Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-03-14

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

14 MARCH

2001 Wednesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

A SUIT TO BE FILED AGAINST ERCEL
The Prime Ministry Inspection Council concluded its investigation report related to Turkbank tender. The Council decided that Ercel misused his authority by not taking into consideration the warning of the security directorate general which said that Kormaz Yigit, who wanted to get Turkbank, had acted fraudulently in the tender.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

LAST REPORT OF TEMIZEL
It was revealed that the report of Zekeriya Temizel, the former chairman of the Banking Regulatory and Supervisory Authority (BRSA),on Etibank was sent to the State Security Court (DGM) before he resigned from his post. Prior to this development, it was claimed that Temizel had delayed in preparing the report on Etibank. The report says ''a lawsuit should be filed against the owners of Etibank, the bank which is previously transferred to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund, on charges of embezzlement.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

MEETING AT 06.30 LOCAL TIME HAS BEEN AN EXAMPLE FOR COURT
The chief judge of the case on the death of Fevzi Sýhanlýoglu, a deputy of the True Path Party (DYP); gave as an example the meeting of State Minister Kemal Dervis with bureaucrats at 6.30 a.m. When the lawyers of the suspects, the two Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputies opposed to the adjournement of the next hearing to 09.00 local time on April 20 saying it was too early, the judge said ''Mr. Dervis starts his work at 6.30 a.m.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

BERGAMA VILLAGERS CONTINUE THEIR PROTESTS AGAINST EUROGOLD
The Bergama villagers who are opposing to efforts of Eurogold to extract gold in western Bergama township with cyanide, gathered in front of the mine as they heard that the Eurogold has started to purchase work machines and employ workers for the mine. Oktay Konyar, the spokesman of the villagers said the court has given a decision to end the activities of Eurogold in the region, adding that Eurogold should abide by the decisions of the court. We would continue our protests till Eurogold leaves the township, Konyar added.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

DERVIS WILL SEARCH FOR SUPPORT
State Minister Kemal Dervis, who took oath in the parliament yesterday, willy search for support from the people. Before announcing the programme to the people, Dervis will come together with the leaders of the labour unions. Stressing that he gives priority to labour unions, Dervis said that he will meet with the business world after announcing the economic programme.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

THREE PUBLIC BANKS TO MERGE
Another serious measure was taken in the banking sector which is considered the source of the latest economic crisis. State Minister Faruk Bal announced that Ziraat Bankasi, Halk Bankasi and Emlak Bankasi would be governed by a ''high committee''. Bal said that officials from those three public banks would be appointed at this committee and that political influence on those banks would be prevented.

SEZER APPROVES SERDENGECTI
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer approved the decree on appointment of Sureyya Serdengecti as the Governor of Central Bank.

COMMENTS ON ECONOMIC CRISIS
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said that it was real that the crisis had stemmed from the banking sector. State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that political influence on banks should be prevented as soon as possible. State Minister Kemal Dervis said that there wouldn't be consolidation and that deposits were under state guarantee.

TREASURY'S RATING DOWNGRADED
Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCRA) removed Turkey from the ''Credit Watch'' position while it downgraded rating of debenture bonds issued by the Treasury from BB(+) to BB. JCRA upgraded Turkey's rating from BB to BB(+) last year. This bad news will hit Treasury's Samurai market.

KUTAN AGAIN CALLS FOR EARLY ELECTIONS
Recai Kutan of the Virtue Party (FP) said that the government was responsible for the latest economic crisis and called on partners of coalition government to go for elections and let the Turkish people to solve the problems.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

EKEN: ''I TOOK THE WEAPONS''
Trial of six suspects in the case about disappearance of 10 Micro Uzi, 10 Super MG and 11 Baretta handguns and their suppressers and 1 AL 50 HV rocket launcher continued. Those weapons had been donated to the Security Directorate General by the Hospro company. Mehmet Korkut Eken, former advisor of security director general, said during the hearing that he had taken those weapons in accordance with orders of the then Security Director General Mehmet Agar and claimed that those weapons had been used abroad but he did not explain where and how those weapons had been used.

YILMAZ: ''PROGRAMME WILL BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW''
Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that outlines of the new programme would be announced on Thursday and its details would be announced on next Monday. Noting that there was a need for a 30 billion U.S. dollars to get rid of the crisis, Yilmaz said that Turkey would receive 6-7 billion U.S. dollars external source in April.

