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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-06-11Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 11 JUNE 2001 Monday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 11, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)''WE SHOULD SUPPORT TURKEY''According to German Der Spiegel Magazine, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told U.S. President George W. Bush at a meeting in the White House that they should support Turkey. The leaders discussed economic crisis in Turkey and its possible impacts on world economy. PALIANI BECOMES WORLD CHAMPION A 5.7-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE OCCURS IN AEGEAN SEA MILLIYET (LIBERAL)THIS TIME BAL CREATES CRISISStatement of State Minister Faruk Bal from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) disrupted plans of State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy. During his visit to New York, the U.S., State Minister Bal said, ''liquidation of Emlakbank will not be beneficial to our economy. The bank can be shrinked and rehabilitated. Therefore, liquidation of the bank should be discussed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) again.'' State Minister Dervis was planning to provide the second tranche of the foreign source during the IMF meeting on June 24 after approval of the law regarded with the Emlakbank. GENC RESIGNS removal from the office. Yucelen offered Genc to serve as governor of norheastern province of Ardahan. MINIMUM WAGE TO INCREASE BY 5 MILLION LIRAS SABAH (LIBERAL)MOST CRITICAL TEN DAYSThe Constitutional Court will start debating the closure case against the Virtue Party (FP) on Tuesday. The case is expected to be finalized in seven or ten days. Former Chief Prosecutor Vural Savas and new Chief Prosecutor Sabih kanadoglu prepared two separate indictments for closure of the FP. If the Constitutional Court decides to close down the FP in accordance with Savas's indictment, a political quake will occur in Turkey. BLOOD FEUD CLAIMS SIX LIVES RALLY HELD IN ANKARA CUMHURIYET (LEFT)CUKUROVA STATE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA DUE TO SYRIAAs a new era has begun in relations between Turkey and Syria, a Turkish orchestra will go to Syria for the first time in years. The Cukurova State Symphony Orchestra of the Culture Ministry will give a concert at the Azem Palace in Damascus on June 16. The orchestra conducted by Emin Guven Yaslicam, will play works of Ulvi Cemal Erkin, Dvorak and Mozart. ISTANBUL TOPS ORGANIZED CRIME LIST FOSSIL OF A MALE HOMINOID UNEARTHED IN CANKIRI RADIKAL (LEFT)120 PEOPLE DETAINEDA total of 120 people were detained on charges of making separatist propaganda during the football tournament organized in Yuregir and Seyhan townships of southern province of Adana by the People's Democracy Party (HADEP). BAHCELI: ''EU FOLLOWS A DOUBLE-STANDARD POLICY AGAINST TURKEY'' State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said, ''there are foreign circles aiming at resolving the Cyprus question with a fait accompli, and there are some internal factors trying to ease these circles' aim intentionally or unintentionally.'' Speaking at the MHP's Sixth Extended Regional Consultation Meeting in central province of Kayseri, Bahceli stressed, ''a prejudiced and double-standard policy has been followed against Turkey by the European Union (EU). It will be unfair and wrongful to expect Turkey to support a defense and security policy in which it does not participate actively. The most important thing is to put into practice a realistic defense identity without damaging NATO's existence and functions.'' TRAFFIC E-MAIL GROUP STARTS FIGHT AGAINST TRAFFIC TERRORISM TURKIYE (RIGHT)BAHCELI:''OUR STRUGGLE AGAINST CORRUPTION WILL CONTINUE AT ANY COST''State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said, ''our struggle against corruption will continue at any cost. We will continue to develop policy for unity, welfare and future of our country.'' Bahceli described unfair distribution of income and unemployment as the most serious problems in Turkey. TREASURY TO SELL 6-MONTH BONDS ON TUESDAY ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)FP: ''WE EXPECT PRESIDENT SEZER TO VETO RTUK LAW''Lutfi Esenturk, the Deputy Chairman of the Virtue Party (FP) said that they expected President Ahmet Sezer to veto the new Law on Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) which was adopted with the votes of coalition partners. He said, ''otherwise, we will apply to the Constitutional Court for annulment of the law.'' [02] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO START DEBATING CLOSURE CASE 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 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] WORLD BANK DELEGATION TO START HOLDING CONTACTS ON STATE TENDER DRAFT LAWANKARA - World Bank delegation will start holding talks on the State Tender Law Amendment, one of the main arrangements of the Transition Program for a Sound Economy, on Monday.The delegation will hold a series of contacts on the draft prepared by Finance Ministry and Public Works and Housing Ministry officials. During the contacts, World Bank delegation will convey its views and recommendations to Turkish officials. World Bank which has opposed to exceptions in the draft regarded with construction, wants Turkey to make important arrangements to put an end to misuses in the construction field. Meanwhile, a European Union (EU) delegation will come to Turkey this week to hold contacts on the draft. The EU said that the draft law was far away from conforming to EU directives. Finance Ministry officials said that they had been continuing to work on the tender reform together with Public Works and Housing Ministry officials. They added that the draft would be given its last shape by taking into consideration the views of the World Bank and the EU. The draft was