Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-10-03

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

3 OCTOBER 2000 Tuesday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] CONTACTS OF PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION IN THE U.S. REGARDING THE RESOLUTION ON THE SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS

[03] HIGH COURT OF APPEALS CHIEF PROSECUTOR SAVAS DECIDES NOT TO PROSECUTE FORMER ISTANBUL MAYOR ERDOGAN

[04] ANADOLU AGENCY AND IRNA TO FURTHER IMPROVE COOPERATION

[05] 220 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS LOAN TO TURKISH EXIMBANK

[06] FIRST INTERNATIONAL OIL AND NATURAL GAS FAIR AND CONGRESS TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL

[07] RESOLUTION ON SOCALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS -PRESIDENT SEZER'S PHONE TALK WITH U.S. PRESIDENT CLINTON

[08] SECURITY FORCES CAPTURE 13 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN MARMARIS

[09] POLICE CONFISCATE 123.5 KG OF HEROIN IN BURSA

[10] VISIT OF ISRAELI CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF TO TURKEY CANCELLED

[11] NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU MEETS WITH HIS GREEK COUNTERPART TZOHATSOPOULOS

[12] TREASURY SELLS 302.4 TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS NOMINAL-VALUED 16-MONTH DEBENTURE BONDS

[13] EXPORTS DECREASE BY 4.8 PERCENT IN SEPTEMBER

[14] CAKMAKOGLU, NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER, VISITS DEFENDORY 2000 DEFENSE AND INDUSTRY FAIR

[15] PRICE INDICES FOR SEPTEMBER 2000 (1)

[16] CORANTIS, GREEK AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA, SAYS TURKISH-GREEK RELATIONS IMPROVE

[17] PRICE INDICES FOR SEPTEMBER 2000 (2)

[18] INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN DUE TO PORTUGAL

[19] EGYPTIAN FORIGN MINISTER MOUSSA DUE IN TURKEY

[20] RUSSIAN AND DUTCH PRIME MINISTERS DUE IN TURKEY

[21] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ DUE TO SPAIN

[22] U.S. HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE APPROVES RESOLUTION ON SO- CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIENS

[23] FOREIGN TRADE PRICES INCREASE

[24] FOREIGN MINISTRY: -''MEMBERS OF U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD EVALUATE FINAL STAGE VERY WELL''

[25] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: -''UNFORTUNATELLY, TODAY'S VOTE REVEALED THAT OUR WARNINGS WERE NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

''I CALL LEFTISTS BACK''
Health Minister Osman Durmus who said that they made a mistake by firing the leftists from the Health Institution of the Health Ministry, called back the scientists having different political opinions back to the Institution.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

GAP TO REACH THE SEA
An agreement was signed with Spain for the ''super railway'' that will reach Mersin and Iskenderun from Iraqi border. The railway will follow Nusaybin-Sanl�urfa-Diyarbak�r route. By this project, the Southeast Anatolian Project (GAP) will reach the sea.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

TURKEY ON INVESTMENT LIST OF DUPONT
Turkey which used to be on the bottom of foreign investors' list, started drawing more attention from investors. World giant in thread productioon, Dupont included Turkey in its list of investments. Dupont administration is considering Turkey and the Far East to set up its facilities which is a tough choice. Dupont will have to choose between the cheap labour of the Far East and Turkey's big market size. It was stated that Turkey's geographical closeness to Europe increases Turkey's chances in the competition. Dupont administration will announce its decision following the lobal leaders meeting which will be held in Turkey on October 16.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

UNIVERSITIES OPEN WITH PROTESTS
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said universities should have both scientific and administrative autonomity and collaboration and planning should be the only tasks of the Supreme Board of Education (YOK). Ankara University Prof. Nusret Aras who also spoke at the opening criticized the lack of planning in universities. Insufficient number of lecturers and poor infastructure are likely to be the main problems of 2000-2001 education year. Sezer said the number of ''unemployed university graduates'' are increasing because many colleges and universities are opening with political reasons and there are no studies to determine what work areas need more educated people.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

FOREST FIRE IN ADANA
Nearly 50 hectares of forest field burnt in the fire that broke out in Imamoglu township of southern Adana province yesterday. One fire fighter died in the fire and four others were injured. Adana Governor Oguz Kagan Koksal said that the fire was taken under control.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

WORLD BANK: FORGET ABOUT THE LOAN IF THE LAW IS NOT ISSUED
Ajay Chhibber, the World Bank Representative to Turkey, pointed out that financial sector adjustment loan (FSAL) was not postponed, and noted that first of all the law, foreseeing the privatization of the public banks, should be issued first.

Chhibber said the first slice, which is 390 million U.S. dollars, out of 780 million U.S. dollars, will be released immediately after the law is issued. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer earlier vetoed the decree with the force of law (KHK) which the government prepared in this respect.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

The Armenians don't have the documents which will prove their claims, but there are hundreds of documents in the archives which prove that their claims are not true. The letter of R.C. Craigie, the British Ambassador to the U.S., dating back to 1921, is only one of the documents which refutes the claims of the Armenians.

TURKEY HAS TO FACE ITS REALITIES
In its' Turkey Report the World Bank said that although certain successes were achieved, the gap in education and income is still continuing and that the public expenditures should be orientated to the weak parts of the public in Turkey. The report noted that Turkey has to face with its' series of critical political problems in the beginning of the new century.

[02] CONTACTS OF PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION IN THE U.S. REGARDING THE RESOLUTION ON THE SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS

The parliamentary delegation is composed of Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik from the Motherland Party (ANAP); Metin Ergun from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP); Temel Karamollaoglu from the Virtue Party (FP); Tayyibe Gulek from the Democratic Left Party (DSP); and Ayfer Yilmaz from the True Path Party (DYP).

The delegation, on the first day of their contacts, met with Benjamin Gilman from the Republican Party, who is the Chairman of International Relations Committee.

Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, briefing the press about their contacts, pointed out that they also met many other high level officials.

Irtemcelik said the parliamentary delegation conveyed their views to the parliamentarians they met, and noted that these views were clearly understood. Irtemcelik said Turkey's sensitivity was once again stressed.

Irtemcelik said they were invited for the meeting of the committee which will take place today, noting they they thought it would be beneficial for them to attend this meeting.

Responding to a question if their visit was influential, Irtemcelik said, ''we have come here to fulfil our duty, and tell about the facts. This visit indicates the seriousness of the issue.''

When asked about his impressions if the resolution would be adopted in the committee or not, Irtemcelik said, ''it will be a difficult day.''

The delegation planned to stay in Washington D.C. till Friday, yet, its extension is in question.

The Parliamentary delegation, later in the day, will also meet with Dennis Hastert, the Chairman of the House of Representatives from the Republican Party, who supported the resolution to preserve the majority of his party in the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, Temel Karamollaoglu, responding to a question if they thought of getting the support of the muslim lobby in the U.S., pointed out that, ''I think contacts are required. Islam is the second religion in the U.S. However, no initiative was taken in this respect.''

Irtemcelik said, ''according to my personal view, this can be thought of after assessing the qualities, and goals of these groups.''

Pointing out that the difference between genocide and massacre was ignored, Irtemcelik said, the genocide brings a ''price tag'' together with it. He said, ''those parliamentarians (in the U.S. House of Representatives) are trying to save their lives more than giving pain to Turkey. If the world 'genocide' is excluded, the Armenians will not be interested in this resolution. They are insistent on the word 'genocide' in this respect.''

Irtemcelik said this resolution and similar initatives are parts of a plan which target poisoning Turkey's relations with the West.

[03] HIGH COURT OF APPEALS CHIEF PROSECUTOR SAVAS DECIDES NOT TO PROSECUTE FORMER ISTANBUL MAYOR ERDOGAN

Savas, in the two page document, said that a public case was opened against Erdogan on June 24, 1994 according to Turkish Penal Code's Article 311 for ''provoking people to murder Vural Savas''.

''The file submitted to the Prosecutor's Office has been examined. Although Erdogan pronounced the words which constituted a crime, his geniune and respectful behaviour during his defense showed that he did not intend to commit a crime when he pronounced the words in question. Therefore, the court has decided not to prosecute him,'' Erdogan wrote in the document.

Erdogan was tried at Diyarbakir State Security Court (DGM) for ''inciting hatred and animosity among people'' during a speech he gave in Siirt.

