ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on June 25th, 2006. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
EYES ON GUL'S VISIT TO IRAN
Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul went to Iranian capital of Tehran yesterday to remove tension caused by Iran's nuclear activities and bring together the parties regarding the matter. Gul will relay both Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan's and also the United States' messages to Iranian authorities during his stay in this country.
FORD: ''WE'RE HAPPY IN TURKEY''
Ford Motor Company President William Clay Ford said that they were glad to be in Turkey because Turkish people had a very high quality and they had good relations with Koc family. Stating that fluctuations in the Turkish market would not last long, Ford indicated that there would be a significant activity in the automotive sector soon.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
FIFA REDUCES SIX-GAME SANCTION ON TURKEY TO THREE
FIFA, world's governing body for soccer, dropped six-game sanction on Turkey to three games. FIFA announced yesterday that Turkey will play three games behind closed doors in neutral venue.
ERDOGAN ASKS FOR SUPPORT OF MEDIA
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan assessed recent economic developments in the country in his speech at a meeting of his party (Justice & Development Party) in southern city of Antalya. Erdogan called on the media to be less critical of the government's performance. Erdogan said, ''some are trying to create a fearful atmosphere because the dollar strengthened and shares fell...but the economic gains of the last four years are not artificial and temporary.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
DUEL BETWEEN ERDOGAN AND YILMAZ Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized former Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz who plans to come back to politics by saying that ''those who claimed they don't sit on a mud have mud all over them. Turkey's future has no place for a supercilious politician.''
LAST SIGNATURE FROM THE BOSS
Ford World President Clay Ford was in northwestern city of Izmit yesterday. Stating that they are working together with Koc Family in Vietnam, China and Australia, Clay Ford said, ''we have already begun doing business abroad. Now we are seeking new opportunities.'' Ford came to Istanbul as a guest of Koc Family to attend the graduation ceremony of the Koc University. Ford answered Sabah reporter's questions about Turkey's economy: ''This is my third visit to Turkey. Obviously, the biggest change since my first visit in 1977 is Ford Otosan's new factory. New factory in Kocaeli is absolutely magnificent. Its record growth and quality level proves this. Ford Otosan is being rewarded since 2004 for being the best factory of the country. For me, it is the best factory in Europe.''
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
-------------------
SHALL THEY RETURN TO POLITICS?
Former politicians who could not pass the electoral threshold earlier want to return to politics. Turkish people have been discussing this matter recently. Former Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz was the first one who announced that he will come back to politics. After Supreme Court suspended the trial of Yilmaz, he said, ''I'm about to start my contacts for the politics.'' Tansu Ciller, Necmettin Erbakan and Suleyman Demirel also have some initiatives to return to politics.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
IT IS DOWNFALL!
There are serious problems regarding Turkish economy which has become dependent on hot money. ''Artificial'' recovery process that has continued for three and a half years during the period of Justice & Development Party (AKP) has come to an end. Turkish people have several difficulties due to recent economic developments.
FIFA REDUCES SIX-GAME SANCTION ON TURKEY TO THREE
FIFA has reduced sanctions it imposed on the Turkish soccer association for trouble at a qualifying match, world soccer's ruling body said yesterday. Turkey will now play only its next three competitive home matches at neutral venues without fans rather than the six matches originally imposed in February.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
GOVERNMENT EARLIER KNEW THERE WOULD BE ECONOMIC CRISIS
Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal has stated that International Monetary Fund (IMF) earlier prepared a report including several measures against an economic crisis in the country, claiming that the government kept secret this report and did not take any measures. Baykal asserted that the crisis caused more troubles than expectations (mentioned in the report of IMF) in the country, because the report prepared by Susan Schadler and Matthew Fischer on November 28th, 2005 was kept secret.
EYES ON TWO MEETINGS
Turkish Central Bank Monetary Policy Committee will hold an extraordinary meeting today to make critical decisions. On the other hand, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he would chair the meeting of Economic Coordination Board.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
ERDOGAN: ''WE WILL NOT ALLOW OPPOSITION TO SPOIL STABILITY''
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indicated, ''we will not allow opposition parties to spoil stability in the country.'' Delivering a speech at a meeting of his party (Justice & Development Party) in southern city of Antalya, Erdogan said, ''some are trying to create a fearful atmosphere because the dollar strengthened and shares fell...but the economic gains of the last four years are not artificial and temporary.'' ''We are monitoring economic developments. The government, relevant institutions and central bank have been working hard. The bank will hold a meeting tomorrow. Necessary steps will be taken,'' Erdogan underlined.
FM GUL TO HOLD TALKS IN IRAN
Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, who is currently in Iranian capital of Tehran, will hold high-level talks within scope of a working visit. Gul's visit to Tehran aims to facilitate resumption of talks pertaining to Iran's nuclear program.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
ERDOGAN: ''GLOBAL WAVE WILL LEAVE COUNTRY''
Turkey hopes that fluctuations that have occurred in the country since the beginning of May will settle. However, sharp rise in foreign exchange rate against Turkish lira jeopardizes economic targets of the country. Delivering a speech in the meeting of his party in Antalya, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''of course, global activities will make an impact on our economy. But also they will leave the country.''
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
-------------------------
CENTRAL BANK: ''WE HAVE CONTROL''
Turkish Central Bank Monetary Policy Committee will hold an extraordinary meeting today to discuss measures against fluctuations that have occurred in markets recently. ''We intervene in the market when it does not function well,'' said Turkish Central Bank Governor Durmus Yilmaz who attended a conference held by Turkish Bankers' Association (TBA) in London. Yilmaz noted that the bank had the control.