These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 14, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
ECEVIT TO GO TO U.S. TODAY
The visit of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to the U.S. will start today. Prime Minister Ecevit will stay in Ritz Carlton Hotel in Washington D.C. during his visit which will last for five days and end on January 19. Four ministers, six deputies, eight high ranking deputies, 106 businessmen and 40 journalists will accompany him during his visit. Ecevit will meet with the U.S. President in White House on January 16. Seven Turkish officials will be present in that meeting namely Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, State Ministers Kemal Dervis and Tunca Toskay, Energy Minister Zeki Cakan, Turkish Ambassador to the U.S. Faruk Logoglu, Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary and former Turkish Ambassador to the U.S Baki Ilkin. Foreign Ministry Special Consultant Engin Soysal will take notes during the meeting.
KURDISTAN STAMP SEALED ON TURKISH PASSPORTS
''Kurdistan'' stamp is sealed on the passports of Turkish persons who go to Northern Iraq. The persons who don't want this stamp, are either not permitted to the region or they face with difficulties. According to the report which has been prepared on this issue before Ecevit's visit to the U.S., Massoud Barzani, the leader of Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) acts as if he is the leader of Kurdistan and he violates the territorial integrity of Iraq. The course books published in the region also tell that an independent Kurdistan will be founded in the future.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
WE HAVE FOUR CONDITIONS
Ankara conveyed its tendency towards ''an operation on Iraq'' to Washington with a clear message. Iraq file is expected to have an important place during Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to the United States. Officials explained Turkey's stance towards a possible attack on Iraq to the U.S. delegation comprised of ten senators who paid a visit to Ankara. The general tendency of Ankara, which thinks that Turkey will be affected by the results of an intervention, is to be in the developments. Here are the four conditions: Turkey will no way want division of Iraq. And, Turkey will never accept foundation of a Kurdish state. Turkey will be closely interested in the results of an intervention rather than its reasons. Because, the results will have serious political, economic and military impacts on Turkey. A Turkmen autonomous region should be provided in the region. Turkey will actively react to probable developments in the direction of border security, national integrity and interests.
''I AM CONCERNED ABOUT LOBBIES''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that the strategic relations with the United States were at the highest level. Ecevit said, ''the weakest link of this relation is economy.'' Noting that he was hopeful about his visit to the United States, Ecevit said, ''the U.S. administration is very much aware of our problems. But, we may not reach a result immediately due to the obstruction of lobbies and the Congress.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
''YOU WARN SADDAM''
U.S. President Bush will tell Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to press on Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to abide by the United Nations (U.N.) resolutions. Iraq will be the ''most difficult'' item of the agenda of Ecevit's tour to the United States which will begin today. According to sources in Washington, President Bush will tell Ecevit that they have not taken any definite decision about an operation on Iraq yet and assure Ecevit: ''Turkey's view will be asked definitely in any step to be taken regarding Iraq.'' But, Bush will have a request from Ecevit: ''Intensify imbuing Saddam Hussein to obey U.N. resolutions and re-accept weapon observers in Iraq.'' Observers said that Bush's this request from Turkey means ''last chance'' for Saddam.
RETIREMENT AGE HAMPERED
Democratic Left Party (DSP) thought the draft prepared by Labour and Social Security Minister Yasar Okuyan had very severe conditions and prepared a model which decreased the retirement age by five years. DSP deputy Osman Kilic developed the retirement model. The model approved by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who was a former Labour Minister, reduces retirement age to 53 in women and 55 in men. Okuyan's draft foresees retirement of men at the age of 60 and women at the age of 58. DSP says that after the retirement in Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), women approximately live for 16 years and men for 10 years. Approximate life span is 69 in women and 65 in men. In order to keep the same rate with the OECD countries, Turkish women should get retired in 53 and men in 55.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
ECEVIT'S IRAQ PROBLEM
Turkey had told many U.S. officials before the visit of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to the region that it was against an operation in Iraq. However, diplomatic sources said that although the U.S. noted that it didn't take a decision yet about a possible operation in Iraq, it can bring onto agenda its expectations from Turkey for such a military intervention in Iraq during Ecevit's visit. The issue of fight with terrorism is also expected to be taken up during the visit. In this respect, one of the most important difficulties of Turkey is that Turkey is neighbour of three countries which were considered as terrorist by the U.S.
DENKTAS:''CYPRUS PROBLEM HAS TO BE SOLVED FIRST''
TRNC President Rauf Denktas said that Greek Cypriots think that it should first of all join the EU and then urge Turkish Cypriots to reach an agreement with them as having the minority status. ''This can't happen,'' said Denktas and warned the Greek Cypriot side. ''If you urge the EU to accept Turkish Cypriots as minority, Turkey will resort to its rights stemming from 1960 Treaties. This will cause a tension. The EU can't play this game,'' he added.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE OPENS INVESTIGATION CALENDAR IN KURDISH
Prosecutor's office opened an investigation regarding a calendar published for HADEP as the months in the calendar were written in Kurdish. When the European Union is asking for Turkey to lift the barriers in front of broadcasting in mother tongue until March 19, prosecutorship has opened an investigation to 15 officials of HADEP Hakkari Provincial Office due to the months of its calendar in Kurdish.
TOURISM SECTOR MAKES HAPPY
The number of the tourists visiting Turkey exceeded 11,5 million in 2001 despite the negativites in the world. The number of the tourists travelling Turkey increased by 11 percent when compared to the previous year. German tourists were ranked the first among the tourists who visited Turkey in 2001. British tourists followed Germans.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
FOG TO BE INFLUENTIAL ACROSS TURKEY
The fog will continue to be influential until the mid-week across the country. The fog is expected in Marmara region, central and eastern part of Turkey especially in morning hours. Meanwhile, there will be rain in eastern part of Marmara region, in the coasts of Black Sea, Western Mediterranean and Aegean region. The temperatures will start to increase beginning from the western parts of Turkey. However, the temperatures will be beneath zero at nights in central and eastern parts of Turkey.
PHARMACIES TO BE CLOSE ON TUESDAY
Turkish Pharmacists Union took an action decision aiming to protest Health Ministry's decision on 10 percent decrease in pharmacists' share on the medicine. The pharmacists won't open their shops on Tuesday. According to the action decision of Turkish Pharmacists Union, only pharmacies on duty will be open tomorrow.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
PM BULENT ECEVIT GOES TO THE U.S. WITH GREAT EXPECTATIONS
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will go to Washington D.C. as an official guest of George W. Bush today. The delegation including ministers, bureaucrats and businessmen accompanies Ecevit in his tour to the the United States (U.S.). The economic issues will mainly be taken up in the talks. Ecevit will ask for the U.S. to lift the quotas and 5 billion U.S. dollars debt. The hardest strategical discussions will be on Iraq issue between the two countries.
COAL PRICE SOARS WITH SNOWFALL
Turkey's agenda has focused on natural gas prices following the freezing weather across the country. When everybody was talking about the natural gas, the coal and firewood prices doubled by increasing day by day. Coal sellers are determining the coal prices by observing the weather conditions in Izmir province. The sack of coal which was sold by 2 million TL before the snowfall rised to 3 million 750 thousand TL after the heavy snowfall.