Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-11-22

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

22NOVEMBER 2001 Thursday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 22, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Supreme Court of Appeals Criminal Department no: 8 annulled decision to acquit Mustafa Dokuler, the chief editor of the Yeni Asya International who was tried in accordance with the Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code. The Supreme Court of Appeals upheld that statements of fundamentalists targeting secular circles constituted the crime of inciting hatred and enmity among people.

LOGOGLU SAYS: EVIDENCE IS REQUIRED FOR IRAQ

Turkish Ambassador to the United States Faruk Logoglu said that Turkey would review its attitude and position toward Iraq if it was proved that Iraq stood behind terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11. Speaking to the Defense News, Logoglu said that Turkey wanted to bring the current relations with the United States to the level of ''strategic partnership''. Logoglu said, ''we absolutely do not prefer spread of war to a neighboring country of Turkey. Arab world seriously feels concern about this. Such a development does negatively affect the Middle East peace process and destroy sensitive balances in the region. However, if concrete evidences which prove that Iraq stood behind the terrorist attacks of September 11 in the United States are put forward, Turkey does not ignore this situation. In such a situation, Turkey reviews its position.''

EU SAYS TURKISH ECONOMY WILL IMPROVE

The EU Commission revealed its report on economic estimations for candidate countries in 2001-2003 period. The report said that if Turkey strictly followed its economic stability program, it would improve its economy till 2003. Commission experts who focused on Turkey's high inflation, estimated the inflation rates as 53.5 percent in 2001, 51.5 percent in 2002 and 26.5 percent in 2003. Experts told the press that Turkey's inflation rate would meet the EU's expectations in 2006.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

At the end of his contacts in Washington D.C. and in New York, the United States, State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy said, ''we have come to the level of putting an end to the economic crisis. Real economy will start improving in six months.

INVITATIONS TO PKK MEMBERS

Turkey prepared a total of one million leaflets to call on members of the terrorist organization PKK to surrender. Most of the leaflets will be distributed in Northern Iraq by planes. There are photographs of PKK members who got married, came together with their families and become employed after surrounding to Turkish security forces.

CULTURE SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL

Istanbul will host a symposium on ''Cultural Rapprochement with the EU''. The two-day symposium organized by the Cultural Initiative will focus on Turkey's cultural interaction with the EU and its cultural problems.

PARLIAMENT ADOPTS BILL ENVISAGING AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE 86

Parliamentary General Assembly adopted the bill envisaging amendment to Article 86 of the Constitution with 434 votes in favour. Article 86 of the Constitution is regulating rights of deputies. A total of 449 deputies casted their votes in the secret ballot. 434 deputies voted in favour of the bill wlile 11 deputies voted against it. One deputy abstained, three votes were invalid. If the President approves the amendment and if the amendment takes effect, there will not be any need for a referendum on this article.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy said, ''the new supplementary source of 10 billion U.S. dollars provided to Turkey by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a sign of confidence. New Stand-by agreement will include a period of 2-3 years. It will have a serious social price. We have to pay this price.''

THIS SIGHT TO BECOME HISTORY

The Council of Ministers has taken a historic step to put an end to horrifying sights during the Feast of Sacrifice. People will not be allowed to cut throats of sheep in the middle of streets.

HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES DUE IN TURKEY

Hollywood celebrities such as Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon and Andy Garcia will come to Turkey to visit American soldiers at the Incirlik Air Base.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Measures have been taken against properties of Yaseen Abdullah Azizuddin Qadi who has been taken into the black list in the United States on charges of financing the Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network. Qadi's properties in Turkey are worth of nearly 3 trillion Turkish lira.

TURKEY NOT TO RUSH TO SEND TROOPS TO AFGHANISTAN

On the contrary of countries such as Britain, France, Italy and Jordan, Turkey do not rush to send military troops to Afghanistan. Turkey wants to well-assess developments in war between the Northern Alliance and Taliban. Meanwhile, Turkey sent special envoys to Pakistan and Germany.

PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC SENDS LETTER TO ANNAN

President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) proposed a new partnership based on the existence of two states and put forward main objectives and parameters of a Cyprus settlement in the letter he sent to United Nations (U.N) Secretary General Kofi Annan on November 12. In his letter, Denktas proposed the foundation of two equal and sovereign Partner States representing two distinct peoples respectively and the establishment of a new partnership structure by the two Partner States.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that adjustment laws should be adopted as soon as possible. President Sezer said, ''we will remove all deficiencies in fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria.''

TORTURE ON RISE IN TURKEY

A human rights group said that torture and prosecution under laws limiting expression were on the rise in Turkey, despite recent constitutional reforms aimed at bringing Turkey up to EU democratic standards. Turkey's independent Human Rights Association reported 762 cases of torture in police custody in the first nine months of this year, up some 50 percent from the same period last year.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Tender law will not be changed for one more year. International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank considered the law as the main reason of corruption and bribery. Draft law envisaging amendment to the Public Tender Law which caused a raw between the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy, was submitted to the Parliament Speaker's Office. The MHP wanted the draft to be adopted in 2004 while Dervis wanted it to be approved immediately. New arrangements about public tenders will be put into practice as of January 1, 2003. According to the draft, defense, security and intelligence tenders will be excluded from the law.

WORLD BANK TO PROVIDE 300 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

World Bank will provide 300 million U.S. dollars for the village-city project. The project was criticized harshly by Motherland Party (ANAP) Deputy Chairman Erkan Mumcu.

DECISION NOT TO PROSECUTE TAKEN ABOUT AYDIN

Acting Chief Prosecutor Bekir Selcuk of Ankara decided not to prosecute in the investigation launched against Koray Aydin, the former public works and settlement minister, on charges of corruption in tenders of the ministry.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

The General Staff sent a note to the Interior Ministry, and stressed that many places from the Haghia Sophia in Istanbul to the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, from dams to factories could become targets of possible terrorist actions.

HEAVY SNOWFALL PARALYZES TRAFFIC

Bad weather conditions have been continuing to paralyze traffic and daily life in many parts of Turkey. Governor Erhan Tanju of southeastern province of Gaziantep said that 233 village roads had been closed to the traffic in the province.

CONTENTS

[01] STATE MINISTER DERVIS SAYS WORKS ABOUT NEW STAND-BY AGREEMENT WITH IMF WILL INTENSIFY IN DECEMBER

[02] GAP REGION EXPORTS 151.9 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF THREAD

[03] INTERNET BOARD TO TAKE UP USE OF NEWS REPORTS OF MEDIA ORGANS WITHOUT PERMISSION AND PAYMENT

[04] NUMBER OF FOREIGN TOURISTS VISITING TRABZON INCREASES

[05] ANKARA FILM FESTIVAL TO BE HELD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 26 AND DECEMBER 9

[06] HEAVY SNOWFALL PARALYZES TRAFFIC AND DAILY LIFE IN EASTERN ANATOLIA

[07] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK: ''DEATH FASTS AND HUNGER STRIKES DECREASED TO A LARGE EXTEND, BUT NOT ENDED TOTALLY''

[08] DSP GROUP MEETING HELD -PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT EXPLAINS VILLAGE-CITY PROJECT IN MESUDIYE

[09] IRAQ WANTS TURKEY TO CONTINUE ITS ATTITUDE ABOUT ''SMART SANCTIONS''

[10] MEETING OF TURKISH AND DANISH BUSINESSMEN

[11] ''MONETARY UNITY'' CONFERENCE

[12] PARLIAMENTARY PLANNING AND BUDGET COMMISSION STARTS TO DISCUSS TOBACCO LAW

[13] 100 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS SYNDICATED LOAN TO TEB

[14] STATE MINISTER DERVIS ARRIVES IN FRANKFURT

[15] TASAR:''WE'LL EMPHASIZE ISTANBUL MORE IN TURKEY'S PROMOTION''

[16] PARLIAMENT TO START DISCUSSING 2002 BUDGET BILL ON DEC. 3

[17] TURKEY REPAYS USD 932.75 MILLION IN EXTERNAL DEBT BETWEEN NOV 1-21

[18] OGER SAYS TURKEY HAD A GOLDEN YEAR IN TOURISM

[19] STATE MINISTER KARAKOYUNLU: ''WE HAVE TOBACCO STOCKS OF AROUND 500,000 TONNES''

[20] VURAL:''EU'S OFFICIAL CULTURE POLICY IS TO CREATE A COMMON EUROPEAN HERITAGE''

[21] PARLIAMENTARY PLANNING AND BUDGET COMMISSION ADOPTS TOBACCO LAW AS IT IS

[22] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REJECTS SUIT FILED ASKING FOR ABOLISHMENT OF PARLIAMENTARY DECISION WHICH AUTHORIZES GOVERNMENT TO SEND SOLDIERS ABROAD

[01] STATE MINISTER DERVIS SAYS WORKS ABOUT NEW STAND-BY AGREEMENT WITH IMF WILL INTENSIFY IN DECEMBER

Holding a press conference at the Turkish Embassy in Washington D.C., Dervis said, the IMF Board will convene next week to release the fourth tranche of loan of 3 billion U.S. dollars. We expect the IMF Board to take a positive decision about Turkey.''

''We should not seek solution to Turkey's economic problem in getting into debt. We would have been pleased if we had not required this supplementary source of 10 billion U.S. dollars. But term and cost of this program is more appropriate compared to other alternatives of loans,'' he stressed.

Noting that the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001, shocked the whole world and caused convertism in money markets, State Minister Dervis said, ''as a result, Turkey's entering money markets rapidly became more difficult. Growth of world economy will decrease by at least 1 percent as a result of events of September 11. These events will have negative impacts on the economy. The supplementary source of 10 billion U.S. dollars aims at supporting Turkey in achieving success in its program by eliminating the negative impacts of the events of September 11. High amount of debt is like a heavy tax on productive efforts on economy. It damages the rhythm of growth. We will overcome economic difficulties with financial policies, structural reforms and debt management techniques.''

''The loan expected from the World Bank in December will be late. Meanwhile, privatization of the Vakifbank will be delayed. The events of September 11 have made economic situation more difficult. However, it is not an extraordinary thing.''

Responding to a question about the tender law, Dervis told reporters that the draft envisaging amendment to public tender law was submitted to the Parliament Speaker's Office. He added that the law was expected to come into force as of January 1, 2003.

State Minister Dervis expressed his satisfaction with the positive impact of the IMF's decision in principle to provide a supplementary source of 10 billion U.S. dollars to Turkey in the markets.

Stressing that stability had been provided in prices of one U.S. dollar, Dervis said, ''we have to maintain this progress. Everyone should refrain from making statements that will cause suspicion about economic program. I think that everyone would be more responsible.''

Dervis refrained from answering to questions about possibility of elections in Turkey.

Recalling that government reshuffles took place frequently in 1970s, Dervis said, ''despite these reshuffles, Italian economy has improved rapidly. If main economic institutions fulfil their responsibilities and we can provide a social solidarity, our economy will improve.''

Responding to another question, Dervis said, ''settlement of peace in the region is extremely important for Turkish economy. Of course, no one wants any negativity or military operation in the region.''

[02] GAP REGION EXPORTS 151.9 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF THREAD

In the same period last year, the region exported 114 million 985 thousand U.S. dollars of thread.

Officials at Southeast Anatolian Exporters' Union told the A.A on Thursday that they exported 49 million 376 thousand U.S. dollars in cotton thread, 72 million 947 thousand U.S. dollars in acrylic thread, 15 million 857 thousand U.S. dollars in polypropylene thread and 13 million 791 thousand U.S. dollars in synthetic thread.

Most of the products were exported to Syria, Saudi Arabia, France, Italy, Lebanon, Spain, Britain, Germany, Belgium, Israel, Bulgaria, Portugal, the United States and Greece.

[03] INTERNET BOARD TO TAKE UP USE OF NEWS REPORTS OF MEDIA ORGANS WITHOUT PERMISSION AND PAYMENT

The Internet Board will convene at the Transportation and Communications Ministry on December 4, 2001.

Assistant Professor Mustafa Akgul from the Bilkent University, a member of the Internet Board, said that the meeting would focus on copyright infringement in internet broadcast.

Recalling that some internet broadcasters had been using news reports of media organs, especially of the A.A, without any permission and payment, Akgun said that it was a totally immoral attitude.

Underlining importance of copyright, Akgun said that internet broadcasters should subscribe to the A.A and other media organs, and pay the price of news reports they used in their websites.

