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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-01-16

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

16 JANUARY

2001 Tuesday


CONTENTS

  • [01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

  • [01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

    These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 16, 2000. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

    HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

    NAZIM HIKMET TO BE GIVEN HIS TURKISH CITIZENSHIP BACK
    Nazim Hikmet, a prominent Turkish poet, will be given his citizenship rights back. Istemihan Talay, the minister of culture, said he discussed the issue with Saadettin Tantan, the minister of internal affairs, adding that they would make an application for the issue. Noting that many Turkish people were supporting their initiative, Talay said Hikmet would regain his citizenship rights on his 100th birthday which will be celebrated next year.

    TURKISH POET WRITING IN GERMAN AWARDED
    Zehra Cirak, a Turkish poet who was born in Istanbul and living in Berlin, was given Adelbert von Chamisso award. The award was given to Cirak as she was using German skilfully in her poems. Cirak has four poem books published in Germany. Adelbert von Chamisso award is being given to writers and poets whose mother tongue isn't German but who are writing in this language.

    MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

    WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER
    Rahmi Koc, the chairman of the executive board of Koc Holding said Turkey has to exert more efforts in its path to modernization, adding that everybody had to work for this goal. In his new year message printed in the magazine of Koc Holding, Koc said ''we want to live under better circumstances, but the things we do for this aim doesn't comply with our wish. We shouldn't simply criticize the circumstances. Everybody should do their best for a better future.''

    TWO WORRIES OF IMF
    The International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation started its contacts in Ankara. The sources said the IMF was worried about the increase in the current deficit which was expected to be around nine billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2000. The sources added the economy program could be under risk if this increase in the current deficit continued. The IMF delegation also asked acceleration in the restructuring process of Turkish Electricity Corporation (TEAS).

    SABAH (LIBERAL)

    SOME CIRCLES PLAY FOR SOLDIER
    Premier Bulent Ecevit said that there were some circles who were performing a multi-dimensional trick to damage the stability of Turkey. Stating that some circles who are uneasy about the positive developments in Turkey try to provoke the soldiers. They also try to cast a shadow to the EU membership.

    ANKARA WARNS FRANCE FOR RESOLUTION ON SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
    The resolution on the so-called genocide on the Armenians became a problem between Turkey and France. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Premier Bulent Ecevit wrote warning letters to France to prevent the resolution from being passed from French full Assembly on January 18.

    CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

    BROADENING OF SCOPE OF AMNESTY ON AGENDA
    The Constitutional Court examined the applications of three courts which requested the cancellation of some of the provisions of the law on conditional release and suspension of punishments publicly known as amnesty law. The Constitutional Court, which did not find any deficiencies in the applications, decided to debate the cancellation request regarding the merits of the case. If the Constitutional Court finds the cancellation request as convincing, the scope of amnesty regarding these articles can be broadened.

    LEADERS TO CONVENE TO DEBATE NATIONAL PROGRAM
    The leaders of the coalition parties will discuss the National Program which is of vital importance for the future of the relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU) in their today's summit. The EU General Secretariat will submit the ''texts with alternatives'' they prepared about some sensitive issues like the abolition of the capital punishment, the future of the State Security Court (DGM) and the National Security Council (NSC), and broadcasting and education in the mother tongue, to the leaders.

    RADIKAL (LEFT)

    LEADERS TO DISCUSS NATIONAL PROGRAMME
    The leaders of the coalition government will discuss today the draft of the National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA) which has been prepared by State Planning Organization and Turkey's Secretariat General for EU in return to the Accession Partnership Document which was prepared by the EU for Turkey. There are no proposals in the draft NPAA regarding the problems that caused reaction among the coalition parties and the General Staff.

    DILLIGIL ON LEAVE
    Rahmi Dilligil, the Director General of State Theatres is on leave due to the request of the Ministry of Culture after the claims of graft in Bursa State Theatre. Dilligil was taken into custody in Ankara yesterday and he was brought ot Bursa to be questioned.

