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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-05-25

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

25 MAY 2001Friday


CONTENTS

  • [01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
  • [02] FINANCE MINISTRY SAYS PUBLICATION OF BUDGET EXPENDITURES IN DETAILS IS NOT A NEW DEVELOPMENT
  • [03] TURKISH TELECOM'S GENERAL COUNCIL PLANNED TO BE HELD IN TEN DAYS
  • [04] TREASURY TO DISCUSS ISSUE OF ''SWAP'' WITH IMF DELEGATION
  • [05] TURKEY DOES NOT WANT U.N. DRAFT RESOLUTION ON IRAQ TO
  • [06] BILL REGARDED WITH APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT
  • [07] INDICTMENT ABOUT FORMER STATE MINISTER CAGLAR FINALIZED
  • [08] PARLIAMENTARY INTERPARTIES COMPROMISE COMISSION CONTINUES
  • [09] DIPLOMATS OF NINE EU COUNTRIES IN ERZURUM
  • [10] OPERATION IN ANKARA AGAINST TERRORIST HEZBOLLAH ORGANIZATION
  • [11] NATO FOREIGN MINISTER MEETINGS TO TAKE PLACE IN MAY 29-30 IN BUDAPEST
  • [12] 28TH OIC FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING TO TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY
  • [13] WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE HELD IN CANKAYA PRESIDENTIAL PALACE (1)
  • [14] WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE HELD IN CANKAYA PRESIDENTIAL PALACE (2)
  • [15] FINANCE MINISTER ORAL:
  • [16] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER LAYS OUT RULES TO DISPOSE
  • [17] PARLIAMENT SPEAKERS OF CANDIDATE COUNTRIES TO EU TO CONVENE IN
  • [18] FORMER GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL ARRIVES IN TURKEY

  • [01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

    These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 25, 2000. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

    HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

    SUPREME PROSECUTOR TAKES ACTION FOR ''WHITE ENERGY'' OPERATION
    Sabih Kanadoglu, the chief prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals took action and wrote a letter to the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry asking for permission to start an investigation about Yurdakul Yigitguden, the Energy and Natural Ministry Undersecretary.

    ALL PIPELINES ARE SCRUTINIZED
    Cengiz Koksal, the Prosecutor of Ankara State Security Court (DGM) extended the scope of the ''Blue Stream'' investigation and decided to scrutinize procedures regarding all the pipelines. Koksal also formed an expert delegation from the Finance Ministry. The pipelines coming from Bulgaria and Iran to Turkey have also been taken into the scope of the investigation.

    MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

    UNUSUAL VISIT OF GENDARME TO BOTAS
    Ankara State Security Court's (DGM) Prosecutor Cengiz Koksal went to Turkish Pipelines Inc. (BOTAS) Directorate General with a group of gendarme officials on Wednesday night, creating surprise, as he could ask for official documents on the telephone or by writing an official note to BOTAS. The prosecutor, Energy Minister and BOTAS Director General told reporters that that was not a raid, but just a visit!

    ARMENIANS WANT TO BUY OUR VILLAGES
    The news saying that there are villages in Anatolia which were put ''on sale'' by the locals due to the economic crisis was covered by The New York Times daily. Armenian people living in the U.S. decided to take action claiming that ''this opportunity should not be missed, it will be possible for us to get back our territories.''

    SABAH (LIBERAL)

    TURKEY WILL HOST MORE TOURISTS THAN GREECE THIS YEAR
    The boost in the tourism sector has been covered by the Financial Times. The paper said that ''this year Turkey will host more tourists than Greece. Turkey is expected to host 12,5 million tourists.'' In the first four months of 2001, the number of tourists who came to Turkey increased by 10 percent compared to last year and reached 2 million.

    EROGLU GOVERNMENT RESIGNS
    The coalition government in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) collapsed. TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu said that his party assembly gave full authority to him regarding the foundation of a new government. Eroglu noted that they won't leave the country without a government and they will work for formation of a new government.

    CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

    LEADERS REACH CONSENSUS ON DECREASING NUMBER OF MINISTERS
    Mesut Yılmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), Deputy Premier and State Minister asked the coalition leaders in the summit meeting to withdraw three state ministers in oredr to decrease the number of ministers. Premier Ecevit and Deputy Premier Devlet Bahceli said that they should decrease the number of ministers by two and they reached a consensus on the issue.

