ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 7, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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HERE ARE FIRST TARGETS
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan drew the outlines of the program of the new government prior to his meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Headscarf issue and obstacles before education right will be solved with compromise. Steps about these issues will be taken without causing any tension. Religious exploitation will be ended. Things that stagnate economy will be ended. Financial zero year will absolutely be lifted. Financial resource investigation will also be ended. Tax rates will be reduced.
WE HAVE LEARNED MANY THINGS FROM YOU
Emotional moments were experienced at the last meeting of the Council of Ministers. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that this result was the appreciation of the people. Deputy Prime Minister Devlet Bahceli told Ecevit that ''they had learned many new things from him.'' Ecevit thanked deputy prime ministers and ministers during the meeting.
NAMES OF TWO PROBABLE PRIME MINISTER CANDIDATES GIVEN TO U.S. JOURNALIST
The two prime minister candidates of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) are Abdullah Gul and Erkan Mumcu, a surprise name. A person close to AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan told a U.S. journalist who wanted to interview with Erdogan the names of two prime minister candidates. ''They are not certain yet, but the prime minister candidates are Abdullah Gul and Erkan Mumcu.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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NOT PRIME MINISTRY, BUT CYPRUS
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will ask Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan to make a statement that ''we will not give up Cyprus for European Union (EU) membership.'' During his meetings with Erdogan and Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, Sezer will remind the two leaders that Cyprus cannot be sacrificed to get a date from the EU and ask them to make a joint statement. Prime minister candidate will not be debated at the meeting at the Presidential Palace today. It is noted that Sezer can wait till the definite election results are announced and deputies take their oath.
PROMISE TO PREVENT TORTURE TO EUROPE
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan assured the ambassadors of European Union (EU) countries to Turkey that ''torture would end.'' Erdogan announced that relations with the EU would continue even if Turkey was not given a date at Copenhagen summit.
ERDOGAN: ''PAID MILITARY SERVICE CAN BE PUT INTO PRACTICE''
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who stated that they would take rapid economic steps, shed green light to paid military service. Erdogan said, ''it can be debated with the General Staff. Paid military service can close a serious deficit when we are facing an economic problem. However, we cannot make a final decision without discussing it.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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AK PARTY TO HAND OVER ECONOMY TO ''SUPER MINISTER''
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) which plans to reduce number of ministers to 25 will unite the economy administration under Economy Ministry. The Economy Minister will be given super authorities. The Treasury, State Planning Organization (DPT), State Institute of Statistics (DIE) and Foreign Trade will be combined under a single umbrella.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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WEST WORKING GROUP STARTS TO INVESTIGATE AK PARTY
The West Working Group which was effective in the February 28 process started to investigate Justice and Development Party (AK Party) in five respects, including its cadre structure, leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan's past, fundamentalist capital movements, preparations for forming cadres, and judicial targets of the party.
STUDENTS BEATEN IN DEPOT
Students who protested the anniversary of foundation of Higher Board of Education (YOK) were blocked by police. Around 20 students were beaten in Kizilay district of Ankara and taken into custody. A student named Veli Kaya was detained and taken to Sekerbank's warehouse. This student was beaten by police in the warehouse.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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YOUTH IS COLD TOWARDS AK PARTY AND CHP
People who casted their votes in favor of Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), Felicity Party (SP) and New Turkey Party (YTP) are generally men while voters of True Path Party (DYP) and Young Party (GP) are mainly comprised of women. GP, MHP and Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) are winning votes of young people while DYP, SP, Democratic Left Party (DSP) and YTP are gaining the votes of mainly the elderly. Number of young voters of MHP decreased as the elections approached while that of GP increased.
ATHENS REJOICED IN VAIN
The words of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan which created a happiness in Greece and Greek Cypriot administration was changed by both himself and party administrators who were briefed by Foreign Ministry officials: ''We were only inspired by the Belgian model.'' When AK Party members were being briefed, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Yusuf Buluc said, ''the party sets its foreign policy priorities. But, it is so natural for us to expect a continuation in the state policy.'' Yasar Yakis of AK Party told reporters after the briefing that they were only inspired by the Belgian and Swiss models. Erdogan said that his words about a ''solution like a Belgian model'' were reflected wrongly to the press and put forth that he was not away from the ''official policy.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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FOREIGN SUPPORT OK
Prime Minister Costas Simitis of Greece, which will take over the European Union (EU) term presidency as of January, and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stated that they hoped to cooperate with the new government and invited Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan to their country. International investment organizations Merill Lynch and Swiss Investment Bank proposed their investors to buy bonds from Turkey.
CILLER: ''I AM DEFINITELY LEAVING''
True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller said that news reports that she could withdraw from quitting leadership were speculative and added, ''I am standing behind the statement I made on November 4.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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AK PARTY TO FIRSTLY SAY ERDOGAN AND THEN GUL
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who got a full authority from the party, will not name any person as a prime minister candidate during his meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The general tendency in the AK Party is legal fulfillment of de facto prime ministry. If Erdogan is not able to become the prime minister, Abdullah Gul will most probably be nominated as the prime minister.
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS BLOCKED BY ELECTORAL THRESHOLD BID FAREWELL
The 57th government which all lost the November 3 general elections convened to bid farewell to each other. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that they sacrificed themselves to solve the problems. Then, the members of the government paid a farewell visit to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.