ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 28, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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QUAKE IN PULUMUR
An earthquake measuring 6.5 on Richter scale took place in Pulumur town of eastern Tunceli province at 7.26 a.m. on Monday. A person died after being trapped under rubble in Saglamtas village in Pulumur and six people were injured due to the earthquake. The quake did not cause great damage as it lasted for 3.5 seconds. Officials from Bogazici University Kandilli Observatory Center and Seismology Institute said that aftershocks would continue. The earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale was also felt in Black Sea Region, Erzurum, Erzincan, Sivas and Elazig provinces.
YALMAN: ''WE SUPPORT DENKTAS''
Land Forces Commander Gen. Aytac Yalman said that the Greek Cypriot administration did not want a fair and lasting solution on the island which aimed to found a new partnership of two sovereign states due to the support it received from the EU. Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas received Gen. Yalman, who came to TRNC to visit Turkish Cypriot Peace Keeping Forces and to attend the Peace 2003 Plan Seminar. Gen. Yalman said that they supported TRNC President Rauf Denktas, praising the efforts of Denktas for his leadership and diplomatic efforts in the struggle of the Turkish Cypriot people on behalf of the Turkish Armed Forces.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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IMF AND U.S. SAY TURKEY SHOULD TAKE NEW MEASURES
According to a secret document of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, both International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the U.S. government wanted Turkey to take new measures for economic program. International Herald Tribune newspaper said that IMF and U.S. government thought that Turkey violated its commitments. The United States said that Turkey should cut its public expenditures and make economic reforms to get 1.6 billion U.S. dollars of loan from IMF.
GUL: ''U.N. RESOLUTION IS OBLIGATORY FOR LEGITIMACY OF WAR AGAINST IRAQ''
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, who addressed the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (COEPA), said that United Nations (U.N.) Security Council resolution was obligatory for legitimacy of a war against Iraq and stated that the government prepared necessary plans for all kinds of possibilities. Gul said, ''we are a neighboring country of Iraq. We should be ready for every kind of situation.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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DIPLOMACY TRAFFIC INCREASED IN CYPRUS
A busy diplomacy traffic started in Cyprus as February 28 is approaching. Firstly, Land Forces Commander Aytac Yalman met on Monday with Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas. Second guest of Denktas was Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis while British Special Envoy to Cyprus Lord David Hannay met with Greek Cypriot administration leader Glafcos Clerides. Hannay later listened to views of the political party leaders in TRNC. Finally, Denktas and Clerides had a meeting. Yalman released a statement after his meeting with Denktas and said that accepting Annan's plan without a change could cause a crisis, however Turkish army was ready for all kinds of crisis.
GUL ASKED MANY QUESTIONS IN COEPA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul who made a speech in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (COEPA) was asked many questions by European parliamentarians. Gul was asked about the subjects such as Cyprus question, Leyla Zana, death sentence and influence of military forces in politics. He was applauded with his speech, especially when he was talking about the abolition of death sentence.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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TWO EXPERTS FROM IMF GIVE FINAL SHAPE TO BUDGET
Two experts from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) came to Ankara and gave final shape to package of measures and budget figures before a meeting of the Higher Planning Committee (YPK). There is a series of measures which will be discussed by economy bureaucrats at the meeting of YPK. Budget figures will also be taken up at the meeting on Tuesday.
UNITED STATES DEMAND AT LEAST 41,000 SOLDIERS TO PASS THROUGH TURKEY
Turkey's cooperation with the United States related with a possible war against Iraq will be discussed at a meeting of National Security Council (NSC) on Friday. Sources said that the United States demanded at least 41,000 soldiers to pass through Turkey and noted that there would only be logistic deployment in Turkish territories.
TOURISM SECTOR HOPEFUL ABOUT FEAST OF SACRIFICE
There is an activity in tourism sector especially in Aegean and Mediterranean regions due to Feast of Sacrifice. People engaged in tourism sector expect many tourists to come to the hotels in those regions to spend their holiday. Preparations are about to be completed in the hotels in Marmaris, Bodrum, Fethiye, Kusadasi, Ayvalik, Pamukkale and Cesme.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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GENERAL YALMAN: ''WE ADMIRE DENKTAS''
Land Forces Commander Gen. Aytac Yalman boosted morale by saying that Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) admired Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas. Yalman supported Denktas, who is competing with Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan in making statements. Yalman said, ''TSK admires Denktas'' and criticized the current shape of United Nations (U.N.) Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan for Cyprus.
GENERAL STAFF PRESENTS ITS REPORT
The General Staff presented a report to the government following its contacts with the U.S. military officials. The plan having many alternatives will firstly be taken up by the Council of Ministers and then be debated at National Security Council (NSC) meeting on Friday.
PULUMUR ROCKED
Turkey remembered the quake reality once more on Monday. One person died in the tremor measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale which jolted Pulumur town of eastern Tunceli province. The tremor lasted for three seconds.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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NEITHER IRAQ NOR EU PLEASED
Turkey, which is exerting utmost efforts to prevent Iraqi crisis, is a target of harsh criticisms of both sides which it does not ''deserve.'' Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz made harsh and ugly criticisms against Turkey which did not comply with friendship in his yesterday's statement. Aziz accussed ''the peace summit'' of failure and said that Iraq had to be invited to that meeting. Richard Perle, the chief adviser of the U.S. Department of Defense, said that Washington was disappointed with slow action of Turkey for a cooperation and noted that a late support was equal to a support which was never extended.
EU RELIEVED
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul ''passed the exam'' in the Council of Europe (COE). Speaking at the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (COEPA), Gul said that there was no return from the road to European Union (EU) membership. Gul, who was asked many questions, was praised with the words of the Council members.
PAMUKBANK IN FUND AGAIN
The Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) announced that Pamukbank, which was stated to be transferred to its former owners on Friday, would be under the authority of the Savings Deposits Insurance Fund (SDIF) again.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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GUL: WE ARE SINCERE ABOUT SOLUTION IN CYPRUS
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, who released a statement to reporters after his speech in the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (COEPA), said that they were sincere in the solution of Cyprus question and added that they supported all the efforts which were exerted for the solution of this question. Recalling that the negotiations in Cyprus were continuing, Gul said that insolubility was not a solution.
Gul also emphasized in his speech in COEPA session that they were determined about finding a just and permanent solution in Cyprus. He said that they were supporting Turkish Cypriots in finding a peaceful solution to Cyprus question.
PEOPLE WHO DID NOT VOTE IN ELECTIONS WILL PAY 4.6 BILLION TL FINE
Under a draft law which was prepared by Justice Ministry, the fine that people who do not vote in elections will be increased from five million Turkish Liras (TL) to four billion 660 million TL. The ministry prepared the draft law which would increase several fines from five times to 93 thousand times in line with the inflation rate.