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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-10-17
[01] AA Daily
17 October 1999 Sunday
[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
[03] These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in
Turkey's press on October 17, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify
these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
[04] HURRIYET (LIBERAL) - ------------------ SCANDAL CONFESSION:''WE PAID
SALARIES OF WORKERS AND CIVIL SERVANTS WITH IMF'S EARTHQUAKE AID'' Recep
Onal, State Minister in charge of Treasury, said the economy suffered a big
blow after the earthquake. ''We were in such a difficult situation, we
couldn't even pay the salaries of workers and civil servants. We finally
ended up paying them from the 500 million U.S. dollar earthquake aid of the
IMF. Onal who answered the questions of the reporters after the meeting
said they would put this money back by collecting additional taxes.
[05] IFC: ''TURKEY WOULD NOT GO THROUGH A CRISIS'' Peter L. Woicke, the
World Bank Private Sector Credits Director and International Finance
Company (IFC) Chairman, said the Turkish government's approach to the
budget was positive and assured that the World Bank would continue to
support Turkey. Woicke noted that they did not expect an economic crisis in
Turkey, and that Turkey was in many ways at a better point than Asian,
South American and African countries.
[06] MILLIYET (LIBERAL) - ----------------- ECEVIT: ''PREFABRICATED HUTS
WOULD NOT BE COMPLETED SOON'' Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, President
Suleyman Demirel, and other government officials will visit disaster area
today. Ecevit said the prefabricated huts which will be built to replace
the 130 tent-cities, would not be completed too soon. The government
yesterday announced that the quake victims who were left homeless would be
given six billion Turkish Liras.
[07] A HAPPY TURN IN THE EU The positive atmoshpere recently formed in the
EU about Turkey's candidacy, is becoming more obvious every day. The
disagreement among the EU members dropped to a minimum at a dinner the
leaders had the day before, and they all together said they did not see any
problems regarding Turkey's candidacy. Germany, Britain and France are the
three big countries which played an active role to form this attitute in
the EU.
[08] SABAH (LIBERAL) - -------------- WE WILL PULL IT DOWN! State Minister
Recep Onal who spoke at an economy summit in Antalya's Tourism and Economy
Research Center said, ''we would sign a stand-by agreement with IMF not
because international institutions want, but because it is for the interest
of Turkish people''. Onal also said the government still considered the
inflation as the biggest problem, and would not deviate from its determined
struggle to pull it down. The government will make the inflation drop to
single digit numbers in the near future and decrease the budget deficits,
he explained.
[09] IFC: ''EVERYTHING WILL BE DIFFERENT IF YOU ENTER EU'' Peter Woicke,
Chairman of International Finace Company (IFC), said Turkey would have more
opportunities to work with IFC if it enters the EU. Woicke noted that the
Turkish private sector had qualified human resource, but its only problem
was not having a developed capital market.
[10] CUMHURIYET (LEFT) - ---------------- GANGS EXCLUDED FROM THE SCOPE OF
AMNESTY Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that the coalition partners
agreed to exclude the ''gangs'' from the scope of the amnesty law.
Regarding the amnesty law, Ecevit said they brought the issue on the agenda
due to totally humanitarian reasons, adding, ''every party has its own
opinion. Even if we don't like it, we have to show respect.'' Ecevit added,
''We started to seek compromise among the coalition partners when the
amnesty law was vetoed by the President. We can't agree on every issue and
this should be shown tolerance.''
[11] QUAKE HUT COLLAPSES, KILLING ONE PERSON One person died when the
construction of dwelling which is being built for quake victims, collapsed
in Ferizli county of Sakarya province. Four people were injured in the
incident.
[12] ECONOMY SUMMIT IN ANTALYA State Minister Recep Onal said that Turkey
will sign a stand-by agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
till the end of 1999. ''We will sign the agreement for the interest of our
people not to satisfy international organizations,'' he said. The ''Economy
summit'', which was organized by the Tuorism, Economy, Scientific Research
and Promotion Center (TEBIAD), started in Goynuk hamlet in Kemer county of
southern Antalya province.
[13] RADIKAL (LEFT) - --------------- EU: ''TURKEY SHOULD BECOME A
CANDIDATE'' Important progress was recorded in the chance for announcement
of Turkey's European Union (EU) candidacy at the Helsinki Summit during the
two-day EU Summit in Tampere, Finland. The heads of states and governments
of member countries to the EU agreed on announcement of Turkey as a
candidate at the Helsinki Summit which will be held in December.
