DERVIS MEETS WITH YT LEADERS, BAYAR
Just one day after stepping down from his post in a widely expected move, former State Minister for the Economy Kemal Dervis yesterday met with former Foreign Minister and New Turkey (YT) leader Ismail Cem and former Deputy Prime Minister and YT founding member Husamettin Ozkan. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Dervis said that this week he would continue his efforts to craft a center-left choice that both reflects modern social liberal thinking and could come to power on its own. Later in the day, Dervis also met with Democratic Turkey Party (DTP) leader Mehmet Ali Bayar. /Hurriyet/

ECONOMY MINISTER TURKER: “NO CONCESSIONS FROM THE ECONOMIC PROGRAM”
State Minister for the Economy Masum Turker, newly appointed to the ministry in place of Kemal Dervis who resigned from his post over the weeekend, met with a team of state economy bureacrats yesterday. In a press conference after the meeting, Turker emphasized that economic program would be carried out as it was set to without making any concessions. Pointing to the importance of being a minister responsible for the economy in present-day Turkey, Turker said that they would not allow any changes to the program due to November’s coming elections. Meanwhile, analysts didn’t predict any fluctuations in the Turkish markets due to the resignation of Kemal Dervis, as his resignation had been expected for some time. /Turkiye/

GUREL: “TURKEY WILL DEMAND COMPENSATION FROM SYRIA”
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said yesterday that Turkey would demand financial compensation from Syria a dam collapse two months ago that wreaked damage to Turkish land and farms. After the collapse on June 5 of the Zeyzoun Dam, which lies on the Asi (Orabntes) River upriver from Turkey in Syria, some 1,500 hectares of agriculturel land in the border province of Hatay were flooded. “We will discuss the issue in the Foreign Ministry after the damage in Hatay caused by the floodwaters is assessed,” he stated. “After this process is completed Turkey will demand compensation from Syria.” The dam was built in 1996 for irrigation purposes, and it collects rainwater and receives water from the Asi River. /Sabah/

TASAR: “WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A SECOND BREAKTHROUGH IN TOURISM”
Tourism Minister Mustafa Tasar held a press conference yesterday to evaluate the performance of his ministry over the past year and its targets for the future. Turkey recognized the importance of tourism relatively late, said Tasar, with the first breakthrough achieved in 1983-1991 under the late president Turgut Ozal. “The second breakthrough was started by us,” he continued, “In organizing the Second Tourism Council with the participation of all sections of the public, we drew out the direction for Turkish tourism for the 21st century.” Tasar said that they had initiated an ongoing promotional campaign to attract travellers from abroad. He added that they expect 13 million tourists and about $13 billion income from tourism this year alone. /Turkiye/

BAYDAROL: “THE EU SHOULD GIVE A DATE TO TURKEY AT THE COPENHAGEN SUMMIT”
Turkish European Foundation Executive Board member Can Baydarol said yesterday that the European Union should give a date to Turkey at December’s Copenhagen summit to start its membership negotiations. Baydarol stated that Turkey had passed the EU harmonization laws to fulfill the Union’s political criteria and that now it was the EU’s turn to give a date to Turkey. “The first thing Turkey should do is to contact the other membership candidates,” he added. Also speaking on education, he said, “I believe that Turkey should change its education policy as soon as possible. Education is a critical issue because Turkey has a large population of young people.” Baydarol also said that Turkey would be strong after a possible US operation in Iraq and that it would play a very important role there. /Aksam/

TURKISH SPRINTER SCORES GOLD AT EUROPEAN COMPETITION
National track and field athlete Sureyya Ayhan yesterday bested all her competitors to win the gold medal in the women’s 1,500 meter finals at the European Athletics Championship in Munich, Germany. She clocked in at 3 minutes, 59:79 seconds, four seconds better than her personal best, which both edged out second place Gabriela Szabo from Romania (3:58.81) and established a new national record. It was Turkey’s first gold in the 68-year history of the championship. “Even if you offered me the whole world, I’d rather take this gold medal,” said a jubilant Ayhan. /All Papers/

TURKISH GRAPHIC ARTIST IN CALIFORNIA GETS ACCLAIM
Emrah Yucel, a Turkish graphic designer currently living in Los Angeles, is getting attention and acclaim for poster designs work for a historic theater. Yucel and his partner in the Iconisus design group, Stephan Lapp, have been busy designing posters for the plays at the Pasadena Playhouse, one of Los Angeles’ largest and oldest theaters. Their work got a detailed write up in the weekend Los Angeles Times, which also discussed Yucel’s film and television ad work. Last month, Yucel was honored with the Key Arts Award for his film festival poster work. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKEY TAKES DELIVERY OF JETS FROM ISRAEL
Turkey took delivery last week of 56 new unmanned “Harpy” jet fighters from Israel. The initial 1996 purchase agreement for the planes, which are remote controlled and can strike at distant targets, called for 102 models to be delivered at a total cost of $75 million. The remaining 46 are scheduled to be delivered within the next few months. /Hurriyet/

TWO TURKISH FILMS FEATURED AT MONTREAL FILM FESTIVAL
Two Turkish films, “Hicbiryerde” (Nowhere), directed by Tayfun Pirselimoglu, and “Buyuk Adam Kucuk Ask” (Big Man, Little Love), directed by Handan Ipekci, will be screened at the 26th Montreal Film Festival due to begin on Aug. 22. During the 10-day festival, over 400 films from 75 countries will be shown. /Cumhuriyet/

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION