Anadolu Agency: News in English, 01-03-25

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ANADOLU AGENCY

NEWS

25 MARCH

2001 Monday

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN

These are some of the major headlines and their

brief stories in Turkey's press on March 25, 2001. The Anadolu Agency does not

verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

The U.S. President George W. Bush said they

would support Turkey on the way of economic and social reforms. Bush said

''Modern Turkey's founder and visionary, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, rightly said,

'the government's most creative and significant duty is education,'' noting

that he also attributed importance to this issue.

YILMAZ: MARKETS TO REACH STABILITY IN THREE

MONTHS

Mesut Yilmaz, the state minister and deputy

prime minister, said the markets would reach a certain stability within three

months, noting that the right economic program would continue to be

implemented by the end of this year from where it left. Yilmaz said the

economic stagnation would end within six months.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

The station set up by Dr. Berk Ustundag and

Lutfu Canyaran predicted Saturday's minor quake 41 hours before. The

equipments, which were settled by Ustundag and Canyaran in six districts of

Istanbul because of lack of financial support, predicted the quake.

Ustundag and Canyaran earlier informed about

the quakes in Denizli and Afyon.

SPK AND BDDK TO MERGE UNDER ONE ROOF

The government will merge Capital Market Board

(SPK) and Banking Regulatory and Supervisory Board (BDDK), under one roof. The

target is to protect the investors who purchased the shares of the banks which

were transferred to the Savings Deposits Insurance Fund.

SABAH (LIBERAL)

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that State

Minister Kemal Dervis should not be kept busy with some made-up scenarios and

that Dervis has to intensify on economy. About the scenarios that Dervis will

enter into politics or will return to the U.S., Ecevit said, ''everybody who

is involved in politics can face some problems and rumours. It is hard to bear

them. Dervis can protect his morale. This is very pleasing. It is wrong to

keep a person who has undertaken responsibilities for Turkey, busy. We have to

provide comfortable working atmosphere.''

QUAKE IN ISTANBUL

Istanbul was rocked by an earthquake measuring

only 3.5 on the Richter scale but all the residents rushed into the streets.

The earthquake, the epicenter of which was the Marmara Sea was felt in

Bakirkoy, Yesilkoy and Avcilar the most. The tremor had a preliminary

magnitude but it was enough to scare the people.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

Resignations from the Republican People's Party

(CHP) continued also on Saturday. Nearly 300 people, including Ercan Karakas,

Perihan Argun, Halil Ergun, Tulay Ates, administrators of Social Democracy

Foundation (SODEV), and members from Bakirkoy and Avcilar townships resigned

from CHP.

IOC GIVES HOPE FOR 2008

International Olympiad Committee (IOC)

Evaluation Commission completed its works in Istanbul, which is one of the

candidate cities to 2008 Olympic Games. Verbruggen, the commission chairman,

said they saw that the government and people of Istanbul supported the 2008

Olympic Games.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

Today is the 157th day of the death fasts of

the inmates. A group of doctors in Ankara and Istanbul said that sudden deaths

can be recorded.

STILL PICASSO PAINTINGS

Four people who had two paintings which were

said to be the paintings of world-famous painter Picasso were detained in

Uskudar district of Istanbul. Acting on a tip-off, the security forces seized

two paintings which were claimed to be the paintings of Picasso. Four people

were taken into custody in the operation.

CIVIL CODE IN JUNE

Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that he

hopes the draft Civil Code which is a matter of discussion can be adopted in

June. Turk said that the discussions on the property regime chapter of the

draft were postponed and that the Justice Commission started to debate the

provisions related with the kinship on Thursday.

''RESTRICTION HAS NO MEANING''

Mesut Yilmaz, the deputy prime minister and the

leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said that the restrictions about the

brodcasting and education in Kurdish do not have a meaning in practice.

Speaking in a programme broadcast in the private CNN Turk channel, Yilmaz said,

''we have not fully met the expectations of the European Union (EU) about the

language. Although Turkey is one of the 13 candidate states, it is the only

country which has not started full membership negotiations with the union.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

State minister Kemal Dervis, responsible for

economy, will carry out an intense program in the U.S. to provide urgent

foreign source. Dervis will make evaluations regarding the situation of

Turkish economy during the meeting of Turkish-American Council.

SLAP FROM ARMENIAN PATRIARCH TO ARMENIA

Mesrob II, who attended a religious ceremony in

Kayseri Surp Srikor Lusarovic Church, harshly reacted to Armenia's demand from

Turkey calling for territory, and said, ''those are some odd people. There is

not an official demand. Also, Turkey does not have a territory to give.''

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

Almost 70 dwellings and workplaces were

inundated in southeastern Diyarbakir province due to torrential rains. The

dwellings and workplaces in Baglar hamlet and Surici and Sehitlik districts of

Diyarbakir were inundated by flood triggered by torrential rains which

continued since last night without interruption.

LABOUR PLATFORM DISCUSSES ECONOMIC SITUATION

Bayram Meral, the Chairman of the Confederation

of Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-Is), said on Saturday that the country had a

very serious heart attack today because of the economic crisis it experienced.

Meral said, ''for years we have pointed out the mistakes of the IMF policies

to the politicians. If savings will be made in the county, parliament should

also make savings. We think 550 deputies are so much in the parliament.''

-EARTHQUAKE ROCKS ISPARTA

ANTALYA - Two earthquakes rocked Uluborlu

township of Isparta province in the Mediterranean Region on Sunday.

Officials of the Bogazici University Kandilli

Observatory Center and Seismology Institute said that two separate earthquakes

measuring 3.6 and 3.2 on the Richter scale were recorded in Uluborlu at 7.52

and 8.02 a.m.

There was no report of deaths or injuries in

Isparta and Uluborlu.

-VERBRUGGEN, CHAIRMAN OF IOC EVALUATION COMMISSION, SAYS

OFFICIALS IN ISTANBUL ASSURED THEM ABOUT SECURITY ISSUES

ISTANBUL- Hein Verbruggen, the chairman of the

International Olympic Committee (IOC) Evaluation Commission, said on Saturday

that the officials in Istanbul assured them about the security issues.

Following their observations in Istanbul,

Verbruggen told a press conference that they consider transportation and

environment as problems and that these problems are observed in every big city

which is a candidate to host the olympic games.

Verbruggen said that they were informed that if

the olympiads were held in Istanbul, an olympic traffic commission would be

set up and the traffic would be conducted only by one organ.

Many people will come to the city, Verbruggen

noted, and they were given the necessary assurances.

Verbruggen stated that they were also assured

about the security issues and that the security can never be totally ensured.

Officials of the Istanbul Police Organization

made a detailed presentation about this issue, Verbruggen said, and they were

affected by this presentation.

Verbruggen pointed out that it is important

that the olympic project is of high quality.

They will write a report after they visit all

the five candidate cities, Verbruggen said.

Verbruggen noted that the IOC members will

choose among the candidates in respect to the quality of the projects.

Holding the olympic games will improve the

sports concept in that country, Verbruggen said.

Verbruggen stated that the city which will

provide the best standards will host the olympiads but that he can say it

means that Istanbul proved that it can host the olympics because it is a

candidate.

They also take into consideration the former

international meetings or conferences held in the candidate cities, Verbruggen

said.

Verbruggen noted that the experiences of the

candidate cities have utmost importance.

They discussed Turkey's problems with its

neighbours during their four-day visit to Istanbul, Verbruggen said, and they

were given necessary assurances.

Gilbert Felli, the deputy chairman of the IOC

Evaluation Commission, said that Istanbul will have sufficient number of

installations to organize 2008 Olympic Games.

Felli noted that they visited the Ataturk

Olympic Stadium and Bagcilar Sports Hall.

Responding to questions on social problems,

Felli said that if the social problems do not affect the olympics, they will

ignore them because they are technical committee.

Bob Elphinston, a member of the commission,

said that they saw the railway projects and that a perfect infrastructural

plan has been prepared.

Elphinston noted that the 152-kilometre long

railway system will be built.

CONTENTS

[01] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK:

[02] ''RETURN FROM IMPLEMENTATION OF F TYPE PRISONS IS NOT IN QUESTION''

[03] STATE MINISTER DERVIS IN WASHINGTON D.C

[04] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER IZGI LEAVES FOR UZBEKISTAN

[05] PEARSON, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY, EXPRESSES

[06] PRIME MINISTER'S CHIEF CONSULTANT ALP LEAVES FOR THE U.S.

