Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-11-13

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

13 NOVEMBER 2001Tuesday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 13, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Coalition leaders reached a consensus of opinion regarding the efforts to make the state smaller. The resistance of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) regarding the abolishment of the Rural Affairs has been overcome. The Directorate General of Rural Affairs will be transferred to provincial special administrations.

TURKEY HAS BEEN INCULDED IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES LIST

Turkey, which continues to develop with its economic potential in spite of the economic crises it suffered, has been included in the annual report of the International Labour Organization (ILO)'s list of Developed Countries.

Although Turkey is among the G20 countries, it is accepted as a ''developing country'' by many institutions including United Nations Trade and Development Conference (UNCTAD) and U.N. Development Programme (UNDP). As the report namely ''Basic Signs in Business Market 2001-2002'' which has 900 pages is the most compherensive report of ILO, Turkey's inclusion in the category of developed countries carries importance.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

When the American Airbus crashed into New York's Queens neighbourhood, almost 40 heads of states and governments were at the U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem was speaking at the U.N. General Assembly at that time. The speech of Cem who explained terrorism was interrupted by the announcements. Cem has been the first minister who offered condolences to the U.S. people over the plane crash.

TURKISH ROLE IN VICTORY

According to the Russian Izvestiya newspaper Turkish and American officers planned the attack which resulted in the troops of General Rashid Dostum's entering Mazar-i Sharif. The paper said that Turks and the Americans had a significant role in the victory.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

The coalition leaders reached a consensus of opinion about the measures that will increase savings and incomes in the public sector. The public workers will be on compulsory leave for three days a month and they won't be paid. A ten percent saving will thus be ensured in the payments. State Economic Enterprises (SEE) workers who are over the age will be asked to retire. The Rural Affairs Directorate won't be abolished now, but regional directorates of all public institutions will be closed.

THEY WERE BEATEN AND THEY END UP OWING MONEY

Five Turkish businessmen were taken into custody in Dusseldorf by German police who thought that the businessmen were from Russian mafia two years ago. In fact the businessmen went to the city to attend a fair. German civilian police beat the businessmen in terrible way, who later filed a suit against the German police. The case pended before the German court for two years and the court decided to give 600 German Marks of compensation to each businessmen. Yet the Turkish businessmen were also asked to pay for the court expenses which were worth of 45,000 German Marks.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Bayram Meral, the Chairman of the Confederation of Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-Is), asked the government who is administering the country. Meral said, ''if you are administering the country, then whose interests you are protecting?''

Meral said effect of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank increased after State Minister Kemal Dervis came to this mission. Meral also blamed capital section of the negative developments.

Meral said, ''necessary retirement and similar issues were brought onto agenda of our meeting with government officials. I hope that a solution would be found following this meeting.''

PRESIDENT SEZER: SORROWS OF THE QUAKE ARE STILL ALIVE

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that Turkey continued its efforts to revive the faded hopes of the quake survivors, to increase their desire to live, to enable them to look at the future with confidence and to offer them better possibilities.

Sezer issued a message upon the second anniversary of the devastating earthquake which hit Duzce province.

A statement of the Presidential Press Center quoted Sezer as saying in his message that the grief that the Duzce earthquake caused was still alive in the memories.

Sezer noted that Turkey faced a second earthquake on November 12, 1999 when it could not overcome the shock caused by August 17 devastating earthquake of Marmara.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

While politicians continue telling that the economic crisis will be overcome, there are many citizens who have difficulty in finding food and they wait in long queues to get food from aid organizations. The temporary kitchens opened to serve the people in various cities are not enough.

NATURAL DISASTER IN EAST COAST

A total of six persons died in landslide in northeastern province Rize caused by torrential rains. Four persons who were drifted by gushing waters are still lost. The roads of 88 villages are closed. The primary schools in Camlıhemsin, Ardesen, Fındıklı, Cayeli and Hemsin towns of Rize were clsoed for two days.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu said Turkish Airlines (THY) decided to shrink its fleet in the year 2002.

Karakoyunlu responded the question motion with notice, submitted by Felicity Party (SP) Hatay Parliamentarian Mustafa Gecer regarded with privatization of the THY.

Karakoyunlu in his response recalled that THY was taken within the scope of privatization in 1990, noting that the fleet was comprised of 33 planes at that time.

