PRESIDENT SEZER RATIFIES AMNESTY BILL

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer ratified the Amnesty Bill foreseeing the release of prisoners on parole and the delaying of penalties, after it was sent back to him by the TGNA without any changes. Since the president cannot re-veto the bill which was accepted by the TGNA without any changes, Mr. Sezer approved the bill. Minister of Justice Hikmet Sami Turk said 35 thousand peope will be released in a month. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said the bill does not foresee a complete amnesty but a release on parole. He added, "If one commits a crime after being released, he will be put into prison again. This will keep people from committing another crime." /Cumhuriyet/

AMNESTY BILL APPROVED IN TGNA

The Amnesty Bill, which will parole certain prisoners, was approved in TGNA yesterday. The bill, vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer before, was sent back to the President for the second time. As the President cannot veto it again, he signed the bill. /Cumhuriyet/

PRESIDENT APPROVES LAW FOR IMPROVEMENT OF CIVIL SERVANTS' RIGHTS

President Sezer ratified the law giving authority to the government to make arrangements to improve the social, administrative and financial rights of public employees. The law will be in effect for three months. The Council of Ministers will be able to issue more than one regulation regarding the issue. /Star/

TGNA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION APPROVES PRISON OPERATIONS

The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Human Rights Commission approved the operations carried out in the prisons. The commission said, "The intervention implemented in the prisons was carried out to protect the most sacred right, security of life. Therefore, we do not regard operations as infringing upon human rights. /Star/

TURK'S STATEMENT ON PRISON OPERATIONS

Minister of Justice, Hikmet Sami Turk, said he found the prison operations successful. Stating that the number of inmates transferred to the F-type prisons totalled 524, Mr. Turk argued that the operations, which would have ended in an hour, lasted longer because the security forces were trying to prevent deaths. He added that necessary conditions for inmates to consult with their lawyers will be ensured from today on. Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior announced that twenty inmates died during the operations and 94 were injured. Additionally, according to the Minister of Interior's statement, 187 of 277 prisoners on death fasts and 634 of 802 prisoners on hunger strikes were saved. /Cumhuriyet/

OPERATION IS OVER IN CANAKKALE PRISON

Nineteen of the twenty prison operations are over. Resistance continues in Umraniye Prison. During the operation in Canakkale prison, four inmates died and 26 wounded. Minister of Interior Sadettin Tantan said the structure of Umraniye Prison had been changed by the prisoners therefore the operation is lasting longer than expected. /Cumhuriyet/

DEMONSTRATIONS IN EUROPE AGAINST "BACK TO LIFE" OPERATION

A number of demonstrations were carried out in Europe to protest the prison operations in Turkey. A group of protesters invaded the general center of the Social Democratic Party in Netherlands. In various German cities, protesters walked with signs and invaded Sekerbank office. 26 of the protesters were arrested. /Star/

TURKEY GIVES INFORMATION TO EUROPE ABOUT PRISON OPERATONS

Due to European protests against Turkey's prison operations, Turkey began to disseminate information about the operations to the European countries via its foreign representatives. Undersecretary of Foreign Ministry, Faruk Logoglu, said all the information on the operations was conveyed to Turkey's representatives in foreign countries. As protests have spread to Europe from Brussels, Amsterdam to Berlin, Turkey's representatives began meeting with the officials in the related countries. /Cumhuriyet/

GOVERNMENT'S BUSY SCHEDULE

The government has a busy schedule today before the beginning of the ten-day holiday. The National Security Council (MGK) will convene at 9.30 am under the leadership of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The Council of Ministers will convene this afternoon. The main issues at both conventions will be the amnesty law and the prison operations. The MGK will take up operations in prisons, possible developments on the issue and the conditions of F-type prisons. Protest demonstrations by the police forces will also be discussed. The Interior and Justice Ministers will give information to the council members regarding the operations and the current situation. MGK Secretary General Cumhur Asparuk will present a report on the measures taken against the reactionary and separatist movements. The Interior Minister will give information about operations against corruption. /Aksam/

CEM'S STATEMENT ON ACCESSION PARTNERSHIP DOCUMENT

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem received representatives of the European-Turkish Businessmen Association yesterday. Recalling that acceptance of Turkey's Accession Partnership Document was an important legal development on Turkey's path towards the EU, Mr. Cem said Turkey's National Action Plan was near completion. He added, "I hope the National Action Plan will be a means for unification not a reason for political struggles and division." /Cumhuriyet/

TGNA ON HOLIDAY

The Turkish Grand National Assembly's (TGNA) General Council completed its work early yesterday morning. The Deputy Speaker Murat Sokmenoglu suggested not to assemble the plenary session yesterday for voting. As this suggestion was accepted, the TGNA will be in recess until 2 January after the Ramadan Holiday and New Year's Day. /Sabah/

TURKISH ARMED FORCES TO HELP THE BALKANS

The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF), continuing its contribution in social, cultural and economic areas in the Southeastern Turkey, as well as fighting against terrorism in the region, is also carrying out similar activities in the Balkans. The TAF's aid in Kosovo, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina is on-going in various ways, such as, the restoration of churchs, mosques, roads, factories, health services, and the opening of profession courses. /Turkiye/

GREECE IBDA-C'S NEW BASE

Following a series of crackdowns in Turkey in 1999, the terrorist organization, IBDA-C, is continuing its activities in Europe, particularly, in Greece. Reportedly, an increase has been observed in death and bomb threats made against the leading figures of the Turkish society living in the Western Thrace. /Turkiye/

KANADOGLU'S STATEMENT

Sabih Kanadoglu, appointed as the Supreme Court of Appeal Public Prosecutor by the President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, said, "Secularity is the compulsory condition of democracy. It is impossible to agree with the opinion that the Turkish Republic is theocratic in terms of State organization, and that it is a secular State in terms of religious direction." /Sabah/

COUNT DOWN IN TUBE CROSSING

A count down has begun for the tube crossing and its related systems project, to be constructed in Istanbul. Negotiations were started with the Turkish-Japan group for the Engineering and Advisory Services of the 70.5- km suburb train line, called "Marmaray", including a 1.8-km tube crossing construction project. Discussions are expected to be completed in the beginning of 2001. Following the engineering and advisory work, an international tender will be launched for the construction. Marmaray is planned to be completed in 2005 and expected to cost one billion doolars. The project will be financed by Japan. /Turkiye/

BOTAS SIGNS AGREEMENTS TO BUY NATURAL GAS

BOTAS's Director General Gokhan Yardim stated the purchase of 61 billion cubic meters of natural gas was ensured by the agreement. At the speech he delivered at the "Financing of Energy Projects in Turkey" Conference yesterday, Mr. Yardim said, "Through BOTAS projects, an important amount of natural gas will be transferred to Turkey as soon as possible." /Cumhuriyet/

SYRIAN JOURNALISTS VISIT TURKISH JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION

A six-person delegation of Syrian journalists visited the Turkish Journalists Association (TGC). The Chairman of the TGC, Nail Gureli, said at the reception they highly regard the first visit of their colleagues. /Cumhuriyet/

MOODY'S CONFIRMS TURKISH RATINGS, POSITIVE OUTLOOK

Moody's Investors Service announced yesterday it is confirming the country ceilings of Turkey at B1 for foreign currency debt and B2 for foreign currency bank deposits, which were placed on review for possible upgrade in July. As a consequence, Moody's confirmed its B1 ratings on the long-term foreign currency-denominated bonds and notes issued by Turkey. The rating outlook remains positive, the agency said. Moody's emphasized that the ongoing stabilization program has achieved considerable success in shrinking the fiscal deficit and inflation this past year. Policymakers have taken the opportunity afforded by the government's strong majority in parliament - as well as heightened prospects for eventual membership in the European Union - to implement meaningful structural reforms across a broad range of sectors. /Turkish Daily News/

UMUT: "FINANSBANK IS GROWING CONSTANTLY"

General Director of Finansbank Onur Umut said Finansbank presents a positive outlook as it is one of the two banks receiving a "D"rating from international rating institution, Moody's. Umut said Finansbank is one of the banks with the highest liquidity after the crisis, according to Moody's report. /Aksam/

LOAN OF 75 MILLION US DOLLARS FOR VAKIFBANK

Turkiye Vakiflar Bank received a syndication loan amounting to 75 million US dollars to finance exports. In a statement issued by Vakifbank, the syndication was ensured with the leadership of Citibank, NA, Natexis Banque, Fujibank, Credit Lyonnais and Banca Commerciale Italiana. /Hurriyet/

EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES IN TURKEY

Turkey's first comprehensive country club, Kemer Golf/Country Club, which includes equestrian, golf and tennis facilities and individual bungalows with 1450 bed capacity, won the appreciation of the officials for the 2008 Olympic games. It was stated that these facilities, visited by the Secretary General of International Federation of Equestrian, Bo Helander, Turkish Olympics Committee's Sports Director Nese Gundogan and the Chairman of the Turkish Equestrian Federation Sencer Gunessoy, is of the utmost importance in terms of creating a high quality arena for the world's equestrian community. Secretary General of the International Federation of Equestrian Bo Halender said these facilities was very convenient due to its proximity to Istanbul and its high standards. /Cumhuriyet/

A TURKISH MEMBER OF THE NEW YORK ARTISTS ASSOCIATION

Zisan Ugurlu taking part in the play "Transit" at the UBU Repertoire Theatre became a member of the New York Artists Association. Artists are then able to audition for plays if they are the member of the Associaiton. /Cumhuriyet/

'TURKISH COLLECTION' EXHIBITION ON THE INTERNET

Suleyman Sahin is presenting his work entitled 'Turkish Collection' on the Internet. He has been working on the collection for five years and it reflects the natural beauties of Turkey. 250 paintings on seven regions of Turkey is presented for art lovers in the 'Turkish Collection'. The website address is www.coban-ressam.com. Sahin will issue his works on the Internet for five years and then publish them. /Hurriyet/

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

WHO IS AGAINST WHOM? BY EROL MANISALI (CUMHURIYET)

Columnist Erol Manisali writes on the Turkey-European relations. A summary of his column is as follows: "These days, some claim the recent incidents were provoked by those opposing the EU and those wanting to prevent Turkey's admittance into the EU. These claims should be carefully analyzed. The people spreading these rumors aim to draw attention away from the colonialist demands imposed by the EU; are trying to cover up the contradictory statements they are making in the country and abroad, and to pull down the barriers to put Turkey under the sovereignty of foreign circles. They clearly define their opposition to the EU. They are against the imposition of demands by the EU leading to the division of the country under the guise of ethnic minorities. They are opposed to seeing Greek demands on Cyprus and the Aegean put forth as conditions at the negotiation table. They are against impositions tying the so-called genocide to the improvement of relations. They are opposed to being delayed at the door of the EU in hopes to be admitted into the Union some 10 or 15 years later. The unilateral independence, which began in 1995, continued with the Helsinki Accord in 1999 and the Accession Partnership Document in 2000. They are opposed to Turkish troops being under the command of the EU. They are opposed to the EU circles who are trying hard to protect their national interests, while asking Turkey to forget its own interests."

Note: The Turkish Press Review will not be issued until 2 January 2001 due to the Ramadan Holiday and the New Year's Day. We wish you a Happy New Year.

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