12 March 2001

5. "Russia hopes to sign major Iranian arms deal in May", Russia hopes to sign the first of several huge weapons deals with Iran in May.

6. "Defense, Arms, Strategy - part Turkey", Turkey's defense procurement plans have been suspended until after the government concludes a new reform program with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

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1. - Özgür Politika - "Diyarbakir Security Director Okkan was killed by JITEM":

Evidences point out Gendarme Counter Terrorism Directorate (JITEM) at the assassination of Diyarbakir Security Director Gaffar Okan who was killed last month. According to the statements of eye witnesses and policemen the assassination was perpetrated by JITEM members.

NEWS CENTER

Smoke screen on the assassination of Diyarbakir Security Director Gaffar Okan and 5 policemen on January, 24 has not been dispersed. But statements of some witnesses suggests that the assassination was perpetrated by JITEM members.

A news in weekly Aktuel magazine called attention to the dark points of the murder and stated that police and JITEM members might take part in the assault. The news depending on the statements of eye witnesses and policemen pointed out that some of the perpetrators had made investigations with other policemen after the assassination, adding that two JITEM vehicles in which there were plain-clothes policemen together with policemen in uniform went away rapidly towards Mardin province 20 minutes after the incidence.

Murderers searched for murderers

According to statements of two witnesses, nearly 15 people, coming to the place of incident immediately after the assassination, vacated the place, saying there would be a police practice of the incidence. The news has the following to say: "Two plain-clothes men have wireless and their Turkish is very good. Half of the perpetrators got in a green car after the incident, the rest took part in the search together with policemen. Murderers searched for murderers." The news stated that according to a policemen, wireless could not be used for a long while, thus the necessary measures were delayed.

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2. - Kurdish Observer - "Torture continues in Turkey":

Reports prepared by German Parliamentarial Human Rights and Internal Affairs Commissions are being discussed. The Human Rights Commission underscored in its report torture in Turkey. The report sees expenses on armament as the reason of economic crisis.

BERLIN

Federal Republic of Germany Parliamentarial Human Rights Commission prepared a report on Turkey of 60 pages and distributed it to deputies for discussion. Members of the Commission went to Turkey to make investigations at the end of 2000. The official report stated that torture cases in Turkey was keeping on. In the section of proposals to the Turkish government, emergency rule was asked to be lifted as soon as possible.

A parliamentarial delegation of six deputy under the chairmanship of Unity 90/Greens Deputy Claudia Roth went to Turkey between 16-26 November 2000 and held meetings with a number of politicians and NGOs in Istanbul, Ankara, Amed and Mardin. Among people whom the delegation met were Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk, Chairman of Parliamentarial Human Rights Commission Huseyin Akgul, and Emergency Rule (OHAL) Governor Gokhan Aydiner. The delegation held meetings with state officials, a number of civil society organizations on subject such as torture, abuses, conditions in prisons, death fasts and death penalty.

The report, recently distributed to the deputies, gives a spacious place to the views of high-level politicians, Parliamentarial Human Rights Commission and representatives of NGOs on tortura, abuse, conditions in prisons, death fasts and death penalty.

The report also includes views of Mesut Yilmaz, saying "Human rights are universal. As far as torture and abuses are concerned we must be open to critics and recommendations of countries we consider as partner. This does not mean to an interference to the internal affairs. I'm also uncomfortable a number of matters in Germany such as Solingen case.

"Children are tortured"

A report, submitted by Turkish Doctors Association and Human Rights Association to the Commission discusses in particular torture to children. The report includes information such as a recent torture case of a child who is 12 years old and a case of a mother whose new-born kid has been thrown in front of dogs in order to make her confess under detention. The organizations calls attention in their reports that in Amed in particular no tortures have been condemned to this day and at 18 different case region governors have not given approval for torturer policemen to be sentenced.

The report of Commission makes some proposal to Turkish and German governments. Some of the proposals are as follows: "Politicians in power agree to 'shortcomings' on human rights. It needs a long period for measures to be effective. Nevertheless two concrete steps can be made at once: Death penalty can be removed from the law and torture in prison can be put an end effectively."

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3. - Turkish Daily News - "Ecevit concedes to IMF reality":

'I don't remember saying the IMF was out of date, I must have used a softer discourse. No matter how badly we criticize the IMF, it is an inevitable reality of the world'

Ecevit suggested that the float of the lira could give a considerable boost to the economy, particularly to exports and tourism, provided that its opportunities are made well use of

ANKARA

Backing off in a self-created debate over the International Monetary Fund, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said Saturday the IMF was an inevitable global reality and should not be ignored while seeking international resources.

