ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on September 11th, 2006. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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KUWAITIS OFFERED 750 MLN USD FOR CEVAHIR
Istanbul's Cevahir Shopping Mall, the biggest mall in Europe, will be sold to Kuwaiti Investment Administration, of which Kuwaiti Treasury is also a partner. The mall, owned by Istanbul Municipality and Cevahir Holding, cost about 250 million USD. Ibrahim Cevahir used to say that he would not sell it below 1 billion USD. But, it is learned that parties have reached the final stage in their bargaining. It is also learned that Kuwaiti Investment Administration offered 750 million USD.
BE CAREFUL ABOUT THIS TRAP
The terrorist organization PKK has started to implement a "very sly plan" regarding the incidents and reactions seen in the funeral of martyrs in recent days. According to the intelligence plan submitted to PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the terrorist organization is planning to provoke people to make their styles severer against the state, government and Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) during the funerals. The report said, "establishing a connection with the mothers of the martyrs through peace mothers. Hampering the morale ties between the state and citizens. Inciting Turkish-Kurdish conflict." And the plan was put into practice two days ago. The so-called headquarter commander of the PKK said, "we offer condolences to the family of second lieutenant Zeki Burak Okay and share their agony." And then it is learned that "peace mothers" will ask for an appointment from Okay family.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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"ERDOGAN'S ADVISERS MISLED USA"
Faruk Logoglu, who was Turkey's Ambassador to the USA when the March 1 motion (on dispatch of Turkish troops abroad and deployment of foreign troops in Turkey) was not adopted by the parliament, spoke for the first time. Logoglu was appointed to Washington D.C. ten days after the September 11th terrorist attacks, and was the ambassador of Turkey in the most challenging days of Turkish-U.S. relations. Logoglu said, "rejection of March 1 motion harmed the confidence between Turkey and the USA. What was done to the Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq caused psychological deterioration. The mistake of U.S. authorities was to believe the unofficial channels that gave the message 'the motion would be passed'. It is claimed that the prime minister said it but in my opinion some others, speaking on behalf of him, might have made this promise. The U.S. authorities were sure that the motion would be passed, and they made their war plans accordingly. They were demoralized when it was not adopted. Relations carried out with advisers are sometimes unhealthy. These channels should not speak when important decisions which may affect our relations with the USA are being made." Logoglu also noted that he warned the U.S. authorities not to take what Erdogan's advisers were saying as serious, but he could not make them listen. "Then they came to me and said that I was right, but it was too late."
HERE IS COMMUNITY'S ILLEGAL BUILDING
There is a Koran course in the illegally constructed building that belongs to the Ismailaga community in Fatih neighborhood. And the course was opened under the auspices of the Religious Affairs DG. The son of the community leader is a hodja in this course.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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"PKK TERRORISM" HORRIFYING
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson wrote for Sabah on the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. "PKK terrorism is horrifying, and we are feeling deep sorrow for the terror victims. We are determined to support Turkey to get out of this fight with a victory. We will continue to stand against hatred ideologies. The USA and Turkey will do this together."
91 DIED DUE TO TERRORISM IN 7 MONTHS
According to figures of Turkish Foreign Ministry, 21 security officers died due to terrorism in 2003, this number was 73 in 2004 and 97 in 2005. 91 people died due to terrorism in the first seven months of this year, while 25 of them were killed in July.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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AKP-MHP TENSION IN SOGUT
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan was the target of nationalists during some ceremonies held in (northwestern town of) Sogut. The group chanted slogans and opened a banner writing "the prime ministry is not a place just to sit down and enjoy oneself", which was a reference to PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan's remarks regarding the martyrs. Police sprayed tear gas on demonstrators. On the other hand, Erdogan said, "this is not a place for parties to perform shows."
TURKEY AT THE TIPPING POINT
U.S. New York Times daily wrote that the USA should "frankly" acknowledge that the instability in Iraq has fomented instability in Turkey. The paper stressed that Washington should particularly deal with Cyprus, and the EU should extend assistance to Turks.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ANGER AT ERDOGAN
When Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan was entering the stadium in which a ceremony will be held to commemorate Ertugrul Ghazi (the father of Osman Ghazi, who founded the Ottoman Empire) in Sogut, a group of people chanted slogans, "damn PKK, collaborator AKP" (Erdogan's ruling Justice & Development Party. A brawl occurred due to the tension among the members of the AKP and MHP (Nationalist Movement Party). A group attacked on PM's bodyguards with brass knuckles. Erdogan's nephew and bodyguard Ali Erdogan was injured in the brawl, while another bodyguard was wounded in his arm.
SISECAM ENTERS RUSSIAN MARKET
Anadolu Cam (glassware), a firm under the Sisecam Group, opened Ruscam-Ufa factory in Bashkortostan Autonomous Republic in Russian Federation. Thus, Sisecam's abroad production capacity has exceeded 700,000 tons.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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WHATEVER ISMAILAGA COMMUNITY DOES, AUTHORITIES REMAIN SILENT
It is known that Ismailaga community is more powerful than the mafia since February. And, a week has passed after a person was lynched in a mosque. However, nobody has been taken into custody yet.
BOTH RAIN AND STORM
Rainy weather will continue till the end of this week, said executives of the Meteorology DG. Temperatures will fall, and heavy wind and storm will be influential in Turkey this week.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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WE DECLARED WAR AGAINST TURKS
The first prime minister of Armenia, Ovanes Kacaznuni had denied the so-called Armenian genocide allegations of the Armenian lobbies. In a report he submitted to the Armenian meeting held in Bucharest in 1923, Kacaznuni revealed that the Armenians actually massacred Turks. Kacaznuni wrote in his report, "we demanded that an Armenia should be established from the Ottoman (land) to the Mediterranean. We set up voluntary units immediately, rebelled against Turks and battled. The Armenia dream, promised to us by the Allies, was the basis of our revolt, and we could not see the realities."
EXPORT PROMOTION TOUR TO USA
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen went to the USA with 100 businessmen. He said, "we aim to raise our bilateral trade to 15 billion USD within three years."
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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HEADSCARF ISSUE IN EU REPORT FOR FIRST TIME
The headscarf issue was included in the Turkey report of the European Parliament (EP) for the first time. MEP Cem Ozdemir of Turkish origin and Dutch MEP Joost Lagendijk helped this matter be mentioned in the report.
AKP-MHP TENSION IN SOGUT FESTIVAL
Tension escalated between the members of the AKP (Justice & Development Party) and the MHP (Nationalist Movement Party) during a festival in Sogut. The supporters of MHP chanted slogans like "collaborator AKP, Israel is proud of you", "Prime Minister to Kurdistan, Bilal to Lebanon, and Turkish troops to Kandil".
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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AKP BUS STONED
A bus carrying members of the AKP (Justice & Development Party) was stoned in Sogut. A girl was wounded by a stone, while a person was stabbed and injured.
THY BREAKS RECORD
Turkish Airlines' (THY) profit was up 141 percent in the Q2 of 2006, and broke a record by reaching 32 million new Turkish liras (YTL).