Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-01-05

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

05 JAN 1999

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''MR PRESIDENT SAYS THAT HIS ASSIGNMENT CONTINUES AND IF NO RESULT IS TAKEN FROM THAT, HE WILL CONSIDER THE ISSUE AGAIN''

[03] ECEVIT, THE DSP LEADER: ''NO BODY CAN EXPECT ME TO REJECT A PROPOSAL OF MY OWN''

[04] US STATE DEPARTMENT DO NOT COMMENT ON THE APPLICATION OF ''LEAHY LAW'' AGAINST TURKEY

[05] PRESIDENT DEMIREL'S ''GET WELL SOON'' MESSAGE TO PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER SHARIF

[06] THE COUNCIL OF STATE REJECTS ERDOGAN'S APPLICATION FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE FORMER COURT DECISION

[07] ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR ELECTORS ARE MEMBERS OF A POLITICAL PARTY IN TURKEY

[08] GERMANY, THE COUNTRY WHERE 2.1 MILLION TURKISH PEOPLE LIVE

[09] AVALANCHE IN KAHRAMANMARAS - ONE PERSON DIES, FIVE OTHERS LOST

[10] DEMIR, SILOPI HEAD OFFICIAL: ''DIESEL OIL TRADE WITH NORTHERN IRAQ WILL REVIVE NEXT WEEK''

[11] MEVLANA EXHIBITION IN THE NETHERLANDS

[12] HAZELNUT EXPORTS - 443.6 MILLION US DOLLARS OF HAZELNUTS EXPORTED SINCE SEPTEMBER

[13] TURKEY-STOCK EXCHANGE - IMKB FIRST SESSION - NATIONAL-100 INDEX RISES TO 2,775.23 WITH AN INCREASE OF 16.87 POINTS

[14] THE COUNCIL OF STATE RATIFIES CONSTRUCTION OF YALOVA POWER PLANT - THE PLANT TO PRODUCE 2.3 BILLION KWH ENERGY A YEAR

[15] RUSSEL, THE SPOKESWOMAN OF THE UN PEACE FORCE ON CYPRUS, TAKES OVER HER POST

[16] INTERNATIONAL TENDER FROM THE IZSU

[17] A TOTAL OF 40 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED IN ISTANBUL

[18] TREASURY SELLS 401 TRILLION LIRAS TWO-YEAR BONDS

[19] CASH ADMINISTRATION OF TREASURY

[20] YILMAZ ADDRESSES ANAP PARTY GROUP MEETING

[21] ANADOLU AJANSI RECEIVES ''PRESS AWARD''

[22] ATES, LAND FORCES COMMANDER: ''OUR COUNTRY NEEDS INTERNAL STABILITY MORE THAN ANY TIME''

[23] TURKEY'S EXPORTS INCREASE 2.2 PERCENT IN 1998

[24] FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''GREECE CANNOT FULFIL HER RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN THE ATHENS FIR'' - ''GREECE TRIES TO SHOW FIR AS THEIR REGION OF SOVEREIGNTY'' - ''TURKISH CIVIL AVIATION UNITS ARE CAPABLE OF GIVING AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES OVER THE AEGEAN''

[25] CANCELLATION OF TRT BROADCASTING IN SWITZERLAND - SWISS CHARGE D'AFFAIRS TO ANKARA SUMMONED TO FOREIGN MINISTRY

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL) BUSY DAYS IN ANKARA
Tansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP) surprised everybody yesterday and said that she will extend support to a minority government that will be formed by Bulent Ecevit, the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP). Ciller told Ecevit that ''we are ready to extend support to the minority government that will be formed only by your party.'' Ecevit and Mesut Yılmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) said that they welcome the proposal of Ciller.

SUKUR LEAVES FOR ITALY
Hakan Sukur, the striker of Galatasaray football club left for Italy yesterday to play for Italian football team of Juventus claiming that he was sent to Juventus for commercial purposes and nobody asked his opinion about the transfer. Noting that Juventus and Galatasaray had earlier agreed upon his transfer, Sukur said that he had no other choice other than leaving for Italy. Sukur will be in Milano today.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

ADANA COULD NOT BE RESCUED
Southern province of Adana which was shaken by a terrible earthquake in June this year, was adversely effected by the quake. The quake killed 146 people and the villages are full of people who are living in tents. Ironically, Adana celebrates the 77th anniversary of its liberation.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

RADIKAL (LEFT)

HAKAN SUKUR LEAVES FOR TORINO
Hakan Sukur, the striker of Galatasaray Club and the Turkish national soccer team who received an offer from Italy's Juventus Club, left for Italy to meet with Juve managers. Sukur said, ''the two clubs have already agreed. The managers of the Galatasaray Club told me to go to Italy and deal with the Juventus Club.''

YENİ YÜZYIL (LIBERAL)

THE NSC TAKES MEASURES AGAINST MIGRATION
The National Security Council (NSC) has taken a series of measures to put an end to the negativeness caused by the migration to the Western Countries via Turkey. The Council gave place to the human smuggling within the scope of the organized crimes.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

HARSH WARNING FROM THE TURKISH ARMED FORCES
The General Staff expressed concern over the partial and unreal news against the Turkish Army. The General Staff condemned efforts aiming at bringing discord among the commanders who acts in great unity for the security of Turkey.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[02] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''MR PRESIDENT SAYS THAT HIS ASSIGNMENT CONTINUES AND IF NO RESULT IS TAKEN FROM THAT, HE WILL CONSIDER THE ISSUE AGAIN''

Responding to questions, Yılmaz said that ''President Demirel told me that he assigned Yalım Erez to form the government now and if Erez returns back the mandate, he will evaluate the new alternatives.''

Yılmaz added that he did not meet with Yalım Erez on Monday, but he will meet with him on Tuesday.

[03] ECEVIT, THE DSP LEADER: ''NO BODY CAN EXPECT ME TO REJECT A PROPOSAL OF MY OWN''

Responding to questions of journalists about the government model proposed by Ciller, Ecevit recalled that the proposal brought by Ciller is in fact his own proposal.

''When I was assigned to form the government, I proposed three government models, one of them was a coalition among parties, the other one was a minority government supported from outside and the last one was reinforced minority government. One of them seems to be accepted by Tansu Ciller at the moment. In fact the proposal in question is a government model proposed by me weeks ago,'' said Ecevit.

''As Mesut Yılmaz also supports Ciller's proposal, the majority in the parliament to form the government is met, thus there is no problem of vote of confidence. Yalım Erez has been assigned to form the government now and I don't know what he thinks at the moment. In fact it is President Suleyman Demirel who will decide on this issue and we will see that in few days,'' said Ecevit.

Responding to another question about the evaluation that has been made by Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) who said that ''ANAP and DSP left Yalım Erez alone after the proposal of Ciller,'' Ecevit said Erez is a valuable politician and a statesman.

[04] US STATE DEPARTMENT DO NOT COMMENT ON THE APPLICATION OF ''LEAHY LAW'' AGAINST TURKEY

James Rubin, State Department Spokesman, said that he cannot respond a question based on a hypothesis of whether or not this law will be applied in the future sellings.

''Leahy law'' enacted in 1996 prohibits US funds from aiding units of foreign security forces that have been involved in human rights abuses.

The US State Department prevented the aiding of American Eximbank to Turkey by providing funds to purchase some 140 armoured vehicles, putting forth the human rights violations.

General Dynamics Corp., productive firm, provided the fund and the problem was solved.

Rubin said that they complied with the laws because they felt uneasy for the ''violations'' of human rights.

Responding a question on the interview of Abdullah Ocalan, the chief of the separatist terrorist organization, by the America's Voice Radio, a state institution, Rubin said that the journalists working for this institution were ''free'' to do what they want.

Rubin added that the radio reflected its comments on the perspectives of the US government and that the journalists working for this institution had a right to provide news.

[05] PRESIDENT DEMIREL'S ''GET WELL SOON'' MESSAGE TO PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER SHARIF

The Presidential Press Center quoted Demirel as saying, ''I have learned the assasination attempt targeting you with a deep concern, but I am pleased that such an attempt did not reach its terrible aim.''

Demirel expressed condolences for the families of those who were killed at the bomb attack, and condemned all terrorist actions claiming innocent lives.

Three people were killed and one police officer was injured on Sunday when a powerful bomb exploded on a road that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif normally takes to visit his parents at his farmhouse near Lahore, capital of Punjab province.

[06] THE COUNCIL OF STATE REJECTS ERDOGAN'S APPLICATION FOR THE AMENDMENT OF THE FORMER COURT DECISION

Thus, the legal process of the deprival of Erdogan's post as Istanbul Mayor is completed.

Erdogan was sentenced to ten-month imprisonment on charges of provocating people to hatred and emnity by discriminating among people in respect of class, racial, religious and regional differences.

Erdogan is expected to be imprisoned in the coming days.

[07] ONE OUT OF EVERY FOUR ELECTORS ARE MEMBERS OF A POLITICAL PARTY IN TURKEY

Thirty six political parties carry out activities in Turkey and the number of members of these political parties that is notified to the Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecution is totally 9,893,668.

When one takes into account the fact that nearly 36 million people will cast votes during the general and local elections that will be held on April 18, it is clearly seen that one out of every four electors, in other words 15 percent of the population are members of political parties.

The Virtue Party (FP) has not notified its members to Chief Prosecution of the Supreme Court of Appeals since its foundation.

The big political parties and their members are listed above:

''True Path Party (DYP) has 3,737,128 members, the Motherland Party (ANAP) has 3,293,540 members, the Republican People's Party (CHP) has 1,833,975 members, the National Movement Party (MHP) has 486,399 members, Democratic Turkey Party (DTP) has 232,424 members and the Democratic Left Party (DSP) has 205,649 members.''

[08] GERMANY, THE COUNTRY WHERE 2.1 MILLION TURKISH PEOPLE LIVE

Officials of the Foreign Ministry Directorate General for Turkish People Living Abroad told A.A correspondent that Turkish people who left Turkey for Germany starting from 1960s are settled in this country.

Turkish people constitute the biggest foreign group in Germany in fact they compose 2.3 percent of the German population and Turkish is the most spoken foreign language.

It is estimated that the Turkish population will exceed 2.5 million in 2010 in Germany as nearly 45,000 Turkish children are born in Germany every year.

Turkish people come again the first among foreigners who seek for asylum in Germany; between 1992-1997 the number of Turkish people who took asylum in Germany is 132,717.

Meanwhile the number of Turkish employers in Germany is also increasing. The number of offices belonging to Turkish employers which was 33,000 in 1990, increased to 47,000 in 1997.

Turkish people who act in 100 separate business fields provide employment for 160,000 people, their annual endorsement is 34 billion German marks and their annual investment volume is 9.5 billion German marks.

[09] AVALANCHE IN KAHRAMANMARAS - ONE PERSON DIES, FIVE OTHERS LOST

Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent, Saim Cotur, the Governor of Kahramanmaras, stressed that Hasan Yildiz (aged 28) was killed at the avalanche.

Siho Karaca, Seyho Coban and Okkes Kisa who were trapped under the avalanche, have been rescued.

They were taken to Ekinozu Health Center for medical treatment.

Meanwhile rescue activities continue to find Ali Dogan, Resul Dogan, Suleyman Kisacik, Erhan Soner and Hasan Dogan who are still missing following the avalanche.

[10] DEMIR, SILOPI HEAD OFFICIAL: ''DIESEL OIL TRADE WITH NORTHERN IRAQ WILL REVIVE NEXT WEEK''

In his statement to A.A correspondent, Demir said that Habur Border, which was closed unilaterally by Turkey as a security measure taken against the air strike held against Iraq by the US and Britain, was re-opened to diesel oil trade on December 31,1998.

Stressing that the meeting with the local officials in Northern Iraq was positive and that the people in Northern Iraq started to give the diesel oil to Turkey, Demir noted that 300 vehicles were sent to the region every day within the framework of the trade.

Demir said, ''the Northern Iraqi officials said that they can give the diesel oil to the lorry drivers. We let the transition of the lorries as of December 31,1998. A total of 300 lorries make the diesel oil today. The number of vehicles making diesel oil trade will increase to a thousand by next week as Iraq starts to give diesel oil to Northern Iraq. Thus, diesel oil trade will revive next week.''

[11] MEVLANA EXHIBITION IN THE NETHERLANDS

Pictures of Mevlana drawn by several Turkish artists, take place in the exhibition organized by the Westerpark Turkish Association.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Veyis Gungor, the Chairman of the Association, stressed that the exhibition will contribute to the promotion of the Turkish culture to the world.

