Turkish Media

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who has previously approved the Law Concerning the Treasury Owned Property and Real Estate and the changes in the Value Added Tax (VAT) Law, will apply to the Constitutional Court so it will be reorganized in a way to make it possible for the places, which were excluded from the forest borders, to be sold to the people, except for the villagers in the forests. According to the Forestry Law, the Law Concerning the Development of the Villagers in the Forests will not be carried out in the places that were excluded from within the forest borders,. /Milliyet/

ECEVIT'S STATEMENT AT THE PRIME MINISTRY

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has issued a statement at the Prime Ministry and said the economic data put forward a positive situation. He has recalled the agreement made with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and that there was an increase in the inflation rate in May and June. Ecevit added, "Turkey is paying her foreign and domestic debts without any delay. Exports have increased by 7.7%. Tourism incomes have increased. The coalition government is working harmoniously. In spite of all of these positive developments, the continuation of the pessimistic atmosphere mostly derives from the psychological and political causes. Meanwhile, some circles are trying to destroy the economic program, to create obstacles before the structural reforms and even before the democracy. In spite of all the hindrances and the provocation of the pessimistic atmosphere, the government is determined to implement the economic program completely." /Turkiye/

İSMAIL CEM TO VISIT BALKANS

Turkey, who wishes to solve conflicts in the Balkans is paying efforts to restore peace and stability in the region. With this aim Foreign Minister İsmail Cem will go to Macedonia tomorrow and meet with authorities, Albanian and Turkish political party leaders. Cem has said that problems in this country should be solved so as not to face much bigger ethnic disorder. /Cumhuriyet/

OKSUZ RESIGNS

Minister of Communication, Enis Oksuz, has resigned yesterday evening. Minister of Industry and Commerce, Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu will act for Oksuz for the time being. Before his resignation, Oksuz came to the Prime Ministry twice and met with the Nationalist Action Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli. Then his resignation was announced. The decree having Oksuz's resignation and appointing Tanrikulu as acting Minister of Communication was presented to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Sezer has approved the decree. /Turkiye/

IMF AND US OFFICIALS ON OKSUZ'S RESIGNATION

The administration of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the US have not made any official evaluation about the resignation of the Minister of Communication, Enis Oksuz, before our newspaper's publication. However, the diplomats and the financial circles, who follow Turkey closely in Washington, interpret the resignation as a positive development. They have also pointed out the importance of the statements of the coalition, which will be made today. Meanwhile, the officials from the IMF emphasize that any signal about the removal of the tension between the Nationalist Action Party (MHP)leader Devlet Bahceli and the State Minister Kemal Dervis would reflect positively on the markets. /Milliyet/

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING CANCELLED

Following the negative developments in the markets, including the decrease of Istanbul Stock Exchanges (IMKB) and the increase in the foreign currency rates, the meeting of the Council of Ministers, which was to be held today, was cancelled. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit held a press conference and said the government partners and the economic bureaucrats would meet this week and that the precautions to be taken to remove the negative developments in the markets. Thus, the meeting of the Council of Ministers, which was planned to be held today was cancelled. It was stated that today an Economy Summit will be held. /Turkiye/

TURKEY SIGNS AGREEMENTS WITH CAUCASUS COUNTRIES

Turkey has signed customs and tax cooperation agreements with Georgia and Azerbaijan. According to the agreement between Turkey and Georgia, both countries will install a system that will deliver both sides' foreign trade data every three months. Turkey and Georgia will inform each other about customs taxes, expenditures and exemptions. Also regular meetings and training courses for customs officers will be held. /Turkish News/

YILMAZ: "NO ALTERNATIVE TO ECONOMIC PROGRAMME"

Motherland party (ANAP)leader and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz said yesterday there is no alternative to the current economic programme, therefore if the application of the programme is withdrawn serious crisis would be unavoidable. During his last meeting with the executive body of ANAP, before the Motherland Party congress, Mesut Yılmaz emphasized that there won't be any change in the application of economic programme as IMF officials said. Because there is no other other alternative to this progamme he added. /Cumhuriyet/

