ECEVIT: "TURKS RULE IN NORTHERN CYPRUS"

Yesterday, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit received a delegation from the the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). TRNC Ambassador to Ankara, Ahmet Zeki Bulunc also attended the meeting. During the reception, Premier Ecevit emphasized that Turkish-Cypriots were preserving their sovereignty, despite the hard conditions. Ecevit stated, "I do not know another nation, which proves their sovereignty under such hard conditions. We do not intend to take the whole Island. The important thing is, having the independence of the TRNC under permanent guarantee." Ecevit also underlined that the world, although slowly, accepts the Turkish sovereignty in the TRNC. /Cumhuriyet/

OKUYAN: "YILMAZ MUST BE IN THE CABINET"

Minister of Labour and Social Security Yasar Okuyan stated that the leader of Motherland Party Mesut Yilmaz must enter the Government and added that Yilmaz's presence in the Government would be helpful to shape and accelerate the activities of the Government. Okuyan said, " Both Prime Minister Ecevit and Deputy Prime Minister Bahceli voiced their wishes about our Chairman Yilmaz's participation in the government. In the Council of Ministers many issues were discussed. Because Mesut Yilmaz is not in the government, this sometimes results in problems of communication. Therefore I think that Mesut Yilmaz's participation in the government would be useful." /Turkiye/

PROXIMITY TALKS TO BEGIN

President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, today is going to Geneva, Switzerland, to attend the third round of the proximity talks which aims to solve the Cyprus issue. The talks will begin tomorrow and be held under the auspices of the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. After a meeting held with the attendance of the Turkish authorities also, President Denktas said that they would attend the talks with goodwill. /Cumhuriyet/

CYPRUS CONDITION BY SIMITIS

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis stated that the improvement in Turco-Greek relations depended upon the solution of the Cyprus problem. In a statement, following a meeting he held with the leader of the Greek-Cypriot Administration Glafkos Klerides, Simitis said that he hoped that finally the Turkish side would take a step forward as it needed the international community, the UN and the EU. He also said that Greece denounced the intransigent stance of the Turkish-Cypriots and added that Greece would take the necessary measures required for a return to status quo. /Hurriyet/

3 DEMANDS OF ATHENS

Greek Council of Ministers, held a secret meeting on Turkey which lasted for five hours. According to the information leaking to the press, during the meeting it was decided to increase the EU pressure on Turkey and continue the rapprochement policy. Foreign Minister George Papandreu presented a list of demands which covered bargaining chips against Turkey. Athens demands that the obligation for the Istanbul Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch to be a Turkish citizen should be lifted, the Patriarch should be recognized to be ecumenical, the restrictions on the properties of citizens of Greek origin should be lifted, formerly nationalized properties of Greek foundations should be returned, the right to use their lands should be granted to Greek citizens living on the 12 islands, the inheritance rights of the Greeks losing their Turkish citizenship be preserved, interventions in Greek Foundations be stopped, Heybeliada Theology School closed in 1971 be reopened among others. /Hurriyet/

EUROPEAN SECURITY AND DEFENSE IDENTITY (ESDI) EVALUATION MEETING

The meeting, expected to be held last night in Brussels and aimed to bring together the countries which are NATO members, but not European Union, was postponed to an unknown date. According to the NATO and EU sources, Norvey had proposed the meeting to be held at ministerial level. However, while Iceland, Norvey and Czhec Republic were declaring to attend the meeting at ministerial level, Poland and Hungary have declared to attend at undersecretary and Turkey at deputy undersecretary level. The meeting had planned to evaluate the recent developments on the ESDI. /Cumhuriyet/

BAHCELI IS HOPEFUL

Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli stated that the 8th five year development plan is an opportunity for Turkey to show its real potential for economic growth. Bahceli said, "We expect % 7 growth rate between 2001 and 2023. The gross national income per capita was about $ 3.200 in 1998, we expect this number to reach the level of EU countries in 2023. He pointed out that the main principle of the plan is to reduce the role of the state to an organizer and controller of the operations in the market. He noted that the state should not intervene in production processes anymore. /Turkiye/

KEMAL SUNAL DIES

Kemal Sunal, well-known Turkish comedian, died of a sudden heart attack at the age of 56 on board of a plane before take-off. He was to fly to the Black Sea port city of Trabzon to begin shooting a new movie. His funeral will be held in Istanbul tomorrow. /All papers/

REFERENDUM FOR ANKARA'S EMBLEM

During the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality's 2nd Term Regular Meeting, the Municipality Assembly decided to held a referendum on whether to change the emblem of Ankara or not. It was changed by Ankara Metropolitan Mayor, Melih Gokcek, and caused discussions for years. The referendum is expected to be held on Sunday August 27. /Cumhuriyet/

SEA PARADE IN NEW YORK

There will be the greatest sea parade ever made in New York today due to the anniversary of United States' Independence Day. 37 countries sent ships to New York. The Fatih Frigate will represent Turkey in the parade. The population of New York is expected to increase at least by % 50. President Bill Clinton will also watch the parade and the celebrations. Clinton will be on a ship called "US Hue City" and then he will take a plane called "US Kennedy" to watch the parade. /Turkiye/

FIRE ON TURKISH FORESTS

Ministry of Forestry announced that fires on various parts throughout the country damaged 36 hectares of forest. Around Turunc, Icmeler, Hisaronu towns of Mugla, a fire started yesterday covering pine forests of 25 hectares, but was taken under control. Another fire in Izmir-Cesme Aladag district damaged 5 hectares of pine trees. Also, in Bingol-Solhan a forestry area of 6 hectares was destroyed. /Sabah/

DOWNTREND IN INFLATION

State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced that month-on-month wholesale price index (WPI) rose by 0.3 percent and consumer price index (CPI) by 0.7 percent.It was calculated that the inflation rate in the first six months was 18.5 on the WPI and 17.8 on the CPI. The annual inflation became 56.8 percent on the WPI (6.5 percent more than the previous year's) and 58.6 percent on the CPI( 5.7 percent less than the previous year's). /Aksam/

INBALANCE AMONG SALARIES IN PUBLIC SECTOR

After taking authority from TGNA, the government is going to try to remove the inbalance among the salaries in the public sector. The Chairman of Capital Market Council (CMC) and the Governor of the Central Bank are at the top of the list with salaries above 3 billion TL in the state. While an official in the Capital Market Council earns 2 billion 44 million TL, the Prime Minister's salary is 1 billion 642 million TL. /Turkiye/

COTTARELLI'S VISIT AFTER 25 AUGUST

It is stated that the IMF Turkey desk chief, Carlo Cottarelli will arrive in Turkey after 25 August for the third stand-by review of the anti-inflation program. During the visit the draft of the budget of 2001 and the economic developments in the last nine months will be evaluated.On the other hand, the supplementary letter of intent given by Turkey will be reviewed on 6 July by the IMF's Managing Directors.Upon approving the letter, the IMF is expected to release the $300 million tranche of a $ 4 billion stand-by loan. /Turkiye/

KOC'S JOINT VENTURE WITH NORWAY'S STATOIL

Koc Holding signed a preliminary agreement with Norwegian state oil company Statoil for future joint projects in the natural gas sector.Koc Holding said in a statement that the agreement aims future cooperation in anticipation of liberalization in Turkey's natural gas sector. /Turkiye/

TURKCELL IS EXPECTED TO BOOST THE STOCK MARKET

The biggest public offer in Turkey, selling 10 percent of the Turkcell's capital has begun yesterday. First, bids of the investors are being collected by the underwriters. The distribution will be organized according to the list of the bids. Turkcell has 68 percent market share in the total GSM services, 10 percent of the TL 240 trillion capital, that is TL 11 Trillion, was now offered to public. Brokers in the stock market expect that cash flows to Turkcell shares will boost the Istanbul Stock Market in the August, since 10 percent of the total volume of market capitalization of the Istanbul Stock Exchanges will be encouraged by Turkcell investors only. Turkcell expects $1.7 or $1.2 billion revenue through the sale of 26.4 million shares, which will take place simultaneously both in domestic and foreign capital markets. 80 percent of the sale will be offered to foreign capital markets. /Cumhuriyet/

CENTRAL BANK REACHED TARGETS FOR JUNE

Turkey's Central Bank announced that it has reached the targets put for the end the June 2000 according to the stand-by agreement which went into effect on January. It was noted in the statement that performance criteria determined as monetary targets and rates of exchange have been reached in June. /Cumhuriyet/

FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS

THE COPENHAGEN CRITERIA BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE) Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna writes on the Copenhagen criteria. A summary of his column as follows: The Copenhagen criteria which will ensure our entrance to the EU, makes certain high-level brueaucrats hesitate who are worried that our admittance will detriment the State and those who believe that they will get richer the later we are admitted into the Union. In fact we are faltering in this state of mind for 300 years. I have been criticized for my views on the issue with nationalistic considerations but this did not change my mind and I believe we have to enter the EU to reach the modern standards of living and values. From time to time, the love of Europeans for the Kurds, Alewites, moderate Moslems (it is not certain what they mean by this), Greeks and Armenians are revived. Occasionaly they spend efforts not to forget their old habits concerning the Eastern issue. We are used to these and are not affected by them. The present day borders of Turkey are sacred for us and no community within these boundaries can make demands which will give itself a higher status than other citizens. However, all democratic and modern rights of the individual are preserved. I understand the Copenhagen criteria as such and so does France. As we are not as rich as France we may have to encounter certain blunders. When we get stronger, pass the line of poverty, make use of our national potential as we should, Europe will leave us alone. Otherwise, the pressure will always be there if we accept the Copenhagen criteria or not. However, the European Union has certain standards. It is not possible to become European by only believing in our own strength and wisdom." /Turkiye/

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