ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 4, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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REASONS OF POSTPONING CIVILIAN NSC
Preparations had been made in Ankara regarded with appointment of a civilian to National Security Council (NSC) General Secretariat. Even names were mentioned for the civilian secretary general.
However, military put pressure for the NSC Secretary General to be from military for one more period. This made the government to suspend preparations for civilian NSC Secretary for one more year.
General Staff felt uneasy over attitude of the government to assign deputy prime minister to follow up NSC decisions. Upon this, military decided not to step back to appoint a person from military to NSC General Secretariat.
MESSAGE TO WOLFOWITZ TO ''EXCLUDE CONSULTANT''
Unofficial visits of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's consultant Cuneyt Zapsu to the United States and his meetings with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz created uneasiness in Ankara.
Cuneyt Zapsu was one of the people who was mostly criticized when the motion could not be passed from the Parliament on March 1. Zapsu had been the most important bridge between Wolfowitz and Erdogan, who had been only acting as the leader of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) at those times.
Zapsu had been criticized by the AK Party members as he encouraged Wolfowitz that the motion would be passed from the Parliament, and as he had not conveyed the difficulties within the party to Wolfowitz.
However, it is now understood that Zapsu continues to be an important factor in Turkish-U.S. relations.
It is also known that Zapsu goes to Washington silently from time to time, meets Wolfowitz, and continues to have telephone conversation with him.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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WARNING TO AK PARTY: NOBODY IS BLIND
National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General Gen. Tuncer Kilinc, First Army Commander Gen. Cetin Dogan and Third Army Commander Gen. Tamer Akbas, who retired, criticized Prime Minister and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan during Supreme Military Council meeting. Criticisms of the commanders focused on policies and implementations covered by AK Party. The commanders stressed that, ''we know the changes you want to make. Turkish nation will not allow this. Nobody is blind.''
The commanders said willingness of the Turkish nation for European Union (EU) was used, and gave the message that policies of AK Party would not succeed.
ALLEGATIONS OF TORTURE IN PRISON
It was alleged that A.D., who was serving imprisonment terms in Aydin Prison on charges of rape, became paralyzed because of beating.
Allegations of torture to child detainees was brought onto the agenda with a petition which was sent to Human Rights Association Aydin Department on July 15. It was stated that A.D. (15) became paralyzed because of beating. Although there was a medical report that A.D. became paralyzed because of disease, Ahmet D., father of A.D., defended that there were traces of beating in A.D.'s body.
Upon this, Parliamentary Human Rights Investigation Commission members visited A.D. in hospital and learned that A.D. and his friends broke a window while playing football, and that he became paralyzed as the prison guards had beaten them.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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DOUBLE SURPRISE IN YAS
Promotion and appointment excitement left its place to transfer excitement in Supreme Military Council (YAS) meeting which is held between August 1 and 4. Aegean Army Commander Hursit Tolon, who was discussed for National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General mission, has remained in his place. Fifth Army Corps Commander Sukru Sariisik was appointed to the place of NSC Secretary General Tuncer Kilinc who was retired this year and whose term in office has ended.
SAHIN: NSC SECRETARY GENERAL CAN BE A SOLDIER
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said that he believed that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer would sign the Seventh Adjustment Package which was including the arrangement that is opening the way to civilianize the National Security Council's (NSC). He added, ''there is not such a thing in the law that NSC Secretary General will be a civilian. It brings initiative. It is in question to appoint a soldier again to NSC Secretariat General. There is not a problem in transition period.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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PRIME MINISTER WARNED
Intense discussions took place between the civilian and military members in the first day of the Supreme Military Council (YAS) meeting. Land Forces Commander Gen. Aytac Yalman, Gendarme General Commander Gen. Sener Eruygur, and First Army Commander Gen. Cetin Dogan stressed their sensitivities regarded with secularism, and criticized Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan because of the implementations. Gen. Dogan said, ''if necessary, efforts will be exerted by army and the nation to protect secular system''. In response to the criticisms, Erdogan said, ''we are not intended to offend Turkish Armed Forces. We carry out harmonized studies with the General Staff.''
GOVERNMENT INSISTENT ON 7TH PACKAGE
Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said they would pass 7th package from the parliament without making changes in case President Ahmet Necdet Sezer returns it to the Parliament to be debated once again. The 7th package includes arrangements pertaining to National Security Council. Speaking about making NSC Secretary General a civilian, Sahin said, ''there is not a law saying that NSC Secretary General would be civilian. There is not a problem in the law that it should be civilian or somebody from military.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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OPTIMISTIC TABLE IN ECONOMY
While good news are coming in economy one after another, July inflation gives positive signs. State Institute of Statistics (SIS) announced that wholesale prices decreased 0.5 percent in July when compared with June while the decrease in consumer prices was 0.4 percent. The annual inflation in wholesale prices index (WPI) was announced as 25.6 percent and it was 27.4 percent in consumer prices index (CPI) in July.
YASAR BUYUKANIT AFTER OZKOK
Supreme Military Council (YAS) completed its activities. Path to Chief of General Staff was opened to Yasar Buyukanit who was appointed as First Army Command. Ozden Ornek has become new Naval Forces Commander, while Ibrahim Firtina was appointed as new Air Forces Commander.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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NEW TACTIC FROM THE UNITED STATES
The United States, which has a difficulty in finding foreign soldiers who will take mission in Iraq, started to search for new formula. The United States will send another invitation via Baghdad to the countries which do not want to send soldier to Iraq and even those which responded negatively. Foreign soldiers will be invited to Iraq by interim government council.
SUMMER STAGNATION IN INFLATION
State Institute of Statistics (SIS) announced that wholesale prices decreased 0.5 percent in July when compared with June while the decrease in consumer prices was 0.4 percent. The annual inflation in wholesale prices index (WPI) was announced as 25.6 percent and it was 27.4 percent in consumer prices index (CPI) in July.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY ELIMINATED ITS FREEDOM PHOBIA WITH ADJUSTMENT PACKAGES
Taboos, which have been considered inconvenient to be discussed until a short time ago, are now destroyed with seven adjustment packages adopted in the path to the European Union (EU). Freedom phobia revealing itself with expressions such as ''regime is endangered'' is eliminated with the effort for adjustment to EU. Turkey, which targets to be full member of EU, achieved to adopt many reforms that cannot be made for 40 years in two years.
BAYKAL: FOREST LAND EXISTS IN OUR ELECTION ANNOUNCEMENT BUT NOT FOR SELLING
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal confirmed that the arrangement regarding the forest lands took place in his party's 2002 election announcement. Noting that however they were concerned with the social aspect of the lands, not economic aspect, Baykal said that they had promised arrangement for forest villagers and they did not aim to provide money to Treasury.
(AY-GC-AÖ) 04.08.2003