NSC THANKS ALL COUNTRIES

The National Security Council (NSC) yesterday thanked all countries which have supported Turkey in the aftermath of the earthquake disaster. A written statement issued following the NSC meeting said that the NSC thanked all countries and institutions which have sent search and rescue teams to Turkey and shared Turkey's pain. During the NSC meeting headed by President Suleyman Demirel and also attended by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Chief of General Staff Gen.Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Gendarmerie General Commander, the NSC General Secretary and many high-level officials, the earthquake disaster was the main topic of discussion. /Hurriyet/

PRIME MINISTRY CRISIS DESK STATEMENT

According to a statement issued by the Prime Ministry Crisis Desk yesterday evening, the number of people who died during the earthquake reached 12,148, while the number of injured is 34,449. The breakdown of the figures is Kocaeli: 5,179 dead, 14,718 injured; Sakarya: 3,046 dead, 5,084 injured; Yalova: 2,400 dead, 4,470 injured; Istanbul: 984 dead, 6,292 injured; Bolu: 263 dead, 1,144 injured; Bursa: 214 dead, 2,336 injured; Eskisehir: 59 dead, 344 injured; Zonguldak: 3 dead, 26 injured and Tekirdag: 35 injured. /All papers/

AID MOBILIZATION

President Suleyman Demirel received the Governor of Gaziantep, Muammer Guler, together with businessmen Abdulkadir and Zeki Konukoglu. The Governor pointed out that 34 vehicles and 113 staff from Gaziantep are still working in the earthquake region and 134 vehicles have being waiting for dispatch when it is needed. Guler also said that urgent aid, including food and medical supplies amounting to 250 billion TL, have been dispatched from Gaziantep to the region. Meanwhile, the Konukoglu brothers, both businessmen, presented a one trillion TL cheque for the relief effort to the President. The businessmen added that they have been dispatching bottled drinking water to the region regularly. President Suleyman Demirel, invited all charitable citizens to help heal the wounds of the earthquake. /Star/

PREFABRICATED RESIDENCES TO BE CONSTRUCTED

Yasar Okuyan, the Minister of Labour and Social Security, said that prefabricated residences, tent cities and prefabricated toilets will be provided for the quake victims. Okuyan stated that a tent city will be established in the disaster area and that 3,000 tents of them will be erected in the first phase of the project and given to the victims of the quake. Okuyan added that prefabricated toilets will also be constructed soon. Okuyan pointed out that three ships will be brought to Yalova for 2,750 people to be sheltered on.

SUPPORT FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN JOURNALISTS TO TURKEY

The Association of European Journalists (AEJ) stated that it was ready to lend a helping hand to Turkey which has recently been experiencing a terrible tragedy. A member of the AEJ Executive Board, Dogan Tilic, quoted the words of Helmut Hetzel, the Head of the AEJ, and said that they were ready to help the victims in Turkey. The AEJ called on its members to offer financial aid which would be delivered to Turkish officials during the AEJ Congress to be held in Germany between September 10-15, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

VOLLEBAEK IN ANKARA

Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek said that his opinion that the expenses of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Summit to be held in Istanbul in November will be met by the OSCE was positively welcomed by Turkish officials. Replying to questions from journalists following his meeting with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Vollebaek stated that the Turkish Government could thus spend the money allocated for the Summit on the victims of the earthquake. Vollebaek remarked that the Istanbul Summit would be an important Summit and added that preparations for the Summit were highly satisfactory. Vollebaek pointed out that he had visited the erthquake disaster region and that the aid package of $2.5 million allocated by Norway for the victims would be initially used for shelters in Izmit and for the construction of prefabricated residences, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

DEMIREL-ABDULLAH BIN AL HUSEYIN TELEPHONE CONVERSATION

President Suleyman Demirel and the Jordanian King, Abdullah Bin Al Huseyin, have spoken on the telephone; King Abdullah expressed his sorrow over the earthquake in Turkey. According to a statement issued by the Presidential Press Centre, Israeli President Ezer Weizman, who phoned Demirel for the second time yesterday, said that new Israeli search and rescue teams could be sent to Turkey if needed. The President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Rauf Denktas, also called Demirel yesterday concerning the earthquake disaster in Turkey, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

MESSAGES OF CONDOLENCES FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES

The Anatolia News Agency reported that the Heads of State and many high-level officials of various countries have sent messages of condolence to President Suleyman Demirel. According to a statement issued by the Presidential Press Centre, those who sent the messages and their countries are as follows: Malaysian King Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, Cuban Head of State Fidel Castro, the Ivory Coast's Head of State Henry Konan Bedie, Sao Tome and Principe Republic's President Miguel Trovoada, Monaco's Prince Rainier, Uruguay's Head of State Julio Maria San Guingtti, Nepalese King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, the Gambian Republic's President Dr.Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Abduz Samat Azat and Xanthi (Iskece) Mufti Mehmet Emin Aga, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

