ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on June 8th, 2006. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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INTEREST RATES BOOSTED
Turkish Central Bank has reacted to the recent fluctuation by raising key interest rates by 1.75 point. After the unexpected decision of the Central Bank Monetary Policy Committee, the overnight borrowing interest rates increased from 13.25 percent to 15 percent and the lending interest rates climbed from 16.25 to 18 percent.
''I FEEL UNEASY TOO''
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met General Staff Chief Gen. Hilmi Ozkok. The meeting focused on detention of several military officers, and the Security Department's failure to inform the General Staff on their detention. During the meeting, Prime Minister Erdogan said that he felt uneasy after the operation was considered a movement against the Turkish Armed Forces.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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ISRAEL EULOGIZES SEZER
Israel has eulogized Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer who is currently in the Middle East. Israeli authorities told President Sezer that his personality was the guarantee of the bilateral relations between Turkey and Israel. Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres stressed that President Sezer was symbolizing the values of the modern Republic of Turkey.
34 CHILDREN DISSAPPEAR
During investigations carried out in orphanages in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, it was revealed that 34 children including 18 girls were missing. Meymet Kaya, a member of the provincial board of human rights, said that the children might be kidnapped.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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''IT WAS AKP WHICH INVITED HAMAS TO TURKEY''
Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer met Israeli President Moshe Katzav during his state visit to Israel. During the meeting, President Sezer said, ''the Turkish state did not invite the Hamas delegation to Turkey. It was the ruling Justice & Development Party (AKP) which invited the Hamas. Although the AKP has been in political power for the time being, this invitation does not reflect the state policy of Turkey.''
ERBAKAN TO SERVE HIS PRISON TERM AT HOME
Necmettin Erbakan, former leader of the outlawed Welfare Party (RP), will serve his 28-month prison term at his home. Erbakan was convicted of falsifying party records and hiding millions of dollars in cash reserves after his political party was closed down in 1997. Erbakan will not be allowed to leave his home even for Friday prayings.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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FIRST LIEUTENANT YAYLA ALSO ARRESTED
After three military personnel, first lieutenant pilot Yakup Yayla was also arrested yesterday regarding 'Atabeyler' investigation. Yayla was arrested on charges of setting up a gang to destroy unity of country and having explosives illegally.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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SURPRISING INCREASE IN INTEREST RATES
Turkish Central Bank Monetary Policy Committee has held an extraordinary meeting. During the meeting, short-term interest rates were raised by 1.75 point. After this surprising decision, the overnight borrowing interest rates increased from 13.25 percent to 15 percent and the lending interest rates climbed from 16.25 to 18 percent.
ERBAKAN TO SERVE HIS PRISON TERM AT HOME
Necmettin Erbakan, former leader of the outlawed Welfare Party (RP), will serve his 11-month prison term at his home thanks to the amendments to the Turkish Penal Code. Erbakan was convicted of falsifying party records after his political party was closed down in 1997. Erbakan will be allowed to leave his home only for health reasons.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TRIAL OF MAGDEN STARTS
The Basic Criminal Court in Istanbul has begun hearing the case against writer-journalist Perihan Magden on charges of turning people against military service after she defended the rights of a conscientious objector in a weekly magazine. Meanwhile, a group, which gathered in front of the court house, chanted slogans insulting Magden and the other writers supporting her.
CYPRUS CRISIS WITH EU
Turkey expressed its uneasiness about the recent attitude of the EU which was planning to connect Turkey's whole accession process with opening of Turkish ports to Greek Cypriot vessels. Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that such a request was unacceptable. The Ministry added that if such a decision was made, Turkey would not attend the Turkey-the EU Partnership Council and the Inter-governmental Conference.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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SEZER: ''WE ARE READY TO CONTRIBUTE TO PEACE''
''Turkey is ready to assist Israel in making permanent peace with its neighbors,'' Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said when he took the floor at the Israeli Parliament (Knesset). ''Turkey, which enjoys the trust of both the Israelis and Palestinians, considers this privilege a responsibility. Turkey hopes that Israeli PM Ehud Olmert is going to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas soon,'' Sezer said. ''Turks and Jews always rushed to help each other in tough times. We will never forget the help of our Israeli friends during the massive earthquake in 1999. Mutual friendship and solidarity constitutes the solid basis of our cooperation,'' he noted.
ERDOGAN: ''IRAN'S POSITIVE ATTITUDE WILL RELIEVE PROBLEMS IN REGION''
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan met his Lebanese counterpart Fouad Siniora in Ankara on Wednesday. Erdogan and Siniora held a joint press conference after their meeting. Erdogan said, ''Iran's situation is very important for the region. I believe that Iran's positive attitude will ease problems in the region.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ERDOGAN AND OZKOK DISCUSS GANGS
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok had a meeting yesterday. Erdogan and Ozkok discussed operations against several gangs as well as internal and external security issues at their meeting. The meeting lasted for nearly one and an half hours.
TURKISH CENTRAL BANK RAISES INTEREST RATES BY 1.75 PERCENT
Turkish Central Bank Monetary Policy Committee has raised interest rates by 1.75 percent after it discussed recent developments in money markets in a meeting yesterday.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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TENSION ON EU PATH
Ankara launched initiatives after France and Greek Cypriot administration tried to cause some problems regarding Turkey's negotiations with the EU. Turkey told EU authorities that it wanted to open talks on 'Science-Research' and 'Education-Culture' and complete the chapter on 'Science-Research' the same day. However, the EU said that negotiations should not be started with two chapters, and France objected that the chapter on 'Science-Research' could not be completed the same day. Later on, Ankara gave signal that it would not attend Partnership Council and Accession Conference to be held in Luxembourg on June 12th and 13th. Then France stepped back.