Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-08-08

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

AA Daily

08 August 1999 Sunday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] THREE OTHER POWER PLANTS TO BE SET UP - MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO TENDER CONSTRUCTION OF ''IKISU, ORHANELI AND DUZCE-AKSU'' HDYROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS WITHIN THIS YEAR

[03] TURKEY'S MILITARY ATTACHE TO BUDAPEST HAS TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

[04] TOURISM MINISTER ERKAN MUMCU: ''WE WENT THROUGH A CRISIS, BUT WE ARE OUT OF IT NOW'' ''HOTEL MANAGERS SHOULD NOT PULL DOWN PRICES WHEN SIGNING CONTRACTS OF NEXT YEAR''

[05] UNLU, MINISTER OF STATE: ''57TH GOVERNMENT HAS A SPECIAL INTERESTS IN EASTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN REGION''

[06] ANNIVERSARY OF ERENKOY RESISTANCE IS CELEBRATED - HASIPOGLU, TRNC PARLIAMENT SPEAKER: ''ERENKOY RESISTANCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CORNERSTONE OF CYPRUS''

[07] MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, GOKALP: ''REPENTACE LAW WILL NOT COVER MEMBERS OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATION WHO MASSACRED OUR CIVILIANS AND SOLDIERS''

[08] RETURN OF KOSOVARS TO THEIR HOUSES - THE LAST PLANE TOOK OFF FROM CORLU AIRPORT ACCORDING TO THE PROGRAM ORGANIZED BY THE U.N.

[09] DALAMAN AKKOPRU PROJECT TO GIVE LIFE TO MUGLA AND ITS SURROUNDINGS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

FIFTY PKK CAMPS IN IRAN
German tv channel ARD discussed the PKK issue at a news programme, Panorama. It was said that PKK bought real estate and weapons by the money it made through drug smuggling. According to the news, Kurds who were living on social aid from the government are now buying houses. It was told that PKK abused the government's social aid and involved in blackmailing, tax aversion and drug smuggling.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL) TARKAN ON CNN
Tarkan, the famous pop singer who was almost stripped from citizenship was the guest of ''World Beat'' programme broadcast on CNN on Saturday night. Tarkan who was defined as ''the Turkish delight'' and ''magnificent Turk'' is well known also outside Turkey, it was noted. Tarkan told about his life story which began in Germany and announced that he would be the first Turkish singer who will produce a music album in English.

ISTANBUL AND ATHENS COMPETES IN AIR TRAFFIC
Both Istanbul and Athens want to complete the construction of their airports in a competition in air traffic. Istanbul is one step ahead of Athens as its foreign lines terminal point and parking lot will open on October 29. The completion of Athens Airport is expected to last until 2001.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

DEMIREL EMBRACES THEM
Mayors of Diyarbakir, Siirt, Batman, Van, Agri, Bingol and Hakkari from the Peoples' Democracy Party (HADEP) were received by President Suleyman Demirel in Cankaya palace. Demirel said there will not be any problem in internal peace if legal means are used while looking for rights. Demirel had the Constitution with him while talking with the seven mayors.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

''BAKU-CEYHAN ROUTE IS THE SAME''
Vefa Guluzade, Azeri Presidency Foreign Policy Consultant, said ''route of Baku-Ceyhan pipeline will not change.'' Guluzade said the news reports saying that ''the pipeline planned to carry Azeri oil to Western markets will pass through Armenia'' are not true, adding that only the Yerevan administration wanted to bring the issue into the agenda.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

ADVICE FROM DEMIREL
Demirel who met with mayors of People's Democracy Party (HADEP) said ''nobody would have any troubles if they don't violate the Constituion''. Demirel stressed that everybody was equal in Turkey and said ''the people of this country, regardless of where they were born, could hold the highest positions''.

TÜRKIYE (RIGHT)

ECEVIT: NO STEP BACK FROM ARBITRATION
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said any step back or giving up from the international arbitration is out of question. Ecevit said ''arbitration is different, others are different. Leaving Social Security Draft Resolution after the holiday is out of question also.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE) DEEP SUSPICION
Another person has been captured related with the murder of Semsi Denizer, Secretary General of Turk-is Confederation. Cengiz Balik committed the murder with the weapons. But the Chairman of Turk-is, Bayram Meral, was suspicious. ''Obviously, there other things behind this incident,'' he said.

ADVISE FROM DEMIREL TO HADEP
President Suleyman Demirel told Mayors from Peoples' Democracy Party (HADEP) to look for their rights within the constitutional framework, adding that thus there will not be any internal peace problem. Pointing out that the Constitution had bind everybody, Demirel said ''we are all the citizens of this country due to the Constitution. We all have the existing rights due to the constitution. There will be problems if people try to look for their rights outside the constitution.''

[02] THREE OTHER POWER PLANTS TO BE SET UP - MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO TENDER CONSTRUCTION OF ''IKISU, ORHANELI AND DUZCE-AKSU'' HDYROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS WITHIN THIS YEAR

Preparations to construct the ''Ikisu, Orhaneli, and Duzce-Aksu'' hydroelectric power plants, planned to be set up at a total 214 megawatt(mw) power, with ''build-operate-transfer'' system, have been completed.

The power plants in question are planned to be established in Giresun, Bursa and Bolu provinces and Energy Affairs General Directorate concluded specificiations preparations related with the construction of power plants.

Leading construction companies like Garanti-Koza, Enka, Guris, Koc and several others are expected to participate in the tender.

Construction of hydroelectric power plants will start within the year 2000 and they will be constructed with build-operate-tranfer model.

[03] TURKEY'S MILITARY ATTACHE TO BUDAPEST HAS TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

Tuncbilek's car collided with another car in Ajka region of Hungary.

The military attache was brought to Peterfi hospital with helicopter from the spot. Later wife and two sons of the military attache were hospitalized.

Tuncbilek had an operation and the doctors said the military attache was in a good health condition.

Health condition of his wife and two sons are also good, it was reported.

[04] TOURISM MINISTER ERKAN MUMCU: ''WE WENT THROUGH A CRISIS, BUT WE ARE OUT OF IT NOW'' ''HOTEL MANAGERS SHOULD NOT PULL DOWN PRICES WHEN SIGNING CONTRACTS OF NEXT YEAR''

''We had a difficult year because of obvious reasons, but the latest data are good,'' Mumcu said. Associations, foundations, chambers and other related institutions must work together to erase the traces of this crisis, the Minister stressed.

Mumcu said that Turkey started 1999 with success and had a 147 percent increase in January in the number of tourists visiting Turkey, 122 percent in February, and 56 percent in March. However, starting in April there was a significant drop. Reducing prices boosted the local tourism but there is a noticeable decrease in foreign currency flow to Turkey. This could be recovered by attracting foreign tourists, Mumcu explained.

Consistency and persistence are essential to overcome this crisis, the Minister pointed out and said his ministry started campaigns this month in Germany, Britain, France, Russia and Austria. There are two campaings; first one is focused on bringing cash and it covers the period until October 15. The second part aims to bring tourists between October 15 and 2000.

A 105 million U.S. dollar credit was received from Spain through the efforts of the Environment Ministry and this money will be used to financially support tourism institutions through Eximbank and Halk Bank.

''All our efforts are to increase tourism income to Turkey. We had a bad dream but it is over now. We look at 2000's with hope. We will start talking about success in the coming months,'' the Minister stated. Mumcu also noted that the prices should not be pulled down while signing contracts in 2000 which would only worsen the situation.

Meanwhile, the representatives of tourism sector asked the Minister to pass the Hotel Managers Union law from the Parliament which would give them the status of exporters and create the necessary sources to recover from the crisis.

[05] UNLU, MINISTER OF STATE: ''57TH GOVERNMENT HAS A SPECIAL INTERESTS IN EASTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN REGION''

Unlu visited Ayhan Nasuhbeyoglu, Ardahan Governor and Teoman Gungor, the Mayor and got information about the problems of the province.

Unlu, who later participated in honey festival, addressed the opening ceremony of the festival and recalled that 57th government has a special interest to Eastern and Southeastern region.

Unlu said ''many efforts have been expended so far to improve these regions, yet these remained limited. Now we do what is required and we will continue. We have appropriate places here for winter sports. It will be my duty to improve winter sports here.''

[06] ANNIVERSARY OF ERENKOY RESISTANCE IS CELEBRATED - HASIPOGLU, TRNC PARLIAMENT SPEAKER: ''ERENKOY RESISTANCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CORNERSTONE OF CYPRUS''

Many people have gone to Erenkoy for the commemoration ceremonies which is out of the borders of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Ertugrul Hasipoglu, TRNC Parliament Speaker, addressing the ceremony said it was impossible to forget or experience again Erenkoy, adding that ''Erenkoy resistance is the most important cornerstone of Cyprus.'' Pointing out that Turkish Cypriots have put forward their will long years ago, Hasipoglu said they did not want new resistance points. Hasipoglu said TRNC existed and that the costs which were paid earlier can not be paid again.

Young Turkish Cypriot people who were getting education in Turkey and in other countries came to defend the country after Greek Cypriots staged armed attack on December 21, 1963 within the framework of Akritas Plan.

Young Turkish Cypriot students who went to Erenkoy with old fishing boats recorded a resistance war here.

The students struggled against the Greek Cypriot forces with very limited facilities and by facing hunger and thirst. Turkey used its rights stemming from guarantor state status and held a limited intervention.

Greek troops had to withdraw upon the limited intervention of Turkish jets and people of Dillirga region and thousands of students who sheltered in Erenkoy were saved from the massacre.

Plane of Cengiz Topel, the military pilot, fell down upon the fire opened by Greek Cypriot ships. Cengiz Topel jumped from the plane and was saved but later was killed with the torture of Greek Cypriots.

[07] MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS, GOKALP: ''REPENTACE LAW WILL NOT COVER MEMBERS OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATION WHO MASSACRED OUR CIVILIANS AND SOLDIERS''

''The law covers those who inadvertently committed a crime and regret it, and thought crimes which did not turn into violent actions. Members of illegal organizations and terrorist organization who target our integrity and killed our soldiers and civilians will not benefit from the law,'' he explained.

''We are very sensitive over this issue. We will catch those who leave their arms and escape. They told they were laying down arms before and then killed 33 soldiers. Who are they to make a cease fire with us?'', the Minister concluded.

[08] RETURN OF KOSOVARS TO THEIR HOUSES - THE LAST PLANE TOOK OFF FROM CORLU AIRPORT ACCORDING TO THE PROGRAM ORGANIZED BY THE U.N.

The last plane took off from Corlu Airport according to the program planned within the framework of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees to bring the refugees to their countries through airways.

It was reported that a total of 129 Kosovar refugees were taken to Scopje within the framework of Voluntary Return Back Program. The refugees will be brought to the places they live in with buses.

It was also reported that number of Kosovar refugees staying in Kirklareli Governorship Gaziosmanpasa Refugee Guest House dropped to 233.

Musa Guncan, Director of the Guest House, said there were 85 families currently staying there. Guncan said ''71 of them are men, 60 of them woman and 102 of them are children. Some of those people want to go to a third country. Officials of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees continue their efforts to fulfil the requests of those people.''

The number of Kosovar refugees who left for Kosovo from Kapikule Border Gate reached to 15.435.

[09] DALAMAN AKKOPRU PROJECT TO GIVE LIFE TO MUGLA AND ITS SURROUNDINGS

More than 35,000 acres of agricultural land will be irrigated in Dalaman, Ortaca and Koycegiz valleys. Settlements in these regions as well as Dalaman Airport and Seka Dalaman Managements will be protected against floodings.

The hydroelectric central will have a contribution of 343 million kilowatt/hr electric energy to the national electric system.

According to 1999 figures, a total of 18 trillion Turkish liras were spent for the project which will cost 74 trillion once it is finished. From the 1999 budget, 8.5 trillion Turkish liras were allocated for the project and if the normal flow of funds continue, the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2002.

Because of funding problems, the 400 workers were reduced to 100 in the beginning of this year. Now the number of workers is back to the normal level after the funds started to flow. The authorities said the dam's construction could be finished a year earlier than it is planned by speeding up the funds.

A.A

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