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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-04-24Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 24 APRİL 2001 Tuesday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on April 24, 2000. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF KIVRIKOGLU WARNSChief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kıvrıkoglu responded to the criticisms about military purchases at the reception held in the parliament upon April 23, National Sovereignty and Children's Day. Kıvrıkoglu said that the state fights with people who are involved in corruption today, but not in the past. ''If corruption was not that spread in the country today, such economic crisis would not take place,'' he said. Kıvrıkoglu also supported State Minister Kemal Dervis who said that ''economy and politics should be separated from each other.'' NO FOREIGN SUPPORT WITHOUT GOOD GOVERNMENT MILLIYET (LIBERAL)TURKS HAVE 112 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN FOREIGN BANKS AND UNDER MATRESSTurkish Association of Chambers and Commodity Exhanges (TOBB) Chairman Fuat Miras has said that Turks have 112 billion U.S. dollars under the matress and also in foreign banks. He indicated that Turkey didn't need the 12 billion U.S. dollars that it's expecting from international organizations. Miras said the TOBB asked the government to temporarily lift the declaration of personal assets in order to regain this money but the government didn't agreed to do so. ''Turkey lost 195 billion U.S. dollars in the last decade. More than five million people could have been employed with this money,'' he said. TRUST AND TRANSPARENCY TO PREVAIL IN MARKETS SABAH (LIBERAL)RESERVATIONS IN TURKEY NOT CANCELLEDPeople who work in tourism sector were worried by the possibility of cancellation of tourists' reservations in Turkey due to the recent hostage taking incident in Swiss Hotel of Istanbul. This didn't come true, no reservations were cancelled to date. Turkey expects to get an income of 12 billion dollars from tourism this year. ADDITIONAL SOURCE FROM IMF CUMHURIYET (LEFT)KIVRIKOGLU: ''MONEY SYPHONERS CAUSED TURKEY'S BANKCRUPTCY''Chief of General Staff Huseyin Kivrikoglu has said that the government would eradicate corruption and the money syphoners would not remain unpunished. Kivrikoglu said Turkey wouldn't have been in the current economic situation without the corruption. Responding to the statements of certain circles which think Turkey shouldn't buy weapons, Kivrikoglu said ''Should we just abolish the army? Turkey is not Iceland, Sweden or Luxembourg'' and added that the corruption should be avoided instead of cutting down the defense expenses. 13 TERRORISTS SURRENDER AFTER 12 HOURS RADIKAL (LEFT)EYES ON NSC MEETING TODAYState Minister Kemal Dervis will present broadly the new economic programem of Turkey at the National Security Council (NSC) meeting in Ankara today. Reactions of the people to the economic programme and measures will be discussed in the meeting. The military flank of the NSC prpeared questions to Dervis and the government. The paper says the military officials can give the message that a reconstruction is necassary in politics. 10 MILLION DOLLARS ON THE WAY TO TURKEY TURKIYE (RIGHT)APRIL 23 NATIONAL SOVREIGNTY DAY CELEBRATED ALL OVER TURKEYThe National Sovereignty and Children's Day was celebrated in Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) yesterday. Many children who came to Turkey from various countries participated in children's day festival. Children governed the state for few minutes by sitting down at the chairs of state officials on the children's day. DERVIS WARNS AGAIN ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)KOC AND SABANCI TARGET 2.2 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF EXPORTGiant holdings of the Turkish private sector, Koc and Sabanci holdings are targeting an export of 2.2 billion U.S. dollars this year. The Koc Group which had an export 962 million U.S. dollars last year is targeting to increase this figure to 1.5 billion U.S. dollars. Koc has 41 representative offices in 24 countries. The Sabanci Group, on the other hand, had an export of 585 million U.S. dollars which it is targeting to increase to 720 million U.S. dollars. -MACEDONIAN FLAGGED SHIP BURNS OFFSHORE KEKOVA The nine crew members of the ship had earlier been rescued by another ship which was sailing in the region. Officials said that the investigation continued. Meanwhile, another ship which ran aground offshore Konyaaltı beach of Antalya saved itself by its own efforts. The Sao-Tome flagged ship which was on its way to Israel by carrying 8,000 tons of cement, hadn't accepted the help offer of officials at Antalya port. -ISTANBUL DGM CHIEF PROSECUTOR ENGIN AND TWO PROSECUTORS Besiktas security officials questioned nearly 20 persons including the hotel staff who had been released earlier by gunmen. Meanwhile, the 13 gunmen who occupied Swissotel and who were taken into custody, had medical examination at Haseki Hospital. The 13 gunmen including Muhammed Emin Tokcan were later brought back to anti-terrorism department where they were questioned. -DERVIS: ''FOREIGN AID TO TURKEY WILL BECOME MORE DEFINITE Speaking at a press conference at Antalya Airport after a three-day visit to this city, Dervis said he had a meeting with the representatives of the textile sector which was very beneficial. He