AMNESTY BILL TO BE SENT BACK TO PRESIDENT

It was stated the coalition partners will send the Amnesty Bill to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer without any changes this week. The bill is to be discussed in the Constitutional Commission today. The partners are expected to discuss the bill in the Plenary Session in a few days. /Aksam/

ELECTION FOR THE POST OF CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR

Because the term of Chief Public Prosecutor in the Court of Appeals, Vural Savas has expired, an election for the post will be held today. After the votes are counted, the names of the first five candidates receiving the highest votes will be sent to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The President will then appoint one of the five as the Chief Public Prosecutor. /Cumhuriyet/

CONSULTATION MEETINGS BETWEEN TURKEY AND IRAQ

The tenth political consultation meeting between Turkey and Iraq will begin in Ankara today. Iraqi Foreign Ministry First Undersecretary, Nuri El Veyis and an accompanying delegation arrived in Ankara. It was stated that issues related to improving bilateral relations between Turkey and Iraq will be discussed during the consultation meetings expected to last until Tuesday. Among the important issues to be discussed during the meetings is increasing Turkey's representation level in Iraq to an Embassy. A delegation chaired by the Iraqi Minister of Transportation and Communications is expected to arrive in Ankara today. The delegation is expected to discuss the Bagdad-Ankara railway line with Turkish officials. Meanwhile, flights for humanitarian aid from Turkey to Iraq continue. /Cumhuriyet/

SARYBAY'S STATEMENT ON BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE

Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Ankara, Kayrat Sarybay said, "The Baku Ceyhan pipeline is very important not just for reinforcing the independence and security of countries in the region, but also for helping improve the commercial and economic relations between those countries and increasing the living standards of the people in the region. Stating that Turkey-Kazakhstan relations are improving, Mr. Sarybay recalled that Turkey was the first country to recognize the establishment of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Stating economic relations between the two countries are also improving, he said Turkey was one of Kazakhistan's most important investment partners. /Cumhuriyet/

BOLTON CRITICIZES ESDI

An aide to newly elected US President George Bush and expert in defense issues, John Bolton harshly critisized the European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI). Speaking to the British daily Sunday Times, Mr. Bolton said ESDI was harmful to NATO. Turkey has refused to give an approval to ESDI because it will be excluded from the decision-making mechanism since it is not an EU-member. /Aksam/

RAU VISITS GENC FAMILY

To commemorate Ramadan, Germand President Johannes Rau visited the Genc family who lost five members of their family in the Solingen incident. Mr. Rau said he never forgot that neo-nazis set fire to the Genc family home. Stating all religions express tolerance for each other and emphasize love in human relations, Mr. Rau said that Islam was a religion professing peace, love and tolerance. /Cumhuriyet/

AIR CRASH

One of the two planes putting on an aerial display at the Championship of the Champions Automobile Rally in Kocaeli yesterday crashed. Both the amateur pilot and his passenger were killed in the crash which also wounded two people on the ground. /Turkiye/

PANGALOS: "PAPANDREOU PROTECTED OCALAN"

Former Greek Foreign and Culture Minister, Theodoros Pangalos, removed from his posts twice before due to his adversarial attitudes towards Turkey, spoke to the Greek newspaper "Elefterotipiya". Panghalos said Kemalist ideology does not coincide with the public will. He argued Turkey should experience a revolution to adopt a western style democracy. He also mentioned Ocalan's being brought to Greece. He said, " In order to rescue him, I wanted Ocalan to be taken outside Greece. But, Papandreou suggested Ocalan should be captured first, then granted political asylum. But, in the end it was understood that Ocalan did not want to be saved." /Milliyet/

TENSION OVER "MIXED VILLAGE" IN CYPRUS

Tension is escalating in the only mixed village, Pile, in Cyprus. The village, under UN control, is seeing the Greek-Cypriot army increase its billets and fortifications. Turkish-Cypriot Security Forces sent an ultimatom-like warning to the Greek-Cypriot Command via the UN. According to the warning, the Greek Army should return their previous places and remove the new fortifications. /Milliyet/

TURKISH NURSES ON THE WAY TO EUROPE

The Turkish Nurses Association announced it was preparing to become a member of the European Countries Nurses Union. Holding a press conference to announce their millennium objectives, the Association pointed out the necessity for education programs on "nursing when a disaster occurs" in coopearation with the Japan nurses. /Aksam/

REHABILITATION CENTER IN YALOVA

The rehabilitation center, established with the financial support of Association for Supporting Modern Life, and the workers of Bosch-Siemens-Hausgelate and Profilo living in Germany, opened to serve the quake victims in Yalova. /Aksam/

LAMBERT PRAISES TURKISH AIRLINES

The European International Civilian Aviation and Air Traffic Controller Organization Eurocontrol`s French Director General, Yves Lambert, praised Turkish Airlines (THY) contributions. THY has participated in Eurocontrol`s activities since 1989 as a full member. He said Turkey, the sixth largest of the 30 members has one of the most powerful air radar network in the region. /Turkiye/

IZMIR ECONOMY CONGRESS TO BE HELD JUNE 5

The fourth Izmir Economy Congress will convene June 5-8, 2001. The Office of Izmir Governor will coordinate the organization of the congress. The aim of the congress was summarized in a circular as follows: Finding solutions to the economic and social problems and to develop proposals for transforming Turkey into an information-society. /Star/

SECOND CARGO PLANE PRODUCTION COMMENCES

The Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI) began the second cargo plane production program. The first of nine C-235 cargo planes produced under licence by Spanish Casa, will be delivered in April 2001 to the Coast Security Command. The production of the last plane is expected to be completed in February 2002. /Turkiye/

MEETING OF IMF AND WORLD BANK ON LOANS TO TURKEY

The Supplementary Letter of Intent delivered to the IMF will be discussed Dec.21 in the IMF Executive Directors Board meeting in Washington. The Board will give a decision on the release of the third and fourth portions of the Stand-by credit and the Supplementary Reserve Facility After the meeting $2.8 billion will be given to Turkey, $2.2 billion of which comprises the Reserve Facility. The World Bank will discuss Dec.21 the Fiscal Sector Adjustment Loan (FSAL) to be given to Turkey. The first portion of the loan, consisting of $390 million will be in the Turkish Treasury accounts by Dec.22. /Hurriyet/

NEW INVESTMENTS IN AIRPORTS

Turkey will implement a series of rehabilitation programs to modernize its airports. In 2001, revisions will be carried out in Istanbul Ataturk, Ankara Esenboga, Izmir Adnan Menderes, Bodrum, Antalya and Dalaman airports. Additionally, construction of a new air radar system of $600 million is planned for next year. /Turkiye/

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT TOTALS RECORD $1.2 BLN

The Treasury reported that Turkey received a record $1.2 billion in foreign direct investment from January to September, more than it received during 1998, when it had attracted its highest volume. Foreign direct investment totaled $813 million during 1999. By November this year, the Treasury saw $2.4 billion of foreign investment, compared to $1.7 billion in 1999. /Turkish Daily News/

FREE ZONES ATTRACT INTEREST

The trade volumes realized in the free zones are $491.2 million in 1991, $2.9 billion in 1995 and $7.8 billion in 1999. In the first ten months of this year, the trade volume in free zones was $41.5 billion. The Istanbul-Leather Free Zone has the highest trade volume, followed by Istanbul Ataturk Airport and the Mersin Free Zone. /Turkiye/

TURKISH THEATRE ON MOSCOW STAGE

The Turco-Russian Contemporary Drama and Theatre Festival began in Moscow. Yermolov Theatre presented Refik Erduran's "Ghengis Khan's Bicycle" as its opening performance. During the festival week, the works of Nazim Hikmet, Aziz Nesin, Tuncer Cucenoglu, Resat Nuri Guntekin, Melih Cevdet Anday and Nezihe Aras will be staged in Russian. /Milliyet/

LIVANELI IN GREECE

Turkish singer and writer Zulfu Livaneli, who has participated in friendship concerts with Greece for a long time, garnered much acclaim in Athens during a promotion meeting organized by his publishing company. /Hurriyet/

EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD: ZEUGMA

The French journal "L'Express" put Zeugma, in Southeast Anatolia, on the cover of its current issue. The journal article said, "All of the mosaics have not yet been uncovered, it is a treasure. To rescue the city has become a priority. Italian, Turkish and British teams are making restorations and rescuing works. Zeugma is a unique and precious place where the common heritage of cultures reaches our time." /Sabah/

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

THERE ARE ALWAYS ALTERNATIVES IN DIPLOMACY BY IZZET SEDES ((AKSAM)

Columnist Izzet Sedes writes on Foreign Minister Ismail Cem's meeting with the members of the press briefing them on latest developments. "Foreign Minister Ismail Cem held a meeting to inform the members of the press on foreign affairs and to take our views on these issues. The first subject discussed was the defence force which the European Union wants to form, and Turkey's stance on the issue. He stated Turkey was not against the EU forming a defence force, but what was opposed to the force using NATO facilities in the country, if the EU did not include Turkey in the decision making mechanisms of the force. The NATO member countries which are EU candidates like Turkey, such as Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and others agreed with us in the lobby , but did not raise their voices during the meeting. Ismail Cem also discussed with the press President Clinton's letter urging Turkey not to oppose, and French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine's acknowledgement of Turkey's problem, and his recognition that Turkey did not use the power of veto to enter the EU from the backdoor. However, it is still not known what the result will be, if our demands will be met by the EU, or what kind of a solution will be found. Will Turkey be a member to the EU and if so when? This is still not clear. It is believed that membership negotiations may begin in 2002 or 2003. When the national accession partnership document is prepared, and if the 15 EU members find this in line with their principles and acceptable, the negotiations may begin within the framework of enlargement. We still want to be a member of the EU, but it is not only up to us to reach such a goal. It is important how the Europeans will accept our stances on Cyprus, Kurds, freedom of expression, and human rights. We shall understand this in time. One thing is certain, if we do not conform with the rules and traditions of the West it is impossible to become a member of the EU. Therefore, the chances for other states, such as the Greek Cypriot Administration, is much higher. If the Greek Cypriot Adminstration is admitted into the EU as a member, the climate in the Eastern Mediterranean and Turkey will become tense. Cem and his friends are trying hard to avert such a possibility. They do not want to be seen as intransigent. However, it is impossible to accept Pangalos' view of the TRNC as 'a minority with a large economy'. In conclusion, we can say it is very hard for us to have our demands accepted on the Cyprus issue by the EU. However, where there is life, there is hope and, as Cem said, there are always alternatives in diplomacy."

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