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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-11-19Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 19 NOVEMBER 2000 Sunday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 19, 2000. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)EUROPE! YOU HAVE GONE TOO FAR!The efforts to include the Aegean issue into the Accession Partnership Accord following the Cyprus issue caused reactions of Turkey. Premier Bulent Ecevit harshly reacted to European Union (EU) and said, ''we will review our relations.'' Ecevit noted that Cyprus and border disputes in the Aegean as political criteria. Ecevit said, ''we made our warning. If we cannot reach a solution, we have other alternatives.'' SCHOOL CLOSED DUE TO HEADSCARF YILDIRIM GURSES DIES MILLIYET (LIBERAL)RELATIVES OF MARTYRS DUE TO STRASBOURGThree people from Aegean Izmir province who lost their sons due to terrorism will attend the hearing of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization, which will be held at the European Court of Human Rights. Yavuz Alphan, Kenan Cerik and Nurettin Yesilbag left for Strasbourg. LAST WARNING TO AMBASSADORS FROM FOREIGN MINISTRY SABAH (LIBERAL)THEY INCREASED THE NUMBER OF ARMENIANSWHICH IS IN FACT 2,000 TO 70,000 Kamuran Gurun, a retired ambassador, disproved the allegations of so-called genocide on Armenians, by documents. The Armenian Patriarch during those years sent a letter to Lord Curzon, the British Foreign Secretary then, in which he said that two thousand Armenians died. Lord Curzon increased this number to 20,000 in a conference. Reuters exaggerated this number to 70, 000. French Prime Minister Millerand said, ''the armenians died when they were battling against Turkey with us. There was no massacre.'' BAHCELI: ''WE HAVE TWO CONDITIONS FOR THE EU'' CUMHURIYET (LEFT)FOREIGN MINISTRY: WE ARE REJECTING THE DECISIONForeign Ministry said on Saturday that it expressed regret over the decision taken by the Italian Parliament on Friday evening which supported the resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians. The ministry also said it rejected this decision. The foreign ministry statement said the Italian parliamentarians could not understand the reaction of Turkey against the decision of the European Parliament. Underlining that Turkey had never committed a crime of humanity like genocide in its history, the statement stressed that there had been no genocide or order for genocide against the Armenians. The statement said, ''expressions apart from this are intentional and baseless.'' AHMET KAYA BURIED RADIKAL (LEFT)THREAT FROM PRIME MINISTER TO THE EUPrime Minister Bulent Ecevit got angry over the demands of Athens within the framework of the Accession Partnership Accord. Ecevit, who met with the officials of the Foreign Ministry, reacted to the pressures to add border disputes issue to the Accession Partnership Accord as a political condition. Ecevit said, ''we will review our relations if the EU does not evaluate our sensitivity adequately.'' GUEST FROM EP TO TUSIAD A statement of the TUSIAD said on Saturday that Erkut Yucaoglu, the Chairman of the TUSIAD Executive Board, and the members of the Executive Board will host a luncheon in honour of the delegation composed of 24 people who are the members of the EP and the political group advisers. YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)ALSO, ITALY ADOPTS RESOLUTION SUPPORTINGSO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS The resolution on so-called genocide on the Armenians is being adopted by parliaments of almost all the countries. Following the parliament of Vatican, France and the European Parliament (EP), Italy adopted a resolution supporting the so-called genocide on the Armenians. Now, it is Russia's, Spain's and Germany's turn. CANSIZLAR APPOINTED AS CHAIRMAN OF SPK TURKIYE (RIGHT)RESPONSE LIKE A SLAPWe warned the European Union (EU), which tried to put the Aegean also as a precondition, that ''we would suspend membership process.'' Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said he hoped the EU would evaluate the sensitivity in the government and in the public. Otherwise, Ecevit said, it would be inevitable for Turkey to review relations with the EU. YILDIRIM GURSES PASSES AWAY CIVIL SERVANTS WERE IN KIZILAY SQUARE AGAIN ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)HERE IS THE OPPOSITIONMore than 50 thousand civil servants who were the members of the Turkish Civil Servants Union (Kamu-Sen) staged a protest in Kizilay Square of Ankara. The civil servants expressed their reactions against the draft law on dismissal of civil servants. The civil servants said, ''they are making manoeuvres to dismiss us. We are here to say 'stop' to them.'' TOTAL OF 31 PEOPLE IN PRISON UNDER ARTICLE 312 [02] EXPORTATION TO TURKISH REPUBLICSGAZIANTEP, Nov 19 (A.A) - Agricultural products, worth of 32,248 million U.S. dollars, were exported from Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region to Turkish Republics in the first 10 months of this year.Last year's exportation in the same period was 31,622 million U.S. dollars. According to the data of Southeastern Anatolia Exporters Union, dried fruit, worth of 60,000 U.S. dollars, cereals and grains worth of 7,253 million U.S. dollars, and textile worth of 24,935 million U.S. dollars were made to Turkish Republics in January-October, 2000. Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan are among the countries where the exporation were made the most. [03] STATE MINISTER ONAL:-''THE BOARD COMPRISED OF SIX MINISTERS WAS SET UP TOEXAMINE THE PROBLEMS OF THE REAL SECTOR'' BURSA - State Minister Recep Onal said on Saturday that the board comprised of six ministers was set up to examine the problems of the real sector. Responding to questions of reporters, Onal said that Turkey's economy was negatively affected by the global crisis and devastating earthquakes in 1999. Onal noted that the problems of the real sector continue despite the betterment in 2000. Onal said, ''in an economy, there can be problems in both the finance and the real sector. The government has to find solutions to these problems. A board was set up to examine and find solution to the problems. This board does not have any connection with preventing the practices of the Banking Regulation and Audit Board. The government supports the Banking Regulation and Audit Board.'' ''Zekeriya Temizel, the Chairman of the Banking Regulation and Audit Board, also says that the government supports the board. Despite all these, the public opinion tries to show that these two boards are against each other. This is not true. We are a government which has managed to lift the political impact on the banking system. To this end, we set up the Banking Regulation and Audit Board,'' Onal added. Onal stated that the board comprised of six ministers, does not carry out works regarding the banking sector. There are institutions belonging to the banks which were transferred to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund, in the institutions in the real sector, Onal stressed. Onal said that these institutions continue to operate. They approach to all industrial organizations with this understanding, Onal noted. Drawing the attention that the industrial organizations are the indispensable elements of economy, Onal said, ''if these organizations have problems, the government has to deal with them.'' [04] NEW GAS ORE FOUND IN THRACEISTANBUL- New natural gas ore found in Gocerler hamlet of Saray township and Sevindik hamlet of Muratli township of northhwestern Tekirdag province.Osman Demirag, the General Director of Turkish Petroleum Corp. (TPAO), said on Sunday that they think the natural gas reserve in the two ore is around 2-3 billion cubic metres. Demirag noted that they made explorations in the two hamlets and the well tests were completed. The daily yield of the two wells are 140-150 thousand cubic metres, Demirag stated. Demirag stressed that this amount is necessary to operate an electricity power station in the region. They can market the natural gas obtained from the two wells to either Pipeline Transportation Inc. (BOTAS) or medium scale glass or textile companies in the region, Demirag said. Demirag emphasized that there is a big potential for hydrocarbon in the Black Sea. ''We have a licence starting from offshore Rize. We started deep water joint searches a week ago. We invited 25 giant oil companies. Seven or eight of them were interested in the searches. They will come and see the data. When we find a partner, we will start the second stage efforts,'' Demirag said. Demirag noted that the TPAO will store the gas of BOTAS which will com from Russia in the end of this year, adding that this project will cost 150 million U.S. dollars. [05] NARCOTICS TEAMS CONFISCATE 18.3 KG HASHISH AND1,5 KG HEROIN HIDDEN IN SECRET PARTS OF A LORRYBOLU - Narcotics teams of the Bolu Security Department launched operations in Bolu, Van, and Istanbul provinces and confiscated 18.3 kg hashish and 1.3 kg heroin. Five people were taken into custody in connection with the haul, and efforts are underway to capture two others. The haul was seized when narcotics teams, acting on a tip off, examined a lorry ten days ago. 18.3 kg hashish and 1.3 kg heroin were found in secret parts of the lorry. An operation has been launched in Istanbul and Van after the interrogations of Nizamettin Sen and Ferzande Sen, who were captured in the lorry. Sefik Karaman, Siddik Guler, and Mehmet Turan were captured following the operations. Ugur Gur, the Director of the Bolu Security Department, told A.A correspondent that they would not allow drug trafficking. [06] EDUCATION TO BE RE-ARRANGED IN ACCORDANCE WITH EUANKARA- The National Education Ministry makes researches about the education system of the European Union (EU) countries to harmonize with the education standards of the EU countries.The report titled by ''Education at the Beginning of 2001'' prepared by the National Education Ministry said that works are underway to get adjusted with the education system and standards of the EU countries. The