ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on March 26th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
CUKUROVA HOLDING SELLS ITS MOST VALUABLE ASSET
HURRIYET- Cukurova Holding, sells Turkcell Holding to Swedish Sonera Holding. Sonera will buy 52 percent of Turkcell by paying 3.1 billion US dollars.
World giant Swedish Sonera Holding, with its 51.4 million subscribers, thus will become the ruler of Turkcell, which it is already a share partner.
SARIGUL EXPELLED FROM CHP
HURRIYET- Republican People`s Party (CHP) Disciplinary Board decided to expel Sisli Mayor Mustafa Sarigul from the party.
The decision was taken unanimously, said officials.
Sarigul was expelled from the party in line with CHP regulation`s articles on `offenses of members`.
WE WILL WIN THIS GAME, THERE IS NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE
MILLIYET- Turkish national football team will take on Albania in the 18th World Cup European U-21 Championship qualifiers.
The match will start at 20.00 local time in Inonu Stadium. Turkey`s sole target is to get three points in the match.
FRIENDLY CONVERSATION
MILLIYET- Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said ``Turkey and Romania are two friendly and allied countries. There has been a sound political and economic cooperation between our two countries.``
Gul and Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu of Romania, who is currently in Ankara on an official visit, held a joint news conference after their tete-a-tete meeting.
Gul said, ``Turkey and Romania are two friendly and allied countries. There has been a sound political and economic cooperation between our two countries. The trade volume increased to 3 billion U.S. dollars, and investments by Turkish businessmen in Romania rose to 800 million U.S. dollars.``
FULL STAFF EXPEL TO SARIGUL
SABAH- Republican People`s Party (CHP) Disciplinary Board decided to expel Sisli Mayor Mustafa Sarigul from the party unanimously. Also CHP Central Executive Board dismissed 11 provincial administrations which oppose CHP leader Deniz Baykal.
SUPPLEMENTARY PROTOCOL PROCESS STARTS
SABAH- Ankara wanted the EU to send agreement text which will start the process of inclusion of Cyprus in Customs Union Protocol before October 3rd.
TURKCELL IS FINNISH`S
SABAH- Turkcell`s partner TeliaSonera bought 27 percent share of the company and held the administration of the company.
DOUBLE SUBMISSION
CUMHURIYET- Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey will take Cyprus within the scope of Customs Union, stating that, ``we are waiting for a letter from the European Union (EU) about exchange of letters.``
The government adopted the protocol which makes Greek Cypriot administration a side to Ankara Agreement dated 1963 which forms the basis of Turkey`s relations with the EU. Inclusion of Greek Cypriot side with the name of ``Cyprus Republic`` brings recognition discussions.
The government, which wants to soften relations which were tensed with the United States, seeks for a formula to allow Incirlik as a logistic center.
Officials have been working on an agreement to determine the conditions and scope of the permission to be given to the United States.
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME TO START ON MARCH 27TH
CUMHURIYET- Daylight saving time will start through the end of March. The standard time will be set forward by one hour at 01.00 a.m. on Sunday, March 27th.
The daylight saving time will end on October 30th, 2005 by setting back the standard time by one hour at 02.00 a.m.
A total of 6.2 billion kilowatt/hour of energy has been saved with summer-time practice from 1990 to 2003.
TELIASONERA TO BE NEW BOSS OF TURKCELL
RADIKAL- Cukurova Holding sold the shares of GSM operator Turkcell to pay the debt of the group to the bank Yapý Kredi and Saving Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF). The Finnish-Swedish company TeliaSonera have got 64.3 percent of the GSM operator Turkcell in return of paying 3.1 billion dollars to Karamehmet.
GOOD NEWS FOR FOUNDATION OF TURKISH ARMENIANS
RADIKAL- Finance Ministry has not approved the sale of seven-storey building belonging to Surp Pirgic Hospital Foundation. Bedros Sirinoglu, the director of the foundation said that ``we are very happy, thank you.``
TURKEY SINGLE HEART
TURKIYE- Reactions against attempt to burn Turkish flag during Nevruz celebrations are increasing. Turkish people who shout slogans all over the country have become a single heart against ugly attempt.
JUNTA`S DECISION
TURKIYE- Republican People`s Party (CHP) Disciplinary Board decided to expel Sisli Mayor Mustafa Sarigul from the party. Sarigul said, ``the decision which was taken by junta will be returned by Turkish laws.``
KYRGYZS PROTECT TURKISH SCHOOLS
ZAMAN- The plane which carried diplomats delegation headed by first Turkish Ambassador in Bishkek Metin Goker to Kyrgyzstan departed for Turkey by taking nearly 100 Turks most of whom are women and children. Goker said they arrived in Bishkek to assess the situation in the country. Kyrgyz-Turkish schools in Kyrgyzstan are pursuing their education without any problem.
ERDOGAN:WE WILL NOT SLOW DOWN IN ECONOMY
YENI SAFAK- Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the government would not slow down its pace in economic reforms and that the government would do its utmost to make the Turkish economy get its place among the strong economies of the world. Erdogan stressed that there was strong economy, strong government, resolution, stability and discipline in Turkey.
WE EXPECT LETTER FROM EU
YENI SAFAK- Turkey gave the message to the European Union (EU) that it was ready regarding the start of signing process of Additional Protocol extending Turkey`s customs union to 10 new European Union members including the Greek Cypriot side. Prime Minister Erdogan said that ``we expect the letter from EU.``