ANKARA (A.A) - 03.06.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 3, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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''IF HE DOES NOT ATTEND SUMMIT, I WILL NOT ATTEND EITHER''
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller conditioned her participation in the summit of the leaders of the political parties represented at the parliament in which the European Union (EU) will be discussed on June 7, on attendance of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Ciller said, ''if Bulent Ecevit does not attend that summit, it cannot be named as a summit meeting. This will mean accepting vacuum in the prime ministry. Then, I will not participate in that meeting. Because, if we go there, we will accept the vacuum in the prime ministry.'' Ciller noted, ''decision cannot be made in a place where the prime minister does not exist. Issues like capital punishment will be debated there. This is not similar to National Security Council (NSC) meeting. Participation of the prime minister in the summit is an event which will totally affect all democratic world.'' Ciller said, ''if I were him, I would withdraw. Turkey's health is more important that Ecevit's health. He can support our minority government and then we can go for elections.''
GO ON, NATIONAL TEAM!
Today is the day we have been waiting for 48 years. Our national football team will play its first match in the World Cup with Brazil at noon. Hearts of 70 million Turkish people will beat for their national team for 90 minutes. Kim Young-Joo of Korea will referee the match that will be played in Ulsan's Munsu stadium. Senol Gunes, the coach of the national team, said, ''we will end 48 years of aspiration.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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A BIG ''SHAME'' COMES OUT OF PACKAGE
While the state is trying everything for saving, a package which foresaw the payment of bonus equal to eight-month salary to some personnel at the Finance Ministry was prepared. This strange demand was returned by State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan. Ozkan erased the article from the package. The mentioned article was not only against the economic programme but also could cause reactions of the public officials who are responsible for doing similar things. According to the article, salaries of some personnel would be increased by 66.67 percent monthly.
TELEKOM'S ROAD MAP IN LETTER OF ''INTENTION''
The road map of privatization of Turk Telekom was included in the letter of intent. The decree will come out next week. Legal infrastructure will be completed till October.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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TWO INTERESTING SURVEYS
The magazine ''Para'' (Money) took the pulse of the business world and came across with very striking results. Here are some questions and responses of 58 bosses and high-level administrators: Around 59 percent of the administrators responded in negative and 41 percent in positive when asked if an early election would be held this or the following year. On the other hand, 71 percent responded in affirmative while 29 percent in negative to the question if there should be an early election in their opinion. 72 percent of the administrators said ''yes'' while 28 percent said ''no'' to the question if Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit should quit working. Meanwhile, Higher Strategy Center carried a survey covering 2,000 people in 14 provinces. The result is Turkish people are conservative but they are facing towards the European Union (EU).
''WHEN WILL MY RESTING END?''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit asked seven doctors who visit him for regular health examination when his resting at home would end and when he would go out of his house and start working. Doctors told Ecevit that the resting time could be long and said that he might be taken under medical treatment at the hospital if necessary. Meanwhile, Ecevit underwent health examination twice on Sunday, one in the morning and the other in the evening.
KOREAN STUDENTS TO SUPPORT US
Our national team will not be alone in the critical match at the Ulsan stadium. Almost two thousand Turks will watch the match. Also, Ulsan University bought 6 thousand tickets for Turkey-Brazil match. Korean university students will carry Turkish flags and support our national team.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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DIFFICULT WEEK FOR COALITION
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit insists on staying in the office to pass adjustment laws for the European Union (EU) even if his health problems continue while the future of the government is indexed on Ecevit's health. It is noted that non-participation of Ecevit in the ''EU summit'' to be held on June 7 upon the invitation of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer would be determinant for the future of the government. Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, who wrapped up his trip to China, gave the signals of an early election.
HEZBOLLAH OPERATION
Security forces capture 11 members of the terrorist Hezbollah organization in an operation in Hilvan township of southeastern Sanliurfa province. One gun, 23 bullets, equipment used in bomb production and many organizational documents were confiscated in the operation. Ten of the detainees were sent to prison while one was released to be tried without detention.
WARM MESSAGE FROM MONGOLIA
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who is in Mongolia for an official visit, met on Sunday with his Mongolian counterpart Natsagiin Bagabandi. Sezer will visit Bilge Khan and Kul Tigin monuments in Orkhon region, the most important symbols of cultural ties between Turkey and Mongolia, today. Bagabandi said that Mongolian people were proud of the increase of efficiency and respect of Turkey in the world. Bagabandi noted that ancestors of the people of two countries founded the Gokturk and the Uygur states together starting from the Huns.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TUSIAD: ECEVIT SHOULD LEAVE HIS POST
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan said that the eyes turned to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and his wife Rahsan Ecevit for Turkey to see its future. Ozilhan stated, ''Prime Minister cannot sit for two hours. We feel sad about this situation, but the destiny of 65 million people depends on this. Democratic Left Party (DSP) should plan its future by going to the General Assembly.''
2003 TARGETS BEING PREPARED
State Planning Organization (DPT) continues to its preparations for High Planning Board (YPK) decision in which the targets of macro figures of 2003 will be determined. The draft which is being prepared is expected to be submitted to YPK in coming days. There will be macro figures as indicators in YPK decision in which the targets will be determined. YPK decision will give time to the institutions till the end of July or mid-August. The decision will also include ceiling prices related to the current and investment expenditures of the establishments.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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RAHSAN PERIOD
Doctors asked Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to be under medical control by staying in bed for 24 hours. So, his wife Rahsan Ecevit met with Meat and Fishery Authority workers at Democratic Left Party (DSP) headquarter. She listened the problems of workers. Rahsan Ecevit did not reply the questions about Ecevit's health condition of the reporters. Upon workers' wishes for Ecevit's recovery she said that she would tell their problems to Prime Minister.
BAHCELI: I DID NOT CHANGE
National Movement Party leader Devlet Bahceli who returned to Turkey after wrapping up his contacts in Beijing said that he did not understand why his statement about the European Union (EU) were criticized. Bahceli stated that his statements were closely followed both in Turkey and China and went on saying, ''I held that press conference on the third anniversary of formation of the government. I evaluated Turkey-EU relations in this context. Expressing our views when we were in Beijing cannot be found as strange. What is important is the words that are said not where they are said.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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MHP CHANGES STRATEGY FOR PRIME MINISTRY
National Movement Party (MHP), which became a key party after the discussions on the European Union (EU) and an uncertainty in Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's health condition, set new targets. MHP will erase its image contrary to the EU and increase the number of its deputies in the way to the prime ministry. MHP expects that uncertainty in Ecevit's health condition will become definite in the following week. MHP, which aims to undertake the prime ministry, tries to increase the number of its deputies which is currently 127 in order to stay above the Democratic Left Party (DSP), which currently occupies 128 seats at the parliament.
ECEVIT SCENARIOS ON WORLD PRESS
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's illness is also being intensively followed by the world press. CNN assessed the reflections of Ecevit's health condition on policy and economy. A newspaper which was published in Lebanon compared Ecevit with Suleyman I the Magnificent. International public opinion turned their eyes to Ecevit's health condition since Ecevit could not attend the National Security Council (NSC) meeting. The foreign media which drew the attention to the difficulty that Ecevit tries to carry his post with his current condition said that there were some new election signs in the horizon of Turkey which could not solve its economic problems completely.