ANKARA (A.A) - 21.05.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 21, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
LEADERS' SUMMIT TO BE HELD AT BASKENT HOSPITAL
Upon invitation of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, coalition partners will hold a summit meeting at Ankara's Baskent Hospital. State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP); State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP); and State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan will gather at the hospital to discuss Turkey's membership process to the European Union (EU).
HOSPITAL SHOCK ENDS QUICKLY
Markets which were affected negatively by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's health conditions last Friday, have recovered after State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy said that elections would not have a serious impact on the economy.
''THIS IS NOT OUR FILM''
The first reaction to the film entitled ''Ararat'' came from Turkish journalist Hrant Dink of Armenian origin. Dink reproved Atom Egoyan, the director of the film, at the end of the gala in Cannes, France. Dink said that the film would not make any contribution to future of relations between Turkey and Armenia.
PACACI TO JOIN MHP
Cihan Pacaci, a deputy from Ankara who resigned from the True Path Party (DYP) is expected to join the Nationalist Movement Party. Earlier, number of MHP deputies decreased to 126 after Mehmet Ceylan resigned from the party. If Pacaci joins the MHP, number of MHP deputies will increase to 127 again. This time, the difference between number of MHP deputies and Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputies will decrease to one.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT HALF MOBILIZED
Baskent Hospital announced that Prime Minister Ecevit had been continuing his daily work by sitting in an armchair since his leg had to be suspended in sling due to thrombophlebitis. Releasing a statement, Baskent University said, ''during Monday morning's control, it was determined that signs of thrombophlebitis in the left leg of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit stemming from vein inflammation decreased to the minimum level. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Ecevit's complaints about his broken rib reduced. Prime Minister Ecevit has been half mobilized. He has been continuing his daily work by sitting in an armchair.'' However, the expression of ''being half mobilized'' could not be understood. Officials said that they meant to say that Prime Minister Ecevit could sit from time to time.
MAY 19 BECOMES TOURISM FESTIVAL FOR ANTALYA
May 19 became a tourism festival for southern province of Antalya. A total of 354 planes took off from or landed at Antalya Airport. Meanwhile, 29 thousand 353 tourists came to Antalya to spend their holidays. In the same period last year, 20 thousand 869 tourists came to Antalya.
PRESIDENT SEZER APPROVES RADIO AND TELEVISION LAW
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer approved the law on amendment to Law on Foundation and Broadcasting of Radio and Television Channels, Press Law, Income Tax Law and Corporation Law. A statement of the Presidential Press Center said that the law was sent to the Prime Ministry to be issued in the Official Gazette. Previously, President Sezer returned to law to the parliament to be debated again.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
TURMOIL IN ANAP
Motherland Party (ANAP) Deputy Chairman Erkan Mumcu who started an argument over leadership of the party, was sacked from his post. Earlier, Mumcu accused ANAP leader Mesut Yilmaz, and told him, ''if you cannot perform a proper leadership, there are those who can.'' Mumcu has been appointed as ANAP deputy chairman for relations with the parliament. He said that he would not resign from the ANAP.
RATE OF CAPACITY UTILISATION INCREASES FROM 68.5 PERCENT TO 74 PERCENT
State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced that rate of capacity utilization that is weighted by production value, increased from 68.5 percent in April of 2001 to 74.0 percent in April of 2002. According to monthly manufacturing tendency survey carried out by DIE in 871 business places, shortage of demands in domestic market topped the list of reasons for not working in full capacity with a rate of 50 percent.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
BLAIR TO WARN TURKEY ABOUT IMMIGRANTS Britain which is planning to make a harsh warning also to Turkey that is called ''transit route'' of immigrant traffic from Eastern countries to third countries except EU member countries, will threaten Ankara with ''economic sanctions''. It is mentioned that the sentence which says ''we should tell Turkey that it should take these people back'' would be included in the warning document that is said to have been prepared by British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
''ARARAT'' TRICK
Atom Egoyan's ''Ararat'' which was shown yesterday in the 55th Cannes Film Festival was one of the third-rate films directed by Egoyan so far due to its weaknesses. Egoyan who had said before the festival that his aim was not to discuss ''genocide'' but he had directed a personal film. However, it is impossible to believe Egoyan after watching his film. It is understood that Egoyan made important concessions from his project to get on well with the Armenian lobby. Because, the ''primitive'' scenes in his film which do not have any value beyond propaganda considerably harm his film. It is known that the Canadian director of Armenian origin has a rich imaginative power. However, ''Ararat'' has a complicated cinematographic structure.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
CRITICAL SUMMIT AT HOSPITAL
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), and State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), will visit Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who has been receiving medical treatment at Ankara's Baskent Hospital. A summit meeting will be held among leaders of three political parties forming the coalition government at the hospital. Foreign Minister Ismail Cem, and State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan will also attend the meeting. The meeting will focus on three issues: future of the coalition government, recent developments in the markets, and arrangements about the European Union (EU) membership.
DERVIS: ''OUR ECONOMIC BALANCE IS SOUND NOW''
State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy said fluctuations in interest rates and prices of foreign currencies were quite normal. He said, ''our economic balance has become sound now. Neither elections nor Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's illness can affect the economic programme.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
CALL TO SEZER
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said she had requested an appointment from President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. ''Turkey is going through a very critical period. The country now does not have a Prime Minister. The state can no more endure this gap. At this stage, Mr. President has to do a great mission. He should use his constitutional right and preside the Council of Ministers,'' Ciller said and added, ''Bulent Ecevit should get a medical report on whether he can govern the country or not. A proxy cannot be valid without such a report. And the time limit of this proxy cannot be more than fifteen days. Devlet Bahceli should be the person who will represent Ecevit.''
ALSO PEOPLE WANT ELECTIONS
State Minister Kemal Dervis who brought the early elections onto the agenda said, ''discussions on elections prevent people from making long term investments. This uncertainty should end. There is great expectation about elections in the public. Elections do not cause disasters.''
ALL EYES ON ECEVIT
People are curiously waiting for statement of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who will come together with his aides Devlet Bahceli and Mesut Yilmaz. New government formulas were developed at the political backstage in Ankara while it was claimed that Ecevit might give Bahceli the power to act in his stead. Meanwhile, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said he wished Ecevit would get well soon and that he could not comment on possible changes in the Turkish government.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
''I ACT IN ECEVIT'S STEAD IF HE WITHDRAWS''
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli who held a meeting with his senior aides said that he can act as Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's proxy until formation of a new government if Ecevit withdraws or doctors say Ecevit is excused from work for medical reasons.
SPECIAL ROOM PREPARED FOR SUMMIT
A special room was prepared at the Baskent University for today's summit meeting of the leaders of coalition partner political parties. The summit will take place toward evening as the decisions may negatively affect the markets.
MESSAGE OF ELECTIONS FROM DERVIS TO LEADERS
State Minister Kemal Dervis responsible for the economy said that it would be a very pessimist approach to say that elections in Turkey would destroy everything and spoil all earnings.