ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 21, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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IMF DELEGATION DUE IN TURKEY
International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation headed by IMF Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam will come to Turkey on February 26, 2004. The delegation will hold talks with Turkish officials both in Istanbul and Ankara between February 27 and March 12. The meetings of the IMF delegation are expected to focus on removal of additional source requirement in public finance stemming from the increase in minimum wage and retirement pension in 2004 and lower tax revenues than expected in 2003; other elements in the agenda of structural reforms, which will be put into practice in the coming period to support reform efforts that has been made so far in public finance; and arrangements both in banking sector and privatization.
TURKEY AND WORLD BANK SIGN AGREEMENT
The agreement regarding ''Export Finance Intermediation Loan II (EFIL II)'' worth of 303.1 million dollars provided for the Turkish Industrial Development Bank (TSKB) by the World Bank was signed. State Minister Ali Babacan, TSKB Director General Halil Eroglu and World Bank's Turkey Director Andrew Vorkink signed the agreement at the Treasury Undersecretariat. Speaking during the signing agreement, Vorkink said that the loan would increase the export volume of Turkey, the capacity of leasing and commercial banks and contribute significantly to increase in employment.
''WE HOPE THAT CYPRUS NEGOTIATIONS WILL COME TO A CONCLUSION''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, ''we hope that Cyprus negotiations will come to a conclusion without entailing a second process in which Turkey and Greece participate. We have been pursuing developments carefully. Both northern and southern parts of Cyprus should assume a careful and positive attitude with the aim of finding a solution. I hope that a solution will be reached till March 22. I hope that both Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cypriot side will reach the expected conclusion.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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HELICOPTER AGAIN
The Basic Criminal Court in northwestern province of Bursa decided to arrest Young Party (GP) leader Cem Uzan in his absentia for failing to fulfill his defense in the trial process. Upon decision of the court, Uzan went to Bursa by a helicopter. He testified at the court about charges against himself. Uzan has been tried at the court on charges of defaming Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in a speech he delivered in a public rally in Bursa. Following his testimony, the court annulled the arrest order. Uzan was released pending trial.
GERMAN CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER DUE IN TURKEY
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will pay an official visit to Turkey between February 22 and 24, 2004 as the guest of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Schroeder, who is the first German Chancellor paying an official visit to Turkey after 11 years, will underline Germany's support to Turkey's membership to the European Union (EU) and eulogize Ankara's efforts in the process of finding a solution to the Cyprus issue during his meetings with Turkish officials. German diplomatic sources said that Schroeder, who would come to Ankara with a crowded delegation, would extend Germany's support to the government's reform policy and highlight importance of strengthening these reforms and putting them into practice.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ANKARA DGM REJECTS TO RELEASE FORMER DEP DEPUTIES
Ankara State Security Court (DGM) no: 1 has rejected request of Leyla Zana, Hatip Dicle, Orhan Dogan and Selim Sadak, the former deputies of the Democracy Party (DEP) which was banned by the Constitutional Court, for release from prison. The Ankara DGM heard the 11th hearing of the re-trial process of former DEP deputies. Tight security measures were taken in and around the court building during the hearing. Meanwhile, Turkey-European Parliament (EP) Joint Parliamentary Commission (JPC) Co-President Joost Lajendik, who held talks with Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, told reporters following the hearing that he was disappointed with decision of the court.
MINIBUS PLUNGES INTO A STREAM KILLING NINE PEOPLE
When a minibus carrying passengers plunged into a stream in northwestern province of Adapazari, nine people were killed and four others were injured seriously. The injured people were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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CICEK: ''WE WILL AMEND THE CONSTITUTION''
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that the government was planning to make comprehensive amendments in the Constitution. He said that constitutional amendments would be brought onto agenda in April.
GERMAN CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER TO GIVE IMPORTANT MESSAGES
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will pay an official visit to Turkey between February 22 and 24 as the guest of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. His visit is of great importance in regard to Turkey's relations with the European Union (EU). Schroeder will become the first German Chancellor paying an official visit to Turkey after 11 years. The last German Chancellor visiting Turkey in 1993 was Helmut Kohl. A crowded delegation including businessmen and journalists will accompany German Chancellor Schroeder. During the visit, Schroeder is expected to underline Germany's support to Turkey's membership to the EU and eulogize Ankara's efforts in the process of finding a solution to the Cyprus issue. Schroeder is expected to express his satisfaction over Prime Minister Erdogan's ''constructive contribution'' to the negotiation process in Cyprus and to give the messages that ''a new window was opened, and Turkish side's efforts should be encouraged.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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COURT REJECTS TO RELEASE FORMER DEP DEPUTIES FOR THE 11TH TIME
Ankara State Security Court (DGM) no: 1 has rejected request of Leyla Zana, Hatip Dicle, Orhan Dogan and Selim Sadak, the former deputies of the Democracy Party (DEP) which was banned by the Constitutional Court, for release from prison for the 11th time. Continuing defense of their clients, the lawyers reacted to method of the retrial process by claiming that the first trial and verdict had overshadowed the retrial process. Meanwhile, Turkey-European Parliament (EP) Joint Parliamentary Commission (JPC) Co-President Joost Lajendik criticized the decision of the court saying, ''I think the time has come for the judges and prosecutors of Turkey to make up their mind. Do they want to be part of a country that it is changing rapidly or do they want to remain the masters of a small island... that I think will be vanishing in a sea of change?''
AMBASSADORS BRIEFED ON DEVELOPMENTS IN CYPRUS
While the negotiation process in Cyprus has been continuing, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul met with Turkish Ambassadors in member and candidate countries to the European Union (EU). During the meeting, Gul briefed the ambassadors on recent developments in Cyprus. Meanwhile, when asked whether or not a possible agreement would be brought onto agenda of the parliament before referendum in Cyprus, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Undersecretary Baki Ilkin said that the agreement to be reached in Cyprus would not be submitted to the parliament before referendums to be held in both sides in the island.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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''WE HAVE BEEN PURSUING DEVELOPMENTS CAREFULLY''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, ''we have been pursuing developments in Cyprus carefully. We have been telling from the very beginning that it is a psychological process. In this psychological process, both northern and southern parts of Cyprus should assume a careful and positive attitude with the aim of finding a solution. I hope that a solution will be reached till March 22. I hope that both Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cypriot side will reach the expected conclusion. We also hope that Cyprus negotiations will come to a conclusion without entailing a second process in which Turkey and Greece participate.''
GUL VISITS IRAQI PATIENTS HAVING MEDICAL TREATMENT IN ANKARA
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and Health Minister Recep Akdag visited Iraqi people, who were injured in the twin suicide attacks on bureaus of the Iraqi Kurdistan Democracy Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Iraqi Kurdistan (PUK) in Irbil city of Iraq on February 1, 2004, and brought to Ankara for medical treatment. Gul received information about their health from doctors at Ankara's Trafik Hospital.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TUSIAD SUPPORTS GOVERNMENT AND PRESIDENT DENKTAS OF TRNC
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Omer Sabanci and members of TUSIAD Executive Board met with Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul. The meeting focused on Turkey's European Union (EU) membership process and the Cyprus peace process. Speaking at the meeting, TUSIAD Chairman Sabanci said that they supported the constructive attitudes of both the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government and President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
(MS-UK) 21.02.2004