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

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ANADOLU AJANSI

NEWS

01 February

2002 Friday

Türkiye

Dünya

Parlamento

Ekonomi

Spor

Sanat-Magazin

Sağlık

T

urkey

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 1, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Belgium which has been harboring terrorists and has not yet extradited murderer Fehriye Erdal to Turkey, now sent three of its parliamentarians to terrorist PKK organization's successor head terrorist Osman Ocalan. Belgian parliamentarians Ferdy Willems and Vincent Van Quickenborne and another one who has not been identified toured Northern Iraq between January 6 and January 10 and met with PKK's current head terrorist Osman Ocalan. These three parliamentarians, who do not pay attention to opening of a joint front against terrorism, of Belgium which leads the countries which are ''tolerant'' towards terrorist organizations, went to Northern Iraq via Iran and met with Abdullah Ocalan's brother Osman Ocalan on January 10. They were accompanied by also two Belgian journalists and Dervis Faro from the Kurdish Institute. These parliamentarians are members of Belgian ''Volks Uni'' (VU) party which defends independence of Flaman region and foundation of two separate states in Belgium. Belgium's ''soft'' attitude towards terrorist organizations created tension in relations between Ankara and Brussels lastly with the issue of assassin Fehriye Erdal.

TURKISH TANKS TO ENTER BAGHDAD

New York Times columnist William Safire claimed that Turkish tank brigades and the U.S. special forces would enter Baghdad in an operation targeting to overthrow Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

THEY USE AL-AJYAD FORTRESS AS DUMP

48-year-old Recep Yildirim who worked as an ambulance driver at the Turkish Hospital in Mecca secretly took photographs in 1997 of the Al-Ajyad Fortress which was constructed by the Ottomans in 1600s to protect the Kaaba and demolished by Saudi Arabians a few weeks ago to build a hotel. These photographs show that the fortress was being used as a dump and left to its destiny. Recep Yildirim said, ''I saw that they used the doors as a shooting target. The Ottoman sultan's signatures inscribed on the walls were dismantled. Inside of the fortress was full of dirt and garbage.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Prof. Celal Sengor will drive away sleepiness of residents of Northern Marmara region with his statements about tsunami. Prof. Sengor said, ''it has been determined that the main fault line in Marmara Sea is single. However, there are fault lines in the south of the main fault line and they can cause earthquakes measuring more than 7 on the Richter scale. These fault lines can also cause tsunami. They are between Cinarcik and Armutlu.''

DERVIS SAYS 1 U.S. DOLLER MUST BE 1,400 THOUSAND TURKISH LIRAS

Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) Chairman Oguz Satici said that U.S. dollar should absolutely come to its real place and that State Minister Kemal Dervis had given the necessary message. Responding a question about his meeting with Dervis during a cocktail party held on the occassion of start of publishing of TIM's Turkishtime magazine, Satici said, ''Mr. Dervis mentioned two points: Those who play with foreign exchange at high or low currency will suffer damages. To me, one U.S. dollars should be about 1 million 400 thousand Turkish liras and later it should fluctuate according to the inflation rate. Besides, such a valued Turkish lira can create problems for us from time to time.''

OBSTACLES WITH IMF SMOOTHED AWAY

Obstacles in front of a new stand-by deal with the IMF which will also cover a fresh loan of 10 billion U.S. dollars in 2002 were smoothed away. IMF officials said that they had received ''positive'' news about the arrangement on the restructuring of state banks following after President Ahmat Necdet Sezer had ratified the Banking Law's three articles which he had earlier vetoed. Speaking to the newspaper, an IMF official said, ''an official statement has not been made yet but this second obstacle had been removed''. IMF Spokesman Conny Lotze said that the IMF Board which was expected to approve new deal with Turkey and 10 billion U.S. dollars of loan to Turkey would convene on February 4.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

WHY DID RUSSIANS EXPEL OCALAN?

