Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-11-04

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

04 November 2001 Sunday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] TURKISH REGISTRATION CENTER OPENED IN FAO

[03] ANAP PROPOSES REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF STATE MINISTRIES

[04] SOUTH-EAST EUROPEAN CITIES AND REGIONS FORUM ENDS

[05] ONE TUGBOAT REACHES FLOATING PLATFORM VARYAG

[06] EXPORTATION STRATEGY TO BE REVISED

[07] MINIMUM WAGE FIXING COMMISSION TO MEET FOR A SECOND TIME ON NOVEMBER 8

[08] ESTIMATIONS OF OECD -TURKEY TO GROW BY 5.3 PERCENT ANNUALLY IN 2003- 2006 PERIOD

[09] EU AND MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES TO CONVENE

[10] VARYAG UNDER CONTROL

[11] CENTRAL BANK NOT TO OPEN CREDITS OR GIVE ADVANCE TO TREASURY AS OF MONDAY

[12] ''TOROS-2001'' MILITARY EXERCISE TO START IN TRNC ON MONDAY

[13] TREASURY TO HOLD TWO BOND AUCTIONS ON TUESDAY

[14] COUGAR PRODUCTION IN HIGH GEAR

[15] TURKEY-EP JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION CO-CHAIRMAN ESER: ''TARGET OF 1974 PEACE OPERATION WAS TO PREVENT ENOSIS''

[16] 20 MILLION TL BANKNOTES TO START CIRCULATION ON MONDAY

[17] REPRESENTATIVES OF LEADING GERMAN TOUR OPERATOR NECKERMANN IN ANTALYA

[18] HEARING OF ASLITURK CASE TO CONTINUE ON MONDAY

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

FIVE STAR INSPECTORS
Five inspectors are inspecting the branches of Ziraat Bankasi in Germany for four months. The costs of the inspection have already exceeded 145 billion Turkish liras (TL). Five inspectors, who left Turkey for Germany with their spouses on July 3 to inspect eight branches and Frankfurt Central Branch of Ziraat Bankasi, started their inspection by checking in a luxurious hotel. The inspectors, whose allowances and hotel costs have exceeded 200 thousand German marks (almost equal to 145 billion TL), have not concluded their inspection. Moreover, an assistant was sent from Ankara to Germany. Former inspectors used to conclude their inspection no later than three weeks.

RECORD IN AUTOMOTIVE EXPORTATION
As the domestic demand almost stopped, exportation, the only hope of the Turkish automotive sector, increased 51.5 percent to 3 billion 199 million U.S. dollars in ten months.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

VARYAG DRAGGING
Floating platform Varyag which passed from Istanbul and Canakkale straits without any problems broke lose from the tugboat off south of Gokceada. The Chinese are trying to tie Varyag, which began to drag in the international waters of the Aegean Sea. Also, five Greek ships joined the rescue operations.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

BAHCELI SAYS IT IS NOT EASY AT THIS STAGE
Regarding the proposal of the Motherland Party (ANAP) to reduce the number of ministries, Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said, ''it is difficult to achieve it at this stage.'' Criticizing ANAP leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Bahceli said, ''he presented the proposals discussed at the leaders' summit as the proposals of his party. ANAP is trying to save itself from its current bad situation by these stances and different discourses.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

THERE IS NO CONCESSIONS OF CYPRUS
Turkey, which has promoted its relations with the United States, is harshening its attitude towards the European Union (EU), which is getting prepared to accept the Greek Cypriot administration as a full member till 2003. Diplomats, who said that Turkey did not have an idea to be at odds with the EU, warn that the reaction to a fait accompli in Cyprus question would be 'unlimited.' Ankara will express its views and position regarding Cyprus question to Alvaro de Soto, the United Nations (U.N) Special Envoy to Cyprus who will hold contacts in Ankara on Monday.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Ecevit issued a circular in line with the decision of the European Union (EU) and called on all the relations with Myanmar, which is administered by military regime for 39 years, to be suspended, and wanted an embargo to be imposed.

The bureaucrats, who received the circular, were amazed because they could not find on maps somewhere like Myanmar. Foreign Ministry rushed the help of the bureaucrats and said Burma, which is a Far Eastern country, changed its name to Myanmar after a military coup.

IMKB TO BE PRIVATIZED
Dogan Cansizlar, the Chairman of the Capital Market Board (SPK), said works related with privatization of Stock Exchange (IMKB) will be completed in 2002, and that the shares will be sold through public offering.

