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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-10-19
[01] AA Daily
19 October 1999 Tuesday
[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
[03] These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in
Turkey's press on October 19, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify
these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
[04] HURRIYET (LIBERAL) - ------------------ DISGRACE OF OSYM The OSYM, an
organization which chooses and places students to the universities, gave a
wrong key for the civil servants' examination. The candidates which bought
the newspapers yesterday, were crazy when they saw the mistakes in the key
published in the newspapers. The candidate civil servants who realized that
the key was not the real key of the examination, called the offices of the
newspapers. The OSYM accepted its mistake and received protest calls whole
day.
[05] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''BAKU-CEYHAN WILL BE SIGNED AT OSCE SUMMIT''
President Suleyman Demirel made two important statements in Baku yesterday.
Demirel said that the agreement on the Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline Project and the
Azerbaijani-Armenian agreement will be signed. Demirel noted that the
deadlock in the Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline Project will be overcome during the
Istanbul Summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE).
[06] MILLIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- GESTURE OF ATHENS The Greek
Foreign Ministry approved the education with books in Turkish language at
the schools in the Turkish minority in Western Thrace who have been exposed
to oppression for years. Athens which has rejected Turkey's application for
long years, took this decision last week after making some changes in the
books. The Turkish minority who will make use of the decision, will gain
contemporary reading books which have actual contents. The books of which
publishment was started immediately, will be distributed to the Turkish
children next month. A new period will begin for the students who are
currently trying to learn Turkish language from the photocopies of the
books of 1950s.
[07] BAKU-CEYHAN IS O.K. President Suleyman Demirel who paid an official
visit to Azerbaijan, removed the last remaining problems about the Baku-
Ceyhan oil pipeline. Stating that Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev and
he reached a complete compromise on the project, Demirel said, ''we have
reached the last stage for signing the Baku-Ceyhan project. These
agreements will be signed with the concerned countries in Istanbul during
the OSCE Summit.''
[08] ECEVIT: ''IMF LOAN HAS COME JUST NOW'' Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit
clarified the discussions whether the civil servants' wages were met from
the aid quake: ''the IMF's 500 million U.S. dollars aid has come to the
Treasury yesterday at 18:15. Thus, it was impossible to meet wages from
this aid.''
[09] SABAH (LIBERAL) - -------------- MERVE CRISIS Two deputies from the
Virtue Party (FP) prevented Nuh Mete Yuksel, the Ankara State Security
Court (DGM) Chief Prosecutor from interrogating Merve Kavakci, who was
denaturalized from Turkish citizenship, at her house. Yuksel who went to
Kavakci's house to testify her about the cassette-tapes in which she
praised the fundamentalist terrorist organization HAMAS. Arslan Polat and
Zeki Unal, two deputies from FP, did not permit Yuksel enter into Kavakci's
house.
[10] START GIVEN TO KEY BUDGET Turkey's budget which will welcome the year
2000, was submitted to the parliament. The budget has 14.4 quadrillion
Turkish Liras deficit. The budget was prepared in accordance with 25
percent increase in the consumer prices index inflation. Turkey will
welcome 2000 with 46.9 quadrillion budget. The inflation will decrease to
25 percent in the end of 2000. The growth rate will be 5.5 percent.
[11] CUMHURIYET (LEFT) - ---------------- PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''WE HAVE
NOT RECEIVED YET THE IMF'S QUAKE AID WORTH OF 500 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS''
Premier Bulent Ecevit said that Treasury has not received yet the
International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s quake aid worth of 500 million U.S.
dollars. He added, ''so, it is impossible to make any payment from this
aid. On the other hand, we have allocated more sources from the state
bugdet than the domestic and foreign aids for quake victims. It is obvious
that Recep Onal, State Minister, meant this fact. Usage of donations is
being inspected every day by the Prime Ministry Inspection Council.''
[12] THREE JAPANESE WAR SHIPS CARRYING PREFABRICATED HUTS IN MARMARA SEA
Three war ships carrying 500 prefabricated huts donated by Japan, entered
into the Marmara Sea after passing through the Canakkale Strait. Three
warships which departed Japan to bring the prefabricated huts to Turkey for
the quake survivors on September 24, 1999, will arrive at the Haydarpasa
Harbour of Istanbul on Tuesday. The Turkish and Japanese officials will
stage a joint press conference in Istanbul after the ships arrive at the
Haydarpasa Harbour. The prefabricated huts will be handed over to the
Turkish authorities in Istanbul and will later be transfered to Arifiye
hamlet of Sakarya by a train.
