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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

18 SEPTEMBER 2001 Tuesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] TURKISH DELEGATION DUE TO SYRIA AND LEBANON

[03] NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU LEAVES FOR KAZAKHSTAN

[04] NUMBER OF FOREIGN TOURISTS VISITING TRABZON INCREASES BY 51 PERCENT

[05] AGRICULTURE MINISTER GOKALP SAYS AGRICULTURAL COOPERATION WILL CONTRIBUTE TO PROMOTION OF PEACE, FRIENDSHIP AND BROTHERHOOD IN BALKANS

[06] STATE MINISTER DERVIS SAYS HE FINDS MORATORIUM CLAIMS AS UNSERIOUS

[07] OSCEPA DEPUTY CHAIRMAN TAN SAYS IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO FIGHT AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIMES IN NATIONAL LEVEL

[08] TWO PEOPLE HOLD A DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF NEW PRIME MINISTRY BUILDING BY SETTING AN AUTOMOBILE ON FIRE

[09] TUSIAD TO PROMOTE TURKEY IN SWEDEN

[10] HEZBOLLAH MEMBERS CONFESS KILLING 15 PEOPLE

[11] OZYILDIZ SAYS STRUCTURAL REFORMS TO YIELD POSITIVE RESULTS IN 2002

[12] ANAP DEPUTY CHAIRMAN MUMCU DENOUNCES TERRORIST ATTACKS AS CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

[13] GERMAN JOURNALISTS DUE IN GAP REGION

[14] NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER ADMIRAL ALPKAYA SAYS AN OPERATION COULD NOT BE PLANNED WITHOUT CARRYING OUT DETAILED WORKS

[15] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC SAYS THEY DO NOT INTENT TO GRANT GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION RIGHT TO RULE TURKISH CYPRIOTS

[16] ''MEETING OF TOLERANCE'' HELD AT MOSQUE IN BERLIN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

CONFUSION MADE IN INAUGURATION DUE TO TERRORISM
Spanish Prime Minister Aznar and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit inaugurated the Cervantes Institute in Istanbul on Monday. The inauguration ceremony was held at The Marmara Hotel. However, two prime ministers did not come to the hotel although all the guests were invited there. While the guests were waiting for the ceremony, two prime ministers opened the Cervantes Institute in Tarlabasi. The method used to ensure security confused everybody.

OPERATION NOBLE EAGLE HIT THE LIRA
The New York Stock Exchange experienced a historic decrease on Tuesday while the Operation Noble Eagle hit Turkish lira (TL) the most. One U.S. dollar climbed to 1 million 543 thousand TL.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

CRISIS LEAD TO DECREASE IN CELL PHONE INVOICES
The economic crisis urged cell phone subscribers to make savings. The approximate amount of invoice per subscriber fell 77 percent from 30 to 7 U.S. dollars. The cell phone subscribers who tend to use their phones very much started to make savings following two economic crises.

TREASURY NOT TO OPEN TENDER
The Treasury Undersecretariat announced that it would not open a tender for 2.3 quadrillion Turkish lira (TL) repayment. Officials said that the Treasury will re-pay its debts to be paid on Wednesday from its own sources. Treasury will repay 1 quadrillion 945 trillion TL to Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF)-banks and 347 trillion TL to the markets.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

MHP PROPOSES INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) proposed the United Nations to hold an international conference on struggle against terrorism. MHP said that terrorism should not be considered as a political struggle, and terrorists and those harboring terrorism should be punished with death sentence.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

YILMAZ: ''I DO NOT THINK A LARGE SCALE WAR WILL BE IN QUESTION''
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said, ''I do not think that the United States' operation following last week's terrorist attacks on twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and on the Pentagon building in Washington D.C., would not have a long-term negative impact on the Turkish economy.'' Yilmaz said, ''I do not think that a large-scale war would be in question. There is a comprehensive and determined international solidarity in the world. Therefore, terrorism will be eradicated in a short period of time. A long-term warfare will not be experienced.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)

JOINT CONDEMNATION OF TERRORISM
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Spanish Prime Minister Aznar issued a joint declaration against terrorism: ''nothing can justify acts of terror. Turkey and Spain strongly reject all sorts of terrorist actions occurring in any part of the world, wherever they come from and whomever they are directed at and call for joint action based on international solidarity to eradicate its sources and sanctuaries.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

