ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on December 18, 2002. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
BAYKAL: ''HONEYMOON OF GOVERNMENT WILL END''
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal, who addressed CHP group meeting, said that honeymoon of government was ending. Stating that a significant Public Procurement Law was passed from the parliament to end dirty relations between politics and trade, Baykal said, ''why do you delay the law's going into effect?'' Baykal said that there were many problems and added that Turkey was passing through historical days.
FINANCIAL ZERO YEAR TO BE CANCELLED
Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission adopted with certain amendments the ten articles of tax draft law which foresees to cancel the financial zero year and the application of investigating the source of financial assets. According to the bill, the special taxes taken from airplane tickets, vehicles, taxes, customs and municipality proceedings will be lifted. However the special taxes taken from lotteries, horse races, weapon licenses have been extended to the end of 2003.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
ERDOGAN'S ''ARAB COALITION'' CONDITION
Speaking to the newspaper, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave the message that Turkey should not be left alone in operation against Iraq, adding, ''countries like Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt...Also these countries should undertake responsibility. If such a coalition can't be formed and Turkey is left alone, then this causes erosive impacts in the future.'' He said, ''Mr. Abdullah Gul will tour the Middle East regarding Iraq issue. We thought it beneficial and better if Mr. Gul tours the Middle East. Maybe Mr. Gul would go to Iran, too. The United States thinks that operation against Iraq is inevitable. I don't know how much the weapon inspectors' report is important. For us, the U.N.'s decision is the basis. Another issue is that if we are a country which unites Islam culture with democracy and constitutes an example to this, then Turkey's position is vey important especially after such an operation. Saudi Arabia, Syria and Egypt should be persuaded. IF such a coalition can't be formed here and if Turkey is left alone, then it causes very serious erosive impacts for Turkey.'' Erdogan continued, ''we were slapped seriously in the Gulf War in 1991. Now we must think very carefully before taking a step because we are still paying the costs of losses in 1991. If the PKK gained strength and became powerful there, this was because it found the region weak.'' He said, ''I will visit Russia and Turkic republics in Central Asia due to economic reasons. I won't visit these countries just to spite Europe. Turkey has nothing to do except developing aternatives and opening to abroad. It won't be sufficient if we continue to be content with only European market. The United States opens its market at a specific level. There is a problem between Russia and Chechens. There should be joint fight against international terrorism, of course but we should also deal justly.'' Regarding Cyprus issue, Erdogan said, ''we won't approach the issue with an understanding that locks us up in insolubility. Marginal groups in Turkey has the mentality of 'give and get rid of it'. How can you get rid of by giving what? We will do what is necessary in line with Turkey's and our kinsmen's rights.''
''IT WAS A NATIONAL VICTORY''
Speaking at AK Party parliamentary group meeting, Recep Tayyip Erdogan defined the decision on December 2004 date for Turkey taken at Copenhagen summit as a ''national victory''. He said, ''we will make the Copenhagen criteria to be Ankara criteria for our people. We are insisting of EU membership. It was the first important step in our foreign policy. Some people may criticize my style of speaking. We stood upright but we didn't get stubborn. When my interlocutors implement dobule-standards, then my manner of speaking finds its place.''
40,000 SOLDIERS DEPLOYED
Preparations which started on Northern Iraq border one month ago regarding U.S. operation against Iraq reached the final phase. Almost forty thousand soldiers were deployed on border. In addition to military measures, every necessary measure was taken against possibility of migration wave and border violations in the region which got caught unprepared during the Gulf War. Besides, officials decided to form two press centers in Cizre and Silopi towns of southeastern province of Sirnak. Many soldiers and armored troops were dispatched to the region. Some of the troops were deployed in open field. Additional units of troops were deployed along the Northern Iraq border against possible terrorist infiltrations. It was mentioned that those units which included nearly ten thousand soldiers would set up a buffor zone on the Northern Iraq border and number of soldiers might be increased according to developments.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
''WE WANT TURKISH CYPRIOTS TO FORGIVE US''
The ''peace initiative'' that Greek Cypriots started to have Turkish Cypriots gain EU membership by appoving Annan's plan on February 28, continues. Speaking to the newspaper, the Greek Cypriot side's foreign minister said, ''we apologize to Turkish Cypriots for the mistakes we made in 1950s and 1960s. Due to these mistakes which were made one after another people were forced to abandon their lands and homes. We accept these. And also President Clerides accepts these. Everything is solved easily if the other side makes similar self-criticisms.'' Noting that there would not be any problem after EU membership of the two communities, he said that there would be a more powerful peace force and Turkish and Greek soldiers and besides the EU did not allow such unpleasantnesses.
