Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-07-22

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

22 JULY 2001 Sunday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 22, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy said that Turkey had experienced a very positive process between March and June but this process ''had an accident'' in the end of June and beginning of July. ''However, we have entered the positive process again for the last four days. I strongly believe that we will overcome this serious crisis by the end of the year. Of course, the real sector is the key to this. The arrangements we made in finance sector and the program's financial and monetary policies dimension actually aim to enable the real sector to make investments, production and increase employment more easily,'' he said.

BARGE ''CASTRO OTTO'' PASSES THROUGH ISTANBUL STRAIT

Castro Otto, a barge which is a flat-bottomed vessel and which will be used in Blue Stream Project passed through Istanbul Strait in a ceremony. The Liberian-flagged barge entered Istanbul Strait at about 09:30 a.m. The strait was closed to traffic during the passage of the 191 meter long platform weighing 33,862 grosstons. Two tugboats, British-flagged 192-meter- long Porto Solve weighing 1,869 grosstons and Danish-flagged 40-meter-long Stevns Power weighing 766 grosstons towed the platform through the strait escorted by two Turkish ships. Meanwhile, a ceremony took place at the Ciragan Palace with the participation of directors of the ENI Company which has undertaken installation of pipeline. The barge passed from Istanbul Strait in nearly three hours, and sailed out to the Black Sea.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Necmettin Erbakan, the former leader of outlawed Welfare Party (RP), gave founders of the Felicity Party (SP) advice about reformists led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the former mayor of Istanbul. Erbakan called on founders of the SP to ignore Erdogan and not to accept them as their interlocutor. Meanwhile, Erbakan gave a message that he would return to political life after announcement of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) verdict. He said, ''the ECHR will announce its verdict about the RP on July 30. Then, unfairness will be removed.''

BBC COULD NOT TRANSLATE SP'S NAME INTO ENGLISH

BBC has difficulties in translating Felicity Party's (SP) name into English. In its web-site, BBC covered foundation of the SP. It said that name of the new political party was roughly translated as ''happiness'' or ''prosperity''. BBC preferred to use the SP's name in Turkish ''Saadet''.

ELVAN CAN OF TURKEY WINS GOLD MEDAL

Elvan Can of Turkey won gold medal in women's 5,000 metres in the European Youth Athletics Championships. She also broke Turkish record with her score of 8.53.42. Earlier, she took another gold medal in women's 3,000 metres.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy was bewildered while watching wild parties in Istanbul. He watched a firework show which cost 1,000 U.S. dollars per minute, and asked Central Bank former Deputy Governor Ercan Kumcu, ''is this the declining Turkish economy?''

SCREAM IN LETTER

A young person who was sent to the U.S. to reach PH degree by the Izmir High Technology Institute, sent a letter to the rector's office. In the letter, he said, ''I will stay in the U.S. to perform my profession in a better way and to prepare a better future for myself and for my family. It was so difficult for me to take such a decision. I miss my country. I do not feel myself happy in the U.S. But if I return to Turkey, I cannot have a better future for my children.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

While high temperatures distress people throughout Turkey, it snowed in Yuksekova township of eastern province of Hakkari.

COAL MINE COLLAPSES KILLING A WORKER

A coal mine in Mihaliccik township of Eskisehir in central Anatolia collapsed, killing a worker. Cevat Dogru, 40, had lost his life when coal mine collapsed. A full investigation into the incident is under way.

IRANIAN NATURAL GAS TO ARRIVE IN TURKEY END-JULY

Exports of natural gas from Iran to Turkey will start end-July. Iranian National Natural Gas Company Chairman Hamdullah Muhammad Nejad said that construction of 255-km pipeline from Tabriz to border region with Turkey was concluded. He added that they would start pumping natural gas to Turkey on July 30.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

The New York Times covered wild parties in Istanbul. In his article, Doulas Franz said, ''a black Porsche Carrera swings to the curb and two doormen in tuxedos rush to open the doors for the driver, who is in wraparound designer sunglasses and his passenger, a young woman wearing a short red silk dress and improbably high heels. Whisked past the paparazzi, they disappear into Laila, a sprawling club on the Bosporus where the city's hip and rich party away the summer nights. Not far away, Unsal Akayoglu is pulling off his white jacket and ending another 12-hour day as a waiter in a sweltering traditional Turkish restaurant. He will take three buses home to the small apartment he shares with his mother. He pays almost half his monthly earnings of 160 U.S. dollars in rent and can no longer buy meat or fresh fruit. Istanbul is like many cosmopolitan cities with its mix of rich and poor. But as Turkey ends the fifth month of the worst economic crisis in its modern history, the gap between the wealthy elite and struggling poor is growing wider and more visible.''

