Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-11-14

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[01] AA Daily

14 November 1999 Sunday

[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

THE STATE WAS QUICK THIS TIME
Civil defense teams were in the region three hours after the quake. Other local and foreign rescue groups including AKUT arrived in the region within ten hours. The Red Crescent was also very quick at sending supplies, mobile kitchens and ambulances. It set up a tent-city on Saturday. The Health Ministry and Turkish Armed Forces sent Skorsky helicopters to the region immediately. The government did not repeat the mistakes made after the August 17 earthquake.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL) FINANCIAL COST OF QUAKE 10 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS
Industrial institutions in Bolu which were negatively affected by the August 17 quake about three months ago, suffered another blow by the Duzce quake. Industrial facilities in Bolu, Kaynasli and Duzce stopped their production because of power shortages, and some of them suffered material damage during the quake. The government estimated the financial cost of the quake as 10 billion U.S. dollars.

NO MONEY FOR DUZCE FROM IMF
It was reported that the IMF and the World Bank which provided Turkey with 500 million U.S. dollars after the major Marmara earthquake, will not allocate any resources for Duzce. Therefore, the Treasury will transfer a certain amount of loans to Duzce that were given by the World bank, European Development and Investment Bank, and some other international organizations. The Treasury authorities said they had sufficient resources and currently there was no need for additional financement.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

FRIENDS RUSH FOR HELP AGAIN
Our foreign friends who came to help us after the Marmara earthquake did not leave us alone also this time. Many equipped foreign rescue teams were taken to the quake region in a very short time after the quake hit Duzce. Germany, Israel, Greece, Britain, Algeria, TRNC, Sweden and Armenia sent rescue teams accompanied by sniffer dogs.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

''FRIENDSHIP TRAIN'' RETURNS TO TURKEY
The ''Friendship Train'' returned to Turkey. The ''Friendship Train'' visited Salonica, Athens, Drama, and Komotini in Greece.

The journey of the ''Friendship Train'' was organized by the Directorate General of State Railways, and the Turkish Radio and Television Broadcast Organization (TRT).

RADIKAL (LEFT)

ISTANBUL PREPARES FOR ANOTHER QUAKE
The measures that need to be taken before a possible earthquake in Istanbul, was discussed at a meeting presided by Saadettin Tantan, the Interior Minister. Tantan recalled that he had visited Duzce and Kaynasli counties of Bolu province where he saw extensive damage caused by unhealthy planning and construction. Tantan added that Turkey had learned lessons from August 17 quake.''We are aiming at testing the durability of all buildings in Istanbul, and demolish some of them if necessary,'' he added.

FIRST LADY ARRIVES IN TURKEY
Hillary Clinton, the wife of U.S. President Bill Clinton, arrived in Turkey. airplane carrying Ms. Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton, the Clintons' daughter, landed at Esenboga Airport in Ankara at 20:25 local time on Saturday. Ms. Clinton is expected to accompany President Clinton during his official visit to Turkey. She will proceed to southern Antalya province for a holiday during the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Summit in Istanbul between November 18-19. Meanwhile, Ms. Clinton issued a message of condolence regarded with the second earthquake disaster in Turkey in three months.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

TURKISH ARMED FORCES MOBILIZES ALL ITS UNITS
The Turkish Armed Forces mobilized all its teams after Friday's earthquake which devastated Duzce county of Bolu province. The General Staff, immediately after the quake, mobilized its Natural Disaster Coordination Center, and Gendarmerie General Commandership. The army sent water, generators, tents, blankets, mobile kitchens, medicine, ambulance, doctors and nurses to the region. Four sniffer dog teams at Gemlik Military Veterinary School were sent to Bolu to join the rescue operations. Helicopters were consigned to carry the Search and Rescue Association (AKUT) teams to the disaster area. The Gulhane Military Medical Academy completed preparations to treat patients, and it also sent a 19-member health team to Bolu.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

THE WORLD RUSHES TO DUZCE
A number of countries from all over the world have sent search and rescue teams, and humanitarian aid to Turkey in the wake of the second earthquake disaster in three months. Greece, Israel, Germany, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Belgium, Switzerland, Russia, Hungary, France and Britain have sent search and rescue teams to Duzce.

[03] DEATH TOLL INCREASES TO 282 IN DUZCE

Mehmet Fahri Can, the Headman of Duzce county, told the A.A correspondent that 1,093 people were injured in the quake.

Search and rescue operations are underway in the county where a total of 300 dwellings and business places collapsed.

Teams from Israel, the Netherlands, Germany, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Japan, Hungary, Czech Republic, Korea, and Switzerland have participated in efforts to reach those who were trapped under rubble of flattened buildings.

Meanwhile, Germany, Spain, and Israel have set up field hospitals in the disaster-stricken area

[04] FOREIGN AID CONTINUES TO FLOW TO DUZCE

Isabella Laskowska, the Polish Civil Defense Spokeswoman, said on Sunday that they would come to the disaster area with special equipments and 12 sniffer dogs.

Finland announced that they would send a rescue team of 30 people. The Finnish team will also have ambulance drivers and firefighters.

The Dannish Foreign Ministry also stated that they were sending a rescue team to help the efforts in Duzce and other quake struck areas.

In the meantime, Jean Chretien, the Canadian Prime Minister, said they were ready to help Turkey which faces another quake disaster.

[05] COSTAS YORGIU, PAPANDREU'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE, MEETS WITH ECEVIT IN KAYNASLI

Prime Minister Ecevit told Yorgiu that the strengthening of friendship between Turkish and Greek people, and mutual trust between the countries were pleasing.

[06] BRITISH PRIME MINISTER BLAIR SENDS A MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE TO PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT

In his message, Blair expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the second quake disaster in Turkey in three months.

Blair also underlined that Britain was ready to assist Turkey to heal the wounds of quake disasters.

Meanwhile, Robin Cook, the British Foreign Secretary, sent a message of condolence to his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem.

In his message, Cook offered his condolences, and implored God's strength upon all who are grieving for their beloved ones.

The British government has decided to send a 47-member search and rescue team to disaster-stricken area.

The British Embassy in Ankara issued a statement saying that the 8-member Rapid UK team had participated in efforts to reach those who were trapped under toppled buildings in the disaster area.

[07] BELGIUM SENDS AID AND CASH DONATION

The Belgian Foreign Ministry announced that another plane will leave Melsbroek military airport in Brussels carrying many civil defense experts, medical equipment and tents on Monday.

Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel, the Defense Minister Andre Flahaut and Interior Minister Antoine Duquesne formed a crisis desk and discussed how they could most effectively transfer aid to Turkey. The crisis desk sent a total of 15 million Francs to the quake area so far.

[08] A WOMAN PULLED ALIVE FROM RUBBLE OF FIVE-STORY APARTMENT BLOCK

She was taken to hospital for medical treatment.

Search and rescue operations are underway in the disaster area with the participation of foreign teams.

Efforts to reach Yasemin Yilmaz and her two sons who were trapped under wreckage of a toppled building, are continuing in Kaynasli county of Bolu province.

Ibrahim Yilmaz, the husband of Yasemin Yilmaz, is praying to God to save his family.

As if Friday's shaking of tne earth was not bad enough, freezing cold make life even more miserable for quake survivors.

The Red Crescent has begun to provide warm meal to those who were left homeless and destitude by the quake.

Soldiers have erected 150 tents which were dispatched by the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

Philanthropist people have been distributing foodstuff, blankets, and clothing to quake survivors.

Officials at the Crisis Desk told the A.A correspondent that 125 dead bodies were pulled out from rubble of flattened buildings so far.

The quake survivors urgently need blankets, stoves, and tents.

[09] NOAH'S ARK ALLIANCE OFFERS 1 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS TO THOSE WHO FIND EVIDENCE OF ARK

The advertisement given by the Alliance said although dozens of discoverers made many observations around Agri Mountain in Eastern Turkey, and came up with serious claims, there is still no solid evidence of the Ark. The Alliance promised to give 1 million U.S. dollars to the person or group who can present evidence of the Noah's Ark.

