ANKARA (A.A) - 30.05.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on May 30, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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LESSON FORMULA FOR KURDISH LANGUAGE
High-ranking military officials proposed ''lesson'' formula to solve the issue of education in mother tongue. Earlier, they put forward a proposal for Abdullah Ocalan, the head of terrorist organization. They said, ''capital punishment can be lifted. However, it is necessary to put an article in the Constitution saying that an offended who was sentenced to capital punishment, could not benefit from amnesty like Nazi officer Rudolf Hess. Most of the political parties expressed their support for the proposal.
RUSSIA: SOURCE OF WEAPONS OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATION
General Staff concluded its works to find out source of 36 thousand 563 weapons seized in a shelter belonged to the terrorist organization PKK. It was revealed that most of kalasnikov rifles, and G-3, G-1 and M-16 weapons were produced in Russia. Meanwhile, 60 percent of anti-personnel land mines used by the terrorist organization were produced in Italy.
1,131 MORE TURKISH SOLDIERS TO BE SENT TO AFGHANISTAN
Reinforcement units will leave for Afghanistan as Turkey gets ready to take over command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan on June 20. Number of Turkish soldiers in this country will increased from 269 to 1,400 by the end of the months.
FITCH: TURKEY SHOULD DECREASE REAL INTERESTS RATES''
Speaking at a seminar held in British capital London, Nich Eisinger, an analyst of the international rating institution Fitch, said that positive developments were taking place in Turkish economy. Eisinger pointed to the recovering economic figures since the beginning of 2002, and estimated the inflation rate for 2003 as 35 percent and the economic growth rate as 4 percent. He indicated that the interest rates which had been as high as 35 percent in Turkey, were brought down to 14-15 percent, and added that the interest rates should be decreased down to 11-12 percent.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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DERVIS SAYS HE MAY NOT BE SUCCESSFUL IN POLITICS
State Minister Kemal Dervis said that he loves economy very much, adding that he has hesitations about being successful in the political field. Dervis noted that if he goes into politics, he thinks he will not be liked very much by many people. Speaking to CNBCE tv channel, Dervis said that he didn't pay attention to any political concerns in any economic decision he gave to date. ''I don't have information and experience in the field of politics,'' he added.
''EU CAN'T GIVE UP TURKEY''
German Interior Minister Otto Schily, speaking in an award ceremony organized by the Federation of German Turkish Associations, said that Turkey would be the backbone of the EU architecture in the future. ''We urgently need you,'' told Schily and added that Turkey is a country which EU can't give up. Schily gave important messages about Germany and relations with EU in his speech, noting that Europe and Turkey are tied to each other in strong way and that they shared the same culture. ''Turkey will play the role of a bridge in the dialogue among cultures and religions. We must open the door of Europe to Turkey. This will be a tough road for Turkey, but Europe needs Turkey urgently. Turkey sheltered many Germans during the Nazi period and saved their lives. I would like to state that Germany owes Turkey for that,'' he said. He also stressed that a Germany without Turks would be an economic disaster, adding that 60,000 Turkish employers created employment for 300,000 workers in Germany.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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FBI OPERATION IN ISTANBUL
John Rienstra who has been wanted by the United States on charges of corruption and money laundry, was captured at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport, and handed over to FBI agents.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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MHP LEFT ALONE
The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) seems to be alone regarding the debate on abolishment of death penalty. The Democratic Left Party (DSP), the Motherland Party (ANAP) and the military proposed life imprisonment for head terrorist Ocalan rather than his execution. The opposition parties also expressed similar views on the issue which is expected to be taken up in the National Security Council meeting today.
TRNC RETALIATES
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) will extend its territorial waters from three to 12 miles. The bill on the issue was approved by the TRNC Council of Ministers and transferred to TRNC parliament. TRNC Minister of Public Works Salih Miroglu said that South Cyprus, which is the neighboring country extended its territorial waters to 12 miles, adding that the decision was taken within the principle of equity and justice.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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NSC TO CONVENE TODAY
National Security Council (NSC) will convene at the Cankaya Presidential Palace under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The monthly meeting of the NSC is expected to focus on Turkey's European Union (EU) full membership. State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) who is currently in the People's Republic of China on an official visit, and Naval Forces Commander Admiral Bulent Alpkaya cannot attend the meeting.
UNITED STATES: ''ADJUSTMENT SHOULD NOT BE INTERRUPTED''
The United States said that Turkey's adjustment process with the European Union (EU) should not be interrupted. Therefore, U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Richard Pearson wanted Turkey to lift capital punishment.
DERVIS TO BE AWARDED
State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy will be presented with Crans Montana Foundation Award during the Crans Montana Forum meeting to be held between June 27 and 30. The award is being given to people who make valuable contributions to peace, international cooperation and democracy. Previously, 40 people including President Yasser Arafat of Palestine, President Askar Akayev of Kyrgyzstan, President Ion Iliescu of Romania and Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa were presented with this award.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TUSIAD ACTS LIKE PARLIAMENT
Association of Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSIAD) continues to warn the government about the things needed to be done for EU membership. TUSIAD recently gave a full-page announcement in a newspaper calling the government to take the steps needed to be taken for Turkey's EU membership. TUSIAD also announced yesterday a proposal of law which offers change of death sentence into heavy life imprisonment and which permits teaching and broadcasting in traditional languages which are spoken in Turkey. The bill was prepared by Prof. Dr Suheyl Batum, the Dean of Bahcesehir University in Istanbul upon the demand of TUSIAD.
ECEVIT PUZZLE
There are the issues of emergency rule, relations with the EU and education in Kurdish on the agenda of the National Security Council (NSC) meeting which will be held in Presidential Residence today. Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, who is in China won't attend the meeting. It is not yet certain if Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will attend the meeting. Ecevit said last Monday in the news conference that ''I am resting, if there is no health problem, I will attend the meeting.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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IZGI SUPPORTS LIFE IMPRISONMENT WITHOUT PAROLE
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit expected the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to take a courageous step. This step came from Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi. He said that he had been fully supporting the formula of life imprisonment without parole. Izgi added, ''if we add an article in the Constitution saying that those who were convicted of terrorist crimes could not benefit from amnesty, we can solve our problems.''
BAHCELI IN CHINA
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli who is currently in the People's Republic of China on an official visit, requested Chinese officials to give the name of Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk to an avenue in Shanghai.