Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-04-29

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

29 APRİL 2001 Sunday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on April 29, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

British Financial Times newspaper, one of the most respected newspapers in the world, said, ''Turkey's energy minister resigned in a sign of the country's willingness to tackle corruption to secure a 10 billion U.S. dollars international bailout. Cumhur Ersumer told a news conference he could no longer comfortably perform his duties as minister. He accused the media of disseminating unsubstantiated allegations against him after 15 officials and businessmen were charged with conspiracy and bribery in state energy tenders.

Corruption has been identified as a root cause of Turkey's current financial crisis triggered in part by weaknesses in the banking sector. The resignation - unusual for Turkish politicians who have typically clung to their posts until voted out - is likely to boost international confidence in Turkey's efforts to clean up state-dominated industries ranging from banking to energy.''

DERVIS: ''PROGRAM AIMS AT STRUGGLING AGAINST CORRUPTION''

State Minister Kemal Dervis who is currently in Washington D.C. to attend the spring term meetings of International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank gave important messages. ''Struggle against corruption is an important part of our national program,'' he said.

SALK: ''ERSUMER SHOULD BE TRIED AT HIGH TRIBUNAL''

Talat Salk, the Prosecutor of State Security Court (DGM), said, ''we cannot prepare a summary of inquiries against former Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer. Accusations belong to his term in office. He should be tried at the High Tribunal.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Cavit Caglar, former state minister and businessmen, had talked with passengers aboard the plane which brought him to Turkey from the U.S. He told the passengers that he would solve his problems in three months. He said, ''I allocated my private plane to the state to bring Abdullah Ocalan, the head of terrorist organization PKK, to Turkey. Look how our state brings me back.'' Caglar said that he had shared the same cell with supporters of Saudi terrorist Osama bin Laden in the U.S.

DEUTSCHE BANK: ''WE WILL BE THE NUMBER ONE IN IMKB''

The Deutsche Bank, one of the biggest institutional investors, has set up a platform in Turkey for foreign investors. The Bank said that it would be the number one in the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB). The Bank is also carrying out preparatory works to purchase a bank in Turkey.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that any revision in the Council of Ministers was out of question. Meanwhile, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said, ''nearly all of news stories about Friday's summit meeting among coalition partners, are totally baseless. News stories claiming that the coalition partners have reached a compromise to make a revision in the cabinet, are imaginary. Press organs misunderstood their duty to inform the public opinion. They have been misleading the public opinion. Their attitude damages our democracy.''

ICE CREAM MAKER MADO TO OPEN 20 BRANCHES IN TUNISIA

Erdal Kambur, a member of the Executive Board of the MADO, an ice cream maker based in southern province of Kahramanmaras, said that they would open twenty branches in Tunisia in one year. Kambur said that they have opened 130 branches in Turkey and 30 others abroad. ''Twenty MADO branches will be opened in Tunisia until February 20, 2002. We have reached an agreement with Tunisian businessman Gafsi Wahit,'' he said. Recalling that they had opened a total of thirty branches in Germany, Romania, Britain, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, and 130 others in Turkey, Kambur said, ''we target to increase the number of our branches to 250 by 2005. Our main target is to open 30 branches in Japan.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Cavit Caglar, former state minister and businessmen, was brought to Turkey from the U.S. by a special team. He was arrested after being interrogated at the State Security Court (DGM). He claimed that he was not responsible for Etibank. Defending that he had repaid all his debts to Egebank, Caglar said that he was swindled out by Murat Demirel, former owner of Egebank.

''NO WAY OUT'' PRESENTED WITH GOLDEN TULIP

''Die Unberuehrbare (No Way Out)'' of German director Oskar Roehler was presented with the Golden Tulip Award at the 20th International Istanbul Film Festival.

ONE MORE DEATH IN DEATH FASTS

A total of 192 days have passed since the beginning of death fasts aiming at protesting F-type prisons. Fatma Hulya Tumgan, 32, who had been fasting to death lost her life at Ankara's Numune Hospital. The death toll increased to 20 in death fasts and hunger strikes in prisons. Tumgan was imprisoned on charges of being a member of the illegal Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C).

RADIKAL (LEFT)

State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said, ''We are in full consensus of opinion that Ersumer did not have any wrongdoing which will entail his resignation. In fact, he is a distinguished person.''

FOUR THOUSAND FIRMS CLOSED DOWN DUE TO CURRENT ECONOMIC CRISIS

According to the State Institute of Statistics (DIE), 4,146 firms were closed down in the first three months of 2001 due to economic crisis.

SEVINC OF TURKEY WINS SILVER MEDAL IN SNATCH IN MEN'S 94 KG

Dursun Sevinc of Turkey won the silver medal in snatch and was ranked fourth in clean and jerk and total in men's 94 kg category at the European Weightlifting Championships in Trencin, Slovakia.

TURKEY TO TAKE ON CROATIA

Turkey reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA European Under-16 Championship when they beat Poland 2-1 to finish top of Group B. In the last eight, they will meet Croatia on April 30. If Turkey beats Croatia, they will meet with the winners of the Britain-Germany game in the semi- final on Thursday, May 3.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Businessman Cavit Caglar who was brought from the United States was put into Kartal Prison in Istanbul. Shortly after his arrival, Caglar, one of the suspects of the Egebank case, was sent to the State Security Court. Interrogation of Caglar stopped for a while when he suffered high blood pressure. Following the interrogation, the Prosecutor's Office transferred him to the Alternate Judge's Office and the warrant of arrest in his absentia was changed into warrant of arrest in his presence.

CONGRATULATIONS, GOVERNOR

Mike Huckabee, the Governor of Arkansas, the U.S., made a great beau geste to the kinsmen living in the U.S. by declaring April 23 as the ''Turkish Culture and Children's Festival Day''.

TEST RAILWAY JOURNEY ON SILK ROAD

Preparations for the trial journey through the Almaty-Istanbul railway which aims to revive the historical Silk Road are about to be finalized. People who engaged in tourism will be the circle which will benefit from the revival of the historical Silk Road at the most.

YILMAZ DENIES: ''NO REVISION''

Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) Mesut Yilmaz assessed the rumors about a change in the government by saying, ''revision is totally an imagine.''

KUTAN: ''GIVE MONEY''

Recai Kutan of the Virtue Party (FP) said, ''the most important duty of the government at the moment is to give money to civil servants, workers and farmers. Otherwise, the market can't be opened.''

REGULAR CONVENTION EXCITEMENT

The Democratic Left Party (DSP), one of the partners of the coalition government, is holding its Fifth Regular Congress. Sema Piskinsut, a deputy from Aydin province, will vie with Bulent Ecevit for the DSP leadership. A total of 1,189 delegates will vote.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank want the government to replace Kemal Dervis with Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan in return for their financial support. This demand was conveyed to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit by the Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD). The reason for such a demand is to sue the 10 billion U.S. dollars of supplementary loan more productively. Leaders of political parties forming the coalition assessed the demand at their latest summit meeting, and defined it as a ''warning''.

WE SPEND USD 500 BILLION PRODIGALLY

Association of Independent Industrialists and Businessmen (MUSIAD) Chairman Ali Bayramoglu said that 500 billion U.S. dollars had been wasted in last decade due to wrong borrowing policy, high interest rates, unsound auctions and management weaknesses. Noting that TUSIAD, Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) and Confederation of Turkish Employers' Unions (TISK) were misleading the public, Bayramoglu said, ''the interest and rentier order continues also in the new program. It does not include measures to increase production and exports. The only positive part of it is that it foresees structural measures.''

-STATE MINISTER DERVIS MEETS IMF MANAGING DIRECTOR KOHLER

WASHINGTON D.C. - State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy met late on Saturday International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Horst Kohler.

The meeting lasted for about one and a half hours.

Dervis is scheduled to meet French Finance Minister Laurent Fabius and Alan Larsson, the Undersecretary of the U.S. State Department, on Sunday.

-STATE MINISTER DERVIS TO EXPLAIN REFORM PACKAGE TO WALL STREET EXPERTS

NEW YORK - State Minister Kemal Dervis who is expected to proceed to New York on April 30 after wrapping up his contacts in Washington D.C. will explain Turkey's economic reform package and stability program to Wall Street experts and finance circles.

Dervis will attend a dinner which will be hosted by the American-Turkish Society (ATS) at the Plaza Hotel in New York on May 1.

Sources said that the speech that Dervis sould deliver at this dinner would be ''the first opportunity to explain Turkey's economic reform package to the Wall Street experts.

Representatives of finance and indurtial organizations were invited to the dinner.

During his speech, Dervis is expected to explain also the scope of the financial support to Turkey.

Dervis who met IMF Managing Director Horst Kohler and World Bank President James Wolfensohn in Washington D.C. is holding contacts also with the most richest seven countries' finance ministers who are currently in Washington D.C. to attend IMF-World Bank spring term meetings.

-18TH INTERNATIONAL ANKARA MUSIC FESTIVAL STARTS

ANKARA - The 18th International Ankara Music Festival organized by Sevda & Cenap And Foundation started late on Saturday.

The Borusan Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gurer Aykal, played the Ninth Symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven.

Wiener Singverein Choir of Austria accompanied the Borusan Philharmonic Orchestra.

Meanwhile, Dimitris Sgouros, one of the leading musicians of Greece, gave a concert.

Sgouros accompanied by the Borusan Philharmonic Orchestra, played Edward Grieg's concerto for piano.

He will give another concert on Sunday evening in which he will play works of Schumann and Brahms.

Mustafa Bumin, the Chairman of Constitutional Court; State Minister Recep Onal; Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk; Culture Minister Istemihan Talay; Sabih Kanadoglu, the Chief Prosecutor of Supreme Court of Appeals; Sevket Bulent Yahnici, the Deputy Chairman of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP); and Yahya Gur, the Governor of Ankara, were in attendance at the opening concert.

-PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT DUE TO SPAIN

ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will leave for Spain on May 3 as the guest of his Spanish counterpart Jose Maria Aznar.

The Prime Ministry Press Center said on Sunday that Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and high-level officials would accompany Ecevit during his two-day visit.

Ecevit would meet Aznar, Parliament Speaker Luisa Fernanda Rudi and King Juan Carlos of Spain, it said.

Ecevit would also deliver a speech at the Turkish-Spanish Business Forum which would be held during his visit.

Methods to increase political, economic, commercial and cultural relations between Turkey and Spain, Turkey-European Union relations and regional and international issues would be discussed during Ecevit's contacts, it added.

Prime Minister Ecevit is expected to return to Turkey on May 4.

-G-7 BACKS TURKEY'S NEW ECONOMIC PROGRAM

WASHINGTON D.C. - The Group-7 (G-7) formed by the most industrialized countries of the world, extended full support to Turkey's new economic program.

Releasing a statement following a meeting among finance and treasury ministers and central bank governors of member countries to the G-7, the G- 7 extended full support to Turkey's new economic program and asked Turkey to implement necessary measures.

The statement noted that the G-7 had welcomed Turkey's sound economic reform program creating a ground for an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The statement noted that Turkey's program deserved support of public and private sectors of the international community.

The G-7 also welcomed decision of IMF and World Bank to provide supplementary support to Turkey.

The U.S., Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan and Canada are member states to the G-7.

-20TH INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL FILM FESTIVAL ENDS

ISTANBUL - The 20th International Film Festival ended late on Saturday with an award ceremony at the Lutfi Kirdar Congress and Exhibition Palace.

''Die Unberuerbare (No Way Out)'' of German director Oskar Roehler was presented with the Golden Tulip Award.

Hanalore Elsner of Germany was presented with the Best Female Performance Award.

The award-winners in the national film contest are as follows:

Dr. Nejat Eczacibasi Foundation Best Turkish Film Award: ''Dar Alanda Kisa Paslasmalar (Short Ball Passings in Narrow Field)'', and ''Herkes Kendi Evinde (Everyone at Their Own Homes)''

The Best Director Award: Serdar Akar with ''Dar Alanda Kisa Paslasmalar''

The Best Female Performance Award: Sanem Celik with ''Filler ve Cimen (Elephants and Meadow)''

The Best Male Performance Award: Erol Keskin with ''Herkes Kendi Evinde'' and Savas Dincel with ''Dar Alanda Kisa Paslasmalar''

The Jury Special Award: Haik Kirokosian with ''Herkes Kendi Evinde''

The International Union of Cinema Critics' Award: ''Odour of Camphor and Fragrance of Jasmine (Kafurun Kokusu, Yaseminin Rahiyası)'' of Iranian Director Bahman Farmanara, and ''Filler ve Cimen''

The Life-Long Success Award: Taviani Brothers of Italy and Roger Corman of the U.S.

-STATE MINISTER AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ RECEIVES

GERMAN LABOUR AND SOCIAL ORDER MINISTER RIESTER

ISTANBUL - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz received on Sunday German Labour and Social Order Minister Walter Riester.

The meeting at the Swisshotel Residence was closed to the press.

Volkan Vural, Turkey's Secretary General for the European Union (EU); and Rudolph Schmidt, the German Ambassador to Turkey; were also in attendance at the meeting.

The meeting focused on Turkey's adjustment process with the EU.

Riester is scheduled to meet Labour and Social Security Minister Yasar Okuyan on Monday.

He is expected to make a statement to journalists following the meeting.

-AGRICULTURE MINISTER GOKALP LEAVES FOR LITHUANIA

ANKARA - Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Husnu Yusuf Gokalp left on Sunday for Vilnius, Lithuania to pay an official visit and attend a symposium on ''Effects on EU Enlargement on Candidate Countries' Agriculture Sectors''.

Gokalp will attend the symposium in which agriculture ministers of EU countries and candidate countries will participate.

Gokalp who will deliver a speech at the symposium which will be hosted by the Lithuanian government, will visit Agrobalt-2001 International Agriculture Fair on May 1 together with his counterparts.

Gokalp will meet Lithuanian Agriculture Minister Kostutis Kristinatis and hold bilateral contacts with his counterparts in Vilnius.

Gokalp is expected to return to Turkey on May 2.

-FIFTH REGULAR CONGRESS OF DSP STARTS

ANKARA - The Fifth Regular Congress of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) started on Sunday at the ASKI Sports Hall in Ankara.

Tight security measures were taken in and around the sports hall.

Nearly 2 thousand policemen have been deployed in the hall.

Sema Piskinsut, a deputy of the DSP from Aydin province who applied for candidacy to DSP leadership, reacted to security forces who did body search on her.

Meanwhile, a person who attempted to enter the hall with a weapon by claiming that he was a policeman, was detained.

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and his wife Rahsan Ecevit came to the hall at about 11:00 a.m.

Delegates welcomed Ecevit with a standing applause and slogans.

-TEXTILES, READY-TO-WEAR AND AUTOMOTIVE

SECTORS SUFFER SERIOUSLY FROM CRISIS

ISTANBUL - Textiles, ready-to-wear and automotive became the sectors which were mostly affected by the economic crisis.

According to the statements of companies whose shares are quoted and transacted at the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB), employers decided to overcome the crisis period with several measures like stopping production and allowing their personnel to go on salaried or unsalaried leave.

Koytas Tekstil Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., a textiles producer, allowed all of its personnel except two servants and security team to go on unsalaried leave between February 16 and March 30.

Karsan Otomotiv Sanayii ve Ticaret A.S., a company operating in automative sector, announced that it decided to annul labor contracts of its 150 workers and reduce the number of its personnel from 997 to 847 on February 27.

Gumussuyu Hali ve Yer Kaplamalari A.S., a carpet maker, allowed its personnel to go on a one-month unsalaried leave due to the crisis and decided to stop production in this period.

Bak Ambalaj Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., a package producer, decided to reduce the number of its workers.

Ceytas Madencilik Tekstil Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., a textiles producer, decided to allow most of its personnel to go on a three-month unsalaried leave and decrease its spendings to minimum level.

Luks Kadife Ticaret ve Sanayi A.S., a textiles producer, decreased the number of its personnel by 30.7 percent or from 117 to 81.

Soksa Sinop Orme ve Konfeksiyon Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., decided to allow its personnel to go on unsalaried leave until June 30.

