ANKARA (A.A) - 01.05.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 1, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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THAT FLAG CLAIMED 53 LIVES
Blood of 246 innocent civilians, 53 of them victims of murders, is under the so-called flag of terrorist DHKP-C organization which was hoisted in Belgian capital.
Terrorist oranization DHKP-C killed 53 innocent civilians in the past eight years. Also, 193 innocent people were the target of the terrorist organization, but rescued by chance. The terrorist organization also killed 32 people from security forces.
U.N. MEDAL TO FOUR MARTYRS
The United Nations conferred ''2Dag Hammarskjold'' medal to the families of the four Turkish soldiers who were killed in peace operation. Turkey's Permanent Representative to the U.N. Umit Pamir took the medals on behalf of the families.
Major Yasar Erol Akansel, the UNFPROFOR official was killed in 1994, private Omer Buyuktapu and private Engin Kurtulmus were killed in 1995 in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and private Murat Gozukan, assigned in UNOSOM, was killed in Somalia in 1993.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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THEY DID NOT UNDERSTAND ''A THOUSAND YEARS'
Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff, said that he had earlier noted that if the fundamentalist movement had lasted for a thousand years, February 28 process would also have lasted for a thousand years. Kivrikoglu noted that some circles had not understood what he meant. Kivrikoglu thinks, ''there is a provision in the Constitution that 'religion cannot be a tool for politics.' However, such a politics is being made. Those who define themselves as central right refrain from fight against fundamentalist movements in order to get votes.'' Kivrikoglu shows headscarf as an example of this situation. Reminding that he had said that ''if fundamentalist movement had lasted for a thousand years, the February 28 process would have lasted for a thousand years'', Kivrikoglu sent a message to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), without giving any name: ''Defining our army as an executioner is a nonsense.''
SUCH A COMEDY HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BEFORE
Touching on amnesty law, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''I cannot digest'' while Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said, ''tragicomic.'' Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli did not take it on. What is the result? The law will be sent back to the Presidential Palace in its current shape. Yasar Topcu said ''we are deceived'' and obviously called on Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk to resign. Bahceli said, ''we are not in favour of amnesty. However, we, as the government, have decided to send the law back to the Presidential Palace in its current shape. If necessary, we will find the majority equal to 330.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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THIS FLAG IS GOING DOWN
Here is a historic stroke on the terrorist organization DHKP-C, which has hung a so-called flag in the center of Brussels: The organization will be added to the European Union's (EU) new list of terrorist groups. When only hours are left to the announcement of the list of terrorist organizations, Turkey has gained a diplomatic success. In the end of intensive initiatives, some European countries withdrew from backing the terrorist organization. If there is not any surprise development, DHKP-C will be considered as a terrorist organization for the first time and cannot take shelter in Europe from now on. Ankara was officially notified that the name of the DHKP-C was included in the last list. It is said that Belgium is supporting the decision. The decision will be announced by Spain on Thursday. The Foreign Ministry has taken a decision to ''remain silent'' in this critical process and started to wait for the announcement.
DSP AND MHP HAVE EQUAL DEPUTIES
Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputy Ismail Aydinli died in Hacettepe Hospital where he was under medical treatment. The number of DSP deputies decreased to 127 after Aydinli's demise and the number of deputies of DSP and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) became equal. DSP had 136 deputies and MHP had 129 deputies in the end of the elections held in 1999.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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EVEN THE NAME OF AMNESTY IS CONTROVERSIAL
Besides the contents of the second amnesty, discussions pertaining to its name also don't end. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer defines it as ''special amnesty'' and Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk defines it as ''sui generis'' arrangement.
JEWS TO LOBBY FOR TURKEY
Turkey origin Jews, living in Switzerland, will set up association to carry out lobby activities for Turkey, and will bring Turkish origin Jews together living in the world.
State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel will attend the night which will be held on May 2 on the anniversary of the foundation of Turkish Jews Association.
The film ''Desperate Hours'' which is about the closeness shown by Turkey to Jews during World War II, when Nazi Germany committed genocide on Jews, and which is about lives of scientists that fled from the massacre and sheltered Turkey, will be shown.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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DERVIS: ''THERE IS NOT ANY BACKWARD STEP''
State Minister Kemal Dervis spoke at an international conference on investment possibilities in Turkey. Dervis said, ''irresponsible policies can create risks. However, there cannot be any backward step.''
SUMMIT ENDS 'TRANQUILLY'
The summit of presidents of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia held in northeastern Trabzon province ended. PResident Ahmet Necdet Sezer said, ''tranquility in the region is our common goal.''
TURKEY HOSTING IMF THIS MONTH
International Monetary Fund (IMF), which released a loan tranche of 1.1 billion U.S. dollars in the first week of April, is getting prepared for the second review. IMF completed first review in April. IMF External Relations Department Director Tom Dawson told a press conference that everything was on the right track in Turkey. Dawson said that the IMF delegation would go to Ankara in mid-May for the new review.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TERRIFYING CLAIM
Prof. Kenan Erzurumlu, the lecturer of Ondokuz Mayis University, said blood samples were taken from the regional people under the pretex of ''health check'' and that genetic researches were made. Prof. Erzurumlu said this was done under missionary and Pontus activities which are secretly carried out in the Black Sea.
Erzurumlu said, ''A U.S. university and CIA collected blood samples in Vakfikebir and Besikduzu. The same institution came again but this time Health Ministry did not give permission. As far as we learned, they have produced disease germ according to the genetical characteristics.''
CHHIBBER: ''PROGRAM WILL MAKE TURKEY A WEALTHIER NATION''
World Bank Turkey Director Ajay Chhibber said that the Turkish government's economic program was a very ambitious one and it would make Turkey a wealthier nation.
Speaking at an international conference on investments opportunities in Turkey organized by International Herald Tribune and The Financial Times in Istanbul on Tuesday, Chhibber said that several initiatives had been taken in the natural gas sector in Turkey and the cost of the natural gas would decrease as the natural gas flow to the country increases.
''This is a very ambitious and agressive economic program and it will make Turkey a wealthier nation,'' he said. ''This program will protect the Turkish economy against outside influences in the coming years. Turkey should faithfully follow this program, this is both important for the region where Turkey is located and also for the world.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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PKK THREATENS UNITED STATES AND EUROPE
The terrorist organization PKK, which was included in the list of terrorist organizations the previous day by the European Union (EU), threatens the United States and Turkey, but particularly the EU. Members of the terrorist organization PKK claimed that the decision of the EU ''would make the guerillas return to war field again'' and the EU would be responsible for ''the war.''
PRESIDENT SEZER: ''TRIPARTITE CAUCASUS SUMMIT DOES NOT TARGET AT ANY COUNTRY''
The tripartite summit meeting hosted by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and participated by Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev and Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze in northeastern Trabzon province ended. An agreement on fight against terrorism, organized crimes and other crimes was signed in the end of the summit. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that the Caucasus summit did not target at any country. Sezer noted that other countries could also join this formation as the conditions were matured.