SEZER: "THIS FORMS AN EXAMPLE"

Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said, "I am dismayed by Chirac's approval of the so-called Armenian genocide bill. The French National Assembly steering clear of researching its own history, placed itself in the shoes of the historians and passed judgement with only concern for internal politics. This contradiction forms an example. It is unacceptable that a law, whose conformity to the French Constitution is controversial, was enacted but never investigated by the Constitutional Council. It is inevitable that this development will negatively influence the relations between Turkey and France." /Aksam/

ECEVIT: "WE ARE NOT SURPRISED"

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, "We were not waiting for different behavior. We were expecting Chirac be more understanding on this issue. We had already lost our hopes, so were not surprised. Of course we are now faced with disappointment vis-a-vis our relations with France. We are doing what should be done and we are reviewing our economic and political ties. In doing this, we will be careful to prevent any damage to our economic situation. This development will not cause any important negativity in the relations between Turkey and the European Union." /Aksam/

CEM: "FRANCE CREATED DISTRUST"

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, gave the harshest reaction to the so-called Armenian genocide bill's approval. Cem said, "Our confidence in France as an ally is shaken. It is out of the question for us to trust such an Assembly which is willing to act so unfairly; it is not certain that the Assembly will act fairly in other areas concerning our security in the future." Thus, Cem gave the signal for France's exclusion from all biddings concerning the defence industry. Cem met with newspapers Editors in Chief at the Foreign Ministry's Representative in Istanbul, and evaluated the French President's decision as 'legally incomplete' and 'a document with a gap'. Cem added, "The 'genocide' described by international law is not at all related to Turkey. The approval of the so-called Armenian genocide bill shames its authors. This decision affects the image and situation of France." Cem recalled France's desire to play an effective role in the geograpy in which Turkey takes place and added, "After her final act, we do not trust France to make an objective, positive, and balanced contribution to the Armenian-Azeri issue." /Aksam/

CHIRAC'S APPROVAL ACTIVATES TGNA

French President Jacques Chirac's approval of the so-called Armenian genocide bill has activated the TGNA. Political parties prepared a joint research proposal to expose the historical incidents in 1915. TGNA Speaker Omer Izgi said, "Such decisions by the parliaments of countries who are attributing offenses they committed in their past to other countries, will never be meaningful for us. Armenian lobbies might seem successful, however, this is due to the lack of our works on the issue. We should tell the truth about the so-called Armenian genocide to the world immediately." Meanwhile Minister of State Rustu Kazim Yucelen said, "This is an unacceptable situtation. We should try harder to tell the truth. The government has to determine its stance in accordance with information by the Foreign Ministry." TGNA Foreign Relations Committe Chairman Kamran Iran stated, "Political parties, the government, the Turkish nation and private sector should react to the approval decision in concert. France will face with the negative consequences of her decision." /Cumhuriyet/

ARMENIANS IN TURKEY REACT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL

Armenian school managers and chairmen of Armenian associations in Turkey reacted to French President Jacques Chirac and the French National Assembly's decisions to approve the so-called Armenian genocide bill. Turkish Armenian Patriarch Mesrob Mutafyan II, and representatives of Armenian Catholics and Armenian Protestants held a press conference yesterday. The representatives emphasized the Armenians living in Turkey did not have any problem. They stated, "As for every Turkish citizen, the right place to discuss the problems of the Armenians living in Turkey is the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). It is unnecessary for other countries' parliaments to act as a protector for Turkish Armenians." /Cumhuriyet/

GARCIA : "LAW IS SYMBOLIC"

France's Ambassador to Turkey, Bernard Garcia argued the so-called Armenian genocide law was symbolic. He said, "The law does not bind the French government. The French government's attitude towards Turkey has not changed. France wants to keep good relations with Turkey." Claiming the so-called Armenian genocide bill was approved despite all efforts by the French government, Garcia said, "Democracy is based on the principle of separation of powers. This principle is very important in France. It's impossible for the government to intervene in the activities of the National Assembly. You should also understand this." /Cumhuriyet/

GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS FRANCE'S DECISION

After French President Jacques Chirac signed the bill recognizing the so-called Armenian genocide, which was approved by the French National Assembly, Turkey has showed strong reaction. The Turkish government, releasing an official statement, condemned the developments and said this event would heavily damage relations between the two countries. "Ignoring its own history, France's approval of this type of bill will only increase xenophobia, which is already increasing in France. Responsibility for all these negative developments will belong to France" the statement said. Defence Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu declared that no French firm would be included in any military tender, and said the French firm Thales' JSF tender was cancelled. Thales has been producing electronic war systems for the F-16 aircraft manufactured by the Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI) in Turkey, valued at $200 million per year. The Defence Ministry earlier promulgated that they had scrapped a $149 million deal with a French firm to launch a spy satellite as a response to 'undeserved allegations against Turkey'. They also said that France's Giat Industries, which builds the Leclerc tank, would be excluded from a $7 billion tank contract bid. /All papers/

CANCELLATION OF BIDDING WITH FRANCE

Ankara is not too late to implement sanctions against France, after it approved the so-called Armenian genocide bill. In addition to satellite bid, the bid for the F-16 Electronic War System was also cancelled. Soon after the signing of the so-called Armenian genocide bill, an action plan was accepted during the National Security Council (MGK) meeting. The Executive Committee of the Defence Industry held an urgent evaluation meeting after receiving the news about France. During the meeting, it was decided to cancel bid (totalling 190 million US dollars) for the F-16 Electronic War System. The project was to attach the above-mentioned systems to 80 F-16 planes. The Committee's decision to cancel was presented for signature to the Chief of the General Staff, Huseyin Kivrikoglu, and the Minister of National Defence, Sabahattin Cakmakoglu. It was then sent to the Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit for his approval and signature. Meanwhile, the Committee decided to 'freeze all the present biddings with France.' /Aksam/

GRAIN BOARD BANS FRANCE FROM TENDERS

The Turkish Grain Board said it banned two French firms from attending Tuesday's 315,000-ton wheat export tender worth $40 million, due to the French Assembly's passage of a bill officially acknowledging the so-called Armenian genocide. A senior official said French firms would not be allowed to participate in future grain tenders unless the French government changes its action. /All papers/

MONUMENTS TO BE ERECTED

The strongest reaction to France's approval of the so-called Armenian genocide bill came from Kahramanmaras, Gaziantep and Sanliurfa yesterday. These cities, which bore the brunt of Armenian and French cruelty, will erect monuments in reaction to the 'Genocide Monument Project' to be carried out in France. The Paris Municipality has decided to erect an Armenian genocide monument following the approval of the so-called Armenian genocide bill by the French Assembly and French President Jacques Chirac. In Ankara, a monument will also be erected in the city centre representing the French genocide against Algerians. Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz, said in a statement yesterday, that this decision was a blow to Turco-French relations and added: "We strongly condemn this decision". /Turkiye/

ONE MORE MONUMENT OF SHAME

After deciding to erect an Armenian Genocide Monument in Paris, the Assen Municipality in Netherlands went into action. The so-called genocide monument will be erected in the upcoming days. It was learned that the Municipality had discussed a request by an Armenian citizen to erect a monument last December 2000. It was stated that this was a prior decision and work on the monument was underway. The Turkish people living in the Netherlands, reacted to this decision, and 380,000 people, who support them, send faxes and emails to the Municipality. /Aksam/

HONORARY CONSUL DINAR: THERE IS NO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Chile's Honorary Consul in Istanbul, lawyer Mordo Dinar said the so-called Armenian genocide bill approved by French institutions does not meet the definition of "genocide". Stating genocide was a planned and strategic activity to eliminate a whole community or race, Dinar said, "This was what Germans did to the Jews. The Ottomans never engaged in genocide. If they had, why did the Armenians who escaped from the East take shelter in Istanbul? My parents always told me that the Armenians who arrived in Istanbul felt themselves to be lucky and safe. What kind of genocide is this?" Dinar stated the Ottoman archives should be opened to the world so the truth could be told. /Hurriyet/

ALBRIGHT THANKS CEM

Before leaving her post, former US Secretary of State, Madeline Albright, wrote a letter to the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ismail Cem, thanking him for the cooperation between Turkey and Greece against drug trafficking. The letter is made public in a statement by the US Embassy in Ankara, Albright mentioned her gratitude for the cooperation between the two countries in the struggle against drug trafficking. /Aksam/

DYP DEPUTY SIHANLIOGLU DIES OF A HEART ATTACK

True Path Party (DYP) Deputy Fevzi Sihanlioglu had a heart attack yesterday during the tense debates in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA). Sihanlioglu could not be saved despite all of the medical support he received both in the TGNA and in the hospital. During the debates, the opposition groups including DYP deputies were objecting to the proposal to decrease the discussion period for bills. /Cumhuriyet/

ABANOZ EVALUATES LAST YEAR

Istanbul's Police Chief Kazim Abanoz evaluated the police forces' activities last year. He said 88 gangs collapsed after 813 gang members were detained by police force operations during the last six months in Istanbul. Abanoz stated the Hizbullah terrorist organization was the strongest suspect in the assasination of Diyarbakir Police Chief Gaffar Okkan. Stating the police had information the Hizbullah were going to carry out sensational attacks, he said, "We were receiving some information about the organization's attempts to revive its activities in Diyarbakir. The investigative group is continuing their works." /Cumhuriyet/

SWOBODA: "WE WILL WORK FOR TURKEY'S FULL EU MEMBERSHIP"

Currently visiting Diyarbakir to hold contacts, European Parliament member and reportor for the framework conventions, Johannes Swoboda, said they would work for Turkey's full EU membership. Swoboda visited the Diyarbakir Trade and Industry Chamber, the Diyarbakir Chamber of Physicians and the Diyarbakir Human Rights Association. He also critisized France's decision on the so-called Armenian genocide bill. Stating Turkey should form a committee including historians from Armenia and other countries, Swoboda stated "It should not be French Parliament which discusses and decides on the issue." /Cumhuriyet/

ECEVIT'S STATEMENT IN JAPANESE DAILY ASAHI SHIMBUN

In a statement for the Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said becoming a full EU member was the last stage for Turkey's modernization. Ecevit stated the democratization would be completed for this final purpose. Emphasizing Turkey's geostrategic importance, Ecevit said Turkey's membership would also create new perspectives in the EU. /Cumhuriyet/

DE SOTO'S STATEMENT ON CYPRUS

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto said no progress was achieved during his meetings with TRNC President Rauf Denktas and Greek-Cypriot leader Glafkos Clerides the day before yesterday. De Soto met with Foreign Minister Ismali Cem yesterday in Istanbul. /Cumhuriyet/

BAHCELI: "TURKEY WILL WIN THE STRUGGLE"

Leader of the National Action Party (MHP) and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said, during the MHP parliamentary group meeting yesterday, those who failed to achieve their goals through assasinations would also fail in the future. Bahceli added: "Turkey will take every measure to eradicate terrorism and will certainly win the struggle". /Turkiye/

WARM RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND GEORGIA

Georgian Head of State Eduard Shevardnadze continued his contacts in Turkey yesterday. Shevardnadze, who participated in the working breakfast organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Council (DEIK) yesterday, was later was received by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli and the former President Suleyman Demirel. Shevardnadze departed from Turkey last night after completing his two-day contacts. /Turkiye/

BAKU CEYHAN

Chairman David Woodward of the international consortium, AIOC, which manage the Azeri, Cirak and Gunesli basins in the Caspian Sea region belonging to Azerbaijan, said, "The construction of the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline will start in the year 2002." Woodward currently in Georgia's capital, Tblisi said the meetings held in London with the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline companies were positive, and this project was being given tremendous support. Woodward added, "The construction is planned to be completed in the year 2004." He also mentioned the issue of exporting Azerbaijani natural gas, which is drilled in the Sahdeniz basin, to Turkey. He stated meetings between the parties were continuing without interruption. He added some problems in the meetings between Georgia and Turkey would be solved in two or three weeks. /Aksam/

MINISTER OF TRANSORTATION OKSUZ IN IRAN

Minister of Transportation Enis Oksuz traveled to Iran yesterday to attend the Turkey-Iran Joint Transortation Commission meetings. Oksuz met with his Iranian counterpart Rahman Dadman and attended the first session of the meetings. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH PROFESSOR'S SUCCESS IN THE US

