Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-01-23

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

23 JANUARY

2001 Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

FIFTH PICASSO PAINTING FOUND IN SIRNAK
Another painting of the famous Spanish artist Pablo Picasso was recently found in Sirnak. It was stated that the painting which entered Turkey from Northern Iraq was stolen from Kuwait Royal Palace. The court arrested four people related to the incident. The painting was sent to Ankara Museums General Directorate which will examine the painting. The painting was made using oil paint on leather.

Few other Picasso paintings were found in Izmir and Mardin last year.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

DISBANK BREAKS RECORD WITH 91 TRILLION TL PROFIT
Disbank made a profit of 91 trillion TL in 2000 with a 90 percent increase from the previous year. Disbank General Director Faik Acikalin said ''2000 was a tough year for banks. However Disbank, through its stable policy and efficient risk management, was not affected by the economic crisis and achieved to increase its profit.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

However, in autumn a strong wind blew, and everything were shattered. Murat Demirel, his nephew, was sentenced to imprisonment. From the family photograph which Demirel appreciated, Cavit Caglar fled abroad, Kamuran Cortuk is in a difficult situation, and Ali Sener became the focus of many allegations.

The ''Ombudsmanship,'' project is shelved, and his arbitration in Palestinian-Israeli problem suspended. Now, he is at home alone.

YARDIM: WE ARE OBLIGED TO THE RUSSIANS IN THE BLUE STREAM
Gokhan Yardim, the director general of the state-run oil pipeline company Botas, said Russians wanted to construct Samsun-Ankara section in the Blue Stream project. Yardim said Turkey would have been obliged to pay 238 million U.S. dollars in accordance with the principle of ''take or pay'' if the Blue Stream project had not been started by giving the advance money in time.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

ECHR ACCEPTS TURKEY'S OBJECTION
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.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Turkey ranked first in the list of pending applications in European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

BAHCELI: WE GOT THE SIGNAL THAT FP WILL BE BANNED
Devlet Bahceli, the state minister and the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), speaking to MHP's Chairmanship Council members, said as the coalition partners they got the signals that Virtue Party (FP) would be banned.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT SUSPENDED
The motion envisaging constitutional amendment will not be debated at the Parliamentary General Assembly this week. The motion envisaging amendment to Article 69, 101 and 3rd paragraph of temporary Article 15, was not taken to the parliamentary agenda upon a request of coalition partners.

Opposition parties harsly reacted to the decision.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Mustafa Bumin, the Court Chairman, said with the Artice 69, the party closures became impossible, and that this would leave the republic without protection. Bumin said, ''the parties can not be given separatism freedom.''

TURKSAT 2A IS BEING TESTED
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.

-WORLD BANK QUAKE SUPPORT TO TURKEY
WASHINGTON - Construction of the 12,000 dwellings, which the World Bank started following the massive earthquake in the Marmara region, will completed by the end of summer, and the dwellings will be handed over to their owners.

Piotr Wilczynski, the chairman of the support unit which the World Bank set up following the massive quake, told A.A correspondent that the houses which were constructed in the quake region would cost 234 million U.S. dollars.

The World Bank formed a re-structuring program, worth of 1.8 billion U.S. dollars, for Turkey following the quake. World Bank meets 505 million U.S. dollars of the program, while the remaining is met by the European Investment Bank and the Turkish government.

Wilczynski said the World Bank also expended support to the establishment of local disaster administrations, which were planned to be set up against a new quake disaster in Turkey.

-GAP REGION'S OIL EXPORT DROPS BY 22.7 PERCENT LAST YEAR
GAZIANTEP - South East Anatolia Project (GAP) exported 13,286 tons of margarine and vegetable oil worth of 8,811,000 U.S. dollars in 2000 with a drop of 22.7 percent from the previous year.

In 1999, the region gained 11,385,000 U.S. dollars from the export of the same products.

