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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-08-03Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 03 AUGUST 2001 Friday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 3, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)YILMAZ RESPONDS TO COLUMNISTSMesut Yżlmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) and Deputy Premier responded to columnists who had earlier claimed that ANAP would not even pass the threshold in a possible election. Yżlmaz stressed that even a dead ANAP can pass the threshold. Yżlmaz stressed that the position of opposition parties are critical, adding that they can't pass the threshold in a possible election. Yżlmaz added that he took lessons from his earlier mistakes, noting that he wants his brother Turgut Yżlmaz to take part in the party administration. WHEN WILL PEOPLE FEEL RELIEVED? MILLIYET (LIBERAL)EQUALITY: NEITHER IN LAND NOR IN SKYAir Military Academy looks for 160 points for ladies and 145 points for men at the University Entrance Exams in order to accept them to the school. This difference has revived a debate on ''discrimination between men and women.'' Jurists and academicians said that the application is against the Constitution and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which was also signed by Turkey in 1985. YILMAZ SAYS DERVIS CAN JOIN ANAP party,'' Yżlmaz said. Yżlmaz stressed that those who expect ANAP deputies to leave ANAP after the congress will be disappointed, adding ''new persons will join ANAP.'' SABAH (LIBERAL)GOKCEK SAYS REFORMISTS ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN FPMelih Gokcek, the mayor of Ankara from the banned Virtue Party (FP), said that the reformists who came together under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the former Istanbul mayor seem to be the successors of the FP. ''The new party should be composed of rightists and leftists who have common sense. I saw in the papers that the founder members of the new party are all from the banned FP and Welfare Party (RP),'' Gokcek said, adding he favours the reformists, yet he wants to be in a formation which embraces broader sections of the society. PROSECUTORS WARNED ABOUT ECHR CUMHURIYET (LEFT)WORLD BANK TO GIVE ''POVERTY'' AID TO TURKEYWordl Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) will give aid to Turkey, which is becoming poorer and poorer everyday. Turkey will pay back the loan worth of 100 million dollars with its interest. However World Bank shows this aid as if it is a donation. This has also caused unrest in the cabinet. State Minister Hasan Gemici and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that the money was not a donation, but a credit, adding that it damaged the respectibility of Turkey. World Bank had also given credits to Brazil, Ecuador and Argentina. CABINET DISCUSSES CUMHURIYET'S HEADLINE RADIKAL (LEFT)U.S. DIPLOMAT PHONES TURKISH DIPLOMAT ABOUT UZAN HOLDINGThe U.S. has taken action after Motorola, the American communication giant couldn't get back the money it gave to Turkish Telsim mobile operator company owned by Uzanlar holding. A high ranking official from the U.S. State Department phoned a Turkish diplomat and noted that the problem got very serious. The U.S. official also wanted to know which institution monitored the process. The Turkish diplomat investigated the issue and called him back saying it was not the government, but the Capital Market Board which monitored the developments regarding the Holding's debt to the U.S. firm. TURKIYE (RIGHT)FITCH DOWNGRADES TURKEY'S RATINGSFitch, an international credit rating agency, downgraded Turkey's long-term foreign and local currency ratings to 'B' and 'B-' from 'B+' and 'B', respectively. Releasing a statement, Fitch said ''Fitch downgraded Turkey's long-term foreign and local currency ratings to 'B' and 'B-' from 'B+' and 'B', respectively, citing concerns about public debt sustainability. The Rating Watch Negative assigned directly after the financial crisis broke in February is removed, but the ratings have been placed on negative Outlook.'' ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)HUNGARY WELCOMES F-16 PROPOSAL OF TURKEYThe Hungarian government welcomed the proposal of Turkey to give 24 F-16 planes to Hungary. The Hungarian government said that it would make a decision about purchasing war planes until the end of this month. Hungarian Defense Minister Janos Szabo said that they received offers from many countries toda date, adding that they seriously think about the offers of the U.S., Turkey and Sweden. The U.S. also proposed to sell 24 F-16s to Hungary, while Sweden offered to sell JAS-39 Gripens to Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that Turkey has given the best proposal among the three countries. Officials at the Hungarian Defense Ministry said that National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu told his Hungarian counterpart Szabo that Turkey would sell the planes much more cheaper than U.S. [02] SEZER APPLIES TO CONSTITUTIONAL COURTANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer applied to the Constitutional Court requesting the abolishment and stopping the enforcement of the law no. 4706 on sale of treasury lands and the law no. 4691 on Development of Technology Regions.Sezer applied to the Court on July 30, 2001 requesting the law on Development of Technology Regions which entered into force on July 6, 2001 and the law on sale of treasury lands which went into force on July 18, 2001, to be abolished. [03] CENTRAL BANK SELLS 60 MILLION DOLLARSANKARA - Central Bank sold 60 million U.S. dollars in an auction it held on Friday to sell foreign exchange to banks.The average bid in the auction which the Central Bank held within framework of forex auctions program became 1 million 353 thousand 513 Turkish liras. Maximum bid was 1 million 356 thousand 100 TL and the minumum bid was 1 million 352 thousand 100 TL. [04] PEACE TORCHES TO BE LIT FOR TURKISH-GREEK FRIENDSHIPCANAKKALE - Residents of western Canakkale's Babakale Cape, the headland of Turkey in the West, and residents of Greece's Molivos holiday village in Mythilini Island, will light ''peace torches'' at night of August 9.Sources said on Friday that 2nd Lekton Peace Festival would be held in Babakale Cape within framework of the 38th Troya Festival that would take place in Canakkale between August 10-16. The festival aims to consolidate Turkish-Greek friendship in the region where the two countries are the most closer to each other. Canakkale Municipality Festival Committee officials said that peace torches would be lit and fire-works show would be staged during the festival in which Turkish and Greek musicians would participate. Officials said that also representatives from Molivos would attend this year's festival activities. [05] EXPORTS OF TEXTILES FROM BURSA PROVINCE INCREASES BY 10.3 PERCENT IN JULYBURSA - Exports of textiles from northwestern province of Bursa increased by 10.3 percent to 29 million 561 thousand U.S. dollars in July of 2001.Officials at Uludag Exporters' Unions told A.A correspondent on Friday that exports of textiles from Bursa to 97 countries and autonomous regions and eight free areas decreased 3.4 percent to 244 million 790 thousand U.S. dollars between January 1 and July 31, 2001. In the same period last year, the province exported 253 million 358 thousand U.S. dollars of textiles. The province exported textiles for the first time to 15 countries and autonomous regions including Panama, Moldova, Libya, Peru, Madagascar and Kenya, and to two free areas. The first ten countries to which Bursa exported textiles in January-July period of the year are as follows: . Exports Difference Country (thousand U.S. dollars) (percent) ------------- ----------------------- --------- U.S. 26,733 -21.6 Britain 21,565 -14.2 France 11,002 20.9 Egypt 8,928 14.3 Bulgaria 8,677 145.0 Netherlands 6,611 -6.5 Russia 5,260 21.1 Romania 5,095 40.8 [06] TREASURY SELLS NET 600.1 MILLION DOLLARS OF 1-YEAR BONDS DENOMINATED IN U.S. DOLLAR THROUGH CENTRAL BANKANKARA - Treasury Undersecretariat sold net 600.1 million U.S. dollars (or nominal 620 million U.S. dollars) of 1-year bonds denominated in U.S. dollar in an auction it held on Friday for their issuance through the Central Bank. Treasury said that the total demand for the bonds with 4 percent coupon payment once in every 6 months had been nominal 1 billion 13.5 million U.S. dollars (or net 981.1 million U.S. dollars).The settlement of the 1-year (364-day) bonds is August 2, 2002, it said. [07] GALATASARAY RANKED SEVENTH IN LIST OF BEST SOCCER CLUBS OF WORLDISTANBUL - Galatasaray of Turkey was ranked seventh in the list of the best soccer clubs of the world prepared by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).Galatasaray was ranked eleventh in last month's list. Meanwhile, Besiktas and Fenerbahce clubs of Turkey ranked 45th and 95th respectively in the list of the IFFHS. The best ten soccer clubs of the world and the ranks of Turkish clubs between August 1, 2000 and July 31, 2001 are as follows: Club Country Score --------------- ---------- ---- 2. CA Boca Juniors Argentina 306,0 3. Valencia CF Spain 279,0 4. Arsenal FC Britain 273,0 5. CR Vasco da Gama Brazil 266,0 6. FC Bayern Munich Germany 260,0 7. GALATASARAY TURKEY 259,0 9. SE Palmeiras Brazil 248,0 9. CA River Plate Argentina 248,0 45. BESIKTAS TURKEY 153,5 [08] DERVIS HOLDS MEETING WITH ECONOMY CORRESPONDENTS -''THE STATE DOES NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF LOSING INCOME'' -''IT SEEMS WE HAVE ALMOST OVERCOME THE CRISIS''ANKARA - State Minister Kemal Dervis said on Friday that the state did not have the luxury of wasting any