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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-06-09Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 09 JUNE 2001 Sunday -TURKEY-PRESS SCAN These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 9, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. HURRIYET (LIBERAL) ''I PROMISE''Rustu Kazim Yucelen said, ''illegal telephone tapping became a paranoia in the public opinion. Sometimes even I get suspicious. As Interior Minister, my telephones might have been tapped. But I promise. Everyone will talk on the phone freely from now on.'' RUSSIAN MINISTER PREFERS SWISSHOTEL Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov preferred the Swisshotel which was stormed by a group of Chechen terrorists in April, for the dinner hosted in his honor. Responding to a question about visa implementation on Turkish businessmen, Ivanov said, ''if hotels are stormed and planes are hijacked in this country, what can we do?'' ISTANBUL MUSIC FESTIVAL STARTS The 29th Istanbul International Music Festival organized by the Istanbul Culture and Art Foundation, started yesterday. The festival will continue till July 3. The main theme of this year's festival is Guiseppe Verdi. A total of 600 musicians including 480 foreigners from Italy, Britain, Azerbaijan, the U.S., Russia, Germany, Austria, Lithuania, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and France, will participate in the festival. MILLIYET (LIBERAL) WORLD WAR IN KONYAAirspace over central province of Konya will become the third biggest imaginary battle field of the world. Turkish and foreign war planes will perform exercises over Konya. Air forces of Turkey, Israel and the U.S. will participate in the ''Anatolian Eagle Exercise'' which will start on June 14. INVESTIGATION AGAINST POLICE GANG An investigation has been launched against former Istanbul Police Chief Kazim Abanoz who set up special teams in the Istanbul Police Department to follow some certain people. COHN-BENDIT MEETS OZPOLAT Daniel Cohn-Bendit, a member of the European Parliament, met with Sadi Ozpolat, one of the leaders of the illegal Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) at the F-type prison in Kandira district of Istanbul. Addressing journalists following the meeting, Cohn-Bendit said, ''members of the DHKP-C have fixed ideas. Their ideas remind me the Stone Age.'' SABAH (LIBERAL) POLITE RESPONSE TO TACTLESS RUSSIAN MINISTERRussian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov who is currently in Turkey on an official visit, met with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Speaking at the meeting, Ivanov said, ''I will stay at Istanbul's Swisshotel. I hope that Chechens would not storm the hotel during my visit.'' Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit responded to Ivanov saying, ''you can have a sound sleep in every hotel in Istanbul.'' ALIEN IN FOCA NOW Did the alien coming from depths of the space come to Izmir after its visits to Usak and Sivas? Two security officials in Foca township of western province of Izmir claimed that they saw an alien. Security officials were engulfed in panic. They informed their director on the incident. They said, ''the alien had a round head. There was a red light in the middle of its body.'' IMF WARNS TURKEY POLITELY International Monetary Fund (IMF) European One Department Director Michael Deppler said that markets were worried whether or not the program would be implemented and that the government should quell those worries. Deppler spoke at a conference on ''Restructuring in Economy: Reforms and Opportunities'' which was organized by CNBC-E and Management Turkey, via satellite from Washington D.C., the U.S. Noting that any postponement in implementation of the program would create problems, Deppler defined the decisions on public workers' pay and wheat prices as ''unfortunate''. When asked what the most serious risk in front of Turkey was, Deppler said, ''there are two serious risks. First one is the failure in implementation of the program. There are serious worries in the markets over whether or not the programme will be implemented. The government must quell this concern and restore confidence in the markets.'' CUMHURIYET (LEFT) ALERT FOR ECONOMYThe Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) carried out a public survey with the participation of 249 chambers on ''impacts of the economic crisis on real sector''. According to results of the survey, 98.61 percent of Turkish businessmen think that Turkey should reconstruct its administration. 3,476 companies joined the survey. 