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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-12-22Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>22 DEC 1998CONTENTS
[01] TRIAL OF TERRORIST CHIEF - EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL PROBLEMS CONVENESPARIS, Dec 22 (A.A) - The European Committee on Criminal Problems convened on Monday upon the decision of the Council of Europe (COE) by taking into consideration the request of Italy.Serif Unal from the Ministry of Justice and Bahadır Kaleli from the Foreign Ministry will represent Turkey in the meetings which will last for two days. COE Committee of Delegates requested the European Committee on Criminal Problems to launch efforts for making the European conventions concerning ''struggle with terrorism,'' ''extradition of criminals''and ''transfer of the trial to a third country'' effective among member countries. The studies of the Committee, which will work on technical and legal aspects of the three separate conventions, are not expected to finish before June. Diplomatic sources point out Italy, which does not wish to try Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK in her country and which also rejects extradition of Ocalan to Turkey, tries to get the legal support of the COE by such an initiative. Same sources stress that Italy, who could not find the support she expected from the European Union (EU), did not also find enough support within COE, adding that the gathering of the ''Committee on Criminal Problems'' is far away from meeting the expectations of Italy. Firstly, Italy wanted putting the terrorist chief under trial by a court that would be established within the framework of COE, later she gave up this idea seeing that it would not be realized. [02] ATATURK CONFERENCE IN BULGARIA - BURCUOGLU, TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO BULGARIA: - ''WE ADMIT BULGARIA AS OUR ALLY'' - FORMER PRESIDENT JELEV OF BULGARIA OFFERS TO GIVE ATATURK'S NAME TO AN AVENUESOFIA, Dec 22 (A.A) - Tahsin Burcuoglu, the Turkish Ambassador to Bulgaria, said on Monday that Turkey describes Bulgaria as an ally of her, stressing that the relations between Turkey and Bulgaria has become almost perfect within the last one and half year.A conference on ''The Modern Turkey and Ataturk'' was held in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, for the 75th anniversary of the foundation of Republic of Turkey and 60th anniversary of death of Ataturk, the Founder of modern Turkey. Addressing the opening ceremony of the conference, Burcuoglu noted that the two countries share the same point of opinion on many issues. Meanwhile former President Jelu Jelev of Bulgaria offered to give Ataturk's name to an avenue in Sofia, adding that he will convey this proposal to Stefan Sofiyansky, the Mayor of Sofia, as soon as possible. He also described Ataturk as one of the most important leaders of the 20th century. [03] ITALIAN CHIEF PROSECUTOR SAYS THE TERRORIST CHIEF CAN ESCAPE FROM ITALYROME, Dec 22 (A.A) - Giovanni Malerba, the Italian Chief Prosecutor said on Monday that Abdullah Ocalan, chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK can escape from Italy and he applied to the Rome Court of Appeal requesting the court to take surveillance measures against such a danger. Malerba also stressed that the conditions for extradition of the terrorist chief to Turkey regarding part of his crimes exist.Malerba pointed out that there are six arrest warrants taken by Turkish judiciary organs about Ocalan and many suits filed against him, adding that the conditions for accepting the extradition request of Turkey exist in connection with three investigations carried out against the terrorist chief which do not foresee death penalty. [04] SINAGRA, THE TRNC HONOURARY REPRESENTATIVE RECEIVES MEDAL OF MERITROME, Dec 22 (A.A) - Inal Batu, the Turkish Ambassador to Italy gave on Monday a medal of merit to Augusto Sinagra, the Honourary Representative of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for his productive works for TRNC in the name of President Suleyman Demirel.Addressing the ceremony held at Turkish Embassy in Rome, Inal Batu stressed that Turkish Cypriots try to protect their rights within the framework of the 1960 treaty. ''Turkish Cypriot people try to protect the equal rights that were granted to them by the treaties. A few distinguished people had contributed to the struggle of TRNC people,'' said Batu, adding Prof. Dr. Augusto Sinagra is one of these few people who supported TRNC without paying regard to any interest. Batu pointed out that Sinagra also played an important role in efforts aiming at balancing the counter efforts which try