ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on February 21st, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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VOTES FOR TALAT BOOM IN TRNC
The Republican Turkish Party (CTP) got the highest number of votes in the general election held in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) yesterday (Sunday). CTP leader Mehmet Ali Talat has to form a coalition government although he has won 44.45 percent of the votes of Turkish Cypriots.
EROGLU AIMS TO EARN 300 MLN EUROS IN EUROPE WITH BIGSTAR
The Eroglu Group, which has made ''Collins'' the number one jean trademark in Russia in a short time, bought the world-famous ''Bigstar'' of Switzerland to have more share in European markets. Nurettin Eroglu, chairman of the executive board of Eroglu Group, said that purchasing Bigstar, one of the ten most famous jean trademarks in the world, was a chance for their company and Turkey, and added, ''we target to have a 300 million Euro turnover in Europe within five years.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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TELEPHONES TAPED AGAIN
Telephone tapping is the method mostly preferred by the security forces. 22,938 telephones were tapped in 2004 upon court decision. Responding to a question motion submitted by Atilla Kart, a parliamentarian from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that mainly cell phones were taped in Turkey. According to this response, 7,080 telephones were taped in 2002 upon court decision and this number was 7,794 in 2003. 19,628 cell phones were taped in 2004, while the number of normal telephones taped decreased.
WOMEN'S TOUCH ON NSC
Fusun Aslantosun, a Turkish woman, was appointed as the deputy chairperson of the department of cultural, scientific and educational search and assessment of the National Security Council (NSC). The number of women personnel in the NSC has increased to 40 percent after Yigit Alpogan was appointed as the Secretary General of this Council.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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FIRST SIGNALS IN TRNC: CTP+DP
The Republican Turkish Party (CTP) of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) gained a victory in the general election held in this country, and won 25 seats at the 50-seat parliament.
AUTOMOBILES TO BE DRIVEN FOR TURKISH-GREEK FRIENDSHIP
General Motors (GM) Turkey has organized a special test driving between (Turkish commercial hub of) Istanbul and Greece in order to contribute to bilateral relations. The Greeks will be in Turkey at the end of March. The GM Turkey will host representatives of the Greek automotive media in Istanbul at the end of March. These Greek representatives and Turkish journalists will have a test drive towards Thessaloniki.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TALAT WINNER OF ELECTIONS AGAIN
The Republican Turkish Party (CTP) led by Mehmet Ali Talat won the early general election in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). CTP won 25 seats at the 50-seat parliament, gaining 44.45 percent of the votes. National Unity Party (UBP) of Dervis Eroglu became the second winner of the elections with 31.71 percent, while Democrat Party (DP) of Serdar Denktas became the third with 13.49 percent.
NO BUSH-ERDOGAN MEETING
Heads of state and government of 26 countries will attend NATO Transatlantic Summit to be held in Brussels tomorrow. U.S. President George Bush and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend the same meeting in Brussels in days when there are problems between the United States and Justice & Development Party (AK Party) government. But, there is not any meeting with Erdogan in Bush's schedule. On the other hand, Erdogan insists that there is not any tension in Turkish-U.S. relations.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TALAT WINS VICTORY
The Republican Turkish Party (CTP) led by Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat won 44 percent of the votes in the general election held in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Talat said, ''we will be everybody's government. TRNC people have shown their will.'' CTP won 25 seats at the TRNC parliament comprised of 50 seats. National Unity Party (UBP) of Dervis Eroglu will have 18 seats at the parliament, while 6 of the parliamentarians will be from the Democrat Party (DP) of Serdar Denktas. Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH) will have only one representative at the TRNC parliament.
TWO VISITS TO UNITED STATES
Turkish-U.S. relations will be debated by the National Security Council (NSC). Turkish Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Tuygan and NSC Secretary General Alpogan will go to the United States next month. Turkish-U.S. relations which have tensed up due to the criticisms of Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Justice & Development Party (AKP) will top the agenda of the NSC meeting to be held on February 25th. The Council will discuss initiatives to be launched to normalize the relations. After this NSC meeting, Tuygan and Alpogan will visit the United States.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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NO PROBLEM WITH UNITED STATES
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey's relations with the United States which had strategic importance continued in a positive way. Erdogan denied the speculations about the statement made by the White House regarding anti-U.S. thoughts in Turkey. When asked if Turkey's relations with the United States would be cut, Erdogan said, ''there is no such thing. We have rooted relations with the United States, stemming from the history. In this context, everything is positive. Official views are expressed by officials in our bilateral relations. We expressed our views during U.S. Secretary of State Rice's visit to Turkey. And, so there are not any problems.''
BLACK MONEY TO BE UNDER INVESTIGATION
Turkey is getting prepared to fight against black money, especially money earned from illicit drug trafficking. In this context, a new legal arrangement will be submitted to the parliament and everything will be recorded in electronic environment. New experts will be recruited.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKISH CYPRIOTS PREFERRED SOLUTION
Republican Turkish Party (CTP) of Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) won a victory in the early elections, by gaining 44.4 percent of all the votes. Democrat Party, the other partner of current coalition government in TRNC, won 13.5 percent of votes. Holding a press conference after (unofficial) election results were announced, Talat said that views and vision that Turkish Cypriots showed during April 24th referenda in the island in which Annan plan was voted, were still valid.
PARLIAMENT TO CLOSELY MONITOR KIZILTEPE CASE
The Parliamentary Human Rights Commission, which has started to investigate all the unsolved murders in Southeastern Anatolia, will also be after the Kiziltepe case which occurred three months ago. The Commission will closely monitor the lawsuit in which security forces will be tried on charges of killing Ahmet Kaymaz and his son in Kiziltepe town of southeastern city of Mardin.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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SECOND TALAT ERA IN TRNC
Those who are supporting ''a solution in TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus)'' won a victory in the general elections held in this country yesterday (Sunday). Mehmet Ali Talat, leader of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP), won 44 percent of votes and managed to have 25 representatives in TRNC parliament. On the other hand, Serdar Denktas, leader of the Democrat Party (DP), will have 6 representatives in the parliament, winning 13 percent of the votes. Dervis Eroglu's National Unity Party (UBP) will be represented by 18 people at the parliament, while the Peace & Democracy Movement (BDH) will have only one deputy.
STUDENT PARDON TO BE SUBMITTED THIS WEEK
The draft law envisaging student pardon will be submitted to the parliament this week. The draft law is expected to be discussed on February 28th. It provides students who were dismissed from the universities as of June 29th, 2000 with the right to undergo three new examinations.