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

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CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] TURKEY-RUSSIA TRADE COOPERATION

[03] TURK, JUSTICE MINISTER, DUE IN LONDON

[04] COTTARELLI DEPARTS FROM TURKEY

[05] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT DUE TO NORWAY ON SUNDAY

[06] GAP REGION EXPORTS TEXTILE WORTH OF 48.7 MILLION

[07] ''TURKEY'S ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS DURING ITS EU CANDIDACY

[08] STATE MINISTER GAYDALI:''PUBLIC ORDER HAS BEEN MAINTAINED IN THE

[09] FOREIGN MINISTRY DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY OZSOY:

[10] U.S. INITIATIVE TO OPEN COMMUNICATION BUREAU

[11] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK SAYS THEY WANT TO IMPLEMENT NEW

[12] FP LEADER KUTAN ADDRESSES TO PROVINCIAL

[13] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT:

[14] GRAIN PURCHASING PRICES TO BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

I AM HOPEFUL FOR THE SOUTHEAST
Southeast gave hope to Mark Parris, the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, who visited the region last week. Parris visited Van, Hakkari, Sirnak, Batman provinces and some part of Bitlis to examine business facilities for the U.S. companies and the contributions which the U.S. could make to the region. Parris, speaking before his departure from the region, said he left the region with the feeling of hope.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

SABAH (LIBERAL)

OZEN:''WHOEVER DOES NOT SWITCH TO E-TRADE, WOULD BE ELIMINATED''
State Minister in charge of economy, Recep Onal who spoke at ''E-Trade Banking and Finance'' conference said the progress made at information and technology fields increased the importance of e-trade. Is Bank General Director Ersin Ozince said people's adjustment to e-trade has been slow in Turkey. Garanti Bank General Director, Ergun Ozen noted that the new economy will boost competition in banking sector. He also noted that ''those who don't use e-trade will be eliminated from the competition.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

HEAVY RAIN PARALYZED ISTANBUL
Heavy shower which influenced Istanbul in the last two days, locked traffic in the early hours of Friday, and effected daily life. Many vehicles stranded in the streets, and there were many traffic accidents.

BAKU-CEYHAN ACCEPTED IN THE COMMISSION
The Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission adopted on Friday the draft law on protocol for a change in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline Agreement among Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer and Pipeline Oil Transportation Inc (Botas) officials briefed the commission on the pipeline in its meeting the same day.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

SEZER'S DECISION NOT TO ATTEND ECO IN IRAN EFFECTS
PARTICIPATION NEGATIVELY
After Iran's link with murders of several Turkish intellectuals was revealed, recently elected president Ahmet Necdet Sezer said he is not going to attend the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) meeting in Iran. This made leaders of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan consider not participating in the meeting. Kazakh leader Nursultan Nazarbayev officially informed ECO Secretariat that he will not attend the meeting. The only Turkish leader who will attend the ECO meeting is Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

BAD NEWS FOR ERBAKAN
Supreme Court of Appeals Prosecutor's Office asked for the approval of former leader of the outlawed Welfare Party (RP) Necmettin Erbakan's jail sentence of one year. Earlier Diyarbakir State Security Court (DGM) had sentenced Erbakan to one year for ''inciting hatred and animosity among people.'' If Supreme Court of Appeals Penalty Department agrees with the Prosecutor's Office, Erbakan will be sentenced to 4 months 24 days and later he will be released on condition. Erbakan who was banned from politics for five years, will be banned from politics for a lifetime if his sentence becomes certain.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

DECISION WILL BE GIVEN FEHRIYE AFTER ONE MONTH
After Belgian Ministers Council decided not to extradite Fehriye Erdal to Turkey, now all the eyes have turned to her application seeking for political asylum. Fernad Schmitz, lawyer of Sabanci family, said they got the decision of Belgian government against Erdal verbally, and noted that they have not recieved a written official document. He said Erdal's application has been rejected at the first stage. He said, ''however, this process has not been completed. There is a long procedure process regarding political application. We should wait in this respect.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

COTTARELLI WARNED AND LATER DEPARTED TURKEY
Carlo Cottarelli, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Turkey Desk Chief, stressed that very important decisions should be taken in Turkey in the coming weeks. Cottarelli said increase in prices of cereals and salaries of civil servants should be convenient to targeted inflation figures and the program. Mentioning the importance of increase in salaries in private sector. He said Economic and Social Council should convene and noted that consensus should be provided between the related sections.

[02] TURKEY-RUSSIA TRADE COOPERATION

There are about 5,000 Turks living in Sochi as well as many Turkish companies. The delegation, during its three day visit in Turkey, will have meetings on economy with trade chambers and businessmen.

The delegation will also focus on tourism related problems and joint projects.

Sochi Trade and Industry Chamber has a special agreement with Trabzon Trade and Industry Chamber which the two had signed in the past.

Currently, there is sea, air and highway transportation between Trabzon and Sochi.

[03] TURK, JUSTICE MINISTER, DUE IN LONDON

Turk will visit various prisons, jails, courts, and human rights associations on Monday.

Turk is scheduled to meet with the commission members of the British parliament responsible for European affairs, and will hold a bilateral meeting with Keith Vaz, British Minister responsible for relations with Europe. Justice Minister Turk will hold a tete-a-tete meeting with British Justice Minister in the evening hours.

Justice Minister Turk will meet with Britain's State Minister responsible for domestic affairs, on Wednesday, and will participate in 23rd Europe Justice Ministers conference on June 8.

Turk will hold bilateral contacts during the conference that will last for two days. Within this framework, it was reported that Turk will meet with Belgian Justice Minister who said Fehriye Erdal, one of the suspects of Ozdemir Sabanci murder, would not be extradited to Turkey. The problem is expected to be discussed in detail during the meeting, and Turk is expected to call for Belgian Minister to exert required efforts.

Justice Minister Turk will also hold bilateral contacts with Interior Ministers of Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands.

[04] COTTARELLI DEPARTS FROM TURKEY

Responding to the questions of reporters at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, Cottarelli said economic program, which has been implemented in Turkey, continued successfully. He said confidence in the program was very important, adding that existing situation was positive.

Cottarelli later left for New York.

[05] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT DUE TO NORWAY ON SUNDAY

Premiership Press Center said Ecevit will depart from Ankara's Esenboga Airport on Sunday, and will be in Oslo in the evening hours.

On June 5, Prime Minister Ecevit will participate in Turkish-Norwegian official talks which will be headed by the prime ministers of the two countries. Ecevit and Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg will stage a joint news conference following the talks.

Prime Minister Ecevit will meet with Kristi Kolle Grondal, Norwegian Parliament Speaker, after attending a luncheon that Norwegian King 5th Harald will host in his honor. Ecevit will also hold a meeting with Norwegian Parliament Foreign Relations Commitee.

Norwegian Prime Minister Stoltenberg will host a dinner in honor of Ecevit the same day.

On June 6, Ecevit will address a conference on ''Turkey on the Threshold of 21st Century'' at the Nobel Institute.

[06] GAP REGION EXPORTS TEXTILE WORTH OF 48.7 MILLION

Last year, the textile export brought GAP region an income of 38 million 140,000 U.S. dollars.

The textile's share to the total export was 21 percent last year which increased to 27.3 percent this year.

South East Textile and Raw Products Exporters Association Chairman Adil Sani Konukoglu told A.A that the textile products were imported to Kazakhstan, Krygyzstan, Uzbekistan, the U.S., Romania, Italy, Belgium, Greece, France, Algeria, Germany, Portugal, Russia, Israel and Azerbaijan.

[07] ''TURKEY'S ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS DURING ITS EU CANDIDACY

Ali Degirmenci from the Organizing Committee said Chairman of Supreme Court of Appeals Sami Selcuk will speak at the symposium's opening. On the first day of the symposium, the attendees will discuss ''mentality and political organization problem in Turkey's adjustment to the EU.'' Journalist writers Ali Bayramoglu, Fehmi Koru and Etyen Mahcupyan as well as former Istanbul Mayor Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend as speakers to this session.

Prof. Ahmet Insel, Prof. Eser Karakas, Prof. Yahya Tezel, Prof. Guneri Akalin and journalist Mehmet Altan will speak about ''economic organization and mentality problem'' on the same day.

The theme which will be discussed on June 10 is ''Nation state and differences: Religion and culture.'' Mehmet Bekaroglu from the Virtue Party (FP), lecturers Dr. Nuray Mert and Tulin Bulman, journalist-writer Mehmet Barlas and Ali Bulac will express their views on this title.

Lastly, participants will discuss ''Nation state and differences:Language and ethnicity''.

Emphaty Group previously held six other panel meetings on current issues.

[08] STATE MINISTER GAYDALI:''PUBLIC ORDER HAS BEEN MAINTAINED IN THE

DIYARBAKIR - State Minister Edip Safter Gaydali said the public order has been maintained in the South East and added that now it is time to repair the damage in the region.

Gaydali visited Emergency Rule Region's Governor Gokhan Aydiner on Sunday. Here, Gaydali said Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will visit the region on June 11. Prior to Ecevit's visit, Gaydali said he will try to detect the problems in the area.

''The government is one year old. During this time, the security problem almost disappeared and tranquility has been maintained in the South East. Now what is important is to repair the damage occurred in many years,'' Gaydali stated.

''Return to the village'' project is continuing, Gaydali said but noted that there are currently 860 empty villages which were evacuated because of terrorism.

''We should help our citizens who migrated to big cities to return to their villages to make them producers again instead of consumers'' Gaydali said and assured that in the next two years, those who want to return to their villages will be provided financial assistance.

[09] FOREIGN MINISTRY DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY OZSOY:

The delegation visited Sanliurfa Governor Sahabettin Harput who briefed them about Sanliurfa's history and culture.

Harput said Sanliurfa is a unique city with its culture, history, civilization and religious history. ''We are very happy to see you in the center of South Eastern Anatolia Project (GAP). GAP is the second biggest project of the Turkish Republic after the Republic,'' he stated.

Deputy Undersecretary Ambassador Sencar Ozsoy said GAP is Turkey's future and added that they are visiting Sanliurfa to see the project's development. ''GAP Administration is organizing the trip,'' Ozsoy noted. ''We have come to Sanliurfa after Diyarbakir and Mardin. We are very pleased about the things that we saw. GAP changed the region's destiny. Everyday there is a new project and a new development in the region. Also, Sanliurfa is considered sacred by three religions. The religious variety of this city is a treasure. We have to promote it well.''

The delegation later went to Halfeti which is partly inundated by Birecik dam.

[10] U.S. INITIATIVE TO OPEN COMMUNICATION BUREAU

Motherland Party (ANAP) deputy Bulent Akarcali who attended Italy's National Day reception said Parris's announcement was not acceptable. ''Turkey is not a third world country,'' Akarcali noted.

A high level official from the Foreign Ministry also said they were pleased about the economic aid that would be sent to the region but added that it is not possible to open a U.S. communication bureau in the area. The same person said embassies can open only consulates or honourary consulates.

In the meantime, Parris said he had earlier informed the Turkish Foreign Ministry about his visit to the region and stressed that he received no reaction against his statement.

Parris said those were technical issues which could be solved easily, adding that, their purpose was to help the economic development of the region. He said the bureau would be a kind of counseling office. ''Through this, we are aiming to help the businessmen in the region to make investments in other countries and also draw foreign businessmen to the region.''

Parris also noted that he contacted Batman Bar Chairman, mayors from People's Democracy Party (HADEP) and other high level officials during their visit. ''Everybody said that the situation in the region is much better compared to last year,'' he continued. ''People and authorities are hopeful about political stability. I cannot definitely say terrorism and violence will not repeat but there are positive indications,'' Parris said.

[11] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK SAYS THEY WANT TO IMPLEMENT NEW

''We are working to renew and update the basic laws which were passed in the 1920's,'' Turk said when he spoke at a panel discussion on the planned changes in the Civil Code with regards to thought and organizational freedoms.

Change in laws is inevitable in changing societies, Turk stated. Noting that there is a wide belief in public that 1982 Constitution limits basic rights and freedoms, Turk said they are working to change some of the articles.

''Changing some articles in our Consitution is a must,'' Turk said and stressed the need for a change especially in the Turkish Civil Code and Penal Code.

Turkish Journalists Association (TGC) Chairman Nail Gureli who also spoke at the meeting said freedom of thought should be widely experienced by everyone in the society. ''Only then the democracy can stay on its feet,'' he said.

There are about 800 statements in 150 different articles on press, Gureli said and added that they wanted all these articles to be gathered under one article in a way to will insure freedom of communication and thought.

[12] FP LEADER KUTAN ADDRESSES TO PROVINCIAL

Speaking to the administrators of his party, Kutan said FP attributed great importance to the local administrations, adding that development of democracy in Turkey depended on the facilities that will be given to local administrations. He said the draft resolution, prepared by the government related with local administrations, was not able to meet these needs.

Pointing out that they exerted efforts for the discussion of draft laws in the Parliament which they prepared about the local administrations, Kutan said, ''local administrators are people who are elected with the votes of people. Nation elected them. Yet, they are assigned under the order of the people who were appointed.''

He said financial facilities of the municipalities are limited.

Kutan said local administration law should be issued soon, yet noted that the developments in the Parliament indicated that Parliament would recess at the end of June. ''We want draft resolutions of local administrations, amnesty law, and several anti-democratic laws in the TCK to be discussed in the parliament before it recesses.''

[13] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT:

Responding to the questions of reporters, Ecevit said, ''confidence and solidarity atmosphere between the coalition partners should continue not only in government level, but also in the parliament.''

''57th government was very successful in a short period of time like one year. It had great services to Turkey. There are still services which it would make to Turkey,'' Ecevit said.

''Most of the public and friendly countries appreciated the 57th government. The main reason of this is the confidence atmosphere between the coalition partners and their solidarity.''

Ecevit said if reciprocal confidence of the coalition partners both in the government and the parliament is overshadowed, Turkey will receive great damage. I hope we won't meet with such a situation.''

[14] GRAIN PURCHASING PRICES TO BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK

When reminded that World Bank did not approve the project to develop cattle breeding as a part of the agricultural reform, Gokalp said ''unfortunately that is true.'' ''But we are rediscussing it. The World Bank did not expect us to finish the projects in time. But we did and submitted our projects. However they cannot meet our needs because they are not ready. Our projects are ready and we're waiting for a resource.''

Soil Products Office (TMO) General Director Mevlut Karakaya said they would not face any difficulty in payment no matter what the purchasing prices would be. ''Currently TMO has no debts to any private banks and we have a 500 million U.S. dollar credit which is about to be released,'' he noted.

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