ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 6, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
VASE COMPROMISE
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal who visited Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said, ''we should not break the vase due to unnecessary tensions. Let's solve sensitive issues within a broad compromise''. A ''vase agreement'' was reached between the two leaders. At the meeting at the AK Party Headquarters, Baykal who drew attention to issues of secularism and Islamic-style headscarf told Erdogan, ''be careful, make use of this chance that Turkey has gotten. Even a little provocation causes very serious problems and ruins everything.''
GUL HAS PRIORITY
AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan was given full authority to determine the prime minister of the new government by his party's central executive board. After consulting to his party's relevant committees, Erdogan will determine and present his nominee for prime minister. However, he will not present a name if the President does not ask him to do. Here are the candidates that Erdogan is thinking to present: ''Abdullah Gul, Abdulkadir Aksu, Vecdi Gonul, Koksal Toptan and Murat Basesgioglu''.
BUSH TO TAKE INITIATIVE FOR CYPRUS
The United Nations which took action after the AK Party came to the power alone will present a plan for solution of the Cyprus issue next week. The United Nations will want a definite reply until the Copenhagen summit on December 12. Meanwhile, U.S. President George W. Bush will take initiative to seek support of the sides. Meanwhile, U.S. State Department Special Coordinator to Cyprus Thomas Weston will visit Ankara in the weekend.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
GUL ON ERDOGAN'S MIND
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) who wants to propose President Ahmet Necdet Sezer a moderate figure for prime ministry, focuses on Abdullah Gul. Erdogan who can't be deputy due to his earlier conviction under Article 312 of Turkish Penal Code (TCK) can't also become prime minister. Erdogan also thinks about Gul as Gul does not seem to stay in power when Erdogan is ready to become the prime minister and Gul is competent in foreign policy issues regarding relations with IMF and EU process as he has good relations abroad.
ERDOGAN PLEASES ATHENS
When AKP leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Greek tv channel Net that ''we support Belgian model for solution of Cyprus problem,'' Greece and the Greek Cypriot side were pleased. Erdogan told the Greek tv that ''there is no one Cyprus in Cyprus. There is Southern Cyprus and Northern Cyprus...AK Party thinks that Belgian model is good for solution of Cyprus problem. We want the direct talks between Clerides and Denktas to have a positive result. I believe that if the Cyprus issue is solved, the problems between Turkey and Greece will end.'' Upon the words of Erdogan, Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou said that ''I hear for the first time that a Turkish politician talks about a European model about Cyprus. If his words come out to be true, this means there is an historic opportunity for Cyprus.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
MARKETS RE-SCHEDULE
Markets automatically conformed to Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan's formula to ''reduce domestic borrowing burden''. Interest rates decreased by 10 percent. The Treasury borrowed 3.3 quadrillion Turkish liras (TL) with 54 percent interest rate in yesterday's bond auction. This was a record in recent period. The Treasury had borrowed money from the domestic market with 70 percent interest rate for the bonds which had same maturity. Thus, the single party power reduced the interest burden if the very first auction. Markets spontaneously fell in line with Erdogan's words saying ''we reduce domestic borrowing burden through re-scheduling if we come to the power''. Price of 1 U.S. dollar decreased 30 thousand TL to 1 million 645 thousand TL yesterday while the stock exchange boomed. Transaction volume broke the record of the stock exchange history with 1.7 quadrillion TL.
BOLUNMEZ HAS IMMUNITY SHIELD NOW
Suleyman Bolunmez who stayed in prison for seven months for smuggling 100 trillion TL of fuel oil was elected independent parliamentarian from eastern province of Mardin. Thus, Bolunmez who is being tried in the case has gained an immunity shield. His case still continues at the Antalya High Criminal Court and prosecutor seeks 15 years in prison for him for smuggling fuel oil. It is claimed that Bolunmez has a total of 21 trillion TL debt to tax departments. Another claim about Bolunmez is that he gave 250 million TL for each vote for him in early elections in rural areas in Mardin.
