Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-08-28

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AA Daily

28 August 1999 Saturday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] EU COUNTRIES' AID TO TURKEY - EU COUNTRIES' AID TO TURKEY REACHED 20- 30 MILLION ECUS SO FAR

[03] EU COUNTRIES AID TO TURKEY

[04] WORLD BANK INCREASED ITS 100 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR AID TO TURKEY TO 300 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

[05] MOSLEMS, CHRISTIANS AND JEWS IN U.S. CALL FOR AID TO TURKEY

[06] PREMIER ECEVIT SAYS TUBITAK CHARGED WITH COORDINATION TASK

[07] ALBRIGHT, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: - ''THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT U.S. CAN DO FOR TURKEY''

[08] IRISH AID TO DISASTER AREA

[09] PRIME MINISTRY CRISIS ADMINISTRATION CENTER STATEMENT: - ''EMERGENCY AID WORTH OF 885 BILLION TURKISH LIRAS IS SENT TO THE GOVERNORSHIPS OF THE DISASTER ZONE''

[10] PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS DRAFT LAW CONCERNING AMNESTY FOR SOME CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS

[11] AMNESTY LAW - THOSE WHO COMMIT CRIMES AGAINST STATE AND THOSE WHO AID THESE PEOPLE EXCLUDED FROM SCOPE OF AMNESTY

[12] AMNESTY LAW - STUDENTS INCLUDED IN SCOPE OF AMNESTY

[13] WARM MESSAGES FROM NEW EU COMMISSION TO ANKARA: - ''WE ARE IN SOLIDARITY WITH TURKISH NATION''

[14] THREE U.S. WATER PURIFICATION SHIPS SENT TO DISASTER ZONE RETURNS TO U.S. SINCE THERE IS NO NEED FOR THEM

[15] WASHINGTON D.C. MUNICIPALITY SUPPORTS AID CAMPAIGNS TO TURKEY

[16] DOW JONES AGENCY: ''TURKEY WILL REQUEST U.S. TREASURY GUARANTEE WORTH OF FIVE BILLION U.S. DOLLARS FOR EARTHQUAKE BOND''

[17] TURKEY'S CHIEF CONSULATE IN CHICAGO PROVIDES 5,700 TENTS

[18] PRIME MINISTRY CRISIS MANAGEMENT CENTER'S STATEMENT: ''THERE IS NO PROBLEM IN TRANSPORTATION BY LAND, AIR, SEA AND RAILWAYS IN DISASTER REGION''

[19] ATASAGUN, MIT UNDERSECRETARY: ''WE HAVE TWO INSTALLATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN EVACUATED AFTER EARTHQUAKE DISASTER''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL) TURKEY CAN OVERCOME DAMAGE
The damage assessment works in the disaster zone started. The leading financial organizations of the world believes that Turkey can overcome this disaster. The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said that the cost of the quake will not exceed 1.5 percent of the Turkish economy and that Turkey is strong enough to overcome the damages. The Economist said that there are many lessons to be taken from this disaster and that changes which can carry Turkey to better days can occur after this disaster. The World Bank noted that they plan increasing the aid to Turkey and that Turkey deserves this while the Duff&amp;Phelps said that Turkish economy will revive.

IMF GIVES CREDIT SIGNAL
Carlo Cottarelli, the Chief of the Turkish Desk of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said that a solution can be reached in the end of the stand-by agreements which will be held between Turkey and the IMF after September. Stressing that the government passed the social security reform with determination despite the earthquake, Cottarelli noted that granting extraordinary credit to Turkey is on the agenda.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

GREEK DISTRICT IN KOCAELI
Memduh Oguz, the Kocaeli Governor, proposed that the names of the countries which reconstruct new districts of Kocaeli should be given to these districts. Oguz said that he submitted his proposal to Ankara and that they can name the new districts as ''Israel, Greece, Korea, Germany and Bulgaria districts.'' Oguz added that thus, the building problem in the disaster areas can be overcome.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

A TOTAL OF 200 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS ON THE WAY
The total of the project credits given by the World Bank to overcome the damages of the quake reached 300 million U.S. dollars. The World Bank gave 100 million U.S. dollars last week. Then, it increased this amount by 200 million U.S. dollars and granted Turkey a total of 300 million U.S. dollars for the quake disaster.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