Gungor noted that understanding Mevlana's point of view will help people to overcome all difficulties surrounding them in daily life.

Two separate meetings regarded with the life of Mevlana and the Turkish Sufism will be held in coming days within the scope of the exhibition.

[12] HAZELNUT EXPORTS - 443.6 MILLION US DOLLARS OF HAZELNUTS EXPORTED SINCE SEPTEMBER

Officials at the Black Sea Union of Hazelnut Exporters told the A.A correspondent that Turkey exported 108.6 thousand tonnes of hazelnuts within four months.

Turkey exported hazelnuts mainly to the European countries.

Turkey exported 117.9 thousand tonnes of hazelnuts and obtained an income of 536 million 204 thousand US dollars in the same period last year.

[13] TURKEY-STOCK EXCHANGE - IMKB FIRST SESSION - NATIONAL-100 INDEX RISES TO 2,775.23 WITH AN INCREASE OF 16.87 POINTS

At the close of the first session, the financial index increased 11.98 points to 3,465.57, the industrial index rose 10.87 points to 2,045.51 and the services index climbed 56.59 points to 4,138.21.

The financial shares gained 0.35 percent in value, the industrial shares gained 0.53 percent in value and the services shares gained 1.39 percent in value compared with Monday's second session close.

A total of 117 of the 283 shares gained in value, 101 shares lost in value while the prices of 65 shares didn't change.

The trading volume in the morning session was 51.1 trillion Turkish Liras.

[14] THE COUNCIL OF STATE RATIFIES CONSTRUCTION OF YALOVA POWER PLANT - THE PLANT TO PRODUCE 2.3 BILLION KWH ENERGY A YEAR

The power plant to be constructed by Ak-Energy firm in three years will produce 2.3 billion kilowatts of enery when it is completed.

It is also reported that Yalova Power Plant can use double fuel. Thus, in case it is difficult to allocate natural gas for the plant, naphta can be used as the raw material.

The energy produced in the plant will be sold to TEAS, Turkish Electricity Incorp, at a price of 4,365 cent-kwh when natural gas is used as the raw material and at a price of 4,878 cent-kwh when nafta is the raw material.

The power plant will be transferred to Energy and Natural Resources Ministry after 20 years within the framework of the agreement.

[15] RUSSEL, THE SPOKESWOMAN OF THE UN PEACE FORCE ON CYPRUS, TAKES OVER HER POST

Kolken was carrying out the post on behalf of Russel.

Russel was working as the Public Affairs Official of the UN Peace Force in Afghanistan before she was appointed as the UN Peace Force spokeswoman on Cyprus in October,1998.

[16] INTERNATIONAL TENDER FROM THE IZSU

The dam is expected to be constructed within 30 months.

The investment value of the dam is determined as 5 trillion 520 billion Turkish Liras and its provisional warrant as 5 billion 520 million Turkish Liras.

Proposals will be accepted by the IZSU's Branch in Yesilyurt District of Izmir until February 26, 1999.

[17] A TOTAL OF 40 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED IN ISTANBUL

Security officials stopped a minibus for a control in Beyazit District of Istanbul, and captured the Pakistanis who entered Turkey via Iran and planned to proceed to Italy.

They were later taken into custody for violating the Turkish borders and the passport law.

Officials said that the Pakistanis will be deported once the legal proceedings are completed.

[18] TREASURY SELLS 401 TRILLION LIRAS TWO-YEAR BONDS

The net sale in the tender was 400 trillion 980 billion TL. Also, a total of 71 trillion TL bonds were sold to public institutions over the interest.

The annual simple interest rate became 92.58 percent while the annual composite interest rate became 129.98 percent.

[19] CASH ADMINISTRATION OF TREASURY

Treasury announced the temporary results of the Cash Administration and Borrowing Programme for December 1998.

Treasury issued a written statement saying that the spendings excluding interest in December 1998 was 1 quadrillion 135.4 trillion TL; a total of 494 trillion TL interest was paid and the deficit excluding interest was 128.2 trillion TL.

Thus the deficit in the Treasury's cash balance became 622.3 trillion TL.

Meanwhile, in December 1998, a total of 771.8 trillion TL was paid in principal composed of 315.4 trillion TL foreign debt and 456.4 trillion TL domestic borrowing.

Treasury gained 6 quadrillion 328.3 trillion TL in revenues between July- December period, the second half of 1998.

In the second half of 1998, the expenditures reached 5 quadrillion 86.1 trillion TL excluding interest, the total interest payment was 2 quadrillion 890.4 trillion TL and the surplus excluding interest became 1 quadrillion 242.3 trillion TL.

Treasury, in the same period, paid a total of 4 quadrillion 395.6 trillion TL principal payment composed of 1 quadrillion 254.9 trillion TL foreign debt and 3 quadrillion 140.7 trillion TL domestic borrowing.

Treasury's borrowing from the markets in the second half of 1998 within the context of the announced programmes are as follows:

Month LOWER LIMIT UPPER LIMIT REALIZATION

(trillion TL) (trillion TL) (trillion TL)

---------- ---------- ----------- --------------
July 600 1.050 898

August 600 1.200 829

September 750 1.350 1.029

July-Sept 1.950 3.600 2.756

-------------------------------------------------------
Oct 0 200 147

Nov 620 920 834

Dec 750 1.250 1.088

Oct-Dec 1.370 2.370 2.069

-------------------------------------------------------
Total 3.320 5.970 4.825</PRE>

[20] YILMAZ ADDRESSES ANAP PARTY GROUP MEETING

Addressing his party group meeting, Yilmaz said Erez put forward several conditions regarding the government he will form so that it is becoming harder for him to get an outcome from his efforts.

Yilmaz also said it was a positive development that Tansu Ciller, leader of True Path Party (DYP), seeks for a compromise adding that a government should be formed in Turkey soon.

Yilmaz said Erez should speed up his contacts to this end and pointed out that ''Erez should use a more cautious language about his contacts. He should install more positive agreement with the parties before using statements which binds the parties. Erez also should intensify his contacts and see if he can get an outcome or not.''

[21] ANADOLU AJANSI RECEIVES ''PRESS AWARD''

Anadolu Ajansi (A.A) was entitled with this award in the press category with its research on ''Republic and Ataturk''.

TGC issued a written statement that a total of 36 journalists from 15 mass- media organizations were awarded in the categories of press, television and radio.

The winners will receive their rewards on 9 January with a ceremony to be held at the Ataturk Culture in Istanbul.

[22] ATES, LAND FORCES COMMANDER: ''OUR COUNTRY NEEDS INTERNAL STABILITY MORE THAN ANY TIME''

Ates, who arrived in Kayseri, speaking to soldiers said ''I come here to congradulate you due to your efforts expended in the struggle against the separatist terrorist organization, which was revealed to be supported by several foreign forces and our neighbours.''

Stating that Turkish soldiers and citizens still continue to become martyrs to preserve Turkish territories, Ates said that ''some states whom we know as friends and accept as civilized, and some states who make enmity against Turkey an aspect of their policy, supported terrorism in our country ignoring international law and disregarding the fact that terrorism has been accepted as a crime against humanity, and thus they tried to spoil the unity of the country.''

Ates said several external forces aimed at reviving the mentality of crusaders and split up our country, adding that ''this sick mentality today showed up as the terrorist and separatist movements and unfortunately as fundamentalism. The promoter and supporter of these understandings, is this mentality. Behind these, there are some forces which will benefit from destroying secular Turkish Republic. Those people who tried every initiative to divide our country should know one thing for sure. That is, even if there are some treators among us, Turkish nation is aware of all of these ugly games.''

''Preservation of unity and integrity became very important against domestic and foreign threats for the continuation of our state. No other idea can be more important than our national interests,'' he said.

[23] TURKEY'S EXPORTS INCREASE 2.2 PERCENT IN 1998

According to the data of the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM), only five sectors' exports increased while the exports from 14 sectors decreased in 1998.

The ready-to-wear sector preserved its first rank with its exports worth 7.7 billion US dollars equal to 27.6 percent share in Turkey's total exports.

The export amounts of sectors in 1997 and 1998 and their differences according to the TIM records are as follows:

-SECTORS OF WHICH EXPORTS INCREASED

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article