ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on June 28th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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''TURKEY'S REQUEST CANNOT BE MET''
President Robert Kocharian of Armenia said that Turkey wanted them to give up Upper Karabakh and allegations of genocide, adding that those requests could not be met. He stressed that they could sit at the negotiation table with Turkey unconditionally.
OZ ASKS FOR LIFE SENTENCES FOR FOUR SUSPECTS
Prosecutor Zekeriya Oz asked for life sentences for four suspects accused of carrying out a series of suicide bombings in Istanbul in 2003. The attacks targeting Beth Israel and Neve Shalom synagogues on November 15th, and the British Consulate General and HSBC Bank on November 20th killed nearly 60 people and injured many others. The court is expected to announce its verdict after hearing final statements from the defense lawyers. The court adjourned the trial until August 25th.
SWEDEN EXTENDS FULL SUPPORT
Swedish Parliament Speaker Bjorn von Sydow, who is currently paying an official visit to Turkey upon invitation of Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc, said that all Swedish lawmakers were in favor of opening of entry talks between Turkey and the EU on October 3rd.
CRITICAL WEDNESDAY
The European Union (EU) will disclose a draft negotiating roadmap for entry talks with Turkey on Wednesday. The draft will be ratified by the European Commission, the executive body of the EU, on June 29th, and then forwarded to the EU Council for approval.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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PUNISHMENT TO POLICEMEN PLEASES EU
EU Ambassadors in Turkey are pleased with the punishment given to policemen who used violence against women on last Women's Day (March 8th, 2005). Thus, Turkey responded to the EU criticisms saying that Turkey couldn't implement the reforms. The wages of six policemen were cut off and three administrators were denounced by the police organization. European Ambassadors said that the Turkish government took its first serious step on the way to EU since last year's December Summit.
''ENLIGHTENED MODERATION'' IN ISLAM
The three-day summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) will start in Sana, Yemen today. The most important topic of the summit is the encouragement of the term ''enlightened moderation'' in Islam and making positive the image of Islam in the world. The summit will start today with the opening remarks of Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, representing Turkey as the OIC Term President.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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''ACTION AGAINST IRAQ IS UNFAIR''
The World Tribunal on Iraq (WTI) announced its verdict yesterday after a three-day culminating session in Istanbul. ''The attack on Iraq is an attack on justice, on liberty, on our safety, on our future, on us all,'' the Jury of Conscience said in its verdict. The symbolic tribunal, uniting former United Nations officials, legal experts and human rights activists, sought the immediate withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq and payment of reparations for the damage caused during the conflict. WTI also recommended that U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair be investigated for crimes against humanity.
SEZEN AKSU TO GIVE A CONCERT IN SPAIN
Turkish musicians including leading pop singer Sezen Aksu will attend the 'La Mar de Musicas' Festival in Spain from July 1st to 23rd. Aksu will give a concert on July 8th. She will sign one of her most prominent songs in Spanish.
CLASH ERUPTS IN FUNERAL IN DIYARBAKIR
Clash erupted during funeral of a member of the terrorist organization PKK in southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir. Police fired warning shots and tear gas to disperse nearly 300 people. A number of people including journalists were injured in the clash. Police detained many demonstrators.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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FOUR CRITERIA OF EU
Vatan newspaper announces the negotiation framework agreement which will be made public on Wednesday. According to the paper, there are four demands of EU from Turkey: ''Fulfillment of Copenhagen criteria, Turkey's having good relations with Greece and sorting out its problems with Armenia, normalization of its bilateral relations with South Cyprus and fulfillment of the homework stated in the Accession Partnership.''
YOK AND GOVERNMENT CAN'T AGREE ON COEFFICIENT
The coefficient problem between the government and the Higher Board of Education (YOK) could not be overcome. National Education Minister Huseyin Celik who had a meeting with YOK members said that YOK insisted on its coefficient decision. The government criticizes YOK as the coefficient system is not advantageous for students of imam-hatip (theology schools) when they sit University Entrance Exam (YOK).
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TURKEY MONITORS IRAN
The election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the Iranian President worries Turkey. Foreign Ministry sources said that Turkey would firstly monitor his performance, but they also expressed concern about the possibility that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad could reflect his radical views to his new post as the President.
OCT.3RD DATE IS NOT GUARANTEED
British Ambassador to Turkey Westmacott said that scanning period is necessary before starting of accession talks between Turkey and the EU. ''This scanning process will continue, we can't guarantee Oct. 3rd as the start of the negotiation date.'' Britain, as the EU Term President also conveyed the view to Turkey that negotiations wouldn't start before December 2005.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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PARLIAMENT TO WORK OVERTIME
The government is planning to bring two important reforms requested by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to release another tranche of loan, onto parliamentary agenda before the legislative holiday. The Justice & Development Party (AKP) government will propose to delay the holiday which is due to start on July 1st, for a week. In that case, lawmakers will work overtime to approve Banking and Social Security Reforms.
TEN INJURED IN FUNERAL IN DIYARBAKIR
Clash erupted between security forces and a group of people during funeral of a member of the terrorist organization PKK who was killed in a security operation last week, in southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir. Security forces intervened in the group chanting slogans in support of the terrorist organization PKK and its head Abdullah Ocalan. 10 people were injured in the clash. Police detained 15 people.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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PRIVATIZATION GETTING LATE IN TURKEY
Sabanci Holding Executive Board President Guler Sabanci strongly criticized the people who oppose privatization in Turkey. ''Turkey is getting late in privatization, we don't have much time left. In our region, only Turk Telecom has not been privatized. Does it mean that Telecom is not strategic in Pakistan, Romania, Bulgaria, but only strategic in Turkey?'' Sabanci said.
TALAT: GREEK CYPRIOTS ARE NOT SINCERE
TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat said that his administration proposed Greek Cypriots to relinquish its rights on Maras in return of lifting of the isolation and opening of the TRNC ports, but Greek Cypriots strongly rejected this proposal. Talat said that Turkish and Greek Cypriots sides held talks in Brussels, but the talks collapsed as the Greek Cypriot side definitely rejected direct trade. ''So it has been clearly seen that Greek Cypriot's desire to get Maras is not a very realistic and serious one, and also they are against direct trade whatever is given in return,'' Talat said.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ISLAM COUNTRIES MEET FOR REFORM IN OIC
Islam countries gather in Sana, Yemen today to play a more active role in the international arena and to better explain Islam to the West. The historic transformation within the organization and reform will be the number one issue on the agenda of the summit. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will make the opening remarks of the summit and call OIC countries to lift their blockade on TRNC.
RACIST BULGARIAN PARTY: WE'LL CHANGE NAMES OF TURKS
Volen Siderov, the leader of the racist Bulgarian alliance ATAKA--which entered the parliament by getting 8 percent in the elections in Bulgaria--said that if they come to power, they will change the names of the Turks living in Bulgaria and end the Gypsy neighbourhoods in the country.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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OIC TO DISCUSS REFORMS
The Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Foreign Ministers' Conference will start in Yemeni capital Sanaa later today with recent reform efforts on its agenda. Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul will attend the three-day meeting. During the meeting, Turkey will hand over presidency of the OIC Foreign Ministers' Conference to Yemen. Meanwhile, the OIC is expected to chance its name as ''Organization of Muslim Countries'' or ''Organization of Islamic States'' under its reform process.