Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-11-17

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

17 NOVEMBER 2001

Saturday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] DERVIS ARRIVES IN OTTOWA

[03] AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS MINISTER GOKALP DUE TO BRUSSELS

[04] TURKEY'S CONTRIBUTION TO OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM TO BE TAKEN UP BY U.S. CONGRESS

[05] BAGIS SAYS TURKS HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO DISCRIMINATION IN UNITED STATES

[06] CEM SAYS TURKEY WILL ABSOLUTELY BE A EU MEMBER

[07] GUREL SAYS EUROPE CAN'T APPEAR AS MILITARY FORCE ALONE

[08] TURKISH CUISINE PROMOTED IN PARIS

[09] STATE MINISTER MIRZAOGLU DUE IN LONDON

[10] LEIGH SAYS START OF MEMBERSHIP NEGOTIATIONS WITH TURKEY IS NOT CLEAR

[11] KUTAN OF SP SAYS ALSO BLOOD SHED IN AFGHANISTAN IS VALUABLE

[12] YILMAZ SAYS EU ORGANS AND MEMBER COUNTRIES ARE AWARE OF INCONVENIENCES OF CYPRUS' EU MEMBERSHIP WITHOUT SOLVING ITS PROBLEMS

[13] YILMAZ SAYS TURKEY EXPECTS EU TO MAKE JUST DECISIONS

[14] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK SAYS WITHDRAWAL OF BILL ENVISAGING AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 312 OF TCK IS OUT OF QUESTION

[15] YILMAZ SAYS THEY ARE LOYAL TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND STATE OF LAW

[16] YILMAZ SAYS THEY DO NOT INSIST ON REDUCING ELECTION LIMIT

[17] ECEVIT RECEIVES CHHIBBER

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

According to this, every kind of legal rights of workers, who are above 50 years old, and who got the right of retirement, will be paid and facilities will be provided for retirement. Rise in salaries of civil servants will be limited with 10 percent in 2002 January, and 5 percent in July.

HISTORICAL PARTNERSHIP
Turkey and Greece officially became candidate to host European Football Championship in 2008 together. Candidacy application protocol was signed in Istanbul yesterday.

STATE MINISTER DERVIS LEAVES FOR CANADA
State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy and accompanying delegation including Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak and Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti, left for Ottowa Canada to attend meeting of economy ministers of member countries to the Group-20 (G-20). Dervis and Turkish delegation will proceed to Washington D.C., the United States, on November 20, to hold a series of contacts with international finance institutions, and U.S. Treasury Department officials.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

HISTORIC SUPPORT FROM OIC TO CYPRUS
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) has extended full support to the case of Turkish Cypriots, and to Turkey's proposal to bring together European Union (EU) and OIC member states in Istanbul.

TURKEY TO PLAY A VITAL ROLE
Turkey is to be one of the countries that will undertake important roles in reconstruction of Afghanistan. Together with 20 other countries and the Organization of Islamic Conference, Turkey has taken place among countries to determine the future of Afghanistan. Representatives of these countries will convene in Washington D.C. next week under the pioneership of the United States.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

TURK: ''OCALAN WILL NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER PRISON''
Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization PKK, would not be transferred to another place unless there is a change in security conditions. Turk said ''Abdullah Ocalan is being kept in Imrali Island for security reasons. He won't be transferred to another place as long as the security conditions remain the same.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

TURKEY SEEKS INFLUENTIAL ROLE
Turkey is waiting for the U.N. decision for participation in Unternational Peacekeeping Force which is foreseen to be deployed to settle peace and stability in Afghanistan together with the interim administration. Muslim countries like Turkey, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Jordan are expected to have majority in this force. However, the final decision on this matter will be taken after the committee works. Turkey which was announced that it would join the Peacekeeping Force is getting the 3.000-member 15th Peace Brigade in Mamak, Ankara ready. Turkey also wants to effectively participate in every political process about Afghanistan's future.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

WE WILL GRIT OUR TEETH AND ECONOMY WILL REVIVE
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who said that talking about elections in this atmosphere was very dangerous said, ''this government's job has not finished yet. We will suffer problems for a short period of time. Later, I hope that we will get rid of those problems. I believe in this. All that is not needed is some unexpected developments.''

WELCOME HOLY RAMADAN
Majority of the Islamic world welcomed the holy month of Ramadan on the same day. The Islamic world experienced another unique day and mosques were full as the Ramadan started together with the holy day of Friday.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

WHO WILL BE AFFECTED AND HOW?
Civil servants: they will get less salary increase in 2002.

