Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-09-05

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

05 SEPTEMBER 2001

Wednesday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on September 5, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Passenger bus carrying Yener Yermez, the leading suspect of murder of businessman Uzeyir Garih, was stopped by police at 11:10 a.m. on Tuesday near Bogazkopru village in central province of Kayseri. Security forces got on the bus to check identity cards of passengers. Police Officer Hasan Kahraman looked at Yermez. Kahraman was the police who captured Yermez six years ago as he was stealing money. Yermez was detained.

''I KILLED HIM''

During his first interrogation at Provincial Directorate of Security in central province of Kayseri, Yener Yermez said, ''I used to go to cemetery in Eyup district of Istanbul. On August 25, I met Uzeyir Garih. I had only 2 million Turkish lira (TL) in my pocket. He was wearing expensive clothings. I asked him to give me money. He told me, 'you are a healthy adult. Don't you feel ashamed to ask for money? Work and earn your own money.' Later, I started to argue with him. I lost my temper during the argument. I went to the market, and bought a knife. Then, I returned to the cemetery and stabbed him. I took his cell phone and 200 million TL from his wallet.''

START NEWSPAPER SENTENCED TO PAY 10 BILLION TL IN COMPENSATION

The Star Newspaper which launched a blackening campaign against the Dogan Holding, was sentenced to pay 10 billion Turkish lira (TL) to Dogan Holding Executive Board Chairman Aydin Dogan. The court ruled that the Star Newspaper had violated Dogan's individual rights in a news story published on January 18, 2000.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Everything started as Uzan family applied to Mecidiyekoy Branch of Is Bankasi to transfer 2.5 million U.S. dollars to a bank in the U.S. However, the bank in the U.S. said that the Uzan Holding was in the illegally-gained money list of banks there and requested an investigation to find out whether or not this money was illegally gained. Mecidiyekoy Branch of Is Bankasi said that it could not transfer the money before the investigation was concluded. Then, the Uzan family wanted to transfer the money through a foreign bank operating in Turkey. As this bank demanded the same investigation, they returned back to Is Bankasi Mecidiyekoy Branch. Then, Uzan family tried to persuade Is Bankasi management to fulfil their request which was not legal. The bank returned the request. As a final remedy, the Uzan family launched a threat campaign. But, this did not work either. Is Bankasi applied to Financial Crimes Investigation Council which deals with money laundering.

HIS CONFIDANT TELLS MILLIYET ABOUT GARIH'S 10 THOUSAND U.S. DOLLAR SECRET

Ishak Alaton, a 50-year friend of businessman Uzeyir Garih who was killed on August 25, talked about the unknown features of his friend Garih to Milliyet. Alaton said, ''Garih was taking 10 thousand U.S. dollars to a widow the day when he was killed. The money was found in the car. Now, I will find the widow and give the money. Uzeyir's wife Lili is a person who enjoys life. However, Uzeyir is a person of a different platform. He respected his wife but he lived his life alone. Nobody knew that he was visiting cemetery. He was beyond the religious faiths. He had a Koran in his room.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Leaders of three political parties forming the coalition government decided to launch an initiative in the Parliament Speaker's Office to call the parliament to an extraordinary meeting on September 17, 2001, about the constitutional amendment package.

GREEK SMUGGLER TO BE EXTRADITED

Constantinos Dafermos of Greece who was wanted by Interpol in connection with seizure of a number of long-range weapons, missiles and anti-tank missiles in a ship in the Adriatic Sea in 1994, and who was captured yesterday at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, was arrested to be extradited to Italy. Kenan Anil, the lawyer of the Greek Consulate General in Istanbul, claimed that Dafermos was not the man wanted by Interpol, and he was detained at the airport because of name similarity.

