Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-12-08

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

08 December 2001

Saturday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 8, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

The document proving that Health Minister Osman Durmus allocated 20 billion Turkish lira from budget of the ministry to the Turksev Foundation, was unveiled. The foundation was founded by Durmus himself.

FIRST WARNING TO SADDAM

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has launched a diplomatic initiative, and warned Iraqi President Saddam Hussein with a meaningful message. He said, ''Iraq should open its facilities to inspection of the United Nations. It will be beneficial for Iraq. Also, such a development will bring forth peace to the region.'' Meanwhile, referring to the latest developments in the Middle East, Prime Minister Ecevit called on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to hold a summit meeting in Turkey. Prime Minister Ecevit also called on General Dostum to accept the interim government to be formed in Afghanistan. He added that Turkey would make important contributions to Afghanistan with its pioneering identity and with its military power.

HOLLYWOOD CELEBRITIES IN TURKEY

Hollywood celebrities came to the Incirlik Air Base in southern province of Adana which has been playing a key role in the military operation against Afghanistan. Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Andy Garcia, the cast of the Ocean's Eleven, visited Turkish and American soldiers at the air base.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit conveyed his request for signing a free trade agreement between Turkey and the United States through U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. The United States stated that it would review the agreement. Meanwhile, Robert Pearson, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, said that the U.S. would remove 50 percent of textile quota in 2002.

ECEVIT: THERE WON'T BE ANY COMPULSION IN RETIREMENT OF PUBLIC WORKERS

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that there won't be any compulsion or problem regarding the retirement of public workers. Speaking at a news conference, Ecevit said that the government expected that the number of public workers who want to voluntarily retire by getting all of their rights, to reach the number of personnel foreseen in the circular. ''There won't be any compulsion or problem in respect of workers,'' Ecevit said. Recalling that some ministers including State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Husnu Yusuf Gokalp held a meeting on Thursday night, Ecevit said, ''the ministers decided to pay a subsidy to producers of cotton, sunflower, soybean, and olive oil for their products in 2001.''

EU APPROVES PAYMENT OF 75 MILLION EURO TO TURKEY

The European Union (EU) Commission has approved the payment of 75 million euro to Turkey under its Structural Adjustment Facility for Turkey. A statement of the EU Commission said, ''this followed completion of EU Commission's assessment of Turkey's progress in meeting a series of conditions related to macroeconomic stability, deregulation, and reforms in the social security and agriculture sectors.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

The United States requested Ankara to use the NATO Combined Air Operation Centre (CAOC-6) in central province of Eskisehir as a base in operation against Afghanistan. The General Staff considered this request positive and charged General Hasan Aksay to hold necessary contacts.

ECEVIT CONFUSES WORLD WITH HIS STATEMENT

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said at a press conference, ''during my telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, it became very clear that Israel was inclined towards war. In fact, Mr Sharon openly expressed their desire to be rid of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. Arafat is in the position of being an irreplaceable leader. If one way or the other the Arafat factor were to be removed, I fear the problem would be further exacerbated. I explained my views to Mr Sharon.'' International news agencies gave Ecevit's statement as a breaking news.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Speaking at a press conference, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''a solution on Cyprus depends on recognition of two separate states and two different nations. Although there have been deep cultural and religious differences between the two communities on the island, they can live together in peace.'' Ecevit added that external interventions in efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus question would make the situation more difficult.

ATTACK ON LEFTIST STUDENTS AT ANKARA UNIVERSITY

A group of nearly 150 rightist students attacked on leftist students with nailed bars and cleavers. While the group managed to flee from the area, two students were injured seriously.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Parliamentary General Assembly adopted the law vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to be discussed once again, without any change. The law foresaw amendments both to State Security Court (DGM) Law No. 4719 and also to the law on fight against organized crimes no 3842. The President has the right to apply to the Constitutional Court.

1,558 POLICEMEN PUNISHED

The investigation against policemen who held a demonstration to protest killing of their colleagues during Saadettin Tantan's term in office as the interior minister, was finalized. A total of 1,558 policemen have received various punishments.

