Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-07-18

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NEWS

18 JULY 2000 Tuesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] CLINTON PRAISES TURKEY'S PROGRESS IN HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY

[03] TPAO AND EL PASO COMPANY TO SEARCH FOR NATURAL GAS IN TURKEY

[04] HALKBANK TO OBTAIN 150 MILLION EURO EXTERNAL LOAN

[05] TOURISM SECTOR WORKERS PLEASED ABOUT TOURISM SEASON

[06] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS SAYS JULY 20 IS THE DAY OF THEIR REBIRTH

[07] STATE MINISTER YALOVA STAGES PRESS CONFERENCE -YALOVA: ''AMOUNT OF PRIVATIZATION REACHED 2 BILLION 968 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN 2000''

[08] AGRICULTURE MINISTER GOKALP SAYS THERE IS NO RISK FOR MAD COW DISEASE IN TURKEY

[09] GERMAN UNION 90/GREENS PARTY HOLDS TWO CONFERENCES ON CYPRUS CONFLICT

[10] NATO DEPLOYS POSITION TOWARD EU ABOUT ESDI

[11] DUTCH AMBASSADOR GOSSES SAYS CYPRUS ISSUE MUST BE RESOLVED BEFORE EU MEMBERSHIP

[12] PREMIER ECEVIT: ''VERHEUGEN DID NOT SUBMIT DRAFT ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP ACCORD''

[13] STATE MINISTER TOSKAY RECEIVES PARRIS, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Verheugen first presented the draft to Foreign Minister Ismail Cem who later conveyed it to the Prime Minister. Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz also read the draft which caused significant concern in the government. It was decided that the document would not be leaked to the press.

ANTALYA BREAKS TOURISM RECORD
Last Sunday, Antalya had a historical day. In 24 hours, 32,208 tourists entered the city which is the highest number in the city's history. In three days, a total of 72,000 tourists came to Antalya by plane. All hotels in the city were hundred percent full.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

YILMAZ: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS NOT ON THE AGENDA''
Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that solution should be found to the capital punishment in the medium term because of Turkey's relations with the European Union (EU) but that this issue is not included in the agenda in the short term. Yilmaz noted that the visit of Guenter Verheugen, EU Commissioner for enlargement, aimed at holding consulations regarding the Accession Partnership Accord.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

MOODY'S EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER LEVEY: ''WE WILL
REVIEW TURKEY'S RATING NEXT MONTH''
Moody's rating organization said that they would review Turkey's rating next month. David H. Levey, a member of the Moody's rating organization, said that the Turkish government was running the economy on the right track. Levey noted Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz's taking place in the cabinet displayed the harmony in the coalition government and political stability. Turkey was successfully advancing in protection of political stability and continuation of reforms, he said. Noting that all targets especially inflation, monetary-financial and privatization were continuing within framework of the program, Levey said they had a positive outlook. Moody's re-affirmed ''B1'' rating for Turkey while it changed economic outlook from ''stable'' to ''positive'' in November 1999.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

FIRST STRIKE HELICOPTER TO BE READY IN 2002
The Turkish Armed Forces is expected to give its final decision about purchase of 145 strike helicopters on July 21. Four companies are bidding for the project. In accordance with the project, the first helicopter will be delivered in 2002.

COUNCIL OF STATE CHAIRMAN: ''ARTICLE 312 IS NECESSARY''
Council of State's Chairman Erol Cirakman who will retire on September 2 said, ''Turkey has a special position. Turkey has a very short history of secularism, and it is impossible to say that secular life was fully settled in Turkey. Turkey is still in the transition period. During this period, Turkey needs Article 312 to protect principle of secular state.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)

SEES UNDER SCRUTINY
Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp said that they had discussed the structural problems of the State Economic Enterprises (SEEs) operating in energy sector. The SEEs meeting which was chaired by State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan at the Prime Ministry building lasted almost three hours. Responding to questions of journalists after the meeting, Demiralp said they had discussed structural problems of TEAS, TEDAS, BOTAS and Turkish Coal Authority (TKI), and they had exchanged opinions on methods and additional measures to solve those problems.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

TURKEY TO COOPERATE WITH FAO IN AGRICULTURE
Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Husnu Yusuf Gokalp visited Jacques Diouf, General Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and John Wefley, Deputy Chairman of International Agricultural Development Fund (IFAD). Gokalp said that Turkey will jointly put into effect the prior projects. Gokalp added that they discussed the South-South and Erzincan- Sivas projects.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

JUDICIAL MISTAKES RISE
Turkey Bars Association Chairman Eralp Ozgen said judges and prosecutors, under the heavy load of work, are making more mistakes. ''Therefore, the justice has been replaced by mafia,'' he said. Ozgen stated that the number of courts in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir should be increased to lighten the load. He also pointed out that Turkey still could not achieve independence of justice. Noting that their association is against the current ward system in prisons, and said the F type prisons are modern and they are used in the West. Istanbul Bar Chairman Yucel Sayman, on the other hand, spoke against the F type prisons and claimed that these prisons are against human rights.

[02] CLINTON PRAISES TURKEY'S PROGRESS IN HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY

In the last months, Pallone from the Democrat Party in New Jersey, had sent a letter to Clinton where he expressed opposition to Turkey's attack helicopter project. Pallone had claimed that Ankara would use these helicopters to violate human rights and also against its neighbours including the Armenians.

The letter which was asking the U.S. administration not to sell the helicopters to Turkey evoked Clinton's response.

Commenting on Clinton's response, diplomatic observors in Washington, D.C said if the U.S. Bell Helicopter Textron company wins the 4 billion U.S. dollar bid, the U.S. Administration will approve the project.

In his letter, Clinton said Turkey, as a NATO member, has important commmitments to the Alliance and has rightful defense needs.

As long as it does not contradict with the U.S.'s weapons transfer policy, Clinton said, Turkey's efforts in this direction should be supported. If the U.S. company wins the bid, the U.S. will implement its usual sales procedure with Turkey, he added.

Human rights is one of the criteria in the sales of helicopters, Clinton said and praised Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's government for the progress it made in human rights and democracy fields in the last one year. Clinton also added that military judges no longer exist in the State Security Courts (DGM's), legal measures have been taken to prevent torture in prisons, and the PKK terrorism has significantly dropped in the south east.

Calling President Ahmet Necdet Sezer a ''reformist'', Clinton expressed admiration for Sezer's statements to advance democratic reforms as well as Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's similar declarations.

Pointing out that Ecevit successfully runs the economic stability programme, Clinton stated that Turkey has been granted EU candidacy and Turkey is willing to resolve its problems with Greece. Clinton also noted that efforts are underway to bring a solution to the Cyprus conflict.

[03] TPAO AND EL PASO COMPANY TO SEARCH FOR NATURAL GAS IN TURKEY

TPAO and El Paso will sign the partnership agreement in Ankara on Wednesday.

Osman Demirag, Chairman of TPAO Executive Board and General Director, and John B. Holmes, Director of El Paso, will sign the agreement.

Mark Parris, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, is also expected to participate in the signing ceremony.

In accordance with the agreement, TPAO and El Paso will carry out seismic researches in shallow and deep waters in Mersin and Iskenderun gulfs.

El Paso had earlier signed an agreement with German-Italian partner Geo Prakla company for th seismic researches that will be launched in August. Geo Prakla serves for oil companies and collects data.

Sources said that El Paso company will collect seismic data in at least thousand kilometres of Iskenderun and Mersin gulfs. If necessary, the dimensions of the searches will be increased.

The data which will be acquired in the seismic researches foreseen to be concluded by the end of 2000, will be estimated by El Paso.

Two wells in Mersin and Iskenderun gulfs will be opened in July 2001. The number of wells can be increased in accordance with the results of seismic researches.

An official of the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry said that oil can also be struck in the end of seismic researches but that the geological structure of the gulfs indicate that there are natural gas ores in the region.

El Paso will spend at least 20 million U.S. dollars for two wells. TPAO will not spend money on these researches.

If no natural gas or oil are struck in the researches, TPAO and El Paso will share the expenditures of further researches.

El Paso wants to produce electricity by constructing a station in the region if natural gas is struck in Iskenderun and Mersin gulfs.

El Paso had earlier opened an office in Ankara.

[04] HALKBANK TO OBTAIN 150 MILLION EURO EXTERNAL LOAN

Halkbank Executive Board Chairman and General Director Yenal Ansen said on Tuesday that Halkbank had obtained more than 500 million U.S. dollars medium-term external loans in last three years.

''Within framework of the agreement for the 150 million Euro second tranche securitization loan with the WestLB, an agreement for the 100 million Euro part of the loan will be signed in London on July 21,'' he said.

Ansen added that the loan would have a Euribor+3.90 percent interest rate.

[05] TOURISM SECTOR WORKERS PLEASED ABOUT TOURISM SEASON

Basaran Ulusoy, Chairman of Turkish Travelling Agencies Union (TURSAB), told A.A correspondent that they expect 10 million tourists this year.

Ulusoy said that although the hotels and touristic facilities in southern Antalya province are full, there are problems resulting from the private airline companies.

''There are tourists who want to come to Turkey but there are not enough planes,'' Ulusoy said.

Ulusoy noted that they have launched necessary initiatives about this issue.

Nedret Koruyan, Secretary General of Tourism Investors' Association (TYD), said that they expect 8.5-9 billion U.S. dollar revenue from tourism this year.

Koruyan added that they hope boom in tourism in 2001 and 2002.

[06] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS SAYS JULY 20 IS THE DAY OF THEIR REBIRTH

Denktas said that July 20 is the rebirth of Turkish Cypriots.

The mass graves where Turkish Cypriot victims massacred by Greek Cypriots are burried indicate what would happen if this Peace Operation had not been made, Denktas noted.

Denktas pointed out that Makarios gave an instruction in 1964 saying ''if Turkey comes to Cyprus to save the Turkish Cypriots, it will not be able to find even a single Turk to save.'' This expression clearly shows the dangerous conditions under which the Turkish Cypriots lived, Denktas stated.

Denktas stressed that July 20 was not only a respect day for martyrs and Turkish nation.

''If you do not want to experience July 20 once more, protect yourself from the days and developments that led us to July 20 and stand on strong grounds to reach a strong agreement. Stand on strong grounds so that the Greek Cypriots should not violate the new agreement, and they should not slaughter us again telling the world that this is their internal affair, and Turkey should not have to come to the island again,'' Denktas said.

Denktas pointed out that the agreement the Greek Cypriots want, is one that will remove the rights of Turkey as a guarantor. By the Peace Operation, Turkey showed that it would not give up its rights as a guarantor, and leave Turkish Cypriots alone to the mercy of the Greek Cypriots, and turn a blind eye to the island's being turned into a Greek colony, Denktas added.

Denktas noted that they hope friendly atmosphere between Turkey and Greece would further improve.

''And we hope we will reach a strong and lasting agreement based on the principle of two states on the island,'' Denktas added.

Denktas later received Jordanian deputies headed by Ali Ebu Rabeyha, who also came to TRNC to join the July 20 celebrations.

[07] STATE MINISTER YALOVA STAGES PRESS CONFERENCE -YALOVA: ''AMOUNT OF PRIVATIZATION REACHED 2 BILLION 968 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN 2000''

Staging a press conference, Yalova stressed that number of institutions and enterprises in the scope of privatization program would decrease to 18 percent at the end of 2000.

Yalova said that 9 percent of privatizations had been carried out through sales at the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB); 17 percent of them had been made through international offerings; 1 percent had been caried out through transfers; 26 percent through public offerings; 11 percent through sales of facilities and assets and 36 percent had been made through block sales as of July 2000.

Yalova stated that 5.2. billion U.S. dollars net cash income had been provided from privatizations between 1985 and April 2000.

''Together with the 1.8 billion U.S. dollars dividend yield of the enterprises in the scope of privatization program and 900 million U.S. dollars sources, we see that the total sources reached 7.7 billion U.S. dollars in the period of 1985-2000,'' he said.

''Share of capital participation in these total sources is 39.18 percent or 2 billion 883 million 142 thousand 388 U.S. dollars. A total of 2 billion 314 million U.S. dollars was transferred to the Treasury, and the share of these transfers is 31.45 percent. Besides, 13.44 percent or 1 billion U.S. dollars of this total amount was transferred or lent to institutions,'' he said.

[08] AGRICULTURE MINISTER GOKALP SAYS THERE IS NO RISK FOR MAD COW DISEASE IN TURKEY

The BSE disease which is known as the mad cow disease in public, Gokalp said, is being closely monitored by his ministry. Mad cow is a fetal disease which infects the nervous systems of cows and it is not definitely known what causes the disease although scientists are suspecting a degenerated protein called ''prion'' for the disease, Gokalp explained. He added that people get mad cow by eating meat of an infected animal or other animal products.

Although the disease poses no risk in Turkey, various measures have been taken he noted. ''BSO is a dangerous disease for human and animal health; therefore, it is included in the list of diseases which people have to report according to Animal Health Law,'' he said.

''Our Ministry is closely following the bulletins published by the International Contagious Diseases Office and we are banning the animal products import from countries where the disease is seen. As a part of this application, we have banned live stock and animal product import from Britain, Northern Ireland, Scotland, France, Portugal, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Denmark.''

Gokalp noted that two experts from the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ministry have been trained in France on BSE disease, its diagnose and control, and they are following the new scientific developments in this field.

Gokalp added that although there is no risk, Ankara Etlik Veterinary Control and Research Institute has been equipped to diagnose the disease.

[09] GERMAN UNION 90/GREENS PARTY HOLDS TWO CONFERENCES ON CYPRUS CONFLICT

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign and Defense Ministerty Undersecretary Osman Ertug said they tried to protect themselves against the Greek Cypriots' murders in the 1960's and noted that Turkish soldiers are their assurance.

The Greek Cypriots are keeping the Turkish Cypriots under pressure and they are also speaking on behalf of the Turkish Cypriots, Ertug said. ''The Greek Cypriots regard themselves being on top of a mountain and they think the Turkish Cypriots are at sea level,'' he noted. ''No bridges can be built between the two communities in this situation. The international community has to either take them down from the mountain or take us up on top of that mountain.''

As long as the international community recognizes the Greek Cypriots as the sole government on the island, the Greek Cypriots will not have a reason to speak with the Turkish side, Ertug stated. ''I don't think we can find a solution if we don't speak face to face.''

Greek Cypriot Embassy Undersecretary in Berlin Mihailis Kumides who spoke at the second conference claimed that the Cyprus conflict would be resolved if the Greek Cypriot side is accepted to the EU. He alleged that this would also bring Turkey and the EU closer.

The EU should play a more active role in the solution of the Cyprus problem, Kumides said and claimed that the Greek Cypriot side will join the EU even if the problem remains unsolved. He alleged that this would also be for the benefit of the Turkish Cypriots.

[10] NATO DEPLOYS POSITION TOWARD EU ABOUT ESDI

The EU which has taken some steps about the Joint Foreign Policy and Security Policy is developing the ESDI factor within this framework.

Turkey which is an associate member of the West European Union (WEU) that is foreseen to be integrated with the EU in near future is drawing the attention to its experiences in the WEU and deploying a position to take a place in every initiative and decision mechanism regarding security of Europe.

The EU is receiving harsh reactions of Ankara as it is following a policy that excludes non-EU member NATO allies from the decision mechanism.

After the decision for establishment of official relations between NATO and EU and settlement of these relations on a concrete and healthy basis, long and intense discussions occurred within structure of the Alliance.

Foreign sources in the NATO say that negotiations and bargainings for the relations with EU were finalized; allied countries reached a compromise late on Monday, and Turkey was ''persuasive'' although it had not received concrete support from its allies except Iceland.

The compromise reached within the NATO allowed the allied countries to control the ESDI in every stage, sources said.

Sources said that NATO adopted a position that would protect the interests of all allied countries by taking into consideration importance of the non- EU member NATO allies and their indispensibilities.

Sources said all members of NATO could fully control the steps and initiatives of EU regarding ESDI, adding that EU would ask for approval of the NATO for every operation initiative.

The results of the compromise reached within the NATO will be conveyed to the EU by Secretary General George Robertson.

[11] DUTCH AMBASSADOR GOSSES SAYS CYPRUS ISSUE MUST BE RESOLVED BEFORE EU MEMBERSHIP

Speaking at a meeting organized by Ankara Young Businessmen's Association (ANGIAD), Gosses responded to reporters' questions.

Gosses said the Netherlands was a founding member of the EU and added that they want to keep the Union alive.

Noting that Cyprus problem should be definitely resolved before it joins the EU, Gosses said nobody wants to carry this problem into their Union.

Gosses also noted that he doesn't have the clues necessary to solve the conflict. However, he said the EU has some past experiences regarding the solution of this problem as it was founded towards the end of the cold war between Germany and France and it stopped the war and brought two countries together.

Integration cut downs the extreme nationalism and brings together two nations which were previously fighting with each other, he noted and said he believes the Cyprus problem would be solved this way.

Pointing out that the Netherlands will work to propose a solution to the problem on the island, Gosses said the UN might also intervene.

Dwelling on Turkey's democratization and harmonization efforts to be a full member to the EU, Gosses stated that Turkey is entering a critical period.

The EU Commission listed the criteria for Turkey's full membership, Grosses said and added that the two sides will come together in November to discuss these criteria. The report is like a road map for Turkey on its way to full membership and includes the possible scenerios in the period leading to its membership.

With the election of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, he noted, a constitutional change started to be discussed which is an important stage for harmonization and all segments of the society must participate in these discussions. Grosses said the membership is not only the government's problem but also the people's.

If the government approves and the people opposes, this has no value, he said. Grosses stated that non-governmental organizations play a very important role in such social discussions.

Noting that Turkey lost time with presidential elections and similar matters, Grosses said that he hoped Turkey would make progress in issues such as lifting of the death penalty and freedom of expression until November.

[12] PREMIER ECEVIT: ''VERHEUGEN DID NOT SUBMIT DRAFT ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP ACCORD''

Ecevit told reporters that contacts with Verheugen were positive and that Verheugen did not mention ''cultural rights'' issue during their meeting.

Responding to questions of journalists, Ecevit said that they are in favour of some changes in Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code (TSK) but that they are not in favour of totally abolishing this article.

About allegations saying that there will be changes in the government in autumn, Ecevit said, ''the stability in the government continues. As long as the scenarios saying that the government will be toppled in autumn are brought into the agenda, the decrease tendency in stock market continues.''

Ecevit noted that the economy is in a very sensitive period and requested that such scenarios should not be published in newpapers or broadcast in television channels.

''Unfortunately, people evade paying taxes in Turkey'', Ecevit said, adding that they are exerting efforts to stop tax evasion.

[13] STATE MINISTER TOSKAY RECEIVES PARRIS, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY

Addressing journalists following the 40-minute meeting, Toskay said that they had evaluated economic and social developments both in Turkey and abroad since the 57th government was formed.

Toskay told reporters, ''our clear and sincere relations with Mr. Parris during his term in office as the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, have made a valuable contribution to relations between Turkey and the U.S.''

When asked whether or not the issue of opening of a U.S. communication bureau in the Southeastern Anatolia Region was brought onto agenda of the meeting, Toskay said that the issue was not taken up at the meeting.

Meanwhile, Parris said in his part that his term in office in Turkey would come to an end at the beginning of September 2000.

Noting that he attributed great importance to Turkey, Parris added that he would continue to support Turkey in the future.

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