[14] AFTERSHOCKS CONTINUE Aftershocks continued to shake the disaster zone
in the wake of the 7.4-magnitude earthquake which devastated northwestern
part of Turkey on August 17. Officials at the Bogazici University Kandilli
Observatory Center and Seismology Institute recorded 3 aftershocks with
magnitudes ranging from 2.7 to 3.2 on the Richter scale in Hendek, Yalova
and Cinarcik. Meanwhile, an earthquake measuring 3.5 on the Richter Scale
shook Cerkes county of Cankiri province at 08:00 local time on Saturday.
[15] TÜRKİYE (RIGHT) - ---------------- DEMIREL AND ECEVIT IN DISASTER AREA
President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will visit the
provinces which were devastated by the 7.4-magnitude quake on August 17.
President Demirel and Prime Minister Ecevit are also scheduled to attend
the ceremony where a total of 6,438 prefabricated huts will be handed over
to their owners.
[16] TSK DONATES 1.3 TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS FOR QUAKE VICTIMS A total of 1
trillion 324 billion Turkish Liras were collected by the Turkish Armed
Forces (TSK) personnel for quake victims who were left homeless and
destitude by the quake disaster. The money was allocated to the ''Central
Bank Account for Quake Victims''.
[17] THREE TOURISTS KILLED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT A passenger bus carrying
German tourists to Izmir from Bodrum collided with a lorry near Milas
county of Aegean Mugla province. Seven people including three German
tourists were killed in the accident while 22 others were injured.
[18] PRESIDENT DEMIREL DUE TO AZERBAIJAN
[19] ANKARA, Oct 17 (A.A) - President Suleyman Demirel will pay one-day
visit to Azerbaijan on Monday as the guest of President Haydar Aliyev of
Azerbaijan. Releasing a statement, the Presidential Press Center stressed
that Demirel would exchange opinions with President Aliyev on the bilateral
and regional issues. The oil and natural gas pipeline projects are expected
to taken up during the meeting. General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, Chief of
General Staff; Cumhur Ersumer, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy
and Natural Resources; and high-level officials will accompany President
Demirel during his visit to Azerbaijan. The statement also added, ''Turkey
that has historical, cultural and humanitarian ties with Azerbaijan, have
attributed great importance to further improvement of bilateral relations
with this country. Turkey has always assisted Azerbaijan in overcoming the
problems, and will continue to do so. President Demirel's visit to Baku
will underline once again the friendly relations between the two
countries.''
[20] PREFABRICATED HUTS GIVEN TO THEIR OWNERS
[21] YALOVA, Oct 17 (A.A) - President Demirel and Prime Minister Bulent
Ecevit attended the ceremony on Sunday where prefabricated huts were given
to quake victims. Demirel said that their goal was not to leave anyone in
the tents before the winter. Ecevit said the government mobilized all its
sources to provide reliable housing for quake victims before the winter.
All survivors will be provided temporary housing, and efforts to build
permanent residences continue, Ecevit reminded. He also added that the
government would help those who want to buy a house. Demirel said 120,000
people currently stayed at 120 tent-cities and 250,000 people are given
food every day. ''These were the first things that had to be done. The next
stage is to survive the winter. We will live in temporary houses this
winter and rebuild our cities in the spring,'' he said. ''The government is
building 26,000 prefabricated huts and our people will build 8,000 others
with their contributions. A total of 24,000 buildings will be distributed
to its owners until the end of November. Our goal is to leave no one living
in the tents this winter,'' Demirel said. The government will provide
financial aid to those who will rent an apartment, give 6 billion Turkish
Liras to those who want to buy a house, and also help those who repair
their damaged buildings, he reminded. ''This way, we will heal the wounds
of our people. There will be no temporary housing problem by the end of
November 1999, and permanent housing will be provided until November of
1000. Next year we will rebuild our villages, cities and towns and we will
continue our way as if nothing happened except for our suffering. My
request from you is not to lose faith in yourself and in our state. We can
only heal the wounds with the cooperation of the state and people.''
Demirel said. Later the keys of prefabricated huts were presented to its
owners. Demirel and Ecevit also gave keys to some quake survivors.
[22] PREFABRICATED HUTS GIVEN TO THEIR OWNERS
[23] YALOVA, Oct 17 (A.A) - A total of 380 prefabricated huts were given to
their owners on Sunday at a ceremony attended by President Suleyman Demirel
and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Koray Aydin, the Minister of Public Works
and Housing who spoke at the ceremony said the magnitute of the disaster
was conceived better two months after the quake. He reminded that a total
of 250,000 residences and business places were damaged in the quake. ''The
state will heal the wounds. There is no other place we can trust,'' Aydin
said. The government's priority is to provide temporary housing to those
who live in tents, and it is building prefabricated huts in 69 different
spots by foreign aid, and private sector's contributions. The Minister
noted that quake survivors in Kobe were given temporary housing seven
months after the quake, and said the Turkish government displayed good
organizational skills by managing to provide temporary housing for quake
survivors in such a short period of time. Yasar Okuyan, the Minister of
Labour and Social Security, said residents in Yalova, like in other areas,
will know how to cope with difficultues. ''We left behind two months where
we displayed the best example of national solidarity. We are proud of this.
