ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on March 24th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
THE BEST REPLY TO TRAITORS
HURRIYET- After certain individuals tried to burn the Turkish flag in Mersin during Nevruz celebrations, millions of Turks reacted to the incident by placing the Turkish flag in their balconies and on their cars. It was red and white everywhere in Turkey.
TURKISH TRADE WITH MOROCCO TO REACH 3 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS
HURRIYET- Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said yesterday (Wednesday) that the present volume of trade with Morocco (1 billion U.S. dollar) will reach approximately 3 billion U.S. dollars by 2007. ''Once the Free Trade Agreement (STA) with Morocco goes into effect, we will see a tremendous increase in our trade with Morocco.''
300 STUDENTS ON FAULT LINE
MILLIYET- Prof. Dr. Okan Tuysuz, the director of the Istanbul University Institute for Geology, visited Karliova and Yedisu towns of eastern city of Bingol. Noting that they expected an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.0 to occur in Yedisu, Prof. Dr. Tuysuz said that the town was built on Yedisu Fault Line. ''There is a school in Yedisu with 300 students. The building is likely to be demolished in such an earthquake. Measures should be taken immediately.''
NO PROGRESS AT ALL
MILLIYET- German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said that Turkey has failed to put the reforms into force. In response, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed that such criticisms against Turkey were unacceptable.
IMF DELEGATION DUE IN TURKEY
MILLIYET- State Minister Ali Babacan said that International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation would come to Turkey in April to update the letter of intent. Babacan noted that the economic projection and schemes in the letter of intent would be renewed.
WHO ''ADVISED'' THE CHILDREN TO BURN THE TURKISH FLAG?
SABAH- Three teenage children have been arrested in Mersin with charges of burning the Turkish flag during Nevruz celebrations. A suspect, whom authorities believe to have advised the children to burn the Turkish flag, is still at-large.
Meanwhile, Turkish Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) has announced on Wednesday that it will send a team of political experts to investigate the burning of the Turkish flag in Mersin.
SECURE TAXIS COMING UP SOON
SABAH- After series of murders of Taxi drivers, Istanbul Mayor Kadir Topbas and his aides are now working on a ''Secure Taxi'' project. Among the considered automobiles are those of Toyota, Peugeot, Renault, Hyundai and Fiat.
REACTIONS TO THE NEW TURKISH PENAL CODE BY JOURNALISTS
CUMHURIYET- New restrictions on Turkish media and press have been protested strongly in Istanbul and Izmir. Many journalists carried banners protesting the government's stance on the media. One banner read: ''Turkey should not be left without news.''
FEMALE JUNIOR OFFICERS IN THE TURKISH GENDARMERIE
CUMHURIYET- According to a statement issued by the Turkish Gendarmerie Command in Ankara, the Gendarmerie is now accepting applications from prospective female junior officers. Some of the currently serving female junior officers have graduate degrees.
''WE COULD NOT REACH OUR TARGET IN UNEMPLOYMENT''
RADIKAL- Holding a news conference together with Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''we have been strictly applying the economic program. The problem in current deficit is not serious. However, we have problems about unemployment. We should increase investments to resolve the problem of unemployment.''
''DELAY IN FISCAL REFORMS COULD ENDANGER TURKEY'S PROGRESS
RADIKAL- Turkish Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti said, ''further delay in completing the fiscal reforms required to seal the 10 billion U.S. dollars Stand-by deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would endanger Turkey's progress in stabilizing its economy''. In an interview with the Financial Times, Serdengecti said, ''the reforms, which were promised by the Justice & Development Party (AKP) government, but yet to be finalized, were essential to the bank's continued ability to reduce inflation and interest rates''.
GREAT SOLIDARITY
TURKIYE- Houses and streets were decorated with the red crescent-and-star flag of Turkey throughout Turkey to protest burning of the flag during a demonstration in southern city of Mersin on March 20th to mark Nevruz, the advent of spring. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned the Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) to be more cautious.
''THE ISSUE OF IRAQ IS A STATE POLICY''
TURKIYE- General Staff Chief Gen. Hilmi Ozkok said that there have been very good relations between the General Staff and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, adding, ''the issue of Iraq is a state policy.'' Gen. Ozkok attended the reception held to mark the National Day of Pakistan. Upon a question of journalists about Turkey's Iraq policy, Gen. Ozkok said that there has been a sound cooperation between the General Staff and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the issue of Iraq.
ERDOGAN SUES SATIRICAL MAGAZINE PENGUEN
TURKIYE- Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan filed a lawsuit against the satirical magazine Penguen which published drawings of his face on the bodies of animals such as elephant, giraffe, monkey, camel, frog, snake, cow and duck. Earlier, Erdogan sued cartoonist Musa Kart, saying he was humiliated by Kart's cartoon portraying him as a cat entangled in a ball of wool. Now, Erdogan is suing Erdil Yasaroglu, the owner of Penguen, seeking 40,000 New Turkish Lira.
GENERAL OZKOK: ''WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE TURKISH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ON THE ISSUE OF IRAQ''
ZAMAN- After Turkish Land Forces Commander General Yasar Buyukanit made some remarks on Turkey's policy vis-a-vis Iraq, Chief of Staff General Hilmi Ozkok remarked that General Buyukanit made comments related to his position in the Turkish Armed Forces. ''We are working very closely with the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the issue of Iraq.''
SERDENGECTI: ''DELAYS IN REFORMS ARE A MATTER OF CONCERN''
ZAMAN- Turkish Central Bank President Sureyya Serdengecti has remarked that the delays in reforms necessary for the signing of a new stand-by agreement with the IMF. ''Such delays send wrong signals to foreign investors.''
HIGH TRIBUNAL TO LISTEN TO EIGHT WITNESSES TODAY
YENI SAFAK- The High Tribunal will continue hearing the cases of former Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and former State Minister Gunes Taner. The Constitutional Court delegation acting as the High Tribunal will listen to eight people as witness. Yilmaz and Taner are accused of alleged irregularities and abusing powers by implementing wrong and illegal policies that caused the state to lose money. If convicted, the two may face up to 10 years in prison.