Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-11-17

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

17 NOVEMBER 2000 Friday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] STATE MINISTER YUCELEN INVITES ALL CITIZENS TO CONTRIBUTE TO

[03] INVESTIGATIONS OF EGEBANK AND YURTBANK CONTINUE

[04] SOUTHEAST ANATOLIA REGION EXPORTS AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS

[05] THICK FOG AFFECTS AIR TRANSPORTATION IN ISTANBUL

[06] PRISONERS CONTINUE HUNGER STRIKE IN AYDIN E-TYPE PRISON

[07] BALKAN COUNTRIES MUSIC FORUM TO BE HELD IN URGUP IN 2001

[08] EXPLOSION IN MILITARY CLUB

[09] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM DUE TO SAUDI ARABIA

[10] IMF-WORLD BANK LOANS TO TURKEY

[11] ILDEM, PRESIDENTIAL CABINET CHIEF, BRIEFS

[12] KOC HOLDING AND NORWEGIAN STATOIL SIGN PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

[13] MILITARY PLANE MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING

[14] LOGOGLU, FOREIGN MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY,

[15] MIDDLE EAST PROBLEM

[16] BEIJING SECURITY DELEGATION ARRIVES IN ANKARA

[17] BRANCH OF IS BANKASI IN ANKARA ROBBED

[18] PANEL DISCUSSION ON ''INVESTMENT IN BALKAN COUNTRIES''

[19] SPORTS-WORLD TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS U-21

[20] ALTERNATIFBANK OBTAINS 35 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR SYNDICATED LOAN

[21] PAMUKOVA HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT TO BE OPENED

[22] LABOR AND SOCIAL SECURITY MINISTER OKUYAN AND

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

AHMET KAYA DIES
Ahmet Kaya, a protest singer who left Turkey as lawsuits were filed against him for separatism, died of hearth attack in a house in Paris, France yesterday. Kaya was 43 years old. Kaya will be buried in Pere Lachaise graveyard where Yılmaz Guney, the famous film maker was also buried.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Banking Regulation and Inspection Board which convened under the chairmanship of Zekeriya Temizel, declared its action plan on Thursday. The board is planning to finish the sales of eight banks, which were earlier transferred to Saving Deposits Insurance Fund, by the end of April 2001.

ORHAN ASLITURK, HUSBAND OF FORMER SISLI MAYOR TAKES PART IN
EMPTYING THE COFFERS OF EGEBANK
The investigations of the experts of Finance Ministry revealed that Orhan Asliturk, the husband of Gulay Aslıturk who is the former mayor of Sisli, took part in the biggest falsified export document incident in Turkey. The sum of the falsified export documents prepared by the companies of Asliturk reached 1.7 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, it was understood that Asliturk provided some falsified documents to Murat Demirel, the former owner of Egebank who was convicted on charges of emptying the coffers of Egebank.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

BALANCE OF PAYMENTS DEVELOPMENTS
The current balance deficit in the January-August period of 2000 became 6 billion 787 million U.S. dollars according to the Balance of Payments balance sheet. The Central Bank announced on Thursday the balance of payments developments in January-August 2000. According to the statement, foreign trade deficit, which broadened by 132,5 percent in comparison with the same period of the previous year, realized as 14.484 million U.S. dollars in the January-August period of 2000.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

The Turkish business world will set up a foundation to spread the values of the universal ethical thoughts. The foundation is planned to be founded by January 2001, and Faik Somer, the founder member said they decided to establish such a foundation in order to effectively struggle against corruption in Turkey. Somer added that on the threshold of accession to the European Union, the Turkish businessmen should accept and apply the values of the universal ethic.