Ecevit, speaking to reporters in Ankara, said the Economy Minister Kemal Dervis, who has been contacting the U.S. administration and international financiers in Washington would come home by Monday morning and that the new economic program would be ready immediately after his return.
Ecevit last week accused the IMF of misguiding the government over economic policy and thus contributing to the current crisis. He has said the government would not accept all policies proposed by the IMF any more and instead filter them.

"I don't remember saying the IMF was out of date, I must have used a softer discourse. No matter how badly we criticize the IMF, it is an inevitable reality of the world," Ecevit told reporters asking him why he had resorted to an IMF program in the first place.

Ecevit suggested that the float of the lira could give a considerable boost to the economy, particularly to exports and tourism, provided that its opportunities are made well use of. He predicted that export revenues would increase thanks to the relative slump in the lira's value. Since left to free float on February 22, the lira has lost about a quarter of its value against the dollar.

"Even before we shifted to float, export revenues increased 14.4 percent in January and February. They will now increase further," Ecevit said.

The Prime Minister promised to help exporters and producers establish coordination in order to utilize the obvious opportunity. "Exporters will start buying intermediate and investment goods from the domestic market, which gives us a significant opportunity to boost domestic output and reduce unemployment," he added.

Ecevit noted that the floating exchange rate would also revive tourism, which would in turn give a boost to both domestic output and the services sector. "Therefore we have reasons to be confident and hopeful about the near future of Turkey's economy, only if we can take the opportunity on time. It is also pleasing that lira depreciation has not overshot so far," he added.
He ruled out concerns about the solidity of political support for the new economic program, when asked why the new economic supremo Kemal Dervis had voiced the need for full support in Washington. "He was stressing the importance of the government's integrity as far as international assistance is concerned," Ecevit said. Declining to speculate on the amount of potential foreign aid, Ecevit said Turkey should benefit from its own resources before considering international assistance.

Ecevit also reiterated that the government would continue compensating civil servants wages considering inflation losses. "Our principle from the start has been to allow inflation adjustments for wage-earners. We will continue delivering our promise in this regard during the implementation of the new program," he added.

Yesterday's reports suggested that the new program would involve a restructuring of some of the domestic debt through a swap with foreign currency denominated bonds. Mass circulating daily Milliyet reported that, as part of the new program, the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) would be given full authority over bank shutdowns and resolution.
The new program will be based on an inflation target of at least 40 percent, up from the current 10-12 percent, Milliyet said. Also state banks would be merged under the roof of Ziraat and sold off in a year, and the government would quickly pass a law allowing the privatization of 51 percent of fixed-line operator Turk Telekom.

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4. - AFP - "Ankara sending 400-member trade mission to Iraq":

ISTANBUL

A 400-member Turkish trade mission heads for Iraq on Monday to relaunch economic ties frozen by an embargo now considered obsolete, Anatolia news agency reported.
Trade secretary Kursad Tuzmen, who is heading the mission, briefed Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit about its objectives, the agency said Sunday.

A similar mission was organised last month by Ankara which recently strengthened its diplomatic ties with its neighbour by reopening its embassy in Baghdad.

Turkey has also organised several "humanitarian" flights to Iraq since late last year with medical equipiment and also businessmen aboard.

They were organised with the approval of Turkish authorities who said they had observed official procedures by informing the United Nations about the flights and where they came from.

Several other countries have since followed Turkey's example despite the UN air embargo on Iraq imposed after the Gulf War in 1991.

Anatolia did not say whether the latest mission would go to Iraq by land or by air.

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5. - Middle East Newsline - "Russia hopes to sign major Iranian arms deal in May":

MOSCOW

Russia hopes to sign the first of several huge weapons deals with Iran in May.

Officials said Iran and Russia have already drafted a contract for both weaponry and training. They said this would allow for the first delivery of weapons to Teheran by early next eyar.

The Moscow-based Military News Agency said the first Iranian-Russian weapons contract could be signed in May. This, after visits to Moscow by Iranian President Mohammed Khatami and Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani.

Russian defense sources said Teheran is negotiating for the sale of the Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missile system, Mi-17 helicopter and Sukhoi-25 fighter-jets.

Last month, Iran's ambassador to Moscow said Teheran could buy up to $7 billion worth of Russian weapons. Officials said this would amount to several contracts signed over the coming years.

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6. - Middle East Newsline - "Defense, Arms, Strategy - part Turkey":

Turkey's defense procurement plans have been suspended until after the government concludes a new reform program with the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Turkish officials said the suspension will last until next month when a new reform program is issued by international monetary organizations. The IMF and World Bank are expected to make tough recommendations regarding Turkey's ambitious military modernization plans.

Already, the General Staff has delayed its biannual revision of Turkey's military procurement plan, which covers the next decade. The plan was to have been issued last month.

The government has asked the military to consider a reduction of at least 30 percent in procurement plans. The request is expected to shelve procurement for weapons upgrades for at least the next two years.