ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on February 26th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TALABANI: ''TURKEY CONSTITUTES A MODEL''
Turkish delegation led by Osman Koruturk, the Turkish Special Envoy to Iraq, met Patriotic Union of Iraqi Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani in Iraq. Speaking at the meeting, Talabani said that Turkey constituted a significant model for the future of Iraq with its democratic and secular structure. Stressing that Kirkuk should be a ''city of fellowship'' in which Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen people and the other groups would live together, Talabani said that they considered the model of Brussels for Kirkuk.
HALACOGLU TO INFORM MPs
Turkish Institute for History Chairman Prof. Dr. Yusuf Halacoglu will inform MPs on so-called allegations of Armenian genocide at a special session at the parliament on March 2nd.
TURKISH DRIVER KILLED IN IRAQ
A Turkish driver was killed in an armed attack in Tikrit city of Iraq. He was identified as Turan Onal.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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TALABANI: TURKEY IS OUR BIGGEST GUARANTEE IN NEW PERIOD''
A Turkish delegation met Patriotic Union of Iraqi Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani in Iraq. During the meeting, Talabani gave the message that he would protect Iraq's territorial integrity. Extending their support to Turkey's EU membership process, Talabani said that an EU-member Turkey would open the gates of the Western world to them. Talabani added that Turkey would be their biggest guarantee in the new period.
NSC SHEDS GREEN LIGHT TO ANNAN
The National Security Council (NSC) convened under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Issues of Iraq, Cyprus and defense industry were high on agenda of the first meeting of the year. The statement which was released following the meeting said, ''promises given to lift the isolation of Turkish Cypriots should be kept in regard to provide a fair and lasting solution in the island. Turkey will continue supporting all initiatives for a solution under the good will mission of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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CELAL DOGAN TO FORM A POLITICAL PARTY
Celal Dogan, the former mayor of southeastern city of Gaziantep, has taken action to form a new political party within two months. Dogan held talks with Erdal Inonu, one of leading names of social democrat circle, and Kemal Dervis. Dogan is expected to announce name, program and founders of the new party in the coming days.
GENERAL BELL DUE IN TURKEY
U.S. Army Europe Commander General Burwell Bell will come to Turkey next week upon invitation of Turkish Land Forces Commander General Yasar Buyukanit. Issues such as NATO, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, recent developments in Iraq and the Incirlik Air Base in southern city of Adana are expected to be high on agenda of meetings of General Bell with high-ranging Turkish military officials.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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NSC: ''TURKEY SHOULD SET UP DIALOGUE WITH IRAQI ADMINISTRATION''
The National Security Council (NSC) convened under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday. NSC highlighted importance of Turkey's setting up close dialogue and cooperation with Iraqi administration and all sections of Iraqi people for success of the political process, success of efforts to provide lasting peace and stability in the country, and protection of national unity.
TENSION ESCALATES IN TURKEY-GERMANY RELATIONS
Allegations of so-called Armenian genocide escalated tension in bilateral relations between Turkey and Germany. Armenian lobbies' desire to change the house of German priest Johannes Lepsius into their propaganda center caused uneasiness in Ankara. German Ambassador to Turkey Wolf Ruthart Born was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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DEP WANTS FAIR TRIAL
Leyla Zana, Orhan Dogan, Hatip Dicle and Selim Sadak, the former deputies of the Democracy Party (DEP), requested the court to retry them in line with the changes in the Turkish Penal Code (TCK). Ankara High Criminal Court no: 11 continued hearing the case of former DEP deputies. During the trial, Zana and her friends requested for fair trial.
ERDOGAN DUE TO AFRICA
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will pay official visits to Ethiopia and South Africa between March 2nd and 5th, 2005. Ministers, representatives of several public institutions, businessmen and journalists would accompany Prime Minister Erdogan during his visits. Prime Minister Erdogan is scheduled to meet presidents and prime ministers of Ethiopia and South Africa. Besides bilateral relations, regional and international issues are expected to be high on agenda of his meetings.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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FAILURE OF ARMENIANS
Armenians, who filed a lawsuit at the European Court of Justice claiming that the EU violated the law by granting Turkey the status of candidacy before Turkey recognized the so-called genocide, lost their case. The court ruled that the issue was totally political. The decision of the court will constitute a model for similar lawsuits.
GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE REJECTS ERDOGAN'S PROPOSAL
The Greek Cypriot side rejected the proposal of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Earlier, Prime Minister Erdogan proposed that all parties including Turkey, Greece, Britain, the Greek Cypriot side and the Turkish Cypriot side could sit at the negotiation table to find a lasting and fair solution to the Cyprus issue.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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EXPORTS FROM SECTOR OF CHEMICALS TO INCREASE
Foreign Trade Undersecretariat Director General for Exports Ali Boga said that exports from the sector of chemicals would increase 40 percent to 7 billion U.S. dollars in 2005 under their new strategy. Exports of chemicals rose 40.4 percent to 4.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2004.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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ERDOGAN: ''FIRST, EU SHOULD TAKE STEPS FOR CYPRUS''
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey had not undertaken any legal commitment about recognition of the Greek Cypriot side. Reiterating that Turkey would continue expending efforts to find a fair and lasting solution to the Cyprus issue under the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's good will mission, Prime Minister Erdogan added that the EU should take steps for Cyprus first.