Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-08-03

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From: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>

03 AUG 1998

CONTENTS

[01] FIREBOMB ATTACK ON BANK

[02] TURKISH BALLET IN CROATIA - STATE OPERA AND BALLET CHARMS CROATIANS

[03] TURKEY IS RICH IN BORON - 75 PERCENT OF THE WORLD BORON RESERVES ARE IN TURKEY

[04] SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL CONVENES

[05] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 3 AUG, 1998

[06] TREASURY TO ARRANGE SIX-MONTH BOND TENDER ON TUESDAY

[07] TURKISH STUDENT IS AWARD CHAMPION IN THE US - DELETIOGLU, A TURKISH STUDENT ENTERS INTO SUCCESS CATALOGUE OF ''WHO'S WHO IN AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES''

[08] MEASURES AGAINST UNFAIR COMPETITION IN IMPORTS

[09] TURKISH CYPRIOT NATIONAL SWIMMER SEEKS SPONSOR TO TRY FOR A NEW RECORD

[10] ZIRAAT BANK DECREASES CREDIT CARD INTEREST

[11] HOT WEATHER STIMULATES AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

[12] TURKEY PRESS REVIEW (1)

[13] TURKEY PRESS REVIEW (2)

[14] NETAS INCREASES CAPITAL

[01] FIREBOMB ATTACK ON BANK

Two unidentified persons threw a firebomb at the automated teller machine at the Ziraat Bank's branch office on Cumhuriyet Street at Atakoy at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, causing minor damage.

The Police said that they launched an operation to capture the attackers.

[02] TURKISH BALLET IN CROATIA - STATE OPERA AND BALLET CHARMS CROATIANS

The Turkish ballet dancers performed the famous Turkish ballet ''Yoz Dongu, '' ''Bolero'' from Ravel and the ''Seventh Symphony'' from Beethoven. The Croatians applauded the performance for a long time.

Huseyin Akbulut, the General Director of the State Opera and Ballet stated at a press briefing that the Turkish ballet was established 50 years ago by Ninette Valois, the founder of Royal British Ballet. ''Turkey is the only Islamic country which has a state-sponsored ballet and opera. Ballet is performed just like in the European countries. The Turkish Opera and Ballet holds 500 performances a year,'' he added.

[03] TURKEY IS RICH IN BORON - 75 PERCENT OF THE WORLD BORON RESERVES ARE IN TURKEY

Officials said that 75 percent of the world's boron reserves are in Turkey, adding that there are boron reserves of 24 million tonnes in Emet County, 151.2 million tonnes in Hisarcık County and 643.7 million tonnes in Espey County.

A total of 334,400 tonnes of boron ores and 50,000 tonnes of the concentrated boron were extracted in 1997 in Turkey and the boron reserves can meet the needs of Turkey for years with her existing production capacity.

Officials said that 459 workers and 213 public servants work at the boron enterprises in Emet, Espey and Hisarcık Counties of Kutahya Province.

A large portion of the boron, which is made into concentrated form at the installations in Espey and Bandırma, is exported to foreign countries from the Bandırma Port.

A total of 20 million US dollars of the boron ores are exported every month to other countries from the Bandırma Port. A total of 45 percent of the boron is used in the glass industry, 15 percent is used in the soap and detergent industry, 10 percent is used in the enamelware industry, 8 percent is used in agriculture and the remaining portion of the boron is exported.

[04] SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL CONVENES

Many high ranking military officials including Ismail Hakkı Karadayı, the Chief of General Staff; Ismet Sezgin, the Minister of National Defense and Deputy Prime Minister; Gen. Huseyin Kıvrıkoglu, the Land Forces Commander; Admiral Salim Dervisoglu, the Naval Forces Commander; Fikret Ozden Boztepe, the Commander of Gendarme are participating at the regular meeting of the Supreme Military Council.

Military officials will discuss the promotion of generals, admirals and colonels and retirement of some others during the meeting which will last for four days.

[05] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 3 AUG, 1998

The Council of Ministers' decision, which was published in the Official Gazette the same day, mentioned that the teaching of the Italian language at the formal education institutions was approved in accordance with Article 2 of the Law on Teaching and Education in Foreign Languages.

ANKARA - The Ankara Municipality decided to build a ''Trade Center for Handicapped People'' at the Bahcelievler Bazaar in Ankara, it was reported on Monday.

Handicapped people will be able to open their own businesses at this center.

CANAKKALE - Natural gas will reach Canakkale Province in the Marmara region in the year 2000, it was reported on Monday.

The Bursa-Canakkale route project portion of the activities, which are being carried out to spread the usage of natural gas throughout the country, reached the level of implementation.

Officials said that the construction of the pipeline was foreseen to be finished in 2000.

SAMSUN - Eight young people, who came from several countries to the Kolay Region in Bafra County of Samsun Province in the Black Sea Region through the organization of UNESCO, are caring for the forests, it was reported on Monday.

The guest team including Louise Andrews, 19, from the US; Alexi Tinnunen, 19, from Finland; Misawa Shunichi, 22, and Kazuhiro Nakamaru, 21, from Japan; Nerea Monstsorüte, 23, Vinlent Palop, 22, and Jaime Aguero, 22, from Spain and Semka Dropt, 23, from the Netherlands are caring for the groves and the forested lands.

ORTACA - Timucin Sahin, 25, who was born in Ortaca County of Mugla Province, won the hearts of jazz music lovers with his compositions and musical performance on the stage with his band following his success at the most important jazz school in Europe, the Hilversum Jazz Conservatory in the Netherlands, it was reported on Monday.

Sahin said that he participated earlier in the Rotterdam World Jazz Festival, Groningen Jazz Marathon, Amsterdam Boekmnszdal, Hilversum Jazz Concert in 1997 and in the Badeuyph Concert and Eindexamen in 1998.

[06] TREASURY TO ARRANGE SIX-MONTH BOND TENDER ON TUESDAY

The Treasury specified the issue date as 5 August and the repayment date as 3 February 1999 for the six-month bond tender at which it foresaw the sale of 200-400 trillion Turkish Liras in bonds.

In the previous six-month bond tender on 7 July 1998, a total of 329 trillion 441 billion TL in bonds were sold and the gross annual interest was 65.50 percent and the gross composite interest was 76.23 percent.

Meanwhile, the Treasury will realize 266 trillion 838.1 billion TL in domestic borrowing repayments on 5 August.

[07] TURKISH STUDENT IS AWARD CHAMPION IN THE US - DELETIOGLU, A TURKISH STUDENT ENTERS INTO SUCCESS CATALOGUE OF ''WHO'S WHO IN AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES''

Ibrahim Deletioglu, who has also received the honourary award given by the Illinois University to one student every year, was also awarded by the University Council.

Deletioglu was rewarded for launching great efforts for putting a traffic sign in front of the university, which couldn't be put there for years.

Richard Daily, the Mayor of Chicago rewarded Ibrahim Deletioglu for his research aimed at providing public security in the city.

Deletioglu, who is working at the offices of the Democratic Party in Chicago, is preparing himself for politics.

Noting that his political life has started in the US, Ibrahim Deletioglu stated that a politician of Turkish origin hasn't engaged in politics in the US up until now, however the new generations have the chance to do this.

Ismet Deletioglu, the father of Ibrahim had been declared as the man of year in the US by an institution called the ''Daughters of the American Revolution'' and he is known as the Turkish man who reminds the Americans of the importance of Thanksgiving Day.

Ismet Deletioglu started the tradition of giving food to poor people on Thanksgiving Day and continued this tradition for 13 years. This tradition has spread to other regions in the US.

[08] MEASURES AGAINST UNFAIR COMPETITION IN IMPORTS

Three communications related to the issue concerning the ''Prevention of Unfair Competition in Imports'' were published in the Official Gazette the same day and went into effect.

A manufacturing company based in Romania applied to the Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade with the request of reviewing the tax against dumping taken for the imports of PVC of Romanian origin, claiming that it doesn't realize exports to Turkey by dumping and thus doesn't harm domestic production.

A taxation of 100 US dollars per tonne is imposed against dumping for the imports of PVC.

Six manufacturing companies based in Bulgaria requested a review of taxation against dumping implemented for the imports of ''Universal Lathes'' of Bulgarian origin.

Following these applications, the Undersecretarist of Foreign Trade's General Directorate of Imports started ''review'' interrogations. The taxation against the implementation of dumping on the imports of the Universal Lathes of Bulgarian origin is 50 percent of the CIF (cost, insurance and freight).

