Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-07-29

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

29 JULY 2000

Saturday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION IN BLACK SEA BETWEEN TURKEY AND RUSSIA RATIFIED

[03] EXPORTS FROM GAP REGION

[04] EARTHQUAKE IN VAN

[05] TCG ORUCREIS FRIGATE ARRIVES IN GOLCUK

[06] EFENDIOGLU, CHAIRMAN OF BULGARIAN TURKS ASSOCIATION: -''WE WANT THE RECOGNITION OF RIGHT OF EDUCATION IN TURKISH LANGUAGE IN KOSOVO''

[07] TURKEY TO REHABILITATE WATER WELLS OF KABUL

[08] AGREEMENT FOR FOUNDATION OF BLACKSEA JOINT FLEET GROUP TO BE SIGNED IN ISTANBUL

[09] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER AYTEKIN: -''SPAIN RELEASED LOAN FOR TUZ LAKE REPROCESSING PLANT''

[10] EXPORTS OF GREEN PEPPER FROM SANLIURFA TO EUROPE

[11] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ IN IZMIR

[12] 75 INMATES IN BERGAMA PRISON TRANSFERRED TO BUCA PRISON

[13] LOIZIDOU CASE -TRNC FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTRY: -''RESOLUTION OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE WILL HAVE NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON PROXIMITY TALKS''

[14] SAMSUN FREE AREA INAUGURATED

[15] HOPES FADING FOR LEUKAEMIC KEMAL FROM TRNC

[16] ''HITTITE MUSEUM'' TO BE BUILT IN ANCIENT SHAPINUVA SITE

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

ERCEL TALKS ABOUT TURKEY IN ATHENS
Gazi Ercel, Governor of Central Bank, said that their target was to decrease risk premium in interest rates and increase non-interest surplus in public finance. Ercel made a speech in Athens in which he said that Turkey should change its expectations and at the same time it should put into effect a trustworthy disinflation programme.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

FOUR STOCK EXCHANGE COMPANIES IN WORLD LIST
Four Turkish companies were included in the list of biggest 800 companies of the world which excluded the U.S. companies. The financial magazine FORBES listed Koc Holding, Sabanci Holding, Turkish Garanti Bankasi and Turkish Oil Refineries Corp. (Tupras) among the second 400 biggest companies of the world. Koc Holding became the 451st, Sabanci Holding ranked at 481st place, Turkish Garanti Bank became the 611th and Tupras 792nd in the list

SABAH (LIBERAL)

RESOLUTIONS OF EUROSIA ISLAM COUNCIL
Turkish will be the common language of Eurosia Islam Council. Some of the other resolutions taken in the council meeting are as follows: Assistance should be provided to accelerate the transition process to Latin Alphabet in member countries. Measures to spread religion, which is an important element in preservation of religious culture, through press and communication organs should be taken. Books which were written in the past and transferred to nowadays and which have important place in development of Islamic culture, should be reviewed. A web-site should be created to introduce activities of the organization.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

DIPLOMATIC ''HAZARDOUS'' NOTE TO SPAIN
The Environment Ministry Press Center told the Cumhuriyet newspaper that the Ulla ship's hazardous waste load which had been declared as the coal soot was accepted as ''illegal traffic in accordance with the Basel Convention''. Turkey sent a ''diplomatic note'' to Spain through the Turkish Embassy in Madrid, asking it to take the 2,200 tons of toxic waste back. Ulla ship has been waiting at the Iskenderun Port for five months.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

TURKISH CYPRIOTS SEND LETTER TO U.N
Forty organizations in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) including the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and the Patriotic Unity Movement (YBH), handed over a letter to the Peace Force in Ledra Palace to be submitted to Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations (U.N.). The letter in which a peaceful federal solution for Cyprus is supported, said that the island is militarized as a result of failure in efforts to find a peaceful solution and the status quo stemmed from these failures. Noting that the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots are tired of living on a military volcano that is ready to erupt, the letter said that the sources of two communities on Cyprus exhausted for military spendings.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

