Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-06-27

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NEWS

27 JUNE 2000 Tuesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] SECOND WORLD KURASH CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE HELD IN ANTALYA

[03] DECREASING TREND IN EXPORTS TO AFRICA AND ASIA FROM GAP REGION CONTINUES

[04] FOREIGN TRADE INDICES

[05] FIRST INTERNATIONAL CAPPADOCIA MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN URGUP BETWEEN JULY 1-2

[06] GOVERNMENT BILL ON EXTENTION OF MANDATE OF NORTHERN WATCH OPERATION SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT

[07] TURKEY-WORLD BANK -TURKEY PLANS TO INCREASE AMOUNT OF CAS LOAN FROM 2.250 BILLION TO 3 BILLION DOLLARS

[08] ''GIANT SHOE'' EN ROUTE TO GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS

[09] FOREST FRE IN IZMIR -BLAZE UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE RESULTED FROM ARSON

[10] NEMRUT TREASURES BELIEVED TO MAKE GREATER SENSATION THAN EGYPT'S PYRAMIDS

[11] TURKISH-ARAB ECONOMIC COOPERATION CONFERENCE

[12] MEETING OF STATE OF EMERGENCY REGION GOVERNORS MEET IN ANKARA

[13] CHINESE JOURNALISTS PAY VISIT TO GULER, PRESIDENT GENERAL DIRECTOR OF A.A

[14] ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL MEETING (2) -PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''DRAFT RESOLUTION REGARDED WITH ESK, SENT TO THE PARLIAMENT TODAY''

[15] TURKISH BANKING CONGRESS TO TAKE PLACE BETWEEN JULY 4-6 IN ISTANBUL

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

ACADEMY FOR STRUGGLE AGAINST ILLICIT DRUGS
Saadettin Tantan, the Interior Minister, and Pino Arlacchi, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, attended inauguration of the International Turkish Academy for Struggle Against Illicit Drugs and Organized Crimes.

STABILITY GUARANTEE FROM BAHCELI TO TUSIAD
A delegation headed by Erkut Yucaoglu, the Chairman of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD), visited Devlet Bahceli, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State. Addressing journalists following the meeting, Yucaoglu said, ''Bahceli told us that coalition government would continue to stay in power, and that the coalition government's prior goal was to provide stability in Turkey.''

HADEP'S HEADQUARTERS RAIDED
Security forces raided simultaneously headquarters of the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) in Nisantasi, Gaziosmanpasa, Eminonu, Bagcilar and Bakirkoy districts of Istanbul. They impounded a great deal of documents. A total of 30 members of HADEP including Kemal Pekoz, the Provincial Chairman of HADEP in Istanbul, and his deputy Mahmut Can, were taken into custody.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

SECURITY FORCES RAID JETPA HOLDING
Security forces raided Jetpa Holding's center in Gunesli district of Istanbul. They impounded all documents in the center. Security forces investigated the documents and computer data of Jetpa Holding due to its tax debts. Later, they decided to take the documents to the Security Department for a detailed investigation.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

GERMAN STEAG COMPANY TO START POWER PLANT PROJECT IN ISKENDERUN
German STEAG company signed a contract for construction of a thermic power plant in southern Iskenderun province. The Essen-based STEAG company said that the power plant project which was expected to cost 1.5 billion U.S. dollars was the greatest investment of STEAG in its history. The energy power plant which will be constructed by STEAG and Turkish ISKEN project company will produce energy for Turkish Electricity Production and Transmission Inc (TEAS) for twenty years. STEAG will pay 350 million U.S. dollars for construction while a banks consortium including Dresdner Bank will extend 1.1 million U.S. dollars to finance the project.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

DRUG ABUSE INCREASES
Istanbul stands at the first place in the number of heroin, cocaine, and pill addicts while Izmir is the first in the number of people addicted to hashish. A total of 168 people died of overdoze in 1999. The official figures indicate that the number of drug addicts increased 234.4 percent to 2,682 in 1999. This number was 802 in 1992.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

BERGAMA DIVIDES CABINET INTO TWO
The report of State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer, and State Minister Edip Safter Gaydali, which defended the gold production with cyanide and accused the Environment Ministry, led to discussions in the last meeting of the Council of Ministers. Environment Minister Fevzi Aytekin said that his ministry encourages the environmental investments rather than opposing to them. The report which was prepared by a commission including Gurel, Ersumer, and Gaydali, requested that the gold production with cyanide should be permitted and that the initiatives of the Environment Ministry regarding this issue should be limited. Aytekin said, ''firstly, the mining sector should be environmentalist when we are trying to integrate with the European Union (EU). The environmental conditions cannot be ignored just because of the miners.''

