Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-04-30

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

30 APR�L 2001 Monday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

ECEVIT SAYS THERE IS NO BETTER GOVERNMENT MODEL
Bulent Ecevit, the Prime Minister and the leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) said that the goal of DSP is to come to power on its own. Ecevit indicated that there is no more effective and trustworthy government model in Turkey other than his government. ''Search for a new government today will be a heavy blow on economy, we will win the economic salvation fight,'' he said.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR PARRIS SAYS ERSUMER'S RESIGNATION
WAS A GOOD STEP
Former U.S. Ambasador to Turkey Mark Parris has said that Energy Minister Cumhur Ersumer's resignation was a good step. Indicating that many people in the world are following the government's efforts to fight corruption in Turkey, Parris said foreign investors were waiting to see the result of these efforts. ''Turkey is on the right way to overcome the economic crisis. A sustainable development will begin in Turkey if the new economic program is implemented,'' Parris said.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CALL TO POLITICIANS
Fuat Miras, the Chairman of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) will propose top-businessmen today to put pressure on the government in Ankara to change the laws of political parties and election. Miras also plans to implement a campaign which is to put posters all over the country calling the government to reconstruct politics.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

TURKEY AND GREECE TO FOUND TRADE CHAMBER
Turkish-Greek Trade Chamber will be founded. A reception was held yesterday in Olympic Countess Greek-flagged ship which anchored in Istanbul to celebrate the decision which was taken in the Turkish-Greek business council meeting held in Istanbul between 26-27 April.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

KEMAL DERVIS IN WALL STREET
State Minister Kemal Dervis, who is currently in the U.S. will explain the economic reform package and stability programme to Wall Street experts and finance circles in the U.S. today.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

FOUR PEOPLE DIE EVERYDAY IN WORK ACCIDENTS IN TURKEY
An average of four people die and ten people are injured seriously in work accidents everyday in Turkey, the Labor and Social Security Ministry's numbers revealed. Most of the accidents take place in constructions and mines. Workers between the ages of 30 and 40 are the most exposed group to work accidents. The statistics also showed that people make accidents more often when they work at a second job. Carelessness, lack of training and failure to use protective equipment are other causes of work accidents.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

G-7 COUNTRIES GIVE SUPPORT TO TURKEY
Finance and treasury ministers and central governors of the industrialized G-7 countries made a statement expressing support to Turkey's new economic program. The group also asked Turkey to strictly implement the measures included in the program. The group which is formed by the United States, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan and Canada also asked the western finance institutions to give support to Turkey's new economic program.

-IMFC PRAISES TURKEY'S NEW ECONOMIC PROGRAM
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Monetary and Finance Committee (IMFC) praised Turkey's new economic program and stated that the program deserved the support of the international community and the Turkish private sector.

A statement signed by the 24 IMF executive directors, IMF Chief Horst Kohler and British Finance Minister Gordon Brown said the committee welcomed Turkey's comprehensive strategy which envisages the restructuring of the banking sector, financial consolidation and structural reforms. The statement said that this strategy, supported by the necessary foreign financing, would help to bring financial stability, maintain economic growth and decrease inflation. ''The committee expects Turkey to implement all the necessary measures strictly,'' the committee stressed.

It was also pointed out that the IMF chief supported efforts to give Turkey the ten billion U.S. dollar financial aid which will be discussed at the IMF Executive Directors' Board meeting.

-DERVIS: TURKEY IS VERY CLOSE TO REACHING AN AGREEMENT WITH IMF
WASHINGTON, D.C. - IMF Chief Horst Kohler one more time expressed support to the new economic program of the Turkish government on Sunday.

''This is Turkey's program and the Turkish government's responsibility,'' Kohler said responding to a question.

State Minister in charge of economy Kemal Dervis told reporters that Turkey was very close to reaching an agreement with the IMF.

During a press conference on Saturday, Dervis had said that he was planning to present the IMF a letter of intent before he leaves Washington, D.C.

After meeting with Eximbank Chairman James Harmon, Dervis will hold a press conference in the U.S. capital and later go to New York to meet with the U.S. investors.

The IMF and World Bank had last week offered Turkey a financial aid of 10 billion U.S. dollars. The World Bank is expected to meet two billion U.S. dollars part of this amount.

Once the IMF Executive Council approves the release of 10 billion U.S. dollar credit to Turkey, Turkey will have a cash flow of 14.3 billion U.S. dollars together with the earlier promised credits.