''NO ASSISTANCE TO UNITED STATES''
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul responded to rumors about Iraq issue: ''we never discussed sixty thousand soldiers with United States.'' Denying the news reports which said the United States had sent 50 trucks load of equipment to Northern Iraq via Turkey, Gul said, ''even a truck did not pass Turkey. Such an assistance of Turkey to the United States was out of question.'' Regarding the news that the United States wants to enter Iraq from north with 60 thousand soldiers, Gul said, ''we discussed some issues with the United States, of course. However, we never discussed such an issue on numeral basis.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
FINANCIAL ZERO YEAR TO BE CANCELLED
With certain amendments, Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission adopted the ten articles of tax draft law which foresees to cancel the financial zero year and the application of investigating the source of financial assets. According to the bill, the special taxes taken from airplane tickets, vehicles, taxes, customs and municipality proceedings will be lifted. However the special taxes taken from lotteries, horse races, weapon licenses have been extended to the end of 2003. The tax support to stock exchange will continue under the bill, and taxation of certain part of the revenues gained by treasury bonds and state debentures will be postponed for one year. The Parliamentary General Assembly is expected to take up the bill on Wednesday.
COLD WEATHER TO BE EFFECTIVE ACROSS COUNTRY
Cold weather will be effective across the country as of Thursday. Meteorology officials said that cold and rainy weather will be effective across Turkey and added that there will be fog in central and eastern parts of the country. The temperatures decreased to minus 30 degrees in Eastern Anatolia Region.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
''DEMOCRACY IS THE ONLY REMEDY FOR POVERTY''
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that they wanted to become a full member of the European Union (EU) in order to improve democracy in Turkey. ''We cannot enrich our country without democracy. Poverty in Turkey is not coincidental. Our primary target is to become a full member of the EU. Because, we believe that welfare and happiness could be reached only in an atmosphere of supremacy of law and respect to human rights,'' he said.
CYPRUS SUMMIT TO BE HELD AT CANKAYA PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer invited President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok to the Cankaya Presidential Palace to reach a full consensus of opinion on the Cyprus question. President Sezer has decided to hold a summit at the Cankaya Presidential Palace after the disagreement has deepened between the government and President Denktas. President Sezer, President Denktas, Prime Minister Gul and General Ozkok will come together later in the day. Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis will also be in attendance at the summit.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
WE DO NOT WANT WAR
Results of a public survey carried out by an American company in 44 countries with the participation of 38 thousand people, were announced. According to the results, 83 percent of Turkish people is opposed to a military operation against Iraq. While most of citizens of European countries such as Germany, Britain and France are in favor of overthrowing Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, only 44 percent of Turkish people wanted Saddam to be overthrown.
ARGUMENT ON OCCUPATION
Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis who said, ''the Turkish Armed Forces in Cyprus will be considered invader army if a solution cannot be found to the Cyprus question until February 28'' escalated tension among political parties. Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal criticized Yakis harshly. ''Among the six billion people on earth, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Turkey is the only person who is not expected to make such a statement. The Turkish Armed Forces has deployed a unit in Cyprus because of the legal situation stemming from international agreements. Do we need to give a lesson to our foreign minister about the history of Cyprus?'' he said. Describing Yakis's statement as a serious and unfortunate statement, Baykal said, ''Yakis's statement binds the state,'' and called on Yakis to resign. Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit also reacted to Yakis, saying, ''this is a very inappropriate statement. Even those who opposed to Turkey, refrained from describing Turkey as invader. I hope that this statement was a slip of the tongue.'' True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar stressed that it was impossible to accept statement of Yakis.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
TIMETABLE ABOUT CYPRUS ESCALATES TENSION AT PARLIAMENT
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said, ''the traditional policy of the state about the Cyprus contradicts with policy of the AK Party'' escalated tension at the parliament. Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal responded to Erdogan saying, ''the government has assumed a yielding attitude about Cyprus. The European Union (EU) has been forcing the Turkish Cypriot side to accept a solution they do not want. I am sorry to see that our government is about to accept this policy of the EU.''
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR: ''TURKISH FOUNDATIONS ACT LEGALLY''
Responding to allegations saying that Turkish foundations and companies had been expending efforts to get intelligence, Russian Ambassador to Turkey Alexander Lebedev said that Turkish foundations in the Russian Federation had been acting legally. Meanwhile, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy Under Secretary Sergei Razov who held contacts in Ankara under the Eurasian Cooperation Action Plan, said that the issue of Turkish foundations was not brought onto agenda during his contacts.