GOVERNMENT LEADERS CONVENE

The leaders of the coalition government convened yesterday to discuss the National Program and the European Army. Leaders decided not to rush implementation of the principles put forth in the short-term priorities of the Accession Partnership Document, as Turkey was not included in the 10 year plan designed in Nice Summit. The National Program will be prepared by mid-January. Turkey's exclusion from the European Army to be established by the European Union, was discussed at the meeting. Turkey's veto right in NATO was discussed regarding the establishment of the army from NATO sources. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said if Turkey uses its veto rights, relations with the United States will be negatively affected and US President Clinton also pointed to this fact in his letter. The final decision will depend upon the results of the EU meeting which will be attended by Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. On the other hand, Prime Minister Ecevit replied to Mr. Clinton's letter regarding the European Security and Defense Identity. Mr. Ecevit said, Turkey wants to participate on equal basis during the planning and implementation processes of probable crisis intervention operations by the EU. He added it is Turkey's right to participate in NATO's planning process. /Star/

SUPREME COURT RULES ON CLOSING PARTIES

The Constitutional Court decided on Tuesday to annul a law which had made it harder to close down parties in Turkey, thus opening the way for a possible ban against the main opposition Virtue Party (FP). The court, due to hear the case for the closure of the FP, first heard an appeal by Chief Prosecutor Vural Savas who claimed the new law making it harder to close down parties was unconstitutional. The Constituitonal Court decided to annul the second paragraph of Article 103 of the law on political parties which dealt with a party as a source of fundemantalism or subversion. The court will convene today to decide whether or not to wait for its annulment decision to be published in the Official Gazette before proceeding with the closure case against the FP. /Turkish Daily News/

ECEVIT VISITS TOBB

Yesterday, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, in the company of State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Husamettin Ozkan, visited the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB). Speaking at the TOBB Executive Board meeting, Mr. Ecevit said, "The economic program strengthened with additional precautions, will lead to a rapid fall in the inflation rate from the beginning of 2001. With the new regulations, the banking system will be healthier." Chairman of the TOBB, Fuat Miras also presented a report to the Premier comprised of problems in the Turkish economy and possible solutions. /Turkiye/

DEMIREL RETURNS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST

The Fact Finding Committee investigating the clashes between Israelis and Palestinians met yesterday with Egyptian President Husnu Mubarak and the King of Jordan. King Abdullah requested that required precautions be taken to prevent further attacks on the Palestinians. The UN Security Council will vote for the establishment of an Observation Force in the region after the Committee finishes its negotiations. /Star/

POLICE DEMONSTRATION

About four thousand policemen marched yesterday in Istanbul to protest the killing of two policemen the day before yesterday in Gaziosmanpasa, Istanbul. Policemen also protested Minister of Interior Affairs Sadettin Tantan who arrived in Istanbul to attend the funeral. Mr. Tantan warned policemen not to be provoked by the terrorist organizations. Meanwhile, policemen and the protesters clashed during the the demonstrations in Ankara held by the groups protesting F-type prisons and supporting the prisoners who are still on hunger strike. /Milliyet/

GEN. KIVRIKOGLU IN SPAIN

The Chief of the General Staff Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu left for Spain yesterday on an official visit. After a series of meetings, Gen.Kivrikoglu will return to Turkey December 15. /Turkiye/

SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL IN FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

The so-called Armenian genocide bill, already approved in the French Senate, was brought into the agenda of the French National Assembly. The bill will be discussed in the Assembly on January 18 and, if approved, will become law. The Union Group of Democracy in France brought the bill, including the statement "France clearly recognizes the 1915 Armenian genocide.", to the Bureau Assembly. /Sabah/

FRENCH AIR FORCES COMMANDER IN TURKEY

French Air Forces Commander General Jean Pierre Jop arrived in Turkey. After visiting Anitkabir (Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's Mauseloum), General Jop met with Turkish Air Forces Commander General Ergin Celasin. Relations between the air forces of the two countries were discussed during the meetings. /Sabah/

TURKISH AID PROVIDED TO PALESTINE

The Turkish Foreign Ministry stated Tuesday that Turkey would provide $3 million in financial aid to Palestine for humanitarian purposes. "The Turkish government has made a decision to provide financial aid to our friends and brothers, the Palestinians, to be used for their urgent needs. Over $1 million in aid has already been sent to the Palestinian state", said a statement released by the Foreign Ministry. /Turkish Daily News/