Head of terrorist PKK organization Abdullah Ocalan proceeded from Athens to Moscow. The CIA, MOSSAD, National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and Egyptian Intelligence Department have been pursuing him since he left Damascus. As his mobile phone had never been closed, his place was determined immediately. Moscow got into a difficult situation. Russian Prime Minister Primakov said, ''the natural gas agreement with Turkey is more important than him'' and showed the door to Ocalan. Later, Ocalan remembered Italian Prime Minister d'Alema and Italian parliamentarians who had visited him in Damascus. Ocalan decided to go to Italy. His escape to Italy started, but with the password: ''as a guest''.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Claims which were put forward since Abdullah Ocalan stepped on Italy are becoming concrete. Former Italian prime minister Massimo d'Alema cannot deny that he had responsibility for bringing of Ocalan to Italy. He only says that those claims were ''explicit''.

KURDISH EDUCATION OBJECTIONABLE

French Senator Michel Pelchat said that Turkey's concerns about Kurdish were comprehensible. Stressing that the Republic had a national language, Pelchat said that Kurdish education could strengthen separatism.

''PEACE IS VERY IMPORTANT''

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit met with Rights and Freedoms Movement (HOH) leader Ahmet Dogan in Bulgaria. Ecevit said that peace in the Balkans was very important. Dogan said that Turkish businessmen became very late regarding investment in Bulgaria.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

What Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli had said while responding to criticisms, violates Article 159 of the Turkish Penal Code which he is defending: Insulting the Prime Minister, his deputy and the Justice Minister. Bahceli referred to those who criticized their position toward articles 312 and 159 and Article 8 of the Anti-Terrorism Law with descriptive adjectives like ''worthless, aggressive and outworn''. However, if 159 is legalized unchanged, these expressions will be considered offense as they target the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister.

AND THIS IS DECREE CRISIS

The coalition government could not reach an agreement on four strategic decrees including transparency and influential management. These decrees should be approved until February 4 when the IMF will discuss the stand-by and 12 billion U.S. dollars loan. MHP raised objections against three decrees about transparent and influential management, measures to draw foreign capital and banking and personnel regime. Meanwhile, the decree which includes tax strategy is going to be renewed.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Adjustment laws destroyed the harmony between MHP and the Motherland Party (ANAP). MHP leader Bahceli criticized ANAP leader Mesut Yilmaz: ''It is thought-provoking that those who have not contributed to our democratic culture for long years are now acting as disciples of democracy. Those who have outworn ideas and want amendment to Article 312 have set up a holy alliance against the MHP.'' Meanwhile, Yilmaz said, ''I don't want to be a part of this polemics. But Article 312 should absolutely be changed. This is wanted by the EU.''

''IT IS A SENSITIVE ISSUE BUT WE WILL SOLVE IT''

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said about Article 312 which created crisis between MHP and ANAP, ''we will smooth away also this obstacle through compromise.''

SEZER RATIFIES BANKING

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer ratified the Banking Law which he had earlier vetoed and sent it to the Prime Ministry for its publishing in the Official Gazette.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Discussion of adjustment laws which created polemics between coalition government partners MHP and ANAP was postponed to March 2002. With this decision, the tension between MHP and ANAP was frozen.

SOLDIERS RELIEVE MPS' FEAR OF DIVISION

The path in front of the U.N. Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Convention which Turkey promised to sign during its process of EU membership was opened. The General Staff and Foreign Ministry persuaded the parliamentarians who had the concern that ''Turkey is divided if we approve this convention''. The first article of the convention includes the sentence which says ''all nations have the right to determine their destiny''.

-FM CEM MEETS WITH AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT ALIYEV

NEW YORK- Foreign Minister Ismail Cem who is in New York, the United States to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) met with Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev. Sources said on Friday that Aliyev had informed Cem on his latest visit to Russia and his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sources said that Cem and Aliyev had expressed their opinion that ''everything was on track'' at the meeting during which they had also discussed the latest situation of Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline.

