Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-02-26

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

26 FEBRUARY

2001 Monday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

YOK DECIDES TO TRAIN EXPERTS ON ARMENIAN HISTORY
The Higher Education Board (YOK) has decided to train experts who could respond to allegations of genocide on Armenians after the matter was debated at the parliaments of a number of countries. YOK will send students to overseas countries to do Phd study on Armenian and Greek language and history.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

FIRST MEETING FOLLOWING LAST WEEK'S ROW
The National Security Council will convene today under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet. The meeting will start at 09:30 a.m. at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. It will be the continuation of the monthly meeting which was interrupted last Monday. Following a row between President Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit at last week's meeting, Prime Minister Ecevit and ministers left the Presidential Palace.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

FIVE TURKISH WOMEN MOUNTAINEERS TO CLIMB MOUNT EVEREST
Five women mountaineers will climb to Mount Everest in coming days. Gulay Unal, one of the mountaineers, described the climbing as promoting the civilized Turkey to world through successful sportswomen. Meltem Colak, another mountaineer in the group said there were prejudices against the climbing of women mountaineers to summits such as Mount Everest. This expedition will be the first climbing of the Turkish women, added Colak.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

INVESTIGATION STARTED ABOUT 100 POLICEMEN WHO TOOK BRIBES
Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan announced that his ministry started legal investigation about 100 policemen who took bribes since July. Tantan indicated that the Directorate of Security last year sent a circular to all governors' offices to take measures to prevent bribery. As a result of these efforts 100 policemen, one highway officer and 45 people were caught taking and giving bribes, and authorities launched an investigation about these people.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Touching on the Turkey's economic and political state, Sezer said he believed the country's political, social and economic problems would be solved in a certain period of time. He declined to answer questions on the economic crisis.

ICON AGED ONE THOUSAND YEARS SEIZED IN KONYA
A golden plated icon which had the Virgin Mary and Jesus figures on it found in Ahirli township of central Konya province. Experts say the value of the icon hasn't been yet determined, adding that it belonged to the Byzantine period. The security forces seized the icon in a house in Ahirli and the owner of the house said he bought the icon from a truck driver.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

problems of developing countries. These countries should attribute more importance to education, administrative reforms, transparency in administration of public and economy and to democracy.''

FP CALLS ON GOVERNMENT TO RESIGN
Seref Malkoc, the Secretary General of the Virtue Party (FP), said that the government should resign following the current economic crisis. He said, ''otherwise, we will try to overthrow the government with censure motions.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

GEO-THERMAL ENERGY USED IN GREENHOUSES IN NEVSEHIR
Geo-thermal energy is being used in the greenhouses which were set up in Kozakli township of central Nevsehir province. We could cultivate tomato even at minus 20 degrees centigrade said the farmers. Bilal Olmez, the head official of Kozakli, said that they started this implementation to revive the agriculture and economy in the township. Olmez added that Kozakli was the most suitable place to use the geo-thermal energy in greenhouses.

-SOCCER-TURKISH DIVISION ONE RESULTS AND STANDINGS
ANKARA- Results of the Turkish division one soccer matches played between February 23-25:

Fenerbahce-Besiktas......................................... ( 3-1 )

Caykur Rizespor-Antalyaspor................................. ( 0-2 )

Adanaspor-Yimpas Yozgatspor................................. ( 3-3 )

Bursaspor-Denizlispor....................................... ( 2-1 )

Ankaragucu-Siirt Jet-Pa Spor................................ ( 4-1 )

Gaziantepspor-Genclerbirligi................................ ( 1-0 )

Trabzonspor-Istanbulspor.................................... ( 1-2 )

Galatasaray-Kocaelispor..................................... ( 2-3 )

Erzurumspor-Samsunspor...................................... ( 1-2 )

Standings

P W D L F A Pts

March 2, Friday:

Genclerbirligi v Trabzonspor

March 3, Saturday:

Yimpas Yozgatspor v Fenerbahce

Siirt Jet-Pa Spor v Gaziantepspor

Antalyaspor v Adanaspor

Istanbulspor v Galatasaray

March 4, Sunday:

Caykur Rizespor v Denizlispor

Samsunspor v Bursaspor

Kocaelispor v Erzurumspor

Besiktas v MKE Ankaragucu

Top Goal Scorers:

19 goals: Jardel (Galatasaray)

16 goals: Okan (Bursaspor)

14 goals: Nouma (Besiktas)

12 goals: Cenk (Adanaspor), Fatih (Gaziantepspor)

and Kona (Genclerbirligi)

-SHARON TO SEND SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO ANKARA
ANKARA - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Special Representative Meir Rosenne will come to Ankara today to have contacts with government officials.

Israeli Embassy in Ankara announced that Rosenne will meet with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem today and with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on Tuesday.

Rosenne, who was the Israeli ambassador for the United States and France in the previous years, is currently the political and foreign relations advisor to Sharon.

After rightest Likud Party leader Ariel Sharon was elected prime minister on February 6 with a comfortable margin, the eyes were turned to the Middle East Peace Process.

Palestinian leaser Yasser Arafat paid a surprise visit to Turkey on February 14 and asked Turkish authorities to pressure Israel to continue the peace process. Upon Arafat's visit, Israel decided to send a representative to Turkey in the shortest time possible.

Turkish authorities are expected to convey Rosenne Arafat's messages and try to pursuade the Israeli side to continue the peace process.

Turkey thinks the two sides should start negotiations without losing more time. Turkey also wants Israel to lift its economic sanction against Palestine and this is likely to be a topic of discussion during Rosenne's contacts with Turkish government officials.

-EXCHANGE RATES IN COVERED BAZAAR IN ISTANBUL
ISTANBUL- One U.S. dollar was sold at 880 thousand Turkish liras (TL) among the citizens in the Covered Bazaar in Istanbul on Monday morning.

One German mark was sold at 420 thousand TL.

-NOTES FROM D-8 SUMMIT MEETING
CAIRO - The third summit meeting of heads of state and government of the Developing-8 (D-8) Economic Cooperation Group in Egyptian capital Cairo, focused on decreasing role of developing countries in global economy.

Al participants, including President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, stressed that developing and underdeveloped countries could not equally benefit from globalization.

They underlined importance of developing new methods to change this situation.

Meanwhile, President Sezer and President Mubarak decided at their bilateral meeting prior to the summit meeting to prepare a frame document with the aim of carrying relations between Turkey and Egypt to the level of strategical partnership.

The meeting between President Sezer and President Mubarak, focused on bilateral relations and the Middle East peace process.

President Sezer proposed to sign a free trade agreement between Turkey and Egypt while President Mubarak referred to Turkey's plan to purchase natural gas from Egypt.

The sides decided to prepare a frame document including all cooperation fields between the two countries.

The document will carry bilateral relations to the level of strategical partnership from cooperation.

President Sezer and President Mubarak stressed that Turkey and Egypt would continue to exchange opinions and to cooperate on the issue of Middle East peace process.

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Egyptian counterpart Amr Moussa were also in attendance at the meeting.

-IMF AND WORLD BANK DELEGATION IN ANKARA
ANKARA - A delegation from the IMF and the World Bank arrived in Ankara on Sunday.

The delegation which is headed by Lalit Raina from the World Bank visited the Treasury, Central Bank and Banking Supervision and Inspection Agency. The delegation also met with officials from state banks.

IMF Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli attended the meetings where the participants focused on the liquidity problem of the state banks worth of 10 quadrillion TL. The delegation will go to Istanbul during the week before they leave Turkey with Cottarelli.

Authorities underlined that the liquidity problem of the public banks was the biggest problem in the banking sector, adding that they would make this a priority and work to bring a solution to this problem.

The delegation will present a report to finance institutions upon their return to Washington, D.C about their observations.

It was stated that a consortium led by the IMF and the World Bank had solved the liquidity problem of the banking sector in South Korea, Tailand and Malesia during the Asian crisis. It was also pointed out that Turkey could obtain a long term loan with favorable conditions from a consortium consisted of foreign banks as a part of the IMF and World Bank support. Japan could also contribute to the financing of this loan, it was added.

-EUROPEAN UNION BASIC TRAINING SEMINAR ENDS IN ANTALYA
ANTALYA - The European Union (EU) seminar which was held in southern Antalya province ended, officials said on Sunday.

More than 80 bureaucrats who are working at various institutions of southern Antalya province attended the seminar. The bureaucrats who completed the seminar were given certificates in a ceremony held at a hotel in Antalya.

The seminar which continued for three days was organized by the Antalya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ATSO) and Research Center on European Community of Ankara University (ATAUM).

Tunay Altinpinar, the chairman of ATSO, who delivered a speech at the ceremony said they would continue to organize similar meetings, adding that they would exert efforts to brief the Turkish public about the EU.

Orhan Tolunay, the chairman of the Antalya Union of Chambers of Artisans and Tradesmen (AESOB), in his part said that the seminar was very fruitful, adding that they would extend support to such meetings.

