ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on October 15, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TURKER:''I AM PREPARING ECONOMY TO WAR''
State Minister Masum Turker who is in charge of economy said that he was preparing the economy to the possibility of war. Addressing the opening ceremony of Bahcesehir University, Turker said that ''we have serious studies on preparing the economy for war.'' Turker said that the government is against war and it does not want any Turkish people to suffer from the negative effects of war.
IRAQI FEAR IN MARKETS
Markets are afraid of the possibility of an operation against Iraq. The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) decreased by 277 points, while one U.S. dollar increased by 13,000 liras following of the statements of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and State Minister Masum Turker. Ecevit said in the last weekend that the developments about Iraq were on the way to war, while State Minister Masum Turker in charge of economy noted that he was preparing the economy for war.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL TO CONVENE ONE WEEK EARLIER
National Security Council (NSC) will hold its regular October meeting on October 22, one week earlier due to the early elections to be held on November 3. The developments in Northern Iraq will be mainly on the agenda in the meeting to be headed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. NSC will also discuss a possible operation against Iraq and the EU's Progress Report for Turkey. Turkey-EU relations and Cyprus issue will also be taken up.
BAHCELI:GOVERNMENT WITHOUT MHP IS IMPOSSIBLE
Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader and Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli said that ''the parliament can't exist without MHP and the government can't exist without MHP from now on.'' Addressing a public meeting held by his party in Sivas province, Bahceli said that if MHP comes to power on its own on Nov. 4, they will implement a new economic recovery and transformation programme in economy. ''We will try to govern the country with 21 ministers including the prime minister,'' Bahceli said. Bahceli stressed that MHP did its mission regarding the adoption of the laws that were necessary for Turkey's EU membership, adding that certain circles try to show MHP as if it is against EU membership.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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SURPRIZE FROM NSC
The National Security Council (NSC) Secretariat General, which is criticized of its control over civilian politics, proposed ''social mobilization for the European Union (EU).'' The NSC asked the deficiencies listed in the Regular Report on the progress towards accession by Turkey to be overcome as soon as possible. Yuksel Koken, representing NSC at a meeting in the Secretariat General for the EU, said, ''the European Union is the civilization project of Turkey. Let's start social mobilization and eliminate deficiencies as soon as possible.'' One of the issues which was criticized the most in the progress report was that NSC's influence on politics had not reduced although the number of civilian members increased.
NORTHERN IRAQ WAVE
When attempts to found a Kurdish state in Northern Iraq are added to the possibility of a U.S. operation on Iraq, the markets have become tenser. After Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said at the weekend that ''incidents went too far. If the limits are exceeded, what is necessary will be done,'' the reality that Turkey can play an efficient role in a possible operation shook the markets. The stock exchange fell by 2.98 percent, the U.S. dollar gained 10 thousand in value against the Turkish lira (TL) and the interest rates climbed by 1.5 percent.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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ECO:''WE DON'T WANT WAR''
Addressing the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) summit held in Istanbul, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that the territorial integrity of Iraq has to be protected. Iranian President Khatami stressed that they were against any operation against Iraq, adding ''the whole world and our region face a very dangerous attempt.'' Other leades of ECO countries also said that they were in favour of a peaceful solution.
POLITICIANS MAKE WARNING ABOUT POSSIBLE IRAQI OPERATION
Deniz Baykal, the leader of the Republican People's Party (CHP) said that the decision to take part or not in a possible U.S. operation against Iraq has to be given by the governmnet to be founded after the elections. Former Foreign Minister and the leader of the New Turkey Party (YTP) Ismail Cem said that if Turkey takes part in such an operation, this will give great damage to Turkey. National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said that ''Turkey can intervene in Northern Iraq if it is necessary.'' Parleament Speaker Omer Izgi said that ''if the government wishes to convene the parliament after the National Security Council meeting, we can think about it.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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BAYKAL: ''THERE IS NO NEED FOR AGITATION IN IRAQ''
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that the government was agitated about the Iraqi issue for the last three days. Baykal said, ''they surely have rightful reasons. But, this government, which has lost its power, cannot make a decision about an actual military operation.''
CAKMAKOGLU: ''WE MAY INTERVENE''
National Defense Minister Sabahattin Cakmakoglu said that they would not permit foundation of a Kurdish state in Northern Iraq. The army would intervene if initiatives did not give any result, Cakmakoglu noted.
OCTOBER: MONTH OF RECORD
A total of 35 thousand 408 tourist landed at Antalya Airport the previous day. Turkey had never reached this figure in October for the last ten years.
HEADSCARF? NEXT QUESTION PLEASE
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is being asked questions about the headscarf in every city, is not giving clear responses to these questions. Erdogan came face to face with complaints of people about the headscarf issue. Touching on the Iraqi issue, Erdogan pressed on the government and said, ''I do not think that the coalition is informed about the developments in Iraq.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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COMMON ATTITUDE SHOULD BE ASSUMED AGAINST TERRORISM
The Foreign Ministry, which harshly condemned the terrorist attack in Bali island of Indonesia, said, ''as a country which has suffered much from terrorism, we share the grief of Indonesia. This cruel attack has once more revealed that cooperation in fight against terrorism is obligatory.''
DECISION ABOUT DEHAP ON WEDNESDAY
The Higher Election Board (YSK) will announce its decision about the situation of Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) on Wednesday. YSK Chairman Tufan Algan said that they would announce their decision about whether or not the DEHAP had the competence to join the elections on Wednesday. Algan said that there would not be any disorder in case DEHAP was prevented from entering the elections, adding that all measures would be taken in case of a negative decision.
THEY SIGN FOR COOPERATION
Ten member countries that joined the Seventh Heads of State Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Istanbul adopted Istanbul Declaration which set the future strategy. The declaration foresaw ''cooperation in every field.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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GERMAN JOURNALISTS SAY NO NEGOTIATION DATE FOR TURKEY
Assessing the relations of Turkey with the European Union (EU), German journalists said that it was wrong for the government in Ankara to direct all of its energy to get a negotiation date from the EU at Copenhagen summit in December. German journalists think that it is not possible for Turkey to get a negotiation date from the EU in Copenhagen summit. Michael Jach, a columnist in German Focus magazine said that the disappointment of Turkey about the EU Commission's Progress Report was right, adding that not only Turkey, but also EU has to take steps to make Turkey come closer to the EU. ''If EU wants to have a say in the global world, it can't isolate Turkey,'' Jach said.
DEHAP TO FIGHT WITH 200 LAWYERS
Higher Election Board will decide tomorrow whether or not Democratic People Party (DEHAP) will take part in Nov. 3 elections. DEHAP which takes into consideration the possibility of a negative decision, set up a team of 200 lawyers to resist the possible decision of the Board.