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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-03-19Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>[01] AA News19 March 2000 Sunday[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 19, 2000. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their occuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)MUMCU: ''WE WILL BE NUMBER ONE IN TOURISM NEXT YEAR''Erkan Mumcu, the Tourism Minister, said, ''we will be number one country of Europe in tourism next year. Earthquake disasters and Ocalan affair affected tourism negatively last year. But the year 2000 will be a perfect year for Turkish tourism.'' IMPLEMENTATION OF BLUE STREAM PROJECT ADVANCES THREE MILD EARTHQUAKES SHAKE ERZURUM MILLIYET (LIBERAL)EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIANS DUE IN TURKEYAndreas Barsoni and Walter Schwimmer, the members of monitoring commission of Council of Europe Parliamentarians Assembly will hold contacts in Ankara, Istanbul, and Diyarbakir between March 26-30. Barsoni and Schwimmer are also expected to visit prisons and police headquarters. Officials said that Barsoni and Schwimmer might meet with Leyla Zana, former deputy of the closed Democracy Party (DEP) who is currently serving her imprisonment sentence. FEAST WITHOUT BORDER SABAH (LIBERAL)MORE THAN 100 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS OCCUR IN ANKARAMore than 100 traffic accidents occurred in Ankara due to snowfall and ice on the roads. Four people were killed while 50 others were injured in the accidents. Meanwhile, nearly 100 people were killed while 263 others were injured throughout Turkey since the beginning of the religious holiday, Eid Al-Adha. TURKISH AND GREEK SONGS IN NEW YORK A BRITISH DRUG COURIER CAPTURED CUMHURIYET (LEFT)TANK TENSIONGermany's Greens was divided into two in its congress meeting yesterday. The party which expressed opinion opposed to sale of Leopard II tanks to Turkey rejected the proposal which foresaw the end of the coalition government in case the tanks are sold to Turkey. It was also stressed that sale of tanks to Turkey could no longer be a condition for continuation of the coalition government. Cem Ozdemir, a deputy of Unity 90/Greens, criticized Germany's intention to sale weapons to both Turkey and Greece, saying, ''I believe that selling weapons to these neigboring countries, which still couldn't solve their problems, is not appropriate. As the deputies of Greens, we think Germany should not sell weapons to any country. In the process of EU membership, Turkey should invest in its economy, not armament.'' JET-PA IN CRISIS RADIKAL (LEFT)18 KG OF HEROIN CONFISCATED IN A PASSENGER BUSActing on a tip-off, security forces searched a passenger bus which was on its way from Van to Istanbul. They confiscated 18 kg of heroin in a bag in trunk of the bus. One passenger was taken into custody. NSC TO CONVENE ON MONDAY YENIBINYIL (LIBERAL)A LESSON OF HUMANITYEser Er was trapped beneath the rubbles for 92 hours and his father Yuksel for 97 hours after the August's killing earthquake. Their show of happiness after being rescued became one of the symbols of the quake. These images which were broadcast by the Turkish televisions for days also drew the attention beyond the Ocean. An 80-person ABC television channel team arrived in Golcuk and interviewed firstly with Eser and Yuksel Er. They set up a foundation when they returned to the United States and they undertook the education expenses of Eser Er. Eser is now studying at a college in Turkey, and the Americans are paying the fees. Father Yuksel Er said, ''our American friends invited my son and me to the U.S., but Eser wanted to stay here.'' DIRT-CHEAP FACTORY OPPORTUNITY ERBAKAN: ''SUPREME COURT WILL REVERSE THE IMPRISONMENT SENTENCE'' TURKIYE (RIGHT)CAKMAKOGLU: ''ESDI WITHOUT TURKEY IS NOT POSSIBLE''Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, the National Defense Minister, said, ''Turkey wants to be included in the European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI). Regional problems cannot be solved easily without Turkey.'' ECEVIT'S MESSAGE FOR 85TH ANNIVERSARY OF CANAKKALE NAVAL VICTORY A TOTAL OF 27 TURKISH HADJIS DIE ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)FRENCH MODEL AGAINST EUThe Turkish Foreign Ministry which found the Swedish model about minorities infeasible, will defense itself with the implementation in France. The Foreign Ministry will settle its defensive