ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on August 28, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER SCHILLY:''NOW THAT THE
DEATH PENALTY IS ABOLISHED, KAPLAN WILL BE RETURNED TO TURKEY''
German Interior Minister Otto Schilly has announced that Metin Kaplan, who is known as the Black Voice in Turkey, would be returned to Turkey after he completes his time in prison. Speaking to German tv channel ARD recently, Schilly stated that Turkey abolished death penalty therefore there was no reason left for not returning Kaplan. Schilly is expected to visit Turkey in the coming days and clarify with Turkish officials Kaplan's return to Turkey.
Kaplan who was the head of Koln based Islamic Communities Union was sentenced to four years in prison after issuing a fetwa to murder Halil Ibrahim Sofu who rose as a rival to Kaplan in Berlin.
Now the eyes have turned to Belgium where Ozdemir Sabanci's suspected murderer Fehriye Erdal stays. Turkey is now wondering how the Belgian government will act regarding Erdal's case.
ECEVIT TO STRESS DSP'S NATIONALIST QUALITY
Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit will stress his party's nationalist identity and draw an ideological line between the DSP and the Republican People's Party (CHP) and the New Turkey Party (YTP). Today Ecevit will hold a press conference and invite democratic leftist people who support the ''national left'' to his party. Doing this, Ecevit will state that the CHP and the YTP don't follow a nationalist line.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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DERVIS'S DREAM OF ''SUPER MINISTRY''
Former State Minister Kemal Dervis who recently joined the CHP has been saying to his close circle that all institutions of economy should be controlled from one ministry. ''If I'm going to be in charge, each unit cannot be in the hands of another party,'' Dervis said.
''The government of a single party would be ideal, but if this is not possible, at least the economy should be managed by a single party. I know from experience, it doesn't work if economy is managed by several parties,'' Dervis commented.
EARLY WARNING SYSTEM TO START SIGNALING TEN SECONDS BEFORE
EARTHQUAKE STRIKES ISTANBUL
An early warning system that would start signaling ten seconds before an earthquake started being used in Istanbul. The system will warn State Owned Turkish Pipeline Company (BOTAS) and military units to minimize the damage an earthquake could cause. Prof. Mustafa Erdik from Bogazici University's Kandilli Observatory stated that they placed equipment in 100 spots in Istanbul. ''The system will inform the governor's office, the municipality and First Army Commandership in two minutes after the earthquake and ask them to send rescue teams. The system will form a damage map and update the information every 20 seconds,'' he explained.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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''HAVE A GOOD VACATION, GENTLEMEN!''
Turkey is participating in the World Summit for Sustainable Development in South Africa with a delegation of 90 people. The list is full of bureaucrats who have very little to do with the subject. More than 100 countries are sending their most qualified experts to the summit while Turkey will be represented by people most of whom don't even speak English. The summit will turn to a wonderful ten day vacation for tired Turkish bureaucrats. Each person attending the summit will cost the state 5.5 billion TL. Only the Turkish Foundation Against Soil Erosion (TEMA) which is participating in the summit as an NGO is paying for its own costs.
KIVRIKOGLU:''POSTPONEMENT OF ELECTIONS WOULD LEAD TO CHAOS''
Chief of General Staff Huseyin Kivrikoglu stated yesterday that the postponement of elections would lead to chaos in the country. After paying a farewell visit to Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi, Kivrikoglu was posed questions by reporters about the elections. ''It's a political question, but Parliament made a decision and the best thing is to go ahead and implement it. Postponement of the elections would lead to chaos in Turkey,'' he commented.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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The policies which are patented by World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) will cause Turkey which is an agriculture country to be fully depended on the foreign countries in agriculture field within 10 years. According to the research conducted by Ankara Chamber of Trade, Turkey which still exports tobacco will import 86 thousand tons of tobacco from the countries in 2010. It will import 200 thousand tons of wheat, 750 thousand tons of sugar and 1.5 million tons of corn in 2010.
UNITED STATES PROPOSES ANTI-MISSILE SYSTEM FOR EUROPE INCLUDING TURKEY
A delegation from Pentagon visited Ankara end of June to propose the anti-missile system for Europe that would also cover Turkey and the Turkish side welcomed the idea in principle. The Bush administration conveyed the proposal to other NATO allies. The U.S. government has offered industrial, financial and logistic contribution to the project which will be run by U.S. companies.
The Pentagon delegation visited NATO capitals last week to have official contacts on the matter. It was stated that the Turkish defense industry would also contribute to the project if it is implemented.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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YILMAZ SAYS ANAP HAS 5 PERCENT OF VOTES ACCORDING TO SURVEYS
Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz responded to the people who criticizes him by saying, ''the criticisms are harsh, but true.'' Yilmaz was harshly criticized at the meeting of Central Decision Executive Board (MYKY). Yilmaz said, ''some ministers made mistakes. I accept that I also made some mistakes. According to some surveys in 18 provinces, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and Republican People's Party (CHP) have 50 percent of the votes, but ANAP has only 5 percent of the votes. But we can pass the threshold by a good campaign.''
ERKAN MUMCU RESIGNS FROM ANAP
Motherland Party (ANAP) deputy Erkan Mumcu announced his resignation from his party stating that it has become impossible for him to be active in politics as long as he stays in the ANAP. Mumcu and Malatya deputy Mirac Akdogan who also resigned from ANAP are expected to join Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on Wednesday. Speaking at a press conference at Parliament, Mumcu said that he didn't regard politics as a carrier struggle and that he decided to resign from the ANAP by rejecting some attractive carrier offers. Mumcu indicated that he would continue to be active in politics.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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GOKDEMIR WITHDRAWS HIS RESIGNATION
True Path Party (DYP) Erzurum deputy Ayvaz Gokdemir first resigned from his party on Tuesday then withdrew his letter of resignation. After faxing his letter of resignation to the press offices, Gokdemir came to the parliament to hold a press meeting. DYP Acting Group Chairman Turhan Guven and a group of friends tried to persuade him not to resign. When asked whether he was withdrawing his resignation, Guven said, ''yes''. After these developments, Parliament DYP Group Chairmanship said in a statement that Gokdemir withdrew his letter of resignation.
BAHCELI SAYS WE SHOULD ENTER EU
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahceli said that his party was intentionally presented as if it was against the European Union (EU) and added that this was not true. Bahceli said, ''MHP has contributed a lot to Turkey on the path to the EU membership. We are only in favor of Turkey's being a full member of the EU on a more honorable status.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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KIVRIKOGLU SAYS IF ELECTION IS POSTPONED, THERE WILL BE CHAOS
Chief of General Staff Huseyin Kivrikoglu who had opposed to the attempts to postpone the elections in 1990 said on Tuesday that the implementation of the decision which the parliament has taken was the best solution. Kivrikoglu whose term in office will end on August 30 wanted the elections to be held on November 3, 2002 and said that otherwise there would be a chaos in the country.
TURKEY CANNOT MAKE GOOD USE OF ITS GEOGRAPHICAL ADVANTAGE IN TRANSPORTATION
Turkey cannot get the share which it deserves in the world transportation and logistics sector in spite of its geographical location. Although, Netherlands and United Arab Emirates (UAE) which have similar geographical advantages with Turkey are very important countries in transportation and logistics sectors, Turkey cannot open to the world in these fields.