ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 24, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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BARTHELEMOS TO GREEK CYPRIOTS: ''COME TO TURKEY FOR HOLIDAY'' Fener Greek Patriarch Barthelemos called to Greek Cypriots: ''please come to Turkey without any fear.'' Greek Cypriots who came to Turkey for the first time after 40 years went to Fener Patriarchate in Istanbul and prayed there. Barthelemos said that ''I would like to thank the people who gave this decision. We prayed for peace and this came true, we are happy.''
TURKEY TO JOIN EU AT THE END OF 2004
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen told CHP leader Deniz Baykal who attended the European Socialists Party meeting in Berlin that ''EU will have 28 members at the end of the year 2004.'' Baykal told reporters after the meeting that ''Turkey is at very positive point in respect of starting full membership negotiations with the EU.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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FOUR-STAR REACTION
Commanders, who said that General Staff did not use a tough attitude enough, were in favor of reflecting the concerns more clearly. Headscarf, National View circular, discussions regarding celebration of May 19 increased the uneasiness and it was claimed there were demands that Chief of General Staff should show tougher reactions. Those reactions, which were reflected from lower rank to high-ranking commanders of Turkish Armed Forces, were evaluated. Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok occasionally gives warning messages to the Prime Minister and government in National Security Council and bilateral meetings.
VERHEUGEN: TURKEY IS IN EU AT THE END OF 2004
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen told him, ''under the light of developments in Turkey, the number of EU countries will be 28, not 27 in the end of 2004. Turkey will be the last member of EU.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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THERE IS NO RETURN ANY MORE
General discussion on the European Union (EU) was accepted at the Parliament. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul emphasized that next 1,5 years were very important for EU process and said, ''we can either open negotiation door in this 1,5 years or close it.'' Gul said that they would not close Parliament for holiday and would accept adjustment laws to keep the door open. He added, ''if political will shows its determination and ruling power, opposition and non-governmental organizations make the required things, full membership negotiations will start next year.''
PEACE; NOT REPENTANCE
Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said that new law would be brought as Social Peace or Peace Law, not as Repentance Law. He added, ''leaders of terrorist organizations cannot benefit from the law. Council of Ministers will give the final form to the draft, not National Security Council. The issue is not related with the Iraq operation.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT AKP FAVOURITISM
A public survey revealed out that people thought Justice and Development Party (AKP) started the tension with the Turkish Armed Forces and considered that AKP was not right in its attitude. The survey was carried out in Ankara, Izmir and Istanbul and it showed that AKP lost votes in big cities. Nearly half of the persons who responded to questions in the survey said that they were worried about favouritism initiatives of AKP.
SERTAB CAN BECOME WINNER OF EUROVISION
Sertab Erener's song ''Every Way That I Can'' looks like a possible winner in Eurovision final which will be held in Latvia tonight. Turkey will compete in the elections with an English song for the first time.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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PENAL CODE DRAFT DOES NOT PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS OF WOMEN
Turkish Penal Code (TCK) Women Working Group which was formed among representatives of nine separate institutions announced that the bill on Turkish Penal Code which was on the agenda of the government didn't protect the human rights of women. The working group said that the woman-man equality in the draft had to be provided.
WORKERS WAIT FOR SEZER'S VETO
Representatives of workers expect President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to veto the Labour Law. Confederation of Revolutionary Worker's Labour Unions (DISK) leader Celebi said that ''the president, who is a jurist, will assess the law, which does not abide by equality principle.'' Hak-Is leader Uslu said in his part that he believed that Sezer would veto the law.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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LET'S GO TO IRAQ
Turkey takes action to take active role in re-building of Iraq after the United Nations lifted economic embargo imposed on Iraq for 13 years. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkish contractors started to make agreements to undertake projects and added that Iraq could not be re-built without Turkey. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan announced that first export was made after the lifting of embargo and said that tankers and trucks were carrying goods and oil to Iraq, adding, ''our businessmen should go to that country without spending time.''
INJUSTICE SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO TURKEY
One of the senior names of U.S. Congress Robert Byrd criticized President George W. Bush's approach to Turkey with a tough manner. He said, ''injustice is made to Turkey which is degraded for carrying on its works according to its constitution.'' Byrd added, ''I have surprisingly read the expressions for punishment of Turkey which has been our friend and ally for a long time. It is surprising that our government tries to degrade Turkish government as it is only dealing with issues according to its constitution and democratic institutions.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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GORBACOV:STEPS OF AK PARTY ON THE WAY TO EU ARE IMPORTANT
The last president of Soviet Union Gorbacov told the paper that ''Turkey is luckier than Russia regarding EU membership.'' Gorbacov praised the reforms undertaken by the Turkish government on the way to EU membership. Gorbacov thinks that the European policy of Turkey had to be monitored closely by the EU.
(GC-ÖS) 24.05.2003