|
|
|
Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-10-20
[01] AA Daily
20 October 1999 Wednesday
[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
[03] These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in
Turkey's press on Oct 20, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these
stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
[04] HURRIYET (LIBERAL) - ------------------ KUTLULAR, LEADER OF NUR SECT,
ARRESTED Mehmet Kutlular, the leader of Nur (Divine Light) Sect and the
owner of Yeni Asya newspaper, was arrested. Kutlular was put into prison on
charges of his speech saying that the reason of the devastating quake was
the headscarf ban. He was arrested since he provoked people to hatred and
enmity by his words. Kutlular defended himself as saying, ''I do not say
these. These are included in the Koran.''
[05] HE HIJACKS PLANE BY A KNIFE A hijacker carrying a knife, hijacked an
EyptAir Boeing 737 en route from Istanbul to Cairo sixteen minutes after it
took-off. The hijacker wanted to go to London. But, the hijacker
surrendered to the security forces in Hamburg where the airliner landed for
a refueling stop, four and a half hours later.
[06] MILLIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- IN THE NAME OF DEMOCRACY The
midnight operation to the house of Merve Kavakcı caused a crisis. Political
leaders reacted harshly to that. The Ministry of Justice charged three
inspectors and started an investigation about State Security Court (DGM)
Prosecutor Nuh Mete Yuksel who launched the ''operation.'' President
Suleyman Demirel said ''Turkey is a state of law and those carrying out
their duties must be more careful.''
[07] TURKISH PROTECTION FOR CLINTON The team composed of 150 persons
including 15 women who will protect the world leaders during the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit in
Istanbul, are being trained by the teams which came from the U.S. A total
of 10,000 policemen will be charged during the summit.
[08] SABAH (LIBERAL) - -------------- ECEVIT LOSES HIS TEMPER Premier
Bulent Ecevit demanded the related authorities to launch interrogation
about Nuh Mete Yuksel, the State Security Court Republican Chief
Prosecutor. Ecevit asked the related authorities to launch initiatives
about Yuksel who wanted to interrogate Merve Kavakci, a woman deputy from
the Virtue Party (FP) who entered into the parliamentary general assembly
by wearing a headscarf, late at night in her house. ''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.
[09] LUXURIOUS TAX TO ADDITIONAL VEHICLES The secret behind Finance
Minister Sumer Oral's statement saying, ''tax arrangements which comply
with the principles of social justice will be implemented in 2000'', became
clear. The Finance Ministry plans increasing the taxes imposed on the land,
sea, and air vehicles next year. In accordance to this increase, the tax
taken from the luxurious automobiles and yachtes will be increased at least
80 percent.
[10] CUMHURIYET (LEFT) - ---------------- ANTI-NUCLEAR PROTEST The members
of Greenpeace group including two Germans, three Dutch, two Dannish, and
two Turks, climbed on the Bogazici Bridge of Istanbul yesterday morning.
The members of Greenpeace opened banners writing, ''Cumhur Ersumer-Stop
Akkuyu'' and with signs of ''no entrance'' and ''radiation.'' Later, the
members of the Greenpeace group were taken into custody.
[11] JAPANESE PREFABRICATED HUTS ARRIVE IN ISTANBUL A total of 500
prefabricated huts donated by Japan, arrived in Istanbul yesterday. Three
Japanese ships carrying the prefabricated huts arrived at the Haydarpasa
Harbour of Istanbul. The ships were welcomed by a ceremony. The commanders
of the three Japanese ships met with Hilmi Ozkok, the First Army Comander,
and Erol Cakir, the Istanbul Governor.
[12] RADIKAL (LEFT) - --------------- SIGNING PLACE IS OSCE SUMMIT
President Suleyman Demirel who was pleased with his one-day visit to
Azerbaijan, said that ''the final agreements about Baku-Ceyhan pipeline
will be signed during Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE)
summit in Istanbul.'' U.S. President Bill Clinton who also extends support
to the project, will also participate in the summit.
[13] PROJECT OF CENTURY READY BP Amoco said that the most appropriate
project to transport Azeri oil to world markets is Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. BP
Spokesman said that ''we decided that Baku-Ceyhan is a strategical
transportation point which has to be built.'' The U.S. administration also
extends full support to the project.