    TURKIYE (RIGHT)

    CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO DISCUSS DEMAND OF BROADENING SCOPE OF AMNESTY
    The Constitutional Court decided to discuss the applications in merits requesting the broadening of the scope of the amnesty. If the Court decides that the law on conditional release violates the principle of equality which is protected by the Constitution, the scope of the law will broaden.

    WINTER SETS IN AT LAST
    Sea traffic in Canakkale strait was hindered due to heavy storm yesterday. Roads of nearly 70 villages have been closed to traffic in Thrace region of Turkey because of snow. Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines (THY) flights were cancelled between Van-Ankara and Van-Istanbul as it was very foggy.

    ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

    EU DILEMMA
    Military officials are worried about Turkey's joining the EU as a full member thinking that it can divide the country. Academicians on the other hand said that this was an unfounded worry. The latter said that EU didn't divide any EU member state. Associate Professor Ihsan Duran Dagı, a lecturer at the International Relations Department of the Middle East Technical University (METU) said that the westernization process in Turkey has gone into reverse.

    WE RUSH FOR HELP
    Several countries had rushed to help Turkey following the devastating earthquake that hit Marmara Region in August 1999. Now, Turkey is extending a helping hand to El Salvador which was rocked by an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale. The Interior Ministry Civil Defense General Directorate sent a 24-member team and a sniffer dog to El Salvador to take part in the search and rescue operations.

    -EARTHQUAKE JOLTS MARMARA SEA
    ISTANBUL - A moderate earthquake measuring 4.2 on Richter scale, jolted Marmara Sea at 05.33 a.m. on Tuesday.

    The officials from Istanbul based Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Institute said the epicentre of the earthquake was offshore Kartal district of Istanbul.

    The security forces and the fire brigade teams said there weren't any reports of financial damage or injuries.

    Some people who were panicked rushed to the streets following the earthquake.

    The earthquake was also felt in Marmara Kocaeli province.

    -PRIVATIZATION OF SUGAR FACTORIES
    ANKARA - Pankobirlik, the only private sugar producing institution in Turkey, said on Tuesday that the public sugar factories should be sold as a whole.

    A report prepared by Pankobirlik about the privatization of public sugar factories said that the sale of the public sugar factories as a whole is necessary to continue sugar production in these factories and to prevent sugar-beet producers from being negatively affected from the transition period.

    The report noted that there are 27 public sugar factories in Turkey, adding that 11 of these factories are lucrative while the competition and profit rates of the rest are very low.

    But, it is important for the factories which do not have much profit to continue their production because sugar is a strategic product and because the production of sugar-beet contributes to the employment, animal breeding and transportation, the report said.

    The report emphasized that to this end, the sugar sector should be privatized as a whole.

    Three and a half million families earn their living by sugar-beet production in Turkey.

    There a 30 sugar factories in Turkey, including 25 public factories, three belonging to Pankobirlik, and two belonging to Pankobirlik and Turkseker partnership.

    In accordance with the last letter of intent submitted to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the preparation works for the privatization of sugar factories will be finalized within six months.

    A total of 21.9 million tons of sugar beets were produced from 515 thousand hectares of land in Turkey in 1998. This amount fell to 16.8 million tons in 1999 and 18 million tons in 2000.

    A total of 440 thousand hectares of land were cultivated with sugar beet in 1999 and 2000.

    Turkey annually consumes almost 2.5 million tons of sugar.

    -PRIVATIZATION ADMINISTRATION'S OFFICIALS PLANS TO MEET WITH DEUTCHE
    TELECOM FOR PRIVATIZATION OF TURKISH TELECOM'S SHARES
    ANKARA - Officials of the Privatization Administration Board plans to visit foreign countries next week for roadshow regarding the privatization of 33, 5 percent shares of Turkish Telecom.

