Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-12-14

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

14 DECEMBER 2000

Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA REGION EXPORTS 127.3 MILLION U.S.

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

TEN-DAY HOLIDAY FOR CIVIL SERVANTS
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Wednesday that the Eid al-Fitr and new year holiday will be ten days. Premier Bulent Ecevit issued a circular in which he said that the holiday will start on December 22 evening and end on January 2.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

AGAIN, CRUEL ATTACK
Gunfire was opened on a policeman who was guarding the Finnish Consulate General in Tarabya district of Sariyer township of Istanbul early on Wednesday. The policeman in the sentry-box was not injured in the armed attack. Sources said that an unidentified assailant had opened gunfire on the sentry-box in front of the Finnish Consulate General, and the assailant escaped from the area when Ali Direk, the sentry policeman, opened fire on the assailant. Direk was immediately treated in the Istinye State Hospital.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

OYAK RENAULT SUSPENDS PRODUCTION
The Oyak Renault, a leading motor vehicles producer, will suspend its production on December 21, 22 and 25 due to the increase in motor vehicles purchase credit interest rates and decrease in general consumption demand. Officials told A.A correspondent on Wednesday that the factories where spare parts for exportation are produced, will continue to work in those days. Meanwhile, production will also be suspended between December 26, 2000 and January 1, 2001 due to the Id al-Fitr and new year holiday.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

PROCESS IS PROLONGING IN FP CASE
The Constitutional Court suspended the discussions of the closure case of the Virtue Party (FP) for the deciphering of the video-tapes and for learning the view of Vural Savas, the Supreme Court Republican Chief Prosecutor. Savas said that they will express their opinion about the ideas of Recai Kutan, the FP leader, regarding the implementation of the Article 104 of the Political Parties Law. The approved copy of the report which was prepared by the government commissioner during the First Regular Congress of the FP will be provided, Savas said. Savas added that all these documents and their opinion regarding these documents will be completed and sent to the Constitutional Court in the possible shortest time.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

DRUG WORTH OF SEVEN TRILLION TL
Gendarme forces confiscated 200 kg morphine, 54 kg heroin and 40 litres of acid anhydride in three separate operations in eastern Van province. Eight people, including two people of Iranian origin, were taken into custody in connection with the haul which was reported to have a market value of six trillion Turkish liras. Efforts are underway to capture three more persons.

YEN� B�NYIL (LIBERAL)

COMPETITION BOARD APPROVES PRIVATIZATION OF TURK TELEKOM
The Competition Board conveyed its view regarding the sale of 33.5 percent shares of Turk Telekom to the Privatization Board. Thus, another step was taken in the privatization process of Turk Telekom. Following this stage, the advertisements for the sale of Turk Telekom's shares are expected to be given as of Thursday.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

FP LEADER KUTAN TO GO ON TOUR TO LEADERS
Recai Kutan, the leader of the Virtue Party (FP), will visit the leaders of the political parties regarding the constitutional amendment package. Sources said that the FP discussed the constitutional amendment package in its Chairmanship Council meeting on Wednesday and that the FP members agreed that Kutan would discuss this package with the leaders of the other political parties which were represented at the parliament.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

24 PERCENT TO FOREIGNERS
The Turkish Airlines (THY) will be put to sale today. The tender is expected to be held in April. The share of the foreign partner will be limited by 24 percent. Announcement will be given to some newspapers today for the block sale of the 51 percent shares of THY. The share of THY in domestic lines in 97 percent while its share in international lines is 30 percent.

[02] SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA REGION EXPORTS 127.3 MILLION U.S.

The region's agricultural and animal product exports to the Middle Eastern countries decreased 16.2 percent in the first eleven months of 2000 when compared with the same period last year. The region exported 151.8 million U.S. dollar agricultural and animal products to the mentioned countries in the same period last year.

In accordance with the figures of the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union, the region exported 148 thousand U.S. dollar animal products, 61 million 546 thousand U.S. dollar cereals, grains, oil seeds and products, 2 million 424 thousand U.S dollar dried fruit, and 63 million 209 thousand U.S. dollar textile products in the mentioned period.