According to the data obtained from the South East Anatolia Exporters Association, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Romania purchased vegatable oil and margarine from Turkey in 2000.

Last year, the export unit price also decreased by 2.5 percent.

-GEN. AMMAR, THE SYRIAN GENERAL STAFF POLITICAL
ADMINISTRATION CHAIRMAN, CONTINUES CONTACTS
ANKARA - Gen. Mahmut Ammar, the Syrian General Staff Political Administration Chairman, and an accompanying delegation continue contacts in Ankara and Istanbul. The Syrian delegation is currently in Turkey as the guest of General Staff Chairmanship.

General Staff Secretariat said Gen. Ammar and the accompanying delegation paid a visit to Turkey in January 18 and 25 upon the invitation of the General Staff. The visit takes place in line with the activities to normalize relations between Turkey and Syria within the framework of ''Adana Agreement.''

Gen. Ammar will visit various units, headquarters, institutions, and Defense Industry installations in Istanbul and Ankara.

Meanwhile, it was reported that a Turkish delegation, led by Gen. Aytac Yalman, the Gendarme General Commander, will pay a visit to Syria in January 24 and 26 within the scope of the Adana Agreement.

The statement said such visits would strengthen friendship between the two countries, and contribute to regional peace and stability.

-15TH INTERNATIONAL IZMIR FESTIVAL TO
TAKE PLACE IN JUNE 10 AND JULY 16
IZMIR - The 15th International Izmir Festival will take place in June 10 and July 16, 2001.

Filiz Eczacibasi Sarper, the Chairperson of Izmir Culture Arts and Education Foundation (IKSEV), addressed a news conference and briefed about the 2001 program of IKSEV. Sarper said the most important activity of the foudation was the International Izmir Festival.

''Paco de Lucia and Vienna Children' Chorus, the most famous chidren' chorus of the world would be among our guest. Pianist Guher-Suher Pekinel sisters will meet with the music lovers in Ancient Efes Theatre,'' Sarper said.

She said, ''also I Musici Chamber Olchestra and Sting, who is a musician and a defender of human rights will also attend the festival.''

-FOREIGN MINISTER CEM TO VISIT SWITZERLAND
ANKARA - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will visit Switzerland on January 24- 25 as the guest of his Swiss counterpart Joseph Deiss.

Cem will be the first Turkish foreign minister in 20 years who is visiting this country.

Turkish-Swiss relations, regional and international matters are expected to be discussed during Cem's contacts.

Cem will also sign a memorandum on the formation of a Political Advisory Mechanism between the foreign ministries of Turkey and Switzerland. Cem will be received by Swiss Confederation Chairman Moritz Leuenberger before he returns home.

-ADOPTION OF ARMENIAN RESOLUTION
-NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU:
-''THE TENDER FOR THE INTELLIGENCE SATELLITE
PROJECT HAS BEEN CANCELLED''
ANKARA - National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said on Tuesday that the tender for the intelligence satellite project worth of 149 million U.S. dollars which was won by the French Alcatell company, has been cancelled.

Responding to questions of reporters, Cakmakoglu said that the reason for the adoption of the resolution on the so-called genocide on the Armenians by the French parliament was the vote concerns of the parliamentarians in the local elections.

Cakmakoglu noted that this decision of the French parliament will damage the Turkish-French relations.

Stressing that the two countries have the opportunity to cooperate in defense industry and weapon projects, Cakmakoglu stated that the recent decision will seriously affect the relations.

Cakmakoglu said, ''we have cancelled the tender for the intelligence satellite project. The French Alcatell company had won this tender worth of 149 million U.S. dollars. We will hold the tender for the purchase of 250 tanks soon. In this tender, four companies, including a French company, compete with each other. We will think of excluding the French Locker tank from our evaluations.''

Emphasizing that the decision taken by the French parliament means distorting the historical realities, Cakmakoglu said, ''Turkey and Turkish nation are face to face with some accusations in recent years which they do not deserve.''

