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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-11-01Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 1 NOVEMBER 2000 Wednesday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 1, 2000. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)IRANIAN PLANE LANDS IN DIYARBAKIRAn Iranian plane which attempted to violate the air space of Turkey, landed in Diyarbakir Airport as the four F-16s of Turkey warned the crew of the plane to do so. Before this warning, the officials asked the crew of the plane to which nation the plane had belonged to, and the type of the cargo it was carrying. The crew said that the plane was a commercial one with Iranian flag. With this answer the authorities asked the crew of the plane to land in Diyarbakir airport. The plane which was going to Damascus from Tehran was suspected of carrying military equipment. The plane took off after being searched. TOFAS SETS UP A STAND WORTH OF 1 TRILLION TL FOR AUTOSHOW 2000 MILLIYET (LIBERAL)SURPRISING TELEPHONE CALL TO DEMIRELThe U.S. State Secretary Madeleine Albright called the ninth President Suleyman Demirel yesterday at 17.00 local time. Albright conveyed a request of the U.S. President Bill Clinton to Demirel. The U.S. wanted Demirel to take part in the international delegation which will meet with the concerned sides in the Middle East to end their clash. Statesmen which have international experience will be in the delegation. TURKEY'S DI PIETROS SABAH (LIBERAL)HEZBOLLAH OPERATION IN DIYARBAKIRSecurity forces captured Mehmet Sudan, and other 12 members of the terrorist Hezbollah organization. Mehmet Sudan is the current leader of Hezbollah, and took over his position from Huseyin Velioglu, who was killed after an operation last year. During their interrogation, Sudan and the others said that they were planning an assasination against Gaffar Okan, the Chief of Police in southeastern Diyarbakir province. The terrorists also showed the places of the houses and the store houses belonging to Hezbollah. ANAP FAVOURS A LIMITED AMNESTY CUMHURIYET (LEFT)NEW OPERATION AGAINST HEZBOLLAHA total of 18 members of the terrorist Hezbollah organization were captured in operations in Istanbul. Mehmet Sudan, the current head of the terrorist organization, and four other leading names of the organization were among the detainees. Security forces captured the terrorists after raiding a house in Kartal district of Istanbul. Sudan and the other terrorists were sent to Diyarbakir after being interrogated in Istanbul. COMPROMISE BETWEEN ANKARA AND ATHENS 11 MORE KHKs CANCELLED The Constitutional Court cancelled 11 decrees having the force of law (KHKs) which were adopted under the abolished Authority Law No. 4588. Hasim Kilic, the Acting Chairman of the Consitutional Court, said the decisions will enter into force after six months following its publication in the Official Gazette. Kilic said they rejected the request of stopping the execution of the cancelled KHKs. The Constitutional Court has abolished 17 KHKs so far. RADIKAL (LEFT)GREEK FRIEND AT THE OTHER SIDE OF AEGEANElitasula Semoiloglu, who immigrated to Greece from Istanbul, when she was thirteen, wants to further improve the friendship and trade relations between the two countries. Semoiloglu has been importing the Turkish textile products, although the fanatic Greeks reacted her trade relations with Turkey. Nowadays, Semoiloglu is trying to establish an association in Greece with other Greek women. The ultimate aim of this association is to build a rest home in Istanbul, and to strengthen the relations between the two countries. AIR POLLUTION IN YATAGAN YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)AIR POLLUTION IN YATAGANThe three units of the Yatagan Thermic Power Station was closed down on Tuesday as the air pollution in Yatagan township of Aegean Mugla province had exceeded the limits. People who reacted to the pollution as it began to threaten the health of citizens, called on the officials to take required measures. Hasmet Isik, the Yatagan Mayor, said, ''the purification center was not opened for years. We will go on hunger strike if a solution can not be found.'' DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES FROM ANKARA In the letter, President Sezer expressed the uneasiness Turkey felt over the resolution, and gave the message that Turkish-French relations would be damaged a lot in case the resolution is adopted. TURKIYE (RIGHT)25,000 PETITIONS FOR AMNESTYJustice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk sent nearly 25,000 petitions, regarded with the demands for amnesty, to the Parliamentary Speaker's Office to do what was required. Parliamentary Speaker's Office will send the petitions in question to the Justice Commission, where the amnesty issue would be discussed. DAMASCUS EXTENDS OLIVE BRANCH Turkish-Syrian relations enter into a development process with the new approach brought by Bashar Assad, who came to the ruling following the death of Hafez Assad. Khaddam will also meet with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi. ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)150 STUDENTS POISONEDA total of 150 students were poisoned as they had cake and fruit juice during the lunch break in Hendek township of Marmara Sakarya province, on Tuesday. Ergun Gungor, the Governor of Hendek said 150 students out of 177 were poisoned from the food given in the lunch break. DENKTAS GOES TO GENEVA HOPELESSLY The fifth round of proximity talks are envisaged to take place between November 1 and 10. President Denktas and Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot side, have not come together since the face-to-face meeting in Troutbeck near New York in July 1997. [02] ASHRAWI, PALESTINIAN SPOKESMAN, SAYS THEY WELCOME PROPOSAL OF FOREIGN MINISTER CEM TO PLAY THE ROLE OF MEDIATOR IN MIDDLE EAST PEACEWASHINGTON D.C., Nov 1 (A.A) - Hannan Ashrawi, the Spokesman of Palestine, said on Wednesday that Turkey could do many things to support peace in the Middle East. Addressing a conference titled ''Al-Aqsa Intifada: Palestinian Perspective,'' Ashrawi said Turkey could undertake an active role in the Middle East and in economic and military cooperation relations with Israel, which the U.S. strongly supported. Ashrawi said, Turkey, being a regional player, could re-gain its position in Palestine and Arab would.Pointing out that Turkey itself would decide for the role it would play in the region, Ashrawi said they welcomed the proposal of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem for Turkey to play the role of mediator or similar roles in the peace process. Ashrawi said Turkey was a Moslem and secular country, and a regional power. Ashrawi said he wanted to define Turkey's role in the region again not only within the framework of its relations with Europe, but also within the Middle East realities, and relations with its Arab neighbours and historical allies. Ashrawi said he expected Turkey to be a country which brings more cooperation and harmonization, and also expressed hope that Turkey would play a constructive role in the peace process. Ashrawi, who also mentioned Turkey's water purchase to Israel, said he earlier met with a Turkish delegation and asked why Turkey did not donate some of the water to Palestine while transporting water to Israel. Ashrawi said he also told the Turkish delegation that Israel stole the water of Palestine and left them without water, and later sell the water to them with market prices. [03] SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS ON INTERNET-MORE THAN ONE MILLION PEOPLE VISIT 17 WEB PAGESIN WHICH SO-CALLED GENOCIDE TAKEN UP ANKARA, Nov 1 (A.A) - More than one million people visited 17 separate web pages which were opened on the internet following the allegation of so- called genocide on Armenians. A total of 30 percent of the visits to these pages are from the U.S. The resolution on the so-called genocide on Armenians, which was brought to the agenda of the U.S. House of Representatives but later cancelled, was also discussed in various web pages on Internet. Here are the web pages where views regarding the issue are discussed. Site Addresshttp://www.turkishforum.comhttp://www.ermenisorunu.gen.tr http://www.mfa.gov.tr/ http://www.members.tripod.com/ armanian-murderers http://www.atam.gov.tr http://www.ataa.org/ http://www.ftaa.com/ http://www.turkey.org http://www.turant.com/ http://www.kultur.gov.tr http://www.world.std.com/%7Etacs/ http://www.atahouston.org http://www.avsam.org/ http://www.turk-info.de/ http://www.angelfire.com/ma2/ermeni/ http://www.emu.edu.tr/inaf/ http://www.armenianterror.com/ [04] FINDINGS OF TROIA AND ARTEMIS EXHIBITED IN EUROPEANKARA - The artifacts belonging to the Troia ancient city, and Artemis Temple, will be exhibited in Austria, and Germany in 2001.The artifacts of the Troia ancient city will be displayed in three cities of Germany in 2001, under the scope of ''Dream and Reality'', while the artifacts of the Artemis Temple will be exhibited in Austria under the scope of ''Artemission''. ''Dreams and Realities'' exhibition will be first held in Sttutgart between March 17 and June 17. The exhibition will also be held in Braunschweig between July 14 and October 14, and in Bonn between November 16 and February 12, 2002. The artifacts which will be displayed in this exhibition will be selected among the artifacts in Istanbul Archeology Museum, and other museums. Meanwhile, the ''Artemission'' exhibition which will be opened in Vienna in October 2001, will remain open till January 2002. [05] TOTAL OF 41 ORGANIZATIONS IN TRNC FLY PIGEONS FOR PEACELEFKOSA - A total of 41 organizations in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) flied on Wednesday pigeons for peace.The organizations including the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the Patriotic Unity Movement (YBH), freed pigeons at Ledra Palace Border Gate wishing peace to be ensured on Cyprus as soon as possible. Ahmet Barcin, the Chairman of Turkish Cypriot Secondary School Teachers Union, called on the leaders representing the two sides on Cyprus to behave in common sense during the fifth round of Cyprus proximity talks. Barcin said that they want a lasting peace on Cyprus. Barcin added that they are in favour of the continuation of the talks in the form of face-to-face. [06] STATE MINISTER GUREL IN GERMANY-GUREL: ''EUROPEANS SHOULD ARRANGE THEIR CULTURAL POLICIESIN A WAY THAT WILL OVERCOME THE RACIST TENDENCIES'' BERLIN - State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, who continues contacts in Germany, said on Wednesday that racism was a tendency increasing not only in Germany and throughout the whole Europe. He said, ''this is a dangerous tendency. Europeans should arrange their cultural policies in a way that will overcome this tendency.'' Addressing a news conference which he staged with Osman Koruturk, Turkey's Ambassador to Germany, Gurel said important issues have been brought to the agenda during his contacts, adding that harmonization of the Turkish citizens to the community was the most important one. Gurel pointed out that Turkish citizens living in Germany should be individuals who contribute to the society with their efforts, adding that, ''however, the harmonization should not mean assimilation or depriving off the identity. Our citizens should preserve their cultural identities.'' Responding to a question about gradually growing racist tendencies and xenophobia, Gurel said, ''racism is a tendency which increases throughout the whole Europe, not only in Germany.'' Gurel pointed out that Germans was a nation which experienced great sufferings and caused sufferings for others throughout their history, and noted that long term culture policies would bring great benefits to them. Stressing that they reduced the problems to the minimum regarded with the ''Pink Card,'' which were distributed to facilitate denaturalization proceedings in order to get German citizenship. Gurel said they wanted Turkish children living in Germany to speak Turkish well, and noted that it was impossible to get better education before learning the mother tongue. ''We have concerns regarding the quality of education in Germany on the issue. We will continue our talks to find a solution to the problems,'' Gurel stressed. Speaking about the religion courses given in some German schools, Gurel said, ''we make warnings that Turkey is different from the other Moslem countries regarding the education of Islam. We try to prevent the fundamentalists to give lessons. We tell the German officials that fundamentalist movement could form a threat also against Germany.'' Gurel is scheduled to meet with German Interior Ministry Otto Schily, and will meet with the Turkish academicians and student representatives. [07] FOREIGN SHIPS TO BE REQUIRED TO RENT TUG BOAT WHILEPASSING FROM TURKISH STRAITSISTANBUL - State Minister Ramazan Mirzaoglu in charge of maritime said on Wednesday that it would be obligatory to rent a tug boat for foreign ships while passing through the Turkish straits for safety reasons. Mirzaoglu told the A.A that the Istanbul Strait which is 35 kilometers long is the world's most risky strait. He explained that there are 12 turns on the strait where ships have to change their course 90 degrees. Noting that even the world's most modern ships can have technical failures such as locked engine or wheel, Mirzaoglu said noone can guarantee that these won't happen during the passage. ''Our straits are open to international navigation, however these ships have to take safety measures. We cannot allow tankers weighing 100,000 tons to pass through our straits without a tug boat. This would be an unacceptable mistake,'' Mirzaoglu commented. Maritime Undersecretariat has started working to pass a legal regulation that would not allow tankers carrying petroleum or petroleum by-products or heavy ships without hiring a tugboat. International maritime community will be informed about this regulation once this decision is approved. Mirzaoglu stated that sufficient number of tug boats are available at the Coast Guard Security and Ship Rescue General Directorate. He said that he hoped all circles especially the International Maritime Organization would support this decision. [08] ENERGY MINISTER ERSUMER SAYS THEY WANT TO FORM A LESS CENTRALISTAND FREER ENERGY SECTORISTANBUL - Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer said on Wednesday that Turkey's energy need is growing rapidly parallel to industrialization and economic growth, however, domestic sources fail to meet this demand which is making Turkey a big importer of energy. Speaking at the 4th Annual Turkey Energy Industry Forum, Ersumer said Turkey's electric energy demand increased by 8.5 percent in the last 20 years. He explained that electric energy investments remained insufficient since a legal frame was not formed between 1990 and 1997. Since the financial cost of the required investments is too high, Ersumer said it is not possible to implement these projects using public financial sources. ''We have started intensive works to start projects using several different models of financing in order to draw both domestic and foreign capital to electric energy sector,'' he stated. Turkey's electric energy demand is expected to increase 8-10 percent annually in early 2000's, Ersumer remarked and indicated that the total established electric energy power should be doubled by 2010 to meet this demand. In the last two years, Ersumer went on to say, more than half of the production power plants which started operation have been Turkish private sector investments. Foreign investments, on the other hand, have not reached the desired level due to legal limitations, he elaborated. Ersumer said they are aiming for legal amendments in order to make the investments more attractive for both Turkish and foreign private sector. ''The international arbitration which was regarded as the biggest obstacle by foreign creditors was resolved by a constitutional amendment,'' he also noted. Ersumer said it is important for his ministry to form a less centralist and freer electricity sector. ''It is our biggest goal to use our energy resources more cleverly, minimize their negative effects, and varify energy services through additional technologies,'' he added. [09] IRANIAN PLANE LANDED AT DIYARBAKIR AIRPORTUPON DEMAND OF TURKISH AUTHORITIES-TURKEY'S CONSUL TO IRAN SUMMONED TO IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY TEHRAN - Bulent Meric, the Turkish Consul to Iran, was summoned on Wednesday to the Iranian Foreign Ministry because of the Iranian plane which landed at Diyarbakir Airport upon the demand of the Turkish authorities. Following the meeting, Meric told the A.A correspondent that he met with Celaleddin Nemini, the Chairman of Western Asia Desk of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, on Wednesday morning. Meric said that Nemini told him that they feel deep sorrow and uneasiness about this incident. Nemini accepted that Turkey has the right to control in accordance with the international conventions, Meric noted. Meric stated that Nemini said that they feel uneasy about Turkey's conducting such searchs very often. Meric said that he told Nemini that Iranian side's not having cooperation led to the escalation of the tension. The wrong stance of the pilot escalated the incident on Tuesday, Meric noted. Meric stated that the pilot had earlier returned by rejecting to land at the Diyarbakir airport and that then, he entered into Turkey's airspace again and accepted to land at the Diyarbakir airport. He told Nemini during the meeting that there is a lack of confidence between the two countries, Meric said, adding that he also emphasized that Iran does not want to make cooperation to overcome this lack of confidence. The Iranian plane which was on the way from Tehran to Damascus with 155 passangers, landed in southern Diyarbakır province upon the demand of Turkish authorities on Tuesday. The plane was searched and then it was permitted to take off. Officials said that they can search planes if they are suspicious of the planes for carrying military equipment and weapons according to an agreement reached with Iran. [10] EDIRNE AND EVROS GOVERNORS DISCUSS PROJECT SUPPORTED BY EUKIPOS - Edirne Governor Fahri Yucel and the accompanying delegation started on Wednesday their contacts with a delegation headed by Dolios Glargos, the Governor of Evros city of Greece.The two delegations are discussing the projects regarding the assistance that the European Union (EU) extends to the candidate countries. Glorgos said that the relations between the two countries have further improved following the devastating earthquakes in both countries. The EU sent money to Turkey for the Interreg program for the first time, Glorgos noted. Glorgos stated that this indicates how much they work for the region and that their initiatives will continue. The Interreg program will be further improved, Glorgos added. Yucel said that the regional initiatives will be beneficial for the improvement of the relations between the two countries. The relations among the universities will be an example for the Interreg, Yucel noted. Yucel stated that he believes that the relations between the two nations will become warmer by these initiatives. A press statement is expected to be released in the end of the meeting. [11] SWEDISH AMBASSADRESS TO TURKEY: ''TURKEYSHOULD ENTER THE EU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE''DIYARBAKIR - Swedish Ambassadress to Turkey Marianne Andersson said on Wednesday that Turkey should enter the European Union (EU) as soon as possible. An eight-person delegation comprising members of several political parties at the Swedish Parliament arrived in southeastern province of Diyarbakir to hold several contacts. The Swedish delegation headed by Andersson visited Diyarbakir Mayor Feridun Celik. Speaking to reporters before the meeting, Andersson said that they knew that several things in Turkey had changed and they had come to Diyarbakir to hold several contacts. Stating that they met with the Governor and other officials during their visit to eastern province of Tunceli, Andersson said that terrorism had been eradicated in the region and Turkey had recorded progress in its struggle against terrorism. ''However, we saw that a great number of people are unemployed in the region,'' she said. ''We want to fulfil our responsibilities to help Turkey enter the EU. Turkey should enter the EU as soon as possible. We saw that the tension in the region eased and this is a promising development. We want Turkey be a EU full-member after completing economic and legal reforms. We are friends of Turkey and we want to see Turkey in the EU. Actually, we want this more than Turkey. We want Turkey to lift the emergency rule,'' Andersson said. Diyarbakir Mayor Celik said that he was pleased with the visit of the Swedish delegation and that Turkey was expending efforts to integrate with Europe. [12] TURKEY-MIDDLE EAST CRISIS (1)-PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY YASEEN: ''AS FAR AS I KNOWMEMBERSHIP OF DEMIREL TO THE COMMITTEE HAS BEEN APPROVED'' ANKARA - The Palestinian Ambassador to Turkey Fouad Yaseen said on Wednesday that the ninth President Suleyman Demirel's membership to the fact-finding committee which was planned to be formed regarding the Middle East crisis had been approved. Staging a press conference, Yaseen said, ''as far as I know membership of Demirel to this committee has been approved.'' Stating that the fact-finding committee couldn't have more than seven members, Yaseen said that the ninth President of Turkey Suleyman Demirel, former U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher, former South African President Nelson Mandela and U.S. Senator George Mitchell were among the proposed names for membership to the fact-finding committee. When asked what they expected from the fact-finding committee, Yaseen said, ''even the name of the committee suffices to explain our expectations. The committee will investigate the facts and bring to light the people responsible for the incidents. It is very important to reveal the facts although the committee does not have the authority to punish someone.'' (To be continued) [13] TURKEY-MIDDLE EAST CRISIS (2)-PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY YASEEN SAYS ISRAEL'S ACTING AGAINSTU.N. SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS IS A CHALLENGE TO INTERNATIONAL LEGITIMACY OF THE U.N. ANKARA - Palestinian Ambassador to Turkey Fouad Yaseen said on Wednesday that Israel which was the only state founded in accordance with a United Nations (U.N.) Resolution was not abiding by some resolutions of the U.N. Security Council about the Middle East issue. This is a challenge to international legitimacy of the U.N., he said. Staging a press conference, Yaseen recalled that Israel had been founded in accordance with the U.N. Security Council's Resolution No:181, defending the view that Israel was currently not abiding by some resolutions of the U.N. Security Council, harming international legitimacy of the U.N. Security Council. Accusing the Israeli officials of not being realistic and not taking lessons from their own history, Yaseen said, ''how can the current actions of a state which complains about genocide be explained? Young and innocent people are losing their lives. Israel should have taken lessons from its own history. We expect Israel to act in accordance with the international laws and resolutions of the U.N. Security Council.'' Responding to a question, Yaseen said that the United States administration had been disappointed to some extent as the Summit at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh had failed to bring definite results. Yaseen commented that the United States wanted to reduce the tension in the Middle East but it was making these efforts over a wrong path. Stating that the U.S. was making recommendations to the Palestinian side to cease the clashes, Yaseen said the United States requests the wrong side to calm the tension, adding the shooting side should be stopped. Stressing that peace in the Middle East would be beneficial for not only Palestine but also all of the states in the region, Yaseen said that they expected Turkey to persuade Israel that peace would serve interests of all people in the region. Responding to another question, Yaseen said that they were the side which proposed Suleyman Demirel's membership to the fact-finding committee.
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