designed to ensure transparency and fairness in bidding procedures for government contracts. [04] ISTANBUL TO HOST OECD MEETINGANKARA - Istanbul will host the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Council meeting on June 14, 2001.Releasing a statement, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Foreign Minister Ismail Cem would deliver a speech at the meeting that would be presided by OECD Secretary General Donald Johnston. ''It will be the fourth meeting held in another place except for the OECD headquarters in Paris since signing of the OECD convention in 1961. The first three meetings were held in Tokyo in 1989, in Berlin in 1991 and Warsaw in 2000,'' it said. Following the meeting, another meeting will be held on June 15 at Istanbul's Center for Development of Private Sector. [05] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ AND AUSTRIAN PRIME MINISTER SCHUSSEL TO OPEN CONFERENCE ON TURKEY-AUSTRIA-EUROPEVIENNA - Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and Austrian Prime Minister Wolfgang Schussel will address the opening remarks of the Conference on Turkey-Austria-Europe which will be held in Vienna between June 18 and 19.Turkey-European Union (EU) relations, developments in Turkish economy and investment opportunities will be debated in the conference. Politicians, businessmen, bank managers and economy experts from Turkey and several EU member countries will attend the conference which will be jointly held by Alpbach Europe Forum, Sabanci University and Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK). The conference aims to further improve economic relations between Turkey and EU and between Turkey and Austria and to debate the problems that Turkey faces in the EU full membership process. Developments in Turkish economy, the facilities provided for foreign investors, and privatization will be discussed in the panel discussions which will be held within the framework of the conference. Turkish businessmen, officials of the Privatization Administration Board, bank managers, European businessmen, journalists and representatives of the EU will join the panel discussions. Sarik Tara, the chairman of DEIK; Nihat Akyol, the Turkish Permanent Representative to the EU; Meral Gezgin Eris, the chairperson of the Economic Development Foundation; Volkan Vural, the Secretary General for the EU; Cem Duna, the former Ambassador to the EU; Ugur Bayar, the chairman of the Privatization Administration Board; former Central Bank Governor Yavuz Canvevi; Ahmet Kilicoglu, the general manager of Turkish Eximbank; Ahmet Bozer, the chairman of Coca-Cola Europe-Asia; Oktay Varlier, the coordinator of Alarko Holding; Sureyya Yucel Ozdan, a member of Executive Board of Game company; Tevfik Yamanturk, a member o fthe Guris Executive Board; Nuri Colakoglu, the chairman of the Yeni Medya company; Ahmet Evin, a lecturer of the Sabanci University; and Erdogan Alkin, the chairman of the TEN Investment, will speak at the panel discussions. Oskar Benedikt, Peter Tempel and Hannes Swoboda of the EU and Faruk Sen, the director of the Turkish Studies Center, will speak at the panel discussions in which Turkey-EU relations will be debated. Meanwhile, Yilmaz will deliver a speech at an unofficial meeting which will be held prior to the conference. Yilmaz, who will arrive in Vienna on June 17, will speak at a meeting the same night in which the announcers, organizators, and representatives of the organizations which support the conference will attend. Deputy Prime Minister of Austria and Susane Riess-Passer, the leader of the Liberalists Party, will join this meeting. [06] MEETING OF COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ENDS -NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU TELLS MINISTERS THAT EXAMINATION DID NOT REVEAL ANY DEFECT IN PRODUCTION OF CASA PLANESANKARA - National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu told the Council of Ministers that the examination carried out regarding the CASA planes which crashed into the ground during test flight did not reveal any defect in production of these planes.Following the meeting of the Council of Ministers, Yilmaz Karakoyunlu, the State Minister and the spokesman of the government, told reporters that Cakmakoglu informed the ministers about the examination made on the two CASA planes which had crashed into the ground. Karakoyunlu said that this examination was carried out by the Office of Chief of General Staff, National Defense Ministry, Defense Industry Undersecretariat, Naval Forces Commandership, and civil aviation institutions. The last decision about the two plane crashes can be given after the black boxes of both planes are examined, Karakoyunlu quoted Cakmakoglu as saying. Karakoyunlu noted that the ministers did not express their views about this issue and that the statement made by Cakmakoglu was satisfactory. The press will be informed about the latest developments regarding the examination of the black boxes, Karakoyunlu stated. Karakoyunlu said that Environment Minister Fevzi Aytekin informed the Council of Ministers about the security of the crossing of vessels through the Straits. Karakoyunlu quoted Aytekin as saying that they can take action against the crossings through the Canakkale and Istanbul Straits, which can cause danger within the framework of the international agreements and that they will comply with all the provisions of these agreements. Ramazan Mirzaoglu, the State Minister for Maritime, said that vessel crossing through the Straits is free under the Montreux Treaty but that measures to prevent possible dangers during the crossing of a vessel through the Straits can be taken, Karakoyunlu noted. Karakoyunlu quoted Aytekin as saying that the European Union (EU) members and the Mediterranean countries are beside Turkey regarding all the measures that should be taken for the security of the Straits within the framework of the relevant agreements. Responding to a question, Karakoyunlu said that the Council of Ministers did not debate the economic issues at the meeting. Upon another a question, Karakoyunlu said that the Council of Ministers did not discuss the high-level appointments. Karakoyunlu responded in negative to the question if Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit gave information about his official visits to Brussels and Goteborg. Responding to a question if the safe crossing through the Straits was brought to the agenda due to a special purpose, Karakoyunlu said, ''no. The issue was not debated due to a specific purpose.'' When a reporter reminded him about the decision of Russia regarding the storage of nuclear wastes, Karakoyunlu said, ''I read a news story about this issue. But, it is not connected with Russia. The safe crossing through the Straits was debated in general. We all said that the Environment Ministry, the State Ministry for Maritime, Foreign Ministry and the Justice Ministry should held contacts and debate the issue regarding all its dimensions.'' Asked about the measures to be taken for a secure crossing through the Straits, Karakoyunlu said that he cannot give any information about this issue because measures were not debated at the meeting. [07] STATE MINISTER DERVIS SAYS THEY DON'T PLAN TO CARRY OUT 8 BILLION DOLLARS OF DEBT SWAPANKARA - State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy said on Monday that they did not plan to carry out an 8 billion U.S. dollars of debt swap.When asked by journalists whether or not an 8 billion U.S. dollars of bid had come to the debt swap from banks, Dervis said, ''it was not that much. Actually, we don't plan to carry out such an amount of debt swap.'' Meanwhile, sources said that Treasury's offer to banks in the debt swap would be almost 5 billion U.S. dollars. [08] ''CONFERENCE ON STORY OF THREE SEAS'' TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL BETWEEN 19-21 JUNEISTANBUL - The international conference ''Story of Three Seas: Integration With World Energy'' will be held in Istanbul between 19-21 June.The conference is sponsored by Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Business Council and Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA). The conference which will be held under auspices of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will serve promotion of progress recorded in energy field in Black Sea, Caspian Sea and Eastern Mediterranean regions and their broad potential to the investors in the world. Ministers and high-level officials from relevant countries and almost 400 businessmen intersted in energy issues are expected to attend the conference at which latest developments about Baku-Ceyhan and Tengiz- Novorossiysk pipeline projects will be discussed and at which Turkey's key role in the region will be put forward once again. Energy and Natural resources Minister Zeki Cakan, BP Executive Board Chairman John Browne, Shell Central Asia Deputy Director Gavin Graham, ENI Director Vittorio Mincato and OPIC Caspian Basin Investment Director Mara Bolis will attend the conference. BSEC Business Council and DEIK Board member Nihat Gokyigit and CERA official Steven McCarthy will hold a joint press conference at The Marmara Hotel on June 15 prior to the conference which will take place at the Conrad International Hotel. [09] KAHKONEN HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE (1) -TURKISH AND IMF OFFICIALS AGREE ON SUBMISSION OF UPDATED LETTER OF INTENTANKARA - International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kohkonen said on Monday that the Turkish and IMF officials agreed on submission of an updated letter of intent to the IMF Board.Kahkonen held a press conference at the Treasury Undersecretariat building on the eight review talks they wrapped up in Turkey following the new economic program. Kahkonen said that they had reached an agreement with the Turkish officials on submission of an updated letter of intent which included the steps that would be taken in the economy from now on. Noting that the letter of intent would prepare the necessary ground for the meeting of the IMF Executive Directors Board, Kahkonen said that another tranche of loan to Turkey would be approved if the Board took a positive decision. Kahkonen said that the next review talks would be held in July. [10] EU SAYS DEVELOPMENTS IN TURKEY'S ACCESSION STRATEGY ARE POSITIVELUXEMBOURG - The European Union (EU) Council said on Monday that it was pleased with the developments recorded within the framework of developed political dialogue with Turkey.The EU General Works Council which continues its meeting in Luxembourg took initiative to remove uneasiness created in candidate countries following the referendum in Ireland by releasing a statement. The statement released by EU foreign ministers stressed the ''importance of enlargement process''. Emphasizing the importance of progess recorded in implementation of Turkey's EU accession strategy, the Council said that it was pleased with the Turkish government's approving the National Program which included the things that it should fulfil during the accession process. Noting that it had some worries over the human rights issue, the EU Council said that concrete measures should be taken to remove those worries. Extending support to the Turkish government's economic program and to contributions of the IMF and World Bank, the statement said that the EU Council believed that a serious implementation would restore stability in the Turkish economy. [11] TURKEY-IMF TALKS -TREASURY: ''ALMOST 1.5 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF SOURCE WILL BE RELEASED FOLLOWING APPROVAL OF EIGHTH REVIEW''ANKARA - Treasury Undersecretariat said on Monday that almost 1.5 billion U.S. dollars of source would be released following approval of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) eighth review visit.Meanwhile, a letter of intent which assesses the progress recorded in program's economic performance and in factors that were mentioned in the economic policies letter on May 3, 2001, will be submitted to the IMF for completion of the eighth review. Treasury Undersecretariat released a statement on the eighth review talks in Ankara with the IMF delegation headed by IMF's Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen. The statement said that Treasury Undersecretariat expected the IMF delegation to propose the IMF Executive Directors Board to conclude the eighth review and that it expected the IMF Board to convene through the end of June to assess the eighth review. The statement stressed that the ninth review was expected to be held in July. The statement said that after the program for transition into powerful economy was put into practice and IMF's Turkey program was strengthened, the IMF delegation headed by Kahkonen wrapped up the same day the eighth review which was the first review of the stand-by deal. Recalling that the IMF delegation had held contacts at the relevant economic units and gotten information on the recent developments in the economy during the review visit, the statement said, ''during its visit, the IMF delegation has held contacts on the developments in the public finance, banking and structural reforms which are on the agenda.'' The statement added that a letter of intent which assessed the progress recorded in program's economic performance and in factors that were mentioned in the economic policies letter on May 3, 2001, was prepared for completion of the eighth review, and that this letter would be sent to the IMF soon. [12] KAHKONEN HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE (2) -''IF THE DOMESTIC DEBT SWAP IS CARRIED OUT SUCCESSFULLY, DOMESTIC DEBT MATURITY WILL EXTEND AND ITS RISK WILL BE REDUCED''ANKARA - International Monetary Fund 's (IMF) Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen said on Monday that maturity of domestic debt would extend and its risk would be reduced if the domestic debt swap was carried out successfully.During the press conference he held on the eighth review talks, Kahkonen answered questions of reporters. Responding to a question, Kahkonen said that the government continued working with international advisors on the domestic debt swap. Noting that this swap also included factors which could provide reversal of syndicated loans obtained from abroad, Kahkonen said that those factors could be achieved by ensuring non-interest surplus and implementing a supplementary budget in line with program's targets. Responding to another question, Kahkonen said that economic program was very ambitious, and stressed that comprehensive measures which would be taken were important to reduce possible risks of the program. Responding to another question, Kahkonen said that the eighth review would be completed by the end of June and the ninth review would be held next month, adding that conditions of the eighth review were important. Kahkonen said that another loan tranche would be released following approval of the eighth review. Stressing that the conditions of the eighth review had already been fulfilled, Kahkonen said that the economic program was a very transparent program and that there would also be reactions in national and international areas. Kahkonen said that the government for the first time agreed to publicly announce an expert report that the IMF prepared within framework of the eighth review and that this program would be announced in next few days and this was important for transparency. [13] KAHKONEN HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE (3) -KAHKONEN SAYS CLOSURE OF EMLAKBANK WAS MENTIONED IN LETTER OF INTENTANKARA, June 11 (A.A) - International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen said on Monday that the opinions about the closure of Emlak Bankasi of Turkey were mentioned in the letter of intent.Kahkonen told a press conference that the government made a commitment about the closure of Emlak Bankasi and that the closure of the bank was like a pre-condition. They considered that the government had recorded progress in closure of Emlak Bankasi, Kahkonen said. When asked whether or not there would be revision in inflation and growth targets, Kahkonen said, ''it is too early to make revision in the inflation and growth rates. Inflation and growth rates are in line with the program targets.'' When recalled of public collective agreements and cereals prices, Kahkonen said that those deals had created an additional burden on the budget. ''Officials are taking measures. Some of the compensatory measures have come into force. And some measures will go into effect. I think that announcement of these by government officials is appropriate,'' he said. When asked whether or not a schedule had been set for privatization of Turkish Telekom, Kahkonen said that they did not give a final date for Turkish Telekom but they thought that a professional executive board would bring facilities during the privatization process. Responding to a journalist who said, ''former Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli promised hope in the beginning of the program but later he became obliged to tour with car,'' Kakkonen said, ''I did not take over the program. The government is implementing the program. A new team is leading the economy. And I am doing my best for the success of the program.'' When asked whether or not he had worries over political support, Kahkonen said, ''I previously said that poltical support is very positive. Political support concerns not only Turkey but also abroad. Because, it is followed also in the international area. During our meetings with the minister, he emphasized that he was aware of political support for implementation of the program. We also received messages about this matter.''
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