Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-04-26

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

26 APRİL 2001 Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] THE SEVENTH SUMMIT MEETING OF THE HEADS OF STATE OF TURKISH

[03] TURKISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES SUMMIT (2)

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

HOLDING ELECTIONS WITH STATE'S MONEY COMES TO AN END
By a law which was adopted by the parliament the previous day, the Central Bank has become totally autonomous as in the developed countries. Turkish lira (TL) is liberalized. The Central Bank will no more give advance money and open credit to the Treasury and the public sector.

LETTER REGARDING MERCEDES
Three leading associations of the business world wrote a letter to the Prime Minister to complain the Karapinar judge who decided to imprison nine foreign administrators of Mercedes company. Mercedes, which plans to make 200 million German mark investment in Turkey next September, was shocked by a development during the decision-making process. The Karapinar Court had decided to imprison nine foreign administrators of Mercedes. The Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD), the Foreign Capital Association (YASED) and the Automotive Industrialists' Association (OSD) wrote letters to the Prime Minister and the other members of the coalition government in which they explained the possible losses of Turkey.

JUDGE KILINC: ''MY DECISION CAN BE AN EXAMPLE''
Karapinar judge Habip Kilinc, who decided to imprison the German administrators of Mercedes on charges of an accident which happened four years ago, said, ''I did what I believed. Everybody is equal under Turkish laws. Mercedes cannot be privileged. 49 people died. My decision can be an example for other cases.'' Atilla Kart, the lawyer of relatives of the victims, also blamed Mercedes Benz with trying to influence the judiciary.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

EUROPEAN MORALE
The European Union (EU) used hope-inspiring statements regarding Turkey in its report about the 2001-2002 foresights related with the candidate countries. The EU said that Turkey's economy will shrink 2 percent this year due to the crisis while it will grow 3.3 percent in 2002. The inflation will be 58 percent this year while it will decrease to 29 percent in 2002.

AND CAGLAR IS BEING BROUGHT
Former minister Cavit Caglar, who was captured in New York to be extradited to Turkey, will arrive in Turkey at the weekend. In accordance with the information acquired by the Milliyet, a delegation comprised of three people will go to the U.S. to bring Caglar to Turkey.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

HEAVY PUNISHMENT AGAINST GALATASARAY
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) banned Galatasaray from using the home stadium ''Ali Sami Yen'' for the European club competition matches. The UEFA will review its decision after Galatasaray takes necessary measures.

BOMBARDMENT FROM DERVIS
State Minister Kemal Dervis made political statements for the first time and gave important messages. Dervis said that the union of social democrat parties and central left is indispensable. Dervis said, ''I am a liberal social democrat and to this end, I am close to Ecevit's party. But, I hope a new central left alliance is formed.'' Dervis also said, ''Turkey is an Islamic country which belongs to the Middle East and also it is a part of Europe and the West. Turkey can become a global power with its bi-cultural dimension and multi-cultural tradition coming from the Ottoman era.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

DEATH-FASTING INMATES DIE ONE AFTER ANOTHER
Sedat Karakurt, a death-fasting inmate, lost his life at the Edirne Medical Faculty Hospital and Erdogan Guler, a person who extended support to demands of prisoners by fasting to death, died in his house yesterday, and the number of people who lost their lives in their death fast which started 189 days ago has reached 19.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

NO PASSAGE TO KURDISH
Mustafa Bumin, the Chairman of the Constitutional Court, said, ''education in Kurdish is wrong.'' Bumin expressed striking views in the ceremony held to celebrate 39th anniversary of the Constitutional Court. Bumin said, ''Constitution says, 'no language other than Turkish shall be taught as mother tongue to Turkish citizens at any institutions of training or education.' Therefore, opinions about education in languages belonged to some similar ethnic groups, cannot be defended against the Constitution.'' Bumin also said that the political parties which do not provoke violence should not be closed.

