Anadolu Agency: News in English, 02-02-16

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

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

ANADOLU AJANSI

NEWS

16 February

2002 Saturday

Türkiye

Dünya

Parlamento

Ekonomi

Spor

Sanat-Magazin

Sağlık

T

urkey

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

DERVIS DEFENDS INCREASE IN FUEL OIL PRICES
State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy defended increase in fuel oil prices despite decrease in U.S. dollar and oil prices by saying, ''fuel oil prices were increased. However, it was necessary to increase the state's revenue.''

TELSIM SHARES FROZEN
A court in New York, the United States, banned all procedings about purchase and mortgage of wireless carrier Telsim in a 3 billion U.S. dollars of lawsuit filed by Motorola and Nokia against Telsim. The world's largest mobile phone makers filed the suit alleging that the Uzan family, which owns Telsim, borrowed money from them with no intention of paying it back. Precautionary measures on properties of the Uzan family will continue till April 9, 2002.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

DIYARBAKIR DGM LAUNCHES AN INVESTIGATION AGAINST CHOMSKY
Diyarbakir State Security Court (DGM) Chief Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation against U.S. philosopher, writer and linguist Noam Chomsky who said, ''I hope that an autonomous Kurdistan would exist one day.'' Cassettes in which Chomsky's statements were recorded, were sent to the Diyarbakir DGM Chief Prosecutor's Office by the Directorate General of Security.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

SEZER: ''CORRUPTION CONSTITUTES IMPORTANT PART OF TURKEY'S PROBLEMS''
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that corruption constituted an important part of Turkey's problems. Sezer attended a meeting in which the results of the second survey of Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) on corruption were presented. Speaking at the meeting, Sezer said that the results of the survey reflected the sensitivities of people. It was a necessity that Turkey had to renew itself and take more steps in many fields in the changing conditions of the world, Sezer said.

DERVIS: ''CORRUPTION HAS TO BE PREVENTED''
State Minister Kemal Dervis said that the prevention of corruption by rehabilitation of public administration and development of transparency carries great importance for Turkey which takes resolved steps to reach modern international standards. Sending a message to the conference held by the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) in which the second survey on corruption was announced, Dervis said, ''the understanding of doing politics with unmodern methods in the past contradicted with the modern effective and transparent economy administration. The problems which the country faced as a result of that were disturbing the mechanisms of trust between the citizens and the state. Therefore, such problems carried as much importance as the political, macro economic and socio economic problems. The economic programme which we have been implementing today attributes great importance to transparency and development of effective administration in public sector.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

CYPRUS WARNING
European Union (EU) Commissioner Guenter Verheugen for enlargement said that the EU would and could not change its enlargement schedule for Turkey and Cyprus. Speaking at a conference on Turkey-EU relations held at Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Verheugen said that the union had to give a decision if a solution was not reached on the island till the end of 2002. Verheugen said, ''whether or not you liked, Cyprus government (Greek Cypriot government) is legally representing the island in international arena.'' This was neither his personel nor the EU's view, Verheugen noted. They would provide economic support for Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) if a solution was found on Cyprus, Verheugen stated. He added that allocation of a total of 100 million euro in this respect at the end of 2006 was on their agenda.

ATTACK ON TURKISH PEOPLE IN BELGIUM
Gunmen opened fire on two Turkish citizens in Anvers, Belgium. The two were seriously injured in the attack. They were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Gunmen managed to flee from the scene of attack.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

European Union (EU) Commissioner Guenter Verheugen for enlargement.

TAX SCHEDULE SUBMITTED TO IMF
Tax schedule signed by State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy and Finance Minister Sumer Oral was submitted to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Income tax will be reduced by 5 percent in 2003.

GENERAL STAFF DENIES CONNECTION WITH OBTAINING OF E-MAIL MESSAGES
General Staff said that the Turkish Armed Forces did not have any connection with obtaining of e-mail messages of Karen Fogg, the European Union (EU) Commissions's Representative to Turkey. Issuing a written statement on the issue, General Staff said that ''recently certain press organs published news noting that private correspondence of certain persons was illegally monitored and its content was made public. Turkish Armed Forces, which acts within the principles of the Constitution and the laws, does not have any connection with this incident.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

PIPES FROM TURKEY AND RUSSIA TO BE CONNECTED ON FEBRUARY 25
The pipes coming from Turkey and Russia beneath the Black Sea for the Blue Stream natural gas project, will be connected off northern Samsun province on February 25. Gazprom officials said that thus, the construction of first pipeline would be finalized. The officials said that then, the construction of second pipeline under the sea would start. Italian SAIPEM-7000 platform started to lay pipelines beneath 2,150 metres in December. This is the deepest pipeline laid beneath the sea in the world.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

GREAT DERBY
Reigning champions Fenerbahce will host their rivals Galatasaray at their home Sukru Saracoglu Stadium today. Prior of this one of the most important derbies in recent years, Galatasaray's few top players are suffering injuries while Fenerbahce are confident.

