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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-05-27Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 27 MAY 2001 Sunday -TURKEY-PRESS SCAN These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 27, 2000. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. HURRIYET (LIBERAL)FENERBAHCE BECOMES TURKISH SOCCER CHAMPIONFenerbahce clinched its first championship in five years Saturday with a 3- 1 win away to Samsunspor in the final round of Turkey's top soccer league. In an extremely close title race, Fener's win was enough to keep it three points ahead of Istanbul rival Galatasaray, which scored a crushing 4- 0 home win over Trabzonspor. Fireworks crackled in the streets of Istanbul as Fener fans in the club's blue and yellow launched a long night of celebrations. TOBB CHAIRMAN MIRAS SAYS POLITICIANS GOVERN TURKEY BADLY Fuat Miras, the Chairman of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) said during the general council meeting yesterday that politicians govern badly the country like sultans. Miras called TOBB members to lead the transformation in the country. MILLIYET (LIBERAL)IRANIAN WOMEN TAKE SHELTER IN TURKEYTotally 5,777 persons from other countries applied to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representation in Turkey in 2000. 95 percent of these people are from Iraq and Iran. Recently Iranian women started to escape to Turkey as they are afraid of being killed in Iran. BAHCELI PRAISES DERVIS'S ECONOMIC PROGRAMME Deputy Premier and the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) praised the economic programme prepared by State Minister Kemal Dervis who is accused of being ''the fourth partner of the coalition government.'' Bahceli said that the economic programme is not only a stability programme which will get the economy out of crisis, but it will also prevent possible crises in the future. SABAH (LIBERAL)SPRING MASS HELD IN CAPPODOCIAGreek Cypriot Patriarch Bartholomeos said that the friendship between Turkish and Greek people should be examplary to others, when he spoke at the spring mass held at the patriarchate at Mustafapasa area in Cappodocia on Saturday. About 500 people coming from Greece and Istanbul attended the mass. Bartholomeos said he was very happy about the high participation of Greeks. CUMHURIYET (LEFT)HARSH CRITICISM TO DERVIS FROM TOBBTurkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Fuat Miras who spoke at the 56th General Council meeting said the private sector was fighting for survival. ''If this country continues to be ruled like this, it will disappear after a few more crisis,'' Miras said and indicated that he didn't trust the political system. ''Dervis talks about transparency. Then he should reveal the names of those who bought U.S. dollars for 680, 000 TL from the Central Bank,'' Miras said. TOBB Council Chiarman Ekrem Demirtas claimed that Dervis who is seen as the mesiah doesn't know the country well enough. He said the goals of the new economic program will shrink the Turkish economy. BAHCELI SAYS HIS PARTY'S POSITION TOWARDS KURDISH DIDN'T CHANGE Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said his party's position regarding the use of Kurdish in education and TV broadcast remains the same. Bahceli remarked that the MHP had no problems with State Minister Kemal Dervis who is in charge of economy. He also said the government was not planning any cabinet reshuffle. RADIKAL (LEFT)30 DEMANDS FROM LAWYERSThe Constitutional amendment package of 51 articles raised reactions in the Turkish Lawyers' Association (TBB). The TBB asked for a radical change in 30 articles. Below are the few changes the TBB is asking for: - The Constitution should emphasize that the state is respectful to human rights, democracy, secularism and Ataturk's principles. - The Copenhagen Criteria which is included in the EU Accession Partnership Document should be implemented. - Torture should be banned by adopting laws in line with international law. - Death penalty should be lifted from all laws. - Jurisdiction should be independent. LAST MINUTE PUBLIC MEETING FROM KESK The public meeting of the Confederation of Public Trade Employees' Union (KESK) was held at the last minute although Ankara Governor Yahya Gur first declared the meeting illegal. Many people were detained by police in Ankara's Kizilay Square. However, Gur had to allow the meeting when other civil servants coming from several cities blocked the highways leading to Eskisehir, Istanbul, Konya and Samsun. The civil servants protested the public workers union bill. Later the 376 people who were detained were released. TURKIYE (RIGHT)YILMAZ SAYS INVESTIGATIONS WILL CLEAR THEMMesut Yılmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) and Deputy Prime Minister said that he is very pleased with the operation related to the Turkish Pipelines Inc. (BOTAS) and the issue's being investigated. Yılmaz said that he attributes great importance to the issue as the recent developments will bring forth the realities and clear their party against the accusations. FINALLY THEY GET MARRIED Peter Kohl, the son of former German Chancellor and his fiancee Elif Sozen, a Turkish woman got married yesterday in ceremonies firstly held in Saint Antuan Church and later in Cıragan Palace, Istanbul. ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)TOBB SPEAKS AGAINST ECONOMIC PROGRAMMEFuat Miras, the Chairman of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) said during the 56th general council meeting held in Ankara that they don't support the economic programme. Miras asked the government to announce the names of the banks which bought U.S. dollar from 680,000 TL just before the adoption of the floating exchange rate system in Turkey which increased the price of one U.S. dollar over one million TL. CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY PUTS RESERVATION ON ARTICLE 22 OF OIC WHICH PROPOSES TO CUT ALL POLITICAL RELATIONS WITH ISRAELDOHA - Turkey put a reservation on the Article 22 of the final declaration of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) which was released on Saturday night. The OIC Foreign Ministers' meeting which was held in Doha, the capital of Qatar ended last night.The final declaration which was released after the meeting called on the participants to cut all political relations with Israel to pressure this country to end violence against Palestinian people and government and also suspend relations with any country which continue relations with Israel. The Article 22 also proposes to shut down all the Israeli representative offices and missions in member countries and make all economic relations ''difficult.'' Turkey put a reservation on this article.Diplomatic sources said Turkey stated at the meeting that such an implementation would not be beneficial. The declaration emphasized that the Palestinian people would be provided any kind of economic and political support. [02] RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS HEAD YILMAZ VISITS TOMB OF MURAT I AND TURKISH BATTALION IN KOSOVOPRISTINA- Mehmet Nuri Yılmaz, Religious Affairs Head who came to Kosovo as the guest of Kosovo Islamic Religion Head Dr. Recep Boya visited the Turkish Coordination Office in Pristina and received Turkish kinsmen on Saturday evening.Listening to the problems of KosovarTurks, Yılmaz stressed the importance of peaceful co-existance of people in the region. Yılmaz noted that an office of the Religious Affairs will be opened in Pristina soon to strengthen the relations with Kosovo and to enable the coordination. Yılmaz later visited the tomb of Murat I, the Ottoman Sultan near Pristina and then proceeded to Prizren where there is the Turkish Battalion Mission Force Command. Visiting the Sultan Murat barracks where the Turkish Battalion is deployed, Yılmaz also met with the representatives of Turkish associations and institutions at Turkish Culture Association. Kosovars asked Yılmaz for support to protect the Ottoman works of art in Kosovo. Yılmaz will return to Turkey on Sunday. [03] BERGAMA'S VILLAGERS PROTEST AGAINST USE OF CYANIDE IN GOLD BLEACHINGBERGAMA - Bergama's villagers who have been fighting against the usage of cyanide in gold bleaching closed the traffic at Canakkale-Izmir highway early Sunday since gold production started in the mine. There is a growing tension between the gendarmerie forces and the villagers. The gendarmerie forces tried to prevent the villagers' protest when they blocked the traffic. Gendarmerie Second Commander Major Murat Oztur spoke with Environment Executive Council Chairman Oktay Konyar and convinced the villagers to open one lane to traffic. Later the firemen sprayed water on the villagers to make them end their protest but the tension rose higher when the villagers retaliated. The security forces used truncheons and dispersed the crowd. Konyar was detained and taken away by the police. One soldier was wounded by a thrown stone and hospitalized. Villagers reacted against Konyar's detention and said they would continue their protests if he is not released.[04] LOANS OFFERED BY FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS AND COUNTRIES AFTER MARMARA EARTHQUAKE TO BE USED SOONANKARA - Loans offered by a number of countries and international institutions to Turkey after the earthquke disaster which hit the Marmara region two years ago will start to be used very soon, it was reported on Sunday.After last year's 500 million U.S. dollars of credit obtained from the European Investment Bank, new loans will be attained from Saudi and Kuwait Fund and United Arab Emirates. The 34 million U.S. dollar part of the 138 million U.S. dollar credit of the Saudi Fund will be used for drinking water and purification centers in Kaynarca, Golkent, Akyazi, and Hendek which suffered significant damage in the quake. The remaining money will be used for construction works which are in the planning stage. A part of the credit will also be used to build connection roads in settlement areas in Bolu, Golyaka, Cumayeri, Sogucak and Kaytezdere. A total of 42 kilometers of roads will be constructed in Ikitelli, Gebze-Sekerpinari, Korfez-Hereke, Arizli, Gundoglu, Bahcecik-Dongel, Golcuk and Karamursel using the 52 million U.S. dollars from the Kuwait Fund. The preparations for bids carried out by Iller Bank and Highways General Directorate have been completed and the construction works are about to start. Another credit is likely to be obtained from the United Arab Emirates for the building of 30.6 kilometer long road in Duzce, Karaman and Camili areas in the coming days. [05] FIGARO MAGAZINE PROMOTES TURKEYTOKYO - The world famous Figoro magazine covered Turkey in its edition published in Japan and promoted the historical and touristic places of Turkey on Sunday.The magazine made Turkey its cover by the headline ''Travel to Charming Turkey,'' and published a photograph reflecting the beauties of Bodrum township of western Mugla province. The magazine covered Turkey in 48 pages.[06] TURKEY AND TUNISIA TO COOPERATE IN SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL MATTERSANKARA - An agreement proposing scientific and technical cooperation between Turkey and Tunisia was published in Sunday's Official Gazette.According to the agreement which was signed between the two countries on March 22, 2001, Turkey and Tunisia will develop joint projects on agriculture, environment, oceanography, information technologies, communication, biotechnology and health. The agreement envisages the organizations of conferences, symposiums and work groups and sharing of certain scientific equipment. [07] 2,7 BILLION DOLLARS OF PRODUCTS EXPORTED FROM FREE ZONES IN FIRST MONTHS OF 2001ANKARA - Turkey's free zones exported products worth of 2,7 billion U.S. dollars in the first four months of this year.According to the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat Free Zones Directorate, the trade from the free zones in the first four months of this year decreased by 6,4 percent compared to the same period last year. The free zone which exported products the most has been Istanbul Leather Free Zone with 823,2 million dolars.The trade volumes of the free zones are as follows: ZONES (THOUSAND DOLLAR) 2000/2001 CHANGE JANUARY-APRIL (PERCENT) [08] SCULPTURES ON NEMRUT MOUNTAIN TO BE RESTOREDKAHTA - International Nemrut Foundation Chairman Maurice Chijns said on Sunday that the restoration of 2000-year old sculptures and other objects at Adiyaman's Kahta township would start on June 14.Crijns told the A.A that the Nemrut Mountain is believed to be ''the best place to watch the sunset and the sunrise in the world'' by archeologists. He said that the sculptures located on the summit of the mountain at 2,150 meters high will be preserved and inherited to future generations. He remarked that the sculptures which were worshipped by the people of Commagene Empire are unique in the world. ''The Turkish Culture Ministry overtook an important mission by contributing to this project through which we're aming to save these sculptures,'' he added. The Culture Ministry signed a protocol agreement with the International Nemrut Foundation and the Turkish Democracy Foundation in 1999 for the restoration of these objects, however the restoration works couldn't start because of the red tape. ''It's a little late but we are glad that finally a decision was taken to save this very valuable historical site,'' Crijns said. The restoration has been scheduled to start on June 14, he indicated. ''June 14 is a very important date for the Commagene civilization. The astrological composition in the lion horoscope on the Nemrut Mountain points to June 14 of 109 B.C. Therefore we'll begin the restoration works on this date,'' he explained. Many leading tourism journalists and archeologists will attend the ceremony which will be held to mark the beginning of the restoration. [09] FENER GREEK PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEOS:''LET'S TAKE LESSONS FROM OUR PAST MISTAKES''URGUP - Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos said ''Instead of remembering the bad memories, we should take lessons from them and move towards the good,'' when he conducted the spring mass held in Nevsehir's Urgup township on Sunday. Bartholomeos who thanked Urgup Mayor Bekir Odemis for the organization, said Christians and Muslims who lived together in Cappadocia region separated from each other in thepast but they came together at the mass. ''Christians and Muslim who are here today were playing together, celebrating holidays, doing trade and supporting each other in difficult days three or four generations ago. We thank God for giving us the chance to live this day which we believe will bring closer people of different faiths,'' he stated. Bartholomeos said many Greeks who are visiting Cappadocia love the area and there are many more people who are looking forward to seeing the area. Greek Ambassador in Ankara Ioannis Corantis also attended the mass which was broadcast live on the Greek TV channel ERT- 2. About 500 people came to watch the mass from Istanbul. Later Bartholomeos visited Avanos Mayor Seyhan Duru. Duru said that the Avanos Municipality had been working hard to create the right environment for tourists so that they could pray and perform the requirements of their religion. ''We are happy to have overcome the obstacles,'' he said and added that people are now sharing the same culture in an environment of tolerance. When asked to comment about the initiatives of Turkish and Greek foreign ministers' to organize the 2008 European Soccer Championship in Greece and Turkey, Bartholomeos said this would be the demonstration of the friendship between the two nations and that he fully supported the project.[10] EXPORT FROM SOUTH EAST TO AFRICA INCREASESGAZIANTEP - South East Anatolia exported agricultural products worth of 4.7 million U.S. dollars to African countries with an increase of 24 percent compared to last year in the first four months of 2001. Last year's export figure remained at 3.8 million U.S. dollars. According to the figures obtained from the South East Anatolia Exporters' Association, dry fruits worth of 117,000 U.S. dollars, seeds and grains worth of 712,000 U.S. dollars and textile worth of 3.9 million U.S. dollars were exported to African countries in the first four months of theyear. Algeria topped the list among other African countries who bought agricultural products from Turkey. [11] CEREMONY HELD IN KUTAHYA FOR HUNGARIAN NATIONAL HERO KOSSUTHKUTAHYA - The 150th anniversary of Lajos Kossuth, Hungarian national hero and first Hungarian president's arrival in Kutahya where he lived in exile for a certain period of time was celebrated in the city on Sunday.Addressing the ceremony held in the garden of the house, which was turned into a museum where Kossuth lived in his years of exile, Kutahya governor Aydın Guclu said that the hosting of Kossuth, the Hungarian national hero in Kutahya has constituted one of the most beautiful examples of the Turkish-Hungarian friendship. Lajos Kossuth who directed the Hungarian independence fight, had declared the Hungarian republic after taking the Austrian army out of Hungarian territories and he was elected as the first president of his country. After the defeat of the Hungarian army by Austrians, Kossuth was exiled to Ottoman state with his 150 friends and lived in Kutahya between 1850-1851. [12] NATURE FIGHTERS PROTEST TANKER PASSAGES THROUGH STRAITSISTANBUL - Members of the Nature Fighters Environmentalist Organization protested the passages of ships carrying hazardous substances and tankers through the Istanbul Strait by throwing tomatos to a cargo ship on Sunday.The members of the organization threw the tomatos to ''MILA,'' an Ukraining- flagged cargo ship which passed through Istanbul strait. Zafer Murat Cetintas, the head of the organization told the press after the protest that all tankers and ships that pass through the straits cause damage for the straits, defending the view that the radar system that will start to function in the Straits won't decrease the possible risks during the passages of tankers. Cetintas said that all the ships which pass through the straits have to have a captain pilot, municipalities which have coasts to the straits have to have naval fire brigades and rescue ships have to wait in the straits for 24 hours. [13] BALKAN POLITICAL CLUB FOUNDATION MEETING ENDS -FORMER PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL REPRESENTS TURKEYSOFIA - The Balkan Political Club which brought together famous politicians of the Balkan countries with the initiative of former Bulgarian President Jelu Jelev, ended on Sunday. Jelev was elected as the Club Chairman for the next three years at the meeting which was attended by Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Bosnia-Herzergovina, Yugoslavia, Macedonia and Romania. Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov who spoke at the last day of the meetings said ''Let's turn our back to old animosities in the Balkans''. He also said that the Balkan Political Club fully supports the efforts in the Balkans to become a part ofEurope.'' The foundation declaration of the club which was released today said that the club would create strategic projects for the region's development and carry out lobbying activities to achieve this result. The declaration also said that the club would work for the interest of the Balkans independently from the interests of any political party or country. The main philosophy of the club will be the Europeanization of the Balkans.About the ethnic problems in the region, the declaration said ''We regard minorities not as a threat to national security or territorial integrity but bridges for regional cooperation and cultural richness. Let's be friends and get closer to each other.'' Turkey is represented in the Balkan Political Club by former President Suleyman Demirel, former Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin, former Foreign Minister Murat Karayalcin, Parliament Turkish-Bulgarian Friendship and Cooperation Commission Chairman Hayati Korkmaz, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputy Ali Serdengecti and Ankara University lecturer Prof. Yahya Sezai Tezel. [14] ECEVIT SAYS VILLAGE-CITY PROJECT WOULD GREATLY BENEFIT VILLAGERSERZURUM/CAT - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has said that for years he has been insisting that ''village-cities'' should be set up in rural areas. ''I'm hoping that this year we'll make important progress in this project, '' he said.Ecevit who is visiting Erzurum to have a number of contacts first went to Has region of Cat township. Ecevit had a meeting with district officials of 41 villages of Cat where he said the village-city project would encourage villagers who immigrated to other places because of terrorism to return their villages. ''Me and my wife think that this will be a very big help for the villages. Because as it is understood from its name, the villagers will be offered the opportunities they can find in big cities in their own villages through this project,'' he explained. Later Ecevit went to Cat where he briefed people also about the village- city project. He said certain circles criticized this project and called it ''a hollow dream.'' ''But in many places, villagers realized the importance of this project quite some time ago. Finally we took a step towards this direction last year. Villagers in Cat made several applications to set up village- cities in their areas. We're receiving similar demands from