[04] NUMBER OF FOREIGN TOURISTS VISITING TRABZON INCREASES

Sources told the A.A on Thursday that a total of 855 thousand 10 tourists including 244 thousand 500 foreigners visited Trabzon province which is famous with its natural and historical assets like Sumela Monastery.

The province obtained an income of 61 million 814 thousand 100 U.S. dollars from tourists.

In the same period last year, 795 thousand 610 tourists including 164 thousand 264 foreigners visited the province.

[05] ANKARA FILM FESTIVAL TO BE HELD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 26 AND DECEMBER 9

Earlier, Ankara Film Festival was postponed for two times due to economic reasons.

The festival will be opened with ''Son's Room'' directed by Nanni Moretti of Italy. The film was presented with the Best Film Award at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

The festival will start with the national short-feature film contest.

Paul Lee's ''Gift'', Lawrence Brose's ''De Profundis'', Lisa Hammer's ''Crawley'' and ''Empire of Ache'', Paul Cotgrove's ''Green Fingers'', Urban Chillers' ''Dormitory'', Ted Mills' ''Nowhereland'', Adalberto Leibovich's ''44'', David Tarde and Clement Subileau's ''Bom'', and Omar Hassam's ''Nebulous Dawn'' among the films to be shown in the festival.

A total of 48 films from 22 countries will be shown in the international long-feature films section of the festival.

Robert Bresson's ''Ladies of the Bois de Boulogne'', ''Trial of Joan of Arc'', ''Balthazar '', ''Mouchette'', ''Lancelot of the Lake'' and ''Money'', Andres Wajda's ''Mr. Tadeusz'', ''Ashes'', ''A Chronicle Of Amorous Accidents'' and ''A Generation'', Ken Loach's ''Bread and Roses'' and Nanni Moretti's ''Son's Room'' will be shown in this section.

Meanwhile, awards will be given in 16 branches in the national long-feature film contest.

Omer Kavur's ''Melekler Evi (House of Angels)'', Ayse Polat's ''Yurtdisi Turnesi (Tour Abroad)'', Serdar Akar's ''Dar Alanda Kisa Paslasmalar (Offsite)'', Zeki Demirkubuz's ''Yazgi (Destiny)'' and ''Itiraf (Confession)'', Nihat Seven's ''Golge Asklar (Shadow Loves)'', Zeki Okten's ''Gule Gule (Goodbye)'', Ahmet Cadirci's ''Renkli Turkce (Colorful Turkish)'', Tunc Basaran's ''Abuzer Kadayif'', Omer Ugur's ''Hemso'', Ali Ozgenturk's ''Balalayka'', Kazim Oz's ''Fotograf (Photograph)'', Baris Pirhasan's ''O Da Beni Seviyor (She Loves Me Too)'', Ersin Pertan's ''Aci Gonul (Bitter Soul)'', Gani Savata's ''Dava (Trial)'', Handan Ipekci's ''Buyuk Adam Kucuk Ask (Big Man Little Love)'', Savas Ay's ''Dansoz (Belly Dancer)'' and Semih Kaplanoglu's ''Herkes Kendi Evinde (Away From Home)'' will compete at this year's contest.

[06] HEAVY SNOWFALL PARALYZES TRAFFIC AND DAILY LIFE IN EASTERN ANATOLIA

Sources told the A.A correspondent on Thursday that nearly 2 thousand village roads had been closed to the traffic in Erzurum, Agri, Mus, Bingol, Van, Bitlis and Hakkari provinces.

Snow reached 40 centimetres in some places in the region.

Turkish Airlines' flights to and from the region were cancelled due to bad weather conditions.

Heavy snowfall also damaged energy and communication lines in the region. Telephone lines have been cut in some 500 settlement units.

[07] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK: ''DEATH FASTS AND HUNGER STRIKES DECREASED TO A LARGE EXTEND, BUT NOT ENDED TOTALLY''

Turk addressed a symposium entitled, ''Studies on Deaths and Daily Innovations in Autopsy'' Turk said judicial examinations should be made with contemporary methods and rules, noting that, ''rightful progress of justice can only be possible with the proper operation of forensic medicine.''

