ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on February 15, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TWO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES
A public survey which was carried out in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and the Greek Cypriot side revealed that the two communities were totally different. According to the results of the public survey, the two communities do not want to live together under the roof of the European Union (EU) because they do not rely on each other. 44 percent of Turkish Cypriots extended support to a solution under the plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. 65 percent of Turkish Cypriots thought that the two communities in the island should live separately while 65 percent of Greek Cypriots thought that the two communities should live together.
DEADLOCK AT WHITE HOUSE
U.S. President George W. Bush received Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis and State Minister Ali Babacan for Treasury, who are currently in the United States on an official visit. While President Bush defended that the motion about deployment of U.S. soldiers in Turkey should be debated at Turkish parliament on February 18, the Turkish side insisted on an assurance of the United States to meet losses of Turkey.
FOREIGN EXCHANGE DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS INCREASE TO USD 63 BILLION
The total foreign exchange deposit accounts at banks increased up to 62 billion 998 million U.S. dollars. The total foreign exchange deposit accounts rose by 7.4 billion U.S. dollars since May of 2002.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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ONE MINUTE WITH THE WORLD
''One Minute Darkness for Peace'' demonstration has gone beyond borders. A number of non-governmental organizations in the world will protest a possible U.S.-led military operation against Iraq at the same time with Turkey. New York, London, Chicago, Glasgow, Budapest, Athens, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), the Greek Cypriot side, Abkhasia, Tokyo, Tel Aviv, Montreal, Vienna, Rhodes, Amman, Toronto and Beirut responded in the affirmative to the call to participate in the demonstration. All the lights will be turned off for one minute at 08.00 p.m. as of today.
LETTER CRISIS IN NATO
NATO Secretary General George Robertson criticized France, Germany and Belgium in a letter. Robertson said that France, Germany and Belgium had been playing a dangerous game on Turkey's security.
''VESSELS WAIT FOR YOU''
U.S. administration has put pressure on Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis and State Minister Ali Babacan, who are currently in the United States on an official visit, that the motion about deployment of U.S. soldiers in Turkey, should be approved on February 18. U.S. officials said that their vessels were on the way and soldiers should be deployed in Turkey as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the Turkish side stressed that approval of the motion would be difficult before preparation of a concrete document about compensation of Turkey's losses in a possible war.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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ALERT AGAINST PKK
Security forces have been on alert due to anniversary of capture of Abdullah Ocalan, the head of terrorist organization PKK-KADEK, in Kenya on February 15, 1999. Earlier, PKK-KADEK incited its supporters to hold demonstrations throughout Turkey. Tight security measures have been taken especially in Southeastern Anatolia.
YALCINBAYIR AND AGAR LEAVE FOR BULGARIA
Deputy Prime Minister Ertugrul Yalcinbayir and True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar left for Bulgaria to attend the Fifth Congress of the Bulgarian Rights and Freedoms Movement. Yalcinbayir told reporters before his departure that he would hold several bilateral contacts with Bulgarian officials.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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LIGHTS TO BE TURNED OFF FOR PEACE
Millions of peace-activists all around the world will hold a great protest demonstration in 60 different countries in order to prove that world public opinion is stronger than governments. Lights will be turned off in many cities including New York, London, Amman and Beirut to protest a possible U.S.-led war against Iraq. Turkish peace-activists will gather in Istanbul's Kadikoy Square. They will light candles to give the message that humanity was in favor of peace.
TURKISH YEAR IN JAPAN
Inauguration of 2003 Turkish Year activities in Japan will be made on February 17 with participation of State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ertugrul Yalcinbayir. The Ministry of Tourism has launched a campaign worth of 1.5 million U.S. dollars to promote Turkey in Japan.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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ANNAN EXPENDS EFFORTS
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan will pay visits to Ankara, Athens and Cyprus. He called President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot administration leader Glafcos Clerides on the phone and informed them on his scheduled visit to Cyprus. Annan plans to start his tour to Ankara, Athens and Cyprus on February 24.
UNITED STATES PUTS PRESSURE FOR MOTION
A meeting will be held in Ankara today to discuss the motion about deployment of U.S. soldiers in Turkey and dispatch of Turkish soldiers to Northern Iraq. The government will take its final decision following the meeting. Meanwhile, U.S. President George W. Bush received Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis and State Minister Ali Babacan. President Bush stressed that the motion should be approved on February 18.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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3,000 PEOPLE KILLED A YEAR
There are nearly 11 million 500 thousand motor vehicles in Turkey. A total of 2,954 people were killed and 94,497 people were injured in 409,407 traffic accidents happened in 2001. Meanwhile, 57.2 percent of those who were killed in traffic accidents happened in Istanbul were pedestrians; 26.4 percent were drivers and 16.4 percent were passengers while 16.8 percent of pedestrians who were killed in traffic accidents were children between 0-11 years of age.
BLIX: ''THERE IS NO WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION''
United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) Chairman Hans Blix gave his report on inspections in Iraq to the United Nations. Blix said, ''we could not find any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. However, they could not explain what happened to suspicious anthrax, nerve gas stock and long-range missiles. We need more time.'' Meanwhile, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said, ''the United States seems determined'', adding that they did not have the power to prevent this.
KURDS WARNED
Noting that provocations in Northern Iraq dragged the region to a civil war and this might cause intervention by the Turkish army, Iraqi Turkmen Front Chairman Sanan Ahmet Aga warned Kurdish groups by saying, ''don't be deceived by provocations''.
EXPENDITURES TO BE REVISED
Stating that there would be arrangements like reform in expenditures, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that their aim was to decrease inflation, interest rates and public debts.
BARGAINING WITH UNITED STATES CONTINUES
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said they would bring 'economic aid package to Turkey' to the U.S. Congress for approval shortly after it became definite. Meanwhile, it was mentioned that the U.S. side insisted on deployment of U.S. soldiers in Turkey.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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BUSH INSISTS ON DATE OF FEBRUARY 18 FOR MOTION
Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis who surprisingly went to Washington prior to a possible operation against Iraq was received by U.S. President George W. Bush yesterday. Yakis said they did not come to the United states to sing an agreement. It was mentioned that at the meeting, Bush insisted especially on the date of February 18 for submission of motion on staitoning of U.S. soldiers in Turkish territories to the parliament. Meanwhile, it was mentioned that there were some differences of opinion between Turkey and the United States about an aid package which the U.S. side planned to give to Turkey but it was possible that the sides could reach an agreement soon.
INSPECTORS' LATEST IRAQ REPORT REGISTERS POLARIZATION IN UNITED NATIONS
The second report of the U.N. weapon inspectors did not bring any concrete result in terms of preventing a possible war or constituting a legitimacy for the United States. The report which was expected for days could not satisfiy anybody. Moreover, every country interpreted it as it pleases.
ATTITUDES NOT CHANGE
China: says inpections should continue; there is not any situation that legitimizes a military operation.
France: is in favor of continuation of inspections; does not think that there is a need ofr a military operation.
Russia: is in favor of continuation of inspections; will change its attitude and position if Iraq does not cooperate.
Germany: wants disarmament without a war; won't join a war even if there is a U.N. resolution.
England: prefers second U.N. resolution but is ready to join a U.S.-led war.
United States: thinks that Iraq produces weapons of mass destruction and Baghdad does not cooperate with weapon inspectors; defends that U.N. resolution no 1441 legitimizes a war.