The Alliance said for details people can write to 3235 Satellite Blvd. Suite 555, Duluth, GA, U.S.A. or e-mail to sfikse@mindspring.com

[10] UNICEF SENDS SUPPLIES WORTH OF 500 THOUSAND U.S. DOLLARS

The UNICEF team worked all night long on Saturday and pulled six people alive including two children who were trapped under the wrackage.

UNICEF's Earthquake Project Communication Unit said their team was in the area two hours after the quake. UNICEF sent supplies worth of 500 thousand U.S. dollars, it was also reported.

UNICEF's team started treating the injured in the tents and cooperating with the Israeli team to set up a tent hospital.

[11] PRESS CONFERENCE AT KANDILLI OBSERVATORY

Addressing a press conference, Pinar said that 70 aftershocks were recorded in the region in the wake of Friday's 7.2-magnitude quake that was centered on Duzce county of Bolu province.

Pinar told the reporters, ''we recorded 30 aftershocks with magnituteds ranging from 3.0 to 3.9, 33 aftershocks with magnitudis ranging from 4.0 to 4.9, and 6 others with magnitudes ranging from 4.9 to 5.4. In the earthquake centered on Duzce, a fault line of 50-60 km was broken.''

Pinar said, ''a possible earthquake between Sapanca and Akyazi should not have a magnitude over 6.0. Such an earthquake can affect damaged buildings, but does not damage buildings which resisted against the 7.4-magnitude earthquake which devastated Marmara Region on August 17. We do not expect a powerful earthquake, but we expect an earthquake which will be strongly felt.''

Pinar added, ''having regard to chronology of earthquakes in Istanbul, we see earthquakes with magnituteds ranging from 6.0 to 6.5.

Earthquakes with magnitudes over 7.0, are being repeated in 1,300 years.''

[12] FOREIGN AID FOR QUAKE SURVIVORS

Officials at the Foreign Ministry told the A.A correspondent that the U.S. had sent two airplanes carrying humanitarian aid, and Germany had dispatched a search and rescue team.

Officials enumerated other countries and their reliefs as follows:

-Austria: three airplanes carrying a search and rescue team, and humanitarian aid,

-Belgium: humanitarian aid,

-Bulgaria: two helicopters and an airplane carrying search and rescue team and humanitarian aid,

-Algeria: search and rescue team,

-Czech Republic: search and rescue team,

-Denmark: search and rescue team,

-Armenia: search and rescue team,

-France: search and rescue team,

-Britain: two helicopters and an airplane carrying search and rescue team ve humanitarian aid,

-Ireland: humanitarian aid,

-Israel: five airplanes carrying humanitarian aid, an airplane carrying madical supplies, and four airplanes carrying field hospital,

-Sweden: two airplanes carrying search and rescue team and humanitarian aid,

-Switzerland: search and rescue team, and humanitarian aid,

-Italy: search and rescue team, and humanitarian aid,

-Poland: search and rescue team,

-Slovakia: search and rescue team,

-Romania: search and rescue team,

-Russia: humanitarian aid,

-Ukraine: search and rescue team,

-Greece: three airplanes carrying rescue and health teams, and humanitarian aid,

Meanwhile, a 15-member German search and rescue team with 14 sniffer dogs, a 30-member Austrian search and rescue team with 29 sniffer dogs, a 30- member Belgian search and rescue team with 16 sniffer dogs, a 11-member French search and rescue team with humanitarian aid, a 29-member Finnish search and rescue team with humanitarian aid, a 27-member Spanish search and rescue team with 11 sniffer dogs, a 14-member TRNC search and rescue team, a 13-member Hungarian search and rescue team with 3 sniffer dogs, a Russian search and rescue team, a 14-member Slovenian search and rescue team with 12 sniffer dogs, and an Ukranian search and rescue team have arrived in Turkey.

Two Israeli airplanes carrying madical supplies, and humanitarian aid are expected to arrive in Turkey later today.