-DRESDNER KLEINWORT BANK'S TURKEY DESK CHIEF NEBIOGLU: ''THERE
SHOULD BE A GOOD PROGRAMME TO RECEIVE EXTERNAL SUPPORT''
ANKARA - Britain-based Dresdner Kleinwort Bank's Turkey Desk Chief Ilhan Nebioglu said on Wednesday that there should be a good and reliable programme to recieve external support.

Nebioglu who was received by State Minister Kemal Dervis late on Tuesday answered questions of journalists at the Ankara Hilton Hotel.

Responding to a question about foreign bankers' opinions about the economic crisis in Turkey, Nebioglu said, ''the first crisis is considered as misfortune but the second and third crises are considered as clumsiness.''

When asked whether or not there would be an external support, Nebioglu said that there should be a good and reliable programme to receive external support.

Stressing the importance of political support to programme to gain external support, Nebioglu said that postponements in structural reforms and privatization practices could creat negativities in confidence of foreign markets and banks.

-ROMANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER GEONA ARRIVES IN ANKARA
ANKARA - Mircea Geona, the foreign minister of Romania, came to Ankara on Wednesday on an official visit.

Officials from foreign ministry, and George Ciamba, the ambassador of Romania to Turkey and other officials welcomed Geona at the Esenboga Airport of Ankara.

Geona will be received by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit during his contacts in Ankara and will preside interdelegationary meetings together with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.

Geona will also meet with Tunca Toskay, the minister of state, within the framework of his contacts.

Geona will give a conference regarding the term chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) which is currently being carried out by Romania.

Geona will leave Turkey late on Wednesday.

-THY DECREASES PRICES OF TICKETS TO SEUL AND BUDAPEST IN APRIL
ISTANBUL - Turkish Airlines (THY) will decrease the prices of tickets to Seoul, South Korea and and Budapest, Hungaria throughout April.

THY officials said on Wednesday that the return tickets will be 499 U.S. dollars for Seoul and 199 U.S. dollars for Budapest from Istanbul, Turkey.

But persons have to be a group not less than ten, to spend weekend or at least three days in the cities which they will visit, in order to benefit from this discount.

-CONFERENCE ON TURKISH-ARMENIAN RELATIONS TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL
ISTANBUL, March 14 (A.A) - The Association of Democratic Principles will hold a conference on ''Turkish-Armenian Relations'' in Istanbul on Thursday.

Nurver Nures, a retired ambassador and the deputy chairman of the association said on Wednesday that the conference will be held in The Marmara Hotel.

Nures said that Prof. Dr. Justin McCarthy, a member of the Turkish History Foundation and a lecturer of modern Middle East history in Bogazici, Ankara Universities and Middle East Technical University (METU) and writer Andrew Mango, will participate in the conference.

-TURKISH TRADE DELEGATION IN IRAQ
-FOREIGN TRADE UNDERSECRETARY TUZMEN: ''ADOPTION
OF FLOATING CURRENCY SYSTEM WILL HELP US''
BAGHDAD - Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursad Tuzmen said on Wednesday that adoption of floating currency regime would help them, adding, ''our 30 billion U.S. dollars of exports target can increase to 32 billion U.S. dollars.''

The Turkish trade delegation headed by Tuzmen continues its contacts in Baghdad.

Responding to questions of journalists about their contacts in Baghdad, Tuzmen said that the floating currency system would positively affect increae in exports from Turkey, and this would be seen 1 or 1.5 months later.

Tuzmen said that increase in exports in first two months of the year was expected to be 14.4 percent and that this increasing trend would continue also in March and April.

Responding to a question about the national economic programme, Tuzmen said that he focused on exports part of the programme.

Stressing that Turkey actually required exports revenues and tourism incomes, Tuzmen said that there should be input in both fields in short period.

Tuzmen said that Turkey should finalize privatizations and provide net capital flow in the shortest time frame.

-TAI TO PARTICIPATE IN IDEX 2001 FAIR IN ABU DHABI
ANKARA - Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) will participate in IDEX 2001 fair which will be held in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, between March 18 and 22.