95.5 percent of these companies think that Turkey needs a new Constitution while the rest 4.5 percent think the opposite. A NEW ERA TO START IN EURASIA Proposals to be put forward by Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will be discussed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's scheduled visit to Turkey at the end of this year. During the meeting between Cem and Ivanov who is currently in Turkey on an official visit, regional problems such as Iraq, Caucasus, Cyprus and Balkans; the Blue Stream Project; bilateral political and economic relations; and international smuggling and terrorism were brought onto agenda. KESK HOLDS A DEMONSRATION IN ANKARA Confederation of Public Workers Labor Unions (KESK) Ankara Branches Platform held a demonstration in Ankara yesterday to protest security forces' intervention in Thursday's demonstration. Platform Chairman Hasan Karakaya said that seven people were taken into custody while some others were hospitalized in Thursday's incidents. He complained that they were not given the right to read out a press statement since December of last year which is their legal right. RADIKAL (LEFT) SEZER: ''STRUCTURE SHOULD BE PREPARED FORDEMOCRATIC PARTIES'' President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said, ''electors should not be passive. They should be active. Political parties which do not conform to democracy in their structure, cannot fulfil necessities of a democratic state. All arrangements should be made to democratize the political parties.'' SHAMEFUL DEFENSE AT UMUT CASE Ankara State Security Court (DGM) no:2 continued to hear the case on ''Umut'' (Hope) operation which was launched to find murderers of journalist-writer Ugur Mumcu, and later covered 22 incidents, including assasinations of Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taner Kislali, Prof. Muammer Aksoy and Dr. Bahriye Ucok. During yesterday's court session, Ibrahim Ceylan, the lawyer of the suspects, said, ''Mumcu should have checked its automobile. Kislali and Ucok should have called the police before opening suspecious packages.'' TURKIYE (RIGHT) ''SENSITIVE'' PERIOD WITH RUSSIAA joint working group was formed to further develop relations between Turkey and Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov who held intense contacts in Ankara expressed his pleasure with the partnership reached in bilateral relations including international security. New York Times, one of the most influential dailies in the U.S., said that the U.S. which targeted to reduce Russia's influence over the world's most strategical area couldn't get a result from its efforts due to the Blue Stream project and that Russia won the energy resources. The newspaper said that Turkey's dependence on Russia increased. MISTAKE IN CASA CRASH IS PECULIAR The investigation into the CASA plane which crashed shortly after it took off for a test flight was concluded. It was announced that problems in the plane's aileron control system led to the crash and that the possible cause of the accident was peculiar to the plane that crashed and would not have any effect on the safety of the rest of CASA planes. ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) THERE IS NOT SUCH A LAW IN THE WORLDThe new Law on Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) which was adopted with the votes of coalition partners, is unique in the world. Turkey gained a matchless radio and television law after the government adopted the law by ignoring objections of press organs, vocational organizations and scientists. President Ahmet Necdet Sezeris expected to veto the law which will pave way to monopolism in the press. -SPORTS - BOXING CONTENTS
[01] PALIANI OF TURKEY QUALIFIES TO FINAL IN 57 KG AT11TH WORLD AMATEUR BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPSBELFAST - Ramazan Paliani of Turkey competing in men's 57 kg category, qualified to final late on Friday at the 11th World Amateur Boxing Championships in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Paliani took on Joni Turunen of Finland in the semi-final. He beat his Finish opponent, and qualified to final. Paliani will vie for gold medal on Sunday against Galip Caferiov of Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, Bulent Ulusoy of Turkey competing in men's 71 kg category, was defeated by Simion Marian of Romania. Ulusoy won bronze medal. On Saturday, Agasi Agaguloglu of Turkey competing in men's 54 kg category, will vie for gold medal against Guller Ortiz Rigondeaux of Cuba. [02] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO START DEBATING CLOSURECASE AGAINST FP ON TUESDAYANKARA - The Constitutional Court will start debating the closure case against the Virtue Party (FP) on Tuesday. Constitutional Court Chief Judge Mustafa Bumin, Deputy Chief Judge Chairman Hasim Kilic, and judges Fulya Kantarcioglu, Rustu Sonmez, Ahmet Akyalcin, Ali Huner, Yalcin Acargun, Tulay Tugcu, Mahir Can Ilicak, Ertugrul Ersoy and Sacit Adali will convene at 10:00 a.m. on June 12, and start debating the closure case against the FP. The case is expected to be finalized in seven or ten days. The lawsuit was filed on May 7, 1999, by Vural Savas, the retired Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals, with the pretext that the FP was the continuation of the outlawed Welfare Party (RP) and it became the focus of anti-secular activities. Savas requested the Constitutional Court to lift deputyships of all FP members except for Aydin Menderes who resigned from the FP one day before the closure case. While he was explaining his opinion on the merits of the case, Savas claimed that the second paragraph of Article 103 of the Political Parties Law was contrary to the Constitution, and requested the court to annul the paragraph. The second paragraph of Article 103 of the Political Parties Law was annulled by the Constitutional Court. Before his retirement, Savas sent a video footage to the Constitutional Court including words referred to Necmettin Erbakan, the former leader of the outlawed RP, during the first regular congress of the FP. The Constitutional Court asked Sabih Kanadoglu who was replaced with Savas, to explain his opinion about the video footage. Kanadoglu requested the Constitutional Court to accept the video footage as a supplementary evidence. The Constitutional Court rejected Kanadoglu's request. Later, Kanadoglu submitted a supplementary indictment to the Constitutional Court. Kanadoglu also requested the Constitutional Court to ban founders of the FP from political activities for five years, and to lift deputyships of Ismail Alptekin and Mehmet Ozyol. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court rejected FP leader Recai Kutan's request for implementation of Article 104 of the Political Parties Law. At its meeting on February 7, 2001, the Constitutional Court decided to combine Kanadoglu's supplementary indictment with the main lawsuit. The FP submitted its pre-defense against the supplementary indictment. Later, Kanadoglu explained his opinions on the merits of the case. After submission of written defense by the FP, Kanadoglu made verbal statements, and FP deputy Mustafa Kamalak made his party's verbal defense. Mehmet Turhan, the Rapporteur of the case, prepared a supplementary report. The report was distributed to the members of the Constitutional Court. [03] GOVERNMENT BILL ON TOBACCO MARKET SUBMITTEDTO PARLIAMENT SPEAKER'S OFFICEANKARA - The government bill on reconstruction of tobacco, tobacco products and alcoholic drinks market was submitted to the Parliament Speaker's Office late on Friday. The bill foresees restructuring of the Directorate General of Tobacco and Alcoholic Drinks Monopoly (TEKEL). In accordance with the bill, TEKEL's Public Economic Enterprise status will be changed into State Economic Enterprise status, paving the way for its privatization. Under the bill, the Turkish Trade Law rules won't be implemented in TEKEL's privatization in order to accelerate the privatization process. The bill foresees formation of a Tobacco, Tobacco Products and Alcoholic Drinks Market Regulatory Committee comprising seven members. Each of the Finance Ministry, Health Ministry, Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ministry, Treasury Undersecretariat, Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and TEKEL Directorate General will have a representative in the committee. According to the bill, tobacco will be traded in accordance with contracts or auction method. The price of tobacco will be set according to the contracts between farmers and merchants. Foreign entrepreneurs who want to produce tobacco products in Turkey should have a factory at which 2 billion cigarettes per year should be produced in single shift and found hi-tech facilities including also tobacco preparation departments for at least 15 million grams for other tobacco products. Those foreigners who fulfil these conditions can sell, distribute and estimate price for their products in free market. Those foreigners who want to produce tobacco products in Turkey will take certificates from the TEKEL. Imports of tobacco will be limited with the production requirement even if it is made with the purpose of exports after processing, and it can be carried out by tobacco producers mentioned in the law. The bill foresees imprisonment terms from 1 year to three years and at least 225 million Turkish lira fine to those who set up or operate factory or facility to produce tobacco and tobacco products. [04] STATE MINISTER BAL IN WASHINGTON D.C.:[05] ''LIQUIDATION OF EMLAKBANK SHOULD BE DISCUSSEDWITH IMF AGAIN''WASHINGTON