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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-08-13Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 13 AUGUST 2000 Sunday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 13, 2000. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)HERE IS LETTER TO SEZERThe paper announces the main parts of the cabinet letter explaining the reason of submission of the decree having the force of law (KHK) on civil servants to the President for the second time. The letter was prepared by Prof. Sukru Sina Gurel from DSP, Faruk Bal from MHP and Yuksel Yalova from ANAP. GUZIN OZIPEK DIES ARCAHEOLOGICAL RUSH TO ZEUGMA MILLIYET (LIBERAL)MESSAGE FROM STANDARD & POOR'S AND MOODY'S TO GOVERNMENTThe Standard & Poor's and Moody's, two rating organizations, expressed their ideas about Turkey. Two organizations said that Turkey is on the correct route and that the marks of the Latin American governments increased after they decreased the inflation rate. The rating organizations noted that the coalition government in Turkey will have benefits following the implementation of this programme. The organizations said that they will watch Turkey for three months and that the increase in Turkey's rating depends on core inflation, current balance and increase in prices. TUNNEL DUG BY BOWL SABAH (LIBERAL)''HE HAS TO SIGN THE DECREE''Premier Bulent Ecevit said the last word about the decree having the power of law on civil servants. Ecevit said that they will re-submit the decree to the Presidential Office and that he hopes President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will sign the decree this time. Ecevit noted that Sezer does not have the authority to return the decree without signing this time and that he can only apply to the Constitutional Court. OZIPEK DIES CUMHURIYET (LEFT)CRISIS OF DECREE ESCALATESPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit who said that the President didn't want to meet him, noted that he was not hurt by the President. Ecevit noted that Sezer shouldn't return back the decree having the force of law (KHK), but he can apply to the Constitutional Court. The government partners put pressure on the President to sign the decree. GULEN IN U.S. RADIKAL (LEFT)RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS HOLDINGThe Foundation of Religious Affairs is a giant economic power with the big firms it owns and 7,000 immovable property. The Foundation spent 2 trillion liras of its income which was 5 trillion liras in 1995. The money the Foundation has for the moment is not announced. The monthly rent the Foundation gets is 100 billion Turkish liras. ECEVIT HAS SOFTER ATTITUDE YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)MESSAGE TO GULEN COMMUNITYPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit said in Samanyolu TV channel, which is close to Fethulah Gulen, the leader of Nur sect that he was sorry for the decision of State Security Court (DGM) to arrest Gulen in his absentia. ''I hope Gulen will be acquitted in the end of the trial process,'' Ecevit noted. INFLATION GUESSED TO BE BETWEEN 31-34 PERCENT TURKIYE (RIGHT)STOYANOV RETURNS TO HIS COUNTRYBulgarian President Petar Stoyanov and his family returned to their country after they spent their holiday in Kemer township of southern Antalya province. Antalya Governor Ertugrul Dokuzoglu, Antalya Police Chief Mehmet Yazici and some other officials saw off the Stoyanovs from the Antalya Airport. KAZAKH PRIME MINISTER IS IN ANTALYA FOR HOLIDAY ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF SECURITY IN FAVOUR OF F TYPE PRISONSThe General Directorate of Security said that the present prisons have turned into the administrative centers of terrorist organizations and that the solution is the F type prisons. The General Directorate of Security noted that the F type prisons are the most modern prisons, the conditions of which abide by the human rights. The General Directorate of Security said that this reality is tried to be concealed by several propagandas. INVITATION FOR GAPROPARK IN DIYARBAKIR [02] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT:''I CAN SAY THAT I AM SORRY ABOUT THE DECISION TAKEN ABOUT FETHULLAH GULEN''ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Saturday that the ''As a human being I can say that I am sorry about the decision taken about Fethullah Gulen.''Ecevit responded to questions of Samanyolu television channel. When asked how he evaluated the decision given by the State Security Court (DGM) about Gulen, Ecevit said ''I don't have the right to discuss the decisions of judiciary. But as a human being I can say that I am sorry about the decision. I hope this trial process will acquit him in the end.'' [03] TURKISH-LIBYAN PARLIAMENTARY FRIENDSHIP GROUP IN TRIPOLITRIPOLI - Members of Turkish-Libyan Parliamentary Friendship Group arrived on Saturday in Tripoli.The group includes Gonul Saray Alphan, a deputy of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), Osman Muderrisoglu, a deputy of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Celal Esin, a deputy of the Motherland Party (ANAP), Sevgi Esen, a deputy of the True Path Party (DYP), and Mukadder Basegmez, a deputy of the Virtue Party (FP). The members of the group firstly met with Turkish citizens living in Libya. This visit carries importance to overcome the tension which escalated in the relations between the two countries almost three years ago. Following the visit of Necmettin Erbakan, the Prime Minister then, the bilateral relations had nearly broke off. Diplomatic sources said that efforts are underway to settle down the relations between the two countries for some time. The diplomatic sources added that the visit that Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal paid to Libya last May was important for the officials of the two countries understanding each other's ideas and feelings. [04] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT STOYANOV RETURNS TO HIS COUNTRYANTALYA - Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov and his family returned on Saturday to their country after they had spent their holiday in Kemer township of southern Antalya province.Antalya Governor Ertugrul Dokuzoglu, Antalya Police Chief Mehmet Yazici and some other officials saw off Bulgarian President Stoyanov, his wife Antonino, his son and daughter from Antalya Airport. [05] KAZAKH PRIME MINISTER TOKAEV IN ANTALYAANTALYA - Kazakh Prime Minister Kasim Comart Tokaev and his family arrived in southern Antalya province on Saturday.Tokaev, his wife Nadejda and son Timur will spend their ten-day holiday in Kemer township of Antalya. [06] TURKEY-LIBYA FRIENDSHIP GROUP IN TRIPOLITRIPOLI - While the visit of the Turkey-Libya Parliamentary Friendship Group to Libya continues on Sunday, the Turkish-Israeli cooperation came to the agenda in the meetings with Libyan officials.The Friendship Group members visited on Saturday Turkish Embassy Primary School in Tripoli and listened to the complaints of Turkish citizens there. The ways to improve the bilateral relations between Turkey and Libya were taken up in the meetings with Libyan Congress Foreign Affairs Secretary Suleyman El Suhubi and other officials. El Suhubi proposed to sign a cooperation protocol between the two parliaments which foresee regular visits. The Libyan side also expressed its uneasiness over the existing cooperation between Turkey and Israel in a diplomatic way during the meeting. The Libyan side reminded the Turkish side about the support Libya gave to Turkey during the Cyprus Peace Operation. ''You sign agreements with Israel, which is an enemy of Arabs and muslims. Will you welcome if we set up friendship with Greece?'' asked El Suhubi. El Suhubi noted that the relations between the two countries were fine till Turgut Ozal became the Eight President. ''News were published in Turkey against Libya following that period and these were not denied by Turkish officials,''' claimed El Suhubi. They are determined to improve relations with Turkey in spite of certain uneasiness, he added and stressed that they will never give up friendship with Turkey. Mukadder Basegmez, a member of the group and a Virtue Party (FP) deputy said in his part that ''I regard the words of Suhubi as a will to set up good relations between Turkey and Libya.'' El Suhubi said this was true. The group leader Gonul Saray Alpan from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) said in her part that Turkey doesn't have hostility policy aganist any country in the world. The Turkish diplomacy follows Ataturk's principle of ''peace in the country peace in the world.'' Mufit Ozdes, the Turkish Ambassador to Libya said in his part that the Turkish-Israeli relations are misunderstood and Libya was misinformed. ''The relations of Turkey with Israel never went beyond the relations of some Arab countries with Israel. Besides there is military cooperation, not military alliance between Turkey and Israel. The agreement signed with Israel in this field was also signed with other 38 countries,'' Ozdes noted. Ozdes pointed out that having close relation with Israel also gives Turkey the opportunity of putting pressure on this country about the Palestinian problem. ''Arafat wanted us to put pressure on Israel, we do this at the moment,'' Ozdes added. The visit of the Friendship Group is an important one as it is the first one paid at the political level following the visit of the Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan then, to Libya in 1996. [07] STUDENT WHO STOLE OSS EXAMINATION BOOKLETS, CAPTUREDISTANBUL - Ihsan Ors, a student from Marmara University's Theology Faculty who stole the university entrance exam (OSS) booklets in 1999, was captured.Sources said on Saturday that a policeman from Istanbul Police Organization started to go to Marmara University's Theology Faculty as a student after the OSS booklets were stolen from this faculty in 1999. The sources noted that this policeman determined that Ors, a sophomore, had not come to school for a long time. The police which could not find Ors' blood samples among the samples that were taken from all students and personnel of the faculty following the stealing, started be suspicious about Ors, the sources stated. The sources stressed that after the security forces had learnt that Ors went abroad, they issued warrant of arrest and called on all border gates to be careful. The sources emphasized that Ors, who came to Agri Dogubeyazit Border Gate on Friday to enter into Turkey, was captured. The security forces brought Ors to Istanbul, the sources noted. The sources emphasized that the finger prints and blood samples of Ors were taken. Whether or not the finger prints on the OSS booklets belonged to Ors will become clear on Sunday, the sources noted. The sources stated that also the blood samples will be examined. The sources added that the Uskudar Republican Prosecutor's Office permitted the police to take under custody Ors for four days for interrogation. Assailants had entered into a classroom in Marmara University's Theology Faculty before the OSS exam in 1999 by breaking the window and had stolen two exam booklets. Then, the exam was postponed. The security forces had taken the blood samples of 2,210 students, 150 lecturers and 40 personnel in this faculty and tried to match these samples with the blood found on the other booklets. Ors, who went to eastern Malatya province where his family was living following the stealing, went to Romania to escape from the police and to find a job. When he could not find a job, he returned back to Turkey. As he was afraid of being captured, he went to Iran and then to Pakistan. Ors, who returned back to Turkey after some time, was captured in Dogubeyazit Border Gate. [08] ACTRESS OZIPEK DIESISTANBUL - Guzin Ozipek, a prominent theatre player and actress, died on Saturday in Marmara University Hospital where she was kept under medical treatment.Officials of the hospital said that Ozipek, who was kept in the intensive care unit, died of complications caused by lymphoma at 7.30 p.m. despite all efforts to save her. Ozipek was hospitalized when she suffered from exhaustion and fever on August 2. As her health condition became more critical, she was kept under medical surveillance in the intensive care unit. Ozipek was born in Istanbul in 1925. She started his theatre career by the play titled ''Ednan Bey Duymasin'' (Mr. Ednan Should Not Hear) in Muammer Karaca Theatre. She became famous by his role ''Cibali Karakolu'' (Cibali Police Station). She took the stage in several plays like ''Kesanli Ali Destani'' (Epic of Ali From Kesan), ''Bit Yenigi'', ''Gigi'', ''Yaygara Yetmis'', ''Hizmetciler'' (Servants), ''Ah Biz Esekler'' (We, The Donkeys), ''Sosyalizm Geliyor Savulun'' (Socialism Is Coming, Stand Aside), ''Asiye Nasil Kurtulur'' (How Can Asiye Be Saved), ''Kaktus Cicegi'' (Cactus Flower). She played in several movies including ''Yaprak Dokumu'' (Fall of Leaves), ''Ah Mujgan Ah'', and ''Bir Teselli Ver'' (Give Me A Consolation). She was the grandmother in famous Turkish serial ''Bizimkiler'' (Our Family). She also had a role in serial ''Yazlikcilar'' (People On Summer Holiday). [09] STATE MINISTERS KECECILER AND BAL JOIN LAYING FOUNDATION CEREMONY IN SAKARYAADAPAZARI - State Minister Mehmet Kececiler and State Minister Faruk Bal joined on Saturday laying foundation ceremony of permanent dwellings, an elemantary school and a high school in quake-hit Sakarya province.Speaking in the ceremony, Kececiler said that people and businessmen of central Konya province were mobilized for quake-stricken Sakarya province and they decided to construct dwellings and schools in this province. Kececiler noted that Turkey is taking measures following the devastating earthquake which rocked Marmara Region on August 17, 1999 and that the houses are being constructed on strong foundations. Thanking the people and businessmen of Konya who extend support to quake- hit Sakarya province, Bal said that the dwellings will be constructed on strong foundations from now on and that they will be earthquake-resistant. Bal noted that they will turn the lands belonging to the Treasury into mass housing areas. The foundation of the dwellings