Anadolu News Agency: News in English, 00-05-13

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

13 May 2000 Saturday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] TURKISH AND GREEK UNIVERSITY STUDENTS SEMINAR ENDS

[03] TURKEY SENDS AID TO CHECHEN REFUGEES

[04] ''TURKEY'' COMMERCIAL CHOSEN ''MOST SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIC CAMPAIGN'' BY BRITISH SKY TV CHANNEL

[05] TURKISH RED CRESCENT SENDS SIX TONS OF FOOD PRODUCTS TO KOSOVO

[06] AIRCRAFT CARRIER U.S.S. EISENHOWER AT ANTALYA HARBOUR

[07] PRISTINA-ISTANBUL FLIGHTS TO START ON MAY 22

[08] NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER ERDIL TO GO TO GREECE ON MAY 15

[09] TURKISH-GREEK COUNCIL HOLDS MEETING WITH NORTH EUROPEAN BUSINESSMEN IN ISTANBUL

[10] REMAINS OF SANTA CLAUS TO BE PUT BACK INTO HIS GRAVE AFTER 913 YEARS

[11] ''AMAZON FESTIVAL''

[12] IRRIGATION INVESTMENTS IN GAP REGION

[13] ''INTERGENERATIONAL DIALOGUES'' MEETING INAUGURATED IN ISTANBUL

[14] TURKISH-EU SYMPOSIUM OF TURKISH-GERMAN JOURNALISTS

[15] TURKEY-NETHERLANDS JOINT CONFERENCE

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

4,8 PANIC IN OSMANIYE
Friday's 4,8 strong tremor, which hit the southern province of Osmaniye and environs at 06.01 hours local time, caused panic among the locals. A total of 12 people were injurid in the early morning commotion. The tremor, which was also felt in Adana, Hatay, and Gaziantep. The quake wrought slight damage on many houses, but officials said there was no serious damage which could cause the buildings to collapse.

12 MINISTERS AND 175 MP'S DUE TO COPENHAGEN
Turkey is looking forward to May 17, when the UEFA Cup Final Match between Galatasaray and Arsenal is to take place. The names of the deputies and ministers to fly to Copenhagen to watch the match, have also been determined. A total of 12 ministers, and 175 deputies will be going to Copenhagen next week to watch the match. Among the political figures are also Parliament Speaker Yildirim Akbulut, Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk, and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

NON-LICENSE WIRELESS AGE
Setkom, one of Turkey's leading wireless producers, has put a new wireless on the market, which does not necessitate a license. The new product, which is aimed at personal use through the free wireless frequency band, does not require any official permission, and has a range of three kilometres.

HUNDRED PROJECTS IN 25 FIELDS
During his farewell visit to the Council of Ministers, President Suleyman Demirel, who is soon to hand over his seat to Ahmet Necdet Sezer, said he would be giving a comprehensive file to the government, covering the problems still standing on the line. President Demirel has been working on the said report for months, and he is expected to submit it to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on Tuesday. The report, covering 100 projects in 25 different fields, has concentrated more on economic issues and problems.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

THREE IRANIANS IDENTIFIED FROM MIT ALBUM
The 9 suspects of the Mumcu assassination case, who are under detention, and whose interrogations are being continued, identified three Iranian agents from the 'photo album' of the National Intelligence Agency (MIT). Meanwhile the number of detainees, captured in operations carried out by the police, has reached 134.

DEMIREL BIDS FAREWELL
President Suleyman Demirel, who is to hand over his seat to Ahmet Necdet Sezer on May 16th, bade farewell to the protocol on Friday. At the end of a 35 minute presiding over the Council of Ministers meeting for the first and the last time during his office, Demirel and the Council members posed for a memorial photograph in front of the Prime Minister's Office Headquarters.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

''IT IS ABOUT TO BE PROVED''
Custody period of the suspects of Mumcu assasination, who are under interrogation in Ankara Security Department, will expire on Saturday. The suspects will be tried in Saturday afternoon or on Sunday in Ankara State Security Court (DGM) Chief Prosecutorship. Interior Minister Sadettin Tantan will stage a news conference and brief about the developments after the completion of the interroration.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Pointing out that statements of Somuncuoglu were not good, Bahceli said, ''timing of his statements is not right. It is not convenient to the political ethics. He should have disclosed what he had known in the authorized organs of the party, while he was working as the state minister.

