ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on April 6th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
LAGENDIJK: MAKE YOUR PROMOTION IN THE EU WITH HOOIJDONK
HURRIYET- European Union (EU)-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Commission (JPC) Co-Chairman Joost Lagendijk said, ``use Fenerbahce soccer team`s Dutch football star Pierre Van Hooijdonk to promote Turkey to Europe.``
Taking floor at the ``New Life with Europe & Strategic Communication Management Summit``, Lagendijk said Turkey had many tools that will promote itself to Europe, noting Turkey had to make use of them effectively.
Stating that image and perception concepts were also very important as well as the technical and political issues within the EU process, Lagendijk said getting public support was very important in this respect.
THERE IS NO PLAN TO SHORTEN PERIOD OF COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE
HURRIYET- Turkish National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said there was no plan to shorten the period of compulsory military service, yet noted that shortening the period of compulsory military service could be in question if it is seen as appropriate within the scope of modernization of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).
Meanwhile, Turkish General Staff said they did not have a plan to shorten the period of compulsory military service.
BICAKCI: ``OUR HOPE IS SPIES``
MILLIYET- Turkish Football Federation Chairman Levent Bicakci stated that his federation is about to set up a system of spies in order to detect corruption and violence in games. Bicakci asked Turkish Ministry of Interior Affairs and Justice officials to help his federation train new spies.
ASAD: ``TURKEY DID NOT LET INTERFERENCE IN ITS INTERNAL MATTERS``
MILLIYET- Syrian President Bashar al-Asad remarked that Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer`s decision to visit Syria in April is an indication that Turkey did not let any interference in its internal matters. ``My visit to Turkey shows us Syrians that we are in fact brothers and sisters with the Turks,`` said al-Asad.
PER CAPITA INCOME TO EXCEED 5,000 USD IN 2007
SABAH- Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that per capita income in Turkey will exceed 5,000 USD in 2007. ``This is just the beginning of good things to come Turkey`s way.``
TURKISH MILITARY SERVICE PERIOD MAY BE SHORTENED
SABAH- Turkish Minister of National Defense Vecdi Gonul remarked that compulsory military service of male Turks may be shortened by a period of 2-3 months. The Turkish Chief of Staff made no comment on Gonul`s remarks.
DISAPPOINTMENT IN EU
CUMHURIYET- European Union (EU)-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Commission (JPC) Co-Chairman Joost Lagendijk said order of Sutculer Subgovernor to recall and burn the books of Turkish author Orhan Pamuk was unacceptable.
Lagendijk said, ``recalling books created another impression in Europe against Turkey. Those are important for us more than issuing new law packages. This will have nothing to defend if the Prime Minister fails to react against it.``
89 KG HEROIN SEIZED
CUMHURIYET- Turkish security forces impounded 89 kg of heroin in Istanbul. Acting on a tip-off, security forces raided a house in the district of Kagithane. During the search, they discovered 89 kg of heroin brought in from Afghanistan. Five people were detained in the operation. A full investigation into illicit drug trafficking is under way.
ERDOGAN: ``CRITICISMS ON TURKEY ARE NOT FAIR``
RADIKAL- Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan remarked that the impressive development in the Turkish economy will soon have a positive impact on the economically disadvantaged citizens. ``Our friends must appreciate the great leap forward in the Turkish economy. The whole world is now focused on the developments taking place in Turkey,`` told Erdogan.
DO YOU HAVE A CERTIFICATE TO FISH?
RADIKAL- Amateur fishermen in Istanbul will have to apply for a certificate to fish in their region as of the end of this year. Those individuals who do not obtain the necessary certificates will be punished and may face imprisonment. The certificate costs 20 YTL (28 USD).
ERDOGAN: ``TURKISH ECONOMY GREW BY 9.9 PERCENT``
TURKIYE- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the Turkish economy grew by 9.9 percent in the last year. ``Despite such impressive and record development, there are still some circles who do not want to appreciate Turkey`s richness and progress,`` stressed Erdogan.
ISTANBUL POLICE WORKS AS A TERMINATOR
TURKIYE- Istanbul police arrested 11 individuals last week who were being sought for crimes such as auto thefts and snatch-and-run incidents. Istanbul police confiscated dozens of hand guns, foreign currency and stolen goods. One police officer described the Istanbul police as a Turkish terminator.
BIGGEST OPERATION IN PAST 6 YEARS AGAINST TERRORIST PKK
ZAMAN- Operation of the Turkish Armed Forces against terrorist PKK/Kongra-Gel throughout the southeastern border including cities of Sirnak and Hakkari is underway.
Nine terrorists were killed during the operation that started five days ago. One sergeant lost his life during the clashes.
Security units stated that this was the biggest and most comprehensive operation in the last six years in Cudi and Gabar regions.
The operation is backed by land and air forces.
TURKEY`S WOMEN RECORD IS GOOD
YENI SAFAK- Dutch parliamentarian Emine Bozkurt who prepared the European Union (EU) report on position of women in Turkey, said that ``Turkey is in the equal position as the EU member countries following the legal arrangements. Implementation should be speeded up.``
The first report, which the EU prepared for Turkey after December 17th, will be the European Parliament Gender Equality and Women`s Rights Commission`s report.
Dutch Parliamentarian Emine Bozkurt of Turkish origin prepares the report on position of women in Turkey.
Bozkurt presented the first draft of the report to the European Parliament yesterday (Tuesday).
The report will be discussed at Women`s Rights Commission on April 19th, and will be voted in the European Parliament on May 26th.
Stating that Turkey fulfilled all its responsibilities on paper, Bozkurt said implementation should be accelerated.
ARMENIAN ORIGIN JOURNALISTS AT PARLIAMENT
YENI SAFAK- Members of Turkish Parliamentary EU Adjustment Commission and Foreign Ministry Commission met Armenian origin journalists, authors and some retired Turkish ambassadors to exchange views on allegations of Armenian genocide and Turkish-Armenian relations.
Several authors and journalists of Armenian origin like Etyen Mahcupyan, Hirant Dink, Levon Debagyan, retired Turkish ambassadors Gunduz Aktan, Omer Lutem and Pulat Tacar attended the meeting.
Commission Acting Chairman Ali Riza Alaboyun said the minutes of the meeting would be disclosed.