ANKARA (A.A) - 30.07.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on July 30, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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OZKOK TO BE APPOINTED AS NEW CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF
The Higher Military Board (YAS) will convene tomorrow to determine the commanding delegation of the Turkish Armed Forces for the next four years. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu will be in attendance at the YAS meeting. General Staff Chief General Huseyin Kivrikoglu will retire while Land Forces Commander General Hilmi Ozkok will be appointed as the new chief of the General Staff.
CEM: ''THE ONLY WAY OUT IS EARLY ELECTIONS''
New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem said that they fully supported the adjustment laws with the European Union (EU) and the early elections. Speaking at the parliamentary group meeting of the YTP, Cem said, ''we fully support the early elections. Also, we consider the early elections as the only way out from current crisis in Turkey. The coalition government could not govern Turkey. There have been disagreements among the three coalition partners on vital issues. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the Motherland Party (ANAP) have been continuously accusing each other.''
GOREN RESIGNS FROM SP
Ali Goren, a deputy from southern province of Adana, resigned from the Felicity Party (SP). After Goren's resignation, number of SP deputies at the parliament decreased to 46 while number of independent deputies rose to 17.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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''UNITE LEFTIST PARTIES''
Deputies of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) called on their leader Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who plans to try every possible method including resignation to postpone the early elections, to unite the leftist political parties under the same umbrella. DSP members told their leader Bulent Ecevit who said earlier that victory of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) in the early elections could jeopardize the regime in the country, that unification of the leftist parties could be a new hope for Turkey.
START GIVEN FOR EARLY ELECTIONS
The Parliamentary General Assembly convened yesterday at an extraordinary meeting. The General Assembly decided to transfer proposal of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to hold early elections on November 3, 2002, and proposal of the Motherland Party (ANAP) and the Felicity Party (SP) about the European Union (EU) adjustment laws to the relevant commissions. Parliamentary Consultative Committee's proposal to take up early elections proposal and the EU adjustment laws at the relevant commissions within 48 hours was approved. Later, Parliamentary Constitution Commission Chairman Turhan Tayan called on members of the commission to hold a meeting on Tuesday to debate the early elections proposal, and the EU adjustment laws.
BEZMEN CAPTURED
Halil Bezmen, a businessman who has been wanted by Turkish Interpol on charges of historical works of art smuggling, was captured in the United States. Security Director General Kemal Onal confirmed that Bezmen who fled to the United States seven years ago, was captured in the United States. Turkey will start carrying out necessary works for extradition of Bezmen from the United States.
FLOOD DISASTER HIT SINOP THIS TIME
After devastating northern province of Rize, flood triggered by torrential rains hit Duragan township of neighboring Sinop province. Two people who were carried away by flood waters, lost their lives. Meanwhile, three people have still been missing. Search and rescue efforts have been under way in the township to find the missing people.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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HE IS ALL ALONE
Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit could not convince Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli to postpone the early elections. After his aides told him that he could not prevent the early elections, Prime Minister Ecevit gave up his plan to resign from his post.
OZTRAK: ''WE CAN SEIZE A GROWTH RATE HIGHER THAN 5 PERCENT''
Treasury Undersecretary Faik Oztrak said that Turkey would reach its budget targets. Speaking at a joint program of the private TV channels of NTV and CNBC-E, Oztrak said that Turkey could seize a growth rate higher than 5 percent.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ECEVIT WARNS ONCE AGAIN
Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit warned once again, ''early elections can cause some negative impacts not only in economic and social lives, but also in our regime and political structure. If the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) are given opportunity in a haste early elections, extremely serious drawbacks can emerge in regard to our regime.''
TURKEY HOLDS CONTACTS WITH IRAQI OPPONENTS
After realizing the fact that the United States' military operation against Iraq became inevitable, Turkey has assumed a new attitude about Iraqi opponents, and decided to develop its contacts with opposition formations including Kurdish groups. It was reported that Iraqi National Congress (INC) leader Ahmet Celebi paid a secret visit to Ankara last week to meet with Turkish officials.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ECEVIT: ''I WILL NOT RESIGN''
Prime Minister and Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit said that he would not use the method of resignation in order to postpone the early elections. The DSP parliamentary group held a meeting, and decided to support the European Union (EU) adjustment laws, and to explain the possible negative results of the early elections.
EMERGENCY RULE TO COME TO AN END IN HAKKARI AND TUNCELI
The implementation of emergency rule will come to an end in eastern provinces of Hakkari and Tunceli at 5.00 p.m. today. The implementation will continue in southeastern provinces of Diyarbakir and Sirnak for four more months. The Emergency Rule was put into practice within the scope of martial law which was declared after the massacre in Kahramanmaras before the military intervention on September 12, 1980.
INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED AGAINST ERBAKAN
Istanbul State Security Court (DGM) and Balikesir Chief Prosecutor's Office have launched an investigation against Necmettin Erbakan, the former leader of the banned Welfare Party (RP) who plans to become an independent candidate in the early elections.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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COMPLETE THIS DUTY
We call on all deputies to work in harmony and cooperation to approve the European Union (EU) adjustment laws and the early elections proposal. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has been threatening by ignoring the will of the people. Leaders of political parties have been displaying conceited attitudes. Bureaucracy has been bewildered. Economy has been in a bad situation. State mechanisms have been paralyzed and democracy has been devastated. All these developments damage Turkey. Therefore, we call on all deputies to work in harmony and cooperation this time.
TUSIAD WARNS
Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) released a statement and warned politicians, ''fulfillment of European Union (EU) Copenhagen criteria is of vital importance in regard to beginning of full membership negotiations that will play an important role in the future of Turkey.''
KOCABATMAZ: ''13 TRILLION TL IS REQUIRED FOR REBUILDING OF RIZE''
State Minister Mehmet Kocabatmaz visited townships which were devastated by flood disaster in northern province of Rize. Later, he told reporters, ''all local administrations have been expending efforts to assist the citizens who have affected by the flood disaster. Rize has been sent a financial assistance of 1 trillion 300 billion (TL) so far. Damage assessment works are also under way in the province. We estimate that re-building of Rize would cost 13 trillion TL. All necessary measures will be taken to heal the wound of the flood disaster.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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PARLIAMENT STARTS WORKING FOR EARLY ELECTIONS AND EU ADJUSTMENT LAWS
The Parliamentary General Assembly convened yesterday at an extraordinary meeting with the participation of 451 MPs. A process has begun to approve the proposal of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to hold the early elections on November 3, 2002, and the proposal of the Motherland Party (ANAP) and the Felicity Party (SP) about the European Union (EU) adjustment laws. The General Assembly decided to transfer the proposals to the relevant commissions. The proposals will be taken up at the commissions within 48 hours.