ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on April 1, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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POWELL DUE IN TURKEY
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell will come to Turkey to hold a series of contacts with Turkish officials. While Reuters described it as a ''kiss and make up visit'', Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the United States could make new requests. The U.S. administration, which was disappointed in the southern front, decided to send Powell to Turkey in order to improve relations again.
GROWTH RATE MAKES PEOPLE BEWILDERED
Turkish economy, which shrank by 9.4 percent in 2001, grew by 7.8 percent in 2002. The growth rate was expected to be 4 percent by experts. Meanwhile, growth rate was announced as 9.4 percent in industry and as 10.7 percent in trade.
SEZER RETURNS LAW ON POSTPONEMENT OF LABOR SECURITY LAW
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer returned the law changing implementation date of Labor Security Law as June 30, 2003 to the parliament to be debated again. President Sezer stressed, ''postponement of implementation of the Labor Security Law contradicts with the necessity of putting into practice the National Program, requests of modern working life and with the principle of social state. Also, postponement of the law will damage people's confidence in the state.''
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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EXTRADITION OF ERDAL TO TURKEY REJECTED
Belgian Council of State cancelled decision of the Ministry of Interior Affairs to extradite Fehriye Erdal, a member of illegal Revolutionary People's Liberation Army-Front (DHKP-C) and one of suspects of killing of businessman Ozdemir Sabanci in 1996, to Turkey. Belgian Council of State ruled that Erdal did not pose any threat against public security in Belgium.
''FIGHTING SIDES SHOULD CONSIDER IT''
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said, ''as I said before, we are opposed to war. Therefore, fighting sides should consider it.'' He received Russian Ambassador to Turkey Petr Vladimirovic Stegny. When asked following the meeting, ''the war in Iraq seems to last long. How does the war affect Turkey?'' President Sezer said, ''as I said before, we are opposed to war. Therefore, fighting sides should consider it. I think that the United States did not consider it likely. But, it has faced a resistance. We all will see the developments in the coming days.''
INCOME PER CAPITA IN 2002 ANNOUNCED AS USD 2.5 THOUSAND
The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) said that income per capita, which was 2 thousand 123 U.S. dollars in 2001, increased 21.7 percent to 2 thousand 584 U.S. dollars in 2002.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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GENTLEMEN, THIS IS NOT FAIR
While citizens have been enduring additional tax burden and the business circles have been discussing volunteer donations, deputies are going to Britain to watch the match between Turkey and Britain without payment. The Football Federation organized a tour to Britain for tomorrow's match. A total of 93 people including Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and Republican Turkey's Party (CHP) deputies, left for Britain by a plane, which was hired in return for 30 thousand U.S. dollars.
''I WANT TO GIVE MY CHILD AS A PRESENT TO AUTHORITIES''
A citizen held a demonstration in front of the Prime Ministry Office as Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek was holding a press conference. The citizen, who was identified as Ebil Goktas, shouted, ''a had a restaurant, but went bankrupt. I cannot look after my child. I want to give her as a present to authorities.'' Security forces closed his mouth and detained him.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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POWELL COMES FOR BARGAINING
After the United States faced a serious resistance in southern part of Iraq, officials have begun concentrating on the plans of northern front. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell will come to Turkey tomorrow. Government sources noted that issues such as deployment of U.S. soldiers in Turkey, dispatch of U.S. soldiers to northern Iraq via Turkey and use of airbases in Turkey for air strikes against Iraq were expected to brought onto agenda during contacts of Powell in Turkey.
SEZER RETURNS LAW ON POSTPONEMENT OF LABOR SECURITY LAW
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer returned the law changing implementation date of Labor Security Law as June 30, 2003 to the parliament to be debated again. President Sezer stressed, ''a real state of law can be meaningful with the principle of social state.''
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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NONSENSE PROJECTS OF AK PARTY
The Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has pledged the citizens to do many things including decrease in taxes just before the general elections of November 3, 2002. However, the AK Party has begun dealing with nonsense projects to get rid of domestic debts after coming into political power. Some of these projects are: Three-year war bond, ''Caliph Omer Foundation'' to be set up with 100 U.S. dollars per capita and a tax of 20 percent from every citizens' wealth.
FROM GOVERNMENT TO UNITED STATES: ''WE ARE NOT OPPORTUNIST''
During yesterday's meeting of the Council of Ministers, the negotiations between Turkey and the United States and the war in Iraq were taken up in detail. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul informed the Council of Ministers on recent developments in Iraq. Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek held a press conference following the meeting and said, ''when the peace alternative was destroyed in Iraq, our government has begun expending efforts to protect interests and security of Turkey. Everybody should know very well that we were not an opportunist while doing this. We did not have imperialistic intentions. We did not look for our welfare and interests in the blood and tears of other nations.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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PRESIDENT SEZER: ''THE UNITED STATES SHOULD CONSIDER IT NOW''
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said, ''as I said before, we are opposed to war. Therefore, fighting sides should consider it.'' When asked following the meeting, ''the war in Iraq seems to last long. How does the war affect Turkey?'' President Sezer said, ''as I said before, we are opposed to war. Therefore, fighting sides should consider it. I think that the United States did not consider it likely. But, it has faced a resistance. We all will see the developments in the coming days.''
SUDDEN VISIT FROM POWELL TO ANKARA
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell will pay a visit to Ankara today or tomorrow. Powell will proceed from Brussels to Ankara after wrapping up his contacts at NATO Headquarters. Powell is expected to discuss the issue of the northern front during his contacts in Ankara.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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GREEK OFFICIALS ARREST HIJACKER
Ozgur Gencaslan, who hijacked the Turkish Airlines (THY) plane to Greek capital Athens last week, was arrested. Gencaslan was accused of violating rules of air transportation, jeopardizing security of passengers and carrying weapons illegally.
(UK-AÖ) 01.04.2003