Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-01-22

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

22 JANUARY

2001 Monday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

DEMONSTRATION IN MASS GRAVES
A demonstration was staged in eastern Erzurum province to protest the adoption of the resolution on the so-called genocide on the Armenians. Teenagers from Erzurum went to the mass graves of their ancestors who were killed by the Armenian terrorist gangs in Alacakoy and protested France's decision. The group also went to the monument which was built in the memory of 278 people who were killed by the Armenians in March 1918 and observed a minute of silence.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

JUST LIKE CRUSADE AGAINST TURKEY
The decision of Britain to include Armenians in the commemoration day of the Jews killed by the Nazis during the Second World War has been broadly covered by the British press. The Observor newspaper said that the Armenian lobby in Britain has increased its influence, commenting that the decision to include Armenians to the commemoration day can cause a crisis in Turkish- British relations.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

STATE MINISTER GEMICI GOES TO SWEDEN
State Minister Hasan Gemici went to Sweden to attend meetings on equality of gender and social security. Gemici said that the social security and the participation of women in the public fields will be debated in the meetings to which the European Union (EU) member and candidate states will attend.

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION STARTS EFFORTS FROM DENMARK
The Parliamentary Human Rights Commission went to Denmark within the framework of the project which was prepared to determine the problems that the Turkish citizens living abroad face in respect of human rights. Huseyin Akgul, the chairman of the commission, and Kadir Bozkurt, a deputy of the True Path Party (DYP), went to Copenhagen while the other members of the commission stayed in Turkey due to their busy schedule in the parliament.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

ACTION PLAN AT NSC'S AGENDA
The reaction of Turkey to France which officially accepted the claims of socalled Armenian genocide, will be determined in the National Security Council (NSC) meeting today. Sonmez Koksal, Turkish Ambassador to France is also expected to participate in the meeting.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

LAST DAY TO BENEFIT FROM AMNESTY
Today is the last day for applying to benefit from the law on conditional release and the suspension of punishments. Those who were sentenced to arrest or imprisonment in absentia, can apply to the prosecutor's offices in the provinces until 5.00 p.m. on Monday. After the law was put into effect on December 22, 2000, the concerned instututions said that those who wanted to benefit from the law should apply to the prosecutor's offices within a month.

SHADOW ON COOPERATION
The Association of Ankara Cloth Industries (AGSD) condemned the adoption of the resolution on the so-called genocide on the Armenians by the French parliament. The statement signed by Canip Karakus, the chairman of the AGSD Executive Board, said that the cooperation in textile sector was overshadowed by this unfortunate decision.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

SHIP ACCIDENT IN ISTANBUL STRAIT
A Turkish-flagged cargo ship sank on Sunday after colliding with another vessel in the Bosphorus straits. The Kaptan Cavit's seven member crew was rescued after a collision with another Turkish-flagged cargo ship, the Nadya, at the Black Sea end of the straits early on Sunday.

''OUR REPUBLIC IS THREATENED''
The former Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals Vural Savas, who participated in a TV programme broadcast on Saturday night that ''the republic is threatened today more than it was threatened in the early days of the Republic.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

COMPANIES START CAMPAIGNS TO INCREASE CONSUMPTION
As the economic program squeezed the markets, the companies face difficulties in selling their products. Many shops in Istanbul and Ankara started sale campaigns to increase the demand for their products. Big household appliances manufacturers also started sale campaigns to revive the market. The automative companies made a reduction of almost two million Turkish Liras(TL) in the retail price of the cars.

-TURKSAT 2A BEING TESTED
ANKARA - Turksat 2A, which is the third satellite of Turkey, started to be tested on Monday. The tests are expected to be completed in ten days.

Turkish Telecom officials said that the functions and electronic devices of the satellite which was launched to the sky from Guiana in Southern America on January 11, 2001 and which was placed on its main orbit three days ago, will be tested.

After the satellite is tested, the officials of Eurasiasat firm belonging to French Alcatel Space firm and Turkish Telecom will come together and examine the results of the tests. They will sign an agreement saying they approve these results.

Following the signing of the agreement, the satellite will start to be guided from the base station in Golbası, Ankara.

-HOUSE OF SAINT OANNES IN URGUP TO BE RESTORED
KAYSERI - The house of Saint Ioannes in Urgup township of central Nevsehir province will be restored.

Urgup Mayor Bekir Odemis told A.A correspondent on Monday that they had launched initiatives for the restoration of the house of Saint Ioannes who lived in the 18th century and who was known for his affection and tolerance.

Odemis said that their initiatives bear fruit, adding that they could not restore the house where Saint Oannes had lived so far since it was in the disaster zone.

''We informed the Public Works and Housing Ministry about this issue. The General Directorate of Disaster Works prepared a report that restoring the house was not inconvenient in respect of geological and geotechnical conditions. Thus, we will prepare a project and submit it to the Nevsehir Cultural and Natural Heritage Preservation Board,'' Odemis said.

Odemis noted that the grave of Saint Ioannes who was considered as ''Mevlana of the Greek people'', was sent to Greece during the exchange of people between Turkey and Greece in 1924.

Saint Oannes not only gained the sympathy of the Christians, but also the Muslims living in Urgup, Odemis stated.

Odemis said that ceremonies are held in Greece every May to commemorate Saint Ioannes, and went on saying, ''more than one million people attend the ceremonies. I also went to last year's ceremony and took soil from our region for the grave of Saint Ioannes.''

''I believe at least 100 thousand tourists will visit our region every year if Saint Ioannes' house is opened. The restoration of the house will contribute to the promotion of the Turkish-Greek relations,'' Odemis added.

-STATE MINISTER ONAL:
-''BESIDES THE SUPPORT OF WORLD BANK, CO-FINANCE LOAN WILL BE
EXTENDED BY JAPAN FOR THE BANKING SECTOR''
ANKARA - State Minister Recep Onal said on Monday that besides the financial support of the World Bank, co-finance loan will be extended by Japan for the banking sector.

Onal told A.A correspondent that the amount of the co-finance loan of Japan will be around 750 million U.S. dollars.

Onal said, ''the banking sector in Turkey faced capital resource problem. The crisis which occured on November 22 exhausted the present capital resource and many of the banks were in trouble. As the interests increased, the real sector also faced problems. We had to improve the financial sector to save the real sector.''

''The International Monetary Fund (IMF) also thought the same. That is, we should recover the financial sector which has priority for the time-being. We can reach nowhere if we do not comply our financial sector with the global standards,'' Onal added.

Onal emphasized that some measures have to be taken to make the financial sector better and to comply it with global standards.

''For example, the rules of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) are important. Many foreign banks accept these rules. These rules will be brought to the agenda to strengthen the banking sector. The banks have to act very carefully when giving credits not to damage their financial structures,'' Onal said.

Onal noted that they have to give priority to the solution for the banks transfered to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund and the public banks.

''We gave public bonds to strengthen the assets of these banks. The bonds do not provide liquidity and the assets which are not useful become mobile, '' Onal said.

Noting that they will accelerate the initiatives regarding the banking sector, Onal said, ''when the Banking Regulatory and Supervisory Board (BRSB) solves the problems of the banks transferred to the Fund, we will reconstruct the public banks. We target at reconstructing the banks within a year.''

''If we ensure the confidence of international financial markets in our country, direct and indirect foreign capital will flow in Turkey. To achieve this, we have to recover the financial sector and fulfil privatization initiatives,'' Onal added.

-TREASURY GIVES 776,6 TRILLION LIRAS OF INVESTMENT INCENTIVE CERTIFICATES
ANKARA - The Treasury Undersecretariat gave investment incentive certificates worth of 776,6 trillion liras in December last year.

The most of the certificates were given to the manufactured goods sector and they were worth of 378,1 trillion Turkish liras.

Six certificates worth of 2,5 trillion liras were given to the agriculture sector. The state aims at creating employment for 201 persons by fostering investment with these certificates.

Three certificates worth of 6,5 trillion liras were given to the mining sector and it is aimed at creating employment for 75 persons.

A total of 16,795 persons are foreseen to be employed by these investments.

Meanwhile, the Treasury Undersecretariat gave investment incentive certificates worth of 463,4 million U.S. dollars last month.

-ITALIAN INTERIOR MINISTER BIANCO VISITS CAPPADOCIA REGION
NEVSEHIR - Italian Interior Minister Enzo Bianco, who came to Turkey as the official guest of Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan, visited Cappadocia region before starting his official contacts.

Bianco visited Ortahisar castle, churches which were carved out of rocks and fairy chimneys in Cappadocia and bought three rugs there.

Bianco and the accompanying delegation also participated in the ''Turkish Night'' held at Cappadocia Inn Hotel last night.

-TEN MILLION FOREIGNERS VISITED TURKEY
IN FIRST ELEVEN MONTHS OF 2000
ANKARA - A total of 10 million 4 thousand 274 foreigners visited Turkey in the first eleven months of 2000.

In accordance with the figures of the State Statistics Institute (DIE), the number of foreigners visiting Turkey increased 39.6 percent between January and November 2000 when compared with the same period in 1999.

A total of 7 million 166 thousand 557 foreigners had visited Turkey in the first eleven months of 1999.

A total of 602,395 foreigners visited Turkey in November 2000.

The number of tourists who visited Turkey in November increased 38.2 percent when compared with November 1999. A total of 435,804 tourists had visited Turkey in November 1999.

-COUNCIL OF EUROPE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY MEETINGS STARTS
-COUNCIL OF EUROPE SUPPORTS F TYPE PRISONS
STRASBOURG - The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (COEPA) meetings started in Strasbourg, France, on Monday.

A delegation headed by Uluc Gurkan, a deputy of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), is representing Turkey at the meetings.

Staging a press conference, Lord Russel Johnson, the Chairman of COEPA and British parliamentarian, said that they supported Turkey's reforms in prisons.

Responding to questions of journalists, Lord Johnson said that Turkey had launched initiatives to make reforms in prisons upon a recommendation of the European Committee for Prevention of Torture to transfer inmates from large dormitories to small cells.

Stressing that the European Committee for Prevention of Torture had been supporting Turkey's reforms in prisons, Lord Johnson told reporters that one of the main reasons of uprisings in prisons in Turkey was influence and pressure of some groups on other inmates.

Claiming that security forces had used force during the intervention in prisons, Lord Johnson added that incidents which resulted in deaths of some inmates were unacceptable.

-REACTIONS AGAINST ARMENIAN RESOLUTION CONTINUE THROUGHOUT TURKEY
ANKARA - Reactions against France are continuing throughout Turkey after the Armenian resolution was accepted by the French parliament last week.

Acting rector of Yuzuncu Yil University (YYU), Prof. Bekir Tileklioglu said that ''the biggest mistake of the western world is to insist on not acknowledging the fact that an independent Turkish Republic exists.''

YYU Senate released a statement condemning the Armenian resolution which the French parliament accepted last week. ''It is very sad that the French parliament also joined the parliaments of allied countries which were cheated by the Armenian diaspora,'' Tileklioglu said in the statement.

''France seems to have forgotten the Algerian syndrome in its own history. French Constitutional Court overruled the cultural autonomity demands of ethnic groups because it considers these as a threat to France's national unity. French top government officials visit our country and try to impose similar demands on our government. Seeing all these, we are not expecting France to take a sensible decision but we still have some hope based on strong historical ties with this country.''

Eastern Black Sea Municipalities Chairman Asim Aykan also sent a message to the French Embassy in Ankara after the resolution's recent passage. ''This decision would not do any good to Armenians, it only would damage relations between Turkey and Armenia,'' he said. ''Trabzon is a port which is located on a key point in terms of trade relations with Armenia. The French parliament sabotaged Armenia's future and economic relations between Turkey and Armenia while we are trying to prepare Trabzon for trade relations with this country.''

Brain Club's founder Hakan Topuzoglu opened an internet page for those who want to express their thoughts on this matter. Reactions coming from all corners of Turkey are being displayed at http://fransayaprotesto.8m.com. Those who want to express their views can e-mail to http://fransayaprotesto.8m.com.

-AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS MINISTER GOKALP:
''THERE IS NO MAD COW DISEASE IN TURKEY''
ANKARA - Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Husnu Yusuf Gokalp said on Monday that there was no mad cow disease in Turkey.

When a reporter asked Gokalp about the possibility of infected animal smuggling into Turkey before he came to office, Gokalp said many animals were smuggled into Turkey in the previous years spreading diseases such as plague.

He indicated that mad cow disease was not so widespread in those years and the disease which was first seen in Britain was confined in this country for a long time. He also stressed that the animals which were smuggled into Turkey didn't come from Britain.

Responding to a question on meat which is sold at Migros supermarket chain, Gokalp said that his ministry was responsible for inspecting the food production facilities, not markets, according to a law passed in 1995. He also stated that all slaughterhouses have to get a production permit from the ministry. Food production facilities which operate in unhygenic conditions are being closed down, he added. ''We are closing down all slaughterhouses which don't get licences from us and which don't have the necessary hygene standards for six years,'' Gokalp said.

-BOTAS GENERAL DIRECTOR YARDIM:
''RUSSIANS WANTED TO CONTRUCT SAMSUN-ANKARA
PIPELINE IN THE BLUE STREAM PROJECT''
ANKARA - Gokhan Yardim, the general director of the state-run oil pipeline company (BOTAS), said on Monday that the Russians wanted to make the construction of Samsun-Ankara pipeline in the Blue Stream project.

Addressing a news conference staged about the Blue Stream project, Yardim said, ''Russians say that there is a significant imbalance in the business volume of the contractors between Turkey and Russia, stating that the business volume of Turkish constructors in Russia is 9 billion U.S. dollars while it is only 250 million U.S. dollars for Russian contractors in Turkey.'' Yardim said that the Russians want to do business without taking part in tenders, stating that Turkish contractors are signing contracts without tenders.

Yardim said works related with the Blue Stream project started in the year 1996, noting that according to the feasibility of the project, Samsun- Ankara part of the line would cost 403.785 million U.S. dollars.

''Why did the Russians thought of giving gas over the Black Sea,'' asked Yardim, noting that, ''because Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria continiously increased the transportation fees and continued to get gas from the pipeline.''

Yardim said, ''Russians earlier had came to Turkey and held contacts with the government officials. The government suggested three proposals to Russians, pointing out that on the contrary Turkey would not buy this gas. One of these proposals was that Turkey would not attend the investments of the Black Sea pipeline in the way that Russians wanted. This means the 2.7 billion U.S. dollars investment would belong to Russia. The second was that right of the Russians to distribute natural gas in Turkey, which was brought to the agenda in various protocols and agreement signed in 1996, would not be accepted. The 16 billion cubic meters gas would be delivered to Botas in Samsun, and Botas would distribute the natural gas. The third one was that the price of the natural gas would be the same with the gas coming from the west.''

''The 2.7 billion U.S. dollars investment is a very big one. However, this investment does not interest Turkey anyway. Russians, against these three proposals, pointed out that they wanted to construct Samsun-Ankara pipeline, '' Yardim said.

-ECHR ACCEPTS TURKEY'S OBJECTION
STRASBOURG - Luzius Wildhaber, the chairman of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said on Monday that they accepted Turkey's objection against decision of the ECHR chamber I to hear admissibility of the application of the lawyers of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of terrorist organization PKK, by the grand chamber.

Staging a press conference, Wildhaber told reporters that both defendant and plaintiff should accept transfer of the case to the grand chamber composed of 17 judges.

He stressed that the ECHR chamber I would continue to hear the case upon objection of Turkey.

In accordance with the ECHR's regulations, the sides have the right to apply to the grand chamber which could be described as the appeals, after the chamber I announces its decision.

The ECHR had decided to examine admissibility of the application of the lawyers of Ocalan last year.

-REACTIONS AGAINST APPROVAL OF DRAFT RESOLUTION ON
SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS BY FRENCH PARLIAMENT
ANKARA - The Headmen's Association and the Association of Turcomen laid black wreaths in front of the French Embassy in Ankara on Monday to protest approval of draft resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians by the French parliament.

Abdullah Yildiz, the Chairman of the Headmen's Association, said, ''we condemn approval of the draft resolution. Those who aim at separating Turkey, will fail. We expect the government to launch serious initiatives against the French parliament's decision.''

Meanwhile, members of the Association of Turcomen made a press release in front of the French Embassy.

The press release said, ''France massacred more than one million people in Algeria in the past. The French parliament's decision jeopardizes the peace in the world. This decision aims at creating enmity between Turkish and Armenian people. At the same time, it constitutes a contradiction that France supporting allegations on so-called genocide on Armenians, allocates budget to nuclear tests.''

The Turkish Agriculturists' Association also condemned approval of the draft resolution.

Releasing a written statement, Ibrahim Yetkin, the Chairman of Turkish Agriculturists' Association, said that they considered approval of the draft law as an effort to exclude Turkey from the European Union (EU).

-EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO DISCUSS TURKEY
BRUSSELS - The European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee will carry out important works during its meeting in Brussels on Tuesday to determine its attitude towards financial cooperation with Turkey.

Following announcement of the Accession Partnership Accord in November of 2000, the European Parliament will approve the ''Frame Regulations'', a document forming the legal basis of the Accession Partnership Accord, during its general assembly meeting in February.

At the meeting, the Foreign Affairs Committee will finalize discussions on the document, and submit several motions for amendments.

The motions prepared within framework of a work carried out by Austrian parliamentarian Hannes Swoboda, ask for proof that Turkey has been treated equally with other candidate countries.

Underlining importance of Turkey's benefiting from all EU programs, the motions stressed that all necessary measures should be taken to remove political obstacles in front of financial cooperation with Turkey.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Anna Lindth of Sweden, the new Term President of the EU, will express her views on several issues during Tuesday's meeting.

-PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT:
-''NONE OF DETERRENT MEASURES TO BE TAKEN AGAINST
FRANCE SHOULD TARGET FRENCH PEOPLE''
ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Monday, ''none of deterrent measures to be taken against France should target the French people. These measures should be taken against irresponsible politicians. The French people should not be included in these measures.''

Ecevit responded to questions of journalists following his meeting with Sonmez Koksal, the Turkish Ambassador to France who was recalled to Turkey for consultations after approval of the draft resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians by French parliament.

Referring to the French parliament's decision, Prime Minister Ecevit told reporters, ''earlier the Foreign Ministry made a statement in detail on the issue. We can urge France without hurting or damaging ourselves. None of deterrent measures to be taken against France should target the French people. They are our friends. France is among countries sending many tourists to Turkey. We should not offend the French people. These measures should be taken against attitude of irresponsible politicians. The French people should not be included in these measures.''

When asked whether or not censure motion against Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer would cause difficulties in coalition government, Ecevit told reporters, ''no, it will not cause difficulties.''

When asked about today's summit meeting among leaders of three political parties forming the coalition government, Ecevit said that the meeting had focused on all actual issues.

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