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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-07-18Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 18 JULY 2001 Wednesday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 18, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)FIRST STEP TAKEN FOR STABILITY IN TURKEYTransportation Minister Eniz Oksuz who has affected markets negatively with his meaningless resistance against privatization of Turk Telekom and with his statements, resigned from his post upon an instruction of State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Meanwhile, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's efforts to secure confidence, Oksuz's statement, and the Treasury's failure in yesterday's seven-month bond auction caused a sharp increase in sale price of one U.S. dollar. One U.S. dollar was sold 1 million 600 thousand TL at Istanbul free market while the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) National-100 Index decreased 4.3 percent. All these developments resulted in Oksuz's resignation. YILMAZ: ''ELECTIONS ARE RISKY FOR TURKEY'' CILLER REQUESTS SEZER TO CALL PARLIAMENT TO AN EMERGENCY MEETING MILLIYET (LIBERAL)NEW POLITICAL PARTY TO BE FOUNDED ON FRIDAYThe traditionalist wing of the outlawed Virtue Party (FP) will submit a petition to Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen on July 20 to found a new political party. A group of deputies headed by Recai Kutan, the former leader of the outlawed FP, held a meeting. At the meeting, the list of Board of Founders, and the new political party's bylaw and program were taken up. Meanwhile, the name of the new political party could not be determined yet. DECISION DAY FOR AMNESTY COALITION PARTNERS TO CONVENE SABAH (LIBERAL)ECEVIT: ''DO NOT BELIEVE IN SCENARIOS''Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that some circles had been expending efforts to render ineffective the economic program, to prevent structural reforms and to hamper democracy. He noted, ''continuation of a pessimist atmosphere despite all these positive developments is mainly a result of psychological and political factors. Despite all these efforts to hinder structural reforms, our government is determined to fully implement the economic program. We expect our people to rely on Turkey's power without being affected by these negative scenario. Abnormal increase in interest rates and foreign currency rates should be prevented in this way.'' TUMERDEM LAID TO REST IN DIYARBAKIR Tumerdem had started to climb Agri Mountain together with guide Ahmet Cakmaz six days ago. After reaching 4,500 metres, Tumerdem had continued to climb the peak alone. Tumerdem, who was expected to reach the peak last Friday, did not return back. Voluntary search and rescue team AKUT found frozen body of Tumerdem 20 metres under the peak. His body was brought from eastern province of Igdir to Diyarbakir. CUMHURIYET (LEFT)TURKEY TO PROTECT WORLD'S SEASTurkey, whose seas and coasts are getting more and more polluted every day, will work with UNESCO to protect the world's seas. The Foreign Ministry said that Turkey was elected as a Executive Council member to the Intergovernmental Oceanography Commission's (IOC) 21st General Council meeting held in Paris on July 3-13. IOC, said in a statement ''The IOC coordinates research programs which aim to improve the management of naval areas and protect sea sources. The IOC also helps the member countries' decision making mechanisms on this matter.'' Turkey will serve for two years in the IOC Executive Council. CIVIL SERVANTS GET FIVE PERCENT PAY RAISE RADIKAL (LEFT)TURKISH AND DUTCH POLICE CONFISCATE 466 KG HEROIN IN NETHERLANDSTurkish and Dutch police confiscated 466 kilograms of heroin in the Netherlands in a joint operation. Security forces revealed that a gang would send a serious amount of drug from Turkey to the Netherlands. Working groups were set up both in Istanbul and Amsterdam to discover the links of the gang and information was exchanged. In the end of the joint operation, 466 kilograms of heroin was seized while 22 people were captured, 19 of whom in the Netherlands and 3 in Turkey. ANKARA AND DAMASCUS TO MEET FOR PEACE TURKIYE (RIGHT)KOHLER CUTS SHORT HIS VISIT TO EUROPEInternational Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Horst Kohler cut short his visit to Europe following the economic developments both in Turkey and Argentina. The Washington Post, one of the leading newspapers in the U.S., said that Kohler returned to Washington D.C. Kohler's decision was described as a sign of the IMF's concerns about crises in the developing markets. PRESIDENT SEZER RATIFIES BILL CAKMAKOGLU:''MILITARY SERVICE WILL NOT BECOME SHORTER'' CETINKAYA JOINS REFORMISTS ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)ECEVIT ACCUSES ''CERTAIN CIRCLES'' FOR STRENGTHENING CRISISPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit who accused ''certain circles'' for the continuation of the economic crisis said he and the other coalition partners would have a meeting to discuss the economic developments. He indicated that discussions in a coalition was normal and