The region mainly exported its products to Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia.

-FOREIGN MINISTRY ARCHIVES TO BE KEPT IN GENERAL
DIRECTORATE OF STATE ARCHIVES TEMPORARILY
ANKARA- The Foreign Ministry Archives will be kept in the General Directorate of State Archives temporarily.

Sources told A.A correspondent that the archives of the Foreign Ministry which are kept at the Prime Ministry since 1998, will be moved to the State Archives General Directorate for a temporary time.

The sources said that the Foreign Ministry Archives are planned to be classified by utilizing the possibilities of the General Directorate of State Archives and to be opened to the usage of researches.

Efforts are underway to set up Foreign Ministry Archive Site, the sources noted, adding that after this site is set up, the archives will be kept there.

The Foreign Ministry Central Archives carry importance because they are composed of documents since 1919, when Turkey was struggling to gain its independence.

The archives are composed of 65,000 boxes and dossiers.

Besides, there are 13,000 registry books, more than 4,000 bilateral and multilateral agreements which Turkey is a side, and 3,000 books in the archive.

The archieves are expected to be moved to the General Directorate of State Archives in the following months.

-STATE MINISTER YALOVA: ''ADVERTISEMENTS REGARDING PRIVATIZATION
OF THY AND TURK TELEKOM HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED TODAY''
ANKARA - State Minister Yuksel Yalova said on Thursday that the advertisements regarding the privatization of the Turkish Airlines (THY) and the Turk Telekom have been published today.

Yalova told a press conference that the sale strategy of Turk Telekom was re-determined in the end of the works carried out for its privatization.

They decided to increase the amount of Turk Telekom's shares which will be privatized from 20 percent to 33.5 percent, Yalova said.

Yalova noted that they also decided to set up a strategical services committee and an executive committee.

They agreed to set up a partnership structure which will increase the value of the company and to give the majority to the execution committee to the strategical partner representatives, Yalova stated.

Yalova said that they also decided to give consent right to the strategic investor in the decisions of the executive board regarding the strategic issues which will be determined in the agreements that will be signed.

Also, they decided to appoint a person proposed by the strategical investor, as the General Director and to set up a Follow-up Committee which is comprised of the public and strategical partner representatives, to control whether or not the provisions of the agreement which will be signed following the block sale, are kept, Yalova noted.

Yalova said that the block sale process is an interactive process, adding that this process will occur in the end of the exchange of information and documents with the value assessment commission and tender commission.

-FOREIGN MINISTER CEM MEETS WITH U.S. STATE SECRETARY ALBRIGHT
BRUSSELS - Foreign Minister Ismail Cem met on Thursday with U.S. State Secretary Madeleine Albright.

Sources said that Cem and Albright, who are in Brussels to attend the NATO year-end meeting, discussed the European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI) and the NATO-European Union (EU) relations.

Cem is expected to give information about this meeting in the press conference which he is scheduled to release today.

-TENDER ANNOUNCEMENT OF SALE OF TELEKOM ISSUED IN OFFICIAL GAZETTE
ANKARA, Dec 14 (A.A) - The tender announcement of the sale of Turk Telekom's shares was issued in the Official Gazette on Thursday.

The Privatization Administration will privatize 35 percent of shares of Turk Telekom by block sale method.

The announcement said, ''under the framework of the Telegram and Telephone Law No. 406 as amended, among others, by Laws No. 4000, 4107, 4161 and 4502 (the "Amended Law No. 406"), the Turkish Privatisation Administration (the "PA") announces the commencement of the privatisation through the sale of a minority stake in T�rk Telekom on behalf of the Turk Telekom Tender Committee (the "Committee"). The Committee intends to sell 20% of the existing issued share capital of Turk Telekom through a block sale to a strategic investor ("Strategic Investor"). Turk Telekom is the incumbent fixed line telecommunications operator in the Republic of Turkey and is currently 100% owned by the Republic of Turkey, Prime Ministry, Undersecretariat of the Treasury.''

