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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-03-09Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 09 MARCH 2001 Friday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 9, 2000. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)YILMAZ SAYS EVERYBODY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ECONOMIC CRISISDeputy Premier and the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) Mesut Yılmaz said that the recent economic crisis resulted from the policies which the governments have pursued for ten years. Noting that the cause of the recent economic crisis is the deficits of the public banks, Yılmaz stressed that the crisis stems from the heavy burden brought by various governments' policies to the shoulders of the public banks in the last ten years. SIX GOLDEN RULES FROM KEMAL DERVIS MILLIYET (LIBERAL)DERVIS STARTS FASTState Minister Kemal Dervis met with officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and the U.S. Treasury Secretary O'Neill yesterday. Dervis gave them the message that ''for Turkey to overcome the recent economic crisis, a foreign credit is a must.'' His counterparts told Dervis that ''we should see the programme first and decide on the scope of the support later.'' LETTER OF INTENT IS READY SABAH (LIBERAL)GREAT SUPPORT TO DERVISState Minister Kemal Dervis met with U.S. Secretary of Treasury O'Neill and the IMF First Deputy Managing Director Fischer in Washington D.C. yesterday. O'Neill told Dervis that they wanted to extend support to the economic programme of Turkey. ORAL SAYS NO NEW TAX IS ON AGENDA CUMHURIYET (LEFT)SEARCH FOR SUPPORTState Minister Kemal Dervis said that the programme of Turkey with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been technically suspended. Dervis stressed that they will re-construct the existing programme. Noting that Turkey has to build the trust in its currency again, Dervis said that they don't think of postponing the payment of internal debts. WOMEN WANT PEACE RADIKAL (LEFT)FLOOD KILLS TWO IN SIVEREKA mother and her daughter were killed by the flood in Siverek township of southeastern Sanlıurfa province yesterday. Sanlıurfa Governor Muzaffer Dilek said that nearly 150 houses and offices were inundated in Siverek. TURKEY'S NASA ON THE WAY TURKIYE (RIGHT)ANOTHER STEP ON THE WAY TO EUThe Accession Partnership Accord prepared by EU Commission for Turkey was approved without any debate during the EU environment ministers council meeting yesterday. EU Council approved last month the frame report for Turkey's candidacy process that constituted the legal basis of the Accord. Following the publication of the approval of the Accord in the Official Gazette, Turkey is expected to submit its national programme to Brussels within March. ''ABOLISH DEATH SENTENCE, WE WILL MAKE YOU A MEMBER'' TREMOR IN CINARCIK The tremor was also felt in some districts of Istanbul. ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)FIRST GROUP OF TURKISH HAJ PILGRIMS RETURNS TO TURKEYThe first team composed of nearly 300 Turkish haj pilgrims returned to Turkey from Saudi Arabia yesterday. The pilgrims said that they were very happy to be in sacred territories for nearly one month, adding that they were pleased with the organization of the Religious Directorate. The return of all the Turkish haj pilgrims to Turkey will end by March 27. ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP APPROVED -STATE MINISTER DERVIS STAGES PRESS BRIEFING IN WASHINGTON D.C. (1) Staging a press briefing in Turkey's Embassy in Washington D.C. after meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, Dervis said that after preparing the economic programme, he expected to get the support of the international finance circles. Dervis said that he also met with Stanley Fischer, the IMF First Deputy Managing Director the same day, adding that he would meet with the World Bank President James Wolfensohn and IMF Managing Director Horst Kohler. Dervis said that he would complete the proceedings related to his resignation from the World Bank in Washington D.C. ''We are at a very critical moment. We must be very brave and strong. We must solve the problems which we couldn't solve for a long time. It is detrimental to explain certain parts of the economic programme without forming the whole programme. Economic strategy is a whole and it can be successful as a whole. We are not at the stage of announcing the programme now. Political leaders and the government have to stand behind this programme. If we can achieve that, we can get the financial support both from the banking and from the official circles. It is wrong to mention any amount now before forming the programme.'' (to be