Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-05-13

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

13 MAY 2001 Saturday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 13, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Transportation Minister Enis Oksuz shouted State Minister Kemal Dervis as: ''were you sent to Turkey to defend the interests of the U.S.? Will you give Telekom as a present? Why did'nt you show me the letter you sent to the International Monetary Fund (IMF)? Isn't Telekom an issue concerning me?'' Upon these words, Dervis said twice, ''Mr. Oksuz, I request you not insult me.'' When Dervis said that he would not talk with Enis Oksuz alone, Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan enabled two ministers meet in his office. Dervis complained at the end of the night, ''to what extend can we continue our path with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)?''

BANKERS WILL NOW LOSE EVERYTHING

By the new banking law adopted at the parliament, the businessmen, the management of whose banks are transferred to the state, will face to danger to lose their all assets. The Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF) can confiscate many companies working in sectors from publication to tourism and from textile to industry of the former owners of the banks transferred to the state if ''it thinks this is necessary.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

The foreigners, who caused collapse in stock exchange with large amounts of sales in November and February crises, started to purchase this year. The foreign investors made a transaction worth of 40 million U.S. dollars in April. The 636.5 million U.S. dollars of this formed the purchase transaction, and 403.6 million U.S. dollars formed the sale transaction.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Not the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but State Minister Kemal Dervis resisted to the condition of renewal of Telekom administration. When the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) harshly reacted to the changing of Telekom administration, the IMF officials said there should not be crisis, and proposed only to have the statement ''administrative change.''

However Dervis was insistent. The result is: Treasury will covene Telekom general assembly on Monday and change the administration.

STORM ENDED IN THE GOVERNMENT

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said ''the government is not shaken, it is still in full office. There is not any problem. Of course, we are dealing with some difficult problems. The government works in full harmony.''

Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli: The government works in harmony and is in service of the nation. I am of the opinion that there is many services which we have to do in the coming days.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

The statue of Heracles, the god of strength, was found in Izmit province.

The statue belonged to the year 200 B.C and was 3 metres in length and 3 tons in weight. Kocaeli Governor Kemal Onal told A.A correspondent on Saturday that the officials of the Kocaeli Museum found the statue in Uctepeler hamlet. Onal said that this statue is important to prove the historical evidence of Izmit. The head, arm and leg of the statue which are missing will be found, Onal noted.

STATE MINISTER GUREL LEAVES FOR THE U.S.

State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel left for the U.S. on Saturday to represent the government in the Turkish Day Parade, which is traditionally staged in the U.S. every year.

Gurel, who left for the U.S. from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, spoke about the recent decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which ruled that Turkey was guilty in the suit filed by the Greek Cypriot side, and recalled that earlier 13 accusations took place in decisions of the court toward Turkey. Gurel said ''this time a new one is added. We don't feel the need to defend ourselves against those. This attitute against Turkey, which is submitted within the cover of principles of law, is a political one to a great extend. From now on, we will continue on the path which we follow regarding Cyprus issue.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)

A survey carried out on 1580 people by the A&G Survey Company indicated that the nation are not hopeful about the current political parties. The rate of those who does not believe that a government which can solve the crisis can be formed at the parliament is 64.5 percent. The rate of those who have confidence in State Minister Kemal Dervis is 58.9 percent while that of those who do not have confidence in him is 38.1 percent. 70 percent of the nation wants a new political formation. 51.7 percent of the citizens want Dervis to become the prime minister.

ECEVIT: ''I WILL NOT MAKE DISCUSSIONS''

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that Turkey is experiencing a critical era and that he thinks it is inconvenient to make discussions on the government. Asked if the coalition leaders were not informed about the letter of intent submitted to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ecevit said, ''there is an opportunity to better our economy. I do not want to make such discussions to seize this opportunity.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

The protests against the unjust decision, taken against Turkey by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) due to the pressure of the Greek Cypriots, are increasing. The decision of the ECHR which accused Turkeyof violating the human rights during the Cyprus Peace Operation once more revealed the ugly face of the West. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''the decision does not reflect the realities'' whil the Foreign Ministry said, ''the decision does not have the capability to be implemented by Turkey.'' State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said, ''we do not feel it is necessary to defend ourselves against these.''

TELEKOM LAW ALSO ADOPTED

The draft law on the privatization of Turkish Telekom was adopted at the parliament. Under this new law, the view of the Transportation Ministry will be asked until the public share in the company reduces below 50 percent. All the shares except the privileged share will be sold. The share of the foreigners will not exceed 45 percent. The Turkish Telecommunication Agency will be authorized to give licence. A state economic enterprise will be set up to carry out the satellite services.

