Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-08-09

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

09 AUGUST 2001 Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

BAHCELI: ''YILMAZ HAS HADE A MISTAKE''
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), described statement of State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) as ''irresponsible, untimely and baseless''. Bahceli held a meeting with MHP members following harsh reaction of the General Staff to Yilmaz's statement about the concept of national security. Bahceli said, ''a useless discussion has begun in a critical period in which we have been trying to overcome economic crisis. Yilmaz has made a mistake.''

SALE PROCESS OF ETIBANK AND SITEBANK STARTS
Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF) Executive Board gave the start for Etibank A.S.'s and Sitebank A.S.'s sale process. Investors who are interested in these banks will apply to the Banking Regulatory and Supervisory Authority (BRSA) until August 17, 2001 for Etibank and until August 16, 2001 for Sitebank. Investors will submit their bids to the SDIF until September 21, 2001 for Etibank and until September 12, 2001 for Sitebank.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

VERY TIGHT SECURITY MEASURES TAKEN FOR SHARON'S TEN HOUR VISIT
Extraordinarily tight security measures were taken during the ten hour visit of Ariel Sharon who has become a target for Islamist fundamentalist organizations with his policy of violence. Sharon was accompanied by 24 Israeli guards. An army of Turkish guards also followed Sharon to wherever he went but Israeli guards stayed closer to him.

Three black official cars carrying Israeli flags were used in the convoy to hide the car in which Sharon was riding. The traffic in certain routes in the city was also stopped which aroused the reaction of drivers.

A metal detecting door was also brought by Israel to Sheraton Hotel where Sharon met State Minister Kemal Dervis. The Israeli security teams even removed the telephone lines and the rugs in Sharon's room for security reasons.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

ECEVIT REACTS HARSHLY TO SHARON
When Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon claimed that 50 percent of Israeli martyrs had lost their lives in attacks staged by forces of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, Prime Minister Ecevit responded him, ''I do not suppose that any politician wants terrorism for his own country and people.'' Sharon paid a one-day visit to Turkey. He held a tete-a-tete meeting with Prime Minister Ecevit. Following the meeting, Ecevit and Sharon held a joint press conference. Ecevit objected to embargo imposed on Palestine.

TASAR APPOINTED AS TOURISM MINISTER
Mustafa Tasar, a deputy of the Motherland Party (ANAP) from Gaziantep province, was appointed as the tourism minister. Tasar will replace Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu who has been elected as the deputy chairman during the congress of the ANAP. Meanwhile, Nejat Arseven, a deputy of ANAP from Ankara, was appointed as the state minister. Following last weekend's congress, the ANAP decided to reshuffle its ministers.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

TRAGEDY OF TEACHERS
Many teachers are trying to earn an extra income by working at a second job since they cannot make a living only from teaching. Teachers, due to favorable working hours at school, prefer to sell things as a second job. Although civil servants are banned by law from having a second job, the state is tolerating, even encouraging, civil servants to work at a second job.

SCHOOLS WILL NOT COLLECT OBLIGATORY DONATIONS FROM STUDENTS THIS YEAR
Istanbul Education Director Omer Balibey indicated that schools will not collect obligatory donations from students' parents this year. After the registration, parents who want to financially help the school budget will be able to make a donation to the schools. Balibey said the donations made will be inspected closely by the auditors. There will e a phone line which people could call to report complaints.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

TAXES MAY BE DECREASED
State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy said that tax rates could be decreased without causing an economic loss. This arrangement aims at reviving markets and supporting reel sector. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Sumer Oral said that he would welcome such a decrease especially in the value added taxes. Oral stressed that a balance between incomes and expenses should be provided first.

WORLD BANK REPAIRS SCHOOLS
Schools in rural regions throughout Turkey will be repaired with the 26 million U.S. dollars credit, provided by the World Bank. The World Bank expended 25 million U.S. dollars for the repair of 1,300 schools in 1,300 rural regions in 76 provinces, and also expended one million U.S. dollars for the renewal works of 13 boarding schools in 13 provinces. Officials said tender works were completed in 40 provinces and construction started, noting that other tenders would be completed soon.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

PANIC IN THE AIR
A Boeing 737-400 passenger plane belonged to SKY Airlines took off from the Antalya Airport. The plane was bound for Stuttgart, Germany. A failure occured at the landing gear of the plane. The plane flew over Antalya for Antalya for Three hours. After emptying its fuel, the plane returned to the airport.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

UFO HUNT
General Staff is investigating the claims of an UFO sighting by a military traning airplane in Izmir's skies. Air Forces is claiming that the object that was seen by the pilot was not an UFO but a meteorology balloon.

-MILD EARTHQUAKE JOLTS OSMANIYE
ISTANBUL - A mild earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale jolted southern province of Osmaniye at 02:36 a.m. on Thursday.

Officials at Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory Seismology Institute said that the earthquake was centered on Osmaniye.

-AN INTERNATIONAL ROUND TABLE MEETING TO BE HELD FOR INFLATION TARGETING
ANKARA - Central Bank said on Wednesday that a round table meeting would be held in Istanbul on August 10 with high-level officials from the Brazilian, Mexican and Israeli central banks to make use of their experiences during works on inflation targeting.

Releasing a statement, Central Bank said that inflation targeting which had been adopted by developed countries since early 1990s and brought successful results regarding settlement of price stability, had started to be implemented by the developing countries in recent years.

It said that Brazilian Central Bank Deputy Governor Daniel Luiz Gleizer, Mexican Central Bank Economic Researches Director General Alejandro M. Werner and Prof. Nissan Liviatan from Israel had been invited to the round table meeting.

-TUSIAD:''DEMOCRATIC MATURITY IS TO DISCUSS EVEN THE MOST
SENSITIVE ISSUES WITHOUT CAUSING INSTABILITY''
ISTANBUL - Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) has said that democratic maturity was to be able to discuss even the most sensitive issues without causing instability.

''Motherland Party (ANAP) Chairman Mesut Yilmaz's stating that the national security concept should be redefined is an initiative to start a discussion in line with democratic practices,'' TUSIAD said in a statement on Wednesday.

''While we still vividly remember how a disagreement in the government triggered the economic crisis, starting a new discussion which would cause economic and political instability worries everyone,'' TUSIAD said.

''It is known by everyone that the success of the economic program depends on political stability and harmony in the government. What will bring this stability is not to cover up the problems but to discuss and finalize the disagreements on democratic platforms. Democratic maturity is to be able to debate even the most sensitive matters without causing instability.''

''A comrehensive constitutional change is on our agenda and Turkey is discussing the need to comply with Copenhagen criteria. Therefore, it is the right time to open this discussion. What needs to be done is to discuss the matter with all its sides by not blocking certain views. Every issue could be debated in all grounds in democracies,'' TUSIAD said.

TUSIAD indicated that Turkey was trying to form a balance that exists in the modern Western democracies. ''Speeding up Turkey's integration with the EU and realizing the Copenhagen criteria seems to be the only way to maintain this balance,'' TUSIAD concluded.

-GAP REGION EXPORTS 25.5 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF DRIED FRUITS IN FIRST
SEVEN MONTHS OF 2001
GAZIANTEP - Exports of dried fruit from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) in the firstü seven months of 2001 increased 14.7 percent to 25 million 581 thousand U.S. dollars.

In the same period last year, the region exported 22 million 292 thousand U.S. dollars of dried fruit.

Officials at Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union told the A.A correspondent on Thursday that they exported 17 million 335 thousand U.S. dollars in dried apricot; 5 million 11 thousand U.S. dollars in pistachio; and 3 million 235 thousand U.S. dollars in roasted chickpea, peanut and various other products in January-July period of the year.

Most of the goods were exported to France, the U.S., Britain, Israel, Australia, Germany, Canada, Italy and Spain.

-SECURITY FORCES INTERCEPT 4,217 FOREIGNERS AS THEY WERE TRYING TO
PROCEED TO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ILLEGALLY IN LAST FOUR YEARS
IZMIR - Security forces have intercepted 4,217 foreigners in Seferihisar, Gumuldur, Foca, Dikili, Candarli, Cesme and Karaburun townships of western province of Izmir since 1997.

The Provincial Gendarmerie Commandership stated on Thursday that these foreigners were aiming at proceeding to Italy and Greece illegally.

There were Pakistanis, Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians, Lebaneses, Iranians, Tunisians, Azerbaijanis, Ukranians, Georgians, Armenians, Moroccans, Bangladeshis, Somalians, Nigerians, Kenyans, Sri Lankans, Rwandans, Gambians, Sierra Leoneans and Guinean among the intercepted foreigners.

-COUNCIL OF MINISTERS CONVENES
ANKARA - The Council of Ministers convened on Thursday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.

The meeting started at 11:10 a.m. at the Prime Ministry Office.

Industry and Trade Minister Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu is expected to inform members of the Council of Ministers on activities of agricultural sale cooperative unions.

Mustafa Tasar who has been recently appointed as Tourism Minister, and Nejat Arseven who has been appointed as State Minister, are attending the Council of Ministers meeting for the first time.

State Minister Tunca Toskay, State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, State Minister Fikret Unlu, State Minister Abdulhaluk Cay and National Security Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu who are currently paying visits to foreign countries, could not attend the meeting.

-MILD EARTHQUAKE JOLTS OSMANIYE (2)
-DEPUTY GOVERNOR ASLAN SAYS THERE ARE NOT ANY IMMEDIATE REPORTS OF
CASUALTIES
OSMANIYE - Deputy Governor Abdullah Aslan of southern province of Osmaniye said on Thursday that there were not any immediate reports of casualties or damages in this morning's earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale.

Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent, Aslan said that damage- assessment works were under way in the province following the earthquake which occurred on the fault line in the triangle of Osmaniye Toprakkale and Erzin township of Hatay.

Aslan added, ''crisis management center which was formed in the wake of the 5.5-magnitude earthquake that jolted Osmaniye on June 25, has been continuing its works.''

-JUSTICE MINISTRY PREPARES BROCHURES FOR INMATES
ANKARA - The Justice Ministry prepared a brochure about the improvements made at prisons which will be distributed to all inmates, it was reported on Thursday.

The brochures have been sent to prosecutors' offices.

''Certain arrangements have been made to offer modern international standards to you during the time you will spend in prison,'' the brochures say.

The brochures offer information about the Article 16 of the Anti-Terrorism Law which would allow inmates to participate in social, cultural, sports and professional activities in prisons. There are also information about the conditions for visits by inmates' families. ''All kinds of activities and procedures in prisons have been taken under juridical inspection,'' it was said. ''The activities at prisons will be open to the inspection of non- governmental organizations (NGOs).''

According to the new regulations which took effect on April 27, 2001, the inmates will be allowed to speak on the phone for ten minutes every week. This practice has already began at Ankara, Bolu, Edirne, Izmir, Kocaeli, Tekirdag F type prisons and it will start in Bilecik, Karaman, Eskisehir, Inebolu, Pozanti, Vezirkopru, Amasya, Kahramanmaras, Nevsehir, Erzurum, Elbistan, Isparta, usak, Burdur, Manisa, Trabzon, Yozgat, Zonguldak, Gumushane, Mugla, Giresun, Nigde, Malatya, Elazig, Nazilli, Kirsehir, Afyon and Kutahya prisons after the completion of technical works.

''The purpose of all these improvements is to offer you a better environment in prisons,'' the brochures said.

-GENDARMERIE FORCES CAPTURED 4,170 FOREIGNERS IN EDIRNE IN SEVEN MONTHS
EDIRNE - Gendarmerie forces captured 4,170 foreigners, who entered Turkey illegally and who wanted to sneak into Greece and Bulgaria, in northwestern Edirne province in seven months.

Officials at Edirne Provincial Gendarmerie Commandership said on Thursday that 2,804 of these people wanted to sneak into Greece and Bulgaria while 1, 366 foreigners wanted to enter Turkey illegally from January till the end of July.

The officials noted that Palestinian people were ranked the first among the foreigners who wanted to enter Turkey illegally while Afghans were ranked the first among those who wanted to depart from Turkey illegally.

Number of foreigners who enter and depart from Turkey illegally has decreased this year when compared to the previous year due to increasing control at borders, the officials stated.

A total of 8,849 people who wanted to enter and depart from Turkey illegally were captured in Edirne in the same period last year.

-ANADOLU AGENCY AWARDED WITH RAFET GENC NEWS ITEM PRIZE
ANKARA - The Progressive Journalists' Association (CGD) presented on Thursday Mehmet Guler, the President General Director of Anadolu Agency (A.A), and A.A correspondent Coskun Ergul with the ''Rafet Genc News Item Prize.''

The CGD gives this prize to commemorate Rafet Genc, one of the former chairmen of the association.

Ergul and Anadolu Agency were awarded with the prize due to Ergul's news item about the testimonies given in line with the operation into corruption in energy tenders and because the Agency transmitted this news item.

Speaking in the ceremony, Guler said that he is very pleased to be awarded with the prize and went on saying, ''Anadolu Agency will continue to mark developments in free, accurate and unbiased reporting every day by taking into consideration not only the demands of the media organizations but also that of the nation. I believe that not only the media organizations but also the nation need the news items and photographs of Anadolu Agency.''

''We will continue to do the things that we consider as correct. We will continue accurate and unbiased reporting because we are a news agency. We do not have any other thought, problem and concern except transmitting news and photographs,'' Guler added.

-COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING HELD
ANKARA - State Minister Yılmaz Karakoyunlu said on Thursday after the council of ministers meeting that the cabinet took up the problem of stock which became heavier within the framework of Agriculture Sales Cooperatives' products particularly ''raisin and hazelnut.''

Karakoyunlu said that the production of raisin and hazelnut have been accumulated in great stocks for long years and it has created a big problem of finance, adding that the cabinet searched for a way to solve this problem.

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit instructed the formation of a five-member commission for the solution of the problem.

Karakoyunlu said that State Minister Kemal Dervis, Finance Minister Sumer Oral, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Husnu Yusuf Gokalp, Industry and Trade Minister Ahmet Kenan Tanrıkulu and himself were charged in the commission to be headed by Deputy Premier Husamettin Ozkan.

-GARANTI BANK RE-ARRANGES INTEREST RATES
ISTANBUL - Garanti Bank rearranged its interest rates in time deposit accounts on TL-basis on Thursday.

Garanti Bank said that it reduced its interest rates for one-month deposit accounts by two points and for three-month deposit accounts by one point. The interest rates for accounts worth of 500 million-2 billion TL were reduced to 62 and 63 percent respectively and for accounts worth between 2 and 15 billion liras and for accounts over 15 billion liras were reduced to 63 percent and 64 percent respectively.

The bank increased its interest rates in six and 12-month deposit accounts. The bank increased the interest rate for accounts between 500 million and 2 billion TL by three points and determined them as 64 percent.

The deposit interest rates for six-month deposit accounts worth between 2 and 15 billion liras have been increased from 61 percent to 64 percent, for 12-month deposit accounts have been increased from 61 percent to 66 percent. Garanti Bank increased the interest rates for six-month deposit accounts worth of 15 billion liras and above from 61 percent to 65 percent and for 12-month deposit accounts from 61 percent to 68 percent.

-COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING HELD (2)
-STATE MINISTER KARAKOYUNLU SAYS A COUNCIL COMPRISED OF
FINANCIAL ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE SET UP TO GUIDE REAL SECTOR
ANKARA - State Minister and government spokesman Yilmaz Karakoyunlu said on Thursday that a council comprised of financial organizations will be set up to guide the real sector.

Following the meeting of the Council of Ministers, Karakoyunlu told reporters that State Minister Kemal Dervis said during the meeting that a secretariat will also be set up to contribute to the initiatives of this council.

Karakoyunlu said that Dervis had contacts with the Banks Association of Turkey and World Bank on Wednesday to overcome the problems of banks and real sector.

Dervis will have a meeting with the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey today, Karakoyunlu noted.

Karakoyunlu said that Dervis explained the cabinet about the measures that will be taken to prevent the reciprocal negative effects between the real sector and the finance sector.

Noting that Dervis said in the meeting that it was very difficult to produce solutions for extraordinary situations by taking regular measures, Karakoyunlu said Dervis told the cabinet that such economic problems were experienced in a very bad way in countries like Turkey which went through economic crisis.

Dervis also explained his views about improving the relations between the real sector and finance sector in countries like Thailand, Korea, Argentina and Mexico, Karakoyunlu said.

Dervis said in the meeting that private sector has to activate its own possibilites and sources as public sources can't be used now and noted that the Turkey Banks Union and the Banking Regulatory and Inspectory Board have to find a solution to the liquidity problem.

Dervis said that the results of the studies undertaken in this field will yield positive results and the latter will be made public.

Noting that a council will be formed which will be composed of the institutions of the finnacial sector to guide the real sector, Dervis said that a secretariat will also be formed to contribute to the activities of this council. Dervis added that the World Bank will contribute significantly to this council.

Upon a question asking if the issue of national security was taken up in the cabinet meeting, Karakoyunlu said that the issue was not discussed there.

Answering another question about the cost of hazelnut and raisin stocks, Karakoyunlu said that there is a finance deficit of 250 trillion liras as the subsidies were lifted in this field.

-ISRAELI INDUSTRY MINISTER SAYS ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH TURKEY IN GOOD
CONDITION
ISTANBUL - Israeli Industry and Trade Minister Dalia Itzik said on Thursday that friendship and economic cooperation between Turkey and Israel are in good condition.

Itzik met with Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) and Turkish-Israeli Business Council members in Istanbul.

Following the meeting, Itzik told reporters that there are some cooperation possibilities between Turkey and Israel and that cooperation may be beneficial to the economies of both countries.

Itzik said that cooperation may be made in textile and water and that both countries have taken significant steps in friendship and economic cooperation.

Trade volume between Turkey and Israel will increase following his visit, Itzik noted, adding that they can purchase water from Turkey after making some detailed works on Manavgat Water Project.

Ekrem Guvendiren, the Chairman of the Turkish-Israeli Business Council, said that they come to the decision at the end of the meeting that the economic relations between two countries are developing in a positive way.

Guvendiren noted that the economic relations have been promoted by 100 times in a decade.

''We debated the relations of private sectors during our meeting. The figures marked in relations between two governments and the defense agreements were not an item of our deliberations.'' The minister said that the trade volume has exceeded 1 billion U.S. dollars. ''If we include tourism, the trade volume has reached 1.5 billion U.S. dollars,'' Guvendiren said.

Guvendiren stated that they will try to further improve their relations and they proposed that two countries can have cooperation with third countries.

''I mainly stressed on the U.S. and Europe. They have entered into the U.S. market and they are more experienced than we are. To this end, cooperation may be very beneficial for marketing,'' Guvendiren said.

Guvendiren added, ''tourism is one of the most developing sectors. Joint investments can be made on tourism sector and marketing. There may be food and agriculture among specific sectors. We said that Turkish and Israeli companies can have cooperation in marketing of food stuff and agricultural products and they agreed with us.''

-PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR YASEEN SPEAKS TO A.A:
''SHARON'S VISIT DISPLAYED HIS INSISTANCE ON PURSUING
BLOODY POLICY AGAINST PALESTINIAN PEOPLE''
ANKARA, Aug 9 (A.A) - Palestinian Ambassador to Turkey Fouad Yaseen said on Thursday that the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to Turkey displayed his insistance on pursuing bloody policy against Palestinian people.

Speaking to A.A, Yaseen said that ''Sharon's short visit to Turkey showed that it is possible to speak everything with Sharon except peace. ''Sharon does not want to be a man of peace, he says he works for peace, but his peace is very different than the concept of peace which everybody understands,'' he said.

Stressing that Sharon couldn't persuade Turkey about regional violence, Yaseen said that ''nobody can compare the weapons Israel uses against Palestinian people with those Palestinians use.''

Yaseen said that Turkey has clearly put its stance for regional stability and peace, adding that ''Sharon acted as if he was blind in return to the things told by Turkey. Israel supports peace only within its conditions. Israel wants Palestinian people to surrender and its sovereignty to be installed in the region. This will never happen. The Palestinian people has paid the cost of that to date and it still pays.''

Yaseen said that he couldn't understand how a democratic country such as Israel elected Sharon as its leader, adding that ''Sharon and his cabinet should be known as monsters, rather than falcons. They target not only Palestinians, but all Arabs.''

Yassen said that he can't understand Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, a ''man of peace,'' who is with with Sharon, commenting that ''Peres is used to hide the bloody policy of Sharon.''

Yaseen said that firstly Sharon has to withdraw the Israeli army which kills innocent people to re-install peace in the region, adding that ''this will prepare the basis for returning back to the peace table.''

Evaluating the words of Sharon who said that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat must first decide whether he wants to be a head of an independent state or the leader of murderers, Yaseen said that ''I don't take seriously Sharon's speaking about murderers. Everybody knows that Sharon is a murderer himself. He thought that his past would be forgotten when he became the prime minister, but he was mistaken.''

Yasen said that ''it is in fact Sharon who must be imposed pressure on. Arafat does his best for installation of peace. However, Arafat can't prevent Palestinians' taking revenge for the thing done on their sons.''

Yaseen said that they need international observers to be protected from Israeli attacks, adding that ''I don't understand why Sharon does not permit international observers. There is one saying telling that only thieves are afraid of police. If Sharon is not a thief, there is no need for him to be afraid of police.''

Palestine does not expect a war in the region, Yaseen said and added that ''but if Sharon is in question, everything can happen.''

Pointing out that war does not solve problems, but only creates new problems, Yaseen said that ''if a fight breaks out, Sharon has to think once again about the reaction of Palestine and the Arab world.''

Describing the embargo imposed on Palestine as a ''punishment for all'' Yaseen said that there are many health problems due to the embargo.

Recounting that Palestine accepted the reports of Mitchell and Tenet, Yaseen said that Israelis on the other hand accepted the reports supposedly, but they didn't start implementation of them in practice.

Regarding the Middle East peace talks, Yaseen said that they were bored of shaking hands and their pictures being taken. ''It does not matter where the meetings are held - in Ankara or in another place-. The thing that matters is a meeting in which we will reach a definite result.''

Yaseen added that they were pleased with the concern of the Turkish people for Palestine and the Palestinian people during the visit of Sharon to Ankara.

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