Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-09-20

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NEWS

20 SEPTEMBER 2000

Wednesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] TOURISTS INTERESTED IN HAND-MADE CARPETS OF MILAS AND BODRUM

[03] ''JITNEY'' PLANES PROJECT TO BE IMPLEMENTED TO REVIVE TOURISM

[04] PROXIMITY TALKS ON CYPRUS

[05] GAZIANTEP EXPORTS 52.109 MILLION USD MACHINE-MADE CARPET IN EIGHT MONTHS

[06] STATE MINISTER MUSTAFA YILMAZ:

[07] 2000 SYDNEY SUMMER OLYMPICS

[08] KARS-TBILISI RAILWAY PROJECT

[09] TURKEY'S RATING

[10] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM CONTINUES CONTACTS IN BRUSSELS

[11] TTSO CHAIRMAN EREN:

[12] EARTHQUAKE RESEARCH CENTRE TO BE ESTABLISHED IN IGDIR

[13] TRNC CABINET MEETING

[14] ENERGY SECTOR

[15] NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU IN BAKU

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

TURKISH-SWISS BUSINESS COUNCIL FORMED
Turkish-Swiss Business Council was formed under the umbrella of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK). Mustafa Koc, the Acting Chairman of Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD), said that in accordance with the World Trade Organization's (WTO) report, Turkey is among the countries which have the heighest growth potential together with China, Brazil, India, Mexico, Argentina, and Singapore. David Syz, the Swiss Economy and Foreign Trade Undersecretary, said that Turkey carries importance for Switzerland.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

YALOVA ROCKED BY EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 3.6
A minor earthquake rocked Yalova province. The Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Center and Seismology Institute said that the earthquake, the epicenter of which was Yalova and the magnitude of which was 3.6 on the Richter scale, was recorded at 12.22 p.m. The earthquake was also felt in Istanbul and its surrounding.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

SALE OF PETKIM TO TAKE START
Haluk Buyukbas, the Deputy Chairman of Privatization Administration Board, said that the first step for the privatization of Petro-chemicals Holding Inc (PETKIM) will be taken soon and that the public sale of Turkish Oil Refineries Inc. (TUPRAS) may be held in the second quarter of 2001. Buyukbas noted that the privatization of Petrol Ofisi Corp. (POAS) may be held in the fourth quarter of 2001.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Problem erupted between Turkey and Swiss Sulzer Hydro, in financial issues. The Swiss company is getting prepared to put forward a ''political condition, '' which will contradict with Turkey's independence. Annulment of the decree of the Council of Ministers which gave authority to the Swill company, is on the agenda.

ERSUMER COMPLETES SAVINGS PACKAGE
Turkey, who is face to face with energy shortage because of lack of planning, plans to purchase electricity from the Russian Federation. A protocol, regarding electricity sale, is expected to be signed during the scheduled visit of Mihail Kasyanov, the Russian Prime Minister, to Turkey in October 23-25.

Ersumer said 20-30 million kilowatt/hour savings can be made if the working hours are between 08:00-17:00, and 08:00-16:00.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

FM CEM IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE EP
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem started persuasion tours in the European Parliament (EP), which directed the most criticisms to Ankara in human rights and democratization following the Helsinki Summit, when Turkey's candidacy was disclosed.

Cem met with European Parliament Turkey rapporteur Philippe Morillon and Daniel Cohn-Bendit, the Co-Chairman of Joint Parliament Commission, which maintains the dialogue between the EP and the Turkish parliament. Cem also visited European Parliament's Foreign Relations Commission Chairman Elmar Brok and the EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

FP LEADER KUTAN: ''ARTICLE 312 CAN BE CHANGED WITHOUT THE MHP''
Recai Kutan, the leader of the Virtue Party (FP), said that the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) can either oppose to or be impartial against the amendment to the Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). Kutan said that this article can be changed in this situation.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

ARTISTS ARE THE PIONEERS OF PEACE BRIDGE
Margaritis Tzimas, Mayor of the Drama city of Greece who visited Urgup to attend film festival staged in Urgup, pointed out that such activities are very important in improvement of friendly relations between Turkey and Greece. Tzimas stated that he believes such activities will be a window opening for peace and friendship of the two nations.

He dreams of having his breakfast with his Turkish friends one day, discussing issues such as education and culture with his Turkish friends, and the most important, taking joint decisions on establishment of world peace together, Tzimas stressed.

Tzimas said that he belives all his dreams will come true eventually.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Turkish side and the World Bank side had different opinions also about the criteria for the support to farmers regarding the issue of ''Direct Income Support''. World Bank officials believed that the support should be extended according to the ''area of the arable field'' while the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ministry officials defended that the support should be evaluated within scope of the ''assets of the enterprise, amount of production, number of cattle and general structure of the economy'', sources said.

TUZMEN PRAISES EXPORTERS
Kursad Tuzmen, the Foreign Trade Undersecretary, praised the exporters and noted that they really worked very hard under difficult conditions.

Speaking at a panel discussion on ''Yesterday, Today and Future of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Turkey'' held by the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development and Encouragement Management Directorate (KOSGEB) and National Productivity Center, Tuzmen responded to the questions of reporters about fictitious export. Tuzmen defended the honest exporters and noted that they will always support the real exporters.

DENKTAS:ALL THESE ARE IMAGINARY
Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said that the map, proposals and the arrangements which appeared in the Greek Cypriot media have not been submitted to them, adding that those were not discussed between the U.N. and the Turkish side. Denktas, speaking about the news reports related with the map, said, 'all these are the imagination of Clerides.''

[02] TOURISTS INTERESTED IN HAND-MADE CARPETS OF MILAS AND BODRUM

Officials of companies which sell the hand-made carpets in Milas and Bodrum townships told A.A correspondent on Wednesday that some of the high-quality carpets produced in the villages are exported and some are sold to the local and foreign tourists visiting the region.

The officials said that foreign currency equivalent to 500 billion Turkish liras (TL) is obtained from the sale and export of the carpets made by using madders.

A total of three thousand cubic metres of hand-made carpets are produced around Mugla province, the officials noted, adding that almost one third of these carpets are exported.

The officials added that they will continue to open carpet-making courses to increase the number of carpets produced by traditional methods.

[03] ''JITNEY'' PLANES PROJECT TO BE IMPLEMENTED TO REVIVE TOURISM

Kursat Baskirt, the Chairman of Turkish-American Businessmen's Association's Antalya Branch, told A.A correspondent on Wednesday that they plan to put into effect the project for arranging ''jitney'' flights in the tourism season of 2001.

Baskirt said that tens of thousands of small planes are used rantingly in transportation in the U.S.

''These are planes carrying six to 40 people. We think of utilizing these planes in tourism. The tourists who come to Antalya by these planes can fly to Cappadocia and Izmir the same day. I believe tourism will revive as transportation becomes easier,'' Baskirt also said.

Baskirt noted that the U.S. businessmen expressed positive ideas about the project in the pre-meetings.

''A U.S. delegation composed of 40 people will come to Turkey between October 23 and 25. Following this visit, Turkish businessmen will go to the U.S. in November. The project will be reviewed in a more comprehensive way in these meetings. The Turkish and U.S. companies which want to carry out the project will have the opportunity to learn more about each other,'' Baskirt said.

Baskirt stated that the ''jitney'' planes will be more reasonable than the big planes.

Reminding A.A correspondent that Turkey and the U.S. signed ''free horizons'' agreement last year, Baskirt added that he does not think any problems will occur in the implementation of the project.

[04] PROXIMITY TALKS ON CYPRUS

Sources, who asked not to be identified, pointed out that the sides were reluctant to stay in New York for a long time as rapid development could not be recorded in talks. The sources claimed that the talks could be interrupted this weekend or toward the end of next weekweekend.

The U.N. sources at the beginning of the fourth round of talks, pointed out that the talks might continue till October 5.

The Turkish and Greek Cypriot administrators, who will return to the Island after the talks, will evaluate the results obtained on the fourth round.

The Greek Cypriot sources claimed that the U.N. will hand in a map to the sides showing the rate of the territory that will be given to the Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides, before they leave New York.

However, Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), pointed out many times that they would not negotiate territorial issues before sovereignty rights were recognized.

Meawhile, it was observed that the leaders continued their talks in the restaurants. Denktas on Tuesday had a lunch with Alfred Moses, the U.S. President Bill Clinton's Special Envoy to Cyprus. Denktas will have his lunch with Alvaro de Soto, the Cyprus Special Envoy of Kofi Annan, the U.N. Secretary General, on Wednesday.

Similarly, Glafcos Clerides, the Greek Cypriot leader, came together with Moses at a lunch.

Korkmaz Haktanir, Turkey's Ambassador to London and the former Foreign Ministry Undersecretary, who leads the Turkish delegation, separately met with special envoys of Russia and Britain to Cyprus, Vladimir Cizov, and Sir David Hannay.

Diplomatic sources said Haktanir also met with Alvaro de Soto.

[05] GAZIANTEP EXPORTS 52.109 MILLION USD MACHINE-MADE CARPET IN EIGHT MONTHS

Machine-made carpets, worth of 36.4 million U.S. dollars, were exported from Gaziantep in the same period of last year.

The share of the machine-made carpet in region's total export has increased from 10.2 percent to 14.7 percent in the first eight months of 2000, when 1999 figures of the same period are taken into consideration.

The data of the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters Association reveal that the machine-made carpets were mainly exported to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzistan, Uzbekistan, Romania, and Azerbaijan.

In Gaziantep province, where 80 percent of total machine-made carpets of Turkey were produced, there are a total of 3,000 carpet looms with 60 million square-meter weaving capacity.

[06] STATE MINISTER MUSTAFA YILMAZ:

Yilmaz told A.A correspondent that the Council of Ministers had decided to conclude the GAP until 2010.

''On one hand, we are limiting the investments to better the economy, and on the other hand, we try to reach the target. The GAP cannot be fulfilled until 2010 with the current appropriations. But, we hope Turkey's economy will be bettered soon and the money given to interests will be transferred to investments. If we take significant steps in domestic borrowing, we will not have any problems like not concluding the GAP in 2010,'' Yilmaz said.

Yilmaz noted that the foreigners are always interested in the project and that there are people with both good will and bad intentions.

''People having the good will try to help the preservation of historical places which remained under the waters but those with bad intentions try to prevent investments in Turkey. A U.S. foundation grants thousands of U.S. dollars to save the ancient Zeugma site. Some foreigners still have doubts whether or not to invest in Turkey. I hope we will overcome these problems, '' Yilmaz said.

Yilmaz stated that tender for the purchase of 10 drilling machines worth of five billion U.S. dollars will be made within three or five days.

These machines will be used for drilling potable water in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions, Yilmaz added.

[07] 2000 SYDNEY SUMMER OLYMPICS

Turkish National Women's Archery Team will take on Australia in olympic shootings event.

Derya Erke of Turkey will swim women's 200 metres backstroke while Agasi Agaguloglu, competing in 54 kg boxing, will take on Cermeno Nehomar of Venezuella.

Bulent Ulusoy, competing in 67 kg boxing, will take on with Donte Craig of the U.S.

Ali Kemal Tufekci will compete in men's yachting laser event while Ertugrul Icingir will compete in men's third and fourth round and mistral races.

Ilknur Akdogan of Turkey will compete in seventh and eight races in women's yachting event.

[08] KARS-TBILISI RAILWAY PROJECT

Relations of the two countries in the field of transportation will also be discussed during the meeting, and implementation of Kars-Tbilisi Railway Project soon will be taken up.

With the implementation of the project which will cost approximately 600 million U.S. dollars, Caucasus and Central Asian railway traffic, which skips to Russian and Iranian railways, will pass via Turkey.

The railway will form an alternative to the other transportation corridors as it is shorter than the others. The railway is also expected to contribute to the improvement of trade with the countries of the region.

Also, with the project, a direct railway line will be provided between Caucasian-Central Asian and Turkish Republics, which have the world's biggest energy reserves.

The project aims to enliven historical Silk Road, and improve bilateral trade between Turkey and Georgia.

Construction of the railway line in Turkish section will cost 400 million U.S. dollars, and the part in Georgia will cost 200 million U.S. dollars.

[09] TURKEY'S RATING

In accordance with the Moody's analysis on Turkey's economy, the decreasing interest rates and the increase in the value of Turkish Lira (TL) are the basic reasons for the increase in current balance deficit which has significant importance for the success of the economic programme.

The analysis said that the measures that will be taken to control the current balance deficit have importance for Turkey's rating.

The analysis emphasized that Turkey's rating can be increased in a short time and that the necessary criteria are being watched for this increase.

Stating that Moody's does not attribute so much importance to Turkey's reaching or not reaching the macro-economic targets, the Moody's officials said that stability in the economic programme and the support extended to this programme are more important.

Current balance, inflation, internal and external borrowing are issues that Moody's closely follow.

Moody's, which also attributes importance to the political stability, is expected to announce Turkey's rating in November after learning the figures for the budgets of 2001 and exchanging ideas with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Moody's did not change Turkey's rating which was ''B1'' last November while it changed Turkey's economic sight from ''stable'' to ''positive.''

Meanwhile, Kristin Lindow was appointed as new Moody's Turkey analyst.

A Moody's delegation including David Levey and Kristin Lindow will visit Turkey in the possible shortest time to watch the developments marked in Turkey's economy.

After holding contacts with the officials of the Treasury Undersecretary, Central Bank, Finance Ministry, and private banks, the Moody's delegation will return to New York.

[10] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM CONTINUES CONTACTS IN BRUSSELS

Cem later met with Paul Lanoye and Heidi Anelli Hautala, the Co-Chairperson of the Greens Group.

Speaking to the press in Brussels, Cem said there was lack of dialogue with the EP, adding that, efforts should be exerted to ''understand and to convey.''

Cem is scheduled to meet with Hans Gert Pottering, the Chairman of the Christian Democrat Group, and Patricx Cox, the Chairman of the Liberal Group, later in the day.

Wednesday contacts of Cem will end with his meeting and dinner with Guenter Verheugen, the EU Commissioner responsible for enlargement.

[11] TTSO CHAIRMAN EREN:

Eren issued a written statement in which he said that Trabzon should utilize its strategic and geographical position in its relations with foreign markets in its region.

This utilization can be achieved by the businessmen of Trabzon and the support of the state, Eren noted.

Eren stated that to this end, his chamber aims at holding contacts with the countries having commercial possibilities and improving the trade.

A delegation from Trabzon which was composed of 26 people visited Kiev, Ukraine, Eren stressed.

Eren emphasized that they held contacts with 24 Ukranian businessmen and that these businessmen export and import agricultural products, furniture, automobiles, kitchen tools and plastics.

Number of Turkish companies investing in Ukraine was 205 as of July 1, Eren said, adding that their total trade volume with Ukraine was 31.5 million U.S. dollars.

[12] EARTHQUAKE RESEARCH CENTRE TO BE ESTABLISHED IN IGDIR

Mustafa Tamer, the Governor of Igdir, emphasized Wednesday that Igdir was on an earthquake-prone belt, and that the fault lines would be examined in the research centre.

Tamer noted that they would warn people to build houses and business places that would endure to quake.

Meanwhile, Salih Bayraktutan, the Director of the Ataturk University Earthquake Research Centre, pointed out that Igdir was on the earthquake prone-belt and noted that ''Igdir is on the fault line of Iran, Nahcevan, and Armenia. We will examine the activities in the earthquake centre.''

[13] TRNC CABINET MEETING

Speaking before the meeting, Eroglu said that the Economic Package and the letter of intent sent to Ankara in this framework will be re-evaluated in the meeting.

Eroglu said that the bureaucrats who prepared the package were invited to Ankara, adding three undersecretaries will leave from the TRNC today.

''We will determine a strategy before going to Ankara in today's meeting,'' said Eroglu. When asked if had a political appointment in Ankara, Eroglu said that ''no, there is no such invitation. A common evaluation will be made in Ankara among technical delegations. Some of the parts we wrote in the letter of intent need to be explained.''

Responding to a question, Eroglu said that no satisfying proposal came from the five banks except Endustri Bank which were taken under state control due to financial crisis.

''There are some proposals, but they are not appropriate or applicable proposals. Everestbank, for instance wants more money from the state,'' said Eroglu and noted that if these banks bring proposals, they will be taken into consideration.

Eroglu said that Elmas Guzelyurtlu, the owner of Everestbank escaped from the TRNC through illegal ways, adding that TRNC does not have an agreement of extradition of criminals with the countries where Guzelyurtlu took shelter. The liquidation of the banks is not at the agenda of the cabinet, he added.

[14] ENERGY SECTOR

Savings measures that are planned to be taken to prevent any possible electricity shortage in the winter and effects of the pressures of the increases in fuel oil prices especially including liquified petroleum gas.

Sources said on Wednesday that Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer's proposal package aimed at energy savings included several measures like change in working hours and decrease in electricity usage in advertisement boards on the streets and business places.

Turkey can make a 20-30 million kwh savings a month if the working hours are changed from 08-17 hours to 08-16 hours by limiting the lunch break.

Turkey can make a 2.5 million kwh savings a day if the electricity usage in street lamps is restricted. The savings through limitation of advertisement boards is estimated to be 50 million kwh a month.

As a result of the measures to prevent lightening of industrial facilities and operation of the idling machines, there can be a 50 million kwh savings in the industry.

Control of loss electricity and illegal electricity usage and usage of halogenous fluorescent lamps will mean a 10-15 million savings a day.

Playing the soccer matches at noon and usage of alternative sources in heating are among the mesaures.

If the measures are put into practice, the Ministry will seek help from the chambers of commerce, industry and profession.

Necessary measures will be taken to prevent unnecessary electricity usage in private sector but without any cut in electricity usage for production.

Prohibition of decorative lightening on the walls of historical and touristic places, official departments, municipalities and mosques is among the measures.

In addition to these measures, a 45 million cubic meters of supplementary natural gas can be requested from Russia.

Increase in purchase of electricity from Russia, Georgia and Bulgaria is also on the agenda.

[15] NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU IN BAKU

Cakmakoglu was welcomed by Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Kadri Ecvet Tezcan and other high ranking officials at Bine Airport.

Cakmakoglu who will sign ''Defense Industry Cooperation Agreement'' in Azerbaijan, will also visit the Military Cooperation and Coordination Council and participate in the reception that will be hosted by the Turkish Embassy in his honour.

Cakmakoglu who will stay for three days in Baku, is also expected to attend the dinner that will be hosted by Abiyev in his honour.

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