Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-12-29

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

29 DECEMBER 2000

Friday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

WIFE OF TURKISH AMBASSADOR CHOSEN AS AMBASSADRESS OF 2000
Cag Akyol, the wife of Nihat Akyol, Turkey's Permanent Representative to the European Union (EU), was chosen as ''the Ambassadress of 2000.'' The Diplomatic News, the most efficient magazine in the EU circles and Europe, chosen Cag Akyol as ''the Ambassadress of 2000.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

IMF LOAN IN TREASURY
The supplemental reserve facility credit provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Turkey was deposited in the account of the Treasury on Thursday. A total of 2.8 billion U.S. dollars of 10.4 billion U.S. dollar loan was extended to Turkey on Thursday. The total of the supplemental reserve facility credit will be provided to Turkey in portions within a year. Within this framework, two portions worth of SDR 867.6 million (about US$1.1 billion) will be extended on January 20 and February 20, and four portions worth of SDR 578.4 billion (about US$ 750 million) will be granted on March 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15. Despite these, Turkey can withdraw almost 280 million U.S. dollars every three months within the scope of the Stand-By agreement.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

EID AL-FITR AND NEW YEAR CELEBRATION FROM SEZER TO FRIENDLY COUNTRIES
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer called his Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkmen, Uzbek and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) counterparts on the phone to mark their Eid al-Fitr and the new year. Sezer conveyed his and Turkish nation's best wishes to the people of these friendly sister countries.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

TUYGAN IN WESTERN THRACE
Ali Tuygan, the Turkish Ambassador to Greece, visited Western Thrace due to the Eid al-Fitr. Tuygan said that the further improvement of Turkish-Greek relations will have positive impacts on the Turkish minorities in Western Thrace.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

INTENSE HISTORICAL EXCAVATIONS
The historical artifacts in Anatolia, which was the craddle of many civilizations and cultures including the Assyrian, Hittite, Lydian, Urartian, Seljuk, Byzantine and the Ottoman, are being unearthed by excavations. The Culture Ministry and the universities are carrying out 48 archeological excavations while 33 excavations are being carried out by foreign experts. Officials of the Culture Ministry said that nine excavations are carried out in Antalya, six in and around Izmir, five in Mugla, three in Bursa, three in Canakkale, two each in Aydin, Corum, Eskisehir, Icel, Van and Aksaray. The foreign scientists who carry out excavations in Turkey are mainly comprised of the U.S. scientists, the officials noted, adding that the German, Italian, Belgian, Austrian, French, Australian, and Japanese scientists also take part in the excavations in Turkey.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

HOLIDAY STARTED WITH SNOW BUT WILL END WITH WARM WEATHER
The long holiday had started with snow. But, warm and rainy weather will influence the west and central parts of Turkey in the following days. The temperature will increase 5-6 degrees Celcius in the central parts.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

AMNESTY CANNOT BE GRANTED TO TRAITORS
Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Deputy Prime Minister, said that they believe that they have to be sensitive about some issues within the framework of the principle of equality. Bahceli said, ''we have to see the difference between a teenager stealing dessert from a shop and those who empty the banks' coffers.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

-JUSTICE MINISTRY:
-''CLAIMS THAT SOME INMATES WERE KILLED BY GUNFIRE OR BY
SETTING THEM ABLAZE DURING THE OPERATIONS IN PRISONS ARE NOT TRUE''
ANKARA - The Justice Ministry said on Thursday that the claims that some inmates were killed by gunfire or by setting them ablaze during the operations in the prisons are not true.

A statement of the Justice Ministry said that the Republican chief prosecutor's offices started to investigate such allegations.

The statement noted that some newspapers published unreal news about the conditions and implementations in the F type prisons.

The inmates who were transferred to F type prisons were searched when they came to the prison, the statement said, adding that the inmates were not treated badly in the F type prisons.

There are not any problems resulting from the central heating system in the F type prison, the statement noted.

The statement continued, ''the prison administrators permitted the families of the inmates to bring clothes to their children. The prison administration also gave clothes, shoes, slippers and socks to the inmates who demanded them. The inmates are not forced to wear similar clothes. The inmates continue to wear their own clothes if they want to. Clean and new matresses were given to all the inmates in the F type prisons.''

