ANKARA (AA) - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on December 21st, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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CEREMONY FOR FIVE TURKISH POLICEMEN KILLED IN MOSUL
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Turkey should not have been rewarded with the killing of more than 80 of its citizens in Iraq as a country that is doing every thing possible to protect the territorial integrity of Iraq.
An official ceremony took place at the Ministry of Interior Affairs in Ankara yesterday for the five Turkish policemen killed in an ambush over the weekend near the Iraqi town of Mosul. The ceremony was attended by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Chief of Staff General Hilmi Ozkok, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu, members of the council of ministers, high level military officials, dozens of members of the parliament, governors, families and colleagues of the five martyrs.
''Terrorists do not have a single religion, nation, ethnicity or home country. Our policemen were on their way to protect our embassy and flag in Baghdad. They have become martyrs on their way to an official mission,'' told Erdogan. ''We will work closely with the coalition forces and the acting government in Iraq to find the terrorists responsible for killing our five policemen,'' remarked Erdogan.
Meanwhile, the Turkish Directorate General of Security requested from the Foreign Ministry to transport security personnel going to Iraq via airplanes rather than with automobiles which are prone to attacks from terrorists.
ARAB WORLD: ''WE WILL BECOME NEIGHBORS OF THE EU''
The Islamic world, in general, has positively and warmly greeted Turkey's getting a date from the European Union for the beginning of accession talks. One of the supporters of Turkey's EU membership, Egypt believes that the Arab world will become a neighbor of the EU and has better relations with this rich union. The Arab world views October 3rd, 2005 as a date towards the establishment of harmony and tolerance among civilizations.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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U.S. SOLDIERS TRY TO PROTECT TURKISH POLICEMEN DURING AMBUSH IN MOSUL
Bullets of U.S. soldiers were found on the bodies of two terrorists who killed our five policemen. U.S. soldiers tried to protect our soldiers in Iraqi city of Mosul. The report on the attack staged in Mosul in which five Turkish policemen were killed, was sent to Ankara. According to the report, the attack was staged near a military camp where U.S. soldiers were stationed. U.S. soldiers who were on duty in the camp made the first intervention in the ambush from the observation tower. Two of the terrorists were killed with the U.S. bullets. U.S. Embassy officials reacted to the move to lay the responsibility on the United States, and said, ''these claims are ridiculous. Also our 1,200 soldiers died there.'' Officials also think that the attack might have been staged by the terrorist organization PKK.
WE ARE READY FOR SOLUTION
President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), reiterated that Turkish side was ready to negotiate for a solution in Cyprus. Denktas said, ''UN Secretary General Annan should lay the ground for negotiations, holding some proximity talks. We have exerted efforts for foundation of a united Cyprus, and we continue to do so.''
''REAL NEGOTIATIONS WILL BEGIN IN 2006''
According to diplomats, the ''screening process'' between Turkey and the European Union (EU) for adjustment of regulations will delay start of entry talks till 2006. Turkish delegation, during the meeting of the European Council last week, proposed not to have any ''screening process'' or to start this process before October 3rd, 2005 (when its full membership negotiations will be opened). But, the EU did not accept this proposal.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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MUGLA SHAKEN
An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale rocked Ula town of western Mugla city at 01.02 hours this morning. Residents evacuated their homes and spent the cold night on the streets. The earthquake was also felt in many other cities of the Aegean region. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damages.
HOME OWNERSHIP WITH ONLY 35 DOLLARS PER MONTH
Apartments would be purchased with 500 U.S. dollars down payment and 35 U.S. dollars monthly payments for 20 years starting in 2005, said an official at the Turkish Prime Ministry. The low-cost apartments will be constructed in cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Adana, Izmir, Bursa and Diyarbakir. Each apartment would be 45-55 square meters large.
NEW JOBS FOR 1,650,000 PEOPLE COMING UP
Turkish Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan has submitted the 2005 budget proposal to the parliament. ''We will witness new steps in the Turkish economy next year in regard to the European Union,'' said Unakitan. According to Unakitan, more than 1,650,000 jobs will be created within the next three years in Turkey.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ERDOGAN WANTED 11, GOT ONE
The government was unsuccessful in its target to get an unconditional negotiation date from the European Union (EU), which does not make any discrimination between Turkey and the previous candidate countries. Only one of several demands of Ankara was taken into consideration. The EU not only stressed that the negotiations were ''open-ended'' but also conditioned start of entry talks on October 3rd, 2005 on Cyprus issue. Start of entry talks can be delayed till 2006 due to the screening process. The government objected to permanent derogations in the draft resolution since they can mean ''special partnership.'' On the other hand, EU mentioned some measures that can be ''taken permanently'' besides long transition periods and limitations. The headline of the 22nd paragraph of the draft resolution was ''framework of negotiations''. Ankara wanted this headline to be changed as ''the framework of accession negotiations''. But, this expression was not changed in the presidency conclusions.
SIGNATURE WITH RESERVATION TO BE PUT UNDER PROTOCOL
In order to meet the Cyprus condition of the European Union (EU), Turkey will work for a solution in the island in 2005. If the government can't find a solution to the Cyprus issue till October 3rd, 2005 when its negotiations will be opened, it will sign the protocol on Cyprus with ''reservations''. The EU, during the talks in Brussels, defended that Turkey could not put reservation to this text, while Turkey stated that it was against the Vienna Convention regulating international diplomatic agreements. The EU assumed a flexible position regarding this matter.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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CYPRUS IS AGITATED
Greek Cypriots and Greeks say, ''(Annan) plan is legally dead, but it is politically alive.'' According to the Greek Cypriot press, the United States, Britain and the United Nations (UN) will take action at the beginning of 2005. Observers think that Greek-Greek Cypriot couple want Turkey to recognize them and get a result by veto threat. On the other hand, President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), says, ''the only path is to make them accept the independence of the TRNC.'' Meanwhile, Ankara will ask Britain and the United States to intervene. A statement saying, ''it is illegal to recognize the Greek Cypriots who don't implement the EU law in the north'' in the protocol.
SUMMIT ROW DESPITE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS
The opposition pressed on the government due to the result of the European Union (EU) heads of state and government summit during the discussions at the parliament on the new budget. Deniz Baykal, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), accusing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''information is not given. Presidency conclusions (released at the end of the EU summit) should be officially translated into Turkish and be distributed. Radikal daily helped us learn the decisions.'' Erdogan responded to criticisms saying, ''Baykal spoke on the wrong text. An open negotiation date has been set, and the target is full membership. There is south Cyprus among those who consent.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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CYPRUS ON TABLE
The United Nations (UN) asked the Greek Cypriots to take a new step in order to find a solution to the Cyprus issue till October 3rd, 2005 (when the EU will open negotiations with Turkey). Cyprus question has once more brought onto the table after it was one of the main issues discussed the most during the EU Brussels summit. Turkey said, ''we are ready.'' And, the UN sent a message to the Greek Cypriots to accept Annan plan and sit at a negotiation table.
SPRING IN ECONOMY
The Central Bank of Turkey reduced interest rates. Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti announced that they reduced the interest rates by 2 percent.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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BUDGET DISCUSSIONS TURNED INTO EU DISCUSSIONS
The European Union (EU) Brussels summit was discussed during the parliamentary session in which the new budget was taken up. Deniz Baykal, leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), claimed, ''this is not a victory, but a defeat.'' Then, PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''if you could see the other side of the glass, you would also celebrate it like us.'' Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said the last word on the discussions, ''the text handed out to the CHP lacks proper translation.''
TURKEY IS INDISPENSABLE FOR EUROPE
Professor Erik J. Zuercher, head of the Turkey Researches and Studies Department at the Leiden University which makes consultancy for the Dutch government regarding Turkey, thinks Turkey's performance and the result of the meeting of the European Council held on December 16th and 17th are successful. According to Zuercher, Turkey will be so changed within 10 years that nobody can even think of any other alternative than Turkey's EU full membership.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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BAYKAL: ''THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY CAME UNDER ATTACK IN MOSUL''
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal stated that the recent attack on five Turkish security officials in Mosul was indeed an attack on the Republic of Turkey itself. ''The Turkish parliament must take a note of this incident as a direct attack on Turkey,'' said Baykal. ''We are saddened by the fact that this attack took place and our government is doing nothing except giving statements of condolence.''
TURKISH DRIVER KILLED BY BOMB IN IRAQ
A Turkish driver was killed around northern Iraqi town of Tikrit yesterday when a bomb planted on roadside exploded. According to Iraqi officials, the Turkish driver was killed near Tikrit University while he was on his way to Tikrit. The driver's identity could not be determined immediately.
2004-12-21