[04] ANADOLU AGENCY AND IRNA TO FURTHER IMPROVE COOPERATION

Mehmet Guler, the President of the Executive Board and the General Director of the A.A, and Feridun Verdinejad, the General Director of IRNA signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in news exchange, technical training, and in making use of new technical improvements in the media, following the second round meetings in Tehran.

The memorandum of understanding foresees improving regional cooperation between the two agencies within the framework of Economic Cooperation Organization News Agencies (ECONA).

Meanwhile, Turan Morali the Turkish Ambassador to Iran gave a dinner in the honour of A.A delegation.

Feridun Verdinejad, the General Director of IRNA, officials from IRNA and the Iranian Foreign Ministry, and officials from Iranian Culture and Islamic Guidance Ministry had also attended the dinner.

Mehmet Guler, accompanied by Deputy General Director Ismail Bezgin, and Chairman of Communication Department Ismail Yilmaz, visited Iran for two days as the guest of Feridun Verdinejad, the General Director of IRNA.

[05] 220 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS LOAN TO TURKISH EXIMBANK

The agreement on the syndicated loan which has a one-year maturity with libor+095 percent interest rate was signed by Ahmet Kilicoglu, the Director General of Turkish Eximbank, and representatives of 47 banks which led the syndicated loan.

Kilicoglu said the loan in question would be used to increase the amount of the short term exportation foreign exchange loans.

Kilicoglu said with this latest syndicated loan agreement and after the stability program was put into implementation, more than one billion U.S. dollars had been raised through the loan agreements signed with various international organizations and banks.

[06] FIRST INTERNATIONAL OIL AND NATURAL GAS FAIR AND CONGRESS TO BE HELD IN ISTANBUL

TURKIOG 2000 which is organised by the Geopyhsics Engineers Chamber, Turkish Oil Geologist Association, and ITE-AFEKS International Trade Fairs Inc. will be held in Istanbul between November 16-18.

TURKIOG 2000, which is the first international fair and congress of the sector, will be organised with the support of the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry, State Run Oil Pipe Line Company (BOTAS), and Turkish Petroleums Corp.(TPAO)

The congress will bring together the high ranking managers of natural gas and oil sector and issues such as the present situation of the Turkish energy sector, the potential of the sector, and the pipeline projects will be discussed.

[07] RESOLUTION ON SOCALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS -PRESIDENT SEZER'S PHONE TALK WITH U.S. PRESIDENT CLINTON

Presidential Press Centre said on Tuesday that ''last night, President Sezer had a phone talk with U.S. President Clinton to whom he also sent a letter about the prevention of the resolution in question which is pending in the U.S. House of Representatives. Mr. President stressed in the phone talk that Turkey expects the U.S. administration to exert efforts in order to prevent the adoption of such a resolution which will damage the relations between the two countries. Mr. President also requested U.S. President Clinton's personal interest in the issue.''

''The U.S. administration, as have other administrations in the past, both Republican and Democratic, oppose such resolutions. From our point of view, a matter of historical controversy is best left to historians, not legislators,'' U.S. President Clinton said in his part.

Clinton also told Sezer that he shared Turkey's concerns about the resolution, adding that the U.S. administration exerts great efforts to prevent the adoption of the resolution and he also contributes to these efforts, the Presidential Press Centre added.

[08] SECURITY FORCES CAPTURE 13 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN MARMARIS

Unidentified people brought the illegal immigrants from Istanbul to Marmaris in return for 300 U.S. dollars. The immigrants were then left in Sogut Island of Turkey. The immigrants passed three days on the island which they were told ''this is Greece'' without anything to eat or drink. They came to Sogut village after realizing they were deceived.

Gendarme teams took the Northern Iraqi people under custody in Sogut-Bayir junction.

The immigrants will be deported after completion of procedures.

[09] POLICE CONFISCATE 123.5 KG OF HEROIN IN BURSA

Bursa Police Chief Aydin Genc said on Tuesday that the herion they confiscated had a price of 7.5 trillion Turkish lira in European market.

Genc recalled that the Bursa police had confiscated 105 kg of heroin in Inegol township a month ago.

Genc said that three people were detained in connection with the smuggling.

[10] VISIT OF ISRAELI CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF TO TURKEY CANCELLED

The General Staff Secretariat General said on Tuesday that the official visit of General Mofaz to Turkey which had earlier scheduled to be paid between October 4-7 was cancelled.

[11] NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU MEETS WITH HIS GREEK COUNTERPART TZOHATSOPOULOS

Cakmakoglu arrived in Athens to attend the inauguration ceremony of ''Defendory 2000'' defense fair as the official guest of the Greek Defense Minister Akis Tzohatsopoulos.

Speaking to reporters following his meeting with Tzohatsopoulos, Cakmakoglu expressed his condolences and the sorrow of Turkish people over the death of many Greek people in sea disaster which happened in the Aegean last week.

Cakmakoglu pointed out that Turkey and Greece shared joint borders and the life in the Aegean Sea, adding friendship between the two countries should be strengthened.

Cakmakoglu said, ''rapproachment started following the quake disasters which occurred in both countries. A basis has been prepared for the solution of problems. The wish of our people is the continuation of the rapproachment, and the duty of the administrators is to exert efforts within the framework of this desire.''

Cakmakoglu said he and Tzohatsopoulos exchanged views on issues which interested their duties and responsibilities, and noted that he conveyed the views of Turkey, which is in participation process to the European Union (EU).

Meanwhile, Tzohatsopoulos pointed out that Turkey and Greece should restrict armament in some fields, and noted that he and Cakmakoglu exchanged views in this respect.

Tzohatsopoulos said they observed during the meeting that some part of armament should be limited. He said armament was an expensive activity, adding that some of the sources, which are allocated to armament, should be transferred to the needs of the country, education, and culture.

Pointing out that they supported Turkey's entrance to the EU, Tzohatzopoulos said Turkey's membership to the Union will provide stability.

Tzohatsopoulos said the stability that will be gained, will positively affect the security of Greece and the region.

Mentioning confidence building measures in the Aegean, Tzohatsopoulos said Athens supported the approaches which aim at easing tension in bilateral level, and the confidence building measures within the framework of NATO.

Tzohatsopoulos stressed that solution of Cyprus problem was a condition for Greece, and underlined that finding a just solution to the problem was also very important for the security relations between Turkey and Greece.

Cakmakoglu who attended the inauguration ceremony of Defendory 2000 defense fair after the meeting, will depart from Athens in the evening.

[12] TREASURY SELLS 302.4 TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS NOMINAL-VALUED 16-MONTH DEBENTURE BONDS

The total bid had become 846 846 trillion 880 billion Turkish lira (TL) while Treasury sold 302.4 trillion TL nominal-valued debenture bonds.

The net sale in the auction became 197 trillion 954 billion TL.

The annual simple interest rate of the papers became 38.11 percent and the annual composite interest rate became 35.80 percent.

The minimum simple interest rate became 37.48 percent and maximum simple interest rate became 38.56 percent.

The minimum composite interest rate became 35.24 percent and the maximum composite interest rate became 36.20 percent.

The value date of the debenture bonds is October 6, 2000 and the maturity is February 20, 2002.

[13] EXPORTS DECREASE BY 4.8 PERCENT IN SEPTEMBER

According to the Turkish Exoprters' Assembly (TIM) data, the total exports in September 2000 was 2 billion 313 million 960 thousand U.S. dollars while total exports had been 2 billion 431 million 543 thousand U.S. dollars in September 1999.

The total exports in the January-September period of 2000 increased 3.2 percent to 20 billion 102 million 947 thousand U.S. dollars. The total exports in the same period in 1999 had been 19 billion 482 million 956 thousand U.S. dollars.

According to the TIM's statistics, the sectoral breakdown of exports in September 1999 and 2000 is as follows:

. September (1.000 U.S. DOLLAR)

. ------------------- Difference

. 1999 2000 (percent)

------------------------ --------- --------- -------
1.AGRICULTURE
A-Vegetal Products