We trust our government and our people,'' Okuyan said. Nihat Ozgol, the
Yalova Governor, reminded that 2,502 people died and 4,500 were injured in
Yalova. More than 10,000 buildings either completely collapsed or suffered
heavy damage. A total of 5,970 houses will be built for quake survivors
including the 380 huts which were given to their owners on Sunday, he
explained.
[24] ECEVIT ANNOUNCES MEASURES TAKEN FOR QUAKE SURVIVORS
[25] ANKARA, Oct 17 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Saturday
that the government would provide 6 billion Turkish Liras (TL) for quake
survivors who want to build their own homes or want to buy a residence
anywhere in Turkey. Ecevit explained the measures taken to deal with the
problems caused by the quake. ''As of October 1, 1999, 100 million TL is
given to quake survivors for 12 months. More than 80,000 people who were
left homeless, applied for this aid and 20,000 of them already received aid,
'' he explained. Following are the other measures: - Those whose houses
suffered minor damage, will be given 600 million TL. - Those whose business
places suffered damage, will also be given aid from 200 million TL to 500
million TL depending on to the seriousness of the damage. - Those who lost
their close relatives, will be given 750 million TL. - Those who became
handicapped in the quake, will be given from 300 million TL to 500 million
TL.
[26] ECEVIT ANNOUNCES MEASURES TAKEN FOR QUAKE SURVIVORS
[27] ANKARA, Oct 17 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Saturday
that they provided adequate domestic and foreign resource to heal the
wounds of the quake, adding that the government was putting all its efforts
to solve the temporary housing problem of quake victims before the end of
November. The constuction of prefabricated huts continue at a fast pace,
and soon they will replace the 130 tent-cities, Ecevit noted. ''It is not
possible to complete them more quickly because both Turkish firms and some
foreign countries who will send aid, must first do prior preparations.
Their equipments should be transported. The infrastructure must be
completed by the government. But all these gained momentum now,'' Ecevit
said. Ecevit said he and President Demirel would attend the opening of some
settlement areas of prefabricated huts in Yalova, Kocaeli and Hendek on
Sunday. ''Tents which are suitable for bad weather conditions, brought from
foreign countries will soon replace Red Crescent's tents. We are putting
every effort to solve the temporary housing problem of quake survivors
before the end of November,'' he added. Following are the new measures the
government decided to take to speed up the recovery process in disaster
areas. - Farmers who suffered financial loss in the quake, will be given
one year term credit with no interest. - Students will benefit from
financial relief measures. - Public workers will be paid compensation. -
Teachers who work in disaster areas, will receive an extra payment of 100
million Turkish Liras. - The shares of provincial administrations and
municipalities have been increased. - Financial relief measures are being
taken for the handicapped. - Credits given for constructions, were
increased. The depts of prior credits were cancelled, and new credit
opportunities were created for constructions. - Quake survivors will be
able to stay free at guest houses of public institutions. - Children of
families in disaster areas will be given priority in university
dormitories. - Investors who suffered financial loss in the quake, will be
given extra time and will be helped to buy machinary and equipment. When
asked about the amount of cash set aside for these activities from the
budget, Ecevit said he could not give an exact amount. ''We have provided
adequate domestic and foreign resource. But I cannot give an exact amount.
Because we have not yet received the promised aid from some countries and
institutions. But the government is right now strong enough to carry this
load on its own,'' Ecevit replied. Responding to another question, Ecevit
said they would sign a stand-by agreement with IMF which will make it
easier to obtain credits from international institutions. No exact date has
been set up for the agreement, he added.
[28] TOURISM MINISTER MUMCU: - ''NEW PROGRAMME PREPARED FOR TOURISM IN
TURKEY''
[29] KEMER, Oct 17 (A.A) - Erkan Mumcu, the Minister of Tourism, said on
Sunday that Turkey would enter a new era in tourism by the new programme
prepared to develop tourism in Turkey. Mumcu spoke at the Economy Summit
organized in Antalya's Goynuk region by Tourism and Economy Scientific
Research and Promotion Cemter (TEBIAT). Turkey currently has a 1.6 percent
share in the world's tourism, Mumcu reminded. ''In 20 years, the world's
tourism will grow by four times and Turkey's tourism income will reach 40
billion U.S. dollars if it preserves its 1.6 percent share. Turkey has
enough investments to have 4 or 5 percent share from the world tourism.
Turkey can increase its share through right planning and promotion,'' he
explained. ''We will propose programmes that will surprise everyone. We
will complete preparations in one month to legalize this programme. This
will be the second stage of the tourism move which was started in the late
President Turgut Ozal's time. This programme includes new investments and
new encouragements,'' he said and added that a bright future in tourism is
waiting for Turkey after 2000's.
[30] 500 PREFABRICATED HUTS TO ARRIVE IN HAYDARPASA PORT ON TUESDAY
[31] ANKARA, Oct 17 (A.A) - Japanese ships which are bringing 500
prefabricated huts for quake survivors will arrive at Haydarpasa Port on
October 19, 1999. The huts will be unloaded at Haydarpasa Port, and will be
transported to Arifiye county of Adapazari by railroad. Salih Reis frigate
of the Turkish fleet will accompany the Japanese fleet during their passage
from Canakkale Strait. Colonel Yoshio Komoria, the Commander of the
Japanese fleet, will meet high level navy officials. The Japanese ships
will leave Istanbul on October 23, and will participate in a joint training
in East Mediterranean's international waters with the Turkish TCG Gaziantep
and TCG Akdeniz frigates.
[32] PROJECT STARTS TO END POLLUTION IN IZMIR GULF
[33] ANKARA, Oct 17 (A.A) - Railroads, Ports and Airports General
Directorate of the Transportation Ministry opened a tender for the cleaning
and enlargement project of Izmir Gulf on Sunday. The project which is
expected to cost around 63 trillion Turkish Liras will be run by the
related company groups using ''build-operatate-transfer'' system. The
biddings will start on January 31, 2000. Foreign companies which operate in
Turkey as well as Turkish companies will participate in the tender. The
authorities said the pollution and the bad smell in Izmir Gulf will
disappear, and the port will be cleaned off the mud. The same project aims
to enlarge the Izmir Port which is among Turkey's biggest trade and tourism
centers.
[34] AFTERSHOCKS CONTINUE
[35] ISTANBUL/KADIKOY, Oct 17 (A.A) - Aftershocks continued to shake
disaster area on Saturday in the wake of the 7.4-magnitude quake which
devastated northwestern part of Turkey on August 17. Officials at the
Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Center and Seismology Institute
recorded 3 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 2.7 to 3.2 on the
Richter scale in Hendek county of Adapazari province, Yalova, and in
Cinarcik county of Yalova province between 18:29 local time on Friday and
14:02 local time on Saturday. Meanwhile, an earthquake measuring 3.5 on the
Richter Scale shook Cerkes county of central Cankiri province at 08:00
local time on Saturday.
[36] THE U.S.' INTEREST IN GAP GROWS
[37] GAZIANTEP, Oct 17 (A.A) - The U.S' interest in the Southeastern
Anatolia Project (GAP) is growing. The U.S. trade delegation which will
visit Gaziantep on October 19 is a confirmation of this interest. The
Guncel Haber, publication of European Commission's Turkey Representative
Bureau, said local economic institutions in Turkey started working on
proposals which might lead to a Turkish-U.S. cooperation during the visit
of the U.S. delegation to Gaziantep which is regarded as the gate opening
to GAP. Gaziantep draws attention by its striking economic growth and high
levels of export and private investments. Mark Parris, the U.S. Ambassador
to Turkey; John Breidenstine, the Commerce Attachee of the U.S. Embassy;
Helena Finn, the Undersecretary of Public Relations; Peter Ballanger from
Overseas Private Investments Company (OPIC); Debprah Forhan from Trade
Development Association (TDA); Julie Panoro from Eximbank; Oya Smith from
U.S. Information Service (ISIS), and Stuart Jone, the U.S. Counsul General
in Adana, will be in the delegation. Representatives of Cargill, Chase
Manhattan Bank, Du Pont Products, Enron Europe, Fisher Scientific Worldwide,
First Union National, GE Power Systems, IBS Research and Consultancy,
Intergraph, March Insurance, Mobil Global Gas and Power Inc., S&S
Energy Products, Oracle Computer Systems, Parsons Brinkerhoff International
Inc., Raytheon, Thalle Construction Compnay Inc., Timken Europe GmbH,
United Airlines, Frite Lay, Boss Irrigation and Stewart and Stephensen will
be also in the delegation. These firms operate and give service in food,
finance, textile, energy, telecommunication, business counseling,
fisibility activities, photography and map drawing using satellites,
computer, engineering, energy products, irrigation, construction management,
air transport and generator sectors.
A.A
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