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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-08-24Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 24 AUGUST 2001 Friday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey'spress on August 24, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. HURRIYET (LIBERAL)''FORTUNATELY, THEY ARE MARXISTS''After police launched an investigation into corruption in state building contracts, Public Works and Housing Minister Koray Aydin said, ''fortunately detainees are Marxists. If they had been supporters of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), how would I explain this to the public opinion? I have nothing to worry about.'' ERDOGAN DEFENS HIMSELF Party) said, ''the AK Party is a political party founded by politicians who believe that the Republic was one of the greatest acquisitions of Turkish people. The AK Party members accept that sovereignty belonged to the nation unconditionally, political legality depended on people's will, and that human rights, democracy, secularism and supremacy of law were the main foundations of the state and the nation. We have taken these principles including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights into regulations of our political party.'' Referring to the cassette which was brought onto agenda of Turkey, Erdogan said, ''the speech in the video cassette was delivered in 1992. These statements were under influence of a political understanding shaped in accordance with conditions of the Cold War era. This polarized political understanding affected both national and local policies. Our political style was shaped under influence of this polarization. Now, we believe that such a political understanding based on polarization or clash, would not be beneficial for anyone.'' PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TAKEN AGAINST STAR NEWSPAPER measures and stopped systematic publications of the Uzan Family's Star Newspaper against the bank. Releasing a written statement, Is Bankasi said, ''the Star Newspaper launched a campaign to wear Is Bankasi out by publishing baseless news stories claiming that Is Bankasi damaged balance of markets, caused value of U.S. dollar to increase against Turkish lira and released an imaginary budget.'' MILLIYET (LIBERAL)BAHCELI: ''IF IT IS A POLITICAL MANEUVER, I WILL NOT FORGIVE IT''State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) said about the investigation into corruption in state building contracts at the Public Works and Housing Ministry, ''the facts should be brought to daylight. But if this operation is a political maneuver against the MHP, I will not forgive it.'' Bahceli held a meeting with Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen. Yucelen informed Bahceli on developments in the investigation. F-16 WAR PLANES DUE TO HUNGARIA National Defense Ministry sources said that the fund to be raised from sale of F-16 war planes could be used to purchase new war planes. ALABAMA LIKE TURK Commemoration Day of the tragedy experienced by Turks in the path of independence, Sovereignty and Liberation. Siegelman said that millions of Ottoman citizens of different ethnic and religious origins lost their lives due to inter-communal clashes, exile and diseases during the World War I and decline of Ottoman Empire. The governor stressed that Turkish nation fought to preserve their sovereignty and independence under the pioneership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk during the long War of Independence and founded the Turkish Republic on October 29, 1923. SABAH (LIBERAL)GET READY TO EXCHANGE YOUR GERMAN MARKS INTO EUROA total of 12 members of the European Union (EU) will give up their national currencies, and and put euro, the single currency of the EU, into circulation as of January 1, 2002. The Central Bank announced arrangements about transition of national currencies of Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Finland and Austria into Euro. Turkish citizens having national currencies of these countries in foreign exchange accounts in banks and current accounts in private finance institutions will exchange them into euro till December 31, 2001. WILL KIVRIKOGLU INVITE ERDOGAN? General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff, is expected to deliver a speech at the reception in which he will refer to the issue of national security. Kivrikoglu will invite leaders of political parties having seats at the parliament. Kivrikoglu could not decide whether or not to invite Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the reception. High-ranking military officials do not welcome Erdogan due to his anti- secular statements targeting the Turkish Armed Forces. S&P