EARTHQUAKE IN TURKEY

An earthquake, the epicentre of which was in Izmit, happened early this morning at 3:00 a.m. It was felt in various cities in Turkey such as Istanbul, Ankara, Zonguldak and Kayseri. A crisis desk was established at the Prime Ministry building due to the occurence. The desk headed by Prime Ministry Undersecretary Ahmet Sagar has begun its work. Meanwhile, the CNN TV station broadcast the earthquake as a news flash to the whole world. CNN stated that Izmit and its surroundings were one of the most highly-developed industrial regions in Turkey and added that the damage in the region was very great. It is reported that the earthquake was 7.1 on the Richter scale. /All papers/

TURKEY'S APPROACH ON CYPRUS IS EVIDENT

Foreign Minister Ismail Cem remarked that Turkey's approach concerning a solution to the Cyprus problem was evident and said that Turkey has never established a connection between the Cyprus issue and EU relations. Cem issued a written statement yesterday and recalled that there were some articles in newspapers claiming that 'the US is preparing a solution plan for the Cyprus issue to be announced in the Autumn'. Cem stated that these articles which claim that Turkey will accept the full EU membership of the Greek-Cypriot Administration, and thus Turkey's candidate status for the EU will be guaranteed, generally seemed to be originating from Southern Cyprus. Cem said that a solution on the Island could be achieved only through the recognition of the two separate, equal and sovereign states. Cem added: "It is out of the question for Turkey to make Cyprus, which is its national cause, a bargaining matter", the Anatolia News Agency reports.

DENKTAS: "GREEK-CYPRIOTS SHOULD ACCEPT THAT THEY DO NOT REPRESENT THE WHOLE OF CYPRUS"

The President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, said the way to negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus problem could only be opened if Greek-Cypriots accept that they are not the Government of the whole of Cyprus. Denktas pointed out that Greek-Cypriot armament shows that they would continue with their murders. /Aksam/

CALL FOR FRIENDSHIP IN HACIBEKTAS

The 36th National, and also the 10th International Haci Bektas-i Veli Commemoration Activities started with a ceremony in the Haci Bektas of Nevsehir. President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, State Minister Ramazan Mirzaoglu, Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu, the Republican Peoples Party's (CHP) Chairman Altan Oymen, and a number of deputies and artists attended the ceremony. President Demirel delivered a speech and said that all people in the country would live in peace and friendship forever, even if they have different views and beliefs. He also said, "Sunnis and Alawis or those from other beliefs, everybody will accept each other and also the government will embrace all of them." /Cumhuriyet/

JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER IN TURKEY

Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura will visit Turkey on August 18-20 as the official guest of Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said that during meetings between Komura and Cem, the development of bilateral relations and regional and international issues will be discussed. During Komura's visit, it is expected that agreements concerning the Istanbul Straits tunnel project, the Bozuyuk-Mekece highway project and for training material to be provided for the Japanese Language and Literature Department of Erciyes University will be signed. Komura will also be received by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

US APPRECIATES TURKEY

US Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, who arrived in Turkey yesterday, said that the enactment of the International Arbitration Law in Turkey was a very positive development. Richardson came to Turkey to hold a series of talks concerning the Baku-Ceyhan Crude Oil Pipeline and Turkmenistan-Turkey Natural Gas Pipeline projects and to review energy cooperation opportunities between Turkey and the US. Richardson who was welcomed by the US Ambassador to Ankara, Mark Parris, and other officials at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport said that the US would continue with her support for the pipeline projects. Richardson replied to a question regarding the arbitration law and stated that it would accelerate investments, especially in energy. Richardson will arrive in Ankara today in order to meet Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Cumhur Ersumer. Meanwhile, the Reuters news agency stated that negotiations concerning the Baku-Ceyhan project will be held according to the new price of $2.7 billion. Turkish President Suleyman Demirel received Richardson yesterday and remarked that he was very pleased with the continuation of relations between Turkey and the US for the construction of the Baku-Ceyhan Pipeline. Richardson said for his part that meetings to be held by the Turkish delegation in Washington next week were an important step. /Hurriyet/

ERSUMER: "ARBITRATION WILL ENTER THE PICTURE IN OCTOBER"

Energy and Natural Resources Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Cumhur Ersumer said that as a result of a Constitutional amendment concerning international arbitration, meetings could now be held with financial circles in a more conducive atmosphere. He added: "The laws to be discussed in Parliament in October will be the harmonization laws concerning the Constitutional amendment on international arbitration". Ersumer delivered a speech during a ceremony held to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of BOTAS (the Turkish Pipeline Transport Company) yesterday. Meanwhile, the General Director of the Foreign Capital Department of the Treasury Undersecretariat, Mehmet Sahin Onaner, said that with the Constitutional amendment which will enable international arbitration, a minimum $1 billion capital would arrive in Turkey annually only for infrastructural investments. /Hurriyet/

POSITIVE CREDIT RATING FOR VAKIFBANK

The Ibar/Duff and Phelps (DCR), an international rating institution, has given a BBB(-) rate to Vakifbank. The Anatolia News Agency reported that the DCR has confirmed Vakifbank's achievement despite some economic troubles in Turkey. Officials said that this rate was one of the best rates which could be obtained by successful banks.

HIZBULLAH IS AS DANGEROUS AS THE PKK

Hizbullah is an organization founded in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, an area in which many terrorist organizations operate. This organization is for radical Pan-Islamism and armed struggle. Their aim is to found an Islamic government governed along wicked principles and this organization takes the Islamic Republic as basis. Hizbullah advocates the practise of the principle of Holy War jihad and armed fighting if necessary in those countries that were determined as the "countries to be fought against" among which is Turkey. Hizbullah earns money from Islamic organizations of foreign origin, religous broadcasts and the money called "donations" collected from student dormitories. Hizbullah, which has been on the agenda with unidentified murders in the South East since 1991, is considered to be "at least as dangerous as the PKK" by officials. This organization murders people "with the dream of establishing a Kurdish government that adopts the Iranian Islamic Republic." Almost 1,000 members of Hizbullah have been captured in Diyarbakir, Siirt, Batman and Sanliurfa in the last two years. /Turkiye/

SUSPECTED PKK MEMBER CAPTURED IN ROME

A woman carrying a Turkish passport on the wat to Rome by plane from Damascus was detained after being suspected. Naz Hursit wanted to take political refuge inItaly. Naz Hursit was captured with a forged passport organized in the name of Edal Celic and in Hursit's bag photographs of her taken with Abdullah Ocalan were found. It was reported that in those photographs they seemed to be very close and that there were also poems written for Ocalan by Hursit. It was stated that in the bag there were also many documents in Kurdish but they did not give any further information. Officials reported that Naz Hursit will be deported to Damascus. /Turkiye/

AMERICAN CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF COMING TO TURKEY

The American Chief of General Staff, General H. Shelton will come to Turkey tomorrow as the Turkish Chief of General Staff, General Huseyin Kivrikoglu's official guest, reported the Anatolian News Agency. In the press announcement issued by the Chief of General Staff's Office, General Marshal Shelton and the committee with him, who will arrive in Turkey tomorrow, will meet the General Kivrikoglu after visiting Anitkabir.

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT

A project entitled "The International Program Supporting Women's Participation in Development", prepared for Turkey along with the United Nations' Development Plan (EUDP), was signed by Turkey on May 21, 1999. The project's overhaul paper has been approved, reported the Anatolian News Agency. The document that was promulgated in the Official Gazette today envisages the continuation of the project until the year 2000. This project aims at increasing women's contribution to development and uniting the Turkish government's and EUDP's financial support for the project. The events of 1998 and the new program's administration are described in the program. The project undertakes to increase women's contribution to social development in many fields from production to human rights, implemented by the government.

PORTUGUESE NAVAL FORCES' COMMANDER IN TURKEY

The Portuguese Naval Forces' Commander, Admiral Nuno Goncalo Vieira Matias, visited the Turkish Naval Forces' Commander, Admiral Salim Dervisoglu, at the Naval Forces' Command Headquarters, reported the Anatolian News Agency. During his visit, Admiral Dervisoglu said that this was the first time in the history of the Republic that a Portuguese Naval Forces' Commander had paid an official visit to Turkey. Admiral Dervisoglu, recalling that Turkey and Portugal are allies in NATO, said that close relations existed between these two countries and that the Turkish Naval Forces' Command visited Portugal often. Admiral Dervisoglu, stating that they have had close relations with the Portugal Naval Forces' Command throughout the course of history, added, "We have sometimes been together, sometimes on opposite sides. However, the sailors' exchange of information and experience has always occured throughout the course of history and this exchange is still continuing. I hope as two European countries and as Naval Forces we can improve our relations." In addition, Admiral Matias said that he was glad of the cooperation between the two countries. Admiral Nuno Goncalo Vieria Matias visited Ataturk's Mausoleum, laid a wreath at the tomb of Ataturk and observed a minute of silence early in the morning. "Portugal Naval Forces' Command" was written on the wreath. Admiral Matias also signed the special book at Ataturk's Mausoleum, visited the Museum in which are Ataturk's private belongings and was briefed by officials. Admiral Matias will visit the Navy Commander, Vice-Admiral Bulent Alpkaya, and visit the historic tourist sides of Istanbul. Admiral Matias will leave Turkey on the same day.

WALL STREET JOURNAL PRAISES ECEVIT GOVERNMENT

The 'Wall Street Journal' newspaper published in the US said that the Turkish Government headed by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit was the most successful Turkish Government since the 1980s. The newspaper stated that the Ecevit Government had modernized the economy with the recent Constitutional amendments. The newspaper also quoted an article written by the Editor-in-Chief of the daily Hurriyet newspaper, Ertugrul Ozkok, who said: "Turkey has opened the way to foreign investments". The newspaper described Ecevit and President Suleyman Demirel as the 'pioneers of change'. /Hurriyet/

ECEVIT ISSUES A CIRCULAR

Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit issued a circular on the occasion of the 928th anniversary of the 'Malazgirt Field Battle' saying that it will be celebrated with various activities which will reflect the loyalty of the State to its history. /Hurriyet/

MHP NOMINEE FOR DIYARBAKIR MAYORSHIP MURDERED

A Nationalist Action Party (MHP) member who was a nominee for the Diyarbakir Mayorship, Mehmet Ali Dundar, was murdered as a result of an armed attack yesterday. Security officials said that Dundar was probably killed by members of the fundamentalist Hizbullah organization. They added that an investigation into the issue was underway. /Hurriyet/

TURKCELL CONTINUES TO INVEST

Turkey's leading GSM operator, Turkcell, has signed an agreement worth $550 million with Ericsson in order to achieve new infrastructural investments. Turkcell, which has more than 4 million registered subscribers and has the capacity for 5 million subscriptions, will increase its subscription capacity to 7 million, a 40 % increase, following the completion of its new investments. /Aksam/

THY TO BARCELONA

Turkish Airlines (THY) has started Istanbul-Barcelona flights. THY General Director Yusuf Bolayirli delivered a speech on the occasion and said that Istanbul-Barcelona line was the 73rd foreign line for the THY. He added that Istanbul-Barcelona flights will be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. /Aksam/

BORCELIK WINS ANTI-DUMPING CASE

A Turkish company, Borcelik, has won the anti-dumping case launched by Canada concerning the import of cold sheet-iron products. Borcelik exports cold sheet-iron products worth $8-10 million annually to Canada. /Aksam/

'MOST SUCCESSFUL YOUNG PERSON OF THE YEAR'

The Junior Chamber of International Jaycees (JCI) will elect the most successful young people of the year in 10 branches in Turkey. The young people who will be elected following an evaluation by a jury will receive their awards in October. Those who want to participate in the competition should be Turkish citizens and aged between 18 and 40. /Aksam/

