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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 02-01-24

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

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

Anadolu Ajansı

ANATOLIAN NEWS

AGENCY

NEWS

24 January 2002

Thursday

Parlamento

Ekonomi

Sport

T

urkey

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 24, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

TWO YEARS NINE MONTHS IMPRISONMENT SENTENCE TO FIST

Ankara Heavy Criminal Court No: 9 sentenced Cahit Tekelioglu, a deputy of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), to 2 years, 9 months and 10 days of imprisonment in the case filed regarding the death of True Path Party (DYP) deputy Fevzi Sihanlioglu.

Mehmet Kundakci, another MHP parliamentarian who got involved in the incident, was acquitted.

Tekelioglu, who was shocked with the decision, will appeal for the decision of the court.

Sihanlioglu had died after a fight that broke out between the deputies during discussions of Parliament bylaw on February 9, 2001. A legal case was opened against Tekelioglu and Mehmet Kundakci who was also from the MHP.

SAUDI ARABIA SAYS THEY WOULD RE-BUILD FORT ON THE SAME SPOT

Saudi Arabia promised to reconstruct an Ottoman-era fortress in the same spot after razing it on January 1-2 with bulldozers.

Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry officially conveyed this information to Osman Durak, Turkey's Ambassador in Riyadh. However, despite this promise given by Saudi Arabian administration, Ankara finds it appropriate to cover the developments cautiously.

Saudi Arabia decided to re-evaluate the shopping center complex project upon the pressures coming from Turkey and the world.

The Al-Ajyad fortress which was demolished in Saudi Arabia will be re-built in the same place by conforming to its original.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

RIZA TURMEN GIVES FULL GRADE TO NEW ARTICLE 312

The Turkish judge of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Riza Turmen said the new arrangement regarded with Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), was positive.

Turmen, who spoke at a program in private CNN channel, said, ''the Turkish judges were giving decisions according to the expressions in articles. In fact, the ECHR was considering whether or not the crime served a target like distoring public order or inciting violence.''

INONU WITHDRAWS BUT HIS PROGRAM IS OKEY

The program, carried out by Ilhan Tekeli, Tarhan Erdem and Yigit Guloksuz, was completed, after Erdal Inonu left politics.

The movement entitled, ''A New Political Formation for Turkey in Changing World'' will be announced to the public within a few days.

Inonu's program gave the message that, ''don't expect for a savior for Turkey.''

The program accused existing political order of being hypocrat, and stressed that the parties distanced from reforms.

The program also said a new party could not be set up with politicians who have important shares in failures.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

SCHOOL TILL THE AGE OF 18

National Education ministry completed to a great extend the works increasing compulsory education from eight years to 12 years.

Here is the second big reform package in education:

-High schools will be four years, and everybody will be obliged to complete high school.

-Intense education on English will be given in the first class. 20 hours of weekly program will be allocated to English. Thus, every student will be able to speak English ''well'' when he graduates high school.

-Education of science and mathematics in English will end, because there are not necessary number of teachers.

-Vocational schools will be collected under one roof.

KURDISH DIARY OF HADEP CONFISCATED

The Bursa Criminal Court of Peace no:1 decided to confiscate the year 2002 diaries which were published in Kurdish and were distributed during a regional congress of the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) in northwestern province of Bursa on charges that those diaries made propaganda of the terrorist PKK organization.

Sources said that the Bursa Security Department had investigated those diaries which had been distributed during HADEP's congress in Bursa on January 20.

In these Kurdish appointment books which were published in Istanbul, February 15, the date when head of terrorist PKK organization Abdullah Ocalan was captured in Kenya by Turkish special forces, was marked in black.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

REACTION TO EU

Turkey said decision of the Spain, the EU Term President, Sweden, and the Netherlands to open embassy in Southern Cyprus administration would not be beneficial due to the process which was initiated to find a solution on the Island.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz on Wednesday reacted to the decision of Spain, Sweden, and the Netherlands to open embassy in Greek Cypriot side.

Pointing out that Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides started direct talks against to find a lasting solution on the island, and that both sides were going through a very sensitive period, Dirioz said, ''we don't think that any initiative which will be for the favor of one of the sides will be beneficial and just.''

ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY GIL SAYS ISRAEL IS FAITFUL TO PEACE

Israeli Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Avi Gil, who currently holds contacts in Ankara, conveyed the conditions of his country.

Gil said they wanted to disclose their position and approach, stressing that they wanted the Palestinian administration to stop violence and to take serious measures to fight against terrorism.

Gil said, ''when they do this, we will be able to act in the direction of Mitchell report and Tenet Plan. We are faithful to peace. However, the Palestinian administration should change its point of view toward terrorism to get rid of today's disaster. They should launch an effective and and serious fight against terrorism.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)

WHO BELIEVES TO JUSTICE MINISTER TURK?

Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk has said that the freedoms would broaden with the Adjustment bill. The commission started on Wednesday to debate the Adjustment draft law which further limits the freedom. Turk defended the bill, of which Motherland Party (ANAP) and also the jurists criticize harshly, as saying, ''a modest step which has been taken towards the democratization''.

FINANCE: REAL ESTATE ISSUE IS DIFFICULT

Finance officials has been experiencing difficulty on making the reductions which Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has demanded in the property tax. Despite Ecevit's direction for decrease in the property tax, the solution for this issue seems to be difficult. Finance Ministry has estimated that the cost of the new arrangement in the tax would be 600 trillion Turkish lira.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

FINANCE BUREAUCRATS STARTS TO WORK FOR REDUCTION

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has said, ''we exceeded the proper limit in the property tax, we will decrease it''. After that statement, Finance Ministry bureaucrats started to work on this issue on Wednesday. Incomes General Directorate's high rank officials said that they would reduce the rates to the reasonable levels which Ecevit said. Incomes General Directorate officials convened on Wednesday for the solutions to the problem. Following the meetings which will be held in the coming days, the solution for the tax problem will be determined.

THREE DANGERS

When Turkey has been discussing that ''we will be like Argentina or not'', people are tried of living with natural gas, electric invoices and fuel oil price increases. Bills which are piled up like mountains infuriate people. So-called decrease in the natural gas makes people more angry.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

ILLEGAL ORGANIZATION NOT TO BE SET UP EVEN AGAINST TERRORISM

Supreme Court of Appeals' Eighth Criminal Chamber has announced the reasoned verdict related with the Susurluk case. The reasoned verdict noted that forming an illegal organization and misusing state authority even in the name of fight with terrorism is against the principle of state of law.

-STATE MINISTER DERVIS: ''TURKEY RECORDED AN IMPORTANT STEP IN OVERCOMING PREVIOUS CRISES''

ANKARA - State Minister Kemal Dervis said on Thursday that Turkey recorded an important step in overcoming previous crises.

Responding to the question with notice submitted by Zeki Celik, the Felicity Party (SP) Ankara Parliamentarian, Dervis said Turkey recorded an important step in overcoming previous crises, adding that the risk of entering another crisis was overcome with the economic program that is under implementation.

Dervis said a new economic program has been put into practice following November 2000 and February 2001 crises, and recalled that they were able to deal with the core of the problems as of March 2001.

Stressing that the economic program had been announced in April, and that foreign finance was provided in May, Dervis said, ''important steps have been taken with the effect of the legal infrastructure which was set up with the disciplined finance and monetary policies and the structural reforms, and with the intense working of the Parliament.''

Dervis said first signals of overcoming economic difficulties, began to come early in June, but there was a delay in confidence climate because of some political disputes.

Pointing out that signals of improvement began to be seen again in economy starting as of end of July, Dervis said this time negative effects of September 11 terrorist attacks were reflected in Turkey.

Dervis said, ''Turkey, in the period of September 11 attacks, both put into implementation the necessary monetary policies, and also did not make concession from its determination about disciplined monetary policies and structural reforms. Continuation of the determination for the implementation of economic program for the coming period increased confidence in Turkey both inside and outside the country. As a result of this, Turkey was able to provide very large amounts of additional resource from the international finance institutions like International Monetary Fund (IMF) and financial markets.''

Dervis said floating exchange rate regime which is under implementation provided flexibility against shocks that may come from outside and a competitive power in respect to exportation, adding that, ''structural reforms that are under implementation with determination create facilities for us to look at future with confidence. Important amounts of additional finance resources obtained from the foreign financial institutions like the IMF, are the results of the determination in implementing the economic program.''

''Although many world economies face the risk of serious economic stagnancy with the negative effects of September 11 terrorist attacks, Turkey got prepared to enter into 'sustainable growth' process again in the year 2002, '' Dervis said.

Dervis said, ''Turkey from now on recorded an important step in overcoming past crises. As a result of the program that is under implementation, it will be able to overcome the risk of entering another crisis. The consequences of this will be sustainable growth and reaching prosperity.''


CONTENTS

  • [01] 106 YEAR OLD HAMIT ERGUN CANNOT FORGET MASSACRE COMMITTED BY ARMENIANS WHICH HE WITNESSED

  • [01] 106 YEAR OLD HAMIT ERGUN CANNOT FORGET MASSACRE COMMITTED BY ARMENIANS WHICH HE WITNESSED

    ADAPAZARI, Jan 24 (A.A) - Hamit Ergun (106), who dwell in Adapazari Township, can not forget the massacre committed by Armenians although long years have passed.

    Ergun, who lives together with his four children from two marriages and 90 grandchildren, told A.A correspondent that he had witnessed many important incidents like the First and Second World War, War of Independence, and Foundation of Republic, ''however,'' he noted he could not forget the massacre committed by Armenians which affected him very badly.

    Ergun said this massacre was the worst memory of his century old life.

    ''I can remember very well what I experienced. The Armenians, when they came together with the Russians, raped women and killed innocent people. The Russian soldiers did not act cruelly to us, by I can not forget what Armenians had done to us. My family and I managed to live by escaping to the mountains,'' he said.

    -PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''ELECTIONS HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THE AGENDA FROM
    NOW ON''
    ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who also acts as the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), said on Thursday that election was excluded from the agenda of Turkey, noting that, ''mentioning early elections at this atmosphere will contradict with good will.''

    Addressing his party group meeting, Ecevit said indications in economy gave positive signals after the end of last year, stressing that business circles were hopeful for the future of economy and for the steps that were taken.

    Ecevit said stock exchange increased, foreign exchange and interests decrased, and the speed of inflation was slowed down, adding that increase in foreign sale caused investment and production to increase. Ecevit said many factories began to recruit workers again.

    Ecevit said, ''the tripartite coalition government is obliged to continue the positive steps, which it started to take in every field, till the end of election period. There are some obtacles in front of investment and production which don't stem from the government. We are also determined to overcome them.''

    -ROMANIAN TOURISM MINISTER DAN MATEI AGATHON DUE IN TURKEY
    ANKARA - Romanian Tourism Minister Dan Matei Agathon will come to Turkey on Friday as the guest of Tourism Minister Mustafa Tasar.

    Tourism Ministry told A.A correspondent on Thursday that Agathon and accompanying delegation would attend ''15th term meeting of Turkey-Romania Joint Tourism Commission'' to be held in Istanbul on Friday.

    Turkey and Romania will sign a tourism protocol following the meeting.

    Exchange of information in tourism, encouragement of cooperation between unions of travel agencies and between other tourism vocational organizations, mutual investment in two countries, protection of environment and exchange of students in tourism will be taken up in the meeting.

    A press conference will be held after the meeting.

    Romanian delegation will meet with representatives of private sector on Saturday.

    Agathon and accompanying delegation will depart from Turkey on January 27 after visiting historical and touristic places in Istanbul.

    -PROMINENT JOURNALIST-AUTHOR UGUR MUMCU COMMEMORATED ON THE 9TH ANNIVESARY
    OF HIS ASSASINATION
    ANKARA - Nine years have passed since the assasination of journalist-author Ugur Mumcu. All the court files opened in connection with the incidents were resulted. Abdullah Argun Cetin, the first suspect of the Mumcu investigation was acquitted, meanwhile three suspects were sentenced to capital punishment in the case of ''Umut Operation''. Four accused acquitted, and 15 others were sentenced to various imprisonment terms.

    Ankara State Security Court (DGM) dealth with the suit following the assasination on Mumcu on January 24, 1993.

    Prosecutor Hamza Keles filed a suit against Abdullah Argun Cetin calling for capital punishment on charges that he had been involved in intentional kiling of Mumcu and that he was a member of the gang that was set up with this target.

    Trial of Cetin started in Ankara DGM no:1 on January 7, 1999 and continued for one year.

    Cetin in the first hearing said they examined the street where Mumcu was assasinated, but that he was not told who would be assassinated. Cetin said he was under pressure, and that he wanted to benefit from Repentance Law. No concrete developments could be recorded in the case in which Cetin was tried.