policy against the EU countries upon the French system which accepts Corsicans as a minority and does not allow Corsican language in offical authorities. The report of the Foreign Ministry, which is preparing itself to put onto the agenda the permission to broadcasting in Kurdish, establishment of a Human Rights Directorate General, foresees ''equal constitutional citizenship'' by not taking into consideration ethnic and lingual differences. PRISONS POOR OF INVESTMENT [03] TURKISH CYPRIOTS WHO VISITED HALA SULTAN SHRINE IN LARNACA, RETURN TO TRNCLEFKOSA - Turkish Cypriots who visited Hala Sultan Shrine in Larnaca in the Greek Cypriot side within framework of the religious holiday, Eid Al-Adha, returned to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Saturday night.They returned to the TRNC by 26 passenger busses provided by the Greek Cypriot oficials. A total of 1,369 Turkish Cypriots visited Hala Sultan Shrine which was built in memory of Um Haram, an aunt of the Prophet Mohammed, who is said to be buried in the shrine. [04] UKRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TO ARRIVE IN ANKARA ON MONDAYANKARA - Borys Tarasyuk, the Foreign Minister of the Ukraine, will come to Ankara on Monday for a two-day official visit.Tarasyuk, who will pay his first official visit to Turkey, is expected to meet with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, and be received by President Suleyman Demirel, Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. The Guest Foreign Minister will also meet with State Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen and National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu. Tarasyuk, who will proceed to Istanbul on Tuesday, will attend the meeting of the Turkish-Ukranian Business Council, and visit the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Secretariat. The bilateral relations between Turkey and the Ukraine recorded a rapid progress after the Ukraine won its independency in 1991. The two countries signed nearly sixty agreements in last eight years. The Ukranian Embassy in Ankara said the trade volume between the two countries reached 1.2 billion U.S. dollars but decreased to 1 billion U.S. dollars in 1999 due to the Asia and Russia crises. The Ukraine is one of the countries that strongly supported Turkey's initiative for the establishment of the BSEC. [05] ''GAP'' WAS INTRODUCED IN WORLD WATER FORUMAMSTERDAM - The ''Second World Water Forum'' continues in The Hague, the Netherlands.More than one thousand representatives of 100 countries are participating in the Forum which started on Friday in the Congress building and will last one week. A meeting was held on Saturday to introduce Turkey's Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP). Addressing the meeting on ''Water and Life in 21st Century'', Olcay Unver, the General Director of GAP Administration, said that GAP was one of the most important sustainable development projects based on water. Unver said the GAP targeted not only energy production, irrigation, and economic development but also it was a huge integrated project which included all factors aimed at social, cultural, and environmental development. Recalling that the project was planned to be completed in 2010, and 45 percent of the project had been concluded, Olcay Unver stressed that the development provided by the GAP would be beneficial for not only Turkey but also all countries in the region and whole world. Meanwhile, Cumhur Ersumer, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, will arrive in the Netherlands and attend the Forum by Monday. [06] TRANSPORTATION MINISTER OKSUZ RETURNS TO TURKEYISTANBUL - Enis Oksuz, the Transportation Minister who paid visits to Austria, France, and Britain, returned to Turkey on Saturday.Addressing journalists at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Oksuz said that his visits were very positive and productive. Noting that the world was interested in new infrastructure works in railway projects, Oksuz enumerated these projects as ''Istanbul Tube Passage Project'', ''Kars-Tbilisi Railway Project'', ''Ankara-Istanbul Fast Railway Project''. He added, ''Turkey cannot waste its oil it imported from foreign countries in return for considerable amount of money, to highway transportation which claims tens of lives every day. Turkey should further improve railway transportation which is considered as one of the most safe and economic transportation systems of the world. We aim at