ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 21, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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GUL SAYS ATTACK ON U.N. HEADQUARTERS DOES NOT AFFECT TURKEY'S SENDING SOLDIERS TO IRAQ
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that the attack on the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad did not affect Turkey's sending soldier to Iraq. When asked whether the attack would affect Turkey's sending soldier to Iraq, Gul said, ''no, these are different things.'' He added that Turkey was exerting efforts to provide stability in Iraq. Noting that the attack would cause the instability in Iraq to continue, Gul said that everybody wished the condition to become normal and the country to reach stability.
INVESTIGATION ABOUT UZAN FAMILY THROUGH GANG LAW
Security units which participated in investigation about Imar Bankasi conveyed their view to Sisli prosecutor's office that no.4422 law on fight against organizations with the purpose of interest should be implemented for Uzan family. The team headed by Security Directorate Smuggling and Organized Crimes Department Chief Hanefi Avci wanted investigation about Uzan family to be carried out within the scope of gang law.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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HE SUPPORTS WHAT HE PROMISED
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who returned constitutional amendments pertaining to tax peace, education of poor students in private schools and sale of lands which lost the character of being forests, to the government one after the other, did not even step back from his view that his authorities should be limited. Speaking to his close friends Sezer said, ''I support what I had said when I was acting as the Constitutional Court Chairman.''
President Sezer returned 12 laws, three of them constitutional changes, to the government. Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin recalled that President Sezer expended support to limitation of authorities when he was acting as the Constitutional Court Chairman, stating that, ''limitation of authorities will not be an arrangement contradicting with President Sezer.''
''SET OF QUESTIONS SUMMIT'' TO TAKE PLACE TODAY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and some ministers are expected to discuss answers given by the United States to set of questions about sending of soldiers to Iraq before the National Security Council (NSC) meeting that will take place on Friday.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, Deputy Prime Ministers Mehmet Ali Sahin and Abdullatif Sener, National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek and Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu will participate in the meeting. The answers given by the United States to the set of questions are expected to be evaluated at the meeting. If necessary, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary and National Intelligence Organization Undersecretary will be called to Prime Ministry.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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BAGHDAD IMPASSE
United States started contacts regarded with soldiers when effects of the attack to the U.N. building are still very fresh. Even if the United States refrains from putting pressure not to cause reactions, it needs Ankara more than ever now. Following the answer it had given to Turkey for the set of questions, U.S. Senate International Affairs Committee Chairman Richard Lugar arrived in Ankara. Lugar had a series of contacts with civilian and military officials. During his talks with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, Lugar gave assurances pertaining to eradication of northern part of Iraq from terrorist PKK organization and that top members of PKK organization would not be sent to exile.
Lugar told the journalists that there was no pressure from Washington on Ankara regarding Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq.
YSK WORKS FOR REFERENDUM
Higher Electoral Board (YSK) Chairman Tufan Algan said they started preparations against the possibility of putting constitutional change to referendum. Stating that 10 trillion lira was allocated from the budget for the local elections that would take place in 2004, Algan said they gave orders for vote papers and necessary equipment.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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BOMB NOT INTIMIDATE FOREIGN MINISTER GUL INTO ABANDONING VIEW OF SENDING SOLDIERS TO IRAQ
Members of the government conveyed their views on sending soldiers to Iraq to U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul who had a meeting with Lugar said that they wanted Iraq to reach stability as soon as possible. Gul stressed that the attack on U.N. headquarters in Baghdad did not affect Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq. National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul supported the statement of Gul and said that they would assess every components on sending soldiers to Iraq. Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that the issue would be discussed at the meeting of Council of Ministers on Monday.
TURKEY BEATS MOLDOVA EASILY
Turkey beat Moldova 2-0 in a friendly international played late on Wednesday at the 19 Mayis Stadium in Ankara. Goals by Nihat Kahveci and Okan Yilmaz gave the national team an easy 2-0 victory over Moldova in an international friendly match. Kahveci gave Turkey its first goal in the 30th minute, after dribbling the ball through Moldova's crowded defense and bouncing the ball off the left post. Turkey dominated throughout the game.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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HINTS JUST BEFORE LEAVING
First Army Commander Gen. Cetin Dogan, who handed over his mission to Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, departed by giving messages for secularism and Iraq.
Gen. Dogan at his farewell speech made warnings to government, NGOs, media, institutions and organizations.
Gen. Dogan said all sections of the society have responsibilities in protection of national security. He said Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in his statements pointed out that he wanted to see the army as a very big school educating young people that would play an active role in economic, cultural and social struggle of the nation, beyond the defense of the country.
Gen. Cetin said, ''the principle assignment today in protection of national security is not allowing erosion of secular and democratic Republic. I believe that all the forces which are faithful to republic should work in cooperation at a period when sly attacks to secular Republic continue.''
RESCUE TEAM TO IRAQ
A ten-person team of Civilian Defense Directorate General left for Baghdad on Wednesday to carry out search and rescue works under the debris of the U.N. building which became a target to a bomb attack in Iraq.
The team was formed by Civilian Defense Directorate General upon the request of the United States. The team is comprised of one doctor and nine technicians. Two sniffer dogs and search and rescue and support vehicles will also participate in works.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TURKEY'S ESTEEM INCREASING
A survey which was conducted by the World Markets Research Center and which was prepared by taking views of leading 500 companies and public organizations of the world showed that Turkey was a country which has the least terror risk. Turkey was ranked the 48th among countries which have terror risk and it made Turkey an attractive country for foreign investors. According to result of the survey prepared by London-based World Markets Research Center, foreign investors will come to Turkey since the country has less risk of terror than European countries and countries in the American continents.
U.S. DELEGATION HOLDING MEETINGS IN ANKARA
There has been a busy traffic concerning Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq after reply to set of questions was sent to Ankara. Two separate delegations from the United States held meetings with ministers and military officials. The government will take up the issue at the meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday. U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar and an accompanying delegation met with Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok on Wednesday.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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''ATTACK IN BAGHDAD WILL NOT EFFECT OUR DECISION FOR IRAQ''
Ankara which carries out talks with the United States about sending soldiers to Iraq gave the message that attacks in this country would not effect the decision that would be taken.
Replying the questions about the attack to the U.N. building in Baghdad, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul stated that Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq and the attack were separate things. Gul said the attack would continue the instability in Iraq, noting that Turkey expended efforts for installation of stability in this neighboring country.
U.S. Senate International Affairs Committee Chairman Richard Lugar who met with Gul on Wednesday, pointed out that experiences of Turkey, who had historical ties with the region, were very important for installation of stability. Lugar stated that installation of stability in Iraq and democratization of Iraq would be for the benefit of both Turkey and the United States.
Government, which is getting prepared to convene the Parliament next month to discuss sending of soldiers, continues its warnings to Washington about Iraq.
THOSE WHO DON'T TAKE MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MARRY
Aysenur Kurtoglu, consultant of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) founder member, prepared a project for the couples who are getting ready to marry. The couples should participate in a course before they marry and get a certificate.
According to the project, the couples who are getting ready to get married, are obliged to participate in courses.
AK Party started a study within the body of municipalities for the course for ''pre-marriage''.
Kurtoglu, speaking about the project, stated that, ''I think this is an obligation before marriage. This should be put forward as condition as other documents which are wanted for legal proceedings and health.''
(EÖ-AY) 21.08.2003