Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-07-20

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

20 JULY 2000

Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] CELEBRATIONS MARKING 26TH ANNIVERSARY OF CYPRUS PEACE OPERATION START IN TRNC

[03] DRIED APRICOT EXPORTS FROM GAP REGION

[04] SUPPORT TO TURKISH CINEMA FROM EURIMAGES

[05] NUCLEAR POWER PLANT TENDER -VALIDITY OF BIDS TO END ON JULY 24

[06] FINANCE MINISTER ORAL STAGES PRESS CONFERENCE -''BUDGET REVENUES REACHED 15.5 QUADRILION LIRAS IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR''

[07] FOREST FIRES IN IZMIR AND MANISA TAKEN UNDER CONTROL

[08] EXCAVATIONS INTO MENTESE TUMULUS TAKE START

[09] TREASURY INCREASES AMOUNT OF STATE BONDS IT ISSUES AT U.S. DOLLAR MARKET BY 500 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

[10] BORDER PATROLS CAPTURE 103 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN EDIRNE

[11] NIGERIAN PRESIDENT OBASANJO DUE IN TURKEY ON JULY 23

[12] TOURISM BOOST IN TRABZON

[13] TURKEY TO PARTICIPATE IN BREEZE-2000 MANOEUVRE IN WEST BLACK SEA WITH FOUR SHIPS

[14] FOREST FIRES BURN 13 THOUSAND 875 HECTARES IN ONE WEEK

[15] PEACE AND FREEDOM DAY IN TRNC -DENKTAS: ''OUR CONFEDERATION PROPOSAL IS OUR LAST CHANCE OF RECONCILIATION AND UNION IN A PEACEFUL MANNER'' -''IF ANYONE SHOULD BRING FORTH ANY AGREEMENT THAT RISKS OR NEGLECTS TURKEY'S GUARANTORSHIP, I SHALL NOT SIGN IT''

[16] 26TH ANNIVERSARY OF CYPRUS PEACE OPERATION -PRESIDENT SEZER SENDS LETTER TO PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC

[17] TRNC OBSERVES PEACE AND FREEDOM DAY -STATE MINISTER GUREL: ''ANATOLIAN AND CYPRIOT TURKS JOINED HANDS ON JULY 20, 1974''

[18] BUDGET DEFICIT IN FIRST HALF OF 2000 BECOMES 8.1 QUADRILLION TURKISH LIRAS

[19] TURKEY REPAYS 398.46 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN FOREIGN DEBT BETWEEN JULY 3-19

[20] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK INCREASE BY 367 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

[21] SUSPECTS OF ASSASINATION OF MUMCU TO BE TRIED ON AUGUST 14

[22] POLICE SEIZES 27 KGS OF HEROIN, DETAINS 4 IN CONNECTION

[23] NUMBER OF BELGIAN TOURISTS VISITING TURKEY CONTINUE TO INCREASE

[24] TPAO GENERAL DIRECTOR: ''PRODUCTION AT NATURAL GAS PLATFORM IN NORTH MARMARA WILL STOP AT THE END OF THE YEAR''

[25] FOREST FIRES IN MANISA AND MUGLA TAKEN UNDER CONTROL

[26] PRIVATIZATION OF POAS FINALIZED

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

YASEMIN BREAKS WORLD RECORD
Yasemin Dalkilic, a young Turkish free diver, broke the world record off- shore Bodrum township of Aegean Mugla province.

Dalkilic dived to 100 meters without scuba, breaking the 94-meter world record of Deborah Andollo of Cuba.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

FOR THE SAKE OF THE FORESTS
Ukranian pilots, taking part in firefighting efforts against the forest fire in Denizli, Buldan, that burnt 1050 hectares of forest land, were appreciated for their efforts. Leading Pilot Vladimir Zincinko and his team, who had started working for the Forestry Ministry on July 1, flew 33 sorties on the first day, and 54 sorties on the second, in last week's forest fires. Atilla Ertay, Provincial Director of Forestry thanked Zincinko and his team on behalf of Turkey.

COMMUNIST PARTY SET UP
A group of former Solcialist Labor Party, set up on Wednesday, the Communist Party for a second time. After submitting the establishment notice to the Interior Ministry, Yalcin Cerit, the founding leader of the Communist Party said that the Communist Party had been founded to stand up against the ''Turkcell festival'' in the United States, and the inhuman treatment that prisoners in Burdur suffered.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

BIGGEST INVESTMENT EVER
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz laid the groundworks of the first phase of the Adapazari Natural Gas Power Station, which will be constructed in accordance with the ''Build-Operate' model by the Intergen-Enka partnership. Yilmaz said that thepower station in Adapazari was the biggest investmentin the Republic's history, and that once the project, consisting of 3 power stations, had been completed, the complex would be providing 27 percent of Turkey's electricity production.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

RECORD-BREAKING INVESTIGATIONS
Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan said that there were a total of 559 investigations presently underway, against the mayors of various municipalities across the country. Saadettin Tantan said that most of the investigations had been commenced in the wake of letters of complaint from citizens, and that the Ministry was taking each of these letters into consideration, and doing whatever was needed about the cases.

IKDP REPRESENTATIVE SUMMONED TO FOREIGN MINISTRY
Safin Diyazi, the Ankara Representative of the Iraqi Kurdestan Democratic Party (IKDP) was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and was given a note of warning in the wake of allegations that the IKDP had launched an attack against the party headquarters of the Iraqi Turkmen Front in Northern Iraq. Foreign Ministry Deputy Spokesman Huseyin Dirioz told reporters that 2 Turkomans had lost their lives in the clashes with the IKDP mimbirs on July 11, that 6 others had been injured in the incident, and investigations into the incident were underway.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

THERE IS NOT AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT
Reacting to the debates in Turkey, Verheugen said he had not brought an official document to Ankara. Verheugen said he did not talk about education in Kurdish or Kurdish television channel during his contacts in Ankara.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

NO TRANSFER TO F-TYPE
Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that there won't be a transfer to F- type prisons for the time being. Turk said that the statements about finalization of six of the eleven F-type prisons in August were misinterpreted.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

HE CONFUSES EVERYBODY
The request of Guenter Verheugen, EU Commissioner for Enlargement, for a Kurdish television channel was denied by the Foreign Ministry. It said there was not a proposal draft or document, and that the statements were taken from Verheugen's ''non-papers''. The Foreign Ministry said such ''documents'' did not have official meaning.

VERHEUGEN DENIES ALLEGATIONS
Jean-Christophe Flori, the Spokesman of EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen, said that ''Kurds'' and ''education and broadcasting in Kurdish language'' were not included in Verheugen's contacts in Turkey, and added that news reports regarding the issue were baseless and wrong.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

GERMAN SUPREME COURT BANS PRO-PKK ACTIVITY
A German Federal Court approved a resolution to ban the activities of a pro- PKK association namely 'Kurdestan Committee''. The Karlsruhe Court said on Wednesday, that the said association increased the security risks that the PKK terror organisation had created, and banned the association from all activities it had been carrying out until then.

[02] CELEBRATIONS MARKING 26TH ANNIVERSARY OF CYPRUS PEACE OPERATION START IN TRNC

The first ceremony marking the day took place at 08.00 hours, in front of the monument in Girne, Karaoglanoglu, the very first spot on which Turkish soldiers had embarked. A wreath was laid on the monument, and the participants observed a minute's silence. The second ceremony took place at the Bogaz Martyrdom.

Over in Lefkosa, ceremonies started at 10.00 hours, at the Lefkosa Ataturk Monument and the Dr. Fazil Kucuk Tomb. The ceremonies are to proceed with a parade along the Dr. Fazil Kucuk Boulevard.

Meanwhile, Kemal Nehrozoglu, Secretary General of the President's Office, State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, and Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu of Turkey arrived on the island to take part in the ceremonies.

Over on the Greek Cypriot Sector, the Greek Cypriots are observing a national mourning, with flags flying at half-staff. Sirens started echoing across the Greek Cypriot Sector of Cyprus at 05.30, the starting time of the Peace Operation, and towards the noon, Churches were to stage special masses.

[03] DRIED APRICOT EXPORTS FROM GAP REGION

Last year's exports in this same period had totalled to 20 million 221 thousand U.S dollars in worth, and 9 thousand 700 tonnes in amount.

According to the statement, the major importers of GAP dried apricots were the United States, Britain, France, Australia, Germany, Israel, Romania, Saudi Arabia, and Greece.

The unit price of dried apricots regressed by 9,2 percent as compared to 1999, the statement said.

[04] SUPPORT TO TURKISH CINEMA FROM EURIMAGES

The statement said that Turkey had been a member of the Eurimages since 1990, and that she had paid 21 million French Francs worth of membership fee since then. The statement said that the Eurimages had provided a total of 29 million 340 thuosand French Francs worth of aid to Turkey for the production, distribution, and screening of various films and documentaries.

Culture Minister Istemihan Talay also expressed contentment over the bettering of relations between Turkey and Eurimages, which had reached a freezing point in 1996.

Eurimages aims to promote in its member states through financial assistance the co-production, distribution, exhibition and other forms of exploitation of creative cinematographic and audio-visual works.

[05] NUCLEAR POWER PLANT TENDER -VALIDITY OF BIDS TO END ON JULY 24

Meanwhile, sources said the Prime Ministry had not yet responded to the document sent by the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry regarding the Akkuyu project.

The future of the tender becomes uncertain due to the bidder Westinghouse's withdrawal decision in case another extension is made in the tender.

In this case, TEAS will re-evaluate the project and continue with the remaining two consortia or annul the tender.

Energy circles believe that cancellation of the tender for which the bids had been taken on October 15, 1997 would overshadow activities for promotion of Turkey, and expect extension of validity of bids till end- 2000.

The three consortia bidding for the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant tender are as follows:

''-Westinghouse-Mitsubishi Consortium: Westinghouse (U.S.), Raytheone and Duke (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).''

[06] FINANCE MINISTER ORAL STAGES PRESS CONFERENCE -''BUDGET REVENUES REACHED 15.5 QUADRILION LIRAS IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR''

Staging a press conference, Oral said they had given the start for a very comprehensive economic program in the beginning of 2000, and within this framework, they targeted a 5.5 percent growth rate, a 25 percent increase in consumer prices and a 20 percent increase in whoesale prices.

Oral said that the budget revenue reached 15 quadrillion 526 trillion Turkish Liras (TL) exceeding the 13 quadrillion 687 trillion TL budget revenue target for first half of 2000.

Noting that the tax incomes which had been foreseen to be 11 quadrillion 233 trillion TL became 12 quadrillion 315 trillion TL at the end of the first half, Oral said non-interest expenditures which had been planned to be 10 quadrillion 567 trillion TL reached 10 quadrillion 632 trillion TL.

Oral said the non-interest surplus which had been targeted to be 3 quadrillion 120 trillion TL became 4 quadrillion 894 trillion TL.

Oral stated that total budget revenues increased 106.6 percent and tax incomes rose 108 percent in first half of 2000 when compared to the same period in 1999, adding that the spendings inreased 89.8 percent.

Oral said that the most important result of the program regarding the public finance was the ''dcrease in borrowing costs'' and ''increase in external borrowing maturity and opportunities''.

Oral added that they were determined to reduce the inflation to one-digit numbers and continue the economic program.

[07] FOREST FIRES IN IZMIR AND MANISA TAKEN UNDER CONTROL

Forestry Regional Directorate officials said that the forest fire in Soma, Manisa, though it had been taken under control, was restarting at times due to a fanning wind.

Officials said that a total of 262 hectares of forested land in 7 seperate forest fires had burnt into ashes on Wednesday, adding that efforts to find their causes were underway.

[08] EXCAVATIONS INTO MENTESE TUMULUS TAKE START

A 30-person team including 10 experts is taking part in the excavations, led by Dr. Jakop Ruttenberg from the Dutch Archaeology Institute. The team will carry on with excavations until August 10, and it expects to reach down until the 6000 B.C level.

Taylan Sevil, Director of Iznik Museum said that the tumulus carried great importance from the standpoint of the Balkan and South Marmara history.

Noting that they had discovered traces of agricultural activity dating back to 8 thousand years ago, Sevil said, ''we have also come up with neolithic and prehistoric findings. In last year's excavations into the Mentese Tumulus, we reached the 5000 B.C level, and since we are proceeding level- by-level, we are planning to have reached 6000 B.C by August 10.''

''The findings unearthed in the Mentese Tumulus and the neighboring Ilipinar Tumulus are on exhibit at Iznik Museum,'' Sevil added.

[09] TREASURY INCREASES AMOUNT OF STATE BONDS IT ISSUES AT U.S. DOLLAR MARKET BY 500 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

Treasury Undersecretariat said on Thursday that the issue in question was the ''second increase'' in the 750 million U.S. dollars debenture bond issue which had been made on June 18, 1999 and later increased on December 8, 1999.
It said that the 500 million U.S. dollar source that was obtained through the bond issue in question would be deposited to Treasury's account on July 26.

It added that the amount of external borrowing raised through debenture bond issues since the beginning of 2000 would reach 6.1 billion U.S. dollars with the latest increase.

[10] BORDER PATROLS CAPTURE 103 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN EDIRNE

Of the 103 persons, 51 were Palestinians, 46 were Iranians, 4 were Afghans, 1 was Egyptian, and 1 was Syrian.

The illegal immigrants, who confessed that they had been trying to cross over to Greece by illegal means, were taken to the Edirne Security Department's Foreigners Bureau, to be expelled later on.

[11] NIGERIAN PRESIDENT OBASANJO DUE IN TURKEY ON JULY 23

Sources said Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo would pay an official visit to Turkey between July 23-25.

[12] TOURISM BOOST IN TRABZON

A total of 172 thousand 80 tourists, 123 thousand 925 being domestic, 38 thousand 483 being from western countries, and 9 thousand 672 being from CIS countries, visited Turkey in the first six months of the year.

Officials said that the greatest increase had been recorded in the western tourists, by 3,050, as compared to 1999, when a total of 169 thousand 30 tourists had visited the region in the first six months of 1999.

[13] TURKEY TO PARTICIPATE IN BREEZE-2000 MANOEUVRE IN WEST BLACK SEA WITH FOUR SHIPS

Breeze-2000 will be exercised in West Black Sea between July 22-23.

The Naval Forces Commandership Secretariat General said on Thursday that Turkish Naval Forces' TCG Karadeniz (F-255), TCG Firtina (P-347), TCG Saros (M-515) and TCG Sariyer (M-518); host Bulgaria's naval and air forces elements, U.S.'s, France's and Greece's frigates and Ukraine's corvette would participate in the Breeze-2000.

Protection of humanitarian aid convoy, embargo operation, mine counter measures operation, submarine defense war, supply in sea, search-rescue operation and active arms firing will be performed.

The participating ships will be opened to public visits at the Plovdiv Port on July 29, and the Breeze-2000 will end with the departure of ships on July 30.

[14] FOREST FIRES BURN 13 THOUSAND 875 HECTARES IN ONE WEEK

[15] PEACE AND FREEDOM DAY IN TRNC -DENKTAS: ''OUR CONFEDERATION PROPOSAL IS OUR LAST CHANCE OF RECONCILIATION AND UNION IN A PEACEFUL MANNER'' -''IF ANYONE SHOULD BRING FORTH ANY AGREEMENT THAT RISKS OR NEGLECTS TURKEY'S GUARANTORSHIP, I SHALL NOT SIGN IT''

Speaking at a ceremony marking the 26th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, on the Peace and Freedom Day, Denktas said that the Turkish Cypriot people had ever since been living under the guarantorship of the motherland, Turkey, and expressed contentment and honor over hosting Turkish officials on anniversary celebrations.

Noting that there was no other community than the Turkish Cypriot community, who had suffered as much from the hands of the Greek Cypriots, Denktas said that the Clerides government was in fake, unrealistic anticipations, such as representing the whole island in its prospective membership in the European Union, but that the efforts of the Clerides government to do so, would do nothing other than opening even worse wounds on the island.

He said further that neither Clerides, nor the Greek Cypriot people wanted a federation on Cyprus, that even so, Clerides was trying to make the world believe that he was in fact in favor of a federation, but that this was an effort in vain.

''The proposal that the Turkish side has made to set up a confederation with the Greek Cypriot sector, is our last chance of reconciliation and union in a peaceful manner. The Turkish Cypriot people are not obliged to unite with the Greek Cypriots, but I shall go to Geneva for proximity talks anyway. The Greek Cypriot side has to consider these well, and act in accordance. No one can play games with the guarantorship agreement. The TRNC will not make any concessions from Turkey's guarantorship. We exist, and we shall continue to exist. Our flag will continue to fly on our staffs, '' Denktas said.

Noting that the Turkish Cypriot people had been saved from their long lived grief thanks to the Motherland, Turkey, Denktas said:

''The Turkish Cypriot people are bound to the Motherland by heart. If anyone should bring forth any agreement that risks or neglects Turkey's guarantorship, I shall not sign it. We are ready to build bridges of peace and friendship between our communities.''

[16] 26TH ANNIVERSARY OF CYPRUS PEACE OPERATION -PRESIDENT SEZER SENDS LETTER TO PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC

The Presidential Press Center said on Thursday that President Sezer stated in his letter that the Turkish Cypriots had resisted against the pains and difficulties for years with determination and patiently, and that the Cyprus Peace Operation was a symbol of the Turkish Cypriots' determination in protection of their freedom and independence.

It said the letter was conveyed to TRNC President Denktas by Presidency Secretary General Kemal Nehrozoglu.

On behalf of the Turkish nation, President Sezer congratulated the Peace and Freedom Day of the Turkish Cypriots on the 26th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation, the Center said.

''The Turkish Cypriots are always advancing in the stability atmosphere brought by the Peace Operation, and successfully moving forward with confidence in the path opened by the Peace Operation. Turkey supports these efforts of the Turkish Cypriots,'' the President stated.

''The Peace Operation is at the same time a symbol of the importance Turkey attaches to security, peace and prosperity of the Turkish Cypriots. Turkey will continue to treasure these principles,'' President Sezer said.

''There is not an example to the struggle for rights and laws that the Turkish Cypriots have been carrying out for years with determination. The TRNC is the outcome of this determination. Turkey will continue to extend every support to the TRNC which is a factor of peace and stability in its region with its loyalty to contemporary democratic values,'' he added.

[17] TRNC OBSERVES PEACE AND FREEDOM DAY -STATE MINISTER GUREL: ''ANATOLIAN AND CYPRIOT TURKS JOINED HANDS ON JULY 20, 1974''

Gurel said that the peace operation prevented an ethnic cleansing against the Turkish Cypriot people, similar to the one recently witnessed by the whole world as it took place in Bosnia and Kosovo.

Noting that the Turkish Cypriot people had been forced to live in ghettos for 11 years, Gurel said that the Greek Cypriots had started applying to other methods, after they had understood that they would not be able to force the Turkish presence out of the island by brute force.

''Now, the Greek Cypriots are denying the independent Turkish presence on the island by applying to the European Union as the sole representative of Cyprus. But this would only officialise a division of the island. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is an independent state, standing upright and in integrity, with all its institutions,'' Gurel said.

''If the Greek side wants the Cyprus problem to be settled, it has to quit its intransigent attitude, its crooked attitude, and face the realities. The Turkish Cypriot people have continued its existence through very hard times and tough conditions. This is why they do not want to compromise from their independence, their republic; and this is why they insist on an equitable confederation.

The Turkish Cypriot people are still extending their hands to the Greek Cypriots for cooperation and reconciliation, despite the hostile feelings that Greek Cypriots nurture against them. The Greek Cypriot side has to make good use of this opportunity for peace, and agree to unite under a confederation,'' Gurel said.

He added that Turkey would continue to stand by the side of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and provide full support to it in its rightful cause.

[18] BUDGET DEFICIT IN FIRST HALF OF 2000 BECOMES 8.1 QUADRILLION TURKISH LIRAS

Domestic and external debt interest expenditures became 13 quadrillion 29 trillion 996 billion TL, personnel expenditures became 4 quadrillion 643 trillion 380 billion TL, other current expenditures became 913 trillion 272 billion TL, and investment expenditures became 599 trillion 458 billion TL.

Transfer expenditures were 17 quadrillion 505 trillion 552 billion TL while 1 quadrillion 841 trillion TL of this amount was transferred to social security agencies.

A total of 347 trillion 150 billion TL was transferred to the State Economic Enterprises, and 74 trillion TL was spent for contribution share to state enterprises.

A total of 135 trillion TL was expended for agricultural support.

Meanwhile, the consolidated budget revenues became 15 quadrillion 525 trillion 676 billion TL in the first six months of 2000.

The tax revenues became 12 quadrillion 315 trillion 151 billion TL.

The non-tax normal revenues became 1 quadrillion 480 trillion 665 billion TL while special revenues and funds became 1 quadrillion 414 trillion 331 billion TL and annexed budget revenues became 315 trillion 529 billion TL.

[19] TURKEY REPAYS 398.46 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN FOREIGN DEBT BETWEEN JULY 3-19

Meanwhile, a total of 5 billion 623.16 million U.S. dollars of foreign debt has been repaid since the beginning of the year.

[20] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK INCREASE BY 367 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

The Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves were 24 billion 336 million U.S. dollars on July 7.

Meanwhile, according to the June 14-based statistics, Turkey's total international gross reserves increased 762 million U.S. dollars to 38 billion 797 million U.S. dollars between July 7-14.

The international gross reserves of Turkey were 38 billion 35 million U.S. dollars on July 7.

As of June 30, Turkey's international reserves were composed of 1 billion 11 million U.S. dollars in gold reserves; 24 billion 547 million U.S. dollars in the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves; and 13 billion 239 million U.S. dollars in the commercial banks' foreign exchange reserves.

[21] SUSPECTS OF ASSASINATION OF MUMCU TO BE TRIED ON AUGUST 14

Ankara DGM Republican Prosecutor Hamza Keles is seeking death sentence for nine of the seventeen suspects on charges of involvement in assasinations of journalist-author Ugur Mumcu, Associate Prof. Bahriye Ucok, Prof. Muammer Aksoy, and journalist and former Culture Minister Ahmet Taner Kislali.

The suspects will appear at court on August 14.

[22] POLICE SEIZES 27 KGS OF HEROIN, DETAINS 4 IN CONNECTION

Izmir Police Chief Hasan Yucesan held a press conference on Thursday with his deputy Fahrettin Coskun, and Narcotic Bureau Chief Sumer Ozkan.

''We reached a so-called accord with the network members on 400 thousand marks. We managed to detain four persons, but one other is still missing. Ater six months of struggling against the Iran-Van-Istanbul trade, we detained Fahri Orak (44), his brother Mehmet Sirin Orak (45), Nazim Cihan (39), Muzaffer Orak (44),'' said Ozkan.

The four persons confessed that they had been obtaining the raw material from Iran, taking it to Van for processing, and trading it in Istanbul, officials said.

The persons were to be transferred to the Izmir State Security Court after the completion of their interrogations.

[23] NUMBER OF BELGIAN TOURISTS VISITING TURKEY CONTINUE TO INCREASE

According to the statement made by the Tourism Ministry's Counselling Office in Brussels, 27 thousand 501 Belgian tourists visited Turkey in June 2000.

This indicated an increase by 89 percent as compared to the same month of 1999.

The number of Belgian tourists visiting Turkey in the first six months of the year topped 83 thousand, with an increase by about 57 percent.

[24] TPAO GENERAL DIRECTOR: ''PRODUCTION AT NATURAL GAS PLATFORM IN NORTH MARMARA WILL STOP AT THE END OF THE YEAR''

Demirag added that TPAO had produced 818 thousand 372 barrels or 946 thousand 302 tons oil, and 339 million 442 thousand 644 cubic meters natural gas in the first half of 2000.

[25] FOREST FIRES IN MANISA AND MUGLA TAKEN UNDER CONTROL

Mugla Provincial Forestry Directorate officials said that the forest fire in the Kiyikislacik hamlet of Mugla's Milas township was taken under control after burning 4 hectares of forest land into ashes, and that another fire, that burnt 50 acres of bushy land and 50 olive trees was also taken under control.

Meanwhile, the forest fires blazing in Manisa's Soma township were also taken under control.

Muzaffer Ecemis, Governor of Manisa said that they had provided the villages, which had suffered losses from last week's fires with 30 billion Turkish Liras in cash, and that they had provided each household with 75 million Turkish Liras in cash and food aid.

[26] PRIVATIZATION OF POAS FINALIZED

The Privatization Administration Board and the Is Bankasi A.S.-Dogan Holding consortium will sign a contract on Friday.

The Is Bankasi A.S.-Dogan Holding consortium will deposit in advance its 1.26 billion U.S. dollars bid.

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