    Officials' most important visit will be to Germany. Some members of the tender commission will also be together with Privatization Administration officials in their visits. They will firstly meet with Deutsche Telecom, which seems to be the biggest firm that wants to purchase the shares of Turkish Telecom. Deutsche Telecom is reported to be very interested in Turkish Telecommunication Inc. and it asks for detailed information about this issue.

    Potential investors which are interested in the privatization of Turkish Telecom will be determined in the next step in privatization process of Turkish Telecom. These investors will have accession to the data room prepared by the firm and technical meetings will be held. The final conditions of the tender will later be determined. These investors will submit their proposals not later than 14 May, 2001.

    -LEADERS OF COALITION PARTIES TO GIVE FINAL SHAPE TO NPAA
    ANKARA - The leaders of the coalition parties will convene on Tuesday afternoon to debate the draft of the ''National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA)'' regarding Turkey's European Union (EU) full membership.

    If the final shape of the NPAA is given in the leaders' summit, the NPAA will be submitted to the Council of Ministers.

    After it is translated, the NPAA will be ready to be submitted to the European Union (EU) Commission.

    The NPAA, including Turkey's commitments to adjust to the EU acquis in every field from the Copenhagen criteria to the agricultural policies, in one sense draws the main lines of Turkey-EU relations.

    Diplomatic sources said that Turkey will have to submit NPAA to the EU Commission every year following this first NPAA.

    The initiatives launched by the State Planning Organization (DPT) before the Turkey's General Secretariat for EU was established, were taken as basis during the preparation of the NPAA, the diplomatic sources noted.

    More than 40 public institutions, particullary the DPT and the Foreign Ministry, worked under the coordination of the Turkey's General Secretariat for EU during the preparation of the NPAA.

    Sources said that the leaders will debate the political chapters of the program rather than the technical chapters in their summit and will give the final shape to the document.

    The diplomatic sources said that Turkey and the EU have a dialogue based on mutual understanding.

    ''It will be wrong to consider the Accession Partnership Accord as requests of the EU from Turkey and the NPAA as Turkey's replies to these requests. The current problems can be settled on a dialogue basis within the framework of the national programs which will be prepared every year and the good will,'' the diplomatic sources said.

    The NPAA is about hundreds of issues, the sources noted.

    The sources underlined that Turkey will make some concrete commitments regarding its relations with the EU for the first time after the NPAA is submitted.

    Turkey will put forward its serious intention about EU membership by submitting a comprehensive program, the sources said, adding that they think that Turkey can be more powerful in discussions regarding some fields on which it had concerns and uneasiness after the presentation of the NPAA.

    -SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS REPUBLICAN CHIEF
    PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE ANNULS SIVAS INCIDENTS CASE
    ANKARA - The Supreme Court of Appeals Republican Chief Prosecutor's Office annuled the ''Sivas incidents'' case.

    Officials told A.A correspondent on Tuesday that Ankara State Security Court (DGM) had heard the case regarded with the setting fire of the Madimak Hotel in Sivas on July 2, 1993 in which 37 people had died.

    The officials said that the case was re-brought to the Supreme Court of Appeals for the third time.

    The Supreme Court of Appeals Republican Chief Prosecutor's Office said that the amendment to Article 143 of the Constitution was issued in the Official Gazette on July 18, 1999.

    Under the mentioned constitutional amendment, there would no longer be military judges in the DGMs, the Office noted, pointing out that a military judge attended the hearing of the Sivas incidents case the same day.

    The Office said that this was against the Code of Criminal Procedure (CMUK) and to this end requested the annulment of the decision.

    The Supreme Court of Appeals Punishment Department will hear the appeal case on March 22.

    If the Supreme Court of Appeals Punishment Department approves the decision of the Supreme Court of Appeals Republican Chief Prosecutor's Office, the case will resume in Ankara DGM.

