ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on August 24th, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TWO NEW ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS: WOMEN AND RETURN TO VILLAGES
Two new additional articles were added to European Union's (EU) Progress Report on Turkey that will be issued on October 6.
The EU Commission will state in the progress report that new steps are expected from Turkey in areas of women rights and prevention of honor killings. It will also call for return to villages in the Southeast.
The report will start to be written in September, said Zeynel Lule, a Turkish journalist who closely monitors the EU lobbies, and she warned, ''negative reflections would appear in the report if those problems remain.''
The writing of the report of the EU Commission which would be issued on October 6 is expected to start next month.
EU officials said Turkey still has deficiencies in five areas, stressing that those deficiencies would be reflected negatively in the report in case those are not overcome by mid-September. Those five deficiencies are:
1- WOMEN: There should be gender equality. Status of women should be strengthened.
2- VILLAGE: There should be progress in return of people to their villages.
3- JURISDICTION: The Penal Code should be updated. Courts of appeals should be established.
4- RELIGION: Non-Muslim people should be granted rights to receive education, establish foundations and purchase immovable assets and religious obstacles in front of them should be lifted.
5- POLICE: Dissuasive measures should be taken against policemen who maltreat people.
PERMISSION FOR INVESTIGATION AGAINST TCDD DIRECTOR GENERAL
Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said permission would be given for investigation against Turkish State Railways (TCDD) Director General Suleyman Karaman.
Cicek said, ''we can not adopt an attitude blocking the ways for the jurisdiction. We have nothing to keep secret from our citizens. It is our duty to facilitate any kind of investigation that would be against the accident.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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WHAT DID YOU DO ELVAN?
Turkey's gold medal hope Elvan Abeylegesse finished 12th in women's 5,000-meter at the 28th Summer Olympic Games in Greek capital Athens.
The night at which Turkey was expecting the first golden medal in Olympic Games started with great excitement, however it ended unexpectedly.
Elvan Abeylegesse, who broke the world record two months ago and proved that she was the favorite in women's 5,000-meter, started well in the race but could not complete the race successfully.
Meseret Defar of Ethiopia won the women's 5,000 meters gold medal at the Olympics. Isabella Ochichi of Kenya took the silver, and Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia the bronze.
TURKISH WORKER KILLED IN IRAQ
A Turkish citizen and two Iraqis were killed in an ambush in the northern Iraqi city of Tikrit.
Sources said that Turkish citizen who has not been identified yet, was working for a construction company responsible for repairing bridges in Tikrit.
The Turkish contractor was killed by insurgents who opened fire on his vehicle as he went work.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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A DIFFERENT TURK
Artun Talay, the trainer of Esref Apak, competing in men's hammer throw and finished fourth, did not get a share from the success of his hammer thrower in Olympic Games. Talay said, ''I can't help his training from now on because I am not a skilful trainer. We lost the medal because of this.''
For the first time in Turkish sports history, a trainer said, ''Esref lost because of my lack of knowledge.''
THE TARGET IS THE PARLIAMENT
Nurcan Taylan of Turkey, who broke two world and three Olympic records in the Olympic weightlifting in the women's 48-kg class, will run her candidacy in 2007 to become a parliamentarian if the age for becoming a parliamentarian is reduced to 25.
Nurcan Taylan, who was recorded in history as the first Turkish woman athlete winning gold medal in Olympic games, targets to be a parliamentarian in 2007 elections. Taylan also targets to get the gold medal in Olympic games in 2008 which will take place in Beijing.
The only obstacle in front of Nurcan Taylan is her age. 22-year-old Taylan will be 26 years old in 2007. Nurcan's dream to go to Beijing as parliamentarian can become true if the age of becoming parliamentarian is reduced from 30 to 25.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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PERMISSION ABOUT KARAMAN
Government decided to respond affirmatively to the request of Ankara Public Prosecutor's Office to open an investigation against the TCDD Director General Suleyman Karaman and high level bureaucrats who started high-speed train trips before completing necessary infrastructure feasibility etudes.
Turkish Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim said they would help the jurisdiction clarify the issue.
NSC TO CONVENE ON WEDNESDAY
The National Security Council (NSC) will convene under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on August 25th, 2004.
The regular meeting of the NSC held once in two months is expected to focus on recent developments both in Turkey and in the world.
Land Forces Commander Gen. Aytac Yalman, Gendarme Forces Commander Gen. Sener Eruygur and NSC Secretary General Gen. Sukru Sariisik, who will retire as of August 30th under decisions made at annual meetings of the Supreme Military Board, will attend the meeting for the last time.
Turkish Ambassador to Greece Yigit Alpogan was appointed as the first civilian NSC Secretary General.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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DISAPPOINTMENT IN 5,000 METERS
Elvan Abeylegesse, Turkey's hope for a medal in women's 5000 meters, could not perform what was actually expected from her in Athens Olympic Games. She even could not be one of the medal winners of the women's 5000 meters.
Elvan, who was tense, could only finish the 12th in the competition.
Meseret Defar of Ethiopia won the women's 5,000 meters gold medal at the Olympics. Isabella Ochichi of Kenya took the silver, and Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia the bronze.
MY DREAM TO COME
''My Dream'' of the People's Republic of China, the first and the only performing arts troupe formed by the disabled people, will visit Turkey.
The troupe will stage their performances in Istanbul, Bursa, Ankara, Antalya, Aspendos, Bodrum, Izmir and Marmaris between August 27th and September 20th, 2004.
The fund to be raised from the performances will be used in construction of ''Primary School for Children with Cerebral Palsy'' in Ankara and ''Lions-Le-Esen Ibak Education and Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled People'' in Silivri.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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AK PARTY CALLS PARLIAMENT FOR MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 15TH
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Central Executive Board agreed to call parliament to convene in an extraordinary session to discuss a bill on amendment to the Turkish Penal Code.
AK Party Deputy leader Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat chaired the AK Party Central Executive Board meeting.
Internal and external political developments were evaluated at the meeting which Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not attend. A consensus was reached at the meeting to discuss the bill on amendment to the Turkish Penal Code.
TALAT: GREEK CYPRIOTS ARE STILL NOT READY
Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), said ''there may be difficulty in flow of goods after the Green Line Regulation came into force because Greek Cypriots are not psychologically ready to purchase goods from Turks.''
Talat said it would become clear in the coming days whether or not there would be sale of goods to Greek Cypriot side. ''However there is an impression in Southern Cyprus as if purchasing goods from the Turkish side is a crime. Green Line regulation may work if Greek Cypriot side can overcome this'' he added.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ONE DIES IN BLAST IN HARBOR AREA
One person died and another was injured in an explosion in harbor area in southern Antalya province.
Cause of the explosion which occurred at 14.30 Turkish local time is not known.
14-year-old Osman Durmaz, who was injured in the blast, was caught as he was trying to flee from the spot. Durmaz was immediately hospitalized.
Antalya Deputy Police Chief Mujdat Ozcan told reporters that a teenager died while another was injured in the explosion that rocked Antalya's harbor area at around 2.00 p.m.
Ozcan stressed that two people were detained in connection with the blast. But, he said, the cause of the explosion was not immediately clear.
On the other hand, an investigation is under way at the scene of the blast.
NEW KURUS WILL NOT MAKE A HOLE IN POCKET OF PEOPLE
New Kurus, the sub-unit of the New Turkish Lira that will be in the pockets and wallets of the citizens, will be smaller and lighter than the current ones.
The current coins have a weight of 7,077 tons on the aggregate while six different types of new kurus will have a weight of 6,356 tons.
Despite the decrease in its weight, new kurus will be more valuable than the current coins.
While value of the current coins is estimated about 127.2 trillion TL, value of new kurus will increase up to 425 trillion TL (more than three times).
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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PUTIN'S EYES ARE ON CONTRACTS
Contract transfers of state oil pipeline company BOTAS will be in the file of Russian President Vladimir Putin who will pay an official visit to Turkey between September 2nd and 3rd.
Trans-Thrace pipeline will be another issue in his file.
In return for this project which is expected to cost 600 million U.S. dollars, the Turkish side will present a project that by-passes the straits.
(AY-MS) 24.08.2004