D.C. - State Minister Faruk Bal said on Saturday, ''although liquidation of Emlakbank is foreseen in the letter of intent submitted by Turkey to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), liquidation of the bank should be discussed with the IMF again.'' Bal proceeded to Washington D.C. after attending the United Nations' special session on ''Istanbul+5'' in New York. Holding a press conference, Bal said, ''liquidation of Emlakbank will not be beneficial to our economy. If it is closed down, its expenses will continue. Emlakbank has customers having credits of 3 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL). It means that 3 quadrillion TL would be withdrawn from the markets. Also nearly 10 thousand personnel of the bank and their families will constitute a serious social problem. The bank can be shrinked and rehabilitated. Therefore, liquidation of the bank should be discussed with the IMF again.'' Responding to a question on concerns about implementation of the new economic program, Bal said, ''the Turkish government has put forward some commitments in its letter of intent to the IMF. We will fulfil these commitments. But it will be beneficial to discuss the letter of intent by taking into consideration Turkey's conditions.'' Referring to allegations on so-called Armenian genocide, Bal said, ''these are nothing but allegations. Such a genocide had never taken place in Turkey. The Ottoman Empire decided to relocate Armenians in order to provide both internal and external security following the battle with Russia. All citizens of the Ottoman Empire were taken under state's guarantee.'' Meanwhile, Bal came together with representatives of the Turkish Forum and the Assembly of Turkish-American Associations. [06] BILL ON CLOSURE OF DUTY LOSSES OF BANKSSUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT SPEAKER'S OFFICEANKARA - The government bill which foresees to close duty losses of public banks was submitted to the Parliament Speaker's Office late on Friday. In accordance with the bill, banks will be obliged to make their annual balance sheets about their annual activities (including 2000) and profit-loss figures approved by an independent supervisory committee mentioned in Banks Law. Banks' duty losses receivables which stemmed from the duties they were charged with several laws and decrees before this law enters effect and couldn't be met by budget subsidies will be closed within framework of the rules set within scope of their reconstruction. Meanwhile, the personnel who will be determined as extra employment during the restructuring process will be transferred to other public institutions and organizations. The negative difference between commitments and assets which will be taken over by Ziraat Bankasi and Halk Bankasi will be paid to the undertaking bank as capital by the Treasury Undersecretariat. Following transfer procedures, Emlak Bankasi's authorities and capabilities to carry out banking activities and accept deposits will end and it will enter closure process. Rules of the Law on Collecting Public Receivables will be implemented in collecting of every kind of banks' receivables until the public share in the banks reduces below 50 percent. The Banks Board will be authorized in sale of Group A and B shares belonging to Foundations Directorate General. The bill annuls the laws which cause duty losses which negatively affect financial structures of Ziraat Bankasi and Agriculture Credit Cooperatives. The bill foresees liquidation of Civil Defense Fund, Disasters Fund, Mass Housing Fund, Electricity Energy Fund, Free Areas Settlement and Development Fund, Apprenticeship Vocational and Technical Education Development and Spreading Fund, Small and Medium Scale Industry Development and Support Fund, Pasture Fund and Special Environment Protection Fund will be liquidated. Incomes from these funds will be transferred to budget. [07] BILL ON INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENTANKARA - The government bill on internationalarbitration was submitted to the Parliament Speaker's Office late on Friday. The draft includes arrangements about ''solution of disputes stemming from privilege specifications and contracts for public services which include foreign factors'' which is foreseen in Article 125 of the Constitution through arbitration. The factor of ''foreignness'' will be accepted if the business place or place of their residence of the sides are in different states and at least one of the partners of the company which signed the contract that is the basis of arbitration agreement brings foreign capital in accordance with the relevant regulations and provide capital or asset flow from one country to another. The bill foresees signing of ''arbitration