GALATASARAY RANKED EIGHTH AMONG BEST SOCCER CLUBS OF WORLD

Galatasaray was ranked eighth among the best soccer clubs of the world. The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) announced its assessments about the world soccer clubs in August of 2001. According to the assessment, Galatasaray was ranked eighth among the best soccer teams of the world with a scor of 260.5. Meanwhile, Fenerbahce was ranked 72nd, and Besiktas of Turkey was ranked 94th in the list of the best soccer clubs.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

A total of nine journalism organizations released a joint statement, and called on press organs to act with responsibility. The statement noted, ''journalism does not mean producing murderers, and using information without research and confirmation.'' Following murder of leading businessman Uzeyin Garih on August 25, some press organs declared a teenager as murderer and tried to kidnap a young girl who was taken into custody in connection with the homicide.

AYDIN: ''I WILL NOT GIVE IN''

Public Works and Housing Minister Koray Aydin who has been insisting on not to resign from his post despite of an investigation at his ministry, warned coalition partners and deputies of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Noting that if he was put pressure to resign from his post, he would hold a press conference to explain some important facts, Aydin said, ''I will not give in easily.''

INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC MOVEMENT FINALIZES ITS DRAFT BY-LAW

The Independent Republic Movement (BCH) under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Mumtaz Soysal, finalized its works on draft by-law within framework of initiatives to form a new leftist political party.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Contractors, who did not want to speak at first but who told about the plunder after they had been convinced that their testimonies would not be included in the indictment, said, ''nothing can be made without informing the minister.'' At first, the contractors did not respond to a question of State Security Court (DGM) prosecutor Koksal about Public Works and Housing Minister Koray Aydin's and bureaucrats' role in tenders. Then, as it was guaranteed that their statements would not be recorded, the contractors spoke ''off the record''. Some contractors said that bureaucrats did not approve any tender without informing Aydin. The contractors ask for help of either people who can reach Aydin or Pirlanta Insaat (Construction) to be awarded with the tender. Money is paid in cash.

MARKET SHAKEN

One U.S. dollar traded at 1 million 450 thousand Turkish lira (TL) while the interest rates climbed to 85.5 percent due to political tension and inflation. By the statement of the government that it was in harmony, one U.S. dollar decreased to 1 million 435 thousand TL.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

The leaders of the ruling political parties agreed on the constitutional amendment. The leaders decided to launch initiatives to call on the parliament for a meeting on September 17.

SEPTIOGLU DIES

Ali Riza Septioglu, a deputy of the True Path Party (DYP) from eastern Elazig province, died ot 7.00 a.m. on Tuesday. Septioglu died of respiratory failure. Septioglu will be laid to rest today.

CEYLANS UNDER DETENTION

Former owners of Bank Kapital, Mahmut and Izzet Ceylan, were detained on charges of corruption in the bank. Thirteen people were also taken under custody within the framework of the investigation into Bank Kapital, which had been transferred to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund. Sources said that operation may continue in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir and noted that number of detainees may increase.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Intelligence experts announced that they still have suspicion that Yener Yermez, who was captured as the murderer of businessman Uzeyir Garih, may not be the real murderer. Bulent Orakoglu, an intelligence expert, said that the incident is tried to lanced as an unplotted murder and noted that the inciting force of the murder should be found now. Mahir Kaynak, the former National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Department Chairman, said that he does not think that Yermez was the murderer and said, ''I do not think this is a simple and unplotted murder. Garih was chosen as a target between two Jewish socities. The real murderer has already run abroad.''

STATE MINISTER DERVIS: ''SIX ZEROES WILL BE OMITTED FROM TL''

State Minister Kemal Dervis said that the Central Bank is getting prepared to omit six zeroes from Turkish liras (TL). Dervis said that they wait for the real decrease in inflation rate to omit zeroes from the lira.

-CENTRAL BANK SELLS 20 MILLION DOLLARS

ANKARA- Central Bank sold 20 million U.S. dollars in an auction it held on Wednesday to sell foreign exchange to banks.

The average bid in the auction which the Central Bank held within framework of forex auctions program became 1 million 419 thousand 788 Turkish liras (TL).

Maximum bid was 1 million 420 thousand 200 TL and the minumum bid was 1 million 419 thousand TL.

