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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-08-30Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>AA Daily30 August 1999 MondayCONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 30, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)ECEVIT: ''I COULD NOT BE RELEIVED WITH AMNESTY LAW''Responding to questions of journalists about the Amnesty Law, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''there are some issues which I could not be satisfied with or which I have difficulties to accept. But the government is a three-partner coalition government.'' DEATH TOLL INCREASES TO 14,095 MILLIYET (LIBERAL)IRAQ TO SEND OILPresident Saddam Hussein of Iraq stated that Iraq will sent an aid of oil worth of 10 million U.S. dollars, to Turkey in the wake of the devastating quake disaster. Iraq waits for the approval of the United Nations (U.N.) to pump oil to Turkey. FIVE BUILDINGS COLLAPSES IN A QUAKE SABAH (LIBERAL)HUNT FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTSSecurity forces intercepted a total of 8 thousand illegal immigrants in Edirne province within the last eight months. Most of the immigrants who were heading for Greece illegally, are from Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan. PAPANDREU: ''DO NOT MISS SUCH A HISTORICAL OPPORTUNITY'' CUMHURIYET (LEFT)FEAR OF ILLNESSThe negative conditions in the disaster area have much more serious effects on children. Gonul Saray, the Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputy elected from Amasya who is carrying out observations in Sakarya, said especially children are suffering from pneumonia. She said children are also suffering from asthma, bronchitis and diarrhoea. RADIKAL (LEFT)STILL THE SAME DISGRACEThe problems, which occurred in the very beginning of the earthquake, still can't be overcome as the Prime Ministry Crisis Management Centre failed to use its broad authority. 700 tons part of the 750 ton-aid of Israel, which was brought to the Iskenderun port three days ago, couldn't be unshipped till last night due to the ''customs procedure''. Even one patient was not sent to the three American hospital ships having two thousand beds due to the lack of initiative of the crisis center administered by Ahmet Sagar, the Undersecretary of the Prime Ministry. The talks on the transportation of prefabricated houses from abroad stopped suddenly. Maybe there is an official who knew the reason but there is noone to explain it. AMNESTY FOR CEYHAN CONTRACTORS TÜRKİYE (RIGHT)MOURNFUL VICTORY DAYThe ''August 30, Victory Day'', which we celebrate with great enthusiasm every year, is now overshadowed by the earthquake that killed and injured thousands of people. The grief cancelled and postponed the nationwide celebrations. To mark the 77th anniversary of the Victory Day, only a delegation led by General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff, will lay a wreath to the Mausoleum of Ataturk and visit the State Cemetery. Special programmes will be broadcast on the television channels. The programmes will cover the military personality of great leader and the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the introduction of the Turkish Armed Forces and the Great Assault. AFTERSHOCKS CONTINUE HALA SULTAN TOMB BOMBED ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGNFederation of International Journalists (FIJ) will launch an aid campaign for those who lost their relatives and were left homeless in the quake disaster. Aidan White, Secretary General of the FIJ, said that they had decided to launch the campaign upon request of Ziya Sonay, Chairman of Turkish Journalists' Trade Union, and expressed deep sorrow at the great loss of life in the disaster. [02] ARSON ATTEMPT AT HALA SULTAN SHRINELEFKOSA, Aug 30 (A.A) - Arsonists who set fire to the Hala Sultan Shrine from four different points in Larnaca in southern Cyprus, left behind a leaflet signed as the ''Patriotic Organization of Cypriot Fighters'', it was reported on Sunday.The Patriotic Organization of Cypriot Fighters was known with its actions against British and Turkish Cypriots living in the Greek Cypriot side. The shrine is sacred to Turkish Cypriot pilgrims who cross from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) twice a year under an United Nations- backed arrangement on the exchange of visits between the two sides on religious grounds. Hala Sultan Shrine was built in memory of Um Haram, an aunt of the Prophet Mohammed, who was thought to be buried in the shrine. [03] THERE IS NOT A CHANGE IN SCHEDULE OF PREMIER'S VISIT TO U.S.WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug 30 (A.A) - There was not a change in the schedule of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to the U.S. that was earlier planned to be paid between September 26 and October 1, it was reported on Monday.Diplomatic sources in Washington D.C. said the Prime Minister who will arrive in Washington D.C. on September 26 will meet with U.S. President Bill Clinton on September 28, and proceed to New York on September 30. Diplomatic sources said the meeting between Ecevit and Clinton is expected to focus on the earthquake disaster in Turkey. The high-level U.S. officials including the U.S. President, mentioned that they will expend efforts to remove the economic losses of Turkey. However, the details of that programme has still not become clear. Observers said the content of the comprehensive quake aid that will be offered to Turkey by the U.S. is expected to become