making great investments in railway transportation. New lines of 2 thousand kilometres will be added to the current railways. The Kars-Tbilisi Railway is the most important project.'' [07] JUSTICE MINISTER: ''AT LEAST 10-12 PRISONS SHOULD BE CONSTRUCTED IN PLACE OF THE BAYRAMPASA PRISON''TRABZON - Hikmet Sami Turk, the Minister of Justice, said on Saturday that at least ten or twelve prisons should be constructed in place of the Bayrampasa Prison in Istanbul, adding that there was a need for free land to this end.Responding to a question, Turk said there was not any building around the Bayrampasa Prion when it was constructed but later it was surrounded by block of flats and business places. ''Almost 3,250 inmates are staying in this prison. It is actually a big prison and it was the biggest prison in the Balkans when it was constructed. However, big prisons encounter big problems. So this prison should be transferred to other places because now it became situated in the city-center. We have to construct at least 10-12 prisons in place of it, and we need free areas for these constructions,'' he said. [08] DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME TO START AT THE END OF MARCHANKARA - The daylight saving time will start at the end of March.The standart time will be advanced by one hour at 01.00 a.m. on March 26. The summer-time will last till October 29, 2000. The summer-time which will be adopted together with the European countries, will last for seven months. More than 12 trillion Turkish liras are expected to be gained by energy saving. Nearly, 390 million kilowatt hours of energy, which will be saved by daylight savings, is equal to one-year capacity of a middle-size thermic power station. [09] KONYA TO HOST AN INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURE FAIRKONYA - The third ''Kon-Agriculture 2000 International Fair'' will be held in central Konya province between May 2 and 5.Officials at the Konya Agriculture Provincial Directorate said on Sunday that they expected may Turkish and foreign companies to take part the fair. Noting that the fair was very important for introduction of the agriculture and animal husbandry in Turkey, officials said they believed the fair would contribute to agriculture in Turkey and the countries in the region. [10] 131 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTUREDEDIRNE - Gendarme teams intercepted on Sunday 131 foreigners who were trying to cross to Greece illegally.Sources said gendarme teams patrolling around the border captured 131 people of Iranian, Iraqi, Palestinian, Bangladeshi, Romanian, Afghan, Moroccan, Syrian and Lebanese origin in Meric and Ipsala townships of northwestern Edirne province. Questioning the foreigners, officials said those immigrants came to the region to proceed to Greece illegally. Officials said those illegal immigrants would be deported. [11] IN FIRST TWO MONTHS, GAP REGION REALIZES 5.6 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN EXPORTS TO AMERICAN CONTINENTGAZIANTEP - The exports of agricultural products to five countries in American continent from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region in the first two months of this year increased to 5.6 million U.S. dollars.The region realized 4 million 301 thousand U.S. dollars in exports to the U.S. In the same period last year, the region exported 3 million 131 thousand U.S. dollars of agricultural products. Officials at the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union, told the A.A correspondent on Sunday that in the first two months of the year, they exported 2 million 851 thousand U.S. dollars in textiles; 33 thousand U.S. dollars in grain-cereals; and 1 million 417 thousand U.S. dollars in dried fruits. Meanwhile, the region realized 180 thousand U.S. dollars in exports to Argentina; 603 thousand U.S. dollars in exports to Canada; 481 thousand U.S. dollars in exports to Mexico; and 35 thousand thousand U.S. dollars in exports to Uruguay. The Turkish goods in greatest demand were cotton thread, dried apricot, synthetic thread and pistachio, officials added. [12] TURKEY-FRANCE COOPERATION IN RAPID POSTAL SERVICEANKARA - ''Turkish Postal Service 2000 Project'' which was prepared in cooperation with the Directorate General of Post and Telegraph (PTT) and the French Postal Affairs Authority, will speed up postal service in Turkey.Dursun Dagasan, the Director General of the PTT, told the A.A on Sunday, ''the project will cost five trillion Turkish