Anadolu Agency: News in English, 02-01-19

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From: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>

ANADOLU AJANSI

HABERLER

19 january 2002

Saturday

Türkiye

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CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] ECEVIT RETURNS FROM U.S.A. (1)

[03] ECEVIT RETURNS FROM U.S.A. (2)

[04] ECEVIT RETURNS FROM U.S.A. (3)

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

TURKISH MILITARY UNIT OF 20 SOLDIERS LEAVES FOR AFGHANISTAN
After General Dostum's visit to Turkey, a Turkish military unit of 20 soldiers left for Afghanistan yesterday. The troop headed by Emin Alpman went to the region by a C-130 airplane. The United States assured Turkey that it would provide 20 million U.S. dollars for the military unit.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

TURKISH ENGINEERS TO SET UP GSM NETWORK IN AFGHANISTAN
Turkish engineers will set up a GSM net work in Afghanistan whose economy and infrastructure entirely collapsed due to 20-years of wars. Under an agreement between Afghanistan and the United Nations, Turkey will set up a GSM network in Afghanistan.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

ECEVIT:''LET'S LEAVE PAPANDREOU AND CEM ALONE''
During a press conference, Ecevit confirmed that Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Greek counterpart Papandreou were having meetings which don't reflect to the press, stirring up debates in Athens. Ecevit said ''There are a number of points on which we have to work together. Papandreou and Cem are already working on these points.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

DERVIS:''NO DEDUCTIONS ON KDV''
State Minister in charge of Economy Kemal Dervis said that a deduction in Value Added Tax (KDV) was not in question. Dervis said ''The United States which lower down taxes and Turkey have very different economic situations. The United States doesn't have debts that we do. We have to lighten up our debt load. We have to be very careful until we manage that.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH SAYS THERE'S STILL TORTURE IN TURKEY
Human Rights Watch has brought heavy accusations against Turkey's human rights record in its 2002 report. The organization stated that Turkey missed an important opportunity by not lifting the capital punishment and limitations on the freedom of expression. The organization claimed that people who criticize religion or the army were jailed. The organization also said that torture and sexual harassment were continuing in Turkish prisons.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

-ECEVIT RETURNS FROM U.S.A
ANKARA, Jan 19 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit returned to Ankara from the United States on Saturday morning.

Ecevit's airplane landed at Ankara's Esenboga Airport at 11.45 a.m.

Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, Ankara Governor Yahya Gur and Security Director Hasan Yucesan met him at the airport.

During his visit to the United States, Ecevit was accompanied by Democratic Left Party (SDP) Deputy Chairman Rahsan Ecevit, state ministers Kemal Dervis, Tunca Toskay, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Zeki Cakan, a large number of deputies, bureaucrats, businessmen and journalists totalling up to 212 people.

-ECEVIT:''WITHOUT TURKEY, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A WAR
BETWEEN RELIGIONS''
NEW YORK, Jan 19 (A.A) - Prior to his departure from the United States on Friday, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit had a meeting with the representatives of the Turkish community and listened to their problems at the Turkish House in New York.

Stating that he had a very successful visit, Ecevit said that Sept. 11 attacks increased Turkey's importance.

''If Turkey hadn't interfered, there could have been a war of religions. Turkey proved that modernity, secularism and Islam could coexist in a country whose population is mostly Muslims,'' he commented. Ecevit also pointed out that U.S. President George W. Bush was one of the first leaders to notice Turkey's special situation.

Speaking about his meeting with Bush, Ecevit said ''They accepted me and my wife. It was like a family atmosphere.''

Ecevit stated that an effective fight against terrorism had been started against terrorism in the world after Sept. 11 attacks. ''No nation has the power to defeat terrorism on its own. All humanity should give hand in hand to achieve this result,'' the prime minister said.

Ecevit indicated that Turkey had to fight against a large number of terrorist organizations in its past and reached success. ''Besides, we accomplished this without sacrificing democracy and human rights,'' he said.

Ecevit said economic cooperation has also been added to the strategic cooperation between Turkey and the United States, during his visit. He announced that the first meeting of the Turkish-American joint commission would take place on Feb. 26-27 in Turkey. He also said that Bush was going to encourage American tourists to visit Turkey.

Ecevit stressed that his government lifted the bureacratical obstacles in front of U.S. investors who are interested in making investments in Turkey.

About the formation of a national army and police force in Afghanistan, Ecevit said Turkey was ready to take over an active role in these efforts.

Responding to questions, Ecevit said ''There was no impositions or demands from the U.S. officials regarding Cyprus. Only President Bush said he hoped for an agreement between two communities in Cyprus. The two leaders have started face-to-face meetings through Denktas' initiative. An imposition from outside would cast a shadow on the Cyprus issue. Therefore President Bush was very polite not to do that.''

[02] ECEVIT RETURNS FROM U.S.A. (1)

Speaking at a press conference at Ankara's Esenboga Airport, Ecevit said he had a series of very successful contacts with U.S. officials during his visit.

''During our meetings, we discussed a large number of topics including Central Asia, Middle East, Far East, EU, Bosnia, Caucasia, and Afghanistani'' Ecevit said. He added that economy and terrorism were also among the topics of discussion.

-STATE MINISTER DERVIS IN GERMANY
FRANKFURT, Jan 19 (A.A) - State minister in charge of economy Kemal Dervis who was accompanying Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit during his visit to the United States came to Frankfurt on Saturday morning.

Dervis attended a meeting entitled ''Cooperation in Mediterranean and Middle East'' organized by Bartelman Foundation at Schloss Hotel in Kronberg town near Frankfurt. Dervis, after delivering a speech at the meeting, will proceed to Geneva in the afternoon.

The meeting which was held under tight security measures was closed to the press.

[03] ECEVIT RETURNS FROM U.S.A. (2)

''At the end of our contacts, we decided to form a Turkey-U.S. Economic Partnership Commission which will have its first meeting on Feb.26-27, 2002, '' he told reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport.

''The participants of this meeting will discuss forming industrial regions and advancing our commercial and economic relations. This will be a big step towards developing economic relations with the United States.''

Ecevit had meetings with U.S. President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, secretary of defense, secretary of treasury, secretary of commerce, commerce representative, deputy secretary of state, World Bank governor, and IMF executive director during his visit to the United States. He also met a number of members of the Friendship Group in U.S. Parliament and visited the ruins of the Twin Towers in New York.

Ecevit stated that there was an agreement to accept Turkish construction companies in the rebuilding of Afghanistan.

The prime minister indicated that cooperation against global terrorism was another topic which they discussed into detail.

''We told them that we are behind the United States in its fight against terrorism just like they supported our efforts against terrorism,'' he said. He added Turkey Turkey was ready to do its best to maintain peace and security in Afghanistan.

''I briefed U.S. officials about Parliament's activities, our efforts in economic and social fields. U.S. officials welcomed the steps we have taken. I thanked the World Bank and IMF for their financial support to Turkey and stressed that it was important for Turkey to continue receiving this support,'' he said.

[04] ECEVIT RETURNS FROM U.S.A. (3)

Speaking to reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport, Ecevit said ''We stressed that the economic background of this strategic partnership was weak. U.S. officials also shared our views on this subject. They started valuable initiatives to add an economic dimension to our strategic partnership. The U.S. administration yesterday announced that the economic partnership commission would have its first meeting in Ankara on Feb. 26-27 headed by U.S. undersecretary in charge of foreign economic relations.''

Ecevit said that Turkey's economic relations with the United States would speed up in the next couple of months.

Speaking about tourism relations between the two countries, Ecevit said the number of U.S. tourists who visited Turkey had been low after Sept.11 attacks since the U.S. government included Turkey in the list of countries which are risky to visit for U.S. citizens. ''We told them that this is not true and President Bush said Turkey was taken out of the list. This way we'll have the chance to see more U.S. tourists in Turkey from now on.''

Ecevit also indicated that it would be easier and less complicated for U.S. businessmen to make investments in Turkey since the government passed a law lifting bureaucratical obstacles.

''After Sept. 11 attacks, the United States stressed Turkey as a model country which could prevent clashes between religions and cultures and this increased Turkey's importance and responsibilities,'' he added.

Responding to a question on Iraq, Ecevit said ''Bush stated that the U.S. absolutely cannot be in harmony with an Iraqi administration headed by Saddam Hussein and a number of steps should be taken on this matter. But he didn't speak about a possible military operation. He stressed that his administration would consult with Turkey if they ever start an opertion against Iraq.''

Answering another question about UN gun inspectors, Ecevit said ''A short time ago Foreign Minister Ismail Cem sent a letter to the Iraqi foreign ministers and he expressed Turkey's worries regarding the matter. And they sent a reply but it was not satisfactory. Iraq has to obey UN decisions.''

When asked what was Turkey's biggest gain from the visit, Ecevit said Turkey would start getting the fruits of the meeting in the economic field in a few years.

Commenting on the contacts between Ismail Cem and his Greek counterpart Papandreou, Ecevit said ''This was not a secret meeting. It was a dialogue and a dialogue is not always revealed at its every stage. The problems between Turkey and Greece can be solved through a dialogue.

Cem also stated that he was in contact with Papandreou under Ecevit's instruction. ''We're conveying our thoughts to each other on a number of subjects. Our relations continue to develop.''

-SIX TURKISH CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES WIN TENDERS IN TURKMENISTAN
ASHKABAT, Jan 19 (A.A) - Six Turkish companies won tenders for a housing project in Turkmenistan, it was reported on Saturday.

Turkish companies Polimeks, Mensel, Pera, Asist, Ekol and Sece construction companies, which had significant contribution in Ashkabat, are the winners of the tender.

Some of the projects which are also approved by Turkmenistan Head of State Saparmurat Turkmenbasi will be delivered before October, 2002. Others will be completed in February, 2003.

-YILMAZ:''2002 IS A VERY CRITICAL THRESHOLD FOR OUR COUNTRY''
ANKARA, Jan 19 (A.A) - Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz has said that Turkey was the only EU member candidate who didn't have a clear program to join the Union, when he spoke at a meeting held by the Turkish Parliamentarians' Association at Parliament on Saturday.

Yilmaz said that the views expressed at this meeting, which is entitled ''Common Values of Europe and Basic Elements of the European Constitution'', would help Parliament's activities regarding Turkey's Eu membership.

Yilmaz stated that 2002 would be a very critical year for Turkey, and added that the EU would decide to accept ten out of the 12 candidates by the end of this year.

Stating that Turkey has to implement all the Copenhagen criteria to start membership negotiations with the EU, Yilmaz said ''As of March, a convention will develop solutions and create answers to a series of questions regarding relations with the EU Parliament and basic agreements of the EU.

Sspeaking about Euro, Yilmaz said economic and financial policies should be in harmony for the Euro's success.

Yilmaz also said that it would be a very big mistake to exclude Turkey's efforts to become a full EU member from the EU's expansion perspective. ''Therefore, we need to know that 2002 is a critical threshold for both the EU and our country and act accordingly,'' he commented.

''On March 19, 2001, our government accepted Turkey's National Program which is the most comprehensive reform project of the history of the Turkish Republic,'' he said.

-TURKISH-BULGARIAN JOINT ECONOMIC MEETING TO TAKE PLACE IN SOFIA
ON JAN.21-23
ANKARA, Jan 19 (A.A) - The 15th term meeting of the Turkish-Bulgarian Economic and Technical Cooperation will take place in Sofia on Jan.21-23, 2002, it was reported on Saturday.

Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and his Bulgarian counterpart Kostadin Paskalev will chair the meetings. Yilmaz will be received by Bulgarian President Georgi Purganov and Prime Minister Simeon Sakskoburggotski. He is also expected to have meetings with Economy Minister Nikolay vasile and Development and Public Works Minister Paskalev.

Measures to be taken to develop commerce between Turkey and Bulgaria, free regions, customs related issues, cooperation in energy, infrastructure, telecommunication, health, science and techology will be topics of discussion during Yilmaz's meetings.

At the end of the talks between delegations, the two sides will sign a protocol on Jan. 23.

Bulgaria is Turkey's biggest trade partner in the Balkans. In 2000, Turkey's export to Bulgaria was 253 million U.S. dollars and its import from Bulgaria was 465 million U.S. dollars.

-GAYDALI TO REPRESENT TURKEY AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN TOKYO
TOKYO, Jan 19 (A.A) - State Minister Edip Safder Gaydali will represent Turkey at the international conference which will be held in Tokyo about the restructuring of Afghanistan. The conference will be on Jan. 21-22.

Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ali Tuygan, Deputy General Director Sakir Fakili, Turkish Ambassador in Tokyo Yaman Baskut will also attend the meeting.

Reports on a number of topics such as restructuring policies, political process and humanitarian sitution, necessary financial resources will be presented by World Bank, the United Nations, the UN Development Program and non-governmental organizations.

Many top level officials from a number of countries and international institutions are expected to attend the meeting.

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