Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-07-15

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

15 JULY 2001 Sunday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 15, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit told Hurriyet daily that he will do his best to ease the tension between the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and State Minister Kemal Dervis. Ecevit said, ''I think that relations between the MHP and Dervis will have a good course. This is necessary. I will do my best for a harmonization in this government. And, I will do it now.'' Ecevit also said, ''in their last statements not only Fischer but also Kohler said that the government in fact has done many things and it continues to do so. THe IMF accepts that this government should be in full office and make the reforms. The IMF tries to emphasize that nothing should happen to the government.''

UNLU: ''BEIJING IS RIGHT CHOICE''

The Turkish olympic delegation which attended the meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) held in Moscow to choose the venue of the 2008 Olympics returned to Turkey. State Minister Fikret Unlu said that Beijing is the right choice. Unlu said that Istanbul marked a success to be ranked the third among five finalist countries which wanted to host the 2008 Olympics.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Important personalities in the reformist wing of the Virtue Party (FP) which was closed down by the Constitutional Court gave important messages: ''We will not make politics based on religion. There was Nazi understanding in the past. The leader used to give the decision and there could be no discussion on the decision. The name of our party may be Reformist Party or New Path.''

JUDICIARY BRAKE ON TELEPHONE INVOICE

The government increased the Value Added Tax (VAT) taken from telephones to 26 percent. However, the Telekom administrations filed a lawsuit against this decision. The Council of State decided to delay the execution.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Demirbank, which was transferred to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF) after the crisis which occured in November 2000, became the first in the world in the list of banks according to their profits in 2000. Demirbank was one of the most profitable banks of Turkey before the crisis. Demirbank administration had purchased domestic borrowing notes worth of 7 billion U.S. dollars by believing that the economic program would be successful. The bank was financing this portfolio by getting indebted with 25-30 percent interest. As the interest rates increased to 7,500 percent in November crisis, Demirbank's 16-day loss was 290 trillion. Its assets worth of 500 million U.S. dollars melted and the state seized the bank.

TEMPERATURES UP TO 40 DEGREES ON THE WAY

Turkey, which is under the influence of hot weather coming from Basra, will be hotter by tomorrow. Temperatures will reach 40 degrees Celcius throughout Turkey. Temperatures will be above 40 degrees Celcius in south of the Aegean Region and Southeastern Anatolia Region.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz supported the statement of International Monetary Fund (IMF) First Deputy Managing Director Stanley Fischer who said that economic program would be revised if the interest rates did not decrease. Yilmaz said that revision may come to the agenda in accordance with the situation of interest rates in following three or four months.

DIPLOMATIC STANCE

Turkey was not represented in the high level at the reception hosted upon the National Day of France, which adopted the so-called genocide allegation. The government, Foreign Ministry and Office of Chief of General Staff were not represented in the high level at the reception hosted in the French Embassy in Ankara. The previous day, Sezer did not accept the delegation of French businessmen.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

In accordance with the figures of the Meteorology General Directorate between October 1, 2000 and June 30, 2001, the annual decrease in precipitations was 11 percent. Amount of water in the dams decreased 50 percent due to the drought which continues for three years. Besides the problems faced in electricity production which occured last year, potable and city water problems will occur this year.

29TH DEATH IN F TYPE

Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk, who visited Edirne F type prison, said that they do not want anybody to die in hunger strikes while Sevgi Erdogan, who was released from the prison a short time ago, died. Erdogan was the 29th people who died in the hunger strikes and death fasts.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Stanley Fischer, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) First Deputy Managing Director, said that they will revise the economic program if interest rates do not decrease. Fischer said that the program is being implemented successfully but Turkey has not got the results of it yet. Fischer noted that they will fulfil their responsibilities. Fischer said that all political parties should back this program.

KAHKONEN TO START CONTACTS TOMORROW

A delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headed by IMF Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkohen will start its contacts in Ankara on Monday for the ninth review. The IMF delegation will meet with economy bureaucrats and evaluate latest developments in Turkey's economy. The delegation will stay in Turkey for almost ten days. Following IMF delegation's visit to Turkey, the IMF Executive Board will convene to debate the ninth review and to discuss the release of 1.5 billion U.S. dollar loan to Turkey.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

The promise given to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to increase the prices of goods was started to be kept. The price of sugar was increased by 25 percent. Thus, the price of 1 kilogram of sugar is 925 thousand Turkish liras (TL).