    The Ankara DGM had earlier sentenced 33 suspects to capital punishment on charges of trying to deteriorate the constitutional order by force in the case which continues for seven years.

    The DGM had sentenced four other suspects to capital punishment but later commuted this punishment into 20-year imprisonment because the suspects were below 18.

    The court had commuted the capital punishment of another suspect into 15- year imprisonment because the suspect was mentally unbalanced those days

    The DGM had sentenced nine suspects to serve seven and a half years in prison while sentenced one suspect to five-year imprisonment.

    The Madimak Hotel in Sivas was set fire on July 2, 1993 and 37 people had died in the fire.

    The Ankara DGM had started to try 124 suspects on October 21, 1993 and gave its verdict on December 26, 1994.

    As the case was appealed, the case was started to be heard on November 19, 1996.

    But, the case was appealed again and the Supreme Court of Appeals Punishment Department annuled the capital punishments given to 33 suspects.

    Now, the case will be heard again in March.

    -ECHR STARTS HEARING RP CASE
    STRASBURG - The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) started on Tuesday to hear the application of the Welfare Party (RP) which was closed by the Constitutional Court.

    Ergun Ozbudun is defending the Turkish government while French lawyer Laurent Hincker is the lawyer of the banned RP in the hearing.

    Sevket Kazan, the former RP deputy and former Justice Minister, and Ahmet Tekdal attended the hearing.

    Ozbudun said that secularism is the most indispensable factors of the democratic system and that the RP administrators violated the Constitution by demanding Sharia.

    The Turkish Constitution prohibits the exploitation of the religious beliefs and views, Ozbudun noted, giving examples from the statements of the former RP administrators related with the Sharia demands.

    Hinker said that the banned RP was a party which came to the power by the votes of the people and that political parties cannot be closed in democratic systems.

    Noting that ten political parties were closed in Turkey in the last decade, the French lawyer reminded that the ECHR had earlier convicted Turkey of closing three political parties.

    Hincker claimed that closing the RP, which was a party which was on the power and which had 35 percent of the votes due to the speeches of the party members is against the democratic system.

    After listening to the views of both sides and asking questions, the ECHR judges suspended the hearing.

    One of the judges asked Ozbudun whether or not lawsuits could not be filed against party administrators who violated the laws by their speeches rather than closing the party while another judge asked Hincker whether or not the RP in fact wanted religious state and defended Sharia.

    The ECHR will give the decision later.

    The ECHR had decided to examine the application of the RP on October 20, 1999.

    The ECHR had decided to take up the complaints of the RP regarded with the Articles 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion), 10 (freedom of expression), 11 (freedom of association), 14 (prohibition of discrimination), of the European Convention on Human Rights and Articles 1 (protection of property) and 3 (right to free elections) of Protocol No. 1.

    The court had not accepted the application made under the Article 6 (right to free trial).

    -BOT PROJECTS GUARANTEED BY TREASURY
    ANKARA - Energy and Natural Resources Ministry on Monday disclosed 29 build- operate-transfer projects which Treasury will give guarantee.

    A total of 17 of the 29 BOT projects are wind power plants, seven of them are hydroelectic power plants, four of them are natural gas power plants and one of them is geothermal energy power plant.

    The total established power of the power plants will be 1,400 megawatt (mw). When the power plants in question are completed, they will be able to produce 7.041 billion kilowatt/hour (kwh) energy.

