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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-10-11
[01] AA Daily
11 October 1999 Monday
[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
[03] These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in
Turkey's press on Oct 11, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these
stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
[04] HURRIYET (LIBERAL) - ------------------ CNN-TURK TV CHANNEL STARTS CNN-
Turk television channel, which is set up jointly by CNN, which is one of
the most powerful news channels of the world and Turkish Dogan Group, will
start broadcasting today. CNN Turk will broadcast news in every half an
hour and broadcast for 24 hours without giving any break.
[05] PRESIDENT DEMIREL TAKES CHECK-UP EVERYDAY President Suleyman Demirel
who is 74 years old starts his day after his doctor gives a check-up to him
in Presidential Palace. Before the check-up, President Demirel takes his
daily pills.
[06] MILLIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- CNN-TURK TO OPEN A NEW PERIOD
The ''Television Channel of the year 2000'' will born tonight. The joint
venture of the media-giant Time Warner and the Turkish Dogan Media Group,
the CNN-Turk, will start its 24 hour a day broadcasting at 20:00 local time
today. The slogan of the new TV channel will be, ''the news is true, if the
source is the CNN-Turk.''
[07] PROVOCATION Mehmet Kutlular, the owner of the Yeni Asya newspaper and
a leading name in the Nur (Divine Light) Sect, said they believed ''the
disasters like earthquakes were not coincidental, and one of the reasons
for the earthquake was ''the ban on students wearing Islamic-style
headscarves preventing them from entering the universities.'' In the
''mevlit'' at the Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara after the noon prayer,
Kutlular's booklet titled ''Psalm Warning: Earthquake'' was distributed as
a present. The booklet says, ''disasters are direct God's mercy and grace
to the oppressed. Earthquake is not a coincidental and aimless disaster.
Calling the quake coincidence is an endless idiocy. Earthquake disaster is
a means to awaken people from carelessness. Earthquake is a clear
punishment of the obvious unfaithfulness against the ban on Islamic-style
headscarf.''
[08] SABAH (LIBERAL) - -------------- MOSS-BACKED Mehmet Kutlular, the
leader of the ''Nur Sect'', burst out his hatred in the ''mevlit'' which is
a religious poem in the memory of a dead person, of Said-i Nursi. Kutlular
said that the plans of Februray 28 process was made in the Naval Forces
Commandership in Golcuk county of Kocaeli province and claimed that to this
end, Kocaeli is the epicenter of the devastating quake. Kutlular alleged
that not accepting the students wearing headscarfts to schools, also played
a role in the devastating quake.
[09] SLEPT FOR ONE MINUTE: 13 DEADS Serhat Carsi, a driver of the passenger
bus, slept for only one minute when he was driving from eastern Bingol
province to Istanbul and killed 13 people. A total of 34 passengers were
injured in the accident which happened near Caydut hamlet of Bolu province.
The driver of the bus said, ''we would stop at an installation after a
short time. Then, there was a puncture in one of the front tyres. I lost
the control and hit the barriers. I do not remember any other thing. I
wasn't sleepless.''
[10] CUMHURIYET (LEFT) - ---------------- POSTPONEMENT SIGNAL IN NUCLEAR
STATION Cumhur Ersumer, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources who
had earlier stated that ''we will finish this issue on October 15''
regarding the tender of Akkuyu Nuclear Power Station, said that they can
ask for additional time till December 31.
[11] WE DELAY FINAL Mustafa Denizli, the Turkish national team coach said
after the match played with German soccer team that ''we have not lost
anything, we only postponed playing in the finals to playoffs.'' Turkey and
Germany drew 0-0 in the third elimination group of the 11th European
Qualifying Matches on Saturday.
[12] RADIKAL (LEFT) - --------------- IMPORTANT WEEK WITH IMF The budget of
2000 is revised in line with the promises given to International Monetary
Fund (IMF). The stand-by agreement can be risky as the budget is loosened
due to political concerns. The close monitoring agreement with IMF which
foresees decreasing the inflation to one-digit number will terminate soon.
In this period, Turkey was appreciated by IMF by undertaking reforms in the
fields of social security, tax, banks, and arbitration. However, monetary
support of IMF depends on the implementation of the 2000 budget.
[13] DISASTER MONEY Compensation worth of 50 million Turkish liras will be
given to civil servants monthly who work in disaster region devastated by
the massive earthquake on August 17.
