Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-03-03

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[01] AA News

03 March 2000 Friday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

ECEVIT GETS ANGRY
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit got angry with Danish Foreign Minister who wanted to visit the Association of Human Rights (IHD) before visiting Ataturk's Mausoleum. Ecevit sent a message to Danish Embassy in Ankara requesting ''Danish Foreign Minister to hold official contacts first and then hold his private contacts.'' ''If not,'' said Ecevit, ''I won't be able to receive you.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

GALATASARAY BEATS DORTMUND
Famous Turkish football team Galatasaray beat its German rival Dortmund yesterday by 2-0 in Germany. Thousands of Turkish people in the stands shouted:''Turkey is proud of you.'' In Turkey everybody forgot his problems and celebrated the victory.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

TURKEY IS BIGGEST POWER OF REGION
The economic appendix of Le Figaro, a French newspaper, said that Turkey is the biggest power of its region in economic respect. The paper noted that ''Turkey is very similar to a European country in economic aspect.'' The paper noted that the Turkish economy has a strong stock exchange market and it took many reforms in the fields of banking, international arbitration, and taxes. Turkey is also a very important market for French firms, the paper noted and added that the trade volume between Turkey and France reached 26.1 billion French francs in 1998.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

SCOPE OF ''CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT'' PROPOSAL CAN BROADEN
The proposal of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and the Motherland Party (ANAP), which covers three articles of the Constitution will be taken up by the Interparliamentary Compromise Commission today. If an agreement is reached in the Commission, the scope of the constitutional amendment proposal can be broadened.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

TEAS REQUESTS CONSORTIUMS TO EXTEND
THE VALIDITY PERIOD OF THEIR BIDS FOR 10 DAYS
Turkish Electricity Production and Transfer Inc. (TEAS) requested yesterday the consortiums which compete in the tender of Akkuyu Nuclear Power Station's construction, to extend the validity period of their bids for 10 days. TEAS Directorate General invited the consortium officials to its office on Wednesday night and gave them the note requesting the extension of the period. The earlier 30 days of extension ended at 24.00 local time yesterday. TEAS requested the consortiums to give the letters extending the period, to TEAS till March 6.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

PKK AGAIN:THREE SOLDIERS DIE
The separatist terrorists opened fire on security forces, which killed six PKK terrorists. However, three security officers died in the clash that erupted in Sırnak province.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[03] GALATASARAY DEFEATS GERMAN TEAM BV BORUSSIA DORTMUND AT UEFA CHAMPIONSHIP

People gathered in main squares of Istanbul, including Taksim Square, and sung songs of victory swinging Turkish flags.

[04] EUROPEAN MAYORS VISIT VAN

The delegation headed by Dante Cruicchi was formed by mayors of various French and Italian cities. The mayors visited Van governor Durmus Koc and Van mayor Sahabettin Ozarslaner where they were briefed about different undergoing projects as well as problems of Van.

Mayor Ozarslaner said they were going to cooperate in the economic field with European municipalities. One prospective project is the cleansing of Van Lake by employing the same project used to cleanse Ansi Lake, he said.

Responding to a question about the mayors from People's Democracy Party (HADEP), Dante Cruicchi said they were pleased that the mayors were returned to their posts.

[05] INTERROGATION OF HEZBOLLAH MEMBER ILLUMINATES SEVEN UNCLARIFIED CRIMES

During his second interrogation on Thursday, Gezer confessed that he killed 4 people, wounded another person, and bombed two offices in Diyarbakir in 1992 and 1993.

In the meantime, Mehmet sait Varol who was in charge of Hezbollah's military activities in the eastern and southeastern Turkey and Fahrettin Ozdemir who made bombs for the organization are still interrogated. Varol and Ozdemir had been caught in Gaziantep.

[06] STATE MINISTER GAYDALI DENIES NEWS THAT THEY FACED TROUBLE ENTERING OR LEAVING IRAQ ON BORDER

''We experienced no trouble both entering and leaving Iraq. We were not stopped at the border and we were not asked to show our passports or visas, '' Gaydali told reporters.

The Turkish delegation was shown close attention in Baghdad, he noted and said they searched for ways to increase trade between Turkey and Iraq during his contacts with Iraqi authorities.

Gaydali said he had a meeting with Iraqi Deputy President Taha Yasin Ramadan and several ministers in Baghdad. He also reminded that Turkish and Iraqi businessmen made a trade agreement worth of 200 million U.S. dollars.

Until the end of 2000, Turkey's export to Iraq will reach 700 million U.S. dollars and Turkey wants to get a bigger share from the ''oil in return of food'' agreement UN made with Iraq, Gaydali stressed.

Gaydali also announced that they were planning to organize an agriculture fair in this country.

Assessing the 12th term Turkey-Iraq Joint Economic Commission's (JEC) meetings, Gaydali said the contacts were very positive.

There were only two JEC meetings held with Iraq since 1990 and Gaydali was accompanied by 34 Turkish bureaucrats and 200 businessmen in Baghdad.

[07] MINOR EARTHQUAKES IN BURSA AND MEDITERRANEAN SEA

Another earthquake measuring 3.9 took place in the Mediterranean Sea at 1.26 a.m. on Friday.

In the meantime, an aftershock measuring 2.7 shook Bolu-Kaynasli at 9.39 p.m. on Thursday.

[08] TREASURY ANNOUNCES ITS SECOND MONTHLY REPORT ON STAND-BY ARRANGEMENT

The Treasury Undersecretariat said in a written statement that the IMF delegation held contacts in Ankara and Istanbul to review the stand-by arrangement, adding ''the consolidated cumulative basic balance, the net internal wealth of the Central Bank, net international reserves, contract and the performance criteria upon short term foreign debt stock were all reached in 1999. Thus, a short letter of intent which will be prepared as an overall evaluation, will be sent to IMF in a short period of time so that the second part of the credit part will be given to Turkey. The IMF Executive Directors' Council is expected to convene and approve it in the middle of April.''

[09] BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA SAYS EU MEMBERSHIP WILL BE FOR BENEFIT OF BOTH TURKEY AND EU

Logan drew attention to Turkey's strategic and regional significance when he visited Chairman of Izmir Trade Chamber, Ekrem Demirtas.

The British Ambassador said Turkey was a great trade market full of dynamism and creativity and it proved wrong the predictions which claimed that a muslim society cannot adopt democracy.

Turkey can start membership discussions with the EU only after it reaches the political criteria required for the membership, Logan said and noted that it was up to Turkey when this would happen. He said the progress the Turkish government made since they came to power is encouraging for them and added that they hoped the reforms would continue at the same fast pace.

The government already took action about the reforms that Turkey needs to make to join the Union such as termination of torture and introducing more freedom of expression, Logan went on to say. He also said he was aware of the fact that some circles believed that Turkey will have to make some concessions that would weaken its territorial integrity to become a EU member but he stressed that this was not the situation. Logan said a weak and a split up Turkey would not be good for the EU.

The EU wants to see Turkey removing obstructions in front of expression of ethnical and cultural identities, he said.

The EU, from many aspects, is a union of minorities, Logan said. ''The EU is not a homogeneous existence. It definitely is not a Christian club. There are millions of Muslims in Britain, France, and Germany. It is some common values which unite Europe,'' he explained.

Speaking about the Cyprus issue, Logan said the British government had always supported a solution which suggests a federal Cyprus with two regions and two societies.

Logan also stressed that Turkey did not have to make a choice between its interests in the EU and its relations with Cyprus and Greece since these two interests did not contradict with each other.

About Turkey's trade relations with Britain, Logan reminded that 5 years ago Turkey's trade volume was 2 billion U.S. dollars and it now climbed to 3.5 billion U.S. dollars.

The British government sees Turkey as one of the ten markets which have priority, Logan said. ''Turkey is the 19th biggest export market of Britain. More than 200 British firms which operate in Turkey are waiting to play a role in the development of energy and water resources of Turkey in the region. Turkey's investments in Britain are more than its investments in any other European country,'' he explained.

Logan also said Turkey had excellent relations with Britian in the defense field.

Ekrem Demirtas asked for Logan's support to promote Turkey in Britain during the period leading to its full EU membership.

[10] INTERPARTY COMPROMISE COMMISSION CONVENES TO TAKE UP CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSALS

Nejat Arseven, the Acting Parliament Speaker and Commission Chairman said that they will make a statement after the meeting, adding ''we'll examine the proposals and give a clearer decision.'' Arseven pointed out that the meeting can also continue in the afternoon.

The constitutional amendment propasals concerning Articles 69, 86, and 101 of the Constitution, prepared by the deputy acting leaders of the coalition parties will be taken up by the Commission. The Virtue Party (FP) can bring a new proposal about Article 69 of the Constitution in the meeting.

Two representatives from all parties are charged in the Commission.

[11] TURKISH HEALTH DELEGATION CONTINUES ITS CONTACTS IN IRAQ

The Turkish health delegation headed by Tokucoglu is formed by a gynaecologist, a cardiologist, a pediatrician, and representatives of private health institutuions.

The cooperation is run in the framework of a protocol signed between Iraq and Turkey in the field of medicine and health when the Iraqi Health Minister Umit Mubarek visited Turkey last year in November.

During the meetings with Iraqi officials, it was agreed that cooperation activities such as the exchange of health personnel, training of Iraqi doctors in Turkey, information exchange, organization of joint seminars and conferences would start at the earliest date possible.

Doctors in the Turkish delegation also made presentations in the hospitals in Iraq and shared their knowledge and experiences with their Iraqi colleagues.

[12] DRAFT LAW ON SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS - MELUNGEONS EXTEND FULL SUPPORT TO TURKEY

Prof. Brent Kennedy, one of the leaders of Melungeons society, who participated in the meeting of the Assembly of American-Turkish Associations (ATAA) said that they support Turkey regarding the issue of the draft law on so-called genocide on Armenians.

Melungeons have thousands of members whose majority are in Virginia state of the U.S.

Melungeons say that their ancestors are the 300 Turks who were among the persons brought to America by British people in a ship at the end of the 16th century following the discovery of the American continent.

The Committee of Rules and Administration of the Virginia senate couldn't decide on Tuesday whether to take the draft in its agenda or not and it postponed the voting to next week.

[13] 2,381 PEOPLE WILL PASS TO SYRIA TO SEE THEIR RELATIVES DURING EID AL- ADHA HOLIDAY

Ceylanpinar governor Ahmet Umit said 2,382 people including children will pass the Ceylanpinar border gate to Syria to wish happy holidays to relatives on March 18 and 19. The visitors will return to Turkey on March 20 and 21.

Until last year, the relatives living on two sides of the border used to wish happy holidays to each other through the fences separating Turkey and Syria.

[14] TRABZON CRIMINAL COURT FINDS TWO POLICEMEN GUILTY OF MURDER WHO WERE INVOLVED IN ''GAZI INCIDENTS''

Accused Adem Albayrak, his lawyer Ilhami Yelekci, intervenor lawyer Remzi Kazmaz, ten other lawyers, some intervenors, and their relatives attended the court hearing.

Yelekci repeated his earlier defense and asked the court to acquit his client. Later the court delegation headed by Dursun Kaya Gulec took a five minute break for a consultation.

Gulec who read out the court decision said they sentenced Adem Albayrak to 24 years of imprisonment term for each person he killed who were Dilek Sevinc, Reis Kopal, Sezgin Engin, and Fevzi Tunc.

The court reduced Albayrak's punishment to a total of 6 years and 8 months taking into consideration that the people he killed committed acts which were prohibited by the law. It was also noted that Albayrak surrendered to the police without showing resistance and displayed good behaviour during the hearing which also reduced his punishment. According to the court decision, Albayrak also cannot be employed for 4.5 months at public services. Since Albayrak had been in jail since 1995, the court decided to release him as a final decision.

Other accused policeman Mehmet Gundogan who was found guilty of killing Zeynep Poyraz and Mumtaz Kaya was also sentenced to 24 years of imprisonment term for every person he killed. Later, because of the same reasons, his punishment was reduced to 3 years and 4 months of prison term. Gundogan will also not be sent to jail because he already spent time in prison after the incident.

Other 18 policemen were acquitted because of the lack of reliable evidence.

Following the incidents on March 12 and 13 in 1995, Istanbul Eyup Prosecutor's Office had filed a suit against 20 policemen for killing 9 people and injuring 5 people. The case was sent to Trabzon for security reasons and the first hearing had been held on November 15, 1996.

[15] IS BANK-DOGAN HOLDING GIVE THE HIGHEST BID FOR POAS

Is Bank-Dogan Holding gave this highest bid in the ninth round of negotiations.

After getting the approval of the Competition Board and the Privatization Supreme Board, the result of the tender which will privatize POAS, will be final.

[16] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''GREEK CYPRIOTS SHOULD ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THEY CAN'T GOVERN TURKISH CYPRIOTS''

Denktas stressed that the Turkish Cypriot side can never give up its sovereignty, equality, and the guarantorship of Turkey.

TRNC Foreign Minister and Defense Minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu, former ministers, former parliament speakers, former prime ministers, high ranking officials, and representatives of associations participated in the meeting which was organized in the TRNC Presidential Office.

''Greek Cypriots should also take action while the circumstances outside Cyprus change,'' told TRNC President Denktas in the meeting. If the realities in Cyprus today are accepted, said Denktas, the way to the solution of Cyprus problem can shorten.

The guarantee of Turkey and Turkish soldiers in TRNC are realities of the island which can't change, said Denktas.

An agreement on the island should be based on the principle of ''states,'' said Denktas and pointed out that Greek Cypriots oppose the solution based on ''two states'' as they think this will prevent the unification of the island with Greece in the future.

