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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-07-19

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>

Anadolu Agency

ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

19 JULY 2001 Thursday


CONTENTS

  • [01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
  • [02] SIXTY HECTARES OF FOREST BURNT IN BALIKESIR
  • [03] JUDICIARY TO RECESS ON FRIDAY
  • [04] SALE OF SUMERBANK -PERIOD FOR EVALUATION OF OYAK'S BID TO END TODAY
  • [05] IMF DELEGATION CLOSELY FOLLOWS MARKET DEVELOPMENTS
  • [06] AGRICULTURE MINISTER GOKALP SAYS THEIR OPINION IS JOINT DEVELOPMENT OF TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN
  • [07] TAM CHAIRMAN SEN: ''ANNUAL TURNOVER BY TURKISH ENTREPRENEURS IN EU COUNTRIES HAS REACHED 68.1 BILLION GERMAN MARK''
  • [08] TECHNICAL TEAM STARTS INQUIRING U.S. WAR PLANE CRASH
  • [09] EIGHT PEOPLE DIE AND NINE OTHERS INJURED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
  • [10] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM HOLDS CONTACTS IN MACEDONIA -CEM WISHES RESTRUCTURING IN POLITICAL DIALOGUE PROCESS IN MACEDONIA TO BE DEVELOPED IN A WAY WHICH WON'T CAUSE LONGING FOR 1974 CONSTITUTION AND FOR THE PAST
  • [11] MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT AND PREMIER RECEIVE FOREIGN MINISTER CEM
  • [12] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK: ''NUMBER OF INMATES IN PRISONS REDUCED TO 50, 000 AFTER LAW ON CONDITIONAL RELEASE AND SUSPENSION OF PUNISHMENTS TOOK EFFECT''
  • [13] DOCTORS UNION ASKS STATE TO MEET EXPENSES OF INMATES' MEDICAL TREATMENT WHO ARE RELEASED
  • [14] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK: ''OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS UNDERWAY REGARDED WITH EXTRADITION OF TECIMER''
  • [15] DEPUTY PREMIER YILMAZ SAYS HE BELIEVES THAT INCREASES IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE AND INTEREST RATES ARE TEMPORARY
  • [16] EXTERNAL DEBT PAYMENTS -312.91 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS REPAID IN EXTERNAL DEBT BETWEEN JULY 1 AND 18
  • [17] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK DECREASE BY 466 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS
  • [18] FIVE NEW UNITS SET UP TO CARRY OUT FINANCIAL COOPERATION WITH EU

  • [01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

    These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 19, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

    HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

    NO AMNESTY TO KARTAL
    The Constitutional Court partially broadened the scope of the Amnesty Law in a way which ''won't destroy public conscience. Civil servants and 'earthquake' building contractors were pardoned while financial crimes were not included in the scope of amnesty, ending the accused bankers' hope for their acquittal. In accordance with this decision, bankers Cavit Caglar, Murat Demirel, Dinc Bilgin, Hayyam Garipoglu and Ali Balkaner and Nail Kecili who are staying at the Kartal Prison won't be released.

    CARLSBERG IN TURKEY WITH USD 60 MILLION
    Danish Carlsberg Breweries which gained 50.01 majority shares by purchasing 47.77 percent of Turk Tuborg shares for 60 million U.S. dollars put its Carlsberg beer on the Turkish market. The company targets to get a 5 percent share in the market. Turk Tuborg-Carlsberg CEO Ercument Berilgen said that 340 thousand bottles of Carlsberg were sold in two days.

    G-8 TO DISCUSS ARGENTINA AND TURKEY
    Crisis in Turkish and Argentine economies became an issue on the agenda of the G-8 summit meeting which will start in Genova, Italy tomorrow. At the summit meeting, the fragility of the Turkish and Argentine economies will be discussed.

    OKSUZ GOES, MARKET RELIEVED 'FOR NOW'
    Resignation of Transportation Minister Enis Oksuz relieved the markets. U.S. dollar reduced 8 percent to 1 million 370 thousand Turkish liras. The stock exchange index rose 4.8 percent. Bond interest rates decreased 8 points. However, the statement released following the leaders' summit meeting did not satisfy the market.

    MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

    NO DERVIS, NO MONEY
    Mark Parris, the former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey who came to Istanbul on Monday, gave a clear message: ''If you corner State Minister Kemal Dervis, you will lose.'' Parris met representatives of business world at first. He gave the message that Turkey was slow in making reforms and that the problem in Turkey is not economic but political. Parris met with PRime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli on Wednesday.

    DOLLAR FIGHT
    Turkish banks will support the Central Bank by selling U.S. dollars against foreign attack. As foreign banks and speculators in Tahtakale launch efforts to increase the U.S. dollar, giant banks will support the Central Bank by acting together. Turkish banks will extend this support every day by 50-60 million U.S. dollars.

    MARKETS CELEBRATE RESIGNATION
    Markets have revived by the resignation of Transportation Minister Enis Oksuz. The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) closed the day with 4.8 percent rise while the IMKB-100 Index climbed to 9.105 points. Interest rates dropped 10 points.

    SABAH (LIBERAL)

    ROW BETWEEN MHP AND DERVIS ENDS
    The decision taken at the summit: Row between the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and State Minister Kemal Dervis will be ended and ''common style'' will be ensured. Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, who requested resignation of Transportation Minister Enis Oksuz and who gave the messages that the government would be in full office and they would continue to support the program, took another step yesterday. Thus, State Minister Kemal Dervis attended yesterday's summit. Bahceli shook hands with Dervis at the summit.

    THEY ADMIRE STING
    Famous Turkish people admired famous singer Sting in the concert he gave in Istanbul within scope of Istanbul Jazz Festival. The price of tickets in black market exceeded 200 million Turkish liras (TL). Many people tried to listen to the concert outside the open air theatre.

    CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

    RESIGNATION PAIN
    Defeat pyschology is being observed at the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) which became obliged to have Enis Oksuz resign. MHP leader Devlet Bahceli said that he had wanted Oksuz' resignation in order to display that they were not responsible for the crisis. He said, ''the real responsible persons will become clear in coming days.''

    STINGY TOURISTS
    There is a disappointment in tourism which is shown as the remedy for the economic crisis. Tourists who come to the south of Turkey prefer full-board hotels while they do not eat at anywhere else and they do not shop in towns. People engaged in tourism say that five-star hotels are not the solution and also the environment should be five-star.

    LACK OF CONFIDENCE CONTINUES
    High-level officials of some banks which attended the Bankers-Kemal Dervis summit meeting said that Enis Oksuz' resignation calmed the money and capital markets but even this couldn't solve the problem about confidence. They said that Oksuz's resignation was perceived as a ''symbol'', adding, ''now, markets' expectation is to see a new management understanding. Atmosphere of confidence can't be settled as long as concrete steps are not taken.''

    RADIKAL (LEFT)

    ECONOMIC MEASURES IN A MINUTE!
    Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, who opposed to the participation of State Minister Kemal Dervis in the summits of coalition by saying that 'he was just a minister of the government', met with Dervis at a leaders' summit. The only concrete decision at the leaders' summit was the decree regarding the privatization of Vakifbank. This decree was opened to signature at the meeting.

    JUDICIARY TAKES 'CONSCIENCE' AS A BASE
    The Constitutional Court did not include majority of crimes ''which hurt social conscience'' in the scope of amnesty. Those who emptied bank coffers, who made torture, who set up gangs, who embezzled, who raped, who gained unjust money, who smuggled, and who cheated in tenders were not forgiven. Only the crime of misusing authority by bureaucrats and mayors, threatening people, escaping from prison, and killing due to negligence were included within scope of amnesty.

    TURKIYE (RIGHT)

    PROGRAM GOES ON
    Coalition leaders held an economic summit meeting with economy bureaucrats yesterday. Leaders said that it was decided to ''continue implementation of of the program at any level with a powerful coordination''. It was stated that measures which would give markets confidence and support real economy would be taken and privatization of Vakifbank would be accelerated. ''The basic figures of the economy are gradually getting stronger. There is a recovery in the current balance which is beyond the expected and there is an important increase in foreign exchange demand,'' the statement said.

    NO GENERAL AMNESTY
    The Constitutional Court partially broadened the amnesty. The court annuled the article of the law on conditional release which said that those who are convicted of crimes committed before April 23, 1999 could benefit from the law. Setting up gang, banking swindling, state crimes were not included in the amnesty. Bribery was included in the amnesty scope while it gave hope to Mehmet Ali Agca for his acquittal when the court annuled the rule which said that ''those who benefitted from amnesty earlier can't benefit from this amnesty''.

