ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 1, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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WIND OF ISTANBUL
Editors in chief and reporters of 1,400 newspapers of the world met on Monday in Istanbul which hosted Eurovision Song Contest on May 15 with a very good organization and which is getting prepared to host world leaders in NATO Summit in June. The 57th Congress of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and 11th World Editors Forum (WEF) started at the Lutfi Kirdar International Congress and Exhibition Center in Istanbul with an official ceremony. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who delivered a speech in the ceremony said that they aimed to upgrade democratic standards by forming a modern legal superstructure and enlarge limits of communication freedom. Erdogan noted that he believed conveying universal messages to the whole world was global responsibility of newspapers and mass media in general, adding, ''defending peace on every condition is the best response that can be given to the prejudice that sees newspapers as inciter of war and clashes in categories due to concerns over circulation.''
BREKK SAYS IMF DELEGATION TO COME TO TURKEY THIS WEEK
International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Representative in Turkey Odd Per Brekk said that IMF delegation headed by Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam would come to Turkey this week. Stating that IMF delegation would firstly meet with business and finance circles in Istanbul, Brekk said that the delegation would later proceed to Ankara to hold official talks. Brekk noted that IMF European One Director and IMF Executive Director Michael Deppler and Willy Kiekens would also come to Turkey and participate in talks with economy officials between June 7 and 10.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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''WE DO IT NEXT YEAR''
Regarding the Higher Education Board (YOK) Law which was partially vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''it can't finish this year. So we should not create tension'' while cabinet members proposed to discuss arrangement about implementation of coefficient for university entrance exam under general YOK Law. It was mentioned that the government had the intention of shelving the bill until next legislative term. Sources said that during yesterday's Council of Ministers meeting, Prime Minister Erdogan said regarding the law, ''it won't be possible to put the change into practice this year. There is little time left. By taking into consideration warnings of other circles of the society, let's do it in coming periods. There should be no more tension. It does have impacts on the economy.''
CALL FOR SUPPORT TO EU MEMBERSHIP
Making opening remarks of the 57th General Assembly of the World Association of Newspapers in Istanbul in which more than 1,300 journalists from 88 countries participated, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked for support of world press to Turkey's European Union (EU) membership. Noting that a critical period in which Turkey had great expectations about relations with the EU had started, Erdogan said, ''we want our efforts which we have been exerting for 41 years for EU ideal to have our country brought to full membership in a reasonable timetable. We are calling on the world press, particularly European press to support opening of negotiation process in December 2004.'' Erdogan said that the EU which emerged as a result of common judgment that sought peace in a continent that had fought against each other in the history would constitute a universal example for settlement of peace of civilizations together with Turkey.
LIST PLEASES ISRAEL
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received a list of weapons worth 800 million U.S. dollars which are envisaged to be purchased from Israel. The list which was sent by the Air Forces Command includes 50 stand-off missiles, 50 mini unmanned suicide planes, modernization of F-4 planes and electronic systems (litening) which upgrades F-16 planes' night vision capabilities.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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COURT SUSPENDS ALL PROCEDURES IN AL-QAEDA CASE UNTIL NEW LAW ON DGMS ENTERS INTO FORCE
Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) decided on Monday to suspend all the procedures in the lawsuit filed in connection with four devastating truck bomb attacks in Istanbul until the law on abolition of the DGMs enters into force. Sixty-nine suspects are being tried in the lawsuit filed on charges that they have been involved in the bomb attacks in Istanbul on November 15 and 20, 2003 and on charges that they have carried out activities for international terrorist organization Al-Qaeda in Turkey. The court delegation recalled that the DGMs were abolished and then decided to suspend all the procedures related with the lawsuit until the new law would enter into force.
CYPRUS LETTER TO PRINCE
Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul went to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to hold a series of meetings for the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) foreign ministers' meeting, election of OIC secretary general, Cyprus issue, the Middle East and Iraq issues. Gul met with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Saud al-Faysal and Crown Prince Abdullah. Gul presented Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's letter to Crown Prince Abdullah on Turkey's expectations about the Cyprus issue. Sources said that Gul conveyed Turkey's expectations about lifting of embargoes imposed on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and upgrading TRNC's status at the OIC.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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RICH AND POOR PEOPLE PESSIMISTIC ABOUT ECONOMY
According to a survey conducted by research company ACNielsen with participation of 1,427 people showed that people who have middle socioeconomic conditions are pleased with economy policies. It also showed that rich and poor people are pessimistic about economy policies. ACNielsen made a social confidence research. According to the survey, 43 percent of society is pleased with current policies of the government.
