ANKARA (A.A) - 19.07.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 19, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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WE WILL FULFIL REQUIREMENTS OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
When it is seen that the United States is determined to hit Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, Ankara changed tactics. U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz said that U.S. President George Bush was determined about an intervention to Iraq and asked Turkey's views. When Ankara said that it would consider this issue within the scope of strategic partnership, the United States regarded this as a green light. Turkey listed its economic needs, including rolling over foreign debt and erasing of FMS debts worth of 4 billion U.S. dollars. Also, Turkey gave two documents about Iraq to the United States. The sides decided to form a special canal which would operate directly between Turkey and the United States when planning the operation. Foreign Ministry Undersecretary will be the head of the Turkish side of this secret and efficient canal.
BAYKAL'S CLAIM: ''DERVIS WILL TAKE A DECISION WITHIN TEN DAYS''
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal claimed that State Minister Kemal Dervis was getting away from the new formation and said that Dervis would take a decision within ten days. Baykal told his aides that Dervis was going to America in coming days and that he would make an evaluation away from external effects.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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FIRST LESSON TO CEM: ''YOU CANNOT ACHIEVE WITHOUT BEING ORGANIZED''
Protest against Ismail Cem and a limited interest in him in central Kayseri province was evaluated with the above statement by some members of the new formation. The protest shown against Cem, who went to Kayseri, from where he was chosen as a deputy, without completing party works and a limited interest in him demoralized his friends. Some said, ''protests may occur everywhere. There is nothing to exaggerate'' while some others commented, ''it is a lack of experience stemming from good will of Cem'' and ''we have fallen into a trap.''
IRAQ DEBATED AT SUMMIT
The regular meeting between President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit which did not long more than 20 minutes, lasted for 65 minutes this week. Probable U.S. operation against Iraq was taken up at the summit to which Chief of General Staff Huseyin Kivrikoglu also attended. Ecevit explained the message given to the United States: ''we have not given a promise. On the other hand, we explained the problems that a probable operation on Iraq can cause. We are following the developments.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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IMPRISONMENT IN INSTALLMENTS PERIOD
The Code of Criminal Procedure (CMUK) has been changed in line with adjustment works to the European Union (EU). The draft which is among the commitments of the government and which was presented to the Council of Ministers will bring important renewals to legal system. The most important arrangement will be ''imprisonment in installments.'' The draft brings an implementation similar to those in the United States. Those who are sentenced to imprisonment terms till three years will serve this punishment in installments. Thus, a university student can continue his or her education, farmer can cultivate his or her fields, ill people can have treatment. Those who are released from prison will return back to prison within six months.
OUR TARGET IS TURKEY COALITION
Ismail Cem, the leader of the new formation, paid his first domestic visit to central Kayseri province, from where he was chosen as a deputy. Cem said, ''all the people who convene here are from other parties but all are my brothers. We will not make a distinction between emblems of parties. Our target is to be a pioneer in the coalition of parties and form Turkey coalition.''
FULL DAY ''SIESTA'' IN TURKEY
Turkish people who resist to politics, crisis and disasters immediately showed its reaction to extreme hot weather by changing their standards of living. The geography of shopping has changed from streets to closed places while shopping is generally made in the mornings or evenings during summer. People prefer home service.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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OUR EU MARCH IS IRREVERSIBLE
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel hosted a luncheon in honour of ambassadors of European Union (EU) countries to Turkey. Gurel said that there would not be any change in Turkish foreign policy objectives and noted, ''especially our march towards European Union (EU) membership is irreversible.'' Gurel stated that adjustment reforms would be passed in the possible shortest time.
NUMBER OF DSP DEPUTIES FALLS TO 65
Antalya deputy Ahmet Sancar Sayin resigned from Democratic Left Party (DSP) on Thursday. Thus, the number of seats occupied by DSP at the parliament fell to 65 while the number of those who have resigned from DSP increased to 63.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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DRAFT OF NEW STATE READY
A draft law regulating principles about collection, allocation and supervision of public revenues has been prepared. The target is efficient and transparent state. The draft of Public Finance Management and Finance Supervision Law which was prepared after discussions among the Finance Ministry, European Union (EU) and World Bank experts, has been sent to relevant institutions to learn their views. The draft which brings new discipline to expenditures is planned to be sent to the parliament next month. The arrangements which will be made firstly by the budget of 2004 cover the use of internal and external sources including EU funds.
AUGUST 1 IS DATE OF PARLIAMENT SESSION ON ELECTIONS
The coalition partners agreed to recall the parliament for a meeting on August 1, 2002. The first item of the agenda of the session will be taking a decision on early elections on November 3, 2002. It was noted that Higher Election Board (YSK) Chairman Algan proposed December 15, 2002 for elections however, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit returned this proposal.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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CANDIDACY DISCUSSION
The statement of Higher Election Board (YSK) Chairman that ''Necmettin Erbakan and Recep Tayyip Erdogan could not be deputies'' started a new discussion. Whether or not Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Erdogan or banned Welfare Party (RP) leader Erbakan can become deputies in an early election is still uncertain. YSK Chairman Algan's statement that Erbakan and Erdogan could not be chosen as deputies increased political tension. Some jurists claim that Erdogan can run his candidacy while Erbakan can be an independent deputy while some others claim that neither of the leaders can join the elections. AK Party group acting leader Salih Kapusuz claimed that there were not any legal situation preventing candidacy of Erdogan and said, ''he can run his candidacy.'' Felicity Party (SP) leader Recai Kutan said that there were not any obstacles before independent candidacy of Erbakan and criticized the statement of Algan.
PARLIAMENT TO CONVENE EARLY
The parliament, which had earlier been announced to reconvene on September 1, 2002 under the petition of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), will convene extraordinarily on July 22, 2002 in line with the application of the True Path Party (DYP) and Justice and Development Party (AK Party). Parliament Speaker Omer Ozgi notified the date of the extraordinary meeting of the parliament to party groups.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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POLAND NAMES OLYMPIC STADIUM AS HAKAN SUKUR
Poland gave the name of famous Turkish football player Hakan Sukur to Olympic Stadium with 60,000 people capacity. Hakan Sukur, whose name has not been given to any facilities in Turkey, said that he was very pleased while Turkish engineer Vahap Toy, who was the owner of the project, said that there was great interest and affection in Hakan in Poland.
ECEVIT SPEAKS TO BBC: ''I WAS TO WITHDRAW BUT I CHANGED MY MIND''
Prime Minister Bulent Eccevit said that he planned to quit politics within the following few months but he changed his mind after recent developments. Speaking to British BBC channel, Ecevit said he would join election campaigns as much as he could despite his health problems.