Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-09-05

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

05

SEPTEMBER 2000 Tuesday

CONTENTS

[01] BELARUSSIAN SALO COMES FIRST IN LEYLA GENCER VOICE COMPETITION

[02] AGENDA OF SEZER-CLINTON MEETING TO BE SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DRAFT

[03] AUTOMOTIVE EXPORTS REVIVE

[04] A DOCUMENTARY WILL BE SHOT FOR THE ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES AT GAP REGION

[05] JUDICIAL YEAR TO START ON WEDNESDAY

[06] MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND TOURISTS VISIT ANI RUINS IN KARS

[07] STATE MINISTER MIRZAOGLU: -''FOUR AGREEMENTS WILL BE SIGNED IN JEC MEETING''

[08] VEGH, NEW HUNGARIAN AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY SPEAKS TO A.A: -''TURKEY, AN EXPERIENCED NATO ALLY, IS A KEY COUNTRY IN ITS REGION''

[09] OECD SECRETARY GENERAL JOHNSTON TO VISIT TURKEY

[10] STRUGGLE AGAINST INFLATION -HISOGLU, EXECUTIVE BOARD CHAIRMAN OF TTB ''PRIVATE SECTOR IS SUCCESSFUL IN STRUGGLE AGAINST INFLATION''

[11] ROMANIAN JUSTICE MINISTER STOICA IN CAPPADOCIA

[12] GOKALP, AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS MINISTER, IN HUNGARY

[13] TEMPERATURES TO DROP IN ALL REGIONS

[14] TURKEY-YEMEN JOINT ECONOMIC COMMISSION MEETINGS START

[01] BELARUSSIAN SALO COMES FIRST IN LEYLA GENCER VOICE COMPETITION

The competition was held in Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall of Istanbul with the participation of Culture Minister Istemihan Talay.

Ten finalists from Turkey, Romania, Kazakhstan, Greece and Belarus sang several songs.

Salo came the first while Otilia Maria Aydin became the third and Perihan Diana Nayir the third.

George Gagnidze was presented with ''Sedat Guzin Gurel Award'' while Irina Muratbekova was granted ''Opera and Ballet Arts Development Foundation Special Award.''

Marita Paparizoux was presented with ''Theatre, Opera and Ballet Personnel's Solidarity Foundation (TOBAV) Special Award'' and ''Mustafa Iktu Special Award'' in the competition.

[02] AGENDA OF SEZER-CLINTON MEETING TO BE SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DRAFT

Diplomatic sources said early on Tuesday that Sezer, who came to New York to attend the United Nations (U.N.) Millenium Summit, will hold a biletaral meeting with Clinton on September 7.

The diplomatic sources said that Sezer will request Clinton to launch initiatives to prevent the Armenian draft being adopted by the U.S. Congress and emphasize the sensitivity that Turkey feels over this issue.

The Armenian lobby in the U.S. tries to enable the Congress pass the draft law concerning the so-called Armenian genocide.

Some circles think that the draft law will be adopted in a voting held at the Congress prior to the elections. The adoptation of the draft may have negative effects on Turkish-U.S. relations.

The diplomatic sources noted that Sezer will also mention financing of Baku- Ceyhan oil pipeline project, Turkish-Greek relations, the Aegean and Cyprus, the damages that Turkey suffer due to the embargo imposed on Iraq, the safe transfer of assault helicopters, the contract of which was awarded to U.S. Bell Textron company, and the Balkans during his bilateral contact with Clinton.

Sezer-Clinton meeting is expected to be last almost half an hour, the diplomatic sources stated.

The diplomatic sources added that Sezer-Clinton meeting carries importance.

-ARMENIANS IN OTTOMAN EMPIRE
The Armenian communities dispersed throughout the Ottoman territories lived as loyal, and, in certain aspects, as privileged subjects of Sultan. They were able to serve as ministers, ambassadors, privy physicians, court musicians, commercial envoys and in similar other capacities.

Beginning from the last quarter of the 19th century the nationalist/separatist Armenian bands started fomenting insurrection among the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire. These bands organized several rebellions in various provinces like Zeitun (1862-1895), Erzurum (1890), Van (1895-96), Adana (1909) etc. during which thousands of muslims were killed.

-MASSACRES COMMITTED BY ARMENIANS
During the First World War, they joined the invading Russian and French forces. They raided the Ottoman supply depots, savagely attacked the Turkish cities, towns and villages in the Eastern Anatolia, massacring their inhabitants as happened then in Van in 1915, and doing whatever possible to ease the Russian military advance. Their hope was that participation in the Russian success would be rewarded as an independent Armenian state carved out of Ottoman territories.

-RESPONSE TO ARMENIAN ATROCITIES
In response to these uprisings and massacres by the Armenians, the Ottoman government ordered the relocation of the Armenian population from the war zone to southern regions of the Empire.

-SPEAKING ABOUT GENOCIDE?
The years of First World War were full of sufferings for the whole population of the Ottoman Empire. Historians state that more than 2 million muslims lost their lives throughout this period. People perished due to shortages of fuel, food, medicine and other supplies as well as large scale plague and famine. The insurrection launched by the Armenians while the state was actively fighting a world war increased the suffering. It was part of the wartime tragedy for the Armenians and Turks alike.

Scores of distinguished academicians, past and present, focusing on Ottoman history conclude that speaking about genocide victimizing Ottoman Armenians is inacurate, inappropriate and unjustified.

-ARMENIAN TERRORISM
In order to shed light on an historical issue Turkish government has opened the Ottoman Archives and made available four centuries worth of documents regarding the Ottoman Armenians. These include the records of deliberations of the Council of Ministries for the years 1914-1922.

Armenian insistence on viewing themselves as the only victims of the sufferings in Anatolia during the World War I fuels today racial animosity and is a feeble attempt in justify Armenian terrorism, which has already claimed lives of 75 people belonging to different nationalities, 36 of them Turkish diplomats and their families.

[03] AUTOMOTIVE EXPORTS REVIVE

The Secretariat General of the Uludag Exporters' Unions said on Tuesday the exports of automobiles, which was 120 million U.S. dollars in the August 1999, rose to 173.7 million U.S. dollars in August 2000.

The figures in the automotive sector in the first eight months of 2000 are as follows:

Name of Product Exports

(Thousand U.S. Dollars)

------------------------- -----------
Tractor........................... 38.702

Bus-minibus-midibus............... 183.797

Automobile........................ 423.964

Lorry-truck....................... 19.374

Motor vehicles on special propose. 3.934

Towing............................ 434

Work machines..................... 16.753

Vessels-boats-ships............... 85.539

Aircraft-spacecraft............... 39.150

Bicycle-motorcycle................ 10.327

Agricultural machines............. 3.257

Tank-armoured vehicles............ 32.246

Towings on special purpose........ 288

Automotive by-industry............ 850.201

[04] A DOCUMENTARY WILL BE SHOT FOR THE ARCHEOLOGICAL SITES AT GAP REGION

The works for the documentary named ''At the Shore of Discovery'' have started under the sponsorship of the computer company HP.

The documentary is aiming to rescue and document the archeological sites that will submerge under Ilýsu and Karkamis Dams. It will be produced under the cooperation of Atlas Multimedia and ODTU-TADCAM (Middle East Technical University, Research Center for Historical Values).

The documentary will comprise the archeological sites that will be affected by the dams in Diyarbakir, Batman, Mardin, Siirt, Gaziantep and Sanliurfa provinces.

The documentary will be ready for projection in January 2001.

[05] JUDICIAL YEAR TO START ON WEDNESDAY

Sami Selcuk, the Chief Judge of the Supreme Court, and Eralp Ozgen, the Chairman of Turkish Bars Union, will make speeches in the ceremony.

The judicial personnel will visit Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the Founder of Modern Turkish Republic, in the afternoon and observe a minute of silence.

A reception will be hosted in State Guest-House in the evening on the occassion of the beginning of new judicial year.

[06] MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND TOURISTS VISIT ANI RUINS IN KARS

Nihat Yildiz, the Cultural Director, told A.A correspondent on Tuesday that number of tourists visiting Kars increased in great deal this year when compared with the previous years.

Yildiz said that 3,210 foreigners and 2,290 Turkish people visited Ani Ruins in first eight months of 2000.

''A total of 7,370 Turkish and foreign people visited the Kars Museum in which archeological and ethnographic artifacts belonging to Urartian, Roman, Seljuk and Ottoman eras are exhibited. Usually, the U.S., French, German, British, Japanese, Belgian and Dutch people visit Ani Ruins and Kars Museum. We expect the number of tourists will increase following the new excavations that will be carried out in Ani Ruins,'' Yildiz added.

[07] STATE MINISTER MIRZAOGLU: -''FOUR AGREEMENTS WILL BE SIGNED IN JEC MEETING''

Mirzaoglu received the Yemeni delegation which is in Turkey to attend the JEC meeting which is considered as the first rapproachment step between Turkey and Yemen.

Following the meeting, Mirzaoglu said that in the end of JEC meetings that will continue for three days, protocol on mutual protection and encouragement of investments, protocol on cooperation in tourism, protocol on highway transportation and protocol on cooperation between chambers of commerce and industry of two countries will be signed.

Contacts will be held to sign agreements on cooperation in health sector, prevention of double taxation, cooperation of news agencies of two countries, and economic and technical cooperation, Mirzaoglu noted.

Mirzaoglu stated that if they reach compromise, these agreements will also be signed.

Abdulaziz Al Kumaim, the Yemeni Trade and Supplier Minister, said that they want to improve bilateral relations with Turkey in every field.

[08] VEGH, NEW HUNGARIAN AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY SPEAKS TO A.A: -''TURKEY, AN EXPERIENCED NATO ALLY, IS A KEY COUNTRY IN ITS REGION''

Vegh told A.A correspondent that Turkey is close to regions like Black Sea, Balkans and the East Mediterranean and that its strategical position and its being an experienced NATO ally makes it a key country in the region.

Reminding A.A correspondent that diplomatic relations between the two countries started in 1967 in the level of ambassadors, Vegh said that the ''Free Trade Agreement'' which was put into effect in April 1998, has positive contributions on economic relations.

Vegh noted that two countries are allies under umbrella of NATO and that there are not any problems between the two countries.

Responding to questions on European Joint Security and Defense Policy, Vegh said that he believes NATO will protect its collective role in European security in the future and that six countries which are members of NATO but not members of the European Union (EU) should have cooperation.

They have the similar ideas about Turkey's withdrawals regarding the European Joint Security and Defense Policy, Vegh stated.

Vegh stressed that Europe's security should be established within framework of NATO and that cooperation between the EU and NATO is important.

Six non-EU countries which are NATO allies are close to the tense regions, Vegh said.

Vegh emphasized that the interests of these six countries could not be ignored and that compromise should be reached by asking the opinion of candidate countries, adding that this can be possible by an institutional agreement.

Underlining that significant developments and changes have been recorded in Turkey in recent years, Vegh said that Turkey is no more a market in economy but a partner.

Vegh noted that he will give priority to continuing political dialogue in high-level, improving economic relations, promoting military and technical cooperation, scientific, educational and cultural cooperation during his term in office in Ankara.

They expect Turkish companies to invest in Hungary, Vegh stated.

There are many Hungarian companies functioning in energy sector in Turkey, Vegh stressed.

Vegh emphasized that two countries can also have cooperation in animal and fish exports, production of oil pipelines, construction of motorways, and agricultural products.

A total of 35 Turkish students are having education in Hungarian universities, and they plan to increase this number to 500 starting from next year, Vegh said.

Vegh noted that there are cultural links between Turkey and Hungary and that there are many Turkish artifacts in Hungary, including the Gul Baba Tomb in Budapest and monument in Szigetvar, where Suleyman The Magnificent died.

Vegh stated that Turkish people are warm and sympathetic, adding that he has taken Turkish courses for two months. [00] MOODY'S TO COME TO TURKEY ON SEPTEMBER 11
ANKARA/LONDON - International rating organization Moody's will come to Turkey on September 11 to observe developments marked in Turkey's economy.

Officials told A.A correspondent on Tuesday that the Moody's delegation headed by Moody's Turkey analyst Hanan Amin Salem will hold contacts with the Treasury Undersecretariat, Central Bank, Finance Ministry and private sector.

The last Moody's analysis had said that there could be an increase in Turkey's rating in the short term and that criteria required for this increase were observed.

Officials of Moody's said that the stability in the economic programme that is being implemented and the support given to this programme are important.

Moody's delegation will take up current transactions, inflation and domestic and foreign borrowing during its contacts in Turkey.

Moody's is expected to announce Turkey's new rating by the end of September.

International rating organization Moody's did not change Turkey's rating which was ''B1'' in November but changed its economic sight from ''stable'' to ''positive.''

[09] OECD SECRETARY GENERAL JOHNSTON TO VISIT TURKEY

A statement from the Foreign Ministry said Johnston will be received by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on September 7. He will also have meetings with State Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Finance Minister Sumer ORal, state ministers Abdulhaluk Mehmet Cay, Tunca Toskay and Recep Onal on the same day.

Johnston will attend the opening ceremony of Istanbul Private Sector Development Center's new building on September 8.

Noting that OECD is running joint projects with Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA), the statement said these projects aim to help the formation of legal and institutional infrastructure for private sector in South East European, Trans-Caucasian, Central Asian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean countries and members of Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization.

The Foreign Ministry also noted that a total of 2,318 high level representatives from 24 countries participated in OECD's activities in Istanbul between 1994 and 2000.

Turkey's 36 billion TL donation to OECD will be used to regulate activities to support investments in the Balkan countries, it was stated.

An information unit of the OECD is expected to start giving service in the new OECD center in Istanbul.

Johnston will leave Turkey on September 8.

[10] STRUGGLE AGAINST INFLATION -HISOGLU, EXECUTIVE BOARD CHAIRMAN OF TTB ''PRIVATE SECTOR IS SUCCESSFUL IN STRUGGLE AGAINST INFLATION''

Hisoglu said the government could obtain more positive results in struggle against inflation and stability program, and that public expenses should be taken under discipline and investments toward production and employment should be supported.

In a written statement, Hisoglu evaluated the inflation figures of August and more success should be recorded in struggle against inflation.

''Non-governmental organizations and private sector are in a great effort in this respect, and they are successful. Yet, public sectors don't launch the same efforts. Extravagance continues in public expenses. The state should withdraw from economy, and privatization should be done more rapidly, '' he noted.

[11] ROMANIAN JUSTICE MINISTER STOICA IN CAPPADOCIA

Stoica, his wife Irinel Cristiana and a delegation of seven people visited Derinkuyu under ground city which was used as a shelter by the first Christians in Cappadocia. They later toured Uchisar citadel, Goreme open air museum, Zelve ruins and clay ateliers in Avanos.

The Romanian delegation will leave Nevsehir on Wednesday.

[12] GOKALP, AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS MINISTER, IN HUNGARY

A statement issued regarding the visit of Gokalp said, Gokalp met with Jozsef Torgyan, Hungarian Agriculture and Regional Development Minister, and discussed cooperation issues between the two countries.

Speaking at the meeting Gokalp said he wanted 6th Term meeting of Agriculture Executive Committee, which was formed between the two countries earlier, to take place in Turkey and noted that this meeting will provide development of the relations.

Gokalp said trade volume between the two countries were 210 million U.S. dollars, adding that this figure was very law, and wanted it to be increased.

Gokalp also invited Jozsef Torgyan, Hungarian Agriculture and Regional Development Minister, to FOODTEC-2000 International Food and Food Technologies Fair that will take place in Turkey.

[13] TEMPERATURES TO DROP IN ALL REGIONS

State Meteorology Department said that the temperatures will also drop 10 to 12 Celcius, starting from western regins. Precipitation will move to north east on Thursday and will leave Anatolia on September 9.

There will be showers in Marmara, Aegean, western regions of Central Anatolia and western Black Sea. Other regions will be partly cloudy.

Below are the lowest and highest temperatures of some major cities on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

CITIES 06.09.2000 07.09.2000 08.09.2000
-------- ---------- ---------- ----------
ISTANBUL 18/21 16/22 17/23
ANKARA 15/25 14/21 11/24
SAMSUN 19/24 18/21 15/21
IZMIR 21/25 19/26 18/28
ADANA 21/31 19/29 18/29
ANTALYA 20/28 18/26 17/26
ERZURUM 4/28 7/26 5/25
DIYARBAKIR 20/36 18/33 18/33

[14] TURKEY-YEMEN JOINT ECONOMIC COMMISSION MEETINGS START

''Interest rates started dropping rapidly, and there was a significant decline in inflation. Therefore Turkish economy has a bright future,'' Mirzaoglu said.

Turkey-Yemen Joint Economic Commission Meetings started on Tuesday. State Minister Mirzaoglu and Yemeni Trade and Procurement Minister Abdulaziz Al Kumaim supervised the talks during the meetings.

During a speech he made at the opening of the meeting, Mirzaoglu noted that Yemen was among the countries which sent aid to Turkey after the two massive earthquakes.

Speaking about the developments in the Turkish economy, Mirzaoglu said the Turkish government attributes great importance to foreign investments. He stressed that through new regulations, Turkey has created a liberal and safe environment for foreign investors.

Pointing out that Turkey aims to advance commercial and economic relations with Middle Eastern countries, Mirzaoglu said commercial relations between Turkey and Yemen could be higher when the economic potential is considered.

The trade volume between the two countries reached its highest level in 1993 with 100 million U.S. dollars but it decreased to 31 million U.S. dollars in January-May period of 2000, he explained. Mirzaoglu said the countries can increase bilateral trade to higher levels through mutual effort. ''First we should finalize all the agreements and protocols which will help to form the legal infrastructure for the development of relations, '' he added.

Mirzaoglu suggested forming a Turkish-Yemen Business Council and also said regular participation in business fairs is very important.

Cooperation of free regions and small and medium size enterprises helps to advance trade relations, Mirzaoglu said.

The two countries should determine cooperation fields in trade, economy, technical cooperation, energy, transportation, tourism, health, agriculture, environment and culture, Mirzaoglu said. ''We are open to any proposal from the Yemeni side to develop relations.''

Yemeni Minister Abdulaziz Al Kumaim also expressed willingness to boost economic relations with Turkey and he agreed that a business council should be formed.

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