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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

15 AUGUST 2001 Friday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Lawyers of Fehriye think that the judges were affected by the incidents in the U.S.

The court, which for the first time interpreted the European Fight Against Terrorism Convention, decided that Brussels should abide by this convention. Both Turkey and Belgium signed the convention. For the first time in Belgian history, a foreign origin person would be tried on charges of the crimes she committed in her country.

TERRORISM CAN NOT BE CORRELATED WITH RELIGION
Religious Affairs Head Nuri Yilmaz said that the terrorist attacks on the U.S. are a shame of humanity.

Issuing a written statement, Yilmaz said that all divine and monotheistic religions are against acts of terrorism which cause fear in the society.

''Our holy religion Islam has prohibited attacks on persons and killing them. No excuse or reason can justify acts of terrorism and violence. Terrorism which can't be labelled as religious or irreligious is a problem of humanity. We strongly condemn the loathsome attacks in the U.S. which claimed the lives of many persons from different ethnics and religions and which adversely affect the world peace and I express condolences to the whole American people,'' he said.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Dervis will be accompanied by Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak, Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti, Public Banks Joint Executive Board Chairman Vural Akisik, and IMKB Chairman Osman Birsel during the visit that will take place on September 17.

Dervis is expected to address Investor Meeting there.

State Minister Dervis, who will talk Baroness Symons, the Chairperson of British Trade and Invetment Bank, is expected to convey the developments pertaining to Turkish economy in September 17-20 in Milano, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Paris.

ECEVIT: WE WILL FIGHT TOGETHER WITH NATO
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said Turkey would absolutely expend support if war is started against a neighbouring country within the framework of NATO decisions. ''Because terrorism can not have a country and religion,'' Ecevit said.

Speaking at an interview at CNN International, Ecevit said he shared the sorrows of the U.S. citizens.

When the CNN correspondent asked Ecevit what would be the attitude of Turkey if war is started against a neighbouring country within the framework of NATO decision, Ecevit said, ''we will absolutely support it. Terrorism can not have a country and religion.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Leaves in all units of the Armed Forces are lifted for an indefinite period of time.

Controls increased in air space. All unidentified jets will be followed.

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said, ''we will do our best for our people, region, and humanity.''

NO NEWS FROM 256 TURKISH CITIZENS IN NEW YORK
Applications continue to the crisis desks set up in Foreign Ministry and Embassies in the U.S.

A total of 93 of the applications out of 349, made to the Foreign Ministry so far, were responded positively. Searches continue for the remaining 256.

Applications have been made for 32 persons in New York, and it was found out that all of them are alive.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Meanwhile, scheduled visit of Richard Armitage, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, and some other high ranking Officials to Ankara, planned to take place on September 18, was cancelled following the terrorist attacks in the U.S.

OCALAN:''I DID NOT DIRECTLY KILL ANYBODY''
The testimony taken from Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the terrorist organization PKK, in Imrali island by Ankara State Security Court (DGM) was submitted to Ankara High Criminal Court No. 8 where he is tried together with 101 suspects.

Ocalan said that he directed the theoretical and propagandist activities of the PKK terrorist organization at that time.

''I didn't directly kill anybody, I didn't usurp the properties of anybody, I didn't take part in the killing of anybody. The organization didn't have the aim of overthrowing the constitutional order by use of force and establish another system instead at the time when the crime was committed. We only made theoretical evaluations. I don't accept the accusation of seperatism. I was not informed about the planning and committing of the crimes attributed to me. Many acts which I didn't approve were undertaken. I also had conflicts with the organization, because the organization didn't do the things foreseen by me at the theoratical level.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)

The group, who wanted to protest the terrorist attacks, went to Damlatas beach and laid a black wreath in the sea.

The tourists, nearly comprised of 500 people, laid the black wreath, written, ''we condemn terrorism,'' on it, and carnations in the sea.

The tourists later lit candles at a place which was decorated with flowers and prepared with the pictures of attacks, and wrote their sorrows on a condolence notebook.

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT DELEGATION DUE TO STRASBOURG
A delegation headed by Constitutional Court Chief Judge Mustafa Bumin will go to Strasbourg on September 16 as the official guest of Luzius Wildhaber, the President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

The delegation will later proceed to Germany as the official guest of German Foreign Ministry.