NO DISCRIMINATION REGARDING THE ORIGIN OF FOREIGN AID

A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry said that many search and rescue teams, medical teams and a great deal of sanitary equipment from foreign countries have been arriving in Turkey since the first day of the aftermath of the earthquake. The statement stressed that fire-extinguishing teams had also come to Turkey in order to put out the fire at the TUPRAS oil refinery in Izmit. The statement remarked that the entire Turkish nation was appreciative of the importance the international community attached to the humanitarian problems and damage caused by the earthquake. Foreign assistance was continuing unabated and it was pointed out that Turkey did not discriminate concerning the origin of this foreign aid which would continue according to Turkey's requests presented to foreign countries and international institutions and to any future requirements which might occur. The statement concluded that Turkey thanked every country which has lent a helping hand in the midst of such a terrible disaster, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

FOREIGN ASSISTANCE

It is reported that a field-hospital belonging to the Czech Republic's Army which was in Kosovo was transferred to Golcuk yesterday. A team consisting of 31 people, including 17 doctors, also arrived in Golcuk. There are 20 beds and much-needed medical equipment in the hospital. Meanwhile, an emergency relief aid campaign launched by Greece for the victims in Turkey is on-going. According to the Greek Macedonian News Agency (MPA), many non-governmental organizations and citizens have applied to the Turkish General-Consulate in Thessalonica in order to help the victims of the earthquake. In addition, German, Hungarian, Austrian and Japanese search and rescue teams sent in order to help the people trapped under the rubble returned to their countries yesterday. /Hurriyet/

POSTPONEMENT OF LOAN REPAYMENTS

The Treasury Undersecretariat has postponed the repayment of loans borrowed from the Ziraat Bank, Halkbank and Emlakbank for one year in the region announced as a disaster zone. The decree was sent to the Prime Ministry yesterday. Public banks will also offer cheap-rate loans to the victims of the earthquake. Meanwhile, Eximbank (Export-Import Bank) will postpone the debts of nearly 1,500 firms active in the disaster zone. It is reported that a 369 trillion TL-portion of Eximbank loans have been used by firms in the seven cities in this region. /Hurriyet/

WORLD BANK DELEGATION IN TURKEY

Meetings concerning funding to be provided by the World Bank in order to help the victims of the earthquake will begin today. A delegation from the World Bank will come to Turkey today and meet officials from the Treasury. The $141.5 million loan to be provided by the World Bank is expected to be increased. The World Bank delegation will also inspect the earthquake disaster region. /Hurriyet/

IMKB CLOSED FOR TWO DAYS

The Chairmanship of the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) has decided to postpone transactions in the share market for the next two days. Therefore, the IMKB will be opened on Thursday. /Hurriyet/

'EARTHQUAKE DOES NOT AFFECT BAKU-CEYHAN'

Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze said that the earthquake in Turkey would not affect the Baku-Ceyhan project planned to transport a large proportion of the oil produced by Azerbaijan. Shervardnadze held a press conference yesterday and stated that Baku-Ceyhan had no alternative. He added that Turkish President Suleyman Demirel, Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev and himself would meet in Turkey in September. /Cumhuriyet/

SIXTH FLEET VESSELS IN TURKEY

Three vessels belonging to the US Sixth Fleet arrived in the Izmit Gulf yesterday. There are 22 helicopters, 631 beds, six operating theatres and five X-ray rooms on the vessels. The total number of the crew is 2,100. State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel and US Ambassador to Ankara, Mark Parris, held a joint press conference on the occasion. Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Bulgarian Embassy in Ankara said that two more trucks carrying humanitarian aid to Turkey would also arrive in Turkey today. /Cumhuriyet/

QUOTA INCREASE IN TEXTILES

Exporters want the US to increase its textile quotas in order to help heal the wounds caused by the earthquake. During a meeting of the Executive Board of the Exporters' Union headed by Nuri Artok yesterday, the issue of aid for the victims of the earthquake and international assistance were discussed. /Aksam/

RESEARCH COMMISSION FOR THE DISASTER

The Turkish Grand National Assembly (TGNA) has decided to establish a research commission in order to assess the damage caused by the earthquake. The proposal was submitted by the five political parties and then approved by the TGNA General Council yesterday. /Aksam/

