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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-06-27Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>ANADOLU AGENCYNEWS 27 JUNE 2000 Tuesday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 27, 2000. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)ERKAYA LAID TO RESTRetired Admiral Guven Erkaya, former Commander of Naval Forces and one of the chief consultants of Prime Ministry who died on Saturday from colon cancer at the age of 62, was laid to rest in the Zincirlikuyu Graveyard in Istanbul. Thousands of people attending to funeral to pay their last tribute to Admiral Erkaya, chanted slogans against the fundamentalist press that slandered him. ACADEMY FOR STRUGGLE AGAINST ILLICIT DRUGS STABILITY GUARANTEE FROM BAHCELI TO TUSIAD HADEP'S HEADQUARTERS RAIDED MILLIYET (LIBERAL)BODY EXHUMED IN GAZIANTEPSecurity forces carried out an excavation and exhumed a male body in a hide- out belonged to the terrorist Hezbollah organization in Yesilevler district in southeastern Gaziantep province. The body of the 35-year-old man was found buried beneath the garage of a house. He was thought to have been killed some eight months ago by Hizbullah members. SECURITY FORCES RAID JETPA HOLDING SABAH (LIBERAL)ERDIS ATTEMPTED TO HANG HIMSELFSalih Izzet Erdis, the head of terrorist Islamic Great Eastern Raiders Front (IBDA-C) who is also known as ''Salih Mirzabeyoglu'', tried to hang himself in his prison cell, but survived when a fellow inmate cut the rope. Erdis was arrested two years ago and is being tried for ''attempting to change the constitutional order by force of arms''. He faces a possible death penalty. He was taken to the Bakirkoy Psychopathology Center. GERMAN STEAG COMPANY TO START POWER PLANT PROJECT IN ISKENDERUN CUMHURIYET (LEFT)PEOPLE OF WRONG MENTALITYThe Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) reacted to the publications and broadcasts of the fundamentalist press organs following the demise of retired admiral Guven Erkaya. The Office of General Staff burst out anger at the fundamentalist press organs. The Office of General Staff defined these publications and broadcasts as tracherous propoganda full of untrue allegations against the TSK. The Office of General Staff emphasized the continuity of the TSK and reiterated Erkaya's message which carried importance during the February 28 process. DRUG ABUSE INCREASES RADIKAL (LEFT)NEW TENDER LAW ON THE WAYKoray Aydin, the Public Works and Housing Minister, said that the corruption discussions will be over when he was opening the draft law which would totally change the tender system, to discussion. Finance Minister Sumer Oral said that competition will increase with this new law. The draft law includes the resolutions of the World Trade Organization which allow international participation to the tenders. The negotiations between Turkey and the European Union (EU) regarding this issue are planned to be held in July. BERGAMA DIVIDES CABINET INTO TWO YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)CENTRAL ASIA ALARMRussian President Vladimir Putin's active attitude in the Central Asia made Turkey take action. The relations which Suleyman Demirel, the ninth President of Turkey, held only by himself until today, will be revived and improved by agreements in the new term. The National Security Council (NSC) discussed the Central Asia and Caucasus during its meeting. After Demirel's term in office expired, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem started to hold contacts in this region. Cem paid a visit to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Two agreements on economy and politics will be signed with these two countries in September. INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TERMINAL TO BE EXPANDED BY 30 PERCENT TURKIYE (RIGHT)PLUNDERING TO END''Transparency'' will start with the amendment to the State Law on Tenders. The government bill took EU and World Trade Organization norms as a basis. When the Parliament approves the draft law, public organizations especially the state economic enterprises can't open tenders independently. The draft law which foresees competition also includes some arrangements to finalize the tenders in planned time frame. PKK KNOCKS ON DOOR OF PARIS A TURKISH CHILD KILLED BY DOGS IN GERMANY ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)ONE HOSPITAL TO ISTANBUL IN 30 YEARSThe Social Security Authority (SSK) hospitals were able to meet the requirements in Istanbul thirty years ago are now insufficient as new hospitals were not built. SSK could build only one hospital in last thirty years in Istanbul where the number of people who are paying premiums to SSK is rapidly increasing. According to 1998 statistics, one hospital served 781 thousand SSK insured people and one hospital offered one bed to 1,437 patients. IMPRISONMENT DUE TO WEIGHT IN GRAMS VAN TO BE EXCLUDED FROM EMERGENCY