Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-01-09

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

09 JANUARY

2001 Tuesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

LEADERS REACH COMPROMISE ON CONSTITUTION
The leaders of the coalition parties reached a compromise on the constitutional amendment. Premier Bulent Ecevit, Deputy Prime Ministers Devlet Bahceli, Mesut Yilmaz and Husamettin Ozkan, and Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk had a meeting. Following the meeting, Ecevit said that there were not any problems regarding the amendment. Ecevit said that the amendment was the duty of the parliament rather than the government.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

LUNAR ECLIPSE TO BE OBSERVED TODAY
Lunar eclipse can be observed from Turkey today. A statement of the Istanbul University said that the lunar eclipse can be watched between 5.00 p.m. and midnight. Residents of Istanbul can observe the lunar eclipse from the observatory center in Beyazit district.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

U.N. REPORT SAYS RADIATION AFFECTS MARMARA REGION
A report prepared by United Nations and Council of Europe experts said the radiation emitted from the bombs with DU in clashes in Kosovo is affecting all the Balkans. According to the report, Greece has the highest risk of radiation followed by Turkey's Marmara region.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

ECEVIT SAYS COALITION PARTIES AGREED ON CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE
Coalition partners have agreed to change the article 69 of the Constitution to make the closure of political parties more difficult. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that there was no disagreement among the parties on this matter. Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk has said that the change would give assurance to political parties but at the same time it would not cancel the authority of the Constitutional Court.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

DEAN OF THEOLOGY DEPARTMENT STABBED
Zekeriya Beyaz, the dean of the Theology Department of Marmara University, who called on the female students not to wear a head scarves, was stabbed yesterday. Beyaz was stabbed during a conference about the head scarf issue in the universities and an unidentified assailant stabbed him. The assailant, who was later caught by the security forces, and fifty students were detained about the incident.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

SECOND AIRPORT OF ISTANBUL INAUGURATED
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, the second airport of Istanbul was inaugrated yesterday. The airport will be the ninth international airport of Turkey. One military plane and two planes of Turkish Airlines (THY) landed in the airport yesterday. The domestic flights of THY from this airport will start on January 22-23.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

FOUR OF SUNKEN SHIP SUSPECTS IMPRISONED
A court decided to imprison Tayfun Yelken and Murat Yilmaz, two officials of Ray Navigation who were detained in connection with the ship accident in southern Kemer township, and Elvir and Besnik Zahaj, Albanian crewmen in the ship. After Republican Prosecutor Yusuf Hakki Dogan took the testimonies of the suspects, they were sent to prison by the court.

-LAUNCHING OF TURKSAT 2-A POSTPONED FOR ONE DAY
ANKARA - Launching of Turkey's new satellite Turksat 2-A was postponed for one day due to bad weather conditions in French Guiana in South America.

Mehmet Toros, the Head of the Turkish Telekom Satellite Communication Center, told A.A correspondent early on Tuesday that launching of the new satellite had been delayed for one day because the atmospheric conditions for the launching of the satellite were not appropriate.

Toros said that the wind in French Guiana was over 17 meter/second and that to this end, the launching of the satellite was postponed for one day.

Launching of Turksat 2-A had been postponed for an hour on Monday due to bad weather conditions in French Guiana in South America.

-YUSUF BOZKURT OZAL, FORMER MINISTER OF STATE DIED
ANKARA - Yusuf Bozkurt Ozal, the former minister of state and the brother of former President Turgut Ozal, died early on Tuesday.

Yusuf Bozkurt Ozal was under medical treatment in Baskent University Hospital.

-SECURITY FORCES CATCH 29,501 TERRORISTS IN 14 YEARS IN
SOUTH AND SOUTH EAST TURKEY
DIYARBAKIR - Security forces in Emergency Rule Region captured more than 29, 000 terrorists in the last 14 years during operations launched against the PKK.

Emergency Rule Region Governorship authorities told the A.A that since July 19, 1987 security forces caught 29,501 terrorists in 13 cities in South and South East Turkey.

23,401 of these terrorists died in the clashes while 621 were injured. Gendarmerie teams caught 3,107 of them alive and 2,372 others surrendered to police. As a result of these operations, terrorism in the region decreased by 80 percent in 2000 compared to the previous year's figures.

Terrorist organization Hezbollah has also suffered a big blow last year. Hezbollah leader Huseyin Velioglu died in the operation launched on Jan 17, 2000 and the two other so-called top officials of the organization were captured alive. Following this date, there was a sharp increase in the number of operations against Hezbollah in South and South East Anatolia.

Between 1992 and 2000, security forces launched 2,038 operations against Hezbollah. 7,138 people who were taken into custody during these operations. The courts arrested 3,052 of these suspects while releasing the remaining 4,086.

-IS BANKASI TO BE MAIN SPONSOR IN PROTECTION OF MEDITERRANEAN SEALS
ANKARA - The Is Bankasi will be the main sponsor in the protection of the Mediterranean seals in 2001.

Cem Kirac, the coordinator of the Underwater Researches Association - Mediterranean Seal Research Group (SAD-AFAG), told A.A correspondent on Tuesday that the Is Bankasi will sponsor the AFAG for searching and protecting the Mediterranean seals which are on the brink of extinction.

Kirac said that the World Nature Foundation was the sponsor of AFAG in 2000 and that some foundations like the Henry Ford and Prince Bernhard also extended financial contributions to the research group.

The AFAG has the opportunity to make the public conscious about the Mediterranean seals and to continue its works in Foca, Bozyazi, Ankara coordination office, and newly-established Karaburun office by the contributions of the Is Bankasi, Kirac noted.

Kirac said that there are almost 50-100 Mediterranean seals in Turkey.

Noting that the Mediterranean seals live only in the shores of Turkey and Greece all over the world, Kirac said that the total number of Mediterranean seals in the world is about 400-450.

Kirac called on everybody not to turn a blind eye to the Mediterranean seals.

-TURKEY-ISRAEL MILITARY DIALOGUE MEETING STARTS IN ANKARA
ANKARA - The seventh Turkey-Israel military dialogue meeting started on Tuesday in Ankara.

Yasar Buyukanit, the deputy chief of general staff, is chairing the Turkish side while Amos Yaron, the general director of the Israeli defense ministry, is heading the Israeli side during the meeting which started at the general staff headquarters.

The military issues, the cooperation in defense industry and the other issues concerning the two countries will be debated during the meeting.

The meeting will end on Wednesday.

Officials said that these meetings held semi-annually have significant contributions to the relations and contributions between the two countries.

-U.S. SECRERATY OF DEFENSE COHEN SAYS NON-EU MEMBER NATO ALLIES
SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN PLANNING OF MILITARY OPERATIONS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen has said that non-EU member NATO allies should definitely participate in the planning of military operations which will be launched by the Rapid Reaction Force, a force of 50,000 to 60,000 capable of deploying rapidly and sustaining itself for up to a year.

Cohen, who will soon leave his post when George W. Bush takes over the presidency from Bill Clinton, criticized certain EU members for their efforts to form an independent Rapid Reaction Force rivaling NATO and to exclude Turkey from this formation in an article published in the Washington Post on Jan. 8.

''The six NATO allies currently not members of the European Union -Turkey, Norway, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Iceland- must be participants, not spectators in the planning of European-led operation that will affect their security,'' Cohen stated.

He said NATO should remain as the main organization in maintaining security in trans-Atlantic and the Rapid Reaction Force of the EU should not be its competitor.

Secondly, Cohen indicated, that Europe's strengthening its military structure should not politically divide NATO's European members into two.

''NATO faces a contest between those who favor an alliance that remains strong and flexible enough to conquer the uncertain challenges of the future and those who believe that greater European burden-sharing inevitably must lead to an independent EU security structure. With the future and fate of transatlantic security at stake, this is no sporting event. Who wins this contest really matters,'' Cohen wrote.

-CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER TANG DEPARTS FROM TURKEY
ANKARA - Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan departed from Ankara on Tuesday.

Tang Jiaxuan paid a three-day official visit to Turkey.

Chinese Foreign Minister was received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Premier Bulent Ecevit and held a meeting with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem within the framework of his contacts in Turkey.

-CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION TO DEBATE ARTICLE 69 OF CONSTITUTION
ANKARA - The Parliamentary Constitutional Commission will debate the amendments to Article 69 of the Constitution which regulates the closure of political parties, the Article 101 and the temporary article 15.

Sources said on Tuesday that after the leaders of the coalition parties agreed to change the Article 69 of the Constitution, the constitutional amedment bill will be brought to the agenda of the Parliamentary Constitutional Commission on Wednesday.

The amendment to Article 69 includes the provision saying that the members of a political party should commit a serious crime and the authorized organs of the party should extend support to this crime to close a party.

The Constitutional Court will firstly ban the political party which commits a crime from benefiting from the treasury aid. Secondly, the Court will ban the party from joining the elections. In the end, the political party will be totally closed.

The deputies who led to the closure of a political party by their actions will be deprived of their deputyships. This punishment will be given only when a political party is closed. The deputyships of the people will be maintained in the treasury aid cut and ban from elections.

The provisions saying that ''the continuation of another party'' and ''assistance from foreign countries'' will be included in the amended article.

The brief definition of ''being the focal point'' will be made in the article. The criteria for being a focal point in crimes have been fixed as ''determination'', ''continuation'' and ''intensity.''

The bill also includes amendment to Article 101 which reduces the term in office of the president to five years and enables the re-election of the president and amendment to temporary article 15 which is about the laws that were passed during the September 12 military intervention.

-DUPONT-SABANCI INTERNATIONAL LLC COMPANY STARTS OPERATING IN U.S.
ISTANBUL - Sabanci Holding and DuPont finalized their works on global cooperation in field of nylon.

Dupont Sabanci International LLC, a joint venture of Sabanci and DuPont, started operating in the U.S.

Dupont Sabanci International LLC company which was founded in the U.S. will manufacture and sell industrial nylon yarn and cord fabric.

Releasing a written statement on Tuesday, Sabanci Holding said that the company which was based in Wilmington Delaware, the U.S., became the biggest industrial nylon yarn and cord fabric manufacturer in the world and constituted ten percent of the rubber industry in the world with its 100 thousand tonnes capacity.

The companies belong to Dupont Sabanci International LLC have eight different manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Turkey, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, and Egypt.

Turkey-based Kordsa Sabanci DuPont Industrial Yarn and Cord Fabric Industry and Trade Corp. is one of the companies which belong to this global company.

The statement added the joint venture was expected to raise 600 million U.S. dollars in annual sales.

-NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU: ''AT THE MOMENT, THERE IS NOT
ANY INFORMATION RELATED WITH OUR SOLDIERS ASSIGNED IN KOSOVO''
ANKARA - National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said on Tuesday that there was not any information related with the Turkish soldiers assigned in Kosovo regarding the problems claimed to have been stemmed from use of depleted uranium ammunition in the Balkans.

Responding to questions of journalists, Cakmakoglu said that he had not received any further information except the statement made by the General Staff a few days ago.

''We are closely following the issue as we approach it very sensitively. We have two military units and mission battalion force both in Zenica and Kosovo. Our commanders have close relations with them. I ment to say that we will follow it if there is information. At the moment, there is not any information related with our soldiers and us,'' he said.

-PRESIDENT SEZER SAYS CONSTITUTION HAS TO BE
REVISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIVERSAL CRITERIA
ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Tuesday that the Constitution has to be revised according to universal criteria.

Speaking at the ''International Constitutional Law Congress,'' Sezer said that Turkey is in the process of membership to the EU.

Sezer pointed out to the superior status of the Constitution against other laws, adding that this necessitates the protection of Constitutions, but this does not impede efforts of updating and reviewing the Constitutions.

