SHEVARDNADZE TO VISIT TURKEY

Georgian President Edouard Shevardnadze will arrive in Ankara today at the invitation of the Turkish President. During his two-day visit, Shevardnadze will meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Premier Bulent Ecevit and Turkish Grand National Assembly Speaker, Omer Izgi. /Turkiye/

OPERATIONS IN DIYARBAKIR

About 600 suspects were detained during the operations carried out after the murder of Diyarbakir Police Chief Gaffar Okkan and five policemen in an armed attack. The investigative group, chaired by the Deputy Police Chief Ramazan Er, are continuing nonstop. Because the attackers might have escaped to another city, investigations are also continuing all over Turkey. Police detained 73 suspects in Konya in accordance with police sketches. /Aksam/

YILMAZ RETURNS FROM DAVOS

Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who had attended the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, returned to Turkey. Answering questions regarding the Armenian bill's approval in the French Parliament, Mr. Yilmaz said, "Some of the French journalists told me it was a mistake and a decision taken with local political concerns. They were also annoyed with the deterioration in Turco-France relations." /Turkiye/

TGNA DELEGATION VISITS SWEDEN

A delegation of five Turkish parrliamentarians, headed by Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) Deputy Speaker, Nejat Arseven, left for Stockholm, Sweden, to pay an official visit at the invitation of Sweden Parliament Deputy Speaker, Anders Bjorck. During the three-day visit, the parliamentarians will hold a series of meetings with Swedish authorities. /Turkiye/

VERHEUGEN'S STATEMENT ON TURKEY

The EU Commission Commisser Responsible for Enlargement, Gunter Verheugen, said Europe needs Turkey. Mr. Verheugen, in Davos to attend the World Economic Forum meetings, emphasized Turkey's geostrategic role and economic potential as very important for Europe. Stressing Turkey is determined to gain EU membership, he said, "We wish Turkey to take further concrete steps." /Turkiye/

PARLIAMENT SPEAKER INVITED BY HIS ISRAELI COUNTERPART

Israeli Ambassador to Ankara Uri Bar-Ner presented Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi with an invitation by the Speaker of the Israeli Parliament. During his visit with the Ambassador, Izgi stated the invitation letter also mentioned his Israeli counterpart's desire to visit Turkey. Izgi said he would be highly pleased to visit Israel, and to be visited by the Israeli parliament speaker. Expressing his happiness regarding the sound relations between the two countries, Ambassador Basr-Ner stated his firm belief that the current relation and cooperation in the defense and political fields would be further developed by mutual ministerial visits. /Turkish Daily News/

GUREL: "FRANCE DAMAGES HERSELF"

In a TV program, Minister of State Sukru Sina Gurel evaluated the Armenian lobbies latest attempts to bring allegations of the so-called Armenian genocide into the US and French agendas. Stating the French government's hesitancy in appealing to the Constitutional Court for the law's annulment, Gurel said "Turkey has said what she must say. The French President and Prime Minister still have the chance to correct this mistake. If they do not annul the law our relations will be seriously damaged." Reiterating that the bill has already become a law in France, Gurel said, "If this law is implemented, research into and interpretations of Turkish history in France would be prevented. This situation mostly damages France because she would become a country where freedom of thought and the freedom to investigate are curtailed. Gurel stated that Turkey's views and warnings on the issue were conveyed to French officials by the letters of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Recalling that the satellite bid, won by a French company, was cancelled after the approval of the so-called Armenain genocide bill, Gurel said the situations of other French companies involved in the defense biddings (amounting $ 150 billion) would be reevaluated unless the law is annulled. Gurel stated, "The countries which accuse Turkey with carrying out genocide want to extenuate the crimes they committed so far and so breathe a sigh of relief. Historically speaking, genocide is a Western concept. There are Western countries behind the genocides and cruelties carried out in Asia, Africa and Latin America. However, nobody has any evidence to prove the Ottomans committed such a crime. The Ottomans in 1915 deported the Armenians, who were engaged in carrying out genocide themselves and who stabbed their own state in the back during the war." /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY'S REACTION TO FRANCE CONTINUES