Grain-Cereals 102,418 84,269 -17.7

Tobacco 43,561 43,793 0.5

Hazelnut and Products 123,856 87,317 -29.5

Fruit&Vegetable Products 54,213 39,150 -27.8

Fresh Fruit&Vegetable 32,842 29,664 -9.7

Dried Fruit and Products 75,633 71,603 -5.3

Olive and Olive Oil 9,312 1,722 -81.5

Flower 468 543 16.0

B-Animal Products

Live Stock, Water Products 16,488 13,078 -20.7

C-Wooden and Forestry Products

Wooden and Forestry Products 42,041 37,551 -10.7

2. INDUSTRY
A-Processed Products Based On Agriculture

Textiles and Raw Material 215,658 221,563 2.7

Leather and Products 59,491 60,360 1.5

Carpet 26,241 27,805 6.0

B-Processed Oil Products

Chemical Substance&Products 148,500 148,110 -0.3

C-Industrial Products

Ready-To-Wear Clothings 658,984 626,674 -4.9

Iron and Non-Iron Metals 268,235 259,718 -3.2

Motor Vehicles & By-Industry 191,809 193,425 0.8

Electric, Electronic Machines 232,558 250,020 7.5

Cement and Earthenware 68,317 69,016 1.0

Other Industrial Products 5,065 4,573 -9.7

3. MINING
Minerals and Metals 55,854 44,007 -21.2

-------------------------- --------- --------- ------
TOTAL 2,431,543 2,313,960 -4.8

[14] CAKMAKOGLU, NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER, VISITS DEFENDORY 2000 DEFENSE AND INDUSTRY FAIR

Cakmakoglu who attended the inauguration ceremony of the fair as the official guest of Greek Defense Minister Akis Tzohatsopoulos, and later visited the fair.

Cakmakoglu visited the stands of the U.S., Britain, and France, but did not stop by the stand of Iran.

Cakmakoglu also came across with Nicholas Burns, the U.S. Ambassador to Athens, in the field of the fair.

Responding to the statements of Burns that his visit was very important and gave very important messages, Cakmakoglu said, ''we are here to contribute to peace and friendship.''

Cakmakoglu is the first Turkish National Defense Minister visiting a defense fair staged in Greece.

The National Defense Minister will depart from Athens in the evening.

[15] PRICE INDICES FOR SEPTEMBER 2000 (1)

DIE issued a statement saying that the last one-year inflation rate as of September 2000 became 43.9 percent in wholesale prices, and 49 percent in consumer prices.

In the first nine months of 2000, the inflation rate in wholesale prices became 23.7 percent, and the inflation rake in consumer prices became 26.9 percent.

Meanwhile, as of September 2000, the annual inflation rate according to twelve-month averages became 57.5 percent in wholesale prices and 61.6 percent in consumer prices.

(To be continued)

[16] CORANTIS, GREEK AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA, SAYS TURKISH-GREEK RELATIONS IMPROVE

Pointing out that Greece was a country having potentials, Demirtas said Turkish and Greek Chambers of Trade have intense joint works in the recent years. He said the first economic summit took place in Mytilini, the second in Izmir, and that they planned to hold the third one in Samos island in February 2001.

''We have many cultural activities. Friendship between the two countries will be further improved as a result of cultural and economic relations. We have many joint investment potentials in tourism, transportation, and contruction. I believe that current 700 million U.S. dollars trade volume can be increased to one billion U.S. dollars with the preparation of appropriate atmosphere. Our actual target is 2-3 billion U.S. dollars. Foreign Ministers of the two countries will convene in Marmaris on October 15.''

Demirtas said they wanted to stage an Aegean Fair that will take place every year.

Meanwhile, Ioannis Corantis, the Greek Ambassador to Ankara, pointed out that the Nobel laureate Greek poet Giorgios Seferis was born in Anatolia, and noted that Seferitis was a step to improve Turkish-Greek relations.

Corantis said many agreements were signed between the two countries with the mediation of the foreign ministers, stressing that these agreements covered a wide range extending from transportation to cooperation.

Corantis said the two sides were in an agreement at the moment, which they believed that would be very important for the businessmen of the two sides. He said this would also be very important for the businessmen and investors of the both sides.

Corantis said Turkish-Greek relations improved well, and noted that joint agreements should be respected.

[17] PRICE INDICES FOR SEPTEMBER 2000 (2)

DIE issued a statement saying that the last one-year inflation rate as of September 2000 became 43.9 percent in wholesale prices, and 49 percent in consumer prices.

In the first nine months of 2000, the inflation rate in wholesale prices became 23.7 percent, and the inflation rake in consumer prices became 26.9 percent.

Meanwhile, as of September 2000, the annual inflation rate according to twelve-month averages became 57.5 percent in wholesale prices and 61.6 percent in consumer prices.

