ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on October 23, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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NSC WARNS IRAQ AND UNITED STATES
The National Security Council (NSC) held its monthly regular meeting yesterday. The council convened for the second time to discuss possible operation against Iraq and it warned Iraq and the United States separately. The NSC gave the Baghdad administration the message that ''by complying with the United Nations resolutions, Iraq should display a responsible attitude that removes necessity of a military intervention'' while it called on the United States to ''continue monitoring the issue on the U.N. basis and abide by the principles of international laws while taking steps regarding the issue''. The NSC discussed other developments about Iraq under these headlines: ''1- It was once again stressed that Turkey considers foundation of an independent Kurdish state in Northern Iraq a 'reason for intervention'. 2- Extension of the emergency rule that will end in Diyarbakir and Sirnak on November 30 in case of an operation. 3- Setting up camps in four different areas and 'meeting refugees' in Northern Iraq by not opening its borders in case of an operation. 4- It was mentioned that Turkey which suffered nearly 40 million U.S. dollars loss during the Gulf War might suffer 196 million U.S. dollars loss in first stage only due to Botas's oil transfer through the Kerkuk-Yumurtalik pipeline in case of a new war.'' Another issue that the NSC took up was the relations between Turkey and the European Union (EU). Foreign Affair Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said that Turkey should not accept proposal for an interim formula or a conditional negotiation date by the EU at its Copenhagen Summit, and other members of the NSC agreed with him.
FOREIGNERS CAN HOLD DEMONSTRATION
Following the amendment to the Law on Demonstrations and Marches under the EU adjustment laws, regulations and rules were harmonized too. Under this change, foreigners living in Turkey can hold demonstration or march and meeting under the condition of permission by the Interior Ministry. In the past, Greenpeace activists held several demonstrations in Turkey but police immediately deported those activists on charges of holding illegal demonstration. Under the regulations published in the Official Gazette, foreigners should inform the relevant authorities 48 hours before their demonstration.
THAT WOMAN IS TURKISH It was revealed that Nuh Mete Yuksel who was removed from his Ankara State Security Court (DGM) Prosecutor post and appointed as the Ankara Prosecutor saved himself from being dismissed due to a blackmail video tape. It was also revealed that the woman with whom Yuksel had sexual intercourse is not Russian, but Turkish. Moreover, it was claimed that the woman in the video tape is the sister of a woman who works as a court reporter at the Ankara DGM. There is another claim that the woman in the video tape works for a medicine company.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THIS FILM?
Even Justice Ministry says ''plot'' for the video tape which caused dismissal of Nuh Mete Yuksel from his post in State Security Court (DGM) prosecutorship. But neither prosecutorship nor security department launched investigation for it.
Yuksel's getting punishment of ''condemnation'' and his dismissal from DGM prosecutorship because of a video tape claimed to show Yuksel while having sexual intercourse, revealed a very big scandal. Although Justice Ministry said this was a ''plot'', neither the prosecutorship nor the security department opened investigation against the video tape that was revealed months ago.
''SAY WHAT YOU KNOW''
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, while responding to the statements of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan that ''I will disclose his cooperation with a media group if he puts pressure on me,'' said ''disclose immediately''.
Baykal said, ''you should say immediately what you know. You should disclose at once.''
Speaking to NTV, Baykal said allegations put forward by Erdogan that CHP had links with a media group, did not reflect the facts. He said, ''rising of CHP put Erdogan into difficulty.''
Referring to the statements of Erdogan that, ''I will disclose it if he puts pressure on me,'' Baykal said, ''You should say what you know. Politics and moral principles require this. It is your duty to explain. If there is an agreement CHP wants to hide, it should be revealed soon. I don't put pressure on you. I want political immunity to be stripped off.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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''WE DESTROY, YOU RE-BUILD''
The newspaper defended that U.S. Commander Franks brought the message that ''join the operation and get a thirty percent share in re-building of Iraq.'' The aim of the U.S. commanders' visit to Turkey was: ''To hold informative meetings with high-ranking Turkish officers instead of holding talks with a government which is going to change by showing respect to them.'' However, there would not be a ''technical negotiation'' between Turkey and the United States before a U.N. resolution.
CREDIT CARDS CHALLENGE CRISIS
Spendings with credit cards increased despite the economic crisis. A total of 15.2 million credit card users spent 17 quadrillion 951 trillion Turkish liras in last nine months. This means a 70 percent increase when compared to same period in 2001.
GREEK CYPRIOT SCENARIOS FOR PERIOD AFTER DENKTAS
The Greek Cypriot side is closely following condition of President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). According to the Greek Cypriots, Denktas's condition would not affect Greek Cypriot side's EU membership process.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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THREE MESSAGES FROM NSC
Three important messages were issued toward the United States, Iraq and European Union (EU) during the meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) on Tuesday. The NSC warned the United States to act in line with principles of ''international law'' and get the U.N. decision for the operation.
The NSC also suggested Iraq to abide by fully to the U.N. resolutions.
The NSC said the EU should set a date for Turkey during the Copenhagen Summit not to make expectations of Turkey in vain. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sukru Sina Gurel, speaking about the EU, said, ''conditional and interim formula for Turkey can not be accepted.''
TURKEY TO GIVE HARSH RESPONSE TO KDP
Turkey is getting prepared to convey its reaction directly to the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) because of their recent initiatives. Necirvan Barzani, the nephew of KDP leader Massoud Barzani, is expected to be in Ankara in the coming days.
Ankara raised its voice as developments in Northern Iraq began to be ''out of control''. Ankara particularly reacts to the statements of Barzani threatening Turkey.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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FIRST ORDER TO NEW PARLIAMENT
The Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) initiated a ''Turkey Wants Its Future'' campaign. In a statement that was read out simultaneously in 81 provinces, TOBB asked political parties to give promises to public that they would make all reforms required in Turkey. The statement said public debt burden, growth, unemployment, unproductive public management and lack of political will were the five obstacles in front of Turkey. TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said, ''all of us from businessmen to bureaucrats and from politicians to citizens are responsible for this current situation in Turkey. We will follow whether or not political parties would keep their words. We will set up a committee to monitor this.''
WINTER COMES TO EAST
While there is a good weather in the south where people can swim in the sea, high altitudes of mountains in Eastern Anatolia were covered with snow. The temperature decreased to -3 degrees Celcius in Erzurum in the evening.
SLAVE CHILDREN
According to a survey on child labor by the Labor and Social Security ministry, 90 percent of child workers face thrashing, sexual harassment and forced labor at their working places and they are badly frightened by their head workman.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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URGENT CALL TO POLITICIANS
Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu disclosed the public the mobilization ''Turkey Wants its Future''. The declaration was read out at the same time in 81 provinces where 356 chambers and commodities of TOBB.
Hisarciklioglu said, ''political parties can not administer system and democracy. Even the politics itself became a serious problem. We don't have very big chances in front of us. We will lose our future if we fail to evaluate every opportunity.''
VESTEL TO SET UP TV FACTORY IN RUSSIA
Vestel Electronics Industry and Trade Corp. decided for a joint venture with the Russian Company Record to produce television and electronic devices in Russia.
Vestel sent a statement to stock exchange and said capital of the company that would be founded would be one million U.S. dollars, and that Vestel's share will be 74 percent.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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NSC AGAIN MAKES WARNING OF LEGITIMACY TO THE UNITED STATES FOR IRAQ
Ankara continues ''international law'' insistence for a possible U.S. operation against Iraq. A statement was issued after National Security Council (NSC) meeting. The statement called on the United States ''not to act on its own'' and also made a call to Iraq saying ''act with responsibility''.
The statement that was made following a meeting which lasted for nearly four hours, said ''Turkey expects Iraq to show a responsible attitude by implementing the U.N. Security Council resolutions that will end the necessity of a military intervention and that the principles of international law and consensus have to be respected in the steps to be taken in this issue.''
Continuation of Ankara's insistence for an international legitimacy is important to increase Turkey's power of bargaining and for the Bush administration to come to a ''decision junction'' which got a very harsh reaction from the U.N. and Russia.
EUROPEAN UNION APPEARS RELUCTANT
European Union (EU) once again gives hope to Turkey, but did not take a positive step for date. EU General Affairs Council which convened in Luxembourg on Tuesday, spoke about August 3 reforms and said Turkey approached to date to start full membership negotiations. However, agreed that those steps were not adequate to get a date.
The EU foreign ministers agreed on the message that would be given to Turkey prior to historical Brussels Summit where problems pertaining to enlargement process would be discussed. An encouraging signal, similar to results of Laeken and Seville, will be given to Turkey. Nevertheless, the final decision would be left to the Copenhagen Summit that will take place in December.