Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-07-30

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

30 JULY 1998

CONTENTS

[01] ''GET WELL SOON'' MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO KING HUSSEIN OF JORDAN

[02] HARASSMENT AT TURKISH-GREEK BORDER - GREEK SOLDIERS WHO WERE ON PATROL AT GREEK SIDE OF MERIC RIVER FIRE WARNING SHOTS AT THE TURKISH SIDE - NO BODY DIED OR WAS INJURED

[03] TAM'S RESEARCH ON ''CULTURAL DIVERSITY FROM OTTOMAN EMPIRE TO REPUBLIC OF TURKEY'' - SEN, DIRECTOR OF TAM: - ''CULTURAL DIVERSITY EASES ADAPTATION''

[04] ''MEETING OF BLACK SEA CRUISING SECURITY'' ENDS - FINAL DECLARATION: ''COUNTRIES HAVING COASTS ON THE BLACK SEA WILL SET UP A COORDINATION CENTRE''

[05] GREAT INTEREST IN KARACA CAVE

[06] RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT - NERGIZ, GAZIANTEP PROVINCIAL DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE: - ''PROJECT AIMS TO INCREASE QUALITY OF LIFE IN RURAL AREAS''

[07] TURKISH DELEGATION IN THE US - YIGITGUDEN, THE UNDERSECERTARY OF MINISTRY OF ENERGY: ''THE PERCENTAGE OF REALIZING BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE IS 85-90 PERCENT''

[08] GLOBAL WARMING - TURKEY TO BE ONE OF THE COUNTRIES MOST INFLUENCED BY GLOBAL WARMING

[09] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

[10] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

[11] EU COMMISSION KEEPS TURKEY OUT OF ITS ANTI-DUMPING APPLICATION

[12] UNITY AGAINST SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION - 19 POLITICAL PARTIES IN NORTHERN IRAQ ISSUE A JOINTPROCLAMATION CONDEMNING THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

[13] BRIQUETTE FACTORY IN AMASRA

[14] 4TH MENTAL ILLNESS HOSPITAL IN TURKEY TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN BURSA

[15] A MINIBUS CARRYING TOURISTS COLLIDES WITH A TANKER - 4 PEOPLE DIE, 24 OTHER INJURED

[16] MONOPOLY ON SALT TO BE LIFTED - SALTWORKS HAVING FOREIGN PARTNERS TO BE SET UP WITH THE ABOLISHMENT OF THE LAW

[17] ADMIRAL LOPEZ, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF SOUTHERN EUROPEAN ALLY FORCES OF NATO, DUE IN TURKEY

[18] SEZGIN, NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER, RECEIVES THE CHAIRMAN OF AMERICAN JEWISH ASSOCIATIONS - SEZGIN: ''CONCRETE RESULTS DIDN'T OCCUR DESPITE THE JOINT VIEWS AND INTERESTS WITH THE US''

[19] GENERAL CLARK, COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF EUROPEAN ALLY FORCES OF NATO, IN IZMIR - GENERAL CLARK VISITS GENERAL OZKOK, COMMANDER OF SOUTHERN EUROPEAN ALLY LAND FORCES OF NATO

[20] GREAT RACE IN TENDER FOR WORK MACHINES - INTERNATIONAL PURCHASE INCLUDES 2,470 VARIOUS TYPES OF WORK MACHINES

[21] WORLD BANK PROVIDES LOAN OF 6 MILLION US DOLLARS TO BOLU

[22] CANSEVEN, GOVERNOR OF EDIRNE, DUE IN GREECE

[23] FOREIGN DEBT PAYMENTS - 1.1 BILLION US DOLLARS PAID IN FOREIGN DEBTS IN JULY 1998

[24] TURKISH-FRENCH 2000 ACTION PLAN SUPPLEMENTARY TEXT OF IMPLEMENTATION SIGNED

[25] BREIDENSTINE, UNDERSECRETARY OF TRADE AT THE US EMBASSY: - ''WE WILL MAKE AMERICAN COMPANIES CONSCIOUS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THEM OPPORTUNITY FOR MAKING INVESTMENTS IN EAST'' - ''WE CAN MAKE INVESTMENTS ON BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINES NATURAL GAS AND ENERGY FIELDS''

[01] ''GET WELL SOON'' MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT DEMIREL TO KING HUSSEIN OF JORDAN

The 62 year old King Hussein is undergoing chemotherapy for B-cell lymphoma, a type of cancer.