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TERMINAL TO BE EXPANDED BY 30 PERCENT
The capacity of the Ataturk Airport's International Flights Terminal will be expanded by 30 percent. The international flights terminal will be run by the Tepe-Akfen-Vie (TAV) consortium for three years, eight months and 20 days. Officials think that the terminal will be insufficient in 2005 and plan to increase the capacity by 30 percent.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

PKK KNOCKS ON DOOR OF PARIS
Riza Altun who was appointed as the terrorist PKK organization's so-called official for Europe said, ''the doors of Europe will be opened to PKK if I am granted asylum by France. I won't make the French angry. I will abide by rules of France. If am granted asylum by France, this will be a great success of PKK.''

A TURKISH CHILD KILLED BY DOGS IN GERMANY
The Hamburg police said that a six-year-old Turkish child was killed by a ''pitbull'' and a ''staffordshire'' dog. Police said those two dogs had attacked on children playing in a school garden in Wilhelmsburg neighborhood in Hamburg and killed a Turkish child. The owners of the dogs were arrested.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

IMPRISONMENT DUE TO WEIGHT IN GRAMS
The Supreme Court upheld the nine-year in prison sentence to Adana Bakers' Chamber Chairman Bekir Aras on charges of producing breads under the foreseen weight. Aras was sent to prison yesterday.

VAN TO BE EXCLUDED FROM EMERGENCY RULE
The National Security Council decided to lift emergency rule in eastern Van province as of July 30, 2000. The Council also evaluated the recent developments regarding Cyprus.

FIRST SUPPORT FROM PARLIAMENT
Boray Uras who lost his dughter in a traffic accident has been walking from Istanbul to Ankara for twenty days to force the Parliament to make something to prevent traffic terrorism. Uras who will arrive in Ankara tomorrow received first support to his initiative from Parliament Acting Speaker Murat Sokmenoglu.

-649.5 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF HAZELNUTS
EXPORTED SINCE SEPTEMBER 1, 1999
GIRESUN - Turkey has obtained 649 million 587 thousand U.S. dollars from her exports of hazelnuts since September 1, 1999 which was the first month of the 1999-2000 export year.

Officials at the Black Sea Union of Hazelnut Exporters told the A.A correspondent on Tuesday that Turkey exported 186 thousand 825 tonnes of hazelnuts, and obtained an income of 649.5 million U.S. dollars.

Turkey exports hazelnuts mainly to the European countries.

In the same period of last year, Turkey had exported 166 thousand 87 tonnes of hazelnuts, and obtained an income of 684 million 893 thousand U.S. dollars.

[02] SECOND WORLD KURASH CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE HELD IN ANTALYA

Almost 1,200 wrestlers from 72 countries will attend the championships at the Antalya Ataturk Sports Hall.

The wrestlers will compete in men's and women's 66, 73, 81 and 90 kg categories.

The judo-like kurash wrestling is a traditional sports of Uzbekistan.

[03] DECREASING TREND IN EXPORTS TO AFRICA AND ASIA FROM GAP REGION CONTINUES

In the first five months of the year, exports of agricultural products to African countries decreased 7 percent to 5 million 63 thousand U.S. dollars, and exports agricultural products to Asian countries decreased 35.2 percent to 1 million 548 thousand U.S. dollars.

In the same period las year, the region exported 5 million 442 thousand U.S. dollars of agricultural products to African countries, and 2 million 386 thousand U.S. dollars of agricultural products to Asian countries.

The Turkish goods in greatest demand were textile products, and grain- cereals.

[04] FOREIGN TRADE INDICES

The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced on Tuesday temporary foreign trade figures for April 2000.

According to DIE's announcement, exports from Turkey became 2 billion 213 million U.S. dollars and its imports became 4 billion 346 million U.S. dollars in April 2000.

Meanwhile, foreign trade deficit as of April 2000 increased 54.4 percent to 2 billion 132 million U.S. dollars.

The foreign trade deficit had been 1 billion 381 million U.S. dollars in April 1999.

[05] FIRST INTERNATIONAL CAPPADOCIA MOUNTAIN BIKE FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN URGUP BETWEEN JULY 1-2

Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent, Bekir Odemis, the Mayor of Urgup, said on Tuesday, ''we have decided to organize an international mountain bike festival in order to diversify tourism in Cappadocia. We aim at promoting cultural assets of the region through sports events. We expect nearly 200 sportsmen from the U.S., Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Israel, Greece, Spain, and Ireland to participate in the festival.''

[06] GOVERNMENT BILL ON EXTENTION OF MANDATE OF NORTHERN WATCH OPERATION SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT

The bill foresees the extention of the mandate of Northern Watch Operation as of June 30.

The government bill requested that the Council of Ministers should be authorized for the extention of the mandate of the Northern Watch Operation and for taking all decisions concerning this issue.

The Northern Operation Watch is an air operation which is limited with only the reconnaissance flights but in which the planes can take action to prevent an inconvenient situation when necessary, by taking into consideration the protection of the territorial integrity of Iraq under the resolutions of the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council and by being subject to the principles and rules determined by Turkey.

Another government bill which foresees the termination of the emergency rule in eastern Van province and extention of the emergency rule for four months in southeastern Diyarbakir, Hakkari, Sirnak and eastern Tunceli provinces, is also expected to be submitted to the parliament today.

The Parliamentary General Assembly will discuss these government bills in its meeting on Wednesday.

[07] TURKEY-WORLD BANK -TURKEY PLANS TO INCREASE AMOUNT OF CAS LOAN FROM 2.250 BILLION TO 3 BILLION DOLLARS

Sources said on Tuesday that the World Bank, in principle, approached positively toward an increase in CAS loan, defending that Turkey's requirements would be the determining factor.

In case the loan is increased to three billion U.S. dollars, it will be used to finance structural reforms especially the agricultural and social security reforms.

The CAS loan will be used to finance the agricultural reconstruction projects and the projects for training of manpower and similar secondary projects in field of social security reform.

Officials said it seemed difficult for the World Bank Board to approve the CAS loan by June 30, adding that they believed the Bank would approve the loan in coming months and the loan would be in effect as of beginning of 2001.

In case the amount of CAS loan is increased to three billion U.S. dollars, the total amount of laon Turkey will obtain from the World Bank will increase to six billion U.S. dollars including three billion U.S. dollars Structural Adjustment Loan (SAL).

-27TH FOREIGN MINISTERS' MEETING OF OIC STARTS
KUALA LUMPUR - Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) 27th Foreign Ministers' meeting started on Tuesday in Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad opened the meeting.

Nearly one thousand representatives of 56 countries and four observer states, including Bosnia-Herzegovina are attending the meeting.

The issue of ''Islam and Globalization'' will be high on the agenda of the four-day meeting.

A 28-member delegation including Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, and Mehmet Kececiler, the State Minister, is representing Turkey at the meeting.

After the morning session, Foreign Minister Cem and State Minister Kececiler hosted a luncheon for the foreign ministers of the Asian group, and requested support to Ambassador Yasar Yakis, Turkey's candidate for OIC Secretary General.

[08] ''GIANT SHOE'' EN ROUTE TO GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS

Ahmet Okurlar told A.A correspondent on Tuesday that four people, including Zahit Okurlar, a shoe-maker in central Konya province, produced the shoe in six months and that they applied to the Guinness Book of Records seven months ago.

Okurlar said that he has received a letter from the Guinness Book of Records in which the size of the shoe, the photographs or video-cassettes shot during the production, the notary document, news published or broadcast in press organs, were requested.

''We will send the documents after they are translated into English,'' Okurlar also said.

A total of 350 kilograms of stout leather, 992 deci-leather, 4 metres of lace, 200 kilograms of glue were used in production of the shoe.

The shoe is 3 metres 12 centimetres in length, 1 metre 27 centimetres in height, 1 metre 10 centimetres in width, and 750 kilograms in weight.

The huge shoe costed 20 billion Turkish liras (TL). It is planned to be put into the market for sale in return for 25 billion TL during the shoe fair which will be held in Istanbul between July 20 and 23.

[09] FOREST FRE IN IZMIR -BLAZE UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE RESULTED FROM ARSON

Forestry Ministry officials told the A.A correspondent that the Monday fire had been set in three separate spots of a den deliberately by unidentified persons. They said that the anti-terrorism department had started investigating into the case, due to repeated arson attempts against the same den.

Monday's fire, which had started blazing at around 15 hours local time, could be taken under control after about four hours, at 18.55, by 5 helicopters, about 20 working machines, 9 teams and 300 soldiers. It wrought damage on about 20 acres of forest land.

[10] NEMRUT TREASURES BELIEVED TO MAKE GREATER SENSATION THAN EGYPT'S PYRAMIDS

Chairman of the International Nemrut Association Maurice Crijns, who is in Kahta to participate in the 8th Kahta Kommagene Festival told the A.A correspondent that they believed the ancient tomb they were planning to open soon, was the most important of all.

Crijns said that a German team had found the exact location of the tomb of King Antiacos by making seismographical, radar, and electromagnetic calculations and measurements.

He said that the tomb was not located under the tumulus, as had been predicted, but it had been carved into the main mass of rock topping the mountain. He noted that they had prepared the master plan of the excavations, adding that the restoration work would be started from the statues located on the western side.

Crijns added that they were waiting for the Culture Ministry to take the necessary measures and the permission to commence the excavations.

Referring to the condition of the statues, Crijns said that the damage wrought on the statues by natural elements was next to nothing as compared to the damage wrought by men, and he complained of the lack of protection in this highly valuable site.

[11] TURKISH-ARAB ECONOMIC COOPERATION CONFERENCE

The conference titled, ''The New Vision of Turkish-Arabic Economic Cooperation in the 21st Century,'' organised jointly by the Bilkent University's Foreign Affairs Institute and Jordan's Diplomacy Institute, ended today.

Addressing the conference, Garih said Turkey formed a bridge between the Middle East and Europe, and stressed that Turkey realized important construction projects in Arab countries.

Garih pointed out that Turkey increased its national income per capita and reached to the level of developed countries, adding that, ''Turkish workers had formed cheap labour power in construction projects in the Middle East countries in the past. Today, Turkish workers don't have cheap work power. Monthly, cost of Turkish workers in Arab countries is approximately 700 U.S. dollars. We will continue to realize important projects in the Arab countries.''

Garih also proposed cooperation and joint production between Turkey, Israel, and Jordan. He also said exportation of the produced goods to the U.S. via Israel could be a profitable cooperation model.

[12] MEETING OF STATE OF EMERGENCY REGION GOVERNORS MEET IN ANKARA

Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan held a meeting on Tuesday in Ankara, to seek means of solving the problems that the people are faced with in East and South East Anatolia. Governor of the State of Emergency Region Enis Yeter, the governors of Diyarbakir, Hakkari, Sirnak, Tunceli, Van, Batman, Bingol, Bitlis, Mardin, Mus, and Siirt, high level officials of the Interior Ministry, and General Osman Ozbek on behalf of the Gendarmery General Command, participated in the meeting at the Interior Ministry building.

Tantan, who spoke at the inauguration, said that studies and activities carried out in the State of Emergency Region and vicinity would be revised, and the issues included in the National Security Council's Action Plan would be taken up.

''All the necessary support to re-habitate the terror-deserted villages would be provided. The 'return-home' project has already been started in certain villages, and our activities are underway. We are making the necessary budgetary arrangements, as well. The most up-to-date documents pertaining to this project shows that 2,8 trillion Turkish Liras have been reserved for Bingol, Bitlis, Hakkari, Mus, Tunceli, and Van; and the South East Anatolia Project (GAP) Administration foresees, according to these documents, the making of a series of investments in Diyarbakir, Batman, and Sirnak. Studies to send qualified government officials to the region are also underway. We will make sure that the people of East and South East Anatolia receive proper education, for this is a must for economic development, and we will try to settle them in their past occupations, whatever they had been living on before leaving their villages,'' Tantan said.

Speaking to reporters at the end of the meeting, Tantan said that PKK terrorism had not yet ended in the region, that there were still many terrorists accommodating in camps in neighboring countries, and that the fight of the Turkish Armed Forces against PKK terorrism was still continuing.

