Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-09-02

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

02 SEPTEMBER 2001 Monday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on September 2, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Devlet Bahceli, the leader of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Deputy Prime Minister, expressed his views about Public Works and Housing Minister Koray Aydin. Bahceli said, ''we told him either politics or trade from the very beginning. I warned Aydin about this matter. Aydin will liquidate his commercial affairs. I will not pardon if there is political intentions behind the operation against tenders of the Public Works and Housing Ministry.''

EVEN THE FOOTPRINT COULD NOT BE PRESERVED

Professor Sevil Atasoy, the Director of the Forensic Medicine Institution, said that many clues were lost as the place where businessman Uzeyir Garih was cleaned up. Atasoy noted, ''the height and weight of a person could be estimated from the footprint of the suspect on the soil of the cemetery. The brand and model of the shoe are important evidence which help police find the criminal. However, everybody walked on the same place without paying any attention to these. The first team which arrived at the spot should have put a security line around the region. However, this was very difficult because of hierarchy.'' Atasoy added, ''the spot can be examined in the best way if you stay there for a long time. Because this is your only chance. If you come again to the spot, you may not find evidence. Many people were beside the dead body in this assassination.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Public Works and Housing Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Sedat Aban confessed six days later: ''We awarded contracts to some companies by the instruction of Minister Koray Aydin.'' Aydin, the key name of the operation against tenders of the Public Works and Housing Ministry, gave a testimony in details and confessed that contracts were awarded to some companies by the instruction of Aydin through telephone.'' Aban also mentioned the name of former minister Yasar Topcu and said, ''also, some contracts were awarded to some companies those days. These are regular things.''

HAPPINESS AND SADNESS

We were happy as our national football team beat Slovakia with a goal scored by Hakan Sukur while we became sad as our national basketball team was defeated.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movemesnt Party (MHP), once again warned his party members. He said, ''if there are those who insist on saying they would do both politics and trade, we will take necessary measures.''

Bahceli said he would set up a strict controlling mechanism for the party members who got engaged with trade.

10TH IMF EXAMINATION TO TAKE START NEXT WEEK

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, led by Juha Kahkonen, the IMF Turkey Desk Chief, will visit Turkey on September 7 within the framework of 10th review.

The economy units started works on 2002 budget, end of year macro-economic estimations and next year's figures.

Officials at the Central Bank, State Planning Organization (DPT) and Finance Ministry are attending the initiatives at the Treasury Undersecretariat.

Macro economic estimations of IMF experts and the figures of the economy bureaucrats will be compared during IMF delegation's visit to Turkey.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) described the operation against the Public Works and Housing Ministry tenders, as ''ugly relations which have roots in the past,'' and continued his attitude which protected Koray Aydin, the Minister of Public Works and Housing.

Bahceli wanted Prime Ministry Inspection Commitee to make a comprehensive investigation again and tried to widen the target.

KONUSKAN: I WAS WITH YERMEZ AT THE CEMETERY

As efforts of the police are underway to capture Yener Yermez as the suspect of the killing of businessman Uzeyir Garih, Pinar Konuskan, who was taken into custody, confessed that she was with Yermez at the Eyup cemetery at the day of the murder, and that she had sexual intercourse with him.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Wrong information about businessman Uzeyir Garih assassination continues. The surprize witness, who said that he saw a car with an Arabic licence plate in the cemetery and was lanced as 'very important' was not considered as convincing. Firstly, 13-year-old F.N. was captured 'very rapidly.' The police even announced the 'confession' of the child. However, Garih's cell phone was still lost. Then, 'suspect' Yener Yermez was found through the phone. However, Yermez, whose place was found, got lost. Pinar Konuskan, was the 'friend' of Yermez. 'Her confession of assassination' was leaked out to the press immediately. However, the blood sample found in the cemetery was different. Recently, the 'super witness' Koksal Yilmaz's testimony was not considered as convincing.

'PEACE' IMPRISONED IN FIELD

Almost a thousand members of the People's DemocracyParty (HADEP) who staged a demonstration on Peace Day were detained. As there was not enough room for the detainees in the police stations, the detainees were taken to the football field.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

The statements depending on wishes are not enough to overcome economic crisis. Despite the economic programs which are shown as ''a salvation recipe' and officials' predictions that the crisis will not last for so long, it became definite that Turkey is recessing day by day by the figures announced by the state. These fifres, which are announced under the title of 'growth' and which are minus, indicated how much we have shrunk. The citizens said, ''the country needs serious achievements rather than wishes.''

PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT GIVES HOPE AGAIN

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit evaluated the minus growth figures announced by the State Statistics Institute. Ecevit said, ''we have to stop the decrease trend of growth rate and gain momentum in growth process. Turkish economy is not declined to recession and shrinkage.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

The economic shinkage, which had not been seen in Turkey's history, in the end pushed the government to take measures about investments.

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who pointed out that they would open ways for capital, stressed that they aimed at reducing buraucratic procedures to the mimunum level.

TURKEY TO BE REPRESENTED IN IMF-WORLD BANK ANNUAL MEETINGS

BY A DELEGATION LED BY STATE MINISTER DERVIS

Turkey will be represented by a crowded delegation led by State Minister Kemal Dervis in IMF-World Bank annual meetings that will take place in Washington D.C., on September 29-30.

Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak, Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti, and officials from Finance Ministry, Privatization Administration Board, and Banking Regulation and Supervision Authority (BRSA) will be included in the delegation.

The Turkish delgation will visit Washington D.C. a few days before the meetings start, and will also stay in the city a few more days and hold contacts following the meetings.

Recent developments in Turkish economy and investment facilities will be conveyed to the international finance institutions, bankers and investors during the contacts.

CONTENTS

[01] PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING MINISTRY DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY ARRESTED

[02] FOREIGN MINISTRY IS NOT SURPRIZED ABOUT POOS' REPORT ON CYPRUS

[03] 2002 WORLD FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING GROUP

[04] NEW JUDICIARY YEAR TO START ON SEPTEMBER 6

[05] TURKISH-JEWISH SOLIDARITY IN NEW YORK

[06] CAKAN, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES: ''WE WILL SUBMIT ARRANGEMENTS REGARDED WITH ENERGY TO COUNCIL OF MINISTERS WITHIN 10-15 DAYS''

[07] POLICE CAPTURE 21 TERRORISTS IN ISTANBUL

[08] INTERNATIONAL DEFENSE INDUSTRY FAIR TO BE HELD IN ANKARA

[09] NEW SCHOOL YEAR TO BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 10

[10] KINSMEN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMY SINCE 1990 IS 42.2 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

[11] SUDANESE MINISTER OF FINANCE PROPOSES TURKISH BUSINESSMEN TO TEACH INVESTMENT SYSTEM

[12] GAYDALI SAYS TURKEY DOES NOT UTILIZE GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

[13] TURSAB THINKS ROMANIA IS NEW HORIZON IN TOURISM

[14] TURKEY TO GIVE TOURISM COURSES TO BLACK SEA COUNTRIES

[15] TENDER PROCESS RELATED WITH NEW ROUTE OF NATURAL GAS BEGINS

[16] TURKISH MUNICIPALITIES' UNION CHAIRMAN DURAK LEAVES FOR BRUSSELS

[01] PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING MINISTRY DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY ARRESTED

Ankara State Security Court (DGM) prosecutor Cengiz Koksal said that Aban was arrested on charges of setting up a gang to commit crime, swindling in tenders and embezzlement.

[02] FOREIGN MINISTRY IS NOT SURPRIZED ABOUT POOS' REPORT ON CYPRUS

A statement of the Ministry said that it was not surprized about the content and target of the chapter of the same report in which there were references to Turkey.

The report will be debated by the EP Plenary Session.

The statement noted that Poos, a deputy from Luxembourg who prepared the report, is known as a person who assumes a special kind of opposition against Turkey, and who has special ties with the Greek Cypriot administration.

The statement said, ''Poos is a person who undertook the duty to cause strained terms between Turkey and the European Union (EU) at the EU Luxembourg Summit of 1997 under the title of Foreign Minister of Luxembourg and who fulfilled this duty.''

The report of this mentioned person was full of negativeness, the statement said.

Reminding that Poos claimed in his report that ''if Turkey were to carry out its threat to annex the north of Cyprus, it would put an end to its own ambitions of EU membership'', the statement said that possibility of the annexation of north of Cyprus by Turkey was brought to the agenda of politics by ''Cyprus'' rapporteur of the European Parliament personally.