''Under the regulations, it is obligatory to shelter the juvenile inmates in separate places. To this end, an inmate who was below 18 years old and who was transferred to Ankara-Sincan F type prison was put to a separate room. Since there is not any other juvenile inmate in the prison, this inmate has to stay in the room alone,'' the statement said.

The statement noted that under the circulars of the Ministry, the inmates who are on hunger strikes and death fasts, are put in separate rooms.

The statement continued, ''these inmates are given sugared water, salt and liquids. Doctors are checking these inmates every day and the inmates, whose health conditions are critical, are transferred to hospitals. The claims that some inmates were killed by gunfire and by setting them ablaze during the operations in prisons are not true.''

''As it was seen by the programmes of the television channels, the inmates were urged to death by the so-called leaders of the terrorist organizations. We can never forget how the so-called leaders set their own friends on fire by tying them on the doors. The claims saying that the inmates transferred to F type prisons were tortured do not have any other target than distorting the realities. The Republican chief prosecutor's offices launched investigation into these claims,'' the statement added.

-JUSTICE MINISTER TURK SAYS PROTESTS IN PRISONS DIRECTED FROM OUTSIDE
AKCAAABAT - Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said on Thursday that the protests in the prisons were mainly directed from outside.

Turk visited Besikduzu, Carsibasi, Akcaabat and Tonya townships of northeastern Trabzon province due to Eid al-Fitr.

Addressing the reporters, Turk said, ''for example, one of the terrorist organizations is centered in Brussels. The terrorist organization can give instructions to its members from that center during the process. This is not a secret. We were receiving e-mails that the protests, the death fasts would continue.''

Turk added, ''we have launched initiatives in Belgian authorities to put an end to the activities of this center which is apparently working as an information center. These initiatives continue. In this context, the protests were directed from outside. But, those who are in Belgium are people who departed from Turkey. Other countries are weak in one point. That is, they permit the activities of terrorist organizations to comply with democracy as in Fehriye Erdal case.''

-EARTHQUAKE JOLTS VAN
VAN - A minor earthquake jolted eastern Van province on Friday.

Officials of the Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Center and Seismology Institute said that an earthquake jolted southeast of Van Lake around 2.35 a.m.

The officials said that the earthquake was measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale.

The earthquake was felt in and around Van, the officials noted, adding that there were no report of casulties in the earthquake.

-EXPORTS TO AFRICA AND ASIA
GAZIANTEP - The Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region exported 11 million 278 U.S. dollar agricultural products to Africa in the first eleven months of 2000.

The region exported 5 million 141 thousand U.S. dollar agricultural products to Asia in the same period.

Exports to Africa increased 1 percent while exports to Asia climbed 28.9 percent between January and November 2000 when compared with the same period last year.

The figures of the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union indicated that 1 million 69 thousand U.S. dollar cereals, leguminosae, oil seeds and products, 922 thousand U.S. dollar dried fruit and 9 million 287 thousand U.S. dollar textile products were exported to African countries between January and November 2000.

The region exported 978 thousand U.S. dollar cereals, leguminosae, oil seeds and products, 224 thousand U.S. dollar dried fruit, and 3 million 939 thousand U.S. dollar textile products to Asia in the same period.

Algeria ranked the first in the exports to African countries with 3 million 844 thousandU.S. dollars while Iran came the first among Asian countries with 2 million 358 thousand U.S. dollars.

-HARRAN ATTRACTS TOURISTS WITH ITS HISTORICAL SITES
SANLIURFA - Harran township of southeastern Sanliurfa province attracts the tourists with its conical domed houses and ruins of the first university in the world.

Officials of Tourism Provincial Directorate told A.A correspondent on Friday that the number of tourists visiting Harran increased 50 percent this year when compared with last year.

The officials said that Harran, which is 44 kilometres away from Sanliurfa, attracts the tourists with the written documents coming from some 11,000 years ago and with the ruins of the first university in the world.

Mathematician Sabit Bin Kurra, astronomy scholar Battani, Cabir Ibn-i Hayyan who was considered as the inventor of atom, and religion scholar Ibn- i Teymiyye were scientists who were educated in the Harran University, the officials noted.

