ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on November 16, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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''PRIME MINISTRY GUL'S, PROGRAMME MINE''
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan was received by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer yesterday. He told the President, ''my preference is Abdullah Gul for prime minister''. As alternatives, he proposed Abdulkadir Aksu or Vecdi Gonul. In the afternoon, Erdogan made a surprise. Before President Sezer makes appointment, he said that he would announce ''Urgent Action Plan'' today. With this step that will happen for the first time in history of politics in Turkey, Erdogan will give the message that ''I will exercise covert control over the government''. President Sezer is expected to invite Gul to the Presidential Palace today to assign him with forming the new government.
EUROPEAN ANSWER OF EUROPEAN COMMANDER
General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok who attended ceremonies to mark the anniversary of foundation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) did not reply questions about the Cyprus issue by saying, ''I am a soldier not a politician.'' Responding a question which said, ''they say these ceremonies would be the last ceremonies'', Ozkok said, ''I don't make statements about these issues.'' Meanwhile, he wrote in the Book of the Ataturk Monument that ''Turkish Cypriots will continue to live in the secular and democratic TRNC in peace and security.''
''WE HAVE TO TALK BEFORE YOUR VISIT TO ATHENS''
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal who has been holding contacts in Warsaw for three days said he observed a concerned atmosphere about the EU's point of view towards Turkey and called on AK Party leader Erdogan to have a meeting before his visit to Athens. Baykal said, ''schedule became far from Turkey. The EU will make a fait accompli.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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IF IT IS NOT TODAY, WHEN WOULD IT BE?
The Cyprus question could not be solved for the last 28 years. President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) described the solution plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan as unacceptable. President Denktas who has been in New York, the United States for his medical treatment for 45 days, defended that the solution plan was full of tricks. He said, ''Turkey, our parliament and government will assess the plan carefully. This assessment will take time. We cannot accept a request to sign the plan till December 12.''
GUL SEEMS TO BE NEW PRIME MINISTER
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a visit to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. During the meeting, Erdogan named Abdullah Gul as his candidate for prime ministry. He also mentioned names of Abdulkadir Aksu and Vecdi Gonul. Meanwhile, it was claimed that President Sezer told Gul that he could invite him to the Cankaya Presidential Palace on Saturday.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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CLEAN OPPOSITION
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal met with European Union (EU) Commissioner Guenter Verheugen for enlargement in Polish capital Warsaw. During the meeting, Baykal tried to remove EU's concerns about the Justice and Development Party (AK Party). He said, ''the AK Party is a moderate conservative political party. But, democratic regime has been continuing in Turkey.''
ERDOGAN TO ANNOUNCE URGENT ACTION PLAN
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan will hold a press conference today , and announce their urgent action plan. The plan envisages to put the lodgins of deputies up for sale. Also, the Law on Local Administrations will be amended; national income per capita will be increased to 5 thousand 500 U.S. dollars; and torture will be prevented.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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OZKOK: ''WE CANNOT MAKE ANY CONCESSION FROM FREEDOM''
General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok attended the ceremonies in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to mark the 19th anniversary of foundation of the TRNC after United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan presented his solution plan to the sides. Speaking at the ceremonies, General Ozkok said, ''Turkish Cypriots will continue to live in secular and democratic TRNC and under their own administration.'' General Ozkok stressed that they would never make concessions from the freedoms acquired as a result of great self-sacrifices of Turkish Cypriot people.
''TURKEY IS NOT ALONE''
NATO Secretary General George Robertson said that Turkey surrounded by unstable countries, was not alone. Noting that Turkey's role in NATO would gain more importance in the future, Robertson stressed that Turkey would act as a bridge in NATO's fight against terrorism.
BAYKAL: ''EU IS RELUCTANT''
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal who has been holding contacts in Polish capital Warsaw, met with Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain, Prime Minister Costas Simitis of Greece, and European Union (EU) Commissioner Guenter Verheugen for enlargement. Following his contacts, Baykal said, ''the EU has some concerns about the Justice and Development Party (AK Party). EU officials brought onto agenda the issues of the Cyprus question, the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) and relations between the army and civilians. They seem to be reluctant.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TRNC WANTS TO BECOME A MEMBER OF EU
The European Union (EU) carried out a public survey in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). According to the public survey, 88 percent of Turkish Cypriots wants to become a full member of the EU. This rate increases up to 100 percent among Turkish Cypriot housewives.
POSSIBLE GOVERNMENT AFFECTS MARKETS POSITIVELY
The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) National-100 Index increased to 13,597.57, the highest level in 11 months, while the price of one U.S. dollar decreased to 1 million 604 thousand Turkish liras. Meanwhile, interest rates decreased to 49.8 percent, the lowest rate of the year.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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''GUL'' SEEMS TO BE PRIME MINISTER
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan proposed Prsident Ahmet Necdet Sezer his nominees for prime minister. It was mentioned that Erdogan who did not announce those names had proposed Abdullah Gul, Vecdi Gonul and Abdulkadir Aksu. Some of the possible names in new cabinet: ''National Education Minister Koksal Toptan, Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, Health Minister Akif Gulle, National Defense Minister Vahit Erdem or Mehmet Dulger, Interior Minister Murat Besesgioglu or Atilla Koc, Energy Minister Hilmi Guler or Abdullatif Sener, Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin or Bulent Arinc or Salih Kapusuz and Culture Minister Huseyin Celik.''
''WE PLAYED AN EFFECTIVE ROLE AGAINST TERRORISM''
Speaking at the General Assembly of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Istanbul, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said, ''Turkey has played an effective role in fight against terrorism that was initatied after September 11. Turkey's determination has proved that efforts to identify terrorism with Islam are invalid.''
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ERDOGAN SAYS ''GUL'', SEZER TO MAKE APPOINTMENT TODAY
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan conveyed his party's opinions about prime minister issue to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Erdogan asked the President to appoint his aide Abdullah Gul to form the new government. As alternatives, Erdogan nominated Vecdi Gonul. It was mentioned that Erdogan stressed that they would not oppose to appointment of Vecdi Gonul. President Sezer is expected to appoint Abdullah Gul.
''NEW GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE IMPORTANT STEPS''
U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Robert Pearson said that there would be important developments about the issues of European Union, Cyprus, Iraq and economy after formation of the new government.
SOLUTION CAN'T BE FOUND TO EUROPEAN ARMY
Prior to next week's NATO summit in Prague, Czech Republic, debates on the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) continue. Turkey insists on its opinion that the Greek Cypriot administration will not accept the Brussels document which was prepared between Greece and the European Union without exceeding the NATO capabilities. Meanwhile, NATO sources said that the new ESDP document was an ''acceptable document'' for Turkey but a new document would be required if the Greek Cypriot administration joined the EU.