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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-03-13Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>[01] AA News13 March 2000 Monday[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 13, 2000. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their occuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)INVITATION FROM CLERIDES TO DENKTASGlafcos Clerides, Greek Cypriot leader, said if Greek Cypriots can see Denktas while eating dinner with them, then south can understand what north thinks, and north can understand what south thinks. Clerides said they could not enter to the European Union (EU) before the year 2004, adding that if they fail to reach a solution in the coming 3 or 4 years, there was no guarantee that this problem will be solved in another time. Clerides said they should solve the problem in four years. Clerides, who will start proximity talks with Denktas in May, said he certainly believed that solution of Cyprus problem is possible. TANTAN: TELEPHONES CAN NOT BE TAPPED ILLEGALLY MILLIYET (LIBERAL)EITHER DEMIREL OR CHAOSPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that ''even if Article 312 of the Constitution is not abolished, certain amendments can be made in it. In principle, I am opposed to the idea of banning somebody from politics permanently. Yet this issue should not become an issue of bargaining before the presidential elections.'' Prime Minister Ecevit added that if President Suleyman Demirel is not elected as a president for another term, this will cause chaos in the country. MANAVGAT RIVER FOR KINGS SABAH (LIBERAL)AMNESTY TO ERBAKAN IS DIFFICULTEfforts started in Virtue Party (FP) to change Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) to save Necmettin Erbakan. In order to realize this, FP has a tendency to extend support to 5+5 formula which will keep President Suleyman Demirel in the palace. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said he was not against amendment of Article 312 yet noted that this could not happen before Cankaya process ends. 31 HYROELECTIC POWER STATIONS TO BE SET UP IN THE BLACK SEA CUMHURIYET (LEFT)ECEVIT:I DEFEND SCHOOLS, NOT GULENPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit said regarding his positive impressions about the schools founded abroad by businessmen who are close to Fethullah Gulen, a sect leader that ''I only praised the schools founded by our private institutions abroad, not Gulen.'' The negotiations about the amnesty that will be brought for prisoners, will start after the Eid-El Ahda (the feast of sacrifice), Ecevit added. PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY AGAINST NUCLEAR POWER STATION RADIKAL (LEFT)DEMIREL TAKES ACTIONRecai Kutan, the leader of the Virtue Party (FP) said that President Suleyman Demirel told Necmettin Erbakan, the leader of the banned Welfare Party (RP) when the latter was convicted that ''this is our matter more than yours. We are the ones who should answer this question.'' POLICE REMEMBERS GAZI INCIDENTS YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)ARTICLE 312 SHOULD BE LIFTEDSami Selcuk, the Chairman of the Supreme Court of Appeals said that ''I consider Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) as the biggest obstacle and danger in front of freedom of thought and expression.'' Selcuk supported Premier Bulent Ecevit who said that Article 312 should be changed. The number-one name of the Supreme Court of Appeals who will determine the faith of Necmettin Erbakan, the convicted leader of the banned Welfare Party (RP) said that ''Article 312 should be lifted as soon as possible. If this is not the case, the text should be reviewed once again and it should be softened by using clearer expressions. I favour more democracy and more freedom.'' CHANGE IN ARTICLE 312 TO BE BROUGHT TO PARLIAMENT TURKIYE (RIGHT)''DEVLET'' GUARANTEEDevlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said they will never let terrorist PKK organization to be put into the stage again. Pointing out that PKK entered a dissolution process, Bahceli said several circles were trying to bring the organization into the stage by ''legalising'' it. Bahceli said, ''no matter how much the supporters of the organization try to use the PKK to harrass Turkish State, we will never let this organization to be pushed into the stage again.'' ECEVIT: ''I CAN'T ACCEPT PUNISHMENT ON ERBAKAN'' ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)GREEN LIGHT TO 312Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who spoke about Article 312, said it will be impossible to remove this article, yet noted that several amendments can be made. Ecevit said, ''a comprehensive work on this article is required.'' Ecevit pointed out that he did not find right the lifelong political ban for a long time. When asked if they contacted with the Virtue Party (FP) for Article 312, Ecevit said, ''we can not bargain any issue before presidential elections process ends.'' RAILWAY TENDER POSTPONED [03] AFTERSHOCKS CONTINUEISTANBUL - As aftershocks of massive Marmara and Duzce quakes continue, small quakes occurred in Bursa and Elazig provinces on Sunday.Below listed the hour, epicenter, and magnitude of the aftershocks: Hour Epicenter Magnitude ---- --------- --------- 10.44 Kocaeli Gölcük 3 17.31 Yalova-Cinarcik 2.7 20:24 Yalova 3.2 Meanwhile, quake measuring 2.7 on the Richter scale shook Bursa-Mudanya at 10:50, and another quake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.2 shook Elazig- Palu at 14:48. [04] UNESCO PROJECT TO AEGEAN MUGLA PROVINCEIZMIR - A project, supported by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), will be prepared to stress specialities of Aegean Mugla province. In the project, historical and urban structure of the city will be preserved.Tayfun Taner, Chairman of Dokuzeylul University Architecture and City Planning Department, told A.A correspondent that 20 scientists worked on the project which is related with 70 hectares of land which is in the site. Taner said Mugla architecture has an important place in the world, adding that UNESCO supported the project because of this. He said it was not right to leave the lands which are in the site. Taner said they have prepared a public works plan related with the 70 hectares of field which is in Mugla city center. [05] TIGHT SECURITY MEASURES TAKEN AT SARP BORDER GATEHOPA - Tight security measures have been taken at Sarp border gate of Turkey particularly against drug trafficking.Yusuf Guney, the chief director of Hopa Customs, told A.A correspondent on Monday that the biggest strike on drug smugglers was blown at Sarp border gate, adding the drug trafficking will further decrease by the completion of providing electronic equipment to the gate which had been missing before. Guney stressed that the border gate is the gate of the Far East states and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to the West. ''We seized various illegal goods worth of 22 trillion liras, tried to be brought to our country from this border gate in the recent two years. Yet, drug smuggling decreased,'' Guney added. [06] TRANSPORTATION MINISTER OKSUZ LEAVES FOR VIENNAISTANBUL - Enis Oksuz, the Minister of Transportation left for Vienna, Austria on Monday to hold contacts in Austria and France.Speaking at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport before his departure, Oksuz said that he will examine the activities of the companies which undertook the ''railway and speed train'' projects in Austria and France. He will also hold bilateral meetings with his Austrian and French counterparts, said Oksuz and added that '' I will particularly discuss the method of constructing Kars-Tbilisi railway project. We hope to sign a good willing agreement regarding this issue.'' Oksuz said that the French Transportation Minister invited him to France regarding the project of ''spaad train transportation network'' planned to be founded between Istanbul and Ankara, adding ''French companies request constructing the network which is our dream for 27 years. We will discuss these issues in France.'' The French Telecom has certain doubts about the ''Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)'' tender which will be put out in Turkey, said Oksuz, adding they will try to overcome these doubts. [07] IMKB AND IAB RECESS DUE TO EID EL-AHDAISTANBUL - Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) and Istanbul Gold Exchange (IAB) recessed due to the national holiday of Eid El-Ahda (the feast of sacrifice) on Monday.No shares will be bought or sold at IMKB and also in IAB on 13, 14, and 15 March due to administrative leave given before the holiday. IMKB and IAB will start to function on March 20 after the national holiday. [08] GERMANY COMES THE FIRST IN TURKEY'S FOREIGN TRADEANKARA - Germany came the first in Turkey's foreign trade in 1999 due to the data received from the State Statiscal Institute (DIE).Turkey exported goods worth of 5,46 billion dollars to Germany and imported goods worth of 5,88 billion dollars from this country. Germany came the top of the list of countries, which make trade with Turkey with 20.6 percent in exports and 14,5 percent in imports. The U.S. followed Germany with a share of 9.2 percent in exports worth of 2.4 billion dollars, while Britain came the third with a share of 6.9 percent in exports worth of 1.8 billion dollars. Italy followed Germany in imports worth of 3,19 billion dollars with a share of 7.8 percent while France came the third in imports worth of 3,12 billion dollars with a share of 7.7 percent the same year. [09] 99 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED IN TURKISH BORDEREDIRNE - Totally 99 persons who wanted to cross the Turkish border and enter Greece illegally, were captured in the last three days