ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 18, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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HE IS IN SINGAPORE
Hakan Uzan who has been wanted by the Interpol for six months with red bulletin in the whole world appeared in Singapore together with his four bodyguards. Hakan Uzan is supposed to travel in the triangle of Singapore-Australia-New Zealand with a yacht. Cameras in a convenience store ''Seven Eleven'' in coastal area in Singapore caught Uzan while he was shopping during the Feast of Sacrifice between February 1-4. He was seen purchasing beverages and making the payment in cash. Hakan Uzan is the second heir apparent of the Uzan's Family whose all properties were confiscated by the state.
HE CAN'T CALL PKK ''TERRORIST ORGANIZATION''
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami who sincerely welcomed President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in Tehran for the Developing-8 (D-8) Summit Meeting could not put forward a clear attitude about the terrorist PKK organization although he said Turkey's security meant their security. During his meeting with Khatami, Sezer asked him to declare PKK's new form KADEK and Kongragel as terrorist organizations. Sources said that Khatami avoided declaring the terrorist PKK organization as a terrorist organization with its new name although he said, ''Turkey's security problem is also Iran's security problem. We are aware of cooperation in fight against terrorism and we attribute importance to it.''
''KURDS ARE VERY CLOSE FRIENDS OF MINE''
Speaking on private Kanal-D television channel, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that southeastern province of Diyarbakir could be the ''star of Great Middle East Project'' of the United States'', adding, ''also Kurdish citizens are very close friends of mine.'' Stressing that they attribute great importance to selection of candidates to municipalities in southeastern provinces in local elections, Erdogan said, ''because investments and municipal services in those cities have been disrupted. There is a need for a good work to remove these. Also our Kurdish citizens are very close friends of mine. With this respect, I attribute special importance to Diyarbakir. There is a great Middle east project of the Unite State, that is enlarged Middle East, and I want Diyarbakir to be the start and center of this project. We have to succeed.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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''I AM VERY WORRIED''
Speaking to the newspaper, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas who is going to sit at negotiation table with Greek Cypriots tomorrow said he is very worried: ''Greek Cypriots tore the 1960 agreement by saying that the constitution was not functioning. Incidents in 1963 happened. We want assurance against reoccurrence of such incidents. Our sine qua non things are bi-zonal structure and continuation of Turkey's guarantor rights. If these are accepted, Annan's plan becomes harmless.''
PKK WARNING FROM ERDOGAN TO SWEDEN
Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson said they were sensitive to the issue of former deputies of the outlawed DEP, particularly Layla Zana. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reminded the Swedish Premier of the fact that PKK had killed forty thousand people and asked him to fight against PKK. Ankara hosted a Swedish Prime Minister for the first time. Persson said that he was deeply impressed with the steps taken by Turkey on EU path. Stressing importance of Erdogan's role in talks on finding a solution to the Cyprus issue, Persson said, ''if we can provide a peaceful and political solution, it is clear that the political impact of the result will be much significant. Such a solution will constitute an example in the world.'' During the meeting Erdogan expressed his uneasiness over PKK's activities in Sweden and said, ''a joint fight platform against terrorism is being discussed. There should be one example of it against PKK.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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EU CAN'T GIVE UP TURKEY
EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen criticized proposals of ''privileged partnership or special status instead of membership'' and said those proposals contradict with the EU's ''seriousness''. Recalling that Turkey's EU membership was decided five years ago, Verheugen said Ankara already has special status and besides, Turkey is the only country with which the EU signed Customs Union deal. Verheugen who met with U.N. Secretary General's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto yesterday in Cyprus answered a question about German Christian Democrats' proposal of ''special status to Turkey'' by saying, ''Turkey which is the only EU candidate that signed Customs Union agreement already has a special relationship and cooperation. Change of the Helsinki strategy which granted Turkey candidacy is out of question. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will go to Turkey soon to affirm the EU's Turkey strategy.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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NOW IT'S AEGEAN
Greek Foreign Minister and ruling party PASOK leader George Papandreou who visited Cyprus said that solution of the Cyprus and Aegean problems would contribute to membership process. Speaking to the newspaper, Papandreou said that Turkish-Greek disputes and continental shelf tension had not ended and claimed that solution of those problems would ease Turkey's winning a date for opening of accession talks.
VERHEUGEN-DE SOTO MEETING
Prior to the Cyprus negotiations, EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen and U.N. Envoy Alvaro De Soto held a meeting. Verheugen said that Turkey's efforts regarding the Cyprus issue would be taken into consideration at the EU summit meetings. Noting that Turkey already had a special status as a result of the Customs Union deal with the EU, Verheugen said that a ''privileged partnership'' would be out of question.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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FIRST POSITIVE MESSAGE FROM EUROPE
The EU praised Turkey prior to the negotiation process that will start in Cyprus tomorrow. EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen who met with U.N. Secretary General's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto said, ''if Cyprus talks go well, warm messages are given to Ankara at the EU summit meetings in March and June.'' He said, ''development of our relations with Turkey played role in proposals. I appreciate the Turkish government's courage and the role it played in New York. It should strengthen Turkey's EU process. However, the schedule does not change, the final decision is made in December.'' Meanwhile, De Soto said, ''we are playing the final game. Rejection of Annan's plan in referendums will be tragic. There is no other scenario. Two communities should make use of this chance.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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WARM MESSAGES FROM EU
''Privileged partnership'' offer made by German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Angela Merkel during her visit to Turkey as official guest of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan drew harsh reaction. Particularly EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen, and also her party reacted to Merkel and they said ''there can't be such a thing''. Germany's former Defense Minister and CDU's foreign policy spokesman Volker Ruhe said they did not understand ''privileged partnership'' offer instead of full EU membership. Ruhe said, ''if the European Commission decides at the end of this year on opening of accession talks with Turkey, you cannot do anything except accepting it.'' Meanwhile, Verheugen said that privileged partnership for Turkey is out of question and stressed that Merkel should be more serious.
ALSO SCHROEDER TO COME
During his visit to Ankara on Sunday, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will announce their support to Turkey's EU membership. German government circles said they believed the commission's report on opening of accession talks with Turkey would be positive. Sources said a German politician's visit to Ankara after CDU leader Merkel's words would aim to recover bilateral relations.
GUL: ''THERE SHOULD BE HONORABLE SOLUTION''
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said they wanted a solution which guarantees bi-zonal structure and smooth border lines. Addressing the parliament, Gul said that the Cyprus issue is a national case and protection of the TRNC and Turkish people is everybody's common opinion. ''Everybody should desire a lasting peace. Because, there will be a joint state in the end. To found such a joint state, there should be an honorable result which satisfies both sides.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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''TURKEY'S HAND IN CYPRUS HAS NEVER BEEN STRONG AS IT IS TODAY''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said hand of the Turkish side had been strengthened after talks in New York. He stressed that there was a full compromise between Ankara and the TRNC. Noting that the attitude and diplomatic performance of the Turkish side won global admiration, Erdogan said, ''I sincerely believe that this great progress would be written in golden pages of the Turkish diplomacy.''
(MS-AÖ) 18.02.2004