Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-08-09

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

09 AUG 1998

CONTENTS

[01] INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION FOR OTTERS IN TURKEY

[02] FM CONDEMNS BOMB ATTACKS IN KENYA AND TANZANIA

[03] FOUNDATION OF FREE AREA IS LAID IN THRACE REGION - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''WE ATTRIBUTE GREAT IMPORTANCE TO FOREIGN TRADE AND WE CONSIDER IMPROVEMENT OF EXPORTS AS ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITIES''

[04] FLOOD IN TRABZON PROVINCE - SEVEN PEOPLE DIE, MANY HOUSES COLLAPSE BY FLOOD

[05] TASAR, THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS:''THE CEREAL HARVEST WILL REACH 24 MILLION TONNES THIS YEAR''

[06] PRESIDENT DEMIREL SENDS MESSAGES TO US PRESIDENT CLINTON, KENYAN PRESIDENT AND TANZANIAN HEAD OF STATE UPON THE BOMB ATTACKS IN KENYA AND TANZANIA

[07] PRESIDENT DEMIREL OPENS ORGANIZED INDUSTRY REGION NATURAL GAS TRANSFORMATION PLANT IN ESKISEHIR

[08] PARRIS, THE US AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA: - ''TURKEY IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE US''

[09] 24TH ANNIVERSARY OF SECOND CYPRUS PEACE OPERATION TO BE CELEBRATED

[10] 18 PEOPLE DIE AND 23 PEOPLE WOUNDED BY TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

[11] PARRIS, THE US AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: ''PRINCIPLES OF ATATURK ARE WELL- KNOWN BY THE WORLD''

[12] DEMONSTRATION FOR KOSOVO - A GROUP OF IHH MEMBERS LAY BLACK WREATH IN FRONT OF YUGOSLAVIAN CONSULATE GENERAL IN ISTANBUL AND BURN SERBIAN FLAG

[01] INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION FOR OTTERS IN TURKEY

Umit Ozturk, the Editor of the Greenscreen that transmits environmental news via network, said that the London-based International Otters Protection Foundation started a project for protection of otters living in mostly Bilecik, Yozgat, Mersin, Adana, Mugla and Sinop provinces.

The project includes the specification of the population and environment of otters and the negative conditions threatening their generation.

The project will also include statistics related to the national parks in Turkey.

The people, who want to get detailed information about the project, can call Grace Yoxon, who is responsible for the project, from tel: 0044 1471 822 487.

[02] FM CONDEMNS BOMB ATTACKS IN KENYA AND TANZANIA

Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, the capitals of Kenya and Tanzania respectively, leaving many people dead.

The statement stressed that Turkey condemns all kinds of terrorism irrespective of its origin.

Noting that many Turkish diplomats were killed by Armenian terrorism for a long time and thousands of citizens were killed by the separatist terrorists, the statement pointed out that the latest atrocity has confirmed Turkey's view that terrorism can be stopped only through international cooperation as every country may be a target of terrorism.

The statement added that Turkey condemns this attack once again and shares the pain of the US, Kenya and Tanzania.

[03] FOUNDATION OF FREE AREA IS LAID IN THRACE REGION - PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ: ''WE ATTRIBUTE GREAT IMPORTANCE TO FOREIGN TRADE AND WE CONSIDER IMPROVEMENT OF EXPORTS AS ONE OF OUR MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITIES''

''Our target in exports will reach 30 billion dollars next year,'' said Yılmaz during the foundation ceremony of Free Area in Thrace region.

Noting that his government attributes great importance to free trade areas, Yılmaz pointed out that ''our country will have the opportunity to get more share in world trade by free trade areas.''

Yılmaz said that the airport which will be constructed in Corlu county of Tekirdag, Tekirdag port and the free trade region are the most important investments of the region which will contribute to development of the region of Thrace.

Pointing out that Tekirdag port and free trade region in Thrace will be the installations which will be constructed by the private sector, Yılmaz said he attributes importance to privatization.

Recalling that the number of active exporters in 1980 was 3000 in Turkey, Yılmaz said that this number exceeded 24,000 today adding that the export of Turkey which was 260 million dollars in 1950 reached 26 billion dollars today.

''Our target in export is to reach 30 billion dollars in the coming year and we attribute great importance to free trade areas to realize this,'' said Yılmaz, adding that ''free areas and foreign capital speeds up the entrance of technology to Turkey.''

[04] FLOOD IN TRABZON PROVINCE - SEVEN PEOPLE DIE, MANY HOUSES COLLAPSE BY FLOOD

Identities of three corpses out of seven who were found in riverbeds and in seabeds were identified.

Officials said that the biggest damage occured in Beskoy village of Koprubası county of Trabzon province. The flood carried away 50 houses including one mosque, which was earlier evacuated, a school and a health centre there.

Meanwhile, several people are missing.

[05] TASAR, THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS:''THE CEREAL HARVEST WILL REACH 24 MILLION TONNES THIS YEAR''

''The change in fertilizer subvention gave the opportunity for our farmers to use more fertilizer and we gave them seeds by certificate. This means more product,'' said Mustafa Tasar.

Noting that farmers started to plant wheat and barley, Tasar said that ''farmers recognized that they will get their money in advance and we took action and helped our farmers when natural disasters occured. So farmers started to cultivate wheat and barley. This caused the increase in harvest.''

[06] PRESIDENT DEMIREL SENDS MESSAGES TO US PRESIDENT CLINTON, KENYAN PRESIDENT AND TANZANIAN HEAD OF STATE UPON THE BOMB ATTACKS IN KENYA AND TANZANIA

President Suleyman Demirel said in his message to Bill Clinton, the US President that ''I am deeply sorry about the explosions which seemed to target the US Embassies and which caused the death of innocent people and injured many others on August 7 in Nairobi and Dar Es Salam. I would like to reiterate my belief that terrorism can be stopped only through international cooperation.''

The Presidential Place said that President Demirel also sent messages to Daniel Torcitch Arab Moi, the Kenyan President and Benjamin Mkapa, the Tanzanian Head of State, expressed his sorrow over the explosions and condemned the bomb attacks.

[07] PRESIDENT DEMIREL OPENS ORGANIZED INDUSTRY REGION NATURAL GAS TRANSFORMATION PLANT IN ESKISEHIR

Addressing the opening ceremony, Demirel said that they aim to make Turkey to enter among the first ten important countries of the world, adding that ''Eskisehir is an example of Turkey after 20 years, because half of the population of Turkey lives in villages, while the other half lives in cities, but 75 percent of people live in cities in Eskisehir province.''

Pointing out that there is a problem of population migration in Eskisehir and this caused several problems, Demirel said that the Eskisehir Organized Industry Region is as good as the ones in Europe.

Noting that the plant which was opened today is one of the important efforts that have been launched, President Demirel said that the electricity production of Turkey reached 100 billion kilowatt/hours within fifty years, but this is not enough and there are bottle necks in front of Turkey and she should overcome them.

''Industry can't realized without elecricity, industry starts with electricty. All institutions and the government launches efforts to get rid of the power cuts,'' he added.

[08] PARRIS, THE US AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA: - ''TURKEY IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE US''

Ambassador Parris met with Ahmet Kayhan, the Governor of eastern Erzurum province, where he arrived to hold several contacts.

Pointing out that Turkey has a very important strategical position, Parris said, ''knowing only one region in Turkey is insufficient to understand this country. You can't get full information about Turkey without visiting the eastern region. You should know well the Erzurum province and its surroundings. It is real that Erzurum has an economic and strategical importance and this importance will gradually increase. The US wants to be a part of this development. We want to develop the eastern region with the contribution of the US. Our initiatives will be beneficial for both Turkey and the US. We want to further improve commercial and economic relations.''

Noting that the US government is trying to encourage American entrepreneurs to invest in Erzurum, Ambassador Parris said, ''I came here to specify and seek opportunities that will be useful for both sides.''

Later, Ambassador Parris met with Ersan Gemalmaz, the Mayor of Erzurum. Parris said in the meeting that the eastern region will be the transition center of the world oil and natural gas, stressing the importance of Erzurum.

Erzurum Mayor Gemalmaz said that the Ataturk University was established by the contributions of the US and that the university was the greatest investment in Erzurum in the history of the Republic of modern Turkey.

''We are awaiting for the leadership of the US for the investments in our region in the fields of trade and industry. An economic cooperation should be realized to strengthen the historical Turkish-US friendship,'' he stressed.

Mayor Gemalmaz said that they, as the Turkish people, feel sorrow and present their condolences about the bomb-attacks on the US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Stating that Turkey suffers from terrorist activities, Ambassador Parris said, ''Turkey shares our suffering as she has been bearing the same suffers for several years. However, we can't know where the terrorist organizations will make assasination attempt. One of them could be the US Embassy in Ankara.''

[09] 24TH ANNIVERSARY OF SECOND CYPRUS PEACE OPERATION TO BE CELEBRATED

Several ceremonies will be held in Gazimagosa, Serdarli and Lefke cities, which gained independence during the operation which Turkey launched by using her guarantorship right.

Also two different ceremonies will be held for the people including children, women and old people massacred in Marataga, Sandallar and Atlilar villages and buried in mass graves by the defeated Greek-Cypriots.

[10] 18 PEOPLE DIE AND 23 PEOPLE WOUNDED BY TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

The accident took place at 04.30 (GMT 01.30) early in the Sunday morning when a minibus carrying workers to the Black Sea region from Adana first hit a truck and then a second lorry, unable to stop in time, ploughed over bodies on the road and into a second bus laden with workers. Five further vehicles were involved in the ensuing pile-up.

The injured people had been taken to local hospitals in Nigde province.

President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz presented their condolences upon the death of 18 people by issuing messages.

[11] PARRIS, THE US AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY: ''PRINCIPLES OF ATATURK ARE WELL- KNOWN BY THE WORLD''

Parris and his wife Joan Parris visited Ataturk House in eastern province of Erzurum and get information about the museum.

Examining the historical documents and pictures at Ataturk House, Parris recalled the principle of Ataturk, the founder of modern and secular republic, who had said that ''peace in the country, peace in the world.''

''The name of Ataturk spreaded to the whole world after the First World War and his principles started to be known. The principle of peace has remained as an important principle also in the US.''

Parris visited the historical places in Erzurum and got information from the officials.

[12] DEMONSTRATION FOR KOSOVO - A GROUP OF IHH MEMBERS LAY BLACK WREATH IN FRONT OF YUGOSLAVIAN CONSULATE GENERAL IN ISTANBUL AND BURN SERBIAN FLAG

The group carrying Turkish, Azerbaijani, Kosovonian and East Turkistan flags marched to the outside the Yugoslavian Consulate General by shouting the slogans, ''longlive Kosovo Liberation Army, may Serbia perish'' and ''longlive independent Kosovo'' and with banners, ''don't let Kosovo to be Bosnia'' and ''Serbians massacre while the world is only watching''.

The group later laid a black wreath written ''we condemn massacre committed by Serbians'' outside the Yugoslavian Consulate General.

Speaking to reporters, Murat Yilmaz, the IHH official Responsible for Kosovo, said that Serbians started to cause great pain on Albanians and shed blood just after the massacre in Bosnia.

Pointing out that Serbians didn't give up their ''Great Serbia'' plan, Yilmaz said that Serbians are not exposed to any sanction as they have an allied country like Russia and due to the traditional enmity of the West against Moslems.

A woman, whose first name is Suhret and who was injured in the Serbian attacks and took refuge in Turkey after her medical treatment and declined to give her surname, said that they are not terrorists so they should be backed in their struggle for independence.

Stressing that they were tortured, massacred and exiled, Suhret said that her relatives escaped to mountainous area.

Fahri Turkkan, the Chairman of the Kosovo Solidarity Committee, said that they will always support the people fighting for their independence and that they condemn the genocide in Kosovo.

The group burned a Serbian flag before dispersing.

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