These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 25, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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AN OFFENDER ABOARD OFFICIAL PLANE
Businessman Ismail Koluk who accompanied Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit during his visit to the United States, and his brother Cemal Koluk were taken into custody for inciting a hired gunman to kill another businessman Melih Atay.
PISKINSUT TO FORM HER POLITICAL PARTY ON MONDAY
Sema Piskinsut, an independent deputy from Aydin province, said that she would submit a petition to the Interior Ministry on Monday to form a political party. The Socialist Democratic Party will become the 44th political party of Turkey.
TURKEY PAYS 11 MILLION U.S. DOLLARS TO ECHR
Turkey has paid 11 million U.S. dollars so far in compensation in cases at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Turkey was sentenced to pay compensation in 184 separate cases. Meanwhile, friendly settlement was reached in 106 cases. Turkey was sentenced to pay a total of 12.5 million U.S. dollars in compensation. Turkey paid 11 million U.S. dollars of this amount.
DERVIS: ''WE ARE IN A CRITICAL TURNING POINT''
State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy said that Turkey was in a critical turning point. Noting that Turkey was still trying to recover from the effects of two heavy financial crises, Dervis said, ''we are going through a critical period during which we can accelerate our economic programme through the contributions of international organizations. We can overcome this critical period with our determination and coordination in implementing the economic programme.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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FIGHT OF HARMONY
Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk did not step back. Criticisms of some opposition parties and non-governmental organizations saying that freedoms were being narrowed were not taken into consideration. Disputes broke out among members of three political parties forming the coalition government. But in the end, adjustment bill was adopted by the Parliamentary Justice Commission.
''WE THINK ABOUT SUICIDE BECAUSE...''
An argument has begun after Lara Falay, 16, a student of Uskudar American College in Istanbul, committed suicide by throwing herself from the Bogazici Bridge. Security forces examined personal computer of Falay, and revealed that she sent e-mails to her friends saying that she wanted die to experience satanism. Meanwhile, another young girl said in a letter, ''we think about committing suicide because we have been dragged into a race since our birth. Because teachers are putting pressure on us in schools. Also, we are under pressure of our families. Children who are unhappy in their schools and houses find shelter in computer games and extreme trends.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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NINE YEARS WITHOUT UGUR
Prominent journalist-writer Ugur Mumcu who was killed in a bomb attack in front of his house on January 24, 1993, was commemorated throughout Turkey. State Minister Fikret Unlu for Youth and Sports, deputies Ridvan Budak and Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik and a number of people attended the ceremony in front of Mumcu's house. Speaking at the ceremony, Mumcu's wife and Ugur Mumcu Journalism Foundation Chairperson Guldal Mumcu said, ''killing a people is synonymous with killing yourself. This vicious circle can destroy the whole humanity.''
ECEVIT: ''ECONOMY HAS BEGUN TO REVIVE
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that positive developments had been occurring in economy, and economy had begun to revive. Speaking at the group meeting of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), Prime Minister Ecevit evaluated his visit to the United States. He said, ''our economy has begun to revive. It will be wrongful to talk about early elections.''
FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER ARRIVES IN TURKEY
Defense Minister Alain Richard of France arrived in Turkey yesterday on a two-day official visit. General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff who does not meet with defense and foreign affairs ministers in principle, responded in the affirmative Richard's request for a meeting.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TEARS OF WIFE OF A MARTYR
Zerrin Okkan, the wife of former Police Chief Gaffar Okkan who was killed in a terrorist attack in southeastern province of Diyarbakir on January 24, 2001, left two letters on grave of her husband on the first anniversary of his demise. Meanwhile, Okkan and five other policemen who were assassinated, were commemorated in Diyarbakir. Nearly one thousand women laid carnations on Karakoc Boulevard where Okkan and his colleagues were killed.
''HE WILL LIVE IN OUR THOUGHTS''
Prominent journalist-writer Ugur Mumcu who was assassinated in a car-bomb attack in front of his house, was commemorated. Speaking at the ceremony held in front of Mumcu's house, Mumcu's wife and Ugur Mumcu Journalism Foundation Chairperson Guldal Mumcu said, ''people forget their humanity as a result of terrorism. Terrorism take people away from justice and democracy. All I want for Turkey and for the whole world is freedom without terrorism.''
ECEVIT: ''SADDAM SHOULD TAKE BUSH SERIOUSLY ''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''I hope that President Saddam Hussein of Iraq will take seriously messages of U.S. President George W. Bush. It is unnecessary to maintain such a meaningless resistance against the whole world.'' Speaking at the group meeting of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''the U.S. administration pays careful attention to our opinions about Iraq. Any military operation cannot be launched in the region without information and contribution of Turkey due to our geographical position. I believe that U.S. administration would set up a productive consultation process with Turkey.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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LAST DAYS OF FREEDOM
The ''Mini Democracy Package'' which limits the thought and the freedom of expression by changing Article 159 and 312 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) will be legalized next week. Justice Commission has given the visa to 'Mini Democracy Package'' which caused a discussion in the coalition. The coalition partners and the opposition members who criticized the amendments in the Article 159 and 312 of TCK will seek a chance of reconciliation in the General Assembly. The draft will be debated on Wednesday and legalized in two days, if the leaders decide in favor of the draft.
BANKING LAW DEBATED IN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
State Minister Kemal Dervis met with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to explain the importance of the banking law in Presidential Palace on Thursday. Sezer asked many questions regarding the law and showed unprejudiced and helpful attitude during the meeting which lasted for about two hours. Treasury Undersecretariat Faik Oztrak, Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) President Engin Akcakoca and Public Banks Joint Executive Board Chairman Vural Akisik also attended the meeting.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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END TO INTEREST TRAP
Credit cards crisis is coming to the Council of the Ministers. The consumer credit and moratory interest will be limited by the amendment which will be made in the law. Moratory interest problem in the consumer credit and payments of the credit cards, which led many people to go bankrupt and the banks to be included in the blacklist, is tried to be solved. In this direction, newly arranged Preservation of the Consumers draft law will be taken up in the first meeting of the Cabinet.
FORGET ELECTION
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit noted that the government would stay in power until the normal election. Ecevit said that everything was going well in the economy and stating that business circles were pleased with the steps and hopeful about the future of the economy. Ecevit said that there were some obstacles, which the government did not create, in investment and production and that obstacles would be overcome. Speaking in his party group meeting in the Parliament, Ecevit said that businessmen were hopeful about economical future and the election was not on the agenda anymore.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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RATES DO NOT CHANGE IN PROPERTY TAX
Finance Minister Sumer Oral has announced that they were not planning to change the property tax rates. Oral noted that the principle of statement would be lifted in the new arrangement related to the property tax and stated that the municipalities would accrue the tax upon the minimal values and transmit to the taxpayers. Stressing that the works to remove the injustices were continuing, Oral said that the draft which was being prepared on that issue would be debated by the Council of Ministers on Monday.