CLAIMS A NEW ROW MAY BREAK OUT A leading international rating organization Standard and Poor's (S&P) claimed that investigations into corruption in energy and banking sectors could lead to a new row between President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Noting that the total public debt burden could rise to 110 percent of the gross national product (GNP) at the end of the year, the S&P defended that the banking sector still protected its fragility despite government's measures to strengthen the sector and decisions to close down weak banks. CUMHURIYET (LEFT)PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING MINISTRY BUREAUCRATS TARGETEDSecurity forces detained eight people at the Public Works and Housing Ministry as part of an investigation into corruption in state building contracts. The investigation brought onto agenda alleged corruption in the construction of permament dwellings in northwestern Turkey which was devastated by a massive earthquake in 1999. Deputy Undersecretary Raci Akyol who was questioned over allegations that he favored certain companies and disqualified rivals from bidding for contracts by removing key documents from their files, is a relative of Public Works and Housing Minister Koray Aydin. TURKEY TO BE MORE ACTIVE IN CENTRAL ASIA of the National Security Council (NSC), Turkey will pay more attention to problems of Turkish Republics in Central Asia. Turkey will strengthen its military cooperation with these countries. Visit of General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff, to Azerbaijani capital Baku will be the first step of Turkey's new approach towards Central Asia and Caucasus. RADIKAL (LEFT)''ARTICLE 312 OF TCK SHOULD BE RE-ARRANGED''General Staff Judicial Consultancy examined similars of Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) in the member countries to the European Union (EU). As a result of the examination, General Staff decided that Article 312 should be re-arranged in accordance with standards in laws of EU countries. IHD: ''COMPLAINTS ABOUT TORTURE INCREASED'' about human rights violations in the first six months of 2000 and 2001. According to the report, 263 out of 15,980 people who were detained in the first half of 2000, and 435 out of 21,812 people who were detained in the second half of 2001, complaint of torture. TURKIYE (RIGHT)TURKISH F-5 PLANES IN BAKUTurkish Stars' aerobatics show in Azerbaijani capital Baku and visit of General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff, were changed into an argument of public demonstration against Iran. The legal status of the Caspian Sea escalated tension between Azerbaijan and Iran in recent days. The tension gained a different dimension with Turkish Stars' scheduled show today and General Kivrikoglu's visit to Baku. Iran expressed its concerns about Turkish jets' presence in the region while Azerbaijan was pleased with receiving support of Turkey. However, Turkey is uneasy about the arguments. Officials said that General Kivrikoglu's visit to Baku was planned three months ago. DEATH FASTS COME TO AN END an end to their death fasts. Acting Chief Prosecutor Ahmet Soylu said that the prisoners submitted a petition to the prison administration saying that they had ended their death fasts. Noting that one prisoner had been continuing to fast to death at the F-type prison in Sincan, Soylu said that 15 others had been receiving medical treatment in hospitals. TRAFFIC DISASTER CLAIMS 13 LIVES on Erzurum-Erzincan highway. The passanger bus which was on its way from Izmir to Azerbaijan, swerved off the road to avoid a car overtaking in the opposite direction. The bus careered off a steep slope at the edge of the road and overturned, killing eight people instantly. Five more people died in a nearby hospital where they were taken for treatment. ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)NUMBER OF TOURISTS VISITING HARRAN INCREASES BY 150 PERCENTHarran township of southeastern province of Sanliurfa has recorded great progress in tourism. Number of Turkish and foreign tourists visiting Harran which is famous with its traditional civil architecture, mudbrick houses with conic roofs, and with ruins of the first university of the history, increased 150 percent in the first eight months of 2001. -KEMALIST THOUGHT ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC Association extended full support to President Rauf Denktas of TRNC about negotiations on the issue of the Cyprus question. Releasing a statement, TRNC Kemalist Thought Association Chairman Gokhan Guler said on Friday that they relied on Denktas to protect rights of Turkish Cypriots. ''We can encounter some unfair attitudes during the negotiations. Negotiations can be halted