    Here are the BOT projects which will be operated in 2001-2002, their established power and annual production:

    Established P. Annual Production

    Name of Project (mw) (milyon kwh)

    --------------- ------------ -------------------
    1 ) Kocadag RES 50 135.5

    2 ) Canakkale RES 30 76.1

    3 ) Bozcada RES 10 29.8

    4 ) Mazi I RES 39 131.2

    5 ) Intepe RES 30 77

    6 ) Mazi II RES 90 275.9

    7 ) Mazi III RES 40 131.2

    8 ) Akhisar Enda RES 30 92.4

    9 ) Kocadag II RES 26 80.1

    10) Eskisehir Dogalgaz 199 1,300

    11) K. Eregli Dogalgaz 206 1,400

    12) Kirklareli Dogalgaz 75 455

    13) Yalova Dogalgaz 306 1,990

    14) Germencik Jeotermal 25 187.2

    15) Yukariakcay HES 2 14

    16) Arit HES 9 46

    17) Pamuk HES 20 81.5

    18) Keklicek HES 17 42.2

    19) Bandirma RES 15 40.5

    20) Datca RES 29 84

    21) Cesme RES 12 35.3

    22) Akhisar Aken RES 12 37.6

    23) Yalikavak RES 8 21

    24) Gokceada RES 5 15

    25) Kapidag RES 35 105

    26) Belen RES 34 120

    27) Susehri HES 12 59

    28) Aksu-Akdeniz HES 6 30.4

    29) Mursal HES 7 32

    TOTAL 1,379 7,041.1
    -RP CASE ENDS IN ECHR
    -THE DECISION IS EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN WITHIN THREE MONTHS
    STRASBOURG - The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on Tuesday ended hearing the application of the Welfare Party (RP) which was closed by the Constitutional Court. The court is expected to give its decision regarded with the application, within three months.

    Laurent Hincker, the French lawyer of the RP, responding to the questions of the court delegation in the second section of the hearing, said the RP did not want a shariah and religion state.

    The French lawyer said there was no connection or similarity between the RP and Hezbollah in Lebanon, claiming that RP never defended religious state.

    Pointing out that the RP did not contradict with secularism but interpreted secularism in a different way, Hincker brought onto the agenda the ban on headscarf in universities.

    Ergun Ozbudun, the lawyer of the Turkish government, said the RP was banned not because of the party program, but because of the statements of the high ranking party administrators contradicting with the Constitution.

    Ozbudun said those whose statements contradicted with the laws, were not the ordinary members of the party, but the leader, the deputy chairmen, and the spokesmen. He said no discipline interrogation has been made within the party because of the statement, noting that on the contrary, those people were awarded.

    Ozbudun said many examples of parties were seen in history which seemed as if they were defending democracy but it was understood after they came to power that they were in fact disguised.

    Ozbudun said secularism was an indispensable element of democracy for those who founded Turkish Republic.

    -NUMBER OF DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIONS INCREASES IN ANTALYA
    ANTALYA - Number of diplomatic representations increases in southern Antalya provinces in parallel with the developments recorded in tourism sector.

    Number of countries, having diplomatic representations in Antalya rose to 12 with the Dutch Honorary Consultate that was opened recently.

    Germany, which sends more than 1.5 million tourists to Antalya every year has Vice-Consul in the region, and Russia, which sends nearly 350,000 tourists to Antalya, is represented by Honorary Consulate.

    The Netherlands, which sends nearly 200,000 tourists to Antalya every year, recently opened an Honoraray Consulate there.

    Also, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark have Honorary Consuls in Antalya. Honorary Consuls of Austria, Switzerland, Britain, France, Spain and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) are acting in Antalya.

    -TURKEY OPPOSES TO DECISION OF ECHR
    RELATED WITH THE HEAD OF THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION
    STRASBOURG - Turkey opposed to the decision European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to hear the admissibility of the application of the lawyers of the head of the terrorist organization in the Grand Chamber.

    ECHR said Turkey, through its Permanent Representation to the Council of Europe, opposed to the decision of the Chamber I to hear the case by the Grand Chamber composed of 17 judges, not by the Chamber I. The Chamber I last month decided to transfer the case to the Great Chamber.

    ECHR, which will convene next Tuesday, is expected to give its decision regarding Turkey's opposition. ECHR Chamber I decided to examine the application from all the articles except the 2nd and 5th paragraphs of the Article 5 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Article 5 is for the Right to Liberty and Security.