    MINIMUM WAGE TO BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW
    The Minimum Wage Determining Commission held its second meeting. According to the result of this meeting, the new minimum wage which will be valid as of August 1 is expected to be announced tomorrow. Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Turk-Is) General Education Secretary Salih Kilic said that the commission would hold its third meeting tomorrow and after the meeting, the new minimum wage which would be valid as of August 1 for five months would most probably be announced. The new gross minimum wage is expected to be between 180-190 million Turkish liras.

    IMF'S INTENSE TRAFFIC
    The delegation headed by International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen continues its works in Ankara. The IMF delegation met with Finance Ministry, Central Bank, Treasury and State Planning Organization representatives at the Treasury Undersecretariat building at 10:00 hours yesterday. Tax revenues, tax management, institutions with revolving capital, State Economic Enterprises, public finance and borrowing management were discussed at the meeting.

    ''YOU HONORED THE TRNC''
    Two frigates and a submarine of the Turkish Naval Forces anchored at the Girne Port yesterday morning within framework of the celebrations on the occasion of the Peace and Freedom Day of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). TRNC Foreign and Defense Minister welcomed the ships commanded by South Mission Group Commander Admiral Lutfi Sancar by saying, ''you honored us.''

    ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

    AMNESTY IS NOT BROADENED
    General amnesty which was expected was not declared. The Constitutional Court did not convert the 'conditional release' into a general amnesty but partially broadened the scope of the law on conditional release and suspension of punishments. The Court did not include gang crimes and torture within the scope of amnesty.

    DECISION REGARDING TAYYIP TO BE GIVEN TODAY
    The Constitutional Court will announce its verdict about Hasan Celal Guzel, the former leader of the Rebirth Party (YDP), and former Istanbul mayor Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday.

    F-16 CRASHED INTO GROUND IN BATMAN
    A U.S. F-16 war plane crashed into ground near Besiri township of southeastern Batman province. Pilot of the plane which took off from the Incirlik Base in southern Adana province for the Operation Northern Watch survived the accident by jumping out of the plane at the very last moment. The pilot is in good condition.

    [02] SIXTY HECTARES OF FOREST BURNT IN BALIKESIR

    DURSUNBEY - Sixty hectares of forest were burnt in Dursunbey township of Balikesir province on Thursday.

    Balikesir Forestry Regional Director Muhittin Karabagli told A.A correspondent that 60 hectares of pineland were burnt in the fire which started near Buyukakcaalan village at 2.00 p.m. on Wednesday and which was sparked by winds.

    Karabagli said that fire-fighters started to take the fire under control by 9.00 p.m. on Wednesday, adding that cooling efforts are underway.

    [03] JUDICIARY TO RECESS ON FRIDAY

    ANKARA - Judiciary's summer recess will start on Friday.

    Courts on duty will hear the urgent cases between July 20 and September 6.

    Delegations on duty will work in the Council of State, Supreme Court of Appeals, Military Supreme Court of Appeals, Military High Administrative Court.

    The Constitutional Court and State Security Courts (DGMs) do not recess.

    The new judicial year will start on September 6.

    [04] SALE OF SUMERBANK -PERIOD FOR EVALUATION OF OYAK'S BID TO END TODAY

    ANKARA - The period for evaluation of the Military Personnel Solidarity Fund's (OYAK) bid for Sumerbank by the Savings Deposits Insurance Fund (SDIF) will end at 17:00 hours on Thursday.

    The Banking Regulatory and Supervisory Authority (BRSA) earlier notified OYAK which is interested insale of Sumerbank that it should complete its observations at the bank and prepare its bid until June 22.

    After the end of this period, OYAK's bid was submitted to the SDIF on June 25.

    BRSA stated that the period for evaluation of OYAK's bid by SDIF should end by July 19.

    BRSA Chairman Engin Akcakoca said last week that sale of Sumerbank and Demirbank would be finalized until the end of this week, adding, ''both of them will be completed next week-end.''

    [05] IMF DELEGATION CLOSELY FOLLOWS MARKET DEVELOPMENTS

    ANKARA- International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation headed by Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen is closely following developments in markets and foreign exchange and interest rates and measures to be taken against these.

