ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on February 8th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR FOURTH HEADSCARF ANNOUNCEMENT
After the Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated recently that his government would be working on a new arrangement to allow female students to wear Islamic-style headscarves, if they wish to do so, university officials throughout Turkey have reacted strongly. The Rectors Committee in Turkey has announced its objection to headscarves three times in the past. The Rectors Committee is now preparing a fourth headscarf announcement to be disclosed soon.
ALL SCHOOLS RE-OPEN AFTER A 3-WEEK BREAK, EXCEPT IN ISTANBUL
Millions of students in Turkey re-started their classes after a three-week winter break. Schools in Istanbul remained closed yesterday due to extremely bad weather conditions.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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SEZER WARNS RICE
During her visit to Ankara at the weekend, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that Turkey was a special model for the Islam world. Warning Rice, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said, ''Turkey cannot be shown as a model of moderate Islam. Turkey can be described only as a model of a secular system.''
TURKEY TO DEFEND WOMEN'S RIGHTS
Turkey has decided to play a pioneering role in defending women's rights in the world under the Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative. Turkey has undertaken the program of ''Role of Women in Society and Women's Rights'' within the initiative.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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HEADSCARVES WOULD CREATE LEGAL PROBLEMS
Reaction came from dozens of circles on Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent remarks that his government is working on plans to permit the use of headscarves in universities. The Higher Education Council Chairman Erdogan Tezic has stated that the issue of headscarves in universities would create a legal problem. A deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has expressed that there is no actual law that prohibits the use of headscarves.
A PLANE SKIDS OFF RUNWAY AT ATATURK AIRPORT
A plane belonging to a private company skidded off the runway at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport due to heavy snow yesterday. Sources noted that a plane which departed from Frankfurt could not stop while landing at Ataturk Airport due to heavy snow, and it skidded off the runway. Officials said that nobody was injured, adding that planes which would land at Ataturk Airport were directed to Sabiha Gokcen Airport and airports in other cities. Ataturk Airport was closed to air traffic for about 12 hours yesterday.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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BARZANI GOES BEYOND LIMITS
Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani said that it was their right to establish an independent Kurdish state. ''Neighboring countries consider it as a sin. They divided Kurdistan into four, and colonized it. Now, we want to unite our own country. Turkey, Iran and Syria should be reasonable,'' he claimed.
HIGH TRIBUNAL TO START HEARING CASE OF OZKAN AND ONAL
The High Tribunal will start hearing the case of former State Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan and former State Minister Recep Onal who are accused of alleged irregularities and abusing powers that caused the state to lose money. The two politicians, who reject the charges, could face 3 years in prison if convicted.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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HUMAN RIGHTS CONSULTATIVE BOARD GIVES UP
Four members of the Human Rights Consultative Board resigned. Holding a news conference, Human Rights Consultative Board Chairman Ibrahim Kaboglu said, ''we were sacked not because we neglected our duty, but because we fulfilled it.'' Members of the board received strong criticisms due to some parts of a (last year's) report on minorities and torture.
ARINC EXTENDS SUPPORT TO AZERBAIJAN
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, who is currently in Baku on an official visit, met Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov. During the meeting, Armenian massacres against Azerbaijani people were brought onto agenda. Alasgarov said that the massacre committed by Armenians in Khojaly in 1992 was a genocide, and asked Turkish parliament to make a decision about it. Meanwhile, Arinc said that Turkish deputies would debate the issue on February 26th.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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UNIVERSITY GRADUATES COULD BECOME POLICE OFFICERS
The Turkish government is preparing a draft law that would make university graduates police officers. According to government sources, graduates of business administration, economics, public administration, political science and law will be able to join the Turkish police.
INDONESIA THANKS TURKEY FOR ITS SUPPORT
In a tour of the tsunami-stricken regions of southeast Asia, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has delivered aid sent from Turkey to Indonesia. Indonesian President Susilo Yudhoyono was seen as thanking for Turkey's aid. ''I want to express my people's appreciation for the Turkish aid,'' said Yudhoyono.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TSUNAMI BRINGS TURKEY AND ASIA CLOSER TO EACH OTHER
The Turkish government, which wants to reach Africa, Asia and Far East, has taken the first step in Indonesia. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. During the meeting, the two parties reached full consensus of opinion to cooperate in fight against terrorism. Trade volume between the two countries will be increased from 500 million U.S. dollars to 2 billion U.S. dollars.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY IS A ROLE MODEL
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's trip to the tsunami-stricken regions of southeast Asia is continuing. Erdogan met Indonesian President Susilo Yudhoyono. Yudhoyono told Erdogan that Turkey is a role model for Indonesia. ''Turkey, with its Islamic, democratic and modern characteristics, is a role model for us,'' said Yudhoyono. Erdogan assured Yudhoyono that Turkey will assist in construction of schools, orphanages, nursery schools, residential units and hospitals in the region.
TURKEY COVERED BY SNOW ALL OVER
Heavy snowfall continued throughout Turkey yesterday. Schools and universities in many cities were closed due to bad weather conditions. Flights in certain parts of Turkey were delayed while some were cancelled. Roads leading to dozens of villages in eastern Turkey are currently blocked due to heavy snow.