ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 17, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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THIS SHOULD BE A LESSON TO DICTATORS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted end of ousted leader of Iraq Saddam Hussein to be a lesson to other dictators and said, ''he will pay the cost of his violence.'' Speaking in the meeting of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) meeting at parliament, Erdogan said, ''Saddam is a dictator who caused suffering of his people and region. Everybody has once more seen that dictatorship is a big mistake and doesn't bring anything, but suffering for humanity.''
NO MONEY TO THOSE WHO BUY BOND FROM IMAR BANKASI
The draft law regulating the payments to those who deposited money to Imar Bankasi was adopted at the parliament. Under the law, no money will be given to those who bought unsecured Treasury bonds.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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BIG NEGLIGENCE
The United States informed Turkey about some terrorists who were involved in bomb attacks in Istanbul two years before. But, no measures were taken. It was revealed that the United States informed Turkey two years ago that Berfin Tekstil, Gida, Pazarlama, Ithalat, Ihracat (Berfin textile, food, marketing, export and import company) owned by Hidir Elibol, who was arrested by the State Security Court (DGM) after the bomb attacks in Istanbul, could have link with Al Qaida. Elibol was captured after the blasts in Turkey. It was also learned that Habib Aktas, one of the top names in the organization, and live bombs Feridun Ugurlu and Ilyas Kuncak also worked in Elibol's company. It was revealed that the United States found the identity card of Ugurlu's brother in Al Qaida camps in Afghanistan two years ago. This information was also given to Turkey. Ugurlu was captured after the blasts.
''I HAVE THREE CONDITIONS''
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas listed conditions in parallel to Annan plan as follows: Existence of two nations in Cyprus should be accepted, bi-zonal structure of Cyprus should be accepted and the issue of guarantor states should be solved. Denktas noted that there could not be any compromise without Turkey's efficient guarantee. Denktas doesn't have any doubts that Ankara will defend these conditions which he defines as sine qua non.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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''THERE IS ALSO NEED FOR NEW POLITICIANS IN TRNC''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that there was also need for new politicians in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and stated that Cyprus issue could also be solved without harming relations with the European Union (EU). Erdogan addressed Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) group meeting. Stating that TRNC elections was an open message that progress should be recorded on the way to solution and EU by preserving vested rights, Erdogan said that elections was held democratically. Erdogan said that voters wanted a solution through protection of their sensitivities on Turkish Cypriot people's cause of existence. Erdogan said that he did not imply resignation of TRNC President Rauf Denktas in his speech in meeting of his party at parliament. Replying to a question of reporter on the issue, Erdogan said, ''I did not mention such a thing, I didn't think of such a thing and I didn't say such a thing.''
POLEMICS ON NATIONAL INCOME
The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced that national income was 3,000 U.S. dollars per capita. This figure caused polemics. Turkish Textile Employers' Association (TUTSIS) Chairman Halit Narin said that DIE's figure did not reflect the truth and stated that he considered that the figure was not convincing.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT PLAN
Ankara considers results of elections which was held in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus on Sunday as ''voters expect a solution from Turkey.'' TRNC President Rauf Denktas has been working on an independent solution plan. Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government which wants to get negotiation date from the European Union (EU) in 2004 wants Denktas to sit at the negotiation table. Sources said that Denktas would submit his plan to United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan and stated that he would also say that he was ready for intermediary talks with Greek Cypriot side. Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that elections put forth the call for ''harmony, compromise and cooperation'' and stated that all political parties should gather around Denktas and form a national coalition.
COLD WEATHER PARALYZES DAILY LIFE
Cold weather paralyzes daily life across the country. Snowfall which has started in Thrace and west part of Black Sea region will be effective throughout Turkey as of Wednesday. Meteorology officials said that temperatures would drop below zero and warned citizens to be careful against heavy snowfall. Heavy snowfall paralyzed traffic on Bolu Mountain. Floods inundated 40 houses and working places in western province of Izmir.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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NEXT WEEK CRITICAL FOR CYPRUS
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that compromise proposal of Turkish side was ready and it would be announced the following week while Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that a new page should be opened in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Gul said, ''initiatives in Ankara and TRNC will be united and concrete statements will be made next week. The key word is compromise.'' Replying to questions on connection between their preparations and Annan Plan, Gul said, ''the aim is to find a solution before May 1, 2004.'' Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''uncertainty did not come out of elections in TRNC'' and added, ''this election revived politics. It showed that existence case of Turkish people doesn't contradict with EU targets. Nobody can turn a blind eye to will of people. Voters wanted a new page to be opened.''
TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY TROUBLED WITH ''NONSENSE''
Ankara is uneasy about Cyprus rumors. High-level officials say, ''everybody is producing a solution before the government is formed in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Speculations that 'delegations will come to Turkey and go to TRNC' are all nonsense. Message of voters should be well-evaluated. Turkey will undertake the role of being a pioneer in solution.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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''NEW POLITICIANS WILL FIND SOLUTION IN TRNC''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who assessed the situation which appeared after elections in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said that the elections was held democratically and a government would be formed. Erdogan who delivered a speech at his party's group meeting said that negotiations would continue for solution of Cyprus issue. Erdogan assessed internal and foreign developments in his party's group meeting and noted that elections in TRNC showed how the issue would be solved. Stressing that elections did not contradict with the European Union (EU) target, Erdogan said that elections brought a new synergy to TRNC.
FOREIGN MINISTER GUL: ''THERE IS A NEW PLAN''
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side were in a preparation to reach compromise on the island and those preparations would be made public next week. Responding to questions of reporters during his official visit to Japan, Gul said that the key word in Cyprus issue was compromise, steps needed to be taken within mutual compromise and only Turkey and Turkish side could not be expected to give concessions unilaterally. When a reporter said, ''are the preparations carried out as an alternative to Annan plan, or are they built on it?'' Gul said that ''a study has been carried out in Ankara for a long time. It is also done in TRNC. These will be combined and we will show that the Turkish side launches sincere efforts for solution of the problem.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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WORLD BANK TO GIVE 300 MILLION USD EXPORT LOAN
World Bank Vice President Shiego Katsu said that Bank would give 300 million U.S. dollars of loan to medium scale enterprises to be used in production and export. Katsu held a press conference in which he said that the loan would be provided for the medium scale enterprises to meet their medium-scale finance need under an agreement reached by the government and World Bank last week.
GAS IMPORT OVER BLUE STREAM INCREASES BY FOUR-FOLDS
Russian natural gas company Gazprom announced that natural gas delivery to Turkey over Blue Stream pipeline was increased to 20 million cubic meters a day. 5.3 million cubic meters of natural gas was being delivered to Turkey before. The decision to increase the delivery was taken on Saturday. The decision shows that disagreement between Turkey and Gazprom about price and amount of natural gas to be sent through pipeline laid beneath Black Sea has ended.
(EÖ-BRC-AÖ) 17.12.2003