    The second paragraph of the Article 5 says ''Everyone who is arrested shall be informed promptly, in a language which he understands, of the reasons for his arrest and of any charge against him.'' The fifth parapgraph says ''Everyone who has been the victim of arrest or detention in contravention of the provisions of this article shall have an enforcable right to compensation.''

    Those are the articles which Chamber I decided to examine:

    The second article (Right to life,) the third article (Prohibition of torture,), 5th article (Right to liberty and security,) the 6th article (Right to a fair trial,) the 7th article (No punishment without law,) the 8th article (Right to respect for private and family life) the 9th article (freedom of thought, conscience and religion,) the 10th article (freedom of expression,) the 13th article (Right to an effective remedy,) the 14th article (Prohibition of discrimination,) the 18th article (Limitationon use of restrictions on rights,) the 34th article ''individual applications.''

    The ECHR in its cautionary measure taken a while ago requested Turkey to postpone the capital punishment, given to the head of the terrorist organization, till the application of the lawyers are resulted.

    -CROATIAN NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER ADMIRAL STIPETIC
    VISITS NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER ADMIRAL ERDIL
    ANKARA - Admiral Vid Stipetic, the Commander of Croatian Naval Forces who is currently paying a four-day official visit to Turkey, visited on Tuesday Admiral Ilhami Erdil, the Commander of Naval Forces.

    Addressing the meeting, Admiral Erdil pointed out that there had been historical ties between Turkey and Croatia in the field of maritime.

    He stressed, ''commanders and sailors of Croatian origin worked during the Ottoman Empire period. Today, we are experiencing a historical day in relations between Turkish and Croatian naval forces. Admiral Stipetic is the first Commander of Croatian Naval Forces visiting Turkey.''

    Admiral Erdil noted, ''our vessels has been visiting Split Port of Croatia and using this port for transportation of logistic support to the United Nation's Stability Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina (SFOR) since 1997. Our meeting will focus on further improvement of relations between the Turkish and Croatian naval forces, and contributions to development of peace and stability in the Adriatic and in Eastern Mediterranean. Admiral Stipetic will return to his country after visiting bases and facilities of the Turkish Naval Forces.''

    Meanwhile, Admiral Stipetic expressed his pleasure with being in Turkey.

    Recalling that Turkey had made a valuable contribution to development of Croatia, Admiral Stipetic said that Turkish and Croatian naval forces would participate in some exercises within framework of Partnership for Peace.

    -ISTANBUL'S CANDIDACY TO HOST 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES
    -NOC OF TURKEY SENDS ITS PROJECT BOOK TO IOC
    ISTANBUL - The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Turkey sent on Tuesday its project book on ''Istanbul's candidacy to host 2008 Olympic Games'' to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne, Switzerland.

    Istanbul Olympic Games Preparatory and Regulatory Commission Coordinator Yalcin Aksoy said that the project book included answers to 534 problems about 18 issues.

    Aksoy said that the project book included information about Istanbul's local and national characteristics and real vision, customs and security measures, aero and environmental protection, finance, marketing, general sports concept, olympic village, health, security, accomodation, crossing, technology, communications and media, culture and guarantees.

    Sources said that an eight billion U.S. dollars contribution would be made to Turkey's gross national product if Istanbul hosted Olympic Games in 2008.

    -DRAFT RESOLUTION ON SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS AT FRENCH PARLIAMENT
    PARIS - Francois Rochebloine, a member of the Union of French Democracy (UDF) and the rapporteur of draft resolution on so-called gerocide on Armenians which is expected to be voted at the French parliament on January 18, claimed on Tuesday that it was only ''a symbolic draft''.

    Addressing the parliament, Rochebloine alleged that ''the symbolic draft did not aim at condemning Turkey, but clearing the past.''

