Anadolu Agency: News in English, 02-02-25

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ANADOLU AJANSI

NEWS

25 February

2002 Monday

Türkiye

Dünya

Parlamento

Ekonomi

Spor

Sanat-Magazin

Sağlık

T

urkey

[00] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 25, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

A group of seven students, who were climbing Kucuk Hacettepe Summit of Ilgaz Mountain, had an accident as they were returning from the mountain.

The mountaineers, who called their families from the mobile phone, said two of their friends were injured, one of them seriously. The students said they were lost at the mountain.

Search and rescue efforts started in the region, and AKUT sent a team to the region.

HE SETS UP SOCCER TEAM TO PKK

Italian journalist Dino Frissullo, a supporter of the terrorist PKK organization, made the terrorists of the PKK in Italy set up a soccer team called (Freedom to Kurdistan), and he became the leader of the soccer team.

The team is composed of the colors yellow, red, and green.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization, did not live under luxurious hotel conditions on Imrali island as it was exaggerated.

When a citizen, Ismail Kara, said they wanted Ocalan to serve his prison sentence in a normal prison, Turk said Ocalan did not walk around the island.

Turk said, ''Ocalan serves his prison sentence in a room. Ocalan is kept on Imrali island for security reasons. The region around Imrali Island is a forbidden zone. No privileges has been given to him. He makes use of ventilation like the other prisoners.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, the Deputy Chief of General Staff, conveyed the view of army to the government: ''Capital punishment should be preserved in case of terrorism, war, and close war.''

Buyukanit said steps, which would weaken Turkey's fight against terrorism, should be paid attention. He said it should not be forgotten that separatist terrorism did not end, and that terrorist organization was after new tricks.

Buyukanit said capital punishment has not been implemented for 18 years, noting that agreement on this issue would continue unless extraordinary conditions are developed.

However, he said, Turkey's conditions should be considered, and terrorism, close war, and war should be within the scope of capital punishment.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

A total of 109 thousand 420 people were caught in the past four years as they were trying to pass illegally to foreign countries. Turkey is used as a bridge of passage to Western countries because of its geographical location.

Illegal passages to Turkey continue mostly in Van, Agri, Edirne, and Sirnak provinces.

Those who want to flee abroad mostly use the Aegean region and provinces like Izmir, Mugla and Canakkale.

EXPORTATION TO 56 COUNTRIES

Dizayn Group, which makes production with three factories, of the them in Istanbul, makes exportation to 56 countries.

The company, which has more than 4,000 products, increased the number of its workers to 370.

The company improved many big projects thoughout Turkey like irrigation project in Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), and renewal of Izmir's infrastructure system.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) and Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) sent a letter to the U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell following their lobby works.

The letter, which was also signed by 20 U.S. parliamentarians, stated that full support was expended to the U.S.-Turkey Economic Partnership Commission, which was announced to be established on January 16, 2002.

The letter said, ''the meeting which will take place in February 26-27 is important to search for ways for facilities to make a Preferential Trade Agreement between Turkey and the U.S.''

SECOND PACKAGE IS ABOUT TO COME

Interparty Compromise Commission will convene after the Feast of Sacrifice and work on the new Constitutional Amendment Package comprised of the arrangements which should be issued within the framework of adjustment to the European Union (EU).

The Commission, which will convene under the leadership of Acting Parliament Speaker Yuksel Yalova, will work on the 14 articles.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Sinan Aygun, the Chairman of Ankara Chamber of Trade, said the U.S. imposes embargo on Turkey, not Iraq.

Aygun issued a written statement and said the U.S. should lift the obstacles in front of trade relations instead of supporting Turkey through the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Pointing out that there was a double standart in Turkish-U.S. trade relations, Aygun said economic obtacles were seen in response to the political support expended to this country.

CAKAN: THERE WILL NOT BE ENERGY SHORTAGE TILL 2006

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Zeki Cakan said, ''our country will be relieved by the end of the year 2002, and solve all its problems in 2003.''

