Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-08-03

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

03

AUGUST 2000 Thursday

CONTENTS

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

[02] SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND OF EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE -BESIKTAS: 1 - PFC LEVSKI SOFIA: 1

[03] FIRE IN MILITARY ACADEMY CAMPUS AND FACTORY

[04] HISTORICAL WORKS OF ART ON NIMRUD MOUNTAIN WAIT TO BE SAVED

[05] THIS YEAR'S EXCAVATIONS IN ANCIENT KYME SITE RESUMED

[06] TREASURY UNDERSECRETARY DEMIRALP: ''INTEREST PAYMENTS WILL DECREASE BY SEVEN QUADRILLION LIRAS IN 2001 BUDGET''

[07] CASE ON KILLING OF UGUR MUMCU (1) -SUSPECT ABDULLAH ARGUN CETIN RELEASED

[08] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS CONVENES

[09] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT STOYANOV IN ANKARA

[10] TCG TURGUTREIS RETURNS TO GOLCUK

[11] ITALIAN POLICE REPORT: ''PKK OBTAINS MONEY FROM PEOPLE ILLEGALLY AND USE THIS MONEY IN HUMAN SMUGGLING''

[12] THIRD ROUND OF CYPRUS PROXIMITY TALKS CONTINUE IN GENEVA

[13] TEN IRAQIS CAPTURED IN VAN AFTER ILLEGALLY CROSSING TO TURKEY

[14] PRESIDENT SEZER MEETS WITH HIS BULGARIAN COUNTERPART STOYANOV

[15] FOREIGN MINISTRY:''WE ARE EXPECTING BOTH SIDES TO MUTUALLY RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER'S POLITICAL EQUALITY AND SOVEREIGNTY''

[16] COMMEMORATION CEREMONY TO BE HELD FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS ON AUGUST 17 IN YALOVA

[17] CASE ON KILLING OF UGUR MUMCU (2)

[18] FLEMISH DEPUTY PROPOSES TO INCLUDE TURKISH IN ELECTIVE LANGUAGE COURSES

[19] GERMAN RED CROSS HOSPITAL PUT OUT TO TENDER

[20] TURKEY REPAYS 33.12 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN FOREIGN DEBT BETWEEN AUGUST 1-2

[21] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK INCREASE BY 561 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

[22] MINISTERS COUNCIL MEETING -TURKEY WILL BUILD 3 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR MOSQUE IN TURKISTAN -NEW IDENTITY CARDS ON THE WAY, ALL CITIZENS WILL BE GIVEN AN I.D. NUMBER IN NOVEMBER

[23] NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ASK FOR SUPPORT FOR THEIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST ASSEN MUNICIPALITY'S PERMISION OF CONSTRUCTION OF A MONUMENT SYMBOLIZING SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS

[24] SEVEN CHILDREN TO GO TO JAPAN TO PARTICIPATE IN PROJECT TO HELP QUAKE SURVIVING CHILDREN

[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

TURKS IN RHODES
''Out on the eastern edges of the Aegean Sea, generations of nervous Greeks gazed at the nearby Turkish mainland wondering if the Turks would ever stream across. They are finally coming. But they are armed with cameras and guide books,'' said Associated Press journalist telling about the Turkish tourists coming to Rhodes island of Greece.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

EYES OF WORLD STEEL GIANTS ON ISDEMIR
Japanese Nippon company, the biggest steel producer, and South Korean Posco company closely pursue privatization of Isdemir. Necip Ebegil, General Director of Isdemir, said that Posco is interested in the the privatization of Isdemir. Ebegil noted that Nippon and Posco can submit bids to Isdemir on August 18 and wished these two giant companies to have share in Isdemir. Thus, they can benefit from the technology and markets of these two companies, Ebegil said.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

THREE SOLUTIONS FOR BANKS TRANSFERRED TO TMSF
A consultant company McKinsey prepared a report on five banks transferred to Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF). The report put forward three proposals for solving this problem. The report proposed either to sell each bank alone, or to form two medium scale bank groups and then sell them, or to unite the banks under the umbrella of Turk Ticaret Bankasi and sell them.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

