Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-01-11

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[01] AA News

11 January 2000 Tuesday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

EYES TURNED TO APO SUMMIT
Leaders of the three coalition parties which formed the government, will take a decison regarding execution of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization, in a meeting that will take place on January 12. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will be in an effort to convince his partners for the postponement of the execution. Democratic Left Party (DSP), and the Motherland Party (ANAP), want the decision of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to be waited. Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) wants the execution to take place soon.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

SECRET SESSION FOR APO
A suprise proposal was brought from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) flank, when there is only one day for the leaders' summit. Sokmenoglu from MHP, said, 'a secret session may take place regarding the file of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization.'' He said, ''President and Prime Minister think the file can be waited for the benefit of the country. They talk about official reports. The parliament must be informed.'' Meanwhile, Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, Minister of National Defense, said ''Parliament has the right to say the last word for Ocalan. Parliament will also consider the decison of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)

SABAH (LIBERAL) CAKICI IS NOT PLEASED WITH THE PLACES
Alaattin Cakici, notorious mafia boss, who came to Turkey with his own request, reacted again. He said, ''this place is worse than France.'' Cakici, who spoke to Huseyin Poyrazoglu, Kartal Republican Chief Prosecutor, said, ''I had applied to have a friend. I could not get an answer. I am bored of being alone. This is like a torture. This place has no difference from France. Even more this place is worse than France. I can't find a friend here that can speak my language.'' Poyrazoglu, the Chief Prosecutor, said they have conveyed his request to the ministry.

TARKAN IN ISTANBUL
Famous Turkish pop singer Tarkan returned Turkey for military service. Tarkan was taken into custody and brought to Bakirkoy recruiting office immediately after he got off the plane. Nearly 50 people protested Tarkan when he was in Bakirkoy recruiting office. Tarkan, who will start his military service on January 15, will give a concert in the coming days for quake survivors.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT) TEACHERS ARE IN THE LIMIT OF POVERTY
Wages of teachers continously receded since 1980. The price increase in books in the last 21 years is more than the rate of the increase in wages of teachers. Productivity of teachers, who could not read much, decreased, and they respectability also decreased. September 12, 1980 was the period when the teachers sank to the bottom.

VOLGANEFT 248 PULLED ONE MILE OFFSHORE BY TRAILERS
The Russian flagged Volganeft 248 which ran aground in Istanbul's Florya Menekse Coast and split into two was pulled one mile off shore by trailers in early morning hours on Monday.

Dr. Erdogan Okus from Coordination Commission formed by the Istanbul Governorship told A.A that 600 tons of oil was unloaded from the tanker and the ship was able to float on Monday morning.

Coast Guard and Ship Rescue General Directorate's experts inspected the tanker and detected no oil leaks. Later the ship was pulled one mile off shores of Florya Coast. Efforts continue to unload the remaing 400 tons of fuel oil in the ship.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

GENERAL STAFF ESTABLISHES WORKING GROUP FOR THE EU
General Staff established ''European Union (EU) Working Group'' after the formal candidacy of Turkey to the EU was approved in Helsinki. The EU Working Group, which was established within the body of General Staff, will act to plan the changes which Armed Forces should do in this period.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

TWO PEOPLE FROZEN TO DEATH
Extreme cold weather affected life conditions throughout the country. Okkes Beykavgaci (63), a night watchman, was frozen to death in Guneykent district in central Anatolian Kirsehir province. Hikmet Sanli (50), who drank much alcohol, fell down on his way to his home in Yenigun district in Adapazari, and was frozen to death.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

SIX OFFICERS DIED IN TUNCELI
Six security officials died and six terrorists were killed in an operation carried out in Tunceli province against the terrorist organization PKK on Monday.

Emergency Regional Governor's Office said that six security officials were killed in the first fire that was opened by the terrorists in rural areas of Ovacik township of Tunceli province.

One of the security officers was major, another one was captain and four of them were privates.

