ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on October 26th, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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COMPENSATION FOR SOLDIER'S SUICIDE
The Military High Administrative Court has awarded 7 billion TL (1 U.S. Dollar=1,5 million TL) to the father of Islam Serttas, a private who committed suicide while serving his duty five years ago. The court decided that Serttas was under a lot of pressure from his commanders and, as a result of the psychological pressure, he committed suicide.
THE NEW TURKISH LIRA
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his economic aides introduced the new Turkish lira yesterday. There will be six different types of banknotes and six different coins.
PRINCE CHARLES RE-OPENS NEW BRITISH CONSULATE IN ISTANBUL
Prince Charles re-opened the British Consulate General in Istanbul. The consulate general was damaged in a suicide bomb attack late last year. ''The terrorists have united the Briton, Turk, Muslim, Jew and Christian,'' stated Prince Charles.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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THEY RETIRE FROM OF 'GHOST' POWER PLANT
Foundation of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Mersin was laid in 1976. Since then discussions whether to build the power plant have continued. The personnel which guards the infrastructure investments in the facility retired one by one. 30 people retired from the power plant which has never been operated.
AIR BUS SUMMIT IN GERMANY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac. The Summit is important as regards to Chirac's attitude about the EU. Agreement on purchase of 36 Airbus aircraft by the Turkish Airlines will be signed after the summit.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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EUROPEAN LIRA
New Turkish lira was introduced to Turkey which has made a historical reform in economy. It will be respected like Western money. Turkey returned to 1922 in regard to prestige of money.
ERDOGAN: MY DREAM HAS COME TRUE
During the introduction of new Turkish lira, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that such a decrease in the inflation was a dream. He added, ''a new page has been opened in economy. I hope that we would not see the days with full of zeros again.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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AWAY FROM DEMOCRACY
According to the draft report by the Prime Ministry Human Rights Advisory Board, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is not open to the concept of dialogue democracy. It stresses that the State is getting away from its democratic position. It also said that members of ruling party overshadowed prestige of the Turkish Parliament.
IRAQI AMBASSADOR: ''WE CAN COOPERATE AGAINST PKK''
Iraqi Ambassador to Turkey Sabah Omran who was received by Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok four days ago said that Turkey is ready in principle to help the training of Iraqi soldiers. Noting that they understood Turkey's sensitivity towards Kirkuk, Omran said that news reports are exaggerated.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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CASTLE FOR FRIENDSHIP
British Consulate General in Istanbul which was restored after the bomb attack was opened with the participation of Prince Charles of Britain, Turkish Culture Minister Erkan Mumcu and religious leaders. Prince Charles said that those, who tried to separate people, on the contrary brought together British and Turkish people and Muslims, Christians and Jews.
GREEK CYPRIOTS KEEPS 'VETO' WARM
Greek Cypriot administration keeps its veto threat on the agenda against the EU leaders' decision on starting entry talks with Turkey on December 17th. Athens stated it would withdraw its support by using Aegean problems as a pretext.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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AIRBUS SUMMIT IN BERLIN
Prime Minister Erdogan will be meeting French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Berlin during a mini-summit to sign a contract for Turkey's purchase of 36 new airplanes, worth 1.5 billion U.S. dollars.
''THE FRENCH NEED NOT FEAR TURKEY'S MEMBERSHIP IN THE EU'', SAYS GUL
Touring EU member countries, Foreign and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul stated that he does not understand why the French people are scared of Turkey's EU membership. ''We have done our homework and now it is the turn of the French (and other EU countries) to fulfill their promises. The French need not fear Turkey's EU membership,'' said Gul.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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KIRCI NEVER HAD OFFICIAL PASSPORT
Authorities announced that Haluk Kirci, arrested recently in Ukraine, went abroad by legal means. ''However, he used a fake passport,'' reported security officials. Haluk Kirci has been charged with the slaying of seven students who were members of TIP. He was given a sentence of seven death penalties but was released on March 18th, 2004 due to an error. Kirci was arrested in Ukraine last Friday.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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WELCOME YTL
We have got rid of the money which has the most zeros in the world. New lira and kurus, which will be valid as of January 1st, 2005 were introduced in a ceremony with the participation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
GENERAL HEALTH INSURANCE ON WAY
The government has launched initiatives about General Health Insurance which is the second part of Social Security Reform. The draft which will be prepared by Labor and Social Security Ministry will be presented to Prime Ministry next week.
(ES-GC-MS) 26.10.2004