Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-07-09

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

09 JULY 1998

CONTENTS

[01] S-300 MISSILES - THE US REITERATES: ''SALES OF WEAPONS TO THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE SHOULD BE CANCELED''

[02] NATO SHIPS ARRIVE AT DRAC PORT OF ALBANIA - ''BLACK SEA,'' A TURKISH SHIP IS ALSO AMONG THE SHIPS

[03] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF THE TRNC RECEIVES COMMANDERS OF WAR ACADEMIES

[04] MEASURES ARE TAKEN TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSSES OF FOREST FIRE IN TRNC

[05] ACCIDENT IN PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ'S CONVOY - JOURNALIST BILA WILL BE KEPT IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT IN ORDER TO PREVENT POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

[06] THE CASE OF OZER CILLER, THE HUSBAND OF TANSU CILLER, THE LEADER OF DYP TO BE HEARD BEFORE THE COURT OF APPEALS

[07] HISTORICAL WORKS THAT ARE FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGLISH CHANNEL, TO BE DELIVERED TO TURKEY IN COMING DAYS - BRITISH OFFICIALS TO DELIVER SEVEN MARBLE STATUES TO TURKISH EMBASSY IN BRITAIN ON 15 JULY

[08] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS' DECISIONS - VAT ON FRESH VEGETABLES, FRUITS, DRIED ONIONS, GARLIC DECREASE FROM 15 PERCENT TO 8 PERCENT

[09] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[10] TURKEY PRESS REVIEW (2)

[11] FOREIGN MINISTRY RESPONDS TO REPPAS: - ''TURKEY EXPECTS GREECE TO RESPECT INTERNATIONAL LAWS AND THE DISARMED STATUS OF THE EASTERN AEGEAN ISLANDS''

[12] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 9 JULY 1998

[13] S AND P OFFICIALS IN TURKEY - FINANCE MINISTER TEMIZEL RECEIVES DELEGATION OF STANDARD AND POOR'S

[14] 17 MORE TURKISH FAMILIES COMING FROM NORTHERN IRAQ ARRIVE IN TURKEY

[15] OPERATION IN SEMDINLI - MANY SOLDIERS AND VILLAGE GUARDS PARTICIPATE IN OPERATION STARTED IN TURKISH-IRAN-IRAQ TRIANGLE

[16] TURKEY-BLAST - FOUR DIE, FIVE WOUNDED IN GAS EXPLOSION IN ISTANBUL

[17] ''RESTORATION OF CITY WALL OF HALICARNASSUS''

[18] ACCIDENT IN PREMIER YILMAZ'S CONVOY - SURGICAL OPERATION OF YUCELEN, MINISTER OF STATE, ENDS

[19] FOREIGN DEBT PAYMENTS - TURKEY REPAYS 5.7 BILLION US DOLLARS IN FOREIGN DEBTS SINCE BEGINNING OF 1998

[20] TRACK AND FIELD - 29TH BALKANS YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP TO TAKE PLACE IN ISTANBUL BETWEEN 11-12 JULY

[21] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK DECREASE TO 26.1 BILLION US DOLLARS

[22] TURKEY-BLAST - SIX PEOPLE KILLED, 98 OTHERS WOUNDED IN EXPLOSION AT EMINONU DISTRICT

[01] S-300 MISSILES - THE US REITERATES: ''SALES OF WEAPONS TO THE GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE SHOULD BE CANCELED''

Addressing a press conference, James Rubin, the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs of the US Department of State, stressed, ''the US defends that these missiles shouldn't be deployed on the island''.

Pointing out that both sides should act prudently, Rubin noted that Turkey's threat to shoot the missiles in case of the deployment at Southern Cyprus, isn't reasonable.

Responding to a question related to the ''no fly zone'' proposal of Greece and the Greek Cypriot side, Rubin avoided a comment on the issue, but he said that the suggestions concerning the shooting of the airplanes aren't realistic.

Rubin emphasized that he will make a statement later concerning the armament of the Aegean islands by Greece violating the international agreements.

