ANKARA (A.A) - 04.06.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 4, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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ECEVIT CAN ATTEND SUMMIT AT PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE
Following the statement of Tansu Ciller, the leader of the True Path Party (DYP) who said that ''I won't attend the summit at Presidential Residence on June 7 if Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit does not attend it,'' Ecevit said he could attend the summit. Sending a message to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer who is in Kazakhstan, Ecevit said that his regular check-up was done at 9.00 a.m. asking the summit to start at 11.00 a.m. Sezer is expected to accept the request of Prime Minister Ecevit.
DERVIS:THIS IS THE CHEAPEST MAY
State Minister Kemal Dervis said that the increase in the Consumer Prices Index is the lowest one since 1897 and the increase in the wholesale prices index in May 2002 is the lowest one since 1982. Dervis added that the increase in the manufacture industry index is the lowest one since 1984. Dervis noted that the inflation figures for May 2002 showed that the inflation target of 35 percent foreseen for 2002 would come true.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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MHP SEEMS RIGID ABOUT DEATH SENTENCE
National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu who is from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) said that death penalty can't be abolished in a way that also includes Abdullah Ocalan, the head terrorist. Cakmakoglu stressed that a decision was not taken about death penalty in the National Security Council (NSC) meeting. Cakmakoglu noted that MHP won't accept abolishment of death penalty for terror crimes, hinting that it won't give concessions about the issue. MHP leader Devlet Bahceli is expected to voice the same ideas in the MHP meeting today.
MILITARY'S GESTURE IN AEGEAN
General Staff cancelled the biggest military manoeuvre in Aegean namely ''Efes 2002.'' The decision was taken on the day when the Turkish-Greek peace talks were held in Athens. The manoeuvre was based on the scenario of landing to Greek islands.'' General Staff issued a statement telling that ''the Efes Manoeuvre which is one of the regular exercises of the Turkish Armed Forces won't be exercised this year by taking into consideration the developments in the international arena.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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REPORT CARDS HAVING PICTURE OF OCALAN
GIVEN TO SEZER IN KAZAKHSTAN
Report cards having the picture of Abdullah Ocalan, the head terorist were found in Kazakhstan. Turkish Embassy in Kazakhstan submitted the report card to Sezer who will give it to Kazakh President Nazarbayev today. Kazakhstan was also warned by a note given by Foreign Ministry. The Turkish Embassy recorded images from the diplomas of the school giving education in Kurdish in Arýz village in Shymkent which had the picture of Abdullah Ocalan, head PKK terrorist on them. Kazakh officials had earlier denied the news on the issue.
2001:BLACK YEAR FOR BANKERS
Banking Regulatory and Supervisory Agency (BRSA) published its Banking Sector Evaluation Report for the year 2001. BRSA Chairman Engin Akcakoca said that the year 2001 symbolized the transition to new banking period and breaking off ties with the previous period. BRSA report referred to the developments in world and Turkish economy, the developments in the Turkish banking sector, the activities of BRSA and international developments in the fields of regulation, supervision and inspection, stressing that the reconstruction process has not ended. According to the report, 35,000 bankers lost their jobs and 1,357 bank branches were closed in 2001. The number of banks which was 79 before decreased to 22 during the same period.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ECEVIT WANTS TO ATTEND SUMMIT IN PRESIDENTIAL RESIDENCE
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit wants to attend the summit that will be held in Presidential Residence under the leadership of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer on June 7 although doctors don't want him to attend long and tiring meetings. Cem Avcý, the press consultant of Ecevit said yesterday that Ecevit is expected to attend the meeting on June 7. Doctors pointed to the danger of Ecevit's becoming paralyzed and the need of medically monitoring him 24 hours a day in a report and submitted it to Prime Ministry Undersecretary Ahmet Sagar.
''ARARAT'' MOVIE IS UNSUCCESSFUL
Armenian Studies Centre (ASAM) prepared a book titled ''Ararat, The Artistic Armenian Propaganda'' to defute and respond to the claims of the movie ''Ararat'' directed by Armenian director Atom Egoyan. ASAM Chairman Omer Lutem held a news conference yesterday to promote the book. He said that the efforts launched in the international arena last year to make the genocide claims be recognized in the world became in vain, adding that the movie was shot in order to conceal this lack of success. Lutem added that the story of the movie was different in many aspects from the book of Dr. Clarence D. Ussher namely ''An American Doctor in Turkey'' which was used in writing the scenario of the movie.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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CILLER LEFT ALONE
Prime Ministry Press Consultant Cem Avcý said that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit is expected to attend the summit meeting that will be held on June 7 under the leadership of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller, who had said that if Ecevit did not attend the summit, she would not attend the meeting, was left alone after Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statements that they would attend the summit meeting of leaders for the European Union (EU).
MATCH STARTS GOOD BUT FINISHES BAD
Turkey lost its World Cup Group C opening match 2-1 to Brazil. Foreign and local commentators criticized the referee and Senol Gunes, Turkish National Team's coach, who took Yildiray Basturk out from the match. Turkey set its clock for Monday midday, life stopped the minute the World Cup soccer match between Turkey and Brazil began in Korea. Turkey led 1-0 at the first half. However, Ronaldo kicked a goal at 50th minute and Brazil won Monday's game with an 87th minute penalty after Alpay Ozalan was penalised.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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INFLATION BENEATH 1 PERCENT
Inflation numbers reduced for the first time below 1 percent monthly after long years. The State Statistics Institute (DIE) announced the rise in wholesale prices in May of 2002 when compared to previous month as 0.4 percent and in consumer prices as 0.6 percent. A statement of the DIE said that the annual inflation in wholesale prices index (WPI) was 49.3 percent and in consumer prices index (CPI) was 46.2 percent in May. In first five months of 2002, the inflation in WPI was recorded as 11.2 percent and inflation in CPI became 11.3 percent. According to 12-month averages as of May, the annual inflation was calculated as 73.6 percent in wholesale prices and 61.7 percent in consumer prices.
INCREASE IN PRICE OF TEXTBOOKS
The price of textbooks which will be read at the schools during
2002-2003 educational period was increased. There is 37.28 percent increase in the price of books published by private publishing houses and 30 percent increase in the price of textbooks of National Education Ministry. The price of the books changes from 1.5 million to 8 million TL. The most expensive books will be the mathematics books which high school students will study.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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INCREASE IN NUMBER OF ''HOPE'' PASSENGERS
The number of people who wanted to pass to several countries of the world illegally reached 482 in a day in Turkey. The people who attempted to proceed to the countries of the world include also children and women. Security forces captured 34 foreigners and 198 Turkish people who were in effort to flee abroad in Marmaris township of Mugla province. Gendarmerie teams caught one Turk and 11 Iranians who tried to pass to Greek islands illegally in Sogut village and also caught 198 Turkish citizens and 34 Iranians, Iraqis and Palestinians in Icmeler and Hisaronu shores in Marmaris.
DOCTORS PREPARE ECEVIT TO EU SUMMIT
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit gave the message that he could attend the summit meeting related with the membership of Turkey to the European Union (EU) which will be held by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Prime Ministry Press Consultant Cem Avcý said that Ecevit was expected to attend the summit meeting that would be held on June 7. He said that doctors were doing their best for the recovery of Prime Minister.