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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-08-03Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/>Anadolu AgencyANADOLU AGENCY NEWS 03 AUGUST 2000 Thursday CONTENTS
[01] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 3, 2000. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)DON'T WAIT FOR MINISTERS AT THE BORDERInterior Minister Saadettin Tantan prohibited governors to go to the end of the borders of their provinces and welcome the deputies and ministers who visit their cities there. ''Our governors shouldn't waste time by waiting for ministers or deputies, they should instead have closer ties with the citizens,'' Tantan said. TURKS IN RHODES MILLIYET (LIBERAL)ALARM FOR JULYThe inflation in July will not be at a rate expected by the goverment. The government had thought that the inflation rate would be below zero. Gazi Ercel, Central Bank Governor, said that the private sector was responsible for the inflation rate in July. EYES OF WORLD STEEL GIANTS ON ISDEMIR SABAH (LIBERAL)BESIKTAS LEAVES BEHIND LEVSKI SOFIA: 1-1Besiktas, which could not succeed in European leagues since today, drew with Levki Sofia 1-1 with the goal scored by Tayfur and qualified to the third qualifying round of European Champions League. Besiktas will play its first match in the third round with Moscow in Istanbul on August 8. The return match will be played on August 23. THREE SOLUTIONS FOR BANKS TRANSFERRED TO TMSF CUMHURIYET (LEFT)TURKEY-IRAN NATURAL GAS PROTOCOL SIGNEDNew protocols on purchase of natural gas from Iran were signed in Ankara yesterday. Turkey will purchase ten billion cubic metres of natural gas from Iran a year starting from July 31, 2001. Mohammed Eminzade, Iranian Deputy Foreign Ministry, will visit Turkey in the second half of this month to discuss latest developments in Turkish-Iranian relations. FRESCO DESIGNS ON CERAMIC PLATES RADIKAL (LEFT)FLATTERY PROHIBITEDSaadettin Tantan, the Minister of Interior came together with 27 governors who were recently appointed and whose places were changed and explained them his expectations from them. Tantan requested them to have closer relations with the local people. ''Our governors shouldn't welcome anybody by going to the end of borders,'' said Tantan. NO LIMITATION TO IMPORTED CARS YENİ BİNYIL (LIBERAL)BANK DEBATE IN COALITIONThe Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) is against the decree which foresees the privatization of Ziraat Bank, Halk Bank and Emlakbank. The decree brings autonomy to these three banks and it foresees privatization at the final stage. The Democratic Left Party (DSP) does not oppose the decree although the two banks namely Ziraat Bank and Halkbank are connected to a DSP minister. However the Minister from MHP who is responsible for Emlakbank does not want giving up the bank. It seems as if the Minister thinks he is the owner of the bank. CHINA TO IMPEDE TURKEY'S EXPORTS TURKIYE (RIGHT)EIGHT PROBLEMS OF GOVERNMENTThere are eight important problems of the coalition government. Firstly, the Cyprus issue comes. Secondly, new sources are sought to be allocated to the local administrations. Thirdly, the future of the Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) is not still clear. The Amnesty Law is still pending. A new law is necessary for the Board of Higher Education (YOK). The decree having the force of law on the civil servants is another problem. There is an ongoing debate on increasing the wages of civil servants. Finally, a new order has to be brought to prisons. LIFE BUOY TO MARITIME ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)IKV REQUESTS MOMENTUM FOR EUMeral Gezgin Eris, Chairwoman of Economic Development Foundation (IKV), and an accompanying delegation visited Premier Bulent Ecevit. The IKV officials requested that the initiatives to be launched for the European Union (EU) membership should be accelerated in the meeting which lasted for 45 minutes. Following the meeting, Eris said that they exchanged ideas about Turkey-EU relations and economic stability programme. SEZER SUPPORTS ANTI-INFLATION STRUGGLE [02] SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND OF EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE -BESIKTAS: 1 - PFC LEVSKI SOFIA: 1SOFIA - Besiktas beat PFC Levski Sofia football team of Bulgaria in return match in second qualifying round of European Champions League on Wednesday night. Although Besiktas drew with PFC Levski Sofia 1-1 in full time, it qualified to the third qualifying round of European Champions League since it had beaten PFC Levski Sofia 1-0 in the first match played in Istanbul.The first match was held on July 26. [03] FIRE IN MILITARY ACADEMY CAMPUS AND FACTORYANKARA/ADAPAZARI - A building within the campus of the Military Academy in Ankara which was used as a stable burnt on Wednesday night.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 SAVEDGAZIANTEP - The 2000 years old god statues and works of art belonging to the period of Kalakh kingdom 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 RESUMEDALIAGA - This year's excavations in ancient Kyme site in Aliaga township of Aegean Izmir province were 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''ANKARA - Selcuk Demiralp, the Undersecertary of the Treasury said that the interest payments in the 2001 budget which is expected to be more than 50 quadrillion Turkish liras, will decrease by seven quadrillion liras in 2001 budget compared to 2000. Demiralp said that the IMF delegation will come to Turkey on August 30 to scrutinize the economy for the third time and stay in Turkey till September 12.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 RELEASEDANKARA - Abdullah Argun Cetin, the suspect who was tried for being involved in the killing of famous journalist-writer Ugur Mumcu on 24 January 1993, was released on Thursday. The suspect Cetin, interveners Ceyhan Mumcu and Beyhan Gurson and the lawyers Turgut Kazan, Senal Sarıhan and Halil Sevinc attended the court hearing heard at Ankara State Security Court (DGM) No. 1 the same day.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 CONVENESANKARA - The Council of Ministers convened on Thursday under the leadership of Premier Bulent Ecevit at 11 a.m.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 ANKARAANKARA - Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov, accompanied by his wife and daughter, arrived in Ankara on Thursday.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 GOLCUKGOLCUK - TCG Turgutreis Frigate, which participated in ceremonies held to commemorate 110th anniversary of Ertugrul Frigate disaster in Kushimoto, Japan, returned to Golcuk on Thursday.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''ANKARA - A report prepared by the Italian police noted that the terrorist organization PKK uses the money it obtained from people illegally and from drug trafficking, in human smuggling. The report prepared by SCICO, the special organ of the Guarda Finanza, the Italian Financial Police noted that the PKK directs the human smuggling from Northern Iraq to Turkey, to Greece and to European countries particularly Italy and Germany via Albania.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 GENEVAGENEVA - The second phase of the third round of Cyprus proximity talks are continuing in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday.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 TURKEYVAN - Ten Iraqis were captured in Gurpinar township of the eastern province Van on Thursday after they crossed the Turkish border illegally.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 STOYANOVANKARA - President Ahmet Necdet Sezer met on Thursday with his Bulgarian counterpart Petar Stoyanov who came to Turkey to spend his holiday.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''ANKARA - The Turkish government said on Thursday that both sides in Cyprus should mutually recognize each other's political equality and sovereignty in order to create a common ground for negotiation on the island. The Foreign Ministry said in a written statement that the purpose of the Geneva talks was to ''prepare the necessary ground for face-to-face talks.'' ''Only after this ground is created, negotiations could be initiated,'' the Ministry said.''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 YALOVAYALOVA - A commemoration ceremony will be held in Yalova for last year's earthquake victims on the first anniversary of the Marmara earthquake which struck the region on August 17, 1999.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)ANKARA - Abdullah Argun Cetin, the suspect who was tried on charges of ''being involved in assasination of journalist-writer Ugur Mumcu in a bomb attack on January 24, 1993'' was released on Thursday.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 COURSESBRUSSELS - Flemish Christian Democrat Party deputy Brigitte Grouwels presented a draft to the Belgian Parliament where she proposed to include Turkish in the elective language courses at middle and high schools in Belgium.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 TENDERBOLU - A tender was opened on Thursday for a new hospital which will be constructed by the German Red Cross in the quake-stricken Bolu province.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 1-2ANKARA - Turkey repaid a total of 33.12 million U.S. dollars in foreign debt between August 1-2, 2000. The Central Bank data shows that the Treasury repaid 2.90 million U.S. dollars; the Central Bank repaid 30.05 million U.S. dollars; the administrations with general and annexed budgets repaid 0.17 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. DOLLARSANKARA - The foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank decreased to 24 billion 675 million U.S. dollars. The Central Bank data shows that the foreign exchange reserves, which rose by 561 million U.S. dollars between July 21 and 28, increased to 24 billion 675 million U.S. dollars on July 28.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 NOVEMBERANKARA - Turkey, after completing the restoration of Hodja Ahmet Yesevi Tomb in Turkistan, will build a mosque which will cost 3 million U.S. dollars in the same complex. Speaking at the Ministers Council meeting on Thursday, State Minister Yuksel Yalova said the restoration works of Hodja Ahmet Yesevi Tomb carried out by Vakif Construction company will finish in one month and he informed ministers about the mosque which will be built close to the tomb. Privatization Management Directorate will meet the cost of the 3 million U.S. dollar mosque, Yalova said at the meeting.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 ARMENIANSASSEN/ANKARA/VIENNA - Turkish non-governmental organizations in different countries asked for support for their campaign against Assen Municipality's decision to allow construction of a monument symbolizing the 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 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- 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- 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 CHILDRENIZMIT - Seven Turkish children will leave for Japan on Friday where they will receive training as a part of a project to help children who survived the quake which was developed by Kocaeli University and Kobe Ashinaga Ikueikai Rainbow House.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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