ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 6, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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PRESIDENT AL-ASAD OF SYRIA TO BE IN TURKEY TODAY
Bashar Al-Asad will be the first Syrian President visiting Turkey after 57 years. Al-Asad will be accompanied by a 100-people delegation comprised of officials and businessmen.
Asad and his wife Esma, who will visit Turkey as the guest of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, will first visit Anitkabir, mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of Modern Turkish Republic, and later will be received by Sezer and his wife.
Sezer and Asad will have a tete-a-tete meeting before the meetings between the delegations of the two countries. The two presidents will also chair official talks.
Asad will meet with Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Sezer and his wife will host dinner in honor of Asad and his wife.
LEADERS WANT TURKEY TO EU
Guenter Verheugen, the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement, said heads of state and government of European countries were positive toward Turkey's full membership to the EU. Verheugen said the leaders favored Turkey's EU membership because of foreign policy and security issues.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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AL-ASAD TAKES HISTORIC STEP
Syrian leader Bashar al-Asad will officially recognize Turkey's borders by agreements he will sign during his visit to Turkey. Syrian President al-Asad is expected to sign three trade agreements with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. These agreements are not only trade agreements but also carry great importance for Hatay issue. Because, Republic of Turkey is defined in ''country definition'' part of the documents. That is, al-Asad will officially recognize Turkey's borders by signing this agreement. These agreements had earlier been shelved as Damascus did not accept country definition.
UZANS TO GET BACK THEIR YACHTS
Sisli First Criminal Court of Peace took a decision on ''the new year's eve'' and lifted ''precautionary measure'' on two magnificent yachts of the Uzan family. The court had earlier taken a similar decision but the court on duty stopped the execution of the decision upon objection of Savings and Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF) lawyers. Lawyers of Utterton and Wisteria Bay firms which were claimed to be the owners of yachts re-applied to the court. The court decided on December 31, 2003 that yachts did not belong to the Uzan family and lifted the precautionary measure on them. The court also decided to hand over the yachts to these two firms. SDIF objected to the decision but yachts which are in Aegean Marmaris town at the moment can be handed over to ''their new owners'' at any moment.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ALI COMMENDED FOR HIS PERFORMANCE
Economy circles cover with interest the one-year performance of State Minister Ali Babacan.
Attitude of Babacan in bargaining with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and his success in economy administration brought confidence in markets.
Those who said, ''will this child save economy?'' when Babacan became the minister, were mistaken. Grade of markets to Babacan is ''very well''.
DON'T BELIEVE IN LOBBIES
General Staff denied the news reports saying that military raised heavy reservations to preparations on Annan Plan. Statement of General Staff said only the official statements should be considered.
The statement said, ''Turkish Armed Forces believes that a just and lasting solution should be found to Cyprus question through talks.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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''COMPROMISE'' SEARCHED
Objections of the General Staff to the document prepared by the Foreign Ministry for a stance in Cyprus issue which was published by Cumhuriyet daily on Monday had many repercussions in Ankara. The statement of the General Staff which accepted the disagreement said, ''efforts and talks among concerned institutions continue in order to harmonize and concretize the views. This process in Turkey continues in the way that has to be in democratic and modern countries.'' The Foreign Ministry statement confirmed that ''document on stance in Cyprus'' was prepared without any ''work'' with the General Staff. The statement pointed out that only ''necessary consultations'' were held with the General Staff in the process of preparation of the document. The statement said that ongoing efforts aimed to determine a ''common stance'' and thus, accepted that a common view has not yet been developed. However, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said that ''national compromise had been reached.''
ANNAN PLAN IN NSC
Developments in Cyprus issue will be taken up in January's meeting of National Security Council (NSC). Commanders are expected to express their views that Cyprus was important for Turkey's security in the meeting.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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CYPRUS ''WAR''S OVER MEDIA
The first statement of the General Staff about news that soldiers and the Foreign Ministry contradicted over Cyprus issue asked everybody not to harm the national cause. The first news that the army objected to document of attitude towards solution of Cyprus issue on basis of Annan plan was published in Cumhuriyet daily on December 29, 2003. According to this news, the Foreign Ministry prepared the document which was not approved by soldiers on its own. A day later, the Foreign Ministry said that ''it was working together with all institutions'' while Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A day later, Radikal's correspondent in Ankara Murat Yetkin wrote a news story entitled ''Cyprus brake from Ozkok to government.'' On January 1, 2004, Erdogan said that ''the General Staff and the Foreign Ministry were in conformity.'' Tension continued with yesterday's news entitled ''reservation of soldiers.'' The General Staff made a parallel statement with the Foreign Ministry for the first time: ''This news is harmful to the national cause.''
''WE CAN'T DO IT WITH UBP''
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who severed relations with National Unity Party (UBP) leader Dervis Eroglu, hopes much from Serdar Denktas, the leader of Democrat Party (DP) and son of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas. CTP-UBP coalition can't be formed in TRNC. The only hope for Talat, who says that ''his party ended talks with UBP'' is Serdar Denktas, who says ''they would discuss the issue in the authorized organs of their party.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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COUNCIL OF MINISTERS: WE ARE RESOLVED ON DENKTAS
Justice Minster and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said, ''we ware resolved that the talks should be continued with TRNC President Rauf Denktas. Responsibility will be on the other side if a solution could not be found from now on.
WATER OF SYRIA FROM TURKEY
Israeli government approved the ''Manavgat Water'' agreement envisaging purchase of water from Turkey. Israeli officials said, ''a new period starts in the Middle East.''
It was reported that Turkey would make a profit of 300 million U.S. dollars from Manavgat.
BOTH APPRECIATION AND CRITICISM FROM BUSINESS WORLD TO GOVERNMENT
As inflation figures in 2003 was below than the expected, markets were positively affected and business world was pleased.
Business world said, ''we will be able to see single digit in inflation in case the same determination continues in inflation in 2004.
Business world also warned that, ''however, languor and election policies will end everything.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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BEFORE AL-ASAD COMES, ISRAEL SENDS MESSAGE OF ''RAPPROCHEMENT'' TO TURKEY
Against Syria's diplomatic move, Israel made a statement that ''it approved Manavgat Water Project.'' Syrian President Bashar al-Asad signaled that water and Hatay issues, which were two problems between two countries, would not come onto agenda during his visit to Turkey. Middle East policy of the government was effective on change in strategies of two countries. Israel and Syria are exerting utmost efforts to improve their relations with Turkey, which they want to be a mediator in solution of problems. Syrian President al-Asad will pay a historic visit to Ankara today. Meetings that Al-Asad, the first Syrian president who will visit Turkey since 1946, hold in Turkey for three days will increase rapprochement between Ankara and Damascus. Israel ratified the Manavgat Water Project, which it suspended for years, by a move it made just before al-Asad's visit to Turkey. Israel, which plans to use Manavgat water in 2006, is getting prepared to invite Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler for a final agreement.
GENERAL STAFF DENIES CUMHURIYET DAILY AGAIN
Yesterday's head story of Cumhuriyet daily which claimed that there was difference of opinion between the government and soldiers about solution of Cyprus issue was denied by both the General Staff and the Foreign Ministry. A statement of the General Staff said that news entitled ''Soldiers Put Forth Reservations'', ''We are Announcing Objections of the General Staff to Annan Plan'' did not reflect the realities. In the statement, the General Staff asked Turkish nation to respect only to official statements. The Foreign Ministry said that preparations which would help determine position of Turkish side continued in consultation with the General Staff. The statement of the Foreign Ministry stressed that news which did not reflect the truth harmed both Turkey and Cyprus cause.
(BRC-AY-AÖ) 06.01.2004