ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 3, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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GOOD NEWS FROM ECONOMY
Turkey's exports reached 47.9 billion U.S. dollars at the end of 2003. The exports increased by 50 percent to 4 billion 911 million U.S. dollars in December 2003. Turkey's exports increased by 32.4 percent in 2003 when compared to figures of the last year. 2003 figures were announced in a meeting hosted by Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM).
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen and chairmen of exporters' associations came together in the meeting. Tuzmen said that it was foreseen that Turkey's exports would amount to 51.5 billion U.S. dollars and imports would become 75 billion U.S. dollars in 2004. Tuzmen said, ''our aim is to exceed 100 billion U.S. dollars in exports in 2010. We will exert efforts to reach 75 billion U.S. dollars at the end of 2006.''
TENTS FOR 4 THOUSAND IRANIANS
Turkey set up a tent city where nearly 4 thousand Iranian people can stay in Bam city of Iran which was jolted by a devastating quake. Turkey will also build prefabricated houses for 6-7 thousand Iranian people in the quake region. 150-person Turkish civil defense team also continues to exert efforts. State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin and some ministers will go to Iran on Saturday to express ''quick recovery'' messages in the wake of devastating earthquake in that country. State Minister Kursad Tuzmen, Health Minister Recep Akdag, Interparliamentary Friendship Group Chairman Ahmet Inal, Turkish Ambassador to Iran Selahattin Alper, Deputy Director General for International Assistance Tunc Ugdul and Turkish Emergency Management Director General Hasan Ipek will also go to Iran with Sahin and visit quake region.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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''IN THE PRESENCE OF THE SHEIK''
The religious community of Menzil organized a dinner in Muslim's holy month of Ramadan on November 18, 2003. A total of seven deputies partook in the dinner. Husrev Kutlu, a deputy of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) who criticized the picture of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Great Founder of modern and secular Republic of Turkey in the parliament hall, was among these deputies.
''DEAR SNIFFER DOG, PLEASE DO NOT STOP''
The 12-member Turkish search-and-rescue team GEA has returned to Turkey after joining the efforts in Bam city of Iran to find victims of the devastating quake. Holding a press conference, Ozgur Bozoglu, the chief of the team, explained the most tragic moment they experienced in Bam, ''we got a tip-off to find a five-member family. Together with the British team, we rushed to the area with our sniffer dogs. A woman came closer to one of our dogs and told it that her relatives were trapped under the rubble of the collapsed building and asked it to rush. We told the woman that our dog was thirsty. She shared her water with the dog.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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PRESIDENT BUSH STARTS PUTTING PRESSURE FOR CYPRUS
U.S. President George W. Bush has sent a message to Prime Minister Costas Simitis of Greece, and asked him to contribute to efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus question. Meanwhile, the Cyprus question is expected to be high on agenda of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit to Washington D.C. in the coming days. Prime Minister Erdogan will ask President Bush to support the solution proposal of the Turkish side.
SHP TO COMPETE IN LOCAL ELECTIONS
The Higher Electoral Board (YSK) has ruled that the Social Democrat People's Party (SHP) could join the local elections to be held on March 28, 2004. A total of 22 political parties will compete in the local elections.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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SHP TO JOIN LOCAL ELECTIONS
Higher Electoral Board (YSK) decided that Social Democrat People's Party (SHP) would join local elections due on March 28. In its meeting, YSK debated SHP's rejection of its former decision to exclude the party from local elections and decided that this party could join local elections basing on documents sent by Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor's Office which showed SHP's organization. YSK had earlier ruled that SHP could not join the elections since it had not fulfilled the criteria of general congress and organization. SHP had reacted to the decision of YSK.
HISTORICAL VISIT FROM SYRIA
Syrian President Bashar al Asad will pay a historical visit to Turkey between January 6 and 9. Asad, who will pay his first visit to Turkey, will meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other high level officials. He will start his meetings on January 6. Asad, who will sign some bilateral cooperation agreements, will proceed to Istanbul to meet with some business circles after completing his meetings in Ankara. Cooperation in fight against terrorism is among issues which will be discussed during Asad's visit to Turkey.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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MONETARY PROGRAM TO BE MAINTAINED
The central Bank will preserve its targets of floating foreign currency regime and decreasing inflation rates in 2004. The Central Bank has given priority to efforts of decreasing inflation rates. According to the Central Bank, Turkey should pay careful attention to three risks: heavy public debt burden, elections and negative developments in agriculture sector.
36TH ARREST IN ISTANBUL BOMBINGS
Ahmet Demir, who was detained in connection with November's quadruple suicide attacks in Istanbul, was arrested by the Istanbul State Security Court (DGM). Number of arrests increased to 36.
PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION TO VISIT IRAN
Turkey, which has mobilized to heal the wounds of Iranian quake survivors, will convey its message of solidarity to Iran with a parliamentary delegation. The delegation headed by State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin will pay a visit to the quake-stricken Bam city of Iran today. The delegation including State Minister Kursad Tuzmen, Health Minister Recep Akdag, and Public Works and Housing Minister Zeki Ergezen will be received by President Mohammad Khatami of Iran. Meanwhile, Turkey has been continuing to send prefabricated huts and containers to Iran. The Turkish Red Crescent has erected a tent-city in Bam. 4 thousand quake survivors will be settled in the tents.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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IT IS A RECORD!
Turkey's exports increased 32.4 percent to 48 billion U.S. dollars in 2003. According to figures of Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM), Turkey exported goods of 5 billion U.S. dollars in December of 2003. Industrial products have 83.9 percent of share in exported goods. State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said that they aimed to reach 51.5 billion U.S. dollars in exports in 2004. Stating that Turkey reached a great success in 2003, Tuzmen said that they also aimed at reaching 75 billion U.S. dollars in imports in 2004.
EFFORTS TO FORM GOVERNMENT IN TRNC
National Unity Party (UBP) assembly replied Republican Turkish Party's (CTP) proposals on formation of a new government in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) by asking some questions. UBP wanted written answers on some issues mentioned in Annan plan. Proposals of CTP were assessed in the meeting of UBP assembly under the chairmanship of UBP leader and Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu.
The letter addressing Talat asked some detailed questions on equal sovereign state status, guarantee system, global property barter/compensation, map and Turkish-Greek balance. Eroglu said that written answers of CTP to those questions would be re-assessed in his party's assembly and stated that according to its answers, a positive or negative answer would be given on formation of a coalition with CTP. Talat said that there was not any connection between questions that they asked UBP and the letter that UBP sent to CTP and added that the letter of UBP would be assessed in the meeting of CTP Central Administration Committee at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY BREAKS RECORD IN EXPORTS
Despite the war in neighboring Iraq and November's quadruple suicide attacks in Istanbul, Turkey has broken record in its exports. The exports increased 32.4 percent to 47 billion 891 million U.S. dollars in 2003. In 2002, Turkey exported goods of 36 billion 174 million U.S. dollars. Industrial products accounted for 83.9 percent of total exports.
(EÖ-UK) 03.01.2004