Pointing out that it was not possible for the state to remain as a spectator to sending of people to death, Turk said the draft law, envisaging imprisonment terms to those who incited prisoners to death fasts and hunger strikes was prepared in this respect.

Briefing about the articles of the law, Turk said the draft law was prepared to provide order in prisons and to save the prisons from being the center of terrorism.

Stressing that hunger strikes and death fasts were carried out by the illegal organizations and conducted by directives coming from abroad, Turk said death fasts and hunger strikes decreased to a great extend but did not end totally.

''Today, there is the state sovereignty in prisons to a great extend. Despite this, it is impossible for the state to remain as a spectator to the sending of people to death. We give every kind of advise to those people,'' he said.

[08] DSP GROUP MEETING HELD -PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT EXPLAINS VILLAGE-CITY PROJECT IN MESUDIYE

These people could not understand well the words of Ataturk who had said that ''villagers have to be the masters of the nation,'' Ecevit told his party group meeting.''

Ataturk focused on the land reform and village cooperatives, but he could not live much to make his dreams come true, Ecevit said and noted that Ataturk did his best to develop the position of villagers in the country while he developed industry.

Recalling that teachers' training schools were founded in villages in 1940s, Ecevit said that the aim of those schools was to encourage development of villagers under the leadership of educated youngsters who were also villagers. Ecevit added that both the landlords and city bourgeoisie impeded that project.

Ecevit stressed that the village city project in Mesudiye yielded positive results within one year, adding that the appearance of Mesudiye changed. There are persons who don't appreciate that, Ecevit said.

''There are three markets in Mesudiye today, where there was no even one grocery in the past. A forest products factory was set up in Mesudiye today. There are schools where the children from nine villagers are educated. Reading rooms, sports areas and sports teams have been founded. There is internet connection in the school. Girls and boys are educated together.''

''I believe that the village city project will become widespread in all parts of Turkey in a short time. People from many villages and provinces demand to have village-city projects,'' Ecevit said.

''As a result of launching intensive efforts, we started to overcome the impediments that were put against villagers,'' he said adding that ''I believe that the village-city project will spread in the country and we will make Ataturk's word come true.''

[09] IRAQ WANTS TURKEY TO CONTINUE ITS ATTITUDE ABOUT ''SMART SANCTIONS''

Iraqi Foreign Minister Naci Sabri told A.A correspondent that the U.N. Security Council would discuss the 11th period of the ''oil for food'' programme next month and they expected Turkey to continue its attitude.

Sabri defended the view that the smart sanctions would give damage not only to Iraq, but also neighbouring countries particularly Turkey.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Sabri said that Iraq appreciated the attitude of Turkey about Iraq in the U.N., adding that ''Iraq won't accept any resolution which does not take into consideration its views.''

[10] MEETING OF TURKISH AND DANISH BUSINESSMEN

Danish Trade Council, Danish Industry Confederation, Danish Trade Attache's Office in Istanbul and Foreign Economic Relations Committee staged ''Danish Business Development Days''.

A total of 25 companies and 52 people delegation from seven institutions attend the meeting which will continue for two days. The companies act in regional heating, wind energy, food processing, and banking.

Birger Riis-Jorgensen, who addressed the opening of the activity, pointed out that the business development meeting honored them, noting that the meeting would focus on food, food consumption, energy production, energy savings, health and finance.

Riis-Jorgensen said Turkey's potential could not be ignored despite the economic crises that were experienced in the past, noting that Turkish economy always proved that it was flexible and dynamic despite the changing conditions.

Stressing that the Turkish government put its signature on important and historical reforms to adjust its economic structure, Riis-Jorgensen said those arrangements would show that Turkish economy was more stronger after the crisis is over.

Riis-Jorgensen said hope giving developments were experienced in trade relations of the two countries, noting that trade between Denmark and Turkey increased in the past five years, and that trade volume reached 893 million German marks in the year 2000.

Riis-Jorgensen said, ''I am sure that cooperation between the two countries would develop from now on as it had not developed so far. We are here as a proof of this.''

Mentioning regional heating issue, Riis-Jorgensen said regional heating and cooling was a very important issue for fuel savings, and pointed out that it was possible to use the extra energy which was revealed in industry institutions.

