Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-03-20

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[01] AA News

20 March 2000 Monday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

160 PEOPLE DIE, 383 OTHERS INJURED
The balance sheet of the traffic accidents which happened during the Eid al- Adha holiday, is very serious. A total of 153 people died and 382 people were injured in the traffic accidents which happened during the nine-day holiday. Many accidents happened since the lorries were permitted to travel during the Eid al-Adha holiday. The lorries had earlier been banned from travelling during the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha holidays.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

QUAKE MEASURING 3.4 SHAKES KAYNASLI
An earthquake measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale shook Kaynasli township of Bolu province. The Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Center and Seismology Institute said that the earthquake caused panic among the citizens.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

ANAP LEADER YILMAZ: ''I WON'T BE A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENCY''
Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said that he will not be a candidate for the presidency. When asked whether or not he will run his candidacy for the presidency if the formula they have agreed upon, cannot be implemented, Yilmaz said, ''no. If we cannot provide the absolute majority for the formula, then we will discuss other formulas.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

EXCHANGE OF BAIRAM GREETINGS CONTINUE AT BORDER
The Turkish citizens who hosted their relatives living in Syria during the Eid al-Fitr, went to Syria for two days in the Eid al-Adha. Ahmet Umit, the Ceylanpinar Head Official, said that 1,300 people went to Syria in the third day of Eid al-Adha and that 1,150 people passed to Syria in the fourth day.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

PISKINSUT: ''AUTHORITY IS GUILTY''
Parliamentary Commission for Human Rights Chairperson Sema Piskinsut who continues her determined struggle against torture said, ''there should be political determination and support of people to prevent this crime of humanity.''

YENIBINYIL (LIBERAL)

OYMEN: ''IF ARTICLE 312 SHOULD BE CHANGED,
THAN THE FP SHOULD ALSO BE CHANGED''
Altan Oymen of the Republican People's Party (CHP) said Necmettin Erbakan did not change Article 312 for the benefit of authors Yasar Kemal and Ahmet Altan. ''Article 312 should be changed. But the mentality which wants this article be changed now, should also be changed,'' he said.

KUTAN: ''OHAL SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE ABOLISHED''
Recia Kutan of the Virtue Party (FP) siad the Emergency Rule (OHAL) in southeastern Anatolia should absolutely be abolished. ''Ethnic richness and differences in Turkey are not problems, but they are our wealth,'' he said.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

YILMAZ: ''I AM NOT TRYING TO BE THE PRESIDENT''
Mesut Yilmaz of the Motherland Party (ANAP) said that their aim was to prevent destruction of stability concerning the presidential elections. Noting that he did not have an intention or demand to be the President, Yilmaz said, ''this issue should be taken out from the agenda.''

RETURN STARTS
The Turkish hadjis who fulfilled their sacred duty in the holy lands started to return to Turkey. The first band of pilgrims was welcomed in Istanbul late on yesterday. The Religious Affairs announced that every measure was taken for the return of the Turkish hadjis.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

KAZAKH AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA: ''LET'S IMPROVE OUR TRADE RELATIONS''
Kayrat Saribay, the Kazakh Ambassador to Ankara, said that there is disorder in the relations between Turkey and Kazakhstan since 1992. Saribay noted that two countries should improve their relations. Saribay added that the trade between two countries decreased 50 percent last year but that they are hopeful about 2000.

[03] AFTERSHOCKS CONTINUE

Officials of Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Center and Seismology Institute said on Monday that two aftershocks were recorded on Sunday and early on Monday.

An aftershock measuring 2.7 on the Richter scale shook Cinarcik township of Yalova province at 4.29 p.m. on Sunday and another aftershock measuring 3.0 on the Richter scale jolted Duzce at 1.12 a.m. today, the officials added.

[04] TURKEY AND U.S. TO HOLD INTENSIVE CONTACTS

Officials said on Monday that a Turkish delegation headed by Selcuk Demiralp, the Treasury Undersecretary, will arrive in Washington D.C. for the Joint Economic Commission meetings by the end of this week.

The officials noted that another Turkish delegation headed by Kursad Tuzmen, the Foreign Trade Undersecretary, will participate in the meetings of the commission which was formed for the implementation of the Trade and Investments Encouragement Agreement that was signed in the U.S. last year.

The Turkish-American Council's annual Turkey conference will be staged between March 29 and 31, 2000, the officials stated.

The officials said that Sukru Sina Gurel, the State Minister, and Koray Aydin, the Public Works and Housing Minister, will represent Turkey in these meetings.

A high-level military delegation headed by General Batmaz Dandin, the Chairman of Planning and Principles Department of the General Staff, will also join the meetings of the Turkish-American Council, the officials noted.

The officials stated that Dursun Ali Ercan, the Defense Industry Undersecretary, and Yurdakul Yigitguden, the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry Undersecretary, will also attend these meetings.

Turkey is expected to participate in the annual spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in high level, the officials stressed.

The officials said that the IMF meetings will be staged between April 12 and 17, 2000.

The Turkey-U.S. High Level Defense Group Meetings will be held in Washington D.C. in the end of April, the officials noted.

The officials added that Edip Baser, the Deputy Chief of General Staff, will head the Turkish delegation and Joseph Ralston, the Deputy Chief of U.S. General Staff, will head the U.S. delegation during the defense group meetings.

[05] QUAKE SHAKES ERZURUM

Officials of Ataturk University Seismology Center told A.A correspondent that the quake which shook Senkaya township at 8.46 a.m., and was measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale.

No deaths or injuries were recorded in the quake, the officials said.

The officials added that the quake was also felt in Oltu township of Erzurum and Selim township of eastern Kars province.

Seven earthquakes which were measuring between 2.0 and 4.0 on the Richter scale, jolted Senkaya, Oltu, and Tekman between March 16 and 17, 2000.

[06] UKRAINIAN FM TARASYUK ARRIVES IN ANKARA

At the Esenboga Airport, Tarasyuk told reporters that he is very pleased to visit Turkey and that Turkey is a friend and partner of his country.

Tarasyuk said that the presidents of two countries have close relations and that he is the first Ukrainian foreign minister who is paying a visit to Turkey.

He is accompanied by a delegation including Ukrainian businessmen, and he believes his visit will be beneficial, Tarasyuk noted.

When asked whether or not the tank tender is included in the agenda of his contacts in Ankara, Tarasyuk said that they will also discuss this issue and that the accompanying delegation also includes the representatives of the concerned companies.

Tarasyuk will firstly meet with Cem. Following their meeting, two ministers will stage a joint press conference.

President Suleyman Demirel and Premier Bulent Ecevit will receive Tarasyuk today.

Tarasyuk will also visit Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, the National Defense Minister.

[07] HEAD OF RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS ISSUES MESSAGE UPON NEWROZ

Noting that religious and national holidays had an important place in the cultural lives of nations, Yilmaz said Newroz is one of the local holidays which are celebrated by the nations of different ethnic roots speaking different languages and believing in different religions and living in the countries between the Pacific Ocean and Adriatic Sea.

Stating that Newroz which meant the new day was accepted as the start of the new year by ancient Turks and Iranians, Yilmaz said that March 21 had been celebrated as the spring and nature holiday for centuries.

Yilmaz said some Turkish communities marked and celebrated March 21 as ''Nevruz-i Sultani'', ''Sultan Nevruz'', and ''Ergenekon Holiday'', and the Central Asian Turkish communities celebrated it as ''Sultan Nevriz''.

''Newroz which have become the cause of unity and solidarity for centuries has recently been tried to be used for some political purposes by some internal and external centers. However, they failed to achieve their targets as a result of our nation's broad tolerance,'' he said.

[08] FIRST SPACE CAMP OF TURKEY TO START OPERATION IN JUNE

Melda Guner, the marketing and public relations representative of the ''Space Camp Turkey'', told A.A correspondent on Monday that they signed a protocol for the first space camp in Turkey, the Middle East and Southern Europe, with 14 companies.

Guner said that the main founder members are the Turkish Airlines (THY), Good Year, 3 M, IBM, Kentbank, Oracle, Faber Caster, DHL, Gunes Insurance, Coca Cola, Algida, Sentez Computer, and Hilton.

The Space Camp Turkey which was formed within the framework of the U.S. Space Camp Foundation, aims at offering various programs to increase the interest in the space and scientific education, Guner noted.

Guner said, ''especially we will improve the abilities of the children from seven to 16 years to foster them as engineers, scientists, astronauts, and pedagogues.''

The camp will provide a real space atmosphere for the children, Guner stated.

Guner stressed that the devices which will be used for the program will be similar to the devices that are being used by the austronauts of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Guner said, ''the Space Camp Turkey will contribute to the teachers. The students can apply the theories they had learne

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