ANKARA (A.A) - 05.08.2002 - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 5, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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WE WILL BE A PART OF COOPERATION
Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz supported the searches of State Minister Kemal Dervis for cooperation. Yilmaz said, ''I totally support Dervis. ANAP will be a part of this union of forces.'' Yilmaz noted, ''it is not sufficient to pass these laws from the parliament and get a negotiation schedule from the European Union (EU). There is need for a government which can continue these initiatives for at least two or three years. Such a government has to be formed after the elections.'' Noting that he would debate such a union of forces with True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, Yilmaz will propose these two leaders to pass an alliance system similar to the system in France from the parliament this week.
WE NOW EXPECT MEMBERSHIP
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said, ''we do not have any deficiency regarding the Copenhagen criteria'' and addressed the European Union (EU): ''Turkey is now expecting full membership.'' Ecevit said, ''Turkey has become freer, more democratic and more European as it passed EU-related laws from the parliament. Except for a few details, Turkey will have all freedoms and rights in a member country to the EU. Therefore, no one can say at this point that Turkey did not deserve the EU full membership.'' Ecevit noted, ''I think it is not right to assume that the EU will not set a negotiation date due to some other reasons. I do not even want to think of such a possibility. But, if this happens, we will do what is necessary.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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CYPRUS AGAINST WAR
Deputy Parliament Speaker Murat Sokmenoglu, who chaired the parliament during the discussions of the European Union (EU) related laws, said, ''Turkey cannot remain indifferent to a probable war on Iraq. We have to solve Cyprus question instead of running after 4-5 billion U.S. dollars in this bargaining.''
REACTION TO LABOUR SECURITY
Reactions to draft law on labor security which will be taken up by the parliament are increasing. The business world harshly reacted too the draft law which will be debated at the parliament on Tuesday. Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions (TISK) gave the message that ''unexisting job cannot be secure.'' The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges in Turkey (TOBB) noted, ''firstly, production should be made. Then, people should be employed and then comes the security.'' The Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) stressed that the law would harm the atmosphere of compromise in working life.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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LAW PROFESSOR CELIKEL TO BE FIRST WOMAN JUSTICE MINISTER
The successor of Justice Minister Hikmet Sami Turk, who have to quit his position and be replaced by an independent person as a decision to hold elections was taken, has become certain. Aysel Celikel, a professor in the Faculty of Law of Maltepe University, said, ''Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit called me when I was on holiday. I was not expecting such a thing and it was totally a surprise. Then, Turk called and congratulated me.'' Celikel noted, ''I am a jurist not a politician. I hope I can be successful.''
POLITICAL PLAN OF DERVIS: FRENCH MODEL
State Minister Kemal Dervis wants to unite liberal and leftist parties under an umbrella as Mitterand did in France. Dervis explained his political searches to a surprise name, Deputy Parliament Speaker Murat Sokmenoglu. Dervis said, ''I do not think of resigning from the government. I have signed the letter of intent sent to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). I have to stand behind my signature. My position is before politics. Liberal leftist parties have to unite under an umbrella like former French President Mitterrand did. I am searching for a model similar to that of Francois Mitterand. I am waiting for the day when I will make my decision. When that day comes, I will be under that umbrella. If I cannot achieve this, I will return to university.''
TALAY ANNOUNCES: ''DERVIS' DECISION WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THURSDAY''
Istemihan Talay, the Secretary General of New Turkey Party, said, ''very good developments will occur this week. State Minister Kemal Dervis' final decision will be announced no later than Thursday.'' Asked why the decision would be announced on Thursday, Talay said, ''because, Thursday is the last date when those who want to run their candidacies in the elections will have to resign from their positions.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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NEW TASK FOR THE PARLIAMENT
The parliament which set its seal on the two important regulations including the amendment in the Constitution and the adjustment laws to the European Union (EU) will take labor security issue to its agenda. The preparations were completed for an extraordinary meeting to debate the additional budget and labor security draft laws at General Council on Wednesday.
THERMIC DEATH IN KUTAHYA AND KAHRAMANMARAS
Thermoelectric power plants cause serious environmental problems in Kutahya and Kahramanmaras provinces. Poisonous gases with ashes and particles from Afsin-Elbistan power plant in Kahramanmaras and Seyitomer and Tuncbilek power plants in Kutahya pollute the provinces. There has been an increase in the number of people who suffer from chest cancer and respiratory diseases.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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MESSAGES ON EU TO VOTERS
The political leaders who get excited with the elections try to gain the votes by using the European Union (EU). Leaders gave the signs to form their election strategies on the EU. Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit said that Turkey became more free now with the EU adjustment laws. New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem said, ''if a government that can well-explain Turkey to EU comes to the power after the early elections, we can pave way for the full membership negotiations process.''
A TOTAL OF 32,000 OLIVE TREES DESTROYED IN FOREST FIRE IN MILAS
Forest fire which broke out in Milas town of Aegean Mugla province on Saturday was extinguished. Sources said that the forest fire was put out by 200 forestry officials, 200 villagers and 3 helicopters. The reason for the forest fire near Yagcilar village in Milas had not been revealed yet. There were not any casualties but the fire destroyed 11 hectares of forest and 20 hectares of olive grove.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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ANGER AGAINST OCALAN
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said, ''those who criticized the MHP for not bringing the file of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of terrorist organization PKK, to the parliament in the past, have saved this murderer from the punishment he deserved.'' Speaking at the 13th Erciyes Victory Congress in central province of Kayseri, Bahceli said, ''many political parties have recently accepted all kinds of requests of the European Union (EU) without questioning. They want Turkey to become a full member of the EU at any cost. The MHP is the only political party telling the truths honestly with its consistent and determined attitude.''
RELATIVES OF MARTYRS REACT TO ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
Relatives of martyrs reacted to the Abdullah Ocalan to rescue from the death penalty in Istanbul. The people who reacted to the abolition of death penalty closed Bosphorus bridge to traffic. Police intervened in relatives of martyrs and put under arrest 30 people. They said that PKK supporters shed tears of joy while we shed tears of sorrow.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ATO CALLS SABANCI AND KOC TO INVOLVE IN POLITICS
Ankara Chamber of Trade (ATO) Chairman Sinan Aygun called leading businessmen of Turkey including Rahmi Koc, Sakip Sabanci and Bulent Eczacibasi to involve in politics. Aygun said that he called the important businessmen to involve in politics to overcome the political crisis in Turkey.
ECEVIT: ''WALLS BETWEEN TURKEY AND EU WILL COLLAPSE''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that Turkey has been more free, more democratic and more European with the European Union (EU) adjustment laws which the parliament passed and stated that now, the walls between Turkey and the European Union (EU) would collapse. Ecevit added that Turkey's esteem in the western world began to increase.