Contacts of the delegation abroad will last for two weeks.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

The 44 million U.S. dollars of the tender was for the construction of cancer and diabetes hospital, 15 million U.S. dollars part is for medicine and medical equipment, and six million U.S. dollars is for ambulance tender.

A total of 28 companies from Turkey attended the fair.

TUSIAD: THERE SHOULD NOT BE PANIC
Omer Sabanci, the Deputy Chairman of the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD), said the markets would not be negatively effected after the terrorist attacks on the U.S. He said there was not a panic atmosphere in Turkey.

Pointing out that February crisis caused serious difficulties for the real sector, Sabanci called on parliament to make necessary legal arrangements in candidacy process to the European Union (EU).

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

The Embassy in Ankara and Consulates in Istanbul and Adana will start to operate again today.

The representations will be open for all kinds of public services including visa proceedings.

TERROR VICTIM AMANDA DIED
Amanda Rigg, the 23 year-old Australian citizen woman, who had been injured in bomb explosion in Taksim, lost her life.

Rigg, who was injured in the suicide bomb attack launched in Taksim Gumussuyu on September 10, had been under medical treatment. Rigg died on Thursday morning.

Rigg's left hand was torn apart and a shrapnel hit her chest in the explosion.

-REPORT OF THINK-TANK ORGANIZATION ''EURASIA GROUP''
NEW YORK - ''Eurasia Group,'' the think-tank organization based in New York, defended on Friday that attacks on the U.S. will influence many countries as well as Turkey to an important extend, and noted that Turkey's importance will increase as a NATO member, but that it will get pressure on Cyprus issue.

The ''Eurasia Group,'' issued a report examining the probable effects of the attacks on Eurasia countries.

Turkey section of the report said, ''the first effect of the recent developments on the Turkish domestic policy would be that fight against Islamist fundamentalism will increase.''

Pointing out that Turkey's value will increase as a NATO member, the report said the U.S. would put pressure on Turkey on Cyprus issue to prevent a crisis within NATO.

The report stated that Turkey's hand would be stronger against the European Union (EU) regarding European Security and Defense Indentity (ESDI).

The report said oppositions of the EU and the U.S. against Turkey's cross border operations on the terrorist PKK and Hezbollah will end, adding that Turkey would be isolated from the Arab world and that it may be exposed to the attacks of extreme fundamentalist organizations as it cooperated with the U.S. and Israel in the Middle East.

The report estimated that the probability of the international finance organization to help Ankara would be stronger if new difficulties break out in Turkish economy.

-TADF SEARCHES WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE TURKISH CITIZENS IN NEW YORK
MORGUES
NEW YORK - Turkish American Associations Federation (TADF) set up teams comprised of volunteers to search whether or not there are Turkish citizens in morgues and hospitals in New York.

Egemen Bagis, the TADF Chairman, said, ''it is a consolation for us that there are not any Turkish citizens who died or injured in the attacks so far.''

The TADF also added a link to the internet web site and operated an updated list briefing about the position of those who work in World Trade Center.

The address of the web site is www.ftaa.org.

Meanwhile, the officials of the federation announced that they decided to suspend of the social activities to share the sorrows of the U.S. people and to provide the security of Turkish citizens.

-EXPORTATION, WORTH OF 123,8 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS MADE TO MIDDLE EAST FROM
GAP REGION
GAZIANTEP - Agricultural, animal and industrial products were exported from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region to the Middle East countries which has the position of ''traditional markets.''

The exportation was worth of 123,8 million U.S. dollars in the first six months. A total of 89.288 million U.S. dollar exportation had been made in the same period of last year.

Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia are among the countries which Turkey makes the exportation most.

Cotton thread, synthetic thread, machine carpet, sugar, knitted textile, dried apricot, biscuits, candies, and plastic sacks are the products that are exported to those countries.

-PEOPLE APPLY TO FM CRISIS DESK TO ASK FOR THEIR RELATIVES IN U.S.
ANKARA - People apply to the Foreign Ministry Crisis Desk to ask for their relatives in the U.S. following the terrorist attacks in the U.S.

Foreign Ministry said on Friday a total of 400 applications were made so far, noting that no negative response was obtained as a result of the searches.

