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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-10-09
[01] AA Daily
9 October 1999 Saturday
[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
[03] These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in
Turkey's press on Oct 9, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these
stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
[04] HURRIYET (LIBERAL) - ------------------ WE ARE RESOLVED TO FINISH IT
General Huseyin Kıvrıkoglu, the Chief of General Staff said that ''we'll
absolutely prevent the fundemantalist threat.'' Speaking to a magazine
namely ''Military Technologies,'' General Kıvrıkoglu gave two important
messages regarding the separatist terrorist organization PKK and the
fundamentalist threat. ''Our main target within the framework of the
defense concept is to prevent all kinds of fundamentalist threat which
threatens democratic and secular republic. We are resolved to end the PKK
terrorism and to cut off the foreign support extended to this terrorist
organization through diplomatic ways;'' said General Kıvrıkoglu.
[05] BUSINESSMEN DUE TO ATHENS The relations between Turkish and Greek
businessmen which were frozen due to the crisis of Abdullah Ocalan, the
head terrorist revive again. Turkish-Greek Business Council Execution Board
will convene in Athens on October 12 due to the invitation of Greece.
[06] MILLIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- WHAT IS FEARED HAS HAPPENED
Yasar Okuyan, the Labour and Social Security Minister, said that a total of
11,000 business offices collapsed and 20,000 others have slight or moderate
damages in the disaster area. Okuyan added that 18,000 business offices
cannot carry out their business and that thus, 140,000 people were left
unemployed following the devastating quake in August. The loss of the
Social Security Agency (SSK) will be 78 trillion Turkish liras in 2000.
[07] TOSKAY: ''WE SHOULD REFRAIN FROM GIVING PROMISES TO IMF THAT WE CANNOT
FULFIL'' Tunca Toskay, the State Minister, said that they handled the
relations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the problem of
Turkey is not in accordance with the ideology of the party. Responding to
the questions of the journalists about the IMF, Toskay said, ''when the
coalition protocol and the programme of the government was being prepared,
we did not handle the issue in accordance with the ideology of the party
but handled it as the problem of Turkey. I told Mr.Cottarelli that we do
not want to be that sort of statesmen who put forward some targets but who
cannot make these targets come true. To this end, we are carrying out
realistic and serious efforts in the determination of the targets.''
[08] SABAH (LIBERAL) - -------------- MEDISH, U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF
TREASURY, SUPPORTS STAND-BY Mark Medish, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of
Treasury, supported the Stand-by agreement. Medish said that he believes
that a programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will contribute
to Turkey's economy. Medish added that he is visiting Ankara to continue
the contacts between Premier Bulent Ecevit and Bill Clinton, U.S. President,
held in the U.S.
[09] SAKIK BROTHERS CANNOT BENEFIT FROM REPENTANCE LAW The Office of Chief
Prosecutor of Supreme Court requested the verdict about Semdin Sakik, one
of the leading names of the terrorist organization PKK, and his brother
Arif Sakik, to be approved. The Office of Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme
Court requested that the capital punishment given to the Sakik brothers on
charges of treason, should be approved. The office also said that the Sakik
brothers cannot benefit from repentance law.
[10] CUMHURIYET (LEFT) - ---------------- BLACK MONEY INVESTIGATION The
Council of Finance Account Experts corresponded with the banks and
requested them to send information about the accounts of 62 persons
including Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the former mayor of Istanbul and Alif Mufit
Gurtuna, the mayor of Istanbul.
[11] TURKEY DEFENDS HERSELF AT ECHR Turkey is accused in a case due to the
events which took place in Diyarbakır prison which caused the deaths of 10
prisoners and injured 23 others. The government sent its defense through
the Foreign Ministry and said that the events were overcome due to legal
authorities.
[12] RADIKAL (LEFT) - --------------- AN AID CHEQUE FROM BARTHOLOMEOS TO
ECEVIT Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit received Bartholomeus, Fener Greek
Orthodox Patriarch. Bartholomeos gave a donation cheque worth of 161.5
billion liras, which was collected by their communities due to the quake
disaster in Turkey. Ecevit thanked to Bartholomeos, saying that ''this has
material and spiritual value for us.'' Bartholomeos requested Ecevit to use
their aid in education.
[13] TURKISH BUSINESSMEN DUE TO ATHENS Nihat Gokyigit, member of Foreign
Economic Relations Council and Black Sea Economic Cooperation, said that
Turkish Greek Business Council's Executive Board will gather on October 12
and 13 in Athens. Gokyigit said they were optimistic about restoring frozen
relations between Turkey and Greece. For the first time political relations
are recovering between Turkey and Greece, Gokyigit noted and said that
economic cooperation would speed up the recovery in political relations.
[14] TÜRKİYE (RIGHT) - ---------------- SYSTEM COLLAPSES The famous names
of the business world who convened in disaster region share the same
opinion:'' the system has collapsed. The demands of the society shouldn't
be postponed by denying this fact.'' Yalım Erez, the former chairman of the
Turkish Chamber of Commerce and Stock Exchanges (TOBB) said that no result
can be taken by the existing system in Turkey.
[15] PATRIARCH DONATES 161 BILLION LIRAS I. Bartholomeos, the Patriarch of
Fener Greek Orthodox Church in Istanbul visited Premier Bulent Ecevit and
gave him a check worth of 161.5 billion liras collected in Turkey and
outside Turkey by their community due to the earthquake disaster in Turkey.
Ecevit said ''this is very importance for us.''
[16] ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) - -------------------- YOUNG FACE OF TURKEY The
future of Turkey seems promising by the existance of young persons who had
educated themselves well. While Turkey questions its system and values and
deal with unproductive discussions, it can't see the future.
[17] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''WE HAVE PROBLEMS WHICH CAN BE OVERCOME''
[18] ANKARA, Oct 9 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel said on Saturday that
Turkey has serious problems, yet they can be overcome. Speaking in the
tenth general assembly meeting of Turkish Independent Accountants',
Financial Consultants' and Authorized Financial Consultants' Chambers Union
(TURMOB), President Demirel said that Turkey prepares to enter the 21st
century, adding the conditions of that century are very different. Noting
that TURMOB, which is composed of nearly 45,000 persons is a success of the
Turkish Republic, Demirel said that the Turkish economy has 75 billion
dollars of trade volume and 30 billion dollars of export capacity today.
''The Turkish economy has the 16th biggest economy of the world,'' said
Demirel, adding the income per capita has reached 6000 dollars and it
caught the growth rate of 5 percent. Stressing that Turkey entered G-20
among 188 countries, President Demirel said Turkey has to continue
developing. Noting that the image will be a very important factor in the
21st century, Demirel said if the population growth was not 3 percent in
Turkey in the past, the income per capita would be 10,000 dollars today.
''Turkey has a problem of public finance and this problem is not that
difficult to be solved,'' said President Demirel, adding that the Turkish
state has 2 million civil servants.
[19] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''WE HAVE TO DECREASE INFLATION TO 10 PERCENT OR
LESS WITHIN 3-4 YEARS''
[20] ANKARA, Oct 9 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel said on Saturday the
''monster'' inflation has to be decreased to 10 percent or less within 3-4
years. Speaking in the tenth general assembly meeting of Turkish
Independent Accountants', Financial Consultants' and Authorized Financial
Consultants' Chambers Union (TURMOB), President Demirel said that the
inflation is not a commercial or economic event, but rather a monster which
deteriorates the society in all aspects. ''We decreased the inflation to 50
percent,'' said Demirel, adding if the inflation decreases below 5 or even
10 percent, there won't be need for looking for cheap interest or cheap
credit and this is also necessary for customs union. First condition of
decreasing the inflation is privatization and the second condition is
overcoming the high interest rates, said Demirel, adding ''Turkey's income
is not sufficient for her expenditures. When it is not enough, public
finance borrows money from Turkish market and capital market. As a result
banking sector lost its function in Turkey.'' ''The state should provide a
better health and education system and improve the judiciary system. It
should defend the country and provide internal security and take measures
to take all citizens under the social security umbrella,'' said Demirel.
Noting that Turkey should have foreign exchange, Demirel stressed that
''Turkey should purchase and sell goods, besides produce foreign exchange.
Turkey's power is known. We shouldn't borrow, but buy goods and sell more
goods. Export should increase, because it means investment.'' Referring to
the importance of tourism, Demirel said ''when we see that 25 million
tourists come to Turkey and leave an income of 15 billion dollars, it means
that Turkey has reached its goal.'' Also mentioning privatization, Demirel
stated that ''if we are late in privatizing institutions for a few more
years, the measures we'll take and the taxes we'll increase won't be enough
to pay the costs of them.''
[21] DSP ASSEMBLY MEETING ENDS
[22] ANKARA, Oct 9 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and the leader of
the Democratic Left Party (DSP) said on Saturday that certain prefabricated
residence units which are being constructed, will be ready next weekend.
The DSP Party Assembly had a meeting under the leadership of Premier Ecevit
the same day. Speaking after the meeting, Ecevit said that Party Assembly
members, ministers and group administrators gave detailed information about
the problems faced in the disaster region. ''It is seen that citizens
couldn't get information about the facilities provided for tradesmen,
industrialists, farmers and small and medium scale enterprises (KOBI) in
the regions devastated by the quake as the radio and television channels
were not broadcast easily there after the quake. We had already distributed
brochures including the decisions taken by the government, but it is
necessary to give further detailed information,'' said Ecevit. Responding
to a question, Ecevit said the activities carried after the devastating
quake were taken up at the meeting, adding rain started in the region.
''New measures are on the way. Starting from next weekend, the settlement
units composed of prefabricated huts will start to open. We are sorry that
citizens who live in tents are also effected badly by rain. However the
possibilities of Turkey and the whole world are limited. The quake in
Turkey was a big disaster. New houses have to be built in place of
thousands of them which were damaged. The construction of prefabricated
huts speeded up,'' he said. Premier Ecevit said that the construction of
prefabricated huts can continue for weeks.
