Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-11-26

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[01] AA Daily

26 November 1999 Friday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

APPROVAL TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
The justice said the last word in Abdullah Ocalan case. The Supreme Court approved the capital punishment unanimously. Now, the eyes are on the parliament. The lawyers of Ocalan have the right to reject to the decision given by the Supreme Court. But, the Supreme Court Chief Prosecutor should accept this rejection. This process will take one month.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

MILITARY BUS PLUNGES INTO SHOULDER OF ROAD, KILLING NINE
A military bus plunged into shoulder of road near Birecik county of southeastern Sanliurfa province, killing nine soldiers and injuring 34 others.

THE UNITED NATIONS TO SENT 600 MORE TENTS
Alfredo Witschi Cestari, the United Nations Turkey Representative, said that they would send 600 more tents to quake-stricken area.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

QUAKE TAX BOMBARDMENT
The Parliamentary General Assembly passed the draft law which is known as Quake Tax. A ''special transaction tax'' was included in the scope of the tax law. Those who are talking with the cell phones, will pay ''special communication tax.'' Under the law, the tax payers which paid their taxes by annual declaration in 1998; the tax payers which paid their taxes by lumpsum tax rates in 1998; and the civil servants and workers whose total tax base exceeds 12 billion Turkish liras in 1998; will be subject to additional income tax and corporate tax.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

FIVE TERRORISTS KILLED IN NUSAYBIN
A total of five terrorists were killed in operations launched by security forces in Nusaybin county of southeastren Mardin province.

Officials said that seven terrorists were killed in the operations yesterday. Number of terrorists rendered ineffective in the region, increased to 12. Operations are underway in the region.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Aygun, the Chairman of the Ankara Chamber of Trade. No casualties were reporter in the attack. Security forces have launched a full investigation into the incident.

EU COMMISSION: ''WE HOPE THAT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
GIVEN TO OCALAN WOULD NOT BE EXECUTED''
Jean-Christophe Flori, the Spokesman of the European Union (EU) Commission, said that they hoped the capital punishment given to Abdullah Ocalan, the head of terrorist organization PKK, would not be executed. Addressing a press conference, Flori recalled that Gunter Verheugen, the member of EU Commission responsible for enlargement, expressed disappoinment over the approval of capital punishment by the Supreme Court Criminal Department No: 9. Flori called on Turkey and all other candidates to lift the death penalty if they want to become a member of the EU.

MAGICIAN DAVID COPPERFIELD CHARMES ISTAMBULIS
David Copperfield, the worlwide prominent magician, charmed Istambulis. A number of people including Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), watched Copperfield's show named ''Journey of a Lifetime'' in the Mydonose Showland. Addressing a press conference before his performance, Copperfield said that he was deeply impressed by Istanbul, and he wanted to learn Turkish.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

TOROS'99 MILITARY MANEOUVRES STARTS
Toros'99 military maneouvres, one of planned maneouvres of the Turkish Armed Forces, started on Thursday. The maneouvres are being exercised in the international waters of Cyprus and Eastern Mediterranean. General Sukru Sariisik, the Commander of Turkish Cypriot Peace Forces, commands the maneouvres. The Turkish Cypriot security forces and Turkish war ships and planes participate in the maneouvres.

TRAFFIC ACCIDENT: 10 DIE
A bus carrying soldiers overturned to the shoulder of the road on Arat mountain near Birecik county of southeastern Sanlýurfa province. Ten soldiers died and 29 others were injured in the accident. The bus was carrying the soldiers from Cizre county of Sirnak province to Gaziantep province. The accident took place around 16.00 local time probably due to wet road. The injured soldiers were hospitalized, while the driver of the bus ran away.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

ARMED ATTACK ON AKGUN
Two unidentified assailants shot dead Nihat Akgun, the owner of the Akgun Hotel while we was having dinner in a restaurant. Akgun who was seriously injured in the attack, was taken to the International Hospital, but could not be saved despite all medical efforts. Assailants managed to flee from the scene. Security forces have launched a full investigation into the incident.