UKRAINE TO OPEN HONORARY CONSULATE IN IZMIR REGION

Ukrainian Ambassador Alexander Motsik visited Izmir Governor Alaaddin Yuksel and Izmir Mayor Ahmet Pristina yesterday. After the visit, Yuksel told reporters that the Ukrainian Republic would open an Honorary Consulate in Izmir, and the opening date would later be decided upon. He said that many Ukrainian tourists were visiting Antalya, and added that he asked the Ukrainian Ambassador to contact his country and include Izmir in their Travel Agencies' brochures. /Turkish News/

HUMAN RIGHTS SUPREME COUNCIL CONVENED

The Human Rights Supreme Council, which was convened and led by the State Minister Responsible for Human Rights, Edip Safder Gaydali, has issued a bulletin of eight articles. Gaydali has issued a statement following the meeting. He said, "The claims of torture and bad treatment, which were put forward by some human rights institutions both in Turkey and abroad, were also debated." Milliyet/

LE FIGARO: SERIOUS CONCERN ON EU MEMBERSHIP OF CYPRUS

The French daily Le Figaro saw a serious concern on EU membership of Greek Cypriots. The daily, analyzing the matter devoting a full page said that the divided status of the island had already created very big problems during the expansion processes of the EU. Le Figaro reminded that Greece threatened to veto other candidates If the membership application of the Greek Cypriots would be refused. /Cumhuriyet/

PEACE OPERATION'S 27TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

The 27th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, which has provided the Cypriot people with freedom and peace, will be celebrated in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The celebrations, which will be attended by 124 official guests from 34 countries, will start with the TRNC'S President Rauf Denktas' speech on the BRTK tomorrow. The official guests will be given a banquet by the Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic, Ertugrul Hasipoglu at the Olive Tree at the same night. The celebrations will be organized also at the Peace and Freedom Monument and Bosphorus Cemetery on Friday. Meanwhile, the ships attached to the Turkish Naval Forces will be sent to the TRNC within the framework of the celebrations of the 27th anniversary of the Peace Operation. /Turkiye/

"TURKEY-CYPRUS AFLOAT PASSAGE SYSTEM PROJECT" ON THE AGENDA AGAIN

Chief Consultant of the Prime Minister, Architect Prof. Ahmet Vefik Alp's "Bridge to Cyprus" project is on the agenda again. Istanbul Technical University's Faculty of Maritime Sciences' Research Group has researched the probability of the implementation of the project called "Kibrislink," compared the project with the similar ones and made the pre-configuration evaluation. As a result of the research carried by a group of four people, led by Prof. Yucel Odabasi, it was founded out that the implementation of the "Turkey-Cyprus Afloat Passage System Project" was probable but expensive. /Turkiye/

WALKER IN TURKEY

British Land Forces Commander Gen. Michael Walker arrived in Turkey yesterday for a three-day visit as the official guest of the Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. Walker first visited the Ataturk Mausoleum in Ankara and later visited the Land Forces Headquarters, where he was met with a military ceremony. A meeting between Gen. Walker and Gen. Ozkok was held after the ceremony. /All papers/

CETINKAYA RESIGNS FROM HIS PARTY

True Path Party (DYP) Deputy from Manisa, Necati Cetinkaya, resigned from his party yesterday. With his resignation, the number of DYP deputies in Parliament fell to 80 while the number of independent deputies rose to 117. /All papers/

HOH PARTY IN THE BULGARIAN COALITION

The former Bulgarian King, Simeon the 2nd, who has undertaken the duty of establishing the government following the elections in Bulgaria last month, has reached an agreement that the Rights and Freedoms Movement (HOH), which is known as the Turkish people's party living in Bulgaria, will be able to establish a coalition. In the statement issued by the National Movement of Simeon the 2nd, it was announced that Simeon the 2nd and the HOH leader Ahmet Dogan would sign the coalition agreement on Friday. There will not be a third party in the coalition. /Milliyet/

OPERATION AGAINST PKK

In the operations, carried out against the separatist terrorist organization PKK militants, who have organized the "Identity Announcement" campaign in Germany, Switzerland and Romania, a PKK member was killed and many others were captured. The asylum requests of those who have attended the campaign will not be accepted and those whose asylum requests have been accepted before will be deported. /Turkiye/

