ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 12, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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FULL HARMONY GOVERNMENT WITH ANKARA
The search for forming a government in TRNC ended yesterday with the coalition formed between the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) and Democrat Party (DP). CTP leader M. Ali Talat and DP leader Serdar Denktas announced that they formed a government of solution. CTP which came out from the elections held on Dec. 14 as the number one party, formed a coalition with DP. Talat and Denktas promised to be in full harmony with Turkey in Cyprus negotiations with a provision they put in the coalition protocol. CTP had six and DP had four ministries.
FIRST WARM MESSAGE FROM CHIRAC
Chirac sent a message to Turkey through Hurriyet saying that ''Turkey's reforms on the way to EU membership are very important and Turkish-French relations are on right track.'' Chirac talked to Hurriyet newspaper in the new year reception he hosted at Elysee Palace. Chirac said that ''we closely monitor the efforts launched by Turkey on the EU path. We also know the progress recorded in reforms and the steps taken in Turkey. Turkey's undertaking the reforms within the scope of Copenhagen criteria is very important. Certainly these reforms should spread to the whole country, meaning it should cover the whole nation.'' Chirac stated that when Turkey fulfilled Copenhagen criteria, this would have repercussion on progress report of the EU Commission and that Turkey would join the EU. Chirac said that he would go to Turkey in June for the NATO summit which would be held in Istanbul between 25-26 June.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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''THEY WEAR ISLAMIC-STYLE HEADSCARF AS IT IS THEIR RELIGION'S COMMAND''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who paid a one-day visit to Berlin on January 9 answered questions of Welt am Sonntag and Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntags Zeitung newspapers. When the Welt am Sonntag reporter said Islamic-style headscarf is the symbol of oppressed women in Germany, Erdogan said, ''I don't agree with you. Also my wife and daughters wear it. They don't do it upon my pressure. My daughters are about to graduate from university. As educated individuals, they made their choice in favor of Islamic-style headscarf.'' Noting that Islamic-style headscarf is not political but only religious symbol, Erdogan said, ''women wear it as their religions command them to do so. A person can define necktie as a symbol. There should be no pressure on women.'' When asked what kind of advises he can give to German politicians about the issue, Erdogan stressed that freedom of conscience is an important dynamism of the EU and people's right to live freely should be regarded. About Turkey's EU membership, Erdogan said that Turkish people would be affected deeply if the EU says 'no' in December of 2004. Erdogan also expressed the uneasiness he feels over bringing Cyprus onto agenda as a condition of EU membership.
''WHERE WAS THE EU WHEN I WAS BANNED''
When the German newspaper asked when former DEP deputy Leyla Zana would be released from prison, Erdogan recalled that the European parliament had asked him shortly after general elections in Turkey on November 3 to re-try Zana. Erdogan said, ''I am not against caring about Leyla Zana's situation again with respect to human rights, of course. However, I told them that I was imprisoned due to a poem I read. All my rights were taken. Where was the EU at that time?''
CYPRUS PLAN TO BE PRESENTED TO BUSH
Ankara which reached compromise on Cyprus plan at the Cankaya summit meeting and adopted continuation of talks with TRNC President Rauf Denktas decided to change negotiation tactic. A high-level official who said that Turkey's plan is comprised of limited number of proposals that guarantee Annan plan's principle of 'bi-zonal structure and equality between two peoples on the island', said that those proposals should be negotiated with the stratagem of 'self-confidence flexibility'. He said, ''these proposals should be discussed in a different format at the negotiation table. I mean to say that they should sit at the table by being aware of the things they want and flexibility should be shown to reach main targets. Prime Minister Erdogan will explain this plan to U.S. President Bush during his visit to Washington. Proposals in this plan focus on consolidation of bi-zonal structure. Main targets of this plan are number of Greek Cypriots to reside in the north should be reduced below 21 percent. Time table about settlement of Greek Cypriots in Turkish side should be extended. Greek Cypriots in the north should be prevented from electing MPs.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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GOVERNMENT FORMED IN TRNC, FIRST TARGET IS SOLUTION
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) which was designated to form the government in TRNC made an agreement with Democrat Party (DP) to set up a coalition government. CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat said that ''our first target is to find a solution to Cyprus issue until May 1 within the scope of Annan plan.'' DP leader Serdar Denktas said in his part that they accepted the risk. Speaking in a news conference, Talat said that CTP formed a government of social reconciliation and solution with DP.
GUL PROPOSES TO MEDIATE BETWEEN U.S. AND IRAN
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul met with Iranian President Mohammad Khatami in the weekend. Gul told Khatami that he would go to U.S. at the end of the month, proposing mediation between the U.S. and Iran. Gul gave the same message in the statement he made to Iran News saying that ''Turkey is ready for mediation between Iran and U.S. if there is such a need.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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SERIOUS TAX EVASION
Self-employed persons show only one of their incomes in their tax statement and evade fifteen of them from the state. It was determined that tax evasion is made mostly by income tax payers, mainly businessmen, merchants and self-employed persons. It was proved that taxpayers show 100 trillion 771 billion liras of income in their tax statement but income tax evasion was 63 trillion liras.
FLIGHTS VIA INCIRLIK 'ILLEGAL'
It was mentioned that sending of U.S. troops together with their 'light weapons' who finished their mission in Iraq to the United States via Incirlik air base in southern province of Adana had started last Wednesday. The government gave permission to rotation of U.S. soldiers under the confidential Council of Ministers decree on June 23, 2003. However, question marks occurred as the decree in question envisages only flights with 'humanitarian purpose'.
TALAT: NEW TRNC PREMIER
The crisis in TRNC has ended after CTP and DP formed coalition government. CTP leader Talat who made concessions to DP from changes with respect to Annan's plan is going to be the new TRNC Prime Minister. Serdar Denktas will be Deputy Prime Minister. CTP will have six ministries and DP will have four. Talat said that the new government would be announced today after TRNC President Denktas returns to the island.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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HERE GOVERNMENT'S CYPRUS CRITERIA
The government determined the outlines of the path it will follow at Cyprus talks which it wants to be held under Annan's plan. Here are the criteria:
-Protection of Turkish identity is important than existence of Turkish soldiers on the island. Following Turkey's EU membership, 'reducing number of Turkish troops to zero' can be accepted.
-Solution in Cyprus can't be condition of Turkey's EU membership but we are determined to solve the issue and join the EU. Also the EU has to extend support to protection of Turkish identity in the TRNC.
-The plan puts a rate about five percent for providing Turkish-Greek balance on the island. Bargaining is made but the important thing is not to allow settlement in the north from south before Turkey's EU membership.
-Passages to north from south should be made in stages. The Turkish population in those areas should not be left minority after residence of Greek Cypriots. The number of Greek Cypriots in those areas should be calculated.
''WE HAVE COMPROMISE''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who met with TRNC President Rauf Denktas in Istanbul said, ''we have compromise over carrying out a close cooperation in reaching a solution in Cyprus.'' Denktas said, ''we don't have any different opinion.'' Meanwhile, CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat and DP leader Serdar Denktas announced that they would form a government of social compromise and solution. CTP will have six ministries and DP will have four. The cabinet will be formed today and the list of ministers will be presented to TRNC President Denktas. Talat said, ''through talks under Annan's plan principles, the government will have the target of finding solution by May 1.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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COOPERATION TO CONTINUE BETWEEN TURKEY AND TRNC
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who met with TRNC President Rauf Denktas in Istanbul yesterday, said that ''we are in full agreement to continue carrying out efforts for peace and solution on the island.'' Erdogan added that the common target was to contribute to fair and lasting peace on the island on the basis of realities and within the scope of good will mission of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. ''We will be in consultation with TRNC President Denktas and TRNC government,'' Erdogan added.
ASSURANCE FROM KHATAMI
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said in his meeting with Foreign Minister and Foreign Minister Abdulah Gul in Tehran in the weekend that the security of Turkey was important for Iran, adding that ''the enemies of Turkey can't launch activities against Turkey by using the lands of Iran.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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IRAN TO SUPPORT TURKEY IN FIGHT WITH TERRORISM
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami who received Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul last Saturday said that Turkey was the first country which sent aid and rescue teams to Iran following the earthquake disaster. ''We will not forget that,'' said Khatami, adding that they would not open the territories of Iran to opponents of Turkey.
U.S.'S USE OF INCIRLIK BASE TURNS INTO PUZZLE
While American officials noted that they started using Incirlik base in southern Adana province for broad-scale rotation of soldiers in Iraq, Prime Minister Erdogan told reporters that General Staff would issue a statement on the issue if necessary. An American official told AP that many American soldiers would be transferred from Iraq via Incirlik base in the coming months.
(MS-Öª-AY) 12.01.2004