Releasing a written statement on Wednesday, TAI has said that TAI would set up a stand in IDEX 2001 fair which is one of the biggest fairs of defense industry.

Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, the minister of national defense, Dursun Ali Ercan, the undersecretary of defense industry, and representatives of twelve companies operating in the defense sector, will attend this years' fair.

TAI will promote its remote-controlled target drone Turna and other equipment produced by the company throughout the fair.

-PARLIAMENTARY INTERIOR COMMISSION TO TAKE UP DRAFT LAW AGAINST
''INTERNATIONAL CLAIMS, ACCUSATIONS AND DISTORTIONS'' ON THURSDAY
ANKARA - The Parliamentary Interior Commission will take up the draft law which was prepared by Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman Kamran Inan on Thursday.

The draft law foresees any imposition regarded with claims of so-called genocide on Armenians, which the history did not assess and accept, to be considered as ''hostile acts.''

The Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission adopted the draft law.

The articles of the draft law against ''International Claims, Accusations and Distortions'', which was prepared by Inan, are as follows:

1 - Turkey denies the claims of so-called genocide on Armenians which the history did not confirm and accept, and considers any imposition on the issue as ''hostile attitude.''

2 - Turkey condemns the attitude of France and other forces who used the Armenians for their interests during the World War I, and their attitude in causing loss of lives by inciting them (Armenians) to rebel.

3 - Turkey harshly condemns the support and protection given to ASALA terrorism.

4 - Turkey refuses occupation of Upper Karabakh and Azeri territories, and forcing people to immigrate. Turkey also refuses broadening of territories by using force.

5 - Turkey condemns those who remain as spectators to the massacre of more than 200,000 people in Bosnia-Herzegovina because of their religion, and declares that France and other European forces have moral responsibility.

6 - The history, which concerns all humanity, can not be changed, rewritten, and distorted with political decisions. The judgement belongs to history.

7 - The government takes required measures for opening the reasons mentioned in the above articles, to the discussions of the world public opinion.

8 - This law takes effect at the time it is issued.

9 - Council of Ministers carries out the this law.

The reason of the proposal recalled that the recent history of those who tried to sentence Turkish Nation with political decisions, was full of crimes committed against humanity.

Pointing out that more than one million people were massacred in Algeria, the text underlined the occupation of Upper Karabakh and Azerbaijan by Armenia who murdered and forced people living in the occupied regions to immigrate.

It stressed that ASALA Armenian terrorist organization killed 52 Turkish diplomats, six of them in France, and noted that the assailants were protected.

It also underlined that former Marseille Mayor and former French Interior Minister Gaston Defferre made an agreement with the ASALA terrorist organization which gave the terrorist organization freedom to act against the Turkish interests in France.

-TEMPERATURES TO DROP EIGHT DEGREES IN COMING DAYS
ANKARA - Temperatures all around Turkey will drop eight to ten degrees celcius all around the country starting from Wednesday evening, officials said on Wednesday.

Officials from State Meteorology Directorate said that they expected rain fall in several regions, adding that the temperatures would also fall due to the rain fall.

Snow fall is also expected on Friday in higher regions of the country.

Temperatures will rise starting from Saturday.

-PROPOSALS AGAINST TURKEY IN CALIFORNIA
NEW YORK - Three local politicians who are under influence of Armenian and Greek Cypriot lobbies in the U.S. submitted two proposals against Turkey.

Erdal Atrek, the chairman of the ''Turkish American Alliance for Fairness'' (TAAF), said that those proposals had been presented by Congressman M. Frommer and senators Poochigiyan and Speier but it was known that those proposals had been prepared by the Armenian lobby and later conveyed to those politicians.

Those proposals against Turkey are about so-called genocide on Armenians.

Erdal Atrek stressed that those proposals intentionally disreputed Turkey, distorted historical facts and made a deliberate propaganda.

Atrek said that Armenian lies were also included in ''Secrets of Near East'' book of George Lamsa, a missioner who carried out intense researches on Christianity. The baseless and ridiculous claims such as 40 thousand Armenians were massacred even in small villages where there were only ten houses, and 10 thousand Armenian women were kept at harems.

Atrek said, ''unfortunately, enmity against Turks and feelings of grudge and revenge are still manipulated by a small group for political purposes. These circles are using the things which they can't prove historically for political purposes.''

