CNN TURK ON THE AIR

CNN TURK, the TV news channel born out of a marriage between the Dogan Group, Turkey's biggest media group, and the Cable News Network (CNN), a subsidiary of Time-Warner, began its broadcasting today. CNN Turk is the second foreign investment by the world's most prominent TV news channel, CNN. CNN Turk's programmes will include prime-time news, economics, technology, arts and culture, history, cinema, music, fashion, health, business, etc. /All Papers/

TURKEY AND RUSSIA TO SIGN 'ANTI-TERRORISM AGREEMENT'

Turkey and the Russian Federation are expected to sign a deal concerning cooperation in the fight against terrorism and separatism during the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to Russia next month. According to the Russian Interfax News Agency, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Turkish Prime Mİnister Ecevit will sign the agreement on Nov.5 in Moscow. It was also reported that Turkey is "very much interested" in signing such an agreement. Bilateral military cooperation and energy ventures are also expected to be raised at the meeting between the Turkish and Russian leaders. /All Papers/

U.S SUPPORT FOR EU

The United States has accelerated its efforts to take united action to see that Turkey is not excluded from the European Security and Defence Identity (ESDI). In a meeting of NATO member states in Europe and European Union member states last week, U.S. officials reportedly requested that Turkey should have the same rights as EU member states. The ESDI does not accord Turkey equal status to the EU members. During Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to the U.S., the Washington Administration declared their support for Turkey's initiation into the ESDI, in addition to her EU membership. /Aksam/

GUVENEN CRITICISED AND LEFT

The State Planning Institute (SPI) Undersecretary, Prof. Dr. Orhan Guvenen, has been relieved of his position. Guvenen harshly criticised both the system and politicians during a press conference one month ago. Moves was launched against Guvenen after his speech. /Turkiye/

FIRST SNOW ON ERCIYES

As a result of falling air tempratures, the first snow of the year has fallen on the upper slopes of Erciyes Mountain. Erciyes Ski Centre officials said that the snow has reached 4-5 centimetres in depth and is deeper on the parts nearer the summit. /Cumhuriyet/

AWARD FOR GLASS PYRAMID

Antalya Sabanci Congress and Fair Centre's (Glass Pyramid) has won an award from the European Steel Association. The pyramid was constructed by the Space System Construction Industry and Trade Company. /Cumhuriyet/

MIDDLE ANATOLIA'S 'GAP' IS READY

The final stage has been reached in the 'Yesilirmak Area Development Venture' which comprises the provinces in the Yesilirmak area and is as important as the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP). The governor of the Amasya province, Huseyin Poroy, said that emigration and pollution will be prevented in the region covering a 36 thousand kilometre square area. The venture will be able to be initiated in the year 2000, in order to begin encouraging investments, the State Planning Organization has brought its preparations to the final stage. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH PROFESSOR NOMINATED FOR NOBEL PRIZE

During the final sitting of the International Energy, Environment and Economy Congress that was organized in Baku, the Chairman of the Congress nominated Prof. Nejat Veziroglu, who delivered hydrogen energy to technology and industry, for the Nobel Prize. This suggestion was approved by all the participants. Thus, Azerbaijan Republic, as a State, decided to propose Prof. Nejat Veziroglu's candidacy to the Nobel Committee. /Hurriyet/

BONUS FOR OFFICIALS IN EARTHQUAKE-HIT REGION

Government officials, the Turkish Armed Forces and its experts, non-commisioned experts, judges and public prosecutors, public workers and conctruction workers and staff working in Higher Education, who are in charge in the earthquake-hit regions or who have been given duty in this region due to the earthquake, will be given a bonus of 50 million Turkish lira per mounth. /Hurriyet/

YEAR 2000 BUDGET BEING CONCLUDED

Experts in the Finance Ministry, the Treasury and the State Planning Organization have been working on the Budget and the targets planned for the year 2000, which will be given its final shape this week. As stated in the Constitution, the Government has to propose the Budget for the year 2000, on 17th October, to the Chairman's Committee of the TGNA. /Hurriyet/

ORIENT EXPRESS IN TURKEY THROUGH SETUR

It is now possible to board the world-famous Orient Express. The Koc Holding Company's tourist agency, Setur, has purchased the Turkish branch agency for the Orient Express and Road Po Mandalay. These packages, which make it possible to journey by luxury cruise-liner down the Ayeyarady River as part of the Orient Express experience, will not only be marketed in Turkey, but also in other countries such as Egypt, Israel and the Turkish-speaking Republics. /Hurriyet/

FOREIGN SUPPORT FOR THE SOUTH EAST ANATOLIA PROJECT (GAP)

Two big irrigation schemes, part of the GAP, which is one of the most renowed integrated ventures in the world, will be constructed by a consortium established under the leadership of Israeli and Spanish firms and including Turkish firms. In a statement by officials from the Directorate General of State Water Works, an agreement will be signed with the Israeli Company, Tahal Consulting Engineers for the Yaylakovasi Scheme and another agreement will be signed with the Spanish Plasticos Mondargon Group for the Bozova Irrigation Scheme, two of the most important such ventures for the GAP region that are planned for the year 2010. /Sabah/

`ECEVIT'S TENTS' ARE COMING

Among the 22 sample tents, which were sent to various countries after the earthquake by the Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, 10,000 Russian-made tents, which have been considered suitable for the winter, will be sent to Turkey. In addition, 900 general purpose tents to be used as classrooms, health centres, offices, dining halls and mosques, have been ordered. Russia is expected to send 20,000 more tents to Turkey in one mounth's time. /Sabah/

"IF WE FIGHT, THEN WE WILL BE DESTROYED"

The ex-Commander of the Fleet, Admiral Dervisoglu, considered the thoght of a war between Turkey and Greece as a "disaster" and said, "A possible war could put us and them back 50 years." Admiral Dervisoglu spoke to `Sabah' newspaper and explained his views on everything from the possibility of war to the state of Turco-Greek relations which have changed since the earthquake. The retired Admiral also talked about the Kardak crisis and said, "There are 160-180 lumps of rock like this and which of them has been mentioned anywhere. If a `12 mile' territorial zone in the Aegean is approved and these rocky outcrops are accepted as islands - as the islands are on the continental shelf, then our losses would be very great, which would constitute a reason for war but I am for a solution to this problem." /Sabah/

GEN. BETIR DUE IN CHINA

Gendarmerie Commander Gen. Rasim Betir has gone to China as an official guest of the Chinese Armed Police Force. Gen. Betir will conduct a series of official visits there, aiming to increase cooperation between the gendarmerie of the two countries. /Turkiye/

START TO FIVE GREAT VENTURES

Turkey is getting ready on the threshold of the next century with great ventures. The following ventures have been initiated: the transport of Turkmenistan natural gas to Europe; the Fast-Track scheme which will decrease the time by train between Ankara and Istanbul to 4 hours; the Akkuyu nuclear power plant; the Bosphorus and Dardanelles Security System and the Earthquake Disaster Prevention and Research Centre. /Turkiye/

CATHOLICS DUE IN SELCUK IN 2000

The Catholic Church in Izmir has arranged a rite for 'World Peace' at Ephesus, located in the Selcuk district of Izmir. Archbishop Giuseppe Bernardini of the Catholic Church in Izmir, delivered a speech during the ceremony held in the Virgin Mary's House, and called all Catholics to Selcuk for the next rite on Oct. 8th, 2000. Participants in the two hour-rite prayed for World Peace. /Hurriyet/ COMPLIMENT FOR TURKS In a work that is published in the U.S.A. entitled "The Military 100-A Ranking of the Most Influential Military Leaders of All Time", Suleyman the Magnificient, Selim I and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk are found. In the classification, the first American President, George Washington, came first whereas Napoleon Bonaparte came second. /Turkiye/

DIABETES IS TOPIC OF MEETING ON ST. VINCENT DECLARATION

The fifth meeting related to the implementation of the St. Vincent declaration, envisaging better treatment facilities for people suffering from diabetes, was held in Istanbul over the weekend. The meeting was organized by the Turkish Health Ministry, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Diabetes Federation, the Turkish Diabetes Treatment and Education Foundation and the Turkish Diabetes Association. As in many parts of the world, in Turkey diabetes is one of the most serious health problems, Health Minister Osman Durmus stated in his opening speech at the meeting. He stressed that while modern health services and new medicines have made it easier to treat infectious diseases in today's industrialized world, chronic diseases like diabetes are still difficult to treat. Durmus said that appoximately 135 million people throughout the world are suffering from diabetes and that this figure is expected to increase to 300 million by 2025. He listed an ageing population, malnutrition, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle as the main factors behind this predicted increase. In order to ensure that national and regional ventures are successful, all the relevant organizations must cooperate under the umbrella of the St. Vincent declaration, the Minister said. Turkey has been a signatory to the declaration since 1992. /Hurriyet/

AWARD FOR POP SINGER TARKAN

The Universal Record Deutschland music company gave Tarkan a Golden Disc award for his album 'Simarik', sales of which have reached the 250,000 mark in Germany. /Mİlliyet/

INTERNATIONAL ART MEETING IN ANKARA

A total of 500 artists' works from 25 countries will come together in Ankara. The works submitted in the `5th International Works of Art and Handicrafts Fair' in Ankara, will be exhibited at the Ataturk Cultural Centre between 16th and 24th October. In a statement by Forum Fair Organizers, the traditional and local works by 500 craftsmen and women from Germany, Indonesia, India, Kenya, Azerbaijan, the Philippines, Iran, Kirghizistan, China, South Africa, Sweden, Egypt, Denmark, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Ozbekistan, Tanzania, the Slovakian Republic, Russia, Pakistan, Thailand, the Ukraine, Zimbabwe and Oman as well as Turkey will be exhibited and sold at the Fair. /Hurriyet/

NEW HOPES FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

A new concert called "After the Destruction: towards New Hope" in aid of the earthquake victims will be staged by world-famous artists. The concert will be held in the Lutfi Kirdar Congress and Exhibition Palace on 14th October at 20:30. During it Guher-Suher Pekinel will play the piano and Shlomo Mintz will play the violin with the Ankara Bilkent Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's conductor, Yoel Levi. The Guher-Suher Pekinel sisters, who are among the world-famous piano duets, have been working with many orchestras including the Berlin, Los Angeles, New York and Israeli Philharmonic Orchestras since 1984. This couple have been appreciated by the world's musicas circles with their original compositions. Mintz is also respected for his perfect musicianship and his technique of control. /Milliyet/

WRESTLER OF THE NEW CENTURY

Harun Dogan has beaten his Iranian rival to become the world champion. At the end of the championship, Russia came first with 48 points, the U.S.A came second with 45 points and Turkey came third with 45 points. Our free-style wrestling team gained the right to attend the Sydney Olympic Games in the other six weights except for the 54 and 63 kilo categories. In addition, during the championship Yuksel Sanli won the bronze medal. /Turkiye/

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

AFTERMATH OF THE HELSINKI SUMMIT - BY FERAI TINC ( HURRIYET)

Columnist Ferai Tinc writes on the expected developments concerning Turkey's membership to the EU. A summary of her column is as follows: "The first indications of the nature of the decision to be taken concerning Turkey at the Helsinki Summit will be understood from the report to be issued by the European Union this week. The impression given up to now is that the answer will be positive. However will this be satisfactory? Was not the Ankara Agreement, signed between the European Union and Turkey in 1963, an accord concerning candidacy status. The agreement signed betweeen Turkey and the six countries which were members of the Union at the time had even determined the phases for the implementation of this partnership. Bearing this in mind, Turkey has been a candidate for 36 years. The 'candidacy' spared by the Luxembourg Summit in December 1997 was partially pronounced during the Cardiff Summit in June 1998. However, as no further step was taken at the Cologne Summit, Ankara asked for the issue to be dropped from the final communique. According to the Greek press, green light will be shown toTurkey's candidacy. However, nothing will be mentioned concerning a time-table for the start of membership negotiations. Instead, the 'route map' Prime Minister Ecevit talked about in his letter to German Chancellor Schroeder will be discussed. Turkey will be expected to comply with the Copenhagen criteria. The report will not present the Cyprus issue as a pre-condition but there may not be a Greek veto in the Commission if a time-table is set for membership of the Greek-Cypriot Administration. This is where Turkey must be careful. When all members, including the Greek-Cypriot Administration are shown a time-table, will it be satisfied with a candidacy status in which no certain time is set for membership? Turkey has been a member for 36 years. It is impossible to turn away from such a long journey. Therefore, these issues have to be discussed at length so as not to burn the bridges following its possible disappointment in a few months' later."

G-20 - BY YILMAZ OZTUNA (TURKIYE)

Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on the recent developments concerning G-20. A summary of his column is as follows: "The G-20 is an initiative underlining Washington's designs for a Pax Americana at the start of the 21st century. The US seems almost to want to tie the whole world economy to a single system. Those excluded from the system will lose their importance. Therefore, they will try to adapt to the model set forth for the 21st century. The G-20 is an expanded form of the G-7. On Washington's initiative, the heads of state or government of the US, Canada, Japan, Germany, France and the UK, and meet once every year and discuss the world economy. These seven states hold most of the world wealth in their hands. Slowly they have entered into fields, other than the economy, which they consider problematic. Recently they have even talked about Cyprus. Some time ago they even accepted Russia among themselves, despite its economic weaknesses so as not to disturb it. The G-8 has decided to accept ten more states and two international institutions into the organization. One of the ten states is Turkey. The others are Australia, China, South Korea, India, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund will participate in the organization, each with a representative. There is only one African state in the G-20 and that is South Africa. There are two Muslim countries in the organization: Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Thus, the Turkish economy will be under the umbrella of the G-20 organization. This situation will be further clarified with Turkey's becoming a member of the European Union and forming a cooperation mechanism with the Turkish-speaking Central Asian States. There is already an economic mechanism in existence between the US, Canada and Mexico. States will be governed in such a complex manner in the 21st century. Everything will be done for the freedom and prosperity of mankind. Are we ready to enter such a world?"

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