RULE FIRST SUPPORT FROM PARLIAMENT -649.5 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF HAZELNUTS Officials at the Black Sea Union of Hazelnut Exporters told the A.A correspondent on Tuesday that Turkey exported 186 thousand 825 tonnes of hazelnuts, and obtained an income of 649.5 million U.S. dollars. Turkey exports hazelnuts mainly to the European countries. In the same period of last year, Turkey had exported 166 thousand 87 tonnes of hazelnuts, and obtained an income of 684 million 893 thousand U.S. dollars. [02] SECOND WORLD KURASH CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE HELD IN ANTALYAANKARA- The Second World Kurash Wrestling Championships will take place in southern Antalya province between July 13-17.Almost 1,200 wrestlers from 72 countries will attend the championships at the Antalya Ataturk Sports Hall. The wrestlers will compete in men's and women's 66, 73, 81 and 90 kg categories. The judo-like kurash wrestling is a traditional sports of Uzbekistan. [03] DECREASING TREND IN EXPORTS TO AFRICA AND ASIA FROM GAP REGION CONTINUESGAZIANTEP- Decreasing trend in exports to Africa and Asia from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region continues.In the first five months of the year, exports of agricultural products to African countries decreased 7 percent to 5 million 63 thousand U.S. dollars, and exports agricultural products to Asian countries decreased 35.2 percent to 1 million 548 thousand U.S. dollars. In the same period las year, the region exported 5 million 442 thousand U.S. dollars of agricultural products to African countries, and 2 million 386 thousand U.S. dollars of agricultural products to Asian countries. The Turkish goods in greatest demand were textile products, and grain- cereals. [04] FOREIGN TRADE INDICESANKARA- Exports from Turkey increased 13.3 percent and its imports climbed 30.3 percent in April 2000 when compared to figures in April 1999.The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced on Tuesday temporary foreign trade figures for April 2000. According to DIE's announcement, exports from Turkey became 2 billion 213 million U.S. dollars and its imports became 4 billion 346 million U.S. dollars in April 2000. Meanwhile, foreign trade deficit as of April 2000 increased 54.4 percent to 2 billion 132 million U.S. dollars. The foreign trade deficit had been 1 billion 381 million U.S. dollars in April 1999. [05] FIRST INTERNATIONAL CAPPADOCIA MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN URGUP BETWEEN JULY 1-2NEVSEHIR - The First International Cappadocia Mountain Bike Festival will be organized by the National Olympiad Committee of Turkey, the Bicycling Federation of Turkey, the Ayhan Sahenk Foundation and the Urgup Municipality in Urgup township of central Nevsehir province between July 1- 2.Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent, Bekir Odemis, the Mayor of Urgup, said on Tuesday, ''we have decided to organize an international mountain bike festival in order to diversify tourism in Cappadocia. We aim at promoting cultural assets of the region through sports events. We expect nearly 200 sportsmen from the U.S., Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Israel, Greece, Spain, and Ireland to participate in the festival.'' [06] GOVERNMENT BILL ON EXTENTION OF MANDATE OF NORTHERN WATCH OPERATION SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENTANKARA- Government bill on the extention of the mandate of Northern Watch Operation for six more months was submitted to the parliament on Tuesday.The bill foresees the extention of the mandate of Northern Watch Operation as of June 30. The government bill requested that the Council of Ministers should be authorized for the extention of the mandate of the Northern Watch Operation and for taking all decisions concerning this issue. The Northern Operation Watch is an air operation which is limited with only the reconnaissance flights but in which the planes can take action to prevent an inconvenient situation when necessary, by taking into consideration the protection of the territorial integrity of Iraq under the resolutions of the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council and by being subject to the principles and rules determined by Turkey. Another government bill which foresees the termination of the emergency rule in eastern Van province and extention of the emergency rule for four months in southeastern Diyarbakir, Hakkari, Sirnak and eastern Tunceli provinces, is also expected to be submitted to the parliament today. The Parliamentary General Assembly will discuss these government bills in its meeting on Wednesday. [07] TURKEY-WORLD BANK -TURKEY PLANS TO INCREASE AMOUNT OF CAS LOAN FROM 2.250 BILLION TO 3 BILLION DOLLARSANKARA- Turkey is planning to increase the amount of loan it will obtain from the World Bank within framework of Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) from 2 billion 250 