Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-01-15

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

15 JANUARY

2001 Monday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

MAIN WELDING OF BLUE STREAM ENDS
The main welding on the 501 kilometers of the pipeline between Samsun and Ankara was concluded within scope of the Blue Stream project for transfer of natural gas from Russia to Turkey beneath the Black Sea. Meanwhile, the 300 kilometre long Corum-Ankara part of the hydrostatic tests is foreseen to be concluded as of January 15 while the tests on the Corum-Samsun pipeline are expected to continue.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

STORM WARNING
As the temperatures in the country were decreasing rapidly, the officials from the meteorology directorate warned that the wind would blow quite severely in Marmara region. The storm which intensified last night is expected to continue till tonight disrupting air, road, and maritime transportation.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

15 CRITICAL DAYS IN ECONOMY
This week is a critical week in economy for Turkey. Carlo Cottarelli, the chief of IMF's Turkey desk and his delegation will start contacts today. The government, on the other hand, will start to adopt laws and reforms which it promised to pass, in its third additional letter of intent submitted to IMF.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

NATIVE INVESTORS ESCAPE FROM TURKEY
While Turkey launches great efforts in order to draw foreign capital into Turkey, native investors started to invest abroad and produce in conditions of international competition. Ready to wear and textile industrialists who were fed up with high input costs such as labour and energy in Turkey and policies of interest rates, rate of exchange and insufficient quota, started to choose Bulgaria, Romania, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and even African countries for investment.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

OECED PRAISES STRUGGLE AGAINST CORRUPTION IN TURKEY
John Karlsonn, the supervisor of OECD for Turkey, praised the recent operations in Turkey which were launched against corruption cases. Karlsonn said struggle against corruption was one of the main issues in Turkey, adding that Turkey was determined in this struggle. Noting that Turkey was exerting efforts against black money laundring, Karlsson said concrete outcomes were obtained from these operations.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

CRITICAL 15 DAYS
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) which came to Turkey to watch the recent developments, will examine the banking sector. Those who want to own the banks transferred to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund will apply to the concerned organs today. The tender specifications for the Turk Telekom's privatization will be published and the Law on Individual Retirement will be submitted to the parliament today.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

MENDILCIOGLU RELEASED
Mustafa Mendilcioglu, the energy and natural resources ministry deputy undersecretary who was detained within the framework of the operations against illegal energy tenders, was released. Mendilcioglu was released after Talat Salk, the state security court (DGM) republican prosecutor, took his testimony.

-THY TO FLY TO SAN DIEGO IN U.S.
NEW YORK - The Turkish Airlines (THY) will start to fly to San Diego in the U.S. within the framework of the codesharing agreement signed with the American Airlines.

Officials of the THY New York Office said that the THY will also carry passengers to San Diego as of January 21 under the codesharing agreement with the American Airlines.

The passangers who start flying from San Diego to New York at 8.05 a.m. by an American Airlines plane, will reach New York at 4.20 p.m. The passengers will leave for Istanbul by a THY plane at 6.00 p.m. and reach Istanbul at 10.25 a.m. the following day.

When returning from Turkey to the U.S., the passengers will take the THY plane to Chicago and then fly from Chicago to San Diego.

The THY officials said that the flights to Miami are also within the framework of the codesharing agreement.

-IMF DELEGATION STARTS CONTACTS
ANKARA - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation headed by Carlo Cottarelli, the IMF's Turkey desk chief, started its contacts on Monday.

The IMF delegation which met with the economy bureacrats at the weekend, will continue its contacts in the Treasury Undersecretariat and the Banking Regulatory and Supervisory Board on Monday.

Sources said that it had earlier been announced that the delegation would stay in Turkey for ten days but that the exact departure date of the IMF delegation is not definite yet.

The sources noted that the departure date will be determined in line with the course of the contacts.

The IMF delegation headed by Cottarelli will evaluate the economic performances within the framework of the fifth review visit.

The IMF delegation is mainly dealing with the banking sector and privatization during its contacts in Ankara.

-MANY COUNTRIES TO PROVIDE CREDITS TO TURKEY FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF
ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS
ANKARA - Many countries including Japan, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and Israel stated that they could provide credits for the implementation of environmental projects prepared by the Ministry of Environment and which have priority.

Officials told A.A. correspondent on Monday that the Japanese government announced that they could provide credits for projects that foresee the foundation of refinery facilities for household wastes and waste water in central Cappadocia region, and for geothermal heating projects.

The Spanish government said they would provide credits amounting up to 108 million U.S. dollars for setting up refinery facilities in Tuz Golu (Salt Lake) basin; central Eskisehir province and for building potable water facility in northern Zonguldak province.

