Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-11-26

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

26 NOVEMBER 2001 Monday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 26, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

People of Miami gave vote of confidence to Turkish businessman Mehmet Bayraktar, who had been awarded with a tender of 281 million U.S. dollars but whose tender was tried to be cancelled by the claim that he was arrested in Turkey. People of Miami said ''yes'' to Bayraktar in a referendum. A total of 65 percent of the people of Miami voted in favour of awarding Bayraktar with the tender. Miami Mayor Carolla supported Bayraktar during the referendum as saying that he was not arrested and he was honest.

TURKEY BOOK FROM JAPANESE MINISTER

Japanese Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Atsuko Toyama, who had worked as Japanese ambassadress in Ankara for three years, wrote a letter titled ''Turkey between the 20th and 21st centuries'' Toyama shared her impressions in Ankara with Japanese people in her book. Toyama's book stressed that Turkey adopted secularism principle and praised Ataturk.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Soldiers who are uneasy because none of the political parties except the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) can establish a political link with the people of Southeastern Anatolia Region will bring the issue to the National Security Council (NSC). During the last meeting of the NSC, the commanders drew the attention to the progress of HADEP. During the discussions on reducing 10 percent election threshold, it was stressed that this situation should not be ignored. This issue will probably come to the agenda during tomorrow's NSC meeting. Soldiers think that ''very important results have taken in fight against terrorism. But, it is wrong to stay aside by saying that terrorism ended. Economic, social and political success should be marked. This is the duty of the politicians. Otherwise, terrorism threat will continue.''

CEM: ''WEAPON EMBARGO CAN BE IMPOSED''

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that Turkey was determined about Cyprus question and that it would be ready for the results that could come out. Cem said, ''arms embargo like the one in 1974 can be imposed due to EU's imposition on Cyprus question.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

The foundation formed by governors, head officials and inspectors are distributing the donations it takes for gun licences and hunting permits by force to its members as ''bonus.'' The name of the foundation is Turkish Administrators' Foundation. Its members are administrators working under the umbrella of the Interior Ministry like governors, head officials and inspectors. This foundation is operating to provide additional income to its 1,500 members. Those who apply for gun licence has to donate 6 million Turkish liras (TL) while those who apply for hunting permit should grant 3 million TL. The donations amount to 250 billion TL a year.

ILLEGALLY BUILT MOSQUES KNOCKED DOWN

Unlicenced, unplanned and illegally built mosques do not even resist to winds. Following the disaster in Kayas district of Ankara in which two people died, three minarets in Kayseri, two minarets each in Karaman, Antalya and Izmir and one minaret in Mugla were knocked down due to strong winds. A total of 80.9 percent of mosques in Turkey are illegally constructed while 56 percent of the mosques do not have a architectural project.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Turkey, due to its geographical position, is affected in two ways from the drug trafficking. Turkey is used as a transition area in drug smuggling from the east to the west, and at the same time is affected by chemical and synthetic drug trafficking from the west to the east.

A report prepared by the Security Department Fight Against Organized Crimes Department pointed out that Turkey was directly affected by the Eurasia drug trafficking.

ECEVIT: NUMBER OF SOLDIERS MAY INCREASE

Although Burhanuddin Rabbani, the ousted president of Afghanistan, said they did not want foreign soldiers, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said number of soldiers that will be sent to Afghanistan could be increased.

Ecevit said, ''although the war ends actively, there are many things to be done. There is an important airport 40-50 meters beyond Kabul. Its protection will require many personnel.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Sevket Bulent Yahnici, the deputy leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), told about the point of view of his party regarding the European Union (EU): ''Cultural rights demanded by the EU will divide Turkey. We are not in a hurry to enter into EU. EU does not have any right to speak about Cyprus question. EU is not good willed. It is not possible for us to enter into EU by giving up Cyprus.'' Yahnici also said, ''let us annul the Article 312 of Turkish Penal Code and then, the streets become full of people who provoke others by making racial, religious, linguistic or other differences.'' Yahnici said, ''EU wants the right to education and broadcasting in mother tongue. Then, Turkey will be divided. It is not possible for us to accept it. Turkey is not ready to grant cultural rights to different identities. Europe should understand us. We have made all the legal changes that we can do to enter into EU. This is what we can do. EU wants similar things from Turkey which are also the demands of terrorist organization PKK. We are not in a hurry to enter into EU and the EU is not hurrying either.''

