Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-08-19

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

19 AUGUST 2001 Sunday

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 18, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

The General Staff decided to warn officially General Kazim Usta who had a dispute with Motherland Party's (ANAP) Provincial Chairman in western province of Manisa. It is the most severe punishment given to a high- ranking military official. The punishment is of great importance for career of a military official.

SEZER: ''NSC DID NOT OBJECT TO STEPS TAKEN FOR EU FULL MEMBERSHIP''

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer denied State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz's claims by saying, ''the National Program was taken up during the National Security Council (NSC) meeting. The NSC did not object to necessary steps to be taken for the European Union (EU) full membership on the pretext of national security.''

IMF PRAISES TURKEY'S ECONOMIC PROGRAM

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Foreign Relations Director Tom Dawson said that Turkey was implementing the economic program well, and that IMF expected Turkey to overcome the problem of lack of market confidence. Speaking at a press conference at the IMF headquarters in Washington D.C., Dawson drew attention to the lack of confidence in money markets. He also remarked that he expected Turkey to overcome this confidence problem if the economic program is implemented in a determined manner. Dawson indicated that an IMF delegation headed by IMF Turkey Desk Chief Juha Koahkonnen would come to Turkey in early September to revise the tenth period of the program.

Dawson also said that the IMF Executive Directors Council's approval meeting would take place late September or early October. The fourth credit tranche which will be given to Turkey is three billion U.S. dollars.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

His name is Ozcan Alka. He is a carpenter. He lost 17 of his relatives when a massive earthquake hit northwestern Turkey in 1999. His house and business place collapsed. The time has not ease his pain, but he tried to resist. He started to work as a worker in a factory. He was dismissed due to the current crisis. Ozcan is just a symbol of people trying to survive in the quake-stricken area.

OIL PRICES INCREASE BY 3.5 PERCENT

Oil prices increased by 3.5 percent. Price of one litre of unleaded oil increased to 1 million 146 thousand Turkish liras (TL) while price of one litre of normal oil rose to 1 million 98 thousand TL in Istanbul.

NON-INTEREST BUDGETARY SURPLUS BECOMES 8.3 QUADRILLION BY END OF JULY

Finance Minister Sumer Oral said that the non-interest budgetary surplus was 8 quadrillion 307 trillion Turkish liras (TL) by the end of July. Oral released a statement in which he said that budgetary revenues were 27 quadrillion 35 trillion TL while the tax revenues were 19 quadrillion 738 trillion TL. The non-interest expenditures were 18 quadrillion 728 trillion TL, Oral said. Oral noted that the performances in tax revenues were parallel with the targets of the economic program and that the non-interest budgetary revenues were at the foreseen level.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

The government decided to help poor families and those who lost their business places in the massive earthquake disaster which devastated northwestern Turkey in 1999. The European Investment Bank provided a source of 600 million Euro to be used in quake-stricken area. This source will be given to those who lost their business places in the quake disaster. The government will allocate 301 trillion Turkish liras for poor families.

AYDIN: ''2.3 QUADRILLION TL SPENT IN QUAKE-STRICKEN AREA''

Public Works and Housing Minister Koray Aydin said that spendings in the quake-stricken area amounted to 2.3 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL). Aydin inaugurated a photograph exhibition in Ankara within the framework of the activities to commomorate the second anniversary of the massive earthquake which hit Marmara Region. Responding to questions of reporters, Aydin noted that his ministry has allocated 500 trillion TL for the quake zones this year and that this number will exceed 3 quadrillion TL together with the spendings of other institutions.

A NEW PARTY TO BE SET UP

A new party, under the name of National Independence Party (UBP), is getting prepared to enter the Turkish political life as the 40th party. The party will be under the leadership of Ali Nejat Olcen. Olcen said that they would neither take place in the right nor in the left of the political spectrum. Olcen pointed out that they wanted to provide full independence of Turkey due to economic, political and administrative means, adding that they would punish all those who involved in corruption. He said, ''we will lift all the implementations limiting organization and belief freedom.'' The founders committee, comprised of 35 people, will start to discuss party regulations on August 28.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Former President Suleyman Demirel reacted to State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) who started an argument over the concept of national security. Demirel stressed that the Turkish Armed Forces should not be offended with such arguments. He added that those who could not accept the concept of national security should not stay in the government.

GENERAL KIVRIKOGLU DUE TO BAKU

General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff, will pay a two-day official visit to Azerbaijani capital Baku as the guest of Azerbaijani Defense Minister Sefer Abiyev. President Haydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan is expected to receive General Kivrikoglu. Meanwhile, General Kivrikoglu will attend the first graduation ceremony of Azerbaijani War Academy.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

The argument over the concept of national security which was started by State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), was taken up during the routine meeting between Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Prime Minister Ecevit and President Sezer have reached a full consensus of opinion not to bring the issue on the agenda of the National Security Council's meeting on August 21.

U.S.: ''TURKEY SHOULD CONTINUE ITS RESOLUTION''

U.S. Treasury Deputy Assistant Secretary Steve Radalet said that if the Turkish government continues its resolution about the economic reforms, there will be very clear and good developments in the Turkish economy. Radalet responded to questions of journalists together with U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson after meeting with State Minister Tunca Toskay.

Recounting that the Turkish government started to implement a broad reform programme, Radalet said that ''it is really an ambitious programme and the implementation of the programme continues successfully.'' The progress recorded in implementation of the economic programme in the last few months is very encouraging and bright, said Radalet and noted that ''very few countries could have put into practice so many reforms. We appreciate the government for its efforts. The clear statements issued by the government recently is very important for showing its devotion to the economic programme.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

A series of activities were held to mark the second anniversary of massive quake disaster which devastated northwestern Turkey in 1999. Those who lost their lives in the quake disaster were commemorated with great pain. Meanwhile, survivors of the disaster reacted to government officials who did not attend the activities. Labour and Social Security Minister Yasar Okuyan was the only minister who attended the activities.

AK PARTY HOLDS ITS FIRST GROUP MEETING

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of Justice and Development Party (AK Party), said that deputies from his party would become independent representatives of the nation. The AK Party held its first group meeting the same day. Addressing the AK Party deputies, Erdogan said that AK Party deputies will be freer than deputies of other parties, because AK Party won't take binding group decisions except in extraordinary situations.

ITALIAN UNICREDITO ITALIANO SPA FIRM TO EXAMINE IKTISAT BANK

A new step has been taken for the sale of Iktisat Bank which is in the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF). Turkey signed a secrecy agreement with Italian Unicredito Italiano Spa firm and gave permission to the Italian firm to examine the bank and prepare its offer to purchase the bank. The Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) noted that permission was given to UniCredito Italiano Spa which carries out banking activities in Italy after signing a secrecy agreement with the firm.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

The Central Bank said that positive effects of the reforms will be seen in the medium term. The Central Bank said that several reforms have been made for the last two years. It said, ''this process which began with social security reform continued in 2001 with a number of reforms which were implemented one after the other. These reforms are important because they efficiently change the deteriorated economic structure which is ranked at the top of the reasons which pushed Turkish economy into a series of crises in 1990s. The effects of the reforms, which we guess that will be very positive, will be seen in the medium term.''

GAP REGION EXPORTS 17.7 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF AGRICULTURAL AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS TO AMERICAN CONTINENT

GAZIANTEP - Exports of agricultural and animal products from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region to American continent increased 8.9 percent to 17 million 769 thousand U.S. dollars in the first seven months of 2001.

In the same period last year, the region exported 16 million 312 thousand U.S. dollars of agricultural and animal products.

Officials at Southeast Anatolian Exporters' Associations told the A.A correspondent on Saturday that they exported 324 thousand U.S. dollars in grain-cereals, 5 million 870 thousand U.S. dollars in dried fruits, and 11 million 575 thousand U.S. dollars in textiles.

The Turkish goods in greatest demand are towel, dried apricot, carpet, textiles and cotton thread.

CONTENTS

[01] OPERATION LAUNCHED IN ANTALYA AGAINST HISTORICAL WORK SMUGGLERS

[02] ORTA ANADOLU MENSUCAT FIRM EXPORTS 43.1 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF DENIM

[03] GENERAL STAFF DENIES NEWS STORIES CLAIMING THAT GENERAL USTA WAS WARNED

[04] AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS MINISTER GOKALP SAYS TURKEY IS NOT A COUNTRY THAT IS RICH OF WATER

[05] TOURISM MINISTER TASAR MEETS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF TOURISM SECTOR

[06] CAKAN SAYS TURKEY WON'T EXPERIENCE ENERGY SHORTAGE THIS YEAR

[07] PAINTERS FROM TURKISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES MEET IN BOZCAADA

[01] OPERATION LAUNCHED IN ANTALYA AGAINST HISTORICAL WORK SMUGGLERS

Two people were detained in the operation.

Sources said that market value of the works was nearly 70 billion Turkish liras.

A full investigation into the historical work smuggling in under way.

[02] ORTA ANADOLU MENSUCAT FIRM EXPORTS 43.1 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF DENIM

Firm officials told the A.A correspondent on Saturday that they exported 15 million 500 metres of denim to the U.S. and member countries to the European Union (EU) between January 1 and July 31, 2001.

Noting that their exports of denim increased by 33.7 percent compared to previous year, officials said that their products were being used by worldwide famous companies such as Levis, Rifle, Wrangler and Lee.

They added that they expected their exports of denim to increase up to 75 million U.S. dollars till the end of the year.

[03] GENERAL STAFF DENIES NEWS STORIES CLAIMING THAT GENERAL USTA WAS WARNED

Releasing a statement, the General Staff said, ''some news stories in the press claimed that General Usta was warned and reprimanded. These stories are totally baseless and do not reflect the reality.''

[04] AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS MINISTER GOKALP SAYS TURKEY IS NOT A COUNTRY THAT IS RICH OF WATER

Gokalp who is currently in Altinyayla township of Sivas in central Anatolia to attend some inagurations, told reporters, ''climate has changed in the world. Even glaciers have been melting. It did not snow this year on the high altitudes of Erciyes Mountain for the first time in last 40 years. Turkey is not a country rich of water. We should not waste our water resources.''

Referring to problems of farmers, Gokalp said, ''farmers owe the state 2 quadrillion 400 trillion Turkish liras. We have prepared a draft law to freeze debt interests of farmers. If the draft is adopted, farmers will repay their debts in six installments in three years. But the draft was rejected by the Council of Ministers.''

Referring to the current economic crisis, Gokalp said, ''the world is getting smaller. Trade is easier today. It takes just one second to export something from Turkey to the United States. We have failed to produce new projects and new laws in the politics. Prime ministers, coalition partners and political parties argued with each other. If a country does not have economic independence, it cannot have political independence. Our country has been forced to borrow money.''

[05] TOURISM MINISTER TASAR MEETS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF TOURISM SECTOR

TURSAB Chairman Basaran Ulusoy, TUROB Chairman Sinan Babila, TYD Chairman Tavit Koletavitoglu, TUREB Chairman Ahmet Sensilay, TAC Chairman Sinan Genim, TUGEV Chairman Yilmaz Tecmen, TOSHID Chairman Abdulkadir Kolot and MARYAT Chairman Altug Duransoy were in attendance at the meeting held at Istanbul's Lutfi Kirdar International Congress and Exhibition Center.

A statement was released following the meeting.

The statement said, ''our main targets are to increase number of foreign tourists coming to Turkey and amount of foreign exchange income from tourism. Turkey should increase standards of tourism products, diversify these products, increase its capacity, accelerate infrastructure works, and promote natural and historical assets of the country in order to reach these targets. The Tourism Encouragement Law was adopted in 1982. A new legal arrangement has been needed within framework of principles of today's tourism sector.''

''The Tourism Ministry has launched a campaign to promote Turkey as of 2000. The campaign will be accelerated in coming years. Meanwhile, we aim at setting up a Tourism Promotion Council with the participation of representatives of tourism sector. In promotion activities, cultural tourism should be given priority. Prices of museum tickets should be determined in coordination with the Culture Ministry. Museums and ruins should be equipped with modern facilities. Within framework of efforts to diversify tourism, yacht tourism should be supported. It is necessary to make new arrangements to decrease bureaucracy in marina investments,'' it said.

The statement noted, ''Istanbul has the capacity to become a world city. Istanbul has a vital importance in promotion of Turkey. The city has an important role in congress tourism. The Congress and Visitor Bureau should be supported by public and private institutions. Meanwhile, necessary arrangements should be made as soon as possible to support tourism based on shuttle trade in Laleli district of Istanbul.''

[06] CAKAN SAYS TURKEY WON'T EXPERIENCE ENERGY SHORTAGE THIS YEAR

Cakan and accompanying delegation met with Governor Ismet Metin of northern province of Zonguldak.

Speaking at the meeting, Cakan said, ''bureaucrats have important duty in prevention of any energy cuts. Our friends have been working in power plants running with a capacity of 60 percent in order to increase their capacities up to 70-80 percent.''

Noting that the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry had never sought imaginary projects, Cakan stressed, ''we will spend 298 million U.S. dollars for the Blue Stream Project while Russia will allocate 2.7 billion U.S. dollars. Giant vessel Saipem 7000 that will install a pipeline on the Black Sea ground between Turkey and Russia, sailed to the Black Sea. This project is not a dream. The Pipeline Oil Transportation Corp (BOTAS) has been working to bring natural gas to 57 provinces.''

''We will set up a natural gas interconnection system. Natural gas coming from the west, Iran, the Blue Stream Project and from the Baku-Tbilisi- Ceyhan Project will be connected to a joint system,'' he said.

Referring to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Project, Cakan said, ''main engineering works are about to be finalized. Other engineering works will last for a year. Then we will start construction of the pipeline. After the project is put into practice, 50 million tonnes of oil will come to Ceyhan every year. Turkey will take 200 million U.S. dollars of transit passage fee for the first 16 years. Then the fee will increase up to 300 million U.S. dollars between 16th and 40th years.''

''Turkey has fulfilled its responsibilities about the natural gas to be purchased from Iran. We plan to purchase 3 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Iran this year. However, we cannot purchase natural gas because of measuring station in Iranian side. A delegation from BOTAS is in Iran to this end. If problems are solved, we will purchase 1.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas this year,'' he added.

[07] PAINTERS FROM TURKISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES MEET IN BOZCAADA

A total of 12 painters from Kyrgyzstan, Crimea, Azerbaijan, Gagauz Place, Akhazia region in Siberia and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) who came to Turkey as the guests of the Culture Ministry met in Bozcaada.

They visited historical and touristic places in Bozcaada.

Talay said, ''within scope of a cultural organization with the Turkish Republics in Central Asia, we have been inviting and hosting painters from 14 independent countries and autonomous regions for the last three years. Our ministry will host these painters in Turkey for 15 days. Earlier, they visited Istanbul and Antalya. They paint pictures reflecting historical and natural assets of Turkey. This program makes a valuable contribution to improvement of friendly relations among Turkish speaking countries.''

Talay and the painters will visit the ancient city of Assos tomorrow.

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