ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 7, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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UNITED STATES: TALAT IS NOW SOCIAL LEADER
The 30-year policy of the United States towards Cyprus has started to change after the referendum in which the Greek Cypriot side rejected Annan's plan. Speaking to the newspaper, a high-level U.S. official said, ''yes, Mr. Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat's visit and the manner of hospitality have proven the change in our policy.'' The U.S. official stressed that the dialogue with Talat ''was quite different in terms of quality'' from the meetings in the past and those under intercommunal negotiations with TRNC President Rauf Denktas. ''the dialogue with Prime Minister Talat whom we undoubtedly see as the leader of Turkish Cypriots is a de facto relationship. We have been exerting intense efforts for lifting of isolation.''
TURKISH TOURISTS IN TRNC TO BE DEPLOYED
The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Council of Ministers prepared a draft Foreigners and Emigration law to determine those who came to the TRNC with tourist visa but continue to stay in the TRNC although their 3-month tourist visa period already expired under a protocol signed between Turkey and the TRNC on July 19, 1999. The TRNC government decided to deploy such Turkish citizens. There are tens of thousands of Turkish citizens working illegally in the TRNC.
FEAR OF WELCOMING CLOSES AIRPORT
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's tomorrow's visit to West Thrace 51 years after former President Turkish President Celal Bayar caused ''welcoming syndrome'' in Athens administration. Greek authorities who are afraid of thousands of Turks' going to Komotini to greet Erdogan at airport suddenly decided to repair Alexandroupolis airport which is at half an hour distance from Komotini. They showed Kavala airport which is at one hour distance from Komotini as the arrival place of private plane of Erdogan who will visit the West Thrace after Athens. This last-minute change by Greece caused serious uneasiness in the Turkish community living in West Thrace. A community leader who declined to be unidentified said sudden decision on repair of the airport caused suspicion. ''It is understood that Greek authorities tried to prevent thousands of kinsmen from going to airport to greet the Prime Minister. They thought that less number of people would go to Kavala so they decided on repair of Alexandroupolis. However, Turks will go to welcome the Turkish Prime Minister.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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IT HARMS SECULARISM
The General Staff issued a statement and criticized bill on ''imam hatip (schools for education of Islamic clerics)''. Stressing that the bill on Higher Board of Education (YOK) would harm also the unity of education, the General Staff said, ''adoption of it can't be expected.'' In its statement, General Staff said, ''the Turkish Armed Forces has diligently avoided expressing opinions even about matters related to our institution which takes part in latest constitutional amendments. Matters which our institution accepts as indispensable were announced in April 2004. Within this framework, developments about the bill on YOK have been followed carefully. It is evident that implementation exceeding the system that was settled under the National Education and Unification of Education Law will hurt 'unity of education' and 'principles of secular education'. So circles and institutions which are undoubtedly faithful to the republic's basic qualities can't be expected to adopt this amendment bill.''
CYPRUS COMEDY ON EU'S POSTAGE STAMP
EU Term President Ireland issued postage stamps to introduce the view of newly enlarged bloc. However, anybody could not liken the ''Cyprus on the stamp'' to Cyprus. The map shown on the stamp seems like those who prepared the stamp confused Crete with Cyprus. Officials defended that some artistic changes were made. However, there is a close resemblance between the Cyprus on the postage stamp and Crete.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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PAIN OF YOK IN ANKARA
Tension escalated when the bill on Higher Board of Education (YOK) which equalizes the university exam coefficient of imam hatip (schools for education of Islamic clerics) students come onto the agenda. The YOK and imam hatip tension dominated Ankara, particularly the parliament yesterday. The crisis which started with protests of members of the Parliamentary Commission for National education, spread outside the parliament in the evening. During discussions on the bill in commission meeting, firstly the ODTU rector and the Universities Board Chairman and later main opposition party CHP members left the meeting by protesting the bill and National Education Minister Huseyin Celik. While discussions were about to finish, the General Staff issued a statement and defended that the bill is against secularism and unity of education. The bill on YOK was approved by the commission after several changes to it. The National Education Minister will make the final decision on which faculties that imam hatip graduates will enter.