EU CRACK IN SUMMIT

Leaders' summit which has been planned to be made for adjustment laws cannot be held for weeks due to opponents of European Union (EU). The government announced that the adjustment laws related with constitutional amendments would be passed immediately. However, the leaders' summit cannot be held because of the circles which have taken an oath to prevent development of democracy in Turkey.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''the west insistently wants to see the Cyprus question as the issue of Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). In fact, this is also the problem of Turkey. There is no difference between sacrificing TRNC and a part of Turkey. ''

OGER TOURS LAUNCHES ''WILLINGLY TO TURKEY'' CAMPAIGN IN GERMANY

Turkish tour operator Oger Tours, which brings the highest number of German tourists to Turkey, has launched a campaign entitled ''Willingly to Turkey'' in Germany.

Oger Tours Chief Adviser Huseyin Baraner said Oger Tours was organizing several campaigns to bring more German tourists to Turkey and that they were carrying out that campaign through 15 thousand agencies in 18 metropolises of Germany. Baraner said that Europe had started to understand Turkey's importance and value and that to this end, especially the Germans wanted to come to Turkey to spend their holiday and to have closer relations with Turkish people.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said there were many autonomous institutions in Turkey, stressing that, ''some institutions were set up within the state, which are more authorized than the state. We can not make them listen our words.''

Ecevit said, ''I don't know we did right or wrong, but many autonomous institutions were set up in Turkey. They may be rightful or not, but this is a serious problem. I think we should make effectiveness of the state more operational within democratic principles.''

700-YEAR OLD TOLERANCE IN MUSEUM

Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that the 500th Year Foundation Museum of Turkish Jews was a monument built by Jewish people for Turkish people's tolerance, justice and liberalism.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the museum, Yilmaz said that the monument was proving those characteristics.

Yilmaz said, ''we are the common owners of a state tradition which presents criteria of existence of people of different religions, languages and cultures together in peace, tolerance and brotherhood as a gift to humanity.

CONTENTS

[01] YILMAZ, HEAD OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, SAYS PEACE AND

[02] A TOTAL OF 300 HOUSES INUNDATED BY FLOODS IN SILIFKE

[03] AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT EXPORTS FROM SOUTHEAST TO ASIA INCREASES BY 117.3 PERCENT

[04] SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL TO CONVENE ON NOVEMBER 30

[05] DUTCH AND TURKISH BUSINESS WORLD TO MEET

[06] ESDP 4TH ROUND OF TALKS STARTS IN ANKARA

[07] SUMERBANK REVISES INTEREST RATES

[08] IMMOVABLE ASSETS OF ETIBANK, IKTISAT BANKASI AND SDIF TO BE SOLD IN AUCTION ON TUESDAY

[09] U.S. STATE SECRETARY POWELL DUE IN ANKARA

[10] TURKISH BANKS ACCELERATE PREPARATIONS FOR EURO

[11] COURT ASKS MERCEDES BENZ TURK A.S. TO CALL IN 0 403 MERCEDES PASSENGER BUSES

[12] GERMAN CARGO PLANES LEAVE FOR INCIRLIK AIRBASE

[13] DELEGATIONS OF TUSIAD MEETS MEMBERS OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

[14] SDIF EXTENDS BIDDING DEADLINE OF OYAK TO ETIBANK TO DECEMBER 4

[15] AFGHANISTAN, CYPRUS, ESDP AND RUSSIA'S NATO MEMBERSHIP ARE HIGH ON THE AGENDA OF POWELL'S VISIT

[16] IRAQI PERSON FROZEN TO DEATH IN VAN

[01] YILMAZ, HEAD OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS DIRECTORATE, SAYS PEACE AND

Yilmaz, who hosted an evening meal during Ramazan, said that interreligious dialogue was obligatory.

''Peace and compromise lie on the basis of religions, not war or conflict, '' Yilmaz said.

Yilmaz noted that representatives of religions were unfamilier to each other 15 or 20 years ago and that it was not possible to bring them together those days.