Following approval of the Armenian bill in the French National Assembly, Turkey's reaction to France continues. The Command of the General Staff and Ministry of Defence began reviewing the $300-million project for the 80-electronic war system purchase from the French firm Dassault. Previously, the French firm Alcatel was excluded from the $250-million military observation satellite project by the Ministry of Defence. /Turkiye/

TURKS IN NEW YORK PROTEST FRANCE

Turks living in the US gathered in front of the UN Permanent Representative Building in New York to protest France. The crowd gave a letter to French Ambassador M. Jean David Levitte and carried placards saying, "2.5 million Muslims were slaughtered by Armenians", "France awarded murderers", and distributed booklets documenting the Armenian murders. /Turkiye/

ARMENIANS IN THE HOLOCAUST VICTIMS COMMEMORATION DAY

The January 27 Holocaust Victims Commemoration Day ceremonies took place in 23 different cities in Britain with the participation of the Armenian representatives despite all of Turkey's warnings and oppositions. Turkish Ambassador to London Korkmaz Haktanir did not attend the ceremonies as he protested the British officials. Upon approval by the British government of Armenian participation in the ceremonies, Turkey demanded the British officials invite the relatives of Turkish diplomats killed by Armenians to the ceremonies. However, the British government did not accept Turkey's demand. Besides Prince Charles and Prime Minister Tony Blair, parliamentarians and representatives of the Holocaust, Bosnia and Rwanda genocide victims attended the ceremonies. There were also 17 Armenians in the ceremony. Because British Minister of State Hughes had said in Ankara the Armenians would not be allowed to participate in the ceremonies, Haktanir sent a letter to the British Ministry of Interior demanding an explanation. /Cumhuriyet/

DENKTAS RECEIVES UN CYPRUS SPECIAL ENVOY DE SOTO

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas received UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto. After the meeting, Denktas said he conveyed TRNC's views to de Soto. De Soto, who could not persuade Denktas to return to the proximity talks, is expected to be received again by President Denktas today. Giving his explanation to de Soto on why a new round for the proximity talks were unnecessary, Denktas said, "The reason for the failure of the proximity talks is the fact that the Greek Administration was seen as Cyprus's legal government. If the UN demands a united island under a confederation, they must accept Greek and Turkish Cypriots as equal. There are two different nations, democracies and governments on the island." /Cumhuriyet/

TURCO-GREEK FRIENSHIP GROWS

The album-book titled "Hello Athens, Here Istanbul" (Merhaba Atina, Here Istanbul), published by Pamukbank's History Foundation to help reinforce Turco-Greek frienship, was released. The text of the book was written by the photographic historian Engin Ozendes. The book was published in Turkish, Greek and English. The book contains prologues by Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Greek counterpart George Papandreou. /Cumhuriyet/

ARMENIANS PURSUE TERRITORIAL CLAIMS

The Armenians, provoked and encouraged by the irresponsible American and European politicians, are now pursuing a policy of demanding territory and compensation. Militant Armenian historians confessed their real aim and intentions at the Turkish-Armenian Dialogue panel organized by the Armenian National Committee (Tashnak) in New York. The Armenian historians said their first goal is to make the Turkish government accept the so-called genocide. Richard Hovannisyan from the California University of Berkeley, said after the recognition of the so-called genocide, compensation and territorial demands may come into play. /Sabah/

OPENING CEREMONY IN GEORGIA IRRITATES ARMENIANS

The Armenian Administration was irritated as the Turkish Armed Forces revamped and opened the Marneuli Military Airport near the Armenian border in Georgia. The Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested Georgia. Minister of Defense Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said in the opening ceremony, "Armenia will go nowhere with such protests. Every country has the right to take the necessary measures for its security." Stating the airport was established for defense, and will contribute to the region's peace, Cakmakoglu said, "Armenia's reaction is not in accordance with international practices." /Aksam/

GOKALP RETURNS FROM TUNISIA

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Husnu Yusuf Gokalp, returned from Tunisia where he travelled upon the invitation of the Tunisian Agriculture Minister. Gokalp said all documents and information related to meat smuggling were being discussed by the state institutions. The state institutions have carried out a series of operations against meat smuggling known as the "Buffalo Operations" by the public. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH-US ARMED FORCES JOINT TRAINING PROGRAM

The Secretary General of the General Staff issued a written statement announcing the successful completion of joint training program titled "Combatting Against Regional Disasters and Management of Trauma Systems" by the Turkish and American armed forces personnel. The joint training program for natural disaster preparation was attended by 40 Turkish health officers and 14 personnel from US Air Forces Security. Noting the joint training program had begun on Jan 22. 2001, the written statement emphasized that the program, which will end with an earthquake simulation on Jan 27 2001, has been the first joint training program carried out between the two countries. /Turkish Daily News/

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO TAKE UP THE CASE OF CLOSURE OF VIRTUE PARTY

The Constitutional Court will take up the closure case of the Virtue Party (FP) tomorrow. It is expected to be given an additional defense argument by the Virtue Party in response to supplementary evidences presented by the Chief Public Prosecutor, Sabih Kanadoglu, in which it was claimed the Virtue Party was a continuation of the Welfare Party. /Sabah/

TRADE WITH BOSNIA BEGINS

The "origin " regulations prepared by the Customs Undersecretariat defining the bases and nature of the trade with Bosnia was published in the Official Gazette yesterday. /Hurriyet/

CLOSE OBSERVATION OF EU FOR CANDIDATE COUNTRIES' SOCIAL POLICIES

The European Union will observe social policies of the candidate countries. At the ministerial meeting of the EU in Norkoppig, Sweden, social policies were also put into the agenda. At the meeting it was decided to closely observe the policies regarding family, women, children, handicapped and older people in the candidate countries. The State Minister responsible for Women and Family Affairs, Hasan Gemici, also participated in the meeting. Mr. Gemici said the EU gives importance to the harmonization of working conditions with the family life. /Hurriyet/

RADAR TOWERS TO CONTROL BOSPHORUS TRAFFIC

Despite opposition from the Chamber of Architects and other environmental organizations, the foundations for the radar towers designed to control traffic and maintain security in the Bosphorus were laid. The opposition groups had critisized the project by stating the towers would destroy Istanbul's aesthetical view and also diffuse radiation. The Minister of State responsible for Maritime Affairs, Ramazan Mirzaoglu, said the project aimed to maintain security in the Bosphorus. Replying to the opposition groups, Maritime Undersecretary at the Office of the Prime Minister, Mustafa Korcak said Istanbul's natural view would be protected during the establishment of the towers. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS IN INDIA

Turkish search and rescue teams are currently in India to help the search and rescue works after the 7.9 earthquake in Western India. While Turkish, Russian and Swedish teams began working yesterday, Italian and French teams also arrived in the region. World-wide aid is coming to the region, both financially and physically, which lacked electricity, water and communications. The number of death has already exceeded 20,000. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH SATELLITES DOMINATES EUROPE

Turk Telecom Director General, Ibrahim Hakki Alpturk, said Turkey has an important domain in space with its four satellites. Speaking at a meeeting, "From Guyana to Space", Alpturk said the Turksat-2A satellite, lauched about one mounth ago, has contributed to Turkish power in space. Stressing the Turksat-2A satellite, the largest in the Europe, has a life of nearly 15 years, he said, "Thanks to this satellite we can reach Europe, Africa, Central Asia and India". Alpturk pointed to the Central Asian Republics which also communicate with the world through Turkish satellites. /Turkiye/

POSITIVE REPORTS ABOUT TURKISH ECONOMY

Following the recent economic crisis in November international finance companies are issuing positive reports about Turkish economy. The international Economist Intelligence Unit Company, which prepares risk reports for countries, claimed in 2001 Turkey will not face any political unstability. It said the current government will continue ruling during the 2001-2002 period. The report estimated the inflation and growth rates in 2001 at 29.1% and 3.5%, respectively. Another report issued by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter said the Turkish government will be succesful in its privatization program, and the $7-billion target will be reached by 2001. /Turkiye/

SUBWAYS TO FOUR CITIES

The bids for the subway projects included in the 2001 investment programs for Antalya, Samsun, Eskisehir and Konya Metropolitan municipalities are expected to open this year. The subway projects will be financed by the credits of the construction companies. The projects are expected to end in five years. /Aksam/

CENTRAL BANK GOVERNOR SAYS FX RESERVES TO CLIMB TO $30 BLN

Central Bank Governor Gazi Ercel said the bank's foreign currency reserves would soon climb to $30 billion thanks to a projected IMF contribution and mobile phone licensing fee. /Turkish Daily News/

PUBLIC EXPENDITURE DEPARTMENTS TO BE ATTACHED TO MINISTRY OF FINANCE

The Ministry of Finance will be empowered to govern those departments which control public expenditure. These departments were formerly attached to the Court of Audits. The fiscal control and the public accounting system are to be changed as well. On the order of the Minister of Finance, Sumer Oral, the system will be adjusted to mesh with European Union standards. A supervisory department, under the Ministry of Finance, will control all public expenditures, including activities financed by the EU and by foreign funds. /Milliyet/

BOARD OF FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS TO MEET WITH FRENCH BUSINESSMEN

The Board of Foreign Economic Relations (DEIK) will go to Paris to meet with French businessmen. They will discuss annulment of the so-called Armenian genocide law accepted by the French parliament last week. Under the leadership of Turkish-French Business Council chairman, Aldo Kaslowski, the group will visit prominent representatives of the French business world and the French parliamentary speaker. /Star/

EXPORT OF ELECTRONICAL DEVICES INCREASES BY 11.5 %

According to the figures of the Union of Exporters, exports of electrical and electronic devices increased by 11.5 %, reaching $3 billion. Cement exports increased by 8.6 %, reaching to $890 million. /Star/

STATE ECONOMIC ENTERPRISES INVEST $456 MILLION

The State Economic Enterprises (KIT), soon to be privatized, will spend $456 million renovating its existing facilities. The Turkish Airlines (THY) will expand $181 million to complete existing renovation projects. Turkish Petrol Company (TUPRAS) will spend $167 million to replace petrol tanks and steam boilers. /Star/

TURKEY THE SIXTH LARGEST COTTON PRODUCER

According to a "Cotton Report" prepared by the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, the world cotton production reached 19.4 million tons in 1996-1998. As the sixth largest cotton producer in the world, Turkey harvested 4.23 % of the world's output in 1999. /Star/

SHARE OF FOREIGN INVESTORS IN STOCK EXCHANGE REACHES TO $8 BILLION

Foreign investors, who sold their shares in the Istanbul Stock Exchange in April last year, began to buy stocks again this month. The shares of these investors increased from 37% to 40 %, reaching $8 billion. /Sabah/

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

DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CAUCASUS BY MUSTAFA BALBAY (CUMHURIYET)

Columnist Mustafa Balbay comments on the developments of the past week. A summary of his column is as follows: "'Reaction' week in our relations with France is over and we have entered 'decision' week. It will be fifteen days this Thursday since the passage of the Bill concerning the so-called Armenian genocide. If President Chirac or 60 representatives of the French National Assembly do not apply to the Constitutional Court for the cancellation of the law, a new process will begin. The developments of the past week and the possibilities of this week present this picture: 1- France while trying to lay the groundworks for a situation where good relations between Turkey and Armenia will be impossible, is also working to bring Armenia and Azerbaijan closer. The membership of both countries to the Council of Europe is a constructive step. However, we see this step is serving to push Turkey into an isolationist policy in the Caucasus. Aliyev has met with Kocharian and held a joint press conference. During the conference he clearly stated that an injustice was done to Turkey. Kocharian used a sentence which went unnoticed by many. 'There are no legal grounds for territorial demands from Turkey.' Armenia, who occupies 20% of Azerbaijani territory, is giving hints about her future plans. During the coming days we may see a series of actions in the Caucasus. 2- During a television program broadcast last week we saw how misinformed the French politicians were. However, 450,000 Armenians and their French lobby have been effective. The French parliamentarians passed a law concerning an historical event they are ignorant of. A comparison of numbers does not reflect the real power, but the number of Turks living in France is around 300,000. 3- Reactions to France in Turkey are continuing. Meanwhile, Armenia is sending envoys to the countries surrounding Turkey and in an attempt to form a circle. Last week an Armenian delegation went to the Greek-Cypriot Administration and another to Iran. In Cyprus the message given was 'We have a common enemy'. Shouting out loud within our country serves no purpose other than letting off steam. Turkey should inform her neighbours and the Central Asian countries of the facts, create a favorable opinion everywhere, and explain the hypocrisy of France. 4- England, who through the ages prepared scenarios wherever there was an intrigue, is gradually coming onto the stage. The day before yesterday, Armenians were invited to the 'Holocaust Commemoration Day' held in London. Turkey launched diplomatic initiatives to prevent this from happening. However, the reply received was, 'Where do you get the idea that we shall invite them?' and asked the Armenians to attend the day. If Turkish historians are allowed space, or if they decide to act, then British policies concerning the use of Armenians at the beginning of the century will come out into open. 5- Germany is watching the developments from the sidelines. Blaming Turkey with genocide will clear the consciences of Germans, and of all Europeans. They will be able to say that there were others prior to them who committed genocide. Plans are being made to let the Armenians express themselves more freely, through international exhibitions, visual shows. 6- Was it coincidence that the commemoration for the victims of the infamous Nazi camp, Auschwitz came at a time when French allegations were at their highest. On 27 January 1945, the camp was liberated and the Holocaust of four million was announced to the world in all its brutality. I visited this camp in the beginning of the 1990s and saw all of it with disbelief. Europe, perpetrating massacres and genocide in all parts of the world, is trying to lay the blame on others in the 21st century."

GENOCIDE BY SUKRU ELEKDAG (MILLIYET)

Retired Ambassador Sukru Elekdag explains what genocide means. A summary of his column is as follows: "I will try to explain the legal aspect of the genocide concept. The concept of genocide was introduced into international law through the efforts of US professor of law Raphael Lemkin. Lemkin, taking into consideration the extermination policy of the Germans against the Jews,created the 'genocide' concept to define the massacre of an nation or an ethnic group systematically, by bringing the Greek word 'genos'(race) and Latin word 'cide'(murder)together. Through Lemkin's efforts genocide as a crime was defined in a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly in 1946. Later, the 'Agreement on Preventing and Punishment of Genocide' was opened to signature on 9 December 1948. The resolution which went into effect in 1951, was signed by Turkey the same year, and by Armenia in 1991. In the second article of the Agreement, genocide is defined as, 'The meaning of genocide is the perpetrating of crimes listed below with the intent of exterminating national, ethnic, racial or a religious group. These are, the murdering of the members of a group, actions damaging to the physical or mental health of the group members, subjecting them to conditions which will lead to their partial or physical extermination, taking birth control measures within the group, and transferring the children to other groups by force.' In other words to support a claim of genocide, three basic factors must be present. The presence of a national, racial, ethnic or a religious group, secondly, the members of these groups should have been subjected to actions against their lives, and the intent to destroy the group partially or as a whole. The complaints against Brazil regarding Amazon Indians, and against Paraguay regarding Guaki Indians were brought to the UN in 1969 and 1974, the criminals and victims were easily proven. However, as there was no intent to extermination, the states could not be accused. Therefore, the determining factor in such an action is the presence of malintent. This shows the invalidity of Armenian allegations as the Ottoman Constitutional Government did not have any intentions or plans to exterminate the Armenian society. The relocation was a legal measure taken by the Government to defend herself against those Armenians living in parts of the country other than western provinces, engaged in cooperation with the enemy. Yerevan knows this very well. Otherwise, she would have gone to the International Court Of Justice at the Hague to prove her allegations with the right recognized in the ninth article of the Agreement."

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