    The IMF delegation continues its contacts with officials at the Treasury Undersecretariat and Central Bank on Thursday.

    The IMF delegation will debate developments in public financing and domestic debt stock, social security institutions and unemployment insurance with economy bureaucrats this morning.

    The delegation will discuss 2001 budget targets and performances, tax revenues and 2002 budget by a delegation of the Finance Ministry in the afternoon.

    The delegation will also debate the developments in interest rates and foreign exchange rates by officials of the Central Bank in the afternoon.

    The IMF delegation, which will meet experts of the State Planinng Organization (DPT) at the Treasury, will discuss developments in savings measures and agricultural support.

    The delegation, which will stay in Turkey for almost 10 days, is expected to prepare an interim report till the end of the week.

    The IMF Executive Board is expected to release 1.5 billion U.S. dollar loan at the end of July or at the beginning of August according to the impressions of the delegation.

    [06] AGRICULTURE MINISTER GOKALP SAYS THEIR OPINION IS JOINT DEVELOPMENT OF TURKEY AND AZERBAIJAN

    BAKU - Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Husnu Yusuf Gokalp his and the government's opinion is the joint development of Turkey and Azerbaijan.

    Gokalp and his Azerbaijani counterpart Irsad Aliyev headed the inter- delegationary meetings.

    Gokalp, during the meeting, said that two friendly sister countries should benefit from the possibilities of each other.

    They will sign a protocol on agriculture, Gokalp noted and said that they aim at a comprehensive cooperation.

    Gokalp stated that they haven't come to Azerbaijan just for exportation and that he wishes Turkey and Azerbaijan to make joint agricultural production and to market their products to third countries.

    Touching on fishing in the Caspian Sea, Gokalp said that unique species of fish live in the Caspian and that they can exert joint efforts to develop fishing.

    Gokalp said, ''we only set the basic principles here and the rest is the duty of the enterpreneurs'' and added that private sector should have a role in agricultural researches.

    Aliyev said that they are to further improve relations and that enterpreneurs have an important role in this process.

    A protocol will be signed in the process of laying a joint initiative ground, Aliyev noted.

    Then, the Turkish and Azerbaijani businessmen debated the cooperation possibilities.

    Gokalp and Aliyev told the businessmen that they are ready to help solution of their problems.

    [07] TAM CHAIRMAN SEN: ''ANNUAL TURNOVER BY TURKISH ENTREPRENEURS IN EU COUNTRIES HAS REACHED 68.1 BILLION GERMAN MARK''

    IZMIR - Turkey Studies Center (TAM) Chairman Prof. Dr. Faruk Sen said on Thursday that then annual turnover by the Turkish entrepreneurs in the European Union (EU) countries had reached 68.1 billion German marks.

    Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Sen said that most of the Turkish citizens who had gone to several EU countries as workers became entrepreneurs and were now contributing to the economy of the EU country where they were living.

    Sen said, ''as of end of 2000, the number of the Turkish entrepreneurs in the EU countries reached 80,600 and the annual turnover by these businessmen rose to 68.1 billion German marks.''

    Stressing that the total investment by the Turkish entrepreneurs in the EU countries was 17.4 billion German marks and total employment was 419 thousand people and the number of Turkish people living in EU countries had reached 3.5 million, Sen said that according to TAM surveys, the population of Turkish origin in Europe would reach 4.8 million in 2015.

    Noting that the number of the Turkish entrepreneurs in the EU countries would reach 160 thousand in 2015, Sen said that their total investments would increase to 40 billion German marks, annual turnover would reach 170 billion German marks and the number of people employed by those Turkish businessmen would rise to 960 thousand.

    Recalling that the the number of Turkish people living in Germany had reached 3.5 million, Sen said that this number was seven-fold of Luxembourg's population.

    Stating that the number of Turkish enterprises in Germany had reached 59, 500 and their total investments was nearly 13.6 billion German marks, Sen said, ''these enterprises' annual turnover is 55.7 billion German marks and trhe employment they created is 327 thousand people. It is socio- economically very important that these people who went to Germany as workers are now businessmen.''

    [08] TECHNICAL TEAM STARTS INQUIRING U.S. WAR PLANE CRASH

    BATMAN- The technical team from the Incirlik Base in southern Adana province on Thursday started inquiring the wreckage of the U.S. F-16 war plane which crashed into ground near Besiri township of southeastern Batman province on Wednesday.

