ANKARA (A.A) - 01.07.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 01, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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GREAT WELCOMING CEREMONY
Turkish F-16 war planes welcomed the airplane carrying national football team which was ranked third in the World Cup. Tens of thousands of people carrying flags in their hands, chanted slogans to welcome the players. A great welcoming ceremony was held at Istanbul's Taksim Square later. Famous pop singer Tarkan gave a brief concert in honor of the players.
''MR. ECEVIT PLEASE LEAVE THE OFFICE NOW''
Turkish media has reached a compromise on the fact that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit should leave the office as soon as possible. Ertugrul Ozkok from the Hurriyet Newspaper said that Boris Yeltsin had created a leader to save Russia by leaving his office. Guneri Civaoglu from the Milliyet Newspaper said, ''why should Ecevit remain at the office? We are heading towards a dangerous cliff.'' Gungor Mengi from the Sabah Newspaper said, ''Prime Minister Ecevit should take into consideration whether next generations will remember him with respect and gratitude or with curse.''
GNP INCREASES 0.7 PERCENT IN FIRST QUARTER
State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced that the Gross National Product (GNP) increased 0.7 percent in the first quarter of this year when compared to the same quarter of previous year. According to the official statement made by DIE, GNP figure in the first quarter of 2002 was 50 quadrillion 454 trillion 168 billion Turkish Liras (TL) in current prices. The real growth rate was 0.7 percent while the growth rate with current prices was 100.6 percent. The growth rate of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased 2.3 percent in the same period.
ISTANBUL TO BECOME 17TH BIGGEST CITY OF WORLD
Istanbul, which could not be included among the 19 megacities (having more than 10 million population) as of the year 2000, is estimated to rank the 17th place among 23 megacities in 2015 with a population of 12.5 million.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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TURKEY'S GROWTH TO REACH GROWTH OF OTHER EU CANDIDATE COUNTRIES IN 2003
The Confederation of Turkish Employers' Union (TISK) issued a survey which gave place to basic macro economic indicator estimates of the European Union (EU) Commission about 2002 and 2003. The report of TISK said that the EU Commission thought that Turkey's economic growth would be below the average of other EU candidate countries in 2002, but guessed that Turkey could reach the growth rate of other EU candidates in 2003. According to estimation of the Commission, Turkey's economic growth will be 4.1 percent in 2003.
DERVIS PRESENTED WITH PRIX DE LA FONDATION 2002 AWARD
State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy was presented with the Prix De La Fondation 2002 award of Crans Montana Forum. Together with Dervis, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, former Executive Secretary of ECOWACS Lansana Kouyate, and Chairman and Founder of Monaco Chamber for Economic Development Michel Pastor were presented with the same award. Council of Europe (COE) Secretary General Walter Schwimmer gave the awards. Crans Montana Forum Founder Chairman Jean-Paul Carteron drew the attention to Dervis' initiatives to decrease poverty in World Bank and his expertise in international finance.
Carteron noted that Dervis came to Turkey to make use of his experience after Turkey faced a deep economic crisis and today, Turkey was a part of the global world.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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SABANCI: ''PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT SHOULD WITHDRAW''
Sakip Sabanci, one of the leading businessmen in Turkey, said that Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit should withdraw from his post as soon as possible, otherwise Turkey would be affected negatively. He said, ''we need a government having vision. We need a government that will record progress. If we fail to find such a government, increase in interest rates will continue.''
TURKEY TAKES OVER CONTROL OF KABUL AIRPORT
Turkish Air Forces have taken control of the Kabul International Airport which is under the inspection of International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). ISAF Commander General Hilmi Akin Zorlu, Air Forces Logistics Gen. Selahattin Sener, Turkey's Ambassador to Afghanistan Mufit Ozdes, Afghan Defense Ministry Representative General Zahir Ahber, former commander of Kabul Airport British Colonel Graham Stacy, new Commander Colonel Kazim Ondul, and some other military officials attended the ceremony. Speaking at the ceremony, Colonel Kazim Ondul said they performed such missions in many countries successfully, stressing that they were aware of the importance of such a mission. He said they would fulfill this mission successfully for six months.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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FIRE IN MADIMAK HOTEL DID NOT EXTINGUISH
A crowd group of fundamentalists set on fire Madimak Hotel in central province of Sivas on July 2, 1993. A total of 37 people were killed in the incident. Trial of the Sivas massacre lasted for 7 years and 10 months. 31 suspects were condemned to death. During one of court sessions, suspct Halil Ibrahim Duzbicer said, ''I am a fundamentalist. I have been defending Sharia religious law. I do not recognize any other ideology except for Sharia. Sivas was the second national movement. It aimed at forcing communists to leave Sivas.'' His words revealed the real target of the massacre. Tomorrow is the ninth anniversary of Sivas incidents.
YILMAZ: ''RTUK LAW SHOULD BE CHANGED''
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who also acts as leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said that there were serious deficiencies in the Law on Supreme Board of Radio and television (RTUK). He stressed, ''the RTUK Law should be changed. New arrangements should be made especially about internet.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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HIGHER MILITARY BOARD TO CONVENE
The Higher Military Board (YAS) will convene in the beginning of August. During the meeting, new chief of general staff will be appointed. Some members of the government called on the YAS to extend term in office of General Huseyin Kivrikoglu, the chief of General Staff. On the other hand, Land Forces Commander General Hilmi Ozkok is expeacted to appoint as the new chief of General Staff.
PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT'S ILLNESS TURNS INTO AN ENIGMA
A total of 58 days have passed since Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit fell ill and was taken to hospital on May 2. Prime Minister Ecevit, his wife Rahsan Ecevit and his doctors made contradictory statements about his health. As a result, his illness has turned into an enigma.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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''EUROPE WILL STRENGTHEN WITH US''
State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy said, ''Turkey's full membership to the European Union (EU) will be beneficial for both Turkey and the EU. The EU will develop more with Turkey. When the EU sets a date for the beginning of full membership negotiations with Turkey, there will be a great expansion of investment in Turkey.'' He added that the EU would gain a more influential position in the regions of Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea and Caucasus with Turkey.
NEW MINIMUM WAGE TO BE PAID
The minimum wage will increase as of today. Last week, the Minimum Wage Fixing Commission announced that the new gross minimum wage for workers older than 16 would be 250 million 875 thousand Turkish liras (TL) and net minimum wage for those workers will be 184 million 251 thousand 937 TL. The minimum wage will remain at the same level for the next six weeks.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ECEVIT TO MEET WITH HIS PARTNERS
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit could not come together with his partners in the coalition government for a long time due to his health problems. Prime Minister Ecevit will meet with State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who also acts as leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), and State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, who also acts as leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) later in the day.