NO DEVELOPMENT IN F TYPE PRISONS
The number of people who died of death fast reached 19 as Sedat Karakurt and Erdogan Guler died. The drafts which envisage rehabilitation in the F type prisons will be presented to the parliamentary general assembly next week.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

HOPEFUL JOURNEY
State Minister Kemal Dervis left for the U.S. to attend the spring term meetings of the IMF in Washington D.C. Dervis who will proceed to New York on May 1 will meet with international finance organizations officials. Dervis who will visit Germany after leaving the U.S. is expected to meet with creditor banks' managers in Germany. Dervis aims to bring 15 billion U.S. dollars from U.S. to Turkey while IMF officials said that amount of support was still unclear.

WEST SHOULD NOT BLACKMAIL
Speaking to the German Die Zeit newspaper, State Minister Kemal Dervis said, ''it will be a serious mistake if the western countries link their support to Turkey with political conditions. Nobody should attempt to put such a pressure.''

BAD NEWS FROM IMF
IMF Managing Director Horst Kohler said that it would become very difficult for the countries like Turkey to overcome their problems if the global economy wouldn't provide growth again.

FREE ''CENTRAL''
One more law which was demanded by State Minister Kemal Dervis was passed. This new law granted the Central Bank broad authorities.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

ANAP INTIMIDATES MHP
The Motherland Party (ANAP) intimidated the MHP which wanted Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer to be tried. ANAP gave the message that the government would collapse if the MHP extended support to a censure motion or interrogation motion against Ersumer.

ECEVIT: ''IT IS MORE IMPORTANT TO PROTECT THE GOVERNMENT''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that Deputy Prime Minister and leader of ANAP Mesut Yilmaz and he had discussed the issue, adding, ''now, it is our duty to protect this government. Turkey is encountering a very sensitive period. These issues should not ne introduced alongside the government performances.'' Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer is accused of grafting in ''Afsin-Elbistan Thermic Power Plant and Kirklareli Natural Gas Transformation Power Plant tenders'' and misusing the authority in ''Nuclear Power Plant and Alacati Wind Power Plant tenders''.

HISTORIC SUMMIT AT CIRAGAN PALACE
Leaders arrived in Istanbul to attend the Summit Meeting of Heads of States of Turkish Speaking Countries. Uzbekistan will be represented by Parliament Speaker at the summit meeting at the Ciragan Palace.

CONSTITUTION SHOULD BE CHANGED
Constitutional Court Chief Judge Mustafa Bumin demanded a ''liberalist and pluralist'' constitution. He said that the constitution should be changed in a way to meet new requirements.

-IMF FIRST DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR FISCHER: ''TURKEY DESERVES
THE SUPPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, AND IT WILL GET IT''
WASHINGTON D.C. - International Monetary Fund (IMF) First Deputy Managing Director Stanley Fischer said on Wednesday that as a result of the steps it took on the path of overcoming the economic crisis, Turkey deserved the support of the international community, and it would get it.

Speaking at a meeting with governors of central banks and finance ministers of Latin American countries, Fischer gave very important messages of support to Turkey.

Noting that negotiations between Turkey and the IMF were virtually complete and only final details of the economic program and the financing for it remained to be determined, Fischer praised Turkey as it took ''determined'' steps to overcome the economic crisis.

Fischer said, ''the Turkish authorities in the negotiations we have been conducting with State Minister Dervis and his colleagues have demonstrated their determination to continue on the path of stabilization and reform on which they started at the end of 1999, and to take all the measures - including very tough measures to restructure the banking system and fiscal measures that will ensure a rapid turnaround in the debt situation - necessary to restore stability and continue the process of disinflation.''

Stanley Fischer added that ''Turkey could have inflated its way out of this crisis, and has decided not to. Turkey deserves the support of the international community, and it will get it.''

Fischer's statements were defined as the expressions of most definite and clear support of the IMF to Turkey's efforts to overcome the economic crisis.

-FORMER MINISTER AND BUSINESSMAN CAGLAR TO
BE BROUGHT FROM NEW YORK TO TURKEY ON FRIDAY
NEW YORK - Former minister and businessman Cavit Caglar who is under arrest at the Manhattan Metropolitan Correction Center (MCC) in New York, the U.S. will be brought from New York to Turkey on Saturday, sources said on Thursday.

A three-member Turkish security team which will bring Caglar from the U.S. to Turkey with a Turkish Airlines (THY) plane at 01:00 hours on Saturday is expected to arrive in New York today.

Caglar who was captured at the New York's JFK Airport on April 18 requested his extradition to Turkey when Manhattan local judge Andrew Pack rejected his release on 5 million U.S. dollars bail, and the court accepted this request.

-STATE MINISTER DERVIS TO MEET WITH U.S. SECRETARY OF TREASURY
WASHINGTON D.C. - State Minister Kemal Dervis will on Friday meet Paul O'Neill, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, and World Bank President James Wolfensohn within the framework of his contacts in the U.S.

Dervis is currently in the U.S. to attend the spring term meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

State Minister Dervis is expected to meet the representatives of the G-7 countries on Friday related with the foreign support to Turkey's new economic program.

Dervis will meet Horst Koehler, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, on Saturday.

Kemal Dervis, who will meet James Harmon, the President of Eximbank of the U.S. on Monday, is expected to proceed to New York the same day.

Dervis is expected to stage a press conference in Turkey's Embassy in Washington D.C. at midnight.

-INAN, CHAIRMAN OF PARLIAMENTARY FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMISSION, SAYS COX
ASSUMES ENCOURAGING AND OPTIMISTIC APPROACH TOWARDS RELATIONS WITH EU
ANKARA - Kamran Inan, the chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission, said on Thursday that Patrick Cox, the chairman of Liberal Group at the European Parliament (EP), assumes an encouraging and optimistic approach towards relations with the European Union (EU).

Prior to the commission meeting in which several international agreements will be debated, Inan informed the members of the commission.

Touching on the visit of four members of the Liberal Group at the EP, Inan said, ''they are in favour of the enlargement of the EU and Turkey's full membership. They said that they did not vote for the Morillon report and that Turkey should not consider whole of the EP against itself due to the adoption of this report.''

Inan also said, ''they told us to do what is necessary to become a full member rather than complaints and criticisms. They insisted that the National Program is a good path. They also assumed an encouraging and optimistic approach towards the injustice of the EU against Turkey by saying that these will be overcome.''

The chairperson of the Australian-Turkish Friendship Group and the shadow foreign minister of the Australian Workers Party also visited himself, Inan noted.

Inan said that the shadow foreign minister asked him questions about the relations with the EU, the Balkans, the regional developments, relations with Greece and Cyprus question.

Elections will be held in Australia in November and no later than December, Inan stated.

Inan said that the possibility of the Worker Party's coming to the power is high.

To this end, the shadow minister can become the foreign minister of Australia, Inan noted.

Inan said that they recommended him that ''they should not start the business with Cyprus question.''

-TURKEY RANKED 36TH IN MACRO PRODUCTIVITY AND
23RD IN INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTIVITY AMONG 45 COUNTRIES
ANKARA - Turkey was ranked 36th in macro productivity among 45 countries and 23rd in industrial productivity among 32 countries.

According to the National Productivity Center's (MPM) Productivity Magazine, Turkey had a better ''macro productivity'' than Russia, Far Eastern and and some Latin American countries.

According to the research published in the magazine, Luxembourg was ranked first in macro productivity (gross national product per employment) with 80.3 U.S. dollars, Switzerland was ranked second with 76.8 U.S. dollars and they were followed by Japan, Germany, U.S., Singapore, Britain and Greece.

Turkey was ranked 36th in this list while Mexico, Russia, Phillippines and China remained behind Turkey.

Meanwhile, Japan was ranked first in industrial productivity (added value per employment) with 84 U.S. dollars and it was followed by France, Netherlands, Austria, Britain, Greece and Malaysia.

Turkey was ranked 23rd while Poland, Russia and China remained behind Turkey.

[02] THE SEVENTH SUMMIT MEETING OF THE HEADS OF STATE OF TURKISH

The Seventh Summit Meeting of the Heads of State of Turkish Speaking Countries started at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul under the presidency of Sezer. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are attending the meeting.