[14] TÜRKİYE (RIGHT) - ---------------- EGYPTIAN PLANE HIJACKED An Egyptian
Airlines plane en route for Cairo was hijacked by an Arabic-speaking man
armed with a knife shortly after take-off from Ataturk Airport in Istanbul.
The hijacker was later captured in Hamburg Airport at night.
[15] REACTION TO MERVE INCIDENT President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister
Bulent Ecevit, and other political leaders reacted to the midnight
operation of Nuh Mete Yuksel, the State Security Court (DGM) Prosecutor to
Merve Kavakcı's house. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that ''I consider
the incident exceedingly odd.'' Noting that the matter of Merve Kavakcı had
been handled in the parliament, Ecevit said that it is unusual of a chief
prosecutorsvisiting the home of the subject of an investigation,
particularly at such a late hour.
[16] ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) - -------------------- CRISIS WITH NO REASON
While Turkey seeks to join the European Union (EU) and to host the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit in
Istanbul, even a simple legal procedure turns into a crisis. The Prosecutor
of the State Security Court (DGM) tried to take the testimony of Merve
Kavakcı, a deputy whose loss of membership to the parliament is being
discussed, in her house late at night.
[17] APPEAL CASE OF OCALAN TO BE HEARD ON THURSDAY
[18] ANKARA, Oct 20 (A.A) - The appeal case of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of
the terrorist organization PKK will be heard at Supreme Court of Appeals on
Thursday. The Supreme Court of Appeals accepted the excuse of the lawyers
of Ocalan on October 7 and postponed the hearing to 09.15 a.m. on October
21. Abdullah Ocalan who was sentenced to death by the State Security Court
in Ankara, won't attend the court session on Thursday. If the lawyers of
the accused are present in the session, they will defend their client in
line with their appeal motives. Demirel Tavil, the judge, said in the first
session on October 7 that the court won't permit the lawyers to request a
second postponement. If the lawyers of the head terrorist fail to appeal in
the session tomorrow, the court's decision will be based solely on the
existing file and be given without hearing. If the lawyers are present at
the hearing, a five-member Supreme Court of Appeals delegation headed by
Demirel Tavil, will determine the date on which the court ruling will be
announced. The Supreme Court of Appeals rejected in the first hearing the
request of Cahit Torun, one of the intervenor lawyers to participate in the
hearing under Article 319/2 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The article
does not permit the participation of intervenor lawyers in appeal cases.
Thus, intervenor lawyers, relatives of martyrs and veterans can only watch
the trial. If the Court of Appeals approves the Ankara DGM's previous
decision, the death sentence will be finalized. Ocalan would then have the
right to ask for a ''redress of decision,'' which is known as an
extraordinary way of law. This has first have to be approved by Supreme
Court of Appeals Chief Public Prosecutor Vural Savas. If Savas approves the
redress of decision request of Ocalan, the request will be evaluated by the
same chamber in the Supreme Court of Appeals. If Savas rejects the request,
all domestic legal remedies available to Ocalan will be exhausted. If the
Supreme Court of Appeals upholds the verdict against Ocalan, the case file
will then be sent to the Justice Ministry and then to the Parliament. The
execution of the sentence depends on the parliament's decision and its
subsequent approval by President Suleyman Demirel. If the Supreme Court
revokes the decision about the head terrorist in respect of the merits or
procedure of the case, the accused Ocalan will be retried at Ankara DGM No.
2.
[19] NO COMPENSATION OF LOSS IN TOURISM SECTOR
[20] ANTALYA, Oct 20 (A.A) - Kerim Cavusoglu, the Chairman of Antalya
Regional Executive Board of the Turkish Union of Travelling Agencies
(TURSAB), said on Wednesday that compensation of losses is impossible in
tourism sector. Cavusoglu told A.A correspondent that the tourism sector
sells service, so one-day loss in tourism sector means a big loss.
