ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 18th, 2007. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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LONGED UNITY IN LEFT
Deniz Baykal, the chairman of Republican People`s Party (CHP), and Zeki Sezer, the chairman of Democratic Left Party (DSP), announced that they decided to form an alliance in the upcoming elections scheduled for July 22nd. The previous night, Baykal spoke to Sezer on the phone and said, "I am your elder brother Mr. Sezer. Let us talk in this respect, trust me." The obstacles were overcome, and DSP was assured that "it would have enough seats at the parliament to form a group." Two leaders announced this historic cooperation at the CHP HQ at noon on Thursday. Baykal said, "I feel as if I was hugging Mr. Ecevit," while Sezer said, "this project will come to power." CHP will give place to 24 candidate MPs from DSP at top of lists in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir and 15 other cities where they will have a higher chance of getting elected. Also, one person from DSP will be nominated as candidate MP in all electoral districts.
SHARAPOVA COMES, MATCH ON MAY 22ND
Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova arrived in Istanbul. Sharapova will play her first match at the Istanbul Cup 2007 international tennis tournament on May 22nd. Venus Williams of the USA and Elena Dementieva of Russia are the other tennis players who will participate in the tournament.
POLITICAL BAN ON DEP MEMBERS
The Supreme Court chief prosecutor demanded that Leyla Zana, Selim Sadak, Orhan Dogan and Hatip Dicle and 116 members of the Democratic Society Party (DTP) should be stripped of membership (of the party). It is said that those people had criminal record.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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TRUST ME, I WON`T EMBARRASS YOU
The Republican People`s Party (CHP) and the Democratic Left Party (DSP) have agreed to form an electoral alliance. During their meeting, CHP chairman Deniz Baykal told DSP chairman Zeki Sezer, "trust me, I won`t embarrass you. We will work together hand in hand."
OZBILGIN COMMEMORATED
Yucel Ozbilgin, member of the Turkish Council of State who was killed in last year`s armed attack, was commemorated on the first anniversary of the attack. None of members of the government was not invited to the commemoration ceremony. Council of State Chief Judge Sumru Cortoglu said, "we are determined to progress on the path drawn by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk."
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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DSP CANDIDATES ON CHP LISTS
A historic accord in the left was achieved. Democratic Left Party (DSP) and Republican People`s Party (CHP) will enter elections in electoral alliance. Baykal said he felt like he hugged Bulent Ecevit (late PM, former chairman of DSP).
While the long lasting negotiations resulted in a happy ending, DSP members will be able to be candidates from CHP lists without having to resign from their parties. A quota of how many candidacies was reserved for DSP members remains unknown.
SHARAPOVA IN ISTANBUL
Famous Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova arrived in Turkey for the Istanbul Cup 2007 due to start tomorrow. As well as Maria Sharapova who was greeted with flowers, Venus Williams from the USA and Russian Elena Dementieva will come to Istanbul to compete in the tournament.
ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 18th, 2007. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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WE WILL WORK AS IF ONE PARTY
Commenting on the electoral alliance, Republican People`s Party (CHP) chairman Deniz Baykal said, "together with our friends, we think that we can undertake the responsibility of a government as if we are one party."
Baykal also said, "we will first of all prepare a joint election report."
DID NOT CERTIFY GUL
Replying to the question "who would be your candidate if the president is elected by people?" Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "he would be somebody who wins the votes of majority of people. He would be a person who deserves presidency with his experience and state knowledge," but he did not give the name of Abdullah Gul.
However, a few days ago Abdullah Gul said, "70 percent of people want me to be the president. I will be the candidate of Justice and Development (AK) Party if the president is elected by people."
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ELECTORAL ALLIANCE ALL RIGHT
Republican People`s Party (CHP) chairman Deniz Baykal and Democratic Left Party (DSP) chairman Zeki Sezer declared their decision for electoral alliance based on the candidacy of DSP members from CHP lists. Underlining that they were witnessing a historic day, Baykal said, "We will come together for our Turkey. And after we are elected to the parliament, we will work in a collaboration as two parties foreseeing to merger permanently." Sezer reiterated his decision not to run for deputy despite Baykal`s call.
A quota of 24 candidacies was reserved for DSP at negotiations. Thus DSP will have more than 20 seats required to form a party group at the parliament.
