ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on March 12, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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MISSION IS ERDOGAN'S
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul resigned after Recep Tayyip Erdogan's taking oath in Parliament. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer charged Erdogan to set up the 59th government. Erdogan who took oath at Parliament as Siirt deputy was designated to set up new government by Sezer in Presidential Palace. Erdogan is expected to submit list of cabinet to Sezer today. 'Handling over' was made in Justice and Development Party (AK Party) yesterday. Sezer rapidly charged Erdogan to set up new government just after the resignation of Gul. Erdogan is expected to set up the 59th government today.
EU: TURKEY WILL BE REGARDED AS OCCUPIER
European Union (EU) Commission stated that Turkey would be considered as occupying EU territory if a solution could not be found to Cyprus question. While evaluating the negotiations which were held in The Hague and remained futile, Jean-Christophe Filori, the spokesman of the EU Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen, said that EU preferred to receive a united Cyprus as a full member, but they decided to accept Cyprus as a full member even if a solution could not be found. Noting that Greek Cypriot side would be a full member of EU anyway on May, 2004, Filori said that Turkey would be considered as occupying EU territory after that date. Filori said that the existence of Turkish Armed Forces in Cyprus was regarded as occupation in international field and added that EU also thought like that and the situation would not change.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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MOODY'S BLACKMAILS
International rating credit institution Moody's said that Turkey's credit mark could be reduced if Turkey does not act rapidly regarding the deployment of U.S. soldiers in Turkey. Moody's said that ''if Turkey does not adopt the motion on deployment of U.S. soldiers in Turkey within one week, it will be very late and we will review the credit mark of Turkey.''
SEZER WILL AGAIN ASK FOR NAMES
AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants his new cabinet to be approved by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer without any change, yet President Sezer is not expected to approve all the names. Yesterday, AK Party leader Erdogan visited President Sezer who congratulated him for being elected as a member of the parliament. Erdogan wants President Sezer to approve his cabinet list without any change, but President Sezer is not expected to approve all the names automatically.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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WARNING FROM EU
EU Commission announced that if a solution in Cyprus is not found, the Greek Cypriot side will be admitted to the EU as the ''Cyprus Republic'' and Turkey would be considered as having occupied the part of EU territory. The new prime minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan will deal with a new international problem now: While Greek Cypriots will join the EU in May 2004, Turkey can say ''goodbye to EU membership.'' Turkey reacted to this harsh warning from the EU saying that ''Turkey is on the island according to 1960 Guarantee Agreements.''
TURKEY EXPECTS ANNAN TO CONTRIBUTE TO SOLUTION OF CYPRUS PROBLEM
Foreign Ministry welcomed the statement of TRNC President Rauf Denktas who said that the talks between the sides in Cyprus could continue. Foreign Ministry said in its statement that ''as it is known, Turkey, from the beginning, supported the efforts of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan within the scope of his good will mission. Turkey will welcome possible contributions of U.N. Secretary General to Cyprus problem from now on.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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BAYKAL WARNS GOVERNMENT
CHP leader Deniz Baykal asserted that activities which fell outside the scope of the first motion, were carried out in bases and ports of Turkey. ''If you are going to make cooperation with the U.S., tell it to people frankly,'' Baykal called to government. Baykal also claimed that the Iraqi operation would be started on March 17, which is the anniversary of Karbala incidents.
ERDOGAN'S CABINET
AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan who was authorized by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to form the new government, is expected to submit his cabinet list to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer today. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul is expected to be the deputy prime minister who will be in charge of coordination within economy administration while Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener is expected to be the Finance Minister.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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CYPRUS NIGHTMARE STARTS
U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan whose last timetable in Cyprus was rejected by the sides during The Hague meetings said that ''we came to the end of the road'' and he withdrew from the talks. EU issued a statement saying that ''the Greek Cypriot side will join the EU.'' The membership of Turkey to the EU also seems difficult now. TRNC President Rauf Denktas said in his part that the problems would not be solved with Annan plan.
CABINET TO BE FORMED ACCORDING TO BALANCES WITHIN NSC
AK Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan who was charged by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to form the new government has the intention to decrease the number of ministers. However, the balance among the civilian and military members within the National Security Council (NSBC) will be taken into consideration and the number of deputy prime ministers will remain as three.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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DENKTAS: GREEK CYPRIOTS ARE THE REAL OCCUPIERS
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas who departed from The Hague released statements to reporters. He said that there were people who called Turkey as occupier and now the number of those people increased and he added that Greek Cypriots were the ones who really wanted to occupy the island.
BAYKAL PRESSED HARD ON GOVERNMENT
Noting that the authority was exceeded regarding the motion which allowed construction in bases by criticizing the attitude of government in agreement with the United States, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that if this complied with their interests, then they should tell it honestly. He emphasized that whether the authority was exceeded concerning the first motion should be investigated at Parliament.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ERDOGAN BROUGHT SIX NAMES TO SEZER
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan was designated to form the 59th government from President Ahmet Necdet Sezer after the resignation of Abdullah Gul. Erdogan, who said that they would submit list of cabinet as soon as possible to President, brought the names of six deputy candidates to Sezer. Erdogan who was called to Presidential Palace after resignation of Gul took measure in case of an intervention possibility of Sezer to the list. He decided to bring the names of his new deputy candidates to Sezer prior to determination of Council of Ministers.
GUL GOVERNMENT FULFILLED 32 OF 39 PROMISES
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that they envisioned that a total of 39 activities would be carried out in Emergency Action Plan of the 58th government and added that they fulfilled 32 of them. He said that the government worked as if it was in power for 3,5 years in a period of 3,5 months.
(GC-ÖS-AÖ) 12.03.2003