WE BECAME WORLD ELEVENTH IN MATHEMATICS

The International Mathematics Olympiad ended in Washington D.C. with the medal ceremony. All the members of the Turkish National Team were awarded with medals. Turkey became the 11th in the team standing of the olympiad in which 83 countries attended.

CONTENTS

[01] STATE MINISTER UNLU SAYS THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GET PREPARED FOR COMING OLYMPICS

[02] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK: -''ISOLATION IN F TYPE PRISONS IS OUT OF QUESTION''

[03] TURKEY TO TAKE MEASURES TO PROTECT ANI RUINS

[04] EUROMONEY GRANTS AWARDS TO TWO TURKISH FINANCIAL ORGANIZATIONS

[05] TREASURY TO SELL 7-MONTH BONDS ON TUESDAY

[06] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO CONTINUE TO EXAMINE APPLICATIONS OF LOCAL COURTS

[07] PUBLISHING HOUSE HOLDS E-BOOK CONTEST

[08] STATE MINISTER MIRZAOGLU SAYS THEY WILL NOT PERMIT TURKEY TO BECOME A NUCLEAR TRANSIT COUNTRY

[09] EXCAVATIONS TO START AT SATALA ANCIENT CITY

[01] STATE MINISTER UNLU SAYS THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GET PREPARED FOR COMING OLYMPICS

Unlu and the accompanying delegation returned from Moscow, where the General Assembly of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had convened, to Turkey.

State Minister Unlu told reporters that Turkey does not abandon its ideal to host the olympics and that it will continue its preparations for coming years.

Unlu said that he thinks Beijing was the right choice.

Turkey prepared well to become the venue of the 2008 Olympics, Unlu noted.

Unlu added, ''Turkey marked a big success by becoming one of the five bidding countries. It has promoted itself and gained prestige. Istanbul was ranked the third among five finalists. This is a big success for Turkey and Istanbul. There are things we should do. We do not abandon our ideal just because we were not awarded with the 2008 Olympics. Turkey will achieve its target. Istanbul Olympics is an indispensable ideal for us.''

Istanbul Governor Erol Cakir said that they will start works to achieve their olympic target as of today while Istanbul Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna said that Turkey competed with giant world countries in the olympic bidding.

Gurtuna added that Turkey has shown that it has reached a certain point by its place in the olympic bidding.

[02] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK: -''ISOLATION IN F TYPE PRISONS IS OUT OF QUESTION''

Turk, who visited the Edirne F type prison, said that the deficiencies which occured in F type prisons at first were later overcome.

Inmates convicted of terrorist crimes do not want to make use of eight workshops in the prison, Turk said.

Turk noted that to this end, inmates convicted under the Law on Interest Crime Gangs make use of the workshops.

''We are trying to socialize the inmates by giving them vocational training in the prisons. Inmates can use the library in the prison. They can talk with their families on the phone. There are six telephones in the prison. Inmates can make gymnastics in their free time. All these possibilities exist in the prison,'' Turk said.

Following his inspection in the prison, Turk told reporters that many possibilities are offered to the inmates and that isolation is out of question.

Turk said that some of the inmates isolate themselves and those who do not make use of workshops in the prison want to return to old system.

''Terrorist organizations could prevail in old system and could urge their supporters to death. There is a sharp decrease in the number of inmates on death fast and hunger strike since December 19, 2000,'' Turk also said.

Turk noted that there are humane conditions in Turkish prisons and continued, ''good food is served to the inmates. It is meaningless to continue the protests in prisons. All inmates and their families should end their protest. These prisons were constructed in compliance with the United Nations standards. We will make Turkish prisons an example in the world. The ongoing protests in the prisons are unjust. These protests lead to death of some young people.''

Turk later visited the prison farm in Edirne.

