Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-05-02

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

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

[01] AA News

02 May 2000 Tuesday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

PEACEFUL MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS
May Day was celebrated peacefully throughout Turkey while clashes erupted in May Day celebrations in many countries. More than 10 thousand people attended the rally organized by the Confederation of the Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-Is), the Hak-Is, the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK), and the Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK), in Caglayan Square in Istanbul to mark the May Day. At the rally, agreements signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), were protested. High security measures were taken in Istanbul during the rally. Nearly 27 thousand security forces were deployed in Caglayan Square.

YILMAZ: ''LET'S ELECT SEZER WITHOUT WEARING HIM DOWN''
Mesut Yilmaz, leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said that the country lost three days because other candidates, apart from Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the Chairman of Constitutional Court, did not withdraw from the candidacy. Yilmaz said, ''if other candidates had respected will of the Parliament, it would be possible to get a result today. We should elect Sezer without wearing him down.'' Yilmaz added, ''I cannot understand Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut's insistence. His attitude damages the party.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

FERRY CRUISES LAUNCHED BETWEEN BODRUM AND KOS ISLAND
Ferryboat cruises have been launched between Bodrum township of Aegean Mugla province and Kos Island. Officials of the companies which will organize ferryboat and sea bus cruises between Bodrum and Kos, said that there were cruises between Bodrum and Kos only on three days of the week in winter, but that there would be cruises between two places every day from now on. The officials noted that the ferryboat return ticket per person is 10 million 500 thousand Turkish liras. The number of cruises will be increased to two as of June 15. Ferryboat and sea bus cruises are expected to revive tourism.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

U.S. PRAISES TURKEY'S STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM
Annual ''Global Terrorism'' report, issued by the U.S. State Department, said that Turkey put a heavy blow on terrorist PKK organization last year. The report stressed that several European countries did not bring Ocalan in front of justice, and violated the international agreements they signed. The report reiterated that PKK was a terrorist organization. In the general evaluation of the report regarding Europe, it was stated that terrorist activities of PKK and DHKP-C terrorist organizations decreased in 1999 when compared to the previous year, due to the tight security and intelligence measures.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

POPE TO RECEIVE TURKISH BUSINESSMEN
Pope Jean Paul II will receive a twenty-person delegation including officials representing the European private sector in Vatican. Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) Chairman Erkut Yucaoglu, TUSIAD Deputy Chairman Aldo Kaslowski and European Union (EU) Representative Bahadir Kaleagasi will take place in the delegation.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

BODY OF AKSOY, MAYOR OF GERGER, FOUND
Bodies of Izzet Aksoy, the Mayor of Gerger township of southeastern Adiyaman province who had been missing for seven months, and his three friends were found in a cliff in Gazipasa township of southern Antalya province. The bodies which were found in an automobile, were sent to morgue for autopsy. Izzet Aksoy, Gafar Gokalp, Mehmet Hamdi Yuce, and Nilufer Sanci are believed to be killed in a traffic accident. There were news reports claiming that Aksoy and his friends were abducted and killed by the terrorist Hezbollah organization.

YEN� B�NYIL (LIBERAL)

ASILTURK: ''THEY WILL SET UP A NEW POLITICAL PARTY''
Oguzhan Asilturk, the ''shadow'' of Necmettin Erbakan, the former leader of the closed Welfare Party (RP) in the Virtue Party (FP), claimed that Abdullah Gul and his supporters would defect from the FP after the Congress on May 14 and set up a new political party. Asilturk defended that Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the former Mayor of Istanbul, was heading this movement.

TUSIAD: ''TEMPO OF ADJUSTMENT TO EU
NORMS HAS SLOWED DOWN SERIOUSLY''
Very slow and irregular continuation of works on adjustment to the EU makes the business circle uneasy and worried. Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) Chairman Erkut Yucaoglu said, ''the works continue very slowly. We must increase the tempo and make use of the summer. The adjustment to the Copenhagen criteria can be completed and negotiations for full-membership start in two years if it is wanted. This will also increase our bargaining power but we have to achieve this as soon as possible.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

13 AGENT PROVOCATEURS CAPTURED
In the operations launched in Istanbul, illegal DHKP-C, MLKP and TIKKO organizations' member 13 people who were planning to open fire on police were detained.

