Press Scan

ANKARA (A.A) - 24.07.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 24, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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KARATAS CLAIM SHAKES ATHENS
After Greek To Vima newspaper reported on July 21 that DHKP-C head terrorist Dursun Karatas was in Athens, Greek sources put forward another shocking claim. It is claimed that Karatas who got a political refugee travel permission (titre de voyage) from Belgium enters and exists every European Union (EU) member country except Britain whenever he wants. With this permission document, Karatas came to Athens on July 17 and this was revealed by the Greek police too. It was said that he had left Athens on July 22. Meanwhile, Greek government spokesman Hristos Protopapas yesterday indirectly confirmed that Karatas might have entered and left Greece by saying, ''many Turkish citizens who sought asylum and got it stay in Greece from time to time. The U.N. High Commissioner imposes strict rules as they are political refugees. So we cannot investigate one by one whether Karatas is among them.''

EXTRADITE KARATAS IF HE IS IN YOUR COUNTRY
Turkey gave two diplomatic notes to Greece on Monday and Tuesday asking whether or not DHKP-C head terrorist Dursun Karatas is in Greece. The diplomatic noted which did not include harsh expressions were given in Athens and Ankara and asked whether or not To Vima newspaper was right in its news saying that Karatas is in Athens. Turkish Embassy in Athens Undersecretary Atilla Gunay went to Greek Foreign Ministry on Monday and gave Greek authorities the diplomatic note which asked for arrest and extradition of Karatas to Turkey if he is in Greece. Ankara continued this initiative also yesterday. Greek Embassy in Ankara First Undersecretary Hiristodoulas Lazaris was invited to the Foreign Ministry yesterday. Intelligence Department Chairman Kemal Asya gave Turkey's written note to Lazaris. The note requested arrest and extradition of Karatas if he is in Athens.

YTP REJECTS KURDISH AND DEATH SENTENCE
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz who hoped to find unconditional support from the New Turkey Party (YTP) to the EU package was shocked. YTP leader Ismail Cem told Yilmaz, ''remove the issues of death sentence and education and broadcasting in mother tongue from the package. Also we don't support these.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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IT IS TOO LATE
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that adoption of bills on adjustment with the European Union (EU), which are vital for Turkey became impossible under these conditions.

WE SOLVE PROBLEMS
When some deputies were offended by the results of the elections held at the first Founding Committee and group meetings of the newly founded New Turkey Party (YTP), Husamettin Ozkan persuaded all of them.

REJECTION FROM OPPOSITION
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz could not receive the support he was expecting from the opposition parties to which he proposed, ''let's pass the bills on adjustment with the EU first, later decision on election date''. Only the Felicity Party (SP) extended support to his proposal.

IZGI'S CALL TO PARLIAMENT FOR MEETING ON JULY 29
Upon initiatives of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the True Path Party (DYP), Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi called on the Parliamentary General Assembly to convene in an extraordinary session at 2.00 p.m. on July 29.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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NOW ECEVIT SAYS ''NO'' TO EU LAWS
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''we won't opose to early elections on November 3. However, if the Democratic Left Party (DSP) loses the elections, fundamentalism gains strength again. Meanwhile, it is wrong to pass the bills on adjustment with the European Union (EU).'' He said, ''if elections would be held on time, that is, in April of 2004, I would say that I am withdrawing from the politics while we are taking the country to general elections and I would take necessary steps until that time. However, I saw today that some of my friends could not absorb the DSP culture. However, I will try to keep my word in shortest possible time.''

OPPOSITION SUPPORTS EU
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz visited opposition parties. He received support from Felicity Party (SP) and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) for discussion of firstly the bills package for adjustment with the European Union (EU). Meanwhile, True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller extended support to the package but said that firstly decision on early elections should be taken.

LOSS DRIVES US CRAZY
The Turkish Electricity Corporation (TEAS) which sells the most expensive electricity in the world and increases prices each month suffered a 1.8 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL) loss. Although TEAS had a 3 quadrillion 436 trillion TL of annual sales, it suffered a 1 quadrillion 854 trillion TL loss. There is only one reason for the loss of TEAS which sells the most expensive electricity in the world to Turkish people: failure in being economical. Here is an example: TEAS which produces 1 kilowatt of electricity for 1-3 cents purchases it for 16 cents from private natural gas power plants and sells it for 5.6 cents.