[07] DSI DIRECTOR GENERAL ALTINBILEK:

[08] DAY-LIGHT SAVING TIME STARTS

[09] ELECTRICITY MARKET REGULATORY BOARD TO BE SET UP UNTIL JUNE

[10] TURKEY-WEATHER

[11] TEMPERATURES TO BE 8-10 DEGREES ABOVE THE SEASONAL AVERAGES

[12] EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO RESCUE SAINT VINCENT FLAGGED SHIP

[13] WATER LEVEL IN DICLE DAM INCREASES 3 METRES BY RAINFALL

[14] AGREEMENT ON 35 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR LOAN FOR QUAKE ZONE SIGNED

[15] NARCOTICS TEAM CONFISCATE 140 KG HEROIN

[16] PRIME MINISTRY ASKS VIEWS OF CONCERNED MINISTRIES

[17] TURKISH-AMERICAN SCIENTISTS CONVENE IN WASHINGTON D.C

[18] A.A PHOTO REPORTERS PRESENTED AWARDS

[19] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN BRUSSELS

[20] TURKISH-EU RELATIONS DISCUSSED IN EVALUATION MEETING

[21] WORLD TRADE CENTER EXECUTIVE BOARD TO HOLD MEETING ON MARCH 31

[22] TOBB-BANKING UNION MEETING TO TAKE PLACE ON MONDAY

[01] JUSTICE MINISTER TURK:

[02] ''RETURN FROM IMPLEMENTATION OF F TYPE PRISONS IS NOT IN QUESTION''

on Saturday that return from the implementation of the F type prisons is not

in question.

Turk visited the F type prison which is under

construction in Buca township of western Izmir province.

Turk later told a press conference that the

Buca Kiriklar F type prison can imprison 373 people and that the construction

was over but the prison was not opened due to some deficiencies.

The one-person cells are ten square metres

while the three-person cells are 50 square metres, Turk said.

Turk noted that there are toilets and showers

in the cells and that music can be listened in these cells.

The inmates can buy television or refrigerator

if they wish, Turk stated.

Turk said that four F type prisons have started

to function so far and that six F type prisons have been constructed while the

construction of five others are underway.

''There are mainly inmates who were convicted

of terrorism and interest crime gangs in F type prisons. There are 1109 people

convicted of terrorism in Ankara, Kocaeli, Edirne and Tekirdag F type prisons

and 57 people convicted of interest crime gangs. The total number of inmates

in F type prisons is 1211,'' Turk said.

Touching on ongoing hunger strikes and death

fasts in prisons, Turk said that currently, 415 people are on limitless hunger

strike and 319 people on death fast.

Turk noted that the hunger strike and death

fast are continuing in 21 prisons and that the number of the illegal

organizations backing these incidents is 25.

Reminding that an operation on prisons was

staged as no result was gained in the efforts to persuade the inmates to end

their protests, Turk said, ''those days, I told that the F type prisons would

be postponed until a social compromise was provided to put an end to these

protests. But, we have not marked any development in these efforts. This

promise which was welcomed at the first stage, was later considered as

insufficient due to the instruction from outside. The state sovereignty in the

prisons was fully ensured after the operation.''

Turk continued, ''but, some inmates gave up

their protests after they were transferred to other prisons while many of the

inmates continued their protests. The calls to put an end to the protests did

not give any result. This protest is a protest based on human life. The

terrorist organizations pushed their friends to death.''

Cengiz Soydas, a death fasting inmate, died on

March 21, Turk said.

Turk went on saying, ''a person lost his life.

Those who pushed him to death should be revealed. The prosecutors will do what

is necessary for this issue. The protests in prisons should be ended in the

possible shortest time. There are 36 inmates who are hospitalized for the time

being. 35 of these inmates are in hospitals in Ankara and one of them in

Izmir.''

''We do not want any of our people to die due

to these protests. I call on everybody to behave with common sense. The

parents should make suggestions to their children. The support of the non- governmental

organizations are needed. There is not any punishment for committing suicide

but we have some initiatives to give heavy punishments to those who lead to

this,'' Turk added.

Pointing out that there would not be any return

from the implementation of F type prisons, Turk said the F type prisons lifted

the difficulties of the ward system.

Turk said the ward system helped those strong

to put pressure on the weak ones, noting that the ward system would be totally

lifted. Turk said, ''there is not ward system in civilized countries.''

Stressing that the F type prisons were

contructed according to the U.N. Prisons standarts and Council of Europe

Prisons rules, Turk said they wanted to stage an international symposium that

will open the prisons and the F type prisons to an evaluation. Turk said

experts from Europe and the U.S. will be invited to this symposium, adding

that imposing threats to the people in F type prisons were out of question.

Turk said they prepared various draft laws

regarded with prisons, stressing that Turkish Execution Law would be renewed

totally. He said the commission, which was set up in this respect, continued

its works on the issue.

Turk said with an amendment to Article 16 of

the Anti-Terrorism Law, they planned to change the mutual living areas in F

type prisons so that they will be appropriate to cultural activities, and

noted that judicial control will be provided for every kind of procedures in

the prisons.

Turk said efforts were underway for the

establishment of a system which will enable the inmates to talk with their

relatives on the phone.

Turk said, ''we attribute great importance to

the amendment to Article 16 of the Anti-Terrorism law to make the inmates pas

their time with beneficial activities.''

Responding to a question that Sevgi Erdogan, a

woman inmate who was on death fast, lost her life, Turk said they have not

received such an information.

[03] STATE MINISTER DERVIS IN WASHINGTON D.C

arrived in Washington D.C, the U.S, on Sunday.

Dervis will hold an evaluation meeting with the

economy officials who are in Washington D.C. to attend the American-Turkish

Council (ATC) annual conference.

State Minister Dervis will later attend the

opening reception of the annual ATC conference.

Dervis, who will deliver a speech about the

current situation of Turkey's economy on Monday morning, will meet with Horst

Kohler, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director; James

Wolfensohn, World Bank President; and Paul O'Neill, the U.S. Secretary of the

Treasury.

State Minister Dervis will attend the breakfast

hosted by the ATC on March 27.

After staging a press conference for the

foreign press, Dervis is expected to depart from Washington D.C. on March 28.

[04] PARLIAMENT SPEAKER IZGI LEAVES FOR UZBEKISTAN

Sunday for Uzbekistan.

Prior to his departure for 13-day visit

covering Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, Izgi told

reporters that he will discuss the ways to further improve the political,

economic, cultural and parliamentary relations with his counterparts.

Izgi said that he will meet with Uzbek

President Islam Kerimov, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kygryz

President Askar Akaev, Turkmen President Saparmurat Turkmenbasi and the

parliament speakers of these countries.

Parliament Speaker Izgi is accompanied by his

wife Aysel Izgi; Beyhan Aslan, the acting group leader of the Motherland Party

(ANAP); Avni Dogan, the acting group leader of the Virtue Party (FP); Ali

Gunay, the acting group leader of the Democratic Left Party (DSP); Bedri

Yasar, a deputy of the Motherland Party (MHP); Nihan Ilgun, a deputy of the

True Path Party 'DYP); and Parliamentary General Secretary Vahit Erdem are

accompanying Izgi.

Izgi is expected to return to Turkey on April

6.

-TANKER HIT BY A SHIP PULLED TO GREECE BY
TUGBOATS
CANAKKALE- A tanker which was loaded with fuel

oil and which was hit behind by a ship loaded with coal 15 days ago was pulled

to Greece by tugboats on Sunday.

The 9,117 gross ton Cambodian-flagged ship

which was carrying coal from Ukraine, hit the Maltese-flagged tanker from its

poop, when it entered the Canakkale strait from Marmara Sea. The 17,246 gross

ton tanker named ''Fair Skies'' was carrying 27,850 tons of fuel oil from

Ukraine to Greece.

The Maltese-flagged tanker was permitted to

continue its course under security measures after it was repaired.

The ''Fair Skies'' then was pulled to Greece by

one tugboat and accompanied by four more tugboats.

-LEADING JAPANESE CHOCOLATE COMPANY MAIJI SEIKA
KAISHE STARTS
TEST PRODUCTION BY TURKISH HAZELNUT
ANKARA - Leading Japanese chocolate company

Maiji Seika Kaishe started test production by Turkish hazelnut.

The promotion campaigns carried out by the

Hazelnut Promotion Group set up under the coordination of the Foreign Trade

Undersecretariat (DTM) since 1998 bear fruit.

Advertisements were published in magazines and

newspapers in Japan since January 1999 by the help of Daiko Advertising and

World Morine Trade companies.

By these efforts, the Japanese dry fruit

importers were interested in Turkish hazelnut and the Japanese chocolate

company Maiji Seika Kaishe started test production by Turkish hazelnut.

Officials said that it is very pleasing to get

positive signals from Japan in such a short time and that the second promotion

campaign in this country will be launched in June.

The Hazelnut Promotion Group also continues

promotion campaigns to put the Turkish hazelnut into the U.S. and Chinese

markets.

Besides the advertisements in the U.S.,

competitions on recipes with hazelnut are being held.

The Hazelnut Promotion Group will start its

campaign in China in June.

[05] PEARSON, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO TURKEY, EXPRESSES

Ambassador to Turkey, expressed on Sunday belief that new economic program in

Turkey will be accomplished.

Businessmen from Turkey and some U.S. states

participated in a conference held within the framework of the Appalachian- Turkish

Trade Project.

The project which is an initiative pushed by

Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia and organized by the U.S. Department of

Commerce foresees establishment of direct links between the U.S. commercial

and business circles and the Turkish businessmen.

The Turkish-American businessmen exchange views

about the investment opportunities in the conference held in Shepherdstown.

Speaking in the meeting, Pearson said that by

this project, the trade and investments between 13 states in the U.S. and

Turkey will be encouraged.

Pearson noted that this project is just the

beginning of a high potential and that the U.S. supports investments in

Turkey.

As Paul O'Neill, the U.S. Secretary of the

Treasury, had said, Turkey is an important friend and ally for the U.S.,

Pearson stated.

Pearson said that the U.S. extends support to

Turkish economic program backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

But, this is the program of Turkey, Pearson

stressed.

Pearson pointed out that the Turkish government

has entered into an intensive process in which it increased the support of the

labour unions and the private sector.

The Turkish officials are working on the

banking reforms and the free market economy for the time being, Pearson said,

expressing belief that this new program will be accomplished.

Pearson emphasized that the Turkish nation also

wants this program to be accomplished and that within this framework, the

financial discipline has vital importance.

The confidence in the stock exchange should be

built, Pearson said.

Pointing out that taking Ataturk's reforms as a

guide is important, Pearson said that the U.S. considers these reforms as

essential values.

Emphasizing the importance of economic

opportunity equality, equality in front of laws, struggle against corruption,

transparent economy and transparent society, Pearson praised the successful

operations of Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan and said that the government

headed by Premier Bulent Ecevit can overcome problems.

Pearson noted that the U.S. and Turkey are

strategic partners, adding that the two countries share similar values and

targets.

Baki Ilkin, the Turkish Ambassador to the U.S.,

said that Turkey is an important market for foreign investments.

Ilkin noted that Turkey is determined to

overcome the recent economic crisis and that the new economic program will be

implemented.

Stating that reforms will be made in banking

and financial sectors, Ilkin said that Turkey will continue to work together

with the IMF, World Bank, other international circles and the U.S. to overcome

the economic crisis.

[06] PRIME MINISTER'S CHIEF CONSULTANT ALP LEAVES FOR THE U.S.

minister's chief consultant, left for the U.S. to attend 20th American Turkish

Relations Conference, and to hold some contacts.

Alp, who left for Miami, will later proceed to

Washington D.C. and attend the conference titled, ''Turkish-U.S. Relations, ''

which will last till March 28.

It was also reported that Alp will hold

contacts in various institutions and organizations regarding the quake

resistant new building technologies and accelerated dwelling systems to

replace shanty houses.

[07] DSI DIRECTOR GENERAL ALTINBILEK:

General of State Water Works (DSI), said on Sunday that some cuts in energy

could be in question when any power plant breaks down.

Responding to the questions of A.A

correspondent, Altinbilek said there was drought in March, however noted that

the situation is better than February.

Pointing out that the farmers who grow products

by getting water from the irrigation dams would not have problems this year,

Altinbilek said, ''however, our dams on Euphrates river will not be filled

this year, and will produce less electricity than last year. Hydroelectric

energy production will be considerably low this year.''

When asked if there will be regular cuts in

energy, Altinbilek said the natural gas coming from Russia was increased, and

recalled that some power plants would take effect in July. He said, ''Turkey

has come today without making regular cuts. Supply and demand balance are

close to each other. Energy cuts can be in question if any power plant breaks

down.''

Responding to a question about the works which

foresee giving 19 dams of the DSI to the new electricity production company

that will be set up with the Electricity Market Law, Altinbileck said, ''no

work has been made so far in this respect.''

Altinbilek recalled that construction of hydro-electric

dams with build-operate-transfer model became more difficult with the new

Electricity Market Law, and noted that, ''we think number of dams that will be

built by DSI will be more in this period. Construction of dams will be the

only field which the state will be active.''

When asked if there was a problem regarding the

water that is given to Syria, Altinbilek said the 500 cubic meters waters,

which had to be given to Syria, could not be given in months when there was

drought, noting that this was understood by Syria.

Altinbilek said the water that was given last

autumn was below 500 cubic meters, adding that around 460 cubic meters water

was given last year.

[08] DAY-LIGHT SAVING TIME STARTS

Sunday.

The time was advanced by one hour at 1.00 a.m.

on Sunday in order to abide by the European countries and to decrease demand

for energy, which is particularly high in the evenings.

The day-light saving time will end on October

28 at 2.00 a.m. by setting the time back by one hour.

A total of 4,448 billion kilowatthours (khw) of

energy were saved since 1990 by day-light saving time.

Turkey expects to save 600-625 million khw of

electricity by the implementation of the day-light saving time this year.

[09] ELECTRICITY MARKET REGULATORY BOARD TO BE SET UP UNTIL JUNE

has to be set up until June.

After the Electricity Market Law took effect,

the Electricity Market Regulatory Board which is foreseen to be set up under

the law is expected to be set up as soon as possible.

The members of the board have to be appointed

by the Council of Ministers within three months.

The board will be comprised of seven people,

including a president and vice-president.

The members have to be chosen among graduates

of political sciences, law, administrative sciencies, public management,

economics, engineering, management, or finace faculties.

The members of the board have to serve the

public or private sector for at least ten years.

Personnel cannot be appointed before the board

is set up.

[10] TURKEY-WEATHER

[11] TEMPERATURES TO BE 8-10 DEGREES ABOVE THE SEASONAL AVERAGES

throughout Turkey. The temperatures will be 8-10 degrees above seasonal

averages.

State Meteorology Affairs General Directorate

told A.A correspondent that there will not be precipitation throughout Turkey

on Monday. Northwestern regions will be partly cloudy, and northern and

western regions will be clear.

On March 27, northern and western regions will

be partly cloudy and other regions will be open.

On March 28, precipitation is expected in

northern regions.

On March 29, precipitation is expected in

Eastern Black Sea and northern parts of Eastern Anatolia.

On March 30, precipitation is expected in

shores of Eastern Black Sea region.

Minumum and maximum temperatures expected in

the coming three days are as follows:

PROVINCE MARCH 26 MARCH 27 MARCH 28

------ ------------ ----------------

[12] EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO RESCUE SAINT VINCENT FLAGGED SHIP

Vincent flagged ship which ran aground offshore Beykoz, Istanbul.

The efforts to pull the ship which ran aground

offshore Beykoz district of Istanbul on Friday night to deep waters did not

give any result.

Officials of the Coastal Security and Ship

Rescue Enterprises General Directorate said that since the ship totally ran

aground, it is very difficult to rescue it.

The unloaded ship named ''Akado'' ran aground

offshore Beykoz around 9.00 p.m.

The captain of the ship requested help from the

Coastal Security and Ship Rescue Enterprises General Directorate at midnight.

The ship which was 124 metres in length and

5,683 gross tons in weight, was en route from Russia to Greece.

[13] WATER LEVEL IN DICLE DAM INCREASES 3 METRES BY RAINFALL

increased 3 metres on Sunday due to the 55 kilogram per square metre rain in

southeastern Diyarbakir province.

The rainfall in recent two months increased the

water level in Dicle Dam by 23 metres.

Thus the water level in the dam reached 705

metres.

Officials said that the water level in Dicle

Dam is enough for electricity production, adding that production will start

this week.

[14] AGREEMENT ON 35 MILLION U.S. DOLLAR LOAN FOR QUAKE ZONE SIGNED

loan provided by the European Development Bank for the quake zone was signed.

The agreement on the 35 million U.S. dollar

portion of the 253 million U.S. dollar loan was signed by the Treasury

Undersecretariat and the officials of the concerned loan organization in the

previous week.

The loan will be used to finance the

construction of 2 thousand dwellings in the quake zone.

Total of 275 of the dwellings will be

constructed in Bolu, 500 in Korfez, 300 in Derince, 765 in Yalova and 260 in

Istanbul.

A total of 15 thousand 514 dwellings were built

by 218 million U.S. dollars which was the first portion of the loan.

A total of 12 thousand 68 dwellings were

constructed by the loans provided by the World Bank following the massive

earthquake which hit the Marmara Region in 1999.

[15] NARCOTICS TEAM CONFISCATE 140 KG HEROIN

confiscated 140 kg heroin, and captured 12 people in connection with the

heroin. The heroin had come from Iran and was destined for Britain and the

Netherlands.

Istanbul Narcotics Department Directorate

issued a statement and said acting on a tip off, they confiscated the heroin,

which was brought to Turkey from Iran and was tried to be smuggled to Britain

and the Netherlands.

The statement said the operation started after

two-months works, and noted that they arrested Urfi Nedim Avran, the owner of

the drug, and organizator Aga Karacan.

Upon the interrogation of Avran and Karacan,

the police widened the operation and arrested 10 other people in Bakirkoy,

Buyukcekmece and Bahcelievler districts.

The statement said the haul, having a market

value of 3.500 trillion lira, was confiscated together with those people.

[16] PRIME MINISTRY ASKS VIEWS OF CONCERNED MINISTRIES

the concerned ministries about the draft Natural Gas Market Law.

If the law takes effect, a Natural Gas Market

Board will be set up.

This draft is among the laws which are planned

to be passed during the European Union (EU) harmonization process.

When the magnitude of the investments which

will provide the consumption of the additional natural gas which will come

from Iran and Russia in the following year is taken into consideration, the

draft which will permit the private investments gains importance.

The draft aims to determine the people and

institutions that will serve the importation, distribution and use of the

natural gas, to determine the provisions, to authorize people and to control

the institutions.

The importation, distribution and sale of the

natural gas are included within the scope of the law.

The draft foresees the establishment of Natural

Gas Market Agency while it envisages that the regulations on natural gas

market be harmonized with the EU regulations.

The Natural Gas Market Regulatory Board will be

set up within three months after the law takes effect.

The draft restricts the right of the Pipeline

Transportation Inc. (BOTAS) to make the gas purchase contract.

No natural gas purchase contract will be signed

until the natural gas importation decreases around 20 percent of the national

consumption after the draft takes effect.

In accordance with the draft, BOTAS will

decrease its share to 20 percent until 2009 and transfer the current natural

gas purchase and sale contracts to other importing companies.

The mentioned companies have to take licence

from the agency.

The city natural gas distribution service will

be given to the company which wins the tender by the agency for 25 years for a

city where the investments will be made for the first time.

The company will be given the service for 15

years for a city where the gas network exists.

[17] TURKISH-AMERICAN SCIENTISTS CONVENE IN WASHINGTON D.C

Conference of the Association of Turkish American Scientists (ATAS) was held

at the George Washington University on Sunday.

The messages of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer,

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and National Education Minister Metin Bostancioglu

were read out in the opening session of the conference.

Oktay Ural, the ATAS President; Baki Ilkin, the

Turkish Ambassador to the U.S.; Robert Pearson, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey;

and Kemal Guruz, the Chairman of the Institution of Higher Education (YOK);

delivered speeches in the conference.

Ilkin said that the anti-Turkish lobbies try to

prevent the activities of the Turkish desks in the American universities and

the formation of new desks.

Representatives of Turskish society struggled

against these efforts, Ilkin noted.

Pearson said that Turkey and the U.S. attribute

utmost importance to education and that U.S. President George Bush

administration considers education as the prior issue.

There are almost 14 thousand Turkish students

in the American universities, Pearson noted, adding that these students have

the opportunity to share the American system and values.

Ural said that the two-year universities should

be broadened in Turkey and that these universities should be upgraded.

More students graduate from two-year

universities than the four-year universities in the U.S., Ural added.

Guruz said that almost 50 thousand Turkish

students have education abroad.

Lincoln McKurdy, the President of American-Turkish

Council (ATC), said that Turkey ranks among first ten countries which sends

the highest number of students to the U.S.

McKurdy noted that the Turkish students having

education in the American universities have 836 million U.S. dollar

contribution to the American economy.

Turkey is one of the best client of the U.S. in

education, McKurdy said, expressing hope that some members of the U.S.

Congress can understand this.

Despite the high number of Turkish students who

have education in the U.S., the number of American students who have education

in Turkey is very low, McKurdy noted.

McKurdy stated that this number should be

increased, adding that it is important that the American students who have

education in Turkey learns about the Turkish culture and bring it to the U.S.

