Anadolu Agency: News in English, 02-02-03

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>

ANADOLU AJANSI

NEWS

03

February 2002Sunday

Türkiye

Dünya

Parlamento

Ekonomi

Spor

Sanat-Magazin

Sağlık

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 3, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

State Minister Kemal Dervis for economy told CNBC-E in New York that the crisis was left behind. Dervis noted that Turkey would experience a transition period this year especially in regard of growth and said, ''the crisis is left behind. And, I guess that we will not return to those days of crisis. But, it will not be that easy to fulfil the growth rate that we want.''

WORLD BANK SAYS THERE IS NOT ANY PROBLEM WITH 1.3 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS

It has been stated that the deliberations with the World Bank delegation related with the public and financial sector adjustment loan (PSFSAL2) were positive and that there was not any problem related with the loan of 1.3 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, it was noted that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) could immediately release a great deal of the aid foreseen for 2002 at its meeting on February 4.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Former Swedish Ambassadress Nil Liljegren said that she was terrified when she saw the brochure submitted by the Swedish Embassy at a meeting in western Izmir province. Liljegren noted that the current ambassadress should be declared persona non grata. Nil Liljegren said that the brochure which caused a crisis was sent to Ankara when her husband was the Swedish Ambassador to Turkey. Liljegren said, ''we hid the brochure in the attic because we did not want it to be found by anybody. The new ambassadress took them and distributed. Turkey should react harshly and this ambassadress should be declared persona non grata.''

ADVICE FROM CEM TO PERES

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem advised his Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres to synchronously continue dialogue and fight against terrorism with the Palestinian side. Cem said that they should wait for the stopping of the attacks to start talks in the region. This view of Cem was supported by French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine and European Union (EU) Commissioner for foreign affairs Javier Solana.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

A village in southeastern Diyarbakir province. A suffering mother gave birth to a twin. But, the babies could not breathe. And, at that point Doctor Lieutenant Colonel Cengiz Aydin and the health team reached the village. When Aydin and nurse Nurgul enters into the house, they saw a miserable women on the bed and two babies. The babies had started to turn purple. The lieutenant colonel took a deep breath and gave it to the babies. He waited and then he tried again and again. Then, the babies started to move. Nurse Nurgul made the first medical treatment to the mother. Then, both the mother and the twins were taken to Dicle University Hospital.

17 PERCENT OF TUPRAS TO BE SOLD

State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu said that 17 percent of shares of Turkish Oil Refineries Inc. (TUPRAS) would be pushed into national and international markets in the following months. Thus, Karakoyunlu noted, 51 percent of TUPRAS would be privatized.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Turkey will be taken up at a meeting to be held this evening within the scope of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in New York. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, State Minister Kemal Dervis and Privatization Administration Board Chairman Ugur Bayar will participate in the meeting.

WOLFOWITZ PRAISES ANKARA

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz said that Turkey was a democratic country which deserved the support of the West. Wolfowitz noted that Turkey would be an example for the Isam world with the developments it recorded in the previous century.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said the Mini Democracy Package could be re- arranged in the direction of the criticisms coming from public. Ecevit has an intention to hold a new summit together with Deputy Prime ministers Mesut Yilmaz and Devlet Bahceli.

Prime Minister Ecevit, who has concerns that discussions on Mini Democracy Package will further damage relations within the government, will try to seek for a solution to the problem by holding a new summit this week.

Ecevit believes that a compromise could be reached with small changes on the Mini Democracy Package.

YILMAZ TO REPRESENT TURKEY AT THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION

Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz to represent Turkey in the European Union (EU) Convention meeting, where future of Europe would be shapened.

Foreign Minister Cem wanted to attend the meeting saying that foreign ministers represent the country in such meetings, however, competition between Yilmaz and Cem caused problem in the government.

A statement of the Prime Ministry Press Center said that the attendees of the EU Laeken Summit of December 14-15, 2001 decided to organize a meeting of the EU Convention comprised of representatives of government and parliament of member and candidate countries to conduct the initiatives for the future of the EU.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

Turkish economy will be discussed at a special meeting that will take place in New York within the framework of the World Economic Forum. State Minister Kemal Dervis, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, and Privatization Administration Board Chairman Ugur Bayar will address the meeting.

