Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-07-09

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NEWS

09 JULY 2000 Sunday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] BUMIN, CHAIRMAN OF CONSTITUTIONAL COURT -''I HOPE THAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS WOULD BE ACCELERATED DURING PRESIDENT SEZER'S TERM IN OFFICE''

[03] FOREST FIRE IN MILAS

[04] OPERATIONS AGAINST TERRORIST HEZBOLLAH ORGANIZATION -6,465 PEOPLE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN THE LAST EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS IN SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA

[05] FOREST FIRE IN ANTALYA

[06] FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT BUSH ARRIVES IN TURKEY

[07] TURKEY OBTAINS MORE THAN 31 TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS FROM BOGAZICI AND FATIH SULTAN MEHMET BRIDGES

[08] THIRD ROUND OF PROXIMITY TALKS -TRNC DELEGATION EXPRESSES ITS CONCERN OVER LEAK OF A REPORT TO GREEK CYPRIOT PRESS

[09] ANTALYA TO HOST 11TH INTERNATIONAL BIOLOGY OLYMPIAD

[10] MORE THAN TWO MILLION FOREIGN TOURISTS VISIT TURKEY IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF 2000

[11]NUMBER OF MOTOR VEHICLES IN THE LAST 25 YEARS

[12] BUSINESS, CULTURE AND RELIGIOUS BELIEF TOURISM TO BE IMPROVED IN GAP REGION

[13] THIRD ROUND OF PROXIMITY TALKS -PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC CRITICIZES GREEK

[14] FOREST FIRE IN PENDIK

[15] NARCOTICS OFFICIALS IMPOUND 101.5 KG OF HEROIN AND 500 GR OF COCAINE IN THREE SEPARATE OPERATIONS

[16] A DELEGATION FROM SHIMATARI MUNICIPALITY OF GREECE, ARRIVES IN BODRUM

[17] GENERAL CRENE, COMMANDER OF FRENCH LAND FORCES, IN CAPPADOCIA

[18] FOREST FIRE IN KARTAL EXTINGUISHED

[19] SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL ASPENDOS OPERA AND BALLET FESTIVAL TO END ON MONDAY

[20] DAIMLERCHRYSLER'S CONSULTATION BOARD CONVENES IN ISTANBUL

[21] KUTAN, LEADER OF FP: -''I THINK THAT ARTICLE 312 OF TCK WOULD BE AMENDED IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS THE LATEST''

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

SOARING TEMPERATURES CLAIM THREE LIVES IN CIZRE
Soaring temperatures from a heat wave that has swept across Turkey from the Balkans killed three people in Cizre township of southeastern Sirnak province. Officials said that three people died of strokes, heart attacks and brain haemohrrages brought on by temperatures of 46 degrees Celsius.

MUTINEERS AT BURDUR PRISON TRANSFERRED TO OTHER PRISONS
A total of 40 inmates who refused to give testimony and started hunger strike, were transferred to other prisons in Izmir, Buca, Bursa, Aydin, Usak, Bergama and Gebze. Meanwhile, officials said that 30 inmates were continuing their hunger strike at the Burdur prison.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

arrested in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for suspected spying for the Greek Cypriot side. The ''Avrupa'' Newspaper was known with its harsh articles against the Turkish Armed Forces, Turkish representatives in the TRNC, and President Rauf Denktas of the TRNC.

TURKEY COMES ON THE THIRD PLACE IN WORLD UNIVERSITIES CHAMPIONSHIPS
Turkey came on the third place in the 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.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

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 said 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.

57 HECTARES OF FORESTED AREA BURNT DOWN TO ASHES
A total of 57 hectares of forested area were burnt down to ashes in fires that broke out due to soaring temperatures throughout Turkey. Fire

broke out in forested area near Gurcamlar village in Milas township of Aegean Mugla province. The fire was partly taken under control. Meanwhile, forest fires in Manavgat township and Calkaya hamlet in southern Antalya province were extinguished.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

TPAO'S INVESTMENTS INCREASE UP TO 803 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS
The Turkish Petroleum Corporation's (TPAO) investments in foreign countries increased up to 803 million U.S. dollars as of June 2000.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

office.''

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

ANNAN ASKS ECEVIT NOT TO VISIT TRNC ON JULY 20
Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the United Nations, held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit as the third round of proximity talks continue in Geneva, Switzerland. Noting that a sensitive atmosphere was in question on the issue of Cyprus question, Annan asked Ecevit not to visit the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on July 20. Annan told Ecevit that his visit to the TRNC might affect the third round of proximity talks.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

TCG FATIH FRIGATE DUE TO BOSTON
TCG Fatih Frigate of the Turkish Naval Forces which joined celebrations in New York, the U.S., to mark the Independence Day for OpSail 2000, will proceed to Boston on July 9. The TCG Fatih Frigate will participate in the Sail Boston 2000 performances.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

''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.''