KOY-TUR INVESTS IN ELAZIG

The Koy-Tur Chicken Products Company will invest $4.6 million in Elazig. Officials from Koy-Tur said that they would set up an incubation chamber with a capacity of 24 million, and 12 coops. /Aksam/

IRAN WANTS 'RESULT' FROM ANKARA

Iranian Foreign Minister Kemal Harazzi said that a Turkish delegation which arrived in Iran on a tour of observation along the Turco-Iranian border should announce the result of their investigations as soon as possible. The sixth meeting of the Turco-Iranian Supreme Security Commission was held in Ankara on August 10-13. /Aksam/

DISCUSSIONS ON SOCIAL SECURITY DRAFT LAW

Discussions concerning the Social Security draft law by the General Council of the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) are continuing. During yesterday's meetings, 36 articles were accepted. /Aksam/

MINING DISASTER IN ZONGULDAK

As a result of a landslide in a coal mine in the Dilaver district of Zonguldak, two people (Necati Cin and Huseyin Akgun) lost their lives while one (Senol Bozkurt) was injured. /Turkiye/

'NO OPPORTUNITY FOR ERBAKAN BEFORE 2002'

Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk said that following the recent amendment to the Political Parties' Law, those who are banned from being involved in politics can become independent deputies. However, he added that if resignations occur in Parliament for this purpose, and if the Parliament decides on an early election, this could be achieved in only in 30 months' time. /Milliyet/

FOREIGN TRADE UNDERSECRETARY EGE RETIRING

Foreign Trade Undersecretary Yavuz Ege has announced that he is retiring. Ege has been serving as foreign trade undersecretary for the past two years, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

FIRST STEP IN THE BULGARIAN ELECTRICITY TRANSFER

The third Cross-Bosphorus Electricity Line Project's first step has been completed. The project enables the transfer of electricity from Marmara Eregli's natural gas power station and Bulgaria. Authorities declared that the pilot wire's placement has been implemented and they hope to be able to carry 5 thousand 600 megawatts of electricity by means of the 12 power cables. /Cumhuriyet/

PRESIDENT OPENS FACTORY

President Suleyman Demirel inaugurated the Industrial Catering Machines' Production Factory in Kirsehir. He said that we need more factories, also more universities. State Minister Ramazan Mirzaoglu also delivered a speech and expressed his views on privatization. The President left Kirsehir after being briefed about the plant. /Turkiye/

RAIDS IN KONYA

In Konya, four citizens who had given logistic support to the terrorist organization, were seized by security forces. /Turkiye/

TURKEY'S BIGGEST ZOO IN GAZIANTEP

Ali Ihsan Sofuoglu, the Secretary-General of Gaziantep Municipality, said that work is underway in Burc woodland as part of the 'Protection of Natural Life and Leisure Project'. Sofuoglu stated that more than 400 billion TL has been spent on the scheme which was put into practice last year, and the bid for the construction of the zoo will be adjudicated on August 27 with a bid bond of 447.2 billion TL. Sofuoglu remarked that the construction of Turkey's biggest zoo will be finalized in June 2000, and will cost nearly one trillion TL. Pointing out that 60 % of the construction of the zoo has been concluded so far, Sofuoglu underlined that the venture will be the biggest zoo not only in Gaziantep and the Southeastern Anatolian Region, but in Turkey and even in Europe, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

A TOTAL OF 7,263 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS CAPTURED

A total of 7,263 people who were trying to enter Turkey or proceed to Greece illegally, have been captured in Edirne since the beginning of this year, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Officials said that the immigrants were mainly from Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

EXCAVATIONS IN HASANKEYF COMPLETED

Excavations in the historical Hasankeyf district of Batman for this year have been completed. Prof.Olus Arik, a lecturer in the Archaeology Department of the Language, History and Geography Faculty of Ankara University, who headed a group in the excavations, said that the excavations which began in July had lasted nearly 40 days. He stated that if enough financial resources are allocated for the excavations, they will also continue to excavate next year, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

21 KILOS OF HEROIN IN YUKSEKOVA

During a raid in the Yuksekova district of Hakkari, 21 kilos of heroin worth 200 billion TL were seized by members of the Yuksekova Security Office's Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime Department yesterday. Three people of Iranian origin were detained regarding the incident, the Anatolia News Agency reports. Meanwhile, during a raid in Istanbul, two people were captured together with one kilo of heroin.

