ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on August 31st, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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EU COMMISSION TO ASK FOR GREEN LIGHT FOR TURKEY
The European Union (EU) Commission will issue Progress Report on October 6 and it will remove uneasiness about Turkey in European capital cities prior to the EU Summit in December and also will ask for a green light to be shed for Turkey's membership negotiations.
THEY COULD NOT DETONATE SECOND BOMB
A terrorist detonated a hand-made bomb which was planted on rails while Tatvan-Malatya freight train was passing near Genc town. Eight security forces in the train opened fire towards the terrorist. The terrorist could not detonate the second bomb he planted.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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VICTORY EXCITEMENT AT AGRI MOUNTAIN
A total of 266 local and foreign mountaineers, who attended international Agri Mountain Victory climb, reached the peak yesterday. 40 of the mountaineers were from the United States, Russia, Israel, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Iran, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Serbia.
AK PARTY MEMBERS DUE TO ISRAEL
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Adana deputy Omer Celik said that the claims stating that three deputies, who are going to Israel upon official invitation, were chosen among the people close to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan are wrong, adding that people who are close to the issue were assigned. Celik, Istanbul deputy Egemen Bagis and Antalya deputy Mevlut Cavusoglu left for Israel yesterday. Celik said that they would hold meetings with officials in Israel.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ANKARA STARTS COUNTER ATTACK TO EU
Turkey has entered a busy diplomacy traffic prior to the Progress Report of the European Union (EU) Commission. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will attend informal Foreign Ministers meeting of the EU countries to make the report positive. Gul will want isolation over Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to be lifted and will express that Turkey has fulfilled the required criteria for EU membership during the meeting which will be held in the Netherlands on September 3.
TURKISH HOSTAGES IN IRAQ RELEASED
Two Turkish engineers, Ali Daskin and Abdullah Ozdemir, who were kidnapped in Iraq were released yesterday. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan said that following the initiatives of the ministry, two hostages were released at 03.30 p.m. yesterday. Engineers have reached their homes.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TWO TURKISH MEMBERS OF AL-QAIDA CAPTURED
Two people who were captured in operations against Al-Qaida in Pakistan are Turkish citizens. One of them is from southern Gaziantep province. Pakistan Interior Ministry Spokesman said that those who were captured in Lahore are certainly Turkish citizens and their connection with Al-Qaida is proved.
CEBIT STARTS TODAY
''Cebit Informatics Eurasia'' which is one of the largest information and communication technologies fair of Eurasia will start in Istanbul today. It will remain open until September 5. Visitors will receive information about new products and technologies.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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VICTORY DAY EXCITEMENT
August 30 Victory Day was celebrated this year with ceremonies of military units and also concerts at great cities and record attempts under water and at peaks of mountains.
ASSISTANCE PACKAGE WITH FIVE YEARS OF DELAY
Equipment which was sent to sportsmen after the earthquake in Duzce on November 12, 1999 are distributed five years later. Provincial Youth and Sports Director Korhan Oztekin who started his mission a few months ago realized that the equipment was still in depot. He said that he did not know why the equipment was not distributed and added that they have started to distribute them.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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GUL: THOSE WHO HARM TURKISH PEOPLE WILL REGRET
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that following the initiatives of Turkey, two engineers who were kidnapped in Iraq were released. He added, ''we have many Turkish citizens in Iraq. They meet the basic needs of Iraqi people. If there is a normal life in Iraq today, Turkish people in Iraq have also contribution in it. Turkey is the real friend of Iraq. Those who harm Turkey should reconsider. Meanwhile, it is not true that 6 Turkish citizens are kept hostage in Iraq.''
CONSENSUS EFFORTS FAILED FOR TCK
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) who called Parliament for an extraordinary session on September 14 to discuss Turkish Penal Code (TCK) draft met Republican People's Party (CHP) administration yesterday for a consensus. Justice Minister Cemil Cicek and CHP leader Deniz Baykal also attended the meeting. However, delegations could not reach a consensus.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ERDOGAN TO GO TO IZMIR WITH PUTIN'S PLANE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who will host Russian President Vladimir Putin between September 2 and 3 will be at the same plane with Putin and he will make ''plane diplomacy''. Putin will proceed to Izmir, the second leg of his Turkey visit, together with Erdogan on Friday.
THOMAS: TURKEY WILL ENTER EU WITHIN A FEW YEARS
French Christian Democrat Party deputy Rodolphe Thomas announced that he supported Turkey's European Union (EU) membership. Thomas said that he believed that Turkey will enter the EU within a few years with its young population.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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AK PARTY DELEGATION LEAVES FOR ISRAEL
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy leader Saban Disli and deputies Omer Celik, Egemen Bagis and Mevlut Cavusoglu left for Israel upon the official invitation of Israeli government. AK Party delegation will meet deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and officials for security in Israel.
90 MILLION EUROS FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Fund worth of 90 million Euros will be used for regional development projects in 2005. 70 million Euros of the fund will be provided by the European Union (EU) and the rest by domestic budget.
(GC-AÖ) 31.08.2004