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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 00-08-27

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

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

Anadolu Agency

ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

27

AUGUST 2000 Sunday


CONTENTS

  • [01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN
  • [02] A BOAT CARRYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPSIZES OFF BODRUM -NUMBER OF BODIES PULLED OUT FROM SEA INCREASES TO EIGHT
  • [03] SPORTS-EUROPEAN WEIGHT LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIPS UNDER-21 -DEMIREL OF TURKEY WINS THREE SILVER MEDALS IN 76 KG
  • [04] TRNC FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTER: ''NEITHER GREECE NOR GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION HAS THE RIGHT AND AUTHORITY TO INTERVENE IN DOMESTIC AFFAIRS OF THE TRNC''
  • [05] 69TH INTERNATIONAL IZMIR FAIR INAUGURATED
  • [06] IN FIRST SEVEN MONTHS, 15.6 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES EXPORTED
  • [07] JBIC SUSPENDS FINANCIAL SECTOR ADJUSTMENT LOAN TO TURKEY
  • [08] 69TH INTERNATIONAL IZMIR FAIR -INDUSTRY AND TRADE MINISTER TANRIKULU MEETS WITH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF MOLDOVA AND FOREIGN ECONOMIC AFFAIRS MINISTER OF TURKMENISTAN
  • [09] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK STAGES PRESS CONFERENCE (1)
  • [10] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK STAGES PRESS CONFERENCE (2)
  • [11] 69TH INTERNATIONAL IZMIR FAIR -INDUSTRY AND TRADE MINISTER TANRIKULU MEETS WITH IRISH, KYRGYZ, ALBANIAN AND TURKMEN DELEGATIONS
  • [12] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AKBULUT DUE TO U.S.
  • [13] TRNC PARLIAMENT TO HOLD AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING
  • [14] ISRAELI CIVIL DEFENSE EXPERTS DUE IN TURKEY TO TRAIN TURKISH OFFICIALS ON RESCUE OPERATIONS
  • [15] A BOAT CARRYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPSIZES OFF BODRUM (2) -SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUE
  • [16] IN FIRST SEVENT MONTHS, HES EXPORTS 13 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF CABLE TO 45 COUNTRIES
  • [17] FIRE IN NEW BUILDING OF AUDIT COURT -ANKARA SECURITY CHIEF: ''THE FIRE WILL END A FEW DAYS LATER AND THEN THE NECESSARY INVESTIGATIONS WILL START''
  • [18] SPORTS - JUDO -NATIONAL TEAM UNDER-21 WINS TWO SILVER AND TWO BRONZE MEDALS IN BALKAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
  • [19] SANLIURFA IRRIGATION TUNNELS IN GAP REGION TO BE FINALIZED IN 2001
  • [20] SNOWFALL ON ERCIYES MOUNTAIN
  • [21] SPORTS-EUROPEAN WEIGHT LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIPS UNDER-21
  • [22] TURKEY BECOMES EUROPEAN CHAMPION

  • [01] TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

    These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 27, 2000. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

    HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

    SHOCKING SIGNAL FROM PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT
    Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''there are some uncertainties between authorities of the Presidency and the government. We will bring authorities of the Precidency onto agenda.'' When asked whether or not they would restrict authorities of the President, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''it is too early to say someting at this point. We left behind this unlucky incident. But if we cannot remove these uncertainties, serious problems may occur.''

    TURKEY SUBMITS DOCUMENTS TO IRAN
    Turkey submitted Tehran once again the documents revealing Iran's support to terrorist organizations Hezbollah and PKK. The report which was conveyed to Mohsen Aminzade, Iranian Deputy Prime Minister who had paid an official visit to Iran last week, left Iran in a difficult position. The report says, ''members of the Hezbollah organization have received military and religious training in Iran.''

    69TH INTERNATIONAL ISMIR FAIR OPENED
    The 69th International Izmir Fair inaugurated yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister Braghish Dumtru Petru of Moldova, the honorary guest of this year's fair, ministers from 24 countries, Izmir Mayor Ahmet Pristina, State Minister Recep Onal, and Industry and Trade Minister Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu were in attendance at the inauguration.

    MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

    PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT: ''FIND BURGLARS''
    Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has launched an investigation into burglary of eight paintings worth of millions of U.S, dollars, from the Prime Ministry residence. A counting of inventory stock revealed that eight paintings were missing. The Prime Ministry Inspection Council has taken action to find the missing paintings upon directions of Prime Minister Ecevit.

    FEHRIYE ERDAL TO CHANGE HER ADDRESS
    Belgian Interior Ministry has taken a new decision about Fehriye Erdal, a member of the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) and one of suspects of assasination of businessman Ozdemir Sabanci in 1996. As a result of long-lasting bargains, it was decided to transfer Erdal to another house. According to the decision, Erdal will be taken from the house in Charleroi, and sent to another house within Belgian territories. After the agreement, Erdal ended her 43-day hunger strike.

    MANY HOUSES IN ISTANBUL INUNDATED BY HAIL
    A number of houses were inundated in Istanbul after it hailed for about ten minutes. The hail which started together with torrential rains at about 01:50 p.m. on Saturday and lasted for about 10 minutes, affected the daily life and traffic negatively. A number of houses and business places were inundated in Fatih, Eminonu, Beyoglu, Besiktas, Sisli, Kagithane and Sariyer districts of Istanbul.

    SABAH (LIBERAL)

    CALAMITY IN SEA
    A fishing boat carrying 32 illigal immigrants from Bodrum township of Mugla province to Kos Island of Greece, capsized off the island. Captain of the boat and six immigrants were rescued. Coast guard teams pulled out eight bodies from the sea. Search and rescue efforts are underway to find 18 missing immigrants, most of them Iraqis.

    BARAK DUE IN TURKEY TOMORROW
    Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will come to Turkey on Monday. David Ziso, the Spokesman of Israeli Defense Ministry, said that they attributed great importance to relations with Turkey. Undersecretary of Israeli Defense Ministry, and high-level representatives of Israeli defense industry will accompany Barak during his visit to Turkey.

    CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

    DANGEROUS BRIDGES
    As a result of a research carried on 123 bridges and viaducts in Istanbul, it was understood that most of them can collapse in a possible earthquake. Experts say that those bridges and viaducts should be reinforced. Experts say that reinforcement could cost 10 percent of the construction cost of the bridge or viaduct.

    INFLUENTIAL ROLE TO TURKEY IN MIDDLE EAST
    The two sides take Turkey's proposals serious as Turkey greatly awares of cultural and religious importance of Jerusalem which had been ruled by the Ottoman Empire for centuries. Diplomatic sources said that the most important deficiency among the sides of the Middle East peace process was the failure in creating an ''atmosphere of confidence'', and that more concrete developments could occur when this failure was removed. Turkey undertook an influential role for a success in Middle East peace process. Turkey which puts forward proposals about status of Jerusalem, the most serious problem between Israel and Palestine, will convey same proposals to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak after Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

    YOK STARTS SACKINGS DUE TO ISLAMIC STYLE HEADSCARF
    The Higher Education Council (YOK) gave the message that it would obey the outward appearance regulations without any concession in the coming semester. Gulsen Dogan Dagdas, a personnel of the Ataturk University Nurse Vocational High School in eastern Erzurum province was dismissed on charges of ''carrying out ideological activity and destroying the institution's peace and work order'' after she had insisted not taking off the Islamic style headscarf she wears.

    RADIKAL (LEFT)

    68 HECTARES OF FORESTED AREA BURNT DOWN TO ASHES IN FIRES
    The Forestry Ministry stated that all 21 forest fires which broke out on Friday, and the forest fire in Aegean Denizli province were extinguished. Releasing a statement, the Forestry Ministry said that 68 hectares of forested area was burnt down to ashes in fires in Izmir, Antalya, Kastamonu, Denizli, Adapazari, Istanbul and Mersin provinces.

    THY TARGETS TO CARRY MORE THAN 12 MILLION PASSENGERS BY 2001
    Turkish Airlines (THY) Deputy President Gurol Yuksel said that they would exceed this year's target of 12 million passengers by 2001. Yuksel said that also the THY had been badly affected by some negativities in tourism in 1999. ''The number of passengers we carried in July and August was the highest number in the THY history. The points to which we carry the highest number of passengers in foreign flights are New York, Chicago and Miami, and the points to which we carry highest number of passengers in domestic flights are Bodrum, Trabzon, Izmir, Dalaman and Antalya. Besides, number of passengers we carry to North Africa, Far East and Europe is also pleasing, '' he said. Noting that the THY had carried 10.5 million passengers in 1999, Yuksel said that the number of passengers reached 8.2 million as of end- August 2000.