-WOLFOWITZ AND MYERS DUE TO TURKEY IN MARCH
WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, and General Richard Myers, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will pay a visit to Turkey at the end of March of 2002.

Sources told the A.A correspondent on Saturday that Wolfowitz and Myers would visit Turkey separately.

Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney will come to Ankara within framework of his tour to Middle Eastern countries in March.

During contacts of Cheney, Wolfowitz and Myers in Turkey, issues of Iraq, the Middle East and defense cooperation between Turkey and the United States are expected to be taken up.

-LPG TANK IN A FACTORY IN KAGITHANE EXPLODES
ISTANBUL - Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank in a factory in Kagithane district of Istanbul exploded early on Saturday, injuring 11 people.

Sources told the A.A correspondent that LPG tank in the four-storey factory manufacturing carburetors exploded at about 06:00 a.m.

According to the preliminary reports, Yahya Karakurt, Murat Ozarslan, Ahmet Fidan, Necati Kurt, Ahmet Akbulut, Omer Akbulut, Yucel Ozkok, Isa Gulec, Dilek Dilber, Zekiye Basturk and Hamiye Isiyok were injured.

They were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.

Meanwhile, a fire broke out in the facory following the explosion.

The fire was extinguished by fire-fighting teams.

The explosion caused the factory building to collapse partially.

Several windows in nearby buildings were shattered in the explosion.

Istanbul Governor Erol Cakir and Police Chief Hasan Ozdemir came to the scene of explosion for observation.

Security forces have taken tight security measures in the area.

A full investigation into the cause of the explosion is under way.

-GALATASARAY TO SIGN SPONSORSHIP CONTRACT WITH CARLSBERG
ISTANBUL - Galatasaray soccer club will cooperate with Carlsberg company operating in beverage sector.

Releasing a statement on Friday, Carlsberg said that a sponsorhip contract would be signed with Galatasaray on Monday, February 18 at Galatasaray's Metin Oktay Facilities in Florya, Istanbul by the presidents of Carlsberg and Galatasaray.

It said that Galatasaray's coach Mircea Lucescu and players would also attend the signing ceremony.

Meanwhile, under the contract, Carlsberg will assist Galatasaray in many other fields.

-TURK SAYS TURKEY'S NEW CIVIL CODE IS MORE ADVANCED THAN SIMILAR CIVIL
CODES IN EUROPE
ERZURUM - Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said on Saturday that Turkey's new civil code was more advanced than similar civil codes in Europe.

Speaking at a seminar at eastern Province of Erzurum's Palan Hotel, Turk said, ''Turkey proved that it has preferred civilization by adopting the new civil code. As a result, Turkey obtained the most advanced civil code of the 21st century. Everyone, without any exceptions, will find their places in the civil code. Deputies who casted their votes against the law, have begun to support the law after it was enacted. Now, the most important thing is to well-understand and well-implement this code. I rely on our jurists to this end.''

Noting that the most important change in the civil code was the change in family law, Turk said that the new civil code aimed at completely putting into practice gender equality in Turkey.

''Changes in question entailed us to establish family courts. Such courts should put forward concrete and sound solutions to disagreements,'' he said.

Underlining importance of personal characteristics of judges to be charged in family courts, Turk said, ''these judges should be married with children. His personal characteristics should be helpful in solving legal problems.''

Turk also gave information about development of legal system from the Ottoman Empire to 21st century, and defined secularism as a flag under which people gathered within a joint legal system.

-U.S.-TURKEY INTERPARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP GROUP DELEGATION ARRIVES IN
TURKEY

ANKARA - A five-member delegation from the United States-Turkey Interparliamentary Friendship Group arrived in Turkey on Saturday to hold contacts in Istanbul, Incirlik and Ankara.

House of Representatives members Robert Wexler, Kay Granger, Tom Granger, James Moran and Cliff Stearns will proceed to Ankara on Sunday after wrapping up their contacts in Istanbul.

The delegation will start its official programme on Monday by coming together with State Minister Tunca Toskay at breakfast.

Later, the delegation will visit the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of modern and secular Republic of Turkey, and meet with Foreign Affairs Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal.

The delegation will proceed to Incirlik Air Base in southern province of Adana later in the same day.

On Tuesday, members of the delegation will be given a briefing at the General Staff. Later, they will be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.

The delegation will come together with Turkey-United States Interparliamentary Friendship Group Chairman Kamran Inan and members of the group. They will be received by Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi and State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli later in the same day.

Members of the delegation are expected to hold a press conference at Ankara's Hilton Hotel on Tuesday.

The delegation will proceed to Istanbul on Wednesday, and departed from Turkey on Thursday.

-BOSTANCIOGLU AND LINN VISITS SCHOOLS IN ANTALYA
ANTALYA - National Education Minister Metin Bostancioglu said on Saturday that the new World Bank loan of 300 million U.S. dollars would be used to meet urgent requirements of primary schools.

Together with World Bank Vice President Johannes Linn, Bostancioglu visited the high school constructed in Antalya by a philanthropic citizen, and several other primary schools which have benefitted from the World Bank loan.

Responding questions of journalists, Bostancioglu said that Linn and he had visited ''Information Technology Classes'' opened in schools as a result of World Bank loan.

He emphasized that future of a country depended on development of education.

Bostancioglu noted, ''we used World Bank's loan of three hundred million U.S. dollars to purchase three thousand computers and various education materials. We distributed these computers and materials to schools. Now we will start the second phase of this project. The World Bank will provide Turkey a second loan of three hundred million U.S. dollars. We will use this loan to put into practice the intermediary education reforms.''

Responding questions of reporters, Johannes Linn said he was aware of vital importance of basic education and intermediary education reforms to Turkey, adding that also Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit attributed importance to those reforms and that the World Bank supported such efforts.

Noting that the World Bank loans aimed to increase level of education in addition to physical works at schools, Linn said, ''we believe that all children should have the opportunity of education and receiving education of high quality. Especially girls who have less education opportunity should be supported.''

Linn said that they wanted to support the National Education Ministry's efforts to increase number of schools in Turkey and that their support to increase in quality of education would continue.

Noting that as the World Bank, they supported basic education and wanted to support intermediary education project, Linn said, ''I believe that a powerful education system will bring a powerful economy and that a powerful Turkey will be a part of Europe.''

When asked when the World Bank would give 300 million U.S. dollars second tranche of loan to support education, Linn said, ''we will be present the second tranche to the World Bank Board in summer. Meanwhile, we are working on the intermediary education project, and support to this project will be given within next six-twelve months.''

Noting that he had observed that education system in Antalya was at a very good level and schools in the region had a powerful infrastructure, Linn said that also local administrations, residents and parents had important responsibilities and duties to make schools give service at full capacity.

When asked whether or not the World Bank's support to Turkey would continue, ''of course, it will continue. We are here as long as you need us.''

-WORLD BANK TO DONATE LOAN TO CULTURE MINISTRY FOR PAMUKKALE
DENIZLI - World Bank Director for Europe and Central Asia Eric Peterson said on Saturday that they had decided to give 41 million U.S. dollars of loan as a donation to the Culture Ministry to finance projects about Pamukkale.

Speaking at a meeting hosted by the Governor's Office in western province of Denizli, Peterson said that Pamukkale was a natural wonder and a tourism center which drew attention with its cultural assets.

Noting that they supported projects aimed to protect Pamukkale, Peterson said that the World Bank had decided to give 41 million U.S. dollars donation loan to the Culture Ministry to finance projects which would be carried with with cooperation of the local administrations under the Social Developmant and Cultural Heritage Project.

-TALAY HOSTS A LUNCHEON IN HONOR OF U.S. CONGRESSMEN
ISTANBUL - Culture Minister Istemihan Talay hosted a luncheon in honor of members of the U.S. House of Representatives' United States-Turkey Interparliamentary Friendship Group at Istanbul's Topkapi Palace Museum on Saturday.

Noting that the congressmen would proceed to Ankara to start holding contacts, Talay noted, ''there are sound and friendly ties between Turkey and the United States. These ties have always been confirmed in cooperation and joint policies of two friendly and allied countries. Our guests will try to form a Turkey Working Group at the U.S. Congress. We are pleased to host these congress. I believe that their visit to Turkey would contribute to further improvement of relations between Turkey and the United States.''

Meanwhile, U.S. Congressman Cliff Stearns said that Turkey took part in a key point because of its geographical position. He said that Turkey was more experienced in fight against terrorism than the United States, and added that they could learn many things from Turkey.

Congressmen Robert Wexler, Kay Granger, Tom Granger, James Moran and Cliff Stearns will proceed to Ankara on Sunday after wrapping up their contacts in Istanbul.

The delegation will start its official programme on Monday by coming together with State Minister Tunca Toskay at breakfast.

Later, the delegation will visit the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of modern and secular Republic of Turkey, and meet with Foreign Affairs Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal.

The delegation will proceed to Incirlik Air Base in southern province of Adana later in the same day.

On Tuesday, members of the delegation will be given a briefing at the General Staff. Later, they will be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.

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