Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-08-24

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

24

AUGUST 2000 Thursday

TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 24, 2000. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

The National Security Council (MGK) which convened following the crisis of decree between the President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and the government, decided to purge fundamentalist and separatists from civil service by making all kinds of arrangements. Until a new law is adopted about the issue, the Council decided to purge these persons from civil service by the existing laws.

QUAKE OF 5.8 FRIGHTENS PEOPLE

A quake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale shook Marmara Region at 16.41 local time on Wednesday. Everybody got in panic. The tremor lasted for 15 seconds and its epicentre was between Hendek and Akyazı townships of Adapazarı province.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

Earthquake which was centered on Hendek township of Sakarya province caused panic and fear among citizens. Ten people were injured in the earthquake which continued for 15 seconds. The earthquake was felt in 11 provinces. This tremor was not an aftershock, the officials said.

SEZER: ''I WILL NOT RESIGN''

Sources close to the Presidential Palace said that rumours that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will resign from his office are not true. The sources said that Sezer has no hesitation in continuing his office.

BESIKTAS SAYS HELLO TO CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Football team Besiktas took a forward step in the European Champions League. Besiktas beated Lokomotiv Moskova team of Russia 3-1 in away match and pleased its fans.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

The crisis at the summit ended with the attitude of the National Security Council (NSC), supporting the government. ''We want these arrangements to struggle against fundamentalism. Fundamentalist civil servants should not stay in public institutions,'' said the commanders, and gave messages supporting efforts for ''urgent measures.'

This determination was reflected in NSC statement. The statement said ''the meeting focused on latest developments both in Turkey and abroad, and on security forces' struggle against fundamentalist, destructive and separatist terrorist organizations, and organized crime organizations. The NSC has reached a consensus of opinion to urgently make all arrangements to dismiss public workers who were involved in fundamentalist, destructive, and separatist movements aiming at destroying democratic and secular structure of the state and integrity of the country, and to prevent infiltration of such movements into the public institutions,'' the statement noted.

ACTION PLAN FOR TRNC

The National Security Council (NSC) reviewed political, economic and social problems in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

A statement issued by the NSC pointed out that ''the NSC has decided to prepare an action plan including measures to be taken to strengthen unity and welfare of the Turkish Cypriot people and to provide political and economic stability in the TRNC. This action plan should be put into practice as soon as possible.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

The National Security Council (NSC) discussed the decree which will facilitate the dismissal of civil servants in yesterday's meeting. The NSC fully supported the contents of the decree but did not express opion about the procedure.

99 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED IN KADIKOY

A total of 99 illegal immigrants were captured in Kadikoy district of Istanbul. Police captured Afghans, Moroccans, Iraqis and Palestinians in a passenger bus belonging to Yalova Seyahat company. Police also took into custody Yusuf Dogan and Muzaffer Denizhan, who aimed at aiding these illegal immigrants in going to foreign countries.

''SILENT'' DIPLOMACY OF ISMAIL CEM

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem went to Palestine yesterday evening to inform officials about Turkey's proposals which will contribute to the solution of Middle East peace negotiations by an agreement. Cem, who met with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, suggested that sides should refrain from unilateral actions to prevent themselves from losing the impetus they have reached at peace talks.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

The majority of the people, in fact 73.7 percent of them support President Ahmet Necdet Sezer regarding the crisis that erupted between the President and the government due to the decree having the force of law (KHK) on dismissal of civil servants. A poll conducted by the A&G company showed that the majority of the citizens who voted for the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Motherland Party (ANAP) also support Sezer. Half of the voters for the Democratic Left Party (DSP) also say that Sezer is right, but the remaining half says Ecevit is right.

LAST DUTY FOR ELCIBEY

Ebulfez Elcibey, the former President of Azerbaijan and the leader of the Peoples Front which was in opposition in Azerbaijan, was laid to rest in Baku with laments and shouts. Thousands of people in tears shouted slogans saying ''Clean Elcibey.''

HEAT TO DROP BY 5-10 DEGREE

The heat of the wheather will start to drop by 5-10 degrees as of the weekend starting from tomorrow. Rain is expected in the northern parts of Marmara and the Black Sea costs.

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

Hendek township of Adapazarı province was jolted by a tremor measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale yesterday. The quake was also felt in Istanbul, Bursa, Balıkesir, Kutahya, Eskisehir, Yalova, Kocaeli and Canakkale. One person in Yalova had heart attack and people poured onto the streets.

BESIKTAS IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Besiktas which beat Russian's Lokomotiv Moscow by 3-1 in Moscow yesterday, was qualified to play in the Championship for the second time in its past.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

We said farewell to Ebulfez Elcibey, former President of Azerbaijan, who died in Turkey. Elcibey was laid to rest in State Graveyard in Baku. Haydar Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, and 50,000 people attended the funeral.

From Turkey; State Ministers Edip Safter Gaydali, Abdulhaluk Cay, Hasan Gemici, Transportation Minister Enis Oksuz and Tacan Ildem, the representative of the President participated in the funeral.

TEMPERATURES TO DROP 5-10 DEGREES CELSIUS

Temperatures will drop 5-10 degrees starting from the northern parts of the country as of the weekend.

State Meteorology Affairs General Directorate said temperatures will begin to drop from the northern parts of the country as of August 25. Temperatures are expected to drop 5 and 10 degrees.

Rain is expected in northern parts of the Marmara region and shores of the Black Sea on Thursday evening.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Temperatures will decrease 5-10 degrees Celcius starting from the weekend. The State Meteorology General Directorate said that rain is expected in north of Marmara Region and coasts of Black Sea. North of Turkey will be under influence of rainy weather in the weekend.

PRODUCTION IN AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR INCREASES 42 PERCENT

Production in automotive sector continues to increase. The production climbed 42.2 percent in first seven monts of 2000. The increase in production in July was 37.5 percent. A total of 259,730 automobiles were produced between January and July 2000. Number of automobiles produced in the same period in 1999 was 182,627.

ALIYEV RECEIVES TURKISH DELEGATION

Haydar Aliyev, the Azerbaijani President, received Turkish delegation including State Ministers Abdulhaluk Mehmet Cay, Edip Safter Gaydali and Hasan Gemici, and Transportation Minister Enis Oksuz who went to Azerbaijan to attend funeral of former Azerbaijani President Ebulfez Elcibey. Cay said that Elcibey was one of the important leaders of Turkish world. Touching on Turkish-Azerbaijani relations, Cay said, ''Azerbaijan is a friend and ally in the Caucasus that Turkey trusts. Also it is the guarantor of peace in the region.''

-EXCAVATIONS TO START IN ANCIENT CITY ANTANDROS

ANKARA - The Ministry of Culture gave permission on Thursday for archaeological excavations that will be carried out in ancient Antandros city which is within the borders of Altınoluk hamlet of Balıkesir province.

The group headed by Gurcan Polat, a lecturer in the Archeology Department of Ege University will start the excavations on August 28 and they will continue their work for 45 days.

Prof. Dr. Tomris Bakır sent a letter to Monuments and Museums Directorate General and said that the ancient city of Antandos is a region of settlement since six century B.C and it should be excavated to learn more about their culture.

Bakır noted that the construction work which is going on in Altınoluk hamlet, which is a summer place, dangers the existance of ancient ruins.

-REPORT OF AMERICAN THINK-TANK RAND ON TURKEY:

''TURKEY IS NEW GEO-STRATEGIC POWER''

NEW YORK - The RAND think-tank institution which is based in the U.S. said on Thursday in a report namely ''The Future of Turkish-Western Relations'' that Turkey appeared as a new geo-strategic power in its region.

The report noted that ''during the Cold War, Turkey played a critical role in the containment of Soviet power. There was agreement between the United States and Western Germany, in particular, on the central importance of Turkey in Western strategy. A similar recognition of the Turkish role generated support TURKEY IS NEW and assistance for Turkey on Capitol Hill. During the 1990s, however, this consensus disappeared. Security debates in the United States and Europe acknowledge Turkey's geopolitical significance and the need to reinvigorate relations. But there has been relatively little progress in defining what a new agenda for strategic cooperation between Turkey and the West should include.''

A new RAND study ­The Future of Turkish-Western Relations: Toward a Strategic Plan - suggests that the focus be on four key areas:

The RAND says that ''Turkish-Western cooperation to ensure energy security. Turkey occupies a unique position adjacent to globally important oil and gas resources in the Persian Gulf, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. The bulk of the Persian Gulf and Caspian Basin energy resources are within 1,000 miles of Incirlik - a Turkish air base used by US forces. An agreement between Turks, Europeans and Americans to jointly counter threats to energy security will provide a clear strategic direction for relations.''

''Cooperation in countering the proliferation of ballistic missiles and of weapons of mass destruction in areas close to Turkey. Turkey is the NATO ally most immediately exposed to missile systems based in the Middle East, but Europe is also becoming vulnerable. These risks should be addressed through common policies and by integrating Turkey in a future ballistic missile defense architecture.''

''Turkey's participation in a strategy towards Russia. Ankara seeks reassurance from the West in dealing with a potentially more difficult Russia. As a leading economic partner, Turkey can also be part of a more active and positive engagement with a reforming, cooperative Russia. In either case, a concerted strategy toward Russia must be part of a future triangular agenda.''

''Efforts to ensure that the path toward closer Turkish integration in Europe remains open and anchors Turkey irreversibly to the West. The United States has a strong stake in this process and our interests, as well as Ankara's, will be undermined if the European Union's Helsinki summit decision to declare Turkey a candidate for EU membership proves hollow.''

Authors Zalmay Khalilzad, Ian O. Lesser and F. Stephen Larrabee are senior RAND analysts who have served, respectively, in leading positions at the Pentagon, the State Department and the National Security Council staff. RAND is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis.

-MUSEUMS IN ISTANBUL TO BE RESTORED

ISTANBUL - Almost one trillion Turkish liras (TL) was allocated for the restoration of museums in Istanbul upon the instruction of Culture Minister Istemihan Talay.

A statement of the Culture Ministry Press and Public Relations Counsellor's Office said on Thursday that Talay allocated resources for the care and restoration of several museums, including Topkapi Palace, Istanbul Archeology Museum, Hagia Sofia Museum, and Yildiz Palace.

-QUAKES IN TURKEY

-491 QUAKES TAKE PLACE IN TURKEY

IN THE RECENT FOUR MONTHS

ANKARA - A total of 491 quakes took place throughout Turkey in the last four months. The epicenters of the quakes were changing between 2.6 and 5.9 on the Richter scale. Three of these quakes were strong, 10 of them were moderate, 43 of them slight, and the others were very slight.

According to the data of Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Institude, 391 quakes occurred in the last four months.

Denizli and Cankiri had more quakes in number. A total of 15 quakes occurred in Turkey on August 20, 2000, and 10 of them were in Denizli. All the quakes in Denizli province were slight.

The massive quake of the recent four months took place in Cankiri-Cerkes on June 6, 2000. The preliminary magnitude of this quake, which caused casualties and financial damage, was 5.9 on the Richter scale. A total of 14 quakes occurred in Cankiri the same day. Another quake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8 was recorded after this quake.

A total of 13 quakes occurred in Turkey on June 9, 2000. Seven of them also were recorded in Cerkes and Orta townships in Cankiri province. One of the quakes in Cerkes was measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale.

Also, another quake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.3 was recorded in Ankara-Beypazari on August 22.

Prof. Ahmet Mete Isikara said approximately 5-8 quakes took place in Turkey every day.

-PRIME MINISTRY ISSUES WRITTEN STATEMENT DENYING NEWS

STORY PUBLISHED IN A NEWSPAPER

ANKARA - The news claiming that the decree on the appointment of Prime Ministry Undersecretary Ahmet Sagar as Turkish Ambassador to Lefkosa was presented to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer for approval was incorrect, said the Prime Ministry Press Center on Thursday.

A written statement issued by the Prime Ministry said: ''A news story titled 'Special Appointment to Cyprus from Ecevit' that appeared on a newspaper today said that the decree regarding the appointment was presented to President Sezer for approval. We would like to inform press and broadcasting institutions that this was definitely not true.''

-FIRST STEP TO BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE TAKEN

ANKARA - The first step to the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline project was taken on Thursday.

Sources said that the selection of companies and the relevant process were underway while the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, BP Amoco and Socar had reached an agreement to start works.

The Turkish Pipeline Transportation Corp (Botas) signed an agreement with the German PLE company which is carrying out feasibility etudes of the project, and the works on the Turkish territories has started as of the same day after Socar and Turkish Petroleum Corp (TPAO) sent their letters of bona fide to the Botas.

Sources said that such an initiative had been launched in order to rapidly start field researches in Turkish territories as it would be difficult to carry out such researches in winter.

Botas allocated 740 thousand U.S. dollars from its sources for the field researches. However, Botas will be repaid this money from the sources that will be obtained from the consortium which will be formed to put the project into practice.

If the pipeline couldn't be finalized by the end of 2004, early oil will be transported with another pipeline that will pass via Novorossisk or Iran.

Meanwhile, more than fifty companies responded to BOTAS's ''preliminary evaluation'' invitation for detailed engineering work on the Turkish territories. The BOTAS is expected to select a company in coming days.

The feasibility etude, environmental effect evaluation etude and detailed route etude were earlier finalized with the loan obtained from the World Bank, and the capacity of the pipeline was planned to be 50 million ton/year.

The leaders of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Georgia came together in Ankara on October 29, 1998 and signed a joint declaration stating that they extend political support to the project.

One million barrels of crude oil will be transferred from Baku to Ceyhan vis Tbilisi a day with a pipeline which will be 1,730 kilometers in length and 42 inches in diameter.

The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline project is planned to cost 2.4 billion U.S. dollars.

-FLOATING BOOK FAIR ANCHORS AT IZMIR PORT

IZMIR - Logos 2, the world's second biggest ship carrying books anchored on Thursday at Izmir's Pasaport Port which is its first stop in Turkey.

The ship which had 200 volunteer workers from 40 countries on board attracted droves of Turkish and foreign book lovers.

The ship will start accepting visitors on Friday morning. Besides book sales, there will be activities reflecting various cultures on the ship.

The ship has been run by Education Book Exhibits Ltd (EBE) which is a non- profit institution.

In the last ten years, the ship visited more than 60 countries in Africa, North and South America, Caribbeans, Europe and the Middle East and was visited by about six million people.

The ship has 5,000 Turkish and English language books and the Turkish language books which are on the market will be sold at special prices.

This will be the first visit of Logos 2 to Turkey. The ship will stay in Izmir until September 11 and later it will go to Istanbul, Antalya and Mersin. Logos 2 will leave Turkey on October 30.

There is no charge for visiting the ship which will be open between noon to midnight from Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, it is open from 2 p.m. to midnight.

-TURKISH AND BRITISH EXPERTS TO DISCUSS ANTALYA'S PROJECTS

AT SEMINAR IN SEPTEMBER

ANTALYA - Turkish and British authorities will discuss projects that will be implemented in Antalya at a seminar in September.

Antalya Governor Ertugrul Dokuzoglu, Commercial Attachee Jane Macpherson from the British Embassy in Ankara and British Consul in Antalya Jane Bazz attended a meeting on Thursday where they briefed the media on the seminar.

Dokuzoglu said British authorities and he had exchanged opinions over some of the important projects of Antalya when he recently visited Britain and they also decided to hold a seminar on this matter.

Dokuzoglu said the seminar which is planned to be organized on September 13 at Antalya Cultural Center will also be attended by British Environment, Transportation and Region Minister Nick Raynsford.

The participants will discuss environment, transportation, waste products and waste water, and energy projects that will be realized in Antalya.

-CONTINUOUS SUPPORT FROM JAPANESE TO SAKARYA

ADAPAZARI - Japanese officials are still continuing their projects in Adapazari more than one year after the devastating earthquake.

An eight-person delegation headed by Japanese parliamentarian Shoichi Hasumi visited on Thursday the Sakarya Governor's Office and got information on the works in the quake-stricken province from Deputy Governor Idris Kurtkaya.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Hasumi said that also they had taken lessons from the earthquakes in the Marmara Region.

''We are the nation who mostly suffered from the pains caused by earthquake. Thus we are ready to extend every support to the people living in this quake-stricken region till the recovery of their pains,'' he said.

-90 YEAR OLD GREEK MAN VISITS HOUSE HE WAS BORN IN KAYSERI

KAYSERI - Ninety-year-old Stavroz Parasopulos who immigrated from Agirnas district in central Kayseri provirce's Melikgazi township to Komotini, Greece in 1924 visited the house he was born after 76 years.

Parasopulos who came to Agirnas to attend the First Agirnas Culture and Tourism Festival walked in the streets of his childhood together with other Greek guests.

Parasopulos who remembered his childhood friends with whom they played together said he would have loved to meet a few of them one more time.

-143 BUILDINGS SUFFERED DAMAGE IN EARTHQUAKE IN BEYPAZARI

ANKARA - The Ankara Governor's Office said on Thursday that a total of 143 buildings suffered damage in last Tuesday's earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale which rocked Beypazari-Urus, Ankara.

Ankara Governor's Office Press Center said that the earthquake affected Gudul township and five villages, and the Red Crescent sent 50 tents and 100 blankets to the region.

Meanwhile, Social Solidarity Foundation allocated ten billion Turkish liras to the Offices of Beypazari and Gudul Head Officials, it said.

It added that 72 buildings suffered minor damage, 7 buildings suffered moderate damage and 2 buildings suffered heavy damage in Beypazari-Urus and Kirbasi village while 38 buildings suffered moderate damage, 16 buildings suffered moderate damage and 8 buildings suffered heavy damage in Gudul township and its villages.

-TURKISH AMBASSADOR IN BERLIN SAYS HE IS VERY DISTRESSED

ABOUT NEWS REGARDING TURKISH PATIENT WHO WAS

DENIED HEART TRANSPLANTATION BECAUSE OF LANGUAGE PROBLEM

BERLIN - Regarding the Turkish woman who was not performed a heart transplantation as she can't speak German, Turkish Ambassador to Germany Tugay Ulucevik said he was very distressed and surprised by the incident.

Turkish citizen Fatma Elaldi was not put on the waiting list for a surgery at the Heart Center in Bad Oynhausen town of Germany with the excuse that she did not speak German.

Ambassador Tugay Ulucevik told the A.A correspondent that some Turkish doctors in Germany also confirmed the news.

''Doctors should remain faithful to the oath they take before they become doctors and treat all patients equally without considering differences of race, religion, language, colour, culture or sex,'' Ulucevik said.

Noting that he has already contacted some German authorities regarding the matter, Ulucevik said Turkish non-governmental organizations in Germany should also raise awareness in the German public and related circles on this issue.

Ulucevik noted that German authorities who hire interpreters for meetings can also hire an interpreter to save the life of a person and he also added that there are many volunteers among the Turkish community in Germany who would volunteer to interprete for a sick person.

-FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK

INCREASE BY 209 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

ANKARA - The foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank increased to 24 billion 744 million U.S. dollars.

The Central Bank data shows that the foreign exchange reserves, which rose by 209 million U.S. dollars between August 11 and 18, increased to 24 billion 744 million U.S. dollars on August 18.

The Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves were 24 billion 535 million U.S. dollars on August 11.

Meanwhile, according to the August 4-based statistics, Turkey's total international gross reserves decreased 820 million U.S. dollars to 39 billion 578 million U.S. dollars between July 28 and August 4.

The international gross reserves of Turkey were 40 billion 398 million U.S. dollars on July 28.

As of August 4, Turkey's international reserves were composed of 1 billion 10 million U.S. dollars in gold reserves; 24 billion 380 million U.S. dollars in the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves; and 14 billion 188 million U.S. dollars in the commercial banks' foreign exchange reserves.

-COUNCIL OF MINISTERS' MEETING ENDS (2)

-DECREE TO BE DISCUSSED AS DRAFT LAW AS SOON AS PARLIAMENT OPENS

ANKARA - The Ministers Council decided on Thursday to discuss the decree regarding the civil servants as a draft law immediately when Parliament opens.

Following a two and a half hour meeting, State Minister and Government Spokesman Rustu Kazim Yucelen briefed reporters on the issues that were discusied in the meeting.

''We decided to publicly explain that religious people will certainly not be harmed by the decree and there will be no execution without trial for public servants,'' Yucelen said.

Yucelen also announced that the strike of the garbage collectors in Istanbul and Izmir has been put off for two months.

He said that Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer read out a presentation during the meeting over opening an international center of hydrogen energy technologies. The Ministers Council decided to allocate funds for the project from next year's budget.

''The Council of Ministers decided to start activities for this center since hydrogen energy is a clean and sustainable energy type and it could be used in business and industry, sea vehicles, submarines and planes as fuel,'' he explained.

Yucelen also said the Council of Ministers also decided to finalize the privatization of SEKA Dalaman facilities in the possible shortest time frame.

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