-CROATIAN PRESIDENT MESIC DUE IN TURKEY
ANKARA - Croatian President Stjepan Mesic will pay an official visit to Turkey between February 7 and 8.

The bilateral relations will be debated during the visit of Mesic, who will come to Turkey as the guest of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

The latest situation in the Balkans, and many other regional and mutli- lateral issues will be discussed during the contacts of Mesic.

-AUDITORS REVEAL 1 QUADRILLION TURKISH LIRAS OF TAX EVASION
ANKARA - Finance Ministry auditors revealed in their inspections last year that almost 1 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL) of tax had been evaded from the state.

Speaking to the A.A correspondent on Tuesday, Auditors' Board Chairman Abdullah Arslan said that auditors had prepared 3,103 reports after their inspections last year, and that 1,066 of those reports were about illegal transactions and tax evasions.

Auditors inspected 1 quadrillion 223 trillion 427 billion 564 million TL of tax base last year, revealing that tax payers who had made a 1.2 quadrillion TL of tax return to the state in return for 2.1 quadrillion TL of income, evaded 959 trillion 8 billion 208 million TL of income from the state and paid low taxes totalling 13 trillion 890 billion 547 million TL.

The difference of tax base revealed by auditors in last six years and results of their inspections in 2000 are as follows:

Year Rate of Evasion of Income

(percent)

----- ---------------------
1995 16.3
1996 14.0
1997 9.2
1998 25.9
1999 189.0
2000 78.0
Results of Inspections in 2000:

Taxes Income Tax Return Tax Evasion

(Million TL) (Million TL)

-------------------- ------------------ ---------------
Income Tax 1.410.713 5.755.915

Corporation Tax 296.531.414 157.625.527

Value Added Tax 700.048.371 392.069.874

VAT return 698.963 42.678

Succession Tax 13.781 220.000

Stamp Duty 3.522.500 195.255.654

Bank Insurance Proceedings Tax 7.160.512 3.889.666

Charges-Funds 27.053 14.805.653

Income Surtax 97.768 217.433

Corporation Surtax 31.499.171 45.295.177

Temporary Tax 37.216.190 53.248.848

Income Withholding 82.217.561 70.832.553

Corporation Withholding 24.757.441 19.575.885

Education, Youth and

Health Services Tax 38.222.049 173.133

-SAKINE EMRE, A WITNESS OF ARMENIANS' MASSACRE ON TURKS:
-''THEY BURNT PEOPLE ALIVE. I CANNOT FORGET SMELL OF BURNING FLESH''
MUS - Sakine Emre, a witness of Armenian's massacre of the Turks, said on Tuesday, ''they burnt people alive. I cannot forget the smell of burning flesh.''

Emre, 106, who has been living in eastern Mus province, told the A.A correspondent, ''I cannot understand allegations on so-called genocide on Armenians. Those who witnessed massacres committed by Armenians in Anatolia should tell their stories to reveal historical facts.''

''My family and I were living in Catiyolu village in Mutki township of eastern Bitlis province in those years. Armenians raided Catiyolu, Raman, Erler and Besler villages. They burnt children, women and elderly people alive. Armenians took some of residents hostage. I escaped from the massacre by hiding in a barn. Those who managed to save themselves from Armenians' brutality, migrated from Bitlis,'' she said.

Emre added, ''the Turks have never committed a massacre on the Armenians. On the contrary, the Armenians massacred Turkish people. They burnt hundreds of people alive. I cannot forget the smell of burning flesh.''

-TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER OKSUZ:
''TURKSAT 2A WILL BE TESTED FOR ONE WEEK''
BOLU - Transportation and Communications Minister Enis Oksuz said on Tueaday that most of the Turksat 2A's channels had been rented, adding, ''the remaining vacant channels will be rented. In this process, the Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK) should take decision rapidly.''

Turkey's third communication satellite Turksat 2A was launched on January 11, 2001 from the Kourou Space Base in French Guiana in South America and went into its main orbit a few days ago.

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Oksuz said that Turksat 2A would be tested by experts for one week. '' From now on, the families who live in the geography between Britain and China and speak Turkish can watch Turkish television channels even with a little antenna. With this respect, the television channels which will make broadcasting via this satellite should develop their policies as they will address the Turkish people living in this geography.''

Recalling that Turksat 2A had 36 transmitters and would enable digital broadcasting, Oksuz said, ''there will be 400 channels in the Turksat 2A. Most of them have been rented and the remaining vacant channels will be rented soon. So RTUK should take decisions rapidly.''

-DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BAHCELI:
-''FRANCE WILL NOT BENEFIT ANYTHING FROM ITS ATTITUDE
CONTRADICTING WITH HISTORICAL FACTS AND HURTING HONOR
OF ANOTHER NATION''
ANKARA - Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said on Tuesday, ''France will not benefit anything from its attitude contradicting with historical facts and hurting honor of another nation. It will not be so easy to bring bilateral relations to the level before the approval of draft resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians.''

Addressing the MHP's parliamentary group meeting, Bahceli stressed, ''the history cannot be changed with parliamentary decisions like the resolution approved by the French parliament. The draft resolution coincided with the upcoming local elections. Allegations on so-called genocide on Armenians were used to get votes from ethnic communities in France.''

Bahceli said, ''it is inevitable that political system would degenerate in a country in which history of a nation could be given as a bribe by the parliament. Because such initiatives contradict with the spirit of democracy. France could not clear off the shame of massacre at the Orly Airport and of assasinations of Turkish diplomats. Its attempt to accuse Turkey in connection with incidents in an atmosphere of war 85 years ago, reveals that approval of the draft resolution was not limited with parliamentarians' efforts to get votes of ethnic communities. Approval of the draft resolution reveals that France has some deep targets like besieging Turkey.''

Calling on French authorities to act with common-sense and to correct their historical mistake, Bahceli stressed, ''France will not benefit anything from its attitude contradicting with historical facts and hurting honor of another nation. It will not be so easy to bring bilateral relations to the level before the approval of draft resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians.''

''The French parliament did not act by being aware of its duties and responsibilities. It also did not fulfil its committments towards the history and all humanity. Armenia will be the side which will most seriously suffer from this decision,'' he stressed.

Bahceli added, ''Turkey can encounter allegations on so-called genocide on Armenians in other countries. We should take immediate action to explain historical facts to the world public opinion.''

-PRIVATIZATION OF TURKISH TELEKOM
-DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AND LEADING BRITISH INVESTMENT CONSULTING GROUPS
INTERESTED IN BLOCK SALE OF TURKISH TELEKOM'S 33.5 PERCENT SHARES
ANKARA - Deutsche Telekom and leading British investment consulting organizations were interested in block sale of Turk Telekomunikasyon A.S.'s (Turkish Telekom) 33.5 percent shares, sources said on Tuesday.

Sources said that leading investment consulting groups in Britain were interested in Turkish Telekom on behalf of international telecommunication operators, and that they demanded detailed information about the block sale.

Sources said that Privatization Administration Board (OIB) officials could visit also Britain after Germany within framework of organizations by Merrill Lynch, the consulting company of Turkish Telekom.

Meanwhile, OIB officials together with some members of tender commission are expected to visit Germany upon invitation of Deutsche Telekom at the weekend or next week.

The tender process started with the notices published on December 14, 2000 about the block sale of Turkish Telekom's 33.5 percent shares.

The deadline for submitting bids is May 14, 2001.

-TREASURY SELLS 434.5 TRILLION LIRAS NOMINAL-VALUED THREE-MONTH BONDS
ANKARA - Treasury Undersecretariat sold 434.5 trillion Turkish liras (TL) nominal-valued three-month maturity bonds in its auction on Tuesday.

The total bid had been 830 trillion TL while the net sale became 388 trillion TL.

The annual simple interest rate became 47.99 percent, and the annual composite interest rate became 57.33 percent.

The minimum simple interest rate became 45.90 percent, and maximum simple interest rate became 49.30 percent while minimum composite interest rate became 54.42 percent, and maximum composite interest rate became 59.19 percent.

Meanwhile, Treasury will repay 705 trillion 262.1 billion TL in domestic borrowing on Wednesday.

Total domestic borrowing repayment in January will be 2 quadrillion 586.3 trillion TL.

-FOREIGN MINISTER CEM:
-''OUR RELATIONS WITH HUNGARY ARE COMING FROM THE HISTORY''
ANKARA - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Tuesday that the relations between Turkey and Hungary are coming from the history.

Cem met with Hungarian Foreign Minister Janos Martony who is paying an official visit to Turkey.

Following their tete-a-tete meeting, Cem and Martony chaired the inter- delegationary meeting.

After the inter-delegationary meeting, Cem and Martony staged a joint press confence.

Cem said that Turkey and Hungary are cooperating within the framework of NATO and the European Union (EU).

Turkey wants to further improve its relations with Hungary, Cem noted, stating that Hungary will become an EU member soon.

Cem said that they decided to set up a consultancy mechanism between the foreign ministries of the two countries.

They will debate the cooperation opportunities in the Central Asia and Caucasus in the first meeting they will hold from now on, Cem stated.

Cem said that they will debate the ways to support each other during their following contacts, adding that the two countries have the potential to promote the relations.

Martony said that many Turkish students were educated in the universities in Hungary in 1920s, but that there was a 40 years of interval in the relations due to the socialist regime.

There are still Turkish students in the Hungarian schools which give English and German education, Martony noted, adding that they wish the number of Turkish students in Hungary to increase.

-PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT:
-''THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT'S TAKING A DECISION TO CLOSE DOWN
A POLITICAL PARTY JUST BY TWO THIRDS OF VOTES CAN CREATE SOME
NEGATIVITIES AND INCONVENIENCES. WE WILL CORRECT THIS''
-''WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY DEMAND OR RECOMMENDATION FROM THE
GENERAL STAFF ABOUT THE ISSUE''
ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Tuesday, ''the debate on the constitutional amendment was postponed due to warnings saying that requirement of two-thirds majority verdict in closure cases against political parties could create some negativities. The issue will be brought onto agenda again in coming days after a reasonable arrangement.''

Addressing journalists, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''all political parties having seats at the parliament are in favor of the constitutional amendment making closure of political parties more difficult.''

Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''we, as the leaders of three political parties forming the coalition government, have carried out a work on the issue. Requirement of two-thirds majority verdict in closure cases was brought onto agenda. But distinguished members of the Constitutional Court enlighted us on possible inconveniences of this requirement. Therefore, we have decided to reconsider it.''

Responding to a question, Prime Minister Ecevit, ''we have considered the Constitutional Court's concerns as rightful. Therefore, we have decided to postpone the debate on constitutional amendment. The issue will be brought onto agenda again in coming days after a reasonable arrangement. The Constitutional Court's taking a decision to close down a political party just by two thirds of votes, can create some negativities and inconveniences. We will correct this.''

When asked whether or not President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's claim saying, ''any amendment to Article 69 of the Constitution could lead to a referendum'' had been influencial in postponement of the constitutional amendment, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''what is important is that we have decided that two-thirds majority verdict in closure cases would be inconvenient.''

When asked whether or not the General Staff had been influencial in postponement of the constitutional amendment,, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''we have not received any demand or recommendations from the General Staff on the issue of postponing the debate on constitutional amendment.''

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ecevit refrained from responding to questions about censure motion against Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer.