BAHCELI WELCOMES PACKAGE OF MEASURES TO DECREASE UNEMPLOYMENT

State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), welcomed the package of measures to decrease unemployment. He said, ''such a concrete package has been put forward for the first time. It is very pleasing.'' Bahceli gave instructions to State Minister Tunca Toskay to make the necessary preparations to support the package.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

After abolition by the Constitutional Court, the government which does not know what it should do about ''retirement in stages'' once again decided to get opinion of public sector. The government prepared four different alternatives and scenarios about retirement of men and women and sent them to relevant institutions. The retirement age in those four alternatives starts with 39 for women who are still working and increases up to 56. Meanwhile, men are foreseen to retire between 44 and 60 years of age.

ECEVIT: ''THERE WILL NEVER BE COMPULSION''

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who could not give a number about early retirement said, ''the number of people who will voluntarily retire is the same with the number we targeted. So there won't be any compulsion and problem regarding the early retirement.''

KARAKOYUNLU: ''IT IS DEFINITELY 61 THOUSAND''

State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu who made a statement on the issue about which the Prime Minister could not set a number, said, ''I think that the expression that one hundred thousand people would retire was reflected wrongly by the press. In principle, the number on which an agreement was reached in sixty-one thousand.''

FRIENDLY WARNING TO DOSTUM

While Turkey is pleased with the interim government on which an agreement was reached in Bonn, it will recommend General Rasheed Dostum who announced that he did not recognize this government, to act with common sense and moderation.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon wanted to get rid of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Noting that he had told the sides that they could come together in Turkey, Ecevit said that Arafat had accepted his proposal but Sharon had put forward complete tranquility as a pre-condition. Meanwhile, Sharon denied Ecevit's statement that he wanted to get rid of Arafat. Regarding Ecevit statement, the autonomous Palestinian administration said that Israel was playing with fire.

SUSPICION ABOUT SECOND ASSASSIN IN GARIH'S MURDER

The Forensic Medicine report which was presented to the Eyup High Criminal Court no:2 which hears the case of murder of businessman Uzeyir Garih increased the suspicion about existence of another assassin who stabbed Garih. The report said that it was not clear the knife which suspect Yener Yermez had given to police had been used in murder. Besides, the report said that the wound in Garih's right ear could not be a wound opened by a knife.

-STATE MINISTER KARAKOYUNLU TO LEAVE FOR BELARUS

ANKARA - A delegation headed by State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu for Privatization, will leave for Belarus on Tuesday, December 11 to attend the Turkey-Belarus Joint Economic Commission (JEC) and Business Council meetings.

Releasing a statement, the State Ministry said on Saturday that two-day meetings of the Turkey-Belarus Joint Economic Commission (JEC) and Business Council would start on Wednesday, December 12.

Within framework of his contacts in Belarus, State Minister Karakoyunlu is scheduled to meet with President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus, Prime Minister Novitsky and Foreign Minister Khvostov.

State Minister Karakoyunlu and accompanying delegation are expected to return to Turkey on Friday, December 14.

-THREE VILLAGES IN TARSUS EVACUATED DUE TO FLOOD

TARSUS - Three villages in Tarsus township of southern province of Icel were evacuated due to flood, and the villagers were settled in a sports hall.

Sources said on Saturday that water channels had overflown due to torrential rains which had been continuing since last Thursday and as the snow on the Toros mountains had melted.

Three villages which suffered flood were evacuated, and almost two thousand villagers were brought to the Tarsus Sports Hall.

The aid organization Kizilay (Red Crescent) distributed two thousand blankets and served meal with mobile kitchens.

Tarsus Head Official Necmi Kurt said that all other villages in the Tarsus plain would be evacuated if torrential rains continued.

-TURKEY EXPORTS PRODUCTS TO 169 COUNTRIES

BURSA - Turkish exporters who have directed themselves towards foreign markets as a result of the shrinkage in domestic market, have begun to export products to many countries in five continents.

Sources told the A.A correspondent on Saturday that Turkish exporters who were members of the Uludag Exporters' Association had been exporting goods to a total of 169 countries and free zones.

