ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 6, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
CLASH OF THOUGHTS WITH STICKS
Political hooligans clashed with stones, sticks, cleavers and knives in their hand. Clash erupted between members of leftist Kemalist Thought Clubs and members of another leftist group. The clash turned into a fight at Istanbul's Yildiz Technical University. As a result, 28 people were injured.
GENERAL STAFF RELEASES MOST HARSH STATEMENT
The General Staff released the most harsh statement of General Hilmi Ozkok's period. In the statement, it was stressed, ''a tendency aiming at wearing out the Turkish Armed Forces and its members by giving place to baseless and misleading news stories and comments, was observed in some circles and several press organs. The Turkish Armed Forces will maintain its duty to protect spiritual and material heritage of Great Founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk through democratic methods. The Turkish Armed Forces will continue to serve the Turkish nation as the biggest guarantee of secular, democratic and social Republic of Turkey.''
''THEY SHOULD SPEAK ENGLISH''
Allocations of simultaneous translators working at the Council of Europe were cut off for savings measures. Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said, ''simultaneous translation into Turkish was started in the past to help deputies, who attended meetings of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (COEPA), but could not speak foreign languages. Now, deputies, who can speak foreign languages, attend these meetings. Therefore, this help is not needed any longer.''
INTENSE PROGRAM OF GUL IN MAY
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister will pay an official visit to Bulgarian capital Sofia between May 12 and 13 to hold a series of contacts. Gul is expected to leave for Belgium to attend meetings of the European Convention between May 15 and 16. He will pay an official visit to Pakistan in the third week of May. Gul plans to attend the meeting of foreign ministers of European Union (EU) and Mediterranean countries in Crete on May 25. Meanwhile, Gul will pay a visit to Iranian capital Tehran to attend the 30th Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) between May 28 and 31.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
ERDOGAN ON ISLAND ON EUROPE DAY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will go to Cyprus on Europe Day, May 9 to give response to TRNC President Rauf Denktas' letter in which he accused Erdogan of ''supporting the EU's initiatives for coupe on Cyprus''. Despite the letter which Denktas wrote on April 14 and in which he called Erdogan to fulfil his duties in the national case, the government followed a different policy. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul who is determined to ''seek solution through negotiations'' expressed the government's opinion: ''Resumption of talks for lasting peace after settlement of confidence through proposals of both sides''. The EU and Greece appreciated Gul's statement which he made on May 3 while he was going to Meis island to attend the EU meeting. He said, ''embargoes should be lifted reciprocally. And we can allow the Greek Cypriot ships to enter ports''. It was mentioned that following these developments, Erdogan might bring some of these proposals onto the agenda:
-In return of softening of embargo on the TRNC, Turkey can allow Greek Cypriot-flagged ships to approach Turkish ports.
-Maras which is closed to settlement can be opened to Greek Cypriots under control of Turkish authorities.
-Fifth gate can be opened in Lefkosa for free passages. Decision will be taken under the opinion of the General Staff.
-As long as Turkey is given concrete response to its EU membership, existence of the Turkish Armed Forces on Cyprus can be gradually decreased.
DENKTAS WANTS ''BLACK LIST'' ABOUT GREEK CYPRIOTS
TRNC President Rauf Denktas instructed police to prepare a ''black list'' to prevent passage of unwanted Greek Cypriots who committed crimes against Turkish Cypriots, and he said that with this objective, he had held a meeting with Police Chief Erdem Demirbag the day before. Regarding the incident which happened in Akdeniz village two days before due to visit of a former EOKA member who is held responsible for murder of two Turks in 1974, Denktas said, ''this Greek Cypriot man escaped before the police got information. A 'black list' should be prepared, and people like this man should be included in this list, helping the police prevent passage of such people. In the past, we said that we should give each other 'black list'. Now it is time to do it.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
SADDAM'S CONNECTION WITH PKK
Relations between terrorist organization PKK and Iraqi Intelligence Agency was documented when archive of Iraqi secret police was revealed during the U.S.-led military operation against Iraq. Secret correspondence unveiled relations of the terrorist organization PKK and its head Osman Ocalan with Iraqi Secret Police Unit. In one of these letters, it was proposed to take advantage of PKK in order to set up relations with the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C), which planned to stage an action at the Incirlik Air Base.
DEMONSTRATION HELD IN FRONT OF PRIME MINISTRY OFFICE
The Prime Ministry Office became scene of another demonstration. While the Council of Ministers was holding the weekly meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, 17-year-old Hulya Arik came to the Prime Minister Office. She threw some pieces of paper and shouted, ''I want to talk to the Prime Minister''. When security forces intervened, she attempted to cut her throat with a razor blade. Later, she was arrested.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
CLASH AT UNIVERSITY
Clash erupted between members of leftist Federation of Kemalist Thought Clubs and members of another leftist group at the Istanbul University. The clash spread to the Yildiz Technical University later. Nearly 40 students and a policeman were injured. Officials said that one of the injured people was in critical condition. Security forces detained 50 students.
''THEIR TARGET IS TO SOW DISCORD AMONG TSK MEMBERS''
The General Staff stated that the appointments of generals and admirals during and after the meeting of the Higher Military Council in 2002 were not brought onto agenda of the latest meeting of the National Security Council (NSC), adding that some intentional comments targeted to sow discord among members of the Turkish Armed Forces. ''The Turkish Armed Forces will maintain its duty to protect spiritual and material heritage of Great Founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk through democratic methods. The Turkish Armed Forces will maintain this duty in a full unity and integrity, and it has the necessary will to display its determination against enemies of the Republic, who aim at hampering these unity and integrity. The Turkish Armed Forces will continue to serve the Turkish nation as the biggest guarantee of secular, democratic and social Republic of Turkey,'' the statement added.
U.S. PRESIDENT BUSH CALLS PRESIDENT SEZER ON PHONE
U.S. President George W. Bush called President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on the phone and expressed his profound sorrow over loss of life in last week's earthquake disaster in Bingol. Noting that they welcomed recent developments in Cyprus, President Bush said that they would act in line with Turkey's sensitivities on the Iraq issue. Meanwhile, President Sezer stressed that Turkey attributed great importance to its cooperation with friendly and allied United States, and added that relations between the two countries should be further strengthened.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
MOST PRECIOUS MOBILIZATION
There were 6 million illiterate people in Turkey two years ago. Most of them were women. However, as a result of the mobilization of retired teacher Semra Sezer, the wife of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, 1 million 900 thousand people became literate. Under the project, 520 thousand people attended literacy classes, 767 thousand people attended vocational classes and 587 thousand people attended social education classes. Semra Sezer said that all higher education institutions had been supporting the project, and added, ''our campaign has been continuing. We have great targets.''
DEATH TOLL INCREASES TO 176
Death toll increased to 176 following the earthquake disaster in Bingol on May 1. A total of 305 buildings demolished while 2 thousand 566 dwellings were seriously damaged and 2 thousand 546 dwellings suffered moderate damage. Except for 8th and 11tkh classes, classes of all schools in Bingol were recessed till the beginning of next semester. Meanwhile, psychological-social support have been given for students of Celtiksuyu YIBO (regional boarding school). Residents, who cannot enter their houses, asked officials to eradicate portable latrines. Meanwhile, American Association of Jewish Friends of Turkey (AAJFT) has launched a worldwide campaign to help quake survivors. The AAJFT, which was founded by grandchildren of Jewish people who had been saved by the Ottoman Empire from the Spanish Inquisition, sent messages to Jewish committees in the world and called on them to help Turkish quake survivors.
ERBAKAN WAITS FOR SP REGULAR CONGRESS
The First Regular Congress of the Felicity Party (SP) will convene on Sunday. Necmettin Erbakan, the former leader of the banned Welfare Party (RP) who has joined the SP a while ago, is expected to become a candidate for the leadership of the party. Recai Kutan, the current leader of the SP, will not become a candidate.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
UNITED STATES GETS REVENGE
The United States which can't forget the motion speeds up activities against Turkey despite warnings. The United States gave permission to PKK-KADEK which it earlier declared as ''terrorist organization'' to open an office in U.S.-controlled Mosul. The United States which remained silent to transfer of some of the weapons of dissolved Iraqi army to PKK, proved with this attitude that it does not pay attention to Turkey's warnings. It was mentioned that PKK was seriously preparing itself to infiltrate into Turkey. Meanwhile, Barzani on whom Turkey put reservation has started to get more protection by the United States. U.S. retired general and Iraq's new governor Jay Garner who met again with Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (IKDP) leader Massoud Barzani, said, ''we discussed Iraq's future and his leadership role''. It was mentioned that Barzani would definitely take place in interim authority. Turkey also divided Bush administration. Moderates led by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell are opposed to any limit to Turks in rebuilding to Iraq while falcons led by U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld put pressure on U.S. companies to avoid any business with Turkish companies. It was mentioned that Rumsfeld could not forget the motion.
CONTRACTORS WANTED
The Prosecutor's Office took action when mostly public buildings collapsed or heavily damaged in Bingol earthquake. The Bingol Prosecutor said that they issued ''warrant of arrest'' for Seref Erkus, the contractor of the boarding school dormitory under which 84 students died. The prosecutor also said that they opened investigation into contractors of other buildings that collapsed in the earthquake.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
IMF DELEGATION TO COME TODAY, TURKEY HAS TOUGH HOMEWORK
IMF Deputy Managing Director Anne Krueger and Executive Director Willy Kriekens will come to Ankara today. Krueger's advisor Riza Moghadam who was appointed as the new IMF's Turkey Desk Chief in place of Juha Kahkonen whose mission will end in May, will also be in Ankara today. Krueger and Kiekens will attend ''Forum Istanbul'' meeting to be held in Istanbul between May 8-10. However, before this meeting Krueger and Kiekens are expected to have a meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and ministers for the economy in Ankara. IMF delegation will carry out the fifth review of the ongoing economic program between May 21-30. After finalization of this review, almost 500 million U.S. dollars of loan tranche will be approved in June. Under the stand-by deal which will end at the end of 2004, IMF delegation will review the economic program for seven times. Following IMF's fourth review, IMF approved 710 million U.S. dollars loan on April 18, and it was deposited into the Treasury's accounts on April 24.
TURKMENS EXCLUDED ALSO FROM IRAQ'S INTERIM AUTHORITY
Ibrahim Arafat is the only Turkmen member of the 24-member municipal assembly of Mosul which was chosen as the ''model city'' for democracy in Iraq. However, there is not a Turkmen among the nine members who will be assigned in the country's interim authority. Retired General Ganem al-Bassu of Arab origin was elected the Mosul Mayor. An Iraqi man of Kurdish origin was elected the deputy mayor. Dr. Ibrahim Arafat and an Assyrian are elected other deputy mayors. Dr. Ibrahim Arafat who was graduated from the Istanbul University Faculty of Dentistry and has been living in Mosul for 25 years, said that they were pleased with the vote, and Turkmens welcomed the decision.
(UK-MS-AÖ) 06.05.2003