ANKARA (A.A) - 10.07.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 10, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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I WILL NEITHER CALL PARLIAMENT FOR MEETING NOR HOLD ELECTIONS
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit used the above mentioned words when he was explaining his strategy to True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller, with whom he held a tete-a-tete meeting. Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader and Prime Minister Ecevit, 6 ministers and 27 deputies of whom have resigned including his senior aide Husamettin Ozkan, said during his meeting with Ciller, ''I will neither call the parliament for a meeting nor hold an elections. I will not resign either.'' Ecevit, who later had a meeting with his partner Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli, reiterated his hope that the government should remain in the power till April 2004. However, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Bahceli said that this was impossible after recent developments. When Bahceli insisted on November 3, Ecevit said, ''let's think.''
GUREL GESTURE FOR BAHCELI
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit appointed Sukru Sina Gurel, who share similar views with Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli about the European Union (EU), as Deputy Prime Minister after resignation of Husamettin Ozkan. Thus, Ecevit made a gesture for Bahceli. Appointment of Gurel as the Deputy Prime Minister led to comments that Ecevit showed his will to continue the path with Bahceli while the cabinet commented that the power of the circle which had different point of view towards the EU became stronger. Appointment of Gurel as senior aide by Ecevit was commented as a bad news for Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, who thinks differently about the EU.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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YES TO BALLOT BOX
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit explained the problems that early elections might cause but could not persuade his partner, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli. In the end, they agreed that this government would remain in force until the elections. Bahceli made a big gesture and requested Ecevit to continue to act as the Prime Minister irrespective of the number of deputies of the Democratic Left Party (DSP). Ecevit said that there was no need for his resignation under that condition and noted, ''I mentioned problems of early elections. But, if it is an obligation, we will put into practice the November 3 proposal.'' Ecevit will explain all these developments to his other partner Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz after today's Council of Ministers meeting and the election date will be set at this summit. If the resignations from DSP do not cause the government to fall under the threshold which is required for remaining in the power and if Yilmaz agrees with these decisions, the government will be turned into an election government and continue the path.
RECENT FAVOURITES BECOME MINISTERS
Three deputies, who became important personalities in the Democratic Left Party (DSP) after the recent crisis in the party and who became favourites of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's wife Rahsan Ecevit with their statements, were appointed as ministers. Sukru Sina Gurel, who was the first to express his loyalty to Ecevit, was promoted as Deputy Prime Minister. Suat Caglayan was appointed as Culture Minister, Tayfun Icli and Zeki Sezer were appointed as State Ministers.
CLINTON BLOWS LIKE A STORM
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who came to Istanbul, firstly went shopping. Clinton, who bought a ring and necklace worth of 1,000 U.S. dollars, said that he tried to help Turkish economy. Clinton visited Sultanahmet and Hagia Sophia and attended a conference in the evening. At the conference, he said that Turkey was one of the six most important issues of the United States and noted that what was happening in Turkey was very important for their country.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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HERE IS THE DIFFERENCE
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, 56, is living his life while Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, 78, is still remaining in the power. Clinton was the U.S. President for 8 years. Then, he was proposed many brilliant duties including New York Municipality. However, he returned all these proposals by saying that this much politics was enough for him. Now, he is visiting the world, attending conferences and playing golf. He will write a book now and he is living a happy intellectual life. Meanwhile, Ecevit is in politics for more than 45 years. He is not only old, but also ill. He does not listen to calls for ''withdrawal'' and he insists on going till the very end. He once more expressed this view during his meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli: ''I want to be the Prime Minister with this government till May 2004.''
EYES ON TWO JOKERS OF POLITICS
Deputies who have launched initiatives to found a broad-based central party, are waiting for Ismail Cem and Kemal Dervis to push the button. Cem and Dervis, who are defined as jokers, will take a decision in one or two days. Cem and Dervis agreed that the new formation should not be turned into a ''movement of disgruntled.'' A broad-based ''Democrat Central Party'' will be formed and doors will be open for honest names from Motherland Party (ANAP) and True Path Party (DYP). The doors will even be open for Democratic Turkey Party (DTP) leader Mehmet Ali Bayar. However, when and how Cem and Dervis will join this movement is not known yet. Because, the leadership conflict cannot be solved yet. Dervis says that he can work as the second man, but his team presses that he should be the leader. Cem and his team do not welcome this.
HOPE FOR TRILATERAL ALLIANCE IN MARKETS
When the government was shaking, the Treasury got into debt easily with the effect of the new formation. The markets which perceived the tremor in Ankara as a ''step which will end political uncertainty'' were very optimistic yesterday. Confidence in Ozkan-Cem-Dervis alliance was reflected to Treasury tender and the Treasury sold 2.9 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL) of bonds. The U.S. dollar which reached 1 million 702 thousand TL, decreased 32 thousand TL with the intervention of state banks.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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EARLY POLLS HASTE
Political uncertainty continues. Election bills are still on shelves. Each political party announces an early polls date in accordance with its own benefits. Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) insists on November 3 as early polls date while the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the Felicity Party (SP) announced that they would support the Motherland Party's (ANAP) proposal for holding early elections at a date earlier than November 3 on conditions of ''revision in election laws, adoption of bills on adjustment with the EU and foundation of new government''. It is mentioned that bills on Political Parties Act and Elections Law could not be gotten ready in time. ANAP leader Mesut Yilmaz said that their priority was EU reforms and that they would support many formulas including also the minority government. Nearly 100 MHP deputies have signed the petition that calls on the parliament to convene in an extraordinary session on September 1. It is expected that necessary 110 signatures would be collected today and later the petition would be submitted to the Parliament Speaker's Office. Meanwhile, also opposition parties True Path Party (DYP), AK Party and SP prepared similar petitions.
