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

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

05 May 2000 Friday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] PROF. GULSEN: ''TURKEY LOSES 22 PERCENT OF ITS ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION DURING ITS TRANSMISSION''

[03] TURKISH-GREEK COOPERATION IN ENERGY SECTOR

[04] GSM 1800 LICENCE

[05] TOTAL DEPOSITS AT BANKS REACH 48.7 QUADRILLION TL

[06] SECURITIES ACCOUNT AT BANKS INCREASES 226.2 TRILLION TL

[07] TURKEY-WORLD BANK -CHHIBBER: ''WE RECOMMENDED TURKEY TO USE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES''

[08] SPORTS-EUROPEAN TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS -TURKEY TAKES ONE GOLD AND TWO BRONZE MEDALS IN FIRST DAY

[09] PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

[10] SYMPOSIUM ON AEGEAN SEA AND ISLANDS

[11] ACTIVITIES FOR RELIGIOUS TOURISM START IN ANTALYA

[12] PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS -SEZER ELECTED AS NEW PRESIDENT OF TURKEY

[13] A TOTAL OF 1,819 FOREIGNERS DEPORTED FROM EDIRNE KAPIKULE BORDER GATE IN FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF 2000

[14] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS' MEETING ENDS -GOVERNMENT ADJUSTS TEA PURCHASE PRICE TO INFLATION

[15] TEMPERATURES TO INCREASE STARTING IN WESTERN REGIONS AS OF SUNDAY

[16] SEZER ELECTED AS 10TH PRESIDENT OF TURKEY -SEZER'S BIOGRAPHY

[17] SEZER BECOMES 10TH PRESIDENT OF TURKISH REPUBLIC -PRESIDENT DEMIREL:''TURKEY PROVED POWER OF DEMOCRACY DURING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS''

[18] SEZER: ''BRING ABOUT A SOCIAL STATE OF LAW IS A MUST''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

WOMEN TO PROTECT PEACE
Margarita Papndreou, mother of Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and Chairman of Winpeace (Women's Initiative for Peace), said that world's women are to protect peace. Ms. Papandreou, who is in Turkey to attend the flying Broom Women's Films Festival, said he was proud of his son George Papandreou, whom, she said, together with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem of Turkey, contributed greatly to the strengthening of friendly ties between Turkey and Greece, and honored as the ''Statesmen of the Year''.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

ECEVIT: OUR NEXT TARGET IS ECONOMY
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that Turkey gave a uccessful test in presidential elections, and that the next target of the government was to display this sae success in econmy. Following his 45 minute meeting on Thursday with President Suleyman Demirel, Ecevit said that the success that Turkey made in the presidential elections test was something to be proud of.

SEMINAR ON EU
The Faculty of Political and Management Sciences of kadir Has University is holidng a seminar on Friday, on ''Turkey-European Union Relations with Their Political and Security Dimensions''. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and various academicians will make presentations and deliver speeches at the seminar, which is to take place at Istanbul's The Marmara Hotel between 10.00 and 16.30 hours local time.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

''HODJA'' RELEASED
Ahmet Mahmut Unlu, known also as ''Hodja Ahmet'', stood trial on Thursday at Istanbul's State Security Court no. 2. Unlu, charged with ''delivering provocative speeches by exploiting the religious feelings of the people'' was released at the end of Thursday's hearing on health grounds. The trial was adjourned indefinitely.

NO OBSTACLES BEFORE AGRICULTURAL REFORM
Treasury Undersecretary Selcuk Demiralp said that they had no doubts or anxieties about the Agricultural reform package, awaiting to be ratified at the Parliament Noting that the Agricultural Unions Draft Law was a must for World Bank cedits, Demiralp said that the draft law was most likely to be taken up next week at the pleanery session.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

SEZER TO BECOME PRESIDENT
Ahmet Necdet Sezer, President of the Constitutional Court, is expected to obtain at least a 276 majority in today's third round of vcoting in presidential elections and become Turkey's 10th President. Sezer will reportedly submit a petition for his retirement from his Presidency at the Constitutional Court after being elected. For the time being, there are no strong rivals against Sezer, who had received 314 votes in the second round of voting, failing to surpass the 367 majority required.

KAZAKH SUPPORT TO BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE
Eyes have turned to international financing bodies with the signing of the ''Transit Country Agreement'', which was considered as being the most important step towards the realisation of the Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline Project. Officials say that the financing problem will have been solved if Kazakhstan agrees to provide oil, whose reserves are enough to finance the line.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

WORLD BANK INSIST ON BANS
World Bank energy experts reiterated once more, during their meeting with Treasury, State Planning Authority, and Energy Ministry officials, that the Treasury should not five financing guarantee to projects carried out in line with the build- operate-transfer model, except for one or two projects. The world Bank experts called on Turkish officials to refrain from widening the deficit, and adding more projects to their list.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

YALCINTAS TO KEEP ON RUNNING
Nevzat Yalcintas, Virtue Party (FP) deputy from Istanbul and presidential candidate said that that he had no intentions of withdrawing from the presidential race, and called on Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the government's candidate and President of the Constitutional Court to resign from his judiciary post and quit the case filed against his party if he were not to be elected to presidency.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

DEMIREL TO PAY FAREWELL VISIT TO LEFKOSA
President Suleyman Demirel, whose term of office ends on May 16th, is going on a one day 'farewell visit' to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). During his one day visit, President Demirel will be given an honorary doctorate by the Near East University in the field of 'international relations' with a ceremony at 16.30 hours. He is also to make a public address at sarayonu Square of Lefkosa.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

EU IS NOT A CHRISTIAN CLUB
The International European Union Convention which was organized by the Religious Affairs continues. EU Clergymen Commission Secretary General Noel Treanor said that the EU was not a religious project, adding the EU was absolutely not a Christian club.

HE WILL EXPLAIN HIS PERFORMANCE
President Suleyman Demirel who will step down on May 16 has recently implead that he would return to politics. His prior target is to give response to criticisms against him. Sources said Demirel would respond criticisms in his visits to provinces.

[02] PROF. GULSEN: ''TURKEY LOSES 22 PERCENT OF ITS ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION DURING ITS TRANSMISSION''

Gulsen spoke at the conference titled ''Chernobyl on its 14th year and Turkey''. After the accident which occured at the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl region of Ukraine on April 26 1986, the whole world focused its attention to the dangers of nuclear energy, he said.

He noted that a total of 4,000 nuclear power plants have been planned since 1950 but only 436 have been built and added that the western countries suspended their nuclear power plant projects in the last 15 years.

Gulsen said following the accident in Chernobyl, first 35 people died and thousands of people lost their lives in the following years while hundreds of thousands of people suffered from radiation related diseases.

''The companies which have not been building nuclear power plants for 20 years need work, that is why they come and find countries like Turkey. Turkey's electricity loss during its transmission is more than the amount of energy Denmark is using in its whole industry. If we prevent the leakage, there will be no need for a nuclear power plant,'' he asserted.

Metin Erten from Turkey Writers Union said although Turkish authorities said the radiation in Turkey was not at dangerous level after the accident, women in eastern Black Sea region started giving birth to babies with birth defects after the accident.

''Radiation recognizes no limits. The nuclear power plant they want to set up in Turkey will only be two or three percent of our total energy production. If an accident occurs in Akkuyu which is on the earthquake fault line, it will have very dangerous consequences for both Turkey and several other countries,'' he said.

Ismail Deveci from Izmir Anti-Nuclear Platform said they detected very high levels of radiation in Sinop after the disasterous accident in Chernobyl and cancer has become the first reason for deaths in Sinop in the recent years.

Prof. Mehmet Alakavuklar from Dokuz Eylul University's Oncology Department said first three million and then nine million people were affected by the Chernobyl accident.

[03] TURKISH-GREEK COOPERATION IN ENERGY SECTOR

Tugrul Yemisci, Acting Chairman of Gucbirligi Holding which built Turkey's first wind power plant and Christos Rokas, Chairman of the Greek company Rokas signed the pre-agreement and announced that they agreed to make joint investments in energy sector.

Yemisci said Chairman of Izmir Chamber of Commerce, Ekrem Demirtas had great contributions to this cooperation and expressed gratitude for Demirtas' efforts.

Yemisci said he believed they will get positive results from the cooperation with Rokas company. ''Politicians open a door and we, the businessmen pass from that door and strengthen the friendship. Political cooperations don't last long if they are not reflected to the field of commerce,'' he said.

Christos Rokas said they had all the necessary conditions for a long term cooperation. He also added that both sides that confidence and willingness for this cooperation.

Ekrem Demirtas who was also present at the press briefing said Turkish and Greek people were alike in all aspects and noted that this has a positive influence on economic relations.

The pre-agreement covers a series of points including building wind power plants in the Aegean islands, Cesme Peninsula, energy transfer, and technical cooperation. The two sides will later decide about joint investments in the proposed fields.

[04] GSM 1800 LICENCE AGREEMENT -AUTHORITIES FROM TRANSPORTATION MINISTRY, TURK TELECOM AND IS BANK-TELEKOM ITALIA CONSORTIUM COME TOGETHER TO PREPARE DRAFT AGREEMENT

Transportation Ministry authorities told A.A that the draft agreement will later be sent to the Council of State to be evaluated. The Council of State will announce its decision in 60 days and later the sides will sign the agreement.

Following the signing of the agreement, Turk Telecom and Is Bank-Telecom Italia consortium will pay the first part of the licences which is 500 million U.S. dollar. This way, the Treasury will be paid a total of 1 billion U.S. dollars.

Turk Telekom and Is Bank-Telecom Italia consortium will each pay the remaining 2 billion 25 million U.S. dollars within the months after the signing of the agreement.

[05] TOTAL DEPOSITS AT BANKS REACH 48.7 QUADRILLION TL

The Central Bank data shows that the total deposit which was 48 quadrillion 133.9 trillion TL on April 14 increased to 48 quadrillion 686.8 trillion TL on April 21.

When the inter-banks deposits are not considered, the total deposit, which was 43 quadrillion 757.8 trillion TL on April 14, increased 337.8 trillion TL to 44 quadrillion 95.6 trillion TL on April 21.

The total TL deposit increased 115.8 trillion TL to 22 quadrillion 434.4 trillion TL on April 21. The total TL deposit was 22 quadrillion 59.1 trillion on April 14.

As of April 21, the total TL deposit was composed of 14 quadrillion 434.4.2 trillion TL deposits at public banks, 7 quadrillion 508.1 trillion TL of deposits at private deposit banks and 76.7 trillion TL of deposits at foreign banks.

The foreign exchange accounts at banks increased 222.1 trillion TL to 21 quadrillion 920.7 trillion TL on April 21.

[06] SECURITIES ACCOUNT AT BANKS INCREASES 226.2 TRILLION TL

The total securities account at banks was 12 quadrillion 998.9 trillion TL on April 14.

The Central Bank data shows that there were a total of 12 quadrillion 942.1 trillion TL of securities including 9 quadrillion 655.2 trillion TL of securities, and 3 quadrillion 286.8 trillion TL of securities over foreign currency at the deposit banks portfolio.

The securities over TL at deposit banks are composed of 820.2 trillion TL in treasury bonds, 8 quadrillion 70.7 trillion TL in state debenture bonds and 580.2 trillion TL in stocks.

A total of 524.6 trillion TL of foreign currency securities at these banks are abroad while there is a total of 1 quadrillion 872.7 trillion TL of state debenture bonds among the domestic securities.

The total securities account at the development and investment banks was 283.1 trillion TL.

[07] TURKEY-WORLD BANK -CHHIBBER: ''WE RECOMMENDED TURKEY TO USE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES''

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Chhibber said that Turkey should restructure itself in energy.

Noting that the World Bank experts had held a series of contacts at the Treasury, State Planning Organization (DPT) and Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, Chhibber said that they wanted the Parliament immediately approve the Energy Law which would enable settlement of free market conditions in energy sector.

Ajay Chhibber stressed that they had recommended Treasury to avoid extension of new guarantees to energy projects.

Chhibber stated that they hade made recommendations for restructuring of energy sector in Turkey under three main headlines, and that alternative energy sources was one of those recommendations.

''Natural gas power plants may be profitable in short term but we proposed Turkey to use renewable alternative energy sources like water and wind. Because there are long term and sound solutions,'' he said.

''A fund can be formed to support projects on renewable energy sources. We are planning to extend financial contribution to the fund that will be formed within this framework. These projects can be made with the support of the fund and participation of the private sector,'' he added.

Ajay Chhibber said, ''we stated that Treasury guarantee can be given to some more energy projects to meet the energy demand in Turkey in next four-five years. However, more Treasury guarantees will block the formation of Turkey's new energy model.''

Ajay Chhibber said World Bank Chief James Wolfensohn and Deputy Chief Johannes Linn would come to Istanbul on May 25 to meet with private sector representatives.

Chhibber said Wolfensohn would make a speech in a panel discussion organized by the Turkish Banks' Union, and later he would visit the quake- stricken area.

Chhibber said Wolfensohn would proceed to Ankara on May 26 to meet with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, some ministers and deputies and high-level economy officials.

Chhibber said Wolfensohn would visit eastern Malatya province on May 27 to observe World Bank's projects, and later return back to Ankara and leave Turkey.

[08] SPORTS-EUROPEAN TAEKWONDO CHAMPIONSHIPS -TURKEY TAKES ONE GOLD AND TWO BRONZE MEDALS IN FIRST DAY

A total of 750 sportsmen and women of 46 countries are attending the four-day championships at the Dimitrios Tofalas Sports Hall.

In the first day of the championships, qualifiers and finals were played in four categories.

Tasbakan of Turkey beat Turkish- origin Inci Tasyurek of Germany in the women's 63 kg final and won the gold medal.

Kadriye Selimoglu of Turkey was beaten by Turkis origin Fatma Helvacioglu of Germany in the women's 47 kg semi-final and took the bronze medal.

Mert Tuncer of Turkey was defeated by his Spanish opponent in the men's 54 kg semifinal and took the bronze medal.

[09] PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Great Founder of the modern Republic of Turkey who was elected as the President on October 29, 1923 when the Republic was founded served as the President for 15 years of four terms.

After Ataturk passed away on December 10, 1938, Ismet Inonu served for almost 12 years.

When the Democratic Party won the elections in 1950, Celal Bayar, the leader of this political party, was elected as the President on May 22, 1950 and served for 10 years till the military intervention in 1960.

Cemal Gursel, Cevdet Sunay and Fahri Koruturk became the next presidents of Turkey in accordance with the 1961 Constitution's rules for the presidential elections.

Following the acceptance of the 1982 Constitution by referendum, Kenan Evren became the President of Turkey in accordance with temporary Article 1 of this Constitution, and served for seven years.

Turgut Ozal was the President whose term in office was the shortest one.

Turgut Ozal was elected on October 31, 1989 but died of a heart attack on April 17, 1993.

Suleyman Demirel was elected as the President after the demise of Turgut Ozal. Both Demirel and Ozal became candidates as they were Prime Ministers.

The names of the Presidents, date of election and results of vote are as follows:

Date of Number of Number of Votes In

President Election Seats Voters Favor

------------- ------------ --------- -------- ---------
Ataturk 29 Sep 1923 287 158 158

'' 01 Nov 1927 316 288 288

'' 04 May 1931 317 289 289

'' 01 Mar 1935 399 386 386

Ismet Inonu 11 Nov 1938 399 348 348

'' 03 Apr 1939 424+5 Hatay 413 413

'' 08 Mar 1943 455 435 435

'' 05 Jan 1946 465 451 388

Celal Bayar 22 May 1950 487 453 387

'' 14 Nov 1954 541 513 486

'' 01 Nov 1957 610 413 413
Cemal Gursel 26 Oct 1961 638 607 434

Cevdet Sunay 28 Mar 1996 636 532 461

Fahri Koruturk 06 Apr 1973 635 557 365

(elected in the 15th round)

Kenan Evren 09 Nov 1982 (elected with the acceptance of

the Constitution by referendum)

Turgut Ozal 31 Oct 1989 450 285 263
(elected in the 3rd round)

Suleyman Demirel 16 May 1993 450 431 244

(elected in the 3rd round)

[10] SYMPOSIUM ON AEGEAN SEA AND ISLANDS

Addressing the opening session of the symposium, TUDAV Chairman Bayram Ozturk said that almost 100 sea laws experts of several countries were participating in the scientific symposium.

Noting that several issues including fishing and pollution in the Aegean Sea and legal situation of the Aegean islands would be descussed in the symposium, Ozturk said that also the judges of the International Sea Laws Court would attend the ''Aegean Sea-2000 Symposium''.

Ozturk stated that the TUDAV would continue its initiatives for protection of national rights of Turkey in surrounding seas, discussion of this issue in the international platforms and protection of those seas from pollution.

In today's session of the symposium, the legal mistakes of Greece's desire to increase its territorial waters to 12 miles and its damages to the Turkish fishing sector will be discussed.

The legal situation of the Kardak Island and the disarmament activities in the Aegean Sea will be taken up in Saturday's session.

[11] ACTIVITIES FOR RELIGIOUS TOURISM START IN ANTALYA

About 200 guests participated in the ceremony. A group of people coming from the churches in South Africa performed music and dance and later the guests prayed.

Turgay Ucal, Head Priest of Istanbul Presbyterian Church said Turkey possesses many different values and hosted several civilizations. ''Turkish people, Muslim or not, love their country and want to do their best for the unity and development of Turkey,'' he said.

''As the Christians of Turkey, we will do our best to contribute to Turkish tourism and promotion of places that have significance in the Bible,'' he added.

The guests who are participating in religious belief tourism activities will walk one kilometer at Antalya's city center on Saturday and later they will go to Isparta's Yalcac township.

Religious ceremonies will be held in a tent in Antiocheia ancient city in Yalvac where St. Paulus preached for the first time. The activities will end on May 8.

[12] PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS -SEZER ELECTED AS NEW PRESIDENT OF TURKEY

Sezer received 330 votes in the third round for the presidential elections. He was followed by Nevzat Yalcintas, a deputy from the Virtue Party (FP) who received 113 votes.

A total of 533 deputies participated in the third round of vote. In the third round, 16 votes were invalid.

The distribution of votes among candidates is as follows:

Ahmet Necdet Secer, Constitutional Court Chairman..: 330

Nevzat Yalc�ntas, Deputy of FP.....................: 113
Sadi Somuncuoglu, Deputy of MHP....................: 43
Rasim Zaimoglu, Deputy of DYP......................: 24

Mail Buyukerman, Independent Deputy from Eskisehir.: 7

[13] A TOTAL OF 1,819 FOREIGNERS DEPORTED FROM EDIRNE KAPIKULE BORDER GATE IN FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF 2000

Between January 1 and April 30, 2000, 2,819 foreigners were deported from Turkey for involvement in several crimes, mainly prostitution.

In the same period, 5,579 foreigners who committed a crime during their previous stays in Turkey and those who did not have the sufficient amount of money to support themselves in Turkey were not admitted to Turkey. The authorities said they are continuing their inspections on the passenger buses.

A total of 2,233 foreigners had to pay a fine of 140 billion 165 million Turkish Liras for exceeding their permitted period of stay in Turkey.

[14] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS' MEETING ENDS -GOVERNMENT ADJUSTS TEA PURCHASE PRICE TO INFLATION

Following the Council of Ministers' meeting, Sukru Sina Gurel, the Minister of State and the Government Spokesman, staged a press briefing.

Gurel said State Minister Abdulhaluk Cay had conveyed his impressions during his visits to Pakistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan and ways to develop Turkey's economic and cutural relations with the countries to the cabinet members.

Within this framework, the Council of Ministers had discussed in general the important issues in Turkey's relations with the countries especially in Central Asia and Caspian basin, Gurel stated.

Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk had briefed the Council on his visit to Mongolia, Gurel said.

Gurel said State Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen had given general information on problems of the tea sector.

The government had decided to increase the price of tea that would be purchased by the Tea Authoriy (Cay-Kur) by 25 percent to 162.500 TL, he stated.

The humanitarian aid to several countries were reviewed in the meeting, and the Council had decided to send foodstuff relief to Ethiopia in addition to donations, Gurel added.

Gurel said the Council of Ministers had approved to send aid to meet losses in Central Asian countries especially Mongolia due to natural disasters.

