ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on March 16th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
TWO DIFFERENT DATES FOR VISIT
HURRIYET- Message by U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer about cancellation of his visit to Syria caused uneasiness at the Cankaya Presidential Palace. President Sezer told his aides that he was uneasy about messages of Edelman. Meanwhile, U.S. Embassy staff said that Edelman's message was misunderstood. On the other hand, two different dates were set for President Sezer's visit to Syria. President Sezer is expected to pay a visit to Syria between April 13th and 14th. In case of an extraordinary development, the visit will take place between April 20th and 21st.
HIGH TRIBUNAL TO LISTEN TO WITNESSES
HURRIYET- The High Tribunal will continue hearing the case of Cumhur Ersumer and Zeki Cakan, former energy and natural resources ministers, on corruption charges. The court will listen to witnesses at the hearing today. Ersumer and Cakan are accused of alleged irregularities and abusing powers by implementing wrong and illegal energy policies that caused the state to lose money. If convicted, they can face an imprisonment term of ten years.
UNIVERSITY AMNESTY APPROVED
MILLIYET- Turkish parliament overturned a presidential veto by approving an amnesty for a second time that would allow tens of thousands of students expelled from universities to return. The legislation was first submitted to the parliament in February to allow students who were dismissed from universities on academic or disciplinary grounds after June 29th, 2000, to return to school. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer vetoed the amnesty on technical grounds, saying that although it received a majority of votes from lawmakers, support from three-fifths of parliament was needed for an amnesty to become law. 349 MPs in the 550-seat parliament voted in favor of the bill, overturning the veto.
BUCKOVSKI IN ANKARA
MILLIYET- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted Macedonian Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski in Ankara yesterday. While Buckovski asked help of Prime Minister Erdogan for recognition of Macedonia by Greece with its constitutional name, Erdogan asked Buckovski to remove negative expressions in Macedonian text books about the Ottoman Empire and restore an Ottoman-era bridge built during the rule of Sultan Mehmed II the Conqueror.
THREE POLICEMEN SUSPENDED
SABAH- Three policemen who used excessive force against women during a demonstration in Istanbul on March 6th to mark the International Women's Day, were suspended. They were accused of violating their duties.
GUL: ''EVENTS DAMAGED TURKEY'S INTERNATIONAL IMAGE''
SABAH- Gul admitted that heavy-handed police action last week to control a women's rights demonstration on the eve of talks with top EU officials and ministers had damaged Turkey's international image. In an interview with the Financial Times, Gul said, ''any police found guilty of violating their responsibilities will be punished. We cannot hide this thing. It happened. A full investigation is under way, and its results will be announced in a few days. It is not up to the police to administer punishment, but merely to curb violence.''
SHARIA: AN INTIMATE THREAT
CUMHURIYET- The Supreme Court of Appeals approved the imprisonment sentence of Mehmet Sevket Eygi, a columnist of the Milli Gazete daily. In its reasoned verdict, the court said that it was impossible to underrate Sharia Islamic law which poses an intimate threat against the democratic and secular structure of the Republic of Turkey.
THREE POLICEMEN SUSPENDED
CUMHURIYET- Turkish police suspended three officers accused of using excessive force to break up a demonstration marking International Women's Day. They were suspended pending the outcome of a police investigation. In fact, 100 officers intervened in the demonstrators.
NEW TCK THREATENS FREEDOM OF PRESS
RADIKAL- The new Penal Code (TCK) will bring back the imprisonment terms which were lifted by the Press Law on June 26th, 2004. For instance, the term of ''suicide'' disturbs order of the Press Law. Also, any article defending euthanasia or extension of legal period for abortion may be considered causes of punishment. The new TCK will come into force on April 1st.
AN INVITATION FROM IRAN
RADIKAL- Iran is ranked the fifth among countries sending the highest numbers of tourists to Turkey. Nearly 500 thousand Iranian tourists visit Turkey every year. However, only 10 thousand Turkish tourists, mostly businessmen go to Iran. Iran wants Turkey to send more tourists.
GUL DENIES CLAIMS OF SLOWDOWN IN REFORMS
TURKIYE- Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul rejected suggestions that his government was suffering from ''reform fatigue'', stressing that preparations to launch membership negotiations with the European Union (EU) in October were on track. In an interview with the Financial Times, Gul said, ''we know that implementation of the reforms is most important. We will continue. There is no way to stop this. We are strong, and definitely we will continue. We are the owners of the process. We are very much proud of it.''
UNAKITAN TO RING OPENING BELL OF NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
TURKIYE- Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan will hold a series of meetings with representatives of leading portfolio and strategic investment organizations of the United States in New York. He will also ring the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday.
ECHR FINDS TURKEY GUILTY IN CASE OF SINCAN
ZAMAN- The European Court of Human Rights ruled that a group of activists convicted in Turkey of having supported the illegal organization of Hezbollah didn't receive a fair trial before an independent and impartial tribunal. Five people including former mayor of Sincan district of Ankara were sentenced to prison terms ranging from three years to 17 years by the State Security Court for helping organize a cultural night in 1997 where participants called for Islamic rule in the country. ECHR ruled unanimously the group's rights had been violated by the presence of the military judge in the court delegation.
TURKISH TO BECOME OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IN MACEDONIA
YENI SAFAK- Macedonian Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski, who is currently paying a state visit to Turkey, said that Turkish would become one of official languages in Macedonia, and negative expressions in text books about the Ottoman Empire would be removed.