in Edirne province.Gendarme forces captured 99 persons from Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, South Africa, Palestine, Afghanistan, Syria, Sri Lanka, Tunusia, Moracco, and Albania, including one British person in Uzunkopru, Meric, and Enez townships of Edirne province. Alle Mark, from Britain told the gendarme that he wanted to cross the border illegally as he lost his passport. The illegal immigrants were sent to Edirne Security Directorate's Foreigners' Desk to be deported. [10] ETHIOPIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN ANKARAANKARA - Seyum Mesfin, the Ethiopian Foreign Minister who came to Ankara for an official visit, visited Anıtkabir, Ataturk's Mausoleum on Monday.Laying a wreath in the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of modern and secular Republic, the guest foreign minister also observed a minute of silence. Ethiopian Foreign Minister Mesfin later signed the Special Book of Anıtkabir and visited the museum. [11] RECORD INCREASE IN AUTOMOTIVE EXPORTATIONANKARA - As automotive sector made a good start to this year, the companies increased their exportation in the first two months of this year by 211 percent.According to the estimations made by Automotive Industry Association data, total vehicle exportation in Turkey reached 18,452 in the first two months of this year. Total vehicle exportation was 5,929 in the same period of last year. Commercial vehicle exportation was 1,393 in the first two months of last year, but it retrogressed to 935 with a decrease of 33 percent in the same period of this year. Tractor exportation in this year increased by 49 percent this period, and reached 1,628. Tractor exportation was 1,094 in January-February period of last year. Lorry exportation decreased 78 percent; small lorry exportation decreased 98 percent; minibus exportation decreased 100 percent; midibus exportation decreased 19 percent; and bus exportation decreased 1 percent in January- February period of this year. Meanwhile, automobile exportation, with 362 percent, became the first among vehicles. A total of 15,889 automobile were exported in January-February period of this year. Last year's exportation was 3,442 in the same period. [12] IN FIRST TWO MONTHS, 23.8 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF AGRICULTURAL AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS EXPORTED TO EU COUNTRIES FROM GAP REGIONGAZIANTEP - The exports of agricultural and animal products to the European Union (EU) countries from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region in the first two months of 1999 increased 8 percent to 23 million 894 thousand U.S. dollars.In the same period last year, the region exported 22 million 108 thousand U.S. dollars of agricultural and animal products to the EU countries. Officials at the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union, told the A.A correspondent on Monday that in the first two months of the year, they exported 19 million 634 thousand U.S. dollars in textiles; 413 thousand U.S. dollars in grain-cereals; 3 million 647 thousand U.S. dollars in dried fruits; and 200 thousand U.S. dollars in livestock. The Turkish goods in greatest demand were synthetic thread, cotton thread, dried apricot, plastic sack and textiles. The region realized 7 million 744 thousand U.S. dollars in exports to Italy; 3 million 965 thousand U.S. dollars in exports to Germany; and 3 million 632 thousand U.S. dollars in exports to Britain. [13] GREEN LIGHT TO FORMULA-1 RACES IN TURKEYANKARA - Turkey which wants to be a part of the motor sports in the world started to take steps to remove obstacles in front of organization of Formula-1 races in Turkey.In accordance with the information they received from the Federation of Automobile Sports of Turkey, the State Ministries responsible for Tourism and Sports started to launch initiatives to include Turkey into the ''Formula-1 Races'' chain which brings millions U.S. dollars of revenue. Mumtaz Tahincioglu, the Chairman of the Federation, said on Monday that the two ministries in question examined the ''Ban on advertisements and promotion of tobacco and cigarette companies'' which is included in Article 3 of the Law no: 4,207. Tahincioglu said the two ministries had the intention to remove the obstacle in front of Formula-1 with a ''law on sponsorship'' that will be legalized without ignoring the main principle of the current law. Recalling that annual yield of the organization changed between 60 and 100 million U.S. dollars, Tahincioglu said, ''we will solve the problems with the sponsorship. We submitted a proposal about the issue to the two ministries. The misitries are carrying out a very serious work.'' According to the Federation of International Automobile (FIA) standards, great amount of investments should be made in Turkey. The demands of the FIA are as follows: -Convenient field for construction of race track -Race track connected to airport and motorway -Emergency hospital and hotels around race track -Two separate large garages around race track -Helicopter landing area -Spectator and VIP lounges -Control tower -Spectator stands -Social facilities -Sports fields. The Formula-1 races are currently hosted in Australia, Brazil, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Monaco, Canada, Britain, Hungary, Belgium, United States, Japan, and Malaysia. [14] ETHIOPIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IN ANKARAANKARA - Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyum Mesfin, who is currently paying an official visit to Turkey, visited on Monday Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.Speaking to reporters prior to the meeting, Cem stressed that there were historical relations between Turkey and Ethiopia, recalling that Turks opened their first official representation in Ethiopia in 1905. Cem noted that the relations between the two countries were targeted to be further developed with Mesfin's visit. Pointing out that some Turkish companies made business in Ethiopia, Ismail Cem said they carried out a preparation for agreements like prevention of double taxation and mutual encouragement of investments. Cem said Mesfin and he would sign a health agreement and a cooperation protocol. Guest Minister Mesfin, in his part, expressed his pleasure with his visit to Turkey. Noting that his visit was important for a new page in the relations, Mesfin said it was the first visit paid to Turkey by an Ethiopian foreign minister. Defining Turkey as an anthic civilization which constitute a bridge between the East and the West, and between the North and the South, Mesfin said they wanted to add a new momentum to the bilateral relations. The Guest Minister added that Turkey and Ethiopia could cooperate in many fields within this framework. Seyum Mesfin will be received by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit the same day. [15] TURKEY REACHES AGREEMENT WITH WORLD BANK ON STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT LENDINGANKARA - The World Bank stated on Monday that it had reached agreement with Turkey on the Economic Reform Loan for 750 million U.S. dollars.The Board of the World Bank is expected to discuss the loan on April 11, 2000. The Economic Reform Loan (ERL) is designed to support Turkey's reform in public expenditure management, agriculture, energy, social security, and privatization. It will include financing for the pilot schemes in four regions in 2000. It will also support the planned restructuring of state-owned enterprises in agriculture. In the area of energy, the ERL supports Turkey's intent to shift to a market model and rationalization of energy projects required to meet Turkey's energy generation and distribution needs under a privatized structure. It also supports measures for improving the financial position of TEAS. It will also support establishment of regulatory bodies for energy and telecommunications, and the implementation of Turkey's privatization program. In the area of social security, the ERL supports the introduction of a private pension pillar and rationalization of accounts of pension systems and improvements in administration. Agreements have also been reached in principle on a Financial Sector Adjustment Loan (FSAL) for 750 million U.S. dollars to support Turkey's planned reforms in the banking system including the proposed establishment of the Banking Board and the initial steps towards privatization and commercialization of the state banks. The FSAL is expected to be taken to the Board of the World Bank for approval in May 2000. Additional projects totaling 500 million U.S. dollars to support the implementation of reforms under the framework of ERL in agriculture and social security and improve social safety nets are also being initiated by the Government and the World Bank. The Bank teams to prepare these projects will arrive in April to begin work on them. The preparation of these projects is expected to be completed in 2000. [16] PRIME MINISTRY OPENS 15 PRIVATIZATION TENDERSANKARA - The Privatization Administration Board (OIB) opened on Monday tenders for privatization of nine enterprises of two companies and their public shares in six enterprises.The announcement about the tenders was published in today's Official Gazette. In accordance with the announcement, nine enterprises belonged to Turkish Cellulose and Paper Manufacture (SEKA), and Meat and Fish Authority (EBK), and their public shares in Karadeniz Bakir Isletmeleri (Karadeniz Copper Enterprises-KBI), Takim Tezgahlari Sanayi ve Tic. A.S. (Machine Tools Industry and Trade Corp-TAKSAN), Turkiye Motor Sanayi ve Tic. A.S. (Turkish Motor Industry and Trade Corp-TUMOSAN), Sinai Tesisler A.S. (Industrial Facilities Corp-TUSTAS), Turkiye Muhendislik Musavirlik ve Muteahhitlik A.S. (Turkish Engineering, Counselling, and