ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on March 20th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
SHOCKING OPERATION ON ''ENDUSTRI HOLDING''
HURRIYET- Ertekin, the former chairman of the Executive Board of ''Endustri Holding'' which embezzled 250 million DM of thousands of Turkish people living in foreign countries, was detained. There are some bank officials and bureaucrats among 32 people who were taken into custody in Ankara, Istanbul, Konya, Izmir and Afyon.
OBSTACLE BEFORE PROPERTY SALE TO FOREIGNERS TO HARM ECONOMY
HURRIYET- Oktay Varlier, the Chairman of Tourism Investors Association (TYD), reacted to the cancellation of the 19th article of the law allowing foreigners to buy properties in Turkey, and said, ''banning property sale to foreigners will harm the country's economy, and creates a negative image for Turkey, which is trying to democratize.''
SADDENING WAITING
MILLIYET- Search and rescue efforts were launched at last after the landslide which occurred in central city of Sivas three days ago. But, according to experts, it is a miracle to pull alive 15 people who are trapped under the soil. Citizens who are watching the efforts are expecting the teams to find their relatives either dead or alive.
''I WILL ALWAYS BE A FRIEND''
MILLIYET- U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman told Milliyet daily that he and his wife Trish would always be the friends of Turkey. Edelman said, ''I will always contribute to Turkish-U.S. relations whether I work for the government or the private sector.''
NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD BE RESUMED
SABAH- Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos took a surprising step after increasing pressure. Writing a letter to United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan, Papadopoulos demanded that negotiations be resumed again. This matter is expected to discussed during (Greek PM) Caramanlis-(Turkish PM) Erdogan meeting to be held in Brussels tomorrow (Monday).
HE RETURNED TO ANAP WITH HIS HANDS IN AIR
SABAH- (Independent parliamentarian) Erkan Mumcu (who resigned from the ruling Justice & Development Party in recent days) and three other parliamentarians joined the Motherland Party (ANAP) with a ceremony. Mumcu, who spoke in the ceremony, hailed the members of the party as (Turgut) Ozal (who was the founder of the party and then was elected as the prime minister and the president) used to do.
''OCCUPATION SHOULD BE ENDED''
CUMHURIYET- Thousands of anti-war demonstrators gathered in Kadikoy district of Istanbul on the second anniversary of U.S. occupation of Iraq. These demonstrators demanded that the occupation be ended as soon as possible, and asked the United States to withdraw from the region.
EU INCREASES PRESSURE
CUMHURIYET- European Parliament President Joseph Borrell said that Turkey should recognize Cyprus. Borrell said, ''if you negotiate with somebody, you recognize him/her.'' On the other hand, Schulz, the chairman of the social democrats, said that their reservations to this matter were increasing gradually, and asked Turkey to recognize Cyprus within the framework of international law.
ERKAN MUMCU ANAP MEMBER OFFICIALLY
RADIKAL- (Independent parliamentarian) Erkan Mumcu joined the Motherland Party (ANAP) with three more parliamentarians. Mumcu, who has declared his candidacy for ANAP leadership, said, ''I want to complete Ozal (who was the founder of the party and then was elected as the prime minister and the president) mission.''
NUCLEAR AND KYOTO IN 2012
RADIKAL- According to the program Turkish Energy & Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler will announce in Paris, we will get acquainted with ''nuclear'' with Kyoto Protocol in 2012.
DOPING TO TOURISM
TURKIYE- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''VAT (Value Added Tax) in tourism will be reduced from 18 to 8 percent.'' Erdogan gave this good news when he met representatives of tourism sector in southern city of Antalya.
ISRAELI AMBASSADOR: WE WAIT FOR ERDOGAN
TURKIYE- Israeli Ambassador to Turkey Avivi said, ''Mr. Erdogan's visit to Israel will give a new momentum to Palestinian-Israeli peace and bilateral relations.''
RUSSIA WANTS REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP WITH TURKEY
ZAMAN- Russian Ambassador to Turkey Peter Stegny said that it was not a dream to increase the current 10 billion USD trade volume between Turkey and Russia to 25 billion USD in the medium term. Speaking in a meeting held by the Business Life Solidarity Association (ISHAD), Stegny said that Russia aimed to take joint action with Turkey for regional partnership.
SEARCHES CONTINUE FOR 15 PEOPLE UNDER SOIL
ZAMAN- Efforts have been launched to find 15 people who were trapped under soil due to the landslide which occurred in Sugozu village in Koyulhisar town of central city of Sivas. 27 houses were buried under soil due to the landslide which occurred in the village which was comprised of 57 houses.
HISTORICAL BUILDINGS TO BE PROTECTED
YENI SAFAK- The Directorate General of Foundations will launch initiatives for safeguard of Ottoman buildings in foreign countries. Yusuf Beyazit, the Director General of Foundations, said, ''we will restore these buildings by sending architects and historians.''