ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 8, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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CYPRUS MEMORANDUM DISCUSSION IN ANKARA
Cyprus memorandum, which was published in daily Cumhuriyet on Wednesday, put Foreign Ministry and General Staff into difficulty which earlier made statements saying they did not have any difference of views. Leaking out of a statement of General Staff which accused Foreign Ministry of being ''submissive in Cyprus'', caused confusion in Ankara. This caused difficulty before the Cyprus summit which is expected to take place at the Cankaya Palace today. Following the decision of the government last October to launch a new initiative on Cyprus question, the 150-page Annan's plan was started to be discussed in detail. Foreign Ministry technicians carried out work in this respect in coordination with General Staff. Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug often met in this regard. The work came to the stage of finalization in the past two weeks. However, it was understood that General Staff in general was not positive toward the approach accepting Annan's plan as basis of negotiation. Foreign Ministry and government accepted the plan as basis of negotiation after some changes.
DEATH SENTENCE TO BE ABOLISHED EVEN AT TIMES OF WAR
Turkey will sign 13th protocol of European Convention on Human Rights envisaging abolishment of death sentence even in times or war and at times of danger of war. Turkey's Permanent Representative to Council of Europe Numan Hazar will sign the protocol on behalf of Turkey at a ceremony that would be signed in Strasbourg on January 9.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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TURKEY TO BECOME PRODUCTION CENTER OF BLACK HAWKS
United Technologies Director Stuart Brown said they wanted to turn Turkey into production and exports center of Black Hawk helicopters. Brown said this production of Black Hawk would cover models like general service, search and rescue, VIP transportation, fight against fire and attack. Brown said those helicopters would be exported to the whole world via Turkey after the production, stating that around 20-40 helicopters are planned to be produced per year. When asked why Turkey and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) were chosen for production of Black Hawks, Brown said Turkey was an important partner of the United States and TAI was a producer of high-quality of defense industry products.
STATE SUMMIT FOR CYPRUS
Summit of the state will convene today for solution of Cyprus question and to evaluate the studies carried out on Annan's plan. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will join the summit which will be chaired by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Formation of government in the TRNC soon, clarification of the attitude of Turkish side, and acceleration of talks with Greek Cypriot side pertaining to Cyprus problem are expected to be discussed at the meeting. Erdogan and cabinet members got information about Cyprus question during Council of Ministers meeting on Monday. A statement was made after Council of Ministers meeting. The statement said government favored starting negotiation process in the basis of Annan Plan. The statement also called on Greek Cypriot side to contribute to the solution of the problem.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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''WE ARE ON THE PATH FOR SOLUTION ON CYPRUS''
When we asked Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan about his scheduled visit to the United States at the end of this month, he said, ''at the moment, it has not become clear yet. However, I can give the headlines... Political meetings... Military matters... And economy... I will have meetings at several think-tank organizations, of course. I will deliver speeches at universities. My meeting with Mr. President is very important, of course. We will have three meetings... Tete-a-tete meeting... Meeting between delegations and luncheon.'' When we said, ''Mr. Prime Minister, Cyprus tops the agenda when political meetings are mentioned,'' Erdogan said, ''yes, we will discuss Cyprus, Iraq and the EU. I also discuss Nafta.'' When we asked about the latest situation of Cyprus issue, he said, ''tomorrow (today), a summit on Cyprus is going to be held at the Presidential Palace and it will be chaired by the President. The Foreign Ministry and the General Staff were carrying out a joint work for a month. It finished. They briefed us. Result of this work will be presented at the summit meeting. It will be reviewed and some steps will be taken. And Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat and Mr. Serdar Denktas will come to Ankara tomorrow (today) night as my guests. I will speak to them after the summit meeting.'' Later, TRNC President Rauf Denktas called Erdogan. Erdogan said, ''Mr. President, we will hold a summit meeting at the Presidential Palace. After the meeting, two guests from the TRNC will come to Ankara. I will pay a visit to Germany, but I will talk to you and call you before leaving for Germany.'' While Denktas was speaking, Erdogan said, ''no, we don't definitely have any problem with soldiers. There is not a difference of opinion. Do not believe speculations. Cyprus issue is a national case, state policy. Also soldiers are in favor of reaching most appropriate solution. It damages both Turkey and Northern Cyprus as long as this thing continues. It is a condition that we should reach a compromise on a solution. And as far as I see, we are on the path for a solution. I will pay a visit to the United States at the end of this month. We have to record a specific progress before that visit.''
TURKEY: BLACK HAWK'S BASE
United Technologies, a leading company of the U.S. defense industry, is planning to make Turkey be main production and exportation center of its Black Hawk helicopters. The company which presented an offer to Turkish Tusas Aviation Company is planning to produce all parts of Black Hawk in Turkey. Helicopters which are planned to be produced together by the Turkish Aerospace Industries will have search-rescue and transportation purposes.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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BYPASS TO DENKTAS
Efforts will be underway to overcome the disagreement between Foreign Ministry and General Staff on Cyprus issue during the summit that would convene at the Cankaya Palace. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with the political party leaders in TRNC following the summit. This initiative led to different interpretations in Ankara. This meeting, which will take place with the participation of four political party leaders of TRNC, was considered as an initiative to put Denktas on the sidelines.
PROPOSAL FROM TURKEY TO SYRIA FOR MEDIATION
Syrian leader was given the message that Turkey was ready to play a role that would facilitate solution of its problems with Israel. Turkey is ready for exchange of messages between the two sides, to hold the talks in Turkey, and for appointment of a Turkish diplomat as special representative in case both Israel and Syria want. During talks with Al-Asad, the two sides agreed in principle for establishment of trade centers in border gates with Syria.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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SEZER TO CONVENE HIGH-LEVEL STATESMEN THIS MORNING
The critical summit meeting is going to start at 9.30 at the Presidential Palace. Despite allegations of a difference of opinion between them, the Foreign Ministry and the General Staff will present a ''joint document'' at the meeting. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and General Staff Chief Gen. Hilmi Ozkok will give the document its final shape. A high-level Foreign Ministry official said, ''it will be seen that it is a joint document. There is not disagreement on bi-zonal structure and guarantor states. Any submission to the EU laws is out of question.'' The document will be discussed also at the National Security Council meeting on January 23 and Erdogan will explain it to U.S. President George W. Bush and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan during his visit to the United States.
SPECIAL MESSAGE TO ASAD
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's guest Syrian President Bashar al-Asad said that also Syria would come close to the EU through Turkey. Asad proceeded to Istanbul with his wife and children. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and General Staff Chief Gen. Hilmi Ozkok tested Asad's positive messages. Gul said Damascus would be followed closely. Ozkok said, ''we should be certain that Syria gave up supporting terrorism in fight against PKK.'' Asad's assurance: ''We will continue extraditing PKK terrorists.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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EROGLU SAYS ''YES'' TO ERDOGAN'S PROPOSAL
National Unity Party (UBP) leader and TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was focusing on a quartet coalition, adding, ''the person who is assigned to form the new government should accept this model and ask this question to the leaders of political parties he meet. A quartet coalition is an alternative. We have to consider also this alternative. If other parties say that they are ready for such a coalition, then we sit at the table and make bargaining, prepare its protocol and put into practice.''
MATCH OF PEACE ON ISLAND
The football federations of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot administration reached an agreement on a football match between the two sides. Under the decision taken at the Hilton Hotel in Lefkosa, a football match will be played between the two sides for the first time after 49 years. The first match will be played in the Greek Cypriot side and the return match in the TRNC.
IMF'S TURKEY DESK CHIEF MOGHADAM DUE IN
IMF's Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam will come to Turkey on January 13. Sources said talks on seventh review of stand-by deal would start the same day. Meanwhile, IMF experts are expected to come to Turkey at weekend to carry out preliminary work. After completion of review, IMF Board is expected to approve nearly 500 million dollars tranche of loan to Turkey.
EXPORTS TO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES RISE 110.6 PERCENT
Exports from Turkey to its neighboring countries in 2003 increased 61.4 percent to 7 billion 41 million 620 thousand dollars. Turkey which made a 43 million 929 thousand dollars exports to Iraq in 2002 recorded a 110.6 percent increase and reached 977 million 110 thousand dollars in 2003. Exports to Russia broke record with 1 billion 649 million 743 thousand dollars while exports to Greece became 941.9 million dollars, total exports to Romania was 897.7 million dollars, total exports to Bulgaria was 584.7 million dollars, total exports to Ukraine was 472.5 million dollars, total exports to Moldova was 49.3 million dollars, total exports to Georgia was 190.5 million dollars, total exports to Azerbaijan was 314.1 million dollars, to Syria was 427.1 million dollars and to Iran was 536.4 million dollars.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY EXPECTS PUTIN AND KHATAMI TO VISIT ANKARA
Turkey entered a new period in relations with its neighbors under its ''New East Strategy''. Following the first visit of Syrian President Basar al-Asad, Ankara waits for the programs of Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, and Russian President Vladimir Putin to become definite who are expected to visit Turkey this year. Both leaders had planned to visit Ankara last year, but the visits could not take place because of various problems. Turkey did not host any leaders from neighboring countries Russia and Iraq and Armenia. Foreign Ministry, which acts within, ''description of Turkey's foreign policy priorities and formation of a new balance basing on realities and its national interests'' is trying to improve relations with its neighbors. Visits had taken place to neighboring countries Iraq, Iran, Russia, Syria, Greece, Bulgaria and Azerbaijan within the scope of good will steps where priorities were taken into consideration.
SURPRISE INVITATION TO TALAT AND DENKTAS
As the summit of the state convenes at the Cankaya Palace this morning to discuss Cyprus question, two Turkish Cypriot leaders are invited to Turkey. Turkish authorities officially invited Democrat Party (DP) leader Serdar Denktas and Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat. The two leaders may make important statements about studies to form government.
(MS-AY-AÖ) 08.01.2004