Selections From Todays Turkish Press

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Wednesday that there were many philosophers and men of belief in the 13th century, from Haci Baktas Veli to Mevlana Rumi and to Yunus Emre in Anatolia, and that Anatolia and the Balkans became very rich spiritually in that century. "The unique structure of Turkey that harmonizes Islam with secularism, modernity and democracy, was born with this culture," said Ecevit, who came to the Nevsehir province to participate in the opening of the Hacibektas Culture Museum, and to hold various meetings. "We have decided to set up a Alawite-Bektashi cultural center. But we saw that there is already such a center in Ankara's Gazi University. We began to make contributions to this center. The center at Gazi University produced important studies. A number of experts visited several countries from Asia to Central Europe to collect information for a TV series on Turkish humanism since the 13th century. I'm happy that we made a small contribution to this project," Ecevit said. /Turkish News/

Yilmaz: "We Continue to Express Our Views"

The Motherland Party (ANAP) Chairmanship Council convened yesterday under the leadership of Mesut Yilmaz. Talking to reporters before the meeting, Yilmaz said, "The concept of national security will be taken up again in the National Security Council meeting, I will re-express my views regarding the concept." Replying to a question on the newly established Justice and Progress Party (AKP), Yilmaz said that he hoped the party would be beneficial for Turkey. Upon a question whether he regards the AKP as a rival to ANAP or not, Yilmaz said all political parties were both their rivals and their partners. /Turkiye/

Dervis: "Crisis Will Be Overcome in November"

The Minister of State responsible for Economy, Kemal Dervis, said he believed the economic crisis would be overcome in November. Attending the meetings held by the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) to discuss the problems of the manufacturing industry, Dervis talked about the targets determined in the letter of intent presented to the IMF upon the demands for the tax reductions. Minister of Finance Sumer Oral and Minister of State Tunca Toskay also attended the meeting. Speaking after the meeting, Toskay said, "We hope that these meetings will contribute significantly to the efforts of finding solutions to the problems of manufacturing industry." Meanwhile, TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that they were pleased with such meetings between the government and manufacturing industry. He stated that the consulting council which was established to solve the problems between financial sector and manufacturing industry would be functional next week. /Cumhuriyet/

Gen. Ozkok: "Conflicts in Our Region Double The Importance of Turkey"

A hand-over ceremony has been held at the Third Army Command headquarters in Erzincan at which Geö Tuncer Kilic, who is assigned to the National Security Council (NSC) General Secretariat, handed over his Third Army Command to Gen. Tamer Akbas. Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Hilmi Ozkok delivered a speech during the ceremony, and said, "Recent conflicts and fighting in various countries in our region have doubled Turkey's importance." He stated that Turkey is located in a crucial region, where generally and ethnic conflicts rule. "Regarding those events that are taking place close to Turkey, our country is the one and only democratic state. Turkey has contributed to stability and security." /Turkish News/

General Staff Gives Conditional Permission for Varyag Passage

The dispute between the Maritime Affairs Undersecretariat and the Foreign Ministry and the General Staff over the passage of the Ukrainian-flagged vessel "Varyag" through the Turkish Straits is nearing resolution. The Maritime Affairs Undersecretariat has taken a step towards rapprochement with the Foreign Ministry and the General Staff, which has given conditional permission for the vessel to travel through Turkish Straits. The Undersecretariat, which said it considered the passage of the 306-meter giant platform through the straits technically very dangerous, had conveyed its stance on the matter to the Prime Minister's office and the General Staff, and warned these offices that the passage of the platform through the Turkish Straits was against Turkey's national interests. The General Staff responded to the Maritime Affairs Undersecretary and said that it would give permission for the passage of the platform through the Straits so long as minimum risk was guaranteed, and under certain conditions. /Turkish News/

Ha'aretz: "Secret Security Pacts Between Turkey And Israel"

The Israeli daily Ha'aretz has claimed that Israel has signed secret cooperative agreements with 39 countries including Turkey, in an attempt to prevent information leaks from joint security projects. According to the Ha'aretz, the agreements include certain articles regulating the responsibilities of the two countries if any confidential information about the projects leaks or is transferred to a third party by a spy. According to the agreements, Turkey and Israel have to work jointly to investigate such a situation. /All papers/

Turkey Calls on Israel to Evacuate Orient House

Turkey urged Israel to return Orient House, the Palestinian headquarters in East Jerusalem seized last week, saying that the Israeli move was out of keeping with assurances that Palestinian institutions in Jerusalem would not be touched. indicating that the seizure by Israel of the highly symbolic building did not serve the interests of reducing tension, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said, "We hope for an immediate handover of Orient House and the creation of conditions to allow Palestinian institutions in east Jerusalem to return to work." /Turkish News/

Guluzade: "Iran Should Take Lesson From Turkey's Support for Azerbaijan"

The former advisor to the office of the Azerbaijani President, Vefa Guluzade, stated that Iran should take lessons from Turkey's and the US' support for Azerbaijan concerning the recent problems in the Caspian Sea. Guluzade said that Turkey's and the US' harsh reactions against Iran were very appropriate as far as Iran's hostile attitude towards Azerbaijan is concerned. Saying Iran must fully understand that such hostile attitudes would not be beneficial to anybody, Guluzade said that Azerbaijan demands to improve her relations with Iran. Emphasizing the importance of establishing a peaceful dialogue concerning the problems in the South Azerbaijan, Guluzade added that nobody should cause a tension in the region where 30 million Turks are living. /Cumhuriyet/

Greek Cypriot Press: "Turkey Is Overcoming The Problem of Cyprus"