    YENI BINYIL (LIBERAL)

    TOBB'S TENDER FINALIZED
    The BMM, Evren, Ozar and Afa-Erkut companies won the tender which was opened by the Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) for construction of 1,020 permanent housing units in quake-stricken Adapazari, Kocaeli and Yalova provinces. TOBB said that the construction of those housing units would cost 10 trillion 744 billion Turkish lira (TL). After the contracts are signed with these four companies, fields will be allocated and foundations of the housing units will be laid in coming days. It said that 252 housing units would be built in Kocaeli, 250 housing units would be constructed in Yalova and 528 others would be built in sakarya. The housing units will have three storeys and flats will be 100 square meters. The construction of housing units is foreseen to be finalized in April 2001.

    TURKIYE (RIGHT)

    THEY DROWNED WHILE ESCAPING
    A boat which was carrying Iraqi, Iranian and Afghan immigrants capsized between Bodrum and Kos Island of Greece. Nineteen of the 33 people aboard were reported missing. Five immigrants and the captain were rescued while bodies of eight imiigrants were pulled out from the sea.

    MALAZGIRT ENTHUSIASM
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State Devlet Bahceli who attended celebrations in Malazgirt township of eastern Mus province said that the Malazgirt Victory in 1071 made Anatolia motherland for the Turks. Addressing people, Bahceli said, ''there are circles who do not deem Anatolia worthy for the people who has been living in peace and brotherhood for centuries. There are cricles who want to change Istanbul into Constantinople and Agri into Ararat but they will can't manage to do this.''

    ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

    ALSO MATADOR CONNECTED WITH GREEN
    It was revealed that Urfi Cetinkaya group which is called one of the biggest drug smuggling gangs was in connection with Yesil (Green) code- named Mahmut Yildirim. It was revealed that Yesil had been in continuous connection with drug smuggler Ersin Zorluer through the phone in a house in Ankara that Yesil had lived between 1994-1997. Zorluer who had been imprisoned in Italy on charges of drug smuggling has been captured in Istanbul with 80 kg of heroin a few weeks ago. It was revealed that the address of the phone through which Yesil had set up connection with Zorluer was one of the buildings belonged to the National Intelligence Organization in Ankara. Another interesting connection that was revealed is that Iranian Lokman Godsi who had laundered the money in the Susurluk scandal also laundered the black money of the Urfi group.

    18 IMMIGRANTS MISSED IN SEA
    A boat which was carrying Afghan, Iraqi and Iranian immigrants capsized off Bodrum. Six of the 32 immigrants aboard were rescued while rescue teams pulled out eight bodies from the sea. Searches for the missing 18 immigrants continue.

    BELGIAN GOVERNMENT REACHES AGREEMENT WITH FEHRIYE ERDAL
    Fehriye Erdal, one of the suspects of assasination of businessman Ozdemir Sabanci, ended her hunder strike. The Belgian Interior Ministry Press Spokesman said that they had bargained with Erdal for three days to persuade her to end hunger strike.

    [02] A BOAT CARRYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPSIZES OFF BODRUM -NUMBER OF BODIES PULLED OUT FROM SEA INCREASES TO EIGHT

    BODRUM - As search and rescue efforts are underway to find nineteen people who got lost when a boat carrying illegal immigrants to Kos Island of Greece capsized, number of bodies pulled out from the sea increased to eight on Saturday.

    Officials told the A.A correspondent that coast guard teams retrived five bodies of immigrants off Datca township of Aegean Mugla province. The number of bodies pulled out from the sea increased to 8.

    Turkish and Greek coast guard boats backed by a helicopter are searching for survivors, but rescue efforts particularly become difficult due to strong winds and rough waters.

    Bosiz Ahmad Amrezy, 30, one of the Afghan immigrants aboard the boat, was rescued by another boat, and brought to Datca.

    Meanwhile, Tevrat Yanit, the captian of the boat who was rescued, said that the boat started to make water and capsized after a quarrel had begun among illegal immigrants aboard.

    The search was called off on Saturday evening. It will resume on Sunday morning.

    [03] SPORTS-EUROPEAN WEIGHT LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIPS UNDER-21 -DEMIREL OF TURKEY WINS THREE SILVER MEDALS IN 76 KG

    KOSICE - Iskender Demirel of Turkey won three silver medals in snatch, clean and jerk and overall in 76 kg category at the European Weight Lifting Championships in Kosice, Slovakia.

    Demirel cleared 127.5 kg in snatch and lifted 157.5 kg in clean and jerk, totalling 285 kg.

    Turkey has won three gold, seven silver and six bronze medals in the championships so far.

    [04] TRNC FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MINISTER: ''NEITHER GREECE NOR GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION HAS THE RIGHT AND AUTHORITY TO INTERVENE IN DOMESTIC AFFAIRS OF THE TRNC''

    LEFKOSA - Foreign and Defense Minister Tahsin Ertugruloglu of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said on Saturday that neither Greece nor Greek Cypriot administration has the right and authority to intervene in domestic affairs of the TRNC.

    Releasing a statement, Ertugruloglu said that solidarity in the field of economy was natural between Turkey and the TRNC which are connected to each other with blood, linguistic, religious, historical and cultural ties.

    ''We know that the motherland Turkey won't leave the Turkish Cypriots alone against difficulties. We are calling on the Greek Cypriot side which feels uneasy about this solidarity, to first of all look to its economic, military and political integrity with Greece and to give up attempting to intervene in the issues on which it does not have the right to voice an opinion,'' he said.

    Ertugruloglu said that he had observed that the Greek and Greek Cypriot officiels had recently started to extremely exploit the developments about the economic situation in the TRNC, and were carried away by their several imaginings against those developments.

    Stressing that the Greek Cypriot side did not represent the Turkish Cypriots and whole Cyprus, Ertugruloglu said that the economic problems in the TRNC constituted a proof for the existence of the state.

    Ertugruloglu emphasized that it was a fact that economic problems in the TRNC stemmed from the embargoes imposed on the Turkish Cypriots for 37 years.

    ''Attempting to seek political purposes by ignoring this fact and exaggerating the economic problems is a new example of the mala fides and hypocritical policy that Greece and Greek Cypriot side have been implementing for years against the Turkish Cypriots and the TRNC,'' he said.

    ''It seems that Greece and the Greek Cypriot administration have been carried away by the unwariness that the TRNC would collapse against economic problems and submit to their political insistences under these conditions. Everbody should carefully follow how this side which seeks such dreams and desires is preparing itself to attend the fourth round of proximity talks that are expected to start in coming days in New York with what kind of a mentality,'' he added.

    [05] 69TH INTERNATIONAL IZMIR FAIR INAUGURATED

    IZMIR - The 69th International Izmir Fair was inaugurated on Saturday.

    State Minister Recep Onal, Industry and Trade Minister Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu, Izmir Governor Alaaddin Yuksel, Izmir Mayor Ahmet Piristina, representatives of political parties, mayors of townships of Izmir and representatives of 47 countries were in attendance at the inauguration.

    Addressing the inauguration, Deputy Prime Minister Valeriu Cosarciuc of Moldova, the honorary guest of this year's fair, said that the International Izmir Fair would make a valuable contribution to further improvement of relations between Turkey and Moldova.

    Recalling that there were 28 important agreements signed between the two countries, Cosarciuc stressed that these agreements would improve commercial and economic relations.

    He invited Turkish businessmen to invest in Moldova.

    Referring to last year's devastating earthquake disaster which left thousands of people dead and thousands of others injured and desparate, Cosarciuc expressed his profound sorrow over the great loss of life in he disaster.

    Industry and Trade Minister Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu emphasized that the International Izmir Fair would continue to make contributions to globalizing world trade.

    Tanrikulu said, ''fairs have an important function in promoting economic potentials, products and technologies of countries. Fairs make valuable contributions to improve commercial relations among countries and to provide industrial cooperations. The decision on opening of an international fair in Izmir was taken upon directions of Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk following the Izmir Economy Congress in 1923. The International Izmir Fair is one of the important doors opening abroad.''

    Meanwhile, State Minister Recep Onal said that the International Izmir Fair had been making valuable contributions to economic development of Turkey for 69 years.