William Cohen, the US Secretary of Defence who met with his Greek counterpart Akis Tsohatzopoulos addressed a press conference and stressed, ''the deployment of the S-300 missiles on the island will be a great mistake''.

[02] NATO SHIPS ARRIVE AT DRAC PORT OF ALBANIA - ''BLACK SEA,'' A TURKISH SHIP IS ALSO AMONG THE SHIPS

Ships belonging to the NATO Mediterranean Naval Force (STANAVFORMED) will stay at the port until 10 July.

The ships, which arrived at the port on Wednesday morning, are the ''Black Sea'' from Turkey, ''Espero'' from Italy, ''Canarias'' from Spain and ''Macedonia'' from Greece.

The visit of STANAVFORMED aims to contribute to the efforts to protect the security and stability, particularly in the region where the Kosovo crisis has erupted.

The NATO decided to send the four ships to the Drac Port on 28 May and another goal of the visit was to enable the NATO Naval Forces to get to know the Drac Port better.

The Mediterranean Permanent Naval Forces, which constitutes a part of the emergency forces of NATO, has taken part in all the naval activities of the NATO during the last five years to support the embargo imposed on Yugoslavia.

[03] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF THE TRNC RECEIVES COMMANDERS OF WAR ACADEMIES

Addressing the meeting, Denktas gave information to the members of the military delegation about the latest developments on Cyprus, and expressed satisfaction with Turkey's determination concerning the island.

Denktas said, ''we won't be deceived by inter-communities negotiations after the Greek Cypriots' initiative towards occupying all of Cyprus through the European Union. In the 23 April declaration we pointed out that we will attend the negotiations only as the TRNC Government''.

Stressing that the Greek Cypriot Administration has postponed the delivery of the Russian made S-300 missiles to Southern Cyprus until November because of the pressure made by the European countries, the US, the United Nations and the Greek Cypriot businessmen, Denktas requested the Greek Cypriots to be more reasonable.

[04] MEASURES ARE TAKEN TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSSES OF FOREST FIRE IN TRNC

Addressing a press briefing, Kenan Akın, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, said that a total area of 35,000 donum (8,750 acres) was burned in the region.

Noting that only 20,000 donum (5,000 acres) of green fields have been left in the region, Akın pointed out that the total cost is 821 billion Turkish Liras.

Akın stressed that the money to compensate for the losses will be provided by Turkey, adding that the activities to afforest the region can only be completed within two years and three million saplings will be planted during this period.

[05] ACCIDENT IN PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ'S CONVOY - JOURNALIST BILA WILL BE KEPT IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT IN ORDER TO PREVENT POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

Addressing the journalists, Prof. Dr. Cengiz Kuday, the Chairman of the Neurosurgery Department of the Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine gave information concerning the health condition of Bila. He noted, ''Bila's left eye was removed and his brain was also damaged in the accident. He is still unconscious''.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz visited Kazim Rustu Yucelen, the Minister of State, and Sinasi Altiner, the Deputy from Karabuk who were also injured in the same accident and taken to the American Hospital in Istanbul. The doctors told Yilmaz that Yucelen's and Altiner's conditions are satisfactory.

[06] THE CASE OF OZER CILLER, THE HUSBAND OF TANSU CILLER, THE LEADER OF DYP TO BE HEARD BEFORE THE COURT OF APPEALS

Recalling that Ozer Ciller's pecuniary punishment was also postponed, Metin Olmez, the Chief Prosecutor, who brought a file against Ciller, said that the decision of the court wasn't appropriate. Olmez stressed in his appeal petition that Ciller should be convicted of ''making fraud on official documents.''

Ozer Ciller also gave a petition to appeal the decision of the court and requested his acquittal.

The Penal Court in Ankara sent the file to the Court of Appeals upon the request of both sides.

[07] HISTORICAL WORKS THAT ARE FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGLISH CHANNEL, TO BE DELIVERED TO TURKEY IN COMING DAYS - BRITISH OFFICIALS TO DELIVER SEVEN MARBLE STATUES TO TURKISH EMBASSY IN BRITAIN ON 15 JULY

An amateur divers group found the statues at the bottom of the English Channel in May 1995 and handed over the historical works to the related British officials.

The statues will be delivered to the Turkish Embassy in Britain on 15 July and will be brought to Turkey later this month.

[08] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS' DECISIONS - VAT ON FRESH VEGETABLES, FRUITS, DRIED ONIONS, GARLIC DECREASE FROM 15 PERCENT TO 8 PERCENT

The decision of the cabinet concerning the new VAT on these products was published in the Official Gazette, while the VAT rate of vegetables, fruits, potatoes, dried onions and garlic, which are sold at the wholesale markets is decreased from 8 percent to 1 percent.

The decision of the cabinet will enter into force starting from 1 August 1998.

Meanwhile, the rate of the consumption tax taken from Liquiefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) decreased from 40 percent to 1 percent and the decision of the cabinet entered into force on 1 July 1998.

[09] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.)

CEM-ARAFAT MEETING
Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, met with Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian Leader in Ramallah yesterday. After the meeting, Cem said that Turkey was in a unique position to play a positive role in the Middle East conflict because of her good relations with Israel and the Palestinians. Meanwhile Cem, who also met with President Ezer Weizman on Wednesday, talked about the dominant military influence in Turkey's relations with Israel. /All papers/

KARADAYI TO VISIT TRNC
General Ismail Hakki Karadayi, the Chief of General Staff, will pay a visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Friday, a statement from the General Staff said on Wednesday. Karadayi's visit to the TRNC will precede a visit by President Suleyman Demirel, who is expected to arrive on the island on 20 or 21 July. /Hurriyet/

STANDARD AND POOR'S CONTINUES CONTACTS IN TURKEY
Representatives of Standard and Poor's (S and P), one of the leading US rating organizations, will meet with representatives of the private sector tomorrow. Members of the S and P delegation, who met yesterday with officials of the Undersecretariat of the Treasury, were given information about recent macroeconomic developments. The S and P delegation also met with the representatives of the State Planning Organization and Privatization Administration Board. The delegation will meet with the representatives from the Central Bank and Ministry of Finance today. The S and P officials, who will go to Istanbul and meet with representatives of the private sector, will leave Turkey on Saturday. /Sabah/

HUGE POWER PLANT IN CAN
A contract worth 350 trillion TL has been signed for the Can Thermal Power Plant, which will overcome energy problems in Canakkale Province. A consortium consisting of the French Gec Alsthom and Turkish Teknotes companies have won the tender opened by the Turkish Electric Corporation (TEAS) in January 1998. The first stage of the power plant will be completed in 34 months, while the second part of the plant will be finalized in 36 months. /Sabah/

TURKEY WILL SEARCH FOR OIL IN TRNC WATERS
Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will jointly explore for oil in the territorial waters of the TRNC. The Foreign Ministry officials said that exploring for oil in the TRNC waters was of great importance from the standpoint of political and economic relations between Turkey and the TRNC. The officials noted that the TRNC was a sovereign state and that it was natural to explore for oil in her own territorial waters. Officials pointed out that the exploration for oil in the TRNC waters will be carried out in line with a decision taken within the framework of the Association Council established between Turkey and the TRNC. /Sabah/

GREECE BLASTS US AND ISRAEL FOR SELLING ARMS TO TURKEY
Akis Chacopulos, the Greek Minister of Defense, has criticized the United States and Israel for supplying Turkey with weapons.

Chacopulos, who is on an official visit to the United States, claimed on Tuesday that Turkey was increasing her military build-up in the TRNC. ''90 percent of the Turkish weapons in the TRNC are American made. The problem is that these weapons can be used again.'' The Greek Minister of Defense also lashed out at Israel, saying that this country provided Turkey with arms that the US didn't supply to Greece and Turkey. He also harshly criticized the flourishing Turco-Israeli relations.

DYP GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO ITS FORMER DEPUTIES
Dogan Gures, the Independent Kilis Deputy, joined the True Path Party (DYP) in a ceremony yesterday. The executive board of the DYP decided on Tuesday to give the green light for the return of the former DYP deputies who were either dismissed by the party or left on their own accord. /All papers/

INJURED POLITICIANS, JOURNALIST BROUGHT TO ISTANBUL
The members of the Turkish delegation who were involved in an automobile accident on the Skopje-Bitola highway in Macedonia and were seriously injured, were rushed to Istanbul in a special ambulance airplane late Tuesday night. State Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen and Motherland Party (ANAP) Parliamentarian Sinasi Altiner were reported yesterday to be improving. Milliyet newspaper's Ankara representative Fikret Bila was the worst hurt and his situation continues to remain serious. /All papers/

[10] TURKEY PRESS REVIEW (2)

(Derived from the Newsspot of the Turkish General Directorate of Press and Information.)

MERRILL LYNCH BOOSTS MORALE
One of the consultants of the Turk Telekom, Merrill Lynch, stated yesterday that inflation had begun a downward trend in Turkey, and what was more important was that inflationary expectations were also beginning to be shattered for the first time. Merril Lynch said that the ''staff monitoring agreement'' reached with the IMF would contribute greatly to the macroeconomic future of Turkey. /Hurriyet/

10 PKK TERRORISTS DEAD
10 PKK terrorists were killed yesterday, eight of them near Sirnak, one in Bingol, and one in Siirt. One member of the security forces was killed by terrorists. Two terrorists were captured alive near Bingol and Van. /Hurriyet/

GREEK FOREIGN MINISTRY WELCOMES US SUGGESTION
Responding to a question from a Reuters News Agency correspondent about what he thought about a US suggestion to stop all military flights over Cyprus, Theodoros Theodoru, the Greek Foreign Ministry Spokesman, said that it was a positive proposal, and that the problem was how the Turkish side would react to the suggestion. The suggestion was made yesterday by William Cohen, the US Secretary of Defense when he and his Greek counterpart Akis Chacopulos held a joint press conference at the Pentagon, in Washington, D.C. /Cumhuriyet/

HOLBROOKE'S COMMENTS ON KOSOVO INVOLVE TURKEY
When he appeared on a CNN news programme yesterday, Richard Holbrooke, nominated by US President Bill Clinton as the new US Permanent Representative to the United Nations, said that the Kosovo problem could lead to a Greece-Turkey confrontation. Noting that if Kosovo is separated from the new Yugoslavian Federation, embodying Serbia and Montenegro, then border disputes could arise, Holbrooke said ''a very dangerous situation would arise and two NATO allies, Greece and Turkey, could come to the verge of a confrontation'', stressing the issue's large-scale effects. /Cumhuriyet/

[11] FOREIGN MINISTRY RESPONDS TO REPPAS: - ''TURKEY EXPECTS GREECE TO RESPECT INTERNATIONAL LAWS AND THE DISARMED STATUS OF THE EASTERN AEGEAN ISLANDS''

Sermet Atacanli, the Spokesman of Foreign Ministry, responded to the statement of Dimitri Reppas, the Spokesman of the Greek Government, towards the possible armament of the Dodecanese Islands by Greece.

Atacanli reminded that the Eastern Aegean islands including the mentioned Dodecanese Islands, have been armed illegally by Greece since 1960.

Stressing that Turkey warned Greece many times about the issue and requested her to fulfill the obligations of the 1923 Lausanne and 1947 Paris Peace Agreements, Atacanli noted, ''Greece denied her armament efforts initially and then used the Cyprus Peace Movement as an excuse to her illegal initiatives''.

Reminding that the mentioned agreements regarding Turkey's security, left the islands to Greece on the condition of disarmament, Atacanli pointed out, ''the international agreements can't be violated arbitrarily. Greece defends the supremacy of international law, but at the same time she violates her obligations given by the international agreements. This is nothing but a double standard and it is unacceptable''.

Atacanli emphasized that Greece should be respectful of the disarmed status of the Eastern Aegean islands and international laws in order to solve the problems between the two countries.

Turkey gave a note to Greece recently in order to protest the armament of the Eastern Aegean islands. Reppas pointed out in his statement on 6 July that the Dodecanese Islands can be armed by Greece.

[12] TURKEY IN BRIEF - 9 JULY 1998

Hikmet Cetin, the Speaker of Parliament, and several senior officials were also in attendance at the reception.

CESME - The Blues Brothers Band, one of the most popular music bands in the US, gave its second concert in Turkey at Cesme within the framework of 12th International Izmir Festival organized by the Izmir Culture, Art and Education Foundation, on Wednesday night.

The Band gave its first concert in Turkey at Istanbul

The 12th International Izmir Festival will end on 14 July.

AGRI - Two separatist terrorists were killed during the operations launched by the security forces in Agri Province, it was reported on Thursday.

Officials told the A.A correspondent that a soldier lost his life during the operations.

SIVAS - The separatist terrorists killed on Thursday Haydar Iyidogan, the Headman of Sancakkale Village in Zara County of Sivas Province.

The investigation concerning the incident is underway in the region.

TASOVA - The separatist terrorists killed on Thursday Cafer Avci, the Headman of Cakirlisu Village in Tasova County of Amasya Province.

Elmas Avci, the wife of Cafer Avci, and his nephew Ecevit Koksal were wounded in the incident.

The wounded people were taken to the Amasya State Hospital.

The investigation concerning the incident is underway in the region.

AGRI - Two hand-granades were exploded in Dogubeyazit County of Agri Province, it was reported on Thursday.

Ridvan Alkan (aged 7) was wounded in the incident.

Meanwhile financial damage was reported in several buildings.

The investigation concerning the incidents are underway.

[13] S AND P OFFICIALS IN TURKEY - FINANCE MINISTER TEMIZEL RECEIVES DELEGATION OF STANDARD AND POOR'S

The senior officials from the Treasury were also in attendance at the meeting.

The S and P officials were given information at the meeting about the tax reform and tax revenues.

The delegation will also visit the Central Bank today and will proceed to Istanbul tomorrow in order to meet with the representatives of the private sector.

The S and P delegation will leave Turkey on Saturday.

[14] 17 MORE TURKISH FAMILIES COMING FROM NORTHERN IRAQ ARRIVE IN TURKEY

Many families which escaped from the Ayasufi camp near Mosul, arrived in settlement units near Dahuk last month. Nearly 70 of these people, who had been living in Uludere County of the southeastern province of Sırnak, entered into Turkey from the Habur border gate. These people were located in the houses of their relatives in the villages of Uludere.

Nearly 100 families which escaped from the same camp live in settlement units near Dahuk and they are preparing to enter into Turkey. These families have asked the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) officials for help.

Meanwhile, the separatist terrorist organization, which forced nearly 2,000 citizens to move into the Ayasufi camp from the Atrush camp last year, is claimed to pressure these people to settle in Mosul by making an agreement with the Iraqi government officials.

Confirming this claim, the KDP officials said that the Iraqi government headed by Saddam Hussein extends support to the separatist terrorist PKK organization and proved this by permitting the PKK to open offices in several provinces, especially in Mosul.

''The terrorist organization is trying to the bring the families, who were forced to migrate from the villages of Sırnak between 1991-1992, close to itself. If this comes true, then the world will find a new element of propaganda against Turkey,'' they said.

[15] OPERATION IN SEMDINLI - MANY SOLDIERS AND VILLAGE GUARDS PARTICIPATE IN OPERATION STARTED IN TURKISH-IRAN-IRAQ TRIANGLE

According to the information obtained by the local sources, a wide-ranged operation was started after harrasment incidents in Samanli, Gurmese and Beyyurdu Villages in Semdinli and in Tekeli, Balikli, Tanyolu and Alan Villages.

It was reported that the operation was intensified in the Turkish-Iranian and Iraqi triangle and that clashes had continued since the early hours of Thursday.

No information is available about the number of casualities or the wounded.

[16] TURKEY-BLAST - FOUR DIE, FIVE WOUNDED IN GAS EXPLOSION IN ISTANBUL

The blast struck a small shop at the entrance to the Egyptian Bazaar, on the banks of the Golden Horn waterway.

Five other people were seriously injured in the explosion caused by an LPG tube at 2:00 p.m.

The wounded were immediately hospitalized.

Meanwhile, Hasan Ozdemir, the Chief of the Istanbul Security Department said the explosion may be caused by gas leaking from LPG tubes or by an explosive device.

Ozdemir said that activities were underway to determine the number of deaths and wounded.

[17] ''RESTORATION OF CITY WALL OF HALICARNASSUS''

The members of the Scientific Information Committee, which will oversee the project, held a press conference at the Four Seasons Hotel at the Sultanahmet District in Istanbul. Prof. Dr. Altan Cilingiroglu, the Chairman of the Committee, said that their aim was to leave the ancient city wall to the next generations by restorating it.

Pointing out that the project activities started in June, Prof. Dr. Cilingiroglu said, ''we will start studies by next week to determine the places that can be restored. I hope the first rubble will be filled into the wall in December.''

The archaeological digging process of the project will start in August and the restoration activities at the end of 1998. The project is planned to take at least five years.

It is estimated that the Satrap Mausolus had the city walls of the Ancient City of Bodrum (Halicarnassus) built around 400 B.C.

[18] ACCIDENT IN PREMIER YILMAZ'S CONVOY - SURGICAL OPERATION OF YUCELEN, MINISTER OF STATE, ENDS

The surgery of Yucelen, which was performed by a three-person team headed by Prof. Dr. Mahmut Berkman, started at 8:00 a.m. and ended at 1:15 p.m.

Berkman said that Yucelen may go to Ankara within five days.

Berkman also said that the condition of Sinasi Altiner, the Deputy from Karabuk, was good.

[19] FOREIGN DEBT PAYMENTS - TURKEY REPAYS 5.7 BILLION US DOLLARS IN FOREIGN DEBTS SINCE BEGINNING OF 1998

The Central Bank data shows that the Treasury paid 110.5 million US dollars; the Central Bank paid 28.3 million US dollars and the Ministry of National Defense and the Defense industry paid 38.4 million US dollars in foreign debts between 1 and 8 July 1998.

Meanwhile, the total foreign debt payments repaid since 1 January 1998 reached 5 billion 778.6 million US dollars.

Turkey realized 1 billion 346.7 million US dollars in January, 916 million US dollars in February, 785.8 million US dollars in March, 765.8 million US dollars in April, 621.1 million US dollars in May and 166 million US dollars in June in foreign debt repayments.

[20] TRACK AND FIELD - 29TH BALKANS YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP TO TAKE PLACE IN ISTANBUL BETWEEN 11-12 JULY

Nearly 400 track-and-field athletes from Turkey, Albania, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania and Yugoslavia will participate in the Championship to be held at the Burhan Felek Sports Center's Ekrem Kocak Field.

Fikret Cetinkaya, the Chairman of the Federation of Athletics, said that they were organizing the Balkans Youth Track and Field Championship for the second time in succession.

''In the Championship we organized last year in Izmir, Turkey receieved three gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals. Our goal this year is to receive more medals and get more successful results,'' he said.

[21] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK DECREASE TO 26.1 BILLION US DOLLARS

The Central Bank data shows that the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves, which dropped by 566 million US dollars in one week, decreased to 26 billion 134 million US dollars on 3 July. The Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves were 26.7 billion US dollars on 26 June.

Meanwhile, according to the 19 June-based statistics, the international reserves of Turkey increased 162 million US dollars to 36 billion 176 million US dollars. The international reserves were 36 billion 338 million US dollars on 12 June.

According to the same statistics, the international reserves were composed of 1 billion 124 million US dollars in gold; 26 billion 469 million US dollars in the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves and 8 billion 583 million US dollars in the commercial banks' foreign exchange reserves.

[22] TURKEY-BLAST - SIX PEOPLE KILLED, 98 OTHERS WOUNDED IN EXPLOSION AT EMINONU DISTRICT

The wounded were immediately hospitalized.

The explosion was caused by an LPG tube at 2:00 p.m.

Meanwhile, Hasan Ozdemir, the Chief of the Istanbul Security Department said the explosion may have been caused by gas leaking from LPG tubes or by an explosive device.

Ozdemir said that activities were underway to determine the number of deaths and wounded.

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