ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 30, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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''SUKUK ICARA'' WILL SAVE US
Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said that they would gain 10 billion U.S. dollars by selling shares named ''Sukuk Icara'' to Arab countries. Unakitan, who said that the demand was made to him by the Arabs during his tour to the Arab countries in the Gulf, explained ''Sukuk Icara'', a type of share dependent on wealth. ''Arabs said that we could easily collect 10 billion U.S. dollars with these papers,'' Unakitan said. Unakitan announced that they would form a ''Wealth Company'' and issue shares with the name ''Sukuk Icara'' for the Arabs. Unakitan said, ''they told us about Sukuk's origin. It is the plural of the word ''Sak.'' The Ottomans used to give a paper named ''Sak'' for example in return for the wheat in the warehouse.''
DECISION OF UNESCO SURPRISING FOR MARDIN
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee is excluding southeastern Mardin from the ''World Heritage List'' although Mardin's inclusion in the list is believed to be definite. This decision taken due to negative report of International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) will be announced today.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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''SECURE ADVANTAGES''
The Directorate General of Coastal Security improperly shouldered personal expenses of personnel of the State Ministry during the DSP-MHP-ANAP coalition government. It is revealed that expenses of some personnel of the State Ministry for Maritime and Maritime Undersecretariat were shouldered by the Directorate General of Coastal Security in the days when the 57th government issued a savings circular. It was claimed that a dinner former State Minister for Maritime Ramazan Mirzaoglu, a member of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) had, and plane tickets used by his wife and daughter were paid by the Directorate General. A lawsuit has been filed in Beyoglu Basic Criminal Court regarding the irregularities revealed by the letter sent by Peyami Safa Hacipasaoglu, chief inspector in the general directorate, to Prime Ministry Inspection Board on September 10, 2002.
''UNBELIEVERS ARE AFRAID''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that freedom of belief should never be damaged but that any freedom could not be unlimited. Erdogan said, ''don't be afraid of freedom of belief. Leave the believer alone and let him live as he believes.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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GUINEA PIG BABY SCANDAL
It is revealed that the diarrhea vaccine which was withdrawn from the markets in the United States saying that ''it was making severe damage on intestines'' was also tested on Turkish babies. The scandal caused in the United States due to the vaccine, which was produced by giant medicine firm Wyeth to prevent summer diarrhea of babies and which was withdrawn from the markets within four months, has also covered Turkey. It was seen that one of the nine countries where the vaccine was tested was Turkey. Documents in which U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defended itself revealed the fact: ''The vaccine was used on a total of 18 thousand babies in the United States, Brazil, Finland, Israel, Myanmar, Peru, Thailand, Venezuela and Turkey.''
BABACAN ASKS FOR TIME FROM IMF FOR SIXTH REVIEW
State Minister Ali Babacan asked the sixth review to be held in a more appropriate date due to the tempo of legal arrangements in May and June and added, ''we are taking up the change of time with International Monetary Fund (IMF).''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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GENERAL STAFF WITHIN SCOPE OF PUBLIC MANAGEMENT REFORM BILL
In accordance with the last text of the public management reform, General Staff, Foreign Ministry, National Defense Ministry and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) are also taken within the scope except one article while the Presidency and parliament are excluded from the scope. Justice and National Defense Ministries are added among the ministries, under which rural organizations will not be formed. Four new ministries have been formed. The most radical change is being made in the field of tourism under the bill. The wish of Erkan Mumcu, who had said that ''Tourism Ministry should be abolished'' in the days when he served in the same office when he was a member of the Motherland Party (ANAP), was also reflected on the bill.
NO PRISON TO THOSE WHO EMPTY BANKS' COFFERS
Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said that a total of 858 lawsuits had been filed against owners and partners of the banks transferred to the Savings Deposits Insurance Fund (SDIF). But, Sener noted, there was not any legal arrangement to keep the bank owners who didn't pay their debts in the prison until they paid the debts.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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''CORRUPTION WILL SHOCK''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that they would announce amount of corruption in Turkey in coming days and added, ''you will be shocked when you hear the figures. They robbed the country inside and outside.''
JUST TO SEE FRIENDS RECORD PROFIT
In order to encourage ''cotton'' producers, Ziraat Bankasi paid 4.7 trillion Turkish liras (TL) to farmers between 1993 and 1996 and took as 11.4 quadrillion TL in 2001 from the Treasury as duty loss to show that it was recording profit. How the debt increased that much was understood from the statements of the bureaucrats who testified in the Parliamentary Commission to Investigate Corruption. In order to record profit, Ziraat Bankasi, which was in loss, implemented high interest rate to the Treasury in 1995 under the decision of the Council of Ministers. The debt which was 81.2 trillion TL in 1995 rose to 901.2 trillion in 1997, 5.6 quadrillion in 1999 and 8 quadrillion in 2000.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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HERE IS LAST PACKAGE
Decisions of Supreme Military Council (YAS) will be open to control of jurisdiction. State Security Courts (DGMs) will be abolished and the Presidential Palace will no more have the right to ''veto.'' Here are some important articles of the eight adjustment package planned to be the last package on the road to European Union (EU) membership: Authorities of the president will be eliminated at great extent and he/she will no more have the right to ''veto.'' Decisions of YAS can be controlled by jurisdiction. Thus, officers and non-commissioned officers who are forced to retire from Turkish Armed Forces under YAS decisions can apply to courts.
NO BACKWARD STEP TAKEN IN ''61 AGE''
New arrangements regarding retirement of those who are at the age of 61 will be taken up by the Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission tomorrow. The new arrangement foresees reduction of retirement age from 65 to 61 and brings onto agenda graded retirement system.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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FROM GUL TO EU: ''IF YOU MISS TURKEY, SIT AND CRY''
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul evaluated the discussions on making National Security Council (NSC) civilian saying, ''no institution is a taboo. Reforms can be made in any field.'' Gul drew the attention that the European Union (EU) would gain much from a country like Turkey, which had a strong army. Stating that both of the sides would benefit from Turkey's EU membership, Gul said, ''we will not sit and cry if we can not enter the EU. The EU should cry if it misses Turkey.''
PARLIAMENT TO FIRSTLY TAKE UP NATIONAL PROGRAM THEN CORRUPTION REPORT
The parliament which can't start summer holiday due to the laws to be passed in European Union (EU) adjustment process and legal arrangements given priority by the government will have a busy agenda this week. The National Program will be discussed in the parliament this week. The Commission to Investigate Corruption is expected to complete its report and submit it to the Office of Parliament Speaker this week.
(BRC-AÖ) 30.06.2003