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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-12-26Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 26 DECEMBER 2000 Tuesday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 26, 2000. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)PASSENGER BUS OVERTURNS KILLING SEVEN PEOPLENumber of traffic accidents increased due to heavy snowfall throughout Turkey. A total of seven people were killed while 25 others were injured when a passenger bus overturned due to icy road near Avanos township of central Nevsehir province. The injured passengers were rushed to state hospital in Nevsehir. INTERROGATION OF 1,500 POLICEMEN STARTS A CARGO VESSEL RUNS AGROUND OFF TASUCU MILLIYET (LIBERAL)OCALAN WANTS TO BENEFIT FROM AMNESTYLawyers of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of terrorist organization PKK, decided to apply to the local court. They claimed that their client should be benefitted from the law on conditional release from prison and suspension of punishments. If local court accepts the application of Ocalan's lawyers, the Constitutional Court will take the final decision. BALANCE SHEET OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS FOREIGN TRADE DEFICIT INCREASES TO 21 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS SABAH (LIBERAL)INONU COMMEMORATEDIsmet Inonu, the second President of Turkey, was commemorated on the 27th anniversary of his demise. First ceremony to commemorate Inonu took place in the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of modern Republic of Turkey, with the participation of General Yasar Buyukanit, the Deputy Chief of General Staff. Meanwhile, deputies referred to Inonu during the debates at the parliament. ECEVIT'S TARGETS FOR YEAR 2001 CUMHURIYET (LEFT)BUSH'S ADVISER PERLE SUPPORTS TURKEYRichard Perle, the former Assistant Secretary of Defense and the foreign policy adviser of the new U.S. President George Bush, criticized the attemps of the European Union (EU) to set up an independent force from NATO and to isolate Turkey from it, and extended support to Turkey about this issue. Perle said that the U.S. would not leave Turkey alone regarding the European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI) initiative. PRODUCTION AT YATAGAN THERMIC POWER PLANT SUSPENDED FIRE OPENED ON WALL OF MILITARY REPAIR FACTORY IN ANKARA RADIKAL (LEFT)SUPER SECURITY IN BLACK SEATurkey, Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria and George have set up a joint force named ''Black Sea Force''. Each country joined the force with a vessel. The headquarters of the force will be in Istanbul. The force will perform exercises two times in a year. The U.S. and Greece want to join the force. DEATH TOOL INCREASES TO 29 IN INTERVENTION IN PRISONS YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)130 BILLION TL SENT TO AFYONState Minister Hasan Gemici said that social solidarity and cooperation foundations had provided 130 billion Turkish liras (TL) in the wake of quake in western Afyon province. Recalling that a strong earthquake jolted Afyon and surroundings on December 15, Gemici said that social solidarity and cooperation foundations had sent financial aid to meet urgent requirements of residents in Afyon. He added, ''the foundations sent 60 billion TL to Aksehir township of central Konya province, 30 billion TL to Ilgin township of Konya, 10 billion TL to Tuzlukcu township of Konya, 25 billion TL to Sultandagi township of Afyon, and 5 billion TL to Bolvadin township of Afyon.'' YALOVA:''WE TARGET 6-7 BILLON U.S. DOLLARS IN PRIVATIZATION IN 2001'' TURKIYE (RIGHT)HISTORICAL DAY IN IZNIKIznik township of northwestern Bursa province will host Orthodox patriarchs from 15 countries. Patriarchs who came to Turkey as guest of Fener Greek- Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomeos, will participate in a religious ceremony to mark Christmas in the Haghia Sophia Museum. Zeynel Abidin Turan, the Mayor of Iznik, said that consuls of relevant countries would accompany patriarchs. Turan said that tight security measures had been taken in Iznik for the ceremony will take place in the Haghia Sophia Museum. 14,418 INMATES RELEASED FROM PRISON SO FAR ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)SECURITY FORCES SEIZE 46 PISTOLSSecurity forces seized 46 pistols in an operation at Habur Border Gate near Silopi township of southeastern Sirnak province. Acting on a tip-off, security forces stopped and searched a lorry which was carrying fuel oil from Iraq to Turkey. They confiscated 46 pistols hidden in secret parts of the lorry. Driver of the lorry was taken into custody. -IN FIRST ELEVEN MONTHS, 32.3 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS In the same period last year, the region had exported 30 million 136 thousand U.S. dollars of textiles. Officials at the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Association, told the A.A correspondent on Tuesday that the majority of goods were exported to Italy, Belgium, France, Greece, Algeria, Britain, Romania and Israel. -STATE MINISTER UNLU: Releasing a statement, Unlu assessed important developments in sports in Turkey in year 2000. Unlu stressed, ''we aim at putting into practice some projects which