The last communication includes the taxation against dumping in the imports of the ''low density polyethylene'' of Bulgarian origin.

Following the request for a review of the taxation against dumping implementad on imports of that product by the Bulgarian-based Neftochim AD company, the Undersecretariat of Foreign Trade launched a review investigation.

A 200 US dollars taxation for each tonne is imposed against dumping for the imports of low density polyethylene of Bulgarian origin.

[09] TURKISH CYPRIOT NATIONAL SWIMMER SEEKS SPONSOR TO TRY FOR A NEW RECORD

Addressing a press briefing in Lefkosa, Karabetca said that he will pull a ship weighing 485 tonnes on 30 August and he is seeking for a sponsor firm with this objective.

Noting that he won't be able to try this if he can't find a sponsor, Karabetca said that he expects a response from several firms in Turkey, Britain, Germany and Japan.

Karabetca pointed out that he wants to make the name of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) known by the whole world, adding that he will realize this with the support that will be given to him.

Mert Karabetca said that he will try to pull ships weighing 513 and 721 tonnes after his attempt on 30 August.

The Turkish Cypriot swimmer had earlier pulled two ships weighing 100 tonnes, 214 tonnes and a ship weighing 350 tonnes together with its 350 passengers and personnel.

[10] ZIRAAT BANK DECREASES CREDIT CARD INTEREST

The Bank said that within the context of the new arrangement to be valid as of 1 August 1998, the commission rate for the cash advance transactions with credit cards was reduced from 11 percent to 9.50 percent.

Also, the credit card pay-in-cash limit was increased to 250 million Turkish Liras on the condition of not exceeding the disposable limits of the card bearers.

[11] HOT WEATHER STIMULATES AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

Tugrul Yemisci, the Chairman of Izmir Commercial Exchange Assembly told the A.A correspondent that the hot wheather stimulates agricultural products and abundant products are harvested from the croplands and gardens.

''The production of wheat, cotton, grapes, figs, apricots and hazelnuts are at record levels and good quality products are abundant. There are people who are afraid that the prices of products will decrease due to the bumper harvest. Benefitting well from the abundance of nature will be realized with the talent of the merchants, industrialists and the state.''

Noting that the prices of the products increase when agricultural products are scarce, Yemisci said that today the reverse is true and this will ease the producers, merchants and industrialists.

''The abundance of the products provide an economic prosperity to the country. We have the duty to prevent extreme decreases in the prices. However, the prices of products shouldn't be very high nowadays due to the abundancy,'' he added.

[12] TURKEY PRESS REVIEW (1)

(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.)

CHECHEN HEAD OF STATE IN TURKEY
Aslan Mashedov, the Chechen Head of State, who arrived at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport yesterday, made a statement and said that during his recent meeting with the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, protocols signed at the end of the previous meetings between the two countries were reviewed. Mashedov, who will go to Washington, D.C., on 5 August to attend an Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC) meeting, said, ''the Arab countries tried to teach us Islam. However, we have taken all the necessary measures and we haven't allowed them to create a disorder in our country. From now on, a peaceful and friendly atmosphere will prevail in Chechenya''. Mashedov will stay in Istanbul for four days. /Sabah/

5000 HOUSES FOR ADANA
The Mass Housing AAdministration will build 5,000 houses in Adana. A decision by the Council of Ministers directing the administration to build the houses, has been published in the Official Gazette. The administration will transfer the houses to the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, General Directorate for Natural Disasters, which will be responsible for selling them to people whose houses were heavily damaged by a quake in June that was 6.3 on the Richter scale. Payments will be interest-free and will be paid back over a 20 year period. /Hurriyet/

NEW YORK TIMES PRAISES TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER
The New York Times, one of the leading newspapers in the US, reported that Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, was very ''dynamic and stable'' adding that he had started a giant campaign to improve relations not only with the European, but also the Balkan, Central Asian, the Middle Eastern, Latin American, African countries and also with China. Stephen Kinzer said in his article published in the newspaper on 2 August that when traveling in what he calls ''the new Eurasian geography'', Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, was using an approach that was an anathema to his predecessors, in that he portrayed himself as the representative not only of a 75 year-old republic, but also of the long Ottoman political tradition. He quoted Cem in an interview as saying, ''I am trying to change the scope of our foreign policy. We no longer perceive ourselves as a country on the outer periphery of Europe. We are part of Europe, but now we see ourselves as a pivotal country in the emerging geography of Eurasia.'' Kinzer said that Cem was the most intellectual, interesting and thoughtful foreign minister Turkey had had for a long time. He quoted a European ambassador as saying, ''in his heart he is pro-European, pro-Western, modern and liberal minded.'' /All papers/

SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL TO CONVENE TODAY
The Supreme Military Council is meeting on Monday at the General Staff headquarters in Ankara. The Council will determine the Turkish Armed Forces' revised command structure. The opening of the four-day meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz. During the meeting promotions and the retirements of the Turkish Armed Forces' personnel will be discussed. General Ismail Hakki Karadayi, the current Chief of General Staff, will be retiring and is to be replaced by General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Land Forces Commander. /All papers/

WORLD BANK REPRESENTATIVE LEAVING
Frederic Temple, the World Bank's Representative in Turkey, will soon depart because his term of office here has ended.

Temple indicated over the weekend that during his tenure of five years, the Turkish economy had experienced a 27 percent growth. At a press conference Temple said that despite the inflation rate in Turkey, the country was among the fastest growing nations in the world. He added that the government had been successful in implementing efficient measures to reduce the inflation rate. Temple predicted that in the 21st century Turkey would become a leading state and due to its geographical location, would establish strong cooperation with the Central Asian countries and Russia. /Sabah/

[13] TURKEY PRESS REVIEW (2)

(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.)

FOREIGN MINISTRY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT US-TURKISH JOINT VENTURE
Yaman Baskut, the Deputy Undersecretary of the Foreign Ministry, said that a US-Turkey joint venture for a pipeline project to transfer the Middle Eastern and Azerbaijani petroleum and natural gas to Ceyhan, a port on the Turkish coast, had achieved its goal. During a meeting with journalists, Baskut said that the first target of the joint venture was overcoming misunderstandings about the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline. He added that the joint venture was also aiming to find solutions to the dispute between Baku and Ashkhabad over sharing the crude oil reserves beneath the Caspian Sea and therefore open the way for constructing an underwater pipeline to carry Turkmen natural gas to Azerbaijan. /Sabah/

TURKEY TOPS RUSSIAN POPULARITY LIST
Turkey is the ''most popular country'' for Russian tourists. According to a survey made by the Noviye Izvestiya newspaper among the staff working at 840 tourism agencies, Turkey ranks first with 19.43 percent votes, while Spain comes second with 17.29 percent votes. The Noviye Izvestiya noted that Turkey's success stemmed from no visa restrictions, the alternatives presented by tourism agencies and low prices. /Sabah/

FOREIGN BANKS OPENING IN TURKEY
Two foreign banks, Rabobank Nederland and Credit Suisse First Boston have both been given permission to open branches in Turkey from the Undersecretariat of the Treasury. Currently, there are 18 foreign banks operating in Turkey. /Sabah/

MINE KILLS TWO SOLDIERS
A military vehicle patrolling near the Pulumur District in Tunceli Province hit a mine laid by the PKK terrorist organization. Two sergeants died in the explosion and four other soldiers were injured. Large-scale operations are being carried out by the Armed Forces to find the terrorists. /Sabah/

BIDS FOR PRODUCING ALCOHOLIC DRINKS IN TURKEY
According to a statement by Mehmet Akbay, the General Directorate of State Monopolies, a number of foreign firms including Pernod Ricard from France, Seagram from Canada and IDV from Britain have made bids for jointly producing alcoholic drinks. Currently a rough draft which paves the way for the involvement of private companies in alcoholic drinks production by the State Monopolies is on the agenda of the Council of Ministers. /Hurriyet/

[14] NETAS INCREASES CAPITAL

According to an announcement published in the Commercial Register Newspaper, the Capital Market Board entered in the register the shares, which will represent a capital increase of 5 trillion 239 billion 80 million TL and an explanatory note related to the sale was prepared in accordance with the decisions made at the latest regular general assembly of the company.

The association companies of the Netas whose shares are transacted and quoted in the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) are the Int Finance B.V; the Foundation for the Strengthening of the Turkish Armed Forces; the PTT Bir. Yrd. San. and the INFO Investment Holding.

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