The ministry said 141 of those people were found to be alive and searches for the situation of 259 persons continue.

Meanwhile, Turkish people also applied to the Turkish representations in the U.S. to ask for persons including those working in the World Trade Centre.

Foreign Ministry set up a new communication service unit aiming to facilitate the communication of Turkish citizens living in New York and Washington with their relatives in Turkey.

With this new implementation, the Turkish citizens living in the U.S. may send their messages regarded with their health conditions to the electronic communication address ''Dişişleri@mfa.gov.tr''.

-WORLD BANK APPROVES 500 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR CREDIT TO TURKEY
ANKARA - World Bank on Friday approved a 500-million U.S. dollars credit to Turkey within the scope of a project to lessen social risk (SRMP).

Agreements pertaining to the credit will be signed in Ankara today.

The credit in question will be used to provide social support to low-income groups that may be negatively influenced from the implementation of the Economic Program.

The statements in connection with the credits were made at the same time from the World Bank and Treasury Undersecretariat.

Treasury Undersecretariat's statement recalled that the agreement regarded with providing donation worth of 580,000 U.S. dollars by the Japanese Government through the World Bank was signed on August 13, 2001 and took effect. The statement said the credit would be used in preparation works of the SRMP.

The statement said the donation was started to be used to strengthen institutional structure in social aid, including establishment of a system to follow poverty.

-AUTOMOTIVE REMAIN STANDING WITH EXPORTATION
BURSA - Ercan Tezer, the Automotive Industry Association (OSD) Secretary General, said on Friday that economic crisis atmosphere continued, noting that the sector was directed to production of exportation products as the domestic demand is at the zero point.

Speaking to A.A correspondent, Tezer said automotive production decreased 34 percent in Jan 1-August 31 when compared with the same period of last year, adding that this stemmed from the economic stagnation and shrinkage in domestic demand.

Tezer said 132,000 of the 182,000 vehicles that were produced at this period were presented to the foreign markets, noting that they exported 80 pecent of the 122,000 automobiles icluded within this production.

Tezer said there was an important imbalance between the exportation and the production directed to domestic markets.

Pointing out that capacity usage decreased very much, Tezer said although established capacity in automobile was 2,300 per day, only 22,000 automobiles were produced for the domestic market in the first six months.

Tezer said they could not talk about profit or productivity in such an atmosphere, adding that, ''the total production, including the 8-month exportation, meets only two months capacity.''

-10,906 BANKERS HAVE BECOME UNEMPLOYED IN SECOND QUARTER OF 2001
ANKARA - A total of 10,906 persons have become unemployed in the second quarter of 2001 in the banking sector, 4,068 of them are women and 6,838 of them are men.

The majority of those persons who were dismissed from banks were working in state banks.

According to the data of the Turkey Banks Union, the number of persons working in the banking sector in the first half of 2001 as of June 30, 2001 decreased by 15,750,000 persons (by 10 percent) to 154,750,000.

Today ninety-six percent of bankers work in commercial banks, 4 percent of them work in development and investment banks.

The personnel of state banks constitute 39 percent of the employees in the banking sector, those of private banks constitute 44 percent, personnel of the banks which were transferred to savings deposit insurance fund (SDIF) constitute 11 percent and those working in foreign banks constitute 2 percent of the employees in the banking sector.

The branches of 74 banks also decreased 296 to 7,542 when compared to June 30, 2001.
-EXCAVATIONS IN PERRE ANCIENT CITY END FOR THIS YEAR
ADIYAMAN - Adıyaman Governor Halil Isık said on Friday that the excavations carried out in Perre ancient city, which is one of the five important cities of Commagene civilization in the region, will have an importance place in cultural tourism.

Isık told A.A that this year's excavations which started two months ago, have been completed for this year.

''When I started office in Adıyaman, I saw that Perre ancient city where there were rock tombs were in a devastating condition,'' he said.

Isık said that the excavations started by the efforts of the Private Administration Directorate, adding that ''we had to save Perre ancient city, which is one of the most important cities of Commagene civilization which left the ruins on Nemrut Mountain. The rock tombs have been cleaned and important works of art have been found and put in Archaeology Museum. Adıyaman is just like an open museum with many important historical works of art.''

There are 207 rock tombs in Perre ancient city, which is five kilometers to Adıyaman city centre. Walled tombs, inscriptions belonging to Roman commander and coins were found in the ancient city.

-PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PACKAGE ON SEPT. 17
ANKARA - Parliamentary general council will convene on September 17 for an emergency session to discuss the proposal of law on constitutional amendment upon the call of Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi.

The parliamentary session will start at 15.00 local time and firstly an election will be held for the office of deputy parliament speaker as Nejat Arsaven has been appointed as the State Minister.

Elections will also be held for members of the Felicity Party (SP) and AK Party to the Parliamentary Constitutional Commission. AK Party will have three and SP will have two members in the Commission.

If one third of the majority in the parliament (184) does not come to the meeting on Sept. 17, the call for emergency meeting will be withdrawn. Yet the parliament won't return back to its holiday without discussing the proposal for a consitutional amendment.

The Constitutional Commission will take up the 37-article package regarding constitutional amendment in its meeting to be held on Sept. 18.

The Consultation board will convene on Tuesday and take a decision regarding the discussion of the proposal at the commission within 48 hours.

Before the emergency meeting of the parliament, the group meetings of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Motherland Party (ANAP), AK Party and SP will be held.

At the ANAP group meeting, an election will be held regarding the parliament speaker's office and the name that will be determined by ANAP will be submitted to the Parliament Speaker's Office.

A questionnaire will be carried out in AK Party group meeting for the three party members who will be appointed to the Constitution Commission.

SP, on the other hand will submit the the names of Seref Malkoc and Mustafa Kalamak for membership to the Commission.

-EU COMMISSION TURKEY REPRESENTATIVE FOGG VISITS
STATE MINISTER ARSEVEN
ANKARA - EU Commission Turkey Representative Karen Fogg paid a courtesy visit to State Minister Nejat Arseven who is in charge of human rights. Fogg and Arseven discussed the issue of constitutional amendment in the meeting.

Speaking after the meeting, Arseven said that they exchanged views with Fogg about constitutional amendments promised to be undertaken in the national programme and human rights issues.

Arseven said that his meeting with Fogg has been very comprehensive, and he thanked to Fogg for coming to visit him.

Upon questions of reporters who said that the U.S. could retaliate against the attacks in New York and Washington D.C. and innocent people can die in such operations, Arseven said that ''I don't think that that the U.S. would take such an operation without the real criminals are found out.''

Fogg said in her part that they discussed all issues including the constitutional amendment package with her meeting with Arseven.

Responding to a question asking about the report of the European Parliament (EP) on the Cyprus problem, Fogg said that ''let's speak about Turkey. The EP Foreign Relations Commission will publish a report about all candidate countries. That report also concerns Turkey. The reports of EP are not binding, they are routine reports. Just like EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said, we want commencement of the talks related to the Cyprus issue and we believe that a result will be take from such talks.''

-PRESIDENT SEZER SAYS NO CONCRETE DEMAND WAS MADE TO TURKEY
AFTER NATO DECIDED TO INVOKE ARTICLE 5
ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Friday that no concrete demand was made to Turkey to date following the NATO Permanent Council's decision to invoke Article 5 of Washington Treaty.

Responding to a question before his meeting with Georges Ruphin, Madagascar's Ambassador to Italy who is accredited to Turkey, Sezer said that ''I don't think that there is no other country than Turkey which can understand the pain of the attacks in the U.S. launched on September 11,'' adding that ''I hope the decision to operate Article 5 for such kind of attacks won't only be valid for the U.S., but also for other countries.''

Article 5 of the Washington Treaty stipulates that an armed attack against one or several members of NATO shall be considered as an attack against all.

-AGREEMENTS ON WB'S USD 500 MILLION LOAN SIGNED IN ANKARA
ANKARA - World Bank Representative in Turkey Ajay Chhibber said on Friday that Social Risk Minimizing Project (SRMP) was very important in terms of support to Turkey's economic program.

Agreements on loan worth of 500 million U.S. dollars extended by the World Bank within scope of the SRMP were signed at the Treasury Undersecretariat building with a ceremony.

This loan will provide social support to low-income group persons who can be affected by the application of the economic program.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Chhibber said that he had attended yesterday's meeting of World Bank Executive Directors Board meeting in Washington D.C. via video-phone, and that all World Bank executive directors expressed great support to Turkey at this meeting.

Chhibber said that also World Bank President James Wolfensohn supported this program, and conveyed his pleasure with approval of SRMP.

Stressing that it was difficult to implement this project without the assistance of the Japanese government, Chhibber said that also Japan had extended an important donation.

Noting that they would cooperate with State Minister Hasan Gemici within framework of the Social Solidarity Encouragement Fund, Chhibber said that he hoped cooperation would continue in a successful way as a result of this project.

Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador to Turkey Shigeo Takaneka said that Turkey had been negatively affected by crises in November 2000 and February 2001 and most of people's income had reduced below the average so it was important to support social groups affected by the crises.

Recalling that they had made a 580 thousand U.S. dollars donation to Turkey, Takaneka said he hoped Turkey would realize social-support economic reform in a better way as a result of this project.

-STATE MINISTER GEMICI SAYS 500 MILLION DOLLARS LOAN
WILL BE USED BY TURKEY IN FOUR YEARS
ANKARA - State Minister Hasan Gemici said on Friday that Turkey will use 100 million dollars of the 500 million dollars that was given to Turkey by the World Bank this year.

Speaking in the signing ceremony held upon World Bank's giving loan to Turkey within the scope of the Social Risk Minimizing Project (SRMP), Gemici said that the Social Support and Solidarity Fund will carry out the project, adding that the Social Services, Orphanage Institution and State Statistics Institute will also contribute to the project.

Gemici said that the fund helped nearly six million people last year and gave 358 trillion liras to them, adding that the Fund also gives food to 64, 000 persons particularly in the eastern and southeastern Turkey. The Fund also meets the medical needs of 10 million people, he said.

Giving information about the World Bank's loan, Gemici said that the loan worth of 500 million dollars will be used in a period of four years including this year.

-PRESIDENT SEZER SAYS TURKEY IS READY TO
SHARE ITS EXPERIENCES IN FIGHT WITH TERRORISM
ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Friday, ''Turkey has been suffering grave pains because of terrorism for years. Terrorism claimed lives of more than 30 thousand people, and caused major financial damage in Turkey. I think that there is not any other country that will understand the pain of American people better than Turkey.''

President Sezer responded to questions of journalists prior to his meeting with Georges Ruphin, Madagascar's Ambassador to Italy who is accredited to Turkey.

''During NATO's summit in 1999, Turkey emphasized that terrorism could not be eradicated by only the fight of countries that have been exposed to terrorism. I hope that the decision to operate Article 5 of NATO Charter for such attacks would not be valid only for the United States, but also for other countries,'' he said.

Recalling that Turkey had adopted the Article 5, President Sezer said that Turkey was ready to share its experiences in its 15-year fight with terrorism with other countries.

Responding to a question about attacks on Muslims in the wake of Tuesday's terrorist attacks in the United States, President Sezer said, ''we expect that sanctions of the United States would target terrorist groups, and those supporting terrorism.''

-WB'S FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO TURKEY IN SCOPE OF
CAS REACHES USD 2.8 BILLION SINCE JULY 2000
ANKARA - Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak said on Friday that the financial support of the World Bank to Turkey within scope of the Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for the 2001-2003 period, had reached 2 billion 840 million U.S. dollars since July of 2000.

Speaking at a ceremony held upon signing of agreements on World Bank's loan worth of 500 million U.S. dollars for ''Social Risk Minimizing Project (SRMP)'', Oztrak said that the new economic program was being implemented with a great determination.

Oztrak said that one of the basic responsibilities within the framework of the program was to ''find out the sections which suffered from the economic crisis and immediately implement every kind of measure to lessen their economic problems''.

He said that basic targets of the project were to ''immediately reduce negative effects of existing economic conditions in Turkey on low-income people and strengthen the social protection and social aid system''.

Oztrak stressed that the project aimed to increase employment opportunities and create regular income level through means like training programs targeted employment and activities to create income.

Stressing the importance of donation contribution of Japan, Oztrak thanked the Japanese government for its contribution.

Recalling that Japan had contributed to almost 2,250 technical assistance activities in more than 130 countries, Oztrak said that within framework of those funds, also Turkey had gotten more than 40 million U.S. dollars donation from Japan.

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