[13] RADIKAL (LEFT) - --------------- WAGE INCREASE GUARANTEE FOR CIVIL
SERVANTS The government will re-arrange the wages of civil servants being
over two points of the consumer index, if the 15 percent wage increase in
the first half of the 2000 is beaten by the inflation. The government which
revised the coefficients according to the 15 percent wage increase,
provided the wage increase guarantee with Article 46 of the budget bill.
The Finance Ministry is planning to implement the ''inflation'' arrangement
in the salaries to be valid as of 15th day of the month in which the
indices are announced. Together with the civil servants' wages, the
salaries of the contractual employees will be arranged.
[14] SUBWAY IS A DREAM There is at least one-year remaining works at the
subway which was opened by the Virtue Party (FP) on March 25 before the
general elections on April 18, 1999. The opening ceremony was changed into
a political show, and was held one day before of the imprisonment of former
Istanbul Mayor Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The electro-mechanical system of the
subway, which is claimed to be in service this autumn, couldn't be operated
yet. According to the first plan, the subway should have been finished on
December 31, 1994, and besides the faults at the subway cost 50 million
U.S. dollars burden on people.
[15] TÜRKİYE (RIGHT) - ---------------- 15 PERCENT INCREASE IN SALARIES OF
CIVIL SERVANTS Sumer Oral, Finance Minister, said that they will make 15
percent increase in the salaries of the civil servants for the first half
of 2000. Oral added that the rate of increase in the salaries which will be
made in June has not been determined yet.
[16] KUTLULAR, OWNER OF YENI ASYA NEWSPAPER, TAKEN INTO CUSTODY Mehmet
Kutlular, the leader of Nur (Divine Light) Sect and the owner of Yeni Asya
newspaper, was taken into custody. Kutlular was detained under the
investigation which has been launched into his speech at the Mevlit (a
religious ceremony) to commemorate Saidi Nursi, the founder of the Divine
Light Sect, at the Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara earlier this month. Kutlular
said in his speech that the devastating quake in August was God's
punishment for secularism. The booklet which was distributed during the
Mevlit saying the earthquake was God's revenge for military-imposed
policies banning headscarves in schools and public buildings.
[17] ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) - -------------------- INTEREST: 15 QUAKE Almost
half of the 2000 year budget will be spent on interest borrowings. A total
of 21 quadrillion of the budget will go to the fundholders and rentiers.
With the amount of interest, the wounds of 15 Marmara quakes can be healed.
The wages of civil servants will be increased by 15 percent in the first
half of 2000. Turkey, who is facing difficulties in healing the wounds of
the strong earthquake in August, will spend almost half of the 2000 year
budget, that is 21.1 quadrillion Turkish Liras, on the interest borrowings.
This amount, which is the outcome of awry policies of years, is equivalent
to 45 percent of the budget, and besides it can heal the wounds of 15
quakes like the one that hit the Marmara region.
[18] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RETURNS TO TURKEY
[19] ANKARA, Oct 19 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel returned to Turkey
late on Monday. At the Esenboga Airport of Ankara, Demirel said that he had
the opportunity to discuss all the dimensions of the bilateral relations
between Turkey and Azerbaijan with Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev. He
was once more pleased to see that he and Aliyev share the similar ideas
about the issues which concern Turkey and Azerbaijan, Demirel noted.
Demirel continued, ''I told Aliyev that we welcome the developments marked
in the recent days for the solution of Karabakh issue. I also emphasized
that we will support all the steps taken for a fair and lasting solution on
the international law basis. I stressed that we are in favour of a solution
which the Azerbaijani state and nation is satisfied about and that we will
continue to be beside Azerbaijan.'' ''I welcome that Azerbaijan once more
confirmed her determination concerning the fulfilment of the Baku-Ceyhan
Pipeline Project in the shortest time. We exchanged views about the
concrete steps to be taken in this issue in the following days,'' Demirel
added. Demirel stated that he was pleased and proud to be decorated with
the Azerbaijani Medal of Honour during his visit to Baku. ''We believe that
my visit to Azerbaijan was very useful for the improvement of our bilateral
relations, for the improvement of the solidarity between the two sister
countries and for the fortification of our cooperation in the regional
issues,'' Demirel concluded.
[20] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''I AM SATISFIED WITH MY ONE-DAY VISIT TO
AZERBAIJAN''
[21] BAKU-ANKARA, Oct 19 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel said late on
Monday night that he is satisfied with his one-day visit to Azerbaijan.
