ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on September 5, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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HERE IS DISCRETIONARY FUND DOCUMENT
Supporters of Rahsan Ecevit, the wife of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and deputy chairperson of the Democratic Left Party (DSP) claimed that Husamettin Ozkan attempted to withdraw 2.7 trillion Turkish liras from the discretionary fund before resigning from his post and the DSP. However, the document kept by Ozkan revealed that Prime Minister Ecevit had declared Ozkan free from the debt. This document which should have been destroyed in accordance with the laws, shows that Prime Minister Ecevit had approved the operations in the discretionary fund between July 1 and 10, 2002.
DOLPHIN CRISIS WITH UKRAINE
Ukrainian officials claimed that three dolphins which were brought to Turkey to display a show in Konyaalti district of southern province of Antalya, belonged to their state, and launched a campaign to take the dolphins back. Valeriy Kulagin from Ukrainian Science and Research Center came to Turkey and said that the dolphins belonged to Ukranian state.
SENTURK INVITES POPE JOHN PAUL II TO TURKEY
Antakya Mayor Iris Senturk invited Pope John Paul II, the spiritual leader of the Christian world, to Turkey. Following the meeting, Senturk said, ''I gave soil and water taken from St. Pier Church to Pope John Paul II as a present.'' Pope John Paul II welcomed Senturk's invitation, and said that he would pay a visit to Turkey if his health improved.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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''BELGIUM SHOULD EXTRADITE ERDAL''
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sukru Sina Gurel who is currently in Belgian capital Brussels on an official visit, met with Belgian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade Annemie Neyts. Speaking at the meeting, Gurel said that Belgium should extradite Fehriye Erdal, a member of illegal Revolutionary People's Liberation Party-Front (DHKP-C) and one of suspects of killing of businessman Ozdemir Sabanci in 1996, as the Turkish parliament lifted death penalty within the scope of the European Union (EU) adjustment laws.
TURK-IS CHAIRMAN MERAL JOINS CHP
Confederation of Turkish Labour Unions (Turk-Is) Chairman Bayram Meral and theatre player Sahnaz Cakiralp joined Republican People's Party (CHP). Baykal decorated Meral and Cakiralp with the emblem of the party and signed their membership forms.
TURKEY JOINS EUROCORPS
Turkey, Greece and Poland will appoint military personnel to Eurocorps Headquarters within the terms of an agreement signed in Strasbourg. Turkey will appoint five officers to Eurocorps Headquarters centered in Strasbourg. Eurocorps was created in 1992 by five countries namely Germany, Belgium, Spain, France and Luxembourg. The officials said that the number of participant countries would increase to 10 after participation of Turkey, Greece and Poland, and after a similar agreement was signed with Austria and Finland.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ACCUSATION
A total of seven bureaucrats and Izmit Mayor Osman Birsen have been accused of being involved in corruption of Yuvacik Dam. The Government Accounting Bureau announced Osman Birsen, Ayfer Yilmaz, Murat Kudat, Bulent Ozgun, Osman Emed, Aydin Karaoz, Nevzat Saygilioglu to chief prosecutor's office. Osman Birsen, then undersecretary of Treasury, has been accused of keeping a paragraph of the finance approval report submitted to the State Ministry secret from the public opinion. The paragraph in question says, ''this project can cause the Treasury to suffer from a serious loss.''
SERDENGECTI: ''WE CANNOT IMPLEMENT ELECTION ECONOMY''
Central Bank Governor Sureyya Serdengecti said that implementation of election economy was impossible. He pointed out that problem of public debt should be resolved as soon as possible. Serdengecti also noted that Turkey did not have any other chance except for implementing the economic programme.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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PRESIDENT SEZER MEETS WITH POWELL
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer who is currently in South African capital Johannesburg to attend the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), met with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. During the meeting, Powell told President Sezer that their preparations had been continuing to launch a military operation against Iraq, and added that they would consult with Turkey on all possible developments. Meanwhile, President Sezer said that Turkey had suffered a serious loss following the Gulf War, and noted that even claims about a possible military operation against Iraq affected the markets in Turkey negatively.
EARTHQUAKE JOLTS IZMIR
An earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale jolted western province of Izmir at 04.35 p.m. Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory Seismology Institute centered the earthquake on Torbali district. There were not any immediate reports of casualties and damages in the earthquake.
BAYKAL MEETS WITH TALABANI
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal received Patriotic Union for Iraqi Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani. Addressing journalists following the 45-minute meeting, Talabani said that there had been good relations between the CHP and the PUK. Talabani added that he had informed Baykal on his contacts in the United States.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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AK PARTY'S ONLY RIVAL IS CHP
According to the survey which was conducted by KONDA company under the administration of Tarhan Erdem, only Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and Republican People's Party (CHP) can pass the threshold. A total of 2,400 people joined the survey which was conducted in seven regions between August 24 and 26. The survey said that AK Party reached nearly 25 percent support while CHP which reached 14 percent support rate became the first party among leftist political parties. The other party which has the possibility to pass threshold is True Path Party (DYP).
GREEN LIGHT TO 100 MILLION TL INCREASE IN WAGES OF PUBLIC WORKERS
Mutual steps are being taken for the solution to the disagreement which occurred between the government and the public workers' unions during the collective bargaining talks. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said about the increase in the wages of public workers that they should do their best at the meeting of Council of Ministers. Finance Minister Sumer Oral did not say anything about the issue at the meeting. The government later decided to wait for the decision of Conciliatory Board. Government Spokesman Yýlmaz Karakoyunlu said that Conciliatory Board would announce the decision on Friday at the latest and the Council of Ministers would discuss the issue on Wednesday.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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GUREL REQUESTS EXTRADITION OF FEHRIYE ERDAL
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel came to Brussels to hold contacts with the European Union (EU) and Belgian government officials. Gurel requested extradition of terrorist Fehriye Erdal, who was under detention in Belgium, to Turkey during his meeting with Belgian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Annemie Neyts. Following the meeting, Gurel said that they took up cooperation in fight against terrorism. Gurel noted that death sentence was abolished in Turkey as part of European Union (EU) adjustment laws adopted in Turkey and requested extradition of Erdal, one of the assailants of businessman Ozdemir Sabanci assassination, to Turkey.
ANOTHER RESIGNATION FROM YTP
Ali Tekin, a deputy of the New Turkey Party (YTP), also resigned from his party on Wednesday after Mardin deputy Mustafa Kemal Tugmaner. Number of YTP deputies decreased to 60 after resignation of Tekin while number of independent deputies increased to 22.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ANAP PASSES FROM ''CENTRAL RIGHT'' TO ''NEW RIGHT''
Motherland Party (ANAP) is preparing to join the elections which will be held on November 3 with a new identity. ANAP which Turgut Ozal established in 1983 with the nationalism and conservatism principles, will have ''new right'' and ''modern conservative'' party mission from now on. State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu, Istanbul deputy Nesrin Nas and Manisa deputy Prof. Ekrem Pakdemirli prepared ANAP's election declaration and presented it to the Central Decision Executive Board of the party. ''New right'' and ''modern conservative'' concepts are included in the election declaration.
TORRENTIAL RAIN PARALYZES DAILY LIFE IN ISTANBUL
The heavy rain which began in Istanbul on Wednesday afternoon paralyzed daily life and traffic in the city. Over 50 houses and work places were inundated due to the torrential rain. Firemen worked to rescue the people who remained stranded in their houses and exerted efforts to discharge water from inundated places.