million to 3 billion U.S. dollars.Sources said on Tuesday that the World Bank, in principle, approached positively toward an increase in CAS loan, defending that Turkey's requirements would be the determining factor. In case the loan is increased to three billion U.S. dollars, it will be used to finance structural reforms especially the agricultural and social security reforms. The CAS loan will be used to finance the agricultural reconstruction projects and the projects for training of manpower and similar secondary projects in field of social security reform. Officials said it seemed difficult for the World Bank Board to approve the CAS loan by June 30, adding that they believed the Bank would approve the loan in coming months and the loan would be in effect as of beginning of 2001. In case the amount of CAS loan is increased to three billion U.S. dollars, the total amount of laon Turkey will obtain from the World Bank will increase to six billion U.S. dollars including three billion U.S. dollars Structural Adjustment Loan (SAL). -27TH FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING OF OIC STARTS Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad opened the meeting. Nearly one thousand representatives of 56 countries and four observer states, including Bosnia-Herzegovina are attending the meeting. The issue of ''Islam and Globalization'' will be high on the agenda of the four-day meeting. A 28-member delegation including Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, and Mehmet Kececiler, the State Minister, is representing Turkey at the meeting. After the morning session, Foreign Minister Cem and State Minister Kececiler hosted a luncheon for the foreign ministers of the Asian group, and requested support to Ambassador Yasar Yakis, Turkey's candidate for OIC Secretary General. [08] ''GIANT SHOE'' EN ROUTE TO GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDSKONYA- A shoe with a size of 455 that was produced in Turkey is expected to be accepted by the Guinness Book of Records, as the biggest shoe in the world.Ahmet Okurlar told A.A correspondent on Tuesday that four people, including Zahit Okurlar, a shoe-maker in central Konya province, produced the shoe in six months and that they applied to the Guinness Book of Records seven months ago. Okurlar said that he has received a letter from the Guinness Book of Records in which the size of the shoe, the photographs or video-cassettes shot during the production, the notary document, news published or broadcast in press organs, were requested. ''We will send the documents after they are translated into English,'' Okurlar also said. A total of 350 kilograms of stout leather, 992 deci-leather, 4 metres of lace, 200 kilograms of glue were used in production of the shoe. The shoe is 3 metres 12 centimetres in length, 1 metre 27 centimetres in height, 1 metre 10 centimetres in width, and 750 kilograms in weight. The huge shoe costed 20 billion Turkish liras (TL). It is planned to be put into the market for sale in return for 25 billion TL during the shoe fair which will be held in Istanbul between July 20 and 23. [09] FOREST FRE IN IZMIR -BLAZE UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE RESULTED FROM ARSONANKARA - Monday's forest fire in Izmir's Kozagac region was understood to have resulted from arson, officials said on Tuesday.Forestry Ministry officials told the A.A correspondent that the Monday fire had been set in three separate spots of a den deliberately by unidentified persons. They said that the anti-terrorism department had started investigating into the case, due to repeated arson attempts against the same den. Monday's fire, which had started blazing at around 15 hours local time, could be taken under control after about four hours, at 18.55, by 5 helicopters, about 20 working machines, 9 teams and 300 soldiers. It wrought damage on about 20 acres of forest land. [10] NEMRUT TREASURES BELIEVED TO MAKE GREATER SENSATION THAN EGYPT'S PYRAMIDSADIYAMAN/KAHTA - The treasures of King Antiacos, whose grave is planned to be opened soon, are believed to make a greater sensation than those of Pharaoh Tutankhamon had once made, officials said on Monday.Chairman of the International Nemrut Association Maurice Crijns, who is in Kahta to participate in the 8th Kahta Kommagene Festival told the A.A correspondent that they believed the ancient tomb they were planning to open soon, was the most important of all. Crijns said that a German team had found the exact location of the tomb of King Antiacos by making seismographical, radar, and electromagnetic calculations and measurements. He said that the tomb was not located under the tumulus, as had been predicted, but it had been carved into the main mass of rock topping the mountain. He noted that they had prepared the master plan of the excavations, adding that the restoration work would be started from the statues located on the western side. Crijns