ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 25, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TRUCK TANKER TERRORIZES
A truck tanker carrying 20 tons of diesel fuel spread terror on the much used street in Kartal district of Istanbul yesterday. The giant vehicle of which brakes apparently failed, first hit a cab using LPG. The truck dragged the cab which exploded and burst into flames for 150 meters, turning the street into a battlefield. The tanker truck also rammed into 26 other motor vehicles. It stopped 2 meters from minibus stops, killing nine people. 22 people were taken to hospitals and the number of people received treatment in the outpatient clinic of hospitals increased over to 40.
''WHAT HAPPENS IF WE SAY 'NO' TO TURKEY''
Twelve German and two Turkish businessmen who came to Turkey together with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder last Sunday night were summoned to the conference hall of the Ankara Hilton Hotel the same night. Giving brief information on his visit to Turkey, Schroeder got information from businessmen about Turkey and their investments in Turkey and asked them this question: ''What happens if we say 'no' to Turkey tomorrow or in December. Will Turkey collapse? What will happen to the stock exchange? What will happen to investments?'' The group including Vural Oger, owner of leading Turkish travel agency, and Kemal Sahin, owner of textile factories, was confused. Germans talked about their investments in Turkey while Oger and Sahin explained importance of Turkey for Germany. Obstacles in front of investments in Turkey were removed with changes in regulations, they said and stressed that it would be doubled with the EU perspective to be given to Turkey. Also German businessmen explained importance of Turkey for themselves and through the end of the meeting, Schroeder asked, ''so, don't we have the alternative of giving a bargaining process?'' Schroeder who saw that German businessmen agreed with him, added, ''so we have to say 'yes' to Turkey.'' The next day, Schroeder met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and said, ''Germans always keep their words and they will continue to do so. Not keeping the promise you have been giving for forty years contradicts with friendship. If Turkey fulfils the Copenhagen criteria, then it should win the date. If the criteria are fulfilled, accession talks should start in March or June of 2005. Otherwise, it won't be a fair play.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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MISSILE QUESTION ANGERS
Third day talks were held at buffer zone in Lefkosa yesterday for solution to Cyprus question until May 1. Holding a press conference after the talks, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas said that they asked Greek side whether it was true or not that they spent 30 million Cyprus Liras for the missiles and Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos reacted them by saying ''how can you ask this while you are having 25-30 thousand Turkish soldiers? I do not discuss these issues here.'' Papadopoulos left the hall before everyone.
I BELIEVE IN TURKEY
The European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen supported German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's policy which supported Turkey's EU membership. Verheugen stressed that the statements of Schroeder were the confirmation of strategical importance which Turkey gained for Europe in the conjuncture of changing world after September 11 terrorist attacks.
DEATH TANKER
When the breaks of a tanker, which was carrying fuel oil, were failed, it rammed into 26 vehicles in Kartal district of Istanbul. Nine people died and 21 people were injured.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ICE MELTS IN MOSCOW
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul's visit to Moscow was expected to be tense due to news of Russian and Turkish press regarding terrorists who were captured in Chechnya. Some circles thought that Russian President Vladimir Putin would receive Gul to convey his reproach. However, meeting of Gul and Putin was very well. Putin told Gul during their meeting that he knew Turkey had suffered much from terrorism thus Turkey and Russia should work together in fight against terrorism.
BOAT CARRYING FOREIGNERS ILLEGALLY SINKS OFF AYVALIK
A boat, carrying 35 foreigners illegally, sank off Cunda island of Ayvalik town of Balikesir province. Three women drowned and seven others were rescued. The rest of the foreigners were missing.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TENSE MEETING
TRNC President Rauf Denktas presented his proposals during yesterday's session of Cyprus talks. Noting that representation ''24+24'' would not be based on Turkish-Greek Cypriot partnership in case Greek Cypriots living in Turkish side vote for senate elections, Denktas said if the Greek Cypriots living in Turkish side cast votes in senate elections, the figures stated in Annan Plan ''24+24'', will firstly change into ''24 Greek Cypriots from the Greek Cypriot side'' and ''16 Turkish+8 Greek Cypriots'' from the Turkish side and later this figure may further deteriorate against Turkish Cypriots such as ''12 Turkish+12 Greek Cypriots'' in the future, adding, ''Greek Cypriots should not vote for Turkish Cypriot elections.'' After Denktas said these, Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos got angry and said that then they should give up two states, turning everything into the situation before 1974; that is, turning back to mixed society. Meanwhile, TRNC Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat asked about armament in the Greek Cypriot side and Papadopoulos said, ''how can you intervene in our defense measures while you have thirty thousand Turkish soldiers?'' and he left the room without shaking hands. Attitude of the Greek Cypriot leader caused confusion.