said he would also meet farmers' representatives. Dervis said Antalya and its region has the potential to positively affect the Turkish economy in general. Answering a question on the foreign aid to Turkey, Dervis said there were some positive news. ''We might have to wait until the weekend. As you know, the IMF and World Bank governors will meet in Washington, D.C. I'm expecting them to come up with more definite decisions. We'll also represent Turkey at those meetings and we'll have a more clear idea about the foreign aid Turkey will get,'' he explained. Dervis who is leaving for Washington, D.C. on Tuesday will get together with IMF Chairman Horst Kohler, World Bank President James Wolfensohn and U.S. officials. The meetings will take place on April 26-30. Dervis is expected to go to New York on April 30 and deliver a speech on May 1 before he returns to Turkey. -EXCHANGE RATES IN COVERED BAZAAR IN ISTANBUL One German mark was sold between 572-580 thousand TL. The buying price of one U.S. dollar is changing between 1 million 228 thousand TL -1 million 232 thousand TL while the buying price of one German mark is changing between 562-565 thousand TL. -TURKEY TO OPEN CONSULATE GENERAL IN NOVOROSSIYSK, RUSSIA The Russian government's press centre said that the Russian government also ordered the Russian Foreign Ministry to sign the agreement on the issue. -DERVIS TO TRAVEL TO THE U.S. TOMORROW Dervis, during his visit, will brief the international finance circles and the economy bureaucrats of G-7 countries about Turkey's new economic program. On his way back to Turkey, Dervis will also stop by Germany to meet with the banking circles in this country. The IMF is expected to provide additional financial aid to Turkey's economic program. The IMF Executive Directors Board is expected to make a decision regarding the aid beginning of May. Speaking in Antalya Dervis said he would have a more clear idea about the monetary aspect of the foreign support after the meetings in Washington, D.C. Forest Minister Nami Cagan will take up Dervis's duties during the time he will be away. -BILL PROPOSING TO FORM PRISON MONITORING BOARDS PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT According to the bill, the monitoring boards will be formed by five to seven members and the board members will be appointed for four years. The members have to be over 35-years old and should have no past links with a political party. They are required to study four years of social services, pyschology, sociology, public administration, law or medicine and work in their fields for at least ten years. People who are involved in legal procedures regarding law enforcement institutions or prisons or relatives of inmates can't apply to become board members. The board members will be responsible for the following duties: -To watch the activities in prisons, to receive information from prison executives and to talk to inmates. -Reporting the relevant units about the shortcomings about the physical conditions in prisons, health services, security and transfer of inmates. -Preparing three-monthly evalution reports and sending them to the Justice Ministry, Chief Prosecutor's Office, and Parliamentary Human Rights Commission. Board members will not be allowed to reveal the information they obtain without permission. ''This bill has been prepared to directly monitor law enforcement institutions and prisons, getting public's contribution to solve prison related problems and make prison administrations transparent,'' it was said in the explanatory part of the bill. -CHAIRMAN OF EUROPEAN LIBERALS TO VISIT TURKEY Cox, who will come to Turkey together with European Parliament's Vice President Bertel Haarder and Co-Chairman of the Turkish Parliament-European Parliament Joint Parliamentary Commission (JPC), said in a written statement that he will come together with ANAP leader and deputy premier Mesut Yılmaz, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and other high ranking officials in Ankara. Turkey's accession strategy to EU, Copenhagen criteria, Cyprus question and EU's enlargement will be taken up in Cox's contacts. Noting that the national programme for adoption of acquis (NPAA) announced by Turkey was a right step, Cox said that they want to support political, constitutional and economic reforms of Turkey. -MONEY MARKETS The Central Bank announced that overnight interest rate at the Turkish lira (TL)-Interbank is 110 percent. The market has a surplus reserve of 3 quadrillion 221.9 trillion TL. -STATE MINISTER YALOVA TO LEAVE FOR MONACO TO ATTEND According to the written statement issued by the State Ministry, Crans Montana Forum which is held every year in Switzerland since 1989 by International Forum Foundation, which is an NGO and which has consultation status with Council of Europe (COE), aims at helping in development of the contacts between high ranking officials of the government and business circles. Leaders of states and governments, ministers, international organizations, central bank governors, private sector representatives, organizations which are specialized in struggle against money laundering, judges and police officials from various countries have been invited to the conference which is held in Monaco this year. -NANE ANNAN, WIFE OF U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL, SAYS THEY ARE IN Nane Annan extended support to the campaign by the message she gave in the 23rd International April 23 Children's Festival program which was live broadcast from the state-run TRT channel. Annan expressed pleasure over attending the festival and being in Turkey. This campaign comprised of ten articles is being launched in more than 40 countries by several organizations and individuals this week, Annan said. The results of this campaign will be presented to the state and governmental officials at the Special Session on Children which will be held at the U.N. General Assembly in September 2001, Annan noted. Annan expressed hope that all the governments will keep the commitments. The ten articles of the joint declaration are: leave no child out, put children first, care for every children, fight HIV/AIDS, stop harming and exploiting children, listen to children, educate every child, protect children from war, protect the earth for children, and fight poverty: invest in children. Then, a Turkish girl and South African boy read out the joint declaration. -ITALY, GERMANY AND SAUDI ARABIA BECOME EXPORT CENTERS OF GAP REGION Exports of agricultural, animal and industrial products from GAP region to Italy, Germany and Saudi Arabia increased by 41.7 percent to 29 million 534 thousand U.S. dollars in the January-March period of 2001. In the same period last year, the region exported 20 million 830 thousand U.S. dollars of agricultural, animal and industrial products to these countries. Officials at the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union told the A.A correspondent on Tuesday that their exports to Italy increased by 23.7 percent to 14 million 172 thousand U.S. dollars, their exports to Germany increased 25 percent to 8 million 94 thousand U.S. dollars, and their exports to Saudi Arabia increased 159.6 percent to 7 million 258 thousand U.S. dollars. Turkish goods in greatest demand in these countries are dried apricot, textiles, carpet, cotton and synthetic thread. -TREASURY UNDERSECRETARIAT: A statement of the Treasury Undersecretariat said that one of the principles of the new economic program of Turkey is to provide support to the weakest parts of the nation which will be negatively affected by the crisis. To this end, 400 trillion TL appropriation was added to the budget of 2001 to prevent the increasing costs of the interests of the credits used by the agricultural sector and the tradesmen from affecting these sectors, the statement pointed out. The statement added that an increase in this source is not possible because it will damage the balances of the program. -ISTANBUL POLICE CHIEF ABANOZ: Abanoz attended a meeting on ''International Criminal Law, Extradition of Offenders and New Conventions Prepared by European Union (EU)'' which was organized by the Marmara University within framework of the 7th Law Seminars. Responding to questions of journalists before attending the meeting, Abanoz said, ''interrogation of 13 gunmen who stormed the Swisshotel and took a number of guests and staff members hostage, is under way. Security forces paid careful attention. The action came to an end without any casualties. The incident coincided with the beginning of the tourism season. It could have been a serious blow to our tourism. Therefore, we acted with common- sense and sensitivity. Our only target was not to harm anyone. Therefore we did not hasten, and we achieved success.'' ''We kept holding talks with the gunmen patiently. If they had not surrendered to police, we would have launch an operation. We could not allow them to continue their action any more. We prioritized our country's benefits. Any mistake could have put our country in a difficult situation, '' he added. -FINANCE MINISTER ORAL: Responding to questions of reporters, Oral said that there are figures which have to be re-arranged in the budget of 2001 after the February crisis. Oral noted that the draft law on the additional appropriation will be submitted in the second half of the year. The financial dimension will become clear as the foreign finance becomes definite, Oral stated. Oral said, ''of course, the foreign finance and the additional appropriation will be taken up together. But, since the foreign finance has not become definite yet, there is lack of information related with the appropriations.'' -TURKISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE FESTIVAL STARTS IN IRAQ Prof. Dr. Coban Hidir Haydar, the Chairman of Turkish Language and Literature Department of the Baghdad University, inaugurated the festival which was organized within framework of April festivals. Speaking at the inauguration, Prof. Dr. Haydar said, ''the department was opened in 1972 with only four students. The department has constituted a tie between Turkey and Iraq. Today, our department has 780 students.'' Mehmet Akat, the Turkish Ambassador to Iraq, was also in attendance at the inauguration. -EU COMMISSION COLLECTS AID TO TURKEY UNDER ONE FRAMEWORK Jean Christophe Flori, one of the spokesman of the commission, recalled that the executive organ commission was requested to bring a proposal to collect the aid under one framework within the scope of the strategy that was determined in Helsinki summit. Stressing that a new aid was out of question, and that there would not be any change in the amounts that were foreseen, Flori said financial support would be expended to Turkey within the framework of full membership strategy, which was also made to other countries. He said this aid would