The number of workers who went on unsalaried leave at the UKI Uluslararası Konfeksiyon Imalat ve Ticaret A.S., a textiles and ready-to-wear producer, reached 959.

-ANADOLU POTTERY JOINT-STOCK COMPANY TARGETS TO EXPORT

1 MILLION EARTHENWARE POTS TO EUROPE

NEVSEHIR - The Anadolu Pottery Joint-Stock Company based in Avanos township of central province of Nevsehir, targets to export one million earthenware pots to Europe by the end of the year.

Muhammet Parmaksiz, the Chairman of Executive Board of Anadolu Pottery Joint-Stock Company, said on Sunday that they had been expending efforts to promote Avanos earthenware pots having traditional motives, to the world markets.

Noting that they had been producing 100 kinds of earthenware pots, Parmaksiz said, ''we will produce 1.5 million earthenware pots till the end of this year. We aim at exporting 1 million of these pots to Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands and the U.S. We also plan to enter Latin American market via the U.S. market. So, we will obtain a foreign exchange input of nearly 2 million German marks.''

-629.2 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF KNITTED

APPAREL EXPORTED IN FIRST TWO MONTHS

ANKARA - The highest amount of exports in the first two months of the year was made in the knitted articles of apparel and clothing accesories with 629 million 202 thousand U.S. dollars.

According to the State Institute of Statistics (DIE) data, 476 million 277 thousand U.S. dollars of articles of apparel and clothing accesories, not knitted and 332 million 287 thousand U.S. dollars of motor vehicles and their spare parts were exported in the same period.

In the January-February period of 2001, 329 million 311 thousand U.S. dollars of electrical machinery and equipment, 232 million 773 thousand U.S. dollars of reactors, bilers and machinery and 227 million 994 thousand U.S. dollars of steel and iron were exported.

In the same period, exports of live-stock rose 1,199.3 percent to 2 million 627 thousand U.S. dollars and exports of sugar and sugar confectionery increased 80.2 percent to 45 million 515 thousand U.S. dollars.

Exports of raw hides and skins (other than furskins) and leather rose 67.9 percent to 10 million 36 thousand U.S. dollars and exports of copper and articles thereof increased 50.3 percent to 40 million 690 thousand U.S. dollars.

Meanwhile, exports of ships, boats and floating structures decreased 72.1 percent to 3 million 469 thousand U.S. dollars and exports of articial fur and manufactures thereof reduced 33.3 percent to 4 million 183 thousand U.S. dollars.

Exports of tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks of base metal reduced 31.3 percent to 4 million 287 thousand U.S. dollars and exports of ores, slag and ash decreased 31.1 percent to 10 million 105 thousand U.S. dollars.

-STATE MINISTER AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ

RECEIVES GREEK CULTURE MINISTER VENIZELOS

ISTANBUL - State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said on Sunday, ''joint activities between Turkey and Greece in some fields, will further strengthen dialogue process between the two countries, and will make an important contribution to solution of some problems.''

Yilmaz received Evangelos Venizelos, the Greek Culture Minister, and an accompanying delegation who are currently in Istanbul as the guests of Turkish-Greek Business Council.

Speaking at the meeting, Yilmaz said that Venizelos had held talks with Culture Minister Istemihan Talay, State Minister Fikret Unlu for Youth and Sports and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu.

Yilmaz said, ''within framework of Turkish-Greek dialogue process started two years ago at the level of foreign ministers, the two countries have been carrying out joint projects in economy, culture and sports. One of these projects is Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival. A 20-member group from Greek Opera and Ballet will attend the festival. Thedorakis' ballet will be performed on June 20.''

''As Venizelos told us, Turkey and Greece which will host Olympic Games in 2004 have launched some joint projects in sports. I believe that these activities would further strengthen dialogue process between the two countries, and make an important contribution to solution of some problems. We are thankful to Greece for its productive attitude toward Turkey- European Union (EU) relations,'' he added.

Volkan Vural, Turkey's Secretary General for the EU, was also in attendance at the meeting.

-DOSTAS FACTORY EXPORTS BENCHES TO SYNAGOGUES

IN ISRAEL AND DESKS TO SCHOOLS IN ALGERIA

DEMIRKOY - Yusuf Eroglu, the Director General of DOSTAS Kereste ve Mobilya Fabrikasi, a furniture manufacturer based in Demirkoy township of Kirklareli province in Marmara region, said on Sunday that they were exporting half of the furniture they manufactured.

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Eroglu said, ''we export especially beech timbers to China, Singapore and Hong Kong. Ten percent of total lumber exports from Turkey to China last year belonged to DOSTAS. We are still exporting benches to synagogues in Israel and desks to schools in Algeria.''

Noting they had renewed their contracts with importer countries, Eroglu said that their contacts with businessmen in Germany, Italy and Britain continued.

-CONSTRUCTION OF PIPELINES WHICH WILL TRANSPORT NATURAL

GAS TO AEGEAN REGION, TO BE FINALIZED IN 2002

ANKARA - Works to spread use of natural gas have been accelerated.

Turkey started to use natural gas in 1987.

Construction of pipelines which will transport natural gas to Aegean Region, will be finalized in 2002.

Construction of 251-km natural gas pipeline between Karacabey toenship of Balikesir and Izmir which was taken into scope of programs of Directorate General of Pipeline Transportation Corp (BOTAS) is expected to be finalized in 2002.

The pipeline will cost 60 million U.S. dollars. The Turkish-Polish consortium was planned to be charged with the construction and foreseen to finance this construction with external loan.

Most of the imported natural gas which will be consumed in different parts of Aegean region will be met from the Blue Stream pipeline of which construction is under way between Turkey and Russia.

-FIFTH REGULAR CONGRESS OF DSP

-PRIME MINISTER AND LEADER OF DSP ECEVIT:

-''DESPITE DIFFICULTIES IN RECENT MONTHS, THERE IS NOT ANY

FORMULA OF GOVERNMENT WHICH IS AS INFLUENTIAL, HARMONIOUS

AND TRUSTWORTHY AS THE 57TH GOVERNMENT''

ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), said on Saturday, ''despite difficulties in recent months, there is not any formula of government which is as influential, harmonious and trustworthy as the 57th government. Three political parties forming the coalition government have been fulfilling their responsibilities at any cost.''

Speaking at the Fifth Regular Congress of the DSP, Ecevit said, ''the DSP was founded in 1985 in a two-room basement. It has recorded great process by overcoming all difficulties. In 1995, the DSP became the first party among the leftist parties with more than 14 percent of votes. In 1999, the DSP got 21.71 percent of votes and became the first political party of Turkey.''

''Other political parties designated the DSP on January 2, 1999, to form an election government. Turkey held its general elections under leadership of DSP's minority government,'' he said.

Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''during the 57th government's term in office, unsolved murders were revealed, corruptions were resolved one after the other, all kinds of criminal gangs were brought to justice, prisons were saved from being armed headquarters of terrorist organizations, Turkey became a candidate to the European Union (EU), inflation rate decreased from 90 percent to 30 percent, and reforms were made. A unique harmony was provided among three coalition partners. The DSP has succeeded in developing a culture of compromise, one of necessities of democracy.''

He noted, ''influence of anti-secular organizations has been limited and most of dormitories belonged to these organizations have been taken under control of the state.''

''I believe that we would overcome November and February crises soon. Our economy will revive again. As a result of opposition parties' incitement, some people chant slogans calling the 57th government to resign. But those chanting these slogans do not offer an alternative for the new government. Despite difficulties in recent months, there is not any formula of government which is as influential, harmonious and trustworthy as the 57th government. Three political parties forming the coalition government have been fulfilling their responsibilities at any cost,'' he added.

-FIFTH REGULAR CONGRESS OF DSP

-PRIME MINISTER AND LEADER OF DSP ECEVIT (2):

-''ATTEMPTING TO SEEK FOR A NEW GOVERNMENT AND TO HOLD GENERAL

ELECTIONS WILL BE A HEAVY BLOW TO HOPES TO RELIEVE ECONOMY''

ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), said on Sunday, ''attempting to seek for a new government and to hold general elections will be a heavy blow to hopes to relieve economy.''

