ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 5, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TURKISH IS NOT ANY MORE ONE OF THE SIX LANGUAGES IN COE AFTER ARINC CUTS OFF ALLOCATION OF TRANSLATORS
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc cut off allocation of the translators which was 100 thousand Euro. Thus, Turkish is not any more one of the six languages in COE Parliamentarian Assembly.
Turkish language is not heard any more in hall of COE Parliamentarian Assembly, which is a European institution that Turkey is a full member of.
A total of 12 parliamentarians from the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and Republican People's Party (CHP) represent Turkey at COEPA. The Turkish parliamentarians so far had delivered speeches in Turkish at the assembly meetings.
Council of Europe had two official languages, they are English and French. Turkish, German, Italian, Spanish, Greek, and Russian languages were also languages of COE.
NOBODY BUT WE FOCUS ON HEADSCARF
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who went to European Union (EU) foreign ministers unofficial meeting in Rhodes together with his wife, who wears headscarf, revealed that he wanted to solve headscarf discussions within the EU.
When asked, ''why did you find appropriate to participate in EU meeting with your wife after crisis experienced on April 23,'' Gul laughed and said, ''Hayrunisa is my wife''. Gul said, ''there is not the point of view of Europeans in any of those questions. As long as those questions are asked, this means Turkey keeps its Eastern qualities.''
Gul said, ''we never have problems when I and my wife participate in meetings with foreigners. Unfortunately, such problems are being experienced in meetings among us. Turkey will overcome this also. None of us have time to engage in this. Turkey's national income is still around 3,000 U.S. dollars. Those should be dealt with, not the wearing of people.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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DE SOTO: ''I ADMIRE HIM''
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto who played important role in writing of report of the Secretary General who held TRNC President Rauf Denktas responsible for failure in U.N.-sponsored Cyprus talks process, made a surprising statement: ''I admire Mr. Denktas''. Speaking to the Greek Cypriot daily Politis, Peruvian diplomat said, ''I admire Mr. Denktas. He has clear belief. He has stable opinions and he does not change his position. I totally believe that he is a leader. However, during the talks, he failed to bring the direction of the Turkish Cypriot side to a solution under a realistic framework. But I do admire him.'' Recalling that Denktas had numerously said that Turkish and Greek Cypriots could not live together, Peruvian diplomat said he was confused when he learnt that passages between the two sides were allowed. Noting that he did not doubt that the TRNC changed its policy with such a step, De Soto said, ''I know Mr. Denktas is angry with me because I expressed my confusion. However, my pleasure was the reason of my confusion. I appreciated Mr. Denktas and his measures.''
NEW STEP FOR SOLUTION ON CYPRUS
While returning to Rhodes island aboard Greek shipowner Ioannis Lacis' ''Aleksandiros'' from Meis island where the EU foreign ministers unofficial meeting, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul discussed Cyprus issue with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou in great detail. Replying the newspaper correspondent's question, Gul gave the signal that new steps would be taken on Cyprus by saying, ''in coming days, we are going to see the results of developments.'' Gul said he found Papandreou very positive about both Cyprus issue and Turkish-Greek relations and Turkey-EU relations. Gul said he had told Papendreou that embargoes imposed on the TRNC should be lifted.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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RHODES BOOSTS GUL'S MORALE
After the Kas-Meis-Rhodes meetings, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul gave promising messages. Noting that Turkey's EU membership entered a positive process, Gul said new steps on the Cyprus issue would be taken soon. Replying reporters' questions while he was returning to Turkey, Gul said he had told EU Term President Greece's Foreign Minister George Papandreou that embargoes imposed on the TRNC should be lifted. ''The EU should lift embargoes on the TRNC. Thus, confidence and commercial cooperation increase and interdependence between the two sides on the island appears. First of all embargoes should be lifted, later it is followed by other concrete steps.'' Stating that his meetings with the EU member countries' foreign ministers were positive, Gul said, ''and they were pleased with coming to Kas. During our meetings, they perceived Turkey's importance and our government's determination.'' Noting that foreign ministers had told him that Turkey's EU membership talks would start in 2004, Gul said, ''and we want to benefit from this process. I believe that this process would not be wasted.'' Stressing that a country which had self-confidence should not hesitate to take steps on the EU path, Gul said Turkey should be ''optimistic'' during EU membership process. Gul added that he would attend Euro-Med meeting on May 25 on Crete island.
GUL: ''RUMSFELD DID NOT CALL ME''
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld who visited Iraq and paid ''thank you'' visits to four countries in the Middle East, did not call him. Gul said Rumsfeld who changed planes in the Incirlik base after his Middle East tour following the Iraq war and proceeded to London without stopping by Ankara, did not call him. Speaking to the newspaper's correspondent's question on Rhodes yesterday, Gul said, ''Rumsfeld could have telephoned National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul but I am not certain about it. He did not call me. Actually, I continue my contacts with the U.S. officials.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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CALL FOR DUTY
Here are the main topics of six-page letter which President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) wrote to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan:
-Please fulfill your assignment in national cause.
-Visit the island soon and balance Simitis.
-We will either surrender or make ourselves accepted.
-EU will make Turkey sleep after accepting Greek Cypriot side.
-Motherland encourages media and tricks.
-They even tried coup against me.
-We can not continue with De Soto.
-We can not know what to do as Turkey hesitates.
ANNULMENT TO ECEVIT'S DREAM
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government cancelled Village-City project of Bulent Ecevit, leader of Democratic Left Party (DSP). Ecevit had been working on the project since 1970. Following cancellation, around 200 Village-City projects were shelved.
The project was annulled with the decision of Higher Planning Council, and removed with the decision of Council of Ministers.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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RUSH TO TREASURY BONDS
Foreign exchange deposits at banks are decreasing while Turkish lira (TL) investments are increasing. U.S. dollars caused its investors to suffer 7.3 percent loss in last four months and this served mostly the Treasury bonds. The money invested on the Treasury bonds that are considered most profitable means of investment rose from 43 quadrillion TL to 53 quadrillion TL in last three months. In addition to banks, also companies and people exchange their foreign currencies with TL in these days and they invest them on the Treasury bonds which they consider the most profitable means of investing although their interest rate decreased to 52 percent. Selling price of 1 U.S. dollar reduced to 1 million 543 thousand TL. It was 1 million 363 thousand TL one year ago. However, markets expect that U.S. dollar would increase with a Central Bank intervention.
''THERE WERE CRACKS, BUT THEY WERE IGNORED''
Results of the Bingol earthquake: 167 people died including 85 in the Celtiksuyu Boarding School Dormitory; 521 people were injured; 82 buildings collapsed, 1183 others were heavily damaged; 7,000 people were left homeless. Building contractors vanished. Celtiksuyu Boarding School director said, ''we warned officials that there were cracks in the dormitory, but they ignored.'' Families are now trying to find something in the rubble of the dormitory in memory of their children.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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SEVERE BALANCE SHEET: 167 DIE
Search and rescue efforts, which started after quake in southeastern Bingol province measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale, ended early on Sunday morning. A total of 167 people died and 521 people were injured. 84 of those who died were students. A total of 97 of those injured were sent to hospitals in Elazig, Diyarbakir, and Erzurum. 1,100 houses were damaged.
Bingol Governor Huseyin Avni Cos held a news conference and said 167 people died and 520 others were injured in the quake. Cos said 84 students and a teacher died in Celtiksuyu Boarding School dormitory. He said 114 students were rescued.
Recalling that some incidents were experienced after provocations because of distribution of tents, Cos said, ''those who lost their relatives and whose houses were damaged were not among those who caused the incidents.'' He said damage assessment started after the quake. Cos said they determined that 82 houses collapsed, and that 1100 houses were damaged.
THINGS PROGRESS WELL IN CYPRUS
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, who participated in European Union (EU) foreign ministers unofficial meeting, pointed out that embargo imposed on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot side should be lifted.
Gul, who met with European Union foreign ministers, discussed Iraq and Palestinian issues and conveyed Turkey's views. Gul also met with Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou and discussed Turkish-Greek relations, Turkish-EU relations, and Cyprus.
Stating that some developments should be recorded on Cyprus, Gul stressed that embargo imposed on TRNC should be lifted. Gul said, ''embargo is out of question in the world any more. EU and the U.N. should review embargo. Confidence will increase and peace will be facilitated when embargo is lifted.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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QUAKE COUNCIL COULD NOT CONVENE YET ALTHOUGH FOUR YEARS PASSED AFTER AUGUST 17
Necessary measures can not be taken although 92 percent of Turkey is under quake risk. Quake Council can not be convened although four years passed after massive August 17 quake. Necessary changes could not be made on laws, and 82 percent of people are indifferent to the fact.
Experts say Quake Council which will bring together scientists, engineers, politicians, mayors, and NGOs should convene soon, and that the Council should take binding measures.
Housing and Public Works Minister Zeki Ergezen earlier announced that quake council would take place in March 2003, but no step had been taken although two months passed.
RESCUE TEAMS SEEN OFF WITH APPLAUSE IN BINGOL
Teams, who participated in search and rescue efforts in southeastern Bingol province, were seen off with applause.
The teams departed from the region after search and rescue efforts ended in Celtiksuyu Boarding School dormitory.
People of the region wanted to thank to AKUT, soldiers, and search and rescue teams. Hundreds of people were arranged in a row in school garden and shook hands with the members of the team one by one.
Siirt Deputy Governor Ahmet Aydin said more than 700 people, comprised of civilian defense, military unit, and voluntary groups, were assigned in the search and rescue efforts that continued for 75 hours.
(AY-MS-AÖ) 05.05.2003