ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on September 20th, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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ANOTHER ATTACK ON TURKISH DRIVERS IN IRAQ
It was claimed that nearly 12 Turkish lorry drivers were killed or kidnapped in Balad city of Iraq on Saturday and Sunday. Iraqi Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Hasan said that four lorries on their route from Turkey to Mosul were attacked in Balad on Sunday morning, stating that all people in lorries were killed. Another police officer said that three trucks were ambushed. Witnesses said that one of drivers was killed, others were kidnapped.
ERDOGAN DUE TO BRUSSELS ON WEDNESDAY
Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstad invited Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to breakfast on Thursday. After this invitation, Erdogan decided to go to Brussels on Wednesday. Erdogan will meet political group leaders in the European Parliament (EP) on September 23rd. EP will have its Chairmanship Conference the same day. EP Spokesman Jose Manuel Liberato said the meeting would be closed to press and other parliamentarians. He said reforms in Turkey and whether Turkey has completed the check list as regards Copenhagen political criteria will be the main topic of the meeting.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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NO NEGOTIATIONS IF TCK IS NOT PASSED
European Union (EU) Commissioner Guenter Verheugen spoke very clearly: ''Turkish Penal Code (TCK) reform is an indispensable condition to start negotiations on full membership. Negotiations can not continue in case adultery is considered as crime.''
Speaking to German Bild am Sonntag newspaper, Verheugen said, ''only with the TCK reform we can prove that Turkey is a state of law respecting human rights. The Commission will clearly state that membership negotiations will not take place if this element is not fulfilled.''
BOMB ATTACK IN MERSIN: 19 INJURED
19 people, two of them policemen, were injured when a bomb, left under a police car, exploded.
The injured policemen Seracettin Kacar and Savas Gokten are reported to be in serious condition.
Nobody claimed responsibility for the explosion yet.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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12 MORE TURKS ARE IN WHIRLPOOL OF DEATH
There was bloodshed in Baghdad-Mosul line. Four trucks were blown up together with the Turkish citizens in it. Five other drivers were kidnapped.
Iraqi police claimed that: 12 Turkish drivers were killed and injured in 12 hours. Six Turkish citizens were in the four trucks there were blown up in Balad.
An attack has been launched on three trucks in Dujail. One Turkish citizen was killed and five others were abducted.
''NO PROBLEM WITH THE EU''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey's relations with the European Union (EU) progressed well, stating that there was no problem in question.
Responding to the statements of European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen that Turkish Penal Code (TCK) was an obligation, Erdogan said, ''our relations with the EU progress well. There is not any problem.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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NO NEWS FROM 12 TURKISH CITIZENS IN BALAD
Lieutenant colonel Ahmed Hassan from the Balad Police said, ''four lorries coming from Turkey were attacked on Sunday morning in Balad. All of those in the lorries were killed.''
Lieutenant colonel Hassan did not give information about the identities of the lorry drivers.
Another police official Adil Ibrahim said three lorries were ambushed in Ducely in north of Baghdad. An eye-witness Ahmed Hussein Kadim said, ''One of the drivers was killed and five of them were kidnapped.''
IMF TO START CONTACTS IN ANKARA
International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, led by Turkey Desk Chief Reza Moghadam, will start official contacts in Ankara on Monday.
IMF delegation has been having meetings in Istanbul since September 16th.
The delegation is firstly expected to meet Turkish State Minister Ali Babacan and officials of Treasury.
The talks will take place within the scope of three-year new stand-by deal.
Recent economic developments and progress made in structural reforms will be assessed, and the new stand-by deal which will be based on medium term economic program will be discussed.
Targets and policies toward the Economic Program, that is under preparation covering the years 2005-2007, will be assessed.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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LIMITATION TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
According to the article 306 of new Turkish Penal Code (TCK), those who act against 'basic national interests' including; territorial integrity and national security will be sentenced to imprisonment terms from 3 to 10 years. 'Basic national interest' is defined as qualities of the Republic, independence and national security. Parliamentary Justice Commission member Bekir Gundag said that Article 306 of the TCK would limit freedom of expression.
IMF'S AGENDA IS UNEMPLOYMENT
Official talks on the new stand-by deal which will be signed between International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Turkey will start on Monday. Unemployment and growth are main agenda items of IMF.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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CALL FOR INVESTMENT
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Turkish businessmen to invest in their own country. Erdogan opened 19 factories and laid foundations of 38 factories in eastern city of Malatya. Erdogan said that if Turkish businessmen invested in their own country, they would create a prosperous Turkey together.
DISSOLUTION IN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION PKK
After Osman Ocalan left terrorist organization PKK and formed a new organization, there has been a dissolution among terrorists. Some of them started to leave terrorist organization.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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BOMB EXPLODES IN MUSIC FESTIVAL: 14 INJURED
A bomb, which was left under a police car before concert of singer Candan Ercetin, exploded injuring 14 people, two of them policemen.
Three of those injured were reported to be in serious condition.
Mersin Governor Atilla Osmancelebioglu said a wide scale operation and investigation have been launched against the explosion.
SILK ROAD TRAIN TOURS POSTPONED TO APRIL 25TH
Silk Road train tours, which was planned to take place on September 22nd, was postponed.
Foreign Trade Undersecretariat officials said it was understood that rails of several countries on the route of the train were not appropriate to the railway cars of the Silk Road train.
Officials said the tours were postponed to April 25th because of the technical problems as the countries on the route of the train asked for more time to make necessary preparations.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKISH INVESTMENTS IN CENTRAL ASIA
Turkish companies have speeded up their investments in Central Asia and they are considered among leading companies in the region. Turkish businessmen made investments amounting to 800 million U.S. dollars only in Azerbaijan.
A HOUSE AND A LAPTOP FOR EVERY TEACHER
Turkish National Education Minister Huseyin Celik told Yeni Safak that teachers would be able to buy house with long-term and low interest rate loans. Celik said that they would also give teachers laptops, so teachers could benefit from technology more easily.

(EÖ-AY) 20.09.2004