ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on March 16th, 2007. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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PANIC EXECUTION IN CAVE
There have been internal conflicts in terrorist organization PKK. Seven members of terrorist organization were found dead in a cave in rural area of southeastern city of Diyarbakir last Sunday. Turkish security forces launched an operation in triangle of Kulp-Lice-Genc towns last Saturday. A group comprised of nine members of terrorist organization PKK who were hiding in a cave panicked because they thought they would be captured by security teams. After a panic among members of the group, one terrorist, G.E., killed his friends and injured another.
DOGRAMACI RECEIVES MERIT FROM TURKISH PARLIAMENT
The Turkish parliament decided to present a merit of honor to Prof. Ihsan Dogramaci, the founder of Hacettepe and Bilkent Universities. The awards will be presented at a ceremony on April 5th.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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"I AM RESISTING TO RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES"
When talking about the death sentence given to him by Khomeini and his last nine years, world-famous author Salman Rushdie said, "those days taught me to resist every kind of religious communities." "There were authors in London who were having regular meetings every Friday, and philosophers who were meeting every Tuesday. I had a strong feeling one day not to attend those meetings. I am against the circles who are opposing my works and me. I am against narrow-minded people, people who have lost their sense of humor and people who decide on who should be reading what, not the believers," he stated.
SURVEY CAUSED PROBLEMS IN AKP
A survey, conducted by the Justice & Development Party (AKP) regarding presidential candidacy, suggested that four members of the party, whose wives are not wearing headscarves, should run their candidacies for presidency. Some of AKP members called the survey "a survey that tries to direct us to members whose wives are not wearing headscarves", while Deputy PM Abdullatif Sener said, "it would be more objective if it did not mention any names."
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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GOING TO CYPRUS WITH PAINS OF 44 YEARS
'Major Ilhan' will be going to Cyprus for the first time in 44 years. His wife and three children were massacred by Greek Cypriot militants on December 24th, 1963.
ERDOGAN SAYS "NO" TO SURGERY
Despite suffering back pain, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan refused to have surgery to find a cure to his pains. Erdogan's doctors recommended that he start swimming in order to strengthen his abdomen muscles.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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IT WILL HAVE SEVERE RESULTS
The U.S. administration prepared a report and submitted it to the members of the House of Representatives. The report gave the message, "if the Armenian resolution is passed, it will have severe damages to the USA." Here are some highlights of the report which tells why the USA cannot give up Turkey: "Turkey is the partner of JSF project, the new generation war plane. Turkey will buy 106 planes, and the project is worth 10 billion USD. Turkey will purchase 30 new F-16 war jets in return for 1.65 billion USD. More than 200 F-16s are being renovated in return for 1.6 billion USD. Turkey will buy 1.3 billion USD of air defense system in 2007. Turkish army wants 52 helicopters to be used against the terrorist organization PKK, and Black Hawk is one of the alternatives. Turkey will purchase 21-26 million USD of zeppelins from the USA to fight against infiltration of terrorists from Iraq." On cooperation in Iraq, the report said, "Turkey opened Incirlik Base to the USA, there are 22 U.S. war planes there and vital training activities are held there. Turkey admitted 16 U.S. war ships in its ports, and nine of them are supplying goods to the troops in Iraq, while seven of them are transporting oil. 25 percent of the oil used by U.S. troops in Iraq is sent from Habur. 60 percent of the air cargo sent to the U.S. troops in Iraq passes through Incirlik Base."
MILITARY OPTION AGAINST PKK ON THE TABLE
U.S. Special Representative for Countering Terrorism Ralston talked about a cross-border operation for the first time. Speaking to the AP, Ralston said that the United States has not yet met Turkish demands for the capture of terrorists, and added the USA would consider all options against the terrorist organization, including the military options.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TSK AGAINST NUCLEAR ENERGY
There is an article in regard to nuclear energy in the latest issue of the maganize published by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). The article said that the United States did not construct new nuclear power plants and headed towards renewable energy sources. It noted that there are several problems in regard to ensuring safety in nuclear power plants nowadays.
SURVEY CAUSES PROBLEMS IN AKP
A survey which was conducted to take pulse of organizations in regard to president candidates in the ruling Justice & Development Party (AKP) caused some problems in the party. State Minister Abdullatif Sener whose name was not mentioned among candidates said, "questions can be asked in a different way. Names should not be given in the survey."
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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GUL: AKP DOES NOT CONSIST OF ONE OR TWO PEOPLE
On presidential election, FM Abdullah Gul said, "we have not yet decided on the presidential election. PM Erdogan is carrying out talks with different circles." Talking about the decision-making process, Gul said, "we are not a party of one or two people. We will discuss this matter in our authorized organs and the gatherings of our party at the parliament."
MARMARAY TUBES SUNK
The first tube tunnel of Marmaray project will be located within ten days, depending on weather conditions. Eleven tube tunnel, ranging between 98.5 meters and 135 meters in length, will be located under the sea.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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FOREIGN INVESTORS BEGIN WITH A RECORD
After receiving foreign investments worth USD 19.7 billion in 2006, Turkey received a record amount of foreign investments in the first month of 2007. In January 2007, foreign investments in Turkey reached USD 6 billion, almost one-third of the total foreign investment amount in 2006.
BATUMI AIRPORT TO BE USED BY TURKS AND GEORGIANS
The Turkish parliament approved a draft law that foresees the use of the Batumi Airport by both Turkish and Georgian citizens. "The issue of using the Batumi Airport has been discussed for the past two decades. Yet it is our administration that made the dream come true," said Orhan Yildiz, a Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy from north-eastern city of Artvin.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY FULFILLED ITS RESPONSIBILITES, NOW IT'S DIASPORA'S TURN
Armenian historian Ara Sarafian said that the Armenian diaspora should give a positive response to Turkey's gesture to open Akdamar Church in Van. "If there is a problem, this should be solved without hurting any of the sides," he stated.
ARMENIAN SOCCER TEAMS IN ANTALYA
When discussions on so-called Armenian genocide continue, the two communities are getting closer to each other in different occasions. For instance, Armenian soccer teams have preferred Turkish Mediterranean city of Antalya for their camp. The top three teams in the Armenian league, Pyunik, Mika and Banants are training in Belek town of Antalya. Pyunik's coach Samuel Petrosyan said that they have not faced any problems in Turkey, and added, "we did not take into consideration the politics when we decided to come here for our camp." Football player Sarkis Ovsepyan suggested that two countries should play a friendly match.
AMMUNITION THAT BELONGS TO PKK FOUND IN MAKHMOUR CAMP
U.S. Special Representative for Countering Terrorism Joseph Ralston announced that they have seized ammunition that belonged to the terrorist organization PKK in Makhmour camp.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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COUNTDOWN FOR PRESIDENT'S OFFICE
Candidates who will run for the presidential election will be announced on April 16th. The election process will start on April 26th. The process will be completed within 30 days.
TURKEY MIGHT CLOSE DOWN INCIRLIK
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates sent a letter to the U.S. Congress regarding the draft resolution on so-called Armenian genocide. The letter said that if Turkey closes down Incirlik Air Base, there would be a difficult situation in Iraq and Afghanistan.