''Today, we have been closer to eachother as a requirement of the present time. We have launched a dialogue. Dialogue has become absolutely necessary for us. Our religion obviously orders this dialogue,'' Yilmaz said.

Yilmaz stated that people were talking about ''conflict of civilizations or interreligious war'' recently and said that he was sad about all these words.

''Peace and compromise lie on the basis of religions, not war or conflict. Today's meeting is the best example of this. Divine will is in favour of existence of all religions. To this end, members of all religions should unite against injustice and stand against violence and injustice in cooperation.''

Istanbul Deputy Governor Sener Can; Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeos; Mesrob II, Patriarch of Armenians in Turkey; Ishak Halleva, the Deputy Chief Rabbi in Turkey; George Marovitch, the Representative of Vatican in Turkey; Yusuf Cetin, A Syriac representative, Istanbul Mufti Necati Tayyar Tas and some lecturers and businessmen attended the meal.

[02] A TOTAL OF 300 HOUSES INUNDATED BY FLOODS IN SILIFKE

What was feared of did not happen in Silifke and its hamlets as the water level in Goksu River fell from 1800 cubic metres to 1500 cubic metres.

Almost 40 million square metres of agricultural land was under the waters while 300 houses in the center of Silifke and 75 houses in villages were inundated.

Silifke Head Official Mehmet Unal told A.A correspondent that as the water level returned to normal amount in Gezende Dam, the doors of the dam were totally closed.

Unal said that there was not an immediate report of threat or danger but that they would continue to take measures.

Damage assessment works and efforts to discharge water from inundated places continued, Unal added.

[03] AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT EXPORTS FROM SOUTHEAST TO ASIA INCREASES BY 117.3 PERCENT

The region raised 10 million 9 thousand U.S. dollars from agricultural exports to Asia between January and October 2001.

According to the figures of Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Association, the region obtained 182 thousand U.S. dollars from its cereal and oily seeds and products exportation, 2 million 94 thousand U.S. dollars from dry fruit exportation and 6 million 733 thousand U.S. dollars from textile exports.

Iran was the main export center of the region among other Asian countries.

[04] SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL TO CONVENE ON NOVEMBER 30

A statement of the General Staff said on Monday that the activities of Turkish Armed Forces, particularly personnel, training and discipline, will be debated during the meeting.

The council members will visit Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the same day.

[05] DUTCH AND TURKISH BUSINESS WORLD TO MEET

Ybema and Dutch businessmen will attend a meeting organized by Turkish- Dutch Business Council and exchange views with representatives of leading organizations in Turkish business world and council members.

Turkish-Dutch Business Council co-presidents Zekeriya Yildirim and Hans Risch, Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Executive Board Deputy Chairman Aldo Kaslowski, Capital Market Association Chairman Faruk Yoneymen, Economic Development Foundation Chairperson Meral Gezgin Eris, Turkish Association of Banks Deputy Chairman Akin Akbaygil and retired ambassador Sukru Elekdag will attend the meeting.

Following the meeting, Ybema, Yildirim and Rich will hold a press conference.

[06] ESDP 4TH ROUND OF TALKS STARTS IN ANKARA

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, the U.S. State Department Deputy Undersecretary responsible for European Affairs Robert Bradtke, and British Foreign Office political director Peter Ricketts attend the meeting.

During the interdelegational talks, the participants are expected to discuss the security guarantee and accession issues which the bottleneck could not be overcome yet.

General Staff Planning and Principles Department Chairman Gen. Resat Turgut also attends the meeting.

[07] SUMERBANK REVISES INTEREST RATES

Releasing a statement on Monday, Sumerbank said it reduced 3-month U.S. dollar and German mark/euro deposits from 5 to 4 percent.

[08] IMMOVABLE ASSETS OF ETIBANK, IKTISAT BANKASI AND SDIF TO BE SOLD IN AUCTION ON TUESDAY

The estimated price of these 345 pieces of immovable assets reaches 66.2 trillion Turkish liras (TL), and this amount means the biggest block sale in an auction.

These immovable assets contain 345 real properties, 150 real estates, 71 business places and 124 vacant lots mostly in Istanbul, Ankara, Eskisehir, Izmir and Antalya.

Estimated price of real properties is between 750 million TL and 24 trillion TL. Those who are interested in these immovable assets should deposit 2 billion TL of bid bond.