-LINDH, SWEDISH FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYS IF EU INTERVENES IN
CYPRUS TALKS, IT WILL MAKE A MISTAKE
BRUSSELS - Anna Lindh, the Foreign Minister of Sweden, the European Union (EU) Term President, said on Tuesday that if the EU intervenes in Cyprus talks, it will make a mistake.

Speaking in the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defense Policy of the European Parliament (AFET), Lindh noted that the Cyprus proximity talks continue within the framework of the United Nations (U.N.).
Lindh said that Rauf Denktas, the President of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), left the negotiation table, but this is temporary.

Lindh added that they should not put forward any proposals, but they should follow the developments and expect Turkey to keep its promises.

-INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN:
-''WE HAVE TO GET DEVELOPED IN STRUGGLE AGAINST NEW KINDS OF
CRIMES WHICH OCCUR DUE TO TECHNOGICAL OPPORTUNITIES, HUMAN
SMUGGLING AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION''
ANKARA - Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan said on Tuesday that they have to get developed in the struggle against new kinds of crimes which occur due to technological opportunities, human smuggling and illegal immigration.

Tantan and Enzo Bianco, the Italian Foreign Minister, staged a joint press conference.

Interior Minister Tantan said that the relations between Turkey and Italy go back to history and that Italian Interior Minister's visit to Turkey will contribute to these relations.

Tantan noted that the interior ministries of the two countries signed an agreement in 1998 within the framework of cooperation in security and that this agreement was ratified by the parliament.

Tantan quoted Bianco as saying that the Italian parliament approved this agreement last week.

The agreements should be implemented, Tantan stated.

Tantan said, ''it is important to exchange experience in the joint struggle against organized crime gangs, terrorism, drug smuggling, and new kinds of crimes which occur due to technological developments.''

''Turkey is very experienced in the struggle against organized crime gangs, terrorism and drug smuggling. But, we have to get developed in the struggle against new kinds of crimes which occur due to technological opportunities, human smuggling and illegal immigration. Legal grounds should be laid for this struggle. All the countries should take joint steps in struggling against the new kinds of crime,'' Tantan added.

Tantan stated that both countries face problems due to natural disasters, noting that to this end, they agreed to improve the cooperation between the civil defense general directorates of the two countries.

When a secure atmosphere is not created in a country and when justice does not prevail, there cannot be economic, cultural and informative movement in that country, Tantan said, stating that they continue their initiatives in this direction.

Tantan said that the delegations of the two countries continue their efforts and that the two countries will take joints steps in the struggle against crimes and criminals.

The improvement of cooperation in security between the two countries will contribute to the establishment of security in the Mediterranean countries, Tantan emphasized.

Tantan also added that Italy promised to support Turkey in its European Union (EU) integration process.

-ITALIAN INTERIOR MINISTER BIANCO:
-''IMPORTANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN RECORDED IN STRUGGLE AGAINST
ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFICKING AND HUMAN SMUGGLING AS A RESULT OF
COOPERATION BETWEEN TURKEY AND ITALY''
ANKARA - Italian Interior Minister Enzo Bianco who is currently in Turkey as the official guest of Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan, said on Tuesday that important progress had been recorded in struggle against illicit drug trafficking and human smuggling as result of cooperation between Turkey and Italy.

Tantan and Bianco staged a joint press conference at the Interior Ministry's Conference Hall.

Addressing the press conference, Bianco said that it was his first official visit to Turkey although he had been in Turkey four or five times in the past.

Recalling that Turkey-Italy Convention for Struggle Against Organized Crimes and three suplementary protocols were signed in Italy two months ago, Bianco said that the protocols included struggle against illicit drug trafficking, money laundring and human smuggling.

Stressing that important progress had been recorded in struggle against illicit drug trafficking and human smuggling as result of cooperation between Turkey and Italy, Bianco expressed his belief over continuation of this cooperation.

Noting that Italy had been monitoring Turkey's European Union (EU) full membership process, Bianco stressed that Italy was ready to assist Turkey in this process.

-FP LEADER KUTAN SAYS THEY WILL NOT BARGAIN FOR
ARTICLE 69 OF THE CONSTITUTION
ANKARA - Recai Kutan, the leader of the Virtue Party (FP), said on Tuesday that they will not bargain with the government for the possible amendment on the Article 69 of the Constitution.

During the FP parliamentary group meeting which was closed to the press, Kutan said that the constitutional amendment bill was brought to the agenda by the political parties forming the government.

Kutan noted that the first article of this bill was adopted by the Parliamentary General Assembly.

''The bill which foresaw amendment to three articles of the Constitution was signed by the deputies of the coalition parties and submitted to the Office of Parliament Speaker. This bill was adopted by the Constitutional Commission. The bill was abandoned when it was to be submitted to the General Assembly,'' Kutan said.

Kutan went on saying, ''we will continue to hold contacts regarding the Article 69 of the Constitution. But, we will not bargain for the amendment bill. We expect the government to back their amendment bill. They should not think that this bill was put forward for the FP. This arrangement is very important for taking the political parties under protection and for reaching modern democratic norms.''

Responding to questions of reporters following the meeting, Kutan said that he did not meet with Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan but that they can hold contacts regarding the constitutional amendment bill.

-DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ:
-''WE HAVE REMAINED AS A MERE SPECTATOR AGAINST ARMENIA'S
OCCUPATION BY IGNORING UPPER KARABAGH DISPUTE''
ANKARA - Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) said on Tuesday, ''we have remained as a mere spectator against Armenia's occupation by ignoring the Upper Karabagh dispute.''

Addressing the ANAP's parliamentary group meeting, Yilmaz said, ''works to refute the allegations on so-called genocide on Armenians were successful before 1980. But we could not maintain the same system. It is necessary to evaluate all matters about Armenia as a whole. We have remained as a mere spectator against Armenia's occupation by ignoring the Upper Karabagh dispute. We could not take steps to solve the dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We have been ignoring the fact that the separatist terrorism in Turkey considered Upper Karabagh as a new base as we have been careless to misery of refugees who were forced to leave their homes in Upper Karabagh.''

Yilmaz stressed, ''Armenian terrorist organization of ASALA included some provinces of Turkey in the borders of Armenia during its meeting in January of 2000. But we ignored the signals showing that ASALA will take position of the PKK when PKK is rendered ineffective.''

He added, ''judgements regarded with the history should be made by scientists not by politicians or parliamentarians.''

-TOTAL OF 23,314 INMATES BENEFIT FROM AMNESTY
ANKARA - Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said on Tuesday that 23,314 inmates benefited from the law on conditional release and suspension of punishments.

Attending a program live broadcast in private news channel NTV, Turk said that some circles reacted to and criticized the F type prisons because the terrorist organizations had concerns that they cannot continue their former sovereignty in these prisons.

Turk said, ''if there are any deficiencies in F type prisons, we are ready to overcome them. If the ongoing hunger strikes and death fasts in prisons end, we will open our prisons and F type prisons to discussion by inviting the foreign experts and the concerned organizations.''

Responding to a question on the constitutional amendment bill, Turk said that the bill has been on the agenda for one year.

Turk noted that a new situation has occured since the majority of two-third of the votes is required to decide to close a political party, adding that this situation makes it difficult to close a party.

''When this issue is being discussed at the Parliamentary General Assembly, we can change the required majority as for example three-fifth majority. But, if this change is to be done, it will be necessary to directly submit a new bill which foresees adding an amendment to Article 149 of the Constitution. Because, we often criticize the 1982 Constitution,'' Turk said.

Turk added, ''but, when we are making a civilian constitution, we have to make a constitution which will be an example in respect of contents and in respect of constitutional techniques. This is not an issue which cannot be overcome. If a compromise is reached on this issue, a new bill which foresees amendment to Article 149 can be prepared and the expressions related with the majority of verdicts in the former bill can be removed from the bill. Thus, I think we can have a better text.''

-FOREIGN MINISTER CEM:
-''WE HAVE BEEN USING OUR RIGHT OF SELF-DEFENSE,
AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN THE FUTURE''
ANKARA - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Tuesday, ''we will use our right of self-defense against the French parliament's decision about allegations on so-called genocide on Armenians. We do not target the French people, and will not do so in the future.''

Adressing the Parliamentary General Assembly, Cem informed the MPs on Turkey's initiatives following French parliament's approval of the draft resolution on so-called genocide on Armenians last week.

Cem said, ''such initiatives were always on agenda of France. But they have been accelerated for the past two years. We stressed that these allegations were baseless during our official contacts on the presidential, prime ministerial and ministerial levels. Our French counterparts told us that it was the duty of the parliament. We told everything that had to be told to them.''

He stressed, ''Armenian people living in France are well-organized. They have an important impact on election results in some regions. Approval of the draft resolution stemmed from concerns about domestic policy.''

Emphasizing that the French parliament's decision was contrary to the French Constitution, Cem said, ''French authorities told us that they also opposed to the draft resolution. Now, they should prove their opposition. They should carry this decision to the Constitutional Court. They should do this to prove their sincerity.''

Stressing that Turkey would never target the French people, Cem noted, ''Turkey will never forget those who acted maliciously. But we are determined to respond to this malice within the framework of reason. Moreover, France is not a reliable place. This decision is extremely dangerous in a country like France. Turkish diplomats were martyred in France in the past. Both Turkish and French people lost their lives in Armenian terrorist organizations' attack at the Orly Airport in Paris. France is not a reliable place. Because it is a country in which enmity against Turkish and Muslim people is more dense than enmity in other European countries.''

Noting that almost 300 thousand Turkish citizens were living in France, Cem said that the French government would be responsible for safety and security of those Turkish citizens against a possible Armenian terrorist act.

''First of all, we won't make a mistake. What I meant to say that we won't enter an atmosphere of enmity and we won't harm our own interests while making reactions. We won't do these, of course. The French people are our friends. We will act in accordance with this understanding,'' Cem said.

''As Turkey, we will use our right of self defense and we are using it. Right of self defense, that is, the economic decisions taken by the Turkish state. While taking these decisions regarding the most important fields of our defense, we won't trust justice of these parliaments which easily displayed enmity against us. We won't leave the most important factors of our communication systems and economic growth to the justice and preference of those who displayed enmity against us and did not prevent such an enmity and whom we can't foresee what they can do in the future. We will use our right of self defense until the very end, of course,'' he said.

''We are right. We are the side which is right in this case. We are right consciously and historically. We are such an intelligent nation that we don't make a mistake which is expected by some circles, as for our rightfulness was ignored. We won't allow anybody to abuse rights of Turkey and Turkish people,'' Cem stressed.

Cem said that nobody can win anything by pursuing enmity policy towards Turkey and by not preventing hostile activities against Turkey.

Cem added, ''we want France to give lessons to those who made this mistake, take lessons from this wrong behaviour and to prevent this stain from spreading. Turkey has confidence in itself and history. We do not accept the expressions like the old history does not surpass today. We claim our thousand years of history with its good and bad parts.''

Melek Denli Karaca, a deputy of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said that France is ''the number one racism center'' of Europe, adding that many people in Algeria were tortured and killed by the French people.

Mahmut Goksu, a deputy of the Virtue Party (FP), said that the decision of the French parliament targets at distorting the history.

Goksu noted that he is preparing a resolution saying, ''Turkey clearly accepts the genocide that France made in Algeria,'' and asked for the support of the deputies.

Zeki Ertugay, a deputy of the True Path Party (DYP), said that the decision of the French parliament means ''turning a slander into a political document'' and evaluated this decision as the revenge of the defeat of the French people in Turkey's War of Independence.

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