to show as if the chief of the separatist terrorist organization came to Italy for peaceful targets. Sinagra thanked to Turkish nation and the Turkish state for the medal he received. [05] TUSIAD GIVES A DINNER IN HONOUR OF BERSANI, ITALIAN INDUSTRY MINISTER, AND ACCOMPANYING DELEGATION - BERSANI: - ''ITALY DOES NOT GRANT A PERSON ACCUSED OF TERRORIST CRIMES WITH POLITICAL ASSYLUM''ISTANBUL, Dec 22 (A.A)- The Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) gave a dinner on Monday in honour of Luigi Bersani, the Italian Industry Minister, and accompanying delegation.The dinner focused on the developments which started with capture of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of separatist terrorist organization PKK, and influenced negatively the relations between Turkey and Italy. Addressing the journalists after the dinner, Bersani stressed that Italy does not grant a person accused of the terrorist crimes with political asylum, and noted that a juridicial process should begin to solve the question of Ocalan. Bersani emphasized that they endeavour to find a solution which will also be acceptable for Turkish public opinion. Pointing out that Italy's attitude over the issue is clear, Bersani told the reporters that there is no reason to keep Ocalan in Italy. Claiming that they have been misunderstood on the issue of Ocalan, Bersani stressed that the Italian Government has only fulfil the international and Italian laws. Reminding that at the meeting they discussed what to do in order to improve economic and commercial relations between the two countries once again, Bersani thanked the Turkish businessmen for their sensitivity. He also added that they called the Italian companies doing business with the Turkish companies, to remain calm until the crisis is solved. Vincenzo De Luca, Counselor of Bersani on Diplomatic Affairs, Umberto Minopoli, Counselor of Bersani on Technical Affairs, Umberto Lah Monica, Director General of Energy and Mining Sources, Zoia Veronesi, Alessio Borriello, Italian Spokesman of Press, Massimilano Bandini, the Italian Ambassador to Turkey, Paolo Trichilo, the Italian Commercial Attache to Turkey, Roberto Pietrosanto, the Italian Consul General in Istanbul, Alessandro Guerrera, the Representative of the ENI Petroleum Company in Turkey, Rahmi Koc, the Honorary Chairman of TUSIAD, Halis Komili, the former Chairman of TUSIAD, Hasan Arat and Muhtesem Ekenler, the Members of the Executive Board of TUSIAD, Aldo Kaslowski, the Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission, Meral Gezgin Eris, the Chairperson of Financial Development Foundation, Temel Atay, Carlo Bolla, Cem Boyner, Ant Bozkaya, Selim Demiren, Cem Duna, Serif Egeli, Celik Kurdoglu, Guido Manzini and Roberto Moggi were in attendance at the dinner. [06] TUSIAD GIVES A DINNER IN HONOUR OF BERSANI, ITALIAN INDUSTRY MINISTER, AND ACCOMPANYING DELEGATION - KASLOWSKI, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF EXECUTIVE BOARD OF TUSIAD: - ''WE HOPE THE QUESTION OF OCALAN WILL BE SOLVED IN AN ACCEPTABLE WAY''ISTANBUL, Dec 22 (A.A) - Aldo Kaslowski, the Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of the Turkish Industrialists and BusinessmenAssociation (TUSIAD) and Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Association, said on Monday that they hope the question of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of separatist terrorist organization PKK, will be solved in an acceptable way. Addressing the dinner given by the TUSIAD in honour of Luigi Bersani, the Italian Industry Minister, and accompanying delegation, Kaslowski stressed the significance of the TUSIAD in Turkey's economy, and reminded that Turkey is the 16th biggest economic power in the world. Mentioning the commercial and cultural relations between Turkey and Italy, Kaslowski pointed out that Italy comes on the third place among the European Union (EU) countries in Turkey's export, and on the second place in import. Kaslowski thanked the Italian Industrialists and Businessmen Union (CONFINDUSTRIA) for its attitude during the crisis which began following the capture of Ocalan. Reminding that they conveyed the CONFINDUSTRIA that Ocalan who is the leader of separatist terrorist organization PKK, has committed crimes against humanity and led the drug trafficking, Kaslowski added that the Italian people's approach to the issue was changed after they have been informed about the bloody actions of the PKK. Stressing that the positive developments such as the visit of Bersani, will contribute to the improvement of the relations damaged by the crisis, between Turkey and Italy, Kaslowski noted that they will endeavour to organize a meeting with the