ENERGY POLICIES DISCUSSED IN FIRST OIL AND NATURAL GAS CONGRESS
The leading companies operating in the energy sector participated in the First International Oil and Natural Gas congress which was held in Istanbul. The energy policies all around the world and in Turkey were discussed in the congress. Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Sources, who also participated in the congress said Turkey was the key country in transferring the Caspian oil and natural gas to Europe.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

TO WHOM WE WILL BELIEVE?
Ankara Administration Court No. 1 approved the ban on the Kurdish theatre

play, on the other hand the Council of State said that speaking in Kurdish on a local television channel is not a reason of closing that channel for one day.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

DIGITAL BROADCAST HAS A VOLUME OF THREE BILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN
TURKEY

Ufuk Ilkiz, the General Director of Star Digital Inc., one of the companies who are making digital broadcasts in Turkey said the digital broadcast in Turkey has a volume of three billion U.S. dollars. Ilkız noted the digital platform shouldn't be evaluated merely as a media, adding that interactice TV will be one of the dominant mediums of the next century. Pointing out that they have 285 thousand subscribers at the moment, Ilkiz said they expected this number to reach 500 thousand by the end of the year.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

BANKS ANNOUNCES ITS ACTION PLAN
The Banking Regulation and Inspection Board (BDDK) announced its action plan for the sale of the banks in the structure of the Savings Account and Insurance Fund. BDDK said that an important phase of the action plan for the sale of shares of the banks whose management and control had been transferred to the BDDK was finalized.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

TURKEY'S ARMENIAN REACTION TO EP
Turkey's Armenians reacted to the inclusion of the claims on the socalled genocide on Armenians in a resolution adopted by the European Parliament (EP). Turkey's Armenians said that the problems are brought onto agenda by institutions which are not the concerned sides. They added that this is used to prevent Turkey's membership to the European Union (EU).

-LUFTHANSA HAD SUCCESSFUL SUMMER SEASON IN TURKEY
ISTANBUL - Ofer Kisch, the Representative of Lufthansa German Airlines to Turkey said on Thursday night that Lufthansa had a very successful summer in Turkey. Speaking in a press briefing on the cooperation between Lufthansa and the Austrian Airlines, Ofer Kisch said that the number of passangers who bought tickets from Turkey between June-October this year increased by 27 percent.

Kisch said that the average passanger capacity reached 90 percent in Istanbul, 88 percent in Ankara and more than 92 percent in Izmir.

Kisch said that they aim at increasing the passanger capacity in Turkey by 17 percent, and developing cooperation with the Austrian Airlines.

Ernst Leitner, the Turkey Representative of Austrian Airlines said in his part that they increased the passanger capacity by 35 percent in Turkey by increasing the number of flights between Ankara and Vienna since May this year.

-FINANCE MINISTER ORAL SAYS 971 TRILLION LIRAS
GAINED TO SUPPORT EDUCATION
ANKARA - The Finance Minister Sumer Oral said on Thursday night that they gained an income of 971 trillion Turkish liras (TL) including the donations to support the eight year compulsary education. Addressing the parliament, Oral said that according to the information he received from the National Education Minister Metin Bostancıoglu 5.6 trillion TL of that money were from donations.

Oral said that 534 trillion TL of that was used in repair of schools, 85 trillion TL was used for buying equipment for schools, 37 trillion TL was used for nationalization, 12 trillion TL was used for publishing books and 194 billion TL was used as earthquake aid in Marmara region.

Noting that the tax administration has to be effective in order to strengthen the tax system, Oral said that this can only come true by carrying the tax procedures by automation system, by struggling with tax evasion, and by broadening the tax base.

[02] STATE MINISTER YUCELEN INVITES ALL CITIZENS TO CONTRIBUTE TO

Coming to southern Mersin province to participate in the Regional Meeting of the Human Rights Coordinator Supreme Council, Yucelen visited Icel Governor Senol Engin.

When a journalist asked him if the statement of Deputy Premier Mesut Yılmaz regarding the TV broadcasting in Kurdish would cause a crisis in the government, Yucelen said that ''the aim is to start a discussion in the public opinion. The public opinion will discusse it and give the best decision. Such kind of debates don't cause government crisis.''

-TREASURY UNDERSECRETARY DEMIRALP SAYS CURRENT ACCOUNT DEFICIT
IS MORE THAN THEY EXPECT
ANKARA - Selcuk Demiralp, the Undersecretary of the Treasury said on Friday that the current account deficit as of August 2000 is more than they expected. ''It shouldn't be that high in August,'' said Demiralp responding to questions.

Recounting that the current account deficit as of July 2000 was 350-360 million dollars, Demiralp said that ''there is an increasing trend, as there is a huge amount of increase in imports.''

Demiralp said that it is very important to balance the developments in the current account, adding that certain decisions have to be taken in 2001 to balance that. ''The current account deficit is high for the moment,'' he said.

[03] INVESTIGATIONS OF EGEBANK AND YURTBANK CONTINUE

The interrogation of 19 persons including Neslihan Demirel, the sister of Yahya Murat Demirel, the former owner of Egebank; Sukru Esat Erkus, the former director general of Egebank; Ali Ertunc Yalcın, the deputy director general of Egebank; Pembe Jale Oktay, the former member of the bank's executive board and lawyer Aydogan Semizer continues. A total of 21 persons are also being questioned in relation to the investigation of Yurtbank.

Meanwhile, it was reported that there are nearly 3,500 victims due to the off-shore accounts they opened in Yurtbank and 150 of them applied to Istanbul Financial Directorate in the last three days and explained their complaints.

Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) gave extra time for the interrogation of those who are in custody.

-FINANCE MINISTER ORAL SAYS 2001 YEAR IS MORE SENSITIVE THAN 2000
ANKARA - Finance Minister Sumer Oral said on Friday that the year 2001 is more sensitive than the year 2000 in respect of the economic stability programme.

Speaking in a panel discussion held upon the 121st foundation anniversary of the Finance Inspection Council, Oral said that 88 TL of the each 100 TL collected as tax was used for interest payments at the beginning of 2000, adding that this ratio will be 52 to 100 liras under 2001 budget. This is a success said Oral, adding that this has to continue.

''The thing that matters is lasting stability, success is not something that is valid for one year. Reaching the targets at the end of three years is important,'' said Oral.

[04] SOUTHEAST ANATOLIA REGION EXPORTS AGRICULTURE PRODUCTS

The data of the Association of Southeast Anatolia Exporters show that dried fruit export worth of 11 million 256 thousand U.S. dollars, cereals export worth of 447 thousand U.S. dollars, and textiles export worth of 13 million 558 thousand U.S. dollars was made from the region to the American countries between January and October 2000.

The U.S. is the country which the southeast Anatolia region exported its goods the most.

The export worth of 20 million 92 thousand U.S. dollars was made to the U.S. from the region in the first ten months of the year.

Synthetic yarn, dried apricot, and cotton yarn are the products which were exported the most to the U.S. in the first ten months of the year.

[05] THICK FOG AFFECTS AIR TRANSPORTATION IN ISTANBUL

A Turkish Airlines (THY) plane flying from Tehran to Istanbul landed to Ankara Esenboga Airport while another plane belonging to Northern Cyprus Turkish Airlines( KTHY) flying from Lefkosa to Istanbul had to return back to Ercan Airport of Lefkosa.

[06] PRISONERS CONTINUE HUNGER STRIKE IN AYDIN E-TYPE PRISON

The prisoners, who went on hunger strike to protest the F-Type prisons, don't let doctors check them.

Mustafa Adagul, the Chief Prosecutor of Aydın told the A.A correspondent that the health of the 37 prisoners is not critical for the moment, yet they keep two ambulances waiting in front of the prison as a precaution.

Meanwhile, Aydın Governor Emir Durmaz, Gendarme Regional Commander General Tekin Umit, Director General Tekin Akın, Aydın and Nazilli Chief Prosecutors had a meeting which lasted for nearly four hours and they discussed the recent situation in Aydın and Nazilli E type prisons and measures that can be taken in case of a possible incident in the prison.

[07] BALKAN COUNTRIES MUSIC FORUM TO BE HELD IN URGUP IN 2001

Urgup Mayor Bekir Odemis said on Friday that the forum which was organized by the Athens University and held in Athens this year, was decided to be held in Urgup in 2001.

Odemis said that the initiatives of Prof. Dr. Vassilis Makridis from the Athens University whose mother emigrated from Urgup to Greece in 1924 played an important role in this decision.

Odemis added that the forum would be an important activity to strengthen social, economic and cultural relations among the Balkan countries.

The forum was planned to be held in April of 2001.

[08] EXPLOSION IN MILITARY CLUB

Sources said that Safak Gokmen and Mustafa Curuk who had been seriously injured were transferred to the Military Medical Faculty hospital in Ankara with helicopter.

Sources added that medical treatment to the other ten injured people was under way at the hospital in Adana.

[09] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM DUE TO SAUDI ARABIA

Huseyin Dirioz, the Foreign Ministry Deputy, addressing the weekly news briefing, said Cem will pay an official visit to Saudi Arabia in November 18 and 19, upon the invitation of H.R.H. Saud al Faisal, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The two foreign ministers will exchange views on the development course of the bilateral relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and regional and international issues concerning the two countries.

[10] IMF-WORLD BANK LOANS TO TURKEY

Speaking to reporters before a meeting in Ankara, Demiralp said that the boards of these two organizations will discuss the loan issue between December 15 and 20.

Turkey will obtain 600 million U.S. dollars from the IMF as the third and fourth tranches in accordance with the stand-by deal, and 390 million U.S. dollars from the World Bank in accordance with the Financial Sector Adjustment Loan (FSAL) after the boards of these organizations take the final decision.

The IMF Board is expected to convene in second half of December and approve the 600 million U.S. dollar third and fourth stanches within framework of the third and fourth review.

Besides, the World Bank is expected to approve 390 million U.S. dollar part of the 1.5 billion U.S. dollar FSAL in its meeting at the end of November as the Parliament passed the draft law on privatization of public banks.

[11] ILDEM, PRESIDENTIAL CABINET CHIEF, BRIEFS

Ildem said Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC) 9th Summit meeting took place in November 12-14 in Doha, adding that President Sezer attended a special session on Palestinian issue that was staged during the meeting. Ildem said Sezer disclosed the views of Turkey on the issue.

Ildem said some of the countries wanted Isreal to be condemned harshly by stressing the violence incidents; however, he noted, Turkey focused on the steps that should be taken to reach peace in the Middle East and to provide atmosphere of tranquility.

Ildem said, ''President Sezer focused on reaching a lasting and just peace through talks.''

Ildem said the joint statement that was issued did not close doors to the efforts for peace, and noted that during President Sezer's talks, Cyprus question, and contributions of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for the solution of this problem were discussed in detail.

Pointing out that Sezer also mentioned the position of Turkish minorities in Kosovo, and Western Thrace, Ildem said Sezer had very fruitful meetings with Egyptian President, Pakistani chief administrator, Albanian Deputy Prime Minister, Palestinian State Minister, the U.N. Secretary General, and Indonesian President. Ildem said Sezer received Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Ildem said ways to improve bilateral relations as well as the regional problems were discussed.

Ildem said the U.N. Secretary General himself requested to meet with Sezer, adding that Iraq, the Middle East peace process, and Cyprus issues were discussed during the meeting.

Mentioning Sezer's visit to Jordan, Ildem said this section took place as tete-a-tete meetings and interdelegational talks. He said during the tete-a- tete meetings, the will of the Jordanian side to improve economic and trade relations was seen, noting that Jordanian side especially focused on ways to increase bilateral trade volume.

Ildem said the Jordanian side told them that Turkish entrepreneurs could hold activities in industry regions which were set up under the free trade agreement signed with the U.S. within this scope, adding that information was given about the regions.

Ildem said the Jordanian side also told them that the Turkish entrepreneurs could make use of the free trade zone in Akabe that will take effect next year.

Pointing out that the third meeting of Turkish-Jordanian Business Council within this year was held with the participation of President Sezer and King Abdullah, Ildem said the busniness circles found the opportunity to discuss ways to improve cooperation.

Ildem said works in technical level took place the same day, stressing that they agreed that some expert delegations from Turkey would go to Jordan in the coming weeks to carry out works.

Ildem said, ''I would like to clarify that there is a very strong will in the Jordanian side to improve economic relations. The Jordanian King stressed that he attributed importance to improve relations with Turkey. We are pleased over this. Turkey has the same will.''

[12] KOC HOLDING AND NORWEGIAN STATOIL SIGN PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

Staging a joint press conference, Koc Holding Board Chairman Rahmi Koc and Statoil President Olav Fjell said that they had signed a partnership agreement the same day.

Koc Holding and Statoil announced in June of 2000 that they would cooperate in domestic and foreign natural gas sectors.

[13] MILITARY PLANE MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING

Sources said that a C-160 cargo plane made an emergency landing at the Esenboga Airport at 01:35 p.m. as the control panel signalled that one of the two engines had caught fire.

Fire-brigades and medical teams took measures near the runway during the plane's landing.

