Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-03-06

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

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

[01] AA News

06 March 2000 Monday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

BULGARIAN FOREIGN MINISTER KISSES FM CEM
Turkish, Bulgarian, and Greek Foreign Ministers came together yesterday for peace and friendship. The ministers came together in Plovdiv city of Bulgaria in the morning, ate meatballs in Edirne, Turkey at noon, and left for Kumciflik town of Greece in the afternoon. Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadejda Mihailova welcomed Foreign Minister Ismail Cem by kissing him in Plovdiv.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

DECISION DAY FOR HELICOPTER TENDER
A decision will be given regarding the helicopter tender during the meeting of the Defense Industry Executive Committee today. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that the countries which demand to produce the helicopters for Turkey, were lobbying. However, the decision will be given in accordance with technical criteria.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

SNOW IN TURKEY TODAY
The cold and snowy weather coming from the Balkans passed the border yesterday. The heat decreased by 12-15 degrees in a few hours. It started to snow in north-western Turkey including Istanbul and western regions in the morning. The thickness of the snow will be more than half meter in some regions.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

DRUG OPERATION
Narcotics teams confiscated 15.471 kg heroin in an operation launched in Istanbul. The haul was about to be sent to Italy and Britain. Two people were detained in connection with the heroin.

It was claimed that Mustafa Sezai, a businessman from Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), was the owner of the heroin which was brought from Iran to be sent to Italy and Britain.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

PISKINSUT TELLS ABOUT TORTURE
Sema Piskinsut, Chairperson of Parliamentary Human Rights Commission, said 80 percent of convicts and prisoners, who were interrogated in police stations, received torture and maltreatment. Piskinsut said, ''torture can not be prevented by dismissing only a few people from their posts or punishing them.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

FOUR SOLDIERS LOST THEIR LIVES IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
A minibus carrying soldiers collided with a lorry near Patnos township of eastern province of Agri, killing 5 people including four soldiers and driver of the minibus, and injuring two officers.

TURKEY TAKES 8 GOLD MEDALS IN INTERNATIONAL SPAIN TOURNAMENT
Turkish sportsmen won 8 gold, 3 silver and 8 bronze medals in the International Spain Taekwondo Tournament organized in Valencia. Sportsmen from 33 countries participated in the two-day taekwondo tournament. Spanish national team came on the first place while Turkish team came on the second place and German team came on the third place.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

DE SOTO VISITS HALA SULTAN SHRINE
Alvaro De Soto, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to Cyprus, visited the Hala Sultan Shrine in Larnaca which was built in memory of Um Haram, an aunt of the Prophet Mohammed. Meanwhile, the third round of proximity talks will start in New York, the U.S., on May 23. De Soto is scheduled to meet with Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration, and President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) later on Monday.

[03] TURKISH, BULGARIAN, AND GREEK FOREIGN MINISTERS IN GREEK VILLAGE OF ORESTIAS (KUMCIFLIK)

Speaking in the municipality building, Ismail Cem said that they learnt many things from the experience they had that day.

They saw once again that the peoples of the three countries are brothers, said Cem and added that the ''Balkans will be a center of peace, friendship, economic growth, and cooperation rather than a region of fight, fear, ethnic cleansing, and clash by the change we have today and by the developing relations.''

Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said in his part that these developments take place upon the regional peoples' desire for peace, friendship, and cooperation. Papandreou noted that their meeting opens new horizons not only in the three countries, but also in the Balkans. The results of the meeting go beyond the expectations of regional peoples and it is a new start.

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nadejda Mihailova said in her part that the Balkans which has a bad image in the past, will witness better developments in the future.

After the meeting in the municipality building, various gifts were given to the foreign ministers and they watched a folk dancing in a hotel hall.

Foreign Minister Cem and Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mihailova later proceeded to Edirne, Turkey. Mihailova left for Bulgaria by helicopter from Edirne.

[04] U.N. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE DE SOTO VISITS HALA SULTAN TOMB IN GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE

De Soto who entered the mosque by taking off his shoes, signed the visitors' book and got information from the Syrian imam of the mosque.

Speaking to reporters, De Soto said that he was pleased to visit Hala Sultan Tomb which had an important place in Islam.

De Soto reiterated that the U.N. will restore Apastopolous Andreas Monestary in Dipkarpaz region of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Hala Sultan tomb in Greek Cypriot side.

When a Greek Cypriot journalist requested him to compare the monestary and the tomb, De Soto said that the monestary and the tomb are symbols of two separate cultures and religions, thus they are different.

De Soto pointed out that his visit is unbiased and far from politics, adding his visit to Cyprus is also not beyond the goals of getting information and observing the activities of the U.N.

De Soto said that he does not have the mission of making a progress in proximity talks during his visit to the island.

When a Turkish journalist said that ''the carpets in the mosque are old and not enough. If a permission is given, TRNC or Turkey can give carpets to the tomb,'' De Soto said ''it can be.''

De Soto said that he likes Cyprus and he will settle in the island after five months. U.N. Secretary General's Deputy Special Representative to Cyprus James Holger accompanied De Soto during his visit.

De Soto will meet with Greek Cypriot leader and TRNC President Rauf Denktas on Monday.

An arson attack had earlier been staged in the tomb. Following the attack, the tomb was enclosed with wire due to ''security'' reasons.

Before the arson attack, the mosque was covered with carpets, but now there are only worn-out carpets in the tomb.

Although Greek Cypriot officials say that they repaired the tomb, it is seen that only the door bars, and those part of the tomb which was burnt, have been painted.

[05] TURKISH FILMS TO BE SHOWN IN NEW YORK

Officials at the American-Turkish Women Solidarity Association (ATKDD) told the A.A correspondent on Sunday that President Suleyman Demirel, U.S. President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Rudolph Giuliani, the Mayor of New York, George Pataki, the Governor of New York, and Chuck Schumme, the member of the House of Representatives, would be invited to opening of the festival.

Sezen Aksu, Hale Birgul, Atilla Engin, and Deanne Turquoise will give concerts within framework of the festival.

Zeliha Berksoy, a leading actress, will greet American audience with Bertold Brecht's play.

A total of 8 long feature and 4 short feature films including ''Propaganda'' and ''Harem Suare'', will be shown during the festival.

The festival aims at promoting Turkish art and culture to the American people.

[06] OLD TURKISH HOUSES IN INTERNET

The model houses including the house of great Turkish compositor Hammamizade Ismail Dede Efendi in Cankurtaran district of Istanbul, the waterside residence of Amcazade Huseyin Pasha in Anadoluhisarı, Istanbul and ''Istanbullu Ahmet House'' in Safranbolu, protected by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are all shown in the internet page: ''http://members.xoom.com/zkuyu/index.html''

Ulgen had earlier opened exhibitions in Ankara, Istanbul, Belgium, Paris, Anvers, and Jordan. Her model houses have been attractive for many people both in Turkey and abroad.

Sule Ulgen said that she tries to make the architecture of the old Turkish houses live and noted that she wants to show her models in the virtual world.

The old Turkish houses started to spread in the territories of the Ottoman Empire starting from 15th century. These houses were traditional ones which were suitable for three generations to live together.

[07] SECOND INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION SYMPOSIUM - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''TURKEY SHOULD REMAIN AS AN ECONOMY THAT IS OPEN TO COMPETITION WITH THE WORLD''

''Thus, every institution of contemporary Turkey should catch the world standards, and they should be restructured in a way compatible with the global competition,'' he said.

The ''Turkey Second International Competition Syposium'' which was organized by the Competition Board started in Istanbul.

Sending a message to the symposium, President Demirel stressed that globalization makes regional and global integration inevitable while it spreads competition to world scale in every field.

Demirel said that the competition fact became the most important condition to realize this new order and to harmonize with this new order.

''With this respect, what we require is more free markets in global life, more transparent institutions, more free trade and more competition conditions,'' he said.

The President emphasized that Turkey is determined to live and compete with the world in every field.

''The Turkish entrepreneurs have realized the necessities of the new world order. They have started to make production for the world market, and within this framework, they have reached the quality and standards that can stand to competition. Today, the Turkish products are sold in every country, '' he said.

''Turkey should not lose this developing trend. Thus, Turkey should remain as an economy that is open to competition with the world. With this objective, we have to make use of our potential at the utmost level, and we have to focus on the works that can increase our competition power in every field,'' President Demirel added.

[08] EFFECTS OF CUSTOMS UNION - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: ''UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNPRODUCTIVITY ARE THE ENEMIES OF TURKEY IN THE NEW PERIOD''

Addressing a panel discussion on ''Effects of Customs Union on Turkish Economy'', Cem stressed that there is a revolution called globalization in the world, and on the basis of this revolution, there are extraordinary movements in information and communications technology.

Noting Turkey is seeking a better position in this new world, Cem said, ''this great formation is offering great opportunities to Turkey. We have to make use of this opportunity. In the new period, we have to absolutely protect our ideals.''

''We have to have confidence in ourselves. What we have done up until now is the guarantee of what we will do in the future. As Turkey, we will absolutely do the best both in the European Union structure and in the universal dimension in every field,'' he said.

[09] EFFECTS OF CUSTOMS UNION - FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: ''CUSTOMS UNION HAS BROUGHT A GREAT DYNAMISM OF REFORM TO TURKEY''

Addressing a panel discussion on ''Effects of Customs Union on Turkish Economy'', Cem defined the process of reform as a ''turning point''.

Noting that Turkey is the country which gave the message of reform to both its geography and the world, Cem said, ''Customs Union became an important turning point for Turkey's determination in reaching an advanced rational with its economy, politics, social life, and domestic and foreign relations.''

Cem said that Turkey technically benefitted from the Customs Union agreement's acquisitions, and Turkey gained important advances as it signed Customs Union deal earlier than the other EU candidates.

''Customs Union provided a political expansion to Turkey, and it brought motivation and obligation of competition to our economy,'' he said.

''Customs Union gave us the opportunity of saying 'as Turkey, we have been competing with you in economy and industry for years, and we have been fulfiling this without any important economic contribution of the EU' when we are talking to our interlocutors. Customs Union has brought a great dynamism of reform to Turkey,'' he said.

Cem stressed that there is a revolution called globalization in the world, and on the basis of this revolution, there are extraordinary movements in information and communications technology.

Noting that the fact of globalization brought new opportunities and some negativities as a result of the new dimension it created in economy, Cem said that this process brought a factor of inequality among the countries and their peoples.

Ismail Cem said this great revolution's results are much more in favor of powerful countries, adding, ''the communications and information technology and in connection with this the globalization fact will continue. This will create the formation that will affect Turkey more in next two decades.''

''Turkey is seeking a better position in this new world order, and it is seemed that Turkey will achieve this. As Turkey, we have to evaluate some issues and problems carefully. Because, this formation is offering important opportunities to Turkey. We have to make use of the time and opportunities. If we fail to benefit from the time and from the internal and external development dynamisms sufficiently, and if we are contented with only observing the events, if we fail to accelerate the process of reform, then we lose time, we miss the chance, and we fail to protect and develop the interests of the Turkish people,'' he stressed.

Ismail Cem noted that governments and states should offer the means enabling their citizent to earn their living in spite of solving all of their problems in the process of reforms.

''Unemployment, social disparity, and unproductivity are the enemies of Turkey. These are the facts that we have to struggle with in this new process,'' he said.

