ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on September 7th, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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WARM MESSAGES
Guenter Verheugen, the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement, met Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul in Ankara. Verheugen said that Turkey has overcome the critical threshold, stressing that the EU would take fair and objective decisions on Turkey in December. Verheugen, who proceeded to southeastern city of Diyarbakir after completing his meetings in Ankara, visited Diyarbakir Governor Nusret Miroglu.
JUSTICE CANNOT BEAR EVEN SMALLEST STAIN
A ceremony was held in Ankara to mark the opening of 2004-2005 Judicial Year on Monday. Supreme Court of Appeals First Deputy Chief Judge Mater Kaban said that justice was a sacred value which could not bear even the smallest stain. Kaban noted, ``administration could not change court decisions through legislative or executive bodies``, adding that ``it could not delay those decisions to be executed, either``. President of the Republic Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Constitutional Court Chairman Mustafa Bumin, ministers, judges and other officials attended the ceremony.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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VERHEUGEN: ``THERE IS NOT ANY NEW CONDITION``
Guenter Verheugen, the European Union Commissioner, who held a series of meetings with some members of the government in Ankara, said that recognition of the south of Cyprus was not a condition, stressing that there was not any new condition for Turkey. Verheugen later proceeded to southern city of Diyarbakir and met separately Diyarbakir Mayor Osman Baydemir and Leyla Zana, former deputy of the banned Democracy Party (DEP).
TURKISH TREASURY TO REPAY 65.4 MILLION USD IN FOREIGN DEBT
Turkish Treasury will repay 65.4 million U.S. dollars in foreign debt this week. The Treasury will repay 3.2 million U.S. dollars on Monday, 0.1 million on Tuesday, 0.2 million on Wednesday, 46.2 million on Thursday, and 15.7 million on Friday. Treasury has repaid 8,546 million U.S. dollars of debt since the beginning of this year.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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TURKEY IS OUR LIFE INSURANCE
Count back started for Turkey`s membership to the European Union (EU). Wise Men Commission, comprised of the most prestigious names of Europe, issued a report in Brussels and told EU, ``do not miss Turkey opportunity.``
In the 14-article recommendation report, it was reported that, ``negotiations with Turkey should start soon. Difference of religion is not problem.``
Starting that the EU should act fairly, the Dutch member of the commission Broek said, ``Turkey is the life insurance of Europe.``
WE WILL NOT PUT FORTH ANY NEW CONDITION
European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen gave hope: you have completed the list given to you.
Verheugen met Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.
Verheugen said, `` Turkey passed the critical threshold. Next is a problem of time. The decision that will be taken in December can not be delayed. The most important development is five years is coming of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) to power.``
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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MINISTER CICEK HAS NOT CHANGED
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek had said ``flirtation does not have any difference from prostitution`` 14 years ago. Among the strong criticisms made to Cicek was making gender discrimination in line with Turk-Islam synthesis.
In 1990, when Cicek was minister of state responsible for family, said, ``flirtation does not have any difference from prostitution.``
Mujde Bilgutay from the Women`s Human Rights Project New Solutions Foundation said, ``it is the same mentality. Efforts of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) to show itself a progressive party.``
NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER GONUL DUE TO MACEDONIA
Turkish National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul will pay an official visit to Macedonia on Tuesday upon the invitation of Macedonian Defense Minister Vlado Buchkovski.
Turkish National Defense Ministry told in a statement that Gonul will meet Macedonian President, Prime Minister and Defense Minister.
Gonul is expected to return to Turkey on September 10th after meeting with the representatives of Turkish community in Macedonia.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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SHIP FULL OF TOXIC SUBSTANCES SINKS
Spanish flagged MV Ulla ship, full of powder coal containing toxic and carcinogen substances, sank because of a decay in its body.
MV Ulla was waiting at the Iskenderun port for 4.5 years.
The Spanish government did not accept the ship despite a court decision. The poisonous barrels were carried to the shore.
ERDOGAN TO SPEAK AT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will deliver a speech at the European Parliament (EP) at the beginning of October about Turkey`s EU membership process.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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ERDOGAN: ``TURKEY ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO YOUR DECISION``
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Guenter Verheugen, the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement. Erdogan said that Turkey did its best for its accession to the EU. ``Turkish government and people attach great importance to EU`s decision on Turkey in December,`` Erdogan noted. Prime Minister Erdogan said, ``there can be some deficiencies and problems as regards the implementation (of laws)``, stating that ``no one should expect those issues to be solved overnight``.
IRAQI KURDISH OFFICIALS DUE IN ANKARA
Iraqi Kurdish officials Jalal Talabani and Nechirvan Barzani will pay a visit to Ankara. Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) official Nechirvan Barzani will arrive in Ankara on Tuesday. On the other hand, Jalal Talabani, the leader of the Patriotic Union for Iraqi Kurdistan (PUK), will be in Ankara on Wednesday.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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``THERE ARE POSITIVE SURPRISES IN REPORT``
Guenter Verheugen, the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement, said that Turkey fulfilled its task on accession to the EU, stressing that it was out of question to put new conditions. Stating that critical threshold was overcome, Verheugen noted that the Progress Report that would be made public on October 6th would be fair and objective.
AK PARTY CALLS ON THE PARLIAMENT TO CONVENE ON SEPTEMBER 14TH
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) called on the parliament to convene for an emergency meeting on September 14th to debate Turkish Penal Code (TCK) bill. Deputy chairmen and more than 200 deputies of the AK Party presented a motion to the Office of Parliament Speaker, calling on the parliament to convene for an emergency meeting. The motion called on the parliament to hold an extraordinary session in order to discuss the TCK bill and the law no 5229 vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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NO NEW CONDITION TO START NEGOTIATIONS
European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen gave messages of hope with his statements in Ankara. Verheugen said the report would be fair and objective. New conditions are out of question.
Verheugen said his visit was important as it was among the last step before announcement of the Turkey package.
Verheugen met EU countries` ambassadors in Ankara over a working breakfast.
Verheugen later met Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and received by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
TURKISH TRUCK DRIVER CIVI RELEASED
``Turkish truck driver Mithat Civi, taken hostage in Iraq on Saturday, was released,`` Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said.
Gul said Civi was released upon the intensive efforts of Turkish Embassy in Baghdad and Turkish Foreign Ministry.
Gul said ``time to time Turkish citizens were exposed to difficult conditions in Iraq. We took every measures however abductions are still possible.``
The Islamic Resistance Movement ``Nu`man Brigades`` earlier kidnapped Civi and released a videotape asking the company for which he was working to withdraw from Iraq within 48 hours. Iraqi insurgents had threatened to behead Civi.
(EÖ-AY) 07.09.2004