MAY ENDS WITH RAIN
There will be rain in northern, northeastern and central parts of the country this week. Temperatures will decrease 2 or 4 degrees Celsius in regions where there will be rain, while temperatures will increase little in other regions. Kandilli Observatory Meteorological Laboratory Chief Nail Yeniceri said that there was not much rain in spring in Istanbul and added that recent rainy weather was very natural.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ERDOGAN: ''PEACE IN EVERY CONDITION''
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that 75 percent of Turkish people wanted to be member of the European Union (EU) and called on the world press, especially the European press, to support Turkey's efforts to start full membership negotiations with the EU.
Addressing opening remarks of 57th Congress of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and 11th World Editors Forum (WEF) at the Lutfi Kirdar International Congress and Exhibition Center in Istanbul, Erdogan said that they extended great efforts to fulfil membership criteria of accession to the EU. He stated, ''defending peace on every condition is the best response that can be given to the prejudice that sees newspapers as inciter of war and clashes in categories due to concerns over circulation.''
CRITICAL DAY FOR YOK LAW
Turkish National Education Minister Huseyin Celik who attended the general assembly of National Education Foundation wants to send law on amendments to Higher Education Board (YOK) law to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer without any change. One group in Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is in favor of changing YOK law, while another group wants to await. The government has tendency to freeze YOK law that was partially vetoed by Sezer on Friday. Sources said that AK Party could bring onto the agenda YOK law in new legislative term after a comprehensive study was made on the law. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will announce the final decision on YOK law in his party's group meeting on Tuesday.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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RAMBOS TO GUARD SUMMIT
Leaders of 62 countries that are going to participate in the NATO summit in Istanbul are entrusted to safekeeping of the Special Operations Team. After Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''every measure is taken for the NATO summit'', the ''Special Operations Team'' is currently receiving an intense training. They will give no chance to any negative development during NATO summit in Istanbul between June 28-29. There will be sharp shooters on roofs and scuba teams will patrol in the sea for 24 hours a day.
THINK CAREFULLY, EU
Speaking at 57th World Association of Newspapers Congress, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked foreign press to support Turkey's European Union (EU) membership. Giving message to the EU, Erdogan said, ''according to us, the EU is not either a union of coal or a Christian club but an address where civilizations meet. And they will prove it by setting a date for Turkey. The EU either accepts Turkey's accession or is stuck within its narrow borders.''
SAUDI SUPPORT TO TRNC
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul who went to Saudi Arabia to seek support to lifting embargoes on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) reached his target. Gul said that Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faysal pleased them by saying that Turkey and the TRNC deserved every kind of support.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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''NATO ISN'T APPROPRIATE TO GREATER MIDDLE EAST INITIATIVE''
Turkey has formally conveyed its stance towards the Greater Middle East Initiative which the United States developed to bring democracy to the region. Ankara told Washington that NATO is not appropriate to the initiative under its current concept and stressed that a new organization instead of NATO would be appropriate. Turkey noted that anti-democratic tendencies in the region grows stronger and economic situation is getting worse gradually. The Turkish Foreign Ministry stressed that problems will be resolved with joint efforts to be exerted together with developed countries and warned that approval of governments in the content of the initiative should be gotten for success of efforts for reform and added that it is ready to contribute to the initiative.
TEACHING OF KURDISH NOT AROUSES INTEREST
All legal obstacles in front of teaching of Kurdish and broadcast in Kurdish which were discussed in Turkey for years have been removed. However, contrary to expectations, teaching of Kurdish which started two years ago has failed to arouse interest. Only three courses have been opened so far in southeastern provinces of Batman and Sanliurfa and eastern province of Van and nearly 200 people join these courses. Meanwhile, books and magazines in Kurdish are issued in very limited copies. Although there is no restriction on publication, only one weekly periodical named Azadiye Welat and nearly ten magazines are published in Kurdish. Under adjustment to the European Union, Turkey made legal arrangements about education and broadcast in mother tongue two years ago but interest in teaching of Kurdish remained below the expectations. Meanwhile, any course has not been opened yet in southeastern province of Diyarbakir where thousands of people held demonstrations for teaching of Kurdish.
(EÖ-MS-AÖ) 01.06.2004