ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on October 21, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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FOUR POWER PLANTS TO BE SEIZED
The government decided to seize four energy power plants by complying with the report of the State Supervision Board. Marmara Ereglisi-Thrace natural gas combined power plant belonging to Enron, Marmara-Ereglisi Unimar natural gas power plant belonging to Unimar, Esenyurt natural gas belonging to Gunay Capan and Gebze-Dilovasi power plants belonging to Ova Electric will be seized. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said that there was an operation to seize some build-operate-transfer establishments and stated that all preparations were completed. Guler said that corruption would be brought to the light.
''INVESTMENT CAN BE MADE IN FREE ZONE''
Robert Haywood, the Director the World Economic Progressing Zones Association (WEPZA), proposed investment in free zones in Turkey. WEPZA Council Meeting was held in Istanbul. Haywood who delivered a speech at a conference which was held parallel to the meeting said that he had not proposed free zones in Turkey to business circles when he had earlier visited the country. Haywood stated that there were great progresses in Turkey and noted that people should make investments in free zones in Turkey. State Minister and WEPZA Chairman Kursad Tuzmen said that free zones provided 15 percent of 7 trillion U.S. dollars of trade volume in the world and stated that this rate was also caught in Turkey.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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BUYING PROPERTIES BY FOREIGN EXCHANGE TO BE BANNED
The government will increase usage of Turkish lira (TL) with an amendment in no.32 decision on protecting value of TL. The government is working on measures which will encourage people to use TL and prepared a draft which foresees important changes in no.32 decision. People who reside in Turkey will not be able to buy properties by foreign exchange with the draft. Thus, banks will not be able to give foreign exchange check to their customers. Hiring contracts cannot be made with foreign exchange. The contracts will be made by TL. Buying dwellings and cars can only be made with TL.
KEY OF EU IS VATICAN
Vatican is one of the secret obstacles in front of Turkey which has been taking important steps to fulfil Copenhagen criteria. The European Commission which said that there was a positive approach toward Turkey in the European Union (EU) gave a message that Turkey would have some difficulties, if Vatican was not convinced. A high level official from the Commission who met with officials of the Economic Development Foundation in Brussels on Monday said that some EU leaders were very close to Vatican and stated that the steps which would be taken on religious freedoms were very important to convince Vatican. The Commission official said that if Turkey took necessary steps, the EU would take the necessary decision.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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PRIVATE SECTOR TO SAVE 2004
Budget figures which were announced by the Finance Ministry on Monday showed that Turkey's reaching macroeconomic targets in 2004 depended on the private sector. The state's investment expenditures will increase by 16 percent according to the 2004 budget figures. Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said that there would be a small state in 2004, but it would be effective. Stating that fight against unregistered economy would also continue in 2004, Unakitan said that effectiveness of tax administration would be developed.
13.8 PERCENT INCREASE IN SALARIES OF CIVIL SERVANTS IN 2004
There will be 12.4 percent of increase in salaries of civil servants in 2004. When different groups of civil servant are considered, there will be averagely 13.8 percent of increase in salaries of civil servants. For example, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's salary will be 11 billion 750 million Turkish liras (TL) with 20 percent increase and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's salary will be 6 billion 237 million TL in 2004 with 10 percent increase.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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MYERS SAYS NEGOTIATIONS WILL TAKE SOME TIME
U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard Myers said that negotiations on dispatch of soldiers to Iraq with Turkey and other countries continued and stated that those negotiations would take some time. Myers said that the decision which would be taken regarding dispatch of soldiers of other countries to Iraq would be a political decision and stated that after the resolution on Iraq of the U.N. Security Council, it was expected that many countries would support dispatch of soldiers to Iraq.
TREASURY SELLS 91-DAY DISCOUNTED REFERENCE BONDS DENOMINATED IN TL
Treasury sold 91-day discounted reference bonds denominated in Turkish lira (TL). The composite interest rate became 26.01 percent while the simple interest rate became 23.8 percent. The total bid had been 2 quadrillion 181.3 trillion TL while the Treasury sold 1 quadrillion 585 trillion TL of nominal-valued bonds in the auction. The net sale became 1 quadrillion 496 trillion TL. The bonds will be repaid on January 21, 2004.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ERDOGAN: ''NO HURRY FOR LOAN''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that they would not be in hurry for the 8.5 billion U.S. dollars of loan and stated that they expected a step on Iraq from Washington. Erdogan said that Turkey did what was necessary on Iraq issue and stated that Turkey wanted a democratic administration to be formed in Iraq. Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said that they did not take into consideration 8.5 billion U.S. dollars of loan in income estimations of the 2004 year budget.
UNAKITAN SAYS 2004 BUDGET WAS PREPARED COMPLYING WITH EU NORMS
Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said that 2004 year budget was prepared according to international standards and the European Union (EU) norms. Noting that 2004 year budget would have a new concept, he said that ''analytic budget categorization'' was put into practice with 2004 year budget. Unakitan said that they could say that Turkey had a budget system appropriate for international standards and the EU norms.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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BUDGET DEFICIT DECREASING
Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan who held a press conference due to submission of 2004 year budget to the parliament said that budget deficit decreased from 11.4 percent to 11.1 percent according to 2003 year-end estimations.
INTERIOR MINISTER AKSU LEAVES TURKEY FOR CHINA
Interior Minister Aksu left Turkey for China as the official guest of Chinese Public Security Minister Yongkang Zhou within the scope of the cooperation agreement on fight against cross-border crimes which was signed between Turkey and China on February 14, 2002.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY TO FOLLOW HARMFUL FACTORS WITH A SYSTEM WHICH WILL BE SET UP IN IRAQ
Turkey will follow harmful factors including PKK/KADEK terrorist organization by listening/watching system which will be set up in Iraq. The system will also ease work of military units which will go to Iraq. Feasibility studies of the project in the coordination of Transportation Ministry, General Staff and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) continue. New technologies and satellites will be used in the system.
BORDER TRADE CENTERS TO START WITH IRAN
Border trade centers which aim to increase Turkey's trade with neighbor countries and develop Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions will start to work within a month. Customs Undersecretary Nevzat Saygilioglu said that border trade centers which were decided to be set up in 13 provinces by the Council of Ministers would first start to work on the border with Iran. Stating that meetings on the issue were held with Iran and consensus was reached on the issue, Saygilioglu said that Sarisu trade center, Kapikoy trade center in eastern Van province and Esendere border trade center in southeastern Hakkari province would serve. Saygilioglu said that Turkish and Iranian tradesmen would sell goods in shopping centers which would be set up in Sarisu, Esendere and Kapikoy.
(EÖ-AY) 21.10.2003