    MHP OBJECTS TO AMENDMENT IN ARTICLE 3 OF CONSTITUTION
    The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) objected to the constitutional amendment proposal which is on lifting the ban on Kurdish language and inclusion of the word ''official'' to the expression in Article 3 which says that ''the language of the state is Turkish.''

    RADIKAL (LEFT)

    BIGGEST CIVILIAN STEP TO BE TAKEN
    The parliament prepares for the broadest constitutional amendment of the Republican history: 51 articles of the Constitution, which was prepared following the military coup of 12 September 1980, are planned to be amended.

    NEW CONDITIONS IN F-TYPE
    Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk recently sent a circular to F-type prisons informing the directors about the new regulations brought regarding the common areas of inmates in prisons such as work ateliers following the change in Article 16 of the Anti-Terrorism Law. The circular lists the rules that the inmates have to obey during rehabilitation and training programmes and sports and other cultural activities. Turk stated that a Prison Commission will select the inmates according to their interests, skills and the crimes they committed and decide on the activities and programs they could participate. The prison administration will determine the lenght of the training programmes and how many inmates will register to them considering the security and physical conditions of the prison. Turk sent the same circular also to maximum security prisons and prosecutors' offices. The paper asserted that for inmates to benefit from common areas they have to abide by the ''military discipline.''

    TURKIYE (RIGHT)

    PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT SAYS GOVERNMENT DEALS WITH SERIOUS ISSUES
    Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that the coalition government deals with serious issues rather than getting involved in unreal problems and useless polemics. Addressing the opening of the DSP group meeting, Ecevit said that the government deals with real problems, concrete economic and social problems, adding that Turkey has a great potential.

    NEW INVESTIGATION IN ENERY
    Zeki Cagan, the energy and natural resources said regarding the seizure of documents of Turkish Pipeline Inc. (BOTAS) Directorate General that ''we always respect the law. The law will manifest itself in the end. When there is the need, we are ready to submit all sorts of documents to officials.'' Responding to questions of journalists about BOTAS, Cakan said that State Security Court (DGM) Prosecutor Cengiz Koksal and Cankaya gendarme commander visited BOTAS Director General at 10.30 local time yesterday and they asked for certain documents. ''The director general ordered his personnel to photocopy the documents requested. The photocopying lasted till late at night. The photocopies were given at night, that is all,'' he said.

    ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

    TSUNAMI DANGER IN MARMARA SEA
    A tsunami which could take place in Marmara Sea with a magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale can give damage to the coasts, it was noted in a research conducted by the Civil Engineering Department of the Middle East Technical University (METU) together with South California University.

    BAL-GOC ORGANIZES BUS TRIPS TO BULGARIA FREE OF CHARGE FOR KINSMEN
    BURSA - Turhan Gencoglu, the Chairman of Balkan Immigrants Culture and Solidarity Association (BAL-GOC) said on Friday that they will organize bus trips free of charge to Bulgaria for kinsmen who couldn't extend their residence permits in Bulgaria as their passports expired or who couldn't go to Bulgaria due to economic difficulties.

    Holding a press briefing, Gencoglu said that as the kinsmen residing in Turkey can't go to Bulgaria, they can't carry out their legal proceedings, adding that they will organize the trips to Bulgaria for seven days.

    Gencoglu said that rumours saying that kinsmen have to reside in Bulgaria for at last six months to renew their passports are not true.

    [02] FINANCE MINISTRY SAYS PUBLICATION OF BUDGET EXPENDITURES IN DETAILS IS NOT A NEW DEVELOPMENT

    ANKARA- Finance Ministry said on Friday that the publication of budget expenditures in details on internet web pages is not a new implementation, but an implementation which continues for ten months.

    Issuing a written statement on the issue, Finance Ministry said that certain press and broadcasting organs said that the detailed information about budget expenses have started to be given recently on internet to bring transparency in public expenditures.

    The statement stressed that the budget expenditures started to be published on the internet as of August, 2000.

    [03] TURKISH TELECOM'S GENERAL COUNCIL PLANNED TO BE HELD IN TEN DAYS

    ANKARA- Efforts are underway to hold the general council of the Turkish Telecom within ten days, although a definite date has not been fixed.

