Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-05-01

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[01] AA News

01 May 2000 Monday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

ALBANIAN PRESIDENT IN TURKEY
President Suleyman Demirel got together yesterday with his Albanian counterpart Rexep Mejdani, who is on a working visit to Turkey. The two presidents confirmed continuation of efforts to further develop relations between their countries. Before getting together with Demirel, Mejdani had paid a visit to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.

AYGUN, DSP CANDIDATE WITHDRAWS
Oguz Aygun, one of the candidates in presidential elections, withdrew his candidacy on Sunday, a day before the second round of voting. Aygun is to carry out the procedures pertaining to his withdrawal on Monday.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

GROUNDWORK OF PERMANENT HOUSES LAID
Koray Aydin, Minister of Public Works and Housing said on Sunday, that the permanent housing units will have been opened for accommodation by the end of the year. Aydin, who spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony of permanent housing units in the Karaman village of Adapazari, said that the construction of those housing units would have been completed by the end of the year 2000, and handed over to their owners in the early months of winter.

AYVERDI AND KORA IN NEW YORK
Yakut Ayverdi and Aysegul Kora, two artists famous more with their oil paintings, are in New York, with their works on exhibit at a New York exhibition hall. The works, combined in one exhibition entitled as 'The Human Form', will be on exhibit between May 5th and 25th. Both artists are renowned with their figurative depictions, their extensive use of light and contrast of colors.

SABAH (LIBERAL) LEADERS HOPEFUL
The second round of voting for the presidency is going to held today. None of the candidates except Oguz Aygun, a deputy of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), has withdrawn from the presidential elections. The political atmosphere in Ankara is getting tenser and tenser. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) called on Yildirim Akbulut, a presidential candidate from the Motherland Party (ANAP), to resign from the Office of Parliament Speaker. The ruling parties requested the opposition parties to back their promise.

IMKB COMES ON THE FOURTH PLACE IN EMERGING MARKETS
The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) came on the fourth place in emerging markets with regard to trade volume in the first two months of the year. According to data collected by the Federation of International Stock Exchanges (FIBV), the Taiwanese Stock Exchange came on the first place with a trade volume of 250.6 billion U.S. dollars. The IMKB came on the fourth place with 43 billion U.S. dollar trade volume. The Greek Stock Exchange followed the IMKB with 28.7 billion U.S. dollar trade volume.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS TO
ORGANIZE INTERNATIONAL EU COUNCIL
Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz, the Head of the Directorate General of Religious Affairs, said that the directorate will organize International European Union (EU) Council between May 3 and 7, 2000. A total of 150 religious persons, including 125 Turkish and 25 foreign religious persons, will participate in the council, Yilmaz added.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

PIANO TO BE PLAYED FOR FRIENDSHIP
The First International Antalya Piano Festival will start on Tuesday evening with the concert given by Aysegul Sarica. The festival will be held with the contributions of Golden Orange Culture and Arts Foundation, Antalya College and Antalya Philarmonic Society Association. The festival targets at peace in the Aegean. Within this framework, Aris Garufalis, the famous Greek piano virtuoso, will give a concert on May 3.

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

POLITICAL AND FINANCIAL SCHEDULE IS INTENSIVE
May will be an intensive month for Turkey-European Union (EU) relations. The EU Commission is expected to submit ''Turkey's Development Report of 2000'' and ''Association Document'' to the EU Council no later than October. In the meantime, Turkey has to complete its preparations until the summer holiday.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

CEM AND PAPANDREOU ARE ''STATESMEN OF THE YEAR''
Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, and George Papandreou, the Greek Foreign Minister, are in New York to be presented with ''Statesmen of 2000'' award. The ''East-West Institut'' will present Cem and Papandreou with their awards.

