These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 26, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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ECEVIT:ESDP CAN'T BE FORMED WITHOUT TURKEY
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) which is tried to be formed by the European Union (EU) can't be formed without Turkey. Ecevit, who attended the spring meeting of the NATO candidate countries in Bucharest, Romania, said that ''ESDP can't be an alternative to NATO. ESDP can't do anything in the Balkans without Turkey. Turkey is warm to the idea of NATO expansion by admitting two important members of Southeast Europe namely Romania and Bulgaria.'' Ecevit who met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said that Turkey didn't favour an operation against Iraq. Ecevit stressed that the problem has to be solved in the U.N. Ecevit reiterated that if the conditions are met, Turkey is ready to take over the command of the international peace keeping force in Afghanistan.
CEM WARNS EU:DON'T ACT AS IF YOU ARE COLONIALIST
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem warned the EU during a meeting he participated in Brussels. Addressing the meeting held by Europe-Turkey Foundation, Cem said that certain EU officials acted as if they were colonialists noting that this attitude didn't help in improvement of bilateral relations. ''Certain EU officials who come to Turkey act as if they are colonialist governors. Certain European politicians assume an attitude to run down Turkey in order to get votes of electors. This does not help in the bilateral relations,'' Cem stressed. Referring to the Cyprus issue, Cem said that EU's attitude does not encourage, but discourage the Turkish side for a solution in Cyprus.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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PKK CHANGED NAME AGAINST TERORRISM LIST
Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, the Deputy Chief of General Staff, pointed out that the Armed Forces was not against the European Union (EU), noting that, ''we are bored of saying this, but those who don't want to understand did not get bored.''
Pointing out that terrorist PKK changed its name as it reminded terrorism, Gen. Buyukanit said, ''all those changes will not be adequate till all the terrorists are eradicated.''
Gen. Buyukanit said Turkish Armed Forces has never been against the EU.
Speaking about International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), Buyukanit said, ''talks ended with the United States and Britain. Views of the Turkish Armed Forces will be presented to political authorities. ISAF's command is not something easy. We should be successful.''
HEADSCARF TO BE DISCUSSED IN THE LEADERS' SUMMIT
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said there should be constitutional change and compromise for the solution of headscarf problem.
Pointing out that a constitutional change was necessary for the solution of headscarf problem at universities, Yilmaz said the issue would be discussed at the leaders' summit. ''The important thing is that the issue should not be made a tool of domestic policy. We should tell the truths to people. A compromise is necessary for the solution of the issue.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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GENERAL BUYUKANIT: ''WE'RE NOT AGAINST EU. WE GOT BORED BY SAYING THIS''
Second Chief of General Staff General Yasar Buyukanit has given certain messages about the soldiers' view to the EU. Upon a question, Buyukanit said that the Turkish Armed Forces was not opposed to Turkey's European Union (EU) membership, adding, ''we got bored by saying this but those who don't want to understand have not got bored by not understanding this.''
GESTURE TO NATO CANDIDATES
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that they extended support to Romania's and Bulgaria's NATO membership at the Summit of Heads of NATO Candidate States and Governments in Buchraset, Romania. Ecevit gave support messages to Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Spain, Slovenia, Slovakia, Macedonia and Crotia for the membership to NATO. Noting that a very beneficial meeting had been held in Bucharest and he had received a special invitation to the meeting, Ecevit said, ''first of all, the basic aim of this meeting was to receive external support to accelerate Romania's NATO full membership process. Romanians know how we sincerely expend efforts to this end. We also make same efforts for Bulgaria.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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CRITICISM FROM CEM TO EU
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, who met Guenter Verheugen, the European Union (EU) Commissioner responsible for Enlargement, said the EU also has certain approaches that can be criticized.
Cem complained about the ''colonialist approach'' and the existance of certain circles in EU which act as if they were the colonialist governors of the big powers in the past.
KARZAI TO BE IN ANKARA ON WEDNESDAY
Hamid Karzai, the Prime Minister of the interim government in Afghanistan, will be in Ankara on Wednesday.
Karzai will be received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Karzai's meeting with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will form the focal point of his contacts that would take place in March 28-29.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TAX DEBATE IN GOVERNMENT
The government officials had a debate about ''tax decrease'' during the economy summit of the government yesterday. State Minister Tunca Toskay who is in charge of economy brought onto agenda the idea of ''decrease of taxes'' in durable goods and automobiles last year and said that the tax decrease increased the sales and it didn't cause any decrease in tax incomes. However, State Minister Kemal Dervis and State Minister Sumer Oral objected to tax decrease. Dervis said that Turkey has to fulfil its commitments towards IMF. Oral said in his part that deviations from the budget targets would bring more difficulties for Turkey.
PARLIAMENT WORKS TO ADOPT ADJUSTMENT BILL
The parliament will continue to discuss adjustment bill which aims to bring the Turkish laws in harmony with the EU law today. The bill which foresees amendments in eight laws, proposes to cut down state aid to political parties instead of closing them down; and charging the compensation fine from the person who commits torture rather than charging it from the state in cases finalized against Turkey by the European Court of Human Rights. The bill will also abolish the provision in the Press Law saying that in case of publication of news in a prohibited language, the punishments that are given to editors would not be turned into fines and that the concerned persons could be kept in custody.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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WINTER RETURNED
Snowfall, which continued in Seydisehir and Bozkir townships in central Anatolian Konya province, negatively effected transportation. The snow thickness reached 40 cm on the main Seydisehir-Antalya highway.
Efforts are underway to clear the roads off the snow.
Schools recessed for one day in Cameli township in Denizli province because of heavy snow.
NEW REDUCTION CRISIS IN VAT
State Minister Tunca Toskay, who recalled the positive results of the Value Added Tax (VAT) reduction in automotive and durable goods, pointed out that, ''we may have reduction again in some sectors.''
However, State Minister Kemal Dervis said, ''there is no reduction in any tax, even if it is temporary.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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DPT PROPOSES TO CLOSE 13 SUGAR FACTORIES WHICH LOST MONEY
State Planning Organization (DPT) proposed to close 13 sugar factories which lose money continuously, use old technology and have excessive employment. However, Industry Ministry and PANKOBIRLIK are opposed to the DPT's suggestion. DPT Undersecretariat prepared a report and said that 13 of 27 sugar factories which belong to the public should be closed as they are using the old technology and their production cost are very high. Industry and Trade Ministry found the report insufficient and drew the attention to social environment of the provinces where there are the sugar factories and their public interest.