TRKNWS-L x0x Anadolu Ajansi News -- 27 Sep 00
Turkish Radio San Francisco
ANADOLU AGENCY NEWS
27 SEPTEMBER 2000 Wednesday
Turkey
Turkey
-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in
Turkey's press on Sept 27, 2000. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify
these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
-----------------
AYTUFAN: ''I HAD PLANTED BOMB ON KISLALI'S CAR''
Interrogation of Rustu Aytufan, a member of the illegal Jerusalem
Warriors organization and one of the suspects of the bomb-attacks on
journalist-writer Prof. Dr. Ahmet Taner Kislali and Jewish Yuda Yurum,
is continuing. During his interrogation, Aytufan confessed that he had
planted the bomb on Kislali's car. Aytufan said that the bomb had been
prepared by Oguz Demir, the bomb expert of the illegal organization
who could not be captured yet.
ONE MORE PICASSO PAINTING SEIZED
Pablo Picasso's painting depicting two people holding wine glasses at
a table was seized in Mardin. Five people were captured during the
operation. Acting on a tip-off, security forces were disguised as
buyers, and they contacted the dealers. The teams captured a man red
handed after he gave them the painting which is 80 to 60 centimeters.
The painting of Picasso dated 1920 has an estimated market value of 15
to 20 trillion TL.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
COLD SHOWER FOR KUTAN
Virtue Party (FP) leader Recai Kutan who went to Europe to seek
support for his party, instead listened to advice from European
Parliament Socialist Group Deputy Chairman Swoboda. Swobodo told Kutan
that ''secularism is the basis element of the EU.'' All political
parties would accept secularism and respect it, Swoboda said and
advised him ''not to use religion as a tool in politics.'' Kutan
didn't find what he expected during his contacts on Tuesday.
ONE MORE DECREE, ONE MORE VETO FROM SEZER
President Sezer returned the decree regarding the privatization of
state banks to the government and said ''tax issues cannot be solved
through a decree.'' Responding to Ecevit's criticism, Sezer said ''I
have no conflicts.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
----------------
COMPULSORY EARTHQUAKE INSURANCE TO START
The ''Compulsory Earthquake Insurance'' which was brought onto the
agenda following the devastating earthquakes will come into force as
of September 27. The procedures at the deed office will be suspended
if the landlords do not make to Compulsory Earthquake Insurance, and
the law on the Compulsory Earthquake Insurance foresees fine to the
landlords. Turkey is separated in five regions in calculations of the
insurance premium. The insurance premium will be high in the risky
regions.
TWO QUAKE-SURVIVOR CHILDREN DIE IN FIRE
Two children lost their lives in a fire which broke out in their hut
in Hendek township of quake-stricken Sakarya province. A fire broke
out in a hut erected by quake-survivor Balikci family in Hendek after
the devastating earthquake, killing one and a half-year-old Ufuk
Balikci and his brother Hasim, 4.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
PRESIDENT VETOES AGAIN
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer vetoed the decree with the force of law
(KHK) on privatization of three public banks. The government reacted
to this second veto after the KHK on civil servants. The government
stated that the President had approved amendement to Law on Security
Organization which included same arrangements as the KHK on public
banks, and defined the veto as a contradiction. President Sezer said
that the KHK was including an arrangement which did not take place in
the Income Law. Evaluating the veto as an ''unexpected development'',
the government decided to re-submit the KHK to the President. In order
to overcome the Presidency obstacle, Prime Minister Ecevit said that
they would do what was necessary. These words were considered as a
government's search for a method which does not include the
President.
BESIKTAS SEE SIX GOALS IN THEIR NET
Besiktas made Turkey upset this time. Besiktas which wanted to gain at
least one point from the game with Leeds was defeated 0-6. In another
group match, AC Milan of Italy beat Barcelona of Spain 2-0. The goals
came from Coco and Biefhoff.
