ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 31, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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ARMY TO MEET ONE-YEAR CONDOM NEED OF DISCHARGED SOLDIERS
Vice-General Prof. Dr. Dervis Sen, the dean of the Gulhane Military Medical Faculty (GATA) in Ankara, said, ''we have been informing our soldiers on birth control methods. They will be given condoms for one year when they are discharged. The program was initiated by Obstetrics and Gynecology Department Head Doctor Prof. Dr. Recai Pabuccu and it is conducted in coordination with the Health Ministry. All doctors and nurses in the Turkish Armed Forces target to inform nearly six hundred thousand soldiers a year on contraception methods. Surveys showed that also women in the east do not want to give more birth, but they can't persuade their husbands. Also birth control classrooms have been opened in all units. When these young people, I mean soldiers are discharged, they will be given equipment; that is, condoms that will meet their one-year need.''
DAY OF DECISION ON YOK LAW
The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) today is going to determine its attitude towards the Higher Education Board (YOK) Law that was vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Situation of the YOK Law will be determined after it is discussed firstly by the Council of Ministers and later by the AK Party Executive Board today. Statements of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan showed that the law would be sent back to the Presidential Palace after a change to its part related to the General Staff representative is made. If the government insists on its former stance, the law will be swiftly passed by the parliament and transferred to the Presidential Palace this week.
U.S. BAN ON PAPADOPOULOS
U.S. administration describes Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos as ''liar'' and it does not want him to even come to Washington. Speaking to the newspaper, U.S. officials said they knew Papadopoulos would be in New York next week, but they did not want him to come to Washington. The U.S. officials said, ''Tassos Papadopoulos can't find an official to meet in Washington. And we don't want to meet him.'' A high-level U.S. official said Papadopoulos had manipulated his people before referendum on April 24 and told lies to them about Annan's plan. The official said, ''nobody wants to see Slobodan Milosevic's lawyer Papadopoulos in Washington.'' Papadopoulos will meet with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in New York on June 3.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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MAGNIFICENT OPENING
The 57th World Association of Newspapers (WAN) Congress and the 11th World Editors Forum (WEF) started in Istanbul on Sunday. The Congress will be held between May 30 and June 2. Annual meetings of world press are held by WAN which is the global organization of press sector and representing 18 thousand newspapers in the world. A total of 72 national newspapers union, individual newspaper directors from 102 countries, 13 news agencies and ten regional or worldwide press groups are members of WAN. More than 1400 CEO, director general, general publication director and delegates from 88 countries are participating in the congress. Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu hosted a welcome reception to the delegates attending the congress at Istanbul Archeology Museum. Nearly 1,600 reporters attended the reception. The official opening of the congress will be held on Monday with a ceremony with the participation of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
ERDOGAN SAYS RE-TRIAL PROCESS ON LEYLA ZANA CONTINUES
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs Lord Falconer discussed the issue of re-trial process on Leyla Zana, the former deputy of the Democracy Party (DEP) which was banned by the Constitutional Court. Falconer said in the meeting that they supported Turkey's accession to the European Union (EU) and stated that Leyla Zana should be released and it would be an important message to Europe. Erdogan said that they started the re-trial process about Zana and the process continued. He also stated that there was judiciary independence in Turkey.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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TURKISH SEAL IN EUROPE
Turkish people who are living in Europe have gained a say both in culture and also in economy. French periodical Courier International said in an article entitled, ''Culture Exporters: Turks'' that Turkish people living in Europe have made Turkey a member of the European Union (EU) already with Turkish businessmen, musicians, politicians and sportsmen. Turkish people also contribute to economies of European countries. Turkish people living in Europe make economic contribution amounting to 69 billion euros to European economy annually.
DEMIROREN BECOMES 32ND CHAIRMAN OF BESIKTAS
Yildirim Demiroren became the 32nd chairman of Besiktas soccer club. A total of 6,833 people cast their votes in extraordinary general assembly of Besiktas. 3,272 people voted in favor of Demiroren and Demiroren became the chairman of the soccer club. He said that they would work for the Besiktas to become champion.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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''QUESTIONNAIRE'' OF BUSH FOR ANKARA
Washington administration asked Turkey what kind of concrete contributions it could make to the Greater Middle East Initiative (GMEI). The U.S. administration sent the latest draft GMEI which was prepared for the G-8 summit to Turkey and asked about Turkey's contributions. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will give answers to these requests at the summit that will take place between June 8-10. Turkey which took place among ''target countries'' that the project will transform like the Arab countries in previous drafts of GMEI, was this time taken outside of these countries in the latest draft upon reaction of the Turkish Foreign Ministry and General Staff. The project has three main headlines:
1- Encouraging Democracy and Better Management
2- Building Information Society
3- Enhancing Economic Opportunities
FIRST TRIAL IN TURKEY
First hearing of November 15 and 20 attacks in Istanbul will be held today. Thus, international terrorist organization Al-Qaeda members will be tried in Turkey for the first time. Organization members in Iran supplied 150 thousand U.S. dollars and an Egyptian organization member named Alaaddin living in Europe met 50 thousand U.S. dollars of the money that was needed for the attacks which had been planned in 1.5 years.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TRAVEL BETWEEN ANKARA AND ISTANBUL LASTS 4.5 HOURS
People will travel between Ankara and Istanbul by high-speed train in 4.5 hours. The first trip of fast train will start on June 4. A ceremony will be held with participation of Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim. People can travel by fast train between Ankara and Istanbul in 4.5 hours by paying 24 million Turkish liras (TL).
RAIN IN TURKEY FOR THREE DAYS
Rainy weather will continue in Turkey for three days. Temperatures will decrease across the country. State Meteorology Directorate said that there would be rain in Black Sea, Central Anatolia and Marmara regions on Monday.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TURKISH SOLDIERS IN KABUL
Three more UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters together with military personnel have arrived in Kabul as backup to the Turkish unit that fulfils duty under the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. NATO's top civil representative in Afghanistan Hikmet Cetin of Turkey said arrival of helicopters was important for Turkey's image. ''Turkey has been fulfilling its responsibilities. Also other NATO allies should support Afghanistan. Nobody should expect a third World War. Now, the war is against terrorism. Afghanistan is important for NATO. And Turkey extended significant support by sending helicopters,'' he said. A 60-member team comprising 12 pilots, 16 technical staff and 32 air personnel came to Afghanistan for those helicopters. ISAF will meet cost of the helicopters which will stay at Kabul's International Airport and be used for operation, transportation, control, defense and humanitarian aid purposes.
SERDAR DENKTAS ON TOUR OF ISLAMIC COUNTRIES TO GET SUPPORT
Under his diplomatic initiative in Islamic countries to get their support to ending isolation of Turkish Cypriot people, proceeded to Bangladesh after completing his meetings in Pakistani capital Islamabad. Serdar Denktas who is in capital Dhaka as formal guest of the Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry, held a meeting with Bangladeshi Foreign Minister M. Morshed Khan on bilateral relations and the latest situation of the Cyprus issue. Meanwhile, the Pakistani government assured Serdar Denktas that its support to rightful case of Turkish Cypriots would continue.
WE ARE GOING TO BE HYDROGEN ENERGY BASE
Fossil fuel resources (coal, oil, natural gas) are exhausted rapidly. Eighty percent of energy consumed in the world are met from fossil fuel. Remaining twenty percent is water and nuclear energy. What will happen when these resources finish? Hydrogen energy which is introduced as ''nonhazardous energy of the future'' is the favorite energy of the world. And Turkey which is planning to make one of the most important evolutions of the history of humanity is going to be the scientific and technologic center of this new energy resource. Under an agreement signed between the Turkish Energy Ministry an United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) on October 21, 2003, the International Center for Hydrogen Energy Technologies opened in Istanbul.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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WORLD NEWSPAPERS IN ISTANBUL
The 57th World Association of Newspapers (WAN) Congress started in Istanbul on Sunday. A round table meeting entitled ''press freedom in Arab countries'' was held within the scope of the congress which will end on June 2. Reporters from Arab countries expressed their views on press freedom in the meeting. Davud Kuttab, the director of AmmanNET of Jordan, said that media in Arab countries were under supervision of information ministries. Nearly 1,500 reporters from 88 countries are participating in the WAN Congress. The official opening of the congress will be held on Monday with a ceremony.
NO INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS PRICES IN JUNE
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said that there would not be increase in electricity and natural gas prices in June. Guler who visited Cayirhan thermal power plant replied to questions of reporters. Guler said that they attached great importance to use of domestic sources and noted that if there had not been any legal obstacle, he would have transferred all power plants to private sector.
(MS-EÖ-AÖ) 31.05.2004