will make a valuable contribution to efforts to develop a culture of sports in Turkey. Our most important project is to found a higher council of sports. A draft envisaging foundation of Higher Council of Sports and Directorate General of Sports was submitted to the Council of Ministers.'' Unlu enumerated some important developments in sports in Turkey in 2000 as follows: - A total of ten countries participated in the First World Universities Folk Dances Competition. - The FISU decided to organize World Universities Summer Games in western Izmir province in 2005. - A total of 436 sportsmen and women participated in the International Ataturk Dam Water Sports Festival. - The 34th World Chess Olympiad was organized in Istanbul with the participation of more than 1,400 sportsmen from 128 countries. - Galatasaray Soccer Club won the UEFA and European Super Cup for the first time in history of Republic of Turkey. - A total of 59 sportsmen and women represented Turkey in the 27th Summer Games. Turkey won three gold and two bronze medals. - Turkish sporstmen and women won 356 gold, 306 silver and 449 bronze medals in the Olympiad Games; world, European and Balkan championships; and in international competitions. -PRODUCTION AT TWO UNITS OF YATAGAN THERMIC POWER PLANT RESUMES Officials said that three units of the power plant would start to work with full capacity as of 11:00 a.m. On Monday, the units were closed when the volume of sulphur dioxide in center of Yatagan township of western Mugla province and surroundings exceeded the limits. -PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT RELEASES A MESSAGE TO MARK EID AL-FITR Releasing a message on the eve of three-day Eid Al-Fitr, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit celebrated feast of all Muslim people in the world. He stressed, ''the Eid Al-Fitr is a symbol of national unity and social solidarity. The Islam which shows the way of fair order and peace to all humanity, reached its desired value in our secular Republic.'' Referring to law on conditional release from prison and suspension of punishments, Prime Minister Ecevit said that tens of thousands of citizens who had benefitted from the law, would celebrate the Eid Al-Fitr with their relatives. -ERIS, CHAIRPERSON OF IKV: Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent, Eris said, ''the EU does not envisage to grant Turkey full membership till 2010. Turkey needs foreign sources to overcome current crisis in financial system. If Turkey maintains its relations with the EU in a fruitful way and fulfils the EU criteria, it will obtain foreign sources easily.'' Stressing that any delay in preparation of the National Programme would be serious mistake, Eris noted, ''Turkey should announce its National Programme in January 2001. Political issues can be used as a bargaining point, but Turkey should solve these issues. Politicans should expend efforts to solve disagreements on political issues. The National Programme should respond to all matters put forward in the Accession Partnership Accord for Turkey.'' -NARCOTICS TEAMS IMPOUND 10.4 KG OF OPIUM IN LUGGAGE OF Sources told A.A correspondent on Tuesday that narcotics teams searched luggage of Antonio Rubby as he was leaving Turkey on December 24. Narcotics teams confiscated 10.4 kg of opium in his luggage. Rubby, a security official in a school in the U.S., was taken into custody. Sources added that market value of the drug was nearly 60 billion Turkish liras. -TOP-MEMBER OF PKK SEMDIN SAKIK NOT TO FILE SUIT The lawyer of Sakık, Vedat Erten said that their had earlier applied to the Diyarbakır State Security Court (DGM) to benefit from the Repentance Law and this case continued. Erten said that the law which entered into force was against the ''principle of equality,'' adding that ''many inmates will apply to court as this law on conditional release is against the principle of equality. One application to the Constitutional Court is sufficient, thus we won't apply to the local court for that. We will examine the applications of others and act according to that. If my client benefits from the law on conditional release, he will be sentenced to 20 years and he can be imprisoned for 15 years. But if he benefits from the Repentance Law, he will be imprisoned less than that.'' Sakık who was captured in an operation by the security forces staged in north of Iraq in 1998, was sentenced to death by Diyarbakır State Security Court No. 1 and this court verdict was approved by the Eighth Department of the Supreme Court of Appeals. -GREEK ORTHODOX PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEOS CONGRATULATES EID AL FITR Bartholomeos who is in Iznik county of western Bursa province issued a message on Eid Al Fitr saying that it is one of the most important bairams of the islam world and he said that peace should prevail in the whole world. -NEARLY 500 VILLAGE ROADS CLOSED TO TRAFFIC DUE TO HEAVY SNOW Totally 500 village roads were closed to traffic due to heavy snow and the thickness of the snow reached 20 cm in Van city centre. It reached 1.40 meters in Bitlis and 25 cm in Hakkari city centre. Efforts are underway to clear the roads. -TOTALLY 215 PERSONS RELEASED FROM BAYRAMPASA, BAKIRKOY AND METRIS Totally 150 prisoners were