Anadolu Agency: News in English, 02-01-11

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ANADOLU AJANSI

HABERLER

11January

2002 Friday

Türkiye

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Türkiye

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 11, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

The draft law which is supported by State Minister Kemal Dervis and which foresees the allocation of capital to banks publicly known as ''Saving Law'' was adopted at the Parliamentary General Assembly. The law also foresees adding 60 percent of 5 billion U.S. dollars to be allocated to banks to be granted to real sector.

AMAZING DECISION IN 2.8 SECONDS

Four planes aboard two Fantom jets survived an accident by jumping out of the plane with parachutes in 2.8 seconds after the collision. Two RF-4 (Fantom) jets which took off from 7th Main Jet Base in eastern Malatya province yesterday hit each other due to an unknown reason and were out of control. The jets fell into a forest. The pilots used the mechanism in the jets and survived the accident 2.8 seconds after the collision. Two pilots and 2 officers were rescued by military helicopters.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Istanbul State Theatres are full of players who are paid their salaries without doing anything. Director Can Gurzap has directed only one play in 12 years while Deniz Akel acted in two plays in seven years. The state is paying 12.6 billion Turkish liras (TL) to each of these players in a year.

''LET'S NOT PAY UMRAH VISITS''

The Religious Affairs Directorate has proposed to cancel umrah visits to Saudi Arabia. Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz, the Head of Religious Affairs Directorate, said that it would not be correct to cancel hajj visits as a reaction against Saudi administration's decision to tear down Ottoman era Al-Ajyad fort in Mecca. Yilmaz called on Hajj and Umrah Council to a meeting.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Four Palestinian guerillas who killed two people by attacking on the Egyptian Embassy in Ankara in 1979 were sent home secretly 22 years later. Four Palestinian guerillas attacked the Egyptian Embassy with Kalashnikovs on July 12, 1979 and took hostage 20 people. The guerillas had killed policeman Irfan Kocabas and guard Ali Babacan. One embassy official who had jumped out of the window to run away had also died. The protestors had surrended to police in return for the promise for ''a fair trial'' after 48 hours. They were tried and sentenced to capital punishment twice. Then years have passed. Four Palestinians benefitted from amnesty and conditional releases. And, 22 years later, they are released from Bilecik prison. The Justice Ministry provided them money and sent them to Palestine via Istanbul and Damascus.

''AS TURKEY PROGRESSES, I FEEL GOOD''

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that as Turkey progressed, he was feeling good as a reason why he has seemed more energetic recently. Speaking at the group meeting of Democratic Left Party (DSP), Ecevit said, ''some people say that I seem better recently and ask the reason. I will tell you the secret. As things are going better in Turkey, I fell good.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

According to the circular prepared by Justice Ministry which will be issued in case death fasts are ended, the inmates who want to chat has to join at least one of the activities like rehabilitation, education, sports, and vocational initiatives. But, a commission will choose the inmates who will meet each other to chat.

BUDAK DISMISSED FROM DSP

Democratic Left Party (DSP) Central Disciplinary Council decided Thursday to dismiss Istanbul deputy Ridvan Budak from the party upon the request of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Stressing that the decision was prejudiced, Budak claimed that the real aim was to threaten. Budak added that he would apply to legal methods.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR

Supreme Court Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu filed a lawsuit against former Central Bank governor Gazi Ercel with two separate accusations. The indictment said that the Central Bank sold a total of 5 billion 188 million U.S. dollars on February 19, 20 and 21 and this amount was extraordinary. According to the indictment, no benefits were seen in this sale but the Central Bank sold so much foreign exchange that could cause Treasury loss. Ercel changed his money into foreign exchange because he knew that Turkey would start to implement floating exchange rate regime.