Riis-Jorgensen said regional heating would be a very important issue in the coming century, and noted that Denmark has a very important place in the world in this respect. Riis-Jorgensen said he thought very close ties would be improved between Turkey and Denmark in this issue.

Yuksal Guler, the Director General of Zorlu Energy, who addressed the seminar that was staged after the opening speech, pointed out that Turkey was more important and interesting due to its geographical position when compared with the other countries. He said, ''sometimes, making investment to Turkey may be seen as risky and as an adventure, but companies who want to take risk, will gain in the long term.''

Guler said Turkey was a means to reach markets in the world, stressing that knowing Turkey closely was very important to make business in the region.

Guler said, ''the crisis is about to end in Turkish economy. IMF opens credit again and economic indications give positive signals to us. This visit takes place at a right time and place.''

[11] ''MONETARY UNITY'' CONFERENCE

Addressing the conference entitled, ''Monetary Unity'' held by Turkish Central Bank, Ozdemir said 12 countries gave up their national money with their own free will, and created a joint monetary unit.

''Although our country has not become a member of the EU, this issue is important for us as the EU member countries are big trade partners of Turkey,'' Ozdemir said noting that, ''our bank carries out works for more than three years to promote European Monetary Unity to our country, business world and public opinion.''

Sule Sancar, the Central Bank Human Resources Deputy General Director, said there was not an imposition for Euro till December 31, 2001, stressing that Euro would be in circulation together with the other national monetary units till on February 28, 2002 and would be obligatory.

Stressing that Euro would also influence the company strategies, Sancar said, ''all the contracts would be valid till January 1, 2002 whether in trade life or in business relations. The banking accounts would be turned to Euro on December 31. This is also valid for our foreign debt.''

[12] PARLIAMENTARY PLANNING AND BUDGET COMMISSION STARTS TO DISCUSS TOBACCO LAW

Addressing the Commission, Karakoyunlu said that President Sezer sent back the law due to three basic reasons.

Karakoyunlu said that he does not share the view that tobacco farmers were not protected by the law, adding that tobacco is cultivated in 42 provinces and 183 towns or hamlets.

''The approach of Mr Sezer who thinks that the tobacco cultivation will be limited geographically by the law does not reflect the de facto situation, '' Karakoyunlu said and noted that alternative products will be cultivated in fields where tobacco is not cultivated.

Karakoyunlu said that he does not also agree with the view that domestic producers will be in a difficult position as the importation will be liberalized, adding that importation is free in the country since 1986.

Noting that he also does not agree with Sezer who thinks that Turkey will become a heaven for imported cigarettes, Karakoyunlu said that ''if cigarette which is sold at 1,600,000 TL in the country is imported, its price will increase to 5,000,000 TL. Such an expensive cigarette does not have the chance to be sold in Turkey.''

[13] 100 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS SYNDICATED LOAN TO TEB

The syndicated loan, which TEB provided from the International finance sector, will be evaluated to be used in finance of exportation.

The syndicated loan was signed by representatives of Alpha Bank A.E, Bankgesellschaft Berlin, The Bank of New York, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Comerzbank A.G, Firs Union National Bank N.A, HVB Group, Natexis Banques Populaires and Standart Bank London Ltd.

Levent Celebioglu, the TEB Private Projects Director, said the maturity of the syndicated loan was one year, and that its interest was libor +0.90.

[14] STATE MINISTER DERVIS ARRIVES IN FRANKFURT

Dervis who will attend the ''Frankfurt European Banking Congress'' to be held on Friday will also meet with Guenter Verheugen, the EU Commissioner for enlargement.

[15] TASAR:''WE'LL EMPHASIZE ISTANBUL MORE IN TURKEY'S PROMOTION''

Tasar told the A.A. that they started promotional initiatives for 2002 tourism season.

Tasar said, ''Istanbul, which is a key city in tourism sector, will provide the biggest contribution to development of tourism sector in Turkey.''

Stating that Tourism Ministry would promote Turkey by giving priority to Istanbul in 2002, Tasar said that they took a series of concrete steps for promotion campaign of Istanbul in a number of foreign countries as of November.

Tasar said that they prepared a brochure which would promote Istanbul from a different point of view and that the brochures would be ready within the next week.

Tasar said that they would prepare a promotional film for Istanbul and added that they planned to use Kizkulesi (Maiden's Tower) as a symbol of this important metropol.

He pointed out that they would prepare a CD including film musics so far produced for Istanbul, a guide for tourists consisted of brochures, maps, CDs on Istanbul.

Tasar said that a web site for Istanbul would also be prepared.

He stated that they started another tourism project that would cover Eminonu, Salipazari and Beyoglu districts.

As part of the project,Tasar said that they were also planning to restore historical art works and to open them to the visit of the tourists in Eminonu. He indicated that his ministry would give new names to the streets in Beyoglu and turn Salipazari to a touristic shopping center.

[16] PARLIAMENT TO START DISCUSSING 2002 BUDGET BILL ON DEC. 3

The discussions will end on Dec. 12.

[17] TURKEY REPAYS USD 932.75 MILLION IN EXTERNAL DEBT BETWEEN NOV 1-21

The Central Bank data show that the Treasury repaid 809.50 million U.S. dollars; the Central Bank repaid 15.70 million U.S. dollars; and the administrations with general and consolidated budget paid the remaining 107.55 million U.S. dollars.

Turkey has repaid 9 billion 591.77 million U.S. dollars in external debt since the beginning of the year.

Turkey repaid 610.28 million U.S. dollars in January, 883.42 million U.S. dollars in February, 683.34 million U.S. dollars in March, 1 billion 320.73 million U.S. dollars in April, 713.07 million U.S. dollars in May, 1 billion 859.55 million U.S. dollars in June, 634.40 million U.S. dollars in July, 479.37 million U.S. dollars in August, 671.42 million U.S. dollars in September, 803.44 million U.S. dollars in October in external debt.

[18] OGER SAYS TURKEY HAD A GOLDEN YEAR IN TOURISM

Oger said that Turkey had a great achievement this year and it ranked second, after Spain, in the number of European tourists who came to its shores. He indicated that Turkey left behind Italy and Greece this year.

Oger said, ''Europe is now regarding Turkey as a tourism country. Sept. 11 attacks negatively affected tourism in many countries. However, Turkish tourism has not suffered a significant loss because of the attacks.''

He also indicated that the number of tourists increased ten percent in Antalya.

''The world had a crisis,'' he continued. ''The crisis did not originate in Turkey and the tourists visiting Turkey are not coming from the countries where the crisis began. The tourists have come to Turkey from Europe, which is the most affluent region in the world. European tourists constituted 87 percent of tourists visiting Turkey, so haven't been affected significantly by this crisis.''

''A majority of the tourists who stayed in Istanbul were from the United States and Japan therefore the hotels in Istanbul might have encountered a drop in the number of their customers, but not the ones in Antalya. Before the end of this year, Turkey's tourism revenues might reach 11 billion U.S. dollars,'' he explained.

Oger said that one million German tourists visited Turkey through Oger Tours in 2001 and he expected that 2002 would offer Turkey a better tourism season.

[19] STATE MINISTER KARAKOYUNLU: ''WE HAVE TOBACCO STOCKS OF AROUND 500,000 TONNES''

Karakoyunlu responded to the criticisms which were directed to him during the discussions for Tobacco Law.

Pointing out that Turkey's annual tobacco need was 150,000 tonnes, and that this amount could only increase to 180,000 tonnes, Karakoyunlu said, ''the problem stems from production that is more than 180,000 tonnes.''

Karakoyunlu said, ''we have stocks of around 500,000 tonnes. This would meet Turkey's cigarette production needs for six years and has an economic value of 700-750 trillion lira.''

Karakoyunlu said accumulated losses at Turkey's alcohol and tobacco monopoly Tekel exceed 2,000 trillion lira (1.3 billion U.S. dollars) from its compulsory purchases of far more tobacco than it needs, and noted that TEKEL could not pay its 2.6 quadrillion lira tax debt to the state as it could not collect its duty loses.

Responding to the question of Democratic Left Party (DSP) Afyon Parliamentarian Gaffar Yakin, which said, ''are we closing TEKEL with this law,'' Karakoyunlu said, ''we will see a privatized TEKEL in the coming period. The committee will arrange the market.''

