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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-10-27
[01] AA Daily
27 October 1999 Wednesday
[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
[03] These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in
Turkey's press on Oct 27, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these
stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
[04] HURRIYET (LIBERAL) - ------------------ FEHRIYE CAPTURED Fehriye Erdal,
who was one of the assailants who killed famous businessman Ozdemir Sabanc�
and two other persons, was captured on October 13 in Belgium. Turkey
officially requested Belgium to extradite Fehriye Erdal who was arrested
and put in prison. The other suspect Ismail Akyol is still missing.
[05] ONLY 24 HOURS BEFORE NSC MEETING Vural Savas, the Chief Prosecutor of
the Supreme Court of Appeals issued a statement just before 24 hours to the
National Security Council (NSC) meeting today. President Demirel said that
''let's correct the wrong things, but I don't accept the view that
'everything is wrong and bad.'' Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that
''the security of Savas will be further provided.''
[06] MILLIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- MIT SEARCHES FOR IBDA-C The
National Intelligence Organization (MIT) started to follow 500 foreigners
who entered Turkey to find the murderers of Professor Ahmet Taner K�slal�.
Those persons who are connected with the illegal fundemantalist
organization IBDA-C (Great Eastern Islamic Raiders' Front) were taken into
custody. Meanwhile, MIT also examines smoke-coloured BMW cars, as witnesses
saw one of them after K�slal�'s assassination.
[07] HIGH TENSION The words of Vural Savas, the Chief Prosecutor of the
Supreme Court of Appeals created high tension in Ankara. Savas said ''a
similar provision to the abolished Article 163 should be included in the
Turkish Penal Code. The government should have the right of censorship.
Telephones should be tapped without the court decision. The laws in Europe
should be adopted for the struggle against terrorism. Terrorists should be
put in military prisons. Our politicians shouldn't try to abolish Article
312 of the Turkish Penal Code and to provocate the issue of wearing
religious head scarf.''
[08] SABAH (LIBERAL) - -------------- REWARD TO CEVIK BIR The Jewish
National Security Institute in the U.S. gave ''international leadership''
reward to Retired General Cevik Bir. Generals of the U.S. army and 20 U.S.
congress members were present in the ceremony.
[09] BLONDE ASSAILANT The police in Ankara determined that three assailants
placed the bomb in the car of Professor Ahmet Taner K�slal�. One of the
assailants was a blonde woman in mini-skirts. Meanwhile, the police in
Istanbul raided the office of the ''Furkan'' magazine of the illegal
fundemantalist organization IBDA-C and took into custody nine persons.
[10] CUMHURIYET (LEFT) - ---------------- IBDA-C PROBABLY RESPONSIBLE FROM
KISLALI'S MURDER The information and findings achieved from the
investigation regarding the murder of Ahmet Taner K�slal� last Thursday,
started to be more clear. Kemal Iskender, the director general of security
of Ankara stressed that there are some developments about the investigation,
adding ''we have to be patient.'' Officials noted that the bomb used in the
assassination of K�slal� was used by illegal fundemantalist organization
IBDA-C in its other activities.
[11] DGM TO INVESTIGATE AKIT Hikmet Sami Turk, the Justice Minister
published a circular yesterday saying necessary proceedings should be
started about press organs which target certain persons or institutions.
Meanwhile, Prosecutors' Office of Bagc�lar transferred the investigation
file about Akit newspaper to Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) as it
decided that it is not authorized to investigate the case. Akit newspaper
had targetted K�slal�.
[12] RADIKAL (LEFT) - --------------- MURDERER IS IBDA-C It became clear
that journalist-writer and professor Ahmet Taner Kislali was murdered by
the illegal fundamentalist Islamic Great Eastern Raiders' Front (IBDA-C)
organization. The security units' operations in Turkey and abroad continue.
The intelligence units revealed that the illegal IBDA-C which declared 1999
as the ''year for destruction of Turkey'', was preparing itself to stage
similar attacks.
[13] KUTAN: ''PROSECUTOR IS PROVOKER'' Recai Kutan of the Virtue Party (FP)
said, ''the statements of Cheif Prosecutor Vural Savas were totally
provocative. Nobody should consider himself as more patriotic than us.''
[14] BASIS OF COMPROMISE IN DIALOGUE The sides reached the basis of
compromise in several issues in the Turkish-Greek dialogue. Athens is now
observing Ankara's draft bilateral agreement for cooperation in struggle
against terrorism. The disturbing definitions will be taken out from the
text-books in the Turkish and Greek schools. The results of the dialogue
will be evaluated in a meeting between Turkish and Greek Foreign Ministers
Ismail Cem and Yorgo Papandreou today in Salonica.
[15] RICH COUNTRY, POOR PEOPLE Turkey is the 22nd biggest economy in the
world with her 200.5 billion U.S. dollars Gross National Product. However,
she is ranked 89th in the world when the national income per capita is
taken into consideration. The national income per capita is 3,160 U.S.
dollars in Turkey. The 65 million population in Turkey is the main reason
for this.
[16] OUR CORRUPTION RANKING IS 3.6 The Social Transparency Movement
Association announced the corruption index in 1999. Turkey is ranked 54th
among 99 countries.
[17] T�RK�YE (RIGHT) - ---------------- VICTORY DAY IN BERLIN Galatasaray
beat Germany's Hertha BSC Berlin away 4-1 in the UEFA Champions' League
group match played late on Tuesday. With this result, our chance to join
the UEFA Cup increased.
[18] INVESTIGATION INTO AKIT NEWSPAPER The Prosecutors' office in Bagc�lar
district of Istanbul sent the investigation file which it started about
Akit newspaper to Istanbul State Security Court (DGM).
[19] ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) - -------------------- POLITICAL SABOTAGE The
Parliament reacted to the statement of Supreme Court Chief Prosecutor Vural
Savas while the leaders commented on the agenda. Chief Prosecutor Savas
made shocking statement to the press. Savas made anti-democratic requests
like ''revival of Article 163 of the Turkish Penal Code, telephone-tapping
without judge decision, and enforcement of terrorist crimes at military
prisons''. Premier Bulent Ecevit said he did not want to be involved in the
discussions about Savas's requests but he opposed to Savas's criticisms
against the Parliament. Ecevit said Devlet Bahceli, the Deputy Prime
Minister gave necessary instructions to the security officials for the
protection of Savas. President Suleyman Demirel said, ''the protests during
the funeral of Ahmet Taner Kislali were provocative. If we consider some
people as secular and some people as anti-secular, than we will be
separated. '' Mesut Yilmaz of the Motherland Party (ANAP) said, ''the
people who will lose their posts, feel uneasy about the democracy in
Turkey. The assasination of Ahmet Taner Kislali was a political sabotage
aiming at changing the route of Turkey.''
[20] DO YOU SUFFER A PANG OF CONSCIENCE? Thousands of people who lost their
everything in the strong quake and are now living in rambling tents, think
that the prefabricated huts can't finish before winter. Only ten percent of
those huts were handed over, but the state promised to finish all of them
by November 30. Besides, the state can't allocate field to the private
sector.
[21] NATIONAL DAY OF TURKMENISTAN - PRESIDENT DEMIREL CONGRATULATES
TURKMENBASI
[22] ANKARA, Oct 27 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel congratulated on
Wednesday Saparmurad Turkmenbasi, the President of Turkmenistan, upon the
National Day of Turkmenistan. The Presidential Press Center said Demirel
sent a congratulatory message to Turkmenbasi. ''Dear Mr. President and My
Beloved Brother, On behalf of the Turkish nation, I congratulate you and
our friendly Turkmen brothers and sisters over the eighth anniversary of
the independence of Turkmenistan. I am following with pleasure the progress
that Turkmenistan has recorded in every field in this very short period
under your successful leadership. I am pleased with observing that our
relations which take power from the historical ties, recorded considerable
progress in the mutual high-level visits. I believe that the relations and
cooperation opportunities between our two countries will increase in the
coming period. With this respect, I want to mention that I will be pleased
to see you in Turkey in the shortest time-frame. I convey my compliments to
you and our Turkmen sisters and brothers, and I want to once again express
my gratitude over your material and moral support you have given following
the earthquake disaster in Turkey,'' President Demirel said in his message.
[23] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM PROCEEDS TO GREECE FROM GERMANY
[24] BERLIN, Oct 27 (A.A) - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem who came to Berlin,
Germany as a guest of German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer, went to
Greece on Wednesday. Cem will participate in the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation (BSEC) Foreign Ministers meeting that will be held held in
Salonica the same day. Cem also watched Herta Berlin-Galatasaray soccer
match in Germany.
[25] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM TO GO TO CROATIA
[26] ANKARA, Oct 27 (A.A) - Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister will go to
Croatia on November 1 as the guest of Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister Mate Granic. Sermet Atacanli, the Foreign Ministry
Spokesman, in his weekly press meeting told reporters that Cem would
discuss the developing political relations between Turkey and Croatia
during his two day visit to this country. During his meetings in Croatia,
Cem will also exchange views on economic and cultural relations as well as
regional and international issues which concern both countries.
[27] FM CEM: ''RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECE ARE IMPROVING''
[28] SALONICA, Oct 27 (A.A) - Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, said on
Wednesday that the relations between Turkey and Greece are improving. Cem,
who is in Salonica to participate in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
(BSEC) Foreign Ministers' Council Meeting, responded to the questions of
the journalists. Cem noted that the relations between the members of the
BSCE are good and the members try to improve the relations in such
meetings. When asked about the level of the Turkish-Greek relations, Cem
said, ''our relations with Greece is improving. The trust between the two
countries is also improving. I think this is important. I believe
continuation of the relations in this level will result in a closer
cooperation of the governments of the two countries in the future.''
Meanwhile, Cem and George Papandreou, Greek Foreign Minister, are expected
to have a tete-a-tete meeting within the framework of the meeting. The
diplomatic sources said that the ongoing dialogue process between the two
countries reached a concrete point. Some agreements on the encouragement of
tourism, environment, culture, economy-trade, technology, and investments,
and prevention of double taxation are being prepared, the sources noted.
The sources stated that these agreements will be prepared by the diplomats
of the two countries before the Helsinki summit which will be held in
December. The agreements are planned to be signed by Cem and Papandreu, the
sources stressed. A diplomatic source told A.A correspondent that the
progress which cannot be ensured in the Turkish-Greek relations for 30
years, was ensured in the recent six months. The diplomats of the two
countries will try to prepare the agreement on having cooperation against
terrorism before the Helsinki summit, the same source said.
[29] FM CEM: ''RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECE ARE IMPROVING''
[30] SALONICA, Oct 27 (A.A) - Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, said on
Wednesday that the relations between Turkey and Greece are improving. Cem,
who is in Salonica to participate in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation
(BSEC) Foreign Ministers' Council Meeting, responded to the questions of
the journalists. Cem noted that the relations between the members of the
BSCE are good and the members try to improve the relations in such
meetings. When asked about the level of the Turkish-Greek relations, Cem
said, ''our relations with Greece is improving. The trust between the two
countries is also improving. I think this is important. I believe
continuation of the relations in this level will result in a closer
cooperation of the governments of the two countries in the future.''
Meanwhile, Cem and George Papandreou, Greek Foreign Minister, are expected
to have a tete-a-tete meeting within the framework of the meeting. The
diplomatic sources said that the ongoing dialogue process between the two
countries reached a concrete point. Some agreements on the encouragement of
tourism, environment, culture, economy-trade, technology, and investments,
and prevention of double taxation are being prepared, the sources noted.
The sources stated that these agreements will be prepared by the diplomats
of the two countries before the Helsinki summit which will be held in
December. The agreements are planned to be signed by Cem and Papandreu, the
sources stressed. A diplomatic source told A.A correspondent that the
progress which cannot be ensured in the Turkish-Greek relations for 30
years, was ensured in the recent six months. The diplomats of the two
countries will try to prepare the agreement on having cooperation against
terrorism before the Helsinki summit, the same source said.
[31] CULTURE MINISTER TALAY GOES TO U.S.
[32] ISTANBUL, Oct 27 (A.A) - Istemihan Talay, the Minister of Culture went
to the U.S. on Wednesday to join the coordination activities of Jewish
lobbies who are working to send aid to quake survivors in Turkey. Talay
told reporters at Ataturk Airport that Turkey's relations with Israel
recently increased considerably. He also noted that his ministry was
working hard to expand relations with Israeli Culture Ministry. Talay will
attend a meeting in the U.S. organized to better manage quake aids
collected through the efforts of Jewish lobbies in New York. Israeli
Culture Ministry will also be represented at the meeting. Mehmet Nuri
Yilmaz, the Head of the Religious Affairs is also accompanying Talay in the
U.S. Talay, following his U.S. visit, will join UNESCO Culture Ministers'
meeting in Paris.
[33] FOREIGN MINISTRY DENIES SOME NEWS ABOUT CEM'S LATIN AMERICA VISIT
[34] ANKARA, Oct 27 (A.A) - The Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that
certain news that appeared regarding Latin America tour of Foreign Minister
Cem did not reflect the truth and stressed that his visit aimed to open out
Turkey to Latin America. An unidentified newspaper published untrue news
about Cem's visit in the last two days and continued to do so even after
the Foreign Ministry provided this newspaper with the necessary information
both verbally and in writing, the Foreign Ministry stated. Cem's Latin
America tour was scheduled long time ago, it was said in the statement.
