ANKARA (AA) - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on June 3rd, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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THREE NEW MINISTERS IN CABINET
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that State Minister Guldal Aksit, Public Works and Housing Minister Zeki Ergezen and Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Sami Guclu resigned from the cabinet. Erdogan told a news conference that Agriculture Minister Sami Guclu was replaced by Mehdi Eker; State Minister Guldal Aksit (responsible for the women and family affairs) was replaced by Nimet Cubukcu and Faruk Nafiz Ozak replaced Zeki Ergezen as the Public Works and Housing Minister.
BBC DEBATE ON NEW TCK
British Broadcast Corporation (BBC) has opened the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) into debate. Many jurists and journalists think that there are shortcomings and technical difficulties in the new law. Peter Preston, the writer and editor of Guardian publication group, asserted that the new code was very restrictive for journalists.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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U.S. SYSTEM IN PRIME MINISTRY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan brings a similar model to the Prime Ministry like the ''White House Spokesman'' system in the United States. Erdogan appointed journalist Akif Beki as his spokesman and chief adviser. Beki will accompany PM Erdogan during his official visit to the United States which will start on June 6th, 2005. Beki will be in continuos contact with the media.
ERDOGAN INFORMS GUCLU ON HIS RESIGNATION DURING LIVE BROADCAST
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Sami Guclu when he was on a live talk on CNN Turk TV channel and told him that he was taken out from the cabinet. Guclu was answering the questions of CNN Turk about exports to Russia when Erdogan called him.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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REASONS OF CABINET RESHUFFLE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan changed the three ministers in the cabinet in an unscheduled news conference yesterday. Sources said that Agriculture Minister Guclu was dismissed as he couldn't sufficiently cope with the agricultural crisis caused due to ''Mediterranean fly''. State Minister Aksit has health problems and Public Works and Housing Minister Ergezen is late in undertaking an important highway project, sources say.
KRUEGER MISUNDERSTOOD
Omer Polat, chairman of the Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD), said that the words of IMF First Deputy Managing Director Anne Krueger about minimum wage in Turkey were misunderstood by the public opinion. ''IMF delegation told us that Krueger only wanted to say that the minimum wage in Turkey was higher than the one in other countries,'' said Polat who met the IMF delegation headed by Turkey Desk Chief Lorenzo Giorgianni the same day.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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TURKEY THREATENED BY INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
National Security Council (NSC) which has been preparing the ''National Security Policy Document'' has stressed that Turkey is threatened by international terrorism. The document which will be discussed by NSC meeting on June 22nd will be binding and take effect after assessment by the NSC members. The document covers Turkey's perception of threats, its view on regional problems, relations with neighbors and relations with the international institutions.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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''COUNTER THE UGLY HEADS''
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Eric Edelman said that Anti-Americanism in Turkey harmed the bilateral relations. Edelman has shown his democracy understanding by saying that ''misguided ideas-- such as the public calls earlier this year for boycotts of U.S. companies-- should be countered and contradicted when they raise their ugly heads, because they can do real and lasting harm.''
GREEK CYPRIOTS FAVOR INSOLUBILITY
Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadopoulos asked for lifting of Turkey's right to intervene on the island and also withdrawal of Turkish soldiers from the island. Prendergast, the UN Under Secretary General who conveyed Papadopoulos's demands to TRNC President Talat, said that this meant that big concessions were asked from the Turkish side in a concealed way.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TURKISH TIRS WAITING TO ENTER RUSSIA
Russia has stopped giving entry documents and visas to drivers of Turkish TIRs which carry goods to Russia. No result has been taken yet from the meetings held with Russia on sorting out the visa problem. So hundreds of TIRs and 3,000 other vehicles wait to enter Russia. Some sources said that Russia is uneasy about the fact that 93 of every 100 TIRs entering Russia was Turkish and that Russia wanted to get a share from transportation.
PRIME MINISTRY CALL LINE IN SERVICE
Prime Ministry Public Relations Department has opened the Prime Ministry Call Line. People who dial (0312) 419 98 98 can be able to explain their complaints and wishes and the result of their demands will be sent back to them by post.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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BABACAN: WE ARE DETERMINED
State Minister and Chief Negotiator Ali Babacan said that all the members of the Turkish government assumed a determined, disciplined and sincere attitude for Turkey's EU bid. Babacan said that there wouldn't be any turning back from Turkey's EU bid, stressing that the entry talks with the EU would start on October 3rd.
CYPRUS SUMMIT IN ANKARA
Prime Minister Erdogan, Foreign Minister Gul, TRNC President Talat, TRNC Prime Minister Soyer and TRNC Foreign Minister Denktas had a meeting in Ankara yesterday. Talat said that ''we have gathered in order to harmonize all our policies and determine our new attitude.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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NO DIRECT LINK BETWEEN REFERENDA RESULTS AND TURKEY'S EU BID
EU Commission's Representative to Turkey Hansjorg Kretschmer said that the rejection of the EU constitution by France and the Netherlands in referenda was not linked with Turkey's EU bid. Kretschmer stressed that the entry talks between Turkey and the EU would start on October 3rd as it was decided during Dec. 17th EU Summit.
ONUR AIR SETS UP INSPECTION TEAM
Turkish private airline Onur Air which is concerned about being banned from flying to European countries again, has formed a five-member inspection team. The team will carefully control the planes before their flights to European countries.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES' EXHIBITION
The Turkish-Bulgarian-Greek Friendship & Culture Association has opened a painting and photograph exhibition in Bulgaria's Haskova city. Association's chairman remarked that they have co-sponsored activities in the past with Bulgarian NGOs. ''We want to work together with Greek NGOs as well in the near future,'' he said. The Haskova exhibition will remain open until June 5th.
2005-06-03