Pointing out that the fleet grew more than two times since it was taken within the scope of privatization, Karakoyunlu said number of passengers increased to 10-12 million people from 4.5 million people.

QUAKE IN MERSIN MEASURING 4.1

An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale shook southern Mersin province around 15.59 local time on Monday.

Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Center said that the epicenter of the quake which was Icel-Mersin, was also felt in Tarsus township of Icel province and southern Adana province.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

The government, which agreed on the savings measures package, met the resistance of Turk-Is in the section that is in connection with the State Economic Enterprises personnel.

Prime Ministry Press Centre said ''the measures to be taken, aim to provide the necessary savings in public sector and to bring efficiency to services. These measures will be announced within this week.''

CEM CALLS ON PKK AND DHKP-C TO BE INCLUDED IN LIST OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem called on terrorist PKK and DHKP organizations to be included in the list of European Union (EU) terrorist organizations.

Cem, currently attending the U.N. General Assembly works in New York, separately met Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique and French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine.

Cem said Turkey wanted to see terrorist organizations like PKK and DHKP-C in the terror list of the EU countries, noting that Turkey would follow this.

-ISTANBUL POLICE CHIEF OZDEMIR SAYS NINE PEOPLE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY

ISTANBUL - Istanbul Police Chief Hasan Ozdemir said on Tuesday that nine people, three of them women, were taken into custody in an operation held in Kucukarmutlu district who wanted to distort public order and set up barricades on roads.

Ozdemir, who came to Kucukarmutlu and talked to the tradesmen, made a brief statement to the journalists about the operation.

Ozdemir said an operation was launched on those who wanted to distort public order with the pretext of ''death fast,'' and who set up barricades on roads. Ozdemir said three women and six men were taken into custody during the operation.

Stressing that four of them were on death fasts and that otheres expended support to them, Ozdemir said operations would continue in the region day and night to provide tranquility and security of the citizens.

Ozdemir noted that the region was eradicated with the operation.

Meanwhile nine people, who were taken into custody, were sent to Sisli Etfal Hospital to receive medical treatment.

Police, who completed the operation around 8:30 local time, loaded the debris and other equipments in the barricades to the lorries and put them away.

It was also reported that an 50-person group resisted the police during the operation and threw molotov coctails and stones.

Those people also set the barricades into fire, and that police countered with tear gas.

-JUSTICE MINISTER SAYS STRUCTURE OF PRISONS WHICH PERMITS DOMINATION OF

ILLEGAL ORGANIZATIONS IS CHANGING

ANKARA - Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said on Tuesday that the structure of prisons which permits domination of illegal organizations was changing.

Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission started to change the budget of the Justice Ministry, Constitutional Court, Supreme Court and the Council of State.

Speaking at the session, Turk said that the prisons problem which had become a bleeding wound in the end of negative situations which continued for years and which had occupied the agenda of the public had entered into a solution process.

Turk noted that 26 prisons were closed and six new prisons were opened this year.

They planned to construct regional prisons which would be fully equipped and which would enable the implementation of rehabilation and training programs and to close small prisons, Turk stated.

Turk said that 59,108 inmates were being kept in 536 prisons and went on saying, ''49,552 of these inmates were convicted of judicial crimes, 8,582 of terrorist crimes and 974 of interest crimes. Number of inmates increase around 5,000 every year.''

Legal arrangements to rehabilitate the regulations on execution continued, Turk stated.

Turk pointed out that inmates were enabled to talk with their relatives on phone in 34 prisons.

''As the majority of the current prisons were constructed in dormitory system, many problems occured in maintenance of security. Inmates convicted of terrorist and interest crimes pressed on other inmates and directed them to stage rebellion, hunger strikes and ideologic training by benefitting from the negative situation,'' Turk said.

Turk noted that the number of inmates on hunger strike and death fast who started the protest as a reaction to the F type prisons decreased and stated that the number of inmates on hunger strike decreased to 14 while number of death fasting inmates fell to 171.

The structure of the prisons which permitted domination of illegal organizations changed as F type prisons were opened, Turk said.

Turk noted that the prisons problem which had become a bleeding wound in the end of negative situations which continued for years and which had occupied the agenda of the public had entered into a solution process.

Touching on the applications made in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against Turkey, Turk said that the court took 115 decisions against Turkey and 9 in favour of Turkey.