Workers: public workers above 50 years of age will be compelled to retire

Villagers: they won't get loan support except soybean and konola

Citizens: they understand that there can be increases in tax rates in new year

Industrialists: tax on natural gas will increase costs

USD 10 BILLION IMF LOAN BECOMES CLEAR
IMF Managing Director Horst Koehler announced that 10 billion U.S. dollars wold be given to Turkey within framework of a new deal. Also the U.S. Treasury Department supports this new loan.

TENTS HOST HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
Tents which were erected by voluntary organizations and institutions throughout the country hosted hundreds of thousands of people who broke their Ramadan fast. At these tents meal is served for free.

[02] DERVIS ARRIVES IN OTTOWA

Together with Dervis, Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti and Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak who are accompanying Dervis will attend the meeting of industrialized countries group G-7 and G-20 platform including some emerging markets like Turkey.

At the G-20 meeting, role of G-20 in fight against terrorism and methods to minimize effects of international economic crises will be discussed.

[03] AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS MINISTER GOKALP DUE TO BRUSSELS

Releasing a statement, the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ministry said on Saturday that Gokalp would come together with agriculture ministers of member and candidate countries to the EU in Brussels upon invitations of Agriculture Minister A.M. Neyts Uyttebroeck of Belgium, the term president of the EU Agriculture Council, and of EU Commissioner Franz Fishler for Agriculture and Fishery.

Gokalp will hold bilateral contacts with agriculture ministers of member and candidate countries to the EU.

He is expected to return to Turkey on Wednesday, November 21 after wrapping up his contacts.

[04] TURKEY'S CONTRIBUTION TO OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM TO BE TAKEN UP BY U.S. CONGRESS

In the bill submitted to the U.S. Congress International Relations Committee on November 7, 2001, Wynn stressed that Turkey had made important contributions to the fight against terrorism, and to the Operation Enduring Freedom.

Wynn proposed to express gratitude of the United States with a Congress decision.

Pointing out that Turkey was the first Muslim country proposing direct military support, the bill emphasizes that Turkey is a reliable ally of the United States.

The bill says that the U.S. Congress expresses its gratitude over Turkey's proposal to provide special force in order to participate in the Operation Enduring Freedom.

Releasing a statement, the Assembly of Turkish-American Associations (ATAA) said that the bill would be one of a few decisions taken by the Congress to confirm that Turkey was a close ally of the United States, and called on everyone to expend every kind of effort to this end.

[05] BAGIS SAYS TURKS HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO DISCRIMINATION IN UNITED STATES

Sending a letter to the New York Times, Bagis said, ''the U.S. Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) officials have concentrated their raids especially on filling stations run by Turks. This is a discrimination against Turks living in the United States.''

Expressing his concerns about the developments, Bagis said, ''our citizens ask me why their relatives would be sent to Afghanistan to help the U.S. troops while some Turks living in the United States were deported? INS officials can increase number of their detainees, but their attitude will cause loss of a loyal and reliable ally.''

[06] CEM SAYS TURKEY WILL ABSOLUTELY BE A EU MEMBER

Reiterating his sensitivity over the Cyprus issue, Cem said, ''our target is not to endanger the Turkish Cypriots. In Cyprus, we don't want to face the incidents happened in Kosovo and Bosnia.''

Noting that Turkish model would be an important factor for progress in Afghanistan in the future, Cem said, ''this is why we want to exist in Afghanistan.''

Stressing that preventing Turkish Cypriots from being a minority is a necessity of Turkey's security interest, Cem said, ''eastern Mediterranean is strategically very important for us. Nobody should expect us to give up our interests in this region. Scenarios of disaster are being prepared while the answer to the question 'what will happen if there won't be a solution to the Cyprus question, Turkey adopts a specific attitude and autonomous Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) sets up close cooperation with Turkey?' is being sought. This is wrong.''

Noting that both President Rauf Denktas of the TRNC and he were working hard on a solution, Cem said, ''some problems may occur if Turkey uses its right of self-defense in case of a failure in finding a solution. However, Turkey should prepare beforehand what it will do if it is obliged to within rationalist framework. However, it should not be forgotten that Turkey is not a country which can easily give up. Foreign politics is a dynamic matter. Balances of power in the future can't be predicted.''

Cem added, ''Turkey completely defends Rauf Denktas' initiatives.''

Stressing that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's statement regarding Afghanistan issue saying, ''this is done through the northern alliance'' had been proved, Cem said, ''in the next stage, United Nations' Afghanistan center will be formed. We want assignment of a representative also from Turkey in this center.''

''A dimension will be lacking in Afghanistan if Turkey does not exist. It is understood that our contribution will continue. Turkey will undertake a more effective and comprehensive role in Afghanistan,'' Cem said.

Stressing that participation of Turkey in a peacekeeping force was natural, Cem said that the General Staff and National Defense Ministry were determining the details.

''European Union is one of the two targets of Turkey,'' Cem said and added, ''we will absolutely achieve this. Some problems will occur, of course. The point here is to having the political will. This will exists in Turkey and Turkey will absolutely be a European Union member,'' Cem said.

Stressing that Turkey was right in its attitude toward the European Security and Defense Identity, Cem said, ''we don't renounce our rights and we don't allow Turkey to be naive.''

Recalling that principles of relations between NATO and EU had been determined at the summit held in Washington in 1999, Cem said EU countries had later developed a proposal for revision in Washington agreement and the problem occurred due to this.

Cem added that Turkey was legally and ethically right in the issue of European Security and Defense Identity.

[07] GUREL SAYS EUROPE CAN'T APPEAR AS MILITARY FORCE ALONE

Gurel spoke at a program on the state-run Turkish Radio and Television (TRT).

When asked whether or not there was a risk of conflict between the Turkish Armed Forces in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and European army which was planned to be formed, if this army would be deployed also in Cyprus, Gurel said, ''maybe, this is the thing tried to be done. However, we are aware of this so do the TRNC. So appearance of a European Union force which actually does not mean anything without NATO's operational capabilities won't also suit our vital interests.''

Noting that they had started to express this and mention its drawbacks and objectionable features, Gurel said, ''if a force dependent on only NATO's operational capabilities will be formed and if such a force won't suit vital interests of Turkey which is one of the founding members of NATO, then we are telling everybody that we don't have an intention of mobilizing NATO's operational capabilities for such a European force. It can be called either veto or another thing but it is impossible at this stage for Europe to appear as a military force alone without making use of NATO's capabilities.''

Responding another question, Gurel stressed that Turkey was the only country which signed Customs Union deal with the EU before being a EU member.

[08] TURKISH CUISINE PROMOTED IN PARIS

Culture Minister Istemihan Talay, Turkish Ambassador to France Sonmez Koksal and a number of Turkish and foreign journalists were also in attendance at the activity.

Speaking at the activity, Culture Minister Talay expressed his pleasure with Turkish cuisine's taking place in an encyclopedia published by Editions Consulaires Publishing House about the Mediterranean cuisine.

He said that the encyclopedia would play an important role in promoting Turkish cuisine to the French people.

French television channels showed great interest in the activity.

[09] STATE MINISTER MIRZAOGLU DUE IN LONDON

Works carried out within structure of the IMO in last two years will be reviewed at the general assembly to be held between November 19 and 30.

He will hold a series of bilateral contacts with British officials and maritime ministers of other countries.

Mirzaoglu is expected to return to Turkey on November 24 after wrapping up his contacts in London.

[10] LEIGH SAYS START OF MEMBERSHIP NEGOTIATIONS WITH TURKEY IS NOT CLEAR

Speaking at the 11th European Young Entrepreneurs Confederation (YES For Europe) Forum in Istanbul, Leigh said that Eu continued full membership negotiations with 12 countries and the EU commission had presented a report that 10 of those countries were almost ready for membership.

Leigh said that the first condition for those countries was continuation of their progress process and removal of their weaknesses.

Noting that some countries would be EU members in 2004 but increase of member countries from 15 to 25 required several financial means, Leigh said that with this respect, joint agricultural policies and solidarity funds were being discussed.

Leigh said that EU's enlargement process would geographically earn new countries and that EU's instituions and structure should be consolidated and they should be enabled to work better during this process.

Recalling that EU had been a structure comprising 6 members in the beginning but later number of members had increased to 15 and increase of this number of 25 was in question, Leigh said that EU institutions needed more reforms.

Noting that enlargement would be materialized after 2004, and some of the candidate countries would be accepted as full members, Leigh strsessed that Romania and Bulgaria might become full members of the EU in 2007.

Referring to the negotiations between the EU and the Turkish government, Leigh recalled that the Progress Report was submitted to Ankara last week, and added that full membership would be determined on the basis of conditions that were required from all candidate countries.

Noting that Turkey had expended great efforts and recorded a serious process on the issues of democracy and human rights, Leigh underlined importance of constitutional amendments.

Leigh stressed that the process should continue, and implementations of administration and of the police should be reflected to the daily life.

Stressing that all sides should expend efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus question, Leigh said that they hoped such a solution would be found before Cyprus' membership to the EU.

