ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 22, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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SOLDIER CHAOS IN IRAQ
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul who will go to the U.S. on Tuesday, said that the U.S. didn't officially ask Turkey to send soldiers to Iraq. Yet the U.S. expressed its wish during unofficial consultations. The issue will become clear during my visit to Washington D.C. and it will be transferred to the government,'' Gul stated. However, the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson asserted that it was Turkey which demanded to send soldiers to the region. Meanwhile, the request of the U.S. which could not ensure security and control in the Iraqi territories caused chaos within the AK Party group. AK Party deputies who were opposed to sending of soldiers to Iraq following the detention of Turkish soldiers in Sulaymaniyah, said that ''we didn't forget the sack that was put on the head of Turkish soldiers. We don't want to watch the occupation and pillage of the region by the U.S.''
HE DRINKS RAKI IN NORTH, HE CAUSES CHAOS IN SOUTH
A Greek Cypriot person who proceeded to the TRNC with his family on July 20, which was the 29th anniversary of Cyprus Peace Operation, beat a Greek Cypriot journalist who tried to record his images while eating fish in a restaurant in Girne. Despite all the warnings of the Greek Cypriot administration, the Greek Cypriot person went to Girne to have lunch with his family. When Bambos Vasillas, the correspondent of Simerini newspaper tried to record his image in order to show the ''betrayal,'' the Greek Cypriot person lost his temper and beat the Greek Cypriot journalist. Vasillas was saved by a Turkish Cypriot person working in the restaurant.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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WHO DOESN'T PAY WILL BE HUNG UP
Referring to the payment plans for those who emptied banks' coffers, Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) Chairman Engin Akcakoca said, ''we will get every guarantee made in the payment plans.'' Akcakoca said that accounts hidden in Imar Bankasi could not be noticed since they were made in another computer environment. Akcakoca noted, ''this means forgery. You made a banking transaction, you opened an account in the name of a person and you emptied bank's coffers.''
AT LEAST THREE YEARS IN IRAQ
Sending 12 thousand soldiers to stabilizing force in Iraq is on agenda. It is noted that soldiers will be ready within a month and stay in the region for at least three years. It is considered definite that the unit in Mamak, Ankara will be sent to Iraq. Turkish force will be on duty in Baghdad-Tikrit.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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PROMISE FOR 2011 FROM EU
European Union (EU) Term President Italy gave the EU the full membership program for Turkey. The beginning is 2004 and the acceptance is 2011. Ankara and the EU reached a compromise for ''adjustment to the EU.'' When the government targets at passing the seventh adjustment package from the parliament next week, Brussels has voiced 2011 as a date for full membership. Italian Foreign Minister Frattini, speaking in the EU General Affairs Council, said that positive signal would be given to Turkey at the end of six months. British Sky television channel predicted that Turkey would become EU full member in 2011. British, German and Belgian diplomats said that Turkey would join the EU in 2011.
''SOLDIER PROPOSAL CAME FROM YOU''
U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Robert Pearson, who will depart from Turkey tomorrow as his assignment in Turkey ends, said that the proposal to send soldiers to Iraq came from Turkey. Pearson noted that Turkish soldiers should go to the unstable region in Iraq.
SSK RECEIVABLES TO BE TAKEN ACCORDING TO TURNOVER
An important step is being taken in social security reform on which International Monetary Fund (IMF) Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam insists. A new model is being brought in collection of default premium debts besides the law which regulates administrative structure of Social Security Agency (SSK) and Social Security Agency for the Self-employed (Bag-Kur). Receivables of SSK and Bag-Kur around 14.5 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL) will be taken by Brazilian model. A total of 10 billion U.S. dollars of payment is expected with flexible premium collection.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ERDOGAN: THERE ARE PERSONS WHO MANIPULATE KEMALISM
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that ''just like there are persons who manipulate religion, there are also other persons who manipulate Kemalism. This caused the collapse of the country. Today, there is a government which looks beyond these discussions and we will not give opportunity to those manipulators.''
BATU: U.N. RESOLUTION IS NECESSARY
Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy leader Inal Batu said that the U.N. Security Council had to adopt a resolution calling for formation of an international peace keeping force in Iraq. Batu said that the adoption of such a resolution was necessary for Turkey to send soldiers to Iraq.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ANKARA AGAIN ''OFFSIDE''
When countries like India, Germany, France and Russia respond to White House's demand to send soldiers to Iraq by saying 'it could be possible if the United Nations (U.N.) approved', Turkey can't make its wish to 'send soldiers to Iraq' be accepted. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is going to the United States today. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's words that ''the United States demanded soldiers for Iraq'' was disproved by Foreign Minister Gul and U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson. Gul, who is going to Washington to take up ''comprehensive proposal package'', said, ''there is nothing official at the moment.'' Pearson said Turkey's proposal to send soldiers was being evaluated.
EXCITING DAYS IN TSK
Naval and air forces commanders will get retired. Three full generals will also be retired in land forces and seven lieutenant generals expect promotion. Three full generals of land forces will be retired in the Supreme Military Council (YAS) meeting on August 1, namely First Army Commander Cetin Dogan, National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General Tuncer Kilinc and Third Army Commander Tamer Akbas. Also, naval and air forces commanders Bulent Alpkaya and Cumhur Asparuk will get retired.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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DIFFICULT MISSION
Turkey wants to send soldiers to the north of Iraq, while the U.S. proposes Turkey to send soldiers to central Iraq. The U.S. which didn't have much difficulties in toppling over Saddam Hussein, was not late in realizing that it got itself trapped in a blind alley. The U.S. proposed Turkey that it could control central Iraq with its soldiers. Sunni Arabs live in majority in central Iraq and the attacks against the U.S. are also very intense. Turkey is warm to this proposal of the U.S., but it also works on the possibility of being charged in Turkmeneli region where Turkmens constitute the majority.
EDUCATION SHOULD BE PRIVATIZED
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that the government wanted the state to gradually leave the education field to the private sector. Erdogan attended the signing ceremony of the protocol on contribution to education by which Istanbul Stock Exchange Market (IMKB) gave 450 trillion liras to the National Education Ministry for building of a school. ''The problems in education have to be solved by the contribution of private sector and foundations,'' he said in the ceremony, adding that the government was also resolved to open new vocational schools.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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MOTION DISCUSSION RETURNS BACK
When the possibility of Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq comes onto agenda upon U.S. administration's demand, discussions that occurred during voting of motion were also brought onto agenda. It seems that Turkish public opinion, which was divided into two during discussions on whether or not the motion should be passed, will also give similar reactions to sending soldiers to Iraq. Although it has not yet been definite under which conditions soldiers will be sent to Iraq, some say that this opportunity should be seized to have the right to comment on Iraq while some claim that Turkish soldiers should stay away from the hopeless situation of the United States.
ARMED FORCES TO CLOSE INEFFICIENT FACTORIES
Land Forces Commander Aytac Yalman announced that they would end some of duties of military factories under auspices of the Land Forces Command and provide materials produced in those factories from the private sector. Yalman noted that the decision was taken to encourage the defense industry. Accordingly, materials like barbed wires and acetylene tube which are the needs of the military will be provided from the private sector in the following days.
(BRC-Öª-AÖ) 22.07.2003