Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-09-27

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From: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>

ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

27 AUGUST 2001 Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

STRONG SOLIDARITY
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem spoke to the U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, the U.S. President George W. Bush's National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, and the U.S. State Secretary and during the contacts Cem gave the message that ''Turkey supports you.''

Stressing that Turkey suffered a lot from terrorism and understood the U.S. well, Cem said terrorism did not have geography and religion. Powell in his part expressed pleasure over this support.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

The European Convention on Fight with Money Laundering aims to improve the cooperation between COE member states against the money collected as a result of drug smuggling, arms smuggling and terrorist incidents.

The convention also foresees harmony in the laws of the member states in fight with these crimes.

FIRST RELEASE THEN DEATH
Zeynep Arikan and Ali Riza Demir, who were on death fast to protest ''F'' type prisons, died on the 343rd day in a house in Sariyer district on Thursday.

Arikan, who started death fasting when she had been kept in Umraniye Prison, was later released from the prison due to health reasons following ''Return to Life Operation.'' Arikan continued her death fasting in a house in Kucukarmutlu. Arikan had involved in attacks on Istanbul Security Directorate in June 16, 1997, and Harbiye Officer's Club on July 14, 1997.

Ali Riza Demir also died on the 343rd day of his death fast. Demir, who was released after benefitting from law on conditional release, continued his death fasting in a house in Kucukarmutlu.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CONSTITUTIONAL PROPOSAL FROM DYP TO REDUCE NUMBER OF PARLIAMENTARIANS
Tansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP), said the nation expected self sacrificies from the parliament because of the economic difficulties. Ciller wanted number of parliamentarians to be reduced from 550 to 450.

Ciller opened a proposal in connection with the issue to signature. The proposal foresees amendment to Article 75 of the Constitution.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Responding to questions on extradition request of Turkey about Fehriye Erdal from Belgium, Turk said that ''as it is known, the death penalty foreseen for Erdal in Turkey as she is accused of killing Ozdemir Sabanci and the political evaluation of the issue by Belgium, impeded her extradition to Turkey. Yet the Brussels court took a decision to try Erdal for killing a person upon the initiative of Sabanci family. Turkey is ready to provide all sorts of judicial help for trial of Erdal in Belgium.''

PROGRAM MAY CHANGE
Ajay Chhibber, the World Bank Turkey Desk Chief, said small changes could be made on economic program, noting that, the determination of realizable targets in 2002 will both increase the credibility of the economic programme and it will also contribute to the revival of the economy.

State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu received Chhibber the same day.

Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Chhibber said that the Tobacco Law is very important for agricultural reform and farmers.

Chhibber said that the farmers' conditions will improve by the implementation of alternative products system and by getting direct income support, adding that he will also take up privatization issue in his meeting with Minister Karakoyunlu.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

BLACKSEAFOR'S FIRST ACTIVITY STARTS IN GOLCUK
The first activity of the Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group (BLACKSEAFOR) started in Golcuk on Thursday. The multinational sea force was formed by the Black Sea littoral countries.

Admiral Bulent Alpkaya, the Naval Forces Commander, addressed a ceremony held in Fleet Command Naval Force, and said Blackseafor was formed with the participation of the Black Sea littoral countries, for the maintenance of peace and stability in the Black Sea and to increase regional cooperation activities.

Admiral Alpkaya said the Blackseafor at the same time would contribute to the strengthening and development of friendship and cooperation between the naval forces of the member countries.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

According to a statement made by the State Statics Institute (DIE), it was reported that foreign trade deficit decreased 56.8 percent in seven months and reduced to six million U.S. dollars.

SUPPORT TO MUSHARRAF
Presidency Foreign Affairs Chief Advisor Tacan Ildem said President Ahmet Necdet Sezer talked to Haydar Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, and Kyrgz President Askar Akayev on the phone, and exchanged views with the leaders regarded with the terrorist attacks that occurred in the U.S.

Sezer said, ''friendly and brotherly country Pakistan is going through a difficult period,'' adding that Turkey supports Pakistan in this difficult period.

Sezer said Turkey welcomed decision of Pakistan to take place in international coalition following the attacks in the U.S.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

FM CEM'S SUPPORT TOUR
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem met the high ranking officials of the U.S. administration in Washington D.C., and discussed the contributions which Turkey would make in fight against terrorism.

Meanwhile, Aydemir Erman, the Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary and Special Coordinator, gave special information to the U.S. officials about Afghanistan.

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