ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on October 11, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TANKS ARE LOADED
Turkish Armed Forces started preparations following the decision of Parliament for sending soldiers to Iraq. Dozens of tanks and armored vehicles started to be loaded to trains from the 9th Armored Brigade in Kirikkale. Military sources said that Turkey was determined to make transfer via north of Iraq. The soldiers believe that another alternative route would mean to yield to Kurdish groups.
VERHEUGEN: I HAVEN'T SEEN FASTER COUNTRY THAN TURKEY
European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen met with Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Executive Board. Verheugen said regarding Turkey, ''there has not been a country in EU political history which fulfills reforms that much rapidly.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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MOTION FOR PORTUGAL
Turkish national soccer team will have a match with England in Istanbul this evening. We hope to beat England and have the chance to play in Portugal in Euro 2004 finals.
IRAQI FM: ''PKK SHOULD LEAVE IRAQ''
Foreign Minister of the Iraqi Interim Government Zabari said that ''there is no place for PKK in the north of Iraq.'' Sheikh Sulayman, the tribe leader in Ramadi, the place in Iraq where Turkish soldiers would be possibly deployed, issued a strange statement on the other hand saying that ''Turkish people are our brothers, but their army is atheist.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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NUMBER OF SOLDIERS ACCORDING TO REGION
The number of soldiers, which will be sent to Iraq, will change according to the size of region. A force comprising of 10-15 thousand soldiers, which is envisioned for a narrow region, will be increased to 40 thousand if the region is a risky place.
GUL WARNS IRAQI ADMINISTRATION
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul sent three messages to the United States, Iraq and Arabian countries and he criticized Iraqi Governing Council for making politics over Turkey. Gul held a press conference after the 10th Ministerial Meeting of the Mediterranean Forum (FOROMED) and he said that he told his interlocutors from Mediterranean the reasons of Turkey for sending soldiers to Iraq. Gul also warned Iraqi Governing Council and said that he was uneasy about the statements of Council against Turkish soldiers.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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NEW TARGET IS SCIENCE
Scholars reacted harshly to the bill prepared by the AK Party government to appoint the persons whom they want to the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK). TUBITAK Acting Chairman Prof. Dr. Tugrul Tankut said that science and technology of the country couldn't be directed with imam-hatip religious school understanding.
FIRST PERSUASION LATER NEGOTIATIONS
Turkey conveyed its uneasiness to the U.S. about the remarks of the members of the Iraqi governing council against Turkish soldiers. Turkey which said that negotiations about sending soldiers to Iraq could immediately start, adding yet the circles in Iraq had to be persuaded until that period. Turkey determined five topics for the negotiations:''place of mission and number of troops, logistics support, supply routes, PKK/KADEK threat and image problem.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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THREE CONDITIONS TO U.S. FOR SENDING SOLDIERS TO IRAQ
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal gave these messages to U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Edelman:''whether Turkey sends soldiers to Iraq or not, it expects the U.S. to fight with the terrorist organization PKK. Secondly Turkey opponents in Iraq particularly Kurdish groups want to show Turkey as ''Ottoman'' ''atheist'' ''enemy of Arabs''. This has to be prevented. For that reason Turkey continuously stresses that it goes to Iraq as ''peace keeping force'' not as army of occupation. Thirdly the U.S. has to clarify the attitude of the representatives of the Iraqi nation towards the Turkish soldiers.
EXPECTED DAY COMES
All preparations for Turkey-England match are ready. Totally 5,100 policemen will be charged to secure the order. Turkey will have its tenth match with England in Sukru Saracoglu stadium today. All of the 42,000 tickets for the match have been sold out. People will not be permitted to bring mobile phones, umbrellas to the stadium. Meanwhile 30 English hooligans were detained at Ataturk Airport.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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WE ARE ESTABLISHING TWO HOSPITALS
If Turkish soldiers go to Iraq, it will bring a medical team comprising of 42 expert doctors and two mobile surgical hospitals to Iraq. The personnel will be paid 150 U.S. dollars daily.
AK PARTY DEPUTY LEADER: WE BRING STABILITY TO TURKEY
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy leader Necati Cetinkaya said that Turkey caught political and economical stability under the leadership of Prime Ministry of Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Cetinkaya added that if Turkish soldiers undertook mission in Iraq, peace, tranquility and security would be restored in that country.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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YSK DECIDES TO HOLD LOCAL ELECTIONS ON MARCH 28
Higher Election Board decided to hold local elections on March 28, 2004 which was earlier expected to be held on April 18. There were difference of opinions among YSK members about the date of local elections.
GUL: DON'T MAKE POLITICS BY SENDING MESSAGE TO TURKEY
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul warned Iraqi Governing Council for not making politics over Turkey. Noting that the government would use its authority to send soldiers after all of the conditions were fulfilled, Gul sent a message to the United States that necessary conditions should be completed rapidly.
(GC-ÖŞ) 11.10.2003