GERMAN POLICE GIVE BLOOD

German police have given blood in order to help the victims of the earthquake in Turkey. Security Chief Gernot Piestert said that they shared the pain of the Turkish nation. Meanwhile, Holland will sell 30,000 houses built by a prefabricated residence firm to Turkey at half price. Moreover, Turkey has requested 45,000 body-bags from the UN for the bodies of the people who died during the earthquake. /Aksam/

'USE TURKISH CEMENT'

It has been claimed that Iranian cement used in the Eastern and Southeastern regions of Turkey imported via the border with Iran constitute a danger as far as earthquakes are concerned. Administrators of four cement factories in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia warned citizens not to use Iranian cement in their buildings. /Turkiye/

HUGE CAMPAIGN

High-level officials from the football teams of Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, Besiktas and Trabzon convened yesterday and prepared an aid package in order to help the victims in the disaster region. According to the package, income to be received from matches played in the third week of the new football season will be allocated to the victims. /Milliyet/

DONATION FROM GERMANY: 5 MILLION DM

Germany has arised the amount of its donation to Turkey from 3 million DM, to 5 million DM. Meanwhile, the Province's Interior Ministers are considering facilitating the issue of visas for the children who have survived in the earthquake disaster and have relatives in Germany. /Star/

UN: NO INFECTIOUS ILLNESS

The United Nations (UN) declared that the search and rescue work has been more or less completed in the devastated areas in Turkey and now priority would be given to the confirmation of the identities and the medical treatment for the survivors. The World Health Organization (WHO) also stated that rumours of an epidemic were not true. UN sources added that one of the most important things to do was to provide shelters for the people who lost their houses during the earthquake. /Star/

HALF QUADRILLION BUDGET ON THE WAY

The preparation of an additional budget in order to cover the loss caused by the earthquake disaster has begun. The additional budget is expected to amount to nearly 500 trillion TL. The increase in the present taxes in order to finance the additional budget will also be on the agenda. The Ministry of Finance is trying to meet the appropriation demands of investing firms and is searching for additional earning power in order to cover the pressure of expenses. /Sabah/

BAHRAIN'S PRINCE BRINGS AID SUPPLIES

Bahrain's Prince Abdullah Bin Hamad came to Istanbul yesterday with a 30 tons of aid supplies. The Prince left Turkey after he had delivered the humanitarian aid supplies to Turkish authorities. /Star/

14 PKK TERRORISTS KILLED

During operations in Van, 14 members of the PKK terrorist organization were killed by security forces. A statement issued by the Emergency Rule Region said that operations in the region would continue. /Turkiye/

RUSSIANS REQUEST INTELLIGENCE FROM TURKEY

The Russian Army is continuing its armed operation against the Chechen guerillas who declared an Islamic Republic in Dagestan. However, Russia, who said that they could handle this in a few days, is about to sink into a second Chechen quagmire. Russia, has so far been unable to beat the radical Islamic forces that are figting in Dagestan and has officially applied to some countries, including Turkey, and requested intelligence support. Russia has stepped up her efforts to gain information about Islamic militants and applied to Turkey officially asking for information from Turkey concerning the external links of Vahabi militants who are active in the region. /Sabah/

THREE PKK MEMBERS KILLED

During an operation carried out in the Canli village of the Bayindir district of Izmir yesterday, three members of the PKK terrorist organization were killed. Two PKK members were also captured during the operation. /Hurriyet/

TURKISH SHIP SINKS

A Turkish cargo ship which was carrying 16,000 tons of artificial fertilizer from Russia to China sank off the southern coasts of Sri Lanka. It is reported that the 27 crew on the ship have been rescued. /Hurriyet/

EXPLOSION OF FIREDAMP

As a result of an explosion caused by firedamp in a coal mine near the Karakaya village of the Bayat district of Corum, two people (Huseyin Gedik and Erhan Akkoyun) died. One worker (Ayhan Katranci) was injured during the explosion. /Hurriyet/

EXPORTS TO TURKISH-SPEAKING REPUBLICS

Agricultural and animal products worth $21.265 million were exported to the Turkish-Speaking Republics from the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) region during the January-July 1999 period. Among the products exported to the Turkish-Speaking Republics were machine-made carpets, flour, biscuits, chocolate and margarine, the Anatolia News Agency reports.

DRIED FIG HARVEST

The highest harvest of dried figs for the last 12 years is expected this year, the Anatolia News Agency reports. The quality of the dried figs has been increased by 'deliberate vaccination' of the fig trees; the dried fig harvest is expected to be about 52,684 tons this year. The highest proportion of the harvest in Turkey is reaped in Nazilli county -about 12,375 tons -with the counties of Odemis, Germencik and Kosk following Nazilli in the production of dried figs.

TURKISH PHOTOGRAPHERS RANK FIRST

Turkey ranked first in the 'FIAP 25th Black White Bi-Annual Exhibition' held in Switzerland and attended by 44 countries. Turkey participated in the Bi-Annual Exhibition with 10 black white photographs. The Bi-Annual Exhibition will be opened in Winterthur, Switzerland, on September 1. /Cumhuriyet/

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

DIMENSIONS OF THE DISASTER -BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)

Yilmaz Oztuna, a columnist for the daily 'Turkiye' newspaper, says the following in his article today: "It is necessary to point out the dimensions of the disaster, an earthquake registering high of the Richter scale. It happened in an industrial region with a population of 20 million, damaging an area of 20,000 square kilometres. The financial damage anticipated has been minimized and many factors have been excluded. The very real trepidation about the future should not frighten us. We appreciate foreign assistance. However, it does not solve the problem. The US and European countries should assume the financial burden and design a plan for the reconstruction of the region. It would be a dream to ask the Gulf countries to participate in the venture. Where the victims are to live is another problem. However, there is a solution. There are a lot of summer residences owned by public institutions in the Western region of Turkey. Also, the summer residences of many people are almost empty in the winter so the victims of the earthquake could be settled in these houses. Tourist facilities can also be used to house the victims. Prefabricated residences should have priority. We have the potential to overcome the financial damage within a few years. A government which prevents unbalanced urbanization will leave its mark on history".

IN THE RUBBLE -BY ZEYNEP ATIKKAN (HURRIYET)

Zeynep Atikkan is a columnist on the daily Hurriyet newspaper. This is an article written by her, published in Hurriyet. "What do you have?" means "how many of your relatives are under the rubble?". You feel ashamed when you say "There is nobody. I am a journalist." This is a moment such that everything loses its meaning. The man who asked me this question retrieved his seven family members from the rubble. "Only one of them is still living. I took her out of the rubble after 62 hours", says he. He is one of those who was able to find the corpses and bury them. In other words, he is in another category of the victims of the disaster; some of them cannot find the dead bodies of their loved ones. The worn-out man next to me is still talking. A young man from the family dropped in on Izmit for a night before beginning his military service in order to say good-bye. I do not know why but the way some people die is sometimes so miserable and so extraordinary. In an atmosphere in which there is not much to say, talking seems to be a consolation. Just at that moment the dogs' nostrils trembles with a breath of life; they bark and rescue efforts start. The search and rescue teams from Florida work at this rubble. In a disaster in which "thousands" have died, everyone stands breathlessly in order to save "one" living soul. Is it necessary to pass such terrible tests to understand the value of human life? It is so meaningless and saddening. "We do not need doctors and aid from abroad. Even if the one who will help is Armenian or Greece, it is impossible", says the Minister of Health. I do not know how he ended up becoming the Minister of Health. If the blood is red, then it is harmful to this man's blue blood; we do not need the hospital that will be sent by the U.S.A. His ideology AKUT is showing up, etc. It is the portrait that was drawn by the "changed" and "settled" Minister of Health, Osman Durmus, from the Nationalist Movement Party during the earthquake disaster. It is the approach of the spirit emasculated by dogma. What more can I say ? The disaster of thecentury shows the dregs of the disaster. In the daily Radikal newspaper, yesterday there was headline: "It is enough. Be quiet and go!" He does not go because there is a group of customers with this sick way of thinking. On Sunday, while watching the thin line between hope and misery, there were so many Osman Durmus around. They said, "They are showing up. So what if they are `technical experts'? If each person from the group around removes a stone, then so many people are saved. Who are the authorities that do not let us do this? They do not have the right to hinder us. Allah made the disaster occur, then only some people can be saved. The members of the search and rescue team are all actors acting in a film." At that moment the leader of the search and rescue team from Florida was asking the security officials to permit the T.V. crew to come under the rubble because it was such an important moment; sometimes a child could be saved thanks to science and technology. The burden above the rubble sometimes hindered the rescue efforts. Just at that moment I heard the words "These people are showing up. If each of us remove a stone, then we can handle this." Maybe at such a moment Minister Durmus makes such statements. It is possible to understand these sort of people but it is too difficult to market the "old Durmuses" as "changed Durmuses". We should hug those who came to the help of our country from abroad. It is the endless wisdom of mankind. What about those who ignore the people who help? Shall we call them "changed"?

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