Anadolu Agency: News in English, 02-01-21

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ANADOLU AJANSI

HABERLER

21 January

2002 Monday

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CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

Joschka Fischer, Foreign Minister Minister of Germany which is the locomotive country of the EU; Josep Pique, the Foreign Minister of Spain, which is the term president of the EU; and Louis Mitchel, the Belgian Foreign Minister, stated that they would attend the forum that will take place in Istanbul. Attendance of those three foreign ministers to Turkey's initiative was evaluated as a ''full support to Turkey from the EU'' in diplomatic lobbies.

AMENDED ARTICLES OF THE CONSTITUTION
The 1982 Constitution was amended to an important extend and within the scope of the amendments, freedom of thought was broadened, freedom was brought to broadcast in Kurdish language, closure of political parties became difficult, and capital punishment was limited.

Here are the amended articles of the Constitution and here are our new rights:

-Partial freedom will be brought to thought,

-Custody period will not be more than four days,

-Telephone tapping to be punished,

-Private life to be protected,

-There will be facilities for books, casettes and tv in every language,

-Associations and Unions will be more free,

-Petitions to be responded immediately,

-Capital punishment to be valid only in crimes of terrorism,

-Constitutional assurance to women-men equality,

-Constitutional assurance to unions of civil servants,

-Laws of September 12 to be judged,

-Closure of political parties will be more difficult.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

When asked if this was a suprising development, Foreign Minister Cem said, ''of course not. We are in continuous contact with Baghdad in this respect.''

Pointing out that he got a polite response from his Iraqi counterpart, Cem said, ''we will evaluate the steps that will be taken by Baghdad.''

Responding to a question which asked what Ankara wanted to do, Cem said, ''our target is to preserve stability in the region. Turkey is the more influential country of the region. If Baghdad takes a decision in the direction of the U.N. resolutions, we will put pressure to lighten the economic embargo imposed on Iraq.''

Cem said any step that will be taken by Baghdad in this respect would be a development that would overcome tension in the region.

BRITISH PATIENTS TO COME TO TURKEY
British government started to send their patients to other countries aiming to overcome the crisis in its national health system. Turkey is among the countries where those patients would be sent.

British government has already sent nine patients to Louviere Hospital in France. The Sunday Telegraph daily said the British government would send patients to Turkey, Malta, Greece and Tunisia to adjust its health system and to overcome the crisis.

The newspaper said officials from the Health Ministry talked to a mediator company, and that prices of treatment were discussed with the countries in question.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

When asked if Dervis gave up politics, Gole said, ''he said he would not enter to politics in its current structure, but he did not give up. He said he could not think of politics at the time being.''

APPRECIATION TO PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT
The business world, which was stingy to give a grade to the government in the past two years, this time gave excellent grades to the government. Almost all the 128 businessmen, who attended the tour, appreciated Ecevit's visit to the U.S.

Tuncay Ozilhan, the Chairman of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Assocition (TUSIAD), described the visit as very successful.

Ozilhan said, ''of course we will support the government now. I had attended many visits so far, but this much concrete steps could not be taken during those visits.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Evaluating Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to the U.S., Yilmaz said, ''our expectations were materialized to a great extend. It was also revealed that there was no reason for concern in Iraq. I think, we will be able to see the positive results of the visit soon.''

NO PURCHASERS TO PUBLIC LANDS
Expected interest was not shown to the public lands, which were presented to the sale aiming to provide income. There was no purchasers to the 80 percent of the lands in eastern Erzurum province.

Bayram Yildiz, the official who heads treasury of Erzurum province, said there was almost no application to the sale of the lands. He said, ''we have been opening bids for months. We have repeated the bids many times. There was almost no demand. We decided not to open bids again. We will allocate some of those areas to the state institutions.''

RADIKAL (LEFT)

GREETING TO VOTER AGAIN
There are lots of problems in the 77 universities waiting for solution; however, the deputies want new universities to be set up in their election regions. National Education Minister Metin Bostancioglu also supports the proposals for setting up 25 new universities. Higher Education Board (YOK) officials reacted the deputies by saying, ''firstly, they should solve existing problems in the universities.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

97 OF EVERY 100 WOMEN IN TURKEY EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE
Turkish women are exposed to violence by their husbands or fathers at least one time in their lives. According to the search of Women Solidarity Fund, 20 percent of women continue to their lives under the risk of being exposed to violence with knife, gun or scissors. The women who have high education degree prefer to hide the violence they are exposed as they don't want this embarrasing situation to affect their careers.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

-GAP REGION EXPORTS 194.9 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF TEXTILE PRODUCTS
GAZIANTEP - Exports of textile products from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region in 2001 increased 15 percent to 194 million 945 thousand U.S. dollars.