The announcement continued, ''the tender will be undertaken by the Committee, an independent commission formed within the scope of the Supplementary Article 21 of the Amended Law No. 406. On behalf of the Committee, the PA is authorised to undertake the procedural issues regarding the sale pursuant to the provisions of the Law No. 4046. The sealed bid procedure will be applied for the block sale of the shares.

Through the privatisation, a Strategic Investor is sought to provide knowledge, expertise and assistance to effect the further transformation of T�rk Telekom into a modern, efficient, commercially driven operator. Under the Council of Ministers Decree, No. 98/11472 (dated 6th August, 1998), such a Strategic Investor is defined as an international basic telecommunications operator, a group of telecommunications operators containing at least one such international basic telecommunications operator or a consortium of investors in which basic telecommunications operators collectively hold a majority interest.,''

''Pursuant to the Council of Ministers decree No.98/10794 (dated 16 February 1998), the Strategic Investor will be given appropriate management rights. In order to receive an Information Memorandum and the Tender Specifications on T�rk Telekom, interested parties are required to obtain a form of confidentiality undertaking available from the PA from June 15, 2000, execute and return a copy to the PA and to have paid a non-refundable fee of US$ 15,000 to Account No. 30103/39387 at T.C. Ziraat Bank, Central Branch or the equivalent in Turkish Liras to Account No. 30447/3085 at T.C. Ziraat Bank, Central Branch, which shall be calculated according the foreign exchange selling rate for transactions in cash of the Turkish Central Bank as of the date of payment. The bank receipt evidencing such deposit and stating the name of the legal and real entities participating in the tender shall be presented to the PA at the time of delivery of the executed confidentiality undertaking,'' the announcement said.

The announcement added, ''the Information Memorandum and the Tender Specifications, where all of the details of the bidding requirements are set out, will be available from PA at the address above as from June 15, 2000. Potential bidders are invited to register their interest to the PA at the address mentioned below. The Consortium co-headed by Merrill Lynch/ABN Amro Rothschild, whose contact information is stated below, is providing financial advisory services to the Committee.''

-THREE MINOR QUAKES SHAKE AYDIN
AYDIN, Dec 14 (A.A) - Three minor earthquakes shook Aegean Aydin province early on Thursday.

The Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Center and Seismology Institute said that the first earthquake measuring 2.9 on the Richter scale was recorded in Germencik township at 00.58 a.m.

Two more earthquakes rocked Aydin an Tire at 1.03 a.m. and 1.07 a.m. These two earthquakes were measuring 3.4 and 3.0 on the Richter scales.

There were no report of casulties in the earthquakes but they caused panic citizens.

-PRESIDENT SEZER SENDS A CONGRATULARY MESSAGE TO
ILIESCU WHO WAS ELECTED AS PRESIDENT OF ROMANIA
ANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer sent on Thursday to Ion Iliescu who has been elected as President of Romania.

The Presidential Press Center quoted President Sezer as saying in his message, ''I want express my pleasure with re-election of Iliescu who had served as president during the first years of ten-year democratic transition period in Romania. Iliescu was elected in a period in which important developments have been occurring to provide lasting peace and stability in the Balkans. I believe that our friendly relations with Romania would further improve during President Iliescu's term in office.''

-ECHR DECIDES TO ASSESS APPLICATION OF LAWYERS OF
OCALAN, HEAD OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATION PKK
STRASBOURG - The European Court of Human Rights' (ECHR) First Chamber decided on Thursday to assess application of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of terrorist organion PKK.

The ECHR is expected to announce its decision officially on Friday.

Sources at the Council of Europe said that judges of the ECHR First Chamber would convene again later on Thursday to approve the decision.

The decision will be conveyed to Turkish government and lawyers of Ocalan.

Later, the ECHR will release a written press statement.

Sources said that the First Chamber had decided to assess most of the application.

The most important parts of the application includes Article 5 of the Europopean Convention on Human Rights about detention period and conditions, Article 6 about fair trial and Article 2 about right of living.

In their application to the ECHR, lawyers of Ocalan claimed that Turkey had violated Articles 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 18, 34 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

-ELEVEN-MONTH BUDGET PERFORMANCE
-BUDGET DEFICIT BECOMES 10.996 TRILLION TL AND
NON-INTEREST BUDGET SURPLUS BECOMES 8.954 TRILLION TL
ANKARA - Budget deficit in the January-November period of 2000 rose 26.8 percent to 10 quadrillion 996 trillion Turkish lira (TL) and non-interest budget surplus increased 85.4 percent to 8 quadrillion 954 trillion TL.

Releasing a statement on Thursday, Finance Minister Sumer Oral gave information about the eleven-month budget performance.

Oral said that the budget deficit was expected to be realized below the target while the non-interest budget surplus was expected to be realized above the target as of the end of the year under the light of those figures.

According to the statement, consolidated budget revenues rose 86.6 percent to 31 quadrillion 432 trillion TL and consolidated budget expenditures increased 66.3 percent to 42 quadrillion 428 trillion TL in first eleven months of 2000.

In the same period, tax revenues rose 88.2 percent to 24 quadrillion 649 trillion TL.

Between January and November of 2000, expenditures excluding interest rose 52.3 percent to 22 quadrillion 478 trillion TL while interest payments in scope of the budget became 19 quadrillion 950 trillion TL.

Assessing the budget performance as of end of November, Finance Minister Sumer Oral said that the non-interest surplus became 9 quadrillion TL while it had been targeted to be 7 quadrillion TL as of end of 2000, and the budget deficit became 11 quadrillion TL while it had been targeted to be 14 quadrillion TL.

''According to these figures, the budget deficit is expected to be realized below the target, and the non-interest surplus is expected to be realized above the target as of end of the yeaer,'' he said.

Noting that those figures positively affected the three-year economic programme, Oral added that implementation of the programme would continue with determination according to its targets.

-NUMBER OF TOURISTS VISITING MEVLANA MUSEUM INCREASES
KONYA - Number of tourists visiting Mevlana Museum in central Konya province during the activities between December 9 and 17 to commemorate Jalal ud-din Rumi on the 727th anniversary of his demise.

Erdogan Erol, the Curator of Mevlana Museum, told the A.A correspondent that tourism had revived in the province, and number of tourists increased during the Mevlana Week.

He said, ''a total of 13,400 people including 1,700 foreigners have visited the Museum since December 9, the beginning of the Mevlana Week. The number of visitors increased 40 percent compared to other days of the year.''

Several activities are taking place in Konya within the framework of the Week.

Whirling dervishes are displaying performances at the Ataturk Sports Hall.

A ceremony will take place on December 17 to mark ''Shab-i Arus Night'' when Jalal ud-din Rumi passed away 727 years ago.

Jalal ud-din Rumi devoted himself to the pursuit of Sufi mysticism, in which he is justly regarded as a master. He was the spiritual founder of the Mevlevi order of whirling dervishes. His most important work, composed during the last ten years of his life, was the Mathnawi-i Manawi. This comprises about 30 thousand couplets in six books, a vast compensium of Sufi lore and doctrine, interspersed with fables and anecdotes. It is especially remarkable for its insight into the laws of physics and psychology. Second to this is the Diwan-i Shams-i Tabriz, a collection of lyrics (ghazals) dedicated to his spritual guide Shamsuddin of Tabriz.

-PRIME MINISTRY NOTE ABOUT EXTENSION OF OPERATION
NORTHERN WATCH'S MANDATE SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT
ANKARA - The Prime Ministry note about extension of the Operation Northern Watch's mandate for six more months was submitted to the parliament on Thursday.

In accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolutions about Iraq following the Gulf War, the Operation Northern Watch has been limited with reconnaissance and prevention flights with the participation of U.S. and British war planes by paying careful attention to territorial integrity of Iraq.

The Operation Northern Watch's mandate will expire on December 31, 2000.