Karakoyunlu said works, regarded with making a new arrangement on tobacco issue were started long before, stressing that the official communication on alternative product would be issued in a few days.

Responding to the criticism that the law would increase importation of cigarette, Karakoyunlu said this did not reflect the facts. He said, ''no cigarette importation was made in the past 4-5 years. Only 60,000 cigarettes were imported. It is not possible to evaluate this as importation.''

Karakoyunlu said he did not find right the allegations that the Tobacco Law was a condition of the IMF, stressing that, ''there was no imposed law in 80-years history of the Turkish Republic. This law aims at fulfilling requirements of conditions in economy.''

[20] VURAL:''EU'S OFFICIAL CULTURE POLICY IS TO CREATE A COMMON EUROPEAN HERITAGE''

''We'll both preserve our own culture and maybe even to develop it during integration with the EU,'' he said when he spoke at a symposium at Istanbul's The Marmara Hotel on Thursday.

Vural contended that beliefs such as the EU is a Christian Club or Turkey will not be accepted to the EU, were only based on prejudices.

The EU has been going through a change in the recent years and the existing members have a rich cultural diversity which will inevitably increase in time.

''Democracy, human rights and free market are the basic values that create the EU, and the candidates are expected to comform to these criteria,'' he continued. ''They are not expected to change their religions or languages. The Republic and the Kemalist thought is based on democracy, human rights and a running market economy. Therefore, what we should do is to integrate with the modern world by remaining faitful to the essence of the Turkish Republic.''

''The EU's official culture policy is to create a common European heritage. During our integration with Europe, we'll preserve our own culture and maybe even develop it. We'll take certain values from Europe but we might also have things to offer to Europe,'' he said.

Another speaker at the symposium, European Parliament member Marc Galle, said that Turkey had not yet become an EU member because of certain reasons and he said that abstract concepts which cause contradictions among people should be avoided.

Galle said Europe should not be intolerant and authoritarian towards different religions, languages and cultures. He emphasized that religious and state matters should be dealt separately. ''This is why we apprecite Ataturk's views,'' he asserted. ''Ataturk clearly made a distinction between religious and state affairs. Therefore, Turkey cannot be rejected by the EU by the excuse of religion. First of all, Turkey is a country surrounded with anti-democratic neighbours. A large number of legal regulations have been implemented in Turkey recently as part of its efforts to join the EU.'' Galle strongly stated that he believed Turkey has to become a part of the EU.

Cultural conditions of Turkey and the EU will be compared at the symposium which will last until Nov. 24.

[21] PARLIAMENTARY PLANNING AND BUDGET COMMISSION ADOPTS TOBACCO LAW AS IT IS

The law opens the tobacco market to competition and it has provisions which foresees privatization of the state-run Spirit and Tobacco Administration (TEKEL).
The Tobacco Law which was adopted by the parliament on June 20, was not approved by President Sezer and sent to the parliament for reconsideration.

Sezer noted that he sent back the law as it didn't bring an arrangement to solve the problems of the tobacco producers, it opened the market to the monopoly of foreign cigarette companies and that the law would cause a social problem for producers in respect of competetion power.

The parliament is expected to discuss soon the tobacco law which was adopted as it is by the Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission.

The constitution necessitates approval of the laws, vetoed by the President if they are accepted by the parliament as it is. The president has the right to apply to Constitutional Court asking for the abolishment of laws which went into force in such a way.

[22] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REJECTS SUIT FILED ASKING FOR ABOLISHMENT OF PARLIAMENTARY DECISION WHICH AUTHORIZES GOVERNMENT TO SEND SOLDIERS ABROAD

''This is a parliamentary decision, it can't be examined,'' deputy chairman of the Constitutional Court Hasim Kılıc said.

The Constitutional Court delegation discussed the same day the suit filed on October 10 by 111 deputies whose majority was from Felicity Party (SP).

Kılıc said that the Court examined the parliamentary decision no 722 which authorized the government to send soldiers abroad and to accept the stationing of foreign armed forces in the country. Kılıc noted that seven members against four members of the Court decided that this was a parliamentary decision which couldn't be examined.

''This decision does not have the character of an amendment in statute,'' Kılıc said and noted that the delegation decided not to discuss the suit in respect of merits of the case.

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