These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 21, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
IMPORTANT PERSONS FROM EU TO COME FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN RELIGIONS
It became definite that important persons from the European Union (EU) would attend ''OIC-EU Joint Forum'' which is expected to take place in Istanbul on February 12 with the initiative of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem aiming to prevent a dispute between the religions following terrorist attacks on September 11.
Joschka Fischer, Foreign Minister Minister of Germany which is the locomotive country of the EU; Josep Pique, the Foreign Minister of Spain, which is the term president of the EU; and Louis Mitchel, the Belgian Foreign Minister, stated that they would attend the forum that will take place in Istanbul. Attendance of those three foreign ministers to Turkey's initiative was evaluated as a ''full support to Turkey from the EU'' in diplomatic lobbies.
AMENDED ARTICLES OF THE CONSTITUTION
The 1982 Constitution was amended to an important extend and within the scope of the amendments, freedom of thought was broadened, freedom was brought to broadcast in Kurdish language, closure of political parties became difficult, and capital punishment was limited.
Here are the amended articles of the Constitution and here are our new rights:
-Partial freedom will be brought to thought,
-Custody period will not be more than four days,
-Telephone tapping to be punished,
-Private life to be protected,
-There will be facilities for books, casettes and tv in every language,
-Associations and Unions will be more free,
-Petitions to be responded immediately,
-Capital punishment to be valid only in crimes of terrorism,
-Constitutional assurance to women-men equality,
-Constitutional assurance to unions of civil servants,
-Laws of September 12 to be judged,
-Closure of political parties will be more difficult.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
CEM'S ADVICE TO SADDAM
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem wrote a letter to Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri Ahmad al-Hadithi before Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to the U.S. and wanted Iraq to abide by the U.N. resolutions.
When asked if this was a suprising development, Foreign Minister Cem said, ''of course not. We are in continuous contact with Baghdad in this respect.''
Pointing out that he got a polite response from his Iraqi counterpart, Cem said, ''we will evaluate the steps that will be taken by Baghdad.''
Responding to a question which asked what Ankara wanted to do, Cem said, ''our target is to preserve stability in the region. Turkey is the more influential country of the region. If Baghdad takes a decision in the direction of the U.N. resolutions, we will put pressure to lighten the economic embargo imposed on Iraq.''
Cem said any step that will be taken by Baghdad in this respect would be a development that would overcome tension in the region.
BRITISH PATIENTS TO COME TO TURKEY
British government started to send their patients to other countries aiming to overcome the crisis in its national health system. Turkey is among the countries where those patients would be sent.
British government has already sent nine patients to Louviere Hospital in France. The Sunday Telegraph daily said the British government would send patients to Turkey, Malta, Greece and Tunisia to adjust its health system and to overcome the crisis.
The newspaper said officials from the Health Ministry talked to a mediator company, and that prices of treatment were discussed with the countries in question.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
KEMAL DID NOT GIVE UP POLITICS
Prof. Kemal Gole, the close friend of State Minister Kemal Dervis, said, ''Kemal is a very obstinate person. He never gives up.''
When asked if Dervis gave up politics, Gole said, ''he said he would not enter to politics in its current structure, but he did not give up. He said he could not think of politics at the time being.''
APPRECIATION TO PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT
The business world, which was stingy to give a grade to the government in the past two years, this time gave excellent grades to the government. Almost all the 128 businessmen, who attended the tour, appreciated Ecevit's visit to the U.S.
Tuncay Ozilhan, the Chairman of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Assocition (TUSIAD), described the visit as very successful.
Ozilhan said, ''of course we will support the government now. I had attended many visits so far, but this much concrete steps could not be taken during those visits.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
YILMAZ: TARGET IS 2007 FOR EU
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said Turkey could be a full member of the EU in the year 2007 in case it makes use of the year 2002.
Evaluating Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's visit to the U.S., Yilmaz said, ''our expectations were materialized to a great extend. It was also revealed that there was no reason for concern in Iraq. I think, we will be able to see the positive results of the visit soon.''
NO PURCHASERS TO PUBLIC LANDS
Expected interest was not shown to the public lands, which were presented to the sale aiming to provide income. There was no purchasers to the 80 percent of the lands in eastern Erzurum province.
Bayram Yildiz, the official who heads treasury of Erzurum province, said there was almost no application to the sale of the lands. He said, ''we have been opening bids for months. We have repeated the bids many times. There was almost no demand. We decided not to open bids again. We will allocate some of those areas to the state institutions.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIZATION PACKAGE MORE LIMITS FREEDOM
National Democratization Package prepared by the government, which was expected to broaden the freedoms, has issued the laws again. According to the draft in the Parliament, the scopes of Article 312 and 159 will be broadened. The draft which widening the scope of Article 159 of Turkish Penal Code (TCK) makes the Article 312 more confused.
GREETING TO VOTER AGAIN
There are lots of problems in the 77 universities waiting for solution; however, the deputies want new universities to be set up in their election regions. National Education Minister Metin Bostancioglu also supports the proposals for setting up 25 new universities. Higher Education Board (YOK) officials reacted the deputies by saying, ''firstly, they should solve existing problems in the universities.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
FIGHTING AGAINST TERRORISM UP TO THE END
National Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli attended the Mayors from MHP Working Meeting which was held by his party in Nevsehir. Speaking at the press conference, Bahceli said that 2001 was a difficult year for Turkey and the world. He noted that global and economical shrinkage, the economic crisis in which Turkey had entered, September 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S. and the strike against Afghanistan stamped 2001. Bahceli said that PM Bulent Ecevit's visit to the U.S. gained importance after the September 11 attacks in the U.S. and that the visit was the mediator to explain Turkey's sensitivity to the world. He added that Turkey would continue to fight against all destructive components threatening its existence.
97 OF EVERY 100 WOMEN IN TURKEY EXPOSED TO VIOLENCE
Turkish women are exposed to violence by their husbands or fathers at least one time in their lives. According to the search of Women Solidarity Fund, 20 percent of women continue to their lives under the risk of being exposed to violence with knife, gun or scissors. The women who have high education degree prefer to hide the violence they are exposed as they don't want this embarrasing situation to affect their careers.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
DENKTAS AND CLERIDES TO MEET SECOND TIME
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas and Greek Cypriot Leader Galfcos Clerides will meet again today within the framework of direct talks which began to find a solution to the Cyprus issue on January 16. The two leaders are expected to revise the issues which were taken up on Wednesday, to determine the separation points between the two sides and to debate the functions of the two sides in a new partnership which will be set up.