released from Bayrampasa prison, 54 inmates were released from Metris prison and 11 persons were released from Bakırkoy Women and Children Prison. Officials said that releases from the prisons continue, adding that those whose proceedings have not been completed will be released from prison in the new year. -COURT DECIDES TO RELEASE PINAR SELEK Upon the report of the expert witness selected by the court, Selek decided to be released. The report noted that the explosion in the Bazaar which claimed the lives of seven persons and which injured 127 others, stemmed from a LPG canister. The lawyer of Pınar Selek who is also her father applied to the court last Friday and requested her daughter's release. -TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS ISSUES MESSAGE ON EID AL-FITR Issuing a message upon the Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month Ramadan, Denktas said that economic difficulties can be overcome by investors that will come particularly from Turkey. Denktas said that they are proud of Eid Al-Fitr and they are proud of being free persons in TRNC. Denktas said that TRNC has to enjoy this Ramadan holiday although there are problems in the country. Noting that there are many unemployed young persons in TRNC, Rauf Denktas said that these difficulties can always be seen in island economies and they must do their best in order to overcome these difficulties. Stressing that they celebrate Eid al-Fitr as free persons, Denktas said that ''we are proud of being protected by our motherland.'' -RAPID FORCE PERSONNEL WHO HELD DEMONSTRATION IN ISTANBUL After the completion of the 60 rapid force personnels' interrogation by Fatih Prosecutorship, nearly 100 others were questioned today. The remaining 1,640 police officers will be questioned in the new year. Police officers told the prosecutors that they only participated in the funeral of their two friends, and they didn't think of holding an illegal demonstration on Dec. 12. -JUSTICE MINISTRY ISSUES STATEMENT SAYING THAT Justice Ministry Press Centre said in a written statement that hot water is provided in F type prisons for 24 hours. Reminding that inmates who are members of the terrorist organization went on hunger strike and they turned the hunger strike into death fast on October 20, 2000 in spite of all the good willing initiatives and efforts. The statement added that the security forces held the operation return to life on December 19, 2000 in 20 prisons in order to save inmates from the pressure of the terrorist organizations, to control those who direct the resistance, to treat those who are in critical condition and to end death fasts. The Ministry noted that there have been serious damage in some prisons and as some of them can't be used, inmates were transferred to F type prisons. The Ministry said that 348 inmates were sent to Edirne F type prison, 339 inmates were sent to Kocaeli prison and 338 inmates were transferred to Sincan F type prison up to now. The Ministry denied the news published in the media saying that ''the central heating does not work in F type prisons, there is both electricity and power cut and inmates were not medically treated.'' The ministry stressed that there is water supply in the prisons, adding that in case of a water cut, there is a water supply which can be sufficent for three days. ''As the F type prisons were not planned to be opened that soon, the central heating system had some temporary problems, but now it works all the time. Those who have medical problems due to death fast and hunger strike and those who decide to end their hunger strikes, are hospitalized and taken under medical treatment. Those whose treatment ends, are discharged from hospital and transferred to prisons,'' the Ministry added. -POLICE INTERVENE WHEN GROUP OF PERSONS TRY TO The group which was composed of nearly 35 persons including the administrators of the Human Rights Association in Izmir wanted to make a press release. Izmir Director General of Security wanted the group to disperse. There has been a tension between those who are in the group and the police. Later the police took the persons into a passanger bus and urged them to leave the scene. Meanwhile a group of persons who were members of the Peoples' Democracy Party's (HADEP) Women Branch issued a statement in Konak square in the city centre and dispersed without causing any incident. -15 ORTHODOX PATRIARCHS COME TOGETHER IN IZNIK, TURKEY Orthodox patriarchs from Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Greek Cypriot side, Poland, Albania, Slovenia, Georgia, Finland, Syria, Ukraine, Russia, Alexandria and Yugoslavia and many Orthodox people participated in the ritual directed by the Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos. Security measures were taken for the ritual which lasted for nearly 3.5 hours. Speaking after the ritual, Bartholomeos said that Iznik is very important for Christianity. He said that performing the ritual in Iznik shows the deep tolerance of ''our country,'' adding that ''we thank the officials of our country who permitted our performing the Christmas ritual in Iznik's church of St. Sophia.'' He also congratulated the Eid Al-Fitr which will start tomorrow.
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