-BUREAUCRATIC HURDLES IN FRONT OF DOMESTIC-FOREIGN CAPITAL TO BE LIFTED

ANKARA- New regulations to lift administrative and bureaucratic hurdles in front of direct domestic and foreign capital are under way.

Sources told A.A correspondent on Wednesday that new initiatives carried out by the organization of the Treasury Undersecretariat aim to reduce bureaucracy to attract foreign investments and to authorize one or two institutions to follow the proceedings.

The Treasury Undersecretariat will conclude the investment permit applications in no later than three months. All bureaucratic proceedings will be completed in three months.

In the end of the efforts of the Foreign Investment Advisory Services (FIAS) and the Treasury Undersecretariat, the most important obstacle in front of investments was bureaucratic proceeding.

The Global Competitiveness Report prepared by the World Economic Forum stressed that current administrative obstacles reduce Turkey's competitive power.

Meanwhile, the views of Turkish businessmen in foreign countries will be asked and possibilities for attracting investments to Turkey will be searched.

The action plan regarding the report of FIAS will be presented to the Council of Ministers in October.

In line with the new regulation, the Trade Law, Housing Law and other concerned laws which have a direct effect on the investment process will be reviewed till the end of September.

Sources said that following the sector board meetings of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), general incentive and tax policies regarding real sector will be set in October.

Officials will debate this matter with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation which will begin contacts in Turkey on Friday and general incentive and tax policies will be developed regarding these sectors by the support of International Finance Corporation (IFC) without damaging macro economic balances.

Investment tax reduction will be made rational in line with the investment incentives.

New incentives and efforts to lift bureaucratic hurdles in front of investments will be explained to foreign investors by State Minister Kemal Dervis during World Bank-IMF meetings.

Although Turkey has significant potential, net direct foreign capital was around 767 million U.S. dollars annually between 1995 and 2000, the sources said.

The sources guessed that as the new action plan takes effect, this figure can reach 1.5-2 billion U.S. dollars.

-PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING MINISTER AYDIN RESIGNS

ANKARA - Public Works and Housing Minister Koray Aydin said on Wednesday that he resigned from ministry and deputyship.

Aydin announced his resignation in live broadcast of private NTV channel after meeting Devlet Bahceli, the State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

Aydin said, ''I am resigning from Public Works and Housing Ministry and Deputyship in order not to give any more opportunity to those who want to show their historical ill will against nationalist group, in order to make in vain the efforts of those, targeting nationalist group, in order to be an example to all the Turkish politicians by permitting investigation of corruption allegations against me and my ministry, and to show that I am not after a certain position.''

-PREMIER ECEVIT SAYS AYDIN'S RESIGNATION IS VERY HONOURABLE

ANKARA- Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Wednesday that the resignation of Public Works and Housing Minister is a very honourable act, adding he congratulated Aydın.

Responding to questions of journalists about Aydın's resignation from the ministry and parliament, Ecevit said that ''I have not received yet his resignation. Mr. Aydın has served the country as the Minister of Public Works and Housing. He particularly contributed to the efforts launched in relation to the massive earthquakes of 1999. This will always be remembered.''

Upon a question, Ecevit said that he is not in a position now to talk about the one who will act as the minister of public works and housing.

Responding to another question asking if the government thinks of adopting a law on political ethics that will prevent ministers to deal with commercial activities, Ecevit said that ''we decided to adopt it yesterday. We will conclude our efforts soon.''

-PARLIAMENT SPEAKER IZGI MEETS SECRETARY GENERAL

FOR EU AFFAIRS VOLKAN VURAL

ANKARA - Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi said on Wednesday that he will start to meet the leaders of the opposition parties regarding constitutional amendments.

Izgi met with Volkan Vural, the Secretary General for EU Affairs the same day.

Vural said that the constitutional amendment package prepared by the interparties compromise commission is the most current issue and it is totaly under the responsibility of the parliament.

