Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-06-24

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

24 JUNE 2001 Sunday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 24, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who broke with Necmettin Erbakan, the banned Welfare Party (RP) leader, had a secret meeting with a colonel but an obvious meeting with retired admiral Atilla Kiyat and gave the message to the soldiers that ''he will not set up an ideological party.'' According to the newly-pulished book of Turan Yilmaz, Erdogan's first indirect contact with soldiers was held in an office of Albayraklar company in Ankara. Erdogan told the soldier that ''he will not set up an ideological party and he will not choose marginal names.'' Erdogan met with retired Admiral Atilla Kiyat in Hidiv Kasri (Villa). Erdogan reiterated the same message in this meeting.

ERBAKAN SAYS 'WELFARE'

Banned leader Necmettin Erbakan is said to get prepared to establish a new party which will replace his former party that had been closed down by the Constitutional Court. It is said that the new party will be named ''Welfare'' or ''New Welfare.''

NO PERMISSION FROM EUROPE FOR DAILY EXCURSIONS WITHOUT VISA

The European Union (EU) prevented the initiative of Athens to exempt Turks who want to have daily excursions to Greek islands from visa. The EU Council did not approve the project by saying that there was not sufficient guarantee. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Greek counterpart George Papandreou met in Samos Island yesterday. Two ministers and their wives ate fish and drank special Greek drink.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

After the Virtue Party (FP) was closed down, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has launched initiatives. Erdogan, who came to Ankara to meet with ''modernists'' and who is being selective, expected to establish a new party in a week. The new party may be named ''Free Democrats Party.''

MEDITERRANEAN AND AEGEAN ROCKED

An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale jolted off Rhodes Island. This earthquake was feld in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions of Turkey but there were no report of casulties.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Nazli Ilicak, whose deputyship was ended, will face trials because she used the rostrum of the parliament for insults not for politics. Ilicak, who became a deputy of the banned Virtue Party (FP) on June 18, 1999 and to this end who was politically immune, burst out her angry. She insulted the Armed Forces, government, politicians, and distinguished businessmen from the rostrum of the parliament and from the fundamentalist Yeni Safak daily. As Ilýcak lost her immunity, she will be tried on charges of her insults and slanders in 11 separate cases. Imprisonment term till 72.5 years is demanded for Ilicak.

TOTAL OF 275 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED IN A SHIP

A total of 275 illegal immigrants were captured in an Ukranian-flagged ship which anchored in Marmara Ereglisi. Acting on a tip-off, security forces captured the illegal immigrants. Interrogation of the illegal immigrants, including women, children and eldery of different nationalities, is under way.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

On the evening of the day when the Constitutional Court closed down the Virtue Party (FP), Necmettin Erbakan, the banned Welfare Party (RP) leader, delivered a speech at the Abdi Ipekci Sports Hall in Istanbul. This was the first meeting which gave interesting, definite and clear clues about the separation of path in the party. Erbakan once more proved his power while the slogans enchanted and banners carried by supporters also drew the attention.

HISTORIC MEETING IN SAMOS

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Greek counterpart George Papandreou, who met in Samos Island, gave peace and cooperation messages. Papandreou said that they now see the problems in a different way.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

As the Virtue Party (FP) was closed down, the discussions at the parliament including the constitutional amendment bill and other bills were ended. The members of Chairmanship Council and parliamentary commissions will be chosen in September.

BAHCELI: ''OUR DOORS ARE OPEN''

Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli made the first call to the deputies who became independent as the Virtue Party (FP) was closed down. Bahceli said at the central executive board meeting of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) that some deputies and local administrators can apply to other political parties. Bahceli gave the messae that the doors will be opened for these people.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

The political circles in Europe said that the closure of political parties is not correct and requested that more democracy should be ensured by constitutional amendments.

''WE SHOULD OVERCOME THESE DAYS ALTOGETHER''

State Minister Kemal Dervis, who is visiting Denizli province in the Aegean Region, had meetings with the businessmen of this province. Dervis, who visited factories, said that there is no more a financial crisis, adding, ''our new target is to solve problems of real sector and unemployment.'' Dervis also said that Turkey should overcome these days altogether.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

The decision of the Constitutional Court to close down the Virtue Party (FP) has made Turkey's situation in the European Union (EU) process and European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) difficult. This decision will cause problems in Turkey-EU relations. EU experts, who reminded that Turkey has not taken forward steps to fulfil the Copenhagen criteria, said that this closure contradicts with the Accession Partnership Document. The decision, which also contradicts with the article of ''freedom of assembly and association'' of ECHR, can lead to another punishment for Turkey. The ECHR had earlier punished Turkey in three closure cases of the party.

ARINC PROPOSED TO BE NEW LEADER

A formula has been found to keep the deputies of the banned Virtue Party (FP) together. To this end, the former FP administration proposed Bulent Arinc, the former deputy group leader of the banned FP, to become the leader of the new political party. Arinc was thought to be the new leader because of his effect on organizations and his relations with ''modernists.''

CONTENTS

[01] CEM AND PAPANDREOU IN SAMOS ISLAND -GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER PERFORMS TRADITIONAL GREEK DANCE

[02] TREASURY TO SELL 4-MONTH BONDS ON TUESDAY

[03] ''AEGEAN PEACE STATUE'' CONSTRUCTED IN BODRUM

[04] INTERNATIONAL DELEGATION LAUNCHES EXCAVATIONS IN TROY

[05] EXPORTS OF GAP REGION TO MIDDLE EAST INCREASE 35.3 PERCENT

[06] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM AND HIS GREEK COUNTERPART IN KUSADASI

[07] HEALTH MINISTER DURMUS LEAVES FOR U.S.

[08] DIRECT TELEPHONE LINE TO BE SET UP BETWEEN CEM AND PAPANDREOU

[09] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: ''WE NEED TO EXCHANGE VIEWS AND ASSUME PARALLEL APPROACHES IF POSSIBLE REGARDING SOME INTERNATIONAL ISSUES AND ESPECIALLY REGARDING INCIDENTS IN THE BALKANS''

[01] CEM AND PAPANDREOU IN SAMOS ISLAND -GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER PERFORMS TRADITIONAL GREEK DANCE

Members of chambers of commerce of two countries also attended the dinner.

At the end of the dinner, Papandreou told participants that this was the fifth anniversary of his father's demise and that he wanted to perform traditional Greek dance while the favourite song of his father was playing.

Papandreou danced together with his brothers Andreas and Nicos while the participants clapped their hands.

[02] TREASURY TO SELL 4-MONTH BONDS ON TUESDAY

Treasury foresees to raise minimum 2 quadrillion 500 trillion Turkish liras (TL) in this 4-month (133-day) bond auction.

It said that the value date of these bonds is June 27 and maturity is November 7.

Treasury will repay 4 quadrillion 650.9 trillon TL in domestic borrowing on June 27.

The total amount of domestic borrowing that the Treasury will repay in June is 9 quadrillion 316 trillion 527.9 billion TL.

The Treasury held a 3-month (98-day) bond auction on June 19. It sold 992.3 trillion Turkish liras (TL) nominal-valued bonds. The annual simple interest was 63.34 percent and the annual composite interest became 79.47 percent.

[03] ''AEGEAN PEACE STATUE'' CONSTRUCTED IN BODRUM

The statue symbolizes a woman having an olive branch in her hand.

Kos Head Official Vasilios Xipolitas, Kos Mayor Miltiades Fakos and his wife Tizeni Fakos, Kos Deputy Mayor Nikolaos Kantartlis, Heraklidon Mayor, Deputy Heraklidon Mayor, Dikeos Mayor, Deputy Mugla Governor Semsettin Ulusoy, Mugla Police Chief Muhittin Yegul, Bodrum Head Official Cumhur Guventasbasi, Turgut Reis Mayor Ali Sever Yazgan and his wife Belgin Yagan attended the inauguration ceremony.

Sculptor Yavuz Tanyeli designed the peace statute to symbolize Turkish- Greek friendship and to serve regional and international peace.

Wives of Kos and Turgut Reis mayors each freed pigeons following the inauguration ceremony.

During the speeches which gave friendship and peace messages, it was also stated that Turgut Reis and Kos would become sister cities.

[04] INTERNATIONAL DELEGATION LAUNCHES EXCAVATIONS IN TROY

Korfmann told A.A correspondent on Sunday that many important artifacts were unearthed in the excavations carried out in Troy for 16 years and that these artifacts were handed over to the museum.

Troy is an ancient site where nations search for their origins, Korfmann said.

Korfmann noted that many countries believe that the former civilizations lived in Troy and that this idea makes Troy and Turkey culturally important.

Almost 240 thousand people have visited the Troy Exhibition which was opened in Germany so far, Korfmann stated.

Korfmann said that they are trying to introduce Troy as a city of peace where different cultures intermingled rather than a city of war.

Turkish archeologist Ferruh Gercek said that they have started to carry out excavations in the neighbourhood outside the city walls of Troy.

Gercek noted that they found out that there were some neighbourhoods outside the center of Troy when they unearthed a grave and skeleton in an excavation outside the city walls.

''We have found out that people of Troy were feared of earthquake because this ancient site was rocked by earthquakes and was demolished due to earthquakes. We have discovered that the people of Troy built quake- resistant walls. We know that Troy was demolished for nine times and was re- built. The excavations proved this. Now, we aim to unearth the areas where Troy was spread. To this end, we are taking underground photographs by special devices brought from Germany and preparing new maps. Meanwhile, we are restoring the earlier found places and opening them to visitors,'' Gercek added.

The excavations will continue until September 15.

[05] EXPORTS OF GAP REGION TO MIDDLE EAST INCREASE 35.3 PERCENT

The region exported 53 million 868 thousand U.S. dollar agricultural, animal and industrial products in the same period last year.

A total of 4 million 394 thousand U.S. dollar animal and animal products, 1 million 284 thousand U.S. dollar dried fruit, 34 million 21 thousand U.S. dollar cereals, leguminosae, oily seeds and products, 33 million 225 thousand U.S. dollar textile products were exported to the Middle Eastern countries between January and May 2001.

Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia were ranked the first in the region's exports to the Middle Eastern countries.

Cotton thread, synthetic thread, machine-made carpet, sugar, synthetic and textile products, dried fruit, biscuits, cakes, chocolate, candies, flour and nylon bags were the main products exported to Middle East.

[06] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM AND HIS GREEK COUNTERPART IN KUSADASI

Cem and Papandreou came from Samos Island to Kusadasi by a ferryboats within the framework of their weekend tour.

Papandreou, accompanied by his wife Ada, brother Nikos and daughter Margarita, watched the folk dance performance.

Meanwhile, Papandreou was welcomed by pigeons which were freed from Guvercin (Pigeon) Island near Kusadasi.

Cem and Papandreou then had a city tour. Two ministers freed pigeons from Kusadasi Castle.

Prior to their visit to Kusadasi, Cem and Papandreou had a tour in Samos Island.

Cem and Papandreou delivered speeches at the closing session of the Third Turkey's Aegean Coasts and Greece's Aegean Coasts Economic Summit Meeting.

A reporter from Bayrak Radio Television (BRT) of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus also came to Samos Island to cover the tour.

[07] HEALTH MINISTER DURMUS LEAVES FOR U.S.

Durmus will attend the special session of the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly on human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) between June 25 and 27.

Prior to his departure, Durmus told reporters that contagious diseases which led to annihilation of big civilizations during history continue to threaten human life.

Durmus said that the HIV/AIDS threatens all nations since 1980s by especially spreading to Africa and Far Eastern countries.

All international organizations, particularly World Health Organization, combat the epidemic by strengthening their scientific and economic capacities, Durmus noted.

Durmus said that extraordinary efforts launched to find medication which can heal people infected with AIDS and to improve techniques do not only cost much but also is unavailable for majority of people.

He will inform the participants about the AIDS cases in Turkey, the measures taken and policies implemented, Durmus stated.

Durmus continued, ''the total number of AIDS cases in Turkey is 1,041 between 1985 and 2000. Our country is in a better situation than West European countries and the U.S. But, we should increase our initiatives. We follow the outbreak of AIDS in Turkey. 41 percent of AIDS cases in Turkey were foreign-oriented.''

A total of 191 countries will attend this special session, Durmus pointed out.

Durmus added that 150 countries will be represented in the level of heads of state or government.

[08] DIRECT TELEPHONE LINE TO BE SET UP BETWEEN CEM AND PAPANDREOU

Cem and Papandreou delivered speeches at the meeting of the Turkish and Greek non-governmental organizations on Sunday.

Cem said that Papandreou and he decided to cooperate in five new fields.

Below listed the new cooperation fields of Turkey and Greece:

-Turkish and Greek ministries for maritime and air transportation will set up a consultancy mechanism.

-Seismic researches in the Aegean will be held jointly by two countries.

-Two countries will combat together against the Mediterranean anemia.

-Turkey will make cultural contributions to the olympic games to be held in Greece in 2004.

-Direct telephone line between two foreign ministers will be set up to be used in case of emergency.

(To be continued)

[09] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: ''WE NEED TO EXCHANGE VIEWS AND ASSUME PARALLEL APPROACHES IF POSSIBLE REGARDING SOME INTERNATIONAL ISSUES AND ESPECIALLY REGARDING INCIDENTS IN THE BALKANS''

Cem and his Greek counterpart George Papandreou delivered speeches at the end of the meeting of the Turkish and Greek non-governmental organizations held in western Kusadasi province.

Foreign Minister Cem said that Turkey and Greece have marked significant developments in this positive process and that he believes that they will take more steps in time.

Cem noted that their contacts which continue for two days are positive and announced the decisions he took together with Papandreou.

Drawing the attention that a movement in maritime and air transportation between two countries is in question, Cem said that they decided to set up a consultancy mechanism between the concerned ministries to deal with new conditions.

Cem pointed out that two countries face natural disasters like earthquake, forest fire, erosion and flood and that they decided to promote their cooperation in struggle against these natural disasters.

Some joint initiatives related with struggle against earthquake are under way, Cem noted.

Cem stated that they attribute a special importance to seismic researches in the Aegean and that to this end, they think of increasing these researches.

Touching on the Mediterranean anemia, Cem said that they foresaw doctors to meet each other and to exert joint initiatives to heal the people infected with this disease.

Cem stated that they decided to assemble a telephone line between Turkish and Greek foreign ministries to be used in case of emergency and expressed hope that this line will be assembled in the possible shortest time.

He attributes importance to Turkey's cultural contributions to olympic games to be held in Greece in 2004, Cem pointed out.

Cem said that they decided to launch initiatives to contribute to the olympic games.

Their contacts will continue, Cem noted, adding that their contacts have a regular course.

Papandreou said that new connections were set up between two countries during their two-day weekend stroll and that these initiatives should be continued.

Emphasizing that maritime and air transportation between two countries is very important, Papandreou said that many people told him that there was not an easy transportation possibility between Greece and western Izmir province.

Touching on the direct telephone line, Papandreou expressed belief that the institutionalization of the current communication network between two ministers is very important.

Papandreou noted that they want to have cooperation in seismic researches in the Aegean.

One and a half years ago, Cem and he agreed to set up joint assistance force which would exert efforts in a possible earthquake within the framework of the United Nations (U.N), Papandreou stated.

Papandreou said that the scope of functions of this force will be broadened.

Touching on the 2004 olympics, Papandreou said that they want general peace and tranquality in their region during the olympic games and that they think of using their cultural and historical sites for peaceful purposes.

Papandreou noted that if they have the opportunity to work for one more day, there will be more decisions that can be announced.

Noting that some problems occured in the past due to Schengen visa that was given to Turkish citizens by Greece, Papandreou said that he had earlier announced that he would discuss the visa issue with the European Union (EU) ministers.

Papandreou said that he will ask the EU ministers whether or not yacht tours without visa can be held.

He cannot say anything about the result for the time being, Papandreou noted.

But, they want to lift some procedures required for excursions between two countries, Papandreou stated.

Asked why they need a direct telephone line, Cem said, ''do not think that we face problems every day. But, we need to exchange views and assume parallel approaches if possible regarding some international issues and especially regarding incidents in the Balkans.''

Cem noted that Turkey and Greece face some common natural disasters and that the memories of the earthquakes which hit both countries are still alive in the memories.

''We want to increase our cooperation in seismic researches. The rapid communication need results from the needs in this field,'' Cem said.

Asked about the possibility of direct telephone lines between prime ministers of two countries, Cem said, ''there is not any reason not to do it but I believe that communication between foreign ministers will be sufficient for both Turkish and Greek governments.''

Papandreou said that Cem and he have intensive communication and that they decided to set up the direct telephone line to help this communication and to establish a permanent system between two ministries.

Reminding that National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu and his Greek counterpart Akis Tsokhatzopoulos mentioned a direct communication a short time ago, Papandreou said that they debated the disturbing developments in Macedonia for the last two days.

Papandreou noted that direct communication is necessary for the Balkans and for the natural disasters and that they will have the opportunity to make a pre-evaluation about news items.

Such incidents used to create unnecessary problems a few years ago, Papandreou said.

Papandreou stated that Turkish-Greek rapprochment is not limited with foreign ministers and now, it is the rapprochment of nations, adding that he expect this rapprochment to continue for generations.

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