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

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

ANADOLU AJANSI

NEWS

02 January

2002 Saturday

Türkiye

Dünya

Parlamento

Ekonomi

Spor

Sanat-Magazin

Sağlık

T

urkey

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 2, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Swedish Embassy distributed a book covering a number of lies from so-called Armenian genocide to Kurdish genocide at an official meeting in western Izmir province. The book which included unbelivable lies like ''genocide was made on Armenians and Kurdish people were massacred. The word 'Turkish' expresses a language not a nation'' was distributed at the Swedish Business Culture Days held in Izmir. Businessmen reacted to the book which was prepared by the Swedish Institute. Swedish Ambassadress Anne Dismorr defended herself as saying that the reactions resulted from mis-reading. The former Swedish ambassador whose mandate ended last year and her wife with Turkish origin Nil Liljegren were both friends of Turks. The incident which occurred in Izmir led to comments like ''Mrs. Nil has gone and this has happened. If she was here, such a book could not be distributed.''

PROF. BARKA COULD RESIST FOR 22 DAYS

Geologist and Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Eurasia Geology Institute lecturer Professor Aykut Barka died on Friday at the hospital where he was under medical treatment for 22 days. Barka, who was the father of two children, was 50 years old.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Taylan Yaman was a head of a department in Vakko ready-made clothing company. When he was working, he was paid 747 million Turkish liras (TL) per month. He was dismissed on Janary 31. Yaman immediately applied to the Turkish Labour Authority. Thus, he has become the first person who will be paid unemployment insurance in Turkey.

FOREIGN MINISTER CEM SAYS TURKEY WILL HELP COMPROMISE

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said that Turkey would play a role that would provide harmonization among civilizations. Speaking at the panel discussion entitled ''Setting Up Coalition for a Stable World'', Cem explained Turkey's contributions as a country which takes a front place in the coalition formed against Turkey and Turkey's special point of view to international issues as both a Muslim country and a NATO member and European Union (EU) candidate. Cem noted that terrorism did not have any religion, nationality or geography and said that it could not be justified.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Justice Ministry definitely denied the claims of Star, Yeni Safak and Vakit dailies about Dinc Bilgin. The Justice Ministry said that some circles were trying to influence independent jurisdiction with unreal claims about the detention of Dinc Bilgin. The statement said that the independent courts made the decision when the inmates would be released.

THIRD GIANT IN FILE

The case file of Motorola and Nokia noted that the Uzan Holding firstly swindled Siemens and later tried to intimidate them by threat and blackmail. The ''Siemens incident'' was effective on judge Rakoff's taking the decision to freeze the assets of Uzan family in the United States. Because, in the case file, it was documented how the Uzan family swindled giant German Siemens company.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that the discussions on amendment to articles 312 and 159 of the Turkish Penal Code were ''unpleasant'' and said, ''a month is a long time. This issue will not be excluded from the agenda of the public and can turn into a matter which cannot be settled down in this period.''

COMMENT ON BANKING LAW: ''IT WILL COST TOO MUCH''

Officials at the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) estimated the total cost of the support to the banks, the capitalization ratios of which were below a certain level, as almost 5 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL). However, according to the experts, the cost of the capital support to the banks under the new law will exceed 50 quadrillion TL except the interest and currency changes.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Despite the statement of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli that their attitude would not change, preparations for a new text started for Article 312 within the framework of adjustment law. The military circles also find right the reactions to the word ''probability''.

There is a consensus both in military and civilian section on the definition ''in a way that will endanger public order'' instead of ''probability''.

SEZER ADVISES CALMNESS TO ARAFAT

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer wrote a response to the letter of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

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'' Metin Yalman, the Presidential Spokesman and Press Chief Adviser to the President, said.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who earlier made warnings to the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, this time sends another letter.

In his letter, Ecevit is expected to warn Saddam and say, ''take Bush seriously, and open your doors to the U.N.''

The letter which was written by the Foreign Ministry was given to Ecevit by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal.

The letter urges Saddam to allow UN inspectors and stop the production of mass destruction weapons and stresses that the whole region would be drifted to chaos if he fails to do so.

EXPORTATION IMPROVES POSITIVELY IN THE YEAR 2002

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.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Turkish origin Armenian and Jewish citizens, who had immigrated to Argentina in the first half of last century, began to return.

Around 30 people applied Turkey's Embassy in Buenos Aires to return to Turkey.

Among those who applied, there is an elderly woman Zahuri, 85 years old.

Although this old person has lived in Argentina for long years, she did not accept citizenship of Argentina.

SEZER: FIELD OF FREEDOM SHOULD BE BROADENED

Metin Yalman, the Presidential Spokesman and Press Chief Adviser to the President, responding to a question about the amendment foreseen to be made on Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), recalled that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in his earlier statements pointed out that individual freedoms should be broadened.

Yalman responded to the questions of reporters while speaking at ''Press Briefing'' held in Cankaya Palace. When asked his views about the amendments foreseen to be made on Article 312 of the TCK, Yalman said the issue was on the agenda of the Parliament.

-IMF TO HOLD ITS MEETING ON TURKEY ON FEBRUARY 4

WASHINGTON D.C - International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board will take up Turkey's new letter of intent and stand-by deal on February 4.

IMF officials told A.A correspondent on Saturday that the IMF Executive Board would approve the new stand-by deal and the letter of intent.

The IMF is foreseen to provide a total of 16 billion U.S. dollars of foreign support to Turkey during the new stand-by period which will last till the end of 2004.

Meanwhile, the World Bank Executive Board will hold a meeting to approve the financial and public sector adjustment loan for Turkey worth of 1.3 billion u.S. dollars on Tuesday.

-TURKEY TO BE TAKEN UP AT SPECIAL MEETING WITHIN SCOPE OF WEF

NEW YORK - Turkey will be taken up at a special meeting held within the framework of the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in New York.

The meeting on the apperance of Turkey will be held on Sunday.

Sources said on Saturday that Foreign Minister Ismail Cem would speak on Turkish foreign policy and European Union (EU) candidacy at the meeting in which bank officials, investors, researchers, businessmen, Congress members and lobbyists would attend.

State Minister Kemal Dervis will also attend the meeting and inform the attendants about Turkey's economic reform program, investment targets and measures taken to attract foreign investors.

Privatization Administration Board President Ugur Bayar will also make statements about the privatization initiatives and targets.

U.S. Department of the Treasury Undersecretary John Taylor is expected to attend the meeting.

-EXPORTATION OF AEGEAN REGRESSES 9 PERCENT IN JANUARY

IZMIR - Exportation made from the Aegean Exporters Union in January reached 226 million 829 thousand U.S. dollars.

Written statement made from the Aegean Exporters Union said exportation made in January this year regressed 9 percent when compared with the same period of last year.

The statement said the exportation, which was 249 million 976 thousand U.S. dollars in January 2001, decreased to 226 million 829 thousand U.S. dollars this year.

-TEXTILE BECOMES ENGINE OF EXPORTATION IN 2001

GAZIANTEP- Sythetic thread, machine-made carpet, cotton thread and knitted textile became the locomotive of exportation from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region last year.

The synthetic thread, machine-made carpet, cotton thread, and knitted textile exportation from the region increased by 14.2 percent to 295 million 283 thousand U.S. dollars in 2001 when compared with 2000.

The region's acyrilic and synthetic thread exports increased by 23.8 percent to 114 million 331 thousand U.S. dollars while machine-made carpet exportation decreased by 3.2 percent to 83 million 502 thousand U.S. dollars.

The GAP region's cotton thread exportation rose by 25.7 percent while its knitted textile exports climbed by 16.9 percent last year when compared with the previous year.

The region raised 56 million 796 thousand U.S. dollars from cotton thread exports and 40 million 654 thousand U.S. dollars from knitted textile exportation last year.

Southeastern Anatolia Project region had obtained 92 million 290 thousand U.S. dollars from acyrilic and synthetic thread exports, 86 million 241 thousand U.S. dollars from machine-made carpet exportation, 45 million 167 thousand U.S. dollars from cotton thread exports and 34 million 770 thousand U.S. dollars from knitted textile exportation the previous year.

Syria, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Lebanon, the United States, Spain, Britain, Germany, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Romania, Belgium, Israel, Bulgaria, Portugal, Greece, France and Algeria were the main export centers of the region.

-WINTER-2002 EXERCISE TO BE PERFORMED IN SARIKAMIS

ERZURUM- Winter-2002 exercise will be performed in Sarikamis township of eastern Kars province between February 4 and 8.

A statement of the Ninth Army Corps Command said on Saturday that journalists could watch the maneuver on the last day.

The statement noted that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer was expected to watch a part of the Winter-2002 Exercise in which units of Third Army Command would also participate.

-EXPORTS FROM BURSA DECREASE BY 2.3 PERCENT IN JANUARY

BURSA- Exports from Bursa province decreased by 2.3 percent to 342 million 81 thousand U.S. dollars in January.

According to figures of Uludag Exporters Union, the exportation from Bursa province which had been 350 million 51 thousand U.S. dollars in January 2001 decreased to 342 million 81 thousand U.S. dollars in January 2002.

Vehicle and by-industry product exports were ranked the first in the overall exportation from the province with 262 million 6 thousand U.S. dollars while textile with 36 million 940 thousand and ready-made clothing with 31 million 942 thousand U.S. dollars followed vehicle and by-industry product exportation.

Below listed the exportation figures of Bursa in January 2002:

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