''I would like to give information to Mr. Izgi about the issues that are foreseen by the national programme. The latter foresees reviewing the Constitution in line with the European Convention on Human Rights. The amendments that will be done in 22-23 fields in the constitution are in line with the national programme. The measures we will take in this field will particularly positively effect putting into practice the national programme. This will speed up the EU membership process, the whole country waits for these amendments. We believe that the parliament will take the steps that are necessary to strengethen the Turkish democracy.''

Izgi said that he believed he would recieve the proposition for constitutional amendment today, adding that he will ask opposition parties to support the amendment.

-ANKARA WISHES ALIYEV'S VISIT TO IRAN TO STRENGTHEN

MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING

ANKARA- Ankara on Wednesday wished Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev's planned visit to Iran to strengthen mutual understanding.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz, who addressed a weekly news conference, pointed out that, ''we will be pleased over dialogue between the two friendly countries.''

Dirioz said, ''we wish Aliyev's visit to strengthen mutual understanding between the two countries.''

Azerbaijani President Aliyev is scheduled to visit Iran in September 17 and 19.

-EFFORTS CONTINUE TO MAKE TURKEY OFFICIAL VACATION COUNTRY

FOR CHINESE PEOPLE

ANTALYA - Efforts are continuing to make Turkey an official vacation country for Chinese people.

Chinese Friendship Association Chairman Cheng Haosu and nine Executive Council members visited Antalya Governor Ertugrul Dokuzoglu on Wednesday. Dokuzoglu briefed Chinese association members about Antalya.

Hasou promised that he would speed up activities to make Turkey an official vacation country for Chinese people. He explained that about 150 million Chinese people, every year, leave China for vacation but they could only visit countries which are approved by the Chinese government.

Drawing attention to the progress of the Chinese economy in the last two decades, Hasou said the number of Chinese tourists is increasing every year. Turkey and China are continuing contacts to sign a tourism agreement between them.

Hasou said a great number of Chinese people would visit Turkey, especially Antalya, if his government declares Turkey an official vacation country.

He said that Chinese tourists are interested in natural beauties, sea, sun and historical sites which exist in Turkey.

-STATE MINISTER TOSKAY TO ACT AS HOUSING MINISTER

ANKARA - Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli announced that State Minister Tunca Toskay would assume the duties of Housing and Public Works Minister Koray Aydin who resigned on Wednesday morning.

Under Article 113 of the Constitution, a minister has to be appointed to the ministry withing 15 days.

-KNIFE USED IN GARIH MURDER FOUND

ISTANBUL - The knife used by Yener Yermez in killing businessman Uzeyir Garih in Eyup graveyard, was found buried in the ground next to the grave of Marshal Fevzi Cakmak on Wednesday.

A high ranking security official told A.A that Yener Yermez who was brought to the graveyard for reenactment, said that he had buried the knife two meters under the grave.

The knife has been taken to the criminal police laboratory to be examined.

-AYSEGUL TECIMER RELEASED

-FM: ''JUSTICE MINISTRY OF MOROCCO VERBALLY

CONFIRMED THE SITUATION''

ANKARA- Foreign Ministry on Wednesday confirmed that Aysegul Tecimer, who was wanted in Turkey for smuggling historical works of art, was released by Moroccan authorities.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz, who addressed a weekly news briefing, pointed out that Moroccan Justice Ministry verbally confirmed that Tecimer was released.

Pointing out that Turkey's Embassy to Morocco contacted with Moroccan Foreign Ministry acting of the tip off that Tecimer was released, Dirioz said the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said they did not have information in this respect and that the issue could be examined from the Moroccan Justice Ministry.

Dirioz said Moroccan Justice Ministry verbally confirmed the situation, adding that contacts with the Moroccan authorities continued.

Amasya Basic Civil Court had tried Tecimer in her absentia and imprisoned her to 4,5 years. Later, the Court had applied to Interpol, which issued red bulletin for Tecimer.

Tecimer had been imprisoned as she was involved in the stealing of the historical Koran from Amasya Beyazit Library in 1994.

-CEM TO VISIT BRUSSELS

ANKARA - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will go to Brussels on Sept. 8 to attend the non-official meeting of EU candidate countries foreign ministers' meeting.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said at a press conference that the future of Europe would be one of the main focuses of the meeting.

Dirioz also indicated that Cem might go to New York to attend the UN General Council end of September.

In Brussels, Cem will attend the EU candidate countries' foreign ministers meeting after receiving UN Permanent Representative Nihat Akyol.

Cem will meet with UN Defense and Foreign Policy Higher Representative Javier Solana, EU Commissioner in charge of foreign relations Chris Patten, EU Commissioner in charge of expansion Guenter Verheugen and European Parliament member Alain Lamassure.

Cem will return home on Tuesday.

-FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN DIRIOZ SAYS

IF U.N. WORLD RACISM CONFERENCE IS UNSUCCESSFUL,

THIS WILL BE NEGATIVE FOR EVERYBODY

ANKARA- Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Turkey is against the efforts to politicize the U.N. World Conference Against Racism ''for short term political interests''.

Upon a question in the weekly news conference, Dirioz said that ''Turkey is against efforts launched to politicize the conference held in South Africa and believes that the history should not be re-written.''

Dirioz said that the main theme of the conference is modern types of racism, xenophobia and racist attacks, adding that Turkey attributes importance to these issues as racist activities particularly take foreigners as the target.

''These activities take our people as target, we attribute importance to forming an action plan to prevent racist attacks. Thus the unsuccess of the conference will be negative for everybody,'' he said. Noting that he does not accept the criticism made to Turkey claiming that the participation of Turkey was not at the desired level, Dirioz said that many countries attend the conference with its ambassadors, adding only few countries attend the conference with high representatives.

Dirioz said that Turkey is represented by a delegation headed by Turkish Ambassador Murat Sungar at the conference.

-TRANSPORTATION MINISTER VURAL:

''FOUR GSM OPERATORS IN TURKEY GIVE SERVICE TO AROUND 16 MILLION SUBSCRIBERS''

ISTANBUL - Transportation Minister Oktay Vural said on Wednesday that currently four GSM operators give service to around 16 million subscribers, adding that, ''we estimate this figure to reach 26 million in 2003 and to 30 million in 2005.''

Addressing the telecommunication forum, Vural said Turkey ranked the 13th in the world with its more than 18 million telephone subscribers in regular phones. He said they planned this number to reach 20 million in 2005.

Vural said Turk Telekom used its own resources even in crises atmosphere, adding that necessary efforts are underway to diversify telecommunication services.

Vural said 5,000 companies act in South Korea in information and communication technologies sector and 17,000 companies act in Japan, adding that only 150 companies act in Turkey in this field.

-TWO FRENCHMEN ARRESTED FOR SMUGGLING HISTORICAL WORKS OF ART

MUGLA - Two Frenchmen who were captured while trying to smuggle historical works of art at Milas-Bordum Airport, were arrested on Wednesday.

Alain Frederic (55) and Anne Levrille Anger (56) who were captured red- handed with a water jug and a dagger belonging to the Ottoman era in their suitcases, were transferred to the court.

The French persons were put in Mugla prison.

-TISK, TURK-IS, HAK-IS AND DISK CONFEDERATIONS AND CHAIRMEN OF MEMBER UNIONS CONVENE IN ISTANBUL

ISTANBUL - Confederations of workers and empoyers unions and chairmen of member unions convened in Istanbul on Wednesday.

Refik Baydur, the Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions (TISK); Bayram Meral, the Chairman of Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Turk-Is); Salim Uslu, the Chairman of the Labour Confederation; Suleyman Celebi, the Chairman of the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK) participate in the meeting.

The meeting will focus on unemployement, dismissals, problems of business places which are closed, and probable solutions.

-VURAL: ''ACCESS TO INFORMATION IS NECESSARY FOR A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY''

ISTANBUL - Transportation Minister Oktay Vural who spoke at the Telecommunication Forum on Wednesday said that knowledge and novelties have become very valuable in the new economy and added that organizations would become information and customer oriented due to science and technology.

