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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-11-03Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 03 NOVEMBER 2001 Saturday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 3, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)HISTORIC STANCE AGAINST EUForeign Minister Ismail Cem announced the historic decision: ''If the Greek Cypriot administration is accepted as a full member to the European Union (EU), we will not acknowledge it irrespective of its costs.'' Cem, speaking at the Parliamentary Commission on Friday, said, ''Turkey's interests disregarded and ignored. Turkey has to give its decision in the formation of such a membership. It will have to say either 'it is enough' or 'I do not acknowledge this decision.' In such a case, Turkey can take a very definite decision. We should know that Turkey will pay the price of such a decision but we have to take such a decision.'' NEW BANKNOTE EQUIVALENT TO 12 U.S. DOLLARS AKSENER TO JOIN MHP MILLIYET (LIBERAL)72 SNIPERSAll of them battled with the terrorist organization PKK. Their commander is a lieutenant colonel. A total of 72 members of the team are snipers and the rest is logistic experts. The special forces of Turkey which will go to Afghanistan have the similar capabilities with the Delta Force of the United States, SAS of Britain and Spetnaz of Russia. But, the special forces of Turkey are one step forward the other forces because they battled with the terrorist organization PKK in the Southeastern Anatolia Region. THIS PACKAGE WILL HURT SABAH (LIBERAL)IF VAT REDUCES U.S. DOLLAR WILL ALSO REDUCESukru Kizilot, number one tax expert of Turkey, recalls the government: ''if you want the U.S. dollar to reduce, you should reduce rate of Value Added Tax (VAT). Kizilot said, ''when the VAT rates are reduced, shopping will increase due to the decrease in prices. People, who keep their foreign exchange under cushion or banks, will turn the money into Turkish lira and spend it.'' SDIF SITS AT NEGOTIATION TABLE WITH NOVA BANK It was reported that Nova Bank, which has Greek and Portuguese partners, did not give bids to the shares of Sitebank. Novabank wants to take over some of balance sheet of Sitebank. CUMHURIYET (LEFT)NUMBER OF SOLDIERS NOT CLARIFIEDPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer said Turkish units which will go to Afghanistan, were not under threat. Sezer, who will pay a visit to Georgia and Tajikistan pointed out that risk of hot clash was reduced to the minimum level. Sezer said, ''the decision which was disclosed was about sending a unit comprised of 90 people. There is nothing else beyond this. Nothing can be said for future, but this is our contribution.'' FOREIGN MINISTRY DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY ERMAN TO VISIT AFGHANISTAN Erman will have contacts with authorities of the Northern Alliance and discuss with them Turkey's decision to send troops to Afghanistan, Erman's meeting with UN's Afghanistan Special Representative Lahdar Brahimi in New York, humanitarian aid, and Taliban opposition group leaders' meeting in Ankara. Turkey will be one of the six countries which will send soldiers to the region. The Turkish soldiers will be deployed in northern Afghanistan and south of Uzbekistan. Tajikistan remains a weak possibility for the time being. RADIKAL (LEFT)THERE ARE ALSO PROSECUTORS IN ANKARASupreme Court Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu opposed to the decision to annul the punishments given in Susurluk Case. Kanadoglu opposed to the Supreme Court Eighth Criminal Department which annuled the punishments given to Susurluk gang regarding the merits of the case. Kanadoglu said that the case was the symbol of the wish for a clean society and noted that there were enough evidence to approve the punishments. If the Supreme Court General Criminal Council found the opposition as appropriate, the punishments will become definite. MONEY IN RETURN FOR SOLDIER TURKIYE (RIGHT)SEZER: THERE IS NO RISK FOR SOLDIERSPresident Ahmet Necdet Sezer said there was no risk for the Turkish Special Unit which will be sent to Afghanistan. Sezer said Turkey wants to improve relations with the U.S. President Sezer received Hamid Bourki, the Algerian Ambassador to Turkey. Bourki submitted his credentials to President Sezer at the meeting. Meanwhile, responding to questions of journalists following the meeting, President Sezer said that there would be not any risk for Turkish soldiers in Afghanistan. MISSILE PROTECTION TO STRAITS According to the package, course of the ships will be followed, passages at nights will be limited, and tankers loaded with dangerous items will be escorted. According to the package having 48 articles, patrolling forces will be increased in the land and the sea. The suspicious ships may be stopped and searched. ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)VARYAG PASSES FROM CANAKKALE STRAIT WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMSGiant platform Varyag which was purchased by China from Ukraine passed from Canakkale Strait without any problems. Varyag, which entered Canakkale Strait at 10.30 a.m. on Friday, passed Nara Cape, the most difficult passage of this strait, at 2.50 p.m. Varyag completed the passage at 5.30 p.m. and started to sail in the Aegean Sea. [02] TURKEY WANTS TO GET INFORMATION FROM U.S. ABOUT DETENTION OF TURKSWASHINGTON D.C.– Turkey launched initiatives in the U.S. State Department regarding the detention of some Turks, whose date of residence permit or visa expired, following the September 11th terrorist attacks.Faruk Logoglu, Turkey's Ambassador in Washington D.C, launched initiatives in the U.S. State Department about the detention of some Turkish citizens. Responding to questions of reporters, Logoglu said that he asked the U.S. State Department why and within which framework these people were detained. There are news items that some Turks, who were residing illegally in the U.S., have been captured to be deported. This initiative against especially Turkish society in the United States, where millions of people reside illegally, drew the attention and reaction of the Assembly of the Turkish American Associations and Federation of Turkish American Associations. (BRC-AY) [03] HONDURAN-FLAGGED CARGO SHIP RUNS AGROUND OFF CATALCAISTANBUL- Honduran-flagged cargo ship ran aground off Catalca district of Istanbul on Saturday.The engine of the ship namely ''Lensk 1'' broke down off shore Catalca. As the ship started to drag on 2.5 miles off Karaburun Karacakoy hamlet, the captain anchored. The captain who could not prevent the ship from dragging called on for emergency help and said that the ship could divide into two. Coast guard boats left the base to rescue ten crewmen of the ship, including the captain however, the boats could not reach the ship due to strong northeastern winds and waves. The ship which continued to drag ran aground 300 metres off Karacakoy. The lifeguard teams are trying to rescue the crew of the ship. The Honduran-flagged ship, which was 1,652 gross tons in weight and 98 metres in length, was en route from Izmit to Romania. [04] STATE MINISTER ARSEVEN DISCUSSES WITH THE U.S. OFFICIALS TURKEY'S SUPPORT TO OPERATION ON AFGHANISTANWASHINGTON- Nejat Arseven, the State Minister responsible for Human Rights, said on Saturday that Turkey's support to U.S. operation on Afghanistan, Turkey's economic program, human rights issues, and constitutional amendments were discussed during his contacts with the U.S. officials in Washington.Arseven held a news conference after his meetings with Marc Grossman, the Assistant Secretary of State responsible for political affairs, Dan Fried, the National Security Council Director responsible for Europe and Eurasia, Lorne Craner, the Assistant Secretary of State responsible for Human Rights. Arseven said the U.S. experiences difficulties about individual rights and freedoms following September 11 attacks, noting that Turkey had experienced difficulties about human rights during the times when it was fighting against terrorism. Responding to a question if a development could be recorded about the situation of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization, in an atmosphere which was formed following September 11 attacks, Arseven said, ''Turkey is a legal state. There is nothing to do when the jurisdiction makes its decision. There is a decision about Ocalan. In Turkey, we lifted capital punishment apart from the crimes of war threat and terrorism crimes. The world had not experienced September 11 attacks at those times.'' Pointing out that economic issues were discussed during contacts with the U.S. officials, Arseven said he conveyed the determination of the government in Turkey to implement stability program. When journalists wanted Arseven to evaluate the economic performance of the government, Arseven said State Minister Kemal Dervis was exerting efforts against crisis, noting that ''efforts of the government to overcome the crisis are very positive.'' Arseven is expected to leave for Turkey on Sunday. [05] HUNDRED