U.S. AUTHOR SWIMS THROUGH CANAKKALE STRAIT

Joseph A. Oakes, a U.S. author, swam through the Canakkale Strait. Oakes said that this was his dream. He said that he will have a tour in Turkey and that he will write his memories in Turkey.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

The draft law on tobacco which was prepared for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) assistance is full of contradictions. Professor Elif Daglu said that companies like Philip Morris, British American Tobacco and R.J. Rainolds are defined in the draft. Dagli said, ''these definitions do not abide by the state-run Tobacco and Liquor Administration (TEKEL). Are they trying to adjust the situation for these companies?'' Noting that the multi- national companies were effective in the suspension of the World Bank report, Dagli said, ''I translated the report. It is totally the opposite. When the contradiction was seen, the meeting was postponed. These companies will be given the right to export and determine prices. This will end Turkish economy.''

GOLDEN CHILD SEREF EROGLU

Turkey won one gold, one silver and one bronze medal on the third day of the 58th European Graecoroman Wrestling Championship. Seref Eroglu, competing in 63 kg, beat his Russian rival and won the gold medal.

CONTENTS

[01] EROGLU OF TURKEY BECOMES EUROPEAN CHAMPION IN WRESTLING

[02] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: -''GOVERNMENT WAS NOT SHAKEN, IT IS IN FULL OFFICE''

[03] RUSSIAN JOURNALISTS IN FETHIYE

[04] REGULAR PLENARY SESSION OF TURKISH TELEKOM TO BE HELD ON MONDAY

[05] TREASURY TO ARRANGE TREE-MONTH BOND AUCTION ON TUESDAY

[06] HEALTH MINISTER DURMUS LEAVES FOR GENEVA TO ATTEND 54TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF WTO

[07] TURKEY TO HOST LEADING INVESTORS AND FUND ADMINISTRATORS

[08] SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA REGION EXPORTS 32.9 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR CEREALS

[09] TURKEY'S AMBASSADOR KOKSAL SAYS THEY WILL TRY TO PROMOTE TURKISH- FRENCH RELATIONS

[10] FP LEADER KUTAN: ''OUR JURIST FRIENDS EXAMINE BILLS ON CENTRAL BANK, BANKING AND TELEKOM''

[11] GREEK DELEGATION PRAYS IN SAINT GEORGE CHURCH IN ALANYA

[12] JAPANESE-TURKISH ASSOCIATION TO ORGANIZE ACTIVITIES IN TURKEY

[13] DAMSEL FAIR-2001 MINE WAR EXERCISE -SHIPS START TO GATHER IN MARMARIS GULF

[01] EROGLU OF TURKEY BECOMES EUROPEAN CHAMPION IN WRESTLING

Eroglu beat his Russian rival Tehou Tehumov 4-2 and won the gold medal.

[02] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: -''GOVERNMENT WAS NOT SHAKEN, IT IS IN FULL OFFICE''

Asked if the claims that the government was shaken, Ecevit said, ''the government was not shaken, it is still in full office. There is not any problem. Of course, we are dealing with some difficult problems. Some discussions may occur in such a process. Discussions are the requirement of democracy. But, there is not a serious discussion in the government for the time being Some issues are sometimes brought to the agenda, they are discussed and concluded.''

Responding to a question if there is a full harmony in the government, Ecevit said, ''there is sufficient harmony. We do not have a problem. We should not continue to deal with this issue. If we think if there is a government crisis or not every day, a pessimism will unnecessarily occur in Turkey. There is no need for pessimism. The government is in full office.''

Asked if there is a problem between Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli and State Minister Kemal Dervis, Ecevit said, ''I do not think it is correct to talk about these issues. As I say, I think that creating an impression as if there was a government crisis is very inconvenient.''

[03] RUSSIAN JOURNALISTS IN FETHIYE

Seventeen Russian journalists visited the natural and historical sites of Fethiye, Fethiye Head Official Cengizhan Aksoy and Mayor Behcet Saatci.

Aksoy said that these journalists will write articles about Fethiye when they return to their country and that he believes these journalists will have positive impressions of Fethiye.

Saatci said that they started to get the results of the promotion of Bodrum, Fethiye, and Marmaris in Moscow Tourism Fair.

Russian journalists said that they are pleased to see personnel of tourism sector who can speak Russian in Fethiye, adding that they admire the historical and natural sites in the township.

