ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 21, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TURKISH LANGUAGE ENTERS EU BEFORE TURKEY
The draft text of European Constitution, which was submitted to heads of state and government of member countries to the European Union (EU) during the summit meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece, was also published in Turkish besides languages of EU countries. The 67-page draft will determine joint future of the EU. Article 10 of the draft sheds green light to Islamic-style headscarf by saying that everyone has the freedom to put forward their religious beliefs in worship, education and practices.
ERDOGAN: ''WE ARE DETERMINED''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey was determined at adjustment process with the European Union (EU). Together with Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Prime Minister Erdogan came together with leaders of the EU countries in Thessaloniki, Greece. Holding a press conference, Prime Minister Erdogan said that the seventh EU adjustment package would be approved till August.
BUILDING COLLAPSES IN KAYSERI, KILLING TEN PEOPLE
A Koran course boarding school collapsed in central province of Kayseri when a LPG canister exploded. A total of ten people died while ten students and a teacher were pulled alive from the rubble of the school. Sources said that two students were in critical condition.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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EU WELCOMES SIXTH ADJUSTMENT PACKAGE
The European Union (EU) Commission expressed its satisfaction with the sixth EU adjustment package, which was approved unanimously. Jean Christophe Filori, the spokesman of EU Commissioner Guenter Verheugen for Enlargement, said that approval of the package revealed Turkey's determination to progress in the reform process. Highlighting importance of some articles of the package, Filori said that the EU would insist on implementation of these articles.
''EU IS WATCHING US WITH ASTONISHMENT''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''Prime Minister Costas Simitis of Greece, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy and President Jacques Chirac of France told us that they had been following steps taken by Turkey with a great astonishment.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN TO VISIT ATATURK'S HOUSE
Greece allowed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to visit the house in which Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was born, at the last moment. Prime Minister Erdogan's request to visit Ataturk's house was first rejected due to Greek protestors. Prime Minister Costas Simitis took action and provided necessary security conditions for the visit.
COUNTDOWN STARTS FOR EIGHTH EU ADJUSTMENT PACKAGE
Works on the eighth European Union (EU) adjustment package have come to the final stage. The package envisages several amendments such as decreasing authorities of the President and closing the State Security Courts (DGMs).
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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BUSH PLAYS KADEK TRUMP CARD
A U.S. delegation that met with KADEK leadership council members in Dalakoga camp which is under control of the Patriotic Union of Iraqi Kurdistan, proposed the terrorist organization to return to Turkey by laying down arms and make politics. The U.S. delegation which said Turkey would work to broaden Kurds' rights made the promise that a guarantee would be formed for living of Kurds in their region safely.
TURKEY SEEKS 'BALANCE' WITH IRAN
While Ankara tries to persuade the Washington administration about frequent meetings with Iran, it also tries not to have its strategic partnership with the United States caused concern in Iranian regime. Ankara conveyed its opinion to the United States that isolation of Iran in international area would make the regime more strict and damage the reform process.
TEHRAN WANTS TO JOIN COMMEMORATION
Hacibektas Mayor Mustafa Ozcivan said that the Iranian Embassy in Ankara officials had offered assistance in return for allocation of a stand in ceremonies to commemorate Hadji Bektashi Veli while the Welfare Party (RP) and the True Path Party (DYP) coalition was in the power between 1996-1997. It was mentioned that Iran had held frequent meetings especially during RP-DYP coalition government in order to set up relations with Alawite associations.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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EU HEARS TURKEY'S VOICE
Approval of the sixth adjustment package was welcomed by the European Union (EU) during the summit meeting of heads of state and government of the member countries to the EU in Greece. Turkey was invited as an observer to the conference to be held to shape the EU Constitution. The EU gave the message to Turkey that recent reforms were appreciative, however, Turkey should put them into practice as soon as possible.
ZIYAL: ''RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES WILL REVIVE''
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal returned to Turkey after wrapping up visit to the United States. During his meetings with U.S. officials, Turkish and the U.S. sides have reached compromise on revival of the Incirlik Air Base and Habur Border Gate, opening of second border gate with Iraq and on Turkey's role in the future of Iraq.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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WE GIVE IN TO PURSE-SNATCHERS
Public opinion reacted to increase in purse-snatching terror in recent years especially in urbans. Citizens want the parliament to rapidly adopt ''dissuasive'' laws on this terror while Security Deputy Director General Feyzullah Arslan said that this terror continued due to light penalties. Giving information about the issue, Arslan said that those snatch-and-run-thieves were young people aged between 16-25 who were generally deprived of parental love. He said that a total of 4,008 purse-snatching incidents had happened in urbans in first four months of the year _ 1,484 in Istanbul, 374 in Bursa, 676 in Izmir, 226 in Ankara, 268 in Antalya, 146 in Gaziantep and 172 in Diyarbakir.
'WE WILL ADOPT SEVENTH PACKAGE'
Speaking to reporters prior to his departure for Greece to participate in EU Thessaloniki Summit, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the parliament had adopted the sixth package of adjustment with the EU, adding, ''we will adopt also the seventh package before parliament recesses.'' Meanwhile, Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul met with Greek President Kostis Stephanopoulos in Chalkidiki. Meanwhile, in the final statement of the summit, it was mentioned that accession talks might start in December of 2004 if Turkey continued reforms. The statement which extended support to Turkey's efforts for the EU called on resumption of Cyprus talks.
KAYSERI IN TEARS
Killing of ten students under debris of a three-storey building in Kayseri province in central Anatolia, which collapsed at about 02.30 a.m. on Friday after an explosion due to LPG gas leakage, once again wounded people's feelings. A total of twenty-three people were trapped under rubble of the building where holy Koran was taught and only thirteen of them were rescued. Among the rescued people, there are two seriously injured students.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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'OBSERVER' STATUS FROM EU TO TURKEY
During the EU Summit held in Greece, positive messages were given to Turkey. The summit's final statement said the EU supported continuation of reform process in Turkey while Turkey was invited for the first time to intergovernmental conference as an observer. Meanwhile, the sincerity between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul who attended the summit and took place in family photograph, and EU High Commissioner Javier Solana drew attention.
COLIN POWELL REQUESTS APPOINTMENT FROM GUL
It was mentioned that U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell had requested appointment from Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. Colin Powell wanted to meet with Abdullah Gul during the World Economic Forum meetings in Jordan at the weekend, and he had conveyed this request to Gul, sources said. Gul will proceed from Thessaloniki to Jordan on Saturday to attend World Economic Forum meetings. Gul is expected to have a meeting with Powell there. Meanwhile, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal who returned from the United States to Turkey earlier announced that Powell had invited Gul to Washington.
(UK-MS) 21.06.2003