ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 14, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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BOMBER CAPTURED
F.Y who allegedly planted bombs in four lorries which exploded and killed many people in Istanbul, was caught in an operation in southeastern province of Hakkari. Security forces captured F.Y with a false passport, when he was attempting to flee Iran. Yusuf Polat, who was acting as watchman during the suicide attack which was staged on Istanbul's Beth Israel Synagogue denounced F.Y. to the police. F.Y. was captured and brought to Istanbul. F.Y. has been questioned by police.
MESSAGE TO MOBILE PHONES CAUSES PROBLEMS IN TRNC
There was a crisis of mobile phone message before elections in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) which turned into a referendum on Annan's plan. The message which was sent to mobile phones on Friday with the signature of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) said, ''you should participate in mass meeting of Peace and Democracy Movement this evening. Europe in spring.'' TRNC President Rauf Denktas said that the incident was not true. Denktas came to square of mass meeting for the first time and addressed TRNC people. Denktas said that the message was a lie.
BABACAN SAYS THEY WILL NOT SHOCK FOREIGN INVESTORS ANY MORE
State Minister Ali Babacan said that they would implement policies which were made public with determination and without any concession and stated that they would not shock foreign investors any more. Babacan attended a meeting which was held by Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) and delivered a speech. Babacan said that they would bring foresight to Turkish economy and foreign investors.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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BOMBER CAPTURED
A suspect who is believed to have provided the bombs used in the suicide attacks on Neve Shalom and Beth Israel synagogues, the British Consulate General and HSBC Bank Headquarters in Istanbul in November, was captured. The suspect, who was identified as F.Y., was detained as trying to go abroad from eastern province of Hakkari with a false passport. During his interrogation, F.Y. told the police that he had planted the bombs in pickup tracks. Security forces found explosives in his business place.
GENERAL ELECTIONS TO BE HELD IN TRNC
Turkish Cypriot people will cast their votes today to elect new members of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) parliament. Besides Turkey, the European Union (EU), the United Nations and the United States have been monitoring the parliamentary elections. The election is of great importance in regard to the future of Cyprus. Turkish Cypriot people will make a preference between those supporting the plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and those rejecting it.
DOUBLE-STANDARD
The European Union (EU) has brought a different implementation onto its agenda for Turkey. During its Brussels Summit, the EU asked Turkey to remove macro-economic imbalances and structural deficiencies. The EU has not made such a request from any of candidate states before. In fact, these criteria are not needed to be fulfilled before opening of accession talks.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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VAN CRISIS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reacted harshly to seizure of posters prepared both in Turkish and Kurdish languages by the Human Rights Association (IHD) in eastern province of Van. Earlier, the posters saying, ''Peace will Win'' were collected upon a decision of the Provincial Criminal Court of Peace. Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''I do not have any information about reason of the court to take a such a decision. However, I am personally uneasy.''
DENKTAS: ''I CAN STILL NEGOTIATE ANNAN PLAN''
President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has said, ''raising objections to the plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan does not mean that we will not negotiate it. Annan has presented four plans so far. The Greek Cypriot side has rejected first three of them. However, the world did not put the same pressure on the Greek Cypriot side.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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DECISION DAY IN TRNC
Nearly 141 thousand voters will elect new members of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) parliament today. A total of seven political parties including four rightist and three leftist, are competing in the parliamentary elections. The National Unity Party (UBP), the Democrat Party (DP), the Nationalist Peace Party (MBP) and the Cyprus Justice Party (KAP) are supporting President Rauf Denktas while the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), the Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH) and the Solution and EU Party are supporting the plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.
NAS ELECTED AS NEW LEADER OF ANAP
The Motherland Party (ANAP) has elected its new leader during the Eighth Regular Congress yesterday. Nesrin Nas has been elected by getting votes of 711 delegates. Nas became the first female leader of the ANAP, which was founded by former President Turgut Ozal on May 20, 1983.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TWO SURPRISES FROM EU TO ANKARA
Although the government displayed a positive reaction to final statement of the European Union's (EU) Brussels Summit, it has concerned about two expressions. The government considered the final statement positive since eulogizes were more than criticisms. Expressions about Cyprus were better than expected. However, both Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul felt uneasy about the expressions over Southeastern Anatolia region and structural measures.
TURKEY RANKED THIRD IN LIST OF OECD
Turkey has been taking place among countries in which the rate of long-standing unemployment is high. According to data of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), those who could not find a job for at least 12 months, account for 29.6 percent of total unemployed population in Turkey. Turkey was ranked third in the list of the OECD after Germany and Italy.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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EYES ON TRNC
Turkish Republic of Northern People (TRNC) people will cast votes on Sunday in the general election which has been followed by the world. TRNC people will cast their votes between 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. to determine new deputies who will serve for five years. The result of the general election which is being followed closely by Turkey, the Greek Cypriot side, the European Union (EU), the United Nations (U.N.), the United States and other circles has a great importance with respect to Turkish Cypriot people's determining TRNC's future after December 14. National Unity Party (UBP), Democrat Party (DP), Nationalist Peace Party (MBP), Cyprus Justice Party (KAP), Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH), Solution and EU Party (CABP) and Republican Turkish Party (CTP) will compete in the general election in TRNC. Parties should pass 5 percent threshold to have seat in the parliament. A total of 141 thousand 832 voters will cast votes on Sunday.
''TURKEY IS GOOD AT PROTECTING BORDER''
U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said that Turkey assisted the United States about the issue of Iraq, and stated that Turkey was used as transition point to the north of Iraq. Rumsfeld who attended an international conference informed attendees about developments in Iraq. Rumsfeld said that Turkish forces were very good at protecting border, and stated that Syria and Iran did not extend any help.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN SAYS REFERENCE TO SOUTHEAST DID NOT DISTURB HIM
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that reference to Southeast in the final statement of the European Union (EU) summit did not disturb him. Erdogan who represented Turkey in EU summit and Inter-governmental Conference held a press conference prior to his departure from Brussels. Erdogan said that results of the summit were very positive, and stated that it was confirmed in meetings that Turkey met most of criteria. When he was reminded that reference to Southeast was also made in Accession Partnership Accord which had been announced in 2001, Erdogan said that this issue did not disturb him, and noted that this issue was also solved with mutual talks. According to Erdogan, the issue of difference in distribution of incomes is also valid for Eastern Anatolia and Black Sea regions. Erdogan underlined that the issue of cultural rights was not peculiar only to Southeastern Anatolia region.
FIRST RELIGIOUS CEREMONY HELD AT BETH
ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE SINCE SUICIDE ATTACK
The first religious ceremony was held on Saturday at Istanbul's Beth Israel Synagogue since the suicide attack on November 15, 2003. Chief Rabbinate Spokesman Silvio Ovadya said that they had held the first religious ceremony since the bomb-attack. Tight security measures have been taken in and around the synagogue for the ceremony in which Chief Rabbi Isak Haleva and members of Jewish community attended.
(EÖ-UK) 14.12.2003