BOMBINGS IN ADANA
Three people were injured, two of them seriously, in two separate bombings in Adana on Friday night.The bombings took palce at Gulbahcesi blocks on Ataturk Avenue and at Cafe ON on GIMA Dortyol crossroads. Authorities said two people were seriously injured and another person suffered minor injuries in the two incidents.

Police started operations to catch the assailants.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

TURKISH-GREEK BUSINESSMEN MEET
Turkish-Greek Business Council organized a meeting with North European businessmen on Friday. Speaking to the press after the meeting, Council Co-Chairman Sarik Tara said former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari had proposed to hold this meeting during the Helsinki meeting of last year.

A total of 90 businessmen discussed cooperation fields in the Balkans and Near East at the meeting, Tara said. During the contacts, they stressed to North European businessmen that they can make investments in energy and infrastructure fields in Turkey and Greece. The attendees also evaluated business opportunities in the third world countries.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ENDS IN PRISON
Eleven DHKP-C militants, who had been getting ready to assassinate Professor Sulhi Donmezer, were detained in operations carried out in various districts of Istanbul. Of the 21 detainees interrogated by the police, eleven were arrested and put in prison after being tried at Istanbul's State Security Court (DGM) no. 1.

AID TO CHECHENS CONTINUES
The Foreign Ministry said on Friday, that Turkey is continuing to send aid to the Chechens within the framework of humanitarian operations carried out since September 1999. The Foreign Ministry statement said that Turkey's humanitarian aid to the suffering Chechen refugees were continuing in coordination and cooperation with the Turkish Red Crescent, and that the government's aid had totalled so far, to 188 tonnes.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

A total of 11,000 people were invitated to the congress of FP. A total of 1236 delegates will attend the congress.

TURKEY GIVES THREE PROTEST NOTES TO GREECE
Turkey gave three protest notes to Greece regarding the armament activities it carries out in geographical formations in Aegean and the violations in airspaces and Greece rejected these notes.

Diplomatic sources said on Friday that Turkey gave one protest note to Greece to stop the armaments in Aegean and the other two to stop violations in airspaces.

Turkish diplomatic sources said that the protest notes should be regarded within the routine developments in Turkish-Greek relations.

[02] TURKISH AND GREEK UNIVERSITY STUDENTS SEMINAR ENDS

The seminar ended with British Ambassador David Logan's speech on ''Turkey and European Defense.''

Logan briefed the new searches for security and defense in Europe and noted that Turkey has been also invited in the ''European Army'' of 60,000 soldiers which the EU is trying to form.

The EU is not like it was first founded, Logan said, and added that economic, military and political cooperation develops everyday within the Union.

Turkey, with its geographic and historic role in the Balkans, is a leader country in the region, therefore Turkey is needed in the EU, Logan emphasized.

Turkish and Greek university students evaluated the relations between the two countries. Some university lecturers also spoke at the conference.

(SC-AY)

[03] TURKEY SENDS AID TO CHECHEN REFUGEES

A statement from the Foreign Ministry said, food products such as pasta, cookies, rice and flour weighing a total of 71 tons were sent to Georgia on Friday.

The Turkish government earlier sent aid to Chechen refugees on November 25 on a plane to Vladikavkaz and sent three more groups of aid on December 25 to Georgia.

Turkey sent a total of 188 tons of aid to the refugees so far.

[04] ''TURKEY'' COMMERCIAL CHOSEN ''MOST SUCCESSFUL STRATEGIC CAMPAIGN'' BY BRITISH SKY TV CHANNEL

A ceremony was held in London on Friday where Tourism Undersecretary Savas Kuce was presented his award by SKY TV executive Peter Berkley. Turkish Ambassador to Britain Korkmaz Haktanir also attended the ceremony.

The commercial which was created by the Turkish DDF advertising company, offers beautiful views from all over Turkey accompanied by Tarkan's ''Sikidim.''

The commercial left behind other commercials of important tourism centers such as Spain, Egypt, Tunisia and Jamaica and it was viewed by about 25 million tv spectators since the commercial was shown in also other European countries.

Kuce said they will start another campaign targeting the period from June through December with a part of the budget which was put aside for Turkey's promotion.

Kuce also noted that there is a second commercial coming which uses the theme, ''Turkey from a woman's eye''. Fahir Atakoglu will compose the music for the commercial.

