Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-08-28

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

28 AUGUST 2001 Tuesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] DERVIS TO ATTEND IMF-WORLD BANK MEETINGS IN U.S.

[03] TRADE AND TOURISM DEVELOP BETWEEN TURKEY AND U.S.

[04] AZERBAIJANI DEFENSE MINISTER ABIYEV TO VISIT TURKEY IN OCTOBER

[05] TREASURY STARTS TO SELL 99-DAY BONDS THROUGH PUBLIC OFFERING

[06] PRODUCTION IN INDUSTRY SECTOR DECREASES BY 11,2 PERCENT

[07] SOUTHEAST ANATOLIA EXPORTS 85.1 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS PRODUCTS

[08] BANKS UNION ANNOUNCES STATEMENT ABOUT TAX IDENTITY CARDS

[09] TURKISH-GREEK INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN BODRUM AND KOS BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 10-15

[10] TURKEY EXPORTS MORE THAN 1.2 BILLION DOLLARS PRODUCTS TO UZBEKISTAN

[11] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK SAYS THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN DEATH FEASTS AND HUNGER STRIKES ISOLATE THEMSELVES BY NOT ATTENDING JOINT ACTIVITIES

[12] OSMANLI BANKASI-KORFEZBANK MERGER TO BE FINALIZED ON FRIDAY

[13] IPEK KAGIT SIGNS THIRD TRANCHE LOAN AGREEMENT WITH IFC

[14] TURKISH FOOD AND BEVERAGE IN SWEDISH CUISINE

[15] TURKISH-UKRANIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL 10TH JOINT MEETING

[16] BIGGEST TURKISH INVESTMENT IN HUNGARY

[17] 45TH EUROPE QUALITY CONGRESS TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL ON SEPTEMBER 19-21

[18] IMKB TO RECESS ON AUGUST 30

[19] TURKEY SELLS 300 MERCEDES BUS TO UZBEKISTAN

[20] TURKISH AND GREEK FOOTBALL FEDERATIONS SIGN PROTOCOL TO HOST EURO 2008

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

GARIH TO BU BURIED TODAY
Businessman Uzeyir Garih who was stabbed to death at Eyup Graveyard last Saturday will be laid to rest today. A ceremony will be held at the Istanbul Technical University at 10:30 hours for Garih. The funueral will take place at the Buyuk Hendek Neve Shalom Synagogue in Sishane district at 13.00 hours. Garih will be laid to rest in Jewish graveyard in Ulus district.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

HAPPY IS HE WHO USES TURKISH LIRA
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit backs a campaign started to restore prestige to the national currency. ''Rescuing Turkey, before anything else, requires winning respect for our money,'' Ecevit told reporters, giving support to a campaign run by the Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO). ATO Chairman Sinan Aygun visited Ecevit yesterday and took the first signature from Ecevit for the campaign. Aygun said that ATO Assembly decided to prohibit shopping with foreign currency as of September 2 in Ankara. He stressed that 242 non- governmental organizations support the campaign. The campaign is backed by slogans such as ''National money is national honour'' and ''Happy is he who uses Turkish lira.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

MOSSAD SENDS TEAM TO TURKEY
A team from the intelligence service of Israel Mossad came to Turkey in connection with the murder of Uzeyir Garih, a prominent businessman who was killed in Eyub graveyard last Saturday. The team visited Istanbul Acting Security Director Hasan Ozdemir and got information about the killing. Intelligence experts said that the Israeli agents probably know Turkish and they worked in Turkey before, adding that ''in such cases Mossad and national intelligence of Turkey can work together. This is called Liasion Operations.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

RADIKAL (LEFT)

ECEVIT SAYS LEADERS SUMMIT CAN TAKE PLACE LATER
Mesut Yılmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) told private tv channel CNN Turk last Friday that the leaders summit can take place this week to discuss constitutional amendments. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that the leaders summit won't probably be held this week. Meanwhile AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that they would support constitutional amendments.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

The value date of these bonds is August 28, 2001 and maturity is December 5, 2001. These bonds' period interest rate is 18.00 percent, annual simple interest rate is 66.18 percent and annual composite interest rate is 83.78 percent.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[02] DERVIS TO ATTEND IMF-WORLD BANK MEETINGS IN U.S.

