Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-07-28

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

28 JULY 2000

Friday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] SECURITIES ACCOUNT AT BANKS INCREASE 96.9 TRILLION TL

[03] REPO TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN BANKS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS DECREASE 145 TRILLION TL

[04] BANK CREDITS VOLUME INCREASES 6.1 TRILLION TL

[05] TOTAL DEPOSITS AT BANKS REACH 53 QUADRILLION TL

[06] FOUR TURKISH COMPANIES IN WORLD COMPANIES LEAGUE

[07] REEKER, SPOKESMAN OF U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: -''THE U.S. SUPPORTS TURKEY'S EFFORTS TO MEET ITS LEGAL DEFENSE NEEDS''

[08] TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN GAZIANTEP -NINE PEOPLE BURN TO DEATH

[09] ANCIENT AGE HISTORIAN JORG WAGNER: -''ZEUGMA'S MOSAICS WERE SMUGGLED TO EUROPE BETWEEN 1890 AND 1900 BY THE HELP OF ITALIAN CONSULATE''

[10] FORESTRY MINISTRY: ''14.30 HECTARES OF FORESTED AREA BURNT DOWN TO ASHES IN 16 FIRES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF TURKEY''

[11] FIRE BREAKS OUT IN A PAINT FACTORY IN ISTANBUL

[12] FOURTH EURASIA ISLAM COUNCIL MEETING ENDS

[13] FIRE BREAKS OUT IN A PAINT FACTORY IN ISTANBUL (2) -CAKIR, GOVERNOR OF ISTANBUL: ''THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE REPORTS OF CASUALTIES''

[14] TURKISH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY TO BUILD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN ALMATY

[15] ORGANIZATIONS IN TRNC SEND A LETTER TO UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN

[16] ULUCEVIK, TURKEY'S AMBASSADOR TO BERLIN, PAYS FAREWELL VISIT TO PRIME MINISTER OF BRANDENBURG STATE

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

STATE MINISTER ONAL: ''WE WILL SELL BANKS IN THE FUND''
State Minister Recep Onal said that they will unite the banks which were transferred to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) and the structure of which are similar to each other and sell them. Onal noted that the consultancy firm Mckinsey prepared a pre-report about the banks transferred to TMSF. Onal stated that the pre-report will be submitted to Turkey in the beginning of next month and that the Treasury and Central Bank will evaluate the report.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

REPO INTEREST FALLS TO 13.5 PERCENT
The Privatization Board transferred 825 million U.S. dollars to the account of Public Partnership Fund-Treasury Undersecretariat account. Bond issue in U.S. dollar and euro basis brought in about 1 billion U.S. dollars to the Treasury. The repo rates decreased from 20.81 to 13.52 percent.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

ASSISTANCE FUND FOR TURKEY FROM GEORGE SOROS
George Soros, 'the money magician', and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) formed 150 million U.S. dollar fund to support private initiatives in nine Balkan and Southeast European countries, including Turkey. 10 million U.S. dollars is expected to be allocated for Turkey. The fund will be used in energy, transportation and consumer services.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

NEAR MISS IN BOSPHORUS
The engines of a giant tanker carring 136,500 tonnes of crude oil from Russia's Novorossisk Port to Greece's Agia Thodivia Port, stopped as it crossed through the Istanbul Strait. The tanker started being swept by the tide towards the European shores of Istanbul. Trailer vessels pulled the giant tanker off the shores and anchored it off Ahirkapi.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

AEGEAN TOUR OPERATORS INVITE BUREAUCRATS
Aegean tour operators and hotel owners are in an effort to recover the region's former popularity. The region had lost much of its visitors to the Mediterranean region, which now has much better facilities. The Aegean tour operators are expecting the members of the Council of Ministers, in an effort to regain the region's popularity.

YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

DIFFICULT DAYS IN KOSOVO
Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, received representatives of Kosovo Turkish Representative Council and Turkish Democratic Association. After the meeting, Cem said, ''we are not pleased with some developments in Kosovo after the United Nations mission was formed.'' Cem said, ''necessary attention is not been paying for rights of Turkish population in Kosovo. We are concerned that this might affect negatively the future of Kosovo.'' Noting that a considerable part of the population had already been excluded, Cem said, ''such developments may cause Kosovo to turn back into the previous negative atmophere from a place in which people with different ethnic background live in peace.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

TURKEY WINS FOUR MEDALS AT INTERNATIONAL MATHEMATICS OLYMPIAD
Turkish students won three silver and one bronze medals at the 41st International Mathematics Olympiad held between July 13-25 in Taejon, South Korea. The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) said that Ahmet Cetintas from Private Samanyolu Scientific High School, Alp Simsek from Izmir Scientific High School, and Mehmet Bumin Yenmez from Private Yamanlar High School won silver medals while Serhat Sevki Dincer from Kayseri Scientific High School won bronze medal.

[02] SECURITIES ACCOUNT AT BANKS INCREASE 96.9 TRILLION TL

The total securities account at banks was 11 quadrillion 768.3 trillion TL on July 7.

The Central Bank data shows that there were a total of 11 quadrillion 627.4 trillion TL of securities including 8 quadrillion 489.4 trillion TL of securities, and 3 quadrillion 138 trillion TL of securities over foreign currency at the deposit banks portfolio.

The securities over TL at deposit banks are composed of 370.7 trillion TL in treasury bonds, 7 quadrillion 319.7 trillion TL in state debenture bonds and 607.3 trillion TL in stocks.

A total of 616.2 trillion TL of foreign currency securities at these banks are abroad while there is a total of 1 quadrillion 686.6 trillion TL of state debenture bonds among the domestic securities.

The total securities account at the development and investment banks was 239.2 trillion TL.

[03] REPO TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN BANKS AND THEIR CUSTOMERS DECREASE 145 TRILLION TL

The reverse repo transactions, which were 6 trillion 783 billion TL on July 14, increased 339 billion TL to 7 trillion 339 billion TL on July 21.

The repo transactions among the financial organizations rose 47 trillion TL to 2 quadrillion 342.3 trillion TL on July 21. The total repo transactions amount was 2 quadrillion 295.3 trillion TL on July 14.

The reverse repo transactions among the financial organizations, which were 2 quadrillion 291.8 trillion TL on July 14, increased 47.8 trillion TL to 2 quadrillion 339.5 trillion TL on July 21.

[04] BANK CREDITS VOLUME INCREASES 6.1 TRILLION TL

The total credit volume at banks was 24 quadrillion 625.4 trillion TL on July 7.

The Central Bank data shows that the total credits in the system was composed of 1 quadrillion 411 trillion TL of loans given to financial sector and 23 quadrillion 358.4 trillion TL of loans given to non-financial sector as of July 14.

The credits given to financial sector were composed of 733.1 trillion TL of loans given by deposit banks, 677.9 trillion TL of loans given by development and investment banks.

[05] TOTAL DEPOSITS AT BANKS REACH 53 QUADRILLION TL

The Central Bank data shows that the total deposit which was 52 quadrillion 82.5 trillion TL on July 7 increased to 53 quadrillion 151.1 trillion TL on July 14.

When the inter-banks deposits are not considered, the total deposit, which was 46 quadrillion 580.9 trillion TL on July 7, increased 1 quadrillion 40.3 trillion TL to 47 quadrillion 621.2 trillion TL on July 14.

The total TL deposit increased 563.7 trillion TL to 23 quadrillion 290.6 trillion TL on July 14. The total TL deposit was 22 quadrillion 726.8 trillion on July 7.

As of July 14, the total TL deposit was composed of 15 quadrillion 65.5 trillion TL deposits at public banks, 7 quadrillion 965 trillion TL of deposits at private deposit banks and 112.4 trillion TL of deposits at foreign banks.

The foreign exchange accounts at banks increased 476.5 trillion TL to 24 quadrillion 330.6 trillion TL on July 14.

[06] FOUR TURKISH COMPANIES IN WORLD COMPANIES LEAGUE

The financial magazine FORBES listed Koc Holding, Sabanci Holding, Turkish Garanti Bankasi and Turkish Oil Refineries Corp. (Tupras) among the second 400 biggest companies of the world.

Koc Holding became the 451th, Sabanci Holding ranked at 481st place, Turkish Garanti Bank became the 611th and Tupras 792th in the list.

The FORBES said that the net revenue of Koc Holding was 25 million U.S. dollars and its market value was 5.40 billion U.S. dollars, including that the turnover of Koc Holding was 5.552 million U.S. dollars.

The FORBES noted that Sabanci Holding's market value was 5.76 billion U.S. dollars, its turnover was 5.188 million U.S. dollars and its net revenue was 281 million U.S. dollars.

The market value of Garanti Bankasi was 3.33 billion U.S. dollars, its turnover was 4.077 million U.S. dollars, net revenue was 224 million U.S. dollars, the FORBES stated.

