ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 22, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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BBC: ''TERRORIST ATTACKS WILL NOT AFFECT TURKISH ECONOMY''
British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) said that Turkish economy would not be affected by terrorist attacks in Istanbul, stressing that Turkish economy would continue to grow in 2004. Meanwhile, price of one U.S. dollar, which was increased sharply following Thursday's attacks, decreased again. Rates of interest also reduced.
SCHILY: ''TURKEY SHOULD BE GIVEN A DATE FOR OPENING OF ACCESSION TALKS''
In a reaction to recent terrorist attacks in Istanbul, German Interior Minister Otto Schily said that the European Union's (EU) setting a date for opening of accession talks with Turkey would be the best answer to terrorism. Schily added that the EU should further strengthen Turkey's ties with Europe.
18 DETENTION IN FIRST DAY
Provincial Directorate of Security in Istanbul, which found out those who were responsible for synagogue bombings in a short period of time, detained 18 people following Thursday's dual bomb attacks in Levent and Beyoglu districts. Police has concentrated on vehicles which were used in the attacks. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul verified that several people were detained following the attacks.
BOMB ATTACKS TOP AGENDA OF NSC MEETING
Connections of Turkish fundamentalist organizations in Afghanistan and Chechnya were taken up in detail during yesterday's meeting of the National Security Council (NSC). The statement, which was released at the end of the meeting, stressed that terrorism could not reach its gory targets. The statement also called for regional and global co-operation against terrorism.
U.S. PRESIDENT BUSH TELEPHONES ERDOGAN: ''STAY FIRM MY FRIEND''
U.S. President George W. Bush telephoned Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and extended his condolences following Thursday's twin bombings in Istanbul. ''Stay firm my friend,'' President Bush told Erdogan. He added that the United States was ready to co-operate against international terrorism.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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FIRE STILL BURNS IN HEARTS
People who died in bomb attacks which took place in Istanbul on Thursday were among us. They are victims of terrorism. No one should forget them. Aynur Erkoca, who was 36 years old, died in the bomb attack near HSBC headquarters in Levent district of Istanbul on Thursday. She had worked in the banking sector for 13 years. Nadide Demirbozan, who was 27 years old, had a three-year-old child. She was keeping the cafe of the Britain's consulate general in Istanbul. She went to the cafe on Thursday and never returned back. 22-year-old Ahmet Dama started to work as a driver and got engaged two weeks ago. His relative called Dama, but someone else answered his mobile phone and said, ''he is in the morgue now.''
BUSH CALLS ERDOGAN AND EXPRESSES HIS SORROW
U.S. President George W. Bush, who is paying a visit to Britain, spoke to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan by phone. Bush told Erdogan that he shared sorrow of Turkey and stated that they wanted to work against terrorism with Turkey. Bush noted that the United States was ready for every kind of cooperation. Erdogan told Bush that their fight against terrorism would continue.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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SHOULDER TO SHOULDER AGAINST TERRORISM
Silent protests will be held throughout Turkey on Saturday. People will hold demonstrations to protest bomb attacks which killed more than 50 people in Istanbul in five days. Protests will be held under the pioneership of Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Turk-Is), Moral Rights Workers Union (Hak-is), Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK), unions of civil servants and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Taksim square in Istanbul, Kizilay square in Ankara and Konak square in Izmir at 11.00 local time. The protests aim to show ''we will not stay silent against terrorism.''
STRAW SAYS EU PATH SHOULD BE OPENED TO TURKEY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said that this attack against British targets and Turkey in fact strengthened relations of the two countries, and stated that Turkey should become a full member of the European Union (EU) as soon as possible. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Straw who visited HSBC Bank Headquarters in Levent district of Istanbul, which was one of the sights of Thursday's blasts in Istanbul, held a joint press conference. Straw said that Turkish security forces were very strong and he trusted in them.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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''LET'S TAKE STREETS AGAINST TERRORISM''
Non-governmental organizations including Confederation of Turkish Labor Unions (Turk-Is), Moral Rights Workers Union (Hak-is), Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK), Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK) and Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions (TISK) will hold silent protests throughout Turkey to give the message, ''peace against acts of violence and terrorism''. The protests are scheduled to start at 11.00 local time.
NO CO-OPERATION IN INTELLIGENCE
Security sources highlighted importance of revealing new methodology of terrorist organizations, which are responsible for four bombings in Istanbul. Noting that intelligence services of many countries including the United States' CIA and Israel's MOSSAD had not clearly co-operated with Turkey, the same sources claimed that police, soldiers and the National Intelligence Agency (MIT) failed to carry out a coordinated work.
CARNATIONS FOR THE DEAD
A group of people laid carnations in front of HSBC building, one of the targets of Thursday's bomb attacks in Istanbul, out of respect to those who lost their lives in the bombings. They said, ''terrorism cannot intimidate us. Those who were killed or wounded in the bombings, were not soldiers fighting in war zones. They were civilian people earning their living.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TURKEY ALLOWED TO LAUNCH CROSS-BORDER OPERATIONS
The United Nations Security Council has taken a decision following the terrorists attacks in Istanbul, and granted Turkey right of launching cross-border operations under self-defense.
ATTACKS TOP AGENDA OF NSC MEETING
Terrorism was high on agenda of yesterday's meeting of the National Security Council (NSC). A file including names and activities of nearly a thousand Turkish citizens, who fought in Chechnya, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Afghanistan 'in the name of Islam', was discussed at the meeting.
GUL: ''WE WILL NOT SUBMIT TO TERRORISM''
At a joint press conference together with British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Jack Straw, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul stressed that Turkey would not submit to terrorism. Meanwhile, Straw said that such terrorist acts had further strengthened relations between the countries. Meanwhile, U.S. President George W. Bush said in a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the United States was ready to extend all kinds of co-operation.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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WORLD WITH US
Turkey has always left alone in its fight against terrorism for years. However, recent bomb attacks in Istanbul have changed it. Now, Turkey has received a great support from the world. In their statements, world leaders harshly condemned recent bombings, and stressed that all countries should extend support to Turkey in international relations. While German Interior Minister Otto Schily said that recent terrorist attacks in Istanbul had entailed the European Union (EU) to open accession talks with Turkey as soon as possible, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell emphasized that they would fight against terrorism together with Turkey till the end.
AL-QAIDA CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY
Al-Qaida terrorism network has claimed responsibility of the second twin bombings in Istanbul. Al-Qaida said that the attacks aimed at disrupting the peace of Britain, which has been fighting against the Islam.
A NEW ERA STARTS
Holding a press conference together with British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Jack Straw, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''a new era will start in fight against terrorism.'' Meanwhile, Straw said in his part that such terrorist attacks had further strengthened relations between the countries. He added that recent bombings had entailed them to accelerate Turkey's European Union (EU) membership process.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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AL-QAIDA CLAIMS RESPONSIBILITY OF ATTACKS IN ISTANBUL
A unit of terrorist organization al Qaida, the Abu Hafz al-Masri Brigades, claimed the responsibility for the bomb attacks in Istanbul. According to the Reuters, a statement which was published by the organization said that British interests in Turkey were targeted to spoil peace of Britain which fought against Islam. The statement was published on a web site, called Al Mujahidoun, and claimed to have deliberately targeted British Consul-General Roger Short who was killed in the bombing. The group called Short the mastermind of the British policy in Iraq, Turkey, Syria, and Iran.
UNITY OF CITIZENS AGAINST TERRORISM
Terrorism which aims to create fear in society did not affect society in a way that was expected by terrorism. Reconstruction was started in buildings which were damaged by bombings. Turkish flags were hung on houses and working places near HSBC headquarters in Levent district of Istanbul. Citizens throughout the country said, ''those kind of attacks cannot discourage us.''
(EÖ-UK) 22.11.2003