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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-06-15Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 15 JUNE 2001 Friday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 15, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)BIGGEST SUPPORTPresident Johannes Rau of Germany met with a foreign media tycoon for an hour for the first time. During the meeting, President Rau told Aydin Dogan that they fully supported Turkey's membership to the European Union (EU). President Rau noted that they attributed great importance to improvement of relations between Turkey and Germany. CENSURE MOTION AGAINST PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT REJECTED CHHIBBER: ''NUMBER OF BANKS SHOULD BE DECREASED'' MILLIYET (LIBERAL)SCANDALAs police was searching for him, Ercan Vuralhan, the former national defense minister, was staying at the parliamentary guesthouse in Ataturk Villa in Florya district of Istanbul. Vuralhan was detained yesterday, but released later. Upon an instruction of Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen, he was taken into custody again. Yucelen launched an investigation against eight policemen who released Vuralhan. There are eight separate arrest warrants against Vuralhan. TERRORIST ERDAL DOES NOT ATTEND HEARING IN BRUSSELS SABAH (LIBERAL)IRAN: MERVE'S LAWYERIran has taken action to defend Merve Kavakci, the former deputy of the Virtue Party (FP). During the International Labour Organization (ILO) 89th Labour Congerence in Geneva, Switzerland, Iran claimed, ''Kavakci cannot perform her profession because she is wearing a headscarf. We want Turkey to be punished.'' The ILO which does not have any information about the issue took the request on agenda. Labour and Social Security Minister Yasar Okuyan and Bayram Meral, the Chairman Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Turk-Is) informed the ILO. They said that Turkey was the only secular and democratic country in ints region. The ILO considered Iran's request unfair. HIGH CRIMINAL COURT TO HEAR CASE OF CORRUPTION IN ENERGY TENDERS CUMHURIYET (LEFT)MINISTRY ACCEPTS RESIGNATION OF MIRASThe Industry and Trade Ministry said that resignation of Fuat Miras from the membership of Executive Board of Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) was in conformity with the regulations. The TOBB had asked the Industry and Trade Ministry's Domestic Trade General Directorate whether or not the resignation of Miras was valid. The Ministry sent a letter to TOBB saying that Miras' resignation was valid. HARSH STATEMENT FROM STATE MINISTER MIRZAOGLU CEM: ''TURKEY CANNOT SACRIFICE CYPRUS FOR THE SAKE OF EU'' RADIKAL (LEFT)ECEVIT: ''CONFIDENCE WILL BE SECURED''Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that approval of urgent economic bills till the end of the months would secure confidence of the world in Turkey. Speaking at the Parliamentary Group meeting of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), Prime Minister Ecevit said that the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit Meeting in Brussels was very beneficial. CEM CALLS FOR SUPPORT SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET BILL APPROVED TURKIYE (RIGHT)EU REFORM IN CONSTITUTIONThe Parliamentary Interparties Compromise Commission reached agreement on constitutional amendment package of 37 articles. Turkey has taken an important step in constitutional arrangements that will put an end to human rights violations. EMLAKBANKASI TO BE LIQUIDATED ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)RUSSIAN NATURAL GAS IS MORE EXPENSIVE THAN TURKMEN NATURAL GASResponding to a motion, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Zeki Cakan said that Russian natural gas to be transported to Turkey through the Blue Stream Project, was more expensive than Turkmen natural gas. There is a 7 percent difference between prices of Russian and Turkmen natural gas. -SECOND STAGE OF SEAWOLF-2001 EXERCISE STARTS General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff, commanders of land, air and naval forces, and observers from several countries are watching the exercise at Aksaz Naval Base in Marmaris township of western province of Mugla under the command of Admiral Bulent Alpkaya, the Fleet Commander. Vessels participating in the exercise left ports in Marmaris, Fethiye and Aksaz for the international waters of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Sixteen frigates, one escorting destroyer, nine submarines, 17 assault boats, three mine sweeper vessels, 12 assisting boats, one information ship, eight helicopters, radars, transceiver stations, logistic support installations of the Naval Forces Commandership, four coast guard boats of the Coast Security Commandership and war planes of the Air Forces Commandership are participating in the exercise. -TAI TO TAKE PART IN INTERNATIONAL PARIS AVIATION FAIR Releasing a statement, the TAI stated on Friday that the International Paris Aviation Fair, the most important aviation fair in the world, would be organized at the Le Bourget Airport between June 17 and 24. The TAI, technology center of Turkey in design, development, production, integration and modernization of of air platforms, will display its products in the fair. More than 300 thousand people are expected to visit the fair in which 1,700 firms from 43 countries will take part. The TAI that will represent Turkey in the fair for the second time, will display its own designs. -CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CHIEF JUDGE BUMIN: Responding to questions of journalists, Bumin said, ''it is a comprehensive case. There are many evidences about some actions and allegations. Videotapes and news stories were submitted to the Court as evidence. We assess all these evidences. It takes time.'' -PRIVATE BILKENT PRIMARY SCHOOL CHOIR RANKED SECOND IN CHOIR FESTIVAL IN The 12-member choir under the conduct of Fatma Bildiren, competed in the category of 12-year-old children choirs. The choir was ranked second, winning silver medal. Praha Child Choir was ranked first in the festival while Private Enka School Choir in Istanbul and Private Ortadogu Primary School Choir in Istanbul were ranked third. A total of 110 choirs from 16 countries competed in 15 categories in the festival. -LANDSLIDE IN KANGAL Bodies of Mehmet Demir and Osman Karatas were recovered previously. Efforts are under way to recover body of Haydar Yilmaz. -ILLEGAL COAL MINE COLLAPSES, KILLING ONE PERSON Adem Yanar, 40, was trapped under debris when the ceiling of the mine collapsed. He lost his life in the ambulance en route to hospital. Owner of the illegal coal mine was detained. -SECOND CONVOY OF TURKISH TROOPS PROCEEDS TO BULGARIA The second part of Turkish troops comprises 137 personnel and 50 vehicles. The first part of Turkish troops comprising 79 personnel and 20 vehicles left for Bulgaria on June 13. Seven Stars-2001 will take place in Bulgaria's Koren region between June 13- 30 with participation of Turkish, Albanian, Bulgarian, Italian, Macedonian, Romanian and Greek troops. Meanwhile, the United States and Slovenia will participate in exercises as observers. -TURKEY TO BE REPRESENTED BY 400 SPORSTMEN AND WOMEN Turkey will be represented in the games by 400 sportsmen and women. The first Turkish convoy will leave for Tunisia on August 31. Turkey won a total of 450 medals in 13 games so far. Sportsmen and women from Turkey, Tunisia, Albania, Algeria, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Greek Cypriot side, Croatia, Egypt, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Monaco, San Marino, Slovenia, Syria and Yugoslavia will compete in the categories of athletics, rowing, basketball, bocce, boxing, bicycling, fencing, soccer, golf, gymnastics, weight-ligting, handball, judo, karate, wrestling, swimming, tennis, table tennis, yachting and volleyball. -FOREST FIRES BREAK OUT IN 17 DIFFERENT PLACES Releasing a statement, the Ministry said that forest fires broke out in western provinces of Denizli, Izmir, Kutahya and Mugla, northern provinces of Kastamonu and Amasya, northwestern province of Adapazari, southern provinces of Adana, Mersin and Antalya. A total of 15 hectares of forested field were burnt down to ashes in the fires. All the fires were taken under control. A total of 506 forest fires have broken out since the beginning of this year. 1,653 hectares of forested field were burnt down to ashes in the fires. -TURKEY ASKS FOR CREDENTIALS FROM U.S. FOR LOGOGLU Turkey asked for credentials from the U.S. for Logoglu. In accordance with diplomatic proceedings, Logoglu will be appointed as the new Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. after the U.S. administration's acceptance. -BODY OF SERGEANT MAJOR ARIKAN RECOVERED The boat belonged to Karadeniz Eregli Coastal Security Commandership capsized on June 7 due to rough waves. Arikan dissappeared while Sergeant Ugur Parlak managed to swim to the coast. -DEBT SWAP AUCTION STARTS These 23 papers include discount bonds, fixed rate and floating rate notes maturing between June 20, 2001 and June 26, 2002. The results of the auction at which single price system will be valid, will be announced on Sunday and the debt swap will be carried out on Monday. The value date of the new papers which will be swapped with Turkish lira (TL) denominated SDBBs is June 18, 2001. Except state banks and banks which were transferred to the Saving Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF), all investors who have such SDBBs can bid for the debt swap auction. According to the schedule, investors willing to bid for the auction will deposit their bid bonds between 09:00 a.m. and 02:00 p.m. on Friday. The bid bond will be 75 percent of the offered bonds and 5 percent of the nominal bid in return for which papers can't be brought, and the bid bond will be deposited in cash in TL. Investors will give their uncompetitive bids for the auction to the Central Bank between 09:00 a.m. and 04:00 p.m. on Friday. The minimum amount of bid should be 100 billion TL and the minimum nominal swap amount of swap should be 3 quadrillion TL. Treasury said it wanted to swap at least 3 quadrillion TL of short-term domestic debt held by banks for a range of longer-term foreign currency- linked paper and that it may cancel if demand is less than 3 quadrillion TL. A separate auction will be held for each of the 23 SDBBs. -DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ DUE TO VIENNA Yilmaz will attend the Conference on Turkey-Austria-Europe which will be held between June 17 and 19 within the framework of the ''Alpbach Europe Forum'' of the Austrian Village. Yilmaz will deliver speeches at the official opening ceremony of the conference on June 17 and at the first session of the conference on June 18. Deputy Prime Minister Yilmaz is expected to meet with Austrian Prime Minister Wolfgang Schussel and Austrian Deputy Prime Minister Susanne Ries- Passer. Yilmaz, who will proceeed from Vienna to Brussels on June 19, will attend a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the European Parliament (EP) in which Turkey will be evaluated. Deputy Prime Minister Yilmaz will also hold several contacts with officials of the European Commission. -CLOSURE CASE AGAINST FP Constitutional Court delegation completed its works in the case which was opened requesting closure of the FP. Mustafa Bumin, the Constitutional Court Chief Judge, said they did not find right the arrangements which were brought regarding closure of political parties in constitutional amendment package that was adopted by Parliamentary Compromise Commission. When asked his views about the constitutional change draft prepared by the FP, Bumin said the draft was sent to them earlier, noting that was noting new. Bumin said they would not wait for the legalization of the constitutional amendment package that was adopted by the Compromise Commission, and added that, ''however, if a change occurs when the case continues, then we will be dependent on it.'' Reiterating that they were against closure of political parties and looking for 3/5 majority in giving annulment decision to the constitutional change, Bumin said, ''we have pointed out this view earlier, there is no change in it.'' When asked when they would start to discuss the applications that were made to annul some articles and provisions of the law pertaining to conditional release and postponement of punishments, Bumin said they would start to discuss Energy Market Law following their works about closure case of FP. Bumin said they would discuss the applications about the law regarding conditional release and suspension of punishments after that. Bumin said they targeted completing those works before July 15, and noted that a decision may be issued in the closure case. The lawsuit was filed on May 7, 1999, by Vural Savas, the retired Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals, with the pretext that the FP was the continuation of the outlawed Welfare Party (RP) and it became a center of anti-secular activities. Savas requested the Constitutional Court to lift deputyships of all FP members except for Aydin Menderes who resigned from the FP one day before the closure case. -INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION REDUCES 0.9 PERCENT IN Q1 DIE announced the results of the industrial production index for the first quarter of 2001. Growth rate of the industrial production in the first quarter of 2001 over to the same period of 2000 according to DIE statement is as follows: Q1 of 2001 (percent) Economic Activities Public Private Total ------------------------- ------ ------- ----- Mining Industry -4.2 8.2 -2.1 Manufacturing Industry 11.5 -3.4 -0.6 Electricity, Gas and Water -10.0 23.4 -2.6 Economic activities by the state and private sector and total production differences in Q1 of 2000 and 2001 are as follows: (percent) MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY State Private Total ------------------------------------- ------- ------ -------- Tobacco products 2.5 24.3 12.4 Textile industry -3.8 -5.6 -5.6 Wearing apparel 36.2 3.9 4.0 Dressing of leather 94.7 16.6 17.7 Wood products except furniture 0.0 5.0 10.2 Manufacture of paper & paper products -24.2 -12.8 -14.2 Publishing and printing 26.4 -7.2 -5.0 Manufacture of coke, refined petroleum 14.6 3.9 12.5 Manufacture of chemical inductry -9.3 -13.3 -12.7 Rubber and plastics products 0.0 3.9 3.9 Manufacture of non-metallic 21.4 8.0 8.1 Basic metal industry 10.9 12.3 11.7 Metal products, except machinery -1.9 -5.3 -5.3 Machinery and equipment n.e.c. 2.5 -8.5 -7.8 Office accounting and computing mach. 0.0 -19.3 -19.3 Electrl. machinery and apparel n.e.c. 26.5 -14.7 -14.5 Radio, TV, communic. equipment 66.9 5.3 5.6 Medical, precision, optical instrum. -49.6 -10.1 -11.1 Manufac. of motor vehicles, trailers 0.0 -21.1 -21.1 Other transport equipment 0.0 70.3 70.3 Manufacture of furniture n.e.c. 41.5 -0.9 -0.8 -BILL ON INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION APPROVED BY PARLIAMENTARY JUSTICE The Commission will recommend inclusion of the bill in the prior agenda of the Parliamentary General Assembly. The draft includes arrangements about ''solution of disputes stemming from privilege specifications and contracts for public services which include foreign factors'' which is foreseen in Article 125 of the Constitution through arbitration. The factor of ''foreignness'' will be accepted if the business place or place of their residence of the sides are in different states and at least one of the partners of the company which signed the contract that is the basis of arbitration agreement brings foreign capital in accordance with the relevant regulations and provide capital or asset flow from one country to another. The bill foresees signing of ''arbitration agreement'' for solution of possible disputes through arbitration. Sides can decide on the number of arbitrators but the number of arbitrators should be odd. If the sides did not reach an agreement of the number of arbitrators, three arbitrators will be chosen. Sides will have equal rights and authority in arbitration process. -IMF ANNOUNCES COUNTRY REPORT FOR TURKEY FOR FIRST TIME The IMF prepared a country report by the consent of the Turkish government. The report was also approved by IMF European Director Michael Deppler. The IMF report said that the success of the economic program will take both determined implementation by the authorities and sustained support by the private sector. The report noted that full implementation of the program should restore macroeconomic stability. Turkey's strong economy team is determined to implement the program, the report stated. The report said that leaders of the political parties are extending support to the program and that some key measures listed in the program have been taken. The possibility of this program's restoring confidence is high, the report noted. The report said that in the short term and before a full-fledged inflation targeting framework is put in place, monetary policy will focus on the control of monetary aggregates in the conxtext of a floating exchange rate framework. The report said that the decisive implementation of the program's policies, together with the availability of significant additional external support, should initiate a virtuous cycle chracterized by lower interest rates, stronger public finances, and a recovery of economic activity. The Fund welcomes the strengthened program prepared by the new economic team in Turkey, the report said. The report stressed that full implementation of this program should restore macroeconomic stability and address the structural root causes of the country's problems, thereby laying the foundations for the resumption of growth. The Turkish program aims at strengthening confidence, addressing the costs arising from the crisis by increasing the primary fiscal surplus, speeding up the reform of the banking sector, and undertaking wide-ranging structural reforms, the report noted. The report pointed out that the Fund commends the depth and breadth of the new economic program. The emphasis on banking reform is appropriate, especially given the structural weaknesses in this area that were seen during the recent crisis, the report said. The report stated that the elimination of the public sector banks' large overnight exposure, their full recapitalization, and the overhaul of their governance structure will go a long way to strengthen the financial sector. In addition, measures to privatize key companies and reform major domestic markets, including the telecommunications, electricity, natural gas, tobacco, and sugar markets, and to enhance governance and improve transparency, are essential elements of the program, the report said. The program's macroeconomic policies are strong, in particular the major fiscal effort that the Turkish authorities are undertaking to re-establish fiscal solvency, the report noted. On monetary policy, the adoption of the new central bank law will give the central bank operational independence in the pursuit of price stability, the report said. The report added that Turkey's economic program will often be reviewed and that the implementations will be closely followed. -TURKEY IMPORTS 308 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF TOBACCO WHILE State Minister Tunca Toskay gave a response to the question with notice about the tobacco imports and exports in last five years, which had been submitted by Bulent Akarcali, a deputy from the Motherland Party (ANAP). According to Toskay's response, imports of tobacco by the Turkish Tobacco and Liqour Monopoly (TEKEL) and private sector between 1996 and 2000 are as follows: TEKEL PRIVATE SECTOR TOTAL ------ --------- ------ -------- ------ --------- 1996 24.168 132.293 TEKEL PRIVATE SECTOR TOTAL ----------- -------- --------- -------- --------- ------- 1996 -''CONFERENCE ON STORY OF THREE SEAS'' TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL BETWEEN 19-21 ISTANBUL- The international conference ''Story of Three Seas: Integration With World Energy'' will be held in Istanbul between 19-21 June. The conference is sponsored by Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Business Council and Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA). The conference which will be held under auspices of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will serve promotion of progress recorded in energy field in Black Sea, Caspian Sea and Eastern Mediterranean regions and their broad potential to the investors in the world. Ministers and high-level officials from relevant countries and almost 400 businessmen intersted in energy issues are expected to attend the conference at which latest developments about Baku-Ceyhan and Tengiz- Novorossiysk pipeline projects will be discussed and at which Turkey's key role in the region will be put forward once again. Energy and Natural resources Minister Zeki Cakan, BP Executive Board Chairman John Browne, Shell Central Asia Deputy Director Gavin Graham, ENI Director Vittorio Mincato and OPIC Caspian Basin Investment Director Mara Bolis will attend the conference. BSEC Business Council and DEIK Board member Nihat Gokyigit and CERA official Steven McCarthy will hold a joint press conference at The Marmara Hotel on June 15 prior to the conference which will take place at the Conrad International Hotel. -OECD EXTENDS SUPPORT TO ECONOMIC PROGRAM Speaking at a briefing which was held at the OECD Private Sector Development Center in Istanbul following the OECD Council works, Johnston reiterated that OECD had convened in a city except Paris for the fourth time in last forty years. Recalling that the reason for holding the meeting in Istanbul was the support extended to the OECD's private sector development unit by the Turkish state, Johnston said that they had met also with economy representatives of non-OECD members. Noting that the informative and productive meeting was a promising and encouraging meeting in regard to the future, Johnston said that foreign direct investments, obtacles in front of such investments, support to the small and medium scale enterprises and regional cooperation issues had been discussed. Stressing that Southern Europe had a low share in global capital movements, Johnston said that this region should receive more support from the foreign direct investments. Noting that the development were encouraging, Johnston said that flow of foreign investments to Southern Europe would accelerate if they followed appropriate policies, struggle against corruption and institutionalized more the supremacy of law. Stressing that Turkey took part in the OECD not only as a participating country but also as an active country, Johnston said, ''Turkey is really experiencing a very difficult period regarding foreign direct investments. There is an IMF program and undoubtedly, foreign direct investments do not seem very powerful and sound.'' ''However, we can be optimistic if the program measures are implemented very well and support is given to Mr. Kemal Dervis' efforts. More foreign direct investments will flow to Turkey. OECD fully supports the agreements signed with IMF and the program carried out by Mr. Dervis,'' he said. When recalled of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's remarks at the opening session of yesterday's meeting, which said ''OECD should support the economies in reform process, Johnston said, ''OECD does not give financial support to anybody. However, it can give considerable active support through a dialogue for policies. We are in close dialogue with seventy countries most of which are developing economies.''
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