    DGM Prosecutor Keles, upon the information obtained from the CDs and floppy discs which were confiscated in an operation launched against terrorist Hezbollah organization on January 17, 2000 in Istanbul, filed a suit against 17 suspects on July 11, 2000 calling for capital punishment for nine of them.

    The indictment about the ''Umut'' (Hope) operation which was launched to find murderers of journalist-writer Ugur Mumcu, and later covered 22 incidents, including assasinations of Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taner Kislali, Prof. Muammer Aksoy and Dr. Bahriye Ucok, said, ''the bomb planted under the automobile of Mumcu was made by suspect Ferhan Ozmen. The bomb included 2.3 kg of C-4 type explosive. The bomb was planted under the automobile by suspect Oguz Demir, and suspect Necdet Yuksel helped him by watching out the street.''

    Ankara DGM no: 2 started hearing the case on the Umut Operation on August 14, 2000. Number of suspects increased to 24 after all files were combined. The case was finalized on January 7, 2002.

    Suspects Ferhan Ozmen, Necdet Yuksel and Rustu Aytufan were sentenced to capital punishment on charges of ''being a member of an armed gang and attempting to damage constitutional order of the state by using force'' in accordance with Article 146/1 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

    Suspect Abdullah Argun Cetin and four other suspects were acquitted, and case about another suspect was suspended. Meanwhile, 15 suspects were sentenced to imprisonment from 3 years 9 months to 18 years 9 months.

    The Umut case lasted for about 17 months.

    -ABNA CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL ON FRIDAY
    ISTANBUL - The conference on ''Perspective of the Balkan News Agencies about Teachings of Communications'' will be held at Istanbul's Bahcesehir University on Friday.

    State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu will attend the conference organized in cooperation between the Anadolu Agency (A.A) acting as the term president of the Association of Balkan News Agencies (ABNA) and the Bahcesehir University.

    Directors general and high-level representatives of Athens News Agency (ANA) and Macedonia Press Agency (MTA) of Greece, Albanian Telegraph Agency (ATA), Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA), Macedonia Information Agency (MIA), ROMPRESS of Romania and TANJUG of Yugoslavia will be in attendance at the conference.

    A.A Executive Board President and A.A General Director Mehmet Guler and Bahcesehir University Rector Prof. Dr. Halil Guven will deliver a speech at the conference.

    Meanwhile, participants will respond questions of students.

    -PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT SAYS HE HOPES TURKEY COULD PIONEER ESTABLISHMENT OF
    A

    NATIONAL ARMY IN AFGHANISTAN IN THE COMING MONTHS
    ANKARA - Prime Minister and leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) Bulent Ecevit said on Thursday that he hoped that Turkey could pioneer establishment of a national army in Afghanistan in the coming months.

    Ecevit, who addressed his party group meeting, conveyed his views about Afghanistan.

    Ecevit said the U.S. President George W. Bush thanked him for the support which Turkey expended in fight against terrorism.

    Ecevit said, ''a security unit under the title of International Security Aid Force is being established. British forces head this unit for the time being, but both the U.S. administration and Britain want us to undertake the task within a few months. This is not something which we requested. They requested this from us. We welcome it, but a definite decision has not been given yet. However, there is such a wide-spread tendency.''

    ''You know the importance we attributed to the establishment of a national army and national police force in Afghanistan. Our demand is responded as reasonable. I hope we will have the possibility to pioneer the establishment of a national army in Afghanistan in the coming months. I have always stated that there was not an Afghan army so far. There were armies clashing with each other. This is still so. On Wednesday, I saw in the television that there was a dispute between two armies. To this end, an army should be set up soon. It is difficult to find persons to recruit at the time being.''

    Recalling that Turkey contributed many countries in the region on military training, Ecevit said he conveyed those experienced to Afghan Prime Minister Hamid Karzai. Ecevit said, ''I told Karzai that Turkey is willing to set up army and police forces in Afghanistan.''

    Ecevit said Turkey made economic and social contributions to Afghanistan in every period, adding that Turkey expended economic and social aid to Afghanistan although it did not recognize Taliban.

    Pointing out that there were many people who intervene in Afghanistan in every period, Ecevit said Afghan people were the victims of the clashes between those who intervene.

    Ecevit said Turkey contributed to Afghanistan not because of its own interests, but for the security of the region and Central Asia and as a requirement of the friendship stemming from history.

