ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 24, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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HAIL PANIC IN THE SKY
An airplane, which took off from southern Antalya province was heading for Istanbul when it was struck by hail storm. A lightning damaged cockpit window of the plane.
The A-310 type plane, named ''Coruh'' got through a dangerous situation because of hail storm and lightning. The plane made an emergency landing to Dalaman Airport.
The plane with its 181 passengers and seven crew members took off from Antalya at 19.10 local time. Due to a failure in radar of the plane, it could not see the dangerous cloud and the plane entered the hail storm. The passengers panicked when the plane was struck by a lightning. Many of the passengers pushed the aid service button but the hostesses could not move because of the turbulence.
One of the cockpit windows of the plane had been cracked when the lightning damaged the nose of the plane.
Pilot of the plane wanted to return to Antalya but as they lost radar contact and due to bad weather conditions, the plane headed for Dalaman and made an emergency landing to Dalaman Airport.
PKK TERRORISM TO BE DISCUSSED IN NSC
In regular meeting of National Security Council (NSC) in June, PKK terrorism, and efforts of Fetullah Gulen religious community to infiltrate into state cadres will mainly be discussed.
The meeting will start at 13.30 local time under the leadership of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
Attacks of the terrorist PKK organization which it re-started to prevent Turkey's European Union (EU) process will be discussed at the meeting. Political and military wings will express the determination to fight against PKK terrorism.
Some new measures will be discussed which Turkey will take against infiltration from the region to Turkey as the United States did not start operations against the terrorist organization nested in north of Iraq.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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TRNC MESSAGE TO BUSH
Ankara expects U.S. President George W. Bush to announce the influential steps which Washington will take about Turkish Cypriots, during his visit to Turkey.
Success of visit of U.S. President George W. Bush, which he will pay on June 27, was linked to ''a satisfactory'' initiative from Washington on Cyprus.
Ankara, which feels uneasy over the impression that operation against presence of PKK in Iraq was postponed for an indefinite period of time, and thinks that U.S. did not keep most of its promises on this issue, is suspicious that any progress can be recorded on PKK issue or any economic cooperation field during Bush's visit.
Turkish diplomats stressed that the only issue which may show the visit as successful to Turkish people would be ''a concrete step toward Turkish Cypriots.''
TWO PRISONERS DIE IN SINCAN F-TYPE PRISON
Despite extraordinary security measures, F-type prisons are on the agenda with the incidents in the recent months. Two convicts, who were in death fasting in Sincan F-type prison since October 20, 2004, burned themselves to death. It was reported that one of the convicts would be released on August 11.
Huseyin Cukurlugoz (42) who was sentenced to 17 years in prison on charges of being a member of terrorist organization and Bekir Baturu (36) who was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison, had started death fasting 249 days ago to protest practices in F-type prisons. The convicts ended death fasting by burning themselves to death.
It was reported the convicts refused initiatives of the prison administrators to end their actions and rejected treatment in hospital.
The convicts rolled cushion fibers around their bodies and set themselves to fire. As there were not security cameras in the rooms, the convicts could not be seen at first.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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FLOOD COMES INSTEAD OF WARM WEATHER
Heavy rain caused flood in many provinces. Many houses were inundated and traffic was paralyzed in Istanbul, Bursa, Izmit and Konya provinces because of heavy rain.
An 18-year old girl, who was trying to protect her herd, was drowned to death in Ardahan province.
ANNOUNCE OFFICIAL HOLIDAY, LET'S GO
Even security exercises for NATO summit in Istanbul distressed people. Residents of Istanbul rebel against the actual three-day suffering which will start on Sunday saying ''announce official holiday and let us go''.
Istanbul will go through a suffering starting as of Sunday because of NATO Summit. Traffic will be paralyzed in many routes staring from the airport. Surrounding of Harbiye district will turn into a ''dead region''.
Officials wanted depots of 15 gas stations on Bakirkoy-Besiktas line to be emptied against possibility of bomb and for security reasons.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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HERE IS THE LIST OF BUSH
In talks between Turkish and U.S. officials which continued for a long time, U.S. said they wanted to make use of almost all strategic facilities of Turkey. It was reported that Bush will bring onto agenda establishment of land base in Thrace, and naval bases in Iskenderun, Trabzon and Samsun.
U.S. President will propose deployment of 18,000 soldiers to six places on Mardin-Batman-Silopi line and want the soldiers to come and go for the operations outside Turkey without giving notice. Bush will ask for Incirlik to be broadened or turning of Batman Airport into a base.
Bush will also ask for permission for use of Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
U.S. President will ask Turkey to grant passages to U.S. ships from the straits without notice.
NSC TO CONVENE TODAY
National Security Council (NSC) will convene today to hold its regular meeting. Developments in Iraq will be discussed at the meeting.
Fundamentalist structuring in Interior Ministry is expected to be discussed at the meeting upon the request of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
NSC will convene at 13.30 local time.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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FORMULA FOUND FOR SEMINARY
Foreign Ministry prepared a formula for the opening of Heybeliada Seminary which caused ''control'' argument between National Education Ministry and Higher Education Board (YOK). The target is to open the school till December.
Under the formula, the school will act within the structure of foundation and two-years education will be given.
FINANCIAL AID FOR TRNC
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener met with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat.
Sener and TRNC Finance Minister Ahmet Uzun signed a package of measures.
Under the program, Turkey will give the TRNC 519 trillion 890 billion Turkish liras (nearly 346.6 million U.S. dollars) from the 2004 year budget.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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STRICT BARGAINING WITH UNITED STATES
Turkey will tell U.S. President George Bush, who will visit Turkey at the weekend, that, ''we wait for action, not words against PKK. We want this problem to be solved.''
On Cyprus issue a call will be made to U.S. side to announce the opening package, which they promised.
''Giving information about Iraq's new administration, not leaving Kirkuk to Kurds, giving more business opportunities to Turkish businessmen in Iraq, and Turkey's taking more role in the Middle East'' will be in the file that will be presented to Bush.
NEW MINIMUM WAGE ANNOUNCED
Gross minimum wage will be 444 million 150 thousand Turkish Liras (TL) and net minimum wage will be 318 million 223 thousand 475 TL for workers who are above 16 years as of July 1, 2004.
Minimum Wage Fixing Commission announced on Wednesday new minimum wages which will be valid as of July 1, 2004.
Net minimum wage will be 318 million 223 thousand 475 TL for workers who are above 16 years.
The previous net minimum wage is 303 million 79 thousand TL for workers who are above 16 years.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ONE MILLION U.S. DOLLARS AID FROM TURKEY TO PALESTINE
Ankara decided to send aid to Palestine to prevent human tragedy in this country and to adjust economic indications of Palestine. One million U.S. dollars will be sent to Palestine. Ankara warned Israel after getting tip off that humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees was prevented.
Turkey, which puts Palestinian Action Plan into practice, will for the first time expend direct aid to this country.
Ankara had sent 200 thousand U.S. dollars to this country last year over United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA).
It was reported that the aid will include foodstuff, medicine and ambulance.
ANKARA: NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES TO TAKE ASSIGNMENT IN CASE THERE IS NOT UNITY IN IRAQ
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan said unity and integrity of Iraq was Turkey's priority.
Speaking at a news conference, Tan said regional countries and international community would intervene in case unity can not be provided in Iraq.
Tan said they noted down the statement of Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom that, ''I don't know how long we will keep silent against the criticisms of Erdogan.''
(AY-AÖ) 24.06.2004