TARGET: WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

The Turkish National Boxing Team is going to Houston, the USA, to participate in the '10th World Adults Boxing Championship'. The Boxing Federation's Chairman, Caner Doganeli, said that they have been well prepared for the World Championship which will be a serious text before the Sydney Olympic Games. The following sportsmen are part of the team which is headed by federation member, Saim Eskioglu : in the 48-Kilo class is Nurullah Oguz; 51 Kilos, Suleyman Pekdogan; 54 Kilos, Agasi Agaguloglu; 57 Kilos, Ramazan Phaliani; 60 Kilos, Serdar Yagli; 63.5 Kilos, Salva Phaliani; 67 Kilos, Nurhan Suleymanoglu; 71 Kilos, Ercument Aslan; 75 Kilos, Akin Kuloglu; 81 Kilos, Yusuf Ozturk; 91 Kilos, Yıldırım Tarhan and over 91 Kilos, Sinan Sam. The team will return to Turkey on 29th August, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...FROM THE COLUMNS...

WESTERN CARD -BY DERYA SAZAK (MILLIYET)

Derya Sazak, a columnist in the daily' Milliyet' newspaper, says the following in his article today: "Will the Laws which the Government is trying to enact in Parliament be sufficient to remove the economic and political 'cards' the West is using against Turkey? I talked to the State Minister responsible for Human Rights, Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik, yesterday. He seems extremely optimistic concerning reactions from outside Turkey. Everyone is aware of a problem which is currently on the agenda in places looking at Ankara from the outside. Does Turkey have a '2000 plan' on issues such as the Southeast, Cyprus and the EU? The EU Helsinki Summit will be a significant step. The Summit to be held at the end of this year could lead to the announcement of 'Turkey's candidate member' status which was not recognized during the Luxembourg Summit. Actually, the Ecevit Government is making every effort to remove the EU cards stacked against Turkey. There have been important steps taken concerning human rights and democratization. We are entering a more democratic and calm atmosphere. While we are making these improvements, we also consider our people. Let's look at how the 57th Government will use the 'historic advantage' it has obtained".

TIME TO RECONCILE -BY KENAN AKIN (TURKIYE)

Kenan Akin, a columnist in the daily 'Turkiye' newspaper, says the following in his article today: "We, as a nation are experiencing a period of reconciliation. In our country that has been agitated politically and economically for many months, the precautions that were taken over the last few weeks should be supported by all institutions and by everyone. The TGNA has passed some important laws in a very short period of time and obviously this situation creates a great ripple effect. At least the workers resist it, which is very fair, and thus everyone seems to be offended. However, the new reform laws should not be the target of dirty politics and they should not be evaluated in terms of short-term benefits. Particularly the quarrels that broke out during the negotiations on the Social Security draft law should not damage and hurt the spiritual and moral matters of the government. In spite of all the opposition to it, it is understood that the Social Security draft law will be passed and the Amnesty draft law, that is going to be on the agenda soon, will cause a stormy period. However, we think that in Turkey, which could seize the opportunity of beating the crisis, to be cool is the one and only condition for reconciliation. In just the same way President Suleyman Demirel and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit issued a message of friendship and reconciliation during the ceremonies to commemorate Haci Bektas-i Veli yesterday. I hope Demirel and the other leaders' "let us hold each other" call will be responded to and their struggle obtain the results it deserves because our country needs welfare and peace. Just as I pointed out in my last article, "it should be never forgotten that reconciliation is the one and only condition of success". While taking steps to obtain this picture, that has been missing for many years, these steps should not be tripped up on and these developments should not be hindered but supported".

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