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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-06-09

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>

Anadolu Agency

ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

09 JUNE 2001 Sunday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their

brief stories in Turkey's press on June 9, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not

verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

''I PROMISE''

Rustu Kazim Yucelen said, ''illegal telephone

tapping became a paranoia in the public opinion. Sometimes even I get

suspicious. As Interior Minister, my telephones might have been tapped. But I

promise. Everyone will talk on the phone freely from now on.''

RUSSIAN MINISTER PREFERS SWISSHOTEL

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov preferred

the Swisshotel which was stormed by a group of Chechen terrorists in April,

for the dinner hosted in his honor. Responding to a question about visa

implementation on Turkish businessmen, Ivanov said, ''if hotels are stormed

and planes are hijacked in this country, what can we do?''

ISTANBUL MUSIC FESTIVAL STARTS

The 29th Istanbul International Music Festival

organized by the Istanbul Culture and Art Foundation, started yesterday. The

festival will continue till July 3. The main theme of this year's festival is

Guiseppe Verdi. A total of 600 musicians including 480 foreigners from Italy,

Britain, Azerbaijan, the U.S., Russia, Germany, Austria, Lithuania, Denmark,

Finland, Sweden and France, will participate in the festival.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

WORLD WAR IN KONYA

Airspace over central province of Konya will

become the third biggest imaginary battle field of the world. Turkish and

foreign war planes will perform exercises over Konya. Air forces of Turkey,

Israel and the U.S. will participate in the ''Anatolian Eagle Exercise'' which

will start on June 14.

INVESTIGATION AGAINST POLICE GANG

An investigation has been launched against

former Istanbul Police Chief Kazim Abanoz who set up special teams in the

Istanbul Police Department to follow some certain people.

COHN-BENDIT MEETS OZPOLAT

Daniel Cohn-Bendit, a member of the European

Parliament, met with Sadi Ozpolat, one of the leaders of the illegal

Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) at the F-type prison in

Kandira district of Istanbul. Addressing journalists following the meeting,

Cohn-Bendit said, ''members of the DHKP-C have fixed ideas. Their ideas remind

me the Stone Age.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

POLITE RESPONSE TO TACTLESS RUSSIAN MINISTER

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov who is

currently in Turkey on an official visit, met with Prime Minister Bulent

Ecevit. Speaking at the meeting, Ivanov said, ''I will stay at Istanbul's

Swisshotel. I hope that Chechens would not storm the hotel during my visit.''

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit responded to Ivanov saying, ''you can have a

sound sleep in every hotel in Istanbul.''

ALIEN IN FOCA NOW

Did the alien coming from depths of the space

come to Izmir after its visits to Usak and Sivas? Two security officials in

Foca township of western province of Izmir claimed that they saw an alien.

Security officials were engulfed in panic. They informed their director on the

incident. They said, ''the alien had a round head. There was a red light in

the middle of its body.''

IMF WARNS TURKEY POLITELY

International Monetary Fund (IMF) European One

Department Director Michael Deppler said that markets were worried whether or

not the program would be implemented and that the government should quell

those worries.

Deppler spoke at a conference on ''Restructuring

in Economy: Reforms and Opportunities'' which was organized by CNBC-E and

Management Turkey, via satellite from Washington D.C., the U.S. Noting that

any postponement in implementation of the program would create problems,

Deppler defined the decisions on public workers' pay and wheat prices as ''unfortunate''.

When asked what the most serious risk in front of Turkey was, Deppler said, ''there

are two serious risks. First one is the failure in implementation of the

program. There are serious worries in the markets over whether or not the

programme will be implemented. The government must quell this concern and

restore confidence in the markets.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

ALERT FOR ECONOMY

The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges

of Turkey (TOBB) carried out a public survey with the participation of 249

chambers on ''impacts of the economic crisis on real sector''. According to

results of the survey, 98.61 percent of Turkish businessmen think that Turkey

should reconstruct its administration. 3,476 companies joined the survey. 95.5

percent of these companies think that Turkey needs a new Constitution while

the rest 4.5 percent think the opposite.

A NEW ERA TO START IN EURASIA

Proposals to be put forward by Russian Foreign

Minister Igor Ivanov and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will be discussed during

Russian President Vladimir Putin's scheduled visit to Turkey at the end of

this year. During the meeting between Cem and Ivanov who is currently in

Turkey on an official visit, regional problems such as Iraq, Caucasus, Cyprus

and Balkans; the Blue Stream Project; bilateral political and economic

relations; and international smuggling and terrorism were brought onto agenda.

KESK HOLDS A DEMONSRATION IN ANKARA

Confederation of Public Workers Labor Unions (KESK)

Ankara Branches Platform held a demonstration in Ankara yesterday to protest

security forces' intervention in Thursday's demonstration. Platform Chairman

Hasan Karakaya said that seven people were taken into custody while some

others were hospitalized in Thursday's incidents. He complained that they were

not given the right to read out a press statement since December of last year

which is their legal right.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

SEZER: ''STRUCTURE SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR

DEMOCRATIC PARTIES''

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said, ''electors

should not be passive. They should be active. Political parties which do not

conform to democracy in their structure, cannot fulfil necessities of a

democratic state. All arrangements should be made to democratize the political

parties.''

SHAMEFUL DEFENSE AT UMUT CASE

Ankara State Security Court (DGM) no:2

continued to hear the case on ''Umut'' (Hope) operation which was launched to

find murderers of journalist-writer Ugur Mumcu, and later covered 22 incidents,

including assasinations of Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taner Kislali, Prof. Muammer Aksoy

and Dr. Bahriye Ucok. During yesterday's court session, Ibrahim Ceylan, the

lawyer of the suspects, said, ''Mumcu should

have checked its automobile. Kislali and Ucok should have called the police

before opening suspecious packages.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

''SENSITIVE'' PERIOD WITH RUSSIA

A joint working group was formed to further

develop relations between Turkey and Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Igor

Ivanov who held intense contacts in Ankara expressed his pleasure with the

partnership reached in bilateral relations including international security.

New York Times, one of the most influential dailies in the U.S., said that the

U.S. which targeted to reduce Russia's influence over the world's most

strategical area couldn't get a result from its efforts due to the Blue Stream

project and that Russia won the energy resources. The newspaper said that

Turkey's dependence on Russia increased.

MISTAKE IN CASA CRASH IS PECULIAR

The investigation into the CASA plane which

crashed shortly after it took off for a test flight was concluded. It was

announced that problems in the plane's aileron control system led to the crash

and that the possible cause of the accident was peculiar to the plane that

crashed and would not have any effect on the safety of the rest of CASA

planes.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

THERE IS NOT SUCH A LAW IN THE WORLD

The new Law on Supreme Board of Radio and

Television (RTUK) which was adopted with the votes of coalition partners, is

unique in the world. Turkey gained a matchless radio and television law after

the government adopted the law by ignoring objections of press organs,

vocational organizations and scientists. President Ahmet Necdet Sezeris

expected to veto the law which will pave way to monopolism in the press.

