Selections From Todays Turkish Press

During the meeting held by the coalition leaders at the Prime Ministry, the package of amendments consisting of 37 articles, which was prepared by the Compromiser Commission, was discussed. The package was opened to the signature of the deputies. The Nationalist Action Party's rejection of the proposal for change and the evaluation of the drawbacks mentioned during the National Security Council (MGK) will be made by the Special Commission. The Chairman of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA), Omer Izgi, will call the TGNA to the extraordinary meeting. The statement issued after the meeting claimed that the government was continuing to work in harmony. According to the information received, during the meeting, the establishment of a European Commission at the TGNA was on the agenda. During the meeting, Mesut Yilmaz pointed out that the Progress Report would be published on November 12th and that the constitutional amendments should be made as soon as possible./Cumhuriyet/

7TH MEETING OF THE EU COMMITTEE

The European Union (EU) Internal Coordination and the Harmonization Committee will convene today and be chaired by the Secretary General of the EU, Volkan Vural. During the 7th meeting of the Committee, the preparations for being a member to the EU will be evaluated and the next period will be planned. During the meeting, Turkey's contribution to the "Progress Report" to be issued at November, 2001 by the EU Commission will be discussed. /Cumhuriyet/

POOS' CYPRUS REPORT

European Parliament's reporter on Cyprus, Jacques Poos, said the solution of the Cyprus issue was not a must for the Greek-Cypriot Administration's full membership to the European Union (EU). During the meeting held at the General Council of the European Parliament, the reports concerning the 12 countries, who have started the membership negotiations with the EU, were discussed. In his speech, Poos accused the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, who withdrew from the United Nations' international proximity talks. Poos said they were supporting the efforts of the Secretary General of the UN and the federation that was suggested for the solution to the Island's problem. Poos added that the discussions for the Greek-Cypriot Administration's full membership to the EU were being completed successfully. In the report, which was opened to discussion at the General Council of the European Parliament, it was written, "If Turkey annexes Northern Cyprus, she should forget the EU membership." /Cumhuriyet/

GREECE URGES TURKISH CYPRIOTS TO RESUME PEACE TALKS

The Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou urged Turkish Cypriots to return to U.N.-brokered peace talks over divided Cyprus and join the Island's push for European Union membership. Papandreou, on a two-day visit to Cyprus, told reporters that Greece hoped current U.N. efforts to resume the talks would succeed. He added, "Cyprus will be part of the European Union with or without the Turkish Cypriots. We hope they will be with us." /Turkish Daily News/

82ND ANNIVERSARY OF SIVAS CONGRESS CELEBRATED

82nd anniversary of Sivas Congress was celebrated at the Republic Square in Sivas yesterday and attended by the Ministry of the Interior, Rustu Kazim Yucelen, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Husnu Yusuf Gokalp, the former Chairman of the Constitutional Court, Yekta Gungor Ozden as well. During the celebration, Yucelen said that the economic and social welfare will be ensured with the government's efforts. In his message, Izgi said, "We have a system in which the requirements of the modern world are carried out thanks to the implementation of the decisions taken during the Sivas Congress." Meanwhile, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer pointed out that the determination to achieve full independence and reach the aim of unconditional and absolute sovereignty put forward in the Sivas Congress had formed a basis for the basic structure of the republic. /Cumhuriyet/

SUSPECT IN GARIH'S MURDER ARRESTED

Yener Yermez, the number one suspect in businessman Uzeyir Girah's murder was captured yesterday. Yermez was traveling to Kayseri when the bus was stopped and searched by police. Reportedly, Yermez confessed to the murder of Garih, co-chairman of the Alarko business group and a leading member of Turkey's Jewish community. In his first testimony at the Kayseri Police Station, he said that he killed Garih with the intention of robbery. Yermez was brought to Istanbul yesterday for further interrogation. /Turkiye/

EKSI VISITS THE LEADERS

Chairman of the Press Council, Oktay Eksi, said there was censure on the press, and considered it as an antidemocratic attitude. Eksi visited the Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit yesterday and phrased his suggestions concerning the constitutional amendments. Eksi delivered the package, which contains the 311th and 312th articles of the Press Law, the Law regarding the Radio and Television Institutions and the Turkish Penal Code, to the leaders. /Milliyet/

VISA MIRACLE

The law that has been filed against the EU member states to waive the implementation of mandatory visa applications to the Turkish journalists, businessman and sportsman was won in the Federal High Administration Court in Berlin. The case that makes Turkish citizens, including certain professional groups, visit Europe without a visa, was brought into court by a Turkish truck driver 6 years ago. The court has been followed by the firm, where the truck driver worked, the transportation firms and the European Turkey Research Institute. The reason of the courts decision to waive the visa is the Additional Protocol that has been signed between Turkey and the European Union in 1970 which says in its 41'th article " The parties stay out of the way to restrict the right to settle and to the freedom of carrying out services among each other." With this decision Turkish journalists, businessman and sportsman will be able to travel without visa. /Hürriyet/

ALI RIZA SEPTIOGLU DIES

The True Path Party deputy to Elazig, Ali Riza Septioglu, died at the age of 88 at Baskent University Hospital, where he was receiving treatment. A ceremony will not be organized at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) at the request of his family. Septioglu will be buried in Palu following the funeral to be organized in Elazig today. /Milliyet/

USA IS A FRIEND OF TURKEY

The American Ambassador to Turkey, Robert Pearson, said he believed that the way to help Turkey to be rich could be found. Pearson met with the Chairman of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges (TOBB), Rifat Hisarciklioglu. The Undersecretary of the Embassy, Scott Marciel, the Deputy Undersecretary, Robert Setrman, and the Political Undersecretary, Stuart Johnes, have accompanied Pearson. While answering a question from the journalists, Pearson said, "We are a good friend of Turkey. We believe that this contribution will be made as soon as possible." Following this meeting, the World Bank's Director to Turkey, Ajay Chibber, and a delegation from the World Bank, which carry out technical procedures concerning the problems of the manufacturing industry, also met with Hisarciklioglu. Chibber said, "We have reached an agreement that a mechanism should be established concerning the issues that can be done so the institutions, which can be rescued, can be ensured functionality. The World Bank, TOBB and the government will work in cooperation." /Milliyet/

DERVIS: "WE ARE COMING OUT OF THE CRISIS"

The Minister of State for Economy Kemal Dervis held a press conference yesterday following his visit to the Ankara Chamber of Commerce. Informing about the economic developments and foreign exchange market, Dervis said, " Turkey has overcome the recent crisis in many respects, however, we have certain issues to tackle with." Stressing that he is also aware of the excessive fluctuations in the exchange rate, Dervis said, "I also do not prefer the implementation of the floating exchange rate, but for the time being, we can not leave this policy." /Sabah/

EURO POSTER FOR TURKS BY THE GERMANS

It is learned that the German Bundesbank will begin new campaigns at the end of this month, introducing Euro to Turkey and give useful information about the change in currency using posters. Where Europe is preparing to move from national currency to Euro, it came out that the savings of 100 billion DM of turkish citizens accounts in banks and their houses will create problems. In "Die Welt" newspaper it was written yesterday that Turkey does know Euro and that the Turks are not informed about this issue./Milliyet/

IMF DELEGATION TO VISIT TURKEY

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Turkey Desk Delegation will arrive in Turkey on Sep. 7 for the 10th Review meetings. During the visit of the delegation headed by Juha Kahkonen, five basic topics will be taken up at the meetings with Turkish authorities. The topics in question are "the budget for the year 2002, the deficit in Social Security, targeting the inflation, accounts for the end of year and new taxes". /Turkiye/

INFORMATICS FAIR OPENS

The Informatics'01 A CeBIT Event, which presents the latest developments in information and communications technology, opened at Beylikduzu TUYAP Fair and Congress Center in Istanbul yesterday. The information and communication technologies fair is organized on a 29,000 square-meter area and 850 technology companies are participating. /Turkish Daily News/

NATIONAL EXCITEMENT IN SPORTS

The Turkish National Soccer Team will host Sweden tonight to get a visa for the 2002 World Cup. The match will be played at Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul. On the other hand, Turkish National Basketball Team will play against Croatia at the quarterfinal in the 32nd European Basketball Championship at the Abdi Ipekci Sports Hall in Istanbul. /All Papers/

TURKISH FOLKLORE TEAM BECOMES WORLD CHAMPION

Turkish Folklore Team from the Aegean University State School of Turkish Music got the gold medal at the International Folklore Olympics organized in Dijon, France. The Team of 50, staged "Zeybek, Black Sea and Tokat Halayi" during their 12-minutes performance and gained the title of "World Champion", leaving 24 countries' teams behind. /Turkiye/

NO PRODUCTION WITHOUT INFORMATION BY CUNEYT ULSEVER (HURRIYET)

Columnist Cuneyt Ulsever writes on the Informatics Fair held this week in Istanbul. A summary of his column is as follows: "Turks have to learn 'production' in an age when 'information technology' and 'genetic science' are galloping forth in a globalized world in line with the conditions of the 21st century. Just as all social phenomena, globalization has both positive and negative effects. However, globalization awards those trying to catch up with it and reacts harshly towards those resisting it. In Turkey only a handful of people are trying to prepare for the new age and harmonize with globalization. In a praiseworthy effort the Yalova Municipality is preparing to establish an informatics organized industrial site (Silicone Valley). There is an erroneous belief in Turkey that informatics centers which produce both hardware and software technologies can be found only in industrialized countries and Turkey could only be a consumer of information technology. It is true that the US, Europe and Japan are the homes of such centers. However, there are other developing countries who have taken great strides in establishing informatics centers and in advancing information technology. Brazil, India, Malaysia, South Africa and Tunisia have already established leading informatics centers. According to United Nations Development Fund (UNDF) 2001 Technological Success Index countries such as Korea, Singapore, Ireland and Israel are placed among technologically leading countries. Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovenia are listed among the potential leaders."