Cakan said two parallel pipelines would be installed under the Black Sea within the scope of Blue Stream project, noting that, ''the gas which we will purchase will be cheaper than this one. Russian Federation will invest money in this project. Turkish republic invested 286 million U.S. dollars so far to the 501km Samsun-Ankara line.''

Cakan said there would not be energy shortage in Turkey till 2006 if new power plants are put into use, noting that, ''because Energy Market Board was set up and BOTAS started works. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan is another important project. 50 million tonnes of oil will flow to Ceyhan.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Only 4.9 percent of the total population in the European Union (EU) is villagers. This ratio is 34 percent in Turkey. This figure will decrease to 5 percent in entrance process to the EU. This means, approximately 18 million villagers will migrate to big cities. Turkey should be ready for this flow of immigration.

Political dimensions of the legal arrangements, that were made aiming to harmonize with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union (EU) were brought onto the agenda often, but its social dimensions are not considered. The big changes that would be made on the social and economic structure of Turkey, will bring some social activities.

Turkey, aiming to reduce the population earning their living from agriculture to five percent, should bring 18 million people from villages to big cities.

KUTAN: MHP EXPLOITS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Recai Kutan, the leader of the Felicity Party (SP), said the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) had made commitments to the voters that they would hang Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization, and that MHP did not give up this decision. Kutan said MHP was in an effort to make this issue a tool of election propaganda.

Recalling that lifting of capital punishment was included within the National Program, Kutan said, ''they have committed this in the National Program, but now the MHP says they were not in agreement on this issue. The MHP says capital punishment could be lifted, but that this decision should not be implemented for terrorism crimes, and particularly for Ocalan.''

CONTENTS

[01] MONGOLIAN SPEAKER OF STATE TOMOR-OCHIR IN TURKEY

[02] TREASURY TO AUCTION 182-DAY BONDS ON TUESDAY

[03] TOURISM MINISTER TASAR: ''WE WILL BE BETTER THAN ITALY IN TOURISM''

[04] IMF DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEY ON MARCH 5 FOR FIRST REVIEW

[05] NSC TO CONVENE ON WEDNESDAY

[06] TURKISH-U.S. ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP COMMISSION MEETING TO CONVENE IN ANKARA ON TUESDAY

[07] AKUT TEAM REACHES MOUNTAINEERS AT ILGAZ MOUNTAIN

[08] DOGRU:''WE DON'T WANT TO LIFT DEATH PENALTY BEFORE OCALAN IS EXECUTED''

[09] EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO RESCUE SHIP WHICH RAN AGROUND IN SILIFKE

[10] EXPORATATION OF GRAINS AND CEREALS

[11] OIL PRODUCTION IN SOUTHEASTERN ADIYAMAN PROVINCE

[12] TURKEY IMPROVES IN TOURISM

[13] TURKISH BUSINESSMEN DELEGATION TO VISIT BAGHDAD IN MARCH 2-5

[01] MONGOLIAN SPEAKER OF STATE TOMOR-OCHIR IN TURKEY

The guest Speaker of State and an accompanying parliamentary delegation will visit several historical touristic places in Istanbul, and will hold official contacts in Ankara.

Tomor Ochir is expected to depart from Turkey on March 2.

[02] TREASURY TO AUCTION 182-DAY BONDS ON TUESDAY

Meanwhile, Treasury will repay 316.4 trillion Turkish liras in domestic borrowing next week.

[03] TOURISM MINISTER TASAR: ''WE WILL BE BETTER THAN ITALY IN TOURISM''

Pezzali said Turkey's only deficiency was promotion of human image, noting that, he and European Commission Chairman Romano Prodi had prepared promotion programs toward Eastern European countries in the past, and proposed to prepare similar program for Turkey.

Pezzali said Turkey did not have any problem in technical means, noting that hotels and transportation did not constitute a problem. He said the most important thing was to adjust wrongly known image of Turkish people in Europe.

