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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-11-11
[01] AA Daily
11 November 1999 Thursday
[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
[03] These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in
Turkey's press on November 11, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify
these stories and does not vouch for their occuracy.
[04] HURRIYET (LIBERAL) - ---------------- TURKEY LETTER WORTH OF 3.5
BILLION U.S. DOLLARS Aviation giants of the U.S. wrote a letter of Bill
Clinton, the U.S. President, and called for support for the assault
helicopters joint production tender which Turkey opened. The tender worths
3.5 billion U.S. dollars. Chairmen of Bell Helicopter, Boeing, General
Electric Aircrat Enginees and Lockheed Martin called for support from the
White House for the tender in Turkey. The letter, carrying the signatures
of administrators of four companies, said ''Turkey will not give us the
tender unless it is assured that the U.S. government will give exportation
licence.''
[05] CLINTON: ATATURK WAS A STATESMAN Bill Clinton, the U.S. President,
sent a message to a meeting organized by Federation of Turkish American
Associations (FTAA) to commemorate Ataturk. In the written statement
Clinton said ''Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, famous military leader, a statesman,
the man of peace who founded a nation, made a contribution to Turkey's
struggle for independence and the world peace in the 20th century and that
the traces of this will never be eradicated.''
[06] MILLIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- GOOD NEWS Coalition partner
parties convened on Wednesday. Mesut Yilmaz, leader of the Motherland Party
(ANAP), who spoke after the meeting stressed that the summit was very
fruitful. He said ''we have a beneficial meeting in harmony.'' Meanwhile,
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit went to Cankaya palace as the summit
continued. In his return he gave the good news to leaders: ''last obstacle
in Baku-Ceyhan pipeline project has been overcome.'' Thus, Baku-Ceyhan oil
pipeline project agreement can be signed during Organisation for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit.
[07] SABAH (LIBERAL) - --------------- LOVE MASSACE OF INSANE IMAM Mehmet
Kaya (34), a Turkish imam in Germany caused bloodshed when he could not
marry Zubeyde Tetik (19) whom he fell in love with. Yet, the imam was
married with four children. Kaya raided the house of Tetik and fired
everybody he met. He killed seven people including the girl he was in love
with and her father. Kaya fled after the massacre, yet German commando
teams followed him. The insane imam shot himself to death when he
understood he will be captured.
[08] IMF DELEGATION CONCLUDES CONTACTS The International Monetary Fund
(IMF) delegation, led by Carlo Cottarelli, the chief of the Turkey Desk,
ended their contacts with the public institutions on Wednesday The IMF
delegation held contacts with State Planning Institute (DPT), Finance
Ministry, Treasury Undersecretariat, Privatization Administration Board,
and Central Bank officials for nearly 10 days. The IMF delegation was
briefed about the 2000 year budget, and projections of the year 2001, and
assessed performance criteria. Public sector balance and primary surplus of
public sector are among the performance criteria adopted as the report of
Stand-By agreement that will be signed with the IMF. Other performance
criteria are international reserves and public section borrowing
requirement. IMF delegation will start to prepare Stand-By text as of the
weekend. Officials said Turkish side will begin to write ''Intention
Letter'' next week. The letter will be sent to IMF.
[09] CUMHURIYET (LEFT) - ---------------- CYPRUS ARGUMENT IN SOCIALIST
INTERNATIONAL A very harsh argument on Cyprus issue took place in the final
session of the Social International General Congress. Vasos Lissarides,
Socialist Party leader of Greek Cypriot side, addressing the Socialist
International session, made baseless accusations against Turkey. Lissarides
blamed Turkey for occupation and ethnic cleansing. Altan Oymen, leader of
Republican People's Party (CHP), who spoke after Lissarides, said
Representative of Greek Cypriot side tried to enter into polemics and
deviate the facts as it happened in every international meeting.
[10] FRIENDSHIP TRAIN IN SALONICA Friendship train arrived in Salonica to
improve relations with Greece and commemorate the 61th anniversary of the
death of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkish Republic. In
the ceremony, it was said Ataturk started Turkish-Greek friendship with
Greek leader Venizelos.