Vural said it was possible to reach an endless number of sources via internet. ''People should have the right to make choices and they need information to make choices. People should have access to information for real democratization,'' he commented.

Vural said that administrators in a society formed by knowledgable people should consider the opinions, values, judgements, experiences and cultures of people which wold make societies more democratic.

-SECRETARIAT GENERAL FOR EU AFFAIRS HOLDS COORDINATION COMMITTEE MEETING

ANKARA- Secretary General for EU Affairs Volkan Vural said on Wednesday that Finance Ministry and Public Works and Housing Ministry recorded great progress regarding the harmonization of conditions of opening tenders with the EU standarts.

''A great progress was recorded in preperation of the new law together with experts,'' told Vural in the opening of the seventh meeting of Coordination Committee.

Referring to the existing tender system in Turkey, Vural said that the system for state tenders is very important to end corruption claims.

Vural said that he believed the new law will be completed in October and this will contribute to Turkey's adjustment with EU legislation and prevent manipulation of issues that lead to many complaints in Turkey.

-TOBB CHAIRMAN SAYS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL SHOULD CONVENE URGENTLY

ANKARA - Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the Chairman of Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), said on Wednesday that the Economic and Social Council should convene urgently, and that necessary measures should be taken urgently to increase domestic demands and production in a way that will enliven the markets. Hisarciklioglu also said necessary measures should be taken to provide stability in foreign exchange rates and prices.

Hisarciklioglu, who addressed ''TOBB Sector Committee Meetings,'' pointed out that the 11.8 percent shrinkage in the second quarter of the year, and 8.5 percent shrinkage in the first six months, gave this message, adding that, ''the coming period should be evaluated very carefully.''

Hisarciklioglu said as TOBB, their target was enlivening of production, exportation and employement again, and expressed his belief that all the necessary measures should be revealed to reach a stable growth target.

TOBB Chairman said following the decision to transfer 100 million U.S. dollars resource to Eximbank, 80 million U.S. dollars section was paid, and that the remaining 20 million U.S. dollars would be paid next week.

Hisarciklioglu said they expected 683 trillion lira early amortization, which the Treasury made to Halk Bankasi, to be reflected in favour of the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (KOBIs). He said they planned to hold meetings in the coming days where Halk Bankasi and real sector would convene.

-DERVIS:''WE AREN'T IN A STATE TO CREATE A REHABILITATION FUND''

ANKARA- State Minister Kemal Dervis said that the government right now cannot create a rehabilition fund when he spoke at the meeting of the Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) on Wednesday.

Dervis who made assessments on the economy at the meeting said that there was a serious harmony problem between the banks and the real sector which led to bankcruptcies of companies. He also pointed to the problems between private and public banks.

Regarding the rehabilitation fund which was earlier announced, Dervis said ''Right now, we are not in a state to form a rehabilitation fund. There is also no such thing in the World Bank.''

About the foreign currency rates, Dervis said ''High foreign currency rates would encourage the real sector. If the currency rates are low, there would be an explosion of import like last year. High foreign currency rates would open the way for Turkey. We won't be happy if the U.S. dollars drops to one million.''

At the meeting, Dervis told the participants ''not to expect a miracle''.

Dervis complained that extravagancy was continuing in the state.

He said that the non-interest surplus was 5.5 percent in Turkey's commitment to the IMF and it could be increased to 6 to 6.5 percent but he stressed that Turkey would not make concessions regarding this policy.

Dervis declared that the economic growth rate for 2002 could be four percent.

-CHINESE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER YANG DUE IN TURKEY

ANKARA- Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Yang Wenchang will visit Turkey on Thursday for political consultations.

Foreign Ministry issued a statement and pointed out that foreign ministy delegations of the two countries will convene within the framework of Yang's visit.

Bilateral relations as well as regional and international problems would be discussed during the meetings.

-YUCELEN:''KILLING OF GARIH LOOKS LIKE AN ORDINARY MURDER''

ANKARA - Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen has said that the killing of Uzeyir Garih looked like an ordinary murder and that they captured the suspect by investigating the evidence.

