ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 28th, 2008. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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PREMIER ANNOUNCES ACTION PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST TURKEY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan unveiled an action plan designed to boost Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), and said the government would allocate 14.5 billion YTL (11.6 billion USD) in the next five years. "This is a project of social restoration and fraternity," Erdogan told a gathering in the southeastern province of Diyarbakir, along with a dozen ministers and over 50 deputies from his Justice and Development (AK) Party. Erdogan said pre-school and secondary school enrollment would be increased by 50 percent and 90 percent respectively. Economic incentive programs will be reviewed in accordance with the needs of the GAP region. Turkish state-run television will broadcast in languages of the region other than Turkish.
DTP GROUP CHAIRMAN RESIGNS, EXPECTED TO LEAD PARTY
Ahmet Turk resigned as the group chairman of the Democratic Society Party (DTP) and he was replaced by Emine Ayna, a DTP deputy from the southeastern province of Mardin. Turk is expected to run for DTP`s leadership in a party congress scheduled for July.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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ERDOGAN`S GAP MOVE
The 26.7 billion YTL action plan on Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), announced by PM Recep Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Diyarbakir with 12 ministers and 50 deputies, includes important steps from economy to social life, education to health.
Largest allocation of the package is irrigation with 10.3 billion YTL. Natural gas will be pumped to Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Sanliurfa and Gaziantep. Roads in the region will be improved. "Attraction hubs" will be built in Diyarbakir, Gaziantep and Sanliurfa. Incentive system will be re-arranged to draw private sector investments in the region.
"WE WILL ISSUE STATEMENT AGAIN IF NECESSARY"
President of Supreme Court of Appeals, Hasan Gerceker, said there was no change in their opinions following the meeting with President Abdullah Gul.
"It is our duty to make public our views regarding arrangements that do not correspond with independence of judiciary. Of course we are behind our opinions which we announced in our statement," Gerceker said.
"We will issue a statement again if necessary," he said.
"I HAVE NEVER BEEN ATTACKED SO MEANLY,"
General Staff Chief Gen. Yasar Buyukanit commented on claims that a file, about his spouse`s undue expenses, was on the table at his meeting with PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Dolmabahce Palace.
"I have been attacked many times, but never been attacked so meanly. None of them were so mean," Buyukanit said.
Buyukanit also said that his wife, the General Staff and he sued Fikri Saglar, a former parliamentarian and columnist of a newspaper, who claimed about existence of such a file.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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OPERATION BASAK
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced "Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Action Plan". He defined the plan as the brotherhood project of the century. The destiny of the region will change, and terrorism will end by 2012. Erdogan, accompanied by 12 ministers, arrived in southeastern province of Diyarbakir yesterday where he introduced GAP Action Plan. Erdogan said, "we pushed the button. This project, for which the financing is ready, will be a turning point for Turkey. Exploitation of terrorism will be prevented with this brotherhood and social restoration project of the century."
"TERRORIST" STAKE FROM BABACAN
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan learned that Adem Gulabi Dere, one of the head terrorists of PKK who was wanted with red bulletin, was in the hall before the meeting of joint parliamentary commission of European Parliament started in Brussels. Babacan said, "you make that individual leave the hall, otherwise I don`t enter the hall."
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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DOUBTS OF WATERGATE
Officials of the main opposition Republican People`s Party (CHP) searched tapping devices, also known as bugs, at the offices of chairman Deniz Baykal and Secretary-General Onder Sav. What triggered all these was a news report in a daily, Vakit, that published conversation between former Governor of Bolu and SG Sav.
Deniz Baykal reminded of the Watergate scandal at his party meeting at the parliament.
No bugs were found at the party HQs; but a Fiat Doblo car, which was parked near the building, was at the spotlight of CHP officials. Osman Paksut, deputy chief judge of the Constitutional Court, claimed that his telephone was tapped by someone on a car with the same brand.
SIGNS OF U-TURN TO POPULISM
Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag, chairperson of Turkish Industrialists` and Businessmen`s Association (TUSIAD), a major Turkish business association, said, "there is retrogression in reform process and we have been observing signs of u-turn to populist practices in economy policies."
Yalcindag also warned about the current account deficit that reached 40 billion USD.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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PREMIER MAKES HARD-TO-DO PROMISES FOR
SOUTHEAST TURKEY AHEAD OF ELECTIONS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced an action plan to boost economic and social development in southeastern Turkey, making hard-to-do promises ahead of local elections. Erdogan said 1.8 million hectares of arable lands would be irrigated and 3.8 million people would be employed under the four-year plan. Erdogan, who had forgotten about the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), labeled the plan as "the project of the century."
BUSINESSMAN SENTENCED TO TEN MONTHS IN BRIBE CASE
Turkish businessman Remzi Gur, who is said to be close friends with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was sentenced to a suspended ten months prison term for offering bribe to a former deputy of the Republican People`s Party (CHP) before of presidential elections last August.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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DEATH SHIPYARD ON ACTION AGAIN SIX DAYS LATER
"Selah", a shipyard in Tuzla district of Istanbul, which was closed six days ago as it posed risks for workers` safety, was opened again. It is not clear whether the fatal dangers were eliminated or not.
REHN: THERE SHOULD BE NEUTRAL JURISDICTION
EU took the floor again in the crisis between the government and jurisdiction. Speaking in a meeting of the association council between Turkey and the EU in Brussels, EU Commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn said that Turkey should focus on jurisdiction reform. He said that the existence of a neutral, independent, reliable and a transparent judiciary in Turkey was indispensable for the EU.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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HUGE STEP IN CENTURY`S PROJECT
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced "Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) Action Plan". The project, worth of 28 billion YTL, will end unemployment and terrorism, while improving the economy of the region by 2012.
REHN: NEUTRAL JURISDICTION IS MUST FOR EU
EU Commissioner for enlargement Olli Rehn said that the existence of a neutral, independent, reliable and a transparent judiciary in Turkey was indispensable for the EU. Rehn said that the progress of EU-Turkey membership negotiations was based on Turkey`s ability to adopt and fulfil the reforms.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA HOPEFUL ABOUT
INVESTMENT PACKAGE THIS TIME
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced his government`s GAP package, which is expected to provide employment for 4 million people. Business circles and people of the region supported the action plan that envisages 14.5 billion YTL to the region.
"We have seen lots of packages but this time we are hopeful. Projects are made public and there is financial resource," people living in the region said.
TERRORIST WANTED WITH RED BULLETIN ANNOYS BABACAN
The Association Council, the most important organ in relations between Turkey and EU, convened in Brussels. Talks discussed Turkey`s negotiation process and outlines of Turkey`s membership. However, a "PKK crisis" occurred before the joint committee meeting at European Parliament where Foreign Minister Ali Babacan would make a speech. Gulabi Dere, who was wanted with red bulletin by Interpol, was at the meeting hall. Babacan harshly reacted to the incident. Officials of the parliament said, Dere --a member of the terrorist organization-- would stay 15 minutes in the hall and then leave. Babacan said he would not attend the meeting unless Dere was out. In the end, Dere left the hall.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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JAPANESE MODEL FOR THIRD BRIDGE OVER BOSPHORUS
Transportation Ministry has decided to follow a Japanese model for a third bridge that would connect the European and the Asian sides of Istanbul over the Bosphorus. The new bridge will be double-decker and will allow both motor vehicle traffic and high-speed train. The ministry will choose between Japan`s Osaka and the Kansai bridges as a model.
TOP GENERAL FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST FORMER MINISTER
General Staff Chief Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said four separate lawsuits were filed against former minister Fikri Saglar, who wrote a newspaper article about a meeting between him and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Saglar alleged that during the meeting, which was publicy known as Dolmabahce encounter, Erdogan presented Buyukanit "a dossier about his spouse`s undue expenses." "I have been attacked many times, but never been attacked so meanly. None of them were so mean," Buyukanit said.
(YMB-TÇ-GC-MS)