added that they were waiting for the Culture Ministry to take the necessary measures and the permission to commence the excavations. Referring to the condition of the statues, Crijns said that the damage wrought on the statues by natural elements was next to nothing as compared to the damage wrought by men, and he complained of the lack of protection in this highly valuable site. [11] TURKISH-ARAB ECONOMIC COOPERATION CONFERENCEISTANBUL- Uzeyir Garih, Chairman of Alarko Holding, said on Tuesday that trade should be improved to develop friendship between Turkey and Arab countries.The conference titled, ''The New Vision of Turkish-Arabic Economic Cooperation in the 21st Century,'' organised jointly by the Bilkent University's Foreign Affairs Institute and Jordan's Diplomacy Institute, ended today. Addressing the conference, Garih said Turkey formed a bridge between the Middle East and Europe, and stressed that Turkey realized important construction projects in Arab countries. Garih pointed out that Turkey increased its national income per capita and reached to the level of developed countries, adding that, ''Turkish workers had formed cheap labour power in construction projects in the Middle East countries in the past. Today, Turkish workers don't have cheap work power. Monthly, cost of Turkish workers in Arab countries is approximately 700 U.S. dollars. We will continue to realize important projects in the Arab countries.'' Garih also proposed cooperation and joint production between Turkey, Israel, and Jordan. He also said exportation of the produced goods to the U.S. via Israel could be a profitable cooperation model. [12] MEETING OF STATE OF EMERGENCY REGION GOVERNORS MEET IN ANKARAANKARA - Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan said on Tuesday, that the infrastructure studies of the project for the re-habitation of villages deserted because of terrorism are being continued, and added ''the government is determined to bring modernity to those villages.''Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan held a meeting on Tuesday in Ankara, to seek means of solving the problems that the people are faced with in East and South East Anatolia. Governor of the State of Emergency Region Enis Yeter, the governors of Diyarbakir, Hakkari, Sirnak, Tunceli, Van, Batman, Bingol, Bitlis, Mardin, Mus, and Siirt, high level officials of the Interior Ministry, and General Osman Ozbek on behalf of the Gendarmery General Command, participated in the meeting at the Interior Ministry building. Tantan, who spoke at the inauguration, said that studies and activities carried out in the State of Emergency Region and vicinity would be revised, and the issues included in the National Security Council's Action Plan would be taken up. ''All the necessary support to re-habitate the terror-deserted villages would be provided. The 'return-home' project has already been started in certain villages, and our activities are underway. We are making the necessary budgetary arrangements, as well. The most up-to-date documents pertaining to this project shows that 2,8 trillion Turkish Liras have been reserved for Bingol, Bitlis, Hakkari, Mus, Tunceli, and Van; and the South East Anatolia Project (GAP) Administration foresees, according to these documents, the making of a series of investments in Diyarbakir, Batman, and Sirnak. Studies to send qualified government officials to the region are also underway. We will make sure that the people of East and South East Anatolia receive proper education, for this is a must for economic development, and we will try to settle them in their past occupations, whatever they had been living on before leaving their villages,'' Tantan said. Speaking to reporters at the end of the meeting, Tantan said that PKK terrorism had not yet ended in the region, that there were still many terrorists accommodating in camps in neighboring countries, and that the fight of the Turkish Armed Forces against PKK terorrism was still continuing. [13] CHINESE JOURNALISTS PAY VISIT TO GULER, PRESIDENT GENERAL DIRECTOR OF A.AANKARA- Qian Liren, Vice Chairman of the International Communication Association of China and members of the Association paid a visit on Tuesday to Mehmet Guler, President General Director of Anadolu Agency (A.A).Guler said he was happy to see the members of the Association in Turkey and at the A.A, and said the reflection of the improving cultural relations between Turkey and China to economic relations was a very positive development. ''Like the rest of the world, we, too, are monitoring China closely. We are in close contact with both the Chinese Embassy in Ankara, and the Chinese News Agency,'' Guler said. Guler furnished the visitors with information on the journalistic network, administrative structure, and the use of new means and systems of communication at the A.A. Reiterating that the A.A, set up in 1920 by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was