ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 6, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
REFERENDUM ON APRIL 21
United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan has decided on the schedule of solution to the Cyprus issue which has been continuing for 40 years. Upon a decision made at a meeting which was held two days ago in New York under leadership of Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro de Soto, letters of invitation were sent to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot administration leader Tassos Papadopoulos to revive Cyprus talks on February 10. Annan put forward April 21 as the date for a referendum he has proposed holding in both parts of Cyprus with a view to reuniting the island. Also the Turkish Cypriots will be EU citizens together with Greek Cypriots on May 1.
Schedule of Solution:
February 10-March 31: Sides will hold talks on basis of Annan's peace plan with participation of guarantor states.
March 1-March 21: EU regulations will be discussed.
April 21: Both Turkish and Greek Cypriot sides will bring the final agreement to referendum.
May 1: Under new agreement, Cyprus will join the EU as a whole.
''THERE WILL ABSOLUTELY BE PUNISHMENT''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Selcuklu town of Konya after collapse of an eleven-storey building, claiming 48 people so far. He said that those responsible for the tragedy would absolutely be punished.
DEATH TOLL: 48
Number of bodies pulled from the building in Konya increased to 48. Search-rescue teams found five bodies hugging each other last morning. Number of the injured people is 31. The Governor's Office announced that 80 more people were believed trapped beneath the rubble.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
DENKTAS RESISTANCE
The six-page letter of invitation with 'preconditions', which U.N. Secretary General sent to TRNC President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot administration leader Tassos Papadopoulos to revive Cyprus talks on February 10 caused crisis in Ankara. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a surprising visit to Denktas at the hotel he is staying in order to persuade him as he started resistance by defending that acceptance of those conditions would mean 'giving Cyprus as a gift to Greek Cypriots'. However, Erdogan's initiatives to persuade Denktas failed. Denktas will go to New York with a 'document of objection'.
PERFECT MURDER
Experts investigated wreckage of the collapsed building in Konya. Here are the results: decayed iron, scald concrete, deficient materials, faulty > workmanship and lack of control. Meanwhile, those who have relatives trapped under the rubble have still hope. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to punish those who are responsible for the tragedy.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
THEY LIKE IT!
Although even Galatasaray are trying to escape from the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul due to its many problems, UEFA chose the stadium to stage the 2005 European Champions League final which will be watched by the whole world. The stadium passed the test as a result of efforts of UEFA Vice President Senes Erzik. Thus, Turkey will host a final match of an international competition for the first time.
Deficiencies of the Ataturk Olympic Stadium:
''Transportation is difficult; open to strong winds; lacks chain link fence security system; difficult to provide security; and insufficient covered stands''.
DENKTAS GOING
At last night's surprising summit meeting between TRNC President Rauf Denktas and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a decision was made on giving Annan's invitation a response in the affirmative. Besides, Erdogan will send a letter to Annan to overcome the problems in his letter of invitation before Denktas goes to New York.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
CAUTIOUS STEPS FROM ANKARA AND ATHENS
Sides which found Annan's conditions strict are going to New York in order not to be seen intransigent. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's strict conditions increased Cyprus traffic in Ankara. Following his meeting with Prime Minister Erdogan, TRNC President Denktas said that they had not made any decision but consultations would continue, adding, ''we can probably go to New York''. It was mentioned that issue of the Turkish side's writing a letter to Annan had come onto the agenda at the meeting and it had been decided to give the message that 'our coming to New York does not mean that we accepted the conditions'. It is mentioned that the Turkish side did not made final decision before seeing the other side's attitude. Meanwhile, Athens approached Annan's letter of invitation cautiously while it caused uneasiness in the Greek Cypriot side. Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Beglitis said Athens supported a solution appropriate to EU acquisitions, but he did not comment on Annan's conditions.
TALKS ON FEBRUARY 10
The U.N. Secretary General sent letters to Denktas and Papadopoulos and called them to New York on next Tuesday to start new round of Cyprus talks. Annan who also asked Turkey, Greece and England to send representative envisages an agreement until March 31 and referendum on April 21.
UNITED STATES WANTS BASE ON ISLAND
It was mentioned that the United States which put forth its influence for a solution to the Cyprus issue wanted to have military existence on Cyprus which it considered strategically important as a result of its closeness to energy basins and geography facing the Middle East. However, U.S. State Department spokesman Boucher announced that they did not have such a plan.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
ERDOGAN HITS DENKTAS ON CYPRUS
Annan invited the sides to the table. Ankara tried to persuade Denktas throughout the day. Turkish side couldn't say 'yes' to Annan. Denktas said, ''maybe we can go.'' U.N. Secretary General invited Denktas and Papadopoulos to New York on February 10 for negotiations. Schedule: Talks end on March 25, there is referendum on April 21. The side going to New York is considered that it accepts conditions. Prime Minister Erdogan paid a surprising visit to Denktas last night whose objections could not be overcome. After the meeting, the Prime Minister said they were forming a joint opinion. Meanwhile, Denktas said, ''we will probably go, but we have to hold another meeting with the Prime Minister.''
4 DAYS NOT ENOUGH
Rescue efforts are under way in the wreckage of the building which collapsed on last Monday night in Konya. Death toll reached 43 and 85 people are still beneath the rubble. The Civil Defense Directorate General said, ''the wreckage became mass of soil. No columns or joists left. It was great chance to rescue 30 people from there.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
ALSO GREECE MAKES EU PROMISE
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul who went to Brussels to attend the 16th congress of the European People's Party (EPP) that gathers European Christian Democrats under single frame, held several meetings. On his first-day, Gul met with Foreign Minister of Luxembourg Lydie Polfer and Greek New Democracy Movement leader Costas Caramanlis. After the meeting, Gul said that they had discussed relations between Turkey and Greece. Replying a question about the Cyprus issue, Caramanlis said that they support Turkey's EU membership if an agreement is reached within framework of Annan's plan.
ILHAN SAYS UNCLE!
And page of Ilhan Mansiz in Besiktas's book is closed. Mansiz who firstly announced that he had received offer from J-League team Vissel Kobe but later said he would not go to Japan when he understood that Besiktas board could transfer him, was obliged to say 'yes' to Kobe due to pressures. When Besiktas Vice President Husnu Gureli said, ''it does not matter if he goes to Japan or not'', Ilhan made his decision. Besiktas will get 5 million U.S. dollars from transfer of its 29-year-old attacker while Ilhan Mansiz will sign a five-year contract with Kobe for 3 million U.S. dollars a year.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
FIRST OFFICIAL REPORT: FIVE MISTAKES CAUSED COLLAPSE OF BUILDING
A five-member expert delegation formed by the Konya Chief Prosecutor's Office to investigate collapse of building in Konya finalized its preliminary report. They determined that five serious mistakes caused collapse of the building: ''shoddy soil and cement, insufficient materials, less number of iron rods in columns and joists, lack of control and faulty workmanship.''
(MS-AÖ) 06.02.2004