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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-09-15Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 15 SEPTEMBER 2000 Friday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on September 15, 2000. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)GREEK CYPRIOT LEADER SULKSGreek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides boycotted on Thursday the proximity talks on Cyprus which continues in New York. Clerides who didn't like the statement of the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan who talked about the political equality of both sides on Cyprus, does not come out of his room in the hotel for two days. Greece and the U.S. couldn't also persuade the Greek Cypriot leader who accused Annan. 8000 WOMAN GENDARME MILLIYET (LIBERAL)FACE TO FACE WITH THE SHAMEThe victims of torture will be brought face to face with those who tortured them in 81 provinces. The state mobilizes to leave the behind the obstacle of torture on the path to the European Union (EU). The Human Rights Coordination Supreme Board will start to implement a very important project under the leadership of State Minister Rustu Kazım Yucelen. Human Rights Congress will convene in 81 provinces between 25 September and December 1 and the victims and torturers will come together. CEM:''ARMENIANS SHOULD NOT SPEAK NONSENSE'' SABAH (LIBERAL)ECEVIT'S SIGNATURE BURDEN LESSENSA decree was prepared to lessen the burden of the Prime Ministry and the Council of Ministers which have to sign so many decisions. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who has to sign 4178 different kinds of decisions will sign only 400 of them from now on. EXPERT ''LEADERS'' DUE IN TURKEY CUMHURIYET (LEFT)CHP TO HOLD ITS CONGRESS ON SEPT 30Altan Oymen, the leader of the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) which is not represented in the parliament, said yesterday that there is a problem between himself and the new Central Execution Board (MYK) elected by the Party Assembly (PA). Oymen said in a press briefing that the CHP will hold its extraordinary congress on September 30-October 1 to solve the inner- party conflicts. MGV BRAINWASHES RADIKAL (LEFT)GOOD NIGHT ANKARAThe government which put into effect 19 basic regulations in 1999, slowed down in 2000. The only effective performance of the government has been the adoption of the decree having the force of law (KHK) which will provide the privatization of Vakıfbank. None of the commitments given to the IMF by the additional letters of intent have been fulfilled. BAHCELI UNDERTAKES MISSION IN SOUTHEAST YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)''YES'' TO EVERYTHING FOR ERBAKANThe members of the Virtue Party (FP) are ready for all kinds of bargaining except the decree on dismissal of civil servants to save Necmettin Erbakan, the former leader of the banned Welfare Party (RP). FP members started action to save Erbakan from prison. Erbakan will go to jail on 13 January 2001 following the postponement of execution of his imprisonment by four months. BAYAR APPOINTED TO TELECOM TURKIYE (RIGHT)ENERGY SHORTAGEThe water level in dams is at the lowest level of the last 30 years and we have an energy shortage of 6 billion kilowatt/hour this year. As the energy plans couldn't be put into effect for the last 2,5 years, there is a serious energy shortage in Turkey. Yurdakul Yigitguden, the Undersecretary of the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry said that ''29 projects should be put into effect as soon as possible.'' ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)''EXTREME NATIONALIST''Gunther Seufert, the Director of the German Orient Institute announced the results of the survey they carried out for the European Union (EU) for 2,5 years to the paper and said that ''Turkish people are nationalist.'' The nationalist discourse is very dominant in Turkey, he claimed. IKV CHAIRMAN ERIS:EU WON'T DIVIDE US [02] DEBATE IN U.S. CONGRESS SUB-COMMITTEE ON DRAFT BILL ON SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS (1)WASHINGTON D.C.- The U.S. administration assumed an attitude in favour of Turkey while a debate started in the U.S. Congress' sub committee of international operations and human rights on the draft bill on the so- called genocide on Armenians on Thursday.Marc Grossman, the U.S. State Department's personnel director and former Assistant Secretary of State said that if the bill is adopted, the Turkish- Armenian relations will be hurt badly. Grossman stressed that the U.S. President Bill Clinton told in his meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer that he was against the bill last week. Grossman noted that if the draft bill is adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives, negative developments will take place in Cyprus, Northern Iraq and Caucasus and the political and economic relations between Turkey and the U.S. will be damaged. Christopher