Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-07-08

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NEWS

08 JULY 2000 Saturday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] FOREST FIRE IN TORBALI TAKEN UNDER CONTROL

[03] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO DEBATE CLOSURE CASE AGAINST FP IN SEPTEMBER

[04] SECURITY FORCES INTERCEPT 41 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

[05] OPERATION AGAINST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION PKK -ONE TERRORIST CAPTURED IN IZMIR

[06] TURKISH-AMERICAN JOURNALISTS' ASSOCIATION HOSTS A DINNER IN HONOR OF VURAL

[07] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INCREASES 2.8 PERCENT IN MAY

[08] BALDUK, CHAIRMAN OF KATSO: -''FOREIGN TRADE VOLUME OF KAHRAMANMARAS INCREASED UP TO 78 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS''

[09] NARCOTICS OFFICIALS IMPOUND TWO KG OF HEROIN

[10] OPERATION AGAINST HISTORICAL WORK SMUGGLING

[11] TURKISH-GERMAN JOINT ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS

[12] DEMIRBANK INCREASES NUMBER OF ITS OFFICES IN KAZAKHSTAN

[13] FOREST FIRE IN MANAVGAT

[14] DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SECURITY: -''6,121 PEOPLE WERE CAPTURED DURING OPERATIONS AGAINST ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFICKING''

[15] SPORTS - KARATE -TURKEY COMES ON THE THIRD PLACE IN WORLD UNIVERSITIES KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

[16] MILITARY BUS PLUNGES INTO SHOULDER OF ROAD, INJURING 23 SOLDIERS

[17] ''UNDERWATER TREASURIES OF ANATOLIA'' TO BE INTRODUCED TO WORLD

[18] ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS IN ANCIENT CITY OF ZEUGMA

[19] SECURITY FORCES DETAIN 15 PEOPLE WHO ATTEMPT TO ISSUE AN ILLEGAL PRESS RELEASE TO PROTEST F TYPE PRISONS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

IMF EULOGIZES TURKEY
Stanley Fischer, the Deputy Chairman of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), eulogized Turkey that achieved great success in its economic program. Fischer stressed that strong monetary performance had improved macro economic conditions in Turkey.

TREASURY: 295 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS LOAN WILL BE TRANSFERRED ON JULY 11
The Treasury Undersecretariat said that the 295 million U.S. dollars loan approved by the International Monetary Fund's Executive Board was expected to be transferred to its account on July 11, 2000. It said that the Executive Board of the IMF completed the second review under the stand-by credit for Turkey. The review was completed in light of among other things the observance of end-March performance criteria and the judgement of the IMF that the program remains on track. As a result of the review, Turkey will be able to draw up to the equivalent of Special Draw Right (SDR) 221.7 million (about 295 million U.S. dollars) from the IMF.

The three-year stand-by was approved on December 22, 1999 in a total amount equivalent to SDR 2,892 million (about 3.9 billion U.S. dollars).

Turkey has so far drawn the equivalent of SDR 443.4 million (about 590 million U.S. dollars) under the stand-by.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

TURKEY, GREECE, AND EU COMMISSION JOINT WORKING GROUP SET UP
An agreement, regarding establishment of a joint working group to cooperate in transfer of energy sources in Central Asia to Europe, signed in Brussels. The joint working group is composed of Turkey, Greece, and the EU Commission. Catherine Day, the EU Commission Foreign Relations General Director, Yurdakul Yigitguden, Energy Ministry Undersecretary, and Antonio Papathonossopulos, Greek Undersecretary attended the signing ceremony. In a joint news conference, it was stated that the working group will have very important function, and that the first step of a great project was in question. the sides decided to determine an action plan and calender regarding the works by the end of this year.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

COMPATIBLE BONE MARROW FOR TURKISH CYPRIOT BOY FOUND
The compatible bone marrow for Kemal Saracoglu, the Turkish Cypriot boy, who has been under treatment at a British Hospital for 6 months for leukaemia, was found. Sua Saracoglu, Kemal's father said the doctors had given him the good news on Wednesday, and that he and his son were more hopeful now than ever before. ''Now, what we hope for is that the bone marrow to be transplanted to Kemal will help him fight the disease. All we can do is pray,'' Saracoglu said.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

The Court of Appeals approved the Duzce High Criminal Court's decision after evaluating the appeal case of this verdict. The Court of Appeals had earlier approved some imprisonment sentences against Sevki Yilmaz, former deputy of the closed Welfare Party (RP).

DE SOTO HOLDS TALKS WITH DENKTAS AND CLERIDES
Alvaro de Soto, the Special Representative of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to Cyprus, met with President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration, in Geneva, Switzerland, within framework of the third round of proximity talks. De Soto said that they had to suspend the proximity talks on July 12. The proximity talks will be resumed in Geneva on July 24 and continue till the beginning of August. The Cyprus proximity talks will continue to be held in New York between September 12 and the beginning of October.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

NINE PEOPLE DIE AS HEAT WAVE SCORCHES TURKEY
Soaring temperatures from a heat wave that has swept across Turkey from the Balkans killed nine people and sent many others to hospitals. Nine

people died of heart attacks brought on by temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

WORLD BANK EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS DUE IN TURKEY
A delegation, composed of World Bank Executive Directors, will come to Turkey on Saturday evening. A statement released by State Ministry pointed out that the delegation is composed of Ruth Bachmayer (Austria); Valeriano Garcia (Argentine); Jannes Hutagalung (Indonesia); Neil Hyden (Australia); Helmut Shaffer (Germany); Alan David Slushes (Canada's Acting Executive Director); Matthias Meyer (Switzerland); Elvan Ongun (Deputy Executive Director); and Hazel Denton (Chief of Executive Directors Committee Secretariat.) Executive Directors delegation will visit State Minister Recep Onal on July 10. World Bank delegation is expected to depart from Turkey on July 13.

WOLF: ''TURKEY SHOLD TAKE FURTHER STEPS IN ENERGY''
John Wolf, the U.S. President Bill Clinton's Special Adviser to Caspian Basin Energy Policies, urged Turkey to take steps to protect its own national interests on energy. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit received Wolf. Marc Parris, the U.S. Ambassador to Ankara, was also in attendance at the meeting. Speaking after the meeting which lasted half an hour, Wolf said they exchanged views on the recent stage regarding Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline project, and Turkmen Natural Gas project. Wolf said Prime Minister Ecevit was interested in the works he made with the regional countries regarding implementation of east-west energy corridor. Pointing out that basic engineering works to materialize Baku-Ceyhan pipeline were started, Wolf stressed that the U.S. wanted Turkey to have source diversity to meet is natural gas need. Wolf said Turkey's purchasing natural gas from Caspian region was important but that there were steps it should take in this respect. He urged Turkey to take steps to protect its own natural interests in energy and to meet the needs of consumers. Wolf said he hoped that the project envisaging natural gas purchase from Turkmenistan would go on its right track.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

CEYLAN COMPANY TO CONSTRUCT DWELLINGS IN REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
The Ceylan Insaat, a construction company, will construct dwellings in the Republic of Macedonia. The contract of the project for construction of 3, 500 dwellings was signed in Skopje. The project will cost 150 million U.S. dollars. Mahmut Ceylan, the Chairman of the Executive Board of Ceylan Holding, said that by the contract signed with the Macedonian Public Affairs and Housing Ministry, they undertake the fulfilment of housing estate project. Ceylan said that they will start the construction of 3,500 dwellings, the area of which will be around 50-90 square metres, this year and that the dwellings will be finished within three years. They were also awarded contracts in Israel, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, Ceylan noted.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

[02] FOREST FIRE IN TORBALI TAKEN UNDER CONTROL

Officials told the A.A correspondent that fire-fighting teams rushed to area to extinguish the fire and took the fire under control.

There were no immediate reports of casualties in the fire.

A full investigation into the fire is underway.

[03] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO DEBATE CLOSURE CASE AGAINST FP IN SEPTEMBER

Officials at the Constitutional Court told the A.A correspondent on Saturday, ''Vural Savas, the Republican Chief Prosecutor of the Appeals Court, requested annulment of the Second Subsection of Article 103 of the Political Parties Law. His request has extended scope of the case. Therefore, the Constitutional Court has decided to debate the merits of the case in September.''

Savas filed a lawsuit against the FP on charges of ''being a continuation of the banned Welfare Party (RP) and becoming a center of anti-secular actions'' on May 7, 1999.

Savas requested all FP parliamentarians except Aydin Menderes who resigned from the FP, to be stripped off their deputyship.

Rapporteur has finalized a report regarding the closure case against the FP, and Mustafa Bumin, the Chairman of the Constitutional Court, has distributed the report to members of the court.

[04] SECURITY FORCES INTERCEPT 41 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

The immigrants including Afghans, Syrians, Bangladeshis and Iranians were taken into custody for violating the Turkish borders and the passport law.

Officials told the A.A correspondent that the immigrants would be deported once the legal proceedings were completed.

[05] OPERATION AGAINST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION PKK -ONE TERRORIST CAPTURED IN IZMIR

Officials told the A.A correspondent that Abdulvahap Kaya had been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison by Izmir State Security Court (DGM) on charges of being a member of the terrorist organization PKK.

Kaya will be sent to the court house once the legal proceedings are completed.

[06] TURKISH-AMERICAN JOURNALISTS' ASSOCIATION HOSTS A DINNER IN HONOR OF VURAL

Addressing the dinner, Vural said, ''Turkey's full membership to the EU is an exciting and historical project. Turkey's EU membership will be one of the most important circles of the historical progress that started by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror and that reached its peak with Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of modern Republic of Turkey. The EU membership is a necessity for Republic of Turkey's target of contemporary civilization. Adoption of this project by all Turkish people will lead us to a great achievement.''

Vural is expected to return to Turkey on Monday.

Meanwhile, Umit Pamir, who has been appointed as the new Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations, is expected to start his post officially on September 1.

[07] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INCREASES 2.8 PERCENT IN MAY

The production had decreased in May 1999 by 3.8 percent.

Meanwhile, the production in the industrial sector increased by 3.6 percent in the first five months of 2000 compared to figures for the same period last year.

The industry production had decreased by 5.6 percent in the first five months of 1999.

[08] BALDUK, CHAIRMAN OF KATSO: -''FOREIGN TRADE VOLUME OF KAHRAMANMARAS INCREASED UP TO 78 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS''

Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent, Balduk said that the textile products accounted for 98 percent of exports to Italy, France, the U.S. Britain, Greece, Denmark, Israel, the Netherlands, Belgium, Russia, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland.

[09] NARCOTICS OFFICIALS IMPOUND TWO KG OF HEROIN

Acting on a tip-off, narcotics officials stopped Ismail Acai who was on his way to Greece, at a bus station and impounded two kg of herion in his luggage.

Two people were taken into custody in the operation.

Officials told the A.A correspondent that market value of the heroin was 9 billion Turkish liras.

A full investigation into the drug is underway.

[10] OPERATION AGAINST HISTORICAL WORK SMUGGLING

Officials told the A.A correspondent that security forces confiscated a number of historical works including silver coins, rings, ornaments and seals belonged to the Roman Empire and Ottoman Empire periods in the operation.

Ahmet Soydan was taken into custody in the operation.

A full investigation into the incident is underway.

[11] TURKISH-GERMAN JOINT ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS

were independent from political parties.

Schmidt hosted a dinner for journalists at the German Embassy in Ankara.

Addressing the dinner, Schmidt recalled that Turkish and German governments had decided to launch joint environmental projects in order to contribute to positive developments in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia.

Schmidt said that German firms joined tenders for dams and power plants in the region.

Referring to economic cooperation between Turkey and Germany, Schmidt

a series of negotiations would be held between Turkey and Germany in October with the aim of further improving economic cooperation.

Responding to questions about Turkey's candidacy to the European Union (EU), Schmidt underlined importance of the Copenhagen criteria.

Schmidt recalled that Guenter Verheugen, the EU Commissioner for enlargement, would come to Turkey on Thursday.

He emphasized that the EU membership would contribute to stability and democratization in Turkey.

Responding to a question about Necmettin Erbakan, the leader of the banned Welfare Party (RP) and Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code,

Schmidt said that the Article 312 should be annuled in accordance with the EU standards.

Schmidt recalled that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit aimed at bringing the annulment of Article 312 onto parliamentary agenda in the new legislative year.

[12] DEMIRBANK INCREASES NUMBER OF ITS OFFICES IN KAZAKHSTAN

Demirbank said on Saturday that Demir Kazakhstan Bank's second branch had been opened in Atirau.

Turkish and Kazakh businessmen and representatives of some oil companies attended the inauguration.

Demirbank which is operating in several European countries started giving services officially in Almaty in August 1998.

Demir Kazakhstan Bank which opened its first branch in Almaty in 1999 is planning to open its third branch in Astana this year.

Demir Kazakhstan Bank's General Director Hasan Incekara told the A.A correspondent that Demir Kazakhstan Bank came eighth among the biggest banks in Kazakhstan.

Incekara said Demir Kazakhstan Bank's bassets had increased to 60 million U.S. dollars, equaity capital rose to 15 million U.S. dollars and profit reached 1.2 million U.S. dollars in the first half of 2000.

Noting that the Central Bank of Kazakhstan accepted Demir Kazakhstan Bank as one of the five banks which had international standards, Incekara said the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) decided to purchase a 20 percent stake in the Demir Kazakhstan Bank.

Incekara said the EBRD had also extended a 3.5 million U.S. dollars to Demir Kazakhstan Bank for the financing of foreign trade.

The Demir Kazakhstan Bank has now 117 personnel including five Turkish people.

[13] FOREST FIRE IN MANAVGAT

Officials told A.A correspondent that fire-fighting teams rushed to area to extinguish the fire, and took the fire under control after four hours.

A total of seven hectares of forested area were burnt down to ashes in the fire.

[14] DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SECURITY: -''6,121 PEOPLE WERE CAPTURED DURING OPERATIONS AGAINST ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFICKING''

Issuing a written statement, the Directorate General of Security said, ''there are routes from the East to the West for heroin trafficking and from the West to the East for chemical and synthetic drugs trafficking. Turkey is a commercial and cultural bridge between Europe and Asia as a result of its geographical position. Nearly 70 percent of illicit drugs produced in regional countries, is smuggled to European countries via Turkey. As a result of determined and successful struggle against illicit drug trafficking, a Northern Black Sea Route was formed in parrallel to Balkan Route. Another route for drug trafficking is Eastern Mediterranean Route.''

''West European countries and the U.S. eulogize Turkish narcotics officials' success in every occasion. A total of 6,121 people were captured in 2,587 separate incidents in 1999. Narcotics forces impounded 2,249 kg of heroin, 5,458 kg of hashish, 288 kg of base morphine, 13 kg of cocaine, 26.2 tonnes of acid anhydride and 1,749,305 captogan pills in the operations. In 2000, 3,219 people were captured in 1,458 separate incidents. Narcotics officials confiscated 2,850 kg of heroin, 22.6 tonnes of hashish, 976 kg of base morphine, 56 kg of opium, 6 kg of cocaine, 5.5 tonnes of acid anhydride, 618,336 captogon pills and 14,964 synthetic drugs. Meanwhile, 1,583 kg of heroin, 50 kg of cocaine, 15.5 kg of opium and 8.3 tonnes of acid anhydride were impounded in joint operations with the U.S., German, British, Romanian, Belgian, Russian, Dutch, Spanish, Italian and Greek narcotics units,'' the statement pointed out.

The statement emphasized, ''member countries to the European Union cooperate with Turkish narcotics officials without any concern. They eulogize Turkish narcotics officials' determination in struggle against illicit drug trafficking. Meanwhile, the United Nations opened the International Academy for Struggle Against Drug Trafficking and Organized Crimes in Ankara. This reveals their confidence in Turkish narcotics officials. Turkey considers illicit drug trafficking as a crime against humanity.''

''There were security officials and other officials colleborating with criminal organizations. In operations, these officials were captured, arrested and punished. Claims which say that presence of officials committing crimes was peculiar to Turkey damage our country and our struggle against illicit drug smuggling. Such news reports create a negative image for Turkey in the international platform. We have launched initiatives at the Ankara State Security Court (DGM) Chief Prosecutor's Office to this end,'' the statement added.

[15] SPORTS - KARATE -TURKEY COMES ON THE THIRD PLACE IN WORLD UNIVERSITIES KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

A total of 250 sportsmen and swortswomen from 22 countries participated in the World Universities Karate Championships in Kyoto, Japan.

Yildiz Aras of Turkey competing in the 60 kg category won silver medal while Meral Donmez of Turkey competing in the free weight, won bronze medal.

[16] MILITARY BUS PLUNGES INTO SHOULDER OF ROAD, INJURING 23 SOLDIERS

Officials told the A.A correspondent that the military bus which was on its way from Samsun province in Black Sea Region to eastern Elazig province plunged into shoulder of road near Yazihan township of Malatya province due to high speed.

A total of 23 soldiers were injured in the accident.

The injured soldiers were rushed to the Malatya Military Hospital for medical treatment.

[17] ''UNDERWATER TREASURIES OF ANATOLIA'' TO BE INTRODUCED TO WORLD

''Imaging Underwater Treasuries of Anatolia Project'' of the Bodrum Underwater Archaelogy Institute and the Culture Ministry, started in Bodrum township of Aegean Mugla province.

Addressing the ceremony, Talay said that there were many sunken ships under seas surrounding Turkey, and underlined importance of determining places of these ships and imaging them.

Talay said, ''we should introduce these treasuries to the world. Turkey was the cradle of great civilizations. There are many sunken ships and treasuries under seas surrounding Turkey. We should protect them. Eastern Mediterranean was one of the places in which trade and civilization had started.''

Stressing that they aimed at introducing underwater treasuries through the Culture Ministry's web-site, Talay said, ''images of sunked ships will be transmitted in the Culture Ministry's web-site within scope of the project. All sunken ships between Bodrum and Marmaris townships will be determined in coming years.''

The Culture Ministry's web-site is ''www.kultur.gov.tr''.

[18] ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS IN ANCIENT CITY OF ZEUGMA

Addressing a press conference, Kemal Sertok, the Coordinator of the Archaeological Excavations in Ancient City of Zeugma, said, ''excavations have been concentrated in B Region of the ancient city which will remain under waters of dam in October.''

Sertok told reporters that 130 workers and 40 archaeologists including Turkish, British, French, German, Australian and New Zealander experts,

were working in the ancient site.

[19] SECURITY FORCES DETAIN 15 PEOPLE WHO ATTEMPT TO ISSUE AN ILLEGAL PRESS RELEASE TO PROTEST F TYPE PRISONS

A 15-member group carrying photos of Murat Dil attempted to make an illegal press release in front of post office in Kadikoy.

Murat Dil who was sentenced to imprisonment on charges of ''being a member of an illegal organization and throwing explosives'', died in hospital after he had been released from prison when his imprisonment sentence had been postponed due to his illness.

All demonstrators were taken into custody after they did not obey security forces' call to disperse.

The demonstrators were taken to the Police Headquarters in Kadikoy.

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