AYTUFAN EXPLAINS ASSASINATION
Rustu Aytufan, the bomber of the Jerusalem Warriors, did re-enactment
of assasination of Ahmet Taner Kislali in front of his house in
Ankara. Aytufan who received training in Iran confessed that he had
planted the bomb on Kislali's car.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
ONE MORE PICASSO
One more painting of Picasso has been found in Mardin and five people
related to the incident were arrested. This is the fourth painting of
Picasso seized in the last four months in Turkey. The famous artist
made the painting depicting two people holding wine glasses at a table
in 1920. The estimated market value of the painting is 15 to 20
trillion Turkish Liras.
BAYKAL MISSES HIS SEAT
Former leader of the People's Republican Party (CHP), Deniz Baykal
announced that he will be a candidate to be the CHP chairman again
during the party convention on September 30. Baykal said he was
encouraged to be a candidate by his party members as well as people.
YENi BiNYIL (LIBERAL)
----------------------
SERVANTIE:''TURKEY MADE VER LITTLE PROGRESS SINCE HELSINKI''
EU Turkey Desk Chairman in charge of englargement Alain Servantie
spoke pessimistic about the progress Turkey made in his EU membership
process. Servantie said the annual report on Turkey's progress will be
out in mid-October, but he refrained from telling about the report's
content. Servantie said Turkey, unfortunately, managed to implement
only 10 percent of te EU regulations since Helsinki summit and the
only concrete development has been the foundation of the EU General
Secretariat. Servantie underlined that Parliament has not passed any
laws yet. With his excellent Turkish, Servantie explained to Turkish
businessmen what areas need progress. ''I hope I didn't scare you, but
the EU membership is an important opportunity for you,'' he told
them.
POLIBAK IN IMKB IN NOVEMBER
Bakioglu Holding is planning to start public sales Polibak Plastic
Film Industry and Trade Coorp in November. Bakioglu Holding is one of
the 21 companies which are active in packaging, plastic industry,
marketing, construction, insurance, transportation, and media sectors.
Polibak products are used in the packaging of food, cigarettes,
textile, and stationery.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
THIS BILL WON'T BE APPROVED
Foreign policy experts Paul Henze and Prof. Willard Hardman of the
United States said that the bill on so-called genocide on Armenians
came onto the agenda in every election period but a result could never
be achieved. They said that the bill would remain as a proposal.
Expert Edward Tasci said, ''Turkey faces traders of enmity. This
decision is the dishonesty of rich Armenians and money-lover
politicians.''
OUTAGE TO START IN OCTOBER
The ''Savings Campaign'' will start on next Sunday in accordance with
a Council of Ministers decision. There will be a two-hour power outage
a day.
BAYKAL TO RUN FOR CHP LEADERSHIP
Deniz Baykal, the former leader of the Republican People's Party
(CHP), welcomed the invitation of CHP leader Altan Oymen and said, ''I
am a candidate, too.'' Baykal who wants the chaos in the CHP to be
finished said, ''now, I am running for the CHP leadership bu using my
democratic right.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
-------------------
DENKTAS: ''OUR CASE WAS UNDERSTOOD BETTER''
President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
(TRNC) said that the fourth round of proximity talks in New York, the
U.S., were beneficial. Denktas said, ''on my personal view, this round
was not a waste of time. We have found the opportunity to strongly put
forward our case. We believe that our case was understood better by
representatives of the United Nations, the U.S., Britain, and
Russia.'' He noted that the fifth round of proximity talks on Cyprus
would start in Geneva, Switzerland on October 1, 2000.
-INVENTORY LIST OF CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL
HERITAGES OF GAP REGION TO BE PREPARED
GAZIANTEP - Dr. Olcay Unver, the Director of Southeastern Anatolia
Project (GAP) Development Administration, said on Tuesday that they
would prepare an inventory list of cultural and historical heritages
of the GAP region, and added that they would also prepare an action
plan within framework of the list.
Recalling that the region was the center of many ancient
civilizations, Unver said, ''we are responsible for protection and
promotion of these heritages.''
Reiterating that they were preparing an action plan and an inventory
list, Unver said, ''we will take all necessary measures to rescue and
protect the historical and cultural heritages which might be damaged
by infrastructure projects and development investments. We will inform
residents of the region and all Turkish people on these cultural
heritages. These heritages will be used in tourism facilities and
urban services.''
-JOURNALISTS FROM BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA TO VISIT GAP REGION
SANLIURFA - A group of journalists from Bosnia-Herzegovina will visit
the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region.
GAP Regional Development Management said on Wednesday that eight
journalists working at several media organs in Bosnia-Herzegovina
would visit the GAP region between September 28-30.
It said that the journalists would visit Zeugma Ancient city, Birecik
and Ataturk Dams and receive information from the officials.
-''MERHABA ATHENS, HERE ISTANBUL'' PHOTOGRAPHY
EXHIBITION OPENED IN ISTANBUL
ISTANBUL - ''Merhaba Athens, Here Istanbul'' photography exhibition
which was organized by the Pamukbank with the aim of making an
artistic contribution to friendly relations between Turkey and Greece,
opened on Tuesday in Istanbul.
In the exhibition, a total of 42 photographs taken in Istanbul and
Athens by five Turkish and Greek photographers, are being displayed.
The exhibition will remain open till October 28.
Ara Guler, Izzet Keribar, Arif Asci, Cem Turgay and Sinan Kocaslan
from Turkey, and Nicos Ecomopulos, Nici Typaldou, Alcis X. Xanthakis,
Nicos Desyilas and Stathis Efstathiadis from Greece are participating
in the exhibition with their photographs.
Izzet Keribar noted that they were very kindly welcomed in Athens,
adding that the exhibition would make a valuable contribution to the
friendly relations between the two countries which was set up in the
wake of last year's devastating earthquake disasters.
Arif Asci pointed out that he had the chance to observe similar
characteristics of two countries' people in Athens.
Further joint cultural activities should be organized said Sinan
Kocaslan, and added that he enjoyed taking the pictures of Athens
within the framework of this joint work.
Meanwhile,''Merhaba Athens, Here Istanbul'' album which will be
published in Turkish, Greek, and English languages will be ready for
sale in 2001.
The exhibition will also be displayed in Athens in 2001.
-A PRICELESS OLD TESTAMENT CONFISCATED
KAYSERI - A number of historical works were confiscated in an
operation in Bunyan township of central Kayseri province on
Wednesday.
Acting on a tip-off, the gendarmerie teams raided a house in Yenice
neighborhood in Bunyan township.
They confiscated 22 candlesticks stolen from several mosques in
Istanbul, Konya and Afyon; 30 manuscript Koran stolen from the
Nasurullah Mosque in Kastamonu; a priceless Old Testatement written in
Hebrew on deer-hide, busts and silver coins in the operation.
A total of four people were taken into custody.
A full investigation into the incident is underway.
-VERHEUGEN: ''TURKEY IS INDISPENSABLE FOR EUROPE''
ULM - Guenter Verheugen, a European Union (EU) Commissioner for
Enlargement, said on Wednesday that Turkey was indispensable for
Europe.
Delievering a speech in Ulm city of Germany on the occasion of
''Priests and Women Priests Day'', Verheugen said that Turkey had
recorded important progress in the EU full-membership path.
Verheugen stressed that Turkey had made the preparation for very
important reforms targeting the future.
Defending that a NATO ally Turkey was not ready for the EU at the
moment regarding the issue of violation of human rights, Verheugen
said that the intellectuals in Turkey were in favor of the reforms and
EU membership.
Verheugen said that perspective should be offered to Turkey which was
indispensable for Europe.
Noting that it could be proved wit the Turkey example that the
Christian Europe could set up a ''values unity'' with an Islamic
country, Verheugen said that this would have a very important
influence on the whole Islamic World.
-CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF: ''ALLEGATIONS IN THE BILL ON SO-CALLED
GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS ARE TOTALLY ON WRONG BASIS''
IZMIR - The Chief of General Staff General Huseyin Kivrikoglu said on
Wednesday that the allegations in the bill on so-called genocide on
Armenians were totally on wrong basis.
General Kivrikoglu who came to Izmir to attend a ceremony on the
occasion of laying the foundation of the Fleet Commandership's new
headquarters, visited Izmir Governor Alaaddin Yuksel.
Responding to a question about the bill at the United States House of
Representatives during the meeting, General Kivrikoglu said that the
bill was totally on a wrong basis.
''It was a wrong decision. The people who took such a decision are
trying to have the House approve the bill to gain more votes in the
election although they know what they are doing is wrong. First of
all, countries should take into consideration what they did in their
history before taking such a decision about another country. If there
were more serious incidents in their history, they should firstly
focus on those matters and clean them. There are many things to do
regarding the issue. The government and relevant authorities evaluate
this and do what is necessary. As the military authority, we are
holding several contacts, of course. However, it was a wrong decision.
I want to stress this point,'' he said.
-TPAO AND EL PASO START JOINT EXPLORATIONS IN MERSIN GULF
ANKARA - The Turkish Petroleum Inc (TPAO) gave the start for joint
explorations with the American El Paso company in the Mersin Gulf
which is believed to have an important hydrocarbon potential.
TPAO said on Wednesday that the seismic vessel had started its
researches in the Mersin Gulf in accordance with the joint exploration
agreement which had been signed in July.
It said that two exploration wells would be installed in 2000-2500
meters depth in a year, and the El Paso would meet the 20-30 million
U.S. dollars cost of this installation together with seismic etudes.
TPAO said that the expenses after the exploration and production would
be met equally by the TPAO and El Paso.
In accordance with the agreement, El Paso, at the first stage, started
collection of two-dimension 1,520-kilometer seismic data in Mersin and
Iskenderun Gulfs.
-ST.PAUL CHURCH IN ADIYAMAN EXPECTED TO DRAW MORE TOURISTS
ADIYAMAN - Adiyaman Tourism Acting Director Fehmi Eraslan said St.
Paul (Petrous Bulus) Church which opened to service last Sunday was a
big opportunity for Adiyaman's promotion and tourism.
Eraslan told A.A correspondent that the inscription dated 1905 found
in the church suggests that the old building was completely demolished
before the new one was erected. The church which is believed to be
250-300 years old reflects the region's architectural
characteristics.
Almost all the church's community immigrated to other cities or
countries, Eraslan noted and invited them to come back to visit the
church and see their old friends whom they left behind. He also called
on Turkish Armenians to give financial and moral support to the
church.
Eraslan said a crowded group attended the ceremony which was held for
the first time since 1970. ''If a priest is appointed to the church,
the tourists who are visiting the region can practice their religion.
Such a development might increase tourism activities, and therefore
help economy of Adiyaman,'' he commented.
Adiyaman Trade and Industry Chamber (ATSO) Chairman Zafer Ersoy said
Sunday's ceremony brought together hundreds of Syrian Christian
families who did not see each other for about 40 years. He said many
members of the Syrian Christian community coming from Istanbul,
Ankara, Antakya, Gaziantep, Mardin, Diyarbakir, Sanliurfa, Germany,
United States and many other countries formed a very nice picture in
the church.
''Despite differences of religion, all people are brothers,'' Ersoy
said. ''Adiyaman is home to the Syrian Christian community. We want to
see our friends who had to leave Adiyaman in the past among us again.
We lived together on this land for many years.''
''We are inviting you here with your jobs, culture, and investments,''
Ersoy said, and added that he hoped the opening of the church would
have positive results in economy and social life of Adiyaman.
Last Sunday, Syrian Orthodox Filuksinos Yusuf Cetin supervised the
religious ceremony which is held for the first time since 1970.
-STATE MINISTER MIRZAOGLU: ''TURKEY IS FACING
THE MOST SERIOUS DEFAMATION IN ITS HISTORY''
ELAZIG - State Minister Ramazan Mirzaoglu said on Wednesday that
Turkey was facing the most serious defamation in its history.
Mirzaoglu who came to eastern Elazig province to attend a ceremony on
the occasion of the start of new semester at the Firat University
visited Elazig Governor Osman Aydin.
Speaking at the meeting, State Minister Mirzaoglu said that Turkey was
facing the most serious defamation in its history regarding the
''Armenian issue''.
''The Armenians who had stabbed the Turkish army in the back during
the World War I were sent into exile in Syria and Lebanon,'' Mirzaoglu
said, adding that ''digging into the issue nearly a century later
won't bring any benefit to anyone. Armenians are trying to prove
themselves to be right. All of the developments about this issue were
recorded in the Ottoman archieves. The issue will be clarified if
these archieves are observed.'' he said.
-SYRIAN INTERIOR MINISTER HARBA: ''WE WILL OPEN A NEW
PAGE IN OUR RELATIONS''
ANKARA - Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan said on Wednesday that
relations with Syria can raise to a much higher level if Turkey and
Syria create a security atmoshphere between them and also increase
economic and cultural activities.
Syrian Interior Minister Mohammad Harba and his delegation are
continuing their official visit in the capital. Syrian and Turkish
Interior Ministry delegations had a meeting at Security General
Directorate's building in Ankara's Dikmen building. After the
meetings, Tantan and Harba came to the Security General Directorate
where he was welcomed with an official ceremony. Following the
ceremony, Tantan, Harba and Security General Director had a meeting
which was followed by a press statement.
Tantan told reporters that the meetings between Turkish and Syrian
delegations have passed in a very positive atmosphere. Tantan noted
that an agreement protocol will be signed between the delegations at
the Interior Ministry on Thursday.
''I am hoping that once we sign the security agreement, a security
environment will be formed and our relations will be fortified by
cultural activities,'' Tantan said.
Speaking about the agreements that will be signed on Wednesday, Harba
said the agreements aim to advance relations between the two
countries. The Syrian minister said Turkey and Syria can benefit from
cultural, social, and geographic factors to develop their relations.
''These areas were raising some doubts but now those doubts are no
longer existing. We will open a new page in our relations,'' Harba
said.
-TURKEY AND GEORGIA TO HOLD JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES
ANKARA - The ''Joint Border Military Exercises'' between Turkey and
Georgia will be staged at the Turkgozu Outpost in eastern Posof
township of Ardahan on September 29.
The Land Forces Commandership said on Wednesday that the
''Turkey-Georgia Joint Border Exercises-2000'' would be staged as an
active field military exercises in Turkey and Georgia.
It said that the scenario of the military exercises was based on
prevention of illegal border crossings from one country to another.
-FOREIGN MINISTRY DEPUTY SPOKESMAN DIRIOZ:''OUR EFFORTS WILL
CONTINUE TILL THE LAST MINUTE TO PREVENT THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL''
ANKARA - Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said their
efforts will continue till the last minute to prevent the passage of
the bill recognizing the so-called Armenian genocide from the U.S.
House of Representatives International Relations Committee.
Noting that they will continue their contacts in Ankara and
Washington, D.C., Dirioz said they are also getting ready for a
possible negative result.
''What we should do is to create a reaction that takes into
consideration the special texture of Turkey-U.S. relations,'' Dirioz
said.
Responding to a question, Dirioz noted that there are no diplomatic
relations between Turkey and Armenia and said it is clear that Armenia
does not follow a friendly policy towards Turkey.
When reminded that similar bills also exist in the Italian and Dutch
parliaments, he said they are closely following these developments and
taking counter initiatives.
The bill will be voted at the U.S. House International Relations
Committee on Thursday and if approved, the bill will be included in
the U.S. House General Assembly's programme to be discussed.
There are two different possibilities at this stage. The bill, after
being discussed at the U.S. House Regulation Committee, could be sent
to the U.S. House of Representatives General Assembly for voting. A
second possibility might be transfering the bill directly to the U.S.
House of Representatives General Assembly.
In the former situation the process will take longer; however,
absolute majority will be enough to pass the bill. In the latter case,
two thirds of the votes will be required to pass the bill.