ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on March 5th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
TURKISH AGRICULTURAL FIRM MAKES A REVOLUTION
HURRIYET- Alara Tarim (Alara Agriculture) Company has made a revolution in the area of figs and cherries. The Turkish Alara has made exports of cherries to Europe, the United States, Hong Kong and South Africa worth of 37 million U.S. dollars last year (2004). ''Our target in 2006 is to reach an export amount of 49 million U.S. dollars. Alara has become a ''king of cherries. Our world loves Anatolian cherry,'' said one company official.
TURKISH PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION ON SPORTS MAKES A KICK-OFF TO DEAL WITH POSSIBLE CORRUPTNESS IN CERTAIN GAMES
HURRIYET- A source from the Turkish parliamentary commission on sports indicated that his commission is now scrutinizing all of the football games played in Turkey between 2000-2004 to determine if any corruptness occurred in this field in Turkey. ''We have received information that the scores of a few games were actually decided on table before the game actually kicked-off.''
MANDELA MAKES AN APOLOGY FROM THE TURKS
MILLIYET- The former head of state of South Africa Nelson Mandela has made an official apology to Turkey yesterday (Friday) for refusing the Ataturk International Peace Award that was presented to him in 1992. ''I now know that Ataturk was a great leader. Ataturk's principles and the visions of Turkey are making our future brighter,'' told Mandela.
ISTANBUL POLICE VERY CLOSE TO CAPTURING A SUSPECT ON THE COUNTERFEIT RAKI CASE....
MILLIYET- Turkish Police of Istanbul has issued a statement yesterday (Friday) indicating that their intelligence is very close to capturing a suspect Ertan Sadubak accused of producing and distributing counterfeit raki in Anatolia. So far, there have been at least 15 deaths reported that were caused by the counterfeit raki.
A HEATED DERBY GAME TO TAKE PLACE BETWEEN GALATASARAY AND BESIKTAS TONIGHT
SABAH- Turkey has stopped breathing and is looking forward to tonight's football derby between the two Istanbul clubs, namely Galatasaray and Besiktas. The two historical rivals will try to beat one another in order to improve their chances for the championship. Almost 95 percent of the tickets were sold as of yesterday (Friday). According to club officials, over 100 million Turks worldwide will watch tonight's game via satellite.
Galatasaray Coach Romanian Gheorghe Hagi has stated that tonight's game between the two Istanbul teams will likely determine the champion of the Turkish Super League in 2005. ''Yes, we will attack Besiktas with our solid offense. Galatasaray fans are strongly wishing for a championship in 2005 which marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Galatasaray,'' told Hagi.
A Galatasaray official remarked that Galatasaray formerly won the UEFA Cup and the Super Cup in Europe. ''Continue to watch us Galatasaray and you will enjoy our games even more so than in the past. We have very interesting projects coming up to carry Galatasaray to a better status in global football.''
Meanwhile, Besiktas Coach Riza Calimbay has stated that Besiktas is ready to face Galatasaray bravely and will not be pleased with any score other than a win. ''Surely, we want the best team today to win. Yet we are wishing to play a good game and leave the stadium with three points,'' stressed Calimbay.
Both Galatasaray and Besiktas have fans around the world. A Turkish Football Federation source expressed that the total number of fans of these two Turkish teams are over 41 million globally.
SABANCI BELIEVES BABACAN SHOULD NOT BE THE CHIEF NEGOTIATOR FOR TURKEY IN ITS JOURNEY TO THE EU MEMBERSHIP
SABAH- Sabanci Holding CEO Guler Sabanci has made an evaluation of the government after the December 17th summit in Brussels. Sabanci indicated that the Turkish government is progressing in the right direction. ''However, State Minister Ali Babacan should not become the chief negotiator for Turkey as Mr. Babacan is too precious as the minister in charge of Turkish economy. We believe that it would be close to impossible to replace Babacan with an identical minister.''
DEATH TOLL RISES TO 15
CUMHURIYET- Three more people died raising to 15 the number of deaths blamed on illegally produced raki, a popular anise-flavored drink. Police have raided underground distilleries in Istanbul and other cities, confiscating thousands of bottles of illegally produced raki, apparently made using methyl alcohol.
HISTORIC CONFESSION FROM GREEK CYPRIOTS
CUMHURIYET- Justice & Public Order Minister Doros Theodorou of the Greek Cypriot side confessed that Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos' tactics in the Cyprus issue had been insolubility so far. In an interview with the Alithia newspaper, Theodorou said that they were planning to refrain from negotiations till October 3rd.
DENKTAS: ''TALAT WOULD HAVE GONE CRAZY IF HE WATCHED MY SHOW''
RADIKAL- Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas has assigned the formation of a new government in TRNC to Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat yesterday (Friday). Talat informed Denktas that he did not watch a Turkish weekly TV show ''Kurtlar Vadisi'' in which the TRNC President Denktas took part. Denktas, in return, said that ''if Mr. Talat had watched my show, he would have gone crazy over my performance and would have been jealous.''
TURKISH GOVERNMENT: NO, THANK YOU....
RADIKAL- Turkish government authorities have stated that there is no longer a need for a one billion U.S. dollar grant to cover the losses caused by the war in Iraq. ''We appreciate the U.S. government's kindness in offering us a grant. But, there is no longer a need for such a grant. We thank the U.S administration.''
ICE MELTS BETWEEN TURKEY AND SOUTH AFRICA
TURKIYE- Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to South Africa has helped break the ice between the two countries. Turkish authorities reversed a former decision on not permitting South African companies participate in a military tender on offensive helicopters. According to the Turkish government's new decision, South African defense companies will be able to submit bids in Turkish defense related tenders.
ERDOGAN: ''A CHANGE IN CABINET IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY''
TURKIYE- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that a change in the Turkish cabinet is highly unlikely. ''Surveys conducted by some private groups in Turkey indicate that the overall majority of Turks support our administration and are very happy....'' Meanwhile, the Turkish government has rejected a credit of 8,5 billion U.S. dollars from the American administration due to ''political'' reasons, reported the Turkiye newspaper.
KUTLUAY SAYS HE MAY ACCEPT AN OFFER FROM FENERBAHCE
ZAMAN- One of the best Turkish basketball players in the world, Ibrahim Kutluay recently went to Greece to play in one of Greece's best teams, namely Panathinaikos. ''I am very happy to be playing basketball in Greece. If I receive an offer from Fenerbahce at the end of this season, I would be pleased to consider Fenerbahce's offer,'' said Kutluay. Kutluay formerly played in the NBA before going to Athens.
ISTANBUL MAYOR'S OFFICE: ''DO NOT LEAVE YOUR TRASH BAGS ON THE STREETS BEFORE TIME''
ZAMAN- Trying to reach EU standards on environmental matters, Istanbul Mayor's Office has requested from Istanbul residents not to place trash bags on the streets before the daily pick up of trash bags by municipal authorities. ''The current penalty for leaving your trash bags on the street is about 124 YTL. So far, 12 residents have been fined for leaving their trash bags on the various Istanbul streets.''
GOODBYE TO ''GREEN'' PASSPORT
YENI SAFAK- The Turkish Parliamentary Commission on Internal Affairs will soon make proposals to change the regulations on passports distributed to Turkish citizens. Only a very selective group of Turkish citizens will be able to carry red and green passports. Currently, approximately 2,5 million Turks are using red and green passports. In order to receive a green passport, a public employee must be a level 'one' bureaucrat. With the changes in regulations, only about 90,000 Turks will be able to carry red or green passports.
ERDOGAN: ''A CHANGE IN THE CABINET IS NOT LIKELY BEFORE THE ELECTIONS''
YENI SAFAK- During his visit to South Africa, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan remarked that a change in the Turkish cabinet is not likely before the elections. ''Turkey is on the right track, economically, socially, politically and diplomatically. Why should we make a change in a cabinet that has been so successful in getting Turkey to EU standards both domestically and internationally?''