report noted that the works are carried out under the titles like ''providing the best education conditions to the citizens and children'', ''improvement of exchange of information in education system between the European countries and Turkey'', ''collecting the documents and statistics regarding the education system of the European countries'', ''providing cooperation in high education with the EU'', ''giving efficient foreign language education'', ''providing equality in entrance to all education institutions'', ''preparing children to business life'', ''preventing unemployment by the continual education implementation.'' Researches are made in all kinds of schools, the age to start school, the education period, the compulsory education period, preparation of curriculum and school books, the lessons and schedule of schools, assessment systems, guidance services, university entrance systems, training and appointment of teachers. Works will be carried out to guide the students at seventh and eighth grades in choosing the right occupation. Within this framework, the system in the EU countries like Germany, Austria, and Britain, are examined. By taking into consideration the project of the EU regarding especially training personnel of the high education, Turkey will sign the Sorbone and Bologna declarations. Thus, the bilateral contact of the academic personnel and students will be ensured. The school books and curriculum of the EU countries are examined. Within this framework, a joint effort is carried out by Georg Ecker School Books Institute. Works are underway to enable harmonization on the issues included in the school books of history and geography, with the EU education policies. The control mechanisms for private schools, vocational and technical schools and nurseries were determined by making researches on the control mechanism in the EU countries. In accordance with the principles determined for the control mechanism, the schools will start to be inspected as of this school year. [07] STATUE OF AFRODITE BROUGHT TO BERGAMA MUSEUMBERGAMA- The Statue of Afrodite which was unearthed during the excavations in ancient Alleino site was brought to the Bergama Museum on Sunday.The ancient site in Bergama township of Aegean Izmir province will be inundated by the waters of Yorthanli dam. The Statue of Afrodite, which was removed from its place in the ancient site almost 15 days ago, started to be displayed in the museum. Ahmet Yavas, the Curator of the Bergama Museum, said that the Statue of Afrodite and other artifacts found during the excavations in ancient Alleino site will later be displayed in a museum which will be built in Bergama. [08] OIL PRICES AND TURKEYANKARA- In case of 50 percent increase in oil invoice of Turkey by the end of this year in parallel with the increase in oil prices, 1.4 billion U.S. dollar additional burden will be imposed on Turkey's economy.In accordance with a report titled ''Developments in the Global Oil Prices and Turkey's Oil Importation'' prepared by the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, the increase in global oil prices had negative impact on Turkey. Turkey's crude oil importation which was 2.1 billion U.S. dollars in 1998, increased 32 percent to 2.8 billion U.S. dollars in 1999 and climbed 56 percent to 2.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2000 although the amount of oil that Turkey purchased decreased. A significant decrease in oil prices until the end of the year is not expected. If Turkey's oil invoice increases 50 percent by the end of this year, 1.4 billion U.S. dollar additional burden will be imposed on the economy and this amount will be equivalent to 0.7 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is estimated for 2000. [09] FINAL BIDS OF IZMIT GULF TRANSITION PROJECT TO BE TAKEN ON NOVEMBER 30ANKARA - Dincer Yigit, the Director General of Highways, said on Sunday that the final bids of the three consortia which had submitted bids for the Izmit Gulf Transition Project, will be taken on November 30.Dincer said that an extension or postponement of the tender is not in question. Three leading companies of the world have submitted bids for the tender, Dincer noted, adding that the project will be constructed in build-operate- transfer model. The project is expected to cost almost two billion U.S. dollars. The Izmit Gulf Transition Project was postponed until November 30 as the consortia which submitted bids for the tender requested this postponement on September 27. The project foresees the construction of multi-level interchange on Ankara- Istanbul motorway. Thus, the Istanbul-Bursa highway will be shortened. [10] REHABILITATION OF FARMERS CO-OPERATIVE MARKETING ASSOCIATIONANKARA - A program is underway for the rehabilitation of the farmers co- operative marketing association, which had been regarded as the black holes of the budget in a period.Rehabilitation program of the associations will be concluded in four years with the finance support of the World Bank. At the end of this period, the associations will get rid of giving