Cansizlar said nowhere in the world the Stock Exchange gives service as an institution belonging to the public, noting that the stock exchanges act as companies in other countries.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Parris said, ''we said it would be a long term one. Current government had been the government which stayed in power for the longest time in the last decade. But now that everybody thinks that this government completed its term in office.''

Parris said that all the signs in the country indicated that there was a need for an election but that there would not be elections till 2004.

FIRST SNOW COMES FROM THE WEST
It snowed to the western part of the country with the effect of the cold weather coming from the Balkans.

The width of the snow reached five cm in the first snow of the year that fell in western Kirklareli province.

There was heavy showers in some other regions of the country. The temperatures reduced to eight degrees celsius.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

A statement of DIE noted that the wholesale prices inflation became 81.4 percent and the consumer prices inflation was 66.5 percent in October.

The statement said that the wholesale prices inflation in January-October was 73.8 percent and the inflation in consumer prices index became 56.6 percent.

REPORT OF MUMCU TO PUT THE GOVERNMENT INTO DIFFICULTY
The report, which was discussed in Central Decision Executive Board (MKYK) of the Motherland Party (ANAP), included very serious criticisms toward Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the government, and the coalition partners.

The report, prepared by Erkan Mumcu, the Deputy Chairman of ANAP, the provincial chairmen, and the parliamentarians following the meetings, has a characteristic that will put the government into difficulty.

[02] TURKISH REGISTRATION CENTER OPENED IN FAO

Speaking at the ceremony, Gokalp said that the existence of Turkish Registration Center in FAO was of importance for Turkey and thanked Diouf for his close cooperation.

There are carpets, piece of earthenware decorated with opaque colored glazes and motifs that are characteristic of Turkish art (It resembles faience or majolica), and porselain are displayed in the center.

Prior to the inauguration, Gokalp met with Diouf.

Gokalp said that Yozgat and Ordu-Giresun projects of FAO were being carried out very well and asked for support to turn FAO Office in Turkey into a center covering Central Asia and the Caucasus and source for South-South project including Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Turkey was fulfilling its responsibilities in the project which was foreseen to be carried out between 2000 and 2003 but which had not been launched yet, Gokalp noted.

Gokalp expressed his wish that FAO should make donations to the other friendly countries and told FAO General Director that the project aiming at the prevention of the animal diseases which was carried out by Iran and Turkey should be extended for one more year.

Diouf stressed that Turkey was a country which had importance for FAO due to its modern structure and location.

Later, Gokalp told reporters that Turkey was among the countries which assist FAO rather than countries which took assistance from FAO.

Gokalp will return to Turkey on Monday.

[03] ANAP PROPOSES REDUCTION IN NUMBER OF STATE MINISTRIES

A report of proposals prepared by ANAP said that the all institutions and organization except the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), National Security Council (NSC) General Secretariat, and Higher Inspection Board which were under the auspices of the Prime Ministry, should be placed under the umbrella of other ministries.

Below listed the proposals for the restructuring of the ministries:

-Interior Ministry: The Directorate General of Disaster Affairs should be excluded from the responsibility of the Public Works and Housing Ministry while the Directorate General of Emergency Situation in Turkey should be excluded from the responsibility of the Prime Ministry. These two directorate generals should be united with the Directorate General of Civil Defense and be bound to the Interior Ministry as a single directorate general.

-Finance Ministry: The State Personnel Directorate should be excluded from the scope of the Prime Ministry and be united to the Finance Ministry. Budget, cadre, personnel employment are issues which are directly linked with each other.

-National Education Ministry: The Directorate General of Youth and Sports should be excluded from the responsibility of the State Ministry and be bound to National Education Ministry. The directorate generals like boy's and girl's technical schools should be united.

-Labour and Social Security Ministry: The unification of social security institutions under the umbrella of a single ministry will ensure the reforms and reconstruction efforts in this field to be carried out more rapidly. The Directorate General of Pension Fund should be excluded from the scope of Finance Ministry and be connected to this ministry. The Social Services and Children's Protection Authority, Directorate General of Women's Status and Problems, Social Assistance and Solidarity Promotion Fund, Family Reseraches Agency should be excluded from the responsibility of the state ministries and be linked with this ministry.

-Economy Ministry: By taking into consideration the place of the Treasury Undersecretariat in the development of exportation and the economy and the relations of exportation, foreign trade and customs, the Foreign Trade Ministry should be linked with the Customs Undersecretariat. Also, the State Statistics Institute, State Planning Organization (DPT), Privatization Administration Board should be excluded from the scope of state ministries and be connected with this ministry. Moreover, the Directorate General of Domestic Trade and Directorate General of Protection of Consumers and Competition should be excluded from the umbrella of the Industry and Trade Ministry while the State Supplies Office should be excluded from the scope of the Finance Ministry and all these institutions should be linked with the Economy Ministry.

