Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-12-09

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

09 December 2001

Sunday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 9, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Economic crisis also affected mosques in Istanbul. Number of people coming to big mosques for prayer, decreased. Imams said that people preferred small mosques in neighborhoods because they did not want to pay extra money to get to the mosques in other districts.

IZGI: ''COUNTRY THRESHOLD SHOULD REMAIN AS 10 PERCENT IN ELECTIONS''

Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi said that the country threshold in general elections should remain as ten percent, and an independent candidate should win at least fifty percent of the valid votes in his/her election disctrict to be a member of parliament. Izgi added that they should be sensitive toward the balance between the principle of stability and the principle of justice regarding the determination of the election system which mostly suits and is in line with the Constitution, decisions of the Constitutional Court, Turkey's interests and the realities in Turkey.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Sales were doubled in five avenues in Istanbul while industrial production reached the highest point. Industrial production increased by 3.8 percent in October of 2001 compared to figures of previous month. Meanwhile, the Central Bank announced that Turkish lira (TL) gained 10,78 percent in value in October.

MERCK SHARP & DOHME TO MAKE AN INVESTMENT OF 15 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

Merck Sharp & Dohme Firm of the United States will make an investment of 15 million U.S. dollars in Turkey. The firm has been producing its medicines in Fako's facilities in Turkey. Merch Sharp & Dohme's Director General in Turkey Faik Somer said that the firm also launched a campaign to contribute to education.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Semih Kaplanoglu's ''Herkes Kendi Evinde (Away From Home)'' was presented with the Best Film Award within framework of the 13th Ankara International Film Festival National Long-Feature Film Contest on Saturday. While Zeki Demirkubuz was given the Best Director Award for his film ''Itiraf (Confession)'', Zeynep Tokus was given the Best Female Performance Award, and Sukran Gungor was presented with the Best Male Performance Award.

POPE JEAN PAUL II: TURKEY IS A MODEL COUNTRY

Pope Jean Paul II said that Turkey constituted a model in acting as a bridge among different religions and cultures. Speaking at a ceremony in Vatican, Pope Jean Paul said that dialogue between the Christians and the Muslims should be consolidated. Filiz Dincmen, the Turkish Ambassadress to Vatican, was also in attendance at the ceremony.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

The case of policemen who are tried on charges of torturing young people in Manisa is about to become invalid. Policemen who were tried for the fourth time could not be heard and the hearings was adjourned one after the other as policemen could not be found for six months. Young people's lawyer Sema Pekdas said that policemen were still under protection.

ANKARA AGAIN REMAINS BEHIND

Turkey is remaining behind in realization of its pretension of being a determining country regarding international efforts for Afghanistan's future. It is mentioned that U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to whom this demand had been conveyed was not thinking of assigning any other country as the commander of peacekeeping force except Britain and Germany.

BASIC LAWS TO BE AMENDED

The Justice Ministry continues its works on preparation of amendments to basic laws in line with the developments in the world and in Turkey. These amendments are targeted to be passed by the parliament in 2002. Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that amendments to basic laws were important in regard to harmonization with the developments in the world and in Turkey.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

State Minister Abdulhaluk Cay from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) travelled abroad 214 times in 29 months. Cay spent 21 out of 29 months abroad.

HEAVY SNOWFALL PARALYZES DAILY LIFE AND TRAFFIC IN NORTHWESTERN TURKEY

Heavy snowfall has paralyzed daily life and traffic in northwestern provinces of Edirne, Kirklareli and Tekirdag. Nearly 200 village roads have been closed to the traffic due to bad weather conditions in the region. Many townships and villages could not be given electricity as storms have damaged the energy lines. Snow reached 1 meter in some places in the region.

ECONOMIC CRISIS ALSO HIT FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS

Economic crisis also affected fast food restaurants. McDonalds closed down 18 of its branches while sales of Burger King decreased by 8.11 percent. Meanwhile, number of customers of Pizza Hut and KFC decreased by 15 percent.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Halis Toprak who made investments not only in Turkey but also abroad with Toprak Holding is now facing tragedy. Halis Toprak who lost his Toprakbank last week, suspended yesterday constructions of a hospital, two schools, a public education and training center, a 36-flat apartment for his employees, a rest home, sports halls and a dormitory for homeless children in Lice where he was born and grew up. In his letter to public opinion, Halis Toprak said, ''What's the benefit in 23 factories? It had been sufficient if I had one factory. I could have collected its profit and deposited it in Treasury bonds. All of my wealth was spent on interests. Any other state in the world except our state does not cause his investor to bankrupt, it stands by him.''

