ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 26, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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GEN. OZKOK: ''I WILL SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ARMY''
Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, replying a question which said whether or not there is difference of opinion in the army, pointed out that, ''no, it is clear who will speak on behalf of Armed Forces. It would be more appropriate, if Gen. Cetin Dogan spoke afterwards. His statements are individual.''
Commenting on statements of Gen. Cetin Dogan, the First Army Commander, on Iraq, Gen. Ozkok stressed ''Chief of General Staff announces views of Turkish Armed Forces''.
WE WILL START INTIFADA
Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITC) Ankara Representative Ahmet Muratli, who met with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, stated that, ''our patience comes to an end. We will not give flowers to those who attack us. Even if all the weapons we have are taken, we will protect our rights with stones like the intifada in Palestine''.
Muratli and ITC London Representative Asif Sertturkmen briefed Gul about the recent incidents and the activities in the region. Muratli said, ''our patience gradually comes to an end.''
He said, ''we have given a list of the weapons we have, to U.S. Ambassador Paul Bremer. The two weapons that were captured in the recent two raids were in the office for security reasons. U.S. was informed about them as they had license.''
Muratli said, ''they may confiscate all our weapons. However Turkmens will not give flowers to those who attack them. We will defend ourselves by throwing stones as it happened in Palestinian intifada. U.S. pledged for order and peace in Iraq. It should keep its promise. U.S. is mainly responsible for those happening.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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PAKISTAN PUTS ON BRAKES FOR SOLDIER
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf gave the message that they should take the support of Muslim countries in his letter to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey, which tries to show Pakistan as an example while taking decision to send soldier to Iraq and does not want to be the only Muslim country going to the region, cannot convince Pakistan.
CICEK: THERE IS NO NEED TO DECIDE IMMEDIATELY
The government decided to evaluate the issue of sending soldier to Iraq in a detailed way following the attacks against Turkmens. Main agenda item of the Council of Ministers which convened under the leadership of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the events caused death of 11 Turkmens. Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek emphasized that there was a vacuum in Iraq and terrorist organizations and groups were trying to benefit from this situation. Noting that they conveyed their uneasiness to the United States regarding the recent events in the north of Iraq, Cicek said that both Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Kirkuk Governor apologized from Turkey.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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POLITICAL DECISION CANNOT BE TAKEN FOR IRAQ
Council of Ministers took up the issue of sending soldier to Iraq in the meeting lasted four hours yesterday, however a decision could not be taken. Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said after the meeting that the government had not reached a point on taking a political decision on sending soldier to Iraq. A view could not be formed also in the National Security Council which had convened last week and the council had announced that they would hold an extraordinary meeting to discuss this issue in September.
GUL: TURKMEN PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE AFFECTED FROM PROVOCATION
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, who met with Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITC) representatives, said that attacks on Turkmens were unacceptable and people in the region should stay away from provocations. Noting that they were in contact within the triangle of Baghdad-Washington-Ankara to provide security in the region, Gul said upon the question whether the pressure of the United States on Turkmens was conveyed to Ankara that he could not give a detail.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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GEN. KILINC: THERE ARE THOSE WHO WANT SHARIAH
Gen. Tuncer Kilinc, who handed over his assignment as National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General to Gen. Sariisik, pointed out that fundamentalism threat continued, and that there were still those who search for Caliphate and Shariah. Gen. Kilinc said, ''number of authors, who incited ethnical discrimination, by calling it democratization, increases. How can we act together against the attitudes which damage our unity of belief?''
Gen. Kilinc criticized Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government on issue of headscarf, and pointed out that those who are at the top of administration on social fields could not come together.
MAYVILLE: PEOPLE HAVING HIDDEN INTENTS DID IT
Colonel William C. Mayville, Kirkuk representative of United States, pointed out that the incidents in Tuz Kharmato region occurred because of people who have hidden intentions to make Turkmens and Kurds to fight.
Speaking to Turkish journalists, Col. Mayville said unidentified assailants destroyed a tomb in Tuz Kharmato four days ago, stating that this angered Shiite groups, and incidents erupted in Tuz Kharmato and Kirkuk.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TURKISH CONTRIBUTION TO HEALTH IN IRAQ
Turkish delegation that is currently in Baghdad and Iraqi Red Crescent officials signed a protocol on allocation of areas for two hospitals which Turkey will build in Iraq.
The sides agreed on demolition of Razi hospital in Baghdad and delivery of empty area in Kirkuk on September 10. Also, an agreement was reached for training of Iraqi hospital personnel in Turkey.
AK Party parliamentarian Turhan Comez proposed Turkish government's opening of temporary kitchen to give mean to one thousand families a day.
Turkish delegation met with Iraqi Health Ministry officials, and Iraqi side expressed willingness to make cooperation for the health system that would be established in the country.
RESPONSE TO ALLEGATIONS OF GENOCIDE IS IN INTERNET
National Education Ministry prepared a web-page aiming to give a response to allegations of Armenian genocide. The site includes book of National Education Minister Huseyin Celik entitled, ''Armenian atrocities in Van'' and an article of historian Prof. Ilber Ortayli. Name of the internet site is www.ermenisorunu.gen.tr.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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ACTIVITIES ARE ILLEGAL
Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said that the activities of Confederation of Public Workers Trade Unions (KESK) were illegal and added that those who held illegal activities harmed themselves. Deputy General Director of Security Feyzullah Arslan said that there were provocations.
SEZER: INTERNATIONAL LEGITIMACY IS NECESSARY
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that international legitimacy was necessary in the issue of Turkey's sending soldier to Iraq. Sezer replied questions of reporters after the ceremony in which National Security Council Secretary General Tuncer Kilinc handed over his mission to General Sukru Sariisik. Sezer said that U.S. President Bush called him during Bingol earthquake and he told Bush that political unity of Iraq should certainly be protected. Sezer added that Bush agreed with him. Emphasizing that the war was not legitimate, Sezer said that it had already seen today.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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POLICE PREPARES DRAFT LAW, THERE IS TIGHT PURSUE TO CORRUPTION
Security Directorate General prepared a draft law on Corruption Crime and Fight Against Corruption Draft Law upon directives of the government.
The draft law for the first time describes corruption and facilitates telephone tapping of those who were involved in this crime. Jurists say telephone tapping could lead to an exploitation even if it takes place with the order of judge.
Government started to prepare a separate law to fight against corruption crimes as an effective fight could not be carried out against corruption because of legal deficiencies.
The government gave directives to Security Department to carry out a study in this respect. Security Department completed its study named Corruption Crime and Draft Law in Fight Against Corruption.
FOREIGN MINISTER GUL: RESPONSIBILITY BELONGS TO U.S.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said responsibility of providing security in northern part of Iraq belonged to the United States, stressing that, ''we believe that it would fulfill its responsibilities for those experience in Kirkuk''.
Colonel William C. Mayville, U.S. Commander of the teams in Kirkuk, made a statement to Turkish journalists and pointed out that they talked to Turkish Special Forces, and that they searched for solution together.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul received Iraqi Turkmen Front Turkey Representative Ahmet Muratli and London Representative Asif Sertturkmen and got information about the incidents experienced in Kirkuk. Gul said, ''there may be incitements and provocations. Nobody should allow them''.
Stating that they covered the developments with concern, Gul said he believed the provocations would not bring benefit to anybody.
(GC-AY) 26.08.2003