SECOND MOBILE PHONE TENDER TO BE STAGED TOMORROW
The Transportation Ministry will receive bids of four consortia once more for the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) 1800 network licence. The Ministry said that the four consortia will join the tender. The Ministry also said the the second phase will be held as an auction, adding that the auction's lowest price will be 2 billion 525 million U.S. dollars.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES FROM THE JAPANESE
The Japanese Embassy in Ankara and the Turkish-Japanese Foundation will organize ''Spring 2000 Turkish-Japanese Cultural Activities'' between May 2 and 11 with the contributions of the Culture Ministry. The cultural activities will be held at the Turkish-Japanese Culture Center. The cultural similarities and differences of two friendly countries will be introduced in these activities. The cultural activities will be free of charge.

[03] ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEJDANI RECEIVES PREMIER ECEVIT

Prior to the meeting, Mejdani told reporters that he is very pleased to pay a visit to Ankara and to meet with Ecevit.

Mejdani said that the Turkish and Albanian nations are friends and that there is economic and military cooperation between two countries.

The joint problems will be discussed during his contacts in Ankara, Mejdani noted.

Mejdani wished success to Turkey and Turkish nation in the path of the European Union (EU).

Ecevit said that he is pleased to see Mejdani in Turkey and that they will discuss the common problems with Mejdani.

Ecevit added that Albania warmly welcomed himself during the visit he paid to this country a short time ago.

[04] PRESIDENT DEMIREL MEETS ALBANIAN PRESIDENT MEJDANI

Prior to the meeting, Demirel said that he is pleased to see Mejdani, the President of friendly and sister Albania, in Turkey and that Turkey and Albania do not have any problems.

Demirel noted that Turkey extends all the assistance to Albania to reach a more developed situation.

The incidents which occured in Kosovo led to big problems and troubles, and these incidents imposed heavy burden on Albania, Demirel stated.

Demirel stressed that Albania had to host 600 or 700 thousand refugees those days.

''Turkey helped Kosovar people who took refuge in its territory. Now, there is peace in Kosovo. There is also the Balkan Stability Pact. I should say that Turkey attributes great importance to this pact,'' Demirel said.

Demirel also said that the international community knows about the self- sacrifice of Albania and that assistance should be extended to Albania.

Demirel added that he and Mejdani will discuss the latest developments.

Mejdani said that he is pleased and honoured to be in friendly Turkey because friendly Turkey has always been beside Albania in its hard days.

Later, the meeting was close to the press.

Following his official contacts in Ankara, Mejdani will proceed to Istanbul.

[05] QUAKES SHAKE MARMARA SEA AND BURSA

Officials of the Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Center and Seismology Institute said that an earthquake measuring 3.1 on the Richter Scale shook Marmara Sea at 2.16 p.m.

The officials noted that an earthquake measuring 2.9 on the Richter scale jolted Orhaneli township of Bursa province at 12.56 p.m.

Also, two aftershocks each measuring 2.6 on the Richter scale jolted Golkaya township of Duzce, and Yalova on Sunday, the officials added.

[06] RUSSIAN-FLAGGED CARGO SHIP RUNS AGROUND IN CANAKKALE STRAIT

Officials told A.A correspondent that the Russian-flagged cargo ship named ''Refrigrator 602'' ran aground near Kumkale Lighthouse after it had entered in the Canakkale Strait.

The 1,531 gross ton ship was loaded with 450 tons of citrus fruits, the officials said.

The officials noted that the ship did not accept assistance.

The officials added that the Russian-flagged ship was enroute from Greece to Russia.

[07] TURKEY-EU RELATIONS - FIELDS CONSTITUTING THE EU ACQUIREMENTS SHARED BETWEEN 8 SUB-COMMITTEES

According to the information given by the Turkish Foreign Ministry, 8 sub- committees to function under the Association Council were formed within the framework of the ''Scanning Process''. As is the case with the other candidate states, the eight committees responsible for Turkey, shared 31 fields constituting the acquirements of the European Union. The fields include Agriculture and Fishing, Domestic Markets, Trade-Industry-Small and Medium Scale Enterprises' Products, Economic and Monetary Affairs, Reforms in the Fields of Education-Science-Culture-Communication, Transportation- Environment-Energy, and the Trans-European Line, Regional Development- Employment-Social Policies, and Customs-Narcotics Smuggling and Money Laundering.