Armenian terrorists assasinated more than 70 Turkish diplomats in the world, and three of them were assasinated in California. Sources said that Armenians beat Turkish students studying at universities in California and threatened a professor who rejected so-called genocide on Armenians.

Atrek called on members of California house of representatives not to become a tool in intentional distortion of historical facts and not to ignore the fact that thousands of Turks lost their lives due to Armenians' betrayal during the Ottoman State era.

-1 U.S. DOLLAR INCREASES TO 1 MILLION TURKISH LIRAS
ISTANBUL - Selling price of 1 U.S. dollar at the Covered Bazaar in Istanbul increased to 1 million Turkish liras (TL) on Wednesday.

Sources said that selling price of 1 U.S. dollar was fluctuating between 992 thousand and 1 million TL at exchange offices in the Covered Bazaar.

-TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS RECEIVES HANNAY
LEFKOSA - Rauf Denktas, the President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), received on Wednesday Sir David Hannay, the British Special Envoy to Cyprus, and Keith Vaz, the Undersecretary of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

No statement was released prior to the meeting.

Hannay and Vaz, who arrived in the island on Tuesday night, met with Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration, this morning.

Hannay is expected to stage a press conference this afternoon.

The British officials will depart from the island this evening.

-ATO TO HOST SYMPOSIUM ON TURKEY-EU RELATIONS
ANKARA - The Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) will host a symposium on Turkey-European Union (EU) relations between March 16 and 17.

A statement of the ATO said on Wednesday that Sinan Aygun, the chairman of the ATO Executive Board, and Nuri Gurgur, the chairman of Turkish Societies, will address the opening remarks of the symposium which will be organized jointly by the ATO and Turkish Societies General Center.

Turkey's relations with Europe throughout history, today and future of the EU, law and administration in the EU and the member states, EU's principles and Turkey, Turkey's alternatives and alternative policies will be debated during the symposium.

The points of views of Turkey and Europe, the relations, social, political and legal differences and the economic relations will also be discussed in the symposium.

Industry and Trade Minister Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu, Culture Minister Istemihan Talay, Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu, and Karen Fogg, the EU's Representative to Turkey, will attend the symposium.

The symposium will end after a dinner is hosted in honour of the participants.

-DERVIS SAYS INFLATION WILL BE OVER TEN PERCENT IN NEXT TWO MONTHS
ANKARA - State Minister Kemal Dervis said on Wednesday that the series of urgent measures that needs to be taken and Turkey's National Program were different things and they should not be mixed with each other.

Speaking about the next three months, Dervis said the inflation will be over ten percent in March and April but then it would be pulled down.

Dervis had a meeting with Revolutionary Workers' Union (DISK) executives on Wednesday morning, his first attempt to ask for social support to the government's new economic program.

During meetings with DISK Chairman Suleyman Celebi, Deputy Chairman Enver Oktem and other officials, Dervis asked about the union's general view of the current economic situation and which points they regarded as urgent.

Celebi said the previous program was imposed single-sidedly on the society therefore his union didn't support it, adding that the government has to take into consideration the labour unions' views if they want social consensus.

''Unfortunately, we're in a very bad state right now,'' Dervis said pointing to Turkey's negative economic growth. ''We have to prepare a program and then ask for foreign support without hesitating. Foreign support is essential to overcome this serious crisis,'' he elaborated.

''We have a series of urgent measures that Turkey has to take and the prime minister as well as other coalition partners are supporting it,'' he continued. ''These measures cannot wait. These should be implemented as soon as possible in order to prevent the situation from becoming even worse. However, this is not the national program. The national program will be formed in the coming weeks after getting the opinion of labour unions. The national program will be much wider than these measures,'' he said explaining the difference between the two.

(to be continued)

-FORMER PRESIDENT DEMIREL:
''CYPRUS ISSUE WILL BE SOLVED IN CASE EQUAL RIGHTS ARE ACCEPTED''
LEFKOSA - Former president Suleyman Demirel said on Wednesday that he believed a political solution would be found on Cyprus issue, noting that the question would be solved in case equal rights are accepted.

Demirel, who gave a statement to Halkin Sesi newspaper, said, ''there is a Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It has a flag and parliament. It has elections and a president. Everybody will see it and accept it. The problem will be solved in case equal rights are accepted. Turkish Cypriots, who want equal rights, does not want much.''

Pointing out that it would be regardless of question for the Turkish Cypriots to act apart from Turkey whatever its reason would be, Demirel said the most important issue for the Turkish Cypriots was to protect their interests.

Demirel said the TRNC was not a financial burden for Turkey, noting that they wanted the TRNC to further improve. He said, ''the TRNC does not have any difference from Edirne and Artvin. Whatever reaction we will show to those who will try to give damage to Edirne, we will show the same reaction in case anybody tries to give damage to the TRNC.''

When asked when he would visit the TRNC again, Demirel said, ''there is a responsibility for me. We would transfer water to the TRNC with pipelines. There is no other remedy. I was there in every stage of the Cyprus incidents since 1965. I am a person believing that the TRNC was a national cause of Turkey.''

Responding to the questions about Turkey-European Union (EU) relations, Demirel said there can not be a Europe without Turkey, and added that inclusion of Turkey to Europe would be for the benefit of Europe.

-CONTACTS OF STATE MINISTER DERVIS
-DISK CHAIRMAN CELEBI: ''IF A PROGRAM WILL BE PREPARED
WITH TWO PERCENT SHRINKAGE, WE OPPOSE TO THIS''
ANKARA - Suleyman Celebi, the Chairman of the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK), said on Wednesday that views of the national sections should be considered while preparing the new economic program, and noted that this program should not target shrinkage instead of growth. Celebi said, ''if a program will be prepared with two percent shrinkage, we oppose to this.''

Celebi, who spoke during the visit of state minister Kemal Dervis to the Union, underlined that there were problems in democratization, modernization, and fight against corruption.

Pointing out that the government failed to be successful in fight against inflation, Celebi said people were affected much from this, and noted that workers were given salary increases below the targeted inflation.

''Although we have many times conveyed the mistakes of this program to the goverment, we could not get a result,'' Celebi said, adding that, ''for example, while implementing anti-inflationist program, measures had to be taken to prevent the low income people from being affected from this much. You know the minumum wage, and the salaries of the retired people. There is employment shrinkage in most of business places.''

Celebi wanted the policies that would be put into implementation to be a national program apart from the recipes which the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank imposed. Celebi said, ''views and proposals of the national sections should be taken into consideration primarily for this.''

Celebi said they supported fight against inflations, yet noted that low income people should not bear the burden of this. Celebi underlined that they should be in a position to convey the program which they represented.

Celebi also pointed out the importance of fight against corruption, noting that, ''the people does not have confidence. There are only personal efforts. However, personal efforts are not efficient for confidence. The program, which fails to restore confidence to the society transparently, does not have the chance to succeed.''

-REACTION TO ARMENIA'S DEMAND FOR TERRITORY
-ERZURUM MAYOR UYKUSUZ:
-''THE ARMENIAN STATESMEN CAN SEE THE REALITY THAT THE BORDERS
CANNOT BE CHANGED BY FORCE WHEN THEY LOOK AT THEIR HISTORY''
ERZURUM - Erzurum Mayor Mahmut Uykusuz said on Wednesday that the Armenian statesmen can see the reality that the borders cannot be changed by force when they look at their own history.

Uykusuz reacted to the demand of Paruyr Hayrikyan, the chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Armenia, who asked for the annulment of the 1921 Kars Treaty, claiming Armenia gave its territory, namely Kars, Ardahan and Nakhchevan, to Turkey and Azerbaijan.

The Armenian statesmen pursue a foreign policy with Turkish enmity in the 21st century by violating the diplomatic courtesy rules, Uykusuz said.

Uykusuz noted that there is not an inch of Turkish territory that can be given to the Armenians.

''As the mayor of a city which experienced the Armenian massacre, I am addressing the Armenians: Erzurum, Kars and Ardahan are Turkey's territory for a thousand years and all these lands belong to us. There is the Turkish seal on every inch of Anatolia. We will not give any part of our land, including Erzurum, Kars and Ardahan. The Armenian statesmen will see that the reality that the borders cannot be changed by force when they look at their own history,'' Uykusuz added.

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