CAKAN'S INSISTENCE ON 5 PERCENT

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Zeki Cakan who said that he could still not digect the 17 percent fuel oil consumption tax on natural gas said, ''people are actually facing economic problems. I hope that leaders would support decrease of this rate to five percent.''

POSTMEN TO DISTRIBUTE PENSIONS

Under an agreement between the Post, Telegram and Telephone (PTT) and the Retired Public Workers Pension Fund, retired civil servants can receive their pensions and even tax returns in their home without going to banks as of January 1, 2002.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

The business world representatives said that there had been a revival also in the real sector after the relative revival in the finance markets but revival was still insufficient. Businessmen said that there had been a revival in the real sector when compared to previous months but production should be encouraged to make this revival lasting. They said that the optimistic atmosphere created with consumption and 10 billion U.S. dollars of IMF supplementary loan could not be lasting if it would not be backed by realistic policies to encourage production.

CINDORUK: DRIVING HEP DEPUTIES AWAY WAS SHAME OF PARLIAMENT

Husamettin Cindoruk, former parliament speaker, defined driving People's Labor Party (HEP) deputies away from the parliament in 1991 was the ''shame of parliament''. Recalling that the police had been called to the parliament in a rude way, Cindoruk said that they could not explain this attitude to the world.

-TREASURY TO START ISSUING EURO BONDS THROUGH PUBLIC OFFERING ON MONDAY

ANKARA - Treasury Undersecretariat will start issuing 184-day bonds through public offering on Monday.

The value date of bonds with end-maturity coupon payment and get-back guarantee is December 10, 2001 and maturity is June 12, 2002. These bonds will be put up for sale between December 10-14.

Daily selling price was set as 100,00 euro on December 10, as 100,02 euro on December 11, as 100,04 euro on December 12, as 100,08 euro on December 13, and as 100,08 euro on December 14.

Bonds will have a 3.5 percent period yield (7 percent simple annual yield) and be issued as 100 euro and folds papers.

Meanwhile, these bonds denominated in euro can be sold to Treasury before their maturity.

-PARLIAMENT SPEAKER IZGI DUE TO ROMANIA

ANKARA - Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi will pay an official visit to Romania between December 10 and 13, 2001, as the guest of Nikolae Vacariou, the chairman of Romanian Senate.

Guler Aslan, a deputy of the Democratic Left Party (DSP); Edip Ozbas, a deputy of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP); Mustafa Eren, a deputy of the True Path Party (DYP); Cemal Ozbilen, a deputy of the Motherland Party (ANAP); Altan Karapasaoglu, a deputy of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party); and Zeki Okudan, a deputy of the Virtue Party (SP); will accompany Izgi during his visit to Romania.

Izgi will leave for Romania early on Monday, December 10.

Meetings between parliamentary delegation headed by Izgi and Romanian parliamentary delegation headed by Vacariou will start later in the same day.

Later, Izgi and parliamentary delegation will hold a meeting with members of Romanian Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission.

Izgi is scheduled to come together with Prime Minister Adrian Nastase of Romania.

On Tuesday, December 11, Izgi and parliamentary delegation will meet with Romanian parliamentary delegation headed by Valer Dorneanu, the chairman of Romanian Parliamentary Assembly.

Later, Turkish delegation will meet with Romania-Turkey Parliamentary Friendship Group Chairman Eugenu Arnautu.

Izgi and parliamentary delegation will meet with Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana.

Izgi will be received by President Ion Iliescu of Romania later in the day.

He will also hold a meeting with Turkish entrepreneurs in Bucharest on December 12.

Izgi and parliamentary delegation are expected to return to Turkey on December 13.

