Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-12-15

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

15 December 2001

Saturday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

THE ECONOMIST SEEMS HOPEFUL ABOUT FUTURE OF TURKEY
The Economist, a weekly economy magazine of Britain, said that Turkish economy started to recover. The magazine said that Turks saw fort the first time the hopeful signs in economy, which was in bottleneck for the last one year. Noting that there are other positive developments about Turkey like the restarting of the negotiations in Cyprus and the compromise reached with EU about the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), the magazine pointed out that IMF appreciated the reforms undertaken by Turkey. The Economist stressed that the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) index started to increase after the good news telling that IMF would give loan to Turkey and that the Turkish lira started to gain value.

BREKK SAYS IMF CAN SUPPORT NEW ARRANGEMENT
Odd Per Brekk, the Representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Turkey said that the new arrangement can be supported by IMF under a stand-by agreement that will cover the years 2002 and 2004. Brekk said that the new arrangement will support the medium term economic stability and reform program of Turkey in order to protect the Turkish economy from possible economic crises in the future and to ensure the sustainable economic growth. The new stand-by agreement will be subject to the review of IMF administration and the approval of the IMF Executive Directors Board and it will take the place of the existing agreement which was approved in Dec. 1999, he added.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTRY TO PURCHASE 8 HAWK MISSILE LAUNCHERS
The National Defense Ministry will purchase eight HAWK missile launchers from the United States for protection of military bases. The decision of the Council of Ministers to purchase the 25-kilometer-range missiles from the U.S. Rayteon company was opened to the signature. The missiles will be placed in strategical facilities. The missiles will render ineffective air threats.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

DHKP-C AND PKK INCLUDED IN LIST OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS
The European Union responded Turkey's steps on the issue of the Cyprus question. First of all, Turkey will be included in the European Convention equally with 12 other candidate countries. Meanwhile, the EU countries have prepared a top secret list of terrorist organizations. The Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) and the PKK were included in the list.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

CYPRUS CAN BE SECOND CRETE
President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said that he was not hopeful about the talks he would have with Greek Cypriot side leader Glascos Clerides in January. Noting that the Greek Cypriot side always escaped from the table with the support of the EU, Denktas stressed that Cyprus could be second Crete. Noting that Greek Cypriots had high propaganda power, Denktas said, ''Cyprus is Turkey's most rightful case. If concession is made, they also want in Aegean and other places.''

PRECONDITIONS OF STAND-BY
IMF's Turkey Office Representative Odd Per Brekk announced that inflation targeting would start and floating currency regime would not be given up in 2002. Brekk enumarated the preconditions of the 18th stand-by deal: 1- measures package which will enable realization of 2002 budget should be put into practice, 2- Steps on institutional changes in Privatization Law, Telekom and energy privatization should be taken, 3- Public Procurement Law which will allow foreigners to bid for these auctions should be adopted and put into practice.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

YILMAZ: ''LADEN IS A SINFUL PERSON''
Religious Affairs Head Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz said that Saudi terrorist Osama bin Laden who described Turks as infidels, was a sinful person. Yilmaz said that accusing a Muslim of being an infidel was one of the most serious sins in Islam. He added, ''he killed innocent people, and claimed that they deserved the death. This cannot be accepted.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

CRITICAL SUMMIT
At the Laeken Summit in which Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem are participating, European leaders will decide on whether or not to grant Turkey same rights as other candidates. Meanwhile, Ecevit will be guarded by a 3.2 tonne car which has bullet-proof tyres and 4.5 cm window.

NEW 3-YEAR STAND-BY DEAL
IMF delegation delegation headed by Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen concluded its works. It was mentioned that the new stand-by deal between Turkey and the IMF would be three years, covering 2002-2204 years.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

EU SHEDS GREEN LIGHT ON MEMBERSHIP NEGOTIATIONS
EU heads of state and government who convened in Brussels gave positive signals to Turkey regarding start of membership negotiations. EU officials who made statements during the Laeken Summit which started on Friday decided to invite Turkey to the general meeting at which EU's future would be discussed. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who will come together with EU leaders within scope of the summit will ask for ''filling up Turkey's candidacy'' after start of screening process. The draft declaration of the EU Laeken Summit mentions that Turkey has ''reached'' the start of membership negotiations.

-TREASURY SELLS 119.8 MILLION EURO BONDS
ANKARA - Treasury Undersecretariat sold 119.8 million euro nominal-valued 184-day bonds in an auction on Friday.

Releasing a statement, Treasury said that it had sold 119.8 million nominal- valued 184-day bonds of which value date was December 10, 2001 and maturity was June 12, 2002 with end-maturity coupon payment.

