ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on October 17th, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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NEW PASSPORTS
Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that they had been preparing new passports in coordination with the Ministry of Interior Affairs. He said that the new passports would be prepared in line with the standards of the European Union.
MEHDI ZANA RELEASED
Mehdi Zana, the former mayor of southeastern city of Diyarbakir, was released. Zana appeared in the High Criminal Court no: 13 in Istanbul on Saturday. He was released after legal procedures were completed. Zana was detained on Friday after his return from Brussels to Turkey together with his wife Leyla Zana, Orhan Dogan and Selim Sadak, the former deputies of the banned Democracy Party (DEP), due to some restrictions against him.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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`GREEN` LANDING
Greens Group which has 42 seats at European Parliament will come to Istanbul. Greens Group leader Daniel Cohn Bendit and Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc will inaugurate the meeting which will be held between October 19th and 21st to support Turkey on its EU path.
WOMEN TO OPEN EU PATH
Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera wrote about `Woman Initiative for Turkey` campaign which is pursued under leadership of Arzuhan Yalcindag. The newspaper said, ``if Turkey enters EU, the main contribution will be done by women.``
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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STATE KNOWS EVERYTHING
Upon the statements claiming that Turkey signed three secret protocols with Iraq for oil and former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had money at Turkish Halk Bankasi, State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said, ``state knew everything. Money is Turkey`s not Saddam`s.``
GUARANTEE OF NOT VETOING
Greek Cypriot Minister Yakovu said, ``we will not veto Turkey`s receiving a date from the EU for entry talks. But we have some conditions.`` He said that before the talks, Turkey should promise to recognize Cyprus, and ports and air space should be opened to Greek trade vessels and planes.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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NEW PENAL CODE BRINGS FORTH UNINTENTIONAL AMNESTY
While the chief prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals said that no one could be released from prison before the new Penal Code would come into force on April 1st, 2005, some local courts have begun releasing people from prison for crimes for which the new Penal Code envisaged reduction. Some judges considered the new Penal Code an unintentional amnesty.
SEZER: ``HUNGER IS ONE OF REASONS OF TERRORISM``
Releasing a message to mark the World Food Day, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that hunger and poverty were the two most important reasons of problems in the world. ``We should prevent hunger and poverty first to eradicate terrorism,`` he said.
ANTI-TERRORISM RALLY IN MARDIN
A rally was held in Midyat town of southeastern city of Mardin to condemn terrorism. Nearly 3 thousand people attended the rally organized by NGOs. The participants chanted slogans against the terrorist organization of PKK/Kongra-Gel.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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REPORT TO PM: MINORITIES DO NOT DIVIDE COUNTRY
Human Rights Consultation Board wrote a report. It said Sevr syndrome should end and Lausanne should be applied correctly. Instead of a single cultural nation-state, Turkey should adopt the identity of `being Turkish citizen`.
AEGEAN DYING
Gediz and Buyuk Menderes rivers which irrigate productive Aegean lands have become poison rivers due to industrial wastes of regional cities especially Usak city.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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``TERRORISM MEANS POVERTY``
Thousands of people took the streets in Midyat town of southeastern city of Mardin to condemn terrorism with Turkish flags in their hand. They chanted slogans against the terrorist organization of PKK/Kongra-Gel. In the joint statement of the rally, it was stressed, ``we condemn all kinds of terrorism. We will not allow terrorists to harm our atmosphere of peace and security.``
POLICE CAPTURES FIVE PEOPLE IN ISTANBUL
The police captured Naciye Barbaros and her four friends, who were planning to stage bomb attacks in Istanbul. During the search in her house, security forces found a toy in which a destructive bomb was placed.
SYRIA LIFTS RESTRICTION IN TRANSPORTATION OF GOODS FROM TURKEY TO IRAQ
Syrian government has lifted its restriction in transportation of goods by railway from Turkey to Iraq via Syria. State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said that Syria`s decision would make a very positive impact on Turkey`s exports to Iraq. Syrian government halted transportation of goods by railway from Turkey to Iraq via Syria on September 14th. As a results of negotiations between Turkish and Syrian parties, Syrian government decided to lift the restriction.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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5,000 PEOPLE CONDEMN TERROR IN MIDYAT
Thousands of people condemned terrorism in Midyat town of eastern city of Mardin. A rally was held under the leadership of non-governmental organizations and nearly 5,000 people took part in the rally.
ANTI-TERRORISM LAW SERVES MEHDI ZANA
Diyarbakir former Mayor and husband of Leyla Zana, who came from Brussels to Istanbul and was detained at Ataturk Airport, was released yesterday. Zana was punished with 1 year 10 months of imprisonment in line with anti-terrorism law. However when the law was amended with EU adjustment packages, his punishment was lifted.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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LAJENDIJK: ``WE SHOULD CONVINCE FRANCE``
Speaking at the international conference on ``Turkey-European Union (EU) Relations: Future Opportunities and Problems`` in Istanbul, Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission Co-President Joost Lagendjik said that they should convince French politicians and public opinion for Turkey`s membership to the EU.
BARGAINING ON SECOND-HAND LEOPARD-II TANKS
German Der Spiegel magazine said that Turkey wanted to purchase 350 second-hand Leopard-II tanks from Germany, and that a Turkish delegation visited Germany to examine the tanks. Noting that there had been intense talks between Turkish Armed Forces and German Ministry of Defense, the magazine added that the tanks would be modernized with additional technical equipment.
(GC-UK) 17.10.2004