FLOOD CLAIMS 18
Torrential rains caused disasters. Houses were carried away by fllod watres, bridges and minarets collapsed and thunderbolt claimed life. Due to bad weather conditions, a total of 18 people were killed, 8 in Rize, 5 in Yozgat, 2 in Corum, 2 in Tokat and 1 in Kars.

-TURKEY-PRESS SCAN (2)

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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EU PACKAGE OPENED
Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz presented the draft bills package for adjustment with the European Union (EU) to the opposition leaders. Here are the arrangements: ''death sentence is lifted except war and close-to-war situations. There is life imprisonment to terrorist crimes. Broadcasting in Kurdish is allowed. Education in Kurdish can be given. Decisions of the European Court of Human Rights can be brought to court again.''

ECHR NOT ALLOWS FUNDAMENTALISM
With the decision to reverse application of 13 officers who were dismissed from the Turkish Armed Forces for invlovement in fundamentalist movement in addition of the case of banned Welfare Party (RP), the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) which is sensitive to secularism frustrated Necmettin Erbakan's hopes. It was mentioned that the court would finalize Erbakan's application in mid-September.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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YILMAZ BEGINS TO HOLD CONTACTS FOR ADJUSTMENT LAWS WITH EU
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz began to hold his first contacts on the adjustment laws with the European Union (EU). New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller told Yilmaz, ''we will support laws on the EU process, however we should first take an early election decision.'' Felicity Party (SP) Recai Kutan agrees with ANAP that firstly EU laws, later decision on elections. All parties except the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) agree on adoption of the laws related to EU at first.

BRSA CHAIRMAN AKCAKOCA WARNS BANKERS
Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) Chairman Engin Akcakoca who touched on the measures that should be taken to strengthen banking sector said that unless their expectations were met, the results would not be surprise. BRSA held a meeting in Ankara on the programme for reconstruction of banking sector. BRSA Deputy Chairman Teoman Kerman said that there had always been insufficient equity capital in the system and added, ''our people are rich, but our companies are poor.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TORRENTIAL RAINS PARALYZED LIFE AND TRAFFIC IN MANY REGIONS OF TURKEY
Flood waters triggered by torrential rains killed a mother and her four daughters in Karalar village in Sefaatli township of central province of Yozgat. Public Works and Housing Minister Abdulkadir Akcan said that firstly 150 million Turkish liras (TL) of financial aid would be sent to each family who suffered from the floods in Yozgat. A child died because of floods in Corum. Many houses and work places were inundated in central provinces of Kayseri, Konya and Nevsehir.

BAHCELI: ''IT'S NOT RIGHT TO FIND EXCUSES TO POSTPONE ELECTIONS''
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli commenting on Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's concerns about the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) said that he didn't think it was right to find excuses to postpone elections. After a visit to Kirsehir Governor's Office, Bahceli told reporters that he believed holding early elections on Nov. 3 would have many benefits to the nation. Bahceli said that the current government which was formed on May 28, 1999 had very important contributions to Turkey and started important reforms to support the economic program in order to prevent more economic crises.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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INCREASE IN INTEREST AND EXCHANGE RATES AFFECTS INDUSTRIALISTS NEGATIVELY
Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) announced the results of ''Turkey's top 500 companies and enterprises in 2001''. ISO Chairman Tanil Kucuk said that industry collapsed because of high interest and exchange rates. Kucuk stated that private sector started to resemble the public sector which lost money continuously and added that the debts of private sector enterprises reached 67 percent of company assets.

ECEVIT ACCEPTS NOVEMBER 3
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit denied claims that he would resign in response to Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli's statement that they would withdraw from the government if decision on early elections on November 3 was not taken. Ecevit who stated that concerns on elections continued said, ''however, it's pointless to oppose to early elections anymore.'' Ecevit said that Bahceli's concerns on the election was groundless and denied his claims about his resignation.

CANKIRI SHAKEN BY A 4.3-MAGNITUDE QUAKE
An earthquake emasuring 4.3 on the Richter scale happened in Cankiri province in central Anatolia. The epicenter of the quake which happened at 11.06 p.m. on Tuesday was Eskipazar town of Cankiri, the Kandilli Observatory said. The quake was felt also in Ankara, Karabuk and Zonguldak.