[05] TURKISH RED CRESCENT SENDS SIX TONS OF FOOD PRODUCTS TO KOSOVO

The food products were distributed to 600 families by a charity organization on Friday.

Prizren representative of Turkish Red Crescent, Metin Mutlu said Turkish people will continue to help people of Kosovo also in the future.

[06] AIRCRAFT CARRIER U.S.S. EISENHOWER AT ANTALYA HARBOUR

Ship commanders headed by Sixth Fleet Commander Vice-Admiral John B. Foley visited Antalya Governor Ertugrul Dokuzoglu.

Foley said the ship crew of 4,700 soldiers would enliven Antalya's economy during the five days they will spend in the city.

Foley noted that he has been to Antalya twice before and liked it very much and added that his wife would also meet him in Antalya to share the city's charm.

Responding to reporters' questions on the frigate Turkey recently purchased from the U.S., Foley said he had two of those ships in his fleet and stressed that they are ''super'' ships. He said he was very happy that Turkey bought them.

[07] PRISTINA-ISTANBUL FLIGHTS TO START ON MAY 22

According to an agreement made between Kosovo's ''On Travel'' and Turkey's ''Onur Air'' airline companies, there will be flights on Monday and Thursday.

A round trip costs 396 German Marks while a one way ticket is 225 German Marks between Istanbul and Pristina.

[08] NAVAL FORCES COMMANDER ERDIL TO GO TO GREECE ON MAY 15

The attendees will discuss the latest developments in NATO, NATO's future, relations between NATO Southern Region Naval Forces, and development of relations with Partnership for Peace countries.

The meeting will end on May 18 and Erdil will return home on the same day.

[09] TURKISH-GREEK COUNCIL HOLDS MEETING WITH NORTH EUROPEAN BUSINESSMEN IN ISTANBUL

Speaking to the press after the meeting, Council Co-Chairman Sarik Tara said former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari had proposed to hold this meeting during the Helsinki meeting of last year.

A total of 90 businessmen discussed cooperation fields in the Balkans and Near East at the meeting, Tara said. During the contacts, they stressed to North European businessmen that they can make investments in energy and infrastructure fields in Turkey and Greece. The attendees also evaluated business opportunities in the third world countries.

Ahtisaari who attended the meeting as the honourary chairman said they exchanged opinions at the meeting and noted that the next meeting will be held in Athens in May 2001.

Responding to reporters, Tara said the state cannot deal with everything in Turkey any longer, therefore the private sector has important responsibilities. He also reminded listeners that the construction of the dam with U.S. partnership which will produce 32 billion kilowatt/hour electricity is continuing at a fast pace.

The energy power plants which will be set up in Adapazari and Izmir will start operating after 22 months, he said.

[10] REMAINS OF SANTA CLAUS TO BE PUT BACK INTO HIS GRAVE AFTER 913 YEARS

Muammer Karabulut, Chairman of the Santa Claus Foundation told the A.A correspondent on Saturday, that the remains of Santa Claus, part of which were smuggled to Italy's Bari town back in 1087 by certain Catholic monks, would be transported back to his grave in Demre, where the remains of Santa Claus belong, with a special ceremony on May 22. He added that the remains of Santa Claus were on exhibit at Antalya Museum. Karabulut said that followers and members of the Russian Orthodox Church would also attend the ceremony, since Santa Claus was considered also as the ''Guardian Saint of Russia''.

Karabulut also expressed his gratitude to Culture Minister Istemihan Talay, for giving permission to the reburial of Santa Claus's remains exhibited at Antalya Museum to his grave together with the remains, which are to arrive soon from Bari, and qualified the event as 'historical'.

[11] ''AMAZON FESTIVAL''

Cemil Durumlu, Mayor of Golyazi told the A.A correspondent, that the ''1st International Amazon Festival'' with the contributions of the Provincial Tourism and Culture Directorate, and with the participation of many famus authors, artists, and models. He said that a cinevision show, to promote the historic and cultural riches and natural beauties of the region would also be screened.

''We will organise competitions in various fields, and a fashion show displaying ''Amazon'' apparels in which only young girls will participate,'' Durumlu said.

The Amazons are believed to have set up a town named Themiscyra located along the banks of the Terme Stream in Samsun. The Amazons would commission men as workers and servants, according to some legends, and would bear children from their prisoners, whom they would later kill.

A submerged city was recently discovered under Lake Simerit, and 22 graves were discovered under the water.

[12] IRRIGATION INVESTMENTS IN GAP REGION

Professor Ergin told the A.A correspondent that the delay in the completion of the GAP resulted from what he called ''the unrealistic master plan''.

Noting that the project had been aimed at providing irrigation facilities across an area of 1,7 million hectares, Ergin said that only 210 thousand hectares had so far been provided with such facilities.

Ergin said he had found the opportunity to carry out comprehensive inspections in the GAP region, and added:

''It will take at least 20 years to complete the project if investemnts continue at such a low speed. However, neither Turkey nor the region have so much time to be wasted.

There are serious problems in the fields which have been provided with irrigation facilities. There is a substantially high rate of water loss, due to high-temperature oriented high evaporation rate. Greater problems might soon emerge, if the drainage systems remain un-improved.''

''An additional 18 billion dollars to the 600 million dollars is needed for the completion of the project. Such a great project cannot possibly be completed in such a short time as ten year from now, with so little money. Investments have to be gained momentum,'' Ergin said.

[13] ''INTERGENERATIONAL DIALOGUES'' MEETING INAUGURATED IN ISTANBUL

Zeynep Aydemir, Youth for HABITAT's Turkey Representative, who spoke at the inauguration ceremony at Istanbul's Hyatt Regency Hotel, said that the main goal of the meeting, organised under the guidance of the United Nations Development Fund and the Turkish Foreign Ministry, was to establish an atmosphere of understanding between generations, and to form a common platform for development for the 21st century.

Aydemir said that 50 ''Intergenerational Dialogues'' representatives from 20 countries were participating in the meetings, which would last until May 17.

The inauguration session ended with the coordinators' introducing themselves.

[14] TURKISH-EU SYMPOSIUM OF TURKISH-GERMAN JOURNALISTS

Yucelen addressed the opening of a symposium titled, ''Expectations After Helsinki Summit and Future of Turkish-EU Relations,'' staged by Turkish Researches Center and Press and Information General Directorate.

Pointing out that Turkish-EU relations were discussed in a positive framework when compared with the previous months, he said, ''Turkey now discusses when it will be the full member of the EU instead of discussing whether it will be a candidate or not.''

Yucelen said the EU took a historic decision in Helsinki summit, adding that Turkey and the EU have important responsibilities in the coming period. Yucelen said the EU also undertook several responsibilities. He said the decision to treat equally to Turkey with the other candidates was the most important one of these responsibilities.

Yucelen said the EU was not the ''third side'' anymore, adding that, ''If Turkey will become a member of the EU soon, it should act like a member of this family from now on. Thus, we should be behind the decisions that were taken.''

Recalling that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit put forward 2004 target, Yucelen said, ''it is up to Turkey to materialize this. Nobody will oppose to Turkey's membership if we fulfil all the requirements.''

Faruk Sen, Director of Turkish Researches Center, addressing the opening ceremony, mentioned the factors which were influencial in disclosure of candidacy decision. He stressed the importance of changes both in Turkey and the EU in candidacy period.

Sen said there was a change in Germany's views toward Turkey, adding that positive signals coming from Turkey was effective in disclosure of candidacy decision.

The symposium will end on Sunday.

[15] TURKEY-NETHERLANDS JOINT CONFERENCE

Umit Ozerol, Acting Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, said in the speech he delivered at the inauguration, that multi-culturalism, a concept gaining a greater value everday, was, in the modern sense, the administration of differences.

''We have to leave abstract definitions of peace aside, and look for it in the dynamics of the society, where peace belongs. Istanbul, itself, is a cultural mosaic, where peoples of different cultures, religious and ethnic backgrounds have been living together in peace for centuries. And in the 21st century metropolitans, we need a new administrative model for our metropolitans, based on populism, as in the case of Istanbul. The increasing demand for rights and freedoms, makes peace a must for all of us,'' Ozerol said.

Else Laura, Acting Mayor of Rotterdam, said that the conference laid the groundworks of the cultural and economic relations between Rotterdam and Istanbul.

Dutch Ambassador in Ankara Sjoerd Gosses, who also took the floor at the meeting, said that there were 300 thousand people in the Netherlands with either Turkish or double passport, and that there were debates in Holland on the multi-cultural structure of the society.

Gosses added that the world had to be a place where every individual could travel freely, and where everyone could find a chance of realising their ideals.

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