The statement noted, ''the approach of possibility of annexation and the approach that its cost would be Turkey's EU membership is an argument which is drawing the attention and which has to be evaluated by everybody.''

Turkey's thesis and expectation regarding Cyprus question is a confederation model which can be ensured by the agreement of both sides in the island, the statement pointed out.

The statement added that, ''attitude of Mr. Poos, approaching to Cyprus issue like a threat and his attitude in daring to critize Turkey's EU National Program, is an irresponsible approach which makes invalid the good will mission of the U.N. Secretary General on Cyprus that is being carried out intensively, and which prevents and makes the efforts in this respect meaningless.''

''Turkey has not linked its EU candidacy and Cyprus question and will never do it. It stated this fact in all its statements prior and after the adoption of its candidacy by the EU,'' the statement said.

The statement noted that there is not any change in this approach of Turkey.

The statement added, ''Turkey is seriously following both its EU membership process and efforts to find a reconciliation which both sides in the island will accept. Despite the efforts of those who think like Poos, Turkey will continue to pursue this policy. We wish that the discussions to be made during the European Parliament Plenary Session will help searches for a solution.''

[03] 2002 WORLD FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING GROUP

Hakan Sukur scored the only goal of the match.

[04] NEW JUDICIARY YEAR TO START ON SEPTEMBER 6

A ceremony will be held at the Middle East Technical University (METU) Culture and Congress Center for the new judiciary year.

Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Sami Selcuk and Turkish Union of Bars Chairman Ozdemir Ozok will deliver speeches at the ceremony.

During the judiciary recess, standby courts and departments dealt with the urgent cases.

The Constitutional Court and State Security Courts (DGMs) are not taking the judiciary recess.

The judiciary recess began on July 20.

[05] TURKISH-JEWISH SOLIDARITY IN NEW YORK

The Federation of Turkish-American Associations (FTAA) based in New York and Westchester American Jewish Committee (AJC) is organizing a meeting on September 9 to bring leaders and leading names of both societies.

FTAA President Egemen Bagis said on Sunday that the meeting aims to enable leading names of both societies to learn about each other and their cultures and to lay the ground for exchange of views.

The participants will be offered Turkish and Israeli food during the meeting.

[06] CAKAN, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES: ''WE WILL SUBMIT ARRANGEMENTS REGARDED WITH ENERGY TO COUNCIL OF MINISTERS WITHIN 10-15 DAYS''

Cakan responded to the questions of reporters in southern Adana province, where he visited to take part in ''Botas-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Adventure 2001, '' ceremony.

Cakan said he had meetings with State Minister Kemal Dervis, responsible for economy, and Finance Minister Sumer Oral, adding that they pointed out their views without making any discrimination in 29 build-operate-transfer projects.

''Officials of Energy and Natural Resources Ministry and Treasury continue talks with the companies without making any discrimination,'' Cakan noted.

Responding to a question about wind power plants, Cakan said they were positive toward wind power plants.

Cakan said they clearly pointed out their views regarded with energy policies and the problems which may erupt in the future, and recalled that they brought the issue onto the agenda in Council of Ministers meeting last week.

[07] POLICE CAPTURE 21 TERRORISTS IN ISTANBUL

These 21 members of the terrorist organization PKK had raked three gendarmerie stations with gunfire.

Police said that these terrorists planned to make a sensational action in Istanbul on World Peace Day and to kill 50 ''top members of the terrorist organization'' who left the terrorist organization PKK.

[08] INTERNATIONAL DEFENSE INDUSTRY FAIR TO BE HELD IN ANKARA

The fair will be organized by Turkish Armed Forces Supporting Foundation and CSR company.

Products of Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TAI) will be displayed in this year's fair.

[09] NEW SCHOOL YEAR TO BEGIN ON SEPTEMBER 10

Almost 16 million students and 555 thousand teachers will welcome the new education year in elementary and secondary schools on September 10.

One million children to register to elementary schools in this new school year.

The term holiday will start on February 8, 2002 and last until February 25, 2002.

The second term will begion on February 26, 2002 and end on June 14, 2002.