Noting that important steps could be taken in relations between Turkey and Greece, Leigh said that it was impossible to cleary say when Turkey would start membership negotiations.

[11] KUTAN OF SP SAYS ALSO BLOOD SHED IN AFGHANISTAN IS VALUABLE

Noting that Afghanistan now topped the agenda of the global agenda, Kutan said 6 thousand innocent people had been killed in terrorist attacks in the United States and they had condemned those attacks.

Stressing that all sections of society reacted to killing of innocent people in terrorist attacks, Kutan said, ''however, the same killing of innocent civilians in the United States is now happening in Afghanistan. I wonder if the blood shed in Afghanistan is not valuable while blood shed in the United States is valuable? Human life is valuable in every place of the world. We believe that Turkish troops should not go to Afghanistan.''

''I am willing to leaving of Turkish soldiers to Afghanistan in one condition. We accept this if children of deputies who are members of ruling political parties, go to Afghanistan. Do they send their children? Of course, not. The war in Afghanistan should end,'' he said.

Recalling that the Northern Alliance had taken most of Afghanistan under control, Kutan said, ''however, they are 4-5 groups. They have been fighting for 15-20 years. They have imposed every oppression on Afghan people. Replace of Taliban with these groups is not reasonable. There should be just and equitable solution. Turkey can exist in the region in order to put forward proposals to prevent oppressed Afghan people from suffering any more pains.''

[12] YILMAZ SAYS EU ORGANS AND MEMBER COUNTRIES ARE AWARE OF INCONVENIENCES OF CYPRUS' EU MEMBERSHIP WITHOUT SOLVING ITS PROBLEMS

Yilmaz attended the 11th Confederation of European Young Businessmen (YES For Europe) Forum hosted in Istanbul by the Turkish Young Businessmen's Association (TUGIAD).

Responding questions of journalists following the forum, Yilmaz said, ''the Turkish government wants proximity talks sponsored by the United Nations to resume between the sides in Cyprus. However, a frame should be put forward first to reach a joint and satisfactory solution.''

''United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, both President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and we held consultations to determine this frame. I believe that this frame will be put forward soon, and talks will resume. Solution of the Cyprus question will be a positive development in regard to EU full membership of both countries. However, it was stated in the final statement of the Helsinki Summit in 1999 that Cyprus could not become a full member before solution of its problems. It is correct. EU organs and member countries are aware of inconveniences that will stem from Cyprus' EU full membership without solving its problems, in regard to regional security,'' he said.

Noting that he wished evaluations about this issue would be made on a more sound basis, Yilmaz said, ''I hope that some developments which can hurt everybody would not be allowed.''

When asked what kind of a role that Turkey would play in restructuring of Afghanistan, Yilmaz said that Turkey and Afghanistan had close relations which had root deep in history.

Recalling that close contact between Turkey and some groups in the Northern Alliance had been continuing since Taliban had come to power, Yilmaz said, ''Turkey can undertake a very important role in reconstruction of Afghanistan. Besides, Turkey can make comprehensive contribution to founding of a joint government where all factors in Afghanistan are represented and it can activly participate in formation of a peacekeeping force if it is necessary and if there is such a demand.''

[13] YILMAZ SAYS TURKEY EXPECTS EU TO MAKE JUST DECISIONS

Speaking at the closing session of the 11th European Young Entrepreneurs Confederation (YES For Europe) Forum in IStanbul, Yilmaz said that Turkey's efforts to abide by the Copenhagen criteria had been praised but it was observed that legal arrangements and revisions in regulations had received criticisms.

Noting that the issue of whether or not those criticisms were true should be left, Yilmaz said efforts should be expended on the factors which should be fulfilled.

''By doing our best, we should accelerate works related with our national program. Because, what we will do will be taken as the basis of final analysis. This is the thing which will determine our membership. However, this does not exclude EU's responsibility. We expect EU to make just decisions as it expects us to abide by the Copenhagen criteria. Besides, we expect them to give up any discriminative attitude toward any candidate state. Our opinions about other issues like European security in addition to Cyprus issue should also be taken into consideration,'' Yilmaz said.

[14] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK SAYS WITHDRAWAL OF BILL ENVISAGING AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 312 OF TCK IS OUT OF QUESTION

Turk attended a panel discussion at Ankara's Hilton Hotel on ''Political, Strategical and Legal Dimensions of International Terrorism and Reality of Turkey''.