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, diplomatic sources said that Turkey had a positive regard for the United States' and Russia's points of view toward Caucasus within scope of the fight against terrorism after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

Sources said that Cem and Aliyev had also taken up the Karabakh issue but they had stated that there had not been any progress in the issue.

Cem is expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou the same day.

Foreign Minister Cem will have a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Macedonian Foreign Minister Srdjan Kerim on Saturday.

-DERVIS MEETS WITH IMF FIRST DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR KRUEGER

WASHINGTON D.C, - State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy held contacts with the officials of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) prior to its expected meeting on Turkey on February 4.

Sources said on Friday that Dervis who had come to Washington D.C. to attend World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in New York held an unofficial meeting with IMF First Deputy Managing Director Anne Krueger.

Dervis also met with other IMF officials. Sources said that those contacts had covered preparatory works on the IMF Board's meeting on Turkey which was expected to be held on February 4.

Sources said that Dervis was pleased with his contacts while he had not had a meeting with U.S. administration officials.

Dervis is expected to proceed to New York the same day.

IMF Foreign Relations Director Tom Dawson had said that there was not any change in the date of IMF Board meeting on Turkey.

Together with the completion of pre-conditions, IMF Executive Directors Board is expected to approve a three-year stand-by deal which includes nearly 16 billion U.S. dollars loan to Turkey as of 2002.

Meanwhile, the World Bank Executive Directors Board is expected to convene on February 5 to take up 1.3 billion U.S. dollars of finance and public sector adjustment loan to Turkey.

-GAP REGION EXPORTS PRODUCTS MAINLY TO ITALY, SYRIA, GERMANY, SAUDI ARABIA AND BRITAIN

GAZIANTEP- The Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region exported products mainly to Italy, Syria, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Britain last year.

Exports of agricultural, animal and industrial products to these countries from GAP region last year rose 29.5 percent to 184 million 809 thousand U.S. dollars.

The region had exported 142 million 648 thousand U.S. dollars of agricultural, animal and industrial products to these countries in 2000.

According to the Southeast Anatolian Exporters Associations statistics, exports to Italy rose 66.1 percent to 63 million 799 thousand U.S. dollars, exports to Germany increased 20.8 percent to 32 million 997 thousand U.S. dolars, exports to Syria decreased 4.8 percent to 31 million 460 thousand U.S. dollars, exports to Saudi Arabia climbed 67 percent to 28 million 668 thousand U.S. dollars and exports to Britain rose 4.2 percent to 27 million 885 thousand U.S. dollars in 2001.

Dried apricots, cotton thread, cotton and knitted textiles, polypropylene, acrylic and synthetic thread, carpets were the main products exported to these five countries last year.

-MORE THAN 730,000 BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL PRODUCED IN SOUTHEAST IN JANUARY

GAZIANTEP- Turkish Petroleum Corp (TPAO) and private companies extracted 730,267 barrels of crude oil at wells in southeastern province of Adiyaman and surrounding provinces in January of 2002.

According to the Adiyaman Governor's Office and TPAO statistics, 90 percent of this oil was extracted by TPAO and the remaining 10 percent of this oil was extracted by private companies.

According to the statistics, oil was extracted at 163 wells in total in Adiyaman, Sanliurfa and Kilis.

-TREASURY TO MAKE 1 QUADRILLION 62.5 TRILLION LIRAS DOMESTIC DEBT SERVICING NEXT WEEK

ANKARA - Treasury will make a 1 quadrillion 62.5 trillion Turkish liras (TL) of domestic debt servicing next week.

Within this framework, Treasury will make a 90.7 trillion TL of average sales repayment on Monday, February 4.

