ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 5, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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MARKETS RELIEVE
The decision about Turkey's paying debt in a more considerable time which came out on Friday in the meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board boosted morale of markets. State Minister Ali Babacan's statement which said that the new repayment plan of IMF loan meant a relief of 11 billion U.S. dollars in the debt service in the following two years of time caused markets to start the week optimistically.
FIRST SINGLE GENERAL
Lieutenant General Fethi Remzi Tuncel who is not married was appointed as Land Forces Commander. Tuncel who has been working as National Security Council (NSC) deputy secretary general will be general on August 30. Decisions taken in Supreme Military Council meeting announced on Monday. The meetings, chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had started on August 1. Military officials said that it was the first time for a person who did not get married was appointed as general and became Land Forces Commander.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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''WE CAN ALSO OPEN FIRE ON TURKISH SOLDIERS''
The paper talked to local people in Tikrit where the U.S. has difficulty in ensuring the control and which is the city where Saddam Hussein was born. The U.S. proposed Turkey to send soldiers there. The local people in Tikrit were informed of the possibility of Turkish soldiers' coming to Iraq from tv channels. People in Tikrit who said that they would die for Saddam Hussein, noted ''if Turkish soldiers come to Tikrit, they will be treated as an army of occupation, irrespective of their being Muslim as we didn't invite Turkish soldiers here.''
''WE WON'T BE SOLDIERS OF OCCUPATION''
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told the U.N. special representative to Iraq Sergio De Mello that Turkey didn't want to be seen as an army of occupation in Iraq. De Mello said in his part that ''Turkey was welcomed in Bosnia, this could also be the case in Iraq.'' Meanwhile, a summit on Iraq will be held in Prime Ministry today to discuss the issue of stability force. Foreign Minister Gul proposed De Mello that the U.N. had to open a special unit in Iraq for transition of Iraq to democracy. De Mello said in his part that the resolution No. 1483 of U.N. would not be sufficient for forming a police team in Iraq and for generally speaking reconstruction of Iraq, adding that Security Council would give a decision about the issue. De Mello, who came to Ankara with Turkish Ambassador to Iraq Osman Paksut, met with Gul. Gul told in the meeting that ''we want to help in issues of security and infrastructure. We submitted a list to the U.S. about the things we could do.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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TUZMEN SAYS TURKISH COMPANIES MAKE BUSINESS WORTH OF USD 432 MILLION IN IRAQ
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said that total amount of contracts belonging to Turkish companies reached 432 million U.S. dollars in Iraq under the Oil-for-Food program, he said that this figure would reach 800 million U.S. dollars till the end of 2003. Tuzmen noted that Turkey's exports to Iraq increased by 187 percent in June and by 198 percent in July when compared to the same months last year and exports amounted to 105 million U.S. dollars in June and 114.7 million U.S. dollars in July. He said that Turkey's exports to Iraq increased by 38 percent to 364.8 million U.S. dollars between January and July 2003 when compared to the same period last year. Tuzmen stressed that Turkish companies' contracting projects reached 100 million U.S. dollars in Iraq.
2010 VISION OF TSK
Turkish Armed Forces' (TSK) 2010 vision was determined at the end of meeting of Supreme Military Council (YAS). Deputy General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit was appointed as First Army Commander. According to the decisions that would take effect as of August 30, 2003, Naval Forces Commander Admiral Bulent Alpkaya and Air Forces Commander Gen. Cumhur Asparuk retired.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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SUPPORT TO ADJUSTMENT PROCESS
Chairmen of 17 nongovernmental organizations which came together under the leadership of the Economic Development Foundation (IKV) said in a joint declaration that they continued to extend support to all steps which would speed up Turkey's EU membership process. IKV chairman Davut Ogutcu said that the foundation organized seminars to inform people in 24 provinces and added that seminars would also continue in September. Deputy Chairman of Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Halim Mete said that they would gather Turkey Platform in Italy in October by bringing together nongovernmental organizations representing all sides.
GUL INFORMS DE MELLO ABOUT TURKEY'S VIEWS ON IRAQ
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul informed the United Nations (U.N.) Special Representative for Iraq Sergio De Mello about Turkey's views on the future of Iraq. Gul who had a meeting with De Mello on Monday said that territorial integrity of Iraq should be protected and discrimination should not be made among ethnic groups and stated that census and elections should be held in a fair manner.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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WORKERS DON'T LEAVE STEEL INDUSTRY FACTORY
Workers of the steel industry factory in northwestern Izmit province which was closed in 1998, didn't leave the factory. Workers clean the factory and upkeep the equipment everyday and they try to find somebody who will be interested in buying the factory. Workers even founded an association to sell the factory. ''This is not only our business, Turkey also lost a national wealth, and we are looking for a savior,'' workers say.
NO SURPRISE IN SUPREME MILITARY COUNCIL
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer approved the decisions of the Supreme Military Council: General Ibrahim Firtina has been appointed as the Air Forces Commander, Admiral Ozden Ornek has been appointed as the Naval Forces Commander. General Sukru Sariisik has been appointed as the Secretary General of National Security Council. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul who attended fully the meetings of the Council, put a reservation on dismissal of 18 officers and noncommissioned officers from the army due to lack of discipline.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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17 NGOs EXTEND SUPPORT TO GOVERNMENT FOR EU
Business world and non-governmental organizations extended great support to the government which took a big step on the way to EU membership by adopting the adjustment packages one by one at the parliament. A total of 17 non-governmental organizations which came together yesterday issued a joint statement and noted that they supported the government for the studies it undertook for EU membership.
BUSINESS WITH IRAQ WORTH OF 133 MILLION DOLLARS
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen stated that the United Nations (U.N) gave export permission for contracts worth of 133 million dollars which belonged to Turkish firms in water purification sector in Iraq. Tuzmen stated that the contracts signed with Iraq before the war continued to be undertaken.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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IMF POSTPONES DEBTS, MARKETS RISE
Turkey's re-determining its debt schedule to International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the fall in July inflation, speeded up the rise in markets. While the interest rates of treasury bonds decreased by 3 points to 44.5 percent, which has become the lowest level of the year, one U.S. dollar decreased to 1,420,000 TL. Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) index increased by 4.62 percent to 11,112.000 points. The value of Turkish debenture bonds in international markets also increased. Central Bank is also expected to decrease interest rates due to the optimistic atmosphere in markets.
ARINC: LAWS ADOPTED SOLVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said that the parliament worked with great sacrifice since November, adding that it was seen that social problems could be solved in Turkey with the laws adopted. Addressing the Local Platform meeting held in western Manisa province, Arinc said that the parliament adopted 186 laws since November last year.
(EÖ-Öª-AÖ) 05.08.2003