Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-11-06

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>

ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

06 NOVEMBER

2001Tuesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] VAT REDUCTION STARTS

[03] TWO SEPARATE DRAFTS PREPARED FOR STATE TENDERS

[04] FOREIGN TRADE STATISTICS -TURKEY'S EXPORTATION INCREASES BY 26 PERCENT IN AUGUST

[05] BURSA EXPORTS TO 103 COUNTRIES AND AUTONOMOUS REGIONS

[06] NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU LEAVES FOR CROATIA

[07] CEM AND KHARRAZI HOLD JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE (1)

[08] FOREIGN TRADE STATISTICS (2)

[09] TURKEY SENDS HUMANITARIAN AID TO AFGHAN PEOPLE

[10] CEM AND KHARRAZI HOLD JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE (2)

[11] CEM AND KHARRAZI HOLD JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE (3)

[12] TREASURY HOLDS TWO BOND AUCTIONS

[13] SULUN RESIGNS FROM ANAP

[14] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK SAYS TERRORISM CANNOT BE CONNECTED WITH A RELIGION, ETHNIC IDENTITY, RACE, OR GEOGRAPHY

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

''MAFIA'' SWALLOWS EMPEROR
Italian ''football mafia'' dismissed Turkish coach Fatih Terim in the end. Milan soccer club put an end to the duty of ''emperor'' Fatih Terim. Those who were against Terim by showing Son Torino defeat as an excuse persuaded Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi, who was also the head of the club. These people achieved to replace Terim with Ancelotti. Terim learned that he was dismissed from the duty in Istanbul, where he attended a conference.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

SOLDIER UNEASY
The General Staff was bewildered due to the statement of NATO Secretary General George Robertson, who said that Osama bin Laden was not the only person responsible for the terrorist attacks on the United States. Now, there are concerns about the possibility of broadening of the operation towards Iraq. This new statement of NATO was debated in Ankara. The General Staff demanded the original text of Robertson's interview with al-Jazerra television channel and started to examine it. Ankara is now searching for the answers to these questions: ''Is there an intention behind these words like broadening the war towards Middle East, that is Iraq? Is Robertson is 'laying the groundwork'?''

PROVIDES CREDIT DESPITE CRISIS
Is Bankasi signed 350 million U.S. dollar loan agreement with 43 foreign banks. Is Bankasi Director General Ersin Ozince said that Turkish banks could be indebted in international markets despite all the negative developments.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

The activists countered with molotov coctails to the smoke bomb used by the police. Four people died during the incidents. Ten others were wounded.

Tuna, the Deputy Chief of Security Department, said, ''we did not open fire on them, they set themselves into fire.''

PRESIDENT SEZER: WE SENT SOLDIERS UPON THE REQUEST OF THE U.S.
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said they had decided to send military troops to Afghanistan upon a request of the United States.

Sezer stressed, ''the United States has made similar requests to many other countries. We have decided to send military troops to Afghanistan upon a request of the United States. We did not have to send military troops to Afghanistan. We have taken this decision on our own will.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Zeki Sezer, the DSP deputy chairman, defended that, ''after it was revealed that the government made rightful acts, some sections got panicked.''

Meanwhile, Sevket Bulent Yahnici, the deputy chairman of the MHP, referring to Erkan Mumcu who announced the report, pointed out that, ''if the report reflects the views of his party, then ANAP should not stay in the government.''

KAMAL KHARRAZI IN TURKEY
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi arrived in Turkey upon the invitation of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.

The two ministers are expected to discuss the U.S. operation on Afghanistan, and reflections of the operation on the region. The two ministers will also dsicuss recent situation in bilateral relations.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

MARKET CHOOSES CREDIT
High inflation in October could not end the expectations of additional source. One U.S. dollar lost 8 thousand Turkish lira (TL) and decreased to 1 million 562 thousand TL. The stock exchange increased 222 points.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK) and Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK) organize a march from various provinces of Turkey to Ankara to protest unemployment, poverty, and corruption.

A group of people who left Denizli came to western province of Aydin. The group who was welcomed by trade unions in various cities shouted slogans and protested the economic situation in the country.

GUREL: GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE BECAME CENTER OF CRIME
State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said ''our friends should see from now on that the Greek Cypriot administration has turned into a center of terrorism, crime and money laundering in Eastern Mediterranean.''

Gurel spoke at the opening of ''Independent Administrative Authorities Symposium,'' which was held to mark the 4th foundation anniversary of Competition Board.

Pointing out that the world began to take a new shape following the terrorist attacks experienced on September 11 and that Turkey should take a right place within this formation, Gurel said, ''in fight against terrorism, we should get rid of hypocrisy based on interests like some EU member countries or our neighbours like Greece or like Greek Cypriot administration did in international arena.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

De Soto said his target was to contribute to good will mission and to exert efforts to resume negotiation process.

Responding to the questions of reporters who recalled him the statements of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem that Turkey could pay price in Cyprus, De Soto said the U.N. was not the interlocutor of this statement.

He said the European Union (EU) also wanted solution of the problem before membership of Southern Cyprus.

[02] VAT REDUCTION STARTS

The decision was issued in the Official Gazette. The implementation will be valid till December 31, 2001.

The VAT taken from some electronic goods, household appliances, tape recorders, electrical kitchen goods, radios and televisions, videos and video cameras, automobiles with engine cylinder volume below 1600 cc, and motorcycles will be reduced from 26 to 18 percent starting from today and valid till December 31, 2001.

[03] TWO SEPARATE DRAFTS PREPARED FOR STATE TENDERS

Sources said on Tuesday that the draft State Tender Law was opened to the signature of the Council of Ministers.

In accordance with the draft law, provisions regarding state tenders were enlisted in two separate laws, namely ''State Tender Law'' and ''State Tender Contracts Law.''

Under the draft law, tenders of all public institutions and organizations will be within the framework of the law while defense, security and intelligence tenders will be excluded.

A ''State Tender Board'' comprised of nine members will be formed in line with the new law.

The draft law foresees ''threshold values'' in accordance with the approximate costs of the tender.

Under the new law, only domestic companies can take part in the tenders, the costs of which are below the threshold value while 15 percent price advantage will be provided to domestic companies in the tenders, the costs of which are above the threhold value.

None of the projects, for which any appropriation is not allocated, will be put to tender.

The draft law envisages a unity in implementation by taking ''type contracts'' as base in the tenders.

[04] FOREIGN TRADE STATISTICS -TURKEY'S EXPORTATION INCREASES BY 26 PERCENT IN AUGUST

Meanwhile, importation decreased by 30.6 in August and 22.5 percent in January-August period.

The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) issued a statement and said exportation, which had been 2.44 million U.S. dollars last year in August, increased to 2.576 million U.S. dollars in the same period this year.

The exportation, as of January-August period, increased to 20 billion 399.8 million U.S. dollars from 18 billion 138 million U.S. dollars in January- August period.

Importation, which was 4.879 billion U.S. dollars in August last year decreased to 3.384 billion U.S. dollars this year.

Importation decreased to 27.149 billion U.S. dollars in January-August period.

There was 60.1 percent decrease in January-August period in Foreign trade deficit.

The foreign trade deficit decreased to 6.740 billion U.S. dollars this year. The foreign trade deficit was 16.896 billion U.S. dollars last year.

The realizations in foreign trade figures last year and this year as of August and January-August period according to the DIE data are as follows: (million U.S. dollars)

. Change Change

. 2000 2001 (Yüzde) 2000 2001 (percent)

. ------- ------- ------- -------- -------- ------
Exports 2,044.1 2,576.4 26.0 18,138.4 20,399.8 12.5

Imports 4,879.0 3,384.6 -30.6 35,035.1 27,140.1 -22.5

Balance -2,834.9 -808.2 -71.5 -16,896.7 -6,740.2 -60.1

Rate of

Meeting (%) 41.9 76.1 51.8 75.2

[05] BURSA EXPORTS TO 103 COUNTRIES AND AUTONOMOUS REGIONS

The number of export centers of the province was 98 in the same period last year.

Bursa's exportation increased 0.6 percent to 369 million 860 thousand U.S. dollars between January and October 2001.

The province obtained 367 million 770 thousand U.S. dollars in the same period last year.

Germany was ranked the first among Bursa's export centers while the United States, Britain and Italy followed Germany.

Below listed ten countries and free zones where Bursa exported its products in the first ten months of this year:

. Exports Change

Country (Thousand Dollars) (Percent)

------------------------ ----------- -------
Germany 58.888 3,4

United States 40.441 -13,8

Britain 31.515 -11,8

Italy 29.432 -27,6

France 14.430 16,1

Bulgaria 12.277 131,6

Egypt 12.072 -21,5

Istanbul Free Zone 10.609 -21,7

The Netherlands 9.697 1,0

Brazil 8.320 239,5

[06] NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU LEAVES FOR CROATIA

Cakmakoglu went to Croatia as the official guest of Jozo Rados, Croatian Defense Minister.

