools of monetary policy.

-Central Bank is authorized to give money in advance into Savings Deposit Insurance Fund in cases of emergency and when the the sources of the Fund do not meet the needs.

-The Bank carries out the proceeding of giving credits to banks as being the final creditor.

-The Bank is authorized to ask the banks and other financial institutions and institutions which are charged in supervising these banks for necessary information and to get statistical information from them in order to monitor the financial markets.

The bill which said that the Central Bank is the financial and economic consultant, financial agency of the government, foresees the relation of the Bank with the government to be carried out by the Prime Minister.

Central Bank which will present views to the government about the financial system upon demand, will also inform the concerned institutions about its views.

The organs of the Central Bank have been determined as ''general council, bank assembly, monetary policy council, supervision board, governorship and adimistration committee.

The missions of the Monetary Policy council are as follows:

''-to determine principles and strategies of the monetary policy in order to stable the prices,

-to determine the inflation target together with the government within the framework of the monetary policy strategy,

-to prepare reports from time to time about the targets of the monetary policy and inform the public opinion on the basis of the principles to be determined by the government.''

The Central Bank will take measures to prevent the risks in the financial system to spread to the banking sector.

The Bank can authorize independent supervisor institutions to examine its balance sheet, profits and losses.

Central Bank will determine in advance the conditions of sales and purchases of foreign exchange rates in order to determine the value of the Turkish lira against foreign currencies.

The bill aims at using free market transactions which are used as the most effective tool in arranging the liquidity of the money supply and economy in many countries, also in Turkey. These transactions will not be carried out in order to provide credits to any public institutions or other institutions including the Treasury.

Central Bank won't give money in advance or open credits to the Treasury and public institutions.

Heavy imprisonment will be given for Central Bank's members who talk about the secrets of the Bank in order to get benefit for himself or for others.

-SYNTHETIC THREAD, MACHINE CARPET, COTTON THREAD AND
KNITTING GOODS IMPORTATION FORM 48.5 PERCENT OF TOTAL EXPORTATION
GAZIANTEP - Synthetic thread, machine carpet, cotton threat, and knitting goods became the locomotive of exportation from the Southeastern Anatolian Region project (GAP).

Share of those four products in the regional total exportation which was 45.6 percent in 2000 January-March period, increased to 48.5 percent.

According to Southeastern Anatolian Exporters Union data, synthetic thread, worth of 21.728 million U.S. dollars; machine carpet, worth of 17.581 million U.S. dollars; cotton threat, worth of 13.867 million U.S. dollars; and knitting goods, worth of 12.048 million U.S. dollars were exported.

Syria, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy, Lebanon, Spain, Britain, Germany, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Romania, U.S., Belgium, Israel, Portugal, Bulgaria, Greece, and Algeria were among the countries which those products were exported.

-CONSTITUTIONAL COURT'S FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED
ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Wednesday that the principle of ''legal state'' which is one of the basic characters of the Turkish Republic is the guarantee of the main characters of the Republic.

Sending a message to Constitutional Court Chairman Mustafa Bumin upon the 39th foundation anniversary of the Constitutional Court, Sezer said that basic rights and freedoms are protected by constitutional guarantees in modern pluralist societies where citizens benefit equally from rights.

''The legal state is on the other hand is a means of implementing democratic values in the legal order. The aim of the legal state is to prevent state power's from turning into an administration of mere oppression and brutal force. The legal state limits political administration and brings rules for executive power and the administration and at the same time it contributes to installation of stability. Seperation of powers principle is adopted in the Constitution. The supervision of legislative and executive organs by the independent judiciary is important and compulsary. The exercise of legislative and executive powers within the limits prescribed by the Constitution is important and compulsary for the legal state and democracy. Supremacy of law is provided by the Constitution's stressing the fact that the decisions of the Constitutional Court are binding. The Constitutional Court has been the symbol of legal state since its foundation and fulfils an important mission successfully,'' Sezer said in his message.