URGENT NEED:HOUSING
The cost of repairing the damage from last week's tremor is expected to be around 8 billion dollars in maximum, with 120,000 new homes necessary. At the first stage, 4,2 billion dollars are necessary for Turkey. Railways of 80 kilometers were damaged, meanwhile the civil defense organization requested 14,5 million dollars.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

THIS IS GOOD NEWS
Carlo Cottarelli, the Chairman of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said that ''I hope an agreement will be reached after completing stand-by meetings at the last quarter of 1999.'' Cottarelli added that they are pleased by the adoption of the law on social security by the parliament in spite of the earthquake.

TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)

RECORD IS BROKEN IN AID
Those European people who participated in the aid campaign carried out by the German and the Dutch television channels donated 43 million marks of aid for the earthquake victims in Turkey. ZDF, the German television channel collected 13 million marks in 2,5 hours.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

FIRST OFFICIAL CONFESSION
The experts of Mineral Research and Administration Institute (MTA) prepared a report saying that as highways and railways were constructed in fault lines, this increased the death toll following the massive earthquake that hit Turkey on August 17.

[02] EU COUNTRIES' AID TO TURKEY - EU COUNTRIES' AID TO TURKEY REACHED 20- 30 MILLION ECUS SO FAR

A EU Commission's Representation in Turkey statement said that the governments of all the EU countries and the non-governmental organizations are mobilized to help Turkey in the search and rescue operations and to send any kind of humanitarian aid to the disaster area until August 18, 1999.

The statement listed the aids of the EU countries to Turkey as follows:

AUSTRIA: Austria sent a total of 150 rescue experts and 80 sniffer dogs to the disaster zone. The experts team included 70 soldiers of the Austrian Armed Forces Disaster Aid Union who are deployed in Yalova, 19 personnel from Austrian Red Cross Organization and many other persons who participated in the rescue operations from various non-governmental organizations. The last Austrian rescue team departed Turkey on August 25, 1999. The humanitarian aid donated by the Vienna municipality were transfered to the disaster area. The Austrian government donated six million Austrian Shillings (437,000 Euros) from the federal budget for the emergency measures. The Vienna municipality donated five million Austrian Shillings (364,000 Euros) for the purchase of medicines in the region. The Austrian Red Cross Organization sent ten personnel, vehicles, tents and two water purification devices to the disaster zone. The Austrian Army delivered the emergency water purification device which was donated by an Austrian company. The Army is carrying out efforts to assemble the water purification unit which has a capacity of producing 12,000 litres of water per hour, in Izmit.

BELGIUM: Belgium sent 60 search and rescue experts and 34 sniffer dogs to Izmit, Duzce, Yalova and Sakarya. The Belgian Armed Forces set up an air corridor between Turkey and Belgium to mobilize the military cargo planes which would carry rescue equipments, medicines and other materials to the disaster zone. A total of 38 Belgium soldiers, six bulldozers, two lorries and other equipments carried out efforts in Golcuk county. Belgium sent a total of 42 tons of medical materials, equipment, blankets and masks. Belgium also granted a water purification unit which has a capacity of producing 500 litres of water per hour and a military surgeon unit. A total of 28 Belgian personnel is equipped in various hospitals in the disaster area. The Belgian government granted 600,000 U.S. dollars, the Belgian Armed Forces granted 100,000 U.S. dollars while the Belgian Red Cross Organization granted 23,600 U.S. dollars to the quake victims.

DENMARK: Denmark sent nine sniffer dogs and equipment and 17 search and rescue experts to Sakarya. The Danish government donated two million Danish krones to the Danish Red Cross to be given to the Turkish Red Crescent as an humanitarian aid. The Danish Red Cross granted 600,000 Danish krones to the Turkish Red Crescent from its own sources. The Danish Red Cross also sent 1,000 family-size tents and eight big tents to the tent-sites in Yalova and Izmit which are worth of 2.1 million krones. The Denmark Lions Club donated 300,000 krones to Turkey to meet the cost of 60 tons of medicines.

FINLAND: A total of 23 search and rescue teams and one health coordinator participated in the search and rescue operations in the disaster zone. The team which brought equipment and 250 kilograms of dried food was deployed in Yalova. The Finnish Red Cross brought 2,000 units of plasma products and granted 237,454 U.S dollars to Turkish Red Crescent by the International Red Cross. The Finnish Foreign Ministry will grant 90,000 U.S. dollars to the International Red Cross and Turkish Red Crescent via the Finnish Red Cross. This donation will be used to buy some products including the plasma products.

FRANCE: The 200-member French search and rescue team including health personnel, 14 sniffer dogs and 60 tons of materials were deployed in Yalova, Golcuk and Izmit. A four-member team carried out efforts to put out the fire in Turkish Petroleum Refineries Corp. (TUPRAS). A total of 49 personnel, a military surgeon team and 41.5 tons of materials were deployed in Akyazi. The French Red Cross granted one million Frech Francs. The Unlimited Doctors Organization set up three dispensaries in Adapazari and Izmit. The Unlimited Doctors Organization deployed 18 experts and four sniffer dogs in Golcuk. A total of 18 doctors and nurses departed Strasbourg to help the survivors. The Turkish society in France and the Armenian society in Tours and many other societies and associations are calling for help and solidarity for Turkey.

GERMANY: Germany sent a 74-member team including search and rescue experts and doctors. This team brought nearly 100 sniffer dogs and their experts, one mobile hospital, two ambulances, jeeps, health materials and equipment, tents, blankets, potable water, food and clothes to the disaster zone. The teams carried out efforts in all the disaster areas. Germany contributed in the efforts of putting out the fire in TUPRAS with the most-advanced fire extinguisher equipments. The German Armed Forces provided more than ten tons of food and first aid to the disaster area and sent many experts to the region. Germany granted a total of 10 to 20 million German marks, including 7 million German mark aid of the German government, to Turkey.

[03] EU COUNTRIES AID TO TURKEY

The EU Representation to Turkey statement listed the aid of the EU countries to the disaster zone as follows:

GREECE: Greece sent 20 experts, 1,000 fire extinguisher planes carrying fire extinguisher equipment and foam and one helicopter to put out the fire in the Turkish Petroleum Refineries Corp. (TUPRAS). Two sniffer dogs, 24 search and rescue experts, 11 health personnel and 12 assistant personnel participated in the search and rescue operations in Avcilar district of Istanbul and in Izmit. Greece provided three fully-equipped mobile health units, tents, blankets, blood plasma and 14 tons of health equipment to Avcilar while she provided 200 tents and blankets, two vehicles, 15 tons of health and pharmacy equipment, and a mobile health unit including first aid materials and 22 health personnel to Izmit. Greece also delivered 150 tents, 1,000 blankets, chemical toilets, serums, medical materials and nearly 20 tons of humanitarian aid to the Turkish authorities. The Greek parliament collected ten tons of health and pharmacy materials worth of nearly 150,000 U.S. dollars and sent these to Turkey. The consultations between the Turkish and Greek authorities for providing 150 prefabricated huts which can accomodate 800 persons are at the last stage. The Greek non- governmental organizations, the Greek local administrations and private sector also sent aid to Turkey.

IRELAND: Ireland granted nearly one million U.S. dollar to Turkey to contribute to various aid campaigns. This aid was canalized to the International Red Cross, Red Crescent Federation and United Nations Children's Education Fund (UNICEF) to be used to meet the needs of medical materials and transitory accomodation. The aid collected by the Irish people reached nearly 272,000 U.S. dollars.

ITALY: Italy sent seven sniffer dogs, first aid materials and 40 experts to the disaster zone. She also provided generators, water pumps, field tents and 110 tons of fire extinguisher materials to put out the fire in TUPRAS. Italy sent a healt team, 120 soldiers, one field hospital, two ambulances, one water tank, field tents for Golcuk county. Italy also sent medical materials worth of 250,000 U.S. dollars. An Italian ship is being used as a hospital for the soldiers and civilians in Golcuk. Italy allocated ten equipped ambulances, two excavators, one bulldozers, field tents, chemical toilets, field kitchens and generators for Bursa. She set up a tent-site for 500 persons in Kosekoy near Izmit and another tent-site in Fleet Base in Golcuk and opened this tent-site for the usage of the civilians. A tent- site which can accomodate 300 persons will also be set up in Izmit.

SPAIN: Spain collected 700,000 U.S. dollars for the quake victims. A total of 106 experts, five health personnel, 35 assistant personnels and search and rescue tams carried out efforts in the disaster zone. Spain sent six vehicles, one fully-equipped mobile hospital and 335 tents to Turkey. The Spanish Red Cross sent a total of 100,000 U.S. dollars of humanitarian aid, one basic health services clinic, 200 family-size tents, 400 tipping beds and 6,700 blankets to the disaster area. An air corridor was set up between Turkey and Spain by the Hercules C-130 and CN-235 planes of the Spanish Armed Fores after the quake disaster.

SWEDEN: Sweden sent 73-member team to the disaster zone. This team brought 11 sniffer dogs, health devices, search and rescue equipment, one generator, a vehicle. A C-130 cargo ship carrying 1,400 blankets and 890 body bags arrived in Istanbul. Three Swiss experts carried out efforts at the Ataturk Airport of Istanbul. Sweden donated nearly 120,000 U.S. dollars to the Turkish Red Crescent.

THE NETHERLANDS: The Netherlands granted 750,000 Dutch florins to Turkey. The Dutch government granted five millions florins. A total of eight experts, four assistant personnel and the search and rescue team including five sniffer dogs carried out efforts in Istanbul between August 18 and 22. The Dutch Royal Air Forces brought 12.6 tons of flour and three experts to Turkey. A DC-10 plane brought 18 tons of aid material. The Dutch Red cross granted 16 tons of water, 500 body bags and 1,000 gloves to Turkey worth of 140,000 Dutch florins. The Dutch Red Cross delivered field tents, blankets, generators and advanced first aid sets to the disaster zone. A total of 12 experts came to Turkey to put out the fire in the TUPRAS between August 21 and new experts and materials worth of 700,000 Dutch florin came to the disaster zone between August 22 and 24. Moreover, all the television channels in the Netherlands launched an aid campaign to collect monetary aid for the survivors on August 25, 1999.

PORTUGAL: Portugal sent a 45-member search and rescue team, many sniffer dogs, equipment, excavators and a generator to the disaster zone. This team was deployed in Sakarya. She also sent a cargo plane carrying 316 tents, 750 body bags, 2,532 blankets, four generators and 49 boxes of medicines to Istanbul.

BRITAIN: Britain sent four search and rescue teams including 90 persons. Seven cargo ships carrying medical materials worth of 250,000 pounds and 715 tents worth of 400,000 pounds arrived in Turkey. Britain granted 500, 000 pounds to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Federation, 185, 000 pounds to the aid campaign of UNICEF and 32,000 pounds to the United Nations (U.N.) Humanitarian Affairs Coordination Office. Thus, the aid of Britain reached 1.5 million pounds. Moreover, Thames Water, a British company, is carrying out a successful work to provide water in Izmit and is ensuring water tanks for the survivors.

[04] WORLD BANK INCREASED ITS 100 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR AID TO TURKEY TO 300 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

The World Bank statement said that two emergency plans are prepared for the reconstruction of the settlements, water and sewage systems, the repair of the infrastructure and the ensurement of health and education services.

Emphasizing that the scope of these two plans will become definite after the two teams which are in Turkey at the moment make an evaluation, the statement noted that this new credit will probably be more than 120 million U.S. dollars which was earlier announced.

Meanwhile, Ajay Chhibber, the Director of the World Bank in Turkey, said that the adoptation of the Social Security Reform Law indicated that Turkey deserves the support of both the World Bank and other international organizations.

[05] MOSLEMS, CHRISTIANS AND JEWS IN U.S. CALL FOR AID TO TURKEY

The officials of the organization including the representatives of the religious organizations in the U.S. visited Baki Ilkin, Turkish Ambassador to U.S., and expressed their condolences.

Arthur Schneler, the Chairman of the Organization, said that they call all the Moslems, Christians and Jews in the U.S. to convene in the churches, synagogues and mosques this weekend and to pray and grant donations for the quake victims in Turkey.

