ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on November 15th, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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ERDOGAN: INCIDENTS IN IRAQ OVERSHADOW OUR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY
Regarding U.S. operation on Fallujah city of Iraq, Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''in fact incidents happening in Iraq, very close to Turkey, overshadow our holy Ramadan holiday.'' He added, ''hundreds of people are dying in Iraq. We wish that we would not have celebrated the holy Ramadan holiday in such a milieu. While forces in the world continue their operations mercilessly, those, mainly Muslims who have to join forces against them, continue to struggle with each other.''
DID THEY WRECK WALL AND TAKE THE SAFE?
Officials from Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF) examined Young Party (GP) leader Cem Uzan's farm in Pamukova and determined that Uzan and his men made a hole in the wall of farm and took several things with them. Officials said that Uzan and his 22 men wrecked the wall of a secret part in the house and took several things like safe.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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SECRET OF FARM-HOUSE
Young Party (GP) leader Cem Uzan and his 22 men raided a farm-house in Pamukova region in northwestern city of Sakarya on Saturday which was earlier transferred to the Saving Deposits Insurance Fund. They made a hole in wall of the farm-house and took a box which is believed to have been a safe.
TERRORISM VICTIMS TO BE COMMEMORATED
A ceremony will take place to commemorate 25 people who lost their lives in last year's suicide attacks on Neve Shalom and Beth Israel synagogues in Istanbul. The ceremony will be organized by Turkish Jews' Community and Sisli Municipality.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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TUZMEN: ''EXPORTS EXCEEDED 54 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS''
State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said, ''exports from Turkey between January 1st and November 11th increased over to 54 billion U.S. dollars.'' Tuzmen said, ''as of November, 12-month exports reached 61.5 billion U.S. dollars. Despite all negative developments, we are determined to maintain increase in exports in 2005.''
STRUCK READY TO APPROVE SALE OF TANKS TO TURKEY
German Defense Minister Peter Struck said that he was ready to approve sale of tanks to Turkey. In an interview with the German News Agency, Struck said, ''first, I was against sale of tanks to Turkey. However, conditions have changed in Turkey. It was revealed that allegations saying that tanks were used in southeast of Turkey were baseless. Now, I am ready to approve sale of Leopard-II tanks to Turkey.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ATTACKS ON TURKS INCREASE IN IRAQ
A total of 30 Turkish citizens were killed in Iraq in the last six months. Number of Turkish people killed in the last two weeks increased to seven. Oguz Oyan, deputy secretary general of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), called on government to launch urgent initiatives to prevent attacks on Turkish drivers in Iraq. He said that trucks should be handed over to Iraqi drivers after crossing the border.
''EU SHOULD ACCEPT TURKEY TO BECOME A GLOBAL POWER''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''Turkey has fulfilled its commitments to the EU. If the EU makes a negative decision on December 17th about opening of entry talks with Turkey, it will be the loser. The EU should accept Turkey's membership to become a global power.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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MEDICAL REVOLUTION AT HACETTEPE UNIVERSITY
Ankara's Hacettepe University has become the third hospital in the world which can intervene in cerebral-vascular diseases without surgical operation. Many patients from Europe and the other parts of the world come to the Hacettepe University every year to receive medical treatment.
BABACAN DUE TO EUROPE
State Minister Ali Babacan will hold a series of meetings in Brussels, London and Berlin between November 16th and 21st. Babacan will start his tour of Europe from Brussels on November 16th. He will meet Joaquin Almunia, member of the European Commission for Economic and Monetary Affairs. Babacan will proceed to London on November 18th. Babacan will deliver a speech at London School of Economics and Politics (LSE) and meet officials from international finance and investment companies. Proceeding to Berlin on November 20th, Babacan will attend G-20 meeting. He will meet U.S. Secretary of Treasury John Snow. Babacan will return to Turkey on November 21st.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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HOLY RAMADAN HOLIDAY IN WORLD
Muslims in China, Russia, Australia and many other countries prayed in holy Ramadan holiday and wished peace and tranquility to be restored especially in Iraq, Palestine and Chechnya.
LAST MESSAGE OF DENKTAS
Addressing Turkish Cypriots at celebrations for the 21st anniversary of foundation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), TRNC President Rauf Denktas said, ''never give up your state.'' Denktas said that it was his last speech as president.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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VERHOFSTADT: ENTRY TALKS SHOULD RAPIDLY START
Belgian Premier Guy Verhofstadt wanted EU entry talks with Turkey to start rapidly. He stressed that he was against postponement of negotiations by showing EU Constitution referenda as pretext. He strongly rejected proposal of privileged partnership to Turkey which was suggested as Turkey's religion is different.
INCIDENTS IN IRAQ OVERSHADOW HOLY RAMADAN HOLIDAY
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''we have seen hundreds of our brothers and sisters were killed in Iraq throughout the Ramadan.'' Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said, ''I feel sorry for the incidents in Fallujah city of Iraq.'' Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul wished the whole world, especially Iraq and Palestine, would reach peace.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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URGENT PROBLEM UNEMPLOYMENT
According to economy survey by Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the most urgent problem of Turkey is unemployment. As the top problem of Turkey, 43.7 percent of people considers unemployment, 16.2 percent economy, while 8.1 percent considers education and 4.2 percent inflation as the most urgent problem of Turkey.
TURKISH BAKLAVA IN U.S.
Turkish famous baklava (a sweet pastry) will be sold in the United States. Guloglu Baklava, a Turkish company, which started to sell the pastry in London a year ago, will now sell them in the United States soon.
(UK-GC-MS)