ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 25, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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THE UNITED STATES IS WAITING FOR AN ANSWER URGENTLY
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said after his meeting with Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul that they demanded soldiers from Turkey for Iraq. He added, ''we are waiting for an answer as soon as possible.'' Gul said that NATO umbrella would be beneficial for sending soldiers to Iraq.
OZKOK: WE HAVE TO FURTHER DEVELOP CAPABILITIES OF TSK
General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok said that Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) had always protected the security of Turkey and the stability of the region and added that the army should increase its experience with the lessons taken from the Iraq war. Ozkok said that changes and developments in the world and lessons taken from the Iraq war reveal that TSK had to further develop its current capabilities. Speaking at the ceremony in the Fleet Command in Golcuk, General Ozkok emphasized that Turkey's coasts were longer than its land borders. He said, ''new political formations in our period have increased our tasks in our surrounding seas, especially Eastern Mediterranean. As a result of integration of Eurasian energy basin with world markets and developments both in the Middle East and Caucasus, East Mediterranean, the Black Sea and Turkey have come to the forefront. Changes and developments in the world and lessons taken from the Iraq war reveal that we have to further develop current capabilities of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). The TSK is of vital importance due to its capability to protect national security and stability in the region all the time. It also acts as a deterrent force.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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IMPATIENT AMERICA
A new page was opened yesterday in bilateral relations between Turkey and the United States which have been going through a difficult period since rejection of the motion on troops by the parliament on March 1. The two countries gave the message that problems were overcome with friendship, and they agreed to broaden cooperation in Iraq. However, the United States wants Ankara to rapidly make a decision on assignment of Turkish soldiers in Iraq, and it signals that bilateral relations might experience a new political bargaining process. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul had a one-hour meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday. Following their meeting, Gul and Powell gave the message to reporters that bilateral relations maintained their power. Powell thanked Gul for the list of proposals that Turkey presented in June on what it can do in Iraq. A written document including the expectations of the United States from Turkey in Iraq under those proposals was conveyed to Gul. It was mentioned that the document included concrete proposals that might pave the way for Turkish contractors' contribution to rebuilding of Iraq. Powell announced that dispatch of troops to the Stability Force was among the things that Turkey could do in Iraq, and they had officially made a request to Ankara to this end. Powell said Gul had told him that the issue had not been discussed completely in Ankara yet. When asked why they hurried, Powell said they expected Ankara to make a decision as soon as possible, and they were pleased when Gul had told them that they would work rapidly. When asked whether or not Turkey would want formation of Stability Force under framework of the United Nations or the NATO, Gul said that NATO's being a part of it would absolutely make the job easier.
U.S. SOLDIER CAN'T ENTER WITHOUT PASSPORT
NATO soldier Richard Randy of the United States who tried to enter Turkey with incomplete documents was sent back to his country with the plane he arrived at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport. Randy who came from New York to Istanbul with a Delta Airlines plane tried to pass the passport check with his military identity card, but officials told him that he could pass only with a passport or travel document approved by the NATO. Although Randy said he was a NATO soldier and he had to go to a military vessel in Marmaris, he could not show any other official identity card or document, and he was sent back to the United States.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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SEZER: LAUSANNE IS A HISTORICAL VICTORY
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that the Turkish delegation headed by Ismet Inonu had won a great diplomacy war in Lausanne and he added, ''they defended the Turkish nation's interests with determination in line with the parliament's decisions, and they did not only sign an agreement document, but also recorded a real historical victory.'' Sezer attended the ceremony held at the Istanbul University to mark the 80th Anniversary of Signing of the Lausanne Treaty. Making the opening remark of the ceremony, Sezer said that the meeting would contribute to efforts to put forward the historical facts in the light of the conditions in Turkey and in the world in the time of signature and to explain the foundation philosophy of the Republic to the public opinion.
NO HOLIDAY TO DEPUTIES WITHOUT ADOPTING REASSOCIATION LAW
The government withdrew the draft of Reassociation law and added the article foreseeing reduction of punishment to the next article by retouching it, when it was rejected in the Parliament. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told deputies that they could not go on a holiday without adopting this law.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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LAUSANNE IS INDEPENDENCE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who delivered a speech in a ceremony held by Istanbul University, said that Ismet Inonu had signed a historical victory in Lausanne. Recalling that Turkish nation, which had revolted against occupation and colonialism, had become an example to other nations, Sezer emphasized that Turkey would not make concessions from its independence and integrity with Republic's basic principles.