    [06] IN FIRST SEVEN MONTHS, 15.6 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES EXPORTED

    GAZIANTEP - The exports of fresh fruits and vegetables from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region in the first seven months of 2000 increased 30.9 percent to 15 million 415 thousand U.S. dollars.

    In the same period last year, the region exported 11 million 27 thousand 153 U.S. dollars of fresh fruits and vegetables.

    Officials at the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Union, told the A.A correspondent on Sunday that the majority of the goods were exported to Middle Eastern countries and European Union (EU) member countries.

    [07] JBIC SUSPENDS FINANCIAL SECTOR ADJUSTMENT LOAN TO TURKEY

    ANKARA - After the World Bank, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) suspended the almost 750 million U.S. dollars financial sector adjustment loan it will give to Turkey.

    Sources said on Sunday that JIBC was waiting for the arrangement in privatization of public banks to release the loan like the policy of the World Bank.

    The World Bank earlier announced that it would release almost 750 million U.S. dollars Financial Sector Adjustment Loan (FSAL) after finalization of privatization of public banks.

    The World Bank wants the legal arrangement about privatization of public banks to be presented as a package.

    World Bank officials which said during the meetings with Turkey that the FSAL was planned to be discussed by the World Bank Board in September stated that the discussion of the issue was postponed to a later date as the legal arrangements couldn't be finalized.

    World Bank officials said that the most biggest problem in front of the FSAL was that the public banks were still not privatized.

    JIBC officials paid a visit to Turkey in June and got information on the financial sector.

    [08] 69TH INTERNATIONAL IZMIR FAIR -INDUSTRY AND TRADE MINISTER TANRIKULU MEETS WITH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF MOLDOVA AND FOREIGN ECONOMIC AFFAIRS MINISTER OF TURKMENISTAN

    IZMIR - Industry and Trade Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu met on Saturday with Deputy Prime Minister Valeriu Cosarciuc of Moldova and with Foreign Economic Affairs Minister Dartkulu Aydogdiev of Turkmenistan.

    At his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Cosarciuc of Moldova, Tanrikulu said, ''there are perfect political and cultural relations between Turkey and Moldovo. Relations in the field of economy should also be further improved. We aim at setting up more concrete economic relations with Moldova, the honorary guest of the 69th International Izmir Fair. We will support Turkish and Moldovan businessmen's joint initiatives.''

    Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Cosarciuc of Moldova noted that several Turkish banks had made investments in Moldova.

    Recalling that the Turkish Airlines had started direct flights to Moldova, Cosarciuc emphasized that these steps taken in the fields of finance and transportation would contribute to further improvement of commercial relations between the two countries.

    Later, Tanrikulu met with Trade and Foreign Economic Affairs Minister Dartkulu Aydogdiev of Turkmenistan.

    Addressing the meeting, Tanrikulu stressed that they aimed at further improving economic relations with Turkmenistan.

    [09] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK STAGES PRESS CONFERENCE (1)

    TRABZON - Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said on Sunday, ''we should change our prisons into the places where criminals can serve their imprisonment sentences. Those who are opposed to F type prisons are the groups which consider that they will lose their sovereignty in new prisons.''

    Staging a press conference at the Society of Journalists in Trabzon, Turk said, ''some prisons have been overloaded. This situation makes it difficult to positively evaluate the living conditions in prisons in regard to human rights. Although they committed crimes, prisoners should live without losing their honor. We should change our prisons into the places in which criminals can serve their imprisonment sentences.''

    Responding to a question about the F type prisons in which inmates would be kept in cells instead of large wards, Turk said, ''the F type prisons are being constructed in accordance with Article 16 of the Anti-Terrorism Law and Article 13 of the Struggle Against Criminal Organizations Law. There will be one-person and three-person cells in the F type prisons. We aim at removing inconveniences of ward system by constructing F type prisons. Those who are opposed to the F type prisons are the groups which consider that they will lose their sovereignty in prisons. I do not want to disclose names of these organizations. Both leftist and rightist organizations are opposed to the F type prisons. Because they will not be able to train their members in the F type prisons.''

    Referring to allegations saying that the F type prisons aimed at isolating prisoners, Turk told reporters, ''these allegations are not true. They claim that cells would be too small and dark in the F type prisons. We invited journalists to construction sites of F type prisons. When constructions are finalized, journalists will visit the prisons again.''

    ''The issue of prisons is a continuing serious problem of Turkey. This problem must be solved. We are working on some new legal arrangements. We plan to make an amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Law before the F type prisons are opened. We will form follow-up and monitoring councils for each prison. Members of these councils will be elected by Justice Comissions,'' he stressed.

    Turk added, ''we attribute great importance to training of prison officials. With this objective, we have submitted a draft law to the Parliament. After the draft law is approved by the Parliament, we will found training centers for prison officials.''

    (To be continued)

    [10] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK STAGES PRESS CONFERENCE (2)

    TRABZON - Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said on Sunday that the Amnesty Law was among the prior issues that would be discussed at the beginning of the new legislative term.

    Turk responded to questions of journalists during his press conference at the Society of Journalists in Trabzon.

    When asked when the Amnesty Law would be legalized, Turk said that he wanted the Amnesty Law to be legalized as soon as possible.

    ''Regarding this issue, a step was earlier taken and a law was legalized, and it was sent back to the Parliament. However, as a result of this law, a great expectation occurred among the prisoners and their relatives. This expectation occasionally turns into unrests in prisons. Thus I want the Amnesty Law to be legalized as soon as possible. This will be among the prior issues that will be discussed at the Parliament at the beginning of the new legislative term. It is obligatory to remove the difference of opinion which occurred earlier regarding this issue, of course,'' he said.

    Responding to questions about the decree with the force of law (KHK) on civil servants, Turk said that a ''new reason'' had been put forward about dismissal of civil servants.

    ''This reason is connected with the destructive and separatist activities or activities aimed at destroying basic principles of the Republic. Here, we are not bringing a new method, we are bringing only a new reason. Earlier, these were transferred as four different draft laws in accordance with the relevant laws or as KHKs. These are collected in this KHK. A national compromise on this issue will be very appropriate and beneficial. The government does never have an understanding that 'I will do whatever I want'. We prefer to provide this important change through a large-scale compromise. However, such a change has been required in order to protect the unity of the country and democratic and secular order of the Republic, '' he said.

    When asked whether or not he was threatened due to ''F type'' prisons, Turk said, ''If I had taken threats serious, I would have shown deference to those who made the threats. I only state that I am fulfilling my mission.''

    Responding to another question, Turk said that the Justice Ministry had launched necessary initiatives for extradition of Fehriye Erdal, one of the suspects of assasination of businessman Ozdemir Sabanci in 1996.

    ''We were not content with this, and when it was understood that Erdal won't be extradited to Turkey, we applied to the Belgian courts for trial of Erdal as a terrorist, and to the Belgian government for her interrogation by Turkish prosecutors in Belgium. We continued our initiatives at the Belgian authorities. With this respect, we have to consider the capital punishment. Because, death sentence constitutes an obstacle in front of interrogation of some offenders. An arrangement which is appropriate to contemporary understanding of penal code and European standards should absolutely be made regarding the issue of death sentence, '' he added.

    (End)

    [11] 69TH INTERNATIONAL IZMIR FAIR -INDUSTRY AND TRADE MINISTER TANRIKULU MEETS WITH IRISH, KYRGYZ, ALBANIAN AND TURKMEN DELEGATIONS

    IZMIR - Industry and Trade Minister Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu met on Sunday with Irish, Kyrgyz, Albanian and Turkmen delegations within scope of the 69th International Izmir Fair.

    At his meeting with State Minister Eoin Ryan of Ireland, Tanrikulu said, ''economic relations between Turkey and Ireland are far away from the desired levels. The Industry and Trade Ministry is ready to cooperate with Ireland. The two countries can carry out projects in order to develop Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMSEs).''

    State Minister Ryan of Ireland said in his part that they aimed at futher improving economic relations with Turkey.

    Noting that there were many similarities between Turkish and Irish economies, Ryan called on Turkish businessmen to invest in Ireland.

    Later, Tanrikulu came together with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Trade and Industry Minister Esengul Omuraliev of Kyrgyzstan.

    Addressing the meeting, Tanrikulu said that Kyrgyzstan was taking part in the fair for the first time since 1992.

    Omuraliev stressed that there were perfect relations between Turkey and Kyrgyzstan.

    Emphasizing that commercial relations between the two countries should be further improved, Omuraliev said, ''protocols signed between Turkey and Kyrgyzstan are not sufficient. If necessary legal arrangements are finalized, our cooperation can further improve. We expect Turkish businessmen to be interested in our privatization efforts in the fields of energy, telecommunications and tourism. Kyrgyzstan attributes great importance to textile and food sectors. We are working on a draft law that would provide tax facility to businessmen in these sectors.''

    Following the meeting, Tanrikulu came together with Economic Cooperation and Trade Minister Ermelinda Meksi of Albania.

    Addressing the meeting, Tanrikulu said that such contacts would make a valuable contribution to further improvement of relations between Turkey and Albania.

    Meksi said that a joint business forum should be organized in order to develop cooperation with Turkey.

    Tanrikulu and Meksi signed a protocol envisaging technical cooperation between Turkish and Albanian SMSEs.

    Later, Tanrikulu met with Food Minister Orozov Kakajan of Turkmenistan.

    Meanwhile, press conference of Deputy Prime Minister Valeriu Cosarciuc of Moldova, the honorary guest of the 69th International Izmir Fair, was delayed.

    [12] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER AKBULUT DUE TO U.S.

    ANKARA - Yildirim Akbulut, the Speaker of Parliament, will leave for the U.S. on Monday to attend the Parliament Speakers' meeting in New York organized through joint initiative of the United Nations and the Inter- Parliamentary Unity.

    Akbulut will respond to questions of journalists at the Esenboga Airport in Ankara prior to his departure.

    Participating parliament speakers will deliver speeches on the issue of ''Parliamentarian Approach to International Cooperation at the Start of the Third Millennium.''

    Akbulut is expected to return to Turkey on September 8.

    [13] TRNC PARLIAMENT TO HOLD AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING

    LEFKOSA - The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Parliament will hold an extraordinary meeting on Monday.

    The meeting is expected to focus on the Cyprus question.

    President Rauf Denktas of the TRNC will inform the MPs on the latest devolopments and proximity talks process prior to the fourth round of talks in New York.

    [14] ISRAELI CIVIL DEFENSE EXPERTS DUE IN TURKEY TO TRAIN TURKISH OFFICIALS ON RESCUE OPERATIONS

    ANKARA - A group of Israeli civil defense experts will come to Turkey on Sunday to train Turkish officials on rescue operations.

    Diplomatic sources told the A.A correspondent that the training program on rescue operations in natural disasters such as earthquake and fire, would last for a month.

    Recalling that Turkey had signed agreements in the fields of search and rescue operations and civil defense with several countries in the wake of the last year's devastating earthquakes, the same sources noted that such visits were being paid.

    General Gaby Ophir, the Israeli Commander of Civil Defense, is expected to attend the exercise at the end of the process in which 50 Turkish personnel would receive training in the first stage.

    [15] A BOAT CARRYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPSIZES OFF BODRUM (2) -SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORTS CONTINUE

    BODRUM - Search and rescue efforts are underway to find 18 people who got lost when a boat carrying illegal immigrants to Kos Island of Greece capsized.

    Two coast guard boats and several fishing boats put out to sea at 09:00 a.m. on Sunday to search for the missing people.

    Works have been concentrated on shores of Datca township.

    Meanwhile, gendarmerie teams are interrogating Tevrat Yanik, the captain of the boat who was taken under medical treatment at the State Hospital in Bodrum township of Aegean Mugla province.

    Abdul Yazdan, one of the Afghan immigrants aboard, said during his interrogation that they had firstly come to Izmir from Istanbul.

    He added that Iranian, Iraqi and Afghan immigrants had gathered in Bodrum before setting sail towards Kos Island of Greece.

    Coast guard officials have pulled out eight bodies from the sea so far, and rescued seven people including captain of the boat.

    [16] IN FIRST SEVENT MONTHS, HES EXPORTS 13 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS OF CABLE TO 45 COUNTRIES

    KAYSERI - The Hacilar Electricity Insdustry and Trade Corp (HES) based in Hacilar township of central Kayseri province, exported cable worth of 13 million U.S. dollars in the first seven months of 2000.

