ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on February 9th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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COULD AIDE HAVE FORGOTTEN?
Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that he did not make a statement to the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag that his administration is about to lift the ban on girls' headscarves in universities. ''I have not given such an interview. I do not even recall the German journalist,'' told Erdogan. The German newspaper announced that it sent a copy of the Erdogan interview to Erdogan's aide Cuneyd Zapsu and received Zapsu's approval before the interview got published.
EDELMAN: ''NO POLICY OF REVENGE''
U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Eric Edelman has stated that the governments of Turkey and the U.S. understand well how important are the mutual relations and that, despite ups and downs, such disagreements will not hurt bilateral ties.
In a press meeting at his residence yesterday, Edelman said that the views of the public get shaped by many factors. ''One of the reasons for the recent anti-American sentiments in Turkey has to do with Iraq,'' remarked Edelman. He stressed that things are now getting better in this country.
Reminded by a journalist of the recent comments of U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on how the Turkish parliament's decision not to let the U.S. troops use Turkish soil in an attack on north of Iraq in 2003, Edelman stated that the Turkish parliament's decision caused disappointment in the United States. ''Nevertheless, the U.S. is not interested with the past. We look at the future,'' commented Edelman.
Edelman expressed that he does not share the view that the U.S. is trying to punish Turkey. ''Had the U.S. carried such feelings, it would not have been possible to support Turkish relations with the IMF and EU. Furthermore, it would not have been possible to act hand-in-hand with Turkey on the issues such as Middle East and Cyprus,'' noted Edelman. ''The U.S. does not have a policy of revenge'' he indicated.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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GUL WANTS BARZANI TO BE REALISTIC
Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul warned Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani who said, ''any power or state in the world cannot cause me to give up Kirkuk''. Gul said, ''Turkey is not a country which is involved in battles of word with the others. Wrongful leaderships, imaginary projects, irrational actions and rhetoric slogans gave rise to serious troubles in the Middle East and especially in Iraq. Iraqi people have suffered much from it. Now, they should learn their lessons from the past.''
HIGH TRIBUNAL REJECTS REQUESTS OF OZKAN AND ONAL
The High Tribunal rejected all objections of former State Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan and former State Minister Recep Onal against legal procedures. High Tribunal Chairman Mustafa Bumin said that the objections were rejected unanimously. During the hearing, lawyers of Ozkan and Onal requested the court to separate and drop the cases. Later, the court delegation adjourned the hearing. Former ministers Ozkan and Onal are accused of alleged irregularities and abusing powers by implementing wrong and illegal policies that caused the state to lose money.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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PROSECUTOR SEEKS 32-YEAR IMPRISONMENT FOR UZAN
The Prosecutor's Office in Sisli district of Istanbul completed its investigation into Imar Bankasi which was transferred to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF). The prosecutor requested the court in his indictment that Young Party (GP) leader Cem Uzan should be sentenced to 32 years in prison on charges of corruption and forgery.
SHIP SINKS OFF SINOP
A North Korean-flagged cargo ship, Adnan 1, capsized off Boztepe Cape of northern city of Sinop in Black Sea. Two helicopters of Turkish Air Forces rescued 9 of 11 crew members of the ship. Search and rescue efforts continue to find the other 2 crew members.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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''YOU SHOULD LEARN LESSONS FROM PAST''
Referring to recent statement of Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani, Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''they (Iraqi Kurds) should learn their lessons from the past.'' Gul stressed, ''wrongful leaderships, imaginary projects, irrational actions and rhetoric slogans gave rise to serious troubles in the Middle East and especially in Iraq.''
TURKEY TO PAY COMPENSATION TO ERDOST
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that author Muzaffer Ilhan Erdost did not make separatist propaganda in his book. Under the decision made by the ECHR, Turkey will pay a compensation of 8.5 thousand euros to Erdost.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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SEZER: ''TURKEY CANNOT BE AN ISLAMIC MODEL''
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer made serious warnings during his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Sunday. President Sezer said at the meeting, ''Turkey cannot be shown as a model of moderate Islam. Turkey can be described only as a model of a secular system.''
GUL DUE TO KABUL
Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul will pay a visit to Afghanistan between February 11th and 13th. Gul is scheduled to meet President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan. He will also hold talks with Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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SECURITY WATCH FOR ISTANBUL
After a recent increase in snatch-and-run incidents in Istanbul, the Governor's office has decided to place video cameras in many locations throughout the city. ''Most crowded locations will be watched via surveillance cameras 24 hours a day,'' said Istanbul's Governor Muammer Guler.
FM GUL TO BARZANI: ''DON'T FORGET THE PAST''
Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has stated that this is the time to take lessons from the past. ''Otherwise, Iraq will be hurt,'' said Gul. Gul told that his administration does not want to get involved in any verbal war. Gul reminded Kurdish leader Barzani that Turkey wishes for all parties in Iraq to live in peace and look at Baghdad for the future.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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INDONESIAN CHILDREN TO COME TO TURKEY
A total of 100 Indonesian children, who lost their parents in December's tsunami disaster, will come to Turkey to join celebrations to mark the April 23rd National Sovereignty and Children's Festival.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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SENER: NO EARLY ELECTION IN SIGHT
Turkish Acting Prime Minister and State Minister Abdullatif Sener has said that the Turkish government has no plans for an early election. ''The EU entry negotiations scheduled to begin on October 3rd must be headed by a minister and not a bureaucrat,'' remarked Sener.
UZANS FACE UP TO 32.5 YEARS IN PRISON
Based on allegations by the Sisli Republican Prosecutor, Cem, Hakan and Kemal Uzan may face up to 32.5 years in prison. Some of the allegations state that the Uzans acted corruptly, formed a mafia gang, gave bribes to government officials and prepared fake documents.