ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 19, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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ROAD TO HIGH TRIBUNAL
The Parliamentary Commission to Investigate Corruption will ask for formation of an investigation commission regarding former prime minister Mesut Yilmaz and five former ministers demanding that the ministers should be sent to High Tribunal. The Parliamentary Commission to Investigate Corruption which will complete its work today demands formation of an investigation commission regarding Mesut Yilmaz and three former ministers of Motherland Party (ANAP) and two former ministers of Democratic Left Party (DSP). If the demand is accepted, six separate investigation commissions will be formed. According to the reports, the parliament will decide whether or not to send the former prime minister and ministers to High Tribunal.
ERDOGAN LODGES COMPLAINT
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan lodged a complaint about Young Party (GP) leader Cem Uzan due to his speech in northwestern Bursa province. Meanwhile, the accounts and activities of Cukurova Electricity Inc. (CEAS) and Kepez Elektrik belonging to Uzan Family which were seized by the state will be examined. Six personnel of the Energy Ministry, Finance Ministry, Treasury and the Directorate General of National Property sent to southern Adana province for investigation.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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SOLDIER'S CIVILIAN NSC FORMULA
Soldiers is getting prepared to respond to the plan of the government to limit the number of soldiers in National Security Council (NSC) with the Chief of General Staff with the formula of ''participation of concerned commanders in line with the issues to be taken up in the meeting and appointment of the secretary general from the military personnel.'' The government which wants to make new arrangements in the NSC within the framework of the European Union (EU) adjustment package foresees a civilian secretary general and fewer soldiers in the council. However, soldiers want a different formula to make the council comprised of more civilians. According to this formula, the NSC Secretary General will not be a civilian. Number of soldiers in the council will be decreased. But, commanders will join the meeting according to the agenda. For example, if air security is on the agenda, Air Forces Commander will attend the meeting.
SELF-CRITICISM FROM KOC
Koc Holding Executive Board President Mustafa Koc found right the words of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan in the High Consultation Council of Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) that ''their voice had to be heard more when there was corruption economy.'' Koc said, ''prime minister is partially right. As the business world, we could be a little bit more active. We should fight against corruption.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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INVITATION FROM THE UNITED STATES TO GUL
U.S. State Department Undersecretary Marc Grossman, who evaluated Washington visit of Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal as ''successful and progressive'', also invited Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul to the United States. Upon a question whether Turkey was a strategical ally or partner, Grossman said that Turkey was both a strategical partner and an ally. He added that no matter how it was described, Turkey was a very important country for the United States.
AL-ZAIM: ''THERE ARE VERY APPEALING TAX REDUCTIONS, MAKE INVESTMENT TO SYRIA''
Industry Minister Issam Al-Zaim of Syria called Turkish businessmen to make investment in every field, especially in energy and textile in Syria by promising tax reduction. Al-Zaim, who came to Istanbul to attend the meeting of Turkish-Syrian Business Council to take up joint investment facilities between Turkey and Syria, called Turkish businessmen to make investment in Syria. Noting that investments could be made in many fields especially in textile, energy, automotive and olive oil refinery, Al-Zaim said that they would like to develop good commercial relations with Turkey.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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PRESIDENT SEZER IS IN UKRAINE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and his wife Semra Sezer went to Kiev, Ukraine yesterday upon the invitation of Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma. Releasing a statement at the airport prior to his departure, Sezer said that they would like to further develop relations with Ukraine and added that they wanted to increase the bilateral trade which was over one billion U.S. dollars in a balanced way.
BAYKAL: ''NO POLITICAL OBSTACLE REMAINED IN EU PATH''
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that no excuses would prevent the membership negotiations between Turkey and the European Union (EU) in 2004. He added that the decision to start membership negotiations of Turkey to EU was a delayed decision. He said that two political parties at Parliament both wanted Turkey's accession to EU at the moment.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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EUROPEAN WIND IN ANKARA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will go to European Union (EU) Salonica summit tomorrow. The government and the opposition continue cooperation for the EU. EU representatives say that Ankara carries out impressing work. The sixth EU adjustment package was adopted in the Parliamentary Justice Commission rapidly. According to the plan that was changed in the commission, pressure, frightening, daunting or threat would not be considered ''a crime of terrorism'' when they don't include ''force or violence.'' The punishment given to those who kill newly-born babies for ''honor'' is increased. Cyprus and Aegean issues will be discussed in the last big summit to be held under the term presidency of Greece. Sources say that results of Erdogan-Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis meeting will affect Ankara-Brussels relations.
''TURKISH-U.S. RELATIONS ROBUST''
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, who met with U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, is returning with the message that ''Turkish-U.S. relations are based on strong strategic partnership.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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IT CANNOT BE DONE BY PROHIBITIONS
Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said that the Soviet Union, which had collapsed in spite of prohibitions, was the best example for Turkey. Cicek, who gave information about the Sixth Adjustment Package that was accepted in Commission, said, ''the European Union (EU) is for benefit of Turkey. Values are not protected with prohibitions. The best example of it is Soviet Block... This block had arranged all of the prohibitions in a very detailed way. Today, all of those countries are competing to enter EU.''
DERVIS: ''THIS ECONOMY BRINGS TO EU''
Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Kemal Dervis said that Turkey showed a serious economic development and added that this recovery in economy would affect Turkey's membership to the European Union (EU) to a very important level.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TOBB: ECONOMIC COUNCIL SHOULD CONVENE EVERY MONTH LIKE NSC
Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the Chairman of the Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), said that economy was as important as security and added, ''Economic and Social Council should convene every month like the National Security Council (NSC) and make binding decisions.''
ECEVIT REPROACHES YILMAZ AND OZKAN FOR TALKING RIGHT NOW
Democratic Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit reproached former prime minister Mesut Yilmaz and Husamettin Ozkan, who was his friend for 12 years, who gave information to the Parliamentary Commission to Investigate Corruption for talking right now. Ecevit criticized the statements of Mesut Yilmaz and the words of Ozkan, who said that ''either Ecevit should have resigned or I should have been removed from the office'' when commenting on the National Security Council (NSC) meeting which was a scene for a discussion between President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and former Prime Minister Ecevit. Ecevit said, ''these words were not said those days, but they are remembered now. I don't know why they have said so.''
(GC-BRC-AÖ) 19.06.2003