-SPORTS - BOXING


CONTENTS

  • [01] PALIANI OF TURKEY QUALIFIES TO FINAL IN 57 KG AT
  • [02] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO START DEBATING CLOSURE
  • [03] GOVERNMENT BILL ON TOBACCO MARKET SUBMITTED
  • [04] STATE MINISTER BAL IN WASHINGTON D.C.:
  • [05] ''LIQUIDATION OF EMLAKBANK SHOULD BE DISCUSSED
  • [06] BILL ON CLOSURE OF DUTY LOSSES OF BANKS
  • [07] BILL ON INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT
  • [08] FIFTH BALKAN TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS START IN EDIRNE
  • [09] SPORTS - BODY-BUILDING
  • [10] SONTANJA, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF IFBB:
  • [11] ''WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SPREAD BODY-BUILDING
  • [12] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT HOLDS A PRESS CONFERENCE (1):
  • [13] ''THERE ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL OBSTACLES IN FRONT OF BUREAUCRACY''
  • [14] TRANSFER OF NUCLEAR WASTE THROUGH STRAITS
  • [15] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT HOLDS A PRESS CONFERENCE (2)
  • [16] LOGAN, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY:
  • [17] ''REFORM PROGRAM SHOULD BE SUCCESSFUL TO REALIZE ATATURK'S
  • [18] VILLAGE GUARDS IN ADIYAMAN CLAIM THEY SEE UFO
  • [19] AGREEMENT REACHED ON ISTANBUL+5 DECLARATION

  • [01] PALIANI OF TURKEY QUALIFIES TO FINAL IN 57 KG AT

    11TH WORLD AMATEUR BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS
    BELFAST - Ramazan Paliani of Turkey competing

    in men's 57 kg category, qualified to final late on Friday at the 11th World

    Amateur Boxing Championships in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

    Paliani took on Joni Turunen of Finland in the

    semi-final.

    He beat his Finish opponent, and qualified to

    final.

    Paliani will vie for gold medal on Sunday

    against Galip Caferiov of Kazakhstan.

    Meanwhile, Bulent Ulusoy of Turkey competing in

    men's 71 kg category, was defeated by Simion Marian of Romania.

    Ulusoy won bronze medal.

    On Saturday, Agasi Agaguloglu of Turkey

    competing in men's 54 kg category, will vie for gold medal against Guller

    Ortiz Rigondeaux of Cuba.

    [02] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO START DEBATING CLOSURE

    CASE AGAINST FP ON TUESDAY
    ANKARA - The Constitutional Court will start

    debating the closure case against the Virtue Party (FP) on Tuesday.

    Constitutional Court Chief Judge Mustafa Bumin,

    Deputy Chief Judge Chairman Hasim Kilic, and judges Fulya Kantarcioglu, Rustu

    Sonmez, Ahmet Akyalcin, Ali Huner, Yalcin Acargun, Tulay Tugcu, Mahir Can

    Ilicak, Ertugrul Ersoy and Sacit Adali will convene at 10:00 a.m. on June 12,

    and start debating the closure case against the FP.

    The case is expected to be finalized in seven

    or ten days.

    The lawsuit was filed on May 7, 1999, by Vural

    Savas, the retired Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals, with the

    pretext that the FP was the continuation of the outlawed Welfare Party (RP)

    and it became the focus of anti-secular activities.

    Savas requested the Constitutional Court to

    lift deputyships of all FP members except for Aydin Menderes who resigned from

    the FP one day before the closure case.

    While he was explaining his opinion on the

    merits of the case, Savas claimed that the second paragraph of Article 103 of

    the Political Parties Law was contrary to the Constitution, and requested the

    court to annul the paragraph.

    The second paragraph of Article 103 of the

    Political Parties Law was annulled by the Constitutional Court.

    Before his retirement, Savas sent a video

    footage to the Constitutional Court including words referred to Necmettin

    Erbakan, the former leader of the outlawed RP, during the first regular

    congress of the FP.

    The Constitutional Court asked Sabih Kanadoglu

    who was replaced with Savas, to explain his opinion about the video footage.

    Kanadoglu requested the Constitutional Court to

    accept the video footage as a supplementary evidence.

    The Constitutional Court rejected Kanadoglu's

    request.

    Later, Kanadoglu submitted a supplementary

    indictment to the Constitutional Court.

    Kanadoglu also requested the Constitutional

    Court to ban founders of the FP from political activities for five years, and

    to lift deputyships of Ismail Alptekin and Mehmet Ozyol.

    Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court rejected FP

    leader Recai Kutan's request for implementation of Article 104 of the

    Political Parties Law.