[09] U.S. STATE SECRETARY POWELL DUE IN ANKARA

Powell will visit Turkey on Tuesday evening within the framework of his tour to Central Asia. Powell will depart from Turkey on Wednesday.

Within the scope of his visit, Powell will visit Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of Modern Turkish Republic.

Powell will meet Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and is expected to be received by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.

The sides will exchange views regarded with the administration that is tried to be set up in Afghanistan after Taliban.

[10] TURKISH BANKS ACCELERATE PREPARATIONS FOR EURO

Share of Euro among foreign currency accounts rose by 100 percent in some banks while several banks completed their preparations.

Adoption of single currency is considered an opportunity to include foreign currency which the Turkish people keep in their houses into the banking system.

Nearly 30 percent of the 90 billion German mark banknotes in circulation is estimated to be in Turkey. In addition to exchange of 27 billion German mark banknotes in Turkey, 2-4 billion German mark which the Turkish people keep in their houses is expected to be included in the economy.

Banks which are planning to meet Euro demand from the Central Bank and other banks which import foreign currency or from foreign banks will automatically exchange their customers' foreign currency accounts and deposits with Euro on December 31, 2001.

People who have foreign currency accounts and deposits at banks can withdraw Euro banknotes from their accounts as of January 1, 2002 without paying any cost and commission.

There will be 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euro banknotes as of January 1, 2002 while Dutch guilder will go out of circulation on January 28, 2002, Irish pound will be withdrawn from circulation on February 9, 2002, French franc will be called in on February 17, 2002, and German mark, Austrian schilling, Belgian franc, Finnish markka, Spanish peseta, Italian lira, Luxembourg franc, Portugese escudo and Greek drachma will be withdrawn from circulation on February 28, 2002.

Central Bank will start importing Euro banknotes as of December 1, 2001 and meet exchange demands of banks, private finance organizations and authorized institutions until December 31, 2003.

[11] COURT ASKS MERCEDES BENZ TURK A.S. TO CALL IN 0 403 MERCEDES PASSENGER BUSES

The Karapinar Basic Criminal Court decided that the passenger buses' fuel tanks were so defective that it had caused the fire in the bus, and ruled to ask the company to call in all 0 403 Mercedes passenger buses produced in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998. The court decision asks the company to correct the defects in the fuel tanks and hand over the buses to their owners.

Meanwhile, the court postponed the punishment verdict on foreign managers of the company under the Law on Conditional Release and Suspension of Punishments.

Meanwhile, Mercedes Benz Turk A.S. authorities said they would appeal the verdict.

[12] GERMAN CARGO PLANES LEAVE FOR INCIRLIK AIRBASE

Three cargo planes will leave for Incirlik base every day for a two-month period to reinforce American troops.

Sources said that two more cargo planes would leave for Incirlik base the same day and the equipment would later be carried to Afghanistan with American planes.

[13] DELEGATIONS OF TUSIAD MEETS MEMBERS OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

The luncheon, which was hosted by TUSIAD Executive Board Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan, was closed to the press.

The TUSIAD delegation and European Parliament members led by Daniel Cohn- Bendit, the Co-Chairman of Joint Parliamentary Commission, exchange views on EU-Turkey relations.

TUSIAD issued a written statement and distributed it to the journalists.

According to the written statement, Ozilhan would express the pleasure felt over the sensitive language used in the EU Commission Progress Report, and that in it the issues were evaluated in a just way in general. Ozilhan also expressed the uneasiness which Turkey felt as the screening process has not started yet.

Ozilhan said, ''as you know, Copenhagen criteria was not a pre-condition to start screening process. It is difficult to say that the support expended by the EU to Turkey is adequate in this respect.''

Pointing out that the EU membership was the most important aspect of Turkey's 200 year old modernization project, and that Turkey would not give up its EU target, Ozilhan said the parliament performed an extraordinary effort to materialize constitutional changes.

Stressing that this was only a start, Ozilhan said, ''efforts are underway to issue adjustment laws following the constitutional changes. Let us not forget that all those radical changes take place under serious economic crisis conditions. Our parliament took important steps to re-structure economy. The Turkish private sector resisted to the competitive pressures stemming from the Customs Union in this process. The private sector expended support to the principle implementations of the economic program.''