Meanwhile, about 200 protestors continue their demonstrations in front of the building where the meetings are held. The anti-globalization protestors want the IMF to cancel the debts of poor countries. Fewer people attended the protests this year than expected.

-FINANCE MINISTER ORAL SAYS EXPORTS WILL INCREASE THIS YEAR
IZMIR - Finance Minister Sumer Oral said on Monday that they expected the exports to develop very much this year by the new regulations that will be adopted.

Responding to questions of A.A, Oral said that exports come the first among the sectors which will ease the Turkish economy. Tourism follows export sector, he said.

Oral said that they will make regulations in Value Added Tax (VAT) repayments and continuous obligations to promote exports. Noting that one of the most important problems of the export sector is the delays in VAT repayments, Oral said that new arrangenments are made to compensate the delays.

Oral stressed that efforts are underway to ease the continuous obligations in VAT repayments, adding that ''there is also a work underway to speed up the VAT repayments. The Ministry of Finance will form finance teams which will clear the accumulation in VAT repayments.''

Oral said that the export potential of the Turkish economy is beyond the existing one, adding that ''export will be again one of the most vivid sectors starting from 2001. Impediments in the exports will be lifted,'' he said.

-TREASURY ANNOUNCES ACTION PLAN FOR MAY
ANKARA - The Treasury announced on Monday that it would hold a total of six auctions in May including one debenture bond and five bonds.

The first auction will take place on Tuesday. The treasury said that a minimum 500 trillion TL of five-month bills on May 1, a minimum 600 trillion TL of ten-month bills on May 8, and a minimum net 754 trillion TL of three-month bills on May 15.

The treasury said it will also auction a minimum net 3,100 trillion TL of six- and ten-month bills on May 22, as well as an issue of an unspecified amount of 13-month bonds on May 29.

It also plans to service 5,027 trillion TL of domestic debt and 687.6 million TL of foreign debt in May.

The Treasury will service 5,027 trillion lira of domestic debt and 687,6 million U.S. dollars of foreign debt in May.

Treasury Undersecretariat said on Monday that 213,6 trillion liras part of the domestic debt is composed of the payments related to earlier sales to public institutions in auctions.

3,122 trillion liras of the domestic debt is the main debt and its 1,905 is its interest rate. The Treasury will pay the domestic debt on May 16 and May 23.

Meanwhile the Treasury will pay 108,4 million dollars of foreign debt on Tuesday. It will pay 90,9 million U.S. dollars on May 3; 107,6 million dollars on May 11 and 66,7 million dollars on May 29.

-DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ:
-''TURKEY CONSIDERS EU ADJUSTMENT PROCESS AS AN OPPORTUNITY WHICH
WILL HELP IT OVERCOME CURRENT PROBLEMS''
ISTANBUL - Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said on Monday that Turkey considers the European Union (EU) adjustment process as an opportunity which will help it overcome current problems in many fields, particularly in economic, democratic and administrative fields.

Speaking in a seminar on Turkey and Europe held in Istanbul by DaimlerChrysler AG, Yilmaz said that Turkey's target is to start the EU full membership negotiations as soon as possible.

Yilmaz noted that economy is the locomotive of the relations between Turkey and the EU.

The support that DaimlerChrysler, which is a giant company, will extend to Turkey's EU membership is of vital importance for Turkey, Yilmaz stated.

Yilmaz pointed out that this company which has been operating in Turkey for 35 years, has contributed to Turkey's economy with its production and exportation.

Emphasizing that foreign capital has vital importance for the development of the countries, Yilmaz said, ''Turkey has a serious potential for foreign capital investments by its demographic, geographical and strategic position.''

Yilmaz said that Turkey's share in foreign capital investments is so low that it cannot be compared with its position and the advantages of this position and situation.

Turkey put to implementation many structural reforms which will enable the inflow of foreign capital in 1980s, Yilmaz said.

Yilmaz noted that many other arrangements, including international arbitration, have been made in recent years.

Yilmaz continued, ''the administrative arrangements that will be made within the framework of adjustment to the EU will not only cause stability but also be an element of confidence for the foreign investors. Turkey is ready to exert all the efforts to make Turkey one of the basic elements of foreign capital development. I think that we have started to see the results of these efforts. Giant companies of the world has started to consider Turkey as a production center. I believe this trend will continue to increase.''

Globalization is an undeniable reality in today's world, Yilmaz said.

Yilmaz stated that the developments marked in the EU process is the declaration of Turkey's decision to take action together with the world.

The National Program is a realistic program which is based on strong grounds and is possible to implement, Yilmaz pointed out.

Yilmaz said, ''the short and medium term objectives listed in the National Program will contribute to Turkey's overcoming the crises which occur in certain intervals due to structural problems. Once we reach these targets, we will not face crisis similar to current crisis.''

To start the full membership negotiations, they aim to fulfil their short term commitments and liabilities listed in the National Program in a year, Yilmaz stated.

Yilmaz noted that they target to fulfil the medium term objectives in the possible shortest time.

The initiatives launched to fulfil the commitments in the National Program and to solve the current economic problems are complementary, Yilmaz said.

Yilmaz continued, ''Turkey tries to turn the economic crises into an opportunity to fulfil the liabilities it has undertaken within the framework of the EU criteria. The structural reforms we have prepared to overcome the crisis will have positive contributions to the adjustment process to the EU economic criteria.''

The economic program and the National Program should be considered as complementary programs not separate works, Yilmaz stated.

Yilmaz added, ''the economic reforms will contribute to the implementation of political, social and administrative reforms. All the issues listed in the National Program, especially the economy, are the liabilities of the government to the nation independently from the EU membership. We consider the EU membership process as very important because it will contribute to fulfilling our liabilities in a certain program and schedule.''

-DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ:
-''WE CONSIDER TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP AS THE PEAK OF
MODERNIZATION INITIATIVES WHICH CONTINUE FOR 200 YEARS''
ISTANBUL - Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said on Monday that they consider Turkey's European Union (EU) membership as the peak of the modernization initiatives which continue for 200 years.

Speaking in a seminar on Turkey and Europe held in Istanbul by DaimlerChrysler AG, Yilmaz said that their target is to reach the level to start the EU full membership negotiations in the coming three years.

Yilmaz emphasized that the Turkey-EU relations should be evaluated in different dimensions and connected with each other.

Pointing out that making evaluations in regard to Turkey's internal elements or the European elements will cause wrong results, Yilmaz said that Turkey put forward its choice as westernization by the foundation of the Republic of Turkey.

Yilmaz stated that Europe has always been the focal point of the efforts to improve democracy and economy and the determinent of the standards.

Turkey has always been an indispensable country for Europe which has met the labour force and defense needs of Europe and which has been the leaping point in economic relations, Yilmaz said.

Yilmaz noted that Turkey is the door of the EU which is heading a big geography like the Central Asia, Caucasus, and Middle East.

Yilmaz continued, ''those who are disturbed about the positive course of Turkey-EU relations are the marginal people. Both the EU and Turkey have to walk in the direction of the main line of their history and society. We should not permit the marginal groups and views be a determinent in such a vital issue.''

Turkey's relations with the EU has been ongoing for more than 600 years, Yilmaz stated.

Yilmaz pointed out that Turkey is actually a European society and that when the history is taken into consideration, the problems in Turkey's relations with the European countries were less than the conflicts among the European countries.

There are not any obstacles which are hard to overcome between Turkey and Europe, Yilmaz said.

On the contrarcy, Turkey and Europe have friendly relations, Yilmaz stressed.

Yilmaz noted that Turkey has preferred integration with Europe for the last 200 years.

Emphasizing that the process from the First and Second Constitutional Periods to the Republic served this target, Yilmaz said that the steps taken during the Republican era served the same target.

Yilmaz stated that the reason for the transition into multi-party political life and the adoption of liberalization policies in economic life was the integration target with Europe.

Following a problematic period in EU membership process which continued for 40 years, Turkey has marked significant developments in the recent one and a half years, Yilmaz said.

Yilmaz noted that these developments inspire hopes and that the Accession Partnership Document regards Turkey's sensitivities and facilitates the upcoming processes.

They believe that the National Program can meet the expectations expressed in the Accession Partnership Document, Yilmaz stated.

Yilmaz continued, ''now, it is time for implementation. Turkey continues structural reform preperations in line with the Accession Partnership Document and the National Program. Many short term objectives have started to be implemented. Our target is to reach the level to start the EU full membership negotiations in there years.''

''The National Program is the most developed, concrete and realistic step that we have taken in our relations with the EU since we applied for the membership. Not only the concerned public institutions but also the non- governmental organizations contributed to the preparation of the National Program, which is a product of both internal and external compromise,'' Yilmaz said.

Yilmaz added, ''after the National Program was announced, there were reactions to the program in Europe and Turkey. But, I would like to express pleasure that most of these reactions were positive and constructive. The reactions which can be considered as negative result from the expectations for a very comprehensive and striking program. If I should say the truth, the issues listed in the National Program could have been more striking. But, the implementation of all the issues in the current program is enough to start a new era in Turkey-EU relations. Especially, increasing the medium term objectives of the program is always possible.''

What will be done from now on is to put to implementation the short and medium term objectives of the program in the possible shortest time rather than discussing them, Yilmaz said.

Yilmaz emphasized that this program is not the program of any party or the government but the program of whole Turkey.

Yilmaz expressed belief that this seminar will have a significant contribution to the development of EU-Turkey relations.

-TURKEY'S SECRETARY GENERAL FOR EU VURAL: ''TURKEY'S TARGET IS
TO SIT AT NEGOTIATION TABLE WITH EU IN THE SHORTEST TIME FRAME''
ISTANBUL - Turkey's Secretary General for the European Union (EU) Volkan Vural said on Monday that Turkey's target was to sit at negotiation table with the EU for full membership in the shortest time frame.

Speaking at a seminar on ''Turkey and Europe'' hosted by DaimlerChrysler AG company at the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, Vural said that Turkey's forty- year partnership with Europe recorded a progress in full-membership to the EU following the Helsinki Summit.

Noting that Turkey was facing an economic crisis, Vural said that DaimlerChrysler's hosting such a meeting Turkey in such a period constituted an important and meaningful support to Turkey.

Stressing that the Turkish government had full determination in EU full membership, Vural said that the national Program had been prepared and it was a very comprehensive reform project.

Stressing that the National Program was not only economic but also political project, Vural said that first of all, the program aimed to develop freedom of thought and expression, increase individual rights and freedoms, enable the judicial system to function better, develop independence of judgement and re-arrange relations between state and individuals.

Noting that the National Program would adjust the Constitution, political parties act, radio and television regulations and many issues including freedom of thought and expression with the EU norms, Vural said, ''we want to fulfil the Copenhagen criteria in the shortest time frame. The economic program Turkey is implementing is a structural measure program included in the National Program in the process of its harmonization with the EU. The newly passed laws are a part of this structural measure program. The government targets to bring the National Program to finalization level within one year. Turkey's target is to sit at the negotiation table with the EU for full-membesrhip in the shortest time frame. Turkey will gain a new identity when it puts the National Program into practice.''

Vural said that Turkey would be a country which would compete with the European countries as a result of human rights, supremacy of law, democracy performance and free market understanding, increasing the foreign capital flows.

Noting that the system of all values in Turkey would be adjusted with the EU norms when the National Program started to be implemented, Vural said that this would provide an important structural change.

Stressing that the Turkish government and bureaucracy were working rapidly to reach these targets, Vural said that this program had been provided as a result of contributions of the government and all sections in the country.

''The National Product is the outcome of a joint will in Turkey,'' he said.

Noting that the prior political laws would be reviewed in the coming short period, Vural said that Turkey would become a more free, self-confident and prosperous country after those works.

-TURKEY AND JORDAN SIGN CULTURAL AND SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION AGREEMENT
AMMAN - Turkey and Jordan signed on Monday a cultural and scientific cooperation agreement.

Tuncer Topur, Turkey's Ambassador to Jordan, and Abdul-Razzaq Bani Hani, the secretary general of the Jordanian Planning Ministry, signed the agreement.

The agreement which covers 2001 and 2003 plans for closer cooperation between scientific institutions and exchanging information on scientific and professional education in both countries.

Turkey will provide 45 scholarships to Jordanians pursuing graduate and postgraduate education while Jordan will provide 15 university scholarships.

The agreement also projects closer cooperation between cultural, print and broadcast media and theatrical institutions.

The agreement also foresees staging book exhibitions and exchanging information and publications related to folklore and archaeology.

-DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''ERSUMER'S
RESIGNATION SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY''
ISTANBUL - Motherland Party (ANAP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said on Monday that resignation of Cumhur Ersumer from his Energy and Natural Resources Ministry post should be understood correctly.

Staging a press conference at the ANAP Headquarters in Istanbul, Yilmaz said, ''Ersumer's resignation is not related with some wrong and forced expressions in the prosecutor's indictment. On the contrary, it targeted to prevent the atmosphere which is tried to be created with these expressions from damaging Turkey.''

''I draw everybody's attention to the point that some people are now trying to prevent implementation of our economic program that we are preparing by stirring the waters. And some other people are trying to hunt men in this water,'' he said.

''Ersumer encountered a campaign of some people who thought they could easily do their business with the Energy Ministry after his resignation. I am now warning them that this will never work,'' he said.

-VURAL, SECRETARY GENERAL FOR EU:
-''TODAY, EU IS NOT A MATTER OF DISCUSSION IN TURKEY''
ISTANBUL - Volkan Vural, the Secretary General for the European Union (EU), said on Monday that today, the EU is not a matter of discussion in Turkey.

Speaking in the discussion part of the seminar on Turkey and Europe held in Istanbul by Daimler Chrysler, Vural said that the searches for an alternative model for the EU decreased.

Vural noted that there is a compromise on the EU target in Turkey and that this is the choise of the Turkish people and the politics.

We expect you to help us reach this target, Vural stated.

When Renate Sommer, a member of the European Parliament (EP) asked if Turkey knows what full membership means, Meral Gezgin Eris, the chairperson of the Economic Development Foundation (IKV), said that Turkey knows what the EU and accession to the EU mean.

Eris said that the Turkish private sector supported the Customs Union which would have negative impacts on itself.

''When saying that (there will not be any discrimination against Turkey), the discourse that (is Turkey's full membership obligatory?) is a discrimination,'' Eris said.

Eris noted that Turkey is the country which takes the least assistance from the EU among the candidate states.

The trade deficit reached 55-56 billion U.S. dollars in recent five years due to the Customs Union, Eris stated.

Eris said that despite this, the necessary support from the EU has not been ensured.

Eris said, ''when Turkey is facing maybe the biggest crisis of its history, it cannot take the necessary support from the EU. I want to say that this disappointed the Turkish business world.''

Sarik Tara, the chairman of the Enka Holding, said that the business world and the citizens in Turkey know what the EU means, adding, ''we will enter into the EU whether or not you want it.''

Emphasizing that it is in fact Europe which does not know what Turkey is, Tara said, ''we are not against the Copenhagen criteria. These are issues which cannot be refused by people. There are not any states in the EU which totally abided by these criteria. There should be tolerance over this issue.''

Klaus Mangold, a member of the Executive Board of Daimler Chrysler, said that the EU cannot make any discrimination against Turkey and that this would contradict with the spirit of being a European.

Mangold noted that such a practice will be against the interests of Europe and that their attitude should be an equal and fair accession.

-TURKISH AND GREEK MUNICIPALITIES DECIDE TO HAVE COOPERATION
TEKIRDAG - Tekirdag Mayor Osman Tabak said on Monday that the East-West Thracian Municipalities Union (TRAKYAKENT) which is comprised of 20 mayors and the West-East Thracian Municipalities Union (POLIS) of Greece consisted of 17 municipalities in Greece decided to have cooperation in several fields.

Tekirdag Mayor Osman Tabak told A.A correspondent that the TRAKYAKENT is the first official institution which will help cooperation of local administrations between Europe and Turkey.

Tabak said that this union was set up because they believed that having cooperation with the Southeast European and Balkan countries with which Turkey has historical, cultural and humanitarian ties, will be beneficial.

The TRAKYAKENT is legally based on the frame agreement on cross-border cooperation among European local administrations signed in Madrid on May 21, 1980, Tabak noted.

Tabak said that under this agreement, the members of TRAKYAKENT will have assistance in environment, agriculture, planning, tourism, culture, education, economy and employment, health, social services, transportation and disasters.

When having cooperation, the members will contribute to the stability of the Southeastern Europe and good neighbourly relations, Tabak noted.

Tabak stated that cooperation protocol was signed on March 17 among the municipal unions of the two countries to have cooperation in several fields.

Efforts are underway to have cooperation with the municipalities in Bulgaria, Tabak said, adding that a meeting will be held in Sofia on May 18- 19.

-EUROPEAN ECONOMY SUMMIT TO BE HELD IN AUSTRIA IN JULY
ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and State Minister Kemal Dervis are expected to attend the European Economy Summit that will be held in Salzburg, Austria, between July 1 and 3.

The heads of state and governments of the European Union (EU) candidate countries and the high-ranking economy officials will attend the summit.

The main theme of the summit will be the enlargement of the EU.

The investment opportunities in the EU candidate states will also be debated in the summit in which the businessmen will also participate.

Representatives of NATO, European Investment Bank, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe will also attend the summit.

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