income.Dervis held a meeting with the Economy Correspondents Association (EMD) members at the Treasury Undersecretariat building. Speaking at the meeting, Dervis said that several circles had demanded decrease in tax rates but the state, at this point, did not have the luxury of reducing its tax revenues. Responding to a question, Dervis said that Turkey had taken important steps in the process of overcoming the crisis, adding, ''it seems we have almost overcome the crisis.'' [09] INFLATION RATES IN JULY OF 2001ANKARA - The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced on Friday that wholesale prices increased 3.3 percent, and consumer prices rose 2.4 percent in July of 2001.DIE said that the annual inflation rate as of July 2001 became 65.4 percent in wholesale prices, and 56.3 percent in consumer prices. The first seven-month inflation rate became 49.3 percent in wholesale prices, and 35.5 percent in consumer prices, DIE stated. Meanwhile, the annual inflation rate according to 12-month averages as of July 2001 became 44.8 percent in wholesale prices, and 45.9 percent in consumer prices. [10] DERVIS HOLDS MEETING WITH ECONOMY CORRESPONDENTS (2) -''IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RECOVER REAL SECTOR BEFORE RECOVERY OF FINANCE SECTOR''ANKARA - State Minister Kemal Dervis said on Friday that it was impossible to recover the real sector before recovery of the finance sector. Dervis held a meeting with the Economy Correspondents Association (EMD) members at the Treasury Undersecretariat building.Speaking at the meeting, Dervis said that people in Turkey were busy with daily events which were important but they should also be engaged in long- term events. Noting that the balance between daily fluctuations and structural reforms seemed that it had been in favor of daily fluctuations to some extent, Dervis said, ''structural measures and changes which are as important as them are also being discussed.'' Stating that the Program for Transition into Sound Economy had two basic dimensions, Dervis said that one of those dimensions was settlement of stability in the markets. Dervis said that the other dimension was to increase the growth rate which had reduced below 4 percent in 1990s, to 7 percent. Recalling that Turkey had become a non-developing country on U.S. dollar basis in 1990s, Dervis said, ''this can't be accepted, especially when the growth rate has increased in the world.'' Noting that structural reforms were actually about overcoming those problems and that Turkey's structure, private sector experience, manpower and geography made a 7 percent growth rate possible, Dervis said that reforms should not fail to achieve a 7 percent growth rate. Recalling that reforms had been adopted by the Parliament rapidly, Dervis said that those reforms could be revised at any time and those reforms could be brought to Parliament again if it was necessary and that the economy management should continue within a continuous reformism. Stressing that it had been observed in the world that central and fait accompli plans were not so effective and influential, Dervis said that this function was being carried out by markets. Noting that finance sector had a great importance in functioning of markets, Dervis said that it was impossible to recover the real economy before recovery of the finance sector. Stressing that it was very natural that the politics tried to direct the economy, Dervis said that politicians had important duties like deciding on whether or not to enter the European Union (EU), rapid or slow decrease in inflation and sectoral preferences. Noting that politics should also show respect to basic rules of the market, Dervis said that necessary infrastructure had been formed. Dervis said that all legal arrangements about the program were actually the things which had been prepared in Turkey for years and that they were not the reforms which had been created abroad. Stressing that those reforms on which works had been carried out for years couldn't be adopted, Dervis said, ''so we should not consider them reforms invented abroad or pressure.'' Noting that external source had been used to overcome the crisis, reduce costs stemming from transition process and short-term difficulties while the reforms were being prepared, Dervis said that the organizations which extended sources observed the performances of the economy management and extended support according to the results. Recalling that they were not donations, Dervis said that they were the sources which would be repaid together with interests. Stressing that there might be differences of opinion among the economy management from time to time regarding relations with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, Dervis said, ''however, we have to signed anything that the economy management in Turkey thought inappropriate.'' [11] INFLATION RATES IN JULY OF 2001 (2)ANKARA - The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced on Friday that annual inflation rate as of July 2001 became 65.4 percent in wholesale prices, and 56.3 percent in consumer pricesThe annual inflation rate had been 52.3 percent in wholesale prices, and 56.2 percent in consumer prices in July of 2000. The monthly and annual inflation rates in wholesale and consumer prices since 1998 are as follows: Monthly Inflation. Wholesale Consumer-------------------------- --------------------- ----- ---- ---- ---- ----- ---- ---- ---- --- Feb 4.6 3.4 4.1 2.6 4.4 3.2 3.7 1.8 Mar 4.0 4.0 3.1 10.1 4.3 4.1 2.9 6.1 Apr 4.0 5.3 2.4 14.4 4.7 4.9 2.3 10.3 May 3.3 3.2 1.7 6.3 3.5 2.9 2.2 5.1 Jun 1.6 1.8 0.3 2.9 2.4 3.3 0.7 3.1 Jul 2.5 4.0 1.0 3.3 3.4 3.8 2.2 2.4 Aug 2.4 3.3 0.9 4.0 4.2 2.2 Sep 5.3 5.9 2.3 6.7 6.0 3.1 Oct 4.1 4.7 2.8 6.1 6.3 3.1 Nov 3.4 4.1 2.4 4.3 4.2 3.7 Dec 2.5 6.8 1.9 3.3 5.9 2.5 Annual Inflation. Wholesale Consumer-------------------------- ----------------------- ----- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- --- Feb 89.6 48.3 67.5 26.5 99.3 63.9 69.7 33.4 Mar 86.0 48.2 66.1 35.1 97.2 63.5 67.9 37.5 Apr 83.3 50.0 61.5 50.9 93.6 63.9 63.8 48.3 May 79.9 50.0 59.2 57.7 91.4 63.0 62.7 52.4 Jun 76.7 50.3 56.8 61.8 90.6 64.3 58.6 56.1 Jul 72.1 52.4 52.3 65.4 85.3 65.0 56.2 56.3 Aug 67.4 53.7 48.9 81.4 65.4 53.2 Sep 65.9 54.4 43.9 80.4 64.3 49.0 Oct 62.0 55.2 41.4 76.6 64.7 44.4 Nov 58.6 56.3 39.1 72.8 64.6 43.8 Dec 54.3 62.9 32.7 69.7 68.8 39.0 [12] BRSA SAYS IKTISAT BANKASI'S SALE PROCESS STARTSANKARA - Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF) Executive Board gave the start for Iktisat Bankasi T.S.A.'s sale process.Banking Regulatory and Supervisory Authority (BRSA) said on Friday that investors who were interested in the bank should apply to the SDIF until 05:00 p.m. on August 13, 2001 with the documents mentioned in ''Regulations for Rules and Principles of Permit Applications about Banks' Foundation and Share Transfers'' published in the Official Gazette on July 27, 2001. Turkish and foreign applicants who will be considered satisfactory will be determined until 05:00 p.m. on August 17, 2001 and they will be informed. Secrecy agreements will be signed with those investors and they will be allowd to carry out observations in the bank by September 21, 2001. Investors will submit their bids to the SDIF until 05:00 p.m. on September
24, 2001. [13] STATE MINISTER AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: -''TURKEY'S PROBLEM IS NOT RESTRICTED WITH ELECTION AND POLITICAL PARTIES LAW. WE HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL PROBLEM''ANKARA - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said on Friday, ''Turkey's problem is not restricted with the Election and Political Parties Law. Turkey has a constitutional problem.'' In an interview with montly Politics Magazine, Yilmaz said, ''the most important and the most successful services of Turkey's political tradition were offered during the periods of political parties which came to power alone. Unfortunately, Turkish political structure has not been allowing a political party to come to power alone since 1992.''Referring to the Election and Political Parties Law, Yilmaz said, ''Turkey's problem is not restricted with the Election and Political Parties Law. Turkey has a constitutional problem. Despite partial amentments, the current Constitution is far away from meeting requirements of our country, requests of our people, and criteria of the European Union (EU). Turkey should prepare a new Constitution. However, preparation of a new Constitution seems extremely difficult in current structure. Even if a new Constitution is not prepared, we should make a comprehensive change in the current text. One of the most prior issues of the new legislative year is to debate the constitutional amendment package at the parliament. In parallel with the constitutional amendments, the Election and political Parties Law should be reviewed.'' Yilmaz noted, ''we, as the ANAP, attribute great importance to put into practice adjustment laws with the EU till the end of this year. Turkey will become a full member of the EU sooner or later.'' Referring to efforts expended on the issue of human rights, Yilmaz stressed, ''Turkey has faced with serious difficulties in the international platform because of the cases at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) stemming from implementations in the past, and non-governmental organizations' reports. Relations among the state, individuals and the society could not be placed on a healthy ground yet. Works in the field of human rights have paved way to hopeful developments. Our target is to settle an understanding of human rights that is appropriate with the EU standards, in Turkey.''
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