Speaking at the Fifth Regular Congress of the DSP, Ecevit said, ''the DSP was founded in 1985 in a two-room basement. It has recorded great process by overcoming all difficulties. In 1995, the DSP became the first party among the leftist parties with more than 14 percent of votes. In 1999, the DSP got 21.71 percent of votes and became the first political party of Turkey. Other political parties designated the DSP on January 2, 1999, to form an election government. Turkey held its general elections under leadership of DSP's minority government. These results are the victory of honesty, clarity, trustworthiness and consistency in politics. DSP's minority government was not allowed to carry out legislative works. But during this period, Abdullah Ocalan, the head of terrorist organization PKK, was captured in Africa and brought to Turkey. His capture was a heavy blow to the separatist organization.''

''Following the last general elections, a three-party coalition government was formed under the chairmanship of myself. The coalition government has achieved great success in its struggle against fundamentalist terrorism and other terrorist organizations. Terrorist Hezbollah organization was eradicated,'' he said.

Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''during the 57th government's term in office, unsolved murders were revealed, corruptions were resolved one after the other, all kinds of criminal gangs were brought to justice, prisons were saved from being armed headquarters of terrorist organizations, Turkey became a candidate to the European Union (EU), inflation rate decreased from 90 percent to 30 percent, and reforms were made. A unique harmony was provided among three coalition partners. The DSP has succeeded in developing a culture of compromise, one of necessities of democracy.''

''Comprehensive education reform started by the 55th coalition government in 1997, continued during the 56th and 57th governments' periods. Influence of anti-secular organizations has been limited and most of dormitories belonged to these organizations have been taken under control of the state, '' he said.

Ecevit said, ''people started to return their villages after terrorism almost came to an end in Eastern and Southeastern regions. Construction of central villages started in these regions to provide security. A law was adopted to encourage investments in these regions.''

''At the same time, we have been expending efforts to remove deficiencies in our democracy. We adopted a law to struggle against profiteering criminal organizations. We increased punishments against torturers. We adopted a law to ease trial of civil servants. We adopted the Repentance Law,'' he said.

Ecevit said, ''despite all these positive developments, November and February crises could not be prevented. One of the main reasons of these crises was chronic high inflation rate. Extravagance in public administration and in other sections of the society constituted a serious burden of domestic and foreign debt. A functional harmony could not be provided between banking sector and real sector. Requirements of villagers, farmers, tradesmen, and small and medium scale enterprises (SMSEs) could not be met. All these negative developments dragged Turkey into November and February crises. The 57th government is the government starting reforms and struggling against inflation, corruption and terrorism.''

''I believe that we would overcome November and February crises soon. Our economy will revive again. As a result of opposition parties' incitement, some people chant slogans calling the 57th government to resign. But those chanting these slogans do not offer an alternative for the new government. Despite difficulties in recent months, there is not any formula of government which is as influential, harmonious and trustworthy as the 57th government. Three political parties forming the coalition government have been fulfilling their responsibilities at any cost,'' he said.

Ecevit added, ''attempting to seek for a new government and to hold general elections will be a heavy blow to hopes to relieve economy.''

-FIFTH REGULAR CONGRESS OF DSP

-PRIME MINISTER AND LEADER OF DSP ECEVIT (3):

-''SEPARATIST TERRORISM WHICH CLAIMED MANY LIVES,

ALMOST CAME TO AN END DURING THE 57TH GOVERNMENT'S PERIOD''

ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), said on Sunday, ''separatist terrorism which caused grave pains and claimed many lives, almost came to an end during the 57th government period.''

Speaking at the Fifth Regular Congress of the DSP, Ecevit said, ''most of the taxes were spent on debt interest repayments. But there is no need to be intimidated. We should save ourselves from wastefulness in public administration and in other sections of the society.''

''We have unique natural and cultural assets drawing attention of tourists from all over the world. We expect an income of 10 billion U.S. dollars from tourism sector this year,'' he said.

''Turkey experienced two devastating quake disasters in 1999. We built many prefabricated huts to meet requirements of quake survivors. Now, construction of 41 thousand permanent dwellings is under way,'' he noted.

