Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-11-25

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

25 NOVEMBER 2000 Saturday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] INTERNATIONAL MEVLANA INFORMATION FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN ANKARA IN DECEMBER

[03] TURKEY'S EMBASSY IN BERLIN HAS ''HOT-LINE'' ON INTERNET

[04] STATE MINISTER ONAL SAYS CENTRAL BANK

[05] FM TOP OFFICIALS LOGOGLU AND ALPTUNA TO HAVE CONTACTS IN EU COUNTRIES

[06] HADEP PROVINCIAL OFFICER TAKEN INTO CUSTODY

[07] JUSTICE MINISTRY SAYS THERE ARE 805 HUNGER-STRIKERS IN PRISONS

[08] STATE MINISTER YALOVA SAYS THERE WILL BE NO TRUST FOR

[09] NINTH PRESIDENT DEMIREL LEAVES FOR NEW YORK

[10] STATE MINISTER ONAL SAYS BANKING SECTOR

[11] IMKB CHAIRMAN BIRSEN SAYS IMKB HOLDS BIGGEST SHARE IN KYRGYZ

[12] TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO BRITAIN HAKTANIR SAYS THE INDEPENDENT WRITER

[13] MHP ACTING LEADER VURAL CALLS ON EU TO ACT MORE CONSISTENT

[14] 8TH EUROPEAN VEGETERIANS ASSOCIATION'S CONGRESS TO BE

[15] DEMONSTRATORS PROTEST F TYPE PRISONS IN ANKARA

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

DENKTAS ANNOUNCES WITHDRAWAL FROM PROXIMITY TALKS
A historical decision was taken during yesterday's summit at the Presidential Palace while the EU is putting pressure on Turkey over reaching a solution in Cyprus. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas announced that he was withdrawing from the proximity talks. Stating that the talks are nothing but a ''waste of time'', Denktas said ''as long as our parameter is not accepted by the Greek Cypriots, the proximity talks are not doing any good to us, on the contrary it is harming us.'' Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit expressed full support to Denktas.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

HARSH COMPETITION
Gazi Ercel, the Governor of the Central Bank said that the crisis of interest rates of banks in Turkey is not a surprise. ''We have been expecting this for nine months,'' said Ercel and noted that they don't want a harsh competition in the banking sector. This crisis ended in five days, he added.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

SEZER APPROVES BANK SALES
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer approved the law regarding the sales of public banks, which is very important for Turkey's relations with the IMF and the World Bank, but with a ''warning''. Sezer said the law should be implemented by considering the economic conditions of the country. Sezer indicated that according to the Constitution, institutions which has more than 50 percent of public share has to be inspected by Parliament and he asked the authorities to correct the flaws on this matter.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

TEACHERS PROTEST POOR ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ON TEACHERS' DAY
Many teachers who are members of the Education Union (Egitim-Sen) protested celebrating the Teachers' Day while teachers all around Turkey are suffering from poor economic conditions. Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said the education problem could not be solved without improving the wages of teachers. In Zonguldak, teachers had a meeting at the AKM Hall. A retired teacher, Jale Yabansu, although she was not allowed to speak, took the microphone and said ''We have been always fooled by nice promises. We have economic problems.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)

NO BODY CAN BE INVOLVED IN OUR AFFAIRS
Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) decided to end the proximity talks on Cyprus if the criteria of the Turkish Cypriot side are not taken into consideration during the talks. Premier Bulent Ecevit said that ''no body has the right and power to put sanctions on us.''

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

TURKEY'S HARSH ATTITUDE
A meeting was held yesterday in the Presidential Palace in Ankara and the proximity talks on Cyprus and the paragraph of the Accession Partnership Document prepared for Turkey on the Cyprus issue were taken up. As a result, the Turkish Cypriot side decided to withdraw from the proximity talks on Cyprus. Describing the proximity talks as ''waste of time,'' TRNC President Denktas said that it is not useful to continue participating in the talks.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

FOREIGN EXCHANGE TO FLOW INTO TURKEY
Deutsche Bank, one of the powerful banks of Germany said in its report on Turkey that in return to the money outflow from Turkey worth of 2.3 billion dollars recently, there will be a foreign exchange inflow into Turkey in the coming days.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[02] INTERNATIONAL MEVLANA INFORMATION FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN ANKARA IN DECEMBER

According to a written statement released from the Culture Ministry 23 scientists from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, India, the United States, Pakistan, Iran, Britain, Italy, Kosovo, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Hungary, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany and Egypt will attend the event. Turkey will be represented by 24 scientists at the festival. The participants will also be invited to the Sheb-i Arus ceremonies in Konya on Dec. 17.

Culture Minister Istemihan Talay said Mevlana is a philosopher who will be a guide to humanity with his virtueous and human principles. He also stated that the festival would prove that Mevlana's views are accepted in a very wide geography. The representations that will be read out at the festival will stress that Anatolia is the center of love and tolerance, he said.

[03] TURKEY'S EMBASSY IN BERLIN HAS ''HOT-LINE'' ON INTERNET

The Embassy said in a written statement on Saturday that those Turkish citizens who have been victims of racist attacks, can apply to the hot-line on the internet and ask for help.

The citizens can also call the phone numbers 030-275 85 0 or send faxes to 030-275 90 915.

[04] STATE MINISTER ONAL SAYS CENTRAL BANK

Onal evaluated the latest developments in markets at a press conference on Saturday.

Noting that foreign currency sales and purchase was free in Turkey, Onal said the foreign currency reserves in the Central Bank which are already quite strong will become even richer after Turkey receives the funds that will come from the World Bank starting on Dec. 21 and the joint financing from Japan.

He said there was no possibility of limiting foreign currency.

Onal thanked to President Sezer for approving the law regarding the sales of the public banks. He noted that the banks have to remain under Parliament's control until their public share drops below 50 percent.

[05] FM TOP OFFICIALS LOGOGLU AND ALPTUNA TO HAVE CONTACTS IN EU COUNTRIES

The Ministry said that the EU Council is expected to take up again the Accession Partnership Document prepared for Turkey on December 4. The Council couldn't give a decision about the Document in its meeting on November 20.

Ministry pointed out to the importance of explaining the views of Turkey about the Document once again before this meeting. Logoglu and Alptuna will visit the EU countries within the scope of the contacts of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, between 27 November and December 1.

[06] HADEP PROVINCIAL OFFICER TAKEN INTO CUSTODY

Adana State Security Court (DGM) ordered a search in Seyhan and Yuregir offices of HADEP. During the search, Fatih Sanli, Deputy Provincial Officer Mustafa Campinar, Secretary Resit Gultekin, Head of the Youth organizations Bayram Altitemiz and members Mehmet Akif Cana, Salih Erdem, Kemal Acar, Zulkuf Tezkorkmaz, Abdurrahman Yakut and Emin Duman were detained.

After their interrogation at the security, Bayram Altitemiz, Mehmet Akif Cana, Serdar Erdem and Kemal Acar were arrested while others were released.

[07] JUSTICE MINISTRY SAYS THERE ARE 805 HUNGER-STRIKERS IN PRISONS

Issuing a written statement, the Ministry of Justice's Press and Public Relations Office said that the prisoners who were convicted of terrorist crimes went to hunger strike to protest against government plans to transfer inmates from large wards to cells, which are called F-type prisons.

Some of these hunger strikes transformed into ''death fast'' since November 19 the Ministry said, adding that these hunger strikers demand the closure of the F-type prisons, abolishment of the Anti-Terrorism Act No. 3713, the abolishment of the protocol signed between the Ministries of Justice, Interior and Health and closure of the State Security Courts (DGM).

''F-type prisons are in line with the standarts of prisons determined by the United Nations and the COE Committee of Ministers. Besides they are more suitable for prisoners as they have traning, health, sports and psycho- social counselling facilities. Hunger strikes won't impede building of maximum security prisons. According to the information we received, it is understood that certain prisoners were forced to go on hunger strikes. We expect the hunger strikes to end in prisons,'' the statement added.