[13] RED CRESCENT PLANS TO SET UP ''DISASTER BASE'' IN IZMIT

Bozer told reporters at a press meeting that they must be well prepared against another quake that might struck the Marmara region.

The Red Crescent works on a major project which covers tent production facilities, a parking lot for trucks, storages, a mobile hospital and a field for helicopters in Izmit. The project is also supported by the International Red Crescent and Red Cross Federation and it could be set up within 6 or 9 months if they were given land, Bozer explained.

The Red Crescent units which were deployed in various points after the August 17 earthquake started sending aid supplies to Duzce, Bolu and Kaynasli. In three hours after the quake, a big part of the supplies arrived in the disaster area and quake survivors were given warm food.

As of Sunday, the Red Crescent sent 6,245 tents, 63,400 blankets, 27 mobile kitchens, more than 68 tonnes of food, more than 10,000 beds, about 5,000 sleeping bags, 2,250 heating devices, 103 generators, 855 units of blood products, 1 mobile polyclinic and 1 mobile hospital to Duzce, Bolu and Kaynasli.

Bozer noted that all the tents were produced for winter conditions and were brought from various European countries.

Bozer referred on a project to train sniffer dogs for rescue teams. He also said they wanted to form a Turkish-Greek working group.

When asked about the the Red Crescent's stocks, Bozer said they were not facing a serious shortage and added that some U.S. firms would send 5 to 10 thousand tents in about ten days.

Bozer also stressed that good communication was essential during such disasters and they would talk to ASELSAN as soon as possible to form their own communication network which will not be affected like regular phone lines.

[14] DEATH TOLL INCREASES TO 330 IN DISASTER AREA

The number of injured people rose to 1,611.

According to unofficial report given by officials at the Crisis Center in Bolu, names of counties, the death toll, and the number of injured people are as follows:

DEATH TOLL NUMBER OF INJURED
---------- -----------------
Bolu : 29 354

Duzce : 149 842

Kaynasli : 106 165

Akcakoca : 2 51

Cumayeri : - 31

Konuralp : 34 148

Beykoyu : 9 120

Golyaka : 1 50

[15] PRIME MINISTRY CRISIS MANAGEMENT CENTER ANNOUNCES DEATH TOLL AS 349

A total of 712 dwellings and business places collapsed in Duzce, Kaynasli, Golyaka, and Cumayeri counties of Bolu province.

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has sent 2,493 tents, 20,800 blankets, 2 thousand body bags, 18 generators, 50 tonnes of foodstuff, 1,360 stoves, 250 portable toilets, 9 mobile kitchens, one mobile bath, and one mobile laundry to the province.

The Directorate General of Red Crescent has dispatched 6,245 tents, 59,400 blankets, 27 mobile kitchens, 68.5 tonnes of foodstuff, 10,060 beds, a field hospital having a capacity of 100 beds, 4,995 sleeping beds, 2,250 stoves, 103 generators, 855 units of blood.

The Health Ministry has charged 276 ambulances, 361 doctors, and 422 health personnel in the disaster area. The ministry has sent 9 generators, 4 tent- health-center, 12,300 blankets, and 5 field hospitals. The ministry has also dispatched 3 water stores to provide potable water.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry has undertaken the coordination of the foreign aid to the disaster-stricken area.

The U.S. has pledged to send a search and rescue team, and 500 tents.

Search and rescue teams from Germany, Belgium, Austria, Bulgaria, Algeria, Denmark, Britain, Israel, Spain, Russia, Ukraine, Greece, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Nations (U.N.) have arrived in disaster area. A number of countries have offered humanitarian aid to Turkey.

[16] DUZCE SUFFERS GREAT LOSSES IN QUAKE DISASTER

Number of Number of

Death Toll Injured people Collapsed buildings

---------- -------------- -------------------
Bolu 29 250 10

Akcakoca 2 72 -

Cumayeri - 31 1

Duzce 189 1,127 350

Golyaka 1 61 50

Gumusova - 34 -

Beykoy 9 12 -

Kaynasli 82 155 301

Yigilca - 3 -

Konuralp 29 199 -

Adapazari 4 73 -

Zonguldak 3 344 -

Yalova 1 25 -

Total: 349 2,386 712

[17] PRESS CONFERENCE AT KANDILLI (2)

Pinar added that the effect would be less strong if the fault lines break one by one.

