ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on December 9th, 2006. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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CHIEF OF STAFF INFORMED BUT NO OPINION IN RETURN
Two senior Turkish diplomats informed the General Staff on Wednesday on Turkey's recent proposal regarding the ports dispute, but no opinion was received in return, a source close to the government has said.
Chief of Staff General Yasar Buyukanit said that he was not informed on Turkey's recent move concerning the Cyprus issue.
PRODI AND MERKEL BACK TURKEY'S PORTS PROPOSAL
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi have supported Turkey's recent ports proposal at a gala at the renowned La Scala Theatre of Rome.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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PORT CHAOS
Europe has been debating Ankara's proposal to open one of its ports to the Greek Cypriot traffic. While General Staff Chief Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said that he heard about the proposal from TV channels, Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul defended that they informed both the president and the General Staff on the proposal. On the other hand, some EU-member countries said that Turkey should release a written statement about its proposal.
SOCIAL SECURITY DISPUTE
The Union of Turkish Chambers & Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) has warned the government that the new Social Security Law, which will come into effect in 2007, will disrupt the social peace. It said that some business places could be closed down, and unregistered economy could rise.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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SOLDIERS WERE INFORMED
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ertugrul Apagan and his predecessor Ali Tuygan informed Deputy Chief of Staff General Ergin Saygun late Tuesday about Turkey's proposal to open a port and an airport to Greek Cypriot traffic in return for the opening of Ercan Airport and Magusa port to international trade.
Chief of General Staff General Yasar Buyukanit said that he heard about the proposal from the television.
EU WANTS TO SEE A WRITTEN DOCUMENT
EU diplomats wanted to see Turkey's proposal regarding the ports dispute in a written document as they characterized a Finnish preliminary document on the issue as insufficient.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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"WE INFORMED, BUT DID NOT ASK THEIR OPINION"
After General Staff Chief Gen. Yasar Buyukanit has criticised the government that it failed to inform them on the proposal about the Cyprus issue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it informed both the Presidential Palace and the General Staff. Sources said that the ministry explained the content and target of the plan, but did not ask their opinion.
TRAFFIC POLICE TO BECOME HISTORY
A summit meeting was held with the participation of four ministers to find a solution to the traffic jam in Istanbul. During the meeting, it was decided to leave control and management of traffic to the municipality in Istanbul for a certain period of time.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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STATE IGNORED
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan failed to inform the parliament, the president and the Turkish Armed Forces about Turkey's controversial proposal on the Cyprus issue and the ports dispute.
A NEW HOLY ALLIANCE
Seeds which Pope Benedict XVI has sowed in Istanbul against secularism are growing rapidly as the city is hosting today a seminar called "State-Religion Relation in the EU Countries." The name of the operation is already defined: "The new holy alliance against secularism."
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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EU: "TURKEY'S BID WAS NOT ENOUGH"
The Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) could not make a decision about Turkey's proposal to open one of its ports and an airport to the Greek Cypriot traffic. The EU said that that Turkey's last-minute offer was not enough, and asked Turkey to release a written statement.
HARSH REACTION AGAINST AKP
The Republican People's Party and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) have harshly criticized the government for failing to inform the Presidential Palace, the General Staff and the opposition parties on its recent move. CHP leader Deniz Baykal said, "the government did not inform the parliament, the General Staff and the opposition parties. This is nothing but a secret concession." On the other hand, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the opposition parties were trying to mislead the public opinion.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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NOW EU'S TURN TO TAKE STEPS
Turkey's proposal to open one of its ports and an airport to the Greek Cypriot traffic has been high on agenda of the EU. EU foreign ministers will discuss the proposal on Monday. The EU is expected to make a final decision during the EU Heads of State & Government Summit on December 14th and 15th.
"NO ONE CAN DAMAGE TRNC'S ESTEEM"
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has indicated that a number of countries including the United States had held official talks with the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) so far. "These talks were results of our efforts. No one can damage the TRNC's esteem," he stressed.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY'S CYPRUS MOVE DIVIDES THE EU
Turkey's last minute move has confused minds in the European Union. EU President Finland said the proposal was "positive" yet "insufficient." But no decision could be made due to disagreement between the members. EU leaders will say the final word at a Dec. 14th summit.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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BRUSSELS LOCKED
Turkey's proposal on opening of ports mutually has locked the EU's agenda. The EU, which considered the proposal positive, tries to find a response. On the other hand, European media said that the EU should give a generous response.
ERDOGAN'S TELEPHONE DIPLOMACY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held telephone conversations with U.S. President George W. Bush, Greek Prime Minister Konstandinos Karamanlis and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, and asked them to make positive contributions to efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus issue.