ANKARA (AA) - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on January 29th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TURKISH HOSTILITY IN TV SERIAL
Turkey was introduced as a country which cuts off heads of women who commit adultery in a serial namely ''West Wing'' at U.S. NBC channel. According to a U.S. observer, films which reconcile Islam and violence increased after September 11th attacks. Producers sacrifice Turkey for not offending Arabian moneybags.
ONE TO ONE AT BALLOT BOX
When Zulfu Livaneli and Hursit Gunes, two members of Republican People's Party (CHP), did not disclose their candidacy for CHP leadership, Istanbul's Sisli district mayor Mustafa Sarigul and party leader Deniz Baykal remained one to one at ballot box. Baykal and Sarigul will compete in today's leadership election of the party. While Baykal is considered as favorite, if Sarigul wins, it will be a surprise.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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INSOLENCE
Wednesday's episode of TV serial ''West Wing'' showed Turkey as a country in which women are sentence to death for adultery. In the episode, a Turkish girl is sentenced to death by beheading. The U.S. president takes action to save her. Also, the serial implies that Turkey is ruled by a fundamentalist political party. Turkish people living in the United States reacted strongly to the serial. Turkish Ambassador to the United States Faruk Logoglu sent a letter to the NBC TV Channel to protest it.
BAYKAL AND SARIGUL TO COMPETE
The 13th extraordinary congress of the Republican People's Party (CHP) will start today. Since Zulfu Livaneli and Hursit Gunes withdrew from candidacy, CHP leader Deniz Baykal and Mustafa Sarigul will compete. 1,253 delegates will cast their votes to elect the new leader of the CHP.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ALERT
The Ministry of Transportation Directorate General of Civil Aviation released a report, and warned the Turkish Airlines (THY). According to the report, the THY failed to implement flight security. ''An important part of inspection program could not be fulfilled by the THY in 2004,'' the report said. Sources said that the THY's negligence could jeopardize its authority of international maintenance.
''TURKEY WILL LESSEN THE EU'S BURDEN''
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos town of Switzerland, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''Turkey will not be a burden for the EU, instead Turkey will lessen the EU's burden with its rising economy and dynamic labor force.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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MESSAGE OF SIGNATURE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''we have been maintaining our preparatory efforts for our EU membership process. Also, efforts have been under way to form the legal infrastructure for the Ankara Agreement. We are in favor of solution. We do not want any delay.'' Meanwhile, Erdogan noted that he was planning to visit both Israel and Palestine in the coming days.
ELEKDAG: ''TURKEY CAN INTERVENE IN IRAQ''
Sukru Elekdag of the Republican People's Party (CHP), a member of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission, said that Turkey could use force in Iraq for humanitarian reasons. Speaking at a panel discussion, Elekdag said, ''the election in Iraq is not based on population census. ID cards of dead people were given to Kurds. Lists of candidates were not made public due to security reasons. We cannot expect the elections to be fair under those conditions.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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NEVER SAY THERE IS TORTURE IN TURKEY
Psychiatrist Bekir Ceylan of Balikesir State Hospital replied questions of a survey in a magazine which asks ''Is there torture in Turkey?'', ''Should National Security Council (NSC) be closed?'', ''Should broadcasting in mother tongue be made?'' and ''Should education and health services be free?'' in 1997. Ceylan replied these questions as 'yes'. When police found the survey results, they applied to Governor's Office. When Governor's Office applied to Health Ministry, Ceylan was fired.
GUL: DONATION FOR SOUTH ASIA IS 34 MILLION YTL
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that donation from Turkey for the victims of earthquake-tsunami disaster in South Asia has reached 25 million U.S. dollars. (33 million 625 thousand YTL)
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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CALL FOR SILENCE
Namik Tan, Spokesman of Turkish Foreign Ministry, said, ''it is necessary to avoid statements and initiatives which risk to drag Iraq into an undesired anarchy, instability and internal clash.''
ERDOGAN: ''FIRST STEP FOR DEMOCRACY''
Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''even though there are deficiencies in Iraqi elections, it is an important step for transition to democracy.'' He added, ''this election which we consider very significant is the first step of transition to democracy. Perhaps this is not a complete democracy. We want people to attend voting.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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THERE IS NO SYSTEMATIC TORTURE IN TURKEY
Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Khan said, ''the discussions within the EU which are focused on Turkey's identity are dreadful.'' Khan added, ''there is no systematic torture in Turkey.''
ERDOGAN: FEAR FROM EXCESSIVENESS, NOT VENERATION
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan met several leaders including German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Davos yesterday. Speaking at a panel discussion, Erdogan said, ''people should not fear from veneration. It is necessary to fear from excessiveness.''
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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ANKARA ON RED LIGHT
Tension has increased in Ankara one day before Iraqi elections. Following the warnings of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan about Kirkuk, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Namik Tan released a message yesterday. Tan stressed that Turkmens will attended elections, and he underlined sensitivity about Kirkuk. He said, ''it is necessary to avoid statements and initiatives which risk to drag Iraq into an undesired anarchy, instability and internal clash.''
2005-01-29