Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-11-21

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

[01] AA Daily

21 November 1999 Sunday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

DYP ELECTS TANSU CILLER
During the sixth congress of the True Path Party (DYP), Tansu Ciller won 922 votes of the delegates and was re-elected. Koksal Toptan could only win 280 votes. Ciller said ''I had mistakes in the past, but there is no school of politics, it is learnt by experience. I've changed.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

CLINTON'S GREAT PRAISE
U.S. President Bill Clinton is very pleased by the close interest shown to him during his visit to Turkey. In a meeting, Clinton said that ''I consider a compliment one of Turkish newspaper's describing me as 'he is just like one of us.' Besides I learnt many things in Ankara, President Suleyman Demirel was just like a teacher for me regarding many issues.''

SABAH (LIBERAL)

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

JUSTICE MINISTER TURK:''AMNESTY LAW MUST DEFINITELY PASS''
Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that the Amnesty Law was not a meaningless insistence. ''The law must definitely pass after raising hopes among inmates and their families," he said. Turk also pointed out that too many law universities were founded in Turkey in the recent years, however there were not significant number of lecturers. This situation caused below standard law education, Turk noted and stressed that Turkish lawyers must be very well educated in their fields and this is only possible through receiving a good law education in the universities.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

ENVIRONMENT IS IMPORTANT
Trabzon administration court stopped for the third time the construction of hydroelectrical central in Fırtına Valley. The court also cancelled a report which permitted the construction of the central. ''There is more public interest in protection of the environment than the construction of the central,'' the decion said. The final word will be said by the Council of State.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

ALBRIGHT WARNS EU
Louis Michel, the Belgian Foreign Minister said on Saturday that Madelaine Albright, the US Secretary of State conveyed important warnings of the U.S and ''gave him a lesson'' when he met with her on Friday. Michel told press that Albright reminded of the US President Clinton's message and said the EU must approve Turkey's candidacy at the Helsinki Summit.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[03] FP DEPUTY INCETAHTACI DIES IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT

The body of Incetahtaci who was pronounced dead at the accident scene was taken to Cubuk State Hospital's morgue.

FP leader, Recai Kutan and other party members came to the Hospital while FP supporters rushed to FP's Headquarters to find out details about the accident. Incetahtaci's death caused great sorrow in Gaziantep.

The 39 year old FP deputy had a wife and two children.

[04] FINNISH PRESIDENT AHTISAARI LEAVES TURKEY

Finnish President received on Saturday Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. No statement was issued to the press about the two meetings.

President Demirel also presented the ''State Honour Medal'' to Ahtisaari for his contributions to developing the relations between the two countries the same day.

Addressing the ceremony President Demirel said that the two countries are element of stability in their regions.

Ahtisaari said in his part that he did his best to improve both Turkey-EU relations and Turkish-Finnish during his term in office and the outcome of that will be seen at Helsinki summit.

Later the guest president presented President Demirel the ''White Rose Medal'' of Finland.

The two presidents also held a press briefing after the interdelegationary meetings. President Demirel said that none of the leaders whom he met during OSCE summit in Istanbul told him to make a gesture regarding the relations with Greece.

Demirel said that they took up Turkey-EU relations in a comprehensive way with Ahtisaari and added that ''we didn't have difficulty in understanding each other. This will be a historical visit in respect of Turkey-EU relations.''

A Finnish journalist asked President Demirel whether or not Turkey thinks of giving minority status to Kurds and Demirel said ''Turkey is a constitutional state and the Lausanne Treaty determined the minority groups.''

Demirel stressed that all Turkish citizens have equal rights, adding ''it is not possible to give minority status to certain people of different origin in Turkey.''

Ahtisaari added that the Turkish government seems determined to meet the EU criteria and stressed that equal criteria are in question for all candidate countries and Turkey is obliged to fulfil them.

[05] AFTERSHOCKS CONTINUE

Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory recorded on Saturday seven aftershocks between 08.37 and 16.39.

The hour, epicenter and magnitudes of the quakes are as follows:

Hour Magnitude Epicenter

----- --------- ------------
08.37 3.0 Bolu Kaynaslı

08.58 2.9 Bolu Kaynaslı

10.44 4.2 Bolu

11.35 3.0 Bolu

11.57 2.9 Bolu

13.17 3.0 Bolu

16.39 3.0 Bolu Kaynaslı

Meanwhile a tremor having a magnitude of 3.5 on the Richter scale was felt in Saroz bay the same day at 2.20 p.m.

[06] UN SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN TOURS ISTANBUL

The Annans first visited the Kariye Museum in Fatih district which was used as a church in the Byzantine period. Here, they examined the icons depicting the history of Christianity with interest.

''Turkey has many beautiful historical places to offer to the world. It was a very nice tour. Everybody has been very friendly,'' Annan told reporters in the museum.

Annan declined to answer questions about the OSCE Summit and Cyprus issue and said he was now focused on Istanbul's beauties.

The souvenir shop next to the museum gave the Annans a porcelaine cat figurine before they had Turkish coffee and tea in the yard of Fatih Youth Sports Club. Several tourists visiting the Kariye Museum had their photos taken with the Annans.

Kofi and Nane Annan, later visited Pammakaristos Monastery and were given information about the monastery's history.

Kofi Annan played with children in the Monastery's yard. He later signed their plastic ball and told them his favourite soccer player was Pele.

The Annans will go to Ankara on Sunday afternoon.

[07] FM UNDERSECRETARY HAKTANIR IN TRNC: ''TALKS TO BE HELD IN NEW YORK WON'T HAVE ANY COMMON POINT WITH DIRECT OR DIRECT MEETINGS HELD IN THE PAST''

Haktanır who came to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) told A.A correspondent at the airport that ''we think that a progress can be recorded on Cyprus question only on the basis of sovereign equality.''

Turkey and TRNC have a constructive common approach about this issue, said Haktanır and added that this attitude both depends on the experience of the past and also the realities of today.

Haktanır stressed that the other side should also show good will and review its approach which impeded getting results from the efforts launched in the past.

''No body should make a mistake by expecting TRNC to make confessions about its security and sovereign equality. A lasting reconciliation can only be provided when these are taken into consideration as a whole,'' he said.

Haktanır added that he will meet with TRNC state and government officials during his stay.

Haktanır and the accompanying delegation is expected to leave TRNC on Tuesday.

[08] TURKISH CONSULATE ORGANIZES BALL IN CHICAGO TO BUILD SCHOOL IN QUAKE REGION

The tickets for the ball was sold in a short time and some donated goods were sold at an auction in the ball.

The Turkish-American Cultural Association already collected 85,000 US dollars and will build a school in the quake region after adding this amount to the cash obtained from the ticket sales.

[09] TURKEY-IMF

Economy officials wish the financial support which IMF will give to Turkey not to be less than nearly 6 billion dollars, that is 4,5 folds of Turkey's quota in IMF.

On the other hand the IMF delegation headed by Carlo Cottarelli thinks not to give a credit more than four folds of Turkey's quota in IMF.

Meanwhile nearly 800 million dollars of income is expected to be gained from additional taxation, which the IMF delegation focuses on.

Nearly 600 million dollars is targeted to be earned from army exemption for quake aid.

[10] WORLD BANK'S CREDIT TO TURKEY

The credit is worth of 757.5 million dollars and it will be used in meeting the needs after the massive earthquake in Marmara region on August 17. After the signing ceremony, Demiralp and Lee are expected to stage a joint press briefing.

Linn is expected to arrive in Turkey on Sunday accompanied by Marcelo Slowsky, the World Bank's chief economist for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Linn will stay in Turkey for four days, he will speak e in a conference, visit Kocaeli province devastated by the quake on Monday.

He will also meet with Premier Bulent Ecevit, other ministers and high ranking bureaucrats and discuss ''Turkey's economic situation and activities of the World Bank in Turkey'' with them.

[11] PRIME MINISTRY CRISIS MANAGEMENT CENTER ANNOUNCES DEATH TOLL OF DUZCE QUAKE AS 710

A total of 5,108 people were injured and 976 buildings collapsed in the quake.

About 350 prefabricated dwellings were assigned to quake survivors and 28, 500 tents were sent to the area. All cities and villages were given electricity and telephones are working without problems.

More than 15,000 personnel are in charge in the disaster area. A total of 1, 915 work machines, 36 helicopters, 3 ambulance planes, 9 rescue planes and 438 vehicles are currently in the area to be used in rescue efforts.

Red Crescent, Turkish Armed Forces and other institutions sent 77 mobile kitchens, 3 laundry places, 16 mobile showers, 3 mobile bakeries, 26,000 beds, 14,000 sleeping bags, 256,000 blankets, 3,500 duvets, 503 heaters and 50 telephones for quake survivors. The food sent to the region exceeded 1600 tons.

A total of 1,366 health personel including 508 doctors are giving health service to survivors with 533 ambulances, 8 mobile hospitals, 6 polyclinic tents, 855 units of blood and serum and various medical supplies.

Six generals and 7,570 military personnel are also in charge in Duzce and its surrounding. The Logistic Support Coordination Centers in Bolu and Duzce are coordinating the rescue activities.

[12] TOURISM MINISTER MUMCU IN ISRAEL

Mumcu and the Israeli Tourism Minister Amnon Lipkin Sahak will mainly discuss cooperation in tourism between the two countries in the framework of belief tourism in 2000.

On the first day of his visit, Mumcu visited the historical sites in Jerusalem. He will visit the sacred lands in Bethlehem which is under Palestine's administration.

The Israel-Turkey Joint Tourism Commission's meeting will start on Monday afternoon.

[13] RICHARD HILLS:''IT IS IRRATIONAL TO EXPECT RED CRESCENT TO MEET ALL NEEDS OF QUAKE SURVIVORS IN SUCH A BIG DISASTER''

Hills said following the major earthquake Red Crescent was expected to meet all the needs in the disaster area and added that this was an irrational expectation.

Depending on only one institution could be avoided if Turkey prepares a disaster plan and determines what needs to be done in case of a disaster, Hills pointed out.

Finn Ruda said no national association, Red Crescent or Red Cross could take the place of a national disaster plan. A national disaster plan gives responsibility to every section of the state and makes them work together, he added.

''We should not forget how hard Red Crescent volunteers worked with dedication. Normal life gets interrupted when a disaster occurs. The shocking situation prevents people from looking at incidents in a normal way. People who are in need direct heavy criticisms. Criticisms directed against Red Crescent were not fair. We are ready to work together to strengthen Red Crescent's image,'' Ruda said.

[14] U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN LEAVES FOR ANKARA

Annan was in Istanbul for the Organization on Security and Cooperation (OSCE) summit.

A.A

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