ANKARA (AA) - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 11th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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ALPOGAN TO VISIT ISRAEL
Another visit to Israel by a high-level Turkish official will be paid next week. Secretary General of the National Security Council (NSC) Yigit Alpogan will be in Israel between May 17th-19th. This is the first time that Turkish and Israeli National Security Council officials will meet.
BAYKAL: ''RE-TRIAL OF OCALAN WILL NOT BE ACCEPTABLE''
Turkish main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that a possible decision of the European Court of Human Rights tomorrow to re-try Abdullah Ocalan, head of terrorists, would be unacceptable. ''Re-trial of Ocalan would seriously divide and damage Turkey,'' indicated Baykal. ''Ocalan was tried once. He admitted that he was guilty. There is no need for a second trial.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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GREEK CYPRIOT ISSUE FIRST WARRANTS OF ARREST
Greek Cypriot administration issued European warrants of arrest for four persons including three Turks for using properties belonged to Greek Cypriots before 1974. These four persons will be arrested if they go one of the 25 EU countries. The Greek Cypriot police issued European arrest warrant for Mark Unwin, Girne's biggest British real estate agent, and a Turk working at Unwin as a constructor of tourist facilities on Greek Cypriot lands. Greek Cypriots also issued similar arrest warrants for Turkish Cypriot businessmen Aziz Kent and Huseyin Caginer due to the same reason.
PRIMARY SCHOOL SHOW TURNS INTO A RELIGIOUS ONE
Primary school students worshiped on stage and sang religious songs during a ceremony to mark foundation of a private school in Ankara. The ceremony finished when the parents prayed together. Turkish National Education Minister Huseyin Celik's wife also watched the ceremony.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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BUSH GIVES APPOINTMENT TO ERDOGAN
After U.S. President George Bush told Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan several days ago that he is looking forward to seeing him in Washington. The actual date of the meeting has become certain: June 8th. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will also be in Washington on June 5th. Gul will meet U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
THREE CONTINENTS TO WATCH TURKISH DERBY
Galatasaray and Fenerbahce football teams will meet tonight at 2100 hours and will vie for the 43rd Turkish Cup. The game which will take place at Istanbul's Ataturk Olympic Stadium will be televised in three continents.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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ERDOGAN'S VISIT TO US
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wanted to go the United States at the end of June, but the U.S. side wanted him to come to Washington D.C. on June 8th. The tension regarding the appointment which Prime Minister Erdogan wanted to get from U.S. President George W. Bush was overcome, but the date was not like Erdogan wanted. When reporters asked Erdogan yesterday if the news telling that his trip to the United States would take place between 8th-12th June, Erdogan said the news was true.
ANOTHER RESIGNATION FROM AKP
The resignations from Justice and Development Party (AKP) which had ceased for a while restarted. AKP MP from Cankiri Ismail Ericekli resigned from his party yesterday. Ericekli is expected to join True Path Party (DYP). The number of AKP MPs in the 550-seat parliament decreased to 355.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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PARLIAMENT TO START SUMMER BREAK ON JULY 1ST
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the government didn't think of making the parliament work in summer months. Prime Minister warned Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies to attend parliament sessions in a AKP group meeting yesterday. Erdogan said that the parliament would start its summer break on July 1st, but the parliament should also work at the weekends to adopt important bills until that date.
NATO MILITARY COMMITTEE TO CONVENE
Turkish General Staff Chief Gen. Hilmi Ozkok will participate in NATO Military Committee's spring meetings which will start in Brussels on Wednesday. On the first day, the Euro-Atlantic Cooperation Committee and NATO-Russia Military Committee meetings will take place.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ECHR EXPECTED TO GIVE AN ACCEPTABLE DECISION
Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul indicated that the decision to be made by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on the head terrorist tomorrow hopefully will be an acceptable one. ''If terrorist Ocalan is tried 100 times, he would still be found guilty,'' told Gul. Meanwhile, Turkish Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal remarked that a decision by the ECHR to re-try Ocalan would be an insult on 70 million Turks.
ERDOGAN: ''SLOW MARKET CONDITIONS ARE CAUSED BY CONSUMER ATTENTION ON HOMES AND CARS''
Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan remarked that the slow market conditions in the Turkish economy are caused by consumer attention on homes and cars. ''There are circles who claim that the Turkish lira is over protected. We will not print new banknotes and choose artificial growth. We will continue the economic program,'' said Erdogan.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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RETRIAL CAN'T BE ACCEPTED
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said yesterday that Turkey couldn't welcome a European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decision asking for a re-trial of Abdullah Ocalan, head of the terrorist organization. Baykal said that the European Convention on Human Rights didn't envisage the automatic implementation of the ECHR rulings. He said the Convention envisaged that the evaluation of ECHR's decisions could be made at the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (COE), urging the government to open the door of political evaluation of ECHR rulings, which was a right given to states by the European Convention on Human Rights.
OCALAN DECISION TO BE GIVEN TODAY
Ankara which waits for the decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on head terrorist Abdullah Ocalan has completed its preparations regarding all possibilities. The Grand Chamber, which acts as an appeal organ of ECHR is expected to announce its decision today. The decision will be first sent to COE Committee of Ministers, then to Turkey.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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NO CHIEF NEGOTIATOR, BUT COORDINATOR MINISTER
People in Turkey, which has got a negotiation date from European Union (EU) at December 17th summit, have been wondering who will be the chief negotiator for months. When asked who would be the chief negotiator, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told that ''if a chief negotiator is looked for, it is me. In EU, heads of state or government carry out this mission. There will be a negotiation delegation which will carry out the relations with EU and I am also the head of it.'' Erdogan focuses on ''coordinator minister'' formula rather than a chief negotiator and he is expected to charge a minister to carry out relations with the EU.
KOSOVO AGREEMENT IN BALKAN SUMMIT
Foreign ministers of Balkan countries who gathered in Bucharest, Romania discussed regional cooperation and the indefiniteness regarding the status of Kosovo. In the draft final statement, foreign ministers of South East European countries extended support to implementation of standards policy of the international society about Kosovo and the UN Security Council's resolution 1244. A call was also made in the draft statement for renewed and constructive dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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ERDOGAN: ''PRIVATIZATION IS A MUST''
Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized the opposition, Republican People's Party (CHP), and said that privatization is a must. Erdogan indicated that the government's heavy presence in the economy results in the laziness of the bureaucracy. ''Privatization will help avoid laziness in the economy,'' told Erdogan.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH TO RE-APPLY THE RULE OF MANDATORY SERVICE
Turkish Ministry of Health officials have indicated that the ministry is considering to re-start the rule of mandatory service for doctors. Accordingly, small towns will have doctors. Health Minister Recep Akdag remarked that they are working on several formulas, including assigning doctors for six months in rotation in small towns.
2005-05-11