Besides the member countries to the European Union (EU) and the United States, under-developed Uganda, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Zambia and and Kenya are among these countries.

Gabon, Mali, Guadeloupe, Eritrea, Puerto Rico, Malawi, Djibouti, Zimbabwe, Bolivia, Jamaica, Togo, Guatemala, Burkina Faso, Benin, Reunion, Martiniquk, Sri Lanka, Dubai, St. Vincent, Ghana, Cape Verde, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Trinidad and Tobago, Gambia, Suriname, Myanmar and Burundi are among the countries and free zones to which Turkey exported goods.

In the automotive sector, Turkey exported goods for the first time to Marshall Island, New Caledonia, Haiti, Angola, Abudhabi, Cayman Islands, Serbia, Mozambique, Cambodia, Falkland Islands, Tatarstan, Tanzania, Republic of Daghestan, Guinea, Maldives and Niger.

Turkey exported textiles for the first time in the January-November period of 2001 to Ethiopia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Mauritius, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Libya, Madagascar, Moldova, Peru, Tatarstan, Thailand, Venezuela.

-LAW ON VALIDITY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF CIVIL CODE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL GAZETTE

ANKARA - The law on validity and implementation of the Civil Code was published in the Official Gazette on Saturday.

The Civil Code adopted by the Parliament General Council on November 29 after a month long debates, ends the principle of man's being the head of the family.

The Civil Code which is consisted of 1,030 articles introduces important changes in family law and it completed the efforts launched for 50 years to amend the Civil Code dated 1926.

The code also covered regulations related to foundations and associations. No association or foundation which aims to act against the law and morals can be founded.

Under the code, a person who wants to change his/her sex can apply to the court personnaly and ask the court to give a permission to him-her on the issue. Those who are over the age of 18, single, who obtain a special health report may be allowed to have a sex change.

But the most important change brought by the Civil Code is equality between the husband and wife in a marriage. Under the old law, the man was head of the family and the woman must seek her husband's permission to go out to work. Under the new law, she would no longer need a husband's consent to get a job. Either partner could ask his or her spouse not to take a job that would disrupt calm in the marriage union.

Under the law, man will no longer be head of the family and both wife and husband will have equal rights in the management of the household.

Under the law, husband choses the house where the couple will live and his wife has to conform with his choice. Under the new law, the couple will chose their house together.

Under the law married women will be able to use their maiden surnames along with their new surnames. Men will be able to change their surnames to the surname of their wives by a court decision.

The code also raises the legal age for marriage to 18 from the current 17 for men and 15 for women. It sets a legal separation period of six months before couples can file for divorce.

No religious marriages will be allowed without a state approved marriage document.

Under the law, men will no longer be ''responsible for the care of the wife and children'' since the new Civil Code brings ''equal responsibility''. Husband and wife will contribute to the household expenses depending on their income or financial sources.

The Civil Code grants out-of-wedlock offspring the same inheritance rights as others. Marrying your adopted child is being strictly banned under the new law.

''Humiliating behaviour'' will be considered a reason for divorce. The period of one of the reasons of divorce which is ''leaving the house'' is increased from three months to six months. And in divorce cases, one of the parties can ask the judge to hear the case in closed sessions. The judge can accept that request. Men will be able to request alimony from wives who are better off.

The law is making adopting children easier. The code lowers the legal age for adopting children from 35 to 30 and allows a single parent to adopt a child. Persons who have children haev also given the right to adopt children.

The code also ensures that women are better off in the event of a divorce, guaranteeing that all assets accumulated during the union are shared equally. Currently, a divorced woman is only entitled to assets legally

registered under her name. If one of the spouses dies, the spouse who lives can get the right of properties and the house they use if he/she gives up the right of inheritance.

The civil code also restricts the freedom of individuals who constitute a danger in the society.

The civil code also forbids neighbours to give damage and suffering to each other.

The law foresees that the Turkish Civil Code will enter into force on January 1, 2002.

