Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-07-14

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

14 JULY 2001 Saturday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 14, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer refused the request of the French Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association MEDEF for an appointment by saying that ''it was a very crowded delegation.'' Sezer's attitude was perceived as ''Turkey did not forgive France.'' Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit received the delegation for only 15 minutes. The French senate adopted the law on so-called Armenian genocide on January 18 despite all the efforts.

WE DO NOT EXPECT AFTERSHOCKS IN MARKET

Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak compared the economic crisis with a major earthquake. Oztrak said, ''fluctuations following the crisis lead to expectations for new crises. Now, our construction is stronger. We do not expect aftershocks.''

LETTER OF INTENT BRINGS RISES IN PRICES OF GOODS

In the supplementary letter of intent which was presented to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the eighth review, it was promised to increase the prices of fuel oil, electricity and natural gas. The Turkish Oil Refineries Inc. (TUPRAS), Petrol Ofisi Inc. (POAS) and Turkish Airlines (THY) will be sold by public offering.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) gave its decision about the venue of the 2008 Olympic Games in the end. The 2008 Olympics will be held in Beijing, China. In the first tour of the voting in which there were five candidate cities, Istanbul got 17 votes and was ranked before Paris and Osaka.

''MONEY HAS COME, OUR PATH IS OPEN''

State Minister Kemal Dervis, who met with French businessmen at a luncheon, said, ''our path is opened as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan has come. We will continue our path.'' Emphasizing that unemployment is the biggest problem for the time being, Dervis said, ''we should stop unnecessary discussions.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

French Industrialist's and Businessmen's Association MEDEF Chairman Seilliere gave a sharp response to a French reporter who criticized his visit to Turkey. Seilliere said that those who laugh at them for the time being will be jealous of them one or two years later. Seillere noted that Turkey is a country which is flowering for the time being and that the best time for investments is the time when the markets are unstable.

FISCHER SAYS INTEREST RATE SHOULD BE DECREASED

Stanley Fischer, the First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), warned Turkey about the current economic developments. Fischer said that the interest rates are still very high although the inflation rate has started to decrease. Fischer said that if the inflation rates do not decrease in a few months, there will be need for some changes in the program.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

The letter of intent presented to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that 18 percent increase in consumer prices is expected in the second half of the year. It was confessed in the letter that the wages of workers were decreased in 2001.

AHMET TAN IN OSCEPA

Ahmet Tan, a deputy from the Democratic Left Party (DSP), was chosen as the Deputy Chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCEPA). A statement of the parliament said that the chairman and deputy chairmen of the OSCEPA were chosen at the general assembly meeting which was held in Paris between July 6 and 10. Ahmet Tan was chosen as one of the deputy chairmen of OSCEPA.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Here is the new letter of intent: Half of the revolving funds will be closed. The Social Security Agency (SSK) premium debt and tax debt stock will decrease. The additional burden caused by wages of workers and wheat prices will be met by rises in prices of many products.

BULENT ARINC SAYS THERE WILL BE NEW TRANSFERS

Independent deputy Bulent Arinc, who is one of the leading personalities in the reformist wing of the banned Virtue Party (FP), said that there will be new transfers to their formation in the coming days. Arinc said that the name of the party will be announced at the very last moment.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

At the meeting during which the World Bank approved 1.7 billion U.S. dollar loan to Turkey, the World Bank officials said that 6.2 billion U.S. dollar more loan can be provided for Turkey as the reforms are implemented in the following two years.

CARREFOUR GROUP CHAIRMAN SAYS TURKEY WILL

BECOME ELEMENT OF STABILITY

Daniel Bernard, the Chairman of the Carrefour Group who attended the inauguration of the branch of ChampionSA, which was set up by Turkish and French capital, in Istinye, said that they believe that Turkey will overcome the economic crisis soon. Bernard said that Turkey will become the element of stability in is region with its developing economy and enlarging market.

23.5 YEAR IMPRISONMENT TO CAGLAR

Istanbul prosecutor Ercan Cengiz, who completed its investigation into Etibank which was transferred to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF), requested 51.5 year imprisonment for Dinc Bilgin, the former owner of the bank, and 23.5 year imprisonment for Cavit Caglar, a former minister.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Temperatures are expected to increase by next week. A statement of the Meteorology General Directorate said that the temperatures are 1-3 degrees above the seasonal normals.

CONTENTS

[01] IMF FIRST DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR FISCHER SAYS PROGRAM IS BEING IMPLEMENTED SUCCESSFULLY IN GENERAL

[02] IMF FIRST DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR FISCHER SAYS TURKEY HAS FULFILLED MANY CHANGES IN AN EXTRAORDINARILY RAPID WAY

[03] IMF DELEGATION TO START ITS CONTACTS IN ANKARA ON MONDAY

[04] TAM DIRECTOR SEN SAYS TURKISH ENTERPRENEURS ARE A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR EUROPEAN MARKET

[05] EU COMMISSION'S TURKEY REPRESENTATIVE FOGG SAYS ACCESSION PROCESS IS NOT A COMPETITION

[06] GREEK PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN KARSIYAKA VISIT IZMIR

[07] IS BANKASI IS 105TH BIGGEST BANK OF WORLD

[08] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ SAYS IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE INFLATION TARGET WITH CURRENT INTEREST RATES

[09] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK SAYS WHATEVER HIS CRIME IS, THEY DO NOT WANT ANY INMATE TO DIE

[01] IMF FIRST DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR FISCHER SAYS PROGRAM IS BEING IMPLEMENTED SUCCESSFULLY IN GENERAL

Fischer told reporters that however, positive reaction which is expected at the markets has not been seen yet.

The IMF will fulfil its duties by explaning the distance that Turkey has marked in the markets, Fischer said.

Fischer noted that economic programs can be successful as much as the administrations of the countries support them and called on Turkey to back the program.

If the high interest rates do not decrease, there will be need for some changes in the economic program, Fischer stated.

Fischer said that it will be very difficult to accomplish the economic program if the interest rates do not decrease and confidence is not built in the markets as IMF Managing Director said in the letter he sent to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and the other coalition leaders.

If the interest rates do not decrease in the following few months, some changes may be made in the program and some measures may be taken, Fischer noted.

Fischer said that such a thing is out of question for the time being but that they will see the situation and see if there is a significant deviation from the macro-economic targets during their contacts with the Turkish officials in the coming months.

The interest rates are higher than they should be, Fischer stated and drew the attention that this can be harmful.

Fischer said that high interest rates can be endured for only two months or a few months more.

The interest rates were high in the past in parallel with the high inflation rate, Fischer noted.

However, the interest rates are still very high although the inflation started to decrease, Fischer said.

Fischer pointed out that outline of Turkey's economic program is being implemented successfully but Turkey cannot get the results of its efforts from the markets.

Confidence has not been restored in the markets, Fischer said.

Fischer noted that they will fulfil their duties by explaning the success that Turkey has marked and that they will say that the program is being implemented.

(To be continued)

[02] IMF FIRST DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR FISCHER SAYS TURKEY HAS FULFILLED MANY CHANGES IN AN EXTRAORDINARILY RAPID WAY

Fischer told reporters that Turkey has taken many important steps in making reforms.

For instance, decisions about public and private banks were put to implemented in a few months, Fischer said.

Fischer noted that this process was carried out in an extraordinarily rapid way.

Almost 96-97 percent of the banking targets was achieved for the eighth review, Fischer said.

Fischer stated that changes in Telekom were made and that inflation rate is in parallel to the targets of the program.

The perception in the markets that the implementations are made unwillingly despite the successful implementation of the economic program shakes the markets, Fischer pointed out.

Fischer said that developments regarding tobacco law, telekom issue and the banking law caused a delay in the meeting of the IMF Executive Board.

There is a coalition government in Turkey and some political conflicts may sometimes occur, Fischer said.

However, significant reforms foreseen in the program mean significant reforms for political parties, Fischer said.

Fischer noted that the political parties are aware of the vital importance of the program and that this is a good sign.

There is public and political support to the program, Fischer pointed out.

Fischer stated that nobody wants to return the days when the inflation was very high and that nobody wants to harm the reforms made in the banking sector.

Touching on Turkey's repaying its debts by getting into new debts, Fischer said that this is a serious issue but that they believe that success will be marked.

Fischer noted that the program was prepared in this way.

For example, the Central Bank will allocate a big amount of source to the government for the remaining part of the year, Fischer said.

Fischer said that they are optimistic about the financing, adding that the changes in the state tender law which will be brought to the agenda in autumn is of vital importance for the economic reform.

(End)

[03] IMF DELEGATION TO START ITS CONTACTS IN ANKARA ON MONDAY

The delegation will stay in Turkey for almost ten days and receive information about latest economic developments.

The IMF delegation will work on the revision of the targets of the economic program which seem as difficult to be achieved in the second half of the year.

Following IMF delegation's visit to Turkey, the IMF Executive Board will convene to debate the ninth review.

The Board will convene at the end of this month or at the beginning of next month to discuss the release of 1.5 billion U.S. dollar loan to Turkey.

The other two loan tranches each worth of 3 billion U.S. dollars will be released after September 20 and November 15.

The IMF administration had emphasized that the release of four loan tranches after the first 3.8 billion U.S. dollar loan tranche might depend on the results of the reviews in Turkey.

[04] TAM DIRECTOR SEN SAYS TURKISH ENTERPRENEURS ARE A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR EUROPEAN MARKET

Sen released a statement in which he said 80,600 Turkish enterpreneurs are working in food, handicraft, construction, and telecommunication sectors in Germany and European Union (EU) countries.

Sen noted that 59,500 of these enterpreneurs work in Germany and that Turkish enterpreneurs enrich the European market.

Three million 500 thousand Turks living in the EU countries have become the indispensable part of the union, Sen stated.

Sen pointed out that Turkish enterpreneurs employ 420 thousand people.

''Turkish enterpreneurs contribute to economy of EU countries by not only employing people but also by producing goods and services in more than 100 branches. To this end, Turkish enterpreneurs have an important role in Turkey-EU relations,'' Sen added.

[05] EU COMMISSION'S TURKEY REPRESENTATIVE FOGG SAYS ACCESSION PROCESS IS NOT A COMPETITION

Speaking in a meeting on latest developments in Turkey-EU relations held by Beypazari Cultural Development and Solidarity Foundation, Turkey-EU Association and Beypazari Municipality, Fogg said that every EU candidate should give the decision about how rapidly it will adjust to the EU norms.

Fogg noted that the thought that the quickest candidate is the best candidate and that the development speed of every candidate is different.

The EU Commission wants to hold contacts with as many people as it can, Fogg stated.

Fogg said that both sides have expectations and doubts in the candidacy process and that both sides do not know each other sufficiently.

Firstly, this problem should be overcome, Fogg noted.

Fogg stated that the union of different geographies and cultures will form stronger economies and democracies.

She believes that Europe can have a more important role in the world by this way, Fogg added.

Turkey-EU Association Chairman Haluk Gunugur said that not only Turkey but also the EU are sometimes prejudiced against each other and have wrong approaches.

Gunugur noted that EU's excluding Turkey, which was among the founder members of the Council of Europe (COE), will be a big mistake.

Europeanism should be considered as a whole of modern values, Gunugur underlined.

Gunugur said that Turkey missed a historic opportunity in its relations with the EU in 1978 and that Turkey is still paying the costs of this mistake.

Turkey has to pass 54 laws until the end of 2001 in line with the harmonization process with the EU acquis, Gunugur added.

[06] GREEK PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN KARSIYAKA VISIT IZMIR

The delegation comprised of 85 people, who visited Selcuk township and ancient Ephesus site on Friday, met with Karsiyaka Mayor Sebnem Tabak and municipal board members at a breakfast on Saturday.

Tabak said that Karsiyaka and Elefthero Kordelio city, from where the delegation has come, are sister cities and expressed pleasure over seeing the delegation in Karsiyaka.

Turkish and Greek people are two sister societies sharing the same sea, same feelings and same sky, Tabak noted.

Tabak stated that two nations have a common history, adding, ''the best thing in the world is peace and brotherhood. I feel friendship and brotherhood for you and wish days full of peace, friendship and brotherhood.''

Karsiyaka Municipal Board member Huseyin Akbas said that Ataturk and Venizelos had exerted utmost efforts to establish friendly relations between Turkey and Greece and that these efforts are continued today by George Papandreou and Ismail Cem.

Akbas emphasized that peace winds should blow in education, culture, tourism and sports.

Elefthero Kordelio Municipal Board member Vakufaris Pemiklis said that they hae brought friendly feelings of the people living in their city.

Pemiklis noted that the relations between two countries should be promoted.

Follolwing the breakfast, Tabak and the delegation freed doves for peace and friendship.

The delegation, which visited St. Helene Church, will visit Urla and Cesme townships and Karsiyaka district.

[07] IS BANKASI IS 105TH BIGGEST BANK OF WORLD

A statement of Is Bankasi said on Saturday that Is Bankasi was ranked the first among other banks in Turkey by its rank in the survey.

Is Bankasi was ranked the 122nd in the previous year's survey.

Yapi Kredi was ranked the 135th, Akbank the 184th, Garanti Bankasi the 194th and Pamukbank the 423th in this year's survey.

Citigroup (the U.S.) was ranked the first while Mizuho Financial Group (Japan) and Bank of America Corp. (the U.S.) followed the Citibank in the survey.

[08] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ SAYS IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE INFLATION TARGET WITH CURRENT INTEREST RATES

When asked his evaluations about the statement of Stanley Fischer, the First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), who said that program may be revised if interest rates go higher, Yilmaz said that they hope to decrease the high interest rates and to achieve the inflation target.

Yilmaz said, ''but, if we cannot achieve these targets in three or four months, the revision of the program may come to the agenda.''

One of the most important targets of the program is to decrease the inflation and interest rates, Yilmaz noted.

Yilmaz continued, ''as we implement this program in cooperation with the IMF, the IMF should also fulfil its responsibilities. I believe that the current situation in interest market can change in a positive way after the IMF fulfils its commitments. Fischer is right, it is not possible to achieve the inflation targets with the current interest rates. To this end, we hope to decrease the high interest rates and to keep the inflation target as soon as possible.''

The government continuously emphasizes that this program does not have an alternative, Yilmaz said.

Yilmaz noted that Fischer also emphasizes the importance of political stability for the success of the program.

When a reporter said that tension sometimes occur between the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and State Minister Kemal Dervis and that this tension has negative impact on markets and program and asked what can be done to ease this tension, Yilmaz said, ''the public and media should refrain from daily evaluations as much as they can. Of course, differences in point of view sometimes occur during the implementation of such a serious program.''

Yilmaz continued, ''but, the public should take into consideration that all the former differences in point of view have been overcome by a compromise and in line with the targets of the program. I think, this is the most important feature of the government.''

Asked what kind of measures will be taken to lessen burden of social sector, Yilmaz said, ''the program aims to decrease the inflation rate. It is for the benefit of socially weak parts. To this end, it should not be forgotten that the measures which may require some self-sacrifice will be beneficial to people of low income in the future because they will help decrease in inflation rate. So, we should not make concessions of these measures.''

When asked if such measures will be taken in following programs, Yilmaz said, ''of course. As you know, even at this stage when some strict measures are being taken, the government needs some sources to protect farmers and tradesmen. As the inflation decreases and the sources that the government can use increase, these policies will be intensified.''

[09] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK SAYS WHATEVER HIS CRIME IS, THEY DO NOT WANT ANY INMATE TO DIE

Turk, who visited Edirne Governor Fahri Yucel, said that direct contact of inmates kept in F type prisons with their relatives has been provided and workshops have been opened.

The number of people who are on hunger strike and death fasts decreased, Turk noted.

Turk continued, ''there are 17 illegal organizations behind the ongoing hunger strikes and death fasts in 17 prisons. The number of inmates on hunger strike is 22 while the number of inmates who turned their hunger strike into death fast is 176. 67 of 198 death fasting inmates are in hospitals. Some of them accepted treatment while some of them refused it. 21 inmates died to to death fast. Seven people who supported the death fasting inmates from outside lost their lives.''

Some illegal organizations press on inmates, Turk said.

Turk noted that the inmates who can save themselves from this pressure can save their lives.

Staging a protest on human life is inhuman, Turk stated and called on the inmates to end their protest.

Turk said that the demands for closure of F type prisons, return to dormitory system and abolition of State Security Courts (DGMs) are unacceptable.

Workshops have been opened in F type prisons but inmates isolate themselves by not going to these workshops, Turk noted.

Turk stated that 21 inmates who were on hunger strike and death fast in Edirne F type prison were released from the prison after their punishment had been suspended for six months due to their health condition.

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