ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on March 19th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
CONFESSION FROM WRITER OF ''BLUE BOOK''
HURRIYET- British historian Arnold Toynbee, the writer of the ''Blue Book'' shown as an evidence of Armenian allegations, confessed in his memoirs that they wouldn't have written the book if they had known that it was being prepared for propaganda. In his ''Recollections'' written in 1966 and translated into Turkish, Toynbee, who died in 1975, confessed, ''the Armenians were after their political ideals since Turkish-Russian War of 1877-78. They hoped that they could establish a state like the Greek. The political intentions of the Greek and Armenians did not have any legitimacy because both groups were minorities. They aimed to divide the empire. Turks discovered that the local Armenians could work as 'fifth wing' for the Russians. So, Turks decided to send away the Armenians from the war zone. This can be considered as a security measure. Some other governments made similar decisions under similar circumstances. For example, when the Japanese attacked the United States in Pearl Harbor, the United States forced citizens of Japanese origin to migrate.''
U.S. AMBASSADOR RESIGNED AFTER REACTIONS
HURRIYET- U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman, who faced reactions of many people and institutions due to his assessments about President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's scheduled visit to Damascus, resigned. Edelman will depart from Ankara in June.
''U'' TURN FROM ERGEZEN REGARDING QUAKE
MILLIYET- Public Works & Housing Minister Zeki Ergezen had said that 72 percent of buildings in a city would be demolished in a 6.3-magnitude earthquake. However yesterday, Ergezen said, ''there is not only one city. The majority of the rural area is in that condition.''
TEARS FOR HEROES
MILLIYET- Emotional moments were experienced during the ceremonies held to mark the 90th anniversary of the Canakkale Victory and the Martyrs' Day. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also cried when he was watching the show which enacted Corporal Seyit as lifting a cannon of 276 kilograms.
U.S. EMBASSY TO BE EMPTIED
SABAH- U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman handed over his resignation to U.S. President George Bush on March 11th. He will most probably be appointed as the third dignity in Pentagon. Also, the second important dignity in the U.S. Embassy Deutch and political affairs counselor will also leave the Embassy.
ALSO CHIEFS LAID OFF
SABAH- Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said that senior police officers had been laid off in Kiziltepe and Van due to their stance during March 8th International Women's Day after lay-off of six policemen.
DAY OF HONOR
CUMHURIYET- Turkish citizens rushed into Aegean city of Canakkale for the celebrations held to mark the 90th anniversary of the Canakkale Victory. Speaking during the ceremony, Canakkale Mayor Gokhan said, ''what made Canakkale unpassable is the spirit of freedom and independence.''
EDELMAN TO LEAVE IN JUNE
CUMHURIYET- U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman, who drew reactions of Turkish public with his statements and behaviors, decided to resign from his post in Turkey and the U.S. Department of State as of June. But, sources said that Edelman sent his resignation to U.S. President George Bush on March 11th, i.e. before the speculations about President Sezer's visit to Damascus.
U.S. WAITS FOR INCIRLIK PERMIT
RADIKAL- The United States thinks that the permit for logistic use of Incirlik base (in southern city of Adana) has not been delayed by the soldiers. A high-level U.S. source said that Turkish Armed Forces was allowing use of Incirlik for solely logistic purposes (transfer of equipment to Afghanistan and Iraq). The same source added, ''the decision of the government is being awaited.''
HE IS GOING ON JULY 1ST
RADIKAL- U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman will resign from his mission in Turkey and the U.S. Department of State as of July 1st. Sources said that Edelman wanted to work in Pentagon or private sector.
MARTRYS' MEMORIAL OPENED
TURKIYE- The Martyrs' Memorial built in the memory of 253,000 martyrs was opened by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday. The memorial started to be constructed on April 19th, 1954.
HOPES FADED
TURKIYE- 15 people are still buried under the soil after the landslide in Kuzulu region of Sugozu village of Koyulhisar. However, search and rescue efforts can't be exerted as new landslides occur in the region.
ERIC EDELMAN TO RESIGN IN JUNE
ZAMAN- U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman decided to resign from the U.S. Department of State and his mission in Turkey in June. Edelman sent a resignation to U.S. President George Bush in which he said that his decision had nothing to do with bilateral relations between Turkey and the United States.
PARLIAMENT TO OPEN HIZBULLAH FILE
ZAMAN- Turkish parliament decided to investigate the terrorist organization Hizbullah. Parliamentary Human Rights Commission has asked all governor's and subgovernor's offices in the Southeastern Anatolia Region to send information and documents about this terrorist organization.
GUL: WE HAVE SET OUR IRAQ POLICY TOGETHER WITH GENERAL STAFF
YENI SAFAK- Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that the information he gave about foreign policy developments was reflected wrongly in the media, and added, ''Turkey's Iraq policy has been elaborated by joint efforts of all the state institutions, particularly my ministry and the General Staff.''