-PRESIDENT SEZER RELEASES A MESSAGE TO

MARK HANUKKAH FEAST OF JEWISH PEOPLE

ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Saturday, ''Jewish people will celebrate their holy feast one week before Muslim's Ramadan feast. We want to consider this development a new hope to settle peace and mutual understanding in the region in a period when the Middle East has been experiencing distressing incidents.''

President Sezer released a message to mark Hanukkah, the Feast of Lights, of Jewish citizens.

In his message, President Sezer said, ''in the wake of terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001, I want to emphasize once again that we should bring to the forefront religious principles calling on all people, whatever their religious beliefs are, to live together in peace and solidarity. Tolerance and dialogue have become the values which are needed most by all societies in the world.''

''Muslim and Jewish peoples have been living together in Anatolia for seven hundred years in tolerance, peace and solidarity by exalting common values of their religious beliefs. Today, they will carry this joint past to a new millennium with a great pride,'' he said.

President Sezer said, ''Jewish society that had been one of the most important elements of the Ottoman social structure, has been making important contributions to protect and develop our national interests since foundation of the Republic of Turkey. Also, they have been enriching our economic and social lives.''

President Sezer congratulated the Jewish community for opening of the 500th Year Foundation Turkish Jews Museum.

''Jewish people will celebrate their holy feast one week before Muslim's Ramadan feast. We want to consider this development a new hope to settle peace and mutual understanding in the region in a period when the Middle East has been experiencing distressing incidents. I believe that we should well-assess all opportunities to strengthen peace and stability in our region,'' he added.

-WAGES PER PRODUCTION WORKED HOURS INCREASE 34 PERCENT IN Q3

ANKARA - The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced on Saturday the result of the quarterly indices of wages per production worked hours and earnings per productýon workers and other workers in manufacturing industry for the third quarter of 2001.

According to the statement of DIE, from the result of the quarterly indices on wages per production worked hours and earnings per production workers and other workers in the manufacturing industry, wages per production worked hours increased 34.0 percent, earnings per production workers increased 36.6 percent and earnings per other workers increased 38.3 percent for the third quarter of 2001 over to the same quarter of the previous year.

According to the statement of DIE, from the result of the real indices that deflated by consumer price index, wages per production worked hours 15.5 percent decreased and earnings per production workers 13.8 percent decreased, earnings per other workers 12.8 percent decreased for the third quarter of 2001 over to the same quarter of the previous year.

In the written explanation, according to the obtaining results for the third quarter of 2001, growth rate of wages per production worked hours over to the same quarter of the previous year are:

36.1 percent increased at nominal price and 14.2 percent decreased at real price in the public sector.

33.0 percent increased at nominal price and 16.1 percent decreased at real price in the private sector.

When looking at the results of earnings per production workers of the same establishments compared over to the same quarter of the previous year;

46.1 percent increased at nominal price and 7.9 percent decreased at real price in the public sector.

33.6 percent increased at nominal price and 15.8 percent decreased at real price in the private sector.

Earnings per other workers of the same establishments in the third quarter of 2001 over to the same quarter of the previous year;

47.9 percent increased at nominal price and 6.7 percent decreased at real price in the public sector.

36.4 percent increased at nominal price and 14.0 percent decreased at real price in the private sector.

-IZGI SAYS COUNTRY THRESHOLD SHOULD REMAIN AS 10 PERCENT IN ELECTIONS

ANKARA - Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi said on Saturday that the country threshold in general elections should remain as ten percent and an independent candidate should win at least fifty percent of the valid votes in his/her election disctrict to be a member of parliament.

Holding a press conference at the parliament, Izgi announced his proposals about the election system.

Izgi said that they should be sensitive toward the balance between the principle of stability and the principle of justice regarding the determination of the election system which mostly suits and is in line with the Constitution, decisions of the Constitutional Court, Turkey's interests and the realities in Turkey.

Defending that keeping the justice alive sufficiently should be the main target instead of excessively removing the justice in representation, Izgi said, ''so the proportional representation should be protected as ten percent in accordance with the D'hondt system, creating the most beneficial result. There is no need for a change.''

