ANKARA (A.A) - 26.06.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 26, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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GREEK SPOKESMAN: TODAY WE ARE ALL TURKS
Greek Foreign Ministry Spokesman Panos Begritis, currently in Istanbul to attend the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC) summit, said the Turkish footballers not only carried the flag of Turkey, but also the Balkans. Begritis said, ''hearts of all of us will beat for Turkey today. Today, we are all Turkish.'' Meanwhile, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou told Foreign Minister Ismail Cem that, ''this is a difficult match, but Turkey showed its strength. I wish you good luck.''
SEZER: BLACK SEA HAS FIVE PERCENT SHARE IN WORLD TRADE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said the Black Sea has a five percent share in the world trade. Speaking at the opening of the summit meeting held on the 10th anniversary of the foundation of BSEC, Sezer said, ''the BSEC countries, which have 400 million population on 20 million square meters geography, has a five percent share in the world trade with 300 million U.S. dollars. Sezer said it would be beneficial if the BSEC has close cooperation with the EU on the basis of concrete projects.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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ECEVIT TO GO THROUGH HEALTH CHECK TODAY
The health control, which will reveal the health condition of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, will take place today. Ecevit may stay for one day at the hospital during the controls. Prime Minister Ecevit will go to hospital after the match of the national soccer team. It was reported that Ecevit decided to go to hospital to attend the National Security Council (NSC) meeting that will take place on June 28.
HIGH TRIBUNAL NIGHTMARE OF BOSTANCIOGLU ENDED
Parliament decided not to transfer National Education Minister Metin Bostancioglu to the High Tribunal. The motion which foresaw sending Bostancioglu to High Tribunal on charges of misusing his authority was not accepted at the parliament. A total of 114 deputies joined the secret ballot. 107 of the deputies voted in favour of the motion while three voted against it. Two deputies used invalid votes, one deputy gave an empty vote while one abstained from the voting.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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VELVET REBELLION IN DSP
Nine parliamentarians from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) wanted Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, and his wife Rahsan, who acts as the deputy chairperson, to ''withdraw''. The nine parliamentarians said DSP should be in a position to continue without Ecevit. The parliamentarians very politely read out the document which they prepared and refrained from responding the questions. The Ecevit couple described the call as ''unfortunate''.
LETTER FROM BUSH TO ECEVIT
U.S. President George Bush sent a letter to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit on June 21, 2002. In his letter Bush said the United States was grateful to Turkey over its bold decision to undertake the command of ISAF in Kabul. Bush said they also participate in the strong support of the international community for this assignment of Turkey, stressing that the United States would continue its close works with Turkish government and the other participating nations aiming to provide the success of ISAF under the leadership of Turkey.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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DSP MEMBERS RAISE THEIR VOICES TOO
Nine Democratic Left Party (DSP) deputies who are called ''opposing group in the DSP'' made a joint statement and called Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to step down from the party leadership. In the statement, they said, ''DSP should be able to go on without Ecevit but under the stewardship of the Ecevits on both organizational basis and local administrations and parliamentary platforms.''
MEDICAL EXAMINATION TO BE MADE EARLIER THAN SCHEDULE
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit is due to have a full medical examination to decide if he can return to work. Ecevit will go to Baskent University Hospital at 6.00 p.m.
IMF'S HAND ON BANKS
Businessmen warned: the real sector Pamukbank operation was the liquidation operation by the IMF and loan lending transactions by Pamukbank nearly stopped and the loans that the bank had earlier lended can be called back. National Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (USIAD) Chairman Kemal Ozden said, ''what happened was the liquidation of national banking.'' Meanwhile, Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) Chairman Sinan Aygun said, ''Pamukbank will be prepared for foreign capital.''
LAST STEP FOR FINAL
Turkish football will have its ''most important'' exam in its history. Turkey who quaified for World Cup semi-finals for the first time will reach the final if they beat their powerful opponents Brazil and play Germany. The semi-final at the Saitama Stadium in Urawa, Japan will start at 2.30 p.m. Turkish local time. Kim Milton Nielsen of Denmark will referee this tough game. Hakan Unsal of Turkey is suffering an injury while Ronaldinho of Brazil was suspended.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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FRUITLESS TOURS CONTINUE TO FIND A COMPROMISE IN ABOLISHMENT OF DEATH SENTENCE
As Parliament is getting prepared to recess, parliamentarians of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and the Motherland Party (ANAP), brought the formula of ''life imprisonment'' to the parties apart from the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). There is not yet any party which said ''yes'' to the formula.
EU SEMINAR FROM EU
Former U.S. President William Jefferson Clinton will come to Turkey next month as the guest of Turkish-American Business Association (TABA AmCham). TABA said in a statement that a meeting entitled, ''Turkey-Europe-United States relations on the path to the European Union (EU)'' would be held in July. The 42nd President of the United States Clinton will attend the meeting as speaker with State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, the statement noted. TABA Chairman Zeynel Abidin Erdem is expected to inform the reporters on the content of the meeting and Clinton's visit at a press meeting on Wednesday.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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SEARCH FOR PEACE IN BLACK SEA
On the first day of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Summit in Istanbul yesterday, problems is the region were discussed. The declaration said, ''as dispute or conflict in the region impedes cooperation, such disputes or conflicts should be solved on the basis of the norms and principles of international law.''
DAVALA'S HAIRCUT BELONGS TO UNSAL
Turkey's rightwinger Umit Davala said, ''we want to live the enthusiasm of playing the World Cup final and winning the cup after beating Brazil. And we do have the power to achieve them.'' Responding a question about his home-made mohican haircut, Davala said, ''my teammate Hakan Unsal wanted such a haircut. I think it's good.''
USD 50 MILLION TO NATIONAL TEAM
Labor and Social Security Minister Yasar Okuyan said he would ask the Council of Ministers to allocate a 50 million U.S. dolars of fund for Turkish national team players, coach, technical staff and everybody playing role in the achievement if they win the World Cup.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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FINAL BEFITS TURKEY
Here the important day comes. Whole world is waiting for the semi-final between Turkey and Brazil that will start at 2.30 p.m. Turkish local time. Players who swore to win all their matches promised to reach the final after beating Brazil. It was mentioned that coach Senol Gunes would give a place to striker Hakan Sukur in the starting eleven and keep attacker Ilhan Mansiz on the bench.
OPPOSITION DOES NOT EXTEND SUPPORT, DEATH SENTENCE DELAYED TO OCTOBER
Lifting of death sentence which turned into a tactical battle between the coalition and opposition parties is going to be delayed to October, the new legislative period. The Democratic Left Party (DSP) and Motherland Party (ANAP) representatives agreed to abolish death sentence with an amendment to law and later not to permit those whose death sentence is commuted to heavy life imprisonment under this amendment to benefit from any amnesty. but they could not get what they expected from the Felicity Party (SP) and Justice and Development Party (AK Party). Meanwhile, main opposition party True Path Party (DYP) did not give DSP and ANAP appointment.