ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 26th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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DREAM COMES TRUE
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, the project of the century which was launched in 1994, was inaugurated by a ceremony attended by presidents of Turkey, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.
BEST GRADE TO ISTANBUL
The Champions League cup went to Liverpool of Britain which defeated AC Milan of Italy with penalty goals 6-5. Turkey, who hosted this final game, got an advantage for the 2012 European Championship with this wonderful organization.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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LIVERPOOL WINS THE CUP
Istanbul's Ataturk Olympic Stadium was the home for Champions' League final between Britain's Liverpool and Italy's Milan. At one point, Milan was ahead 3-0. However, Liverpool caught up with Milan to make it 3-3 at the end of regular time. After penalty shootouts, Liverpool won the game 6-5 and received the Champions' League Cup.
BTC OIL PIPELINE INAUGURATED
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline was inaugurated yesterday and the first amount of oil flow took place. Turkish Minister of Energy Hilmi Guler indicated that normal flow of oil will begin in September. Guler told that Turkey will earn 250 million U.S. dollars annually from the oil pipeline.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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AN ISTANBUL FAIRY TALE
The most beautiful city in the world hosted the Champions League final. Liverpool of Britain defeated AC Milan of Italy with penalties in this final game, and won the cup.
WE WON 3-0
Turkey was the winner of this Champions League final. The first two goals were scored by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while the last goal was hit by Turkish tourism. First, Erdogan hosted breakfast in honor of UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) officials in the charming atmosphere of Istanbul's Dolmabahce Palace. UEFA President promised to support Turkey's bid to host 2012 European Championship. And, thus Turkey scored its first goal. Second, Erdogan met Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Berlusconi spoke very frankly: ''I will work to overcome problems to be caused by a possible Christian Democrat government in Germany.'' And, thus Turkey hit its second goal. Third, 3 billion people watched the show. British and Italian fans, who entertained themselves during the game, promoted Turkey ''voluntarily''. Tradesmen of Istanbul earned 50 million Euros during this final game, and this was Turkey's third goal in this organization.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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TURKISH LAWYER TO SUE MARLBORO
Turkish lawyer from Izmir Atinc Gultekin is preparing to sue Marlboro for printing the word ''Harmful'' on its cigarettes packets with very small letters. ''While Marlboro uses big fonts in Europe and the U.S. to indicate that the cigarettes are harmful, the same word in the Turkish market is presented in small fonts. This is discrimination. I will take a legal action against Marlboro and demand 50 million U.S. dollars compensation,'' told Gultekin. Gultekin consumes four packets of Marlboro cigarettes daily.
EMPLOYMENT RATES SLOW DOWN
The total number of unemployed in Turkey in February was 2,750,000. While the number of unemployed was 1,920,000 in urban areas, the number of unemployed in rural areas was 831,000. The overall amount of unemployed in Turkey was 11.7 percent.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TOWARDS SPECIAL STATUS
EU Acting President Luxembourg's Prime Minister Juncker said that the EU would decide on either membership or another formula for Turkey at the end of long and open-ended negotiations. Juncker refrained from talking definitely about opening of negotiations with Turkey.
TERRORIST ATTACK: FOUR KILLED
Members of the terrorist organization PKK laid an ambush on a military vehicle, patrolling around, in Yemisli village in Gercus town (of southeastern city of Batman). Sergeant Mustafa Hakan Aydogmus, private Erdem Demir and two village guards namely Suleyman Yalvac and Suleyman Kaya, who were in the vehicle, were killed in the attack.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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FIRST OIL LEAVES BAKU
First oil was pumped into the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, ''the project of the century'', by a ceremony held in (Azerbaijani capital of) Baku yesterday (Wednesday). Presidents of Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia inaugurated the pipeline which will transport Caspian underground resources to the world markets. Leaders signed two declarations, one foreseeing transportation of Kazakh oil to Ceyhan, and the other envisaging construction of Kars-Baku railway. Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, ''the pipeline is of vital importance for this region.''
BABACAN'S DUTY IS HARD
Turkish Foreign Ministry sources said, ''progress report for 2005 may be worse than that of 2004. Therefore, (Turkish) State Minister (Ali) Babacan, who has been assigned as the chief negotiator (for entry talks with the EU) has a hard duty.'' Also, Foreign Ministry sources are concerned: Reforms have been slowed down. No new steps have been taken in religious freedom and the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK). Closure of Teacher's Trade Union (Egitim-Sen) has a negative impact on this process. Therefore, this year's progress report may be worse than that of 2004.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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THIS PROCESS (NEGOTIATIONS) WILL START ON OCT. 3RD
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had a mini EU summit with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who came to Turkey to watch European Champions League final game between AC Milan and Liverpool. Berlusconi said that negotiations with Turkey would be launched on October 3rd, and added, ''any delay or new preconditions are out of question.'' During this meeting, Erdogan told Berlusconi that Turkey was expecting to host more Italian tourists, while Berlusconi pledged to do his best regarding this matter.
WORLD WATCHED ISTANBUL
The Champions League final played in Istanbul between AC Milan and Liverpool has been a good opportunity to promote Turkey. Besides the ''live'' promotion we made in 233 countries, British and Italian fans spent 60 million USD in our country.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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U.S. REPS TO USE ERCAN AIRPORT IN THE TRNC
A U.S. Congressional delegation will be visiting the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus by directly flying to Ercan Airport on the island next week. The delegation's visit is intended to end the international isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. Greek Cypriots have strongly reacted to such a visit of the TRNC.
ONUR AIR TO FILE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST 4 EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
Privately owned Onur Air is preparing to sue the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland for putting an 11 day ban on its flights. Onur Air deputy chief executive officer Sahabettin Bolukcu has indicated that Onur Air has lost 30 million Euro due to the 11 day ban on its flights. ''We want our prestige back,'' said Bolukcu. Onur Air flies to 73 destinations throughout Europe.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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CHURCH'S HATRED OF ISLAM CONTINUE
Attacks against the Holy Koran in the United States is continuing. After U.S. troops desecrated the Quran in Guantanamo, Cuba and Iraq, a Baptist church in North Carolina wrote on a board in its garden that the ''Quran must be flushed.''
GIANT PIPELINE INAUGURATED
The first flow of oil in the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) oil pipeline took place yesterday. The oil pipeline will help obtain one million barrels of oil per day. Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer was among world leaders who participated in the opening ceremony of the BTC oil pipeline. The BTC oil pipeline is 1,774 kilometers long.