ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 7, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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IMF SAYS GOVERNMENT SHOULD RESPECT AUTONOMY OF BRSA
International Monetary Fund (IMF) External Relations Director Thomas Dawson assessed developments in the Banking Regulatory and Supervisory Agency (BRSA) and praised former BRSA Chairman Engin Akcakoca who resigned from his post. Dawson said that they expected to establish the same constructive relation with the new chairman of BRSA. Dawson held a press conference in Washington D.C. and said that they also expected the government to continue to respect autonomy and professional character of BRSA. Stating that Akcakoca played a key role in his work for making sounder banking sector in Turkey, Dawson said that they considered sounder banking system which was formed in Turkey as one of important achievements of the economic program.
When asked when the IMF Executive Board would convene to end the sixth review period of the economic program, Dawson said that they expected the Board to convene at the end of November, and stated that but there was not a definite date yet. Dawson added that they would announce it when a date was determined.
STATE MINISTER BABACAN SAYS NUMBER OF BIDS FOR TEKEL IS GOOD
State Minister Ali Babacan said that what was important in privatization of state-run Tobacco and Liquor Administration (TEKEL) was not the amount of bids, but the government's view to privatization. Babacan said that there would be privatization as the government wanted it. Noting that the number of companies which made bids for TEKEL was very good, Babacan said that the market would determine the figure concerning the privatization of TEKEL. Babacan added that political will behind privatization had not been put forward by any government for 10 years.
FEBRUARY 28 CRYPTOS
Eight ''secret and urgent'' cryptos sent from the U.S. Embassy in Ankara to Washington between June 12, 1997 and June 20, 1997 were seized. The problematic days which started in Turkey on February 28, 1997 were giving the signals there would be a storm in the country. How tension between Refahyol government which had been on political power those days and institutions which did not make any concession from secularism would end? Necmettin Erbakan, who was the then prime minister, resigned from his post on June 18 when Turkey was returning from a threshold of a ''de facto'' coup. Eight ''secret and urgent'' cryptos were seized. Those cryptos put forward clearly that Washington did not have any idea whether there would be a military coup in Turkey or not.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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MYOPIC EUROPE
British The Times daily, which evaluated European Union (EU) Commission's Regular Report on the progress towards accession of Turkey for 2003, said that EU was always putting obstacles before Turkey and noted that Europe should better understand value of that country. The Times, one of the most respected newspapers of Britain, said in its editorial on Turkey's progress report, stressed that EU should encourage Turkey to progress on the road to membership. The editorial noted that the report underlined steps taken by Turkey in human rights, judicial reform and democratic control of army and said that it was a right behavior. But, the editorial read, the report said that political and legal arrangements were not sufficient. Stating that Cyprus issue was added to deficiencies of Turkey in that last report, The Times published some parts of statements of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and stressed that Turkey was assuming an encouraging approach.
IT IS A BIRTHDAY!
''War'' erupted in Kizilay Square in Ankara on the anniversary of foundation of Higher Education Board (YOK). Police, who started to behave more severely after an attack of a group of protesters, drove panzers on protestors. The crowd dispersed to other streets and roads and incidents continued in those streets and roads for some more time. Ten policemen, 30 protestors and one journalist were injured while ten students were detained in the demonstration.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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GAZIANTEP BLINKS TO ROUND: 3-0
Gaziantep soccer club of Turkey had won a victory in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Cup. Gaziantep defeated Lens 3-0 and had a great advantage for the third round. Devran, Bouazizi and Lazarov scored Gaziantep's goals. Johnson missed a penalty in the 19th minute. Meanwhile, other Turkish representative in UEFA, Genclerbirligi, could not beat but drew with S. Lisbon 1-1. Veysel scored our goal for the draw.
SHOCKING MISTAKES IN TEKEL
Sezai Ensari, the Director General of state-run Tobacco and Liquor Administration (TEKEL), defined the bid for privatization of cigarette and alcoholic beverages enterprises as ''an insult to TEKEL'' and listed the mistakes in the privatization tender as follows: ''We thought that many companies would submit bids for the tender. We did not take pulse of companies. We could not show a sub-limit for price and did not call for a public auction.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ANKARA AT A CRITICAL POINT
The European Union's (EU) Cyprus condition is giving a sign of a new process in Turkey-EU relations and Cyprus. The government did not react to the condition in order not to harm relations between Turkey and EU. It was said that the condition can cause some difficulties in the coming months. Foreign Ministry made an assessment on the issue that Turkey was at an critical point for starting of membership negotiations with the Union.
SULTANS OF NET WIN MATCH WITH DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Turkey defeated Dominican Republic 3-0 in its fifth match in the Women's World Cup volleyball tournament in Japan. Especially Natalia, Neslihan and Aysun attracted the attention by playing very good during the match. Turkish national volleyball team will take on host country Japan on Saturday.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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HEARING BAN ON SUSPECT WEARING HEADSCARF
The Supreme Court of Appeals reacted to headscarf in a case in which 63 suspects including Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek are being tried. During the court session in the Fourth Criminal Department, chief judge Fadil Inan said that only people who did not wear headscarves could join court sessions and asked suspect Hatice Hasdemir, who was wearing a headscarf, to leave the court hall. Hasdemir said that she was a suspect and wanted to stay in the hall. However, Inan said that ''it would not matter'' and reiterated his call. Then, Hasdemir had to leave the hall. Thus, discussions on headscarf and ''public area'' also occurred in judicial places.
BOTH PEACE AND MONEY
Compromise between Turkey and Greece on air corridors in the Aegean means 1 billion U.S. dollars of income. Ongoing air corridor problem with Greece has been solved. Number of air corridors are increased from two to 11. The agreement will be in effect as of December 25. This compromise will provide significant economic source for Turkey. The compromise which will save 40 minutes in flights from Europe to the Far East will bring an income of 1 billion U.S. dollars to Turkey, which takes service cost from planes to pass over its air space. The current income of Turkey is around 100 million U.S. dollars.
FIFTH WEEK WITHOUT VISIT
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan could not meet for five weeks. Regular weekly meeting of Erdogan and Sezer that should take place yesterday could not be held due to Sezer's problem in his waist.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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MEMBERSHIP OR CYPRUS
The European Union (EU) which said that ''Turkey has to solve Cyprus issue'' in the 2003 Progress Report on Wednesday made a clearer explanation on Thursday. Hansjorg Kretschmer, the Head of European Union (EU) Commission Representation to Turkey, said that Cyprus issue was not a part of political criteria and stated that but they attributed great importance to this issue. Stating that if Turkey solved the problem before the Greek Cypriot administration became a member of the EU, Turkey would also ease its membership. Kretschmer described the Progress Report as ''objective and fair'' and stated that Turkish Cypriot people first needed a solution on Cyprus issue. Kretschmer underlined that Annan's plan was the best proposal for a solution which had been put forward so far.
UNITED STATES GIVES UP IDEA OF DISPATCH OF TURKISH SOLDIERS TO IRAQ
Turkish troops were not included in the plan which was made for Iraq for six months. The United States which announced a rotation plan for its troops in Iraq did not include Turkish peace force troops in military force which will be formed in Iraq six months later. Observes assessed it as an evidence that Washington gave up the idea of dispatch of Turkish soldiers to Iraq. The U.S. administration which wants to decrease the number of soldiers in Iraq announced a rotation plan to change places of troops in Iraq.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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PEOPLE STILL BACKING THEIR VOTES IN NOVEMBER 3 GENERAL ELECTION
According to results of a survey carried out by GENAR research, training and consultancy company, Turkish people are still backing the votes they cast in November 3 general election. In accordance with the survey covering one-year Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government, AK Party increased its votes from 34 to 45.9 percent while votes for Republican People's Party (CHP) decreased by 2 points to 17.1 percent.
F-16 CRASHES IN TOKAT, PILOT SURVIVES
A F-16 war plane crashed near Utukkoyu village in Zile town of Black Sea Tokat province. Pilot of the plane who jumped out of the plane by parachute survived. A statement of General Staff said that F-16 crashed due to a technical failure.
(EÖ-BRC-AÖ) 07.11.2003