Speaking at airport before his departure, Cakmakoglu said that he will take up bilateral, regional and international issues in his contacts.

Cakmakoglu noted that he will also meet with Croatian President Stipe Mesic and Parliamentary Security Affairs Committee Chairman Durda Adlesic, adding that Croatia is both a Balkan and Central European country.

''Croatia gained its independence following the dissolution of Yugoslavia. It has good political relations with Turkey since then, but relations in other fields didn't develop. We will sign the Military Production Cooperation Agreement. The attitude, views, policy of Croatia is in line with ours and this plays an important role in installation of stability, security and peace in the region. Croatia is a country which is in the process of joining the EU. It is one of the countries which wants to join the NATO,'' he said adding that his visit to Croatia will last three days.

When a reporter asked his views about Turkey's possible entering Northern Iraq, Cakmakoglu said that the things written in the press do not directly concern him, adding that he does not know the source of these news.

Our views about Northern Iraq is known, he said adding that ''if there is no definite evidences, information and documents about the relations, terrorism connections, financial sources between Laden, El Kaide and Taliban or they were trained in Northern Iraq, it is not correct to intervene in Iraq. Besides Turkey can't be a party to such a development as it had saddening experience after the Gulf Crisis as it was exposed to a huge of number of refugees. Secondly the resolutions of U.N. Security Council regarding the Saddam regime's chemical weapons, mass destruction weapons and missiles have to be implemented effectively and the inspection of them has to be intensfied.''

''The transfer of Turkish special forces unit to Afghanistan has been postponed. When will they go?'' asked journalists to Cakmakoglu who said that ''these are military issues. Preparations have to be made. It is not correct to say that there has been a postponement.''

[07] CEM AND KHARRAZI HOLD JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE (1)

Kharrazi, who is currently in Ankara for an official visit, held a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem after the tete-a-tete and

interdelegationary meetings.

Upon a question asking his views about the decision of Turkey to send special forces unit to Afghanistan, Kharrazi said that Afghans don't like others to intervene in their affairs, adding that ''Afghan people, themselves, have to solve the Afghanistan problem.''

Cem said in his part that he respects the words of Kharrazi, adding that ''yet there can be different interpretations on certain issues.''

''Turkish soldiers is not a force that will attack Afghanistan, on the contrary, it will contribute to Afghan people's saving itself from terrorism,'' he added.

[08] FOREIGN TRADE STATISTICS (2)

According to the State Institute of Statistics (DIE) data, the imports of intermediate goods decreased by 16.5 percent from 23 billion 153.1 million U.S. dollars to 19 billion 336.3 million U.S. dollars; the imports of capital goods decreased by 33.4 percent from 7 billion 189.4 million U.S. dollars 4 billion 785.8 million U.S. dollars; and the imports of consumer goods decreased by 39.1 percent from 4 billion 553.7 million U.S. dollars to 2 billion 771.7 million U.S. dollars in the first eight months of the year.

The imports of consumer goods which had been 694.8 million U.S. dollars in August of 2000, decreased by 56.4 percent to 303.1 million U.S. dollars in the same period this year.

Capital goods accounted for 17.6 percent, intermediate goods accounted for 71.2 percent, and consumer goods accounted for 10.2 percent of Turkey's imports.

Meanwhile, the exports of capital goods increased by 25.2 percent to 1 billion 735.3 million U.S. dollars, the exports of intermediate goods rose by 15.9 percent to 8 billion 855.4 million U.S. dollars, and the exports of consumer goods climbed by 7.7 percent to 9 billion 776.3 million U.S. dollars in the January-August period of the year.

The exports of manufacturing industry goods increased by 12.4 percent to 18 billion 840.2 million U.S. dollars, and the exports of agricultural and forestry products rose by 20.7 percent while the exports of fishery products decreased by 4.9 percent, and the exports of mining and quarry products fell by 15.3 percent.

The imports of agricultural and forestry products decreased by 35.4 percent, the imports of fishery products fell by 42 percent, and the imports of manufacturing industry goods dropped by 25.7 percent while the imports of mining and quarry products rose by 4.5 percent.

Turkey's exports to the European Union (EU) countries increased by 11.1 percent from 9 billion 561.3 million U.S. dollars to 10 billion 619.5 million U.S. dollars while Turkey's imports from these countries decreased by 29.5 percent from 17 billion 295.8 million U.S. dollars to 12 billion 194.7 million U.S. dollars in the first eight months of the year.

Turkey's exports to American continent increased by 75.8 percent from 135.7 million U.S. dollars to 238.7 million U.S. dollars, and exports to Middle Eastern countries rose by 42.8 percent from 1 billion 595.1 million U.S. dollars to 2 billion 277.4 million U.S. dollars.

Turkey's imports from member contries to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) fell by 26.6 percent while imports from African countries increased by 11.1 percent from 1 billion 647.2 million U.S. dollars to 1 billion 829.9 million U.S. dollars.

Exports and imports of capital, intermediate and consumer goods in the January-August periods of 2000 and 2001 are as follows: (million U.S. dollars)

EXPORTS Difference IMPORTS Difference

. 2000 2001 (Percent) 2000 2001 (Percent)

. -------- -------- -------- ------- -------- -------
Capital g. 1,385.7 1,735.3 25.2 7,189.4 4,785.8 -33.4

Intermediate g.7,640.8 8,855.4 15.9 23,153.1 19,336.3 -16.5

Consumer g. 9,079.7 9.776.3 7.7 4,553.7 2,771.7 -39.1

Other 32.1 32.7 1.9 138.8 246.2 77.4

TOTAL 18,138.4 20,399.8 12.5 35,035.1 27,140.1 -22.5

[09] TURKEY SENDS HUMANITARIAN AID TO AFGHAN PEOPLE

The humanitarian aid including 55 thousand pieces of clothing, 18 thousand blankets, 55 thousand shoes, 12 thousand 500 cooking sets, 5 thousand kerrosene lambs and 5 thousand plastic tents arrived in Afghanistan last weekend.

The aid was distributed to the Afghan people by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Tens of thousands of people will spend this year's winter in the open air in Afghanistan. They have also faced with the threat of starvation.

[10] CEM AND KHARRAZI HOLD JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE (2)

Speaking in the joint news conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, who is currently paying an official visit to Turkey, said that he took up the issue of fight with terrorism with Kharrazi, adding that the meetings on the issue will continue. ''This issue carries great importance for countries such as Iran and Turkey which suffered a lot from terrorism, '' said Cem.

Recalling that Iran is a country which is closely interested in Afghanistan problem as it is a neighbour of the latter, Cem said that Afghanistan is an important country for Turkey, too. Cem noted that Turkey will open a health centre in Northern Afghanistan within few days as a sign of the importance it attributes to this country.

Upon a question asking the claims that the transfer of Turkish soldiers to the region has been postponed, Cem said that National Defense Ministry and General Staff have to talk on this issue.

Cem said that they also took up the dialogue initiative of Iranian President Mohammad Khatami between the civilizations, adding that Turkey extends full support to Khatami's initiative.

Recalling that Turkey activated a similar initiative between EU and Organization for the Islamic Conference (OIC) countries, Cem said that he took the views of Kharrazi on the issue.

Cem also stated that the relations between Turkey and Iran have to be further improved, adding that they launch efforts to solve the existing problems. The two countries contienue to improve the relations by political consultation and security mechanisms, Cem said.

Recounting that the natural gas transportation project is expected to be completed at the end of the year, Cem said that the trade volume which was 1 billion dollars would increase to 2 billion dollars with this project.

Cem stated that he and Kharrazi will also sign the protocol on foundation of Turkish-Iranian Business Council, Cem said that this Council is an initiative of private institutions, yet the states have also contributed to it.

Cem said that Iranian President Mohammad Khatemi invited President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to Iran, adding that they regard special importance to this visit.

[11] CEM AND KHARRAZI HOLD JOINT NEWS CONFERENCE (3)

Kharrazi and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem held a joint news conference after the tete-a-tete and interdelegationary meetings.

Recounting that Cem and himself were former journalists, Kharrazi said that they had a productive and positive meeting with Cem. He said that they reviewed cultural, economic, commercial, political and security issues between the two countries.

The guest minister said that the relations between Turkey and Iran go on positively, adding that the issues that had to be solved were overcome by the security and political mechanisms formed between Turkey and Iran.

Kharrazi said that the improvement of the relations between Turkey and Iran will contribute not to the two countries, but also to the regional peace and security, adding that they encourage the further improvement of the commercial relations. Kharrazi said that the private sectors of both countries have important roles to play in this framework.

Noting that Iran is ready for culutral cooperation between the two countries, the guest minister said that ''particularly Mevlana is a common cultural tie between the two countries. We are pleased with the dialogue between the Western world and the Islamic world and we support it. We never approve a clash of civilizations,'' he said.

Responding to questions, Kharrazi said that Iran does not have a military power in the region. Pointing out that Iran is closely interested with Afghanistan problem, Kharrazi said that the duty of Iran and other regional countries should be to help Afghan people in drawing their own destiny, and determining their administration. Kharrazi said that the formation of an administration which will cover all the groups in Afghnistan is the common view of Turkey and Iran.

When asked his views about the ''Muslim Peace Force'' planned to be sent to the region by the U.N. after the operation in Afghanistan, Kharrazi said that ''the peace force has to be supervised by the U.N.''

In response to a question asking if Iran was worried that the clashes in Afghanistan could spread to neighboring Iraq, Kharrazi said: ''I think this question must be asked of those who attack Afghanistan and deploy troops there. We are against attacks on any Islamic country by a force or a country. Islamic countries condemned the attacks on an Islam country at the last meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and had asked the attacks to be curtailed as soon as possible.''

Cem and Kharrazi mainly took up bilateral relations in the morning session of the meeting. The regional problems particularly Afghanistan were taken up in the luncheon.

Kharrazi noted that the visit of Cem to Tehran last February was a ''crucial visit'' in development of the bilateral relations, adding that the political will of the two countries is in line with solving the problems.

[12] TREASURY HOLDS TWO BOND AUCTIONS

In the nominal-valued 147-day bonds auction, the total bid was 3 quadrillion 136.6 trillion TL while the net sale became 1 quadrillion 954.8 trillion TL.

The bonds were issued through single price auction system and composite interest rate became 82.80 percent and simple interest rate became 68.30 percent.

Maturity of these bonds is April 3, 2002.

In the nominal-valued 231-day bonds auction, the total bid was 757.1 trillion TL while the net sale became 469.6 trillion TL.

Composite interest rate became 85.94 percent and simple interest rate became 76 percent.

Maturity of these bonds is June 26, 2002.

[13] SULUN RESIGNS FROM ANAP

Number of ANAP deputies decreased to 79 after resignation of Sulun while number of independent deputies increased to 22.

Recent distribution of seats at the parliament is as follows:

Democratic Left Party (DSP).................:131

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)............:127

True Path Party (DYP).......................: 82

Motherland Party (ANAP).....................: 79

Justive and Development Party (AK Party)....: 52

Felicity Party (SP).........................: 48

Independent.................................: 22

Vacant......................................: 9

Total.......................................:550

[14] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK SAYS TERRORISM CANNOT BE CONNECTED WITH A RELIGION, ETHNIC IDENTITY, RACE, OR GEOGRAPHY

Speaking at an international conference on ''Fight Against Terrorism'' held in Polish capital Warsaw with the participation of heads of state and government of some European countries, Turk said, ''horrifying attacks in the United States on September 11 targeted all peaceful nations. These disgusting crimes were committed against whole humanity and its common values. These attacks unveiled the real face of terrorism and its deadly dimensions.''

''As a country that has suffered much from terrorism for years and lost 30 thousand citizens in terrorist attacks, Turkey shares the pain and grief of the American people. Terrorism cannot be connected with a religion, ethnic identity, race, or geography. Therefore, it would be a serious mistake to connect terrorist attacks in the United States with the Islam,'' he stressed.

Turk noted, ''as a secular and Muslim country in Europe, Turkey has the most appropriate position to undertake a productive role in fight against terrorism. Turkey is determined to fight againts terrorism. Therefore, it has been supporting all efforts in fight against terrorism. Our painful experiences showed us that an international cooperation was necessary in order to achieve success in fight againts terrorism. Turkey was one of the first countries participating in the international coalition against terrorism. All modern societies have to struggle againts this barbaric crime within framework of princples of democracy and state of law.''

Recalling that Turkey had made important contribution to preparation, approval and legalization of many international documents, Turk said, ''Turkey approved 10 out of 12 international agreements of the United Nations about fight againts terrorism. Turkish parliament will approve remaining two agreements about prevention of finance of terrorism soon. We welcomed the United Nations Security Council's comprehensive decision no: 1373. This decision will constitude a basis for international attitude againts terrorism. Turkey will fully abide by this decision. As a candidate country, Turkey is ready to assist the European Union in fight against terrorism.''

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article