The Greek Cypriot daily Alithia stated that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas' decision to resume the proximity talks showed that Turkey was ready to overcome Cyprus problem and to improve her relations with the EU. According to the article titled "Turkey is overcoming the problem of Cyprus" published in the Alithia, the possibility of resuming the proximity talks would positively affect the EU Commission assessment report, where Turco-EU relations will be discussed. /Cumhuriyet/

Military Agreement With Moldovia

Moldovian Minister of Defense Col. Victor Gaiciuc visited the Second Chief of the General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit yesterday. During the visit an agreement concerning military training cooperation between Turkey and Moldovia was signed. /Turkiye/

Bureaucratic Obstacles to Be Lifted

initiatives headed by the Undersecretariat of Treasury aiming at simplifying bureaucratic processes for domestic and foreign investors have begun. All state institutions will convene in September and present their action plan regarding the issue to the Council of Ministers. /Turkiye/

Regulations Launched for Human Rights institutions

A new regulation regarding the functions of the Human Rights Supreme Council, the Consultation Council, and the Council on Human Rights Violations has been published in the official Gazette. According to the regulation, Human Rights Supreme Council members will be elected from the Prime Ministry, Justice, interior, Foreign, National Education, Health and Labor ministries. Also, the Prime Minister will assign a state minister to the chairmanship of the council. It also stated that some representatives from related public institutions may be invited to meetings, if necessary. /Turkish News/

Scheduled Flights to Baghdad to Commence

Scheduled charter flights between Turkey and Iraq will begin on Aug. 29. First flights to Baghdad after the Gulf War were held in April and May by 3F Travel Agency. The flights will enable Turkish businessmen to engage in Iraqi market easily. /Turkiye/

$110 Million Loan to Vakifbank

Vakifbank has received $110 million syndication loan from foreign banks. The agreement on the delivery of the loan was signed yesterday in London. /Cumhuriyet/

World Bank Loan for Education

The Minister of State Hasan Gemici said that a "Social Risk Reduction Project" is to be enabled via a $500 million World Bank loan in order to improve the social status of families with economic problems. Gemici also said that financial aid-in-kind and cash will be made available for the training of 1,050,000 students so as to ensure they receive an education. /All papers/

Ozince: "Everybody Should Sacrifice "

Is Bank's net profit in the first half of the year is TL 41 trillion. in a statement General Director Ersin Ozince pointed out that to achieve economic stability, every segments of the society should sacrifice. /Turkiye/

Treasury to Borrow Through Public offering

The Treasury announced that it would sell US dollar-indexed and lira-denominated papers through public offering during August 20-22. The US dollar-indexed bonds will have a term of one year and carry a 2.75 % coupon payable every three months with a compound annual yield of 11.46 %, the Treasury said in a statement. /All Papers/

Greek Cypriots Import Products From Turkey

It was reported that the Greek-Cypriot Administration, which is a signatory to the Customs Union, has sold cigarettes amounting to 6.1 million Cyprus Lira (nearly 12.5 trillion Turkish Lira) to Turkey in 2000. During the same period, the imports of the Greek-Cypriots from Turkey amounted to 277,000 Cyprus Lira (nearly 550 billion TL). According to the data of the Greek-Cypriots' Department of Statistics and Research for 2000, the fiber, tissues and clothes are the most imported products from Turkey. Among the products imported from Turkey by the Greek-Cypriot Administration, are the 46 kg of coffee and 200 kg of soap. /Hurriyet/

Tourists to Tour The Museums in Us Dollars

The Ministry of Culture has issued a circular and announced that the tourists will pay the entry fees of the most popular sites and museums in Turkey in the US dollars as from January 1st, 2002. /Hurriyet/

Disbank Posts 104 Pct Rise in Net Earnings

Private Turkish bank Disbank yesterday said the bank posted a 104 percent rise in first half net profits to TL 61.2 trillion from TL 30 trillion in the comparable period of last year. Disbank Board Acting Chairman Tayfun Bayazit told a new conference that the bank was selective and patient about a potential merger with a foreign bank. Revealing the bank's first half results in Istanbul yesterday, Bayazit said the bank's equities rose by 69 percent to TL 264.3 trillion over the subject period. Total deposits of the bank rose by 55 percent to TL 894.9 trillion, assets by 43 percent to TL 1.6 quadrillion and loans by 56 percent to TL 280 trillion. /Turkish Daily News/

Yacht race to come to Trabzon

Some 50 yachts from 16 countries and their 180 crew members will sail into Trabzon harbor on Friday as part of the Kayra 2001 yacht race. The yachts set off from Atakoy Marina in Istanbul on June 23 in the rally, which is organized by the Atakoy Marina Yacht Club. They followed a course taking them to the Black Sea littoral states of Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia and will now make their way to Trabzon. /Turkish Daily News/

Rahmi Koc Museum on The Map

The new section of the Rahmi Koc Museum, the only industry museum in Turkey has attracted great attention since the day it was opened, Anatolia news agency reported on Wednesday. The museum was established at Haskoy shipyard after being purchased from the Maritime Enterprises and restored by the Rahmi Koc Museum and Culture Foundation. The museum, which exhibits thousands of works while reflecting the industrial development and history, has attracted great attention since its opening. The museum opened on July 11 and has been visited approximately by 9,000 people. /Turkish News/

Trade Museum to Go to Damascus for Fair

State Minister Tunca Toskay and Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kursat Tuzmen will go to Syria on August 26 and to be present at the opening of the 48th Damascus international Fair, Anatolia news agency reported. Some 26 Turkish firms will attend the Damascus international Fair between August 28 and September 7. The Turkish firms will attend the Syrian fair will be organized by the Study Center for Developing Exports (IEGEME) and the Turkish firms will exhibit their products in food, ready-to-wear clothing, cement, lime, electronic goods, installation system equipment, household durables and many other products. /Turkish News/