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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-11-02Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 2 NOVEMBER 2000 Thursday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 2, 2000. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)ECEVIT SAYS A BETTERMENT PROCESS WILL STARTREGARDING THE BANKING SECTOR Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that big mistakes were made in the banking system in the past and that a betterment process would start regarding the banking sector. Noting that the marriage of the banks should be facilitated, Ecevit said they would make new arrangements regarding the issue. TURKISH GREEK BUSINESS COUNCIL TO CONVENE IN ATHENS KENAN EVREN TO BE FINED FOR POLLUTING THE SEA MILLIYET (LIBERAL)IF CITIZENS DO NOT HAVE TAX NUMBER, TRANSACTIONS WILL NOT BE MADEThe citizens cannot hold transactions in the banks if they do not have a tax number as of 2001. The state will put into force the most efficient system to investigate the money sources. Tax number will be required for every transaction from transfer to opening accounts. The banks will be obliged to see the tax number in the transactions. Thus, all the money flow in the system will be followed. TELEPHONE TRAFFIC FOR DEMIREL SABAH (LIBERAL)LISTEN TO THIS CRY, EUROPEYildiz Namdar, whose husband was killed by the terrorist organization PKK, will attend the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) session in which the capital punishment given to Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization PKK, will be taken up. The Ocalan case will be taken in the ECHR on November 21. The court session will be held in Strasbourg, France. The ECHR accepted the families of the martyrs to join the court session as intervenors. Yildiz Namdar made all Turkey, including Turgut Okyay, the chief judge of the court delegation which tried Ocalan, cry at the court session held on the Imrali Island. KECILI AND GARIPOGLU TAKEN INTO CUSTODY CUMHURIYET (LEFT)ATO DEFINES SEZER, TEMIZEL AND TANTAN AS HOPES FOR COUNTRYSinan Aygun, the Chairman of Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO), said that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan, and Zekeriya Temizel, the Chairman of Banking Regulation and Audit Board, are the people inspiring hope for Turkey. Aygun said that Sezer, Tantan and Temizel are the people who are expected to end corruption in Turkey. DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ DUE TO ATHENS RADIKAL (LEFT)EMLAKBANK GAVE LOANS TO BANKS TRANSFERRED TO FUNDThe total of risky receivables of Emlakbank, which gave letter of guarantee to eight banks that were transferred to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund, is 50 trillion Turkish liras (TL). A total of 28 trillion TL loan given to Yurtbank, 4 trillion TL loan given to two companies of Sumerbank could not be collected. The 20 million U.S. dollar loan given to Bank Ekspres and Korkmaz Yigit group was liquidated by the Fund. The loss of Emlakbank due to the depot account with Turkbank is 1 trilion TL. YATAGAN: POISON OR DARKNESS YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)TWO TURKS KILLED IN EXPLOSION IN MALTESE SHIPThere were two Turkish citizens among the seamen killed in the explosion in an Maltese-flagged ship in the Gulf of Oman. The Turkish Embassy in Oman said that it had been informed that two Turkish seamen had been killed in Tuesday's explosion in the ship operated by the Maersk Sealand maritime company. It said that the dead bodies of Mahmut Yazici and Hasan Akturk, the two Turkish seamen, had been taken to the morgue at the Omani Royal Hospital. The Omani officials said that they believed the explosion had happened when paint the ship was carrying had caught fire. TRANSITION THROUGH STRAITS WITHOUT TUGBOATS IS PROHIBITED TURKIYE (RIGHT)DEMIRALP, UNDERSECRETARY OF TREASURY, SAYSTHEY DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH IMF Selcuk Demiralp, the Undersecretary of Treasury, said the meetings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was continuing without a problem, adding that the IMF delegation was making contacts with the economy bureaucrats in Ankara. Noting that the meetings were continuing well when compared to the meetings of last year, Demiralp said they had a consensus with the IMF on economical matters. TANTAN, MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, SAYS THAT THEY ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)VAT ISSUE IN ENERGY TO BE DISCUSSED IN A SUMMITEnergy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer said that there was not a mainstay for emergence of the Value Added Tax (VAT) in tenders for transfer of operation right of energy production and distribution enterprises. ''The Finance Minister and I will discuss the issue. We bring it to the Council of Ministers in case of a problem,'' he said. Ersumer added, ''there is a law so neither mine nor the Finance Minister's insistence can be beneficial. We fulfil the procedure foreseen by the law. There is a specifications document which was earlier prepared legally and a tender held in accordance with this specifications document and bids submitted according to this specifications document.'' NUMBER OF BANKS TARGETED TO BE DECREASED BY HALF -TOTAL OF 7.1 MILLION BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL Officials of Adiyaman Governorship and Turkish Oil Corp. (TPAO) told A.A correspondent on Thursday 90.1 percent of the oil produced in Turkey are produced from the wells of TPAO and the rest from the wells of private seczor. A total of 23,557 barrels of high gravity oil was obtained from 163 wells in 18 different fields in Adiyaman, Sanliurfa and Kilis a day, the officials said. The TPAO and private companies are producing oil from wells in Adiyaman, Karakus, Cemberlitas, Dogu Firat, Guney Karakus, Kuzey Karakus, Cendere, Besikli, Tokaris, Dogu Besikli, Ikizce, Ozan Sungurlu, Karadut, Caylarbasi, Lilan, Yanankoy, Bozova and Akgun. -TURKISH FILM WINS AN AWARD IN BEIJING INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC The movie which was written and directed by Tulay Sertoz, is about the stories of various people living in eastern Elazig province, and northern Amasya province, during the solar eclipse in 1999. The film reflects the reactions and the fears of the locals of these regions during the solar eclipse. The film also tells the story of the chaos that the locals experienced after the major earthquake which hit Turkey soon after the solar eclipse. The film is dedicated to those who passed away in the 17 August Earthquake. A Swedish movie named Miracle of Love won the Best Movie Award in the Festival which was organized for the first time. A total of 200 movies from 20 countries participated in the festival. -GERMAN RED CROSS DONATES MEDICAL EQUIPMENT TO KARAMURSEL STATE The German Cross handed over a dialysis, electrocadriogram, laparoscopy, and a defibrillator to the Karamursel State Hospital on Wednesday. Several operations can be made easily with the new medical equipment donated by the German Cross. Meanwhile, the German Cross is also consructing prefabricated polyclinic huts in the garden of the Karamursel State Hospital. The construction of the huts are planned to be finished in a months' time. -GAP REGION EXPORTS AGRICULTURAL, ANIMAL, AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS An exportation worth of 459 million 926 thousand U.S. dollars was made in the same period of last year. Abdulkadir Cikmaz, the Chairman of the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters Association told the A.A correspondent that one million 591 thousand U.S. dollars of animal product; 69 million 167 thousand U.S. dollars of cereals and legume; 40 million 141 thousand U.S. dollars of dried fruit; 263 million 568 thousand U.S. dollars of textiles products; 85 million 404 thousand U.S. dollars of fruit, vegetable and industrial products, were exported from the region in ten months time of 2000. Cikmaz noted that the exportation of the animal products had decreased 86 percent, and the exportation of the cereals and legumes had also decreased 9 percent between January and October 2000. Cikmaz pointed out that the exportation of the textiles products had increased 11 percent, and the exportation of the fruit, vegetable, and industrial products had increased one percent, compared to the same period of last year. -YATAGAN THERMIC POWER STATION CLOSED DOWN AGAIN The air pollution increased in Yatagan as the wind stopped blowing. Releasing a statement, the Governorship of Mugla said that the three units of the thermic station were closed down in the early hours of Thursday, as the ratio of sulphurdioxide in air increased in Yatagan. The officials said that the thermic power station would be kept closed till 13.00 p.m., with the order of Turkish Electricity Inc.(TEAS), and the decision on activating the station would be given following the measurements in midday. The officials also noted the thermic station in Yatagan was closed down three times this week, adding that an energy deficit of 500 megawatts had occured throughout the week. Meanwhile, the Yatagan township Hygiene Committee convened to discuss the issue of closing down schools in Yatagan township for Thursday and Friday. -GERMAN EXPERTS PREPARES TO SAVE GIANT GOD STATUES ON NEMRUT MOUNTAIN Maurice Crijns, the Chairman of International Nemrut Foundation which aims at restoring and preserving artifacts on Nemrut Mountain, said on Thursday that their foundation is having cooperation with German Archeology Institute. The scientific board including topographers, architects, historians and engineers, has fixed their priorities, schedule and program, Crijns noted. Crijns stated that this board will prepare a report on its works and submit it to the Culture Ministry. The International Nemrut Foundation and Turkish Democracy Foundation will undertake the finance of the works, Crijns said. Crijns stressed that they target at restoring Nemrut with scientific methods and that they are pleased with the support of the Culture Ministry and Adiyaman Governorship. Nemrut should be preserved and saved, Crijns added. Meanwhile, a meeting was held in Ankara to discuss initiatives that will be carried out to save Nemrut. Crijns; Bulent Akarcali, the Chairman of Turkish Democracy Foundation and a member of Executive Board of International Nemrut Foundation; Fikret Uccan, the Culture Ministry Undersecretary; Alpay Pasinli, the General Director of Monuments and Museums; Henry T. Wright, John A. Echave, and Reza Deghati of the National Geographic magazine attended the meeting. The works to save Nemrut is planned to be started