Anadolu Agency: News in English, 98-12-07

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

07 DEC 1998

CONTENTS

[01] THREE BAND WORLD BILLIARD CHAMPIONSHIP - SEMIH SAYGINER WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP

[02] SCHUSSEL, AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: ''PKK IS AN ORGANIZATION USING TERRORIST METHODS'' - ''WE DO NOT WANT THIS ISSUE TO HAMPER OUR RELATIONS WITH TURKEY''

[03] ELECTIONS IN TRNC - PREMIER EROGLU'S PARTY GAINS 24 SEATS AT PARLIAMENT

[04] YILDIRIM, STATE MINISTER: ''THE BASIC ELEMENT OF FUTURE IS NEITHER WEAPON NOR OIL, IT IS WATER AND AGRICULTURE''

[05] WORLD BANK'S ''TURKEY REPORT''

[06] TREASURY TO ARRANGE 224-DAY BOND TENDER ON TUESDAY

[07] ECEVIT, THE LEADER OF THE DSP: ''I CAN'T THINK ABOUT A GOVERNMENT INCLUDING THE VIRTUE PARTY (FP) AT THE MOMENT''

[08] TURKMEN NATURAL GAS - MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES: - ''WITHDRAWAL OF THE AMERICAN UNOCAL FROM THE TURKISH-TURKMEN NATURAL GAS PIPELINE PROJECT WON'T AFFECT THE FUTURE OF THE PROJECT''

[09] SPANISH ACTIVITIES IN GAP - FIVE COMPANIES WILL COOPERATE WITH SPANISH BUSINESSMEN IN AGRICULTURE

[10] RELATIONS WITH TURKEY AT THE AGENDA OF EU COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING

[11] TURKEY TO ATTEND 79 INTERNATIONAL FAIRS NEXT YEAR

[12] FIRST ENERGY CONGRESS - ERSUMER, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTER: ''TURKEY DESIRES TO BE THE ENERGY TERMINAL OF THE 21ST CENTURY''

[13] THE FIRST ENERGY CONGRESS - PREMIER YILMAZ: ''ANNUALLY 3.5 BILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT IS NEEDED TO CONTRUCT ELECTRIC STATIONS''

[14] FOUR CHINESE WHO ATTEMPT TO ENTER TURKEY WITH FAKE PASSPORTS ARE CAPTURED

[15] FIRST ENERGY CONGRESS - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''I CONSIDER THE ENERGY ISSUE AS A NATIONAL MATTER''

[16] ITALY TO BRING THE ISSUE OF OCALAN, THE TERRORIST CHIEF TO THE AGENDA OF COE - TURKEY TO OPPOSE TO THE INITIATIVE OF ITALY

[17] FIRST ENERGY CONGRESS - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: - ''TURKEY IS A CANDIDATE FOR BEING THE ENERGY TERMINAL OF THE WORLD''

[01] THREE BAND WORLD BILLIARD CHAMPIONSHIP - SEMIH SAYGINER WINS THE CHAMPIONSHIP

The half final and final matches of the Three Band World Billiard Championship to which 120 sportsmen attended and which started on December 1 in Kemer county of southern Antalya province were held on Sunday in the Royal Resort Hotel.

Semih Sayginer became the world champion in the matches by beating Cerwın Walentıjn from Netherlands with 8 point-score.

Walentıjn became the second with the same score, Marco Zınetti from Italy became the third with 6 point-score and Rudolph Chrıstian from Germany followed Zinetti with the same score.

The World Championship ended with the award ceremony.

[02] SCHUSSEL, AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: ''PKK IS AN ORGANIZATION USING TERRORIST METHODS'' - ''WE DO NOT WANT THIS ISSUE TO HAMPER OUR RELATIONS WITH TURKEY''

Responding to the questions of the correspondents in the press conference, Schussel said, ''we do not want to hamper our relations with Turkey to this end. We discussed this issue with Suleyman Demirel, the President, and Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister in our meeting in Vienna. European Strategy for Turkey was determined in Vienna. We will walk in the light of EU Commission report. We had a concensus of improving Turkey-EU relations and of making Turkey closer to the Union.''

On the issue about the chief of the separatist terrorist organization, Schussel noted that this issue was not on the official agenda of the European Union and that Italy and Germany did not express their intentions on this issue and that he would not make a statement on this issue.

Stressing that ''EU's determining a joint stance was out of question'', Schussel said that the issue was handled ''bilaterally'' and gave a message that the EU would be away from any initiative in the issue.

On the other hand, compromise searches regarding the structural reforms gained importance in the meetings of the EU Council of Ministers. The ministers preparing for the Vienna Summit continued their studies in providing ''flexibility'' in the issues such as budget, enlargement and agricultural reform.

The EU Council meetings will continue on Monday.

[03] ELECTIONS IN TRNC - PREMIER EROGLU'S PARTY GAINS 24 SEATS AT PARLIAMENT

According to the unofficial results, the Democrat Party (DP) will have 13 deputies, the Socialist Liberation Party (TKP) will have seven members and the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) will have six deputies in the 50-seat TRNC Parliament.

The UBP gained 40.33 percent of the total votes while the DP collected 22.61 percent, the TKP had 15.36 percent and the CTP gained 13.35 percent of the total votes. The other four political parties, the Nationalist Justice Party (MAP), the National Revival Party (UDP), the Patriotic People's Unity Movement (YBH) and the Our Party (BP), failed to gain five percent which is necessary to have a seat at the TRNC Parliament.

Celebrating the victory of the UBP, Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu said, ''today, we are celebrating a victory. Before the elections, I have always stressed that the UBP will come to the power.''

''We will continue our services to the country. We will strengthen the basis of our state. The TRNC will welcome the future with more confidence, '' Eroglu stated.

Addressing to the people convened in front of the UBP Headquarters to celebrate the victory, Eroglu said, ''You have been successful in this democracy lesson. You gave an important message to the people who say there is not democracy in the TRNC. You once again declared the existence of the TRNC to the world.''

[04] YILDIRIM, STATE MINISTER: ''THE BASIC ELEMENT OF FUTURE IS NEITHER WEAPON NOR OIL, IT IS WATER AND AGRICULTURE''

Holding his investigations in southeastern province of Sırnak, Yildirim started the studies on drinking water that would be realized by the Directorate of Southeastern Anatolian Project (GAP) Administration in Duzova village of Cizre county.

Yildirim also stated that many services started to be realized in the region as the terrorist acts started to diminish in the last years. Stressing that there would be more services carried out in this region from now on and that the people living in the region should pronounce their demands to the state, Yildirim said, ''water is the most important thing in the world. However, it carries great importance for the region. Today, the settlements without water supplies in the rural areas of the southeastern region are about 30 percent. The 56 percent of the settlements of the region still face serious water problems. About 131 of the settlements throughout the province faces partial water problems. 141 settlements still do not have water.''

Yildirim added, ''water is the basic thing in life. About 80 percent of the diseases in Turkey and one third of the rate of mortality are due to water. The things carried out in the last 17 months changed the fate of Sirnak. The basic element of future is neither weapon nor oil. It is water and agriculture.''

Yildirim later opened the primary school with eight classes in Pinarbası village of Sirnak province and Multi-Purpose Public Centre (CATOM) in Idil county.

Noting in his speech in the opening ceremony that Turkey faced a general education problem and that 44 percent of the budget to education was allocated to this region, Yildirim said, ''the rate of schools in the region is 95 percent in primary education, 41 percent in secondary education level and 20 percent in high education level. The rate of literacy in the region is 67 percent. This rate is lower in women. 22 schools were completed in Sirnak this year and 790 teachers were appointed to the region. The teacher insufficency in the region will be eliminated in the following years. Silopi Termoelectric Power Plant is taken to the investment program of 1998. We will produce 150 million dollar-electricity when this project is completed. The construction of an airport is in the same project. The tender of the airport will be put out in the following days.''

[05] WORLD BANK'S ''TURKEY REPORT''

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Mick Riordon said that some countries, of which the growth rates decreased to 0.4 percent in 1998, will have negative growth rates between 1998-2000 due to global declining in the economies.

Pointing out that the global recession will affect the developing countries, Mick Riordon said Turkey was one of the countries having a better economic situation among the 36 countries examined in the report, adding that the growth rate in Turkey can be nearly five percent in 1998.

Noting that the economic growth will decrease worldwide and it will be negative in some developing coutries, Riordon said that the growth rate in Turkey will also drop next year due to the global crisis but it will continue to realize higher rates than other developing countries.

Recalling that Turkey was one of the countries which was affected least by the global economic crisis, Mick Riordon said Turkey had saved herself from the effects of the global crisis with the positive economic measures she had taken.

Stressing that the crisis in Russia much more effected Turkey so the shuttle trade volume decreased and this negatively affected her exports volume, Mick Riordon stated that Turkey should take measures removing export decrease stemming from Russia in order to increase the growth rate in 1999.

[06] TREASURY TO ARRANGE 224-DAY BOND TENDER ON TUESDAY

The value date of the auction was specified to be 9 December and the maturity to be 21 July 1999.

Meanwhile, the Treasury foresees a net borrowing of 250-400 trillion Turkish Liras (TL) at tomorrow's tender.

The Treasury sold record 1 quadrillion 96 trillion 766.3 billion TL nominal- valued 308-day (ten-month) bonds at a tender on 1 December.

At that tender, the annual simple interest became 137.78 percent while the annual composite interest became 149.26 percent.

[07] ECEVIT, THE LEADER OF THE DSP: ''I CAN'T THINK ABOUT A GOVERNMENT INCLUDING THE VIRTUE PARTY (FP) AT THE MOMENT''

Responding to questions of Ugur Dundar at private television channel live the same day, Bulent Ecevit pointed out that the 55th government was a coalition which was in harmony.

Noting that he will meet with Tansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP) on Monday, Ecevit said that he will propose Ciller a government formula that is planned to be formed among the Motherland Party (ANAP), DYP and DSP.

Noting that he will meet with Prime Minister Mesut Yılmaz after his meeting with Ciller, Ecevit pointed out that he will explain his expressions about the meeting to Mesut Yılmaz.

Stressing that he won't prolong the efforts to form a new government in order not to give opportunies to countries which have certain ambitions on Turkey, Ecevit stated that if a new government is not formed till the middle of January, President Suleyman Demirel will take initiatives and use his authories stemming from the Constitution.

When asked whether or not the doors of the DSP are closed to the Virtue Party (FP), Ecevit said that ''I don't know whether or not we can consider this party as a new political party unless it is tested by elections. Recai Kutan, the leader of the party talks moderate and he makes people be hopeful. I hope we are not mistaken. I guess he is frank, but there are different movements within his party. They act within a certain political discourse. Due to this fact I can't think about a government including FP at the moment.''

Ecevit added that he does not think a broad-base government can be successful to be in harmony.

[08] TURKMEN NATURAL GAS - MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES: - ''WITHDRAWAL OF THE AMERICAN UNOCAL FROM THE TURKISH-TURKMEN NATURAL GAS PIPELINE PROJECT WON'T AFFECT THE FUTURE OF THE PROJECT''

Speaking to the A.A correspondent, a high-level official at the Ministry said that several consortiums were interested in the project, adding that the project will continue.

Unocal announced on 4 December that its withdrawal decision stemmed from the lower oil prices in international prices forcing them to cut down its expenditures next year.

Unocal is planning to cut 650 million US dollars down in its expenditures in 1999.

Unocal, which had set up joint venture with Turkish Koc Holding, was carrying out sponsorship activities for the feasibility etudes of the pipeline which will bring the Turkmen natural gas into Turkey via Azerbaijan and Caspian.

[09] SPANISH ACTIVITIES IN GAP - FIVE COMPANIES WILL COOPERATE WITH SPANISH BUSINESSMEN IN AGRICULTURE

Ahmet Batur, an official from the Centre of Support for the Entrepreneurs (GIDEM), stated that the Spanish businessmen delegation who made investigations in the region held very important contacts with the Turkish entrepreneurs of the region and added that the results of the meetings would be positive.

Stating that Bulent Ipek, one of the entrepreneurs having factories which produced zinc and food in Diyarbakir province, was looking for a business partner to his zinc factories and that he met with the officials of Spanish Joint-Venture Firm to this end, Batur said, ''Mehmet Cecen, one of our entrepreneurs held contacts with Spanish Foreign Trade Institute and Embassy officials, while Vedat Melik, Yasar Agan and Yusuf Yetkin, who are also our entrepreneurs in southeastern Sanliurfa province held contacts with the Spanish delegation to undertake the distribution of the irrigation systems and its equipments. As a result of such meetings, the arrival of more foreign investors in the region is a possibility.''

[10] RELATIONS WITH TURKEY AT THE AGENDA OF EU COUNCIL OF MINISTERS MEETING

Responding to questions about the idea of ''international conference to discuss Kurdish problem,'' the officials of the British delegation said that they are totaly against such an idea.

British officials do not also welcome the trial of the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK by an international court saying that ''such a tribunal does not exist.''

On the other hand, the French side reiterates the view noting that ''PKK is a terrorist organization.''

Jacques Santer, the EU Chairman of the EU Commission will write a letter to Costas Simitis, the Greek Prime Minister requesting Greece to lift her veto on the financial cooperation that is foreseen for Turkey within the framework of the Strategy adopted for Turkey during the Cardiff Summit. Moreover there is pressure on Greece to prevent her negative attitude concerning the possible declaration of Turkey as the 12th candidate during the coming Vienna Summit.

Meanwhile, France, Britain, the Netherlands and Italy, which had put forward reservations concerning the full membership negotiations of the EU with the Greek Cypriot side, have increased their pressure on Greece about this issue.

The relations between Turkey and the EU and the attitude that will be shown towards Turkey during the Vienna Summit will be taken up in the meetings of the EU Council of Ministers on Monday.

The EU Council has not taken up the debate on the chief of the separatist terrorist organization PKK to its official agenda.

Despite the ''hopeless initiatives'' of Italy and Greece, the EU Foreign Ministers rejected transformation of the issue about the terrorist chief into an ''EU issue.'' Noting that the issue is a bilateral one, the EU refrained from declaring a clear view.

The attitude that will be taken by the EU Heads of the states and governments towards Turkey in Vienna Summit is expected to be ''partially'' determined on Monday.

The EU Council of Ministers meeting will end on Monday evening.

[11] TURKEY TO ATTEND 79 INTERNATIONAL FAIRS NEXT YEAR

The A.A correspondent quoted the officials of the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat (DTM) as saying Turkey would attend 79 international fairs in national levels.

Turkish export goods fairs will also be organized in many countries as well as the international fairs. In this context, Turkish Textile-Construction Fair in Israil in February, Second Turkish Trade and Industrial Goods Fair in Iraq in April, Turkish trade and industrial goods fairs will be held in Azerbaijan, Algeria and Tunisia in May, in Bulgaria in June, in Georgia in September, in Morocco and China in December.

The companies which will organize the joining of Turkey to these international fairs have also been determined. Some of the expenditures of these companies are met by the state. One trillion 68 million Turkish liras has been paid to the companies till today. Some restructuring activities in the companies having ISO document and producing high-quality goods will be held in the by-law concerning the presentation of goods abroad and the support to the fairs.

Meanwhile, trade delegations of Turkey will be sent to China and Hong Kong in March to present Turkish goods. The investment opportunities and the economic position of Turkey will be introduced in the meetings with these countries.

The officials state that the invitation of the purchasing delegations would have positive effects on the foreign exports.

[12] FIRST ENERGY CONGRESS - ERSUMER, ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTER: ''TURKEY DESIRES TO BE THE ENERGY TERMINAL OF THE 21ST CENTURY''

Stating in the opening ceremony of the First Energy Congress that Turkey was a poor country when considering its energy resources, Ersumer stressed that the rate of imported energy was gradually increasing as the energy demand increased day by day.

Pointing out to the fact that the demand of electrical energy increased to 10 percent, Ersumer expressed that it was impossible to meet this resource with public opportunities.

Ersumer said, ''we continued with our efforts to accelerate the energy sector and to vitalize the acts to be taken in order not to have deadlocks in the energy sector. I will leave 132 projects to my successor on these issues.''

Noting that natural gas was a new way of meeting the energy demand, Ersumer stressed that Turkey had 45 billion cubic metres of natural gas supply and that this rate would be 54 billion cubic metres in 2010.

Ersumer said, ''the amount of natural gas has reached to 16 billion cubic metres and that Turkey now can sell this natural gas abroad is an important issue. On May 9 the formation of consortium and the providing of finance will be completed.''

Drawing the attention to the fact that Turkey had an important role in carrying the natural gas and oil in Caspian region to the West, Ersumer said, ''Turkey desires to be the energy terminal and the energy corridor of the twenty-first century. Our studies on the issue reached to important levels. Agreements concerning the realization of the Baku-Ceyhan project are to be signed. The trading agreements will also be signed. As a result, Turkey will contribute to the construction of 45 million ton-oil pipeline''

Huseyin Arabul, the World Energy Council Turkish Natural Executive Committee Chairman, said that they were aiming to increase the per capita energy consumption in Turkey to the developed country levels.

[13] THE FIRST ENERGY CONGRESS - PREMIER YILMAZ: ''ANNUALLY 3.5 BILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT IS NEEDED TO CONTRUCT ELECTRIC STATIONS''

Addressing the First Energy Congress, Premier Mesut Yılmaz said that the congress will be a basis where new openings and reconstructions in the energy sector will be discussed.

Noting that the congress is important in that respect, Premier Yılmaz pointed out that ''enegry is the most important and the most basic infrastructure of development. We have to take steps in order to fulfil the requirements of the information and communication age. Globalism caused the integration of economies in the world and they depend on each other particularly in the field of energy.''

Pointing out that the dependence of Turkey on energy is known by everybody, Premier Yılmaz said that ''while taking measures to meet the demand of energy in a safe and permanent way, we also have to use public sources rationally.''

Premier Yılmaz pointed out that the necessary legal and institutional regulations have to be completed as soon as possible in order to meet the energy need within the framework of free market economy.

Stressing that the energy policies are an integral part of the sustainable development programmes in developing countries, Premier Yılmaz said that ''Turkey's increase of power in world markets depends on sufficient, continuous, cheap and clean energy.''

''There is a close relation between energy consumption and economic growth, '' said Yılmaz, adding that the energy consumption also increases by the increase in economic prosperity.

''The energy consumption per capita in Turkey equals to one fifth of the one in developed countries and it is equal to half of the world average. Our short term target is to reach the world average first. The 55th government has taken the measures to meet the energy need of Turkey,'' he added.

[14] FOUR CHINESE WHO ATTEMPT TO ENTER TURKEY WITH FAKE PASSPORTS ARE CAPTURED

Mugla Security officials said that the passports of Wang Zizhen, Wang Hue, You Hailang and Shugian Lin are fake and these people attempted to enter Turkey from Marmaris customs gate by ferries coming from Rhodes island of Greece.

The suspects who were taken into custody stated that they took the fake passports from a person in Bulgaria whom they don't know his name. The suspects will be deported after the completion of the legal proceedings.

[15] FIRST ENERGY CONGRESS - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: ''I CONSIDER THE ENERGY ISSUE AS A NATIONAL MATTER''

Addressing the opening speech of the First Energy Congress in Istanbul, President Demirel said the great leap forward was one of the important successes in the 75-year history of the modern Republic of Turkey but Turkey should record further progresses to be a considerable energy producing country in the world.

Demirel said the primary enegry consumption per person in Turkey was the energy equal to 1.2 tonnes petroleum (tep).

Stressing that the total energy consumption in Turkey in 1997 was 73 million tep, and according to the calculations this demand will increase to 127 million tep in 2010 and increase to 320 million tep in 2020, President Demirel said that the ratio of production meeting demand was 38 percent in 1998 while this average will decrease to 29 percent in 2010 and drop to 25 percent in 2020.

Emphasizing that on the contrary, the share of the industry in energy consuption will rise to 56 percent in the first quarter of the 21st century, Demirel said, ''even these figures reveal that Turkey should produce more energy and is obliged to find new sources and restructure the whole energy sector.''