-YALOVA SAYS EU WILL BE COMPLETED WHEN 13

CANDIDATE COUNTRIES BECOME FULL MEMBERS

MILAN - Deputy Parliament Speaker Yuksel Yalova said on Saturday that the European Union (EU) would be completed when 13 candidate countries became full members.

Speaking at a conference on ''Europe's Enlargement From Yesterday to Tomorrow'' in Milan, Italy, Yalova said, ''if the EU succeeds in turning into a multi-national and multi-cultural union, it will complete itself. The EU will also strengthen itself in this way.''

Stressing that the importance of the EU's enlargement had come to the forefront in fight against terrorism, Yalova noted that problems would be solved with a completed EU.

Giving information about Turkish government's National Program and the reform process in Turkey, Yalova said, ''the EU Commission's expressions have encouraged Turkey.''

Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent following the conference, Yalova said, ''it is up to Turkey to shorten the EU candidacy process. Common values of our age is clear. It is necessary to strengthen the democracy. We were, unfortunately, late. If Turkey had taken action years before, it would have become a full member of the EU earlier. Turkey's membership to the EU is more important than of other candidate countries because of its geographical position, its natural resources, its population and its history.''

''The EU should not be considered a side in a contract. It is a way of living. It is a system of modern values. I believe that more than 80 percent of Turkish people want to become a full member of the EU,'' he said.

Yalova stressed that Turkey's important international position was understood once again in the wake of the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001.

Yalova is expected to return to Turkey late on Sunday.

-ICEL GOVERNOR TIG SAYS A HOTEL IN KIZKALESI COLLAPSED

MERSIN - Governor Akif Tig of southern province of Icel said on Sunday that a hotel in Kizkalesi hamlet in Erdemli township had collapsed due to torrential rains.

Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent, Tig said that the Burg Hotel in Kizkalesi hamlet had collapsed overnight, and added that two other hotels in the hamlet were facing the risk of collapse.

Tig said that there were not any immediate reports of casualties.

Noting that two thirds of Bozyazi township had been flooded, Tig said that Silifke, Ovacik, Bozyazi, Aydincik and Anamur townships could not be given electricity as the torrential rains had also damaged power lines.

Tig told the A.A correspondent that water in the Berdan Dam Lake had increased due to torrential rains and snow on Toros Mountains had started to melt, and noted that officials had prevented a serious danger by intervening on time.

Tig added that efforts were under way in the province to heal the wounds of residents and damage due to flood disaster.

-SECOND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PACKAGE TO BE DEBATED IN 2002

ANKARA - Parliamentary Inter-parties Compromise Commission's works to amend articles of the Constitution about execution and jurisdiction will be finalized in 2002.

After holding three meetings under the chairmanship of Deputy Parliament Speaker Yuksel Yalova, the Parliamentary Inter-parties Compromise Commission could not convene again since November 15 due to the works on amendment to Article 86 of the Constitution and due to budget talks.

The Commission will convene in 2002 to continue its works on the second constitutional amendment package.

The second constitutional amendment package includes proposals about the execution and jurisdiction.

Some of these proposals are as follows:

-Article 101 of the Constitution about qualifications and impartiality of the president: president's term in office should be decreased to five years. The president should be elected for a second time, and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer should benefit from this right.

-Article 104 of the Constitution about duties and powers of the president: the president's authority to appoint members of the Constitutional Court, members of the Higher Education Council (YOK) and rectors of universities should be lifted.

-Article 105 of the Constitution about presidential accountability and nonaccountability: if the president is transferred to the High Tribunal, his term in office should end automatically.

-Article 125 of the Constitution about recourse to judicial review: recourse to judicial review should be open against the president's acts in his own competence.

-Article 157 of the Constitution about High Military Administrative Court of Appeals: the president's authority to appoint members of High Military Administrative Court of Appeals should be lifted.

-Article 159 of the Constitution about Supreme Council of Judges and Public Prosecutors: recourse to judicial review should be open against the decisions of Supreme Council of Judges and Public Prosecutors. The justice minister's chairmanship at the council and the justice ministry undersecretary's membership to the council should end. The president's authority to appoint members of Supreme Council of Judges and Public Prosecutors should be lifted.

-Article 175 of the Constitution about amendment to the Constitution and participation in elections and referendum: the president's authority to call for referendum against a constitutional amendment adopted by at least two third majority at the parliament should be lifted.

-TORRENTIAL RAINS IN CUKUROVA

-TEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL DIES

MERSIN - A ten-year-old girl died on Sunday when she had falled into the Kargicak Stream in Erdemli township of southern province of Icel that has been hit by flood water triggered by torrential rains.

Sources told the A.A correspondent that water in the Berdan Dam Lake reached dangerous levels overnight due to torrential rain in the province.

Sluices of the dam were opened under control of officials after the water level decreased early on Sunday in order to balance amount of inflowing and outflowing water.

Meanwhile, Havva Okur, 10, had fallen into the Kargicik Stream in Erdemli township, and died as she wanted to collect pieces of wood carried by flood waters.

A number of houses on the bank of the Goksu River in Silifke township were inundated.

Residents in four houses in Camliyayla township were evacuated against a possible landslide.

-SNOWFALL IN CANAKKALE

-ONE PERSON DIES

CANAKKALE - One person froze to death in Biga township of northwestern province of Canakkale on Sunday as a result of heavy snowfall that started overnight and freezing temperatures.

Hamdi Kisa, 60, died as he had been going on foot from Isikeli village to Biga township.

Snow reached 15 centimetres in city center of northwestern province of Canakkale.

Heavy snowfall also affected sea and land transportation in the province.

-TORRENTIAL RAINS IN CUKUROVA

-DEATH TOLL INCREASES TO TWO

MERSIN - Death toll increased to two on Sunday in torrential rains in southern province of Icel.

Cemil Kaya, 26, who had been living in a makeshift hut, died when a part of his hut had collapsed due to flood waters triggered by torrential rains in Ciftlik neighborhood. Kaya's dead body was found by his relatives.

Meanwhile, ten-year-old Berivan Simsek fell into a water canal and got lost. She could not be found despite all efforts.

Earlier in the day, Havva Okur, 10, had fallen into the Kargicik Stream in Erdemli township, and died as she wanted to collect pieces of wood carried by flood waters.

-PUBLIC PROCUREMENT DRAFT LAW TO BE DISCUSSED ON DECEMBER 11

ANKARA - The Parliamentary Public Works, Housing, Transportation and Tourism Commission will discuss on December 11 the Public Procurement Contracts Draft Law and the Public Procurement Draft Law which revises regulations for auctioning of goods and services purchases and construction works of public institutions or organizations.

The Public Procurement Draft Law will come into force as of January 1, 2003.

The draft determines the ''principles and rules of auctions that will be held by all state-run public institutions and organizations''.

The draft brings forth rules for public auctions within framework of the European Union norms.

Under this draft, public administrations will be responsible of transparency, competition, equal treatment, confidentiality, public opinion control, supply of requirement on time and under appropriate conditions and productive use of sources in their auctions.

Purchase of goods, purchase of services and construction works cannot be auctioned together if they are not linked to each other naturally.

The auction authority will be a five-member ''auction commission'' to be formed within the public organization or institution which planned to hold an auction.

Under the draft, an auction won't be held for a work or project to which any fund was not allocated.

There will be ''threshold prices'' for the estimated cost of purchase and construction works to be auctioned.

The administration can freely take decisions and select domestic companies in the auctions for the works of which estimated cost is below the threshold price while it will abide by the Public Procurement Law principles for the works of which estimated cost is higher than the threshold price.

The draft also foresees formation of a nine-member Public Procurement Authority which will comprise chairman's office and service units.

Under the Public Procurement Contracts Draft Law, ''type contracts'' for goods or service purchases and construction works will be published in the Official Gazette in order to provide for sameness in implementation of regulations for public auctions. Administrations will take these contracts as the basis of their contracts.

-CONTRACT FOR PRODUCTION OF FLA TO BE SIGNED IN BRUSSELS ON DECEMBER 19

ANKARA - Contract for production of A400M Future Large Aircraft (FLA) will be signed on December 19, 2001 in Brussels.

Aviation companies of eight countries including the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) will join production of the A400M FLA.

Relevant sources told the A.A correspondent on Sunday that legal procedure about the contract for the A400M FLA would be finalized in December.

The contract is expected to be signed in Brussels on December 19 between the France-based OCCAR Company that was authorized by countries, and the Airbus Military Company (AMC).

Following the signing of the contract, participation of countries in production of the A400M FLA and production program will be determined.

Within framework of the contract, Turkey will be given 10 aircrafts from the beginning production capacity of 225 aircrafts.

The TAI will take place in the project on behalf of Turkey. The TAI is a full partner having 9 percent share.

The A400M is a military transport aircraft designed to meet the requirements of eight European air forces (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom).

The A400M has a classic high wing configuration, fuselage with ramp and large rear door, high flotation retractable landing gear and ''T'' tail. Its four turboprops provide it with a cruise speed of 0.72 mach at altitudes of up to 40,000 feet. Its cabin is 22.65 m long, including the ramp, 4 m wide at floor level and 3.85 m high, making it suitable for the transport of bulky cargo like helicopters, heavy vehicles, missile batteries and light vehicles placed side by side.

-CEM SAYS GREECE MAKES MISTAKE IF IT OBSTRUCTS NATO-EU COOPERATION

ANKARA - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Sunday that Greece would ''make a mistake'' if it would oppose to the compromise reached among Turkey, Britain and the United States on the issue of European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP).

Speaking to the CNN-Turk television channel, Cem made statements on the ESDP, Cyprus issue and Turkey's European Union (EU) process.

Noting that Turkey had been continuing works on the ESDP issue for two and half years and achieved great successes in this period, Cem said, ''excluding the NATO from the EU's military force is not in favor of us. Also the United States is sensitive toward this issue because also the United States does not want the EU to do this alone.''

Stressing that a full compromise had been reached on a document after difficult talks among Turkey, Britain and the United States which had continued for six months, Cem said that at the last meeting held in Ankara in November, the sides had reached an understanding that ''ESDP will never damage a NATO ally's interests under any condition.''

Noting that their interlocutors had brought forth a proposal which had satisfied them regarding issue of security, Cem said that everybody saw that as Turkey, they didn't let the NATO to involve in this matter.

Cem said that the second step on which a compromise had been reached was about military and technical matters like decision-making mechanisms, command positions, headquarters, kind of representation and conditions for participation in military maneuvers.

Regarding the issue of the kind of right that the non-EU member NATO allies will have in the EU's autonomous operations in which the NATO capabilities and facilities won't be used, Cem said that they could not get what they exactly wanted.

''We exist in the place where they want to carry out autonomous operation and in their preparations but we don't exist automatically when we say that we want to be there,'' Cem said and added that he had exerted great efforts for this matter and that also the EU was rightful in some points.

Cem stressed that he found the allegations saying that Turkey had made concessions or damaged its national interests with the compromise on ESDP, unjust.

Cem said that the allegations saying that British Prime Minister Tony Blair's letter had played key role in reaching compromise on ESDP issue did not reflect the truth.

Stressing that there was a clear timing about the ESDP issue, Cem said that they had tried to find a solution to the issue before the summit meeting on December 6, adding, ''for us, ESDP has been solved.''

Noting that at the NATO foreign ministers meeting, almost everybody had thanked Turkey for the compromise, Cem answered the question which said, ''are there any signals about the General Affairs Council meeting which will be held tomorrow?'' by saying, ''Turkey does not aim at damaging benefits of Greece, NATO allies or the member countries to the EU.''

Recalling that he had held a brief talk with his Greek counterpart George Papendreou during the meeting of NATO foreign ministers, Cem said that both Papendreou and he had expressed their pleasure with recent developments on Cyprus.

''Restricting efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus question with the United Nations did not record any progress. A new ground is needed to reach an agreement. We have been working for a long time to this end. We have been following a serious policy on the issue since August of 1998. We explained Turkey's determination to the whole world that an acceptable solution should be found,'' he said.

''These works have yielded results at last, and positive developments have occurred regarding the Cyprus question. However, a final solution could not be found on Cyprus. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas' and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides' holding a face-to- face meeting is not adequate. This meeting was the most necessary step that should be taken to find a solution. Turkey extends full support to developments on the island,'' he emphasized.