OPENING OF POWER PLANT PROTESTED
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder officially opened the Iskenderun Imported Coal Power Plant in Yumurtalik town of southern province of Adana. 22 Greenpeace activists who reacted to opening of power plant were detained. Schroeder who gave messages to Turkish-origin voters in Germany from Turkey later returned to his country.
GUL GIVES ASSURANCE TO RUSSIA
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Putin said that bilateral relations including the issue of fight against terrorism had become stable. It was mentioned that Gul had underlined Turkey's determination in fight against terrorism and given assurance to Russia about the Chechen terrorism.
PALESTINE OFFENDED BY TURKEY
Palestinian sources said they were trying to understand the reasons of Turkey's giving up testifying in favor of Palestine in the case of ''West Bank Barrier'' that is being heard in The Hague. An Arab ambassador reminded that Turkey had given promise to Palestine and said, ''Turkey is a big state. We don't want to consider it likely that Turkey had made such a decision due to Israel's reaction.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said at the opening of Sugozu Thermic Power Plant that German businessmen were considering Turkey as a strategical partner. He added that Turkey had a deficiency in energy field and Germany wanted to rehabilitate new and existing power plants in Turkey.
EXPORT IS VERY GOOD
Turkey's export figure, which reached 4.2 billion dollars with an increase of 37 percent in January, rose 40 percent between February 1 and 20. State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said that there was a decrease of 14 percent for a few days ago which stemmed from religious holiday and weather conditions, but now export volume of 20 days has reached 2.5 billion dollars.
TANKER DISASTER IN KARTAL
A tanker carrying fuel oil could stop hardly after ramming into 23 vehicles in Kartal district of Istanbul yesterday. Nine people died while more than 20 people were injured.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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FRIENDSHIP POWER PLANT
Sugozu Thermic Power Plant, which was constructed by two German companies, was opened with a ceremony with the participation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Energy Minister Hilmi Guler, Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, State Minister Ali Babacan and many German and Turkish businessmen attended the ceremony. Making a speech at the ceremony, Erdogan complained that Turkey was dependent to foreign countries in the field of energy.
WE DISCOVER OUR NEIGHBORS AGAIN
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said that a very big economic opening was waiting for Turkey in neighboring and surrounding countries and added that Turkey started close commercial relations with those countries and thus, the export volume with the neighbors, which was three percent, increased to 14 percent. Noting that positive developments in commercial field reflected to politics and Syrian President had visited Turkey after 57 years of interval, Tuzmen said that relations with other countries were also developing rapidly.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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PUTIN: ''YOUR IRAQ POLICY SHOWS THAT WE CAN BE PARTNERS''
During the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Abdullah Gul who became the first Foreign Minister paying an official visit to Moscow in last eight years, it was decided to open a brand-new page for bilateral relations by deepening the existing relations. Diplomatic sources said that strong messages of ''transition from competition into partnership'' had been given during the meeting held in a warm and sincere atmosphere. Putin who said that he admired Turkey's Iraq policy stressed that it had proved that Turkey and Russia might be ''partners''.
MOTOROLA TO SEEK BUYER FOR TELSIM
It was mentioned that U.S. Motorola company would market Uzan Holding's GSM operator Telsim to the world. The market value of Telsim is supposed to be at least 4-4.5 billion U.S. dollars. Share of Telsim in mobile phone market in Turkey is 22 percent. Other GSM operators Turkcell and Aria-Aycell have 65 percent and 9 percent stake, respectively.
(GC-MS-AÖ) 25.02.2004