ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on July 31, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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EARTHQUAKE KILLS A PERSON IN DOGUBEYAZIT
A moderate earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale and two strong aftershocks jolted Dogubeyazit town of eastern province of Agri yesterday. A 16-year-old boy died and six others were injured after jumping from windows or balconies in panic. The quakes leveled a number of mud-brick homes which were already damaged during the quake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale on July 2. The Turkish Red Crescent sent 500 tents, 500 blankets and a portable kitchen to the region.
TURKCELL: ''THERE IS NOT A NEW AGREEMENT WITH IRAN''
Turkish GSM operator Turkcell stated that there was not a new agreement with Iran for the time being. Earlier, Iranian Communication and Information Technology Minister Ahmad Motamedi said that they had reached an agreement enabling Turkcell to serve in Iran market as the second operator. In its report to the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB), Turkcell said, ''the sides do not sign a new agreement. Instead, the necessary proceedings have been continuing in line with the terms of tender.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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SECURITY FORCES SEIZE EXPLOSIVES AT BORDER
Security forces seized 100 kg of plastic explosives hidden in a truck entering Turkey at Harbur border checkpoint with Iraq near Silopi town of southeastern province of Sirnak. Security forces also discovered more than 1,500 bullets for Kalashnikov rifles. Turkish driver of the truck was detained.
EXPORTS FROM TURKEY ROSE BY 6.5 PERCENT IN JUNE
Exports from Turkey rose by 6.5 percent, while the increase in imports was 6.5 percent in June of 2004 when compared with the previous month. According to foreign trade indices released by the State Institute of Statistics (SIS), exports from Turkey climbed by 19 percent in June 2004 when compared with the same month of the previous year. The rise in imports in the same period was 32.5 percent. Exports increased by 14.7 percent and imports by 38.3 percent according to the average of six-month periods. According to the average of 12-month periods, exports from Turkey climbed by 18.2 percent and the increase in imports was 38.5 percent.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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SECURITY FORCES IMPOUND 274 KG OF HEROIN
Turkish security forces impounded 274 kg of heroin destined for Europe in Istanbul's Ambarli Customs Gate. Acting on a tip-off, security forces found the heroin inside the truck with the aid of sniffer dogs. State Minister Kursat Tuzmen said that the heroin worth of millions of U.S. dollars was hidden in a truck carrying small boats at the Ambarli customs gate outside of Istanbul. Tuzmen said the heroin was destined for the Netherlands via Italy.
ALLAWI EXPECTED TO COME TO TURKEY
Iraqi interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi is expected to come to Turkey in September or in October. He will meet Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the meeting, allegations claiming that Israel had provided Kurdish groups in northern part of Iraq with training and logistic support, will be high on agenda. Turkey will extend its support to the interim government of Iraq and convey its sensitivities.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TURKEY REJECTS NATO'S REQUEST
Turkey rejected NATO's request for dispatch of provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) to Takhar, Afghanistan. Turkey told NATO that it wanted to focus on the other issues. Turkey also stressed that it would undertake command of ISAF in Afghanistan for the second time in the February-August period of 2005.
PUTIN DUE IN TURKEY IN SEPTEMBER
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said that President Vladimir Putin would come to Turkey in September. Guler received Russian natural gas company Gasprom Executive Board Chairman Aleksey Miller. Guler said that an agreement would be signed between Turkey and Russia on cooperation and joint investments during President Putin's scheduled visit to Turkey.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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PRIME MINISTER ERDOGAN: ''WE WILL SUPPORT CHP''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''we are not against the request of the Republican People's Party (CHP). On the contrary, we will support it.'' Prime Minister Erdogan returned to Turkey after completing his three-day visit to Iran. Replying questions of journalists aboard the plane on his way back from Iran to Turkey, Prime Minister Erdogan said about Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc's call to hold an emergency session of the parliament on August 4, 2004 to debate the censure motion of the CHP against the Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim following last week's train crash, ''we are not against the request of the CHP. On the contrary, we will support it.''
MASSACRE ON HIGHWAY
A total of 26 people were killed and 30 others were injured in a chain-reaction crash in eastern province of Erzincan late on Thursday. A passenger bus collided with a truck, and then a minibus crashed into them. Industry and Trade Minister Ali Coskun, who was in Kemaliye town of Erzincan to attend a local festival, confirmed that 26 people were killed in the accident. Most of victims of the accident could not be identified yet. The cause of the accident was under investigation.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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FOUNDATIONS OF 101 FACTORIES TO BE LAID
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend a ceremony in central province of Kayseri in which foundations of 101 factories will be laid. Construction of the factories will be completed within two years. The factories will provide thousands of people with job opportunities.
IMF RELEASES ANOTHER TRANCHE OF LOAN
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Board completed the eight review under the Stand-by deal between Turkey and IMF. IMF Board released another tranche of loan worth of 661 million U.S. dollars.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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CHP TO HOLD EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS TO CHANGE ITS BY-LAW
The Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor's Office ruled that the request of dissidents in the Republican People's Party (CHP) for an extraordinary congress to change the by-law of the party was valid. The office called on the CHP to set a date for the congress within the next five days, and notify it. Earlier, the CHP leadership decided not to hold the congress since some delegates had withdrawn their signatures from the request. Upon this development, the dissidents applied to the Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor's Office. The Office ruled that the request of dissidents to hold an extraordinary congress to change the by-law of the party was valid.
(UK) 31.07.2004