Treasury sold a total of 820.1 million euro nominal-valued bonds in daily auctions it held between December 10-14.

-BUS CARRYING SOLDIERS OVERTURNES KILLING SIX PEOPLE
KAYSERI - A passenger bus carrying soldiers overturned in central province of Kayseri early on Saturday, killing six people and injuring 38 others.

Sources told the A.A correspondent that the passenger bus which was on its way from eastern province of Malatya to Kayseri overturned at the 28th kilometer of Kayseri-Malatya highway after driver had lost control of the vehicle.

The bus carrying soldiers who were going to their hometowns for the end of Ramadan, plunged into shoulder of the road.

Six soldiers were killed while 38 others were injured in the accident.

Soldiers who were injured were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.

-CEM SAYS TURKEY'S MEMBERSHIP WILL BRING FORTH DIFFERENT DIMENSION TO EU
BRUSSELS - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem who is currently in Brussels together with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to represent Turkey at the European Union's (EU) Laeken Summit Meeting, said on Saturday, ''Turkey's membership will bring forth a different dimension to the EU.''

Addressing journalists, Cem refrained from making any assessment about possible outcomes of the summit meeting, and about paragraphs of the draft texts regarded with Turkey and Cyprus.

He said, ''having regard to my experiences, I think that it would be beneficial not to make statement before examining the final statement.''

Cem also refrained from making detailed assessment about the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP). He said that everyone was aware of Turkey's position toward the ESDP.

''It is totally natural that each country assesses issues in accordance with its own point of view. I saw an unnecessary sensitivity in Athens' approach. Turkey, the United States and Britain do not come together and prepare a text to damage Greece. It is not realistic,'' he said.

Cem told reporters, ''there is a difference between announcing the ESDP as operational without NATO, and leading towards the same direction with the support of NATO.

He confirmed that Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel had called him on the phone, and informed him.

Meanwhile, Belgian diplomatic sources said that any bargaining was out of question in telephone conversation and in contacts with Ankara. They noted that Turkey's attitude did not cause any problem, and added that Athens was the source of current problem.

Stressing that Turkey's EU membership was not an easy process, Cem underlined importance of the year 2002, and said, ''Turkey is not an ordinary candidate. We are a big and pretentious country having a population of 65 million. Turkey cannot be compared with any other candidate countries with its influential position in Europe, Central Asia, Caucasus, Balkans and other regions.''

Describing the EU membership as a matter of benefit, Cem said, ''the EU cannot easily accept Turkey as a member because Europe has considered Turkey an enemy for 700 years. This is a matter of benefit. Our benefit is to become a member of the EU, and the EU's benefit is to accept Turkey as a full member. We have become a candidate to the EU after explaining all these facts.''

''We do not have any concerns that if we cannot become a member of the EU, our secularism and democracy will be destroyed. We will continue to progress anyway. Our candidacy is a positive external dynamic. Developments in the past few years also revealed it. Turkey's modernization process is a period of 300 years. The peak point of this process is Ataturk's reforms. The EU is a very important factor in this modernization process, and we want to use this factor till the end,'' he told reporters.

Cem said, ''Turkey's participation in the convention which will be formed as a platform in which Europe's future will be discussed, will bring forth a different dimension to the EU. Turkey will reflect its different historical experience to the EU, and a serious influence will be in question.''

-PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT RELEASES A MESSAGE TO MARK END OF RAMADAN
ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Saturday, ''I wish that the end of Ramadan would make a valuable contribution to efforts to strengthen peace both in Turkey and in the world. Also I am pleased with that Afghan people would celebrate the end of Ramadan after getting rid of long- standing sufferings.''

Prime Minister Ecevit released a message to mark the end of Ramadan.

In his message, he congratulated the religious festival of Turkish citizens, Turkish Cypriots and of the whole Islam world.

''I wish that the end of Ramadan would make a valuable contribution to efforts to strengthen peace both ih Turkey and in the world. Also I am pleased with that Afghan people would celebrate the end of Ramadan after getting rid of long-standing sufferings,'' he added.

-U.S. DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WOLFOWITZ DUE TO TURKEY
WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz will pay a visit to Turkey next week within framework of the meeting of ministers of NATO Southeast European countries.

The meeting of ministers of NATO Southeast European countries will take place in southern province of Antalya.

Wolfowitz is expected to visit Ankara, and hold contacts with Turkish officials about defense issues concerning both Turkey and the United States.

Diplomatic sources in Washington D.C. said that the issue of Iraq was expected to be brought onto agenda of Wolfowitz's contacts with Turkish officials.

Wolfowitz is one of the high-level U.S. officials who are in favor of adoption of most harsh attitude against President Saddam Hussein of Iraq.

Within scope of the issue of Iraq, Wolfowitz is expected to concentrate on the threat stemming from Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass desctruction program, and to tell Turkish officials that the United States intended at one stage to target the Baghdad regime.

Diplomatic sources said that Wolfowitz would be contented with listening to Turkey's views within framework of approach of the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush not to launch a comprehensive operation against Iraq in the short term.

Turkish officials are expected to express Ankara's concerns about Iraq.

During Wolfowitz's contacts in Ankara, issues of other factors of fight against terrorism and of regional security are expected to be taken up.

-COMPROMISE ON TARGETS IN 2002-2004 REACHED WITH IMF
ANKARA - Compromise was reached on targets in 2002-2004, finance and monetary policies and comprehensive matters on the agenda covering structural reforms at the talks with the IMF delegation in Ankara and the talks process was finalized successfully.

Releasing a statement, State Minister Kemal Dervis' office said on Friday that the talks with the IMF delegation which had started on December 3 in Ankara on a new stand-by deal which was also backed by supplementary financing had been concluded the same day.

It said that also a World Bank delegation had attended the talks in order to provide coordination in the matters related to the programme which was being implemented by the World Bank, and that guest delegations were scheduled to leave Ankara during the week end.

It said that compromise had been reached at the talks on the point that efforts to decrease inflation and achieve 35 percent inflation target in 2002 were very important.

''Besides, the process of growth would start as of 2002 and this growth is expected to be depended on exports also with the support of free currency which gives Turkey competitive power while compromise was also reached on the point that there should be rapid and determined progress in structural reform process,'' it said.

The statement said that the IMF delegation was expected to present reports to the IMF management in Washington D.C. and recommend it to give supplementary financing to consolidated programme of Turkey.

It said that following finalization of the Letter of Intent on the programme which would be put into practice as of beginning of 2002 and its submission to the IMF management, the IMF Executive Directors Board was expected to take up the issue in mid-January.

It recalled that the IMF officials had earlier announced that approval of nearly 10 billion U.S. dollars of supplementary financing to Turkey in addition to the amount which took place in the former programme but had not been used yet within framework of the consolidated new programme would be recommended to the IMF Executive Directors Board by taking need for supplementary financing into consideration as a result of Turkey's determination in economic policies and structural reforms in 2002.

-U.S. PRESIDENT BUSH CLOSELY INTERESTED IN TURKEY
WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. President George W. Bush asked Turkish Ambassador to the United States Faruk Logoglu about the economic situation in Turkey in a reception and wished that Turkey would be successful.

Bush hosted a reception at the Blairhouse in Washington D.C. for the ambassadors to the United States. In the reception, Bush expressed his gratitude for global support to fight against terrorism.

Sources said on Friday that Bush shook hands with Logoglu and asked him about the economic situation in Turkey.

Sources said that after Logoglu had told Bush that revival in the economy had started and also the United States had played role in this revival, Bush said that he appreciated the Turkish nations' support to fight against terrorism and he wished Turkey would be successful.

Bush had earlier met with Logoglu at a fast-breaking dinner at the White House and he had asked Logoglu about the economic situation in Turkey.

Observers in Washington D.C. said that it was very important that Bush was closely interested in Turkey while the military operation in Afghanistan was under way and efforts to capture terrorist Osame bin Laden were being intensified.

Following the November 2000 and February 2001 economic crises in Turkey, as the biggest shareholder of the IMF, the United States supported Turkey's efforts to overcome the crises. The U.S. government is still working on an economic support package to Turkey.

-EIB TO LEND 185 MILLION EURO LOAN TO TURKEY
BRUSSELS - The European Investment Bank (EIB) announced that it would lend 185 million euro for works in Turkey to improve living-conditions in Eskisehir province in central Anatolia, and for private sector, with special emphasis in the regions devastated by the earthquakes in 1999, as part of the rehabilitation and reconstruction works.

In a statement, EIB said that 110 million euro would go to the Eskisehir Municipality for the construction of a new light rail system (LRT) and the rehabilitation of amenities in conjunction with the Porsuk River that runs through the city.

A part of these funds will be channelled through the Eskisehir Water and Sewerage Administration (ESKI), for the rehabilitation and extension of water supply, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure.

The project increases the quality of life in the greater metropolitan Eskisehir, a rapidly expanding city with a current population of around 650, 000. While the transport component is the first LRT project to be financed by EIB in Turkey, the Bank has already financed seven water projects with similar environmental scope as the water component in Eskisehir since 1995.

It said that 75 million euro is for the replacement, reconstruction and rehabilitation of industrial installations affected by the earthquake in Turkey in August 1999, and its aftershocks. This is the second and last EIB loan forming part of a larger facility of up to 150 million euro approved in 2000, adding that it would go to Turkey, which will onlend the funds to three major Turkish Banks, Industrial Development Bank of Turkey (TSKB), Industrial Investment Bank (SYB) and Vakifbank.

Since 1965, the EIB has contributed nearly 2 billion euro towards projects of key importance for the Turkish economy.

-NUMBER OF TOURISTS COMING TO TURKEY EXCEEDS 11 MILLION
ANKARA - Number of tourists coming to Turkey reached 11,173,011.

Releasing a statement, the Tourism Ministry said on Saturday that number of tourists coming to Turkey from member countries to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) increased by 17.63 percent, and number of tourists coming to Turkey from East European countries rose by 4.04 percent in the first 11 months of 2001.

In the January-November period of the year, a total of 11,173,011 tourists came to Turkey. In the same period last year, 10,004,589 tourists visited Turkey. Number of tourists coming to Turkey increased by 11.68 percent compared to figures of last year.

A total of 7,594,962 tourists came to Turkey from member countries to the OECD, and 2,376,354 tourists came to Turkey from East European countries.

German tourists accounted for 25 percent, British tourists 7.5 percent and Russian tourists 6.6 percent

Meanwhile, a total of 521,024 tourists visited Turkey in November of 2001.

In the first nine months of the year, tourism revenue increased 13 percent to 6 billion 648 million U.S. dollars. In the same period last year, Turkey's tourism revenue was 5 billion 885 million U.S. dollars. Tourism revenue is expected to increase up to 9 billion U.S. dollars by the end of the year.

-TIGHT MEASURES TO BE TAKEN AGAINST ILLEGAL MIGRATION
ANKARA - Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen released a decree on Saturday, and announced measures to be taken against illegal migration by sea.

The decree said that human smuggling incidents from the Turkish coasts to Greek islands, Italy and France increased recently due to economic, social and political reasons.

It said that the Coast Guard units had intercepted a total of 6 thousand 743 foreigners since January 1, 1996. 2,816 of these foreigners were captured in the first 11 months of 2001.

The Coast Guard Command has been working on a report to give detailed information about its activities against human smuggling and number of foreigners intercepted between January 1 and November 26, 2001.

According to the report, Turkish and Greek flagged ships, fishing boats and speed boats were used by human smugglers.

''Most of the illegal migration incidents by sea happened in western provinces of Izmir, Aydin and Mugla. 28 out of 63 incidents were reported in Bodrum township of Mugla. These incidents generally increase in spring and fall. Turkish citizens from southern and southeastern provinces accounted for 31 percent. Iraqi and Afghan immigrants followed them. Having regard to the fact that 95.1 percent of foreign immigrants were coming from African and Middle Eastern countries, it becomes more difficult to prevent illegal migration from under developed countries to European countries via Turkey,'' it added.

-EXPORTS OF GOLD RISE 21.9 PERCENT
ANKARA - Exports of gold in return for gold and foreign exchange rose 21.9 percent in first 11 months of 2001 when compared to same period of 2000.

According to Mint statistics, total exports of gold in first 11 months of the year was 65 tons 50 kilograms while 13 tons 63 kilograms part of these exports were made in return for gold and the remaining part was exported in return for foreign exchange.

In the same period last year, total exports of gold had been 53 tons 365 kilograms while 12 tons 624 kilograms part of these exports were made in return for gold and the remaining part was exported in return for foreign exchange.

As of November 2001, exports of gold increased by 6.9 percent when compared to exports in November 2000.

The total gold exports rose from 7 tons and 574 kilograms in November 2000 to 8 tons 95 kilograms in November 2001.

-SEMINAR ON ''COOPERATION IN SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE'' STARTS
ISTANBUL - An international seminar on ''Cooperation for Peace and Stability in Southeastern Europe'' organized by the Istanbul Europe Youth Forum Association started on Saturday at Hilton ParkSA Hotel in Istanbul.

Making opening remarks of the seminar, Seminar Coordinator Oktay Durukan said that European Union (EU), Council of Europe, Heinrich Boll Foundation and Istanbul Bilgi University supported the 8-day seminar.