[03] TURKEY TO TAKE MEASURES TO PROTECT ANI RUINS

Aytekin went to Digor township of the eastern province of Kars which recently suffered a flood and also visited Brigate Commander Cihangir Aksit and Kars Mayor Naif Alibeyoglu on Saturday.

Alibeyoglu said the flood caused a damage worth of 3.5 trillion Turkish lira (TL) in the city's infrastructure and asked for Aytekin's help.

Aytekin later visited the ancient city of Ani which is composed of historical ruins belonging to Turks, Georgians, Armenians and a number of other civilizations.

''Armenians are destroying these ruins which belong to the whole world by exploding dynamites at the stone quarry. I will discuss the matter with the Culture Minister as soon as I return to Ankara. The government will take certain measures to stop the explosions,'' he said.

[04] EUROMONEY GRANTS AWARDS TO TWO TURKISH FINANCIAL ORGANIZATIONS

The magazine held the second competition in which it chose the best financial organizations in the world.

Akbank General Director Zafer Kurtul and Global Securities Finance Director Mehmet Sagiroglu attended the award ceremony.

Thus, Akbank was granted the best bank award for the fourth time. The bank was chosen as the best bank of Turkey in different grounds in 1992, 1993 and 1998.

The Euromoney chose Akbank as the best bank in Turkey because strongest aspects of Akbank were clearly seen in the recent economic situation in Turkey.

Following the award ceremony, Kurtul said that Akbank's being awarded by a famous finance magazine indicates the importance of the bank in the sector.

Kurtul noted that the banking sector is getting developed rapidly and that giant and high-quality banks increase their share in the market.

Akbank is ready for cooperation with foreign banks because the international banks that want to make investments in Turkey are an important opportunity for the development of Turkish banking sector, Kurtul stated.

Meanwhile, Global Securities of Turkey was awarded with best broker company and best consultant for mergence and transfer of companies.

Sagiroglu said that the Global Securities company is leader in the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) for eight years.

The company has fulfilled many successful projects for the mergence of companies for recent eight months, Sagiroglu noted, adding that he believes the company will continue to mark successes.

[05] TREASURY TO SELL 7-MONTH BONDS ON TUESDAY

Treasury Undersecretariat will sell 7-month (203-day) bonds on Tuesday, July 17. Treasury foresees a net minimun borrowing of 300 trillion Turkish liras (TL).

The value date of these bonds in July 18, 2001, and the maturity is February 6, 2002.

Meanwhile, Treasury will repay 1 quadrillion 96.5 trillion TL in domestic borrowing on July 18. Treasury's total domestic borrowing repayments in July will be 5 quadrillion 150 trillion TL.

The Treasury sold nominal-valued 1 quadrillion 100.1 trillion TL bonds in the 238-day auction held on July 10.

The total bid was 1 quadrillion 344.4 trillion TL while the net sale became 710.8 trillion TL.

The gross annual interest rate was 83.74 percent while the gross composite interest rate was 95 percent.

[06] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO CONTINUE TO EXAMINE APPLICATIONS OF LOCAL COURTS

to discuss the applications of a number of local courts which want the cancellation of certain articles of the law on conditonal release and suspension of punishments on Monday.

The Constitutional Court delegation will convene at 10 a.m. and continue to examine a 500-page report. The court delegation will later vote every single article whose cancellation is wanted.

Below are the articles that will be debated on Monday:

-Article 188: threatening and forcing someone to reveal his religious belief or political inclination

-Article 191: blackmailing

-Article 202: commiting crimes against state affairs,embezzlement

-Article 205: stealing

-Article 209: abusing one's position

-Article 240: abusing of position by a civil servant

-Article 243: mistreatment to people by civil servants

-Article 264: producing explosives and selling them

-Article 298: escaping from a prison or helping the inmates who escape

-Article 313: forming an organization to commit a crime

-Article 339, 340, 341: making illegal changes on official documents

-Article 343: giving wrong confirmation about a person's identity or title

-Article 345: making illegal changes in private documents

-Article 346: using false documents

-Article 347: situations in which the punishment could be decreased

-Article 349: writing false checks

-Article 366: committing violence and blackmailing in state auctions

-Article 367: using force to prevent competition in state auctions

-Article 383: causing fires, sea accidents which result in material damage

-Article 403: producing drugs and importing them

-Article 404: using drugs

-Article 414: rape and sexual harassment of children

-Article 503: fraudery

-Article 506: illegal bankcruptcy

Article 2 of Law no. 4616 which is about crimes committed through the press is among the articles which will be discussed by the Constitutional Court. The article, in its present version, postpones the punishments given for press crimes including speeches given at symposiums and conferences or open air meetings.