Premier Ecevit also sent a message to Bumin the same day and said that the Constitutional Court is the strong and effective guarantee of the democratic legal state in Turkey.

-CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CHAIRMAN BUMIN SAYS CONSTITUTIONS SHOULD
BE CHANGED ACCORDING TO NEW REQUIREMENTS
ANKARA - Constitutional Court Chairman Mustafa Bumin said on Wednesday, ''the constitutions should be changed in accordance with new requirements in order to maintain continuity of the state. The constitution should be reviewed, and a constitution should be formed to balance duties and authorities among the state organs to become a modern and democratic state.''

A ceremony took place to mark the 39th anniversary of foundation of the Constitutional Court.

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer; parliament speaker Omer Izgi; Recai Kutan, the leader of the Virtue Party (FP); Tansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP); Sami Selcuk, the chairman of Supreme Court of Appeals; justice minister Hikmet Sami Turk; Dalova Sancar and Nursel Aymakoglu, the deputy chairmen of Council of State; Sabih Kanadoglu, the chief prosecutor of Supreme Court of Appeals; Yasar Selim Asmaz, the chief prosecutor of the Council of State; Ankara governor Yahya Gur; Ankara mayor Melih Gokcek; the members of the Constitutional Court; the rapporteurs; and other guests were in attendance at the ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Constitutional Court chairman Bumin said, ''the Constitutional Court is the highest-level protector of human rights as one of cornerstones of a state of law. The constitutions should be changed in accordance with new requirements in order to maintain continuity of the state. The constitution should be reviewed, and a constitution should be formed to balance duties and authorities among the state organs to become a modern and democratic state. Otherwise, a dangerous period will start in which negligence of some rules of the Constitution could be tolerated.''

Bumin said, ''Article 42 of the Constitution says, 'no language other than Turkish shall be taught as mother tongue to Turkish citizens at any institutions of training or education.' Therefore, opinions about education in languages belonged to some similar ethnic groups, cannot be defended against the Constitution.''

''Decisions taken by the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) about closure cases against political parties caused harhs criticisms against Turkey. Article 68 and 69 of the Constitution were changed in 1995, but any change was not made in the Political Parties Law. Many rules of the Political Parties Law which came into effect on April 22, 1983, are contrary to the Constitution. But these rules are valid in closure cases against political parties,'' he said.

Bumin said, ''in secular education, any discrimination cannot be made in regard to religious beliefs. Any tolerance to those wearing Islamic style headscarves can lead to discrimination among people because of their religious beliefs and to clashes between opposing groups. Therefore, such an attitude will not be beneficial for Turkey's future. Allowing people to wear Islamic style headscarves in state institutions and at universities is a kind of diversion and pressure. This contradicts with the principle of secularism. The Constitutional Court and the European Human Rights Commission attribute the same meaning to the rules about secularism and freedom of thought. All political parties should not exploit religious beliefs and should not use them for their own political purposes.

Bumin added, ''the Constitutional Court will continue to be the protector and the biggest guarantee of democratic and secular Republic of Turkey which is a social state of law.''

[02] PARLIAMENTARY INTERIOR AFFAIRS SUB-COMMISSION PROPOSES

Scientists from several universities and representatives of some public institutions were listened in the sub-commission meeting.

The report of the sub-commission summarized the views which were expressed in the meeting related with the attitude which would be assumed against the allegations targeting at Turkey.

The report said that the decision of the French parliament is a political decision which does not reflect the historical realities.

''The Armenian question has become a serious issue in Turkey for 25 years. We have been aware of this question by the attacks on Turkish diplomats. As the PKK terrorism occured, the Armenian terrorism ended. As the PKK terrorism ended, this question has occured again. To this end, this question does not have any connection with the reality and it is a part of the long-term plans against Turkey,'' the report said.

The report noted that the question cannot be solved by superficial measures and went on saying, ''we have to get institutionalized to explain that we are rightful. The Armenian lobbies are strongly institutionalized.''

The state archives have to be available, the report stated.

