Anadolu Agency: News in English, 02-02-22

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ANADOLU AJANSI

NEWS

22 February

2002 Friday

Türkiye

Dünya

Parlamento

Ekonomi

Spor

Sanat-Magazin

Sağlık

T

urkey

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Sabanci said, ''this draft is brought onto the agenda in connection with the adjustment laws. The EU has some targets. The EU member countries say they don't have capital punishment and that their rules have to be abided by if Turkey wants to be the member of the EU.''

KARZAI THANKS ECEVIT ON THE PHONE
Prime Minister Hamid Karzai of interim government in Afghanistan called Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on the phone overnight and said that he would be pleased with Turkey's taking over command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Karzai also said he would visit Ankara by the end of March.

Ecevit said, ''Prime Minister Hamid Karzai of interim government in Afghanistan called me on the phone overnight. Karzai said that he would be pleased with Turkey's taking over command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

''TURKEY IS THE ONLY BRIDGE BETWEEN WEST-ISLAM DIALOGUE''
The U.S. Wall Street Journal newspaper said the dialogue which the West wanted to establish with the Islam world was like the dialogue of deaf, and noted that Turkey was a bridge between the two sides.

Tunku Varadarajan, one of the assistant editors of the newspaper, said cultures of the West and the Islam world are so different that it is impossible to set up a logical dialogue. He said only Turkey plays the role of a bridge.

It was also underlined that Turkey came to this position due to the reforms of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of Modern Turkish Republic.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Fogg had applied to the Foreign Ministry about the publication of e-mail messages and the investigation file has been sent to Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office.

The court, who examined the file, put ban on the publication of e-mail messages.

ECEVIT: NO BARGAINING
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit rejected the bargaining that Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization, should firstly be hanged to lift capital punishment. Ecevit said Turkey would not be able to enter the European Union (EU) if capital punishment is not lifted.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Prof. Ilhan Tekeli said they were putting forward a new project for the Turkish politics.

Guloksuz said the party program would be discussed in meetings that would take place in Anatolia, and noted that foundation cadre of the party would be determined by the end of March.

TURKISH BUSINESSMEN DUE TO IRAQ
Turkish businessmen are getting ready to go to Iraq within the framework of improving trade relations.

The delegation, led by Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursad Tuzmen, will hold contacts in Iraq in March 2-5. Nearly 150 businessmen will attend the visit.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

The guests were EU Commission's Turkey Representative Karen Fogg, ambassadors of EU Term President Spain, next Term President Denmark, and diplomatic representatives of other EU countries.

The aim of the MHP was to reveal that they adopted the EU target and to convey Turkey's special sensitivities without any mediator.

TREASURY TO REPAY USD 126.2 MILLION OF EXTERNAL DEBT NEXT WEEK
Treasury will repay 126.2 million U.S. dollars of external debt next week.

According to the Treasury Undersecretariat statistics, Treasury will repay 99.7 million U.S. dollars on February 26, 21.9 million U.S. dollars on February 27, 1.4 million U.S. dollars on February 28, and 3.2 million U.S. dollars on March 1.

Treasury repaid 416.6 million U.S. dollars of foreign debt this week.

Treasury has repaid 1 billion 260.8 million U.S. dollars of external debt so far since the beginning of the year 2002.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, in his message said he wished the Islam world and all the humanity to live in peace and tranquility.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES DECREASE BY USD 800 BILLION
Foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank decreased by 800 billion U.S. dollars between February 8-15, 2002.

According to the Central Bank's weekly bulletin, the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves which were 21 billion 493 million U.S. dollars on February 8, decreased to 20 billion 693 million U.S. dollars on February 15.

Meanwhile, total foreign exchange reserves of banks and private finance organizations decreased 577 million U.S. dollars from 13 billion 365 million U.S. dollars to 12 billion 788 million U.S. dollars as of February 1.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Speaking at the meeting, President Akayev said, ''Turkey has achieved great successes, and we have inspired from Turkey's successes. This meeting is an opportunity for me to thank Turkish businessmen.''

Noting that Turkey was the biggest investor country in Kyrgyzstan, President Akayev said, ''Turkey's investments in Kyrgyzstan reached 350 million U.S. dollars. More than 400 Turkish companies have been acting in Kyrgyzstan. I want to call on Turkish businessmen to maintain their cooperation with Kyrgyz companies.''

-NSC TO CONVENE ON WEDNESDAY
ANKARA - National Security Council (NSC) will convene on Wednesday under the leadership of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in Cankaya Palace.

The February regular meeting of NSC will start at 9:30 local time.

Domestic and foreign developments will be evaluated at the meeting.

-ECHR FINDS TURKEY NOT GUILTY IN A CASE IN WHICH VILLAGE GUARDS WERE
ACCUSED
STRASBOURG - European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found Turkey not guilty in a case in which village guards in Southeastern Anatolia were accused.

Izzet Matyar from a village of Southeastern Sirnak province had applied to ECHR in 1993, and accused village guards of demolishing his house and burning his crop.

Matyar claimed that the village guards, with the support of security forces, burnt the crops and killed two people in a clash which erupted afterwards.

ECHR decided that they did not find any evidence that Turkey violated human rights.

-JUSTICE MINISTER TURK:
''A BAN IS BROUGHT ON PUBLICATION OF E-MAIL MESSAGES BETWEEN KAREN FOGG AND
EU COMMISSION''
SAMSUN- Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said on Thursday that a ban was brought on the publication of e-mail messages of European Union Commission's Turkey Representative Karen Fogg and the EU Commission.

Turk, who responded to the questions of reporters, said a ban was brought on the publication of e-mail messages of European Union Commission's Turkey Representative Karen Fogg and the EU Commission.

Turk, who also responded to the questions about capital punishment, said, ''capital punishment does not exist in any of the EU member countries. We should not think of capital punishment only for one person. We can not reach a healty result in this respect. Furthermore, existence of capital punishment in Turkey prevents extradition of many terrorists to Turkey. When we want the extradition of criminals from European countries who got involved in terrorist incidents and later fled abroad, they say there is capital punishment in Turkey.''

Pointing out that they wanted to reduce the number of prisons from 533 to 300, Turk said, ''those prisons are not appropriate to the contemporary prisons.''

-TOURISM MINISTER TASAR INVITES FOREIGN TOURISTS TO TURKEY
MILANO- Tourism Minister Mustafa Tasar, who attended International Tourism Stock Exchange (BIT) fair in Milano city of Italy, invited foreign tourists to Turkey.

When asked how a probable U.S. operation on Iraq would effect Turkish tourism, Tasar said, ''I wish there will not be such a probability. If such an intervention takes place, this will effect Turkey very much. Our government is against intervention on Iraq.''

A total of 148 countries, who attend the fair, compete to get the biggest share in the market.

Representatives of tourism, one of the sectors which was mostly effected by September 11 terrorist attacts, search for ways to reduce their losses to the minimum.

Besides the technical promotion about tourism, the countries promote their famous meals, dances and musics.

A total of 17 institutions and organizations like the Tourism Ministry, travel agencies and promotion foundations are included in Turkish stand.

The fair will end on February 25.

-COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKISH AND FRENCH HUMORISTS
PARIS - Humorists of French humour magazine Charlie Hebdo and Turkish humour magazine Leman will meet in Istanbul to publish a joint edition.

Francois Cavannaiye, the founder of Charlie Hebdo, its editor Philippe Val, and two other humorists of Charlie Hebdo will visit Istanbul on February 28 as the guest of Leman magazine.

Turkish and French caricaturists will exchange views on the humour of the two countries, their point of views to the world, and joint attitudes against globalization.

-TRNC PRIME MINISTER EROGLU: ''WE WANT AN AGREEMENT
WHICH WILL SATISFY PEOPLE''
LEFKOSA- Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said they want an agreement which will satisfy Turkish Cypriot people, noting that, ''it is not possible to look positively to an agreement which will destroy our people.''

Speaking after the information meeting in which TRNC President Rauf Denktas briefed the political parties about the first round of direct talks held on Cyprus issue, Eroglu said they favored an agreement which will not disturb citizens and which will provide them to look at future with hope.

Eroglu said Denktas revealed his ideas about the first round of talks and briefed the political parties about the attitudes of the Greek Cypriot side.

When asked about the view of his party regarding the proposal of the Greek Cypriot side to leave 24 percent territory to the Turkish Cypriots, Eroglu said it was impossible to accept such a proposal, noting that, ''such a territory concession will mean putting our 60,000 people into the position of refugees. This is not possible.''

TRNC State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Salih Cosar in his part said he wished Greek Cypriot administration officials to see the facts, to take them into consideration, and be more rational as the second round of talks start.

-NUMBER OF SOUTH KOREAN TOURISTS VISITING TURKEY INCREASES
NEVSEHIR - Number of South Korean tourists visiting Turkey increased.

Kanc Moon Chul, the official of Onnuri Travel tour company, acting in Nevsehir, told A.A correspondent that South Korean tourists began to look Turkey more positively.

Noting that nearly 400,000 people from South Korea visit foreign countries, Chul said those tourists mostly prefer the Philippines, Malaysia and Greece. He said those tourits began to visit Turkey recently. The demand coming from South Korea increased 50 percent.

Chul said Turkey was among the rich countries in respect to cultural, historical and natural beauties, noting that a more effective promotion should take place to increase the demands.

-INTEREST OF ARAB TOURISTS IN TURKEY
ISTANBUL - Interest of Arab tourists began to increase in Turkey this year.

Officials of Istanbul's Ataturk Airport told A.A correspondent that number of Arab tourists visiting Turkey increased when compared with the previous year.

Here is the number of Arab tourists visiting Turkey in the year 2000 and 2001.

COUNTRY 2000 2001 INCREASE(%)
----- ------- ------- --------
Tunisia 68.817 72.143 4.83

Algeria 57.094 62.866 10.11

Libya 43.690 55.955 28.07

Egypt 27.048 30.364 12.26

Jordan 20.753 24.063 15.95

Saudi Arabia 19.102 25.966 35.93

Syria 13.057 13.963 6.94

Lebanon 12.092 17.567 45.28

UAE 3.089 3.535 14.44
Yemen 271 1.624 499.26

Bahrain 245 1.985 710.20

Qatar 43 548 1679.07

Kuwait 643 7.971 1139.66

-KYRGZSTAN PRESIDENT AKAYEV DEPARTS FROM TURKEY
ISTANBUL- Kyrgzstan President Askar Akayev departed from Turkey on Friday after wrapping up his contacts.

Speaking to reporters at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Akayev said he had paid his first official visit to Turkey as the President after Kyrgzstan gained its independence in 1992, and noted that Kyrgzstan took Turkey as model in steps it took in the field of democracy.

Pointing out that Kyrgzstan favored positive relations with its neighbours from the beginning, Akayev said they wished peace and tranquility in Afghanistan.

Stressing that some terrorists infiltrating from Afghanistan, came to southern part of Kyrgzstan in 1999 and 2000, Akayev said they took some measures upon this, and that they received great technical and military aid from Turkey in this respect.

Akayev said they managed to stop the terrorists with the help of this military and technical aid, adding that they would always be in cooperation with the world against terrorism.

Akayev said they were pleased that there were soldiers from Turkey to provide peace in Afghanistan, adding that, ''we are pleased that Turkey assumed the role of leadership in providing peace. We think that Turkey has important experience in fight against terrorism.''

Akayev said terrorism could not nest in this country in case peace is provided in Afghanistan, and in case this country is strengthened in economic means.

Pointing out that Kyrgzstan attributed great importance to education and science, Akayev said they would never forget Turkey's support in this respect.

-CULTURE MINISTER TALAY LEAVES FOR U.S.
ISTANBUL - Culture Minister Istemihan Talay said on Friday that they were working on a new draft law which will provide resource to the restoration of historical works of art which reflect Turkish civilization and culture abroad.

Culture Minister Talay left for the U.S. together with a group of parliamentarians upon the invitation of Turkish American Cultures Association.

Speaking at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Talay said they would first visit Atlanta to meet the Turkish-American Culture Associations.

Talay said they would return to New York afterwards and attend the premier of a film called ''Desperate Hours'' (Caresiz Saatler). The film is about Turkish diplomats who saved the Jews that were under oppression during World War II.

Talay said this film was an important cultural activity for Turkish-Israeli relations and Jewish lobbies in the U.S.

Talay said they would also meet the Turkish citizens and association administrators in New York, adding that they would have the opportunity to convey general situation and policies of Turkey.

-CONTACTS OF TUSIAD IN SPAIN
BRUSSELS - Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan and an accompanying delegation met Spanish Prime Minister Jose-Maria Aznar, Foreign Minister Joseph Pique and Foreign Trade Minister Costa. Spain currently acts as the EU Term President.

TUSIAD Brussels Representation said Ozilhan, during the meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Aznar, stressed Turkey's determination for EU full membership and the role of private sector in this respect.

Jose-Maria Cuevas, the Chairman of Spanish Industries and Companies Confederation (CEOE), who accompanied TUSIAD, underlined the support of Spanish private sector to Turkey on the issue.

Spanish Prime Minister Aznar said Turkey's EU membership has an important place in Spain's Europe vision, noting that this situation was better understood in Europe particularly after September 11 terrorist attacks.

Aznar said Turkey was invited as candidate country to Barcelona EU summit which will convene in March with economy agenda and recalled that Turkey would be represented by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Aznar said this was an important opportunity for Turkey's point of view to the fundamental problems concerning Europe's future and its contribution.

Spanish Foreign Minister Joseph Pique in his meeting with the TUSIAD delegation said they would be in an effort to accelerate Turkey's candidacy period during Spain's EU Term Presidency. Pique stressed that Turkey could record an important step in 2002 if it reveals the political will, which it showed so far, more strongly.

Initiatives that would be made to increase Spanish investments in Turkey were discussed during the meeting with Spanish Trade Minister Costa. Costa said he invited Economy Minister Kemal Dervis to Madrid, noting that this visit could play a determining role in activating interest of Spanish companies to Turkey.

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