Liras (TL). France will donate four trillion TL for the project. PTT will cover the rest of the amount.'' He added that French technical delegations would come to Turkey in May to hold contacts regarding the project. [13] IN FIRST TWO MONTHS, TURKEY REALIZES 2.3 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN EXPORT TO EU COUNTRIESANKARA - Turkey realized 2 billion 299 million 378 thousand U.S. dollars in exports to the European Union (EU) countries in the first two months of 2000.In the January-February period of 1999, Turkey realized 2 billion 150 million 628 thousand U.S. dollars in exports to the EU countries. Officials at the Exporters' Unions, told the A.A correspondent on Sunday that in the first two months of the year, they exported 858 million 902 thousand U.S. dollars in textiles; 255 million 572 thousand U.S. dollars in automotive; 255 million 834 thousand U.S. dollars in electronics; 253 million 668 thousand U.S. dollars in textile raw materials; 203 million 79 thousand U.S. dollars in iron; 3 million 814 thousand U.S. dollars in olive and olive oil; 7 million 569 thousand U.S. dollars in carpet; and 12 million 570 thousand U.S. dollars in fruits and vegetables. [14] ENERGY MINISTER ERSUMER DUE TO NETHERLANDSANKARA - Cumhur Ersumer, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, will leave on Monday for the Netherlands.Ersumer will attend the Second World Water Forum and the Ministers' Conference which was organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in The Hague. Ersumer is expected to return to Turkey on Thursday. [15] YILMAZ, LEADER OF ANAP: - ''I DO NOT CONSIDER IT RIGHT TO BAN SOMEBODY FROM POLITICS''RIZE - Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said on Sunday, 'I do not consider it right to ban somebody from politics.''When reminded of the discussions on Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) after Necmettin Erbakan, the former leader of the closed Welfare Party (RP) was sentenced to imprisonment, Yilmaz stressed, ''the Article 312 should be taken up within the content of whole judicial system. Because several laws together with the Political Parties Law and the law arranging parliamentary elections refer to the Article 312. Therefore, similar arrangements should be made in all relevant laws.'' He noted, ''there should be no restriction in freedom of expression. But at the same time necessary guarantees should take place in the judicial system against actions jeopardizing democratic system. It is a matter of balance to protect these two principles together. It is a matter of social evolution. The latest developments in Turkey are very useful. Self- criticism in political parties is a sign of it. If all political parties abandon their custom to use democracy as an instrument to reach different targets, obstacles in front of the freedom of expression will be removed.'' When asked whether or not he would be a candidate for presidency, Yilmaz said, ''No. I expressed my opinion on numerous occasions. The coalition partners and a part of the opposition have reached comprimise on a constitutional amendment to Article 69. It is not clear yet whether or not parliament would adopt the amendment.'' When reminded of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's statement saying, ''there'll be a serious uneasiness if the Presidential election issue can't be overcome'', Yilmaz said, ''yes, of course. Actually, the reason for our agreement on such an extraordinary solution was not to allow occurrence of an uneasiness.'' Noting that the easiest solution was the acceptance of an amendment to the Constitution, Yilmaz said, ''otherwise, overcoming the problem is also the government's duty.'' When asked whether he agreed with the opinion to suspend the second round to prevent referendum in case enough number of votes couldn't be collected in the first round of voting for an amendment to the Constitution, Yilmaz said, ''yes, we expressed this before. Actually, we now do not think a referendum appropriate to political stability. So our target is to make these amandments approved by the Parliament with a majority which won't necessitate a referendum.'' When asked whether he thought that the Justice Minister could use his authority of making an application to reverse the imprisonment sentence on Necmettin Erbakan, the former leader of the closed Welfare Party (RP), Yilmaz said, ''I don't want to comment on the judicial verdict against Erbakan.'' ''I think it inappropriate