ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on March 3rd, 2007. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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PLEASE DON`T HANG THOSE THREE WOMAN
PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Iraqi PM Al-Maliki and expressed his worry that Vassan Talib(31), Zeynep Fadhil(25), Lika Muhammed(26) were not tried justly. Erdogan requested the executions to be postponed until their files have been reassessed.
Al-Maliki promised that he would look into the three women`s case. Talip, who is in jail with her three year old son, was sentenced to death for killing five police officers, Muhammed who gave birth in prison, for murdering a man and Fadhil, for attacking an American Patrol unit.
THE DIRECTOR SWALLOWED BY MANHOLE, TOO
The death of Dilara who fell into the canalization through a manhole that was left open, effected PM Erdogan deeply. Erdogan called the Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Kadir Topbas and ordered him to do whatever was necessary and the director of Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration was fired.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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INVESTIGATION FOR FORMER PRESIDENT EVREN
Chief Public prosecutor`s office of the southwestern city of Mugla started an investigation upon the remarks of the 7th President of Turkey, Kenan Evren, who stated that Turkey could pass to a state-system having 8 states.
Chief Public Prosecutor of Mugla Mehmet Yurtseven said that they were at the phase of inspection. "If we come across an element of a crime, we will exercise our authority," Yurtseven stressed.
SEZER`S VETO TO FOREIGN DOCTORS
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer vetoed some articles of the law which provides the opportunity for foreign doctors to work in Turkey.
"While the employment problem is not yet solved for Turkish doctors, it is not accurate to provide employment opportunities for foreign doctors," Sezer underscored.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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INVESTIGATION FOR EVEN EVREN
Chief Public Prosecutor of southwestern city of Mugla launched an investigation for former President Kenan Evren`s words, who stated that "Turkey could pass to a state-system in the future".
Meanwhile, Evren provided clarification for his words yesterday and said that he suggested a "regional governorship", not a state-system.
THE LIE OF "AKDAMAR"
The news published on Turkish daily Hurriyet recently, claiming that Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan would open the `Akdamar Armenian Church` located in the eastern city of Van on March 29th, so as to give a meaningful answer upon the recent allegations on so-called Armenian genocide at the U.S. House of Representatives, turned out to be untrue.
Erdogan would participate in the ceremony of an internet campaign in Ankara on that date, sources from the Turkish Prime Ministry said.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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"DO NOT EXECUTE THE WOMEN" REQUEST TO IRAQ
PM Erdogan called Iraqi PM Nuri AL-Maliki and asked the execution of the three women who were sentenced to death.
Vassan Talib(31), Zaynep Fadhil(25), and Liqa Muhammed (26) were accused of "launching an attack on US forces and causing the death of an American soldier, but were not even allowed to get a lawyer."
THE ELITES IN TURKEY ARE MAKING MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
State Minister and Chief EU negotiator Ali Babacan answering a question from a reporter in Brussels, asking "If anyone from Justice and Development Party is elected as the President, will the armed forces intervene?" said, "In Turkey there is a group of people considering themselves to be elites. They are scared because they are loosing their privileges and are causing cacophony".
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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PRESSURE FROM RTUK
Radio and Television Supreme Council(RTUK) started an investigation about the TV commercial of our daily, which stirred wide reaction with the motto "are you aware of the danger."
Assessment and Monitoring branch Chairman Nurullah Ozturk who has written reports about television channels criticizing Fethullah Gulen in the past, submitted the report he wrote to the council with a request for motion to punish the TV channels who are broadcasting the TV commercial of our daily.
While the Council is expected to give its decision next week, some members of the council from the Justice and Development party (AKP) and some AKP MPs were pressuring the TV channels not to broadcast the TV commercials, it was reported.
CONSUMER PRICES UP BY 0.43 PERCENT IN FEBRUARY
Consumer prices were up by 0.43 percent and producer prices rose by 0.95 percent in February, the Turkish Board of Statistics (TUIK) announced .
The annual inflation became 10.16 percent in consumer prices and 10.08 percent in producer prices in the second month of 2007.
According to the 12-month averages, the annual inflation was calculated as 9.92 percent in consumer prices and 10.08 percent in producer prices as of February.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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THIS SHALL BE A LESSON TO EVERYONE
After the death of the five year old Dilara who fell to a manhole, something rather unusual happened and the Istanbul Metropolitan Major Kadir Topbas fired the Director of Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration Ali Codur. Topbas terminated the contract with MVM construction, who was the contractor responsible for that site and said this company was banned from entering bids for two years.
AND THUS THEY LABEL EVREN AS "SEPARATIST"
The head of the September 12th military coup and the 7th President of Turkey Kenan Evren, learned the importance of freedom of speech from experience. An investigation was started on Evren (who was not even tried for the coup d`etat) for his remarks saying "Turkey should pass to a state system with seven different states."
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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"THEY HAVE SEEN THE TRUTH"
Many U.S. Congress members who have listened to Turkey`s thesis on the allegations on so-called Armenian genocide, said they were not given such kind of satisfying information previously and added that they became aware of their faults.
Representatives of the Turkish society, met 62 congressmen of 7 U.S. states in order to explain Turkey`s stance regarding the issue.
BABACAN CALLS CIVILIANS TO INSIST ON "2014"
State Minister and chief negotiator for EU talks Ali Babacan stated that if a date for Turkey`s membership is vocalized by the government, it might be counterproductive in some European countries.
"It will be better if it is the non-governmental organizations that pronounce the date of `2014`," Babacan underscored.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY DESIRES COMMANDERSHIP OF THE UN SEA FORCE IN LEBANON
Turkey, which participated in the naval forces in Lebanon with 234 personnel, now desires to carry out the commandership of these forces.
The necessary application was submitted to UN. If UN approves, the commandership will pass to Turkey from Germany in August.
DEATH OF LITTLE GIRL, TERMINATES ISKI MANAGER`S EMPLOYMENT
The investigation on the "manhole disaster" that took place in Sirinevler district of Istanbul, still continues.
Director of Istanbul Water and Sewerage Administration (ISKI) Dursun Ali Codur was fired, upon the death of Dilara Dumrul, a five-year-old who lost her life after falling into the canalization through a manhole which was camouflaged with a piece of carton.
The contract of MVM, the company which carries out the construction work in the region, was terminated as well.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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HE NEEDS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AS WELL
An investigation has been started for Kenan Evren, who had conducted a military coup in the past, with the pretext of providing "solidarity and unity".
Evren, leader of September 12th which is usually recalled with its "crimes of expression", received the only support from the defenders of freedom of thought.
WE WILL NOT DISCUSS NORTHERN IRAQ IN FRONT OF THE MEDIA, ERDOGAN
Recalling the decision adopted in the National Security Council meeting, which stated that "diplomatic efforts should be continued" regarding northern Iraq, Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "these issues should not be discussed in front of the media. We will sit and discuss with Mr. Buyukanit".