The officials said that as the excavations which were launched in Harran in 1983 are completed, the history of the township will be brought to daylight.

''The Han-el Bar'rur Caravanserai which is 20 kilometres away from the township, Suayb city which is 30 kilometres away, and Sogmatar city which is 45 kilometres away, are the places that should be visited. Ulu Mosque is another historical place that should be seen,'' the officials said.

The officials noted that 4,273 foreign tourists visited Harran last year, adding that this number increased 50 percent this year.

-JUSTICE MINISTER TURK:
-''SOME NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
SUPPORT DEATH FASTS. THIS IS VERY WRONG''
DERNEKPAZARI - Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said on Friday that some no-governmental organizations support the death fasts and that this is very wrong.

Turk visited Caykara and Dernekpazari townships of northeastern Trabzon province due to Eid al-Fitr.

Turk told reporters that these organizations should stop supporting the death fasts.

''Everybody should behave with responsibility against these protests. However, some non-governmental organizations are supporting these protests. This is very wrong. This means encouraging people to commit suicide. The relatives of the inmates and the non-governmental organizations should take joint action to persuade the inmates to stop their protests to prevent any losses of lives,'' Turk said.

Noting that the state has done what was necessary to put an end to the death fasts, Turk said, ''those who were on hunger strikes or death fasts due to the pressure of the terrorist organizations were saved. But, some inmates continue their resistance. Some circles support these inmates.''

Emphasizing that the doctors should fulfil their responsibilities regarding the death fasts, Turk went on saying, ''the aim of being a doctor is saving a person's life regarless of what the cost may be. Saving people's lives is the highest ethical value for the doctors. We expect the lawyers to fulfil their responsibilities. The state has saved those who continued their protests due to the pressure of the terrorist organizations. Now, we expect the doctors to do their best to end these protests and to save the inmates whose health conditions are serious.''

-TURKEY HOSTS MAINLY GERMAN TOURISTS FOR THREE YEARS
ISTANBUL - Turkey hosted mainly the German tourists for the last three years.

Officials of the Tourism Ministry said on Friday that 9 million 978 thousand 457 people visited Turkey in the first eleven months of 2000.

The officials noted that 2 million 150 thousand 425 Germans came to Turkey in 1998 while this number was 1 million 344 thousand 212 in 1999 and 2 million 191 thousand 928 in the first eleven months of 2000.

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, including Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia and Turkish republics, were the second country from where tourists rushed to Turkey, the officials stated.

The officials said that 1 million 254 thousand 660 people from CIS countries came to Turkey in 1998 while this number was 994 thousand 230 in 1999 and 1 million 305 thousand 391 in the first eleven months of this year.

Britain ranked the third in the number of tourists visiting Turkey, the officials pointing out, adding that 987,485 British people came to Turkey in 1998 and this number was 806,307 in 1999 and 897,897 in 2000.

The American, French, Dutch, Iranian, Bulgarian, Austrian, Israeli, Yugoslavian, Romanian, Belgian, Italian and Greek were the other nations visiting Turkey in 2000, the officials noted.

The officials added that almost 3 million 200 thousand tourists preferred Antalya while 2 million 250 thousand tourists preferred Istanbul and 1 million 350 preferred Mugla.

-JUSTICE MINISTER TURK:
-''NUMBER OF INMATES IN THREE F TYPE PRISONS IS 1,029''
HAYRAT - Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said on Friday taht the number of inmates in the three F type prisons in 1,029.

Turk told reporters that 496 inmates continue hunger strikes while 220 inmates are death fasting.

''Six death fasting inmates have been hospitalized. Sixteen inmates who were death fasting in Kocaeli prison and nine people who were on hunger strikes ended their protests yesterday. We are trying to put an end to the protests. The health teams in the hospitals are working 24 hours a day. The health teams are continuously checking the conditions of the death fasting inmates,'' Turk said.

Upon questions on the claims that inmates are tortured in F type prisons, Turk said, ''there is not any torture in prisons. Our Ministry has released the necessary statement. These claims are unreal. But, unfortunately, some press organs exaggerate the news. The press organs which publish these news should also publish the statements of the Justice Ministry. Otherwise, they cannot be objective and impartial. But, we consider such news as tip-offs and to this end, we launch investigation.''

Responding to another question, Turk noted that some people have been making baseless propogandas about the F type prisons to blacken these prisons.

Turk said, ''there were some deficiencies in these prisons in the first days but all of these deficiencies have been overcome. There is not any torture in the prisons.''

When asked whether or not there are any inmates who died of death fasts, Turk said that there were not any inmates who died of such protests.

-EXPORTERS TO ATTEND INTERNATIONAL FAIRS IN 2001
ANKARA - Turkish exporters will attend International Cairo Fair and International Tripoli Fair.

A statement of the Forum Fair Organization said on Friday that the International Cairo Fair will be held between March 21 and 30, 2001 and that foodstuff, textile products, plastic tools, leather products, paper, refrigerators, chemicals, automotive and by-industry products and forestry products will be displayed in the fair.

The statement noted that the International Tripoli Fair will be organized between April 2 and 12, 2001.

Iran-steel products, foodstuff, cement, prefabricated huts, construction materials, home devices, computers, medicine and medical equipment, furniture and agricultural machines will be exhibited in Tripoli, the statement added.

-OFFICE OF GENERAL STAFF:
-''HIGH-RANKING OFFICIALS OF TURKISH ARMED FORCES MANY TIMES REITERATED
THAT THE ARMED FORCES IS NOT AGAINST TURKEY'S INTEGRATION WITH EU''
ANKARA - The Office of General Staff said on Friday that the high-ranking officials of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) many times reiterated that the Armed Forces is not against Turkey's integration with the European Union (EU).

A statement of the Office of General Staff said that a newspaper dated December 25, 2000 published a story titled ''Soldier Said 2010'' referring to the TSK in a briefing given during the visit that the French National Security Academy paid to Turkey.

The statement noted that this story led to the comments of some commentators in some press organs in the following days.

The TSK is having military cooperation with many countries within the framework of the bilateral relations, NATO, Partnership for Peace (PfP), Mediterranean dialogue, and regional initiatives, the statement pointed out.

The statement stressed that in this context, 400-500 foreign delegations a year and almost 30-35 delegations a months are visiting Turkey as the guest of the TSK and that official briefings and social activities are organized during these visits.

The statement continued, ''in the end of the investigations carried out, it was revealed that a delegation from the French National Security Academy visited National Security Academy and an official briefing was given to the guest delegation. It was also revealed that the questions were responded but that no statement saying that Turkey cannot integrate with the EU before 2010 was made.''

''It can be understood that the journalist who wrote the story and titled his story as ''Soldier Said 2010'' used this expression by the impressions he got from other contacts and social activities. Also, the mentioned delegation did not visit the Chief of Staff Headquarters. As it had earlier been announced, the TSK expresses its official views about the EU in legal platforms like about every other issue. To this end, the personal views of those who express their ideas in the press organs or certain receptions do not bind the TSK,'' the statement said.

That some circles trying to show the TSK as if it was against the integration with the EU does not reflect the realities,'' the statement said.

The statement noted that the only aim of the TSK is protecting the welfare of the Turkish nation and the unity and integrity of the country and providing the existence of the Republic of Turkey.

The TSK is determined to continue to support every issue which is in the benefit of Turkish nation and country, the statement emphasized.

The statement added, ''the TSK is announcing its views about the issues which not only concern the EU integration but also our security in legal platforms. To this end, we want to emphasize that any personal views expressed in any atmosphere due to any reason by people except the officials do not bind TSK and the comments made by depending on such statements will not reflect the realities.''

-CEYLANPINAR HEAD OFFICIAL UMIT:
-''3,102 PEOPLE FROM SYRIA ENTERED INTO CEYLANPINAR IN TWO DAYS''
CEYLANPINAR - Ahmet Umit, the Head Official of Ceylanpinar township of southeastern Sanliurfa province, said on Friday that 3,102 people from Syria entered into Ceylanpinar in two days due to the Eid al-Fitr.

Umit told A.A correspondent that all of the Syrian families who had applied to come to Turkey during the Eid al-Fitr, could not come to Turkey.

A total of 450 families came to Turkey on the second day of the Eid al-Fitr and 716 families on the third day, Umit noted.

Umit added that the families who entered into Turkey on Thursday will start to return to their country.

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