EARTHQUAKE IN AFYON TAKES 45 LIVES
Yesterday, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 on the Richter scale struck the Western Anatolian province Afyon at 9.15 a.m. The epicenter of the quake was the town of Sultandagi and the towns of Bolvadin and Cay were hardest hit. The devastating earthquake caused the deaths of 45 people and some 200 others were wounded, and scores of buildings collapsed as well. The region was also shaken by aftershocks for the rest of day. The quake could also be felt in the central Anatolian provinces of Ankara, Burdur, Isparta, Eskisehir, Kocaeli and Sakarya. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and a number of ministers arrived in the region following the disaster for inspection. Kizilay (the Turkish Red Crescent) rushed hundreds of tents and blankets to the region. Search and rescue teams also arrived in the area to save people trapped under the ruins. Meanwhile, Greece was reportedly the first country to offer aid to the Turkish government in the wake of the disaster. Greek Ambassador to Turkey Yannis Corantis immediatedly conveyed his country's condolences and offer of aid to the Turkish Foreign Ministry. Turkish officials welcomed the offer, but added that urgent international aid was not presently needed. Greek Foreign Minister George Papendreou also issued a statement expressing his sorrow and condolences to the quake victims. /All Papers/
SEZER EXPRESSES GRIEF OVER WEEKEND EARTHQUAKE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said yesterday that yesterday's earthquake in the province of Afyon had saddened the entire Turkish nation. "We hope that the number of casualties doesn't increase, and moreover that our country will never have to undergo another tragedy like this," Sezer stated. /Hürriyet/
CROATIAN DELEGATION TO VISIT ANKARA
Croatian Parliament Speaker Zlatko Tomcic and an accompanying delegation is to arrive in Ankara tomorrow as the official guests of Turkish Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi. Izgi is to give a banquet in honor of Tomcic tomorrow night. On Wednesday, the delegation is expected to visit Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. /Star/
BARKA, EARTHQUAKE SCHOLAR, LAID TO REST
Professor Aykut Barka, one of Turkey's foremost earthquke experts, who died of brain hemorrhage on Friday night, was laid to rest yesterday in Istanbul. Following a service attended by hundreds of his friends, loved ones, and colleagues at Istanbul Technical University, Barka's body was interred at Zincirlikuyu Cemetery. Barka was 50. Prior to his death, the scholar had lain in a coma for three weeks. /All Papers/
CEM, PAPANDREOU SIGNAL NEW ERA ON THE AEGEAN
Turkey and Greece have signaled their willingness to start a new process of dialogue in order to work out their differences on the Aegean. Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and his Greek counterpart George Papandreou met yesterday in New York during the World Economic Forum and decided to discuss the Aegean dispute at the ministerial level. Cem said that as a first step, experts from both sides' governments would come together in order to work on finding a solution. For years Turkey has been ready to cooperate with Greece on the Aegean issue, Cem added. /Hürriyet/
PAPANDREOU: "BETTER ATMOSPHERE THEN EVER BEFORE"
In an interview with the Greek daily To Vima over the weekend, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou remarked that an atmosphere promising better developments had been recently created through the joint efforts of Turkish and Greek officials. Papandreou stated that bilateral political contacts and meetings were taking place in a better atmosphere than ever before. He added that the Turkey and Greece should not pass up this opportunity to find solutions to their problems. "Greece is ready to do its utmost to reach a permanent solution on Cyprus," said Papandreou. "We are ready to do whatever is necessary to increase the opportunities towards a permanent solution." /Cumhuriyet/
TURKEY TO LEAD AFGHAN PEACEKEEPING FORCE
NATO has reportedly agreed to hand over the command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan to Turkey when the UK's leadership term ends after three months. A high-level German official stated yesterday that Turkey had proved that it was capable both politically and militarily of leading the peacekeeping force. Turkey was the first Muslim country to announce its support for the US following last September's terrorist attacks. /Cumhuriyet/
CABINET ESTABLISHES COMMITTEE ON AFGHANISTAN
