Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-07-16

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

16 JULY 2001 Monday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] TREASURY TO SELL SEVEN-MONTH BONDS ON TUESDAY

[03] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CONTINUES ITS STUDIES ON LAW OF CONDITIONAL RELEASE

[04] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK SAYS DEATH FASTS HAVE NO MEANING

[05] ENERGY MINISTER CAKAN LEAVES FOR LEBANON TO ATTEND SIX-WAY INTERCONNECTION PROJECT 8TH MINISTERS COUNCIL

[06] IMF DELEGATION STARTS CONTACTS

[07] CULTURE MINISTRY TO TURN OLD SYNAGOGUE INTO MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE

[08] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT SAYS THERE IS NOT ANY SITUATION WHICH REQUIRES HIS MEDIATION BETWEEN MHP AND DERVIS

[09] DENKTAS:''GREEK CYPRIOTS ARE TRYING TO INTIMIDATE COUNTRIES WHICH FEEL SYMPATHY FOR US''

[10] GERMAN FOCUS MAGAZINE SAYS TURKEY TO BREAK RECORD IN TOURISM

[11] EXPERTS WARN PEOPLE OF ERZURUM FOR POSSIBLE EARTHQUAKES

[12] STATE MINISTER SAYS 100 BILLION TL SENT TO KARS TO MEET NEEDS OF FLOOD VICTIMS

[13] ECHR TO ANNOUNCE ITS DECISION REGARDING APPLICATIONS OF FORMER DEP DEPUTIES

[14] EROGLU: ''A RECOGNIZED TRNC WOULD BRING GREEK CYPRIOTS TO NEGOTIATION TABLE MORE EASILY''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

INTEREST EXAMINATION WITH IMF THIS TIME
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, led by Juha Kahkonen, the IMF Turkey Desk Chief, will start talks on Monday within the scope of the 9th review. ''High interest rates,'' will form the focus point of the works of the IMF.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

YASEMIN DALKIRAN BREAKS RECORD AGAIN
Yasemin Dalkilic, a driver broke her own record, diving to a depth of 105 meters (346.5 feet) on a single breath in the Red Sea. Yasemin Dalkilic, 22, from Ankara, broke her previous best in the limited variable ballast category by five meters (16.5 feet).

SABAH (LIBERAL)

REJECTION FROM IZGI WHICH SURPRISED PUTIN
Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi, by showing an attitude which was rarely seen in Turkish history, cancelled his visit to Russia. Russian Duma Speaker invited Izgi to Russia a while ago. Izgi's visit to this country had been envisaged to take place in June together with a five-people delegation. As the program was underway, Izgi requested a meeting with Vladimir Putin, the Russian Head of State, and Kasyanov, the Russian Prime Minister. However, the Russian side said Putin's meeting with the Parliament speakers was not a ''tradition.''

In response, the Parliamentary Chairmanship recalled that Duma Speaker was received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in Turkey. Following those statements, schedule of the visit came from Russia. It was seen that Russian Parliament Speaker was foreseen to meet the Turkish delegation only one day because of his planned program.

Parliament Speaker Izgi, who got angry to the developments, ''we reiterate our request to meet Putin and Kasyanov. On the contrary, the visit will not take place.'' Russian side was surprised and preferred not to give response. Upon this, Izgi wrote a message to the Russian side and cancelled his visit.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

TURKEY GIVES S.O.S.
The economic crisis which shook Turkey increased unemployment. A total of one million people were dismissed from work due to the economic crisis. Persons who were dismissed were particularly in the sectors of banking, textile, leather and press.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

NO PASSAGE FROM THE STRAITS
Ramazan Mirzaoglu, the State Minister responsible for Maritime, said they would not allow passage of vessels from the straits carrying nuclear wastes. Mirzaoglu said, ''we will not absolutely let those passages. I don't think the Russian people and environmentalists will allow the initiatives of those people to turn Russia into a nuclear dump.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

MOUNTINEER FOUND DEAD ON AGRI
The dead body of Mehmet Sertac Tumerdem, a pyhsical education teacher from western Izmir province, who went missing while climbing Agri mountain, was found 20 meters below the top of the mountain. Voluntary Search and Rescue Team AKUT found the dead body which was frozen.

ANKARA MAYOR GOKCEK SAYS HE CAN JOIN REFORMIST GROUP
Melih Gokcek, the mayor of Ankara, who was a member of the banned Virtue Party (FP) said that he can join the reformist group which separated from the Virtue Party (FP). If Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the former mayor of Istanbul and the leader of the reformist group, who was barred from politics, can return to politics, he thinks of working with Erdogan, Gokcek said.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Civilization of the National Security Council (NSC) is foreseen in the program of the traditionalists, and says lifting of State Security Courts (DGMs) and Higher Board of Education (YOK).

Human rights and the European Union (EU) elements are stressed in the program of the reformists.

SUPPORT TO YILMAZ
Provincial chairmen of the Motherland Party (ANAP), issued a joint statement before the 7th Regular Congress of the ANAP that will take place on August 4-5, and expended support to Mesut Yilmaz, the ANAP leader. The statement said, ''we believe that our party will only be successful under the leadership of Mesut Yilmaz in fight of the country to integrate with the contemporary world.''

[02] TREASURY TO SELL SEVEN-MONTH BONDS ON TUESDAY

The value date of these bonds in July 18, 2001, and the maturity is February 6, 2002.

Meanwhile, Treasury will repay 1 quadrillion 96.5 trillion TL in domestic borrowing on July 18.

Treasury's total domestic borrowing repayments in July will be 5 quadrillion 150 trillion TL.

The Treasury sold nominal-valued 1,1 quadrillion TL bonds in the 238-day auction held on July 10.

The total bid was 344.4 quadrillion TL while the net sale became 710.8 trillion TL. The gross annual interest rate was 83.74 percent while the gross composite interest rate was 95 percent.

[03] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CONTINUES ITS STUDIES ON LAW OF CONDITIONAL RELEASE

Court Chairman Mustafa Bumin responded to questions of journalists on Monday before the Court's meeting.

Upon a question, Bumin said that the decision can be taken in the middle of this week, adding that ''this is only a guess, I don't know how long the negotiation will last. Yet I believe that the examination will end before this weekend.''

The Court will firstly determine the character of the law and after it reaches a consensus on it, it will start to discuss the provisions requested to be annuled.

If the Court finishes its examination on the law on conditional release, it will also discuss the Rent law and the warning given to Re-Birth Party.

[04] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK SAYS DEATH FASTS HAVE NO MEANING

Turk who came to foundation laying ceremony of Erzurum Court House and to hold various contacts, visited Governor Derya Kadıkoglu and got information about the problems of the province.

Turk said that Turkey has suffered due to the ward system for years and the state had difficulty in maintaining security in these prisons. Turk noted that the state was able to bring control to these prisons with the operation return to life launched on December 19, 2000.

Turk said that the model they adopted in F type prisons is in line with the prison standarts of the U.N.

Noting that inmates in F type prisons can work together and get education together, Turk said that the aim of those who oppose F type prisons is to keep control in the prison as they wish.

There are pay telephones in F type prisons, Turk said and noted that these phones will also be put in other prisons.

Turk said that preparations are underway to form 'L'' type prisons for inmates who committed simple offenses. There will be single-room in these prisons, yet inmates can carry out social activities throughout the day, Turk stated.

Turk pointed out that the number of prisons in Turkey is too many, adding that the government aims at decreasing the number of prisons by setting up regional prisons.

Turk said that the prisons which are in the cities will be moved out of the cities, Turk said that ''opening prisons does not make us happy, yet we must do that as people continue to commit crimes.''

Turk noted that they will make the prisons in Turkey sample prisons of the world.

[05] ENERGY MINISTER CAKAN LEAVES FOR LEBANON TO ATTEND SIX-WAY INTERCONNECTION PROJECT 8TH MINISTERS COUNCIL

Cakan, who staged a news conference in Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, recalled that with an agreement signed on January 17, 1989, ''Five Country Interconnection Project,'' aiming to link the electricity systems of Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Turkey, was initiated.

Cakan said the project was named as ''Six Country Interconnection,'' afterwards with the participation of Lebanon, noting that decisions taken in Technical Committee Meeting and the situation of the project would be discussed within the scope of this project in Lebanon.

Stressing that he would hold various contacts during his stay in Lebanon, Cakan said, 'I will meet the concerned ministers of countries which the project covers. I will also meet President of Lebanon. I will exchange views with the friendly countries in the Middle East to improve relations in the field of energy.''

Cakan is expected to return to Turkey on July 20.

[06] IMF DELEGATION STARTS CONTACTS

Two experts from the IMF delegation met the economy bureaucrats this morning from the Treasury Undersecretariat. Juha Kahkonen, the Turkey Desk Chief of the IMF, is expected to visit Ankara in the afternoon and joint in ongoing talks in the Treasury.

The delegation will hold contacts in institutions and organizations related with economy, and will evaluate the recent developments in Turkish economy within the framework of the program that is under implementation.

Following the visit of the IMF delegation, the IMF Executive Board will convene regarding the completion of the 9th review. And the third tranche, worth of 1.5 billion U.S. dollars, will be released after approval of the 9th review.

