Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-04-12

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

12 APRIL 1998

CONTENTS

[01] TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS - 164 PEOPLE DIED, 317 OTHERS INJURED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS DURING NINE-DAY HOLIDAY

[02] MINE EXPLOSION INJURES SIX SOLDIERS IN DORTYOL TOWNSHIP OF HATAY

[03] TREMOR SHAKES SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF OSMANIYE

[04] ROMANIAN NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER TO VISIT TURKEY ON MONDAY

[05] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ LEAVES FOR UZBEKISTAN

[06] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS OF JOURNALISTS: ''TURKEY COMES THE 16TH COUNTRY IN TERMS OF POPULATION, 32ND IN TERMS OF TERRITORY AND 19TH IN TERMS OF GNP IN THE WORLD. TURKEY IS AN IMPORTANT ONE AMONG 185 COUNTRIES''

[07] VAN POLICE CHIEF SAGIRKAYA: ''114 KG DRUG WAS SEIZED WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR''

[08] 18 MEMBERS OF ILLEGAL DHKP/C ORGANIZATION CAPTURED

[09] STATE MINISTER SALIH YILDIRIM: ''WE ARE NOT A WATER RICH COUNTRY''

[10] TRNC DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SERDAR DENKTAS: ''TRNC COUNCIL OF MINISTERS APPROVED THE LAW WHICH PROHIBITS GREEK CYPRIOT PASSPORT''

[01] TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS - 164 PEOPLE DIED, 317 OTHERS INJURED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS DURING NINE-DAY HOLIDAY

During the first four days of the nine-day holiday which started on April 3, 62 people died, while 179 others were injured.

On April 8, 17 people died, while 30 injured people were taken under medical treatment.

On April 9, 36 people died, while 53 others were injured and on April 10, 20 people died and the number of wounded people reached 32.

[02] MINE EXPLOSION INJURES SIX SOLDIERS IN DORTYOL TOWNSHIP OF HATAY

Gokhan Aydıner, the Governor of Hatay told A.A correspondent that a hand- made mine exploded when a military vehicle passed over it at 16.30.

The six injured soldiers were taken under medical treatment at Iskenderun Military Hospital.

Officials said that the soldiers were not seriously injured.

[03] TREMOR SHAKES SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF OSMANIYE

Kandilli Observatory Quake Research Center said that the epicenter of the quake, measuring 3,4 on the Richter scale, was Osmaniye province and it was not felt in other places.

The quake caused no damages or casualties.

[04] ROMANIAN NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER TO VISIT TURKEY ON MONDAY

Romanian Commander will meet Admiral Dervisoglu on April 14, Admiral Yener Karahanoglu, the Deputy Commander of the Fleet on April 15 and hold contacts with Admiral Taner Ezgu and Admiral Aydan Erol on April 16.

Admiral Atanasiu, the Romanian Naval Forces Commander will leave Turkey on April 17, Friday.

[05] PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ LEAVES FOR UZBEKISTAN

Prime Minister Yılmaz will proceed to Krygyzstan on April 14 after wrapping up his contacts in Uzbekistan.

State Ministers Rıfat Serdaroglu and Ahat Andican, Minister of Industry and Commerce Yalım Erez, Minister of Culture Istemihan Talay, Minister of Forestry Ersin Taranoglu, parliamentarians, businessmen and journalists accompany Prime Minister Yılmaz in his visit.

Addressing a press briefing at Esenboga Airport before his departure, Prime Minister Yılmaz stated that the political relations with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are perfect, adding that Turkey attributes great importance to these countries.

''I believe that we have to launch great efforts to further improve our economic and commercial relations with these countries. Reciprocal high ranking visits will contribute to this end,'' Yılmaz said.

Prime Minister Yılmaz stressed that he will take up relations with these countries in all aspects and exchange views about other issues that concern the countries with Uzbek and Kyrgyz officials particularly with Uzbek President Islam Kerimov and Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev.

Prime Minister Yılmaz will return to Turkey on April 15.

[06] PRESIDENT DEMIREL RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS OF JOURNALISTS: ''TURKEY COMES THE 16TH COUNTRY IN TERMS OF POPULATION, 32ND IN TERMS OF TERRITORY AND 19TH IN TERMS OF GNP IN THE WORLD. TURKEY IS AN IMPORTANT ONE AMONG 185 COUNTRIES''

Responding to questions of journalists in Istanbul, President Demirel stated that the foundation of the first electric station and dam on Coruh River will be laid on April 26, adding that 1,5 billion kwh of electricity will be produced within a year by the electrical station. Demirel said that Azeri and Georgian Presidents will also participate in the foundation ceremony.

Noting that he will hold a ''Summit Meeting'' in Antalya on April 16 with Bulgarian and Romanian presidents, President Demirel pointed out that ''we are trying to set up a free trade region in Antalya. We have free trade agreement with Romaina and we also wish to make such an agreement with Bulgaria. They also wish so. Besides that, we have bilateral agreements between the three countries concerning struggle with terrorism, organized crime and drugs. Three of us will sign agreements concerning these issues at the summit meeting.''

Pointing out that Turkish businessmen will convene on April 30 in Izmir, Demirel stressed that ''Turkey sells products to five continents and 120 countries today. Turkey has also problems. The first of them is inflation and consequently poverty, unemployment and expensive life. Turkey tries to overcome terrorism and it is successful in a considerable way. Southeastern Project (GAP) will have new units, Sanlıurfa Airport will be constructed and a canal will be constructed between Urfa-Mardin.''

[07] VAN POLICE CHIEF SAGIRKAYA: ''114 KG DRUG WAS SEIZED WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR''

Addressing a statement to A.A correspondent, Sagırkaya stated that Turkey is used as a transit route due to its geographical status, adding that powers that wish to separate and divide Turkey, direct drug trafficking and Van route is mainly used for the drugs coming from the Middle East countries to reach Europe and America.

''The separatist terrorist organization need young people and they use drugs to attract them. We did not permit this and we will not in the future. A big success has been realized during the operations staged in Van in 1997. We expect all our citizens to support police concerning the struggle with drugs,'' he said.

[08] 18 MEMBERS OF ILLEGAL DHKP/C ORGANIZATION CAPTURED

Istanbul Anti-Terrorism Office said that 18 people, who displayed banners of DHKP/C and held an illegal demonstration in Kucuk Halkalı Graveyard on April 8, 1998; were taken under custody.

Officials said that the illegal organization determined the days between March 30-April 17, 1998 as remembrance days of members of the organization who died during the clashes with security forces. Investigation is underway concerning the 18 people.

Meanwhile, police captured two members of another illegal organization namely ''Turkish Workers and Peasents' Liberation Army'' (TIKKO), including one woman in Aysekadın Train Station in Edirne province the same day.

Officials said that the two, who were planning to escape abroad, were delivered to Edirne Prosecution.

[09] STATE MINISTER SALIH YILDIRIM: ''WE ARE NOT A WATER RICH COUNTRY''

Responding to questions of A.A correspondent, State Minister Yıldırım stated that a country has to own such a water potential, which is more than 7000 cubic meters per person in order to be considered as a water rich country. Yıldırım stressed that this number is only 3340 cubic meters per person in Turkey.

Noting that those countries which have only 1120 cubic meters of water per person are regarded as poor in water, Yıldırım pointed out that the amount of water per person will decrease to 1910 cubic meters in 2050 in Turkey.

''Neither the satellites nor internet will determine the fate of the world, water and grain will do so. This source is enough in Southeastern Project (GAP) region and we should act rationally to benefit from that,'' Yıldırım added.

Recalling that foreign finance sources extend support to irrigation, health and social projects in GAP, Yıldırım stressed that no support has been received concerning construction of dams in GAP due to the world's water policies.

State Minister Salih Yıldırım said that the water potential is only 300 cubic meters per person in Israel and therefore the latter is interested in GAP.

''Israelians know that water and agricultural production will play an effective role in the future. We also need Israeli people in respect of their experience, technology, information and credit,'' he added.

[10] TRNC DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER SERDAR DENKTAS: ''TRNC COUNCIL OF MINISTERS APPROVED THE LAW WHICH PROHIBITS GREEK CYPRIOT PASSPORT''

Responding to questions of journalists, Serdar Denktas stated that the draft law will give 90 days for those people to return their Greek Cypriot passports and identity cards.

Noting that these kind of applications are seen in the world, Serdar Denktas added that people who get insurance money from the Greek Cypriot side will not face any problems by the prohibition of Greek Cypriot identity cards.

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