ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 13, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
''WE SHOULD NOT EXAGGERATE THESE DEVELOPMENTS''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that allegations of Greece about violations of Turkish planes over the Aegean were exaggerated. Noting that Turkey had been progressing on the European Union (EU) membership process, Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''both Turkey and Greece should act with sensitivity in this process.''
TSK UNEASY ABOUT ALLEGATIONS OF GREECE
Greece brought its allegations that Turkish war planes violated Greek Air Space and Greek planes onto agenda of the European Union (EU) and NATO. Yesterday, Athens gave a written note to Ankara. All these developments escalated tension between the government, which remained silent against the allegations of Greece, and the General Staff. High-level military officials are expected to express their uneasiness during the monthly meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) to be held on June 26.
''WE WILL HALT ECONOMIC SUPPORT TO TURKEY''
The U.S. administration accused Turkey of failing to take necessary measures against human smuggling. The United States said that if Turkey did not take these measures, it would halt economic support to Turkey. Sources said that economic and commercial sanctions could be brought onto agenda against Turkey.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
''ECEVIT SHOULD HAVE RESIGNED''
Husamettin Ozkan, the former deputy prime minister, talked about the row at the meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) which caused the economic crisis of February 2001. Ozkan said, ''then Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit made a serious mistake by describing the event as a political crisis. After making such a statement, he should have resigned or dismissed me.'' Ozkan criticized both President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Ecevit for having such a row in front of the NSC.
LANDABURU EULOGIZES TURKEY
Eneko Landaburu, the head of Enlargement Directorate General of the European Commission, eulogized Turkey for its progress in fulfilling Copenhagen criteria. After his meeting with Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Landaburu said that Turkey should also record progress about position of the army in Turkey. Gul responded Landaburu, ''I do not talk about this issue with foreigners.''
POWEL: ''TURKEY HAS A BRILLIANT FUTURE''
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell sent a message to inauguration of the new U.S. Consulate building in Istanbul. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson read out Powell's message. In his message, Powell stressed that Turkey had a brilliant future.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
SIXTH ADJUSTMENT PACKAGE SUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENT
The sixth European Union (EU) adjustment package was submitted to the parliament. Meanwhile, the government has been continuing to work on the National Program. Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said, ''the Second National Program will be announced on Monday or on Tuesday.''
DEMONSTRATION HELD IN FRONT OF PRIME MINISTRY OFFICE
Together with his child, a citizen tried to jump in front of vehicle of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Security forces rendered Dursun Bara, 31, ineffective. Following the demonstration, Prime Minister Erdogan received Bara. He confessed that he was unemployment. Bara added that he had been suffering from hemophilia.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
GOVERNMENT PAIN IN AEGEAN
The government's indifference against Greece's perpetually bringing onto agenda allegations of air space violations over the Aegean and accusing the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) under its policy to carrying the Aegean dispute to international platforms, created uneasiness among soldiers. Although the General Staff released two statements about the issue, neither Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan nor Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul made a statement defending Turkey's interests.
UNITED STATES GIVES 90 DAYS TO TURKEY
The U.S. State Department announced its annual report about human smuggling. In the report, Turkey and Greece were given places among countries which have not taken any measures to solve the problem of human smuggling. If Turkey does not take any measures in 90 days, the United States will start imposing economic sanction. Loans of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and other military and economic aid will be included in these sanctions.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
ELECTRICITY HITS UZANS
The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources sequestrated Cukurova and Kepez electricity companies of the Uzan Group by annulling their exclusive rights. The ministry officials said that Cukurova and Kepez companies were sequestrated since they had perpetually violated the contract.
THREE MORE STEPS FOR EU MEMBERSHIP
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that they would announce the revised National Program to the public opinion before submitting it to the European Union (EU). Meanwhile, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''we submitted the sixth EU adjustment package to the parliament. Now, preparations of the seventh adjustment package were completed. While were working on the sixth adjustment package, we listened to views of everyone including the National Security Council (NSC) and the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).''
MEETINGS OF GIL-ROBLES IN ANKARA
Council of Europe (COE) Commissioner Alvaro Gil-Robles for Human Rights met with Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Constitutional Court Chief Judge Mustafa Bumin and Parliamentary Human Rights Inquiry Commission Chairman Mehmet Elkatmis. Following the meetings, Gil-Robles said that there was important progress in Turkey in human rights, however, public officials should change their way of thinking.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
WE SINK THIS WAY
Trillions are used in vain because of uncompleted investments. Turkey has turned into a graveyard of investments due to the populist politics understanding. A majority of investments, the foundation of which were laid 25-30 years ago, is still at the same stage while some of them has reached the stage of completion but they can't be finished due to lack of appropriation. State Waterworks Authority (DSI) is one of the institution which faces the same thing. There are more than 30 projects, the construction of which still continues and which have not finished yet.
SUPPORT FROM POWELL
U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell sent a message to the inauguration ceremony of the new building of U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul. In his message, Powell said that ''they would encourage and strongly support Turkey's future in Europe while they maintained close bilateral ties.''
SHOCK FOR UZAN FAMILY
The Energy and Natural Resources Ministry cancelled contracts of Cukurova Elektrik and Kepez Elektrik. The Ministry terminated the contracts of Cukurova Elektrik and Kepez saying that they continuously violated provisions and regulations. Kepez Elektrik and Cukurova Elektrik have 12 thousand 230 investors in the Stock Exchange.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
NATO AIR HEADQUARTERS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN IZMIR
Despite all efforts of Greece, NATO Air Command will be established in western province of Izmir. NATO Council of Ministers convened yesterday and decided to launch an important reconstruction for the first time in its 54-year history. According to these decisions, number of headquarters will be decreased from 20 to 11. National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said, ''NATO Southern Regional Air Command in Italy has been handed over to Turkey. The command will be moved to Turkey and it will become operational in September of 2004. This headquarters will be charged in an operation of the European Union (EU) in which capabilities of NATO will be used. The United Air Operation Center to be established in Greece will act under this headquarters.''
(UK-BRC-AÖ) 13.06.2003