Stating that the German government was also willing to provide loans with low interest rates for the establishment of refinery facilities to prevent pollution in Ergene basin, the officials said the German government would provide loans for foundation of refinery systems in Karakaya and Ataturk Dam basin. The German government plans of donating 350,000 German Marks for the feasibility studies and of providing credits for the construction of facilities in these places.

The Israeli and Dutch governments told the officials of the Ministry of Environment that they were ready to give loans for investments regarding refinery facilities.

The officials of the Environmental Ministry said they had prepared 127 projects amounting up to two billion 337 million U.S. dollars to prevent environmental pollution in Turkey.

-TURKISH SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM LEAVES FOR EL SALVADOR
ISTANBUL - A search and rescue team composed of 24 persons who are members of a voluntary institution and who are from the Civil Defense General Directorate of the Interior Ministry, left on Monday for El Salvador, which was the country that mostly affected from the earthquake in Central America.

Speaking at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Kamil Dogan Topaclżoglu, the leader of the Turkish search and rescue team, said that they will go to El Salvador as this country called the international society to help them.

Stating that there may be many people who died in the earthquake, he recalled that there was also a landslide in El Salvador after the earthquake.

Noting that they will search for persons under the debris, Topaclżoglu said that ''we have the equipment that is enough for three teams to search for bodies under the debris. I hope we will be sucessful, our work can continue for a week or ten days there. Our search team is one of the best in the world, that is why we are preferred.''

Topaclżoglu said that they will also take a dog with them.

The Turkish team will proceed to El Salvador via Madrid by a plane belonging to Turkish Airlines.

-DR. FAZIL KUCUK COMMEMORATED IN TRNC AT 17TH ANNIVERSARY
OF HIS DEATH
LEFKOSA - Dr.Fazil Kucuk, one of the leaders who fought for the Turkish Cypriots' liberation, was commemorated at his 17th anniversary of his death in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

A ceremony was held at Dr. Kucuk's mausoleum at 10.28 a.m., the time of his death in Lefkosa. TRNC President Rauf Denktas, Parliament Speaker Ertugrul Hasipoglu, Turkish Ambassador in Lefkosa Hayati Guven and other state officials attended the ceremony. Some members of Dr. Kucuk's family were also present.

Denktas who spoke at the ceremony said the TRNC state cannot be made a matter of bargaining, adding that they won't yield to such demands.

Denktas said they they were fighting for their freedom with Turkey against those who want to take possession of their state and who propose a fake agreement to achieve this. ''We are progressing on our way with the strength we take from Turkey,'' he stressed.

If the TRNC enters the European Union without Turkey, Denktas said, Turkish soldiers will be made to leave the island and neither Turkey nor the TRNC will allow this to happen.

Greek Cypriots react against the TRNC's efforts to strengthen relations with Turkey and Greek Cypriot administration leader Glafcos Clerides wrote a letter to international units ''complaining'' about this situation, Denktas indicated. The Greek Cypriots, Denktas asserted, have no right to interfere with the TRNC's relations with Turkey, adding that the Greek Cypriots are also cooperating with Greece in every field.

''We should be united. I want one thing from my people, please tell your children what we went through in our past,'' he said.

A photography exhibition formed by photographs of Dr. Kucuk taken in various stages of his life was opened at the mausoleum. The exhibition will stay open until Jan. 20.

-SECURITY FORCES DETAIN A GROUP OF CIVIL SERVANTS WHO
ATTEPTED TO PROTEST GOVERNMENT'S IMPLEMENTATIONS
ANKARA - Security forces detained a group of civil servants who attempted to protest the government's implementations in Kizilay Square in Ankara on Monday.

A group of civil servants who are members of the Confederation of Public Labourers' Union (KESK), gathered in Kizilay Square, and chanted slogans.

Security forces intervened in the group, and detained 21 people including Hasan Karakaya, the Spokesman of KESK's Ankara Brances Platform.

The detainees were taken to police headquarters in Cankaya district for interrogation.

Security forces have taken tight measures in Kizilay Square.

Meanwhile, a group of civil servants made a press release in front of the Education Labourers' Union (Egitim-Sen).

Hasan Hayir, a member of the KESK, claimed, ''if our friends are not released within the next one or two hours, we will march to the police headquarters in Cankaya.''

-CULTURE MINISTER TALAY LEAVES FOR AZERBAIJAN
ISTANBUL - Culture Minister Istemihan Talay left on Monday

for Azerbaijani capital of Baku to attend the Turkish Culture and Art Joint Administration (TURKSOY) Standing Committee's 15th Term meeting.

Addressing journalists at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul prior to his departure, Talay said, ''Turkey attributes great importance to TURKSOY. We consider holding contacts with our friends in the Central Asia on cultural activities as a great opportunity.''

Talay told reporters that culture ministers of Turkish-speaking countries in the Central Asia and autonomous regions in the Russian Federation would attend the meeting.

Kemal Fahir Genc, the Deputy Undersecretary of Culture Ministry; Halil Hepdinc, the Director General of Foreign Affairs and Coordination with the European Community; Asim Cebeci, the Acting Director of Revolving Fund Enterprises; and Varol Ozkoc, the Director General of Promotion and Cultural Affairs Department of Foreign Ministry; will accompany Talay during his visit to Azerbaijan.

The meeting hosted by Azerbaijani Culture Minister and TURKSOY Director General Polad Bulbuloglu, will be held between January 16 and 17.

At the meeting, cultural activities in 2001 will be determined and term coordinatorship of TURKSOY will be handed over to another country.

Culture Minister Talay is expected to return to Turkey on Thursday.

-ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTER ERSUMER MEETS
WITH SYRIAN OIL AND MINERAL RESOURCES MINISTER JAMMAL
ANKARA - Energy and Natural Resources Minister Ersumer hosted a luncheon on Monday in honour of Syrian Oil and Mineral Resources Minister Mohammed Maher Jammal.

Yurdakul Yigitguden, the Undersecretary of Energy and Natural Resources; Gokhan Yardim, the Director General of the Pipeline Transportation Corp (BOTAS); and Osman Demirag, the Acting Director General of the Turkish Petroleum Corp (TPAO); also partook in the luncheon.

-IMF DELEGATION FOCUSES ON TEAS AND TEKEL DURING MEETINGS IN ANKARA
ANKARA - The IMF delegation headed by IMF Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli had two meetings regarding Turkish Electricity Corporation (TEAS) and Turkish Tobacco and Alcoholic Drinks Authority (TEKEL) on Monday.

The IMF team was briefed about TEAS's spendings and investments and it asked government officials to speed up the institution's restructuring activities. The IMF also focused on TEKEL's privatization strategy.

The IMF will continue its contacts with the Treasury, Central Bank, Privatization Board, Finance Ministry and Banking Regulation and Supervision Board.

-DIYARBAKIR GOVERNOR SERHADLI:
-''TERRORIST ACTIONS DECREASED BY 83 PERCENT IN 2000''
DIYARBAKIR - Cemil Serhadli, the governor of Diyarbakir, said on Monday that terrorist actions decreased by 83 percent in 2000 in southeastern province of Diyarbakir.

Staging a press conference, Serhadli said, ''a total of 68 terrorist attacks occurred in 1999. As a result of security forces' successful operations, number of incidents decreased to 11 in 2000. Terrorist actions decreased by 83 percent.''

Noting that 392 people were taken into custody last year in operations against the terrorist organization of Hezbollah, Serhadli said that 65 of these detainees were arrested.

He told reporters, ''in operations against terrorist organization PKK, 1, 032 people were captured. 609 of them were arrested by the courts. Security forces seized 21 longe-range weapons, 126 pistols, 5,912 bullets and 34 hand-grenades.''

-CULTURE MINISTER TALAY:
-''TOGETHER WITH NAZIM HIKMET CULTURE AND ART FOUNDATION,
WE HAVE APPLIED TO UNESCO TO CELEBRATE YEAR 2002 AS YEAR
OF NAZIM HIKMET''
ISTANBUL - Culture Minister Istemihan Talay said on Monday, ''we have been launching initiatives to restore Nazim Hikmet's citizenship, and to celebrate the year 2002 as the 'Year of Nazim Hikmet'.''

Addressing a meeting organized by the Nazim Hikmet Culture and Art Foundation to mark the 99th anniversary of his birth, Talay said, ''together with the Nazim Hikmet Culture and Art Foundation, we have applied to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to celebrate the year 2002 as the year of Nazim Hikmet. We have set up a commission within structure of the Culture Ministry to deal with the issue.''

''Nazim Hikmet was a great poet defending universal values. There were, unfortunately, cultural and political interruptions in our history. As you know, Nazim Hikmet was denaturalized upon a decision taken by the Council of Ministers. I will propose the Interior Ministry to launch initiatives to restore Nazim Hikmet's citizenship in 2002,'' he added.

