ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 19, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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CONFESSIONS OF AL-QAIDA
Confessions of a militant have unveiled acts of the Al-Qaida terrorist network, which is believed to have been behind Saturday's devastating bomb attacks on Istanbul's two main synagogues. Mehmet Ince, who was captured on July 30, 2002 in a joint operation of security forces and the National Intelligence Agency (MIT), confessed that he was given military and bomb training in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. Ince claimed that Al-Qaida had been collecting illegal money and provided its militant with false passports.
PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN HARSHLY CONDEMNS SYNAGOGUE BOMBINGS
Speaking at the group meeting of the Justice and Development Party (AK party), Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''heinous terrorist acts in Istanbul have overshadowed the recent atmosphere of tranquillity and peace. This inhuman attack targeted both our Muslim and Jewish citizens. It was an attack against our peaceful and friendly relations. But, those who intended to harm our tranquillity, will not be able to reach their obnoxious targets.''
''SOME COUNTRIES ARE CRYING CROCODILE TEARS''
Following Saturday's dual bomb attacks on two synagogues in Istanbul, the government has reproached some European countries for extending support to the terrorist organization for years. Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek underlined that many countries had supported terrorists for years, adding, ''some countries, which sent us messages to extend their condolences should think about everything once again. Otherwise, they would have been crying crocodile tears.'' Noting that some countries used terrorists as 'political instruments', Cicek said, ''some countries have still been suspending Turkey's requests for extradition of terrorists due to unconvincing reasons. So, how can they dare do send these messages of condolences?''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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SURPRISING MISSION
NATO which undertook the command of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan a few months ago is getting prepared to assign Hikmet Cetin who earlier served as Parliament Speaker and Foreign Minister to an important mission in Kabul. U.S. diplomatic sources told Milliyet that NATO Secretary General George Robertson would announce on Wednesday that Cetin would serve as the highest civilian administrator of NATO in Afghanistan. An official from the United States told Milliyet that Cetin was a leader who was known with his skills and political experience.
WE FEEL DEEPLY SORRY FOR RESULT: TURKEY 1-GERMANY 1
Turkish national football team drew with Germany 1-1 in the European Under-21 Championship playoff. Turkey was very good in the match. Hamit Altintop kicked a goal at the 68th minute. When Turkey was trying to score the second goal, Auer kicked a goal at the 90+2 minutes. Turkey drew with Germany 1-1 in the European Under-21 Championship playoff.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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A TEARFUL MESSAGE TO WHOLE WORLD
Our Jewish citizens, who lost their lives in Saturday's gory terrorist attacks, were sent to their final voyage with caskets draped in the red star and crescent flag of Turkey, an honor only reserved for dignitaries and soldiers or police. Six Jewish people, who became victim of a horrifying attack, were laid to rest in a tearful funeral in the Ashkenazi Jewish Cemetery in Ulus district of Istanbul. Despite the rain, hundreds of people attended the funeral and paid their last tribute to Avram Varol, Yoel Ulcer Kohen, Yona Romano, Berta Ozdogan, Anet Talu Rubinstein and Anna Rubinstein. The funeral has unveiled once again that there was not any discrimination among religious beliefs in Turkey. During the funeral, messages were given to the whole world to underline peace and brotherhood. Chief Rabbinate in Turkey stressed that terrorism could not disrupt brotherhood relations between Turkish and Jewish peoples.
RAID IN ISTANBUL COURTHOUSE
Supporters of the terrorist organization of PKK raided Istanbul's main court house yesterday. The group, describing itself as the ''Youth Initiative for Social Peace'', chanted slogans in support of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization. They unfurled banners from a third-floor window reading ''democratic solution for the Kurdish problem and shut down Imrali prison''. Security forces used teargas to storm the courthouse and captured supporters.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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''ATTACK HAS LINK WITH AFGHANISTAN'
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that it has emerged that bomb attacks staged on two synagogues in Istanbul had link with an organization in Afghanistan in terms of belief and understanding. Gul said that terrorist action was an action which targeted all humanity and stated that the world should fight against terrorism as a single front.
SAD CEREMONY FOR VICTIMS
Thousands of people attended religious ceremony which was held in Ashenaz Jewish graveyard in Ulus for six citizens of Jewish origin who died in the blasts which took place in two synagogues last Saturday. Israeli Parliament Speaker Reouven Rivlin, State Minister Guldal Aksit, Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler, Istanbul Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna, leaders of religious communities in Turkey and many citizens of Jewish origin attended the ceremony.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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''WE DO NOT ACCEPT MESSAGES FROM TERRORISTS''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed in a speech he delivered at the group meeting of his Justice and Development Party (AK Party), ''if a message is tried to be given to our state through terrorism, we absolutely reject it. This heinous attack, in fact, targeted Turkey. It was understood once again that terrorism cannot have any nationalities or religious beliefs. Organizations and states expecting terrorism to help themselves, can face with the same trouble in future.''
''YOU WILL LIVE IN OUR HEARTS''
With mournful chants and prayers both in Hebrew and Turkish, hundreds of people bid last farewells to six Jewish victims of Saturday's twin suicide bombings at Istanbul synagogues. Their caskets were draped with Turkey's red flag emblazoned with a white crescent and star, and topped with a tall, white candle for the funeral at Jewish cemetery in Ulus neighborhood. Speaking at the funeral, Turkey's Chief Rabbi Isak Haleva said, ''these attacks did not only target Jews. People from all religions died in these meaningless and inhuman attacks. My call is to the world and all humanity: let's come together and love each other.'' Scores of police stood guard outside the cemetery's gates and walls, and sharpshooters were perched on rooftops and balconies across from the cemetery.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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HATEFUL ATTACK ON TURKISH PRESS
A bomb attack was staged on live-broadcast vehicle of IHA news agency of Turkey, which has been covering developments in Irbil town of Iraq. There were not any casualties in the attack since the vehicle was empty. The attack caused severe damage in the vehicle.
BODY BELONGS TO CABUK
It was revealed that one of bodies, which were brought to the Forensic Medicine Institute following Saturday's synagogue bombings in Istanbul, belonged to Mesut Cabuk, a member of the illegal organization of Islamic Movement. Cabuk is believed to had been driver of one of the explosives-laden pickup trucks which were detonated in front of Istanbul's famous synagogues.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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'I'M REJECTING MESSAGE GIVEN THROUGH TERRORISM'
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that no one could threaten Turkey through terrorism and stated that if there was a message which wanted to be given through terrorism to state or government, he was rejecting it. Erdogan who addressed Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) group meeting talked about bomb attacks staged on two synagogues in Istanbul and killing 25 people. ''When I was in Cyprus, I heard some rumors asking why I don't put an emphasis our citizens of Jewish origin? People who died in bomb attacks are all citizens of Turkey. No matter what their religions are, all of them are Turkish citizens and our people. We have made the stress on it,'' he stated.
SUPPORTERS OF PKK STAGE DEMONSTRATION IN COURTHOUSE
A group of people staged a demonstration in Istanbul Courthouse and chanted slogans, ''freedom to Abdullah Ocalan,'' the head of the terrorist organization, is currently serving imprisonment terms in Imrali Prison. The group which locked themselves in the small corridor on the third floor prevented personnel of the court from going out. Activists unfurled a banner from the third floor. The banner wrote: ''Democratic solution to Kurdish problem. Imrali Prison should be shut down. Youth Initiative for Social Peace.'' Police who used teargas detained the group comprised of 21 people. Officials said that police continued to question those people.
(EÖ-UK-AY) 19.11.2003