On Wednesday, February 6, Treasury will pay 136 trillion TL to markets, and make a 398.1 trillion TL average sales repayment, 131.6 trillion TL of payment of bonds issued to state banks and 17.1 trillion TL of payment of bonds issued to the Savings Deposits Insurance Fund.

Treasury will make a 289.1 trillion TL of payment on February 7 comprising payment to Central Bank and IMF.

Treasury's total payments in February will be 4 quadrillion 678.4 trillion TL.

-TREASURY UNDERSECRETARIAT: ''IT HAS BEEN STATED THAT IMF EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS BOARD COULD CONVENE ON FEBRUARY 4''

ANKARA- Treasury said on Friday that it had been mentioned that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Directors Board could convene on February 4 to discuss Turkey.

Releasing a statement, Treasury Undersecretariat said that in the statements made by the IMF management in Washington on several occasions, it was mentioned that the IMF Executive Directors Board could convene on Monday, February 4 to discuss the issue of support to Turkey's medium term new economic programme between 2002-2004.

It said that the arrangements about the necessary pre-conditions of discussion of new stand-by deal by the IMF Executive Directors Board had been completed and that some matters about those arrangements would be published in today's Official Gazette.

-TSK TO CONTRIBUTE TO EQUIPPING AND TRAINING OF AFGHAN BATTALION

ANKARA- The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) was asked to contribute to equipping and training of the battalion of guard which was decided to be formed as the first security unit of the Afghan Army.

Turkey will send a separate training team to Afghanistan to meet this demand of the battalion.

Releasing a statement on Friday, the General Staff Secretariat General said that also the TSK was asked to contribute to equipping and training of the battalion of guard which was decided to be formed as the first security unit of the Afghan Army under coordination of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) deployed in Afghanistan.

Noting that uniforms and equipment of this battalion would be supplied by Turkey, it said that it had decided to send a separate special Turkish training team to Afghanistan to meet the demands of the Afghan battalion of guard which would be comprised of nearly 600 soldiers.

''The Turkish training team which will go to the region in February will undertake an important part of training of the battalion. Dispatch of necessary equipment to Kabul will start in coming days. Meanwhile, dispatch of the 261-member Turkish troop will start when the settlement works in the region are concluded,'' it added.

-DIRECT INTERNET CONNECTION BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECE

ANKARA- A direct internet connection will be installed between Turkey and Greece, which can be used by the universities in both countries under a project carried out by the European Union (EU) Commission.

Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) National Academic Network and Information Center (ULAKBIM) Director Tugrul Yilmaz said on Friday that the EU Commission had initiated a project namely UMEDCONNECT for installation of internet infrasturucture among the Mediterranean countries.

Noting that 13 Mediterranean countries would be connected to each other through a network under the project, Yilmaz said that nearly 1 million euro source would be granted to each of the countries for installation of the infrastructure.

Yilmaz said that ULAKBIM and the Greek Academic Network Management had decided to allocate these sources to installation of a direct internet connection between the two countries.

Noting that the connection would have a 2-4 megabyte capacity and symbolize the cooperation between the two countries, Yilmaz said that Turkish and Greek academic circles would benefit from the network.

-ISDEMIR TO BE TRANSFERRED TO ERDEMIR

ISTANBUL- Eregli Iron and Steel Factories (ERDEMIR) will be one of the top ten steel-iron producers in Europe after transfer of Iskenderun Iron and Steel Factories (ISDEMIR).

Sending a statement to the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) on Friday, ERDEMIR recalled that the transfer agreement had been signed the day before and that it would take over ISDEMIR with a ceremony the same day.

According to the statement, ISDEMIR will be changed into a facility which produces 2.5 million tons of steel products a year with 700 million U.S. dollars of investments that ERDEMIR is planning to make in five years.

After transfer of ISDEMIR, ERDEMIR will be one of the top ten steel-iron producers in Europe with nearly 1.5 billion U.S. dollars unnual sales.