Pinar reminded that there were two seismic vacuums in the Marmara region. ''if all the fault lines break at once, the magnitude of the quake might be over 7, but if they break one by one it should not be over 6 or 6.5,'' he explained.

Pinar noted that the distance between Sarkoy and Istanbul was almost the same with the distance between Golcuk and Istanbul, therefore Istanbul would be affected like during August 17 quake if a quake strucks Sarkoy.

Any place in Turkey carries a 63 percent earhquake risk, Pinar stated and said Turkey lived a destructive earthquake every 2 or 3 years. ''the segment which got activated after the August 17 quake might affect both the west and the east of the system,'' he said.

Dr. Dogan Kalafat, the Assistant Director of Seismology Laboratory noted that after the August 17 quake, energy was accumulated in both ends of the fault line. ''it is impossible to predict its time but it is a risky area. Maybe that energy will be released by minor shocks,'' he said.

''The aftershock of 6.2 is not expected at Akyazi but at the broken Duzce fault line,'' Kalafat said.

[18] FOREIGN MINISTRY: - ''ANTI-NUCLEAR WEAPON AGREEMENT IS AN IMPORTANT SECURITY MEASURE FOR TURKEY''

The Ministry said Turkey was one of the first countries which signed the agreement which appeared on the Official Gazette on November 11 after it was approved at the Parliament on November 3.

The Agreement which was opened to signature on September 24, 1996 by the Unuted Nations (U.N.) aims to contribute to international security, peace and nuclear disarmement by preventing the improvement of present nuclear weapons and development of new ones.

The Agreement is an important security measure for Turkey, the Foreign Ministry said. ''The approval of the agreement by Turkey confirms the basic principles of our foreign policy and its efforts to prevent the spreading of nuclear weapons,'' it was noted.

The Foreign Ministry also called on other countries to give support to the agreement.

[19] PRESIDENT DEMIREL HOLDS TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH HIS AZERI AND ISRAELI COUNTERPARTS

Both leaders expressed profound sorrow over loss of lives in the 7.2- magnitude earthquake which hit Duzce county of Bolu province on Friday.

[20] U.S. PRESIDENT CLINTON ARRIVES IN TURKEY

The airplane carrying President Clinton landed at the Esenboga

Airport at 23.45 local time.

Clinton is the first U.S. President visiting Turkey since 1991.

He is expected to assume a supportive attitude towards Turkey's candidacy to the European Union (EU) before the EU's Helsinki Summit in December.

Diplomatic sources told the A.A correspondent that relations between Turkey and the U.S. which have been strengthened during Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to the U.S., will further improve with President Clinton's visit to Turkey.

The same sources noted that Clinton's contacts in Turkey were expected to focus on dialogue process between Turkey and Greece, the Cyprus question, the latest developments in Caucasia, Chechnya, and in the Balkans.

Clinton will visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the Founder of modern Republic of Turkey.

Clinton and President Suleyman Demirel will hold a tete-a-tete meeting the same day.

Later, the two leaders will preside the inter-delegationary meeting.

President Clinton will receive Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit within the framework of his contacts in Ankara, and address the Turkish parliament. He will be the first U.S. President addressing the Turkish parliament.

He is scheduled to partake of the dinner which will be hosted by President Demirel in honour of him.

Following his contacts in Ankara, President Clinton will visit the disaster- stricken area.

On November 16, President Clinton is scheduled to come together with Turkish and American businessmen at a luncheon in Istanbul.

He will visit the historical places in Istanbul, and take a tour in Bogazici.

In the third day of his visit to Turkey, President Clinton will visit the ancient Ephesos city, and the House of Virgin Mary.

Clinton is expected to depart Turkey after attending the sessions of Organization for security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Summit between November 18-19.

A.A

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