Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-09-20

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

20 SEPTEMBER 2001 Thursday

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Europe which harbored terrorist groups targeting Turkey, has become aware of terrorism in the wake of last week's attacks in the United States. Germany that has been turning a blind eye to actions of Kaplan group which declared a so-called Sharia-based state by blackening Republic of Turkey, secularism and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, ordered HAKK-TV to stop its broadcast. Meanwhile, Italian press has begun calling the PKK as a terrorist organization for the first time.

IMF: ''TURKEY'S DEBT CAN BE POSTPOSED''

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) shed green light to postponement of Turkey's loan debt of 5 billion U.S. dollars.

ORAL SAYS IT IS ECONOMY'S BASIC TARGET TO ACHIEVE GROWTH

Finance Minister Sumer Oral said that it was economy's basic target to achieve growth and allow the Turkish lira (TL) to gain in value. Oral said that the eight-month budget figures had displayed a realization beyond the targets.Recalling that 4.3 quadrillion TL tax had been collected in August and this amount meant a 42.1 percent increase compared to August 2000, Oral said that non-interest expenditures coincided with the program targets.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

The FBI discloses names and photographs of 27 terrorists who are loyal to Saudi terrorist Osama bin Laden. The Directorate General of Security has taken measures to launch a great operation. Police has tightened security measures for 27 terrorists.

AKCAN APPOINTED AS NEW PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING MINISTER

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that Prof. Dr. Abdulkadir Akcan was appointed as the new public works and housing minister. Akcan, a deputy of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) from Afyon province, will replace Koray Aydin who resigned from the Public Works and Housing Ministry.

SECURITY SUMMIT IN ANKARA

As the United States has been getting prepared itself for a fight against terrorism, a meeting was held in Ankara with the participation of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan, General Staff Chief General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and National Intelligence Agency (MIT) Undersecretary Senkal Atasagun. At the meeting, Turkey's policy in coming days and its attitude within scope of Article 5 of NATO Charter were taken up.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

United States President George W. Bush had held telephone conversations with many leaders since last week's terrorist attacks. But he has not called any Turkish official on the phone yet. Sources claim that Bush who was sure of Turkey's support, did not need to hold a telephone convensation with Turkish officials.

INCIRLIK AIR BASE WAS ONE OF TARGETS

Incirlik Air Base in southern province of Adana was one of the possible targets of those who staged last week's terrorist attacks in the United States. FBI agents found plans of Incirlik air base in a search in house of a suspect.

PEOPLE SET THEIR AUTOMOBILE ON FIRE ARRESTED

Ramazan Ertac and Aydemir Aydin who held a demonstration in front of new Prime Ministry building two days ago by setting an automobile on fire, were arrested.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Turkey which had only watched the developments gave ''red alert'' yesterday. The high-level state authorities convened extraordinarily for the first time yesterday under chairmanship of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Ecevit, his aides Devlet Bahceli, Mesut Yilmaz and Husamettin Ozkan, Chief of General Staff General Huseyin Kivrikoglu and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Undersecretary Senkal Atasagun attended the meeting.

TURKEY GETS PREPARED TO SEND LETTER TO U.S.

Following today's meeting in which also President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will participate, a comprehensive statement is expected to be released and a letter expressing Turkey's full support is expected to be prepeared and sent to U.S. President George W. Bush. Prime Minister Ecevit said during a reception at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara that Turkey would give positive response to every demand.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem held telephone conversations with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and President Yasser Arafat of Palestine. Expressing Turkey's satisfaction over declaration of cease-fire in the region, Cem said that cease-fire should be permanent. Cem is expected to go to the region to hold a series of contacts in coming days.

ANOTHER DEATH-FASTING PERSON DIES

Ibrahim Erler who had been fasting to death to protest F-type prisons, died. He had been taken to Isbtanbul's Cerrahpasa Hospital after his health situation deteriorated. Number of people who died because of death fasts increased to 36.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Ankara discussed what Turkey can and should do in case of a possible war. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, his aides Devlet Bahceli, Mesut Yilmaz and Husamettin Ozkan, Chief of General Staff General Huseyin Kivrikoglu and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Undersecretary Senkal Atasagun held a meeting in Ankara yesterday to discuss what Turkey can and should do in case of a possible war. Sources said that the Turkish government which has held such a meeting for the first time since the terrorist attacks in the United States had also discussed ''what kind of'' a strategic support that Turkey can give to the NATO in case of a possible operation.

AKCAN PUBLIC WORKS MINISTER

Abdulkadir Akcan, a deputy from Afyon province, was appointed as the new Public Works and Housing Minister. Akcan said that he learned his appointment while he was watching television.

BUILDING DISASTER

A two-storey pension in Aksaray, Istanbul where singles were staying collapsed, killing two people.

ZAMAN (RIGHT)

Afghan refugees who settled in Turkey after Soviet occupation are worried about killing of innocent people in a possible military operation. They said they supported United States' attitude toward terrorism but the target should be the real responsibles. Refugees said that they did not approve the things that Taliban was doing for the sake of Islam, and they wanted their kinsmen not to suffer from war. Afghan refugees said, ''Bin Laden received support of the United States and Pakistan. What he was doing was well known. Why hasn't he been punished so far?''

TERROR USES ISLAM AS A TOOL

The meeting of the Eurasian intellectuals in Antalya continues to shed light on the future. Speaking at the Dialogue Eurasia Platform, prominent historian Prof. Dr. Kemal Karpat said that the Middle Eastern-root terrorist groups used Islam as a tool for their political purposes.

FBI: ALSO INCIRLIK WAS A TARGET

Confidence in the FBI was destroyed when it was revealed that some of the persons in its 19-person list are still alive and some of them did not have connection with the attacks. Meanwhile, FBI announced that also the Incirlik Airbase in Turkey was one of the targets of terrorist attacks after interrogating three people it captured in Detroit.

-SDIF EXTENDS BIDDING DEADLINE FOR IKTISAT BANKASI, ETIBANK AND SITEBANK

ANKARA - The Savings Deposits Insurance Fund (SDIF) extended the deadline for submitting bids to sale of Iktisat Bankasi, Etibank and Sitebank shares.

Releasing a statement, SDIF said on Thursday that the deadline for submitting bid to Iktisat Bankasi was extended to October 15, 2001; the deadline for submitting bid to Etibank was extended to October 1, 2001; and the deadline for submitting bid to Sitebank was extended to October 17, 2001.

Uni Credito Italiano (Italy) will bid for Iktisat Bankasi, Koc Holding (Turkey) will bid for Etibank and Novabank (Greece) will bid for Sitebank.

-HSBC BANK TO PAY 350 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS FOR DEMIRBANK

ISTANBUL - Contract for sale and transfer of Demirbank which had been transferred to Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF), to HSBC Bank was signed in Istanbul on Thursday.

Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) Chairman Engin Akcakoca and HSBC Group Executive Board Chairman Keith Whitson signed the contract.

According to the contract, all necessary proceedings for transfer of Demirbank to the HSBC Bank will be finalized till October 31, 2001.

The HSBC Bank will pay 350 million U.S. dollars to the BRSA for transfer of the Demirbank.

-SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUE IN AKSARAY

ISTANBUL - Search and rescue works are under way to reach a Hungarian woman and her daughter who were trapped under the rubble of two-storey pension that collapsed yesterday in Akrasay district of Istanbul.

Murat Uzan from the Search-Rescue and Emergency Aid Team (AKAY) said on Thursday that rescue efforts were halted late on Wednesday after debris and earth slipped, making the site unsafe for the teams.

Uzan said that efforts were resumed earlier today after remains of the pension were demolished.

Noting that they located bodies of two guests, Uzan said that one of the bodies was identified as an Iranian citizen and the other as a Turk.

The two-storey pension collapsed earlier on Wednesday.

Nearly 30 hotel guests managed to made their way to safety after the collapse.

Rescue workers used sniffer dogs and sound detectors to pull out 14

others.

CONTENTS

[01] TREASURY SAYS ANKARA STAGE OF 10TH REVIEW HAS BEEN CONCLUDED

[02] FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY WARNS CITIZENS TO CANCEL JOURNEYS TO PAKISTAN

[03] FOREIGN POLICY MEETING HELD AT PRIME MINISTRY OFFICE

[04] TOURISM MINISTER TASAR RECEIVES JAPANESE AMBASSADOR TAKANEKA

[05] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC RECEIVES PARLIAMENT SPEAKER IZGI

[06] EBSO SAYS TURKEY HAS NOT MADE ANY PREPARATION AGAINST A WAR

[07] TRIAL OF 20 SUSPECTS OF TAKSIM INCIDENTS CONTINUES

[08] BLACK SEA PARTNERSHIP-2001 MANEUVERS

[09] IDEF 2001 FAIR TO BE OPENED ON SEPTEMBER 27

[10] QUALITY IN WORKING LIFE CONFERENCE STARTS IN BRUSSELS

[11] SEVEN BANKS REMAIN UNDER CONTROL OF SDIF

[01] TREASURY SAYS ANKARA STAGE OF 10TH REVIEW HAS BEEN CONCLUDED

Releasing a statement, Treasury Undersecretariat said that the remaining stage of talks would continue in Washington D.C.

It said that noteworthy progress had been recorded in the Ankara stage of the 10th review talks, and that it had been observed at the end of the talks in Ankara that performance criteria regarding the 10th reiew had been fulfilled and all factors of the program especially public finance and banking sector had been developed positively.

Noting as it had earlier been planned and publicly announced that the 10th review talks would continue in Washington D.C., it said that a delegation headed by State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy would hold contacts in Washington D.C. at the end of September.

Meanwhile, sources said that the IMF Executive Directors Board was expected to convene in the first half of October to take up the 10th review, and that almost 3 billion U.S. dollars of loan tranche would be given to Turkey if the Board approved the 10th review.

[02] FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY WARNS CITIZENS TO CANCEL JOURNEYS TO PAKISTAN

Releasing a statement on Thursday, Foreign Affairs Ministry drew attantion to the security problems which could be created in Pakistan due to developments after the terrorist attacks.

''Our citizens planning to leave for Pakistan should cancel their journeys. It will be beneficial for their own security,'' it said.

Warning Turkish citizens who have still been in Pakistan, the statement noted, ''those who have to stay in Pakistan should pay utmost attention to security measures. Our citizens in border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan should leave the region in the possible shortest period. It is extremely important for their security to head for more secure and safe regions or to leave the country.''

The statement added that personnel of Turkish firms in Pakistan and other Turkish citizens should contact with the Turkish Embassy in Islamabad that has been taking all necessary measures for security of Turkish citizens.

[03] FOREIGN POLICY MEETING HELD AT PRIME MINISTRY OFFICE

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem; Foreign Affairs Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal; Faruk Logoglu who has been appointed as new Ambassador to the United States; and Foreign Affairs Ministry Middle East Department Director General Turkekul Kurttekin were in attendance at the meeting which focused on foreign policy.

The meeting was closed to the press.

Cem and high-level bureaucrats refrained from responding to questions of journalists following the meeting.

[04] TOURISM MINISTER TASAR RECEIVES JAPANESE AMBASSADOR TAKANEKA

Speaking at the meeting, Tasar said that existing relations between the two countries could be further improved by setting up cooperation between Turkish and Japanese travel agencies, and by accelerating promotion and marketing activities.

Noting that nearly 89 thousand Japanese tourists visited Turkey in 2000, Tasar said that they would attend the tourism fairs to increase number of Japanese tourists visiting Turkey.

''I will attend the 14th General Assembly of World Tourism Organization in Japan. I will also have the opportunity to hold talks with representatives of Japanese tourism sector during my visit,'' he said.

Referring to last week's terrorist attacks in the United States, Tasar said those attacts did not cause any cancellation in American tourists' bookings in Turkey.

[05] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC RECEIVES PARLIAMENT SPEAKER IZGI

President Denktas received Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi and accompanying delegation who are currently in the TRNC on an official visit.

Speaking at the meeting, President Denktas said, ''Greek Cypriots think that they have reached their target with their wrongful decision in 1964 envisaging deployment of the United Nations Peace Keeping Force in the island.''

Noting that Greek Cypriot side had expended efforts to introduce Turkish Cypriots as a minority revolting against the legal government till 1974, President Denktas said, ''Turkish Cypriots' 103 villages were burnt down. No one objected to the Greek Cypriots. On the contrary, the world encouraged them. After 1974, their application to the EU was accepted.''

''Our state is ready to cooperate with the state in Southern Cyprus. The confederation's basis should be cooperation between the two states on the island. Greek Cypriots' giving military bases to Greece and continuing armament process are not peaceful methods. The world should realize the facts and Greek Cypriot side should give up its wrongful attitude,'' he stressed.

Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi said in his part, ''Turkey has always supported the TRNC in its rightful case, and will continue to do so in the future. A solution could be provided on the island only with confederation. We cannot make any concession from this position.''

[06] EBSO SAYS TURKEY HAS NOT MADE ANY PREPARATION AGAINST A WAR

Holding a press conference, Akkan recalled that Turkey had fought against terrorism for 15 years and that Turkey had spent more than 100 billion U.S. dollars on this fight.

Akkan said that Turkey couldn't make 40 billion U.S. dollars of exports due to the U.S.-Iraq war and the Yumurtalik oil pipeline had remained close for long years.

''As a sound and reliable ally, Turkey does not deserve such implementations. During its fight against terrorism, NATO always warned Turkey and prevented it from using NATO weapons. However, NATO weapons will be used in fight against terrorism in accordance with Article 5. What was Turkey's sin then?''

Akkan said that Turkey which had buried its billions of U.S. dollars as it had not used NATO capabilities during its 15-year fight against terrorism was unjustly treated as the United States and the European Union (EU) now wanted to make use of those capabilities.

''NATO should compensate Turkey's losses. Turkey's economy suffered dozens of crises in last one year. It does not have the power to shoulder a war economy. However, it is now busy with improving the Turkish people's prosperity. The EU countries are getting billions of U.S. dollars from the funds but Turkey can't benefit from them. While the EU is forming a military force, there is a discussion on whether or not Turkey should join this force. All of these should be negotiated and our government officials should put these before the other side and they should get our rights,'' he said.

Defending that the government had not made any preparation against a possible war, Akkan said, ''besides, they have not developed a war scenario. The government should prepare scenarios of war in its close neighbors or war in Afghanistan. Because, a war without economy will cause its people to suffer more problems.''

[07] TRIAL OF 20 SUSPECTS OF TAKSIM INCIDENTS CONTINUES

The court delegation decided to adjourn the session to give time to the lawyers of suspects to prepare their final defense.

Christopher Loftus and and Kevin Speight, two British hooligans, were stabbed to death while other British hooligans Gerard Headey, Poul Jefferies, Mark Colins, David Elin, Steven White and Paul Mundy were injured during the street clashes on April 5, 2000.

The indictment prepared by Beyoglu Chief Prosecutor's Office sought imprisonment terms from 24 years to 30 years to suspects Ali Umit Demir, Ozkan Balci, Suleyman Aydin, Suleyman Gokhan Guven and Yilmaz Tutus on charges of ''killing two people intentionally''.

The indictment sought imprisonment terms from 2 years to 5 years to suspects Kazim Dalga, Hasan Altun, Murat Yahsi, Ibrahim Emrah Kaygisiz and Zafer Yildirim on charges of ''attacking to those who were killed or injured during the clashes''.

It sought imprisonment terms from 6 months to suspects Savas Altay, Ugur Yevsukof, Gokhan Oba and Burak Savuncu on charges of ''involvement in clashes that resulted in killing of two people''.

The indictment sought imprisonment term of 3 months to five suspects who are under the age of 18. Meanwhile, the indictment sought imprisonment terms from 2 years to 4 years to suspect Cetin Demirkiran on charges of ''hiding the tools used in killing of two people''.

[08] BLACK SEA PARTNERSHIP-2001 MANEUVERS

North Mission Group Commander Admiral Nusret Guner and commanders of other ships visited Eregli Mayor Halil Posbiyik.

Commanders said that they were pleased to visit Eregli.

Speaking to reporters, Admiral Guner said that also planes of the Turkish Air Forces would participate in the Black Sea Partnership-2001 which was one of the concerted maneuvers of the Naval Forces and would be exercised off Eregli between September 20-23.

The maneuvers aims to develop cooperation amd mutual training among the Black Sea littoral states and support the activities of the Partnership for Peace (PfP)

Pariticipating ships will depart for the Golcuk Naval Base on September 23.

[09] IDEF 2001 FAIR TO BE OPENED ON SEPTEMBER 27

Lobby International Public Relations, Promotion and Organization Services company said on Thursday that IDEF 2001 would remain open until September 30 under auspices and support of the National Defense Ministry.

Meanwhile, 254 civil and military officials including defense ministers and chief of general staffs of 45 countries like the United States, Germany, France, Britain, Spain, China and Russia and NATO allies will come to Turkey to attend the fair.

Meanwhile, a total of 243 companies from Turkey, the United States, Germany, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belarus, United Arab Emirates, Bosnia Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Denmark, Indonesia, France, Georgia, the Netherlands, Britain, Spain, Israel, Switzerland, Italy, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Pakistan, Romania, Russia and Ukraine will have stands at the fair.

[10] QUALITY IN WORKING LIFE CONFERENCE STARTS IN BRUSSELS

Speaking at the conference, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister for Social Affairs Laurette Onkelincx stressed importance of participation of candidate country Turkey in the conference.

He said that Turkey had displayed the importance it attributed to social issues and social policy by participating in the conference.

Onkelincx said that as the EU Term President, they believed that Turkey would display a performance in parallel to the interest it showed during its candidacy process.

Speaking at the conference, Okuyan said that globalization and technological changes had created effects on markets.

''Globalization and technological changes are affecting the markets with a speed which we do not get used to. We are still in a transition period from economy based on industry into information economy and trying to understand the effects of this transition. Besides, existing means can not meet changing demands of working life,'' he said.

Noting that national business markets had changed into international business markets, Okuyan said that creation of more employments had been considered main target so far but quality of business had recently started to gain importance.

Okuyan recalled that quality in Turkey had started firstly at ministries and their institutions and organizations, and that necessary works had started for acceptance of ISSO 9002 standards and special committees had been formed at ministries to provide coordination to this end.

''One of our main steps in increasing quality was the restructuring of the Employment Authority. We wanted to grant this authority a system which can create new education and new employment opportunities,'' he said.

Okuyan said that within framework of the restructuring, they had strengthened the unit responsible for labor health and security, adding that this unit was carrying out intense works on revision of the relevant regulations in line with the EU norms.

[11] SEVEN BANKS REMAIN UNDER CONTROL OF SDIF

A total of eighteen banks were transferred to SDIF between 1997 and 2000 (T. Ticaret Bankasi, Bank Ekspres, Interbank, Egebank, Yurtbank, Sumerbank, Esbank, Yasarbank, Etibank, Bank Kapital, Demirbank, Ulusal Bank, Iktisat Bankasi, Sitebank, Tarisbank, Bayindirbank, Kentbank and Ulusal Bank).

Besides, Egebank, Yurt Bank, Yasarbank, Bank Kapital and Ulusal Bank were merged under Sumerbank while Interbank and Esbank were merged under Etibank.

Bank Ekspres was sold to Tekfen Group on June 30, 2001 while Sumerbank composed of six banks was sold to Oyak Group on August 10, 2001.

Banking licence of T. Ticaret Bankasi of which shares were transferred to SDIF on November 6, 1997, was annulled on July 1, 2001.

There are still seven banks (Etibank, Iktisat Bankasi, Sitebank, Tarisbank, Bayindirbank, Kentbank and EGS Bank) under control of SDIF:

Koc Holding (Turkey) will present a bid for Etibank until October 1, 2001; Uni Credito Italiano (Italy) will bid for Iktisat Bankasi until October 15, 2001; and Novabank (Greece) will bid for Sitebank until October 17, 2001.

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