Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-10-12

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

12 OCTOBER 2000

Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] PRODUCTION OF CITRUS FRUITS IN TURKEY

[03] PRESIDENT SEZER TO ATTEND CELEBRATIONS TO MARK

[04] SEVEN TURKISH COMPANIES WIN ''NEW MILLENIUM AWARD''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

THE BEST TOURISM SEASON OF THE YEAR
Turkey passes through the best tourism season of its history. Turkey hosted more than one million tourists in September. Turkey, which hosted more than eight million tourists in the first nine months, also caught the chance of hosting tourists more than the figures of 1997 and 1998. Annual tourism income is about to reach 7.4 billion U.S. dollars.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CRITIAL DAY IN THE U.S.
Resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians, which was not esteemed by the European Parliament, will be voted in the U.S. House of Representatives today. The U.S. President Bill Clinton, who intervened upon the developments, met with Hastert, the Chairman of House of Representatives, and said this resolution should not pass.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

GAP'S BIGGEST INTEGRATED MILK AND CATTLE FATTENING FACILITIES IN GAP REGION
INAUGURATED
The Koc-Ata Fattening and Agricultural Products Corp, a joint venture of the Koc Holding and Ata Group which was built in the Harran Plain in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region, was inaugurated on Wednesday. Koc Holding President Rahmi Koc said Turkey was still a country rich of arable lands. ''Especially the Eastern Anatolia offers great opportunity with its natural structure which is not destroyed, its water which is not polluted and its untouched soil. And it assures our future if it is put to good use.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)

THE OTTOMAN ARCHIVES ARE OPEN
Prime Ministry said on Wednesday that allegations saying that the Ottoman archives were closed, were not true, adding that nearly 50 million of the archives equipment, belonging to the Ottoman period, have been classified, and were presented to the service of local and foreign reseachers. A written statement issued by Prime Ministry Press Center pointed out that some publishings, which were made after the resolution on the so-called genocide on Armenians was discussed in the U.S. House of Representatives, claimed that the Ottoman archives were closed to the researchers.

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

Humanitarian aid equipment, which was sent to Baghdad two days ago for retaliation to the U.S., became a starting for a new period. Now, Kirkuk- Yumurtalik Oil Pipeline, which was closed after Gulf War, began to be repaired. Meanwhile, state run oil pipeline company BOTAS signed a natural gas agreement. Initiatives started to open a second border gate to Iraq. Also, businessmen will set up Turkish-Iraqi Business Council and will send aid equipment.

PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT DISCLOSES THE ECONOMIC TARGETS OF 2001
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit gave information following the meeting of Higher Planning Council. Ecevit said the 2001 year total budget amount had been programmed to be almost 48.4 quadrillion Turkish lira (TL).

Ecevit said that the 2001 year total budget revenues had been targeted to increase 23.9 percent to 43.1 quadrillion TL.

Noting that the Gross National Product (growth rate) had been foreseen to rose by 4.5 percent in 2001, Ecevit said that the inflation rate in wholesale prices in 2001 had been targeted to be 10 percent and the inflation rate in consumer prices in 2001 had been targeted to be 12 percent.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

If in this third round, none of the candidates gets 276 votes which is one vote more than half of the total number of votes in the parliament, the two candidates who get the highest number of votes will compete in the fourth round on October 18. The one who gets the majority of the votes will be elected as the parliament speaker in this last round.

BEST SEASON IN TOURISM
Turkey hosted nearly 1,5 million tourists in September this year. Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu said on Wednesday that the increasing trend in the number of tourists will continue. Mumcu noted that they reached their target in 2000, adding that the number of tourists coming to Turkey in September increased by 55 percent.

Mumcu said that the number of tourists will surpass the targetted 10 million tourists next season.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

THIS TIME THEY CAME FOR FRIENDSHIP
The action stage of the ''Destined Glory 2000'' maneuvers commanded by NATO Naval Striking and Support Forces Southern Europe (STRIKFORSOUTH) Commander Vice Admiral Gregory G. Johnson from U.S. Naval Forces started on Wednesday in Doganbey Gulf of Izmir. The reconnoitering units of the U.S., Spanish, Italian and Greek frigates which had arrived off Doganbey Gulf early the same day landed.

While the U.S. naval infantry units, and Spanish and Italian units landed with boats, the Greek Mechanized Infantry Company landed with helicopters.

The Greek soldiers entered the Turkish territories for the first time after 78 years. The landing of 127-person Mechanised Naval Infantry Troop commanded by the Greek Captain Paris Kapravelos on the beach was carried out with seven helicopters.

[02] PRODUCTION OF CITRUS FRUITS IN TURKEY

Sakir Sayari, Secretary General of the Mediterranean Exporters Unions, told A.A correspondent that production of citrus fruits in the world increased to 100 million tonnes last year, and that exportation potential was nearly 10 million tonnes.

Sayari said annual production in Turkey reached two million tonnes, and that exportation was more than 400,000 tonnes. Sayari said, ''however, citrus fruit sector in Turkey, which has a great production and exportation potential, began to experience great difficulties in the recent years.''

Sayari said measures should be taken to preserve Turkey's place in citrus fruit market, and to get a more share from the market, adding that, ''existing classical methods should be changed according to the demands of the market. New methods should be developed to get maximum profit and quality.

-MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS
-PRESIDENT SEZER TALKS TO EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT
MUBARAK ON THE PHONE
ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer talked to Hosni Mubarak on the phone on Wednesday evening. Presidential Press Center issued a statement and said the two presidents shared their views on the incidents experienced in Jerusalem, Gaza Strip, and the West Bank.

Sezer and Mubarak stressed that tranquility atmosphere should be created in the region again to prevent these saddening developments to endanger the future of the Middle East Peace Process.

Sezer and Mubarak focused on the importance of initiatives of Turkey and Egypt, the two important countries of the region, to encourage the sides not to be influenced by the provocations.

President Sezer invited Mubarak to Turkey to hold a working visit.

-HEAVY RAIN IN BLACK SEA GIRESUN PROVINCE
GIRESUN - Landslide occurred as a result of heavy rain which continued for six hours in the Black Sea Giresun province. Roads of nearly 50 villages were closed to transportation because of the landslide. Officials said nearly 60 houses and business places were inundated because of heavy rain. The infrastructure of the city was damaged.

Officials also said the rainy weather will continue in the coming days.

-FOREIGN MINISTER CEM RECEIVES AMBASSADORS OF ARAB COUNTRIES
ANKARA- Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Thursday that Turkey did its best to stop the clashes between Palestine and Israel, adding that, ''what should be done is to stop violence.'' Foreign Minister Cem received the Ambassadors of seven Arab countries to Ankara. Speaking before his meeting with the Ambassadors of Palestine, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates, Cem said Turkey covered the ongoing clashes in the Middle East with concern, and noted that Turkey did its best in this respect.

Pointing out that Turkey was always interested in and contributed to the Middle East peace process, Cem said the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in August called on Turkey to be more active in the process, and noted that Israeli side made a similar request.

Cem said, ''both Palestine and Israel disclosed to the international press that this contribution has a positive influence.''

Recalling that the recent incidents occurred as the process was getting toward a result, Cem said Turkey continued its efforts after the peace process was interrupted.

Cem pointed out that Turkey was in contact not only with Palestine and Israel, but also with the representatives of all Arab countries, adding that, ''the first thing that should be done is the prevention of violence.''

Foreign Minister Cem stressed that an International investigation commission has been set up, and noted that efforts can be exerted for the peace process in an atmosphere where violence stopped.

Meanwhile, Fuat Yasin, Palestinian Ambassador to Ankara, thanked to Turkey due to the role it played in the process, and stressed that Turkey was a dominant power in the region.

Pointing out that Turkey could play an important role in regional problems, Yasin said, Turkey is Moslem and secular country which at the same time belongs to Europe, Caucasia, Mediterranean, and the Middle East. He said Turkey plays an important role in the peace process due to these qualities, and noted that he hoped Turkey would continue this role.

-TURKISH-JAMAICAN TRADE RELATIONS
ANKARA- State Minister Ramazan Mirzaoglu, said on Thursday that Turkey has important experiences on textile, iron and steel, and ship construction industry, adding that, ''we may improve trade relations with Jamaica on this issue.'' Speaking at a meeting with Anthony Hylton, Jamaica's Foreign and Foreign Trade Minister, Mirzaoglu said Hylton was the first Jamaican minister visiting Turkey, and noted that they attributed a great importance to this visit.

Pointing out that trade relations between Turkey and Jamaica were around 20 million U.S. dollars, Mirzaoglu said, ''political, cultural and trade relations will be further improved with this visit.''

Mirzaoglu said Turkey has important experiences on textile, iron-steel, and especially ship construction industry, adding that they could improve trade relations in this respect if Jamaica wants.

Hylton, the guest minister, pointed out that Jamaica would improve economic and trade relations with Turkey.

Pointing out that Turkey was an important gate for Central Asia, the guest minister said, ''we are willing to cooperate in maritime, iron-steel, textile, glass, and tourism.''

-COUNCIL OF MINISTERS APPROVES 63 MILLION EUROS SLICE OF CREDIT
OBTAINED FROM COUNCIL OF EUROPE DEVELOPMENT BANK
ANKARA- The Council of Ministers Thursday approved the 63 million Euros slice of the credit, out of 280 million Euros, which was obtained from the Council of Europe Development Bank.

The approval decision of the Council of Ministers is published on the Official Gazette on Thursday.

According to this, 63 million Euros slice of the 280 million Euros credit, will be used in the construction of the permanent houses in Kocaeli, Sakarya, Duzce, Bolu, Istanbul, Yalova, Bursa, and Eskisehir provinces. These cities were hit by the earthquakes in 1999.

The maturity of the credit will be 10 years. 5 years of this period will be without redemption. The annual interest rate of the credit will be 7,64.

[03] PRESIDENT SEZER TO ATTEND CELEBRATIONS TO MARK

The Kazakh administration expects nearly 200 thousand people to attend the celebrations to mark 1,500th anniversary of Turkistan having a population of 30 thousand.

The city was reconstructed within framework of preparations for the celebrations that will take place between October 19 and.

Nearly 6 thousand policemen will be deployed to provide security during the celebrations.

[04] SEVEN TURKISH COMPANIES WIN ''NEW MILLENIUM AWARD''

A total of 79 countries out of 14 thousand, were awarded within the framework of ''28th International Quality- New Millenium Award'' which was organised by the Commerce Leaders Club.

The seven Turkish companies which won the award are as follows:

''Yestas Security Systems Inc., Celkolsan Machine Industry Inc., Ertas Metal Industry Inc., Hamidiye Spring Waters Inc., Hurriyet Newspaper and Printing Inc., Kaldera And Dagsan Solar Energy Inc.,and Petlas Tyre Industry Inc.''

The awards were given in a ceremony which was held in Madrid.

Ugurtan Akinci, the Ambasador of Turkey to Spain, and Cem Topbas, the Trade Councellor had also participated in the ceremony, and Ugurtan Akinci presented the awards of the Turkish companies.

-SEVENTEEN DEGUSTATORS CHOOSING THE BEST
WINE OF THE WORLD IN CAPPADOCCIA
NEVSEHIR - The wine contest which was organised by the Turkish Tobacco and Alcoholic Drinks Directorate (TEKEL), and the Tourism Ministry, started in Urgup township of Nevsehir province, on Thursday. Similar wine contests were held only in Yugoslavia, and France before.

A total of 274 types of wine from 15 countries are competing at the 12th International Wine Contest which is a part of the Urgup 2000 Cappadocia activities.

Turkey, France, Brazil, Chili, Germany, Spain, Greece, Italy, Australia, Georgia, Portugal, the United States, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Hungary will participate in the wine contest with 274 types of wines. Seventeen degustators will be in charge at the contest.

The degustators who are from Turkey, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Canada, and Brazil, will taste the wines in a hall in Urgup Perissia Hotel which was especially prepared for the contest. The temperature of the room is fixed at 14 degrees celcius, and the degustators will evaluate the wines according to their appeareances , clearities, colours, tastes, and smells.

Throughout the contest, degustators will not smoke. They will also not eat garlic, onion, or spicy food. During the wine tastings, degustators will be offered cheese and bread which helps to distinguish different tastes.

Chislain Lafamme, a Canadian degustator, and the Secretary General of the World Alcoholic Drinks, and Wine Contests Federation, said that the Turkish wines started to take a better place among the world wines, in the recent years.

Julic Nematic, a Slovenian degustator, noted the recent scientific researches proved that the wines are beneficial for the human health, adding that although the quality of the wines had improved, the number of the people drinking wine had decreased in the recent years.

Crettenard, the Swiss degustator pointed out that he had been tasting wines for more than 20 years, and that tasting hundreds of different wines in a couple of days weren't a problem for him.

-RED CRESCENT SENDS 40 TONNES OF FOODSTUFF TO GEORGIA
ANKARA - The Red Crescent sent on Thursday urgent food aid worth of 32 billion Turkish liras, to Georgia which has been suffering from severe drought and bad weather conditions. Issuing a written statement, the Directorate General of Red Crescent said that the foodstuff including 10 tonnes of bean, 20 tonnes of flour and 10 tonnes of oil, was sent to Georgia by a truck.

The Red Crescent has sent humanitarian aid worth of 20.7 million U.S. dollars and financial aid of 13 thousand U.S. dollars to Georgia since 1991.

-TURKEY-WEATHER
-TEMPERATURES TO INCREASE IN
SOUTHTERN AND WESTERN REGIONS
ANKARA - Temperatures are expected to increase in southern and western regions in the next three days. Temperatures will be in normal seasonal averages. State Meteorology Affairs General Directorate officials said rain is expected in Eastern Black Sea on Friday, and in Eastern Black Sea and eastern parts of the Southeastern Antolia region on Saturday.

Temperatures will increase in southern and western regions till October 18.

-COMMERCIAL RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND IRAQ
BAGHDAD - Muhammad Mahdi Salih, the Iraqi Trade Minister, received on Thursday Mehmet Ali Neyzi, the Director General of Ram Foreign Trade Corp. and accompanying delegation who came to Iraqi capital of Baghdad yesterday by a Turkish plane. The meeting focused on consolidation of commercial cooperation between Turkey and Iraq within framework of the United Nations' oil for food program with Iraq.

Zubeyr Abdulgafur, the Chairman of the Baghdad Chamber of Commerce and the Iraq Chambers of Commerce, was also in attendance at the meeting.

-TURKEY REPAYS 49,67 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS
IN FOREIGN DEBT BETWEEN OCTOBER 2-11
ANKARA - Turkey repaid a total of 49.45 million U.S. dollars in foreign debt between October 2 and 11, 2000.

The Central Bank data shows that the Treasury repaid 33.30 million U.S. dollars; the Central Bank repaid 3.99 million U.S. dollars; the administrations with general and annexed budgets repaid 12.38 million U.S. dollars in foreign debt between October 2 and 11.

Meanwhile, a total of 9 billion 617.63 million U.S. dollars of foreign debt has been repaid since the beginning of the year.

-JICA AND GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION OF MEN SIGN
TURKISH JAPANESE TECHNICAL COOPERATION PROTOCOL
ANKARA - The General Directorate of Technical Education of Men and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed, on Thursday the protocol on the establishment of ''industrial automation technology'' in the Anatolia Technical High Schools. Naim Durmaz, the General Director of the National Education

Ministry Men Technical Education noted in the signing ceremony that the main problems of the developing countries are capital, qualified human capacity, and immediate access to technical information.

Durmaz said that in the development, and government programmes,importance was attributed to the improvement in the technical education, and to establishment of technical schools country wide.

Noting that they signed technical cooperation agreements with various countries before, Durmaz said these agreements aimed at providing technical appliances to the industrial technical schools and improving the education programme of these schools.

We put into action eight different programmes, and provided 190 million dollars of foreign income to the industrial technical education, said Durmaz.

Durmaz pointed out that the recent agreement with the Japanese was about the establishment of the Anatolia Technical High School Industrial Automation Technologies Department, adding that the cooperation with the Japanese had started in the 1970s.

With the new agreement our cooperation with the Japanese would further improve said Durmaz.

Michio Yamada, the Director of the Primary and Secondary Education Department of the Japanese Education, Science, Sports, and Culture Ministry, said that the Japanese government was cooperating with the developing countries via JICA.

Yamada noted that the aim of this project was to educate technicians for the industries using automation, adding that the duration of the technical cooperation within the framework of this project will be five years.

-NEW REGIONAL DIRECTORATE OFFICE OF THE ANADOLU AGENCY INAUGURATED
-MEHMET GULER, PRESIDENT GENERAL DIRECTOR OF ANADOLU AGENCY:
-''ANADOLU AGENCY WILL CONTINUE GIVING ACCURATE, IMPARTIAL AND
RAPID NEWS''
ERZURUM- The new regional directorate office of the Anadolu Agency in eastern Erzurum province was inagurated on Thursday. Derya Kadioglu, the Governor of Erzurum, said that the Anadolu Agency was established on 6 April 1920, 17 days before the inauguration of the Turkish Parliament on 23 April 1920.

Kadioglu noted that the Anadolu Agency was established with the directives of Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish Republic, and said ''Anadolu Agency has the honour of being the first instution of the young Turkish state.''

The works of the Anadolu Agency should be appraised, as the Agency gave accurate, impartial, and rapid news since its' establishment, said Kadioglu.

Mehmet Guler, the President General Director of Anadolu Agency said, the Anadolu Agency has 23 regional, and provincial offices all around the country, and 22 representation offices abroad.

Anadolu Agency will continue giving accurate, impartial, and rapid news said Guler.

Pointing out that the infirmity of the Turkish press was to subordinate the journalists, news, and the correspondents, Guler said ''the artists, started making news. Unfortunately, the news made by them are being used in the newspapers, and becoming the first news in the television channels. Those who are in need of news, share the same worries with us.''

Guler emphasized that the Anadolu Agency was an incorporated company, and that the President General Director was appointed by an executive board formed of five people.

''We aren't a public institute, and I am not an bureaucrat, I am a journalist. I claim that we gave freedom to the news as the Anatolia Agency. We are more independent than most of the newspapers and the televisions,'' said Guler.

Guler noted that the Anadolu Agency is the only news institution in Turkey, which is formed by the workers who are the members of a trade union.

Guler drew attention to the terms used by the Anadolu Agency in the news about the PKK, the terrorist organization, and said ''we made the world press to accept the terms that we used in the news about the terrorist organization. We paid attention to the words, and we made them use the same terms, which we used. This is how Anadolu Agency protected our national interests.''

-FAIR PLAY COUNCIL OF TURKISH NATIONAL OLYMPICS COMMITTEE
GIVEN EUROPEAN SUCCESS AWARD
ISTANBUL- The Fair Play Council of the Turkish National Olympic Committee(TMOK) was awarded with European Success Award, on Thursday. Releasing a statement, the TMOK said that those who won the 2000 Fair Play awars were determined. The Fair Play awards are being organised by the European Olympics Commitee (EOC), and the European Fair Play Movement(EFPM).

