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Anadolu Agency: News in English, 99-12-05Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Anadolu Agency Home Page at <http://www.anadoluajansi.gov.tr/>[01] AA News05 December 1999 Sunday[02] TURKEY-PRESS SCANThese are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 5, 1999. The Anadolu Ajansi does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their occuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)STRIKING CONVERSATION IN PLANEAbdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist PKK organization, have been staying in a 12-square-meter ward in the Imrali Prison for 288 days after he was apprehended in Kenya and brought to Turkey on February 16. Ocalan, for the first time, explains his the Europe and Kenya issues to his lawyers: ''I can explain my exit to Europe from Syria like this: there would have been an individual liberation if I had gone to mountains. I did not prefer mountains which were my 40-year dream. Because, the situation would have been deepened if I had preferred mountains. I knew that people and movement would be affected from that. I found many closed doors in Europe. I could stay in Italy if I would have insisted on. I left Italy when I realized the risk of playing with the honor of human. I defined the Kenya process as a kind of fatalism. I was almost stupefied. A new process started when I used the word of peace in the plane. In the plane, my first decision was to put forward an attitude to reject eating, drinking and speaking. But later I thought that some realities would be kept secret. I said that I would live for peace. The plane landed in Egypt, Israel or Cyprus. I guess we landed in another three countries and later arrived in Turkey with a helicopter. I was blindfolded and I couldn't see the people in the plane. I asked them if I would be killed in an unclarified murder. They reacted to this, and said they wouldn't give that chance to me.'' Meanwhile, Ocalan shaved his moustache for a change in his life. MILLIYET (LIBERAL) ECEVIT: ''EXECUTION CONTRADICTS WITH EU'' HAVANA CIGAR IN ADAPAZARI SABAH (LIBERAL)SUBMARINE AGAINST QUAKEFamous French geologist Xavier Lepichon offered residents of Istanbul a system that can send urgent messages before the occurance of an earthquake. According to this, a ''Recording Station'' will be set up on the Marmara fault with a submarine. The station will report the movements on the fault to the center. If the center thinks there was a danger of quake, it will have a time to warn the people of Istanbul. Also, the station will be equipped with robot dogs which are sensitive to methane gas. These dogs will report the changes in methane gas. ''THOSE WHO OPPOSE TO NUCLEAR ENERGY ARE IDIOTS'' CUMHURIYET (LEFT) ATHENS TO VETO NUCLEAR POWER PLANT WAS AGREED DURING CLINTON'S VISIT RADIKAL (LEFT)ECEVIT:''DEATH PENALTY AND EU CONTRADICTS''Prime Minister Ecevit said that trying to enter EU and defending capital punishment were contradictory. ''I hope we overcome this contradiction soon, '' he said. ''Turkey, for long years, has not practiced death penalty. This means there is a strong sentiment against the death penalty both in the society and in the Parliament,'' Ecevit explained. He also stated that it was wrong to form a link between Turkey's candidacy and Ocalan problem. ''Many countries recently have become aware that this is morally and politically wrong,'' Prime Minister Ecevit said. TURKEY'S HOPE IS TOURISM IN 2000 He also said he believed that the inflation would drop to around 25 percent next year. TURKIYE (RIGHT)WE'RE EVEN LATE FOR NUCLEARThere are currently 437 power plants which work with atomic energy in the world and Turkey is discussing whether it should set up nuclear power plants or not. Prof. Gencay said ''Turkey was late to take this decision''. He also noted that the choice of the reactor's type would determine Turkey's nuclear energy policy. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said ''like every energy type, nuclear energy also has negative aspects. Even if we don't choose it, our neighbours already switched to nuclear energy.'' ATHENS IS THE ONLY OBSTRUCTION ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)QUAKE IN ERZURUM IS NOT LINKED TO MARMARAKandilli Observatory said the quake that occured in Erzurum was on a different fault line than the one which caused the Marmara quake. Dr. Ali Pinar from Kandilli said Erzurum was on Northeastern Anatolia fault line and it was not linked to North Anatolia fault line which caused Duzce and Golcuk earthquakes. Pinar also said that they cannot know whether the 5.5 quake was signaling a bigger earthquake that might hit the area or it was just a minor one during which some energy was released. NUCLEAR ENERGY DISCUSSION [03] AFTERSHOCKS CONTINUEISTANBUL/KADIKOY - Aftershocks following the quakes in Kocaeli on August17, Duzce on November 12 and Sarikamis on december 3 continue.Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Institute said 12 aftershocts occured between 02:30 local time on Saturday and 07:18 local time on Sunday. Below listed are time, magnitude and epicenter of aftershocks: Time Magnitude Epicenter ----- -------- ----------- 03:31 2.9 Off-shore Tekirdag 18:07 2.0 Off-shore Tekirdag 21:01 3.0 Bolu-Kaynasli 21:16 3.2 Kars-Sarikamis 22:18 2.8 Off-shore Tekirdag 22:43 3.2 Kars-Sarikamis 22:44 2.8 Off-shore Tekirdag 23:19 3.1 Kars-Sarikamis 03:39 3.0 Off-shore Marmara Island 04:48 3.2 Erzurum-Hinis 07:18 3.1 Sakarya-Hendek Meanwhile, a small measuring 3.0 on the Richter scale occured in Erdek county of Balikesir at 22:34 local time on Saturday, and a tremor measuring 2.9 on the Richter scale happened in Savastepe county of Balikesir at 04:35 local time on Sunday. [04] TURKISH FORUM STARTS CONTRA-CAMPAIGN AGAINST ARMENIANS' CAMPAIGN IN THE U.S.NEW YORK - The ''Turkish Forum'' institution will start a campaign as a response to ''one million postcards'' campaign of the Armenians which they started for the president candidates participating in elections in 2000.Washington, D.C. based-Armenian National Committee is targeting to send one million postcards to Vice President Al Gore, Texas Governor George W. Bush and senators Bill Bradley, John McCain and businessman Steve Forbes in order to make them accept the so-called ''Armenian genocide by Turks''. Responding to this campaign, Turkish Forum invited Turkish citizens living in the U.S. to write letters to the same persons and ask them not to believe such lies and not to disregard historical facts. Turkish Forum asked Turkish citizens to include this fact in their letters: ''British armies which occupied Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, in 1919 and 1920 arrested 140 Turks and sent to Malta Island to exile. One of the allegations about these 140 Turks was to organize the Armenian genocide. However the British intelligence organizations and the U.S. institutions found no evidence of a genocide as a result of their long researches and the Malta trial ended without any allegations.'' The Armenian National Committee is sending free postcards to Armenians living in the U.S. and collecting signatures through various churches and the internet. Aram Hamparyan, the director of the committee said ''one million postcards'' was the first one of a series of activities they are planning to realize. [05] PRESIDENT DEMIREL DUE TO BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ON MONDAYANKARA - President Suleyman Demirel will leave for Bosnia-Herzegovina on December 6 to pay a two-day official visit.The Presidential Press Center said the President would be accompanied by a delegation including State Minister Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, Culture Minister Istemihan Talay, deputies, high-level officials and businessmen during his visit. ''President Suleyman Demirel will discuss bilateral relations and exchange opinion about implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, which brought peace to Bosnia-Herzegovina, during his bilateral talks with the leaders of the three founder nations (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Berbia) in the Presidential Council. The President will also visit the Turkish Mission Force deployed in Zenica,'' it said. ''Agreement on Cooperation in Struggle Against Terrorism, Drug Trafficking and Organized Crimes and Protocol on Foundation and Operation of Cultural Centers are foreseen to be signed between Turkey and Bosnia-Herzegovina during the President's official visit,'' it said. ''President Suleyman Demirel's visit aims at further improving the relations with Bosnia-Herzegovina with which Turkey has historical, cultural and moral ties,'' it added. -<B>ECEVIT ISSUES MESSAGE UPON 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF</B> WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE IN TURKEY ANKARA - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Sunday that Turkish women recorded great progress in using and developing the rights they possessed, in a message he released upon the 65th anniversary of Turkish women's gaining suffrage. ''It was the most natural right of Turkish women who shared the difficulties during our fight for independence to have equal rights with men and to be equally treated in the society,'' Ecevit said in his message. ''Since the very first years of the fight for independence, Ataturk who wanted to see women as equal individuals of the society, offered the right to vote and be elected in national elections to Turkish women through some changes in our Civil Code,'' Ecevit continued. ''Turkish women recorded important progress in developing their rights. We are proud of our women who are actively participating in politics, science, education and business world. I wish success and happiness to our women who had valuable contributions to Turkey's modernization, democratization and globalization efforts,'' Ecevit concluded. -<B>DEMIREL ISSUES MESSAGE UPON 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF WOMEN'S</B> SUFFRAGE IN TURKEY ANKARA - In the message he issued upon the 65th anniversary of women's suffrage in Turkey, President Suleyman Demirel said Turkish women who participate in all sections of the society were the assurance of democratic Turkey. ''The Republic was a project of social change, and one of the most important elements of this change was women's participation in all fields of life with equal rights,'' Demirel said. The Civil Code opened the way for women to participate in the society, and the following reforms helped to realize this goal. ''In 1934, Turkish women gained suffrage before women in many contries. Turkish women took equal