Ozilhan pointed out that next year would be a critical year in Turkish-EU relations, adding that, ''next year will be recorded in history as an important year in Turkey-EU relations. Even more, it will be clarified if those relations will have a future. We are aware of the steps taken by Turkey to adjust with the Copenhagen criteria. However, it is not difficult to estimate that the most critical issue would be Cyprus. We don't find it right to set up a link between Cyprus and Turkey's membership. All the steps which are needed to be taken for the solution of the problem, should not be expected only from Turkey. On the other side, we also don't find right Turkey's support for TRNC President Rauf Denktas' intransigent attitute. We feel concern that there will be damages that can not be repaired in Turkey-EU relations in case the Greek Cypriot side is accepted to the EU membership. We hope meeting of Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader, which will take place in the coming days, will be the first step for solution.''

[14] SDIF EXTENDS BIDDING DEADLINE OF OYAK TO ETIBANK TO DECEMBER 4

Releasing a statement, SDIF recalled that all shares of Etibank A.S. belonged to the SDIF and that it had found Oyak's application satisfactory for Etibank A.S. which had been put up for sale, and Oyak had been allowed to observe the bank.

It said that it had decided to extend the bid submission deadline from November 16, 2001 to December 4, 2001 upon Oyak's request.

[15] AFGHANISTAN, CYPRUS, ESDP AND RUSSIA'S NATO MEMBERSHIP ARE HIGH ON THE AGENDA OF POWELL'S VISIT

Diplomatic sources said Powell, who will visit Turkey within the framework of his tour to Central Asia, is expected to exchange views with the Turkish officials about the administration which is tried to be established in Afghanistan after Taliban.

Ankara, which had decided to send a 9-people special team, but suspended implementation of the decision under the light of recent developments, thinks that it should have the right to speak in planning of future of Afghanistan.

This demand is expected to be conveyed during the visit of Powell, and the sides are expected to discuss the plans for the establishment of a peace force which will include Turkey.

Cyprus is another issue which is expected to be discussed during the first visit of Powell to Ankara.

Powell, who will visit Ankara on December 4, the date when Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides would have a face-to-face meeting after four years, will start his contacts on December 5. Cyprus issue is expected to be brought onto the agenda under the light of Denktas-Clerides meeting.

Diplomatic sources pointed out that Ankara's policy on Cyprus was very clear, and that this was reflected to the public opinion with statements on various levels. Officials said the same determination would once again be stressed to Powell.

Diplomatic sources said two other issues that are expected to be discussed within the scope of the guest minister were the ESDP and Russia's membership to NATO which gained a new dimension in the recent days.

As the fourth round of ESDP talks, held by Turkey, Britain and the U.S. in Ankara take place, the bottleneck in security guarantee and accession issues is envisaged to be discussed during the visit of Powell.

Powell during his visit, is expected to learn the views of Ankara regarded with the recent proposal of Russia ''a mechanism of 20'' pertaining to NATO membership.

Moscow names its current cooperation with NATO as ''19 plus one'' as it does not take place in decision mechanism of the Alliance. Moscow earlier demanded a mechanism of 20, which is a higher level of mechanism, to discuss the issues among the sides in full equality as 19 plus one was not adequate.

NATO Secretary General George Robertson paid a visit to Moscow following the proposal of British Prime Minister Tony Blair supporting the thesis of Russia.

Decisions to intensify relations between NATO and Russia are envisaged to be discussed before the NATO summit that will take place in Prague in November 2002.

The Alliance sources said the positive and constructive attitute, exhibited by Moscow in fight against terrorism following September 11 terrorist attacks, brought a warm atmosphere to NATO-Russia relations.

Sources said Ankara in principle was not cold toward gaining of Russia-NATO relations a new dimension, stressing that Ankara thinks Russia should remain within the framework of the rights provided by its status within NATO during its candidacy.

[16] IRAQI PERSON FROZEN TO DEATH IN VAN

Sources said on Monday that citizens who had seen a male body near Agildere village in Gurpinar called the Gendarme.

Gendarme teams revealed that it was Ali Abdullah, 23, an Iraqi citizen and that he had been frozen to death.

Officials believe that Abdulah had entered Turkey illegally and later got lost.

Investigation is under way.

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