    The technical team of 30 people has not found the black box yet.

    Sources said that the wreckage will be pulled away as technical team ends its inquiry.

    [09] EIGHT PEOPLE DIE AND NINE OTHERS INJURED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

    TRABZON- Eight people died and nine other were seriously injured in a traffic accident that occurred in Dagbasi region in Arakli township in the Black Sea Trabzon province on Thursday.

    The accident happened when a midibus, going from Arakli township to Dagbasi hamlet, crashed into a lorry and overturned.

    When the midibus crashed into the lorry, the body of the lorry broke off. Meanwhile, another truck crashed into the body of the lorry.

    Suleyman Bayguven, Cafer Bas, Dogukan Malkoc, Ayse Malkoc, Ali Kilicaslan, Ayla Cebi, Hanim Kurt, and Gulizar Balci died.

    Ali Gumustas, Bekir Gokgoz, Mustafa Davutoglu, Yakup Terzi, Hayrettin Kurt, Sefer Kurt, Hulya Kaplan, Sinan Kurt and Mehmet Erdogan were immediately hospitalized.

    [10] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM HOLDS CONTACTS IN MACEDONIA -CEM WISHES RESTRUCTURING IN POLITICAL DIALOGUE PROCESS IN MACEDONIA TO BE DEVELOPED IN A WAY WHICH WON'T CAUSE LONGING FOR 1974 CONSTITUTION AND FOR THE PAST

    SKOPJE- Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Thursday that he wished the restructuring in political dialogue process in Macedonia to be developed in a way which won't cause longing for the 1974 Constitution and the past.

    Cem, who is paying a visit to Macedonia, firstly met with his Macedonian courterpart Ilinka Mitreva, and issued a press statement with Mitreva after the meeting.

    Noting that Turkey follows closely the studies for preparing a constitution in Macedonia and the status of Macedonian of Turkish origin in these studies, Cem said that all the ethnicities must have a right to say and be effective in the dialogue process.

    Cem said that he had productive and important meetings with Mitreva, adding that ''there are certain difficulties in Macedonia for the moment. We believe that the Macedonian nation will overcome all these difficulties.''

    Cem indicated that the sovereignty, integrity and stability of Macedonia is very important for Turkey, adding that the support of Turkey to Macedonia in this framework will continue.

    ''We praise the efforts of Macedonia and the steps taken to overcome the difficulties,'' said Cem and noted that ''the ''efforts and contributions'' of NATO and EU to Macedonia are positive.

    Cem said that the international society has a different approach regarding international society's economic aid to Macedonia, and remarked that the aid should not be conditional.

    ''One thing should not be forgotten here, the economic contribution must have an aspect which will develop the political dialogue,'' Cem said.

    Giving a message to the sides of political dialogue in Macedonia, Cem said that ''prentending not to see certain facts makes bigger the difficulty and it can negatively affect the integrity. Likewise, suggesting immoderate demands can be harmful. We believe that the Macedonian government and nation will find a middle way between these two ways.''

    Mitreva said that Turkey and Macedonia can be shown as two countries having real friendship relations, thanking to Turkey for the efforts carried out to solve the crisis in Macedonia without giving damage to the unitary structure of Macedonia.

    Mitreva said that Cem gave her the message that Turkey is ready to send a troop and make contributions to Macedonia within the scope of disarmament mission of NATO.

    Mitreva said that Macedonia is resolved for membership to the EU and NATO, stressing the importance of the support Turkey extends for Macedonia's membership to NATO.

    Mitreva said that she will pay a visit to Turkey.

    Upon a question, Mitreva said that ''I believe that the Turkish parties have to take part in the dialogue process. Citizens of Turkish origin people in Macedonia are faithful citizens of Macedonia and I believe that their participation in the political dialogue will positively affect the dialogue.''

    Cem will also be received by Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski and Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski the same day.

    [11] MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT AND PREMIER RECEIVE FOREIGN MINISTER CEM

    SKOPJE- Foreign Minister Ismail Cem who is currently in Macedonia was seperately received by Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski and Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski on Thursday.

    Diplomatic sources said that Georgievski asked Cem to bring onto agenda the participation of Macedonian citizens of Turkish origin in political dialogue process in his meetings with U.S. and EU officials.