[04] REGULAR PLENARY SESSION OF TURKISH TELEKOM TO BE HELD ON MONDAY

The meeting will start at the Treasury Undersecretariat at 10.00 a.m.

[05] TREASURY TO ARRANGE TREE-MONTH BOND AUCTION ON TUESDAY

The bonds will be issued on May 16 while the they will be repayed on August 15.

The Treasury foresees a 754 trillion Turkish Liras (TL) of net borrowing at the auction.

Meanwhile, Treasury will repay 1 quadrillion 644.9 trillion TL in domestic borrowing on May 16.

The Treasury will repay 3 quadrillion 382.2 trillion TL domestic borrowing on May 23.

The total amount of domesting borrowing that the Treasury will repay in May is 5 quadrillion 27.1 trillion TL.

The Treasury sold 697.7 trillion TL bonds in the 10-month (302-day) bond auction on May 8. The gross annual interest was 84.60 percent while the gross composite interest became 89.91 percent in the auction.

[06] HEALTH MINISTER DURMUS LEAVES FOR GENEVA TO ATTEND 54TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF WTO

Speaking before his departure from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Durmus said, ''baby and children nutrition, betterment of health, control of contagious diseases, medicine strategy, efficient medicine usage, quality of medicine and psychology,'' would be taken up at the assembly.

Pointing out that ''psychology,'' issue will separately be evaluated in the general assembly, Durmus said, ''I will point out my views regarded with the issue. Turkey participates in ''World Pyschology 2000 project.''

Durmus said he would hold bilateral contacts with the health ministers of various countries, noting that the meeting would create important opportunities for Turkey to convey its experiences in the field of health.

Durmus said he would to meet Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, the World Health Organization (WHO) General Director and Dr. Marc Danzon, the European Regional Director, noting that, ''those meetings will be beneficial for Turkey to improve its relations with the WTO.''

Durmus is scheduled to return to Turkey on May 16.

[07] TURKEY TO HOST LEADING INVESTORS AND FUND ADMINISTRATORS

The Finansinvest, the stock exchange and investment institution of the Finansbank, will host the investors of the world in the conference on ''Turkey Following the Crisis: Economic and Institutional Atmosphere and Expectations'' in Istanbul between May 17 and 18.

Almost 100 investors and fund administrators from 20 countries will attend the conference.

Omer Aras, the chairman of the Finansinvest Executive Board, will address the opening remarks of the conference. High-ranking officials of the Privatization Administration Board, Central Bank and the Treasury, and foreign academicians will attend the conference.

There will be presentations regarding the Turkish Oil Refineries Inc (TUPRAS), Petrol Ofisi Inc. (POAS), and Turk Telekom which are within the scope of privatization in the conference.

Officials of companies like Koc and Sabanci Holding working in eight different sectors will talk about the effects of the economic crisis on their companies.

Foreign investors will visit the several institutions.

Didem Gordon, the general director of Finansinvest, told A.A correspondent that the conference will have positive results by increasing the communication amogn the companies and investors.

Gordon said that Turkey should attract more foreign capital and that acceleration of privatization initiatives will be an important criteria in attracting the foreign investors.

Touching on the new economic program, Gordon said, ''we think the program is very positive. If it is implemented, Turkey can re-enter into growth process as of the last quarter of this year. We do not consider the program as a program which targets at decreasing the inflation in a short time. The program is an important ground to solve the main and very important economic problems of Turkey. We think that Turkey can be ready to solve its main problems and decrease the inflation in two or three years. As the objectives of the program are fulfilled, the foreign investments in Turkey will increase.''

[08] SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA REGION EXPORTS 32.9 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR CEREALS

The region exported 29 million 369 thousand U.S. dollar cereals and grains in the same period last year.

The Southeastern Anatolia Region exported 1 million 862 thousand U.S. dollar oil, 7 million 112 thousand U.S. dollar sugar, 10 million 135 thousand U.S. dollar biscuits, chocolates, candies, and cakes, 9 million 579 thousand U.S. dollar fodder, 4 million 252 thousand U.S. dollar lentil, chickpea, haricot bean, flour, bulgur, semolina, macaroni and other products between January and April 2001.

Iraq, Germany, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Iran and Azerbaijan were the main countries where these products were exported in the mentioned period.

[09] TURKEY'S AMBASSADOR KOKSAL SAYS THEY WILL TRY TO PROMOTE TURKISH- FRENCH RELATIONS

Koksal, who was called back to Ankara to hold consultations regarding the law on so-called genocide on the Armenians adopted by the French parliament, returned to Paris.