continued) -STATE MINISTER DERVIS STAGES PRESS BRIEFING IN WASHINGTON D.C. (2) Staging a press briefing in Turkey's Embassy in Washington D.C., Dervis said that he was pleased with his meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill. ''The U.S. Treasury Department closely monitors Turkey. They know that the situation in Turkey is serious. If we can form a serious programme, I believe that they will support us. It is not possible for anybody to promise to support the programme before the latter is ready,'' Dervis said. Noting that the programme has to be supported by the coalition parties, Dervis indicated that important meetings were held in Ankara about this isuse and there was a consensus of opinion on many issues. ''The strategy that will come out will be the common programme of the government. It will not be the programme of one party, but the programme of the whole government. We must carry out serious studies in Turkey about the details of the programme,'' he said. When asked when the programme would be ready, Dervis said that it would be ready less than ten days. ''Technically Turkey is very powerful, we have very distinguished staff working in Central Bank, Foreign Trade Undersecretary, State Planning Organization and Finance Ministry,'' Dervis said. When a journalist asked the place of the stand-by agreement concluded with IMF in the new programme, Dervis said that ''we will have a new programme with IMF. We will reconstruct the existing programme. IMF works on its part, we have certain differences of opinion with them, too. Technically the programme has been suspended.'' Dervis stressed that the government particularly Premier Bulent Ecevit is very resolved to fight with inflation, adding that ''there is a policy which is also acepted by IMF that civil servants' wages won't be less than the increase in the inflation rate. This policy will continue.'' Dervis remarked that the biggest problem is the loss caused by the banking system and the loss caused by structural deficiences in Turkey. ''We must solve the problems in the banking system, we must take serious steps and we mustn't return from them. We must act in a resolved way. We are fully supported by the prime minister and deputy premiers,'' he said. (to be continued) -STATE MINISTER DERVIS STAGES PRESS BRIEFING IN WASHINGTON D.C. (3) Dervis said that the economic programme had to always be the programme of the Turkish government. ''The new programme won't be the programme of the IMF and World Bank, but we will ask them for support,'' he said upon a question. When asked if the IMF and World Bank had a role in the emergence of the economic crisis, Dervis said ''it is not right to present this like that. The state has to take the responsibility upon itself. The responsibility belongs to Turkey. Certainly it is not right to think that the IMF's views are always true. Maybe the IMF made a mistake. The thing that matters now is to put forward an economic programme that will function in the future.'' Upon another question, Dervis said that the issue that has priority now is to improve the banking sector. ''It is very difficult to keep the foreign exchange rate stable without improving the structural deficiences in the banking sector. We must try to solve the problems in the monetary policy, financial policy and banking sector alltogether. We shouldn't neglect one of them. We must be flexible in solutions and benefit from the experiences of other countries. We must strengethen the trust in our currency. Turkey is a country whose economic potential and social structure is trusted by others. We don't think of postponing the internal debts,'' said Dervis. When a journalist asked Dervis what the banking sector reform must include, Dervis said that ''it shouldn't mean closing or seizing the control of all the banks. It can be helping the banks. It is wrong to expect a bank, which lost its own capital, to work well. The reform means acting fast, to form a certain strategy and to give decisions fast. Public banks are burden for Turkey for years.'' Upon another question, Dervis said that ''in a transparent atmosphere, corruption ends. We must put forward a programme which will be understood by everybody.'' Dervis indicated that the U.S. Treasury Department hopes the economic programme which it will support, to be strong and to draw investors to Turkey in the future. Stressing that Turkey has a powerful society and economy, Dervis said that ''we must stress that those who invest in Turkey will win in the end.'' Dervis said that Turkey must trust its own sources, adding it is not good to get big loans with high interest rates. (to be continued) -STATE MINISTER DERVIS STAGES PRESS BRIEFING IN WASHINGTON D.C. (4) Staging a press briefing at Turkey's Embassy, Dervis said that he would participate in the meeting of the American-Turkish Council (ATC) that will be held in Washington D.C. at the end of March. Noting that his contacts with U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and other financial circles would continue, Dervis said that O'Neill promised to act warm towards Turkey. Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Baki Ilkin said in his part that Dervis would talk about Turkish economy on March 26 in ATC meeting. Dervis said that Premier Bulent Ecevit displayed a very resolved attitude and he promised to give full support to him. Upon a question, Dervis said ''I fully trust and respect Mr. Premier. Our contacts with him continue for a long time. Other coalition parties also promised to support me. I am a minister without being a member of any political party. We can achieve success only by these three parties' acting together.'' ''A crisis in a country can create the opportunity of solving certain structural problems, we can do the things which we couldn't do for years. Between 1970-1980, the economy was stopped up, we even couldn't find coffee to drink. But within few years, Turkey's exports increased more than any other country. That crisis had brought an important structural change with it,'' he said. Dervis noted that the coming weeks and months had to be used well. When a journalist asked if he wrote a letter of warning to Premier Bulent Ecevit before the economic crisis, Dervis said that was not true. Dervis said that he didn't have any political target, adding he was not in a position to think of it. State Minister Dervis will return to Turkey in the weekend. (end) -PREMIER ECEVIT SAYS HE TALKED TO STATE MINISTER Upon questions of reporters, Ecevit said that he got information from Dervis, who is currently in Washington D.C. last night. -CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO BE VERY BUSY NEXT WEEK The Virtue Party (FP) has to submit its preliminary defense to the Court as a response to the additional indictment included to the closure case file against FP until March 12, at the latest. The Court had given 15 days of extra time to the party to submit its defense. Following the Court's submitting its preliminary defense, Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu will present his views about the merits of the case. FP will submit its defense regarding the merits of the case within 15 days following that. FP can ask for extra time to submit its defense. Kanadoglu will later explain his views verbally to the Constitutional Court delegation, and the FP officials will defend themselves verbally. Following the case rapporteur's preparing his/her report, the closure case will start to be discussed in merits. The Court will continue to examine the applications of the local courts asking for abolishment of certain articles of the law on conditional release. The Constitutional Court has to conclude the suit filed requesting the abolishment of the Authority Law No. 4616 which authorizes the government to adopt decrees having the force of law for three months to improve the administrative and personnel rights of public employees. The Authority law will be invalid after March 22. The Court will also give its decision in the suit filed requesting the abolishment of the law that foresees privatization of Vakıfbank. -STATE MINISTER GEMICI LEAVES FOR GERMANY Gemici said at Ataturk Airport that he will receive the award that will be given to him by the association. Noting that he will also attend a meeting to be organized by the Association of Turkish Businessmen and Industrialists in Europe, Gemici said that he will take initiatives to orient the savings of Turkish businessmen and industrialists living in Germany, to Turkey. -SECURITY DIRECTORATE GENERAL WARNS PROVINCIAL HEADQUARTERS The Security Directorate General called for taking tight measures against the terrorist organization, stressing that the terrorist organization could stage assassination attacks on high ranking officials. The Security Directorate General sent a decree to security directorates in provinces about the terrorist organization, noting that assassinations like the one staged on Diyarbakır Security Director Gaffar Okkan on Jan. 24, could continue. The decree noted that there are many unknown Hezbollah militants in Adana, Gaziantep, Mersin and Sanlıurfa provinces, adding that attacks and assassinations could be staged by these militants in these provinces. The decree stressed that the terrorist organization could be active in Ormanardı village and Solhan county of Bingol province and in Melekhan village of Solhan. The decree stressed that the terrorist organization could start to act in rural areas, adding that the organization could attack those members of the terrorist organization who were arrested and who confessed the organization's activities to police. -FLOOD KILLS ONE WOMAN IN HALFETI Around 200 houses and 45 offices were damaged in Yukarı Goklu hamlet of Halfeti in the flood caused by torrential rains which started on Thursday evening. The dead body of Fidan Mavigok (75) who was drifted by the flood was found. Sanlıurfa Governor Muzaffer Dilek said that certain stables collapsed in Yukarı Goklu hamlet, adding 300 animals died and 15 vehicles were drifted by the flood. Noting that the water, electricity and telephone networks were damaged in the hamlet, Dilek said that there is no big damage in planted fields. -TURKISH FAMILIES CONTINUE TO RETURN FROM SYRIA Officials at Ceylanpınar Border Gate told A.A that the return of Turkish families from Syria will end at 17.00 local time today. ''Today 1,705 persons (640 families) will return to Turkey,'' the officials said. ''164 persons who had to return to Turkey yesterday couldn't return as Syria closed the doors earlier. The head official's office gave extra time to them. They will return today,'' officials added. -LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY MINISTER OKUYAN Okuyan attended the same day in the opening of the social security building allocated within the scope of the project that aims at educating working children in Izmir. Okuyan said that working children constitutes a problem for the whole world, adding that their number is quite high in Turkey. He stressed that the number of working children decreased following the adoption of the eight years of compulsary education system in Turkey. Stressing that families which had economic difficulties make their children work, Okuyan said that nearly 1,500 children will get education by the project which will continue for three years. Okuyan indicated that this project is an example for Turkey and the world. The project aims at taking back these children from work life and send them to their families and schools again, Okuyan said adding that the project also aims at improving the economic and social conditions of families of these children. Responding to questions of journalists, Okuyan said that the economy continues to be in difficulty, adding that the whole world has a global crisis for the moment. Okuyan asserted that Turkey needs administrative and local reforms. -BRITISH SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO CYPRUS HANNAY British High Commissioner's Office in Lefkosa said on Friday that Hannay and Vaz will hold contacts in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cypriot side for two days. -1,851 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED IN EDIRNE IN LAST TWO MONTHS The immigrants, hoping to sneak across the borders to make their way to European countries, were mostly from Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Palestinian-controlled areas and South Africa. -TORRENTIAL RAINS KILL ONE PERSON IN ADIYAMAN Adıyaman Governor Halil Isık said that the rains also material damage. The roof of a tobacco storehouse collapsed killing Mahmut Mezacı (43) in Ikidam village of Adıyaman, said Isık adding that certain houses partially subsided due to rain. -FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATES ISTANBUL FREE MARKET Buying Selling -------------------- ------- ------ German mark 420,000 434,000 British pound 1,220,000 1,305,000 ANKARA FREE MARKETU.S. dollar 860,000 910,000German mark 410,000 440,000 British pound 1,250,000 1,350,000 -TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS SAYS GREEK CYPRIOT CAN'T The Turkish Cypriot martryrs who died during the Baf Resistance 37 years ago were commemorated in a ceremony held in Guzelyurt the same day. Addressing the ceremony, Denktas said that the reason of the Cyprus question's not being solved to date is the fact that the world still considers the Greek Cypriot side as the only government of Cyprus. Denktas stressed that this mistake continues for 38 years. Noting that the ''state'' won't be bargained, Denktas indicated that Turkish Cypriots are ready to make peace on the basis of equality and sovereignty as a founding partner on the island. Denktas said that Greek Cypriots didn't change in 37 years, adding that the Greek Cypriots continue the attack it started on Turks in 1964, also in the world today. Greek Cypriots still consider Turkish Cypriots as minority, said Denktas. -OVERNIGHT REPO INTEREST RATES AVERAGE IS 80.46 PERCENT According to the information given from IMKB State Debenture and Bond Market on Friday, the lowest interest rate has been 80 percent and the highest has been 81,5 percent.
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