Turkish Press Scan

”WE RETURN FROM BULGARIA IMMEDIATELY”

Referring to Sunday’s statement of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said, ”we will allocate fields to our provinces having a national income per capita less than 1 thousand 500 U.S. dollars, and exempt them from taxes and Social Security Agency (SSK) premiums,” business circles acting in the Balkans said that if Prime Minister Erdogan kept his promise they would return from Bulgaria immediately. Meanwhile, Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu said that if the project was put into practice, businessmen would start investing in poor provinces.

VICTORY OF KEMALISM IN EUROPE

European Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission approved the Turkey Report by excluding the expression ”Kemalism is an obstacle in front of Turkey’s European Union (EU) process”. Meanwhile, the European Parliament rejected requests about allegations on so-called Armenian genocide.

TRIPARTITE SUMMIT IN CYPRUS

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy, who came to Turkey on an official visit, said that he wanted to go to Cyprus together with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Costas Simitis of Greece in an effort to find a solution to the Cyprus question. Meanwhile, Berlusconi became Prime Minister Erdogan’s first official guest from the European Union (EU).

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

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ARIA MERGES WITH AYCELL

GSM operators Aria and Aycell decided to merge during Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s visit to Turkey. As a result, Turkey will get rid of the lawsuit, which was filed by Aria with a request of 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in compensation. After merger of Aria and Aycell, number of GSM operators in Turkey will decrease to three.

KOC HOLDING-TURK TELEKOM CONSORTIUM RECEIVES AN OFFICIAL INVITATION

The Bulgarian Privatization Agency invited Koc Holding-Turk Telekom consortium for talks on privatization of Bulgarian Telecommunications Institution which is one of the biggest state enterprises in the country’s privatization program. Releasing a statement, Koc Holding-Turk Telekom consortium said that they had received an official invitation from the Bulgarian Privatization Agency.

”IT STEMMED FROM WRONGFUL TRANSLATIONS”

President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said, ”there were news stories in newspapers claiming that the Turkish soldiers could leave the island if guarantee agreement was maintained. These news stories stemmed from wrongful translations. I did not make such a statement. I have the text of my statements in English. I give written responses to Greek Cypriot newspapers.” Referring to statements of Greek Cypriot leader Tassos Papadoupulos, who said that they had given up annexation, President Denktas said, ”if Papadoupulos has given up annexation, then he should accept sovereignty of Turkish Cypriots, recognize bi-zonal structure and approve global exchange of properties. As long as the Greek Cypriot side claims to be the legitimate government of the whole island, continues its armament activities, and describes Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to the TRNC as an illegal visit, Papadoupulos’ statement that they have given up annexation, does not have any meaning.”

SABAH (LIBERAL)

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BULGARIA PRESENTS GUL WITH HONORARY DOCTORATE

Bulgaria presented Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul with ”honorary doctorate” for his efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis. Speaking at the ceremony, Gul said that Turkey wanted to join economic projects of the United States in Middle Eastern countries. Referring to Turkey’s European Union (EU) membership process, Gul said, ”we expect the EU to assist us in this process.”

CONVOY CARRYING COOKING FUEL CROSSES FROM TURKEY

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara said that a convoy of 59 trucks crossed from Turkey to northern Iraq carrying much-needed cooking fuel to the Iraqi people. The U.S. Embassy said, ”the first convoy will go to the city of Mosul, but as the number of trucks increases during the coming days, they will make their deliveries to many other cities.” ”This is another example of the continuing cooperation of the United States and Turkey in the rebuilding of a secure, democratic and prosperous Iraq,” it added.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

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EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: CYPRUS IS CONDITION FOR MEMBERSHIP

European Parliament Foreign Affairs Commission excluded the expressions in Turkey Report criticizing Kemalism. However, Oostlander, who prepared the report, pointed out that the essence of the report has not changed much. The report stressed that a new constitution should be made, and claimed that army constituted an obstacle in development of democratic system. The report said solution of Cyprus question has fundamental importance for Turkish-EU relations.

FIRST TURKISH COMPANY IN IRAQ

A convoy of 55 trucks loaded with gasoline and LPG, belonging to Turkish company Tefirom, which got the first tender in Iraq, passed from Habur Border Gate to Iraq.

Foreign Trade Director of Tefirom Companies Group Ruhi Bashelvaci said they won the tender opened by Kelloggs Brown and Root, which is a sub-company of Halliburton, that meets the needs of the U.S. army in Iraq.

Bashelvaci said 36 trucks would go to Iraq today.

RADIKAL (LEFT)

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NEW NIGHTMARE: MIGRATION

According to an inquiry carried out in 23 provinces, 500 thousand people will be added to the population of Istanbul this year. Officials of municipality stated that, ”this is the most serious disaster after quake.”

The inquiry said economic crisis is the primary reason of this migration.

GUL: REFORMS WILL BE CARRIED OUT

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Copenhagen criteria would be completed this year, and sent a message to the European Union (EU): Europe should help us, it should prepare its institutions and public for our membership.

Evaluating Turkish-EU relations, Gul said, ”our government is resolved to fulfill the remaining reforms this year without losing time. On the other side, we expect the EU to help our determination.”

TURKIYE (RIGHT)

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GUL: WE WILL WITHDRAW IF PEACE IS SETTLED ON THE ISLAND

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said it was possible for the Turkish soldiers to withdraw from the island in case a permanent solution is settled on Cyprus.

Gul recalled that existence of Turkish soldiers on the island was within the scope of guarantee agreements, stating that, ”obviously, withdrawal of Turkish soldiers is possible in case a permanent solution is found to the question.”

HERE IS NOBILITY OF TURKS

British The Times refuted the claims of the Greek Cypriots that ”Turks are looters”. Here are the two incidents: Elleda Kiriaku, a woman, had buried her jewel in the garden of the house while leaving the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). When TRNC President Denktas opened the doors, Elleda visited her house last week and a surprise waited for her. Owner of the house Zerrin Dogan had found the jewel and hid it thinking ”may be owner of them will come one day.”

Greek Cypriot citizen 45-year old Rula Savvidu was amazed when she visited the house they left. Marriage photograph of her parents was hung on the wall of the Turkish family. Books of her father were on the library. Rula could not keep her tears seeing that the swing she had used with her sister was still used.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

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VISIT OF BERLUSCONI UNTIES THE KNOT: ARIA AND AYCELL MERGES

Ongoing crisis about Aria was solved during Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s visit to Turkey. Aycell and Aria would merge. A decision was taken for establishment of a new GSM company with the partnership of Aycell, Aria and Is Bankasi.

No statement has been made about financial dimensions of the unification. It was reported that the decision was political, rather than commercial. The new GSM operator will continue to operate as Aria. Aycell and Italia will have 40 percent share and Is Bankasi will have 20 percent share.

TURKEY WANTS TO OPEN A NEW PAGE WITH REPENTANCE LAW

Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said ”repentance law” which Interior Ministry carried out the studies, will be different from the previous one. He said, ”if it was the same law, you would only extend the period of it. This is a different one and meet what is expected from it. In fact, Turkey wants to open a new page.”

Cicek said Justice Ministry conveyed its own views to Interior Ministry in this respect.