Despite the criticism against the police, Yucelen said that the police worked very hard so far to catch the suspect.

''Press and police are two complementary institutions. They need each other, therefore they should act carefully,'' Yucelen said.

Pointing out that Garih was a leading businessman not only for Turkey but also for the world, Yucelen said, ''we lost a very important businessman who create employment, working for the benefits of the country and giving advises.''

Recalling that his first statements took place in accordance with the information the police gave, Yucelen said Yener Yermez was captured with ''from evidence to suspect'' method. Yucelen said a statement could only be made after the State Security Court (DGM) prosecutor completes the investigation.

''I think the DGM Prosecutor's Office or the Justice Ministry could make a statement in a way that will respond the questions which the public is anxious about,'' Yucelen said, adding that the coming statements would be made by the prosecutor.

Responding to a question about the resignation of Koray Aydin, the Public Works and Housing Minister, Yucelen said, ''the resignation is his personal decision. It is not correct for me to make a comment.''

-ISTANBUL DGM PROSECUTOR ALDEMIR: ''YENER YERMEZ CONFESSED HIS CRIME''

ISTANBUL- Bekir Raif Aldemir, the Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) Prosecutor, said on Wednesday that private Yener Yermez, who was captured as the suspect of murder of businessman Uzeyir Garih, confessed his crime.

Prosecutor Aldemir, who carried out the investigation whether or not the murder have terror links, and who attended the re-enactment made in Eyup Cemetery today, pointed out that, ''Yermez confessed that he killed businessman Garih. The knife was found. The pair of trousers, which has stains of blood, was also found.''

Aldemir said Pinar Konuskan, the girl friend of Yermez, would also be sent to Istanbul DGM today.

-TELEKOM DIRECTOR GENERAL ALPTURK SAYS TELECOM PLANS TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT OF 700 MILLION DOLLARS TILL END OF 2001

ISTANBUL - Telekom Director General Ibrahim Hakkı Alpturk said on Wednesday that the institution plans to make an investment of 700 million dollars till the end of 2001.

Speaking in the Telekom Forum held the same day, Alpturk said that the economic crisis in Turkey negatively affected the sector, adding that all companies working in the information technologies sector are connected to Turk Telekom and all the companies have been effected from the crisis.

Alpturk said that Telekom undertook an investment of 670 million dollars last year.

Giuseppe Farina, the Director General of Aria GSM operator company said that the main problem in the information technologies sector stems from the regulations in Turkey as they are different from other countries. Ferina noted that he believed the crisis would end, noting that foreigners belive that Turkey is a reliable country to invest.

Another GSM operator company Ercisson's Turkey Director Ersin Pamuksuzer said that the crisis seen in telecommunication sector is 50 times serious than the crisis in other sectors.

-JUSTICE MINISTRY TO ASK FOR MOROCCO THE REASONS WHY TECIMER RELEASED

ANKARA- Justice Ministry will ask for Morocco why Aysegul Tecimer was released although there was not an aspect requiring rejection of Turkey's request for her extradition, and will demand the authorities of this country to review the decision.

Justice Ministry officials told A.A correspondent that Aysegul Tecimer, who had been captured in Morocco, was released on August 29, 2001 by the Moroccan High Court's Penal issues department.

According to the verbal information which the Justice Ministry obtained, British passport of Tecimer was given back.

The Moroccan Court released Tecimer for two reasons. The first one is that the file, requesting extradition of Tecimer, did not point out the statute of limitations, and the other one is that the court found right the allegation of Tecimer that she could benefit from the decision of the Constitutional Court regarding the law on conditional release and suspension of punishments.

Turkey and Morocco had signed legal aid and extradition of criminals agreement in 1989, and Turkey approved this agreement in 1999; however, Morocco has not completed approval procedure yet.

Justice Ministry will also carry out the procedures regarded with arrest warrant of Tecimer in other countries basing on red-bulletin which was issued to Interpol and by considering the possibility that she may escape from Morocco.

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