    Meanwhile, French senators Claude Huriet and Louis de Broissia criticized the draft resolution in a joint article published in the Le Figaro newspaper.

    They stressed that many genocides and massacres were experienced in the history, adding that it was wrong to bring onto agenda a draft only about the Armenians.

    Huriet and De Broissia added that the parliament's taking a decision on the issue was contrary to the French Constitution.

    -TURKSOY MEETING STARTS IN BAKU
    BAKU - The Turkish Culture and Art Joint Administration (TURKSOY) Standing Committee's 15th Term meeting started on Monday in Azerbaijani capital of Baku.

    Addressing the meeting, Culture Minister Istemihan Talay said, ''there are prejudices against the Turkish world in some countries. Problems which the Turkish world has encountered, have been proved with the examples of Cyprus and Upper Karabagh questions. Some European countries have been following prejudiced attitude against the Turkish world. But these developments do not lead us to desperation. We have a powerful cultural background, and a great economic potential. Our human sources and natural resources provide great opportunities to achieve important successes.''

    Noting that the TURKSOY was an organization aiming at cultural unification, Talay stressed, ''the TURKSOY has a great role in connecting the Turkish communities to each other.''

    Culture Minister Mehmet Altinay of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said, ''the TURKSOY aims at promoting of Turkish culture to the world, determining the joint Turkish culture and providing a language unity.''

    At the meeting, cultural activities in 2001 will be determined and term presidency of TURKSOY will be handed over to another country.

    -TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS GIVEN HONORARY DOCTORATE
    ESKISEHIR - Eskisehir Osmangazi University (OGU) Senate on Tuesday presented ''Honorary Doctorate,'' to Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

    The TRNC President Denktas, who was given honorary doctorate, recalled that Cyprus was passing through a critical period.

    Pointing out that armed and economic struggle were left behind, Denktas said Greece and Greek Cypriot side, who got the support of almost all the world in political struggle, played a very big trick.

    Denktas said, ''they have understood that strength of Turkish Cypriots stemmed from its sincere ties and inseparability with the Anatolia. Now, they are doing their best to separate us from Anatolia.''

    Denktas said Cyprus has a strategic importance for Turkey, noting that efforts were underway to separate Turkish Cypriots from Turkey.

    Stressing that Turkey was asked to give up Cyprus to enter the European Union (EU), Denktas said the doors would not be open after giving up Cyprus, and noted that they would demand more from Turkey.

    Denktas said, ''Turkey has given the necessary response to the EU on Cyprus and made us relaxed. Cyprus is not an issue of bargaining on the EU issue. The EU and Cyprus should be separated from each other. Application of the Greek Cypriot side to the EU is a very dangerous game.''

    Denktas said they wanted Turkey not to lose excitement about Cyprus, noting that they needed the interest of Turkey.

    Prof. Necat Akgun, the Rector of OGU, addressing the ceremony briefed about the efforts of Denktas on Cyprus, adding that, ''those who want to leave Turkish Cypriots without a state, are in an effort to show Turkish resistence as a rebellion, and Turkey's right to intervene and existence of Turkish soldiers on the island as an occupation. Name of Denktas has been a source of pride for Turks, and a source of concern for others.''

    -LEADERS OF COALITION PARTNERS CONVENE
    ANKARA - Leaders of three political parties forming the coalition government convened on Tuesday.

    Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP); Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP); Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP); Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan, State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel; Foreign Minister Ismail Cem; Volkan Vural, the Secretary General of Turkey for the European Union (EU); Faruk Logoglu, the Undersecretary of Foreign Ministry; Akin Alptuna, the Deputy Undersecretary of Foreign Ministry; Volkan Bozkir, the Deputy Secretary General of Turkey for the EU; Erdal Tumer, the Adviser of Prime Ministry for Foreign Affairs; and Engin Soysal, the Adviser of Foreign Ministry; are in attendance at the meeting which started at 03:20 p.m.