In 2000, the region exported 169 million 420 thousand U.S. dollars of textile products.

Gaziantep-based Southeast Anatolian Exporters' Association told the A.A on Monday that the region exported machine-made carpet worth of 83 million 502 thousand U.S. dollars; cotton, synthetic and knitted textile worth of 95 million 783 thousand U.S. dollars; towel worth of 6 million 790 thousand U.S. dollars and plastic sack worth of 8 million 870 thousand U.S. dollars.

Textile products were exported to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Israel, Algeria, the United States, Germany, Spain, Britain, Iraq and Russia.

-SUPPORT FROM U.S. TO TURKISH DEFENSE
-14 SEAHAWK HELICOPTERS TO BE PURCHASED WITH
324 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS EXIMBANK CREDIT
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Eximbank credit, worth of 324 million U.S. dollars, will be used for the purchase of 14 Seahawk type military sea helicopters to meet the need of Turkish naval forces.

The decision pertaining to the re-activation of U.S. Eximbank credit and purchase of those helicopters produced by Sikorsky Aircraft company was given during Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to Washington D.C.

The U.S. Eximbank had opened 1.3 billion U.S. dollars credit aiming to expend support to the sale of 50 S-70 Black Hawk type military transport and general purpose helicopters. Turkish Armed Forces had decided to purchase 50 S-70 Black Hawk type helicopters three years ago.

Approximately one billion U.S. dollars part of the credit was used for the finance of Black Hawk helicopters, and the remaining 324 million U.S. dollars could not be evaluated at those times.

Later, efforts were exerted to search for facilities to use this remaing part of the credit for 14 Seahawk sea helicopters which the Turkish naval forces thought of purchasing from Sikorsky Aircraft company.

It was determined that the credit was still in the list of Eximbank, and Eximbank said it could provide this credit. The U.S. Defense Department Pentagon and State Department expended support to this.

Thus, the U.S. administration conveyed to the Turkish side that the Eximbank credit could be used in purchase of Seahawk helicopters.

This issue was included among the concrete results of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to the U.S.

Re-activation of Eximbank credit should be approved by the U.S. Congress in the coming months.

-SP'S CENSURE MOTION GIVEN AGAINST PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT
ON CHARGES THAT GOVERNMENT COVERED WRONG POLICY ON NATURAL GAS
TO BE DISCUSSED IN PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY
ANKARA - The 24th censure motion, given against Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and the government members in this year's legislation period, will be discussed on Tuesday.

Talks will take place in Parliamentary General Assembly on Tuesday whether or not to include into the agenda the censure motion proposal, submitted by Fecility Party (SP) against Prime Minister Ecevit and the government members on charges that they covered wrong policy on natural gas.

Pointing out that the government implemented wrong policies regarded with energy and natural gas, the censure motion said the amount of money that is paid to foreign countries increased, and that citizens had to pay much money to natural gas and electricity as a result of this wrong policy.

''Those wrong policies further deepen economy crisis,'' said the proposal, adding that the government violated the Competition Board Law and Natural Gas Market Law.

-TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS: ''AUTHORITIES THAT WILL BE GIVEN
TO CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION TO BE DISCUSSED TODAY''
LEFKOSA - President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Monday that ''authorities that will be given to central administration'' will be discussed today during his meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides.

Denktas responded to the questions of reporters before his regular meeting with TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu and Deputy Prime Minister Salih Cosar.

Denktas said they would assess the issues on which they agree or disagree, and take up the issues which they could not agree. He said they would be in an effort to provide harmonization with each other on issues which they could not agree.

Denktas said they left the meeting held on January 16 saying that they would discuss today the ''authorities that would be given to central administration.''

Denktas said, ''However, those are not definite principles. We may say 'let us also discuss this. Or we may say let us not talk on it today.' The important thing is to discuss every issue with good will and to assess the issues on which we can agree or disagree. This is my approach, and I hope Clerides thinks the same.''

Denktas said his undersecretary Ergun Olgun, his consultant on constitutional issues Mumtaz Soysal, officials from Foreign and Defense Ministry would be included in the delegation that will attend the talks.

Responding to a question when the Turkish document, pertaining to the missing persons would be sent to the Greek Cypriot side, Denktas said the draft text sent by Clerides foresaw sending the documents to the Committee together.

Denktas said the Turkish side would prepare a new draft according to its own position and sent it to Clerides, however, noted that this would not be discussed during today's talks.

-SP LEADER KUTAN: ''CLOSURE OF FP IS A GRAVE VIOLATION OF CONSTITUTION''
ANKARA - Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan said on Monday that it was a natural human right in Turkey to wear headscarf because of religious beliefs.

Kutan defended that, despite the constitutional provisions regarded with fundamental rights and freedoms, closure of the Virtue Party (FP) by the Constitutional Court was a grave violation of constitution as FP tried to correct the injustices made to the citizens who wear headscarf because of their religious belief.

Kutan held a meeting following the decision of the Constitutional Court to close FP.

Kutan claimed that closure of FP contradicted with articles of the Constitution pertaining to judgement, execution and jurisdiction, and defended that reasons that were put forward for the closure were not appropritate to the constitution.

''Wearing headscarf in Turkey because of religious belief is a natural human right and legal. It is a natural human right in Turkey to express views and thought without applying to violence,'' Kutan said.

-TREASURY TO SELL 2-YEAR BONDS ON TUESDAY
ANKARA - Treasury will auction 2-year bonds on Tuesday.

The bonds will be issued on January 23 and re-paid on January 21, 2004.

The Treasury had held 112-day bond auctions on January 15.

In the 112-day bond auction, the total bid was 997.8 trillion Turkish liras (TL) while the Treasury sold 452 trillion TL nominal-valued bonds. The net sale became 383 trillion TL.

In the same tender, the composite interest was 71.24 percent while the simple interest was 58.50 percent.

-TRNC PRIME MINISTER EROGLU: ''THERE SHOULD BE AN AGREEMENT
THAT WILL NOT ELIMINATE VESTED RIGHTS''
LEFKOSA - Dervis Eroglu, the Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Monday that Turkish Cypriots would approve an agreement that will be reached by taking into consideration today's facts, noting that, ''it should be an agreement which does not eliminate vested rights.''

Speaking to reporters following his regular meeting with the TRNC President Rauf Denktas, Eroglu said they exchanged views regarded with Denktas- Clerides meetings, and that they gave information to the TRNC President about economy.

Recalling that there was an extreme optimism when talks on Cyprus started, Eroglu said they expected the talks to end positively, yet noted that they did not ignore the fact that there were two sides on the table.

Eroglu said, ''if an agreement can be reached by considering today's facts, Turkish Cypriots will approve such an agreement,'' adding that, ''the important thing is to reach an agreement based on a solid basis. The agreement should not eliminate the vested rights of Turkish Cypriots.''

Eroglu said they also informed Denktas about the meeting that was held in Turkey's Embassy in Lefkosa on January 19, noting that the meeting was in connection with the 375 trillion lira which Turkey would give to TRNC.

Eroglu said meetings related to the issue would continue, noting that the delegations would continue at the end of the months.

-DENKTAS AND CLERIDES TO START TALKS
LEFKOSA - Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides will come together at 17.00 local time on Monday as they agreed to meet three times a week.

Denktas and Clerides who will have intensive face to face talks, are expected today to take up constitutional issues and the activities, distribution of authorities and responsibilities of two equal sides in a new partnership to be founded in Cyprus.

Today's meeting carries importance as the sides will bring onto agenda all their views and proposals. Sovereignty is a key element in the issue of distribution of authorities. Another key element in the same issue is that of a powerful prime minister and that of rotational president which covers various alternative solutions.

The Turkish side, which supports the view that the two separate existences in Cyprus will give sovereignty to the new state, also believes that the two states will have a common institutional framework and single international representation. The Turkish side also foresees transfer of authorities and responsibilities by the two states to the central government.

During the talks, the United Nations (U.N.) is not expected to interfere unless Clerides and Denktas consume all the possibilities and still fail to reach an agreement.

U.N. Secretary General Annan's Cyprus Special Representative Alvaro De Soto will attend as an observer to the meeting which will take place at Lefkosa Conference Center which has been specially prepared for the talks near Lefkosa Airport controlled by the U.N.

De Soto is expected to go to New York end of February during the Feast of Sacrifice and also in May at Easter holiday.

During today's meeting, Denktas will be accompanied by Undersecretary Ergun Olgun, constitututional and legal adviser Mumtaz Soysal, Foreign and Defense Ministry Undersecretary Resat Caglar and a secretary. Clerides will attend the meeting with Undersecretary Pandelis Kuros, Chief Prosecutor Alekos Markides and Greek Cypriot Spokesman Mihalis Papapetrou.

In the team of De Soto, there will be his assistant Robert Dann, Swedish expert on constitutions Didier Psirter and Madeline Garlick who is experienced on property matters in Bosnia.

-GAYDALI AND KARZAI AGREE TO COOPERATE IN SEVERAL FIELDS IN REBUILDING OF
AFGHANISTAN
TOKYO - State Minister Edip Safter Gaydali met with Afghan interim government leader Hamid Karzai on Monday in Tokyo where he went to attend an international conference about rebuilding of Afghanistan.

After the meeting, Gaydali told the A.A that, during the half hour meeting, both sides confirmed that Turkey and Afghanistan have ties rooted from the history and he also briefed Karzai about the aid Turkey would provide to Afghanistan.

Noting that Turkey wants to offer Afghanistan its experience on South Eastern Anatolia Project (GAP), Gaydali said ''There has been a serious drought in Afghanistan for the last three four years. Therefore, we want to provide agricultural support to Afghanistan.''

The state minister also indicated that Turkey could renovate the Ataturk Children's Hospital in Kabul and send medicine and medical equipment to the hospital.

Another possible contribution of Turkey could be in the formation of security and police force, he said and added that Turkey could train the police force.

Karzai indicated that they were open to cooperation in every field. He also declared that ten Afghan diplomats would be sent to Turkey for training.

Gaydali said that Afghan immigrants have been living in Turkey in the last decade and that they fully integrated with the Turkish society. He stated that Turkey was going to provide five million U.S. dollars to Afghanistan in the next five years in addition to the humanitarian aid. Gaydali also pointed out that Afghanistan should benefit from Turkey's experience in clearing mines.

Gaydali and Karzai also agreed to employ Turkish contractors in Afghanistan for the rebuilding of the country.

Gaydali invited Karzai to Turkey and Karzai said he would definitely visit Turkey.

-CAKAN:''WE'LL TRY TO PRESERVE FOREIGN TRADE BALANCE BETWEEN TURKEY AND
IRAN''

ERZURUM - Energy and Natural Resources Minister Zeki Cakan has said that his ministry would take a number of measures to preserve the foreign trade balance with Iran which was recently disrupted causing loss to Turkey.

Cakan came to Erzurum on Monday to attend an opening ceremony at Bazargan measuring station set up on the border with Iran for natural gas transportation to Turkey from this country.

Cakan indicated that during his meeting with the Iranian energy minister, he would discuss with him the foreign trade balance between Turkey and Iran.

Cakan and his delegation will go to Agri from Erzurum today. On Tuesday, he will go to Gurbulak border gate where he will meet Iranian Oil Minister Zanganeh.

The delegation will return to Ankara on Wednesday.

-BAGIS RE-ELECTED AS CHAIRMAN OF FEDERATION OF TURKISH AMERICAN
ASSOCIATIONS
NEW YORK - Egemen Bag�s was re-elected on Monday as the Chairman of the Federation of Turkish American Associations, which is one of the most important institutions of Turkish people living in the U.S.

Bag�s who was elected to the post unanimously in the general congress held in New York, will be in charge for two years.

Totally 105 delegates from 26 associations attended the general congress of Federation of Turkish American Associations.

The Federation was founded in 1956.

-KUTAN: ''CONSTITUTIONAL COURT WAS DETERMINED TO SHUT DOWN
VIRTUE PARTY FROM THE VERY BEGINNING''
ANKARA - Felicity Party (SP) Chairman Recai Kutan has claimed that the Constitutional Court violated a total of 24 articles of the Constitution by deciding to shut down the Virtue Party (FP).

During a meeting on Monday, Kutan said that the closure of the FP was against many articles of the Constitution, the Political Parties Law and the European Convention of Human Rights.

Noting that some 17 political parties were closed down by the Constitutional Court in the last decade, Kutan said ''The Constitutional Court was almost determined to shut down the Virtue Party from the beginning.''

He said that during the FP case, the court acted both like a prosecutor and a judge. ''The court cancelled twice the article 103-2 of the Capital Market Council (SPK) in order to shut down the FP although this was not under the realm of his authority given to it by the Constitution,'' he asserted.

Regarding the headscarf issue, Kutan said ''It is a legal right to believe in Islam and cover your head as a requirement of the religion. Under article 15, a person's religious rights cannot be limited even in a war situation. Nobody can be accused for using this right. Under Turkish constitution, it's also a human right to express your opinion without using violence. Despite all these constitutional articles, it is a disasterous violation to shut down a party because that party works to change the unfair treatment shown to people who cover their heads.''

Upon a question, Kutan claimed that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) would find the Turkish government guilty and correct the mistake.

-MHP DEPUTY KAYA:''DEMOLITION OF OTTOMAN ARCHITECTURAL WORKS
SHOULD BE STOPPED ALL OVER THE WORLD''
ANKARA - Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputy Yalcin Kaya has said that demolition of historical Ottoman architectural works should be stopped all over the world.

Speaking at a press conference at Parliament on Monday, Kaya criticized the demolition of Al-Ajyad Fortress in Mecca by the Saudi administration and added that this was an intentional act.

''Ottoman architectural works in 22 countries which emerged after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and others which are located in three continents should be recorded and they should be taken under protection,'' he said.

He also indicated that he prepared a parliamentary investigation proposal to protect these works and he would soon present the proposal to Parliament Chairmanship.

-KOCAOGLU SAYS DOORS OF THE U.S. WIDELY OPENED TO TURKISH BUSINESSMEN
ANKARA - Emre Kocaoglu, a deputy of Motherland Party (ANAP) from Istanbul, said on Monday that the doors of the United States (U.S.) widely opened to Turkish businessmen after PM Bulent Ecevit's visit to that country.

Kocaoglu who attended the tour to the U.S. stated that the visit was extremely positive for Turkey and noted that especially businessmen had important benefits from the visit.

Pointing out that the doors of the United States (U.S.) widely opened to Turkish businessmen, Kocaoglu said, ''I think that Turkish businessmen will evaluate those opportunities till the end.''

Emre Kocaoglu noted that a Turkish Friendship Group was set up in the U.S. House of Representatives and that the group would balance the activities against Turkey in Congress and House of Representatives.

Stating that the deputies who had attended the visit had very beneficial contacts, he said that recent works in Turkish Parliament was mentioned praisefully by the U.S. administrative ranks and media organs.

Kocaoglu noted that talks related to preventing propagandas against Turkey on tourism matters were also held, and added that Turkey was better known in the U.S. after the September 11 attacks.

-ITALY AND TURKEY GET HIGHEST NUMBER OF CONVICTIONS FROM ECHR LAST YEAR
STRASBOURG - European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) announced Monday that it found Turkey and Italy guilty in more cases last year than any other countries.

ECHR President Luzius Wildhaber said at a press conference that Italy and Turkey got 359 and 169 convictions, respectively.

France comes third on the list with 32 convinctions, Britain comes fourth with 17 convictions and Poland comes fifth with 14 convictions.

As for the awaiting applications, Turkey comes first with 3,142 files followed by 2,100 files.

The court received 1,147 applications from Turkey last year.

ECHR officials stated that there has been a drop in the number of applications coming from Turkey compared to previous years.

-NUMBER OF FOREIGN PEOPLE VISITING TURKEY IN 2001 INCREASES BY 11.4 PERCENT
ANKARA - The number of foreign people who visited Turkey in 2001 increased by 11.4 percent to 11 million 619 thousand 909 when compared to the previous year.

The number of foreign tourists who visited Turkey in December in 2001 decreased by 6.1 percent to 397 thousand 951 when compared to the same month previous year.

State Statistics Institute (DIE) said in a statement on Monday that foreign people who preferred airways decreased by 11.6 percent and foreign people who came to Turkey by sea reduced by 49.3 percent in December while foreign people who preferred highway increased 12.6 percent and who came to Turkey by railways rose by 33.9 percent.

The number of Turkish citizens who entered Turkey decreased 15.6 percent to 299 thousand 547 in December when compared to the same period in 2000.

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