    Georgievski said that western officials are worried by the fact that other groups in Macedonia will come up with similar claims if the participation of Turks in the dialogue process in Macedonia is accepted.

    Geogievski told Cem that Macedonia also wishes citizens of Turkish origin people to take part in the dialogue process and he requested Cem to focus on the issue in his meeting with representatives of U.S. and EU to Macedonia.

    Cem will also hold contacts at Turkish Embassy in Skopje with representatives of Turkish, Albanian and Macedonian political parties today.

    [12] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK: ''NUMBER OF INMATES IN PRISONS REDUCED TO 50, 000 AFTER LAW ON CONDITIONAL RELEASE AND SUSPENSION OF PUNISHMENTS TOOK EFFECT''

    ADANA - Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said on Thursday that the number of inmates in prisons was reduced to 50,000 after the law on Conditional Release and Suspension of Crimes took effect.

    Turk, currently on a visit to southern Adana province, responded to the questions of reporters.

    Turk said there were around 73,000 inmates in prisons before the law on Conditional Release and Suspension of Punishments was issued, noting that this number was around 59,000 at the moment.

    Pointing out that number of inmates in prisons was reduced to 50,000 after the law took effect, Turk said, ''the number increased in time. One of important problems of Turkey is the need for new prison buildings.''

    ''Commiting crimes increases in crises periods. Economic problems should be solved soon. Efforts should be underway to integrate those who were released from the hospitals with the public. Business opportunies should be provided to those people. There are work places and sports halls in new prisons,'' Turk said.

    [13] DOCTORS UNION ASKS STATE TO MEET EXPENSES OF INMATES' MEDICAL TREATMENT WHO ARE RELEASED

    ANKARA - Central Council of the Turkish Doctors Union (TTB) asked on Thursday the state to meet the medical treatment expenses of inmates who were on death fast and who were released from prison due to their health problems.

    TTB Central Council said that a total of 128 inmates were released from prison due to their health problems, adding that the state has to meet their medical treatment expenses.

    [14] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK: ''OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS UNDERWAY REGARDED WITH EXTRADITION OF TECIMER''

    ADANA- Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said on Thursday that legal proceedings regarded with the extradition of Aysegul Tecimer continues. Tecimer was captured in Morocco on Sunday on charges of smuggling historical works of art.

    Responding to a question about extradition of Tecimer, Turk said, ''legal proceedings continue. The ministry makes necessary preparations.''

    Turk said Turkey and Morocco signed an agreement in 1990 regarded with cooperation in legal affairs, noting that, ''Turkey approved this agreement. However, the Moroccan side has not completed the procedures yet. We are working together with Foreign Ministry to launch an initiative for the implementation of the agreement. Nevertheless, cooperation was made with Morocco basing on principle of reciprocity although the procedures have not been completed yet.

    Turk said the Moroccan court decided to arrest the person in question to be extradited to Turkey, and added that the arrest decision and files regarded with other procedures will be translated to Arabic within this period and should be send to Moroccan authorities through diplomatic ways. Our preparations continue.''

    Amasya Basic Civil Court had tried Tecimer in her absentia and decided to imprison her to 4,5 years. Later, the Court had applied to Interpol, which issued red bulletin for Tecimer.

    Tecimer was punished on charge of involving in the stealing of an old Koran from Amasya Beyazıt Library in 1994.

    [15] DEPUTY PREMIER YILMAZ SAYS HE BELIEVES THAT INCREASES IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE AND INTEREST RATES ARE TEMPORARY

    ANKARA - Mesut Yılmaz, deputy premier, state minister and the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) said on Thursday that the government believed that the increases in foreign exchange rate and interest rates are temporary.

    Responding to questions of journalists, Yılmaz said that the most important part of the leaders summit which was held on Wednesday was to stress once again the government's faithfullness to the economic programme and its resolution in its implementation.

    Yılmaz said that the coalition leaders got information from officials of the Treasury, Central Bank and Banking Regulatory and Inspectory Board about the daily situation in economy at the meeting yesterday. They discussed the measures that should be taken in short term, said Yılmaz.

    When journalists asked Yılmaz if there is a revision in the government within these measures, Yılmaz said that the coalition parties mainly focused on technical measures at this stage.

    ''When these measures are taken, the economy will come to an ease,'' said Yılmaz.