Dervis is expected to hold meetings with IMF and World Bank administrators and finance and economy ministers of many countries during the meetings which will be held between 29-30 September.

Dervis's visit will take place at the same time with the meeting of IMF which will review Turkey's economy for the tenth time. IMF is expected to release the fourth tranche of the loan worth of 3 billion dollars at the end of September or in the beginning of October.

The IMF-World Bank fall term meetings have been shortened from six days to two days due to the protestations expected to be held by

nearly 100,000 persons. Tight security measures will be taken in Washington D.C. due to protestations.

[03] TRADE AND TOURISM DEVELOP BETWEEN TURKEY AND U.S.

Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Baki Ilkin said on Tuesday that Turkey's export to the U.S. which was 2.1 billion dollars in 1997, increased to 3 billion dollars last year. The imports from the U.S. which was 3.5 billion dollars in 1997 increased to 3.7 billion dollars last year.

The foreign trade deficit which was 1.4 billion dollars against Turkey in 1997 decreased to 700 million dollars in 2000.

Ilkin said that the trade deficit of Turkey in its trade with the U.S. is expected to further decrease in 2001 as Turkey's imports from the U.S. reduced due to the economic crisis and also as Turkey's exports increased.

Meanwhile 365,000 tourists came to Turkey from the U.S. in 1997, and this number increased to 515,000 last year. Ilkin stated that the number of American tourists who go to Turkey is expected to exceed last year's number due to the success reached by Turkey in tourism sector this year.

[04] AZERBAIJANI DEFENSE MINISTER ABIYEV TO VISIT TURKEY IN OCTOBER

Issues of regional security and improvement of Turkish-Azerbaijani military cooperation will be discussed during Abiyev's contacts in Turkey.

Abiyev is also expected to visit military schools in Turkey.

[05] TREASURY STARTS TO SELL 99-DAY BONDS THROUGH PUBLIC OFFERING

The papers will remain on sale for two days, but if sufficient bonds are sold today, the Treasury can decide not to sell bonds on Wednesday.

The value date of these bonds is August 28, 2001 and maturity is December 5, 2001. These bonds' period interest rate is 18.00 percent, annual simple interest rate is 66.18 percent and annual composite interest rate is 83.78 percent.

Meanwhile, intermediary banks and institutions are as follows:

Banks: Central Bank branches, Akbank, Alternatifbank, Anadolubank, Bank Ekspres, Bayindir Bank, BNP Ak Dredner Bank, Citibank, Demirbank, Denizbank, Disbank, EGS Bank, Etibank, Fibabank, Finansbank, Halkbank, HSBC Bank, Iktisat Bankasi, Kentbank, Kocbank, MNG Bank, Nurol Yatirim Bankasi, Osmanli Bankasi, Oyakbank, Pamukbank, Sekerbank, Sinai Yatirim Bankasi, Sumerbank, Ziraat Bankasi, Turk Ekonomi Bankasi, Garanti Bankasi, Is Bankasi, Kalkinma Bankasi, Sinai Kalkinma Bankasi, TAIB Yatirim Bank, Tarisbank, Tekfenbank, Testilbank, Toprakbank, Turkish Bank, Vakiflar Bankasi and Yapi Kredi Bankasi.

Institutions: Ak Yatirim Menkul Degerler, Alfa Menkul Degerler, Ata Yatirim Menkul Kiymetler, Eczacibasi Menkul Degerler, Finans Yatirim Menkul Degerler, Is Yatirim, Yapi Kredi Yatirim and Yatirim Finansman Menkul Degerler.

[06] PRODUCTION IN INDUSTRY SECTOR DECREASES BY 11,2 PERCENT

The production decreased by 3,5 percent in mining sector, by 12,5 percent in manufacture sector and by 2,2 percent in electricity, gas and water sector compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, production in industry sector decreased by 6,3 percent in the first six months of 2001 compared to the same period last year.

The production in mining sector decreased by 2,2 percent, in manufactures by 6,9 percent, in electricity; gas and water sector by 2,4 percent compared to the first six months of last year.

