Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-07-02

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

NEWS

02 JULY 2000 Sunday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] MHP LEADER BAHCELI SAYS GOVERNMENT HAS POLITICAL WILL TO CONTINUE ECONOMIC STABILITY PROGRAMME

[03] GAP IS WORLD'S EIGHTH BIGGEST PROJECT

[04] DENKTAS SAYS HE WILL DEFEND TRNC'S RIGHTS IN GENEVA

[05] QUAKE ACCOUNTS -NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS, OPENED AS A PART OF QUAKE AID, REACHED TO 2,958

[06] GAP EXPORTS PRODUCTS WORTH OF 222,4 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF 2000

[07] TYD AND AGTE REPRESENTATIVES CONFIRM THEIR DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE COOPERATION IN TOURISM

[08] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS URGES ECONOMIC PACKAGE PREPARED BY EXPERTS OF TURKEY TO BE IMPLEMENTED

[09] REPRESENTATIVES OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS COMMEMORATE THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES AT MADIMAK HOTEL IN SIVAS SEVEN YEARS AGO

[10] FIVE NEW POWER PLANTS TO BE CONSTRUCTED

[11] TURKISH, GREEK AND BULGARIAN SINGERS SING AT ''FRIENDSHIP NIGHT''

[12] MIRZAOGLU, STATE MINISTER: ''UNFORTUNATELY, NAVAL CARGO AND PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY''

[13] BODRUM'S ANCIENT CITY WALLS UNDER RESTORATION

[14] TWO MOUNTAINERS STRANDED IN SOUTHERN ANTALYA PROVINCE

[15] REPRESENTATIVES OF WORKERS UNIONS AND POLITICAL PARTIES REMEMBER BEZIRCI AT HIS TOMB IN ZINCIRLIKUYU CEMETERY

[16] FIVE OF 29 FUNDAMENTALISTS SENT TO PRISON

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

The Albanian children were welcomed with flowers. Among those children, there are those who lost their families in civil war in Kosovo. The children will spend 15 days in Turkey. The second group is expected to be in Turkey on July 15.

PERMISSION FROM BAHCELI
Devlet Bahceli, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said on Saturday that joining of Mesut Yilmaz, leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP) to the Council of Ministers would also be beneficial for the country, adding that, ''we are ready to benefit from his experiences.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Prime Ministry ''Quake Accounts Commission'' Investigation Report said the donations and aid accounts were evaluated in the banks.

''THE YEAR 2001 WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT IF WE MAKE CONCESSION'' BAHCELI
Devlet Bahceli, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) said, ''if we begin to make concessions from the economic program, the year 2001 will be more difficult socially and economically.''

Bahceli pointed out that Turkey was faced with chronic inflation for 25 years, adding that the government gave priority in struggle against inflation.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Kutan said he thought that Constitutional Court will disclose its decision regarding closure case of FP, in September or mid October. Kutan defended that a decision will be taken in the direction of not closing FP. Kutan said in different platforms, he pointed out the view that his party would not be closed, and noted that leading jurists of Turkey made statements supporting his own view.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Turkish Bars Union, which issued a message on the anniversary of Sivas massacre, stressed fundamentalist danger and said, ''our duty is to embrace Aaturk's reforms and principles and to carry out an organized struggle against those who want to destroy republic.''

CABOTAGE DAY CELEBRATED
July 1 Martime and Cabotage Day was celebrated throughout the whole country and in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) with activities. Cabotage Day means Turkey's usage of its ships in its harbours.

Presidential Press Center said President Sezer issued a message due to Cabotage Day. In his message Sezer said Turkish Republic was founded on a dynamic structure that is open to every kind of contemporary development due to foresightedness of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of modern Turkish republic.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

HOLBROOKE NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT CYPRUS TALKS
UN Permanent Representative Richard Holbrooke said he was not optimistic about the third round of proximity talks in Cyprus. ''I'm hoping for progress, but I am not optimistic on this issue, '' Holbrooke said. Holbrooke claimed that the Turkish Cypriots' insistence on sovereignty is blocking the talks. He said if the talks would be successful, it would open the way to the European Union for Cyprus. ''It would be a tragedy if this opportunity is missed,'' he said.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

FIRE IN SOULS HAVE NOT YET BEEN PUT OUT
Writers associations held a press briefing on the seventh anniversary of the incident in Sivas which took place on July 2, 1993 killing 37 people. They said the society should be watchful for anti-secular movements. Many writers and Refika Bezirci, the wife of Asim Bezirci who died in the fire attended the meeting. Turkey Writers Union Chairperson Cengiz Bektas said what they were most upset about was the indifference of those who were in power during the time of the incident.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

DIYARBAKIR LIKES HAMBURGER
The fast food trend in Turkey is spreading to the eastern parts of the country. Burger King's Turkey representative TAB Food Industry grew rapidly in five years and now it has 103 restaurants all over Turkey. Burger King General Manager Alp Gurdil said they are targeting to open restaurants in all corners of Turkey. ''We had no worries while setting up restaurants in western Turkey or in tourist areas where there was a fast food culture,'' Gurdil said. ''But we were reluctant when we opened a branch in Diyarbakir where there is a certain food culture and people have low incomes. We weren't expecting high sales like this. Our sales are going very well.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[02] MHP LEADER BAHCELI SAYS GOVERNMENT HAS POLITICAL WILL TO CONTINUE ECONOMIC STABILITY PROGRAMME

After having a meeting with Cay mayor Ismail Kokcur, Bahceli addressed to people from the municipality building.

Noting that the government has been working in harmony over a year, Bahceli said the Parliament passed 134 laws in the last term. He said there are still many problems that are waiting for solution.

Turkey has been suffering from high inflation for 25 years, Bahceli stated and added that the 57th government started a fight against inflation and it has the political determination to complete the economic stability programme which they started to pull down the inflation.

''I know about your troubles and your complaints but we have to do this. 2001 will be a better year for Turkey. Our nation knows this and continues to support the government's programme despite the hardships it causes,'' Bahceli said.

[03] GAP IS WORLD'S EIGHTH BIGGEST PROJECT

GAP covers Adiyaman, Batman, Kilis, Diyarbakir, Gaziantep, Mardin, Siirt, Sanliurfa and Sirnak which is ten percent of the total Turkish land.

GAP is estimated to cost 32 billion U.S. dollars after it is completed. By the end of 1999, 44 percent of the project was finished.

By the end of 1999, 6 quadrillion 555 trillion 431 billion TL was spent on the project. This year, 416 trillion TL is expected to be spent for GAP.

Once the project is completed, 28 percent of Turkey's total water potential will be taken under control through the dams that are built on Tigris and Euphrates.

A total of 1,7 million hectars of land will be irrigated and hydroelectric centrals will produce 27 billion kilowatt/hour of electric energy.

GAP will increase economic proceeds 4,5 times in the area. This will create employment for 3,8 million people living in the south east. Agricultural production is expected to increase from 12 million tons to 23 milllion tons.

The Ataturk Dam, the symbol of GAP, was completed in 1990 and it is the sixth biggest dam of the world.

[04] DENKTAS SAYS HE WILL DEFEND TRNC'S RIGHTS IN GENEVA

Denktas said he will leave for Geneva on July 4. ''If there is a chance for peace, if the Greek Cypriots act reasonable, we will not miss this opportunity,'' he said. ''We will do our best for peace. But if they insist on their old ways, we will not fall into that trap.''

Denktas said they will ''overcome their troubles no matter how difficult they are,'' and added that Turkey will help the TRNC to build a better future.

[05] QUAKE ACCOUNTS -NUMBER OF ACCOUNTS, OPENED AS A PART OF QUAKE AID, REACHED TO 2,958

Announcement of Prime Ministry regarding Study Report of ''Quake Accounts Inspection Commission,'' was issued on Saturday's Official Gazette.

The annoucement included information about the accounts of aid collected for quake, concerned regulations for the usage and inspection of them, and determining of quake accounts.

According to the information included in the announcement, number of accounts that were opened as of May reached to 2,958, and the total cost in Ziraat Bank Center Branch reached to 158.93 trillion lira.

A total of 127.1 trillion lira was transferred to Disasters Fund as of May 22, and 28 billion lira has been tranferred to Disaster Regional Directorate.

The annoucement said works to gather information regarding the aid quake in other banks, private finance institutions and related organizations are about to be concluded.

The annoucement said the bank accounts, opened in representatives abroad under the information of Foreign Ministry, were transferred to Ziraat Bank Centeral Branch.

The sum of the collected money in Ziraat Bank's central brach grew with the interest added on it.

The annoucement also included the activities and expenses made by Disaster Region Coordinatorship.

Personnel expenses in the coordinatorship reached 190.850 billion lira as of April 24, 2000. A total of 30,759 billion lira was paid to the civil servants in the coordinatorship as overtime.

A total of 1,688 trillion lira was paid for Mehmetcik tent site set up in Kocaeli, Bolu and Duzce provinces. The Disaster Region Coordinatorship spent 240.208 billion Turkish lira apaprt from personnel and tent site expenses.

[06] GAP EXPORTS PRODUCTS WORTH OF 222,4 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF 2000

In the same period of last year, GAP's export products to 89 countries brought an income of 224 million 139,000 U.S. dollars. Compared to last year, there is a 0.8 percent drop in the export rate.

Southeast Anatolia Exporters Union Chairman Abdulkadir Cikmaz told A.A correspondent that they exported textile, grains, seeds, dried fruit, synthetic and cotton thread, machine made rugs, animal products, and fresh fruits and vegetables in January-May period of this year. GAP exported the highest amount of products to Iraq, Italy and Syria.

[07] TYD AND AGTE REPRESENTATIVES CONFIRM THEIR DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE COOPERATION IN TOURISM

Tourism Investors Association (TYD) and Greek Tourism Enterpreneurs Association (AGTE) agreed to work together in tourism sector six months ago and their members gathered in Marmara Bodrum Hotel on Saturday night where they confirmed they want to continue their cooperation.

TYD and AGTE representatives formed a joint committee of six people. The representatives decided to turn the Aegean to a ''sea of peace'' and to use the Aegean in international tourism market. They have also agreed to exchange tourism personnel and provide training for them.

There will be two tourism fairs in Salonica in fall and in Istanbul in February, 2001. Both associations will be represented at the fairs.

As a part of the decisions they have reached, AGTE and TYD will work to set up joint investments and the two countries will inform each other about the tourism developments in their countries.

Representatives from both associations will get together in Crete Island in September to confirm their determination to continue the cooperation.

The joint committee will gather in Istanbul in July and in Athens in August.

[08] TRNC PRESIDENT DENKTAS URGES ECONOMIC PACKAGE PREPARED BY EXPERTS OF TURKEY TO BE IMPLEMENTED

Denktas said economic impasse will be worse if current implementations continue, adding that Turkey throws a rescue rope with this economic package. Denktas said, ''either we will save ourselves by cathing this rope, or we will refuse it by saying people would not accept this package.''

Denktas said problems grew because of the wrong policies implemented in the country for a long time, adding that economic package was prepared in this respect.

President Denktas pointed out that governments failed to take required measures in time, made extravagancy, and noted that they have come to the point of implementing ''bitter receipe'' to better the economy.

Stressing that it was a must to struggle again problems, Denktas said, ''everybody should put their hands under the stone if a recipe will be implemented and if we want to save economy from the crisis.''

[09] REPRESENTATIVES OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS COMMEMORATE THOSE WHO LOST THEIR LIVES AT MADIMAK HOTEL IN SIVAS SEVEN YEARS AGO

On the seventh anniversary of the fire at Madimak Hotel in Sivas, representatives of some political parties and democratic non-governmental organizations laid a wreath on the Ataturk Monument at Cumhuriyet Square in Sivas on Sunday and left flowers in the memory of those who lost their lives in the fire.

''We left behind seven long years, but it feels like just yesterday. Everything is still so fresh,'' Dogan said.

He noted that the murderers are provided very good conditions in the prisons where they stay and said these people even had babies during the time they were in prison during conjugal visits in visitation rooms. He also stressed that those who planned the massacre have still not been caught.

Dogan called on all Turkish people from all ethnic origins to unite to form a democratic, secular and modern Turkey.

A group of 100 people left flowers in front of Madimak hotel and later they dispersed peacefully.

[10] FIVE NEW POWER PLANTS TO BE CONSTRUCTED

Despite the 118 billion kilowatt/hour electricity production of last year, Turkey had an energy shortage last winter. Therefore these thermic power plants which will produce 26.6 billion kilowatt/hours of electricity have great value for Turkey.

The three consortiums which won the tenders solved the financing problem related to the projects.

The tender of the five thermic power plants which will cost 4 billion U.S. dollars was distributed among Intergen-Enka, Siemens-Stead, National Power and Bayindir-Mimag consortiums.

Foundations of Adapazari and Gebze natural gas power plants will be laid on July 19. Foundation of Iskenderun power plant will be laid in the coming days.

Construction of Izmir natural gas power plant will start late his year.

Below are the power capacity of the power plants and the consortiums:

Intergen-Enka consortium:

-Gebze natural gas power plant 1,400 MW

-Izmir natural gas power plant 1,400 MW

-Adapazari natural gas power plant 700 MW

Siemens-Steag consortium:

-Iskenderun imported coal power plant 1,000 MW

National Power-Bayindir-Mimag consortium:

-Ankara natural gas power plant 1,000 MW

[11] TURKISH, GREEK AND BULGARIAN SINGERS SING AT ''FRIENDSHIP NIGHT''

Turkish singers Tayfun and Pinar Elice gave a concert at Sarayici wrestling field. Following them, Greek and Bulgarian singers sang songs in their own language. Bulgarian band surprised the audience by singing in Turkish.

Edirne Mayor Cengiz Vanatopu presented a plaque and flowers to the musicians who participated in the concert. He said such activities play an important role in bringing countries closer to each other.

There was a fire works show after the concert.

[12] MIRZAOGLU, STATE MINISTER: ''UNFORTUNATELY, NAVAL CARGO AND PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY''

Mirzaoglu said they would upgrade Turkey's current 10 million DWT trade fleet to 20 million DWT soon.

''We will issue a new law from the parliament and provide transit fuel facilities to cargo and passenger ships among our coasts,'' Mirzaoglu said adding that, ''this at the same time means new tax exemption. We will be in an effort to shift some load of highway transportation to naval transportation. Turkey attributed importance to highway transportation for long years. This causes intense traffic and high cost. Motorways are very expensive.''

[13] BODRUM'S ANCIENT CITY WALLS UNDER RESTORATION

Excavation and restoration works which are sponsored by Ericsson and Turkcell started at the Ottoman Tower last year. The project run by Prof. Altan Cilingiroglu from Aegean University aims to restore the citywalls surrounding the Ottoman Shipyard and the Ottoman Tower on these walls as well as an old cemetery which is no longer used.

After the completion of restoration works, Culture Minister Istemihan Talay will attend the opening of the shipyard, citywalls and the tower.

[14] TWO MOUNTAINERS STRANDED IN SOUTHERN ANTALYA PROVINCE

Yilmaz Sevgul, representative of AKUT in Antalya, said Murat Firat and Akan Atalay, members of Yildiz Mountaining Club, were stranded after climbing Sivridag Mountain today.

Sevgul said Antalya AKUT group started efforts to rescue the mountainers, and noted that they did not have detailed information for the time being.

[15] REPRESENTATIVES OF WORKERS UNIONS AND POLITICAL PARTIES REMEMBER BEZIRCI AT HIS TOMB IN ZINCIRLIKUYU CEMETERY

After observing a minute of silence at Bezirci's tomb, Meric Eyuboglu from ODP read out a press statement on behalf of the group.

''Here, at the tomb of Asim Bezirci in Zincirlikuyu cemetery, we are once again remembering our friends whom we lost in the massacre in Sivas and in other incidents,'' Eyuboglu said. ''We promise to continue their fight for a world free of wars, arms and abuse.''

Bezirci's wife, Refika Bezirci who also spoke at the ceremony said they will stop the backwardness with a secular and democratic awareness.

Police took tight security measures around the cemetery. The group, after chanting slogans, dispersed peacefully.

[16] FIVE OF 29 FUNDAMENTALISTS SENT TO PRISON

Vahit Akduman (46), Emre Amasyali (24), Ali Eraslan (21), Sinan Mucuk (22) and Hatice Akduman (41) were arrested on charges that they held fundamentalist activities.

Those five were sent to Samsun Prison.

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