Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-12-29

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

29 December 2001

Saturday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

WORLD GIANTS PRODUCE CARS WITH TURKISH PATTERNS
After cars, buses and trucks manufactured for several countriesö Turkish automotive sector started producting patterns for the giant companies of the world. Totas, Ford Otosan and Karsan are munufacturing these patterns. Tofas is producing patterns for Fiat, Lancia, Bertone and Renault. Fort Otosan is exporting patterns to British 4 x 4 producer Land Rover.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

6,8 BILLION DOLLARS OF SUPPORT TO EXPORTS
Eximbank which extended support of 5,6 billion dollars to exports this year aims to increase this figure to 6,8 billion dollars in 2002. Turkey Eximbank Director General Ahmet Kilicoglu said that they continued to extend support to firms even in times of crises. He added that 2002 would not be an easy year, nevertheless there are signs of improvement in economy and the new economic programme is promising. He stressed that Turkey's exports would exceed 32 billion dollars and imports would increase to 45,5 billion dollars in 2002.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

ECONOMIC SUPPORT FROM NSC
The participants of the National Security Council (NSC) meeting asked the government to continue its economic program, prevent corruption, increase life quality and remove inbalances in income distribution. State Minister Kemal Dervis who also attended the meeting said that he had very high hopes from the new year. Dervis briefed the participants about the changes in banking law and economic reforms.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

PKK AND DHKP-C NOT INCLUDED IN EU'S LIST OF TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS
In its list of terrorist organizations, the EU included Irish IRA and Spanish ETA and its branches among terrorist organizations, but not PKK and DHKP-C which Turkey very much wanted to see in the list. The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced that the EU was now preparing a second list of terrorist organizations which constitute threat for EU candidates and certain third countries. Now Ankara have high hopes from this second list.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

SECURITY MEASURES TAKEN FOR DENKTAS
Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will go to the Greek Cypriot side to attend the dinner to be hosted by Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides in his honour this evening. Security measures have been taken in the Greek Cypriot side for the visit of Denktas who will pass the other side for the first time since 1975.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

PANIC AT GOLDEN HORN
A leak of waste material polluted 2,000 square meters of Halic, which is known as Golden Horn. The origin of the leak is not yet known. Municipality's teams and other groups are working to clean the sea. Towboats covered the polluted area with barriers to prevent the leak from spreading. A ship called The Blue Sea which sweeps the sea water, also worked to prevent the waste material from spreading to Marmara Sea.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

-BILL THAT FORESEES MEMBERSHIP OF DEPUTY PRIME MINISTERS AND JUSTICE
MINISTER TO NSC SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT
ANKARA - The bill that foresaw membership of deputy prime ministers and justice minister to the National Security Council (NSC) and which re- defined the character of the NSC's decisions, was submitted to the Parliament Speaker's Office on Friday evening.

According to the bill, the members of NSC which is headed by the President are Prime Minister, Chief of General Staff, Deputy Prime Ministers, Justice, National Defense, Interior and Foreign Ministrs, Land, Naval, and Air Forces Commanders and Gendarme general commander.

The bill also stresses that the decisions of NSC are ''recommendary.''

-BILL THAT APPROVES U.N. CONVENTION ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND
CULTURAL RIGHTS SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT SPEAKER'S OFFICE
ANKARA - The bill that approves the adoption of U.N. Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights was submitted to the Parliament Speaker's Office on Friday evening.

The approval of the Convention was among the medium term measures of ''political criteria'' part of Turkey's national programme for adoption of acquis (NPAA) regarding Turkey's adjusting itself to the EU legislation.

Turkey signed the Convention on August 15, 2000.

-GEORGE AND LAURA BUSH WISHES TURKISH COMMUNITY IN U.S.A GOOD YEAR
NEW YORK - U.S. President George Bush and his wife Laura Bush have wished the Turkish community in the United States a good year by sending a postcard to Turkish American Associations Federation Chairman Egemen Baris.

Bush's postcard which had the presidency seal, had a quote from the Bible. Under this quote, George and Laura Bush wrote their own wishes for the new year and said they hoped the new year would bring peace to the world.

Bagis said that the postcard was an indication that the Turkish community had become a respectable lobby in the United States.

-PARLIAMENT GENERAL COUNCIL APPROVES AGREEMENT TO TRANSPORT AZERBAIJANI
NATURAL GAS TO TURKEY
ANKARA - Parliament General Council approved the agreement signed between Turkey and Azerbaijan to transport 6.6 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Turkey annually.

If there is excess natural gas in Turkey after the transfer, Turkey will be able to sell this excess gas to third countries.

Any disagreements that might occur between Turkey and Azerbaijan will be first tried to be solved through diplomatic channels. If the disagreement persists, the issue will be taken to special arbitration.

-ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY PREPARES NATIONAL ACTION PLAN TO
PROTECT TURKEY'S SEAS AND STRAITS AGAINST POLLUTION
ANKARA - The Environment Ministry has prepared a National Action Plan Against Land Originated Pollution in order to limit the pollution in Aeegan- Mediterranean basins, Marmara Basin, and the two straits.

The ministry said on Saturday that pollution caused from the land was the most serious environmental threat to Turkey's seas.

The ministry indicated that since 1983, the ministry has been coordinating pollution monitoring programs with the help of related organizations.

The Action Plan's main goal is to shed light to the plannings that will be done in the future, and carefully lead investments and use resources.

-TOURISM MINISTER TASAR SAYS TOURISM INCOME INCREASED
BY ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN 2001
ANKARA - Tourism Minister Mustafa Tasar said on Saturday that tourism income increased by one billion dollars to 8,5 billion dollars in 2001 when compared to 2000.

Issuing a written statement to assess tourism sector in 2001, Tasar also announced his expectations from 2002.

''The tourism season in Turkey was successful despite unexpected developments such as the terrorist attacks in the U.S. on September 11, due to the measures and initiatives the Ministry took,'' he said.

Tasar noted that the total number of tourists who came to Turkey as of the end of 2001 reached 11,5 millions and this number showed that one million more tourists came to Turkey when compared to 2000.

Noting that Tourism Ministry took initiatives to add Turkey in the Japan's list of countries which is visited by Japanese tourists, Tasar said that Turkey also opened the doors of Chinese markets and signed an agreement with China in tourism.

Tasar said that his Ministry is resolved to have more targets in 2002, adding that the year 2002 will be the year of reconstruction both in the Ministry and tourism sector.

''We will try to make Istanbul be the congress, culture and art centre of the world in 2002,'' he said, adding that his basic goal in 2002 will be to make Turkey have the capacity to continue its tourism activities in 12 months.

-INTERIOR MINISTER YUCELEN SAYS 22,5 TRILLION LIRAS NEEDED
FOR FLOOD DISASTER IN ICEL
TARSUS - Interior Minister Rustu Kazım Yucelen said on Saturday that 22,5 trillion liras is needed at the first stage to meet the needs of people following the flood disaster in southern Icel province.

Yucelen visited the same day the regions hit by the flood disaster to get information about the activities held.

Yucelen met with Necmi Kurt, the head official of Tarsus town of Icel province.

Noting that 3,5 trillion liras was sent to the region following the flood disaster, Yucelen said that his ministry allocated 600 billion liras and the Local Administration Fund gave 450 billion liras to municipalites where the disaster took place.

''The government will pay 200 million liras each to the owners of houses inundated by the flood, 500 million liras each to the owners of 600 houses which were damaged severely and 750 million liras each to eight families who lost one of their relatives. We need 1,3 trillion liras for that. I brought this issue to the agenda of the cabinet,'' he said.

Yucelen stressed that the region has to attribute importance to industry based on agriculture, adding that the agriculture in Tarsus became paralyzed due to the flood disaster. ''Turkey is a big state, we will overcome the difficulties,'' he added.

-NGOs ASK OFFICIALS TO COMBINE THREE ROOMS INTO ONE IN

F-TYPE PRISONS
ANKARA - Human Rights Association (IHD), Turkey Human Rights Foundation (TIHV), Turkish Doctors Union (TTB), Turkey Architects and Engineers Union (TMMOB) called on officials to combine three rooms into one in F-type prisons and they also asked inmates to end their hunger strikes or death fasts.

TIHV Chairman Yavuz Onen said that a total of 82 people died in death fasts in the last one year and some 350 people became unhealthy.