Addressing the opening remarks, Sezer said that nine years have passed since the Summit Meeting of Turkish Speaking Countries was held for the first time in Ankara.

Sezer noted that not only the bilateral relations but also the multi-later cooperation among the countries participating in the summit have been promoted within nine years.

''We are proud of these developments. The summit meetings have turned into a high-level forum where we meet each other. These meetings are also meetings which symbolize our solidarity based on mutual respect and common interests. We debate the improvement of our relations and cooperation, acceleration of economic and social development, and strengthening of the regional peace and stability in these meetings. We exchange views about the measures and the steps to be taken,'' Sezer added.

Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev, Turkmen President Saparmurat Turkmenbasi, Uzbek Parliament Speaker Erkin Halilov and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem are attending the meeting.

(To be continued)

[03] TURKISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES SUMMIT (2)

''We sincerely believe that these meetings will greatly contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability in our region,'' he continued. ''Having no major political problems create favorable grounds to focus on economic and cultural aspects of our relationship. Having a common language, culture and traditions would make it easier to maximize our relations in these fields. We're sure that the participating presidents would put forward valuable ideas which might lead to new steps.''

-BLACKSEA ECONOMIC COOPERATION COUNCIL MEETING TO BE
HELD IN MOSCOW ON FRIDAY
MOSCOW - Blacksea Economic Cooperation organization's Balkan Council meeting will be held in Moscow on Friday.

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem who will represent Turkey at the meeting will go to Moscow on Thursday night.

Turkey which will take over term presidency from Russia has prepared a program aiming to bring a more dynamic structure to the organization in order to offer immediate solutions to economic problems.

Measures to increase the organization's efficiency, more efficient membership and special programs for participation, strengthening cooperation with the EU and the United States are the topics of Turkey's program. The program proposes more active cooperation in energy, transportation, trade, academic activities, agriculture, organized crime, drugs and weapons smuggling, terrorism and corruption.

-ALIYEV: ''THE SUMMIT WILL HELP TO MAINTAIN STABILITY AND SECURITY
IN OUR REGION''
ISTANBUL - Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev has said that the 7th Turkish Speaking Countries Summit would contribute to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region.

Speaking at the meeting which is held at Ciragan Palace on Thursday, Aliyev said ''We're benefiting from Turkey's influence in the world. Turkish- Azerbaijani relations are rooted in the history. We share the same language and culture. All these are bringing us closer to each other.''

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev also underlined the summit's importance and pointed out that many of the participating countries were celebrating the tenth year of their independence. He said that the summit was also important for the region's security. The Kazakh president said joining forces of the Turkish republics would help to fight against terrorism and organized smuggling crimes.

Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev thanked President Ahmet Necdet Sezer for the warm welcome he showed the participating presidents and added that the summit demonstrated the accomplishments of the Turkish republics.

''Turkey is a very important country proceeding to become an EU member and this is making us happy. Turkish Republic's accomplishment is examplary for the other Turkish republics and we're benefiting from this example,'' he stated.

Akayev said the summit would accelerate the development of bilateral relations between the participating countries.

-GREEK CYPRIOT CITIZEN TRIED IN TRNC FOR DRUG SMUGGLING RELEASED
GAZIMAGUSA - Panicos Tsiakourmas, a Greek Cypriot citizen who was captured with drugs by security forces in Beyarmudu border village of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) by security forces and who was tried at Criminal Court, was released on Thursday.

Tsiakourmas was found guilty of possessing 1,1 kg of Indian hemp on December 13, 2000 and sentenced to six months imprisonment. He was released after the Turkish Cypriot court considered that he had spent nearly five months in jail, and because his elderly mother, who suffered a stroke last week, died Thursday.

The family of the Tsiakourmas was very pleased with the court decision. The U.N. Peace Keeping Forces and the Greek Cypriot press watched the trial.

The Greek Cypriot administration had launched initiatives at the international arena for his release.

TRNC Foreign and Defense Ministry had warned the U.N. Peace Keeping Force about the provocative activities which the Greek Cypriots people could undertake at the border and asked it to take the necessary measures, by issuing a written statement.

