ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 2nd, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HARSH REACTION
HURRIYET- Switzerland decided to arrest Prof. Dr. Halacoglu, chairman of Turkish Institute of History (TTK) only because he said that Armenian genocide had never taken place in the history. Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul harshly reacted to the decision and said, ''the decision is nothing but a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights. I suppose that an individual has the freedom of explaining his/her own views and it is one of basic values of Europe, isn't it? It is a serious mistake.''
MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS IN ISTANBUL
HURRIYET- Traditional international labor holiday was celebrated throughout the world. Nearly 100 thousand people attended the May Day rally in Istanbul. Tight security measures were taken during the rally. Police detained 59 people who chanted slogans in favor of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization of PKK.
TURKEY AND ISRAEL TO SET UP HOT LINE CONNECTION
HURRIYET- Turkey and Israel will set up a hot line connection similar to those for exchange of counter-terrorism information. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently paying a state visit to Israel, met Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. During the meeting, the two leaders decided to set up a hot line connection between Turkey and Israel.
REACTION TO SWITZERLAND
MILLIYET- Turkey reacted strongly to warrant of arrest decision of Switzerland on Prof. Yusuf Halacoglu, chairman of Turkish Institute of History. Switzerland noted that the statements of Prof. Halacoglu who denied so-called Armenian genocide constitute an offense and it requested his personal information to start an international search with red bulletin.
SCHROEDER: MENTALITY SHOULD CHANGE
MILLIYET- German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder praised reforms in Turkey on the path to EU and said that change of mentality is necessary for implementation of the reforms. Schroeder will arrive in Turkey tomorrow on an official visit. He said that Germany will continue to support Turkey on the path to EU, but Turkey should pursue the reforms. Schroeder will meet Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara and attend Turkish-German Economy Congress in Istanbul.
ERDOGAN IS A SYMBOL
SABAH- Shimon Peres, Deputy Premier of Israel and a Nobel prize winner, said that Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan is such a symbol that faith and modern life can exist together. Peres considered the visit of Erdogan to Israel as a sign that a Muslim can establish good relations with Israel.
GUL: MUSLIM COUNTRIES SHOULD CHANGE
SABAH- Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Premier Abdullah Gul said, ''Muslim countries should exert efforts to find solutions to their own problems and to open the path of positive change.'' Addressing Islamic countries, Gul said that if they do not settle order in their homes, certainly other people would try to settle this order.
DANGEROUS STATEMENT
VATAN- Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said, ''I am the parliament... I can do anything I want. I can annul the Constitutional Court.'' Reacting harshly to the statement of Constitutional Court Chief Judge Mustafa Bumin who said that the ban on Islamic-style headscarf could not be lifted, Arinc noted that Bumin had intervened in legislative authority of the parliament.
HALF-AN-HOUR APPOINTMENT WITH PRESIDENT BUSH
VATAN- The White House is getting ready to respond to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's request for an appointment with U.S. President George W. Bush. The White House, which has been uneasy about recent policies of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), is planning to display its reproach by restricting the meeting with 30 minutes. Also, President Bush will not hold a joint news conference with Prime Minister Erdogan.
ARINC THREATENS JURISDICTION
CUMHURIYET- Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said that the statements of Constitutional Court Chief Judge Mustafa Bumin about Islamic-style headscarf are intervention in the authority of Turkish parliament. Arinc added that he can close Constitutional Court with an amendment to Constitution, noting that such a court does not exist today in the EU countries.
ARMENIAN THESES REFUTED
CUMHURIYET- Documents which the Turkish General Staff published refute theses of Armenian diaspora claiming that 1,5 million Armenians were massacred by Ottoman Empire. The documents prove that 413,00 of 987,000 Armenians who were living in Ottoman lands were forced to migrate to Syria.
CYBER PROCEEDINGS TO BUDGET
RADIKAL- Turkish Finance Ministry launched initiatives to prevent corruption and extravagance. The ministry examined all public institutions which have expenses over Turkey's averages in education and health areas.
DIALOGUE WITH ISRAEL
RADIKAL- Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was accompanied by deputies, bureaucrats and businessmen during his tour of Israel, gave messages of friendship with Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon. A direct telephone line will be established for dialogue between Sharon and Erdogan.
''WE TAKE ALL STEPS FOR PEACE''
TURKIYE- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in Israel, the first stop of his tour of Middle East, met Israeli President Moshe Katzav and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Stressing that Turkey was ready to take all kinds of steps for a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East, Prime Minister Erdogan proposed to host an Israeli-Palestinian summit in Turkey.
WHAT KIND OF CELEBRATION IS THIS?
TURKIYE- Celebrations took place throughout Turkey to mark the May Day. Clashes erupted between security forces and demonstrators in Istanbul, Izmir and Diyarbakir. Security forces detained a number of persons who chanted slogans in favor of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization of PKK.
TURKEY REJECTS AGREEMENT ON OPENING OF AIRPORTS TO GREEK CYPRIOTS
ZAMAN- The Turkish government raised its reservations against an EU agreement allowing Greek Cypriot planes to use the airports in Turkey. The government said that the agreement would mean recognition of the Greek Cypriot side by Turkey and it proposed the EU to sign a provisional agreement instead of a law that makes the EU the sole authority for arrangement of flights.
''WE ARE HERE FOR PEACE''
YENI SAFAK- Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently paying an official visit to Israel, said during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that Turkey was ready to make all kinds of contribution to the Middle East peace process.
KOREAN RESISTANCE AGAINST BUREAUCRACY
YENI SAFAK- ROTEM, a South Korean company, won the tender for Speed Train Factory in northwestern Turkish city of Sakarya. ROTEM has been waiting for the decision of the Turkish Treasury and the State Planning Organization (DPT) for six months. ROTEM is planning to establish the factory in Romania if Turkish bureaucracy fails to make a decision soon.