The court delegation will also debate Article 1 of a law which states that suspects who commit a crime again after they benefit

from conditional release or those who were released after an amnesty cannot benefit from the conditional release law.

The court will examine the articles which say that a person who has an arrest warrant about him can't benefit from the conditional release law if he doesn't surrender to security forces within one month after the law took effect.

[07] PUBLISHING HOUSE HOLDS E-BOOK CONTEST

E-book contest to make books which are offered to readers on the internet more wide spread in Turkey.

The contest will be held in a different branch every year and this year novels are competing against one another. The winner of this year's competition will be awarded 2 billion Turkish liras (TL).

The jury is composed by Atilla Ilhan, Muzaffer Izgu, Ayla Kutlu, Bilgi Kuflu, Turgut Ozakman, Biray Ustuner, and Huseyin Yurttas.

Bilgi Publishing House, in a written statement, pointed to the advantages of e-books, which won't be published on paper, and which is offered to readers on the internet.

The publishing house said there were a great number of authors writing novels, short stories, poems and novels but the publishing houses currently have to be very choosy because of economic

difficulties.

It said that a higher number of books can be offered to readers through the internet since this is a much less expensive process than printing books.

The e-book, except for the absence of paper, carries all the qualifications of a book such as images. Besides it can also be heard with a voice card.

It will be possible to unload the e-book from the internet, it can be sent by e-mail or it can be sent on a floppy disk or a CD-Rom.

Easy transportation, having no storage problems and low publication costs are the major advantages of the e-book.

[08] STATE MINISTER MIRZAOGLU SAYS THEY WILL NOT PERMIT TURKEY TO BECOME A NUCLEAR TRANSIT COUNTRY

Responding to questions of reporters on whether the approval of bills opening Russia to imports of spent nuclear fuel by Russian President Vladimir Putin create tension in Turkey, Mirzaoglu said, ''shipment of nuclear wastes from one place to another can be made under the conventions of the United Nations (U.N) and the European Union (EU). The consent of the concerned countries and U.N. should be taken. We never approve the shipment of nuclear wastes via Turkish straits and territorial waters. We will not permit and approve the shipment of these wastes.''

Mirzaoglu continued, ''we will launch initiatives under international rules. The concerned country should be informed at least three months before the shipment and its consent is taken. I do not think that the Russian people and environmentalists will say yes to the initiative to turn Russia into a nuclear garbage. The nuclear wastes that the developed countries will transport to Russia amounts to 20 thousand tons.''

''This amount is equal to two ten-storey apartment buildings. Can't countries like Switzerland and France make these wastes unhazardous and dig them in their own territory? Why are they sending the wastes to other countries in return for money and causing a problem for transit countries? They cannot explain the reasons to neither the humanity nor their country and us. Turkish people should feel comfortable about this issue because we will never turn Turkey into a country where nuclear wastes are transported, '' Mirzaoglu added.

[09] EXCAVATIONS TO START AT SATALA ANCIENT CITY

city in Gumushane's Kelkit township.

Gumushane Governor Gazi Simsek complained that the ancient city was not well preserved and most parts of the city were destroyed.

''Some 47 water arches on the surface have been completely. Only seven of them survived and some of these are damaged,'' he said.

Simsek also indicated that there was a theater, an agora (market place), a palace and remains of some other buildings around the city.

Archeologist found decorated bricks and stones, clay cups, lanterns, seals, human and animal sculptures, and coins but most of the the city still remains burried.

''We'll start excavations to unearth this ancient city. We are currently in contact with the related ministries,'' he said.

Drawing attention to many historical ruins in Gumushane and its surrounding, Simsek said these ruins should be used to increase Turkey's tourism revenues.

Satala was an important city in the Hitite, Assyrian and Byzantine times.

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