ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 8, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
UNITED STATES: ''UZANS HERE'' AND ANKARA: ''SEND THEM''
The United States officially notified Turkey that places of Kemal Uzan and Yavuz Uzan in the United States were found through Interpol. Kemal Uzan was in California and Yavuz Uzan was in New York. After Ankara received the news, it requested that Uzans should be captured and extradited immediately. Uzan was in San Francisco city of California state. Hurriyet daily announced on Sunday that Yavuz Uzan was staying in the famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York under another name. The issue came onto agenda during last week's visit of Justice Minister Cemil Cicek to the United States. U.S. Attorney General John Ascroft guaranteed that if Uzans were in the United States, they would be captured and sent to Turkey.''
''LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT WAR''
Greek Minister of National Defense Yiannos Papandoniou said that problems between Turkey and Greece could not be solved easily after Turkey became a European Union (EU) member. Papandoniou noted that problems should be solved now. Suggesting that they should not talk about war, Papandoniou proposed to solve problems through political ways.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
HERE IS THAT MADRASAH
There are students around the world in the Ebun Nur Islam Center, which has come onto agenda after bomb attacks in Istanbul. Their aim is to teach Shariah and Islam. Ebun Nur Islam Center in Damascus, where some young people from Turkey have education, offers education opportunities in every level from primary school to postgraduate degree. Milliyet daily went to Ebun Nur Islam Center in Damascus, where some of 20 people who were brought from Syria to Istanbul for interrogation after the bomb attacks and then released had education. Ebun Nur is about 30 kilometers away from Damascus Airport. Turkish students who want to have education here can come here through airway or highway. The center has preparation courses, primary and secondary education, preparatory school for Arabic language, Sheik Emin Kuftaru Koran Course, possibilities to graduate from Islamic sciences from outside, faculties where girl and boy students have separate education, Department of Koran and Commentary on the Koran Sciences, department of comparative fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and Islamic Sciences Department. There are some rules in order to have education here. Students sign a commitment. People who want to have education here have to obey Islamic orders and bans and have to be single not married. They should not leave Syria during their education period. Also, students are asked to wear Islamic clothes and give their passports to the administration when joining the school.
COMPETITION OF TWO GENERATIONS
Politics is the main issue of everybody in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) when only a few days are left to the general election. According to the elderly, ''national case'' will be voted in the elections while young people think that ''Annan plan'' will be voted. The common view on Cyprus is that a referendum will be held in TRNC on December 14 instead of an election. Citizens think that Annan plan will be voted. The general election will be like a referendum between ''Denktas and those who are against him.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
NOT BOMBS BUT UEFA HITS TERRORISM
Many European teams which had booked rooms in hotels in southern Antalya province for their camps have cancelled their reservations. The decision of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) to switch two European Champions League matches from Istanbul to neutral venues caused teams like Werder Bremen and Ajax to cancel their reservations in Antalya's hotels. Mehmet Aygun, owner of Titanic Hotel, said, ''two blasts in Istanbul did not cause these cancellations but in fact, UEFA's decision caused it.''
OFFICIAL EXTRADITION PROCEDURES LAUNCHED
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek announced that Kemal and Yavuz Uzan, who are wanted by red bulletin, were in the United States. Cicek said that the information was given by Interpol and added that they had launched the official process for extradition of the Uzans.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
PROMISE TO ENLIGHTENMENT
Local election strategy of Republican People's Party (CHP) was set in the meeting of leaders of CHP main branches in cities and mayors. The text entitled ''CHP promises'' which includes commitments of candidate mayors will be announced today. Candidates who aim at creating a city in European norms will promise to make the cities local places of the enlightenment movement. CHP aims at gaining votes of 10 million voters who don't cast their votes.
ATATURK IS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL LEADER
At the end of an interesting research of Dr. Arnold Ludwig, a psychiatry professor at the Kentucky University, which lasted for 18 years, Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was ranked the first among world leaders by gaining the highest point.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
WE WILL ACT TOGETHER WITH TURKEY
Mehmet Ali Talat, the leader of Republican Turkish Party-United Forces (CTP-BG) in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said, ''if we win the elections to be held on Sunday, we will firstly form a common policy on Cyprus with Turkey.'' Talat said, ''when we become the government, the first thing we will do will be determining a common policy with Turkey for solution of Cyprus issue because it is impossible to sign Annan plan without Turkey.'' Talat noted, ''Denktas has showed Annan plan such a wicked plan that AK Party can't find any different opening. When we win, both Turkish Cypriot and Turkey will be freed. AK Party can say 'Annan plan is good.' It is a very wrong thing to say 'Turkish soldiers should go' before Cyprus issue is settled. If soldiers leave, Greek Cypriots will want to return their homes and there will be bloodshed.''
ABDULLAH GUL: ''A NEW PAGE FOR CYPRUS''
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that they were not a side in elections in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and noted, ''we only wish that elections will be held properly and without any incidents. A new period will start in Cyprus after the elections.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
800 BILLION USD SEARCHES FOR A COUNTRY
Owners of Arab capital which left the Middle East after September 11th terrorist attacks in the United States will meet in Istanbul. HABA Executive Board Chairman Prof. Dr. Hasmet Basar said that Arab capital worth of 800 billion U.S. dollars deposited in European and U.S. banks was wanted to be used in a secure country. Basar said that Arab investors were getting prepared to meet in Istanbul regarding that capital. Turkey's aim is to attract 100 billion U.S. dollars of that capital.
VISIT TO TRNC
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener went to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to take up economic cooperation before the general election.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
DECISION OF JUDGE THAT ''THERE IS NO MOSQUE IN ISLAM'' STARTS DISCUSSIONS
Decision that Sah Ismail Bilgin, the chief judge of Ankara 23rd Basic Civil Court, made in the case filed by a citizen as a minaret fell on his car saying that ''there is not any concept in Islam like mosque and building mosques is in fact trying to shape religion'' caused repercussions. Jurists state that religious references should not be used in a decision made under the Civil Law while the Directorate of Religious Affairs say that the mentioned view was inconsistent according to Islam history.
TAX REDUCTION TO START IN MEDICINES AND TEXTILE
On one hand the Finance Ministry is trying to take unregistered economy under control on the other hand it aims to decrease Value Added Tax (VAT) rates in certain goods. Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan expressed belief that it would be beneficial to reduce some taxes and said that they would especially reduce VAT rates in medicine. Unakitan stated that tax reduction in textile would follow the reduction in medicine.
(BRC) 08.12.2003