-JUSTICE MINISTER TURK: ''NOBODY SHOULD ACCUSE THE OTHER. I BELIEVE THAT A COMPROMISE WOULD BE REACHED WITH A CHANGE THAT WOULD BE MADE ON WORDS''

ANKARA- Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said on Friday that he believed a compromise would be reached with a change that would be made on some words in Adjustment Bill envisaging amendment to Turkish Penal Code (TCK) and some other laws. Turk said nobody should accuse the other in this respect.

When journalists said there was a disagreement between the Motherland Party (ANAP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) on Adjustment Bill, Turk said the process continued, noting that there was not a fundamental difference of opinion.

Pointing out that they targeted broadening democratic rights and freedoms without giving damage to the integrity and national unity of the country, Turk said, ''I believe that a compromise can be provided by changing some expressions and words. Providing a large agreement is important.''

When recalled that State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said the draft was prepared by EU General Secretariat and also critized the issue, Turks said nobody should accuse each other.

Turk said the arrangement amending articles 159 and 312 of the TCK was also included in the preliminary draft prepared by a commission formed by Justice Ministry, noting that European Union General Secretariat took the proposals from there.

Turk said the Justice Ministry in its works reduced the imprisonment terms, noting that their proposal sent to the Council of Ministers, they used the phrase ''that may form a danger for public order'' instead of the the word ''probability'' in the second paragraph of the Article 312 of TCK.

Turk said ''existing and open danger criterion'' was put to the reason of the article, however, noted that this reason was not reflected in the text.

Turk said people should not be insistent and push the issue into deadlock because there was not a fundamental difference of opinion, and he noted that, ''I believe that there will be a compromise. The accusations are unnecessary. Broadening freedom of expression is the main target here.''

-WORLD BANK DELEGATION'S TALKS IN ANKARA POSITIVE

ANKARA- The World Bank delegation's talks on the Programmed Public and Finance Sector Special Adjustment Loan (PSFSAL2) were positive and there was not any problem about the 1.3 billion U.S. dollars of loan.

Sources said on Friday that the World Bank delegation would leave Turkey the same day after wrupping up its works.

The World Bank is expected to approve 1.3 billion U.S. dollars of loan to Turkey at its meeting on February 5.

The bank is planning to lend nearly 3 billion U.S. dollars loan to Turkey this year.

Meanwhile, during its meeting on February 4, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is expected to release most of the aid it will give to Turkey in 2002.

IMF will give Turkey 2 billion U.S. dollars of loan each in 2003 and 2004.

Meanwhile, IMF delegation's first review visit will start in March. The next visits will be in May and July.

The review visits after July will be paid once in every three months by the IMF delegation.

Turkey will submit letter of intent following every review visit.

-ILDEM: ''ARAFAT SENT SEZER A LETTER ASKING TURKEY TO USE ITS

INFLUENCE TO HELP RESTART STALLED MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS''

ANKARA- Presidency Foreign Affairs Chief Advisor Tacan Ildem has said that Palestinian leader Yaser Arafat recently sent President Ahmet Necdet Sezer a letter asking Turkey to use its vast influence to help restart the stalled Middle East peace process. In response, Sezer advised him to pursue a dialogue and use his common sense.

Briefing the press about Sezer's program on Friday, Ildem said that Sezer would observe a part of the Winter Exercises in Sarikamis on Feb.8 and later he would attend the opening of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)-European Union (EU) in Istanbul on Feb.12. Ildem also announced that Kyrgyz President Asker Akayev would visit Sezer on Feb. 19-22. He indicated that the relations between two countries were developed through regular visits and reached an excellent level.

Sezer and Akayev will assess the diplomatic relations which began ten years ago and decide on the future steps.

Briefing reporters about Arafat's recent letter to Sezer, Ildem said that Turkey has been very distressed about the ongoing violence in the Middle East which claimed many lives.