-JUSTICE MINISTER TURK:
-''WE EXPECT THAT THOSE DEATH FASTING WILL ACT
WITH COMMON SENSE AND END THEIR ACTION''
ANKARA - Hikmet Sami Turk, the Justice Minister, said on Thursday that they expected that those death fasting in prisons would act with common sense and end their actions.

Turk responded to the questions of the journalists after the meeting of the Parliamentary Constitutional Commission on the Constitutional amendment.

When asked whether there were any developments regarding the death fasts, Turk said, ''not yet, but you all know that these came to a very critical point. Some prisoners are at the 56th day of their death fasts. We expect that those death fasting should act with common sense and end their actions.''

Replying to a question whether or not there would be a contact today, Turk said final efforts were exerted also on that issue.

When asked whether or not they reached to the possible final point, Turk said, ''as you may know, the representatives of Parliamentary Human Rights Sub-Commission, and the representatives of the professional associations are continuing negotiations. I hope that a positive outcome could be obtained from the negotiations. Because further delay will cause problems which are difficult to solve.''

When reminded the proposals of the Parliamentary Human Rights Monitoring Commission members', Turk said the proposals were within the framework of his statements on December 9.

''We explained the things that we could do as state and government. This is to reach a social comprimise on the F-type prison issue, with the participation of the professional associations having the qualities of public institutions, and postponing the opening of the F-type prisons till that time. It is possible for the government to accept a development within this framework,'' said Turk.

Replying a question on whether or not President Ahmet Necdet Sezer had a proposal on the issue, Turk said it wouldn't be appropriate if he made any statement on the meeting with President Sezer which was close to press.

Turk added President Sezer was closely following the issue.

Responding to a question on whether he had an impression that President Sezer would approve the draft law for conditional release and suspension of punishment, Turk said President Sezer was examining the draft.

When a reporter reminded Turk the news that he would resign or would be removed from office, Turk said ''such stories are taking place in the media often.''

-COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING ENDS
-GUREL SAYS INTERIOR MINISTER TANTAN LAUNCHED A
LARGE-SCALE INVESTIGATION INTO POLICE DEMONSTRATIONS
ANKARA- State Minister and Government Spokesman Sukru Sina Gurel said on Thursday that Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan had launched a large-scale investigation into the police demonstrations.

Following his statement after the Council of Ministers meeting, Gurel answered questions of journalists.

When asked how Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit had assessed death fasts of inmates and demontrations of policemen during the meeting, Gurel said, ''the Prime Minister has given a comprehensive information especially on demonstrations of policemen and inmates' death fasts which actually created deep sorrow among the Turkish people.''

Responding to a question, Gurel said that any decree had not been prepared to remove Security Director General Turan Genc from office.

When asked whether the government cosidered the demonstrations of policemen as separate incidents, Gurel said, ''while the Prime Minister was briefing the Council of Ministers, Interior Minister Sadaettin Tantan said that he had launched a large-scale investigation. The results of this investigation will be assessed later.''

When asked whether or not policemen would be punished within framework of the results of the investigation launched by the Interior Minister, Gurel said, ''every result of this comprehensive and large-scale investigation will be taken into consideration.''

When asked whether or not the government had decided to intervene in inmates' death fasts, Gurel said, ''anything about this issue was not discussed except the scope I mentioned.''

When recalled of TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu's statement which said Turkey was planning to give almost 300 million U.S. dollars loan to the TRNC, Gurel said, ''I think that we will sign this agreement before the new year.''

-24 INMATES AT AYDIN PRISON END THEIR HUNGER STRIKE
AYDIN - A total of 24 inmates at Aydin Prison ended their hunger strike on Thursday.

Sources told the A.A correspondent that 24 members of the terrorist organization PKK who were imprisoned in wards no: 7 and 15 at Aydin Prison, ended their hunger strike as of 01:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Two ambulances are being kept ready in front of prison building as a precaution.

-HUMAN RIGHTS LAW CENTER INAUGURATED IN ISTANBUL
ISTANBUL - A human rights law investigation and implementation centre was inaugurated in Istanbul on Thursday within the structure of the Bilgi University.

Ilter Turan, the rector of Bilgi University, told A.A. correspondent that the centre would cooperate with several non-governmental organizations and public institutions.

Noting that the centre would carry out researches on human rights, Turan said ''we would like to cooperate with the public institutions, especially with the Ministry of Interior Affairs. But I don't think that the human rights issue is within the scope of just one ministry.''

Turan added they were planning to organize summer schools on the issue for the countries in the region.

The Bilgi University cooperated with the Raul Wallenberg Institute of the Swedish Lund University, during the set up process of the human rights law research and implementation centre.

The aim of the centre is to conduct researches on the human rights law, and carry out studies for the acknowledgement, protection and development of human rights within the framework of national and international law.

Sven-Eric Soder, the state minister of Sweden responsible for foreign trade, also participated in the meeting organized for the inauguration of the centre.

-FIRE BREAKS OUT IN A FACTORY IN KIRKLARELI
-SIX PEOPLE INJURED
LULEBURGAZ - Fire broke out in a factory producing plastic goods in Luleburgaz township of northwestern Kirklareli province on Thursday.

Sources told the A.A correspondent that the fire started in the depots of the Plas Plastic Factory in which chemical substances were stored.

The fire which spread quickly to other departments of the factory, was extinguished by fire-fighting teams.

Meanwhile, six people including a fireman was injured in the fire.

They were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.

The fire caused major damage in the factory.

-FOREIGN DEBT PAYMENTS
-440.9 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS PAID BETWEEN DECEMBER 1-13
ANKARA - Turkey repaid a total of 440.9 million U.S. dollars of foreign debt between December 1 and 13.

The Central Bank data show that the Treasury paid 373 million U.S. dollars; the Central Bank repaid 12.4 million U.S. dollars; and 55.4 million U.S. dollars was the repayments of the documentation and membership fees of the administrations.

Meanwhile, Turkey has repaid a total of 9 billion 451.5 million U.S. dollars of foreign debt since the beginning of this year.

-FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK
INCREASE BY 682 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS
ANKARA- The foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank increased by 682 million U.S. dollars between December 1 and 8.

According to the Central Bank's weekly bulletin, the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves which had been 18 billion 942 million U.S. dollars on December 1 increased to 19 billion 624 million U.S. dollars on December 8.

Meanwhile, total foreign exchange reserves of banks and private finance organizations decreased by 253 million U.S. dollars from 16 billion 249 million U.S. dollars to 15 billion 996 million U.S. dollars as of November 24.

Meanwhile, the international reserves comprising of gold reserves of Turkey and foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank, commercial banks and private finance organizations decreased by 3 billion 102 million U.S. dollars from 41 billion 691 million U.S. dollars to 38 billion 598 million U.S. dollars as of November 24.

-PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT :
-''OUR GOVERNMENT HAS DONE ITS UTMOST TO END DEATH FASTS IN
SEVERAL PRISONS WITHOUT LOSS OF LIVES''
ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Thursday, ''our government has done its utmost to end death fasts in several prisons without loss of lives.''

Addressing journalists after his weekly meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Ecevit said, ''although all concerns about F type prisons have been removed, those who started and continued death fasts, are insisting on some unacceptable conditions.''

Referring to death fasts in several prisons, Prime Minister Ecevit told reporters, ''our government has done its utmost to end death fasts in several prisons without loss of lives. Deputies, non-governmental organizations, writers and artists have expended great efforts to this end. Although all concerns about F type prisons have been removed, those who started and continued death fasts, are insisting on some unacceptable conditions. If some of death-fasting inmates die, those who dragged them to death, will be responsible of these deaths.''

-THY IS FAVORITE OF DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN INVESTORS
ISTANBUL- Turkish Airlines (THY) attracts attention of domestic and foreign investors as a result of its fleet, passengers, number of routes and various services.

High-level THY officials told the A.A correspondent on Thursday that THY has the youngest fleet in Europe and one of the airlines that are rapidly growing in the world.

They said that THY for which the process of privatization of 51 percent shares has started with the tender announcement the same day, will be the favorite company of both domestic and foreign investors.