[11] RADIKAL (LEFT) - ------------- THE LAST 19 DAYS The state had promised
that 26,000 prefabricated houses would be constructed by the end of this
month. Only 1,524 families could move into the prefabricated huts. The
number of huts that are about to be delivered are 3,108. Great efforts
should be exerted to keep the promise.
[12] JORDAN WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE MANOEUVRES Joint manoeuvres between
Turkey, the U.S., and Israel will take place by mid December. ''Seach and
Rescue Manoeuvres'' in which naval and air units of the three countries
will join in, are expected to take place in Turkish coasts between December
14 and 17. Turkey participates in ''Reliant Mermaid-2'' manoeuvres with
nearly 500 helicopters and frigates. Israel is expected to send a Saar 5
type corvette, as well as many sea vehicles. Meanwhile, it was reported
that Jordan and Egypt, who were invited as observers to the manoeuvres,
refused the invitation.
[13] TURKIYE (RIGHT) - --------------- FLOOD OF LOVE We have commemorated
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Founder of Modern Turkish Republic, on the 61th
anniversary of his death. Ceremonies in Anitkabir, Mausoleum of Ataturk,
showed the flood of love. A soldier could not stop his tears in the
ceremony held in Dolmabahce Palace. President Suleyman Demirel said a new
state has been founded from the ashes of an Empire, and noted that people
were pleased over the Republic.
[14] HARD SUMMIT OF THE COALITION PARTNERS Bulent Ecevit, Devlet Bahceli
and Mesut Yilmaz, leaders of the coalition partner parties convened on
Wednesday and held a meeting which lasted for 6.5 hours. Prime Minister
Ecevit's visit to Russia, Chechnya tragedy, priorities of the Parliament,
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Blue Stream and
economic issues were discussed.
[15] ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) - ------------------ ''YOU CAN NOT SAY SHUT UP''
President Suleyman Demirel said it was impossible to overcome the tensions
in religion-state relations by saying ''shut up''. Pointing out that there
is enough pessimism in Turkey, Demirel said Turkey will not be able to get
rid of this in case we don't rely on ourselves. Demirel said ''75 years
have passed. We are still discussing this issue. There are tensions in
Turkey. You can not say ''shut up''.
[16] KARAKAYA RELEASED Hasan Karakaya, a columnist of Akit Newspaper was
released on Wednesday. Karakaya was taken into custody after the claims of
Kasim Gencyilmaz. Karakaya was claimed to have offered 2 million U.S.
dollars to Kasim Gencyilmaz to kill Yekta Gungor Ozden, the Chairman of
Kemalist Thought Association and former Chairman of the Constitutional
Court.
[17] TURKMENBASI TO VISIT TURKEY FOR OSCE SUMMIT - TURKMENBASI INAUGURATES
MOTORWAY CONSTRUCTED BY TURKISH ''MENSEL'' COMPANY
[18] ASKHABAD, Nov 11 (A.A) - Sapharmurad Turkmenbasi, President of
Turkmenistan, will visit Turkey on November 17 to participate in
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit.
Turkmenbasi addressed Turkish workers after inaugurating ''Garasizlik Shah
Motorway'', constructed by Turkish ''MENSEL'' company. Turkmenbasi thanked
to Turkish workers due to the successful works they recorded in his
country. Noting that he will pay an official visit to Turkey on November 17
for OSCE summit, Turkmenbasi said Trans-Caucasian natural gas pipeline
agreement will be signed here. Turkmenbasi said Turkish houses will be
heated with Turkmen natural gas soon.
[19] WORLD BANK OFFICIALS VISIT TURKEY
[20] ANKARA, Nov 11 (A.A) - Turkey became the focus of interest of the
World Bank as the possibility of signature of Stand-By agreement with the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) strengthens. Johannes Linn, Deputy
Chairman of the World Bank responsible for European region including Turkey,
will visit Turkey on November 21-24. Linn will participate in a conference
titled ''Re-structuring of Turkey and Foreign Capital Investment'' in
Istanbul Ciragan Palace between November 21 and 23. Linn will proceed to
Ankara on November 24, and will open new office of World Bank in Ankara.
The six-people World Bank delegation that arrived in Turkey on November 5,
will focus on Economic Reform Loan (ERL). This Loan is thought to be given
to Turkey. The bank plans to extend one billion U.S. dollars ERL to Turkey.
