ANKARA (A.A) - 28.06.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on June 28, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
ECEVIT:''I DON'T WANT EARLY ELECTIONS, BUT THERE IS SUCH POSSIBILITY''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit told the Democratic Left Party (DSP) that he didn't want early elections, yet there is such possibility. Ecevit who attended the DSP group for the first time after two months, also went to Presidential Residence to meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. As he was informed that his words about elections caused activity in the markets, he felt the need to change his words. ''The words I used about early elections can cause misunderstandings. Therefore I felt the need to make a new statement. When I said there is such possibility, I meant the regular elections that would be held in 2004. I am against early elections,'' said Ecevit. Ecevit pointed out that those who speak about early elections can't take the risk of elections, adding that the other two coalition parties didn't also want early elections.
ECONOMY CIRCLES:PARLIAMENT SHOULD WORK FOR EU
The business group had a meeting yesterday and the bosses warned the government about two issues. They asked the government to ensure balance in the markets without giving concessions and to make the parliament convene in an extraordinary session if necessary to undertake EU reforms in summer. The meeting was held under the leadership of Garanti Bank's Directorate General Ferit Sahenk.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
ECEVIT'S ''RIGHT ARM'' BROKEN
That Husamettin Ozkan, Prime Minister Ecevit's aide in the government, was hurt surfaced yesterday. Ozkan did not attend Thursday's Democratic Left Party (DSP) group meeting. Ecevit, who was welcomed by personalities close to his wife Rahsan Ecevit when he came to the parliament, was not accompanied by Ozkan this time. Emrehan Halici, the group acting leader, was the person who was sitting at the desk where Ozkan used to sit. Halici was the person who met with the Ecevit couple the most during the convalescence period. It was heard that Ozkan left Ankara for Istanbul when the group meeting started. After his meeting with the President, Ecevit came to the Prime Ministry Residence, called Ozkan and requested help for convening leaders' summit.
THIS SUITS HASAN
FIFA listed 10 nominees for the Golden Ball for the best player of the 2002 World Cup. Four nominees are from Brazil, two from Germany, and one each from Senegal, South Korea and Spain. Our football plyaer Hasan Sas is among the nominees. FIFA Technical Working Group and coaches of national teams that joined the World Cup will choose the best player. The other nominees are Ballack, Oliver Kahn (Germany), Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Ranaldinho (Brazil), Diouf (Senegal), Hierro (Spain) and Myong Bohong (South Korea).
''YOU CAN GET A DATE FOR EU''
Warm message from Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark, which will take over the European Union (EU) Term Presidency, to Ankara: ''We can set a date for Turkey at the summit scheduled for December.'' Speaking at a meeting which brought together representatives of European press and to which Milliyet daily was also invited, Rasmussen said that improvement of relations with Turkey was vital for the EU and added that negotiations could begin at any time when Turkey fulfiled Copenhagen criteria.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
ECEVIT RETURNS BACK RAPIDLY
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit addressed the Democratic Left Party (DSP) group yesterday. Later he went to Presidential Residence to meet with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Ecevit who also visited Prime Ministry official residence, received the Pakistani representative. Ecevit had four different programmes yesterday after he was taken to Baskent Hospital on May 4, 2002. Ecevit addressed his party in the parliament for the first time after 63 days.
PARLIAMENT STARTS ITS SUMMER HOLIDAY
A total of 336 proposals of law are pending before the parliament and 1500 drafts are pending before various parliamentary commissions particularly those laws related to adjustment laws for EU membership. The holiday of the parliament will last until October 3. Therefore the problem related with abolishment of death penatly and education and broadcasting in Kurdish has been shelved for three months. The proposal of the True Path Party (DYP) calling the parliament to be open in summer was not accepted in the parliament.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
ECEVIT NOT TO ATTEND NSC MEETING
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who attended the Democratic Left Party (DSP) group meeting yesterday, said that he would not attend the National Security Council (NSC) meeting that will be held today. Ecevit stressed that he would attend the leaders summit on economy that will be held on July 1. Ecevit noted that the tension between the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Motherland Party (ANAP) stemming from the style of their discourse made him sorry.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM EUROPE
A high ranking official from the EU Commission said that EU was uneasy about the Turkish government's increasing the hopes for EU membership in the Turkish public opinion very much. ''It seems as if the whole expectation of the EU is fixed to broadcasting and education in mother tongue, abolishment of death penalty and lifting the emergency rule. The importance of freedom of expression, decreasing the role of military in politics and implementation of the reforms is ignored.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
PRIME MINISTER 63 DAYS LATER
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who attended the Democratic Left Party (DSP) group meeting yesterday 63 days after his last participation, requested ''harmony'' from his coalition partners, then went to the Presidential Palace and met with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Prime Minister Ecevit called on the leaders for a summit on economy on Monday.
MATCH ON FIELD, RISE IN PRICES
On the day when the national football team started its World Cup matches, the government started to increase the prices of goods. LPG canister and natural gas prices were increased for many times in a month. Prices of tea, cigarette and paper were also increased. With the first match of the national football team, electricity prices were increased by 1.2 percent while there were two rises in price of LPG canister. Ten percent increase was made on paper prices while the book prices were raised by 37 percent. Tea prices were increased by 21 percent when Turkey met Costa Rica whereas 15 percent rise was made on tobacco and liquor prices during Turkey's match with China. 11 percent rise was made on cigarettes and telephone calls with a win over Senegal. LPG canister and central heating fuel prices were increased when Turkey played a semi-final match.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
CILLER: ''IT IS TIME TO BID FAREWELL''
Responding to words of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who said that there was the possibility of holding an election, True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said, ''even his own deputies are saying that his political life has ended. It is time for Mr. Ecevit to bid farewell to the nation.''
DOLLAR ZIGZAGS
Words of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit about ''election'' shook the financial markets. One U.S. dollar which started the day at 1 million 630 thousand Turkish liras (TL) decreased to 1 million 610 thousand TL as Ecevit got out of his home and attended meetings. However, as Ecevit mentioned ''elections'', the U.S. dollar climbed to 1 million 630 thousand TL again. Upon warnings, Ecevit said that ''he was misunderstood'' and the U.S. dollar decreased 20 thousand TL.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
ECEVIT MAKES SURPRISE
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, who came and addressed the Democratic Left Party (DSP) group meeting at the parliament as a surprise, activated both politics and economy by saying that there was a possibility of holding an election. Then, he stressed that he mentioned 2004 with his words ''early elections'' and noted that a leaders' summit would be held on Monday.
SUPER BOSSES CONVENE
Business circle group which is known as ''super bosses'' convened for the ninth time on Thursday. Mehmet Emin Karamehmet, who was the owner of Pamukbank that was transferred to Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (SDIF) a while ago, did not attend the meeting although he was invited. Turkish Industrials' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Chairman Tuncay Ozilhan did not attend the meeting either. This was the first time that Oyak Holding General Director Coskun Ulusoy attended the meeting. After the meeting, Dogus Holding Executive Board President Ferit Sahenk, who hosted the meeting, told reporters that they took up latest economic developments and the developments in the path of the European Union (EU).
ALIYEV DECORATES KIVRIKOGLU WITH MEDAL OF HONOUR
Azerbaijani President Haydar Aliyev presented Medal of Honour of Azerbaijan to Chief of General Staff Huseyin Kivrikoglu. Kivrikoglu was presented with this medal for his contributions to friendship and cooperation.