FRESCO DESIGNS ON CERAMIC PLATES
Frescoes on walls of churches in Cappadocia are painted on ceramic plates. Suleyman Kasap, the Manager of Sirca Handicrafts Center in Avanos township of central Nevsehir province, said that they produced 200 plates with 30 and 43 centimetre diameters, in 11 months by taking into consideration the suggestions of tourists. Kasap said that they sold most of these plates.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

NO LIMITATION TO IMPORTED CARS
Premier Bulent Ecevit received the delegation of Economic Development Foundation (IKV) yesterday. Meral Eris, the Chairman of IKV said after the meeting that ''the government's limiting the imports within the framework of the customs union with the European Union (EU) is out of question.'' ''Mr. Ecevit also explained to us that the government does not have such a plan,'' Eris said.

YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)

CHINA TO IMPEDE TURKEY'S EXPORTS
The free trade agreement China made with the European Union (EU) will decrease the exports of Turkey in the world. Turkey will lose 1,5 billion dollars in its exports of textile and ready wear clothes to the European Union (EU) countries and the U.S.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

LIFE BUOY TO MARITIME
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said yesterday that Turkey was not a mariner country although its was surrounded by the three seas. Speaking at the ceremony which was held to mark the launching of ''TURCAS 1'' tanker that was constructed at the Tuzla Shipyard, Yilmaz said that Turkey couldn't develop much its maritime.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

SEZER SUPPORTS ANTI-INFLATION STRUGGLE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer signed the Social Agreement Against Inflation which was prepared within framework of ''Turkey Overcomes Inflation'' campaign. The campaign was launched by Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) and Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges in Turkey (TOBB). Sezer received Okan Oguz, TIM Chairman, and TIM Executive Board. Oguz submitted Sezer the report including the problems faced in exports, current balance, and measures to be taken and another report on initiatives launched in the campaign.

[02] SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND OF EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE -BESIKTAS: 1 - PFC LEVSKI SOFIA: 1

The first match was held on July 26.

[03] FIRE IN MILITARY ACADEMY CAMPUS AND FACTORY

The fire started in the roof of the stable due to an unknown reason around 01.00 local time and then the straw caught fire.

Fire fighters extinguished the fire early in the morning.

No casualties were reported.

Meanwhile another fire broke out around 23.30 local time in a slipper factory in Gazi district of Sapanca townhip of Sakarya province.

Fire brigades put out the fire on Thursday morning.

Efforts are underway to assess the damage.

[04] HISTORICAL WORKS OF ART ON NIMRUD MOUNTAIN WAIT TO BE SAVED

The Nimrud Project Protocol, which was signed by the International Nimrud Foundation and the Foundation of Protecting the Cultural and Natural Wealth in 1999, has been waiting for a permission from the Ministry of Culture for one year to be implemented.

The project foresees protection of the works of art discovered on Nimrud mountain 118 years ago. The project also includes the construction of an open air museum and exhibition centres on the mountain.

The works of art on the Nimrud mountain which are listed among the ''Eight Wonders of the World,'' are visited by thousands of native and foreign tourists every year.

[05] THIS YEAR'S EXCAVATIONS IN ANCIENT KYME SITE RESUMED

Prof. Dr. Sebastitana Lagona, heading the excavations, told A.A correspondent on Thursday that the archeology world attributes importance to excavations in Kyme and that Kyme will attract as many tourists as Ephesus and Bergama once the excavations are concluded.

Lagona said that as construction of the museum which is being built with support of Catania University and Aliaga Municipality is concluded, the artifacts unearthed during excavations will be displayed in this museum.

Turkey is like an open air museum, Lagona added.

Experts from Catania University in Italy have been carrying out excavations in the ancient Kyme site since 1984.

[06] TREASURY UNDERSECRETARY DEMIRALP: ''INTEREST PAYMENTS WILL DECREASE BY SEVEN QUADRILLION LIRAS IN 2001 BUDGET''

Speaking to A.A correspondent, Demiralp said that the 2000 budget was 47 quadrillion liras and the interests of debts were 21 quadrillion liras. Demiralp noted 14-15 quadrillion liras were foreseen for internal and foreign debts in 2001. This amount was 21 quadrillion liras in 2000 budget, said Demiralp and noted that the budget defecit will decrease by 7 quadrillion liras in 2001.