Referring to parallel developments on the issue of ESDP and the Cyprus question, Cem said, ''in international relations, a positive development can naturally affect another development. However, it is a serious mistake to link the Cyprus question to the relations between Turkey and the EU.''

''It will be wrong to make a bargaining in our relations with the EU because of recent developments on Cyprus. Such an attitude will damage both our relations with the EU and Cyprus,'' he said.

Noting that Turkey would record more progress on the issue of the EU full membership in 2002, Cem stressed that it would be wrong to seek a different candidacy formula for Turkey.

Cem added that the EU was an important factor that would enable Turkey to reach its targets easily and in a short period of time.

-TURKISH BANKS ACCELERATE PREPARATIONS FOR EURO

ISTANBUL, Dec 9 (A.A) - Turkish banks accelerated their preparations for Euro as Euro banknotes will be put into circulation in European Union (EU) member 12 countries as of January 1, 2002.

Share of Euro among foreign currency accounts rose by 100 percent in some banks while several banks completed their preparations.

Adoption of single currency is considered an opportunity to include foreign currency which the Turkish people keep in their houses into the banking system.

Nearly 30 percent of the 90 billion German mark banknotes in circulation is estimated to be in Turkey. In addition to exchange of 27 billion German mark banknotes in Turkey, 2-4 billion German mark which the Turkish people keep in their houses is expected to be included in the economy.

Banks which are planning to meet Euro demand from the Central Bank and other banks which import foreign currency or from foreign banks will automatically exchange their customers' foreign currency accounts and deposits with Euro on December 31, 2001.

People who have foreign currency accounts and deposits at banks can withdraw Euro banknotes from their accounts as of January 1, 2002 without paying any cost and commission.

There will be 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euro banknotes as of January 1, 2002 while Dutch guilder will go out of circulation on January 28, 2002, Irish pound will be withdrawn from circulation on February 9, 2002, French franc will be called in on February 17, 2002, and German mark, Austrian schilling, Belgian franc, Finnish markka, Spanish peseta, Italian lira, Luxembourg franc, Portugese escudo and Greek drachma will be withdrawn from circulation on February 28, 2002.

Meanwhile, Central Bank started importing Euro banknotes as of December 1, 2001 to meet exchange demands of banks, private finance organizations and authorized institutions until December 31, 2003.

-DERVIS SAYS HE SUPPOSES IMF'S TALKS WILL END BEFORE RAMADAN FEAST

JERUSALEM - State Minister Kemal Dervis said on Sunday that he supposed that talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would end by the Ramadan feast.

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Dervis who came to Israel to attend an international economic symposium hosted by the Israeli Central Bank, said that he did not think the talks with the IMF would be delayed to new year but it was impossible to set a definite date.

''Making every necessary thing is different matter. However, possibility of completion of talks by the Ramadan feast is high,'' he said.

When asked whether or not Turkey had gotten rid of the economic crisis, Dervis said, ''we are observing the first concrete signals of revival in the real economy. However, problems continue, of course. Affects of positive developments on the low-income citizens is based on strengthening of growth. Increasing growth rate should be provided so at the moment, we cannot say that the crisis has been overcome.''

When asked how many people would lose their jobs within framework of narrowing of the state, Dervis said, ''it will be wrong to give a definite number.''

''However, works are under way as far as possible on basis of the principle of voluntarily retirement in line with the Prime Ministry circular. The state cannot continue for a long time to pay salaries in a closed factory or a business place which cannot make profit and work productively. In this case, it is beneficial to give all rights and compensations to the workers and orientate them toward more productive ways. However, it is impossible to give a specific number,'' Dervis said.

Speaking to Turkish reporters before attending the symposium as a speaker, Dervis said that he had come to Israel to attend a symposium organized in memory of his close friend Michael Bruno who had served as the Israeli Central Bank Governor, and that he would not hold any contacts.

When asked of his opinion about the latest situation in the Middle East, Dervis said, ''I am sorry about the situation. I was responsible of this region when I was working at the World Bank. So I have many friends both in Israel and in Arab countries. It is a distressing situation.''

Dervis will deliver a speech on ''Financing Policies, Debt and Banking Crisis'' at the conference in which prominent personalities of international capital circles will participate.

Dervis is expected to leave Israel after informing Israeli businessmen on the latest developments in Turkey's economy at a luncheon on Monday.

-CEM SAYS THERE IS NOT ANY WRITTEN DOCUMENT OR PROMISE ABOUT ESDP ISSUE

ANKARA - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Sunday that there was not any written document or promise about the issue of European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), adding, ''as Turkey, the United States and Britan, we directly wrote down the NATO's decision.''

Cem said that an agreement which completely met Turkey's security had been reached regarding the ESDP issue.

Informing the Parliamentary General Assembly on the developments about the ESDP issue during the budget talks, Cem said, ''I am aware that the latest developments about the ESDP were not explained clearly. Because, we are still talking on a document which has not announced officially yet.''

Noting that British Prime Minister Tony Blair's letter was being told about the ESDP issue, Cem said, ''such a thing is out of question. Our policies were not formed and will not be formed in accordance with a letter of any president or personal instructions of any prime minister.''

Recalling that the issue of ESDP had started when the European Union (EU) had wanted to form a new military organization by making use of the NATO's facilities and capabilities, Cem said that there had been a process of negotiation between the EU and the NATO.

Noting that there was not a written document, promise or word prepared jointly by Turkey, the United States and Britain, Cem said, ''we directly wrote down the NATO's decision. The three countries prepared this document on what the NATO's decision on this issue will be. We have not received any assurance from anybody.''

Recalling that matter had been firstly taken up at the NATO Summit in 1999, Cem said, ''the matter has a EU dimension, too. The EU's point of view toward the matter is in question. There had been such an obligation to form a document that everybody should have had consensus of opinion. As Turkey, we did not to be excluded from the European Army due to security reasons and it had been beneficial for us to remain in this army. However, this is not so simple. Under which conditions we will remain in it? We will remain in it by not inviting them to make use of some of NATO's capabilities but by getting the things in return.''

Recalling that the process of negotiations had lasted 2.5 years, Cem said that any progress had not been recorded in first 1.5 years but they had opposed to the document presented to them at the meeting in Brussels one year ago.

''We wanted the matter solved in a way meeting our demands,'' Cem said and added that they had received serious criticisms from some circles in Turkey during this process but they had done the right thing.

''Three meetings took place among the United States, Britain and Turkey in the last six months. Important progress was recorded at these meetings. Some circles claimed that Turkey made some concessions. These claims are totally baseless,'' he said.

Cem said, ''the issue was comprised of three categories. The most important of these categories was Turkey's concerns about security. Turkey's concerns were totally met.''

''If the NATO and the EU will set up a cooperation, Turkey's security should not be damaged. We reached the desired point in the last one month. Later, we requested some corrections. These corrections were not vitally important, but they were made,'' he said.

Cem noted, ''the second category included military and technical issues. How will soldiers participate in decision-making mechanisms? How will countries be represented at headquarters? We worked together with the General Staff. The text on which Turkey, Britain and the United States reached agreement, was the text on which a compromise was reached between the Foreign Ministry and the General Staff. We agreed that Turkey's requirements were totally met.''

''The third category was regarded with the EU's autonomous operations in which NATO's capabilities will not be used. An operation will be launched without using NATO's soldiers, aircrafts and airports. How will non-EU NATO allies like Turkey participate in such operations? We could not take what we wanted on this issue, although we exerted great efforts,'' he said.

Stressing that Turkey's priority was to take its place in the EU Army, Cem said, ''according to our point of view, Turkey's exclusion from the EU Army will be totally wrong. Turkey has taken what it wanted on the issue of taking place in decision-making mechanisms. Consequently, an agreement prepared by three countries, was signed. Some circles claimed that Turkey made a mistake by signing the agreement. High-level officials including Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, examined the issue, and they agreed that Turkey's signing the agreement would be beneficial.''

Cem added, ''at the last meeting of NATO, Turkey, Britain and the United States were congratulated because of the agreement. Turkey has done what it should do. Meanwhile, Greece's criticisms are not rightful.''

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