ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 14, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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FROM EMPTY MINIBAR TO ALCOHOLIC DRINKS IN PLANE
While minibars in hotels were emptied during period of Welfare Party (RP)- True Path Party (DYP) coalition's prime minister Necmettin Erbakan in his visits to foreign countries, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave the message that ''I changed'' by allowing alcoholic drinks service in the plane although we are in holy month of Ramadan while he was going to Italy for lobbying for Turkey's EU membership yesterday. Meanwhile, Erdogan who gave a one-day break in his fast as he would meet with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at lunch, drank only tea.
NINE COMMITMENTS TO EUROPE
AK Party leader Tayyip Erdogan made nine commitments that the new government will fulfil to Berlusconi yesterday:
-The Constitution will be reviewed under light of the national programme and Europan Convention on Human Rights,
-Freedom of expression, religion, conscience and organization will be increased, non-governmental organizations will be strengthened,
-Deficiencies in adjustment laws, especially political parties act and election laws will be removed,
-Decisions of European Court of Human Rights will immediately be implemented,
-Any tolerance won't be shown regarding torture,
-External activities of associations in Turkey and abroad will be facilitated,
-Under the principle of reciprocity, problems about purchase of immovable properties by community foundations and opening of branches in Turkey by foreign countries-based foundations will be solved,
-A parliamentary commission for integration with the EU will be formed,
-The new government will give priority to approval of international agreements which have not been signed or adopted although they were signed with respect to the Copenhagen criteria.
CIA DELEGATION PROCEEDS TO NORTHERN IRAQ
A 25-member delegation headed by CIA Vice President John E. Mclaughin left Ankara after wrapping up its visits yesterday.
The delegation comprising officials from CIA's Middle East Desk and U.S. Defense Department Pentagon held a three-hour meeting with General Staff Intelligence Department Chief General Huseyin Goksu. Later, CIA delegation proceeded to southern province of Adana with a military plane. The delegation that will hold contacts at the Incirlik Air Base and Northern Iraq is expected to leave Turkey on Friday. Iraq issue and fight against terrorism were discussed in detail at yesterday's meeting between the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) officials and CIA delegation. At those meetings, the Turkish side expressed its concerns to CIA delegation about the Peshmargas that the United States had sent to Northern Iraq via Syria and Jordan some time ago and warned that use of Peshmargas during a possible military operation against Iraq might cause developments that might endanger Turkey's territorial integrity in the future.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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42,000 TURKISH REFUGEES
Turkish side is not pleased over the proposal of distribution of territory in the U.N. Cyprus plan. According to the plan, amount of territory of the Turkish side will decrease to 28.5 percent from 36 percent, and tens of thousands of Turkish Cypriots will be refugees.
Both the Turkish and the Greek Cypriot side are currently examining the recent solution plan of the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. In case the sides accept the plan, ratio of amount of territory of the Turkish side will reduce from 36 percent to 28.5 percent, and approximately 42,000 Turkish Cypriots will be left as refugees.
Two maps have been drawn, which are alternative to each other, for distribution of territory. In both maps, there will be a special administration status, and most of Maras and Guzelyurt, apart from harbour region, and more than 20 villages and subdistricts will be left to Greek Cypriots.
AGAR ACCELERATES INITIATIVES TO BE CANDIDATE FOR CILLER'S CHAIR
Mehmet Agar, Independent Parliamentarian from eastern Elazig province, wanted the obstacles to be lifted to be a member to True Path Party (DYP).
Agar can only be a party member again with the decision of the General Administration Board, as he had resigned from the DYP when he was a parliamentarian.
Attitude of Tansu Ciller, the leader of DYP, in postponing the General Consultation Board meeting, effected the initiatives of Agar's to become a member of the party. It was defended that Agar, who is in contact with Independent parliamentarians Sebahattin Cevheri, Mehmet Tatar and Mustafa Zeydan, will announce his candidacy in the coming days.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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FORZA TURKEY
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the ''distant prime minister'' of possible government, held a sympathy show in Rome, the first stop of his tour to EU members. Erdogan who met with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi got the promise: ''Tell me with which EU country's prime minister you want to talk, I call him immediately''. Two leaders talked about developments in domestic politics. When Erdogan said, ''we are not an Islamist party'', Berlusconi pointed his coalition partner Fini who has sympathy to fascists and said, ''people change. Look at him, he also changed.'' Berlusconi also gave Erdogan consolation about the lawsuits against him: ''There are a number of suits against me and most of them continue.'' Berlusconi promised Erdogan that ''Italy would be Turkey's advocate in the EU'' while Erdogan said, ''let's develop relations.''