''WE HAVE REACHED COMPROMISE ON BILL''
National Education Minister Huseyin Celik said that the bill on YOK had been prepared upon a compromise reached with rectors of Kocaeli and Gazi universities. Celik also criticized absence of YOK Chairman Erdogan Tezic in commission meeting.
''MY REAL TARGET IS PRIMERA LIGA''
Turkey's national team player and attacker of Turkish Superleague club and Turkish Cup winner Trabzonspor that vie for championship this season with Fenerbahce said, ''we will do our best to clinch the championship. I have contract with Trabzonspor for next season. However, my real target is to play in the Primera Liga of Spain like Nihat Kahveci together with Ronaldo, Zidane and Figo.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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HARSH WARNING FROM GENERAL STAFF
General Staff said that new problems would be added to old ones with the draft Higher Education Board (YOK) law. It added that nobody shall expect the circles and institutions which were loyal to Republic to adopt the draft law that would deteriorate secular education unity.
YOK: SECRET AIM OF GOVERNMENT REVEALED
Higher Education Board (YOK) General Assembly statement said that the government revealed its ''different political aim'' very clearly. The statement stressed that the draft YOK law would cause damage in higher education and human resource planning of the country.
SIX PKK MEMBER KILLED IN ERUH
Clash erupted between security forces and a group of terrorists from the PKK/KONGRA-GEL at Caci mountain near Eruh town during operations. Six terrorists were killed.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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UNITED STATES: FLIGHTS TO TRNC ON THE AGENDA
U.S. State Department's Special Coordinator for Cyprus Tom Weston said that they would lift isolation over northern Cyprus, adding that flights from the United States to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and also financial assistance were on the agenda.
IMF: DETERMINATION IS NECESSARY
International Monetary Fund (IMF) First Deputy Managing Director Anne Krueger said that Turkey's reforms were on the critical stage and wanted Turkey not to give up its determination. She added that otherwise it would be a tragedy.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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EXCITEMENT IN WESTERN THRACE
The third-day visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Greece started yesterday. Turkish people living in Western Thrace are the most excited ones regarding the visit which is considered as an important step for economic relations between Athens and Ankara. After former President Celal Bayar had paid a visit to the region 52 years ago, the visit of a Turkish Prime Minister for the first time to Western Thrace has become a source of joy for our kinsmen in the region. They said that it would be an honor.
SIGNATURE OF CENTURY
Contract on construction of system which will connect Istanbul's Asian and European sides with an immersed tube tunnel under the Istanbul Strait was signed. In the ceremony at Sheraton Hotel, Turkish Transportation Ministry signed the contract with Taisei-Kumagai Gumi-Gama-Nurol Consortium. Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim delivered a speech at the signing ceremony and he said that Marmaray Project, which is described as the project of the century, will be put into practice in three stages.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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FIRST TURKISH PRIME MINISTER IN ATHENS AFTER OZAL
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is determined to bring a new dimension to Turkey-Greece relations after the referendum in Cyprus, started his historical visit to Greece yesterday night. Erdogan will meet with Greek President Constandinos Stephanopoulos, Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis, Greek Parliament Speaker Anna Psarouda-Benaki and main opposition leader George Papandreou. Erdogan will proceed to Komotini tomorrow and will be the first Turkish Prime Minister who visits Western Thrace Turks. Erdogan also has become the first Turkish Prime Minister who visited Athens after 16 years. Erdogan, who is accompanied by businessmen and press members, is paying the most comprehensive visit to Greece since the third President Celal Bayar. Erdogan, who was welcomed by Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis, attended a private dinner with Caramanlis yesterday. Erdogan will have a special meeting with Caramanlis today before he will start his official meetings. Caramanlis and Erdogan will hold a joint press conference after their bilateral meeting and the meetings between delegations.
(GC-AÖ) 07.05.2004