Turk stated that the court found 33 applications unacceptable while 7 applications were erased from registration.

The court was currently examining 3,964 applications against Turkey, Turk added.

-WORLD BANK TURKEY DIRECTOR CHHIBBER SAYS WORLD BANK TO CONTINUE TURKEY'S REFORMS

ANKARA - World Bank Turkey Director Ajay Chhibber said on Tuesday that the bank would continue to support vital structural and institutional reforms in Turkey.

Speaking at a meeting on independent boards and market economic arena held in Ankara, Chhibber stressed on the necessity of regulatory boards in energy and banking sectors.

Chhibber said that participation of private sector in economy started to increase in Turkey in 1980s and 1990s.

As privatization was accelerated, the importance of independent regulatory boards increased, Chhibber noted.

Chhibber said that the lack of independent regulatory boards in banking sector in past years caused crisis of high costs.

The liabilities of state banks bound to almost 20 billion U.S. dollar condition and the credits opened to this end caused losses, Chhibber noted.

Chhibber pointed out that similar problems were faced in energy sector and that Turkey tried to attract investments under state guarantee but could not create a competitive medium.

A liability bound to 10 billion U.S. dollar condition occured due to lack of independent regulatory boards in energy sector, Chhibber stressed.

Chhibber gave the Competition Board and Capital Market Board (SPK) as an example and noted that these boards were not formed during economic stability period but they were forced to solve economic problems in semi- independent status.

It was very difficult to predict about how Turkey could cope with such a crisis without the formation of a banking high board, Chhibber said.

Chhibber stated that Banking Regulation and Supervision Authority (BRSA) had to cope with the biggest banking crisis of Turkey but that its performace so far was confidence-building.

Telecommunication Higher Board recorded progress, Chhibber pointed out and said that Energy Higher Board had just been appointed.

Chhibber said that that board would face important problems in transition from state-guarantee system to free competitive system.

Turkey's energy market had a bigger market that that of Argentine, Chili, New Zealand and some East European countries, Chhibber stressed.

Chhibber said that the decision not to go on with the management right transfer model was a signal for a rapid transition into new energy market model.

The borders between Competition Board and regulatory boards should be clearly set, Chhibber noted.

Chhibber drew the attention that mechanism to solve problems should be strengthened and that cooperation among non-governmental organizations, media and boards should be ensured.

Chhibber expressed belief that years between 2000-2002 would be remembered as a very critical period in which competitive economic structure and regulatory boards were formed.

Responding to a question, Chhibber said that the deliberations on the remaining tranche of the Financial Sector Adjustment Loan (FSAL) still continued.

Chhibber said that 1.1 billion U.S. dollars had been released so far within the scope of that loan.

-EU COMMISSION ANNOUNCES PROGRESS REPORT FOR TURKEY ON TUESDAY

-REPORT DOES NOT SHED GREEN LIGHT TO SCREENING PROCESS

BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) Commission handed out the annual progress reports of 13 candidate countries to the press on Tuesday.

In the Progress Report for Turkey, the EU Commission did not sheed green light to the ''Screening Process'' which is the period that is just before the process of starting full membership negotiations.

Reviewing progress recorded by the candidate countries within framework of targets and priorities in their preparatory process for the EU full membership, the EU Commission said that Turkey had been leading towards a new era in acession strategy, and analysed developments in the last one year.

Giving information about reforms made in Turkey in its Fourth Progress Report, the EU Commission gave the message that developments in the human rights in Turkey were not sufficient.

In its Progress Report for Turkey, the EU Commission expressed its satisfaction over the constitutional reforms in Turkey, and stressed that it expected these reforms to be put into practice.

Eulogizing Turkish government's measures and attitude against the economic crisis, the EU Commission said that the Customs Union mechanism had been working well, and added that Turkey, however, was far away from fulfilling economic criteria.

Referring to lack of solution in the Cyprus question, the EU Commission asked for Turkey's contributions. The Commission drew attention to positive steps taken in the dialogue process between Turkey and Greece.

In the Progress Report for Turkey, developments and difficulties in the economic and political adjustment process were taken up in detail.

-TURKISH AND GREEK PARLIAMENTARIANS TO COME TOGETHER IN SWEDEN

ISTANBUL - Turkish and Greek parliamentarians will come together at an international meeting in Sweden upon invitation of a United-States-based non-governmental organization Interparliamentary Global Cooperation.

Addressing journalists at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport on behalf of Turkish parliamentary delegation, Rasim Zaimoglu, a deputy of the True Path Party (DYP) from Giresun province, said that Ahat Andican, a deputy of the Motherland Party (ANAP) from Istanbul province, and Abdullatif Sener, a deputy of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) from Sivas province were in the delegation.

Zaimoglu said that the Interparliamentary Global Cooperation aimed at bringing together countries that were friends of the United States and that had disputes between themselves.

Noting that they would review bilateral relations with Greek parliamentarians at the meeting, Zaimoglu said that they would try to start an interparliamentary good dialogue process.

He said that they would also discuss cooperation opportunities between Turkey and Greece in economy, social lief, culture, tourism and environment.

Noting that the Cyprus question might be brought onto agenda during the meeting, Zaimoglu told reporters, ''Turkey's attitude is clear. Turkish Foreign Affairs Ministry has put forward its attitude about the European Union (EU) and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). We will act in line with the Foreign Affairs Ministry's attitude.''

-GARANTI BANKASI RATIFIES OSMANLI-GARANTI MERGE

ISTANBUL - Garanti Bankasi ratified on Tuesday Osmanli-Garanti Bankasi merge during the extraordinary general assembly meeting.

Following the meeting, Garanti Bankasi General Director Ergun Ozen said that they presented the merge to the vote of the shareholders and that the shareholders approved the merge.

Ozen said, ''we are at the third stage of the merge. We are at the adjustment stage. Everything is going fine.''

They hoped to conclude the merge on December 20, Ozen noted and said that everything was going as planned.

Ozen stated that they were dealing with customer transfers at the moment.

''We have chosen our branches. Now, we will distribute our customers to those branches. This is one of the most important stages of the merge. We will benefit from the Ramadan Feast holiday to achieve this because we do not want any problems. We will enter all the date in the computers during the holiday. When we touch a button, the customer will know to which branch he or she will go,'' Ozen said.

Asked how many personnel would be dismissed, Ozen said that that issue was not definite yet and that they would make a statement about the issue in the first month of December.

Ozen said that they planned to open branches in three or four places except Canakkale but that they would not announce these isuses at the moment.

-EU COMMISSION ANNOUNCES PROGRESS REPORT FOR TURKEY (2)

BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) Commission handed out the annual progress reports of 13 candidate countries to the press on Tuesday.

In the Progress Report for Turkey, the EU Commission defended that developments in the human rights in Turkey were not sufficient.

The report said that constitutional reforms made by Turkish parliament paved way for noticeable progress in the human rights. It said that scope of implementation of death sentence was narrowed, and changes were made in restrictions in fundamental rights and freedoms.

The report said that the EU Commission would pay attention from now on to implementation of these reforms.

Noting that Turkish parliament had been maintaining its works within framework of the reform process, the report said that Turkey would fulfil priorities of the accession partnership with the reform process.

The report noted that despite all those developments, some restrictions still continued in fundamental freedoms in Turkey.

Pointing out that Turkey had not been executing death sentence, and had lifted death sentence except for terrorism and war crimes, the EU Commission claimed that the exception of terrorism was contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights. Noting that war crimes could be an exception, the Commission proposed Turkey to amend the relevant law to this end.

Noting that reforms about economic, social and cultural rights had brought forth some positive factors, the Commission said that one of these factors was the parliament's shedding green light to use of banned languages.

The Commission defended that Turkey could not record any progress in cultural rights from which all Turkish citizens whatever their ethnic origins are, would benefit.

Noting that some important reforms were approved by the parliament about prisons and that these reforms should be put into practice soon, the Commission claimed that harsh reactions to demonstrations held to protest conditions at prisons were distressing.

The Commission said that death fasts should be prevented whatever political motives of death-fasters were.

Noting that reforms started about judicial system, the Commission expressed its concerns about independence of judiciary, authorities of the State Security Courts (DGMs) and of military courts, and respect to verdicts of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

The Commission said that despite initiatives bringing transparancy to the forefront, corruption reamined as a serious problem in Turkey.

It welcomed Ankara's signing some agreements of the Council of Europe on fight against corruption.

Underlining importance of improving the economic conditions in Southeastern Anatolia region, removing regional differences and broadening economic, social and cultural opportunities of citizens, the Commission stressed that emergency rule had still been continuing in four provinces in Southeastern Anatolia region.

Noting that main factors of democratic system existed in Turkey, the Commission said that some problems like civil inspection in military affairs should be resolved in an influential way.

The Commission added that Turkey should record more concrete progress in human rights.

-EU COMMISSION ANNOUNCES PROGRESS REPORT FOR TURKEY (3)

BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) Commission handed out the annual progress reports of 13 candidate countries to the press on Tuesday.

In the Progress Report for Turkey, the EU Commission defended that Turkey did not fulfil political criteria of the EU, and gave message that it would support Ankara's efforts to make reforms.

Underlining importance of developing political dialogue on the issues of human rights, the Cyprus question and solution of border disputes, the Commission stressed that these key problems should be given political priority.

Noting that Ankara's attitude should turn into concrete actions in order to solve the Cyprus question, the Commission called on President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to return to the proximity talks process sponsored by the United Nations.

In its report, the Commission underlined importance of Turkey's active participation in the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDS).

Referring to impacts of economic crises in Turkey, the Commission drew attention to obstacles and difficulties stemming from these crises.

Recalling that Turkey had put into practice a new and pretentious economic program, the Commission said that Turkey had been expending efforts to remove deficiencies and risks of national finance sector.

Stressing that Turkey should prioritize settlement of macroeconomic stability in the short term, the Commission underlined importance of fight against inflation, and called on Turkey to expend more efforts to create a sound ground for economic development.

Noting that Turkey required comprehensive restructuring in agriculture and public sectors, the EU Commission requested Turkey to redetermine its budget priorities to create finance sources for education, health, social service and infrastructure.

Referring to Turkey's adjustment process with the EU, the Commission said that Turkey had taken important steps within framework of the Customs Union.

Stressing that Turkey should pay careful attention to fight against money laundering, the Commission said that laws regarded with state aid were inconvenient to the EU rules.

The Commission expressed its concerns about state monopoly in alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.

Making detailed analyses in the fields of agriculture, fishery, transportation, finance and statistics, the EU Commission claimed that Turkey was far away from adjusting itself with the EU criteria.

Pointing out that Turkey had been leading towards a new era in accession strategy, the EU Commission added that Brussels extended support to Turkey's accelerating its political and economic reforms.

-ENVIRONMENT MINISTER AYTEKIN DUE TO MONACO

ANKARA - Environment Minister Fevzi Aytekin will go to Monaco on Thursday.

A statement of the Environment Ministry said on Tuesday that Aytekin would attend 12th Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties of the Mediterranean Action Plan.

The statement noted that Aytekin would present a series of proposals about the ratification of ''emergency protocol'' which would enable a solution to increasing international transportation in the straits during the meeting.

Steps regarding international transportation which will be important for Turkey are expected to be taken during the conference. International transportation came to the agenda during the passage of giant platform Varyag through the straits.

Aytekin will propose the revision and ratification of the '''emergency protocol'' which foresees several implementations to prevent sea pollution and which will find international solution to increasing transportation in the straits.

During the ministerial level of the conference, the activities of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development will be reviewed. The commission is exerting efforts for the adoption of the sustainable development principle in the Mediterranean and for integration of this principle with the national policies of the countries.

The preparatory works for ''World Summit'' which will be held in Johannesburg next year and which will form the agenda of the Seventh Meeting of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development , will be debated.

The commission meeting will be organized in southern Antalya province in spring 2002.

-TURKEY'S EU PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO EU AKYOL:

''THERE ARE SOME EVALUATIONS WHICH ANKARA DOES NOT SHARE''

BRUSSELS - Turkey's European Union (EU) Permanent Representative Ambassador Nihat Akyol said on Tuesday that there were some evaluations which Ankara did not share in annual Progress Report regarded with the preparations to full membership.

Pointing out that the Progress Report has two main functions, Akyol said, ''the Commission prepares a balance sheet of the steps which a candidate country take within the framework of the targets and priorities which were foreseen by the Accession Partnership.''

Akyol stressed that the Commission should prepare an objective table reflecting the truths while fulfilling this assignment, noting that, ''when the 4th Progress Report, which the commission prepared about our country, is considered in this respect, it is observed that the report very carefully included the reform works Turkey made.''

Akyol said, ''there are some evaluations in the report which Turkey does not share. However, the report is a document reflecting the views of the commission. We should not be expected to share the same analysis in every field.''

Akyol said the second characteristics of the Progress Report is that the EU should promote the candidate countries in the process before the accession, noting that the Commission made an evaluation making comparison with the EU acquisitions. Akyol said the EU, while underlining the deficiencies it determined in this respect, proposed new approaches to provide the support of the EU.

Akyol said when last year's developments are evaluated, it is seen that the relations reached a structure in which preparations to full membership are shaped.

Pointing out that the developments were pleasing in this respect, Akyol said, ''in the same way, the EU approved Accession Partnership Document related to our country, our National Program was resulted after this, and thus roof of the relations, carried out with our country before the accession, were formed.''

Akyol recalled that the EU Commission took measures in Helsinki summit that will put into enforcement the principle means which are described as the Pre-Accession Strategy for Turkey. ''In other words, it took necessary steps for the establishment of legal basis for that roof. Following the Accession Partnership, the Framework Regulations was approved and finance regulations was prepared and presented to the approval of the Council.''

Akyol said, ''necessary steps have been taken for our country to benefit from the EU acquisitions, and framework agreement, which will provide our participation to those programs were also presented to the confirmation.''

Akyol said that proposals made in Progress Report and Strategy Document related with Turkey for the following period were generally satisfactory in the light of the above mentioned table but that there were insufficiencies in some issues.

''It is possible to give non-inclusion of Screening Process in the Progress Report at this stage as an example to this situation. It is considered obligatory to overcome this deficiency as soon as possible for a healthy development of our relations. The union's basing Turkey's approaches in the pre-accession process on a cooperation and solidarity understanding that will encourage Turkey will be the most meaningful contribution at this stage,'' Akyol said.

Akyol noted that the need for the mentioned contribution occured in three plans and went on saying, ''improvement of cooperation in every field in economic grounds, particularly common trade policy and including the increase of financial cooperation to the place they have deserved and the encouragement of some sensitive sectors in Turkey due to Customs Union, should be the basis.''

Akyol said, ''a new strategic view is needed in political field. An integration approach required by the vital security interests of our country within the framework of the European Security and Defense Policy will overcome the problems faced in our relations in this field. Another field which required a bilateral cooperation in international grounds is joint fight against terrorism. We hope that cooperation and solidarity needed in these two fields will prevail in our relations in the new period.''

''The proposals related with Turkey which were included in the Commission report and strategy document are also important because it clearly put forward the necessity of further improvement and preservation of Turkey's general place in enlargement process. I guess that we can preserve our place in the enlargement process in this period, when the enlargement schedule is becoming more definite, if we start full membership negotiations before the first accessions in this process,'' Akyol added.

Akyol said that enlargement process was proceeding to an important stage and that negotiations with the candidate countries which would enter into the union would be compeleted by the end of 2002.

''I believe that the decisions to be taken regarding relations with our country during the Laeken summit to be held between December 14-15, 2001 will have a positive contribution to our relations while adverse approaches will cause a regress in our relations,'' Akyol added.

-ESDP FOURTH ROUND MEETINGS TO BE HELD IN ANKARA ON NOVEMBER 26

ANKARA - The fourth round meetings of the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) will be held in Ankara with the participation of delegations from Turkey, the United States and Britain.

The meetings will be held on November 26.

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal will chair the meetings. The meetings will aim to promote NATO-European Union (EU) relations in a way that will satisfy the countries which are members of the two organizations.

The first round of similar meetings was held in Istanbul in May, the second round was held in Ankara in October and the third was held in London last week.

Sources said that a progress was recorded between Turkey and the EU during the meetings held in Ankara and London and that both sides were exerting efforts to reach a compromise.

The sources noted that both sides were determined to continue the process.

A development was marked in the meetings regarding Turkey's inclusion in the decision making mechanism in the operations in which EU would use NATO capabilities and in which Turkey would also take place, the sources stated.

The sources said that officials tried to overcome the indefiniteness about how the emergency intervention force would use NATO capabilities in autonomous operations and in which incidents the force would intervene.

Robert Bradtke, the U.S. State Department's Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, and Peter Ricketts, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Political Director, will attend the fourth round meetings.

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