ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 23, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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WHITE DISASTER IN ISTANBUL
Heavy snowfall and storm paralyzed daily life and traffic in Istanbul. Electricity and water could not be given to people in Istanbul. Heating systems could not work. People in Istanbul were trapped on roads due to heavy snowfall and waited in their cars for 4-5 hours. Ship services stopped and Istanbul Strait was closed to transit passages as of noon. Planes could not land at Ataturk Airport and some planes had to land at Ankara's Esenboga Airport. Heavy snowfall and storm also affected negatively working places in Istanbul. Some personnel left their working places early due to problems in traffic.
TODAY'S NSC IS CRITICAL
Turkey's new strategy will gain a final shape on Cyprus issue within the scope of the Annan plan in the meeting of National Security Council (NSC) on Friday. It is also expected that disagreements on the issue between Foreign Ministry and General Staff will also be removed. NSC meeting is very important, as it will determine whether Ankara will put forth a joint strategy or not. An official said that a ''joint strategy'' should be determined on Cyprus issue before Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's meetings with the United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan and U.S. President George Bush, as Erdogan should present an assessment on the issue when he went to the United States.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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HERE IS RED BULLETIN
Interpol started to search for Kemal Uzan, who is wanted in connection with Imar Bankasi case, on September 25, 2003. Milliyet daily seized the ''red bulletin'' prepared for businessman Kemal Uzan. According to the red bulletin no 40,679, Interpol started to search for Uzan as of September 25, 2003. The red bulletin listed crimes of the Uzans. The red bulletin noted that Kemal Uzan had three separate passports, including the passport he got from Istanbul in May 2001, the passport he got in March 1997, and the passport he got from Turkish Consulate in Jeddah in August 1982. The bulletin said Uzan might be in Europe or Middle East. Concerned authorities want Uzan to serve 20 years in prison.
WE WERE COLD AND STRANDED IN ROADS
A Korean-flagged ship ran aground in Kemer town of southern Antalya province. Then, the ship capsized. The crew was rescued many hours later. People in Antalya were asked not to go out. Izmir was hit by heavy rain. Vehicles were stranded in roads. Ships were not allowed to sail due to storm. 80 percent of European side of Istanbul suffered blackout and heating systems did not work.
ISTANBUL PARALYZED
Snowfall paralyzed daily life in Istanbul. Citizens waited in streets which were all paralyzed due to snowfall. Electricity and water were cut in many districts. Heating systems did not work and houses were cold. Cold and snowy weather coming from the Balkans hit daily life in Istanbul. Schools were closed one day before they were to start the semester holiday. Snowfall negatively affected land, sea and air traffic. Many flights were delayed while some were cancelled. Istanbul Strait was closed to traffic.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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WINTER NIGHTMARE
Storm, snowfall and icy roads paralyzed daily life in cities. Nature hit the civilization. Houses and workplaces darkened due to electricity cut and vehicles were stranded in roads. Water was cut while heating system did not work.
GIANT WAVE HORROR
A cargo ship crashed into rocks in southern Antalya province due to storm and giant waves. Storm which had about 113 kilometers per hour of speed, whirlwind and heavy rain hit Antalya. Roof of the airport was uprooted, two minarets were knocked down while trees which were also uprooted closed Antalya-Burdur highway. Entrance and exit at Antalya port were stopped. A ship which crashed into rocks off Kemer town was split into two. Efforts to rescue eight crewmen of the ship were interrupted due to negative weather conditions.
ACCIDENT DUE TO ICY ROADS AND SPEED: TWO DEAD
A minibus carrying students rolled into a ravine in Sincik town of southeastern Adiyaman province. Eighteen students, ten of whom suffered serious injuries, were injured in the accident. Daily life was paralyzed in northwestern provinces of Edirne, Kirklareli and Tekirdag. Istanbul-Edirne motorway was closed to traffic. Ferry boat service was cancelled in western Canakkale province. Bursa-Izmir highway was closed to traffic. Five students were stranded in roads.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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UNEMPLOYMENT INCREASES
State Planning Organization (DPT) which put forth economic map of Turkey with ''Preliminary National Development Plan'' gave no hope on unemployment issue. DPT also showed with the plan that Turkish economy would not have a bright future for two years. According to the plan of DPT, rate of unemployment which was 10.3 percent in 2002 increased to 11.2 percent in 2003. The plan said that regression in unemployment stemmed from shrinkage in agriculture sector.
TEMPERATURES TO DECREASE
Cold weather, storm and heavy snowfall paralyzed daily life and traffic across the country. Many motorways were closed to traffic in the country. Nearly one thousand people were trapped on the highway between northwestern province of Balikesir and Susurluk. Most of schools in Aegean region recessed due to heavy storm and snowfall. Ship and ferry services stopped in the region. Meteorology Affairs Directorate General said that snowfall would also continue to paralyze the country. Temperatures will drop to below minus 4 degrees Celsius in Ankara, minus 6 degrees in Istanbul and minus 2 degrees Celsius in Izmir.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TURKISH HAND BOOK OF FUNDAMENTALIST TERRORIST
The book named ''Education of Youngsters in Muslim Family'' explains how to run camps which educate and train militants like militants in Afghanistan. These books are freely sold in Turkey. For example, what is in fact mentioned by saying ''education'' in ''Education of Youngsters in Muslim Family'' is guerilla training. Here is an extraction from the chapter of the book ''with an innocent name'' on ''camp and military training'': ''The aim of military training is to prepare youngsters and the Muslim community to jihad. This training is completed by spiritual, psychological, physical and political education and training.'' It continues, ''arms training and attack and defense exercises are types of military training. Attack and defense exercises are performed in cities and streets. This training is firstly theoretical and then applied.''
''ONLY TARGET IS CYPRUS''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey would try for a solution in Cyprus till last moment. German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said that Annan plan should be the basis and referendum should be hold. Erdogan gave messages about Cyprus and Iraq prior to his visits to Davos and the United States. Erdogan said that he would express his concerns over demands of Kurds in Iraq in his meeting with U.S. President George Bush. Erdogan said, ''Turkish side will work for a solution to Cyprus issue till the last moment.'' Fischer asked Ankara to exert efforts for a solution of Cyprus issue on basis of Annan plan till May 1. Fischer, who proposed referendum to both sides, said that they should overcome the critical stage before Turkey in European Union (EU) process.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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LAST WARNING TO EU
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and brought onto the agenda Turkey's European Union (EU) membership and Cyprus issue in the meeting. Stating that Turkey fulfilled most of Copenhagen criteria, Erdogan said, ''we are about to pass a critical period now. We are at the level of implementation.'' Erdogan noted that they expected a positive Progress Report about Turkey from the European Commission. Noting that in case Turkey's accession talks with the EU did not start at the end of 2004, this would cause a situation beyond disappointment in the country, Erdogan said that it would not be possible to explain it to Turkish people. Erdogan added that they would not take any backward step.
A SHIP SINKS OFF ANTALYA
Heavy storm paralyzed daily life and traffic in southern province of Antalya. A North Korean flagged ship ran aground off the Mediterranean resort of Kemer of Antalya due to storm. Rescue teams reached eight crewmen of the ship.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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SNOW PARALYZES DAILY LIFE AND TRAFFIC IN TURKEY
Cold weather and snowfall paralyzed daily life and traffic throughout the country. Temperatures decreased by 8-10 degrees Celsius across the country. Electricity was cut in many cities including Istanbul. Schools in many provinces recessed. Meteorology officials said that bad weather conditions would continue to paralyze daily life and traffic for three days more.
''SEARCH FOR SOLUTION IN FOREIGN POLICY SHOULD BE SUPPORTED''
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) chairman Tuncay Ozilhan said that search for solution in foreign policy should be supported. Stating that recovery in economy gave everybody hope, Ozilhan said that big transformation projects like European Union (EU) membership required comprehensive communication activities.
(EÖ-BRC-AY) 23.01.2004