that will be constructed by the loan provided by the World Bank, will be laid within two weeks, Bal added. The construction of the high school having 24 classrooms and the elementary school having 16 classrooms will be finished in the second half of 2000- 2001 school year. The construction of 300 dwellings, the area of which will be 100 square metres, will be completed by the end of this year. The dwellings, elementary and high schools will cost almost five trillion Turkish liras (TL). [10] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''DEVOUT CITIZENS SHOULDN'T BE WORRIED ABOUT THE DECREE ON CIVIL SERVANTS''ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Saturday that the devout citizens shouldn't be worried about the decree having the force of law (KHK) on civil servants.The parliament can't adopt decrees fast, said Ecevit and added that ''but we must be quick this time. Many evidences regarding dangerous connections in the state have been found.'' Responding to questions of private Samanyolu television channel, Ecevit said that ''some people work as public officials who support both separatist movements, anti-secular movements and who contradict with the basic principles of the state.'' Ecevit noted that there are some difficulties in implementing effective disciplinary rules against these people, adding ''it is natural for the state to claim ownership on its basic principles. The necessity of overcoming the lack of sanctions in this field has come out particularly after the murders of Hezbollah have been seen. Some supporters of Hezbollah are public officials. Besides those who support the separatist movement work as civil servants.'' ''Turkey is a country where the right to freedom of religion and conscience is practiced broadly. Thus there is no need for those who don't mix religious affairs with public affairs or who don't support separatist movements, to get worried,'' said Ecevit. Upon another question, Ecevit said that the KHK was not prepared to dismiss certain group of people. ''Those who attempt to act against the basic principles of the state and the Constitution can't remain as civil servants,'' stressed Ecevit. Prime Minister Ecevit pointed out that the disciplinary acts that will be brought when the KHK enters into force will not be arbitrary. ''Our jurist friends examined the laws and saw that there are some deficiencies in the issue. We think a KHK is necessary,'' Ecevit said. When asked why they don't want to adopt a law about the issue, Ecevit said ''we face a urgent situation. Particularly the Hezbollah incident showed that some of the supporters of that terrorist organizations were public officials.'' Ecevit noted that if KHK enters into power, it will come before the parliament at the end of a certain period. ''Is there is a state crisis for the moment?'' asked the journalist to Ecevit who said that ''I stated that if the President returns back the decree to the cabinet for the second time, a state crisis can emerge. At this stage, a crisis is out of question.'' ''The Constitution does not empower the President to return back KHKs to the cabinet. But Mr. President prefered that as if there is such a provision under the Constitution. There is no right under the Constitution to send back the law or decree for the second time. If he wishes he can apply to the Constitutional Court,'' Ecevit said. Upon a question, Ecevit denied some claims saying that certain lists were already prepared to dismiss civil servants. [11] ''UMUT OPERATION'' CASE TO START ON MONDAYANKARA - The case regarding ''Umut'' (Hope) Operation which was launched to find the assassins of journalist-author Ugur Mumcu and illuminated 22 unsolved murders including Ahmet Taner Kislali, Muammer Aksoy and Bahriye Ucok assassinations, will start to be heard on Monday.A total of 17 suspects will stand trial in Ankara State Security Court (DGM). Hakki Suha Okay, the Chairman of Ankara Bar, told A.A correspondent on Sunday that the lawyers of people whose relatives were assassinated, will request to participate in the trials as intervenors. Suspects, lawyers of suspects and people whose relatives were assassinated are expected to watch the trial. The court delegation will include chief judge Huseyin Eken and members Mehmet Maras and Yunus Karabiyikoglu. The indictment prepared by Ankara DGM Republican Prosecutor Hamza Keles said that the illegal ''Jerusalem Warriors'' organization aimed at toppling the constitutional order by gun force in the end of chaos and replacing the constitutional order with an Islamic state similar to the one in Iran. The indictment requests capital punishment for nine suspects, imprisonment terms not less than 22 and a half years for two suspects, imprisonment terms between 15 years and 22 and a half years for four suspects, and imprisonment terms between four and a half years and seven and a half years for two suspects. [12] IMF-FINANCE IN DEVELOPING MARKETSWASHINGTON D.C./ANKARA - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Sunday that the debenture bonds that Turkey issue draw the interest in international markets due to the success of the economic programme implemented in this country.In accordance with IMF's report on ''Finance In Developing Markets'', the eurobonds that Turkey issued were the bonds that draw the highest interest among the developing countries following Russia's bonds. The report said that the debenture bonds that Turkey issue continue to draw the attention in international markets as a reflection of the confidence in Turkey's economic programme. Touching on the borrowing capacity of Turkish banking system, the report said that Turkish banks achieved to take syndicated loan in very appropriate conditions from the European markets. Showing Akbank as an example, the report added that this bank took loan with the lowest costs since September 1997. [13] GERMAN STUDENTS VISIT AGIRNAS HAMLET WHERE ARCHITECT SINAN WAS BORNKAYSERI - Seven German university students visited the underground city and Agiosproskeopios Church in Agirnas hamlet where Architect Sinan, a famous architect in the Ottoman Empire who constructed Selimiye Mosque and several other mosques, bridges, masjids and ''kulliye''s (complex of buildings adjacent to mosques), was born.Ernst Struck, a lecturer of Wurzburg University, said that all the world knows Architect Sinan and that they came to central Kayseri province to learn about Sinan and see the Seljuk works of art. They did not even dream of seeing such an interesting underground city, Struck noted. Mehmet Osmanbasoglu, Agirnas Mayor, said that they exerted efforts to introduce Agirnas and to boost tourism in this hamlet. Osmanoglu added, ''the underground city attracts tourists. We want to restore the Agirnas Agiosprokeopios Church which was the church of the Greek people who used to live in this hamlet, to revive the tourism in Agirnas where the house in which Architect Sinan was born and the fountains he constructed are situated.'' [14] POLICE SEIZE 131 HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS IN MIDYATDIYARBAKIR - Police seized on Sunday 131 historical artifacts in Midyat township of southeastern Mardin province.Police, disguised as buyers, got a deal with Sabri Sayaci, a jeweller who sells historical artifacts in Midyat, to buy some artifacts. Sayaci, who wanted to sell 131 historical artifacts to the police in return of 50 billion Turkish liras (TL), was captured red-handed. There were trays having human and animal figures on them, one cross, one earthenware painting, many seals, a statue of deer, and bracelets among the confiscated historical artifacts. Police started to interrogate Sayaci. [15] NUMBER OF TOURISTS ARRIVING AT ANTALYA AIRPORT IN 24 HOURS EXCEEDS 41, 000ANTALYA - The number of tourists who arrived at the Antalya Airport in 24 hours exceeded 41,000.Officials of Antalya Airport told A.A correspondent on Sunday that this is a record broken in Antalya Harbour. The officials said that 20,183 passangers arrived at the airport between 11.00 and 24.00 local time on Saturday and 21,000 tourists entered into Turkey from this airport between 24.00 and 11.00 local time on Sunday. [16] 20TH WORLD POETS' CONGRESS TO BE HELD IN GREECEBURSA - The 20th World Poets' Congress will be held in Salonica, Greece between August 15 and 25.The Congress will be organized by World Culture Arts Academy based in the U.S. and be directed by Tsigaridas International Relations and Press Union. Almost thousand poets and artists from 40 countries will join the Congress. Seminars on poems and literature, European poem competitions, world literary text and photographs competition, and European prose competitions will be held within framework of the congress. Touristic excursions will be organized within the scope of the congress. These excursions will include Istanbul, Izmir, House of Virgin Mary, ancient Ephesus site, and Bodrum. Husamettin Olgun, an otorhinolaryngologist in Bursa Social Secuity Agency (SSK) Hospital who wrote four poem books, whose poems were translated into several languages, and who is a member of the World Culture Art Academy, will make a speech on ''Friendship and Peace In Turkish and Greek Poems'' in the Congress. Olgun said that he thinks that this Congress is an opportunity to further improve the friendship and peace which have started to develop between Turkish and Greek nations for some time. Olgun added that he wants to seize this opportunity.
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