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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-10-21

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

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


[01] AA Daily

21 October 1999 Thursday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[03] These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on October 21, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

[04] HURRIYET (LIBERAL) - ------------------ REASON FOR ARSON IS NOT ''ETHNIC ORIGIN'' Marianti Sozde, a Greek origin Turkish woman whose house in Gokceada was burnt by arsonists, said, ''I definitely don't believe that my house was set on fire as I am a Turkish citizen of Greek origin.'' ''Some people wanted my son, who was killed in the fire, for a long time. They wanted to separate us, and they threatened me. I am confused. I was acquainted with the father of my son Aleks in Gokceada. He and I made love in August 1994 but our relationship ended the same year in September when his father called him back. I gave birth to Aleks in Athens. I don't know what I can do now. I love freedom. I can go to Istanbul. I prefer to stay in my homeland Turkey,'' she said.

[05] GAMBLING HOUSE IN CARIBBEANS Sudi Ozkan who preferred Bulgaria after the casinos were closed in Turkey, oriented himself to international markets. It was reported that Ozkan purchased an island in Caribbeans and opened a gambling house there.

[06] MILLIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- NIGHTMARE RETURNS BACK Istanbul woke up when a quake occured at 2.15 am. last night. When the life started to get normalized and the numbers and magnitudes of tremors started to decrease, the quake once more became a fear. All the people rushed into the streets due to the quake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale. The epicenter of the quake was the Islands. The quake was also felt in Bursa and Edirne.

[07] THE GREATEST MAFIA BOSS UGURLU CAPTURED Abuzer Ugurlu, one of the greatest mafia bosses of the period of military coup in September 1980, was captured in his daughter's house. Ugurlu who was a drugs and arms smuggler, was detained in August 1995 related with seven kilograms of cocaine. However, he was released due to lack of evidence. Ugurlu was wanted in absentia for four years.

[08] SABAH (LIBERAL) - -------------- MERVE TO GET MARRIED Merve Kavakci is preparing herself for a second marriage. Kavakci who was earlier married with a U.S. citizen, has two children from her ex-husband. Now, Kavakci will get married with an engineer. This engineer was also married before but he did not have any children from his ex-wife.

[09] ''THIS POWER PLANT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED'' Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said that the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant will be constructed although some people opened banners in the sky. The members of the Greenpeace organization who protested the nuclear power plants by climbing on the top of the Bogazici Bridge of Istanbul, were deported yesterday. Ersumer said that he felt sad about this protest and reiterated that he will not give up this project although people opened banners in the sky.

[10] CUMHURIYET (LEFT) - ---------------- INTERVENTION IN JUDGEMENT Turkish Bars Union Chairman Eralp Ozgen said warning the prosecutor's office has the meaning of giving instructions to judgement. Republican Women's Association Chairperson Senal Sarihan stressed that the covered warning to Nuh Mete Yuksel by the President and the Prime Minister meant the prevention of the investigation which started in accordance with the procedure, by the parliamentary officials and executive power. Yekta Gungor Ozden, the former Chairman of the Constitutional Court, said that any individual does not have the right to warn the judgement, judges and prosecutors in a state of law, and interfere with their activities.

[11] GALATASARAY FLOORS TURKEY THIS TIME Our representative in the UEFA Champions' League, Galatasaray, drove itself to despair for qualifying to second round after receiving a 0-5 defeat against Britain's FC Chelsea. This result was the most grave defeat of Galatasaray which joined the Champions' League for the fifth time.

[12] ANAP AND MHP OPPOSE TO BAN ON HEADSCARF The rule saying, ''the women deputies can't attend the meetings of the Parliament and parliamentary commissions by wearing headscarf'' was included in the proposal which was prepared by the coalition partners for a change in the By-Law but the Motherland Party (ANAP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) members at the Constitutional sub-commission announced that they were opposed to the ban on headscarf.