Noting that 60 young people from 18 countries including Turkey, Greece, Germany, Yugoslavia and Romania were attending the seminar, Durukan said, ''information and exchange of opinion about problems and opportunities of cooperation in the region will be made during the meetings. Young people will discuss many matters such as ethnic clashes, human rights, visa policies and terrorism.''

''Replacement of enmity and prejudices among the Balkan countries with the partnership and cooperation can be possible only through development of thought by the young people who are the most dynamic and idealist section of public. Young generation has great responsibilities and tasks for a better future of the Balkan countries,'' he said.

Stressing that European culture would develop and enrich through Turkey's and the Balkan countries' EU membership, Durukan said that as the young people of this geography, they were trying to prepare a common vision.

Noting that development of a common vision was the aim of the seminar, Durukan said that such meetings were very important to put concepts like pluralist democracy and human rights into practice.

Later, working groups were formed on matters like ''Media and Chaos'', ''Ethnic Nationalism and International Culture'' and ''Free Movement and Expectation of Southeast and West European Countries From Each Other''.

These working groups will prepare reports on their common thoughts and opinions at the end of their meetings and those reports will be submitted to the European Students' General Forum which carries out activities under the EU structure.

-LAEKEN STATEMENT RELEASED
-TURKEY IN CONVENTION
BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) heads of state and government shed green light on Saturday to formation of Convention by approving the document with the headline ''EU's Future'' but was called ''Laeken Statement''.

Former French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing was chosen to head the political Convention on the EU's future while former Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato and former Belgian Prime Minister Jean-Luc Dehaene will be joint vice-presidents of the Convention.

The Laeken Statement said that the EU which was enlarging and advancing step by step was at a ''junction point'', adding, ''this is a success. Europe has been living in peace for fifty years.''

Noting that the EU was about to open its doors to more than ten new members, it said that the EU should have more democratic and transparent structure.

The statement said that a platform called Convention where questions about the EU's future would be answered and proposals about the EU's future would be put forward was decided to be formed.

The Convention will be composed of a president, one representative from every 15 member states, two parliamentarians from national parliaments, and 16 members from the European Parliament. Besides, one representative from governments and two representatives from parliaments of every 13 candidates will participate in the Convention. This participation will be under equal conditions as the Eu members but candidates won't have the right to veto.

Sources said that also economic and social committees and regional representations would participate in the Convention as observers.

The statement said that the Convention would start its works in March 2002 and finalize them by June 2003 at the latest.

-RED CRESCENT TO SEND MEDICINE TO AFGHANISTAN
ANKARA - National aid organization Kizilay (Red Crescent) will send medicine to the Ataturk Child Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Red Crescent said on Saturday that it would send 650 kilograms of medicine to the Ataturk Child Hospital for Afghan people during Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's visit to Afghanistan on Sunday.

It said that the medicine would be sent to Afghanistan with the plane which would carry Cem to Afghanistan.

Noting that Red Crescent would send a medical team comprising doctors and technicians to the Ataturk Child Hospital in coming days, it said that Red Crescent would continue sending aid via Iran-Pakistan.

-JAPANESE SENATOR YAMAMOTO VISITS TURKISH-JAPANESE QUAKE VILLAGE IN
ADAPAZARI
ADAPAZARI - Japanese Senator Kanae Yamamoto said on Saturday that good relations between Turkey and Japan had further developed emotionally in the wake of the devastating quake disaster in 1999, and added that they had begun to consider the Turkish people their sisters and brothers.

Yamamoto, the youngest member of the Japanese House of Councillors, which is the upper parliament in Japan, visited the Turkish-Japanese quake village in northwestern province of Adapazari, and listened to problems of quake survivors.

She kissed a child drawing Turkish and Japanese flags on walls of the dwellings in the quake village, and had her and the child's photo taken.

''I earned master degree in international relations at the Istanbul University between 1996 and 1999. I saw how sincere Turkish people were. Turkish and Japanese peoples share the same destiny about earthquakes. Good relations between Turkey and Japan have further developed emotionally in the wake of the devastating quake disaster in 1999. We have begun to consider the Turkish people our sisters and brothers. We love Turkish people. Our relations will continue to further improve in coming years,'' she said.

Yamamoto also visited a dwelling in which quake survivor women's handicrafts were displayed. She purchased some of these handicrafts.

When asked what she would do with these handicrafts, Yamamoto said, ''I am still single. As Turkish people say, I have prepared my trousseau. Now, I want to marry. If I cannot get married, I will donate my trousseau.''

Yamamoto who distributed chocolate and other presents to the quake survivors, added that she was pleased with seeing happiness of the quake survivors living in prefabricated huts brought from Kobe, Japan.

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