Cukurova University School of Medicine Nephrology and Hypertension Sciences and the National Kidney Association Chairman Prof. Yahya Sagliker was elected as the Secretary General of the Confederation for the World Kidney Associations. Sagliker said, "The Confederation will improve the cooperation to find more modern cure techniques. Besides, Turkey will be promoted." /Hurriyet/

AKUT RESCUES AN INDIAN

The Turkish Search and Rescue Team (AKUT) which went to Gujarat, India, following the earthquake disaster, saved a 70-year old Indian man in the city of Bhuj yesterday, nearly five days after the earthquake. /Turkiye/

WOLFENSOHN PRAISES TURKEY

World Bank Governor James Wolfensohn stated the Turkish economy, which is beginning to overcome the crises, would soon be in a better situation. He said they would continue supporting Turkey. Wolfenson evaluaed the Turkish economy in Davos, Sweden, within the framework of the World Economic Forum meetings. Wolfensohn pointed out the importance of continuing structural reforms, mostly in the financial sector. He stated they would continue to give the necessary support so Turkey could enact the structural reforms. Wolfensohn stated the coalition government was successful thus far and that they were very pleased with the Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to Davos. Meanwhile, Wolfensohn will attend a conference organized by the International Finance Community (IFC) in Turkey in May. /Aksam/

FRENCH BUSINESSMEN ARE SORRY

The French businessmen said that they regretted President Jacques Chirac's approval of the so-called Armenian genocide bill. Managers of the Association of French Industrialists and Businessmen (MEDEF) and the Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) held a meeting in Paris yesterday to discuss the Armenian law. During the meeting, the French businessmen mentioned their sorrow and protest as they were not able to prevent the so-called Armenian bill from being enacted. After the meeting, the Turkish and French businessmen reached an agreement to work together so the above-mentioned bill would not go any farther. The businessmen of the two countries also decided to carry out some works to enlighten the public. The French businessmen promised to support Turkey much more than before concerning Turkey's accession process to the European Union and confirmed their determination regarding investments to be made in Turkey. /Aksam/

IMKB-BUD SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS IN INDIA

Stock Exchange Specialists Association's (BUD) search and rescue teams traveled to India to help with the search and rescue works. The team is chaired by BUD Executive Council member Murat Ozkaya. /Hurriyet/

TURKEY TO BE GOODYEAR'S EXPORTS BASE

Chairman of Goodyear's Executive Council, Samir G. Gibara, stated Turkey held strategic importance for Goodyear as they want to use Turkey as its exports base. Gibara said, "Goodyear's company in Turkey is much more modern than those in Europe and the US because Goodyear attaches great importance to Turkey. We have reached an important decision as a company: Our company in Turkey will be one of the most prominent companies in the world." /Hurriyet/

IMF BOARD SCHEDULED TO DISCUSS TURKEY

The IMF is scheduled to discuss the first review of the new program with Turkey on February 5, an IMF spokeswoman confirmed. The review will be the first of the monthly reviews after the board approved a new $7.5 billion supplemental reserve facility for Turkey. /Turkish Daily News/

500 MILLION EURO TO TREASURY

Turkey has launched a $500 million Euro bond issue via joint-leads ABN Amro and Credit Suisse First Boston. The bond repayment date is February 16, 2004. /Sabah/

YAPI KREDI LEASING'S SIGNATURE

Yapi Kredi Leasing has become the first Turkish company to sign international leasing agreement. Yapi Kredi Leasing signed a leasing agreement with one of the biggest companies in the Russian Federation, the PVC producing Mosstrojlastmass Company. Mosstrojlastmass Company, which is a customers of Yapi Kredi Bank's branch in Moscow, signed 48-month-term lease amounting to 23 million DM for the production of high-quality PVC. /Aksam/

TURK TELECOM TO BE PROMOTED IN BONN

The shares of Turk Telecom will be promoted in Bonn, Germany today. A bidding was put out for the block sale of 33.5 % of the shares of Turk Telecom on December 14, 2000. The Head of the Privatization Administration Board (OIB), the Head of the Turk Telecom's Bidding Commission and Commission members will meet with officials from the Deutsche Bank today. /Turkiye/

GERMANY GIVES HONORARY DOCUMENT TO SENOL YEGIN

Chairman of the Executive Board of Yegin Group and Spekn GmbH, Senol Yegin, was given the honorary certificate of the German city, Seifhennersdorf, due to his success. Yegin, owner of the Spekon Company which produces technical textile materials, parachute and aerial transportation materials in Germany, Tunusia and Slovakia, said, "We are also ready to investment in Turkey." /Aksam/

TURKCELL, ERICSSON SIGN A DEAL

Ericsson announced yesterday it has signed a contract valued at $400 million with Turkcell, the leading provider of mobile communications services in Turkey, and one of the largest and fastest growing mobile communications operators in Europe. Ericsson said the contract signed by the two companies will allow Turkcell to upgrade and develop its GSM system infrastructure to meet the demands of Turkcell's rapidly increasing user base, to expand additional geographic areas and to offer increased capacity in high-density areas. /All papers/

ARIF MARDIN AWARDED AGAIN

Famous music producer Arif Mardin will be awarded 'Man of the Year' in the music industry by the Nordoff-Robbins Music Association. Mardin, the most famous Turk in the American music industry, was recently awarded the 'Trustees', the Grammy Merit Reward, which will be presented to him on February 20, 2001, in Los Angeles. Mardin will receive the 'Man of the Year' award on May 8, 2001, in New York. /All papers/

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

AFTER CHIRAC'S APPROVAL OF THE BILL BY NECATI OZFATURA (TURKIYE)

"French President Jacques Chirac has signed the bill approving the so-called Armenian genocide passed by the French National Assembly. This law, which does not have the power to implement sanctions, and is more like a resolution, is contrary to the French Constitution and benefit none of the concerned parties; neither France, nor Turkey, Armenia,the Armenian diaspora or the European Union. The only reason why it has been put into effect is explained in the French press as a way of vying for the votes of French citizens of Armenian descent in the local March elections and the ensuing Presidential Election. 320,000 of the 450,000 French citizens of Armenian descent are eligible to vote. The majority of them are in cities such as Paris, Marseilles and Lyon. There are 300,00 Turkish citizens in France. However, they are divided by ideological fractions and they do not have the right to vote. All Armenians, without exception, are French citizens and can vote in the elections. Therefore, it is not right to compare Turks and Armenians living in France. Turkey will be in a strong position if her citizens living in France, Germany, Holland and Austria accept the citizenship of the country they live in. Ankara has to encourage such actions. An experienced statesman like Chirac, known to be a friend of the Turks must have acted with considerations other than vote getting. The most important consideration is France's desire to form the European Union Armed Forces independent of NATO, but which draws upon its troops. Thus, the EU will be able to intervene in the surrounding countries without depending on help from the US. Turkey wants to participate in this force. However, the EU insists that Turkey should be excluded from the decision-making mechanisms until she becomes a member. Although the EU has promised that Turkey's views will be considered in a military operation, Ankara's annoucement that she may veto this proposal at NATO has angered Paris. However, the law on the so-called Armenian genocide will toughen Turkey's stance instead of softening it."

AFTER THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE BY OKTAY EKSI (HURRIYET)

"Columnist Oktay Eksi writes on French President's approval of the bill on the so-called Armenian genocide and its negative effects. A summary of his column is as follows: "It is said Turkey will react harshly to the bill's approval, which states: 'France recognizes the genocide Armenians were subjected to in 1915-16'. This statement became a law upon the signaturre of French President Jacques Chirac. Therefore, today, we are not going to discuss the previous reactions, but those we have not expressed for years. As long as this apathy continues, the problems we are witnessing today in the form of the Armenian genocide will come up in different forms and issues tomorrow. This is why we have to make an inventory of potential trouble points in a long-term approach and prepare both short and long term plans to counter them. Why we have not done so for years, is another important question. Since the 1960s the Armenians have published thousands, and maybe tens of thosuands publications, claiming that their race had been exterminated in 1915. They persuaded international community to accept their statements as truth, and we reached today without responding to the issue. We can blame the politicians for the most part, but where are the wise and well-informed historians? During the last 40 years none of them bothered to research the Armenian issue. Both politicians, administrators and academicians are all to blame."

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