ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 4, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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THEY WERE PLANNING TO BOMB NATO SUMMIT
Sixteen people who were claimed to be members of Ansar al-Islam organization, having links with al Qaida, were captured in northwestern Bursa province. These people were getting prepared to stage bomb attack during NATO Summit to be held in Istanbul between June 28 and 29. Nine of these people were sent to prison. Substances and materials used in bomb production were seized during the operation in which Alpaslan Toprak, a member of the Ansar al-Islam organization who was responsible for Bursa, was also captured. Nine people who were detained in Istanbul were released by the State Security Court (DGM).
WHAT DOES CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE BRING?
The constitutional amendment package comprised of ten articles will be discussed at the Turkish parliament today. Justice and Development Party (AK Party) doesn't want to make a better arrangement in favor of women related with the article on women-men equality.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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EXPLOSION OCCURS IN BATMAN DUE TO NEGLIGENCE: 2 DEAD, 24 INJURED
Gas compression caused three explosions in wholesalers' site in southeastern Batman province, killing two. Turkish Oil Refineries Corp (TUPRAS) pipeline was passing under this site. Tradesmen in the wholesalers' site said that they had earlier informed TUPRAS about the gas leakage in the pipeline.
THERE CAN BE A SURPRISE IN KAVAKCI CASE
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''we are in favor of freedoms. Turkey is not the same with Turkey of two-three years ago'' when commenting on the defense to be made in the case concerning Merve Kavakci, a former deputy of the Virtue Party (FP) who entered the parliament wearing a headscarf, in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). These words were interpreted as Justice and Development Party (AK Party) might make a surprise in defense in Kavakci case.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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HERE IS ''ESTEEMED BANKER''
Halit Cingillioglu, presented by the Hurriyet daily as ''the esteemed banker'', caused 1.2 billion U.S. dollars of loss for the state with his two banks. Economic circles are trying to find the solution of this strange puzzle for a long time: ''How can a small bank having only seven branches have a loss of 524 million U.S. dollars? How can loss per personnel be 2 million U.S. dollars in a bank?'' This bank is Cingillioglu's second bank named ''Ulusalbank'' which was transferred to the Savings and Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF). Cingillioglu caused a burden of 524 million U.S. dollars on the state with his ''small'' bank ''having big loss.'' When it is taken into consideration that the other bank of Cingillioglu named ''Demirbank'' was seized by the state with 648 million U.S. dollars of loss, it can be seen that Cingillioglu has caused 1 billion 172 million U.S. dollars of loss for the state.
LEADER OF DOST (FRIEND) SECT AND HIS WIFE KILLED
Ihsan Guven, the founder of Dost (Friend) Sect, and his wife Sibel were found dead in their house in Tuzla district of Istanbul. Ihsan and Sibel Guven were shot dead in their house.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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OPERATION AGAINST AL-QAIDA MEMBERS
Anti-Terrorism teams have launched an operation against members of the Ansar al-Islam, a northern Iraq-based group linked to the al Qaida terrorist network. During the operation in northwestern province of Bursa and Istanbul, 16 people who are believed to have been planning a bomb attack during the NATO summit to be held in Istanbul between June 27 and 29, 2004, were detained. Nine of them were arrested by the court. The detainees were also planning to stage an attack on a synagogue in Osmangazi region in Bursa.
A LESSON OF JUDICIARY FOR ERDOGAN
Ankara Administrative Court no: 1 has announced its decision in a lawsuit filed by Namik Kemal Pak, who was elected by Turkish Scientific and Technical Research Council (TUBITAK) as chairman of the council. The court ruled that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who did not send Pak's appointment to the Presidential Office and named Nuket Yetis instead of Pak, acted against the law.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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AGRICULTURAL INFLATION
Wholesale prices rose by 2.65 percent and consumer prices by 0.59 percent in April 2004. Agricultural prices caused the rise in wholesale prices index (WPI). Rise in agricultural prices caused high inflation in wholesale prices. According to State Institute of Statistics (SIS), the rise in agricultural sector is 6.9 percent. The annual rise in consumer prices became 10.18 percent.
FIRSTLY IMAM HATIPS
Comprehensive amendments to Higher Education Board (YOK) were postponed. The government delayed comprehensive amendments to YOK law which has been under discussion since it has come to power. But, it decided to keep its promise about imam hatips, high schools giving theological education. The Council of Ministers decided to present the package which foresaw coefficient equality between normal and vocational high schools during university entrance exam to the parliament on Tuesday the latest.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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GIANT PROJECT
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will lay the foundation of Istanbul Strait Tube Tunnel Project, which is also known as ''Marmaray'', on May 9. Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim has said that the project would connect Istanbul's Asian and European sides with an immersed tube tunnel under the Istanbul Strait. He noted that the construction of the project was envisaged to be finished in 2008. Marmaray includes a 13.3 km Istanbul Strait crossing and the upgrade of 63 km of suburb line to create a 76.3 km high capacity line between Gebze and Halkali districts. The Istanbul Strait crossing will be done by a 1.8 km earthquake-proof immersed tube, assembled from 18 sections. This tube will be accessed by bored tunnels from Yenikapi on the European side and Sogutlucesme on the Asian side of Istanbul. Intermediate stations will take place at Sirkeci and Uskudar.
PARLIAMENT TO START DEBATING PACKAGE OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
The parliamentary general assembly will start debating the 10-article package of constitutional amendments under its efforts to adjust Turkey to the European Union (EU) norms. The first round of debates will take place later today. Sources said that the second round of debates could be held on Friday. Earlier, the True Path Party (DYP) announced that it would support the package. The Republican People's Party (CHP), the main opposition party at the parliament, is also expected to contribute to the package. Under the package, death sentence will be totally excluded from the Turkish Constitution. Therefore, all articles referring to death sentence will be changed and the expression of ''death sentence'' will be removed from these articles. The package also envisages to annul State Security Court (DGMs). Article 143 of the Constitution about the foundation of DGMs will not be in effect anymore.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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POLICE DETAIN 25 PEOPLE PLANNING AN ATTACK IN NATO SUMMIT
In a synchronous operation in Istanbul and northwestern province of Bursa, police have detained 25 people who are believed to have been planning a bomb attack during the NATO summit to be held in Istanbul between June 27 and 29, 2004. Police sources claimed that the detainees were members of the Ansar al-Islam, a northern Iraq-based group linked to the al Qaida terrorist network. During the operation, police seized a number of explosive substances in houses and business places of the detainees. Nine of the detainees were arrested by the court later.
GAS EXPLOSION KILLS TWO PEOPLE IN BATMAN
A gas explosion has happened in a building in southeastern province of Batman, killing two people and injuring 20 others. Batman Governor Efkan Ala said that the explosion came from a canister holding natural gas in the building's basement. The blast caused severe damage to nearby buildings, and pieces of twisted metal and debris were scattered across the street.
(UK-BRC-AÖ) 04.05.2004