The FORBES said that the market price of Tupras was 4 billion U.S. dollars, its net revenue was 404 million U.S. dollars and its turnover was 2.953 million U.S. dollars.

Citigroup functioning in finance sector, ranked at the first place in the list of 100 giant companies of the world.

[07] REEKER, SPOKESMAN OF U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: -''THE U.S. SUPPORTS TURKEY'S EFFORTS TO MEET ITS LEGAL DEFENSE NEEDS''

Describing Turkey as an ally country having important commitments, Reeker said that the U.S. Administration supported Turkey's efforts to meet its legal defense needs in accordance with the U.S.' weapon transfer policies.

Recalling that contract negotiations between Turkey and the Bell Company had not been finalized yet, Reeker said that allowance for sale process would start following the negotiations.

Noting that the U.S. Congress would recess due to elections next fall, Reeker said that the adoption of Congress' decision on the issue before the recess depended on the date when the contract would be signed.

Reeker said that the U.S.' laws and the U.S.' conventional weapon transfer policies would be taken into consideration during the process for the sale of helicopters.

He noted that the human rigts would also be considered within this framework.

In accordance with the U.S. regulations, approvals of the State Department, the Defense Department and the Congress are required for sales of weapons.

[08] TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN GAZIANTEP -NINE PEOPLE BURN TO DEATH

The fire spread rapidly to the automobile.

A total of nine people were burnt to death in the accident while 15 others were injured.

The injured people were taken to the hospitals in Gaziantep.

[09] ANCIENT AGE HISTORIAN JORG WAGNER: -''ZEUGMA'S MOSAICS WERE SMUGGLED TO EUROPE BETWEEN 1890 AND 1900 BY THE HELP OF ITALIAN CONSULATE''

He realized that Belkis was the ancient Zeugma site during the studies he held in this township between 1970 and 1972, Wagner said.

Wagner noted that Zeugma was a very important city in the ancient age and that Zeugma was not a name but in fact an adjective meaning bridge.

Wagner continued, ''it is a very important site for the Romans. 1976 was also too late for launching excavations in Zeugma. But, those days Zeugma was a very far city. It was easy to carry out excavations in Troy and Ephesus.''

''The Hellenistic city named Ephesus Seleukera was known to be Zeugma and it was also known that Roman Empire Pompeius presented this city as a gift to Commagene King Antiochos. But, the exact place of Zeugma was not known. During my excavations, I found the relief which shows Antiochos and Herakles while shaking hands. Zeugma had a legion camp and 6,000 soldiers were deployed in this camp. I found bricks, tiles and graves having the sign of legion during my excavations in Belkis. In the end, I realized that Belkis ruins were the ancient Zeugma site,'' Wagner added.

Wagner stated that he knew those days that the Zeugma was a very important cultural heritage.

Wagner said, ''the old travelling notes which I mentioned in my thesis said that best mosaics unearthed in Zeugma between 1890 and 1900 were brought to Europe via Alleppo. Most of the mosaics are in the U.S. The high-quality mosaics were sent to the U.S. via Europe. But, I do not know how many mosaics were smuggled.''

The mosaics were mostly sent to London, St. Petersburg, Wagner noted.

Wagner continued, ''it was known those days that these mosaics were high- quality. But, this region was known as Belkis rather than Zeugma. That this place was Zeugma was made public in 1976.''

The Gaziantep Museum, where the mosaics unearthed from Zeugma are displayed, will become as important as Tunisian Le Bardo and Antakya museums, Wagner stressed.

Wagner emphasized that Zeugma, which was an important city in the east border of Roman Empire, was on the Antakya-Zeugma-Nusaybin trade route.

Wagner added that Turkish people should understand that the history in Zeugma is not only the history of Europeans but also their own history.

[10] FORESTRY MINISTRY: ''14.30 HECTARES OF FORESTED AREA BURNT DOWN TO ASHES IN 16 FIRES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF TURKEY''

All fires were taken under control.

[11] FIRE BREAKS OUT IN A PAINT FACTORY IN ISTANBUL

The fire caused major explosions in depot of the factory in which acidic substances were stored.

The fire spread rapidly to another factory nearby and an automobile service.

It cannot be taken under control despite fire-fighting teams' works.

The explosions are hampering efforts to take the fire under control.

Workers in neighboring business places have been evacuated from the area.

[12] FOURTH EURASIA ISLAM COUNCIL MEETING ENDS

Addressing journalists, Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz, the Head of the Religious Affairs, said, ''at the meeting, we have decided to make Turkish language the official language of next meetings.''

Yilmaz said, ''Bosnians have been struggling for their national and religious identity for a thousand year. This struggle has reached its peak in the last decade. Positive results of the struggle are pleasing. It is not possible to force people to give up their religious beliefs and national identities following the developments in the last century.''

''Recent democratization process and respect for human rights will provide solutions to problems in the possible shortest time. Universal values accepted by the Western world, and provisions regarded with human rights are the principles which were announced by Prophet Mohammad centuries ago. The Islam is a religion based on the universal values. It prioritizes principles such as affection, peace and tolerance. It is an extreme unjustness that our religion was introduced to the West with images of violence, torture and pressure on women,'' Yilmaz said.

Yilmaz said that the universal values brought forward by Islam should be taught.

Yilmaz noted that superstition should be got rid of and that the Islam World retrogressed due to superstition.

Yilmaz later read out the resolutions taken in the end of the meeting.

Below listed some of the resolutions taken in the meeting:

-Efforts should be launched:

-to further improve cooperation among countries and societies in theology should continue,

-to make Turkish the common language of the Eurosia Islam Council and a 'Turkish Language Teaching Center' should be established in Ankara, the center of the Organization,

-to prepare a common curriculum and to use similar books in the theology schools of member countries.

-Assistance should be provided to accelerate the transition process to Latin Alphabet in member countries.

-Measures to spread religion, which is an important element in preservation of religious culture, through press and communication organs should be taken.

-Publications that the Religious Affairs Directorate send to member countries free of charge should be diversified in respect of language and type. CDs on religion should be prepared and publications aiming at training children should be issued.

-Books which were written in the past and transferred to nowadays and which have important place in development of Islamic culture, should be reviewed.

-A web-site should be created to introduce activities of the organization.

[13] FIRE BREAKS OUT IN A PAINT FACTORY IN ISTANBUL (2) -CAKIR, GOVERNOR OF ISTANBUL: ''THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE REPORTS OF CASUALTIES''

Responding to questions of jounalists, Cakir said, ''there are no immediate reports of casualties. Fire-fighting teams are working to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring business places.''

Meanwhile, two fire-fighting workers were poisoned with smoke. They were taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

[14] TURKISH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY TO BUILD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IN ALMATY

The airport is expected to cost almost 300 million U.S. dollars and to start functioning in October 2004.

[15] ORGANIZATIONS IN TRNC SEND A LETTER TO UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN

In the letter, the organizations expressed their pleasure with resumption of the third round of proximity talks in Geneva, Switzerland.

The letter said, ''the island has been militarized completely as a result of failure in efforts to find a peaceful solution and the status quo stemmed from these failures. Cyprus is under a potential threat of clashes. The Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots are tired of living on a military volcano that is ready to eruption. Economic sources of both communities exhausted for unnecessary military spendings.''

'' The Turkish Cypriots and the Greek Cypriots have been suffering from the status quo, but the Turkish Cypriots paid a bitter price. The Turkish Cypriots' connection with the rest of the world is broken. Therefore, the TRNC's economy and democracy are under an extremely serious threat,'' the letter stressed.

It added, ''as democratic organizations of the Turkish Cypriot community of the island, we want the proximity talks to turn into fruitful, and comprehensive face-to-face talks without precondition. A solution on the island can only be possible with a bizonal and bicommunal federation based on political equality.''

[16] ULUCEVIK, TURKEY'S AMBASSADOR TO BERLIN, PAYS FAREWELL VISIT TO PRIME MINISTER OF BRANDENBURG STATE

Ulucevik said that Stolpe wants Turkish citizens to set up closer relations with Brandenburg state.

Their meeting was very positive, and that Stolpe wished that the relations between especially young people will be further improved, Ulucevik noted.

Ulucevik stated that this improvement will be beneficial for the future.

Ulucevik said that he drew the attention that there are worries that xenophobia is very much in Brandenburg state and that Stolpe shared this opinion.

Stolpe told him that the government of Brandenburg state is doing its best to put an end to this xenophobia, Ulucevik noted.

Ulucevik quoted Stolpe as saying that he was pleased about Turkey's Consulate General's moving to Potsdam, capital of Brandenburg state.

Ulucevik added that Stolpe will extend support for enabling Turkey's Consulate General's settling in Potsdam.

Stolpe said that the relations between Turkey and Germany carry importance and that these relations can be further improved by especially Germany.

Stolpe added that more than 100 thousand Turkish people are living in Brandenburg state.

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