-CENTRAL BANK: ''WE WILL QUICKLY MEET MARKETS' NEED OF
FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND DEMAND FOR EFFECTIVE EXCHANGE AS
COLLATERAL''
ANKARA- The Central Bank stated on Monday that it would quickly meet market's need of foreign exchange and demand for effective exchange as collateral.

The Central Bank also said that it would announce new lending rates later in the day.

The Central Bank said that it would not allow repayment problems in repo transactions at tpe State Debanture and Bond Market at Istanbul Stock Market Exchange (IMKB).

-INTERNATIONAL YOUTH CAMP TO BE ORGANIZED IN CAPPADOCIA
NEVSEHIR- The Directorate General of Youth and Sports said on Monday that the International Youth Camp would be organized in Cappadocia Region in central province of Nevsehir.

Officials at Nevsehir Governor's Office told the A.A correspondent that the Directorate General of Youth and Sports sent invitations to 44 countries for the International Youth Camp.

The camp aims at bringing together young people from different countries, and improving cultural and social relations with these countries.

Nearly 800 young people aged between 18 and 24 are expected to come to Turkey.

The International Youth Camp will be organized in four separate groups each for ten days.

-IZMIR TOURISM PROVINCIAL DIRECTOR KARAMETE WORKING TO
SPREAD TOURISM ACTIVITY TO 12 MONTHS
IZMIR - Izmir Tourism Provincial Director Ayla Karamete has said that there were ongoing efforts to spread the tourism activity in the city to all 12 months.

Karamete told the A.A that Izmir province lost strength in tourism in the last few years, adding that the city possessed a rich variety that would draw tourists throughout the year. As a part of these efforts, Karamete said her directorate was working to develop sea sports and health tourism in Izmir.

''It is embarrassing to have such a few sea sports in a gulf city like Izmir. We'll correct this shortcoming in a short time. We've also started activities to develop health tourism in our city which is very rich in thermal springs,'' she explained.

Karamete said there were two beaches and one marina with 'blue flags' which are awarded to facilities which maintain high standards of cleanliness. This year, she said, they were planning to give blue flags to 17 other beeches and one marina.

Faith tourism is another field Karamete wants to develop to draw tourists to Izmir. Her directorate completed preparations to print brochures promoting Izmir's historical sites and cultural assets. In May, the brochures will be distributed to tourists at certain points in the city.

-MANY VILLAGE ROADS STILL BLOCKED WITH SNOW
IN EASTERN BLACK SEA REGION
TRABZON/KARABUK- There are currently 142 village roads blocked with snow in eastern Black Sea region, it was reported on Monday.

Some of the roads are opening to traffic as the precipitation is weakening in certain areas. A total of 53 teams of the Rural Services are working to clear the snow in the area surrounding Artvin, Bayburt, Giresun, Gumushane, Rize and Trabzon.

-OVERNIGHT REPO INTEREST RATES DECREASE TO 100 PERCENT
ISTANBUL - The overnight repo interest rates decreased to 100 percent at the Istanbul Stock Exchange Repo Market on Monday.

The minimum overnight repo interest rates were 100 percent while the maximum overnight repo interest rates were 150 percent.

The latest repo transaction was made with 100 percent interest and the average interest rate was 107.74 percent.

-CLASHES IN AFGHANISTAN
-FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''ALL SIDES SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT
PROBLEMS COULD NOT BE SOLVED WITH MILITARY METHODS''
ANKARA- The Foreign Ministry expressed its concerns about ongoing clashes in Afghanistan, and said, ''all sides should understand that problems could not be solved with military methods.''

Releasing a statement, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday, ''it is necessary to settle an effective and lasting ceasefire in Afghanistan to pave way to a meaningful dialogue process between the sides. Humaritarian calamity has reached grave levels in Afghanistan as a result of the clashes.''

''Thousands of people have lost their lives, and ten of thousands of others have been forces to leave their homes since last July as a result of ongoing clashes. Hundreds of people who were forced to move, died due to bad weather conditions in the region. In our previous statements, we attracted attention of the international community to the humanitarian calamity in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit also referred to the serious situation in Afghanistan in his letters to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and his counterparts in relevant countries,'' it stressed.

Noting that Turkey had been continuing to send humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, the statement said, ''within framework of a project to meet urgent requirements of Afghan people, a total of 1,175 dwellings have been repaired or reconstructed and humanitarian aid has been distributed to families in settlement units in Taqhar region. Nearly 10 thousand people have been provided shelter within framework of the project. But the aid is not adequate.''