XANTHI (ISKECE) TURKISH UNION TO BE REOPENED

Xanthi Turkish Union, a Turkish association active in Western Thrace, was closed by the office of regional governor in 1983. Greek legal institutions have recently brought its reopening onto their agenda, which is being interpreted as a reflection of the rapproachement between the two countries on legal issues. Starting a new examination for related court decisions and objection petitions, the Greek Court of Appeals stated it found the closure decision one taken without necessary evidence. Many associations and institutions cannot continue their activities because they have names including the word "Turkish" in Western Thrace. /Cumhuriyet/

CAVANAUGH'S STATEMENT ON TURKEY'S IMPORTANCE IN NAGORNO-KARABAKH

One of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group Co-Chairmen, Carey Cavanaugh, stated Turkey could help Azerbaijan and Armenia solve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. The Minsk Group including American, Russian and French representatives, met with President Haydar Aliyev yesterday in Baku. Emphasizing Turkey's important role in the region, Cavanaugh stated Turkish firms could help the economic development of the region in case of a solution to the problem. He added that bilateral relations between Turkey and Armenia would also improve if the Nagorno Karabakhproblem is solved. Meanwhile President Aliyev said, "Azerbaijan believesthinks certain Western countries distort the facts in their policies against Turkey, and Azerbaijan always emphasizes that it opposes those policies." Referring to allegations of the so-called Armenian genocide, Mr. Aliyev said, "These attempts do not help find a solution in the region. Furthermore, they themselves constitute an obstacle to a solution." /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY SURPASSES SPAIN

Turkey has surpassed Spain for the first time in the history of European tourism. Owner of Diana Tourism, Hasan Tombul, said, "There is an extensive demand for Turkey in the tourism industry. 2001 will be a year of Turkish tourism." /Cumhuriyet/

ROMAN MOSAICS IN MARAS

Mosaics dating back to the Roman period were unearthed in Kahramanmaras. It was stated that there were certain animal figures on the mosaics. /Cumhuriyet/

TEXTILE EXPORTS INCREASE

Textile exports increased by 18% reaching $408 million in 11 months this year. /Cumhuriyet/

ERSUMER ON BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE PROJECT

Minister of Energy and Natural Sources Cumhur Ersumer gave detailed information about the Baku-Ceyhan protocol. Mr. Ersumer stated Turkey and Azerbaijan have equal responsibilities to ensure the encouraging conditions which the Host Country Agreement and the Turn-Key Job and Government Guarantee foresee for investors. If any of the party countries avoid meeting the conditions set forth in the agreements, not just the investors, but also other party countries, would have the right to apply to international institutions for a solution of the problem. Mr. Ersumer said 10 police stations will be established and $20 million will be spent on the security for the project. /Cumhuriyet/

ENERGY SUMMIT

A conference titled, "Five-Year Turkish Energy Projects and the Private Sector", commenced in Washington yesterday. During the two-day meeting, Turkey's energy projects will be discussed. Christopher Wilkinson, InterGen Company's Representative of Turkey, stressed the future of Turkey's investments in energy is very bright. BOTAS Deputy Director General Nadir Biyikoglu said in addition to the current 1,500-Km natural gas pipeline, the construction of another 2,100-Km section was continuing and bidding process would soon begin on the next 2,000 Km. /Turkiye/

ERCEL AND BAYAR TO MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF AMERICAN BANKS

The Governor of the Central Bank, Gazi Ercel, and the president of the Privatization Administration Board, Ugur Bayar, will meet today with the representatives of American banks to get financial support. The two economy bureaucrats received the support of the Deutsche Bank during their meeting. Deputy Chairman of the IMF, Stanley Fisher, will also attend today's meeting. Citigroup will organize the meeting in New York. Deputy President of Citigroup, William Rhodes, said the international financial community will give support to Turkey. American newspapers gave much coverage to the European banks'support of Turkey. /Star/

IMF: "CREDIT IS READY"

The IMF Foreign Relations Director, Tom Dawson, said the IMF Executive Committee will approve the transfer of $10.4 billion to Turkey during its Dec.21 convention. Mr. Dawson said, "We believe Turkish authorities will take the required precautions for the stabilization program and for fiscal markets. The signs are positive in the short-term. Therefore, we give full support to Turkey." The new supplementary letter of intent for the IMF was prepared and submitted to the government. /Star/

AUSTRIAN AND GERMAN BANKS OFFER PARTNERSHIP TO HALKBANK

Austrian and German Public banks offered to share the capital of state-owned Halkbank as a part of its privatization process. Both banks sent a letter to the Treasury Undersecretariat and stated, under suitable conditions, they want to take an active part in the privatization of Halkbank by contributing to its capital. /Hurriyet/

TURKEY TO GIVE CREDIT TO TRNC

Turkey will give economic support to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in its economic stabilization program. TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu said they will sign a $350 million credit agreement with Turkey. Mr. Eroglu said further agreements will be signed with Turkey in the investment and private sectors. /Aksam/

PAMUKBANK RECEIVES $100 MILLION CREDIT

Pamukbank received $100 million syndication credit from international financial markets. A one-year credit agreement was signed in London with the participation of the crediting banks. The credit will be used to finance exports. /Aksam/

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

LET US BE CALM BY OKTAY EKSI (HURRIYET)

Columnist Oktay Eksi writes on the demonstrations held by the police in various cities. A summary of his column is as follows: "We are at a time when everyone should take utmost care before acting or speaking. Before discussion on the banking crisis was over, hunger strikes, which began at the behest of prison ganglords took its place on the agenda. And before these were over, an outrageous attack on a police bus in Istanbul led to what was feared most. The police bound with protecting and upholding the law, staged an illegal demonstration. When asked if their protest was justified, you will receive an affirmative answer. It is not very hard to prove that a person or a sector is treated unjustly in Turkey. For example, everyone working in the public sector, including the police, can say that their incomes are not sufficient. It is true. They may also say that working conditions are bad and this also is true. In a profession full of risks such as the police force, the desire to express their reactions to a despicable attack is normal. Their claim that the amnesty law victimizes them should be listened to. Many sectors which hold the same opinion are using extraordinary methods to have their voices heard. However, it is not possible to say that this gives the police the right to stage an illegal demonstration. We must say that in no civilized country can a Security Director General put the torture of the legal state police force in the same category with those of the murderous gang, 'Hizbullah'. In such a fiery situation the best thing would be to stop and ask ourselves if we are doing the right thing. This covers everyone, from those who use hunger strikes to protest F-type prisons at the instruction of illegal organisations, to the most respected citizens such as the Istanbul Bar Association Chairman. Therefore, we have to stop and think for a time before speaking or acting."

RIGHTS AND WRONGS BY CUNEYT ARCAYUREK (CUMHURIYET)

Columnist Cuneyt Arcayurek comments on the recent incidents. A summary of his column is as follows: "Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit underlined two important points while explaining his views on the hunger strikes. On December 9, he said state authority and physical security were not left in many of the state prisons. On December 11, he said those organizing and carrying out these strikes wanted to impose conditions on the state. While the Prime Minister did not say so, it was apparent from the first day that the first aim of the strikers was to force the state to announce that F-type prisons would not be put to use. Ecevit also said that it was impossible for the state to accept any impositions stemming from the prisons. There has been a change in the media's views concerning the hunger strikes which paralell developments in the Cabinet. A video band leaked to the tv news channels, reveal which group organized the hunger stirkes. The video band broadcast by the television stations show the hunger strikes were not started in a prison atmosphere, but rather a private boarding school climate... The picture drawn up by these televisions is that those who are on hunger strikes, and those preventing the goodwill missions of people trying to end the hunger strikes, are leftist terrorists trying to impose their will on the state. On a private television station it was said that bargaining was not being done by the hunger strikers, but by their leaders. Such broadcasts lead to defining the hunger strikes as 'terrorist actions'. Certainly, a society cannot bear the thought of suicide by anyone, no matter what their inclinations. While the angel of death is waiting at the corridors of the prisons, life goes on. The Government is faced by other problems as well. The National Program which will be prepared in line with the Accession Partnership Document is one. The statements on the issue reveal the topics disturbing Turkey will not be mentioned in precise terminology."

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