Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-08-14

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

14 AUGUST 2001Tuesday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 14, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Business Week magazine which praised Turkey's new economic program and State Minister Kemal Dervis in a recent article, wrote that Turkey had entered a new era and it broke the chain of financing its budget deficits by domestic debts with high interest rates. ''Through Dervis's efforts, Turkey made legal revisions in 15 fields which include banking, natural gas and sugar production. The program started giving its fruits five months after it began. The inflation rate which was 16 percent in May dropped to three percent last month,'' the magazine wrote.

DOLLAR BECOMES ONE MILLION 400,000 TL

U.S. dollar increased with the demands of import and export companies. Central Bank sold one U.S. dollar at one million 400,000 TL while the closing price was one million 415,000 TL at Istanbul free market. The stock exchange dropped 324 points with a trade volume of 148 trillion TL and closed at 9,075 points.

WOMEN IN SIRTKOY VILLAGE HOLD BACK SEX TO PROTEST THEIR HUSBANDS

Women in Manavgat's Sirtkoy village which suffers from water shortage have started an interesting boycott against their husbands who failed to bring running water to the village. The women decided not to have sex with their husbands until the men bring a solution to the problem. ''Our husbands should first prove their manhood by bringing water to the village. Only then we'll open our beds to them. I'm fed up with bringing water from the fountain in the village square since my childhood,'' one woman said. The women in Sirtkoy are determined not to let their husbands sleep in the same bed with them until they have running water in their houses.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

The bomber who prepared the bombs with stockings has been determined as Levent Durger, a member of the illegal organization namely Islamic Great East Raiders-Front (IBDA-C) who was in fact a doctor. The police finally identified the bomber who carried out bomb attacks in four cities including Istanbul and Ankara.

HERE IS ALBAYRAK LIE

Istanbul municipality denied the statements of Albayraklar Holding wich claimed that it has undertaken 36 tenders worth of 35 trillion Turkish liras from Istanbul municipality when Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the Istanbul mayor. However, Istanbul municipality said that the value of the business undertaken by the holding was 140 million dollars (195 trillion liras.) Municipality officials said that they were not interested with the statement issued by Albayraklar Holding. ''Our documents show the truth,'' they said. An investigation is underway about the accounts of Albayraklar Holding at the State Security Court (DGM).

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose political situation is complicated and debated, is expected to be the leader of the party the reformists will found today. Many jurists including Professor Huseyin Hatemi said that Erdogan can't be the leader and founding member of the new party as he was earlier barred from politics. Sabih Kanadoglu, the Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals will say the last word on the issue.

AKKISE COMMANDER DISMISSED FROM HIS POST

Ahırlı Gendarme Company Commander Ali Calışkan who is claimed to be responsible for the incidents which took place between the citizens and gendarme that claimed the life of one person, has been dismissed from his post. Fighting broke out last Friday after a routine identity check at a coffee house in Ahırlı township of central Konya province, when villagers tried to stop gendarme from detaining two people who did not have identity papers on them. A total of 21 citizens and 33 soldiers were also injured. Senior Captain Ahmet Celik has been appointed as Ahırlı Gendarme Company Commander. Konya Governor Ahmet Kayhan said that the investigation into the incident continued, adding that both gendarme and citizens were questioned.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Quake survivors who gathered at Ankara's Guvenpark said that nothing has changed in their lives although two years had passed since the earthquake disaster.

The group held a protest carrying banners and claimed that the government had not done anything in the two years that passed after the earthquake.

Duzce Quake Survivors' Association Chairperson Aysegul Senol who read out a press statement said accommodation was their biggest problem. ''Two years have passed since August 17 and nothing has changed in our lives,'' Senol said and called on the government officials to bring a solution. She also asked the government to announce the total amount of aids that have been collected from additional taxes and domestic and foreign aids.

120 BUILDINGS FLOODED IN ISTANBUL AFTER HEAVY RAIN

Heavy rains which came after scorching heat in Istanbul yesterday flooded about 120 houses and business places in Gaziosmanpasa, Zeytinburnu, Unkapani, Kumkapi and Bayrampasa districts of the city. Many people also felt anxious when it became very dark because of clouds but meteorology officials said everything was normal. ''The unusual darkening of the sky was because of the thick clouds which didn't let the sunlight penetrate,'' Meteorogly Director Ceylan Yaylan said.

During the heavy rains, Topkapi Palace was struck by a lightning but the museum did not suffer any damage due to a lightning conductor. A failure occured in the communication systems in certain parts of the museum.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Some 980 industrialists who participated in Istanbul Trade Chamber's (ISO) survey have said that they believed Turkey's economic picture will improve in the next six months despite their high losses, decrease in production and economic shrinking. ISO Chairman Husamettin Kavi who explained the reasons for optimism said that the government's encouraging and positive statements concerning the second half of the year pumped optimism to the industrialists.

CHINA PROPOSES TO SEND TWO MILLION TOURISTS TO TURKEY

China proposed to send two million tourists to Turkey if Turkey allows the passage of Varyag ship through the straits. This means two billion U.S. dollars of cash flow to Turkey if the Turkish government accepts the proposal. China wants to include Turkey in the list of countries which could be visited and continues to bargain with Turkey about the passage of the ship which China bought from Ukraine. If an agreement is reached between the two countries, Turkey will become the 15th country where the Chinese could visit. Chinese people need a permission from the state to visit a country.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

According to the news published in British newspaper Financial Times, World Bank listed the impediments that stand in front of foreign investment and competition in domestic markets in Turkey. World Bank said that Turkey has to overcome the bureaucratic impediments in order to attract draw foreign capital to Turkey. Businessmen, who try to undertake investment in Turkey, lose 20 percent of the time they spend for general management due to bureaucracy.

TURKISH CITIZENS BECOME ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, TOO

Following the economic crisis in Turkey, an interesting development has come out. Turkish citizens started to be seen among the illegal immigrants who are captured in Turkish border regions and territorial waters for years. Recently Turkish people started to give money worth of 4000-5000 U.S. dollars to human smugglers to sneak into Europe as the latter is considered as a place where problems end. During the last one week, a total of 263 Turkish were captured among Afghan, Palestinian and Iranian immigrants who were captured in Turkey.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Gapropark Project which is developed by Alarko Holding in the South East Anatolia Development Project (GAP) region will become an examplary agricultural center for the world. The project which is run under the coordination of retired Vice Admiral Isik Biren aims to realize an investment of 4,5 billion U.S. dollars in the next ten years in order to develop the agricultural potential of GAP region.

Isik Biren said they were going to work to increase the quality of animal and vegetable products using high technology in the region and sell it to other countries after processing these products.

-TURKEY TO ATTEND 14TH MEDITERRANEAN GAMES WITH 279 SPORTSMEN AND SPORTSWOMEN

ANKARA - The Turkish national sports team which will attend the 14th Mediterranean Games that will be held in Tunisia between 2-15 September, continue their preparations in various parts of Turkey.

Turkey will be represented by 180 sportsmen and 99 sportswomen in the Games. The Turkish team that will go to Tunisia is composed of 438 persons including sportsmen, sportswomen and administrators.

The Turkish sportsmen will compete in 22 branches except bowling.

A total of 23 countries will compete to win the golden medals in 23 branches.

-REFORMISTS FOUND NEW PARTY NAMELY ''JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT'' PARTY

ANKARA - Reformists led by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the former Istanbul mayor, set up their party on Tuesday.

The name of the new party has been ''Justice and Development'' and its symbol has been an ''electric bulb.''

The petition related to the foundation of the new party has been submitted to Secretariat General of Interior Ministry.

-WOUNDS OF MARMARA EARTHQUAKE NOT FULLY HEALED

IZMIT - The wounds of the earthquake which hit Marmara region on August 17, 1999 have not yet fully healed.

According to official figures, the quake cost the lives of 16,986 people and injured 23,781. A majority of people who spent 12 months in tent cities in Yalova, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Bolu and Duzce are still living in prefabricated huts.

Some 95 percent of quake survivors who lost their houses in the disaster were distributed permanent houses which were built by the Housing Ministry, World Bank and volunteer organizations.

However, only less than 25 percent of these people have moved to their new houses. Lack of social areas and low number of people residing in these areas are the factors that discourage people to move to their new homes.

YALOVA: A total of 2,5040 people died, 4,529 people were injured. Some 43 people became handicapped. About 14,000 buildings totally collapsed.

Quake survivors were distributed 3,002 dwellings in Geyikdere, Havuzdere and Tavusciftligi villages in Subasi area. Only 20 percent of the people moved to their new homes.

The construction of 890 dwellings in Sogucak village and 568 dwellings in Calica village is continuing.

KOCAELI: A total of 9,476 persons died, 9,881 persons were injured, 101 persons became disabled and 34, 275 dwellings collapsed in the city. There are still nearly 40,000 quaki survivors who live in prefabricted huts. Construction of permanent dwellings by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing and World Bank continue.

SAKARYA: The infrastructure in Sakarya, which was hit the most by the Marmara quake, totally collapsed. A total of 3,890 persons died, 5,180 persons were injured 188 persons became disabled, and 24,588 dwellings collapsed.

DUZCE: The quake which was damaged by the Marmara quake, later faced the November 12 quake. A total of 1,068 persons died, 3,836 persons were injured and 15,438 buildings destroyed. The Ministry constructed 7,206 buildings and the World Bank constructed 622 buildings in Duzce city centre. There are yet no families who moved to these houses.

BOLU: Bolu city has been the city which was least effected by the quake. A total of 48 persons died, 355 persons were injured and 2,300 dwellings collapsed. The construction of 276 permanent dwellings in the city continues.

On August 17, 1999 totally 14,513 business places were seriously damaged including 5,474 business places in Kocaeli; 5,113 business places in Sakarya, 674 in Yalova, 217 in Bolu and 3,035 in Duzce.

These buildings were later totally demolished by the workers who hauled the rubble. New ones in place of them have not been constructed to date. The construction of permanent business places is expected to start towards the end of this year and delivered to its owners till the end of next year.

The number of missing persons recorded by a voluntary organization in the region is reported as 300.

-PRIVATIZATION SLOWS DOWN IN THE WORLD WHILE IT INCREASES IN TURKEY

ISTANBUL - Privatization activities have slowed down in the world. The revenues obtained from privatization in 2000 decreased 29 percent in 2001 and became 100 billion 63 million U.S. dollars.

Turkey, on the other hand, with its privatization worth of 2 billion 712 million U.S. dollars which constitutes 2.7 percent of the world total, increased its privatization revenues 165 percent compared to 1998.

According to a study titled Financial Market Trends prepared by the OECD, since 1990, one trillion U.S. dollars owned by the governments were transferred to the private sector in the whole world. Privatizations mostly focused on production, banking, energy and transportation sectors.

Turkey's privatization income in 2000 was 2 billion 712 million U.S. dollars. This figure was 38 million U.S. dollars in 1999 and one billion 20 million U.S. dollars in 1998.

-REFORMISTS FOUND NEW PARTY (2)

ANKARA - Reformists lead by Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the former Istanbul mayor from the banned Virtue Party (FP) called their party ''Justice and Development-((Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi) AK Party)''. AK, the capitals of the party name means ''clean, unblemished'' in Turkish.

Erdogan who is among the founding member of AK Party, has become the 39th party of Turkey.

A five delegation headed by retired diplomat Yasar Yakıs came to Interior Ministry and submitted their petition related to the foundation of the naw party to the Secretary General of the Ministry Huseyin Aksoy.

Yakıs said that they were charged to submit the petition of the new party to the Interior Ministry.

Noting that the Turkish public opinion searches for new names in politics, Yakıs said that they took action in order to meet this expectation.

''This movement has resulted by foundation of a new party. There is no need to equate this party with another one which still acts today or which acted in the past. This party has been formed with its own initiative and it is based on a broad political frame. The party administrators and leaders will hold a news conference in Bilkent Hotel soon and its members will be presented to the public opinion,'' Yakıs said.

Upon a question, Yasar Yakıs said that there are 73 founders in the party, adding that Tayyip Erdogan is among them and there are no deputies among the founding members.

When asked about the professions of the founding members of the new party, Yakıs said that they didn't carry out a statistics about it, adding yet the professions reflected the structure of the society and the distribution of deputies in the parliament.

Upon a question, Yakıs said that the party tried to reflect the tendencies and professions of the all sections in the society. Yakıs noted that the party has a quota for women members.

When asked if there were women with head scarves among the founding members, Yakıs said that ''we don't discriminate people between those who have head scarf and those who don't. We respect both of them. We don't have quotas for them. I attribute importance to the personality of one person rather than her wearing a head scarf or not. The thing that counts for respectibility of a person is his/her personality.''

Journalists asked Yasemin Kumral, a singer why she preferred this party, Kumral said that ''Mevlana says it is time to say new things. I believe that we must tell new things and do good things.''

-TURKEY WELCOMES PEACE AGREEMENT REACHED IN MACEDONIA

ANKARA - Turkey welcomed on Tuesday the peace agreement reached by Albanian and Macedonia political parties in Macedonia.

A statement of the Foreign Ministry said that Turkey is pleased that a ''frame agreement'' was reached in the end of the dialogue process in Macedonia.

The statement continued, ''Turkey wishes that the frame agreement will constitute a basis for the solution of crisis in Macedonia and that this agreement will ensure a permanent stability in the country. It hopes that the armed attacks which have occured in Macedonia; and not only threatened the peace and security of all the societies living in Macedonia, including Turkish minority, but also led to losses of lives, will be left behind.''

Drawing the attention that the adoption and implementation of the agreement by all the concerned sides is of vital importance, the statement pointed out that first of the preconditions which the NATO foresaw to be implemented to contribute to the disarmament process in Macedonia has been fulfilled as this agreement was signed.

The statement added that all the other necessary conditions which will enable the mission of NATO units in Macedonia are expected to be fulfilled in the possible shortest time.

-TURKISH OFFICIALS BRIEFS HUNGARIANS ABOUT F-16'S

BUDAPEST - A Turkish delegation on Tuesday briefed Hungarian officials about F-16 planes which is expected to be rented by Hungary from Turkey.

The delegation, comprised of officials from Turkish Air Forces and National Defense Ministry, gave a briefing in Hungarian Defense Ministry following their contacts with the Hungarian officials.

High ranking officials of Hungarian Defense Ministry, Janos Karazs, the Defense Ministry Secretary, Hungarian Air Forces Commander, and related personnel attended the briefing.

Technical issues regarded with F-16's will be conveyed in the afternoon session.

The Turkish delegation is expected to return to Turkey on Wednesday.

Viktor Organ, the Hungarian Prime Minister, and Janos Szabo, the Defense Minister, in the statements which they made earlier, pointed out that the proposal made by Turkey was appropriate, yet noted that the details would be disclosed by mid- August.

The U.S., which made a proposal for the renting of the planes, wanted approximately 800 million U.S. dollars. Turkey wanted 400 million U.S. dollars for younger F-16's.

-TREASURY SELLS 1.1 QUADRILLION NOMINAL-VALUED THREE-MONTH BONDS

ANKARA - The Treasury Undersecretariat sold 1 quadrillion 140 trillion Turkish lira (TL) nominal-valued three-month bonds in an auction on Tuesday.

The net sale was 961 trillion TL and the total bid became 1 quadrillion 239 trillion TL.

The composite interest became 98 percent while the simple interest was 74.49 percent in the auction.

-STATE MINISTER CAY INTRODUCES BILGE KAGAN'S TREASURY UNEARTHED

IN MONGOLIA WITHIN SCOPE OF TURKISH MONUMENTS PROJECT

ANKARA - State Minister Abdulhaluk Mehmet Cay introduced on Tuesday an ancient treasury unearthed in Mongolia within scope of the Turkish Monuments Project. The treasury is composed of precious works of art which are believed to have belonged to Bilge Kagan, one of the emperors of Gokturks, one of the oldest Turkish states in the history.

Holding a press conference at the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA), Cay said, ''the Turkish Monuments Project started in 1995 following former President Suleyman Demirel's official visit to Mongolia. The archaeological works have accelerated for the last two years. The project has been carried out by a 46-member scientific team. There are 35 Turkish and 11 Mongolian scientists in the team. Due to geographical and weather conditions in the region, archaeological excavations are being carried out in July and August. The scientific team has come to a very interesting conclusion during this year's excavations. There are nine more anonymous graves in the region where tombs of Bilge Kagan and Kultigin take place. We could carried out excavations in only one of these graves. Meanwhile, there is only one anonymous grave in the region where tomb of Tonyukuk takes place. We will carry out excavations in this grave next year.''

''We prioritized excavations in tomb of Bilge Kagan. We expect the excavations to be finalized next year. Then, we will start to excavate Kultigin's tomb. Our team succeeded in combining Bilge Kagan's tombstone inscription which divided into three pieces. During the excavations which started on August 1, 2001, nearly 2,800 pieces of gold and silver works of arts were unearthed. Scientists claim that Bilge Kagan's treasury was composed of nearly 4 thousand pieces. Our works are continuing,'' he said.

Cal enumerated works of arts which were unearthed during the excavation as follows:

''Golden objects:

-a crown decorated with a figure of mythological bird,

-belt buckles,

-hooks and eyes,

-some golder objects used in clothes,

-cups and dishes,

-forms

Silver objects:

-1,850 pieces which are believed to have belonged to an adorned trunk,

-two sculptures of deer,

-dishes and cups,

-precious stones, metal objects, remains of bone, coal and textile,

-pieces of bands and wires,

Iron objects:

-frame of a silver trunk,

Bronze nails''

When asked whether or not these works of art would be put on display in Turkey, Cay stressed that the works of arts were unearthed in Mongolia, and would be displayed in this country.

When asked whether or not the findings would be brought to Turkey for an exhibition, Cay told reporters that most of the works were too big and heavy to be transported.

He noted that small pieces could be displayed in Turkey.

Cay said, ''these works will enlight Turkish culture and artistic life in those times. The excavations will reveal that Turks were recorded great progress in urban life including mining.''

Noting that the archaeological works were being carried out within scope of mutual confidence between Turkey and Mongolia, Cay said that Mongolian government relied on Turkish scientists.

Cay added that the archaeological works cost 350 thousand U.S. dollars in the last two years.

Bilge Kagan whose name was literally translated as ''Wise Emperor'', was the great khan of Mongolia from 716 until his death in 734. Bilge assumed leadership of the Gokturks, a tribe of Turks in control of southern Central Asia, when his brother instigated a palace coup against the old ruler. When the T'ang emperor Hsuan Tsung refused his offer of an alliance, Bilge decimated the Chinese army, forcing them to sue for peace in 721. Bilge is even better known, however, for advising his successors that the power of the Gokturks came from their nomadic life and that to settle in agricultural communities on the Chinese border would weaken them.

-RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR SAYS THEY WANT TO PROMOTE RELATIONS WITH EASTERN PROVINCES

ERZURUM - Alexander Lebedev, the Russian Ambassador to Turkey, said on Tuesday that Russia wants to promote its relations with eastern provinces of Turkey.

Lebedev, who visited Erzurum Governor Derya Kadioglu, said that Russia has good relations with the western provinces of Turkey and it wants to further improve its relations with also eastern provinces, particularly Erzurum.

He believes that his visit will give positive results, Lebedev noted.

Lebedev later met Erzurum Mayor Mahmut Uykusuz.

Responding to questions of reporters about the tension resulting betwen Iran and Azerbaijan due to Caspian Sea, Lebedev said that Russia is doing its best and that Russian President Putin is extending assistance about this matter.

Some possible negative developments may affect all the region, Lebedev stated, noting that to this end, they will try to extend assistance to ease the tension.

Lebedev, who visited Ataturk University's Rector Yasar Sutbeyazi, said that cultural and scientific cooperation between Ataturk University and universities in Moscow should be promoted.

Noting that Russian author Puskin wrote about his memories in Erzurum, Lebedev said that it will be beneficial if Ataturk University gives Russian language and literature courses and universities in Moscow give Turkish language and literature courses.

-PROGRAM OF JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT PARTY DISCLOSED

ANKARA - Fundamental principles of the Justice and Development party (AK Party) were disclosed today.

Fundamental principles of the party were read in a program participated by 74 founder members and independent parliamentarians supporting the party.

The program said the Justice and Development Party would experience democracy first within itself and later make people live it. It said the internal control of the party was formed within the democratization project.

The program said Turkish Republic's Constitution, which is the guarantee of the inseparable national integrity, determines the first principle of the AK Party.

It said the AK Party was consistent, daily, and realistic, adding that the party was open to dialogue and compromise.

The program said the AK Party was the first which limits term in office in all its cadres, noting that it does not accept discrimination in organization and open to all kinds of developments.

''The AK party accepts basic rights and freedoms in the possible broader limits, and looks for basis of social freedom in individual freedoms,'' the program said adding that, ''the party accepts freedom of religion, conscience, expression and initiative as indispensable principles.''

''The AK Party considers democracy as a method of policy and kind of administration and inspection,'' the program said, adding that, ''it adopts formation of a democratic constitution basing on social agreement.''

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Founder member of the AK Party, said his party was a candidate to be a party of firsts and principles.

Erdogan defended that nothing would be the same in Turkey anymore, adding that his party would be against the polemics which target people and personalities.

-IMF OPTIMISTIC ABOUT TURKEY

LONDON - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expressed optimism on Wednesday that Turkey will be able to meet all of its debt obligations.

In a letter published on the Financial Times website, IMF European Department Director Michael Deppler said that Turkey would be able to meet all of its debt obligations, despite concerns among some investors that the country could face continued problems.

Deppler noted that Turkey's tough fiscal adjustment programme and the structure of the 15.7 billion U.S. dollars IMF and World Bank loan package signed in May would ensure debt ratios declined.

Deppler said the problem for investors was that it took time for data to show Turkey's position was improving and the country had been unfortunate that it was undertaking these changes at a time when investors are sceptical about emerging markets as a whole.

''It may well be just a matter of time for the markets to appreciate Turkey's stronger fundamentals,'' he said, noting that inflation was slowing and the current account was swinging into surplus.

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