Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-05-19

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

19 MAY 2001 Saturday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 19, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

While whole Turkey has been grieving for martyrs who lost their lives in Wednesday's plane crash near eastern province of Malatya, another military plane crashed in Ankara. Three Spanish flight engineers and one Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) flight engineer lost their lives in the accident. The plane crashed shortly after taking off from Akinci Main Base main runway at about 12:15 hours. Following the two accidents in 72 hours, flights of Casa planes were suspended. Control and security systems of the planes will be checked.

LAST TRIBUTE TO MARTYRS

Nine out of 34 martyrs who lost their lives in Wednesday's plane crash near eastern province of Malatya, were laid to rest in Ankara. 25 of them were laid to rest in 25 different places in Anatolia. Relatives and friends of martyrs were burst into tears during the funerals. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, General Staff Chief General Huseyin Kivrikoglu and high-ranking military officials were in attendance at the funeral in Ankara.

SORROWFUL MAY 19

May 19 Youth and Sports Festival which was bestowed to Turkish youth by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Great Founder of modern and secular Republic of Turkey, will be celebrated throughout Turkey with the grief for demise of 34 soldiers.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

After a CN235 plane which was produced for the Naval Forces crashed in Ankara yesterday, a technical report shelved in 1998 was unveiled. In the fourth article of the report prepared by a technical delegation, it was stressed, ''CN235 type planes are not convenient. The Defense Industry Undersecretariat did not send the report to the Naval Forces Command and the General Staff. The Undersecretariat also removed engineers who were in the technical delegation, from their offices.

EMLAKBANK PERSONNEL PROTEST LIQUIDATION OF THEIR BANK

Nearly 1,500 personnel of Emlakbank held a demonstration in front of Directorate General building in Maslak neighborhood of Istanbul, to protest government's decision to liquidate Emlakbank within framework of the new economic program.

DERVIS:''FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES DECREASED 8.8 BILLION DOLLARS''

State Minister Kemal Dervis said that the foreign exchange reserves of Turkey decreased nearly 8.8 billion dollars following the financial crisis.

Dervis said that the foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank which had been 27.6 billion dollars before February 19, was 18.8 billion dollars on April 6. ''Our reserves in the crisis period decreased 8.8 billion dollars,'' Dervis said.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

The Spanish Embassy in Ankara described crash of a second CASA plane in Ankara as an unfortunate coincidence. The Embassy said that Alberto Fernandez, the Director General of CASA Firm, would come to Turkey. Fernandez decided to come to Ankara after a second CASA-type plane crash in Ankara.

ECEVIT: ''EXPERTS SHOULD LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION IN DETAIL''

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that experts should launch an investigation in detail to find the cause of the plane accidents. When asked by a journalist, ''CASA planes have started to crash one after the other in recent days. Do you have any information about the issue?'' Ecevit said, ''this is a technical issue. I am not an expert about this issue. However, experts should launch investigation in detail to find the cause of the incidents. And, I believe they are investigating the cause of the accident for the time being.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Lord David Russel-Johnston, the President of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (COEPA), said that they were aware of the fact that the government could not put an end to death fasts, and called on families of death-fasting prisoners in order to prevent more deaths. Johnston visited Constitutional Court Chairman Mustafa Bumin. Speaking at the meeting, Johnston said that Christian Democratic parties and institutions in Western Europe could have similar characteristics with the outlawed Welfare Party. Bumin urged Johnston saying, ''it is not possible for us to allow activities of a political party which was against democracy and which was based on religious discrimination.''

FIRST TRANCHE OF IMF LOAN DEPOSITED TO CENTRAL BANK ACCOUNT

The first tranche of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan of almost 3.9 billion U.S. dollars was deposited to the Central Bank account. Half of the loan will be used to increase the Central Bank reserves while the rest will be used for the cash finance of the budget.

WORLD BANK COMPLETES PUBLIC EXPENSE ADMINISTRATION REFORM REPORT

The World Bank completed its Public Expenses Administration Reform report. Experts of the World Bank gave the draft report to the economy officials last week to be reviewed. The reform, which aims to change the budget structure and expense principles fundamentally, foresees Turkey to realize a more productive expense. According to the reform program, all the expenses will be shown in the budget, and those data will be inspected transparently. A revised program will be published every year and daily expenses will be announced. The budgets will be prepared with a very large participation, and views of public institutions as well as the non- governmental institutions will be taken.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

European Judo Championships started in French capital Paris with the participation of 30 sportsmen and women. Selim Tataroglu of Turkey competing in men's 100 kg category, beat Sharapau of Belarus, and qualified to the second round.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Before laying our 34 martrys to rest, another plane which was carrying out test flight crashed in Ankara. None of the technical crew, one Turkish and three Spanish citizens, survived the accident. General Staff released a statement announcing that it cancelled all test flights by Air Forces with CASA planes until the second command. Meanwhile, retired pilot colonel Ali Ozdag said that C-47 planes which have been in service for more than 50 years did not have such a worse crash record as CASA planes. He said that there was a suspicion about a problem in hydraulic system of CASA planes and the control unit and device based on this hydraulic system.

WE BURIED THEM IN OUR HEARTS

Whole Turkey mourned for 34 of the soldiers who were killed in CASA military plane crash near eastern province of Malatya. They were laid to rest in their hometowns. Their families and relatives were burst into tears during the funeral.

RAMSTORE IN SOFIA

Market-chain Migros opened the first Ramstore of Europe in Sofia, Bulgaria, with a fascinating inauguration yesterday. Ramstore cost 33 million German marks.

WE DON'T GIVE CYPRUS ON ACCOUNT OF MONEY WE BORROWED

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that Turkey will never give in to pressures in foreign policy due to economic crisis. Noting that the missile defense system which was brought onto agenda by the U.S. is an important project, Ecevit said it is obligatory to develop new strategies as weapon technology distances in the world became shorter. ''This is the thing what the U.S. is trying to do, and it continues its consultations with us. However, it does not have a definite frame yet.'' The Prime Minister said that they did not make concessions from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) while reaching an agreement with the IMF and World Bank on financial support.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Kaya Ergenc, the Director General of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), said that reaching a result regarded with the plane crash at the moment would be speculative.

TURKEY TO LAUNCH AN INITIATIVE TO UNITE TURKS LIVING IN EUROPE

Turkey has started to accelerate its lobby activities. General Cumhur Asparuk, the Secretary General of the National Security Council (NSC), and General Enver Var had paid a series of visits to Turkish associations in Europe. At their meetings, it was decided to set up Turkish councils in all places densely populated by Turks.

CONTENTS

[01] 17.2 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF CANDIES EXPORTED FROM GAP REGION IN FIRST FOUR MONTHS

[02] TURKEY CELEBRATES MAY 19 YOUTH AND SPORTS FESTIVAL

[03] MAY 19 YOUTH AND SPORTS FESTIVAL CELEBRATED IN TRNC

[04] CASA DIRECTOR GENERAL FERNANDEZ HOLDS A PRESS CONFERENCE: -''WE HAVE STARTED OUR INVESTIGATION INTO CRASHES OF CASA TYPE PLANES''

[05] TREASURY TO AUTHORIZE A FOREIGN BANK NEXT WEEK TO CARRY OUT WORKS ON SWAP

[06] THIRD TURKISH-GREEK TOURISM FORUM STARTS IN MARMARIS

[07] STATE MINISTER USENMEZ RETURNS TO TURKEY

[08] CASA DIRECTOR GENERAL FERNANDEZ HOLDS A PRESS CONFERENCE (2): -''OUR HEARTS HAVE BROKEN''

[09] CASA DIRECTOR GENERAL FERNANDEZ HOLDS A PRESS CONFERENCE (3): -''THERE IS NO NEED TO SUSPEND FLIGHTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES''

[10] THIRD TURKISH-GREEK TOURISM FORUM STARTS IN MARMARIS -KOCA, DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY OF TOURISM MINISTRY: -''AEGEAN CAN BECOME A JOINT PARADISE OF TOURISM BY MUTUALLY UTILIZING TOURISM POTENTIAL IN AEGEAN SEA''

[11] FOUNDATION OF NEW POWER LINE BETWEEN TURKEY AND BULGARIA LAID

[12] SPORTS - WRESTLING -OSMANIYE TO HOST TURKISH REPUBLICS INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

[13] STATE MINISTER USENMEZ RETURNS TO TURKEY (2)

[14] A GROUP OF RELATIVES OF 118 SAILORS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN KURSK SUBMARINE LAST YEAR, TO SPEND THEIR HOLIDAYS IN ANTALYA

[01] 17.2 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF CANDIES EXPORTED FROM GAP REGION IN FIRST FOUR MONTHS

In the same period last year, the region exported 15 million 176 thousand U.S. dollars of candies.

Officials at the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union told the A.A correspondent on Saturday that in January-April period of 2001, they exported 7 million 112 thousand U.S. dollars in sugar; and 10 million 135 thousand U.S. dollars in biscuits, cakes, chocolates and candies.

Most of the candies were exported to Iraq, Germany, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Jordan.

[02] TURKEY CELEBRATES MAY 19 YOUTH AND SPORTS FESTIVAL

Pillars of the state headed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer attended a ceremony at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Great Founder of the modern and secular Republic of Turkey.

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit; Murat Sokmenoglu, the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament; State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli; State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan; General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff; Mustafa Bumin, the Chairman of the Constitutional Court; members of the Council of Ministers; commanders of the land, air and naval forces; Recai Kutan, the leader of the Virtue Party (FP); Tansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP); and other officials were in attendance at the ceremony.

President Sezer laid a wreath of red and white carnations to the tomb of Ataturk.

The pillars of the state observed a minute of silence out of respect to Ataturk.

Later, President Sezer signed the book of the mausoleum, saying,

''Great Ataturk,

We are in your presence once again to pay out tribute on the occasion of May 19 Festival you bestowed to our youth.

Today, our citizens are enjoying a joint pride and enthusiasm in every corner of our country.

Turkish nation is expressing its confidence and loyalty to you once again.

You lit the light of independence on May 19, 1919, to lead Turkish nation to a bright future.

This light will illuminate our path forever.

We will maintain our efforts to make Turkey an independent, secular and social state of law based on national sovereignty.

We will strengthen our understanding of democracy and contribute to the universal peace with our culture of tolerance.

Turkish nation is determined to protect its republic without making any concession.

Our biggest guarantee in achieving our targets is republican and highbrow Turkish youth who are loyal to your principles and reforms.

We are grateful to you.

Rest in peace.''

Meanwhile, a ceremony took place in Istanbul's Taksim Square to mark May 19 Youth and Sports Festival.

State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz; State Minister Fikret Unlu for Youth and Sports; Istanbul Governor Erol Cakir; General Necdet Timur, the Commander of First Army; General Huseyin Goksu, the Commander of the Third Army Corps; Istanbul Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna; some deputies; and representatives of public institutions, universities and political parties were in attendance at the ceremony.

[03] MAY 19 YOUTH AND SPORTS FESTIVAL CELEBRATED IN TRNC

A ceremony took place in front of the Ataturk Monument in Lefkosa.

President Rauf Denktas; Parliament Speaker Ertugrul Hasipoglu; Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu; Hayati Guven, the Turkish Ambassador to the TRNC; General Sukru Sariisik, the Commander of Turkish Peace Forces in Cyprus; high-ranking military officials; some ministers; deputies; representatives of public institutions and students were in attendance at the ceremony.

They laid a wreath to the monument, and observed a minute of silence out of respect to Ataturk.

[04] CASA DIRECTOR GENERAL FERNANDEZ HOLDS A PRESS CONFERENCE: -''WE HAVE STARTED OUR INVESTIGATION INTO CRASHES OF CASA TYPE PLANES''

Holding a press conference together with Kaya Ergenc, the Director General of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Fernandez told reporters that he had come to Turkey to offer his condolences to families of soldiers who lost their lives in CASA-type plane crashes.

Recalling that a six-member delegation also came to Turkey together with him, Fernandez said that they would work together with experts from the Turkish Airlines (THY), the Turkish Aircraft Industry Incorporated Company (TUSAS) and the TAI.

Noting that CASA-type planes had accumulated nearly 1 million hours of flight in 25 countries since 1985, Fernandez said that these planes' flight security records were above the standards.

Meanwhile, Ergenc said that finalization of the investigation could take time.

When asked of speculations about CASA-type planes, Ergenc said, ''there are experts in the Turkish Armed Forces. They do not decide to purchase planes by chance.''

Meanwhile, Fernandez added that bodies of three Spanish citizens who lost their lives in yesterday's plane crash in Ankara, would be sent to Spain later today.

[05] TREASURY TO AUTHORIZE A FOREIGN BANK NEXT WEEK TO CARRY OUT WORKS ON SWAP

Sources said on Saturday that this foreign bank would rapidly start works and hold contacts with the banks interested in such a swap.

Treasury and this foreign bank would assess the opinions and bids of those banks, sources said.

Current foreign currency would be valid for the bonds denominated in foreign exchange which would be exchanged with the bonds denominated in TL, sources said and added that those swap works would start next week.

Estimating that the amount of swap could be nearly 4 billion U.S. dollars, sources said that the swap operation could start as of June and cover also July and August of 2001.

The repayment in these months will be almost 30 percent of total domestic borrowing redemption in 2001.

Treasury will repay 25.8 quadrillion TL in domestic borrowing in June, July and August.

[06] THIRD TURKISH-GREEK TOURISM FORUM STARTS IN MARMARIS

Representatives of Turkish and Greek private and public sectors are in attendance at the forum presided by Bozkurt Aran, the Chairman of Turkish delegation and Director General of the Bilateral Economic Affairs Department of the Foreign Ministry.

The forum is expected to focus on cooperation agreements in tourism and maritime, facility in journeys between Turkey and Greece, sea tourism, tourism investments, and on training and promotion activities.

Ambassador and Director General Alexandros Migliaressis leads the eight- member Greek delegation.

Ali Osman Koca, the Deputy Undersecretary of Tourism Ministry; and Alpaslan Kaya, the Deputy Undersecretary of Maritime, are also in attendance at the forum which will end on Sunday.

The first forum was held in Bodrum township of Mugla in 1999 while the second forum was organized in Rhodes Island of Greece in 2000.

The forum aims at resolving problems regarded with tourism.

[07] STATE MINISTER USENMEZ RETURNS TO TURKEY

Usenmez had attended ceremonies in Kyrgyzstan to mark 120th anniversary of birth of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of modern Republic of Turkey.

[08] CASA DIRECTOR GENERAL FERNANDEZ HOLDS A PRESS CONFERENCE (2): -''OUR HEARTS HAVE BROKEN''

Holding a press conference together with Kaya Ergenc, the Director General of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Fernandez told reporters that he had come to Turkey to offer his condolences to families of soldiers who lost their lives in CASA-type plane crashes.

''Our hearts have broken,'' he said.

Recalling that a six-member delegation also came to Turkey together with him, Fernandez said that they would work together with experts from the Turkish Airlines (THY), the Turkish Aircraft Industry Incorporated Company (TUSAS) and the TAI.

Noting that CASA-type planes had been subjected to the highest level tests in Turkey, Spain, France and international platforms, Fernandez said that the planes had the flight security record.

Fernandez told reporters that Turkey had expert teams to investigate plane accidents, and added that they would assist Turkish officials as producer company.

Meanwhile, Ergenc enumerated three steps of the investigation into plane crashes as listening to statements of witnesses, examining the wreckage, and deciphering the flight recorder.

He said that this process could take a long time.

Ergenc said, ''it is meaningless to put forward imaginary reasons for the crash. We need time. It is an aerodynamic science. Flight is a difficult art. It is also difficult to analyse a crash.''

When asked whether or not there was a failure in the plane which crashed in Ankara yesterday, Ergenc said, ''it was the plane's first flight. Therefore, we cannot talk about previous failures in the plane.''

Responding to a question about news stories claiming that a report was prepared in 1998 saying that CASA-type planes were not convenient, Ergenc said, ''you should ask this question to the Defense Industry Undersecretariat. Our duty is to carry out joint production. My officials did not prepare that report. Please do not despise our people. There are experts both in the Air Forces and the Turkish Armed Forces. They do not decide to purchase planes by chance.''

[09] CASA DIRECTOR GENERAL FERNANDEZ HOLDS A PRESS CONFERENCE (3): -''THERE IS NO NEED TO SUSPEND FLIGHTS IN OTHER COUNTRIES''

Holding a press conference together with Kaya Ergenc, the Director General of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Fernandez told reporters that there were not any technical failures in CASA-type planes.

When asked whether or not they had submitted some reports to several countries to make changes in the planes, Fernandez said that they had made some recommendations to develop performance and to increase capabilities of the planes.

Fernandez said that they had not launched any initiative to remove any negative characteristics in CASA-type planes.