older than the Republic itself, Guler said that the Agency had a staff of 1500 journalists at present, including correspondents in almost all the provinces of Turkey, and representations in 32 countries, including China. He added that the A.A was one of world's most distinguished news agencies. Qian expressed his feelings of gratitude to Guler for his taking time to host them, and afterwards, Qian and members of the association posed various questions to Guler on the A.A and Turkey's media sector. Elvan Baransel, Vice President General Director of A.A was also present in the visit. [14] ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL MEETING (2) -PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''DRAFT RESOLUTION REGARDED WITH ESK, SENT TO THE PARLIAMENT TODAY''ANKARA- Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Tuesday that administrators of profession institutions wanted a draft law to prepared regarded with Economic and Social Council (ESK) for a long time, adding that, ''a draft resolution regarded with ESK, has been sent to the Parliament today.''ESK convened under the leadership of Prime Minister Ecevit today. Addressing the opening of the meeting, Ecevit said initiation of several important steps in this respect gives hope for the future of the country. Ecevit said he believed that a healthy development could not be reached in a democratic and social state unless there is compromise among workers, entrepreneurs, farmers and government dialogue. Pointing out that Parliament carried out a rapid work, Ecevit said this draft resolution would be legalized soon and take effect. Ecevit said, ''as you know, we have come to the end of the road regarding the 20-years chronic and high inflation. 57th government began to cover a determined an consistent attitude by considering the difficulties and reactions. Ecevit said a rapid fall began in inflation as of April, and noted that also a rapid fall started in interests. ''Budget discipline was provided, public expenses limited, and most of the funds were transferred to budget.'' ''There is a criticial period we are going through,'' Ecevit said adding that crisis in Asia and Russia still continues its effects to an extend. Ecevit said massive earthquakes of last year, and flood of this and last year brought heavy burdens to the state. Meanwhile, increase in world oil prices affected our economic conditions negatively. However, despite all these, our government continues its determination. Activities started in economy. I think a very important facility would be lost, if this process is hampered.'' Pointing out that the most important social problem was unemployment, Ecevit said, ''we are resolved to carry out struggle against unemployment in the most effective way.'' He stressed investment and employment should be increased in this respect. Prime Minister Ecevit said they have realized several changes in privatization which caused complaints of mainly the working section. ''there are several circumstances which unemployment caused restrictions in production. Institutions which have been privatized especially in the East and the Southeast, restrict production and look for ways to make profit. Because of this, there is wide spread reactions against privatization. Business circles, workers, villagers, and farmers are against privatization because they meet difficulties in implementation. We exert all our efforts to overcome these difficulties. We are careful on transparency in privatization.'' Ecevit said income, which has been obtained from privatization in the first months of the year 2000, is more than the income obtained in the 10 years period, and noted that it was a very positive development. [15] TURKISH BANKING CONGRESS TO TAKE PLACE BETWEEN JULY 4-6 IN ISTANBULISTANBUL- The ''Turkish Banking Congress'' organized by the EuroForm, will take place between July 4th and 6th in Istanbul, officials said on Tuesday.The main subject on which the participants would be focusing during the congress is ''Standing on One's Own Feet in the New Age of Banking: Strategies for Profitable Banking in Disinflationist Economies''. State Minister in Charge of Economy, Recep Onal, who will be delivering the inauguration speech of the conference, will touch on ''The True Role of Banking in New Economy''. World Bank's Turkey Director Ajay Chibber will make a presentation on ''Re- structuring and Consolidation in the Banking Sector''. ''Strategies of making success in the new age of banking'', ''results of disinflation from the standpoint of Turkish banks'', ''a glance at Turkey's economic and financial condition from the outside'', ''a practical analysis of the amendment to the Banks Law'', ''investment banking'', ''credit risk administration'', and ''the effects of the latest tax reforms on the banking sector'' are the other topics of discussion of the conference. - - - - - -
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