or can come to an end. But we, as Kemalist Turkish Cypriots, will welcome you with flowers,'' he added. -CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CHIEF JUDGE BUMIN SAYS THAT HE WOULD GIVE APPLICATION of Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Judge Sabih Kanadoglu requesting to issue a warning for Justice and Development Party (AK Party), will be given to rapporteur. The report can be finalized in a week.'' When asked whether or not the Constitutional Court would take a decision about Kanadoglu's application prior to beginning of judicial year, Bumin said, ''the application will be given to a rapporteur first. The report can be finalized in a week. Later, the agenda will be determined. I cannot set a date to take a decision about the application.'' When asked whether or not reasoned verdicts of some decisions had been finalized, Bumin told reporters, ''all of these reasoned verdicts have been concluded. These verdicts will be published in the Official Gazette next month.'' Bumin said, ''I can call on members of the Constitutional Court Delegation to a meeting before September 6, 2001, the beginning date of the judicial year, if it is necessary.'' Reasoned verdicts of decisions such as closure of the Virtue Party (FP), annulment of some articles of the Law on Conditional Release form Prison and Suspension of Punishments, rejection of expulsion of Hasan Celal Guzel, the former leader of the Resurrection Party (YDP), annulment of decision envisaging a 10 percent increase in rents, have not been disclosed yet. -KOSKI MEHMET PASHA MOSQUE IN MOSTAR RESTORED BY DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF during the civil war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, was restored by the Directorate General of Religious Affairs. The mosque will be opened to service in a ceremony on August 31. Religious Affairs Head Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz will attend the ceremony. Restoration of the mosque which was built in 1618, cost 300 thousand U.S. dollar. The Koski Mehmet Pasha mosque has a fountain placed on eight columns. Sheikh Ishak Efendi who passed away in 1733, was laid to rest in a shrine in courtyard of the mosque. -ITALY, SYRIA AND GERMANY BECOME EXPORT CENTERS OF GAP REGION Anatolia Project (GAP) region in the first seven months of 2001. Exports from GAP region to these countries increased by 21.2 percent compared to same period last year. Officials at the Southeast Anatolian Exporters' Unions told the A.A correspondent on Friday that exports to Italy increased by 47 percent to 36 million 398 thousand U.S. dollars, exports to Syria decreased by 5.2 percent to 18 million 533 thousand U.S. dollars,and exports to Germany rose by 13.1 percent to 17 million 597 thousand U.S. dollars. The Turkish goods in greatest demand in Italy, Syria and Germany were dried apricot, cotton thread, textiles, synthetic thread and carpet. -CENTRAL BANK SELLS 60 MILLION DOLLARS 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 479 thousand 79 Turkish liras (TL). Maximum bid was 1 million 482 thousand TL and the minumum bid was 1 million 474.2 thousand TL. -GREECE WITHDRAWS FROM 70TH INTERNATIONAL IZMIR FAIR Activities Corp (IZFAS) Director General Feyzi Hepsenkal said on Friday that Greece had decided not to attend the 70th Izmir International Fair (IEF). Hepsenkal said that Greece had decided to withdraw from the 70th IEF due to participation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). -INDIAN AMBASSADOR PAYS FAREWELL VISIT TO PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT visit to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on Friday. The meeting at the Prime Ministry building lasted for almost 20 minutes and was closed to press. Sources said that Prime Minister Ecevit and Bhadrakumer who was apopointed to Baghdad had discussed bilateral relations between Turkey and India. Prime Minister Ecevit said that the motorway construction works of Turkish contracting sector continued in India and that several activities of Turkish investors in India would continue also in the future. Ecevit thanked Bhadrakumer for his contributions to development of bilateral relations during his mission in Turkey. -ASSESSMENT MEETING IN TRNC PRESIDENCY Cyprus (TRNC) Presidency prior to the meeting of TRNC President Rauf Denktas with the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan on August 28. A delegation, led by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Faruk Logoglu, also participate in the meeting that takes place under the leadership of Rauf Denktas. Denktas, who made a brief statement, pointed out that, ''we are having a joint meeting for a national case. We thank to Logoglu and his friends.'' Denktas said the exchange of opinion was necessary to find a peaceful solution to the Cyprus issue which prolonged because of the intransigent attitude of the Greek Cypriots. Denktas said no statement would be made after the meeting. -PREPARATIONS FOR PUBLIC OFFERING OF TUPRAS AND POAS SHARES FINALIZED to start implementing Privatization Administration's working program in September. Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Karakoyunlu said they would firstly carry out two privatization practices worth of almost 850 million U.S. dollars through public offering. Within this scope, Turkish Oil Refineries Corp (TUPRAS) and gas retailer Petrol Ofisi A.S. (POAS) would be offered to public, he said. ''We are planning to obtain nearly 1.2 quadrillion Turkish lira income from public offering. This is a very important target. I don't suppose that we would encounter a hitch. All necessary arrangements were prepared. In coming days, we will publicly announce a detailed information about this,'' he said. -MARSHAL, MAYOR OF BRITAIN'S WESTMINISTER CITY, IN ANTALYA Friday that interest to Turkey increased in Britain, adding that 750,000 tourists visited Turkey last year. Marshal and his wife Hazel, who visited Turkey as the official guest of Foreign Ministry, left for Antalya to have holiday following their contacts in Ankara. Marshal said he had visited Turkey 35 years ago, noting that he could not forget Antalya. Marshal said they closely observed tourism activities in Turkey, noting that Turkey was a very beautiful country with its nature, meals, and human relations. Pointing out that tourism can be improved with planning, Marshal said, ''international planning should be made for Turkey's development in tourism. Number of tourists is not important, their quality is important. Interest to Turkey increases in Britain.'' -SOCCER-UEFA CUP FIRST ROUND DRAW Genclerbirligi will take on Halmstad BK of Sweden while Gaziantepspor will take on Hapoel Tel Aviv of Israel. First legs will be played in Turkey on September 13 and second legs will be played on September 27. -SYRIAN IRRIGATION MINISTER TAHA AL-ATRASH IN GAP delegation held observations in Rural Services Talat Demiroren Research Institute and Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Administration Koruklu Research Station. The guest minister and the accompanying delegation were given a briefing about the products in Harran and Akcakale plateau. The Syrian Minister was also given information about the irrigation systems. -CHINESE SHIP VARYAG WAITING IN BLACK SEA Saturday, will convey the message of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit that he was in favor of the passage of Varyag, waiting at the Black Sea, from the straits. Gurel told A.A correspondent that he talked to Prime Minister Ecevit on the issue, adding that during his contacts with the Chinese officials, he would convey Ecevit's positive view that the ship could pass from the straits. The Maritime Undersecretariat saw passage of Varyag, waiting for permission since December 2000, from the straits as having drawbacks. However, a step toward compromise was taken upon the recommendations of General Staff, which said conditional ''yes,'' to the passage. The General Staff re-evaluated the issue upon the positive views of Ecevit, and Devlet Bahceli, the State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. Passage of Varyag can only take place under minimum risk and certain conditions. It should take guide and five trailers should accompany the ship. Both sides of the strait should be closed to the traffic during the passage, and the ship should not have fuel, and explosive devices. Within the framework of his contacts, Gurel will sign a protocol pertaining to two thermic power plants which China would set up in Zonguldak, and will meet the Turkish citizens making business in this country. Gurel, who will later proceed to Australia after China, will meet various high ranking officials, including the foreign minister. -GARANTI-INTESABCI PARTNERSHIP TALKS CONTINUE between Italian bank IntesaBci S.p.A. and its main shareholder Dogus Holding A.S. were continuing as they were planned. Sending a statement to the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) as a response to ''extraordinary price and amount movements'', Garanti Bankasi said that there was not any special situation necessitating an explanation about those extraordinary movements. It said that works on partnership talks between Italian bank IntesaBci S.p.A. and its main shareholder Dogus Holding A.S. were continuing as they were planned. -IMF SAYS POSSIBILITY OF SPREAD OF CRISES IN ARGENTINA AND TURKEY TO crises in Argentina and Turkey to emerging markets might be less than the Asia crisis in 1997. According to an analysis in IMF Survey, crises in Argentina and Turkey were different from the Latin America crises in 1995, Asia crisis in May 1997 and Russia crisis in October 1997 in regard to spreading to other emerging markets. Effects of economic problems in Argentina and Turkey in international area and the turmoil caused by those economic problems remained very low compared to other crises, it said. The latest crises did not spread as serious measures were taken by governments, ratings did not reduce sharply and investors avoided risky investments due to recession in global economy, it said. -FIRST GROUP OF TURKISH TROOPS TO LEAVE FOR SKOPJE ON AUGUST 27 mission within structure of the multi-national forces in Macedonia within scope of the NATO, will leave for Skopje on August 27. The General Staff said on Friday that some of the Turkish troops in Bosnia- Herzegovina Battalion Force would proceed to Skopje on August 27. The remaining troops would go to Skopje with two cargo planes of the Air Forces on August 28, it said. Turkish troops will take part in operation ''Essential Harvest'' to collect weapons together with the Italian battalion. -GARANTI BANKASI OBTAINS 350 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS SYNDICATED LOAN worth of 350 million U.S. dollars with a libor+0.80 percent interest rate to finance exportation. The loan agreement was signed in London, Britain on Friday. Garanti Bankasi said that the syndicated loan had been led by Alpha Bank A.E, Bankgesellschaft Berlin AG, The Bank of New York, The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi LTD, Barclays Capital, BayernLB, Deutsche Bank AG, First Union National Bank, IntesaBci S.p.A, Mizuho Financal Group (Fuji), Natexis Banques Poplaires and Sanwa Bank Limited. It said that 52 banks from 26 countries joined the syndication. Garanti Bankasi had gotten a syndicated loan worth of 350 million euros in March 2001. -A.A AND GREEK MPA AGENCY TO AWARD THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTE TO FRIENDSHIP OF TWO COUNTRIES decided to award those who would contribute to Turkish-Greek relations, with friendship awards every year. The first of the friendship awards will be given the Greek singer Maria Faranduri and famous composer Zulfi Livaneli on August 26 prior to the Turkish-Greek concert that will take place in Salonica. The awards will be given by the Neapolis Municipality of Salonica with the support of A.A and MPA. The awards will be given by Mehmet Guler, the President Director General of the A.A, and Spyros Kouzinopoulos, the MPA General Director. Famous Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis will be granted honorary residentship status by Neapolis Municipality. -VAN-TABRIZ TRAIN TOURS START TODAY Friday that Van-Tabriz train tours started as of today. Speaking at an inauguration ceremony in Van, Bahceli said links with friendly country Iran would be further strengthened with the railway, adding that the railway will make an important contribution to the economic and commercial life of the region. -PROBLEMS OF REAL SECTOR TO BE DISCUSSED IN ISTANBUL August 27. State Minister Kemal Dervis is expected to participate in the meeting which will take place by Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) on Monday. Oguz Satici, the Chairman of TIM, recalled that they had a meeting two weeks ago with Dervis, adding that situation of the real sector and ways of solution were taken up in outlines at the meeting. He said, ''however, we did not have the time to discuss the issue in serious dimensions. We will discuss the issue in details on Monday.'' Satici said finance problem of the exporters would be discussed, noting that, ''we should obtain a result to overcome the crisis in the country. The real sector waited too much.'' -JUSTICE MINISTER TURK: ''A TOTAL OF 264 PEOPLE CONTINUE continued, yet noted that there was a noteworthy decrease in death fasts. Responding to the questions of reporters, Turk said, ''264 people continue their protests in prisons as of today. 91 of them are hunger strikes and 173 of them are death fasts.'' Reiterating that continuation of death fasts would not be beneficial for anybody, Turk said all the institutions expending support to death fasts should give up their attitudes. Turk said, ''we don't want anybody to lose his or her life.'' Stressing that the allegations which claimed that ''isolation'' was implemented in ''F-type prisons,'' Turk said those people did not attend the sports and cultural activities to continue their protest. Turk said those people isolated themselves, adding that the inmates were given the facilities to meet each other.
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