FORMER DEP MEMBERS TACKLED BY JUSTICE
Supreme Court Chief Prosecutor`s Office asked Democratic Society Party (DTP) to dismiss the former members of the banned Democracy Party (DEP) from membership. Higher Board of Election (YSK) will rule whether the said individuals can run for deputy as independent candidates in the general elections to be held on June 22nd. Chairman of YSK said, "those who are convicted of terror crimes can not run for deputies." Meanwhile President Ahmet Necdet Sezer ratified the constitutional amendment law that envisages inclusion of names of independent candidates in the combined ballot papers --which was claimed to have been designed to block DTP--.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ALLIANCE AT LAST
The Republican People`s Party (CHP) and the Democratic Left Party (DSP) have agreed to cooperate in the upcoming general elections. While DSP chairman Zeki Sezer said that he would not run in the general elections, CHP chairman Deniz Baykal told reporters following his meeting with Sezer, "we have agreed to form an electoral alliance. We will work together hand in hand."
Under the deal, candidates of the DSP will run on the ticket of the CHP. The CHP and the DSP will have two separate groups at the parliament.
SAD CEREMONY AT COUNCIL OF STATE
A ceremony took place at the Council of State on the first anniversary of the armed attack in which Yucel Ozbilgin was killed. Both President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Council of State Chief Judge Sumru Cortoglu underlined the importance of secularism during the ceremony.
PRESS SCAN (3)
ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 18th, 2007. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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GIANT NAMES TO SING FOR ENVIRONMENT
One of "Live Concerts", which will be given in many countries on July 7th to draw people`s attention to the threat of global warming, will take place in Istanbul. Giant names such as Bono and Sting will participate in the concerts organized by Al Gore, former vice president of the United States.
SHARAPOVA IN ISTANBUL
Worldwide famous Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova arrived in Istanbul to attend the International Istanbul Cup 2007. The other famous guest of the tournament will be Venus Williams. She is expected to come to Istanbul later on Friday.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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CONTROVERSIAL COOPERATION IN LEFT
Efforts to unite Republican People`s Party (CHP) and Democratic Left Party (DSP) under the name of "unity in the left" ended yesterday. According to the cooperation, DSP parliamentarians will run under the banner of CHP in the upcoming elections without resigning from their parties. However, the cooperation in question led to a discussion in legal means. As on the one side the leaders defend that this was totally in line with the law, on the other side the jurists oppose to this. Jurists stressed that DSP members who would run under CHP banner must resign from their party.
TARGET QUADRUPLED IN SUMMIT
The second summit of the Turkish and African businessmen resulted in agreements above the expectations. 500 million USD of contracts were targeted prior to the Africa Foreign Trade Bridge meeting organized by Confederation of Turkish Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON).
According to the estimations of Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, which coordinates the summit, the businessmen agreed on 2 billion USD of cooperation on the second day of the summit.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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DARK HAND WORKED LIKE THIS
A year has passed since the attack on the Council of State. The connections of the assailant were put forth, but they were not pursued. A dark hand continued the tension it launched with priest Santoro murder with four bloody events in the last one year. Lawyer Alparslan Arslan`s connection with nationalist organizations and retired officers were revealed after the attack on the Council of State. Ten people are being tried of establishing an armed gang, but they are remaining silent. On the other hand, weapons, explosives and assassination plans were seized in a house in Eryaman neighborhood of Ankara. Two officers and two non-commissioned officers were arrested, and the trial goes on with the military court. Hrant Dink, the editor-in-chief of Agos, was killed by a 17-year-old hitman like the priest Santoro murder which occurred a year ago. The inciter and the "big brother" were arrested, but no further steps were taken. Three people, including a German, were killed by five teenagers in a publishing house distributing Bible in Malatya. Their testimonies pointed to inciters, but no further steps were taken. An armed person asked for an appointment with Erdogan Tezic, the Chairman of the Higher Board of Education (YOK), at the entrance of the YOK building. He opened fire in the air and ran as he saw the security. He was captured in a short time, but he was a special security member.
JET MESSAGE FROM GUL TO SARKOZY
"It is not the same thing, keep your promise," FM Abdullah Gul said when commenting on new French President Sarkozy`s "Mediterranean Union instead of EU" proposal to Turkey. "The decision to launch negotiations with Turkey was made unanimously, including France. This process should not be used as a tool for domestic policy," Gul added.