Sources said that there were 20 military personnel aboard the plane.

[14] LOGOGLU, FOREIGN MINISTRY UNDERSECRETARY,

During the meeting took place upon the invitation of Logoglu, he briefed the recent developments regarded with the document, and reminded the statements of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem on August 31, 2000 and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on November 14, 2000.

Stressing that the references made in political criteria section, related with Cyprus, should be excluded, Logoglu said, ''any aspect, that is not included in the results of Helsinki summit, can not be turned into a political criteria.''

Briefing about the other elements which Logoglu conveyed to the Ambassadors, Dirioz said, ''the Undersecretary pointed out that the EU should approach carefully to the relations with Turkey in the sensitive atmosphere created by the wrong decision adopted in European Parliament. He also underlined the importance of the approach of the EU indicating that the EU supports the determination of Turkey to advance in candidacy process within the framework of the results of Helsinki summit.''

[15] MIDDLE EAST PROBLEM

Dirioz defined Turkey's opinions as confidence building at the first stage, and in case of a failure, opinions that would guide the parties to reach a solution by putting the things on the right track, and afterwards yielding outcomes.

Pointing out that Ankara contacted with all the concerned sides, Dirioz those contacts targeted peace. Recalling that the 9th President Suleyman Demirel also took place in the position assessment commission, Dirioz said, ''we hope that this commission would put forward confidence building measures that will ease tension. We also have our own efforts. We are hopeful that those will succeed. Efforts of everybody are for the same target. Turkey's advantage is that it has the confidence of both sides.''

Responding to another question, Dirioz said Foreign Minister Ismail Cem would go to Israel next week, adding that Cem will meet with Ehud Barak, the Israeli Prime Minister within the framework of his contacts.

[16] BEIJING SECURITY DELEGATION ARRIVES IN ANKARA

The Chinese delegation headed by Beijing Municupality Security Acting General Director Lie Quanfu visited Ankara Acting Police Chief Yasar Akbas.

Later, the delegation visited the Rapid Deployment Force's building.

The guest delegation will stay in Turkey by Wednesday, November 22.

[17] BRANCH OF IS BANKASI IN ANKARA ROBBED

The thieves who entered to the garage of a company that is adjacent to Is Bankasi building, opened holes on the walls of the Bank and opened 65 rented safe deposit boxes in the bank. The thieves couldn't reach the safe box of the bank branch, but managed to open 65 of the 110 safe deposit boxes.

The amount which was stolen couldn't be assessed yet.

The investigation about the incident is underway.

[18] PANEL DISCUSSION ON ''INVESTMENT IN BALKAN COUNTRIES''

ETSO Board Chairman Bulent Alamut said on Friday that the panel discussion at the ETSO Assembly Hall would start at 02:00 p.m.

[19] SPORTS-WORLD TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS U-21

Five Turkish sportsmen will play matches on Friday and four other Turkish sportsmen will play matches on Saturday.

The championships will end late on Saturday.

[20] ALTERNATIFBANK OBTAINS 35 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR SYNDICATED LOAN

Sources said on Friday that the one-year maturity loan would be used in financing of exports, and that the agreement would be signed on Monday, November 20 in Istanbul by the representatives of participating banks.

[21] PAMUKOVA HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT TO BE OPENED

The power plant was constructed by the Karamanci Holding's Karel Energy Production and Trade Corp.

The 10 megawatt-power and three-unit ''river type'' power plant will produce almost 60 million kwh energy a year.

The construction of the power plant was finalized in nineteen months and cost fifteen million U.S. dollars.

Energy and Natural Resources Undersecretary Yurdakul Yigitguden will inaugurate the power plant.

[22] LABOR AND SOCIAL SECURITY MINISTER OKUYAN AND

Speaking at the inaguration of the prefabricated hospital constructed in Bolu by the Japanese government and people, Okuyan thanked the Japanese government and people for their donations to construction of the hospital that cost 500 thousand U.S. dollars.

Japanese Ambassador to Turkey Shigeo Takenaka said that the Japanese people were aware of the importance of health services aufter an earthquake disaster.

''We decided to allocate 500 thousand U.S. dollars of the Japanese government's and people's emergency donations to construction of this prefabricated hospital. I hope that the existing friendly relations between Turkey and Japan will further develop,'' he added.

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