ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 4, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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STATE TO DIMINISH
The draft law about the public administration reform has come to the stage of being submitted to the parliament for approval. Under the draft, the state will diminish by 50 percent. Many authorities of the central administration will be handed over to provincial administrations and municipalities together with their sources. As a result, hospitals, schools and museums will be handed over to provincial administrations and municipalities.
AN INVITATION TO ANNUL DEATH PENALTY
Prior to the release of the Progress Report by the European Union (EU), the government has taken an urgent action to annul death penalty. Additional Article 13 of the European Convention on Human Rights lifting death penalty under all conditions including warfare and terrorism was opened to signature of members of the Council of Ministers.
DOCTORS TO GO ON STRIKE
Doctors will go on strike throughout Turkey on November 5 with a request of improvement of their working conditions. Hospitals will not serve except for emergency units and treatment of chronic patients. Doctors want increase in their salaries for a humanly life, labor security, and free and equal right of health.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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FIRST CYPRUS, THEN EU
The details of strategy document, which is the most important part of Progress Report to be announced tomorrow by the European Union (EU) Commission, become clear. The significant part of the document is Cyprus issue. The commission, which passed over Cyprus issue in Progress Report, establishes a direct connection between Turkey's starting membership negotiations and solving Cyprus issue in strategy document. Sources said that the formula was set as: ''not finding a solution to Cyprus issue can be a serious obstacle for Turkey's EU expectations.''
''IF THERE IS A THREAT, THERE WILL BE AN INTERVENTION''
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that if there was a threat from the north of Iraq, the government would not hesitate intervention. Gul, who participated in debates over Foreign Ministry budget in Parliamentary Plan and Budget Commission, replied to criticisms of Republican People's Party (CHP) about U.S. loan worth of 8.5 billion dollars and the issue of sending soldiers to Iraq. Noting that they took authority from parliament to send soldiers to Iraq, Gul said that if conditions to serve Turkey's vision appeared, then Turkey would send soldiers. Regarding U.S. loan worth of 8.5 billion dollars, Gul said that if they decided to use the loan, they would act as they knew. He added that they would not hesitate every type of intervention, if there was a threat from Iraq or the north of Iraq.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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WE INTRODUCE REPUBLIC WITH EXPORT
Turkey made exports worth of 39 billion dollars in ten months which is more than total export amount of 2002. Exporters broke the record of 80 years in the forming anniversary of Republic and made an export worth of 4.9 billion dollars in one month. Turkish firms which made export to 137 countries of the world exported goods worth of 39 billion dollars in ten months of 2003.
HOLBROOKE: DON'T SEND SOLDIERS TO IRAQ
U.S. Former Deputy Secretary of State Richard C. Holbrooke said that Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq would bring harm more than benefit and called Ankara for using initiative and suspending its decision to send soldiers to Iraq. Making a speech in Turgut Ozal conference which is held annually by Washington Institute, Holbrooke evaluated the last one year of Turkish-U.S. relations. Blaming Bush administration for not attributing enough importance to Turkey, Holbrooke addressed Turkey directly regarding the issue of sending soldiers and said that Turkey should not send soldiers at the moment.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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GUL: ''IF A THREAT IS IN QUESTION, WE WILL DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY''
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''if we face a threat from northern Iraq, Turkey will intervene in the region. Nothing including the loan of 8.5 billion U.S. dollars to be given by the United States to Turkey can prevent us from intervening in such a threat under the United Nations and international agreements. If there is not such a threat, why shall we dispatch our soldiers to the region?''
ASAD TO PAY HIS FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO TURKEY
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul conveyed Turkey's official invitation to President Bashar al-Asad of Syria. President Asad is expected to pay a visit to Turkey in January of 2004. Meanwhile, Gul during his visit to Syrian capital Damascus gave the message that confidence-building process should be maintained to increase the bilateral relations between Turkey and Syria to the highest level.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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DIET FOR A FAT STATE
The draft law about public administration reform will be submitted to the parliament soon. The draft will rebuild the state which was described as a ''fat man'' by Prime Ministry Undersecretary Omer Dincer. The draft arranges transition from ''perpendicular state'' to horizontal organization. Authorities and responsibilities of the state about local requirements will be handed over to local administrations. Under the draft, number of state ministries will be decreased to eight.
ALMOST ACHIEVED
Wholesale prices increased by 0.6 percent and consumer prices rose by 1.4 percent in October of 2003. The State Institute of Statistics announced that the annual inflation rate in October was 16.1 percent in wholesale prices and 20.8 percent in consumer prices. Ten-month inflation rate was calculated as 11.3 percent in wholesale prices and 15.5 percent in consumer prices. According to 12-month averages as of October, annual inflation became 28.5 percent in wholesale prices and 27.4 percent in consumer prices.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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''MINI STATE'' IS OKEY
Public Management Basic Draft Law is completed and about to be presented to Parliament. The draft law which will make the state smaller will be opened to signature in Council of Ministers and then will be presented to Parliament. State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said that they would face with some resistance in practice and noted the importance of political determination. Noting that the number of State Ministries would be decreased from 20 to 8, Sahin said that when the draft law, which envisioned restructuring, would be put into practice, saving worth of 500 trillion Turkish Liras would be envisaged annually in public.
GUL: ''WE ENTER IRAQ''
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul replied to questions and criticisms of deputies during the debates over 2004 financial year budget of Foreign Ministry in Parliamentary Plan and Budget Commission. Upon the questions of deputies regarding U.S. loan worth of 8.5 billion dollars, Gul said that the loan was unilateral decision of the U.S. Congress and added that if there was any threat, Turkey would enter the north of Iraq.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ALLIANCE IN LEFT
Social Democrat People's Party (SHP) leader Murat Karayalcin met with Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal for alliance in the left. Noting that the meeting inspired him hope, Karayalcin told reporters following the meeting that Baykal and he would come together again in the coming days.
HACIOGLU: ''CHP SHOULD LIFT THE BAN ON HEADSCARF''
Memduh Hacioglu, a deputy of the opposing Republican People's Party (CHP) wanted his party to undertake a pioneering role to lift the ban on headscarf for university students. Hacioglu said, ''it is time to solve this issue now. Our people want us to find a solution. Our party should do this.''
AGE OF USING ILLICIT DRUGS DECREASES TO 13
Public surveys carried out by non-governmental organizations and the Directorate General of Security revealed that age of using illicit drug decreased to 13. Even primary school students use illicit drugs such as hashish, heroin and ecstasy.
(UK-GC-AÖ) 04.11.2003