    Ecevit said, ''we will contribute Afghan people to reach prosperity without having selfish accounts.''

    -INTERIOR MINISTER YUCELEN SAYS NEARLY ALL OF SUSPECTS OF ASSASSINATION OF
    OKKAN WERE IDENTIFIED
    ANKARA - Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen said on Thursday, ''nearly all of suspects of assassination of former Police Chief Gaffar Okkan on January 24, 2001, were identified, and many of them were captured.''

    Responding questions of journalists, Yucelen stressed that terrorism could not have any language, religion, race or nationality.

    Yucelen said, ''I propose all humanity to love each other and cooperate against terrorism in order to eradicate this crime against humanity.''

    Responding a question, ''as you know, some members of terrorist Hezbollah organization were captured in southeastern province of Batman two days ago. Two of them were determined to have been involved in assassination of Okkan. All criminals are being captured one after the other. I want to emphasize once again that those who are involved in terrorist activities will be brought to justice sooner or later. Nearly all of suspects of assassination of Okkan on January 24, 2001, were identified, and many of them were captured. Many of the weapons used in the assassination were seized.''

    Condemning terrorism, Yucelen implored God's strength upon all who lost their beloved one in terrorist attacks.

    -JUSTICE COMMISSION PASSES FIRST ARTICLE OF ADJUSTMENT BILL
    ANKARA - The first article of the bill which is proposing changes in Article 159 of the Turkish Penal Code was accepted after undergoing a change by Parliamentary Justice Commission on Thursday.

    Article 159 of the Turkish Penal Code says, ''anybody who openly insults the Turkish Republic, democracy, Turkish nation, state and Parliament, its Ministers' Council, ministries, the state's military and security forces will be sentenced one to three years in prison.''

    The new bill also proposes to sentence people who insult the laws of the Turkish Republic and Parliament decisions to six months in prison.

    The sentence will be increased one third of it if the crime is committed by a Turkish citizen in another country.

    The new bill lifts fines. It also brings down the higher limit of the prison terms from six to three years.

    -BRITISH UNDERSECRETARY BALLARD: ''WE WANT TO FORM PARTNERSHIPS
    WITH TURKISH WATER SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES''
    ISTANBUL - British Food, Environment and Rural Affairs Ministry Undersecretary John Ballard has said that his government wanted to form partnership with representatives of the water sector in Turkey.

    A British water delegation visiting Turkey to exhange views with Turkish government and public sector representatives held a seminar at Ceylan International Hotel on Thursday.

    Ballard said his country supported the EU's enlargement and Turkey should also take part in this enlargement. He also briefed officials about the British water sector.

    He explained that a total of 80 billion U.S. dollars of investment would be made until 2005 in Britain for water and domestic waste water insfastructure.

    He stressed that Britian wanted to form partnership with water sector representatives in Turkey.

    British Consul General in Istanbul Roger Short said Britain was the first country to privatize water works and that British planning techniques were currently used in many countries.

    Short pointed out that the economic crisis in Turkey caused all the sectors to slow down. Still, Short said, the British government and companies want to participate in the future plans of Turkey.

    Short maintained that Turkey's environmental problems could be solved in middle or long term and that British companies were ready help this process.

    -PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT SAYS U.S. ADMINISTRATION PAYS
    CAREFUL ATTENTION TO TURKEY'S OPIONS ABOUT IRAQ
    ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), said on Thursday, ''the U.S. administration pays careful attention to Turkey's opinions about Iraq. Any military operation cannot be launched in the region without information and contribution of Turkey due to our geographical position.''

    Speaking at the DSP's group meeting, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''the issue of Iraq was not brought onto agenda during our contacts with the U.S. officials. The issue was taken up during my meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush. President Bush used long and striking expressions about the issue of Iraq. He clearly pointed out that he could not endure Iraqi President Saddam Hussein any longer. He stressed that Iraq should get rid of Saddam Hussein. President Bush added that he did not have any certain plan, and noted that diplomatic methods were in question. In fact, it is promising that there were efforts to find a solution through diplomatic methods. President Bush said that they were aware of Turkey's sensitivity about Iraq's territorial integrity, and added that any step to jeopardize Turkey could not be taken. I hope that President Saddam Hussein will take seriously these messages of President Bush. It is unnecessary to maintain such a meaningless resistance against the whole world.''

    Noting that there were different opinions in the U.S. society and administration about Iraq, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''the U.S. administration pays careful attention to our opinions about Iraq. Any military operation cannot be launched in the region without information and contribution of Turkey due to our geographical position. I believe that U.S. administration would set up a productive consultation process with Turkey.''

    Pointing out that they attributed great importance to strategical partnership between Turkey and the United States, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''this partnership is largely about political and military fields. There are some unfair attitudes especially in our commercial relations. For instance, Turkey cannot benefit from commercial advantages provided for the member countries to the European Union (EU) and for some other countries. This deficiency should be removed as soon as possible. Although our military cooperation is of great importance in regard to Turkey and NATO, we cannot benefit from some facilities. For instance, the United States and Israel have been exchanging technology in military devices. We brought onto agenda these issues. Qualified industrial zones were set up in Israel and Jordan. We asked the United States to set up similar industrial zones in Turkey. They welcomed our proposal.''

    Recalling that an economic council was set up in order to increase economic and commercial relations between Turkey and the United States to the level of strategical partnership between the two countries, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''the council will convene in Ankara between February 26 and 27. The United States attributes importance to cooperation in energy. They prefer multi-optional energy lines. Also, the United States attributes importance to good relations with Russia. We have also been attributing great importance to relations with Russia since the very beginning.

    Noting that bureaucratic obstacles were the most important obstacles in front of investors, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''we have taken important steps to solve this problem with the Industrial Zones Law. Some leading U.S. newspapers published announcements to inform people on these legal arrangements in Turkey.''

    Prime Minister Ecevit added, ''President Bush said that Turkey had been taking difficult decisions in its economy. He said that Argentina failed to take such decisions, and added that foreign investments would increase after Turkey succeeded in securing confidence. My visit to the United States has shown that there had been positive developments about our economy both in Turkey and abroad. Our economy has begun to revive.''

    -FINANCE MINISTER ORAL: ''WE AREN'T PLANNING TO CHANGE PROPERTY TAX RATES''
    ANKARA - Finance Minister Sumer Oral said on Thursday that his ministry was not planning to change the property tax rates.

    Oral noted that the principle of statement would be lifted in the new arrangement related to the property tax and stated that the municipalities would accrue the tax upon the minimal values and transmit to the taxpayers.

    Oral told A.A correspondent that the principle of statement was given 4 yearly in property tax and within this framework 2002 was the new period for the principle of statement.

    Pointing out that the latest principle of statements had been given in 1998, Oral noted that they met the problems in the property tax like the problems for today when they came to the government in 1999.

    Oral said that some of the principle of statements were shown high and some of them were shown low and that situation created a big disquite, and noting that they put their hands to that problem related to 18 million taxpayers.

    Stressing that the works to remove the injustices were continuing and Oral said that the draft which was being prepared on that issue would be debated in the meeting of Council of the Ministers on Monday.

    Oral said that the decision on the new arrangement would be taken in the Council of the Ministers.

    Sumer Oral noted, ''the principle of statement will be lifted with the new legal arrangement which is being prepared. We have been dealing with the draft lifting the principle of statement in property tax for one and a half month. Now, we will make the additions, which will eliminate the injustices in unit price, to this draft. So, both the injustices and the principle of statement will be lifted.''

    Oral said that they were trying to find the most appropriate formule to eliminate the injustices and noted that the works on that issue were continuing and all kinds of alternatives were being evaluated.

    Finance Minister Oral stated that the problem was not related with the tax rates and added, ''we are not plannıng to change property tax rates. The problem is not the rates but the implementations which are far from the injustice.''

    -TURKEY-FRANCE POLITICAL CONSULTATION MEETING TO BE HELD IN PARIS
    ANKARA - Officials from Turkish and French foreign affairs ministries will come together in French capital Paris on January 29 within framework of regular political consultation mechanism between Turkey and France.

    Releasing a statement, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Thursday that Foreign Affairs Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and French Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary General Loic Hennekinne would hold political consultations within framework of regular political consultation mechanism between Turkey and France.

    The sides are excepted to exchange views about bilateral relations, relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU) and regional problems.

    The political consultation meeting between Ziyal and Hennekinne was scheduled to be held in Paris on December 7, 2001. The meeting was postponed due to strike air traffic controllers in France.


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