[10] KINSMEN'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMY SINCE 1990 IS 42.2 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

Accoding to the data of the Central Bank, kinsmen sent 4 billion 603 million U.s. dollars to Turkey last year.

The amount of foreign exchange sent to Turkey by Turkish people working abroad was 40 billion 682 million U.S. dollars between 1990 and 2000.

Turkish people working abroad sent 3 billion 325 million U.S. dollars to Turkey in 1990, 2 billion 901 million U.S. dollars in 1991, 3 billion 74 million U.S. dollars in 1992, 2 billion 963 million dollars in 1993, 2 billion 664 million dollars in 1994, 3 billion 360 million dollars in 1995, and 3 billion 590 million dollars in 1996.

The contributions of kinsmen to economy was 4 billion 229 million U.S. dollars in 1997, 5 billion 397 million dollars in 1998, 4 billion 576 million dollars in 1999, and 4 billion 603 million dollars in 2000.

Turkish people working abroad sent 1 billion 526 million U.S. dollars in the first half of this year.

[11] SUDANESE MINISTER OF FINANCE PROPOSES TURKISH BUSINESSMEN TO TEACH INVESTMENT SYSTEM

A delegation from the Aegean Region Chamber of Industry (EBSO) had bilateral contacts with a high-level Sudanese delegation comprised of ministers responsible for economy.

Addressing the opening remarks, Hamdi said that relations between two countries should be developed.

Hamdi noted that his country has a big potential but that they cannot realize their potential.

Natural gas and oil production gradually increases, Hamdi stated.

Hamdi pointed out that they want to make investments without any debts and that they can achieve this by attracting foreign investors to their country.

They do not know about the system, Hamdi said and proposed Turkish investors to come and work together with them.

Hamdi noted that his country produces 1 million tons of sugar cane in a year but that there are not enough number of factories to process the sugar cane.

They also need investments in mining, leather, paper industry and dam construction, Hamdi stated.

Sudanese Minister of External Trade Abd al-Hameed Musa Kasha said that number of protocols prepared between two countries has increased in one year.

Kasha wished that these protocols will not remain on papers and that both states are laying necessary infrastructure, adding that Turkish and Sudanese businessmen will implement the projects.

Sudanese Minister of Industry and Investment Galal Al-Diggeir said that they have made significant infrastructural works for foreign investors in recent five years.

The customs tax has been zeroed for the importation of foreign investors while the investors are exempted from tax till the investment has been made, Al-Diggeir said.

Al-Diggeir noted that they extend every support to foreign investors.

Atil Akkan, the Chairman of EBSO, said that there is not any reason not to increase the trade volume between Turkey and Sudan and Turkish industrialists consider Sudan as a country of opportunities and possibilities.

Sudan will become one of the countries with the highest growth rate in the world soon, thanks to its oil and natural gas production, Akkan noted.

Akkan said, ''we are trying to enable Turkey to open a foreign trade attache office in this country. We have to achieve this. This is our duty.''

Two countries have signed a tax agreement, Akkan stated, however, a trade agreement has not been signed yet.

Akkan asked both Turkey and Sudan to exert utmost efforts to sign a trade agreement.

Duray Polat, the Turkish Ambassador to Sudan, said that 120 Turkish companies will organize a fair in Sudan in October and that 40 percent of these companies produce industrial goods.

[12] GAYDALI SAYS TURKEY DOES NOT UTILIZE GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

Gaydali told A.A correspondent that the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry has presented a draft law on geothermal energy to the parliament, however, this law has not been enacted yet.

Geothermal drilling is made in a few regions of Turkey, Gaydali said.

Gaydali noted that hot water spring of 110-120 degrees Celcius was found in Diyadin township of the Eastern Anatolia Region and went on saying, ''we use this water in heating the township. 60 percent of the township is being heated by hot water that we have found. A thermal hotel was built there after the spring had been found. People remember Bursa and Afyon when you mention geothermal hotel.''

Afyon-Denizli-Aydin triangle consists 70 percent of geothermal resources of Turkey, Gaydali stated.

Gaydali noted that by the steam coming from geothermal energy in Kizildere hamlet of western Denizli province, electricity is produced.

It is possible to build more power plants of this type and produce more electricity, Gaydali pointed out.