The Scanning process is planned to get started in the May-June period and the Association Council will convene in May to determine the working program of the sub-committees.

Talks on Customs Union will also begin, and public purchases will be taken up within this framework. Negotiations, which are also to take start in June, are expected to have been completed by the end of the year 2000.

The document pertaining to the participation association will be submitted to the EU Council before the end of May. The document is expected to be prepared with reference to the 1998 and 1999 progress reports, and to consist of about 15 pages.

The progress report of Turkey and the other candidate members will also be submitted to the EU Council. Turkey has to inform the Commission about her stance and views about the basic data before mid-July.

The aforementioned two documents will constitute the basis of the National Program that Turkey is to prepare. The National Program will include detailed information about Turkey's harmonisation calendar, her position and certain deadlines.

Financial Cooperation is yet another field that has lately started gaining impetus.

A credit agreement foreseeing the 450-million-Euro portion of a total 600- million quake aid to Turkey had been signed earlier, in 1999. Preparations pertaining to the remaining 150-million-Euro portion is expected to have been competed before the summer term.

A commission is now working on means to combine all financial aids to Turkey under one framework.

The commission had earlier announced that the portion to be reserved to Turkey from the MEDA II Fund, would be much higher as compared to the other countries. However, the exact amount is yet unclear.

Turkey will also get her share from a ''Pre-Participation Opportunity'' worth 8,5 billion Euros foreseen for a three year period. Private sector prjojects will also benefit from this allotment.

A portion worth about 400 million Euros, part of the 750-million-Euro remainder from the Customs Union period, is expected to be available for Turkey this year. The Commission aims at having provided the said sum before the end of the year 2002.

Turkey's intensified relations with both the EU and the candidate members triggered a series of exchange of mutual visits at political and technical levels with EU countries.

A consultation meeting was held recently with German officials. Germany is observed to have been intensifying her support to Turkey lately.

Turkey has also gained the opportunity of making use of Greece's membership experience, with the normalising of Turkey-Greece relations.

Relations with candidate members have also gained impetus. Earlier, Romania, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Slovenia had proposed to exchange views with Turkey and share their experiences.

The United nations Development Program (UNDP), and the International Labor Organisation (ILO) had earlier announced that they were ready to support Turkey's participation strategies.

[08] QUAKES SHAKE VAN AND KUTAHYA

Officials of the Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Center and Seismology Institute said that an earthquake measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale shook Van at 8.15 p.m. on Sunday and another earthquake measuring 3.0 on the Richter scale jolted Emet township of Kutahya at 12.38 a.m. on Monday

The officials listed the hour, epicenter and magnitude of the aftershocks which were recorded in the quake zone as follows:

Hour Epicenter Magnitude

---- --------- ---------
5.58 p.m. (Sunday) Adapazari 3.2

6.14 p.m. (Sunday) Izmit 2.8

12.02 a.m. (Monday) Yalova 2.6

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[09] EXPLOSIONS IN ISTANBUL - BOMB BLASTS CAUSE MINOR SCALE DAMAGE IN FATIH AND EMINONU

Bombs planted near a Finance Ministry building in Fatih and the Is Bank branch in Kucukpazar, Eminonu, went off at around 23.00 hours local time late Sunday night.

No one was injured in the explosions, which wrought little material damage on the buildings and a few nearby cars parked along the street.

Police took strict security measures and launched operations to find the perpetrators.

[10] QUAKES SHAKE ERZURUM

Officials of the Ataturk University Seismology Center said that an earthquake measuring 1.9 on the Richter scale, shook 22 kilometres southwest of Erzurum at 5.07 a.m.

Two other earthquakes measuring 2.7 and 2.0 on the Richter scale, were recorded in the same place at 5.10 a.m. and 5.28 a.m., the officials noted.

The officials added that no casulties were recorded in the earthquakes which were felt in Erzurum and Cat township.