underlined that the government was not planning a revision in the cabinet. Ecevit, in a statement he made on Tuesday, blamed certain circles for making the economic program ineffective. ''Despite all the efforts to prevent it and the pessimism atmosphere, our government is determined to implement the economic program. We're expecting our people not to be affected by negative scenerios and have faith in the government,'' he said. BORYAD: WE SHOULD START A CAMPAIGN TO USE TL -DERVIS GETS TOGETHER WITH BANK REPRESENTATIVES Dervis and the bank representatives are tackling the developments that followed the increase of U.S. dollars over 1.5 million on Tuesday. Representatives from Is Bank, Yapi ve Kredi Bank, Akbank and Garanti Bank also attended the meeting which focused on the interest rates and the problems facing the financial sector. Dervis is expected to urge calm to the bankers at the meeting. Meanwhile, Central Bank Sureyya Serdengecti and Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak are also expected to get together at 10.15 at the Treasury. -EARTHQUAKE OCCURS IN AEGEAN SEA Officials at Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory Seismology Institute said that epicenter of the earthquake was in sea between Kios Island of Greece and Karaburun township of western province of Izmir. The earthquake was also felt in neighboring townships. There were not any immediate reports of casualties and damages in the earthquake. -AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS MINISTER GOKALP ARRIVES IN BAKU Azerbaijani Agriculture Minister Irsad Aliyev; Kadri Ecvet Tezcan, the Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan; and other officials welcomed Gokalp at the Baku Airport. High-level officials from the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ministry, and representatives of private sector are accompanying Gokalp during his visit to Azerbaijan. Gokalp is scheduled to meet with Azerbaijani Agriculture Ministry officials later in the day. He will be received by President Haydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan. -INTERNATIONAL NEMRUT FOUNDATION TAKES ACTION TO PROTECT Crijns told the A.A that their project, which started on July 14, aims to protect the area against mass tourism. He said his group was going to form walking tracks for tourists to prevent them from touching or climbing the sculptures. ''We saw that people give the biggest damage to the sculptures. So we will start by preventing damage caused by people,'' he said. Crijns' group also has restoration plans to save the sculptures and inscriptions. ''We'll try not to give any damage to the environment during our restoration works,'' he said. ''There are sponsor companies from all over the world to protect Nemrut Mountain which has been included in UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage List. This is an international place and I'm hoping that we won't face any financial problems during our works. The Netherlands government expressed support so far. We're also expecting contributions of people who live here. We cannot remain indifferent to the destruction of a place which people are coming from all around the world to see.'' -IMF DELEGATION CONTINUES CONTACTS IN ANKARA The IMF delegation had a meeting with representatives of Finance Ministry, Central Bank, Treasury and State Planning Organization at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. The talks mostly revolve around tax incomes, tax management, institutions with circulating capital, state economic enterprises, public financement and debt management. The government officials are also expected to debate the reflections of yesterday's increasing dollar rate to today's money markets. -IMKB SKYROCKETS AFTER OKSUZ'S RESIGNATION The index which started at 8.688,59 points, exceeded 9,000 points in the first minute. The first minute closed at 9.084,55 and the shares increased 4.56 points. The index reached 9.040,15 points in ten minutes. -TURKISH VESSELS ARRIVE AT GIRNE PORT Vessels under the command of Southern Mission Group Commander Admiral Lutfi Sancar were welcomed by Foreign Affairs and Defense Minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu of the TRNC, Presidential Undersecretary Ergun Olgun, TRNC Security Forces Commander General Ali Galip Mendi and other officials at Girne Port. Speaking at the welcoming ceremony, Ertugruloglu said, ''July 20 is a day resurrection for Turkish Cypriots. I want to thank you for honoring us.'' Meanwhile, Southern Mission Group Commander Admiral Lutfi Sancar said in his part, ''we are pleased with sharing Turkish Cypriots' joy on July 20 Peace and Freedom Day. We have been expending all efforts to protect peace in the Aegean and in Eastern Mediterranean as elements of the Naval Forces.'' Commanders of the vessels will be received by President Denktas of the TRNC. -REASONED VERDICT ABOUT CASE OF MISSING WEAPONS ANNOUNCED The Court announced its reasoned verdict on Wednesday about the case of missing weapons which were donated to the Directorate General of Security by Britain-based Hospro Company. The nine-page reasoned verdict said that Ibrahim Sahin, the