ANKARA (A.A) - 08.07.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 8, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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NOVEMBER 3 SHOCK
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli who also acts as leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), said, ''let's call the parliament to hold an extraordinary meeting on September 1, and take a decision to hold early elections on September 3.'' He added, ''there is political uncertainty in Turkey which is seen as the factor counteracting all of the success in implementing the economic programme. Let's announce the election date for November 3. In this situation, the prime minister would be in charge of a government that would see through healthy elections.''
ECEVIT AND OZKAN SEPARATE FROM EACH OTHER
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit made important statements at a program on the private CNN-Turk TV Channel. Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan's failing to respond criticisms against myself and my wife, have upset all members of the Democratic Left Party (DSP).'' Prime Minister Ecevit also noted that he would not invite State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy to join the DSP.
''WE ARE READY FOR EARLY ELECTIONS''
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said that she was positive about State Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli's proposal to hold early elections on November 3. ''I hope that the MHP would not make another U-turn, and would not use it to put pressure on government. We are ready for early elections. However, Political Parties Law and laws regarded with the European Union (EU) should be adopted before November 3,'' she said.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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AYTEKIN: ''IF WE FIND NUCLEAR WASTE IN A VESSEL, WE WILL STOP IT''
Environment Minister Fevzi Aytekin said, ''if we find nuclear waste in a vessel passing through the Straits for the Russian Federation, we will stop the vessel immediately. Vessels carrying nuclear waste are as dangerous as a massive earthquake. Environment ministers of member countries to the European Union (EU) have pledged to support us. Because, Istanbul has been under threat of such vessels.''
DERVIS AND CLINTON TO DISCUSS SOCIAL DEMOCRACY
The Fifth International Simi Symposium which was organized by Andreas Papandreou Foundation led by Foreign Minister George Papandreou of Greece on the issue of ''Social Democracy in Europe'' started in Samos Island. State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy, Prof. Sencer Ayata and Prof. Ayse Ayata will represent Turkey at the one-week symposium. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, European Union (EU) Foreign and Security Policy Chief Javier Solana, high-level officials from the World Bank, and ministers from Sweden, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Croatia and Czech Republic are among participants of the symposium.
YILMAZ: ''ELECTIONS SHOULD BE HELD ON TIME''
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who also acts as leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said, ''as members of the ANAP, we will remain loyal to decision taken at last week's summit meeting among leaders of three political parties forming the coalition government. We believe that it would be more appropriate to hold elections on time. However, if a decision is taken to hold early elections, we are ready for it.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ECEVIT: ''NEITHER I NOR GOVERNMENT WILL WITHDRAW''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit rejected calls for his withdrawal. ''I cannot satisfy with withdrawal. Our government does not have any intention to hold early elections. We are obliged to maintain this government for five years,'' he said.
CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT SALE OF MANCO'S HOUSE
Deputy Parliament Speaker Yuksel Yalova has launched a campaign to prevent sale of house of prominent singer Baris Manco who passed away in 1999. Yalova requested the Halk Bankasi to delay repayment of debt of 360 billion Turkish lira (TL). He launched the campaign by donating 5 billion TL.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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BAHCELI SAYS ''ELECTIONS''
Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli who reacted to formulas ousting Bulent Ecevit and MHP from the government called on all parties represented in parliament to convene for an extraordinary session on September 1 and decide on early elections for November 3. Bahceli said, ''such a situation means that Turkey will hold healthy elections.''
TROUBLING ATMOSPHERE AT DSP
Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit for the first time made a statement that targets directly his aide Husamettin Ozkan. His party was offended with Ozkan's remaining silent to campaigns against him, Ecevit said and added, ''and I cannot deny this.'' Accepting that there was a ''troubling atmosphere'' at the DSP, Ecevit said he did not think that his party would be divided. Meanwhile, it was stressed that today's meeting between Bulent Ecevit and Husamettin Ozkan was very important for the future of DSP. After State Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, National Education Minister Metin Bostancioglu supported Ecevit and said that campaigns against Ecevit were ''unfair and unjust''. Meanwhile, Rahsan Ecevit called on DSP deputies to convene in their headquarters today while DSP deputies who support Husamettin Ozkan would hold a separate meeting the same day. The expectation that Ozkan ''might resign'' spread at the DSP's backstage.
''EMPTY-HANDED'' WELCOME TO FOREIGNERS
Investment advisory council meeting in which World Bank and IMF officials and managing directors of giant companies in the world will participate will be held in Istanbul on July 18. While Turkey is making the final preparations for the meeting, a ''historic opportunity will be missed'' as the foreign capital bill has not been adopted yet.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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YILMAZ: ''ELECTIONS SHOULD BE HELD ON TIME''
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who also acts as leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said, ''as members of the ANAP, we will remain loyal to decision taken at last week's summit meeting among leaders of three political parties forming the coalition government. We believe that it would be more appropriate to hold elections on time. However, if a decision is taken to hold early elections, we are ready for it.''
ERDOGAN: ''PARLIAMENT COULD CONVENE IN AUGUST''
Referring to State Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli's proposal to hold early elections in November, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Tayyip Erdogan said, ''we should not wait for September. The parliament can convene in August to decide to hold early elections.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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''LET'S HOLD EARLY ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER''
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said, ''some circles are preparing several formulas by excluding the MHP. There is a political uncertainty in Turkey. So let's call the parliament for an extraordinary meeting on September 1 and take an early elections decisions on September 3. As it happened before, let's hold early elections within sixty days and set the date as November 3. The new parliament which will be shaped by the will of the nation settles stability.'' Bahceli added, ''the path in front of the formulas for a coalition without the MHP is open. MHP members are not people who are passionately fond of desirable posts. As the MHP, we are against the approaches like fulfillment of everything asked by the EU.''
''OZKAN OFFENDED ME''
Making statements to CNN-Turk, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''especially, I was seriously offended by accusations against my wife and my aide in our party Rahsan Ecevit. Accusations have reached the point of oppression. Rahsan Ecevit who dedicated herself to her house, country and party have met all my needs in the room that I have been isolated for two months.'' Ecevit said, ''in recent months, a terrific campaign which has never happened before has been launched against me and the Democratic Left Party (DSP). Husamettin Ozkan who is a deputy prime minister remained silent against the vulgar accusations and imputations against me, government and our party. My friends from our party expressed their sorrow over Ozkan's attitude and I totally agree with them.''
''WE ARE READY IN THEY WANT''
MHP leader, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli's call for early elections dropped like a bomb in Ankara. Rahsan Ecevit came together with senior DSP officials while Motherland Party (ANAP) leader, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said, ''it will be more beneficial and reasonable if general elections are hold in time but we are ready if they want early elections.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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BAHCELI REACTS TO FORMULA WITHOUT MHP AND WANTS EARLY ELECTIONS
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, who also acts as leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), reacted to government formula without the MHP. He stressed that political uncertainty could only be overcome with early elections. He noted that elections should be held on November 3.