Meanwhile, the award of State Minister Kemal

Dervis was presented to Ilkin since Dervis did not attend the meeting.

[18] A.A PHOTO REPORTERS PRESENTED AWARDS

Agency (A.A) were presented awards in the 16th press photographs competition

of the Photo Reporters' Association (FMD).

Hikmet Saatci and Erhan Sevenler of the A.A

were presented with awards in the competition.

Below listed the categories in the competition

and the winners:

News Photographs:

1. Arif Akdogan (Star daily), ''Çakmağı Çaktı

ve...'' (He lit his lighter and...)

2. Ates Tumer (Star daily), ''İmam Bayıldı''

(Imam faints)

3. Murad Sezer (AP), ''Dumanaltı'' (Under

smoke)

Free Photographs:

1. Adem Altan (Radikal), ''Protokolde Kedi

Var'' (There is a cat in protocol)

2. Hikmet Saatci (Anadolu Agency), ''Sergi'' (Exhibition)

3. Sefa Ozkaya (Hurriyet daily), ''Kertenkola''

Sports Photographs:

1. Atilla Turker (Star daily), ''Saskin

Halterci'' (Bewildered Weigh-lifter)

2. Suleyman Alasya (Hurriyet daily), ''Amerikan

Degil Turk Futbolu'' (It is Turkish football not American)

3. Oner San (DHA), ''Biri Guresir, Biri Bakar''

(One Wrestles, one looks)

Environment and Life:

- Erhan Sevenler (Anadolu Agency), ''Son Çığlık''

(Last Scream)

Jury Special Awards:

- Hakan Denker (Hurriyet daily), ''Umut ve

Kin'' (Hope and hatred)

- Volkan Yildirim (Hurriyet daily, ''Kızılay'da

Intifada''

[19] FOREIGN MINISTER CEM IN BRUSSELS

[20] TURKISH-EU RELATIONS DISCUSSED IN EVALUATION MEETING

Minister Ismail Cem and the Turkish Ambassadors to 15 European Union (EU)

member countries, ended on Sunday in Brussels.

Turkey's ambassadors to EU member 15 countries,

EU General Secretariat officials, and Turkey's permanent representatives to

Council of Europe, EU, NATO and OECD attended the meeting which lasted for two

days.

It was reported that the participants

comprehensively discussed relations with the EU, exchanged views on National

Program, and examined how and to what extend the contents of the National

Program coincided with the Accession Partnership Document. They also discussed

how probable criticisms would be met.

In the final part of the meeting the

participants discussed the course of the EU, and how Turkey would connect to

this course.

It was reported that Cyprus and relations with

Greece, which were brought onto the agenda within the strengthened dialogue,

and human rights were discussed.

Results of the meeting will be obtained within

the framework of a written document and distributed to the Ambassadors and

concerned units.

Cem is scheduled to meet with Guenter Verheugen,

the EU Commissioner for enlargement on Tuesday morning and leave for the U.S.

[21] WORLD TRADE CENTER EXECUTIVE BOARD TO HOLD MEETING ON MARCH 31

Sunday that the World Trade Center Executive Board will hold a meeting in

Trabzon on March 31.

Yazar told A.A correspondent that Mehmet

Yildirim, the chairman of the World Trade Center Executive Board, and the

members of the executive board will attend the meeting.

They consider the World Trade Center which will

be set up in Trabzon as a very important infrastructure, Yazar said.

Yazar noted that the center will be an

important impact in Trabzon's path to become a world city.

By the World Trade Center, Trabzon will have an

international trade identity, Yazar said.

Yazar noted that Trabzon can become a center to

organize fairs and congresses in the Black Sea Region and Black Sea littoral

states.

The establishment of World Trade Center will

cost 80 million U.S. dollars, Yazar stated, adding that the share of the

Private Administration is 38 percent.

[22] TOBB-BANKING UNION MEETING TO TAKE PLACE ON MONDAY

Union and chairmen of the linked Chambers will convene on Monday to discuss

the high interests imposed by the banks on the real sector because of the

economic crisis.

Council Chairmen of Turkish Union of Chambers

and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), executive board chairmen of 11 Chambers of

Industry, executive board chairmen of Ankara and Istanbul Chamber of Commerce,

Turkish Exporters Assembly, the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and

Artisans (TESK) and the Turkish Confederation of Employers' Union (TISK) were

invited to the meeting.

Members of the Banking Union will attend the

meeting representing the banks.

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