participation of non-governmental organizations from the both countries. He added that the Italian delegation has also accepted the proposal of meeting. Reminding that the Italian delegation has given guarantee on not to grant Ocalan with political asylum, Kaslowski also added that a third country's name was not brought onto the agenda of the meeting. Meanwhile responding to the questions of the journalists, Meral Gezgin Eris, the Chairperson of the Financial Development Foundation, stressed that the law requires the criminals to be tried where they committed crimes. [07] CYPRUS CRISIS IN THE UNITED NATIONSNEW YORK, Dec 22 (A.A) - The United Nations Security Council is expected to adopt two draft resolutions regarded with extension of the mission period of the UN Peace Keeping Force on Cyprus (UNFICYP) and determination of the UN's position in the Cyprus issue, within this week, it was reported on Monday.But the negotiations are in deadlock as a result of supporting manners of Russia who was appointed to prepare the draft resolution on the UNFICYP, towards the Greek Cypriot side. Diplomatic forces told the A.A correspondent that Russia insists on using the word 'community' instead of the Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities and on attributing to the former draft resolutions envisaging not to recognize the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Russia also accuses the TRNC of disagreement. President Rauf Denktas of the TRNC had stressed previously that the negotiations could continue only between the two states and requested the TRNC to be recognized on the international platform. [08] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ SAYS THAT ANAP WON'T CAUSE TROUBLE FOR THE EFFORTS OF ANY DEPUTY ASSIGNED TO FORM A GOVERNMENT - ''OUR GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO SUBMIT THE TEMPORARY BUDGET TO THE PARLIAMENT ON TUESDAY''ANKARA, Dec 22 (A.A) - Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz said on Monday that it has been understood that a party leader who will be assigned by President Suleyman Demirel won't be able to form a government which can get a vote of confidence, adding ''I told Mr. President that the Motherland Party (ANAP) won't cause any trouble concerning the efforts of any deputy assigned to form the government.''Addressing a statement to journalists after meeting with President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Yılmaz said that he informed President Demirel about the temporary budget and he decided to submit the temporary budget to the parliament on Tuesday. Mesut Yılmaz, stressed that a deputy instead of party leaders can be assigned by President Demirel to form a government. Recalling that the efforts of Bulent Ecevit, the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) did not give a result, Prime Minister Yılmaz said that President Demirel will assign a new person within one or two days. ''We prepared a temporary budget as the 55th government collapsed by a vote of no-confidence,'' said Yılmaz, adding that the temporary budget draft will be presented to the parliament on Tuesday. Noting that no body can expect miracles from the government that will be formed and which will stay in power till the elections to be held on April 18, 1999, Prime Minister Yılmaz pointed out that ANAP will help in formation of the government in order to prevent the occurance of a government crisis in Turkey. Stressing that there is not any lack of authority in Turkey at the moment, Premier Yılmaz stated that ''our government is in power, it is responsible to the parliament and it is conscious of its responsibilities.'' [09] REVOLT IN BUCA PRISON - THIRTEEN PRISONERS STARTS FIRE IN PRISON, INJURING EIGHT GUARDIANSIZMIR, Dec 22 (A.A) - A total of 13 prisoners who are members of the Revolutionary Peoples' Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C), started a fire in the Buca prison in Western province of Izmir, on Monday.Eight guardians who tried to intervene the incident were injured by the prisoners. Cemal Tugcu, the Prosecutor of Buca Prison, told the A.A correspondent that the security measures have been tightened around the prison. Tugcu noted that the incident began after several people chanted slogans in front of the Buca Prison. He added that the demonstraters were later taken into custody. Meanwhile injured guardians were taken to the Yesilyurt State Hospital for medical treatment. [10] THE SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS TO ANNOUNCE ITS VERDICT ON DEC 24 ABOUT SIVAS CASEANKARA, Dec 24 (A.A) - The Supreme Court of Appeals will give the last decision about the Sivas case which has been pending before the courts for five