TRKNWS-L x0x Anadolu Ajansi News -- 22 Aug 00
Turkish Radio San Francisco
ANADOLU AGENCY NEWS
22 AUGUST 2000 Tuesday
Turkey
Turkey
-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in
Turkey's press on August 22, 2000. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify
these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
-----------------
HE DID NOT WAIT UNTIL NSC MEETING
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer returned the decree having the power of
law which would facilitate the dismissal of civil servants, for a
second time. Sezer returned the decree 42 hours before the National
Security Council (NSC) meeting. Sezer also sent eight pages of
appendix in which he explained the reasons for returning the decree
together with the decree itself. The main reason for Sezer's rejecting
the decree was that the decree having the power of law was
unconstitutional.
SECRET FATHER OF ZEUGMA
David Packard, the son of Hewlett Packard, the owner of world-famous
computer company, granted five million U.S. dollars to save ancient
Zeugma site which will remain under waters of Birecik Dam. The U.S.
billionaire said that they can increase the amount of assistance to
ten million U.S. dollars a year if necessary. He added that he will
visit Zeugma at the first opportunity.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
BOMB OPERATION ON BRIDGE
One more stroke was hit on the illegal extreme leftist terrorist
DHKP-C organization. Police, who stopped a car belonging to a member
of the illegal organization, seized 300 TNT bars, 30 hand grenades, 10
electrical fuses, and 531 bullets purchased from Syria. It was claimed
that the illegal organization which was getting prepared for a bloody
attack, planned to explode the ammunition on the Bogazici Bridge.
Police took into custody six people, including two Syrians. Operations
are underway.
TURKEY BECOMES RICH OF PICASSO
Picasso's paintings which were stolen from Kuwaiti palaces during the
Iraqi occupation of this country, started to be confiscated in Turkey
one after the other. Police had earlier confiscated two Picasso
paintings and seized one more in Suruc township in recent days. The
1903 oil painting titled ''The Portrait of A Young Woman'' which was
tried to be sold in Turkey, was brought from Hatay to Sanliurfa.
Sanliurfa Police Chief Sedat Hasay said that they detained seven
people during the operations jointly carried out by Izmir security
forces.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
----------------
IT GETS HARD TO PROTECT THE REGIME
As the President once more returned the decree having the power of law
on civil servants, tension escalated in Ankara. Premier Bulent Ecevit
said that there is a saddening and concerning situation. Ecevit said
that the decree was prepared to prevent the separatist terrorism and
anti-secular attacks from infiltrating into the state structure.
Ecevit noted that the President's stance makes it harder for the state
to do its duty and to defend the constitutional order, adding that
they are face to face with a serious problem.
ILLEGAL HEZBOLLAH ORGANIZATION PLANNED TO ASSASSINATE NESIN
The archives confiscated during Kavacik operation revealed the plans
of illegal Hezbollah organization. The illegal organization had
planned to assassinate prominent author Aziz Nesin and charged
militants Murat and Yusuf for this assassination. But, Nesin had died
before the illegal organization achieved its target.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
OPERATIONS AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AT BORDER
Four Afghans and a retired superintendent who aided the Afghans in
return of money were captured in Esetce village in Ipsala township of
northwestern Edirne province. Gendarme forces captured four Afghans
who did not have any passports, in a car driven by the retired
superintendent in their controls. The retired superintendent said in
his interrogation that he was taking the illegal immigrants to
Turkey's border with Greece in return of money.
FOREST FIRE IN BERGAMA AND MILAS
A total of 130 hectares of pineland were destroyed in a fire which
broke out in Bergama township of Aegean Izmir province. A total of 30
hectares of pineland were burnt to ashes in a fire broke out in
Selimiye hamlet in Milas township of Aegean Mugla province.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
HISTORICAL ARTIFACT SMUGGLING WORTH OF FIVE TRILLION TL
A total of 24 smugglers were captured and historical artifacts worth
of five trillion Turkish liras (TL) were confiscated during operations
in Sivas, Elazig and Yozgat provinces. Gendarme forces confiscated 715
historical artifacts, including bronze bull and silver goddess
statues, nine manuscript Korans, gold, silver and bronze coins
belonging to Hittite, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman eras,
during the operations.
NEW PERIOD IN OIL
The Turkish Oil Corp. (TPAO) is accelerating the oil production works
which were slowed down due to security reasons. TPAO has re-started
oil search and drilling works in 13 wells in Germik region after eight
years of interval. A total of 1,800 barrels of 26-gravity oil are
produced from these wells a day. Efforts are underway to start
production in ten other wells in the region.
YENi BiNYIL (LIBERAL)
----------------------
STOCK MARKET REACTS TO RETURN OF DECREE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's returning the decree having the power
of law on civil servants had effets on the stock market. The index
decreased 3.19 percent to 12,776. A total of 226 of 296 shares lost in
value.
MOODY'S STARTS TO WATCH TURKEY
International rating organization Moody's said that political and
public support on economic reform, the foreign debt payment capacity,
and success in currency rate are factors that have importance in
increasing Turkey's rating. Moody's recent analysis said that there
can be an increase in Turkey's rating in the short term and that
criteria required for this increase are observed. Moody's analysis
noted that the government is backed by great deal of parliament,
adding that Turkey started to be observed on July 24 for a possible
increase in its rating.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
NSC TO CONVENE TOMORROW
The National Security Council (NSC) will convene at the Presidential
Palace under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The
ordinary August meeting will start at 9.30 a.m. The issues on Turkey's
agenda will be discussed during the meeting.
PRAISE FROM KOSTOV TO YILMAZ
Bulgarian Prime Minister Ivan Kostov said that the period when State
Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz was the prime minister
had a key role on the improvement of the relations between Turkey and
Bulgaria. Yilmaz, who went to Bulgaria for a one-day visit upon the
invitation of Kostov, said that they reviewed various dimensions of
Turkish-Bulgarian relations during their meeting.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
-------------------
MOSTAR BECOMES SISTER CITY
Pendik Mayor Erol Kaya, who went to Bosnia-Herzegovina to strengthen
the historical ties with this country, signed sister city protocol
with Mostar and Travnik municipalities. Kaya said that 40,000 Bosnians
live in Pendik and that they have close relations with the Bosnians.
TOURISM MINISTER IS DETERMINED
Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu said that they target at organizing Expo
fair in Turkey. Mumcu said, ''Expo 2007 will be organized in Turkey.
Turkey is very advantageous.'' Mumcu noted that Istanbul is the most
appropriate city to hold this fair. Stating that Expo fair is
important for the introduction of cultural and natural beauties of
Turkey, Mumcu said that millions of tourists will visit Turkey if
Turkey hosts the fair.
-EXPORTS FROM GAP REGION TO AFRICA AND ASIA
GAZIANTEP- The Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region exported 9
million 954 thousand U.S. dollar agricultural products to Asia and
Africa in first seven months of 2000.
The amount of agricultural exports of this region was 9 million 934
thousand U.S. dollars in the same period in 1999.
In accordance with the figures of Southeastern Anatolia Exporters
Union, 499 thousand U.S. dollar cereal, leguminosae, oil products, 268
thousand U.S. dollar dried fruit, 6 million 634 thousand U.S. dollar
textile were exported to African countries in first seven months.
The GAP region exported 768 U.S. dollar cereal, leguminosae, oil
products, 110 thousand U.S. dollar dried fruit and 1 million 675
thousand U.S. dollar textile were exported to Asia between January and
July 2000.
Algeria ranked at the first place in exports to African countries with
2 million 671 thousand U.S. dollar exports while Iran ranked at the
first place in exports to Asian countries with 1 million 297 thousand
U.S. dollar exports.
-FORMER AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENT ELCIBEY DIES
ANKARA - Former Azerbaijani President Ebulfez Elcibey, who was under
medical treatment in Gulhane Military Medical Academy (GATA) for some
time, died on Tuesday.
Elcibey, suffering from prostate tumour, was taken under treatment in
Ankara Hospital.
But, after Elcibey's illness aggravated, he was sent to GATA on August
9 to undergo radiotheraphy.
Officials said that when Elcibey came to Turkey, his metabolism was
very deteriorated, and he was in coma.
The officials added that as he was taken under treatment in Turkey,
his health condition became more stable but he suffered from not only
asthma and infection in lungs but also from prostate cancer.
-BIOGRAPHY OF ELCIBEY
BAKU - Former Azerbaijani President Ebulfez Elcibey, who passed away
in Ankara on Tuesday, was born in Nahcevan in 1938.
Elcibey graduated from Azerbaijan Baku State University's Arabian
Language and Literature Department.
In 1970s, Elcibey started to struggle for Azerbaijan's independence
which was in the territory of former Soviet Union.
He was captured in 1976 on charges of making propaganda against the
Soviet Union and was released conditionally in 1978.
Ebulfez Elcibey, who pioneered the Azerbaijani nation in its struggle
for independence between 1988 and 1989, was supported by his nation.
Elcibey started his active political life in 1989 by becoming the
leader of Azerbaijani Public Front Party (AHCP).
After Azerbaijan declared its independence on October 18, 1991,
Elcibey became the second President of Azerbaijan on June 7, 1992.
Following the riot of Suret Huseyinov, whom he had earlier presented
with ''National Hero Award'', in June 1993, Elcibey quitted presidency
and returned to his birthplace.
Elcibey returned back to Baku on October 31, 1997 and continued his
active political life in AHCP. He did not join the presidential
elections in 1998 by boycotting the elections by saying that they were
not democratic and fair.
Ebulfez Elcibey, who decided to join the second term parliamentary
elections that will be held on November 5, declared his candidacy.
Elcibey wrote a book titled ''In The Path For Whole Azerbaijan.''
Ebulfez Elcibey, who died at 62, was the father of two children.
-CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR ERCEL:
-''WE ARE NOT IMPATIENT BUT DETERMINED TO OMIT ZERO FROM TURKISH
LIRA''
NEW YORK - Central Bank Governor Gazi Ercel said on Tuesday that they
are not impatient to omit zero from Turkish Lira (TL) but they are
determined to do so.
Ercel evaluated first seven months following the signing of stand-by
agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a meeting held
in New York.
Turkish and U.S. bankers, investors and businessmen joined the
meeting.
Responding to questions, Ercel said that omitting zero from TL depends
on some conditions.
Ercel said, ''firstly, the inflation should decrease. We will watch
the inflation next year. Also, necessary laws should be passed by the
parliament. But, omitting zero from TL is my and Central Bank's
dream.''
When asked about Turkey's rating, Ercel noted that Turkey does not
deserve a single B.
Reminding that Standard & Poors will come to Turkey in September to
evaluate new situation, Ercel stated that as Turkey decreases the risk
factor, the rating will increase.
Ercel stressed that anti-inflation programme of the government targets
at preparing Turkey for European Union (EU) membership.
Ercel added that the inflation will be decreased to 10-12 percent next
year and to a single digit figure in 2002.
Gazi Ercel will hold various contacts with investors and bankers on
Tuesday.
He will go to Wyoming on Wednesday and join the annual meetings of
Kansas City federal banks.
-U.S. INTEREST IN TURKISH FOOD
CHICAGO - The pavilion which offers Turkish food in a fair in
Illinois, the U.S. for nine days, attracted the U.S. people.
Turkish pavilion run by Alaturka, a famous Turkish restaurant in
Chicago, served kebabs, doner, eggplant salad, baklava and burma.
The U.S. people who tasted Turkish food said that the Turkish cuisine
was very different from other cuisines and the food was very
delicious.
Leaflets that introduce Turkey were distributed in the pavilion.
Necati Kurtulus, who offered Turkish food in the fair, said that
Turkey has been represented in this fair for 16 years.
Kurtulus added that Turkish pavilion will continue to exist in this
fair which is visited by more than one million people in nine days.
-IMF TURKEY DESK CHIEF COTTARELLI SAYS TURKEY ACHIEVED TO KEEP
INFLATION AT A LOW RATE DESPITE OIL SHOCK
NEW YORK- Carlo Cottarelli, the International Monetary Fund's (IMF)
Turkey Desk Chief, said on Tuesday that Turkey achieved to keep the
inflation at a low rate in last six months despite the oil shock.
Cottarelli, who joined the conference given by Central Bank Governor
Gazi Ercel in New York, responded to the questions of the
journalists.
Cottarelli said that the government is successful in anti-inflation
programme despite the increase in oil prices.
Developments have been marked in every sector as the programme was put
into effect, Cottarelli noted.
Cottarelli stated that public debts decreased and targets were reached
in economic performances.
Stressing that they were talking about commitments six months ago but
now they are talking about performances, Cottarelli said that but,
there are still many things to be accomplished.
-IFAC GENERAL DIRECTOR JOHNSTON SAYS FIRSTLY, BANKS SHOULD BE
RE-ORGANIZED TO PREVENT MONEY LAUNDERING''
ISTANBUL - Peter Johnston, the General Director of International
Federation of Accountants (IFAC), said on Tuesday that firstly, the
banks should be re-organized to prevent money laundering.
Johnston, who is in Istanbul for the International Accountancy
Education Conference, told A.A correspondent that the governments
should re-organize the banking system.
The accountants are responsible for forming necessary standards to
obtain reliable financial schemes, but they can do nothing without the
support of governments, Johnston noted.
Johnston stated that international accountancy and audit standards
carry importance for foreign investors.
Foreign investors want to know whether or not the financial schemes
reflect the reality when they are to invest in a country, Johnston
stressed.
Johnston emphasized that foreign investors rely on the financial
schemes if they are formed in accordance with international
accountancy and audit standards.
-CULTURE MINISTER TALAY:
-''EFFORTS TO SAVE HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS THAT WILL REMAIN UNDER
WATERS OF DAMS CONTINUE WITH UTMOST CARE''
DIYARBAKIR - Culture Minister Istemihan Talay said on Tuesday that
efforts to save historical artifacts that will remain under the waters
of Ilisu and Karkamis dams continue with utmost care.
Talay, who will visit the excavation zone in Diyarbakir's Bismil and
Batman's Hasankeyf townships, told reporters that he came to the
region to see the excavations which will contribute to the world's
cultural heritage and archeology.
Talay noted that they have launched cooperation with the World Bank to
protect the historical heritage.
''We have formed a coordinator's office in our ministry. This office
will determine the projects on which we can have cooperation with the
World Bank. Also, we have shown Mardin as a candidate for the world
cultural heritage determined by the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for its interesting
historical structure,'' Talay said.
Talay added, ''Diyarbakir is also an important city with its city
walls. To this end, we have also shown Diyarbakir as a candidate for
the world cultural heritage.''
-SOUTHEASTERN RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
-U.N. TO EXTEND SUPPORT TO THE PROJECT WORTH OF THREE
MILLION U.S. DOLLARS
ERZURUM - Works started for the Southeastern Anatolia Rural
Development project, which will be supported by the United Nations
(U.N.)
Implementation of the project, prepared by Ataturk University
Agriculture Faculty, started after the U.N. accepted to support it.
Alfredo Wischi-Cestari, the U.N. Turkey representative, arrived in
eastern Erzurum province, within the framework of the project.
Pointing out that the U.N. supported many projects regarding
humanitarian development, Cestari noted they supported 24 projects in
Turkey.
Cestari said they liked the project prepared for the development of
the East, adding that, ''we will carry out the project in cooperation
with the university. This is my first visit to Erzurum. I came here to
put the project into effect. We will decide for the first activities
of the project, and assess the administrator of the project. I wish
the development project, supported by the U.N., will be lasting in
Erzurum.''
Prof. Vahap Yaganoglu, the Dean of the Agriculture Faculty, pointed
out that the project also covered Kars, Ardahan, Agri, and Igdir.
Yaganoglu said the project, which was prepared to better the
socio-economic structure, to overcome unemployment and immigration,
and to provide a sustainable source of income, was worth of three
million U.S. dollars.
-TREASURY UNDERSECRETARIAT:
''NEGOTIATIONS ON WORLD BANK CREDIT WEREN'T SUSPENDED''
ANKARA- The Undersecretariat of Treasury said on Tuesday that the news
published in the press the same day saying that the First Financial
Adjustment Loan that would be provided from the World Bank was
withdrawn, doesn't reflect the truth.
The Treasury said in a written statement that the credit issue is
expected to be taken up during the October meeting of the World Bank
Executive Directors as the proceedings about decree having the force
of law on reconstruction of the three public banks in Turkey have not
been completed.
The Treasury added that the negotiations for the credit weren't ended
or postponed.
-EXCAVATIONS IN IZNIK
-MASS GRAVES OF BYZANTINE SOLDIERS UNEARTHED
IZNIK- Skeletons of Byzantine soldiers, who were killed by the armies
of Crusaders, were found in five separate mass graves during the
ongoing archeological excavations in Iznik township in Bursa
province.
Archeolog Bedri Yalman, the chief of the team which carries out the
excavations on behalf of Culture Ministry, told A.A correspondent that
they obtained very important findings during the excavations that
started in 1980.
Yalman said skeletons of many Byzantine soldiers, who were buried one
on the other, were found in mass graves that were brought to daylight
in open air theater constructed in the 8th century.
''Crusaders, set up to prevent spreading of Seljuks, arrived in
Istanbul in 1204. Crusaders, who saw the richness of Byzantine Empire
here, seized the ruling, and declared Latin Empire.''
''Theodos Laskaris, Byzantine Emperor, withdrew to Iznik upon this
development, and continued his administration here. Crusaders felt
uneasy over this and this time staged attacks to Iznik. Clashes
occurred between the sides. Dead bodies of the Byzantine soldiers
could not be send away as the city was beiseiged, and they were buried
in threater field. There were marks of wounds and brain operations on
the skeletons,'' Yalman noted.
He said the open air theater had a capacity for 15,000 people, adding
that it was also destroyed by the Arab armies. Yalman also said canals
were used in the open air theater to discharge the water which filled
the place in rainy weather.
-TENDER OF ISDEMIR CANCELLED
ANKARA- The tender, which was opened for the privatization of
Iskenderun Iron and Steel Factories (ISDEMIR), was cancelled as only
one offer was made.
Privatization Administration Chairmanship cancelled the tender, which
it opened for the sale of 100 percent share of ISDEMIR. The period of
bidding expired on August 18.
Another tender is expected to be opened for the privatization of
ISDEMIR.
-PICASSO PAINTINGS SEIZED IN TURKEY
-KUWAIT TO TAKE A DECISION IN THE DIRECTION
OF INFORMATION THAT WILL BE GIVEN BY FOREIGN MINISTRY
ANKARA- Kuwait will take its decision, regarding the three Picasso
paintings that were seized in Aegean Izmir province, and southeastern
Sanliurfa province, in the direction of information that will be given
by the Foreign Ministry.
According to the information obtained from Kuwaiti Embassy, it was
reported that officials of the Embassy had requested information from
the Foreign Ministry after the first painting was found.
An official from the Embassy said they have not yet received any
information.
''La Fermiere,'' and ''Dora-Maar,'' paintings of Picasso were found in
Izmir, and ''The Portrait of a Young Woman,'' was found in operations
staged in Sanliurfa province.
It was earlier claimed that the paintings were stolen from Kuwait, and
wanted to be sold to Turkey after being taken from Peshmergas in
Northern Iraq.
Istemihan Talay, the Culture Minister, said the paintings would be
returned to their owners within international principles if the legal
owner of the paintings are found.
-QUAKE IN ANKARA
ISTANBUL - An earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale shook
BeypazarI township of central Ankara province on Tuesday.
Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Centre
recorded the quake at 14.40 local time in BeypazarI, which is in the
north of Ankara.
-TREASURY HOLDS TWO TENDERS
ANKARA - The Treasury Undersecretariat held two tenders on Tuesday.
The Treasury arranged one 11-month bond tender and 18-month debenture
bond tender.
The value date of 11-day bond tender is August 23 and the maturity is
July 18, 2001.
The Treasury realized 709.1 trillion liras of a net sale in this
tender.
The value date of the 18-month bond tender is August 23 and the
maturity is February 20, 2002.
The Treasury realized a net sale of 830.5 trillion TL in this second
tender.
vasif@fisav
>MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
>------------------
>BOMB OPERATION ON BRIDGE
bu ba$lik biraz tuhaf.... fakat gazete ba$liklari tuhaf olabilir.
Türkce ba$lik ne idi acaba...???
>One more stroke was hit on the illegal extreme leftist terrorist
>DHKP-C organization.
one more stroke was hit.... türkcesi her halde "...bir darbe daha
vuruldu." bunu da ingilizceye kelime kelime tercüme etmi$ler...
ingilizesi $öyle olmali= one more blow was dealt to....
>Police, who stopped a car belonging to a member
>of the illegal organization, seized 300 TNT bars, 30 hand grenades,
10
>electrical fuses, and 531 bullets purchased from Syria.
yukaridaki cümle $öyle tercüme edilse daha akici olur= stopping a car
belonging to a member of the illegal organization, the police seized
300 bars of TNT....
> It was claimed
>that the illegal organization which was getting prepared for a bloody
>attack, planned to explode the ammunition on the Bogazici Bridge.
>
>Police took into custody six people, including two Syrians.
Operations
>are underway.
===Operations (?) are underway..... her halde "investigations are
under way" demek istiyorlar. Operations sözcügünün türkcesi "harekat"
olur ki bu durumda uygun bir kelime olmaz.
--
vasif@fisav
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The triumph of mediocrity is represented by the body politic.
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Politics is the art of trying to unravel the repercussions of
yesterdays' policies.
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