Ecevit said, ''transition into floating foreign exchange rate regime strengthened tourism sector. We have many reasons to rely on future of our economy. Unemployment is one of our most serious problems. Investment is the only remedy to unemployment. And the remedy of investment is source. Therefore, we should develop our sources in a productive way.''

''Separatist terrorism which caused grave pains and claimed many lives, almost came to an end during the 57th government period. Now, it is time to heal wounds of Eastern and Southeastern regions and to accelerate their suspended development,'' he said.

Ecevit added, ''we have taken an important step with eight-year compulsory education. Now, our target is to adopt 11-year compulsory education. Number of students in primary schools increased 4 million in a year after eight- year compulsory education. Number of female students increased 14 percent in cities and 23 percent in villages.''

-ANKARA POLICE START USING HIGH TECH AGAINST CRIMINALS

ANKARA - Ankara Security Directorate started using a computer supported information system to maintain safety in Ankara's streets and avenues.

The computers circle the area where an incident takes place and determines which police teams will control which area.

The system offers information about all the buildings of Ankara and the inhabitants' addresses.

Ankara Police Chief Kemal Iskender told the A.A correspondent on Sunday

that certain critical places in Ankara are continiously monitored at the News Center where have giant computers installed recently.

The system which is called the Geographic Information System and Mapinfo

Program was created by putting together all the pictures of buildings, avenues, parks and campuses from the air.

All the schools, political party buildings, entertainment places, banks, change offices, taxi stops, shopping centers, pharmacies, hospitals, public

baths, internet cafes, bars, dormitories, public institutions, plazas and factories are recorded with their names in the system.

Even a house in a shanty town could be viewed immediately on the giant computer screens by entering the exact address.

In case of a burglary or an attack, the system determines the possible escape points and the spots that need to be controlled by the police. It gives a list of the police station that is in charge of the area and the

security teams available. In the meantime, the News Center alerts all the teams within one or two minutes and instructs them where they should go.

The computer helps the police to catch the criminals by shrinking the circle of operation.

The system also enables the police to find the addresses of Ankara's inhabitants by entering people's full names. It's also possible to find out who's living in a house by entering an address.

It will also be possible to monitor the policecars and their routes by a GPS (Global Positioning System) machine installed in these cars. However, this system hasn't yet been implemented due to the economic crisis.

The GPS system will also protect taxi drivers from theft and attacks. A taxi which has the GPS machine could signal the News Center in case of an attack and ask for help.

Officials said the system could be made three dimensional with an additional program. If this happens, the police officers will be able to see all the streets and avenues of the capital like the car races in playstations.

-FIFTH REGULAR CONGRESS OF DSP

-PRIME MINISTER AND LEADER OF DSP ECEVIT (4):

-''I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN BECOME A FULL MEMBER

OF THE EU EARLIER THAN EXPECTED''

ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), said on Sunday, ''I believe that we can become a full member of the European Union (EU) earlier than the expected.''

Speaking at the Fifth Regular Congress of the DSP, Ecevit said, ''the 57th government has always attributed great importance to equality of rights in every field. We will remove all deficiencies on the issues of women rights and children rights.''

Referring to Turkey's foreign relations, Ecevit said, ''the most important step on the path to EU full membership was taken during the 57th government's period. Three officials came to Ankara on December 11, 1999, and invited Turkey to the Helsinki Summit for candidacy. We have taken all necessary steps with a great determination on the path to the EU full membership. We have prepared the National Program which proved Turkey's determination for a more sound economy and for better human rights and democracy. The National Program also includes the most sensitive issues. Its approval is a sign of harmonious work among three political parties forming the coalition government.''

''I believe that we could become a full member of the EU earlier than the expected,'' he said.

Ecevit said, ''the comprehensive National Program for the EU and the economic program for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) complete each other.''

Referring to Cyprus issue, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''before the Peace Operation in Cyprus, Turkish Cypriots were living under the threat of genocide. Their rights stemming from international agreements and Cyprus Constitution were taken away from them. Now, there is a free and prosperous Turkish state in Northern Cyprus. And this state is under Turkey's guarantee. Turkey will continue to assist the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in overcoming its problems.''

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