ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on February 6th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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RICE ASSURES ERDOGAN ON IRAQ
In an official visit to Ankara, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the territorial integrity of Iraq would be preserved.
The Turkish government had its first contact with the second term of the Bush administration yesterday through Rice. Erdogan met Rice at Ankara's Esenboga Airport before his departure for the tsunami-stricken regions of southeast Asia.
Rice gave assurances on Iraq and noted the Turkish sensitivity on Kirkuk.
On the issue of the terrorist organization PKK, Rice told Erdogan that the U.S. is ''working'' on this subject.
TERIM HEADED TO GREECE
Greek football club Panathinaikos has offered the position of head coach to Turkey's legendary coach Fatih Terim. If Terim agrees on conditions, he will be headed to Greece.
Terim formerly worked for the Turkish national football team as well as Galatasaray. While working for Galatasaray, his team won the UEFA and the European Super Cup.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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RICE IN ANKARA
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Ankara yesterday (Saturday) evening. Rice asked for ''effective leadership'' from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to help correct the existing American image in Turkey. Erdogan replied that the relations are ''constructive and positive.''
Erdogan and Rice held a brief meeting at Ankara's Esenboga Airport prior to Erdogan's departure for the tsunami-stricken regions of southeaast Asia.
GREEK CYPRIOTS COMING TO TURKEY ON FEBRUARY 9-13
A delegation of the Greek Cypriot main opposition Democratic Mobilization Party (DISI) is scheduled to visit Turkey on February 9-13, 2005.
According to a statement issued by DISI, DISI Chairman Nikos Anastasiadis and his delegation will meet Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and Fener Greek Orthodox Church's Patriarch Bartholomew during their stay in Turkey.
DISI Chairman Anastasiadis will deliver a speech at Ankara's Middle East Technical University (METU).
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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CHP DEMANDS DISMISSAL OF SARIGUL & TUYSUZ FROM PARTY
The administration of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) sent parliamentarian Turan Tuysuz and Sisli Mayor Mustafa Sarigul to the High Discipline Board, asking for their dismissal from the party due to their behaviors during the extraordinary convention held last weekend.
TURKEY IS VERY IMPORTANT
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Turkey's stance was very important for them (the United States). Rice held her first meeting in Turkey with Erdogan. Sources said that the meeting was held in a ''very positive'' atmosphere. Erdogan expressed Turkey's sensitivities about Iraq, Kirkuk and Cyprus, while Rice expressed U.S. concern about the anti-American mood in Turkey.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ISTANBUL'S EXCITEMENT ABOUT JUNE
After United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) warned that it would exclude Istanbul from the World Cultural Heritage List, Turkish Foreign Ministry submitted a report to concerned authorities on February 1st. The report will be discussed by UNESCO in June, and Turkey will later be notified about the result of this discussion.
RICE WELCOMED BY PROTESTS
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was protested in capital Ankara and metropolis of Istanbul before her visit to Turkey. Four people were detained in the demonstration staged in Ankara, while protestors left a black wreath in front of the U.S. Embassy in Ankara. Rice, who met Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, could not eliminate Turkey's concerns over Iraq. Rice, who only said that the Iraqi people would make the decision about the future of Iraqi people, later met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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RICE ARRIVES, ERDOGAN LEAVES
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at Ankara's Esenboga Airport before leaving for South Asia. Kirkuk, PKK and Cyprus were the highlights of the meeting. Erdogan later flew to the tsunami-stricken areas, with an aid package worth 44 million New Turkish liras (YTL). Erdogan's first stop is Aceh region of Indonesia.
THERE ARE MANY PROJECTS TURKISH CONTRACTORS CAN UNDERTAKE IN ALGERIA
Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said that there were many projects Turkish contractors could undertake in Algeria, and added that Turkish contractors could carry out projects worth 5-10 billion U.S. dollars in Algeria for the following five years.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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EU MODEL TO ANATOLIA
All Turkish cities across Anatolia will be brought to the European standards, said sources. A new goal is about to be established in Turkey prior to October 3rd, when membership talks with the European Union (EU) will kick-off. Every Anatolian city has been assigned a role model city in Europe. Officials said that Sofia has been shown to Hakkari as a city to be regarded as a role model in terms of economic development. More financial assistance from the EU is on the way to help the development of cities in Anatolia.
THE CURE FOR EAST OF TURKEY IS TOURISM
In a comprehensive research conducted by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) on 14 eastern Turkish cities, the chamber came to the conclusion that the cure for economic development in eastern Turkey lies in tourism. Activities such as mountain climbing and skiing are to be promoted in the region.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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GREEK CYPRIOT ADMINISTRATION WILL REJECT NEW PLAN
The European Union (EU) is always dealing with matters regarding Turkey after it pledged to open full membership negotiations with Turkey on December 17th, 2005. Brussels is mostly thinking about Cyprus problem. Diplomatic sources in Brussels told Zaman daily that they expected initiatives to be speeded up after Luxembourg became the acting president of the Union on July 1st. European diplomats think that the United States and Britain will urge UN Secretary General Kofi Annan for a new plan, while they say that some small changes could be made to the old plan. Diplomats think that Greek Cypriots will also reject this second plan, and will face pressure. Diplomats said, ''to this end, when Turkey signs Ankara Protocol, (Greek Cypriot leader Tassos) Papadopoulos can't ask for diplomatic recognition in the morning of October 4th. And, it can't use its veto right.''
WRECKAGE OF AFGHAN PLANE FOUND: NO SURVIVORS
The wreckage of the Afghan passenger plane that crashed when flying from Herat to Kabul the previous day was found near Band-e Ghazi, east of Kabul. The plane was carrying 104 people, including 9 Turks. Afghan Defense Ministry said that nobody survived the plane crash.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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UNIVERSITY GRADUATES TO BE EMPLOYED AS POLICE OFFICERS
After finding out that it needs at least 30,000 more police officers, the Turkish police have decided to hire university graduates who will become police officers after a six month training period. Male applicants 27 years old or younger and female applicants 25 years old or younger would be eligible to participate in the training program.
ERDOGAN WARNS RICE ON KIRKUK AND PKK
The U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Ankara last night. Rice met Erdogan at Ankara's Esenboga Airport before Erdogan's departure for the tsunami-stricken areas of southeast Asia. The topics of Afghanistan, Cyprus, the Middle East and Iraq were discussed by the two leaders. Erdogan conveyed Turkey's sensitivity on Kirkuk and terrorist organization PKK. Rice assured Erdogan that the issue of Kirkuk would be resolved by preserving Iraq's unity.