ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 25, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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FIRST TARGET IN IRAQ IS 1.5 BILLION DOLLARS
Turkey takes action to fulfill export agreements with Iraq which exceeds 1.5 billion U.S. dollars after the United Nations' lifting 13 years of embargo imposed on Iraq. State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said, ''Food in Return for Oil Program will last six months.'' Noting that Turkey should act rapidly, Tuzmen said that they should complete all procedures without problems.
NO VISA IS REQUIRED TO GO TO IRAQ
After overthrown of Saddam Hussein regime, no visa is required for Turkish citizens at the moment to proceed to Iraq. A high-ranking Foreign Ministry official said, ''as Iraq embassies do not have the authority to give visa, no visa is necessary to go to that country at the moment.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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SERTAB SUCCEEDS IN EUROVISION AFTER 28 YEARS
Turkey's adventure of Eurovision which started in 1975 reached happy end yesterday. After its success in sports, Turkey also showed its success in music. Austria, Bosnia, Netherlands and Belgium gave full points to Turkey, while Turkey also got points from the Greek Cypriot side and Greece. Sertab Erener competed in the contest with her song in English ''Every Way That I Can.''
MOTION FOR IRAN ON THE WAY
Turkish Foreign Ministry thinks that after Iraq an intervention will also be made in Iran. One Turkish diplomat said that Turkey had to clear its stance about Iran soon, adding ''yet Turkey can't give guarantee to the U.S. in advance. Turkey's interests and the well-being of Iranian people come first.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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GREAT SUCCESS OF SERTAB
Turkey was ranked the first for the first time in its history in the 48th Eurovision Song Contest held in Riga, Latvia. Sertab Erener, who fascinated 6,000 audiences in the hall with her voice and dance, left 25 countries behind. Turkey got 167 points and Belgium was ranked the second and Russia the third in the contest. Erener, who sang her song ''Every Way That I Can'' one more time, said, ''I thank everybody in Turkey.''
ALL OF THEM IS MADE-UP
The news stories in newspapers, which claimed that Chief of General Staff conveyed uneasiness of young officers about Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and steps taken regarding the European Union (EU) to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during their meeting, angered Erdogan. He said, ''such an information did not reach me, I read them in newspapers like everybody.'' He added, ''our army and government are continuing their studies harmoniously. There is no problem. I do not approve such kind of news titles for my country. People will appreciate very well what is tried to be done with these titles.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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MILITARY FOLLOWS UP DEVELOPMENTS
Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok gave surprising news yesterday and decided to hold a meeting with Ankara representatives of press organs on Monday prior to the National Security Council (NSC) meeting on Wednesday. Gen. Ozkok is expected to assess the recent developments and the news claiming that there was uneasiness within the Turkish Armed Forces about the government.
WOLFOWITZ CRITICIZES TURKEY AGAIN
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz said in his article published in American Boston Globe newspaper that the Turkish army didn't announce support to the government during the Iraqi war and this negatively affected the process.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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APPOINTMENT GIVEN TO PRESS BY OZKOK
Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok invited Ankara representatives of national press at 02.00 p.m. on Monday to explain the claims regarding his meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 20. Ozkok is expected to make explanations about the news stories in newspapers titled ''uneasiness of young officers''.
NO INVITATION FROM PUTIN
Turkey, which have problems with the United States due to Iraq war, could not have good relations with Russia as well. No leader from Turkey was invited to the celebrations which will be held for the 300th foundation anniversary of St. Petersburg between May 29-30. St. Petersburg Municipality in the celebration committee only invited brother city Istanbul's Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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WHY DO TURKISH COMPANIES ESCAPE ABROAD?
While Turkey adopts news laws to attract foreign investors to Turkey, Turkish investors go abroad for making investment. The red tape in Turkey is one of the reasons of Turkish businessmen's going abroad. Nearly 20 Turkish companies run their investment in Bulgaria which is expected to access to EU in 2007.
ERDOGAN: INTEREST RATES SHOULD DECREASE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that interest rates should also decrease for reaching a balance in markets. Addressing Istanbul Industry Forum yesterday, Erdogan said that ''I suppose Central Bank will assess the developments and give a decision about reducing interest rates. It will be good to decrease the interest rates by 3-5 points.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ERDOGAN DENIES NEWS STORIES
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the news stories published in newspapers with the title of ''Uneasiness of Young Officers'' were totally made-up and baseless, adding that ''our army and government continue to work in full harmony. There is no problem in question.'' Erdogan reminded that Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok visited him a short time ago and they only discussed developments regarding ''European Union, Cyprus and Iraq.''
(GC-ÖS) 25.05.2003