JP MORGAN RECOMMENDS INVESTMENT IN TURKISH AND EGYPTIAN DEBENTURE BONDS
JP Morgan, a leading global financial organization, stressed that the danger of risk increased following the attacks in the United States, and recommended investors to avoid Pakistani and Mexican bonds and bills, while it advised them to invest in Turkish and Egyptian debenture bonds and bills. JP Morgan also recommended investors to keep some cash in hand. Meanwhile, JP Morgan downgraded Turkey's underweight position from 2.6 percent to 1.5 percent. It said that it underlined Turkey's gepolitical importance as it sheltered American bases as a NATO ally.

ZAMAN (RIGHT)

INCIRLIK BASE STILL ON ALERT
Incirlik Airbase in southern province of Adana, where a series of security measures were taken following last week's terrorist attacks in the United States, has still been on alert. Two Awacs, sophisticated detection aircrafts, a reconnaissance plane, 24 war planes, five tanker planes and four Skorsky-type helicopters took off from the base earlier in the day. Later, 24 war planes, an Awacs and five tanker planes landed at the base. Meanwhile, a three-member team from Japanese television channel Ashai and a correspondent of Greek Alfa television channel came to the region to cover the developments.

[02] TURKISH DELEGATION DUE TO SYRIA AND LEBANON

Uludag Exporters' Unions Secretary General Onder Yavuz told the A.A on Tuesday Turkey's trade volume with neighboring Middle Eastern countries was far away from the desired level.

Noting that trade with these countries regressed following the Gulf War, Yavuz stressed that Middle Eastern countries such as Syria, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq should not be despised.

''Middle Eastern countries are our gates opening to the markets in African continent. These countries signed agreements with African countries. These agreements include mutual reduction in tax. Turkey can benefit from these advantages,'' he said.

Yavus noted, ''a commercial delegation will pay visits to Syria and Lebanon between September 30 and October 5 under the coordinatorship of the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat. Current trade volume between Turkey and these countries is about 30 billion U.S. dollars. We aim at increasing it to 50 billion U.S. dollars.''

[03] NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU LEAVES FOR KAZAKHSTAN

Responding to questions of journalists at Ankara's Military Airbase prior to his departure, Cakmakoglu said, ''Defense Minister Tokpakbayev of Kazakhstan paid a visit to Turkey last year. I will pay a three-day visit to Kazakhstan as guest of Tokpakbayev. We will review bilateral relations during my visit to Almaty.''

[04] NUMBER OF FOREIGN TOURISTS VISITING TRABZON INCREASES BY 51 PERCENT

Officials at the Provincial Directorate of Tourism said on Tuesday that 464, 861 Turkish, 164,424 people from western countries and 10,379 people from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) visited the city between January and August 2001.

Thus, the total number of tourists visiting the city was 639,644. A total of 44 million 219 thousand 700 U.S. dollars has been obtained from tourism in Trabzon in the first eight months of this year.

In the same period last year, a total of 596,197 tourists, including 472, 414 Turks, 109,364 western people and 14,419 people from CIS countries, visited the city while 50 million 955 thousand 100 U.S. dollars was obtained from tourism.

Majority of Turkish people visited Uzungol and Ataturk's Palace while people from western countries prefered visiting Sumela Monestry and Hagia Sophia Museum.

[05] AGRICULTURE MINISTER GOKALP SAYS AGRICULTURAL COOPERATION WILL CONTRIBUTE TO PROMOTION OF PEACE, FRIENDSHIP AND BROTHERHOOD IN BALKANS

Releasing a statement about the Balkan Countries Agriculture Ministers' Meeting held in Istanbul, Gokalp underlined importance of Turkey's hosting the meeting and the decision to make agricultural cooperation among Balkan countries.

Gokalp said, ''we are pleased and pride of signing the Agreement on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation in Agriculture, which is of historic importance for the development and further improvement of agricultural cooperation among Balkan countries, in Turkey.''

This agreement will have significant contributions on the agricultural development of Balkan countries, Gokalp noted.

The economic, scientific and technical cooperation agreement which was signed at the meeting of agriculture ministers of Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Romania, Croatia, Albania, Macedonia and Yugoslavia envisages further development of agricultural cooperation among the Balkan countries.

