ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on October 6th, 2007. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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PARTICIPATION IN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION COULD NOT BE PREVENTED FOR 23 YEARS
Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug, speaking in southeastern province of Diyarbakir, underlined a bitter reality: "Is the Turkish Republic successful in dealing with the participation in terrorist organization in the past 23 years? No. If we were successful, fight against terrorism would not be at this point today."
FROM ERDOGAN TO BUSH: IT WILL HARM OUR PARTNERSHIP
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a telephone conversation with U.S. President George W. Bush and warned him for the draft Armenian resolution in the Congress.
"If it passes, Turkish-U.S. strategic political relations will be harmed," Erdogan said.
Bush in his part said, "1915 incidents are one of the most tragical incidents of the 20th century. However, not the parliaments, but the historians should decide whether it is "genocide" or not."
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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GUL: UNIVERSITIES MUST ACT AS OPPOSITION
Delivering a keynote speech at the beginning of the new academic year at Ankara`s Gazi University on Friday, Turkish President Abdullah Gul indicated that universities must act as opposition. "Universities can contribute to the multi-culturalism in Turkey by speaking, criticizing, acting as opposition and bringing solutions to problems," said Gul.
OZKOK`S COMMENTS ON "47 PERCENT"
Retired Chief of General Staff General Hilmi Ozkok indicated that sometimes victory is won due to the errors of the opposing side. "This is not the time to get angry at those who have received 47 percent of the votes at the recent general elections. This is the time for those who have made errors and laziness to reorganize themselves," told General Ozkok.
BANK DEPOSITS FOR WAGES AND SALARIES MANDATORY, UNAKITAN
Turkish Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan indicated on Friday that employers will soon have to deposit the wages and salaries of their workers in bank accounts so as to end unregistered economy. Bank deposits for wages and salaries will be made mandatory, told Unakitan.
KOC AMONG TOP 1,000 COMPANIES IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Turkish Koc Holding has been ranked 736th among 1,000 global companies with its funds allocated to research and development, said a report prepared by the EU Commission. Koc Holding spent 62.5 million Euro in 2006 for research and development.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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JUDICIAL COMEDY
Trial of former Public Works & Housing Minister Koray Aydin, which lasted for 2.5 years in Turkey`s High Tribunal resulted yesterday (Friday). High Tribunal unanimously decided to acquit Aydin of all charges against him. Chief Prosecutor had asked for 216 years in prison for Aydin five months ago.
The Tribunal also lifted precautionary measure on Aydin`s, his wife`s and children`s movable and immovable properties.
WARNING FROM ERDOGAN TO BUSH
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a telephone conversation with U.S. President George W. Bush on the draft Armenian resolution expected to be discussed in the U.S. Congress.
"The draft does not serve to the interests of the two countries. It will put a blow on improvement of Turkish-Armenian relations," Erdogan said.
PRESS SCAN (2)
ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on October 6th, 2007. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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MARKETS BOOM ON FRIDAY
One U.S. Dollar went down to 1.18 YTL on Friday. The Istanbul Stock Exchange broke a record on Friday with an index of 56,793. Below is a table showing the values of several Turkish banks on Friday and six years ago:
Bank Value in 2001 Value on Friday
(yesterday)
---- -------------
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Akbank 3.9 billion USD 24.5 billion USD
Is Bankasi 2.7 billion USD 18.7 billion USD
Garanti 0.6 billion USD 17.6 billion USD
Yapi Kredi 1.7 billion USD 10.9 billion USD
STUDENTS WITH HEADSCARVES MUST BE HAND IN HAND WITH THOSE WITHOUT HEADSCARVES IN UNIVERSITIES, ERDOGAN
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a fast-breaking dinner (iftaar) with 1,200 students at the Mehmet Akif Girls` Dormitory on Friday. Erdogan expressed during last night`s iftaar that he wishes to see students with headscarves hand in hand with those without headscarves in Turkish universities.
CELLULAR PHONES WITHOUT TURKISH CHARACTERS WOULD NOT BE SOLD AS OF JULY, 2008
All cellular phones that do not have Turkish characters will not be permitted to be sold as of July 1st, 2008, it was reported on Friday. According to the Turkish Telecommunication Council, cellular phones that do not have Turkish characters will not be sold in the Turkish market as of July.
RECTORS: STOP REFERENDUM PROCESS
Speaking to reporters after the end of the meeting of the Rectors Committee, Chairman of the Higher Board of Education (YOK) Prof. Erdogan Tezic indicated that the referendum process for constitutional amendments must be stopped immediately.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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LEGISLATIVE BODY IS NOT AUTHORIZED
Jurists emphasized that there can not be intervention in the contents after the referendum process starts.