Deputy Chairman of Special Teams Department of Directorate General of Security, had neglected his duty by ordering the Department of Supply and Maintenance to send three truckloads of equipment and weapons without opening their packages to training program in southern province of Antalya, and preventing count of these equipment and weapons. The reasoned verdict said, ''a total of 100 9-mm micro Uzis, and 100 9- mm mikco SMG-type handguns were sent to Ankara from Icel on December 27, 1993. The weapons were handed over to special team officials on January 6, 1994. The weapons have been missing since then. Meanwhile, a total of 10 Baretta- type handguns were sent to Antalya from Ankara on April 26, 1994. One of them was confiscated in the traffic accident in Susurluk on November 3, 1996. Rest of them are still missing.'' The case against suspects including Sahin, was cancelled because it had passed the statute of limitations in accordance with Articles 102/4 and 104/2 of the Turkish Penal Code. -MILITARY PLANE CRASHES IN BATMAN Sources told the A.A correspondent that the plane which took off from the Incirlik Air Base in southern province of Adana, crashed near Besiri township. Pilot of the plane survived the accident. -MILITARY PLANE WHICH CRASHED IN BATMAN, BELONGS TO U.S. Releasing a statement, the General Staff said that the U.S. F-16 war plane took off from the Incirlik Air Base in southern province of Adana within scope of the Northern Watch Operation. The plane crashed 10 to 12 miles east of Batman at 10:09 a.m. due to an engine failure. Pilot of the plane survived the accident by jumping out of the plane. Gendarmerie forces have taken security measures in the scene of crash. -CENTRAL BANK SELLS 200 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN FOREX AUCTION The maximum bid became 1,405,000 Turkish lira (TL) while the minimum bid became 1,391,000 TL. Meanwhile, the average 1 U.S. dollar bid price became 1,395,493 TL. The average 1 U.S. dollar bid price was 1,415,752 TL in the foreign exchange auction which was held on Tuesday afternoon. The Central Bank planned to sell minimum 150 million U.S. dollars within the framework of its foreign exchange auction program in July and August. As the World Bank loan was extended to the Treasury, this figure was increased to 200 million U.S. dollars. The Central Bank sold 735 million U.S. dollars in six auctions, three of which were held in line with the program and three of which were outside the program, since July 11. Thus, the Bank exceeded the foreseen minimum price of 700 million U.S. dollars in July. One U.S. dollars which was opened at 1,430,000 TL in the foreign exchange offices in the Covered Bazaar in Istanbul in the morning fell around 1,420, 000 TL at noon. Currently, one German Mark is trading at 620,000,000 TL. -TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS SAYS PROBLEM IN CYPRUS ISSUE STEMS FROM POLICY Denktas said that Greek Cypriots also use the European Union (EU) for this aim, adding that if Greek Cypriots accept the existence of TRNC and its permanency, the Cyprus question will be solved easier. Denktas received Turkish ship commanders headed by Admiral Lutfi Sancar, who came to Girne port upon the July 20, Peace and Freedom Bairam. Denktas said that the presence of the Turkish fleet in Turkish Cypriot sea is a great pleasure and source of pride for TRNC, adding that TRNC will never forget the things done by the Naval Forces in the Peace Operation. He stated that Turkish Cyproits live in peace since then. There was no peace on the island until 1974 and Turkish Cypriots didn't know what would happen the other day, Denktas said. He said that Turkish Cypriots had to set up their own state to protect themselves against the policy of the Greek Cyproit side to turn Turks into a minority on the island. Denktas said that TRNC suffers from an economic crisis, which TRNC believes it will be temporary. TRNC won't give concessions from being a state and it has always left the peace door open, he said. Denktas said that the massacres of the Greek Cypriots in Murataga, Sandallar, Atlılar and Taskent were the evidences that showed that Peace Operation launched on July 20 was necessary. Denktas said that Greece had the plan of annihilating a muslim society to be able to do whatever it wanted on Cyprus and noted that the policy of Greek Cypriots and Greece didn't change today. Denktas said that TRNC celebrates July 20 as the ''re-birthday.'' When a journalist asked Denktas about the calling of an assault boat purchased by the Greek Cypriot side as ''Girne,'' Denktas said that ''I don't have any objection, TRNC has Girne, they can get the assault boat.'' Denktas said that Greek Cypriots elect deputies from Girne and Gazimagusa, adding that ''yet the deputies of Girne and Gazimagusa are in TRNC parliament. Greek Cyproits will do this, this is their national cause. We must stay strong against them.'' Upon another question about the new study started by the U.N. Secretariat General on the Cyprus issue, Denktas said that the studies of the U.N. Secretariat General have never stopped. Denktas stressed that the solution of the Cyprus problem is