ANKARA (AA) - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on January 12th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TARGET IS 15 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who met Russian President Vladimir Putin, said trade volume between Turkey and Russia reached 11 billion U.S. dollars and noted the target was 15 billion U.S. dollars. Erdogan said there was necessary political will with Russia about joint investments, stating that target of bilateral trade volume was 15 billion U.S. dollars.
Emphasizing that relations would not only be limited with trade, Erdogan said those could not even be in question 10-15 years ago.
PROMISE AGAIN FOR PKK
U.S. again did not seem willing for a military operation against terrorist PKK KONGRA-GEL which nested in north of Iraq.
Washington administration made promises again as it had during the meeting held with the Turkish party in 2003 autumn and content with saying bilateral cooperation efforts would continue against the terrorist organization.
U.S. reiterated that studies would be carried out to stop financial sources of the organization and alternatives on closing ways of transportation and logistic support.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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HISTORIC GESTURE FROM PUTIN
Russian leader for the first time opposed to the embargo on Turkish Cypriots. Following his meeting with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Putin telephoned UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and said, ''we support your efforts.''
Putin made a statement which carries a historic importance about lifting of international embargo imposed on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Putin, who earlier prevented UN Security Council resolution including a call to lift the embargo, for the first time said, ''we do not think that the economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots is fair. Economic relations should be improved.''
CEM INSTEAD OF DERVIS
Ismail Cem, currently under treatment in the United States, will attend the Republican People's Party (CHP) convention if he can get a permission from his doctor.
Ismail Cem wants to attend the extraordinary convention on January 29th although his treatment continues.
Cem's treatment is expected to be completed between February 1st and 2nd.
CHP leader Deniz Baykal thanked for the support given by Cem in this difficult period. Baykal told Cem that his condition was more important for him.
In case the doctors give him permission, Cem will return to Turkey on January 27th and attend the convention.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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RUSSIAN GAS TO BE STORED IN TUZ GOLU
Storing Russian gas in a system under Tuz Golu was discussed during a meeting between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Erdogan is currently in Russia accompanied by 500 businessmen and four ministers.
Transfer of natural gas via Turkey, storing of natural gas in Turkey and establishment of liquid natural gas installation in Turkey were discussed at the meeting.
It was decided that technical delegations of the two countries would work together for establishment of natural gas storing installation.
SNOW EXPECTED AT WEEKEND
Cold weather and snow are expected on Sunday. Temperatures will drop on Saturday and Sunday.
General Directorate of Meteorology said no precipitation is expected on Thursday and Friday, but that temperatures will drop starting as of Saturday.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ELECTIONS WILL NOT SOLVE PROBLEMS
General John Abizaid, Commander of the U.S. Central Command, during his meetings in Ankara once again conveyed that they wanted to use Incirlik Base.
Abizaid said ''as an ally, we want to use the facilities there. We think it would be good both for us and Turkey if we can use it.''
It was also reported that Abizaid conveyed the uneasiness they felt over activities of Iran and Syria in Iraq.
Abizaid also said elections in Iraq would not solve the problems, and called on support of Turkey.
TURKEY'S AID TO SOUTHEASTERN ASIA REACHES 9 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS
Amount of aid made through official and civilian canals in Turkey reached 9 million U.S. dollars.
Sources said Turkey was among the first countries in international community giving a helping hand following the disaster in Southeastern Asia on December 26th, caused by quake and tidal waves.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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DELIBERATE SUPPORT TO CYPRUS
Russian President Vladimir Putin who hosted Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''we support Annan Plan. We do not think that the economic isolation of the Turkish Cypriots is fair, but the issue is very sensitive, we will act carefully.''
The parties agreed to announce ''Turkish Year'' in Russia and ''Russian Year'' in Turkey during Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Russia.
FAREWELL CEREMONY FOR TURKISH TROOPS WHICH WILL TAKE COMMAND OF ISAF
''Terrorism is the biggest threat in Afghanistan. NATO has no other choice but to succeed in Afghanistan,'' Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said.
A farewell ceremony was held for the 1600 military personnel who would conduct the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) 7th Term Activities for six months starting as of February 11th, 2005.
Gen. Buyukanit who made a keynote speech at the ceremony, stated that 33 countries were attending this historic mission, and noted that this was the first operational mission consigned to Turkey, and to this end it has a particular importance.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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ABIZAID MEETS GUL
General John Abizaid, Commander of the U.S. Central Command, met Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.
Speaking to press after the meeting, Abizaid said Incirlik was a Turkish base, not a U.S. base, stating that, ''as an ally, we want to use the facilities there. We think it would be good both for us and Turkey if we can use it.''
Abizaid said terrorist organization PKK/KONGRA-GEL, security in Iraq, and elections were also discussed at the meeting.
YILMAZ, TANER AND AYDIN TO BE TRIED IN HIGH TRIBUNAL
Trial of former Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and former State Minister Gunes Taner in High Tribunal will start on February 16th, while the trial of former Turkish Public Works & Settlement Minister Koray Aydin will begin on February 24th.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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GUL: ''WE SHOULD CONFESS THAT WE COULD NOT BE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN ASSISTING TO SOUTH ASIAN COUNTRIES''
Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''we should confess that we could not be very successful in assisting to South Asian countries victimized by a natural disaster despite the perseverance of our government,''
Gul said the Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) sent a very big team to the region and noted this team would stay there for three months.
Gul urged Turkish people to show more sensibility to increase the amount of aid, emphasizing that amount of the aid made by Turkey reached 9 million U.S. dollars.
NORTHERN CYPRUS GESTURE FROM PUTIN
Russian President Vladimir Putin gave support messages to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) during the visit of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Russia.
Putin, who said economic isolation of TRNC was not fair, stated that, ''we talked to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan by phone. We support solution in Cyprus. Lifting of isolation is among them.''
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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CENTRAL BANK LOWERS OVERNIGHT BORROWING RATE
Turkish Central Bank lowered the overnight borrowing rate from 18 percent to 17 percent and its overnight lending rate from 22 percent to 21 percent on Tuesday.
Central Bank Monetary Policy Committee held a meeting yesterday and decided to drop interest rates.
Central Bank stated that it cut its key overnight interest rates by one percentage point. Thus, the overnight borrowing rate dropped from 18 percent to 17 percent and overnight lending rate was lowered from 22 percent to 21 percent.
FOUR LEADERS OF FUTURE
World Economic Forum determined ''Young Global Leaders'' of the world. State Minister Ali Babacan, and Ferit Sahenk, Ali Koc and Arzuhan Yalcindag from the business world were selected from Turkey.
World Economic Forum President Klaus Schwab announced the names of first 237 young leaders. Turkish State Minister Ali Babacan, Dogus Holding Executive Board President Ferit Sahenk, Koc Holding Information Group Chairman Ali Koc and TUSIAD Executive Board Member Arzuhan Yalcindag are among them.
2005-01-12