ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on April 30th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
PROVERA: IF WE CAN'T BUY TELEKOM, WE ALSO LEAVE AVEA
HURRIYET- Telecom Italia President Marco Provera who attended Investment Advisory Council meeting in Istanbul said that if they cannot win Turk Telekom tender, they will become rivals with the company which will win the tender within Avea. Thus, they will want to withdraw from that partnership with Avea.
SEZER APPROVES DECISION ON INCIRLIK BASE
HURRIYET- Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer approved the decision on extension of usage period of Incirlik Airbase by the United States and Britain.
''OUR GASES DO NOT HARM DEMONSTRATORS''
MILLIYET- Ismail Caliskan, a spokesman for the Turkish Police Department, said that they had taken all necessary measures to assure the security during the May 1st Labor Day celebrations, and warned all citizens and (NGOs) not to let themselves be manipulated by provocations of illegal organizations. Upon a question about gases used by the police officers against people during demonstrations, Caliskan said, ''those gases are being used after a series of scientific tests. They do not harm demonstrators.''
EARTHQUAKE JOLTS CORUM
MILLIYET- An earthquake measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale jolted northern Turkish city of Corum last night. There were not any immediate reports of casualties and damage, but the quake caused panic among residents in the city. People spent the night in the streets.
PRESIDENT SEZER APPROVES USE OF INCIRLIK
MILLIYET- Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer formally approved a long-standing U.S. request for use of the Incirlik Air Base in southern city of Adana. The United States plans to fly supplies to Iraq and Afghanistan through the base.
ERDOGAN: WE WILL NOT ALLOW PROVOCATION
SABAH- Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his address to nation, warned against provocations: ''we will continue our path with common sense for the interests of people and country. We will never allow direct or indirect provocations.''
TURKEY WIND
SABAH- Economy and finance leaders who rule the world attended the 2nd Investment Advisory Council meeting in Istanbul. They praised Turkey and said that Turkey recorded a great progress.
NO APPOINTMENT WITH PRESIDENT BUSH
VATAN- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who will go to the United States in June to attend graduation of her daughter Sumeyye Erdogan, could not receive a positive response about his request for an appointment with U.S. President George W. Bush yet.
SURPRISING PROPOSAL FROM SCHROEDER
VATAN- German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will pay a working visit to Turkey from May 3rd to May 4th. During his visit, Chancellor Schroeder will visit Greek-Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew. He proposed Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to visit Patriarch Bartholomew together. However, the Prime Ministry Office turned down the proposal.
INSTRUCTIONS ADDED TO INCIRLIK PERMIT
CUMHURIYET- President Ahmet Necdet Sezer approved the decree which extends period for use of bases in Turkey for 1 year by coalition forces in Iraq. Decree does not include usage of Incirlik Airbase as logistic center. The United States can start to use Incirlik as logistic center by instructions of Turkish premier, not by a new decree.
SCHROEDER TO ASK FOR OPENING
CUMHURIYET- German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will propose opening of Armenian border during his visit to Turkey. During the news conference, Schroeder will announce his support to Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan's proposal of a joint historians commission regarding so-called Armenian genocide.
''TURKEY HAS HAD NO BETTER FRIEND THAN UNITED STATES''
RADIKAL- The U.S. Embassy in Ankara, ''Turkey has had no better friend over the years than the United States in its efforts to end the PKK threat. That cooperation will continue.'' Releasing a statement after some Turkish media criticized the U.S. State Department report ''Patterns of Global Terrorism 2004'' for mentioning that the stated goal of the PKK is to establish 'an independent, democratic Kurdish state', the Embassy said ''in fact, identical language was included in last year's report and in previous reports dating back to 2000.''
TWO TURKISH CITIZENS AWARDED WITH ROYAL MERIT ORDER
RADIKAL- The Kingdom of the Netherlands awarded two Turkish citizens with the Royal Merit Order. Mustafa Konus and his wife Saime Guner Konus, living in Utrecht were presented their awards by Utrecht Mayor Annie Brouwer-Korf. Mustafa Konus has expended great efforts during the years to help Turkish and other foreign families in organizing themselves to assist education of their children. They have also helped to foreigners' to communicate easily with Dutch people.
INVESTORS FLOW INTO TURKEY
TURKIYE- Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that foreign investors are now choosing Turkey for investment. He said, ''banks in sale did not have customers last year, but now their prices increased 3 or 4 times. Due to confidence we provided, foreigners flow into our country for investment.''
APPROVAL TO SALE OF TURKCELL
TURKIYE- Turkcell Executive Board approved sale of Cukurova shares in Turkcell to TeliaSonera. Turkcell decided to continue its path with its new partnership structure.
WORLD GIANTS PRAISE TURKISH ECONOMY
ZAMAN- High-ranking administrators of 19 multi-national companies which have an annual turnover worth of 900 billion Euro assessed Turkish economy in the 2nd Investment Advisory Council meeting in Istanbul. Participants praised the progress in economy but said that there are still several steps to be taken. International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato, World Bank Vice President Shengman Zang and European Investment Bank (EIB) President Philippe Maystadt attended the meeting. Participants praised Turkish economy but complained about bureaucracy, high tax rates and labor force costs.
''WE WILL NOT OPEN OUR BORDER CROSSING WITH ARMENIA''
YENI SAFAK- Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that they were not planning to open the border crossing between Turkey and Armenia. Gul told reporters that Turkey displayed its good-will towards Armenia.
GERMAN CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER DUE IN TURKEY
YENI SAFAK- German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder will pay a working visit to Turkey from May 3rd to May 4th. Schroeder is scheduled to meet President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on May 4th. Prime Minister Erdogan and Chancellor Schroeder will proceed to Istanbul later in the same day to attend the Turkish-German Economy Congress. Chancellor Schroeder will meet Greek-Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew after being awarded by the Marmara University of a title of honorary doctorate.