[03] STATE MINISTER YILMAZ: ''WORKS WILL BE CARRIED OUT TO PUT INTO EFFECT THE GAP PROJECT IN PREVIOUSLY DETERMINED DATE''

Yilmaz told A.A correspondent that fifty percent of the project has been fulfilled so far and thus, positive developments have been marked in economic and social life.

The project is foreseen to be completed in 2010 and to this end necessary works are being carried out, Yilmaz noted.

Yilmaz stated that the agricultural production of the region will rise from 12 million tonnes to 23 million tonnes as the project is totally fulfilled.

The unemployment will end and annually 27.3 billion kwh electricity will be produced from this region, Yilmaz stressed.

Yilmaz added that the welfare in the region will increase by 4.45 times as the project is completed.

[04] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT RECEIVES AL SHAZLY, EGYPTIAN AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Al Shazly noted that he explained Prime Minister Ecevit plans to further improve relations between two countries.

Al Shazly stressed that Turkey and Egypt should cooperate in every fields such as economy, culture, press and information, energy, security, and struggle against organized crimes.

When asked whether or not the issue of the Middle East peace process was discussed at the meeting, Al Shazly said that the issue was brought onto agenda of the meeting which focused on cooperation and solidarity between two countries.

He emphasized that Turkey and Egypt were guarantees of stability in the region.

Al Shazly described recent developments in the Middle East peace process as promising.

He also added that both Turkey and Egypt were determined to fully support peace in the region.

[05] NATURAL GAS PURCHASE FROM IRAN - BOTAS DELEGATION, LED BY YARDIM, GENERAL DIRECTOR, IN IRAN

The delegation will hold consultations regarding starting of natural gas in the year 2001 during the contacts.

The delegation will observe the position of pipelines and pump stations in Iranian terroritory. The delegation will say to Iranian side that Turkey will conclude construction of pipelines in the begining of the year 2001, and that purchase of gas may start as of that time.

Iranian officials in an earlier statement said that Iranian side was in a position to give gas, and pointing out the ''take or pay'' condition, said they will ask for the cost in case Turkey does not take the gas.

Iranian side also defends that Turkish side should pay certain amount of money for the gas which it could not take as the pipeline is not ready.

This issue is expected to be brought to the agenda during contacts in Tehran. The delegation will request Iranian side to be more flexible about the cost of the gas, and they will be in an effort to find a formula that will acceptable for the two sides.

The agreement regarding natural gas purchase from Iran was signed on August 12, 1996. According to the agreement Turkey will purchase natural gas from Iran for 22 years. Thus purchase will start with 3 billion cubic meters year, and will be increased to 10 cubic meters year.

Within the framework of the project, Turkey has to construct 286 km pipeline following the route Dogu Beyazit-Erzurum-Sivas, Kayseri-Ankara- Konya-Seydisehir.

Botas is about to conclude construction of 301-km Dogubeyazit-Erzurum section with its own sources. Construction of Erzurum-Sivas (Imranli) (325km), Kayseri-Ankara (320km), Kayseri-Konya-Seydisehir (320km) pipelines still continue.

The line in question will later follow Sivas-Malatya-K.Maras-G.Antep-Adana route with a 560 km pipeline.

Also, a 613 km line from Konya to Isparta-Denizli, and Nazilli will be extended to Izmir, and Turkey will be covered with pipelines.

[06] TURKEY TO CATCH UP WITH TODAY'S FRANCE IN 2023 IF SHE MARKS 4.85 PERCENT GROWTH RATE

The figures of the World Bank and the programme of year 2000 indicated that Turkey can catch up with some of the G-7 countries which are named as the developed western countries.

The figures showed that Turkey can catch up with today's Canada in 2011 and Germany in 2029 if her growth rate is 4.85 percent.

The figures also indicated that Turkey can surpass Canada in 2029, Italy in 2035, France in 2040, Germany in 2050 and Britain in 2053 if the other countries mark today's economic developments.

The figures showed that Turkey marked a growth rate of 4.85 percent between 1980 and 1998 while the U.S. marked 2.95 percent growth rate, Japan and Canada marked 2.8 growth rate, Britain marked 2.75 growth rate, Germany and France marked 1.95 growth rate, Italy marked 1.9 growth rate in the same period.

These growth rate figures put forward interesting figures for the projection of 1999-2025.

In accordance with purchase power parity (PPP), Turkey's gross national income (GNP) which was 405 billion U.S. dollars in 1998, will increase to 1 trillion 455 billion U.S. dollars in 2025 according to the figures of 1998.

In accordance with the 1998 figures, the U.S. GNP will increase from 7 trillion 923 billion U.S. dollars to 17 trillion 369 billion U.S. dollars; Japanese GNP will increase from 2 trillion 928 billion U.S. dollars to 6 trillion 172 billion U.S. dollars; German GNP will increase from 1 trillion 709 billion U.S. dollars to 2 trillion 878 billion U.S. dollars in 2025.

Canadian GNP which is the smallest economy among G-7 countries, will increase from 736 billion U.S. dollars to 1 trillion 550 billion U.S. dollars. Thus, Canada will surpass Turkey in 2025.

If Turkey maintains her growth rate which she marked in 1980-1998 period, she will surpass today's Canada in 2011, today's Italy in 2021, today's Britain in 2022, today's France in 2023, today's Germany in 2029, today's Japan in 2040, and today's U.S. in 2061.

The PPP-GNP and per capita PPP-GNP figures of G-7 countries and Turkey between 1998 and 2025 are as follows:

. PPP-GNP Per capita Annual

. (Billion Dollars) PPP-GNP (Dollars) Increase

Countries 1998 2025 1998 2025 (Percent)

--------- ------- -------- ------- ------ ---------
Turkey 405 1,455 6,383 16,550 4.85

U.S. 7,923 17,369 29,340 53,345 2.95
Japan 2,928 6,172 23,180 50,925 2.8

Germany 1,709 2,878 20,810 35,885 1.95

France 1,312 2,210 22,320 35,820 1.95

Britain 1,219 2,535 20,640 42,250 2.75

Italy 1,163 1,934 20,200 37,700 1.9

Canada 736 1,550 24,050 40,910 2.8

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[07] TREASURY RAISES 1.5 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS THROUGH 30-YEAR GLOBAL BOND ISSUE

This 30-year 1.5 billion U.S. dollar bond issue led by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and Salomon Smith Barney has a 11.875 percent coupon payment.

Half of these bonds, which were issued through the Global Bond Market, were sold in the U.S. market, and 50 percent in European and world markets.

The Treasury Undersecretariat said the bond issue was the greatest amount of foreign borrowing which had the longest maturity.

It stressed that the issue was made during a period in which Brazil, one of the important emerging markets, was obliged to postpone long-maturity bond issue.

[08] ECONOMIC COORDINATION COUNCIL TO CONVENE

High-level officials at the Industry and Trade, Transportation and Communication, and Energy and Natural Resources Ministries, State Planning Organization, Treasury and Foreign Trade Undersecretariats, Eximbank, Foreign Economic Relations Committee, Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges, and concerning organizations will attend the meeting.

The economic and commercial policies towards Turkish Republics will be discussed at the meeting.

The 2000 year economic working programme, which was prepared by State Minister Cay in accordance with the public organizations' opinions about bilateral and multilateral relations between Turkey and the Turkish Republics, will be finalized at the meeting.

[09] LOGO CRISIS IN GREEK FOREIGN MINISTER'S PRESS CONFERENCE

Greek Cypriots tried to remove the logo of the Bayrak Radio and Television (BRT), the official broadcasting organ of the Turkish Republic of Nothern Cyprus (TRNC), from the table, claiming that the logo was ''symbolizing an illegal state''.

The Turkish journalists and correspondents reacted to the incident, saying that they would not attend the press conference if the BRT logo was removed from the table.

The Turkish correspondents, who crossed to the Greek Cypriot side to follow Papandreou's and Kasulides's joint press conference at the Greek Cypriot administration's foreign ministry building, entered the conference hall and put their voice recorders and microphone on the table.

A Greek Cypriot information official said the BRT logo should be removed but the microphone could remain on the table.

The Turkish journalists said they couldn't accept such an incident, and left the hall, adding that they would return to the TRNC.

The Turkish journalists were told that the instructions came from Greek Cypriot adminisration's spokesman Mihalis Papapetru who wanted the romoval of the ''logo of an illegal state'' from the table.

The Turkish journalists accepted to enter again the conference hall when Kasulides said the logo could remain on the table.

After the BRT logo was once again put on the table, the Greek Cypriot officials prevented the BRT logo to be seen by putting a Greek Cypriot flag in front of it.

When the BRT official changed the place of the logo, the BRT logo was hidden between flowers. Later, the Turkish journalists protested the incident and left the hall saying that they wanted to speak to Kasulides.

The Secretary of Kasulides told an official that there was only one legal broadcasting organ in ''Cyprus Republic'' claiming that the BRT was illegal.

The Greek Cypriot administration's representative to Athens Nikos Pasheris told BRT correspondent Mete Tumerkan that the two ministers wanted the Turkish journalists stay in the conference hall, and not to exaggerate the incident.

Tumerkan told Pasheris that the Turkish journalists would not attend the press conference if the BRT logo was removed from the table.

Meanwhile, Papandreu and Kasulides entered the conference hall, and the Turkish journalists said, ''don't you want us to attend the news conference? A logo crisis erupted here while you were not here.''

Kasulides said, ''we want to see you in the hall but we don't want to see the logo.''

The Turkish journalists protested the attitude and returned to the TRNC.

The Turkish journalists said, ''how can they make peace with us while they can't put up with our existence?''

[10] NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER: ''I PITY ANYONE WHO BELIEVES OCALAN''

Speaking to relatives of martyrs in Alasehir township of Aegean Manisa province, Cakmakoglu said he shared the gains and grief of them.

''They killed six of our brothers yesterday. This is a great pain. We once again saw yesterday that the brotherhood of nations is a nonsensical word. Abdullah Ocalan is making statements as if he embraced the true faith. Where was he yesterday? Was he surrendered by himself? I pity anyone who believes Ocalan. Every word of him is spurious. Majority of Turkish people is supporting us. The position of the nationalist movement is very clear,'' he said.

[11] ASLANTAS, VICE PRESIDENT OF TURSAB: ''WE TARGET 11 MILLION TOURISTS AND 10 BILLION U.S. DOLLAR REVENUE IN 2000''

Aslantas told A.A correspondent that not allocating enough resources to promotion campaigns and not having a state tourism policy have constituted problems of tourism sector in Turkey.

Turkey has well-organized infrastructure, hotels, human force, travelling agencies and the guides for tourism; Aslantas noted.

Aslantas stated that Turkey's tourism loss was 4 billion U.S. dollars last year.

''Tourism is not only the problem of those working in tourism sector. If tourism mobilization is declared and if everybody believes in the benefits of tourism, then Turkey will become among the ten biggest countries. We expect Turkey to declare tourism as a prior state policy in 2000,'' Aslantas said.

Aslantas continued, ''of course, there are some indicators which raise our hopes. Turkey's being announced as EU candidate member is an important factor. Also, Turkey's prestige in the world improved. We believe that we can materialize our targets because the Tourism Ministry will encourage us with a serious and significant promotion budget that will be declared in a few days.''

The Tourism Ministry allocated 50-75 million U.S. dollars for the promotion this year, Aslantas stressed.

Aslantas added that if this resource is used efficiently and the demands to Turkey increase, then the task of the travelling agencies will be transfering the tourist flow to Turkey.

A.A

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