agreement'' for solution of possible disputes through arbitration. Sides can decide on the number of arbitrators but the number of arbitrators should be odd. If the sides did not reach an agreement of the number of arbitrators, three arbitrators will be chosen. Sides will have equal rights and authority in arbitration process. [08] FIFTH BALKAN TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS START IN EDIRNEEDIRNE - The Fifith Balkan TaekwondoChampionships started at the Mimar Sinan Sports Hall in northwestern province of Edirne on Saturday. A total of 62 sportsmen and 49 sportswomen from Turkey, Greece, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Albania, Macedonia, Romania and Bosnia-Herzegovina are attending the championships. Taekwondo Federation Deputy Chairman Coskun Eftekin said that they were hosting the championships in Edirne as it was close to the Balkan countries. ''The Balkan Taekwondo Association protects its existence as self-sacrificing efforts of Turkey and Greece,'' he said. [09] SPORTS - BODY-BUILDING[10] SONTANJA, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF IFBB:[11] ''WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SPREAD BODY-BUILDINGAS A WAY OF HEALTHY LIVING''GAZIANTEP - International Federation of Body-Building (IFBB) Deputy Chairman Rafael Sontanja said on Saturday that they had been trying to spread body-building as a way of healthy living. Speaking at a meeting to promote the 18th Mediterranean Countries Body-Building and Fitness Championships in southeastern province of Gaziantep, Sontanja expressed his pleasure with Turkish people's interest in body-building. The championships will start at 03:00 p.m. at Gaziantep Municipality Sports Hall the same day. A total of 48 sportsmen and women from Turkey, Yugoslavia, Israel, Italy, Croatia, Egypt, Greece, Palestine and Morocco will participate in the championships. [12] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT HOLDS A PRESS CONFERENCE (1):[13] ''THERE ARE PSYCHOLOGICAL OBSTACLES IN FRONT OF BUREAUCRACY''ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said onSaturday, ''there are Psychological obstacles in front of bureaucracy. Bureaucrats and public workers should rely on that they would not get into trouble because of the deals they signed legally.'' Holding a press conference at the Prime Ministry Office, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''there are hopeful developments in the economy. A decrease has begun in the inflation rate which is more rapid than the expected.'' ''The atmosphere of security provided during the 57th government's term in office, has made an important contrubition to improvement of tourism. Now, our prior target is to increase production. Therefore, we have to provide the necessary source. The problem is not only the source. At the same time, we should activate bureaucracy. As it was pointed out at the Higher Planning Board's statement, there are psychological obstacles in front of bureaucracy. Bureaucrats and public workers should rely on that they would not get into trouble because of the deals they signed legally,'' he stressed. Prime Minister Ecevit added, ''after the 57th government has come to the power, struggle against corruption has accelerated. Political will in the government has provided it. Struggle against corruption will continue without interruption. We should store bureaucracy confidence while we have been struggling against corruption. This is the duty of a state of law. It is also a necessity of sound and rapid development.'' (To be continued) [14] TRANSFER OF NUCLEAR WASTE THROUGH STRAITSISTANBUL - Prof. Dr. Sarman Gencay from theIstanbul Technical University (ITU) Nuclear Energy Institute said on Saturday that it was very difficult to prevent transfer of nuclear waste through the Turkish Straits. ''Turkey must form a very good team and determine measures against transfer of nuclear waste through the Straits,'' he said. Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Gencay said that there were three kinds of nuclear waste in the world such as low, medium and high level radioactive substances, and that the nuclear waste that Russia was planning to carry via the Straits was ''high level'' radioactive. ''Transfer of nuclear waste through the Straits is risky, of course. We should do everything to prevent this but it is very difficult. Because, this matter has been on the European agenda for a long time. Now, Russia allocated a large area to bury nuclear waste. This waste will be carried to Russia whether or not we want it,'' he said. ''Almost ten thousand tons of nuclear waste is created a year, and most of the waste in in the United States. I don't think that the United States will send nuclear waste to