Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-06-05

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

05 JUNE 2001 Tuesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

SECURITY FORCES SEIZED FOUR WEAPONS USED IN ASSASSINATION OF OKKAN
Security forces captured ten members of terrorist Hezbollah organization in southeastern province of Diyarbakir. In the operation, five kalashnikov weapons, four hand-guns and a great deal of ammunition were confiscated. It was revealed that four of these kalashnikov weapons had been used in the assassination of former Police Chief Gaffar Okkan and five other policemen on January 24, 2001.

CAGLAR'S SON DETAINED
A total of 11 directors of the Nergis Holding including Mustafa Caglar, the son of former State Minister Cavit Caglar, were detained on charges of obtaining unfair income of millions of U.S. dollars from fictitious export. Nergis Holding Executive Board Chairman Sukru Sankaya and his son Senol Sankaya are among the detainees.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Iraqi officials said that Iraq would continue to pump oil to Turkey and Jordan.

12 EARTHQUAKES OCCUR IN BERGAMA
A total of 12 earthquakes ranging from 2.0 to 3.7 on the Richter scale occurred in Bergama township of western province of Izmir between 09:38 p.m. on Sunday and 07:21 a.m. on Monday. Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory Seismology Institute said that all the earthquakes were centered on Bergama.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

DERVIS TO BENEFIT FROM ISRAEL'S EXPERIENCES
Jacob Frankel, the former Governor of Israeli Central Bank, arrived in Turkey as the guest of State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy. Frankel who was known with his successful disinflation program in Israel will meet with Dervis later in the day. Worldwide famous academicians Prof. Dr. Ben Sharar and Prof. Dr. Elhanan Helpman will also be in attendance at the meeting.

PRESIDENT SEZER TO VISIT MARDIN, SANLIURFA AND DIYARBAKIR
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will visit southeastern provinces of Mardin, Sanliurfa and Diyarbakir between June 6 and 7, 2001.

TRIAL OF SUSPECTS OF CORRUPTION IN ENERGY TENDERS TO START
The Ankara State Security Court (DGM) no: 1 will start to hear the case regarded with the investigation into allegations of corruption in energy tenders. The suspects will be tried on charges of forming an organization to commit crimes.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

- Territorial integrity of Iraq should be protected.

- The U.S. should confer with Turkey.

- Turkey should not suffer any more damage.

SUSURLUK FILE SENT TO SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
The file regarding the ''Susurluk Case'' was sent to the Supreme Court of Appeals. Lawyers of Ibrahim Sahin, the former deputy chief of the Special Force Department, and Korkut Erken, a former official of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) who have been sentenced to six years in prison by the Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) no: 6, objected the verdict regarding the merits of the case. The file was sent to the Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor's Office.

RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IVANOV DUE IN TURKEY
Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov will come to Ankara on Thursday on an official visit. The visit of Ivanov to Turkey upon the invitation of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem is the first visit of a Russian foreign minister to Turkey in the past nine years. The sides will exchange views on bilateral relations. Regional and international issues which concern the two countries will also be covered broadly during Ivanov's contacts in Turkey. Ivanov is also expected to come together with Turkish businessmen in Istanbul.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

EXPORTS FROM AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR INCREASES 89.6 PERCENT
The exports from the Turkish automotive sector in the first five months of the year increased 49.6 percent to 1 billion 638 million U.S. dollars. The Secretariat General of the Uludag Exporters' Unions said that the exports of automobiles, which was 1 billion 95 million U.S. dollars in the January-May 2000 period, rose to 1 billion 638 million U.S. dollars in the same period this year. Meanwhile, exports from the Turkish automotive sector increased 89.6 percent to 398 million 105 thousand U.S. dollars in May of 2001. In the same period last year, exports from automotive sector was 209 million 970 thousand U.S. dollars.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

IIF:''TURKEY IS DIFFERENT EASTERN ASIA''
Washington, D.C.-based International Institute of Finance (IIF) said that the present economic situation of Turkey was better than the crises in East Asian countries. In a report which was consisted of the economic situation in developing countries, the IIF also covered the Turkish economy. According to the report, the South Korea's capacity to enter international capital markets had weakened seriously while Turkey still maintains an economic capacity which would allow it enter these markets easily. The report said that Turkey has to pay eight billion U.S. dollars to the banks this year. Despite their financial troubles, the report said that big Turkish banks would not face any difficulties during this process. There was a capital flow of 10.5 billion U.S. dollars last year to Turkey and about 13 billion U.S. dollars is expected to leave the country this year due to the economic crisis. Regarding the privatization activities in Turkey, the report said investments worth of three billion U.S. dollars could start in Turkey through privatization efforts in 2001. This figure could increase to 4.3 billion U.S. dollars next year, the report remarked.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

-STATE MINISTER DERVIS FOR ECONOMY MEETS WITH FRENKEL,
FORMER GOVERNOR OF ISRAELI CENTRAL BANK
ISTANBUL - State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy met on Tuesday with Jacob Frenkel, the former Governor of Israeli Central Bank, and worldwide famous academicians Prof. Ben Sharar and Prof. Elhanan Helpman in Istanbul.