[02] HARASSMENT AT TURKISH-GREEK BORDER - GREEK SOLDIERS WHO WERE ON PATROL AT GREEK SIDE OF MERIC RIVER FIRE WARNING SHOTS AT THE TURKISH SIDE - NO BODY DIED OR WAS INJURED

Tension erupted at the border when Greek soldiers started to tease and harrass Turkish soldiers on patrol and then fired warning shots against them in the region between Adasalhanlı Village and Kuplu Town at Meric County of Edirne Province.

Turkish soldiers opened fire in return to the warning shots of the Greek soldiers, fortunately the situation normalized at the military zone.

The shots were also heard in Adasalhanlı Village and Kuplu Town.

The Greek soldiers were drunk when the incident occurred.

[03] TAM'S RESEARCH ON ''CULTURAL DIVERSITY FROM OTTOMAN EMPIRE TO REPUBLIC OF TURKEY'' - SEN, DIRECTOR OF TAM: - ''CULTURAL DIVERSITY EASES ADAPTATION''

Addressing a press conference in Bonn, Sen gave information about the research on ''the 700 Years of Cultural Diversity from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic of Turkey.''

Pointing out that they have searched how the ethnic diversity of the Turkish society is reflected in Germany, Sen noted that the Turks from different ethnic origins and religious groups easily accept themselves as an inseparable part of the Turkish minority in Germany.

Sen stressed, ''the research shows that the loyalty of the members of groups to their ethnic or religious identities don't form any obstacle in their relations with the other groups and their adaptation to the social life in Germany.''

Prof. Faruk Sen described the cultural diversity of Turkish society as a positive factor in the integration process with the European Union.

[04] ''MEETING OF BLACK SEA CRUISING SECURITY'' ENDS - FINAL DECLARATION: ''COUNTRIES HAVING COASTS ON THE BLACK SEA WILL SET UP A COORDINATION CENTRE''

The issues of ship traffic, which is increasing in the Black Sea, oil transports which threaten the environment, life and property and lastly the security of ship cruising were discussed at the meeting, which lasted for three days.

The Final Declaration of the meeting said ''the participant countries will prepare proposals by the next meeting concerning the Ship Course System and the Ship Traffic Information and Administration System which will be set up to monitor the ships when cruising and to determine its course. Countries having coasts on the Black Sea will set up a Regional Electronic Cruising Map Coordination Centre.''

Captain Huseyin Ertan said that the second meeting will be held in Split, Croatia, in 1999. Turkey, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Romania and Georgia participated in the first meeting held in Istanbul where Greece participated as an observor.

[05] GREAT INTEREST IN KARACA CAVE

Officials told the A.A correspondent that more than 12 thousand tourists visited the cave during the first six months of this year. This number was nearly 10 thousand during the same period last year. New arrangements will be made in the cave and surroundings in order to further increase the number of tourists.

Karaca cave is famous for its stalactites.

[06] RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT - NERGIZ, GAZIANTEP PROVINCIAL DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE: - ''PROJECT AIMS TO INCREASE QUALITY OF LIFE IN RURAL AREAS''

Zafer Nergiz, the Gaziantep Provincial Director of Agriculture, told the A.A correspondent that the project which will cost 20 million US dollars, was presented for the approval of the State Planning Organization (DPT).

Pointing out that Gaziantep is extremely developed in indusrty and trade, but not in agriculture, Nergiz noted that the project will contribute to agricultural development in Gaziantep. He added that within the framework of the project, the quality of life will be increased in the rural areas and thus migration from the rural areas to the city will be prevented.

Nergiz added, ''we will organize training programmes for the farmers, make aquaculture production widespread and improve the infrastructure services in the scope of the project. When the project is concluded, model villages will be revealed with their infrastructures and the production activities.''

[07] TURKISH DELEGATION IN THE US - YIGITGUDEN, THE UNDERSECERTARY OF MINISTRY OF ENERGY: ''THE PERCENTAGE OF REALIZING BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE IS 85-90 PERCENT''

Giving information to the members of the press after the fourth meeting of the Turkish-American Energy Working Group meeting held in Washington, D.C., Yigitguden stated that Russia also accepts the fact that Ceyhan is the best choice in medium and long-term, adding that the cooperation between Turkey and the US concerning the regional energy policies is ''better than expected.''

Noting that the Caspian oil and natural gas pipelines were discussed at the meetings, Yurdakul Yiğitgüden stated that they met with officials from oil firms, the World Bank and the American Eximbank.

Stressing that he also held contacts at the US Congress, Yigitguden said that he thanked Robert Byrd, an American senator for the support he extended to Turkey regarding the pipelines.

Recalling that the US promised to give limitless sources for the Baku- Ceyhan pipeline, Yigitguden said that the details of the Turkish proposals about the project were discussed during his contacts.

Yigitguden pointed out that Turkey has benefitted from her cooperation with the US in the field of energy, ''we speak the same language in third countries, our cooperation has to continue,'' he said.

Noting that Turkey has great advantages for the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, Yigitguden said that Russia also accepts the view that Ceyhan is the best export port which opens to the west in the medium and long-term concerning the transports of oil to the west.

Stressing that he thinks that the connection of the issue of the passage through the straits with the issue of pipelines isn't ''a very good behaviour,'' Yigitguden emphasized the existence of strong non-governmnetal organizations (NGOs) in Turkey and said that the Turkish government can't ignore the concern of the NGOs about the environment and accidents at the Straits.

Yigitguden, who will proceed to New York and meet with representatives of several finance institutions there, will leave the US for Turkey on Friday.

[08] GLOBAL WARMING - TURKEY TO BE ONE OF THE COUNTRIES MOST INFLUENCED BY GLOBAL WARMING

Eylem Yildiz and Cagatay Kanat, representatives of the environmental group, told the A.A correspondent that the natural disasters caused by global warming, will increase and Turkey will be one of the countries the most influenced by the disasters.

Yildiz and Kanat explained the issues that were discussed at the summit as, ''climate changes cause heavy storms, typhoons and cyclones. The world becomes a big desert with the influence of erosion. Europe is confronted with aridity for the first time in 150 years. Forest fires terrorize many countries.''

''As the global warming continues, forest fires will increase, several animal and plant species that can't adapt to the climate changes will disappear, arid areas will increase, aridity will be increased in many parts of the world.''

''Many coasts in Turkey can remain under waters because of the rising sea level and the sudden melting of snow in the areas covered with snow will cause great dangers. Some animal species will immigrate from south to north and several others from north to south in parallel with the rising warming.''

''Environmental groups including Earth Action and the Greenpeace, warn all countries to reduce the number of the motorized vehicles,to plant new trees in order to form wide forests and to save energy. The world is polluted mostly by the northern countries.''

[09] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (1)

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

GREEK HARASSMENT AT MERIC RIVER
It is reported that yesterday Greek soldiers patrolling the Greek side of the Meric River opened fire on the Turkish side. No one was killed or injured as a result of the shooting. Tension rose high when the Greek soldiers opened fire on the Turkish side following verbal exchanges. It was learned that the Turkish soldiers also answered in kind. The situation returned to normal following the shooting incident which happened between 6:00-7:00 p.m. in a military zone. Military prosecutors have begun to examine the cause of the shooting. /Sabah/

FIVE SUSPECTS RELEASED IN HADEP TRIAL
Chairman Murat Bozlak, high level officials and other members of the HADEP (People's Democracy Party) were in court yesterday, at the Second Ankara State Security Court, accused of being the political wing of the separatist PKK organisation. The court later released five of the suspects, leaving only four under arrest. /Sabah/

TOPRAK AND BEKO SUCCESS IN UK
A Turkish corporation, Toprak, has become a well-known enterprise in the United Kingdom after the announcement of its plan to set up a huge ceramics factory in Wales. Beko is another Turkish firm active in the UK, which has sold 2.5 million household goods items to the British public since 1991. Beko holds a 6.5 percent share in the British household products market. /Sabah/

DEMIREL RATIFIES TAX LAW
President Suleyman Demirel ratified yesterday Law No. 4369, which makes amendments to 12 tax laws, on the condition that the grants to foundations and associations should also come within the context of paying taxes. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY HOPEFUL ABOUT OIL
Aladdin Middle East, an oil research company, will initiate important new exploratory activities in August along the Turkish-Syrian border. With a project jointly carried out with the Trans-Mediterranean Oil in southern Mardin, hopes have emerged that Turkey can meet her requirements for crude oil from her own resources. Officials anticipate that Turkey will reach the level of other countries exporting crude oil in four years' time. /Cumhuriyet/

MOODY'S RATES AKBANK
Moody's, one of the world's leading rating institutions, has given a Baa2 rate to certificates issued by the Akbank. The total value of issued certificates is 250 million US dollars. /Cumhuriyet/

IMKB BOOK ON ASIAN CRISIS
The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) has examined the effects of the Southeast Asian crisis on the Turkish economy and the IMKB and published a book which evaluates the Asian crisis which has affected all international financial markets. /Hurriyet/

TURKISH BALLET RANKS THIRD
Ogulcan Borova, the Turkish ballet dancer, has come in third place at the 18th International Varna Ballet Festival. The wife of the Prime Minister, Berna Yilmaz, who went to Bulgaria yesterday, congratulated Borova and wished him further successes. 150 dancers from 29 countries performed at the ballet festival. /Hurriyet/

[10] TURKISH PRESS REVIEW (2)

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

EU TAX LAW FAVOURS TURKEY
The European Union (EU) has excluded Turkey from a new tax application on textiles. The EU will apply heavy taxes on wool fabrics from five Asian countries, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt and China. The EU's recent decision on excluding Turkey from this application, is evaluated as an important step towards easing the serious crisis in the Turkey-EU relations. /Milliyet/

MUMTAZ SOYSAL RESIGNS FROM DSP
Mumtaz Soysal, the Democratic Left Party (DSP) member and former Foreign Minister, resigned from his party yesterday. After the resignation of Sosyal, the number of DSP seats in the Parliament decreased to 61 and those of the independents increased to 12. /Milliyet/

ELECTION ON 18 APRIL
The date of the combined municipal and general elections which were originally set for 25 April 1999, has been moved up one week. The Constitutional Commission which discussed the election date yesterday, decided that the joint elections should be held on 18 April. The main reason behind the change is the official holiday which takes place on Friday, 23 April. The commission members are trying to avoid having elections coincide with a three-day weekend created by the national holiday. /All papers/

SUSPECTED PKK SUICIDE BOMBER
A woman has been detained by the Gendarmerie Forces in the central province of Sivas after authorities searched her house and found documents belonging to the PKK. The security forces, operating in a rural area in Sivas, had suspicions about the woman, named Melike Acar. During interrogation the woman confessed that she was awaiting orders from the PKK to carry out a suicide attack. Meanwhile, the authorities in Eskisehir rounded up another suspect, believed to be the chief representative of the PKK in that city. In the interrogation, the detained man, Zeki Kutluk, told the authorities that he was planning to send a group of young people to Romania for weapons training. /Cumhuriyet/

PENTAGON: ''US NOT TO ENFORCE CYPRUS NO-FLIGHT MORATORIUM''
The United States has reiterated that it won't be involved in the enforcement of a no-flight moratorium over the divided island of Cyprus as proposed by Greece and Greek Cyprus. ''We believe that an agreement on military flights over Cyprus will contribute to defusing the tension on the island. However, such an agreement can be achieved only through compromise between the related parties. The United States won't be the enforcer of such an implementation,'' Pentagon spokesman Micheal Doubleday told a press conference on Tuesday. /Cumhuriyet/

TSKB NAMED BEST TURKISH SECURITIES BANK
The Industrial Development Bank of Turkey (TSKB) has been named Turkey's best securities Bank by the Euromoney Magazine, it was reported yesterday. In its July edition, the British financial magazine said that the TSKB would receive an Award for Excellence. It is the second year in a row that Euromoney has listed the TSKB, an investment and development bank, as Turkey's best securities bank. The TSKB is run by a group of Turkish banks and has been the lead manager of the top Turkish stock public offerings of private and state institutions for the past three years. /Cumhuriyet/

[11] EU COMMISSION KEEPS TURKEY OUT OF ITS ANTI-DUMPING APPLICATION

The anti-dumping application which aims to protect the EU cotton production sector will be valid for the products imported from China, Egypt, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.

The EU Commission, which has taken the counter reasons of Turkey into account, decided not to apply anti-dumping duties on Turkish raw cotton material.

After the approval of the EU Commission's decision, the earlier payments taken from Turkey as a measure will be returned to Turkey.

The anti-dumping application means taxation of the countries, as they unjustly decrease the price of their exports.

Bahadır Kaleagası, the Representative of Turkish Association of Industrialists and Businessmen in Brussels said ''this is a positive development, we hope that initiatives concerning anti-dumping will be launched within the spirit of the Customs Union from now on. The problem doesn't only consist of implementation of anti-dumping duties, but creating the doubt or expectation in the markets that such duties can be applied to Turkish-made products. This gives great damage to Turkish products and the long-term export policies of Turkey.''

The decision of the EU Commission is expected to be approved by the EU Council of Ministers in September.

[12] UNITY AGAINST SEPARATIST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION - 19 POLITICAL PARTIES IN NORTHERN IRAQ ISSUE A JOINTPROCLAMATION CONDEMNING THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION

The joint proclamation issued by the political parties that came together under the chairmanship of Nechirvan Barzani, the high-level official of the KDP, strongly condemned the separatist terrorist organization that massacres the innocent people, burns down villages and schools and destroys bridges in Northern Iraq.

The proclamation also noted that Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the separatist terrorist PKK organization, aims to destroy the Kurdish people living in Northern Iraq.

[13] BRIQUETTE FACTORY IN AMASRA

The Turkish Coal Organization (TTK) said that the factory, which was constructed by HAKSA and KONKAS construction firms, will produce briquettes from the coal dust produced at the mines of the Amasra Enterprises.

Officials said that the Briquette Factory was established with the build- operate-transfer system.

[14] 4TH MENTAL ILLNESS HOSPITAL IN TURKEY TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN BURSA

The three other mental illness hospitals are located in Istanbul, Manisa and Elazig Provinces.

Mustafa Dortcelik, a businessman from Bursa, has undertaken the construction of the hospital that will cost nearly 440 thousand US dollars. The hospital will have a capacity of 200 beds.

A total of 32 percent of the construction has been concluded and the hospital is expected to start providing services next year.

[15] A MINIBUS CARRYING TOURISTS COLLIDES WITH A TANKER - 4 PEOPLE DIE, 24 OTHER INJURED

Four people died and 24 others were injured in the accident.

Security forces told the A.A correspondent that 21 of the injured are Russian.

The names of the injured Russian people who were taken to the hospitals in the surrounding settlement units, are as follows:

Xenia, Yrena and Olga Heinz, Alexander Conyayeva, Olga and Marino Slepsova, Yglya and Katia Samoilenco, Tanya Adam, Olga Simelya, Danya Sordova, Olga and Viateslav Migrotanova, Katia Vibornova, Ergenia Rudnir, Alexander Hungueva, Danil Sigankov Farberjine, Leana, Elana and Olga whose surnames couldn't been determined yet.

Police also tries to determine the identities of the four people who died.

[16] MONOPOLY ON SALT TO BE LIFTED - SALTWORKS HAVING FOREIGN PARTNERS TO BE SET UP WITH THE ABOLISHMENT OF THE LAW

Mehmet Akbay, the General Director of Monopolies told the A.A correspondent that the previous law foresaw the production of raw salt, which was obtained from rocks, lakes and sea, only by the General Directorate of Monopolies.

The new law, which was adopted in the Parliament and which is expected to be approved by President Suleyman Demirel, foresees raw salt operations, which aren't operated by the General Directorate of Monopolies, by public administrators, municipalities, private administrations, private and legal persons within the framework of the principles determined by the Council of Ministers.

The new law also permits the operation by local administrators, private and legal persons having partners of the 18-20 salt pans in Eastern and Southeastern Turkey, which were closed by the High Planning Board as the cost of their operation was very high.

Meanwhile, ''180,000 tonnes of salt can be obtained from the Salt Lake annually,'' according to the research, in fact this amount is at such a capacity which can meet the needs of not only Turkey, but also the whole world. However, this doesn't mean that the salt can be operated effectively. Firstly, the lake salt should be brought to a close port like the Mersin Port, which needs an investment of 500 million US dollars for the railway construction.

[17] ADMIRAL LOPEZ, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF SOUTHERN EUROPEAN ALLY FORCES OF NATO, DUE IN TURKEY

The Secretariat General of the General Staff's written statement pointed out that Admiral Lopez will meet with General Cevik Bir, the Deputy Chief of General Staff after he meets with General Kivrikoglu.

[18] SEZGIN, NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER, RECEIVES THE CHAIRMAN OF AMERICAN JEWISH ASSOCIATIONS - SEZGIN: ''CONCRETE RESULTS DIDN'T OCCUR DESPITE THE JOINT VIEWS AND INTERESTS WITH THE US''

Foxman, the Chairman of the American Jewish Associations and the accompanying delegation.

Addressing the meeting, Sezgin said that the relations between Turkey and the US aren't at the desired level despite the close historical ties between the two communities who share the same views on regional and global issues.

Sezgin said, ''I believe that several lobbies are influential in the relations between Turkey and the US. Concrete results didn't occur despite the jount views and interests with the US in the Middle East, Turkish Republics and the Balkans.''

Abraham Foxman pointed out that they try to improve relations between Turkey and the US, showing the cooperation of the two countries on democracy and the other fields as a reason for their efforts.

Noting that all countries that have relations with Israel, evaluate positively the good relations between Turkey and Israel, Foxman described the triple ally agreement between Turkey, the US and Israel as an important agreement including the values such as democracy and peace.

Foxman explained the aim of his visit is to receive information about Turkey and to make the facts about Turkey known to the Americans.

Reminding that relations between Jews and Turks are older than those between the Americans and Turks, Foxman emphasized that they never forget Turkey's aid 500 years ago. He requested the Turks to accept themselves as a voluntary envoys.

Mark Parris, the US Ambassador to Turkey, and Cefi Kamhi, the Deputy of the Democrat Turkey Party (DTP) were also in attendance at the meeting.

[19] GENERAL CLARK, COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF EUROPEAN ALLY FORCES OF NATO, IN IZMIR - GENERAL CLARK VISITS GENERAL OZKOK, COMMANDER OF SOUTHERN EUROPEAN ALLY LAND FORCES OF NATO

General Clark also met with General Erol Olcay, the Commander of 6th Ally Tactics Land Forces.

Both meetings were reported to focus on the issues related to the NATO.

General Clark visited the NATO headquarters in Izmir for the first time after he has taken over the mission of the NATO Commandership on 11 July 1997.

[20] GREAT RACE IN TENDER FOR WORK MACHINES - INTERNATIONAL PURCHASE INCLUDES 2,470 VARIOUS TYPES OF WORK MACHINES

It was reported that the leading manufacturing companies in the world prepared proposals related to the exports of work machines.

The US Chrysler and Ford companies, South Korea Hyundai and Japanese companies Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Marubeni and Sumitomo and the German MAN company are expected to participate in the tender.

Besides foreign companies, the leading work machine producers in Turkey are also expected to participate in the tender.

Among the companies which will participate in the tender by coperating with the foreign companies are the BMC, Boronkay, Koluman, Genoto, Temsa, Ormak, Guris, Cukurova and HCM.

The work machines are foreseen to be purchased with 100 percent foreign credit.

[21] WORLD BANK PROVIDES LOAN OF 6 MILLION US DOLLARS TO BOLU

Nusret Miroglu, the Governor of Bolu, said that they have received so far a total of 80 billion Turkish Liras in order to repair the damages in the dringing water network after the disaster.

Miroglu pointed out that the drinking water network of Bolu

Province will be concluded by the end of this year.

He also noted that World Bank's loan of 6 million US dollars will be spent for restoration of 17 bridges and the village roads that were damaged by the flood waters.

[22] CANSEVEN, GOVERNOR OF EDIRNE, DUE IN GREECE

During the contacts the developments since the Greek delegation's visit to Edirne last year will be evaluated.

The delegations of Turkey and Greece will exchange opinions on the cultural, economic and commercial fields.

Hamdi Sedefci, the Mayor of Edirne, Bulent Alamut, the Chairman of the Edirne Chamber of Trade and Industry, Mustafa Yardimci, the Chairman of the Edirne Commodity Exchange and Ismail Bodur, the Chairman of the Union of Chambers of Tradesmen and Artisans, will join the visit.

The delegation will returned to Turkey on 2 August.

[23] FOREIGN DEBT PAYMENTS - 1.1 BILLION US DOLLARS PAID IN FOREIGN DEBTS IN JULY 1998

The Central Bank data shows that the Treasury repaid 9.1 billion US dollars; the Central Bank repaid 53.6 million US dollars; the Ministry of National Defense and the Defense Industry repaid 70.6 million US dollars between 1 and 29 July 1998.

Meanwhile, a total of 6 billion 734.7 million US dollars in foreign debts has been repaid since 1 January 1998.

[24] TURKISH-FRENCH 2000 ACTION PLAN SUPPLEMENTARY TEXT OF IMPLEMENTATION SIGNED

The Turkish-French 2000 Action Plan Supplementary Text of Implementation was signed with a ceremony. The signatories of the agreement were Haktanir and Daniel Lequertier, the French Ambassador to Turkey.

Addressing the ceremony Haktanir said that the friendship between Turkey and Frances formed a solid base for the development of bilateral relations.

Haktanir noted that the Turkish-French Action Plan reflected the political will aimed at the development of bilateral relations, adding that it also revealed the basic principles on the issue of strengthening bilateral relations.

''This supplementary text specifies the context of our cooperation in the fields of politics, military, economy, education, culture and humanitarian relations,'' he added.

Meanwhile, Daniel Lequertier said the document which was signed included Turkish-French relations as a whole.

Noting that following the reciprocal appointment of Ambassadors between Turkey and France in 1483, there was no specific problem, Lequertier said, ''our economic relations with Turkey are better than with Russia, Brazil and India.''

Recalling that France was the first country to sign the Lausanne Peace Treaty, Lequertier said, ''it is significant that the signature of the supplementary text coincides with the 75th anniversary of Lausanne.''

The Turkish-French 2000 Action Plan was adopted during President Suleyman Demirel's visit to France on 20 February 1998.

[25] BREIDENSTINE, UNDERSECRETARY OF TRADE AT THE US EMBASSY: - ''WE WILL MAKE AMERICAN COMPANIES CONSCIOUS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THEM OPPORTUNITY FOR MAKING INVESTMENTS IN EAST'' - ''WE CAN MAKE INVESTMENTS ON BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINES NATURAL GAS AND ENERGY FIELDS''

Noting that Mark R. Parris, the US Ambassador to Turkey, will visit the Eastern Anatolia Region in August, Breidenstine told the reporters that he came to the region to make observations.

Pointing out that Parris will search for the opportunities for cooperation with the commercial organizations in the region and try to determine the business fields.

Breidenstine stressed that they have opened a page on the Internet and began to promote business fields in Turkey. He added, ''we can make investments on the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, natural gas and energy fields.''

Noting that they have also begun to work to revive the historical Silk Road, Breidenstine said, ''we will conclude the necessary studies on the investments in the East, and then begin to promote Turkey in the US.''

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article