Smith, the chairman of the sub-committee said after the same day's session that a voting on the bill will take place in the sub- committee next Wednesday. Observers said that the members of the committee who support Turkey can get the majority and the draft bill can be taken out from the agenda, but the opposite is also a possiblity. If the sub-committee adopts the draft bill, it will be brought to the upper committee of International Relations. Meanwhile, the members of the committee who support Armenians broadcast a videotape of an ABC television channel programme about the so-called genocide which was full of mistakes. David Bonior, the head of the Armenian lobby accused Turkey in his speech and he formed a parallelism between the genocide on Jews and the so-called genocide on Armenians. Two of the sub-committee members talked against Turkey and three of them talked in favour. [03] PROXIMITY TALKS ON CYPRUS -ANNAN MEETS WITH CEMNEW YORK - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Thursday that the written statement issued by the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan is an encouraging beginning in respect of the talks on Cyprus.Speaking to the press after his meeting with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, Cem said that he hopes that the proximity talks will continue in a positive way. Noting that everybody's talking about the statement of Annan will ''dilute the issue,'' Ismail Cem said that this can impede the sides' getting into action that has to start and everybody should refrain from that. Cem noted that they also took up the Kosovo and the Middle East issues with the U.N. Secretary General. Annan also met with George Papandreou, the Greek Foreign Minister the same day. [04] DEBATE IN U.S. CONGRESS SUB-COMMITTEE ON BILL ON SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS (2)WASHINGTON D.C. - Gunduz Aktan, a retired Ambassador proposed Armenia to bring its claims of genocide to the International Court of Justice in the Hague in a panel discussion on the so-called genocide on the Armenians at the sub-committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.The draft bill brought by the Armenian lobby which proposed giving training to the personnel of the U.S. State Department and other departments about the so-called genocide on Armenians and which proposed issuing official statements to commemorate the so-called genocide every year on April 24. The draft bill was discussed in a 5,5 hour-panel discussion at the sub- committee of International Operations and Human Rights of the U.S. House of Representatives. Gunduz Aktan, who participated in the panel discussion as a speaker, said that Armenia which wants to prove the genocide claims, should apply to the International Court of Human Rights to find out whether or not the incidents which happened 85 years ago were genocide. Aktan stressed that Armenia won't do this as she knows that she does not have a valid case. Brad Sherman, an MP from Democrat Party who supports the draft bill, said that ''you tell your own personal opinion, you don't speak in the name of the Turkish government. If the Turkish government tells that it supports bringing the issue to the International Court of Justice, there won't be any need to vote this draft bill.'' Aktan noted that the draft bill will damage both Turkey-Armenia and Turkey- U.S. relations, adding that the Cyprus will be the first loss in respect of the Turkey-U.S. relations, because the U.S. will lose its status of honest mediator in the eyes of the Turkish public opinion. ''The U.S. President's Special Representative to Cyprus Al Moses won't find an interlocutor,'' Aktan said. Turkey and the U.S. make cooperation in the Caucasus, said Aktan and noted that the Caspian energy corridor achieved great importance due to the increasing oil prices and cooperation with the U.S. will be limited in this region if the U.S. describes Turkey as ''a country which committed genocide.'' Aktan added that the cooperation regarding the Iraq issue will also be damaged, pointing out that ''there is little support for the American policy in Iraq and Turkey suffers due to the embargo on Iraq. What is the use of having more difficulty? If this comes true, the American planes won't use the Incirlik base to bomb the Northern Iraq.'' Chris Smith, a MP from the Republican Party, who presides the panel discussion said that ''your statements are threats and threats don't have any use.'' Aktan stressed that his aim was not to threaten, adding that the Turkish people won't accept this draft bill. ''Such an atmosphere in Turkey will inevitably affect the strategic Turkish-American relations,'' said Aktan. Marc Grossman, the U.S. State Department Personnel Director who was an ambassador in Turkey for years said in his part that ''the U.S. President Bill Clinton told President Ahmet Necdet Sezer that he was against the draft bill.'' Grossman noted that the U.S. administration believes that if the bill is adopted the efforts of peace and stability in the Caucasus will be more difficult and it will damage the American interests in Turkey. Grossman stressed that Turkey plays an important role in the efforts to solve the Upper Karabakh problem, adding Turkey and Armenia try to normalize the relations and the adoption of the draft bill will damage these efforts. Referring to the support Turkey extended as a NATO ally during the Cold War and her contributions during Korean War, Kosovo, and Desert Storm operation and in Bosina, Grossman said that Turkey is important to find a solution in Cyprus, adding Turkey has relations with both Israel and also Palestine and it supported the peace efforts in the Middle East. Turkey will also play an important role in transporting Central Asian energy sources to the western markets, said Grossman and added that the cooperation of Turkey is necessary in finishing the Baku-Ceyhan project. Grossman said that Turkey is a growing market for American exporters and Turkey purchased goods from the U.S. worth of 6 billion dollars in many fields like energy, defense, and agriculture. Turkey has to do more things in the human rights field, yet Turkey recorded progress in this field like the U.S. President Bill Clinton told in the Turkish parliament in November during his visit to Turkey. Acts which will damage the relations with Turkey will also make difficult the progress of Turkey in the human rights field, he said and added that there is not a debate on the fact that Armenians were forced to leave their homes and they were killed during the First world War. Grossman noted that yet many Turks and Kurds were also killed in that period and this issue has to be left to the historians. Grossman noted that this issue can't be solved by draft bills, and dialogue and compromise is necessary. When Smith asked him why did they have difficulty in accepting ''genocide'' as the U.S. administration, Grossman said ''this is not our issue, but the issue of Turkish and Armenian peoples. The solution of this is bringing Turks and Armenians together. The U.S. administration does not recognize these incidents as genocide. The U.S. President Clinton also does not use the word genocide in his statements.'' Frank Pallone, a Democrat Party MP claimed that if the bill isn't adopted, the ''genocide'' can be repeated. Pallone defended the view that Turkey tries to impede Armenia at every possibility, adding that an Armenian delegation was returned back in a meeting held in Kars, Turkey. Pallone claimed that the Turkish government committed ''genocide'' on Armenians deliberately. Justin McCarthy, a professor of history in Louisville University said that ''three million Turks died in the same period. Armenians forget that. This was not mentioned much not to provocate the hostility. Besides, it is said that 1,5 million Armenians faced genocide, the total population of the Armenians in Turkey at those times were half of that.'' Dan Burton, an MP from the Republican Peoples Party said that ''what will we do with thousands of American Indians killed in the past. Will we also describe that as genocide? This draft bill does not have any use other than damaging the relations with Turkey. 50 million people were killed by starvation in China and Russia, I don't think that a draft bill was prepared about these killings.'' Smith noted that the voting on the draft bill will take place next Wednesday at the sub-committee. (END) [05] NATO MILITARY COMMITTEE STARTSISTANBUL - The second part of the 139th NATO Military Committee meeting in Turkey started on Friday morning.The first part of the meeting was held in Greece. Italian Admiral Guido Venturoni, the NATO Military Committee Head presides the meeting in which the chiefs of general staffs of the U.S., Britain, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Norway, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Iceland, Hungary, Greece, Germany, France, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Canada and Belgium and high ranking NATO officials participate. Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kıvrıkoglu and Admiral Venturoni will hold a press briefing at the end of the meeting. [06] FLOOD IN ELMALI -150 HOUSES AND FIELDS IN 4 VILLAGES INUNDATEDELMALI - Nearly 150 houses and fields in four villages of Elmalı township of southern Antalya province were inundated on Friday due to Thursday's torrential rain in Elmalı.Elmalı Head Official Aytac Akgun told A.A correspondent that no casualties were reported and three persons who were saved from the flood were hospitalized. The rain water was discharged from the houses all night on Thursday, said Akgun and noted that ''nearly 150 houses were inundated in the township. There is not a very big material damage. But the cultivated fields in Buyuksoyle, Yalnızdam, Bozuyuk and Kısla villages were inundated. We started to assess the damage with a team of seven persons.'' Elmalı mayor Huseyin Altıntas said in his part