ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 9, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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SEVEN TURKS TAKEN HOSTAGE IN IRAQ
Iraqi resistance forces displayed seven Turks said to have been kidnapped because they worked for Americans. Videotape obtained by Associated Press Television News showed three of the hostages surrounded by armed men. Four other hostages were shown to reporters separately. Two other Turkish people who were kidnapped in Iraq on Monday were released on Tuesday.
SERDAR DENKTAS SAYS GREEK CYPRIOTS SHOULD NOT HAVE SEATS OF TRNC
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Serdar Denktas sent a letter to European Parliament President Pat Cox asking him to prevent Greek Cypriots from having two seats that were deserved by Turkish Cypriots in the European Parliament. Denktas said in his letter that the only way of encouraging Greek Cypriots for solution was to tell them that Greek Cypriots did not have right to represent Turkish Cypriots. Stating that election on members of the European Parliament would be held on June 13, Denktas recalled that if Annan plan had been put into practice, Turkish Cypriots would have had two of six seats of Cyprus in the European Parliament.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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SEVEN OTHER TURKISH CITIZENS KIDNAPPED
Seven Turkish citizens were taken hostage on Tuesday after abduction of truck driver Bulent Yanik in Iraq last week.
Adnan Azizoglu, managing director of a construction company, project director Tarkan Kanat Arikoglu and their Turkmen driver were released a few hours after being kidnapped.
Iraqi resistance forces called on Turkish companies to cancel their contracts and withdraw the personnel from Iraq to release the other hostages.
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said measures would be taken to overcome concerns.
ERDOGAN HAS A CONDITION
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that Greater Middle East Initiative would not have any meaning before Israeli-Palestinian conflict is solved and before the situation in Iraq is normalized.
Evaluating Greater Middle East Project, Erdogan said:
Violence Policy: Violence policies of Israel can not be accepted. Turkey will reject any initiative endangering lives of innocent people.
Iraq should be normalized: If a real democracy perspective and reform strategy is to be presented to Middle East and North African geography, openings are necessary putting an end to violence policies in Israeli-Palestinian conflict and normalizing situation in Iraq.
Support to prosperity projects: We support the openings in this geography, the democratization, and strategies to produce prosperity. However, this support depends on some specific principles.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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TURKISH ENVOYS IN ISRAEL SUMMONED
Turkey summoned Turkish Ambassador to Israel Feridun Sinirlioglu and Turkish Consul General in Jerusalem Huseyin Avni Bicakli separately to Ankara. Foreign Ministry officials said that Turkey's summoning Sinirlioglu and Bicakli to Ankara for a short period of time was not a reaction to Israel, but a routine work. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to pull out of Gaza that was approved in his cabinet last Sunday was also assessed in the meeting in the ministry.
DIFFICULT DECISION IN G-8
Regional countries don't support ''the Greater Middle East Initiative''. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who went to the United States to attend G-8 summit will warn participants that ''local dynamics'' should be taken into account. One of main targets of G-8 which will start in Sea Island on Wednesday is ''the Greater Middle East Initiative''. U.S. President George Bush wants the project to be turned into a ''transatlantic'' project that could be carried out with Europe. ''Democratic Assistance Group'' led by Turkey is expected to be formed in the summit.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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NEW TARGET IS TURKISH CITIZENS
A group called ''United Iraq Armed Resistance'' took hostage seven Turkish citizens working in a U.S. company.
As no information could be obtained from the Turkish truck driver who was abducted last week, two people working in a Turkish construction company were released yesterday.
A businessmen from Kirkuk, getting goods from Turkey, was also abducted.
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said, ''our businessmen like taking risks''.
SUPPORT FROM ERDOGAN TO GREATER MIDDLE EAST INITIATIVE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who went to the United States to attend G-8 meeting, stated that they supported Greater Middle East initiative under the basis of some main principles.
Stressing that Greater Middle East Initiative was a target which Turkey also shared, Erdogan said, ''the desired target is hormonious with our vision.''
However, Erdogan noted that Greater Middle East Initiative could be successful not with imposition but with the support that would come from the countries in the Middle East.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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EUROPEAN AMBASSADORS PRAISE TURKEY
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted on Monday a dinner in honor of ambassadors of European Union (EU) member countries on the occasion of Ireland's handing over EU term presidency to the Netherlands in this month's summit. EU ambassadors praised reforms fulfilled in Turkey referring to broadcasts in different languages and dialects. Ambassadors said that Turkey should continue this wind of change. They told Erdogan that Turkey would get a negotiation date from the EU soon.
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION RISES BY 16.5 PERCENT IN APRIL
Turkey's industrial production rose by 16.5 percent in April of 2004 over to the same month of the previous year. Accordingly, at the level of sub-sectors of industry, manufacturing industry production increased by 17.3 percent, mining industry production increased by 20.6 percent, electricity, gas and water production increased by 7.8 percent in April of 2004, over to the same period of the previous year. According to the average of four months of 2004 compared with the same period of the previous year, total industrial production increased by 14.3 percent, and mining industry increased by 2.3 percent, manufacturing industry increased by 15.6 percent, and electricity, gas and water industry increased by 6.8 percent.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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FIRST MESSAGE TO MIDDLE EAST
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan went to the United States to attend G-8 summit and have several meetings. Erdogan sent his first message to Middle East countries. Speaking to reporters at Ankara's Esenboga Airport, Erdogan said that Turkey was invited to G-8 summit as a partner which could support reforms desired to take place in the Middle East. He stated that Turkey also shared target of supporting efforts for a positive change in the Middle East. Erdogan said that how G-8 would support development of the Middle East region politically, economically and socially would be discussed. He noted that how Turkey would contribute to this effort would also be taken up in the summit.
DEP CASE IN SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals decided to hold appeals hearing of four former Democracy Party (DEP) deputies on July 8. Supreme Court of Appeals Criminal Department decided to hear the appeals hearing of former DEP deputies including Leyla Zana, Hatip Dicle, Selim Sadak and Orhan Dogan on July 8.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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PIONEERING ROLE FROM G-8 TO TURKEY FOR REFORM
G-8 summit, in which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was invited as ''democratic partner'' started in Sea Island, Georgia.
A mechanism called ''Democratic Assistance Dialogue'' was set up to contribute to political reforms within the framework of Broader Middle East and North Africa initiative. Turkey, Italy and Yemen will act as the co-chairmen of the mechanism. Thus, Turkey undertakes an active role in the reform process the region.
The Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative declaration is expected to be announced in the summit today.
TURKEY SUMMONS DIPLOMATS IN ISRAEL FOR INFORMATION
Turkey summoned Turkish Ambassador to Israel Feridun Sinirlioglu and Turkish Consul General in Jerusalem Huseyin Avni Bicakli to Ankara for consultations. Sources said this should not be perceived as withdrawal, noting that Turkey's Ambassador in Damascus Oguz Celikkol and Ambassador to London Korkmaz Haktanir were currently in Turkey. Israeli Ambassador in Ankara Pinhas Avivi also went to his country in May for consultations.
(EÖ-AY) 09.06.2004