Labor and Social Security Minister Yasar Okuyan had briefed the cabinet on the works carried out in the quake-stricken area and the problems in Golcuk.

[15] TEMPERATURES TO INCREASE STARTING IN WESTERN REGIONS AS OF SUNDAY

A statement issued by General Directorate of State Meteorological Affairs said cold and rainy weather, which is currently effective in southern and eastern region, will be influential on Saturday.

Temperatures will begin to increase starting from western regions.

Minimum and maximum temperatures on Sunday and Monday are expected to be:

Saturday Sunday Monday

--------- ------ ---------
Istanbul 10-16 12-20 14-22

Samsun 11-17 12-17 13-18

Izmir 10- 19 11-21 13-23
Adana 16-22 17-23 19-26

Antalya 16-26 16-27 18-30

Ankara 8-15 9-17 11-20

Erzurum 6-16 6-16 4-15

Diyarbakir 10-22 11-24 10-24

[16] SEZER ELECTED AS 10TH PRESIDENT OF TURKEY -SEZER'S BIOGRAPHY

Sezer was born in the central province of Afyon in 1941. Sezer went to the same high school there as Demirel. Sezer earned a degree in law at the University of Ankara in 1962.

He served as judge in Dicle and Yerkoy townships.

Sezer was elected as a member of the Supreme Court on March 7, 1983.
As he was serving as the member of the Supreme Court Law Department No: 2, Sezer was appointed as a member of the Constitutional Court by the President Kenan Evren on September 27, 1988.

He was elected as the Chairman of Constitutional Court on January 6, 1998.

Sezer is married with three children.

[17] SEZER BECOMES 10TH PRESIDENT OF TURKISH REPUBLIC -PRESIDENT DEMIREL:''TURKEY PROVED POWER OF DEMOCRACY DURING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS''

Demirel released a message for Turkish people following the election of Ahmet Necdet Sezer as the president. ''I congratulate the honourable Chairman of the Constitutional Court Ahmet Necdet Sezer who has been elected as the president by the Parliament and I wish him success during this venerable post,'' Demirel said in his message.

Noting that the Turkish Republic is a constitutional democracy, Demirel said such posts exist in democratic republics to give service to people. ''People come and go to these posts within constitutional rules. Turkey proved the power of democracy during this presidential election. I will hand over the presidency which I have been proudly filling for seven years to the 10th president on May 16, 2000 with a peace of mind,'' Demirel said.

''According to our constitution, the president is the head of the sate. He symbolizes the unity of the Turkish Republic and Turkish nation. Implementation of the constitution provides the systematical and harmonious operation of state organs. The president must support the secular and democratic Turkish Republic which is a state of law.''

''I will continue to fulfill my responsibilities until May 16, 2000 as the president. One more time, I wish Mr. Ahmet Necdet Sezer success for this honourable task and hope that his election will be for the good of the Turkish nation,'' Demirel said.

[18] SEZER: ''BRING ABOUT A SOCIAL STATE OF LAW IS A MUST''

Sezer spoke when he got the minutes on his election as the president. Sezer began his speech saying ''respectable representatives of the press,'' and noted that he regarded his election as the president, among other very valuable candidates, as the indication of the value given to justice in his personality, and expressed his gratefullness to the Parliament which honored him by giving this duty.

Sezer stressed that he regarded this sublime duty as the realization of supremacy and sovereignty of law with all dimensions, and a responsibility which Parliament gave him.

''The roots of some of Turkey's problems lie in a lack of obedience to the law,'' Sezer said. ''An understanding of democracy has not developed in social and political life and a tradition of democracy has not been created.''

Sezer said president represents unity of Turkish Republic and Turkish nation, and supervises implementation of the Constitution. He said, ''to this end, it would be my basic duty to preserve and strengthen integrity of Turkish Republic, and as requirement of Ataturk nationalism, principles, reforms and secularism, it would be my duty to separate holy religious feels and state affairs from politics.''

''A close inspection of public spending and the reduction of inflation to remedy the disparities in income and thus to bring about a social state of law is a must,'' he added.

Sezer concluded his words saying, ''nobody should feel doubt that I will be in an effort to fulfil my duties in full impartiality that were envisaged in the constitution and laws.''

A.A

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