The statement added that medical stuff was sent to Afghanistan last week to meet requirements of Ataturk Child Hospital in Kabul.

-U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS RAPPORTEUR JAHANGIR MEETS WITH ISTANBUL
ACTING MAYOR OZEROL
ISTANBUL- Istanbul Acting Mayor Umit Ozerol had a meeting with U.N. Human Rights Commission's Arbitrary Punishments Rapporteur Asma Jahangir on Monday.

Following a 45-minute meeting which was closed to press, Ozerol told reporters that Jahangir and three other U.N. officials will have official contacts in Ankara, Diyarbakir and Batman. The delegation will leave Turkey on February 28.

During his meeting with Jahangir, Ozerol said they exchanged views on human rights in Turkey.

Jahangir, who is of Pakistani origin, said she met with bar's association members, journalists and representatives of non-governmental organizations in Istanbul where she arrived on Sunday. She indicated that she agreed with Ozerol on the method Turkey has to follow to improve its human rights situation.

She stated that there was no country in the world which has an ideal human rights record, but added that there were certain steps that could be taken to get close to that ideal.

She said she was pleased to see a human rights unit within the Istanbul municipality.

Responding to a question, Jahangir said she had contacted many people who briefed her about the two executives of the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) who have been missing. She said she has to study certain documents in order to form a personal opinion on this matter.

She pointed out that she realized people of the South East Anatolia were fearing that the terrorism might revive again in the region. ''A solution should be brought to this problem as soon as possible and people should be relieved,'' she commented. ''The most positive development is that the public insistently want to solve this problem. The government has also started activities to achieve this and it is taking it very seriously.''

Jahangir and her delegation also visited Istanbul Security Director Kazim Abanoz in his office.

-TREASURY TO REPAY 149.1 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS
OF EXTERNAL BORROWING THIS WEEK
ANKARA- Treasury will repay 149.1 million U.S. dollars of external debt this week.

Accoring to the statistics of the Treasury Undersecretariat, Treasury will repay 74.6 million U.S. dollars of foreign debt on Monday.

Treasury's external borrowing servicing will be 21.1 million U.S. dollars on February 27, 24.1 million U.S. dollars on February 28, 10.8 million U.S. dollars on March 1, and 18.4 million U.S. dollars on March 2.

Meanwhile, total external debt repayment made by Treasury in first three weeks of February reached 623 million U.S. dollars.

-IMF DELEGATION MEMBERS CONTINUE HOLDING CONTACTS
ANKARA- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation members headed by Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli continue holding contacts in Ankara.

Sources said that the IMF delegation held meetings at the Treasury Undersecretariat early on Monday.

Meanwhile, IMF and World Bank banking delegation headed by World Bank Finance Sector Group Chairman Lalit Raina held contacts at the Banking Regulatory and Supervisory Authority early the same day.

The delegation is expected to hold contacts at the Treasury Undersecretariat in the afternoon.

Sources said that the meetings between the delegation members and economy bureaucrats in Ankara focused on public banks, and that the liquidity matter of the banking sector would become clear following the visit of the delegation.

-ISRAEL PREMIER'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE ROSENNE VISITS ANKARA
ANKARA- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Special Representative Meir Rosenne arrived in Ankara on Monday to hold several contacts.

Rosenne who was welcomed at Ankara's Esenboga Airport by Foreign Ministry officials and Israeli Ambassador to Turkey Uri Bar Ner, said that he was pleased to visit Ankara, and that they considered Turkey an important country.

Noting that he brought Sharon's message of friendship to Turkey, Rosenne said that such a massage of friendship were conveyed to only 4-5 countries in addition to Turkey.

Recalling that he had come to Turkey in July of 1944 as a refugee, Rosenne said that he was born in Romania, but they were forced to abondon their homeplace by a ship after Nazis occupied Romania.

Rosenne said that they had firstly visited Turkey and later proceeded to Palestine with ships.

He stressed that with this reason, the Jews, including himself, owe Turkey their existence as Turkey accepted them.

Rosenne added that he was very pleased to come to Ankara again after 57 years and to bring a message of friendship to Turkey as Sharon's special representative.

-IGEME TO ORGANIZE FOODEX JAPAN 2001 FAIR
ANKARA - The 26th International Food and Beverages Fair ''Foodex Japan 2001'' which will be held in Chiba, Japan between March 13 and 16, 2001 will be organized by the Exports Development Etude Center (IGEME).

Releasing a statement on Monday, IGEME said that 19 Turkish companies would attend the fair.

At their stand, Turkish companies will exhibit their products like macaroni, canned food, frozen fruits and vegetables, dried fruits, hazelnuts, tomato paste, olive, olive oil refined vegetal oil, several vegetal oil, margarine, instant soup, alcoholic drinks, candies and concentrated fruit juice.

-BUSY DAY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL COURT
ANKARA- The Constitutional Court is to carry out the first debates on appeals made by 18 local courts to amend certain articles and clauses of the Reprieve Law on Tuesday.

Before commencing the negotiations at 10 a.m., the Constitutional Court will first examine the appeals.

Among the appeals are, one which suggests that Article No. 168 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), pertaining to ''being a member of an outlawed rganization'' be amended, and one other which suggests that clause 4 of Article No. 1 of the Reprieve Law, pertaining to ''crimes committed before April 23, 1999'' be omitted.

The Constitutional Court is also to take up appeals for the omission of certain articles and clauses of Law 4447, known also as 'Unemployment Insurance Law' made by a group of deputies, consisting mostly of True Path Party (DYP) members, and will also announce its final writ on an appeal made by Virtue Party members regarding this same law.

The Constitutional Court also starts its first examinations on an appeal by FP and DYP deputies to abolish certain articles of the Parliament Statutes.

-TWO TRILLION TL ALLOCATED FOR CONSTRUCTION
OF INTERNATIONAL GAP AIRPORT FOR 2001
SANLIURFA - Two trillion Turkish liras (TL) have been allocated for the construction of the international Southeastern Anatolia Region (GAP) airport for 2001.

Officials told A.A correspondent that the construction of the airport continues and that the 17.7 trillion TL were spent for the construction by the end of 2000.

The officials said that the construction can be finished in 2003 if they do not face any problems in appropriation.

Thus, the goods produced in the GAP region will be sent to the European markets and other world markets, the officials noted, adding that this will be beneficial to both the region and Turkey.

-NSC DECIDES TO EXTEND EMERGENCY RULE IN FOUR PROVINCES
FOR ANOTHER FOUR MONTHS
ANKARA- National Security Council (NSC) decided to extend the emergency rule for another four months in Diyarbakır, Hakkari, Sırnak and Tunceli provinces on Monday. NSC will inform the cabinet about its decision.

NSC General Secretariat said in a written statement that the security and public order in the country and internal and external developments which affect them were reviewed in the NSC meeting today.

''The NSC thought that the extension of emergency state rule in Diyarbakır, Hakkari, Sırnak and Tunceli provinces for another four months to be valid as of 30 March, 2001 would be appropriate, and decided to inform the Council of Ministers about its view. At the meeting, foreign policy developments in the world and in the region which closely concern the security of Turkey and the parts of the National Programme about security have been evaluated. The attendees expressed pleasure over the national programme, which constitutes an important stage in improvement of Turkey-EU relations and which is about to be completed soon. The Council was also informed about the Air-Space Studies in Turkey and the Council focused on the measures that have to be taken up in order to benefit well from the space,'' NSC said.

-PREMIER ECEVIT:
-''THE NSC MEETING WAS VERY BENEFICIAL AND FRUITFUL''
ANKARA - Premier Bulent Ecevit said on Monday that the National Security Council (NSC) meeting was very beneficial and fruitful.

Following the NSC meeting, Ecevit came to the Prime Ministry.

Responding to questions of reporters, Ecevit said that an official statement is released following the NSC meeting.

Ecevit noted that he can only say that the NSC meeting was very beneficial and fruitful.

They decided to establish Turkish Space Agency in the NSC meeting, Ecevit said, adding that this is an important step to adjust to the era.

When asked whether or not the row between himself and the president has been overcome, Ecevit said, ''as I have said, it was a beneficial and fruitful meeting.''

-CENTRAL BANK ANNOUNCES BUYING PRICE OF
ONE U.S. DOLLAR AS 946.3 THOUSAND TL
ANKARA- The Central Bank announced on Monday the buying price of one U.S. dollar as 946 thousand 306 Turkish liras (TL) and the selling price of one U.S. dollar as 950 thousand 870 TL.

The Central Bank had announced the buying-selling prices of one U.S. dollar as 1 million 72 thousand 988 TL and 1 million 78 thousand 163 TL on Friday.

Thus, the TL gained 13.4 percent value against the U.S. dollar on Monday when compared with Friday.

One U.S. dollar was equal to 965 thousand TL at the interbank currency market while it was equal to 930 thousand TL in the effective transactions.

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