Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-04-22

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[01] AA News

22 April 2000 Saturday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

BRITISH COUPLE STRIKE TWO MINISTERS WITH FISTS
A British couple hit Fikret Unlu, and Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, the two State Ministers, with their fists. The ministers were watching the match between Galatasaray and Leeds. Irtemcelik warned the British couple harsly, and at the end of the match the couple congratulated the two ministers.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

5.2 SCARE IN DENIZLI
The earthquake measuring 5.2 by Richter scale caused panic among people in Denizli. An aftershock with a 3.7 magnitude followed the earthquake. The earthquake which lasted for 15 seconds caused an interruption in telephone lines. Cracks occured in the walls of some houses in the area and the schools were evacuated. Noone died or was injured in the earthquake.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

AKKUYU TENDER POSTPONED FOR ANOTHER THREE MONTHS
The tender for Akkuyu nuclear power plant has been postponed for another three months. Turkey Electricity Production Transmission Inc. (TEAS) asked the three consortiums which are participating in the tender to extend the validity period of the bids until July 24.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Within the framework of the OYK's approval, 51 percent of POAS shares was decided to be sold to the Is Bankasi-Dogan Holding consortium in return for 1 billion 260 million U.S. dollars.

The Privatization Administration Chairmanship (OIB) decided to give 90 days to the Is Bankasi-Dogan Holding consortium to sign the contract on the sale of POAS after the OYK's decision is notified.

TENDER HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO JULY 24
The tender of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant was postponed for three months on Friday.

Sources said the General Directorate of Turkish Electricity Production and Distribution Corp (TEAS) requested three consortia which had given bids for the tender, to extend the validity terms of their bids until July 24, 2000.

The TEAS also requested the consortia to send the letter of acceptance to the TEAS headquarters until May 12, the sources added.

RADIKAL (LEFT) WELFARE TO NUCLEAR
The nuclear power plant tender which has been on the agenda for 20 years is back to the beginning. The Prime Ministry told the authorities ''to wait for the results of stability and economic programmes.'' Energy Minister Cumhur Ersumer said they will wait for the performance results of the economic programme which will last for three months.

BAD SMELL IN TRNC
The allegations created confusion on the island after Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu who is also the head of the National Unity Party (UBP) withdrew from the elections only two days before the second round of presidential elections. It was claimed that Eroglu was pressured and threatened to withdraw from the elections. Eroglu who did not explain the reason for his withdrawal did not deny the allegations. In the meantime, it was stated that President Rauf Denktas who will serve for a second term has spent great amounts of money for his campaign.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL) GAP PLAN TO BE RENEWED
New Regional Development Plan of the Southeastern Anatolia Region (GAP) Regional Development Administration Chairmanship is prepared with a new method. The new plan will be just the opposite of the former Master Plan. Development planning principles will be considered in the new plan. Also public investments, participation of private sector, and sustainable humanitarian development will be considered.

TURKIYE (RIGHT) TENSION ESCALATES
Leaders of coalition partner parties will convene today to find a common name. A common name could not be found in the Parliament. Meanwhile, Agah Oktay Guner from the Motherland Party (ANAP), officially disclosed his name. Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut also said he could be a candidate. Ecevit, Bahceli, and Yilmaz will convene at 14:00 local time to solve the problem.

If a compromise can be reached among the three partners on a time, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will be in an effort to make leaders of Virtue Party (FP) and the True Path Party (DYP), to approve this name. Leaders of coalition partner parties are expected to announce the name to the Parliamentary Chairmanship till April 25.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

There are two candidates from the Motherland Party (ANAP). A. Oktay Guner and Yildirim Akbulut disclosed their candidacy.

DENIZLI SHAKEN BY 5.2
An earthquake, measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale, shook Denizli province at 15:23 local time on Friday. Kandilli Observatory disclosed that the epicenter of the quake was Denizli-Honaz.

The quake caused panic among people. People, who rushed to streets in panic, returned their homes after sometime.

[03] HOWARD, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA, ARRIVES IN TURKEY

The guest minister and the accompanying delegation will proceed to Ankara after visiting historical and touristic places in Istanbul.

[04] IMF AND WORLD BANK SUPPORT VIEW OF TREASURY NOT TO GIVE GUARANTEE TO NUCLEAR POWER PLANT PROJECT

Officials of IMF and the World Bank told A.A correspondent that a guarantee which Treasury will give, may spoil the program in an atmosphere where Turkey aims to reduce inflation.

Officials of Treasury said this promise would bring an additional burden to the program. They noted that nuclear power plant could be made by build- operate-transfer model.

Energy experts of World Bank said the groups who want to construct nuclear energy should apply to Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agreement (MIGA) instead of Treasury. They said the groups may provide a guarantee which will not be a burden on Turkey, and noted that MIGA was ready for this.

Below listed the three consortia which had submitted bids for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Station tender:

Westinghouse-Mitsubishi Consortium: ''Westinghouse (the U.S.), Raytheone ve Duke (the U.S.), Mitsubishi Heavy Int. (Japan), Enka Insaat (Turkey), MNG (Turkey).

AECL Consortium: AECL (Canada), Hitachi (Japan), Itochu (Japan), Gama Endustri (Turkey), Guris Insaat (Turkey), Bayindir Insaat (Turkey), Ansoldo (Italy), Daiwoo (South Korea)

NPI Consortium: Siemens (Germany), Hochtief (Germany), Framatom (France), Gec-Alsthom (France), Campenon Bernard (France), Garanti-Koza Insaat (Turkey), Tekfen Insaat (Turkey).

[05] SLIGHT QUAKES SHAKE AYDIN PROVINCE

Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Institute said two separate quakes occurred. One of the quakes was measuring 3.0 on the Richter scale, and the other one was 2.8 on the Richter scale. The quakes were recorded at 02:05 and 02:27 local time.

Meanwhile, two aftershocks, measuring 3.0 and 3.3 on the Ricther scale were recorded following the quake in Denizli.

[06] ERSUMER, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, WANTS EXPLANATION FROM TREASURY UNDERSECRETARIAT REGARDING NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

Responding to the questions of reporters before a meeting ''World Day 2000, '' Ersumer said nuclear power plant was a project which continued for a long time, and noted that, ''I can't understand this. A consensus has been reached in Council of Ministers earlier, and they decided to construct nuclear power plant. Now, Treasury refuses to give guarantee. Treasury Undersecretariat should make an explanation.''

[07] ''ATATURK REFORMS'' CONFERENCE IN THE U.S.

Barkley who spoke at the ''Ataturk's Reforms'' organized by U.S. Ataturk Association said Ataturk founded the modern and secular Turkish Republic and rightfully opposed to separtatist religious trends for these could harm the democratic system. He also said he was a Kemalist.

Ataturk knew Islamist fundamentalism was against the concept of nation- state and today's Islamist uprising proved him right, he explained.

Turkey's adopting the Latin alphabet brought the country closer to the modern western world, Barkley said and added that Ataturk also worked to simplify the Turkish language. Modern Turkish helped to preserve Turkey's national unity, he noted. He also noted that he hoped the usage of some ethnic languages would expand while keeping Turkish as the official language.

Ataturk believed Turks should also adopt the western way of dressing if they wanted to get closer to the western world. Speaking about the headscarf issue, Barkley said Americans who don't regard this issue as a radical Islamist threat, cannot grasp the matter. The French, on the other hand, are more aware of the threat and they don't allow female students to wear headscarfs at their schools, he added.

During the time he served as ambassador in Turkey, a professor asked a group of fundamentalist students if they would oppose others who don't wear a headscarf and the Islamist students responded by saying they would not tolerate them as wearing a headscarf was one of Islam's orders, Barkley told.

''I find the attitude of the Turkish government completely understandable regarding Islamic outfit,'' he stressed.

Barkley also criticized Necmettin Erbakan, the leader of the outlawed Welfare Party and noted that after Erbakan had become the prime minister he visited Libya, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Sudan. He noted that he especially disapproved his visit to Libya.

Richard Perle, former U.S. Defense Minister who also spoke at the conference said Turkey would have been like Iran today if Ataturk had not made these reforms.

About Turkish-U.S. relations, Perle said regardless of Turkey's relations with Europe, Turkey's relations with the U.S., which is Turkey's closest ally, are essential and cannot be substituted by anything else. He added that it would be very beneficial if the U.S. forms a free trade region with Turkey like it did with Mexico and Israel.

Perle also spoke about Turkey's economic losses during the Gulf War and said Turkey which played a very important role during the war must be compansated for its losses.

About the European Security and Defense Initiative (ESDI) which the EU is trying to form, Perle said if the initiative does not include Turkey it will be dangerous for U.S.-EU relations and for Turkey.

He noted that Turkey's good relations with Israel were very positive and added that he didn't believe Turkey can compromise with Syria which is not a friend of Israel and which does not support peace.

Greek and Armenian lobbies in the U.S. Congress are very powerful and politicians have to deal with this pressure everyday, Perle said. He suggested that the best solution would be to invite Congress members to Turkey and said U.S. senators dramatically change their attitudes regarding Turkey after they visit Turkey and meet Turkish people.

Regarding the Turkish-Greek rapproachment which followed the earthquakes, there are ''many wrong hopes'' over the solution of Cyprus and Aegean problems between the two countries, Perle claimed and noted that the U.S. administration cannot do much for the solution of the problem.

[08] KILICASLAN HIGH SCHOOL IN KAYSERI AND ANATOLI COLLEGE IN SALONICA BECOME SISTER SCHOOLS

Principal of Kayseri Private Kilicaslan High School told A.A they wanted to contribute to Greek-Turkish rapproachment which came after the earthquakes.

Their initiatives over the matter were approved by the foreign and national education ministries of both countries and the schools were declared sister schools.

A group of 15 students from Kilicaslan High School will go to Salonica on May 7 and they will be hosted by Greek students during their stay.

[09] STATE MINISTER MIRZAOGLU SAYS REGULATIONS STARTED TO SUPPORT MARITIME SECTOR

''We must form a national maritime policy before too long which will cover all aspects of maritime from expanding our fleet to ship construction,'' he said when he visited Antalya Governor Ertugrul Dokuzoglu.

Mirzaoglu said he was working to bring solutions to the problems of Turkey's maritime sector, and also noted that he supported efforts to found a Maritime Ministry.

Antalya has an important potential for yacht tourism and daily tours, Mirzaoglu said. He noted that works are underway to develop yacht tourism in Antalya and its townships.

Mirzaoglu noted that Antalya-Mersin highway was insufficient so they were working to create sea transportation in the region.

Over 50,000 ships pass from Istanbul and Canakkale straits every year and about 10,000 of them carry hazardous material, Mirzaoglu said and noted that they were also working to intensify measures to prevent accidents. A U.S. firm will be in charge of setting up a Traffic Security System in the straits which will start operating in 2001, he noted.

[10] TURKEY GEOTHERMAL ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN MERTOGLU SAYS TURKEY USES ONLY 2 PERCENT OF ITS GEOTHERMAL POTENTIAL

In a written statement he issued on the April 22 World Day, Mertoglu said geothermal energy was the cleanest energy source which does not produce any waste material.

Turkey has the seventh richest geothermal resources in the world and has 170 geothermal areas whose temperatures are over 40 degrees Celcius.

''We have a geothermal potential of 31,500 megawatts which is an equivalent of 30 billion cubicmeters of natural gas. This is enough to provide heating for 5,000 houses. Turkey's target for 2010 is to provide heating for 500, 000 houses,'' he explained.

With Turkey's current geothermal potential, it is possible to provide heating for 30 percent of the country and this would only cost between 9 to 10 million Turkish Liras monthly for each dwelling, he said.

[11] ISTANBUL COMES ELEVENTH ON LIST OF CITIES WITH HIGHEST NUMBER OF INTERNET ADDRESSES

Among the countries, Turkey came the sixteenth in 1998 and the nineteenth in 1999. Istanbul was the 13th on the list in 1998.

Following North Americans, Koreans buy the second highest number of internet addresses in the world. Canada, Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Hong Kong, Germany and Australia follow Korea.

[12] AYGUN, ATO CHAIRMAN: ''WE CAN INCREASE OUR EXPORTATION TO GREECE TO 3.5 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS''

Sinan Aygun, Chairman of Ankara Chamber of Trade (ATO), said following their meetings with the members of Athens Chamber of Trade and Industry, they understood that there was no obstacle preventing close cooperation between the businessmen of the two countries.

Aygun said Greek President, Athens Governor and Mayor, and Greek businessmen showed them great interest, and noted that, ''we have put the first brick for the economic and trade cooperation. Politicians should undertake the responsibility to improve this.''

Aygun said there was a great potential in Greece, and noted that Greece has 35 billion U.S. dollars importation. ''We can increase our exportation to 3.5 billion U.S. dollars if there is not any conflict with this country.''

Pointing out that Greece was not sufficient in industry production, Aygun said Turkish businessmen could invest in textile, automotive, electronic equipment, and construction goods in this country.

[13] LEADERS OF COALITION PARTNER PARTIES CONVENE IN PREMIERSHIP

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who also acts as the leader of Democratic Left Party (DSP), Devlet Bahceli, Deputy Prime Minister, and leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and Mesut Yilmaz, leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), convened at 14:00 local time.

Husamettin Ozkan, Deputy Prime Minister, Cumhur Ersumer, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, and Kenan Tanrikulu, Minister of Trade and Industry also attend the meeting.

[14] HEAVY RAIN PARALYSES DAILY LIFE IN BOLU

Distribution of meal was ended with a decision taken by Bolu Crisis Center on Friday. Many quake survivors, who did not know that distribution of meal ended, waited for hours under heavy rain.

Quake survivors tried to discharge the water, caused by heavy rain, with their own efforts.

[15] ILO STARTS PROJECT TO PREVENT CHILD LABOUR IN EARTHQUAKE HIT AREAS

At the signature ceremony, Gemici said social and economic structure was also negatively affected during the August 17 and November 12 earthquakes and noted that ILO's activities for children were very important in the region.

He said that the project aims to keep children away from work life.

Aslantepe explained that the children's centers which will be set up in these areas will take measures to prevent the employment of children who might have to work due to the financial difficulties their families are facing after the earthquakes.

The project is expected to serve to 500 children. There will be an education unit in the children's centers and children will be trained by experts.

The project also aims to help families to participate in activities which will bring them income.

[16] TURKEY AND BOSNIA SIGN MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FORESEEING COOPERATION IN EDUCATION

A written statement issued by National Education Ministry said the memorandum of understanding includes spreading of language, history, geography, and culture information of the two countries.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding, a Turkish Education Center will be opened within Sarajevo University, and Turkey will provide the lecturers of this center.

The Memorandum of Understanding also said Turkey will support Turkish teaching in primary school in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and will provide school books, education equipment, and teachers.

A Permanent Commission will be set up with the participation of three people from each country, in order to implement the decisions.

[17] A.A

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