Contracting Corp-TUMAS) and Meyve ve Buzlu Muhafaza ve Enternasyonal Nakliyat A.S (Fruit and Frosted Protection and International Transportation Corp-MEYBUZ) will be privatized with block sale/asset sale method. The sealed tender will be based on negotiations and bargaining. If the tender commissions see it necessary, the tenders will be finalized with auctions with the participation of the bidders. The bidder can submit bids for more than one enterprise or public shares. According to the statement issued by the OIB, the nine enterprises of two institutions and their public shares in six companies are as follows: Bid Bond Name of Enterprise (U.S. dollar) Deadline -------------------- -------------- ---------------- .Afyon Enterprise 500.000 April 24, 2000 .Balikesir Enterprise 500.000 April 24, 2000 .Bolu Enterprise 200.000 April 24, 2000 .Kastamonu Enterprise 750.000 April 24, 2000 .Bolu Enterprise's Social Facilities 50.000 April 24, 2000 .Ardanuc Enterprise 20.000 April 10, 2000 -EBK .Diyarbakir Meat Combine 100.000 April 10, 2000 .Kayseri Meat Combine 100.000 April 10, 2000 .Fatsa Fish Products Entr. 100.000 April 10, 2000 Management's -------------------- Bid Share Nominal Share Bond Name of Company In Company In Company (Thousand) (percent)(Thousand TL)(U.S. dollars) Deadline --------------- ------ ------------- ------- ------------- TAKSAN 100 8.000.000.000 750 April 24, 2000 TUMOSAN 100 6.000.000.000 750 April 24, 2000 TUSTAS 63.87 60.679.900 50 April 10, 2000 TUMAS 49 4.900.000 100 April 10, 2000 MEYBUZ 99.57 99.572.620 200 April 10, 2000 </pre> [17] CULTURE MINISTER TALAY LEAVES FOR FRANCEISTANBUL - Istemihan Talay, the Culture Minister, left on Monday for French capital of Paris.Talay will attend on Tuesday opening ceremony of exhibition named ''Letters in Gold: Examples of Ottoman Calligraphy Art from Sakip Sabanci Museum of the University of Sabanci'' at the worldwide famous Louvre Museum. The collection comprises of 71 works including imperial decrees, tugras (sultan's signatures), and manuscript Korans belonged to a period from 15th century to 20th century. The exhibition will remain open till May 29. The ''Letters in Gold'' collection was displayed at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Los Angeles Country Museum of Art, and at the Arthur M. Sackler Museum of the University of Harward in 1998 and 1999. Nearly 350 thousand people visited the exhibition in the U.S. [18] HANNAY, BRITIAN'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS, IN CYPRUSLEFKOSA - Sir David Hannay, the Britain's Special Representative to Cyprus, started his contacts on the island on Monday by meeting with Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration.No statement was given about agenda of the meeting. Later, Hannay proceeded to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and met with Serdar Denktas, the leader of the Democrat Party (DP), and Mehmet Ali Talat, the leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP). While Hannay refrained from responding to questions about agenda of his meetings, Serdar Denktas stressed that an agreement on Cyprus could be possible only with recognition of sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot side. Denktas added that Hannay did not put forward any proposals or plans at the meeting. President Rauf Denktas of the TRNC also received Sir David Hannay. President Denktas said that he would explain the Turkish Cypriots' attitude once again at the meeting. Ergun Olgun, the Undersecretary of TRNC Presidency; Necati Munir Ertekun and Mustafa Evran, the advisers of President Denktas; Tahsin Ertugruloglu, the TRNC Foreign Affairs and Defense Minister; Osman Ertug, the Undersecretary of TRNC Foreign Affairs Ministry; and Edward Clay, the British High Commissioner in Lefkosa; were in attendance at the meeting. Hannay will partake in a dinner along with TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu; Mustafa Akinci, the TRNC Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State; and Tahsin Ertugruloglu, the TRNC Foreign Affairs and Defense Minister. On Tuesday, Hannay will meet with representatives of Greek Cypriot political parties. Hannay is expected to depart from the island after staging a press conference at the Ledra Palace later in the same day. Sir David Hannay is expected to pay a visit to Ankara at the end of March. [19] ANNIVERSARY OF GAZI INCIDENTS - 366 OUT OF 382 DETAINESS RELEASEDISTANBUL - Istanbul Security Directorate released on Monday 366 out of the 382 people who were taken into custody during yesterday's illegal demonstration in Gazi district of Istanbul.Police revealed that one of the detainees had been wanted by the Istanbul Anti-Terrorism Directorate while 15 others were deserters. A group of nearly 500 people had gathered in Gazi district on Sunday to mark the 5th anniversary of incidents where 17 people were killed. [20] INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN IN LONDON - TANTAN MEETS WITH HIS BRITISH COUNTERPART STRAWLONDON - Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan said on Monday that British Home Secretary Jack Straw and he reached a consensus to sign a security cooperation agreement.Tantan, who is currently paying a three-day official visit to Britain as the guest of the British government, started his official contacts with a visit to a criminal laboratory. Following his visit to the criminal laboratory, Tantan held a 30-minute meeting with Straw in the British Home Department. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Tantan recalled that there was not a security cooperation between Turkey and Britain so he proposed to give the start for works to this end. Noting that the Embassies of Turkey and Britain would give the start for diplomatic and technical works, Tantan said the two countries would cooperate in struggle against cross-border crimes like human smuggling, illicit drugs trafficking, and arms smuggling. Stating that they brought onto the agenda every issue that concerned Turkey, Tantan said they also discussed extradition some persons to Turkey. ''Actually, this extradition issue is included in the security cooperation agreement,'' he said. When reminded of the television broadcast of the terrorist PKK organization via Britain, Tantan said, ''we discussed this too. Mr. Straw told me that there was an important legal preparation in the Parliament to this end.'' Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan will visit Prime Ministry Defense and Overseas Affairs Department Chairman Nick Gibbons the same day. [21] TURKEY REACTS AGAINST SYRIA'S ATTITUDE IN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM FAIR OF BERLINBERLIN - Turkey reacted against Syria's attitude in the International Tourism Fair of Berlin, Germany, on Monday.Syria prepared a map to be distributed in its stand in the fair, and included Hatay and Iskenderun which are within the borders of Turkey in its territories. Erkan Mumcu, the Tourism Minister, said, ''even Syrian President Hafez al- Assad cannot enter into Hatay without passport.'' Asim Temizgil, the Turkish Consul General in Berlin, said that they warned Syria regarding the maps. Temizgil added that they would warn Syria once again. [22] HEAVY SNOWFALL PARALYZES DAILY LIFE AND TRAFFIC IN ARTVINARTVIN - Heavy snowfall which started overnight, paralyzed daily life and traffic in Artvin province in Eastern Black Sea Region on Monday.A total of 280 village roads were closed to traffic in the province due to bad weather conditions. Highway teams are working to clear roads with snowblowers. [23] PEOPLE KILLED IN FIREBOMB ATTACK ON BLUE MARKET COMMEMORATEDISTANBUL/KADIKOY - The thirteen people who were killed in a firebomb attack last year on the ''Mavi Carsi (Blue Market'' in Goztepe district in Istanbul were commemorated on Monday.Families and relatives of the people killed in the firebomb attack gathered on the ''13 March Martyrs'' street near the Blue Market. Later, the group came in front of the Blue Market and observed a minute of silence. Families who left a banner and 13 carnations on the pavement in front of the Blue Market, saying, ''we won't forget you''. Meanwhile, it was seen that the Blue Market was restored and a fire exit was built. The Blue Market management was accused as the market did not have a fire exit at that time. Blue Market's owner Ibrahim Tasli, Sales Manager Fevziye Sahinoz, and
customers Seval Balci, Ilknur Keles, Filiz Soydemir, Umit Ayyurek, Ayse
Akin, Husnu Kanar, Nese Ruscuk, Zeynep Nezahat Beyazgul, Sonnur Atalay, Sen
Yesildagi, and Meltem Ozkilic were killed in the firebomb attack on March
13, 1999. [24] GEORGIA CALLS TURKISH INVESTORS TO PURCHASE INACTIVE FACTORIESTRABZON - The Turkish entrepreneurs can once again put into operation many factories in Georgia which all became inactive after collapse of the Soviet Union.Giorgi Djandgava, the Consul General of Georgia in Trabzon, said, ''we should not only trade, but also invest in production. With this objective, many inactive factories in Georgia can be evaluated,'' recalling that there was Sarp Border Gate between Turkey and Georgia. Making a statement to the monthly Trade Magazine of the Trabzon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Giorgi Djandgava said that the relations between Turkey and Georgia should not be dependent upon only trade. ''In Georgia, there are many economically important large and small factories which became inactive due to several reasons. The Turkish investors can put those factories into operation again. We call the Turkish investors and entrepreneurs to purchase and operate those facilities alone or together with the Georgian businessmen,'' he added. [25] OPERATIONS AGAINST TERRORIST HIZB-UT TAHRIR ORGANIZATIONANKARA - Ahmet Kilickaya, who was in charge of activities of the terrorist Islamic Salvation Party (Hizb-ut Tahrir) in Turkey, was captured on March 10, 2000 at the Antalya Airport as he was trying to leave for the Netherlands.Later, Kilickaya was brought to Ankara. Meanwhile, Muhammed Hanifi Yagmur, one of the leading names of the terrorist organization, was captured in Ankara. Police searched houses belonged to Kilickaya and Yagmur, and confiscated illegal document, floppy discs, and fax machines. Interrogation of the two is continuing in Ankara. They will be tried by the Ankara State Security Court on Tuesday. The Hizb-ut Tahrir aims at founding a caliphate state based on the Sharia religious law. The organization has not staged any armed attacks so far. The Hizb-ut Tahrir which was founded by Takiyyuddun En Nephani in Jordan in 1953, tries to be organized in Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, and Britain. [26] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT RECEIVES MESFIN, ETHIOPIAN FOREIGN MINISTERANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit received on Monday Seyum Mesfin, the Ethiopian Foreign Minister who is currently paying an official visit to Turkey.Ugur Ziyal, the Deputy Undersecretary of Foreign Ministry, was in attendance at the meeting which lasted half an hour. At the meeting, Mesfin stressed that Ethiopia attributed great importance to cooperation with Turkey. He conveyed good wishes and greetings of Ethiopian Premier to Ecevit. Prime Minister Ecevit invited his Ethiopian counterpart to Turkey through Mesfin. [27] U.S. TO PRESENT GENERAL BASER WITH LEGION OF MERITANKARA - Admiral James Ellis, the Commander in Chief of Allied Forces Southern Europe, will present General Edip Baser, the Deputy Chief of General Staff, with the award of the Legion of Merit.Releasing a statement on Monday, the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Ankara said that the award would be in recognition of General Baser's exceptionally meritorious service between August 1998 and August 1999 as Commander of Headquarters of Allied Forces Southeastern Europe in Izmir. The award ceremony will be held on March 20. Mark Parris, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, will be in attendance at the ceremony. [28] STATE MINISTER GAYDALI'S CONTACTS IN NIGERIAANKARA - A delegation led by Edip Safter Gaydali, the Minister of State and the Co-Chairman of Turkish-Nigerian Joint Economic Commission (JEC), paid an official visit to Nigeria between March 6-10.The State Ministry said Gaydali and the accompanying delegation were received by Nigerian President Olesegun Obasonjo and the Nigerian Vice President, and the delegation held contacts with several Nigerian ministers. It said Gaydali submitted President Suleyman Demirel's letter, which expresses Turkey's support to democratization process in Nigeria, to Nigerian President Obasonjo. It said State Minister Gaydali also conveyed Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut's friendship message to the Nigerian Parliament Speaker. Meanwhile, the State Ministry said the JEC Momerandum of Understanding that was signed between Turkey and Nigeria mentioned that the Nigerian government encouraged and extended support to the Turkish companies to undertake the infrastructural projects in Nigeria. ''At the end of the meetings between the Turkish and Nigerian military delegations, the Military Cooperation Frame Agreement and Military Training Cooperation Agreement were initialled, and the agreements in question were decided to be signed in Ankara in the shortest time frame,'' it said. [29] GAP TO BE BROUGHT TO INTERNATIONAL PLATFORMSANKARA - The Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) will be discussed in several international forums this month.The Prime Ministry GAP Regional Development Management issued a written statement and said the GAP would be discussed in several sessions of the Tenth World Water Congress organized by the International Water Resources Association (IWRA) in Melbourne, Australia between March 12-17, and it would be promoted in the Congress exhibition. GAP Management Chairman Olcay Unver who will undertake IWRA Secretary General mission on March 16 for the 2001-2003 period, will make the opening remarks of a session on Region Management. GAP will be introduced also in the Second World Water Forum organized by the World Water Council (WWC) in The Hague between March 17-22. A delegation led by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer will attend the Ministers' Conference which will be held in parallel to the Forum between March 21-22. The results of the Ministers' Conference will be included in The Hague Declaration. GAP Management representatives will attend a seminar which will be organized by Germany's Wurttemberg State Economy Ministry to encourage German companies to incest in GAP region and cooperate with domestic investors. [30] A.AAnadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |