Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-09-13

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

13 AUGUST 2001 Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] FLAGS FLIED AT HALF-MAST THROUGHOUT TURKEY

[03] SECURTY FORCES KILL 2 TERRORISTS IN SIRNAK

[04] STOCK EXCHANGE NATIONAL-100 INDEX DECREASES SHARPLY

[05] EXPORTS OF CARPETS DECREASE 5.4 PERCENT

[06] TURKEY AND BURKINA FASO TO COOPERATE IN TRAINING OF GENDARME TROOPS

[07] THY'S TODAY'S FLIGHTS TO U.S. CANCELLED

[08] TURKISH COMPANIES WIN CONTRACTS WORTH OF 65 MILLION DOLLARS IN BAGHDAD

[09] HOISTING FLAG CEREMONY ABOARD NEMTAS-1 VESSEL POSTPONED

[10] CENTRAL BANK SAYS NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF TERRORIST ATTACKS ARE REDUCING

[11] ERDAL TO BE TRIED IN BELGIUM ON CHARGES OF CRIMES SHE COMMIT IN TURKEY

[12] NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY TURKISH GROUP PRESIDENT KOSE SAYS HE CONSIDERS DECISION AS CORRECT

[13] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT DECIDES TO DEBATE ANNULMENT OF ELECTRICITY MARKET LAW

[14] AK PARTY LEADER ERDOGAN RECIEVES LEBEDEV, RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR IN ANKARA

[15] TURKISH-BRITISH BUSINESS COUNCIL TO ORGANIZE SEMINAR ON CAPITAL MARKETS IN TURKEY

[16] KAVAK SAYS MOST IMPORTANT RESULT OF CONFERENCE ON FIGHT WITH RACISM IS ACCEPTION OF SLAVERY AND SLAVE TRADE AS CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

SUICIDE BOMBER HAS 1.5 KG C-4
The Security Directorate Criminal Department and Criminal Laboratory concluded their works in the scene of suicide bomb attack. From the evidences, it was revealed that the suicide bomber was carrying almost 1.5 kilograms of C-4 before blewing himself up in Taksim district in Istanbul, killing 2 policemen.

ANKARA TO GET DOWN PLANES WHICH CHANGE COURSE
The crisis committee which held an extraordinary meeting two days ago under chairmansip of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit decided to increase security measures to highest level at critical institutions and points. In accordance with this, planes which enter the Turkish airspace without clearance will be under risk. All planes entering the Turkish airspace will be monitored and they are not allowed to change course. If a plane changes its course, the Turkish Air Forces will be informed, and the plane will be brought down if it is necessary.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

ONE-DAY MOURNING IN TURKEY
All flags will be lowered in Turkey today due to terror attacks in the United States. The Prime Ministry said, ''flags will be flied at half-mast throughout the country between 08:00 a.m. and 06:00 p.m. on September 13, 2001 for those who lost their lives in terrorist attacks in the friendly ally United States on September 11, 2001.''

FIRST REPORT ON TERRORISM TO ECEVIT
The National Security Council (NSC) and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) presented a 13-page report to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit following the terrorist attacks in the United States. The report said, ''the United States got prepared for a serious retaliation, and Turkey can be affected by such a retaliation due to its strategic importance in the Middle East.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

YALCINTAS JOINS AK PARTY
Nevzat Yalcintas who became an independent deputy after closure of the Virtue Party (FP), joined the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) yesterday. The recent distribution of seats at Parliament is as follows: Democratic Left Party (DSP): 132, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP): 126, Motherland Party (ANAP): 86, True Path Party (DYP): 79, AK Party: 52, Felicity Party (SP): 48, Independent: 18, Vacant: 9

DOLLAR CAN'T INCREASE
When the Central Bank announced that it would sell U.S. dollar if prices rose excessively, panic in the markets was prevented. One U.S. dollar which increased up to 1.5 million Turkish liras (TL) later reduced to 1 million 460 thousand TL after intense sellings. The effect of terrorist attacks in the United States was overcome ''lightly'' for now.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

RADIKAL (LEFT)

U.S.: ''WE THANK TURKEY''
The U.S. Embassy in Ankara expressed pleasure with the Turkish people's concern and kind interest after the attacks in the United States. U.S. Embassy in Ankara Press Attache Jess Bailey said all of their institutions in Turkey were working and they would continue to take all precautions to protect our American and Turkish personnel here and throughout Turkey.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

ECEVIT: ''THE MOST HORRIFYING ACT IN THE HISTORY''
Defining the terror attacks in the United States as ''the most horrifying act in the history'', Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''we will support the United States in its fight against terrorism and in every issue.''

NO PROBLEM IN IMF LOANS
Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen had told him that the terror attacks in the United States would not negatively affect IMF loans to Turkey.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

JOINT ATTITUDE AGAINST TERRORISM
After the attacks, whole world from NATO to the U.N. and from Russia to Palestine will join forces in fight against terrorism. NATO held an emergency meeting and decided to implement Article 5. In accordance with this, if an external-rooted attack is staged on the United States, it is considered an attack on the alliance and a joint military operation will be carried out.

HIJACKERS CLAIMED TO HAVE BEEN OF EGYPTIAN AND SAUDI ARABIAN ORIGIN
American television channels announced that most of the people who had hijacked passenger planes and crashed them into towers and Pentagon were of Egyptian and Saudi Arabian origin.

[02] FLAGS FLIED AT HALF-MAST THROUGHOUT TURKEY

In accordance with the Council of Ministers decision, flags were flied at half-mast at 08.00 a.m. today for victims of the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11.

[03] SECURTY FORCES KILL 2 TERRORISTS IN SIRNAK

The Emergency Rule Region Governor's Office said on Thursday that during security forces operations in the rural area in Sirnak on Wednesday, a group of PKK terrorists had clashed with security forces.

It said that 2 terrorists were killed and 1 terrorist was captured in the clash.

Meanwhile, 4 terrorists who had escaped from the terrorist PKK organization surrendered to security forces in Sirnak.

Operations are under way in the region.

[04] STOCK EXCHANGE NATIONAL-100 INDEX DECREASES SHARPLY

The decrease in National-100 Index which reduced by 325 points in the opening reached 576 points in a few minutes, and shares lost 6.20 percent in value.

Index was about 8,700 point in first ten minutes of the morning session.

[05] EXPORTS OF CARPETS DECREASE 5.4 PERCENT

In the same period last year, a total of 52 million 109 thousand U.S. dollars of carpets had been exported.

Officials at the Southeast Anatolian Exporters' Associations said on Thursday that carpets were exported to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Romania, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Greece.

[06] TURKEY AND BURKINA FASO TO COOPERATE IN TRAINING OF GENDARME TROOPS

Prior to the signing ceremony at the Gendarme Commandership in Ankara, Gendarme Commander General Aytac Yalman said that he believed the agreement would bring successful results.

Later, General Yalman and Defense Minister Kouame Lougue of Burkina Faso signed the training cooperation protocol.

Meanwhile, a totay of 200 military personnel from Albania, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Gambia, Georgia, France, Kyrgyzstan and Tunisia have received training at the Gendarme Commandership facilities between 1984 and 2000.

[07] THY'S TODAY'S FLIGHTS TO U.S. CANCELLED

Sources said on Thursday that THY's flights to Miami and New York from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport were cancelled as the U.S. airspace had not been re-opened yet.

Meanwhile, THY's flights to Tel Aviv, Israel resumed early the same day.

[08] TURKISH COMPANIES WIN CONTRACTS WORTH OF 65 MILLION DOLLARS IN BAGHDAD

Sources said on Thursday that Turkish companies had recorded great success and awarded with several contracts during the Health Fair fair between September 10-14.

Sources said 44 million U.S. dollars part of the contracts was for construction of cancer and diabetes hospital, 15 million U.S. dollars part was for medicine and medical equipment and 6 million U.S. dollars part was for ambulances.

The fair which served Turkey's strategy to increase exports to neigboring countries was organized by a Turkish fair organizer company and opened upon request of the Iraqi Health Ministry.

The Health Ministry carried out three surgical operations and held eight seminars at the fair in which 28 Turkish companies are attending.

Turkish companies attending the fair have held eight seminars.

Previously, a 350 million U.S. dollars contract had been signed during the visit of a trade delegation comprising 200 businessmen headed by Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursad Tuzmen.

[09] HOISTING FLAG CEREMONY ABOARD NEMTAS-1 VESSEL POSTPONED

State Minister Ramazan Mirzaoglu for Maritime were to attend the ceremony.

Nemrut Port Enterprises Chairman Samim Sivri said that the 50,000 dead- weight tons M/V Nemtas-1 cargo vessel which had been constructed in Japan would contribute to the Turkish Naval Fleet.

