ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 24, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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BE BRAVE FOR REFORMS
Second high-level visit from Britain to Turkey is going to be paid in a short period. After British Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit last week, Prince Andrew will arrive in Turkey today as ''Britain's Trade and Investment Special Envoy''. Prince Andrew will have formal meetings in Ankara and Istanbul and meet with businessmen until May 26 and he will also visit Ceyhan to see oil pipeline construction. It will be Prince Andrew's second visit as he previously came to Turkey in 1988 to attend celebrations to mark 75th anniversary of foundation of the Republic. Prior to his visit, Prince Andrew told the newspaper that he would have meetings with the Turkish private sector representatives on investment and trade parts of the ''Business Plan'' that was formed during Blair's meetings in Turkey. Prince Andrew said he believed increasing number of British companies would come to Turkey for investments as long as foreign investment climate and legal framework got better and transparency increased. Prince Andrew also reiterated Britain's support to Turkey on its European Union path. Noting that he wanted to encourage Turkish people for the efforts they exerted on reforms, Prince Andrew said Turkey might be a bridge between the West and the East and completion of Turkey's integration into the EU's economic and political framework was important for both Turkey and the EU and Britain.
VORKINK: ''WE ARE READY TO AID NORTHERN CYPRUS''
World Bank Turkey Director Andrew Vorkink said as the World Bank, they were ready to do their best in aiding the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) after international sides put forward their proposals. Vorkink stressed that the most important issue in Cyprus was ''settlement of fairness and equality'' between the sides. Noting that the result of the referendum in Cyprus created disappointment, Vorkink said a very important opportunity had been created for unification of Cyprus and a very powerful economic growth could have been achieved as a result of it. They supposed great amount of foreign capital investment would be made if TRNC's status was clarified as its tourism potential was much bigger than the tourism potential of the Southern Cyprus and they believed foreign investments would be made in that field, Vorkink said. He stressed that international political community's reaching a decision on the TRNC's situation in international relations was very important for the things that would be made in the TRNC. Vorkink said they believed the international community would adopt a fair stance towards the TRNC and extend support to economic needs.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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DGMS TO BE REPLACED IN KIND
There is change to only name of the courts in the draft that the Ministry of Justice prepared for the formation that will replace the State Security Courts (DGMs) that were annulled under constitutional amendment. A summit meeting was held with the DGM prosecutors and judges upon invitation of the Ministry of Justice and the meeting ended with this formula: ''Replacement of outdoor sign of DGMs and continuation under same structure''. However, DGM prosecutors and judges rejected even some new arrangements in the draft. Also jurists said the draft is consisted of only ''change in name''.
''FOR UNITED STATES, DENKTAS IS FORMER LEADER OF TURKISH CYPRIOTS''
U.S. Special Coordinator to Cyprus Thomas Weston announced that Washington would see Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat as its interlocutor in the TRNC. ''Isolation of Turkish Cypriots will end.'' Weston said that for Washington, Turkish Cypriots were represented by Prime Minister Talat, not by President Rauf Denktas. Speaking to Greek Cypriot Filelefteros newspaper, Weston said Talat represented Turkish Cypriots and Denktas was formed leader of Turkish Cypriot community. Noting that they wanted to help Turkish Cypriots get rid of isolation, Weston said isolation of Turkish Cypriots would end and U.S. economic contribution would not be symbolic.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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GULER: ''OIL PRICES REMAIN HIGH FOR SOME MORE TIME''
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said that tendency of high crude oil prices in international markets was expected to continue for some time more. Guler who is in Amsterdam to attend the 9th International Energy Forum said there were two main causes of increase in oil prices. Noting that Iraq war and political uncertainty in Iraq and insufficient U.S. investments in refineries were the two main reasons, Guler said more demand in oil in rapidly developing countries, particularly China triggered increase in prices.
MR. AND MRS. ARINC GO TO MOROCCO
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc and his wife Munevver Arinc went to Morocco on a formal visit. A mini ceremony took place at Ankara's Esenboga Airport to see off Arinc couple. While Arinc was shaking hands with Deputy Parliament Speaker Ismail Alptekin, Ankara Governor Yahya Gur and other officials, his wife who wore Islamic style headscarf stayed behind. Police bodyguards did not allow reporters to take photographs while Munevver Arinc passed by those officials.
ALAWITE SECT NOT IN TEXT BOOKS
The Ministry of National Education which decided to include Alawite sect in high school religious lesson text books could not finalize its studies. So adherence to Alawite beliefs and practices can be included in 2005-2006 education year. Works of Hadji Bektashi Veli and poems of Pir Sultan Abdal will be the sources of Alawite issue in religious text books.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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HISTORIC DOCUMENTS
The United States which wants to use Turkey as logistic base for its forces in the Balkans, Caucasus and Middle East wants to deploy war planes in Turkey and use Incirlik and Konya under the name of ''peacetime exercises''. In a draft dated March 18, 2004, the United States proposed Turkey to sign a memorandum of understanding on these issues. Under the draft, military activities of the United States in Turkey will be given shape according to NATO and Turkey-United States agreements and parliament's permission won't be sought. The newspaper reported on May 18 that the United States made new requests from Turkey. Under the draft, the United States briefly requests these:
- Let's sign a memorandum of understanding between Turkey and the U.S. European Forces Command on training exercises to be performed in Turkey.
- This memorandum envisages Turkey's every kind of support to the United States during peacetime exercises.
- Content of the support is given shape under the NATO and Turkey-United States agreements. In case of a demand outside it, decision is made by representatives of the two countries.
- The United States deploys 48 war planes at Incirlik and Konya airbases. Requirements of these planes are brought to Turkey under conditions of ''armed exercise deployment''.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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KURDS STILL WAIT FOR ADJUSTMENT LAWS
Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) leader Tuncer Bakirhan said, ''reforms are delayed.'' According to Bakirhan, Kurds have only one demand: ''Constitutional assurance of democratic and cultural rights immediately''.
He said, ''there are differences between demands of Kurds in the past and today. Kurds now want resolution of their problems within existing legal limits with the concept of constitutional citizenship instead of a separate state. Meanwhile, there has not been a basic difference in the state's outlook on Kurds. They have been trying to put into practice policies that have been implemented for years by retouching. There have been several positive developments, but we believe they are not sufficient. By excluding methods of fight that includes violence, Kurds have now adopted peaceful and democratic political fight. Today, Kurds want recognition of all their democratic and cultural rights and constitutional assurance of them. People who voice lawful demands cannot still enter the parliament. A political party which wins 60 percent vote in general elections in Diyarbakir, Van and Hakkari should take place in the parliament. Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is known as reformist although it did not do anything more than previous governments. They did some things, but what they have done couldn't meet demands. Adjustment laws on education and broadcast in mother tongue and freedom of thought and expression have not been put into practice.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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AID TO TRNC READY
World Bank will take action after clarification of the status of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Direct flights to the island will start and foreign capital investments will increase.
''MORE'' PUNISHMENT TO RICH
Parliamentary Justice Commission Chairman Koksal Toptan said that the Turkish Penal Code would change thoroughly and suspects would be punished to fine according to their economic situation. ''The rich and the poor who commit same offense will be punished to different fine.''
ERDOGAN'S MOURNFUL DAY
Cemal Gulbaran, the father-in-law of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was laid to rest yesterday. Gulbaran lost his life in hospital two days ago.
DEPRESSED PRIVATE CAUSES DANGER
A private who deserted from his military unit in Narlidere town of Izmir with his automatic rifle opened fire in the air. He was rendered ineffective when an officer jumped and knocked him down while he was inattentive. The private did not lay his rifle down although he spoke to his father on cell phone. Sources said he was emotionally upset as his fiancee and he had broken up.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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GOVERNOR'S OFFICES WARNED AGAINST U.S. SOLDIERS
Turkish authorities took action when they suspected some soldiers from the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigation (AFOSI) are conducting intelligence work in different regions of Turkey. The General Staff said that meetings in Giresun of an AFOSI officer who is assigned in Incirlik Base without informing any authority contradicted mission status. The Interior Ministry warned the governor's offices about the issue asked U.S. soldiers not to carry any weapon outside their work places. Sources said that the event which drew reaction of the General Staff and caused the Interior Ministry to take action, happened early this year. Several AFOSI soldiers assigned at military facilities in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir and Adana were suspected of conducting intelligence work in several regions of Turkey. Without formal permission and information of the Turkish authorities, an AFOSI personnel assigned at Incirlik Air Base in Adana held meetings in Giresun. Upon request of the General Staff which reacted to the development, Interior Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Sebati Duyuran warned 81 governor's offices that they should absolutely prevent such activities.
(MS-AÖ) 24.05.2004