[07] CULTURE MINISTRY TO TURN OLD SYNAGOGUE INTO MUSEUM OF TOLERANCE

Culture Minister Istemihan Talay told the A.A on Monday that the Ottomans welcomed the Jews who escaped from the Inquisition in Spain in 1492 and offered them freedom of religion. He indicated that the Ottoman Empire offered shelter to Jews in a time when they were killed in all Europe.

''Restoration of Bet-Iller Synagogue which is the first one built by the Jews who came to the Ottoman Empire and turning it into a museum could constitute a good message for the whole world. This museum could prove that different regligions could exist together,'' Talay commented.

The culture minister indicated that the restoration of the synagogue would be done with the Jewish community.

The synagogue was decorated by the pictures of the boats they used to escape from Spain. Talay said this was not a restoration of any synagogue but it would also prove that the Turkish nation offered protection to the Jews 500 years ago and offered them to perform their religion freely.

''This museum could be a good answer to those who accuse the Turkish nation for committing a genocide in a very unjust manner. Therefore we have to preserve this synagogue,'' he added.

[08] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT SAYS THERE IS NOT ANY SITUATION WHICH REQUIRES HIS MEDIATION BETWEEN MHP AND DERVIS

Ecevit released a statement regarding the news item which was published in a daily, which was titled ''I will be a mediator for Dervis'' and which quoted his words.

Prime Minister Ecevit said that he did not say such a thing.

Ecevit continued, ''here are the statements I told about MHP and Dervis in the news item: The relations were tense at a time but the matter which caused the tension was removed. I think that their relations will have a good course. I will do my best to enable the harmonization of this government. And, I will exert efforts now if necessary. All I told the daily were these words. There is not any situation which requires my mediation.''

Ecevit noted that he regards the campaigns of some circles for ''a government of technotrats'' as strange and noted, ''those who try to launch these campaigns shake the ground of democracy but they may not be aware of this.''

Ecevit added, ''those who react to our government for just or unjust reasons should refrain from overshadowing democracy.''

[09] DENKTAS:''GREEK CYPRIOTS ARE TRYING TO INTIMIDATE COUNTRIES WHICH FEEL SYMPATHY FOR US''

Reporters asked Denktas to comment on the news that appeared in the Greek Cypriot media which said the Greek Cypriot Administration, which feared that the Arab countries might officially recognize the TRNC, started taking actions. Denktas said ''They regard us being heard, seen, and recognized as a continious threat for themselves. This is because they know that they are standing on a very weak ground.''

Denktas said that the title ''Cyprus government'' of the Greek Cypriot Administration was a ''stolen and false'' title. ''They are living in constant fear that the precious stones might be taken back from them,'' Denktas said likening the Greek Cypriots to a ''thief.'' The TRNC president said ''Lies of the Greek Cypriots started to be revealed.''

''We are only doing what we should be doing and thanking the countries which listen to us with sympathy. Now the whole world started understanding what the Greek Cypriots had done to us which was much worse than what Milosevic has done,'' he concluded.

[10] GERMAN FOCUS MAGAZINE SAYS TURKEY TO BREAK RECORD IN TOURISM

The magazine wrote about the positive indicators of Turkish tourism and said that this is the first time that Turkey expects more than 3 million Germans this year.

Focus said that Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu noted that they expected 12 million tourists to visit Turkey during the International Tourism Market in Berlin in March.

Mumcu increased this number to 13 million and stressed that almost 25 billion German marks will be obtained from tourism in a new statement he made in Ankara, the magazine noted.

Focus stated that Turkey is the winner of this summer and quoted Mumcu as saying that 30 percent of people who visit Turkey are coming from Germany.

The magazine pointed out that one of two tourists in and around Antalya is German and said that many British and Russian people also visit the region.

Focus said that massive earthquake and terrorist activities in Turkey have been forgotten and published the words of Turkey Studies Center Director Faruk Sen and Oger Tours Executive Board Chairman Vural Oger.

The magazine said that Oger defined this year's tourism season as ''extraordinary'' and noted that giant German travelling agency TUI increased its tours to Turkey almost by 100 percent.

Turkey is a cheap country to spend a holiday for foreigners, Focus stated.

The magazine added that almost 6 and a half million German people plan to visit Turkey once in their life.

[11] EXPERTS WARN PEOPLE OF ERZURUM FOR POSSIBLE EARTHQUAKES

Erzurum's Pasinler township had an earthquake measuring 5.4 on Richter scale on July 12. Some people spent the night out after last night's earthquake which measured 4.0. Seventeen aftershocks followed last night's earthquake which were between 1.0 and 2.8.

Prof. Ahmet Ercan, Chairman of Turkey Earthquake Council told the A.A that there were doubts about the magnitude of the earthquake in Pasinler which was believed to be 5.4. ''Pasinler was not hit by a big earthquake. 5.4 is 175 percent smaller than the expected magnitude,'' he said. ''Erzurum is located on a tension point. The pulses of this fault should be monitored continiously. This would reveal the high tension points and we can act accordingly,'' he said.

Ercan indicated that there were no earthquake measuring equipments in Kars and Ardahan. He said that the Turkish Earthquake Council was getting ready to start a campaign to install an earthquake measuring equipment for every province.

He remarked that his council was doing researches about urbanization in Erzurum and said it was wrong to expand the city to the valley. He said the safest area in Erzurum was Palandoken Mountain and its skirts.

[12] STATE MINISTER SAYS 100 BILLION TL SENT TO KARS TO MEET NEEDS OF FLOOD VICTIMS

Gemici released a statement in which he said that the Fund sent 100 billion TL to Kars to meet the urgent needs of 250 flood victims.

Flood hit eastern Kars province and its townships on July 10.

[13] ECHR TO ANNOUNCE ITS DECISION REGARDING APPLICATIONS OF FORMER DEP DEPUTIES

Leyla Zana, Selim Sadak, Hatip Dicle and Orhan Dogan, in the application they made to the ECHR in 1996, had claimed that Turkey violated Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) regarding the freedom of expression, Article 11 about setting up organizations, Article 14 about the prohibition of discrimination and Article 6 about a suspect's right to receive a fair trial.

The ex-deputies who were sentenced to 15 years in prison claimed that they didn't get a fair trial in Turkey since there was a military judge in State Security Court (DGM) which tried them.

The ECHR had sentenced Turkey to pay compensation after examining the first application of six ex-deputies of DEP, Mahmut Alinak, Sirri Sakik, Ahmet Turk, Hatip Dicle, Orhan Dogan and Leyla Zana. During this case, the ECHR had decided that Turkey violated articles related to detention and trial periods of the European Convention of Human Rights.

[14] EROGLU: ''A RECOGNIZED TRNC WOULD BRING GREEK CYPRIOTS TO NEGOTIATION TABLE MORE EASILY''

''Only a recognized TRNC could bring the Greek Cypriot Administration, which remains intransigent because they are recognized and accepted in the EU, to the negotiation table,'' Eroglu said.

He also remarked that the TRNC was expecting Azerbaijan to be the second country after Turkey to recognize the TRNC, when he received Azerbaijan Parliament Foreign Relations Commission Cemil Hasanov and the accompanying six reporters on Monday.

Eroglu said the TRNC would work to deepen its friendship with Azerbaijan. ''Azerbaijani people are our brothers and we are very much pleased that they founded an independent state on their own. We're hoping that their conflict with Armenia would be resoved and our Azerbaijani brothers would return to their homes,'' he said.

Underlining that international recognition of the TRNC was necessary to reach an agreement in Cyprus, Eroglu said ''If the TRNC sits at the negotiation table as a recognized country, the Greek Cypriots would accept the confederation proposal more easily.''

He said that the intransigent attitude of the Greek Cypriots was caused by their recognized status and their hopes to join the EU next year.

Hasanov said that Azerbaijan knows TRNC better today when compared with a decade ago.

They know about the struggle of TRNC, Hasanov noted and said that they wish that a fair government and confederation based on the rights of Turkish Cypriot people will be founded in the island.

Hasanov stated that security of Turkish Cypriots was ensured by the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation and that the histories of Turkish Cypriots and Azerbaijani people have similarities.

Azerbaijani people were subject to Armenian and Russian attacks and some bad incidents occured in Upper Karabakh, Hasanov said.

Hasanov noted that they lost their territory and more than 1 million Azerbaijani people became immigrants.

None of the Azerbaijani Turks consents to the occupation of his or her territory by the Armenians, Hasanov stressed.

Hasanov pointed out that the world, which does not pay attention to the aggressiveness of Armenia, does not want to acknowledge the rights of Turkish Cypriots.

Azerbaijan gained its independence ten years ago and has marked many developments so far, Hasanov said.

Hasanov noted that as a Turkish republic, Azerbaijan has close relations with TRNC and that Azerbaijani students have education in universities in TRNC and Azerbaijani lecturers work in these universities.

Firstly educational and cultural relations then political relations will be promoted, Hasanov said.

Hasanov said that he is very hopeful that Azerbaijan will be the second Turkish republic which recognizes the independence of TRNC.

Azerbaijan is represented in some international organizations and these representatives defend the rights of Turkish societies, Hasanov noted.

Hasanov added that educational relations will have a key role in promoting relations in other issues.

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