    At the meeting, the National Programme for Turkey's full membership to the EU is expected to be taken up.

    If the National Programme is given its last shape at the meeting, the text composed of 30 parts and nearly 1,200 pages will be submitted to the Council of Ministers.

    The National Programme will be submitted to the EU Commission after its translation into English is finalized.

    -PARLIAMENTARIANS CALL ON GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ACTION
    PRIOR TO THE VOTE AT THE FRENCH PARLIAMENT ON DRAFT
    RESOLUTION ON SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS
    ANKARA - Parliamentarians called on the government to take action prior to the vote at the French Parliament on draft resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians.

    Five parliamentarians, who had contacts in France to prevent the adoption of the draft resolution, staged a news conference in the parliament and briefed about their contacts.

    Bulent Akarcali from the Motherland Party (ANAP), the head of the delegation, expressed regret that there was not anybody apart from them exerting efforts in France on the issue. Akarcali said the French parliamentarians, who were supporting the draft resolution, did not have any researches on the issue, and noted that, ''a hostile attitute is exhibited toward Turkey. The other side is prejudiced, and is not after searching for the facts.''

    Akarcali criticized the government of not launching necessary initiatives.

    Tayyibe Gulek, the Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputy, said France refrained from facing with the things occurred in Algeria, and recalled that this country left the things experienced in this country to the historians.

    Nevzat Yalcintas, the Virtue Party (FP) parliamentarian, warned that this issue would be brought onto the agenda in parliaments of other countries, noting that, ''we hear that it would be brought to the parliaments of Britain and Moscow. They collected more than 11,000 signatures in Germany.'' Yalcintas said paying compensation may be brought to the agenda if the draft resolution is legalized, and called on the government to launch initiatives.

    Ismail Hakki Cerrahoglu, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) parliamentarian, pointed out that Turkey was late in adopting an attitute. Cerrahoglu said there was 15 days period to apply for annulment after the draft resolution is legalized, noting that initiatives could be launched in this respect.

    Huseyin Celik, the True Path Party (DYP) deputy said potential of citizens living abroad should be operated against such initiatives.

    Prof. Hasan Koni, who went to France together with the delegation, said Turkey did not have the ability to cover the incidents, noting that Turkey should overcome this deficiency.

    -DYP SUBMITS NON-CONFIDENCE MOTION AGAINST ENERGY MINISTER
    ANKARA - The True Path Party (DYP) submitted a non-confidence motion to Parliament against Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer within framework of a graft probe concerning energy tenders.

    The motion submitted by DYP deputies to Parliament Speaker's Office defended that inspectors' reports on executive board of the Turkish Electricity Production and Transmission Corp (TEAS) had not been taken into consideration and this had created the factor of ''misusing the authority''.

    The motion said that the best thing would be resignation of the government and bringing those who are responsible to the court.

    Noting that Turkey recently wakes up with a new graft case and operation each day, motion said that the most successful activity of the government was the resistance it was showing to cover up those corruption cases.

    The motion said that report of ministry investigation committee on the TEAS management had been submitted to Ersumer in 1999, but another report had been submitted to the ministry in September of 2000 as the first report had been ignored.

    It said that the ministry had waited for four months to dismiss the bureaucrats mentioned in the second report, creating the factor of misusing the authority.

    -NUSAYBIN-AL YAROUBIEH RAILWAY OPENED
    ANKARA - The transit railway between Nusaybin township of southeastern Mardin province and Al Yaroubieh town of Iraq was re-opened.

    The Turkish Railways (TCDD) recalled on Tuesday that the railway had been closed since April of 1982 due to the Syrian Railways' traffic restriction.

    Noting that railway transportation would be made within framework of the United Nations embargo, it said that transportation from Europe to Iraq via Turkey could be made more rapidly and directly.

    TCDD added that preparations for operation of a passenger train between Istanbul and Baghdad were under way.


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