[07] SOUTHEAST ANATOLIA EXPORTS 85.1 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS PRODUCTS

In the same period last year, the region exported 71 million 731 thousand products to neighboring countries.

The share of exports to neighboring countries in total exports from the region increased from 23.1 percent to 24.4 percent in January-July 2001 period.

According to the statistics of Southeast Anatolian Exporters Associations (GAIB), exports to Syria, Iraq, Iran, Nakhcevan-Azerbaijan, Georgia, Greece, Bulgaria and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) rose 18.7 percent in first seven months of the year when compared to same period in 2000.

GAIB Chairman Abdulkadir Cikmaz told the A.A correspondent on Tuesday that they had exported 104 million 958 thousand U.S. dollars of products to the European Union countries in the same period in 2001.

Cikmaz said that they exported cotton thread, synthetic thread, carpet, knitted textiles, sugar, flour, biscuit, cakes, chocolate, candies and synthetic textiles to neighboring countries.

[08] BANKS UNION ANNOUNCES STATEMENT ABOUT TAX IDENTITY CARDS

An announcement was published on the internet the same day about ''Tax Identity Cards.''

It was noted that those who will have banking acitivities for the first time won't be able to do that if they don't have tax identity cards.

Noting that citizens can get the tax identity cards from all tax departments, the announcement added that if the citizens don't use tax cards, they will be punished.

[09] TURKISH-GREEK INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN BODRUM AND KOS BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 10-15

Turkish Science Association Chairman Prof. Dr. Nizamettin Erduran said on Tuesday that the first three day of the conference would take place in Bodrum and the last three days of the conference would take place in Kos island.

He said that the aim of the conference was to increase scientific cooperation between Turkish and Greek scientists and contribute to peace between Turkey and Greece.

Prof. Dr. Erduran added that almost 400 scientists were expected to participate in the conference.

[10] TURKEY EXPORTS MORE THAN 1.2 BILLION DOLLARS PRODUCTS TO UZBEKISTAN

The Turkish Embassy in Tashkent Trade Consultancy issued a report on Tuesday and said that Turkish companies' total manufacturing investments in Uzbekistan was 750 million U.S. dollars and total cost of the projects carried out by the Turkish construction companies in Uzbekistan was nearly 850 million U.S. dollars.

Noting that Turkish Eximbank had opened a total of 375 million U.S. dollars of loan to Uzbekistan, the report said that the bilateral trade volume started to decreas since 1997.

Trade figures between Turkey and Uzbekistan between 1992 and 2000 according to the report are as follows:

. (1,000 U.S. dollars) YEAR EXPORTS IMPORTS

------- ------- ------
1992 54,439 21,019
1993 213,518 31,934
1994 64,550 78,625
1995 138,542 61,529
1996 230.492 58,054
1997 210.589 94,773
1998 156.181 96,207
1999 99.139 47,477

2000 82.130 85,794

[11] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK SAYS THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE IN DEATH FEASTS AND HUNGER STRIKES ISOLATE THEMSELVES BY NOT ATTENDING JOINT ACTIVITIES

Addressing a ceremony held for the personnel who were newly appointed, Turk said works regarded with punishment execution institutions continued multilaterally, adding that the most important problem here was the physical conditions. He said F type prisons were opened for the betterment of conditions.

Turk stressed that there was serious decrease in death fasts and hunger strikes which were started to protest F type prisons and later continued to materialize some other demands, yet noted that the activities still continued. Turk said those who participated in death fasts and hunger strikes, and those who support them did not attend joint activities staged in F type prisons held for the inmates, adding that those isolated themselves.

Stressing that the method of the protest was ''wrong,'' Turk said, ''there can not be an action on human life. Actions which end with death are nothing but murder. Those protests should be ended soon. We expect all the inmates to attend the joint activities.''

Turk pointed out that they targeted spreading some activities which started in F type prisons to all other prisons, adding that that was the requirement of contemporary execution policy.

Turk said it was their goal to make one person, who committed crime, to be benefical for his country.

Briefing about Execution Judgement and Follow-Up Committees, Turk said in six F type prisons, the inmates were given the right to talk with their relatives on the phone. Turk said before the end of 2001, nearly in 50 penalty execution institutions, rights will be given to talk on the phone.

Turk pointed out that they wanted to amend the Law about the Execution of Punishments as a whole, noting that a commission, comprising high ranking officials of jurisdiction, scientists and ministry officials were about to complete their works.

[12] OSMANLI BANKASI-KORFEZBANK MERGER TO BE FINALIZED ON FRIDAY

Osmanli Bankasi Corporate Executive and Merger Committee Chairman Aclan Acar, Osmanli Bankasi Director General Turgay Gonensin and Dogus Holding Executive Board member Husnu Akhan held a news conference on Tuesday.

Aclan Acar said that almost 80 banks had stopped their activities or merged during the Republic period Cumhuriyet and most of them had been obliged to do that, adding, ''however, Osmanli-Korfez merger was made with free will and control.''

Noting that there would be more mergers in the Turkish banking sector in the future, Acar said, ''as the Dogus Holding, we believe that we pioneered this.''

Recalling that they had earlier wanted to merge, Acar said that they had given the start for the merger after regulations had been revised.

When asked whether or not Italian bank IntesaBci S.p.A. which was holding partnership talks with Garanti Bankasi would be a shareholder of Osmanli Bankasi if they became partners, Acar said that Dogus Holding had 99 percent share in Osmanli Bankasi and 1 percent share in Garanti Bankasi.

After the merger, Osmanli Bankasi's assests reached 5.1 billion U.S. dollars as of March 31. Its market share rose to 4.1 percent. The bank has 1,420 personnel and 56 branches in Turkey and 2 branches abroad.

[13] IPEK KAGIT SIGNS THIRD TRANCHE LOAN AGREEMENT WITH IFC

The agreement was signed by Eczacibasi Holding Executive Board Chairman Bulent Eczacibasi and IFC Southern Europe and Central Asia Director Khosrow Zamani on Tuesday in Istanbul.

With this agreement, the amount of loan given by IFC to Ipek Kagit reached 78 million U.S. dollars.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Bulent Eczacibasi said that Ipek Kagit's capacity had increased sharply as a result of support of the IFC and ranked third among the cleaning paper producers in Europe.

Responding to a question, Eczacibasi said that the maturity of the loan ranged between 5 and 8 years and its interest rate ranged between libor+2 and 3.25 points.

Meanwhile, Zamani said that they would sign a loan agreement also with TEBA the same day and that all of these displayed IFC's confidence in Turkey.

Noting that they wished they would continue to cooperate with Eczacibasi, Zamani said that they would extend 100 million U.S. dollars of supplementary financial aid to other companies in the market in coming weeks.

Zamani said that the although the amount was not high, it would play catalyst role in regard to giving signal to the markets.

Stressing that IFC's investments in Turkey were more successful than its investments in other countries on global scale, Zamani said that IFC's total loan support to Turkey was 1 billion U.S. dollars, ranking fourth among the countries to which IFC gave loans but he wanted Turkey to rank first.

Zamani said that there was a great potential in Turkey and that they had the desire to invest in Turkey.

When asked whether or not Turkey was included in the list of risky countries in regard to investments, Zamani said that such a thing was out of question for them as Turkey was a medium income country, not a country with newly opening markets.

[14] TURKISH FOOD AND BEVERAGE IN SWEDISH CUISINE

Releasing a statement, it said that participating exporter companies' products like foodstuffs, beverages, dried fruits, olive and olive oil would be exhibited.

The delegation would would hold bilateral contacts and seek business opportunities in Sweden, it said.

The association said that they targeted to increase annual exports to Sweden which had been almost 15 million U.S. dollars in recent years.

[15] TURKISH-UKRANIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL 10TH JOINT MEETING

Addressing the Turkish-Ukranian Business Council 10th Joint Meeting, Gomdeniz said political relations which develop between Turkey and Ukraine formed a positive basis for the improvement of economic relations.

Stressing that Ukraine was the second biggest trade partner of Turkey among the former Soviet Republics, Gomdeniz said Turkish-Ukranian Business Council, which was set up under the roof of Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK) had important contributions to this development.

Stressing that Turkish-Ukranian Business Council targeted spreading its activities to the regions, Gomdeniz said Turkish-Crimean Regional Business Committee, which will be set up, will add momentum to the economic relations between the two countries.

Victor Yanovski, the Chairman of Ukranian-Turkish Business Council and Deputy Chairman of Ukranian Industry and Trade Chamber, said necessary efforts were exerted to improve good neighborhood relations.

Yanovski said the obstacles in front of improving cooperation, were lifted one by one.

Alexander Puhkal, the Ukranian Parliament Member and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Parliamentary Assembly Deputy Chairman, said the two countries could set up a joint future. He said relations between Turkey and Ukraine reached a constructive level.

Neonila Gracheva, the Chairperson of Crimean Industry and Trade Chamber, said they helped Turkish and Ukranian businessmen regarded with market prices and procedures of customs.

Alexander Motsyk, the Ukranian Ambassador in Ankara, stressed that an important step has been taken in bilateral relations of the two countries, adding that Turkey was one of the most important economic partners of Ukraine. He said the two countries should improve trade volume in the near future.

Foundation agreement of the Turkish-Crimean Business Committee was later signed.

[16] BIGGEST TURKISH INVESTMENT IN HUNGARY

The shopping center which Sever opened with his brothers in Miscolc, the third biggest city of Hungary, costed four million German marks.

A total of 220 people are employed in the shopping center which is settled on 4,000 square meters area. All the goods that are sold in the shopping center come from Turkey.

Ender Arat, Turkey's Ambassador to Hungary, who inaugurated the shopping center, pointed out that this investment formed an important step in improvement of economic relations between Turkey and Hungary.

[17] 45TH EUROPE QUALITY CONGRESS TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL ON SEPTEMBER 19-21

The Turkish Standards Institute (TSE) said on Tuesday that almost 2,000 people were expected to attend the congress.

It said that expert speakers would present 110 statements at 30 sessions during the conference of which main theme would be ''Quality: Bridge for Global Competition''.

Meanwhile, TSE Chairman Bekir Ozturk said that the successes achieved by the Turkish companies in quality in recent years constituted one of the main reasons for convention of Europe's biggest and most important quality platform in Turkey.

Ozturk invited industrialists, businessmen, public and private sector managers and scientists to attend the ''Quality Summit''.

[18] IMKB TO RECESS ON AUGUST 30

Releasing a statement, IMKB said that all IMKB markets would be closed and there would not be any transaction at the IMKB on August 30.

It said that market transactions at IMKB would resume on August 31.

[19] TURKEY SELLS 300 MERCEDES BUS TO UZBEKISTAN

A ceremony was held today in Tashkent, and the first bus was delivered to Tasgorpastrans (Tashkent City Passenger Transportation Institution.)

The 300 buses will be produced in factory of Mercedes-Benz in Istanbul, whose 40 percent capital belongs to Turkey.

Till Becker, the Chairman of Board of Directors of Mercedez-Benz Turkish Corp, who addessed the ceremony, pointed out that the total amount of the agreement was 73 million German marks.

Becker said the buses could take 700,000 km without any failure under the conditions of Tashkent.

[20] TURKISH AND GREEK FOOTBALL FEDERATIONS SIGN PROTOCOL TO HOST EURO 2008

FIFA Executive Board member and UEFA Vice-President Senes Erzik of Turkey and Turkish and Greek football federations officials attended the signing ceremony at the Conrad Hotel in Istanbul.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ulusoy said that signing of this letter of intent was an historic development in relations between Turkey and Greece.

He said, ''we will show the football's uniting power to whole world.''

Ulusoy said that he believed this project would receive support from whole world and that Turkey and Greece would be authorized to host Euro 2008.

Ulusoy said that this project would make the Turkish and Greek people to get closer to each other and strengthen peace and friendship between the two peoples and constitute a reason for creation of powerful economic ties.

Meanwhile, Gagatsis said that both the Turkish and Greek governments would support the project, adding that they would give the whole world the message that football was a sports which united the nations and allowed them to walk on the same path and made them feel that they were brothers and sisters.

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