that 80 percent of Elmalı was covered with mud, stones and rubble due to the torrential rain, adding the drinking water and sewer system were also damaged. [07] GAP TO BE INTRODUCED TO 200 SCIENTISTS FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIESSANLIURFA - The Southeast Anatolian Development Project (GAP) will be introduced to 200 scientists from different countries in the ''KARST-2000'' symposium on hydro-geology that will be staged in Kusadası township of western Mugla province.GAP Regional Development Administration Director Erkan Alemdaroglu told A.A correspondent on Friday that the symposium will be held between 17-27 September in Hacettepe University. Scientists will submit their presentations on hydro-geology and give information about the water sources and geology in their country, said Alemderoglu and noted that ''we, the GAP administration, will have the opportunity in this symposium to explain that the project carried out in the region is based on water and also explain its contributions to the development of the region. We will also invite scientists who participate in the symposium to the region.'' [08] EXPORT FROM GAP REGION TO THE EUGAZIANTEP - A total of 93 million 910 thousand dollars of goods were exported from Southeastern Anatolian Project (GAP) region to the European Union (EU) countries in the first eight months of the year.A total of 82 million 425 thousand dollars of goods were exported during the same period last year. The data of Southeastern Anatolian Exporters Union reveal that, during January-August 2000 period, 1 million 41 thousand dollars of animal products, 1 million 41 thousand dollars of cereals products, dried beans and oily seeds and products, 12 million 563 thousand dollars of dried fruit and 79 million 265 thousand of textiles products were exported to the EU countries. Italy, Germany and Britain were the countries to which most of the products were exported. Goods worth of 26 million 998 thousand dollars were exported to Italy. Goods worth of 17 million 628 thousand dollars were exported to Germany and of 16 million 530 thousand dollars were exported to Britain during the same period. Dried apricot, cotton cord, synthetic cord, cotton and knitted textiles, plastic sack, and pistachio nut were the products which were exported most to the EU countries. [09] TURKISH AIRLINES TO START FLIGHTS TO PRAGUE AND WARSAWISTANBUL - The Turkish Airlines (THY) said on Friday that, they will start flights to Prague and Warsaw.The flights to Prague, the Czech Republic will start on September 18 and will be without any transfers. The flights from Istanbul to Prague will be on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays at 14.00 and the flights from Prague to Istanbul will be on the same days at 16.40 local time. The direct flights to Warsaw, Poland will start on October 2. The flights from Istanbul to Warsaw will be on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 14.45, and the flights from Warsaw to Istanbul will be on the same days at 16.55 local time. THY will increase the number of its foreign destinations to 77, with flights to Prague and Warsaw. [10] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK SAYS BILL ON OMBUDSMAN HAS BEEN OPENED TO SIGNATURE IN CABINETANKARA - Hikmet Sami Turk, the Minister of Justice said on Friday that the bill on ''Ombudsman'' was opened to signature in the cabinet and it will be sent to the parliament as soon as possible.Speaking in a press briefing at the Ministry, Turk gave information about the bill. Turk said that the suggestions and recommendations of ombudsperson were not binding and it won't replace the decisions of judiciary organs. Turk noted that there is no possibility of a conflict between the administrative judiciary and ombudsman, adding that ''the success of this institution depends on the support of the public opinion.'' Turk said that the bill was opened to signature in the cabinet and it will be sent to the parliament as soon as possible. [11] ECEVIT SAYS RELATING AMENDMENT OF ARTICLE 312 TO ERBAKAN WOULD MAKE CHANGE MORE DIFFICULTANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Friday that turning the amendment of Article 312 of the Turkish Penalty Code (TCK) into a bargaining issue related to Necmettin Erbakan, leader of the outlawed Welfare Party (RP) makes things more difficult.Ecevit, after he appeared on a news programme on TRT 1, answered reporters questions while leaving the TRT building in Oran. Dwelling on Article 312 of the TCK, Ecevit said the political parties have not yet discussed the details of this matter. ''However, all parties agree that it should be changed, if not lifted. But it is not clear yet what kind of a change is wanted. This subject was on Turkey's programme independent from Mr.Erbakan. I believe that a regulation will be made in the new legislative year.'' When asked if this could be used as a bargaining issue to pass some of the regulations that the government is