ANKARA (AA) - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 12th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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IMF RATIFIES A LOAN OF 10 BILLION USD
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) ratified Turkey's letter of intent. Under the new stand-by deal, the IMF will extend almost 10 billion USD of loan to Turkey within the next three years. The IMF released the first tranche of loan worth of 837.5 million USD.
ECHR TO DELIVER A JUDGMENT IN OCALAN CASE
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Grand Chamber will be holding a public hearing today to deliver a judgment regarding the case of Abdullah Ocalan, head of terrorist organization PKK. If the ECHR rules that the right to fair trial was violated, the issue of a possible retrial of Ocalan in Turkey will be discussed at the Committee of Ministers, the higher body of the Council of Europe (COE).
PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION APPROVES NEW ARRANGEMENTS FOR CELL PHONES
Turkish Parliamentary Commission for Public Works, Housing, Transportation & Tourism approved a draft law envisaging prevention of use of illegal or stolen cell phones. The draft includes some measures against illegal utilization of SIM cards and personal data of customers. Under the draft, the stolen cell phones will be disabled. Meanwhile, all unregistered phones will be registered.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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U.S. DELEGATION TO VISIT TRNC
A group of U.S. Congressmen will go to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to congratulate President Mehmet Ali Talat for his victory in the presidential elections. U.S. House of Representatives Friendship Group for Turkey Co-chairman Robert Wexler said that U.S. Congressmen were planning to visit the TRNC on May 30th.
GALATASARAY WINS TURKISH CUP
Galatasaray defeated Fenerbahce 5-1 in last night's Turkish Cup final. Galatasaray won the Turkish Cup for the 14th time.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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''OCALAN SHOULD BE RETRIED''
Sukru Alpaslan, lawyer of Turkey in the case of Abdullah Ocalan at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), said that the Turkish government should pave the way for retrial of Abdullah Ocalan, head of the terrorist organization PKK. ECHR Grand Chamber will deliver a judgment regarding the case of Ocalan today. ''If Turkey is going to be a part of Europe and a democratic state of law based on human rights, it has to accept some rules,'' he said.
ATASAGUL BIDS FAREWELL
Turkish National Intelligence Agency (MIT) Undersecretary Senkal Atasagun decided to retire. He sent his petition to the Prime Ministry Office on May 5th. 64-year-old Atasagun has been the undersecretary of the MIT for eight years. He firstly bade farewell to Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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HERE IS DECISION OF ECHR ON OCALAN
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) will announce its decision regarding the case of Abdullah Ocalan, head of terrorist organization PKK, later today. The daily reached details of 85-page decision of the ECHR. The ECHR made a decision against Turkey. The Court ruled that Turkey violated right to fair trial since there was a military judge in the court delegation who tried Ocalan on Imrali Island.
''FOREIGN CAPITAL INFLOW IS NECESSARY''
Turkish State Minister Ali Babacan said that fresh foreign capital inflow was necessary in Turkish banking sector. Babacan said, ''we require a big banking sector for growth of Turkish economy.'' Referring to the new stand-by deal with the IMF, Babacan said, ''Turkey's debt to IMF, which is more than 19 billion USD now, will be under 10 billion USD in the end of 3-year stand-by deal. The remaining debt after stand-by deal will be paid from Turkey's own sources. We envisage that a new arrangement with IMF after May 2008 will not be necessary. However, we will take a certain decision on that date.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ACADEMIC BOYCOTT
Izzet Baysal University Rector Prof. Dr. Akbiyik did not attend foundation ceremony at the university campus as he claimed that the government policy actually targeted to politicize universities. Prof. Dr. Akbiyik said that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was invited to the ceremony by the Izzet Baysal Foundation, not by the university.
ERDOGAN CONSTITUTES OBSTACLE IN FRONT OF EU
A group of French lawmakers launched a campaign of voting 'yes' to the European Constitution and saying 'no' to Turkey's EU membership. They asked how can they accept a country whose prime minister reads poems saying that minarets are their bayonets.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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IS THERE ANY OTHER COUNTRY TEACHING FRAUD TO ITS CHILDREN?
As the university entrance exam date is approaching, high school classrooms have been emptying. Although they are not ill, thousands of students rushed to hospitals to take doctor report for sick leave to prepare themselves for the exam.
PORTUGAL EXTENDS SUPPORT TO TURKEY'S EU PROCESS
Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has been paying a state visit to Portugal. He received Prime Minister Jorse Socrates of Portugal yesterday. During the meeting, Prime Minister Socrates extended Portugal's support to Turkey EU membership bid. He stressed that Turkey's membership would diversify and enrich the Union.
TURKEY'S COMPETITIVENESS INCREASES
''World Competitiveness Yearbook 2005'' report of International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland revealed that Turkey's competitiveness power increased considerably. Turkey was ranked 48th among 60 leading economies. The United States is the more powerful country in competition.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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GET READY
EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said that entry talks between Turkey and the EU would start on October 3rd without any delay. He encouraged Turkey to get ready for the negotiation process with the EU. Rehn extended the EU's support to Turkey's efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus issue.
ERDOGAN DUE TO HUNGARY
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will leave for Hungary today. On the first day of his two-day state visit to Hungary, Prime Minister Erdogan will meet Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany, President Ferenc Madl and Parliament Speaker Katalin Szili. On Friday, Erdogan will visit some historical and cultural places. He is expected to return to Turkey later in the same day.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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UNESCO TO PROTECT MEVLEVI ORDER
The United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will include dance performance and music of the Mevlevi Order in its List of Non-Concrete Cultural Heritage.
''ERDOGAN'S VISIT TO UNITED STATES WILL IMPROVE ECONOMIC RELATIONS''
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Executive Board President Omer Sabanci said that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to the United States in June would enhance the bilateral relations between the two countries.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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GREEN LIGHT FOR ERDOGAN-KOCHARIAN MEETING
Azerbaijan gave a positive message about a possible meeting between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Robert Kocharian of Armenia during the summit of the Council of Europe in Warsaw on May 16th. Deputy Foreign Minister Aras Azimov of Azerbaijan said that there were positive signals about withdrawal of Armenia from Upper Karabakh. If President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan meets President Kocharian in Warsaw, Erdogan will also meet Kocharian.
2005-05-12