ANKARA (A.A) - 17.04.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on April 17, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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ECEVIT:''I MEANT BOTH SIDES''
Prime Minister Bulent Eceivt sent a special written statement to the Turkish Embassy in the U.S., the U.S. Congress, Bush administration, Jewish institutions and press organizations. Ecevit noted that he didn't want to make the Jewish people uneasy, adding that ''the violence faced by innocent people in 'both sides' drove me to underline the seriousness of the situation in the Middle East.''
THREAT TO EU
Osman Ocalan, one of the top terrorists of PKK and the brother of Abdullah Ocalan, the head terrorist claimed that the PKK fulfilled its historical mission. Ocalan reacted to the statement of Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yýlmaz who said that the PKK, which changed its name, would be taken to the EU list of terrorist organizations. Ocalan claimed that the inclusion of PKK into the EU list of terrorist organizations would mean ''denial and destruction'' of Kurds.
GULEN WAS PROTECTED BY STATE ABROAD
Interior Minister Rustu Kazim Yucelen said that the police bodyguards protected Fethullah Gulen, a sect leader in 1996 as it was asserted that he was the target of the fundemantalist terrorist organization ''IBDA-C.'' Yucelen also noted that police bodyguards offically protected Gulen when he went to the U.S. for medical reasons between May-September 1999. Yucelen noted that Gulen, who is currently in the U.S. and who is wanted in Turkey is not protected anymore.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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IMF RECONCILES WITH MHP
International Monetary Fund (IMF) European I Department Director Michael Deppler said that Turkey would catch rapid development in the end of 2002 and showed the speech of the leader of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) against populist policies as a guarantee. IMF said that Turkey's economic program had recovered at a great extent and noted that Turkey had recorded positive developments especially in macro-economic field. The Fund administration showed the attitude of coalition government as a guraantee that a slow down in Turkish economy would not lead to a collapse similar to the one in Argentine.
FEHRIYE ERDAL ABSENT WHILE HER LAWYERS ARE PRESENT
Brussels Court of Appeals said that it would announce its verdict about the trial of terrorist Fehriye Erdal, who is one of the assailants of Sabanci assassination, in Belgium for the crimes she had committed in Turkey on May 14. Chief prosecutor Alain Winants defended the view during the court session yesterday that Erdal could be tried in Belgium for the crimes she had committed in Turkey and requested that this trial should be united with the Bruges files regarding Erdal's crimes in Belgium. Sabanci family's lawyer Fernand Schmitz requested that Erdal be tried independently for the crimes she had committed in Turkey. Erdal, who is said to be kept ''under surveillance'', did not come to the court session yesterday and was represented by her lawyers.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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PEOPLE ALSO COMPLAIN ABOUT DECREASE IN U.S. DOLLAR
The business world which had revolted when one U.S. dollar exceeded 1,6 million liras, now complain about the decrease in the U.S. dollar. The business world had called State Minister Dervis to give up implementing the floating exchange rate system when the U.S. dollar increased. Dervis had told them to be patient, adding that rate would become stable soon. Dervis came to be right today. After six months, the business world started to complain about the decrease in U.S. dollar. The businessmen think that one U.S. dollar has to be 1,5 million liras. Today one U.S. dollar is below 1,3 million liras.
''TURGUT OZAL WOULD FORM A NEW PARTY''
Ahmet Ozal, the son of Turgut Ozal, the ex-president of Turkey said upon the ninth anniversary of his father's death that Turgut Ozal would form a new party on May 19, 1993. ''He would resign from presidency and become the head of that party. But I didn't want him to do that as he was 65 years old,'' Ahmet Ozal said.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TURKEY ASKS FOR CALENDER
The 41st Turkey-European Union (EU) Asosciation Council meeting was held in Luxembourg. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem reiterated the request of Turkey that a date should be set before the end of this year for beginning of Turkey's full membership negotiations. Pique, the Foreign Minister of EU Term President Spain, said that he found the request of Turkey as rightful. However, Pique remained indifferent to Cem's call by saying that the ongoing reforms in Turkey had not totally met the expectations about the Copenhagen criteria yet.