[11] LINKED SEAS-2000 NAVAL MANOEUVRES TO START ON TUESDAY

The General Staff said on Monday that the manoeuvres which are organized by NATO's Commander in Chief of South Atlantic (CINSOUTHLANT), will be exercised in Bay of Biscay of France, west of Portugal and Madeira Islands.

Turkey will participate in the manoeuvres with TCG Akdeniz Frigate.

Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany will take part in the manoeuvres with several ships and planes.

The Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) and Europe's Advance Marine Technology Force (EUROMARFOR) will also take part in the manoeuvres.

Austria, Estonia, Bulgaria, Romania and Georgia will also join the manoeuvres which are open to the Partnership For Peace (FPF) countries.

The humanitarian aid manoeuvres, the embargo methods and the establishment of sea control will be exercised during the manoeuvres.

The manoeuvres will end on May 15, 2000.

The TCG Akdeniz Frigate will return to Turkey after it anchored at the Casablanca harbour of Morocco between May 16 and 19, 2000.

[12] AYGUN, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OF DSP, WITHDRAWS FROM PRESIDENCY

Aygun submitted the petition saying that he withdrew from the presidential race, to the parliament.

Thus, the number of presidential candidates decreased to nine.

Turhan Imamoglu, a presidential candidate of the DSP, and Vecdi Gonul, a presidential candidate of the Virtue Party (FP), had withdrawn from the presidential elections prior to the first round of voting.

The second round of voting for the presidency will be held at 3.00 p.m. today.

A total of 367 votes in favour, which is equivalent to two-thirds of the majority of the deputies, are required to become the president in the second-round of voting.

The remaining presidential candidates are as follows:

Ahmet Necdet Sezer .... Constitutional Court Chairman

Yildirim Akbulut ...... Parliament Speaker

Sadi Somuncuoglu ...... Deputy of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)

Nevzat Yalcintas ...... Deputy of FP

Agah Oktay Guner ...... Deputy of Motherland Party (ANAP)

Dogan Gures ........... Deputy of True Path Party (DYP)

Ahmet Iyimaya ......... Deputy of DYP

Rasim Zaimaoglu ....... Deputy of DYP

Mail Buyukerman ....... Independent Deputy from Eskisehir.

[13] GSM 1800 TENDER - BIDDING STARTS ON TUESDAY AT 2 BILLION 525 MILLION U.S DOLLARS

According to the final resolution pertaining to this second round of bidding, approved by Enis Oksuz, Minister of Transportation, the consortia to take part in tomorrow's auction are as follows:

-H.O Sabanci Holding Inc., Dogan Holding Inc., Dogus Holding Inc., Telefonica SA;

-GEN-PA Marketing Ind. Inc., Atlas Inc., Demirbank, Telenor Inc.;

-France Telecom S.A, Fiba Holding, Finansbank, Nurol Holding Inc., Suzir Holding Inc., Kentbank;

-Koc-Tel Telecommunications Inc., SBC International Turkey Inc.

The ''Isbank-Telecom Italia S.P.A'' consortium had won the first round of bidding in the tender for the cellular phone network license, offering a sounding 2 billion 525 million U.S dollars, which sets Tuesday's opening price.

[14] IMF'S TURKEY DESK CHIEF COTTARELLI EXPECTED TO VISIT TURKEY

Cottarelli plans to visit the historical and touristic sites of Turkey between May 19 and 22, 2000 since May 19 is an official holiday to mark the Youth and Sports Day, the officials said.

The officials noted that Cottarelli will start to hold contacts in the Treasury, State Planning Organization (DPT), Central Bank, Finance Ministry, and Privatization Administration Board on May 22.

The IMF delegation headed by Cottarelli will probably return to Washington D.C. after it holds contacts for a week, the officials stated.

The IMF Executive Directors' Board which convened on Friday, had considered the three-month performance of Turkey's economic program as successful.

The Board had decided that the second portion of the Stand-By loan worth of 293 billion U.S. dollars, should be released.

[15] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM TO RECEIEVE ''STATESMAN OF THE YEAR'' AWARD ON TUESDAY

Foreign Minister Cem will put signature on the ''Open Skies Agreement'' with his U.S. counterpart Madeleine Albright, an agreement that will give Turkish airliners access to 10 major U.S airports.

Cem, who is to get together with Papandreou and Albright within the framework of a trilateral meeting, will deliver a speech on ''The New Geo- Politics of South East Europe at a seminar organised by the East-West Institute on Tuesday.

A gala will take place at New York's Grand Hyatt Hotel on the occasion of the award giving ceremony, among whose guests will be U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, EU Foreign Policy and Defense Chief Javier Solana, former Finnish President Marti Arthisaari, former U.S. State Secretaries Henry Kissinger and Lawrence Eagleburger, Co-Chairman of the Turkey-U.S. Council Nancy Kassenbaum Baker, businessmen Sarik Tara, Mustafa Koc, and Ahmet Ertegun.

The Oscar winning Olympia Dukakis will be hosting the night.

That same night, Sarik Tara and the Bechtel Group will receive a ''business world'' award, and the Turkish and Greek search and rescue tiems, AKUT and EMAK will be given ''humanitarian aid'' awards.

[16] MAY 1 CELEBRATIONS IN ANKARA

Police performed a body search by an X-ray device on demonstrators who came to Sıhhıye Square from Talatpasa and Ataturk Boulevard.

Some Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputies and Ertugrul Yalcınbayır, a deputy from the Motherland Party (ANAP) and Parliamentary Commission Chairman also participated in the march.

A total of 5000 policemen have been charged due to the May 1 celebrations.

[17] MAY 1 CELEBRATIONS IN ISTANBUL

The Confederation of the Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-Is), Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK), Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Artisans (KESK), the Hak-Is, several political parties and non- governmental organizations organized the rally to mark May 1.

Participants observed a minute of silence out of respect to those who were killed in Taksim square on May 1, 1977.

Tight security measures have been taken in and around Caglayan Square.

[18] ARTHUR ANDERSEN AKTIF ANALIZ A.S. SHAREHOLDER DELDAG: '' - ''THE VALUE OF TURKCELL REACHED 20-25 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN 1,5 YEARS''

Addressing a seminar on ''Company Weddings and Purchases'' that was organized by the Arthur Andersen, Deldag said the value of company wedding in the world in the first quarter of 2000 increased 68 percent to 1 trillion 140 billion U.S. dollars.

Noting that weddings and purchases intensified on telecommunications, media, airways, banking and energy, Deldag said that telecommunications had been the most active sector for weddings and purchases in 1999.

''We proposed that it could be three thousand U.S. dollars per subscriber when we had firstly evaluated Turkcell 1.5 years ago. Although we were scared, we stated that the company could cost eight or ten billion U.S. dollars. The time has proved that we remained behind the developments. The value of Turkcell has reached 20-25 billion U.S. dollars 1.5 years after our preliminary evaluation,'' he added.

Deldag stated that he believed company weddings in Turkey would increase when the stock exchange is deepened.

[19] AGAH OKTAY GUNER WITHDRAWS FROM PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY - NUMBER OF CANDIDATES DECREASE TO EIGHT

The number of presidential candidates decreased to eight.

Guner, who claimed that the candidacy of Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the Chairman of the Constitutional Court is a violation of the Constitution, also called Sezer to withdraw.

Staging a press briefing in the parliament, Guner alleged that ''for judges, prosecutors and soldiers to become deputy candidates, they must resign from their offices.'' He claimed that Sezer didn't resign and this is against the equality principle among candidates.

''Resignment is obligatory in respect of political ethics,'' said Guner and added that ''if Sezer were Chief of General Staff, would he watch the ballot in the parliament balcony in military uniforms?''

Guner pointed out that the Constitutional Court is the office which will decide on the issue of lifting parliamentary immunity, adding if Sezer is not elected as the President, deputies who proposed the draft law on lifting the immunity will be worried about the future of the draft.

If Sezer is not elected he will also examine the closure case on the Virtue Party (FP) and this fact is well known by FP deputies, said Guner, ''FP's hands are tied, and they don't have the power to object to Sezer.''