very easy, adding that ''if the Greek Cypriot side accepts that it is not the government of whole Cyprus and if it accepts the permanency of TRNC, the Cyprus issue will be sorted out very early. Good neighbourhood can start, and many problem can be solved on their own.'' Admiral Lutfi Sancar said in his part that they came to TRC with two frigates and one submarine, adding that the Naval Forces will continue to launch all sorts of efforts to maintain the peace in the region. -PILOT OF F-16 WAR PLANE WHICH CRASHED IN BATMAN IS IN GOOD CONDITION Sources told A.A correspondent on Wednesday that pilot of the U.S. plane which fell near Besiri township due to an engine failure survived the accident by jumping out of the war plane. The sources said that pilot, who had minor injuries, was taken to Batman province by an ambulance and that he was in good condition. Acting Besiri Mayor Servet Ari, who came to the scene of the accident, said that fire which broke out in the plane after it had crashed into the ground was put out. Eye witness Abdulselam Ozkan said that he saw two planes flying in the air when he was working in the field 700 metres away from the scene of the accident. Ozkan said, ''planes were flying to east. One of them started to descend by turning to north suddenly. It was descending so slowly that we thought it would land at the field. When the plane continued to descend, we saw a pilot jumping out of the plane. Then, the plane crashed into the ground.'' ''The plane was burning. We tried to get closer to extinguish the fire. But, we could not achieve our target due to explosions in the fire. Then, the gendarmerie forces came and we saw them taking the pilot to an ambulance,'' Ozkan added. Gendarmerie forces have taken tight security measures in the scene of the crash. -OGUZ, CHAIRMAN OF EXPORTERS UNION OF TURKEY, SAYS EXPORTERS The Eighth TIM General Assembly was held by the participation of State Minister Tunca Toskay, True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller and many high-level bureaucrats. At the meeting, Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursad Tuzmen said that not only the exporters have started to lose their confidence in Turkey but also Turkey has started to lose its confidence in the exporters. Tuzmen noted that this is wrong and that the cheapest finance method for Turkey is exportation. Foreign countries, which follow domestic dynamics in Turkey, press on Turkish exporters to reduce the prices of their products, Tuzmen drew the attention and asked the exporters not to reduce the prices. Tuzmen said, ''we should compete in the market by increasing the quality not by reducing the prices.'' Exceeding the export target of 30 billion U.S. dollar is important to show that the structural problems are overcome, Tuzmen stressed. Tuzmen noted that this target will be exceeded this year and that devaluation does not have an important effect on exportation. Exports increased by 11 percent between January and March, Tuzmen pointed out, adding that the current rise in exports is 13.6 percent. Oguz, in his part, said that the non-confidence leads the country to pay deeper invoices each day. TIM Chairman Oguz said that serious steps are not taken to overcome the non- confidence in Turkey and the steps taken unwillingly only increase the costs of the burden. What they need is intention, determination, transparency and sincerity, Oguz noted. Oguz stated that to provide the expected increase in exportation is not possible only by devaluation. Exporters panicked yesterday as one U.S. dollar climbed over 1 million 600 thousand TL, Oguz said. Oguz pointed out that devaluation is not a mere element of competition due to the rise in domestic market prices. Exporters can no more find credits, Oguz said and noted that Turkish banks' letter of credits are not accepted, Oguz said. Oguz noted that the small and medium scale enterprises are left alone in this crisis and requested that Eximbank sources be increased and Value Added Tax (VAT) return problem be solved to support exporters, who are one of the important factors to overcome the crisis. TIM Chairman Oguz also requested that exporters not be obstructed. -CONSTITUTIONAL COURT ACCEPTS REQUEST OF BROADENING SCOPE OF LAW The Court, however rejected the application requesting the abolishment of the provision of the Law on Conditional Release which stated that the law covers crimes committed until April 23, 1999. Court took a decision the same day regarding the applications of local courts requesting the abolishment of certain provisions of the Law on Conditional Release. The Court rejected the application requesting the abolishment of the title of the Law on Conditional Release as the title is not contrary to the Constitution. Court Chairman Mustafa Bumin, Deputy Chairman Hasim Kılıc and members Samia Akbulut, Yalcın Acargun, Sacit Adalı, Ali Huner, Fulya Kantarcıoglu, Rustu Sonmez, Ertugrul Ersoy, Tulay Tugcu and Ahmet Akyalcın participated in the session held the same day. Upon a question, Kılıc said that the case of Hasan Celal Guzel can be taken in tomorrow's session.
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