ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 29, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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''I WILL KEEP MY PROMISE''
U.S. President George W. Bush has reiterated that they would not let the terrorist organization of PKK to shelter in northern Iraq. In a letter he sent to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan about ten months ago, President Bush pledged to eradicate the terrorist organization. During yesterday's meeting at the White House, President Bush said that he would keep his promise. President Bush assured Prime Minister Erdogan that request of Kurdish groups in northern Iraq for formation of a ethnic federation would not be accepted, and the terrorist organization of PKK would not be allowed to shelter in northern Iraq. State Minister Ali Babacan, State Minister Kursad Tuzmen, National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal and Turkish Ambassador to the United States Faruk Logoglu were also in attendance at the meeting.
PRESIDENT BUSH CHARGES POWELL TO DEAL WITH CYPRUS ISSUE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has asked U.S. President George W. Bush to take action for resumption of negotiation process in Cyprus. The Cyprus issue was high on agenda of the meeting between Prime Minister Erdogan and President Bush at the White House. Erdogan informed President Bush on steps taken by Turkey under efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus issue. He stressed that the Turkish side was ready to resume negotiations on the basis of the plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. President Bush has charged U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to deal with the Cyprus issue. Powell will meet with United Nations Secretary General Annan later today.
SECURITY FORCES IMPOUND ONE TON OF HEROIN
Security forces impounded one ton of heroin in an operation in Buyukcekmece district of Istanbul. It was revealed that the heroin was taken to Turkey from Afghanistan via Iran. A total of seven people were detained in the operation. Meanwhile, Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler told reporters that 3.5 tons of heroin were confiscated in Istanbul in the last eleven years.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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''I SWEAR THAT IRAQ WILL NOT BE DIVIDED''
U.S. President George W. Bush who had a meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan committed that they would not allow an ethnic federation in Iraq. Bush, who wanted Greek Cypriot side to also take steps on the Cyprus issue, charged U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to deal with the Cyprus issue. Bush and Erdogan had a meeting in the Oval Office. Erdogan said, ''a federation based on ethnicity or religion in Iraq will be the end of this country. We have serious concerns over Kurdish groups' attempts to form such a federation.'' Bush told Erdogan that he knew Turkey's concerns and stated that territorial integrity of Iraq would be protected.
ANNAN: ''TWO MONTHS FOR SOLUTION''
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said that an agreement should be reached on Cyprus issue by the end of March. Stating that he had a very encouraging meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Davos, Annan quoted Erdogan as saying that his country was ready for negotiations. Annan went on saying that it was a good decision and noted that Erdogan made some proposals. Annan added that he was examining those proposals carefully.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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EKINCI BLOW HIMSELF UP IN IRAQ
It was revealed that Azad Ekinci, the key suspect in the quadruple suicide attacks in Istanbul in November of 2004, died in a suicide attack in Iraq. Security forces unveiled that Ekinci was the person who staged the bomb attack in a security checkpoint in Haldiye town of Iraq on December 14 in which 18 people were killed. Sources said that the same kind of bombs were used in attacks in Istanbul and Iraq. Ekinci was thought to had proceeded to Iraq after the suicide attacks in Istanbul and joined the Al-Qaida militants in the region.
HISTORIC MEETING AT WHITE HOUSE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently paying an official visit to the United States, met with U.S. President George W. Bush at the White House yesterday. Speaking at the meeting, President Bush stressed that the Greek Cypriot side should take similar steps with the Turkish side. President Bush has charged U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to deal with the Cyprus issue. Powell will meet with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan later today. Meanwhile, the Kongragel, the continuation of the terrorist organization of PKK/KADEK was included in the United States' list of terrorist organizations.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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BUSH CHARGES POWELL TO SPEED UP PROCESS IN CYPRUS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan demanded assistance of U.S. President George W. Bush to speed up the negotiation process on Cyprus issue. Upon Erdogan's demand, Bush charged U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to deal with the Cyprus issue. Sources said that Powell would not serve as a mediator, but he would determine the name who would assist U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. Powell will meet with Annan to discuss this issue. White House said that Greek Cypriot side should also take steps on Cyprus issue.
NEW TL IN 2005
The Parliamentary General Assembly approved draft law which foresees omission of six zeros from Turkish Lira (TL). The draft law also foresees that name of monetary unit of Turkey will be ''New Turkish Lira''. According to the draft law, one new TL will be equal to one million TL and new ''kurus'' will be sub-monetary unit of new TL. One new TL will be equal to one hundred kurus. New and old TL will be in circulation simultaneously between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2005.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ANNAN SETS TIMEFRAME FOR CYPRUS
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan met with European Commission President Romano Prodi in Brussels yesterday. During the meeting, Annan has given the signals of resumption of negotiation process in Cyprus. Noting that if the sides displayed their political will, he would invite them to hold a meeting, Annan said that the sides should reach an agreement in March and hold referendum in April. Annan is expected to take a final decision after meeting with Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadoupulos today.
VERHEUGEN EULOGIZES TURKEY
European Union (EU) Commissioner Guenter Verheugen for enlargement has given significant messages about Turkey's EU membership process and the Cyprus issue. Speaking at the German Parliamentary EU Affairs Commission, Verheugen referred to the reform process in Turkey, saying that Turkish people could be very productive when they were determined. ''Although finding a solution to the Cyprus issue is not a criterion for Turkey, it is a serious problem,'' he said, adding that a solution did not depend only on Turkey.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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FULL AGREEMENT
Turkey and the United States have agreement about Cyprus, Iraq and fight against terrorism issues. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is paying a visit to the United States, met with U.S. President George W. Bush on Wednesday. Meeting between Erdogan and Bush in Oval Office lasted for about one and a half hour. Following the meeting, Bush said that Turkey was a very important ally and a good friend. Bush said that they wanted a democratic state to be founded in Iraq and its territorial integrity to be protected and noted that Erdogan also briefed him on the Cyprus issue in the meeting. Bush said that he would pay a visit to Turkey this year, stating that an important meeting would be held in Turkey. Erdogan said, ''during my meeting with Bush, I have learnt that the United States recognized PKK/KADEK with its new name Kongragel as a terrorist organization'' and added that he was very pleased with it.
EXPORTS INCREASE BY 7.4 PERCENT
Turkey exported goods worth of 3.8 billion dollars and imported goods worth of 5.1 billion dollars in November, 2003. State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced the provisional foreign trade figures in November 2003 and noted that export and imports amounted to 3,858,501 thousands and 5,150,126 thousands US dollars respectively. As compared to November 2002, exports and imports have increased 7.4 percent and 3.8 percent respectively. Exports and imports figures for November 2002 were 3,593,605 thousands, and 4,962,305 thousands dollars, respectively. In January-November 2003, exports amounted to 42.3 million dollars and imports amounted to 60.6 billion dollars. When compared to the same period last year, exports have increased by 29.2 percent and imports increased by 31.4 percent. The foreign trade deficit increased by 36.9 percent to 18.2 billion dollars.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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PRESIDENT BUSH TO PAY A VISIT TO ANKARA IN JUNE
U.S. President George W. Bush, who is scheduled to attend NATO Summit to be held in Istanbul in June, said that he wanted to pay a visit to Turkey. Pointing out that those, who visited Turkey, were talking about natural and cultural assets of Turkey and hospitality of Turkish people, President Bush said that he felt proud of hosting Prime Minister Erdogan at the White House. After attending NATO Summit, President Bush will proceed to Ankara to meet with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan again.
(EÖ-UK) 29.01.2004