ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on April 22, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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RUSSIA VETOES RESOLUTION ABOUT CYPRUS
Russia has used its veto to block a resolution envisaging disarmament in Cyprus. The other 14 members of the United Nations Security Council voted in favor of the resolution, which failed because of the Russian veto. Russian Ambassador Gennady Gatilov said that his country saw the resolution, on the table four days before referendums in Cyprus on April 24, as an attempt to influence the outcome of the referendums.
FEARS OF SOCIAL TURMOIL IN TRNC
Just two days before the referendums in Cyprus on April 24, tension has escalated in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). A street row broke out between two groups in Lefkosa on Monday night. A group of 20 people attacked on 6 others who were in favor of yes vote in the referendum. Police detained 47 people. Politicians warned the young TRNC citizens to act with common-sense. Turkish Cypriots are concerned about a likely social turmoil before and after the referendum.
''I WILL GO TO ATHENS WHATEVER RESULTS OF REFERENDUM ARE''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who met with Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis during the Seventh Summit of Heads of State and Government of Southeast European Countries Co-operation Process in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, has said that results of the referendums in Cyprus on April 24 would not affect his scheduled visit to Greek capital Athens in May.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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ANKARA DGM CONVICTS FORMER DEP DEPUTIES IN RETRIAL
Ankara State Security Court (DGM) no: 1 has convicted Leyla Zana, Hatip Dicle, Orhan Dogan and Selim Sadak, the former deputies of the Democracy Party (DEP) which was banned by the Constitutional Court, in their retrial process ordering them to serve the remainder of their 15-year prison sentences. Court delegation chairman Mehmet Orhan Karadeniz announced that former decision of the court against Zana, Dicle, Dogan and Sadak was ratified in accordance with Article 341/1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CMUK) arranging the decision to be made in retrial process. Noting that request of former DEP deputies to annul the imprisonment terms was rejected, Karadeniz said that the decision was made unanimously. Yusuf Alatas, the lawyer of former DEP deputies, said that decision of the court did not surprise them. Former DEP deputies, who have already served 10 years in prison, will be eligible for release in 2005.
THY TO PROVIDE BOEING WITH TECHNICAL SERVICE
The Turkish Airlines (THY) has signed a deal with the Boeing Firm, one of the world's largest producers of commercial aircraft, to provide all kinds of technical service for Boeing 737 planes to be sold to Russia and the adjacent countries. The THY signed such an international deal for the first time. The THY is expected to obtain an income of nearly 40 million U.S. dollars from its technical service.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ERDOGAN MEETS WITH CARAMANLIS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has met with Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis during the Seventh Summit of Heads of State and Government of Southeast European Countries Co-operation Process in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Caramanlis said that their position about the Cyprus issue did not change. Noting that they could not put pressure on the Greek Cypriot side to vote in favor of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan in the referendum on April 24, Caramanlis added that they, however, would support Turkey's European Union (EU) membership process till the end.
RATE OF CAPACITY UTILIZATION RISES TO 82.3 PERCENT IN MARCH
The rate of capacity utilization that is weighted by production value, increased from 78.3 percent in March of 2003 to 82.3 percent in March of 2004, according to the figures of State Institute of Statistics (DIE).
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ANKARA DGM RATIFIES ITS FIRST DECISION IN RETRIAL OF FORMER DEP DEPUTIES
Ankara State Security Court (DGM) no: 1 has convicted Leyla Zana, Hatip Dicle, Orhan Dogan and Selim Sadak, the former deputies of the Democracy Party (DEP) which was banned by the Constitutional Court, in their retrial process ordering them to serve the remainder of their 15-year prison sentences. Court delegation chairman Mehmet Orhan Karadeniz announced that former decision of the court against Zana, Dicle, Dogan and Sadak was ratified in accordance with Article 341/1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CMUK) arranging the decision to be made in retrial process. Meanwhile, Luigi Vinci, a member of the European Parliament, said that the decision was an insult to the European Union and the ECHR. He called on Turkish government and Turkish parliament to annul such a disgraceful decision. Vinci said that the DGMs were biased because of their structure.
''THEY HID INFORMATION FROM GENERAL STAFF''
Republican People's Party Deputy Chairman Onur Oymen has said that Turkish war ships' capacity to put to the Mediterranean Sea would be restricted under United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan. Oymen added, ''if the General Staff had known details of the document, it would have announced it at a press conference.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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NATIONALIST TERROR IN TRNC
Nationalist groups which went to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) from Turkey, have staged acts of violence against Turkish Cypriots who are in favor of voting ''yes'' in the referendum on April 24. These groups threw stones at buildings of the Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH), the Solution and EU Party and the Communal Liberation Party (TKP). Also, a group of 25-30 people attacked on Turkish Cypriot young people. Police detained 47 people. TRNC Higher Electoral Board changed rally programs of President Rauf Denktas and Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat.
ISTANBUL TO HOST 14TH THEATRE FESTIVAL
Istanbul will host the 14th Theatre Festival between May 17 and June 4, 2004. Besides Turkish theatre groups, two Belgian, a German and a British theatre groups will attend the festival.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TORRENTIAL RAINS CAUSE FLOOD IN ANTALYA
Flood waters triggered by torrential rains have inundated many houses and business places in southern province of Antalya. Fire-fighting teams rescued people who were stranded in their flooded houses.
PRIVATIZATION PROCESS TO START FOR TURKISH TELECOM
Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim has said that the privatization process would start for the Turkish Telecom in the coming days. Holding a press conference at the Directorate General of Turkish Telecom, Yildirim gave information about privatization model for the Turkish Telecom. The process will be carried out by independent commissions to be formed by officials of the Ministry of Transportation, the Directorate of Privatization Authority and Treasury Undersecretariat.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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HISTORIC CONFESSION FROM EU: ''GREEK CYPRIOTS DECEIVED US''
European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen and EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten have said that they were deceived by the Greek Cypriot side just two days before the referendums in the island on April 24. The EU, which assured the Greek Cypriot side that it would become a full member of the EU whether or not a solution was found to the Cyprus issue, understood its mistake at last.
(UK-AY) 22.04.2004