service to the ''politicans and workers, '' and will begin to give service only to its 750,000 partners. Within the framework of the rehabilitation, the associations will dismiss personnel more than its capacity, and make them retire, and will sell their immoveables that are not related with its fields of activity. Co-operatives, which are not active or productive, will be closed or united, and their purchases will no longer be a burden to the Treasury. However, the Treasury will pay some debts of the associations, and will pay the severance pays. The fields where the loan of the World Bank would be used were determined, and a text has been prepared in this respect. The text is ready to be submitted to the World Bank Executive Board meeting, foreseen to take place in Washington D.C. by the end of this month. According to this, 166 million U.S. dollars of the 360 million U.S. dollars loan of the World Bank will be used in rehabilitation of the associations. [11] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN SAUDI ARABIAANKARA - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, currently in Saudi Arabia as the guest of Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal, was received by Crown Prince Abdullah and King Fahd.Cem conveyed President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's message to King Fahd. Bilateral economic and political relations as well as the developments regarded with the Middle East peace process were discussed during Cem's meeting with Al-Faisal. Cem also visited an international Turkish school, that is linked with National Education Ministry. [12] SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND TURKEYANKARA - Alfredo A. Witschi-Cestari, the United Nations (U.N.) Turkey Permanent Coordinator and the U.N. Development Program Permanent Representative, said on Sunday that Turkey has on the one hand own characteristics a rich country has with high international level ''know- how'' capacity, and on the other hand has people who have low level income and life standarts.Witschi-Cestari, who spoke to A.A correspondent, evaluated the importance of sustainable development for Turkey. Pointing out that the concept of sustainable development, which gradually became important in the recent years in global level, was human centered, Witschi-Cestari said, ''a development model, which uses and administers limited sources in the best way, and which protects the environment gained importance. This is what was meant by sustainable development. The economic development of today's people should not be from the expense of the coming generations. Their future should not be mortgaged.'' Witschi-Cestari defined the position of Turkey as ''complicated,'' due to sustainable development, noting that Turkey has on the one hand own characteristics a rich country has with high international level ''know- how'' capacity, and on the other hand has people who have low level income and life standarts. Witschi-Cestari said Turkey's main problems were the difference of development between the regions, villages and cities, and women and men. He said underdeveloped regions should not be dependent on the aid they will be given from the developed regions, adding that the underdeveloped regions should produce their own sources, and form a development model in which they can turn their own sources into development. For example, Witschi-Cestari said, people who come from rural regions immigrate to big cities for education and business, adding that efforts should take place to overcome differences between the regions, and facilities should be provided to them in their own regions. Pointing out that urbanization was experienced intensely in Turkey, Witschi- Cestari said urganization should not be in monopoly of some metropolises. Witschi-Cestari said rural area should be developed in a way that will meet the requirements of modern society, and noted that local capitals should be produced and there should be increase in level of income. Witschi-Cestari said women in developed countries took active roles in production and decision making process, adding that women should be trained and take place in production in decision making mechanisms in local level. The U.N. official stressed the importance to giving more authority to the local administrators for the sustainable development, adding that important steps have been taken by the GAP Regional Development Administration Chairmanship within the framework of GAP. Witcshi-Cestari said important developments were recorded toward the young people within the framework of the project, and noted that efforts were underway to include women to production and participation of them to the social life. Important initatives take place regarded with the small and medium scale enterprises, he said, and noted that they can come together and launch joint initiatives. Recalling that all the aspects that are included in the sustainable development understanding were included in the 8th five-year development plan, Witschi-Cestari said private sector's further efforts in