''We must absolutely fulfil our ideals in this new period. Because, may be, we are much more in need of our ideals than in the past. We need to understand each other better concerning both external and internal affairs. We have to show respect to our sensitivities,'' he stated.

''We have to have confidence in ourselves. What we have done up until now is the guarantee of what we will do in the future. As Turkey, we will absolutely do the best both in the European Union structure and in the universal dimension in every field,'' he added.

[10] DE SOTO MEETS WITH TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS - DENKTAS:''GREEK CYPRIOTS SHOULD QUIT CLAIMING THAT THEY ARE THE SOLE GOVERNMENT IN CYPRUS''

Prior to the meeting, Denktas told reporters that the meeting was not an official one and said that he would ask De Soto about his impressions and discuss unofficial issues.

Denktas said that the Greek Cypriot side has to quit claiming that they are the sole government on the island and show good will to help to build bridges between the two states. He also said that they can prove this by removing the sanctions against TRNC. The sanctions have been continuing in Cyprus since 1963, he said and noted that besides economic matters, the sanctions have been imposed also in sports and cultural fields. He stated that the sanctions were a gun to terminate Turkish Cypriots.

He also emphasized that recognition of Turkish Cypriot's sovereignty was the first condition to start a ''give and take process'' in Cyprus.

Cyprus is a special problem and it needs a special solution, Denktas said. EU membership should take place after a solution is brought to the situation in Cyprus, he said. He added that if the EU membership takes place before a settlement is reached, this will even worsen the division of Cyprus and make it permanent.

The two states on the island can cooperate under the roof of a confederation, Denktas said and added that the Greek side first has to remove the sanctions to display good will.

De Soto said he was in Cyprus to get to know the island better and noted that he would explain his views later at a press briefing.

Advisor of Denktas on Constitution and Law, Mumtaz Soysal; Undersecretary Ergun Olgun; other advisors Necati Munur Ertekun, Mustafa Evran; Deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Akinci; Foreign and Defense Minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu; Undersecretary Osman Ertul and UN Secretary General's Deputy Cyprus Special Representative James Holger also were present at the meeting between De Soto and Denktas.

[11] BOEING AND EUROCOPTER ELIMINATED FROM HELICOPTER BID

The other remaining 3 firms, which are the U.S.' Bell Helicopter-Textron, Italy's Agusta, and a Russian-Israeli joint venture, are now on the short- list. Ecevit said their proposals will be further reviewed as there were some unclear points.

Ecevit's announcement came after a two and a half hour meeting with Chief of General Staff Huseyin Kivrikoglu, National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, Defense Industry Undersecretary Dursun Ali Ercan, and other officials.

''Turkey will produce its own helicopter but it will take advantage of helicopter models developed by countries which have advanced industries. Turkey will make additions on this model according to its own needs. This is a very beneficial approach,'' Ecevit told reporters.

Responding to a question, Ecevit said there were no financing problems and Defense Industry Undersecretariat would mostly provide financing for the helicopter production.

Ecevit also noted that political considerations had no weight in the bid and they were totally objective while creating the short-list.

When asked when they will anounce the winner of the bid, Ecevit said they would make a decision after the Defense Industry Undersecretariat competes its technical studies.

[12] JAPANESE SUPPORT TO ENERGY SAVINGS

The protocol for Energy Savings Center that was decided to be formed within the framework of the cooperation between the Turkish and Japanese governments was signed on Monday in the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry.

The protocol was signed by Mehmet Demirtola, the General Director of Electricity Affairs Etude Department, and by Yukio Otsu, the Deputy General Director of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Demirtola said the JICA would provide technical and equipment assistance to Turkey in accordance with the protocol.

Noting that similar project were earlier implemented in China, Argentina, Bulgaria, and Vietnam, Demirtola said that they would provide a 10 percent energy savings equivalent to two million tons of oil in a five-year period.

Demirtola said this would mean a 500 million U.S. dollars of savings.

The Japanese government will provide a 6.5 million U.S. dollars assistance for the project which also includes training of Turkish experts in Japan.

[13] POLITICAL PARTIES IN TRNC TO INFORM YSK LATEST BY MARCH 9 ABOUT THEIR PRESIDENT CANDIDATES

According to Higher Election Council's (YSK) calender, the parties must inform YSK latest by March 9, Thursday.

The candidates will be temporarily announced on March 10 and then the candidate list will become clear on March 18. Election propagandas will start on March 20 and last until April 14.

So far, 5 people announced their candidacies for presidency in TRNC. Rauf Denktas who has been the president for 27 consecutive years since 1973 is running as an independent candidate in the elections.

Leader of Socialist Salvation Party (TKP) and Deputy Prime Minister Mustafa Akinci and leader of Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Mehmet Ali Talat, who was elected as a deputy for the first time in 1998, announced their candidacy to become president.

Democrat Party (DP) of Serdar Denktas has no president candidates and it is supporting Rauf Denktas in the elections.

Patriotic Union Movement (YBH) which has no deputies in the parliament is supporting journalist writer Arif Hasan Tahsin who ran for presidency also in the past.

National Resurrection Party (UDP) and Nationalist Justice Party (MAP) have no candidates and they said that they would support one of the candidates from other parties.

[14] STATE MINISTER TOSKAY SAYS EU MEMBERSHIP WILL NOT OVERSHADOW TURKEY'S INTEREST IN ECO

In a speech he delivered at the 1st ECO Trade Ministers Meeting which started on Monday in Tehran, Toskay stressed that cooperation with ECO countries was very important for Turkey and it would not be overshadowed by its EU membership.

Toskay noted that Turkey has followed an active policy to develop cooperation within the structure of ECO in the recent globalization and liberalization of trade process. Turkey is regarded as a complementary element of the multilateral system and regioanal trade agreements, he also said.

In many ECO countries, non-tariff obstacles which block the development of trade should be removed, he noted. He also said the fact that ECO member countries do not have a homogenous trade regime is another important barrier.

ECO countries should become members to the World Trade Organization (WTO) as soon as possible, Toskay said and noted that Turkey was ready to share its experience with ECO countries in this field.

''Our customs and foreign trade law must be in harmony with each other, border passages must be improved, flow of commercial goods and services across borders must be made possible, bilateral agreements must be signed to prevent double taxation and encourage foreign trade between ECO members, '' he went on to say.

Speaking about the latest developments in Turkish economy, State Minister Toskay reminded that Turkey signed a stand-by agreement with Internatioanal Monetary Fund (IMF) a while ago. Turkey's EU candidacy has been officially announced and necessary procedures are continuing at a fast pace, he said. ''We are thinking that Turkey will become a full member to the EU in the near future and carry Europe's giant potential to ECO region,'' Toskay pointed out.

At the end of his speech, Toskay said the first meeting of ECO Trade Ministers will create a perfect opportunity to take concrete steps for the better usage of present and future cooperation potential among ECO countries.

The meeting will end after signing of ECO Trade Cooperation Framework Agreement.

[15] FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON ECO TRADE COOPERATION SIGNED

Following the First ECO Trade Ministers' Meeting, Tunca Toskay, the State Minister, signed the agreement on behalf of Turkey.

Onder Ozar, the Secretary General of ECO; Turan Morali, Turkey's Ambassador to Iran; and Kursad Tuzmen, the Foreign Trade Undersecretary, also participated in the signing ceremony.

Later, Toskay had a bilateral meeting with Abdulrezzak Davut, the Pakistani Trade, Industry and Production Minister.

In the evening, Mohammed Khatami, the Iranian President, received the ministers and the heads of the delegations who participated in the meeting.

Toskay will also have a bilateral meeting with Mohammed Seriatmedari, the Iranian Trade Minister.

[16] A.A

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