Responding questions of journalists following the panel discussion, Turk said, ''following finalization of constitutional amendments, adjustment laws should be adopted and the European Union (EU) acquis should be included in domestic law. We have been working on a bill within this framework. This bill envisages to extend limits of freedom of expression, and to decrease detention period to four days. The bill was submitted to the Council of Ministers. Withdrawal of the bill is out of question.''

''Verdicts about freedom of expression should be re-arranged in accordance with democratic understanding of that century. Article 312 of the TCK bans inciting people to hatred and enmity by making discrimination because of religion, race, social group and regional differences. It is necessary to protect these values in order to protect social and national unity. However, it is also necessary to extend freedom of expression. I mean to say that we have been working to extend freedom of expression without jeopardizing unseperable unity of the country and fundamental characteristics of the Republic,'' he said.

Responding another question, Turk said, ''the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is not a court of appeals. The ECHR can be applied after domestic legal remedies are exhausted. The ECHR sentenced Turkey to pay compensations. But in some cases, material or moral compensation cannot be adequate to remove the unfairness. In these cases, return or repeat of the trial may be in question.''

[15] YILMAZ SAYS THEY ARE LOYAL TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND STATE OF LAW

Speaking at the 11th European Young Entrepeneurs Confederation (YES For Europe) Forum in Istanbul, Yilmaz said that the vision of Turkey was very clear.

''We are loyal to human rights and state of law and we believe in virtue of market economy. Our efforts to embrace all of these values received serious challenges from time to time. For fifteen years, we were obliged to cope with separatist terrorism that received external support and this created important interruptions in consolidation of our democratic system,'' he said.

Noting that Turkey had received few support to its fight against terrorism, Yilmaz said, ''however, those who have difficulties in understanding our fight against terrorism should take the measures taken after tragic events of September 11 into consideration. Democracy does have the right to defend itself. Because, terrorism is most serious human rights abuse.''

Yilmaz said that terrorism in Turkey had been completely taken under control as a result of the power of democracy.

Recalling that the Turkish parliament was busy with strengthening the democratic system when the whole world was shocked by events of September 11, Yilmaz said that the Turkish parliament had taken courageous measures and worked on strengthening of democratic system and bringing the basic rights to further levels.

Stressing that the parliament had been preparing an important reform package, Yilmaz said, ''also, we have been working on reforms in judicial system. Turkey has entered a reconstruction process. As a result of all these works, constitutional and legal systems of Turkey can be brought to the same level with constitutional and legal systems in Europe.''

Noting that two economic crises interrupted economy's regular functioning, Yilmaz recalled that they, together with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, had put an extremely important program into practice.

Recalling that independence of the Central Bank was taken under guarantee, Yilmaz said that a new banking system was put into practice.

''In accordance with the EU regulations, we have changed public purchases law. As a result, we prevented corruption and bribery. We have taken important steps to complete frame of a transparent and functioning market economy. We aim at encouraging foreign investors,'' he added.

[16] YILMAZ SAYS THEY DO NOT INSIST ON REDUCING ELECTION LIMIT

Yilmaz answered questions of reporters after he attended the 11th European Young Entrepreneurs Confederation (YES For Europe) Forum in Istanbul.

When asked whether or not there had been a concrete development about planned amendments to the Elections and Political Parties Law, Yilmaz said that the only point reached was changing of opinions of parties into a compromise after their discussion at the Inter-party Compromise Commission.

Recalling that he had recently discussed the matter with True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller and they had reached an agreement, Yilmaz said, ''she told me that other political parties agreed on the same opinion. I think that this would be the most reasonable way. The interparty compromise commission will assess all different opinions and I hope that we would reach a compromise and solution at the parliament through a general compromise.''

When asked whether or not ANAP had a proposal about the election limit, Mesut Yilmaz said, ''no. We are not insistent on the issue of reducing the limit. I only said that there are opinions that the limit in Turkey is much higher than the limit in other democratic countries.''

[17] ECEVIT RECEIVES CHHIBBER

Ecevit received Chhibber at the Prime Ministry. The meeting lasted for almost half an hour.

Following the meeting, Chhibber told reporters that the village-city project was a very important project for the World Bank particularly regarding rural development.

''As the World Bank, we are giving the start for works on financing of this project and we will provide the finance to this project by 2002 summer. This project can be a model to other countries,'' Chhibber said.

They saw that the Mesudiye village-city project was implemented successfully, Chhibber said, and added that other regions of Turkey could need such projects and that they would finance all of them.

Responding a question of A.A about his opinions about IMF support, Chhibber said that the IMF had decided to extend more support to Turkey and as the World Bank, they would help urkey separately.

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