ANKARA (A.A) - 20.06.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 20, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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PAMUKBANK TRANSFERRED TO SDIF
The Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) said that under its decision, Pamukbank's management and control were transferred to the the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF) in accordance with the third and fourth paragraphs of Article 14 of the Banking Law as it was proved that the bank had not taken the necessary measures under provisions of the banking Law, that it was impossible to strengthen its financial structure even if it had taken those measures, that total commitments had exceeded its total assets, that continuation of its banking services endangered rights of its depositors and stability and reliability of financial system, and that it was suffering a 2 billion U.S. dollars of capital deficit as of December 31, 2001.
TETE-A-TETE MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME AFTER 1.5 YEARS
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli held a tete-a-tete meeting with State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy for the first time in 1.5 years. Following the meeting, Dervis said that Bahceli had been fully supporting the economic programme.
TURKEY'S LETTER OF INTENT SENT TO IMF
The letter of intent signed by State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy and Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti, was sent to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). IMF Board is expected to convene in coming days, and to debate the second review. If the IMF Board approves the second review, a tranche of 1.1 billion U.S. dollars will be released. Meanwhile, a delegation headed by IMF Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen will come to Turkey on July 10 within the framework of the third review.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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IMF EULOGIZES TURKEY'S DETERMINATION
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Foreign Relations Director Tom Dawson said that the IMF Board could convene on June 28 to debate the second review. Dawson said that a certain date was not set for the meeting yet, and added that the board could convene on June 28. Dawson said that the IMF welcomed Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency's (BRSA) decision to transfer management and control of Pamukbank to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF). He stressed that the economy had repsonded positively to Turkish government's determination in implementing the economic programme.
YILMAZ: ''TURKEY SHOULD SAVE ITSELF FROM SEVRES SYNDROME''
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who also acts as the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said, ''Turkey should save itself from Sevres syndrome.'' Yilmaz said, ''we need to change our mentality about membership to the European Union (EU). Turkey has a short period of time to make the legal arrangements about fulfillment of the EU criteria.'' ''No one should suspect about nationalist feelings of others. If you cannot satisfy people's hunger, they can forget their feelings. Turkey should save itself from Sevres syndrome now. Europe is not the old Europe any longer, and Turkey is not the old Turkey,'' he said. Criticising those who describe the EU criteria as ''concession'', Yilmaz said, ''we do not make any concessions. The most serious concession was made at the Customs Union. In return for the Customs Union membership, the Greek Cypriot side was allowed to start full membership negotiations with the EU. The government of that period introduced it as Turkey's entrance to the EU.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ECHR DEBATES ERBAKAN'S APPLICATION FOR APPEALS
The hearing at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) became scene of an argument over Sharia religious law between judges and lawyers of the Welfare Party (RP) which was banned by the Constitutional Court. Speaking at the hearing session on behalf of the RP, Kazan said that the sharia was a religious issue, adding, ''neither politicians, nor jurists have enough information to discuss such an issue.'' Laurent Hinckel, a lawyer of the RP, said, ''the ECHR does not have the authority to make any comment about the sharia.'' Meanwhile, Sukru Alparslan, the lawyer of Turkish government, objected to the lawyers of the RP, and said, ''the sharia is, in fact, a system of law. The sharia has a social and systematic dimension directing and organizing daily life.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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EMERGENCY RULE LIFTED IN TWO MORE PROVINCES
The Prime Ministry decree envisaging the abolishment of emergency rule in eastern provinces of Hakkari and Tunceli as of 5.00 p.m. on July 30, 2002 was adopted at the Parliamentary General Assembly.
Under the decree, the emergency rule in southeastern provinces of Diyarbakir and Sirnak was extended for four more months, starting as of 5.00 p.m. on July 30, 2002.
ERDOGAN INSISTENT ON HIS CONDITION
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that they would not say 'yes' to the proposal of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) regarded with abolishment of death sentence, noting that their party prepared a constitutional amendment proposal on the issue.
Speaking at the group meeting of his party, Erdogan said the issue of EU, which is extremely important for Turkey, was only discussed, claiming that no serious and concrete effort was exerted.
Erdogan said his party took a concrete step in order not to be delayed by the talks, and stressed that nobody should make speculations on the views of his party.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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MILITARY AGREEMENT WITH DAMASCUS
A new step will be taken in relations with Syria which came to the edge of war during the period when Abdullah Ocalan, the head of the terrorist organization, sheltered in Damascus.
Chiefs of General Staffs of Turkey and Syria signed a military cooperation agreement.
The agreement is expected to speed up rappoachement process of the two countries.
Gen. Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the Chief of General Staff, described the agreement as historical turning point in relations of the armed forces of the two countries.
DERVIS: THERE IS NOT ANY MORE OPERATION
State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy, who met the State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, who also acts as the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), gave assurances about banking system and continued his warning about ''political uncertainty''.
Dervis said, ''we can from now on say that banking system is stronger.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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GOKCEK TO JOIN DP ON SUNDAY
Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek said he would join the Democrat Party (DP) in a meeting that would take place in Tandogan Square on Sunday.
Gokcek said DP would hold its first congress the time when date of early elections are announced. He said he would demand to serve Turkey as the chairman of DP.
ECEVIT-CILLER MEETING TO TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit responded positively to the demand of True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller for a meeting.
Ciller, who addressed the group meeting of her party, pointed out that she called for an appointment from Premier Ecevit.
Ciller said she would say the government was the biggest obstacle in front of membership to the European Union (EU), noting that she would call on the government to withdraw.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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YILMAZ: ''I AM NOT HOPEFUL ABOUT EU ISSUE''
Mesut Yilmaz, the State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, who also acts as the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said he was not much hopeful that the opportunity that was found to improve relations with the European Union (EU) till December could be evaluated.
Stressing that there was a bottleneck in death sentence and Kurdish issue, Yilmaz gave the sign that early elections could take place in the bottleneck could not be overcome. Yilmaz said, ''if we can not obtain the result we want, then we will convey it to the nation. We will call for support from them to take the steps.''
DSP: ECEVIT TO COME TO PARLIAMENT TODAY
Democratic Left Party (DSP) Acting Group Chairman Emrehan Halici said Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit could attend the group meeting today after going through health control.
ERASLAN ELECTED AS CHAIRMAN OF SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS
First Chamber of Law Chairman Eraslan Ozkaya was elected as chairman of the Supreme Court of Appeals after Sami Selcuk retired.
Supreme Court of Appeals Deputy Chairman Mater Kaban and Ozkaya competed with each other in the seventh round of vote.
While Ozkaya got votes of 144 members of the Supreme Court of Appeals, Kaban got 85 votes.
Ozkaya will act as the chairman of the Supreme Court of Appeals for the next two years.