[13] RADIKAL (LEFT) - --------------- PREMIER ECEVIT: ''WE HAVE REACHED A COMPROMISE ON AMNESTY'' Premier Bulent Ecevit said that they gave an example of a democratic compromise on amnesty. ''As a result of the cooperation of all the parties, the elements which make the people uneasy were eliminated in a wide sense,'' he added.

[14] THREE AGREEMENTS IN OSCE SUMMIT Three agreements will be signed during the Istanbul Summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The Foreign Ministry officials said that an agreement which will confirm the adoptation of the Vienna document, an implementation agreement and a final act will be signed during the summit which will convene between November 18 and 19, 1999.

[15] TÜRKİYE (RIGHT) - ---------------- OCALAN'S APPEAL TO BE HEARD TODAY The Supreme Court is expected to give a decision today for Ocalan who was sentenced to ''death'' by the Ankara State Security Court (DGM) No:2 for treason. The intervenor lawyers, relatives of martyrs, and veterans will also attend today's hearing. If the Court approves the death sentence, the verdict will become definite.

[16] DREAM TO BECOME TRUE Turkey will be the energy center of Europe in new century. The BP-Amoco's approval to the Baku-Ceyhan, which is the key project that will make us be the ''energy bridge'' between Asia and Europe, was welcomed in the U.S. Besides, the developments about the Blue Stream, Turkmen, Azerbaijani, and Iranian natural gas give hope. Turkey is entering the ''golden age'' in energy. Meanwhile, U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson said the BP-Amoco's approval of the Baku-Ceyhan as the east-west pipeline route was an ''important milestone''.

[17] MERVE CRISIS SUSPENDED The crisis, which erupted when Ankara DGM Prosecutor Nuh Mete Yuksel wanted to question Merve Kavakci at her house at midnight, was suspended. The statement of Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut saying, ''Kavakci's membership to parliament can be deemed suspended.'' removed ''search and interrogation'' from the agenda while everybody is now waiting for the decision of the Council of State.

[18] ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) - -------------------- KUTLULAR, LEADER OF NUR SECT, RELEASED Mehmet Kutlular, the leader of the Nur (Divine Light) Sect and the owner of Yeni Asya newspaper, was released by Ankara State Security Court (DGM). The lawyers of Kutlular applied to the court asking the warrant of arrest on Kutlular to be lifted. Later, Ankara DGM decided to release Kutlular.

[19] U.S. INTEREST IN GAZIANTEP Twenty U.S. companies examine the investment opportunities in southeastern Gaziantep province. The U.S. delegation headed by Stuart E. Jones, U.S. Consul to Adana, met with the industrialists in Gaziantep. The local businessmen said that they are ready to cooperate with the U.S. companies.

[20] DEMIREL CONDEMNS CAR-BOMB ATTACK AGAINST KISLALI

[21] ANKARA, Oct 21 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel condemned on Thursday the bomb-attack which killed Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taner Kislali, former Minister of Culture and journalist. Meanwhile, Yildirim Akbulut, Speaker of Parliament; Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit; Devlet Bahceli, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State; Sadi Somuncuoglu, State Minister; Yasar Okuyan, Labour and Social Security Minister; Istemihan Talay, Culture Minister; and Mesut Yilmaz, Leader of the Motherland Party sent messages of condolence to Kislali's relatives.

[22] KISLALI KILLED IN A CAR-BOMB ATTACK

[23] ANKARA, Oct 21 (A.A) - Ahmet Taner Kislali, a former Minister of Culture, and a journalist-author, was killed when a bomb exploded under his automobile early on Thursday. Kislali who was seriously injured in the car- bomb attack was immediately taken to the Bayindir Hospital in Ankara. But he died in the hospital. The bomb under the automobile exploded at about 09:40 local time when Kislali started the engine of his automobile in front of his house in Doktorlar Site in Cayyolu district in Ankara. The lungs of Kislali suffered serious damage and one of his arms was torn away in the explosion.

[24] KISLALI KILLED IN CAR-BOMB ATTACK

[25] ANKARA, Oct 21 (A.A) - Ahmet Taner Kişlali, former Minister of Culture and journalist, was killed in an explosion which occurred as he was taking a nylon bag which had been left on the window of his automobile early on Thursday. The witnesses told the A.A correspondent that Kislali left his house at about 09:30 local time. The bomb exploded when Kislali started to shake the nylon bag left on his car's window. Kislali lost an arm in the explosion and was immediately taken to hospital, but later died in the hospital. The automobile of Kislali started to burn after the explosion. The fire was later extinguished by the fire-brigades. The gendarmerie officials started to collect evidences in the scene. The guard of the residence was taken to police station for interrogation.

[26] KISLALI KILLED IN A CAR-BOMB ATTACK

[27] ANKARA, Oct 21 (A.A) - Dr. Muammer Yuksel said on Thursday that the heart of Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taner Kislali, former Minister of Culture and a journalist, stopped functioning and he was unable to breathe when he was taken to the hospital. Dr. Muammer Yuksel, the Director of Emergency Room at the Bayindir Hospital in Ankara, said Kislali was brought to the hospital at 10:04 local time, but his heart and respiratory system had stopped functioning when he was brought to hospital. Dr. Yuksel said they stopped treatment to revive Kislali at 10:25 as he did not respond to the treatment.

[28] KISLALI KILLED IN CAR-BOMB ATTACK

[29] ANKARA, Oct 21 (A.A) - Arif Emirhan, the gardener of the residences where Ahmet Taner Kıslali was living, said on Thursday that the explosion occurred when Kislali took the nylon bag that had been left on the window of his automobile. Arif Emirhan, who was questioned by the Gendarme officials, said he witnessed the explosion which happened at about 09:30 local time. ''The professor left his house, and later he opened the door of his car and got into his car. Later, he got out of the car when he realized a nylon bag standing on the window of his car. An explosion occurred when he took that nylon bag,'' the gardener said. The gardener said he saw Kislali's left arm was torn away in the explosion, and he rushed to help Kislali. Meanwhile, the bomb-disposal experts said the bomb could be connected to the bonnet of the automobile with a fishing line or could be sensitive to movement. The Combat Terrorism officials said the car-bomb attack could be staged by the illegal fundamentalist Islamic Great East Raiders-Front (IBDA-C) organization.

[30] APPEALS HEARING OF THE HEAD OF THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION - OCALAN CLAIMS THAT A NEW SOCIAL AGREEMENT IS NEEDED

[31] ANKARA, October 21 (A.A) - The defense of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization, was read by Irfan Dundar, his lawyer, in the appeals hearing in the Supreme Court on Thursday. In his defense, Ocalan said the speech of Sami Selcuk, the Chairman of the Supreme Court, in the opening of new judicial year, was very important in democratization of the country. Ocalan claimed that the call he made on September 1 in World Peace Day reduced actions of the terrorist organization. He defended that these developments had positive reflections in the public. Ocalan claimed that the speech of Selcuk in the opening of judicial year was important for the democratization of the country and he defended that arrangements that will be made in legal field will help illumination of Turkey's future. Ocalan noted that thus the ''uprisings'' in Turkey's history will end. Pointing out that the criticism which the country should be democratized came from the state ranks and from outside, Ocalan said foundation of the Republic was a historical need and step, adding that the World War was an obstacle in front of Turkey's democratization. Claiming that interferences of the army in various dates prevented the projects that will be realized in democratic field, Ocalan defended that this process is discussed radically now. Pointing out that the discussions started following the Marmara quake that the state should change, Ocalan said, ''civilian community tries to assess its role with its own power.'' Defending that solution facilities should be revealed before making left-right, military-civilian, ruling- opposition discrimination, Ocalan said an actual and historical agreement is being searched. Claiming that there have been ethnical conflicts and coups for 200 years yet a basic social agreement could not be signed, Ocalan said: ''This is the deficiency which the Republic experienced, but did not deserve. The social agreement which could not be done, made itself felt in every field. It is obvious that there is the lack of freedom of thought. This position of the society shows itself in basic incidents like the quake.'' Giving examples from various countries in his defense, Ocalan said nations coming from different roots may live together in countries like Switzerland, Russia, Australia, and the U.S. Pointing out that differences in a country and living freely formed the basis of enrichment of democracy, Ocalan said ''success of rich and analytical element of democratic system has been proved.'' Defending that social agreement concept should be understood that it is important and indispensable, Ocalan mentioned the implementations made to this end in the Ottoman period. Recalling that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit presented a ''firman from the Ottoman Empire related with the human rights'' to the U.S. President Bill Clinton during his visit to this country, the head of the terrorist organization said ''this is the understanding which we look for today.'' Stating that there was not assimilation by force in the Ottoman period, Ocalan noted that Turkish Republic was founded as a contemporary state.