not be used apart from the targets that were determined in the strategy. The EU would extend aid worth of 177 million euro per year, within the scope of full membership strategy. Proposal of the commission will be valid after views of European Parliament are taken, and after being approved in EU Council. Consent of the European Parliament would not be required. -FIRST WOMAN MEMBER STARTS TERM IN OFFICE Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz, the chairman of directorate general of religious affairs department, who addressed the ceremony staged on the occasion, pointed out that Moslems were not advanced much not because of religion, but because they distanced from religion. Stressing that service scope of Directorate General of Religious Affairs was widened, Yilmaz said, ''reviewing religion service policies against changes, and making changes when necessary are indispensable.'' Yilmaz said it is the duty of the directorate general of religious affairs to settle the religion service policies on a more scientific, technical and daily basis against changes. Meanwhile, Mualla Selcuk, who was appointed to the Religious Affairs High Committee, said she was proud to be the first woman member. It was reported that Prof. Selcuk would act as the chairperson of Education Commission. -TREASURY SELLS 253 TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS The total bid had become 487.7 trillion TL and the net sale became 210 trillion TL in the auction. The annual simple interest rate became 82 percent and the annual composite interest rate became 110.83 percent. The value date of these three-month bonds is April 25, and the maturity is July 25. In the meantime, the Treasury also held a six-month (168-day) bond auction. The Treasury Undersecratariat sold 1 quadrillion 4.3 trillion Turkish liras (TL) nominal-valued six-month bonds in this auction. The total bid had become 1 quadrillion 637.9 trillion TL and the net sale became 716.5 trillion TL in the auction. The annual simple interest rate became 87 percent and the annual composite interest rate became 107.80 percent. The value date of these three-month bonds is April 25, and the maturity is October 10. Meanwhile, Treasury will repay 1 quadrillion 22.6 trillion TL in domestic borrowing on Wednesday. The Treasury had held a eight-month (231-day) bond auction on April 17. The annual simple interest became 102.24 percent and the annual composite interest was 119.89 percent in the auction. The total bid was 1 quadrillion 112.9 trillion TL in the auction. -STATE MINISTER DERVIS INFORMS PLANNING AND BUDGET COMMISSION The session is closed to the press. When he came to the parliament, Dervis had a short meeting with Metin Sahin, the chairman of the Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission. Responding to questions of reporters on how his first National Security Council (NSC) meeting was, Dervis said, ''I will not say anything.'' The meeting of the Planning and Budget Commission started at 1.30 p.m. -FINANCE MINISTER ORAL: Oral, who had attended G-13 Group meeting in Copenhagen, which was comprised of finance ministers of the EU candidate countries, and who later attended dialogue meeting of the ECOFIN Council, comprised of EU finance and economy ministers, regarding macro-economic and financial stability issues, staged a news conference and briefed about his contacts. Oral said finance ministers and central bank governors of 28 countries attended the meeting that took place in Malmoe city of Sweden, adding that, ''finance ministers of 13 countries, which are candidates to the EU, attended the meeting. Macro economic policies and financial structure of countries, which are in accession process to the EU, were discussed at the meeting. National budget policies, adjustment of those policies to the EU norms, and coincidence of budget deficits and public debts with financial stability were also discussed. The 13 countries told about their experiences.'' Oral said, countries, which are candidates to the EU, exert efforts to reach EU norms, and noted that this showed that national program and economic program coincided in Turkey. He said the target of the program was to bring Turkey closer to the EU norms. Pointing out that he proceeded to Malmoe following the meeting, Oral said he attended the afternoon session of a meeting with the finance ministers of the EU member countries there. Oral also said, ''15 finance ministers of the EU member countries discussed the problems which Turkey experiences. Turkey's structural program was evaluated. Also, Swedish finance minister and the term president, made a statement.'' Oral quoted the Swedish minister as saying that they evaluated well the recent economic and financial developments in Turkey, adding that he reiterated their full support for the efforts of Turkey regarded with implementing a strong national program as it was disclosed in an EU ministers' meeting which took place in Stockholm on 23 March 2000. The Swedish minister said earlier that they had responded affirmatively to the new policy measures, mainly the important structural reforms and structuring of finance sector, which were disclosed last week. He noted that they encouraged the Turkish officials to implement the program in cooperation with international finance organizations without being delayed. The Swedish minister said they decided that Turkey deserved the extraordinary foreign support with