The report said, ''making the archives available and putting forward the realities in detail will be beneficial to our country.''

What were experienced those days were not ''genocide'', the report noted.

The report stated that some people died during the migration of the Armenians who rebelled against the country during the World War I.

What had happened ''was an unfavourable condition of the war'', the report said, adding that the Armenians who were living outside the region which rebelled against the country, were not subject to migration.

[03] BSEC FOREIGN MINISTERS' COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD IN MOSCOW

During his weekly press conference on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said that Foreign Minister Ismail Cem would represent Turkey at the meeting.

Dirioz said that during the meeting, Cem would take over the BSEC Foreign Ministers' Council Term Presidency from Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov for a six-month period.

''Turkey has prepared a detailed program to add momentum to the organization during its term presidency. This program foresees a series of measures to increase activities and influence of the organization. Within this framework, the secretariat of the organization will expend efforts to implement projects, prepare concrete projects and take initiatives to put the existing projects into practice, continue its close cooperation with BSEC Parliamentary Assembly and the organization's finance organization Black Sea Trade and Development Bank and encourage opening of member countries' representations in Istanbul,'' he said.

Noting that five percent of world population was living in BSEC countries which had a five percent share in world trade, Dirioz said that the BSEC region where also several important natural gas and oil producers were taking part was situated in the middle of Eurasia which was the ''most important region of the century''.

''During its term presidency, Turkey targets to develop concrete projects by making use of the great energy potential in this important region,'' he said.

Recalling that liberalization of trade in the region was among the targets of the BSEC, Dirioz said, ''within this framework, some legal arrangements were foreseen to be made and visa formalities will be simplified.''

''During its term presidency, Turkey will expend efforts to accelerate the Black Sea Transportation Corridor project which will connect BSEC countries to each other. It will strengthen the Istanbul-based BSEC Business Council, increase cooperation among the private sectors in the region and extend support to especially small and medium scale enterprises. Turkey targets to develop BSEC's relations with the EU, OECD and WTO and accelerate its integration with the world economy,'' he said.

[04] EXPORTS RISE 11.2 PERCENT BETWEEN JANUARY 1 AND APRIL 19

Tuzmen said that according to the Exporters' Unions statistics, total exports which had been 7 billion 980 million U.S. dollars in the January 1- April 19, 2000 period increased 11.2 percent to 8 billion 872 million U.S. dollars in the same period in 2001.

-EU COMMISSION GATHERS AID PROGRAMS TO TURKEY IN A SINGLE FRAME
BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) Commission proposed to regroup aid programs to be given to Turkey within scope of the full membership strategy, into a single frame during its weekly routine meeting on Wednesday.

Within framework of the strategy determined by heads of state and government of EU countries at Helsinki Summit in 1999, the Commission, the executive organ of the EU, was asked to put forward a proposal to gather aid programs to Turkey in a single frame.

Releasing a statement, the EU Commission said that it had proposed a more influencial financial support formula for Turkey.

Upon an initiative launched by Guenter Verheugen, the EU commissioner for enlargement, the proposed regulation will regroup three existing financial aid programs into one, which will concentrate assistance in areas laid out in the Accession Partnership Accord such as agriculture, transportation, justice and domestic affairs, environment and regional policy.

Verheugen described the proposed regulation as an important step in regard to Turkey's participation strategy to the EU.

He called on all other EU institutions to approve the new regulations as soon as possible in order to put the strategy into practice.

The commission said that it would support Turkey's initiatives to record progress in human rights, education, judicial reform, and to develop social society.

The commission will also contribute to Turkey's works to join the EU programs and agencies.

Project selection, auctions, inviting bids and contracting will be carried out by Turkey, but will at least initially be subject to approval of the commission.

The commission called on Turkey to appoint a national aid coordinator as soon as possible, and to form a central finance and tender unit and a national fund.

The EU will provide aid totaling 177 million Euros within framework of full membership strategy for Turkey.

The proposal will come into force after being approved by the EU council.

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article