[14] TÜRKİYE (RIGHT) - ---------------- CHANGE INEVITABLE The support to
President Suleyman Demirel's ''criticisms against the system'' is
increasing. Fuat Miras, the Chairman of the Union of Turkish Chambers and
Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), said they were in a process for preparation of
a new Constitution, adding that they would bring the draft into the public
opinion in the shortest time. Salim Uslu, the Chairman of the Hak-Is labour
union, said the system was blocked while Zafer Caglayan, the Chairman of
the Ankara Chamber of Industry, and Sinan Aygun, the Chairman of the Ankara
Chamber of Commerce, said, ''the size of the jacket does not fit the
body.''
[15] CLINTON'S SUPPORT TO NATURAL GAS The agreement on Turkmen Natural Gas
will be signed in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE) Summit in Istanbul in November which will also be attended by U.S.
President Bill Clinton.
[16] ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) - ------------------- SHAMEFUL ATTITUDE TOWARDS
QUAKE SURVIVOR Those who turned a blind eye to the illegally constructed
buildings, those who encouraged the illegal constructions for their
political interests left the quake survivors alone in their hard days. The
government decided not to give permanent residences to the owners of the
illegally constructed buildings which collapsed in the devastating quake.
[17] DURMUS, HEALTH MINISTER, IN SILIVRI Osman Durmus, the Health Minister,
said that his ministry carried out free of charge health services worth of
four trillion Turkish liras in the disaster zone. Visiting Bayram Oz,
Silivri Head Official, Durmus noted that some of the statements he made
following the devastating quake were unfairly used by the press and that he
felt uneasy about this. Durmus added that they gave four trillion Turkish
liras of health service in the quake area in a month.
[18] AFTERSHOCKS CONTINUE
[19] ISTANBUL, Oct 11 (A.A) - Aftershocks continued on Sunday to shake the
disaster zone following the devastating earthquake in Marmara region on
August 17. The Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Center and
Seismology Institute listed the epicenters, hours, and the magnitudes of
the aftershocks which happened from 05.58 a.m. to 15.41 p.m. the same day
as follows:
[20] Hour Epicenter Magnitude: - --------- ---------- ------------ 13.20
2.6 Balıkesir-Susurluk 14.00 2.7 Yalova-Cınarcık 14.40 2.7 Yalova-Cınarcık
15.35 2.7 Balıkesir-Erdek 15.41 2.8 Bursa-Mudanya
[21] AFTERSHOCKS CONTINUE
[22] ISTANBUL, Oct 11 (A.A) - Aftershocks continued on Sunday to shake the
disaster zone following the devastating earthquake in Marmara region on
August 17. Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Center and Seismology
Institute listed the epicenters, hours and the magnitudes of the
aftershocks which happened from 17.46 p.m. to 20.36 p.m. the same day as
follows:
[23] Hour Epicenter Magnitude: - --------- ---------- ------------ 17.46
2.7 Cınarcık-Yalova 19.54 2.8 Marmara sea 20.36 2.8 Cınarcık-Yalova
[24] Meanwhile, an aftershock measuring 2.6 on the Richter scale shook
Marmaris county of western Mugla province at 22.24 p.m. following the quake
with a magnitude of 5.2 that shook the same place some time ago.
[25] AFTERSHOCKS CONTINUE
[26] ISTANBUL, Oct 11 (A.A) - Aftershocks continue to shake the disaster
zone following the massive earthquake that shook Marmara region of Turkey
on August 17. Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Center and
Seismology Institute recorded an aftershock measuring 3.9 on the Richter
scale in Cınarcık county of Yalova province at 05.47 a.m. on Monday.
[27] TURKEY-UNFPA
[28] ANKARA, Oct 11 (A.A) - Alain P. Mouchiroud, the U.N. Fund for
Population Activities (UNFPA) Representative to Turkey, said on Monday that
a 20-year action plan was prepared at the ''Population and Development
Conference'' five years ago in Cairo. The U.N. Representation in Turkey
issued a statement saying that Alain P. Mouchiroud stressed that the
countries which signed the Cairo Conference ''accepted the joint action in
the issues like removal of poverty, strengthening of women, and protection
of environment''. Alain P. Mouchiroud said that, as the UNFPA which carries
out activities to consolidate the tie between the population and
development in Turkey, they believed that the mass media organizations have
influential contributions to the initiatives for enabling people to become
conscious about population.
[29] UNFPA REPORT FOR 1999
[30] ANKARA, Oct 11 (A.A) - According to the report of the United Nations
Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) in 1999, the average life-span for
people living in Turkey is over the world average. The average life-span is
66.5 years for men and 71.7 years for women in Turkey. Turkey is over the
average in Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) and the income per capita is 6,470
dollars in respect of PPP. The report stresses that the average population
growth is 1.7 percent between 1995-2000 and the urbanization growth rate in
the same period is 3.5 percent. The avegare birth rate is 2.50 percent in
the same period. The population of Turkey will probably reach 87.9 millions
in 2025, the report notes. UNFPA report addes that the Turkish state spends
142 dollars per person in education and 161.4 dollars in health. Every 45
out of 1000 babies die after birth in Turkey while the average is 57 out of
1000 babies in the world.
[31] SECOND FOREIGN TRADE WEEK
[32] ANKARA, Oct 11 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel said on Monday that
the first target of Turkey in export is to reach 200 billion dollars in
2010. Speaking in the opening of the Second Foreign Trade Week, President
Demirel stated that transition from statist mentality to market economy is
crucial. Noting that Turkey is passing to a free market economy from
centralist economy, President Demirel said that Turkey has to harmonize its
economic regime with its democratic regime while entering the 21st century.
Demirel added that economic stability and political stability can't be
considered separately.
[33] GREEK DELEGATION DEPARTS KUSADASI
[34] KUSADASI, Oct 11 (A.A) - The Greek delegation departed Kusadasi county
of Aegean Aydin province on Sunday. The Greek delegation departed the
county after participating in the Coast Aegean Municipalities Union meeting
in Kusadasi. The delegation included Fligos Petruskas, the Mayor of Samos,
Mustafa Mustafa, a Turkish deputy from Western Thrace, some Greek
administrators, the representatives of the non-governmental organizations
and journalists. Prior to the departure, Mustafa Mustafa, Komotini Left
Alliance deputy, said that the Turkish-Greek approach had influences on the
Turkish minority in Western Thrace. Emphasizing that they are trying hard
to make the approach and rehabilitation process which started in 1990 a
lasting one, Mustafa noted that the Turkish-Greek dialogue constitutes a
''straight line.'' Stressing that some improvements are marked in the
relations despite some zigzags, Mustafa stated that the Turks living in
Western Thrace were influenced by the improvement of the relations between
Turkey and Greece. Noting that he is neither optimistic nor pessimistic
against all these developments, Mustafa stressed that they have to have the
belief of living together for peace. Stating that Greece can end the visa
application for Turkey, Mustafa emphasized that the visa problem can be
solved by bilateral meetings. Pointing out that the visas which are not
given due to the Schengen agreement can be valid for the islands close to
Turkey, Mustafa said that this project which will cover the islands, can
help getting more closer and improve the commercial and touristic
facilities.
[35] INTERNATIONAL PARLIAMENTARIANS UNION CONGRESS CONVENES IN BERLIN
[36] BERLIN, Oct 11 (A.A) - The International Parliamentarians Union
Congress meeting started in Berlin, the capital of Germany on Sunday
evening. A parliamentary delegation composed of seven deputies headed by
Cavit Kavak represents Turkey in the congress in which parliamentarians
from 138 countries participate. Speaking in the opening of the congress,
Johannes Rau, the German President said that the Congress which was founded
by two persons 110 years ago, has many important functions. Noting that the
Congress plays an effective role in protection of democracy, Rau said
''tolerance is the most significant part of democracy.'' Cavit Kavak, a
Motherland Party (ANAP) deputy met with German President Rau after the
meeting. Kavak thanked Rau for the aid sent by Germany after the massive
earthquake in Turkey, adding that he knows Rau as a President who is
friendly towards Turks and foreigners. Cavit Kavak will address the
congress about Cyprus question on Tuesday.
[37] FAKIR BAYKURT DIES...
[38] HANNOVER/OBERHAUSEN/ANKARA, Oct 11 (A.A) - Fakir Baykurt, a prominent
writer, passed away on Monday from pancreas cancer. Baykurt who was under
medical treatment in a hospital in Essen, Germany, died at 04:00 a.m. Fakir
Baykurt was born in Akcakoy village in Yesilova county of southern Burdur
province in 1929. He studied on educational issues at the University of
India, the U.S. He served as a teacher for years. He won Yunus Nadi
Literature Award in 1958 with his first novel named ''Revenge of Snakes''.
He worked as the Director General of Teachers Union of Turkey, the Director
General of Public Affairs and Publishing House of the Middle East Technical
University (METU), and the Counselor of Culture Ministry. He won a total of
8 awards both in Turkey and abroad with his works. A total of 12 works of
Bayturk were translated in German language. His works mainly focused on the
problems of villagers. Some of his works are as follows: ''Freckled
(Cilli)'' (1955), ''Mastership War (Efendilik Savasi)'' (1959), ''Dwarf
Mohammad (Cuce Muhammet)'' (1964), ''Anatolian Garage (Anadolu Garaji)''
(1970), ''Son in Prison (Icerdeki Ogul)'' (1974), ''Revenge of Snakes
(Yilanlarin Ocu)'' (1959), ''Irazca's Livelihood (Irazcanin Dirligi)''
(1961), ''Tenth Village (Onuncu Koy)'' (1961), ''Scythe (Tirpan)'' (1970),
''Alimony (Can Parasi)'' (1973), ''Legend of Kara Ahmet (Kara Ahmet
Destani'' (1978), ''Turtles (Kaplumbagalar)'' (1967), ''American Bandage
(Amerikan Sargisi)'' (1967), ''Plateau (Yayla)'' (1977), ''Stomachache
(Karin Agrisi)'' (1961), ''Tens of Thousands of Ox-Carts (On Binlerce
Kagni)'' (1971), ''Night Shift (Gece Vardiyasi)'' (1982), ''Peace Bun
(Baris Coregi)'' (1982), and ''Duisburg Train (Duisburg Treni)'' (1986).
[39] SECOND FOREIGN TRADE WEEK - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''TURKEY'S BIGGEST
MATTER IS TO HARMONIZE ITS ECONOMIC REGIME WITH DEMOCRATIC REGIME''
[40] ANKARA, October 11 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel said on Monday
that Turkey's biggest problem while entering to 21st century is to
harmonize its ''economic regime with democratic regime.'' Addressing the
Second Foreign Trade Week, President Demirel put Turkey's target in foreign
trade as 200 billion U.S. dollars in the year 2010, stressing that ''if we
can reach 200 billion U.S. dollars, we can catch Belgium's level.''
Pointing out that Turkey was passing from centralist economy to free market
economy, Demirel said, ''it should do this. You can not benefit from
enterprise power unless you pass to market economy.'' Demirel said market
economy was not only capital, raw material, and market, noting that
''creative power of the person lies under it. We are thinking of the method
of education system as entering to 21st century. Let us make a system that
people of 21st century will have creative power.'' Demirel said the state
should review all its rules and regulations and its mentality, and pointed
out that ''I mean we should pass to a mixed and competitive economy. It is
impossible to carry out new investments in an economic order where most of
the economy is under the ruling of the state because it is impossible for
the individual to compete with the state.'' Demirel said, ''I am
insistently saying that the biggest problem of Turkey is that it should
harmonize its economic regime with democratic regime. Only political rights
and basic freedoms will not be enough.'' Recalling that Turkey had 50
million U.S. dollars exportation, and 80 million U.S. dollars importation
in the foundation of Republic, Demirel said the total exportation and
importation reached 75 billion U.S. dollars in the year 1999. Demirel said
Turkey's primary target is to reach 200 billion U.S. dollars in the year
2010. Demirel said Turkey which sells goods to 135 countries got many
markets in the world, adding that the most important one among these
markets is the Western European market. Stressing that Turkey should become
a country that produces, Demirel said ''Turkey should build factories and
sell its products.''
[41] CELEBRATIONS TO MARK REPUBLIC DAY LIMITED
[42] ANKARA, Oct 11 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit issued a circular
on Monday to limit celebrations to mark the Republic Day on October 29 in
the wake of the earthquake which devastated Marmara Region and claimed
thousands of lives on August 17. In accordance with the circular,
celebrations will be limited with laying wreaths in Mausoleum of Mustafa
Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Republic of Turkey, and the Ataturk
monuments in different provinces.
[43] PRIVATIZATION ADMINISTRATION BOARD TO CONVENE ON TUESDAY
[44] ANKARA, October 11 (A.A) - Privatization Administration Board (OYK),
will convene on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Bulent
Ecevit. OYK is expected to convene in Premiership Central Building at 10:00
local time. Privatization implementations for 1999 and program of the year
2000 is expected to be discussed at the meeting.
[45] PRIME MINISTER ECIVET SENDS A LETTER TO IRAQI VICE PRESIDENT RAMADAN
[46] BAGHDAD, Oct 11 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit sent a letter to
Taha Yassin Ramadan, Iraqi Vice President, on Monday. The Iraqi state-run
INA Agency noted that Selim Karaosmanoglu, Turkish Charge D'Affaires in
Baghdad, conveyed Prime Minister Ecevit's letter to Ramadan. The INA Agency
also said that the letter underlined importance of cooperation between
Turkey and Iraq.
[47] MEMBERS OF TURKEY-EU JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION TURKISH FLANK DUE
TO BRUSSELS
[48] ANKARA, Oct 11 (A.A) - A delegation formed by members of the Turkey-
European Union (EU) Joint Parliamentary Turkish flank will leave for
Brussels on Tuesday. The delegation headed by Kursat Eser, the Co-President
of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission, will hold contacts with the
members of the political groups in European Parliament, chairmen of
commissions, and the EU parliamentarians. The delegation is expected to
return to Turkey on October 16. Responding to questions of journalists,
Eser said that the relations between Turkey and the EU were passing through
a very sensitive period. Stressing that all negotiations were important
before the EU Summit in Helsinki in December, Eser added, ''all
institutions, including non-governmental organizations, must fulfil their
duties until the enlargement will is put forward.''
[49] INVITATION FROM GREECE TO ALIAGA MAYOR
[50] KUSADASI, October 11 (A.A) - Leftist Union, formed by several parties
and non-governmental organizations in Greece, invited Hakki Ulku, Aliaga
Mayor, to a conference that will take place in Athens on October 20 which
will be staged to halt armament race. Nikos Constantopoulos, the Chairman
of Leftist Union, said in his invitation letter that peoples who are in the
two shores of the Aegean entered into an atmosphere where solidarity and
good will prevailed. Constantopoulos said review of relations between
Turkey and Greece and investigating armament race between the two countries
came to the agenda as an outcome of this new atmosphere. He said the
Leftist Union made a call to put an end to armament race between Turkey and
Greece basing on these views. Constantopoulos said their call received
support in Greece, adding that a conference was staged to discuss this
initiative of the Leftist Union and to further improve it. He said their
target was to exert effort to initiate dialogues between the two countries
to reduce arms reciprocally. In the letter, it was noted that many famous
people from political, social, and scientific circles from the EU member
countries will participate in the meeting. Hakki Ulku, Mayor of Aliaga,
said they will fulfill their obligations in rapproachment and dialogue
efforts between the two countries, adding that ''this dialogue should be
improved. I believe that this initiative should be supported.''
[51] PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT RECEIVES BULUNC, TRNC AMBASSADOR
[52] ANKARA, October 11 (A.A) - Ahmet Zeki Bulunc, the Ambassador of
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to Ankara, said on Monday that
the visit of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to the U.S. had important results
for the preservation of the interests of Cypriot people. Responding to the
questions of reporters after meeting with Prime Minister Ecevit, Bulunc
said he paid a visit of courtesy as he was newly appointed to his post.
Bulunc said he conveyed Ecevit the issues related with Cyprus. Pointing out
that he responded to the questions of Ecevit related with the economic and
political position of TRNC, he said, ''Ecevit was closely interested in
issues like water project, university projects, and economic informations.
We also focused on the results of his visit to the U.S. and the importance
of the visit for us.'' Responding to a question of a journalist saying if
there was a change in the views of Ecevit regarding Cyprus question during
his visit to the U.S, Bulunc said, ''there is no such effect. We have
observed that the determination in this policy continues.''
[53] THEODORAKIS, FARANDURI AND LIVANELI TO SING TOGETHER AT ''FRIENDSHIP
CONCERT'' IN ISTANBUL AND ATHENS
[54] ISTANBUL, October 11 (A.A) - Mikis Theodorakis, Maria Faranduri and
Zulfu Livaneli will give a ''Friendship Concert'' at Istanbul's Harbiye
open air theater on October 12 and at Athens Constitution Square on October
13. The concert was postponed due to the earthquake which hit Athens on
September 8. An orchestra composed of Turkish, Greek, and German musicians
will accompany Theodorakis, Faranduri, and Livaneli on Tuesday night. The
concert will start at 7.30 p.m. All the revenues of the concert will be
given to quake victims both in Turkey and Greece. The tickets are available
at Vakkorama branches, various book and music stores and Harbiye open air
theater. Tasos Mandelis, the Greek Transportation and Communication
Minister, five parliamentarians, artists, and unionists will come to
Istanbul from Greece on Tuesday to watch the concert.
A.A
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