ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on October 27th, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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PILOT'S ERROR CAUSE OF CRASH
According to a report announced recently, the Turkish Airlines (THY) plane crash on January 8th, 2003 happened due to pilot's error. The report stated that ''there was no technical problem with the plane.'' In the crash, 75 people were killed while 5 others were wounded.
PRINCE CHARLES PRAISES DIALOGUE AMONG RELIGIONS IN MARDIN
Visiting southeastern part of Turkey, Prince Charles of Britain praised the dialogue that exists among religions in the city of Mardin. According to the Times, Prince Charles supports Turkey's EU bid.
200 FORMER TERRORISTS RELEASED FROM PRISON
Under a newly amended Turkish Penal Code decreasing the penalty period for terrorists, 200 ex-terrorists were released in Diyarbakir. Most of the terrorists were members of PKK/KONGRA-GEL and Hizbullah.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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TURKEY SURPRISE OF CHARLES
British press gave broad coverage to the visit of Prince Charles of Britain to Turkey. The Times described support of Prince Charles to Turkey's EU membership bid as an ''unusual and direct political attitude''. The Daily Telegraph said, ''it was a day of commemoration and new steps for future.''
50 BN U.S. DOLLARS OF EXPORT RECORD
Total export amount from January 1st until October 23rd of 2004 has become 50 billion U.S. dollars. This figure exceeds the total export amount of previous year. It is also a record for Turkey which exported products worth of 50 million dollars in 1923, the foundation year of the Republic of Turkey.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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AIRBUS SUMMIT ENDS POSITIVELY
A protocol on purchase of 36 Airbus planes by Turkish Airlines (THY) was signed in German capital Berlin on Tuesday. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Jacques Chirac of France and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder were in attendance at the signing ceremony. Meanwhile, the Fourth Germany-France Council of Ministers' meeting took place in Berlin prior to the signing ceremony. During the meeting, German and French governments expressed their support to European Commission's Progress Report recommending the EU heads of state to decide on opening entry talks with Turkey.
PUTIN DUE IN TURKEY ON DECEMBER 12TH
President Vladimir Putin of Russia will come to Turkey on December 12th. Putin was earlier scheduled to come to Turkey in September. However, he adjourned his visit when a group of armed militants took hostage more than one thousand people in a school in Beslan, North Ossetia, Russia between September 1st and 3rd, 2004.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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LEADERS SPEAK UNCLEARLY
The tripartite meeting in German capital Berlin could not remove some uncertainties. While Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed his pleasure, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder talked about his wishes. German Chancellor said, ''we reached consensus of opinion that we would achieve three things in December. First of all, we can provide a decision on December 17th to open entry talks with Turkey with the aim of full membership. Secondly, I believe that the EU would set a date for opening of entry talks with Turkey in 2005. And thirdly, I am totally optimistic that Turkey would reach its targets in a certain period of time.''
NO REQUEST ABOUT DIYARBAKIR
Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied allegations saying that Iraq requested Turkey to open a consulate general in southeastern city of Diyarbakir. Officials said that there was an Iraqi consulate general in Istanbul which was temporarily closed nearly one year ago. They added that they were planning to reopen the consulate general.
NSC TO CONVENE
The National Security Council (NSC) will convene today under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The meeting is expected to focus on Turkey's EU membership process and recent developments in Iraq.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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FINAL DECISION OF CHIRAC: YES
Turkey got what it wants during Chirac-Schroeder-Erdogan summit meeting which was held in Berlin yesterday. French President Jacques Chirac gave up his indefinite attitude about start of entry talks with Turkey and he said he would vote 'yes' at the summit on December 17th.
HERE'S TORTURE
Oz-ge Der (a solidarity foundation) visited Bayrampasa Juvenile Prison in Istanbul under a project supported by the EU. 90 percent of the children in the prison are victims of violence. Custody period is 24 hours but some of the children were kept under custody for 4 days.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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FRANCE SAYS 'YES' TO BEGIN ACCESSION TALKS
In a meeting attended by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and German Chancellor Schroeder, French President Chirac stated that ''there is no need for a new debate. The accession talks for Turkey will begin in 2005.'' Turkey has signed a contract yesterday in Berlin to purchase 36 Airbus planes.
NEW TURKISH LIRA RECEIVES WARM WELCOME FROM MAJORITY OF POPULATION
In a survey conducted to find out the response of the general public on the new Turkish lira, the results indicate that ''59 percent of the population has liked the newly introduced Turkish lira.'' The ability to easily calculate accounts has been shown as a reason for the warm welcome.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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SUPPORT FROM BERLIN AND PARIS
During the tripartite meeting in German capital Berlin, President Jacques Chirac of France and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder reiterated their support to Turkey's EU membership process. The two leaders expressed their hope that entry talks between Turkey and the EU would start in 2005.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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CHIRAC SAYS 'YES'
President Jacques Chirac of France, which was indecisive about giving a negotiation date to Turkey for EU membership on December 17th, extended a clear support to Turkey yesterday.
3 TURKISH COMMANDERS TO KABUL
Three Turkish commanders will undertake the command of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for the second time in Afghanistan as of February 11th, 2005. Turkey will pursue this mission until August 2005.
(UK-GC-ES-MS) 27.10.2004