The ERL delegation will stay in Turkey till November 18. Another five-
people World Bank delegation which arrived in Ankara on November 8 will
hold contacts about energy sector and environmental issues. The World Bank
delegation which visited Turkey for energy sector, will stay in Ankara till
November 17. Another World Bank delegation that arrived in Turkey on
November 8 on health sector, will conclude contacts on Thursday. A separate
World Bank delegation is expected to arrive in Turkey on November 29 to
carry out works on technopark projects till December 3.
[21] QUOTAS TO BE ONCE AGAIN A PROBLEM IN CUSTOMS UNION
[22] ANKARA, Nov 11 (A.A) - The World Trade Organization (WTO) which found
the quotas put by Turkey on textiles and ready-wear with the aim of
providing harmonization to the Customs Union ''contrary to liberal trade'',
did not change its decision also for Turkey's appeal. Sources said on
Thursday that Turkey, who appealed in July the decision of the panel that
had been formed within the structure of the WTO upon India's complaint, was
found unjust also in the appeals phase. Turkey received the decision about
the appeal on October 21. The appeal decision, which includes the
abolishment of textile quotas, is expected to become clear at the meeting
that will take place in Geneva on November 19. In accordance with the
Customs Union, which entered into effect on January 1, 1996, Turkey shared
the textiles and ready-wear quotas that is put by the European Union (EU)
on the third countries. Within this scope, Turkey put quotas on 32
countries in parallel to the EU policies. In parallel to the EU policies,
the number of countries on which the quotas are implemented decreased to 21
as of 1999. Within the framework of the GATT 1994 rules, India applied to
the WTO in February 1998 saying that Turkey could not restrict imports of
textiles and ready-wear. The panel, which was set up within the structure
of the WTO, submitted its first preparatory report on March 3, 1999. Turkey
was found unjust about the quota implementation in accordance with the
preparatory decision. Turkey appealed the decision in July 1999. The report
of the appeals organ is expected to be discussed and approved at the
meeting in Geneva on November 19. The decision of the panel is very
important for both the future of the Turkey-EU customs union and the
enlargement process of the EU. In case of abolishment of quotas, the
customs union agreement between Turkey and the EU won't be abided by.
[23] TURKEY-CZECH REPUBLIC - AGREEMENT TO PREVENT DUAL TAXATION AND TAX
EVASION TO BE SIGNED ON FRIDAY
[24] ANKARA, Nov 11 (A.A) - Turkey and Czech Republic will sign an
agreement on Friday to prevent Dual Taxation and to Prevent Tax Evasion.
The signatories of the agreement will be Sumer Oral, Minister of Finance,
and Pavel Martlik, Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister. The
agreements targets overcoming taxation problems in economic and trade
relations. Finance Ministry Press and Relations with the Public Consultancy
said the shrinking effect of double taxation on the transfer of technology,
man-power, and capital will be removed in accordance with the agreement.
Meanwhile, it was reported that number of agreements Turkey signed to
prevent double taxation will reach 60. A total of 39 of them took effect.
[25] U.S. SENATE SUPPORTS TURKEY'S PARTICIPATION IN EUROPEAN DEFENSE
INITIATIVE
[26] WASHINGTON D.C., Nov 11 (A.A) - The U.S. Senate approved on Thursday a
draft law foreseeing the continuation of the NATO's essential role in
defense of Europe and Turkey's full-participation in the European Security
and Defense Identity (ESDI) initiative. The draft law on ''the U.S.'s NATO
Policy'' that was prepared by Jesse Helms, the Chairman of the Senate
Foreign Affairs Committee and seven leading senators, was approved by the
Senate general assembly. Critisizing some circles in the European Union
(EU) which want the NATO have a secondary role in defense of Europe, the
decision stressed that the primary situation of the NATO should not be
weaken. The decision emphasized that the countries which are NATO members
but are not full-member of the EU, should never be excluded from the
initiative, and they should be given place in the decision mechanisms. The
decision in question of the U.S. Senate was evaluated as an important
development that will contribute to the thesis of Turkey who earlier
received the Bill Clinton administration's support for the ESDI initiative.