The meeting at the Ciragan Palace was closed to the press.

Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak, Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti and high-level officials of the Treasury Undersecretariat and the Central Bank were also in attendance at the meeting.

At the meeting, the sides exchanged views on experiences of Israel and other successful countries in struggle against inflation, structural reforms and economic stability.

-EXPORTS OF TEXTILES FROM BURSA DECREASES 2.3 PERCENT
BURSA - Exports of textiles from northwestern province of Bursa decreased by 2.3 percent in April of 2001.

Officials at the Uludag Exporters' Unions told the A.A correspondent on Monday that Bursa exported textiles to 92 countries, autonomous regions and six free zones between January 1 and May 31, 2001.

Meanwhile, exports of textiles in the first five months of the year fell by 3.5 percent to 182 million 963 thousand U.S. dollars.

In the same period last year, the province exported textiles of 189 million 731 thousand U.S. dollars.

The figures in the exports of textiles in the first five months of 2001 are as follows:

. 2001 Difference

Country (thousand U.S. dollars) (percent)

------------- ----------------------- ----------
Germany 29.749 3.4

the U.S. 18.834 -26.6

Italy 18.484 -14.1

Britain 16.395 -16.4

France 8.936 27.3

Bulgaria 6.340 151.9

Egypt 6.214 -16.2

the Netherlands 5.338 5.2

Brazil 3.951 748.4

Greece 3.869 -3.7

-OPERATIONS AGAINST HISTORICAL WORK SMUGGLING
-SECURITY FORCES SEIZE A NUMBER OF HISTORICAL WORKS
ANKARA - Security forces captured 32 people and seized 524 pieces of historical work in the last ten days during the operations against historical work smuggling.

Sources told A.A correspondent on Tuesday that security forces launched a series of operations in central provinces of Kayseri and Nevsehir, southern province of Adana, southeastern provinces of Sanliurfa and Gaziantep, western provinces of Manisa, Burdur and Aydin.

In the operations, 32 people were captured.

A total of 524 pieces of historical work including statues, coins, icons, manuscript Korans, jewels, weapons and pots were seized.

-PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC TO VISIT PARLIAMENT
ANKARA - President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will visit the parliament on Wednesday as the guest of Turkey-the European Union (EU) Joint Parliamentary Commission.

Releasing a statement, Kursat Eser, the Co-President of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission, said on Tuesday that Denktas' visit would be a sign of parliament's support to efforts to find an acceptable solution to the Cyprus question.

Eser said, ''it is necessary to recognize legal and political equality of the two communities on the island in order to find a fair solution to the Cyprus question. The EU's carrying out membership negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side, and the European Court of Human Rights' decisions protecting the Greek Cypriot side, do not make any contribution to efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus question.''

Later, President Denktas will attend a conference to be organized by the Gazi University.

-TRIAL OF TEN SUSPECTS WHO WERE DETAINED WITHIN FRAMEWORK
OF INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION IN ENERGY
TENDERS, STARTS
ANKARA - Trial of ten suspects who have been detained within framework of investigation into allegations of corruption in energy tenders, started on Tuesday on charges of ''forming an organization to commit crimes, and aiding to this organization''.

Muzaffer Selvi, the former Director General of the Turkish Electricity Production and Transmission Corp (TEAS); Unal Peker, the former Deputy Director General of TEAS; Birsel Sonmez, a former member of TEAS Executive Board and former State Minister; Mustafa Mendilcioglu, the former Deputy Undersecretary of Energy and Natural Resources Ministry; Osman Ilhan, the former Director General of Energy Affairs; Yavuz Gursoy, the former Deputy Director General of Energy Affairs; Hasan Huseyin Cogalan, the former Director of Hydroelectric Power Plants; and businessmen Nuri Dogan Karadeniz and Erhan Aygun attended the hearing at the Ankara State Security Court (DGM) no: 1.

Tight security measures have been taken in and around the DGM building.

The indictment sought imprisonment terms from 1 year to 2 years to suspects Selvi, Peker, Sonmez, Mendilcioglu, Ilhan, Gursoy and Cogalan on charges of ''forming an organization to commit crimes'' in accordance with Article 313/1 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK).

The indictment sought imprisonment terms from 6 months to 1 year to suspects Karadeniz, Aygun and Bilgin on charges of ''aiding to members of the organization'' in accordance with Article 314 of the TCK.

-STATE MINISTER TOSKAY:
-''IMF DELEGATION SAID THAT ARGUMENTS ON PURCHASE
PRICES FOR CEREALS CREATED UNEASINESS''
ANKARA - State Minister Tunca Toskay said on Tuesday, ''the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation noted that arguments on purchase prices for cereals created uneasiness.''

Toskay received Juha Kahkonen, the Chief of IMF Turkey Desk.

Addressing journalists following the meeting, Toskay said, ''we discussed the general economic situation in Turkey. IMF delegation noted that arguments on purchase prices for cereals created uneasiness.''

-PRESIDENT SEZER TO VISIT DIYARBAKIR, MARDIN AND SANLIURFA
BETWEEN 6-7 JUNE
ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will visit southeastern provinces of Diyarbakır, Mardin and Sanlıurfa provinces between 6-7 June.

Presidential Press Centre said on Tuesday that Sezer who will leave for Diyarbakır on June 6, will visit the emergency rule regional governor's office, Diyarbakır Governor's Office, Seventh Army Corps and Garrison Command. Sezer will proceed to Mardin the same day after visiting Diyarbakır Organized Industry Zone and Second Tactics Air Forces Command.

Sezer will firstly visit Mardin Governor's Office, Deyrulzafaran Monestary, Kasimiye Moslem Theological School and then Mardin Organized Industry Zone and Free Trade Zone. He will proceed to Sanlıurfa province after meeting with businessmen and industrialists.

Sezer, who will spend the night in Sanlıurfa, will continue his contacts there. He will also visit Ataturk Dam and meet with farmers. Sezer will return to Ankara the same evening.

-ISSUES OF CYPRUS AND IRAQ ON AGENDA OF U.N. IN JUNE
NEW YORK - The issues of Cyprus and Iraq are on the agenda of the U.N. in June.

Two draft resolutions on the extension of the U.N. Peace Keeping Force's mandate (UNFICYP) in Cyprus and ''smart sanctions'' planned to be implemented in Iraq are on the U.N. agenda.

Anwarul Chawdhuri, the Bangladeshi Permanent Representative to U.N. will preside the U.N. Security Council in June.

Countries which give troops to UNFICYP will come together to make an evaluation on Wednesday. The meeting will be closed to the press.

Alvaro de Soto, the special representative of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to Cyprus will brief the U.N. Security Council members about the recent developments on the island and the good will mission on June 11, Monday.

U.N. Security Council members will hold consultations between themselves about the Cyprus issue on June 11 and June 13. Meanwhile the draft resolution on extension of UNFICYP's mandate are expected to be given to Council members. The voting on the draft resolution is expected to take place on June 15. If the mandate of the peace keeping force is not extended on June 15, it will end. U.N. Secretary General Annan proposed the extension of the UNFICYP's mandate till December 15, 2001 in his last report.

Meanwhile U.N. Security Council plans to conclude its studies namely ''smart sanctions'' for Iraq, till the third week of June.

-VILLAGERS CLAIM THAT THEY SAW ALIEN IN USAK PROVINCE
USAK - Three villagers in Narlı village of Esme township of western Usak province claimed on Monday that they saw aliens in Narlı village.

Usak Governor told A.A that the persons claimed that they saw the aliens at 07.00 a.m. on Monday when they were driving a tractor to go to a tobacco field and they went to head official Mehmet Yıldırım and told the story to him.

Fevzi Cam, a 40 years old villager who alleges that he saw the alien said that the alien was wearing bright clothes, its feet were red, its head was big and its eyes were in the shape of ellipse.

Governor Celik said that the villagers who were on the tractor stopped 60- 70 cm close to the ''object.'' Noting that the villagers threw stones to the ''object'' as they were frightened, Celik said that ''the object just flied to the air. ''

Cevik said that they investigate the issue and they requested help from scientists and experts.

Esme head official Yıldırım said in his part that two other villagers from Narlı village applied to him telling the same story.

Meanwhile four persons from an organization namely ''Sirius UFO Space Sciences Research Centre'' in Istanbul came to western Usak province on Tuesday to make a research.

-POLICE RELEASE SIX OF TEN PEOPLE CAPTURED IN
CONNECTION WITH OKKAN ASSASSINATION
DIYARBAKIR - Police released on Tuesday six of ten people who were captured in connection with the assassination of Gaffar Okkan, the former chief of Diyarbakir Police Department.

Officials said that five of the detainees were porters who were charged to move the goods in the house where the members of the terrorist Hezbollah organization were staying.

The officials noted that the operation was staged when these porters were at the house to move the goods and that to this end, they were detained.

The officials said that one person who was the wife of one of the terrorists was also released, adding that other four people are still being questioned.

-FOREIGN MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY LOGOGLU STARTS HIS CONTACTS
TEL AVIV - Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Faruk Logoglu, who came to the Middle East late on Monday night as the special representative of the government, will start his contacts in the region on Tuesday.

Logoglu will meet with the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Ram Allah the afternoon and then participate in the lunch hosted by Arafat to which Palestinian officials like Planning Minister Nebil Shaat and Parliament Speaker Ahmad Korey will attend. Logoglu will bring a verbal message to Arafat from Turkey.

Logoglu will meet with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, Ministry Undersecretary Avi Gil and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Wednesday.

-ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTER CAKAN:
-''WE BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE STILL MANY OIL AND GAS ORES
WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN DISCOVERED YET''
BAKU - Energy and Natural Resources Minister Zeki Cakan said on Tuesday that they belive that there are still many oil and gas ores which have not been discovered yet.

Speaking in the conference held in Baku, Azerbaijan within the framework of the Eighth Caspian Oil and Gas Fair, Cakan said that the Caspian region has an important place for Turkey due to its historical, cultural and linguistic ties.

Cakan noted that Turkey encouraged the Turkish companies to invest in the regional countries.

Reminding the listeners that natural gas was found in the region of Shah Deniz which belongs to Azerbaijan and rich oil reserves were found in Kasagan region of Kazakhstan, Cakan said that these developments indicated that the region inspires the hopes.

Cakan stated that the Turkish Petroleum Corp. (TPAO) has shares in four separate projects in the region.

''Moreover, Turkey has undertaken an important role in transportation of the Caspian oil and natural gas resources to the western markets in a safe and economical way. The potential of Turkey to become an important country in the importation of natural gas in the future and its geographical condition have helped it become the best route which connects the Caspian region with Europe,'' Cakan said.

Cakan pointed out that the Turkish and Greek pipeline companies are exerting efforts to unite their natural gas pipeline networks to ensure the transportation of Caspian and Middle Eastern natural gas to European markets, adding that the European Union (EU) Commission takes part in this formation.

The main engineering works of the Baku-Ceyhan project were finalized last month, Cakan said.

Cakan noted that the detailed engineering works will start in the following days, adding that these two events increase their belief that the project will be finalized in 2005 as planned.

Many new oil companies which have seen that the project is being implemented have started negotiations to take part in the project, Cakan said.

Cakan noted that he thinks that many international giant oil companies which will not want to remain out of the strategic pipeline in the region will take part in the Baku-Ceyhan project soon.

The natural gas purchase and sale agreement signed between the two countries is a new bridge, Cakan said.

Cakan expressed pleasure over purchasing an important part of the natural gas need of Turkey from Azerbaijan.

''We think that the mentioned project is important for Turkey because it will not only transport gas to Turkey but also it will pay the way for gas transportation to European markets via Turkey in the coming period as a part of the east-west energy corridor,'' Cakan added.

-FOREIGN MINISTRY SUGGESTS CITIZENS WHO WANT TO GO TO NEPAL
TO PUT OFF THEIR TRIP
ANKARA - Foreign Ministry suggested Turkish citizens who wanted to go to Nepal, to put off their trips following the palace massacre which killed most of royal family in Nepal.

The Ministry said that the Turkish citizens who planned to visit Nepal had to act cautious due to the incidents that took place in this country.

-TREASURY SELLS 138.6 TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS
NOMINAL-VALUED THREE-MONTH BONDS
ANKARA - The Treasury Undersecratariat sold on Tuesday 138.6 trillion Turkish liras (TL) nominal-valued bonds in three-month (91-day) bond auction.

The total bid had become 550.4 trillion TL and the net sale became 119.1 trillion TL.

The annual simple interest rate became 65.56 percent and the annual composite interest rate became 83.50 percent.

The value date of these three-month bonds is June 6 and the maturity is September 5.

Meanwhile, the Treasury will repay 9 quadrillion 316 trillion 527.9 billion TL in domestic borrowing in the second half of June.

The previous auction held by the Treasury was 392-day bond auction. In this auction, the total bid had become 10,6 trillion TL. The annual simple interest rate had been 82 percent while the annual composite interest rate had been 79.98 percent.

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