ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on August 21st, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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ABEYLEGESSE QUALIFIES TO FINAL
Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey came on the second place in women's 5,000-meter, and qualified to final in the Olympic Games in Greek capital Athens. She will vie for gold medal in the final on August 23. Meanwhile, Esref Apak of Turkey competing in men's hammer throw also qualified to final. He will compete in the final on August 22.
DISABLED PEOPLE TO APPLY TO ECHR
The disabled people in Turkey have taken action after a lawsuit, which was filed by 30 Turkish disabled people in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) last year with a request of a compensation of 1 million euros. The plaintiff side claimed that their fundamental rights were restricted due to their physical disabilities. Nearly 4,500 disabled people are expected to apply to the court in the coming days.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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EU MEMBERSHIP COSTS 45 BILLION EUROS
Experts estimated the cost of Turkey's membership to the European Union (EU). The membership will cost 45 billion Euros. It is also estimated that 3 million Turkish people will come to Germany within next 30 years. According to estimation of German Die Welt newspaper, membership will cost 45 billion Euros to Turkey. It said that observers are expecting the EU Commission to make recommendation for starting membership negotiations with Turkey and some experts think that if Turkey becomes a member, nearly 3 million Turks will come to Germany within next 30 years.
UNEASINESS OF GREEK CYPRIOTS ABOUT OIC-EU SUMMIT
Greek Cypriot side and Greece are trying to prevent participation of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in OIC-EU summit which will be held in October in Istanbul under the name that was accepted in recent OIC meeting.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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375 KG WITH DEFECTED KNEE
It is revealed that 19 year old Taner Sagir, who brought Turkey the third golden medal in Athens 2004 Olympic Games, concealed the defect in his knee. Earlier, when the defect was learned, his coach had decided not to bring Sagir to the Games. However Sagir told his coach that it is his first chance in Olympics and he wanted to join even if his leg breaks off. Sagir broke 9 records with his defected knee and became champion with 375 kg in total.
TIEN SHAN MOUNTAIN NOT FORGIVE THIS TIME
Mountaineer Hakan Guvenc, one of the doctors of Giresun State Hospital, climbed 7,439 meter ''Popedo'' peak of Tien Shan Mountain in Kyrgyzstan, however he fell down to death from a 1,200 meter-cliff while he was returning. His body has not been found yet. Guvenc who climbed the same mountain last year had to return without completing his climb because his toes froze.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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MESSAGE FROM A COMMANDER
General Hursit Tolon took over command of the First Army from General Yasar Buyukanit. Speaking at the ceremony, General Buyukanit, who was appointed as commander of the Land Forces, said, ''we are aware of that some circles have been trying to weaken the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). However, the TSK has the necessary capabilities to preserve its power with the support and confidence of the Turkish nation.''
QUAKE OCCURS IN AEGEAN SEA
A moderate earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale was recorded in the Aegean Sea. Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Institute said that the quake was centered 32 km southeast of Datca town of western province of Mugla.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS START IN PRIENE
Archaeological excavations started in the ancient city of Priene in Soke town of western province of Aydin. Both Turkish and German archaeologists have joined the excavations led by Prof. Dr. Wulf Raeck of German Frankfurt University. Priene used to be the most important port of the Ionian Federation, connecting the city to the rest of the world. The site is particularly remarkable since the system of geometric planning was introduced here by Hippodamos of Miletos in the 4th century BC. The perfect planning of the city can be recognized even today.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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RICE DESCRIBES PKK AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION
U.S. President George W. Bush's National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice said that the United States had been trying to do its utmost with nonmilitary methods to render the terrorist organization PKK ineffective in northern part of Iraq. Speaking at a meeting in Washington D.C., Rice said that they had been exerting efforts together with Turkish and Iraqi authorities for a more effective fight against the PKK.
ARMED ATTACK ON TURKISH CONSULATE GENERAL IN STRASBOURG
A person opened fire on the Turkish Consulate General building in Strasbourg. There were not any immediate reports of casualties in the attack. The person was captured by anti-terrorism teams patrolling in the area. Officials said that the person was mentally retarded. Reinforcement units were sent to the area following the event. Also, the avenue was closed to the traffic for more than an hour.
RATE OF CAPACITY UTILIZATION INCREASES TO 84.1 PERCENT
The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) stated that the rate of capacity utilization that is weighted by production value, increased from 79.8 percent in July of 2003 to 84.1 percent in July of 2004.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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RUSTU AT HOME
Fenerbahce soccer team, which sold goalkeeper Rustu Recber to Barcelona, hired him for one year. National goalkeeper Rustu accepted one million U.S. dollars of proposal and he will play next week.
RESCUED TURKISH DRIVER AT HOME
Mustafa Koksal, who has been kept hostage in Iraq for 15 days, arrived his home in Tarsus town of southern Mersin province. Koksal cried with joy at his home.
RICE: WE DO OUR BEST AGAINST PKK
U.S. President George Bush's National Security Advisor Rice said that they pursue the non-military fight against PKK terrorist organization.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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MILITARY AIRCRAFT NOT TO FLY OVER KUS CENNETI
Ege University applied to General Staff Headquarters and asked aircraft not to fly over Kus Cenneti (Bird Paradise) because birds are afraid. Second Main Jet Base Command rearranged its all flight courses.
POLICE FIND 1,5 KG OF C-4 EXPLOSIVES
Police captured two members of PKK/Kongra-Gel terrorist organization during an operation in Cesme town of western Izmir province. Police also found 1,5 kg of C-4 explosives.
ENGINEER OF BASKENT EXPRESS ARRESTED
Hasan Yucedag, engineer of Baskent Express which involved in train collision in Tavsancil, was arrested yesterday. After he was discharged from Kartal Dr. Lutfi Kirdar Hospital, he was taken to Gebze Court and then arrested. Adapazari Express and Baskent Express collided in Tavsancil hamlet of Gebze town of northwestern Kocaeli province on August 11 killing 8 people.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY SHOULD ANCHOR IN WEST
Former U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Morton Abramowitz said that strategic dimension of Turkey's membership to the European Union (EU) is very important for the United States. He added that membership will anchor Turkey in Western camp instead of Middle East.
COOPERATION AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT
National Education Minister Huseyin Celik and Istanbul Great City Mayor Kadir Topbas signed a protocol on courses for learning a professional. They aimed to solve unemployment problem among youth.
(GC-UK) 21.08.2004