''The current account defecit is expected to be 3-3,5 percent of the Gross National Product (GNP) at the end of this year. There is no need to exaggerate the issue,'' he said and noted that there is a boom in car sales.

The private sector also has to play an important role in the anti- inflationist programme, he said and noted that the economic performance in the first six months is very good.

''We reached the goal of the non-interest surplus by 70 percent in the first six months. The interest rates continue to reduce. We don't have an internal borrowing problem in the last four months of 2000,'' he said.

Turkey showed a better performance in privatization in 2000 compared to the last 14 years, said Demiralp and noted that ''we expect a privatization income of 7.6 billion dollars this year. The privatization of Turkish Petroleum Inc. (POAS) gained an income of 825 million dollars to the Treasury. This is an important source for our payments back in August. The negotiations of the third GSM mobile tender have allmost finished.''

Demiralp noted that the developments about the privatization of Vakıfbank are positive, adding the decree having the force of law on the restructuring three public banks was submitted to the cabinet.

Demiralp noted that they will explain the Emlakbank issue to State Minister Faruk Bal at the technical level, adding ''I suppose there is a misunderstanding on the issue.''

''Energy sector is one of the sectors having priority for us,'' said Demiralp and noted that it both provides the infrastructure of Turkey and it also necessitates institutions acting in this field to work in a certain order. ''We want to adopt the Law on Energy till the end of the year,'' he said.

Demiralp noted that a lack of energy can be in question in 2001-2002, but with the implementation of energy projects an energy surplus can be seen between 2003 and 2005.

Demiralp noted that they will explain the situation of Stability Programme in 2000 and 2001 together with Central Bank Governor Gazi Ercel and the IMF Turkey Desk Chief Carlo Cottarelli in a meeting that will be organized by the Foreign Economy Relations Council on September 13 in London.

[07] CASE ON KILLING OF UGUR MUMCU (1) -SUSPECT ABDULLAH ARGUN CETIN RELEASED

Mehmet Orhan Karadeniz, the chief judge said that the court decided to release the suspect Cetin upon the request of the Prosecutor Semsettin Ozcan by taking into consideration ''the essential character of the crime, the existing evidence and the detention period of the suspect.''

Karadeniz later adjourned the hearing.

(To be contınued)

[08] COUNCIL OF MINISTERS CONVENES

Minister of Environment Fevzi Aytekin will inform the cabinet about the personnel who was assigned to the Ministry, the Minister of Interior Saadettin Tantan will inform the cabinet about ''Mernis'' project and State Minister Yuksel Yalova will talk about the assignment of the consulate building in Kazakhstan and the construction of a mosque in Turkmenistan.

Ministers also responded to the questions of journalists when they came for the meeting. Ministers said that it is the President Ahmet Necdet Sezer who will appreciate the issue on the decree having the force on law about the dismissal of civil servants who are involved in fundamentalist and separatist activities.

Upon another question, the Ministers said they agree with Tantan, the Minister of Interior who told governors not to welcome deputies and ministers at the border of the provinces.

When journalists asked Yalova about the closure of the Turkey Religious Affairs Foundation, he said that they had earlier applied to the justice to start legal proceedings.

[09] BULGARIAN PRESIDENT STOYANOV IN ANKARA

Stoyanov will meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Premier Bulent Ecevit and Ninth President Suleyman Demirel within framework of his contacts in Ankara.

Petar Stoyanov is expected to proceed to Kemer township of southern Antalya province on Thursday evening to spend his holiday.

[10] TCG TURGUTREIS RETURNS TO GOLCUK

An official welcome ceremony was held in Fleet Commandership.

The frigate later anchored at Poyraz Quay.

Turgutreis Frigate departed from Turkey on April 24 with its 216 personnel under command of Naval Staff Major Berk Erdem to participate in commemoration ceremonies of Ertugrul Frigate disaster.

It visited Egypt, India, Singapore, China, South Korea, Malaysia and Jordan during its 102 days of cruise.

TCG Turgutreis Frigate recorded 21 thousand 598 sea miles during this cruise.

Prince Mikasa of Japanese Royal Family, visited the frigate which also attended ceremonies held for 50th anniversary of Korea War.

Ertugrul Frigate left Istanbul for Japan with its 681 personnel on July 14, 1889 to pay a courtesy visit to Japan and within framework of Abdulhamit, the Second's opening to east policy.

The wooden ship which had not opened to waters for 13 years, ran aground while passing through Suez Channel on July 30 and could reach Yokohama a year later.

The ship stayed in Japan for three months.

As storm occured offshore Kobe island when the ship was en route to Istanbul, it was dragged along in the sea.

Only 69 of 681 personnel could be rescued. A total of 150 people who died in the disaster, were buried in Kobe island.

A ''Ertugrul Martyrs' Monument'' was built near the place where the personnel of Ertugrul Frigate were buried.

[11] ITALIAN POLICE REPORT: ''PKK OBTAINS MONEY FROM PEOPLE ILLEGALLY AND USE THIS MONEY IN HUMAN SMUGGLING''

The Italian police report was published by the Italian newspaper Il Giornale and it was noted that the French police held liable the PKK for human smuggling for one year.

''The PKK which is involved in illicit immigration gets the money necessary for the refugees' travelling through illegal ways. The PKK uses the money it gets from drug trafficking and racket in human smuggling. PKK collects money from the Turkish tradesmen and workers living in European countries illegally,'' the paper noted.

[12] THIRD ROUND OF CYPRUS PROXIMITY TALKS CONTINUE IN GENEVA

Alvaro De Soto, the Special Representative of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to Cyprus, met with Glafcos Clerides, the leader of the Greek Cypriot administration.

De Soto is scheduled to come together with President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) later in the day.

The third round of proximity talks are expected to end on Thursday.

[13] TEN IRAQIS CAPTURED IN VAN AFTER ILLEGALLY CROSSING TO TURKEY

Gendarme teams who were doing traffic controls in the area stopped two taxis near Parmakkapi village. Ten Iraqis and two Turkish men who were providing shelter and assistance to them were caught and taken into custody.

The Iraqi illegal immigrants will be extradited after the legal procedures are completed.

[14] PRESIDENT SEZER MEETS WITH HIS BULGARIAN COUNTERPART STOYANOV

President Sezer and President Stoyanov are expected to partake in a luncheon later today.

[15] FOREIGN MINISTRY:''WE ARE EXPECTING BOTH SIDES TO MUTUALLY RECOGNIZE EACH OTHER'S POLITICAL EQUALITY AND SOVEREIGNTY''

''In order to create a common ground for negotiations, we are expecting both sides to recognize the sovereignty and political equality of each other, to acknowledge that neither of them is empowered to speak on behalf of each other, and to admit that neither of them represents the other and neither of them can claim sovereignty over the other.''

The statement said this would only mean the acceptance of the truth and open the door to a healthy solution which depends on the equal status of two sides.

The Foreign Ministry said Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has been very determined and constructive since the beginning of the process. ''The Turkish government strongly supports Mr. Denktas's views and approach over the matter. Turkey's support, as a guarantor and motherland, will continue for Denktas.''

The confederation solution which is based on the political equality and sovereignty of the two states on the island will open the way for a long lasting answer which will secure full security to both sides, the Foreign Ministry said. ''Such a new partnership can make it possible for both governments and people to live next to each other in peace and create institutions for cooperation in certain fields,'' it was stated.

The Foreign Ministry also stressed that ''it is known and accepted by everybody that there can be no return to the period before 1974 in Cyprus.''

[16] COMMEMORATION CEREMONY TO BE HELD FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS ON AUGUST 17 IN YALOVA

Yalova Municipality has invited hundreds of people to the ceremony including the rescue teams from Japan, Germany, Austria, South Korea who had participated in the efforts to save lives in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Yalova mayor Yakup Kocal said people who lost their loved ones on the night of August 17 will gather at Hacimehmet Valley.

