ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 18th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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AN ANONYMOUS LETTER OF 14 MILLION USD
The High Tribunal has received an anonymous letter claiming that a businessman had transferred millions of dollars to a bank account belonging to the brother of former Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz. Yilmaz is accused of rigging the state tender for the privatization of a bank in favor of businessman Korkmaz Yigit. Judge Mustafa Bumin said the letter claimed that Yigit had transferred 14 million USD into the account of Turgut Yilmaz. The transfer was carried out through a company called Saber, according to the letter, Bumin said, adding that the letter included documents to support the claim. Yilmaz's lawyer said the letter and documents were fabricated.
MILITARY TRUCK HITS LAND MINE KILLING FOUR SOLDIERS
A military truck hit an anti-personnel land-mine placed by members of the terrorist organization PKK in rural area between southeastern Turkish cities of Siirt and Sirnak, killing four soldiers.
ALPOGAN IN ISRAEL FOR COOPERATION
Turkish National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General Yigit Alpogan is currently paying a three-day visit to Israel. He is scheduled to meet Israeli National Security Council Chairman Giora Eiland later today. The two are expected to discuss efforts to improve relations between Turkish and Israeli national security councils. Recent developments in the Middle East, especially in Lebanon and Syria, will also be high on agenda of the meeting.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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EYES ON LEYLA SAHIN CASE
The appeal of Leyla Sahin case in which European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) had earlier found right Turkey's ban on wearing head scarf in universities will be held today. Justice and Development Party (AKP) government puts Turkey into a difficult position before ECHR with its contradictory defense regarding the ban on head scarf. Lawyers comment that the AKP doesn't want its political identity to be tested in Strasbourg, so in the hearing today, the government will try not to be a 'party.'
ANKARA'S REJECTION TO ARTICLE ON TERRORISM
A change was made in the draft final declaration of the Council of Europe (COE) summit upon the demand of Ankara which didn't want inclusion of the expression of 'humanitarian law' in the article on fight with terrorism. Together with Turkey, Russia and Spain also brought onto agenda their concern that in case of including 'humanitarian law', the fight with terrorism wouldn't be effective and that Geneva Convention which is implemented in times of war, can't be valid for terrorists.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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GATA UNDER INVESTIGATION
Turkish General Staff Chief Gen. Hilmi Ozkok has filed a lawsuit against 25 people on charges of forgery in tenders held to meet requirements of the Gulhane Military Medical Academy (GATA). The first hearing will take place on June 16th.
THREE PEOPLE SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS FOR DISTRIBUTING BOOTLEG RAKI
A court in Istanbul sentenced three people to eight years in prison for distributing bootleg raki that caused death of more than 20 people. Cengiz Celik, Yildiray Ozer and Bahyettin Bulut were convicted of endangering public health by distributing fake raki. Officials said the bootleg drink contained methyl alcohol.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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YILDIRIM:''WE EXPECT ONUR AIR TO START ITS FLIGHTS ON MONDAY''
Transportation Minister Binali Yýldirim said that Turkey expected the problem regarding the ban on Turkish private airline Onur Air in Europe to be sorted out as of next Monday. The meetings which started between Turkish and Dutch civil aviation officials in Amsterdam two days ago, will continue in Turkey today.
OZINCE:BASEL II CAN MAKE FOREIGN BANKS ADVANTAGEOUS
Ersin Ozince, the Chairman of Union of Banks said that after the transition to BASEL II system (Revised international capital framework) in 2007 in Turkey, the foreign banks can allocate cheaper credits to companies and this can put those foreign banks in a more advantageous position than the domestic banks.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TERRORISM KILLS AGAIN
The number of terrorist attacks in southeastern and eastern Turkey has recently increased. Totally four soldiers were killed when a land mine which was planted by terrorists exploded in Eruh town of eastern Siirt. In the clash which erupted between security forces and terrorists on Gabar mountain two other soldiers were killed. Security forces killed two terrorists in Yuksekova.
AKP PROPOSAL TO MAKE CIVIL SERVANTS ANGRY
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) which defends the view that holidays of civil servants are too much, has submitted a draft law to the parliament in order to make civil servants work also on Saturdays. If the draft law is adopted, the weekly working hours will increase from 40 to 48 hours.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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EDELMAN:WE EXPECT TURKEY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN ITS EU BID
Eric Edelman who will soon quit his post as the US Ambassador to Turkey, will be the third name in US Department of Defense soon. Edelman told Radikal that Turkey recently took very important steps in democratization. ''The expectation and the strategic attitude of the US towards Turkey is that Turkey should be successful in its EU bid,'' he said. Edelman noted that Turkey's being successful in its EU bid will further improve its bilateral relations with the US.
ERDOGAN'S ONUR AIR COMPLAINT TO SCHROEDER
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Warsaw that there was no valid reason for the German ban on flights of Turkish private airline Onur Air. Issuing a joint statement after their meetings, Erdogan and Schroeder said that the cooperation between the two countries in tourism would continue and Turkish and German officials worked to overcome the technical problems regarding the ban on Onur Air as soon as possible.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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WARSAW VICTORY
Leaders of the Council of Europe (COE) condemned anti-Semitism and Islamophobia and called for starting an effective fight against all sorts of discrimination. The call of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said that ''we shouldn't permit the hostility against Islam'' and the diplomatic initiatives of Turkey during the summit played a significant role in COE's taking such a decision.
CHALLENGE AGAINST ARMENIAN CLAIMS
Addressing the third Council of Europe (COE) summit, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan evaluated the Armenian claims of genocide. Erdogan stressed that ''I don't approve adoption of bills by relevant or unrelevant parliaments in this issue without basing those decisions on proved documents and correct information, but simply through lobbying activities. This is against the principles of human rights and rule of law.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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EUROPE TO COMBAT AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA
The Council of Europe (COE) condemned Islamophobia, and called on establishment of a mechanism to promote non-discrimination. A final declaration was released at the end of the COE Third Summit of Heads of State & Government in Polish capital Warsaw. In the final declaration, leaders said, ''we strongly condemn all forms of intolerance and discrimination, in particular those based on sex, race and religion, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.'' Islamophobia, which has been rising in Europe in the aftermath of the September 11th events in the United States, was brought onto agenda of the summit with initiatives of Turkey. The expression of ''combat against Islamophobia'' was included in a formal document of the COE for the first time.
BATTLE OF WORDS IN WARSAW
The Council of Europe (COE) Third Summit of Heads of State & Government in Polish capital Warsaw became scene of a cross talk between Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Robert Kocharian of Armenia. After President Kocharian said, ''our efforts aimed at international recognition of the Armenian Genocide committed in the Ottoman Turkey'', Prime Minister Erdogan replied him, ''decisions made by relevant or unrevelant countries about such baseless allegations do not affect Turkey.''
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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IRAQI PRIME MINISTER DUE IN TURKEY
Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jafari of Iraq will come to Turkey on May 20th. He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. During the meeting, Erdogan will reiterate Turkey's uneasiness about presence of the terrorist organization PKK in northern part of Iraq. Erdogan is expected to highlight importance of protection of Iraq's territorial integrity at the meeting.