[13] CHINESE JOURNALISTS PAY VISIT TO GULER, PRESIDENT GENERAL DIRECTOR OF A.A

Guler said he was happy to see the members of the Association in Turkey and at the A.A, and said the reflection of the improving cultural relations between Turkey and China to economic relations was a very positive development.

''Like the rest of the world, we, too, are monitoring China closely. We are in close contact with both the Chinese Embassy in Ankara, and the Chinese News Agency,'' Guler said.

Guler furnished the visitors with information on the journalistic network, administrative structure, and the use of new means and systems of communication at the A.A.

Reiterating that the A.A, set up in 1920 by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was older than the Republic itself, Guler said that the Agency had a staff of 1500 journalists at present, including correspondents in almost all the provinces of Turkey, and representations in 32 countries, including China.

He added that the A.A was one of world's most distinguished news agencies.

Qian expressed his feelings of gratitude to Guler for his taking time to host them, and afterwards, Qian and members of the association posed various questions to Guler on the A.A and Turkey's media sector.

Elvan Baransel, Vice President General Director of A.A was also present in the visit.

[14] ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL MEETING (2) -PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''DRAFT RESOLUTION REGARDED WITH ESK, SENT TO THE PARLIAMENT TODAY''

ESK convened under the leadership of Prime Minister Ecevit today.

Addressing the opening of the meeting, Ecevit said initiation of several important steps in this respect gives hope for the future of the country. Ecevit said he believed that a healthy development could not be reached in a democratic and social state unless there is compromise among workers, entrepreneurs, farmers and government dialogue.

Pointing out that Parliament carried out a rapid work, Ecevit said this draft resolution would be legalized soon and take effect.

Ecevit said, ''as you know, we have come to the end of the road regarding the 20-years chronic and high inflation. 57th government began to cover a determined an consistent attitude by considering the difficulties and reactions.

Ecevit said a rapid fall began in inflation as of April, and noted that also a rapid fall started in interests. ''Budget discipline was provided, public expenses limited, and most of the funds were transferred to budget.''

''There is a criticial period we are going through,'' Ecevit said adding that crisis in Asia and Russia still continues its effects to an extend. Ecevit said massive earthquakes of last year, and flood of this and last year brought heavy burdens to the state. Meanwhile, increase in world oil prices affected our economic conditions negatively. However, despite all these, our government continues its determination. Activities started in economy. I think a very important facility would be lost, if this process is hampered.''

Pointing out that the most important social problem was unemployment, Ecevit said, ''we are resolved to carry out struggle against unemployment in the most effective way.'' He stressed investment and employment should be increased in this respect.

Prime Minister Ecevit said they have realized several changes in privatization which caused complaints of mainly the working section. ''there are several circumstances which unemployment caused restrictions in production. Institutions which have been privatized especially in the East and the Southeast, restrict production and look for ways to make profit. Because of this, there is wide spread reactions against privatization. Business circles, workers, villagers, and farmers are against privatization because they meet difficulties in implementation. We exert all our efforts to overcome these difficulties. We are careful on transparency in privatization.''

Ecevit said income, which has been obtained from privatization in the first months of the year 2000, is more than the income obtained in the 10 years period, and noted that it was a very positive development.

[15] TURKISH BANKING CONGRESS TO TAKE PLACE BETWEEN JULY 4-6 IN ISTANBUL

The main subject on which the participants would be focusing during the congress is ''Standing on One's Own Feet in the New Age of Banking: Strategies for Profitable Banking in Disinflationist Economies''.

State Minister in Charge of Economy, Recep Onal, who will be delivering the inauguration speech of the conference, will touch on ''The True Role of Banking in New Economy''.

World Bank's Turkey Director Ajay Chibber will make a presentation on ''Re- structuring and Consolidation in the Banking Sector''.

''Strategies of making success in the new age of banking'', ''results of disinflation from the standpoint of Turkish banks'', ''a glance at Turkey's economic and financial condition from the outside'', ''a practical analysis of the amendment to the Banks Law'', ''investment banking'', ''credit risk administration'', and ''the effects of the latest tax reforms on the banking sector'' are the other topics of discussion of the conference.

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