ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on September 17th, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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EU REPORT TO BE WAITED
The destiny of new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) will be determined by the report on Turkey that will be made public by the European Union (EU) Commission on October 6, 2004. If the report of the EU Commission is positive, the government will add the article making adultery a crime to the TCK.
MESSAGE FROM BUSINESS WORLD TO IMF
International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation led by Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam met executives of Turkish Industrialists` & Businessmen`s Association (TUSIAD), Turkish Banks Union (TBB) and Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM). Turkish business circle gave IMF delegation a message that ``IMF should not deal with growth.`` TIM executives made a presentation noting that production should be supported.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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WE ARE HOPEFUL FOR THREE OF OUR SOCCER TEAMS
Our three soccer team, which compete in UEFA Cup, took results which can qualify for the tour. Trabzonspor defeated Spanish Athletico Bilbao 3-2, while Genclerbirligi was defeated by Greek Egaleo 1-0. Besiktas and Norwegian Bodo Glimt drew 1-1 in UEFA Cup first round first leg yesterday.
TCDD DIRECTOR GENERAL ANGRY TO MINISTER
Suleyman Karaman, the Director General of Turkish State Railways (TCDD), who was dismissed from his office reacted as, ``until today no director general is dismissed from his office when a vehicle overturned as it made speed.``
SLAVE FARMS
Slave farms in Arslanli village of southern city of Adana are revealed when Kaan Sik, a mentally defective children who came from Germany to visit Adana with his family, was lost. Gendarme who searched for the children, found mentally defective people who were forced to work by villagers. 400 gendarme officials launched an operation and found 19 mentally defective people at stables. 11 villagers were arrested. However Sik is still missing.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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BOTH EULOGY AND CRITICISMS ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN TURKEY
International Religious Freedom Report, released by the United States, said that the (Turkish) constitution assures freedom of religion and the government generally respects religious rights in Turkey. However, the government imposes some restrictions on Muslim and other religious groups and on (Muslim) religious expression in government offices and state-run institutions, including universities. The report`s chapter on Turkey stated that although Turkey recorded some progress as regards religious freedoms, some Protestant Christian groups, Jehovah`s Witnesses, and Baha`is continued to face restrictions, including detentions for unauthorized meetings.
ERDOGAN ASKS SUPPORT FOR NEW TL
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked Turkish people to show necessary sensitivity during transition period to new Turkish Lira (YTL). Erdogan said, ``we will launch a campaign to introduce YTL across the country in the coming days.`` Speaking in the promotional meeting for the YTL, Erdogan said that the new TL and current TL will be circulated jointly during 2005. Erdogan noted that new TL would go into circulation on January 1st, 2005, stating that this reform was a concrete sign of Turkish government`s will to bring economic stability to Turkey.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ADULTERY TACTIC FROM AK PARTY
The insistence of Turkish prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for criminalize adultery blocked debates on Turkish Penal Code (TCK). Republican People`s Party (CHP) reacted to proposal of AK Party to add adultery as a crime to TCK under the name ``sexual infidelity``. Validity and executive articles of the draft were withdrawn to Justice Commission.
FOREIGN MINISTRY: DON`T FORCE POPULATION MOVEMENTS
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that there are various population movements in Iraq and added these movements should not cause radical demographic changes.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ADULTERY QUAKE IN AK PARTY
When Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan returned to Turkey on September 15th, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) group confused. Erdogan is uneasy with the consensus which Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Republican People`s party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal have reached. Baykal said, ``this AK Party is not reliable.``
SLOWED DOWN CONFESSION
Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim who removed Suleyman Karaman, the Director General of Turkish State Railways (TCDD), from his office made interesting interpretations about train derailment in Pamukova. Yildirim said, ``as engineers of the train are our personnel, the mistake is ours.``
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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GUL SAYS KURDISH MIGRATION ENDANGERS IRAQ
Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that Kurdish migration endangered Iraq, stating, ``population movements in Iraq should not cause lasting demographic changes.`` Asked about the messages of terrorist Osman Ocalan who said that ``there was rapprochement between Kurds and the United States and they wanted to establish relation with Turkey,`` Gul said, ``I don`t think that the United States has any relationship with terrorists.``
ERDOGAN SAYS THEY AIM TO ELIMINATE UNEMPLOYMENT
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that they aimed to eliminate injustice in distribution of incomes and unemployment. Stating that Turkey caught ``wind of change``, Erdogan noted, ``we promised Turkish people that there will be a developed Turkey. We are working night and day to reach this goal.``
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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WE CATCH EU STANDARD IN PENAL CODE
Turkish Parliament signed an important reform. Ruling and opposition parties took public`s view into consideration and removed difficulties threatening democracy and adopted Turkish Penal Code (TCK) draft. When arrangements are implemented, Turkey will catch the European Union (EU) standards.
OSMAN OCALAN QUESTION ANGERS EDELMAN
Osman Ocalan, who left PKK terrorist organization, told reporters yesterday, ``the United States is positive towards us.`` When U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman was reminded this statement, he reacted and said, ``both Ocalan and PKK are terrorists. There is nothing to say more.``
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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UNITED STATES`S PLAN ON DICLE
Behind the U.S. operation in Tal Afar city of Iraq, there is an effort to bring a broader action area to Israel in Dicle (Tigris) basin by decreasing effectiveness of Turkey in the region. `Dicle Plan` also aims to provide Israel, which continues its effectiveness in the north of Iraq, advantage in oil paths and water issue.
IMPORTANT GATHERING IN MUSIAD OLYMPICS
The Independent Industrialists` & Businessmen`s Association (MUSIAD) brought together companies, businessmen and politicians of Islam world in Turkey. A total of 350 companies from Turkey and Islam world are attending the 10th International Trade Olympics Fair. Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said that trade between Islam countries should be developed. After the opening of the fair, Tuzmen, Iranian Minister of Commerce Mohammad Shariat-Madari and MUSIAD Chairman Omer Bolat visited calligraphy and marbling exhibition.
(GC-EÖ) 17.09.2004