Sezer said that there are regulations in the Constitution which restrict the judiciary control of laws, adding that the Provisional Article 15 of the Constitution is one of the most important of them. Sezer said that this article says that no allegation of criminal, financial or legal responsibility shall be made, nor shall any application be filed with a court for this purpose in respect of any decisions or measures whatsoever taken by the National Security Council.

Sezer said that Article 148 of the Constitution says ''no action shall be brought before the Constitutional Court alleging the unconstitutionality as to the form or substance of decrees having the force of law, issued during a state of emergency. Sezer stressed that the principle of supremacy of law should also be valid in states of emergency which are also a constitutional regime.

Stressing that one of the most important factor of putting into practice the principles of state of law and supremacy of law is independent judiciary, Sezer said that there are some regulations in the Constitution which damage the independence of judiciary.

''Election of the members of the Constitutional Court by the President does not abide by the principles of independent judiciary and the supremacy of law,'' said Sezer.

Sezer also commented that Justice Minister's and Ministry's Undersecretary's being members of the Higher Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) is also wrong, as the two are representatives of the executive organ.

Sezer indicated that the right given by the Constitution to the parliament to adopt amnesties should also be taken back from them as amnesties caused the public's losing trust in justice and state.

Individuals must have the right of applying to the judicary organs regarding the legal acts which can affect themselves, he said.

Sezer said that the Political Parties Act should also be amended in line with the changes that were made in the Constitution regarding political parties.

The authorities given to the President show that the President is not only one organ of the executive, but head of it. The appointment of high ranking public officials should be submitted to the President for approval, the approval of the council of ministers is not enough in such appointments, he said.

Sezer said that Article 104 of the Constitution says that the President is the head of the state.

Sezer concluded his words saying that ''Turkey has to make the necessary amendments in the Constitution and other laws in order to abide by the universal norms in the field of human rights. The data of the international human rights should be reflected to our laws, and the Constitution and the laws have to be revised in accordance with the international conventions.''

-TURKEY TO HOST ONE PRESIDENT, ONE FORMER
PREMIER AND FOUR FOREIGN MINISTERS THIS MONTH
ANKARA - Turkey will be busy in hosting representatives from other countries in January.

Following the departure of Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan from Ankara, three foreign ministers will visit Turkey as the official guest of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem this month.

Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque will visit Ankara between 17-18 January, Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martony will pay a visit to Turkey between 22-23 January and the Polish Foreign Minister Bronislav Geremek between 23-24 January.

Turkey will also host Hasimoto, one of the former premiers of Japan and who is currently the state minister responsible for administrative reforms between 24-26 January and Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze on January 29.

After the visit of Jalal Talabani, the leader of the Patriotic Union for Kurdistan (PUK) who is currently in Ankara to inform Turkish officials about the developments in Northern Iraq, Massaud Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan Democrat Party (KDP) is also expected to visit Turkey.

Foreign Minister Cem will visit four countries this month. Cem, who is currently in Sudan, will visit Pakistan between 14-16 Jan., Libya between 20-21 Jan., and Switzerland between 24-27 Jan. for the World Economic Forum meeting.

-ATTACKER WHO STABBED PROF. DR. BEYAZ CAPTURED
GAZIANTEP - Halil Cihan who stabbed Marmara University Theology Faculty Dean Prof. Dr. Zekeriya Beyaz on Monday was captured in southeastern province of Gaziantep on Wednesday.

Staging a press conference, Gaziantep Governor Erhan Tanju said that Halil Cihan who was studying at the first class of the Marmara University Theology Faculty confessed that he was the person who stabbed Prof. Dr. Beyaz'.

The governor said that Cihan confessed that he had threw away the knife in the place where he stabbed Prof. Dr. Beyaz, and later escaped to his home town Gaziantep with a passenger bus.

''The suspect was captured by anti-terrorism units when he arrived in Gaziantep with a passenger bus at about 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday. Interrogation of the suspect continues. He will be given to the unit which will come from Istanbul. The knife described by the suspect is similar with the knife found in the place of attack,'' the governor added.

-FOREIGN MINISTER CEM ARRIVES IN SUDAN
KHARTOUM - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Tuesday that both Turkey and Sudan want to improve bilateral relations.