Nazim Hikmet who was born in 1902, is one of the most important and influential figures in 20th-century Turkish literature. His mastery of language and introduction of free verse and a wide range of poetic themes strongly influenced Turkish literature. Many of his works have been translated into more than 50 languages, including Selected Poems (1967), The Moscow Symphony (1970), The Day Before Tomorrow (1972), and Things I Didn't Know I Loved (1975). Nazim Hikmet is also known for his plays.

-SHIP ACCIDENT IN KEMER
-DEATH TOLL INCREASES TO 25
ANTALYA - As autopsy works are under way on bodies which were recovered from the sea following ship accident offshore Kemer township of southern Antalya province 15 days ago, death toll increased to 25.

Yasar Genc, the republican prosecutor, told the A.A correspondent on Monday, ''21 bodies and 33 body parts were recovered from the sea during the search and rescue works. Tissues taken from the bodies for DNA tests, were sent to the Directorate General of Forensic Medicine in Ankara. Autopsy works are under way on bodies. Meanwhile, death toll increased to 25.''

The 400-ton Georgian-flagged cargo ship which was on its way from Antalya to Greece, split in two and sank in a storm offshore Kemer township on January 1, 2001. Half of the ship sank about 100 meters off Kemer township while the other half grounded.

-TERM PRESIDENCY OF SWEDEN
-SWEDEN PLANS TO OPEN CENTER IN ISTANBUL AIMING
TO STRENGTHEN ITS DIPLOMATIC PRESENCE IN TURKEY
ANKARA - Sweden, which took over the term presidency of the European Union (EU) from France, plans to open a center in Istanbul aiming to strengthen its diplomatic presence in Turkey.

Anita Gradin, a well known politician, who was assigned to seek for ways to strengthen Sweden's diplomatic presence in Turkey within the framework of Sweden's term presidency and Turkey's EU candidacy, spoke to journalists in Swedish Embassy.

Gradin said she proposed setting up a center in Istanbul during her meetings with political and diplomatic circles and that her proposal was accepted to a great extend.

Underlining that Turkey's EU candidacy and Sweden's term presidency, brought a new dimension to Turkish-Swedish relations, Gradin said the center at the same time would launch works in regions which are neighbors to Turkey, like the Balkans.

The center will focus on issues like democracy, human rights, free trade and environment.

Gradin and Henrik Liljegren, the former Swedish Ambassador in Ankara, said the center did not aim at controlling fulfilment of Copenhagen criteria.

Responding to another question, Gradin she knew Prime Minister Ecevit and his wife for nearly 40 years.

Gradin, who worked in the EU Commission since 1982, and a parliamentarian in Sweden for 24 years, acted as Swedish Ambassador in 1992-1994.

-TURKEY GIVEN ANOTHER YEAR TO COMPLETE ITS ADJUSTMENT TO
EU TECHNICAL LEGISLATION
ANKARA - Turkey has been given an extra year to complete its adjustment to EU's technical legislation. According to this, Turkey is expected to make the necessary modifications until Dec. 31, 2001.

According to the information obtained from the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, originally Turkey was supposed to complete its ajdustment by Dec. 31, 2000. However, at the Helsinki Summit where the EU confirmed Turkey's EU candidacy, Turkey was given another year until Jan. 1, 2002 to achieve this.

As a part of the new technical legislation, Turkey will have to start a CE (Conformity European) sign system. The system requires Turkey to print ''CE'' sign on 21 products it manufactures and exports to EU countries. The sign shows that these items were produced and documented in line with EU legislation. Construction equipment, electromagnetic machines, non- automatic scales, machines which operate with gas, hot water tanks, explosives which are used for civilian purposes, medical equipment, elavators, freezers, telecommunication terminal equipment are among these items.

The legislation's aim is to make the products safe, protect consumers' health as well as the environment.

There are mainly 350 basic technical laws in Turkey that have to change for its adjustment to EU legislation.

-DIPLOMATIC RAPPROACHMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND NORTHERN KOREA
BEIJING - Foreign Ministries of Turkey and Northern Korea Republic on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding declaring the will of the two countries to know each other well.

Turkish Embassy in Beijing issued a statement and said related officials of the foreign ministries held a meeting in the embassy today.

At the end of the meetings, the sides stressed that rapproachment process recorded between the two Koreas, would contribute to the peace and stability atmosphere in the region.

The sides also signed a memorandum of understanding to normalize relations between Turkey and Northern Korea Republic, and to make the two countries know each other well and to set up diplomatic relations. The sides also decided to appoint ambassadors reciprocally.

The sides exchanged views on terrorism, spreading of missiles, as well as regional and international problems.

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