ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 15, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TURKISH LIAISON OFFICER IN BAGHDAD
General Staff Deputy Chief General Yasar Buyukanit said that a ''coordination mechanism'' would be set up between Turkey and the United States. ''A Turkish liaison officer will be charged in Iraqi capital Baghdad to prevent events like detention of 11 Turkish soldiers,'' he said. Responding questions of journalists during a reception hosted to mark the national day of France, General Buyukanit said, ''there have been a problem of communication between Turkey and the United States instead of a confidence crisis. We will overcome this problem. Our strategic partnership has been continuing.''
''PROBLEMS OF TURKEY ARE AT THE SAME TIME PROBLEMS OF GREECE''
Foreign Minister George Papandreou of Greece said that problems of Turkey were at the same time problems of Greece, adding that a powerful, peaceful and prosperous Turkey would be beneficial for Greece. Speaking at a conference on ''Turkey and Greece: Leaving the Past Behind, Looking at Future'' held at Istanbul's Bilgi University in order to strengthen academic and cultural ties between Turkey and Greece, Papandreou highlighted importance of securing confidence between the two countries.
''VIEW OF GENERAL STAFF IS IMPORTANT''
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that they planned to submit the seventh European Union (EU) adjustment package to the parliament this week, adding that they expected the package to be enacted next week. ''We will listen to views of many institutions as enacting laws. View of the General Staff is important in the seventh EU adjustment package,'' he said. Noting that he would inform Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal on the package next week, Gul added that they wanted to get support of the CHP and non-governmental organizations.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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66 MILLION TL OF INCREASE IN SALARIES OF CIVIL SERVANTS
The government made net 66 million Turkish liras (TL) of increase in salaries of civil servants who were married with two children as of July. State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said that they made approximately 9 percent of rise in salaries of civil servants. Regarding the rise in salaries of civil servants to be valid as of July 1, Sahin said, ''the prime minister will sign it soon and necessary procedure will be completed. Salaries of civil servants who are married with two children are increased by net 66 million TL for the second half of this year. It is equal to approximately a 9 percent rise. Thus, we made 15.5 percent rise in the lowest salary.''
GUL INFORMS BAYKAL ABOUT ADJUSTMENT
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul informed Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal about the seventh adjustment package. Gul wanted CHP to support the package while Baykal said that he was against packages which were numbered and wanted arrangements regarding the European Union (EU) to be made in one package. Gul and Baykal also discussed re-structuring of National Security Council (NSC) in the meeting.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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DUEL WITH DOCUMENTS
Turkish and U.S. delegations put forward documents in front of each other during meetings of the joint commission, which was formed to investigate detention of 11 Turkish soldiers by U.S. soldiers in northern Iraq. While U.S. delegation documented that Turkish soldiers distributed weapons to Turkmen, Turkish delegation put forward photographs showing the relations between U.S. soldiers and the terrorist organization PKK/KADEK.
GUL MEETS WITH PAPANDREOU
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul met with Foreign Minister George Papandreou of Greece. Addressing journalists following the meeting, Papandreou said that they had held an unofficial meeting. Meanwhile, Gul recalled that Olympic Games would be held in Greek capital Athens in 2004, adding that they had discussed cooperation opportunities between Turkey and Greece during the games.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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BUYUKANIT SAYS TURKISH MILITARY WILL CONTINUE TO EXIST IN NORTH OF IRAQ AS LONG AS PKK THREAT CONTINUES
Deputy Chief of General Staff Yasar Buyukanit said that ''strategic partnership'' between Turkey and the United States continued. Joint Commission which was formed between Turkey and the United States to investigate allegations regarding detention of Turkish soldiers in north of Iraq completed its works. Replying to questions of reporters during the reception held on the National Day of France, Buyukanit said that the Commission completed works at the end of meetings that continued during the day. Recalling that they had said that the incident was wrong since the very beginning, Buyukanit said that the reason of existence of Turkish soldiers in the region was the existence of terrorist organization there. Buyukanit stated that Turkish military would continue to exist in the region as long as that threat continued.
EARLY DISCHARGE FOR SOLDIERS TO START TODAY
Early discharge for soldiers will start on Tuesday with the proposal of the General Staff regarding two-four month reduction in mandatory military service time. Around 90,000 reserve officers, noncommissioned officers and privates are expected to get benefit from the new arrangement.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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EVIDENCE OF ROBBERY IN NATURAL GAS
Three agreements which were signed between Turkey and Russia on natural gas purchase, are the documents of robbery. Turkey purchases liquidated natural gas (LNG) from Algeria and Nigeria for 145 U.S. dollars while average price of Russian natural gas is 151 U.S. dollars. In fact, LNG should be 45 percent more expensive than natural gas.
THAT VESSELS GOES HOME
As a result of warnings of international environment organization Greenpeace and Radikal newspaper, the vessel ''Novocherkask'' including a serious amount of asbestos could not enter Turkish territorial waters.
MEMBERS OF GREENPEACE HOLD A DEMONSTRATION IN IZMIT
A group of 21 members of the international environment organization Greenpeace held a demonstration in front of the Izmit Waste Purification, Disposal and Utilization Corp. (IZEYDAS). Members of the Greenpeace including two British citizens gathered in front IZEYTAS facilities early on Monday.
Some of them attempted to enter the facilities and halt cranes in the disposal part while the others chained themselves to the barrels. After three-hour demonstration, security forces detained 21 members of Greenpeace.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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CAGLAYAN TO BE HOSTED IN BUCKINGHAM
Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate 50th anniversary of her coronation at the Buckingham palace today. 60 people from different countries were invited to the ceremony. Ankara Chamber of Industry (ASO) Chairman Zafer Caglayan and his wife are among the guests.
GULER: ''WE BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE OIL BEDS IN BLACK SEA''
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said, ''we believe that there are oil beds in the Black Sea. Noting that they carried out a joint research with Japanese experts to examine mine beds in Turkey, Guler said, ''we believe that there is an important amount of oil beds in the Black Sea. Seismic ship will start its studies as of July 15. There is also the project of turning into energy hydrates, which are found 2,200 meters of depth in the Black Sea. Japanese experts carry out this project.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ANOTHER TURKISH SCIENTIST TAKES HIS PLACE IN HISTORY OF SCIENCE
Ahmet Yildiz, A Turkish student studying in the United States, revealed some facts during his search on cells. The Science, one of the most leading science magazines of the world, gave broad place to Yildiz's works. According to study of Yildiz, there are tiny motors called ''Myosin V'' in cells. Yildiz developed a single-molecule imaging technique that is capable of locating the position of a fluorescent dye to within 1.5 nanometers. (One nanometer is a billionth of a meter, or about 10,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair). ''Myosin walks like we walk, but with a 74-nanometer stride that is more than 10 million times smaller than ours,'' he said. This data will enable humanity to produce nanometer-size machines that can be controlled by humanity.
(EÖ-UK-AÖ) 15.07.2003