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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 02-02-09Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AjansıANADOLU AJANSI HABERLER 09 February 2002 Saturday Türkiye Dünya Parlamento Ekonomi Spor Sanat-Magazin Sağlık Türkiye CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 9, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)CLINTON TALKS ABOUT TURKEYFormer U.S. President Bill Clinton told two Turkish women who participated in Davos meeting that he fought with Germany for Turkey to join the Customs Union with the EU. Clinton noted that he worked a lot for Turkey to join the EU, stressing that Turkey had to unite with Greece and become a leader in the Balkans. Noting that he liked Turkey very much, Clinton said that the world understood the importance of secular Turkey following the terrorist attacks in the U.S. on September 11. OKTAY EKSI ELECTED AS WAPC CHAIRMAN MILLIYET (LIBERAL)TURKEY TO PAY BACK ITS DEBT TO TURKEYThe first tranche of the credit worth of 16 billion dollars which has been provided by the IMF has been transferred to Turkey. However 6,3 billion dollars of this first tranche which is 9,3 billion dollars will be used in paying back the debt to IMF. The debt of IMF will be paid back in four years. TURKEY DOES ITS MISSION SABAH (LIBERAL)''BLACK VOICE'' DARES TO SET UP FUNDAMENTALIST SCHOOLS IN ISTANBULThe followers of ''Black Voice'' a fundamentalist leader who lives in Germany, set up three fundamentalist schools in Bagcılar district of Istanbul. The schools of the fundamentalist group which had earlier threatened to overthrow the Turkish Republic and which planned to organize a suicide bomb attack on Ataturk's Mausoleum by plane, were closed by the state officials when they were found out yesterday. WINTER 2002 OPERATION BRINGS TOGETHER SEZER AND OZKAN CUMHURIYET (LEFT)IMF AID TO TURKEY IS NOT ENOUGHTurkey will look for 2.5 billion USD loan this year. After paying half of the 14 billion USD of IMF back to the IMF, the remaining money will be enough to pay only 7.5 percent of the 80 billion USD debt payment. SADDAM'S RESPONSE TO ECEVIT ESCALATES TENSION RADIKAL (LEFT)FOUR STUDENTS ATTEMPT SUICIDE AFTER GETTING THEIR REPORT CARDS,ONE DIES Four of the children who got their report cards yesterday attempted suicide because of failing notes in their report cards. One of them died and two others are in a coma. Fifteen year old S.A. in Izmir shot himself with the gun of his step father. He had seven failing notes in his report card. Another 17-year old student in Kocaeli D.E had an argument with his family because of his failing marks. After the argument D.E. jumped from the patio at the fifth floor. He was hospitalized but he remains in critical condition. Two female students in Kirikkale attempted suicide by swallowing pills because they were afraid of their families' reaction to the failing notes on their report cards. SADDAM REJECTS ECEVIT'S ALL PROPOSES TURKIYE (RIGHT)EU PLOT AGAINST TURKISH HAZELNUTSTurkey which produces 75 percent of the world's hazelnuts is now facing the EU allegations that Turkish hazelnuts is a cancer agent. EU Food and Health Agency claimed that Turkish hazelnuts, pistachio and dried figs have ten times more alfa-toxin than other nuts produced in other parts of the world. This way it's trying to limit hazelnut purchase from Turkey. WORLD BANK REPRESENTATIVE LINN TO VISIT TURKEY ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)TURKEY'S MOST PRODUCTIVE NATURAL GAS FOUND IN CORLUTurkish Petroleum Inc. (TPAO) discovered the most productive natural gas pit of Turkey in Karacalı region of Corlu town of Tekirdag. TPAO found natural gas at 1,700 meters beneath the surface. The paper also witnessed the discovery of the natural gas in the pit from which 200,000 cubic meters of natural gas is expected to be taken. The discovery of natural gas in the region pleased citizens. [02] AYTEKIN TO GO TO COLOMBIA ON SUNDAYANKARA - Environment Minister Fevzi Aytekin will go to Colombia on Sunday to attend the Global Ministers Environment Forum in Cartegana.Environment Ministers from 80 countries are expected to attend the forum. Aytekin said that the participants of the meeting would plan the World Sustainable Development Summit which will be organized in Johannesburg of South Africa on Aug.26-Sept.4. Aytekin said that during the meeting he would also have a meeting with non- governmental organizations and discuss the role of private sector in UN environmental programs. [03] TURKISH AND IRANIAN RAILWAY DELEGATIONS TO COME TOGETHER IN MALATYAMALATYA - Delegations from Turkish Railways (TCDD) and Iranian Railways (RAI) will come together in southeastern Malatya province.TCDD Malatya Regional Directorate officials said that the delegations decided to come together twice a year due to the protocol they signed in 1989. The first meeting of the delegations for 2002 will be held in Malatya, said officials and noted that problems about transportation between the two countries and technical and administrative issues will be discussed in the meeting. Officials said that Omer Akdag from TCDD and Mesut Pak Nejat from RAI will head the delegations. [04] TALAY:''LOVE AND TOLERANCE SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED DURING NEVRUZ CELEBRATIONS''ANKARA - The Culture Ministry issued a Nevruz circular asking people to celebrate Nevruz on March 21 without violating Turkish traditions of love and tolerance.The circular which was signed by Culture Minister Istemihan Talay said ''Love for nature and human beings, tolerance and solidarity feelings'' should be emphasized during Nevruz celebrations. The Culture Ministry will publish posters, brochures and comic books on Nevruz theme and distribute them to the related institutions and organizations. Talay also asked local television channels to broadcast cartoons on Nevruz prepared by his ministry. The Culture Ministry's Education Department will organize a poetry, composition and painting exhibition on the theme of Nevruz. Talay also announced that trees would be planted to form Nevruz forests in treasury areas determined by governors' offices. The trees will be planted on Nevruz Day. [05] NORWEGIAN COMPOSER NORDHEIM TO COME TO TURKEYANKARA - Arne Nordheim, Norwegian composer and conductor who was invited to Turkey by the Turkish Culture Ministry under Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's instruction will come to Turkey on Feb.12Nordheim and his wife who accepted Turkey's invitation will stay in Ankara four days. Nordheim will listen to his own work Greeming from the interpretation of Presidential Symphony Orchestra on the night of Feb.14. The orchestra will be conducted by famous German woman conductor Romely Phund. Greeming will be played for the first time. After visiting Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and Anitkabir, Nordheim will leave Turkey on Feb.16. [06] LABOUR PLATFORM ISSUES STATEMENT PROTESTING POLITICAL PARTIES'USE OF POWER AGAINST EMPLOYEES' ORGANIZATIONSANKARA - Labour Platform had a meeting on Friday evening and issued a statement after the meeting. Labour Platform noted in its statement that it protested political parties' use of power against employees' organizations and their intervention with the right of employees to organize. Claiming that the IMF programmes implemented by the government damage the independence and national sovereignty of the country, Labour Platform said that ''the problems of Turkey can't be solved by IMF programme, but by the policies mentioned in the alternative programme of Labour Platform. ''The stand-by agreements concluded with IMF should be cancelled,'' the Platform noted and added that the political parties and election laws should be made democratical and early elections should be held as soon as possible. The Platform also noted that the job assurance bill which has not been adopted for nine months, should be transferred to the parliament as soon as possible. Meanwhile the Term Presidency of the Labour Platform has been transferred to Moral Rights Trade Union (Hak-Is) for a period of three months. [07] 621 PIECES OF SADBERK HANIM MUSEUM TO BE DISPLAYED IN JAPANFUKUOKA - A total of 621 pieces selected from Sadberk Hanim Museum opened to Japanese art lovers in Fukuoka State City Museum on Friday night. Culture Ministry Undersecretary Fikret Uccan who attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition said that the exhibition which was scheduled for an earlier date was postponed because of Marmara earthquake. Uccan indicated that the pieces at Sadbert Hanim Museum were exhibited in Kashiwazaki Turkish Cultural Town in 1996 and was enjoyed by Japanese viewers.The exhibition includes pieces from Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantian, Seljuk and Ottoman periods. Japanese Prince Mikasa will visit the museum on Sunday and also give a conference. [08] FAMILY BUSINESS MAGAZINE INCLUDES FOUR TURKISH COMPANIES IN ITS LIST OF FAMILY COMPANIESNEW YORK - Family Business Magazine, which published the list of the great family companies in the world excluding the ones in the U.S., included four companies from Turkey on Saturday. Koc Holding was ranked the 49th, Sabancı Holding was ranked the 56th, Dogus Holding belonging to Sahenk Family was ranked the 60th and Garanti Bank again belonging to the latter was ranked the 106th in the list of the magazine.The Turkish family business companies were in the higher ranks in the list of the magazine in 2000. Koc Holding was ranked the 44th, Sabancı Holding was ranked the 46th, Dogus Holding was ranked the 42nd and Garanti Bank was ranked the 54th in the 2000 list. Koc Holding, which has 45,626 personnel had a revenue of 6.58 billion dollars; Sabancı Holding which has 30,150 personnel had a revenue of 5.62 billion dollars, Dogus Holding which had a personnel of 20,000 had a revenue of 5,1 billion dollars and Garanti Bank had a revenue of 1,49 billion dollars in 2001. [09] TURK:''NEW TURKISH CIVIL CODE HOLDS RESPECT TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABOVE EVERYTHING''ANTALYA - Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk has said that the new Turkish Civil Code held respect to human rights above everything.''The new Civil Code is a group of rules which aims to strip Turkey off the invalid rules of the past and make the Turkish society a modern nation,'' Turk said during a seminar on Saturday. Turk told about the preparation and further stages of the new Civil Code and stressed that the law was the product of the cooperation of all political parties in Parliament which was a big success. The justice minister said that the old Civil Code failed to meet the needs of our day and that the new code was prepared taking into consideration international rules such as the European Convention of Human Rights and Children's Rights Convention. Turk indicated that the new civil code was based on respect to human rights and equality between the sexes. He said that the new Civil Code was widely accepted by the Turkish society. He said the new Civil Code also reflects the simplification and changes that occured in the last 75 years in the Turkish language. [10] PRODUCTION IN SEKA CELLULOSE FACTORY IN AFYON STOPSAFYON - The cellulose factory belonging to Turkish Celluloseand Paper Factories Enterprises (SEKA) was damaged in the quake in Cay town following the quake in Afyon last Sunday. The production in the factory which produced cellulose stopped after the quake. Workers of the factory were given leaves as the production stopped in the factory which was damaged. The production in the factory can start in March this year and the insurance company will meet the damage. The factory which sends cellulose to SEKA's installations in Izmit started to operate in 1979. The privatization of the factory also came to agenda this year. [11] GERMAN TOUR OPERATOR TUI PROMOTES ROBINSON CLUBS IN TURKEYBERLIN - Leading German tour operator TUI is promoting Robinson Clubs in Turkey at World of TUI center in Berlin.Robinson Club Turkey-Germany Director Dieter Schenk, who spoke at a press conference in Berlin on Saturday, said that Turkey had a very good tourism season in 2001 despite all difficulties and added that they were targeting to send 60,000 German tourists to Turkey in 2002. Schenk indicated that his company sent 35,000 tourists to Turkey last year. He said they made significant investments for their facilities in Camyuva, Side and Marmaris adding that these investments would continue. Pointing out that there were several fields suitable for golf playing in Belek, Schenk said they were going to open a golf club called Robinson Club Nobilis soon in this area. Turkey Research Center Director Faruk Sen said most German tourists who visit Turkey come to Turkey again. [12] STATE MINISTER DOGRU SAYS ANY OPERATION IN NORTHERN IRAQ SHOULD NOT GIVE DAMAGE TO TURKISH STATEANKARA - State Minister Resat Dogru who is in charge of the relations with the Turkish Republic said on Saturday that any operation in Northern Iraq should not give damage to the state of the Turkish Republic. ''An operation cannot be accepted if it would hurt the Turkish state,'' he said.Speaking in a news conference, Dogru said that Turks live in a geography of 11 million kilometersquares having a population of almost 250 millions. Noting that there can be certain plans to prevent Turks from coming together and to disturb the friendship, solidarity and cooperation among them, Dogru said that ''the state has to work continiously to install and develop the solidarity and cooperation among Turkish republics and societies.'' Dogru indicated that the relations between Turkey and the Turkish Republics gained more importance nowadays when effors launched for EU membership speeded up. ''Turkey can have the status of bringing privileges to the Turkish Republics at the EU level with its new identity. The technical assistance Turkey will give to friendly countries and groups gains strategic meaning. A strategic and rational technical aid policy should be formed on the basis of economic, social, cultural projects,'' he said. Dogru also listed the targets foreseen to be undertaken in 2002, adding that ''the quotas for number of students coming to Turkey from Turkish Republics have been increased to 1,500. The scholarships have been rearranged. Associations of Turks living abroad should come together under one roof.'' Noting that foundation of Turkish World Sciences Academy is among their goals, Dogru said that the 38th International Medicine History Congress will be held in Istanbul between 1-6 September. Dogru noted that a working group was formed to put into practice the policies regarding improvement of foreign trade, financial sector, information, agriculture, industrial property, technology and standards. He added that efforts are also launched to revive the Silk Road. Dogru also briefed reporters about the visit he paid to Azerbaijan on Jan.29-Feb.2. Responding to a question, Dogru said that Turkey should not have a ''brother'' status in its relations with Turkish Republics and added that relations between countries should be based on equality principle. He said that Turkey's entrance to the EU would also have positive effects on Turkish Republics. Speaking about Nahcevan issue, Dogru said that Turkey wanted to help Nahcevan. ''Nahcevan is a part of Azerbaijan and it's an autonomous republic. I'm planning to visit Nahcevan in the coming days and we'll search what could be done in Nahcevan through Turkey's support,'' he said. Answering a question about Turkish aid to Afghanistan, Dogru said that Turkey was ready to extend all kinds of help to Afgahnistan for the development of this country. He said that there was a new picture in Northern Iraq and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit warned Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein with a letter. ''Any operation in Iraq should take place in a way that would not hurt the Turkish Republic. An operation cannot be accepted if it would hurt the Turkish state. Therefore our government is doing whatever is needed for the interest of Turkey,'' he concluded. [13] DENKTAS WARNS GREEK CYPRIOTS ABOUT THE PURCHASE OF ATTACK HELICOPTERS FROM RUSSIALEFKOSA - Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas has said that he had warned the related authorities about the attack helicopters purchased by Greek Cypriot Administration from Russia. During a visit, Denktas said that they were facing a situation ''that would cause a headache'' in the future which were the recently bought helicopters. He said that he told the relevant authorities that the helicpters might cause a crisis in the future. ''It is unnecessary to arm during a time when talks are continuing,'' he commented.He indicated that the Greek Cypriot side saw that they could not solve any problems through arms and added that the experiences on 1955-1958, and 1963- 1974 and the military coup in 1974 only divided Cyprus into two and did nothing else. ''Turkey also has these helicopters. This is all I'll say. They should not create excuses. The Cyprus conflict can only be solved if the realities are accepted. The realities are the incidents of the past, the overthrowing of the partnership government by shedding blood. Following this incident, Cyprus was divided into two and the realities are in front of our eyes.'' Denktas indicated that unification or building bridges between two sides was possible and this is what they were working on despite the difficulties which exist for both sides. The TRNC president said that it would not be easy to overcome difficulties if the Greek Cypriots insist that the whole world recognizes them and therefore the TRNC has to recognize them as well. ''We're insisting that these difficulties should be overcome,'' Denktas said. [14] AKCAN CALLS ON CITIZENS TO GET EARTHQUAKE INSURANCESULTANDAGI - Housing and Settlement Minister Abdulkadir Akcan visited Afyon's Sultandagi township which was recently hit by an earthquake killing over 40 people. Akcan stated that the Disaster General Directorate would carry out faultline studies that it did in Marmara region also in Sultandagi.He said that his ministry was planning to build permanent dwelling on earthquake safe areas as soon as possible. He also called on all citizens to get earthquake insurance as of Monday. There are over 5,000 damaged buildings in the area and Akcan said a solution would be found for these buildings. [15] TALAY ASKS FOR NGO SUPPORT TO PRESERVE HISTORICAL STRUCTURE OF CITIESKEMER - Culture Minister Istemihan Talay has said that cultural and historical structure of urban areas cannot only be preserved through the efforts of his ministry or municipalities but they also needed the support of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Speaking at a symposium in Antalya's Kemer township on Saturday, Talay said that Turkey possessed a great number of historical structures in its cities but these were negatively affected by the immigration from rural areas to cities which started in 1950.''Antalya is an open air museum which carries the traces of many cultures and civilizations. Our cultural assets will disappear if we don't protect them,'' he said and asked for the NGOs support for these efforts. Historical Cities Assocition and Bursa Mayor Erdogan Bilenser said that urban and cultural heritage history classes would start to be given at elementary schools. European History Cities Association Chairman Louis Roppe said Turkey was very rich in historical and cultural values. Stating that his association represents over one thousand cities, Roppe said that international relations should be used to preserve countries' cultural heritage. Antalya Governor Ertugrul Dokuzoglu said there were 176 ancient cities and ruins in Antalya and works were underway to preserve these places. [16] TURKISH CYPRIOT MEMBERS OF OSLO GROUP HOLD NEWS CONFERENCELEFKOSA - Turkish Cypriot members of Oslo Group, which is one of the groups that aim approachment between Turkish and Greek Cypriots gave information on Saturday about their activities. Speaking in a news conference, Selma Bolayır, a member of the group said that the group is composed of voluntary members who try to contribute to the efforts launched to set up warmer relations between the two peoples and to re-install trust on the island.Bolayır said that the Oslo Group which is composed of 25 Turkish and 25 Greek Cypriots agreed upon a solution in line with the views and proposals of the group. Serdar Atai, another member said that the group was named Oslo as two meetings were held in Oslo hosted by the Oslo Peace Studies Institute, adding that the group didn't carry out official or unofficial activities in the name of any person or institution. Noting that the group works to determine a peace proposal, Atai said that the aim is to prove that the sides can record progress through dialogue. Another member of the group Ulker Fahri said that all the studies of the group were carried out transparently. Dünya Parlamento Ekonomi Spor Sanat-Magazin Sağlık
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