[03] ''RED ARMY CHORUS'' IN ANKARA

The Russian chorus and dance company is visiting Turkey with the contributions of the Culture Ministry and within the organization of Cankaya Rotary Club and Turkish and Russian Opera and Ballet Association.

A reception was held in a hotel in honour of the members of Russian chorus and dance team.

Ertan Sahmali, the Chairman of Cankaya Rotary Club, said that the chorus which is consisted of 89 soldiers, will give a concert to the military circle in the War Academy Commandership on Friday evening.

The chorus and dance company will perform for the residents of Ankara between November 27 and 28, 1999; Sahmali noted.

Sahmali stated that the Russian chorus and dance company will proceed to Istanbul following its concerts in Ankara and will perform in Istanbul for two days.

Most of the revenue of the concert will be used for the quake survivors, Sahmali stressed.

Later, the chorus which is conducted by Victor Eliseyev, greeted people with ''Kalinka.''

The chorus will firstly perform in the War Academy Commandership on November 26, 1999.

Later, the chorus and dance company will perform for the residents of Ankara between November 27 and 28, 1999.

Following the concerts in Ankara, the chorus and dance company will leave for Istanbul.

The chorus and dance company will perform in Istanbul between November 30 and December 1, 1999.

The Turkish-Russian Opera and Ballet Association will work together with the Russian Chorus and Dance Company to perform a programme which the Turkish people will like.

[04] DRAFT LAW ON TAXATION TAKES EFFECT

The Parliamentary General Assembly adopted the Draft Law on Taxation which brings forward some new taxes to overcome the economic losses of the quake disasters.

Under the law, the tax payers which paid their taxes by annual declaration in 1998; the tax payers which paid their taxes by lumpsum tax rates in 1998; and the wage-earners whose total tax base exceeds 12 billion Turkish liras in 1998; will be subject to additional income tax and corporate tax.

The chairmen and members of the executive boards are also included among the wage-earners whose total tax base exceeds 12 billion Turkish liras.

The tax payers who were living in Kocaeli, Sakarya, Yalova and Bolu provinces and surroundings and the workers or civil servants who were working in the workplaces in these provinces will not pay additional tax. Those who declared that they did not have any losses in the quake and to this end wanted to pay tax, will pay additional tax.

The tax payers who lost at least ten percent of their assets or lost one member of their families will be exempted from additional tax.

The additional tax will be paid in six equal installments. The first installment will be paid by the annual declaration and the other installments will be paid in February, April, June, August and October.

Those who pay their taxes with lumpsum obligation will pay the additional tax in three installments. The first installment will be paid as the law is passed and the other two taxes will be paid in June and October.

The wage-earners who pay their taxes and deduction will pay the additional tax in six equal installments. The first installment will be deducted from the wage of the workers or civil servants as the law is passed. The other five installments will be deducted from the wages given in January, February, March, May and July.

The law foresees taking additional Property Tax for only one time and taking additional vehicle tax in two installments.

The quake survivors will be exempted from the additional Property Tax and Vehicle Tax.

The law foreesees imposing ''special transaction tax'' to some transactions from which eight-year compulsory elementary education contribution margin are being cut.

The law envisages tax will be imposed to the domestic borrowing bonds which were issued before December 1, 1999, as of January 1, 2000. This article of the law excludes the special public bonds and foreign currency bonds.

The law foresees cutting 25 percent from the talks and transfer transactions of mobile phones until December 31, 2000.

The law gives the authority to increase the petroleum consumption tax rate which is 300 percent, to 500 percent.

[05] SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL CONVENES

The meeting started at 9.40 a.m. in the Office of Chief of General Staff.