this respect were also important. Witschi-Cestari said Turkey's full membership to the EU was in question, adding that the things that should be done to reach the goal are clear. He said Turkey should do all these if it want to be a member of the EU. [13] TURKISH FILM RANKED FIRST IN MEDITERRANEAN FILM FESTIVALBRUSSELS - A Turkish film was ranked the first in the International Sixth Mediterranean Film Festival in Brussels.The Turkish film named ''Mayis Sikintisi'' (May Boredom) was chosen the first among 13 films by the jury. The film is directed by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. In the ''Films Shown in Brussels'' part of the festival, the Turkish film named ''Propaganda'' which was directed by Sinan Cetin ranked the second among 40 films by the votes of the watchers. The festival is held every two years. [14] SPORTS: THIRD WORLD JUNIOR TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS-TURKEY WINS THREE SILVER AND THREE BRONZE MEDALSKILLARNEY, Nov 19 (A.A) - Turkey won three silver and three bronze medals in the Third World Junior Taekwondo Championships held in Killarney, Ireland. A total of 1012 sportsmen from 60 countries joined the championships. Turkey became the third in group standings following South Korea and Taiwan. [15] STATE MINISTER MIRZAOGLU:-''MEETING OUR OIL AND OIL PRODUCTS NEED WITH TURKISH-FLAGGED TANKERSUNINTERRUPTEDLY CARRIES SPECIAL STRATEGICAL IMPORTANCE'' ISTANBUL - State Minister Ramazan Mirzaoglu said on Sunday that meeting Turkey's oil and oil products need with Turkish-flagged tankers uninterruptedly carries special strategical importance. The tanker named ''Chem.Urkmez'' which was produced in Celik shipyard in Tuzla, was launched with a ceremony. Speaking in the ceremony, Mirzaoglu said, ''our country will turn into an energy distribution center due to the oil transit terminals which will be built in the Black Sea as the Novorossisk and Supsa pipeline is opened and in East Mediterranean as the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline is opened. We target at planning the investments that will be made on the Turkish tanker fleet by taking into consideration not only Turkey's oil and oil product transportation but also international transportation towards the third countries and at having an important place in the global oil and oil product transportation.'' Mirzaoglu continued, ''meeting our oil and oil products need with Turkish- flagged tankers uninterruptedly carries special strategical importance. We should not only preserve our present tankers but also include new tankers to the fleet.'' Turkey is ranked the 35th in the sea trade volume, Mirzaoglu said, adding that cooperation with Cuba is underway following the meetings which were held in May 2000. Mirzaoglu stated that 13 ships will be constructed and that they think that the project will cost 200-400 million U.S. dollars. The Turkish Industry Development Bank will provide 50 million U.S. dollar loan for the ship construction, Mirzaoglu said. Mirzaoglu stated that efforts are underway to form Maritime Ministry in the possible shortest time. The problems faced in maritime sector can be overcome if necessary legal arrangements are made and if the obstacles in front of the sector are lifted, Mirzaoglu stressed. Mirzaoglu said that they target at increasing the capacity of the Turkish naval trade fleet to 20 million DWT next year. The ship traffic and data system for the Istanbul and Canakkale straits will start to be operated in June 2001, Mirzaoglu added. [16] POLICE CONFISCATE 40 KG HEROIN IN ISTANBULISTANBUL - Police confiscated on Sunday 40 kilograms of heroin and 532 ''Extacy'' pills in operations carried out in Istanbul.A statement of the Istanbul Police Organization said that police, disguising as buyers, contacted with a gang smuggling drugs. Three people were detained when the police met with the sellers. Upon the testimonies of these detainees, 40 kilograms of heroin was confiscated. In another operation, a person who was trying to sell 500 ''Extacy'' pills was captured. Meanwhile, a person who sold drugs and who bought drugs were taken into custody in Beyoglu district of Istanbul. A total of 32 ''Extacy'' pills were confiscated in this operation. The Istanbul Police Organization has confiscated 40 kilograms of heroin, 620 ''Extacy'' pills, 1.5 kilograms of hashish, 900 grams of marijuana, and 150 grams of opium in a week. A total of 13 people were detained in these operations. The market price of these drugs was 1.5 trillion Turkish liras. [17] INMATES DEMOLISH WALLS OF WARDS IN AYDIN PRISONAYDIN - Inmates demolished on Sunday the walls of wards in the Aydin Prison.A total of 36 inmates who were convicted of terrorist crimes, have been on hunger strike for one month. The inmates demolished the walls of wards 1,3 and 5 and altogether started an unrest. Aydin Republican Chief Prosecutor Mustafa Adagul came to the prison and started to talk with the protestors. Meanwhile, tight security measures were taken in and around the prison.
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