[27] OSCE WARNING FROM TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS
[28] LEFKOSA, Nov 11 (A.A) - Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said on Thursday that solution was
being sought for the Cyprus question through indirect talks so any
initiative to block the solution ways should not be launced at the summit
of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in
Istanbul, and the terminology that will upset the Turkish Cypriots should
not be used. Denktas said, ''we wish a terminology that will once again
upset us won't be used in the Summit. We wish decisions and statements
saying 'we recognize a single government in Cyprus, and this is the Greek
Cypriot government' which do not esteem the rights, laws, and realities
won't be made in the Summit.'' U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan has said,
''the OSCE Summit in Istanbul will be a forum in which common problems like
the Cyprus question will be discussed.'' Denktas said it would be evaluated
by everybody if an initiative to block the solution ways was launched in
the Summit. ''Probably, there are very important issues on the agenda of
the OSCE. However, the Cyprus issue is the Turkish Cypriots' case of rights
and freedom. It is Turkey's case of geopolitical interest. It is the case
of prevention of the destruction of the Turkish-Greek balance that occurred
as a result of the 1960 international agreements. I am once again
emphasizing that it will be once again evaluated, and our rights and
freedoms will be reviewed again if they accept decisions showing that they
will continue the unjust treatment that started 36 years ago toward the
Turkish Cypriots,'' he stressed.
[29] BAKU-CEYHAN OIL PIPELINE PROJECT - ECEVIT: ''BOTH MR. SHEVARDNADZE AND
MR. ALIYEV ARE DETERMINED IN THE PROJECT''
[30] ANKARA, Nov 11 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Thursday
that President Suleyman Demirel talked to both Georgian President Eduard
Shevardnadze and Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev, and the two
Presidents were determined in the Baku-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline project.
President Suleyman Demirel stated that all problems concerning the Baku-
Ceyhan project were solved. When reminded of this statement of the
President, Ecevit said, ''actually, there was not a disagreement concerning
the Baku-Ceyhan project.'' '''Besides, everbody knows that we want to
purchase Turkmen natural gas. Mr. President talked to Mr. Aliyev and Mr.
Shevardneadze yesterday. Both Mr. Aliyev and Mr. Shevardnadze are
determined in the project. There is not a hesitation concerning the issue,
'' he said.
[31] FRIENDSHIP TRAIN ARRIVES IN ATHENS
[32] ATHENS, Nov 11 (A.A) - The Friendship Train which was organized by the
Turkish Radio and Television Broadcast Organization (TRT) and the
Directorate General of State Railways, arrived in Athens on Thursday.
Fikret Unlu, the State Minister responsible for sports; Yorgos Murmuris,
the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Greek State Railways; and Ali
Tuygan, Turkey's Ambassador to Athens, welcomed the train. Later, Unlu
responded to the questions of the Greek journalists. A very good friendship
project has been launched between Turkey and Greece in the recent days,
Unlu said. The best examples of this friendship can be observed in sports
and arts today, Unlu noted. Unlu said, ''the searches for friendship and
peace started after the quake disasters which hit both countries. The
friendship which started between Ataturk and Venizelos, is gradually
improving. We are proud of this. We think of improving this friendship in
every field.'' ''Perfect organizations are being held. Yesterday, the
Telekom had a basketball match. Today, there is the Abdi Ipekci award
ceremony. All these are the organizations which improve the friendship
between Turkey and Greece. Besides, the two nations are friends for years,
'' Unlu added. Unlu stated that the history should be relegated to the
pages of history and both countries should take steps for the future. The
residents of Athens can visit the Ataturk Museum which is in the Friendship
Train. Turkey's Embassy in Athens will host a reception in the honour of
the Friendship Train.
[33] THE OLDEST SCHOOL OF BULGARIA'S KIRCAALI HAMLET BURNS
[34] SOFIA, Nov 11 (A.A) - The oldest high school of Kircaali hamlet of
Bulgaria where many Turks live, burned on Thursday. The ''Otets Paisiy''
high school of Kircaali started to burn at 4.00 a.m. early on Thursday. The
fire brigade could not put out the fire despite all the efforts. Thus, the
school cannot be used any more. The security forces said that they think
that the fire was a sabotage. Some circles think that young people who are
addicted to drugs could have set ablaze the high school. The security
forces noted that the interrogation concerning the fire has been launched.