According to DIE's 1994=100 based wholesale and consumer prices indices, the monthly and annual price increases in last five years are as follows:

Monthly Inflation

------------------------- -------------------------
Month 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

----- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----- ----- ---- ---- ---- ---
Jan 9.8 5.6 6.5 3.6 5.8 8.3 5.9 7.2 4.8 4.9

Feb 5.8 6.2 4.6 3.4 4.1 4.5 5.7 4.4 3.2 3.7

Mar 7.0 6.0 4.0 4.0 3.1 5.6 5.4 4.3 4.1 2.9

Apr 8.1 5.5 4.0 5.3 2.4 6.7 6.6 4.7 4.9 2.3

May 4.1 5.2 3.3 3.2 1.7 4.5 4.7 3.5 2.9 2.2

Jun 2.7 3.4 1.6 1.8 0.3 2.5 2.9 2.4 3.3 0.7

Jul 2.4 5.3 2.5 4.0 1.0 2.1 6.3 3.4 3.8 2.2

Aug 3.8 5.3 2.4 3.3 0.9 4.8 6.2 4.0 4.2 2.2

Sep 5.1 6.3 5.3 5.9 2.3 6.1 7.3 6.7 6.0 3.1

Oct 5.5 6.7 4.1 4.7 6.5 8.3 6.1 6.3

Nov 5.1 5.6 3.4 4.1 5.2 6.6 4.3 4.2

Dec 3.9 5.4 2.5 6.8 3.4 5.1 3.3 5.9

Annual Inflation

----------------------- ------------------------
Month 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

----- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Jan 64.9 78.0 92.5 50.0 66.4 78.1 75.7 101.6 65.9 68.9

Feb 63.0 78.6 89.6 48.3 67.5 77.5 77.7 99.3 63.9 69.7

Mar 65.3 77.0 86.0 48.2 66.1 79.3 77.3 97.2 63.5 67.9

Apr 69.9 72.8 83.3 50.0 61.5 80.8 77.2 93.6 63.9 63.8

May 73.7 74.6 79.9 50.0 59.2 82.9 77.5 91.4 63.0 62.7

Jun 76.2 75.7 76.7 50.3 56.8 82.9 78.0 90.6 64.3 58.6

Jul 76.3 80.7 72.1 52.4 52.3 81.2 85.2 85.3 65.0 56.2

Aug 79.0 83.4 67.4 53.7 48.9 81.9 87.8 81.4 65.4 53.2

Sep 79.8 85.4 65.9 54.4 43.9 79.3 89.9 80.4 64.3 49.0

Oct 82.8 87.5 62.0 55.2 76.6 93.2 76.6 64.7

Nov 85.7 88.4 58.6 56.3 80.4 95.8 72.8 64.6

Dec 84.9 91.0 54.3 62.9 79.8 99.1 69.7 68.8

(End)

[18] INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN DUE TO PORTUGAL

The Interior Ministry said on Tuesday that the Pompidou Group Ministers' Meeting which was held once in every three years would focus on ''Reducing Effects of Drugs on Individual and Society''.

A political statement is expected to be issued at the end of the meeting.

[19] EGYPTIAN FORIGN MINISTER MOUSSA DUE IN TURKEY

The Foreign Minstry said on Tuesday that Moussa who would come to Ankara to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East and bilateral relations, wouls start his contacts next Monday and Tuesday.

Moussa would depart from Turkey next Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry said.

Moussa is scheduled to be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Egyptian minister will also meet with his counterpart Ismail Cem.

[20] RUSSIAN AND DUTCH PRIME MINISTERS DUE IN TURKEY

Diplomatic sources told the A.A correspondent on Tuesday that Russian Prime Minister Keslanov would pay an official visit to Turkey between October 23 and 25.

His contacts in Turkey are expected to focus on bilateral relations, economic and military relations, and regional issues.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Wim Kok of the Netherlands who will come to Turkey at the end of October, is expected to visit the quake-stricken area.

Prior to announcement of Accession Partnership Document in November, contacts between Turkey and the European Union have been intensified.

Political directors of Finland, France and Sweden will come together with Turkish political directors on October 6 in Ankara.

Meanwhile, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will start a tour to Central Asian countries including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, between October 16 and 20.

President Vaclav Havel of the Czech Republic will pay an official visit to Turkey between October 10 and 12 as the guest of President Sezer.

