ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on April 4, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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GREEK CYPRIOT SIDE REJECTS PRESIDENT DENKTAS' PROPOSAL
The Greek Cypriot side rejected the proposal of President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Earlier in the week, President Denktas proposed to give up Maras in return for lifting of embargoes. Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadoupulos told President Denktas, ''the problem is not a confidence crisis. It is your unwillingness to come to an agreement.''
GUL: ''DO NOT HAMPER TOURISM''
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul reacted harshly to European leaders, who bring Turkey's possible intervention in northern Iraq onto agenda frequently. He said, ''statements of European leaders hamper our tourism.''
KHARAZI DUE IN TURKEY
Ankara is getting prepared to host another important guest following U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi of Iran, which has been following the U.S.-led military action against Iraq with great concern, is expected to come to Ankara on Sunday.
''POWEL'S VISIT TO ANKARA WAS VERY BENEFICIAL''
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer expressed his satisfaction over visit of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to Turkey. President Sezer stressed that Powell's visit to Ankara was very beneficial.
COEPA SHEDS GREEN LIGHT
The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (COEPA) shed green light on Turkey's intervening in northern Iraq on the purposes of humanitarian aid and self-defense right.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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PRIME MINISTRY OFFICE THINKS ABOUT HAVING A SPOKESMAN
The Prime Ministry Office plans to have a spokesman like those of U.S. President George W. Bush and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Under a report, which was submitted to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan by Zeynep Karahan Uslu, a deputy of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party), the issue was discussed. Sources said that criticisms saying that the press was not informed properly on the Iraq issue, was efficient in launching such an initiative.
RETIREMENT AGE: 61
The law decreasing the retirement age from 65 to 61 was earlier vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and returned to the parliament to be debated again. The law was approved once again without any change.
INITIATIVE TO BE LAUNCHED TO PROMOTE TURKEY
Tourism Minister Guldal Aksit said that they would launch an initiative to promote Turkey to the whole world in order to decrease impacts of the war in Iraq on Turkish tourism. Aksit, who attended opening of the Seventh East Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Fair, said, ''our tourism will be affected inevitably from the war in one of our neighboring countries. We have begun activities in countries such as Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, eastern and central Europe, the People's Republic of China, Singapore and Malaysia to promote Turkey.''
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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GUL WARNS ALLIED COUNTRIES
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul left for Brussels to attend the extraordinary meeting of the NATO and the joint meetings of the European Union (EU) and the NATO. Addressing journalists at the airport, Gul said that some EU and NATO member countries had suspicions about Turkey's policy towards northern Iraq. ''Suspicious statements of these countries affect Turkish economy negatively,'' he said.
CANKAYA: ''MISUNDERSTANDINGS WERE REMOVED''
Presidential Spokesman and Foreign Policy Chief Advisor Tacan Ildem said that negativities between Turkey and the United States were removed during visit of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to Turkey. Noting that misunderstandings were also removed in relations between the two countries, Ildem said, ''both Turkey and the United States have given priority to continuation of their strategic partnership. Mr. Powell held contacts with Turkish officials on the basis of mutual understanding.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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OZKOK WARNS POWELL ABOUT ASSURANCE
The destruction caused by the motion has started to be repaired with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to Ankara. Powell got a response in the affirmative to his request for Turkey's being a ''logistic base without a need for a motion''. Meanwhile, General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok warned Powell that ''we review our position if you don't fulfil the assurance you gave about northern Iraq''.
ALSO TURKEY TAKES MEASURE
Although it was late, Turkey issued a circular on ''Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)'' which spreads in the world rapidly. The Health Ministry announced that necessary measures were taken at border gates. It also said that any case of SARS had not been seen in Turkey.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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NEGOTIATIONS RESTART BETWEEN TURKEY AND UNITED STATES
Following the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to Turkey, Turkish and U.S. officials have begun holding meetings to discuss principles of military coordination in northern Iraq. While the U.S. administration wants the coordination unit to be established in Turkey, Ankara defends that it should be established in Iraq.
BAYKAL: ''GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT EXCEED DECISION OF PARLIAMENT''
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that the government should not exceed the legal frame drawn by the parliament. ''Statement of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul saying that Turkey is one of the coalition countries led by the United States, is nothing but a declaration of war,'' he stressed.
CANKAYA: ''PROPOSALS OF PRESIDENT DENKTAS WERE VERY PRODUCTIVE''
Presidential Foreign Policy Chief Advisor and Spokesman Tacan Ildem said, ''the proposals of President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) were very productive. We expected the Greek Cypriot side to be positive about the proposals. We thought that the process could be maintained on the island under the good will mission of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. The proposals of President Denktas create a frame to build confidence between the two sides, keep dialogue channels open and increase contacts between them.''
IRAQI DIPLOMATS COULD BE DEPORTED
The visit of U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell brought the issue of deportation of Iraqi diplomats from Turkey, one of requests of the U.S. administration. Ankara, which has rejected to deport Iraqi diplomats so far, is expected to deport ''some'' Iraqis. The U.S. administration sent notes to 50 countries following the beginning of the war in Iraq and requested them to deport Iraqi diplomats on the pretext of their connection with terrorist organizations.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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GUL WARNS EUROPE: ''GIVE UP SHOWING TURKEY AS IF IT JOINED WAR''
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul who went to Belgium yesterday to attend NATO Council meeting and a joint ministerial level meeting of the EU and the NATO, warned the EU and NATO member countries that they should show a more sensitive approach towards Turkey. Gul asked European countries to avoid making statements based on groundless opinions, information and allegations which damage Turkey and Turkish tourism. During his contacts, Gul once again stressed the importance that Turkey attributed to Iraq's territorial integrity. Gul also said that Turkey's point of view about developments in northern Iraq was under humanitarian aid. Sources said that in the joint meeting of the NATO and the EU members, Gul stressed that Turkey faced serious injustices about Iraq crisis. Criticizing that Turkey was shown as if it would join the war especially in northern Iraq with biased statements which did not have any grounds, Gul said such statements damaged Turkey and tourism in Turkey.
KHARAZI TO COME FOR KURDISH PROBLEM
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi is expected to come to Ankara in the weekend. Sources said that if there would not be any change in the program, Kharazi was scheduled to be in Ankara on Sunday and start his contacts on Monday. Kharazi telephoned Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul last week and said that Turkey, Iran and Syria should carry out consultations on Kurdish issue which was the common factor of concern in existing warfare. Kharazi also asked Turkey not to send soldiers into northern Iraq.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY RANKED THIRD AMONG COUNTRIES EXPORTING READY-MADE CLOTHING
Turkish Clothing Industrialists' Association (TGSD) Chairman Umut Oran said that Turkey was ranked third among countries exporting ready-made clothing with its exports of 9.5 billion U.S. dollars. The People's Republic of China tops the list while Italy comes on the second place.
KHARAZI EXPECTED TO COME TO TURKEY
Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi of Iran is expected to come to Turkey on April 6. Kharazi called Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on the phone last week. Gul and Kharazi exchanged views about recent developments in Iraq.
(MS-AÖ) 04.04.2003