    A professional executive board will be determined at the end of the new General Council as foreseen by the letter of intent.

    The efforts to determine the general council and the executive board have to be finished before the IMF delegation leaves Turkey at the latest.

    [04] TREASURY TO DISCUSS ISSUE OF ''SWAP'' WITH IMF DELEGATION

    ANKARA- The Treasury Undersecretariat will discuss the issue of ''swap'' which aims to exchange some of the domestic borrowing denominated in Turkish lira (TL) with foreign currency, also with the IMF delegation.

    Treasury officials, which continue to meet with the banking sector, will also meet with the IMF delegation which will start its contacts on June 1 under the leadership of Juha Kahkonen, the new IMF Turkey Desk Chief.

    IMF officials told A.A on Friday that the issue of ''swap'' is important, adding that it was also mentioned in the letter of intent. They also noted that they will discuss with Treasury officials the result of the meetings of the Treasury with the banking sector.

    [05] TURKEY DOES NOT WANT U.N. DRAFT RESOLUTION ON IRAQ TO

    BRING ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC BURDEN ON TURKEY
    NEW YORK - While the negotiations on the draft resolution prepared to liberalize the oil regime in return for food applied in Iraq continue behind the closed doors, the expectations and demands of Turkey in this issue started to become clear.

    The first expectation of Turkey from the amendments to be made in the sanctions regime on Iraq is the draft resolution's not bringing additional economic burden on Turkey. Turkey demanded the properties that will be exported to Iraq, to be searched not on the Turkish-Iraqi border, but in the country of origin. Turkey also tries to explain the U.N. Security Council member states that small-scale oil transportation by tankers shouldn't be considered as smuggling, but as ''border trade.'' U.N., on the other side launches efforts to register this trade.

    The advantages the draft resolution prepared by Britain and which is actively supported by the U.S., for Turkey are as follows:

    -The cost of the oil which Iraq would sell to Turkey will be put in an account in a Turkish bank that will be opened on behalf of the U.N.

    -The price of the oil which Turkey will buy from Iraq will be fixed in the negotiations to be held between Turkey and Iraq. The price will later be notified to the U.N. But there is one point here which could not get clear, this is the issue of whether or not the oil Turkey gets from

    Kirkuk-Yumurtalık pipeline for its own need will be included in the daily oil sale foreseen in the draft resolution which is 150,000 barrels per day.

    The sources said that if the 150,000 barrels of oil covers the oil purchases by tankers and the purchases which are considered within the framework of the ''border trade,'' this won't cause a problem for Turkey.

    Turkey supports the draft as it will liberalize so to speak the trade with Iraq.

    Diplomatic sources said that Turkey has always implemented the decisions of the Security Council, adding that Turkey has always made suggestions to the Iraqi government in the same parallel.

    Turkey prefers the resolution to be supported by all members of the Security Council in order to strengthen the sanction power of the resolution.

    Diplomats said that Turkey is attributed importance both by the U.S. and also by Iraq, adding that the two sides are aware of the fact that the application won't be successful without the contributions of Turkey.

    Meanwhile, Turkey objected to the draft resolution's referring to Turkey in a separate paragraph as this meant ''isolution of Turkey''. This request of Turkey will probably be taken into consideration by the members of the U.N. Security Council.

    The other demands of Turkey are as follows:

    1) The new regime that will be implemented should not bring additional burden on Turkey in respect of economy.

    2) It should not be ignored that the success of the application depends on the cooperation of Iraq.

    3) Information should be given to Turkey at every stage of the negotiations and views should be exchanged with Turkey.

    The draft resolution which was prepared by Britain and submitted to the members of the Security Council has to be adopted till midnight on June 3. The U.S. and Britain which supports the draft try to make the Council adopt the draft resolution before changing of the Council's Term Presidency on June 1. Bangladesh will hand over the term presidency in June.

    Diplomatic sources said that the possibility of the draft resolution to be vetoed during the voting is very weak, adding that Russia and China can abstain from voting. They added that the draft resolution will probably be adopted.

    [06] BILL REGARDED WITH APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT

    FORESEEING ESTABLISHMENT OF BLACKSEAFOR SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT
    ANKARA - The bill regarded with approval of the agreement foreseeing establishment of the Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group (BLACKSEAFOR) is submitted to the Parliamentary Chairmanship on Friday.

    The Republic of Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Turkey, Ukraine have signed today (2 April 2001) in Istanbul the Agreement on the Establishment of the Black Sea Naval Co-operation Task Group (BLACKSEAFOR). The BLACKSEAFOR initiative aims at the enhancement of peace and stability in the Black Sea as well as promoting regional co- operation among the Black Sea littoral states.

    The signing of this Agreement is a testimony to the littoral states' determination to bring the BLACKSEAFOR into life after the successful conclusion of the process of negotiations that was initiated by Turkey in 1998.

    By signing the BLACKSEAFOR Agreement, the Signatories confirmed that the purpose of this initiative is to contribute to the further strengthening of regional security, friendship, good relations and mutual understanding among the Black Sea littoral states.

    They also stated that the BLACKSEAFOR constitutes the first formation of naval co-operation among all the littoral states in the Black Sea and that this formation is intended to be an on-call force, composed of naval units of the participating states. The BLACKSEAFOR will be tasked for :

    - Search and rescue operations,

    - Humanitarian assistance operations,

    - Mine counter measures,

    - Environmental protection operations,

    - Goodwill visits,

    - Any other tasks agreed by all Participating Nations.

    The Signatories underlined their willingness for the first activation of the BLACKSEAFOR in 2001 and for an early conclusion of national ratification processes for the entry of the Agreement into force.

    [07] INDICTMENT ABOUT FORMER STATE MINISTER CAGLAR FINALIZED

    ISTANBUL - Indictment about Cavit Caglar, the former State Minister and a businessman who has been imprisoned in Kartal Prison in Istanbul, was finalized on Friday within scope of the investigation into the Egenbank which was transferred to the Savings Deposits Insurance Fund (SDIF).

    Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) Prosecutor Ercan Cengis carrying out the investigation into the Egebank, finalized the indictment about Caglar.

    The indictment said, ''it was revealed that Caglar had taken a loan of 7 million 400 thousand U.S. dollars from the Egebank, and he had repaid the loan to Yahya Murat Demirel, the former owner of the Egebank, instead of the bank. Upon complaint of the new administration of the bank, Caglar repaid 3 million 900 thousand U.S. dollars to the bank. The rest of the loan was divided into installments. Later, Egebank administration gave up its complaint.''

    The five-page indictment accused Caglar of ''aiding and abetting to an organization which was formed to commit crimes'' in accordance with Article 314 of the Turkish penal Code (TCK), and of ''corruption during his term in office'' in accordance with Article 504/8 of the TCK.

    Cengiz submitted the indictment to Istanbul DGM Chief Prosecutor Aykut Cengiz Engin.

    If Engin approves the indictment, a lawsuit will be filed against Caglar within scope of the investigation into the Egebank.

    The lawsuit against Caglar will be combined with the lawsuit against 36 suspects including Demirel.

    [08] PARLIAMENTARY INTERPARTIES COMPROMISE COMISSION CONTINUES

    TO WORK ON CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PACKAGE
    ANKARA- Parliamentary Interparties Compromise Commission continued on Friday to work on constitutional amendment package.

    No statement was made about the meeting of the commission.

    Meanwhile, sources said that the commission members failed to reach an agreement on amendments to Article 13 of the Constitution about restriction of fundamental rights and freedoms, Article 14 about prohibition of abuse of fundemental rights and freedoms and Article 17 about personal inviolability, material and spiritual entity.

    [09] DIPLOMATS OF NINE EU COUNTRIES IN ERZURUM

    ERZURUM- Diplomats of nine member countries to the European Union (EU) visited on Friday eastern province of Erzurem.

    Diplomats from Belgian, French, Finnish, Greek, German, Italian, Swedish, Portuguese and Dutch embassies visited Erzurum Governor Osman Derya Kadioglu and Deputy Mayor Suha Dengizek.

    They were informed on economic and social problems of the province.

    Diplomats also met with members of Erzurum Human Rights Commission.

    The delegation will proceed to Kars later in the day.

    [10] OPERATION IN ANKARA AGAINST TERRORIST HEZBOLLAH ORGANIZATION

    -37 PEOPLE CAPTURED
    ANKARA - Security forces launched an operation against the terrorist Hezbollah organization known with its gory and brutal actions, in Ankara, and captured 37 people.