Chairmen of the bars associations of Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Antalya earlier called government officials to combine three rooms into one at F- type prisons. Onen said they also supported this view. If this change takes place, nine inmates will be staying together in one room.

The NGOs said this change would remove the isolation and it would also help inmates to end their protests.

-FOCUS MAGAZINE SAYS MEVLANA IS SOURCE OF INSPIRATION FOR AMERICAN SINGERS
BERLIN - German Focus magazine noted on Saturday that Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi has been a source of inspiration for many American singers including Madonna.

The magazine published a news on the issue telling that American singers used the poems written by Mevlana on love in their songs, adding that Madonna used the words of Mevlana in her album ''A gift of love''. A book telling the life story of Mevlana also caused great interest in the U.S., said the magazine.

-PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT REACTS TO NON-INCLUSION OF
TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS PKK AND DHKP/C IN EU'S LIST
ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Saturday that the non- inclusion of the terrorist organizations PKK and the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C) in European Union (EU)'s list of terrorist organizations was not understandable.

Ecevit who congratulated the new year of the prime ministry correspondents, also responded to their questions.

Stressing that he was hopeful about the taking of positive steps in economy in 2001, Ecevit said that ''2002 year will be a revival year in economy if there are not unexpected developments.''

When reminded about the non-inclusion of the terrorist organization PKK and DHKP/C in the EU's list of terrorist organizations, Ecevit said that ''it is not possible to understand this. No body has any doubt that PKK and DHKP/C are terrorist organizations, however the EU didn't include them in its list. Foreign Ministry takes necessary initiatives on the issue. Ministry told us that the EU would prepare a second list in the coming days or weeks and that it was expected to include PKK and DHKP/C in this list. I hope it is true. But the non-inclusion of these two terrorist organizations in the EU's first list can not be forgiven.

-PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT HOPES 2002 TO BE A REVIVAL YEAR
FOR TURKISH ECONOMY
ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Saturday that 2002 year will be a year of revival if no unexpected developments take place.

Responding to questions of journalists, Ecevit said that 2001 year was a difficult year for the whole world and Turkey.

Noting that economies of all countries particularly developed ones entered a recession process, Ecevit said that this shrinkage further increased after the September 11 attacks.

Turkey was negatively affected by the shrinkage in economies after the terrorist attacks on September 11, he said, adding that 2001 year was also a difficult year for Turkish economy.

''The steps we took in 2001 for economy were not in vain,'' Ecevit said and noted that the positive signs in economy started to be seen in the end of 2001. ''Inflation and interests rates decreased. Positive developments started in all fields,'' he said.

''I don't say that all of Turkey's problems will be solved in 2002, what I tell is that we will try to take positive steps for the people in the country to make them fell happier. I am hopeful in this respect. Yet our task is difficult, but as I said before we expect a revival in economy,'' he said.

About Turkey's foreıgn polıcy ın 2001, Ecevıt saıd Turkey took a number of posıtıve steps ın ıts foreıgn polıcy thıs year. It developed relatıons all over the world ıncludıng Afrıca, Asıa, Pacıfıc countrıes, Europe and Latın Amerıca and thus became a respectable country.

Ecevıt saıd that the U.S. operatıon ın Afghanıstan revealed how ımportant Turkey ıs for the world securıty and ınternatıonal fıght agaınst terrorısm.

''It's stıll not clear whether Turkısh soldıers would go to Afghanıstan or not,'' he contınued. Probably, a certaın number of soldıers wıll go but ıt won't be too many sınce the war ıs practıcally over. We'll waıt for the approval of the Afghan government to contrıbute to the formatıon of a modern admınıstratıon and to the formatıon of a natıonal polıce force ın Afghanıstan.''

''I told Mr. Karzaı who assumed the dutıes of the prıme mınıster that Turkey was ready to offer all kınds of help. I told hım that Turkey was gıvıng mılıtary traınıng to many countrıes and helped the formatıon of an army ın Afghanıstan. I sent a letter to Karzaı that we could offer such servıces to Afghanıstan ıf the Afghan people and the admınıstratıon approves. I heard that he welcomed our offer. Brıefly, Turkey wıll do ıts best for the development of Afghanıstan lıke ıt dıd durıng the Indpendence War years and durıng 1930s.''

-DENKTAS AND CLERIDES TO HAVE DINNER THIS EVENING
LEFKOSA - Greek Cypriot police took very tight security measures in the Greek Cypriot side of Lefkosa where President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides will have dinner on Saturday evening.

Certain roads around the house of Clerides, where the dinner will take place, were closed to traffic in the morning.

After Denktas passes to the Greek Cypriot side, all the roads around the house of Clerides will be closed to traffic and entries and exits to the region will be checked.

Greek Cypriot police which launch efforts to prevent an ''unpleasant incident'' during Denktas's visit to the Greek Cypriot side, also cancelled the leaves of its personnel. A total of 250 police officers will be charged to ensure the security in the Greek Cypriot side.

Greek Cypriot police work on three alternative routes to be followed by Denktas' car which will go to Clerides's house.

One of these routes passes from Ledra Palace, the other one passes from the international Lefkosa Airport and the third one passes from Haspolat barricade. The most secure route will be used.

Greek Cypriot police in uniforms will be waiting in the route to be followed by Denktas's car which will be escorted by Greek Cypriot administration guardsmen and rapid deployment force.

Anti-terrorism team members of the rapid deployment force will be deployed around the house of Clerides.

Certain Greek Cypriot organizations announced that they would hold demonstrations to protest Clerides-Denktas dinner.

-ECEVIT:''IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE BANKING SYSTEM SHOULD BE ABLE
TO SUPPORT THE PRIVATE AND REAL SECTORS''
ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has said that it was important that the banking system should be able to support the private and real sector.

''The financial source that will be provided for the banks should be used correctly and it should be used in a way to help production. We've to take every measure to ensure this,'' Ecevit stated.

Responding to a question about the weakening banks and saving them through state debantures, Ecevit said ''Of course it's a subject that would stir up debates. What is important is that the banks should be able to support the private and real sector. Right now, most banks don't have the strength to do this. This is why we proposed such a regulation.''

A reporter asked Ecevit if people would be able to spend a little more freely in 2002 than they did 2001. The prime minister responded by saying that although people had to limit their spendings in 2001, they received wage increases equal to that of inflation. He said that Turkey's economic power will increase in 2002, and the state would help more to workers, farmers, retirees and people would low income.

A reporter said ''A survey carried out by the Motherland Party (ANAP) showed that people don't trust much in the government. What do you think about this?''. Ecevit said that people don't have another alternative for the government. ''The measures that we had to take created certain difficulties in the society. We're trying to overcome these. Our people, naturally, are feeling the effects of these measures that we had to take but more and more people are realizing that these measures were inevitable.''

Answering a question about his visit to the United States in January, Ecevit said state affairs in this country have stopped because of Christmas holiday and the U.S. officials were on holiday.

''We don't have the right to bother them right now,'' Ecevit said and added that there will be intensive contacts with U.S. government officials on a number of topics.

When asked if Iraq was going to be debated during his U.S. visit, Ecevit said there were differing views in the United States, both among people and in the government.

''I believe and hope that the United States would listen to us before reaching a final decision,'' he maintained. ''I tried to explain this to the U.S. administration. Iraq is of course a very important country for us. We share a border with them. We have significant economic relations with Iraq.''

''The beginning of the new year is a sign of solidarity for the whole world. We will celebrate the new year with my wife in our home,'' said Ecevit upon questions of reporters.

''It is very saddening for certain circles in the country who object to the new year celebrations and even the buying of National Lottery tickets. The humanity celebrates the new year for a long time and shares this celebration as a common feeling. I can't accept objections to the new year celebrations. I also consider these people having the mentality of Taliban, '' he said.

When asked if there would be a reduction in the number of ministers in the cabinet, Ecevit said that the stability of the government is very important for the moment as the result of the economic measures started to be seen.

''The continuation of the government stability carries great importance,'' said Ecevit and noted that there is no problem in the relations within the government.

''The coalition government works in harmony in a way that can be a model for the whole world. I think this harmony will continue in 2002,'' he said.

When asked if he would take a present to the U.S. President George W. Bush, Ecevit said the thing that matters was the contacts they would have with the U.S. President.

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