ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 27, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
ENVIRONMENTALIST RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY
Citizens in Islahiye Township in Gaziantep province, who protested Imam Feyzullah Bostanoglu, began to perform the namaz (daily prayer for moslems performed five times a day) in their houses. Bostanoglu cut seven 20-year-old poplar trees and one mulberry tree to use as firewood.
The mosque community, who imposed boycott against the Imam, said, ''we will not perform namaz in the mosque after an Imam who is the murderer of trees. Selahattin Tekin and Abdullah Temtek from the community declared the Imam as ''enemy of green'' and complained about him to Mufti's office.
VAKKO OPENS TO THE WORLD IN THE END
The famous department store and trade brand name Vakko, that is 68 years old, will open to the world. Vakko will open its first ''Vakko'' store in Berlin, Germany. Other stores will be opened in Greece, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and other European countries after Germany.
Vakko, who plans to sell its neckties in Italy and chocolates in Switzerland, will realize its dreams even postponed.
Cem Hakko, the Executive Board Chairman of Vakko, said they wanted to promote quality of Vakko brand in Europe and also wanted to increase its exportation. Hakko said he would open new stores in Greece, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain and other European countries.
Stressing that they wanted to make Vakko a world trademark in necktie and scarf, Hakko said, ''we want to settle Vakko trademark abroad.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
CILLER: ''LET'S TOPPLE THE GOVERNMENT''
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller who claimed that she was proposed prime ministry on the condition of postponing the elections, said that the government should be toppled and a transitory government should be set up before the elections. Stressing that the elections should be held on the scheduled day on Nov.3, Ciller said that the current government should be toppled. ''I don't accept to become a prime minister on the condition of postponing the elections, but there is a good reason to end this government,'' she said. ''This government lost its legitimacy and it doesn't have the support of Parliament,'' she added. The DYP leader also stated that her party would lead the efforts to form a new transitory government which will govern until the elections.
WOULD OPENING BARS HELP KONYA'S TOURISM?
Konya Tourism Director Ibrahim Tekbas complained about the low number of tourists visiting the city. ''We can't bring tourists to Konya only offering them faith tourism. There's not even a single bar or disco in this city. Konya Mayor Mustafa Ozkaya said he hadn't received any applications from anyone who wants to open bars or discos in the city and added: ''I think we should stress the city's historical quality. Konya is the city of Rumi and I prefer emphasizing this about Konya rather than anything else.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
YILMAZ TRIES TO CONVINCE MUMCU TO STAY IN ANAP
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz had his third meeting in 15 days with Erkan Mumcu who is considering to resign from the party and tried to convince him to stay. Yilmaz offered a new position in the party administration, but Mumcu still told reporters that he hadn't made up his mind yet.
Yilmaz stated that politics was a matter of courage and morals. ''Politicians should work for their parties and it would be immoral if they run after personal success. I believe that Erkan Mumcu will not make such a mistake,'' he commented.
4.3 MILLION NEW VOTERS TO VOTE ON NOV.3
Turkey's population was announced as 67.8 million yesterday. Among 43.6 million voters, 4.3 million of them will vote for the first time. Istanbul, with its over ten million of population, is Turkey's most crowded city. Fifteen out of 100 people in Turkey live in Istanbul. Ankara's and Izmir's populations are four and three million respectively. The census results also showed that 44 million Turks live in cities while 23 million live in villages.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
COASTER HITS RESTAURANT ON ISTANBUL STRAIT
A coaster carrying sand hit a restaurant causing significant damage in the building while passing from the Istanbul Strait on Monday afternoon.
The 40-meter coaster started drifting between Yenikoy and Istinye about 4.30 p.m. The ship hit Aleko'nun Yeri Deniz Park Restaurant before it stopped. After the accident, Coast Guard and Ship Rescue General Director Hucum Tulgar said that there were no casualties.
The coaster weighing 914 gross tons was going from Zonguldak to Darica and was loaded with 850 tons of boxit.
STATE MINISTER TOSKAY SAYS NUMBER OF VOTERS WILL BE 43,600,000
State Minister Tunca Toskay said, ''according to our estimations, number of voters will be 43 million 600 thousand. Number of voters registered in list of voters in April 18, 1999 was 37 million 429 thousand 120.''
Toskay responded to the questions of reporters after announcing Turkey's population as 70 million 128 thousand.
Toskay said number of population which will gain the right of casting votes on November 3, 2002 would be around 4 million 300 thousand.
Responding to a question about young population, Toskay said the population aging between 18-25 constituted 10.93 percent of general population.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
SEARCHES FOR ALLIANCE AMONG LEFT PARTIES
New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem proposed alliance to the Socialist People's Party (SHP) which cannot participate in the elections. However, SHP leader Murat Karayalcin wanted to take People's Democratic Party (HADEP) and Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP) and Cem stays distant to this offer. ''Alliance with the HADEP is a troublesome issue,'' Cem said. Karayalcin indicated that their contacts would continue.
TURKEY IS BECOMING AN URBAN COUNTRY
According to 2000 census results, Turkey's population is 70 million. Some 65 percent of Turks live in cities. State Minister Tunca Toskay who announced the census results yesterday, said that Turkey's population in 2000 was 67 million 803,927 and considering the population increase rate, there should be about 70 million people living within Turkey's borders. Antalya's population is rising fastest among other cities.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
HISTORICAL OPPORTUNITY
Turkey, which suffers greatly for foreign capital, caught a historical opportunity at the time being. If a healthy policy is being covered, we may be able to attract Arab capital which is reported to leave the United States because of terrorist attacks.
Arab countries, which were isolated following terrorist attacks in the United States, began to withdraw their investments and money from this country. According to the analysts, this development is evaluated as a great opportunity for Turkey which is the most attractive country with respect to foreign capital after China.
Foreign Capital Association Secretary General Abdurrahman Ariman said Turkey would get a bigger share from this capital incase it forms necessary conditions.
''POSTPONEMENT ARGUMENT''
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said prime ministry was offered to her in return for postponement of elections, yet noted that she rejected it. When Ciller made this statement, things got confused in Ankara. The Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz said, ''this is not true. A DYP administrator came to us and proposed to postpone the elections. We have not accepted it.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
IZMIR FAIR OPENS ITS DOORS FOR THE 71ST TIME
A total of 962 companies, 332 foreign and 630 local, attend Izmir International Fair this year. The Izmir International Fair is known with its social and cultural activities rather than economic side. Honorary guest of the fair will be Bosnia-Herzegovina this year.
Izmir International Fair, which Izmir's legendary mayor Behcet Uz pioneered, opened its doors to the world for the 71st time.
Ahme Kenan Tanrikulu, the Industry and Trade Minister, expressed the pleasure felt over the opening of the fair, noting that the fairs one the one side helped opening of new markets, and on the other side contributed to the improvement of intrnational relations.
GUREL DUE TO TEHRAN FOR IRAQ AGREEMENT
Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel continues to exchange views with the regional countries regarding the probable operation on Iraq.
Gurel, who paid a one-day visit to Jordan a short while ago, and shared similar views with his counterpart about Iraqi issue, will this time go to Tehran on September 1 as the official guest of Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi. It was reported that the reason of the invitation was the willingness of Iran to determine a joint attitude as the regional countries against a probable operation on Iraq.
As diplomatic sources do their best to prevent an operation against Iraq, they want to include Turkey to the alliance in question.