ANKARA (A.A) - 17.07.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 17, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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''WE DON'T TOPPLE THE GOVERNMENT DOWN BUT...''
New Formation's leaders Ismail Cem, Kemal Dervis and Husamettin Ozkan whose works on foundation of a new political party have been accelerated were determined not to be the side that causes collapse of the coalition government. ''But we won't allow the government to implement an 'election economy' during the period until early polls,'' Dervis said to explain their strategy. Ismail Cem who resigned as foreign minister answered questions of the newspaper. Responding a question that said, ''number of the coalition government's seats in the parliament decreased below the absolute majority to win vote of conidence. What's your position toward the government crisis?'' Cem said, ''we will be a constructive and uniting party. We won't be a destructive and defeatist party as a principle. My personal intention is to prevent our party from adopting a destructive function regarding the issue of government. However, our opinion will be given shape as a joint approach of our friends by evaluating it under the conditions.'' When asked whether they would give censure motion to topple the government down, Cem said they had not discussed such a thing. When asked whether they would give external support to continuation of the government, Cem said he did not want to talk about details.
FOUR CONDITIONS IN RETURN FOR SADDAM
During his meeting with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit in Ankara yesterday, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz officially conveyed that the United States would launch an operation against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Upon this unilateral announcement, Ankara laid four conditions and stated that it can negotiate use of its air space. Thus the Iraq bargaining between Turkey and the United States has started officially. Here are Turkey's conditions: ''We don't want a Kurdish state in Northern Iraq. We want our economic losses compensated. Iraqi people should absorb the new regime. Mousul and Kirkuk cannot be left to Kurds.''
LEADERS AGREE ON HOLDING EARLY POLLS ON NOV. 3
Leaders of parties forming the coalition government came together after the seats of the government in the government decreased below the absolute majority due to resignations from the Democratic Left Party (DSP) and they agreed on holding early polls on November 3, 2002.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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''I WON'T BE THE MAN WHO CAUSES COLLAPSE OF THE GOVERNMENT''
State Minister Kemal Dervis who had resigned following his meeting with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit after announcing his support to the New Formation but later withdrew his resignation upon the President's request, told his close friends that economy was the only matter that he was focusing on at the moment. Dervis said he was currently paying careful attention to economic figures and that he would exert himself for the economy. Noting that economy cannot be sacrificed for political debates, Dervis said he cannot allow his team to drop into a ''lower-ranking league''.
GOVERNMENT TO REMAIN IN CHARGE UNTIL EARLY POLLS ON NOV. 3
Leaders' summit resulted in an agreement on holding early polls on November 3, the date that the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has been insisting on. While any expression about continuation of the coalition government was not included in the statement released after the summit, MHP leader Devlet Bahceli said, ''I hope that the government would remain in charge.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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LAST OPPORTUNITY FOR EU
Consensus: The Parliament will convene on August 1 and pass the EU package and later decide on early polls on November 3. Coalition leaders adopted to take the country to early polls on November 3 as it was earlier proposed by Devlet Bahceli but to take up EU bills earlier. Upon Bulent Ecevit's and Mesut Yilmaz's this beau geste, Bahceli made another beau geste: MHP won't oppose to convention of the Parliament one month before September 1. According to the decision taken at the summit, ANAP and DSP will cooperate and have the Parliament to convene in an extraordinary session on August 1.
IRAQ TO BE HIT IN NOVEMBER
On his first-day talks in Ankara, U.S. Under Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz clearly stated that they wanted to launch an operation against Iraq in November whether or not Turkey would participate in it. But later, he added that it would be difficult without Turkey. After Wolfowitz's message, Ankara expressed its concerns mainly about two issues: foundation of a Kurdish state in Iraq and the economic crisis in Turkey. Meanwhile, Chief of General Staff General Huseyin Kivrikoglu said he was not in favor of such an operation as it would endanger Turkey's territorial integrity.
DERVIS NOT TO RESIGN UNTIL EARLY POLLS
It was mentioned that State Minister Kemal Dervis whom was resembled ''Trojan horse'' by the coalition ally MHP, decided not to resign after his meeting with the President yesterday. It was noted that Dervis had the intention of staying at his post until early polls if he won't be forced to resign by the coalition government.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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GOVERNMENT SAYS ''ELECTION''
A ''compulsory'' agreement was reached at the leaders' summit on holding the early elections on November 3. The final decision will be evaluated by the coalition parties' authorized boards. Devlet Bahceli who had his early polls proposal accepted by his coalition allies shed green light to opening of parliament before September. Meanwhile, the True Path Party (DYP) and the new formation led by Ismail Cem extended support to government's early polls decision. Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputy leader Abdullah Gul said that they had proposed October 6 as the early polls date but they did not insist on their proposal.
YSK SAYS EARLY POLLS CAN'T BE HELD ON NOV. 3
Higher Election Board (YSK) Chairman Tufan Algan said they could not finish their preparations for an early election on November 3. He stressed that any organization or institution cannot act arbitrarily. Algan noted that they did not have ''even a lira'' in their budget to meet election expenses.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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GOVERNMENT DECIDES TO HOLD ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 3
Leaders of three political parties forming the coalition government and new Deputy Prime Minister Sukru Sina Gurel reached a full consensus of opinion to hold early elections on November 3, 2002. State Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli; State Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz; and Gurel came together under the chairmanship of Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit, and they assessed recent developments.
2003 INFLATION
High Planning Board (YPK) drew up budget and macro frame of 2003 year. YPK's macro frame decision on preparation of 2003 programme and fiscal year budget were issued in the Official Gazette. According to the decision, 20 percent inflation and 5 percent growth are targeted in 2003. The inflation which is foreseen as 35 percent in 2002 is aimed to be reduced to 20 percent in the end of 2003. YPK determined growth target as 5 percent.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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PRESIDENT SEZER RECEIVES DERVIS
State Minister Kemal Dervis met with Husamettin Ozkan who earlier resigned as state minister and deputy premier. The meeting at the Central Bank building lasted nearly half an hour. Responding questions of reporters after the meeting, Dervis said he drank coffee with Ozkan. Dervis did not answer other questions. Dervis also had a meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer following his meeting with Ozkan. Dervis who explained difficulties during the meeting which lasted for almost 45 minutes requested Sezer to support him.
HIGH INCREASE IN TEMPERATURES EXPECTED IN AEGEAN AND MEDITERRANEAN
General Directorate of State Meteorology Works said that the temperatures were expected to be between 39 and 42 degrees in Aegean and Mediterranean regions on Wednesday. High increase in the temperatures and excessive humidity can affect human health negatively. Meteorology officials warned people to be careful about humidity. The temperatures will increase 3 or 4 degrees in southern and western parts of the country today and hot weather will be influential in internal and eastern parts of Turkey on Thursday.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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WOLFOWITZ SAYS THEY WOULD CARRY OUT OPERATION AGAINST IRAQ WHETHER OR NOT TURKEY JOIN OPERATION
U.S. Under Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz who held a series of contacts in Turkey said his country would carry out this operation against Iraq whether or not Turkey participates in this operation. He stressed that Turkey's interest in Iraq issue was legitimate. Wolfowitz openly declared his government's determination to overthrow Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein during a meeting with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit. He said that Turkey's interest in Iraq was legitimate and added that they would take up Ankara's view in the United States.
BELGIUM ARCHEOLOGIST DEVREKER SAYS TURKEY IS UNIQUE IN THE WORLD
Belgium archeologist Prof. John Devreker will come to Turkey for the last time to find Kybele temple which he has been trying to find since 1967. Devreker who admires Turkey's archeological riches said that Turkey was unique in the world.