Russia,'' he added. [15] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT HOLDS A PRESS CONFERENCE (2)ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said onSaturday that they were protecting financial discipline while they were supporting imports and increase in production. Holding a press conference at the Prime Ministry Office, Ecevit said that coordination, cooperation and harmonization among the relevant state organizations should be set up, adding, ''this is the prior condition for drawing foreign capital.'' Stressing that the government and parliament were working rapidly, Ecevit said that they attributed importance to also contribution of bureaucracy. Ecevit said that as it had been stated following Thursday's Higher Planning Board (YPK) meeting, they were determined to finalize legislative works which were conditions mentioned in the economic program, in June. Noting that signing of all government bills within this scope by the Council of Ministers members had ended, Ecevit said that they believed that the parliament would rapidly legalize those bills. Recalling that one of them was Tobacco law, Ecevit said that as it had been stated following Thursday's YPK meeting, they would offer opportunities and arrangements to farmers, which were necessary for planting of more profitable crop in fields where tobacco couldn't be planted, and later, they would give the start for implementation. ''The need for this is felt especially in Southeast. We will pave the way for prosperity of farmers,'' he said. Ecevit said that purification of land mines in border regions was another important project for the Southeast. ''Thus a broad productive soil will be opened to agriculture and offered to farmers who don't have land. The area of mine- planted region is 306 thousand hectares. Besides, we will continue accelerating return-to-village project. The 57th government will be the government of initiative and progress both in industry and agriculture,'' he said. Later, Prime Minister Ecevit responded to questions of journalists. When recalled by a journalists that International Monetary Fund (IMF) European One Department Director Michael Deppler criticized the program due to salaries of public workers and wheat prices, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''we notified the IMF on our opinions. Any problem is out of question.'' Prime Minister Ecevit rejected allegations saying that Sadettin Tantan who resigned from Interior Ministry, was invited to the Democratic Left Party (DSP) by State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan. When asked, ''Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that the lowest rate in the election law was planned to be 5 percent, and that this proposal could be submitted to the parliament. Will the proposal be submitted to parliament during this legislative year?'' Ecevit told reporters, ''the parliament will recess at the end of June. It will debate laws regarded with the economic program till that day. It is hard for the parliament to spend time on other drafts.'' Prime Minister Ecevit expressed his concerns about Russia's decision to transport nuclear susbtance through the Straits. Responding to a question about his dialogue with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov which was published in a newspaper today, Prime Minister Ecevit told reporters, ''the news story was exaggerated. I told Mr. Ivanov that Chechen terrorists were captured immediately, and legal investigation was launched against them. He told me that they would hold a meeting at the Swisshotel which was stormed by terrorists, by smiling. Such news stories upset both me and Mr. Ivanov.'' (End) [16] LOGAN, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY:[17] ''REFORM PROGRAM SHOULD BE SUCCESSFUL TO REALIZE ATATURK'SVISION TO MAKE TURKEY A STABLE, PROSPEROUS AND DEMOCRATICEUROPEAN STATE BASED ON MARKET ECONOMY AND SUPREMACY OF LAW'' KAYSERI - David Logan, the British Ambassador to Turkey, said on Saturday that the reform program should be successful to realize Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's vision to make Turkey a stable, prosperous and democratic European state based on market economy and supremacy of law. Speaking at a conference organized by Association of Industrialists and Businessmen (KAYSIAD) in central province of Kayseri on ''Turkey and Britain, Economic Relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU), and Further Improvement of These Relations'', Logan said that what was requested from Turkey for the EU membership was not different from what was asked from other 12 candidates. Logan said that Turkey had applied on its own desire and free will to adjust its laws and administration with the EU's laws and