ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 8th, 2006. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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THEY ESCAPE FROM MOUNTAINS AND SURRENDER
Young people, who the PKK kept in camps on mountains by abducting or deceiving, escape from there when they find the opportunity.
Governor and Gendarmery Commander in southeastern Hakkari province convinced the families of 22 youngsters to surrender a while ago. Following this, two sisters managed to escape from the terrorist organization in eastern Agri province.
H.A had joined the terrorist organization voluntarily in 1993. Her sister N.A. was later abducted by the PKK.
The two sisters called their mother by phone and this prepared a basis for the escape of the sisters. H.A. and her sister came to Turkey and surrendered to security forces.
WE WILL ABIDE BY WHAT UN SAYS
When Iran's national security chief Ali Larijani come to Ankara he will meet the message: ''Turkey will abide by all the decisions which the UN Security Council will take regarding Iran and will assume an attitude together will the international community.''
If UN issues embargo decision, Turkey will stop natural gas purchase.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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INVESTIGATION WITH CIA REPORT
An investigation has been launched into Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen on charges of abusing his power to help four companies earn 123 million USD. Tuzmen is said to give oil export permit to four companies (including Oz Ortadogu, Ram Dis Ticaret, Tekfen and TPIC) when he was the undersecretary of foreign trade, and help these companies earn 123 million USD. Parliament Investigation Commission learned about the secret agreement, signed by Tuzmen and Iraqi Minister of Petroleum Rashid on January 16th, 2000, from a CIA report.
ERDOGAN WINS RETURN MATCH!
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who spoke to an empty field in (southeastern city of) Diyarbakir in August 2005, displayed power during his recent visit to this city, where he participated in a convention of his Justice & Development Party (AKP). During the convention, Erdogan said, ''no to ethnic nationalism. Those who wanted to take advantage of our children have used them in Hakkari again. We have to protect our children.'' ''We will respect ethnic identities of all our citizens, but we will be proud of being a citizen of the Republic of Turkey'', he stressed.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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HISTORIANS' REACTION: WE ARE ASHAMED
French historians reacted against the resolution which ''envisages one year imprisonment for those who deny Armenian genocide''. The resolution will be discussed at the French parliament on May 18th. French historians said: ''we are ashamed. History cannot be written by law in democratic regimes.''
CHILD ABUSE
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan freed pigeons in front of 30,000 people in Diyarbakir, and said, ''those who bomb children and who send children to demonstration fields, are deprived of affection for children. We will not permit terrorism.''
I CHOSE MY WIFE BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT WEARING HEADSCARF
Deputy PM Abdullatif Sener said, ''I have never wanted my wife to wear a headscarf. My wife was not wearing a headscarf when we were engaged. One day, she wore a headscarf. I had never thought of marrying a woman wearing a headscarf till that day. I will not be angry if my wife takes off the headscarf. My daughter is sometimes wearing a headscarf, sometimes taking it off.''
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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LICENSE TO TERRORIST TO COMMIT CRIME
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said, ''we had also opposed to the previous amnesties but Article 6th of the draft Anti-Terrorism law is more grave. The law gives license to the terrorist to commit crime for 15 years.''
QUESTION MARKS IN OBLIGATORY LANDING
One of the two Antonov-2 type cargo planes, who departed Aegean city of Izmir to go to north of Iraq carrying Moldavian and Russian passengers, crashed in a forested area in Alanya town of southern city of Antalya. Three of the 5 in the plane were injured. The other plane landed at southern city of Adana. Five people in this plane spent the night at a hotel and departed from there early in the morning. No statement was released about the load of the plane.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ANKARA CALLS AMBASSADOR BACK
Following the statement of Canadian Prime Minister that they took a government decision on the so-called Armenian genocide, Turkey called Ottawa Ambassador back to Ankara. It was reported that Erman was called back to make a critical situation assessment and to be conveyed extraordinary measures.
HISTORIANS REACT
Historians in France reacted against the draft proposal of the Socialist Party making any rejection of the so-called Armenian genocide a crime. The historians issued a document and said the draft bill was against the freedom of speech.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TURKEY CALLS ITS OTTAWA AMBASSADOR BACK
Turkish Foreign Ministry reacted to Canada PM Harper who used the expression ''genocide'', and called Ottowa Ambassador Aydemir Erman back.
CONCRETE ALARM IN GOCEK
Gocek Municipality, which is ruled by a mayor from Republican People's Party (CHP), is demolishing enterprises in downtown and constructing two-storey workplaces. Gocek is Turkey's yachting tourism center. Turkish people and foreigners living in Gocek are concerned about this move: ''Original buildings are being demolished, and ugly buildings are being constructed. Gocek's characteristics are fading away.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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NOBODY CAN DIVIDE US
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan joined his party's 2nd Regular Congress in southeastern city of Diyarbakir.
Erdogan talked about the incidents that were organized by the terrorist organization a while ago and in which children were used. Erdogan stated that democracy and development can not be thought without each other, noting that domestic peace, unity and integrity were more important than everything.
''As I said before, we will lose altogether if we can not win altogether. Turkey's problems can not be thought independently from Diyarbakir's problems. You have protected the tranquility and stability. I congratulate you for this,'' Erdogan said.
DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE FROM THE PARLIAMENT AGAINST SO-CALLED GENOCIDE
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said a 4-people delegation comprising parliamentarians will go to France to have talks in French National Parliament to prevent a bill submitted to French Parliament making any rejection of the so-called Armenian genocide a crime.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKISH TEACHERS EDUCATE IRAQI CHILDREN
1,650 students, including relatives of Iraqi President Talabani and IKDP leader Barzani, are being educated by Turkish teachers. Fezalar Education Group's DG Talip Buyuk said that they have been educating Iraqi children for 12 years. ''We are one of the favorite education institutions today,'' he stated. According to Buyuk, their group owns one elementary school and two high schools in Irbil, and two high schools in Suleymaniyah. ''We will open a high school in Kirkuk,'' he added.
''TOURISM SHOULD EMPLOYERS DISCOVER ARAB WORLD''
Turkish tourism employers are trying to find a way out to overcome the stagnation caused by bird flu and cartoon crisis. Mehmet Hadra, the Chairman of the High Consultation Board of the Turkish-Arab Businessmen's Association, said that Turkey should give priority to promotion of its tourism in Arab countries.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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DIYARBAKIR SPRING
''Diyarbakir spring'' was experienced in AKP convention held in Ataturk Stadium and attended by 30,000 people. PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave messages of brotherhood and freed pigeons. ''Nobody can divide us as long as we, including Turks, Kurds, Laz, Circassians, Georgians, Abkhazians, Bosnians and Albanians, walk towards the future altogether in unity and solidarity and without making any ethnic discrimination,'' he stressed.
SCATHING TERMS WITH CANADA, MESSAGE TO FRANCE
After the tension that occurred between Turkey and Canada as Canadian PM Harper used the expression ''Armenian genocide'', Turkey called Ambassador Erman back to Ankara. On the other hand, Turkey thinks of calling Ambassador Koruturk back in case the French parliament adopts a resolution which ''envisages punishments to those who deny Armenian genocide''.