    Responding to questions of the A.A correspondent, Adem Ozcan Gundogdu, the Deputy Director of HES, said on Sunday that their exports increased 24 percent compared to the same period last year.

    Gundogdu said that they were trying to increase their capacity of production.

    ''In the first seven months of this year, we exported telephone, energy and fibre-optic cables worth of 13 million U.S. dollars to 45 countries from Far Eastern countries to the U.S. We have signed contracts to export 17 million U.S. dollars of cable till the end of the year,'' Gundogdu added.

    In the same period last year, the HES exported cable worth of 10 million 500 thousand U.S. dollars.

    Gundogdu added that they aimed at exporting cable worth of 30 million U.S. dollars by the end of the year.

    [17] FIRE IN NEW BUILDING OF AUDIT COURT -ANKARA SECURITY CHIEF: ''THE FIRE WILL END A FEW DAYS LATER AND THEN THE NECESSARY INVESTIGATIONS WILL START''

    ANKARA - Fire-brigades are continuing to expend efforts to put out the fire in the archieves department of the Audit Court's new building in Ankara.

    Ankara Security Chief Kemal Iskender came to the building and got information from the officials about the continuing fire.

    Speaking to the A.A correspondent, Iskender said that there was not the possibility of a sabotage, and they had not detained a person in connection with the fire yet.

    ''The fire will end a few days later, and then the necessary investigations will start,'' he added.

    Ankara Municipality Fire-Brigade President Faruk Kurutuz said that the fire had been taken under control, and there was not the risk of any spread.

    ''A total of 200 firemen are expending efforts. We will decrease the number to 50 late in the same day. Nearly 500 square meters place has been detroyed. Five firemen who were affected by smoke have been hospitalized so far,'' he added.

    [18] SPORTS - JUDO -NATIONAL TEAM UNDER-21 WINS TWO SILVER AND TWO BRONZE MEDALS IN BALKAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

    ISTANBUL - The National Team Under-21 won two silver and two bronze medals in the Balkan Judo Championships in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

    Omer Gurler of Turkey competing in the 60 kg category, and Ibrahim Yildirim of Turkey competing in the 81 kg category won silver medals while Hasan Yilmaz of Turkey competing in the 66 kg category, and Ahmet Deniz of Turkey competing in the 100 kg category won bronze medals.

    Emre Yilmaz of Turkey competing in the 90 kg category came on the fifth place while Berkant Leyluhan of Turkey competing in the over 100 kg category, came on the seventh place.

    [19] SANLIURFA IRRIGATION TUNNELS IN GAP REGION TO BE FINALIZED IN 2001

    SANLIURFA - Construction of the Sanliurfa T-1 and T-2 tunnels which will be the biggest irrigation tunnels in the world will be finalized by the end of 2001.

    Speaking to the A.A correspondent, State Water Works (DSI) 16th Region Directorate Chairman Gulabi Polat said that the works on the tunnels each of which was 26.4 kilometers in length and 7.62 meters in diameter were under way within the framework of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP).

    Noting that the construction would be finalized by the end of 2001, Polat said that the steel coating of entrances and exits of the tunnels and the valves would be finalized in the same period.

    ''When the tunnels are finished, 328 cubic meters per second of water will be taken from the Ataturk Dam lake and the plains will be irrigated. The area of arable fields that will be irrigated through these tunnels is 476, 474 hectares,'' he added.

    [20] SNOWFALL ON ERCIYES MOUNTAIN

    KAYSERI - Snow fell on the altitudes of the Erciyes Mountain in central Kayseri province late on Saturday.

    Sources said on Sunday that it had snowed on Seytanderesi, Horguckaya and Sutdonduran Pastures and Kuzey Buzlu Region in the altitudes of the Erciyas Mountain late on Saturday.

    [21] SPORTS-EUROPEAN WEIGHT LIFTING CHAMPIONSHIPS UNDER-21

    [22] TURKEY BECOMES EUROPEAN CHAMPION

    KOSICE - Turkey became European champion with 598 points at the European Weight Lifting Championships Under-21 in Kosice, Slovakia.

    Turkey won three gold, seven silver and six bronze medals at the championships.

    A total of 183 weight lifters of 28 countries attended the championships.

    Turkey was followed by Russia with 568 points and by Bulgaria with 463 points.


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