Turkish Airlines, the fastest growing airline in Europe, now boasts partnerships with the biggest airline companies in the world, and the youngest aircraft fleet.

When Turkish Airlines was founded under the title ''Havayollari Devlet Isletme Idaresi'' (State Airline Operating Company) in May 1933 in Ankara, the capital of Turkey; it had a total capacity of 28 seats and a single sector. The company operated five small aircraft flying only between Ankara and Eskisehir. Now, it flies to 98 airports, 33 of which are domestic.

In its fourth anniversary, Turkish Airlines had four lines; later it added the Heron, DC-3 and C-47 aircraft to its fleet, and became the largest airline company of the Middle East in 1945. The first Athens-Istanbul flight became its first international route two years later, thereafter Nicosia, Beirut and Cairo points were established.

Following the first international flight forty years ago, Turkish Airlines increased the number of international flight points to 78. This rapid growth was achieved by timely capturing the ''age of jet'' in the 1960s. Following aeronautic breakthroughs very closely, Turkish Airlines renewed its fleet with DC-9, DC-10, F-28 and Boeing 727 passenger jets. Together with this development, the number of destinations was increased. The first Airbus to form the backbone of the Turkish Airlines fleet was acquired in 1985. Thus, New York and Singapore were added to the route network.

Along with the B737s, the network expanded. W�th the first two Airbus (340) direct flights to Tokyo and New York, and the increase in the number of 340s, more long distance flights to destinations such as Osaka, Johannesburg, Capetown, Shangai, Beijing, Seoul and Chicago were established.

Within five years after its foundation as the State Airlines Operations Administration, the corporation was reformed into an entity reporting to the Ministry of Transport, and renamed State Airlines. Turk HavaYollari A.O. (Turkish Airlines Inc.), a joint-stock company holding all aviation related activity and subject to a special law, was established on 1 March, 1956, with a share capital of a mere 60 million TL. The same year, Turkish Airlines was admitted to the IATA as the 78th member. After being given the ''state-owned enterprise'' status in 1984, several changes were made regarding its legal stature and structure. The economic boom era of Turkey brought up the privatization issue in 1990, the very same year when the corporation became an affiliate of the Public Enterprises Department. The state-owned enterprise status is expected to change when the public share of the capital falls below 50 percent.

Today, with a registered share capital of over 50 trillion TL, Turkish Airlines is among the most successful airline companies, both in financial and operational aspects.

As a natural result of the above mentioned consistent policies, both the AEA and IATA announced Turkish Airlines to be the fastest growing airline company in Europe and the Middle East. These international aviation institutions calculate that airline companies worldwide grew by 9.7 to 10 percent in average, in contrast to a far better growth rate of Turkish Airlines: an impressive 16.7 percent. Turkish Airlines continues to increase its flight points, and expansion of its fleet goes steady. New training centers are implemented, the cargo complex is widened, and the computer system is enhanced, all with the single goal to provide improved quality and faster service.

Since March 30, 1998, Turkish Airlines has been in alliance with five big airlines of Europe, Swissair, Sabena, TAP Air Portugal and AOM of France, namely the "Qualiflyer Group" which covers several main hubs and a wide range of joint activities. With the participation of Crossair, Air Littoral, Air Europe,LOT Polish Airlines, PGA Portugalia Airlines and Volare Airlines, the Qualiflyer Group is enlarged. With this alliance, the joint global route network of partner airlines becomes considerably wider.

It will provide more destinations to customers, as well as facilities such as more efficient handling and greater benefits for frequent flyers.

Currently, THY has a 73-plane fleet comprising of 7 Airbus 340 planes, 13 Airbus 310-304 and 310-203 planes, 22 Boeing 737-800 planes, 18 Boeing 737- 500 and 737-400 planes, 12 RJ 70 and RJ 100 planes and a cargo plane.

In addition to its flight services, THY offers several services to both domestic and international airlines companies like cargo transportation, catering, technical maintenance and airport management.

The deadline for submitting bids for THY is February 28, 2001.

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