Demirel responded the questions of the journalists aboard the plane while
he was returning from Baku to Ankara. Responding to a question, Demirel
said that there will not be any problems about the Turkmen gas. When
responding a question about the dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia,
Demirel said, ''the present situation harms not only Azerbaijan, but also
Armenia. Armenia spends nearly all of her money on weapons. Armenia's
spendings on weapons make her impoverished, and causes the regime to become
unstable. Some embargoes are imposed on Azerbaijan. Three countries; the
U.S., France, and Russia, should help the solution of this dispute.'' When
asked whether or not Aliyev is uneasy about the internal opposition,
Demirel said, ''he does not seem to be uneasy about the internal opposition
because there is not an obvious opposition.'' ''If they walk in the path of
peace, it will be very good. It will also be good for the Caucasus. I
earlier referred to three corners of a triangle. One corner is the Balkans,
one corner is here, and one corner is the Middle East. If peace is ensured
in all these three corners, not only the countries which agree upon peace,
but also Turkey will have some interests and benefits,'' Demirel added.
Responding a question saying, ''we had influence on Armenia. This influence
decreased following some protests of Azerbaijan'', Demirel said, ''we have
clearly said that we will not do anything which will make Azerbaijan
uneasy. We have to continue our unity and support in such a position. We
have always been pacifist and we are still pacifist. But can this be a
lasting peace? I think this is the most appropriate one. I have earlier
told Ter Petrosyan. I have met with Kocharian and I told him the same
thing. We do not have any hostility against Armenia. We recognized Armenia,
and said that she should solve her problems with Azerbaijan. Our policy is
a realistic policy and depends on friendship.'' Responding to another
question, Demirel stressed that all the agreements on the Baku-Ceyhan
project will be signed during the Istanbul Summit of Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). When asked about his views about
the near future in the Caucasus, Demirel said, ''there are many issues in
the Caucasus. Georgia has her own problems, including the Abkhazia and
Ossetia. And there is a Chechnya and Dagestan dispute in Northern Caucasus.
There is a fundamentalist problem in Northern Caucasus. If the problems
between Azerbaijan and Armenia are solved, then the three independent
states in the Caucasus, Turkey, and the Middle Eastern countries, can have
a better cooperation.'' When asked about the fundamentalism problem,
Demirel noted, ''this problem can be observed every day. There are Moslems
in Dagestan and Chechnya. That is, a considerable part of Northern Caucasus
is Moslem. There are some people who are either Moslems or Christians, but
of the same origin. There are Georgians. Acara hamlet of Georgia is Moslem
and the upper parts are Christian. Northern Caucasus is a big problem. If
the dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia is solved, then the region will
calm down. This will also have influence on the future of Northern
Caucasus.''
[22] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''EXECUTIVES SHOULD BE MORE CAREFUL''
[23] ANKARA, Oct 19 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel said on Tuesday that
the executives should be more careful. When asked about how he evaluates
the issue of Merve Kavakci, a former deputy from the Virtue Party (FP),
Demirel noted, ''executives should be more careful. This is a state based
on law. I want everybody to fully comply with the principles of the state
based on law. I had earlier warned of this issue.'' ''I do not know the
reason of the executives. I have received information from the press as it
was reflected this morning. The executives should be more careful,''
Demirel added.
[24] PREMIER ECEVIT: ''WE SOLVED THE ISSUE OF KAVAKCI IN THE PARLIAMENT''
[25] ANKARA, Oct 19 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Tuesday
that they solved the issue of Merve Kavakci in the parliament. ''I found
further keeping on at Mrs. Kavakci very odd, and also this personal attempt
of the State Security Court (DGM) prosecutor to carry out the procedure for
the detention of a woman at night was very strange,'' he said. Ecevit gave
information to the journalists at the Prime Ministry building about the
procedure and process of detention of Merve Kavakci. Ecevit said he had
never interfered with the judgement, and he did not approve of interference
with the judgement. ''The incident that erupted last night in front of the
house of Merve Kavakci upset me. I am sure that it also upset the public
opinion. We solved the issue of Merve Kavakci in the parliament. I want to
mention that I found further keeping on at Merve Kavakci very odd, and
besides the personal attempt of Mr. Nuh Mete Yuksel to carry out the
procedure for the detention of a woman at night was very strange,'' Ecevit
stated. ''I do not think there can be any drawback if she goes abroad,'' he
stressed. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said Husamettin Ozkan, the Minister
of State and the Deputy Prime Minister; and Sadettin Tantan, the Minister
of Interior, made the necessary intervention to ''calm down the last
night's upsetting incident''. ''I want this issue solved before the
occurance of any other unpleasant incident,'' Ecevit added.
[26] ECEVIT DUE IN BULGARIA ON OCTOBER 26
[27] ANKARA, Oct 19 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will go to
Bulgaria on a one day visit on October 26. Ecevit is scheduled to
participate in the opening of a hydroelectric power plant near Plovdiv,
constructed by a Turkish company.