Noting that Turkey today was producing 1,300 kwh electric energy per person, President Demirel stated, ''however, this amount is still below the world average.''

Stating that Turkey had a 22 thousand megawatts (mw) of established capacity, Demirel said, ''our target is to increase this to 65 thousand mw in 2010 and to 110 thousand mw in 2020. This means a supplementary capacity of 3,500 mw in each year. The total electricity demand in 2020 will be 547 billion kilowatt per hour (kwh). Thus, we are obliged to diversify our energy sources.''

''Turkey has started to implement an energy investment programme of 30-40 billion US dollars for the next decade. This programme foresees the construction of new dams, hydroelectric, natural gas and nuclear power plants. Within this framework, Turkey continues a successful investment programme including 'build-operate-transfer' and 'build-operate' models. In addition to this, Turkey is implementing a 'transfer of operation right' programme targetted at increasing the productivity of the existing production and distribution,'' President Demirel mentioned.

[16] ITALY TO BRING THE ISSUE OF OCALAN, THE TERRORIST CHIEF TO THE AGENDA OF COE - TURKEY TO OPPOSE TO THE INITIATIVE OF ITALY

The Italian representative to the COE will ask the Council to help in the trial of Ocalan, the terrorist chief during the delegation committees that will convene in the name of the COE Committee of Ministers.

Alev Kılıc, the Turkey's Representative to COE will give the message to the COE that it is unacceptable for Turkey to see COE taking up the issue and Turkey will oppose to the initiative of Italy.

The sources in COE state that Italy has also understood that the establishment of a special court to try Ocalan, the terrorist chief is impossible and she has given up being insistent about this issue.

The 40 member states of the COE have to take a joint political decision in order to try the terrorist chief within the structure of COE.

Diplomatic sources point out that unanimity is needed for such a decision, adding that such a decision can't be taken without the approval of Turkey.

Meanwhile under the COE Convention dated in 1972, the extradition file of Turkey can be transferred to a third country, this country can request the extradition of the terrorist chief from Italy and she can try the terrorist chief in her territories. Turkey had earlier stated that she could not accept this proposal too.

Under the 1978 European Convention on Struggle with Terrorism, it is possible for Italy to try the terrorist chief in respect of law, but Italy said that she can not assume responsibility in trying the terrorist chief in her territories.

Turkey had reacted harshly to the desire of Italy and Germany which requested the trial of the terrorist chief in a court that will be established in Europe.

[17] FIRST ENERGY CONGRESS - PRESIDENT DEMIREL: - ''TURKEY IS A CANDIDATE FOR BEING THE ENERGY TERMINAL OF THE WORLD''

Addressing the opening speech of the First Energy Congress at the Lutfi Kirdar Congress and Exhibition Hall in Istanbul, President Demirel said that Turkey will play the key role in the consumption of those sources and transportation of them into the world markets.

''With this characteristic, Turkey is a candidate for being the energy terminal of the world,'' Demirel stated.

Demirel stressed that the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline was the only economic and appropriate project which guarantees the security and continuity of energy in the region.

Pointing out that he attached great importance to the World Energy Congress held in September, President Demirel said that the development perspectives of the global energy sector for the next five decades were taken up at that congress, and one of the most important results of that meeting was that ''the energy consumption in the world will increase by 50 percent in the next twenty years''.

''This demand will be met mostly by the sources in the Eurasian region, and Turkey is on the crucial point of this geography. Turkey, which has one of the most dynamic markets in the world, will play the key role in the transportation of the Euroasian energy sources to the world,'' President Demirel stressed.

Noting that the east-west energy corridor, which was foreseen to pass via the Caspian Sea, had turned out to be a concrete reality and the Baku- Ceyhan oil pipeline project was a part of that reality, Demirel said, ''the Ankara Declaration, which was signed by four Caucasus and Central Asian countries' heads of state on 29 October 1998, has constituted an important step for emphasizing the support of energy producer and transit countries to the rapid implementation of the Baku-Ceyhan project. Bill Richardson, the US Secretary of Energy, also signed the Ankara Declaration with the title of observer.''

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