''I WON'T RESIGN''
Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and State Minister Kemal Dervis decided to wait for one or two days more to take their final decision. Dervis held a tete-a-tete meeting while Cem held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. Dervis who met with Cem, newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister Sukru Sina Gurel and Forestry Minister Nami Cagan met with Husmattin Ozkan in the dinner. When asked whether or not he would resign, Dervis said, ''there is not such a thing.'' Meanwhile, possibility of Cem's resignation increased after Cem was not invited to the Prime Minister's Office and Gurel was appointed as the new Deputy Premier.
ECONOMY WANTS TO SEE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN FUTURE
The economy management who is pleased with the markets' not showing excessive reaction to recent developments stressed that there was not a thing to worry about in short term. State Minister Kemal Dervis and Finance Minister Sumer Oral who gave the message that everything was under way in line with the economic programme said, ''however, Turkey should immediately reach a lasting political solution which clears the path in front of it.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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DATE OF BIG CONFLICT
The most important crisis related with the conflict between Rahsan Ecevit and Husammetin Ozkan occurred after the National Security Council (NSC) meeting on November 19, 2001. Ecevit told Radikal after the NSC that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's real target was Ozkan and Mesut Yilmaz. Rahsan Ecevit said, ''when Ozkan understood this, he started an argument.''
RESIGNATIONS REACH 34
The number of deputies who have resigned from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) increased to 34. Six of 12 ministers of DSP have quitted their post when resignations of National Education Minister Metin Bostancioglu and State Minister Hasan Gemici are added. The number of seats occupied by DSP at the parliament fell to 94. Now, eyes are turned to Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.
HE IS GETTING READY FOR WITHDRAWAL
The Motherland Party (ANAP) which is waiting for the political results of the dissolution in the Democratic Left Party (DSP) has started to evaluate withdrawal from the government if Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit thinks of continuing the coalition. It is learned that Mesut Yilmaz, who does not want to remain in the government together with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) until the elections, will announce his decision to withdraw from the government if Ecevit does not resign.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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CHAOS IN ANKARA
In early hours yesterday, the Democratic Left Party (DSP) convened under chairmanship of Rahsan Ecevit and assessed the latest developments. Later, nine DSP deputies known as the opposition-9 in the DSP called for an extraordinary general assembly. At 2.00 p.m., State Minister Kemal Dervis and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem evaluated the latest situation. At 3.00 p.m., Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit received main opposition True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller and Ciller said they would give unconditional support to adjustment with the EU and early polls. At 4.30 p.m., Ecevit and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli held a meeting. Dervis who visited Ecevit at 5.20 p.m. called on everybody to ''act with common sense''. The most critical meeting was held in the evening between Husamettin Ozkan and Kemal Dervis. In the backstages of politics in Ankara, there is now a rumor that Dervis would act together with Ozkan and undertake a post in the political party that Ozkan would found. Meanwhile, parties in the power and opposition parties agreed on ''early elections'' while they have different opinions about the date of polls. DYP supported the Nationalist Movement Party's (MHP) proposal for the date of polls on November 3 while Motherland Party (ANAP) and Felicity Party (SP) agreed on September 29. The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) however wants the early polls to be held on October 6.
RESIGNATIONS CONTINUE
Resignations that shake the DSP continue. Together with yesterday's resignations, the number of loss in the DSP reached 33 and DSP seats in the parliament decreased to 95. Meanwhile, Tamer Kanber who resigned after Husamettin Ozkan told the newspaper that the number of resignations would be between 40-45 and they would conclude works on foundation of a new political party soon. He said, ''also Mr. Kemal Dervis will be together with us.''
COUNCIL OF MINISTERS TO CONVENE
The Council of Ministers will convene at 11.00 a.m. under chairmanship of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. At the meeting, latest political and economic developments will be evaluated. It is mentionwed that the statement to be released after the meeting would affect future of the government.
CLINTON: ''I STAND-BY YOU FOR THE EU''
Former U.S. president Bill Clinton who came to Istanbul as the guest of the Turkish-American Businessmen's Association said at the meeting held at the Ciragan Palace that he would give every possible support for Turkey's EU membership.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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''PREMIER DOES NOT THINK OF RESIGNING''
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller announced Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's opinion about the future of the coalition government that was shaken by Husamettin Ozkan's resignation by saying, ''Prime Minister Ecevit does not think of resigning.'' Meanwhile, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli who discussed the strategy they would follow together with his aide before his meeting with Ecevit said that a formation which ousts both Ecevit and MHP and contradicts with Turkey's interests was caught red-handed with resignations from the Democratic Left Party (DSP).
OZKAN PREPARES STATUTES, TARGETS TO HAVE 70 MPS
It was mentioned that the target of Istanbul deputy Husamettin Ozkan who resigned from the DSP would have a seventy deputies within one or two days and that he would take part in formulas that oust Bulent Ecevit and MHP. Some deputies also from other political parties are expected to join the new political party that Ozkan would found. Ozkan and his friends yesterday gave the start of works on statutes and programme of the new political party they will found. It is mentioned that this new political party would not be leftist or rightist, but it would be in the ''center'' and that it would follow social democracy policy. Ozkan and his friends who expect State Minister Kemal Dervis and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem to join them are planning to officially announce foundation of their new party.