A religious ceremony will be held on the valley where thousands of people died under collapsed buildings. A minute of silence will be observed at 3.02 a.m., the time when the earthquake hit the Marmara region. The participants will later walk to the Earthquake Monument on Gazipasa Avenue.

Kocal said they will present plaques to foreign guests who will attend the ceremony as a symbol of gratitude.

[17] CASE ON KILLING OF UGUR MUMCU (2)

Suspect Cetin, intervenors Ceyhan Mumcu and Beyhan Gurson, and their lawyers Turgut Kazan, Senal Sarihan and Halil Sevinc attended the hearing at Ankara State Security Court (DGM) no: 1.

Mehmet Orhan Karadeniz, the chief judge, said, ''the indictment which was prepared by the Ankara DGM, at the end of 'Umut (Hope) Operation' that was launched to reveal a number of unsolved homicides including assasination of Mumcu was sent to us. It was understood that the name of Cetin was not mentioned in the indictment. At the same time, the Foreign Ministry responded our note, saying that suspect Cetin held telephone conversations with Istanbul and the U.S. between November 7-10, 1998 at the Bucharest Majestic Hotel in Romania.''

Karadeniz said that the court decided to release the suspect Cetin upon the request of the Republican Prosecutor Semsettin Ozcan by taking into consideration ''the essential character of the crime, the existing evidence and the detention period of the suspect.''

Later, Karadeniz adjourned the hearing.

During the previous hearings, Hamza Keles, the Republican Prosecutor, demanded release of Cetin, but the court delegation rejected the request.

The indictment prepared by Keles, sought capital punishment to suspect Abdullah Argun Cetin on charges of ''being involved in an intentional murder''.

[18] FLEMISH DEPUTY PROPOSES TO INCLUDE TURKISH IN ELECTIVE LANGUAGE COURSES

Grouwels, in her proposal, said Arabic should also be given as an elective course and Turkish and Arabic should be taught at the same level as French, English and Flemish.

Noting that there are many students of Turkish and Arabic origin studying at Belgian schools, Grouwels said teaching Turkish and Arabic at schools would help these students remain connected with their cultures. She said Belgian people who wish to learn these languages can also do so through this system.

Belgian Parliament's Education Commission will discuss Grouwel's proposal in the next legislative term.

[19] GERMAN RED CROSS HOSPITAL PUT OUT TO TENDER

The tender for turn-key delivery of the hospital will be carried out by sealed bid method over the fixed estimated cost.

The firms that want to join the tender can obtain specifications of the tender from the Tusba Consultancy Corp. in Istanbul.

[20] TURKEY REPAYS 33.12 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN FOREIGN DEBT BETWEEN AUGUST 1-2

Meanwhile, a total of 5 billion 975.07 million U.S. dollars of foreign debt has been repaid since the beginning of the year.

[21] FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES OF CENTRAL BANK INCREASE BY 561 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS

The Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves were 24 billion 114 million U.S. dollars on July 21.

Meanwhile, according to the June 14-based statistics, Turkey's total international gross reserves increased 840 million U.S. dollars to 39 billion 633 million U.S. dollars between July 7 and 14.

The international gross reserves of Turkey were 38 billion 797 million U.S. dollars on July 7.

As of July 7, Turkey's international reserves were composed of 1 billion 10 million U.S. dollars in gold reserves; 24 billion 703 million U.S. dollars in the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves; and 13 billion 920 million U.S. dollars in the commercial banks' foreign exchange reserves.

[22] MINISTERS COUNCIL MEETING -TURKEY WILL BUILD 3 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR MOSQUE IN TURKISTAN -NEW IDENTITY CARDS ON THE WAY, ALL CITIZENS WILL BE GIVEN AN I.D. NUMBER IN NOVEMBER

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit instructed the National Real Estate General directorate to find a suitable building when Yalova asked the Ministers Council to assign a consulate building in Istanbul for Kazakhstan Embassy.

Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan also made explanations about the Central Population Management System (MERNIS) project. Tantan told about the project which aims to form a population data-base in settlement units, issuing modern identity cards for people which are difficult to dublicate, provide quick and accurate statistics of population and families, and to provide information service to people and public institutions through a computerized system.

''Citizenship identification number will be given to all Turkish citizens in November, 2000,'' Tantan said. He also noted that a commission formed by Transportation Minister Enis Oksuz, Labour and Social Security Minister Yasar Okuyan, and Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk will decide about the appearance of the new id. cards and what type of information they should have on them.

[23] NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ASK FOR SUPPORT FOR THEIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST ASSEN MUNICIPALITY'S PERMISION OF CONSTRUCTION OF A MONUMENT SYMBOLIZING SO-CALLED GENOCIDE ON ARMENIANS

The Turkish Associations' Union in Austria, the Turkish Committee in the Netherlands, the Turkish Forum in the U.S., the Turkish Associations Coordination Council in Germany, the Turkish Associations Coordination Council in Baden, the Turkish-American Associations' Federation, and the World Turkish Council have launched a campaign to protest Assen Municipality's decision to allow construction of ''Genocide on Armenians Monument'' in the city graveyard. Many people showed great interest in the campaing. Meanwhile, Armenian people have also launched a campaign for construction of the monument. Officials at Assen Municipality will decide whether to allow construction of the monument or to cancel it according to majority of the messages of two sides. The deadline for sending messages was determined as August 18, 2000.

The Turkish non-governmental organizations called on Turkish people to send e-mail to the Assen Municipality's web-site till August 18 to prevent such an attempt to harm peace of Turkish community living in Assen.

-ARMENIANS IN OTTOMAN PERIOD
The Armenian communities dispersed throughout the Ottoman territories lived as loyal, and, in certain aspects, as privileged subjects of Sultan. They were able to serve as ministers, ambassadors, privy physicians, court musicians, commercial envoys and in similar other capacities.

Beginning from the last quarter of the 19th century the nationalist/separatist Armenian bands started fomenting insurrection among the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire. These bands organized several rebellions in various provinces like Zeitun (1862-1895), Erzurum (1890), Van (1895-96), Adana (1909) etc. during which thousands of muslims were killed.

-MASSACRES COMMITTED BY ARMENIANS-
During the First World War, they joined the invading Russian and French forces. They raided the Ottoman supply depots, savagely attacked the Turkish cities, towns and villages in the Eastern Anatolia, massacring their inhabitants as happened then in Van in 1915, and doing whatever possible to ease the Russian military advance. Their hope was that participation in the Russian success would be rewarded as an independent Armenian state carved out of Ottoman territories.

In response to these uprisings and massacres by the Armenians, the Ottoman government ordered the relocation of the Armenian population from the war zone to southern regions of the Empire.

-SPEAKING ABOUT GENOCIDE IS INACURATE, INAPPROPRIATE AND UNJUSTIFIED-
The years of First World War were full of sufferings for the whole population of the Ottoman Empire. Historians state that more than 2 million muslims lost their lives throughout this period. People perished due to shortages of fuel, food, medicine and other supplies as well as large scale plague and famine. The insurrection launched by the Armenians while the state was actively fighting a world war increased the suffering. It was part of the wartime tragedy for the Armenians and Turks alike.

Scores of distinguished academicians, past and present, focusing on Ottoman history conclude that speaking about genocide victimizing Ottoman Armenians is inacurate, inappropriate and unjustified.

Armenian insistence on viewing themselves as the only victims of the sufferings in Anatolia during the World War I fuels today racial animosity and is a feeble attempt in justify Armenian terrorism, which has already claimed lives of 75 people belonging to different nationalities, 36 of them Turkish diplomats and their families.

[24] SEVEN CHILDREN TO GO TO JAPAN TO PARTICIPATE IN PROJECT TO HELP QUAKE SURVIVING CHILDREN

Dr. Gulsen Ozturk from Kocaeli University who is in charge of the project said their project aims to help children who lost one or two parents in the quake. ''The project targets to start communication with every one of these children, to start 15-day and one month activity programmes during which they can speak, think, consult with each other and engage in art activities in a peaceful environement,'' Ozturk explained.

The project will bring together Turkish, Japanese, Taiwanese, and Colombian children and the training will last from 4 to 14 August.

The children who are between the ages of 8 and 17 will leave for Japan on Friday on a plane from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport.

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