TWO PATHS FOR ERDOGAN

In order to be elected as a deputy, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan has to wait till 2003 or the Constitution or Election Law has to change. Erdogan has to either wait till January 26, 2003 for the return of his rights or wait for an amendment in the Constitution and Election Law. The amendments foreseen in Article 312 of the Constitution under the new democracy package are not enough to end Erdogan's punishment.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Association of Protection of Consumers (TUKODER) Chairman Mehmet Sevim denounced Energy and Natural Resources Minister Zeki Cakan and mayors of five provinces to prosecutor's office on charges of Value Added Tax (VAT) rate and high profits in natural gas. Sevim asked VAT exemption in natural gas and also demanded that the high profits taken so far be re-paid.

STROKE ON FINANCING OF TERRORISM

The Parliamentary General Assembly adopted the draft law on adoption the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and Elimination of Terrorist Bombings. The draft law was adopted with the support of all parties. The Convention had been prepared to end financial sources which backed terrorism for an efficient fight against terrorism. The Convention was adopted by the United Nations (U.N) General Assembly on December 9, 1999.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

The government which has given 6 quadrillion Turkish liras to the banks also allocated a loan worth of 1,5 quadrillion TL to the real sector. Industrialists said that they were worried about the loan which can be given in order to prevent the real sector from complaining. The government reached an agreement on the draft aiming to strenghten the banking sector.

-ONE MAN FREEZES TO DEATH IN ADANA

TUFANBEYLI - One man froze to death on Thursday in Tufanbeyli township of southern province of Adana.

Officials told the A.A correspondent that five people were stranded in Kayapinar region as their horses got struck in snow when they were going to visit their relatives in Ayvat village in Tufanbeyli.

Faki Sayin (19) and Halil Biler (19) continued to their way on foot. Later they fainted due to freezing weather.

Other three people found them and called gendarmerie teams for immediate help.

After 13 hours gendarmerie teams came to the region and rescued those four people who were stranded due to snow and cold weather.

Faki Sayin froze to death and the others were hospitalized.

Officials said that the four people who were stranded due to snow were in good condition.

-CULTURE MINISTRY LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO PROTEST DEMOLITION

OF AL-AJYAD FORT

ANKARA - The Culture Ministry has launched a campaign to protest demolition of Ottoman era Al-Ajyad fort in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

A statement of Culture Ministry said on Friday that people visiting ministry's web-site ''www.kultur.gov.tr'' could access the title named ''You Also Protest Those Who Demolished Al-Ajyad Fort'' and express their views.

Culture Minister Istemihan Talay said that they had applied to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to protest the demolition of Ottoman era Al-Ajyad fort in Mecca for hotel and shopping mall construction.

Talay said, ''our country which has hosted a number of civilizations during the history has the right to expect sensitivity from all countries as much as it protects and preserves cultural heritages of those civilizations whether or not they are in the cultural heritage list.''

With the campaign, they had called everybody to protect artifacts that were the common heritage of all humanity, Talay added.

-BUILDING COLLAPSES IN ISTANBUL

ISTANBUL - A three-storey wooden building collapsed in Eminonu district of Istanbul province on Friday.

According to preliminary reports, people are supposed to be under the rubble.

A three-storey wooden building in Eminonu district collapsed around 9.40 a.m. while the cause of the demolition was not immediately known.

Many firefighters have been sent to the area.

-A GIRL PULLED ALIVE FROM RUBBLE IN BUILDING COLLAPSE IN ISTANBUL

ISTANBUL - A girl was pulled alive on Friday from the rubble of the building which collapsed in Eminonu district of Istanbul.

Firefighters rescued a three-year-old girl from the rubble of the three- storey wooden building which collapsed in Eminonu while supposed that there is still a woman and three children beneath the rubble.

People under the debris are shouting for help.

-FENER GREEK PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEOS LEAVES FOR IRAN

ISTANBUL - Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomeos left for Iran on Friday as the guest of Iranian Minister of Islamic Culture and Guidance.

Speaking at Ataturk Airport, Bartholomeos said that the aim of the visit is to improve the dialogue between religions and cultures.

Recalling that the representatives of three religions Islam, Christianity and Judaism met in Brussels last month, Bartholomeos said that ''we took a decision against terrorism. Certainly our weapons against terrorism are spiritual. Our aim is to persuade people, to improve peace and mutual trust and respect. Our aim is to prevent terrorism and all sorts of hostility and to improve international relations.''