Higher Board of Education (YOK) Chairman Erdogan Tezic said, "people already started to cast votes in border gates. Legislative body does not have the right to change the expressed will of people after the voting process starts. Giving up the referendum as a whole is the best choice."
GULER: UZAN ASKED FOR CONCILIATORY SETTLEMENT
Energy Minister Hilmi Guler said he met Genc Party (Young Party) leader Cem Uzan three times and stated that Uzan asked for conciliatory settlement in cases regarding himself, his family and their companies.
It was reported that necessary units would deal with the requests of Uzan who said he would forebear the suits filed within Turkey and abroad in case of a settlement.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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GEN. BASBUG: WE COULD NOT PREVENT PARTICIPATION IN PKK
Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug said the state was not successful in preventing participation in the terrorist organization.
ERDOGAN`S WISH: HEADSCARF IN UNIVERSITIES
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a fast-breaking dinner (iftaar) with the university students.
Asked, "will we be able to enter the universities with headscarves," Erdogan said, "I wish to see universities where those (wearing headscarf and not wearing headscarf) walk hand in hand."
AYDIN GETS ACQUITTED
High Tribunal unanimously acquitted former Public Works & Housing Minister Koray Aydin who was on trial on charges of corruption, irregularities and misuse of power.
ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on October 6th, 2007. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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AMOUNT OF WATER WILL BE SUFFICIENT IF WE USE IT WISELY
Environment Minister Veysel Eroglu said the government was planning to construct 300 dams and small lakes till 2013.
"Turkey is neither poor nor rich of water. We will not have water shortage if we use existing amount of water wisely," he noted.
INVESTIGATION AGAINST DTP MEMBER IRMAK
Ankara Chief Prosecutor launched investigation against Democratic Society Party (DTP) deputy Chairperson Selma Irmak due to her statements in a press conference on Friday.
The investigation will be pursued within the scope of article 215th of Turkish Penal Code (TCK) on "praising crime and criminal".
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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GUL: UNIVERSITIES MUST BE FREE INSTITUTIONS
Attending the beginning of the new academic year at Ankara`s Gazi University, Turkish President Abdullah Gul indicated that academic freedom is important for all Turkish universities. "Universities must be free institutions. Otherwise, universities can not reach the goals of their missions," said Gul.
BABACAN: WE CAN NOT CORRECT U.S.` IMAGE IF ARMENIAN RESOLUTION GETS ACCEPTED
Turkish Foreign Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU talks Ali Babacan indicated that "Turkey can not correct United States` image in Turkey if the draft Armenian resolution gets accepted at the U.S. Congress." No matter what we do, we can not correct U.S.` image in the event the draft Armenian resolution gets adopted, stressed Babacan.
PARLIAMENTARY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE IN SIRNAK
Members of the Turkish Parliamentary Human Rights Committee arrived in south-eastern province of Sirnak`s Beytussebap town to conduct an investigation after 12 people in a minibus were massacred by PKK terrorists on September 29th.
CONNECT TO INTERNET VIA YOUR ELECTRIC JACK
Turkish Tunc Group has developed a system whereby computer users will be able to get connected to internet via their (electric) jacks at home or office. The company also offers the Telkonet Smart Energy system that makes it possible to save 30 percent energy in businesses.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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DTP MEMBERS HAVE NOT LEARNED THEIR LESSONS, CICEK
"It seems the members of the Democratic Society Party (DTP) have not learned their lessons on the past. They have not condemned the terrorist organization at a time the whole world condemned it. I invite all to be logical. Theirs is a dead end street," said Cemil Cicek, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister.
4 STARS THY
Skytrax, an international company evaluating 210 airline companies and 65 airports, have increased Turkish Airlines`s stars to 4. European giant airlines also do have four stars. Only five Asian airlines have five stars.
VOLKSWAGEN: WE MAY ESTABLISH A FACTORY IN TURKEY
A high level executive of Volkswagen Michael Kern indicated that "Volkswagen may erect a factory in Turkey soon." Kern`s comments came after he heard about the changes in Turkish investment climate. Volkswagen sells more than 70,000 vehicles in Turkey annually.
GERMAN GIANTS EYE ON TURKISH MARKET
Giant corporations of Germany are making preparations to be active players in the Turkish market. One of the German giants, Deutche Post is closely evaluating the privatization of Turkish PTT (postal service) and TCDD (Turkish railways).