planning, Ecevit said they would not accept bargaining. ''Relating changing of Article 312 to Erbakan would not make the change easy, but it would make it more difficult. I had expressed this earlier.'' [12] BRITISH DELEGATION VISITS DIYARBAKIRDIYARBAKIR - Diplomats from the British Embassy in Ankara are visiting Diyarbakir to have contacts with authorities over Diyarbakir Urban Development Plan.British Economy and Trade Undersecretary Jane Macpherson; Industry and Trade Ministry Deputy General Director John Slate; Environment, Transportation and Regions Ministry Advisor Lee Shostak; Development of Export Director Adrian Baxter arrived in Diyarbakir on Friday morning and visited Diyarbakir mayor Feridun Celik. Celik, during the meeting, told the British delegation that the region needed investments. ''Investments are possible through international effort. We will discuss some projects. We cannot contribute to these projects from our own budget because of their high cost. We will see which areas the British delegation can help us,'' Celik said. Celik later presented a report to delegation members briefing Diyarbakir's problems. The report includes problems regarding accomodation, potable water, restoration of historical city walls, solid waste and sewer system, protection of archeological sites, employment, transportation, shopping centers, tourism and public services. Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Macpherson said they are in Diyarbakir to search what they can do to help to solve the city's problems. [13] FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY SECRETARY GENERAL HENNEKINNE TO VISIT TURKEYANKARA - French Foreign Ministry Secretary General Loic Hennekinne will visit Turkey on September 18, Monday.The Foreign Ministry said that Hennekinne will have a meeting with Turkish Foreign MInistry Undersecretary Faruk Logoglu as a part of the regular political counseling mechanism between the two countries. Logoglu and Hennekinne will exchange opinions on Turkish-French relations, Turkey-EU relations, as well as international and regional issues. [14] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AKBULUT TO GO TO BULGARIA ON SATURDAYANKARA - Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut will go to Bulgaria on Saturday as the official guest of his Bulgarian counterpart Yordan Sokolov.Prior to his departure, Akbulut will hold a press briefing at Ankara's Esenboga Airport. Akbulut will have a meeting with Sokolov on Monday. On the same day, the parliament delegation led by Akbulut will have meetings with Bulgarian Parliament Foreign Policy and Integration Committee members. Bulgarian Acting President Todor Kavalciev will later receive the Turkish delegation. Turkish Parliament delegation will have lunch with Bulgarian-Turkish Friendship Group and in the afternoon they will visit Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov and Foreign Minister Nadejda Mihaylova. Akbulut and his delegation will go to Plovdiv on September 19, Tuesday. After visiting Plovdiv Mayor Ivan Comakov, the delegation members will tour historical and touristic sites. On his last day in Bulgaria, Akbulut and his deleation will meet with former prime minister Stefan Sofiyanksi and return home on September 20. [15] STATE MINISTER SUKRU SINA GUREL MEETS WITH BRITISH DEPUTY STATE MINISTER IN CHARGE OF INTERNAL AFFAIRSLONDRA - State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel had a meeting with British Deputy State Minister in charge of internal affairs, Lord Bassam, on Friday.Gurel who is responsible from Turkish people living abroad started his last day appointments in London with Lord Bassam. Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Gurel said that they discussed the issues that are important for Turkey. ''We focused on the difficulties our citizens are facing during visa and residence permission procedures.'' Gurel said his British counterpart assured them on the solution of the problems. Gurel also noted that he expressed Turkey's concern on the weakening terrorist activities' links in Britain. ''Lord Bassam told us that they understand our concern on the issue and that they will take necessary measures on this matter.''Gurel said. Gurel, later visited the International Turkish High School in Cambridge. Gurel will return to Turkey at the evening hours. [16] STATE MINISTER TOSKAY LEAVES ENGLANDLONDON - State Minister in charge of foreign trade Tunca Toskay left for Turkey after his three day visit to England.Toskay, during a conference titled ''Capital Markets and Investment in Turkey'', briefed other participants about the latest point Turkish economy has reached. The conference was jointly organized by Turkish-British Business Council and Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK). On Thursday night, Toskay watched a concert by Turkish Presidency Symphony Orchestra at London's famous concert hall Royal Festival Hall.
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