ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on April 1st, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
WE PASSED CHINA AND OECD RECORD IN GROWTH
HURRIYET- Turkey, which broke double record in economy in 2004, grew by 9.9 percent and the national income per capita rose to 4,172 USD. Turkish economy grew by 9.9 percent in 2004, and reached the most rapid growth rate of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). On the other hand, a record was broken in the national income per capita thanks to this growth rate.
TCK DELAYED BY TWO MONTHS
HURRIYET- A speedy traffic was seen in Ankara yesterday (Thursday) to prevent a legal vacuum. The implementation of new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) was postponed till June 1st only hours before it was put into force.
TCK TO BE REVIEWED
MILLIYET- Implementation of the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) has been postponed for two months. The government decided to take into consideration criticisms. The revised penal code, which was due to take effect from Friday, aims to bring Turkey's criminal justice system into line with recent political reforms passed to fulfil EU political criteria. ''We have decided on a postponement of 45-60 days after demands from some institutions. Possibly it will be finished by June 1st to take effect on that date,'' Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.
RECORD
MILLIYET- The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced that Turkey's growth rate of Gross National Product (GNP) became 9.9 percent and its growth rate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) became 8.9 percent in 2004. Turkey broke a record in its GNP and GDP last year. Turkey's GNP was recorded as 299.4 billion USD with current prices last year, while its GDP was 300.5 billion USD.
AGCA: ''I HAD ACCOMPLICES AT THE VATICAN''
SABAH- Mehmet Ali Agca, who shot Pope John Paul II on May 13th, 1981, claimed that Vatican prelates had helped him carry out the attack in St. Peter's Square. In an interview with the Italian daily La Repubblica, Agca said, ''without the help of priests and cardinals I would have not been able to carry out that action. The devil is within the Vatican.'' The Vatican denied his claims.
THREATS AGAINST TURKEY
SABAH- Land Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said, ''international terrorism, separatist racism, excessive nationalism, fundamentalism, organized crimes and illicit drug trafficking have continued posing serious threats against peace and security in our region.''
ANAP TO ELECT ITS NEW LEADER
SABAH- The fourth extraordinary congress of the Motherland Party (ANAP) will be held between this weekend. On the first day of the congress, ANAP will elect its new leader. Earlier, Erkan Mumcu and Niyazi Kahveci announced their candidacy.
''WE SUPPORT OUR ALLY''
CUMHURIYET- Replying to a question about the request of the United States for the Incirlik Air Base, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''a democratic, secular and social state of law, Turkey will continue supporting its ally under the structure of NATO and under the United Nations humanitarian relief efforts. However, it is impossible to meet all requests every time. In the meantime, we will regret any attempts to relate it to so-called Armenian genocide. The U.S. parliament has never done such a thing, and I believe that it will not do so in the future.''
MFA INFORMS EU
CUMHURIYET- Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) informed the European Union (EU) on decision of the government to postpone implementation of the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) to June 1st.
TCK DELAYED TO TWO MONTHS LATER
RADIKAL- Upon many criticisms, the implementation of the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) was delayed till June 1st. The decision was made with the verbal consent of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, without bringing the matter to the parliament. Taking into consideration warnings of the Supreme Court of Appeals, jurists, soldiers and the media, the government delayed the new TCK for two months only seven hours ahead of it was put into force.
GIANT INVESTMENT IN BURSA
RADIKAL- Tofas will manufacture commercial vehicles in (northwestern city of) Bursa under an agreement is signed with Fiat and PSA Peugeot Citroen. The investment is worth 350 million Euros. 3,000 people will be employed in this project.
MY ONLY PROBLEM IS FREE TRNC
TURKIYE- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave important messages during his visit to Morocco. Erdogan said, ''we are saving TRNC (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) from those who doomed it to insolvability for years, and making it a recognized state. We only want to make TRNC a state recognized by the entire world. This can't be achieved by heroism. Look, TRNC prime minister is invited to every country today, and foreign businessmen are visiting TRNC. Nobody is trying to threaten Turkey with TRNC any more.''
TCK RETARDED
TURKIYE- The implementation of new Turkish Penal Code was delayed till June 1st in order to eliminate the legal vacuum. It has been learned that the government will work together with President Sezer for these changes.
HISTORIC RECORD IN ECONOMY
ZAMAN- The stability in economy has been reflected to growth rates, after the decrease in inflation and interest rates. Turkey's growth rate of Gross National Product (GNP) increased by 9.9 percent, while the rise in its growth rate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 8.9 percent. All these figures were above expectations.
TAKING INTO CONSIDERATIONS DEMANDS, GOVERNMENT DELAYS TCK
ZAMAN- The implementation of the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) was delayed till June 1st. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced this decision of the government in a press conference he held in Morocco. Erdogan said, ''we decided to delay the implementation to assess amendment proposals. I hope this will be completed till June 1st.''
''RESIGNATIONS CANNOT AFFECT OUR STABILITY''
YENI SAFAK- Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said about resignations from the Justice and Development Party (AKP), ''such resignations will not affect our stable policy. We will continue implementing our government program with the same determination. I do not want to discuss reasons of deputies to resign. It was their own political decision.''
KOCYIGIT RESIGNS FROM CHP
YENI SAFAK- Muhsin Kocyigit, a parliamentarian of the Republican People's Party (CHP), resigned from his party. After his resignation, number of seats of the CHP at the parliament decreased to 162.