[08] STATE MINISTER YALOVA SAYS THERE WILL BE NO TRUST FOR

Yalova told the A.A that politics and politicians are approached with suspicion because of the public banks.

Although not included in activities with the IMF and the World Bank, Yalova said he presented the draft law to privatize Vakifbank.

Regarding the privatization of Ziraat Bank, Halkbank, and Emlakbank, Yalova said ''President Sezer has reasons to be reluctant regarding the three public banks. The inspection over banks should have continued until the public share dropped below 50 percent. ''Our President approved the law pointing to this handicap because it was one of the most important legs of the economic stability programme,'' he explained.

Sumer Holding was paid 1 billion 425 million U.S. dollars, Turkish Airlines was paid 466 million U.S. dollars, EBK was paid 360 million U.S. dollars and SEKA was paid 185 million U.S. dollars as a part of privatization activities, Yalova said.

''The economic stability programme cannot be achieved without a successful privatization,'' he asserted.

[09] NINTH PRESIDENT DEMIREL LEAVES FOR NEW YORK

Speaking at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport before his departure, Demirel said that he will participate in the first meeting that will be held in New York on Sunday as a member of the Fact-Finding Committee.

Demirel said that the working programme and working methods will be determined in the meeting, adding that ''I hope the Committee will find the facts that will help peace.''

[10] STATE MINISTER ONAL SAYS BANKING SECTOR

Speaking in the press briefing, Onal said that people who publish incorrect news, who gossip, who spread rumours about the banking sector, will pay the price of doing that.

Such kind of speculations have negative effects on the financial markets which operate within the framework of principles of respect and trust.

''All banks and other mediating financial institutions which all operate in the banking sector should be in full solidarity for the healty operation of the banking sector,'' said Onal.

Onal said that the interest rates increased and the stocks and bonds lost value due to the artificial crisis of lack of trust created in the banking sector.

The government aims at formation of the banking sector's independent and competing infrastructure, said Onal and added that the Banking Inspection and Regulation Board started its activities.

Onal added that the government is resolved to solve the economic, political and social problems of Turkey.

The three-year economic stability programme of Turkey will continue to be implemented and the activities of privatization, reconstruction and structural reforms will be speeded up.

[11] IMKB CHAIRMAN BIRSEN SAYS IMKB HOLDS BIGGEST SHARE IN KYRGYZ

Birsen said IMKB had a share of 27.5 percent in the Kyrgyz stock market which is the biggest share.

''This shows that we take the issue of advancing our cooperation very seriously. This is an important development of the last one year.

Drawing attention to the ongoing efforts in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, Birsen said the positive results they obtained from their first activities will be a motivation for them to reach their targets.

[12] TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO BRITAIN HAKTANIR SAYS THE INDEPENDENT WRITER

Haktanır said that 1915 was one of the violent years of the First World War, adding that Fisk tries to politically abuse the issue of Armenians who were claimed to die in Anatolia in this period, against the modern Turkish Republic. Haktanır stressed that the situation of Anatolia was very bad those times because of the War and many Armenians and Turks died due to clashes, hunger and epidemics, recounting that more than 3 million Turks died during the War.

Haktanır said that there is no evidence proving that the Ottoman Empire's government had the desire of annihilating Armenians, reminding an instruction published by the Ottoman government in 1915 aiming at protecting the lives and properties of Armenian citizens.

Haktanır stressed that the newspaper included the views of the Turkish side, yet this was also insufficient. ''You should have also included the official view of the British government,'' Haktanır said.

Haktanır said that the British government does not accept that there has been a genocide committed against Armenians in 1915-1916, adding that the readers of the paper would prefer to know about the dreadful crimes committed against humanity today, rather than the historical events that took place 85 years ago and which had to be dealt by historians.

''Fisk also ignores the existance of thousands of Turks who were killed by Armenians in the same dates,'' said Haktanır and noted that Armenians attacked eastern Van province on April 11, 1915 by making cooperation with Russians and killed all the population there except the Armenians.

Stressing that the Areminans living throughout Anatolia at those times were less than 1,5 million (actually their population in 1914 was 1,295,000), Haktanır said this shows that the claims saying that 1,5 million Armenians were killed are all baseless.

There is no consistency in the various articles of Robert Fisk, said Haktanır adding that he always gives different numbers regarding the genocide claims.

Accusing Fisk for his biased attitude, Haktanır added that Fisk also ignores the genocide committed by Armenians on Azerbaijani people in Upper Karabakh. ''In fact those who commit this crime are people who live today, '' said Haktanır.

Haktanır said that the aim of such publications is to cause hatred feelings among the readers.

[13] MHP ACTING LEADER VURAL CALLS ON EU TO ACT MORE CONSISTENT

The EU has lost the credibility it displayed on the Accession Partnership Document, Vural said and asked the EU to be more consistent. ''The solution of the Cyprus problem is obvious. We are supporting Rauf Denktas. What is important is to reach a solution in the international community,'' he asserted.

Vural stated that the part of the Accession Partnership Document on Cyprus was not acceptable.

Dwelling on the so-called Armenian genocide, Vural said ''there have been unfortunate statements regarding the so-called Armenian genocide at the European Parliament.'' ''There are no genocides in the history of the Turkish nation. We find the views of the European Parliament very surprising and we are calling on the EU organs to better understand the realities.''

On the amnesty issue which has been on Turkey's agenda for two years, Vural said he had some reservations regarding the amnesty. ''Those who aim to damage the state's unity, mafias and gangs should not be forgiven. He also said that his party would work very hard to pass the amnesty law before Ramadan.

''We are supporting the bank operations. There is no need for worry. The savings are under protection,'' he said regarding the bank operations.

[14] 8TH EUROPEAN VEGETERIANS ASSOCIATION'S CONGRESS TO BE

Victor Ananias, founder of the Wheat Ecologic Life Services who spoke at the meeting at Crowne Plaza Hotel said he has been a vegeterian for 29 years. ''Vegeterianism is not a religion for us, it is a type of diet which offers various and balanced options to individuals especially in modern life,'' he said. Ananias also indicated that there were many people who don't eat meat in Turkey who are not labeled as vegeterians.

''Ecologic agriculture is very important to spread the vegeterian diet. Turkey is still one of the best countries for ecologic production. This should be supported,'' he elaborated.

Expert pharmacian Levent Gokgunnec who is a member of the Scientific Council of the Congress said vegeterians have a lower risk of cancer, and diseases related to veins and heart. He also stated that people who don't eat meat are less aggressive compared to meat eaters. Gokgunnec also indicated that the B-12 vitamin which is found in meat can be replaced by royal jelly and fresh water algea.

The 8th Vegeterians Association Congress will be held in Crowne Plaza Hotel on Sept. 29- Oct.4, 2001.

Experts will discuss various studies carried out on vegeterianism which is getting more common every day in western countries. Vegeterian dishes prepared by local organic products will be offered to the guests throughout the congress.

[15] DEMONSTRATORS PROTEST F TYPE PRISONS IN ANKARA

Demonstrators, who mostly came from outside of Ankara, shouted slogans and walked from the Ataturk Cultural Center to Sihhiye district.

Members from the Human Rights Association (IHD), People's Democracy Party (HADEP), Freedom and Democracy Party (ODP), several labours unions and non- governmental organizations also attended the march. Swedish parliamentarians Agneta Norberg and Annita Bullberg were also among the protestors.

Representatives of the political parties said the F type prison's aim was to punish the intellectuals. They also claimed that there are efforts to forgive the gang members through the amnesty law.

People who have children in prisons delivered speeches and read poetry at the demonstration. Later the crowd dispersed peacefully.

Security forces took wide security measures at Abdi Ipekci Park.

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