administration. Noting that the decision taken at Helsinki Summit in 1999 was the basis of dialogue between Turkey and the EU in many fields such as consumer rights and administrative organizations, Logan said, ''I know that there were people in Turkey who believed that Turkey would be forced to make concessions which would weaken its territorial integrity, under the guise of political criteria for the EU full membership. A weak and separated Turkey will not be beneficial for the EU. Another matter is the Cyprus question. As a guarantor power, we have been expending utmost effort to encourage finding a lasting solution to problems on the island. We are in favor of a solution envisaging a bizonal and bicommunal federal Cyprus that will become a full member of the EU. No one wants Turkey to make a choice between its benefits in the EU and on Cyprus.'' Noting that the decisions taken at Helsinki Summit included some sensitive fields such as minorities and human rights, Logan said that dialogue with the EU should not be considered an attempt to intervene in Turkey's domestic affairs. Logan said that the dialogue between Turkey and the EU aimed at determining what Turkey should do to fulfil membership criteria. He emphasized that British government had been fully supporting Turkey's full membership to the EU. Referring to economic crisis in Turkey, Logan said that the crisis prevented Turkey from maintaining its political and social reforms and using its economic potential completely. Noting that they supported the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s giving a source of 14 billion U.S. dollars to assist Turkey in fulfilling its economic reform plans, Logan said that if Turkey implemented the program successfully, the program would pave the way for a more stable and prosperous future of Turkey. Rejecting allegations saying that IMF or international community had been putting pressure on Turkey, Logan said that the reform package was Turkey's program, and that it was supported by the international community. He stressed that the reform program should be successful to realize Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's vision to make Turkey a stable, prosperous and democratic European state based on market economy and supremacy of law. Logan added that trade volume between Turkey and Britain which had been 2 billion U.S. dollars five years ago, increased up to 5.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2000. [18] VILLAGE GUARDS IN ADIYAMAN CLAIM THEY SEE UFOADIYAMAN - Village guards in southeasternprovince of Adiyaman claimed that they saw a big tray-like flying shining object and followed this object with night vision goggles. Sources said on Saturday that a group of village guards and gendarme soldiers who were patrolling around a mountainous terrain in the north of Dandirmaz village in Tut township of Adiyaman had seen at about 22:00 hours on Friday that a tray-like shining object had taken off from the ground and faded into the distance. Village guards claimed that they had spotted the extraterrestrial object from 1.5-2 kilometers away and later it had disappeared 45 minutes after it had landed and taken off for several times. Village guards Hakan Unal, Fevzi Cebe, Ibrahim Yilmaz and Yusuf Yilmaz said, ''red and yellow lights were shining from the object's upper part which seems like a window, and the bottom part of the object was like a dish and it was spinning continuously. We followed it with night vision goggles for some time.'' [19] AGREEMENT REACHED ON ISTANBUL+5 DECLARATIONNEW YORK - Agreement was reached on finaldeclaration which will be released at the end of United Nations General Assembly's special session on ''Istanbul+5''. The declaration envisaging provide enough dwelling for everyone was approved late on Friday. The declaration also included commitments about sustainable development of human settlements in the urbanizing world. Release of the declaration was delayed after delegates could not reach agreement on an Arab-initiated paragraph to criticize Israel without giving name, for building Jewish settlement units on Palestinian lands. The paragraph supported by the Group of 77, a bloc of 131 developing nations, did not mention either Israel or Palestine by name but emphasized, ''the illegality under international law of any transfer of civilian population of the occupying power to the occupied territories and the establishment of settlements in those territories.'' The three-day special session organized by the Nairobi-based U.N. Center for Human Settlement, was convened to evaluate the progress on an action plan on housing approved at the Habitat-II Meeting which was held in Istanbul in 1996.
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