ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on September 13, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
IMPLICATION OF ERASING ERDOGAN
Higher Election Board (YSK) Chairman Algan said that clearing off the record of conviction of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan would not be sufficient for running candidacy for deputyship. Algan stated that Erdogan's situation would be examined under the article 11 of the Election Law and article 76 of the Constitution. This statement was in line with the earlier decisions of the YSK. If YSK does not change its decision, Erdogan's application for deputyship with a clean record of conviction will turn out to be nothing more than a dream. In such a case, AK Party leader will not be a candidate deputy in November 3 general elections. Also, if the Supreme Court finds appropriate the objection of Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu to the decision of clearing off record of conviction of Erdogan, this decision will be annulled regarding the merits of the case.
PARLIAMENT OF MACHOS
The political parties nominated fewer women as candidate deputies in November 3 general elections when compared to the current number of woman parliamentarians which is equal to 22. The number of woman candidate deputies is 277; however, those who have a possibility of being elected in the elections is 21. Only nine woman candidates from Republican People Party (CHP), four from Motherland Party (ANAP), three from True Path Party (DYP), two from Democratic Left Party (DSP), two from Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and one from Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) are ranked in places from where they can be elected as deputies. The ratio of woman parliamentarians will be totally away from meeting the European Union (EU) criteria and expectations.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
NEW JUSTICE MINISTER CELIKEL STARTS TALKS WITH RELATIVES OF INMATES
The inmates in Turkish prisons who are protesting the F-type prisons have entered the 692nd day of their protest. In the meantime, new Justice Minister Aysel Celikel raised hopes to end the protest by restarting talks with relatives of inmates. Celikel also had a meeting with the representatives of the Contemporary Lawyers Association (CHD), Human Rights Association (IHD), Relatives of Inmates Solidarity Association (TAYAD). The NGO representatives said that the inmates on death fast would continue to die if the Justice Ministry doesn't take action.
CHP LEADER BAYKAL CHOSES OYA UNLU AS ADVISOR
Oya Unlu, the advisor of Kemal Dervis will be Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal's advisor. Baykal will attend the European Economic Forum in Austria with Unlu. Baykal criticized Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz's recent remarks about delaying the elections and said postponing the elections would be a ''betrayal'' to the nation.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
FORCED DEMOCRAT
Fortunately, ballot box danger has occurred: Now all the politicians are in search for an amendment to ''Election Law'' and ''reasonable electoral threshold.'' Non-governmental organizations, scientists, authors and every person who can foresee the future has explained the problems of holding elections with the present Election and Political Parties Law. It has often been stated that candidate roll without any pre-elections and the electoral threshold can have a negative effect on the will of the nation. Leaders, who have turned a blind eye to all these things, have got agitated when they see that many parties will not be able to enter parliament. Now, they are searching for ways to amend two anti-democratic laws. The leaders are taking pulse to decrease the electoral threshold of 10 percent to a reasonable level and pave the way for alliances.
HE STARTS WITH APRIL, BUT CONSENTS TO DECEMBER
Deputy Prime Minister and Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz changed his demand for postponement of elections to April 2003. Yilmaz said, ''early elections can be held on December 15 to achieve initiatives that we have to fulfil for the European Union (EU) calendar. This will not mean a big loss for Turkey.''
ECEVIT ALSO SAYS ''ELECTORAL THRESHOLD IS HIGH''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit drew the attention that the electoral threshold of 10 percent was very high and said, ''there is not such threshold in any of the democratic countries. We should join forces to change this.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
EUROPE OPENS ITS DOOR TO YOUNG TURKISH PEOPLE
Turkey signed the Article 175 of the European Council creating a big opportunity for the Turkish youth. The article which aims to strengthen understanding and solidarity among the young people from European countries proposes that people between the ages of 18 and 25 could work in voluntary jobs between 3 to 12 months in Europe. This will help them learn a language as well as a profession. Accommodation and basic expenses will be met by the institutions. The young people will also receive an allowance for their daily needs.
CIVIL SERVANTS TO RECEIVE THE WAGE INCREASE THEY ASKED FOR
State Minister Mehmet Kececiler announced that the Council of Ministers will discuss the proposal to increase civil servants' wages gross 100 million TL. The civil servants will get a net of 73 million TL if the Council of Ministers approves the increase. Civil servants unions wants the increase to be effective as of September.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
SEZER OBJECTS TO GOVERNMENT CHANGE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer warned the political party leaders and announced that he was against a government change. Responding to reporters' question on Thursday, Sezer said ''I don't think that the elections would be delayed. I'm calling on the political party leaders to act with common sense. When asked to comment on the application of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to the Constitutional Court for the cancellation of certain EU adjustment laws, Sezer said he has to wait for the decision of the Constitutional Court.
NOT ENOUGH WOMEN CANDIDATES ON ELECTION LISTS
Women candidates were disappointed by the lists presented to the Higher Election Board (YSK). Among the parties who claim that they would reach the election threshold, the Justice and Development Party (AKP) had 28, the Republican People's Party (CHP) had 39, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) had 18, the True Path Party (DYP) had 44, the Motherland Party (ANAP) had 73, the Democratic Left Party (DSP) had 43, the New Turkey Party (YTP) had 50 and the Felicity Party (SP) had 4 women candidates on their lists. While the AKP tried not to have any headscarf wearing women candidates on their lists, the SP had Hulya Unuvar who wears a headscarf. If she is elected, another Merve Kavakci crisis might take place in Parliament.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
''KEEP YOUR WORD''
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer reacted to the disgruntled deputies and said that they had to protect esteem of parliament. As the deputies who had voted in favour of holding early elections on November 3, 2002 were nominated deputies from places where they cannot be elected, they started to collect signatures to postpone the elections. People reacted to this move. Majority of the citizens called on the disgruntled deputies to ''keep the promise they gave at the parliament because what they were doing was not ethical.'' Sezer said that he was not warm to a change in the government before November 3 and noted that he did not think that the elections would be postponed. ''I expect deputies to protect esteem of parliament and I believe that esteem of parliament will not be overshadowed. Leaders of political parties will behave sensibly.''
SUPPORT FROM YTP TO DISGRUNTLED DEPUTIES
New Turkey Party (YTP) leader Ismail Cem said that they considered the present government ''deficient'' in regard to the security of the elections and noted that some YTP deputies signed a censure motion against the government.
LPG CANISTER STRIKE
The state increased the salaries of the retired by 2.2 percent while the price of LPG canister was increased by 3.5 percent. The lowest salary of the retired, who are bewildered about what to do in order to survive, became 234 million Turkish liras (TL). Despite this, the price of 12-kilogram LPG canister, which is one of the compulsory needs of people, was increased by 3.5 percent to 18 million 680 thousand TL.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
ECEVIT: ''I DID NOT ASK YILMAZ TO WITHDRAW BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A DISGRACE''
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that he regarded the proposal of Motherland Party (ANAP) leader Mesut Yilmaz asking him to withdraw from the government ''strange.'' Ecevit said, ''if he really believes that there is a need for withdrawal from the government, he should firstly do it.'' Ecevit noted that he did not ask Yilmaz to withdraw because it would be a disgrace.
REPRESENTATIVES OF RELIGIONS MEET FOR PEACE AND DIALOGUE
A symposium on ''Contribution of Religions to Co-existence'' was held in central Sivas province. The participants stressed that mutual dialogue among religions should be developed in order to improve co-existence and ensure world peace.''