    Sources told the A.A correspondent on Friday that security forces raided overnight seven hide-outs of the terrorist organization in Cankaya, Altindag, Kecioren and Sincan districts of Ankara.

    In the raid, 37 people were detained.

    Security forces seized a great deal of banned documents in the operation.

    Sources said that most of the detainees were students studying politics, law and medicine at universities.

    There is a civil servant among the detainees.

    Meanwhile, three members of the organization managed to flee from the operation.

    An instruction was sent to all provinces to search for these three people throughout Turkey.

    A high-level security official said that they had been monitoring the organization's activities for two years.

    He said that the detainees were registered at universties upon directives of the terrorist organization.

    Interrogation of the detainees is under way at the Security Department.

    [11] NATO FOREIGN MINISTER MEETINGS TO TAKE PLACE IN MAY 29-30 IN BUDAPEST

    ANKARA- NATO Foreign Ministers meetings will take place in Budapest in May 20 and 30. Hungary will host the meetings.

    Within the framework of the meetings, North Atlantic Council, NATO-Ukraine Commission, Europe-Atlantic Partnership Council, and NATO-Russia Permanent Partnership Council will convene in Foreign Ministry level.

    A delegation, led by Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, will attend the NATO meetings.

    A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said those meetings had a separate meaning as it would be arranged at a country which is one of the new members of NATO Alliance.

    The statement said, the first joint official meeting of NATO and EU councils in ministerial level, which was one of the elements of the NATO-EU cooperation which was foreseen within the framework of the EU Nice Summit, will take place in Budapest on May 30.

    Recent developments in Macedonia, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Yugoslavia and European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI) will be discussed during the North Atlantic Council meeting. The sides will also exchange views about missle defense system.

    During the Europe-Atlantic Partnership Council meeting, strengthening of security in Europe-Atlantic region due to regional cooperation will be discussed. Also The sides will also exchange views about providing security and stability in Southeastern Europe, Caucasia, and Central Asia in the long term.

    Cooperation issues of NATO with Russian Federation and Ukraine will be discussed at NATO-Russia Permanent Partnership Council and NATO-Ukraine Commission meetings.

    [12] 28TH OIC FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING TO TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY

    DOHA - Foreign Ministers Extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) will take place in Doha, Qatar on May 26.

    Foreign ministers of the member countries convened in Doha, upon a call of Qatar, the OIC Term President, after Palestinian President Yasser Arafat requested an emergency meeting because of the Palestinian-Israeli clashes which lasted for than seven months.

    The 28th of the OIC Foreign Ministers Meeting, which generally takes place in December, will take place to discuss Palestinian problem, which is the most important element in foundation of OIC.

    OIC, which is an international institution, aims at political, economic, cultural, scientific, and social solidarity and cooperation among the members.

    Number of members of OIC reached 56 following the splitting up of Eastern Bloc. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ivory Coasts, and Thailand are attending in observer status to the studies of OIC.

    Arson attack on El-Aqsa Mosque in August 1969 had caused great reaction in Moslem countries, and the First Islam Summit Conference had taken place in Rabat in September the same year with the participation of 24 countries.

    OIC General Secretariat was established in March 1970 in Jeddah.

    Foreign Ministers Conference, which acts within the body of the OIC structure, is obliged to take decisions in parallel with the strategies determined in the Summit which had taken place with the participation of the leaders of member countries.

    A full support had been expended to Palestine during the 27th OIC Foreign Ministers Meeting which had taken place in June, 2000 in Kuala Lumpur.

    In the final statement, which had been signed in the last day of the meeting, the member countries wanted Israeli occupation in Palestine to end, and requested safe return of the Palestinian people to their country. They also wanted national rights to be given again.

    The statement had stressed the right of the Palestinian people to set up state, and also noted that capital city of the Palestinian State should be Jerusalem.

    Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, who will represent Turkey during the meeting, is expected to be in Doha in the evening hours.

    Cem is expected to hold bilateral contacts with the representative of some OIC member countries.