PEACEFUL MAY DAY
The celebrations on May Day in Istanbul were held in a peaceful atmosphere. during the celebrations, a total of 27 thousand policemen were assigned to secure peace and public order.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

EXTENDED ROUND IN GSM
The final round in the Transportation and Communications Ministry's tender for the fourth GSM phone network licence will be held today. Four consortia will vie for being the fourth GSM operator in the auction. The lowest bid price in the auction will be 2 billion 525 million U.S. dollars. Is Bankasi- Telecom Italia won the first licence in return for 2 billion 525 million U.S. dollars last month.

FLOOD CLAIMS THREE LIVES
A tractor carrying workers in Kizilcukur village in Sarigol township of Aegean Manisa province grabbed by flood, killing three people including a child, and injuring a person seriously.

[03] AMERICAN EXIMBANK EXTENDS 523 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS LOAN TO TURKEY

American Eximbank said it had approved a 334 million U.S. dollars loan for power plant project in Gebze township of Kocaeli, and 189 million U.S. dollars for power plant project in Adapazari.

The two power plants will be constructed with the equipment that will be purchased from American exporters.

American companies Bechtel Enterprises and General Electric take part in construction of two power plants.

American Eximbank said that it would finalize its evaluation of a power plant project in Izmir in a few months.

[04] FIDYAK'S MEETING ON STRUGGLE AGAINST INFLATION

Onal attended a meeting on ''Disinflation and Restructuring Program and National Agreement Document: Targets, Realizations and Expectations'' organized by the Financial World Publication Committee (FIDYAK).

Onal stated that wholesale prices index had increased 29.3 percent in February and 24.4 percent in March, and consumer prices index increased 24. percent in February but it decreased 21.6 percent in March 2000.

Noting that the government did not undertake any commitment for monthly developments in inflation, Onal said, ''our target is to follow annual decrease in price increase rates and to decrease them under ten percent at the end of the three-year program.''

Recalling that the government targeted to turn public sector deficit which had been nearly 2.7 percent of GNP as of end-1999 into a 2.2 percent surplus in 2000, Onal said, ''when the results of the program in first quarter, it is seen that primary surplus was 2.7 trillion Turkish Liras (TL) and Treasury's cash balance non-interest surplus was 1.5 qaudrillion TL.''

Onal stated that those two results had proved that the target for stabilizing and decreasing of public debt stock and reducing the interest burden by providing the financial discipline were about to be achieved.

Onal said that Turkey had adopted a strategy which aimed at using domestic savings rationally and steering them toward investments in spite of interest payments.

''The high tax revenue in first quarter of the year and the high amount of external borrowing have started to reduce the public sector's domestic borrowing requirement,'' he stated.

Onal said that the Central Bank's net assets were in currently in consonant with the ceiling set forth in the program, and the net foreign exchange reserves were above the 12 billion U.S. dollars ceiling.

''After the tenders for POAS, TUPRAS and Turk Telekom GSM in the first four months, it was understood that two-thirds of the 7.6 billion U.S. dollars of privatization revenue target for 2000 could be achieved. This situation can imply that the target could be exceeded at the end of the year,'' he added.

Recep Onal said that the draft law which will grant Agricultural Cooperatives Union autonomy had been submitted to the Parliament.

''Turkey is the only candidate country which signed Customs Union deal with the EU. And if we fulfil the monetary unity, we enter the EU. The EU becomes obliged to accept Turkey's full-membership,'' Onal stressed.

Responding to a question, Onal stated that six zeros should be chopped from the TL banknotes after the inflation decreased below ten percent but also the psychological preparations had to be made to this end.

[05] PROFILE OF EXPORTS FROM GAP REGION - IN FIRST THREE MONTHS, 134 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF AGRICULTURAL AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS EXPORTED

In the same period last year, the region exported 139 million 277 thousand U.S. dollars of agricultural and animal products to 81 countries.

In the January-March 2000 period, Turkey entered into new markets like Dagestan, Latvia, Ghana, Slovenia, Congo, Libya, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia while she lost markets of Ireland, Yemen, Oman, Benin, Belarus, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ivory Coasts, Gambia, Nigeria, Sudan, the People's Republic of China, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nepal.

Abdulkadir Cikmaz, the Chairman of the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union, told the A.A correspondent on Tuesday that in the first three months of the year, they exported 73 million 217 thousand U.S. dollars in textiles; 23 million 383 thousand U.S. dollars in grain-cereals; 11 million 641 thousand U.S. dollars in dried fruits; 453 thousand U.S. dollars in livestock; and 25 million 393 thousand U.S. dollars in industrial products.

''We realized 46.5 million U.S. dollars to Europe in exports; 32.9 million U.S. dollars in exports to the Middle East; 10.7 million U.S. dollars in exports to the Turkish Republics; 2.03 million U.S. dollars in exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States; 2.8 million U.S. dollars to Africa; 8.5 million U.S. dollars to the America continent; and 29.9 million U.S. dollars in exports to other countries in the first three months of 2000,'' Cikmaz added.

[06] SPANISH GOVERNMENT TO DONATE ONE MILLION DOLLARS TO TUZ LAKE PROJECT

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Environment Minister Efvzi Aytekin said that Spain would also give a loan to finance the whole project which would cost 87.5 million U.S. dollars.

Aytekin said the project would start immediately with the construction of Waste Water Refinery Facility in central Konya province.

Aytekin stressed that Tuz Lake which supplies 73 percent of domestic salt demand is one of the most important water-bowls in the world.

''In the preliminary feasibility report, it has been estimated that the total project cost of the Konya, Aksaray, Sereflikochisar and Cihanbeyli sewer-waste water refinery and solid waste disposal failities is 87 million 536 thousand U.S. dollars,'' he stated.

Aytekin recalled that the Spanish government would also give a 400 million U.S. dollars loan for the investments in tourism, environment and transportation, and donate ten million U.S. dollars to the feasibility reports on those projects.

Aytekin said Spain would donate one million U.S. dollars for the feasibility report on the Tuz Lake project, and that he would leave for Spain in coming days to sign an agreement for the extension of half of this donation.

[07] TURKEY'S SARKOY AND GREECE'S PARALIA TO BE SISTER MUNICIPALITIES

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Sarkoy Mayor Suleyman Altinok said on Tuesday that Paralia Mayor Hristos Boyacis and an accompanying 200-person delegation would come to Sarkoy on May 4, and an agreement which would declare Sarkoy and Paralia as ''Sister Municipalities'' would be signed.

Altinok added, ''we will contribute to recent rapproachement between Turkey and Greece. We have decided to make Sarkoy and Paralia sister municipalities as a result of our bilateral contacts. We will welcome our Greek guests on May 4 with flowers. We will sign an agreement the same day. We will host a pleasing dinner in honor of our Greek guests.''

[08] WORLD BANK-BANKING SECTOR

Sources said on Tuesday that the FSAL experts who had held contacts at the concerning institutions in Ankara returned to Washington D.C. after concluding their works on Savings Account Insurance Fund (TMSF).

Sources said the World Bank had put forward the condition of finalization of legal arrangements for granting public banks autonomous structure and later privatization of them by June 30, 2000 for the extension of FSAL loan.

Sources said the 750 million U.S. dollars FSAL loan could be postponed in case of a failure in finalization of legal arrangements in question by end- June.

The World Bank earlier approved to extend the loan in two equal parts.

[09] BALANCE OF PAYMENTS (1) - THE DEFICIT IN BALANCE OF CURRENT ACCOUNT ITEMS IS 365 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN JANUARY

A statement issued by Central Bank said current account items, gave a surplus of 870 million U.S. dollars last January.

Foreign trade deficit widened 673.3 percent when compared with last years' figures. Exportation incomes increased by 7.7 percent, shuttle trade increased by 38.2 percent, however costs of importation figures increased 44.8 percent.

[10] JAZZ SINGER DIANNE REEVES DUE IN ANKARA

Reeves will give two concerts within the framework of the 17th International Ankara Music Festival.

Dianne Reeves was nominated a candidate for the Grammy Award in ''Best Female Jazz Singer'' category in 1995 for her album titled ''Quiet After the Storm.''

The other albums of Reeves are ''Welcome to My Love'', ''For Every Heart'', ''The Nearness of You'', ''I Remember'' and ''Bridges.''

Reeves had earlier given a concert in Ankara.

Dianne Reeves is considered as one of the most important personalities of jazz with her contralto voice.

Reeves has a vocal range of about 3.5 octaves.

[11] 28TH INTERNATIONAL ISTANBUL MUSIC FESTIVAL TO TAKE PLACE BETWEEN JUNE 7-JULY 1

Speaking at a press conference at Istanbul's The Marmara Hotel, Sakir Eczacibasi, Executive Board Director of the foundation, said that 30 concerts and shows would be staged at Ataturk Culture Center and Aya Irini Museum, and added:

''This year's program is very rich indeed. The main themes of this year are 'Britain-Turkey 2000' and 'Johann Sebastian Bach on his 250th Death Anniversary'. Within this framework, we will host the Piano Circus, The King's Concert Chorus, Michael Nyman Band, Philarmonia Orchestra and Chorus, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and Julian Lloyd Webber and Adventures in Motion.''

Director of the Executive Board of the sponsor, Eczacibasi Holding Inc, Bulent Eczacibasi expressed pleasure over sponsoring the event one more time, and said, ''We think it of crucial importance to give support to culture and arts as part of our contributions to economic and social life.''

A total of 700 artists from Britain, the United States, New Zealand, Belgium, Germany, Israel, France, and India, and 150 others from around Turkey will take part in the festival, which will involve also 4 orchestras, 5 chamber orchestras; 5 contemporary music, 3 vocal music, and 2 traditional music concerts; two recitals, 6 ballet and dance shows, and two chamber music concerts.

The first concert of the festival to be given by Piano Circus, will take place at Ataturk Culture Center on June 7th.

[12] BALANCE OF PAYMENTS (2) - LUGGAGE TRADE REACHES 170 MILLION DOLLARS IN JANUARY

The Central Bank data showed that the export revenue of FOB (free on board) including the luggage trade was 2 billion 260 million U.S. dollars in January 2000 with an increase of 10.6 percent.

The gold import in January 2000 reached 98 million U.S. dollars with an increase of 172.1 percent. The gold import of January 1999 was 36 million U.S. dollars.

The import revenue of FOB including the gold import, which was 2 billion 163 million U.S. dollars in January 1999, increased 47.4 percent to 3 billion 188 million U.S. dollars in January 2000.

The foreign trade deficit increased to 928 million U.S. dollars in January 2000 with an increase of 673.3 percent.

The foreign trade deficit was 120 million U.S. dollars in January 1999.

The Central Bank data indicated that the tourism revenue which was 196 million U.S. dollars in January 1999, increased 10.7 percent to 217 million U.S. dollars.

The tourism expenditure reached 111 million U.S. dollars with 42.3 percent increase in January 2000.

The tourism expenditure was 78 million U.S. dollars in January 1999.

Thus, Turkey had net 106 million U.S. dollar foreign currency inflow in January 2000.

The revenue of other goods and services decreased from 1 billion 127 million U.S. dollars to 717 million U.S. dollars, and the expenditures of other goods and services reduced from 577 million U.S. dollars to 555 U.S. dollars in January 2000 when compared to the figures of January 1999.

The revenue of workers decreased 6.4 percent in January 2000. The revenue of workers which was 405 million U.S. dollars in January 1999, was 379 million U.S. dollars in 2000.

The net foreign investments in Turkey increased from 400 million U.S. dollars to 435 million U.S. dollars in January 2000.

The net investments of the Turkish people in foreign countries climbed to 497 million U.S. dollars in January 2000. The net investments of the Turkish people in foreign countries was 78 million U.S. dollars in January 1999.

Thus, the net increase of the direct investments was 62 million U.S. dollars.

The Central Bank data indicated that Turkey did not materialize debenture bond issue or repayment in international capital markets in January 1999 while it issued 1.5 billion U.S. dollar debenture bonds in January 2000.

The portfolia investments inflow which was 126 million U.S: dollars in January 1999, climbed to 974 million U.S. dollars this year.

The Central Bank data showed that the long-term foreign loan usage increased from 814 million U.S. dollars to 1 million U.S. dollars in January 2000.

The principal money repayments increased to 1 billion 6 million U.S. dollars in January 2000. The principal money repayment was 738 million U.S. dollars in January 1999.