''These visits are a continuation of our Ministry's policy to opening out
to Latin America. Like every country, Turkey also realizes its foreign
policy activities in a certain programme and a calender. Turkey is a great
country which is opening out to the world. Its foreign policy activities
reflect this development,'' the Foreign Ministry said. The Ministry also
explained that Turkey and Cuba did not sign an agreement about joint cigar
production which has been on the agenda of both countries for a long time.
The project will be first voted in the Higher Planning Council and Cem
informed Cuban authorities about this development. News regarding the
number of suitcases the delegation members had with them and their cigar
purchases in Cuba in the aforementioned newspaper were completely untrue,
the Foreign Minister stressed.
[35] 15TH MEETING ISEDAK TO BE STAGED IN ISTANBUL
[36] ANKARA, Oct 27 (A.A) - The 15th Meeting of the Organization of Islamic
Conference Economic and Commercial Cooperation Permanent Committee (ISEDAK)
will be staged in Istanbul between November 4 and 7, 1999. A statement of
the State Planning Organization (DPT) said on Wednesday that Turkey will
participate in the meeting with a delegation headed by Devlet Bahceli, the
State Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister. The ISEDAK High-Ranking
Experts will convene under the chairmanship of Akin Izmirlioglu, the Acting
DPT Undersecretary, between November 4 and 5, the statement noted. The
statement added that the experts will complete the necessary preparations
on the issues which will be discussed during the meeting. President
Suleyman Demirel is expected to chair the opening session of the meeting on
November 6 while Bahceli is expected to chair the ministers' session which
will be held the same day, the statement stressed. The developments in the
global economy in respect of the member countries, the developments about
the implementation of economic cooperation action plan and the relations
with the World Trade Organization (WTO) will be discussed in the meeting,
the statement emphasized. The ISEDAK carries out efforts to improve the
multilateral economic and commercial cooperation among the member
countries. A total of 56 countries are the members of ISEDAK and the ISEDAK
has four observer members.
[37] COOPERATION BETWEEN INTELLIGENCE UNITS OF TURKEY AND GREECE DISCUSSED
IN DIALOGUE PROCESS
[38] ATHENS, Oct 27 (A.A) - Cooperation between the intelligence units of
Turkey and Greece was discussed in the Turkish-Greek dialogue process. A
Turkish diplomat told A.A correspondent on Wednesday that the proposal on
having cooperation between the National Security Organization and Greek
intelligence unit EYP was submitted when the security issues were being
discussed. Senkal Atasagun, the head of MIT, and Pavlos Apostolidis, the
head of EYP, will meet each other within this framework, the diplomat said.
[39] LOGAN, BRITISH AMBASSADOR, IN DIYARBAKIR
[40] DIYARBAKIR, Oct 27 (A.A) - David Logan, British Ambassador in Ankara,
visited Feridun Celik, Diyarbakir Mayor, on Wednesday. Celik said that the
British companies have joint ventures with Turks in the region. Logan said
that he visits different parts of Turkey to recognize this country better.
Britain attributes importance to her economic and trade relations with
Turkey, Logan noted. Logan added that Britain wants to increase her
investments in Turkey.
[41] FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS CYPRUS PROBLEM WAS AN ISSUE ONLY BETWEEN TWO
SIDES ON ISLAND
[42] SELONIKA, Oct 27 (A.A) - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said on Wednesday
that the Cyprus problem was an issue only between the two sides on the
island. Cem told A.A that the Cyprus problem was not discussed during the
meetings between Turkey and Greece. ''The Cyprus problem is an issue only
between the two sides on the island. The committee activities which were
developed by the good will of Turkey and Greece have nothing to do with the
Cyprus problem,'' he noted. Some concrete developments already take place
in these meetings and a more consistent relationship already started
between Turkey and Greece, Foreign Minister Cem said. ''The continuation of
this atmosphere is for the benefit of both countries. The committee
activities which we started in June have reached a certain maturity. By the
end of November or beginning of December, we should be able to see more
clearly what we have done so far and what we will do in the future,'' Cem
stated. ''I find this positive atmosphere between the two countries very
important, but at the same time I approach it with caution. What is obvious
is that a mutual trust is being formed between the two societies. This is
very important. Because cooperation will grow stronger as long as this
trust exists. This will be a serious step to turn the tension in the Aegean
into understanding and tolerance,'' Cem continued. When asked the reason of
his cautious attitute, Cem said Turkey and Greece had many conflicts for
long years.
A.A
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