Stressing that they condemned terrorist attacks in the U.S., Sivri said that they had postponed the ceremony.

[10] CENTRAL BANK SAYS NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF TERRORIST ATTACKS ARE REDUCING

Releasing a statement, Central Bank said that the measures which had been taken to minimize negative reflections of the uneasiness created in international finance markets by the terrorist attacks in the U.S. on the Turkish markets had been started to be implemented as of Wednesday morning.

It said that within this framework, it was targeted to provide sufficient liquidity to Turkish lira (TL) markets and prevent possible speculative movement in foreign exchange markets.

It was observed that negative effects of terrorist attacks on both international and Turkish markets since September 12 started to reduce while any problem had not occurred in payment systems, it said.

While money markets interest rates remained at normal levels as there was not any need to extra liquidity, banks did not use supplementary liquidity facility provided by the Central Bank.

''As the market participants acted imperturbably, forex markets have followed a relatively balanced trend,'' it said.

''The Central Bank will continue providing extra liquidity that the TL markets may require. Meanwhile, it is an important development that secondary market transactions at the Istanbul Stock Exchange Bonds and Bills Market will resume as of September 13, 2001,'' the bank said.

Central Bank will continue daily forex auctions.

Today, Central Bank will sell 40 million U.S. dollars.

[11] ERDAL TO BE TRIED IN BELGIUM ON CHARGES OF CRIMES SHE COMMIT IN TURKEY

After Ozdemir Sabanci's son Demir Sabanci filed a lawsuit at the Brussels court requesting Erdal's trial in Belgium on charges of crimes she committed in Turkey, the court took a decision in accordance with Demir Sabanci's request.

Referring to the decision previously taken in favor of Fehriye Erdal regarding the automatic weapon incident, Judge De Wolf said, ''I don't care whether or not it was an automatic or half-automatic weapon. Because, a very serious crime was committed and we must punish this offense. I accept the case filed by Demir Sabanci at Brussels. I consider this a very serious incident. As the judge, I am not obliged to abide by the previous decisions of the Gend Prosecutor and the government.'

Speaking to the A.A correspondent after the decision was announced, Demir Sabanci said, ''I have always trusted the Belgian justice. I am very excited. I request the authorities not to allow re-occurence of such incidents. Otherwise, I can't be satisfied and be happy.''

Meanwhile, Fehriye Erdal's lawyers said they would appeal the decision.

[12] NATO PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY TURKISH GROUP PRESIDENT KOSE SAYS HE CONSIDERS DECISION AS CORRECT

This article states that an armed attack against one or more of the Allies in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all.

Kose told A.A correspondent that such a serious terrorist attack had not been seen before and said, ''the decision to invoke this article for the first time results from occurance of such a serious terrorist attack for the first time.''

The alliance is obliged to respond to any attack on any of the members as an attack on all, Kose said.

Kose continued, ''if a country is found out to be behind the terrorist attacks in the U.S. and if a decision is taken to make a counter-operation, all the allies will act as if the attack on the U.S. was made on them. Of course, this does not mean that an attack will be made immediately. This decision also concerns Turkey. It is so natural that Turkey takes part in this. Our permanent ambassador to NATO also acted in line with this decision.''

''What the U.S. has faced is a serious terrorist attack. Tens of thousands of people died. Such a thing might have occured in Turkey. Then, I believe a similar sensitivity would be shown. To this end, I consider this decision as a correct one,'' Kose said.

Kose noted that NATO's strategical concept has changed in the post Cold War era and that terrorism was also included in this concept.

To this end, the decision that the North Atlantic Council has taken, coincides with the new identity of NATO, Kose stated and said, ''nobody thinks that big wars may occur from now on. However, everybody thinks that there may be a serious terrorism or ethnic conflict threat.''

Kose said that Turkey, as a country which has suffered much from terrorism, condemns the terrorist attacks on the U.S. and shares the grief of American people.

''I hope countries which back terrorism and hide terrorists will review their behaviours after this attack,'' Kose also said.

Kose noted that NATO Parliamentary Assembly will hold its meeting as was scheduled before, adding that terrorist attack on the U.S. will be debated at the plenary session which will be held in Ottowa on October 5.

[13] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT DECIDES TO DEBATE ANNULMENT OF ELECTRICITY MARKET LAW

The True Path Party (DYP) applied to the Constitutional Court on September 4 asking for the annulment of the provision in the law which said that the contracts of companies, which are foreseen to be privatized or the operation rights of which are foreseen to be transferred, will be considered as invalid if they cannot complete their transfer activities till October 31, 2001.

Constitutional Court Deputy Chief Judge Hasim Kilic told reporters that the court will give a decision about delay of enforcement of the law at a later date.

The court will debate DYP's application for the annulment of the article on a date to be set after the report of the rapporteur is distributed to the members.

[14] AK PARTY LEADER ERDOGAN RECIEVES LEBEDEV, RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR IN ANKARA

Erdogan received Alexandr Lebedev, the Russian Ambassador in Ankara.

Pointing out that there were positive relations between Turkey and Russia stemming from the history, Erdogan said a process based on cooperation should be initiated in Central Asia and the Caucasus. He said the relations should not be based on competition.

Erdogan said a very serious confidence was built in Turkey toward Russia with the Blue Stream project, adding that he wished a similar confidence to be exhibited from Russia to Turkey with Baku-Ceyhan Oil Pipeline.

Meanwhile, Lebedev in his part said terrorism did not have a race, religion or limits, adding that it was not right to declare war against any country. He said the headquarters should be hit if a retalliation is in question, noting that action against innocent people was not right.

Pointing out that Turkey ranked the third in the world due to the Moslem population, Lebedev said he was pleased that AK Party was an Islamist party having pioneering and progressive thoughts.

When journalists asked Erdogan how he evaluated Lebedev's describing AK Party as ''pioneering and progressive,'' he said, ''I think there was a mistake in translation. Understanding of AK Party is conservative democracy, an advanced democracy.''

Lebedev in his part said they knew that AK Party was not a religion party.

When journalists asked Erdogan if they want to continue their support in case of a narrowing in Constitutional amendment package, he said an agreement was provided in Constitutional Compromise Commission, adding that they would continue to support even if a new agreement is provided.

A journalist recalled the interpretations that suspects of terrorist attacks in the U.S. were intensified in moslem countries, Erdogan said they closed followed this intensity, adding that it would not be right to make a comment before the incidents are clarified.

When a journalist said the probability of war appeared with the decision taken by NATO on Wednesday, and asked if Turkey could take place at a war, Erdogan said it was government to talk about it. He said the NATO decision would be evaluated in NATO countries as well as Turkey.

Lebedev, who responded the same question, said Russian President Vladimir Putin was authorized to talk on the issue, noting that Russia was open to every kind of cooperation against terrorism.

[15] TURKISH-BRITISH BUSINESS COUNCIL TO ORGANIZE SEMINAR ON CAPITAL MARKETS IN TURKEY

A statement of Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) said on Thursday that Hasan Colakoglu and William Alexander, the co-presidents of Turkish- British Business Council, and Westminster Mayor Harvey Marshall will address the opening remarks of the conference to be held in London.

The statement noted that State Minister Kemal Dervis, Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak, Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti, State Banks Joint Executive Board Chairman Vural Akisik, Istanbul Stock Exchange Chairman Osman Birsen, and International Monetary Fund's Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen wil give information about Turkey's economy and the economic program that is being implemented.

Representatives of international finance organizations will evaluate recent economic developments at the seminar.

Also, three working groups on company merge and purchase, private capital and reconstruction will hold meetings within the framework of the seminar.

[16] KAVAK SAYS MOST IMPORTANT RESULT OF CONFERENCE ON FIGHT WITH RACISM IS ACCEPTION OF SLAVERY AND SLAVE TRADE AS CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY

Speaking to A.A about the conference held in South Africa, Kavak said that the attendees have assumed a new approach to fight with racism and xenophobia.

''The countries which attended the conference expressed sorrow over slavery, slave trade, colonialism, apartheid and tragedies caused by genocide and decided to support those persons and countries who suffered from them,'' Kavak said and added that the Turkish group opposed the demands of Armenia, China, South Korea, Iran and Barbados which wanted the denial of genocide as a crime and these demands were not included in the Action Programme.

''Action Programme which was adopted at the end of the conference covered comprehensive measures in fight with racism, xenophobia and all sorts of discrimination. The documents which were adopted to protect immigrants, immigrant workers and foreigners, education against racism, prevention of racist publications in media and internet, and fight with Neonazism and Neofascism are very important for Turkey. Our group launched efforts for adoption of such issues and it prevented the attempts to recognize new rights for minorities and non-governmental organizations,'' it said.

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