When a confederation is set up, the state won't disappear, but common action will be taken abroad regarding several issues, Denktas noted.

Denktas added that they started contacts at the highest level with the European Union (EU) countries, adding a new situation emerged by the recognition of Turkey's candidacy to the EU.

[17] KARADEMIR FROM HADEP ELECTED AS ACTING AGRI MAYOR

An election took place among Municipality Assembly members as Huseyin Yılmaz, the former Agrı mayor was dismissed by the Ministry of Interior.

Karademir, who won 12 votes of the 24 members who participated in the voting, was elected as the Acting Mayor.

[18] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT INVITES DANISH PRIME MINISTER TO TURKEY - ECEVIT SAYS TURKISH PUBLIC OPINION UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT FOREIGN SUPPORT TO TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS

Mentioning the Turkish-Greek relations during the meeting, Ecevit said the quake disasters which occured in both countries helped to pave the road for better relations.

About Cyprus issue, Ecevit said existence of two separate states on the island should form a base for a resolution.

The coalition government is working hard to make the necessary legal changes, Ecevit noted and said removing military members from the State Security Courts (DGM) was an example to this.

Turkish public opinion is extremely sensitive about the foreign support extended to separatist and religious terrorist organizations in Turkey and this negatively affects the government's efforts to adjust to Copenhagen criteria, he said.

Ecevit also called on Danish businessmen to make investments in Turkey.

[19] DANISH FOREIGN MINISTER PETERSEN STAGES PRESS BRIEFING: ''THERE ARE MANY THINGS TO BE DONE IN HUMAN RIGHTS FIELD''

Staging a press briefing about his contacts in Danish Embassy in Ankara, Petersen said that he also came to Turkey in 1993. Turkish officials thanked him for the aid Denmark sent to Turkey following the quake disasters in Turkey, Petersen said.

Turkey entered in a new period in its relations with the European countries after Helsinki summit, said Petersen and added that following the results of the summit is important.

The continuation of the reforms undertaken by the Turkish government is very important, said Petersen and pointed out that there are many things to be done in such fields like legislation and human rights.

When asked whether or not Denmark would withdraw its application to the European Court of Human Rights against Turkey, Petersen said that ''there is no change in our policy about this issue.''

Petersen said that the foundation necessary for development was laid down in Turkey since he visited Turkey in 1993. ''This was also a reason of the decision taken in Helsinki summit,'' he noted, and added that this is not the same thing with progress.

Petersen pointed out that Helsinki summit has ''historical'' importance, adding they are pleased by the recognition of candidacy status to Turkey in that summit. ''We supported the candidacy because Turkey needs Europe and Europe needs Turkey,'' he stressed.

Petersen said they are pleased by the recent moderate atmosphere between Turkey and Greece, said Petersen and added that that atmosphere has been influential on the result taken in Helsinki summit. Responding to a question, Petersen said that they encourage both Turkey and Greece for continuation of that positive process.

Danish Foreign Minister commented that the customs union is a good starting point for Turkey in the membership process to the EU and he said they encourage Danish businessmen to undertake investment in Turkey.

He believes the financial aid promised to Turkey, will be given in a short period of time, said Petersen and noted that two assistance packages, one of them worth of 15 million EUROs, the other one worth of 135 million, EUROs will be set free.

They attribute great importance to Southeastern Project (GAP) said Petersen and noted that ''because this region and people need development in respect of economy.''

Upon another question, Petersen said that one should refrain from giving deadlines regarding the commencement of full membership negotiations between the EU and Turkey, adding such kind of behaviours can disappoint the society.

Petersen stressed that he was very satisfied with his schedule in Ankara, adding he had not requested to meet with Leyla Zana, a former deputy from the Democracy Party (DEP), who was imprisoned.

Petersen said that he also took up the issue of death penalty in his meeting with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, reminding that the EU is against death penalty.

Recalling that Turkey has not executed death penalty for 15 years, Petersen said that they wish Turkey not to execute death penatly not because EU is against this punishment, but for the sake of Turkey.

Petersen noted that the arrestment of the HADEP mayors was also taken up in the meetings, adding he belives a mistake was made about this issue and such kind of incidents are not good images for Turkey.

After the press briefing, Petersen came together with representatives of Human Rights Association (IHD) and Human Rights Foundation (IHD).

[20] PRICE INCREASES IN FEBRUARY

State Statistics Institute (DIE) announced that as of February, the annual inflation rate for the last year was 67.5 percent in the wholesale prices and 69.7 percent in the consumer prices.

[21] A.A

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