ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 2, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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EU STANDARDS IN PROTESTS
Istanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah has said that holding protests against NATO Summit to be held in Istanbul between June 27 and 29, 2004 was a democratic right. In an interview with the Voice of America, Cerrah said that they would allow protests in Istanbul as long as protesters abided by laws.
''YOK LAW HAS BEEN SUSPENDED FOR A WHILE''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the law about the Higher Education Board (YOK) had been suspended for a while. Speaking at the parliamentary group meeting of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Prime Minister Erdogan said, ''we are completely rightful about the YOK law. However, we have many things to do. Therefore, the law has been suspended for a while.'' Earlier, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer partially vetoed the Law on Amendments to YOK for reconsideration of the first, fifth, sixth and seventh articles under the Articles 89 and 104 of the Constitution.
DIPLOMATIC NOTE FROM ISRAEL
Israel has expressed its profound sorrow over statement of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who criticized Israel's harsh attitude against Palestinian people. Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs gave a diplomatic note to Turkish Ambassador to Israel Feridun H. Sinirlioglu saying that the basic obstacle in front of the peace process between Israel and Palestine was acts of terrorism of Palestinian terrorist groups claiming hundreds of innocent Israeli civilians in the last three years. During opening ceremony of the 75th Congress of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) in Istanbul, Prime Minister Erdogan said that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon did not help the international community's efforts to encourage peace in the region, and described the recent operation in Gaza Strip as a state terrorism.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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EDUCATION WITH IMAM, PRIEST AND RABBI
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government, which stepped back upon President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's veto of Higher Education Board (YOK) Law, is preparing to bring ''elective religion course''. AK Party government did not state a clear view whether Constitutional amendment is necessary for elective religion course. Parliamentary National Education Commission Chairman and AK Party deputy Tayyar Altikulac said that compulsory religion education could continue without changing the Constitution, adding that elective courses in which Muslim, Christian and Jewish students could be educated on their own religions, could be opened.
MASSACRE TEAM CAPTURED
Two members of PKK/KONGRA-GEL terrorist organization, who were sent from rural regions to launch bomb attacks, were captured during the operation in Istanbul. Four other people, who aided and abetted two convicts, were also detained. Two convicts were claimed to participate in killing 16 people including three soldiers and one police officer.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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PATIENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO COME TURKEY
World's biggest ophthalmology hospital is being opened in Atakoy district of Istanbul. Patients from all over the world will come to this hospital. The most important characteristic of the hospital, which was equipped with high technology, is that it includes a chapel, a synagogue and a masjid (small mosque).
YOK LAW SUSPENDED
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan referred to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who vetoed Higher Education Board (YOK) Law, and YOK administration and he said that power of majority of people could not be undervalued. He added that they suspended YOK Law and their priority was the European Union (EU) issue.
SEZER ASKS SUPPORTS FOR EU
Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who held meetings in Poland, wanted Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski and Polish Prime Minister Marek Belka to continue their support for Turkey's European Union (EU) membership in coming period. Kwasniewski and Belka replied positively to the wish of Sezer.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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NEW TENSION ON WAY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the attitude of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer who vetoed Higher Education Board (YOK) as dominance of minority. Erdogan said that parliamentary majority of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) could not be undervalued, adding, ''why elections are held? System functions only on the basis of majority. The opposite is the dominance of minority on majority. Our President is elected by this Parliament.''
PERMIT IN 16 TOWNS FOR PROTESTORS AGAINST NATO
Istanbul Governor Office announced the fields where protestors against NATO Summit can hold demonstrations. Demonstrations can be held in distant places to NATO Summit such as Bagcilar, Avcilar, Beyoglu and near TRT building.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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PRESIDENT SEZER HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF TURKEY'S EU MEMBERSHIP
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has said, ''formations in Europe has gained a new dimension and acceleration as a result of enlargement of the European Union (EU). However, we believe that the EU enlargement should be a process. Turkey's becoming a member of the EU will be a significant stage in this process.'' President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who is currently paying a state visit to Poland, and President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland presided the meetings between Turkey and Polish delegations on Tuesday. Following the meetings, an Action Plan aiming to further improve the bilateral relations between Turkey and Poland was signed by Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Undersecretary Volkan Bozkir and Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Sariusz Najar. Following the meeting, President Sezer said, ''at the meeting, we discussed bilateral and regional relations in detail. We mutually expressed our will to further deepen our bilateral relations.''
EXPORTS CONTINUE INGREASING IN MAY
The Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) has announced that exports from Turkey increased 26.8 percent to 4 billion 953 million U.S. dollars in May of 2004. In the same period last year, Turkey exported various goods of 3 billion 904 million U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, exports rose 35 percent to 24 billion U.S. dollars in the January-May period of the year.
CICEK PROPOSES TO MAKE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS IN SEPTEMBER
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek has propose to call the parliament to hold an extraordinary session in September to make several constitutional amendments including restriction of political immunity. He stressed that all immunities should be restricted in order to prevent corruption.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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YOK LAW SUSPENDED
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, ''we will not send the law about the Higher Education Board (YOK) back to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. We have decided to suspend the law till the new legislative year. We do not want tension to be escalated in Turkey in such a critical period. We have many things to do.'' Earlier, President Sezer partially vetoed the YOK Law.
''NOW, IT IS EU'S TURN''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said, ''Turkey has removed all prejudices against itself and succeeded in impressing member countries to the European Union (EU) as a result of its active diplomacy in the last 18 months. Our efforts have intensified as the EU Summit in December is getting closer. There is not any reason left to delay the accession negotiations between Turkey and the EU. Now, it is the EU's turn.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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HIGH-SPEED TRAIN REACHES ISTANBUL IN 4.56 HOURS
High-speed train, which will reach from Ankara to Istanbul in five hours, completed its trip successfully. The high-speed train which started its trip from Ankara at 10.03 a.m. reached Istanbul's Haydarpasa Station in four hours 56 minutes. The train has reached a speed of 155 km/h during its trip.
PKK MEMBERS CAPTURED
Two members of PKK terrorist organization, who were preparing to launch bomb attacks, were captured in Istanbul. C-4 explosives and many materials to prepare bomb were also seized during the operation.
(UK-GC-AÖ) 02.06.2004