[28] PREFABRICATED HUTS FROM JAPAN REACH HAYDARPASA PORT
[29] ISTANBUL/KADIKOY, October 19 (A.A) - Three Japanese warships, ferrying
500 prefabricated huts, arrived in Haydarpasa port in Istanbul on Tuesday.
Japan donated the prefabricated huts for the Marmara quake survivors.
Meanwhile, Japanese government provided yen credit worth of 200 million
U.S. dollars. A welcoming ceremony has been staged in Haydarpasa Port for
JDS Osumi landing ship, JDS Bungo mine laying ship, and JDS Tokiwa reliever
ship of Japanese Fleet. Captain Yoshio Komoriya, Commander of Japanese
ships unit, said they will be very happy if the 500 prefabricated huts
facilitate the lives of quake victims. Shigeo Takenaka, Japanese Ambassador
to Ankara, said the prefabricated huts donated by Japanese government,
symbolized the friendship between Turkey and Japan. Takenaka said the
amount of the donation of Japanese people to quake victims were more than
20 million U.S. dollars. Takenaka also recalled that emergency rescue and
health teams were immediately sent to Turkey following the Marmara quake.
Takenaka said Japanese experts were sent to Turkey for the re-construction
and improvement of the region, adding that Japanese government decided to
extend Yen Credit worth of 200 million U.S. dollars. Erol Cakir, Istanbul
Governor, thanked to the aid of Japanese government and people. He said
Marmara quake was a catastrophe which nearly 16,000 people died and 45,000
others injured. Cakir said the quake affected 20 million people in the most
developed region of Turkey, adding that ''there are damages in industrial
institutions, medical and educational institutions.''
[30] NEW LEGISLATION THAT WILL PAY THE MEN OUT OF THE COMPULSORY 18 MONTH
MILITARY SERVICE ADOPTED IN PLANNING AND BUDGET COMMISSION
[31] ANKARA, October 19 (A.A) - The new legislation that will pay the men
out of the compulsory 18-month military service was adopted in
Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission on Tuesday. The goal of the
draft law is to use the whole of the revenue to meet the losses of the
quake that hit Marmara region. The government bill allows those born before
January 1, 1973 to spend only some 60 days on military service in return
for a payment of 15,000 German marks (8,300 U.S.dollars). Men over 40 years
old can pay 20,000 marks and miss the call-up altogether. According to the
bill, the revenue will be deposited to a bank account in Ziraat Bank and
only Finance Ministry will be authorized to use this revenue.
[32] AKBULUT, PARLIAMENT SPEAKER: ''DEPUTYSHIP OF MERVE KAVAKCI CAN BE
CONSIDERED AS IT IS SUSPENDED''
[33] ANKARA, October 19 (A.A) - Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut said on
Tuesday that the deputyship of Merve Kavakci can be considered as it is
suspended. Akbulut staged a news conference and said deputyship of Kavakci
can be considered as it is suspended till the case opened to denaturalize
her is concluded. Akbulut said deputyship of Kavakci will not be harmed,
yet if she loses, the issue will be discussed in Supreme Election Board
again and may be discussed in General Assembly.
[34] BAHCELI SAYS EU COMMISSION REPORT IS A POSITIVE START
[35] ANKARA, October 19 (A.A) - Devlet Bahceli, Deputy Prime Minister and
leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said on Tuesday that report
of European Commission was a positive start for Turkish-Europen Union (EU)
relations. Bahceli said, ''Turkey has no other expectation, but justice and
sincerity.'' Addressing his party group meeting, Bahceli mentioned Turkish-
EU relations and said the report of the commission was an indication that
the relations will progress in their natural course. Bahceli said Turkish-
EU relations have passed through a painful process so far and noted that
''particular attitudes against our country created disappointment on our
people, and casted shadow over the credibility of the EU.'' He said,
''because the EU administrations covered a policy that ignored its own
commitments but continiously criticized Turkey, and expected concessions
from Turkey.'' Bahceli said declaring Turkey as the formal candidate
country was for the first time mentioned in THE European Commission report.
