ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 6, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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LINK TO HABLEMITOGLU
Under investigation into murder of ''Dost (Friend)'' sect leader retired major Ihsan Guven and his wife in their house in Tuzla district of Istanbul, police reached a surprising clue. Police found a typescript of book of Associate Prof. Dr. Hablemitoglu from the Ankara University who was killed in an armed attack in front of his house in Cankaya district of Ankara on December 18, 2002. Terrorist IBDA/C organization claimed responsibility for murder of the sect leader and his wife. Police officers are now investigating whether the sect leader edited Hablemitoglu's book. Police officers who searched the library of the sect leader are especially interested in files titled ''Turkey's external and internal enemies''. In those files in the sect leader's library, there are information collected on several sects and foreign foundations in Turkey which were pointed as targets like in Hablemitoglu's book.
ERDOGAN: WE CAN'T SAY 'GO IMF'
The Fourth Turkish Economy Congress which is the most important ''strategy platform'' of the Turkish economy, started in Izmir. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who was one of the speakers of the congress that will continue until May 9, clarified the question of ''whether or not Turkey would continue working with IMF'' which has been the matter of discussion among private sector, international rating organizations and politicians for a long time. Erdogan said Turkey's debt to IMF was 20 billion U.S. dollars and they were trying to decrease it. ''We want to decrease the 6.5 percent primary budget surplus target through discussions with IMF. You can't say, 'I am not going to work with you' if you have twenty billion U.S. dollars debt. It is possible if you repay your debt.''
GUL: SOME FRIENDLY COUNTRIES DISAPPOINTED US
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul answered questions of reporters aboard plane while he was going to EU Term President Ireland's capital city Dublin yesterday to attend EUROMED meeting. Regarding High Schools for Education of Islamic Clerics: ''It is not an issue that I am responsible of. However, as far as I see that there was a serious uneasiness in the society. There was a big coefficient difference in the past. There was a serious injustice to most of people. We have removed it and it has made a competitive coefficient for university exam.'' Regarding Azerbaijani Event at Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly: ''It is not true to give opportunity for wrong opinions between two sister countries by opening up this event. Sufficient majority couldn't be provided for an article that was put to vote at the Council of Europe. The only point that disappointed me is rejection of an article about representation of Turkish Cypriot parliamentarians while there is a huge support to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Unfortunately, parliamentarians of some friendly countries could have joined this voting, but they didn't. From now on, we have to accelerate efforts for lifting of political and economic isolation of Turkish Cypriots.'' Regarding Merve Kavakci case: ''We do what is required under the government's opinion towards this case. I bring it to the Council of Ministers and take opinion of the government.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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UNITED STATES NOT TO AWAIT
The United States which wants to end isolation of the north of Cyprus will extend its aid gradually. U.S. administration launched an initiative to end political and economic isolation of the north of the island. The U.S. administration said that it would take steps on the issue gradually. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat said that his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in New York was very positive. Talat delivered a speech at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington following his meetings with the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and Powell in New York. Stating that Powell assumed a constructive attitude, Talat said that their most important expectation from the United States was the lifting of limitation over flights to TRNC.
DENKTAS: ''TURKEY SHOULD RECOGNIZE GREEK CYPRIOTS ON BORDER''
President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said that Turkey's recognition of Greek Cypriot side would make a great contribution to solution of problem on the island. Denktas was presented with honorary doctorate by Gaziantep University. Recalling the statement of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said that ''whole world recognized Cyprus and what they could do by saying they did not recognize it,'' Denktas said, ''I think it will be good if Turkey which recognized TRNC also recognize 'Greek Cypriot state' beyond those borders. Will Greek Cypriots accept such a recognition or not? I think that if Turkey says that it recognizes both TRNC and 'Greek Cypriot state', it will be an important step in solution of this issue. It will be the best answer to Greek Cypriots' invitation for its recognition as if it is the government of whole Cyprus. It will mean that I recognize you where you are, and you cannot pass to other side.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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BARGAIN ON '1 POINT' IN PRIMARY SURPLUS
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Sabah that if primary surplus, which was currently 6.5 percent, was reduced by 1 point, there would be 4-5 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL) of fund. He added that they would discuss this issue with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to use this fund in social expenditures. Erdogan gave a message that they would drop 6.5 percent of primary surplus sooner or later and stated, ''current stand-by arrangement with IMF will end at the end of 2004. We have three alternatives; another stand-by, precautionary stand-by and following developments after the program. We are trying to find the best option.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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VISA FOR TRAVELS TO TRNC
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) government is taking a series of measures towards Turkish citizens. According to new bill that the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) prepared and presented to the TRNC Council of Ministers, Turkish citizens who enter the TRNC with tourist visa can stay in the TRNC for maximum three months. Those who stay for more than three months, will be punished with heavy fine. Those who violate the law for two times will be deported. TRNC Interior Minister Ozkan Murat said that the main reason of amendment to the Emigration Law is to control entrances and exits.