100 YEARS OF PILLAGE
German Jorg Wagner, the ancient age historian, claimed that the mosaics of ancient Zeugma site in Nizip township of southeastern Gaziantep province were smuggled to Europe between 1890 and 1900 by the help of Italian Consulate in Aleppo. Wagner, who said in 1976 that Zeugma was an ancient site, said that a part of the mosaics were in Europe and a great deal of them were in the U.S.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

PKK TERRORISM IN ROME
A boat which belonged to the terrorist PKK organization and was carrying illegal immigrants was pushed towards a police boat. Three people were injured and three other people including a policeman were killed in the incident. 200 separatists occupied Rome Municipality Council.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

BOMB IN HEART OF ISTANBUL
A fire broke out in a factory in Topkapi which produces ink. The factory was burnt into ashes and the fire spread to the neighboring Metehan Industrial Site. Against the possibility of an explosion, the 600-ton fuel tank was cooled. It became difficult to put out the fire.

SUPPORT FROM ECEVIT TO DENKTAS
Evaluating the presidency system proposal of President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that presidency system would suit the TRNC although he was against such a system in Turkey.

[02] AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION IN BLACK SEA BETWEEN TURKEY AND RUSSIA RATIFIED

The decision of the Council of Ministers which had earlier ratified the cooperation agreement was issued in the Official Gazette.

In accordance with the agreement, two countries will jointly struggle against the illicit drug, arms, ammunition and explosive trafficking and illegal immigration.

The agreement foresees the prevention of violations in the seas and struggle against terrorism.

In accordance with the agreement, the biological sources in the sea will be protected and the pollution of the sea will be prevented.

The sides will exchange information and technical equipment and put into effect joint programmes and exercise joint manoeuvres.

The agreement was signed on April 12, 2000.

[03] EXPORTS FROM GAP REGION

A total of 53 million 69 thousand U.S. dollars agricultural and animal products were exported to these countries in the first six months of 2000.

Exports to Italy increased 14.6 percent to 21 million 976 thousand U.S. dollars; exports to Syria decreased 54.7 percent to 17 million 9 thousand U.S. dollars, and exports to Germany climbed 110.6 percent to 14 million 84 thousand U.S. dollars.

Total exports to these three countries in the first half of 1999 had been 63 million 368 thousand U.S. dollars.

According to the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Unions data, 7 thousand U.S. dollars of grain-cereals; 645 thousand U.S. dollars of dried fruits and 21 million 324 thousand U.S. dollars of textiles were exported to Italy in the period of January-June 2000.

In the same period, 4 million 215 thousand U.S. dollars of grain-cereals and 12 million 794 thousand U.S. dollars textiles were exported to Syria.

Exports to Germany in the same period were 887 thousand U.S. dollars of animal products, 472 thousand U.S. dollars of grain-cereals, 2 million 108 thousand U.S. dollars of dried fruits and 10 million 617 thousand U.S. dollars of textiles.

[04] EARTHQUAKE IN VAN

Officials at Istanbul Kandilli Observatory Center and Seismology Institute said that the earthquake was measuring 3.8 on the Richter scale and that it was centered on Van's Ozalp township.

The officials noted that the earthquake did not result in any casualties or financial damage but caused panic among residents.

[05] TCG ORUCREIS FRIGATE ARRIVES IN GOLCUK

TCG Orucreis Frigate was welcomed at the port with a military ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, STANAVFORMED Commander Rear Admiral Feyyaz Ogutcu said that TCG Orucreis Frigate commanded by Captain Dogan Denizmen successfully fulfilled its mission it undertook on January 19 as the flagship.

Recalling that Turkey commanded the STANAVFORMED for the second time, Ogutcu said, ''we successfully carried out this mission. I will hand over my mission to the Italian commander on September 15. The mission we took over on September 6, 1999 was carried out in two periods. The first period was between September 6 and December 9, 1999, and the second period was between January 20 and July 25, 2000. TCG Barbaros Frigate participated in the first period, and later, it handed over its mission to TCG Orucreis Frigate.''

''The task of the STANAVFORMED is to immediately intervene in a possible crisis atmosphere. Our duty is to train and operate together the planes, helicopters, submarines and vessels of allied countries to bring the naval force to utmost level,'' he said.

Feyyaz Ogutcu added that TCG Orucreis Frigate would hand over its mission to TCG Trakya Frigate after summer-term repair activities.

With its 208 personnel, TCG Orucreis Frigate participated in Dog Fish exercise between February 3 and March 3, East Mediterranean-2000 exercise between April 12-18, Dynamic Mix-2000 between May 22 and June 5, and Cooperative Partner-2000 exercise between June 19-20.

[06] EFENDIOGLU, CHAIRMAN OF BULGARIAN TURKS ASSOCIATION: -''WE WANT THE RECOGNITION OF RIGHT OF EDUCATION IN TURKISH LANGUAGE IN KOSOVO''

Efendioglu staged a press conference saying that they want the settlement of this issue in the possible shortest time.

Efendioglu also claimed that there is a discrimination against Turks living in Kosovo.

Despite the settlement of peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo, disorder in Kosovo still continues, Efendioglu said.

Efendioglu said, ''even the Republic of Yugoslavia accepted Turkish as one of the official languages. But, the U.N. does not accept Turkish as one of official languages. The Turks living there cannot be educated in their own languages and their education right is limited. U.N. violates its own rules and rights.''

Alleging that the U.N. violates the European Convention on Human Rights, Helsinki Final Act and other agreements, Efendioglu said, ''to this end, our association harshly condemns the attitude of the U.N. which is against the human rights and wishes the settlement of this issue in the possible shortest time.''

[07] TURKEY TO REHABILITATE WATER WELLS OF KABUL

Officials at the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that the water demand of Kabul increased as many Afghans sheltered in the capital due to the drought.

The officials noted that with this objective, Turkey will finance the emergency aid project worth 20 thousand U.S. dollars which targets at rehabilitation of 500 water wells in Kabul.

The project which was prepared by the United Nations (U.N.) targets at rehabilitating the water wells which will meet the needs of 35 thousand people.

[08] AGREEMENT FOR FOUNDATION OF BLACKSEA JOINT FLEET GROUP TO BE SIGNED IN ISTANBUL

A press statement was released after the meeting which was presided by Vice Admiral Aydin Gurul of Turkey and lasted on Friday.

The statement said that the Blackseafor agreement would be signed in Istanbul.

Turkey, Russia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania and Ukraine participated in the meeting in which the draft agreement was finalized.

The statement said the main tasks of the Blackseafor would be ''search and rescue operations, humanitarian aid operations, mine-counter measures, environment protection operations and good-will visits.''

The statement said that the participating delegates stated that Blackseafor would contribute to cooperation among the littoral states and improved the cooperation among the fleet forces of the littoral states, and it would be an important factor in strengthening mutual trust and security in the region.

[09] ENVIRONMENT MINISTER AYTEKIN: -''SPAIN RELEASED LOAN FOR TUZ LAKE REPROCESSING PLANT''

During his visit to Aksaray Governor's Office, Aytekin said that the meetings between Turkey and Spain on the loan for the project were concluded and that the project aims at preventing the environmental pollution in Tuz Lake and establishing a reprocessing plant.

Aytekin noted that the Spanish government approved the loan for the project.

Aytekin continued, ''the preliminary feasibility reports will be prepared and the tender for the project will be opened within three months. As this project is put into effect, Tuz Lake will be cleaned and the waste treatment plants of Konya, Aksaray, Cihanbeyli and Sereflikochisar municipalities will be built.''

The total cost of the project is 87.5 million U.S. dollars, and 72 million U.S. dollar part of this project was financed by Spain, Aytekin stated.

Aytekin said that the rest of the cost will be met by domestic sources.

Aytekin added that this project will be the biggest environment investment project in Turkey.

[10] EXPORTS OF GREEN PEPPER FROM SANLIURFA TO EUROPE

Ibrahim Kilic, Agriculture Engineer working in 130,000 square metre greenhouse in Karaali village of Sanliurfa, said on Saturday that number of greenhouses started to increase in the region in parallel with the implementation of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP).

Kilic noted that green peppers, tomatoes and eggplants are cultivated in their greenplant.

Kilic added, ''we are exporting 80 percent of the green peppers we cultivate in our greenhouse to Europe. We have exported 900 tons of green pepper in two years. We aim at increasing this amount.''

[11] DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ IN IZMIR

During his visit to Izmir Mayor Ahmet Piristina, Yilmaz responded to questions of journalists.

Responding to questions about the developments at the Bergama Prison, Yilmaz said that a new arrangement should be made to make the state dominant over not only the Bergama Prison but also all prisons in Turkey.

Noting that the issue had been discussed for several times but the desired level couldn't be reached, Yilmaz said he believed important progress would be recorded if F type prison system was implemented.

Yilmaz added that he believed the state should display determination against some continuing actions in prisons.

Responding to a question about the decree having the power of law regarding the civil servants, Yilmaz said, ''each state can bring several special limitations. A person who accepted to serve the state as a civil servant has to accept the state's constitutional order. Even in Germany, civil servants sign written contracts which foresee dismissal of civil servant who violates this written contract.''

Noting that he agreed with several special restrictions for civil servants, Yilmaz said, ''these should be appropriate to human rights and the state of law, of course. However, any country does not allow the efforts to change the state's constitutional order.''

Yilmaz stated that the special restrictions in question should be appropriate to human rights and open to control of jurisdiction.

[12] 75 INMATES IN BERGAMA PRISON TRANSFERRED TO BUCA PRISON

Murat Celik, Chairman of Istanbul Branch of Modern Jurists' Association (CHD), and Ercan Demir, Chairman of Izmir Branch of Human Rights Association (IHD), held a meeting with the inmates and the wardens of the Bergama Prison.

At the end of the meetings, the negotiations between the inmates and the wardens were concluded and 75 inmates were transferred to Buca Prison.

Security forces revealed a 110-metre tunnel at Bergama Prison on Wednesday which was dug by inmates.

Security forces who had carried out a comprehensive search at the Bergama Prison overnight, revealed a 110-metre tunnel.

Inmates had started to dig the tunnel from the ward in which 34 members of the illegal extreme leftist DHKP-C organization were staying.

[13] LOIZIDOU CASE -TRNC FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTRY: -''RESOLUTION OF COUNCIL OF EUROPE WILL HAVE NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON PROXIMITY TALKS''

A written statement of TRNC Foreign and Defense Ministry said that the resolution ignored that the property issue was discussed during the proximity talks.

The statement noted that the resolution turned a blind eye to the realities on the island, adding that although TRNC, which meets all requirements of a real state, had to be one of the sides of this issue, the TRNC reality was once more ignored.

The property issue is considered as one of the key issues taken up during the proximity talks which are held under the auspices of United Nations (U.N.), the statement stressed.

The statement said that it is only possible to take up this issue by a comprehensive agreement.

The statement emphasized that TRNC fulfils its responsibilities regarding the mutual property problem and that it proposed the formation of joint commission for solving the property problem by the exchange of property and compensation.

The statement reminded that the Greek Cypriots rejected this proposal.

Evaluation of the ''Loizidou case'' as a separate human rights violation contradicts with realities, the statement said.

The statement emphasized that tens of thousands of Turkish Cypriots who had to leave their assets in southern part of the island are encountering similar situation.

The statement continued, ''the resolution of the Council of Europe's Delegates Committee encourages the Greek Cypriots to apply to the ECHR for similar cases and makes the Greek Cypriots advantageous to consider one of the parametres on which agreement had been reached during the Cyprus proximity talks, as invalid.''

''To this end, it is inevitable that the resolutions will negatively affect the ongoing proximity talks. It is obvious that the resolution will have negative effects on the initiatives to find a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus question by ingnoring an issue which is still discussed by two sides on Cyprus within framework of U.N.-sponsored talks,'' the statement added.

The COE Delegates Committee had taken a resolution on July 12 for the implementation of ''Loizidou'' verdict of the ECHR.

This resolution was announced on July 24.

This resolution criticized Turkey for not implementing the decision of ECHR and not fulfilling international commitments and requested that the decision of the court should be fulfilled as soon as possible.

[14] SAMSUN FREE AREA INAUGURATED

Samsun Free Area which was built by the Bayindir Holding has bonded warehouses, ten business places, 25 offices, a bank building, open depots and production area.

Samsun Free Area was inaugurated by Suleyman Demirel, the ninth President of Turkey, and State Minister Tunca Toskay.

Addressing the inauguration, State Minister Tunca Toskay said that legal works on free areas entered into effect in 1985.

Toskay said that most of the free areas in Turkey had broad hinterland and high trade potential and capacity.

''Industry and trade based on agriculture constitute the basis for the economy in Samsun which has a high trading potential. Importance of Samsun increased more especially after dissolution of Soviet Union. The Port of Samsun which is the fifth biggest port of Turkey is the door to the North. The annual trade volume of Samsun reaches 500 million U.S. dollars,'' he said.

Toskay added that free areas provided an annual trade volume of 8 billion U.S. dollars and employment of 17 thousand people.

[15] HOPES FADING FOR LEUKAEMIC KEMAL FROM TRNC

A written statement of the Royal Free Hospital said that the doctors planned to transplant marrow to Kemal this week but that they did not make the operation due to metastasis.

The statement noted that the doctors will from now on give pain-killers to Kemal and that Kemal's chemotheraphy will continue.

Kemal will be kept under medical observation against possible infection risk, the statement said.

Kemal, who has been under medical treatment since February, came into the agenda together with Andreas Vasiliu, an eight-year old leukaemic Greek Cypriot boy.

Joint blood sample campaigns were launched in the two sides on Cyprus.

Appropriate marrow for Vasiliu was found in the U.S. and the doctors transplanted the marrow to Vasiliu.

[16] ''HITTITE MUSEUM'' TO BE BUILT IN ANCIENT SHAPINUVA SITE

Sources told the A.A correspondent on Saturday that a Hittite Museum would be built in Sapinuva, which was the capital city of Hittite Civilization for some time, to exhibit the historical artifacts belonging to this civilization.

The sources said that the museum which would be constructed near Ortakoy Park, was planned to be finished and opened in the possible shortest time.

Prof. Dr. Aygul Suel, Head of the Shapinuva Excavations, said that Shapinuva was a center which shed light to world history and that the artifacts unearthed here should be exhibited in Ortakoy.

Suel said, ''this museum will in fact serve as an institute. It will be not only a place for tourists but also a working center for the scientists. The scientists will have the opportunity to make researches on the Hittite civilization in this museum.''

Shapinuva was not only the capital of the Hittite Civilization but also a global trading center, Suel noted.

Suel stated that they would launch excavations in two new zones in the following days.

''The excavations attract various universities in Turkey and abroad. Students from Istanbul University's Faculty of Letters, Edirne University's Faculty of Science, Ankara University, Mustafa Kemal Pasa University, Antakya University, Ege University, Dokuz Eylul University and the U.S. Chicago Oriental Institute participate in the excavations,'' Suel said.

Suel added that the trade power of the Hittites would completely be revealed during the excavations launched in two new zones.

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