''TURKEY IS A MODEL COUNTRY''

The U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, who also addressed the conference, said Turkey was a country having democratic characteristics and which deserved their support.

Wolfowitz also said Turkey was an important ally for them within NATO with its democratic development and prosperity model for the Islam world.

Wolfowitz said Turkey may be an example to the Islam world with the developments it recorded in the previous century.

Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission Chairman Kamran Inan, who attended the meeting said that, ''although Turkey is a European country, it was understood better by the U.S.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board will take up Turkey's new letter of intent and stand-by deal on February 4.

IMF officials said that the IMF Executive Board would approve the new stand- by deal and the letter of intent.

The IMF is foreseen to provide a total of 16 billion U.S. dollars of foreign support to Turkey during the new stand-by period which will last till the end of 2004.

ANKARA REQUESTS INFORMATION FROM SWEDISH EMBASSY

Swedish Embassy Undersecretary was summoned to Foreign Ministry on Saturday to request an explanation over a brochure distributed by the Swedish embassy on February 1 in Izmir Province, which included issues that required Turkey's sensitivity. The brochure included expressions claiming that genocide was made to Armenians, and that Kurds were massacred. The undersecretary was told that the contents of the brochure was unacceptable.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said the undersecretary was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and given a strong warning as the Swedish Ambassadress was outside Ankara. He said Turkey was very sensitive on Armenians and Kurds.

-SWEDEN'S ANKARA EMBASSY UNDERSECRETARY SUMMONED TO FOREIGN MINISTRY

ANKARA - Swedish Embassy Undersecretary was summoned to Foreign Ministry on Saturday to request an explanation over a brochure distributed by the Swedish embassy on February 1, which included issues that required Turkey's sensitivity.

Foreign Ministry said it requested an explanation from Sweden's number two diplomat regarding the expressions which were included in the burochure and which caused Turkey's sensitivity.

Swedish Embassy Undersecretary said the institute in question carried out its studies independently, and that there was a sentence on the front page of the brochure that only the writer of the text was responsible for the views. He said foreword of the Swedish Prime Minister was a standard text, which is also included in the 27 brochures that was prepared regarding the countries which are members and candidates to the European Union (EU).

Swedish Undersecretary said the Swedish official authorities did not have an attitude about this histories of the countries, stressing that they left the issue to the historians. The Undersecretary said he would immediately convey Turkey's sensitivity to the authorities of his country, and Anne Dismorr, the Swedish ambassadress, who is currently outside Ankara.

The Swedish Undersecretary was conveyed the importance of the issue for Turkey, and the unacceptable contents of the brochure. Also, a satisfying statement was requested for the distribution of the brochure at the meeting in Izmir.

Officials also told the Swedish Undersecretary that Turkey would continue to cover the situation carefully, and that the Swedish ambassadress will be summoned to the to the Foreign Ministry in her return to Ankara. In addition, it was also told that Turkey's Embassy in Stockholm will cover the developments.

-STRONG EARTHQUAKE SHAKES AFYON

ISTANBUL - A strong earthquake rocked Afyon province in the Aegean Region on Sunday.

Officials at Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Center and Seismology Institute said that the earthquake was measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale while it was centered on Afyon Bolvadin.

The earthhquake which was recorded at 9.11 a.m. was felt in a number of provinces including Burdur, Isparta, Ankara, Konya, Eskisehir, Kocaeli, and Sakarya.

-FOREIGN MINISTER CEM MEETS PERES IN NEW YORK

NEW YORK - Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said on Saturday that he would learn the advises of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem regarding the Middle East peace and listen to his interpretations.

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Israeli counterpart met in New York Palace Hotel, and made statements to the journalists after the meeting.

Isreali Foreign Minister Peres told A.A correspondent that concerns about the Middle East peace process was the main subject of the meeting, adding that he would give information to Cem regarding the recent developments.

Peres said he would listen to the advises and interpretations of Foreign Minister Cem about the Middle East peace, and noted that diplomatic relations between Turkey and Israel were beyond a simple diplomatic relation. He said they would exchange opinions sincerely.

FM Cem said Turkey always supported formation of peace and mutual understanding in the Middle East.

Pointing out that there has been positive relations between Turkey and Israel, Cem said he has close relations with Shimon Peres who has vast diplomacy experience.

-FOREIGN MINISTER CEM SAYS SITUATION IN MIDDLE EAST IS NOT HEARTENING

NEW YORK - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Saturday that the situation in the Middle East was not heartening.

Following his meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, Cem told reporters that their contacts with Israel was in a good course but that the situation in the Middle East was not heartening.

Cem said that they wanted the Middle East peace process to progress and noted that they debated those issues at their meeting.

When A.A correspondent told Cem that Peres noted that he would make use of Cem's advices and asked what he advised Peres, Cem said, ''let these issues remain between us.''

Diplomatic sources said that when Cem was expressing his views to Peres, he stressed that ''the matter of beginning of dialogue between the Israelis and Palestinians should not be linked with the condition of stopping of violence.''

Cem had expressed the similar view at the panel discussion on ''forming a coalition for a stable world'' organized during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting.

Sources noted that Cem advised his Israeli correspondent that ''dialogue and anti-terrorism processes should be carried out synchronously.''

-TURKEY TO TAKE 31.5 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF LOAN FROM IMF BETWEEN 2000- 2004

ANKARA - Turkey will have taken 31.5 billion U.S. dollars of loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) between 2000 and 2004.

Turkey is expecting almost 16 billion U.S. dollars of loan between 2002 and 2004 while it has taken almost 15 billion U.S. dollars of loan from the IMF since the beginning of 2000.

Turkey has taken 14 billion 396 million U.S. dollars of loan from the IMF since November 22, 2000 and more than half of this money was used in budget financing.

Sources said that 7 billion of 10 billion U.S. dollars of loan to be released for Turkey in 2002 would be used in the budget and the rest 3 billion will be used to strengthen the Central Bank reserves.

Two billion U.S. dollars to be released in 2003 and 2004 could be used for the budget or Central Bank reserves according to the needs, the sources noted.

Meanwhile, Turkey will repay 6.2 billion U.S. dollar tranche of the loan it had taken since the beginning of 2000.

The sources noted that this repayment would not be postponed but be paid on time as its costs were high.

-AFTERSHOCK MEASURING 5.3 OCCURS IN WESTERN PART OF BOLVADIN

ISTANBUL - An aftershock, measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale, was recorded in Bolvadin township in Aegean Afyon province on Sunday.

Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Institute said the quake which occurred at 9:11 local time was measing 6.0 on the Richter scale, and centered Bolvadin township in Afyon province. Following the strong quake, an aftershock, measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale was recorded at 11:26 local time.

The aftershock was felt in surrounding provinces.

-CRISIS CENTER SET UP IN FOREIGN MINISTRY

-GREECE IS THE FIRST COUNTRY PROPOSING HELP

ANKARA - A crisis center was set up in Foreign Ministry following the strong earthquake, measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale, in Bolvadin township in Afyon province on Sunday. Greece was the first country proposing help.

Foreign Ministry sources said a crisis center was set up in the ministry following the strong earthquake in the morning.

Ioannis Corantis, the Greek Ambassador in Ankara, established contacts with the ministry immediately after the quake, and conveyed international aid proposal of Greece to the officials.

Ankara welcomed this gesture and interest of Athens.

Foreign Ministry held contacts with the other authorities and announced that there was no need for an urgent aid in international level.

-AUTOMOTIVE EXPORTATION REGRESS 1.5 PERCENT IN JANUARY

BURSA - Automotive exportation from Turkey regressed 1.5 percent in January.

According to the figures of Uludag Exporters Association (UIB), automotive exportation from Turkey which was 266 million 189 thousand U.S. dollars in January 2001, decreased to 262 million 6 thousand U.S. dollars in January 2002.

Turkey exported its automotive products to 9 free zones, 119 countries and autonomous regions in January.

Germany was ranked the first among the countries where Turkey exported its automotive products while Italy, France and the United States followed Germany.

Exportation was made for the first time to Malta, Lithuania, Jamaica, Moldovia, Burkina Faso, Yemen, Congo, Madagascar, Kyrgyzstan, Niger, Haiti, Dagestan, Bangladesh, Mali, Benin, Tatarstan, Honduras, Uruguay, Suriname, Maldives, Zimbabwe.

Below listed the automotive and by-industry exportation in January:

Name of Product

Exports

Change

(Thousand U.S. Dollars) (percent)

......................125.7

Bus-minibus-midibus...................... 19.951........................ 36.3

Automobile.................................... 53.351

.........................-8.7

Lorry-truck..................................... 24.593

........................94.3

Towing............................................. 3.390...................... 100

Work machines................................ 2.203....................... -23.5

Vessels-boats-ships....................... 16.103

.........................48.8

Aircraft-spacecraft...........................14..............................

-98.7

Railway vehicles.............................. 2.770 ...............1.297.340.7

Bicycle-motorcycle.......................... 1.519........................ 126

Agricultural machines.......................... 533........................... 6.5

Tank-armoured vehicles......................... 92........................ -99.5

Towings on special purpose................... 24........................ 146.1

Automotive by-industry.................. 134.003........................... -6.5

Below listed ten countries and free zones where Turkey exported its automotive and by-industry products in January:

. .

change

COUNTRY

(thousand

dollar)

(percent)

47.760

-37.1

Italy

44.723

63.4

France

33.218

-15.4

Britain

12.851

53

United States

8.894

24.1

Istanbul Leather Free Zone 8.888

-6.2

Spain

8.464

72.2

Malta

7.553

100

Algeria

6.759

170.1

Other

6.276

3.170

-PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT:

''IT HAS BECOME DEFINITE THAT 15 PEOPLE DIED IN SULTANDAGI AND FIVE DIED IN CAY TOWNSHIPS''

ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Sunday that it has become definite that 15 people died in Sultandagi township and five people died in Cay township following the strong earthquake centered Bolvadin Township in Aegean Afyon Province.

Ecevit told reporters that Afyon Governor told him that death toll rose to 20, noting that, ''there are deaths in Sultandagi and Cay. There is serious damage in Bolvadin. I am leaving for the region. The citizens should not enter to insecure places and their houses this night.''

Ecevit said schools should be examined on Monday, noting that, ''we will be in an effort to protect the students in case of any danger.''

Ecevit said he talked to Prof. Ahmet Mete Isikara, the Director of Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Institute.

When asked if there was a demand from the foreign countries for help, Ecevit said State Minister Hasan Gemici sent necessary aid to the region, and recalled that Red Crescent sent tents to the region.

Ecevit said, ''other needs are being met, and every measure is taken.''

-PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''OUR STATE TAKES ALL MEASURES''

SULTANDAGI - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Sunday that the state took all the measures following the quake which affected Aegean Afyon province and its townships.

Ecevit listened to the citizens in Sultandagi township, which was rocked by the quake.

Speaking to reporters, Ecevit said the state took all kinds of measures, noting that tents and blankets were sent to the region.

Pointing out that other needs of people were also met, Ecevit said aftershocks continued and will continue, and called on the citizens to be cautious.

Ecevit said schools recessed in the region, and gave a direction not to allow citizens enter in demolished buildings.

-DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BAHCELI:

''I HOPE OUR NATION AND THE HUMANITY WILL NOT EXPERIENCE SUCH CALAMITIES AGAIN''

ANKARA - Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) said on Sunday that he felt deep sorrow over the strong earthquake centered Bolvadin township in Afyon province, adding that, ''I hope our nation and the humanity will not experience such calamities again.''

Bahceli issued a message because of the quake which occurred in Afyon province.

Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, Bahceli said crisis desks were activated and initiated efforts to meet the needs.

-INTERIOR MINISTRY CRISIS CENTER SAYS DEATH TOLL RISES TO 35 AND NUMBER OF INJURED PEOPLE IS 111

ANKARA -According to the recent information sent to the Interior Ministry Crisis Center, death toll rose to 35, and number of those injured were reported as 111.

The statement said a total of 77 buildings collapsed in the region, and that 11 people were trapped under the debris.

Interior Ministry Crisis Center said number of casualties as of 14:00 local time and the number of buildings which collapsed are as follows:

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article