OPERATIONS TO END DEATH FAST

Security Forces carried out a series of operations to end the death fast which have been ongoing for 61 days in 20 prisons. Policemen were confronted with resistance by the prisoners. Commandos, gendarmes and poice used teargas, cloud bombs and fire brigades during the operations. Because the rebels and the police clashed, 17 rebels and two soldiers were killed. Seventy-eight inmates and three soldiers were also wounded. According to a Ministry of Interior statement, "Most of the deaths resulted from inmates burning themselves alive." 187 prisoners on death fasts and 634 on hunger strikes were hospitalized. Most of the rebels did not want to accept emergency care. Meanwhile, the F type prisons, which have been previously delayed, opened yesterday. The Minister of Justice announced that transfers to the Sincan F type prison had begun. He added, "As you know, our prisons have been overcrowded. So we began the transfers." Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said everyone in Turkish society comprehends how essential the F type prisons are. He added, "We want to free Turkey from the ward system. Everyone saw how detrimental the ward system is. When the necessary conditions arise, transfers to the F type prisons will be completed. F type prisons have nothing to do with the cells. Apart from Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the Government has kept its silence about the ongoing operations. The True Path Party sounded support for the move to end the death fasts in prisons. Meanwhile, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), inmates' families and relatives protested the incidents and wanted the government to stop the operations. In the midst of the ongoing prison operations to end the death fasts, security forces detained more than 90 people in Ankara and Istanbul. /All papers/

PRISON OPERATIONS IN FOREIGN PRESS

The foreign press gave coverage to the operations held by the security forces to end the death fast. The operations were reported on German news web sites in detail. Reuters news agency called them, "Security forces end death fasts." The Drudge Report Agency stated "Turkish security forces stormed the prisons. Arguing they will be exposed to torture in single or 3-person rooms, prisoners do not want to be transfered to F type prisons. " The CNN web site said, "During the storming of the prisons by security forces, five person were killed." /Aksam/

AMNESTY LAW ACCEPTED AS IT WAS

The Amnesty Law, sent back to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) to be re-discussed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer last week, was accepted as written by the TGNA Justice Commission yesterday. The law is expected to be discussed in the TGNA Plenary Session today. /Turkiye/

CLINTON EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR TURKEY

US President Bill Clinton, who contributed greatly to improving Turkey-US relations to a strategic partnersip, again supported Turkey on the European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI). Mr. Clinton met with EU term president France's President Jacques Chirac and Chairman of EU Commission Romano Prodi at the 15th US-EU meeting. After the meeting, Clinton's National Security Council Europe Director Tony Blinken and Economic Advisor Gene Sperling gave information to the press. Mr. Blinken said, "At the meeting Mr. Clinton said that non-EU member countries like Turkey should participate in the European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI)." /Cumhuriyet/

OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH TO BE EXTENDED

Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) decision to extend "Operation Northern Watch" another six months beginning from December 31, 2000 was published in the Official Gazette. The operation began in the post-Gulf War period in accordance with the objectives of UN resolutions on Iraq and with the participation of American and British air elements. It was planned to be a limited operation of only reconnaissance flights. /Cumhuriyet/

APPROVAL OF TURKEY REPORT DELAYED TO APRIL

During the meetings of the European Council Parliamentarians Assembly in Paris, the Turkey report was discussed. However, a consensus on the report could not be reached. Stating there were important developments in human rights and democratization in Turkey, Hungarian Socialist Parliamentarian Andrias Barsony wanted the monitoring mechanism on Turkey to end. German Parliamentarian Benno Zierer argued that the monitoring mechanism on Turkey should continue. Because of the contradictory views, the Turkey report's approval was delayed to April. /Cumhuriyet/

IRAN AND IRAQ MARKETS OPENED TO THE WORLD

Diplomatic sources and analysists say US President-elect George Bush may loosen or completely abolish the economic sanctions imposed on both Iran and Iraq next year. Turkey has suffered the most economically from the embargo. In case the embargo is lifted, the Turkish private sector will have the chance to realize an additional $2 billion in exports to those countries. Turkey's energy demand may be provided both countries. Furthermore, Turkish companies may take part in the infrastructure investments in Iran and Iraq. /Turkiye/

GERMANS PREFER TURKEY

The German Federal Department of Statistics in Wiesbaden announced that during the 2000 summer season, the number of German tourists travelling to Turkey reached the same record number as in 1997. According to a report, the number of Germans coming to Turkey to spend their holidays increased 30% between April and October. In this period, 2.9 million German tourists left from German airports for Turkey. Meanwhile, the Turkish State Institute of Statistics declared there was an increase of 39.7% in the number of tourists visiting Turkey between Jan. and Oct. 2000. /Turkiye/

SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY FOR RELIEVING THE TENSION IN CYPRUS

British and American diplomats launched initiatives to relieve tensions in Pile, the only mixed village in Cyprus, under the UN control. British and American Ambassadors began a shuttle diplomacy between TRNC President Rauf Denktas and the Greek-Cypriot leader Glafkos Klerides. Denktas, meeting with British Ambassador Edward Clay, said the flash point of the tension was the unwarranted arrest of a Turkish-Cypriot. Officers from the Turkish-Cypriot Security Forces, billeted on a hill overlooking Pile village said, they are closely observing the movements of the Greek-Cypriot army and everything is under control. /Milliyet/

IRAQI DELEGATION CONTINUES MEETINGS

The Iraqi delegation, headed by Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Nuri Ismail El Weis, continued meetings with Turkish diplomats yesterday. During the meetings, in addition to bilateral relations, regional and international issues were discussed. /Turkiye/

US NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COUNCIL'S REPORT

It was anticipated in the "Global Tendencies in 2015" report of the US National Intelligence Council, working with the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), which included possible developments around the world, that due to the lessening of the water flow to Iraq and Syria from Turkey by 2015, Turkey, Syria and Iraq will face a water crisis. The report was published in New York Times the day before yesterday. /Cumhuriyet/

YATAGAN IS A "SPECIAL REGION"

The Office of Governor in Mugla declared the town of Yatagan and its environs as a "Special Region to be Protected" to prevent air pollution caused by the Thermic Power Plant in the region. According to the decision made by the Office of Mugla Governor, the Province Directorate of Meteorology will coordinate with the Power Plant Directorate of Management. During the days when inversion and high pressure are expected, the Directorate of Management will lower the power or stop the plant units. /Aksam/

ORAL'S STATEMENT ON ECOMONIC STABILITY PROGRAM

Minister of Finance Sumer Oral said the Central Bank and Treasury will receive $4.2 billion from the World Bank and international markets. Stating their fight against dirty money has accelareted, Mr. Oral said there were 44 files under investigation. The Ministry of Finance budget and the revenue budget were accepted yesterday in the TGNA's Plenary Session. Mr. Oral said, "Turkey has begun to implement a 3-year economic stability program. This year we will carry out the second part of the program. When we look at the results of the last year's program, we see that it has been as successful as we expected." /Cumhuriyet/

CAPACITY USAGE INCREASES

The State Institute of Statistics (SIS) declared that the capacity usage rate increased to 79.8% in Nov. compared to 71.5% the same month last year. According to an SIS survey carried out in 599 work places, lack of demand in local and foreign markets, lack of raw material in local production are listed among the major reasons preventing full capacity usage. /Turkiye/

TURKEY TO DECREASE CUSTOMS TARIFFS FOR NON-EU IMPORTS

Turkey will implement the same tarriff rate as the European Union beginning January 2001. Customs union with the EU regarding the industrial goods will be put into effect in January. According to the new imports regulation, tariffs will decline on automobiles to 10 %, on minibuses to 10-16 %, on tractors to nil. /Milliyet/

MERILL LYNCH: "TELEKOM AND THY ARE ATTRACTIVE"

International investment bank, Merill Lynch's Chief Economist responsible for developing markets, Matthew Vogel, said Turk Telekom and Turkish Airlines (THY) tenders are very attractive to foreign investors. He said the success of the privatization will play a key role in the disinflation program. Vogel said, "Money received from the sale of the third GSM operator and credit given for the construction of the bridge in Istanbul will increase the liquidity in the markets and the inflow of foreign investments. Foreign investments are closely dependent on the success of the privatization process." /Milliyet/

TURKEY TO RECEIVE $4 BILLION AFTER IMF APPROVAL

After the ratification of the third supplementary letter of intent at the IMF Executive Board meeting today, the text of the letter will be announced simultaneously in Ankara and in Washington. The announcement will also be seen on the IMF and the Treasury Undersecretary's websites. After the approval, $600 million portion of $7.5 billion Supplementary Reserve Facility, $2.8 billion of the Stand-by credit and $390 million of the $780 million World Bank loans will enter in the Turkish Treasury's accounts Dec.22. A consortium under the leadership of Deutsche Bank and Citibank will give a six-month credit totaling $1 billion for the construction of bridge. /Milliyet/

MOODY'S EVALUATES TURKISH BANKS

The International rating institution, Moody's, reviewed the grades of 13 Turkish banks. The existing grades of 11 banks were not changed. The grades of two banks declined. According to Moody's statement, Akbank's 'C', Finansbank's 'D', Isbank's 'D+', Osmanli Bank's 'D+', Pamukbank's 'D', Ziraat Bank's 'E+', Toprakbank's 'E+', Disbank's 'D', TEB's 'D+', Garantibank's 'C' and Vakifbank's 'D' grades remained the same. Kocbank and Iktisat Bank's grades were decreased from 'D' to 'E+'. /Hurriyet/

BRITISH JOURNAL ON BERGAMA

The British "Hello" magazine mentioned Bergama ancient city in its current issue. The article gave information about the Bergama Kingdom ruling the Aegean Coast AD.250 and the remains of this kingdom such as the bibliotheque, theatre and temple. It said everbody should see this beautiful historical city. /Aksam/

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

DELAYED OPERATION BY KENAN AKIN (TURKIYE)

Columnist Kenan Akin comments on the police operations organized in different prisons. A summary of his column is as follows: "It is beyond our comprehension why such a concerted action has been permitted to continue for 60 days. The police operation which began simultaneously in 20 prisons,was an intervention against self-imposed death of the prisoners. During the operations aimed ending the sovereignty of the PKK terrorist organisation and other leftist groups in prisons. The police encountered prisoners armed with Kaleshnikov machine guns, and this displays the severity of the situation. Although, it came late, the early morning operations against various prisons which had become a base for terrorists, displayed the power of the State. Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk's words stating the authority of the State had been weakened as of 1991 in various prisons, would be negated. The aim of the operations was to reassert state control in the prisons. How did the prisons fall into this situation? Who made concessions to PKK and extremist left-wing organizations? Why had no one intervened before? If the terrorist organizations did not decide to kill a few of their friends, when would the prisons have been saved? These are some of the questions which must be asked and answered. Investigations will be opened by the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior and Gendermarie General Command on the issue. Measures against negligence must be taken during the rehabilitation of prisons serving as headquarters for terrorists. It seems that an immediate return to F-type prisons is a must. In fact, yesterday a few prisoners were immediately transferred to these prisons. The prisons will only return to normal after putting F-type prisons into use. Led by convicted terrorists, a few well-known organisations did not accept F-type prisons and began their orchestrated resistance. In fact, the F-type prisons were not only found to be up to European standards but the European Human Rights delegation also found such an implementation acceptable. However, it is believed that Europe will take a stance against the operation held to save the lives of the prisoners. Although the world press and main tv channels, among them CNN, have interpreted the operation as the State's refusal to allow the prisoners to die of hunger, it is expected that a campaign against Turkey will be launched with the provocation of certain terrorist groups. Although it has been late in coming, this operation can viewed as a turning point."

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