    At its meeting on February 7, 2001, the

    Constitutional Court decided to combine Kanadoglu's supplementary indictment

    with the main lawsuit.

    The FP submitted its pre-defense against the

    supplementary indictment.

    Later, Kanadoglu explained his opinions on the

    merits of the case.

    After submission of written defense by the FP,

    Kanadoglu made verbal statements, and FP deputy Mustafa Kamalak made his

    party's verbal defense.

    Mehmet Turhan, the Rapporteur of the case,

    prepared a supplementary report.

    The report was distributed to the members of

    the Constitutional Court.

    [03] GOVERNMENT BILL ON TOBACCO MARKET SUBMITTED

    TO PARLIAMENT SPEAKER'S OFFICE
    ANKARA - The government bill on reconstruction

    of tobacco, tobacco products and alcoholic drinks market was submitted to the

    Parliament Speaker's Office late on Friday.

    The bill foresees restructuring of the

    Directorate General of Tobacco and Alcoholic Drinks Monopoly (TEKEL).

    In accordance with the bill, TEKEL's Public

    Economic Enterprise status will be changed into State Economic Enterprise

    status, paving the way for its privatization.

    Under the bill, the Turkish Trade Law rules

    won't be implemented in TEKEL's privatization in order to accelerate the

    privatization process.

    The bill foresees formation of a Tobacco,

    Tobacco Products and Alcoholic Drinks Market Regulatory Committee comprising

    seven members.

    Each of the Finance Ministry, Health Ministry,

    Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ministry, Treasury Undersecretariat, Foreign

    Trade Undersecretariat, Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

    (TOBB) and TEKEL Directorate General will have a representative in the

    committee.

    According to the bill, tobacco will be traded

    in accordance with contracts or auction method. The price of tobacco will be

    set according to the contracts between farmers and merchants.

    Foreign entrepreneurs who want to produce

    tobacco products in Turkey should have a factory at which 2 billion cigarettes

    per year should be produced in single shift and found hi-tech facilities

    including also tobacco preparation departments for at least 15 million grams

    for other tobacco products.

    Those foreigners who fulfil these conditions

    can sell, distribute and estimate price for their products in free market.

    Those foreigners who want to produce tobacco products in Turkey will take

    certificates from the TEKEL.

    Imports of tobacco will be limited with the

    production requirement even if it is made with the purpose of exports after

    processing, and it can be carried out by tobacco producers mentioned in the

    law.

    The bill foresees imprisonment terms from 1

    year to three years and at least 225 million Turkish lira fine to those who

    set up or operate factory or facility to produce tobacco and tobacco products.

    [04] STATE MINISTER BAL IN WASHINGTON D.C.:

    [05] ''LIQUIDATION OF EMLAKBANK SHOULD BE DISCUSSED

    WITH IMF AGAIN''
    WASHINGTON D.C. - State Minister Faruk Bal said

    on Saturday, ''although liquidation of Emlakbank is foreseen in the letter of

    intent submitted by Turkey to the International Monetary Fund (IMF),

    liquidation of the bank should be discussed with the IMF again.''

    Bal proceeded to Washington D.C. after

    attending the United Nations' special session on ''Istanbul+5'' in New York.

    Holding a press conference, Bal said, ''liquidation

    of Emlakbank will not be beneficial to our economy. If it is closed down, its

    expenses will continue. Emlakbank has customers having credits of 3

    quadrillion Turkish liras (TL). It means that 3 quadrillion TL would be

    withdrawn from the markets. Also nearly 10 thousand personnel of the bank and

    their families will constitute a serious social problem. The bank can be

    shrinked and rehabilitated. Therefore, liquidation of the bank should be

    discussed with the IMF again.''

    Responding to a question on concerns about

    implementation of the new economic program, Bal said, ''the Turkish government

    has put forward some commitments in its letter of intent to the IMF. We will

    fulfil these commitments. But it will be beneficial to discuss the letter of

    intent by taking into consideration Turkey's conditions.''

    Referring to allegations on so-called Armenian

    genocide, Bal said, ''these are nothing but allegations. Such a genocide had

    never taken place in Turkey. The Ottoman Empire decided to relocate Armenians

    in order to provide both internal and external security following the battle

    with Russia. All citizens of the Ottoman Empire were taken under state's

    guarantee.''

    Meanwhile, Bal came together with

    representatives of the Turkish Forum and the Assembly of Turkish-American

    Associations.

    [06] BILL ON CLOSURE OF DUTY LOSSES OF BANKS

    SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT SPEAKER'S OFFICE
    ANKARA - The government bill which foresees to

    close duty losses of public banks was submitted to the Parliament Speaker's

    Office late on Friday.

    In accordance with the bill, banks will be

    obliged to make their annual balance sheets about their annual activities (including

    2000) and profit-loss figures approved by an independent supervisory committee

    mentioned in Banks Law.

    Banks' duty losses receivables which stemmed

    from the duties they were charged with several laws and decrees before this

    law enters effect and couldn't be met by budget subsidies will be closed

    within framework of the rules set within scope of their reconstruction.

    Meanwhile, the personnel who will be determined

    as extra employment during the restructuring process will be transferred to

    other public institutions and organizations.

    The negative difference between commitments and

    assets which will be taken over by Ziraat Bankasi and Halk Bankasi will be

    paid to the undertaking bank as capital by the Treasury Undersecretariat.

    Following transfer procedures, Emlak Bankasi's

    authorities and capabilities to carry out banking activities and accept

    deposits will end and it will enter closure process.

    Rules of the Law on Collecting Public

    Receivables will be implemented in collecting of every kind of banks'

    receivables until the public share in the banks reduces below 50 percent.

    The Banks Board will be authorized in sale of

    Group A and B shares belonging to Foundations Directorate General.

    The bill annuls the laws which cause duty

    losses which negatively affect financial structures of Ziraat Bankasi and

    Agriculture Credit Cooperatives.

    The bill foresees liquidation of Civil Defense

    Fund, Disasters Fund, Mass Housing Fund, Electricity Energy Fund, Free Areas

    Settlement and Development Fund, Apprenticeship Vocational and Technical

    Education Development and Spreading Fund, Small and Medium Scale Industry

    Development and Support Fund, Pasture Fund and Special Environment Protection

    Fund will be liquidated.

    Incomes from these funds will be transferred to

    budget.

    [07] BILL ON INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT

    ANKARA - The government bill on international

    arbitration was submitted to the Parliament Speaker's Office late on Friday.

    The draft includes arrangements about ''solution

    of disputes stemming from privilege specifications and contracts for public

    services which include foreign factors'' which is foreseen in Article 125 of

    the Constitution through arbitration.

    The factor of ''foreignness'' will be accepted

    if the business place or place of their residence of the sides are in

    different states and at least one of the partners of the company which signed

    the contract that is the basis of arbitration agreement brings foreign capital

    in accordance with the relevant regulations and provide capital or asset flow

    from one country to another.

    The bill foresees signing of ''arbitration

    agreement'' for solution of possible disputes through arbitration.

    Sides can decide on the number of arbitrators

    but the number of arbitrators should be odd. If the sides did not reach an

    agreement of the number of arbitrators, three arbitrators will be chosen.

    Sides will have equal rights and authority in

    arbitration process.

    [08] FIFTH BALKAN TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS START IN EDIRNE

    EDIRNE - The Fifith Balkan Taekwondo

    Championships started at the Mimar Sinan Sports Hall in northwestern province

    of Edirne on Saturday.

    A total of 62 sportsmen and 49 sportswomen from

    Turkey, Greece, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Albania, Macedonia, Romania and Bosnia-Herzegovina

    are attending the championships.

    Taekwondo Federation Deputy Chairman Coskun

    Eftekin said that they were hosting the championships in Edirne as it was

    close to the Balkan countries.

    ''The Balkan Taekwondo Association protects its

    existence as self-sacrificing efforts of Turkey and Greece,'' he said.

    [09] SPORTS - BODY-BUILDING

    [10] SONTANJA, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF IFBB:

    [11] ''WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SPREAD BODY-BUILDING

    AS A WAY OF HEALTHY LIVING''
    GAZIANTEP - International Federation of Body-Building

    (IFBB) Deputy Chairman Rafael Sontanja said on Saturday that they had been

    trying to spread body-building as a way of healthy living.

    Speaking at a meeting to promote the 18th

    Mediterranean Countries Body-Building and Fitness Championships in

    southeastern province of Gaziantep, Sontanja expressed his pleasure with

    Turkish people's interest in body-building.

    The championships will start at 03:00 p.m. at

    Gaziantep Municipality Sports Hall the same day.

    A total of 48 sportsmen and women from Turkey,

    Yugoslavia, Israel, Italy, Croatia, Egypt, Greece, Palestine and Morocco will

    participate in the championships.

    [12] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT HOLDS A PRESS CONFERENCE (1):

    [13] ''THERE ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL OBSTACLES IN FRONT OF BUREAUCRACY''

    ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on

    Saturday, ''there are Psychological obstacles in front of bureaucracy.

    Bureaucrats and public workers should rely on that they would not get into

    trouble because of the deals they signed legally.''

    Holding a press conference at the Prime

    Ministry Office, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''there are hopeful developments

    in the economy. A decrease has begun in the inflation rate which is more rapid

    than the expected.''

    ''The atmosphere of security provided during

    the 57th government's term in office, has made an important contrubition to

    improvement of tourism. Now, our prior target is to increase production.

    Therefore, we have to provide the necessary source. The problem is not only

    the source. At the same time, we should activate bureaucracy. As it was

    pointed out at the Higher Planning Board's statement, there are psychological

    obstacles in front of bureaucracy. Bureaucrats and public workers should rely

    on that they would not get into trouble because of the deals they signed

    legally,'' he stressed.

    Prime Minister Ecevit added, ''after the 57th

    government has come to the power, struggle against corruption has accelerated.

    Political will in the government has provided it. Struggle against corruption

    will continue without interruption. We should store bureaucracy confidence

    while we have been struggling against corruption. This is the duty of a state

    of law. It is also a necessity of sound and rapid development.''

    (To be continued)

    [14] TRANSFER OF NUCLEAR WASTE THROUGH STRAITS

    ISTANBUL - Prof. Dr. Sarman Gencay from the

    Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Nuclear Energy Institute said on Saturday

    that it was very difficult to prevent transfer of nuclear waste through the

    Turkish Straits.

    ''Turkey must form a very good team and

    determine measures against transfer of nuclear waste through the Straits,'' he

    said.

    Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Gencay said

    that there were three kinds of nuclear waste in the world such as low, medium

    and high level radioactive substances, and that the nuclear waste that Russia

    was planning to carry via the Straits was ''high level'' radioactive.

    ''Transfer of nuclear waste through the Straits

    is risky, of course. We should do everything to prevent this but it is very

    difficult. Because, this matter has been on the European agenda for a long

    time. Now, Russia allocated a large area to bury nuclear waste. This waste

    will be carried to Russia whether or not we want it,'' he said.

    ''Almost ten thousand tons of nuclear waste is

    created a year, and most of the waste in in the United States. I don't think

    that the United States will send nuclear waste to Russia,'' he added.

    [15] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT HOLDS A PRESS CONFERENCE (2)

    ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on

    Saturday that they were protecting financial discipline while they were

    supporting imports and increase in production.

    Holding a press conference at the Prime

    Ministry Office, Ecevit said that coordination, cooperation and harmonization

    among the relevant state organizations should be set up, adding, ''this is the

    prior condition for drawing foreign capital.''

    Stressing that the government and parliament

    were working rapidly, Ecevit said that they attributed importance to also

    contribution of bureaucracy.

    Ecevit said that as it had been stated

    following Thursday's Higher Planning Board (YPK) meeting, they were determined

    to finalize legislative works which were conditions mentioned in the economic

    program, in June.

    Noting that signing of all government bills

    within this scope by the Council of Ministers members had ended, Ecevit said

    that they believed that the parliament would rapidly legalize those bills.

    Recalling that one of them was Tobacco law,

    Ecevit said that as it had been stated following Thursday's YPK meeting, they

    would offer opportunities and arrangements to farmers, which were necessary

    for planting of more profitable crop in fields where tobacco couldn't be

    planted, and later, they would give the start for implementation.

    ''The need for this is felt especially in

    Southeast. We will pave the way for prosperity of farmers,'' he said.

    Ecevit said that purification of land mines in

    border regions was another important project for the Southeast.

    ''Thus a broad productive soil will be opened

    to agriculture and offered to farmers who don't have land. The area of mine- planted

    region is 306 thousand hectares. Besides, we will continue accelerating return-to-village

    project. The 57th government will be the government of initiative and progress

    both in industry and agriculture,'' he said.

    Later, Prime Minister Ecevit responded to

    questions of journalists.

    When recalled by a journalists that

    International Monetary Fund (IMF) European One Department Director Michael

    Deppler criticized the program due to salaries of public workers and wheat

    prices, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''we notified the IMF on our opinions. Any

    problem is out of question.''

    Prime Minister Ecevit rejected allegations

    saying that Sadettin Tantan who resigned from Interior Ministry, was invited

    to the Democratic Left Party (DSP) by State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister

    Husamettin Ozkan.

    When asked, ''Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk

    said that the lowest rate in the election law was planned to be 5 percent, and

    that this proposal could be submitted to the parliament. Will the proposal be

    submitted to parliament during this legislative year?'' Ecevit told reporters,

    ''the parliament will recess at the end of June. It will debate laws regarded

    with the economic program till that day. It is hard for the parliament to

    spend time on other drafts.''

    Prime Minister Ecevit expressed his concerns

    about Russia's decision to transport nuclear susbtance through the Straits.

    Responding to a question about his dialogue

    with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov which was published in a newspaper

    today, Prime Minister Ecevit told reporters, ''the news story was exaggerated.

    I told Mr. Ivanov that Chechen terrorists were captured immediately, and legal

    investigation was launched against them. He told me that they would hold a

    meeting at the Swisshotel which was stormed by terrorists, by smiling. Such

    news stories upset both me and Mr. Ivanov.''

    (End)

    [16] LOGAN, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY:

    [17] ''REFORM PROGRAM SHOULD BE SUCCESSFUL TO REALIZE ATATURK'S

    VISION TO MAKE TURKEY A STABLE, PROSPEROUS AND DEMOCRATIC
    EUROPEAN STATE BASED ON MARKET ECONOMY AND SUPREMACY OF LAW''
    KAYSERI - David Logan, the British Ambassador

    to Turkey, said on Saturday that the reform program should be successful to

    realize Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's vision to make Turkey a stable, prosperous and

    democratic European state based on market economy and supremacy of law.

    Speaking at a conference organized by

    Association of Industrialists and Businessmen (KAYSIAD) in central province of

    Kayseri on ''Turkey and Britain, Economic Relations between Turkey and the

    European Union (EU), and Further Improvement of These Relations'', Logan said

    that what was requested from Turkey for the EU membership was not different

    from what was asked from other 12 candidates.

    Logan said that Turkey had applied on its own

    desire and free will to adjust its laws and administration with the EU's laws

    and administration.

    Noting that the decision taken at Helsinki

    Summit in 1999 was the basis of dialogue between Turkey and the EU in many

    fields such as consumer rights and administrative organizations, Logan said,

    ''I know that there were people in Turkey who believed that Turkey would be

    forced to make concessions which would weaken its territorial integrity, under

    the guise of political criteria for the EU full membership. A weak and

    separated Turkey will not be beneficial for the EU. Another matter is the

    Cyprus question. As a guarantor power, we have been expending utmost effort to

    encourage finding a lasting solution to problems on the island. We are in

    favor of a solution envisaging a bizonal and bicommunal federal Cyprus that

    will become a full member of the EU. No one wants Turkey to make a choice

    between its benefits in the EU and on Cyprus.''

    Noting that the decisions taken at Helsinki

    Summit included some sensitive fields such as minorities and human rights,

    Logan said that dialogue with the EU should not be considered an attempt to

    intervene in Turkey's domestic affairs.

    Logan said that the dialogue between Turkey and

    the EU aimed at determining what Turkey should do to fulfil membership

    criteria.

    He emphasized that British government had been

    fully supporting Turkey's full membership to the EU.

    Referring to economic crisis in Turkey, Logan

    said that the crisis prevented Turkey from maintaining its political and

    social reforms and using its economic potential completely.

    Noting that they supported the International

    Monetary Fund (IMF)'s giving a source of 14 billion U.S. dollars to assist

    Turkey in fulfilling its economic reform plans, Logan said that if Turkey

    implemented the program successfully, the program would pave the way for a

    more stable and prosperous future of Turkey.

    Rejecting allegations saying that IMF or

    international community had been putting pressure on Turkey, Logan said that

    the reform package was Turkey's program, and that it was supported by the

    international community.

    He stressed that the reform program should be

    successful to realize Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's vision to make Turkey a stable,

    prosperous and democratic European state based on market economy and supremacy

    of law.

    Logan added that trade volume between Turkey

    and Britain which had been 2 billion U.S. dollars five years ago, increased up

    to 5.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2000.

    [18] VILLAGE GUARDS IN ADIYAMAN CLAIM THEY SEE UFO

    ADIYAMAN - Village guards in southeastern

    province of Adiyaman claimed that they saw a big tray-like flying shining

    object and followed this object with night vision goggles.

    Sources said on Saturday that a group of

    village guards and gendarme soldiers who were patrolling around a mountainous

    terrain in the north of Dandirmaz village in Tut township of Adiyaman had seen

    at about 22:00 hours on Friday that a tray-like shining object had taken off

    from the ground and faded into the distance.

    Village guards claimed that they had spotted

    the extraterrestrial object from 1.5-2 kilometers away and later it had

    disappeared 45 minutes after it had landed and taken off for several times.

    Village guards Hakan Unal, Fevzi Cebe, Ibrahim

    Yilmaz and Yusuf Yilmaz said, ''red and yellow lights were shining from the

    object's upper part which seems like a window, and the bottom part of the

    object was like a dish and it was spinning continuously. We followed it with

    night vision goggles for some time.''

    [19] AGREEMENT REACHED ON ISTANBUL+5 DECLARATION

    NEW YORK - Agreement was reached on final

    declaration which will be released at the end of United Nations General

    Assembly's special session on ''Istanbul+5''.

    The declaration envisaging provide enough

    dwelling for everyone was approved late on Friday.

    The declaration also included commitments about

    sustainable development of human settlements in the urbanizing world.

    Release of the declaration was delayed after

    delegates could not reach agreement on an Arab-initiated paragraph to

    criticize Israel without giving name, for building Jewish settlement units on

    Palestinian lands.

    The paragraph supported by the Group of 77, a

    bloc of 131 developing nations, did not mention either Israel or Palestine by

    name but emphasized, ''the illegality under international law of any transfer

    of civilian population of the occupying power to the occupied territories and

    the establishment of settlements in those territories.''

    The three-day special session organized by the

    Nairobi-based U.N. Center for Human Settlement, was convened to evaluate the

    progress on an action plan on housing approved at the Habitat-II Meeting which

    was held in Istanbul in 1996.


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