ANKARA (A.A) - 11.07.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 11, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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BAHCELI: ''WE PREVENTED 'CIVILIAN COUP''
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, who acts as the leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), defended that with their proposal for early elections, they had prevented the 'civilian coup' of those who planned a government outside of democracy.
MHP leader defended that with his proposal for early elections that was made at the last movement, the plans of those people were defeated.
At the leaders' summit, Bahceli accused the Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Yilmaz that he played the main role in new government organizations ''without Ecevit and MHP.'' Bahceli said, ''you are the main responsible for the confusion. You can not reach anywhere with intrigue.'' Yilmaz in response said, ''you can not accuse us like this.''
Prior to the leaders' summit on Tuesday, Bahceli told his staff that Mesut Yilmaz, Husamettin Ozkan and Kemal Dervis were included in this plot, noting that, ''together with Prime Minister Ecevit, we have caught the plotters of July 4 'red handed'. Now that we are more stronger, however we should be careful.''
Stressing that they would not rely on ANAP from now on, Bahceli said, ''it can withdraw from the government any moment to topple the government. We don't have any objection, from now on, this will not be a loss for the government.''
FIRST STEP FOR A NEW PARTY
There will be a tripartite administration in the new party. Ismail Cem will undertake the leadership, Kemal Dervis and Husamettin Ozkan will act as deputy chairmen.
Cem will resign from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) on Friday. Dervis will announce his resignation next week following talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Structure of the party which the new formation would set up was determined after the talks carried out among Ozkan, Cem and Dervis.
Resignations continue in DSP following the resignation of Ozkan. Intense contacts were carried out in the past two days to include Cem and Dervis to this wing.
Cem first of all made an evaluation of the situation, and exerted efforts for a formula to hold a convention in which Ecevit would leave the leadership. However, no results could be obtained from those contacts. Ecevit conveyed the message that he was not positive toward the convention of extraordinary convention in this period.
Appointment of Sukru Sina Gurel as Deputy Prime Minister, who Cem could not get along well, accelerated resignation process of Cem.
Cem, who met Dervis the day before, decided to review the developments for some time more.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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OZKAN: I STILL LIKE HIM
Former State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan, who resigned from the Democratic Left Party (DSP), said, ''I have not separated my roads with Ecevit as I was after position or rank,'' adding that, ''Turkey's future is in question, everybody should act hand in hand.''
Ozkan, who caused a massive jolt in politics by resigning from DSP and deputy premiership as a result of the war opened by Ecevit couple with the pretext that he did not defend them, pointed out that the formations were not a ''leadership action''. Ozkan said, ''I don't have leadership insistence. I have not resigned for position or rank.''
Ozkan, who has preserved his principle of not speaking for the 11 years he acted with Prime Minister Ecevit, pointed out that, ''the developments brought us to this point. I have not told anybody to leave the party. I have not called anybody for resignation. I can not do such a thing.''
Ozkan said he was neither offended to Ecevit or his wife Rahsan, and noted, ''I still like Mr. Ecevit very much. I am so unhappy about the point where we reached. In our farewell meeting, I have told him to leave together. I said I would leave my feelings if I leave the room. I left and I am looking at the future at the point where I reached now.''
CILLER SEEKS PREMIERSHIP
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller, who met State Minister responsible for Economy Kemal Dervis, said she seeks for government, noting that she wanted to be the prime minister in a probable Iraq operation. Ciller said Dervis proposed early elections to take place in Spring.
Speaking after her meeting with Dervis, Ciller said, ''Dervis was thinking of the question if elections could be postponed to Spring. I have shared the reasons of why elections should take place in Autumn. Parliament should be opened immediately. Constitutional change is not necessary for two round elections. Arrangements that will be made about the EU after September can not be ready till Copenhagen summit. DYP's primary target is the EU. We put government models in the second plan. We will support abolishment of death penalty on condition that it replaces with heavy life imprisonment.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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WE ARE HOPEFUL AGAIN
Turkey, which is depressed in the past one year because of crises and unproductive strives, boosted morale with the alliance of Ozkan-Cem and Dervis.
Ankara saw the most active and intense meetings of the recent period. Cem, Dervis and Ozkan at first made bilateral talks, and later convened at 19.30 local time. This meeting resulted in full agreement: new formation will rapidly be turned into a party. A different model is thought for leadership of the party. Cem, Ozkan and Dervis will have an equal position in this model.
Cem will undertake the official leadership of the party.
TENSION IN CABINET
Council of Ministers, which convened after months under the leadership of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, was controversial. Sukru Sina Gurel, the successor of former State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan, was rebuked by State Minister for Economy Kemal Dervis on his first day.
Despite the warnings of the doctors, Ecevit went to Prime Ministry after 67 days and convened Council of Ministers, and later convened Leaders' summit.
Council of Ministers, which convened under the leadership of Prime Minister Ecevit after 2,5 months with the new six ministers, lasted for nearly 1,5 hours.
State Minister for Economy Dervis rebuked Gurel who did not listen to him while he was giving information about implementation of the economic program. Dervis turned to Gurel who was not listening to him and whispering something to Premier Ecevit, ''you are not listening to me and you are disrupting my concentration. Will you be quiet?''
Gurel in response said, ''I am listening to you, go on.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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NOVEMBER 3 PAIN
Harsh discussions occurred in the leaders' summit about election date and on issues with which government elections would take place.
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli put forward the condition of holding elections on November 3 for the continuation of the coalition government. Bahceli gave two days to his coalition partners to think.
Bahceli made very serious accusations against the Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz, and said, ''we know that you are included in all these developments. You make intrigue. You have damaged regular customs of the coalition. This government will not continue under those circumstances.''
IMPORTANT ROLE TO TURKEY IN OPERATION AGAINST IRAQ
Retired U.S. General Thomas McInerney said Turkey would be the most important ally of the United States in case of a probable operation against Iraq. He said Ankara would undertake a very important role in re-structuring process of Iraq.
McInerney said either occupation method will be used with 200,000 soldiers, or an operation, backed by heavy air bombardments in which 30-50 thousand soldiers participate will participate in, will be launched.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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FIVE PERCENT INCREASE IN CIVIL SERVANTS' WAGES
The Council of Ministers decided to make a five percent increase in civil servants' wages in July and make an extra increase together with a two percent prosperity share if the inflation rate exceeds this five percent wage increase.
After today's meeting of the Council of Ministers, State Minister and Government Spokesman Tunca Toskay made a statement on the issues discussed and decisions taken at the meeting.
''Regarding this issue, these decisions were taken,'' Toskay said and added, ''the Council of Ministers decided to make a five percent increase in civil servants' wages in July and make an extra increase together with a two percent prosperity share if the inflation rate exceeds this five percent wage increase. The 57th government has been implementing this method for three years.''
STATE CAN NOT WORK
Confusion experienced in the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and the government, caused uncertainty on issues which interest future of Turkey.
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan consortium, composed of the oil giants of the world, postponed investment to Turkey because of political uncertainty.
Romano Prodi, who will be the first European Union (EU) Commission President visiting Turkey, has hesitations and can not set a program.
The United States, who warmed up its scenarios of operation against Iraq, tries to benefit from the uncertainty in Turkey.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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THEY WILL CONVENE ON SEPTEMBER 1
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) presented Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi their proposal to call parliament to convene extraordinarily on September 1, and to hold early elections in November 3.
A total of 125 MHP parliamentarians signed the proposal which was urgently prepared with the directives of MHP leader Devlet Bahceli.
FIRST WOMAN MINISTER OF THE 57TH GOVERNMENT
The change that was made in the cabinet following the resignations in Democratic Left Party (DSP), fulfilled the call of State Minister for Economy Kemal Dervis which had been made eight months ago.
Dervis, while chatting with the journalists eight months ago, had said there was not any woman minister in the cabinet, and that, ''I am bored with 36 male ministers. There is not a woman minister. ''
Ankara Parliamentarian Melda Bayer was appointed as State Minister responsible for Family, instead of Hasan Gemici, who resigned from his post.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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YILMAZ: NEW GOVERNMENT DEPENDS ON THE ATTITUDE OF CILLER
State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who also acts as the leader of the Motherland Party (ANAP), said the True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller wanted to take place in the government instead of ANAP, stressing that Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli was positive toward this. Yilmaz said, ''everything depends on the attitude of Ciller.''
Yilmaz convened his staff prior to leaders' summit and evaluated the situation. It was reported that at the meeting, Yilmaz conveyed the attitude which Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and the MHP leader Bahceli adopted about the government.
Pointing out that Prime Minister Ecevit told them that Ciller wanted to be included in the government, Yilmaz said, ''Bahceli is positive toward inclusion of DYP in the government instead of ANAP.''
Yilmaz warned ministers from ANAP to remain ''silent'' and said, ''there may be those who will keep us responsible for the developments in DSP. There may be those who will accuse us for setting traps. Don't respond to such accusations. Our priority is EU full membership. We want to have elections after EU laws are issued. If the laws will not be issued, we should hold the elections on September 29.''