[02] BUMIN, CHAIRMAN OF CONSTITUTIONAL COURT -''I HOPE THAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS WOULD BE ACCELERATED DURING PRESIDENT SEZER'S TERM IN OFFICE''

A 20-member delegation including Bumin, Hasim Kilic, Acting Chairman of the Constitutional Court, members of the court and their families visited historical and touristic places in central Kirsehir province.

Responding to questions of journalists, Bumin said, ''there are many articles in the Constitution that should be changed. I hope that constitutional amendments would be accelerated during President Sezer's term in office. Representatives of political parties are also in favour of

constitutional amendments. I believe that proposals regarding constitutional amendments would be evaluated during the new legislative year that will start in October.''

[03] FOREST FIRE IN MILAS

Officials told the A.A correspondent that seven helicopters, a plane,

fire-fighting teams and local workers rushed to area to extinguish the fire, and succeeded in taking the fire under control.

Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent, Ayhan Boyaci, the Head Official of Milas, said that nearly 50 hectares of forested area were burnt down to ashes in the fire.

A full investigation into the forest fire is underway.

[04] OPERATIONS AGAINST TERRORIST HEZBOLLAH ORGANIZATION -6,465 PEOPLE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN THE LAST EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS IN SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA

Officials at the Emergency Rule Region Governor's Office told the A.A correspondent on Sunday that operations against the terrorist Hezbollah organization were underway in the region.

Fist operation was launched against the terrorist organization in 1992.

A total of 41 operations were launched in 1992, 81 in 1993, 123 in 1994, 139 in 1995, 148 in 1996, 172 in 1997, 262 in 1998, 267 in 1999 and 525 in the first six months of 2000.

Operations against the Hezbollah organization have been intensified since the shootout between security forces and members of the terrorist organization in Beykoz ditrict of Istanbul on January 17, 2000. In the shootout, Huseyin Velioglu, the head of the organization, was killed while Edip Gumus and Cemal Tutar, the so-called high-level officials of the organization, were captured.

A total of 2,193 people were taken into custody in 525 operations in the first six months of 2000. 1,441 of detainees were arrested while 740 of them were released to be tried without detention.

Meanwhile, main lawsuit filed against the so-called high-level officials of the terrorist Hezbollah organization will start at the Diyarbakir State Security Court (DGM) on Monday.

The Diyarbakir DGM Chief Prosecutor's Office prepared a comprehensive

indictment composed of 181 pages.

[05] FOREST FIRE IN ANTALYA

Officials told the A.A correspondent that fire-fighting teams backed by a helicopter extinguished the fire.

They added that one hectare of forested area was burnt down to ashes in the fire.

[06] FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT BUSH ARRIVES IN TURKEY

Acar Germen, the Foreign Ministry Representative, and the U.S. Consulate General officials welcomed Bush at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul.

When asked whether or not the U.S.' policy towards Turkey would change if his son George W. Bush, the presidential candidate of the Republican Party, is elected as the new president, Bush said that the U.S.' policy towards Turkey would not be changed, and added that his son was a friend of Turkey just like himself.

Bush will address a meeting of the Daimler-Chrysler at the Ciragan Palace later today.

He is expected to depart from Turkey on Monday.

[07] TURKEY OBTAINS MORE THAN 31 TRILLION TURKISH LIRAS FROM BOGAZICI AND FATIH SULTAN MEHMET BRIDGES

Officials told the A.A correspondent on Sunday that an income of 14 trillion 540 billion 832 million TL was obtained from the Bogazici Bridge in the first six months of the year.

In the same period, Turkey obtained an income of 17 trillion 70 billion 246.5 million TL from the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge.

A total of 27 million 817 thousand 591 vehicles passed the Bogazici and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges in the January-June period.

[08] THIRD ROUND OF PROXIMITY TALKS -TRNC DELEGATION EXPRESSES ITS CONCERN OVER LEAK OF A REPORT TO GREEK CYPRIOT PRESS

The TRNC delegation will convey its uneasiness and harsh reaction over the issue during its meeting with Alvaro de Soto, the Special Representative of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to Cyprus, on Sunday.

The TRNC delegation considers the leak as a breach of the United Nations' media blackout during the proximity talks.

Meanwhile, the third round of proximity talks will be suspended for 12 days from July 12 to 24 because of President Denktas' plan to attend ''Peace and Freedom Day'' on July 20 in TRNC. The proximity talks will be resumed in Geneva on July 24 and continue till the beginning of August. The Cyprus proximity talks will continue in New York between September 12 and the beginning of October.

[09] ANTALYA TO HOST 11TH INTERNATIONAL BIOLOGY OLYMPIAD

Students will take two exams within scope of the 11th International Biology Olympiad organized by the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK).

Successful students will be awarded with gold, silver and bronze medals in a ceremony on July 15.

Cafer Ozdemir and Tansel Sitki Tunc from Istanbul Fatih Scientific High School together with Munir Akkaya and Yusuf Ozuysal from the Izmir Scientific High School will represent Turkey at the 11th International Biology Olympiad.

Excursions and several activities will be organized to promote natural and historical assets of Turkey to the students.

Turkish students won one gold, two silver and one bronze medals in last year's International Biology Olympiad in Sweden.

[10] MORE THAN TWO MILLION FOREIGN TOURISTS VISIT TURKEY IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF 2000

According to the State Institute of Statistics (DIE) data, 545,163 German, 189,560 British and 163,871 Russian tourists visited Turkey in the January- May period.

In the same period, 154,673 American, 132,839 Bulgarian, 130,350 Iranian, 126,041 Romanian, 123,033 French, 97,864 Dutch and 85,294 Israeli tourists spent their holidays in Turkey.

Tourists from European countries which are members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), accounted for 46.8 percent of foreign tourists visiting Turkey.

Citizens of other European countries accounted for 15.3 percent while citizens of the Commonwealth of Independent States accounted for 14.8 percent, citizens of Asian countries 12.8 percent and citizens of African countries 1.9 percent.

[11] NUMBER OF MOTOR VEHICLES IN THE LAST 25 YEARS

According to the DIE data, number of motor vehicles increased by 760 percent in the last 25 years.

Number of motor vehicles in 1975 and 2000 and rate of increase are as follows: ---- Increase 1975 2000 * (Percent) ------- --------- ---------
Automobile 403.546 4.156.656 930 Minibus 40.623 225.308 455 Bus 23.763 113.933 379 Small Truck 98.579 719.866 630 Truck 108.381 382.511 253 Motorcycle 91.421 982.406 975 Special Purpose Vehicles 8.450 53.032 528 Road Construction & Work Machinery 11.157 122.620 999

TOTAL 785.920 6.756.332 760
---- (*) Data is by the end of April.

[12] BUSINESS, CULTURE AND RELIGIOUS BELIEF TOURISM TO BE IMPROVED IN GAP REGION

Officials at the Tourism Ministry told the A.A correspondent on Sunday

that the welfare and income level would increase in the region after the GAP was finalized.

They said that the Tourism Ministry considered the GAP as a multi- dimensional and multi-sectoral development project including investments in dams, hydroelectric power plants, irrigation facilities, urban and rural infrastructure, transportation, industry, education and health services, which would bring forth important changes in economic and social fields.

The Tourism Ministry officials noted that business tourism would revive in the region as a result of Turkish and foreign businessmen's visits to the GAP region.

Recalling that the region was rich of historical and sacred places, the Tourism Ministry officials added that culture and religious tourism would also revive in the region in coming months.

[13] THIRD ROUND OF PROXIMITY TALKS -PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC CRITICIZES GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE:

Addressing journalists after his meeting with Alvaro de Soto, the Special Representative of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to Cyprus, President Denktas stressed, ''leak of a confidential document aims at destroying its content. But they have not succeeded in destroying our document.''

Noting that there was nothing new in the Turkish Cypriot side's proposal list, President Denktas told reporters that they had refrained from making any statement in Geneva to abide by the United Nations's media blackout.

President Denktas emphasized, ''our proposals are our case. It is the case of those who sacrificed their lives for the TRNC. Our confederation proposal aims at providing reconciliation on the island for a solution.''

President Denktas added that they would continue to attend the proximity talks.

Meanwhile, De Soto said, ''public handling of issues that are under discussion in the United Nations process is not helpful to that process

at all. But the process will continue.''

The third round of proximity talks will be suspended for 12 days from July 12 to 24 because of President Denktas' plan to attend ''Peace and Freedom Day'' on July 20 in TRNC. The proximity talks will be resumed in Geneva on July 24 and continue till the beginning of August. The Cyprus proximity talks will continue in New York between September 12 and the beginning of October.

[14] FOREST FIRE IN PENDIK

Officials told the A.A correspondent that fire-fighting teams backed by two planes and a helicopter succeeded in extinguishing the fire.

Meanwhile, another forest fire broke out near Kartal district of Istanbul at about 01.30 p.m.

Fire-fighting teams backed by a plane and a helicopter are striving to take the fire under control.

[15] NARCOTICS OFFICIALS IMPOUND 101.5 KG OF HEROIN AND 500 GR OF COCAINE IN THREE SEPARATE OPERATIONS

Officials told the A.A correspondent on Sunday that acting on a tip-off, the narcotics officials stopped and searched an automobile and confiscated 101.5 kg of heroin on July 7.

In the operation, two people were taken into custody.

In another operation launched in cooperation with Austrian police, a gang that smuggle heroin from Turkey to Austria, was revealed.

A total of 120 kg of heroin was confiscated in Austrian capital of Vienna. Two people were taken into custody in the operation.

Meanwhile, narcotics officials impounded 500 gr of cocaine which was sent to Turkey from Colombia, in an operation launched in cooperation with the U.S. police.

In the operation, nine people were taken into custody.

Officials added that 223 kg of heroin, 500 gr cocaine and 2.3 kg of hashish were confiscated in Istanbul last week.

A total of 34 people were taken into custody during the operations.

[16] A DELEGATION FROM SHIMATARI MUNICIPALITY OF GREECE, ARRIVES IN BODRUM

Mehmet Ulkum, the Mayor of Gumusluk, welcomed the Greek delegation.

The delegation including Evangelos Yeorgiu, the Mayor of Shimatari, aims at consolidating friendly relations between the two municipalities.

The delegation's contacts will focus on works to make Gumusluk and Shimatari sister municipalities.

[17] GENERAL CRENE, COMMANDER OF FRENCH LAND FORCES, IN CAPPADOCIA

General Crene and accompanying delegation visited Uchisar Castle, Goreme Open Air Museum and Zelve Ruins.

Later, they departed from Nevsehir.

[18] FOREST FIRE IN KARTAL EXTINGUISHED

Officials told the A.A correspondent that the fire which started at about 01.30 p.m. was taken under control by fire-fighting teams.

In the fire, one hectare of forested area was burnt down to ashes.

[19] SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL ASPENDOS OPERA AND BALLET FESTIVAL TO END ON MONDAY

Istemihan Talay, the Culture Minister, will watch the performance named ''Best of Bolshoi''.

Nearly 50 thousand people watched opera and ballet performances within framework of the 7th International Aspendos Opera and Ballet Festival.

The festival started on June 10 with a concert of the Presidential Symphonic Orchestra, the Directorate General of State Opera and Ballet Chorus, the Culture Ministry Polifonic Chorus, and the Mersin State Opera and Ballet Orchestra in which the 9th Symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven was played.

The Directorate General of State Opera and Ballet performed Turandot Opera of Giacomo Puccini on June 13.

''Sleeping Beauty'' of Peter Ilyich Tchaikowsky, ''The Maiden Tower'' of A. Badalbeyli, ''Samson et Dalilah'' of C. Saint Saens, ''Ferhat and Sirin'' of A. Melikov, ''Don Giovanni'' of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and ''La Boheme'' of Giacomo Puccini were also performed in the festival.

[20] DAIMLERCHRYSLER'S CONSULTATION BOARD CONVENES IN ISTANBUL

Gazi Ercel, the Governor of Central Bank, and Ugur Bayar, the Chairman of Privatization Administration, partook in a luncheon hosted in honor of the guests.

The two-day meetings will be held at Ciragan Palace with participation of the leading politicians and economists.

[21] KUTAN, LEADER OF FP: -''I THINK THAT ARTICLE 312 OF TCK WOULD BE AMENDED IN THE NEXT THREE MONTHS THE LATEST''

Responding to questions of journalists, Kutan stressed that Article 312 of the TCK should be amended.

Stressing that his opinion regarding an amendment to Article 312 of the TCK was not regarded with imprisonment sentence given to Necmettin Erbakan, the leader of the banned Welfare Party (RP), Kutan told reporters, ''there are several other articles in constitution and in laws which we consider as anti-democratic. We said on numerous occasions that they should be amended.

We held talks with leaders of other political parties on the issue. They

share the same opinions with us. Amendment to Article 312 of TCK will be high on the parliamentary agenda during the new legislative year. But an extraordinary session should be held at the parliament without waiting for the new legislative year. Within this framework, I will hold talks with leaders of political parties next week.''

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