He noted that ''it is distinctive that in the report EU confessed that it
failed to fulfil its responsibilities. It is an important step that such a
self-criticism was made, even indirectly.'' Bahceli said Turkey will exert
all required efforts to fulfil its responsibilities as far as the EU abides
by its commitments and responsibilities. Deputy Prime Minister pointed out
that Turkey can not endure being deceived by new tactics, and unfairness,
and insistency of new preconditions. ''It is clear that full membership
problem can be solved by reciprocal understanding and cooperation in
bilateral relations,'' he added. Noting that the bottleneck which the
economy of the country goes through always exists, Bahceli said Turkey
stands on the most critical corners of its Republican history. He added
that ''Turkish ship is dragged into a serious bottleneck'' as a result of
the failure to apply correct policies. Bahceli said the recovery process in
economy was interrupted following the massive earthquake which shook
Marmara region and that growth in budget deficit was inevitable. He said,
''the government does not have much choice. The government's main choice is
to overcome the bottleneck with the minumum loss without allowing more
break downs in the budget deficits and without postponing struggle against
high interest and inflation.'' Bahceli said implementation of the budget
will not be adequate by itself, adding that people should be sensitive
against extravagance and corruption. Pointing out that private sector and
finance institutions have many responsibilities to this end, Bahceli wanted
investments to continue. Bahceli, Deputy Prime Minister, mentioned the
military coup in Pakistan and noted that stability and tranquility of this
country also concerned Turkish people. Bahceli wished Pakistan to reach
political and economic stability soon. Bahceli said they followed the
developments in the Caucasus with concern and discontent, adding that a
problematic period started with the entrance of Russian soldiers into
Chechnya. Bahceli said they expected humanitarian aid to the region to
continue.
[36] GOKALP, MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, DUE TO TRNC
[37] ANKARA, October 19 (A.A) - Husnu Yusuf Gokalp, the Minister of
Agriculture and Rural Affairs, will go to Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC) on a four-day visit. Gokalp will hold various contacts to
improve cooperation in the field of agriculture between the two countries.
Gokalp will be received by Rauf Denktas, the President of Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with
Mustafa Akinci, the Minister of State, and Irsen Kucuk, the Minister of
Agriculture.'' Gokalp is expected to return to Turkey on October 24.
[38] AYTEKIN, ENVIRONMENT MINISTER, LEAVES FOR BULGARIA
[39] EDIRNE, October 19 (A.A) - Fevzi Aytekin, the Minister of Environment,
left for Bulgaria on Tuesday to participate in ''Southeastern Europe
Security Cooperation Meeting.'' Aytekin briefed about the works in the
quake region before leaving for Bulgaria from Kapikule Border Gate. Aytekin
said three rubble breaker machines are active in the quake region, adding
that ''these machines cannot be operated productively. We should speed up
our works.'' Minister Aytekin pointed out that Germany donated a machine,
worth of 500 billion lira, to burn the waste of mobile hospitals. Noting
that the machine will come to Turkey within a week, Aytekin said ''we will
install it to Adapazari. The waste of all hospitals in the region will be
burnt without causing any pollution. The ashes will be buried into the
soil.'' Aytekin said an environment plan will be initiated in the quake
region. He said the project will cost 35 million U.S. dollars.
[40] ISRAELI CONSUL GENERAL VISITS IZMIR MAYOR AND GOVERNOR
[41] IZMIR, October 19 (A.A) - Eli Shaked, Israel's Istanbul Consul General,
said on Tuesday that relations between Turkey and Israel should be
improved. Eli Shaked visited Ahmet Piristina, Izmir Mayor and Mustafa Tamer,
Deputy Governor of Izmir. Shaked said they may work together with Turkey
also within the framework of belief tourism. Israeli Consul General invited
Ahmet Piristina to Israel to further improve relations between Turkey and
Israel. He also proposed to declare Tel Aviv and Izmir sister cities.
Israel attributed great importance to the belief tourism as its the 2000th
anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ, Eli Shaked said. He added that
they work to bring the tourists to Turkey who will come to Israel for
belief tourism.
[42] TOURISM SECTOR WORKERS BELIEVE CLINTON'S VISIT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO
TOURISM
[43] ANTALYA, Oct 19 (A.A) - The tourism sector workers in the
Mediterranean Region believe that U.S. President Bill Clinton's visit to
Turkey and improving relations with the European Union (EU) will contribute
positively to the tourism. Ahmet Barut, the Chairman of Mediterranean
Touristic Hotels and Enterpreneurs Union (AKTOB), told A.A correspondent on
Tuesday that the world television channels' mentioning about Turkey in
their news programmes have positive effects in Turkey's promotion. Barut
said, ''the visit of a famous international leader, the improving relations
with the EU, Turkish soccer teams playing matches with the biggest teams of
the world are mentioned in the news programmes of many television channels.
So, many people learn more about Turkey.'' Antalya region is very
appropriate for becoming the ''winter camp center'' of the foreign soccer
teams, Barut stated. Barut asked for Kemer and Side counties of Antalya to
become the golf resorts of Turkey and for the increase of business tourism
in the region.
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