Ildem stated that Arafat asked Turkey to use its influence to help restart the Middle East peace process. ''Mr. Arafat's letter includes important elements,'' he continued. ''First of all, Arafat is stressing that they want peace and he is confirming that the Palestinian side would abide by all the agreements signed under Tenet compromise and Sharm El Sheyh Research Committee Report.''

Ildem said that Sezer, in his response to Arafat, stated that peace was the only way out for both the Israeli and Palestinian sides and peace can be only attained through common sense and political dialogue. ''Sezer believes that violence would not lead to anywhere. It isn't possible to justify any terrorist actions. Those who employ terrorism are against peace and we shouldn't give them any concessions. Mr. Arafat states that he would fight against such terrorist groups and we appreciate his approach and find it encouraging. During our contacts with the Israeli side, we are saying that use of force would not bring any solution, and economic sanctions would only increase radical movements. Therefore, the Palestinian people's standard of living should be improved. We're urging the Israeli side to allow Mr. Arafat the freedom of movement he needs to fight terrorism effectively.''

''I had a meeting with the Israeli ambassador yesterday. I conveyed Sezer's views to him. We're expecting both sides to take steps that show their good will and refrain from provocative acts,'' he concluded.

-EUROPE EXTENDS FULL SUPPORT TO REFORMS

-COUNCIL OF EUROPE PLEASED OVER TURKEY'S LIFTING ITS RESERVATIONS RAISED ON ARTICLE 5 OF EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

STRASBOURG- Council of Europe (COE) on Friday expressed pleasure over Turkey's lifting of the reservations which it raised on Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights regarded with right to freedom and security.

COE Secretary General Walter Schwimmer said he was pleased that Turkish government lifted the reservations, which it had raised in 1992 regarded with not implementing Article 5 in Emergency Rule Region.

Secretary General said Turkey, in line with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), reduced custody period to maximum four days before trial, and that this led the reservations raised on Article 5 to be lifted.

Schwimmer said this attitude of Turkey strengthened their belief that careful attitude toward the threat of terrorism and principle of respect to human rights did not contradict with each other.

-ISRAELI NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER DUE IN TURKEY

ANKARA- Israeli Naval Forces Commander Admiral Yedidia Ya'ari will pay a visit to Turkey in February 3-8 as the official guest of Naval Forces Commander Admiral Bulent Alpkaya.

Naval Forces Command issued a written statement and said Israeli Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ya'ari will meet Naval Forces Commander Admiral Alpkaya on February 4.

-FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: ''PKK AND DHKP-C ARE IN FACT ACCEPTED AS TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS IN GERMANY, BRITAIN AND FRANCE''

ANKARA- Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Friday that PKK and DHKP-C organizations were accepted as terrorist organizations in some leading European countries like Germany, Britain, and France, and that activities of those terrorist organizations were not allowed. Cem said it was not possible to say that some other western countries showed necessary sensitivity in meeting Turkey's demands against those terrorist organizations.

FM Cem responded to the question with notice of True Path Party (DYP) Antalya parliamentarian Kemal Celik and Ankara Parliamentarian Saffet Arikan Beduk. Cem said codification works, which the European Union (EU) initiated in line with the conditions that appeared following September 11 attacks, were pleasing as it showed that terrorism issue was seriously dealth with in the end.

Cem said Turkey proposed a close and effective cooperation to its European allies in fight against terrorism, and that Turkey supported works carried out by the EU in this respect.

''Inclusion of terrorist organizations PKK and DHKP-C to the list of terrorist organizations which are being formed by the related institutions of the EU is important as those organizations pose threat not only to Turkey but also to them,'' Cem said.

Stressing that initiatives continued to include PKK and DHKP-C to the list of the terrorist organizations, Cem said, ''EU circles announced that efforts were underway on some additional lists regarded with particularly the third countries, and that the lists that were formed would be reviewed and changed regularly. The EU term president Spain is aware of Turkey's sensitivity in this respect and promised support to our country.''

-EXPORTS OF READY-WEAR TO IRAQ AND SOUTH KOREA RISE BY MORE THAN 300 PERCENT

ISTANBUL- Exports of ready-wear to Iraq and South Korea rose by more than 300 percent last year.

According to the Istanbul Textiles and Ready-Wear Associations (ITKIB) statistics, exports of ready-wear to South Korea increased by 312.20 percent and exports of same products to Iraq rose by 303.58 percent in 2001.

The exports of ready-wear to South Korea increased from 123 thousand U.S. dollars to 507 thousand U.S. dollars and the exports of same products to Iraq rose from 5 million 338 thousand U.S. dollars to 21 million 545 thousand U.S. dollars.

The other markets in which there was the highest increase in the exports of the ready wear products were Portugal with 110.70 percent, Ukraine with 91.59 percent, the Czech Republic with 62.34 percent and Morocco with 60.52 percent.

Meanwhile, the exports of ready-wear products decreased by 85.35 percent in Azerbaijan, the exports of the same products reduced by 79.17 in Pakistan, exports decreased by 64.07 percent in Iran, exports of the ready-wear fell by 62.11 percent in Turkmenistan, the exports of ready-wear decreased by 58.07 percent in Libya and exports of the same products decreased by 50 percent in Russia in 2001.

-THY TO RESUME ITS FLIGHTS TO OSAKA

ISTANBUL - Turkish Airlines (THY) will resume its flights to Osaka which were suspended after Sept 11 terrorist attacks in the United States on Feb 8, 2002.

Releasing a statement on Friday, THY announced its flight schedule which will start as of Feb 8 to Osaka via Seoul.

Below is the THY's flight schedule in local times:

Fridays between February 8 and March 29; departure from Istanbul at 17.15 and arrival in Seoul at 10.20.

Saturdays between February 9 and March 30; departure from Seoul at 11.45, departure from Osaka at 14.30 and arrival in Istanbul at 20.40.

Sundays between February 10 and March 24; departure from Istanbul at 17.15 and arrive in Osaka at 11.15.

Mondays between February 11 and March 25; departure from Osaka at 12.30, departure from Seul at 15.40 and arrival in Istanbul at 20.40.

Mondays and Saturdays between February 9 and March 30; departure from Istanbul at 17.30 and arrival in Tokyo at 12.10.

Tuesdays and Thursdays between February 10 and March 26; departure from Tokyo at 14.10 and arrival in Istanbul at 20.00.

-TURKISH OIL SHIP WHICH WAS KEPT IN FRANCE FOR POLLUTING SEA ACQUITTED

PARIS- Turkish oil ship Golova, which was being kept at the Loire- Atlantique coast, in west coast of France, for allegedly polluting the sea was acquitted.

Following the laboratory examinations which were made in Morbihan town, it is revealed that the ship did not pollute the sea.

Turkish ship was permitted to put out to sea again.

Turkish Embassy said in a statement on Friday that the sensitivity which was shown by Morbihan people on the environment issue was welcomed by comprehension.

Turkish Embassy however criticized the local administration and media acting impetuously and prejudicedly for blaming Turkish ship without waiting for the examination results.

-EXPORTATION STARTS POSITIVELY IN NEW YEAR

ISTANBUL- Turkey increased its exportation by 4.6 percent in the first month of the year.

According to the data of Turkish Exporters Assembly, exportation was 2 billion 454 million and 371 U.S. dollars in January. The increase was 4.6 percent when compared with the figures of the same period last year.

Annual exportation as of the end of January increased by 12.9 percent and reached 31 billion 171 million and 482 U.S. dollars.

Exportation, which was 27 billion 615 million 839 U.S. dollars last year, increased to 31 billion 171 million and 482 U.S. dollars.

There was 6.4 percent increase in exportation of industry products and 0.4 percent increase in exportation of mining sector. Meanwhile, exportation of agricultural products regressed 4 percent.

There was also a regression in exportation of vegetable products with 11.1 percent, and there was an increase in exportation of animal products with 13.4 percent.

Ready-to-wear and confection exportation, which are the locomotive of exportation, increased 6.8 percent and reached 672.2 million U.S. dollars.

TIM Chairman Oguz Satici, who evaluated the figures, pointed out that exportation of January 2002 increased by 4.6 percent, yet recalled that rate of increase in 2000-2001 January was 21.4.

Satici said, ''although the rate of increase in total exportation is pleasing, it at the same time clearly shows some elements which indicate danger for our economy.''

Satici said Turkish lira, which gained a more competitive speciality in this period with the new economic program, followed a hilly graph, and loss of value in the U.S. dollar reduced to the limit of 1 million 300 thousand lira in a short period.

Satici said, ''the things that should be done to increase Turkey's exportation are very clear. However, determined and bold steps are necessary in this respect. Exporters, who believe that production is the only way of salvation for Turkey, are ready to take every step in this respect. We request necessary measures to be taken soon.''

Below is a table showing export figures of different sectors in 2001 and 2002:

JANUARY (1000 USD)

. ------------------- CHANGE

. 2001 2002 (percent)

------------------------ --------- --------- -------

1.AGRICULTURE

A-Vegetable products

Grains and seeds 98,660 80,076 -18.8

Fresh fruits and vegetables 44,295 55,441 25.2

Fresh fruit products 33,100 31,714 -4.2

Dry fruit products 23,838 25,655 7.6

Hazelnut and its products 53,086 37,340 -29.7

Olive and olive oil 5,432 1,997 -63.2

Tobacco 62,692 53,335 -14.9

Flowers 1,196 1,040 -13.0

B-Animal Products

Livestock and water products 13,950 15,820 13.4

C-Timber and forest products 36,963 55,859 51.1

2. INDUSTRY

A-Processed agricultural products

Textile and raw products 224,500 225,712 0.5

Leather and leather products 40,352 41,194 2.1

Rugs 18,535 17,652 -4.8

B-Processed industrial products

Chemical substances 155,264 173,911 12.0

C-Industrial products

Ready-wear 629,669 672,674 6.8

Iron and non-iron metals 303,139 320,684 5.8

Vehicles 268,798 266,716 -0.8

Electrical machinary 219,377 248,694 13.4

Cement products 63,427 77,911 22.8

Other industrial products 3,879 4,432 14.3

3. MINING

Minerals and metals 46,333 46,515 0.4

-------------------------- --------- --------- ------

TOTAL 2,346,485 2,454,371 4.6

-STATE MINISTER AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ:

''IT IS NOT RIGHT TO EVALUATE CUSTOMS UNION AS A COMMERCIAL

AGREEMENT FUNCTIONING IN FAVOR OF EU''

ANKARA- State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said on Friday that it was not right to evaluate Customs Union as a commercial agreement functioning in favor of the European Union (EU).

Responding to the question with notice submitted by Felicity Party (SP) parliamentarian Nezir Aydin, Yilmaz recalled that the EU undertook some commitments within the scope of the Customs Union.

Yilmaz said the EU could not fulfil some of financial aid which it committed because of Greek veto, adding that further influential implementation of the Customs Union was obstructed because of the failure to include Turkey to the joint trade policy adequately.

Pointing out that it would not be right to evaluate Customs Union as a commercial agreement which operates in favor of the EU, Yilmaz recalled that Turkey made 65 percent of its textile to the EU countries.

Yilmaz said Turkey was the only country which set up Customs Union before being the full member of the EU, and stressed that 7.4 billion U.S. dollars investment was made from the EU countries following the Customs Union.

Yilmaz said Turkey materialized 52.5 percent of its total exportation with the EU in the year 2000, stressing that importation made with the community in the same period was 48.9 percent.

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