ANKARA (A.A) - 27.06.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 27, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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ECEVIT TO REST AT HOME FOR 2-3 MORE WEEKS
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who is under medical control for 53 days, had a check-up at Baskent Hospital yesterday. After the check-up, Ecevit said that ''I am recovering, the doctors suggested me to rest for another 2-3 weeks.'' Ecevit who got the permission from doctors to work at home, said that he was in good condition. The doctors didn't want him to attend the National Security Council (NSC) meeting to be held on Friday.
TURKEY IS PROUD OF YOU
The paper thanks to the national soccer team which represented Turkey in the best way in World Cup and which became one of the four best teams in the world. Turkish national soccer team was beat by Brazilian team 1-0 yesterday and it lost the chance to play the final with Germany. The national team will play a match with South Korea in Saturday's playoff for third place.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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CONSOLATION PLEASE
Our national football team played very well and challenged to win the match but we have missed the ticket for the final by being defeated by Brazil. Now, our target is to beat South Korea and became the third in the World Cup. Turkey once more showed that it is the shining star of the World Cup. Turkish national football team played a game which could pave the way for the final against Brazil, the giant football country. Turkey was defeated by a goal scored by Ronaldo in the game. Turkish national football team was stronger against Brazil but could not be efficient. Now, it will play against South Korea in Saturday's playoff for the third place.
''I HAVE NO PATIENCE''
When getting out of the hospital which he visited 29 days later, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''I have recovered except the problem in my back. Doctors want the convalescence period to last for two or three weeks.'' Prime Minister Ecevit bargained with the doctors to return back to work at the Baskent University Hospital, where he went for check-up 29 days later. When doctors recommended him to rest, Ecevit said, ''I have no patience. I want to go to the Prime Ministry.'' After the check-up and consultations which lasted for one and a half hours, doctors decided that Ecevit could attend short meetings and he should continue to rest for three more weeks.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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HAS INFORMATION BEEN LEAKED FROM S AND P?
Everybody asked the same question when one U.S. dollar increased to 1,65 million liras and the IMKB index decreased by 4 percent yesterday morning. It has been later seen that Standard and Poors decreased the credit mark of Turkey and some persons were earlier informed about it. S & P announced that it downgraded Turkey's economic position from positive to stable. S and P did not change Turkey's B-rating. Issuing a written statement on the issue, S and P warned that the political indefinetiness can cause the losing of acquisitions in economy. S and P noted that the certain factors in the country including the health problems of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit can lead to early elections. S and P noted that a change in the government can also risk the implementation of the economic programme backed by IMF.
ECEVIT HAS 2-3 WEEKS OF CONVALESLENCE
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who said that he was in good condition, had a check-up at Baskent Hospital yesterday. The check-up lasted for 1,5 hours. After the check-up, Ecevit returned to his office in Oran district. Upon questions of the paper before going to hospital, Ecevit said that ''there are great speculations about even a small rumour about my health and this damages the economy. The IMKB and U.S. dollar rises and falls suddenly. Stability could not be fully installed in economy yet. We must solve this problem in the country, we must end speculations.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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SOLIDARITY AGAINST TORTURE
The Human Rights Association, Mazlum-Der and Amnesty International which issued a joint statement upon ''June 26 Day of Solidarity with the Torture Victims'' said that torture had not been prevented in Turkey yet. The statement noted that however, there was 50 percent decrease in the number of complaints about mal-treatment and torture when compared to last year.
PRESSURE ON BELGIUM ABOUT TERRORISM
Note traffic between Turkey and Belgium has increased as a member of the terrorist organization tried to ''give a letter'' to Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz at a dinner in Brussels on Sunday. Turkey's Ambassador to Belgium Erkan Gezer said that they gave a note to Belgium immediately after the incident. Gezer said that the Belgians increased and tightened security measures after the incident and the number of guards were increased. Gezer noted that notes were given to Belgium, calls and warnings were made. They had launched a note initiative about the PKK-KADEK connection, Gezer said.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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''DEATH PENALTY AND MOTHER TONGUE'' ARE NOT ENOUGH
Karen Fogg, the Representative of the European Commission to Turkey, whose term in office in Turkey finished, reiterated her warnings about Turkey-EU relations. Fogg said that Turkey has to do things more than abolishing the death penatly, and permitting broadcasting and education in mother tongue. Speaking in a news conference yesterday, Fogg said that candidate countries should fulfil all the economic and political criteria to be a member of EU. ''These criteria are beyond the abolishment of death penalty and permetting the broadcasting and education in mother tongue for Turkey,'' she stressed.
COALITION PARTIES ARE AFRAID OF MHP
No positive result has been taken from the contacts of Democratic Left Party (DSP) and the Motherland Party (ANAP) which want priority to be given to abolishment of death penalty, with the opposition parties as they were afraid of Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). The two coalition parties decided to form a working group from parties which extend support to abolishment of death penalty and to call the parliament to an extraordinary meeting either in August or in September to discuss the issue.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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WE HAVE BECOME ''STABLE''
International rating organization Standard and Poors (S&P) made a statement that the positive atmosphere which continued for the last five months ended due to political uncertainty and the illness of Prime Minister. Such an atmosphere could be ensured again only with ''general elections.'' S&P changed the economic view from positive to stable while it did not change Turkey's rating which was B (-). The statement said that in case political uncertainty continued, economic achievements made so far could all be lost.
DOLLAR INCREASES, STOCK EXCHANGE DECREASES
After the statement of Standard and Poors (S&P) and due to concerns about Prime Minister Ecevit's health, one U.S. dollar climbed to 1 million 650 Turkish liras (TL) while the index fell 5 percent. The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) index decreased 4 percent to 8.730 points in the first session while in the second session the index closed the day with 5.14 percent loss as index sales increased. The U.S. dollar climbed to 1 million 650 thousand TL in free market whereas the bond interests rose to 77 percent.
SEARCHES FOR COMPROMISE
Administrators of the True Path Party (DYP) visited Felicity Party (SP) and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and proposed that the parliament should not be closed in the summer and obstacles before the European Union (EU) should be lifted. DYP deputy leaders Nevzat Ercan, Turhan Guven and Ali Riza Gonul visited SP and AK Party members and proposed that the parliament should be kept open during the summer and the arrangement related with the EU should be taken up as a package.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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''WE HAVE BROUGHT A DIFFERENT COLOUR AND VOICE TO CUP''
National football team coach Senol Gunes said that they had brought a different colour and voice to the World Cup by their football and technics and results. Gunes said, ''I am very proud of all my players who have achieved this success. If we had beaten Brazil, we could have taken the cup.'' ''My players did perfect. I am proud of them. We are sorry we couldn't give the Turkish people another reason of happiness,'' Gunes said.
ONLY 21 MILLION TL RISE IN MINIMUM WAGE
The net minimum wage which was 163 million 563 thousand Turkish liras (TL) for the first half of 2002 was increased 21 million TL. The net minimum wage which will be valid for the second half of this year was set as 184 million 251 thousand TL.