''STYLE'' WARNING BY BAYKAL
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal criticized Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan's manner of speaking. Baykal said, ''an approach by saying 'we do what we want' causes serious problems.'' Baykal will meet with Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis in Warsaw today.
150 TRILLION LIRAS OF GIANT SALE
A total of 621 real estates of Vakifbank will be put up for sale today. Those immovable properties worth of 150 trillion Turkish liras will be sold through auction.
NEW CLAIM ABOUT NOAH'S ARK
American scientist Bill Fry claimed that Noah's Ark was in Durupinar region that is 15 kilometers in south of Agri Mountain (Ararat). Fry also claimed that the ark's stone anchors were also in this place.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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U.N. PREPARED CYPRUS PLAN FOR GREEK CYPRIOTS
U.N. Cyprus plan was discussed at a meeting which took place under the leadership of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and with the participation of Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel and the foreign ministry bureaucrats.
Gurel said they have strong evidences that the document was prepared together with the Greek Cypriots.
Criticizing foreign policy of Justice and Development Party (AK Party), Gurel said, ''they are ready for every kind of cooperation with the EU and the United States on Cyprus issue. I don't know where they will lead to with those bargainings, but the common sense in Turkey will not allow this.''
GEN. HILMI OZKOK DUE TO ISLAND
Although Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan suspended his visit to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) showing health of TRNC President Rauf Denktas as reason, Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, the Chief of General Staff, will go to TRNC.
Representation of Turkish Armed Forces in the highest level during TRNC's celebrations of 19th anniversary, has importance before discussion of the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's Cyprus plan, and decision of the European Union (EU) regarded with Greek Cypriot side.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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''I WILL BE YOUR LAWYER''
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi extended full support to Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the European Union (EU). Berlusconi said, ''there has not been an interlocutor in Turkey in the past. I will be Turkey's lawyer in the EU.'' Meanwhile, Erdogan explained his nine-article reform package and said, ''we are not worse than other candidates. We should win a date. The EU is the most important project since declaration of the Republic.''
''I DON'T WANT TO BE A MINISTER''
AK Party leader Erdogan ended the debate on ''prime minister outside parliament'' to which President Ahmet Necdet Sezer opposes with the reason that ''there can't be an arrangement for a single person''. Erdogan said, ''we won't make imposition alone in order to amend Article 109 of the Constitution.'' Erdogan said that he would not either join the government as the deputy prime minister after gaining the right to be elected a parliamentarian following an amendment to Article 76 of the Constitution. Meanwhile, AK Party's plan is to appoint Erdogan as prime minister after he is elected a parliamentarian in by-election.
PARLIAMENT TO CONVENE TODAY
The Parliamentary General Assembly will convene today under chairmanship of Sukru Elekdag who is the oldest parliamentarian. New parliamentarians will take oath. Meanwhile, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer will not attend the opening session.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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LIKE A PRIME MINISTER
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who paid a one day visit to Italy together with NGO's within the framework of efforts to find support for Turkey's membership to the European Union (EU), was welcomed with a crowded group of journalists on his arrival to the airport.
Erdogan, who met Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at luncheon, later met Italian Parliament Speaker Cassini.
Erdogan said both of his meetings were extremely successful. Erdogan said he was pleased over Berlusconi's insistence in saying that he would call their friends in Europe for Turkey's accession to the EU, and that he would do his best to prevent Turkey from being disappointed in Copenhagen Summit.
PARLIAMENT TO CONVENE TODAY
Parliamentary General Assembly will convene at 15.00 local time today for the oath taking ceremony of the parliamentarians. Sukru Elekdag from the Republican People's Party (CHP) will chair the meeting as the eldest member of the parliament. Crisis is expected to erupt because of Siirt Independent Parliamentarian Fadil Akgunduz.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ERDOGAN: ''I WILL NOT TAKE PLACE IN GOVERNMENT AS DEPUTY PREMIER''
Discussions regarded with who would be the prime minister put its seal to visit of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Italy.
Erdogan said, ''I don't think of taking place in the government as a minister or deputy prime minister.''
Pointing out that AK Party would not make ''imposition'' on its own to amend Article 109 of the Constitution, Erdogan said he would not enter the government as deputy prime minister even if Article 76 of the constitution is amended.
OPPOSITION OF ANKARA INCREASES TO CYPRUS PLAN
Serious uneasiness experienced in Ankara regarded with the document presented by the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan for the solution of Cyprus question.
Expectations of the U.N. for a response till Monday creates difficulty as the plan was presented at a time when government has not been formed yet, and that President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has health problems.
Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel is expected to reflect the attitude of the state at a news conference he will hold today.