ANKARA (A.A) - 15.07.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 15, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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''I WOULD SUPPORT EVEN IF HE WAS IN ANOTHER PARTY''
Ismail Cem, a deputy from central Kayseri province, protected State Minister Kemal Dervis, against whom the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) declared a war: ''The words used against Dervis are inappropriate. I would support him till the very end even he was not with us.'' The leader of the new formation implied that Dervis withdrew his resignation from the State Ministry upon the request of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and said, ''Dervis will probably have a meeting with the President this week.'' Cem, who announced that they would set a three-month schedule with Husamettin Ozkan and the other deputies who had resigned from the Democratic Left Party (DSP), said that toppling the coalition government was not their duty.
MHP: ''DERVIS SHOULD GO IMMEDIATELY''
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputy leader Sevket Bulent Yahnici called on State Minister Kemal Dervis to resign and requested that Dervis should not attend the Council of Minister meeting scheduled for Wednesday. Yahnici said, ''continuation of Dervis to remain in the office is similar to attendance of Greek Chief of General Staff to a National Security Council (NSC) meeting in which Cyprus question is being discussed.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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''IF DERVIS QUITS, I WILL NOT REMAIN IN POWER''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''if Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli says they cannot continue the path with State Minister Kemal Dervis and asks for Dervis' dismissal, I will withdraw from the government without waiting till the number of our deputies fall under the threshold necessary for vote of confidence at the parliament.'' Ecevit said, ''there were some projects about alternatives for leadership that I was thinking of. I cannot continue this duty till eternity. But, this project is left behind due to early election possibility. If there had not been any resignations from our party, I could have put into practice my thoughts.'' Ecevit noted, ''the threshold to withdraw from the governmentis 276. But, there can be some other developments. If a different view about Dervis occurs, then I may have to withdraw from the government without waiting until this threshold. If Bahceli insists on Dervis' resignation or dismissal, I will be obliged to withdraw from the Prime Ministry.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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A LETTER OF HONOR TO BE SENT TO ECEVIT
Ismail Cem and his friends who resigned from the Democratic Left Party (DSP), will send a letter to Prime Minister and DSP leader Bulent Ecevit after forming their new political party. In the letter, they will thank Prime Minister Ecevit for his contributions to Turkish political life.
IRAQI OFFICER IN ANKARA PUTS FORWARD TERRIFYING CLAIMS
An Iraqi officer who fled from Iraq to Turkey in 1999 said that President Saddam Hussein of Iraq provided the terrorist organization PKK with chemical and nuclear weapons training. In an interview with the Sunday Times newspaper of Britain, the officer whose identity was not revealed due to security reasons, claimed that Saddam Hussein had connections with Osama bin Laden Al-Qaeda network, and had been producing nuclear weapons. The officer added that PKK members were given maps of some important facilities in Turkey by Iraqi officials.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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CRITICAL WEEK FOR FUTURE OF GOVERNMENT
The National Movement Party (MHP) which started a war against State Minister Kemal Dervis for Economy, Ismail Cem and the Motherland Party (ANAP), has begun to warn Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to hold early elections on November 3. MHP Deputy Group Chairman Mehmet Sandir said that State Minister Dervis should resign immediately, and added that the coalition could continue under the leadership of Prime Minister Ecevit till November 3.
NEW FORMATION TO BECOME A POLITICAL PARTY SOON
The new formation led by Ismail Cem who resigned from foreign ministry and the Democratic Left Party (DSP), will accelerate its works to become a political Party. Cem will hold a meeting with Husamettin Ozkan. Cem said that State Minister Kemal Dervis could not attend the meeting due to his special position. The meeting is expected to focus on programme and by-laws of the new political party.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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MOST CRITICAL WEEK IN ANKARA
Ismail Cem and Husamettin Ozkan will meet today. The members of new formation who have launched initiatives to complete their works for foundation of a political party till this weekend, expect resignation of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit within 10 days. Ankara is getting prepared for very rapid political developments this week. Cem and Ozkan will review the party program and by-laws today. The aim is to found the party till Friday. Almost 20 more people are expected to resign from Democratic Left Party (DSP) today and tomorrow. The founders of the new party think that Ecevit will resign within 10 days. If this does not happen, a censure motion will not be submitted to topple the government. But, if it is necessary, they will support toppling of the government.
''ELECTIONS WILL BE CHEAPER''
Namik Kemal Kilic, a leading name in Turkish economy, said, ''the monthly cost of political crisis is 5 billion U.S. dollars. The elections will cost around 2-3 billion U.S. dolars.'' Kilic, who had worked with former President Turgut Ozal for years, said that the chaos that occurred due to the government cost around 5 billion u.S. dollars. Kilic said, ''the elections will only cost around 2-3 billion U.S. dollars. That is, the government can hold elections and the cost of this elections will be equal to only one month of loss caused by political crisis.''
THEY SWIM BETWEEN CONTINENTS
A total of 229 sportsmen joined the From Asia to Europe 14th International Bogazici 2002 Swimming Competition. Efe Erduran of Turkey, 15, became the first in the competition by swimming from Kanlica to Kurucesme district of Istanbul in 47.15.00. In women's category, Dina Osama of Egypt became the winner with 49.42.63.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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''IT IS AN INTERNATIONAL PLOT''
Sukru Sina Gurel who has been appointed as foreign minister and deputy prime minister following last week's developments in the Democratic Left Party (DSP), said, ''some circles that could not confiscate our country, set up international relations and conspired against our political party. These circles are aiming at forcing Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to resign.''
WOLFOWITZ: ''KURDISH STATE CANNOT BE FOUNDED IN NORTHERN IRAQ''
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz said, ''Turkey would not like foundation of a separate Kurdish state in Northern Iraq. It is also unacceptable for the United States.'' Speaking at a conference organized by Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) on ''Relations between Turkey and the United States'', Wolfowitz said that if ethnic and religious leaders were brought together, territorial integrity of Iraq would be protected and a democratic Iraq would be ensured.
CEM: ''WE NEED THREE MONTHS''
Ismail Cem, who resigned from the foreign ministry and the Democratic Left Party (DSP), said, ''we do not experience a crisis of identity. We need three months to put everthing on track in our new political party. State Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz wants early elections to be held in September. However, we want early elections to be held in November.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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GOVERNMENT TO SAY EITHER REMAIN IN FORCE OR QUIT THIS WEEK
One week has passed after the resignations from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) which had started with the resignation of Husamettin Ozkan. The situation of the Motherland Party (ANAP) in the government will become clear this week. State Minister Kemal Dervis will have a meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and make his last decision about his duty. Democratic Left Party (DSP) is locked on the attitude of ''nine opposing parliamentarians.'' New formation is getting prepared to announce their party.
FIVE ALBANIANS CAPTURED WITH HASHISH WORTH OF 400 BILLION TL
Five women, who came from Albania to Istanbul by plane, were captured with 82 kilograms of hashish worth of 400 billion Turkish liras (TL). Ataturk Airport narcotic teams, acting on a tip-off, searched luggage of Albanian Dashurje Cenkollari, Raimonda Janushaj, Beci Fotini, Uka Lavdie and Zejne Mica and seized 82 kilograms of hashish. Five Albanian women were sent to Istanbul Narcotics Department.