Ecevit Holds Press Conference After Council Of Minister Meeting

ANKARA, Feb 4 (A.A) - Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said on Monday that the state had come to quake survivors' rescue and aid with its all organizations and opportunities and facilities, adding, ''I believe that all requirements and needs of our citizens will be met in the shortest time insofar as the state is able.''
Following the Council of Ministers meeting which discussed only the earthquake in Afyon, Ecevit held a press conference.
Ecevit said that the Council of Ministers had discussed the measures taken after the earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale which had occurred at 09:11 in Sultandagi township of Afyon on Sunday.
Imploring God's mercy upon those who were killed in the earthquake and God's strength to those who lost their beloved ones in the quake and wished quick recovery to those who were injured, Ecevit said that the erathquake had claimed lives in Sultandagi, Cay, Cobanlar and Bolvadin townships and Yesilciftlik, Yakasenek, Eber and Derince hamlets and their villages.
Noting that especially Eber hamlet suffered the most serious damage and this hamlet should be reconstructed, Ecevit said, ''as the earthquake occurred in the weekend, there was not any casualty in the industry zone in Cay township, which was levelled to ground.''
Recalling that he had gone to the quake zone together with many ministers after he had learnt about it and State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli was continuing his observations in the region together with some ministers, Ecevit said that 44 people lost their lives in the earthquake and 318 others were injured.
Ecevit said that 622 buildings suffered damage in the quake.
Giving information about works of the search and rescue teams in the region, Ecevit said that the search and rescue teams which had 186 personnel in total from the Ankara, Bursa, Izmir and Sakarya provinces Civil Defense directorates general were continuing their works together with 36 vehicles and devices and 9 sniffer dogs.
During their meeting, they decided to thank Istanbul Yeni Yuksektepe Search and Rescue Ecology Group, Golcuk Voluntary and Fire Brigade, and Bursa 911 Association for their contributions in the search and rescue operations, Ecevit said.
Ecevit noted that they welcomed the humanitarian aid proposals of some of the countries.
Schools were recessed for one week in the region, Ecevit stated.
Ecevit pointed out that 3,200 tents, 11 thousand blankets, 2,480 stoves with LPG had been dispatched by the Red Crescent at first stage.
Additional 4,000 tents, 10 thousand blankets, and 1,000 stoves with LPG, one mobile kitchen and five portable kitchens would be sent to the region till this evening, Ecevit said.
Ecevit noted that the total tents sent by the Red Crescent would reach 7 thousand and that these would be winter tents.
The Armed Forces also sent aid materials to the region, particularly tents, Ecevit said.
Ecevit stated that Izmir, Eskisehir, Kutahya, Isparta, Konya, Usak, Bolu, Duzce, Kocaeli, Yalova and Sakarya governorships dispatched tents, dried food, stoves with LPG, blankets, and potable water to the region.
Health Ministry sent two mobile hospitals, 20 tents, 10 depot tents, 5 generators, 8 ambulances, 23 heath teams, 10 chlorine tablets and 200 sleeping bags to the quake zone, Ecevit said.
Ecevit pointed out that the Social Security Agency (SSK) had sent five fully epuipped ambulances and health teams to Afyon while the Social Assistance and Solidarity Promotion Fund gave 600 billion Turkish liras (TL) of appropriation to the region for the emergency needs.
All the public instutitons and citizens who had earlier experienced quake disaster had rushed to help Afyon and its residents, Ecevit said and added, ''I believe that all the needs of the citizens wil be met in the possible shortest time.''
Ecevit said that after yesteday's earthquake in Afyon, they did not face the same problems they had faced after the devastating earthquake on August 17, 1999.
When asked whether or not intervention of the state was more rapid than its intervention in the devastating earthquake on August 17, 1999, Ecevit said that the state had suffered very serious problems in reaching the quake-hit regions in 1999 but such problems were not in question today as the state became experienced.
''For example, the civil defense organization was not so effective and sufficient enough before the earthquakes in 1999. However, after those grievous experiences, the civil defense organization became much more experienced and successful. They immediately and effectively reach a place where their assistance is required. However, I hope that we would never again need to make use of these experiences,'' he said.
When asked whether or not the disaster decree had been taken up at the Council of Ministers meeting, Ecevit said, ''it was not taken up at the moment. Necessary evaluation will be made after the works.''
When asked whether or not tax payments of residents living in the quake-hit area would be postponed, Ecevit said that such issues had not been discussed yet.
Ecevit added that all needs of quake survivors had been met and the state would continue to meet their needs.
ECEVIT: I THINK IT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO SOLVE ISSUES CONCERNING ADJUSTMENT DRAFT LAW WITHIN THIS WEEK
Ecevit said that he thought that it would be beneficial to solve the issues concerning the adjustment draft law within this week.
Following the Council of Ministers meeting, Ecevit told reporters that some evaluations were made on the adjustment draft law at their meeting by taking into consideration the criticisms and expectations.
When a reporter said that there was disagreement on the ''mini democracy package'' and asked if the coalition leaders would meet to discuss this issue and if the package could be passed in the earlier scheduled time, Ecevit said, ''we are always together.''
Ecevit added, ''some evaluations were made by taking into consideration the criticisms and expectations. I think it will be beneficial to solve these issues within this week.''
PRIME MINISTER: ''I FEEL THE NEED TO URGE BAGHDAD ADMINISTRATION''
When a reporter reminded him that he sent a letter to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and that he mentioned ''a very grave situation'' and asked if ''there was a very serious situation regarding Iraq'', Ecevit said, ''you are watching some broadcastings in the United States. The tendency of a military operation towards Iraq is not in question in whole U.S. administration, but is in question among some members of the administration and press.''
Ecevit continued, ''of course, if such an operation is staged, Turkey will face serious damages. To this end, we have thought that it is our duty to express our wishes and hopes. In the letter I sent to Saddam Hussein, I especially stressed that the initiatives expected from Baghdad administration should be launched and exerted and especially, the supervision and control of armed forces should be made efficient.''
''Because, if the Baghdad government does not quickly fulfil the demands of the international organizations and especially the United Nations, some serious incidents can occur. I feel the need to urge Baghdad administration against this possibility,'' Ecevit said.
When asked how he evaluated the claims of New York Times columnist William Safire within that context, Ecevit said that he did not take Safire's statements seriously.