ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on September 14th, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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MERCILESS PEOPLE
Al Qaeda murderer al-Zarqawi's supporters beheaded defenseless Turkish driver Durmus Kumdereli in Iraq. A videotape apparently showing the beheading of a Turkish driver in Iraq surfaced on the web-site. In the videotape, Kumdereli said, ''my name is Durmus Kumdereli. I am from Tarsus (town of southern city of Mersin). I brought goods from Turkey to a U.S. base.'' Then, the Turkish hostage was pushed on the ground by three people and beheaded. The videotape was digitally dated August 17th. This is the first time a Turk was beheaded in Iraq.
600,000 GIRLS DON'T GO TO SCHOOL
''Advocacy Campaign for Girls' Education'' carried out in cooperation with the United Nations International Children's Education Fund (UNICEF) was launched with the new school year. UNICEF, aiming to decrease the number of Turkish girls who don't go to school by half, extended 700,000 U.S. dollars of assistance to Turkey for this project. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on girls to enroll in schools.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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GUL WARNS UNITED STATES
Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul contacted Washington for the U.S. operation in Turkmen city Tal Afar of Iraq. Gul spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell by the phone. Gul told Powell that Turkey's cooperation would end on issues concerning Iraq in case the situation continues like this. Gul noted, ''we have told them that the things going on in the region damaged civilian people.'' Foreign Minister Gul noted that the U.S. officials said that they would end the operation. Regarding to attacks on Turkish citizens in Iraq, Gul said, ''no one wants thousands of companies to leave Iraq.''
IMF TO VISIT TURKEY
International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation led by Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam is expected to start contacts in Turkey on September 16th. IMF delegation will visit Turkey for talks on the new three-year stand-by deal. IMF delegation will meet representatives of private businesses and NGOs before visiting Ankara on September 20th to meet with the officials. Recent economic developments and progress made in structural reforms will be assessed within the scope of the visit and talks will start regarding the new stand-by deal basing on Turkey's medium term economic program.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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THEY AGREE ON FREEDOM
Turkish ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) agreed to widen the scope of freedoms of thought and expression under the draft Turkish Penal Code (TCK). Representatives of AK Party and CHP in the Parliamentary Justice Commission, which met before today's extraordinary session of the parliament, reached an agreement on the amendments to TCK. They agreed to amend the fifth article of TCK, regulating freedoms of thought and expression, so that the scope of these freedoms will be broadened. A joint motion will be submitted during the parliamentary session for this amendment.
TAL AFAR GESTURE FROM GUL TO POWELL
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that he spoke to U.S. State Secretary Colin Powell on the phone, and warned about the operation on Tal Afar city of Iraq. Gul said, ''we clearly stated that we will end our cooperation with the United States regarding Iraq if the incidents continue.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TAL AFAR IS KEY POINT
When the United States takes the control of Turkmen city of Tal Afar, whereabouts of the insurgents who were shown as the reason of the operation, are not known. Dr. Nihat Ali Ozcan, who closely follows developments in the Middle East and Iraq, said that one of the reasons of the attack was ''inciting'', and noted, ''the position assumed here will be reflected to the other regions. If you put such a pressure in Tal Afar, hopes of Turkmens totally fade in regions which are ethnically more complicated.''
AK PARTY'S INSISTENCE ON ADULTERY: THEY CONTRADICTING EU
Despite reactions of the European Union (EU), the government is insistent on envisaging imprisonment for those who commit ''adultery''. Responding to EU organs, government spokesman and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said, ''they are obliged to set a date (for our membership). If they don't keep their promise, this (move) won't comply with modern values.'' Justice and Development Party (AK Party) administration foresees imprisonment terms from six months to 12 years for those who commit ''adultery'' crime. It also wants people to ''make their complaint in written'' regarding this crime.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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FIRST GREEK CYPRIOT SCHOOL IN TRNC
A Greek Cypriot school opened in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for the first time since 1974. The school which was opened by a special permission in Dipkarpaz region of TRNC, pleased the Greek Cypriots.
THREAT AT COURT
The third hearing of the case filed after last year's terrorist attacks in Istanbul was held yesterday. Suspect Harun Ilhan, who said that he was honored to stage the attacks in which 57 people were killed and to fight for al-Qaeda, threatened that their attacks would continue till the U.S. dissolved. Ilhan said, ''I am proud to be a member of al-Qaeda. Istanbul attacks were a part of our fight. Our attacks will continue till the United States is dissolved.'' Suspect Adnan Ersoz, who wanted to benefit from the repentance law, said that they were close to al-Qaeda but they had no connection with that organization. Ersoz announced that they got 150,000 U.S. dollars from al-Qaeda for the attacks they staged.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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ANOTHER TURK KILLED IN IRAQ
Militants in Iraq broadcast footage of Turkish driver Durmus Kumdereli whom they murdered in Iraq. Militants beheaded Kumdereli after he said, ''my name is Durmus Kumdereli. I am from Tarsus. I am lorry driver. I brought construction materials and machine parts from Turkey to a U.S. base.'' A videotape apparently showing the beheading of a Turkish driver in Iraq surfaced on the web-site.
GREEK CYPRIOT SCHOOL IN DIPKARPAZ
A Greek Cypriot secondary school in Dipkarpaz region of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) opened and started school year Monday. A total of 12 Greek Cypriot students enrolled in the secondary school which was opened to educate them in their own mother tongue. TRNC budget met expenses of restoration of the school which includes four classrooms, one computer room, principal and teacher rooms.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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PARLIAMENT TO BEGIN DEBATING TCK DRAFT
Turkish Parliament will hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday to debate Turkish Penal Code (TCK) draft. Justice & Development Party (AK Party) and Republican People's Party (CHP) agreed on Monday to make amendment to six articles of the TCK.
TALKS WITH IMF TO START ON SEPTEMBER 16TH
Turkish Treasury Undersecretariat said that International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation led by Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam was expected to start contacts in Turkey on September 16th. The delegation will pay a visit to Turkey to discuss the new stand-by deal.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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''YOU SHOULD NOT MAKE TURKEY ANGRY''
Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that he talked to U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on developments in Tal Afar city of Iraq, noting that he told Powell that if incidents did not stop in the city, the cooperation in Iraq would end. Gul noted that people should not make Turkey angry.
''WE, THREE PEOPLE, STAGED BOMB ATTACKS IN ISTANBUL''
A Turkish court held its third hearing of the case in which 69 suspects of last November's (2003) bomb attacks in Istanbul are being tried. The court later rejected request of nine suspects for release. Defendant Harun Ilhan told the court that ''I am responsible for the (Istanbul) explosions along with Habib Aktas and Gurcan Bac.'' ''I accept that I am an al-Qaida warrior,'' said Ilhan, and noted he was proud of this.
(EÖ-BRC) 14.09.2004