''PKK'S TACTIC WILL NOT AFFECT US''
The synchronous occurence of the news that the European Union (EU) that it would include PKK and DHKP-C in its list of terrorist organization and initiative of the terrorist organization PKK to change its name was evaluated in Turkey as ''a part of a new strategy of the terrorist organization.'' Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that the tactics of the terrorist organization PKK would not affect Turkey. Touching on the inclusion of the terrorist organization in the EU list, Yilmaz sid, ''I hope that this issue will be revised in line with our demands this week.''
IMF CANNOT BE SATISFIED
According to the letter of intent presented to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the first stage of tax reform will enter into force soon. A new privatization calender will be set and the programme will be totally abided by. The letter covers a large area of arrangements from reducting inactive employment in public sector which is said to be around 40 and 60 thousand to monetary and foreign exchange markets.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TURKEY HOSTS CHINESE PREMIER
After a period of 16 years, Turkey hosted a Chinese Prime Minister. The guest prime minister Zhu Rongji met with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Ecevit and Zhu Rongji told the joint news conference that four agreements basically on economy were signed during Zhu Rongji's visit to Turkey. Ecevit and Rongji said that the two countries shared similar views on many issues particularly on the issue of fight with terrorism. Zhu said that ''we appreciate the Turkish measures to limit the activities of seperatists,'' referring to ''East Turkistan'' issue, adding ''yet this does not stop the activities of separatists.'' Ecevit said in his part that ''Uygurs constitute a friendship bridge between the two countries. Turkey attributes importance to territorial integrity of China.''
SEZER IN BALTIC COUNTRIES
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer visits Baltic countries Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Sezer met with Latvian President Vaira Vike Freibega on Monday. The two presidents took up the membership of Turkey and Latvia to EU, Latvia's membership to NATO and bilateral relations. Hinting Latvia, Sezer said that Turkey will support the membership of countries to EU if they fulfil the conditions. Sezer proceeded to Lithuania last night.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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WE ARE MISSING
Eighth President late Turgut Ozal is being commemorated today on the ninth anniversary of his demise. Turgut Ozal, who took over the administration in a period when people used to spend most of their time in queues, left a different Turkey as inheritance after his works during his prime ministry and presidency. The first ceremony in which Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz will attend will take place in the mausoleum of Ozal in Istanbul. Then, another ceremony will be held in Lutfi Kirdar Congress Hall.
WHAT A PITY! EASTERN TURKISTAN
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit defined those who resisted to Chinese oppression in Eastern Turkistan as ''terrorist movement.'' ''Chinese oppression'' experienced in Eastern Turkistan was on the agenda of Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's contacts in Ankara. Ecevit, who said that he touched on the issue during his meeting with his Chinese counterpart, firstly noted, ''these people set a friendship bridge between Turkey and China.'' Touching on incidents in Eastern Turkistan, Ecevit said, ''we are against terrorism in any country in the world. We will not support any terrorist movement regarding Turkistan.'' Chinese Premier said that he ''appreciated'' this policy of Turkey.
TELEKOM CUTS PRICES
Turkish Telekom decided to reduce one minute local telephone call prices from 100 thousand to 50 thousand Turkish liras (TL). The decision was presented to the Telecommunication Authority for approval.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ARSEVEN: ''WE ARE NOT AT THE DESIRED LEVEL IN HUMAN RIGHTS''
State Minister Nejat Arseven for human rights said that Turkey had not reached the desired level in human rights due to some wrong implementations although it passed good laws. Speaking at a seminar on human rights held in Istanbul, Arseven gave information about constitutional amendments and adjustment laws related with human rights. Arseven noted that besides constitutional amendments and adjustment laws, the implementation was also important. Arseven stated that the recent progress recorded in Turkey about human rights led to a serious reduction made to European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against Turkey.
WORLD BANK APPROVES 1.35 USD LOAN
After the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released 1.1 billion U.S. dollars of loan tranche the previous night, World Bank's Board approved on Tuesday a 1.35 billion U.S. dollars of public and finance sector adjustment loan (PFPSAL2) to Turkey. Releasing a statement, the bank said that World Bank's Board approved the loan in question to support Turkey's financial and public sector reform. It said that the loan would be provided in three tranches of 450 million U.S. dollars each, based on completion of agreed actions. The loan will assist Turkey's efforts to reform the banking sector, including reform of state banks, strengthening of banking regulation, and implementation of a public recapitalization program for banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA).