ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on October 1st, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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EU STUDY SAYS TURKEY`S MEMBERSHIP WILL BE GOOD FOR EU
European Union (EU) Executive Commission said in a study that Turkey`s European Union membership could offer economic and political benefits to both sides. Prior to the EU Commission`s Progress Report to be released on October 6th, the study said, ``overall, EU Member States` economies would benefit from the accession of Turkey, albeit only slightly. Turkey would benefit substantially from its accession to the EU.`` ``Accession of Turkey to the EU would be challenging for both the EU and Turkey. If well managed, it would offer important opportunities for both,`` the study said.
FIVE TERRORISTS KILLED IN TOKAT
Five terrorists were killed in an anti-terrorism operation in northern city of Tokat. Security forces patrolling around the area warned a group of terrorists to surrender immediately. However, terrorists responded to the warning by opening fire on security forces. Five terrorists were killed while non-commissioned officer Ahmet Kurt was seriously injured in the clash. He was rushed to hospital but his life could not be saved. The terrorists were members of the Revolutionary People`s Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C).
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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ANKARA RESISTS, EUROPE SPLITS
Turkey`s insistence on participation of the Turkish Republic of Northern (TRNC) to the European Union (EU)-Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Joint Forum in Istanbul on October 4th and 5th as the Turkish Cypriot State divided the EU. The Netherlands decided not to attend the forum while Britain stated that it would assess it.
MOODY`S UPGRADES TURKISH GOVERNMENT LOCAL CURRENCY DEBT RATING
Moody`s Investors Service has raised Turkey`s local currency debt rating from B3 to B2, citing continued improvement in the country`s public sector debt dynamics. Moody`s said that it also upgraded Turkey`s country ceiling for foreign currency bank deposits from B3 to B2, which reflects better, but still weak, external liquidity. The outlook on these ratings had been positive since October 2003 and is now stable following the upgrades, the statement noted.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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IMF EULOGIZES TURKEY`S ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato and First Deputy Managing Director Anne Krueger eulogized Turkey`s economic performance. Prior to autumn meetings of IMF-World Bank on October 2nd and 3rd, Rato said that Turkey`s economic program succeeded, stating that weaknesses in Turkish economy were eliminated. Rato recalled that studies of new economic program still continued aiming to further strengthen the economy. Meanwhile, Krueger said that Turkey`s economic performance was perfect, adding that measures were being taken to maintain this performance.
ARGUMENTS OVER EU-OIC JOINT FORUM
The second meeting of the European Union (EU)-Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Joint Forum in Istanbul on October 4th and 5th can be cancelled. The Netherlands decided to boycott the forum after Turkey insisted on participation of the Turkish Republic of Northern (TRNC) to the forum as the Turkish Cypriot State.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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BBC: ``TSK IS THE GUARANTEE OF SECULARISM``
British BBC made a documentary about Recep Tayyip Erdogan`s process from prison to his prime ministry post. In the documentary, BBC said that the Turkish Armed Forces was the guarantee of secularism in Turkey.
EARTHQUAKE JOLTS ERZINCAN THIS TIME
A mild earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale jolted eastern city of Erzincan yesterday. There were not casualties or damage. Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory and Seismology Institute said that the earthquake was centered on Ilic town of the city.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TURKEY FROM VIEW OF EU
European Union (EU) Executive Commission said in a study that Turkey`s European Union membership could offer economic and political benefits to both sides. Prior to the EU Commission`s Progress Report to be released on October 6th, the study said, ``Accession of Turkey to the EU would be challenging for both the EU and Turkey. If well managed, it would offer important opportunities for both.``
NEW LEGISLATIVE YEAR STARTS
Turkish parliament will start the new legislative year today. However, the parliament will recess until October 6th for election of the new Parliament Speaker. During this period, candidates will make themselves known. The Parliamentary Advisory Committee on Thursday set the dates when the secret vote on election of Parliament Speaker will be held. According to decision of the committee, the first two rounds of the vote will be held on October 6th, and the last two rounds will take place on October 7th, if necessary.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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WORLD TURKISH BUSINESSMEN CONVENTION STARTS
The Fifth World Turkish Businessmen`s Convention started in Ankara yesterday. Making opening remarks of the convention, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ``the main function of the convention is to create a climate of synergy by bringing Turkish businessmen acting in different parts of the world, together.`` Prime Minister Erdogan said, ``when we came to power, the most important problem in Turkey was lack of confidence. We have succeeded in securing confidence and stability in Turkey. Our private sector has made investments worth of 78 quadrillion Turkish liras in the last six months (One dollar equals 1,500,000 TL).``
UNEMPLOYMENT REDUCES TO 9.3 PERCENT
The State Institute of Statistics announced preliminary results of the second quarter of 2004 Household Labor Force Survey. According to the results, the total labor force participation rate was estimated to be 49.2 percent. The unemployment rate was estimated to be 9.3 percent.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKISH COURT SENTENCES UNITED STATES TO PAY 1 DOLLAR COMPENSATION
Ankara Basic Criminal Court no: 22 on Thursday sentenced the United States to pay a moral compensation of 1 U.S. dollar. The court announced yesterday its verdict about a lawsuit filed by Turkish writer Haluk Gerger who accused the United States of violating his individual rights as it did not permit him to enter the country although he had a ten-year visa. Gerger`s lawyer Ozlem Sen said a court outside the United States for the first time ruled to sentence the country to pay a moral compensation.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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EU CRITERIA IN FREEDOM OF RELIGION
The government has initiated a work to adjust freedom of religion to the Copenhagen political criteria. Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu and Justice Minister Cemil Cicek attended a meeting of Reform Monitoring Group to assess developments in the works.
ERDOGAN TO VISIT COUNCIL OF EUROPE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay a visit to Strasbourg on October 5th as the official guest of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Erdogan will address PACE session on October 6th and answer questions of parliamentarians. Erdogan will separately meet Council of Europe (COE) Secretary General Tery Davis, PACE President Peter Schieder and European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) President Luzius Wildhaber.
(UK-MS) 01.10.2004