the efforts it exerted to reach stability, and the strong and determined political will it exhibited on the economic program. He said they requested the IMF and the World Bank to provide additional finance, and stressed the requirement of continuation of the private sector's support. -FINANCE MINISTER ORAL : Oral told a press conference about his contacts with the G-13 group and ECOFIN meetings that the finance ministers of the European Union (EU) countries assumed an attitude which supported the new economic program and structural reforms of Turkey in the meeting held on April 21. Four members of the EU are also the members of the G-7 group, Oral said. Oral noted that Germany, Britain, Italy and France are these EU countries. This positive atmosphere is a pleasing development prior to the foreign financial support, Oral stated. Oral said, ''during the ECOFIN meetings, I held a long meeting with the German Finance Minister. We had reached a compromise before we went to Sweden and Denmark. We had a contact. I met with Verheugen, Swedish Finance Minister and the Finance Minister of Belgium, which will become the EU Term President in June. This minister will pay an official visit to Turkey next month.'' ''Each of these ministers had common ideas on the issues which I mentioned during my press conference. This is the most important point which will be underlined. Of course, it is a very pleasing development that we have mentioned such a positive ground prior to the IMF and World Bank meetings which will be held in Washington D.C,'' Oral added. Oral said that the National Program of Turkey and the economic program coincide with each other. ''We have to concider this program as not only a program which will overcome the economic problems but also which will help Turkey fulfil structural reforms necessary for integration with Europe and the world. We have to reach the targets by evaluating its own resources and by spending its sources by calculating every coin together with the foreign finance part of the program. We have to be conscious that we have to reach the targets by using our time and money efficiently,'' Oral added. -NSC MEETING ENDS Releasing a written statement, the Secretariat General of NSC stated, ''the NSC convened under chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on April 24, 2001 with the participation of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, General Staff Chief General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, ministers who are members of the NSC, the commanders of land, air, and naval forces, the commander of gendarmerie teams, and the Secretary General of NSC. State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, and State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan were also in attendance at the meeting. State Minister Kemal Dervis attended a part of the meeting.'' ''During the meeting, the NSC was informed on the new economic program which was prepared to overcome current economic difficulties and to provide an atmosphere of stability. Impacts of measures taken or to be taken on defense and security projects were assessed,'' it said. The statement noted that latest developments both in Turkey and abroad were scrutinized. ''At the monthly meeting of the NSC, implementation of the Action Plan including measures taken to solve problems of Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions, was assessed. If implementation of measures envisaged in the Action Plan which was put into practice on May 9, 2000, continues with determination, economy in these regions will revive in a short period of time,'' it said. As a result of these assessments: a. That 165 projects, worth of 482 trillion lira, foreseen within the year 2000, were completed, b. As a requirement of the economic program that was implemented, appropriations, allocated to all public investment projects in 2001, increased 13.7 percent in 26 provinces which are within the scope of the Action plan, when compared with the previous year, c. That the area, which brought implementation services in order to support agriculture in the region, was increased from 19,000 hectares to 22,000 hectares, and that allocations were increased 17.1 percent in this respect, d. That sources, allocated to the projects carried out in provinces, which are within the scope of the plan to strengthen the city infrastructure, increased 47 percent, and that a total of 83 projects in the quality were completed within the year 2000, e. That the rate of investments in 28 provinces which were included in the action plan, was increased from 4 percent to 40 percent, f. As the programs, within the scope of the basic and protective health services, are being carried out 13 percent increase was provided in number of hospitals, 17 percent increase in number of local health centers, 76 percent increase in number of specialized doctors, and 40 percent increase in number of nurses. g. It is satisfactory that number of students in primary and secondary schools increased 30.4, and number of teachers increased 18 percent in the period of the plan in regional provinces. In case the measures, foreseen in the action plan are implemented with the same determination, an economic revival could be recorded in those regions. Also, foreign political developments, which closely concern Turkey's security, were also discussed in the meeting.
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