Cavusoglu said, ''the crisis in tourism sector this year was useful for
Turkey because everybody saw that the touristic resorts were paralyzed due
to the crisis. Especially, the government and other officials realized how
much the tourism revenues carry importance for Turkey.'' ''The Tourism
Ministry allocated 75 million U.S. dollars for the promotion campaigns. We
wish this money to be used for promotion. If we promote Turkey in the
correct way, the tourism will boom in 2000. The public and the private
sectors are in cooperation. If the commitments are fulfilled and the
promotion efforts are efficiently carried out, next year will be a boom for
tourism, Cavusoglu added. Cavusoglu concluded, ''we have good relations
with Europe. The disaster brought solidarity. If we utilize these good
relations, we can mark positive developments in Turkey's tourism.''
[21] GERMANS TO CONSTRUCT 472 PREFABRICATED HUTS IN BOLU
[22] BOLU, Oct 20 (A.A) - The Germans will construct 472 prefabricated huts
in Bolu which was also rocked by the devastating August quake. The
officials told A.A correspondent on Wednesday that the German non-
governmental organization (NGO) titled Berlin Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB)
will construct 472 prefabricated huts in Golkaya, Duzce, Cumayeri, Gumusova
and Cilimli counties of Bolu. The ASB company which also participated in
the rescue operations and works to haul away the rubble in Adapazari, Izmit
and Golcuk, accelerated its works to construct the huts, the officials
said. The officials noted that the ASB plans handing over the huts to the
quake survivors in November. Engineer Christian Trante, Peter Muller, the
representative of ASB, and Ulrich Gutsch carry out efforts in the
construction as if they were workers, the officials added. Trante said that
they will construct 230 huts in Golkaya and these 22 square metre huts will
cost them two million German marks. He added they will hand over the
prefabricated huts in November. The ASB had earlier sent medical equipment,
food staff and clothes to Golkaya, Duzce and Izmit. The company assists the
construction of potable water and sewage network in Golkaya.
[23] BALANCE OF PAYMENTS
[24] ANKARA, Oct 20 (A.A) - The current balance deficit was 339 million
U.S. dollars in the first seven months of 1999 according to Turkey's
Balance of Payments. The Central Bank said on Wednesday that the foreign
trade deficit shrank 36.7 percent between January and July 1999 as the
export revenues decreased 6 percent, and import spendings reduced 20.6
percent, and the shuttle trade dropped 58.3 percent when compared to same
period last year. Meanwhile, the net incomes obtained from other products
and services, and unrequited transfers fell 25.8 percent to 5 billion 243
million U.S. dollars. Thus, the current balance deficit, which was 1
billion 70 million U.S. dollars in the first seven months of 1998,
decreased to 339 million U.S. dollars in the same period this year.
[25] BALANCE OF PAYMENTS
[26] ANKARA, Oct 20 (A.A) - The shuttle trade decreased 58.3 percent in the
January-July 1999 period when compared to same period last year. According
to the balance sheet announced by the Central Bank on Wednesday, the
exports which had become 18 billion 313 million U.S. dollars together with
a 2 billion 479 million U.S. dollars of shuttle trade in the first seven
months of this year, became 15 billion 951 million U.S. dollars together
with a 1 billion 33 million U.S. dollars shuttle trade in the same period
in 1999. The imports in the same period decreased from 27 billion 129
million U.S. dollars to 21 billion 533 million U.S. dollars within the
framework of those developments. The foreign trade deficit which was 8
billion 816 million U.S. dollars in the period in question last year,
decreased 36.7 percent to 5 billion 582 million U.S. dollars. Meanwhile,
the active foreign capital inflow fell 13.6 to 254 million U.S. dollars
percent in the first seven months of the year. The active foreign capital
inflow in the same period last year was 294 million U.S. dollars. When the
portfolio investments are taken into consideration, the net inflow through
the bond issues in the first seven months in 1998 was 809 million U.S.
dollars while the net inflow through the bond issues was 759 million U.S.
dollars in the same period this year. The net inflow in protfolio
investments increased from 705 million U.S. dollars to 1 billion 986
million U.S. dollars in the same period. The net inflow in long-term
capital movements had been 3 billion 242 million U.S. dollars in the first
seven months of 1998 while the outflow in long-term capital movements was
545 million U.S. dollars in the same period in 1999.
[27] BALANCE OF PAYMENTS
[28] ANKARA, Oct 20 (A.A) - The tourism revenues decreased 32 percent to 2
billion 409 million U.S. dollars in the first seven months of 1999 compared
to same perios last year. The Central Bank said on Wednesday that the
tourism incomes had been 3 billion 544 million U.S. dollars in the same
period in 1998. As of the same period in 1999, the tourism spendings
dropped 13.3 percent to 1 billion 53 million U.S. dollars. The tourism
spendings had been 1 billion 248 million U.S. dollars in the same period
last year.
[29] DSP PARLIAMENTARY GROUP'S MEETING
[30] ANKARA, Oct 20 (A.A) - Bulent Ecevit, the Prime Minister, said on
Wednesday that a positive example of democratic compromise was shown
concerning the Amnesty Law. ''With the cooperation of all political parties
in the parliament, almost all of the factors which concern the public
opinion have been removed,'' Ecevit, the Prime Minister and the leader of
the Democratic Left Party (DSP), said. Addressing the DSP Parliamentary
Group's meeting, Ecevit said they have very limited time to form healthy
sheltering opportunities in the disaster areas. Ecevit said the
infrastructures of prefabricated huts were concluded rapidly and many of
those huts were delivered. Ecevit added that the centers, which were
established together with the contributions of friendly countries, would
start to be in service as of next week. Noting that they solved the
temporary and permanent residence problems, Ecevit said they provided wide-
range opportunities to those who rebuilt or repaired their houses. Prime
Minister Ecevit said they helped the tradesmen, artisans, farmers, and
municipalities affected by the quake, and the implementation of monthly 100
million Turkish Liras (TL) aid to each of 20 thousand survivors started.
Pointing out that all of those works were financed by the Treasury and
Social Solidarity Fund without waiting for the foreign aid inflow, Ecevit
said the aid extended from the fund in question has already reached 30
trillion TL. Stressing that they would not neglect other regions in Turkey,
Ecevit said they are determined to speed up investments especially in
Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia. The Prime Minister stated that they
encouraged the foreign capital investments in the region, and they expect a
great amount of foreign trade inflow after the concordance laws regarding
arbitration came into effect. Emphasizing that the obstacles in front of
the Baku-Ceyhan Project were removed as a result of Turkey's determined and
patient attitude and the support of the U.S., Ecevit said, ''thus, Turkey
will be the bridge which connects the Caspian to Mediterranean. When the
Blue Stream Project concludes, Black Sea will be tied to Mediterranean via
Turkey.'' Bulent Ecevit said the European Union (EU) from now on can't
venture to totally discriminate Turkey, positive signals started to be
shown but there was no need to be deceived by excessive optimism. Noting
that he hopes the EU will not attempt to insist on condition that may
endanger the national unity and integrity and existence of the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Ecevit said, ''Turkey will never submit
such kind of insistence.'' Emphasizing that they are determined to remove
the deficiencies in the state of law, human rights and democracy due to the
desire of the Turkish people, Ecevit said they started to take rapid steps
to this end.
[31] RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECE
[32] IZMIR, Oct 20 (A.A) - Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis said on
Wednesday that they show a sincere and clear attitude concerning Turkey's
participation in the European Union (EU), and the development of the
relations between Turkey and Greece. Costas Simitis sent a letter on
Wednesday to Ekrem Demirtas, the Chairman of the Izmir Chamber of Commerce
(IZTO). Simitis said in his reply-letter that he shared the opinions of
Demirtas about the reconstruction of the peaceful atmosphere which was
settled in last 75 years regarding the prosperity of the Turkish and Greek
nations and the security of the region. Costas Simitis stressed that the
Turkish and Greek governments have to cooperate to improve the bilateral
talks and dialogue between the two countries in the fields of trade and
tourism. Greek Prime Minister Simitis said the Turkish and Greek
businessmen agreed to increase the economic relations between Turkey and
Greece. ''In addition to the opinions of the businessmen, the Turkish and
Greek governments are of the same opinion that there is a need for
cooperation to increase the bilateral talks on economic relations and
especially in the fields of trade and tourism. With this respect, we
encourage the private sector in the field of exchange of experience,'' he
said. Noting that Greece adopts a sincere and clear position towards
Turkey's participation in the European Union (EU), and the development of
the relations between Turkey and Greece, Simitis said, in return for this,
we want to see an active effort from the Turkish government.
[33] OSCE SUMMIT-CYPRUS - FOREIGN MINISTRY: ''TURKEY'S POSITION CONCERNING
CYPRUS ISSUE IS CLEAR''
[34] ANKARA-ROME, Oct 20 (A.A) - Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that
Turkey's position concerning the Cyprus issue is clear, and the conditions
for the Greek-Cypriot side administrators' participation in the meetings in
Turkey were specified earlier. Sermet Atacanli, the Deputy Spokesman of the
Foreign Ministry, held his weekly press conference at the Foreign Ministry.
When asked whether the Cyprus question would be brought onto the agenda
during the Summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in
Europe (OSCE) in Istanbul, Atacanli said that Turkey's position concerning
the issue is clear. When asked what kind of a procedure would be followed
in case of participation of Greek-Cypriot side officials in the Istanbul
Summit, Atacanli said the procedure is clear, and it will be implemented in
the same way. When reminded of the news saying that the visit of Greek
Premier Massimo D'Alema before the Istanbul Summit had been cancelled,
Atacanli said the visit of D'Alema to Turkey is still on the agenda. ''Mr.
D'Alema's visit to Turkey before the OSCE Summit in Istanbul is still on
the agenda. The two sides are still working on the schedule of this visit,
'' he said. Meanwhile, Italian Prime Ministry Press Center Director
Pasquale Cascella and Massimo D'Alema's Advisor Massimo Cristilli told the
A.A correspondent that there is not any scheduled visit of D'Alema to
Turkey prior to the OSCE Summit in Istanbul.
[35] STATE MINISTER IRTEMCELIK RECEIVES GERMAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION
[36] ANKARA, Oct 20 (A.A) - Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, State Minister, received
on Wednesday a seven-member delegation from the Interior Affairs Commission
of the German Federal Parliament, headed by Dr. Michael Bursch. Addressing
journalists after the meeting, Irtemcelik said that the meeting was very
positive. Irtemcelik noted that he had informed the German parliamentary
delegation about his meeting with the non-governmental organizations. Cem
Ozdemir, deputy of the German Greens Party, said that the latest situation
of the amnesty law was also discussed at the meeting. Ozdemir said, ''we
especially brought onto agenda the situation of Esber Yagmurdereli. We
think that an amnesty law including Yagmurdereli will be a promising
development for Turkey. Haluk Kirci who killed six people, can benefit from
the amnesty law while Yagmurdereli who expressed his opinions, cannot
benefit from it. This does not conform to any norm of modern law.''
Claiming that there were still laws preventing the thought in Turkey,
Ozdemir noted that they exchanged opinions with Irtemcelik about the issue.
Ozdemir also added, ''we met with a person who is defending the common
values regarded with the European Union (EU). His meeting with human rights
organizations was very promising. We fully support his approach.'' The
German delegation will proceed to Diyarbakir later today to visit the water
purification facility which was supported by Germany.
[37] PARRY, DIRECTOR OF POLITICAL AFFAIRS OF BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTRY, IN
TURKEY
[38] ANKARA, Oct 20 (A.A) - Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, State Minister, received
on Wednesday Emyr Jones Parry, Director of Political Affairs of British
Foreign Ministry. No statement has been given about the agenda of the
meeting which lasted for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, an official of the British
Embassy in Ankara told the A.A correspondent that Parry's visit to Turkey
was one of frequent visits between the two countries. Parry who came to
Turkey yesterday, is expected to leave for Britain later today after
finalizing his contacts with the Foreign Ministry officials. The official
of the British Embassy in Ankara added that Turkey's candidacy to the
European Union (EU) was discussed at the meeting because Parry's visit to
Turkey coincided before the EU's summit in Helsinki in December. Official
also recalled that Britain has fully supported the announcement of Turkey's
candidacy at Helsinki Summit in December.
A.A
|