to ban a person from politics. What we all have to pay attention is the protection of democracy and reinforcement of the judicial system with the necessary measures against any act that can threat democracy. The judicial system in Turkey failed to carry out this,'' he said. [16] RELIGIOUS CEREMONY PERFORMED IN FENER GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCHATEISTANBUL - A ceremony was performed in the Haghia Yorgi Church in courtyard of the Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul on Sunday within framework of the Orthodox religious holiday.Whole Orthodox world celebrates the religious holiday five weeks before the Easter. The religious ceremony was performed by Bartholomew I, the Fener-Greek Orthodox Patriarch. Fotios Ksiolas, the Greek Consul General in Istanbul, was in attendance at the religious ceremony. [17] ADMIRAL MURPHY, COMMANDER OF U.S. 6TH FLEET, DUE IN TURKEYANKARA - Admiral Daniel J. Murphy, the Commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, will come to Turkey on Monday as official guest of Admiral Ilhami Erdil, the Commander of Naval Forces.Admiral Murphy is scheduled to meet with Admiral Bulent Alpkaya, the Commander of Fleet later on the same day. After visiting the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of modern Republic of Turkey, Admiral Murphy will come together with Admiral Erdil on Tuesday. He is expected to depart from Turkey on Wednesday. [18] INTENSE MEASURES TAKEN IN SOUTHEAST BEFORE NEWROZDIYARBAKIR - Tight security measures were taken in Southeastern Anatolia due to the ''Newroz'' on March 21.Security forces took intense measures in Diyarbakir, Mardin, Sirnak, Siirt and Batman provinces and searched the motor vehicles in the check-points on motorways. Meanwhile, the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) Diyarbakir Provincial Headquarters was allowed to organize ''Newroz'' celebrations. Sources said Ahmet Turan Demir, the leader of HADEP, would attend the celebrations that would take place in the ''fair area'' near the motorway between Diyarbakir and Elazig provinces. A group of singers will give a concert in the celebrations. [19] UKRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY: - ''UKRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER TARASYUK WILL LAUNCH INITIATIVES TO PERSUADE TURKISH BUSINESSMEN TO MAKE MORE INVESTMENTS IN UKRAINE''MOSCOW - The Ukranian Foreign Ministry stated on Sunday that Borys Tarasyuk, Ukranian Foreign Minister, would launch initiatives in Turkey to persuade Turkish businessmen to make more investments in Ukraine.Tarasyuk who will come to Ankara on Monday for a two-day official visit will meet with Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, and will be received by President Suleyman Demirel, Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. His meetings are expected to focus on commercial cooperation, security and integration. Tarasyuk and accompanying businessmen delegation who will proceed to Istanbul on Tuesday, will attend meeting of the Turkish-Ukranian Business Council, and visit the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Secretariat. [20] MILD EARTHQUAKE SHAKES KAYNASLIISTANBUL/KADIKOY - A mild earthquake measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale, shook Kaynasli township of Bolu province at 02:00 p.m. on Sunday.Officials at the Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Seismology Institute told the A.A correspondent that the earthquake was centered on rural area near Kaynasli township. [21] CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN TRNC ANNOUNCEDLEFKOSA - The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) High Board of Elections officially announced on Sunday the candidactes for presidential elections on April 15.It said eight people including four independent candidates would run for the President. The candidates are as follows: ''TRNC President Rauf Denktas (independent); National Unity Party (UBP) leader and TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu; Socialist Liberation Party (TKP) leader, TRNC State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Akinci; Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat; Patriotic Unit Movement's (YBH) candidate Arif Hasan Tahsin; Ayhan Kaymak (independent); Turgut Afsaroglu (independent); and Sener Levent (independent).'' The election campaigns will start on Monday and continue until April 14. A.A Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |