Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-05-29

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

29 MAY 2001 Tuesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL CONVENES

[03] STATE MINISTER DERVIS SAYS GOVERNMENT DID BEST IN DETERMINATION OF CEREALS PURCHASE PRICE

[04] TURKEY, CUBA AND EGYPT BECOME STARS IN EUROPEAN TOURISM MARKET THIS SEASON

[05] CEM ADDRESSES TO FINANCIAL TIMES -CEM SAYS EU WANTS TO DEFINE THE RULES FOR ASSURED ACCESS TO NATO ASSETS DESPITE ITS BEING THE RECIPIENT

[06] MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS GOKALP SAYS GOVERNMENT WILL PAY HALF OF CEREALS IT WILL BUY FROM FARMERS IN CASH

[07] APPOINTMENT OF AN AMBASSADRESS TO VATICAN -FOREIGN MINISTRY DEPUTY SPOKESMAN DIRIOZ: -''IT IS OUT OF QUESTION FOR FOREIGN MINISTRY TO APPOINT AN AMBASSADRESS TO A CAPITAL CITY TO WHICH AN AMBASSADRESS CANNOT BE APPOINTED''

[08] TREASURY SELLS 10.6 TRILLION LIRAS OF NOMINAL-VALUED 13-MONTH DEBENTURE BONDS

[09] NSC RELEASES A STATEMENT: -''GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE'S OBSESSION TO CHANGE CYPRUS INTO A GREEK ISLAND AND ITS EFFORTS TO CONTINUE ITS ALLEGATIONS AND TITLE WHICH DOES NOT HAVE ANY LEGITIMACY IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND LAW, ARE THE MAIN REASONS FOR INSURMOUNTABILITY OF PROBLEMS IN CYPRUS FOR 37 YEARS''

[10] ISTANBUL DGM CHIEF PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE FILES A LAWSUIT AGAINST 13 SUSPECTS WHO STORMED ISTANBUL'S SWISSHOTEL AND HELD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HOSTAGE FOR 12 HOURS

[11] ONE BILLION 760 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS MORE LOAN TO BLUE STREAM

[12] MODERATE EARTHQUAKE JOLTS ERZURUM

[13] STATE MINISTER UNLU: -''SARCOPHAGUS UNEARTHED IN PATARA, IS A CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF THAT OLYMPIC GAMES WERE HELD IN ANATOLIA''

[14] MODERATE EARTHQUAKE JOLTS ERZURUM (2) -THERE ARE NOT ANY IMMEDIATE REPORTS OF CASUALTIES

[15] NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS' SPRING TERM MEETING IN BUDAPEST -DISPUTE BETWEEN TURKEY AND EU ON ESDP COULD NOT BE OVERCOME

[16] JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI SENDS A LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT

[17] STATE MINISTER DERVIS FOR ECONOMY DUE TO ITALY

[18] MODERATE EARTHQUAKE JOLTS ERZURUM (3) -ERZURUM GOVERNOR KADIOGLU: - ''THERE ARE NOT ANY IMMEDIATE REPORTS OF CASUALTIES''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

LEADERS SOLVE WHEAT PURCHASE PRICE PROBLEM
A debate took place between State Minister Kemal Dervis in charge of economy and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) about the wheat purchase prices yesterday. Dervis said that if Turkey continues to pursue the policy of supporting farmers, this will lead the country to bankrupt. The leaders solved the problem of the purchase price of wheat and the latter was announced as 164,000 TL.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

ECEVIT SAYS GOVERNMENT IS HARMONIOUS AND RESOLVED
Assessing the government's performance in two years in a press briefing yesterday, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that the government has been the government of compromise, resolution and progress. Referring to economy, Ecevit said that there is a temporary shrinkage in the economy, yet the economy will start to grow in the second half of the year by the full implementation of the economic programme.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

23RD PERSON DIES BECAUSE OF DEATH FAST
29-year old Ugur Turkmen who has been on death fast to protest the F-type prisons died early Monday morning. Turkmen who was in prison for three years for providing help and shelter to the illegal organization DHKP-C, was recently released due to the Conditional Release law and he continued death fasting in his sister's house where he was living. Turkmen was released on January 5, 2001 from Sincan F type prison where he started death fasting. He continued his protest in his sister's house in Mersin's Bahcelievler district. Turkmen died on the 204th day of his protest.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

CRITICAL MEETING IN BUDAPEST
Turkey, which wants to take part in the operations which the European Union (EU) countries would launch by using their own capacities, expects NATO allies to abide by the decisions they took in Washington D.C., the U.S. EU which reacts to Turkey's blocking the European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI) process threatens Turkey saying that this attitude will negatively affect Turkey's membership process to the EU.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

NSC TO CONVENE TODAY
The National Security Council (NSC) will convene today. NSC will make an assesment like Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit did yesterday to evaluate the government's performance in the last two years. State Minister Kemal Dervis is also expected to participate in the meeting.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS DESIGNATES EROGLU TO FOUND NEW GOVERNMENT
Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) designated Dervis Eroglu, the leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) to form the new government yesterday.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[02] NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL CONVENES

The regular meeting of NSC started at 9.30 a.m.

[03] STATE MINISTER DERVIS SAYS GOVERNMENT DID BEST IN DETERMINATION OF CEREALS PURCHASE PRICE

Dervis met with Vural Akısık, the President of State Banks Executive Board and other economy bureaucrats the same day.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Dervis said that the thing that matters for Turkey is the government's being in solidarity and finding solutions together, adding that the government can do that.

Dervis indicated that they reviewed the problems of state banks with the State Banks Executive Board and it has been very useful, Dervis said that ''this is certainly an important change of order, which is not easy for Turkey. But we all know that this was one of the most important structural defects which led the country to crisis. There has been a duty loss of 20 quadrillion liras, this won't happen in the future. The State Banks Executive Board launches efforts to this end.''

State banks work to meet the growth need in the real economy, said Dervis and noted that he is pleased with the works.

This process is difficult and painful, said Dervis and noted that ''there is misunderstanding about the issue, we tell that we will unite Emlakbank with Ziraat Bank. But the employees and the laws are the same, what ever the situation in Ziraat Bank, it will also be the same in Emlakbank. There is no need to be worried, we take steps and we progress step by step.''

[04] TURKEY, CUBA AND EGYPT BECOME STARS IN EUROPEAN TOURISM MARKET THIS SEASON

Turkey has become one of the popular countries in the European tourism market.

Huseyin Baraner, the head advisor of Oger Holding, a famous Turkish tourism agency based in Germany, told A.A correspondent on Tuesday that Turkey has recently been at the top of the list of Last Minute Sales at European airports, but now Turkey left its place to other countries and it does not have anymore the image of being the cheapest country in Europe.

''Turkey came at the top in Germany's packet tour sales which was worth of 40 billion German marks this year. Cuba and Egypt follow Turkey,'' he said, adding that Turkey's rivals reduce the prices, but Turkey does not lose clients.

[05] CEM ADDRESSES TO FINANCIAL TIMES -CEM SAYS EU WANTS TO DEFINE THE RULES FOR ASSURED ACCESS TO NATO ASSETS DESPITE ITS BEING THE RECIPIENT

Cem explained the views of Turkey about ESDP in the statement he issued to the Financial times.

''To listen to some EU leaders, one may think that this emerging military organization is the response to all European defense needs; that the EU - not NATO - should determine which of NATO's capabilities and assets will be made available to it and that one NATO member -Turkey - is arbitrarily bringing up 'new conditions' that hinder the process of cooperation between NATO and the EU.''

Such views are not true, said Cem and noted that NATO and the EU are not rival organizations, they are structures of the same Euro-Atlantic community.

''The EU is of course free to create its own military and security mechanism. To this end, the EU is asking to have assured access to NATO's planning capabilities and military assets. These are all legitimate demands for broader Euro-Atlantic cooperation. In essence, the EU's proposals oblige NATO to accept a set-up that, for the first time in its history, would discriminate between NATO member, categorizing them as EU and no-EU allies. Furthermore, the often-overlooked fact is that NATO has already set out its position on this issue. A year before the EU summit in Nice, NATO members agreed in Washington in April 1999 that the EU's access to NATO resources would be subject to a ''case-by-case decision by the North Atlantic Council. This means that NATO which operates by consensus will consider each EU request on an individual basis. In addition, the Washington summit agreed that the military relationship between NATO and the EU would be built-on-mechanism existing between NATO and WEU and within WEU. These WEU mechanisms allow for the participation in EU military operations by non-EU NATO members. The decisions taken in Washington were confirmed and reconfirmed at two subsequent meetings of NATO foreign ministers, in other words, NATO has already established its position on the issue of assured access by the EU to NATO's military resources.

''Defining the issue correctly is essential if we are going to find a solution. The problem is not only Turkey's insistence on protecting its vital security interests. The problem lies in the fact that the Nice summit ignored the decisions made by NATO in Washington. NATO is being asked to reject the decisions it reached at its own summit and instead accept rules that were later drawn up by the EU. I want to emphasize that this is not a dispute between Turkey and EU. I believe that a solution can best be found within NATO.''

Cem pointed out that Turkey supports the development of a European security and defense policy, and Turkey is simply asking its fellow NATO members to abide by the decisions taken in Washington.

Turkey has contributed to NATO for 50 years and given its population and gross national product, has provided proportionately more soldiers and more resources than any other European NATO member, said Cem, adding that ''Turkey is not prepared to allow the use of these capabilities and assets it shares unless it has a right to participate reasonably in their use.' Cem said.

[06] MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS GOKALP SAYS GOVERNMENT WILL PAY HALF OF CEREALS IT WILL BUY FROM FARMERS IN CASH

Holding a press briefing about the cereals purchase price, Gokalp said that the purchase price of Anatolian wheat which was announced at 102,000 TL last year has been increased by 61 percent for June and reached 164,000 TL.

This price is equal to 150 U.S. dollars per ton, said Gokalp and noted that ''it is seen that the farmers will not suffer due to the inflation rate.''

Gokalp said that the product sale prices would be made public soon.

[07] APPOINTMENT OF AN AMBASSADRESS TO VATICAN -FOREIGN MINISTRY DEPUTY SPOKESMAN DIRIOZ: -''IT IS OUT OF QUESTION FOR FOREIGN MINISTRY TO APPOINT AN AMBASSADRESS TO A CAPITAL CITY TO WHICH AN AMBASSADRESS CANNOT BE APPOINTED''

Responding to questions of journalists, Dirioz said, ''the Foreign Ministry appoints ambassadors and ambassadresses as a result of long and fastidious preparatory works. It is out of question for the Foreign Ministry to appoint an ambassadress to a capital city to which an ambassadress cannot be appointed.''

Noting that Vatican was among the centers to which Turkey appointed an ambassadress, Dirioz noted eight countries including the U.S., the Philippines, Ukraine and New Zealand had ambassadresses in Vatican.

[08] TREASURY SELLS 10.6 TRILLION LIRAS OF NOMINAL-VALUED 13-MONTH DEBENTURE BONDS

The net sale in the auction was 5.6 trillion TL while any bond was not sold to public.

The maturity of the bonds is June 26, 2002 and value date is May 30, 2001.

The composite interest rate became 79.98 percent and simple interest rate became 82 percent.

[09] NSC RELEASES A STATEMENT: -''GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE'S OBSESSION TO CHANGE CYPRUS INTO A GREEK ISLAND AND ITS EFFORTS TO CONTINUE ITS ALLEGATIONS AND TITLE WHICH DOES NOT HAVE ANY LEGITIMACY IN ACCORDANCE WITH INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS AND LAW, ARE THE MAIN REASONS FOR INSURMOUNTABILITY OF PROBLEMS IN CYPRUS FOR 37 YEARS''

The Secretariat General of NSC released a statement following four-hour monthly meeting held under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

The statement said, ''At the meeting, measures taken previously to revive economy in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the latest developments on the Cyprus question were reviewed in detail,'' the statement noted.

The statement said, ''the Greek Cypriot side's obsession to change Cyprus into a Greek island and its efforts to continue its allegations and title which does not have any legitimacy in accordance with international agreements and laws, are the main reasons for the insurmountability of the problems in Cyprus for 37 years.''

''There are two equal peoples and two equal sovereign states which represent these peoples in the island. Reaching a compromise which can be accepted by the two sides in Cyprus depends on recognition of the sovereign equality of the two states in the island. Anything couldn't be achieved by allegations which are contrary to this fact, and it is impossible to reach anywhere by such allegations. The currently existing two states are the starting point of any solution,'' it said.

''The full-membership of Southern Cyprus to the European Union as a result of its (Southern Cyprus) unilateral application which contradicts with the 1960 agreements will deepen the division in the island. Besides, peace and stability in Eastern Mediterranean will encounter uncertainties as a result of such a development,'' the statement noted.

''It is out of question to return to the dark period before 1974 in Cyprus which caused Turkish Cypriots suffer grave pains, and to turn a blind eye to a fait accompli that will pave the way for such a development.''

''As a guarantor country, Turkey, within the framework of its commitments stemming from agreements and history, will continue to take every necessary step for prosperity and security of the Turkish Cypriot people and to make economic contributions, and it will speed up its efforts to strengthen and deepen the cooperation with the TRNC,'' the statement added.

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit; General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff; ministers who are members of the NSC, commanders of land, air and naval forces; the Commander of Gendarmerie Forces, and the Secretary General of the NSC; State Ministers and Deputy Prime Ministers Devlet Bahceli, Husamettin Ozkan and Mesut Yilmaz; and State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel were also in attendance at the meeting at the Cankaya Presidential Palace.

[10] ISTANBUL DGM CHIEF PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE FILES A LAWSUIT AGAINST 13 SUSPECTS WHO STORMED ISTANBUL'S SWISSHOTEL AND HELD A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HOSTAGE FOR 12 HOURS

A ten-page indictment prepared by Istanbul DGM Prosecutor Muzaffer Yalcin, sought imprisonment terms from 14 years and 6 months to 26 years to suspects Muhammed Emin Tokcan and Emin Tastan who were arrested by the court on April 30, 2001, and imprisoned in Kartal Prison in Istanbul, on charges of ''forming and leading an armed organization to commit crimes, restricting freedom of many people, possessing heavy weapons, and opening fire in a public place''.

The indictment sought imprisonment terms from 9 years and 6 months to 19 years to suspects Ali Tokcan, Hayri Kadi, Yusuf Ozdemir, Yalcin Sahin, Bahri Demir, Atilla Kivik, Bunyamin Kivik, Hayati Ak, Mehmet Yapici, Serdal Seferoglu and Ramazan Karabulut on charges of ''participating in an armed organization which was formed to commit crimes, restricting freedom of many people, possessing unlicenced weapons, and opening fire in a public place''.

The date of the hearing will be set in coming days.

[11] ONE BILLION 760 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS MORE LOAN TO BLUE STREAM

Sending a statement to the A.A, Gazprom said that Blue Stream's creditor companies and banks confirmed with their decision on that May 25 that the necessary pre-conditions for new financing to the project had been formed.

The statement gave detailed information about the loans of which 300 million U.S. dollars part would be used in first stage.

According to this, the European organizations led by Italian SACE agency guaranteed 1 billion 133.5 million U.S. dollars long-term loan which will be used to finance construction of pipeline under the Black Sea and purchase of construction equipments for the pipeline's parts in territories.

The amount of the loan guaranteed by Japanese agencies is 626.5 million U.S. dollars and most of it will be used to finance purchase of pipes which will be used in construction of the line under the Black Sea.

The statement stressed that Blue Stream had a very important value in development of economic cooperation between Turkey and Russia.

The statement added that the total volume of the project is 3.3 billion U.S. dollars.

Credit companies had opened 866 million U.S. dollars loan in December of 2000 and a 250 million Euro loan was obtained in February of 2001.

[12] MODERATE EARTHQUAKE JOLTS ERZURUM

Officials at Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory Seismology Institute told the A.A correspondent that the quake was centered on Erzurum.

[13] STATE MINISTER UNLU: -''SARCOPHAGUS UNEARTHED IN PATARA, IS A CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF THAT OLYMPIC GAMES WERE HELD IN ANATOLIA''

Unlu said that he had informed Greek journalists in Greece last week on the sarcophagus, noting, ''the sarcophagus will be introduced to scientists at an international symposium in Antalya in July of 2001.''

''The sarcophagus is believed to have been belonged to a sportsmen who became the champion in seven great championships held under the auspices of the emperor. The sarcophagus proves that great championships were held and talented sportsmen lived in Anatolia in the past,'' he said.

Scientists think that the sarcophagus was belonged to Lucius Sptimius Thoronites who became champion in olympic games for three times, and in seven great championships held under the auspices of the emperor.

[14] MODERATE EARTHQUAKE JOLTS ERZURUM (2) -THERE ARE NOT ANY IMMEDIATE REPORTS OF CASUALTIES

The epicenter of the earthquake was in rural area between Erzurum and Pasinler township.

The earthquake sent people out to the streets in panic.

Security officials told the A.A correspondent that there were not any immediate reports of casualties in the earthquake which was also felt in neighboring settlement units.

Damage assessment works are under way in the province

Meanwhile, telecommunication collapsed in Erzurum.

[15] NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS' SPRING TERM MEETING IN BUDAPEST -DISPUTE BETWEEN TURKEY AND EU ON ESDP COULD NOT BE OVERCOME

Foreign Ministry officials told the A.A correspondent on Tuesday that the issue which was taken up in Istanbul last weekend with officials from the U.S. State Department and British Department for Foreign Affairs, was high on the agenda of the meeting.

Officials said that works between Turkey and member countries to the EU had been continuing in a positive atmosphere.

Meanwhile, final statement released at the end of NATO Foreign Ministers' spring term meeting said that negotiations had been continuing between Turkey and the EU on the issue of ESDP, and expressed hope over progress in the negotiations.

[16] JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI SENDS A LETTER TO PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT

In his letter, Koizumi said, ''I wish to express to Your Excellency my heartfelt gratitude for your kind words of congratulations on my appointment as Prime Minister of Japan. I should like to work actively with Your Excellency to further develop existing cordial relations between our two countries.''

''I am pleased that an international agreement on financial support to your reform program through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank was reached. I sincerely hope that the domestic economic reforms you are currently pursuing are successfully carried out, so that such international supports can be fully utilized and your efforts will bring about prosperity to all the people of your country,'' he stressed.

Koizumi added, ''I would like to further take this opportunity to express my gratitude for all the efforts your government made for the early and safe release of all the hostages including Japanese nationals in the hostage taking in Istanbul last month, I highly value your continued consideration for the safety of Japanese nationals visiting your country. I wish to express my best wishes for your good health and continued success.''

[17] STATE MINISTER DERVIS FOR ECONOMY DUE TO ITALY

Dervis will partake in a luncheon at the Turkish Embassy in Rome on May 31 with representatives of Italian business circles.

Dervis is scheduled to come together with Italian Treasury and Finance officials later in the same day.

He will deliver a speech on ''Role of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in the 21st Century's World Economy'' at a dinner to be hosted by the Bretton-Woods Institute.

On Friday, Dervis will come together with directors of the Italian Industrialists' and Businessmen's Organization (Confindustria) at breakfast.

Later, Dervis will meet with Tremonti who will undertake Treasury and Finance Ministry in the government of Berlisconi who has been designated to form the new government in Italy.

State Minister Dervis will proceed to Florance after wrapping up his contacts in Rome.

He will deliver a speech at the conference organized by the European Institute on ''Europe, Turkey and Mediterranean''.

State Minister Dervis is expected to return to Turkey on Saturday.

Italy has been acting as the term president of the Group-7 (G-7) formed by seven the most industrialized countries of the world.

[18] MODERATE EARTHQUAKE JOLTS ERZURUM (3) -ERZURUM GOVERNOR KADIOGLU: - ''THERE ARE NOT ANY IMMEDIATE REPORTS OF CASUALTIES''

Kadioglu told the A.A correspondent that three dwellings in Camlica and Yukari Camlica villages in Pasinler township were damaged in the quake.

Noting that damage-assessment works were under way in the province, Kadioglu said, ''two people who jumped out of windows in panic were injured, and taken to hospitals for medical treatment.''

The Crisis Desk set up at the Governor's Office said that four aftershocks occurred in the province.

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Mete Isikara, the Director of Kandilli Observatory Seismology Institute, said that the earthquake could be related to the Northern Anatolia Fault Line.

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