ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 10, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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THY'S REBELLION
As a plane crashed in southeastern Diyarbakir province after the crashes in eastern Van and northern Samsun provinces due to lack of Instrument Landing System (ILS), Turkish Airlines (THY) rebelled: ''Flights to airports lacking ILS should be prohibited.'' This system is assembled only in ten airports in Turkey while 19 airports lacked it. THY official Faik Akin said, ''unfortunately, we have not taken any lessons from the plane crashes in Samsun and Van. If we don't fly, they criticize us for neglecting the east. 49 people had died in Van and the plane was out of the runway in Samsun.'' Assembling of one million U.S. dollars of ILS device at Diyarbakir airport creates an obstacle for military planes. When military planes are flying beside each other and approaching to the runway, 6-7 metre antenna of the ILS device creates a danger.
QUAKE ALSO HIT DIYARBAKIR
Ten minor earthquakes were recorded in southeastern Diyarbakir province in the last two days. Five earthquakes were recorded in Lice township of Diyarbakir measuring between 3.1 and 3.5 on the Richter scale between 1.26 p.m. and 4.29 p.m. on January 8.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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IS IT PILOT'S MISTAKE?
Some details about the plane crash in Diyarbakir started to be revealed. It was claimed that tyres of the plane had moved to the left of the approaching line and the left of the main landing gear had hit a hill while the pilot was doing a maneuver to save the plane, and the plane had split into pieces in a place close to beginning of runway. It was also claimed that the plane had descended below the minimum altitude, that is ''853 meters above sea level'', during the final approaching. It was mentioned that the tower had warned the pilot that the plane was in the left of approaching line and upon this warning, the pilot had tried to correct the route but the left of the main landing gear hit the hill. Black boxes will be brought to Istanbul while the Cockpit Voice Recorder and the Flight Data Recorder will be deciphered together with experts of producer company.
2 PHANTOMS COLLIDE
Two RF-4 planes belonged to 7th Main Jet Base Command in Malatya crashed into ground shortly after they took off from Erhac Airport for training flight, allegedly after they collided in the air. Four pilots were killed. Flight lieutenants F. Fazil Taskin and Ali Riza Sadak and flying officers Semih Destecioglu and M. Fatih Ongun took off at 10 a.m. with two Phantom warplanes for Cardak Airport in Denizli. Thirteen minutes later, they reached foggy skies over Yalinkaya village in Akcakale town, which is 40 kilometer from Malatya. Witnesses said planes had collided in the air and crashed in forested area in Inkaya region in flames. They said they had seen parachutes in the air.
PERMISSION TO AMERICANS
A memorandum of understanding which allows 150 U.S. military personnel to carry out site-surveys in bases and ports in Turkey was signed. The U.S. team is expected to arrive in Turkey on Monday. Officials said the number of U.S. team would be limited with 150 at this stage.
TUZMEN DUE TO IRAQ DESPITE WARNINGS
State Minister Kursat Tuzmen is travelling to Iraq today together with a crowded delegation despite warnings of his party and other circles that Iraq visit was wrong. Tuzmen said the visit was planned with the aim to have Turkish companies more effective in beginning period of 2 billion U.S. dollars of auctions under oil-for-food programme.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ATA PLANE LANDED AT MARDIN AIRPORT
ATA plane which was carrying Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and ministers who would inspect the wreckage-strewn scene waited on the air due to heavy fog in Diyarbakir runway. Gul said that the accident happened due to heavy fog and added ''Even we had to land in Mardin.'' ATA plane had to land in Mardin Airport. Gul, Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim and Public Works and Housing Minister Zeki Ergezen later proceeded to Diyarbakir by highway.
ERDOGAN WILL TALK WHEN HE RETURNS
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan who was carrying on Turkish Republics tour learned the accident of two military planes when he was in Ashkabat, Turkmenistan by the phone of National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul. Erdogan rapidly phoned Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok and offered his condolences.
PRELIMINARY REPORT: PILOTAGE FAILURE
According to the briefing and preliminary report given to Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, the reason of the plane crash in southeastern Diyarbakir province is most probably pilotage mistake. Gul and accompanying ministers and deputies who went to Diyarbakir to inspect the wreckage-strewn scene were briefed concerning the plane crash and how it might be happened.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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GOVERNMENT AT BOTH ENDS
Sharif Ali bin Hussein, the leader of Constitutional Royal Movement, and Ayad Allawi, the leader of Iraqi National Compromise, the opponent groups that aim to overthrow Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq, will come Turkey in the beginning of next week. Ankara permitted groups who will attend opponents conference in Irbil city in north of Iraq on January 15, to reach the region via Turkey. Opponents will conduct important contacts in Ankara while they proceed to Iraq. While the government is going to give message to Saddam Hussein by sending State Minister Kursat Tuzmen to Baghdad, it follows a contradictory policy by holding direct contact with opponents who aim to overthrow Saddam Hussein.
AGREEMENT WITH UNITED STATES
Turkey and the United States reached compromise on memorandum of understanding necessary for site-survey at Diyarbakir, Mus and Batman bases and Iskenderun and Mersin ports which are expected to be used during possible military operation against Iraq. A 150-member U.S. military group is expected to start site-surveys shortly after signing of memorandum of understanding today. The United States said that bases in Turkey would be ready in 45 days.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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UNITED STATES PRESSES, ANKARA AWAITS
Washington said that ''positive result should be given in the possible shortest time.'' Ankara is awaiting. Turkish Armed Forces says, ''the worst decision is better than indecisiveness.'' U.S. State Department Undersecretary Marc Grossman told Turkey's Ambassador in Washington Faruk Logoglu on January 6 that if Turkey supported the United States, intervention to Iraq would last short and there would not be so much loss. Grossman said that they would support Turkey's economy and Turkey would have the right to speak when the region was being shaped up. Otherwise, he said, operation would cost too much.
AGREEMENT WITH UNITED STATES
The memorandum of understanding on rules that 150 U.S. soldiers who will inspect bases and ports in Turkey will obey is complete: If soldiers commit a crime, Turkey has the right to try the soldiers. The General Staff received a letter from the Prime Minister for signing of the memorandum of understanding referring to NATO principles.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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VISIT OF CONDOLENCE
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul visited survivors of the plane crash in southeastern Diyarbakir province and later offered condolences to all citizens.
A NEW DISASTER OVERCOME
The plane carrying relatives of the people who died in the plane crash in southeastern Diyarbakir province and the journalist could not land at Diyarbakir airport in its first two attempts but achieved to land in its third attempt.
THEY BURNED IN FLAMES
Aliye Il, a survivor of the plane crash, said, ''there was a loud explosion. People were burning in flames and screaming.''
ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMES CANCELLED
Turkey was burst into sorrow and tears following the plane crashes that occurred one after the other. Turkish Airlines (THY) flags were lowered to half mast and entertainment programmes on television channels were cancelled.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ANKARA TO SIGN SITE-SURVEY OF BASES AGREEMENT WITH U.S.
Ankara decided to sign the memorandum of understanding concerning the demand of the United States which requests site-survey in bases and ports in Turkey. The agreement can be signed rapidly and the United States delegation can arrive in Turkey on January 16 or earlier. According to the agreement, delegation can comprise only 150 people.
EUROPEAN COUNCIL RELEASES A TURKISH MESSAGE
European Council released a Turkish message and offered condolences for the relatives of the dead people who lost their lives in plane crash in southeastern Diyarbakir province. European Council Secretary General Walter Schwimmer said in the message that he was deeply sorry for the plane crash which caused 75 people lost their lives and he offered his condolences.