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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-06-08Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 08 JUNE 2001 Friday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 8, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)100 TURKISH FACTORIES SET UP IN BULGARIATurks founded 2700 firms in Bulgaria. These firms has 100 factories and majority of the firms make trade. The number of applications to make investments in Bulgaria in textile sector has reached a record. The total amount of the Turkish businessmen's investment in Bulgaria reached 250 million dollars. HASAN OZDEMIR RETURNS TO ISTANBUL MILLIYET (LIBERAL)NUCLEAR THREAT IN STRAITSRussian parliament approved the project of keeping the nuclear wastes of various countries in return of money. This initiative which will bring 20 billion dollars to Russia, is very risky for Turkey as 1,000 tons of nuclear wastes will pass annually from the straits to go to Russia. WHICH LOBBY CAN DESTROY THIS FRIENDSHIP? SABAH (LIBERAL)ARMENIAN LEADER ISSUES BRAVE STATEMENTSBarsamyan, the archbishop of Armenian churches in the U.S. told the paper in an interview that ''we must come together and talk about the claims of genocide, we must set up committees.'' He said that he does not regard Turks as killers, on the contrary he said that he regards Turks as very close to Armenians. ''We must find out those who separated two peoples who liked each other and lived together in Anatolia?,'' he added. YUCELEN SAYS THOSE WHO CAN'T KEEP UP WITH US, CAN LEAVE CUMHURIYET (LEFT)CENSORSHIP BROUGHT BY RTUK LAWThe parliament passed the bill proposing changes in the Radio, Television and Broadcast Law. According to the bill, TV and radio broadcasts will obey the supremacy of law, the main principles of the Constitution, main rights and freedoms, national security and moral values. A TV channel violating the rules will be asked to openly apologize by the Higher Council (RTUK). If the TV channel fails to apologize or repeats the same violation, the broadcast of that particular program will be stopped. The fines brought for violation of RTUK's principles are between 125 and 250 billion TL for national TV channels and between 5 and 100 billion TL for local TV channels. The fines for radio stations will be half of this amount. The new law also brings regulations for internet crimes and increase the fines by 1000 times for crimes committed through the press. RADIKAL (LEFT)ECHR FINDS TURKEY GUILTYEuropean Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said that 11 villagers who were taken into custody in eastern Mus province in an operation launched by security forces in October 1993 were ''killed.'' The court sentenced Turkey to pay a compensation of one trillion Turkish liras to the relatives of the missing villagers. KORAY AYDIN HAS DIFFICULTY TURKIYE (RIGHT)SEZER SAYS TURKEY CAN'T LIVE WITH CORRUPTIONPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer visited Harran University on the second day of his visit in the region and addressed students and lecturers there. President Sezer said that they can never accept the corruption's turning into an illness which deeply affects the Turkish society. The image of a Turkey which lives with corruption makes all sections of the society uneasy, said Sezer and noted that ''if we can educate citizens whose ethical values are high and if we make the administration transparent, we can save ourselves from this illness which causes corruption and collapse in the society. The state and the people have to cooperate on this issue. I believe that our country will save itself from this negativeness by the cooperation among politicians, bureaucrats and people.'' ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)ANOTHER ALIEN CLAIMED TO BE SEEN IN SIVASHakan Selek, an accountant in central Sivas province claimed that he saw Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO) in the province. Selek said that he recorded all the image in the video camera. Noting that he heard a great nouse in his flat at night on June 5, Tuesday, Selek said that he thought that was a plane which flied over their apartment. He added that he couldn't see any plane when he looked outside from the window. Selek alleged that he saw three illuminated objects and he recorded the images. [02] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM ASSESSES FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES (1) -CEM SAYS SECOND BORDER GATE WITH IRAQ TO BE OPENEDANKARA - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Thursday night that a second border gate with Iraq will be opened.Evaulating foreign policy issues of Turkey in the state-run television channel TRT-2, Cem said that ''we regard the second border gate with Iraq in line with interests of Turkey. This decision has been taken by undertaking serious work and by contacting with all the concerned institutions.'' Noting that the border gate could be opened within 1,5-2 years, Cem said that the issue is the issue of concerned ministries. When asked if the U.S. didn't like the idea, Cem said that Turkey takes into consideration the sensitivity of the U.S. in its relations with Iraq and the Middle East, adding that ''yet Turkey has its own policy and interests.'' Mentioning to the relations between Turkey and Russia, Cem said that there is a new cooperation between the two countries. ''Russia and Turkey are two great civilizations and states. Certainly there will be a certain degree of competition between them. But the thing that matters is this competition's development within peace and through constructive channels,'' Cem said. Cem stated that Turkey is powerful in the Central Asia and the Caucasus, pointing out that Russia regards Turkey as an effective actor in this geography particularly after Putin became the president. ''Turkey has two targets in its foreign policy and strategic future, which have equal importance. One of them is to become a full member of the EU and the other one is to become a determining country and centre in Eurasia. These two targets are not contradictory, but complementary targets,'' Cem said. Cem indicated that it is Turkey and Russia which can become such countries of Eurasia, adding that Turkey has such a claim due to its economy, culture and history. Russia is the other country which can have such a claim due to similar reasons, he said. ''Thus the relations between Turkey and Russia can be a new cooperation and unity platform in Euroasia. This is very important in my opinion,'' Cem said. ''Russia is very important for Turkey, Turkey is important for Russia. Besides the two countries' place in the world's balance of power will further strengethen if the two countries have good relations with each other. It means that both of them will benefit from that,'' Cem said. Recounting that the economic relations between Turkey and Russia develop, adding that ''we regard Eurasia as a broad geography which will speed up the bilateral reations between the two countries, make it further productive and positive. I will talk about these issues in more details with my Russian counterpart tomorrow.'' ''Turkey and Russia can bring a new dimension to the relations between them. A new field of areas can be opened for Turkey in the oil pipelines and energy transportation. Our energy imports from Russia will grow very much in the coming years, in return to that we must find a similar amount of export to this country,'' he said. Referring to Baku-Ceyhan issue, Cem said that Turkey has a very clear approach towards Russia and told Russia that she is ready to include Russia in the project. ''We will be rivals with Russia in a certain degree, but we will use this competition in a productive and peaceful manner,'' Cem said. [03] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM ASSESSES FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES (2) -CEM CRITICIZES APPROACH OF GREECE ABOUT ESDPANKARA - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem criticized the attitude of Greece regarding the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP).Assessing foreign policy issues of Turkey in the state-run television channel TRT-2, Cem said that the idea of autonomous defense organization which EU developed, meaning ESDP, brought certain problems with it. ''If the EU wishes it can set up its own military organization, no body has the right to object to that. Turkey does not consider the EU as a rival institution or enemy,'' Cem said. Cem said that EU wants to use NATO's capabilities for that, adding that NATO discussed the basic principles of that usage during the NATO summit in Washington D.C. in April 1997. Noting that this debate was very serious and Turkey was the only country against 18 others, Cem said that Turkey got what it wanted from that summit and it put forward all the rules that took into consideration all the interests of Turkey and NATO there. ''Later things became complicated, because the EU made another plan, took a decision by ignoring the decisions taken in Washington summit and told in Nice summit that it wanted to use the NATO capabilities and determined the conditions of that usage itself. Despite being the recipient, the EU wants to define the rules for assured access to the NATO assets in the case of ESDP. We have certain objections to that,'' said Cem. Noting that this is not a dispute between Turkey and EU, Cem said that it is an issue between EU and NATO's countries. Cem pointed out that 11 NATO countries are EU states so they don't have any objections, adding that Turkey underlined its legal status (Washington summit) and although she is right she acted in a flexible way. Cem said that the Netherlands launched an initiative 1,5 months ago and high ranking officials of Turkey, the U.S. and Britain carried out a study 10-15 days ago, adding that the latters couldn't reach a result, yet certain positive steps have been taken. Cem said that the Greek news agency ANA announced that Greece didn't accept the mentioned study, adding that ''Greece objected to a text which has not been formed yet.'' ''If Greece rejects such a document which couldn't record progress much, this means that the issue is no longer a ESDP issue,'' Cem said noting that Greece naturaly works for its own interests, adding that ''yet the issue can't be solved by objection of one EU country. ''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. 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. Cem said that Turkey has good will, adding that ''if Greece wants to end such an initiative, the other NATO allies have to think about it.'' Referring to the Cyprus issue, Cem said that the new U.S. administration does not have a different approach from the previous one, adding that Turkey has things to say and she will explain them in the best way. Recounting Turkey's policy on Cyprus which is based on finding a solution on the island which can be accepted by two sides, Cem said that the proposal of a confederation is also a search for common solution. Cem said that he told the Greek tv channel that if EU accepts a divided Cyprus as a member, Turkey wouldn't accept that. Cem said that Turkey will do something to balance that, and this won't be good for anybody. He added that a solution has to be found to this problem. [04] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT SAYS HE BELIEVES ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES TO BE OVERCOME SOONISTANBUL - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Friday that there are economic difficulties for the moment, yet he believed that these problems would be overcome soon.In the message Ecevit sent to the opening of the forum on ''Reconstruction in Economy: Reforms and Opportunities'' held by CNBC-E tv channel and Management Turkiye, he said that Turkey goes through an important transformation process. Ecevit said that Turkey transforms from an agricultural society to a structure which exports industrial goods, adding that there is great progress in exportation. Ecevit said that yet agriculture has been ignored. ''In fact nearly half of the population earns its living from agriculture. Certain circles in the country think as if they have to make a choice between industrilization and agriculture. But in fact the industrially advanced countries are also advanced in agriculture. Turkey has to give great importance to agriculture,'' Ecevit said. Ecevit pointed out that Turkey goes through a very severe economic process for 15-20 years, adding that the economy came to a halt in the end this year. ''I don't evaluate that as a crisis, because the Turkish economy has strong foundations,'' he said indicating that Turkey will start to grow in economy within this year. If economy is administered well and if unexpected impediments don't come out, economy will recover, said Ecevit. ''The recent inflation figures are also promising,'' Ecevit said adding that the Turkish economy has a great potential. [05] RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IVANOV SAYS NECESSARY CONDITIONS EXIST TO UPGRADE TURKISH-RUSSIAN RELATIONS TO A NEW PARTNERSHIP LEVELANKARA - Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said on Friday that they think that the necessary conditions exist to upgrade Turkish-Russian relations to ''a new partnership level''Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and Ivanov met each other in the inter- delegationary meetings between Turkey and Russia. Following the meetings, Cem and Ivanov held a joint press conference. Cem said that Turkey and Russia are two big and ambitious states in Eurasia, noting, ''we both think that we have reached the point to search for the ways to further improve our relations.'' Prior to the press conference, Cem and Ivanov signed a program of exchange of culture, education, science, youth and sports between 2001 and 2003. [06] ORAL:''WE'RE WORKING HARD TO NORMALIZE ECONOMY''IZMIR - Finance Minister Sumer Oral said on Friday that his office was working hard to normalize the economy and bring a solution to the problems of the real economy.He said that economic improvements will be felt in summer months parallel to the revival in tourism and export. ''We brought legal regulations regarding the additional budget law and company incomes to a certain level. Certain banks and companies lose their economic characteristics as the conditions change. Through our regulations we are trying to make them regain an economic structure,'' he said. ''Today, Turkey has to use its every single lira and every single second very well. This way we can compete with the global world,'' he commented. ''We had a 48 quadrillion TL budget. This reached to 78 quadrillion TL with the 40 quadrillion TL of additional budget. The distribution and financing of this budget is not easy.'' Oral also said employees at tax offices should be friendly when they collect taxes from people and every tax payer should leave these place satisfied. ''There could be no state which doesn't collect taxes. However the state should collect taxes according to people's level ofincome. We are trying to prevent tax evasion. We have to make the tax laws more simple. We have to decrease the red tape in tax. We're not only saying these but doing them as well,'' he said. [07] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM : -''WE HAVE DECIDED TO SET UP A JOINT WORKING GROUP WITH RUSSIA TO FURTHER IMPROVE OUR COOPERATION''ANKARA - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Friday that they have decided to set up a joint working group to search the ways to futher improve the current cooperation between Turkey and Russia.Following the inter-delegationary meetings, Cem and his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov held a joint press conference. Cem said that Turkey and Russia are ''two big civilizations and two big ambitious states.'' They agree to promote the positive relations between the two countries, Cem noted. Cem stated that they want to further improve the commercial and economic relations, regional relations, and cooperation particularly in struggle against international smuggling and international terrorism. To this end, they decided to set up a joint working group, Cem said. Cem pointed out that economic relations have started to be improved and that cooperation in energy will promote the economic relations. They debated the ''future and vision of Turkish-Russian relations'' in the meetings, Cem said, adding, ''we saw that we have a similar point of view regarding the issue.'' Ivanov said that they believe that the necessary conditions exist to upgrade Turkish-Russian relations ''to a new partnership level.'' The geographical closeness of the two countries requires a comprehensive cooperation in regional and international issues, Ivanov noted. Ivanov stated that both countries are situated in Eurasia and that this fact is a basis for cooperation. They debated the ''struggle against new threats which occur in international security'' in the meeting, Ivanov said. Ivanov noted that they decided to promote the cooperation in this field. Turkey and Russia have the potential to increase the trade volume, Ivanov pointed out, noting that Russia is ready for this. Responding to a question on the Blue Stream project, Ivanov emphasized that the implementation of the project is for the benefit of both countries. Ivanov said that the project is important for the development of economic relations between Turkey and Russia and that the project will be finalized at the beginning of next year. When a reporter reminded him the news stories about the transition of nuclear wastes from the Straits, Ivanov said that the Duma has adopted a law and decided the collection of the used nuclear fuels. Ivanov said that there is not any information about the transfer of these wastes and that all these issues will be settled in accordance with the current international standards regarding the nuclear security. Asked if the possible danger in the Straits was brought to the agenda of the meetings, Cem said, ''we debated all the issues which closely concern the two countries and we continue to do so.'' Responding to another question, Ivanov said that the situation in Chechnya was not debated in the morning session and that the establishment of stability and security in the Caucasus was debated in a more global way. But, there is a policy which Russia pursues in principle regarding the solution of the situation in Chechnya, Ivanov said. Ivanov noted that this is the solution of the situation by political methods, adding that Russia will continue its policy despite terrorist attacks. Upon another question, Ivanov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin responded in affirmative to the official invitation of Turkey and that the date of the visit will be fixed through diplomatic channels. Ivanov will be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and will attend the working lunch hosted by Cem. [08] AYTEKIN:''WE ARE AGAINST THE PASSAGE OF SHIPS CARRYING RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL FROM TURKISH STRAITS''ANKARA - Environment Minister Fevzi Aytekin has said that his ministry was very much against the passage of ships carrying radioactive material from the Turkish straits.The issue started to be debated when Russia offered to the world's countries that it could store its nuclear wastes in Russia. Evaluating the risks to the A.A, his ministry would contact the related institutions and start certain sanctions which are in line with international law. Asking national and international environmentalist organizations to focus more on this matter, Aytekin said these ships would not only pollute the straits but also the Aegean and the Mediaterranean. ''The people living in the countries on these coasts will also be affected. We're calling on all the volunteer organizations to oppose the destroying of the nuclear wastes in Siberia which was approved in the Russian Parliament. He indicated that it was not yet clear how the nuclear wastes will be transported to Russia. Melda Keskin from Greenpeace Mediterranean Office said that oil, nuclear wastes and other hazardous materials should not be passsed from the straits and she added that Greenpeace would carry out all peaceful ways to prevent this from happening. She told the A.A that their organization and seven other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been working in Russia to prevent the Russian Parliament to take this decision and that they collected two and a half million of signatures. She said the threshold to go to a referandum was two million signatures but the Russian officials put forward incredible excuses and said only 1 million 800,000 of the signatures were valid. [09] ORAL:''WE ARE NOT THINKING TO BRING ANY ADDITIONAL TAXES''IZMIR - Finance Minister Sumer Oral has said that his ministry was not thinking of an additional tax for the additional budget of 30,8 quadrillion TL.Oral visited Izmir Tradesmen and Artisans Chambers Union (IESOB) Chairman Mehmet Ali Susam and listened to the tradesmen's problems. Oral said artisans and tradesmen were the backbone of not only the economy but also democracy and added that the government placed great importance on them and the real sector. ''If these sectors are producing and creating employment, the country's financial state would become healthier. The healthy state of the real sector is very important to keep the economy alive,'' Oral said the financial discipline was very important in the economic program. ''Turkey needs this program. We'll leave these troubles behind if the government follows the program in a determined manner without making any consessions,'' he said. Oral also indicated that the program worsened situation for people of low income but that this was necessary for a better economic future. Responding to criticism coming from certain circles against the economic program, Oral said these people fail to bring an alternative to the program. [10] TURKEY'S EXPORT AND IMPORT FIGURES IN LAST 20 YEARSANKARA - Turkey's export and import grew by nine nad seven percent respectively while its foreign trade deficit increased by five times in the last 20 years, it was reported on Friday.Below is a table showing Turkey's export, import and foreign trade figures between 1980 and 2000 in U.S. dollars. YEARS EXPORT IMPORT FOREIGN TRADE DEFICIT [11] VURAL:''THERE IS NO ETHNIC DISCRIMINATION BETWEEN PEOPLE IN TURKEY''ISTANBUL - Turkey's General Secretary for the EU Volkan Vural has said that there was no ethnic discrimination between people and groups in Turkey.Speaking at a symposium on Friday, Vural said cultural differences was a part of the Turkish culture and Turkey regarded these differences as a contribution to its cultural variety. Vural indicated that Turkish was written as Turkey's official language in Turkey's National Program but it was also suggested that other languages could also be spoken freely. He said there were efforts to lift some obstacles in this field. Istanbul Bar Chairman Yucel Sayman who also spoke at the symposium said certain matters in Turkey including the issue of minorities were still considered a taboo and people did not want to speak about it. He said through this meeting they wanted to discuss the scientific and legal matters regarding minorities. [12] EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DELEGATION CHAIRMAN COHN-BENDIT: ''A DIALOGUE SHOULD START BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND INMATES''ANKARA - EU-Turkey Joınt Parlıament Commıssıon Co-Chaırman Danıel Cohn- Bendıt has saıd that there was no good reason to dıe to prevent F-type prısons and he called on the ınmates to delay theır death fast and asked the government to start a dıalogue wıth the ınmates.Speakıng at a press conference at EU Turkey Commıssıon Representatıve Offıce, Bendıt saıd that hıs grop vısıted certaın prısons ın Istanbul and Ankara. He ındıcated that he was able to speak all the ınmates except for Oya Asan who whose health was ın poor state because of her contınuıng death fast ın Bayrampasa Prıson. Bendıt saıd they vısıted both the old and the new buıldıngs ın the prıson. ''About 80 to 85 people were stayıng ın one place ın the old type prısons. There was only two toılet and one shower there. I never saw anythıng so unhuman ın my lıfe. Besıdes, you fall ın the hands of mafıa to protect your physıcal ıntegrıty ın such a place,'' he saıd. Bendıt saıd that they spoke wıth PKK members ın the new prısons. ''The relatıon between these ınmates and the prıson admınıstratıon looks lıke a very dıfferent type of relatıon. It was very ımpressıve to see that the PKK members dıd not partıcıpate ın death fasts and saıd they found some changes ın the prıson posıtıve,'' he added. One of the problems of the F-type prısons ıs that the same three people have to stay together ın the same room for several years and thıs mıght cause problems even ıf the ınmates get along very well. ''We belıeve that a dıalogue should start between the government and the representatıves of the ınmates. The ınmates should delay theır protests. There ıs no reason to dıe for ın the present state of F-type prısons,'' he saıd. Johannes Swoboda, the former Turkey Rapporteur of the European Parliament (EP), said that they visited the Kecioren Young Offenders' Institution. Swoboda noted that it is an institution which is exerting sample initiatives for the socialization of the young offenders. He has earlier been in Turkey but he has never seen the Turkish government so transparent and so clear, Swoboda said. Swoboda stated that they visited the Sincan F type prison and talked with the inmates. They asked the inmates in F type prison whether they wanted to return to former system, Swoboda said, noting that none of the inmates wanted to return to former system. Swoboda said that the biggest disturbance of the inmates is the isolation. It will be hard to socialize the inmates by isolating them, Swoboda said. Swoboda noted that the inmates also complained that they were not given sufficient opportunities to prepare their defenses. The inmates claimed that the documents were taken from themselves after they had prepared their defenses, Swoboda said. Swoboda noted that Justice Minister told them that he would deal with this issue. Laws should be changed in accordance with the European Union (EU) standards as soon as possible, Swoboda said. Swoboda said that although some inmates are guided from Turkey or Brussels, there are some inmates who can talk about the concrete conditions of the prisons without listening to words coming from outside. They should not consider the guidance of some inmates from outside as an excuse for not listening to their problems, Swoboda added. [13] TAI AND EADS-CASA RELEASES STATEMENT ABOUT CASA AIRPLANESANKARA - Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and EADS-CASA said in a joint statement on Friday that the examinations carried out regarding the CASA airplane which went down during a test flight last month in Ankara's Akinci area showed that the accident occured because of a failure that existed only in that plane.The statement said that the accident constituted no risk for the safety of other CASA planes. One Turkish and three Spanish people had died in the accident that occured on May 18. Immediately after the accident, Spanish authorities had started an investigation about the accident with Turkish officials and carried out detailed analyses of the plane. ''The accident probably occured because of a failure that occured in the Aileron control system of the plane. No failure was detected in the tests that were done before the test flight. EADS-CASA and TAI are doing everything possible to prevent a possible accident such as making production documentations more clear and inspection and test procedures more efficent,'' the statement said.
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