[23] COAST AEGEAN MUNICIPALITIES' UNION MEETING
[24] KUSADASI, Oct 9 (A.A) - Mehmet Kececiler, the State Minister, said on
Saturday that everybody should fulfil his or her responsibilities to
improve the friendship between Turkey and Greece. A total of three
governors, 26 mayors and 28 representatives of the non-governmental
organizations from Greece participated in the 15th Ordinary General
Assembly meeting of the Coast Aegean Municipalities' Union in Kusadasi
county of Aydin province. Mehmet Kececiler, three deputies and the mayors
of the cities which are bound to the union represented Turkey in the
meeting. Emphasizing that he participated in this meeting to contribute to
the improvement of the relations between the two countries, Turkey is
determined to improve the friendly relations with Greece. Stressing that
the friendship between the Turkish and Greek nations goes back to very old
times, Kececiler said, ''the local administrations, non-governmental
organizations and the chambers of industry and commerce undertake many
responsibilities to improve the friendship between Turkey and Greece. The
local administrators are the fundamental elements of democracy. The public
chooses the administrators. The friendship between the nations influences
the administrators in the end. Let's set up the bridge and lay the
infrastructure between the two countries.'' Kececiler continued, ''let us
re-establish the friendship which goes back to old times between the two
nations. The friendship between Ataturk and Venizelos, Ozal and Papandreu
is still remembered. The relationship between Foreign Minister Ismail Cem
and the Greek Foreign Minister Yorgo Papandreu is not only between
themselves but between the governments, citizens, non-governmental
organizations, municipalities and in the fields of sports and arts. We are
determined to improve the good relations.'' Noting that they are ready to
solve the present problems between the two countries, Kececiler stated that
the two countries should be connected to each other through motorways and
the Ipsala Border Gate will be modernized. Proposing cooperation to his
Greek counterpart in customs, Kececiler said that he is waiting for the
answer of his counterpart. Pointing out that the touristic relations should
also be improved, Kececiler asked that the reciprocal tours should be
arranged among the islands and the mutual trade should be facilitated.
Nikos Hagis, the Chairman of Greek 12 Islands Chamber of Commerce, said
that the trading relations should be improved and thus, the friendship will
also improve. Fligos Petruskas, the Mayor of Samos, said that the
administrators should behave in accordance with the interests of the two
nations. Petruskas added that he wants the improvement of the cultural and
touristic relations within the framework of sister cities.
[25] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK GIVES INFORMATION ABOUT PREPARATIONS ON AMNESTY
LAW
[26] ANKARA, Oct 9 (A.A) - Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk gave
information about the activities carried out regarding the amnesty law,
which was vetoed by President Demirel, in the Democratic Left Party (DSP)
Assembly meeting on Saturday. Responding to a question of one of the Party
Assembly members, Turk said meetings among coalition parties last long, but
he is relaxed after his meeting with Mesut Yılmaz, the leader of the
Motherland Party (ANAP) about the issue. DSP favours lifting the articles
from the Amnesty Law which foresees amnesty for crimes committed by mafia
and gangs by use of force and pressure, causing deaths of people due to
carelessness, fugitives and those who abet fugitives, corruption about
tenders, weapon smuggling, murder on purpose, torture, falsifying documents
and manipulation of mission.
[27] ONAL, STATE MINISTER: ''STAFF MONITORING AGREEMENT SIGNED WITH IMF
WILL TERMINATE THIS YEAR''
[28] ANKARA, Oct 9 (A.A) - Recep Onal, the State Minister, said on Saturday
that the Staff Monitoring Agreement which was earlier signed with the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) will terminate this year. Speaking in the
tenth regular general assembly of Turkish Independent Accountants',
Financial Consultants' and Authorized Financial Consultants' Chambers Union
(TURMOB), Onal noted that they continue to launch efforts regarding the
stand-by agreement with the IMF. Stressing that the government had to
allocate a great deal of its power to ease the pains in the quake area,
Onal stated that Turkish nation behaved in unity and solidarity against
this disaster. Recalling the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank
and Premier Bulent Ecevit's visit to the U.S., Onal stressed that they had
comprehensive meetings with the officials of the IMF and the World Bank.
Stating their real target as ending the chronic high inflation which
prevents the healthy economic growth, Onal said, ''the 18-month Staff
Monitoring Agreement which was signed with the IMF on June 26, 1998 will
terminate this year. Our efforts regarding the signing of a stand-by
agreement that requires comprehensive efforts in 2000 and 2001 to solve the
inflation problem, continue.'' Onal said, ''not only we continue our
structural reform initiatives but also we try to achieve our targets for
providing budget discipline, spreading registration in economy and
transparency to end the public deficits that lead to inflation.'' Pointing
out that Turkish economy proved its resistance to the crisis, Onal
emphasized that all the economic problems can be overcome by providing
foreign finance in suitable conditions, realizing privatization, increasing
exports, widening touristic facilities and accelerating foreign capital
flow. Onal added that, thus, the desired level in income level can be
reached.
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