ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 24, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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SCHROEDER FOR THE FIRST TIME SETS DATE
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who praised the reforms fulfilled by Turkey and the steps taken for solution in Cyprus, told Prime Minister Erdogan to continue on this path.
Expending support to Turkey on the way to European Union (EU), Gerhard Schroeder, during his tete-a-tete meeting with Erdogan, for the first time openly stated a date to start Turkey's full membership negotiations.
Schroeder said, ''continue on this path. I believe that a decision will be taken in December Summit to start negotiations in case there is not a deviation within Turkey itself.'' Schroeder also expressed belief that negotiations could start in the first half of 2005, possibly in March or June.
In a joint news conference with Erdogan, German Chancellor said there were two reasons for their support to Turkey's EU full membership. He said the first one was the commitment which the EU had given to Turkey 40 years ago. Disclosing the second reason, Schroeder said, ''Turkey will reconcile the values of a country which is mainly Moslem with values of the EU. Thus, it will both contribute to democracy and stability, and at the same time it will make important contributions to its own democracy and legal state structure.''
FOREIGN MINISTER GUL: GERMANY IS LOCOMOTIVE OF TURKEY
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said every EU member country takes another country within the union, stressing that, ''Germany became the locomotive country. It takes Turkey. This was openly stated by German Chancellor on Tuesday.''
Replying to questions of reporters aboard the plane on his way to Moscow for an official visit, Gul said, ''everybody praises Turkey. We have entered a road that has no return. Both Turkey and the EU will benefit from this. Turkey will get a share from the EU cake, but at the same time the cake will also get bigger.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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CHANCELLOR'S PROMISE
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said that he would also work for Turkey's starting full membership negotiations with the European Union (EU). Schroeder, who is the first German chancellor visiting Turkey after 11 years, said that Germany always supported Turkey's desire to be a full member of the EU. Schroeder noted that he didn't have any doubt that this desire would come true when the EU Commission saw that the criteria were met by Turkey. Schroeder stated that 2004 Progress Report about Turkey which would be prepared by the EU would be positive and noted that he believed that the EU would take a decision to start full membership negotiations with Turkey in the summit which would be held in December.
GUL'S SUPPORT TO RUSSIA FOR FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul left Turkey for Russia on a three-day official visit as the guest of his Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov. Gul, supporting Russia's policy on fight against terrorism in Chechnya, said that terrorism could not have any explanation at all. When asked whether criticisms claiming that Turkey had supported Chechnya would be brought onto agenda during his meetings in Russia, Gul said, ''if the Russian side brings the issue onto agenda, we will explain our views.'' Gul added that Turkey always condemned terrorism against innocent people since it suffered much from terrorism for years.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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PROMISE OF GERMAN CHANCELLOR
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder promised Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan: ''Negotiations should start. I will exert efforts for this.''
Schroeder, the first German Chancellor visiting Ankara after 11 years, encouraged Turkey on its bid for EU membership.
Following his tete-a-tete meeting with Erdogan, Schroeder said, ''2004 will be an important year. EU should keep its promise.''
Stating that it was not possible to put forward a new criteria in front of Turkey, Schroeder wanted Turkey not to leave a pretext to those who wanted to obstruct Turkey's membership to the EU.
Schroeder said solution on Cyprus before May 1 will be an additional signal, Erdogan said Turkey's existence was a source of inspiration for meeting of European and Islam civilizations and noted that Turkey meant stability for Europe.
UZAN'S ARSENAL
Twenty-five weapons, ten of them without license, were found in three safes in two villas belonging to Cem and Hakan Uzan. The villas were in Pamukova township in Sakarya province. Also 10 long range weapons and 12,500 bullets were found.
An 19-people team, comprised of officials from Financial Department and Saving Deposits Insurance Fund (SDIF) searched for the villas despite the snow that is more than one meters.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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PRODI: CYPRUS IS CRITERION IN PRACTICE
European Commission President Romano Prodi said attitude of Turkey toward solution in Cyprus would affect views of EU member countries.
Speaking about ''special status'', Prodi said it was clear that the commission could not create new formulas.
SENER: ''PAY YOUR DEBTS PROPERLY''
Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener addressed the groups which have the similar position like Cem Uzan, and said, ''Uzan followed the operations in tears. You should pay your debts if you don't want to experience the same thing.''
Sener also said a definite decision has not yet been given for sale of companies belonging to Uzan Group.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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SCHROEDER BOOSTS MORALE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted a luncheon in honor of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, on an official visit to Turkey. Schroeder was received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and had a meeting with Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal in Ankara. Schroeder said that he believed that if Turkey fulfilled the criteria, the European Commission would prepare a positive report about Turkey, adding that if the European Commission asks Germany's recommendation for the report it will prepare, their recommendation will be to support Turkey.
SNOW PARALYZES DAILY LIFE IN EASTERN ANATOLIA REGION
Heavy snowfall which have continued for days blocked roads to 3 thousand villages in Eastern Anatolia Region. 1.5 meters of snow blanketing roads paralyzed daily life and traffic in Erzurum, Mus and Bayburt provinces.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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ERDOGAN: ''WE DO NOT WANT ANY MORE CRITICAL PERIODS''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who hosted lunch in honor of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, addressed Europe and said Turkey did not want any new commitments.
Speaking at lunch, Erdogan thanked Schroeder for the support he expended for Turkey's integration process with the European Union (EU).
Erdogan noted that there had been critical periods in Turkey-EU relations since Luxembourg summit, adding that ''we want to leave behind the critical years and periods in our relations, and we hope the year 2005 will be a normal one.''
Erdogan stressed that the relations between Turkey and EU passed by mutual commitments made for 40 years, adding that ''we must go further and put those commitments into practice.''
Pointing out to the important process which Turkey passed through since Helsinki Summit, Erdogan said that ''the list of the things we must do gets shorter everyday. The image of Turkey which was full of political and economic indefiniteness for those who looked at Turkey from outside in that period, leaves itself to trust today.''
WHITE CAPTIVITY
Roads of 11 thousand villages are closed because of snow and snow storm in the East that continued for two days without intervals.
Daily life was paralyzed because of snow. Schools were recessed in many provinces, townships and villages. Electricity went off, and telephone networks did not work. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on roads.
Snow continued for 41 hours in eastern Erzurum province without intervals. Thickness of snow reached 135 cm in city center. Thickness of snow was recorded to be 1.5 meters in provincial center of Bitlis.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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''THERE IS NOT ANY NEW CONDITION FOR TURKEY'S MEMBERSHIP''
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder praised steps which were taken by the Turkish government on Turkey's European Union (EU) path during his visit to Ankara. Schroeder said that if Turkey fulfills criteria by the end of the year, full membership negotiations should be started. Schroeder who is paying a visit to Turkey after German Christian Democrat Union Party (CDU) leader Angela Merkel's visit supported Turkey for its EU membership. Stating that they did not have any new condition for Turkey, Schroeder said that Turkey could absolutely trust in Germany's support.
CHP'S TWO MAYOR CANDIDATES FROM PARLIAMENT
After Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Republican People's Party (CHP) also determined its mayor candidates. CHP administration which worked hard the previous day elected its Istanbul and Ankara mayor candidates from its deputies in the parliament. CHP's Ankara deputy Yilmaz Ates became mayor candidate for Ankara and Kocaeli deputy Sefa Sirmen became mayor candidate for Istanbul.
(AY-EÖ-AÖ) 24.02.2004