Diplomatic sources added that Foreign Minister Ismail Cem might go to Romanian capital of Bucharest on October 20 in order to attend the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Foreign Ministers' meeting.

[21] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ DUE TO SPAIN

The Prime Ministry Press Center said on Tuesday that the Foro Formentor meetings were organized by the Repsol Foundation of Spain.

It said that this year's meeting was dedicated to the ''Mediterranean Security'' theme which would be taken up with its economic, political and socio-cultural dimensions.

It added that Yilmaz would deliver a speech on ''Mediterranean Security'' in a session in which political dimension would be discussed.

[22] U.S. HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE APPROVES RESOLUTION ON SO- CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIENS

The resolution was approved by 24 votes in favor against 11 votes. Two Congressmen made abstaining votes.

The resolution will be transferred to the full House.

An article which does not allow any request of compensation from Turkey has been included in the final content of the resolution.

Also the five-person parliamentary delegation which arrived in Washington D.C. to convey Turkey's sensitivities attended today's session of the International Relations Committee.

Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, a member of this parliamentary delegation and a deputy from the Motherland Party (ANAP), had delivered a speech in today's session after Democrat Pary California Congressman Tom Lantos's proposal.

In his speech, Irtemcelik stressed that such a genocide had not been occurred as it was claimed, and that the Turkish nation would never accept such an allegation.

Noting that there was not any historical document proving that such a genocide had been committed, Irtemcelik emphasized that approval of the resolution in questions would be a serious mistake.

[23] FOREIGN TRADE PRICES INCREASE

The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced on Tuesday the foreign trade indices for June 2000.

According to the statistics, the exports amount index decreased by 1 percent and imports amount index reduced by 3 percent in June when compared to figures in May 2000.

The exports amount index increased by 17 percent while exports price index decreased by 1.2 percent in June 2000 when compared to figures in June 1999.

The imports amount index increased by 27.2 percent and the imports price index rose by 10.7 percent in June 2000 when compared to figures in June 1999.

According to six-month averages, the exports amount index increased by 18 percent while the exports price index decreased by 5.6 percent.

In the same periods, the imports amount index rose by 38.1 percent and the imports price index increased by 6.2 percent.

According to the 12-month averages as of June 2000, the exports amount index increased by 13.7 percent while exports price index decreased by 7.2 percent, and the imports amount index rose by 22.6 percent and imports price index increased by 2.2 percent.

[24] FOREIGN MINISTRY: -''MEMBERS OF U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD EVALUATE FINAL STAGE VERY WELL''

Releasing a statement, the Foreign Ministry recalled that the resolution was transferred to the U.S. House of Representatives General Assembly.

The statement stressed, ''content of the resolution is contrary to the historical facts.''

It said, ''the U.S. House of Representatives International Relations Committee approved the resolution which was transferred on September 21 by the International Operations and Human Rights Sub-Committee, and it transferred it to the U.S. House of Representatives General Assembly. Content of the resolution is contrary to the historical facts. We noted in our statement issued on September 21, 2000 that approval of the resolution by the U.S. House of Representatives General Assembly will affect negatively normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia, and peace initiatives in Caucasus. Also it will have serious repercussions on the relations between Turkey and the U.S. It was understood that our messages could not be perceived well. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives should take into consideration possible repercussions of their decision, and they should evaluate well the final stage of the resolution to make common-sense prevail.''

[25] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: -''UNFORTUNATELLY, TODAY'S VOTE REVEALED THAT OUR WARNINGS WERE NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION''

Addressing journalists, Cem said that they had put forward their views on the resolution in a previous Foreign Ministry statement.

He noted, ''from the very beginning, we said that the resolution would affect negatively normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia, relations between Turkey and the U.S., and peace initiatives in Caucasus. Unfortunatelly, today's vote revealed that our warnings were not taken into consideration. If the resolution is accepted by the U.S. House of Representatives, it should be expected that it would lead serious consequences in relations between Turkey and Armenia, relations between Turkey and the U.S., and peace and stability initiatives in Caucasus.''

Cem thanked the parliamentary delegation, relevant units of the Foreign Ministry, and the Turkish Embassy in Washington D.C. for their efforts to explain truths during the stages which the wrong and unjust resolution went through at the committee.

Cem added, ''our efforts to explain historical facts to the U.S. House of Representatives General Assembly will

continue.''

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