In accordance with the agreement, Agriculture Ministers Council and High- Level Bureaucrats Committee were formed.

Agriculture ministers of Balkan countries will convene once in a year.

The agreement also envisages to exchange scientific and technical information, to exchange genetic and biological material, to exchange experts, to organize training programs, seminars, conferences and meetings, to form joint scientific centers and institutions, and to encourage joint investments with the member countries to the European Union (EU) and with international organizations to develop production and marketing systems.

[06] STATE MINISTER DERVIS SAYS HE FINDS MORATORIUM CLAIMS AS UNSERIOUS

Dervis started contacts in London, Britain, where he came to attend the conference on capital markets and investment opportunities in Turkey organized jointly by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) and Turkish-British Business Council.

State Minister Kemal Dervis firstly received David Mulford, a representative of Swiss bank CSFB.

Following the meeting which lasted for almost an hour, Dervis came to Queen Elizabeth Conference Center and had a meeting with the European correspondents of CNBC television channel and evaluated the situation of Turkey's economy and latest political developments.

Responding to questions of reporters about his views regarding claims in the newspapers that Turkey will announce moratorium, Dervis said that there is no need to take these claims seriously.

Asked if a war possibility is taken into consideration when the draft budget for 2002 is being prepared, Dervis said, ''of course, everything will be taken into account.''

Dervis later departed from the conference center to attend a meeting to be held at the international rating organization Standard and Poor's Center in London.

Meanwhile, several assessments and analyses were put forward at the conference on ''Capital Markets and Investment Opportunities in Turkey''.

Speaking at the conference, Turkish-British Business Council Co-President Hasan Colakoglu assessed the last year in which notable changes took place in Turkish financial markets.

Recalling that important reforms were made in financial structure of Turkey, Colakoglu said that these reforms paved way to new opportunities.

''Turkey has entered a new period. Investors should well-assess this positive period,'' he stressed.

Turkish-British Business Council Co-President William Alexander said that Turkey had been living through a positive period to put its economy on the right track.

He noted that investors should be encouraged with this positive change.

Meanwhile, Turkish-American Business Council Chairman Akin Ongor said that annual inflation rate was expected to decrease to 40 percent as of 2002 in Turkey.

Noting that positive changes had also taken place in political system in Turkey, Ongor underlined importance of support of foreign investors to Turkey.

[07] OSCEPA DEPUTY CHAIRMAN TAN SAYS IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO FIGHT AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIMES IN NATIONAL LEVEL

Tan, the Chairman of the Turkish Group of OSCEPA, attended the EU Stability Pact Countries Parliamentary Conference held in Brussels and delivered a speech in the session on ''Fight Against Organized Crimes: Fight against Smuggling.''

Noting that organized crimes is one of the most serious threats against security and stability in OSCE region, Tan said that the timing of the conference has become more meaningful following the tradegy experienced in the U.S.

Tan stated that he feels the grief of American people deeply as a citizen of a country which was a target of the terrorists for 20 years.

Organized crime is a universal phenomenon which does not have any borders, Tan said, ''it is not possible to fight against it in national level. To this end, a strong international cooperation is of vital importance. This cooperation will be more important as the criminals use genius methods in coming years.''

Tan stated that concept of organized crimes has started to taken seriously in recent years although it has been on OSCE's agenda since 1990.

They have started to define this complicated issue but that they are away from setting efficient policies for fighting against it, Tan said.

Tan added that every organization and institution should join the fight against organized crimes and smuggling.

[08] TWO PEOPLE HOLD A DEMONSTRATION IN FRONT OF NEW PRIME MINISTRY BUILDING BY SETTING AN AUTOMOBILE ON FIRE

Ramazan Ertac, 33, and Aydemir Aydin, 32, came to the Prime Ministry building earlier in the day.

They set an automobile on fire by claiming that they had gone bankrupt.

Security forces detained the two demonstrators.

A full investigation into the illegal demonstration is under way.

[09] TUSIAD TO PROMOTE TURKEY IN SWEDEN

The delegation headed by TUSIAD Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan will be consisted of TUSIAD Deputy Chairman Aldo Kaslowski, Executive Council members Cem Duna, Sadi Gucum, Ericson General Manager Ersin Pamuksuzer, TUSIAD Secretary General Haluk Tukel and TUSIAD Foreign Policy Advisor Soli Ozel.

As part of their program, the TUSIAD delelgation will visit Swedish Foreign and Trade undersecretaries and attend a meeting at Utriskepolitiska, a Swedish think-tank institute on Sept. 24.

On the same day, the world famous Turkish reed flute player Kudsi Erguner will give a concert prior to a dinner which will be attended by leading industrialists, businessmen and politicians. Swedish Companies Confederation (SA) Executive Council Chairman Soren Gyll and high level officials of the confederation will attend the dinner.

On Sept. 25, the delegation will have a meeting with SA and exchange opinions on the investment and cooperation opportunities between the two countries.

These activities, which are sponsored by Ericsson, are important for Turkey's promotion in Sweden.

[10] HEZBOLLAH MEMBERS CONFESS KILLING 15 PEOPLE

The statement said that suspects Sulhaddin Uruk, Haci Bayancik, Fadil Sani, Mehmet Veysi Ozel and Remzi Kacar were caught in Adana's Pozanti and Nigde's Ulukisla townships and they were brought to Diyarbakir where they were interrogated.

During their inter, the suspects confessed killing Kuris, Yildirim, Mehmet Sumbul, Salih Dundar, Cihangir Gaffari NEgis, Ahmet Atci, Omer Cinar, Mehmet Kanlibicak, Nezir Aslan, Mehmet Sehit Avci, Kadri Tuzer, Mahmut Kaymaz, Ismail Aksoy, Alican and Yusuf.

The interrogation of the suspects also revealed that Sulhaddin Uruk who was killed in an operation in Pozanti had replaced Huseyin Velioglu who was killed in Istanbul on Jan. 17.

The organization was collecting donations from people, recruiting new members, organizing activities at mosques, and making false passports.

A significant amount of ammunition was found in Ergani township owned by Hezbollah. A shelter was also found in Mardin's Mazidagi township which the organization used to interrogate their victims.

[11] OZYILDIZ SAYS STRUCTURAL REFORMS TO YIELD POSITIVE RESULTS IN 2002

Speaking at a conference on Caital Markets and Investments in Turkey held in London on Tuesday, Ozyildiz briefed the audience about budget and debts.

He stated that some economists estimate that Turkey would have an income loss in 2002, and added ''I'm not a tax expert, but the income should also increase when economy progresses in a positive direction.'' Ozyildiz also indicated that the banks would not have a liquidity problem next year.

Central Bank Deputy Governor Fatih Ozatay, who also spoke at the conference, said positive expectations carry economies to more positive levels and vice versa. He said this was not only a theory but a proven observation. He added that there was a noticeable recovery in Turkey's macro economic elements. He said he had good reasons to believe that this recovery would also continue next year.

State Banks Joint Executive Council Chairman Vural Akisik gave a technical summary of the financial and administrative structure of the state banks.

Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) Chairman Osman Birsen said there was no obstacle in front of foreign investors who are interested in making investments. Birsen said the IMKB was gaining a healthier structure as the number of foreing investors was increasing every day. ''IMKB is offering great opportunities to foreign investors,'' he concluded his words.

[12] ANAP DEPUTY CHAIRMAN MUMCU DENOUNCES TERRORIST ATTACKS AS CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

Responding to questions of journalists, Mumcu said, ''at today's meeting of ANAP, we discussed possible developments in the wake of the last week's terrorists attacks on twin towers of the World Trade Center complex in New York and on the Pentagon building in Washington D.C. We also took up possible impacts of the incidents on Turkey.''

''According to our point of view, sharing the grief and pain of relatives of victims is our duty. We consider all kinds of terrorist attacks a crimes against humanity. It will be beneficial to support efforts to set up an international cooperation in struggle against terrorism,'' he stressed.

Mumcu said, ''we believe that Turkey should launch an initiative to prepare an international agreement draft within framework of creation of an international law about terror crimes and terrorist activities, and to open it to the participation of all countries especially member countries to the European Union (EU) and NATO.''

Recalling that Turkey had suffered much from terrorism, Mumcu said, ''we want our government to play a more active role in changing our experiences into an international initiative with the aim of eradicating terrorism.''

Mumcu said that they wish that an anti-terror department would be formed under the auspices of the United Nations and went on saying, ''we talk about the necessity of setting up a structure which will have international efficiency in taking measures against terrorism not forming a direct counter-terror department.''

The ANAP will convey all these proposals to the government, Mumcu noted and stated that ANAP members expressed their view that the Foreign Ministry should think of benefitting from the sensitivity which has occured against terrorism following recent terrorist attacks in the U.S. to make the world understand Turkey's thesis in a better way.

They think that it will be beneficial to start a diplomatic initiative for the time being, Mumcu said.

Mumcu pointed out that Turkey should accelerate its diplomatic initiatives for the extradition of terrorists who are abroad.

Asked about ANAP's stance towards proposals for a change in some articles of the constitutional amendment package, Mumcu said, ''it is obligatory to reach a compromise for constitutional amendments. We will continue our compromising attitude and our initiatives.''

When reminded the words of Bush who mentioned ''the Crusade'' and asked if success can be gained against terrorism by such an understanding, Mumcu said that it will not be possible to fight against terrorism with such an undertanding and noted that Turkey knows this from its own experiences.''

Mumcu said that they agree that terrorism cannot have a religion and continued, ''we do not think that defining the terrorist attack in the U.S. as Islamic terrorism as correct. Moreover, the U.S. President made statements that his words should not be misunderstood.''

''Turkey has active place in efforts against terrorism. It should take place in the initiatives because it has a responsibility to eliminate the initiatives aiming at showing this as a fight against Islamic world. Because, majority of Turkish people have Islamic belief. We do not and cannot think of a link between our own beliefs and terrorist attacks. Turkish people will feel sad about setting up such a relationship,'' he added.

[13] GERMAN JOURNALISTS DUE IN GAP REGION

Releasing a statement, Provincial Directorate of GAP Regional Development Authority said on Tuesday that German journalists would proceed from Ankara to Diyarbakir on September 20.

Members of the delegation will meet with officials of Diyarbakir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Southeastern Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association, and Diyarbakir Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association.

Later, German delegation will proceed to Sanliurfa.

They will visit historical and touristic places in Sanliurfa.

German delegation will depart from the region after attending the Seventh International Ataturk Dam Water Sports Festival.

[14] NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER ADMIRAL ALPKAYA SAYS AN OPERATION COULD NOT BE PLANNED WITHOUT CARRYING OUT DETAILED WORKS

Admiral Alpkaya paid visits of courtesy to Izmir Governor Alaaddin Yuksel and Mayor Ahmet Piristina.

When asked by journalists during the meetings whether or not Turkey was ready to a cross-border operation, Admiral Alpkaya said, ''a cross-border operation is out of question for the time being. However, Turkish Armed Forces is ready for operation at any time.''

When asked, ''will Northern Iraq or whole Iraq be included in the war zone?'' Admiral Alpkaya said, ''it is useless to talk about possibilities. Because, works are under way to determine who was behind the terrorist attacks in the United States. An operation cannot be planned without carrying out detailed works.''

[15] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC SAYS THEY DO NOT INTENT TO GRANT GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION RIGHT TO RULE TURKISH CYPRIOTS

Denktas visited Gaziantep Governor Erhan Tanju, Fifth Brigade Commander General Metin Ozdegirmenci and Gaziantep Mayor Celal Dogan.

Speaking at the meetings, President Denktas said, ''Greek Cypriots have been trying to take away our freedom. We cannot give up our independence.''

Stressing that they were ready to solve the problems with the Greek Cypriot side on the basis of equal states, President Denktas said, ''we do not intent to grant Greek Cypriot side resorting to terrorism, the right to rule Turkish Cypriots. We are ready to solve the problems on the basis of equal states. However, we will never accept the Greek Cypriot side as our government.''

''Terrorism has been high on agenda of the world since the terrorist attacks in the United States. I hope that terrorist activities in Cyprus from 1963 to 1974 would be reviewed within this fnamework,'' he said.

When asked of Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides' visit to the United States, President Denktas said, ''Clerides bewildered foreign diplomats by leaving for New York to attend a meeting in which Turkish Cypriots decided not to attend. Cyprus question can be solved only between two equal nations. His attitude was meaningless. For the time being, Greek Cypriots are concerned about that Turkey's importance has increased following the recent developments.''

When reminded that U.S. President Bush named the fight against terrorism as ''the Crusade'' and asked about his evaluations, Denktas said that Bush made a ''slip of the tongue.''

Denktas went on saying, ''it was an unfortunate word, it was said and then taken back. We should accept this. It is a battle among civilizations, it is this or that. All these are words in vain. You have also experienced terrorism. Terrorism does not have any aspects which can be defended. Killing or annihilating innocent people for this or that case can no way be defended. They say that a upcoming fight may turn into a World War III. There is not such thing. The upcoming fight will be a fight against terrorism. Because, groups which are called terrorists can obtain many modern weapons for their own interests or for the interests of tycoons and illecit drug traffickers or some political reasons. They can declare terrifying wars against an unknown place at an unknown time. An international organization should be set up to fight against terrorism.''

''It would really mean 'the Crusade' to associate this with Islam and create enmity against Islamic world if Muslims staged the attacks. It will be very wrong because those who call themselves Muslims do not have any links with such inhuman behaviours,'' Denktas added.

Responding to a question about his meeting with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Denktas said, ''I held one of my regular meetings with Cem and we debated what may be done to overcome the impasse in Cyprus proximity talks.''

Denktas noted that they have not received any new demands regarding Cyprus question on the other hand they have some new demands.

''We want a realistic diagnosis of Cyprus question. They have not made such a diagnosis so far. What is Cyprus question? They are trying to settle it down but they cannot achieve it. They did not make the right diagnosis but they caused an impasse by calling the Greek Cypriot administration as the 'legal government of Cyprus'. Let's find a diagnosis. What was demolished? It was the partnership. What will be re-established? A new partnership,'' Denktas said.

Denktas added, ''among who? Among former partners. Then, what does Turkish partner want? A stronger, more permanent partnership which cannot be redemolished by the Greek Cypriots. We are talking about all these and inform the foreign world about these.''

[16] ''MEETING OF TOLERANCE'' HELD AT MOSQUE IN BERLIN

The meeting organized by Union 90/Greens Party deputy Ozcan Mutlu was attended by Cem Ozdemir from the same party, Turkey's Berlin Consul General Aydin Durusoy, Diplomats Club Chairman Mania Feilcke.

Durusoy, in his speech, condemned terrorism and said Turkey, as a country which suffered a lot from terrorism, understood the American nation well. Stressing that all the world's civilizations should fight against terrorism together, Durusoy said ''Terrorism has certain goals but it doesn't belong to a certain religion or to an ethnic minority.''

Durusoy said that Turkey lost about 30,000 people to terrorism in the last 30 years, he said Turkey was ready to offer all kinds of support in the fight against terrorism.

Ozdemir said there were fanatics in every religion and added that he didn't want the world believe that all Muslims were responsible for the attacks. Ozdemir said Germans wanted security but individual freedoms should not be limited by doing that.

The wife of the Swedish Ambassador in Berlin, Shawne Borer Fielding said ''The terrorists were a handful of crazy people who did not represent any religion. I have Muslim friends. I'm praying for everybody to have tolerance.''

Feilcke who is Jewish, said ''Israel is facing terrorism too. Of course terrorists should be stopped but innocent people should not die.''

Turkey's Religious Affairs Attache Ali Kilic, who also spoke at the meeting, read out a line from the Koran which says ''One sho kills a person, kills the whole humanity.'' He said that terrrorism targets all people with good will. He added that Religious Affairs Directorate Turkish Islamic Association (DITIB) shared the pain of the American nation.

-TURKISH FIRE FIGHTERS COMMEMORATE THEIR AMERICAN COLLEAGUES
ISTANBUL - Istanbul Municipality's fire fighters and members of the Volunteer Fire Fighters Association laid a wreath at the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday for the memory of their 300 American colleagues who lost their lives after the terrorist attacks in the United States.

A group of firefighters headed by Department Chairman Sabri Yalin visited U.S. Consul General Frank Urbancic at the U.S. Consulate in Tarlabasi. Yalin said they were saddened by the incident ''as if they lost their own fire fighters'' and expressed condolences to Urbancic.

One of the founding members of the Volunteer Fire Fighters Association Sinan Okay said they were praying for the ones who were killed in the incident and hoped that the attacks would not lead to more deaths.

Urbancic said the attacks had nothing to do with any religion.

The delegation headed by Yalin laid a wreath on the stairs of the

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