ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on October 17, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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PLANS OF ERDOGAN
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to appoint four people whose wives do not wear Islamic-style headscarves, to four important positions including prime ministry in case of the AK Party's winning general elections and coming into power. The other positions are Parliament Speaker's Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Defense.
POLICEMEN SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT
Manisa High Criminal Court sentenced one police chief and 10 policemen to imprisonment terms between 60-130 months on charges of torturing young people who were detained for allegedly being a member of terrorist organization. The lawyers of the suspects said that they would apply to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) if the Supreme Court of Appeals approved the decision of Manisa High Criminal Court.
KANADOGLU REQUESTS AN INVESTIGATION AGAINST DEHAP DIRECTORS
Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu requested Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office to launch an investigation against directors of the Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) on charges of forgery. Kanadoglu noted that decision taken by the Higher Election Board (YSK) were certain only in regard to election laws. He requested Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office to launch an investigation against directors of the DEHAP who got a documents from the Supreme Court of Appeals by giving information against reality.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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IMF DELEGATION LEAVES AS TURKEY CAN'T FULFIL ITS PROMISES
When Turkish officials told IMF delegation that the four conditions that had to be fulfilled would not be met by Turkey, the IMF delegation left Turkey. Therefore, Turkey could not get the 1.6 billion dollars of credit tranche from IMF within the scope of stand-by agreement signed with IMF. Speaking in a news conference, IMF Turkey Desk Chief Kahkonen said Turkish officials told him that Turkey would not fulfil all the conditions regarding the fourth review until the end of this month. Kahkonen stressed that Turkey has to decrease redundant positions in State Economic Enterprises, has to prepare privatization plans of state-run Liquor and Tobacco Administration (TEKEL), and to amend tax reform draft and the Execution and Bankrupt Law in order to get the credit.
JUSTICE COMES TO MANISA AFTER SIX YEARS
The ten police officers who were the suspects of the case known as ''Manisa Case'' in the public opinion were given totally 1020 months imprisonment for torturing 16 young persons. The case which is pending before the court since 1996, finally ended in its 44th session yesterday.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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GENERAL FRANKS DUE IN TURKEY
Commander in Chief of the United States Central Command General Tommy Franks will come to Turkey on Monday. General Franks will meet with General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok and General Staff Deputy Chief General Yasar Buyukanit. During his contacts in Turkey, General Franks is expected to convey three messages of the United States: The United States will support Turkey in the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) if Turkey supports a possible military operation against Iraq and extends mandate of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan for six more months.
''IF TURKEY FULFILLS CONDITIONS, WE WILL RELEASE THE LOAN''
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Turkey Desk Chief Juha Kahkonen said that if Turkey fulfilled conditions, the fourth review would be completed and the last trance of the loan worth of 1.6 billion U.S. dollars would be released. Holding a press conference at the Treasury Undersecretariat about the 4th review, Kahkonen noted that Turkey had fulfilled many conditions so far, but all the conditions had not been fulfilled yet. He said that they did not plan to combine the fourth and the fifth reviews. Kahkonen said that they understood the government's policy to decrease inactive employment in the public sector through voluntary retirement, and added that Turkey could reach its target through this policy with a little delay.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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PEARSON TRIES TO EASE TURKEY'S CONCERNS
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson said that the United States was against foundation of an independent state in Northern Iraq, and pointed out that their approving draft constitutions was out of question. Pearson noted, ''any single group cannot determine without regard for the others future of its own role in Iraq nor that of other elements in Iraq. The United States has not endorsed any document professing to be a constitution in Iraq.'' He stressed that there was not room for a surprise in relations between Turkey and the United States.
DE SOTO SAYS SIDES HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR A ''GIVE AND TAKE'' PROCESS
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's Special Envoy to Cyprus Alvaro De Soto called the two sides in Cyprus to hurry for a solution on the island. Following his meeting with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal, De Soto said that he believed that there was a suitable atmosphere to find a solution on the island. De Soto said that Annan invited President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot leader Glafcos Clerides to New York for another meeting in November. De Soto said that the two sides had to be prepared for a ''take and give'' process.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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FOREIGN MINISTRY WARNS ECEVIT
Foreign Ministry announced that everything was under control in Northern Iraq as a reaction to the statements of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who had earlier said that ''things went out of control in the region.'' Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yusuf Buluc said that ''it is not time to polemize the issue.'' Calling on the politicians, Buluc said political party leaders have to make calmer and realistic evaluations. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Buluc stressed that ''Turkey has both supported this formation in Northern Iraq, and it also helped in its getting organized. The thing that matters for Turkey is maintenance of its temporary character.''
EU ACTS UNJUSTLY AGAINST TURKEY
The Wall Street Journal Europe newspaper said in its article that Europe acted unjustly against Turkey. The paper noted that Turkey deserved to be given a date to start negotiations with EU for membership, adding that EU's ignoring the reforms undertaken by Turkey is dangerous, particularly due to the developments in Cyprus and Iraq. The paper commented that the EU can give a date to Turkey for 2007 to start negotiations.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TWO DIFFERENT STATEMENTS
There is a difference of opinion between Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the recent developments in Northern Iraq. Last week, Prime Minister Ecevit said, ''the sides have gone too far in Northern Iraq. There are some developments in the region which were undesirable for Turkey. We will not allow foundation of an independent Kurdish state in Northern Iraq.'' Meanwhile, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman Yusuf Buluc's statements about Northern Iraq confused the public opinion. Buluc stressed that developments in the region were under control of Turkey, and called everyone to act with calmness.
IZGI: ''WE SHOULD TAKE KIRKUK UNDER PROTECTION''
Parliament Speaker Omer Izgi stressed that Turkey would never allow foundation of a Kurdish state in Northern Iraq, and added, ''if Western countries and the United States insist on maintaining their current attitude, Kirkuk, Mousul and As Sulaymaniyah should be taken under protection of Turkey.''
SOKMENOGLU: ''PARLIAMENT CAN CONVENE''
Deputy Parliament Speaker Murat Sokmenoglu said, ''if the necessary conditions happen, the parliament can convene extraordinarily to take a decision about dispatch of soldiers to other countries, and deployment of foreign soldiers in Turkey.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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PEARSON: NORTHERN IRAQ CAN'T BE LEFT TO KURDS
The tension which escalated by the tough statements of Iraqi Kurdish leader Barzani and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit tried to be calmed down by the statements of Turkish Foreign Ministry and U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson. Pearson said that the future of Northern Iraq can't be left only to Kurdish groups in the region. Foreign Ministry said in its part that the developments in Northern Iraq were under the control of Turkey.
KANADOGLU AFTER DEHAP
Sabih Kanadoglu, the chief prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals asked Ankara Chief Prosecutor's Office to start an investigation about Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) on charges of making falsification in official documents. Kanadoglu commented that the Higher Election Board which permitted DEHAP to take part in elections gave a political, not a legal decision.