Schneler noted that they are beside Turkey because they feel the pain of Turkey.

Ilkin thanked for the contributions of the organization and gave the representatives information about the efforts carried out in Turkey following the quake.

Ilkin said that Turkey needs aid for the construction of new buildings and that 60,000 people are left homeless after the quake.

Calling the international community to help Turkey, Ilkin thanked all the countries which participated in the aid campaigns for Turkey.

Stressing that he feels very pleased about the contributions of Greece, Ilkin noted that Armenia will send a plane to Turkey.

[06] PREMIER ECEVIT SAYS TUBITAK CHARGED WITH COORDINATION TASK

Issuing a circular, Ecevit noted that the damage assessment works, temporary accomodation, disaster buildings and the repair of the damaged buildings are carried out by the Public Works and Settlement Ministry but that it is necessary to pursue a different strategy in this disaster since the damages were so much and the quake hit a big area.

Ecevit noted that they have started the studies about the prefabricated hut proposals but that the correct and healthy choices should be searched.

Stressing that many new buildings should be constructed, Ecevit stated that the healthy planning, right projects and implementation of these projects correctly carry vital importance.

Noting that fortification of the present buildings to be resistant for the quake carries vital importance, Ecevit stressed that whether or not the buildings in the quake zone are resistant to quake should be estimated and the principles of fortifying their resistance should be examined.

Ecevit emphasized that all the related ministries, public institutions and organizations, universities and the TUBITAK should work in cooperation to reach healthy results and to benefit from any kind of information and experience.

Ecevit added that to this end, Directorate of TUBITAK was charged with the coordination task to provide a harmonous work and to result such a scientific cooperation.

[07] ALBRIGHT, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: - ''THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT U.S. CAN DO FOR TURKEY''

Albright issued a written statement after meeting with the representatives of the Organization of Just Call including the Christian, Jew and Moslem clergymen in the U.S.

Recalling that the U.S. supports Turkey in the search and rescue operations with many other foreign countries following the quake, Albright noted that the U.S. government can do many things for Turkey.

Reminding that U.S. President Bill Clinton called the U.S. citizens to participate in the aid campaigns for Turkey, Albright stated that the U.S. people and the organizations are making aid to Turkey and that she believes that the aid of the U.S. people will continue.

Drawing the attention that the news about the quake will lose their effect in a few days but that Turkey's efforts for reconstruction will continue, Albright stressed that the determination of the U.S. government and people in supporting Turkey should be a long term determination.

Noting that Turkey is the ally and friend of the U.S., Albright emphasized that the Turkish people are facing hard times and that they will never leave Turkey alone.

Albright said that she supports the efforts of the Organization of Just Call which will collect aid for Turkey this weekend.

The clergymen who met with Albright said that their support to Turkey will continue during the visit of Premier Bulent Ecevit to Washington D.C. next month.

The clergymen noted that they demanded that the U.S. administration and the Congress should work together to help Turkey and that Albright supported their demand.

[08] IRISH AID TO DISASTER AREA

The Foreign Ministry statement said that the Irish government took another decision on August 20, 1999 saying that Ireland will grant additional 650, 000 U.S. dollars to Turkey.

The statement noted that Ireland gave 200,000 U.S. dollars of this additional donation to the United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF) for the purchase of tents and granted more than 250,000 U.S. dollars of this donation to buy medicines and medical materials.

The statement stressed that the first part of the Irish aid arrived in Turkey on August 25, 1999 and that the second part will be sent from London to Istanbul on Saturday.

Noting that the aid campaign launched by Irish Red Cross reached 400,000 U.S. dollars, the statement emphasized that a total of 180,000 U.S. dollar was collected in two seperate bank accounts opened in the Turkish Embassy in Dublin until today.

[09] PRIME MINISTRY CRISIS ADMINISTRATION CENTER STATEMENT: - ''EMERGENCY AID WORTH OF 885 BILLION TURKISH LIRAS IS SENT TO THE GOVERNORSHIPS OF THE DISASTER ZONE''

The Prime Ministry Crisis Administration statement said that the Directorate General of Disaster Affairs sent 160 prefabricated toilets and 16 showers and baths to the disaster area today.

Emphasizing that 550 technical personnel carry out damage assessment works in the region, the statement noted that there are not any problems resulting from the transportation in the highways which are reopened to traffic and that the repair of the highways continue.

Noting that the damage assessment works continue in the region, the statement stressed that a total of 34,806 buildings are determined to be damaged until today.

Stressing that the efforts to put out the fire in the Turkish Petroleum Refineries Corp. (TUPRAS) continue, the statement emphasized that 4.5 kilometre long barriers are set up to prevent the sea pollution and that the oil which spread from the waste water unit to the sea was taken under control.

The statement added that nearly 580 tons of oil was accumulated from the sea within the framework of the cleaning works.

The statement said that a total of 70 countries and seven international organizations helped Turkey due to the quake disaster.

The State Meteorology General Directorate said that it will be cloudy until Saturday noon and there will be heavy showers in the disaster zone on Saturday; adding that mild wind will blow from north and west.

The highest and lowest temperatures in the disaster area are as follows:

Province Highest Lowest

-------- --------- --------
Kocaeli 24 16

Sakarya 24 15

Bursa 25 16

Istanbul 25 16

Yalova 26 18

Zonguldak 23 14

Bolu 22 10

Eskisehir 25 12

Ankara 25 12</PRE>

[10] PARLIAMENTARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS DRAFT LAW CONCERNING AMNESTY FOR SOME CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS

The General Assembly started discussing the draft law on Friday afternoon and the discussions lasted for 14 hours.

A total of 58,518 prisoners will benefit from the new amnesty law.

Under the new law which will cover the crimes committed until April 23, 1999; the 12-year imprisonment, the crimes which require fine, ban from public services, not carrying out an occupation, closure of a workplace, confiscation and the fine given by some other authorities than the courts will not be prosecuted.

Those who will benefit from this amnesty law are the ones who are not sued a public case as of the issuance day of the law and the prisoners who were released after serving their punishments should not commit crimes which require long-term imprisonment for three years following their release. Those who violate these conditions will be sentenced to imprisonment terms which are cancelled by the amnesty law again or will be fined to certain amounts.

Those who are included in the scope of the amnesty, will be forgiven.

The officers, non-commissioned officers, expert non-commissioned officers and expert gendermaries who can benefit from the law but whose connection with the army are cut, will not be accepted in the armed forces as active officers. The military students cannot return back to the military academy.

Hikmet Sami Turk, Justice Minister, said that the number of those who will benefit from the amnesty law, is 26,538.

Turk said, ''there are 69,382 prisoners in the prisons of Turkey, including 59,181 judicial criminals and 10,201 terrorist criminals. Those who will directly benefit from the amnesty are 26,538 prisoners. Those who will benefit from the reduction of punishment will complete their punishment terms in a few years and the number of them will reach 31,980. The rest who will not benefit from the amnesty are the terrorist criminals.''

[11] AMNESTY LAW - THOSE WHO COMMIT CRIMES AGAINST STATE AND THOSE WHO AID THESE PEOPLE EXCLUDED FROM SCOPE OF AMNESTY

The third article of the new law listed the crimes which are excluded from the scope of the amnesty.

The crimes which are excluded from the amnesty law cover being a political and economic defeatist, the issuing publications which are considered as crimes, establishing armed gangs against the security of the state and aiding these gangs, making a secret agreement against the security of the state and provoking people to commit crimes against the security of the state.

The amnesty is not applied for those who provoke people to hatred and enmity by discriminating among the people in respect of class, racial, religious and regional differences.

The amnesty does not cover the crimes which lead to destruction due to incautiousness, carelessness, lack of vocational experience and non- obedience with the rules. The amnesty also does not include the contractors whose buildings were destroyed in the quake under this article.

The crimes committed against Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Turkey, are not included within the scope of the amnesty.

The crimes which are within the scope of the Anti-Terrorism Law, the crimes included in the laws concerning the tax and fees are also excluded from the scope of the amnesty.

The reduction of punishment will not be applied for the crimes which are excluded from the scope of amnesty.

The life-long imprisonment terms of the crimes which are within the scope of the general amnesty, will be reduced to 24-year imprisonment.

The 12 years of imprisonment of those who are sentenced to more than 12- year imprisonment will not be prosecuted while the fines will not be taken.

The fourth article of the crimes also listed the punishments which are reduced.

The reduction of the punishments cover the felonious homicide, establishment of gangs, preparing counterfeit identification cards, licences and passports, plane hijack, plunder, and destroying the public materials.

The life-long imprisonment terms of the crimes which are among these crimes, will be reduced to 30-year heavy imprisonment while only half of the fines will be taken.

The reduction of punishments will be valid for the crimes which were committed until April 23, 1999.

If the prisoners are sued for a crime, which requires imprisonment, in three years after they are released, their crimes which were forgiven in the past will be executed.

Those who are younger than 15 when they commit a crime which is not included in the scope of the amnesty, will be forgiven and their punishment will not be executed.

A total of 26,538 prisoners will be released in 20 days after the law is issued in the Official Gazette. Those whose punishments will be reduced will be released when their reduced imprisonment terms are over.

[12] AMNESTY LAW - STUDENTS INCLUDED IN SCOPE OF AMNESTY

Under the law, the students whose registration is cancelled from the higher education or who are at the limit of dismissal from the universities, were given a new examination right.

The students will be given two examination and one make-up examination right and will be provided an opportunity to continue their education.

The post-graduate and doctorate students can have the same right under the amnesty.

[13] WARM MESSAGES FROM NEW EU COMMISSION TO ANKARA: - ''WE ARE IN SOLIDARITY WITH TURKISH NATION''

Speaking in the press briefing, the spokesmen of the commission said that Prodi and the new members of the Commission attribute importance to the relations with Turkey.

Emphasizing that the members of the new Commission give signals that they will help Ankara for the quake disaster, the spokesmen noted that they are very sad about this big tragedy which negatively affected a great part of Turkey.

Stressing that Prodi talked with President Suleyman Demirel on the phone and told Demirel that they are in solidarity with the Turkish nation in this hard time, the spokesmen stated that Prodi also told Demirel that the EU Commission wants to help Turkey in reconstructing the disaster zones and that the strong relations between Turkey and the EU will be maintained.

The members of the Commission demanded that Prodi should do his best to provide emergency financial aid to Turkey and the disaster zone. The contacts between the former Commission and Prodi about this issue were held on Thursday and the Commision and Prodi discussed the measures to be taken.

The spokesmen said that the former and the new Commission seperately expressed their sensitivity against the deaths and losses and the negative economic conditions which were all caused by the quake disaster.

When asked about the concrete aid proposals of the Commission, the spokesmen noted that they did not discuss the amount of the aid and that the Commission which is still in effect will determine its stance after meeting with Prodi.

[14] THREE U.S. WATER PURIFICATION SHIPS SENT TO DISASTER ZONE RETURNS TO U.S. SINCE THERE IS NO NEED FOR THEM

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara statement said that the U.S. and Turkish officials convened and decided that three portable water purification ships which are in the disaster zone at the moment, are necessary and that to this end three U.S. water purification ships should return to the U.S.

The statement noted that each water purification unit can produce 700,000 litres of potable water a day.

The statement added that the Turkish officials said that the water which is produced by the three ships at the moment is enough.

[15] WASHINGTON D.C. MUNICIPALITY SUPPORTS AID CAMPAIGNS TO TURKEY

Anthony Williams, Mayor of Washington D.C., called the business circles and the U.S. citizens to participate in the aid campaigns for Turkey.

Meeting Baki Ilkin, Turkey's Ambassador to Washington D.C., Williams noted that the quake was not only a tragedy for Turkey but also a tragedy for the whole world.

Williams stated that he calls all the residents of Washington D.C., the business circles and the Turkish nation in the U.S. to grant donations and to pray for the quake victims.

Ilkin thanked Williams and all the U.S. people for the support they gave to Turkey.

Meanwhile, the amount of the aid collected by the U.S. Red Cross and other aid organizations exceeded 20 million U.S. dollars.

The Organization of Catholic Aid Services granted 500,000 U.S. dollars for the survivors while the Malden Mills company donated blankets worth of 500, 000 U.S. dollars.

[16] DOW JONES AGENCY: ''TURKEY WILL REQUEST U.S. TREASURY GUARANTEE WORTH OF FIVE BILLION U.S. DOLLARS FOR EARTHQUAKE BOND''

The Agency noted that Premier Bulent Ecevit is expected to discuss this issue with U.S. President Bill Clinton during his visit to Washington D.C. at the end of September.

The Agency stated that in case the U.S. Treasury guarantee is provided for the ''earthquake bonds'', the interests of the bonds will be low and that the bonds can easily be sold in the world markets.

The U.S. officials stressed that their country is planning to help Turkey in the medium and long term to overcome the quake disaster but that the possible aid plan has not become definite yet.

[17] TURKEY'S CHIEF CONSULATE IN CHICAGO PROVIDES 5,700 TENTS

Yavuz Aktas, Turkish Chief Consul in Chicago, said that a total of 50,000 U.S. dollars are collected in the account opened to help Turkey within the framework of the Consulate and that this aid increased to 100,000 U.S. dollars after a lawyer company donated 50,000 U.S. dollars on Friday.

A total of 80,000 U.S. dollars are collected in the aid campaign launched by the Turkish Society in California.

A total of 450 out of 5,700 tents are expected to be sent to Istanbul today.

Meanwhile, General Motors company granted 50,000 U.S. dollars to the Red Cross organization for the survivors.

[18] PRIME MINISTRY CRISIS MANAGEMENT CENTER'S STATEMENT: ''THERE IS NO PROBLEM IN TRANSPORTATION BY LAND, AIR, SEA AND RAILWAYS IN DISASTER REGION''

The statement pointed out that there are 3,483 work machines and 337 ambulances in the region, adding ''totally 2199 personnel including 885 health personnel who were sent to the region from other provinces work in the region. It has been determined in damage assesment works that totally 54,295 buildings were damaged in various degrees. Four announcement systems through transceivers have been set up in tent cities. 199 aid services lines have been opened to transfer aid to the earthquake fund. Necessary airports, land services and transport support are regularly provided to planes carrying aid. There is no problem in providing electrical energy and communication systems in the disaster region. Sounding operations are underway to meet the water need in tent cities. Repair of city water network continues.''

The Prime Ministry Crisis Management Centre said that the Spanish government sent 335 tents to 2000 persons, adding ''tent cities were set up in seven parts of the disaster region. Holiday camps of various institutions have been opened to settlement for earthquake victims.''

The Centre added that 2400 persons were sheltered, adding totally 26 mobile kitchens serve people living in the region hit by the quake.

Meanwhile distribution of 703,000 food stuff sent by Israel started. Noting that there is no lack of medicine and medical equipment in the region, the statement stressed that ''a psychological unit was set up in Yalova and the environment was sprayed with disinfectants against the danger of epidemics.''

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs sent 100 tonnes of food stuff to the quake region.

There are one ambulance-plane, six cargo planes, 16 other helicopters, 63, 741 personnel of the Turkish Armed Forces in the region and 27 bulldozers, 20 loaders, 4 graders, 38 compressors, 20 excavating machines and 15 winches, totally 116 work machines continue to search and rescue operations in the region.

The statement stressed that there are totally 23,356 tents in the region.

The wheather in several provinces hit by the earthquake and the lowest and highest tempatures are as follows:

TEMPATURE
HIGHEST LOWEST
KOCAELI 24 16
SAKARYA 24 15
BURSA 25 16
ISTANBUL 25 16
YALOVA 26 18
ZONGULDAK 23 14
BOLU 22 10
ESKISEHIR 25 12
ANKARA 25 12
</PRE>

[19] ATASAGUN, MIT UNDERSECRETARY: ''WE HAVE TWO INSTALLATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN EVACUATED AFTER EARTHQUAKE DISASTER''

Issuing a written statement, Atasagun said that he had the obligation to make an explaination about this issue following the baseless news in the papers.

''One of our installations has been allocated for members of the MIT and their close relatives who suffer from the earthquake disaster. Our second installation was allocated to earthquake victims. Only persons which have the aim of humiliating MIT can say that MIT is ignorant over the earthquake disaster in these days of pain,'' he added.

A.A

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