NATURAL GAS PROBLEM WITH IRAN

The natural gas agreement signed between Iran and Turkey to be put into effect by the July 2001 has faced difficulties. Turkey has said that it would not buy Iranian natural gas because Iran did not build a new pumping station on the border though it was conditioned in the agreement. According to the "buy or pay" requirement of the agreement Turkey should pay compensation to Iran. Turkish officials has said that necessary talks have been held to overcome the difficulties. /Cumhuriyet/

BUNDESBANK PRESIDENT TO VISIT TURKEY

Governor of German's Bundesbank Ernst Welteke said that he will go to Turkey in the autumn to inform about the EURO. Welteke said 20 percent of German Mark reserves circulating out of their country are being sent to Germany by Turkey. Therefore they thought that there must have been big amount of German Mark reserves in Turkey. As the situation is also the same in Yugoslavia, Kosovo and Montenegro, they also will hold meetings to explain the developments on EURO, he added. /Cumhuriyet/

NAIL GURELI RECEIVES "PRESS FREEDOM AWARD"

The Turkish Journalists' Association's (TGC) Press Fredoom Award, which is given to emphasize the importance of press freedom, was awarded to Nail Gureli in the individual category, and the Istanbul University was awarded in the "Institutional" category. /All papers/

BIRECIK DAM SET TO RUN AT FULL CAPACITY

The sixth and last turbine of the Birecik Hydroelectric Power Plant (HES), which is one of the most important development projects in the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) will start working at full capacity from July 19 on, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Officials stated that the power plant would start to run at full capacity after the sixth and last unit was ready to operate. /Turkish News/

TUSIAD'S STATEMENT ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE OF TECHNOCRAT GOVERNMENT

The Turkish Association of Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) have defended the idea that a technocrat government was an antidemocratic approach. In the written announcement issued by the TUSIAD, in which the Association's opinion about the alternative of an technocrat government are written, it was stated that dealing with antidemocratic solutions were wrong. /Milliyet/

KAHKONEN HOLDS CONTACTS

The IMF delegation, led by Juha Kahkonen, the IMF Turkey Desk Chief, continued its contacts with economy bureaucrats yesterday. The IMF delegation met the Turkish economy bureaucrats led by the Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak. Implementation of the economic program, and the reflection of those implementations on macro-economic balances in the second half of the year will be discussed during the contacts of the IMF delegation that will last for 10 days. Following the completion of the IMF delegation's visit, the IMF Executive Directors' Board will convene to complete the ninth review. The meeting is expected to be held at the beginning of August. After the approval is extended, the IMF will release the new portion of the loan worth $1.5 billion. Meanwhile, State Minister Kemal Dervis who returned to Turkey from London two days ago held a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan yesterday and discussed the recent developments in the economy. /All papers/

KOHLER RETURNS TO WASHINGTON

Due to the economic problems that both Turkey and Argentina are experiencing, the IMF disclosed that Horst Kohler, its managing director, had cut short a European trip and returned to the IMF's Washington headquarters yesterday. Meanwhile, "Washington Post" made a comment on the recent economic problems in these countries and said: "The fear of devaluation is spreading in the markets in Argentina and also the situation in Turkey is not bright". /Sabah/

TURKISH EXPORTERS IN IRAN

Turkish exporters will participate in the Tebriz International Fair in Iran. The 9th International General Trade and Industry Fair which will begin on August 12 will last until August 19. Last year, a total of 650 firms from 16 countries attended the Fair. Turkey's exports to Iran increased by 50 % in the year 2000 when compared with the previous year and reached $238 million. Turkey aims at $1.5 billion worth of exports in the short-term with Iran and $3 billion in the middle-term. /All papers/

"GOLD AND CIVILIZATION EXHIBITION" IN MELBOURNE

Special collections from various museums in 35 countries including Turkey will begin to be exhibited in Melbourne on Thursday. Special works of art from the Topkapi Palace will also take part in the "Gold and Civilization Exhibition" which will be held on July 19-21 in Australia. /Turkiye/

STING AND ELTON JOHN STAGE CONCERTS IN TURKEY

Renowned singer Sting has staged concerts in Izmir and Istanbul. A great interest was demonstrated in the concerts by his fans. Elton John also staged a concert in Izmir within the framework of the Izmir Culture and Art Festival. /Sabah/

WE SHALL OVERCOME DIFFICULTIES FACING US BY TUFAN TURENC (HURRIYET)

Columnist Tufan Turenc comments on the recent economic developments in Turkey. A summary of his column is as follows: "If those governing Turkey can keep their silence for only two months, everything will fall into order. However, politicians do not understand the fact that silence during such a critical period is not only more than a virtue but compulsory. First, Prime Minister Ecevit spoke when there was no need for him to do so. He said that there was tension between the State Minister responsible for Economy, Kemal Dervis and the Nationalist Action Party (MHP). Then Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz stated that if the interest rate did not decline the program would not reach its targets and therefore a revision in program would be necessary. On the same day or the next, deputy Prime Minister Bahceli confirmed the claims that they had proposed to leave Telekom to Democratic Left Party if State Minister Dervis resigned. An experienced politician should not have uttered these words during the critical situation Turkey is in. It was clear that these words would be reflected in the markets. However, not only the experienced but also the inexperienced politicians are talking too. Even Enis Oksuz did not refrain form talking. He said whatever there was on his mind and in consequence was asked by Bahceli to resign. For the first time Bahceli acted as a leader. If only the politicians did not say everything that was on their minds it would be all right. At the moment everyone is confused and in low spirits. However, it is time to be strong. Only societies who do not make any concessions from democratic principles and hold on to democracy are reaching calmer waters. Leaders are making statements that lead to a decrease in public trust and then start complaining that the public does not trust them! There is no need to lose hope. We can overcome all these difficulties without a scratch on the democratic system. For that, we have to turn a deaf ear on rumors and go on with our work, and not lose confidence in our society and country. Everyone has to strive to overcome the situation we are in within democratic principles. The Turkish society who has passed through many experiences is strong enough to succeed in surmounting them."

IT IS TOO HOT!!!!!! BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the effects of global warming. A summary of his column is as follows: "We are exhausted, first with the crisis and then with heat wave covering the country. The economic crisis, which is deepening instead of slackening, is leading Turkey to an unknown direction. Meanwhile a heat wave which does not leave any strength in people is in full fledge over the country. There are no relations between the two but both of them are enough to leave us breathless. This is not the first time Turkey is experiencing such warm weather. During former years there have been heat waves similar to the one hanging over the country. However, scientists believe the heat waves, which are occurring more frequently are the direct result of 'global warming'. This issue has been a source of concern for the future of humanity in recent years. Yesterday the issue was discussed during the UN International Global Warming Conference meeting in Berlin. A great distance has been covered since the first such conference held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The causes, dimensions and the solutions of the problem have been assessed and the 'Kyoto Pact' was signed three years ago. The only problem is to carry out the Pact. However, due to a dispute between the US and other countries there is the danger of this Pact being left on paper. The problem is that the amounts of the 'greenhouse gases' mostly coming from the leading industrialized countries have reached dimensions, which threaten the balance of nature and therefore humanity. Scientists estimate that global warming will increase at least five degrees in the next 50 years. They believe that this in turn will lead to certain natural disasters such as draught, erosion of land, hurricane, and flooding and to serious social turmoil such as migration, famine, and poverty. The one way to prevent such disasters is to control the emission of greenhouse gases and even restrict them. At this point the greatest part of the responsibility lies with the US and the leading industrialized countries. One of the first things George W. Bush did when he came to power was to announce that he would not ratify the Kyoto Pact. The reason for that is the US has to restrict the greenhouse emission to 6% by 2010 and therefore take measures to restrict the consumption of oil. He states that this would be a blow to the US industry, affect production and create unemployment. However, not all the Americans think in the same vein. For examples, Democrats believe the US should comply with the Kyoto pact. It will be interesting to listen to the warm disputes between the US, the EU and other industrialized or developing countries. Global warming influences all countries, including Turkey. The whole world is a 'global village' at present. It is our duty to protect it. Otherwise we shall suffer much more..."