[32] APPEALS HEARING OF THE HEAD OF THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

[33] ANKARA, Oct 21 (A.A) - The defense of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization, was read by Irfan Dundar, his lawyer, in the appeals hearing in the Supreme Court on Thursday. In his defense, Ocalan said, ''it became dialectic when the Republic of Turkey showed the same success in the social field. No community can live together with such dialectic of chaos. The matter of this case should be considered under the light of the facts. During the foundation process of the republic, Kurdish people's existence was accepted. But after the republic, refusal of their existence, and ban on the Kurdish language, has created the uprising. This is important to understand the near past, and to make a social agreement.'' Ocalan defended that it was not possible to establish a healthy system without overcoming these problems. He also underlined that a separatist uprising could not be accomplished. Ocalan noted that the ''official law'' should not be limited to tight and restricted articles in his trial. He added, ''I had fought not against the essence of republic, but against the oligarchical deflection of it. This case will be resulted in democratic republic, and its constitution.'' Claiming that policy has degenerated in Turkey, Ocalan pointed out that several countries have succeeded in overcoming such problems. Ocalan alleged that Turkey's initiatives to curry favour with the West, did not solve the problems. He said that law has nothing to do against it. Describing the jurisdiction as the third power, Ocalan noted, ''It is worthless to enumerate the republic. But, it is necessary to become democratic. Otherwise, Turkey cannot even protect her current situation.'' Abdullah Ocalan said, Turkey's economic, and social structure has improved, and her cultural accumulation has become adequate after all these developments. He noted that a reality of law has also been formed in Turkey, adding, ''the fact under the current discussions of democracy is that. Without doing this, every steps will backslash.'' Ocalan claimed that constitutions were abolished as a result of the coups in the history of republic. He added that several circles could express themselves on a level which they did not deserve, and national and social law could not be formed to this end. Claiming that there was a general uprising condition in the society, Ocalan said, ''but, I do not defend the fight. It was done exceedingly.'' Defending that a step should be taken to transit into the historical social agreement, Ocalan claimed that changes in the articles would not solve the problems. Noting that differences of thought, religious belief, and living cannot be intervened when the new social agreement is made, Ocalan said that the freedom and the equality would be the basic of the competition. Head of the terrorist organization noted that social affluence would emerge when differences of thouhgt, religious beliefs, and culture are accepted. He added that state's fatherhood, and deity of religions would be unnecessary after the freedom is taken under legal guarantee. Referring to the Nazim Hikmet's lines, ''Free just like an alone tree, and brotherly just like a forest,'' Ocalan noted that social peace will come true after all these are done. Abdullah Ocalan also added, ''I repent that I did not live like a city-dweller. If this order led to this, it is guilty.''

[34] APPEAL HEARING OF OCALAN - FROM OCALAN'S WRITTEN DEFENSE: - ''I DON'T BELIEVE THE REPUBLIC IS ANTI-KURD''

[35] ANKARA, Oct 21 (A.A) - Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization, said in his written defense on Thursday that he does not believe the Republic is anti-Kurd, adding that the Republic is a blessing for the Kurds. Irfan Dundar, one of Ocalan's lawyers, read out Ocalan's 30- page written defense during the appeal hearing at the Supreme Court Criminal Department No:9. Learning Turkish language enriches Kurds, but the education in Turkish language of Kurds is prevented, Ocalan claimed. He added, ''as a free individual, a person's being a citizen of the Republic is an honor.'' Defending that he always called for peace for the democratic Republic, Ocalan said, ''we don't demand privilege. We don't want either a separate state, or a federation, or autonomy. Actually, there is no need for these in a democratic compromise.'' Claiming that repetition of assimilation is meaningless on the eve of the 21st century, Ocalan defended that democratization of the Republic is as important as the Constitution. Defending that he made all of those calls for the sake of peace and brotherhood, Ocalan said he doesn't think there will be a change in the decision which was made in accordance with Article 125 of the Turkish Penal Code. Ocalan claimed that his call for the PKK terrorists to lay down their arms would be formalized at the congress of the terrorist PKK organization. In his final part of his written defense, Ocalan said, ''I believe that my people's living in the democratic Republic as free individuals is the most true way. I call for peace and brotherhood.'' Later, Ocalan's written defense dated October 1, 1999 which was sent by Ocalan to the Supreme Court Criminal Department No:9 was included into the dossier. Later, Ercan Kanar, one of Ocalan's lawyers, defended his client against the court's statement of reasons, trial procedure, and kind of crime. Lawyer Ercan Kanar defended that the trial was held under extraordinary conditions. Claiming that the decision of the Supreme Court is important for the opening of a new page, Kanar defended that the understanding of a free criminal law is not dominant in the trial at local court. ''It is easy to call the accused a baby-killer, and a monster. However, this can't solve the problems. Judges are also philosophers and sociologists. Judges have to search the real reasons lying under the offense,'' he claimed. ''Offense and accused are not miraculous. The economic, political, and social reasons of the crime should be evaluated by the judges,'' Kanar said. Claiming that the case is a political case, Kanar defended that Kurds were excluded from being the basic factor in Turkey except the first period of the Republic. Defending that the refusal of ''Kurdish reality'' was the main reason for this case, Kanar claimed that the 280-page decision of the local court has not reasons. Lawyer Kanar later criticised the court verdict. Defending that the Code of Criminal Procedure was not complied since the apprehension of Ocalan, Kanar claimed that the capture of Ocalan was also contrary to the domestic and international laws. Claiming that the Prime Ministry Crisis Management Center is determining factor in the case, Kanar claimed that there was not a warrant of arrest for Ocalan. Defending that the case must be heard at the State Security Court (DGM) in southeastern Diyarbakir province where most of the terrorist activities were staged, Kanar claimed that the people who suffered damage from the crime, were not taken into consideration during the determination of intervenors. Claiming that the limitation in the number of intervenor and defense lawyers was contrary to the laws, Kanar defended that the publicity was not provided at the hearings on Imrali Island. ''The state provided the unilateral reflection of the case, and in the direction of its inclination through the Turkish Radio and Television and the Anadolu Agency. The defense of the accused's lawyers was not reflected to the public opinion,'' he claimed. When Kanar said they were beaten by the policemen who were charged to guard them after the hearing in Ankara on April 30, 1999, one of the intervenor lawyers said, ''do you accuse the policemen who protected you? Do you defame the policemen?'' When the atmosphere got tensed, Chief Judge Demirel Tavil tried to reconcile the lawyers. Addressing the spectators, Tavil said the right of defense is sacred, and it should be endured. Lawyer Kanar claimed that the evidences were not evaluated, and the reports on records of material losses due to the terrorist activities were not discussed.

A.A
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