ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 8, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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THEY GIVE TO PLUNDERER BUT NOT FOR FORMULA
The field allocated for Formula 1 car race cannot be appropriated yet. The Formula 1 project which is expected to bring additional 1 million tourists to Istanbul and approximately 500 U.S. dollars of income per tourist, is still kept waiting for one year due to bureaucratic hurdles. Mehmet Yildirim, Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) which has undertaken the project and allocated 100 million U.S. dollars for the project, said, ''we have worked for one year and spent 10 trillion Turkish liras (TL) but can't get the license.'' The law has been changed and the license problem is almost to be solved. A field in Pendik, Istanbul was considered suitable for the construction of Formula 1 running track and facilities and the Council of Ministers approved it. But, getting a license turned into a chaos as the field where the running track will be constructed caused conflict among Tuzla, Orhanli and Akfirat municipalities. Yildirim noted that the Tourism Ministry made an amendment to Tourism Promotion Law and thus, the authority to give license for fields which are claimed to be under responsibility of more than one municipality was given to the Tourism Ministry. Yildirim said that the foundation of Formula 1 project would be laid by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on September 10.
PARLIAMENT TO CONVENE FOR MOTION
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that they would call parliament for an extraordinary session at the end of August or beginning of September to discuss motion on sending soldiers to Iraq. The government which says that they can't stay out of the equilibrium in Iraq, clarified its decision on sending soldiers to Iraq. Erdogan and Gul visited the Presidential Palace and tried to convince President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. During his meeting with Sezer, Gul expressed the view taken in the summit held at the Prime Ministry on Tuesday that Turkey could not remain silent to a development just beside it and it should be there if it wanted to have the right to comment on Iraq's restructuring. Gul also stated that President Sezer's opinion was also very important. Erdogan also gave similar messages. Sezer said that intelligence reports and risk analysis of the General Staff should be taken into consideration and signaled that he would also discuss the issue with Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok when he returned from holiday. Following the meeting, Gul announced that there was not any decision taken yet and added that decisions would be taken in the end of evaluation process.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATION
The government decided to take an initiative to explain its mission in Iraq to both the Iraqi people and also to regional countries. This initiative aims to prevent the negative attitude towards Turkish soldiers when the latter will go to Iraq. The government decided to send soldiers to Iraq in principle during the Iraqi summit held in Prime Ministry in which Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok also participated. The initiative is defined as 'psychological operation' by diplomatic circles. Delegations composed of military and civilian officials will go to Iraq, meet with local leaders and they will see the attitude towards the Turkish soldiers.
BERLUSCONI TO COME TO TURKEY FOR WEDDING OF PM ERDOGAN'S SON
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan invited Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to the wedding of his son which will take place next Sunday. Berlusconi accepted the invitation and said that he would be very pleased to attend the wedding.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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''GRAVE REPORT'' CHP-SUPPORTED
The expression that ''corruption was connected with secular ethics'' written in the report of the Parliamentary Commission to Investigate Corruption caused chaos in Ankara. Commission Chairman Ates said, ''this is not our view. It was just a quotation.'' Ketenci of Republican People's Party (CHP) said that members of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) could not do so intentionally. Ketenci noted that members of CHP were more than that of AK Party in the sub-commission, adding, ''we missed it. It will be corrected.''
ONE TO GAIN ONE-THIRD FROM WORN-OUT CAR
The law, which brings reduction in luxurious consumption tax taken from people who buy new vehicles by selling their worn-out cars older than 20 ages in order to encourage purchase of new cars and revive automotive industry, was issued in the Official Gazette and entered into force. The law which enables 3.5 billion U.S. dollars of luxurious consumption tax reduction even taken from a worn-out car worth of 500 million Turkish liras (TL) is on effect now. At least 80 thousand new vehicles are expected to be sold.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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444 PERSONS APPLY TO BENEFIT FROM REASSOCIATION LAW
Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said that a total of 333 inmates applied to benefit from the reassociation law, adding that a total of 111 persons surrendered to security forces. Meanwhile 20 persons who were convicted due to the incidents which took place in Sivas in 1993 also applied to prosecutor's office to benefit from the law.
GUL:SOLDIERS SHOULD BE SENT TO IRAQ
During the AK Party Central Decision and Executive Board meeting yesterday, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that Turkey should send soldiers to Iraq within the scope of reconstruction of Iraq. Gul also noted that the views of representatives of the press would also be taken into consideration in the decision taking process.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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MHP'S PROVINCIAL BANK PLUNDER
The Parliamentary Commission to Investigate Corruption stated that there were transactions ''against the administration'' in tenders of Provincial Bank (Iller Bankasi) and Directorate General of Highways when Koray Aydin was the Public Works and Settlement Minister. The commission asked for investigation regarding Aydin. The report of the commission on public works said that tenders of the Provincial Bank were being held with 40-45 percent reduction and participation of at least 25 people. When Aydin was the minister, the tenders were held with participation of 5-10 people and with 15-26 percent reduction. The loss was 309 trillion Turkish liras (TL).
''RETURN HOME'' ACCELERATED
The number of those who surrendered to security forces to benefit from the Reassociation Law reached 111. A total of 333 inmates wanted to benefit from the law while 20 of them were convicted of Sivas incidents.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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OUR TASK IS DIFFICULT
Turkey is worried about the chaotic situation and by the increase in the attacks against coalition forces in Iraq. Turkey is particularly worried about the possibility of Turkish soldiers' being target in Iraq. Meanwhile intensive negotiations among the government, the president and General Staff continue regarding the U.S.'s demand of soldiers from Turkey. A decision was given during the negotiations to send a delegation to Iraq, make examinations in the regions where the Turkish soldiers will be charged and they will prepare a report.
PROPOSAL OF TRIPARTITE SUMMIT
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he could call the parliament to an emergency meeting in the beginning of September regarding the soldier demand of the U.S from Turkey for Iraq, adding that sending soldiers to Iraq should not be a surprise. Noting that he proposed President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to hold a tripartite meeting, Erdogan said that a compromise of opinion had to be reached on the issue during the summit in which Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok would also participate. Erdogan said during the AK Party central decision and executive committee meeting yesterday that when the compromise was reached, a motion would come to agenda.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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RETURN TO HOME STARTS, THREE PRISONERS RELEASED IN DIYARBAKIR
Following the entrance into force the reassociation law, a total of 111 members of terrorist organization surrendered to police. In addition to 333 prisoners, 20 persons who were convicted due to incidents that took place in Sivas province, applied to benefit from the law. Meanwhile three prisoners who were arrested in Diyarbakýr E type prison were released. Officials said that the releases would continue.
(BRC-ÖÞ) 08.08.2003