Tourism Minister Tasar said they would consider the proposal, noting that he would exert efforts to allocate more sources to the promotion of Turkey.

[04] IMF DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEY ON MARCH 5 FOR FIRST REVIEW

The delegation is expected to stay at least for 15 days in Turkey within the framework of the first review.

This new stand-by program will continue till the year 2004.

Turkey is expected to get approximately five billion U.S. dollars loan from IMF following four reviews within this year.

The reviews will take place in March, May and July, and once in every three months after October 2002.

Approximately 1 billion 150 million U.S. dollars credit will be released following the reviews in March, May, and July.

[05] NSC TO CONVENE ON WEDNESDAY

Domestic and foreign developments will be evaluated at the meeting.

[06] TURKISH-U.S. ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP COMMISSION MEETING TO CONVENE IN ANKARA ON TUESDAY

The Turkish side will also reiterate its demand for a preferential trade agreement and will want lifting of quotas in textile.

The United States is in favor of establishment of qualified industrial zone in Southeastern Anatolia while Turkish sides wants qualified industrial zones to be established in ports, industrial zones and existing free zones. The Turkish side will not bring onto the agenda its demand for Free Trade Agreement because of some binding provisions.

The issues which the Turkish side would like to discuss at negotiation table, would to a great extend be within the framework of the demands that were brought onto the agenda during Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to the U.S.

Private sector representatives said they were hopeful for the meetings that would take place between the two countries, however noted that they did not expect all their expectations to be met.

Representatives of private sector said they wanted Turkish-U.S. economic relations to be strengthened, and that those meetings constituted a step at this point. They said those meetings should be evaluated well.

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal will head the Turkish side at the meetings and the U.S. side will be chaired by Alan P.Larson, the U.S. State Department

During Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to the United States between January 14 and 18, 2002, the sides decided to form a Turkey-the United States Economic Partnership Commission with the aim of further improving commercial and economic relations between the two countries.

Foreign Affairs Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal will head Turkish side while U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Alan P. Larson for Economic, Commercial and Agricultural Affairs will lead the U.S. delegation.

[07] AKUT TEAM REACHES MOUNTAINEERS AT ILGAZ MOUNTAIN

[08] DOGRU:''WE DON'T WANT TO LIFT DEATH PENALTY BEFORE OCALAN IS EXECUTED''

''Ocalan who cost Turkey about 100 billion U.S. dollars was caught and he was tried by independent courts,'' he said. ''He was sentenced to death. Everyone who attempted to divide the Turkish state was given the punishment they deserved in the history. I hope he will also be given the punishment he deserves and he would be executed in the coming days.''

''We should remember that the PKK murdered our 35,000 people and Ocalan is the chief of this terrorist organization. We don't want the death sentence to be lifted before Ocalan is executed,'' he asserted.

[09] EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO RESCUE SHIP WHICH RAN AGROUND IN SILIFKE

Heavy rain and storm prevent the efforts to rescue the ship.

[10] EXPORATATION OF GRAINS AND CEREALS

Share of grains and cereals in regional exportation, which was 19.7 percent in January 2001, decreased to 8.6 percent in the same period of this year.

Iraq, Germany, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Iran, and Azerbaijan are among the countries which grains and cereals were exported the most.

[11] OIL PRODUCTION IN SOUTHEASTERN ADIYAMAN PROVINCE

[12] TURKEY IMPROVES IN TOURISM

Growth rate in world tourism in 1999-2000 is 7 percent, and growth rate in 1990-2000 is approximately 4.3 percent.

International trips in Europe decreased 0.7 percent and total number of tourists became 400.5 million people.

[13] TURKISH BUSINESSMEN DELEGATION TO VISIT BAGHDAD IN MARCH 2-5

The statement said the visit will be organized by Forum Fuarcilik Corp and 3F Tourism and Travel Corp.

The delegation will hold multilateral contacts in Iraq.

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