Criticizing that current system for election of independent candidates, Izgi said that a candidate should get at least fifty percent of valid votes in his/her election district to be a member of parliament.

-SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION UNDER WAY TO FIND SIX MISSING CREWMEN

SAMSUN - Search and rescue operation has been under way to find six missing crewmen of Ukranian-flagged cargo ship ''Cernemores'' that sank 80 nautical miles off northern province of Sinop in Black Sea.

470-grosstonne cargo ship carrying citrus fruits from Sinop to Ukraine, sank 80 nautical miles off Sinop on Tuesday night due to stormy weather.

A total of 13 crewmen were rescued from the sinking ship by Turkish and Syrian-flagged ships.

Remaining six crewmen have still been missing.

Efforts are under way to find them.

-JUSTICE MINISTER TURK SAYS NEW CIVIL CODE IS PREPARED IN LINE

WITH REQUIREMENTS OF 21ST CENTURY'S TURKEY AND WORLD

TRABZON - Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said on Saturday, ''the new civil code was prepared in line with the requirements of the 21st century's Turkey and world.''

Speaking at a seminar organized by the Trabzon Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TTSO) in order to introduce the new civil code, Turk said that the law on validity and implementation of the new civil code was published in the Official Gazette after approval of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

Noting that the new civil code would enter into force on January 1, 2002, Turk said, ''the integration process with the European legal system started with the Administrative Reforms Firman of the last century. As a result of adoption of Turkish Civil Code and other laws, Turkey was brought from religious basis to secular basis. A revolution took place in the Turkish legal system. The Turkish Civil Code was the symbol of this revolution. The new civil code was prepared in line with the requirements of the 21st century's Turkey and world by assessing experiences of 75-year history and taking changes in the world into consideration.''

Stressing that the civil code concerned each individuals in the society, Turk said, ''the civil code concerns all citizens from their birth to their death. Under the new civil code, man will no longer be head of the family and both wife and husband will have equal rights in the management of the household. With the new civil code, we have recorded great progress in equality between man and woman. The new civil code underlines the equal rights, equal commitments and equal responsibilities of the spouses in the marriage.''

-DERVIS TO VISIT ISRAEL

ANKARA - State Minister Kemal Dervis will leave for Israel late on Saturday to attend an international conference organized in memory of Michael Bruno, former governor of Israeli Central Bank.

Sources said that Dervis would exchange opinion on Turkey's economy during the conference in which also World Bank, IMF and other international finance organization experts would participate.

Dervis is expected to return to Turkey on Tuesday.

-13TH ANKARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL NATIONAL

LONG-FEATURE FILM CONTEST FINALIZED

ANKARA - Semih Kaplanoglu's ''Herkes Kendi Evinde (Away From Home)'' was presented with the Best Film Award within framework of the 13th Ankara International Film Festival National Long-Feature Film Contest on Saturday.

The other award-winners are as follows:

Best Film: ''Herkes Kendi Evinde (Away From Home)''

Best Director: Zeki Demirkubuz, ''Itiraf (Confession)''

Best Female Performance: Zeynep Tokus, ''Yazgi (Destiny)''

Best Male Performance: Sukran Gungor, ''Buyuk Adam Kucuk Ask (Big Man Little Love)''

Best Supporting Actress: Fusun Demirel, ''Buyuk Adam Kucuk Ask''

Best Supporting Actor: Engin Gunaydin, ''Yazgi''

Best Original Screenplay: Semih Kaplanoglu and Ozden Cankaya ''Herkes Kendi Evinde''

Best Picture: Hayk Kirkossiyan

Best Art Director: Mira Civelek

Best Music: Selim Atakan

Best Film Editing: Adnan Aila

Best New Director: Ayse Polatkan, ''Yurtdisi Turnesi (Tour Abroad)''

Best New Female Performance: Dilan Ercetin, ''Buyuk Adam Kucuk Ask''

Best New Male Performance: Serdar Orcin, ''Yazgi''

Mahmut Tali Ongoren Special Award: Zeki Demirkubuz's ''Itiraf''.

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