State Minister Tunca Toskay announced yesterday that the Cabinet had established a special committee on Afghanistan. He said, "At our last meeting, the cabinet set up a committee to work on issues related to Afganistan. The members of the committe will visit Afganistan this month to tour and observe the country and also see what Turkish businessmen can do to help reconstruct the country." The committee is made up of Toskay, the state ministers Sukru Sina Gurel and Faruk Bal, and Public Works and Housing Minister Abdulkadir Akcan. /Turkiye/
JANUARY INFLATION FIGURES RELEASED
The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) yesterday released the month-on-month inflation figures for January that were higher than what many analysts had expected. Inflation in January was 4.2% on the wholesale price index (WPI) and 5.3% on the consumer price index (CPI). The figures pushed year-on-year WPI inflation to 92.0% and CPI inflation to 73.2 percent. /All Papers/
IMF DIRECTORS TO DISCUSS TURKEY TODAY
The International Monetary Fund Board of Directors is scheduled to meet today in order to discuss Turkey's Letter of Intent and its new standby agreement. /Milliyet/
CAKAN: "THE BLUE STREAM PROJECT IS NO DREAM"
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Zeki Cakan yesterday carried out an inspection tour at the Saipem 7000 Platform, the world's largest semi-submersible heavy lift vessel, which belongs to the Italian Eni/SNAM Company currently laying pipeline in the Black Sea as part of the Blue Stream Pipeline Project. During his tour, Cakan said that Russia was laying 307 km of pipeline on its territory and two pipelines in the Black Sea, one of which is 396 km long and the other 392 km. Saying that all the risk in this region belonged to Russia, Cakan said, "People are criticizing this project without getting the facts. Some people have called the pipeline a pie-in-the-sky dream, but I say that this project is just right for Turkey. Turkey has laid 501 km of pipeline in the region stretching all the way to Ankara, and our nation will invest a maximum of $320 million." /Aksam/
TOBB PREPARING FOR TURKISH-US ECONOMIC COMMISSION
The Turkish Association of Chambers and Stock Exchanges (TOBB) is busy laying the groundwork for the first meeting later this month of the Turkish-US Economic Partnership Commission. The TOBB announced yesterday that a preparatory meeting would be held at TOBB's Ankara headquarters tomorrow as part of its preparations. Among those slated to attend this week's meeting are the TOBB council chairmen, as well as representatives and chairmen from the Turkish Exporters' Center, Turkish Association of Industrialists and Businessmen, Islamic Development Foundation, Foreign Economic Relations Committee, Turkish-American Business Association and Turkish Association of Contractors. /Aksam/
THREE TURKS NAMED "GLOBAL LEADERS FOR TOMORROW"
The current World Economic Forum in New York City, a summit of international government and civic opinion makers, brought forth an honor for Turkey this weekend: it selected three Turkish citizens to its prestigious list of 100 "Global Leaders for Tomorrow." Democratic Left Party (DYP) Adana Deputy Tayyibe Gulek, CPS Consultancy founder Tulu Gumustekin and HC Company administrator Elif Bilgi were identified as being among the world's most brilliant young people in the list released on Sunday. In addition to being 36 years old or younger, members of the Global Leaders list had to have already achieved a position of considerable influence and responsibility, demonstrated leadership and commitment in addressing social issues beyond their immediate professional interest, and demonstrated a commitment to the principles and objectives which guide the World Economic Forum. /Sabah/
ITALIAN LITERARY HONOR FOR PAMUK
Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk was named over the weekend as the recipient of one of Italy's most prestigious literary awards, the Primio Grinzane Cavour, for his book 'My Name is Red.' Pamuk is due to receive the award on June 15 in Torino, Italy. /Cumhuriyet/
TURKISH FILM FESTIVAL IN HUNGARY
The Turkish Cinema and Audiovisual Cultural Foundation (TURSAK) will hold a Turkish film festival in Budapest, Hungary on March 8-13. Among the movies to be screened at the festival are director Fehmi Yasar's "Heart of Glass", Tunca Yonder's "Return to Agri," Semih Kaplanoglu's "Away From Home," Serdar Akar's "Offside" and Dervis Zaim's "Elephants and Grass." /Cumhuriyet/
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION