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Turkish Press Review, 98-08-17Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>17.08.98Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] TURKEY TO USE MORE BALLOONS TO CARRY WATER TO TRNCState Water Works (DSI) Director-General Dogan Altinbilek said that Turkish ships have carried 30,000 cubic metres of water to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) since July 24, when the ships set out to carry the first water balloon to the island, the Anatolia news agency reported. Turkey has been sending water balloons at its own cost to help fight the current drought and help irrigate the cultivated lands in the TRNC. Altinbilek said that the ships have been towing giant water balloons once a week, but will start to carry water three times a week starting August 24.Altinbilek noted that the DSI had recently obtained a new balloon, which is capable of carrying twice as much water than the current balloon that has capacity of 10,000 cubic metres. The new balloon will be operational on August 24. "We will also make operational a third water balloon in September" Altinbilek added. He pointed out that Turkey plans to carry three million cubic metres of water to the TRNC this year and seven million each consecutive year. NATURAL GAS IN THE 21st CENTURY To meet future demands for natural gas in Turkey, certain procedures are being accelerated, the Anatolia news agency reported. In an effort to increase Turkish natural gas consumption, the general directorate of the state-owned pipeline company (BOTAS) has made six separate supply agreements with several countries having adequate reserves. It is reported that natural gas requirements in Turkey will reach 45 billion cubic metres in 2005, 53.5 billion cubic metres in 2010, 64.8 billion cubic metres in 2015 and 80 billion cubic metres in 2020. This demand will be met by pipelines from Russia, Turkmenistan, Iran and Egypt, and additional requirements for liquid natural gas (LNG) will be met by Nigeria, Qatar, Yemen, Oman, Norway and the United Arab Emirates. Natural gas is currently used in Marmara and Central Anatolia, and pipelines are being constructed for gas distribution to other areas. Within the next 10 years, the distribution network will reportedly cover the Aegean region, the entire Central Anatolia region and both the eastern and the southeastern regions of Turkey. [02] CROP DUSTING PLANE CRASHES IN ANTALYAA crop duster crashed in Antalya yesterday due to unexpected turbulence. The pilot, Yilmaz Iskar, was hospitalized. The Antalya link of TRT (Turkish Radio and Television Corporation) received serious damage caused by the crash and is still under repair. /All papers/[03] RATING INSTITUTIONS POSITIVE ON TURKISH ECONOMYInternational rating institutions have evaluated the Turkish economy positively for the first in the last two years, despite a continuing economic crisis in much of Asia, the Anatolia news agency reported. According to Standard and Poor's, since the beginning of 1998, Turkey is the only developing country whose potential in the long-term was upgraded from negative to positive.Russia, which has received $50 billion of loans from the IMF, had until last year been the country receiving the most praise for its economic achievements. But after their economic crisis, its grade was dropped to B (-) overnight, even lower than that of Turkey. Duff and Phelps is another rating institution which is preparing to convert Turkey's grade from negative to positive. Duff and Phelps is expected to announce the grade Turkey received today. /All papers/ [04] COMMEMORATION CEROMONIES FOR HACI BEKTAS VELIPresident Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Kamer Genc, Republican People's Party Chairman Deniz Baykal as well as many ministers and deputies participated yesterday in the international commemoration ceremonies for Haci Bektas Veli, a renowned 13th century Turkish Muslim philosopher. Delivering a speech at the ceremony, Demirel stressed that every Turkish citizen has equal rights. Yilmaz also gave a speech in which he criticised Islamic fundamentalists and those who make religious discrimination. /Hurriyet/[05] US SIXTH FLEET MONITORING MEDITERRANEANUS Sixth Fleet is ready to intervene in any conflicts that could emerge in the Aegean and Cyprus, reports the Washington Post. The report quotes Admiral Daniel J. Murphy Jr., the chief of the fleet, as saying that the fleet discourages countries from launching attacks against neighbouring countries. Admiral says that the conflicting spots in the region are Kosovo, where Serbians and Albenians clash; the Aegean where Turco-Greek disputes continue; the Caucasus where there is a risk of internal war; and the north Africa which is threatened by Islamic fundementalism. /Hurriyet/[06] TURKISH FAIRS IN MOSCOWTwo leather and textile products fairs called Le Show'98 and Fashion Days were held in Moscow. 120 Turkish firms attended the fairs which began on 13 August and ended two days ago. Turkish leather and textile products attracted the attention of many people. /Milliyet/[07] HAZELNUT EXPORTS REACH $1 BILLIONTurkey's hazelnut exports during the 1997-98 season reached $1 billion. Chairman of the Black Sea Hazelnut and Products Exporters' Union, Ahmet Tunavelioglu, said that 215,000 tons of hazelnuts were exported in return for $970 million. Tunavelioglu added: "We exported hazelnuts at a record level during this season, which started on September 1, 1997, and will end on 31 August, 1998. It is expected that on August 31, 1998, Turkey's hazelnut exports will exceed $1 billion". /Milliyet/[08] NEMRUT MOUNTAIN TOURISM MASTER PLAN"Adiyaman Nemrut Mountain Tourism Master Plan" will be realized with the support of Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), the Treasury Undersecretariat and the World Bank within the framework of a Local Economic Development Programme of the Adiyaman Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This plan aims to bring over 250,000 tourists to the region annually. When this target is achieved, the annual tourism income in the region will total $2.5 million. /Milliyet/[09] TWO VILLAGE GUARDS DIEOne of the five member village-guard team missioned in Taslicay, Agri died by stepping up on mine. Another village guard in Uludere township of Sirnak also died stepping on mine laid on the road. /Cumhuriyet/[10] "INCREASE IN NUMBER OF TURKS TRAVELLING ABROAD"According to the World Tourism Organization there has been an increase in the number of Turkish tourists travelling abroad during recent years. It is announced the demand of Turkish tourists to travel abroad has been increasing. 315 travel agencies which are members of the International Civilian Air Travel Agency (IATA) are being active in Turkey. These agencies sell tickets of the 47 airlines which have regular flights to abroad. /Sabah/[11] ABN AMRO BANK: MARKET VALUE OF TURKCELL IS $ 10 BILLIONOne of the biggest banks of the Netherlands and Europe, ABN Amro announced that market value of Turkcell was between $ 9-11 billion. In its report about the Yapi Kredi Bank, ABN Amro said that Yapi Kredi had 12 percent share in Turkcell and advised investors to buy Turkcell share certificates. It is also added that if only you buy Yapi Kredi share certificates you will invest in Turkcell. /Sabah/[12] BILKENT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IN SANLIURFAWithin the scope of the "Bilkent 5th International Anatolia Music Festival" the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra gave a concert in Sanliurfa on 14 August. The orchestra, conducted by world-famous conductor Gurer Aykal, gave a concert on 15 August in Adiyaman and on 16 August in Kahramanmaras. The orchestra is going to play today in Gaziantep and will continue its tour until 21 August.Gurer Aykal said that they had started their tour on 7 August in Ankara and since 10 August they had been giving performances in the southeast region where they had met with great enthusiasm and interest of regional people. /Sabah/ Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |