Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-09-04

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

04 AUGUST 2001 Tuesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] BULGARIAN-FLAGGED SHIP RUB AGAINST PASSENGER SHIP IN ISTANBUL STRAIT - NO CASUALTIES

[03] GAP REGION EXPORTS PRODUCTS WORTH OF 404 MILLION DOLLARS IN EIGHT MONTHS

[04] CENTRAL BANK SAYS IT WILL SELL 380 MILLION DOLLARS IN SEPT.

[05] CENTRAL BANK SAYS BALANCES IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKETS STARTED TO SETTLE IN AUGUST

[06] IS BANKASI RANKED SEVENTH AMONG BANKS IN RESPECT OF ATMS OUTSIDE BRANCHES IN EUROPE

[07] ELEVEN PERSONS TAKEN UNDER CUSTODY IN RELATION TO BANK KAPITAL INVESTIGATION

[08] EXPORTS FROM AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR INCREASES 49.4 PERCENT TO 2.5 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF 2001

[09] INTERIOR MINISTER YUCELEN SAYS THAT YERMEZ WAS CAPTURED IN KAYSERI

[10] EU COMMISSION TO BE FORMED IN PARLIAMENT

[11] FRENCH TV CHANNELS TO PROMOTE TURKEY'S TOURISTIC AND CULTURAL ASSETS

[12] YERMEZ CONFESSES THAT HE COMMITTED HOMICIDE

[13] TREASURY SELLS 321.6 TRILLION TL NOMINAL-VALUED 112-DAY BONDS

[14] CHHIBBER VISITS TOBB

[15] EBSO CHAIRMAN: ''SUDAN IS A COUNTRY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR TURKEY''

[16] 3F TOURISM COMPANY FLIES TO BAGHDAD

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

RTUK CHAIRMAN APPLIES TO COURT
The Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) Chairman Nuri Kayıs applied to Ankara Alternating Administrative Court to cancel the decision of the RTUK Higher Council to stop the Turkish broadcast of Voice of Germany and BBC radios. Kayıs, in his application, indicated that the decision was clearly against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, European Convention on Human Rights, Across Borders Television Directive, and Across Europe Television Agreement. The stopping of the broadcast of these two radio stations which are respected internationally will put Turkey in a difficult situation and present Turkey as an anti-democratic country which does not have the communication freedom, he stressed.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

THREE LEADERS TO COME TOGETHER TODAY AFTER 46 DAYS
The coalition party leaders will come together today after 46 days. The leaders are expected to discuss the constitutional amendment package. The anti-corruption operation at the Public Works and Housing Ministry is also expected to come to the agenda of the meeting. The leaders summit will start at 11.00 local time today. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Deputy Premiers Mesut Yılmaz, Devlet Bahceli and Husamettin Ozkan will attend the meeting.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

EDUCATION COSTS BELIEVED TO INCREASE INFLATION
State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced the inflation rates in August, 2001 yesterday. Preperation for schools which will open in September are believed to increase the inflation. The wholesale prices increased by 3.5 percent, and consumer prices rose by 2.9 percent in August of 2001. DIE said that the annual inflation rate as of August 2001 became 69.6 percent in wholesale prices, and 57.5 percent in consumer prices. The first eight- month inflation rate became 54.6 percent in wholesale prices, and 39.5 percent in consumer prices. Meanwhile, the annual inflation rate according to 12-month averages as of August 2001 became 46.9 percent in wholesale prices, and 46.5 percent in consumer prices.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

87 KILOS OF HASHISH FOUND IN NARCOTICS OPERATIONS
Narcotic teams caught five people with 51 kilos of hashish in Manisa's Akhisar township in two separate operations. In a separate operation, police detained two people in Sanliurfa on the same day when they attempted to sell 15 kilos of hashish to the police who were disguised as a buyer. The interrogation of the two suspects is continuing. In a third operation, security teams who acted upon a tip-off, detained three people with 16 guns and 21 kilos of hashish in Diyarbakir and Sanliurfa.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[02] BULGARIAN-FLAGGED SHIP RUB AGAINST PASSENGER SHIP IN ISTANBUL STRAIT - NO CASUALTIES

''Olimps,'' the Bulgarian-flagged ship and the city ship ''Rumelikavagı'' would almost collide with each other. The collision was prevented at the last minute when the captain of the passenger ship changed the route. The Turkish ship was damaged in the accident.

[03] GAP REGION EXPORTS PRODUCTS WORTH OF 404 MILLION DOLLARS IN EIGHT MONTHS

The region exported products worth of 354 million dollars in the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the exports in August 2001 increased by 25,9 percent and reached 55,7 million dollars when compared to the same month last year.