SEZER GIVES APPOINTMENT
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer was impressed by the statements of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal that they reached an agreement on the issue of European Union. President Sezer invited Erdogan and Baykal to the Presidential Palace. Sezer who gave Erdogan an appointment at 11.00 a.m. will receive Baykal 30 minutes later. It was mentioned that Sezer would congratulate the two leaders and thank them for their approaches towards the EU issue. Sezer is also expected to discuss several issues with Erdogan including the prime minister issue.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
ERDOGAN'S FIRST GAFFE
The Foreign Ministry showed serious reaction to Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statements that aimed to win Europe's approval. Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel who said, ''we want talks between the two states on Cyprus and the important thing for Turkey is recognition of the two states on the island'' defined Erdogan's ''Belgium model'' proposal and expression of ''intercommunal talks'' as sign of negligence. Meanwhile, Athens and Greek Cypriot side which were surprised by Erdogan's proposal are pleased with his statements. While it is observed that Greece is trying to gain achievements about the Cyprus issue by making use of political vacuum in Turkey, it is mentioned that the European Union is trying to reach a result in issue of European army which couldn't be solved for two years while EU High Commissioner Javier Solana would meet with Erdogan in Ankara or in Brussels. Calling Erdogan on the phone yesterday, Solana invited Erdogan to Brussels.
FOREIGN POLICY DICTIONARY TO ERDOGAN
Foreign Ministry sources defended, ''Greece and the European Union wrapped up Turkey like octopus. They saw the vacuum, ignorance and inexperience in the Turkish political system. They will continue to pester it.'' Meanwhile, a briefing will be given to AK Party leader Erdogan at the Foreign Ministry today and a ''foreign policy dictionary'' will be given to Erdogan to prevent his from committing any more gaffe in foreign policy.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
ELECTORS OF TWO PARTIES VOTE FOR AK PARTY
On Nov. 3 elections, 21 percent of the votes cast for Justice and Development Party (AK Party) are composed of the votes of those citizens who voted for Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) in 1999 elections, 17 percent of the votes were earlier cast for Virtue Party (FP) and 17 percent of the votes are of those who earlier couldn't vote as they were under 18. A total of 69 percent of banned FP votes, 38 percent of MHP votes and 28 percent of ANAP votes went to AK Party during the Nov. 3 elections.
ERDOGAN SAYS ''PUPPET PRIME MINISTER'' IS OUT OF QUESTION
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the leader of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) told the paper that ''our priority is to get a negotiation date at Copenhagen Summit to start full membership negotiations with the EU, not my membership to the parliament as a deputy. CHP leader Deniz Baykal and our party will try to achieve that.'' Erdogan said that his party will implement policies without push the conditions of the country. Regarding the election of the prime minister, Erdogan said that ''puppet prime minister is out of question. The one who gets the responsibility uses the authority.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
SPRING TIME IN POLITICS
Following AK Party's winning the elections and its coming to power on its own, there is a spring time in Turkish politics. The leaders who lost the elections decided to give up politics, and the main opposition party leader displayed a very good attitude yesterday. Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal visited AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and gave pleasing messages. Baykal said after the meeting that ''in the coming legislation year, we will have a constructive opposition understanding. We will help in solution of all sorts of problems as the opposition party. We wanted to show both internally and externally that we make a good-willing beginning.''
''WE WILL END FINANCIAL ZERO YEAR''
Ali Coskun, the deputy leader of AK Party said that they would cancel the law on financial zero year, adding that ''that law was not adopted in a complete way. There is uneasiness in the market, thus we will cancel this law.'' Noting that the contacts with International Monetary Fund (IMF) also continued, Coskun said that the 6.5 percent of non-interest surplus would not cause problem and that they would guarantee this surplus.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
BAYKAL: ''I'M NOT AFRAID OF AK PARTY'S SUCCESS''
Speaking to the newspaper, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said election results had re-shaped the political system. Stressing that destructive opposition understanding should change, Baykal said, ''we won't be a saboteur opposition. I am not afraid of Mr. Tayyip's success. We will compete for success.''
GUL: ''HEADSCARF OF PRIE MINISTER'S WIFE SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM''
While the issue of ''who will be the new prime minister?'' has topped Turkey's agenda, Abdullah Gul whose name is among candidates for prime minister spoke to the newspaper. Stressing that there would not be any problem during AK Party government regarding secular-democratic regime, Gul said that he was in favor of presenting the President a single candidate for prime minister. ''I think that the President would act in line with democracy, laws and will of people,'' he said. When asked how the headscarf of wife of prime minister would affect the state, Gul said, ''headscarf of prime minister's wife should not be a problem.''