Prior to his departure, Koksal told reporters that officials think that he should return to his office in the end of their evaluations.

Koksal said that he will continue his mission.

''The Turkish-French relations were negatively affected by this incident. But, I believe that the two countries will do their best to overcome this. I am returning to my office within this framework,'' Koksal said.

Koksal added, ''nothing is lasting in international relations. What is important is to promote the relations in line with the interests of the two countries. France and Turkey have the will. We will try to promote the relations.''

[10] FP LEADER KUTAN: ''OUR JURIST FRIENDS EXAMINE BILLS ON CENTRAL BANK, BANKING AND TELEKOM''

Kutan responded to the questions of reporters before the Virtue Party (FP) Istanbul Provincial Council Meeting.

Responding to a question about his party members' departing from the General Assembly hall while discussions were underway regarded with Telekom Bill, Kutan said from the very beginning they could not understand why those laws were brought to the agenda.

Kutan said the FP was against privatization of Turk Telekom, noting that, ''Telekom does not need a techology. It is a techologically developed institution of the world. It makes project. It has a strategic importance, and that it does not need a strategic partner. They want to privatize Turk Telekom with a new law. Transportation Minister rightfully reacts to this.''

Kutan said privatization of Turk Telekom was contrary to Turkey's national interests, adding that their friends left the general assembly to protest the bill.

Kutan said, ''we thought that laws that will be for the benefit of the country will come. In fact, we saw that steps were taken as if to give riches of the country to foreign countries. Support of FP to the laws are out of question.''

Responding to a question if closure of FP would be brought to the agenda at today's meeting, Kutan said, ''none of the FP members believe that FP would be closed.''

[11] GREEK DELEGATION PRAYS IN SAINT GEORGE CHURCH IN ALANYA

The delegation comprised of 120 people including Nea Ionia Mayor Georgios Pertemlidis, municipal officials, the Association of People from Alanya which was set up by the people who migrated from Alanya to Greece, and the members of the Fisolatiskos Omilos Nea Ionia Association attended the religious ceremony in the church.

Alanya Mayor Hasan Sipahioglu, and Murat Kocak and Abdullah Karaoglu, the officials of the Alanya Municipality, watched the religious ceremony.

Pertemlidis said that they are pleased to experience such a thing in sister city Alanya and that this event will have important contributions to the further improvement of Turkish-Greek friendship.

Following the religious ceremony, the Greek guests visited the historical and touristic sites in Alanya.

[12] JAPANESE-TURKISH ASSOCIATION TO ORGANIZE ACTIVITIES IN TURKEY

A delegation of 20 people comprised of the members of the Japanese-Turkish Association and the Japenese Cartoonists' Association will visit Turkey between May 19 and 27.

An exhibition in which the Turkish and Japanese cartoons will be displayed will be opened at the Turkish-Japenese Foundation in Ankara on May 22.

Norio Yamanoi, the chairman of the Japanese Cartoonists' Association; Yoshiaki Yokota, the Public Relations Director; and cartoonist Hideo Takeda who are the members of the delegation will visit the quake zone.

Japanese cartoonists told A.A correspondent that particularly, they want to exhibit their cartoons in the Japanese village and an elementary school in Adapazari and to draw the portraits of the quake survivors.

The traditional tea ceremony, kimonos, Japanese hair models and Japanese painting will be introduced by activities held in Ankara and Istanbul.

[13] DAMSEL FAIR-2001 MINE WAR EXERCISE -SHIPS START TO GATHER IN MARMARIS GULF

The Greek mine sweeper ship and two Italian mine sweeper ships named ITS Numana and ITS Vieste arrived in the Marmaris Gulf.

The exercise will be performed in Kusadasi-Doganbey region between May 15 and 26.

Admiral Luigi Lillo, the Italian commander of the COMNAVSOUTH, will watch the exercise.

A U.S. mine planter ship and two planes will participate in the exercise.

The Mine Counter Measures Force Mediterranean (MCMFORMED) will also take part in the exercise.

TGC Akin rescue ship, TCG Erdek, TCG Finike, TCG Foca, TCG Silifke mine sweeper ships, TCG Sarucabey amphibious ship which has the capability of mine planting, 1 submarine defense team, TCG Sokullu Mehmet Pasa ship, and TCG Edremit mine sweeper ship will represent Turkey in the exercise.

The efficiency of the mine war command structure will be put to test in the manoeuvres.

The manoeuvres will end in western Izmir province on May 26.

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