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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-06-10

Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>

ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

10 June 2000 Saturday


CONTENTS

  • [01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
  • [02] MILD EARTHQUAKES JOLT DENIZLI AND AYDIN PROVINCES
  • [03] ECO SUMMIT STARTS
  • [04] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK DEPARTS FROM BRITAIN
  • [05] INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS INITIATIVE FROM ITO
  • [06] AN ANCIENT SARCOPHAGUS UNEARTHED IN BOLU
  • [07] TURKISH ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE OBSERVES 539TH FOUNDATION
  • [08] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC:
  • [09] I WILL ATTEND THIRD ROUND OF PROXIMITY TALKS TO
  • [10] 14TH INTERNATIONAL IZMIR FESTIVAL STARTS
  • [11] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM DUE TO KAZAKHSTAN
  • [12] INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT TO NEMRUT
  • [13] BELKIS RUINS TO BE SAVED
  • [14] PRESIDENT SEZER SENDS A MESSAGE TO ECO SUMMIT:
  • [15] CHIBBER, WORLD BANK'S TURKEY DIRECTOR:
  • [16] TRIAL OF FIVE MEMBERS OF TERRORIST HEZBOLLAH
  • [17] ECO SUMMIT
  • [18] ODD PER BREKK, PROSPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVE OF IMF TURKEY OFFICE:
  • [19] ERSUMER, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES,
  • [20] ONE PERSON DIES OF HEART ATTACK, SCARED BY THE AFTERSHOCK
  • [21] MINE BLAST IN ZONGULDAK INJURES THREE MINERS
  • [22] NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU CALLS ON TURKISH
  • [23] PRESIDENT RAUF DENKTAS OF THE TRNC IN MARDIN:
  • [24] TOURISM MINISTER MUMCU ATTENDS ERZURUM HANDICRAFTS FESTIVAL
  • [25] PANEL ON ''INFLATION''


  • [01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

    These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 10, 2000. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

    HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

    IMPORTANT INFORMATION IS IN PROSECUTOR'S HANDS
    Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan refrained from responding to Ankara Police Chief Kemal Iskender's statement that they had been misled by the first group of suspects captured within the framework of operation to find the assassins of Ugur Mumcu. Tantan, who spoke to reporters in Azerbaijani capital of Baku, said, referring to the confession of Ferhan Ozmen that he had murdered Mumcu, ''it would not be right to make any comments about the issue. We would better wait until the prosecutor's office releases the indictment, because his office holds the right and reliable information. I cannot say anything for my part under the existing circumstances.''

    TURKEY NEEDS A LAWYER FOR FEHRIYE ERDAL'S EXTRADITION
    Turkey has to have a lawyer in order to apply to the Belgian Council of State with the request for the annulment of the decision not to extradite Fehriye Erdal to Turkey. Vehbi Kahveci, Sabanci family's lawyer said that only the Belgian Chief Prosecutor and the Turkish side can apply to the Belgian Council of State with a request for the annulment of the said decision. ''This is what the laws foresee. So Turkey has to have a lawyer, just as she had done in the Ocalan case,'' Kahveci said.

    STRONG AFTERSHOCK JOLTS CANKIRI
    Cankiri was rocked by two strong aftershocks on Friday, both of which were felt also in the neighboring provinces. According to the Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Institute of Istanbul's Bogazici University, the first aftershock, measuring 5.0 took place at 00:28 a.m., and the other, measuring 5.2 took place at 06:14 a.m. The epicenters of both tremors were Cerkes township of Cankiri. Yet another aftershock, with Orta township as its epicenter, took place at 02:48 p.m. and it had a magnitude of 4.0.

    MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

    'GYPSY CHORUS' TO SING HYMNS
    Directorate General of Religious Affairs is getting ready to set up a 'Gypsy Chorus' with real gypsy singers, with purpose of eliminating prejudices about this community, and gaining them to social life. The gypsy singers will be trained to sing Islamic Mystic Hymns. Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz, the Head of Religious Affairs, with a decree he issued on Friday, said that there were many musically talented people among gypsies, who had to be gained to social and artistic life, and added that this would also help eliminate prejudices about these people.

    MILITARY TO GUIDE TRAINING FOR INDUSTRIALISTS
    Soldiers, who have been fighting terrorism for the past 15 years in Southeastern Anatolia, are now leading initiatives for economic development of the region. With the instructions of the General Staff Chief's Office, soldiers are guiding business tours for the industrialists of the region, and acquainting industrialists of each province, with the models employed in other provinces.

    SABAH (LIBERAL)

    TUSIAD ATTENDS UNICE SUMMIT
    The Union of Industrial and Employers Confederation (UNICE) convened in Belgian capital of Brussels. A four-member delegation of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) represented Turkey at the summit.

    YILMAZ OF ANAP: ''ICE HAS MELTED''
    Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said that ice between his party and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), its coalition partner, had melted. Responding to a question, ''has Bahceli, leader of MHP, sent you a message to put an end to the ongoing tension?'' Yilmaz said, ''the details are not important. Ice has melted. The important thing is not to cause such developments again.''

    ODABASI AND KOC QUALIFY TO SEMI-FINAL
    Tevfik Odabasi of Turkey competing in the 58 kg category, and Hakan Koc of Turkey competing in the 97 kg category, qualified to semi-final in the European Youth Free Style and Graeco-Roman Wrestling Championships in Bulgarian capital of Sofia.

    CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

    ANKARA SEEKS 'WEU MODEL'
    Turkey, who insists that the Western European Union (WEU) model to be taken for the European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI), wants to participate, at least, in the ''decision making processes' in times of crisis, where the Union will make use of NATO facilities. The European Union (EU), on the other hand, insists that non-EU member NATO allies can only take part in crisis administration initiatives only after the assignment of forces and troops. Turkey's hopes are thus fading as the Feira Summit, which is due to take place on June 19 and where the participants are to make a final decision regarding the ESDI, draws closer.

    WASTE-TRANSPORTER SENT BACK
    The St. Vincent flagged 'MV ULLA' vessel, anchored at Isdemir port of Iskenderun, will be sent off Turkish territorial waters with a court ruling. The vessel had been waiting at the port for 113 days, with 2,200 tonnes of toxic industrial waste it had loaded from Spain.

    NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE COUNCIL FINALLY ESTABLISHED
    The National Earthquake Council, among whose goals are to guide seismological research, prevent allegations and rumors from causing panic among people, and provide consultation services to public establishments and bodies regarding quakes and seismological activity, has been established. The council consists of 20 experts from the related departments from the Middle East Technical University, Istanbul Technical University, Yildiz Technical University, Bogazici University, and Istanbul University.

    RADIKAL (LEFT)

    EXTRA-TIME IMPASSE FOR ZEUGMA
    As excavations in the ancient city of Zeugma, which is soon to be buried under the waters of the Birecik Dam, are being continued with an increasing intensity. Mehmet Onal, the archaeologist, who is leading the excavations, is complaining about the minuteness of the extra ten days to hold back the waters of the dam. Onal said that matchless and invaluable findings were being unearthed every day, and that there were surely more still buried under the earth, and added that despite their continuous efforts to recover as many pieces as possible, a brilliant age of history would soon be covered under the waters of the dam, if the waters were not held back for a longer period of time.

    'SEA WOLF 2000' REACHES MEDITERRANEAN
    The first stage of 'Sea Wolf 2000', one of concerted manoeuvres of the Turkish Armed Forces, started on Friday in Marmaris. General Staff Chief General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, Land Forces Commander General Atilla Ates, Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ilhami Erdil, Gendarmerie Forces Commander General Rasim Betir, and Jordan's Naval Forces Commander Admiral Hussein al-Khasawneh observed the first stage of the exercise. The manoeuvres have been aimed at improving the Naval Force vessels and other elements' readiness to warfare, and their abilities of carrying out joint operations. The 'Sea Wolf 2000' manoeuvres will last until June 20 with the participation of elements attached to the Coast Guard Commandership, Naval Forces, Air Forces, and a total of 6,940 military personnel.

    YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

    U.S. PHI DONATES 5 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS
    International organizations have taken action to protect the Belkis Ruins that will remain under waters of Bricik Dam in coming days. The U.S. Packard Humanities Institute (PHI) said that they were ready to send financial and moral assitance to protect the ancient ruins. The PHI said that they would allocate 5 million U.S. dollars to the protection of Belkis Ruins.

    GREEK KAVALA MUNICIPALITY TO OPEN INFORMATION BUREAU AT ITO BUILDING
    Greek Kavala Municipality will open an information bureau at Istanbul Chamber of Commerce's (ITO) headquarters in Istanbul. Kavala Mayor Efstathios Erifillidis, Kavala Municipality Economy Undersecretary Marcos Dempas, Tourism Director Efstathios Maroulas and Tourism Executive Council Member Josif Poulos visited the ITO. Erifillidis who spoke to ITO President Mehmet Yildirim, noted that Greece has been a member of the European Union (EU) for 20 years, adding that they were ready to do their utmost to assist Turkey to join the Union.

    5.2-MAGNITUDE AFTERSHOCK CAUSES PANIC IN CERKES
    Aftershocks continued to jolt Cerkes and Orta townships of central Cankiri province in the wake of last Tuesday's 5.9-magnitude earthquake. An aftershock measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale occurred in Cerkes township at 06:14 a.m. on Friday. The aftershock caused panic among residents. The tremor was also felt in neighbouring provinces and townships.

    TURKIYE (RIGHT)

    ARMED ATTACK IN ISTANBUL
    Unidentified assailants opened fire on people in a cafe in Bahcelievler district of Istanbul with automatic weapons. Two people were killed while another one was seriously injured in the armed attack. The injured person was rushed to the hospital for medical treatment. A full investigation into the attack is underway.

    TREASURY ISSUES 750 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS DEBENTURE BONDS
    The Treasury Undersecretariat finalized the issue of 750 million U.S. dollars ten-year maturity debenture bonds. The Treasury said that the issue had been led by Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and JP Morgan. The interest rate of bonds is 11.75 percent while the net amount is expected to be deposited to Treasury's account on June 15, 2000. Treasury has carried out six separate bond issues to international markets since beginning of 2000, raising 4.6 billion U.S. dollars.

    ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

    'REPENTANCE LAW' HEARING OF SAKIK
    The Diyarbakir State Security Court (DGM) No:1 continued the trial of Semdin Sakik, one of the so-called high officials of the terrorist organization PKK. Supreme Court earlier ratified the capital punishment decision given by DGM against Sakik. Speaking at the trial, Sakik said, ''I was always in contact with the security forces after my detention. You and all the society should believe in this. The main desire of what I have done so far was to stop the bloodshed and to provide social peace. I considered my interests, but that was my secondary desire. I have destroyed my personality while doing these. My mentality is not that 'I should benefit from the Repentance Law, and the rest is not important.' Otherwise, I could have chosen a bigger target for me, like the peace award.'' The court delegation decided to write to Diyarbakir Provincal Gendarme Commandership to ask if Sakik helped them or not, and later adjourned the hearing.

    [02] MILD EARTHQUAKES JOLT DENIZLI AND AYDIN PROVINCES

    ISTANBUL/KADIKOY - Mild earthquakes jolted Denizli and Aydin provinces in Aegean Region on Saturday.

    Officials at Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory Seismology Institute told the A.A correspondent that an earthquake measuring 2.9 on the Richter scale was recorded in Aydin province at 03:25 a.m.

    An earthquake measuring 2.9 on the Richter scale occurred in Denizli province at 05:15 a.m.

    Meanwhile, two afterchocks measuring 3.6 and 3.7 on the Richter scale were recorded in Cerkes township of central Cankiri province at 04:10 a.m. and 05:29 a.m.

    [03] ECO SUMMIT STARTS

    TEHRAN - The Sixth Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Summit started on Saturday in Iranian capital of Tehran.

    President Saparmurad Turkmenbasi of Turkmenistan; President Askar Akayev of Kyrgyzstan; President Imamali Rahmanov of Tajikistan; President Haydar Aliyev of Azerbaijan; President Mohammad Khatami of Iran; ousted President Burhaneddin Rabbani of Afghanistan; Pakistani Military Ruler General Pervez Musharraf; and Prime Minister Kasim Comert Tokayev of Kazakhstan are attending the summit.

    State Minister Mehmet Kececiler will represent Turkey at the summit on behalf of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

    Kececiler will deliver a speech at the summit.

    Representatives of the United Nations and other international organizations are also in attendance at the summit.

    The summit will end later today after the Tehran Declaration is signed.

    [04] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK DEPARTS FROM BRITAIN

    LONDON - Hikmet Sami Turk, the Justice Minister, departed from British capital of Britain on Saturday after wrapping up his contacts.

    Turk had attended the 23rd European Justice Ministers' Conference between June 8 and 9.

    He had held contacts with several high-level British officials during his visit to this country.

    [05] INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS INITIATIVE FROM ITO

    ISTANBUL - Mehmet Yildirim, Executive Board Director of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO), said on Friday, that they had assigned offices to Russia, Cuba, and Kavala Municipality of Greece, and that at least 10 other countries had come up with requests for offices of the ITO.

    Yildirim hosted a dinner on Friday evening, in honor of a delegation led by Sheikh Abdoulaziz Bin Attiyatoullah a Khalifa, the Governor of Manama, Bahrain; a Chinese trade delegation from Shangai; and another delegation from Ivory Coasts, led by Chairman of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Georges Leon N'dia Coffi; at the ITO social complex.

    Yildirim said international affairs played a key role in improving trade and exports between nations, and underlined that at least two foreign delegations visited ITO headquarters every week.

    ''We have to increase the gross national income per capita. If our factories work at full capacity, and if we manage to trade our goods sufficiently at international markets, we will be able to make exports worth 100 billion U.S dollars,'' Yildirim said.

    [06] AN ANCIENT SARCOPHAGUS UNEARTHED IN BOLU

    BOLU - An ancient sarcophagus belonged to the Roman Emprime period, was unearthed in Mudurnu township of Bolu province in Western Black Sea Region.

    Adnan Sarioglu, the Curator of Bolu Museum, told A.A correspondent on Saturday that the marble sarcophagus was unearthed in the rural area between Dedeler and Topallar villages in Mudurnu township.

    The sarcophagus will be displayed in Mudurnu in coming days.

    [07] TURKISH ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE OBSERVES 539TH FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY

    ISTANBUL - A cocktail was hosted at Istanbul's Hilton Hotel on Friday, to celebrate the 539th anniversary of foundation of the Turkish Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul.

    Mesrob Mutafyan II, the Armenian Patriarch, who delivered a speech at the cocktail, said that aid to the quake survivors had become a part of everday life, and that the aid campaign launched by the Christian community of Istanbul, had reached to 1 trillion Turkish liras target.

    Mesrob II said that apart from the pain and grief that the earthquke caused, everbody witnessed a reunion among people and among peoples of different countries, and that a world free of violence and hostility continued to color everyone's most beautiful dreams.

    Ali Mufit Gurtuna, the Mayor of Istanbul, who also took the floor at the cocktail, said that Istanbul had cradled many different cultures and civilisations from the earliest times of history, and that there was no other city in the world like Istanbul that united people of different origins and beliefs in peace and harmony.

    ''Today, I am honored and happy to see this harmony before me,'' Gurtuna said.

    The cocktail party was attended by many religious leaders, local administrators, and ambassadors.

    [08] PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC:

    [09] I WILL ATTEND THIRD ROUND OF PROXIMITY TALKS TO

    REPRESENT NOT A SICK MAN, BUT TURKISH CYPRIOT PEOPLE''
    LEFKOSA - The 24th International fair of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) opened on Friday, with the participation of 157 foreign and domestic companies.

    President Rauf Denktas of the TRNC, Speaker of the TRNC Parliament Ertugrul Hasipoglu, Turkey's Ambassador in Lefkosa Ertugrul Apakan, ministers and various deputies attended the inauguration of the fair.

    President Denktas, who delivered a speech at the opening, said, referring to the third round of proximity talks, which are due to start on July 5 in Geneva, Switzerland, that he was going there to represent not a sick man, but the proud Turkish Cypriot people.

    He pointed out that he would defend the rightful cause of the Turkish Cypriot people, and added, ''the economic problems we suffer at present, should not discourage us in our struggle. We will overcome these problems with the guidance and help of Turkey.''

    [10] 14TH INTERNATIONAL IZMIR FESTIVAL STARTS

    IZMIR - The 14th International Izmir Festival organized by the Izmir Culture and Art Foundation (IKSEV), started on Friday.

    Mustafa Tamer, the Deputy Governor of Izmir; Ahmet Piristina, the Mayor of Izmir; Filiz Sarper Eczacibasi, the Chairperson of IKSEV; and Prof. Dr. Ekrem Akurgal, who started the archaeological excavations in Tepekule, were in attendance at the opening ceremony of the festival.

    Worldwide famous harpist Sirin Pancaroglu gave a concert at the opening ceremony.

    British Philharmonic Society will give a concert in the ancient Ephesus Theatre on June 17.

    La Scala Theatre and Ballet Company will perform on June 20 within framework of the 14th International Izmir Festival.

    El Paso Texas Symphony Orchestra, Izmir State Opera and Ballet, Red Army Choir and Waterbury Choir will give concerts during the festival.

    [11] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM DUE TO KAZAKHSTAN

    ANKARA - Ismail Cem, the Foreign Minister, will leave for Kazakhstan on Sunday.

    Releasing a statement, the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that Cem would pay a two-day official visit to Kazakhstan.

    Cem will be received by President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan and Prime Minister Kasim Comert Tokayev.

    He is also scheduled to come together with his Kazakh counterpart Yerlan Idrisov.

    Cem's contacts are expected to focus on bilateral relations, recent developments in Central Asia, regional and international issues.

    [12] INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT TO NEMRUT

    -HAUPTMANN, DIRECTOR OF GERMAN ARCHAEOLOGY INSTITUTE:
    -''NEMRUT IS A DESERTED TREASURE, AT AN ALTITUDE OF
    2,150 METRES. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT''
    KAHTA - Professor Herald Hauptmann, Director of German Archaeology Institute, who is in Turkey as the guest of the International Nemrut Foundation, said on Saturday, that Nemrut was a ''deserted treasure, located at an altitude of 2,150 metres.''

    Hauptmann told the A.A correspondent that everybody was talking about the magically beautiful statues of gods on Nemrut Mountain since 1970's, but that nothing was being done to protect them.

    Hauptmann said that Nemrut Mountain was the matchless symbol of the unification of the Orient and the Occident, and that thousands of people from both the east and the west would visit the spot, once it was restored and promoted.

    ''There is no other example in the world of the union of Persian and Hellenistic cultures,'' Hauptmann underlined.

    [13] BELKIS RUINS TO BE SAVED

    -CONSTRUCTIN CONSORTIUM OFFICIAL:
    -''WATERS OF ATATURK DAM WILL BE DISCHARGED IF WATER
    LEVEL REACHES RUINS BEFORE THEY ARE TRANSFERRED''
    ANKARA - The consortium that is constructing the Birecik Dam, will participate in efforts to save the Belkis Ruins, which will be covered under the waters of the dam once it has been completed, corsortium officials said on Saturday.

    The constortium and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources have reachead accord over ''delaying'' the water-collecting process, in line with the instructions given by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.

    Consortium officials said that they had been closely following the developments pertaining to the ancient city for the past 4 years, that a 5-volume work had been prepared on it within this framework, and that only 10 percent of the ancient city could be covered under the waters of Birecik Dam, as proved by the documents they had drafted at the end of the region's scanning.

    Officials guaranteed to have all ruins -presently under threat- saved before they became inaccessible forever, by regulating the water level by discharging a certain amount of water from the neighboring Ataturk Dam.

    [14] PRESIDENT SEZER SENDS A MESSAGE TO ECO SUMMIT:

    -''TURKEY WILL CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE FURTHER IMPROVEMENT
    OF RELATIONS AMONG ECO MEMBERS''
    TEHRAN - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said on Saturday, ''Turkey will continue to encourage further improvement of relations among member countries to the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), and to make important contributions to the organization.''

    President Sezer sent a message to the Sixth ECO Summit in Iranian capital of Tehran.

    Sezer's message was read out by State Minister Mehmet Kececiler.

    In his message, President Sezer said, ''I could not attend the ECO summit due to my busy program. Turkey, one of the founder members of the ECO, has undertaken serious responsibilities in enlargement of the organization. We have close cultural, historical and economic relations with member countries to the ECO. Cooperation among ECO members, will help member countries unify with the world economy within framework of the globalization process. Turkey will continue to encourage further improvement of relations among member countries, and to make important contributions to the organization.''

    [15] CHIBBER, WORLD BANK'S TURKEY DIRECTOR:

    -''WE SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT'S GRAIN PURCHASE POLICIES''
    ANKARA - Ajay Chibber, World Bank's Turkey Director, said on Saturday that the World Bank supported the Turkish government's grain purchase policies, adding that ''it is an indication of the determination to fully implement the economic reform program.''

    Chibber said, about the grain purchase prices announced on Friday, that the prices indicated a fine balance between the farmers' demands and the inflation targets of the government, and that this balance was of vital importance from the standpoint of the economic reform program.

    [16] TRIAL OF FIVE MEMBERS OF TERRORIST HEZBOLLAH

    ORGANIZATION TO START ON MONDAY
    ISTANBUL - Trial of five suspects who are members of the terrorist Hezbollah organization, will start at the Istanbul State Security Court No: 6 on Monday.

    The indictment prepared by the Istanbul DGM Chief Prosecutor's Office, sought capital punishment to suspects Emin Ekici, Mehmet Cemil Erez and Abit Tasan on charges of ''attempting to damage the constitutional order and main laws of the Turkish State'' in accordance with the Article 146/1 of the Turkish Penal Code.

    The indictment sought imprisonment terms from 10 years to 15 years to suspects Ali Atim and Mehmet Kanlibicak on charges of ''being a member of a terrorist organization'' in accordance with the Article 168/2 of the Turkish Penal Code and Article 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Law.

    [17] ECO SUMMIT

    -STATE MINISTER KECECILER CALLS FOR SUPPORT TO THE TRNC
    TEHRAN - State Minister Mehmet Kececiler said on Saturday that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) deserved the support of the international community and the Economic Cooperation OrganiZation (ECO) member countries.

    ''The Turkish Cypriot people, who have managed to preserve their national identities and their state with belief and determination until the present day, deserve the support of the international community and our ECO allies,'' said Kececiler, who spoke at the Sixt ECO Summit in Iranian capital of Tehran.

    Kececiler said that Turkey was in favor of the immediate settlement of the disputes in Afghanistan and Karabakh, and expressed belief that the improved cooperation relations under the roof of ECO would contribute greatly to the solution of these problems.

    Noting that Turkey, one of the founding members of the organization, attached great importance to better economic and social standards among the members, Kececiler pledged that Turkey would continue to contribute to these efforts.

    ''Turkey welcomes the lifting of all commercial obstacles that stood in the way of commercial relations among the ECO members, and also, the signing of the ECO Commercial Cooperation Framework Agreement. Now, we are ready to do whatever might be necessary before we can establish the ECO Trade and Development Bank,'' said Kececiler.

    [18] ODD PER BREKK, PROSPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVE OF IMF TURKEY OFFICE:

    ''I AM GATHERING INFORMATION ABOUT TURKEY. I BELIEVE THAT ECONOMIC
    PROGRAM WILL BE SUCCESSFUL, SO LONG AS IT IS IMPLEMENTED FULLY''
    WASHINGTON, D.C./ANKARA - Odd Per Brekk, who is expected to be appointed as the Representative of International Monetary Fund (IMF) Turkey Office, said on Saturday that he was gathering information about Turkey these days, and expressed belief that the economic program would be successful so long as it was implemented fully and properly.

    The Norwegian-origin economist told the A.A correspondent that he had been monitoring the developments in Turkish economy, with extra attention since the day when he started working together with the IMF's Turkey Desk officials.

    He said there was no definite calendar set for his term of office as the Turkey representative, but that he could be appointed to the post before the autumn term.

    IMF sources say that Brekk is a successful economist especially in the field of financing.

    During his term of office as the Turkey Representative of the IMF, Brekk will monitor the daily economic data, and send reports on the implementation of the program and its social results to the Office of IMF's Turkey Desk Chief.

    Meanwhile, World Bank officials said Brekk could take office in mid-July in Ankara.

    [19] ERSUMER, MINISTER OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES,

    CONCLUDES HIS VISIT TO JAPAN
    TOKYO - Cumhur Ersumer, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, said on Saturday, that his visit to Japan had been a very successful one.

    Ersumer, who has been carrying out contacts with various officials for four days, completed his official visit on Saturday. During his visit, he also represented Turkey at the funeral ceremony of the late premier, Keizo Obuchi.

    Ersumer also attended the reception hosted on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the 'Ertugrul Disaster'.

    His official contacts included talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Yohei Kono, and Minister of Industry and Foreign Trade Takashi Fukaya.

    Ersumer made statements to various Japanese dailies, and received the officials of certain firms at the Turkish Embassy Residence in Tokyo.

    Cumhur Ersumer, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, will return home on Sunday.

    [20] ONE PERSON DIES OF HEART ATTACK, SCARED BY THE AFTERSHOCK

    CANKIRI - A morning aftershock killed one person in Asagikayilar village in Orta township of central Cankiri province.

    Serif Ali Yakin, 35, had a heart stroke as he tried to flee his house, when his hometown rocked with a strong aftershock on Saturday morning.

    Two aftershocks measuring 3.6 and 3.7 on the Richter scale at 04:10 a.m. and at 05:29 a.m. were recorded on Saturday with Cankiri-Cerkes as their epicenter, a Kandilli Observatory and Seismological Research Center statement said.

    [21] MINE BLAST IN ZONGULDAK INJURES THREE MINERS

    ZONGULDAK - An underground gas explosion at an illegal coal mine in Zonguldak province in Black Sea Region injured three miners seriously on Saturday.

    Kemal Ali Ozdemir, 15, Yusuf Aygun, 32, and Murat Ozdemir, 29, who were hospitalized at Zonguldak SSK Hospital and Zonguldak State Hospital in serious condition, were later transfered to Ankara. Mustafa Resul Yilmaz, the owner of the illegal mine, was taken into custody.

    [22] NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER CAKMAKOGLU CALLS ON TURKISH

    COMMUNITY IN BELGIUM TO ACT WITH COMMON SENSE DURING
    11TH EUROPEAN FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
    BRUSSELS - National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu, who is in Belgium to attend the NATO Ministerial Meetings, is continuing his contacts with NATO officials.

    After the conclusion of the Defense Ministers' Meeting on Saturday, Cakmakoglu proceeded to Mons to visit the Turkish Military Delegation at Supreme Headquarters Allied Power Europe (SHAPE), and attended their briefings.

    Cakmakoglu, who is continuing his studies with Turkey's Permanent NATO Representative Ambassador Onur Oymen, is scheduled to proceed to Latvia on Sunday morning, to make a number of official contacts.

    During his stay in Belgium, the Turkish Defense Minister called on the Turkish community in Belgium to act with common sense during the course of the European Football Championships, and not to involve in unpleasant incidents.

    He also wished good luck to the Turkish National Football Team in the Championship games.

    Completing his contacts in Latvia, Defense Minister Cakmakoglu will return home next week.

    [23] PRESIDENT RAUF DENKTAS OF THE TRNC IN MARDIN:

    -''OUR WISH IS TO MAKE CYPRUS A BRIDGE OF PEACE
    AND FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECE''
    MARDIN - President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Saturday that he wanted all Cyprus-oriented disputes between Turkey and Greece be settled, and added, ''our wish is to make Cyprus a bridge of peace and friendship between the two countries.''

    President Rauf Denktas of the TRNC, who flew to the South East Anatolian province of Mardin to observe the Third Cherry Festival, was welcomed by Governor Temel Kocaklar, Mayor Kadir Tutasi, and various other officials.

    Speaking to reporters in Mardin, Denktas said that the TRNC always felt the support of Turkey even in the hardest times, and expressed his happiness over finding the opportunity to visit this beautiful corner of Turkey on such a joyous occasion.

    [24] TOURISM MINISTER MUMCU ATTENDS ERZURUM HANDICRAFTS FESTIVAL

    ERZURUM - Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu said on Saturday that Turkish tourism sector would suffer a weakness due to the capacity loss in air transportation, and added, ''there seems to be no good solution to this problem in the short run.''

    Mumcu, who arrived in eastern Erzurum province to inaugurate the Handicrafts Festival, paid visits each to the Governor's Office, the Municipal Hall, and Motherland Party's Provincial Directorate, prior to the inauguration.

    Speaking to reporters about the problems of private airline companies, Mumcu said that the capacity loss that airline companies suffered this year, was a blow on Turkish tourism sector.

    ''For the time being, there seems to be no reasonable solution that we can apply to in the short run. But we can at least try and help them preserve their existing capacities,'' Mumcu said.

    When asked to make predictions about the forthcoming season, Mumcu said, ''Turkish tourism will break a record this year, and the figures of the first 5 months of the year, seem to prove my statement.''

    [25] PANEL ON ''INFLATION''

    -STATE MINISTER YALOVA:
    -''PUBLIC OPINION IS DETERMINED TO DEFEAT INFLATION''
    ANKARA - State Minister Yuksel Yalova said on Saturday that the Turkish public opinion was determined to defeat inflation, and added, ''everybody knows what we have missed. And I am glad that we have such an awareness.''

    Yalova, who attended a panel on 'Inflation', organized by the Kizilay Rotary Club, said in the speech he delivered there, that both the state and the public opinion headed towards their aim upon one path, and that there was no disagreement between the two parties.

    He pointed out that the opinions of the people on the street, were more important than figures and statistics, as far as the anti-inflationist fight was concerned.

    ''Turkey has to place herself in her deserved position in the international community,'' Yalova said.


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