    [13] WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE HELD IN CANKAYA PRESIDENTIAL PALACE (1)

    ANKARA, May 25 (A.A) - Presidential Office Spokesman Metin Yalman said on Friday, ''President Ahmet Necdet Sezer stressed that politicians should not intervene in judiciary, and that judiciary should not be politicized.''

    Speaking at a weekly press conference at the Cankaya Presidential Palace, Yalman said, ''President Sezer stressed that politicians should not intervene in judiciary, and that judiciary should not be politicized. President Sezer also thinks that it was not correct to make assessments or comments about judicial issues.''

    Responding to a question about President Sezer's signing the law envisaging privatization of the Turkish Telekom, Yalman said, ''Article 104 of the Constitution says that the President shall ensure the implementation of the Constitution. Article 11 says that the provisions of the Constitution are fundamental legal rules binding upon legislative, executive and judicial organs. And Article 153 says that decisions of the Constitutional Court shall be binding on the legislative, executive and judicial organs on the administrative authorities and on persons and corporate bodies. According to these articles, decisions of the Constitutional Court will be binding for the President. It is a necessity of the principle of supremacy of the Constitution and of state of law. Articles 149 and 153 of the Constitution says that the Constitutional Court shall convene with its President and ten members, and shall take decisions by absolute majority. According to these articles, binding decisions of the Constitutional Court reflect the decision of the majority. Idea of minority is not an effective factor within scope of decisions' binding characteristics.''

    ''In its decisions about privatization and telecommunication services, the Constitutional Court accepted that preventive rules should be given place in legal arrangements to protect Turkish nation's benefits, country's security, defense and independence. In accordance with the law no: 4673, rate of shares of foreign real and legal bodies in Telekom cannot exceed 45 percent. Foreign real and legal bodies cannot have majority of vote in administration and inspection of the Turkish Telekom. President Sezer considered release of the law no: 4673 appropriate under the light of decisions of the Constitution Court and the above-mentioned law. President Sezer sent a document to the Prime Ministry Office saying that majority of the foreigners in the strategical investor consortium mentioned in the Turkey's letter of intent to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was contrary to the law, and that these matters should be fulfilled in the change to be made in the main contract,'' he added.

    [14] WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE HELD IN CANKAYA PRESIDENTIAL PALACE (2)

    -PRESIDENT SEZER TO START A TOUR TO ANATOLIAN PROVINCES
    ANKARA- President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will start a tour to Anatolian provinces next week.

    Speaking at a weekly press conference at the Cankaya Presidential Palace, Tacan Ildem, the Presidential Office's Chief Consultant for Foreign Affairs, said on Friday, ''President Sezer will visit eastern provinces of Van and Hakkari on May 30 within framework of a plan disclosed earlier by the General Staff. President Sezer will go to Izmir on June 1. Between June 6 and 7, President Sezer will visit southeastern provinces of Diyarbakir, Mardin and Sanliurfa. He will visit Ataturk Dam, and the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP).''

    Recalling that President Sezer had received Kuwaite Emir Sheikh Jabir Al- Ahmad Al-Sabah's special representative Suud Nasir Al Sabah, and Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdel Elah Al-Khatib, Ildem told reporters, ''Al-Sabah conveyed written message of Emir Sheikh Jabir Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to President Sezer. Kuwait still feels difficulties of Iraq's invasion in 1991. At the meeting, Turkish and Kuwaiti sides stressed that Iraq's territorial integrity and political unity should be protected. Kuwait does not want to experience the developments in the past once again. Kuwaiti administration did not have a negative attitude toward Iraqi people. Meanwhile, President Sezer stressed that Turkey attributed great importance to Kuwait's independence and sovereignty.''

    Referring to Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdel Elah Al-Khatib's visit to Turkey, Ildem said, ''Al-Khatib's visit to Turkey aimed at further improving relations between the two countries in every field. President Sezer had held very beneficial contacts during his visit to Jordan as the guest of King Abdullah of Jordan. President Sezer invited King Abdullah to Turkey through Al-Khatib. At the meeting, President Sezer underlined importance of signing a free trade zone agreement between Turkey and Jordan. Technical works to prepare the agreement are under way. At the meeting, the latest developments in Iraq was brought onto agenda. As you know, five permament members of the United Nations Security Council have been working on the issues. There are some proposals pioneered by the U.S. and Britain. Within framework of a new arrangement called as 'smart sanctions', sanctions imposed on Iraq will be reviewed under the light of past implementations. Both Jordan and Iraq, two neighbors of Iraq, have similar opinions. I want to emphasize once again that Turkey attributed great importance to protection of Iraq's territorial integrity and political unity. Turkey also wishes that Iraqi people's difficulties stemming from the sanctions, should be removed. Turkey will welcome any initiative to this end.''

    Ildem said, ''Turkey suffered heavy loss due to sanctions which have been imposed on Iraq since 1991. New arrangements should not increase Turkey's losses. Equal conditions should be provided in commercial relations between Iraq and neighboring countries. All these developments were taken up during Jordanian Foreign Minister Al-Khatib's visit to Turkey.''

    Referring to the Middle East peace process, Ildem said, ''Turkey and Jordan think that acts of violence in the Middle East should be put an end as soon as possible, and that Israel and Palestine should resume peace negotiations. Both countries have been expending efforts to this end. Jordan has launched a joint initiative with Egypt. Al-Khatib informed President Sezer on the initiative.''

    [15] FINANCE MINISTER ORAL:

    ''TURKEY IS OBLIGED TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM
    TO NORMALIZE ITS SITUATION''
    ANKARA- Finance Minister Sumer Oral said on Friday that the new economic program should be implemented for Turkey to get rid of its problems.

    Oral, who addressed the monthly meeting of Izmir Chamber of Trade (IZTO), said Turkey went through a very sensitive period due to economic means, pointed out that, ''the country is ours, also the problems. Turkey can not go on under these conditions.''

    Pointing out that the November and the February crises had prevented implementation of the previous program, Oral said Turkey had to go on its way with a new program.

    ''Domestic and foreign finance of the newly prepared program are ready. Implementing this program meticulously and fully is what we should do from now on. There is no other way. Turkey is obliged to implement this program to normalize its situation,'' Oral said, adding that they have discussed savings and transparency as priority while implementing the program.

    He said almost all of the funds were taken within the budget, noting that the remaining funds would be completed within one or two months. Oral said, ''Turkey would consider these crises as elements which created experience to itself, and will harmonize Turkey's conditions with the conditions of the era.''

    Pointing out that Turkey would overcome its problems, Oral said, ''however, we need some patience. Failure of Turkey to implement the program and its failure to reach the targets it desired would mean Turkey's isolation from the world.''

    [16] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER LAYS OUT RULES TO DISPOSE

    MEDICAL AND HOUSEHOLD WASTES
    ANKARA - Environment Minister Fevzi Aytekin issued a circular on Friday making it obligatory that medical and household wastes are transported separately and the personnel who handle the waste should wear special safety uniforms.

    The circular aims to eliminate the problems that are faced during the transportation and destroying of medical waste which threatens human health and pollutes the environment.

    The circular instructs the health institutions to collect the medical wastes in red, blue and black bags according to their characteristics. The wastes will be transported separately to a temporary storage area.

    Household and medical wastes will also be kept separate from each other during their transportation.

    The municipalities will be in charge of regularly collecting the stored medical waste from the hospitals.

    They will also use different trucks to transport for medical and household wastes.

    Medical wastes will not be stored or burnt in open areas.

    Aytekin also asked governors to carry out regular inspections at hospitals and fine the health institutions as instructed by the Environment Law.

    [17] PARLIAMENT SPEAKERS OF CANDIDATE COUNTRIES TO EU TO CONVENE IN

    BRATISLAVA
    ANKARA- The meeting of parliament speakers of candidate countries to the European Union (EU) will be held in Slovakian capital Bratislava between May 28 and 29, 2001.

    Nejat Arseven, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, and Kursat Eser, the Co- President of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission, will represent Turkey at the meeting.

    Arseven will deliver a speech at the meeting in which he will explain Turkey's opinions.

    Arseven and Eser will leave for Slovakia on Saturday.

    They are expected to return to Turkey on May 30.

    [18] FORMER GERMAN CHANCELLOR HELMUT KOHL ARRIVES IN TURKEY

    ISTANBUL- Helmut Kohl, the former Chancellor of Germany, arrived in Istanbul on Friday.

    Kohl will attend his son Peter Kohl's wedding ceremony.

    Peter Kohy will get married with Elif Sozen on Saturday.


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