ANKARA (A.A) - 17.06.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 17, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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CRITICAL WEEK FOR EU
Turkey enters one of the most critical weeks which will play a vital role whether or not it will be carried to the Euopean Union (EU) in the coming period.
The most important summit of the EU, which is accepted as the most critical one for Turkey regarding inclusion to the enlargement, will take place in Sevilla, Spain between June 21-22.
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem will represent Turkey during the summit. In the EU summit, in which high level diplomats will also join, Sezer and Cem are expected to give the message that, ''Turkey's getting a negotiation date is a psychological and social condition.''
TREASURY TO HOLD THREE AUCTIONS THIS WEEK
Treasury will hold three auctions this week. Treasury will auction 3-month reference bonds on Monday, June 17. It will auction 203-day and 350-day discounted treasury bonds denominated in foreign currency on Tuesday, June 18.
The 3-month reference bond auction will be held to determine the coupon interest rate of notes with floating interest rate payments. These reference bonds' value date is June 19 and maturity is September 18, 2002.
The value date of 203-day bonds is June 19 and settlement is January 8, 2003.
The value date of 350-day discounted treasury bonds denominated in foreign currency is June 19 and maturity is June 4, 2003.
Meanwhile, Treasury will make the biggest redemption in June by repaying 3 quadrillion 999 trillion Turkish liras in domestic debt on June 19.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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FOUR PEOPLE DROWNED BUT MUSIC OF LAILA DID NOT STOP
Bulent Dizdar, the crew of the ''Tekirdag'' ferry boat, which rushed to the help of the boats which collided in the strait in front of giant disco Laila, said, ''we heard a very big noise when the boat stopped in front of Laila to listen to the music.''
The calls for ''help'' coming from the boat could not be heard because of the music coming from Laila. Dizdar said, ''we could see the people in the water. We wanted Laila personnel to lower the volume of the music to hear the voice of the people calling for help. However, they did not lower the volume of the music. We could not hear the voice of the children, may be we could save all of them.''
25 BANKS CLOSED IN RECENT 2,5 YEARS
Number of banks in Turkey decreased 30 percent in the past 2,5 years because of mergings, dissolutions, and purchasings. Number of banks were reduced from 81 to 57.
If the Banking Regulatory and Supervision Agency (BRSA) accepts merging of Yapi Kredi Bankasi and Pamukbank, this number will reduce to 56.
The banks which made savings measures because of the economic crisis, reduced the number of personnel and decreased number of branches within the country and outside the country.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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YILMAZ: FULL MEMBERSHIP TO EU WILL INCREASE NUMBER OF TOURISTS
Mesut Yilmaz, the State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, who also acts as the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said full membership to the EU will open ways for the second mobilization in tourism.
Yilmaz said there was nothing like tourism 20 years ago, stressing that Turkey, which will gain economic and political stability within the EU, will gain an area of movement in tourism.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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DSP CONTINUES TALKS IN PARLIAMENT REGARDED WITH ABOLISHMENT OF DEATH SENTENCE
The tour started by the Democratic Left Party (DSP) among the political parties in the parliament to search for support regarded with abolishment of death sentence, will also continue today. The DSP administrators are expected to visit Felicity Party (SP) today. The DSP administrators are also expected to give a draft resolution within a few days.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the True Path Party (DYP) do not expend support to the proposal of the DSP. The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) insists on condition of constitutional arrangement. Meanwhile the Motherland Party (ANAP) and the Felicity Party (SP) expend support to the proposal of the DSP.
GUREL TO CONVEY CYPRUS TO EU
Turkish-European Union (EU) joint Parliamentary Commission (JPC) will convene in Brussels today. A delegation led by State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel and co-chairman Kursat Eser will represent Turkey. The EU full membership process and the Cyprus issues will primarily be discussed at the meeting.
State Minister Gurel will be in an effort to convey ''Cyprus reality'' to the European parliaments who often take decisions against Turkey being under the influence of the Greek and Greek Cypriot lobbies.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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NO STATE INSTITUTION TAKES PRECAUTION BEFORE EARTHQUAKE
The experts said that a big quake would occur in Turkey. However, no state institutions took precaution before a possible quake. The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) Marmara Researches Center Director Prof. Naci Gorur reacted those who want the quake to exclude from the agenda of Turkey. Gorur said that ignoring quake did not provide anything. He added that the state took no precautions which should be taken before an possible quake. National Quake Council Chairman Prof. Tugrul Tankut who stressed that there might be a quake soon said that municipalities and governorships should prepare a joint program and create necessary source for the studies.
PRESIDENT SEZER TO GO TO IRAN
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's visit to Iran will start on Monday. He will go to Tehran as the official guest of Iran Islamic Republic President Mohammed Khatami. Sezer will be accompanied by Turkey-Iran Joint Economic Commission Cochairman State Minsiter Mehmet Kececiler.
President Sezer's targets are to expend support the reforms of Khatami, convince Iran to launch an immediate operation against PKK and establish the trade balance again. During the meetings, Sezer and Khatami are expected to discuss bilateral relations, regional and international matters.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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FORESTS ARE UNDER FIRE THREAT
Fire which broke out in separate three regions in Aegean on Sunday destroyed many trees. The reason of the forest fire was picnic fire. A total of 10 decares of forest was burnt in Bayindir township of Izmir province. The fire which also broke out in forests in Fethiye and Aydin destroyed 15 decares of pine trees.
CILLER: ''ALL PARTIES SHOULD COME TO PARLIAMENT AND DISCUSS CYPRUS AND EU''
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said that the government did not comprehend that Cyprus issue was the most important issue on the way to the European Union (EU). Ciller stated that all parties should come to Parliament and discuss Cyprus issue, EU and other issues. She went on to say that Parliament should not recess this summer. Ciller said that the EU chance was missed in 1970s when Bulent Ecevit was on the power. She added that the EU chance might be missed again since there was no government and prime minister currently.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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OSS CANDIDATES TO WAIT FOR RESULT OF EXAM ONE AND A HALF MONTH
The university entrance examination (OSS) which 1,540,405 students took in 145 centers across Turkey including one in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) lasted for three hours. The canidates will wait the result of the examination for one and a half month. Student Selection and Placement Center (OSYM) Chairman Dr. Fethi Toker said that there were no problems related to the examination so far. Toker said, ''they will announce the exam results last week of July.''
EU SECRETARIAT GENERAL TO BRIEF STATE INSTITUTIONS ON EU
The European Union (EU) Secretariat General will brief General Staff, the Supreme Court, the Council of State, the Government Accounting Bureau and political parties on Turkey-EU relations. Copenhagen and Maastricht criteria will be taken up during the briefings under the direction of State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz for EU. The briefings which will begin the following week will last for two weeks.