The bank repayed net 513 million U.S. dollar loan in January 2000.

The official reserves decreased 68 million U.S. dollars in January 2000 while the deposit accounts increased to 656 million U.S. dollars when compared with the figures of January 1999.

[13] EUROPEAN KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS TO TAKE PLACE IN ISTANBUL

Chairman of the Karate Federation Aybars Kilichan, federation officials, Technical Director of the National Karate Team Dogan Kilic, and chief trainer Ersoy Cirlar held a joint press conference in Atakoy Holiday Resort on Tuesday.

About 900 sportsmen from 36 countries, including Turkey, will participate in the three-day champioship, which will take place at Abdi Ipekci Sports Hall.

The Turkish National Team consists of 23 sportsmen, 12 male and 11 female.

[14] LINKED SEAS-2000 NAVAL EXERCISE STARTS

According to the information given by the General Staff, the manoeuvres which are organized by NATO's Commander in Chief of South Atlantic (CINSOUTHLANT), are being exercised in Bay of Biscay of France, west of Portugal and Madeira Islands.

Turkey is participating in the manoeuvres with TCG Akdeniz Frigate.

Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany are taking part in the exercises with several ships and planes.

The Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) and Europe's Advance Marine Technology Force (EUROMARFOR) are also taking part in the manoeuvres.

Military staff from Austria, Estonia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Georgia are participating in the manoeuvres, which are open to the Partnership For Peace (PFP) countries.

The humanitarian aid manoeuvres, the embargo methods and the establishment of sea control will be exercised during the manoeuvres.

The manoeuvres will end on May 15, 2000 with an amphibious exercise on Porto Santo Island in the Madeira Isles.

The TCG Akdeniz Frigate will return to Turkey after anchoring briefly at the Casablanca harbour of Morocco between May 16 and 19, 2000.

[15] GSM 1800 PHONE NETWORK LICENCE NOT SOLD

Four consortia which were invited to the second phase of the tender, said that it was not possible to give service with such a high floor price and that they would not join the tender.

Metin Yilmaz, the Spokesman of the Tender Commission, asked the consortia whether or not they accepted the floor price of the first licence which was 2 billion 525 million U.S. dollars.

None of the members of the consortium headed by Sabanci Holding, joined today's tender.

The Sabanci Holding submitted a petition saying that it thinks that purchasing the licence was not feasible under these conditions, to the commission.

Zeynel Abidin Erdem, speaking on behalf of the consortium headed by GEN-PA, said that their consortium could not tolerate the floor price.

Ali Yildirim Koc, the representative of the Koc Holding, and Bulent Esat Celik, the representative of the Fiba Holding consortium, also said that they would not join the tender.

When one of the representatives asked whether or not it was possible to extend the validity term of the tender, Yilmaz said, ''this tender is over. It is illegally impossible to extend the validity term. The Transportation Ministry will decide about the following procedures.''

[16] EXPORTATION INCREASED 3.3 PERCENT IN APRIL WHEN COMPARED WITH THE FIGURES OF THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR

According to the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) data, exportation worth of 2.144.5 billion U.S. dollars was registered in April. Total exportation in January-April period was calculated as 8.787 billion U.S. dollars.

A 7.4 percent increase has been recorded in industry sector products in exportation which began to recover in April.

Ready wear exportation, which has 27 percent share in total exportation, increased 10.8 percent. The increase in electric-electronic and machine exportation is 11.5 percent. Increase in iron and non-iron metals exportation is 30.5 percent.

There has been a decrease in exportation of textile and its raw materials, transportation vehicles, by-industry, and chemical items and its products.

There has been 11.4 recession in exportation of agriculture products as of April.

Okan Oguz, Chairman of TIM, said development in exportation in April was pleasing, and stressed that the increase in exportation is an indication of the enlivening tendency in economy. He said decrease in interests and increase in exportation of intermediary goods were elements which support this enlivening.

Oguz said the measures, which were disclosed to support exportation, should be implemented soon, and noted that this was important to provide success in foreign balance.

[17] TRANSPORTATION MINISTER OKSUZ: - ''IF THE CONDITIONS REQUIRE A NEW GSM LICENSE TENDER, THEN WE DO IT''

Oksuz told reporters that the floor price of the tender will be determined in accordance with the conditions of the day when the new tender will be announced.

