ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 8, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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WE NEVER MADE MISTAKE
Everybody, from Cankaya to soldier, reacted against U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz who said, ''Ankara should accept its mistake in Iraq issue''. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey had never made a mistake. Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that Turkey had always taken the responsibility of its decisions with honor.
Upon the questions of reporters in a press conference which he held with Romanian Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, Erdogan said, ''Turkey had never made mistake from the beginning, it had taken steps which should be taken with its all sincerity.''
When asked how he interpreted the statement of Wolfowitz in his meeting with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Askar Aitmatov, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said, ''he probably received necessary answers.''
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that the United States should say ''where did we do wrong'' while evaluating its relations with Turkey.
AMBASSADOR IN BERLIN
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government prepares to send former minister Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik as ambassador to Germany which is one of the leading countries that has a key role in Turkey's membership process to the European Union (EU). Irtemcelik, who worked as ambassador in Jordan and Bulgaria in the past, had entered politics from Motherland Party (ANAP) in 1999 elections and became state minister for human rights.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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GEN. MYERS: ''WE WILL RENDER PKK INEFFECTIVE''
Washington sent messages to Ankara through two important canals. One of the is the telephone conversation between Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard Myers. The other is the statements of Wolfowitz and Grossman in tv programs.
Let Us Start from the First: Telephone conversation between Gen. Myers and Gen. Ozkok is important with respect to northern Iraq and terrorist PKK organization.
Gen. Myers told Gen. Ozkok that, ''you were concerned about Mosul and Kirkuk. We will expel armed Kurds from here and take their weapons while expelling them.''
Gen. Ozkok in response said, ''then why don't you take the weapons of terrorist PKK organization?''
Gen. Myers said, ''don't worry. We will also disarm PKK and render it ineffective. Our planning studies continue. May be there will not be a need for the existence of Turkish soldiers to be in northern Iraq.''
Gen. Ozkok, upon statements of Gen. Myers, pointed out that Turkish soldiers were in northern Iraq to monitor PKK, stating that they could consider existence of Turkish Armed Forces in northern Iraq in case this problem is solved.
GROSSMAN: TURKEY CONSIDERED ITSELF VERY IMPORTANT
U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman said statements of U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz should be taken seriously, stating that it had been a mistake that Turkey considered itself this much important. Grossman said, ''continuation of Turkish-U.S. cooperation is for the benefit of both sides. But we can not behave as if nothing happened. Because several things happened.''
Grossman expended support to Paul Wolfowitz who wanted Turkey to apologize for those experienced before war in Iraq. Grossman said Wolfowitz was one of the outstanding defenders of Turkey and the United States. He is one of the biggest friends of Turkey in the United States. He said, ''I hope you will take into consideration what he said because they are very important.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ANSWER TO THOSE WHO SAY TURKEY CANNOT ENTER EU
European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen opened the way of Turkey by saying ''Turkey will also be taken in EU if it fulfills criteria and there will not be any other countries then.'' Verheugen, who was known with his critical attitude towards Turkey until now, gave the best response to claims that Turkey could not be a member of EU. Noting, ''my views about Turkey have changed more positively in my visit to this country'', Verheugen said, ''Turkey will also be taken in EU if it fulfills criteria and there will not be any other countries then.''
BINGOL IS EXPECTING AID
Bingol Governor Huseyin Avni Cos wanted all volunteered aid organizations to help following the earthquake which happened a week ago in southeast Bingol province. Cos said that they had food stock which would be enough for one week and added, ''we are expecting the aids. We distributed 12 thousand tents which was sent by Red Crescent. It is impossible to give tents to everybody. Our doors are open to those who want to distribute tents from volunteered organizations.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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CRISIS WITH WASHINGTON AGAIN
Ankara's wanting to open its Baghdad embassy caused a new tension with Washington. The United States wanted the opening of embassy postponed until a new regime was formed in Iraq. Ankara, which do not want to remain behind in the rebuilding process of Iraq, did not take this request into consideration.
GROSSMAN: ''TAKE WOLFOWITZ SERIOUSLY''
U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Marc Grossman emphasized that the statement of U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, who wanted Turkey to accept that it made a mistake, was important. Grossman said that Turkey's choices would determine the relations' way.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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REACTIONS OF ANKARA
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, speaking about the statement of U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, said, ''I think he got the necessary response.'' When asked from who he got the necessary response, Sezer said, ''from the officials.''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey did not make any mistake from the very beginning, stating that Turkey did not expect any return while taking those steps. Erdogan said, ''there is not any disagreement between our friends and the decision taking authorized officials.''
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said Turkey's decision on Iraq should be evaluated as a decision of a democratic mechanism.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TURKEY DEFENDS ITSELF: WE DID NOT MAKE ANY MISTAKE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded to the statements of Wolfowitz accusing Turkey in Iraq policy. PM Erdogan said Turkey did not make any mistake on Iraq issue from the very beginning, stating that it took all the steps that should be taken.
When asked, ''the whole world wonders the response you will give to the statements of Wolfowitz. Did Turkey make a mistake? Did it encourage Iran and Syria?'' Erdogan said, ''Turkey did not make mistake from the very beginning and took all necessary steps sincerely.''
FOREIGN MINISTER GUL SAYS NEW INITIATIVES WILL BE BROUGHT ONTO AGENDA DURING ERDOGAN'S VISIT TO TRNC
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said new initiatives would be launched during the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). He said new accession partnership accord did not have criteria that would put Turkey into difficulty.
Gul also said statements of Paul Wolfowits about Turkey were distorted.
When asked what would be the criteria that would put Turkey into difficulty in the new accession partnership accord, Gul said, ''when the incidents began to appear in the world, we had to engage in them. However, we did not forget the EU while dealing with them. Our target is to start full membership negotiations at the end of 2004. Full membership will be in question in 4-5 years after starting of full membership talks. There is political will in Turkey. We have majority in the parliament. We will not have difficulty in issuing laws. We don't consider this as only problem of government, but all the sections of the society should participate in it.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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NO AMNESTY TO CONTRACTORS THAT USE DEFECTIVE MATERIALS
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said those who turned the quake into a disaster would not be able to benefit from amnesty. Cicek said his ministry was in serious efforts to fulfill their duties to prevent similar sufferings. Cicek said those people would be stripped off their rights to carry out the same profession.
Cicek said a commission had been set up with the participation of 36 institutions and organizations.
BULGARIAN PRIVATIZATION AGENCY INVITES KOC HOLDING-TURK TELEKOM CONSORTIUM FOR TALKS
The Bulgarian Privatization Agency invited Koc Holding-Turk Telekom consortium for talks on privatization of Bulgarian Telecommunications Institution which is one of the biggest state enterprises in the country's privatization program.
In its today's meeting, the Privatization Agency Supervision Committee found the bid of Viva Ventures consortium for the tender unsatisfactory and cancelled the contract. After this decision, the agency invited Koc Holding-Turk Telekom consortium for talks.
According to observers, the enterprise will most probably sold to Koc Holding-Turk Telekom consortium.
(GC-AY-AÖ) 08.05.2003