AMERICA PRESSES FOR SOLDIER
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul that they wanted Turkish government rapidly give an answer to their demand for Turkish soldiers for participation in Stability Force in Iraq. Gul emphasized that the participation of NATO and the United Nations would ease the issue.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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THIS IS HOW MR. CORTUK WAS SAVED
The Parliamentary Commission for Investigation Into Corruption proved how Kamuran Cortuk who had transferred 120 million U.S. dollars from his bank in Romania to his holding, was rescued. Under the scandal that started in November of 2000, the commission demanded opening of investigation against three politicians: Husamettin Ozkan, former deputy prime minister; Yuksel Yalova, former state minister; and Sukru Sina Gurel, former foreign minister, on charges of saving Kamuran Cortuk's bank 'Banca Turco Romano (BTR)' in Romania through Vakifbank. An official from the BTR was captured while he was leaving Romania with 500 thousand U.S. dollars. A crisis erupted when 120 million U.S. dollars (equal to half of the total deposits) which had been secretly transferred from the BTR to Cortuk's Bayindir Holding was not repaid. The Romanian Prime Minister applied to then Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. And Ecevit assigned his aide Husamettin Ozkan and former State Minister Recep Onal with solving the problem. The solution was more serious than the problem: Vakifbank rescued Cortuk by paying 121 million 627 thousand U.S. dollars, but the companies which were purchased in return for the money were worthless, and the loss was 80.2 million U.S. dollars.
11 SOLDIERS ACT WRONGLY
According to Turkish CNN news, the Special Forces Command finished its Sulaimania report it prepared upon instructions of the General Staff. In the report, eleven Turkish officers who were detained by the U.S. forces in northern Iraq were accused of 'insisting on neglecting the mission' and 'not following the orders'. It was mentioned that officers did not follow the 'order to strike if necessary' against the U.S. soldiers. If the General Staff approves the report, the eleven soldiers will firstly be removed from office and later they may be brought to military court.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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SHOCKING REPORT ON RAID!
Turkish liaison officers who were detained by U.S. forces in Sulaimania in northern Iraq may be tried at military court. If the General Staff approves the investigation report prepared by the Special Forces Command, eleven Turkish soldiers will be firstly removed from office and later brought to military court on charges of 'insisting on neglecting mission, violating the order to strike and not following the orders'.
POWELL'S MESSAGE TO GUL: ''HURRY UP''
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell who met with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul in Washington D.C., the United States said that they expected Turkey to make a decision as soon as possible on sending troops to Iraq.
THANK YOU CHP!
They had the Supplementary Motor Vehicles Tax annulled, and the government prepared a more broad bill which would shock motor vehicles owners. The Supplementary Motor Vehicles Tax which was annulled by the Constitutional Court was valid for the motor vehicles that were purchased before the date when this decision of the government took effect. When the Republican People's Party (CHP) made an objection, the tax was cancelled by the court as 'it was against the principle of equality'. And instead of taking a backward step, the Finance Ministry broadened the content of the tax. Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said that they would take supplementary motor vehicles tax also from those who bought motor vehicle after the date when the decision took effect.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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CORRUPTION COMMISSION SHOWED AFRICAN COUNTRY BOTSWANA AS EXAMPLE
Parliamentary Commission to Investigate Corruption showed African country Botswana as an example in its report. Complaining that Turkey remained behind Botswana in purification from corruption, the commission stated that if Turkey was on the level of Botswana, it could spend 382 trillion Turkish Liras more for education and health.
CAVES IN HASANKEYF WILL BE ARRANGED AS HOTELS
The caves in historical Hasankeyf town of southeast Batman province will be arranged as hotels. Batman Governor Efkan Ala said that after the statements of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Hasankeyf would be saved, they increased their activities to gain the town to world tourism. He said that they started activities to make 50 caves hotels and added that together with an archeologist, the activities would be speeded up to gain the town to world tourism.
(MS-GC-AÖ) 25.07.2003