The second phase of the GSM phone network licence tender was a transparent tender, Oksuz noted.

Oksuz wished that this tender will be an example for the other tenders.

When asked whether or not the floor price of a new tender can be 2 billion 525 million U.S. dollars, Oksuz said, ''it is good to foresee the future. But, this field is very dynamic and the technology continuously changes. The number of cordless phones are more than the wired phones. The era of wired phones may be over soon.''

''If the conditions require the initiation of a new tender, then we will initiate a new tender. If we decide to initiate a new tender, we will determine the floor price of the tender in accordance with the conditions of day. It will be wrong to pronounce an amount at this stage. We will continue to open legal competitions for four giant companies in cell phone operation systems. The present companies will benefit from new systems,'' Oksuz added.

Responding a question on the sale of 20 percent shares of the Turk Telekom, Oksuz said, ''the contacts with the Treasury Undersecretary are underway. We will meet with the officials of the Treasury tomorrow. We will announce a tender for the sale of 20 percent shares of the Turk Telekom. We are discussing whether or not there will be consortium or two separate companies. Those who will purchase shares, can benefit from the cell phone operation system.''

[18] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT RECEIVES ATIAD DELEGATION

Prime Minister Ecevit received on Tuesday, Chairman of the Association of European Turkish Businessmen (ATIAD) Esref Unsal and the delegation accompanying him.

Ecevit said that he detected pessimism in the report submitted by the ATIAD, and noted, quoting from the report, that only 30 percent of the EU member countries' population was in favor of Turkey's full membership in the union.

Upon this remark, Unsal said that 50 percent of EU countries' population was neutral about Turkey's membership, and added that the positive developments in economy that Turkey had lately been staging were being viewed with satisfaction in Europe.

Chairman of the ATIAD Executive Board Kemal Sahin said that the stability of the government was welcomed by European Union members, but that there were still prejudices about Turkey, keeping European minds suspicious about Turkey.

Later on, ATIAD Chairman Unsal presented Prime Minister Ecevit with a plate of gratitude.

[19] TUSIAD DELEGATION IN VATICAN - POPE JOHN PAUL II RECEIVES EUROPEAN PRIVATE SECTOR REPRESENTATIVES INCLUDING YUCAOGLU, TUSIAD DELEGATION

A 20-people delegation, led by George Jacobs, Chairman of European Industrialists and Employers Confederation (UNICE), visited Pope John Paul II today. Yucaoglu, TUSIAD Chairman, Aldo Kaslowski, Deputy Chairman, and Bahadir Kaleagasi, the European Union (EU) representative were present at the meeting.

Speaking to A.A correspondent after meeting with Pope John Paul II, Yucaoglu said he told Pope II that, ''I am coming from Anatolia, which is the cradle of civilizations, and from Turkey. I believe that all Christians will visit Anatolia, which has 4-5 thousand years of history, in the new millenium year. I am inviting you and all the Christian world to Turkey.'' Yucaoglu said Pope John Paul was pleased and interested when he said Turkey and Anatolia, and noted his call without giving promise.

Yucaoglu said UNICE chairmen were in Vatican to meet with Pope II in the new economic period of Europe, and to provide both economic and social rapproachment.

Pointing out that Pope John Paul II gave messages to the EU so far including the rapproachment of people both in social and economic issues, TUSAID Chairman said, ''some people in Europe still thinks that Turkey's entrance to the EU culturally would be difficult. I think with this rapproachment, such taboos will be broken. However, I don't know whether Vatican will say something or not.''

Yucaoglu said it was an interesting feeling to shake hands with Pope John Paul II, and noted that, ''he is a very important religious leader. He always give messages toward peace.''

Aldo Kaslowski, TUSIAD Deputy Chairman, while speaking with the Pope, said, ''I am the third generation of an Italian family, which is of Polish origin, who had settled in Turkey. Turkey is a country where such things are possible. We are expecting all the world to visit Turkey.''

Pope John Paul II, who spoke to UNICE delegation, said finance and private sector will play an important role in making globalization beneficial from economic and social perspective.

[20] A.A

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