The award comittee, after evaluating the works, determined the awards in two cathegories. According to this, TMOK Fair Play Council was given the grand award, due to its succesful works in explaining, developing and promoting the fair play throughout Turkey. Other two fair play Committees who won awards in the same cathegory are from Poland and Lithuania.

Meanwhile, Nicolai Dolgopolov, from Russia, Jean Presset from Switzerland, and Drago Ulaga from Slovenia, won the Individual Fair Play awards.

The awards are formed of a palque, and a diploma, and special reward ceremonies will be held in each country.

Erdogan Aripinar, the Vice President of TMOK, and the Chairman of Turkish Fair Play Council said this award was the congratulation of an understanding stemming from Turkish history,adding that the award was in fact given to the Turkish people who were supporting the fair play.

Noting that they received great support from the TMOK, Aripinar said, they were aiming at setting an agenda in Turkey about the fair play.

-YILMAZ, HEAD OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS, LEAVES FOR GERMANY
ISTANBUL- Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz, the Head of Religious Affairs, left on Thursday for Germany. Addressing journalists at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul prior to his departure, Yilmaz said that he would pay a visit to Germany within framework of the Directorate General of Religious Affairs' activities in Europe.

Yilmaz told reporters that he would attend a conference on ''Islam's Image in Europe and Dialogue'' in Stuttgart, Germany.

He noted that he would also attend inauguration of a mosque in Cologne.

When asked, ''did you set up dialogue with Armenian community?'', Yilmaz said, ''we had organized an inter-religious dialogue meeting in Tarsus township of southern Icel province. At the end of the meeting, a declaration was signed. Armenian representatives was among clergymen signing the declaration. Turkey's attitude towards minorities and non- Muslim people is clear. As historical facts reveal, we have always acted friedly to minorties and non-Muslim people. Armenian representative's statement in Diyarbakir was a misfortune. It did not comply with historical facts. No one has the right to judge our history.''

-FOODTEC 2000 FAIR TO BE HELD IN ANKARA
ANKARA- The Foodtec 2000 Fair will start in Ankara on Friday.

Husnu Yusuf Goklap, the Minister of Agriculture and the Rural Affairs, is expected to make the inauguration of the fair.

The fair which is organized by the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ministry, and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), will bring together the ministers of several countries from Eurasia,

and Africa.

Symposiums will be held to discuss the problems of the sector, within the framework of Foodtec-2000 fair.

-EUROPEAN BUSINESS WORLD GIVE FULL SUPPORT TO THE MEMBERSHIP OF
TURKEY TO THE EUROPEAN UNION
BRUSSELS - The Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe (UNICE), declared in its document named ''Attitude Against the Enlargement of the EU'' that the ''European business world is giving full support to the membership of Turkey'' . The document was distributed to the press in Brussels, on Thursday.

UNICE, while reflecting its' views and assesments about the candidate countries, congratulated the steps taken for the participation in the EU.

UNICE also noted that they were determined to support the efforts of Turkey in adjusting the Copenhagen Criterias.

The document said ''Turkey is one of the most important actors of the European economy'', adding that the Customs Union brought a strong economic harmony between Turkey and the EU.

UNICE drew attention to unregistered economy and the differences between the regions of Turkey, and said the participation of Turkey in the EU, would change the geostrategic situation of the EU, and Turkey would be the second high populated country of the EU.

Meanwhile, the problems that the European business world faces in Turkey, and in between the relations of Turkey and the EU were also assessed in the report.

UNICE, said that reforms should be made in the public markets, and the tenders, and that the restrictions in estate purchasing, banking, and energy prevent the foreign participation.

-ELECTION FOR NEW PARLIAMENT SPEAKER
-SECOND ROUND OF VOTE ENDS
ANKARA - The second round of vote for the election of new parliament speaker ended on Thursday.

Counting of the votes is under way.

If none of candidates can reach required 367 votes in the second round of vote, the third round will be held on October 17.

The absolute majority of the total number of deputies is required in the third round.

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