ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on July 17th, 2008. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET
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164,000 AUTOMOBILES SOLD IN 3 MONTHS, WHAT CRISIS?
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, addressing people who do not like the economic course of the country, said that 164,000 automobiles were sold in three months, what crisis were they talking about? Erdogan also said, "1,088,000 refrigerators were sold in 2002 and 1,900,000 in 2007. 824,000 washing machines were sold in 2002, and 1,535,000 in 2007. These are some of the examples of development process. I am giving you examples both from streets and houses."
A FRIDAY NIGHT IN AUGUST
Former U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Mark Parris said regarding the closure case which was filed against ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party that he thought the decision would probably be made at a Friday night in the middle of August. This date fits either August 15th or 22nd.
MILLIYET
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RAPPORTEUR: AKP SHOULD NOT BE SHUT DOWN
Constitutional Court rapporteur Osman Can completed his report on the merits of the case filed against ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party and submitted it to the jury.
He said in his report that only the political parties that encourage violence could be closed down in modern democracies, adding that actions of the AKP were only expression of thought.
The report also said that constitutional amendment on wearing headscarf at universities, overturned by the Constitutional Court, was a legislative activity and could not be a cause of closure.
The report is not binding and the decision will be made by 11-member jury.
"CLOSURE CASE SERVES AKP"
Former U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Mark Parris said that AKP did not take a right step since july 22nd and lost the support provided by liberals and businessmen. However, he said the case could also be a savior of the party. Parris also said he expects the court decision on the case on a Friday evening in mid-August.
SABAH
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RAPPORTEUR: AK PARTY SHOULD NOT BE CLOSED
The Rapporteur of the Constitutional Court, Osman Can, submitted the report on dissolution case against Justice and Development (AK) Party. Can said in his report that the remarks and actions of AK Party members, were declaration of their views and that imposition of sanctions on AK Party would be disproportionate.
He said according referred to the guidelines laid down by the Venice Commission political parties could not be dissolved unless they resort to violence in their remarks and actions.
ECEVIT WAS ALSO FORCED TO STEP DOWN
Democratic Left Party leader Zeki Sezer said certain retired generals had forced former PM Bulent Ecevit to step down. Answering a question on coup allegations during Ecevit`s term as PM, Sezer said, "we have all witnessed intense pressure on Ecevit, asking him to step down. There were also some retired generals who also expressed their wish for him to step down."
VATAN
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RAPPORTEUR`S VIEW: AK PARTY SHALL NOT BE CLOSED
Constitutional Court rapporteur Osman Can said in his report that closing Justice & Development (AK) Party would be against European Convention on Human Rights. In his report, Can also stressed the importance of freedom of expressing views. Can said that the statements of AK Party members, which took place in the indictment, could not be considered a reason to close the party.
RAINFALL WHICH COMES AFTER 9 MONTHS
After the suffocating hot weather, Marmara region got cooled off with the heavy rainfall yesterday. Rain influenced negatively Istanbul, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Duzce, Bartin, Bolu, Eskisehir and Zonguldak cities. According to Meteorology officials, such a heavy rainfall was last seen on October 11th and 12th, 2007.
CUMHURIYET
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RAPPORTEUR: AK PARTY SHOULD NOT BE CLOSED
The Rapporteur of the Constitutional Court, Osman Can, submitted his report suggesting that AK Party should not be dissolved. Can who argued that the amendment lifting ban on headscarf was a peaceful change of the constitution, said Constitutional Court`s overruling of the amendment, terminated the said act.
The report which is not binding said the amendment on headscarf was the work of the parliament. The report said remarks of AK Party members should be viewed under freedom of expression and pointed out that the party did not resort to violence.
JURISTS CALL FOR LEGAL ACTION AGAINST EXTRACTION OF ERGENEKON INDICTMENT
Omer Faruk Eminagaoglu, head of Turkey`s Union of Judges and Prosecutors, called for legal action against publications causing disinformation regarding operation Ergenekon and said otherwise it would mean indifference to violation of basic human rights. Chairman of Union of Bar Associations, Ozdemir Ozok, said, "Information is leaking from his case. The prosecutor should turn around and find out who is extracting the information."
RADIKAL
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ERDOGAN: POLITICS THAT BACKED GANGS IS NOW LIQUIDATED
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan evaluated closure case against his AK Party and the Ergenekon investigation without mentioning any names.
"This nation has sent away the politics that backed gangs, mafia and dark rooms," he said.
"Illegality can not be acceptable for politics, economy and trade," he added.
RAPPORTEUR: AK PARTY SHOULD NOT BE CLOSED
Rapporteur of the Constitutional Court presented his report on the closure case against AK Party to the chief judge Hasim Kilic.
"Closing down AK Party would be against European Court of Human Rights Venice criteria. Headscarf is not an imminent threat," rapporteur said in his report.
TURKIYE
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RAPPORTEUR: CLOSURE IS DEATH PENALTY
Rapporteur Osman Can presented his final view to Constitutional Court about the closure case against Justice & Development (AK) Party. In his report, Can said, "closing a political party is the same thing with punishing someone with death penalty. While inspecting compatibility of parties to Constitution, the respect, which is shown to basic rights and freedoms of individuals, should be shown to political parties too."
TERRORIST ORGANIZATION CANNOT FIND SUPPORT ANYMORE
Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that the local administration in the north of Iraq put a distance against terrorist organization PKK. "However, it is not enough. We expect a more determined stance. They should prove their goodwill with the measures they will take on the field," he added.
ZAMAN
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ANKARA STEPS IN TO RESOLVE CRISIS BETWEEN U.S. AND IRAN
After mediating indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria, Turkey now steps in to resolve the escalating nuclear crisis between the United States and Iran.
Stephen Hadley, national security advisor to U.S. President George W. Bush, will be in Turkey today. Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Motaki will arrive in Ankara on Friday.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that Tehran asked Turkey to step in for resolution of the problem.
ZEKI SEZER CONFIRMS PLOT TO OVERTHROW ECEVIT
Democratic Left Party (DSP) Chairman Zeki Sezer confirmed that there had been a coup attempt against former DSP leader and prime minister Bulent Ecevit --which was revealed after the Ergenekon indictment.
Sezer said Ecevit had been forced to bow out in 2001 and 2002.
"Several retired generals also expressed their wish in that way," Sezer added.
YENI SAFAK
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RAPPORTEUR: AK PARTY SHOULD NOT BE DISSOLVED
The Rapporteur of the Constitutional Court, Osman Can, who submitted the report on dissolution case against AK Party to the court, said AK Party should not be dissolved. President of the Constitutional Court Hasim Kilic asked the media not to disturb the court.
ECEVIT WAS FORCED TO STEP DOWN
DSP leader Zeki Sezer said there had been pressure on former PM Bulent Ecevit to step down and said the incidents were made into a book titled "civil coup attempts". Certain retired generals did not exert pressure but expressed their expectations, he said.
Sezer said the coup attempts against Ecevit were also included in the indictment of Ergenekon investigation. He said, "efforts to design Turkey have destabilising impacts."
(GC-TÇ-OZG-MS)