Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-09-06

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

06 EYLÜL 2001 Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] AYDIN'S RESIGNATION PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL GAZETTE

[03] AYDIN'S RESIGNATION PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL GAZETTE

[04] YAPI KREDI BANKASI: ''PARTNERHIP TALKS ARE OUT OF QUESTION''

[05] DOCUMENTARY FILM SHOWN ON TURKISH AND JEWISH NIGHT IN WASHINGTON

[06] EXPORTS IN AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR INCREASE 49.4 PERCENT TO 2.5 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF 2001

[07] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER IZGI SAYS LEGAL SYSTEM HAS TO BE REARRANGED IN LINE WITH TURKEY'S CONDITIONS AND EU NORMS

[08] FINAL STATEMENT OF WORKERS AND EMPOYERS SUMMIT ANNOUNCED

[09] JUDICIAL YEAR STARTS -PRESIDENT SEZER SENDS MESSAGE TO SUPREME COURT CHAIRMAN SELCUK

[10] CENTRAL BANK SELLS 20 MILLION DOLLARS

[11] RESOURCE PROVIDED FROM WORLD BANK TO EDUCATION

[12] TCDD SAYS TRAIN SERVICES TO IRAN, IRAQ AND SYRIA CONTRIBUTE TO PEACE

[13] CEREMONY HELD UPON START OF NEW JUDICIAL YEAR -SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUDGE SELCUK: ''THE CONSTITUTION LOOKS LIKE THE POLICE REGULATIONS WHICH CONTRADICTS WITH THE ESSENCE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL STATE''

[14] WORLD BANK REAL SECTOR EVALUATION DELEGATION CONTINUES CONTACTS

[15] TWO MILLION TONS OF DIESEL OIL ENTER TURKEY FROM HABUR BORDER GATE

[16] DENKTAS: ''ACCEPTANCE OF WHO THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS ARE IS THE CONDITION FOR ATTENDING TALKS''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

INVESTIGATION FROM DYP
The censure motion submitted by the True Path Party (DYP) against Public Works and Housing Minister Koray Aydin has become invalid as Aydin resigned from the ministry and parliament yesterday. Yet DYP will ask for opening of a parliamentary investigation about Aydin in order to bring him before the Supreme Court for trial. DYP deputy group leader Turhan Guven said that DYP would submit parliamentary investigation motion against Aydin due to the claims about him. Aydin's resignation from the parliament can't only be accepted by the petition he submitted to the Parliament Speaker's Office. A series of procedures have to be completed in the parliament for his official resignation from the parliament.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Alaton said security forces had warned them three or four years ago in this respect. Alaton said, ''a list had been found during the operations toward Hezbollah and IBDA-C,'' adding that their names were included in this list.

Alaton said security forces told them that they have to consider this warning as serious, and that they should use armoured vehicles.

RESIGNATION OF AYDIN RELAXES MARKETS
Koray Aydin, the minister of Public Works and Housing resigned, and his resignation reduced the U.S. dollar 17,000 Turkish lira, and reduced the interests 3.5 points. Meanwhile, the resignation increased the stock exchange 0.3 percent.

Monetary and capital markets released following the resignation of Aydin, who could not endure corruption allegations any more.

One U.S. dollar decreased to 1 million 405 thousand lira in interbank markets after Aydin's resignation.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

TECIMER RELEASED
Aysegul Tecimer, a notorious works of art smuggler who was captured in Morocco 40 days ago, was released by the police eight days ago. Her British passport was also given back to her. Foreign Ministry also confirmed the news. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said yesterday that the Moroccan Justice Ministry verbally confirmed that she was released.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Aydin said he resigned in order not to give damage to Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) during the investigation process.

ECEVIT: AN HONORABLE ACT
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Wednesday that the resignation of Public Works and Housing Minister is a very honourable act, adding he congratulated Aydin.

Responding to questions of journalists about Aydin's resignation from the ministry and parliament, Ecevit said that ''I have not received yet his resignation. Mr. Aydin 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.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)

AYDIN RESIGNS
Koray Aydin, the Public Works and Housing Minister who was accused within the scope of the anti-corruption claims launched regarding the state tenders concluded by his Ministry, resigned from the ministry and parliament yesterday. Yet his decision to resign from the parliament will be discussed by the parliament. Aydin was strongly criticized as he set up a firm after being appointed as a minister. Aydin announced his resignation decision live on private NTV channel.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Yermez said he left his military barracks at 09:00 local time on August 25, and arrived at Eyup Cemetery at 11:30.

Yermez said he had used 5-6 pills at the day of the incident. The 15-cm knife, which was used to kill Garih, was found buried near the graveyard of Fevzi Cakmak.

AYSEGUL LOST
Aysegul Tecimer, a smuggler of historical works, who had been captured in Morocco when she was wanted with red-bulletin and had been sentenced to 4,5 years in prison, was released.

Foreign Ministry confirmed that Tecimer was released by Moroccan authorities. Huseyin Dirioz, the Ministry Spokesman, pointed out that the 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.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Sulhaddin Uruk, one of the top officials of the terrorist organization Hezbollah was killed in Adana's Pozanti township on Wednesday in a gunfire after he ignored the warning of the security forces and attempted to escape.

Haci Bayancik, Halil Aslan, Mehmet Veysi Ozel, Naci Mungan, two women and 15 children were caught in the operation.

The computer, where the archieves of the organization was hidden, was found during the operation carried out under the supervision of Ankara State Security Court (DGM) Chief Prosecutor Nuh Mete Yuksel.

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

[02] AYDIN'S RESIGNATION PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL GAZETTE

State Minister Tunca Toskay will act as the Public Works and Housing Minister until a new person is appointed as the minister.

Under the Constitution, the appointment has to be done within 15 days at the latest.

[03] AYDIN'S RESIGNATION PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL GAZETTE

State Minister Tunca Toskay will act as the Public Works and Housing Minister until a new person is appointed as the minister.

Under the Constitution, the appointment has to be done within 15 days at the latest.

[04] YAPI KREDI BANKASI: ''PARTNERHIP TALKS ARE OUT OF QUESTION''

Yapi Kredi sent a letter to Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) upon the request of Stock Exchange Chairmanship following the news reports saying that Yapi Kredi was holding partnership talks with ABN Amro Bank, one of the leading banks of Europe.

''Relating to the news reports, we would like to say that partnership talks are out of question, and that there was nothing requiring a statement to public,'' the bank said.

[05] DOCUMENTARY FILM SHOWN ON TURKISH AND JEWISH NIGHT IN WASHINGTON

Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Baki Ilkin, U.S. deputy defense secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who is of Jewish origin, former IMF first deputy managing director Stanley Fischer and former state department secretary and deputy treasury secretary Stuart Eizenstad also watched the documentary namely ''Desperate Hours.''

Leaders of the Jewish society in the U.S. were also interested in the film.

The documentary film tells the story of Jewish immigrants who escaped from Europe and who were welcomed by Turkey during the second world war. In the film, it is shown that Jewish immigrants living in France, Rhodos and Bulgaria, were granted with diplomatic passports by the Turkish diplomats and they escaped to Turkey first and then to Palestine. The movie talks about Turkey's permitting the activities of a Jewish underground organization in Istanbul to save Jewish people in Europe from massacre. The documentary also shows the turning of the organization into Israeli intelligence organization Mossad after the foundation of Israel.

[06] EXPORTS IN AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR INCREASE 49.4 PERCENT TO 2.5 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF 2001

The Secretariat General of Uludag Exporters' Unions said on Thursday that the exports of automobiles, which was 1 billion 707 million 581 thousand U.S. dollars in the January-August 2000 period, rose to 2 billion 552 million 274 thousand U.S. dollars in the same period this year.

Meanwhile, exports from the Turkish automotive sector in August of 2001 increased 59.5 percent from 173 million 144 thousand U.S. dollars to 276 million 215 thousand U.S. dollars compared to same period last year.

The exports have been to 167 countries and free trade zones.

Germany was ranked the first in the list of countries which the automotive sector exported goods the most. France and Italy followed Germany.

The first ten countries and free zones in the export list between January 1- August 30 are as follows:

. (Thousand dollars) (change)

Country 2001 percent

-------------------- --------- -------
Germany 613,499 65.3

France 360,850 43.9

Italy 322,049 98.8

U.S. 115,813 3.5
Britain 104,875 53.8

Iran 77,241 441.1

Spain 67,404 119.1

Belgium 60,857 70

Istanbul Leather Free Zone 53,708 -43.7

Russian Federation 46,777 170.5

[07] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER IZGI SAYS LEGAL SYSTEM HAS TO BE REARRANGED IN LINE WITH TURKEY'S CONDITIONS AND EU NORMS

Issuing a message upon the beginning of the new judicial year, Izgi said that the judiciary power is the basic institution of the modern republic which is a democratic, secular and social legal state.

Izgi said that the constitution aims to have independent judiciary by the principle of seperation of powers. ''The principle of legal state is also the guarantee of basic principles of the republic, Ataturk's reforms, democracy, modernity and inseperability of the territorial integrity,'' he added.

[08] FINAL STATEMENT OF WORKERS AND EMPOYERS SUMMIT ANNOUNCED

The Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK) did not sign the final statement.

The final statement said chairmen of the workers and employers confederation discussed unemployment, dismissals, problems of the business places which were closed, and ways of solution. Also, ways of cooperation, which could take place against serious economic crisis, were taken up.''

The final statement said the nation, which overcome very serious difficulties in its history, has the necessary power to overcome today's crisis.

The statement said, ''the confederation and unions of the workers and employers, in their activities, will focus on decreasing unemployment and increasing employment by acting on the fact that an institution is a whole with its workers and employers, and by taking contemporary rights and freedoms and working conditions as guide. With this target, they would be in an effort to form a national employment strategy.''

Pointing out that the economic crisis caused loss of production, investment, exportation and employment in the country, the final statement pointed out that this situation destroyed national pride.

The final statement called on the prevention of closure of business places and prevention of unemployment and poverty, and also wanted rapid development period to start.

Stressing that the savings which the citizens have abroad were in high amounts, the final statement said directing those resources to Turkish economic would have important contributions in getting rid of the economic crisis.

The statement said contacts would be set up with various people and institutions aiming to increase flow of source to the country, adding that, ''promotion of Turkish lira depends of the strengthening of Turkish economy. Depending Turkish economy on U.S. dollars contradicts with national pride and further deepens economic crisis. Encouragement for production should be enlivened, and arragements to pass to production economy should be supported. Quality goods produced in registered sector should be encouraged in our country,'' he said.

The statement said TISK, Turk-Is, and Hak-Is would set up a joint research center aiming to develop joint policies and to provide positive contribution of scientific works to the unions.

The final statement said, ''every citizen and institution should expend support to the cooperation of workers and employers. This will increase the success which our country will obtain. Turkey will overcome this crisis with social solidarity.''

[09] JUDICIAL YEAR STARTS -PRESIDENT SEZER SENDS MESSAGE TO SUPREME COURT CHAIRMAN SELCUK

''Persons and institutions who regard themselves over the law constitute a great danger for democracy,'' Sezer said in the message he sent to the Supreme Court of Appeals Chairman Sami Selcuk upon the beginning of 2001- 2002 judicial year.

Sezer said that the principle of legal state is the determining character of the modern democracies and the principle is also the guarantee of democracy and supremacy of universal values and rules.

The limitation of state organs with rules comes true with the principle of seperation of powers and the legal state deevlops itself as long as it abides by these supreme rules, he said.

Sezer stressed that ''time has come to carry out improvement in the Constitution to response to the needs of the Turkish nation and to include universal criteria in the legal system.'' Sezer said that Turkey has to abide by EU criteria for full membership and it has to renew itself. Turkey has to first of all abide by the universal criteria in the field of human rights and review its constitution and laws in line with the international conventions, he added.

[10] CENTRAL BANK SELLS 20 MILLION DOLLARS

The average bid in the auction which the Central Bank held within framework of forex auctions program became 1 million 419 thousand 100 Turkish liras (TL).

Maximum bid was 1 million 418 thousand 600 TL and the minumum bid was 1 million 419 thousand 450 TL.

[11] RESOURCE PROVIDED FROM WORLD BANK TO EDUCATION

Serhadli said very important investments were made in education since last year, adding that 813 new classrooms were opened last year. He said schools, which were closed in the past for some reasons, were repaired this year.

Serhadli said this year, they would begin education year with more than 400 new classrooms.

He said, ''21 schools have been repaired with the 420,000 U.S. dollars resource. We have some deficiencies regarded with education. Our efforts continue to solve problems in education.''

[12] TCDD SAYS TRAIN SERVICES TO IRAN, IRAQ AND SYRIA CONTRIBUTE TO PEACE

A statement of TCDD said that conditions of global world foresee the development of transportation sector not only within national borders but also at international dimensions.

The statement noted that to this end, Turkey has taken significant steps to develop railway transportation with its neighbours Iran, Iraq and Syria.

Below listed the train services from Turkey to Middle Eastern countries:

TURKEY-IRAN:
-Transasia Express: This train service was launched in Tehran-Istanbul- Tehran line between March 12 and 13, 2001. The train service is held once a week. The train departs from Istanbul at 10.55 p.m. every Monday and departs from Tehran at 8.15 p.m. every Tuesday. A total of 5,731 passengers have been carried from Tehran to Istanbul since the train service started till August 29, 2001 while 3,071 passengers came from Istanbul to Tehran by this train in the mentioned period. The train goes between two cities in 68 hours and can carry 320 passengers.

-Van-Tabriz Passanger Train: This train started to go between Van and Tabriz on August 27, 2001 while from Tabriz to Van on August 28, 2001. The train leaves for Tabriz at 6.49 p.m. every Mondays and Fridays and departs from Tabriz for Van at 10.30 p.m. every Tuesdays and Thursdays. The voyage lasts for nine hours and 240 passengers can be carried by the train.

-TURKEY-IRAQ:
-Gaziantep-Baghdad Express Train: The first train came from Baghdad to Gaziantep on July 20, 2001 while from Gaziantep to Baghdad on July 21, 2001. The train service is given once a week. The train leaves for Baghdad at 10.00 a.m. every Wednesday and for Gaziantep at 5.20 p.m. every Friday. The voyage lasts for 24 hours while the train can carry 48 passengers.

-TURKEY-SYRIA:
-Istanbul-Damascus link: Train leaves Damascus for Istanbul at 5.13 a.m. every Tuesdays and the visa-versa at 8.55 a.m. on Thursdays. A total of 312 passengers come from Damascus to Istanbul between January and August 2001 while the number of passengers who went from Istanbul to Damascus was 292.

[13] CEREMONY HELD UPON START OF NEW JUDICIAL YEAR -SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUDGE SELCUK: ''THE CONSTITUTION LOOKS LIKE THE POLICE REGULATIONS WHICH CONTRADICTS WITH THE ESSENCE OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL STATE''

A ceremony was held at the Middle East Technical University (METU) Culture and Congress Center upon the start of the 2001-2002 Judicial Year.

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi, Constitutional Court Chief Judge Mustafa Bumin, Deputy Parliament Speaker Murat Sokmenoglu, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu, State Minister Mehmet Kececiler, State Minister Faruk Bal, State Minister Suayip Usenmez, State Minister Nejat Arseven, State Minister Ramazan Mirzaoglu, Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk, Finance Minister Sumer Oral, True Path Party (DYP) deputy leader Turhan Guven, Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan, Justice and Develeopment Party (AK Party) deputy leader Abdullah Gul, Democtratic Turkey Party (DTP) leader Ismet Sezgin, Supreme Court Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu, Council of State Chief Prosecutor Yasar Selim Asmaz, Ankara Chief Prosecutor Melih Tari, Ankara State Security Court (DGM) Chief Prosecutor Cevdet Volkan, Ankara Bar Chairman Sadik Erdogan, retired chief prosecutor of Supreme Court Vural Savas, retired chairman of Turkish Bars Association Eralp Ozgen, former State Minister Enis Oksuz, some MPs, Cankaya Mayor Haydar Yilmaz and representatives of judicial organs attended the ceremony.

Speaking at the ceremony, Selcuk said that Turkey should enter the European Union (EU) to have a contemporary democracy and advanced laws and that the National Program should be adopted.

Sami Selcuk stressed that Turkey should appear in the world with a brand new constitution after overcoming common judicial obstacles.

Noting that as scientists had mentioned that the Constitution looked like the police regulations which contradicted with the essence of the constitutional state, Selcuk said that the contract law and constitutional law were not in line with the existing Constitution.

''Why don't we prepare a new constitution today especially when eveything is appropriate? We should not waste time with amendments,'' he said.

Selcuk said that there cannot be ''crime of thought'' in democracies.

Recalling that 23 political parties had been closed down in Turkey in last 33 years, Selcuk said that closure of political party should be considered final remedy.

(MS-BRC)

[14] WORLD BANK REAL SECTOR EVALUATION DELEGATION CONTINUES CONTACTS

Sources told the A.A correspondent that the delegation which came to Ankara four days ago receives information from vocational organizations and relevant public institutions, particularly Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), about the effects of economic crisis on business world and amount of finance necessary for reconstruction.

The delegation may meet with the delegation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which will start contacts on Friday.

The delegation which will spend almost one week in Turkey may go to Istanbul and meet with representatives of private sector and experts of International Finance Corporation (IFC).

World Bank experts will present a report to the Bank management when they return to Washington D.C. This report will be about the amount of finance necessary for restructuring and how and at what extent the IFC can contribute to this.

Meanwhile, the IMF delegation headed by IMF Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen will start its contacts at the Treasury Undersecretariat on Friday.

[15] TWO MILLION TONS OF DIESEL OIL ENTER TURKEY FROM HABUR BORDER GATE

Officials at the Turkish Petroleum International Corporation (TPIC) said on Thursday that lorries carried almost 2 million tons of diesel oil from Northern Iraq to Turkey through Habur Border Gate in two and a half years.

Officials noted that TPIC is not a foreign company and that it started to purchase fuel oil on September 2, 1999.

A total of 1 billion 925 million litres of fuel oil was purchased and carried by 326,935 vehicles since the TPIC started to operate while 532 trillion 848 billion Turkish liras (TL) was paid to the lorry drivers.

The company has paid 44 trillion 55 billion TL Value Added Tax (VAT) for the oil so far.

The officials stated that 1 million 924 thousand tons of the fuel oil has been sold and 669 trillion 989 billion TL has been obtained.

''Fuel oil in the depots of TPIC is sold to eight distrubition companies, including Petrol Ofisi Inc. Almost 300 people are working in TPIC,'' officials added.

[16] DENKTAS: ''ACCEPTANCE OF WHO THE TURKISH CYPRIOTS ARE IS THE CONDITION FOR ATTENDING TALKS''

Speaking at a ceremony held upon 27th anniversary of the Yesilirmak Resistance, Denktas said about U.N. Secretary General's Special Representative to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto's contacts in Cyprus that they defended realities against the attempt which aims to bring the Turkish Cypriots to a negotiating table at which matters of discussion are unclear in accordance with a scenario prepared by other people.

Recalling that 1960 republic was a partnership republic and those who expelled the Turkish Cypriots from this republic want to make Cyprus a Greek Cypriot republic, Denktas said, ''martyrs did not die for a Greek Cypriot republic and annexation of the island to Greece through the European Union. They lost their lives to protect the Turkish Cypriots' equal rights and prevent raising of a Greek flag on these territories.''

Stressing that there is a Turkish Cypriot nation equal as Greek Cypriots, Denktas said, ''do you accept this or not? If you don't accept this, you can go anywhere you wish. If you accept this, we want you to tell Greek Cypriots 'come to your senses and come into line to found a new partnership with your partner.' Greek Cypriots claim that they were the government of whole island. They violated international agreements, massacred many people and pillaged 103 villages. They have been doing everything for 11 years in order to annihilate the Turkish Cypriots. However, we saw during these 5- day contacts that they don't have the intention to tell these to Greek Cypriot side. Besides, they don't want to mention even the word of partnership. Tomorrow, they will say, 'uncomprising Denktas is getting Turkey into trouble, the Turkish Cypriots are going to vanish but he still does not want to sit at negotiating table.' I wonder whether or not they know what is tried to be done.''

Noting that the Turkish Cypriots do not sit at negotiating table to take something as they had taken them for the cost of lives and that their aim is not to give them back, Denktas said Greek Cypriots' aim at the negotiating table is to take everything from the Turkish Cypriots.

Denktas said that the Turkish Cypriots will open their hearts and doors if Greek Cypriots say, ''you are equal and partner. We are ready to found a new partnership. We don't deal with Turkey's guarantee. The important thing is agreement between us, compromise on membership to EU, borders and good friendship.''

Denktas said that the state and sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriots are not recognized and they are asked to give up them, adding that it is said that, ''their equality cannot be numeral, it is Greek Cypriots' right to return to Turkish Cypriot territories and they cannot be prevented and the Turkish Cypriots are minority''.

''I want to ask those who criticize me; Do I bargain these by sitting at the table?,'' he said.

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