clear during Ecevit's visit. The Cyprus question is also expected to be given an important place during the visit. The economic, energy and defense cooperation issues between the two countries, the developments in Iraq, Balkans and Caucasus and the relations between Turkey and Greece will also be discussed during the talks. Meanwhile, U.S. President Bill Clinton, who will come to Istanbul for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Summit in November, is expected to pay official visits to Turkey and Greece. [04] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC: - ''TURKISH NATION WILL OVERCOME QUAKE DISASTER BY HEALING ITS WOUNDS''LEFKOSA, Aug 30 (A.A) - Mournful celebrations took place in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to mark the August 30th Victory Day on Monday.President Rauf Denktas of the TRNC; Ertugrul Hasipoglu, Speaker of TRNC Republican Parliament; Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu; Mustafa Akinci, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State; General Sukru Sariisik, Commander of Turkish Peace Forces; Ertugrul Apakan, Turkish Ambassador to TRNC; General Ali Nihat Ozeyranli, Commandar of the TRNC Security Forces; several other ministers, and high-level officials were in attendance at the ceremony. Addressing the ceremony, President Denktas said, ''Today, when our nation is bleeding to death inside in the wake of the devastating quake disaster, we are marking the defeat of enemies by Turkish people under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The Turkish nation which overcame the destruction of enemies in those days, will also overcome the quake disaster by healing their wounds. Holy flag is still waving in the sky. We commemorate our martyrs with God's mercy and grace. Our respect for soldiers guarding the borders, is eternal.'' [05] U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT PLANS TO VISIT TURKEY FOR ''SOLIDARITY FOR QUAKE''WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug 30 (A.A) - Madeleine Albright, the U.S. Secretary of State, is planning to visit Turkey in coming days to stress once again the solidarity with Turkey which was struck with a massive earthquake on August 17, it was reported on Monday.Diplomatic sources in Washington D.C. said Albright, who will start this week her visit covering the Middle Eastern and Far Eastern countries planned to visit also Turkey during that tour. Sources said Albright, who will depart for the Middle East on September 1, wanted to visit Turkey on September 5, but talks on an appropriate date for Albright's visit to Turkey continue as Foreign Minister Ismail Cem would pay visits to Britain and France during the same week. Albright, who has been continuing her post of the U.S. Secretary of State since 1997, did not come to Turkey during this period. Warren Christopher, the former U.S. Secretary of State, also did not pay a visit to Turkey except his attendance in the NATO summit in Istanbul in 1994. Diplomatic sources said Albright wanted to stress once again the support of Washington to Ankara's efforts for reconstruction. Albright said on last Friday that there were many things that the U.S. government will make for Turkey. [06] U.S. SCIENTISTS: - ''GEOGRAPHICAL STRUCTURE OF BLACK SEA HAS CHANGED IN THE MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE'' - ''QUAKE WHICH STRUCK MARMARA REGION, WAS A NATURAL DISASTER BEYOND QUAKE''WASHINGTON D.C., Aug 30 (A.A) - Two American scientists said that the devastating earthquake which struck Marmara Region on August 17, has changed the geographical structure of coast of the Black Sea between Istanbul and Zonguldak, it was reported on Monday.Richard Rothaus, a geologist from the St. Cloud State University in Minneapolis, said that thousands of tonnes of rocks spilled into the sea as a result of the broken base in the coast of the Black Sea. Ed Reinhardt from the McMaster University noted that underwater ground has changed place after the massive earthquake. The scientists stressed that tsunami had a great role in pouring of land pieces into sea. Rothaus said that when the earthquake occurred, fault lines which take place in shores of Turkey, have descended deep into earth. The scientists described the massive quake as the most astonishing quake in the history. Rothaus stressed that the quake was an unseen natural disaster beyond quake. [07] DPT'S REPORT ON FINANCIAL MARKETS IN JULYANKARA, Aug 30 (A.A) - The State Planning Organization (DPT) said on Monday that there were high-rate increases in Turkish Lira (TL) term, and demand deposists in July while the burden on the TL deposit stocks at the public banks still continue.According to the DPT's latest report on financial markets, the sight TL deposists increased by 26.2 percent, and the TL time deposists rose by 10.7 percent in July in parallel to the high-rate increases in deposit stocks. The report said the total deposit climbed by 9.4 percent. Meanwhile, the foreign exchange accounts denominated in U.S. dollar which belong to the domestic established increased by 5.3 percent in previous month. The report said the share of public banks in total deposit, which was 63.4 percent in June, increased to 63.8 percent in July. Noting that the credit/deposit ratio, which decreased during the year, continued this trend also in July, the report said the deposit banks' credits/total deposit ratio, which was 44 percent in June, decreased to 42.1 percent in July. Meanwhile, the foreign exchange basket, which is composed of 1 U.S. dollar and 1.5 German Marks, remained behind the inflation with 3.3 value increase in July when the Wholesale Prices Index (TEFE) is considered as to be 4 percent. Pointing out that the targets for domestic borrowing were all reached in July, the report said the weighted average composite interest rates of state domestic borrowing notes decreased by 11.1 points compared to previous month. Recalling that the Tresury targetted to extend the term structure in domestic borrowing and thus it issued three-year term floating rate notes in July, the report said in parallel to this, the term increased to 423 days. [08] EXTRAORDINARY INTEREST IN TURKEY AT WORLD FOOD FAIRSYDNEY, Aug 30 (A.A) - Turkey received an extraordinary interest at the World Food Fair which was organized in Sydney, Australia, it was reported on Monday.Worldwide famous food companies from Hong Kong to Spain, and from Singapore to the Philippines, are launching initiatives in a bid to help quake victims. Sebahattin Gazanfer, Secretary General of the Aegean Exporters' Unions, said that representatives of companies such as Nestle, Rothmans, Focus, Delifrance, and Unilever, held contacts with them to send humanitarian aid for quake victims. Gazanfer stressed that when they return to Turkey, they will hold talks with officials about the offer of these companies. Meanwhile seven Turkish firms namely Pagmat, AAK Food, Taris, Ece Yenicag, Entegre, Tukas and Yateks, are launching initiatives to export olive and olive oil, canned food, dried grape, dried fig, waffle, and chewing gum to Australia. Demir Erman, Trade Attache of the Turkish Consulate General in Sydney, stressed that many Australian firms offered humanitarian help. Pointing out that Turkey's export to Australia increases 15 percent annually, Erman said, ''Turkey exported goods worth of 120 million U.S. dollars to Australia, and she imported goods worth of 350 million U.S. dollars from Australia in 1998. Turkey exports dried fruits, ceramic products, textile products, and motor vehicle spare parts, and imports coal, iron or, wool and leather products.'' [09] PROFILE OF EXPORTS FROM GAP REGION - IN FIRST SEVEN MONTHS, 63.7 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS WOVEN EXPORTED FROM THE REGIONGAZIANTEP, Aug 30 (A.A) - The exports of woven from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region in the first seven months of 1999 decreased 24.5 percent to 63 million 795 thousand U.S. dollars, it was reported on Monday.In the same period last year, the region exported 84 million 442 thousand U.S. dollars of woven. Officials at the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union, told the A.A correspondent that in the first seven months of the year, they exported 30 million 662 thousand U.S. dollars of carpets; 787 thousand U.S. dollars of towels; 7 million 761 thousand U.S. dollars of plastic sacks; 3 million 108 thousand U.S. dollars of cotton fabric; 3 million 701 thousand U.S. dollars of synthetic, and 17 million 776 thousand U.S. dollars of knitwear. The majority of the goods were exported to Italy, Belgium, the U.S., Greece, France, Algeria, Russia, Romania, Israel, Azerbaijan, Germany, Portugal, Syria, Britain, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. [10] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM: - ''PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT DOES NOT ACCEPT POLITICAL GUIDANCE FROM WASHINGTON D.C.''NEW YORK, Aug 30 (A.A) - Ismail Cem, Foreign Minister, said on Monday, ''Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit does not accept political guidance of Washington Administration.''Cem stressed in his statement to the New York Times newspaper, ''Turkey is grateful for the U.S. humanitarian aid in the wake of the devastating quake disaster, but Prime Minister Ecevit does not accept any guidance of Washington Administration in the political issues.'' Cem said, ''we are not pleased with the U.S. approach to the Cyprus question. Therefore, we will convey our own opinions to the other side.'' Noting that issue of human rights can also be discussed during Ecevit's visit to the U.S. at the end of this month, Cem said that he did not think that this issue to be taken into the agenda. Cem added, ''we will not go to the U.S. to be exposed to an inspection. This visit aims at bringing together the leaders of two friendly countries at a very interesting and positive level.'' Meanwhile, the quake aid, development of Turkey-Greece relations, and the Cyprus question will be the issues of the agenda of the Ecevit-Clinton meeting. The efforts for peace in the Middle East, the policy towards Iraq and the U.S. support to the project for the transfer of the Caspian oil to the Mediterranean via Turkey will be the other issues to be discussed at the meeting between Ecevit and Clinton. New York Times, a leading newspaper in the U.S., claimed that ''U.S. President Bill Clinton will urge Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to speed up the efforts to recover the human rights in Turkey and develop more positive relations with Greece.'' Meanwhile, it was mentioned that Prime Minister Ecevit will request the U.S. President to guarantee the earthquake bonds that Turkey will put up for sale. Such a guarantee will give the opportunity to keep the interest Turkey will repay for buyers at lower rates. New York Times reported that the Turkish Parliament took new steps regarding human rights, and approved two amnesty laws. A.A Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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