The high school was constructed in 1913 and it was considered among the
cultural monuments of Bulgaria. Nearly 1000 students were being educated in
the school.
[35] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK INCREASE TO 24.5 BILLION
U.S. DOLLARS
[36] ANKARA, Nov 11 (A.A) - The foreign exchange reserves of the Central
Bank increased to 24 billion 544 million U.S. dollars. The Central Bank
said on Thursday that the foreign exchange reserves, which climbed by 579
million U.S. dollars between October 28 and November 5, increased to 24
billion 544 million U.S. dollars as of November 5. The Central Bank's
foreign exchange reserves were 23 billion 965 million U.S. dollars on
October 28. Meanwhile, according to the October 22-based statistics,
Turkey's total international gross reserves increased 891 million U.S.
dollars to 37 billion 856 million U.S. dollars between October 15 and 22.
The international gross reserves of Turkey were 36 billion 965 million U.S.
dollars on October 15. As of October 22, Turkey's international reserves
were composed of 1 billion 11 million U.S. dollars in gold reserves; 24
billion 786 million U.S. dollars in the Central Bank's foreign exchange
reserves; and 12 billion 59 million U.S. dollars in the commercial banks'
foreign exchange reserves.
[37] GARDNER, UNICEF PROGRAMME COORDINATOR, SAYS EDUCATION AND HEALTH OF
CHILDREN ARE PRIOR ISSUES WHICH CONCERN THEM
[38] KOCAELI, Nov 11 (A.A) - William Gardner, the Programme Coordinator of
the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), said
on Thursday that the education and the health of the children are the prior
issues which concern them. Gardner informed the journalists about the
Reconstruction Plan for the Turkish Children. They are interested in the
education and health of the children whose psychological conditions were
deteriorated after the quake, Gardner said. UNICEF came to Turkey
immediately after the quake and started initiatives, Gardner noted. Gardner
stated that the UNICEF team prepared a report on children in three days.
The UNICEF will work on four main issues in the project which will last for
six months, Gardner stressed. Gardner enumarated these four issues as the
education of the children, the psychosocial treatment, healthy nutrition
and water and hygienic installation. The related ministries will continue
the initatives they launched in these fields after they leave Turkey in
February, Gardner emphasized. Gardner pointed out that 12.5 million U.S.
dollars was collected from the world countries for this project which will
be implemented in Turkey. The assistance to Turkey will continue, Gardner
added. Later, Gardner introduced the Reconstruction Plan for the Turkish
Children to Kutluay Oktem, the Disaster Area Coordinator Governor, and
other officials in Kocaeli. Philippe Heffinck, the UNICEF Representative in
Turkey; Oktem; Idris Kurtkaya, Sakarya Deputy Governor; Natik Vahit
Abbasoglu, Yalova Deputy Governor; and Sinan Yaggun, Bolu Deputy Governor;
participated in the meeting.
[39] TALKS ON INTERIOR MINISTRY'S BUDGET START - INTERIOR MINISTER:
''TURKEY SHARES THE SAME VALUES AND TARGETS WITH WESTERN DEMOCRACIES IN THE
FIELDS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND BASIC FREEDOMS''
[40] ANKARA, Nov 11 (A.A) - The Parliamentary Planning and Budget
Commission started on Thursday to discuss the bill for the Interior
Ministry's 2000 Fiscal Year Budget. Addressing the meeting, Interior
Minister Saadettin Tantan stressed that Turkey shared the same values and
targets with the Western democracies in the fields of human rights and
basic freedoms. Tantan noted that several important steps were taken in
Turkey with the aim of bringing the standards in the human rights field to
the highest level. ''The basic target followed while taking these steps was
to enable the Turkish people to make use of all of the basic freedoms which
exist in all democratic countries, and as its natural result, to completely
fulfil the commitments that were undertaken with international agreements
we signed,'' he said. Tantan recalled that Turkey signed a series of
agreements most of which foresaw influential control mechanisms within the
framework of the U.N, European Council and Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Tantan said abolishment of the security
forces' implementations, which had the chracteristic of being the source
for the allegations of human rights abuses, was very important.
A.A
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