responsibilities to further develop Turkey in every field, and the power of our society was multiplied. Women who participate in all sections of the society is an assurance for modern and democratic Turkey,'' Demirel continued. ''However, we cannot say that Turkish women whose rights are guaranteed by law, are able to benefit from this in daily life. On this point, volunteer organizations have a big role to educate our society and inform our women about their legal rights. I am pleased to see in the recent years that our women are trying to acheive this,'' Demirel concluded. [08] NATO MANOEUVRES IN AEGEANATHENS - Turkish warplanes were planned to land at Greek military airports during a military exercise that was planned to be carried out in Aegean by the NATO also with the participation of Turkey and Greece.The ''Dynamic Mix'' military exercise, which was organized by the the NATO's Larisa-based air commandership (CAOC), was planned to take place through the end of May 2000. The To Vima newspaper published in Athens said the Turkish air Forces' F-19 warplanes were decided to fly over Greece and land at military airbases in Larisa and Aghialu for supply under the responsibilty of Greek commanders. To Vima said Turkish warplanes for the first time would land at Greek military airports within the framework of a NATO military exercise. The Greek newspaper said the Greek warplanes were not foreseen to land at Turkish military airports acoording to the military exercise plans. To Vima said Greece still did not object to this decision of the NATO but the official decision of the Greek govenment depended on Turkey's position after the Helsinki Summit of the European Union. [09] AEGEAN CHILDREN'S PEACE SUMMIT ENDS IN IZMIRIZMIR - ''Aegean Children's Peace Summit'' in Izmir ended on Sunday with the reading of a ''peace declaration'' both in Turkish and Greek.The children who attended the Peace Summit organized by Turkish Yonelis High School said they were in Izmir to strengthen ties between Turkey and Greece, and noted that the declaration was ''a call for love and peace''. ''We, as tomorrow's adults, are aware of our responsibilities and we promise to reject violence in daily life, at school, in the family, society and in our region and to rediscover solidarity. We are calling on adults to work together to accomplish all these,'' the declaration said. Turkish and Greek children painted pictures of peace and Turkish and Greek flags on the walls of Yonelis High School. Greek children, after touring Izmir's historical sites and tourist attractions, will leave for Chios and Samos islands. [10] TURKEY IN BRIEF - DECEMBER 5, 1999IZMIR - The British Embassy in Turkey Izmir Office Education Counseling Department organized a ''Seminar on Education Fair in Britain'' at the Hilton Hotel in Izmir on Saturday.Addressing the seminar, The British Council Izmir Office Administrative Affairs and Education Adviser Yesim Gencel said almost 20 thousand Turkish students were sent to Britain for education every year. ANKARA - The Art Group of the Ahmet Yesevi University in Kazakhstan arrived in Turkey on Saturday to give a series of concerts. The 28-member Art Group will give concerts in Turkey for one month. ROME - Famous Turkish actress Turkan Soray called ''Sultana'' received the ''Great Award'' in the gala of the Rome Film Festival that started on Saturday. Famous Italian Director Mario Monicelli gave the '7Great Awarad'' to Turkan Soray. GOLCUK - The Interior Ministry will construct a prefabricated business center in Golcuk county of Kocaeli that was devastated by August's killing earthquake. The prefabricated business center will be composed of 200 shops enabling the artisans to make business in a safe environment. [11] CLASH IN METRIS PRISON - RELEASE OF SOLDIERS TAKEN HOSTAGE STARTSISTANBUL - Illegal Great Eastern Islamic Raiders' Front (IBDA-C) organization's head Salih Izzet Erdis' lawyer Hasan Olcer said on Sunday that agreement was reached between officials and the prisoners who revolted against in the Metris Prison in Istanbul a surprise ward-search the same day injuring 54 soldiers.Salih Izzet Erdis is known as Salih Mirzabeyoglu. Olcer said the negotiations between the officials and the prisoners concluded at about 16:00 local time. Olcer said the revolt ended with the agreement, and the release of soldiers who were taken hostage by illegal IBDA-C organization member prisoners, started. The official statement about the agreement to end the revolt has not been made yet. [12] HEALTH MINISTER RETURNS TO TURKEYISTANBUL - Health Minister Osman Durmus who attended the ''First Europe and Mediterranean Health Conference'' in France returned to Turkey on Sunday.Speaking to reporters at the Ataturk Airport, Durmus said, ''the health ministers of EU member 15 countries and 12 Mediterranean countries attended the conference.'' Noting that he also held bilateral contacts with the French Health Minister, Durmus said, ''we also held the preliminary talk on an agreement between Turkey and France on cooperation in the health and medical field.'' Stating that he invited his French counterpart to Turkey, Durmus said, ''the cooperation agreement in question will be signed in Turkey.'' [13] Anadolu Ajans�Anadolu Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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