SEZER CONGRATULATES BUSH

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer sent a congratulatory message to George W. Bush upon his election as the new US President. Mr. Sezer stated he hoped Turkey-EU relations would improve during the Bush Adminisration. /Cumhuriyet/

ECEVIT: "WE DID OUR JOB REGARDING THE IMF REQUIREMENTS"

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said all requirements were met for the IMF agreement on supplementary credit. After meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer for their regular weekly negotiation, Mr. Ecevit said markets are now on track, as necessary precautions were taken. Mr. Ecevit stressed the importance of the privatization process to modify the views of international financial institutions. In this regard, the tender of Turk Telekom and Turkish Airlines are two important processes. Mr.Ecevit said the draft law for rapid privatization of the electricity industry was submitted to the TGNA yesterday. Twenty-nine build-operate-transfer type energy projects under the Treasury guarantee will be announced by Dec.31. The process of selling the banks under the control of the Deposit Account Insurance Fund (MSF) began recently. /Hurriyet/

TURKEY AND NEW US ADMINISTRATION

Turkey-US relations during the Bush Administration (newly elected President of the US) are not expected to change. It was stated Turkey-EU relations will maintain its positive character. Mr. Bush had stated prior to his election that he was against the US pressing for a solution on issues like Cyprus and the Middle East peace process. Mr. Bush was not expected to be as interested in Cyprus issue as Mr. Clinton was. /Cumhuriyet/

FRANCE CRITIZES TURKEY IN BRUSSELS

The North Atlantic Council's last meeting of 2000 began yesterday in Brussels. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem represented Turkey at the meeting. Primarily, relations with the EU and European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI) were discussed whereupon France critized Turkey harshly. France accused Turkey of being the only NATO ally blocking the EU-NATO relations. Stating they wanted NATO to support the EU's newly structured military identity, French diplomats said due to Turkey's opposition, a consensus on the text of a common declaration could not be reached. The EU, preparing to establish a rapid reaction force by 2003, began working on this issue after the Nice Summit. The EU wants the rapid reaction force to be able to use NATO facilities whenever it wants and without any conditions. However, NATO excludes the non-EU member coutries from the decision making mechanisms. Turkey opposes NATO's decision and views the policy as exclusionary. /Cumhuriyet/

TANTAN BEGINS AN INVESTIGATION ON POLICE DEMONSTRATION

The Minister of Interior Affairs, Sadettin Tantan began an investigation on the recent police demonstrations. Mr. Tantan gave information to the Council of Ministers on the recent police demonstrations and death fasts in the prisons. Due to the investigations, 54 policemen were suspended from their duties. Their guns and poice identification cards were also seized. /Aksam/

GUREL-BECK MEETING

Minister of State Sukru Sina Gurel and the German Federal Government Official Responsible for Foreign Immigrants, Marieluise Beck, discussed the education of Turkish people living in Germany, which is a controversial issue, especially where religious education is concerned. They agreed to prepare an action plan regarding the education of Turkish people living in Germany. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY-IRAQ RELATIONS

Undersecretary of Iraq Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Nuri El Veyis, will arrive in Turkey next week as the official guest of his Turkish counterpart Faruk Logoglu. During his contacts with the Turkish officials the latest situation in bilateral relations between Turkey and Iraq as well as regional issues will be discussed. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY'S ACTION PLAN TO HELP TRNC

Turkey has prepared an action plan to help ensure economic and social stability in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The Council of Ministers decided to give $300-350 million credit to the TRNC. Mnister of State Sukru Sina Gurel stated that Turkey aimed to help improve the TRNC's economic and social conditions through the action plan. /Cumhuriyet/

TRNC PROTESTS UNILATERAL UN DECISION TO PROLONG UN FORCES IN CYPRUS

The UN Security Council has prolonged the mission of the UN Peace Keeping Forces in Cyprus, contrary to Turkish-Cypriot demands. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will take drastic measures to limit the freedom of movement of the Force on the island. The Foreign Ministry also issued a statement, "Turkey does not accept this unilateral decision, as the views of TRNC and Turkey were not considered. This decision infringes upon the principle of the equality of sovereignty rights of two societies. " TRNC officials announced certain restrictions on the roads.. Restrictions will be imposed on UN helicopters over TRNC airspace. /Aksam/

SIMITIS STATEMENT

The Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis said Turkey's Accession Partnership Document (APD) was based on the decision made at the Helsinki Summit. Speaking at a press conference organized by the Greek Foreign Journalists' Association, Simitis said the Helsinki Summit decisions are of great importance to Athens. He said, "Before the Helsinki Summit there was no obligation for Turkey regarding Turkish-Greek relations and Cyprus problems." Stressing that Greece is patient and insistent on Turkey's EU membership, Simitis added that Turkey needs time for harmonization with the EU. /Turkiye/

ECHR ACCEPTS OCALAN'S APPEAL

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) accepted to examine the assertions made by the terrorist Abdullah Ocalan's lawyers against Turkey. ECHR will announce its officials decision today. /Star/

BOUCHER: "PROXIMITY TALKS SHOULD RESUME"

The US Administration declared they expect both sides to attend the sixth round of proximity talks on the Cyprus issue to be held in the end of January in Geneva. Replying to a question about the Cyprus issue, the US State Department Speaker, Richard Boucher said, "We think the two leaders on Cyprus should resume the proximity talks under the auspices of the UN. We also understand Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas' request for certain conditions to be met to attend the talks, however, we believe continuing the talks is the best solution serving both Turkish and Turkish-Cypriots interests." /Turkiye/

TURKISH DELEGATION LEAVES FOR ATHENS

A Turkish delegation consisting of five parliamentarians of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Human Rights Research Commission, left for Athens to observe the on-going trial between the Turkish minority and Greece stemming from the Koyunkoy Mosque's minaret in Komotini (Gumulcune). Before departing, head of the commission, Nationalist Action Party (MHP) Deputy Huseyin Akgun, recalled that the Koyunkoy Mosque's minaret was to be destroyed as it stands higher than the bell tower a nearby church. He said, "The Turkish minority sued the Greek government because of the pressure on them and their beliefs. We have attended 24 trials up to now, and we expect that a fair decision will be made at the 25th hearing." /Turkiye/

MESSAGE FROM EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO THE INMATES

The European Parliament discussed the hunger strikes in Turkish prisons at its convention yesterday. Socialist, Christian Democrat and Liberal representatives requested the inmates end the strikes. They further requested government officials to take the necessary measures to improve the conditions in the prisons. /Aksam/

ARDA, ADVISOR TO DUTCH GOVERNMENT

Secil Arda, member of the Advisory Council for the Citizens Living Abroad, was appointed by the Queen of the Netherlands to the Social Developments Council (RMO). The Council consists of nine advisory groups and is significantly influential in the decision-making process of the Dutch government. /Cumhuriyet/

HUMAN RIGHTS CENTER IN BILGI UNIVERSITY

The Human Rights Law Research and Implementation Center opened at Bilgi University with the Swedish Minister of State responsible for Foreign Trade, Swen-Erik Soder in attendance. Mr. Soder said that the EU's enlargement was a great chance for Turkey. He added, "Turkey has to meet the Copenhagen criteria and the principles written in the accession partnership document to receive full EU membership." Emphasizing the importance Sweden attaches to relations between Turkey and the EU, Mr. Soder said, "Sweden supports Turkey's efforts in human rights, minorities' rights and democratization." /Cumhuriyet/

MESAM BECOMES A PERMANENT MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN COMMITEE

The Turkish Artists Association (MESAM) received permanent membership in the International Artists Confederation (CISAC). MESAM received this membership, as it is working hard for the copyrights to be established in Turkey. /Aksam/

TURK TELEKOM BIDS WILL BE ACCEPTED BY MAY 14

State Minister Yuksel Yalova said the tender for Turk Telekom will be closed to bidders May 14, 2001. At the first stage, the operation plans of the bidders will be analyzed, then the financial offers will be evaluated. At the last stage, the two bidders offering the highest amount will be invited to the public auction. After the auction, the sale will be finalized legally with approval of the Competition Board, the Council of Ministers and the President. /Milliyet/

TEMIZEL: "MANY INVESTORS WANT TO BUY THE BANKS UNDER THE CONTROL OF FUND"

The Head of the Banking Regulation and Supervision Board, Zekeriya Temizel said there are a considerable number of applicants willing to buy the banks currently under the control of the Deposit Insurance Fund (MSF). Mr. Temizel said each application will be evaluated carefully and only eligible applicants will be announced. Koc Group, Finansbank and Disbank announced they are willing to buy one or more of the banks. /Aksam/

EMERGENCY CREDIT FOR TURKEY

According to the international news agency, Bridge News, a number of foreign banks will come together to grant Turkey a loan of one billion dollars through a "club deal". Reportedly, the maturity date of the loan will be six months and will be sent to Turkey in 10-12 days. /Turkiye/

PRIMARY SURPLUS TL 9 QUADRILLION IN JAN-NOV

The primary surplus of the central government budget amounted to TL 8.954 trillion in January-November, compared to an earlier full-year target of TL 7.005 trillion, the Finance Ministry announced yesterday. The budget deficit was seen at TL 10,996 trillion in the same period, Finance Minister Sumer Oral said in a written statement. The government had projected a full year deficit of TL 14 quadrillion. /Turkish Daily News/

TREASURY RECEIVES ONE BILLION USD SYNDICATION CREDIT

The Treasury will receive one billion USD syndication credit from international banks. Treasury officials will meet with the bank representatives in London today. The credit will bring liquidity to the domestic financial markets. /Milliyet/

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

ORGANIZATIONS IN DIASPORA BY ERTUGRUL OZKOK (HURRIYET)

Columnist Ertugrul Ozkok comments on the continuing of the hunger strikes in the prisons. A summary of his column is as follows: "One of the mediators trying to end the hunger strikes said a branch of the terrorist organisation outside the prison was pressuring the hunger strikers to continue. Leaders outside the prison want the inmates to continue their hunger strikes until death. These demands of the leaders can be understood from the e-mails coming from the branch of the organisation outside. Those outside the prison hold harsher views than those who are inside. I am well aware of this 'diaspora psycohology'. I was still a student in Paris during the aftermath of the March 12th memorandum, I had witnessed how those escaping from Turkey held fiery and harsh discussions, leaving no if, and's or but's undiscussed. It is the easiest way to cleanse one's conscience in 'diaspora'. If those within the country express harsh views, you were harsher. If they were crying out loud, you had to shout at the top of your lungs. We are witnessing the same kind of behaviour in the Armenian diaspora. Armenians who settled in France and America and are well to do, express more fanatical views than those in Armenia, and are more militant. Otherwise, they cannot explain why they are still living there to those back in Armenia. They have to have an answer to the question 'why they are enjoying life while the Armenian citizens are fighting against cold, famine and poverty in the country?'. This answer must be convincing in the least. If you cannot give a satisfactory answer, then you must cry even louder. Unfortunately, military interventions have created a Turkish and Kurdish diaspora. Some migrated voluntarily to different countries under political guises. No one exiled them or declared them 'illegal'. These people, who are self-exiled, are left in a difficult situation as Turkey is moving along the path to democratization. They will try to find reasons to stay where they are, even if Turkey becomes the most democratic country in the world. This diaspora makes a lot of noise, and so, everyone believes that they are supported by the public opinion. This mistaken impression is playing with the lives of the prisoners. The mediator mentioned above says those in prison believe they have the support of public opinion. In fact, the general public looks at these incidents just as it viewed the IBDA-C and Nuris affairs. As they did not have any diaspora, there was not much noise. However, the politicization of the affair does not legalize the affair in the public eye. The killing of two policemen, followed by the demonstration of the police, has created a tense atmosphere. Those wanting the state to exert its authority are strengthened by these developments. This psychology is dangerous. Therefore, I request the mediators not to give the hunger-strikers the impression that the public is supporting them. The psychology makes reaching a solution harder. The terrorist organisation is in diaspora. However, we are in Turkey. "

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