''I request the political party leaders to set their groups free about the consensus candidate,'' said Guner, claiming that it is not the parliament that elects the president, but the leaders.

Guner said that he will vote for a deputy to be elected as the president and added that he won't resign from his party.

[20] ANAP CHAIRMANSHIP COUNCIL ENDS (1)

ANAP Chairmanship Council convened the same day.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Andican said that they welcomed Agah Oktay Guner's withdrawal from candidacy.

Referring to Akbulut's candidacy, Andican said that ''I would like to stress that we don't welcome the aim and tendency of Akbulut who continues in the presidential race although it is clear that he won't be elected.''

''Akbulut's remaining as a candidate shows that he hopes to get votes from the opposition, yet he will serve the strategy of the opposition parties which aim at disturbing the balances within the coalition government,'' he noted.

(to be continued)

[21] PRESIDENT MEJDANI OF ALBANIA DEPARTS FROM TURKEY

Plane carrying President Mejdani and his entourage, took off from the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul at 01:50 p.m.

[22] ANAP CHAIRMANSHIP COUNCIL MEETING ENDS (2)

When a journalist asked Andican whether or not disciplinary proceedings will be started about Akbulut if he insists on candidacy, Andican said ''no.''

''Will a difficulty arise within the coalition government if the votes for Ahmet Necdet Sezer decreases in the second round?'' asked journalists to Andican who said ''we shouldn't think that the presidential election is organically related to the future of the government. This fact was stressed a few times before the election. In fact, we think that the votes for Sezer will increase today.''

(END)

[23] MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS HELD IN SIHHIYE SQUARE IN ANKARA

Members of the Confederation of the Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-Is), the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK), the Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK), democratic mass organizations, and some political party members participated in the May Day celebrations.

The crowd convened at Train Station and they started walking to Sihhiye Square at 11.00 local time.

Later police performed a body search on the crowd. After walking for two hours, the crowd reached Sihhiye Square.

After the speeches, the people celebrated the May day by folk dances.

[24] PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS - PRIME MINISTER : ''I HOPE THAT SEZER WOULD BE ELECTED''

Prime Minister Ecevit responded to questions of journalists when he arrived at parliament to attend the second round of presidential elections.

When asked, ''Can Sezer receive 281 votes during today's second round of presidential elections?'' Prime Minister Ecevit said that he could not make any comment for the time being.

Meanwhile, Recai Kutan, the leader of the Virtue Party (FP) told reporters that they would stand behind their signatures.

Leaders o f five political parties at the parliament had named Sezer as their joint presidential candidate last week.

[25] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AKBULUT: ''IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO WITHDRAW FROM PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY''

Staging a press briefing in the parliament, Akbulut said that determining a consensus candidate is not democratic, adding imposing pressure on deputies is not democratic either.

Akbulut said that a deputy should be elected as the president, adding deputies are the representatives of the nation, ading they reject the candidacy of Ahmet Necdet Sezer due to that.

Stressing that the nation and its representatives don't know Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Akbulut said that the idea which says ''only a jurist can carry Turkey to the European Union (EU)'' is not correct.

The lack of confidence in the parliament is no good for the parliament, said Akbulut.

Responding to questions, Akbulut reminded reporters that Premier Ecevit had earlier told that the presidential election is not a governmental issue.

Akbulut noted that Mesut Yılmaz, the ANAP leader didn't ask him to withdraw from candidacy, adding no pressure should be imposed on deputies.

Akbulut noted that he concluded that there is no need for him to resign from Parliament Speaker's Office, adding yet Sezer should resign as he is a civil servant.

[26] SECOND ROUND OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION STARTS - IYIMAYA WITHDRAWS FROM CANDIDACY

The parliamentary general council convened at 15.00 local time under the leadership of Ali Ilıksoy, the Acting Parliament Speaker.

Ilıksoy announced that Oguz Aygun from Democratic Left Party (DSP), Agah Oktay Guner from the Motherland Party (ANAP) and Ahmet Iyimaya from the True Path Party (DYP) withdrew from presidential candidacy.

Ilıksoy later drew a lots to determine the deputies who will count the votes.

The ballot started at 15.05 local time.

The MPs cast their votes in six cabins due to alphabetical order of the election districts.

[27] TURKEY CONSUMES TEP 80.3 MILLION ENERGY IN 1999

In the same period, the energy imports rose almost 6.8 percent to TEP 51.9 million.

According to the temporary statistics in the Central Bank's Annual Report, Turkey's domestic energy consumption decreased from TEP 28.9 million to TEP 28.5 million.

The consumption of enery resources in 1998 and 1999 in Turkey is as follows:

1998 1999
Resource (MILLION TEP)

-------- ---- ----
Oil 30.3 32.9

Lignite 12.6 13.0

Natural Gas 9.7 12.6

Coal 10.3 11.3

Hydroelectric Energy 3.6 2.8

Wood 5.5 5.3

The demand for energy resources in 1999 is as follows:

1999

Resource (MILLION TEP)

-------- ----
Oil 3.4

Lignite 13.0

Natural Gas 0.7

Coal 1.7

Hydroelectric Energy 2.8

The imports of enery resources in 1999 are as follows:

1999

Resource (MILLION TEP)

-------- ----
Oil 29.8

Coal 9.6

Electricity 0.4

Natural Gas 12.2

</pre>

[28] PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION - PREMIER ECEVIT:''WE ARE BEHIND OUR SIGNATURES''

''It is seen once again that DSP keeps its words and I hope everybody will keep his/her words today,'' said Ecevit.

When a journalist asked Ecevit whether Sezer can get 367 votes in the second round of the presidential election, Ecevit said ''I don't guess anything, but I only hope for it.''

''Will the leaders of the political parties come together if the result you desire can't be achieved in today's ballot?'' asked journalists to Ecevit who said that ''I can't say anything about negative incidents.''

[29] MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS IN ISTANBUL (2)

Members of the confederations, several political parties, and non- governmental organizations chanted slogans and opened banners in the rally.

Bayram Meral, the Chairman of Turk-Is; Vahdettin Karabay, the Chairman of DISK; Siyami Erdem, the Chairman of KESK; Mahmut Aslan, the Acting Chairman of Hak-Is; Ahmet Duran Demir, the leader of the People's Democracy Party (HADEP); Ufuk Uras, the leader of the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP); Levent Tuzel, the leader of the Work Party (EMEP); Bekir Yurdagul, the Deputy Secretary General of the People's Republican Party (CHP), and members of the Turk-Is, Hak-Is, DISK, KESK, ODP and EMEP participated in the rally.

Addressing the rally, Murat Tokmak, the Secretary General of DISK, said, ''we have been struggling against unemployment for years. We will maintain our struggle in future. We want a democratic, free and peaceful Turkey.''

Later, a joint text prepared by Turk-Is, Hak-Is, DISK and KESK was read out by three workers.

The joint text stressed that millions of people throughout the world marched on May 1 for democracy, peace and freedom in the world.

It added that workers were resisting against privatization, war and demands of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The joint text added, ''we are determined in our struggle against high cost of living, unemployment and so-called reforms.''

Following the meeting, participants dispersed peacefully.

Tight security measures were taken in and around Caglayan Square.

Erol Cakir, the Governor of Istanbul, thanked participants who dispersed peacefully.

[30] CILLER OF DYP: ''I AM IN FAVOR OF AHMET NECDET SEZER''

Speaking to reporters after the luncheon, Ciller said, ''despite everything, nomination of Ahmet Necdet Sezer for president had worked like a glue. However, the Parliament also gave a response; it is impossible to direct the Parliament by force.''

''The will that the ruling parties will put forward in the second round of elections will be very determining also for the next phases. The coalition has 351 seats in the Parliament. The will of their deputies will ease the issue,'' she said.

''Nomination of Ahmet Necdet Sezer is a very good preference. The issue in the Parliament must be taken into consideration with a democratic common sense. I am hopeful and I support Ahmet Necdet Sezer,'' Ciller added.

[31] MAY DAY CELEBRATED THROUGHOUT TURKEY

A rally was organized by the Confederation of the Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-Is), the Hak-Is, the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK), the Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK), democratic mass organizations and some political parties in Trabzon province in Black Sea Region.

Participants who gathered in Ataturk Square for the May Day celebrations, dispersed peacefully at the end of the rally.

Meanwhile, security forces detained 18 people who held an illegal demonstration in Trabzon.

In southeastern Diyarbakir province, police did not allow representatives of labour unions and non-governmental organizations who wanted to make a press release in Dagkapi district of the province.

The group gathered in the Health Workers' Union and made a press release.

In southeastern Gaziantep province, provincial chairmen of DISK, KESK, Turk- Is, the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP), the Labour Party (IP), the People's Democracy Party (HADEP), and the Human Rights Association (IHD) held a demonstration to mark the May Day.

They observed a minute of silence out of respect to those who were killed during the May Day celebrations in the past.

Celebrations ended peacefully in Gaziantep province.

May Day was also celebrated in southern Mersin province and in Bolu province in Marmara Region.

[32] ''SCIENCE PARK'' TO BE FOUNDED IN GEBZE

Prof. Ahmet Ayhan, the Rector of GYTE told A.A correspondent that works are underway for the construction of the science park in a land of 20 acres.

Ayhan said that an investment of 100,000 dollars is required for the project, adding the project is backed by Bericap, Polisan, CBS, Sarkuysan and BASF Sumerbank. Ayhan noted that the project should also be supported by other industrial institutions.

[33] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''I HOPE THAT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS WOULD COME TO A CONCLUSION IN THIRD ROUND ON FRIDAY''

Addressing journalists as he departed from the parliament building after the second round of presidential elections, Ecevit noted, ''I hope that presidential elections would come to a conclusion in the third round on Friday. I am hopeful.''

Meanwhile, Devlet Bahceli, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of State and leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), refrained from responding to questions of journalists.

Bahceli said that the they would evaluate the latest developments in presidential elections tomorrow.

[34] PORTUGUESE FM GAMA DUE IN CYPRUS

After meeting with Greek Cypriot leader and other Greek Cypriot officials, Gama is expected to meet with TRNC President Rauf Denktas.

Gama will hold a press briefing about his contacts on May 3.

[35] PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS - THIRD ROUND OF VOTE TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY

Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the Chairman of Constitutional Court received 314 votes in the second round in which 532 deputies casted their votes.

The distribution of votes among candidates is as follows:

Ahmet Necdet Secer, Constitutional Court Chairman..: 314

Yildirim Akbulut, Speaker of Parliament............: 88

Nevzat Yalcıntas, Deputy of FP.....................: 66

Sadi Somuncuoglu, Deputy of MHP....................: 32

Dogan Gures, Deputy of DYP.........................: 22

Rasim Zaimoglu, Deputy of DYP......................: 3

Mail Buyukerman, Independent Deputy from Eskisehir.: 2

Five votes were invalid in the second round of presidential elections.

Third round of vote will be held on May 5.

The absolute majority (276) of the total number of deputies is required in the third round.

If the absolute majority cannot be reached in the third round, two of the candidates who receive the highest votes, will attend the fourth round on May 9.

In the fourth round, the candidate who receive at least 276 votes will be elected as the new president of Turkey.

[36] PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION - DYP LEADER CILLER: ''MAJORITY OF DYP DEPUTIES VOTED FOR SEZER''

Speaking to the press after the second round of the presidential election, Tansu Ciller said that ''Sezer will hopefully be elected as the president on Friday.''

''This process will continue within an outstanding understanding of democracy and common sense,'' said Ciller.

There is no need to be worried, said Ciller and added that ''the number of votes cast for Sezer seems very high. Even if the other candidates come together and unite, it seems that they won't be able to reach this number.''

[37] A.A

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