PREFABRICATED HUTS BURNT IN ADAPAZARIADAPAZARI- A hundred prefabricated huts were burnt in quake-hit Adapazari province on Saturday.The prefabricated huts were evacuated a short time ago to be allocated to the Forestry Regional Directorate. The reason for the fire was not immediately clear while the fire was taken under control in one and a half hours by the firefighters. Hundred huts out of 150 were burnt down to ashes. Two people who continued to shelter in one of the prefabricated huts despite all the calls for evacuaion were rescued. [06] GAP EXPORTS TO 111 COUNTRIES AND 8 FREE ZONESGAZIANTEP- Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region exported its products to 11 countries and eight free zones in the first nine months of this year.The region's exports increased 13.8 in the first nine months of this year when compared with the same period last year. GAP region obtained 459 million 573 thousand U.S. dollars from its agricultural, animal and industrial product exports. The region exported to 103 countries and 11 free zones and obtained 403 million 747 thousand U.S. dollars from its exportation in the same period last year. Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union Chairman Abdulkadir Cikmaz told A.A correspondent on Saturday that the region obtained 280 million 301 thousand U.S. dollars from textile exports, 73 million 851 thousand U.S. dollars from cereal and oil seeds exportation, 58 million 827 thousand U.S. dollars from fresh fruit and vegetable and industrial product exportation, 36 million 92 thousand U.S. dollars from dried fruit exports and 10 million 502 thousand U.S. dollars from animal and animal product exportation between January and September 2001. Textile exports increased by 20 percent while the cereal exports climbed by 18 percent, Cikmaz said. Cikmaz noted that dried fruit exports rose by 6 percent and the animal and animal product exportation climbed by 624 percent while fresh fruit and vegetable and industrial product exportation decreased by 18 percent when compared with the same period last year. Iraq was the main export center of the region while thread was the main export product, Cikmaz stated. Cikmaz added, ''the region exported 167 million 639 thousand U.S. dollar products to Europe, 140 mililon 553 thousand U.S. dollar products to Middle EAst, 23 million 109 thousand U.S. dollar products to America, 8 million 577 thousand U.S. dollars to Asia, 9 million 961 thousand U.S. dollar products to Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), 20 million 842 thousand U.S. dollar products to Turkish Republics, 13 million 142 thousand U.S. dollar products to Africa and 75 million 750 thousand U.S. dollar products to other countries and free zones.'' [07] INDEPENDENT DEPUTY ER JOINS AK PARTYANKARA- Ali Er, an independent deputy from southern Icel province, joined on Saturday the Justice and Development Party (AK Party).Thus, the number of seats occupied by AK Party at the parliament reached 52. Er had resigned from the Motherland Party (ANAP) a short time ago. Below listed the current distribution of seats at the parliament: Democratic Left Party (DSP) ............................: 131 Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) .......................: 126 True Path Party (DYP) ..................................: 82 Motherland Party (ANAP) ................................: 80 Justice and Development Party (AK Party) ...............: 52 Felicity Party (SP) ....................................: 48 Independent ............................................: 22 Vacant .................................................: 9 [08] RED CRESCENT SENDS AID TO AFGHANISTANERZURUM - Red Crescent on Saturday sent four trucks of aid to Afghanistan. The aid, which departed from eastern Erzurum province, is comprised of food and blankets.Red Crescent Disaster Intervention Director Omer Tasli said the aid would be passed from Iran with the mediation of Iranian Red Crescent, and will be sent to Afghans who are in southeastern section of Afghanistan. Tasli said the aid, that is comprised of 4,5 tonnes of rice, sugar, olive oil, 37,5 tonnes of wheat flour, and 6,000 blankets, has the capacity to meet the needs of 7,500 people. Tasli said half of the aid was met by Anadolu Kalkinma Foundation, adding that, ''we are planning that the aid will reach Afghanistan on Wednesday or Thursday. We will be in an effort to end the pains of Afghan people to some extend. Our aid will continue from now on.'' Pointing out that they have a policy apart from the government policies, Tasli said the Red Crescent helped the Greek Cypriots during Cyprus Peace Operation. He said, ''the Red Crescent is always away from government policies. The military unit which Turkey would sent to Afghanistan will not prevent help of Red Crescent to Afghanistan. We owe Afghan people who sent gold full of boxes during War of Liberation.'' [09] TAI TO OBTAIN 60 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS FROM EXPORTATIONANKARA- Turkish Aerospace Industry Inc. (TAI) will meet 60 million U.S. dollar portion of the total 123 million U.S. dollar income from sales foreseen for this year from exportation.TAI officials said on Saturday that TAI had foreseen to obtain 123 million U.S. dollars from its sales in 2001 while 60 million of this total amount would be met from exportation. The officials noted that majority of the exportation was made to the United States and some European countries. The main export products are the shipsets of Section 18 panel for Airbus passenger planes of the U.S. and flight deck panels of Boeing 737 aircrafts of the U.S. The manufacture of MD-902 and Sikorsky helicopter fuselage are the other export products. TAI officials said that they aimed to broaden the export product range and increase the exportation by 50 attack helicopters and FLA project. [10] REAL SECTOR INSTITUTIONS IN EU PROCESSGAZIANTEP- Economic Development Foundation (IKV) Executive Board Chairperson Meral Gezgin Eris said on Saturday that completion of candidacy process to the European Union (EU) and membership to the EU depended on the participation of all sections to this process and their support to the reforms.Eris, who made a statement to the magazine of Gaziantep Chamber of Industry (GSO), pointed out that Turkey-EU relations gained a new dimension with the approval of Turkey's candidacy in Helsinki Summit, and stressed that, ''candidacy process brought comprehensive responsibilities and obligations to Turkey as well as to the EU that can not be compared with the customs union process.'' Eris said the EU confirmed the Accession Partnership Document within this framework and that it formed the legal structure which collected all the financial aid to Turkey under one roof. Eris said Turkey started to implement National Program which included the steps which Turkey should take to harmonize with the EU and which is in parallel with the Accession Partnership Document. Pointing out that providing stability and increasing manufacturing quality would bring a new dynamism to economy and would increase foreign investments and employment, Eris said, ''successful completion of candidacy process and Turkey's full membership to the EU depend on the participation of all sections to the process and their support to the reforms in this respect. Within this scope, representative institutions of real sector, which form the back bone of Turkish economy, have important assignment.'' Eris said the EU attributed a special importance to the views of the non- governmental organizations, which it considered as an important part of policy making and decision taking process. Eris said they are considered as important institutions as they would present contributions independent from the state. ''Accession process to the EU concerns all the sections, and a communal project which will bring radical changes to political, economic and social life,'' Eris stressed. [11] AK PARTY LEADER SAYS HIS PARTY AGAINST TURKEY'S SENDING TROOPS WHICH WILL ACTIVELY BATTLE IN AFGHANISTANANKARA- Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that his party was against Turkey's sending troops to Afghanistan which would actively battle in that country.AK Party Board of Founders convened under the chairmanship of Erdogan. Speaking at the meeting, Erdogan said that the government had taken a decision to send troops to Afghanistan and that his party had principles about this issue. Noting that his party was against Turkey's sending troops to Afghanistan which would actively battle in that country, Erdogan asked why that decision was given. Erdogan said, ''as you know, at this stage, our airports are open and we are giving logistic and liaison support. As AK Party, we have said that it was appropriate for us to send humanitarian aid to that country. We also said that it would be of importance to take share in decision-making mechanisms in the post war era.'' ''Unfortunately, Turkey is one of the unique countries which do not have any secret agenda about Afghanistan. We cannot be indifferent to the formation of a new regime in Afghanistan in the post war era by leaving that country to the countries which have a secret agenda. The countries which hide their secret agenda are intervenors there. The government was not honest to the opposition groups in that country,'' Erdogan also said. Erdogan noted, ''in this frame, as AK Party, we have not opposed to sending troops other than combatants. We will continue our attitude which coincide the power balances and public in the world in the best way.'' They wished that 90 soldiers to be sent to Afghanistan would not be combatants, Erdogan said. Erdogan stated that Turkey should pay attention to its relations with friendly sister country Pakistan and added that the government should exert utmost efforts not to damage its relations with that country. [12] TURKISH-RUSSIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL CO-PRESIDENT GUR SAYS A NEW ERA STARTING TO IMPROVE COOPERATION WITH TATARSTANKAZAN– Turgut Gur, the Turkish-Russian Business Council Co-President, said on Saturday tht a new era was starting in the improvement of cooperation with Tatarstan which pushed Turkey under responsibility.Gur told A.A correspondent that during the council meeting, they promised Tatar President Mintimer Saimiyev and the ministers as the government and private sector that they would do their best to further improve economic and commercial relations. The council meeting between Turkey and Russia was held in Tatar capital Kazan because this republic was rich of natural resources and because trade volume between Turkey and Tatarstan which was below 10 million U.S. dollars should be increased, Gur said. Gur continued, ''that is, Turkey has to buy some of the products from Tatarstan not from some other countries. Tatarstan has money because it is rich of natural resources. So, we should ensure Tatarstan to buy the products they are buying from some other countries from Turkey. We have made some contacts in this context. During our contacts with the concerned units, chambers of industry, chambers of commerce and the trade ministry, they also said that they could have been neglectful so far. If we can find the opportunity to know each other better, to promote ourselves and our products and if we open fairs and exhibitions, these initiatives will have beneficial results.'' Summarizing the projects which were put forward at the end of the meeting, Gur said, ''firstly, we will open fairs and exhibitions next year. Secondly, I, as the Co-President of Turkish-Russian Business Council, will inform Turkey's various regions and together with the businessmen, I will pay visits. Also, by taking into consideration that the development of small and medium scale industries will also develop economy, President Saimiyev said that they attributed a special importance to development of these enterprises and participation of Turkish industrialists in this process and wished to benefit from Turkey's experiences. And even, he has asked us to write directly to him if Turkish businessmen face obstacles when carrying out activities. He also said that they expected to promote economic relations with Turkey.'' Gur pointed out that a schedule for 2002 was made and that they planned to be in continuous contact with Tatarstan. Tatarstan, one of the republics in the Russian Federation which is of utmost economic and commercial importance, is one of the five regions which makes the highest production. [13] FLOATING PLATFORM VARYAG KEPT WAITING OFF GOKCEADACANAKKALE- The floating platform ''Varyag'' purchased by the People's Republic of China from Ukraine was kept off Gokceada on Saturday due to storm.Varyag was kept waiting in Aydincik and Kefaloz regions because these regions were not affected by the storm. The platform was bound to tugboats due to strong northern winds which blew around 70 kilometres per hour. Canakkale Meteorology Directorate officials said that the storm would also continue on Sunday. The giant platform would start to sail after the storm. [14] ''F.S.DIANA'' SHIP LAUNCHED TO SEAISTANBUL - ''F.S. Diana'' the chemicals tanker, was launched to sea with a ceremony on Saturday. The ''F.S. Diana'' having 10,000 DWT, was constructed in Ship Construction Dockyard in Tuzla on behalf of Danish Clipper company.The ''F.S. Diana'' will be delivered to French Fouquet Sacop Martime company. The ''F.S. Diana'' can go with a speed of 14 nautical miles per hour. The ship, which was constructed in eight months, is 112 meters in length and 19 meters in width. The tanker costed 16 million U.S. dollars.
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