ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 15, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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SECRET CODES OF BRIBERY
A gang which formed a bribery network in Ankara to influence jurisdiction has opened an office in Istanbul and served businessmen who are indebted to the state or whose companies went bankrupt. Under this organization, businessmen are called 'client' and lawyers who mediate bribery are called 'messenger'. Within scope of an operation conducted under an investigation opened by Ankara State Security Court Prosecutor Omer Suha Aldan, twelve suspects including Cukurova Holding Executive Board member Ersin Pamuksuzer and Show TV Director General Saner Ayar have been detained. Police reached the key man of the network: Haldun Erdavran who is son-in-law of former Interior Minister Orhan Eren. Erdavran has served those who have problems with jurisdiction under the code of 'we have men in Ankara, we solve your problem.'
PRODI AND VERHEUGEN IN ANKARA TODAY
European Commission President Romano Prodi will come to Ankara today as the guest of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen will accompany Prodi who is the first ever European Commission President paying an official visit to Turkey since signing of the Ankara Agreement in 1963. Erdogan will welcome Prodi who will be in Ankara in the afternoon. A joint press conference will be held following the meeting between delegations at the Prime Ministry building. Prodi who will be received by Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc is expected to address General Assembly. Prodi will also have a meeting with main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal in the parliament.
'WHAT KIRKUK IS' CLEAR
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs harshly reacted to Patriotic Union of Iraqi Kurdistan (PUK) official Berham Saleh who had said they would insist on their opinion about a federation and called Kirkuk a Kurdish city. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Huseyin Dirioz said, ''what Kirkuk is is quite clear. And the biggest proof of it is the reaction that all Iraqi groups show against attempts to possess it.''
COMMISSION DECIDES ON 'SWIFT MARRIAGE' OF ARIA-AYCELL
The Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission swiftly approved a legal document on merger of GSM operators Aria and Aycell. Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim said that de facto merger would happen under this document. Under the document, Turkish Telekom will purify Aycell from its debts. Maximum 10 percent of total license fee of merger will be paid and Aycell will have a 40 percent stake in the merger.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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CYPRUS TOPS AGENDA OF BRIEFING AT GENERAL STAFF
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was given briefing at the General Staff on national security. During the meeting, steps to be taken with the aim of 'making the plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan negotiable' were underlined. The issues of Iraq and Cyprus topped agenda of the briefing.
TALAT CALLS ON PAPADOUPULOS TO GET READY FOR A SOLUTION
Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) called on Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadoupulos to get ready for a solution. In an interview with the Milliyet daily, Talat said, ''Turkish Cypriot people have fulfilled their responsibilities by providing formation of a government defending solution. Now, the Greek Cypriot side should assume a similar attitude and get ready to resume negotiation process on the basis of the plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. Meanwhile, the Turkish government should maintain its contributions both for its own European Union (EU) process and for the future of Turkish Cypriot people.''
PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN WARNS AL-HAKIM
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Iraqi interim Governing Council member and Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) Chairman Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim. Speaking at the meeting, ''Kurds in Iraq have been trying to take oil reserve areas in the north under their influence thinking that their influence would decrease as of June. We should not allow them. Their dangerous attempt should not be allowed. If Iraq is divided, its neighbors may intervene in.'' He added, ''Turkey attributes importance to Iraq's territorial integrity. Now, All ethnic groups in Iraq should act together. They should not allow ethnic or religious discriminations. We have been monitoring efforts of two Kurdish groups to benefit from the existing situation in Iraq for their own purposes. We do not approve of these efforts.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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HUNGARIAN BRIDGE AT ESENBOGA
While use of Incirlik airbase in southern province of Adana by U.S. soldiers is being discussed, it was revealed that Hungarian soldiers who are assigned in Iraq have been using Ankara's Esenboga Airport since November. Hungarian officials told Sabah daily that rotation was made periodically and stated that soldiers went to Hungary for a one-week leave. Hungarian soldiers landed at Esenboga Airport by AN-26 military plane and stayed in a hotel for one night. A high-level Hungarian official said that comprehensive rotation would be made in February and stated that's why they wanted to use Turkish airports or bases. Although Turkish officials said that passage of soldiers was transit, thus there was no need for a parliamentary motion, it was revealed that Hungarian officials stayed in a hotel in Ankara for one night. Hungarian official said that soldiers did not carry any gun and they only wanted to have a rest.
''KURDS' DANGEROUS ATTEMPT SHOULD BE PREVENTED''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Iraqi interim Governing Council member and Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) Chairman Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim, and said, ''if Iraq is moving towards a division, neighbors become intervenor.'' Erdogan said that a federation based on ethnicity or religion should not be formed in Iraq and stated that Kurds' dangerous attempt should be prevented. Stating that if Iraq was moving towards a division, neighbors became intervenor, Erdogan added that Syria and Iran also thought in that way.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ERDOGAN MAKES HARSH WARNINGS AFTER HE WAS BRIEFED ON SECURITY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Iraqi interim Governing Council member and Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) Chairman Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim, after he was briefed on security at the General Staff. Erdogan reacted to Kurds in his meeting with Al-Hakim and said that Kurds in Iraq who attempted to form a federation based on ethnicity played with fire. Erdogan stated that in case of a division in Iraq, not only Turkey, but also Syria and Iran would be intervenor.
''PEOPLE SHOULD ACT FASTIDIOUSLY ON CYPRUS''
The Turkish Armed Forces which briefed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on security of the country at General Staff headquarters said that a preliminary meeting should be held before a negotiation on the Annan plan with the United Nations (U.N.). North of Iraq and internal security issues were also discussed in the meeting.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ERDOGAN TO CALL ON ANNAN TO RESUME CYPRUS NEGOTIATIONS
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has said, ''we are ready to negotiate the Cyprus question on the basis of the plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will call on United Nations Secretary General Annan to resume negotiation process in Cyprus.'' Recalling that European Commission President Romano Prodi would come to Turkey on Thursday on a two-day visit, Gul said that they would ask Prodi to put the same pressure on the Greek Cypriot side.
CETIN TO LEAVE FOR AFGHANISTAN ON JANUARY 25
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul received Hikmet Cetin who was assigned as NATO's Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan. Prior to the meeting, Cetin said that he would start his new mission in Kabul on January 25. Noting that he would hold a series of meetings in Europe before starting his new mission, Cetin said that he would go to Austria on Thursday and then he would also go to Brussels and Germany. Cetin added that his assignment in Afghanistan was difficult and complicated but at the same time it was a good and positive assignment.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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''TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP CANNOT BE PREVENTED''
EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen who will come to Turkey on Thursday with European Commission President Romano Prodi gave important messages about Turkey's EU membership. Verheugen said that no one could change the fact that Turkey could be a member of the EU and stated that a decision was made on Turkey's membership to the bloc and Turkey could be a member of it. Verheugen said that Turkey should fulfill political and economic conditions for membership negotiations to be started.
CYPRUS BRIEFING AT GENERAL STAFF
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was given briefing on security of the country including Cyprus issue at the General Staff. Briefing lasted for four hours. Sources said that the briefing aimed at Ankara's reaching agreement on one plan about Cyprus issue despite different views and it also aimed at Erdogan's going both to National Security Council (NSC) and the United States with a single plan. National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, Land Forces Commander General Aytac Yalman, Naval Forces Commander Admiral Ozden Ornek, Air Forces Commander General Ibrahim Firtina and Gendarme Forces Commander General Sener Eruygur also attended the briefing. They also discussed developments in Iraq and internal security issues in the meeting.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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PRODI: ''HUMAN RIGHTS TOP MY AGENDA IN TURKEY''
European Commission President Romano Prodi has said that the issue of human rights would top agenda of his two-day visit to Turkey. Noting that European Commission would prepare a report by taking into consideration whether or not Turkey fulfilled Copenhagen criteria, Prodi said that the Council would say the last word for setting a date for opening of accession talks between Turkey and the European Union (EU). Prodi, who will be accompanied by EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen, will meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal. He will address the parliament and deliver a speech at the Bogazici University in Istanbul.
(EÖ-UK-MS) 15.01.2004