ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on April 5th, 2006. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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``THEY EXECUTED ATATURK``
It was revealed that a group of supporters of the terrorist organization PKK put a rope around neck of a bust of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the modern and secular Republic of Turkey, and hanged it from a bridge in Nusaybin town of the southeastern city of Mardin. Speaking at the weekly group meeting of the Republican People`s Party (CHP), Deniz Baykal expressed profound sorrow over the incident.
ERDOGAN VOWED TO PRESS AHEAD WITH STRUGGLE AGAINST PKK
Recent acts of violence in Turkey were discussed at a special session at the parliament. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the session, ``no one should dare to test the power of the state or the nation. Our government will not step back from expanding democracy, laws and freedom of expression.`` Meanwhile, Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said, ``our struggle against terrorism will continue with belief and determination. In the fight against separatist terrorism, all capabilities will be mobilized and all forms of measures will be taken within the rule of law and democracy.``
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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APPOINTMENT POLEMIC
Democratic Society Party (DTP) Co-chairman Ahmet Turk asked for an appointment from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan through media. Erdogan replied harshly: ``while EU and many countries are declaring PKK as terrorist organization, you call murderers as your martyrs. First you declare PKK as terrorist organization, and then we can talk.`` DTP co-chairmen Turk and Aysel Tugluk reacted this response and said, ``we are sorry that Erdogan, who invited Hamas --that is declared as terrorist organization by the United States and the EU-- to Turkey, does not meet us.``
CETINKAYA WARNS AKP ABOUT CONSTITUTIONAL VIOLATION
Council of State Chairman Ender Cetinkaya, who retired last week, warned Justice & Development Party (AKP) government which did not apply the decision of administrative courts and Council of State on cancellation and stay of execution. He said, ``not applying the decisions of the court is violation of constitution. I do not want to think about the results of this.``
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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``ROJ TV SHOULD BE CLOSED DOWN``
Matthew Bryza, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, said that the Roj TV, the media organ of the terrorist organization PKK, should be closed down. Bryza, who came to Turkey yesterday, held a series of talks with Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials with the issues such as Cyprus, PKK, energy and cooperation in Black Sea were high on his agenda. Bryza said that the United States was determined to fight against PKK both in northern part of Iraq and in Europe.
CICEK CONFESSES: ``AMNESTIES BOOSTED CRIMES``
``Crime rate has increased in Turkey and many other countries. Amnesties, which we granted too often, may be an important factor instigating people to commit new crimes by lessening the efficacy of judiciary and deterrence of punishments,`` Turkish Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said. Speaking at a seminar, Cicek noted, ``during the 83-year history of the Republic of Turkey, governments declared amnesties for 48 times. Even those who committed the most serious crimes, benefited from those amnesties without being subject to appropriate rehabilitation.``
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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WHERE IS THE STATE?
Not a single state official attended the funeral of two sisters who died under the bus which was burned by PKK terrorists in Bagcilar district of Istanbul. If any state official attended the funeral, they would give the message (both to Turkey and the terrorists), ``people of this country are not abandoned.``
YESTERDAY`S FIGURES AT HIGH SCHOOLS
Not a single day passes at high schools without quarrels and knives. 5 students were stabbed in fights which occurred in two high schools in Antalya, one in Kayseri and one in Adana yesterday. Also a student stabbed two other students in Samsun.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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MFA MISLED
Program of the national unity government to be formed in Iraq has caused uneasiness in Ankara. A document was sent to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs reading that Ankara`s sensitivities about the issues of Kirkuk and federation were taken into consideration. Later, it was revealed that the document was not a final one. The latest program says that a referendum will be held in Kirkuk on November 15th, 2007.
``PARTNERSHIP SHOULD BE REDEFINED``
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson said that several disappointments were experienced in the bilateral relations between Turkey and the United States in recent years adding that the partnership should be redefined. He noted that many U.S. congressmen expressed anger and concern about the visit of Hamas delegation to Turkey in February.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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GUL: PEOPLE ARE SOUND
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul attaches the same importance to terrorism with energy, security and Iran issues. He said regarding fight against terrorism, ``we will not make any concessions. We don`t step back from democracy. Our people are sound.``
DUEL AT PARLIAMENT
Parliamentarians discussed recent PKK incidents at a special session at the parliament. Main opposition Republican People`s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said, ``the government does not have the will. It cannot comprehend the seriousness of the situation. The incidents were rebellion.`` Meanwhile, Motherland Party leader Erkan Mumcu said, ``the government did not take a single step.``
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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``WE WILL FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM``
``Fight against terrorism is the top priority of our government. We have short, medium and long term programs to this end,`` Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said. He indicated that the terrorist organization PKK felt uneasy about economic and social initiatives in the southeastern region of Turkey. ``PKK has been trying to disrupt democratic and economic developments in the region. We will bring the new Anti-Terrorism Law onto parliamentary agenda soon,`` he added.
KOSE APPOINTED AS ACTING DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF CENTRAL BANK
Cigdem Kose, general director of the Turkish Central Bank`s markets department, has been appointed as acting deputy governor. ``State Minister Ali Babacan deemed it appropriate that the Markets General Director Cigdem Kose works as deputy governor until a permanent deputy governor is appointed,`` the Central Bank said in a statement.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TOURISM OFFICIALS FEAR NEWS AT MEDIA MOST
The number of tourists who visited southern city of Antalya in the first three months of 2006 decreased 29 percent when compared with last year`s same period. Tourism officials say the problem can be solved by correcting policies, and they warned media: do not exaggerate the terrorism. Take European media`s attitude as example in bird flu issue.
DTP NOT WILLING ERDOGAN`S CALL
When Democratic Society Party (DTP) members wanted to meet Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he said, ``first you must declare PKK as terrorist organization, and then we can talk.`` DTP members did not accept this condition and referred to the meeting of the government with Hamas delegation.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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``FIRST DECLARE PKK AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION``
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the Democratic Society Party (DTP) to declare PKK as a terrorist organization. He said there would be no talks with leaders of the party before they did so. Erdogan also pledged to maintain the fight against PKK with belief and determination.