ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 8, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TURKEY TO ADOPT ''SHARE OF SOVEREIGNTY''
Under its efforts for adjustment to the European Union (EU), Turkey will amend Article 90 of the Constitution, and adopt constitutionally ''share of sovereignty''. Article 90 of the Constitution says, ''the ratification of treaties concluded with foreign states and international organizations on behalf of the Republic of Turkey, shall be subject to adoption by the Turkish parliament by a law approving the ratification. International agreements duly put into effect carry the force of law. No appeal to the Constitutional Court can be made with regard to these agreements, on the ground that they are unconstitutional.'' After approval of the amendment, international agreements will be considered essential in case of a contradiction with the Constitution.
''ACCESSION TALKS BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE EU CAN START IN 2005''
Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg, which will hand over term presidency of the European Union (EU) in 2005, has said that they were in favor of setting a date for opening of accession talks with Turkey. He added that accession talks between Turkey and the EU could start in 2005 during the term presidency of Luxembourg.
A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM SYRIAN PRESIDENT AL-ASSAD TO GENERAL OZKOK
President Bashar al-Asad of Syria has sent a special message to General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok through State Minister Kursad Tuzmen, who paid an official visit to Syria. Tuzmen said that President al-Assad sent messages to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and General Ozkok, but refrained from giving information about content of the messages. He stressed that Syria had recently increased its initiatives for peace in the region. Recalling that he had meet with Trade Minister Ghassan al-Rifai of Syria, Tuzmen said that they had set a schedule for solution of all economic issues between the two countries including signing of a free trade agreement.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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''TURKEY HAS MADE GREAT REFORMS''
U.S. Department of State Deputy Director Larry Silverman for South European Relations pas said that Turkey had left the United States behind by making great reforms. Speaking at a working meeting of the American-Turkish Association in Washington D.C. (ATA-D.C.), Silverman said that they could not become a member of the European Union (EU) since the presence of death penalty in the U.S. law, stressing that Turkey had lifted death penalty. He emphasized that Turkey's officially becoming a member of the EU was one of the most important priorities of the United States.
TREASURY TO REPAY USD 1.5 BILLION IN FOREIGN DEBT THIS WEEK
Treasury will repay 1.5 billion U.S. dollars in foreign debt this week.
Treasury will repay 1.6 million U.S. dollars on Tuesday, 1 billion 403.1 million U.S. dollars on Wednesday, 120.8 million U.S. dollars on Thursday and 2.3 million U.S. dollars on Friday. Treasury has repaid 4 billion 599 million U.S. dollars in foreign debt since the beginning of this year.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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''I AM A CITIZEN OF TURKEY AND UNHAPPY''
The European Union (EU) Commission has carried out a public survey in 28 member and candidate countries to the EU over quality of living standards. According to the public survey, Turkey was behind of all countries in regard to household income. While European people considered having a job an opportunity of sociality besides income, Turkish people become distant with their family and social circles due to stress in their working life. European people consider their health and spare time activities to increase quality of their living standards, Turkish people list their priorities as employment, education and marriage. Meanwhile, Turkish people topped the list of the public survey on ''feeling excluded''.
ISTANBUL TO HOST CEOs
Turkey will host giant investors of the world, who are known with their great investments, next week. CEOs of leading companies, who will come to Istanbul as the guest of the Treasury, will discuss ways of increasing foreign investments in Turkey.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TALAT: ''TURKISH SIDE IS UNPREPARED''
Stressing that Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus should adopt 104 laws till referendum to be held at the end of the negotiation process aiming to find a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue, Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat of TRNC has said, ''unfortunately, we have not fulfilled our responsibilities. These laws were given to me in a safe box before the meetings in The Hague. If we had been serious, we would have worked on them.''
AKSU: ''WE WILL NOT FORGIVE TORTURE''
Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu has said, ''everyone knows that we will not forgive those who are responsible for maltreatment, injustice and torture against our citizens.'' Recalling that Turkey had made a series of significant reforms about fundamental rights and freedoms under efforts of adjustment to the European Union (EU), Aksu added that they would never tolerate torture.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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SEZER: ''ISSUE OF ISLAMIC-STYLE HEADSCARF WAS EXPLOITED''
Releasing a statement to mark the March 8 World Women's Day, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has said, ''the issue of Islamic-style headscarf was exploited. We will not allow exploiting of religion. Like all democratic states, Turkey is obliged to prevent initiatives targeting its regime. Our citizens are able to perform their religious duties in their private life without being exposed to any pressure. The real guarantee of freedom of religion is the principle of secularism.''
THOUSANDS OF HOUSES INUNDATED IN SILIFKE AND MUS
Flood waters triggered by torrential rains have inundated 10 thousand houses in Silifke town of southern province of Mersin and seven thousand others in eastern province of Mus. Mersin Governor Osman Celebioglu said that Silifke had experienced the most serious flood disaster of its history. Meanwhile, Mus Governor Ibrahim Kucu said, ''flood waters also damaged energy lines in the province. Villages in Mus could not be given electricity for days.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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POSITIVE MESSAGES FROM PRESIDENT AL-ASSAD OF SYRIA
During visit of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria to Turkey in January, bilateral relations between Turkey and Syria have been accelerated. Later, many agreements were signed between the two neighboring countries during three-day visit to State Minister Kursad Tuzmen to Syria. Speaking at their meeting, President al-Assad said that the bridge of friendship between Turkey and Syria should be further improved. He conveyed positive messages to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan through State Minister Tuzmen.
UNAKITAN: ''ALL TAXES WILL DECREASE''
Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan has said, ''we have decreased rate of the Value Added Tax (VAT) in some products and services. Prices of medicines have decreased by 20 percent. We will use the all unrecorded income to decrease taxes.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY TO INCREASE EXCHANGE OF INTELLIGENCE WITH ISRAEL
Under the co-operation agreement, Turkey and Israel will increase their exchange of intelligence in fight against terrorism. Following mutual visits of Turkish and Israeli interior ministers, a high-level security delegation of Turkey paid a visit to Israel last week. During meetings of the delegation with Israeli officials, the issues of exchange of intelligence and joint training activities were taken up. The sides have decided to increase their exchange of intelligence in fight against terrorism.
(UK-AÖ) 08.03.2004