years.A suit was filed against 33 suspects after the incidents that took place in Sivas province on July 2, 1993 causing the deaths of 37 people in the fire that was started in Madımak Hotel. The State Security Court in Ankara had sentenced four suspects to 20 years, one of them to 15 years, 27 of them to seven and a half years, two of them to five years and one of them to two years. Later the case was appealed and the Supreme Court of Appeals will announce its decision on December 24, Thursday. The Chief Prosecution of the Supreme Court of Appeals said that it approves the decision of the State Security Court in Ankara. [11] IMF'S REPORT ON WORLD ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FOR 1999 - IMF INCREASES TURKEY'S DEVELOPMENT FORECAST FOR 1998 FROM 3,7 PERCENT TO 4,4 PERCENTWASHINGTON D.C., Dec 22 (A.A) - The International Monetary Fund revised Turkey's economic development forecast for 1998 and increased it from 3,7 percent to 4,4 percent, in its report named as the World Economic Outlook for 1998, on Monday.The IMF has determined Turkey's development rate as 2,9 percent for 1999. In the report, the IMF stressed that Turkey that has tight commercial links with Russia, is the most influenced country from the economic crisis in Russia. The report also emphasized that significant reforms and efforts are required to encourage investors and to decrease the inflation. [12] BOSNIAN ARMY COMPLETES ITS MILITARY TRAINING IN TURKEYANKARA, Dec 22 (A.A) - The military training of a group of troops belonging to Bosnia-Herzegovinian Armed Forces ended in Turkey, it is reported on Tuesday.General Staff said that tank and artillery branch of the Bosnian Armed Forces, which were trained by the Turkish Armed Forces will return to their countries by planes that will be allocated to them by the Turkish Air Forces. The assistance of training and equipment that will be provided to the Bosnian Armed Forces after the signature of the Dayton Peace Agreement, is carried out within the joint programme that is prepared by countries who provide the assistance. Within this framework, the tank and artillery troops of the Bosnian army are trained in Turkey as it is foreseen so under the Turkish-Bosnian Military Education Cooperation Agreement. [13] TURKISH LAWYERS CALL ON EUROPE AND THE US: ''THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE SUPREMACY OF LAW SHOULD TAKE AN ATTITUDE AGAINST TERRORISM''BRUSSELS, Dec 22 (A.A) - The Association of Supremacy of Law which is centred in Ankara sent letters to law institutions and associations in various European countries particularly in Italy and Belgium, and in the US and invited them to take a joint attitude against terrorism, it is reported on Tuesday.Erdam Akyuz, the Chairman of the Association of Supremacy of Law said in the letter that ''we have to take a joint attitude against all kinds of activities threatening world peace and peace within a country. The most evident sample that threatens peace is terrorism. Because terrorism is a crime committed against humanity. Those who engage in separatist activities by showing ethnical differences as an excuse, those who commit crimes against the country they are living and those who cause the deaths of people should be described as terrorists and they should definitely be put on trial. Those people who tolerate these persons have paid the price of that by giving their citizens as victims to terrorism. If this indifference and tolerance continues, they will pay more serious costs.'' The Association stated that its aim is to respect human rights within an understanding of just order and to launch efforts to realize balanced development in economic and social respects. The association also stressed its faithfulness to Ataturk's principle of ''peace at home, peace in the world.'' [14] TURKEY-STOCK EXCHANGE - IMKB FIRST SESSION - NATIONAL-100 INDEX RISES TO 2,428.33 WITH AN INCREASE OF 9.73 POINTSISTANBUL, Dec 22 (A.A) - The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) National-100 Index in the first session increased 9.73 points to 2,428.33 and shares gained 0.40 percent in value compared with prices at the close of Monday's second session, it was reported on Tuesday.At the close of the first session, the financial index increased 1.98 points to 3,095.48, the industrial index rose 20.99 points to 1,805.62 and the services index climbed 12.30 points to 3,309.14. The financial shares gained 0.06 percent in value, the industrial shares gained 1.18 percent in value and the services shares gained 0.37 percent in value compared with Friday's second session close. A total of 137 of the 279 shares gained in value, 54 shares lost in value while the prices of 88 shares didn't change. The trading volume in the morning session was 21.3 trillion Turkish Liras. [15] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 22 DECEMBER 1998ANKARA - President Suleyman Demirel received on Tuesday Melkulagara Kumaran Bhadrakumar, the new Indian Ambassador to Turkey.Bhadrakumar has presented Demirel his letter of credentials at the meeting. Korkmaz Haktanir, the Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, was also in attendance at the meeting. ISTANBUL - Luigi Bersani, the Italian Industry Minister who was in Turkey for an official visit, left on Tuesday for Italy. Massimiliano Bandini, the Italian Ambassador to Turkey, and other senior officials saw Bandini's off at the Ataturk Airport. ANKARA - The Austrian Embassy in Ankara donated several medical equipments and 600 million Turkish Liras to the Turkey State Hospitals and Aid to the Patients Foundation (HASVAK) on Tuesday. Addressing the ceremony, Ion Forsyth, the Austrian Ambassador to Turkey, praised HASVAK's activities and stressed that such aids will be maintained in coming months. [16] COMPETITION REPORT OF TUSIAD - ARIKAN, THE CHAIRMAN OF COMPETITION WORKING GROUP: ''THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPETITION LAW IN TURKEY WILL ALSO ATTRACT FOREIGN FIRMS''ISTANBUL, Dec 22 (A.A) - Necati Arıkan, the Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) Chairman of Competition Working Group and Chairman of Koc Holding's Department of Strategical Planning said on Tuesday that the effective implementation of competition law in Turkey will also attract foreign firms to make investments in Turkey.TUSIAD Competition Working Group announced the same day in a press briefing five separate reports which were prepared within the framework of the ''Project of Introduction to Competition Law.'' Addressing the meeting, Necati Arıkan said that the law on competition is one of the important stages of full transition to privatization in Turkey. Stressing that if the principles of market economy work effectively, all the enterprises will become productive, Arıkan stressed that the competetion law will make foreign capital to trust in Turkey, easily enter into Turkey and it will enable the protection of several rights. Necati Arıkan stressed that the aim of the project was to sum up the important parts of the the issue and make it understandable within the framework of the EU Competetion Law. Arıkan added that the aim of the project is also to give information about the implementation of the law in Turkey, noting the project is the first study undertaken by Turkey to this end. [17] NUMBER OF FRENCH TOURISTS VISITING TURKEY INCREASESPARIS, Dec 22 (A.A) - Number of French tourists who prefered Turkey for holiday, increased 31 percent compared with the figures of the last year, it was reported on Tuesday.Officials at the French Undersecretariat of Tourism told the A.A correspondent that more than 420 thousand tourists visited Turkey within eleven months. Meanwhile an estimated 5,3 million tourists from the member states to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, visited Turkey in 1998. A total of 9,3 million tourists from all over the world, preferred Turkey for holiday in the January-November period in 1998. [18] TREASURY SELLS 174.1 TRILLION LIRAS 133-DAY BONDSANKARA, Dec 21 (A.A) - The Treasury sold on Tuesday a total of 238 trillion 595 billion Turkish Liras (TL) nominal-valued 133-day (4.5-month) bonds while the offer had been 697 trillion 280.2 billion TL.The net sale was 174 trillion 161.7 billion TL. Meanwhile, Treasury realized a 500 billion sale to the public organizations over the interest at the tender. The annual simple interest rate became 101.25 percent and the annual composite interest rate became 136.67 percent. The annual minimum simple interest rate was 99.94 percent and the annual maximum simple interest rate was 101.73 percent while the annual minimum composite interest rate became 134.42 percent and the annual maximum composite interest rate became 137.50 percent. The value date of bonds is 23 December 1998 and the maturity is 5 May 1999. Meanwhile, the Treasury will realize 18.1 trillion TL in domestic borrowing repayment on 23 December; 42.6 trillion TL on 24 December and 125 trillion TL on 31 December. [19] SECURITY OF THE STRAITS - BIDS TO BE RECEIVED FOR A SECOND TIME ON FEB 26 FOR FULL AUTOMATIC COMPUTER SHIP TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM TO PROVIDE PASSAGE SECURITY IN ISTANBUL AND CANAKKALE STRAITSANKARA, Dec 22 (A.A) - New bid has been opened for the construction of full automatic computer ship traffic control sytem that will provide the passage security of Istanbul and Canakkale Straits.Bids will be received from the companies for a second time on Feb 26, 1999 within the framework of the tender which was annuled a while ago by the Maritime Undersecretariat as there were few participation for the tender that was in international level. Under the notice related with the issue, the companies should apply to Maritime Undersecretariat on Feb 26, 1999 the latest. Within the context of the system targetting reducing the risk of incident and to adjust traffic flaw in the straits, two ship traffic control centers, 13 unmanned traffic monitoring stations, two DGPS reference stations and four VHF station will be established. [20] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: - ''TURKISH CYPRIOT AGENCY, LIKE THE A.A, WILL EXIST AS LONG AS THE REPUBLIC LIVES''LEFKOSA, Dec 22 (A.A) - Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said on Tuesday that the Turkish Cypriot Agency (TAK) like the Anadolu Ajansi (A.A) will exist as long as the Republic lives.Denktas received Emir Ersoy, the General Director and the Chairman of the Executive Board of the TAK, and the accompanying delegation upon the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the TAK. Addressing the meeting, TRNC President Denktas said that he hoped the TAK will better herald the voice of the TRNC to the world by setting up good relations with the news agencies in the world. ''The state, which was founded with great sacrifices, is a fact which is able to protect itself,'' he said. [21] TRIAL OF CHIEF TERRORIST - SOUTH AFRICA: ''WE HAVE NO CONTACT WITH ITALIAN GOVERNMENT ON THE ISSUE OF OCALAN'' - ''SOUTH AFRICA IS A MEMBER OF INTERPOL''ANKARA, Dec 22 (A.A) - Thomas Wheeler, South Africa's Ambassador to Ankara, said on Tuesday that they have not carried out contacts with the Italian government regarding sending of Abdullah Ocalan, chief of separatist terrorist organization, to South Africa and pointed out that his country was a member of Interpol.Speaking to A.A correspondent's questions Wheeler said he has heard the rumors from the press that Ocalan would go to South Africa and noted that those information were speculations. The Ambassador said Italian government did not launch an initiative to their country related with the possibility of sending Ocalan to South Africa. When asked about the attitude his country would assume in case Ocalan escapes to South Africa, Wheeler said ''if we speak within the framework of the speculations, all I can say is to remind that South Africa is a member of Interpol.'' Meanwhile, it was reported that Turkey requested South Africa to implement Interpol's international arrest warrant. Diplomatic sources said South African government evaluated this request and told Turkey that ''we have put your request into procedure and we have informed border gates.'' Officials of Turkey's Embassy in South Africa said news reports that Ocalan would be sent to this country were evaluated as speculations in Pretoria, the capital city and noted that no news reports appeared in South Africa's media regarding the issue after chief terrorist escaped from Syria. The same officials said South African officials told Ankara that ''we have no contacts with Italy.'' The same sources also said Turkey was one of the most biggest trade partners of South Africa in Central Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, and added that coal formed a great deal of Turkey's 200 million US dollars exportation to this country. They also said South Africa would not like to jeopardize positive relations with Turkey. [22] TURKISH EXPORTERS' ASSEMBLY'S REPORT ON EXPORTS - ''PRIMARY OBSTACLE IN FRONT OF THE EXPORTS IS INSTABILITY''ISTANBUL, Dec 22 (A.A) - Turkey is facing the most serious recession period in exports for the last decade, it was reported on Tuesday.The Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) issued a report including the necesarry measures which should be taken to overcome the recession occured in the exports due to effect of the global crisis. The report namely ''International Crisis and Turkey's Exports, Problems and Solution Proposals'' prepared according to the opinions gathered from the exporters' unions in Turkey. The report stressed that the primary obstacle in front of the exports was the ''instability'' which gained a structural characteristic. ''It is impossible to provide a sustainable development and increase in exports and production without providing the stability. The populist approaches, which are one of the basic factors destroying the stability, should be given up and an atmosphere of confidence, which is concordant with the realities in the country, with a rational understanding necessitating seriousness,'' the report stressed. Pointing out that the decision for increasing the sources of Eximbank in accordance with the sector's demands, was an important step, the report said, ''the banking system should be oriented into the financing of exports by restricting the legal liabilities.'' The report stated that the government should unconditionally continue the real currency policy and keep away from the pressures which might lead the currency increases remain below the inflation. The report said the formation of the ''exports credit support fund'', which would provide new long-term sources to the exports, and the implementation of ''exemption from Corporate Tax'' for the exporters would ease the financing. [23] DECISION TO STOP EXECUTIVE PROCEEDING FOR GOKOVA THERMAL POWER PLANTMUGLA, Dec 22 (A.A) - Aydin Administrative Tribunals on Tuesday decided to stop executive proceeding for Gokova Thermal Power Plant on the issue of Oren Municipality's sealing of Gokova Thermal Power Plant chimney gas purification construction.Kazim Turan, Oren Mayor, said with this decision, the seal will be pulled out of the installation and the construction will continue. The tribunals at the same time annuled the 25 billion lira fine that was given to the construction of thermal power plant. The same court last year had decided to close Gokova (Kemerkoy) Power Plant on grounds that it polluted the surrounding area. [24] TRIAL OF TERRORIST CHIEF - PARIS MEETING OF EUROPEAN COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL PROBLEMS ENDSPARIS, Dec 22 (A.A) - Studies of European Committee on criminal problems which convened in Paris upon the decision of Council of Europe (COE) by taking into consideration the request of Italy, ended on Tuesday.Trial of chief of separatist terrorist organization and his extradition were not mentioned in the meetings. The Committee in question will once again convene in February. Serif Unal from the Ministry of Justice and Bahadir Kaleli from the Foreign Ministry represented Turkey in the meetings which lasted for two days. COE Committee of Delegates had requested the European Committee on Criminal Problems to launch efforts for making the European conventions concerning ''struggle with terrorism,'' ''extradition of criminals''and ''transfer of the trial to a third country'' effective among member countries. Diplomatic sources pointed out Italy, which does not wish to try Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK in her country and which also rejects extradition of Ocalan to Turkey, tried to get the legal support of the COE by such an initiative. [25] TUSIAD'S REPORT ON ''COMPETITION''ISTANBUL, Dec 22 (A.A) - Sinan Ulgen, the member of the Executive Board of the European Union (EU) Counselling and Investment Services Corp., said on Tuesday that Turkey had authorities as well as liabilities at the EU Competition Commission but failed to use those authorities sufficiently and effectively.Addressing the meeting, at which five reports were announced within the scope of the ''Project on Entrance Into Competition Regulations'' prepared by the Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD), Sinan Ulgen stated that the competiton rules and regulations were very dynamic part of a laws system concerning Turkey. Pointing out that there was not an opportunity for implementing a competition law which was very different from the system in Europe as Turkey had entered into the Customs Union, Ulgen said that Turkey had liabilities as well as authorities. ''However, we can't say that Turkey has successfully used those authorities. While making arrangements on the competition laws in the EU, they seek guidence from the enterprises and vocational institutions which will be affected by those arrangements. Turkey has the opportunity for being a part of the consultative process. But she couldn't make use of this opportunity up until now,'' he said. ''Whatever the political atmosphere is, we should contribute to this process which will have a considerable affect on our economy,'' he stressed. [26] DOMESTIC BORROWING STOCK INCREASES 70 PERCENT TO 10.6 QUADRILLION TURKISH LIRAS AS OF END OF NOVEMBERANKARA, Dec 22 (A.A) - The domestic debt stock increased by 70 percent in the first eleven months of 1998, it was reported on Tuesday.The Treasury Undersecretariat said that the domestic borrowing stock, which had been 6 quadrillion 283.4 trillion Turkish Liras (TL) at the end of 1997, reached 10 quadrillion 683.5 trillion TL at the end of November 1998. The domestic borrowing stock was composed of 5 quadrillion 316.7 trillion TL in debenture bonds and 5 quadrillion 366.8 trillion TL in bonds. Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |