ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on September 22, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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BABACAN: BRAZIL IS A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE IN TAXES
State Minister Ali Babacan said that he met with Brazilian economy minister within his contacts in Dubai and they decided to hold mutual meetings to exchange views. Noting that Brazil increased its tax incomes over 35 percent of gross national product by the tax reforms it had fulfilled since 1999, Babacan said that this figure was 24 percent in Turkey and added that they should fight against unregistered economy to increase this figure.
ONLY YOU AFFECT BUSH
Former U.S. President Clinton visited Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Dubai yesterday and said, ''you are the country and the world leader which can have the most influence on Bush administration.'' He added, ''both I and my wife supported the intervention of the United States in Iraq. Turkey is the most important actor in the region in providing democracy and stability. Turkish soldiers can be good examples in Iraq.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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SECRET AGREEMENT ON IRAQ
This memorandum of understanding was signed at the end of tough negotiations between Turkey and the United States before Iraq war. If the motion on dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign troops in Turkey had been passed on March 1, 2003, this memorandum would have been put into practice and Turkish soldiers would have entered into north of Iraq and got the control. The memorandum of understanding was named ''Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between The Government of The Republic of Turkey and The Government of The United States of America'' on the establishment and implementation of basic policy, principles, procedures and to determine the status of forces to be temporarily deployed in Turkey. Under the MOU, U.S. and Turkish units would have entered Iraq through Habur border gate. Joint land, air and special forces would have been formed for this operation. Firstly, two U.S. brigades would have entered Iraq from the north and then Turkish units would have gone to this country to be deployed in a certain line. U.S. units would have taken under guarantee Mosul and Kirkuk and Green Line would have been formed around these two cities. Talabani and Barzani units would not have crossed this line. Turkish Armed Forces would not have crossed this line either, but would have closely followed the developments.
The MOU stressed that Turkish soldiers would not have clashes with Iraqi forces and opposition groups. But, there was a critical exception. Turkish units would be allowed to have clashes with the terrorist organization PKK/KADEK, respond to their attacks and defend themselves. If the critical MOU had not been shelved, position of Barzani and Talabani would have been very different. Their parties would have taken action under control of the United States and Turkey. These groups would not have been distributed heavy weapons and weapons given under supervision of Turkey would have been taken back.
''WE ARE WARM TOWARDS DISPATCH OF SOLDIERS TO IRAQ BUT WANT SPECIAL REGION''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with former U.S. President Bill Clinton in Dubai. Clinton told Erdogan that ''it was Erdogan who could be the most influential on Bush administration.'' Clinton pointed out that Iraq should be reconstructed rapidly and asked Erdogan about his views on Iraq issue. Erdogan said that the government was warm towards sending soldiers to Iraq. Erdogan said, ''Turkish army is pacifist. It serves wherever it goes. Give us a specific region and we will help health, education and infrastructure services there. Our units can serve there under command of a Turkish officer.'' Clinton then said that it was Erdogan and Turkey who could be the most influential on Bush administration and Turkey's sharing its views was very important for the world peace.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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YOU INFLUENCE BUSH THE MOST
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton emphasized that Turkey, with its democratic structure, was the most important actor in providing the stability in the Middle East and told Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, ''sharing your opinions with Bush administration is significant for the peace of region.'' Erdogan said that the government was positive to send soldiers to Iraq and added, ''give us a certain region in Iraq. Then, we will help health, education and infrastructure and similar services.''
GUL: U.N. RESOLUTION IS IMPORTANT
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul released a statement prior to his departure for New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly the 58th session. He said that Turkey attributed very much importance to a new U.N. resolution, but it did not link everything to U.N. resolution. Noting that Turkey was a neighbor of Iraq and to this end it had a different responsibility from the other countries, Gul said that Turkey wanted to contribute to efforts to restore order in Iraq.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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DENKTAS'S NEW PACKAGE
President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) made a call to Greek Cypriots and said, ''if you don't return to Maras, we will open it.''
New initiatives, which Denktas would propose to Southern Cyprus Greek Cypriot Administration, and the U.N. Secretary General, are clarified to a great extend.
Denktas stated that there were pieces of lands in Maras belonging to Turkish Cypriot Foundations, stating that, ''we told Greek Cypriots that we can not any more keep Maras in its current situation. We told them to return to their places. We may find a formula to protect the rights of Foundations.''
Some Greek Cypriot people have houses or business places are on lands of Turkish foundations.
Denktas said Foundations Administration would hire the lands which belong them if Greek Cypriots fail to return.
Denktas said they could also educate around 100 Turkish children, who currently live in the south and who could not get education.
BUMIN IN STRASBOURG
Constitutional Court Chairman Mustafa Bumin arrived in Strasbourg as the official guest of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Chairman Lozius Wildhaber.
Bumin and six members of the Constitutional Court will have meetings in Council of Europe and ECHR today and are expected to get information about practices of ECHR.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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BABACAN: ''EVERYTHING IS FINE''
State Minister Ali Babacan said that there was not any delay in U.S. loan and said, ''we can debate the loan schedule with U.S. Treasury Department today or tomorrow.''
GUL: ''MOTION WILL COME ONTO AGENDA IN OCTOBER''
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that the government would bring onto agenda dispatch of soldiers to Iraq when the parliament re-opened, adding, ''United Nations (U.N.) resolution is not obligatory to take a decision on dispatch of soldiers.'' Gul, who went to New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly, said that the government attached importance to a U.N. resolution when making a decision on whether or not to send soldiers to Iraq, but that a U.N. resolution was not obligatory. Gul stated that the National Security Council (NSC) would not hold a new meeting on dispatch of soldiers. Gul stressed that the issue could be taken up again in a summit organized by the President, adding, ''as the prime minister said, the government will evaluate the developments and bring the issue onto parliament's agenda when the parliament re-opens.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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ERDOGAN: WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR IRAQ
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''the government will take its decision when parliament opens. In fact, we don't have much time on this issue.''.
In the message which Erdogan sent to U.S. President George Bush through former U.S. President Bill Clinton, stated that, ''give us a specific region and so that we can give health, education, and infrastructure services''.
WORLD BANK BEGINS TO SPEND MONEY
Country Aid Strategy (CAS) loan, carried out between Treasury Undersecretariat and the World Bank, is expected to be clarified in Dubai.
World Bank officials, State Minister Ali Babacan, and Treasury Officials, currently in Dubai, are expected to make last arrangements about the 4.5 billion U.S. dollars loan planned to be taken from the World Bank.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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POSITIVE DECISION ON DISPATCH OF SOLDIERS IS LIKELY
Positive decision of the government on dispatch of soldiers is likely.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met on Sunday with former U.S. President Bill Clinton. Erdogan expended support to positive approach of Clinton regarding dispatch of soldiers to Iraq.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul stated that evaluations on dispatch of soldiers would be completed soon, and stressed that everything did not depend on the U.N. resolution.
BABACAN: NOBODY SEES TURKEY LIKE ARGENTINA FROM NOW ON
State Minister Ali Babacan, responsible for economy, stated that nobody evaluated Turkey in the same category of countries such as Argentina.
Stating that Turkey reached a different point in emerging markets as a result of its performance, Babacan said Turkey is now that in the same category with countries like Mexico and South Korea.
(AY-BRC-AÖ) 22.09.2003