ANKARA (A.A) - 26.07.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 26, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
EXCHANGE OF WEAPONS
It was revealed that the terrorist organization of November 17 in Greece had exchanged assassination weapons with the Marxist Leninist Armed Propaganda Union (MLSPB) in Turkey. This bloody partnership came to the light when Ali Salim Bayar, one of the leading names of the MLSPB, and his friends were captured 13 years ago as they were trying to proceed to Greece from Meric township of northwestern province of Edirne.
NSC MEETING FOCUSES ON POSSIBLE OPERATION AGAINST IRAQ
The United States' preparations to change the regime in Iraq were taken up at the monthly meeting of the National Security Council (NSC). The four-hour meeting at the War Academies Command in Istanbul focused on impacts of a possible military operation against Iraq both on Turkey and on the region. Turkey's strategy in such an operation was discussed in detail.
FLOOD DISASTER CLAIM 35 LIVES
Death toll increased to 35 in flood disasters in Rize, Yozgat, Corum, Tokat, Kars and Mus provinces. Rize suffered the heaviest loss in the disaster. A total of 23 people were killed in Cayeli and Guneysu townships of Rize. Meanwhile, search and rescue efforts have been continuing to find eight people who trapped under rubble of the collapsed houses, or were carried away by flood waters.
ECEVIT CHANGES HIS MIND AGAIN
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who said earlier that he would withdraw from his post, if State Minister Kemal Dervis for economy resigned, changed his mind again. He said, ''if State Minister Dervis prefers to join another political party, there is nothing we can do about it. We will continue to fulfill our duty.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
A NEW FACE
State Minister Kemal Dervis for economy will resign from his post in the government, and join the New Turkey Party (YTP) with a long list to represent all sections of the society. Dervis informed YTP leader Ismail Cem and Husamettin Ozkan on his decision to resign from the government.
YILMAZ: ''WE WILL SEND 500 BILLION TL OF ALLOCATION TO FLOOD-HIT REGION''
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader, State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said that they would send 500 billion Turkish lira (TL) urgent allocation to flood-hit Rize province. Yilmaz visited Cayeli and Guneysu townships of Rize. He said, ''we have suffered heavy loss. The most distressing thing is casualty. I am concerned about increase in death toll. We also have serious loss in infrastructure. Our teams are exerting great efforts to remove those problems soon.'' He said that 500 billion Turkish lira (TL) urgent allocation would be sent to the region.
ANAP AND SP CALL ON PARLIAMENT TO HOLD AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING
The Motherland Party (ANAP) with the support of the Felicity Party (SP) requested the parliament to hold an extraordinary meeting at 2.00 p.m. on July 29. The ANAP and the SP submitted a document to the Parliament Speaker's Office, and requested the parliament to hold an extraordinary meeting. In the document, the ANAP and the SP said that the Parliamentary General Assembly should debate the draft law about training of prison personnel and the international agreement about prevention of all kinds of discrimination against the women besides the European Union (EU) adjustment laws. An article about holding the early elections on November 3, 2002, was included in the document.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
TIGTH MEASURES TAKEN IN ISTANBUL FOR ECEVIT
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit went to Istanbul for the first time since he was taken to hospital on May 4. Prime Minister Ecevit attended the monthly meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) at the War Academies Command. Meanwhile, tight measures were taken for Prime Minister Ecevit. An ambulance was kept ready for him.
MHP TO SUPPORT HALF OF EU ADJUSTMENT LAWS
The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) which insisted on holding the early elections on November 3, 2002, decided to support half of the European Union (EU) adjustment laws package. Upon directives of State Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and MHP leader Devlet Bahceli, MHP Deputy Group Chairman Mehmet Sandir, Domestic Affairs Commission Chairman Mehmet Pak and MHP deputy Mehmet Nacar examined the package, and determined six articles to be supported by the MHP.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
ECEVIT: ''WE WILL MISS OPPORTUNITY OF EU MEMBERSHIP''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who did not extend support to the Motherland Party's (ANAP) efforts for approval of the European Union (EU) adjustment laws, said, ''a haste decision was taken to hold the early elections. When the parliament takes an official decision to hold the early elections, it may not have enough time to carry out other legislative works including the European Union (EU) adjustment laws. We have been opposing the early elections from the very beginning. However, no one listened to us.'' He added that the early elections would also affect economy negatively.
FITCH DECREASES PERSONAL CREDIT MARK OF EIGHT TURKISH BANKS
Fitch, which is one of the international credit rating agencies of the world, decreased the personal credit notes of eight Turkish banks. Fitch Ratings said that the personal credit notes of Alternatifbank, Denizbank, Finansbank, Kocbank, Garanti Bankasi, Is Bankasi, Vakiflar Bankasi and Yapi Kredi Bankasi were decreased, and added that the condition of the banks was steady. Fitch Ratings said that personal credit notes of those banks were dropped because stagnation in markets in the past three years affected financial positions of those banks negatively, and added that the capital sufficiency of the banks was below international standards.
LIMITED SUPPORT TO OPERATION
During yesterday's monthly meeting, the National Security Council (NSC) decided to extend limited support to the United States' possible military operation against Iraq. The NSC stressed that Turkey was in favor of that balances in the region should not be changed with an external intervention.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
PEOPLE IN RIZE NEED HELP
A total of 23 people died and eigth people are still missing because of flood in Rize province. A total of 500 houses was evacuated and 100 village roads were closed to traffic. Death toll reached 35 due to the landslides and flood in Rize, Yozgat, Corum, Tokat, Kars and Mus provinces which has been suffering from torrential rains in the last five days. 20 houses collapsed in villages and hamlets of Rize. Local governors said that their possibilities were limited and mobilization was needed in those regions.
LEADERS DELAY LAWS WHICH WILL PAVE WAY FOR EU
The leaders except Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli who promised for ''unconditional support to the European Union (EU)'' are finding excuses not to compromise on the EU package including 14 articles. Motherland Party (ANAP) and Felicity Party (SP) which collected 110 signatures for EU adjustment package to be discussed at Parliament's extraordinary meeting rejected the other parties' proposal that death penalty and Kurdish issue should be separated. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that the EU laws didn't belong to ANAP, they were products of joint works and added that the regulations related to EU would be delayed because of election.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
ECEVIT SHOCKED WITH RESIGNATIONS FROM DSP
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who came to Istanbul to attend National Security Council (NSC) meeting was shocked with resignation of 700 members of Democratic Left Party (DSP). Those members joined New Turkey. Rahsan Ecevit had a meeting with the members of Istanbul provincial branch of DSP to prevent more resignation.
KECECILER SAYS POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY WILL END NEXT WEEK
State Minister Mehmet Kececiler said that they separated policy and economy from each other and added that economy was not affected with word of election anymore. He went on to say that the political uncertainty would end next week or within 10 days at the latest. Kececiler who delivered a speech at the opening of 12th Izmir International Shoe Fair said that the economic crisis was overcome and stated that there were many important developments in economy.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
NSC DISCUSSES IRAQ OPERATION
The National Security Council (NSC) held its monthly meeting under the chairmanship of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The meeting at the War Academies Command in Istanbul lasted for about three hours. Impacts of a possible operation that can be launched by the United States against Iraq, on Turkey and the region were assessed during the meeting of the NSC. Security and public order throughout Turkey, and foreign political developments both in the world and in the region were taken up at the meeting.
ECEVIT: ''I'M AT MY POST EVEN DERVIS RESIGNS''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that State Minister Kemal Dervis' resignation from the cabinet would not affect the government. Ecevit who gave the message that he would be at post even Dervis resigned, said that the chance related to the laws on the European Union (EU) was missed because of early election.