Noting that Iran is open to dialogue although it is a theocratic regime, Bartholomeos said that the invitation made to him also showed that.

He said that he would meet with Iranian President Khatami, the Supreme Leader Khamenei and the chairman and members of Interreligious Dialogue Centre and meet with Turkish and Greek Ambassadors to Iran in dinner.

Bartholomeos added that he would direct the mass at Greek Orthodox Church in Tehran on January 13.

-MOTHER PULLED ALIVE FROM RUBBLE OF COLLAPSED BUILDING IN ISTANBUL

ISTANBUL - A women was pulled alive on Friday from the rubble of the building which collapsed in Eminonu district of Istanbul.

Firefighters rescued a 38-year-old woman who was the mother of two sons aged 11 and 13 from the rubble of the three-storey wooden building which collapsed in Eminonu while efforts are under way to rescue both of the boys.

Civil defense search and rescue teams are also ready to join the efforts.

The number of people pulled alive from the debris so far reached three. A two-year-old girl and a nine-year-old girl had earlier been rescued alive from the debris.

Eyewitnesses said that the building collapsed around 9.40 a.m. and that only one family was living on the first floor of the building.

The witnesses noted that other storeys were empty.

-RUSSIAN CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF TO VISIT GEN. KIVRIKOGLU

ANKARA - Russian Chief of General Staff Gen. Anatoliy Kvashnin will visit Chief of General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kıvrıkoglu on January 14.

General Staff said on Friday that the two officials would sign the agreement on ''military cooperation'' between the two countries during their meeting.

The agreement foresees formation of a legal basis for the military relations between the two countries and particularly improvement of military relations.

-BULGARIAN TURKS CULTURE AND SOLIDARITY ASSOCIATION LAYS BLACK WREATH

IN FRONT OF SAUDI ARABIAN EMBASSY IN ANKARA

ANKARA - Bulgarian Turks Culture and Solidarity Association laid a black wreath on Friday in front of Saudi Arabian Embassy in Ankara to protest the demolition of Al-Ajyad castle in this country.

Ibrahim Efendioglu, the chairman of the association and the executive board members came to the Embassy with black wreath.

After laying the wreath, Efendioglu said that Saudi Arabians committed a cultural genocide.

Recalling that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia demolished Ottoman houses in various parts of the country before, Efendioglu said that ''we strongly condemn the attitude of Saudi Arabia which is just like the attitude of Taliban regime. We call international institutions to condemn Saudi Arabia. We wish construction of a new castle there similiar to the old one.''

-BODIES OF 2 CHILDREN RECOVERED FROM RUBBLE OF COLLAPSED BUILDING

ISTANBUL - Dead bodies of two children were recovered from the rubbles of the building which had collapsed early on Friday in Eminonu district of Istanbul.

Rescue teams reached and pulled out the bodies of 11-year-old Serdal Yilmaz and 13-year-old Erdal Yilmaz from the rubble.

Rescue teams earlier pulled their 38-year-old mother Evrize Yilmaz, and 2- year-old sister Kader and 9-year-old sister Aynur out from the debris alive.

-TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS SAYS THEY ARE SINCERELY TRYING TO SETTLE DOWN MISSING PEOPLE ISSUE

LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Friday that they were trying to settle down the missing people issue, which was a humanitarian issue created by the Greek Cypriots, sincerely and with good will.

Denktas spoke at a conference on Cyprus and new international medium prior to his meeting with Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration.

He would debate the issue of missing people with Clerides, Denktas said and noted that he accepted this meeting with good will prior to his direct meeting with Clerides scheduled for January 16.

Denktas noted that Clerides was under pressure resulting from the stance of Greek Cypriot administration.

Noting that there are 803 missing persons among the Turkish Cypriot people which had a population of 200,000, Denktas said that those people were totally civilian people who were between the age of 16 and 90 who were buried in mass graves in villages.

Greek Cypriots carried out a plan foreseen by Makarios who had told that ''if Turkey came to save Turks, it would not find any Turk to save.''

Stating that there are 1,200 missing persons in the Greek Cypriot side, of whom 90 percent was soldiers who died in war, Denktas recalled that the population of Greek Cypriots was 700,000 and nobody told them yet how many people were killed among clashes between Greek Cypriots. ''They firstly told that the number was between 1,600 and 1,700, later the number decreased to 1,200. They had to decrease the number because they confessed that they left 200-300 persons on the list on purpose in order to use it as a propaganda against Turkey although they knew that those people died. Finally, they subtracted that number from the list,'' Denktas said.

The Greek Cypriot side didn't announce the list of missing persons for years, said Denktas and noted that it was obliged to announce it because of pressure coming from Greek Cypriot women. As a result, it was seen that many persons were alive, or dead or missing, Denktas noted.

Pointing out that Turkish Cypriot side was sincere about the missing persons and TRNC want this issue to end, Denktas said that ''I once told that the missing persons were not living anymore and Greek and Greek Cypriot newspapers had written in their headlines that 'Denktas confessed that he ordered his men to kill all the missing persons.' This lie was circulated in parliaments of Europe for years on purpose in order to show us as a monster and a side which violated human rights.''

Denktas said that he will take an initiative to sort out the issue from a humanitarian aspect, expressing his hope to reach success.

Stating that that they had to rebel against injustices, and no rights can exist over rights of others and injustices, Denktas said that they are seeking for their rights for 38 years.

Stressing that it was impossible for them to go before the 1960 agreements, Denktas said that they were protecting their equality in sovereignty and rights at the cost of their lives and also with the support of Turkey.

''Whole world knows that we are not and will not be a minority in any society by going down to a inferior level than the 1960 agreement. And all efforts of the United Nations aim to give us somethings with this purpose, but those somethings have not satisfied us so far,'' he said.

Noting that they had signed some agreements with Greek Cypriots after the Peace Operation and they did not want to reverse it, Denktas said that Greek Cypriots had applied to the European Court of Human Rights and had the court take some decisions, adding that Greek Cypriots had done everyting to violate those agreements.

TRNC President Denktas later met with Greek Cypriot administration leader Glafcos Clerides at the house of U.N. Secretary General's Assistant Special Envoy to Cyprus Zbigniew Wlosowicz to discuss the matter of missing people.

-TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS TO MEET CLERIDES FOR A SECOND TIME THIS AFTERNOON

LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will meet with Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration, for a second time on Friday afternoon.

Denktas met with Clerides in the house of United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General's Deputy Special Envoy to Cyprus Zbigniew Wlosowicz in order to discuss the missing persons issue.

The meeting was suspended till 4.00 p.m. Denktas and Clerides will meet again at 4.00 p.m.

-STATE MINISTER DOGRU SAYS TURKEY WISHES TO UPGRADE POLITICAL,

ECONOMIC, TECHNOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL RELATIONS WITH INDIA

ANKARA - State Minister Resat Dogru said on Friday that the relations between Turkey and India carry great importance for regional and world peace, adding that ''we wish to upgrade political, economic, technological and cultural relations with India in the future.''

State Minister Dogru met with Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah and the accompanying delegation the same day.

Dogru said that India is very important for Turkey in the Far East and the world with its understanding of democratic administration, its population, its qualified human labour, its technological potential and strategic status.

Noting that Turkey is also a key country due to its historical, cultural and geographical links, Dogru said that ''the relations between India and Turkey carry great importance for the region and the world. Yet the foreign trade volume between the two countries which is 300 million dollars show that the relations between the two countries are not sufficient.''

''I believe that the two countries can make cooperation in Central Asian region and the prosperity and peace in the region can be improved,'' he said and noted that Turkey was open to foreign investment.

The guest minister said in his part that Indian Prime Minister could visit Turkey in June.

He said that India is developed particularly in the field of information technology, space technology, biology and biochemistry, adding that Turkey is developed in the field of construction.

Abdullah said that the economic committee meetings have to be held as soon as possible, adding that India thinks of organizing a big fair in Turkey. This year the fair could not be held due to the terrorist attacks in the U.S. on September 11, he said.

The guest minister noted that the relations in tourism field have to improve, adding that the direct flights between Turkey and India have to start.

-A TOTAL OF 4,167,689 TOURISTS VISIT ANTALYA IN 2001

ANTALYA - A total of 4 million 167 thousand 689 tourists came to southern Antalya province in 2001.

Officials at Antalya Provincial Tourism Directorate told A.A correspondent on Friday that the number of the tourists who entered in Antalya through customs gates increased 28.9 percent in 2001 when compared to the previous year.

A total of 3,23 million tourists visited Antalya in 2000 while 4,16 million tourists spent a holiday in Antalya in 2001.

German tourists were ranked the first among foreign tourists who visited Antalya last year with 1,94 million. Russians followed German tourists with 402,938.

A total of 292,829 Dutch tourists, 240,262 Austrians, 141,398 French tourists, 130,412 Israeli tourists, 129,549 Belgians and 122,169 Swedish tourists visited Antalya in 2001.

There was a boom in the number of the tourists in Antalya in July 2001. Around 660,000 foreign tourists visited Antalya province last July.

-DEU RECTOR SAYS HE SUPPORTS MILLENNIUM MARCH IN TRNC

IZMIR - Dokuz Eylul University in Izmir Rector Prof. Dr. Emin Alici said on Friday that they supported the Girne Amerikan University's ''Millennium March''.

Releasing a statement, Alici said that the aim of the ''Millennium March'' which was organized by the Girne Amerikan University is to condemn the attempt of Greece and Greek Cypriot administration to ''destroy social and educational independence and freedom of global transfer of science to the universities in the TRNC with multi-dimensional embargoes''.

Alici said he supported this ''rightful activity'' of Girne Amerikan University personnel and that he hoped the march would create a ground for a peaceful solution that suits the 21st century.

Alici said that the whole world had once again understood and recognized the meaning and importance of peace after the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001.

''In a process in which we have just left behind such a grievous incident which detroyed balances in the world, I expect that worrying developments about the Cyprus question would be reviewed and evaluated again through peaceful attitudes and approaches and a solution would be reached by protecting both communities' principles of equality and sovereignty,'' he said.

Stressing that he hoped that the march would be evaluated within a peaceful attitude and the ''memorandum'' to be presented to the U.N. Secretary General would bring a result, Alici said that he congratulated the Girne Amerikan University personnel for their determination.

-''MILLENIUM MARCH'' HELD IN TRNC AGAINST EMBARGOS

LEFKOSA - Universities held ''Millenium March'' to protest the embargos imposed on Turkish Republic of Norhern Cyprus (TRNC) for years in education, culture, art, science and sports due to the initiatives of Greece and Greek Cypriot side.

Girne American University organized the march, which was supported by other universities in TRNC in which lecturers and students participated.

The walk which started in Girne American University's campus ended in Lefkosa. The crowd which convened near Martrys Monument besides the TRNC parliament, observed a minute of silence and laid a wreath to the monument.

Students said in their speeches that they could not integrate with the world youth due to the embargos and stressed that they wanted a fair and permanent solution in Cyprus.

Noting that Turkish Cypriot society faced injustice due to the claims of Greece and the Greek Cypriot side, students also noted that embargo which was put on TRNC universities was a crime against humanity.

The persons who addressed the crowd extended full support to the negotiations that started in Cyprus in their speeches and asked the embargos on the Turkish Cypriot society to be lifted.

After the speeches, the persons who attended the march walked till Ledra Palace and they submitted a memorandum to U.N. Peace Keeping officials to be given to U.N., EU representations and Embassies of the U.S., Germany, France and Britain. The memorandum called the international society to lift the embargos on Turkish Cypriot society in all fields.

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