Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-01-24

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[01] AA News

24 January 2000 Monday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

HEZBOLLAH OPERATION
M. Emin Ekici, the terrorist Hezbollah organization's top member who was captured in Beykoz district of Istanbul in an operation, told police one by one the places where bodies of people killed by Hezbollah were buried all over Turkey. A total of 31 dead bodies have been found so far.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

MUMCU WARNED BEFORE
Today it is the seventh anniversary of famous writer-journalist Ugur Mumcu's killing. Mumcu warned people against the murders of Hezbollah before beign killed. He had said ''the state stays silent against the acts of Hezbollah.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

DEATH PENALTY CAN'T BE DISCUSSED EVERYDAY
State Minister Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik who is responsible for human rights said that it is wrong to connect the debate on death penaty with the issue of Abdullah Ocalan, the head terrorist. He said Turkey has to focus on increasing the quality of democracy rather than keeping the agenda of Turkey busy with the debate on death penalty.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

RADIKAL (LEFT)

KURDISH PARTY OF INTELLECTUALS
''Kurdish intelligentsia'' who didn't extend support to terrorist organization PKK as they were against violence, search for ways to found a new party. Peoples' Democracy Party (HADEP) didn't join these efforts to found a new party. Serafettin Elci, who is among this group, said that ''we think that the most important problem of Turkey is the Kurdish issue. Without solving this problem, democracy can't be settled properly in Turkey.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

SABANCI'S ENTERPRISE IN IZMIT
The Izmit CarrefourSA Trade Center was opened by President Suleyman Demirel. A total of 400 people will be employed at the center, which was built on a five hectares of land and cost 602 billion Turkish Liras.

NO MORE TOLERANCE
Tansu Ciller of the True Path Party (DYP) gave the signals of strict opposition saying, ''the nine-month tolerance we gave to the government ended. Even African countries left behind Turkey. That's enough. We will start to directly complain every mistake of the government to people.''

MANAVGAT TO BRING U.S. DOLLARS TO TURKEY
Libya, Jordan, Israel and Greece will bid for the Manavgat potable water which will be exported.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

TURKISH PLANES IN U.S.
Our F-16 fleet, which is the honor of Turkey, is participating in the Red Flag military exercise in the U.S. Six F-16s, 3 tanker planes, one C-130 plane and 93 personnel of the Turkish Air Forces will participate in the military exercise that will start today.

[03] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS: ''STATE DOES NOT COMMIT MURDER AND DOES NOT PERMIT OTHERS TO KILL PEOPLE''

Responding to questions of journalists, President Demirel said that the state uses force, but uses it in a legitimate way. ''State does not and can't use illegitimate forces. If this is the case, the state dissolves,'' Ecevit said.

''It is wrong to regard and show the state out of the legitimacy field. There can be forces of the state out of this line. But if there are, it means they commit crime. The state has to discharge them first of all. The state which can't provide law and order with its legitimate powers, is not a state,'' said Demirel and added that Hezbollah was a derivative of terrorist organization PKK.

[04] FAMOUS JOURNALIST-WRITER UGUR MUMCU COMMEMORATED

The investigation whether or not Abdullah Argun Cetin, who was captured in connection with the murder, is ''sane'' or not, has continued for one year.

Cetin started to be tried on January 7, 1999 by Ankara State Security Court (DGM) No. 1.

The suspect claimed the court that he and ''others'' examined the street in which Mumcu was killed, but he was not informed about the character of the attack. Cetin added that he was under pressure and he wanted to benefit from the repentance law. Cetin also said that he was trained about bombs.

However, the suspect changed his testimonies in the hearing heard before the court on January 18, 2000. He claimed that he didn't have any connection with the murder of Ugur Mumcu, adding he didn't want to benefit from the repentance law.

Lawyer Ceyhan Mumcu, the brother of Ugur Mumcu, told A.A that the statements of Cetin has to be evaluated objectively.

[05] PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''ENERGY IS A KEY SECTOR FOR DEVELOPMENT, INDUSTRIALIZATION, AND PROSPERITY''

Issuing a message upon the Energy Saving Week, President Demirel said that the production of energy in Turkey is behind the level in the world. ''We must undertake important investments to use sources such as nuclear energy, sun, and wind,'' said President Demirel.

Turkey wastes nearly 30 percent of the energy it uses, said President Demirel and added that ''this is a serious amount for a country which produces 39 percent of the energy it uses and which imports 60 percent of it. We must be economical.''

Turkey put into force an energy investment program of nearly 130 billion dollars for the coming 30 years, said Demirel and stressed that efforts should be launched to make the people conscious to prevent energy waste.

[06] HEZBOLLAH OPERATION - ANOTHER DEAD BODY FOUND IN TARSUS TOWNSHIP

The teams, who carry out efforts in the direction of the confessions of Mehmet Emin Ekici, so-called leader of the terrorist organization to the Mediterranean region, pulled out a dead body under a tree in Sekerpinari region in Akcakocali village.

Efforts are underway to determine the identity of the dead body which was sent to Tarsus State Hospital.

[07] HEZBOLLAH OPERATION - A DEAD BODY FOUND IN ADANA

The security officials said that they launched diggings in an empty field in Sakirpasa district of Adana after Mehmet Emin Ekici, the so-called responsible of the illegal organization in the Mediterranean Region, mentioned about this empty field.

The police found a body in a plastic bag, which totally decomposed, during the diggings; the officials noted.

Sukru Yetimoglu, the Chief of Adana Police Organization, said that the body they found, was the body of Ramazan Gumus, a worker who Ekici abducted on June 29, 1999 and later killed and buried in this empty field.

Yetimoglu added that there is not any members of the illegal Hezbollah organization under custody in Adana at the moment.

[08] A TOTAL OF 4.6 KG HEROIN SEIZED AT ATATURK AIRPORT OF ISTANBUL

Officials of the Istanbul Narcotics Directorate said that the security forces, acting on a tip-off, searched on Sunday the luggage of Carmanille Mariello, an Italian woman, in the International Flights Terminal of the Ataturk Airport.

The security forces seized 4.6 kilograms of heroin which was hidden in the luggage, the officials noted.

The officials stated that Mariello was taken into custody.

The officials added that the heroin had a market price of 100 billion Turkish Liras and that Mariello was a drug courrier.

[09] DIGS STARTED IN VILLA IN ISTANBUL WHERE LEADERS OF ILLEGAL HEZBOLLAH ORGANIZATION WERE CAPTURED

Officials told A.A correspondent on Monday that the security forces started to search for dead bodies in the villa which was situated in Beykoz district of Istanbul.

The security forces launched digs in the villa by taking into consideration that there can be dead bodies which were buried in this house, the officials said.

The security forces and the terrorists of the illegal Hezbollah organization clashed for four hours on January 17, 2000.

Velioglu was killed while Edip Gumus, the so-called military wing responsible of the illegal organization, and Cemal Tutar, the so-called Marmara Region responsible of the organization, were captured in the end of four-hour clashes.

The security forces have launched operations against the illegal terrorist Hezbollah organization throughout Turkey following the capture of these two persons.

[10] PREMIER ECEVIT DUE TO SWITZERLAND

Ecevit and the accompanying delegation will stay in Davos township of Switzerland where the WEF meetings are being held every year, between January 27 and February 1, 2000.

Many presidents, prime ministers, ministers, public officials, businessmen, scientists, and journalists will participate in the Davos meetings titled, ''New Beginnings and Creation of A Difference.''

Ecevit will participate in the opening session of the WEF meetings.

Later, Ecevit will partake in the dinner given by Gazi Ercel, the Governor of the Central Bank. Many domestic and foreign businessmen are expected to participate in the dinner.

The booklets which was prepared by the Foreign Ministry, Treasury and the Central Bank, will be distributed to the participants of the dinner. The booklets include information about the facilities that Turkey provides for the foreign investors, the incentives and the international arbitration.

Ecevit will participate in the luncheon given by Tony Blair, the British Prime Minister, on January 28, 2000. Ecevit is foreseen to have a meeting with Blair following the luncheon.

Ecevit will attend a meeting which will be staged within the framework of the Davos meetings the same day. Ecevit is also expected to make a speech in this meeting.

Following the dinner given by India, Ecevit and Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, will join a meeting titled ''Economic Leaders' Meeting.''

Ecevit will participate in the meeting to which the U.S. President Bill Clinton will also join, on January 29, 2000. Clinton is expected to speak in this meeting.

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, the Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp, and the Central Bank Governor Gazi Ercel will also participate in the Davos meetings.

[11] OPERATIONS AGAINST HEZBOLLAH ORGANIZATION - 49 PEOPLE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN MARDIN

Interrogation of detainees is continuing.

Previously, 60 people were taken into custody in Mardin.

Meanwhile, Sukru Yetimoglu, the Director General of Adana Security Department, told the A.A correspondent that the interrogation of Mehmet Emin Ekici, the so-called Mediterranean Region responsible of the illegal organization, was finalized.

Ekici who was brought to Adana from Mersin province, will be sent back to Mersin later today.

[12] DEMIREL RECEIVES SECI DELEGATION

Demirel received SECI Coordinator and former Austrian Deputy Prime Minister Erhard Busek and his delegation on Monday.

Addressing the meeting, Demirel noted that Turkey participated in SECI's activities, and added that the region's stability was very important for peace and security in Europe.

Demirel said the effects of the tragic events in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo are still continuing in the region. Maintaining a trust atmosphere will take time, he pointed out.

SECI Coordinator Busek reminded that SECI was formed to encourage close cooperation in Southeastern Europe, create new communication channels and support the region's integration with European institutions.

Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Slovenia, Macedonia and Turkey are among the SECI participants, and SECI's activities are supported by the U.S., Italy, Sweden, Austria, EU and the Russian Federation.

Busek thanked Demirel for Turkey's support to SECI and stressed that Turkey's support would have a very important role in SECI's success. He also said that he believed Turkey would have big contributions to projects such as forming an interconnected electricity system, improving customs regulations and renewing of transportation infrastructure.

[13] FOUR PEOPLE ON BOARD THE AIRPLANE WHICH CRASHED NEAR GUDUL TOWNSHIP, KILLED

Officials at the Transportation Ministry told the A.A correspondent that Irfan Yildiran, the Director General of the Top Air, Adem Uzer, the

Pilot, Meral Celik, the stewardess, and Hakan Er, the passenger, were killed in the accident.

Meanwhile, search and rescue teams found fuselage of the airplane.

They noted that wreckage of the airplane was still burning.

A.A

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