ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 17th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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ERDOGAN CHALLENGES KOCHARIAN
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is currently in Polish capital Warsaw for the Council of Europe (COE) Third Summit of Heads of State & Government, only shook hands with Armenian President Robert Kocharian. Holding a press conference, Erdogan said that the allegations regarding Armenian genocide were totally baseless. He noted that Kocharian should withdraw from Azerbaijani lands under Armenian occupation.
ONUR AIR: ``WE WILL BRING IT TO COURT``
Turkish and Dutch authorities discussed the ban on Onur Air flights in Amsterdam. The parties did not reach an agreement on the issue. Onur Air Executive Board Chairman Cankut Bagana, who also attended the meeting, said that they did not receive any answer from Dutch officials for why flights were suspended. Bagana noted that they would bring the issue to the court in the Netherlands.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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TENSE RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA
There was argument instead of dialogue at Council of Europe (COE) Summit in Warsaw. When Armenian President Robert Kocharian brought so-called Armenian genocide claims onto agenda during the summit, Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ``so-called claims are for their own satisfaction.`` Erdogan who proposed establishment of a historians` commission to investigate so-called Armenian genocide claims and Kocharian who proposed establishment of an intergovernmental commission to take up all problems especially diplomatic relations between two countries, were expected to meet during COE summit in Warsaw.
ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE GOVERNOR PREVENTED
Police shot dead 2 members of PKK terrorist organization one of whom was a suicide bomber who attempted to stage suicide attack on the residence of Murat Yildirim, governor of southeastern city of Siirt. One police officer was injured during the clash.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ERDOGAN FIGHTS FOR ``ONUR`` AIR
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder regarding the German ban on Turkish private airline Onur Air. Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim said that talks between of Turkish authorities and Dutch officials also started for lifting of the ban on Onur Air. Yildirim also said that he discussed the same issue with the Dutch and German transportation ministers. ``We expect them to correct their wrong decision,`` Yildirim said.
NEW PERIOD WITH IMF Under the new stand-by agreement, IMF will release 10 billion dollars of loan to Turkey within the next three years. IMF said that the target of the new program was to create necessary conditions for sustainable growth, increase standards of living, decrease unemployment and help Turkey come closer to level of EU economies.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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15 MILLION BET IN ASPENDOS
Famous TV program of Germany ``Wetten Dass?`` (Do You Bet?) was broadcast live from Aspendos Theater in southern city of Antalya and it was watched by 15 million people, which was also a good promotion of Turkey. Nearly 5,000 people including 4,500 Germans watched the summer special program of ``Wetten Dass?``. The program was broadcast in Middle Eastern and African countries as well.
BABACAN: INFLATION WILL BE UNDER 8 PERCENT THIS YEAR
Turkish State Minister Ali Babacan said that this year`s inflation target is 8 percent but it has already dropped to 7.6 percent. He stated, ``we will fulfill the first of the Maastricht criteria in the ratio of budget deficit to GNP (gross national product).``
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TURKEY`S DEFENSE IN SAHIN CASE TO BE LIMITED
The ``appeal session`` of Leyla Sahin case in which European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) had earlier found Turkey right regarding the ban on head scarf in universities, will be held tomorrow. The government which is worried about the possibility that ECHR can approve the restriction brought to wearing of head scarf in public sphere, interfered with the defense prepared by the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The Foreign Ministry official who will represent Turkey in the session will make a limited defense within the scope of the political instructions given to him by Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. Due to that, Turkey won`t say in the session that head scarf is a political symbol and it is used as a factor of pressure on women.
GELIBOLU TO BE OPENED TO TOURISTIC FACILITIES
Turkish Environment and Forestry Minister Osman Pepe said in a meeting in Canakkale that the government would permit those entrepreneurs who want to build tourist facilities near GELIBOLU National Park. Pepe said that the government would allocate lands to those businessmen who want to invest in Gelibolu, Eceabat, national parks, Troya (Trojan) and Assos regions.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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GOVERNMENT: BAN ON HEAD SCARF CAN CONTINUE
The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is expected to announce its decision on a head scarf case, namely Leyla Sahin case tomorrow. Chamber is going to state in its verdict that ``the state can regulate the right of education and the ban on wearing of head scarves in universities is not a violation of that right.`` Diplomatic sources said that Turkey will ask for approval of the ECHR decision saying that ``ban on head scarf is not against the European Convention on Human Rights.``
QUARREL WITH YEREVAN
The expected meeting between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Armenian President Robert Kocharian didn`t take place at COE Summit in Warsaw when Armenian President Kocharian voiced their ``genocide`` claims and the integration of Upper Karabakh with Europe. Prime Minister Erdogan stressed that ``using the so-called genocide discourse was not anything more than satisfying Armenians.``
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
--------------- ERDOGAN: COOPERATION AGAINST TERRORISM IS A MUST
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who attended the third Council of Europe (COE) summit in Warsaw said that xenophobia, racism, anti-Semitism, pre-conceived notions against certain religions and identities, as well as followers of radical religious ideas always existed. ``These illnesses now include enmity towards Islam,`` stressed Erdogan. Erdogan noted that the global developments have made more important the mission of COE in areas of human rights, democracy and rule of law. All countries should cooperate against terrorism, Erdogan also indicated.
ALPOGAN DUE TO ISRAEL TODAY
National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General Yigit Alpogan will go to Israel today as the guest of his Israeli counterpart Giora Eiland. With Alpogan`s visit, the third important visit from Turkey to Israel will be paid in the last five months. Firstly Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul visited Israel last January, later Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Israel in May. During Alpogan`s three-day visit, regional and international developments which concern the two countries will be taken up.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ERDOGAN CALLS SCHROEDER FOR ONUR AIR
After the Netherlands, Switzerland, also France and Germany decided to suspend flights of Onur Air for one month; Turkey has taken some initiatives. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and asked him to help solution of this issue. Turkish and Dutch authorities had a meeting on the ban on Onur Air flights in the Netherlands yesterday. After the meeting, Onur Air Executive Board Chairman Cankut Bagana said that they would sue the Netherlands. Last week, Dutch Transportation Ministry announced that they suspended Onur Air`s flights for one month due to technical shortcomings. Later, the Netherlands was followed by Germany, France and Switzerland.
TURKEY IS FIFTH CHEAPEST COUNTRY OF OECD
Turkey is the fifth cheapest country among 30 members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). According to the prices in March 2005, goods and services which were purchased for 100 YTL in Turkey were bought for 93 YTL in Slovakia, 94 YTL in Poland and 98 YTL in Mexico. 247 YTL should be paid for the same goods and services in Iceland while 223 YTL should be paid in Switzerland.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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IF TAXES DROP, UNEMPLOYMENT DECREASES
World Bank, in a research, stressed that taxes on employment in developing countries like Turkey encourage increase in unemployment. It said 1 percent reduction in employment taxes causes at least a 1,5 percent increase in employment. World Bank Turkey Director Andrew Vorkink said that within few years, demand of new investment and employment will increase in Turkey especially in production and services sectors.
ANTI-ISLAMISM WARNING
Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, during Council of Europe (COE) summit, said that anti-Islamism was added to xenophobia, racism and anti-Semitism in Europe. He said that Turkey is uneasy about this situation.