ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 26, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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GEN. OZKOK TO DENY NEWS REPORTS THAT ''YOUNG OFFICERS ARE CONCERNED''
Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok will hold a news conference in General Staff Headquarters on Monday. Gen. Ozkok is expected to deny the allegations that ''young officers are concerned about Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government.
This news conference of Chief of General Staff, which has a historical importance, will ''deny or correct'' the allegations and interpretations.
The first stage of the process started with a news report, which was published in daily Cumhuriyet on Friday, that Chief of General Staff Gen. Ozkok, during his meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that, ''concerns are continuously conveyed to the command. Our young officers follow the situation in concern.'' The news report also mentioned that Ozkok had told Erdogan that efforts were underway to damage the army by showing it as an opponent of the European Union (EU), and that those efforts were encouraged by some AK Party members.
FACILITIES FOR FOREIGNERS FOR ADOPTING CHILD
Government sent an international contract to the Parliament aiming to find a family for children who have no relatives. The contract aims to find a family for those children in international platform.
The draft which facilitates adopting child internationally, aims to prevent ''children abduction and child smuggling''.
Citizens of the countries, who sign the draft, will have the facility to adopt child from the signatory countries.
The contract is comprised of 48 articles.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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ERDOGAN: ''THEY ARE BACKBITING''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan defended that those who could not digest the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the positive developments in Turkey were trying to create problem between the government and army, adding, ''those who are trying to destroy the harmonious work between the government and the army are making a serious mistake. Like the proverb which says, 'the things a deaf person says are based, not on what he hears, but on what he thinks he's heard', putting forward hitches that can set one person against another is a betrayal to the country.'' Noting that news that said 'young officers feel uneasy about the AK Party' did not reflect the truth, Erdogan said, ''at last, we have reached spring season in the economy. And we have brought to a different point by winning the Eurovision song contest. Those who can't digest these positive developments have the desire of 'what can we do to create an atmosphere of tension in the country?'. They can't achieve anything by doing this but they cause the country to lose.''
2 POLICE OFFICERS INJURED IN BOMB EXPLOSION IN DGM
A bomb left in parking lot of the Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) exploded, injuring two policemen. Police officers Mustafa Baser, 48, and Ekrem Baki, 28, saw a bag left in parking area behind the court building and when they came near the bag to examine it, the bomb detonated. Baser was injured in his chest and Bak was injured in his legs. Officials said police officers were not injured seriously, and an investigation was under way.
TUZMEN: ''EXPORTS REACHED 15.6 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS''
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said that total exports reached 15.6 billion U.S. dollars between January 1 and May 15, 2003. He said that as of mid-May according to the statistics of the exporters' associations, exports rose 34.6 percent to 15.6 billion U.S. dollars. Stressing that quota that developed countries were imposing was the most important factor to affect the textiles and ready-wear sectors, Tuzmen said that the ten-year transition period which was foreseen under agreements would end on January 1, 2005.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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BESIKTAS CHAMPIONS
Besiktas clinched league championship 2002-2003 season on Sunday with a 1-0 victory in the big Istanbul derby with Galatasaray. A goal in the 90th minute settled the issue in front of 30,000 fans packed into Besiktas's Inonu Stadium as the home side wrested the title away from the reigning champions. Besiktas sealed the championship with a 90th minute goal by Sergen Yalcin off Tumer Metin's pass. Galatasaray had pushed its defense forward in a last minute attempt to keep its championship bid alive.
PM ERDOGAN: ''MISCHIEF-MAKING IS BETRAYAL TO TURKEY''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted harshly to allegations which say that ''young officers feel concern over Justice and Development Party (AK Party)'' and said that there were people who wanted to spoil harmony between the government and the army. Erdogan said, ''putting forth viruses which can create mischief-making is betrayal to this country.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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THUNDERBOLT FALLS ON AIRBASE
Lightning fell on soldiers in Bandirma 6th Main Jet Base command who were playing football. The lightning killed one soldier and injured another one. Lightning fell on the soldiers who continued to play despite the rain. Adem Sevinc died in hospital. Medical treatment of Sahin Bostanci continues.
EU WEEK IN PARLIAMENT
Parliament passed the past three weeks by discussing Labor Law. The Parliament is expected to discuss development regarded with European Union (EU) membership this week.
Eyes turned to Cankaya Palace about the Labor Law which was adopted by the Parliament after workings of day and night.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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WIND OF ''UZAK'' IN CANNES
Nuri Bilge Ceyhan's ''Uzak'' (Distant) film which was elected the best picture in festivals which it attended won the Grand Prize in the 56th Cannes Film Festival. The film's two stars, Muzaffer Ozdemir and Mehmet Emin Toprak, shared the award for best actor. They played the two cousins, both lonely and alienated, but unable to become friends. Director Nuri Bilge Ceylan cast two non-professional actors to star. Toprak, his cousin, died in December in a car crash just after learning that the film was selected for Cannes. The film about a jobless man from the countryside who irritates his sophisticated city cousin by moving into his apartment, won the Grand Prize.
EYE OF PARLIAMENT ON SIXTH ADJUSTMENT PACKAGE
The parliament which passed the Labor Law by working hard is waiting for the sixth adjustment package on the European Union (EU) process. The package which is expected to be discussed at the meeting of Council of Ministers on Monday will be sent to the parliament this week and debated in the commissions. The government wants the package to be discussed publicly and aims to submit the package to the General Assembly next week.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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APPLAUSE FOR SERTAB
Sertab Erener won the Eurovision Song Contest in Riga, Latvia on behalf of Turkey. Erener said that many people congratulated her for winning the Eurovision Song Contest and stated that she was very happy. Erener said that she was very pleased with congratulations of state officials and her friends. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and TRT Deputy Director General Haluk Buran issued messages for Turkey's winning the contest. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul who telephoned Erener, congratulated her for winning the contest.
PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN SAYS MISCHIEF-MAKING IS BETRAYAL TO TURKEY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''it is treason to spread viruses that may cause the emergence of sedition. Those who try to damage the harmony between the state and the military are doing wrong. Erdogan said that no one had the right to prepare a basis for conflict or tension in this country.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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DSP LEADER ECEVIT DEFENDS NSC, CRITICIZES AK PARTY
Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader and former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stated that National Security Council (NSC) was an important element of Turkish political life, stating that it has no aspect contradicting with democracy. Ecevit said making NSC an issue of discussion in politics was ''concerning'' and defended that tendencies to make this institution inactive increased.
Ecevit held a news conference in his party headquarters on Sunday. Referring to the criticisms of Gen. Tuncer Kilinc, the NSC Secretary General, toward the 6th EU Adjustment Package, Ecevit said Turkey was the most important country in the most sensitive region of the world in geopolitical means. Ecevit said Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) has serious functions in this respect.
U.N. TO HOLD SEMINARS IN ISTANBUL AND GAZIANTEP
Turkey representation of the United Nations (U.N.) will hold two seminars in Istanbul and Gaziantep on ''Opportunities to Make Business with U.N. System'' between May 26 and 29 to inform Turkish business world about business opportunities with U.N..
Releasing a written statement, U.N. Development Program (UNDP) recalled that U.N. system purchased service and goods worth of nearly five billion U.S. dollars annually and said that representatives of U.N. would come to Turkey to inform private sector institutions which wanted to make business with U.N. about the conditions of international tenders and finance.
First of the seminars, which is held by UNDP and Foreign Trade Undersecretariat and supported by Southeastern Exporters Associations, will be held in Gaziantep Trade Chamber Conference Hall between May 26 and 27.
Second seminar will be repeated in Istanbul Polat Renaissance Hotel by the support of Istanbul Mine Exporters Association between May 28 and 29.
(EÖ-AY-MS) 26.05.2003