in May, 2001. [02] TURKISH CONTRACTORS SIGN 99 PROJECTS WORTH OF 1.4 U.S. DOLLARS ABROADANKARA - The Turkish contractors signed 99 projects worth of 1 billion 451 million U.S. dollars in 27 countries, during last year. The Turkish contractors had signed 121 projects worth of 2 billion 220 million U.S. dollars in 1998.The data of the State Statistics Institute show that there is a decrease of 34.65 percent in the sum of the projects when the figures of 1998 and 1999 are compared. There is also a decrease of 18.2 percent in the number of projects signed when the two years are compared. The data also show that 69 projects worth of one billion 249 million U.S. dollars were signed in 1999 with the Commonwealth of the Independent States. The Turkish contractors signed 10 projects worth of 127.7 million U.S. dollars with the countries in the Middle East region. The project with the highest value with 403.5 million U.S. dollars, was signed with Kazakhstan. Russia ranked the second with the projects worth of 230.3 million U.S. dollars, and Turkmenistan ranked the third with the projects worth of 192.5 million U.S. dollars. The Turkish contractors signed 18 projects with the Russian Federation, 17 projects with Turkmenistan, and 8 projects with Uzbekistan in 1999. ''Construction of buildings other than houses'' group ranked the first in the contracting projects abroad when the number of the projects and the value of the projects are considered. A total of 56 projects worth of 850 million 915 thousand U.S. dollars, were in the building construction other than houses group. The contracting activities of the Turkish companies had started with one project worth of 18.21 million U.S. dollars in 1981. Since 1985 the Turkish contractors signed 320 projects worth of 10 billion 96 million U.S. dollars. The Turkish contractors had mainly signed the agreements with the countries in the Middle East region in the 80s, and nowadays are signing agreements with the northern neighbours of Turkey. [03] EXPORTS DECREASED 5.1 PERCENT IN OCTOBERISTANBUL - The Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) said on Thursday that the exports decreased 5.1 percent to 2 billion 369 million U.S. dollars in October 2000 when compared to October 1999.The increase of exports in first ten months of 2000 was 2.2 percent. A statement of TIM said that Turkey's exports were around 2 billion 496 million U.S. dollars in October 1999. The ten-month export increased from 21 billion 979 million U.S. dollars to 22 billion 468 million U.S. dollars in 2000 when compared to 1999. [04] HYGIENE COMMITTEE CLOSES DOWN THE SCHOOLS IN YATAGANYATAGAN- The schools in Yatagan township of Aegean Mugla province were closed down for Thursday and Friday due to the air pollution in the township.The Hygiene Committee in the township decided to close down the schools for Thursday and Friday. The three units of the Yatagan Thermic Power Station were earlier closed. [05] TOUR OPERATORS START TO PLAN TOURISM IN TURKEY FOR 2001ANTALYA - The tour operators which brought tourists to Turkey, have started to market the 2001 tourism season.Oger Tour, one of the tourism agencies which bring many tourists to Turkey, will organize a tour and promotion facility under the scope of ''Hallo Turkei'' campaign between November 4-8. One thousand representatives of the German agencies who were marketing Turkey in Germany were invited to southern Antalya province within the framework of the programme. Huseyin Baraner, the Advisor of Oger Tour told A.A correspondent that 2000 was very fruitful for the tourism sector, and that they started their promotion facilities in order to achieve the same success in 2001 season. [06] NUMBER OF TOURISTS VISITING CAPPADOCIA REGION INCREASESNEVSEHIR - The number of tourists visiting the Cappadocia region has increased 24 percent during the first ten months of 2000 when compared to the same period of last year.A total of 940 thousand 445 tourists, including 564 thousand 405 foreign tourists, visited the Goreme Open Air Museum; Zelve and Acıksaray Ruins; Cavusin, Gulsehir, and St. Jean churches; and Tatlarin, Mazi, Ozkonak, Derinkuyu, and Kaymakli under ground cities between January and October 2000. A total of 756 thousand 364 tourists, including 360 thousand 579 foreign tourists, visited the Cappadocia region during the same period of last year. The officials said that the tourists who visited the region mainly came from the Far East, the U.S., and Europe. [07] TURKEY WELCOMES AGREEMENT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND PALESTINEANKARA - Turkey welcomed agreement which was reached between Israel and Palestine late on Wednesday.Releasing a statement, the Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the sides had reached an agreement to cooperate in halting the violence at the end of a meeting in Gaza between Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister Shimon Peres. The statement noted, ''Turkey considers implementation of the cease-fire understandings reached at a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, between October 16 and 17, and return of the sides to negotiation table as the only way. Peace can only be settled in the region through negotiations.'' ''Turkey believed that there were not any other alternatives except for negotiations. It encourages both sides to show the necessary political will to this end. Turkey will continue to contribute to efforts to settle a fair and lasting peace in the Middle East,'' it added. [08] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING ENDSANKARA- Tunca Toskay, the State Minister and Government Spokesman, said in the Council of Ministers meeting held on Thursday, they decided to announce to the public that the state was resolved to get every kind of effective measures to provide security in prisons.Toskay briefed the journalists about the decisions taken in the Council of Ministers meeting which lasted for 2,5 hours. Toskay said Defense Industry Undersecretariat gave briefing to the Council of Ministers today, adding that Abdulhaluk Cay, the State Minister, gave information about President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's tour to Turkish Republics. Toskay also said Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk and Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan gave information about the protest in Usak Prison. Toskay said all the information has been discussed and that they decided to announce to the public that the state was resolved to take every kind of effective measures to provide security in prisons. Government Spokesman Toskay said National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu made a general evaluation about defense industry, and later Prof. Ali Ercan, the Defense Industry Undersecretary, gave a briefing. Toskay said the Council of Ministers was given information in the briefing about the course of defense expenses in the world, ratio of defense industry expenses to gross national product, rate of defense industry per capita in regard to Turkey, Turkey's neighbors, and both NATO and other world countries. -COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING ENDS (2) Toskay responded to the questions of reporters following the Council of Ministers Meeting. Toskay said protest in Usak Prison had nothing to do with demand for amnesty, adding that it stemmed from the conflict of the organized crime organizations. When a journalist asked if amnesty draft law, which was returned to the Parliament by the President to be discussed again, was brought to the agenda, Toskay said, ''unrest in Usak Prison has nothing to do with the amnesty.'' Pointing out that according to the recent information they obtained, five people died in prison unrest, Toskay said only protest in Usak Prison was discussed in Council of Ministers meeting. Toskay noted that amnesty was not taken up. Speaking about the reason of the incidents, Toskay said the Council of Ministers was of the opinion that the unrest stemmed from the conflict between the organized crime organizations. When asked about the measures that would be taken to prevent the protests in prison, Toskay said, ''it was once again stated in the Council of Ministers that the government would not bargain with anybody, and that it was determined to provide security in prisons.'' Meanwhile, Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said unrest in Usak Prison was a rebellion started by Nuri and Vedat Ergin brothers. Turk said some of the hostages were shot or lost their lives after being thrown from the windows, and noted that required measures have been taken to prevent the incidents. -TURKEY REPAYS 53.90 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN FOREIGN DEBT ON NOVEMBER 1 The Central Bank data shows that the Treasury repaid 51.90 million U.S. dollars; the Central Bank repaid 1.43 million U.S. dollars; the administrations with general and annexed budgets repaid 0.57 million U.S. dollars in foreign debt on November 2. Meanwhile, a total of 8 billion 348.73 million U.S. dollars of foreign debt has been repaid since the beginning of the year. -CENTRAL BANK'S FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES DECREASE According to Central Bank's weekly bulletin, the Bank's foreign exchange reserves which had been 24 billion 239 million U.S. dollars on October 20 decreased to 23 billion 249 million U.S. dollars on October 27 while its gold reserves remained at 1 billion 10 million U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, the total foreign exchange reserves of the banks and private finance organizations (OFK) had decreased 482 million U.S. dollars from 16 billion 507 million U.S. dollars to 16 billion 25 million U.S. dollars as of October 13. Meanwhile, the international reserves comprising Turkey's gold reserves and foreign exchange reserves of Central Bank, commercial banks and OFK had decreased 173 million U.S. dollars from 42 billion 47 million U.S. dollars to 41 billion 874 million U.S .dollars as of October 13. -COEPA ECONOMIC AFFAIRS AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION MEETING STARTS COEPA Economic Affairs and Development Commission Meeting started today under auspieces of Parliament. Addressing the meeting, Gurkan pointed out that 21st Century brought several difficulties and opportunities at the same time, and that many problems could be solved in case globalization is revealed with the sense of justice and equality. Gurkan said although great development was recorded in living standarts in the 21st century, many people continued to live under these living conditions. He said 1.3 billion people in the world lived under the limits of poverty. Gurkan pointed out that globalization should continue in a way that would be for the benefit of everybody. -GOVERNOR CEVIK SAYS SITUATION IS CALMER AT USAK PRISON Cevik departed from Usak Prison in which Nuri Ergin, the leader of Karagumruk gang, and his friends took hostage Mustafa Kurt, the warden of the prison, four of his aides and some warders after their request for transfer of their friends who were imprisoned in Trabzon, Samsun and Amasya prisons, was rejected. Cevik told reporters, ''negotiations with inmates are under way. The situation is calmer now. I hope it would normalize.'' Tight security measures have been taken in and around prison building. A number of relatives of inmates are waiting outside the prison. -THIRD EURASIA ECONOMY SUMMIT Addressing the opening of the ''International Energy Conference,'' Ersumer stressed that Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline did not have any alternative due to the importance it attributed to the environmental values, and due to the security of the route. Ersumer said, ''it may have rivals, but no alternatives.'' Ersumer said Turkey regarded itself as the leader and was resolved and insistent in every platform about the completion of the projects for more than 10 years. Ersumer stressed that resources in the Caspian region should be extracted soon and transported to Western markets, and noted that these resources should enter to the economies of the countries. The Energy Minister stressed that Turkey was a gate opening to the west, and a natural bridge that would exist forever, adding that they were willing for these territories, which hosted many civilizations for centuries, to host energy pipelines now. Ersumer said, ''we openly announce that nobody should consider the Turkish straits as a natural oil route. Ecological balance of the Black Sea in transportation of these sources to the West, is a concept that should be taken care in particular.'' Ersumer said Turkey, which is one of the most important consumers of Europe and the region, is in the position of a poor neigbour of countries which have rich energy resources. Pointing out that Turkey would need 55 billion cubic meters natural gas, 49 million tonnes of oil in 2010, and 83 billion cubic meters natural gas and 74 million tonnes of oil in 2020, Ersumer said, ''many projects have been produced in the world regarded with the region. However, today, there is only Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which is accepted to have priority. This pipeline has no alternative due to the importance it attributes to economic and environemental values. It may have rivals, but no alternatives.'' Ersumer said, Turkey worked very much to make this pipeline economical, adding that, ''all international proceedings have been made regarded with the construction of the pipeline according to the international criteria. We say this is the last agreement we signed. Baku oil will flow to Ceyhan in 2004, and a new oil market will be formed in the Mediterranean. Those people who live there will get the prosperity they deserved.'' -SUPREMACY OF LAW CONFERENCE Sezer sent a message to ''Supremacy of Law,'' Conference jointly staged by British Council and Istanbul Bilgi University, and said as a result of reforms experienced in the world in recent years, thought systems changed, and concepts of democracy, supremacy of law, and human rights gained importance as the universal values playing a determining role for the future of the nations. Sezer said, ''legal state principle is based on supremacy of law principle, '' adding that these concepts reached a universal framework today with the historical development of humanity. Sezer said today human rights is not only an issue of internal laws, but became an issue of international law, adding that a supra-national human rights law is mentioned now. He said this was formed with the international agreements. Recalling that Turkey, being a member of the Council of Europe, signed many international agreements including human rights, Sezer said basic rights and freedoms, arranged in European Convention on Human Rights, were at the same time taken under guarantee by judicial control. Sezer said, ''Turkey is a European country. Being a democratic and secular Republic, believing in supremacy of law, and basic human rights and freedoms, Turkey adopted values that are rooted in Europe within a long process, and contributed to the development of these values. One of the basic goals of Turkish foreign policy was to integrate its national systems with Europe. An important step has been taken in integration of Turkey with Europe. We are aware that willingness to be a member of the EU brought responsibilities and assignments to Turkey. We should take required steps in a determined way to fulfil the desired conditions.'' Sezer said Turkey would overcome its deficiencies within the framework of a calender that has been determined, and would do its best during the adjustment process. He said the parliament exerted efforts in this respect. Sezer stressed that establishment of the EU General Secretariat and its working was an important development revealing Turkey's willingness to be a member of the EU. Sezer said Accession Partnership Accord, which will be prepared by the EU Commission, should include elements that can be accepted by Turkey.
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