ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 12, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
MESSAGE TO SEZER
During the summit meeting on Iraq which will be held today, the government will try to persuade President Sezer who favours adoption of U.N. resolution first before sending soldiers to Iraq. General Staff which is warm to the idea of sending soldiers to Iraq, will try to persuade President Sezer during this critical summit. Chief of General Staff Gen. Ozkok is expected to give the message to President Sezer that ''if you wait for impossible resolutions to be adopted, you will give a wrong decision.'' In sum the government and General Staff will stress the importance of taking a ''state decision at the state summit'' regarding the issue of sending soldiers to Iraq.
LAST 48 HOURS FOR FOREST LANDS
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer who approved the seventh adjustment package has only 48 hours left to give his decision about the constitutional amendment on sale of lands which lost their character of being forest lands. The government expects to have a revenue of 25 billion dollars from the sale of such lands. President Sezer is expected to approve the constitutional amendment's article which decreased the election age as a deputy from 30 to 25, but expected to veto or to submit to referendum the amendment regarding the forest lands.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
''GIVE UP WEAPONS''
U.S. military officials met with PKK terrorists for the second time on Kandil mountain asking them to give up their weapons. Members of the PKK terrorist organization noted that PKK would not give up weapons. The terrorist organization didn't totally reject the demand of the U.S. to give up weapons, telling that it would not give up weapons at this stage showing the turmoil in Iraq as a reason.
SUMMIT FOR PERSUADING SEZER
A summit will take place in Presidential Palace today in which the government will ask for a state decision to send soldiers to Iraq and it will try to persuade President Sezer. Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok will also participate in the summit meeting. According to sources, President Sezer will continue to insist on the United Nations' taking a resolution for sending soldiers to Iraq during the meeting which will start at 3.00 p.m. President Sezer who will also ask activating the mechanisms for taking a U.N. resolution, will stress that ''the reasons of sending soldiers to Iraq should be explained both in internal and external public opinion.'' The Report of ''Assessment of Military-Political Situation'' prepared by Foreign Ministry and General Staff will be conveyed to President Sezer and Prime Minister Erdogan and Foreign Minister Gul will stress that Turkey can't stay indifferent to developments in Iraq. After the meeting in Presidential Palace, the issue will first be discussed in the cabinet and then in the National Security Council (NSC) meeting on August 22.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
DECISION DAY IN ANKARA
The issue of sending soldiers to Iraq will be discussed under the leadership of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer today. While an agreement is expected in principle, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''we are expecting answers to our questions from the United States.'' The issue of sending soldiers to Iraq will be discussed firstly in the summit which will be held at Cankaya Presidential Palace and then in Council of Ministers meeting. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Gul, National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal will attend the meeting that will start at 03.00 p.m.
SOLVE THE PROBLEM RAPIDLY
State Minister Ali Babacan discussed the problems of banking sector by meeting with banking officials in Istanbul yesterday. Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti and Treasury Undersecretary Ibrahim Canakci explained macro economic developments and banking sector officials conveyed Babacan that the incidents regarding Imar Bank gave harm to sector. The officials of banking sector requested information regarding the amount of damage to be caused by double and unrecorded accounts in Imar Bank and told Babacan that this problem should be solved very rapidly.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
BERLUSCONI PAYS HIS DEBT
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi who acted as a witness at the wedding of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's son caused comments saying that ''Berlusconi paid his debt to Erdogan regarding the merger of Aria-Aycell GSM operator companies.'' The problems seen when Italian telecommunication company Aria could not find market in Turkey had been solved rapidly after the earlier visit of Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi to Turkey.
THEY WILL ALSO RUIN GOKOVA
The recreation area within the forest of Kerme Bay in Gokova town of western Mugla province has been transferred to a construction company under a contract which is against the laws. Gokova Picnic and Camp Area has been rented to a construction company for a period of ten years which opens the way to construction of additional buildings.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
AK PARTY: NECESSARY THING IS DONE FOR SOLDIER
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Deputy Group leader Salih Kapusuz said that the issue of Turkey's sending soldier to Iraq was a very important decision for the unity, security and development of the country. He said, ''the decision which will be taken is very important for Turkey's unity, security and even development. We continue meetings and evaluations with all organizations, institutions, politicians and neighbor countries about this issue.''
SUMMIT OF CONVINCING SEZER
Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul will meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer regarding Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq. Gul said that they could not take a decision before receiving an answer from the United States to their question regarding Turkey's mission in Iraq.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
GUL:''WE WAIT FOR U.S. TO RESPOND TO OUR QUESTIONS''
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that questions were asked to U.S. about the issue of sending soldiers to Iraq and Turkey waited for their responses from the U.S. When asked what kind of a result was expected from the Iraqi summit to be held today, Gul said that it was early to say something and that the issue would also be taken up in the cabinet. Gul said that many questions were asked to the U.S. about issues such as where and how Turkish soldiers would be charged in Iraq. During the summit meeting today, a decision will be taken about the issue in principle.
INVESTIGATION IN COMPANIES OF UZAN HOLDING CONTINUES
Sisli Criminal Court of Peace No. 2 started to assess the properties of 82 companies owned by Uzan Holding. Police investigated the properties of many companies including Star TV channel and Star newspaper. Police officials said that their studies in the companies would last for 20 days.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
GREEK CYPRIOTS APPLIED COMMISSION OF COMPENSATION
In spite of their leader's pressure, Greek Cypriots started to apply to Commission of Compensation which was formed in Turkish Cypriot side regarding their properties in the northern side. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas conveyed the applications of 18 Greek Cypriot citizens to the commission for the solution of property problem.
ERGEZEN WILL PLACE KEYSTONE OF MOSTAR BRIDGE
Public Works and Settlement Minister Zeki Ergezen went to Sarajevo yesterday to place the keystone of Mostar Bridge which was rebuilt after its collapse during Bosnia war. Releasing statements at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport prior to his departure, Ergezen recalled that the historical bridge had collapsed in Mostar during the war in 1993 and said that actually more than 60 bridges had collapsed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but collapse of Mostar caused sorrow as being both a symbol and a prestige project.
(GC-Öª) 12.08.2003