Speaking to reporters after arriving in Khartoum, Sudan as the official guest of Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Mustafa Osman Ismail, Cem said that he aims at improving economic and political relations.

Noting that the economic relations between the two countries have a great potential, Cem said that there aren't any problems in the relations between Turkey and Sudan.

Cem was welcomed by Sudanese Foreign Affairs Minister Ismail, Turkish Ambassador to Sudan Duray Polat and other officials at the Khartoum Airport.

Before meeting with Sudanese Minister Ismail and other Sudanese officials, Cem and the accompanying delegation are expected to have a boat tour in the river of Nile.

Cem will also address a seminar on ''Economic and Commercial Relations Between Turkey and Sudan,'' in which more than 30 Turkish businessmen will participate. The seminar was organized by Economic Research Foundation.

Sudan, which is the largest country of the African continent, has rich resources of oil and natural gas.

Diplomatic sources said that Sudan wants to improve its relations with Turkey in all fields, adding that Turkey shares the same view.

Noting that Sudan will play an important role in Turkey's opening policy to Africa, sources said that this country is a new and productive country for Turkey.

Issuing a statement earlier, Sudanese Minister of Foreign Affairs had said that the visit of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem to Sudan was important for them, adding that the visit would open the way for Sudan to improve its relations with European and Islamic countries.

-PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION IN PARIS
PARIS - Turkish parliamentarians said that approval of the draft resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians which will be voted at the French parliament in coming days, will play havoc with relations between Turkey and France.

The parliamentary delegation which came to French capital of Paris to prevent approval of the draft resolution, staged a press conference on Tuesday.

Addressing the press conference, Bulent Akarcali, a deputy of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said, ''if the French parliament approves the draft resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians, the Turkish parliament can request the government to impose economic sanctions on France.''

Stressing that approval of the draft resolution would play havoc with relations between the two countries, Akarcali noted that French parliamentarians should not act with the fear of losing vote.

Akarcali emphasized that especially French politicians who did not want improvement of relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU), supported the draft resolution.

Noting that they came to Paris to explain Turkey's sensitivity over the issue, Akarcali criticized French politicians who did not exchange views with Turkish politicians and historians.

Meanwhile, Tayyibe Gulek, a deputy of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), said in her part, ''parliaments do not have the right to judge historical issues. France rejects to debate what happened in Algeria in the past. But it attempts to debate a draft resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians. This is nothing but a double-standard.''

Nevzat Yalcintas, a deputy of the Virtue Party (FP), stressed that legalization of the draft law would not be beneficial for Turkey-France and Turkey-Armenia relations.

Yalcintas warned that approval of the draft resolution could revive terrorism again.

Ismail Cerrahoglu, a deputy of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said, ''the French parliamentarians are acting with the fear of losing vote. Approval of the draft resolution will damage bilateral relations.''

The delegation including Huseyin Celik, a deputy of the True Path Party (DYP); and Prof. Dr. Hasan Koni from the Ankara University; is trying to prevent approval of the draft resolution by holding contacts with representatives of political groups at the French parliament.

The draft resolution was approved by the French Senate last month, and submitted to the parliament. It will be debated at the Parliamentary Foreign Relations Commission toworrow. Later, the draft resolution will be voted on January 18, 2001.

The draft resolution says, ''France recognizes the genocide which Armenian people were exposed in 1915.''

Meanwhile, the parliamentary delegation sent letters to French parliamentarians to explain their opinions over the issue.

-JUSTICE MINISTER TURK SAYS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
HAVE TO TAKE HUMAN RIGHTS UNDER GUARANTEE
ANKARA - Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said on Tuesday that Turkey regards European law as its own legal system for 160 years.

''The constitutional changes firstly have to take human rights under guarantee, secondly they have to improve democracy and fulfil the requirements of the social and legal state,'' said Turk.

Speaking in the opening of the International Constitutional Law Congress, Turk said that constitutions are legal rules which take under guarantee human rights and which regulate the basic structure of states.

Turk said that constitutions are contracts between citizens and states, adding that constitutions are rules which have to define rules for the future.

Noting that constitutions can't be easily changed, Turk said that constitutions can also become old when circumstances change.

Turk remarked that five constitutions were adopted in Turkey in 125 years, adding that many constitutional amendments were also adopted.

''Constitutions can only be changed when a wide consensus of opinion is reached,'' said Turk.

''Political parties are indispensable elements of the democratic regime,'' said Turk, adding that they contribute to formation of the national will by their functioning. ''Parties should continue their activities in security, the amendment foreseen in Article 69 of the Constitution is on the agenda of the Parliamentary Constitutional Commission.

Stressing that decrees having the force of law (KHKs) was the result of a need, Turk said that KHKs were adopted to implement regulations when necessary.

Turk noted that the governments must have the right to make the necessary regulations to implement its programme, adding that the Constitutional Court has restricted adopting KHKs through its case law.

Turk said that there is no need in having the third paragraph of the Provisional Article 15 of the Constitution.

Provisional Article 15 of the Constitution says:

''No allegation of criminal, financial or legal responsibility shall be made, nor shall an application be filed with a court for this purpose in respect of any decisions or measures whatsoever taken by: the Council of National Security formed under Act No. 2356 which will have exercised legislative and executive power on behalf of the Turkish Nation from 12 September 1980 to the date of the formation of the Bureau of the Turkish Grand National Assembly which is to convene following the first general elections; the governments formed during the term of office of the Council, or the Consultative Assembly which has exercised its functions under Act No. 2485 on the Constituent Assembly.

The provisions of the above paragraphs shall also apply in respect of persons who have taken decisions and adopted or implemented measures as part of the implementation of such decisions and measures by the administration or by the competent organs, authorities and officials. No allegation of unconstitutionality shall be made in respect of decisions or measures taken under laws or decrees having force of law enacted during this period or under Act No. 2324 on the Constitutional Order.''

-ANAP LEADER YILMAZ SAYS SOME CIRCLES IN EUROPE
LAUNCH EFFORTS TO IMPEDE TURKEY'S MEMBERSHIP
ANKARA - Mesut Yżlmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) and deputy premier said on Tuesday that some circles in Europe try to impede Turkey's membership to the European Union (EU) overtly and covertly.

Yżlmaz stated that ''unbelievable impediments are put forward against Turkey,'' adding that ''they try to make us reject EU membership.''

Speaking in his party group meeting, Yżlmaz said that the first months of 2001 are particularly important for Turkey.

Focusing on the relations of Turkey with the EU, Yżlmaz said that ''everybody has to know that the existing relations between Turkey and the EU are the results of developments which have been very difficult for Turkey. The EU didn't want to invite Turkey, on the contrary it is Turkey which wanted to join the EU.''

Noting that the decisions of Helsinki Summit where the EU recognized the membership status to Turkey constitute a turning point, Yżlmaz said that the candidacy status given to Turkey has been discussed seriously in Europe and these discussions still continued.

The balances in Europe and the world caused the opening of the EU doors to Turkey, said Yżlmaz and noted that the attitude of Turkey after Luxembourg summit and the governments in Europe have eased that.

Yżlmaz said that there is an increase in the number of people in Europe after Helsinki summit who have negative attitude towards Turkey, adding that there are some people in Europe who are against Turkey's membership to the EU in respect of their interests.

''There are people in Europe who don't want Turkey in Europe. Some of them say directly that they don't want Turkey. Others have a more covert policy. They want us to reject the EU. In fact, those who want Turkey to be a member of the EU due to strategic reasons don't want this to come true in a short period of time. If Turkey joins the EU with its population of 65 million, they are afraid of its economic difficulties. Thus, they are trying to delay the membership. They want Turkey to keep waiting in front of the EU's door in candidacy status. Turkey is the one which must be uneasy about it. It is again Turkey which must end this ambiguity and which must become a member of the EU. We mustn't leave this issue to the EU,'' said Yżlmaz.

The Accession Partnership Document prepared by the EU for Turkey lists many things that must be done by Turkey in order to become a EU member, said Yżlmaz. ''But we do something wrong here in Turkey. We just pick up two or three issues which are sensitive for us among them. And we focus our debate on them. Such a discussion method is against the interests of Turkey, we must solve this issue. In fact, we can solve these issues by compromise and in time. We must evaluate well the advantages of Turkey by joining the EU. The issues should not be introduced as if it is only an issue of broadcasting in Kurdish,'' said Yżlmaz.

Yżlmaz said that the National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA), which includes Turkey's official commitments in return to the Accession Partnership Document will be prepared.

The draft of the NPAA will be taken up in the leaders summit and then it will be published.

Yżlmaz said that after the adoption of the Accession Partnership Document prepared by Turkey at the European Parliament, Frame Regulation which includes financial obligations of the EU will be adopted so that Turkey can fulfil the things that are required.

Yżlmaz pointed out that a new period will start in the relations between Turkey and the EU, adding that it is the performance of Turkey which will determine Turkey's participation in the EU.

-DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SECURITY BRIEFS JOURNALISTS
ON LAST YEAR'S OPERATIONS
ANKARA - Directorate General of Security briefed journalists on Tuesday on last year's operations.

Turan Genc, the director general of security, said, ''a total of 9,748,327 foreigners entered Turkey in 2000. 9,393,355 of them left Turkey later. Most of the foreigners visiting Turkey were Germans, Britons and Russians. Security forces captured 94,514 people who entered Turkey illegally. Most of the illegal immigrants were Iraqi citizens. 31,399 foreigners were involved in several crimes in Turkey.''

Referring to traffic accidents, Genc told reporters, ''rate of death in traffic accidents decreased by 15 percent. A total of 420,854 traffic accidents occurred in different parts of Turkey last year. 3,628 people lost their lives in accidents, and 105,216 others were injured.''

Genc said, ''directorate of struggle against smuggling and organized crimes launched 11 operations last year. 367 people were captured in these operations. 3 quadrillion 666 trillion Turkish liras have been provided to the state budget as a result of these operations.''

He noted, ''security forces launched 2,872 operations against illicit drug traffickers. 6,359 people were captured in the operations. Security forces impounded 24,774 kg of hashish, 5,257 kg of heroin, 1,288 kg of base morphine, 8 kg of cocaine, 757,769 captagon pills, 34,289 extacy pills.''

''The anti-terrorism department revealed that the terrorist organization PKK had changed its tactics following capture of its head Abdullah Ocalan. The terrorist organization PKK held its seventh congress in January of 2000. During the congress, the organization decided to focus on political activities. Training of terrorists are continuing in camps in Northern Iraq and Iran,'' he told reporters.

Genc said, ''extreme leftist illegal organizations such as the Turkish Workers and Peasant Liberation Army (TKP/ML-TIKKO) and the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP/C), had staged several activities in Istanbul, Tokat and Tunceli. Security forces captured leading names of these organizations in the operations. Two security officials were killed in incidents at prisons, 17 soldiers were injured. 30 inmates burnt themselves to death and 133 inmates were injured.''

Referring to operations against terrorist Hezbollah organization, Genc said, ''3,300 members of the Hezbollah organization were captured in operations. Security forces confiscated 298 long-range weapons, 427 pistols, 413 bombs, 31 rocket-launchers and a mortar in the operations. Bodies of 67 people who were tortured to death by the terrorist Hezbollah organization, were exhumed. 34 of these victims were identified.''

Genc told reporters, ''in the operation launched to find murderers of Ugur Mumcu, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taner Kislali, Prof. Dr. Muammer Aksoy, Bahriye Ucok, 164 people were captured. Four long-range weapons, 36 pistols, 5 rifles, 8 flame-throwers and a great deal of explosives were seized during the operation.''

-PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ASSEMLY RELEASES A DECLARATION ON DRAFT
RESOLUTION ON SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS IN FRANCE
ANKARA - The parliamentary general assembly released a declaration on Tuesday about the draft resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians which will be voted at the French parliament in coming days.

The declaration which was read out by Murat Sokmenoglu, the acting speaker of parliament, said, ''parliaments can only contribute to consolidation of friendship, tolerance, mutual understanding and international peace.''

Recalling that the draft resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians would be debated at the French parliament on January 18, the declaration said, ''the draft resolution was taken to the parliamentary agenda with fears of losing vote. It was based on distortion of historical facts and prejudices. Legalization of the draft law will cause removal of freedom of thought and expression, and freedom of issuing scientific researches. The French parliament will pre-determine results of researches on the World War I by approving the draft law. Different results in scientific researches will violate the law. Historians' efforts to reveal facts will be prevented by the law.''

''Turkey has been expending efforts to put into practice Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's principle of 'Peace at the Home, Peace in the World' since its foundation. The parliament wants relations with France to further improve. But improvement of bilateral relations depends on French parliament's assuming a similar attitude,'' it said.

Recalling that France, a member of the United Nations Security Council, was responsible for protection of international peace and security, the declaration stressed, ''if the French parliament approves such a draft resolution, it cannot be loyal to the principle of impartiality. In this case, all steps taken by a partial France in the Caucasus and in other parts of the world to settle peace and stability will create concerns in Turkey.''

It noted, ''our parliament defends that national parliaments could not become a side in historical arguments and judge historical facts. Parliaments cannot contribute to consolidation of friendship among nations by inciting hatred and racism. Parliaments can only contribute to consolidation of friendship, tolerance, mutual understanding and international peace. The French parliament rejected to debate what happened in Algeria in the past and left the issue to the historians. Now, we expect the French parliament to assume the same attitude.''

The declaration added, ''the history should not be used to create hatred among nations. Responsibility of dangerous outcomes of such an attempt will belong to those who used history with this aim.''

Recalling that Armenian terrorist organization assasinated a number of Turkish diplomats and French citizens, the declaration said, ''such an initiative at the French parliament has overshadowed cooperation and friendly relations between Turkey and France. It is clear that current administration in Armenia has encouraged such initiatives. Armenia should set up peaceful neighborhood relations with Turkey instead of inciting hatred and violence. What is beneficial for Armenia is to set up good relations with Turkey.''

-TURKISH PARLIAMENTARIANS SEND A LETTER TO FRENCH PARLIAMENT
PARIS - The parliamentary delegation which came to French capital of Paris to prevent approval of the draft resolution, sent letters to French parliamentarians on Tuesday.

The letter was signed by Bulent Akarcali, a deputy of the Motherland Party (ANAP); Tayyibe Gulek, a deputy of the Democratic Left Party (DSP); Nevzat Yalcintas, a deputy of the Virtue Party (FP); Huseyin Celik, a deputy of the True Path Party (DYP); and Ismail Cerrahoglu, a deputy of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Recalling that the French parliament rejected to debate what happened in Algeria in the past, the letter asked how honest for the French parliament to undertake the role of a court on the issue of so-called genocide on Armenians.

Calling on French parliamentarians not to be influenced by Armenian lobby, the letter asked the French parliamentarians not to forget that more than 30 diplomats were killed by the Armenian terrorist organization ASALA, which was also responsible from the gory attack at Orly Airport.''

Emphasizing the injustice not to listen to Turkey's cases while accusing Turkey, the letter asked whether or not French parliamentarians knew how the United Nations resolutions defined the concept of genocide.

The letter stressed that legalization of the draft law would destroy confidence in France which was taken as a sample in foundation of democratic and secular Republic of Turkey.

The parliamentary delegation met with representatives of the Liberal Group at the French parliament. The delegation is scheduled to come together with representatives of the Socialist Group tomorrow.

The draft resolution will be debated at the Parliamentary Foreign Relations Commission toworrow.

Later, the draft resolution will be voted on January 18, 2001.

The draft resolution which was approved by the French Senate last month says, ''France recognizes the genocide which Armenian people were exposed in 1915.''

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