-Urbanization and National Real Estate Ministry: This ministry should be set up by taking into consideration the urbanization rate and false urbanization problems in Turkey.

Building Site Office, National Real Estate and Title Deed Directorate Generals, Directorate General of Technical Researches and Practice, General Directorate of Rural Affairs Land Settlement Directorate and Mass Housing Administration should be linked to this new ministry.

-Tourism, Environment and Culture Ministry: Directorate General of National Parks Hunting and Wild Life should be taken from the responsibility of the Forestry Ministry and be linked to this ministry.

-Agriculture and Forestry Ministry: The Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Administration should be connected to this ministry.

-Public Works and Transportation Ministry: Maritime Undersecretariat and Directorate General of State Meteorology Affairs should be linked to this ministry.

-Industry and Technology Ministry: The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), Turkish Sciences Academy (TUBA), Earthquake Research Department, Mineral Research Institute (MTA), Turkish Atom Energy Authority should be bound to this ministry.

[04] SOUTH-EAST EUROPEAN CITIES AND REGIONS FORUM ENDS

Istanbul Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna, who addressed the closing session, pointed out that a positive atmosphere was formed with the meeting when the world was going through a difficult period. He said people, who came from problematic regions of the world, had made beneficial speeches in a positive atmosphere.

Pointing out that this meeting opened a new gate of hope following September 11th attacks, Gurtuna said the meeting illuminated the thoughts which were darkened.

''This forum is a historical meeting. It will open a new gate in world peace,'' Gurtuna said noting that sincere approaches of local administrations were more effective for the countries to open gates to each other rather than strict understandings of the states.

A final statement, entitled, ''Political and Economic Proposals'' was issued following the forum.

The final statement called on the governments, which participated in European Stability Pact, the European and international organizations, and particularly the EU and Council of Europe to increase financial and logistic support to the cities and regions in Southeastern Europe.

[05] ONE TUGBOAT REACHES FLOATING PLATFORM VARYAG

Sources told A.A correspondent that the crew on the giant Chinese platform threw rope to the sea and that one of the three tugboats achieved to catch the rope.

However, the tugboat has not started to pull the platform because it did not trust on the strength of the rope.

Meanwhile, a helicopter of the Greek coast guard is trying to evacuate the seven crewmembers on the platform.

The helicopter cannot land on Varyag due to strong winds in the Aegean Sea while it is trying to airlift the crew.

Meanwhile, Greek officials asked Varyag to cast two of its anchors, each weighing 15 tons.

The officials who said that the anchors could not reach to the bottom at first stage but could stop the giant platform if it drifted towards the Greek coasts which were more shallow.

Varyag's Turkey representative Ugur Usanma said that Varyag continued to went adrift with 2.2 nautical mile speed.

Usanma noted that the giant platform was almost 40 miles off the nearest island.

[06] EXPORTATION STRATEGY TO BE REVISED

Sources said on Sunday that the new exportation strategy would be completed in the first months of 2002.

The undersecretariat aims to determine where the world is going and on which sectors the exportation is intensified and to adapt Turkey to this medium by this strategy.

The strategy aims to set up investment, production and exportation chain in Turkey while fixed target markets as neighbouring countries.

Textile, ready-made cloth, electricity and electronics, automotive, machinery, cement and soil products, home textile, and software are the main export products in the new strategy.

The new strategy aims to increase product range and to export ready-made clothes of high-quality, the value added tax (VAT) of which is high.

Shops in Paris, New York and London will be opened at the first stage.

[07] MINIMUM WAGE FIXING COMMISSION TO MEET FOR A SECOND TIME ON NOVEMBER 8

The Commission had held its first meeting on October 23 to fix the new wage that will be valid as of January 1, 2002. In the second meeting that will be held on November 8, the changes that are foreseen to be made in Minimum Wage Fixing Regulations, will be discussed.

Officials of Labour and Social Security Ministry recalled that an expression in Article 55 of the Constitution, said, ''minimum wage is fixed according to the economic and social situation of the country,'' was changed as, ''minimum wage is fixed according to the living conditions of the workers and economic situation of the country,'' noting that existing minimum wage fixing regulations should be adjusted to this change.

Ministry officials said they were waiting for the views of the Finance Ministry and Treasury Undersecretariat in connection with the change.

The commission is comprised of 15 people, including 5 employees, 5 employers, and 5 representatives of the government.

The minimum wage for workers over 16 years old is gross 167 million 940 thousand Turkish liras (TL) and net 122 million 186 thousand 520 TL.

The minimum wage for workers below 16 years is gross 142 million 749 thousand TL and net 104 million 351 thousand 292 TL.

Below listed the gross and net minimum wages so far:

Date of validity Gross

Net

1.8.1998
47,839,500 34,573,946
1.1.1999
78,075,000 58,948,065
1.7.1999
93,600,000 70,222,320
1.1.2000 109,800,000
82,417,500
1.7.2000 118,800,000
86,922,900
1.1.2001 139,950,000
102,369,600
1.7.2001 146,947,500
107,323,830
1.8.2001 167,940,000
122,186,520

[08] ESTIMATIONS OF OECD -TURKEY TO GROW BY 5.3 PERCENT ANNUALLY IN 2003- 2006 PERIOD

The OECD said Turkey would rank the third with a growth rate of 5.3 percent. Ireland will rank the first with an 6.8 percent real growth rate, and South Korea will rank the second with 5.8 percent growth rate.

In the same period, the growth rate of the European Union (EU) member countries would be 2.5 percent and the OECD member countries would have an average growth rate of 3.1 percent.

The OECD estimated unemployment in Turkey for the year 2002 as 6.7 percent, and 6.2 percent for the year 2006.

[09] EU AND MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES TO CONVENE

The ministers and the representaties will convene within ''Barcelona Process'' that had been inititated in 1995 aiming to establish a comprehensive cooperation atmosphere between the EU and the Mediterranean countries, but later failed. The participants will also discuss ''international unhealthy atmosphere,'' caused by September 11 attacks.

The meeting which will bring together EU members and representatives of Turkey, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia and Greek Cypriot administration, will last for two days.

''Improvement of dialogue among cultures and civilizations, racism, fight against xenophobia,'' will be discussed at the meeting.

Representatives of Libya and Mauritania were also invited to the meeting.

The ministers and representatives, who are expected to discuss political, economic and social dimensions of the Barcelona Process aim at taking some concrete steps to enliven this process.

A joint statement is expected to be issued at the end of the meeting in case the tension among Israel and Arab countries can be overcome.

Condemnation of terrorism, reflection of joint will in fighting against terrorism, and that no direct link is seen among terrorism and Islam are expected to be pointed out in the joint statement.

[10] VARYAG UNDER CONTROL

Turkish maritime sources told A.A correspondent that the floating platform was taken under control as the tugboats re-established their tie to the vessel.

The sources said that Varyag did no more drifted as it was re-tied to two tugboats and noted that efforts were under way to tie the giant platform to the third tugboat.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that the Chinese officials did not accept the demand of Greek authorities which called on Varyag to cast anchor at first stage and that there was no need for this practice as the floating platform was taken under control.

[11] CENTRAL BANK NOT TO OPEN CREDITS OR GIVE ADVANCE TO TREASURY AS OF MONDAY

The Article 56 of the regulation on amendment to Central Bank Law will enter into force on Monday.

In accordance with this article, the Central Bank will not open credits or give advance to the Treasury, public institutions or organizations as of Monday.

Also, the Central Bank will not buy the borrowing means issued by the Treasury and the public institutions and organizations from primary markets.

The bank will no more give advance and open credits without any guarantee. Thus, printing money without adequate hard backing will be prevented.

The Treasury which cannot borrow the money it needs from the Central Bank will provide this money directly from secondary market.

[12] ''TOROS-2001'' MILITARY EXERCISE TO START IN TRNC ON MONDAY

The military exercise, which will continue on territorial waters and air space of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) till November 7, will be conducted by Cyprus Turk Peace Forces Command.

The military exercise will start early on Monday following an alarm, and with the transfer of units to the manoeuvres regions.

The military exercise will continue on Tuesday in St. Hilarion Castle, which is in Girne Bogaz region.

The manoeuvres will take place in Beykoy on November 7, and end with commando manoevres and with an arms exhibition that will be opened in Ercan.

Activities of the military exercise on Tuesday and Wednesday will be open to people.

[13] TREASURY TO HOLD TWO BOND AUCTIONS ON TUESDAY

Both type of bonds will be issued on November 7, 2001 while the maturity of 147-day will be April 3, 2002 while that of 231-day bonds will be June 26, 2002.

The composite interest rate in the 154-day bond auction held on October 30 was 84.62 percent and the simple interest rate was 70 percent.

The total bid was 544.6 trillion Turkish liras (TL) while the Treasury sold 351.7 trillion TL nominal-valued bonds in the auction. The net sale became 271.3 trillion TL.

The Treasury will repay 7 quadrillion 784.2 trillion TL in domestic debt in November.

The Treasury will make the highest domestic debt repayment of this month on November 7 worth of 4 quadrillion 497.6 trillion TL.

[14] COUGAR PRODUCTION IN HIGH GEAR

TAI officials said on Sunday that the helicopters which had been produced had been delivered to the concerned force commanderships.

This project is important as it is TAI's first rotary-wing aircraft production program.

The project will be finalized in the last quarter of 2002. Within the framework of the program, a total of 30 helicopters, 20 for Air Forces Commandership and 10 for the Land Forces Commandership, will be manufactured.

Under the Phenix II program, that will be implemented between 1997-2003, the first two helicopters were manufactured at the Eurocopter facilities in France, whereas the remaining 28 helicopters are being produced at TAI Facilities.

Under the program, the first Cougar MK1 General Purpose Helicopter, started to be manufactured at TAI facilities on 30 September 1998, was delivered to the Turkish Land Froces on 31 May 2000 whereas the first Combat Search and Rescue Helicopter II (CSARII) and the CSARIII helicopter will be delivered in March 2001 and May 2001 respectively.

[15] TURKEY-EP JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION CO-CHAIRMAN ESER: ''TARGET OF 1974 PEACE OPERATION WAS TO PREVENT ENOSIS''

Eser, who is also the parliamentarian of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) from Aksaray province, attended Central Executive Board meeting of MHP, and spoke to journalists about the developments on Cyprus issue.

When journalists recalled that Cyprus issue was discussed during today's meeting, Eser said Cyprus has a strategic and historic importance.

Pointing out 1959 and 1960 agreements, Eser said, ''1974 Peace Operation prevented enosis. Now that they try to provide enosis by this way. Re- establishment of enosis is in question with the method of Greek Cypriot administration's entrance to the EU.''

Eser said enosis will not be allowed anyway.

Pointing out that Turkey should attribute great importance to its own security, Eser said, ''continuation of current status of Cyprus is extremely important not only for Turkey and but also for the developments recorded in Eastern

Mediterrenean.''

[16] 20 MILLION TL BANKNOTES TO START CIRCULATION ON MONDAY

The banknote's dimension will be 76x162 milimetres. The main colour of the new banknotes will be green.

On the front of the banknote, there will be a portrait of Ataturk, the Founder of Turkish Republic. There will be a world and a dove carrying a olive branch in its mouth on the left of Ataturk's portrait.

There would be a view of the ancient Ephesus site on the back of the banknote.

[17] REPRESENTATIVES OF LEADING GERMAN TOUR OPERATOR NECKERMANN IN ANTALYA

Twenty administrators of the company, including executive board member Peter Fankhauser, will introduce their catalogue for 2002 in a ceremony which will be held in Belek Aldiana Club with the participation of Tourism Minister Mustafa Tasar on Monday.

A total of 150 journalists will watch the promotion of the catalogue.

Responding to questions of reporters, the company officials said that Neckermann was among the tour operators which brought the highest number of tourists to Turkey.

The officials noted that the tour operator brought 550 thousand tourists to Turkey that year and aimed to increase that number to 700 thousand in the following year.

Neckermann administrators and German journalists would stay in Antalya till Wednesday, the officials said and stated that they would visit historical and touristic sites of Antalya.

The officials pointed out that Neckermann brought tourists from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, France, Poland and Hungary to Turkey and that the company had an important share in world tourism with 10 million tourists.

Noting that the introduction of catalogue would have an important contribution to the promotion of Turkey and Antalya, the officials said that foreign journalists would have the opportunity to see the tourism giant leap forward in Turkey thanks to that organization.

[18] HEARING OF ASLITURK CASE TO CONTINUE ON MONDAY

The judge requested intense discussions on the case to take place for three days to reach the decision stage. The case will be heart in Bow Street Court of the Justice of Peace.

The judge is expected to give the right of response to Asliturk and her lawyer Yagiz Dagli against the accusations.

Asliturk in the previous hearing claimed that some politicians directed her unjust accusations aiming to stop her progress in politics.

James Lewis, the lawyer of Royal Chief Prosecutorhip, who acts on behalf of Turkey, said the right of response appeared for Turkish authorities upon those developments, and requested the session to be adjourned.

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