TRUCKS RECOGNIZE GREEK CYPRIOTS!
Trucks which change their Green Card Insurance Policy in which the Greek Cypriot side is shown as invalid country, continue on their route. The Governor of northwestern province of Edirne announced that Turkish trucks had started to renew their insurance policy. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that insurance companies which gave green card had started to arrange new cards.
AK PARTY TO HAVE ''KAVAKCI'' TEST
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs received the request of the European Court of Human Rights for Turkey's defense in ''Merve Kavakci'' case. Foreign Ministry officials said there were two options in the case and it was up to the government to either make defense or reach friendly settlement. Turkey has a period of three months. Kavakci, former deputy of the Felicity Party (FP), attended the oath-taking ceremony on May 3, 1999 in parliament by wearing an Islamic-style headscarf. Later, her taking up U.S. citizenship without giving information caused her being stripped off her deputyship and she was denaturalized.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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QUARREL ON IMF
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener, State Minister Ali Babacan, Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan, International Monetary Fund (IMF) First Deputy Managing Director Anne Krueger attended the opening session of the Fourth Turkey Economy Congress in western province of Izmir. Baykal said that the government was slave of IMF and stated that primary surplus was high. Erdogan said that if CHP had been on political power, it would have also worked with IMF and noted that primary surplus could drop.
''WE SHOULD CONTINUE WITH IMF''
Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program should be completed in the process of accession to the European Union (EU) and stated that Turkey had to continue its path with IMF.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TRABZONSPOR WINS TURKISH CUP WITH 4-0 VICTORY OVER GENCLERBIRLIGI
Trabzonspor beat Ankara side Genclerbirligi 4-0 in the Turkish Cup final and secured a spot in the UEFA Cup next season. The victory marked the seventh Turkish Cup for the Black Sea club and the second in two seasons against Genclerbirligi in the final. Last year, Trabzonspor won 3-1. Mehmet Yilmaz scored Trabzonspor's first goal in the 23rd minute, while Gokdeniz Karadeniz added a second in the 70th and a penalty in the 77th at Ataturk Olympic Stadium. Augustine Ahinful netted the fourth goal, again from the penalty spot, in the 89th. Trabzonspor is in second place in the Turkish league with 71 points, trailing league leader Fenerbahce by two.
HISTORICAL VISIT
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will leave for Greece on an official visit on Thursday evening. Erdogan's visit is considered a historical opportunity for further development of relations between Turkey and Greece. Erdogan will meet with Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis in a ''family dinner'' at Caramanlis' villa. Prime Minister Erdogan will be welcomed by an official ceremony at the Greek Prime Ministry on Friday. Erdogan and Caramanlis will hold a joint press conference following their tete-a-tete meeting and meetings between Turkish and Greek delegations the same day. Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan will be received by Greek President Constandinos Stephanopoulos. After laying a wreath on the Monument of the Unknown Soldier, Erdogan will visit Greek Parliament Speaker Anna Psarouda-Benaki. Erdogan will attend the meeting of Turkish-Greek Business Council and meet with Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyianni. Prime Minister Erdogan will be decorated with a gold medal of merit in a ceremony and attend an official dinner hosted in his honor on Friday.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS CRITICIZES PASSION MOVIE
Passion of Christ topped the agenda also in Turkey after it was released despite quarrels in the Christian world. In a report published in its periodical ''Religious Affairs'', the Turkish Religious Affairs finds the movie successful but it stresses that the movie includes some mistakes. It says the holy Koran states that Prophet Jesus was not crucified but raised to God's presence and it criticizes director Mel Gibson who is mentioned to be fanatical Catholic for the scenes which do not fit a Prophet. In the report titled ''To Whom Does Passion Fit?'', it is claimed that the movie is not in harmony with the matter that its name refers to. Stressing that it is out of question to even think that a Prophet which was sent by God to convert people to Islam has either obsession or idee fixe, it says, ''director Gibson has made a wrong preference for the name of his movie for sake of reflecting Prophet Jesus' profound attachment to his mission.'' Regarding scenes of torture, it says, ''words in the scenario like 'My Lord, oh my Lord! Why did you abandon me?' can't suit a Prophet.'' It also criticizes the size of the cross that Prophet Jesus carries in the movie and preservation of the Virgin Mary's cool-headedness despite her affliction. The comment that expresses point of view of the Religious Affairs is: ''The interest shown in this movie which broke box office record of all times is another expression of the importance that people attach to moral values.''
(MS-EÖ-AÖ) 06.05.2004