General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff; General Atilla Ates, the Commander of Land Forces; General Ergin Celasin, the Commander of Air Forces; Admiral Ilhami Erdil, the Commander of Naval Forces; General Rasim Betir, the Commander of Gendarmerie Forces; General Hilmi Ozkok, the Commander of the First Army; General Necdet Timur, the Chief of Staff of Land Forces; General Nahit Senoglu, the Commander of the War Academies; General Edip Baser, the Deputy Chief of General Staff; General Aytac Yalman, the Commander of the Second Army; General Tamer Akbas, the Commander of the NATO South European Allied Forces; General Cetin Dogan, the Commander of the Aegean Army; General Tuncer Kilinc, the Commander of the Third Army; Admiral Bulent Alpkaya, the Commander of Fleet; and General Cumhur Asparuk, the Secretary General of the National Security Council (NSC); participated at the meeting.

At the meeting, foreign and domestic threats against Turkey, the training, discipline and logistic requirements of the Turkish Armed Forces will be evaluated.

The Supreme Military Council will conclude its meeting today.

[06] TURKEY-U.S.-ISRAEL JOINT MANEOUVRES TO BE EXERCISED BETWEEN DECEMBER 14 AND 17

The officials told A.A correspondent on Friday that the naval forces of Turkey, U.S. and Israel will participate in the maneouvres which will be exercised offshore Aksaz and in the international waters and air zone of Eastern Mediterranean.

The maneouvres are being held to mark progress in the naval and air search and rescue maneouvres of Turkey, U.S. and Israel, the officials said.

The officials noted that the fleets of the three countries will have the opportunity to introduce their facilities to each other and to exercise together.

The three fleets will be trained to respond quickly and more efficently to the emergency humanitarian needs during the maneouvres, the officials stated.

The first ''Reliant Mermaid-99'' maneouvres was staged offshore Haifa Harbour of Israel between January 5 and 9, 1999.

Jordan had participated in that maneouvres as an observer.

[07] TURKISH-AMERICAN FINANCE ASSOCIATION SET UP IN U.S.

The officials said on Friday that the Turkish-American Finance Association was established to collect together the Turks working in the finance sector in the U.S., to improve the relations among Turks working in this sector.

The association was established with the initiatives of the Economy Undersecretariat of Turkish Consulate in New York, the officals noted.

The officials stated that the association will hold its first meeting in Turkish Consulate on November 30, 1999.

The associations aims at informing the Americans about Turkey's economy and investment opportunities and supporting the Turkish youth who are receiving finance education in the U.S., the officials stressed.

[08] EFFORTS FOR AGRICULTURAL REFORM SPEEDED UP

A commission was set up within the coordination of the Agricultural and Rural Affairs on Friday.

The commission also includes officials from the Undersecretariat of Treasury and other concerned institutions.

The commission will try to provide direct income support from the budget to farmers and urge Turkey to give up the system of support buying for a term of 1 or 3 years.

Meanwhile, pilot regions whose main income will depend on agriculture will be set up starting from next year firstly in Polatlý county of Ankara.

These pilot regions will be tested for one year and all the elements of the agricultural reform in these places will be provided by the World Bank.

Officials pointed out that nearly half of the population in Turkey earn their incomes from agriculture; thus, people can react to this reform in the beginning, but this problem can be overcome by a comprehensive information campaign during the one-year of interim period.

Reminding that the amount of the adjustment credit of the World Bank regarding the agricultural reform will be determined in the meetings that will be held later, officials added that at least 1 billion dollar is required.

[09] ATO REWARD CEREMONY - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''TURKEY HAS TO FINISH PRIVATIZATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE''

Speaking in the reward ceremony of the Ankara Trade Chamber, President Demirel said that the most important problem of the Turkish agriculture stems from unproductivity today.

Turkey shouldn't be a country whose majority of the population earns their living from agriculture while entering the 2000s, he said.

President Demirel added that ''no body regards Turkey as an ill country, on the country everybody sees her as a powerful country.''

In spite of all the economic problems, Turkey's trade volume has reached 75 billion dollars, she can earn nearly 50 billion dollars and she is succesful to pay all of her debts.

[10] TRNC PARLIAMENT SPEAKER HATIPOGLU: ''IT'S NOT POSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND THOSE WHO DOESN'T BELIEVE IN EXISTENCE OF TRNC''

Speaking in the ninth regular general council meeting of the labour organization Hak-is, Hasipoglu stated that TRNC people share the grief of Turkish people due to quake disasters.

TRCN is a democratic country and it chose democracy as a way of life, said Hasipoglu and added that the power of labour unions is very strong in TRNC.

''TRNC won its independence by the Peace Operation in 1974, the whole world has to accept the fact that there are two states on Cyprus,'' he added.

[11] TOROS-99 MANOEUVRE CONTINUES

The manoeuvre, which is administered by the Commandership of Turkish Cypriot Peace Forces, is exercised in the international airspace and waters of TRNC and East Mediterranean.

The troops stage active exercises on the land in various part of the TRNC on Friday.

War ships will also participate in the manoeuvre and the operation will also be watched by the press on Saturday.

[12] TIKA-OECD-GTZ MEETING TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL ON NOV 29

Kabasakal told A.A that the Centre was founded as a result of the negotiations held between TIKA and OECD in 1993 to develop the private sectors of the countries which gained their independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

German technical assistance institution GTZ also joined the Centre in 1994 and the Centre started to hold 26 seminars in a year.

Totally 2500 people including 1200 high ranking officials from 20 countries were trained in the centre till October, 1999.

''Besides its training activities, the Centre also prepared the Model Code on Foreign Capital in accordance with OECD norms and decided to set up agencies to encourage investments in all countries,'' he said.

Kabasakal stressed that one of the final targets of the Centre is opening a permanent office of OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) in Istanbul.

Another target of the Centre is to include the Balkan countries into the project and to set up an arbitration council to overcome commercial relations among the Middle East countries.

[13] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN DENMARK - ''COMMON ACTION PROTOCOL'' SIGNED BETWEEN TURKEY AND DENMARK

The protocol determines the main framework of the necessary regular consultation mechanism to improve the political, economic and cultural relations between Turkey and Denmark.

Before signing the protocol, the two foreign ministers took up Turkey-EU relations, Cyprus question and bilateral and regional issues in a meeting.

Cem requested support from Peterssen regarding the recognition of Turkey's candidacy status to the EU at Helsinki summit.

Foreign Minister Cem will meet with Helle Degn, the Chairwoman of the Dannish Parliament's Foreign Relations Commission the same day.

[14] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT'S STATEMENT - ECEVIT:''NOBODY OR NO STATE CAN URGE TURKEY TO ACCEPT ANYTHING BY PRESSURE''

Responding to questions of journalists, Premier Ecevit said that ''nobody can have doubts about the independence of the justice and judiciary organs in Turkey. This fact was also stressed by many foreign press organs during the trial of Abdullah Ocalan, the head terrorist. Moreover, the crimes committed and ordered by Ocalan are well-known. And their sanctions in Turkish law are also known. We couldn't have expected the Supreme Court of Appeals to take a different decision. Thus, I don't consider reactions to the verdict as correct and right. Certainly, Abdullah Ocalan has other remedies, if he wishes, he can resort to them. The situation will be evaluated due to that.''

[15] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT'S STATEMENT

Issuing a statement at Prime Ministry Central office, Ecevit said that an additional article was included to the additional tax bill during its discussion in the parliament early on Friday.

''Thus, the ones who earn a great amount of money from state bonds, will be obliged to pay a tax ratio between 4-19 percent. This was expected by our public opinion. Thus, an important step has been taken both for social justice and also for decreasing the inflation and interest rates,'' Ecevit said.

''Everybody was saying that the state was collecting taxes from industrialists, employees, and civil servants, but not from fund holders. This was a criticism not to our government but to those who didn't change the situation for years. We took a very important step about this issue,'' he added.

[16] A.A

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