other villages. I'm hoping that we'll make significant progress in this project,'' Ecevit told villagers. Pointing to 35,113 villages in Turkey, Ecevit said the state didn't have the resource to bring a satisfying solution to the problems of all these areas because of its spread-up nature. ''We can't build schools or health clinics in all these villages,'' Ecevit continued. ''The problem could only be solved through village-cities or central villages. These are different than each other. It might be necessary to unite spread up villages and form central villages in areas which are under the threat of terrorism. This will be most needed in East and South East Anatolia where people started returning to their villages. But the state might not be able to afford to set up new villages everywhere. Besides, villagers might have to live far away from their fields. In village-city project, people will not have to leave their homes. In this project, not the villages, but the schools and health clinics will be united.'' Noting that sports centres, libraries, modern animal husbandry centres can be installed in each village by the village-city project, Ecevit said that yet a village can't set up a factory on its own. Ecevit said that a factory started to be founded by the contributions of villagers at the preparation stage of the village-city project which started in Mesudiye township of northern Ordu province. Ecevit stressed that people's return to villages has also started, adding ''there will be shopping and business centres and banks in the village-cities, unemployment will decrease and finally end. People's rush to cities will decrease and villagers will benefit from the opportunities of cities in their villages. The village-city project will open the way to development. Our government also takes measures to develop agriculture and animal husbandry.'' The Rural Affairs Directorate General speeded up its efforts to construct roads to connect villages to each other, said Ecevit and noted that the government sent 250 billion liras to Erzurum Governor's Office to solve the drinking water problem of the province. Ecevit said that the money which was owed to the beet producer was paid this week. Noting that the government had adopted the eight-year compulsary education, Ecevit said that the parents of students want to have an eleven-year compulsary education this time. Ecevit pointed out that the government opened 59 elementary schools, three boarding schools, 12 high schools and 10 boarding houses in Erzurum between the years 1997-2001. He added that he will open another boarding school in Cat township of Erzurum today.He indicated that the village-cities will increase the education level in rural areas, adding that ''the government deals with serious problems which stem from ignorance, irresponsibilities and corruption that continued for years. The 57th government which works in a harmony, will overcome the problems. The parliament works very hard to bring prosperity to the country. I believe that firstly we have to save the villagers before saving the economy. The way to save the villagers is to implement village- city project.'' People applaused Ecevit during his speech and they opened banners written ''First Prime Minister Who Visited Our town,'' ''We Stroke a Blow on Separatist and Religious Terrorism'' and ''Rural Affairs Temporaries are Grateful to You'' on them, in the area where Ecevit addressed the crowd. [15] DEMIREL:''INSTEAD OF LIMITING THE CRISES, WE SHOULD WORK TO MAINTAIN SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN THE BALKANS''SOFIA - Former President Suleyman Demirel who spoke at the Balkan Political Club's foundation meeting in Sofia on Sunday said ''We should maintain sustainable peace instead of limiting the crisis in this area.''Demirel said ultra-nationalism lost its importance and value in a multi- cultural Europe. He indicated that Europe has become a rich and secure place where people have free movement, therefore the national borders which caused crisis in the past lost their importance. Demirel added that peace and stability was the main element essential for the Balkan countries to have a place in Europe. Demirel said the Balkans unfortunately had a bad image because of its frequent crises and the recent incidents underlined this image. ''Shortsighted nationalist leaders destroyed the tradition of unity. Now it is time to take a lesson from these bad dreams,'' he added. Pointing to the latest developments in Macedonia, Demirel said these incidents showed how fragile the stability was in the Balkans. ''Limiting the depression is not enough. We should maintain sustainable peace. Peace between nations is important. States' decisions would remain insufficient without the support of people,'' he said. Demirel said he believed the Balkan Political Club would play an important role in the maintenance of peace and promote cooperation among Balkan people. ''Besides, the club will work to prevent hostile feelings and old prejudices. We should use our old experiences to develop peace and cooperation in the Balkans,'' Demirel concluded. Former Parliament Speaker Hikmet Cetin who is also among the founders of the club said ''The Balkans is no longer the backyard of Europe but an unseparable part of it.'' Both Demirel and Cetin left Sofia for Turkey following the meeting.
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