''However, we cannot find any place for waste water in Denizli. We cannot make re-injection, that is giving the waste water under the soil again, because the geological structure in Denizli is not suitable for this process. We will not have any problems if we can make the re-injection. We can use this source efficiently in coming years when we face energy bottleneck,'' Gaydali said.

Gaydali noted, ''if we can overcome the re-injection problem in Denizli- Aydin-Afyon triangle, we may obtain energy necessary for Turkey for the following 50 years through geothermal resources.''

Lacking a law on geothermal energy is the other reason for not utilizing the resources, Gaydali stated.

Gaydali added, ''re-injection examinations continue. However, we cannot make sufficient researches due to our limited budget.''

[13] TURSAB THINKS ROMANIA IS NEW HORIZON IN TOURISM

The monthly magazine of TURSAB defined Romania as a new horizon in tourism and noted that this country, in which many Turkish enterpreneurs make investments, is not only a significant tourism market for Turkey with its population of almost 23 million but also a tourism market with reasonable prices, geographical closeness, excellent nature and cultural aspects which Turkish people can spend holidays.

The number of Romanian people visiting Turkey increased to 566 thousand in 1992, the magazine noted and said that this was a record level.

The magazine stated that this number fell to 300 thousand in recent years.

The number of Romanian people visiting Turkey this year decreased by 53 percent, the magazine pointed out.

The annual number of Turkish people visiting Romania is around 50 thousand.

The total number of tourists to Romania exceeds 3 million while Romania obtains 250-500 million U.S. dollars from tourism.

Romania, with its forests, nature, coast on Black Sea, cities with good architecture, winter tourism possibilities, is a country where Turkish tourists can go and is ranked the first among the markets which has to be attributed importance in Turkey's touristic relations to attract Romanian people.

[14] TURKEY TO GIVE TOURISM COURSES TO BLACK SEA COUNTRIES

Within the framework of the training activities to be organized during the BSEC term presidency of Turkey, which was taken over on May 1, 2001, Turkey will train tourism sector employees of BSEC countries about hotel management, travel agency management and health service for tourists.

A statement of the Tourism Ministry said on Sunday that 48 tourism employees from BSEC member states will be given courses in southern Antalya province between September 3 and 11.

This education program will promote friendship and cooperation among the countries, the statement noted.

The statement emphasized that this organization has importance for the image of the country.

Experiences of Turkey will be explained to foreigners during the meeting which will be held by the members of Tourist Health Central Working Group and Akdeniz University Tourism and Hotel Management Higher Education Institute, under the coordination of the Tourism Ministry and cooperation of Prime Ministry Turkish Cooperation and Development Administration (TIKA).

[15] TENDER PROCESS RELATED WITH NEW ROUTE OF NATURAL GAS BEGINS

Prior to the construction of new lines which will transport natural gas to Eastern Black Sea region, an environment effect evaluation report will be prepared for the route of the pipeline.

After the environment report is prepared and route is determined, the tender proceedings for the construction of the pipeline will begin and contractor will be chosen.

Natural gas will firstly be used in Gumushane, Kelkit, Bayburt, Trabzon and Rize route.

Initiatives have been launched to include the project of natural gas pipilene to Western Black Sea Region starting from Karadeniz Ereglisi to Bartin via Zonguldak and Caycuma in the investment program of BOTAS for 2002.

If this project is included in the investment program for 2002, the engineering works and route studies will be made.

[16] TURKISH MUNICIPALITIES' UNION CHAIRMAN DURAK LEAVES FOR BRUSSELS

Durak will attend a meeting in which the principles of use of European Union (EU) funds by the local administrations of Turkey prior to accession.

Durak released a statement in which he said that he was invited with ''a special letter'' to represent Turkey in the meeting, which will be held by a group of the EU Candidate States.

He accepted the invitation after his deliberations with Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Foreign Ministry officials, Durak said.

Durak noted that he will give information about the situation of local administrations in Turkey.

''Representatives of Bulgaria, Lithuania, Malta, Romania and Slovakia will also attend the meeting. The responsibilities of local administrations, their regional policies, working process and structural policies will be debated at the meeting,'' Durak said.

Durak stated that he will inform the state officials about the meeting in Brussel, adding that the issues concerning local administrations and EU relations will be evaluated at the executive board meeting of the Turkish Municipalities' Union on September 14-15.

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