Noting that their principle was to provide the highest level flight security in their planes, Fernandez said, ''but accidents are inevitable. The important thing is to discover the cause of a crash and to take necessary measures to prevent re-occurrence.''

When asked whether or not Turkey would be paid compensation, Ergenc said that both planes and people aboard the planes were insured.

Responding to another question about January's crash, Ergec told reporters, ''that plane had been flying since 1992. And the responsibility belonged to the Turkish Armed Forces. If the Turkish Armed Forces requests assistance from us or from the CASA company, we are ready to assist them.''

Ergenc said, ''CASA-type planes are more safe and cheaper than other planes in light transportation.''

When asked of news stories claiming that there was a problem in hydraulic systems of CASA-type planes, Ergenc said, ''representatives of other companies blacken products of rival companies during tenders. These allegations are totally baseless. If there is not any equipment on planes which suit international norms and quality standards, no one does not purchase those planes. You cannot purchase a plane like you purchase something from the market place. A plane has to meet minimum conditions.''

[10] THIRD TURKISH-GREEK TOURISM FORUM STARTS IN MARMARIS -KOCA, DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY OF TOURISM MINISTRY: -''AEGEAN CAN BECOME A JOINT PARADISE OF TOURISM BY MUTUALLY UTILIZING TOURISM POTENTIAL IN AEGEAN SEA''

Speaking at the Third Turkish-Greek Tourism Forum in Marmaris township of western province of Mugla, Koca described tourism as the most important element in cooperation to be set up between the two neighboring countries.

''A total of 146 thousand Greek tourists visited Turkey in 1999. This number increased more than 48 percent to 218 thousand in 2000. Tourism is a way of life. I believe that when tourism spreaded it would settle peace in the world, and remove all boundaries. We are ready to share our experiences in tourism with neighboring Greece. Aegean is the field of historical and cultural unity of Turkish-Greek friendship,'' he said.

[11] FOUNDATION OF NEW POWER LINE BETWEEN TURKEY AND BULGARIA LAID

Speaking at the ceremony, Bulgarian Territorial Development and Urbanization Minister Evgeniy Chachev said that this project was one of the most important projects in the Bulgarian government's program.

He said that they would make Bulgaria an energy center of the Balkans by implementing energy infrastructure projects one by one.

The new power line which will transmit electricity from Bulgaria's Maritso Iztok thermic power plant to Turkey will cost 53 million Bulgarian lev (nearly 27 trillion Turkis lira).

The project which also covers construction of 400-kilowatt transformer in field of Maritsa Iztok thermic power plant is expected to be finalized by the end of October and Turkey can export 4 billion kwh electricity a year from Bulgaria.

[12] SPORTS - WRESTLING -OSMANIYE TO HOST TURKISH REPUBLICS INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

Fazli Bayram Hadi, the Provincial Director of Youth and Sports, said on Saturday that wrestlers from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Bashkortostan, Dagestan, Uzbekistan, Tatarstan, Crimea and Moldova will participate in the tournament.

[13] STATE MINISTER USENMEZ RETURNS TO TURKEY (2)

Usenmez returned to Turkey after attending ''Ataturk, Youth and Democracy Week'' activities in Bishkek between May 12 and 19 to mark the 120th anniversary of birth of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of modern Republic of Turkey.

Holding a press conference at Ankara's Esenboga Airport after his arrival, Usenmez said, ''the activities were held under the auspices of President Askar Akayev of Kyrgyzstan. These activities have further strengthened friendly relations between the two countries. During our nine-day visit to Kyrgyzstan, we participated in cultural activities and an international symposium on Ataturk at the Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Manas University. Overnight, we celebrated May 19 Youth and Sports Festival at the Turkish Embassy in Bishkek.''

Usenmez recalled that he had held a series of beneficial contacts with Kyrgyz officials.

[14] A GROUP OF RELATIVES OF 118 SAILORS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN KURSK SUBMARINE LAST YEAR, TO SPEND THEIR HOLIDAYS IN ANTALYA

Ali Dayanikli, the Director General of the Club Hotel Rixos in Belek township of Antalya, said on Saturday that 36 people would come to Antalya on Sunday as the guests of Turkish-Russian Friendship Association and Club Hotel Rixos.

Relatives of the sailors will be hosted in Antalya for a week.

Nuclear submarine Kursk plunged to the bottom of the Barents Sea last year killing all 118 sailors on board.

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