[04] CENTRAL BANK SAYS IT WILL SELL 380 MILLION DOLLARS IN SEPT.

Bank aims to free up liquidity and support the ailing lira.

The Bank said that the auctions will be held every day rather than certain days to stabilize the foreign exchange rate.

Central Bank said that it also lifted the restriction on banks which were allowed to buy only up to 20 percent of the total amount of the foreign exchange to be sold in an auction.

[05] CENTRAL BANK SAYS BALANCES IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKETS STARTED TO SETTLE IN AUGUST

A Central Bank statement noted that the excess TL liquidity is drawn by the planned foreign exchange auctions.

''Totally 600 million U.S. dollars were sold in August as a result of ten auctions held twice a week. The Treasury's domestic borrowing tenders and public offerings have also been successful, thus the TL liquidity surplus started to decrease,'' it was noted.

The foreign exchange auctions in October will be announced in October.

[06] IS BANKASI RANKED SEVENTH AMONG BANKS IN RESPECT OF ATMS OUTSIDE BRANCHES IN EUROPE

A statement of Is Bankasi said on Tuesday that a survey of the Retail Banking Research, an international organization carrying out researches on banking sector, ranked Is Bankasi the first in regard to ATMs outside the bank branches in Turkey while the seventh in Europe.

Is Bankasi takes 1.9 percent of the European market share in its hands with 910 ATMs outside the branches.

French Credit Agricole Bank was ranked the first with 1,741 ATMs while British banks were ranked among the first five.

Yapi ve Kredi Bankasi was ranked the 15th with 674 ATMs.

The total number of ATMs of Is Bankasi, inside and outside the branches, reached 2,400 by 2001.

[07] ELEVEN PERSONS TAKEN UNDER CUSTODY IN RELATION TO BANK KAPITAL INVESTIGATION

Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) Chief Prosecutor's Office carries out the investigation in line with the report prepared by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) inspectors about the bank which was transferred to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF). The Court sent a letter to the police requesting the Bank kapital's administartors to be arrested.

Izzet Ceylan, brother of Mahmut Ceylan, was also taken into custody. Thus, the number of detainees reached 11. Izzet Ceylan was sent to Istanbul, where a full investigation is under way.

[08] EXPORTS FROM AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR INCREASES 49.4 PERCENT TO 2.5 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF 2001

The Secretariat General of the Uludag Exporters' Unions said on Wednesday that the exports of automobiles, which was 1 billion 707 million 581 thousand U.S. dollars in the January-August 2000 period, rose to 2 billion 552 million 274 thousand U.S. dollars in the same period this year.

Meanwhile, exports from the Turkish automotive sector in August of 2001

increased 59.5 percent from 173 million 144 thousand U.S. dollars to 276 million 215 thousand U.S. dollars compared to same period last year.

The figures in the automotive sector in the first eight months of 2001 are as follows:

Name of Product Exports Difference

(Thousand U.S. Dollars) (percent)

------------------------- ---------------------- ----------
Tractor........................... 21.975 -48.2

Bus-minibus-midibus............... 207.642 12.9

Automobile........................ 686.361 61.8

Lorry-truck....................... 204.669 956.3

Motor vehicles on special propose. 7.780 100.1

Towing............................ 3.359 673.0

Work machines..................... 26.412 57.6

Vessels-boats-ships............... 123.592 44.7

Aircraft-spacecraft............... 105.444 169.2

Railway vehicles.................. 731 100.0

Bicycle-motorcycle................ 12.161 17.3

Agricultural machines............. 3.770 15.7

Tank-armoured vehicles............ 19.746 -38.7

Towings on special purpose........ 89 -69.0

Automotive by-industry............ 1.128.537 32.8

---------------------------------- --------- ------
TOTAL............................. 2.552.274 49.4

[09] INTERIOR MINISTER YUCELEN SAYS THAT YERMEZ WAS CAPTURED IN KAYSERI

Responding to questions of journalists in neighboring province Sivas, Yucelen said, ''security forces informed us that Yermez who has been wanted for a week, was captured in his hometown Kayseri. We will brief the public opinion after interrogating him.''

Meanwhile, sources told the A.A correspondent that Yermez was captured in a passenger bus during a police check near Bogazkopru village in Kayseri.

[10] EU COMMISSION TO BE FORMED IN PARLIAMENT

The commission will work for adjustment to EU.

Jurist deputies and bureaucrats are carrying out preparations for the foundation of the commission.

The commission will be founded after a draft law for its foundation is adopted.

The commission will be comprised of 25 members, including representatives of political parties at the parliament.

After debating draft laws and bills regarding EU affairs, the commission will send them to the Parliamentary General Assembly.

[11] FRENCH TV CHANNELS TO PROMOTE TURKEY'S TOURISTIC AND CULTURAL ASSETS

French television channel France-3 will start new broadcast period in September with a documentary promoting Turkey.

The documentary titled ''Des Racines et des Ailes'' promotes Bogazici, historical mansions in Istanbul, Cappadocia region, Dolmabahce Palace, and Mevlana Jalal ud-din Rumi and Mevlevi order of whirling dervishes.

The documentary shot by the France-3 Channel, will be broadcast by TV-5 on September 12, and by France-3 on September 15.

The two-and-an-half-hour documentary is comprised of four episodes.

[12] YERMEZ CONFESSES THAT HE COMMITTED HOMICIDE

Governor Nihat Canpolat of central province of Kayseri told the A.A on Tuesday that Yermez was captured in a passenger bus during a police check near Bogazkopru village at about 11:00 a.m.

Canpolat said that Yermez confessed that he had committed the homicide during his first interrogation.

[13] TREASURY SELLS 321.6 TRILLION TL NOMINAL-VALUED 112-DAY BONDS

The total bid had become 734.1 trillion TL and the net sale became 265.3 trillion TL.

The annual simple interest rate became 69 percent and the annual composite interest rate became 86.96 percent.

The value date of these three-month bonds is September 5, 2001, and the maturity is December 26, 2001.

Meanwhile, Treasury will repay 7 quadrillion 203.8 trillion TL in domestic borrowing in September.

In a 91-day bond auction held on August 14, 2001, the total bid was 1 quadrillion 139 trillion 962.8 billion TL. The simple interest was 74.49 percent and the composite interest rate became 98 percent in that auction.

[14] CHHIBBER VISITS TOBB

Chhibber visited Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu.

Responding to questions of journalists following the meeting, Chhibber said that he had visited the TOBB upon an invitation to find technical solutions to problems of the real sector within framework of government's economic program.

Stressing that the first stage of the economic program had concentrated on reconstruction of finance sector, Chhibber said that it real sector's turn now.

He noted that the World Bank was ready to provide technical assistance to turkey in creating a healthier real sector having the power of competition.

Chhibber said that they had reached a full consensus of opinion to develop an action plan and to produce solution to problems of the real sector.

Chhibber said that he had a meeting with State Minister Kemal Dervis this morning and that also, this meeting indicated that they are at a good beginning.

Asked if he can give information about proposals and solutions he has mentioned, Chhibber said that to give a response to this question, the delegation has to continue its efforts and collect some information till this weekend.

Asked about the general frame of the meeting, Chhibber said that the general frame of the meeting was to set up the mechanism about what can be done to assist companies that can be saved in re-gaining functionality.

Chhibber noted that the World Bank will act in cooperation with government and TOBB, on behalf of real sector, to produce a solution within this framework.

Asked if financial support to real sector can be provided from IFC, Chhibber said that deliberations continue regarding this matter.

Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that they evaluated the current economic crisis during their meeting.

They decided to make more cooperation in technical initiatives to be launched in coming days, Hisarciklioglu noted.

Hisarciklioglu stated that they agreed on some common solutions, adding that they decided that technical works are necessary regarding this matter.

[15] EBSO CHAIRMAN: ''SUDAN IS A COUNTRY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR TURKEY''

Akkan told reporters that EBSO would later visit also other African countries. He indicated that EBSO had earlier visited Egypt, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece.

He said that China was already in the Sudanese market but western countries were not yet in this market which was an important advantage for Turkey.

''The Turkish industry could very easily sell all products to Sudan because of its high quality level. Sudan is producing 243,000 barrels of oil every day. This will increase to one million barrels in 2002. Everybody then will rush to Sudan and we did this one or two years ago. Our industrialists met with businessmen and government officials in this country. Six Sudanese ministers and ten undersecretaries competed against each other to serve us, '' he said.

Akkan also indicated that Sudan started a number of big projects, especially in sugar cane and cotton, to complete their agricultural development adding that Sudan needed many agricultural machinery.

EBSO Board member Coskun Yolgormez declared that he made two preliminary agreements to set up salt factories in Sudan. ''Next week, a Sudanese delegation will come to Izmir and we'll sign the agreements. They liked the price and technology we offered,'' he said.

EBSO Executive Council member Tamer Taskin pointed out that Sudan lifted all the bureaucratic obstacles in front of investments and waiting for foreign investments.

[16] 3F TOURISM COMPANY FLIES TO BAGHDAD

The plane which carried 15 passengers from Istanbul to Baghdad took 130 Turkish businessmen headed by Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursad Tuzmen from Baghdad to Ankara.

Turkish officials in Baghdad told A.A correspondent that the company will arrange two more flights to Baghdad on September 8 and 14, adding that this company based in Turkey decided to make these flights permanent.

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