Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-05-18

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NEWS

18 MAY 2000 Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] GALATASARAY COACH TERIM:

[03] TURKEY-IMF

[04] BALANCE OF PAYMENTS

[05] SPOILT FOOD POISONS 200 WORKERS IN INEGOL

[06] NEW PLANT SPECIES DISCOVERED IN GEVNE VALLEY

[07] FIRST INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL OF COUNTRIES

[08] PRICELESS ALEXANDREIA TROAS COIN STARTS TO BE EXHIBITED

[09] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER AYTEKIN:

[10] DOCTOR TUNCAY DURUOZ GIVEN ''YOUNG RESEARCHER'' AWARD OF

[11] BALANCE OF PAYMENTS (2)

[12] BOSTANCIOGLU PRESENTS AWARDS TO WINNING STUDENTS OF

[13] PREMIER ECEVIT:

[14] LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY MINISTER OKUYAN:

[15] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL

[16] TURKEY REPAYS 446.02 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

[17] AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT ALIYEV SENDS MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATION

[18] DUTCH AMBASSADOR GOSSES SAYS HIS COUNTY WANTS TO MAKE

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

FOUR DETAINED IN CONNECTION WITH
UCOK AND AKSOY ASSASSINATIONS
A total of four persons, namely Bilal Yurt, Celal Aytufan, Mehmet Gurova, and Musa Koca were detained in connection with the assassinations of Muammer Aksoy, ad Bahriye Ucok. The interrogations of the suspects are being continued at Ankara's Police Department. The four persons, understood to have been members of the ''Jerusalem Warriors'' gang, had been named by the previously captured gang members. The suspects revealed new names, in pursuit of whom, fresh operations have been started. The four persons are presently being interrogated.

CIMBOM FEST FROM EAST TO WEST
The historical victory of Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup final match against British Arsenal was cheered with great joy not only by the nation, but also by Turkish citizens living and working in different parts of the world. Turkish people, living in various European countries, in the Turkish speaking republics, in Central Asian republics, in the United States, and in Austrialia, watched all 120 minutes of the reckless rivalry between Galatasaray and Arsenal, and cheered with joy to the victory of the Turkish team. The match created a festive atmosphere also in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

SEZER'S FIRST DAY
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, on his first day in office, received the Parliament Speaker, the Prime Minister, and Undersecretary of the National Intelligence Agency (MIT). Sezer was furnished with information on how he and his family would be guarded. In a visit paid to him by MIT Undersecretary Senkal Atasagun, Sezer received information on the latest developments pertaining to the operations, which have recently revealed many facts about the mysterious assassinations.

SECOND REFORM PACKAGE
A total of five draft laws have been transferred to the Parliament within the framework of the second part of the Social Security Reform Package. The bills are expected to have been taken up at the Pleanery Session by September the latest. The draft laws foresee the restructuring of the Social Security Authority (SSK), the joining of the SSK and the General Directorate of Social Security for Self-Employed Workers (BAG-KUR), the restructuring of the Employment Agency, the adoption of the 'individual retirement' system, and the restructuring of BAG-KUR.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

MORE RAMSTORES FOR MOSCOW
Ramstore, a Migros and Ram Enka partnership, is multiplying the number of 'Ramstore's in Moscow due to increasing demand. The groundbreaking ceremony for the third Ramstore of Moscow will take place on May 20, on the southern skirts of the city. Company officials say that the number of Ramstores in Moscow will have reached 8 by the end of the year, with the opening of 6 more by the end of this year.

ONE LANDING IN EVERY TWO MINUTES
The Copenhagen Airport experienced the busiest day in its history on Wednesday. One plane, carrying either Turkish or British fans, landed on the airport every two minutes. The international flights terminal of the Copenhagen Airport welcomed a total of 56 flights from Britain, and 39 from Turkey.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

DOCUMENTS PROVE RP AND FP INVOLVEMENT
IN RADICAL FUNDAMENTALIST TERRORISM
Archives, to which Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan had pointed as the 'right place to seek truths and realities', proved to have been full of significant pieces of information, needed to solve the mysteries behind assassinations, and unveil certain political figures' connection with terrorist activities. Dissolved Welfare Party (RP) and Virtue Party (FP) are the two significant names mentioned in the archives as 'collaborators with radical fundamentalist terrorists'.

ECEVIT: ECONOMY SAVED FROM CRISIS
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, paid his first visit to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on Wednesday. Following his talks with the new President, Ecevit made an assessment of the latest developments in Turkish economy. Ecevit said that the ruling 'reformist government' would continue with the privatisation programs, already rest assured that the country is out of a period of crisis, with the success of the anti-inflationist program. Ecevit said that the income obtained from privatisations in the first four months of the year, had already topped the figure for the annual total income from privatisation programs of the previous years.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

LETTER TO CLINTON
The 38 members of the U.S. House of Representatives wrote a common letter to the U.S. President Bill Clinton asking for further support to Turkey in political, economic and defense fields. The U.S. deputies said that the strategical partnership between Turkey and the U.S. is an element of stability in one of the most chaotic regions of the world, adding improving relations with Turkey carries vital importance.

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

HOOLIGANS ATTACK TURKISH JOURNALISTS
British hooligans attacked both Galatasaray fans and Turkish journalists who were in Trivoli Square in Copenhagen, Denmark before the UEFA final match between Galatasaray and Arsenal. Hooligans beat NTV and CNN Turk cameramen and broke their cameras.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

DARK CURTAIN ON MUMCU AND KISLALI MURDERS LIFTED
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that the dark curtain on Ugur Mumcu and Ahmet Taner Kıslalı murders has been lifted. Staging a press briefing in Prime Ministry Office, Ecevit said that the dissolution process of the separatist and fundamentalist terrorism started recently. ''The sources of terrorism are eradicated one by one,'' said Ecevit and thanked the whole security and intelligence organizations particularly Minister of Interior Saadettin Tantan for their success.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

DIPLOMATIC INITATIVE AGAINTS IRAN
As Iran gave support to terrorism, it was decided in the National Security Council (MGK) meeting to warn Iran. Yet the government is still cautious towards Iran as the weapons found in the arsenal in Sincan district of Ankara were made in Italy.

[02] GALATASARAY COACH TERIM:

This success of Galatasaray is very important for Turkey said Terim and added that ''this success will yield good results. We continued the match with 10 players in the extra time. We overcame that difficulty somehow. There was everything there in the name of football: belief, trust, struggle and solidarity. I hope this country will continue to be successful in other fields.''

Terim added that the world was bored of the same countries' getting the UEFA cup, noting that ''it is good for other teams to win the cup. We won this cup without being beaten in the championship. We can do everything with this perfect footballers. I also thank to the perfect spectators and the media which suppported us.''

[03] TURKEY-IMF

Cottarelli, who is in Turkey for a second revision of the economic program within the framework of the Stand-By rearrangements, told the A.A correspondent that the anti-inflationist program of the government had started yielding fruits, and that this April's inflatuion figures were the lowest of the past 13 years.

Cottarelli pointed out that not only the IMF, but also the World Bank supported Turkey's anti-inflationist program, and added that the World Bank support to the Economic Reform Loan (ERL) was a clear indication of this.

The Turkey Desk Chief of the IMF qualified Turkey's economic performance in the first quarter of the year 2000, as ''not good'', but ''perfect''.

Concerning the GSM privatisations, Cottarelli said that Turkey needed such income-generating measures as privatisation, and added that GSM privatisations constituted an important part of such measures.

Cottarelli said he had agreed to host the Turkey Director of World Bank and IMF officials in Ankara, and stressed that this would make it much easier for the secretariat to carry out its activities and studies.

Cottarelli said further that he was planning to meet with the representatives of the private sector in Istanbul before starting his official contacts in Ankara on Monday, and added, ''The private sector has a very important role in the implementation of this program. This is why I wanted to exchange views with the representatives of the private sector, on the re-arrangements made within the framework of the reform program.''

Cottarelli is to meet with officials from the State Planning Organisation, the Treasury, the Ministry of Finance, and Banking Regulation and Control Board.

Cottarelli, who is to leave Turkey at the end of May, will submit a ''Turkey Report'' and the ''Appendix to the Letter of Intent'' to discussions at the IMF Executive Directors Board meeting in July.

[04] BALANCE OF PAYMENTS

The current account balance had a surplus of 1,15 billion dollars in the same months of 1999.

A Central Bank statement said that the foreign trade deficit extended by 436.5 percent in January-February of this year compared to the same period last year.

The main reason of this is the increase of 41.6 percent in import expenditures but no increase in the export incomes in return to the increase in the shuttle trade by 43.5 percent.

[05] SPOILT FOOD POISONS 200 WORKERS IN INEGOL

The A.A correspondent reported that the evening shift workers at Bursa, Inegol's I.S.K.O Inc. Thread Factory, were poisoned by the food they ate late Wednesday.

Of the 200 poisoned workers, 27 were hospitalised at the Inegol State hospital, aünd the 173 others were taken to the Inegol SSK Hospital. Nine workers, whose conditions were reported as being critical, were transferred to the Bursa SSK Hospital.

Officials said samples of the food served to the workers were taken to the Provincial Directorate of Health for examination.

[06] NEW PLANT SPECIES DISCOVERED IN GEVNE VALLEY

The research was carried out in that 25-kilometer valley by the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Yucel Caglar, the Chairman of the Association said that totally 379 species were discovered in the valley.

A total of 113 of them are endemic (only grow in Turkey), and eight of them can only grow in Gevne valley. ''Pentanema Alanyense,'' is considered as a new species in the world.

Caglar added that they exert efforts to prevent villagers from giving damage to these new species of plants discovered in Gevne Valley.

[07] FIRST INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FESTIVAL OF COUNTRIES

Today Trabzon State Theatre will perform ''Kadıncıklar'' (Poor Women) and Bulgarian Varna Puppet Theatre will stage the play ''Sad Prince'' on Thursday. Moldovian Theatre will stage ''Don Juan'' play on Friday.

Ukranian, Romanian, Russian and Georgian Theatres will stage many plays during the festival.

Meanwhile, the Sixth Black Sea Countries' Inter-Universities Folk Dance Festival will be held between 20-24 May.

[08] PRICELESS ALEXANDREIA TROAS COIN STARTS TO BE EXHIBITED

Museum Director Eyup Bucak said, the museum administration purchased many old coins and etnographic objects from people in return of a total of 29 billion Turkish Liras in the first five months of the year.

Sanliurfa Museum which opened in 1969 moved to a new building in 1987 and it draws attention from both by local and foreign tourists, Bucak said.

The museum possesses a collection of 67,000 pieces which were collected in the past 30 years through excavations, donations or purchases.

Bucak said the recently purchased Alexandreia Troas coin is invaluable because of its rarity.

[09] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER AYTEKIN:

Aytekin received Jean Francois Verstrynge, the EU Commission Environment Deputy General Director, and the accompanying delegation.

Turkey, whose EU candidacy was officially announced, has to abide by the EU conditions, Aytekin noted.

Aytekin said, ''the EU started its negotiations firstly with the Environment Ministry. This indicates the importance that the EU attributes to the environment. Turkey is launching initiatives regarding the environment and will continue to do so.''

Verstrynge said that they welcome Turkey's participation in the environmental initiatives.

They met with the environment experts of the ministries, universities and the non-governmental organizations on Wednesday, Verstrynge noted.

Verstrynge stated that they will hold contacts regarding the enlargement of the EU and the Black Sea Environment Program which is pioneered by Turkey.

They attribute importance to this program, Verstrynge said.

Verstrynge stressed that they will discuss Turkey's role in getting adapted to the environment process for Europe, participation in the encouragement programs of the LIFE projects, and the Environment Agency during their contacts.

Turkey has recorded significant developments in environment, and Turkey has to abide by and implement more than 250 EU regulations on environment to become an EU member, Verstrynge emphasized.

Verstrynge said that to this end, they attribute vital importance to the fortification of the Environment Ministry because overcoming such a hard burden can only be possible by administrative structuring.

The delegation also included George Strongylis, the Chairman of the EU Commission Environment General Directorate Department.

Karen Fogg, the EU Commission's Turkey Representative, and Selim Yenel, the Chairman of Foreign Ministry EU General Directorate Department, accompanied the EU delegation.

[10] DOCTOR TUNCAY DURUOZ GIVEN ''YOUNG RESEARCHER'' AWARD OF

Duruoz was given the award for developing two methods called ''Istanbul Back Pain Functional Scale'' (IBAFS) and ''Duruoz's Hand Indes (DHI) which measures the problems in hand functions in patients with rheumatic arthritis.

A group of five people from Ottowa, Amsterdam, Queensland, Stanford and Harward universities decided to give the award to Duruoz upon the proposal of Canadian professor Cleaire Bombardie.

Duruoz said his researches will increase the life quality of patients which receive physical therapy because of rheumatism.

[11] BALANCE OF PAYMENTS (2)

The figure was 283 million U.S. dollars last year during the same period.

According to the information released by the Central Bank, the export income in terms of FOB was 4 billion 459 million U.S. dollars including shuttle trade last year in January and February. This year, the export income increased by 5 percent and reached 4 billion 683 million U.S. dollars.

Gold import which was 107 billion U.S. dollars in the first two months of last year increased 154.2 percent and rose to 272 million U.S. dollars.

Including gold import, import in terms of Free On Board (FOB) increased from 4 billion 911 million U.S. dollars to 7 billion 108 million U.S. dollars with a 44.7 percent increase in the first two months of 2000.

As a result, foreign trade deficit increased by 436.5 percent and reached 2 billion 425 million U.S. dollars.

Tourism expenses, in January and February, rose by 13.9 percent and became 435 million U.S. dollars. Interest income, in the same period, increased by 2.4 percent and reached 341 million U.S. dollars.

Goods and service income decreased by 24.4 percent and dropped to 1 billion 595 million U.S. dollars.

Workers income also dropped by 5 percent and became 744 million U.S. dollars in January-February term of this year.

The net investment made in Turkey by Turkish citizens living abroad increased 337 million U.S. dollars and reached 462 million U.S. dollars in the same period of this year.

The investment made in foreign countries by Turkish people living in Turkey increased 449 million U.S. dollars and became 541 million U.S. dollars.

As a result, there was a net 79 million U.S. dollar increase in direct investments.

In portfolio investments, in the first two months of the year, a total of 1 billion 735 million U.S. dollar net borrowing was done from international capital markets through bond export.

There was a 79 million U.S. dollar net increase this year in January and February in long term capital movements. Last year, this amount was 168 million U.S. dollars.

Under this title, ''long term foreign currency credit usages'' increased from 1 billion 255 million U.S. dollars to 1 billion 864 million U.S. dollars.

The increase was mostly because there was a 171 million U.S. dollar increase in banks' borrowing, there was a 341 million U.S. dollar increase in the government's borrowing and there was a 439 million U.S. dollar increase in borrowing of other sectors.

Reimbursement of capital in January and February of 2000, incresaed from 1 billion 490 million U.S. dollars to 2 billion 72 million U.S. dollars.

The credits provided by banks last year in January and February was 617 million U.S. dollars and it decrased to 18 million U.S. dollars in the same period of this year.

[12] BOSTANCIOGLU PRESENTS AWARDS TO WINNING STUDENTS OF

Speaking at a ceremony, Bostancioglu said the Council of Europe organized competitions every year at several schools in the framework of the ongoing project ''Europe at School.''

The competitions aim to raise awareness among students of participating countries about human rights, democracy, and respect to law, Bostancioglu said. He also noted that these activities prepare students to take responsibilities and play an active role in the forming of a democratic Europe.

A total of 18 students became successful in the competition all throughout Turkey.

Quoting Ataturk's famous phrase ''Peace at home, peace in the world,'' Bostanci said the Council of Europe is today expressing this ideal.

Education is essential for stability, democracy and peace, he said and added that education's main goal is to make people ''respect to differences.'' ''To create a European citizen, first xenophobia must be removed from societies,'' Bostancioglu said.

[13] PREMIER ECEVIT:

Ecevit issued a congratulatory message on the occassion of May 19 Youth and Sports Day.

Ecevit said that Ataturk was determined to make the Turkish nation independent when he was leaving Samsun for Anadolu on May 19, 1999.

''He believed that he could achieve his target despite the severe conditions because he trusted the Turkish nation. When he decided to entrust the reform he started and the state he established to the youth, he believed that the light of modern education and science would give force to the Turkish youth in fulfilling the requirements of this trust,'' Ecevit said.

Ecevit added, ''to this end, Ataturk attributed vital importance to education and science. The education reform launched in 1997, is a further step taken in the path of Great Leader. I congratulate the May 19 Youth and Sports Day of all Turkish young people, our sportsmen and all our citizens.''

[14] LABOUR AND SOCIAL SECURITY MINISTER OKUYAN:

Okuyan spoke in the ''International Seminar on Unemployment Insurance'' organized by the Confederation of Turkish Employers' Unions (TISK).

Requesting employers and employees to reach a compromise on labour security, Okuyan said that he will immediately sign the draft law which will be prepared after employers and employees reach a consensus.

Okuyan noted that also, the prevention of unregistered economy was included in the Social Security Law.

Unemployment insurance is one of the important means of the social security system, and as the law on unemployment insurance took effect, the problems resulting from unemployment, have started to be overcome, Okuyan stated.

Okuyan stressed that the premium cut for the unemployment insurance fund will start as of June 1, 2000 and the unemployment insurance will firstly be paid in March 2002.

They are trying to complete the necessary preparations for the implementation of the insurance, Okuyan emphasized.

Okuyan pointed out that they have re-structured the Employment Authority under the name ''Turkish Is-Kur'' and that the initiatives regarding the draft law on the prevention of employing illegal foreign workers, are at the last stage.

They are exerting many initiatives to prevent the unregistered employement, Okuyan said.

Okuyan noted that they will launch control campaign in textile sector in the following days.

They are waiting for the contributions of the employers and employees in preparing new draft laws on working life from now on, Okuyan said.

Okuyan added that they want to exert joint efforts.

[15] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL

The Central Bank data shows that the foreign exchange reserves, which was 22 billion 487 million U.S. dollars on May 5, increased 792 million U.S. dollars to 23 billion 279 million U.S. dollars as of May 12.

Meanwhile, according to the April 28-based statistics, Turkey's total international gross reserves were 36 billion 195 million U.S dollars.

The international gross reserves of Turkey were 37 billion 644 million U.S. dollars on April 7.

As of April 28, Turkey's international reserves were composed of 1 billion 11 million U.S. dollars in gold reserves; 12 billion 848 million U.S. dollars in the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves; and 22 billion 337 million U.S. dollars in the commercial banks' foreign exchange reserves.

[16] TURKEY REPAYS 446.02 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

The Central Bank data shows that the Treasury repaid 382.30 million U.S. dollars; the Central Bank repaid 18.09 million U.S. dollars; the administrations with general and added budgets repaid 45.63 million U.S. dollars in foreign debt between May 1 and 3, 2000.

Meanwhile, a total of 4 billion 182.09 million U.S. dollars of foreign debt has been repaid since the beginning of the year.

[17] AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT ALIYEV SENDS MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATION

''I share your joy and congratulate you and our Turkish brothers. I wish success to Galatasaray football team,'' Aliyev said.

In the meantime, Azerbaijani press gave wide coverage to Galatasaray's victory.

[18] DUTCH AMBASSADOR GOSSES SAYS HIS COUNTY WANTS TO MAKE

Ambassador Gosses visited Diyarbakir Mayor Feridun Celik and told him that they are ready to meet businessmen and institutions in the region to start a cooperation in agriculture.

He also noted that they are in good relations with 300,000 Turkish citizens who live in the Netherlands.

Gosses also congratulated Galatasaray football team for winning the UEFA Cup.

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