    ''The foreign exchange rate in Turkey and the position of Turkish currency to foreign currencies is not realistic for the moment,'' Yılmaz said.

    When a journalist asked Yılmaz if foreign banks collected foreign exchange from the market and if domestic banks would act together with Central Bank, Yılmaz said that ''we had heard some incidents. The Banking Board takes necessary measures. Such events take place as a result of the opportunists who want to have a high amount of undeserved income from temporary difficulties in the country. The state is obliged to prevent such developments.''

    [16] EXTERNAL DEBT PAYMENTS -312.91 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS REPAID IN EXTERNAL DEBT BETWEEN JULY 1 AND 18

    ANKARA- Turkey repaid a total of 312.91 million U.S. dollars in external debt between July 1 and 18, 2001.

    The Central Bank data show that the Treasury repaid 271.30 million U.S. dollars; the Central Bank repaid 7.41 million U.S. dollars; and the administrations with general and consolidated budget paid the remaining 34.20 million U.S. dollars.

    Turkey has repaid 6 billion 383.30 million U.S. dollars in external debt since the beginning of the year.

    [17] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK DECREASE BY 466 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

    ANKARA - The foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank decreased by 466 million U.S. dollars between July 6-23, 2001.

    According to the Central Bank's weekly bulletin, the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves which were 16 billion 379 million U.S. dollars on July 6, decreased to 15 billion 913 million U.S. dollars on July 13.

    Meanwhile, total foreign exchange reserves of banks and private finance organizations increased 396 million U.S. dollars from 12 billion 659 million U.S. dollars to 13 billion 55 million U.S. dollars as of June 29.

    Meanwhile, the international reserves comprising gold reserves of Turkey and foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank, commercial banks and private finance organizations decreased by 182 million U.S. dollars from 30 billion 724 million U.S. dollars to 30 billion 542 million U.S. dollars as of June 29.

    [18] FIVE NEW UNITS SET UP TO CARRY OUT FINANCIAL COOPERATION WITH EU

    ANKARA- A total of five new units were set up to carry out financial cooperation with the European Union (EU).

    A prime ministry circular, bearing the signature of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, said five new units, namely National Financial Support Coordinator, Financial Cooperation Committee, National Fund and National Authorization Official, Joint Follow-Up Committee, and Central Finance Tender Unit, were established.

    The circular recalled that a new process had been started with the EU after Turkey's candidacy to the EU was approved in Helsinki Summit of the EU in December 10-11, 1999.

    The circular said in pre-accession period, improvement of our relations with the EU is foreseen within the framework of Accession Partnership Accord and National Program. It said financial aid that will be provided from the EU would play an important role in implementation of the National Program which was adopted in March 19, 2001 by Council of Ministers.

    Pointing out that the financial aid in question should support Turkey's full membership target, the circular said the donations that will be obtained within this framework and the credits that will be used from the European Investment Bank would be within the scope of the projects that are in line with the priorities included in Accession Partnership Accord and the National Program.

    The circular said by considering this necessity, Turkey should set up a unit to carry out financial cooperation with the EU.

    ''State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, responsible for relations with the EU, will carry out the National Support Coordinatorship, which will provide financial coordination with the EU,'' it said.

    The unit will provide necessary coordination to connect financial aid of the EU with the accession process and usage of the funds only for this target, and will also coordinate evaluation of the programs.

    The circular said Financial Cooperation Committee was set up aiming to provide necessary harmonization regarded with the works carried out for financial cooperation.

    The committee will be comprised of representatives from Foreign Ministry, Finance Ministry, State Planning Institute Undersecretariat, Treasury Undersecretariat, and General Secretariat for the European Union.

    The committee will determine priorities in usage of financial resources, prepare annual programs within the scope of the priorities that would be determined, inspect distribution of financial resources in line with priorities, cover implementation of financial cooperation, and evaluate them.

    The circular said the financial aid that will be provided from the EU would be kept in a National Fund that will be opened by Treasury. It said the State Minister responsible for economy was defined as National Authorization Official.

    The Joint Follow-Up Committee will convene at least once in a year and review the programs, and evaluate the realization of the targets included in the finance protocols.

    Prime Ministry Project Implementation Unit will be responsible to carry out the procedures of the tenders in accordance with the method determined by the EU Commission for the projects within the scope of the financial cooperation.


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