SEZER SENDS LETTER TO CHIRAC

President Ahmet Necdet Sezer sent a letter to French president Jacques Chirac concerning the latest Armenian attempts to get a so-called genocide bill accepted. Mr. Sezer demanded that Mr. Chirac prevent the bill from being approved in the French National Assembly. According to diplomatic sources, Prime Minster Bulent Ecevit, Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Speaker Omer Izgi and TGNA Foreign Relations Chairman Kumran Inan also sent a letter to French officials stating that approval of the bill would seriously damage bilateral relations between Turkey and France. /Cumhuriyet/

LEADERS MEET TO DISCUSS NATIONAL PROGRAM

The leaders of the coalition partners will meet today to discuss the National Program. Turkish Secretary General of the European Union will present the texts offering multiple alternatives on debatable issues such as the abolition of the death penalty and education for minorities in their mother tongue to the leaders. Leaders will either accept one of those texts or will demand a new text. If the Natioanl Program is approved, it is expected to be presented to the European Commission by the end of the month. /Cumhuriyet/

RAPPROCHEMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND NORTHERN KOREA

A minutes of accord was signed between the foreign ministries of Turkey and Northern Korea as an indicator of their desires to establish relations. The minutes of accord foresees normalization of bilateral relation between Turkey and Northern Korea, improving cultural and social relations, and establishing diplomatic relations. /Cumhuriyet/

SWEDEN TO OPEN A CENTER IN ISTANBUL

Sweden, who took over the EU term presidency from France, is planning to open a center to increase its diplomatic power in Istanbul. The Swedish politician in charge of researching the possible ways to strengthen Sweden's political influence regarding Turkey, said he had proposed opening a center in Istanbul and it was favored. The center is expected to focus on democracy, human rights, free trade and environmental issues. /Cumhuriyet/

CEM MEETS MUSERREF

Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, paid a three day visit to Islamabad as a guest of the Pakistani government. He met the Pakistani leader General Pervez Muserref, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdul Sattar. It was stated that mutual relations were discussed during the meeting and work to improve the relations between Pakistan and Turkey would begin. /Turkiye/

CONDITIONAL RELEASE LAW VIEWED BY CONSTITUTONAL COURT

The Constitutional Court has completed its first review of the petitions submitted by three separate courts requesting an annulment of some of the provisions of the Article 4616 regarding release on parole and postponement of penalties, the Anatolian new agency reported yesterday. The Supreme Court decided the petitions were in order and the annulment request could, in essence, be revived. /Turkish Daily News/

LE FIGARO'S ATTITUDE AGAINST THE TURKISH ASSOCIATION IN FRANCE

The French daily 'Le Figaro' did its best to create an obstacle for the Turkish Association in France. The Association wanted to publish an announcement against the so-called Armenian genocide bill up for vote on 18 January at the French Assembly's General Council. The Association applied to the 'Le Figaro' daily through an advertisements company last week. /Sabah/

FRENCH APOLOGY IN ADVANCE

Yesterday French Embassy First Secretary Francois Naucodie, visited the young deputies in the TGNA, saying the so-called Armenian Genocide bill was expected to adopted by the French National Assembly. He expressed the regrets of the French Government. During his talks with the deputies, Naucodie stated the French Goverment was in favor of leaving the Armenian question to the historians and added, "Local elections will be held in France in March and the Armenian lobby is strong in France. The French Government, who favors leaving the question for the historians to research, and the deputies are not working in concert. "/Milliyet/

PEREZ TO VISIT JOSE MATUIN MONUMENT IN ESENYURT

Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez will visit the Jose Martin Monument in Esenyurt district, Istanbul Thursday, January 18. Visiting Turkey to hold official contacts with Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Perez is also expected to visit the Esenkent district in Istanbul. /Cumhuriyet/

BAKU-CEYHAN AGREEMENT OF SECRECY SIGNED

The selection of providers for the engineering services, which is the most important part of the pre-construction stage of the Baku-Tbilisse-Ceyhan raw petroleum pipeline is done. A secrecy agreement concerning the detailed engineering services was signed by six internatinal companies, including eight international investors, who are all sponsors of Baku-Supsa-Ceyhan project. The engineering work is planned to be completed by May, 2001. The pipeline will be opened for service in 2005. /Turkiye/

TURKEY TO EXPLORE GAS WITH SYRIA

A cooperation declaration was signed between Turkey and Syria for developing sources of petroleum, natural gas and mine. The declaration signed in Ankara stated that the commerce between Turkey and Syria should be developed. The following points were included in the declaration text: both countries will strengthen their cooperation in exploring and developing the petroleum and gas reserves; works will be carried out to transport the gas to Europe; Turkey will encourage its private sector to participate in the petroleum and gas project; a working group will be formed to develop common activities to explore and produce petroleum and gas. Syrian Minister of Energy and Natural Sources, Husni Jammal, who has been in Turkey upon the invitation of the Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Sources, Cumhur Ersumer, will leave Turkey today. /Aksam/

TURKEY SENDING TURKISH TEXTBOOKS TO BULGARIA

Turkey sent some 40,000 Turkish-language textbooks to Bulgaria to be used by the Turkish population there. A ceremony was held in the Istanbul Governor's Office, attended by the State Minister Abdulhaluk Cay. The books were prepared by a joint effort from the Education Ministry and the Foreign Ministry, said Cay during the ceremony. He added that the schoolbooks will continue building a bridge of friendship between the young Turkish generation in Bulgaria and Turkey. Cay also said Turkey should forge friendly relations with Bulgaria in every field, as this would contribute to stability and peace in the Balkans. /Turkish Daily News/

ALLOCATION GIVEN TO BOTAS

The Directorate General of Pipeline Transportation Joint Stock Company (BOTAS) allocated a total of 377.7 trillion TL for its investments in the year 2001. The item receiving most of the allocation was the Blue Stream project. Within the framework of the investment programme of the Directorate General of BOTAS for the year 2001, 40.4 trillion TL was allocated for the Blue Stream Project and 35.9 trillion TL was allocated for the Eastern Anatolia natural gas transportation pipeline. /Turkiye/

DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU: TURKEY NEEDS A POWERFUL ARMY

Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said Turkey must have a powerful army due to its geographical location. "Violence in the Middle East, possible turmoil in the Balkans and the Caucasus regions, and Turkey's relations with those regions oblige Turkey to have a powerful army.", he said. /Turkish Daily News/

CONFERENCE OF TARTAR TURKS AT BASKENT UNIVERSITY

Baskent University will organize a conference on the Tartar Turks who live in Finland. According to the statement issued by Baskent University, Chairman of the Society of Tartar Turks in Finland, Okan Daher, will make a speech during the conference at Baglica Campus of Baskent University. Daher will mention the formation of the Society of Tatar Turks in Finland, its impacts on the society and the role it plays on the field of culture and trade between Finland and Turkey. The statement outlined the importance of the Turkey-Finland relationship. /Turkiye/

TURSAB PRESENTS A REPORT TO YILMAZ AND MUMCU

The Turkish Union of Travel Agencies (TURSAB) presented a report expressing the tourism industry's demands and problems to the Chairman of Motherland Party and Deputy Prime Minister, Mesut Yilmaz, and Minister of Tourism Erkan Mumcu. TURSAB members stated in their report that at least $200 million should be allocated for the promotion of Turkey through advertisement campaigns. /Cumhuriyet/

IMF DELEGATION SPEAKS ON TEAS

The IMF delegation, chaired by the Turkish Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli, held contacts concerning the Turkish Electricity Company (TEAS) and State Monopolies (TEKEL) during the meetings last week. The delegation discussed the expenses and investments of TEAS and wanted an acceleration of the reconstructing arrangements for the institution. The delegation also discussed the issue of TEKEL stating the importance it places on the privatization of the institution. /Aksam/

ENVIRONMENT MINISTER RECEIVES LOAN

Japan, Spain, Germany, Holland and Israel stated they could provide loans for the implementation of the prioritized environmenal projects, which were prepared by the Ministry of Environment. The Ministry of Environment has 127 projects totalling to 2 billion 337 million US dollars. /Sabah/

FOUR INVESTORS SIGN A SECRECY AGREEMENT FOR TELECOM PRIVATIZATION

Chairman of the Privatization Administration, Ugur Bayar, said four investors signed a secrecy agreement for the Telecom privatization. Bayar stated the first bidding proposals would be accepted by March 3, 2001. /Milliyet/

GSM ACCORD SIGNED

The Accord regarding GSM 1800 licencing was signed January 12, 2001. Telecom took over the GSM 1800 licence by $2 billion 525 million. /Milliyet/

KOC DECLARES AMBITIOUS TARGETS

One of Turkey's largest conglomerates, Koc Holding's President, Rahmi Koc declared the holding's major targets in its 75th foundation anniversary. The holding will double its total assets in two years, make investments only in growing industries with a promising future, and continue its drive to open up to abroad. Koc's slogan will be, "There are still lots of things to do." He said the time of boasting about the holding's past was over. In his article to Koc Group's monthly he said, "We should change this with boasting about our future," 'Bizden Haberler (News from Us).' /Turkish Daily News/

ABN-ARMO ENCOURAGES FOREIGN COMPANIES TO INVEST IN TURKEY

ABN-Amro Bank repeated its call for foreign investors to invest in Turkish bonds. The Bank stated the positive developments in the Eurobond market in Turkey would encourage foreign investors. /Hurriyet/

THY TO FLY TO SAN DIEGO

According to information received from the Turkish Airlines' (THY) bureau in New York, a flight organization in San Diego on the American Airlines planes, will be completed by the THY planes in Istanbul as part of an agreement made with American Airlines. Within this framework, the passengers will first fly from San Diego to New York and then from New York to Istanbul. While returning, the passengers will fly to Chicago and then to San Diego on the THY plane. /Aksam/

TURKISH POET RECEIVES ADELBERT VON CHAMISSO AWARD

Turkish poet Zehra Cirak living in Berlin received the Adelbert Von Chamisso Award. According to the Robert Boch Association's statement which delivers the awards, Cirak was given the award for her successful use of German. /Hurriyet/

YOUNG MUSICIANS IN ISTANBUL

The award-winning musicians of the Young Musicians German National Music Competition will visit Turkey to give a concert in Istanbul. Award-winners, Stephanie Lepp, Sarah Reuter, Moritz Winkler, Merve Kozakoglu, Stefan Berrang and Ayumi Janke are among the names to take part in the concert. /Cumhuriyet/

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

AN APPARENT FACT BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

Today columnist Sami Kohen gives space for TRNC President Rauf Denktas' reply to his previous column on the Cyprus issue. A summary of his column is as follows: "In a previous column it was stated that, although the Cyprus negotiation process was blocked, the Turkish-Cypriot side should be flexible in attending the talks with a new formula found, and not be seen as the party escaping from discussions. TRNC President Denktas points out in his letter that the 'proximity talks' were blocked, not because of the UN Secretary General's views, and says, 'The UN Secretary General's statement made it clear that De Soto's efforts to have us accept the views were adopted by all. The consequences of these talks became apparent. The EU and UK both support Secretary General's views.' Denktas explains the consequences which would follow: 'Look at the conditions before us:admittance into the EU is the main goal. We cannot talk about sovereignty while the Greek Cyriot Administration's sovereignty is accepted. Bring the status issue onto the agenda as the Greek Cypriot Administrations's EU admittance process will continue with full force. The EU supports the Greek-Cypriots by saying that Turkey and the Turkish-Cypriots cannot prevent the Adminstration's admittance into the EU... The EU will understand the Greek-Cypriot application is illegal and it is a great mistake to admit a bi-national, bi-lingual Island where two religions are practiced into the Union with the request of only one side. At the end of letter the TRNC leader touches upon the words of Alfred Moses, President Clinton's special Cyprus representative. During his last contacts, Moses said that there was a government in the North. Denktas writes 'Moses'statement disturbed the Greek-Cypriots. It takes two to tango...In order to start negotiations this should be taken as the starting point.' Denktas expressed these views to Sir David Hannay and Alfred Moses who visited the Island to start the talks. Denktas stated he would not come to the negotiating table if the former conditions are insisted upon. It is believed that UN Secretary General's special representative, Alvaro de Soto, who is expected on the Island soon, will get the same message. On the other hand, the proposals regarding talks be held on a new negotiating basis suggested by President Clinton special representative, will be discussed. It is meaningful of Denktas, who blames the US and the UK for their support of Annan's views to speak favorably of the recent statement made by Alfred Moses. This does not mean that a magical formula has been found to restart the negotiations. However, it seems apparent that the circles, concerned over a solution, including the US, EU and the UN, will follow the matter and continue their pressures over the issue. Denktas believes one of the basic reasons for a break-off in the talks is the EU's encouragement of the Greek-Cypriots on admittance to the Union.'If the EU does not want to see a border with Turkey on the Green Line, it will see that Greece is blackmailing them. If EU can exclude Turkey for the sake of the Greek-Cypriots, then the advantages of the EU for Turkey should be reviewed.' With these words Denktas claims that that the EU stance could bring Turkey and the EU facing each other."

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