ANKARA (A.A) - 13.04.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on April 13, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TASAR PLANS TO OBTAIN 50 BILLION USD FROM TOURISM
Speaking at the opening of the Second Tourism Meeting, Tourism Minister Mustafa Tasar said that he was aiming to bring 60 million tourists and obtain 50 billion USD tourism revenues each year. He claimed that Turkey should set aside 450 million USD to tourism activities from the budget each year. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer also attended the meeting.
BOSTANCIOGLU:''I ONLY DID WHAT THE CONSTITUTION SAYS''
National Education Minister Metin Bostancioglu, regarding the discussions of headscarf, said ''I'm only practicing what the Constitution says. I never did anything against Constitution and I never will.''
''Such things happen in politics. The opposition parties will show their opposition and I will do my job. But as a nation, we all have to be alert,'' he commented.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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U.S. DOLLAR INCREASES
One U.S. dollar decreased to 1,283,000 TL on Friday afternoon. However it started to increase following the warnings of Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti and Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) Chairman Akcakoca. The banks which rushed to the market in order to buy U.S. dollars increased one U.S. dollar by 30,000 TL.
IMF:''IF TRUST IN ECONOMY INCREASES, ECONOMIC GROWTH WILL COME TRUE''
Tom Dawson, the IMF Foreign Affairs Director said that the economic programme of Turkey was on the right track on its main principles, adding that ''when the trust in the economy increases and as long as the economic programme is implemented strictly, the economic growth will come true.'' Speaking in a news conference, Dawson said that the IMF Executive Board Directors will convene on Monday to discuss the release of 1,1 billion dollars of new tranche to Turkey.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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PARLIAMENT TREATS OLD ENEMY AS KINGS
A Syrian parliamentary delegation formed by seven members were shown special attention during their visit to Turkey. The Syrian guests were offered a ferry tour in Boshphorus and were taken to most luxurious restaurants on Istanbul strait. The delegation members had the chance to meet a number of important names including State Minister Kemal Dervis. Turkey and Syria came to the brink of war when it was found out that Syria provided shelter to PKK chief terrorist Abdullah Ocalan in this country for several years.
TRANVESTITES MEET WITH FOGG AND YASSEEN ASKING FOR MORE RIGHTS
Transvestites recently met with EU Turkey Representative Karen Fogg and Palestinian Ambassador in Ankara Fouad Yaseen and asked for their support. They said they would also meet with Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi and ask him to offer them the same opportunities offered to inmates and handicapped people. They also said that transvestites who lost their jobs should be given their jobs back.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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GUREL:''EU IS AN OBSTACLE IN FRONT OF CYPRUS''
State Minister Gurel criticized the EU for stating that a solution in Cyprus was not a precondition for the EU membership of the Greek Cypriot Administration and said such statements were encouraging Greek Cypriots not to make any efforts to compromise. ''The EU is saying to the Greek Cypriots that they would accept them to the Union no matter what they do. How can you expect them to have a positive attitude under these circumstances,'' he commented.
HEADSCARF DEMONSTRATIONS ARE PROVOKED BY ISLAMIST CIRCLES
Intelligence units who have been monitoring Islamist fundamentalist activities reported that students studying at religious schools (Imam Hatip Highschools) were provoked by Islamist circles and they pointed to the increasing number of demonstrations this year. They stated that inspectors who inspect these highschools turn a blind eye to the incidents and are not even including these incidents in their reports. They said that Kemalist teachers are labelled as ''infidels'' in these schools. They indicated that female students who refuse to take off their headscarves in National Security lessons obtain fake reports in order not to attend those classes.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ECEVIT RAISES HOPES ABOUT THE EU
Economic Development Foundation (IKV) Chairwoman Meral Gezgin Eris who had a meeting with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said she was very hopeful about Turkey's full membership to the EU. Eris stated that Turkey fulfilled a majority of short and medium term commitments to the EU. She said she hoped Turkey would complete the remaining commitments to the EU before the end of this year.
FIRST SUICIDE CASE IN F-TYPE PRISONS
Halit Kocyigit, a gang member, was found dead at Sincan F-type prison after committing suicide, stirring up further criticism against F-type prisons. Turkish Doctors Association (TTB) had warned the government that inmates who are kept on their own or in rooms with three people would suffer from psychological disorders no matter how good the physical conditions are in that prison.
The Justice Ministry, on the other hand, had claimed that inmates were monitored with cameras in these prisons and they cannot hurt themselves or others. But Kocyigit's suicide weakened this statement.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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PRESIDENT SEZER:''ALL OUR HOPE IS IN TOURISM''
Addressing the Second Tourism Fair, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that ''tourism also directs the country's economy today. Increasing both the tourism incomes and exports will help the country to come out of the economic crisis. The future of Turkey is in tourism sector.''
ATO CHAIRMAN:''2000 U.S. DOLLARS FOR CITIZENS; 36,000 U.S. DOLLARS
FOR DEPUTIES''
Sinan Aygun, the Chairman of Ankara Trade Chamber (ATO) said that ''totally 125,000 business places were closed and 2,3 million citizens lost their jobs due to the economic crisis. A total of 1,5 million citizens have debts due to their credit cards. The percent of those who commit suicide due to economic difficulties increased to 65 percent. While the monthly income of deputies is 3,000 U.S. dollars, the annual national income per capita decreased to 2,160 U.S. dollars.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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FOUAD YASEEN:WE ARE AGAINST KILLING OF INNOCENT PEOPLE
Palestinian Ambassador to Turkey Fouad Yaseen said regarding the suicide bombings that ''we are against killing of innocent people without being tried.'' Yasin said that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat didn't accept these suicide attacks, adding that Arafat has always condemned these attacks. Yaseen accused Israeli Prime Minister Arial Sharon for the sad incidents in the region and the killing of people.