KESK PROTESTS G-8 SUMMIT AND GLOBALIZATION

The Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK) Istanbul Branches Platform held a demonstration in Istanbul to protest G-8 Summit in Genoa, Italy, and globalization. Nearly 200 people gathered in Iskele Square in Kadikoy district of Istanbul with placards in their hands. They observed a minute of silence out of respect to the demonstrator who was killed during anti-globalization demonstrations in Genoa.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

End-year inflation target will be increased from 57.6 percent to 64.5 percent due to floating foreign currency regime. Officials started to write the letter to be given to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

ANCIENT CITY OF EPHESUS TO HOST WORLDWIDE FAMOUS GUESTS

Following concerts of Sting and Elton John, the leading names of the music world, western province of Izmir is getting ready to host three more famous guests. Russian Army Chorus and Dance Company, Spanish guitarist Ernesto Bitetti and Symirna Chamber Orchestra will greet Turkish people in the ancient Ephesus Theatre.

SUPPORT FROM G-8 COUNTRIES

Leaders of the most industrialized countries of the world (Germany, Italy, France, Britain, the U.S., Japan, Canada and Russia) took up economic crises both in Turkey and Argentina during their summit meeting in Genoa, Italy. They considered initiatives of Turkey and Argentina to overcome economic crisis as positive. The leaders decided to support Turkey and Argentina in cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Although Indonesia which is suffering economic and political crisis is far from Turkey, similarity of the process creates concern. Political uncertainty, fear of division, terrorism backed by external powers and relations with the IMF and World Bank which have turned into an adventure make two Muslim countries exactly the same although they are far away from each other.

NEW TARGET OF PROGRAM

There is a revision in the end-year inflation target and foreign exchange curreny rate target. Economic crises which erupted one after another messed up the economic program targets. Inflation target will be increased from 57.6 to 65 percent and the end-year U.S. dollar currency target will be increased from 1 million 190 thousand Turkish liras (TL) to 1 million 250 thousand TL. When economy officials took into consideration the next five- month period, it became obligatory to revise the targets. They decided to make revisions in almost all targets mentioned in the letter of intent presented to the IMF.

CONTENTS

[01] IT SNOWS IN YUKSEKOVA

[02] SECURITY FORCES INTERCEPT NEARLY 200 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

[03] FLOW OF NATURAL GAS FROM IRAN INTO TURKEY TO START IN END-JULY

[04] TREASURY TO SELL 3-MONTH BONDS ON TUESDAY

[05] NUMBER OF TOURISTS VISITING ADIYAMAN INCREASES TO 4,271

[06] FOREIGN CAPITAL IN TURKEY

[07] CENTRAL BANK TO SELL 200 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR THIS WEEK

[08] ANTALYA OFFERING PERFECT HEALTH CARE TO TOURISTS

[09] GAP REGION EXPORTS 9.1 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS TO AFRICA

[10] SP TO HOLD ITS FIRST GROUP MEETING ON MONDAY

[11] PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF DURABLES DECREASE

[01] IT SNOWS IN YUKSEKOVA

Sources told the A.A correspondent that following torrential rains in the province, it snowed on altitudes of Yuksekova township.

[02] SECURITY FORCES INTERCEPT NEARLY 200 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

The illegal immigrants of Somalian, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Afghan, Iraqi, Sudanese and Iranian origin were taken into custody for violating the Turkish borders and the passport law.

They will be deported once the legal proceedings are completed.

[03] FLOW OF NATURAL GAS FROM IRAN INTO TURKEY TO START IN END-JULY

Iranian National Gas Company Chairman Hamdullah Muhammad Nejad told reporters on Saturday that construction of the 255-kilometer natural gas pipeline from Tabriz to Bazergan border gate on the Turkish broder had been completed.

Noting that gas pumping would start on July 30 in accordance with the agreement signed between Turkey and Iran in 1996, Nejad said that a 40-inch gas pipes had been installed to increase exports of gas to Turkey.

Under the 20 billion U.S. dollars of agreement signed in 1996, 3 billion cubic meters of gas will be exported to Turkey in the first year and annual amount would be increased to 10 billion cubic meters in 2007.

[04] TREASURY TO SELL 3-MONTH BONDS ON TUESDAY

The value date of these bonds is July 25, 2001 and maturity is October 24, 2001. Treasury foresees minimum net 772 trillion Turkish liras (TL) borrowing.

There won't be average sale in the tender in which single price system will be valid and the interest will be paid on October 24, 2001 and it will constitute basis for 2-year and 3-year state debenture bonds coupon payments.

Treasury will repay 5 quadrillion 150 trillion TL in domestic borrowing in July.

[05] NUMBER OF TOURISTS VISITING ADIYAMAN INCREASES TO 4,271

Adiyaman Museum Curator Fehmi Eraslan told the A.A correspondent on Sunday that 4,190 tourists visited the museum last year.

Describing Adiyaman Museum as one of the most important museums in Turkey, Eraslan noted that there were 18,669 archaeological and ethnographic works in the museum.

He said that number of works displayed in the museum would increase after archaeological excavations were completed in ancient city of Perre.

[06] FOREIGN CAPITAL IN TURKEY

According to the Treasury Undersecretariat statistics as of end of March 2001, 7,988 companies or persons from 11 countries (including half- independent and autonomous regions) join the foreign capital companies operating in Turkey as capitalists.

In addition to these, World Bank's subordinate organization IFC has partnerships in 10 companies and IDB has partnerships in 13 companies.

Jersey Islands (13 partnerships), Isle of Man (1), Nigeria (1), Peru (1), Chile (3), Tatarstan (5), Afghanistan (29), Arubo (1), Bahamas (6), Barbados (1), Belize (3), Bermuda (8), Cayman Islands (14), Gibraltar (2), Chechnya (2), Dagestan (1), Ecuador (1), Indonesia (1), Ethiopia (7), Palestine (4), Guernsey Islands (2), Yemen (20), India (17), Virgin Islands (21) are among some home countries.

As of March 2001, foreign capital companies' total capital amount was 5 quadrillion 897 trillion 868 billion 826 million Turkish liras (TL) and foreign capital amount in these companies was 3 quadrillion 284 trillion 651 billion 765 million TL.

As of end of March 2001, foreign capital flow increased to 29 billion 223 million U.S. dollars.

Top 30 foreign capital companies according to home countries are as follows:

. Number of Foreign

Home Country In Company

------------ --------------------
1- Germany 1,452

2- Netherlands 610

3- U.S. 597
4- Britain 564

5- Iran 507

6- France 393

7- Italy 327

8- Switzerland 318

9- Iraq 294

10- Russia 278

11- Syria 227

12- Austuria 138

13- China 130

14- Saudi Arabia 130

15- Belgium 129

16- Azerbaijan 122

17- Japan 104

18- Greece 88

19- Lebanon 85

20- TRNC 83
21- Luxembourg 78

22- Israel 76

23- Sweden 76

24- Jordan 72

25- Spain 70

26- Denmark 62

27- South Korea 55

28- Canada 43

29- Ukraine 36

30- Egypt 30

[07] CENTRAL BANK TO SELL 200 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR THIS WEEK

Central Bank will hold a forex tender on July 25 to sell at least 100 million U.S. dollar and hold another forex tender on July 27 to sell at least 100 million U.S. dollar.

The bank sold 835 million U.S. dollar in 7 forex tenders it held since July 11.

[08] ANTALYA OFFERING PERFECT HEALTH CARE TO TOURISTS

He said that people, when they travel, were most of the time negatively affected by climate changes.

''Tourists visiting Antalya are also having health problems related to the climate change. Especially tourists who come from cold climates don't feel themselves well in the first days in Antalya's hot and humid weather.

Tourists who come to Antalya between June 15 and September 15 mostly suffer from sun stroke, sun allergy, sun burns, sports injuries, diarrhea and ear infections. Tourists are offered immediate medical service to treat these diseases whose treatment are relatively easy,'' he explained.

Barut indicated that there were 12 hospitals, 40 clinics, 40 ambulances, and several state hospitals.

''Our hospitals have all the necessary equipment to offer good service to tourists. Ten years ago, private ambulance-planes were coming from Europe to Antalya for tourists who needed it. Now they are not coming unless there is a serious situation. Tourists want to be treated at Antalya's hospitals, '' he added.

Barut remarked that all tourism facilities in Antalya had doctors and health personnel and that 4.5 million tourists were returning to their countries healthy every year.

He said tourists who visit African countries get vaccinated before they go to these countries but tourists coming to Antalya don't feel a need to do

this since they know they will get perfect medical care if they are in need.

[09] GAP REGION EXPORTS 9.1 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF AGRICULTURAL AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS TO AFRICA

In the same period last year, the region exported agricultural and industrial products of 6 million 308 thousand U.S. dollars to African countries.

Officials at the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Associations told the A.A correspondent on Sunday that they exported 1 million 184 thousand U.S. dollars in grain-cereals; 292 thousand U.S. dollars in dried fruits; and 7 million 630 thousand U.S. dollars in textiles.

Most of the goods were exported to Egypt, Algeria and Morocco.

[10] SP TO HOLD ITS FIRST GROUP MEETING ON MONDAY

The meeting which will be held under chairmanship of Recai Kutan, is expected to focus on organizational works and summer program.

Within framework of summer program, 51 deputies of the SP will tour Turkey to inform people on their organizational works.

[11] PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION OF DURABLES DECREASE

In addition to decrease in production and consumption in first five months of the year, also sales of durables reduced.

Production and sales of some durable consumer goods in first five months of 2000 and 2001 and their difference are as follows:

PRODUCTION DIFFERENCE
PRODUCT 2000 2001 (percent)

-------- --------- --------- -------
Refrigerator 1.049.837 861.684 -17.9

Washing Machine 557.285 394.826 -29.2

Oven 294.876 235.514 -20.1

Vacuum Cleaner 531.490 255.751 -51.9

Sewing Machine 33.823 6.656 -80.3

TV 3.523.123 3.323.733 -5.7
Video 7.975 2.661 -66.6

Music set 39.060 12.111 -69.0

SALES DIFFERENCE
PRODUCT 2000 2001 (percent)

-------- --------- --------- -------
Refrigerator 895.203 678.678 -24.2

Washing Machine 563.581 370.791 -34.2

Oven 261.910 194.747 -25.6

Vacuum Cleaner 471.925 209.814 -55.5

Sewing Machine 23.607 8.248 -65.1

TV 3.350.386 3.153.342 -5.9
Video 7.563 2.400 -68.3

Music set 35.268 13.967 -60.4

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