ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 21, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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28TH BRIGADE STARTS TO CARRY OUT PRELIMINARY STUDIES TO GO TO IRAQ
While, the government has been bargaining on assignment of Turkish soldiers in Iraq with the United States, the 28th peace brigade started to carry out preliminary studies. The government will pass a motion according to answer from the United States. What will be status of Turkish soldiers which will be sent to Iraq? What will be mission of soldiers in the region? How bill of military expenses will be met? The issue of sending soldiers to Iraq which was brought onto the agenda during visits of U.S. Central Command Chief General John Abizaid and Supreme Allied Commander General James Jones to Ankara is expected to be discussed at the meeting of National Security Council (NSC) at the end of this month. Soldiers who are expected to join Iraqi stability force will be elected in the 28th brigade in Mamak in Ankara. Preliminary studies in the brigade started. A total of 1,500 soldiers are expected to first go to Iraq after the government decides on the issue. The number of Turkish soldiers can increase to 4,500-5,000 later.
232 GREEK CYPRIOTS COME TO TRNC ON JULY 20
The 29th anniversary of the Cyprus Peace Operation was celebrated in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) on Sunday. Greek Cypriot people who mourned due to July 20 did not pass to TRNC upon the Greek Cypriot administration threat which said ''we cannot guarantee your security.'' While about 7,000 Greek Cypriot people came to TRNC last Sunday, 232 Greek Cypriot people passed to TRNC till 17.00 local time on July 20.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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OUR SOLDIERS GET READY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that studies started to send soldiers to Iraq, as demanded by the U.S. Erdogan who attended AK Party meetings in southeastern provinces of Batman, Siirt, and Diyarbakýr, said that Habur border gate was very busy. ''In one day, 3000 vehicles pass through the gate, we had an export worth of 250 million dollars after the war,'' Erdogan said adding that ''the administration in Turkey is on right track.''
SOLUTION WITHOUT TRNC IS IMPOSSIBLE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer sent a message to TRNC President Rauf Denktas upon the 29th anniversary of Cyprus Peace Operation. Sezer stated that Turkish Cypriot people looked at the future with the guarantee of Turkey, adding that developments showed that a lasting peace could not be ensured by ignoring the existence of TRNC on the island. ''We hope all the international society to accept this reality. We believe that the 'openings' of Turkish Cypriot side will help in overcoming the crisis of trust on the island, in normalization of relations and ease efforts launched for solution of the problem,'' Sezer said in his message. TRNC President Rauf Denktas stated that equal sovereignty of Turkish Cypriots and the existence of two separate states had to be recognized.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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CALL TO HELL
The U.S. demanded soldiers from Turkey as it could not take under control Iraq after overthrowing Saddam regime, and as it was continuously attacked. The new U.S. Commander Gen. Abizaid for Iraq proposed Turkish soldiers to deploy in the region where there was a resistance. U.S. Commander asked Chief of General Staff Gen. Ozkok ''can we entrust the region of Tikrit, Bakuba and Felluce to you?'' Gen. Ozkok said that they should examine the proposal carefully.
IMF HAS THREE CONDITIONS
IMF has accepted the completion of the fifth review upon the conditions of adoption of the laws on Social Security Agency (SSK) and Self Employed Pension Fund (Bag-Kur), taking a financial measure of 2.3 quadrillion liras and presentation of the public finance administration law to the government.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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DENKTAS WANTS OPPOSITION WHICH MAKES COOPERATION WITH GREEK CYPRIOTS TO BE PUNISHED IN ELECTIONS
President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) criticized the opposition harshly. Speaking at the ceremony held in Lefkosa to mark the 29th anniversary of the July 20 Peace and Freedom Day, President Denktas explained first rightful reasons of Peace Operation, then talked about pressures for solution and Greek Cypriot side's unilateral membership to the European Union (EU). Stating that if he had signed the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan, one of every two people in TRNC would have lost his/her house and land, Denktas touched on general elections which will be held in December. Denktas wanted people to punish those who make cooperation with Greek Cypriot side in elections.
SECURITY FORCES IMPOUND 55 KG OF HEROIN IN ISTANBUL
Security forces impounded 55 kg of heroin in an operation in Kucukcekmece district of Istanbul. Acting on a tip-off given by the United States International Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), security forces launched an operation, and confiscated 55 kg of heroin. Two people were captured and detained in the operation. A full investigation into illicit drug trafficking is under way.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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PM ERDOGAN SAYS THEY WILL SAVE HASANKEYF FROM BEING INUNDATED
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that they would save Hasankeyf from being inundated. Delivering a speech in southeastern province of Batman, Erdogan said that they were holding meetings with companies to save Hasankeyf from being inundated when Ilisu Dam was constructed and noted that they could not allow Hasankeyf where four civilizations lived to be inundated. Erdogan said that State Water Affairs (DSI) also had a rescue project concerning Hasankeyf and added that they aimed to present Hasankeyf to world tourism.
MEASURE AGREEMENT WITH IMF
International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation headed by IMF Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam who came to Turkey last week completed its work on Sunday. An agreement on 2.3 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL) of package of measure in order to reach target of 6.5 percent non-interest surplus was reached with IMF.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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INCREASE IN PRICE OF CIGARETTE
The price of cigarette which was produced by Tobacco, Tobacco Products, Salt and Alcohol Enterprises (Tekel) and foreign cigarette companies was increased by 9-11 percent. Increase in prices in cigarettes of Tekel, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) and Philip MorrisSA will start to be implemented as of Monday.
GUL TO GO TO UNITED STATES ON TUESDAY
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul will start his visit to the United States on Tuesday. Despite some demands which said that Gul should delay his visit to the United States after the incident in Sulaymaniyah, Gul who said that Foreign Ministry existed in order to solve problems will go to the United States with an intensive agenda. Gul is expected to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and high-ranking officials in the United States. Gul will discuss details of military cooperation with this country.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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GOVERNMENT'S PACKAGES OF SOURCES VETOED EITHER BY PRESIDENT OR JUDICIARY
The economic source packages of AK party government is either vetoed by the president or they are pending before the judiciary. Laws such as financial zero year and tax peace were adopted only after being vetoed by the President. The sale of lands which lost the character of forest was brought before the parliament once again after being vetoed by President.
COMMISSION ASKS LAUNCHING OF INVESTIGATION FOR ECEVIT
Parliamentary Investigation Commission on Corruption decided to launch an investigation about former Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit in two separate issues claiming that he had misused his authority. Together with Bulent Ecevit, 25 former ministers including former ANAP leader Mesut Yýlmaz, MHP leader Devlet Bahceli, Husamettin Ozkan and Kemal Dervis can be tried in the Supreme Court for getting involved in corruption regarding privatization of state institutions.
(EÖ-ÖÞ-AÖ) 21.07.2003