-SEMINAR ON TURKISH-RUSSIAN ECONOMIC POLICIES TO BE HELD IN MOSCOW
ANKARA - A seminar on the current issues in Turkish-Russian economic policies will be held in Moscow on May 22.

The seminar which is organized jointly by the Turkish Finance Association, Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK) and Russian Higher Economy Institute will take place at the Russian Higher Economy Institute.

During the seminar, two panel meetings will be held on IMF's stand-by programs in Russia and Turkey and mutual investments in both countries.

Privatization Administration Board Chairman Ugur Bayar, Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Mithat Balkan, Turkey Eximbank General Manager Ahmet Kilicoglu will be among those who are participating the seminar from Turkey.

-PARLIAMENTARY INTERIOR COMMISSION DECIDES
TO PREPARE A DRAFT LAW AGAINST GENOCIDE CLAIMS
ANKARA - Parliamentary Interior Commission discussed on Thursday the proposals of law on recognition of ''genocide'' committed by France in Algeria.

Mehmet Pak, the Chairman of the Commission said that France continues its ugly attitude against Turkey by releasing on April 24, an Armenian terrorist who was one of the suspects of the massacre committed in Orly Airport of France.

Noting that the proposals of laws on recognition of genocide committed by France in Algeria were taken up in the sub-commission, Pak said that the sub-commision prepared a report which proposed foundation of a ''Scientific Research Institution'' to refute Armenian views about genocide claims.

Meanwhile, Zafer Guler, a deputy from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) said in his part that it will be a mistake if the parliament decides whether or not France committed genocide in Algeria. ''I talked to Algerians they don't welcome this proposal of law,'' he said.

Later, it was decided to give authority to the Interior Affairs Commission to prepare another draft law by benefitting from the report of the parliamentary foreign affairs commission.

-ENVIRONMENTALISTS HOLD DEMONSTRATION TO DRAW ATTENTION TO
DANGER CREATED BY TANKERS IN TURKISH STRAITS
ISTANBUL - Some members of the environmentalist group, Warriors of Nature climbed on top of the Sao Tome flagged cargo ship which is half sank offshores of Yedikule to draw attention to the danger created by tankers in the Turkish straits.

The group came to Yedikule shore at 11 a.m. and went to the cargo ship by boats.

Zafer Murat Cetintas who spoke on behalf of the group said the participants of the 7th Turkish Speaking countries should take a decision to protect the Turkish straits and limit the passage of tankers. He also remarked that the tanker traffic would increase as the Kazakh oil starts to be transported through the straits.

''We would like to warn the presidents of the participating countries. We are neighbors and we might need each other's help in the future,'' he said.

After the demonstration, security forces said the environmentalists' act was illegal and took Cetintas to the police station.

-FM CEM LEAVES FOR MOSCOW
ISTANBUL - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem left for Moscow, Russia on Thursday to participate in the foreign ministers meeting of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) organization which will start on Friday.

Speaking at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport before his departure, Cem said that he goes to Moscow to take over the term presidency of the BSEC Foreign Ministers Council, adding that Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov was the term president of the Council. He added that he will also discuss general isuses which concern the two countries with Ivanov.

Foreign Minister Cem will return to Turkey on April 28.

-CASE ON ''WHITE ENERGY''
-PREMIER YILMAZ AND ENERGY MINISTER ERSUMER
DECIDE TO GIVE INFORMATION TO COALITION LEADERS
ANKARA - Mesut Yılmaz, the Deputy Premier and the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) and Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer decided on Thursday to give information to the leaders of other coalition parties about the indictment on ''white energy.''

Yılmaz and Ersumer decided to give information to Premier Bulent Ecevit and Deputy Premier Devlet Bahceli about the information stated in the indictment, the bureaucrats against whom suits was filed and expert witnesses.

Sources said that a leaders summit can take place on Friday.

Meanwhile, the authorized organs of the Motherland Party (ANAP) will convene at the weekend, discuss the recent developments about white energy accusations and determine the party's attitude.

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