=============================== NYT-0513 (Friday, May 13, 2005) Republican Moderates in Senate Sense Intensifying Pressures ... By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG From the fight over John Bolton to the Social Security debate, G.O.P. moderates are caught in the middle as never before. NYT-0513 Wall Collapses Onto a Busy Road on the West Side ... By ROBERT D. McFADDEN A retaining wall collapsed onto the Henry Hudson Parkway in Upper Manhattan. No one was believed killed or injured. NYT-0513 Oddly, Hillary and, Yes, Newt Agree to Agree ... By RAYMOND HERNANDEZ Newt Gingrich has been talking up Hillary Clinton's presidential prospects in 2008, to the chagrin of conservative loyalists. --- NYT-0513: QUOTATION OF THE DAY "I know it's a bit of an odd-fellow, or odd-woman, mix. But the speaker and I have been talking about health care and national security now for several years, and I find that he and I have a lot in common in the way we see the problem." SENATOR HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, on her relationship with Newt Gingrich. NYT-0513 Protests Against U.S. Spread Across Afghanistan ... By CARLOTTA GALL Violence spread to 10 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces as four more protesters died in a third day of anti-American demonstrations. NYT-0513 Britain Backs Penalties if Iran Restarts Nuclear Program ... By ALAN COWELL Prime Minister Tony Blair said Britain would support U.S. moves to invoke the U.N. Security Council "if Iran breaches its obligations and undertakings." NYT-0513 China Says U.S. Impeded North Korea Arms Talks ... By JOSEPH KAHN A senior Chinese diplomat also said there was "no solid evidence" that North Korea was preparing to test a nuclear weapon. NYT-0513 Military Base, Awaiting Future, Tries Hard to Assure It Has One ... By KIRK SEMPLE The upstate New York city of Rome has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to sell the complex as an essential cog in a shrinking military. NYT-0513 Therapies Cut Death Risk, Breast-Cancer Study Finds ... By DENISE GRADY Combining standard chemotherapy and hormone treatment can halve the risk of death from breast cancer for at least 15 years, a study found. NYT-0513 Judge Voids Same-Sex Marriage Ban in Nebraska ... By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS A federal judge said the measure interferes with the rights of gay couples, foster parents, adopted children and people in other living arrangements. NYT-0513 Nominee for U.N. Moves to Senate; No Endorsement ... By DOUGLAS JEHL The Senate Foreign Relations Committee sent the nomination of John Bolton to the full Senate without a favorable recommendation. NYT-0513 Pentagon Plans Fewer Base Closings Than Once Expected ... By ERIC SCHMITT Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said that the Pentagon would recommend closing fewer bases because the military had less surplus space and capacity than was initially estimated. NYT-0513 DeLay Takes the Offensive in His Address to Supporters ... By ANNE E. KORNBLUT Barely mentioning his own troubles, Representative Tom DeLay mocked the Democrats for their losses in recent years and accused them of "bitter extremism." NYT-0513 In Console Wars, Xbox Is Latest to Rearm ... By MICHEL MARRIOTT Looking for an advantage in the video-console wars, Microsoft has unveiled the Xbox 360, which can act as a home entertainment hub. NYT-0513 Morgan Stanley Dissidents Describe Plan to Split Firm ... By LANDON THOMAS Jr. A dissident group of retired Morgan Stanley executives described in greater detail their proposal to split the firm in two. NYT-0513 Wal-Mart Lags but Target Hits Its Sales Goal ... By TRACIE ROZHON Target posted a better-than-expected profit on Thursday, while Wal-Mart reported its lowest sales growth in more than two years. NYT-0513 Overseas Demand Helps Lift Dell's Quarterly Profit 28% ... By LAURIE J. FLYNN Dell Inc. reported on Thursday that its first-quarter profit rose 28 percent on an increase in demand outside the United States. NYT-0513 Microsoft Says It Will Offer Virus Defense ... By JOHN MARKOFF Microsoft said Thursday that it would enter the consumer antivirus business as part of a subscription service that it will offer next year. NYT-0513 What Is a Number Worth? Some Athletes Pay the Price ... By LEE JENKINS For many professional athletes, a jersey number is a personal brand, and its price has escalated considerably. NYT-0513: HEAT LEAD SERIES, 3-0 Even With O'Neal Out, Miami Stays in Control of Series ... By DAVE CURTIS Shaquille O'Neal was out with an injury, but his teammates pushed Washington within a game of elimination, as Miami rallied to beat the Wizards, 102-95. NYT-0513 Giambi Is an Enigma Wrapped in Pinstripes ... By TYLER KEPNER As Jason Giambi begins his latest comeback, the Yankees do not know if he will even be a viable player again, let alone a valuable one. NYT-0513 Small Reality TV Shows Reveal Larger Truths ... By VIRGINIA HEFFERNAN With the influence of unscripted shows still strong, these clunky and sometimes tenderhearted series are the ones to watch to see what the formula has become. NYT-0513 New Chapters in the Dinosaur Chronicles ... By JOHN NOBLE WILFORD The American Museum of Natural History's provocative exhibition on dinosaurs offers something new to behold and imagine. NYT-0513 Before the Films Begin, a Dose of Cannes Pomp ... By A. O. SCOTT Does the Cannes Film Festival still matter in a world glutted with festivals? This question is sure to be posed and pondered during the 58th annual festival. NYT-0513 Connecticut Carries Out First Execution in 45 Years ... By WILLIAM YARDLEY and STACEY STOWE While death penalty opponents held vigil, a lethal injection was administered to Michael Bruce Ross, a convicted serial killer. NYT-0513 Fire on a Bridge Cripples Rail Service From New Jersey ... By PATRICK McGEEHAN A railroad bridge in Kearny, N.J., caught fire on Thursday night, shutting down all train service between New York City and Newark. NYT-0513 New York Public Library's Durand Painting Sold to Wal-Mart Heiress ... By CAROL VOGEL Alice L. Walton bought Asher B. Durand's "Kindred Spirits" from the New York Public Library for what is said to be more than $35 million on Thursday. NYT-0513: MOVIE REVIEW --- 'MONSTER-IN-LAW' A Nightmare of a Mom vs. Her Son's Dreamboat ... By STEPHEN HOLDEN Jane Fonda returns to the big screen in a comedy so one-dimensional and craven that it makes "Meet the Parents" look avant-garde. NYT-0513: TODAY'S EDITORIALS Plenty of Harm, Lots of Fouls John Bolton does not deserve to be ambassador to the United Nations, and the issue is not his "interpersonal style," as his supporters would like Americans to believe. NYT-0513: TODAY'S EDITORIALS A Rivalry and a Solution If there were any doubt about the wisdom of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's decision on how future emergencies should be managed in New York City, it was removed this week. NYT-0513: TODAY'S EDITORIALS (EDITORIAL OBSERVER) It's Only May, and the Tanorexics Are Already Complaining ... By CAROL E. LEE There's something new (and bronze) under the sun. NYT-0513: OP-ED COLUMNIST Always Low Wages. Always. ... By PAUL KRUGMAN Why America's workers need the safety net. NYT-0513: OP-ED COLUMNIST Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio? ... By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN The United States is cocky, and falling behind. NYT-0513: OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR Attention: Deficit Disorder ... By ROBERT E. RUBIN How to return the United States to fiscal sanity and economic health. NYT-0513: ON THIS DAY On May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot and seriously wounded in St. Peter's Square by Turkish assailant Mehmet Ali Agca. koko NYT-0514 NYT-0514 NYT-0515 (Sunday, May 15, 2005) Some Sunnis Hint at Peace Terms in Iraq, U.S. Says ... By STEVEN R. WEISMAN and JOHN F. BURNS Some Sunni leaders said that they would abandon fighting if the new Shiite government gave Sunnis more political power. NYT-0515 More Closings Ahead, Old Bases Still Wait for Hopes to Be Filled ... By DEAN E. MURPHY City officials across the U.S. continue to wait on the promises of redevelopment that came with the previous rounds of base closings. NYT-0515 Old Foes Soften to New Reactors ... By FELICITY BARRINGER Several environmentalists now believe that nuclear power should be reconsidered as a remedy for global warming. NYT-0515: QUOTATION OF THE DAY "Being born in the elite in the U.S. gives you a constellation of privileges that very few people in the world have ever experienced. Being born poor in the U.S. gives you disadvantages unlike anything in Western Europe and Japan and Canada." DAVID I. LEVINE, an economist at the University of California, Berkeley. NYT-0515 As Hundreds Flee, Violence Flares Anew at Uzbek Border ... By STEVEN LEE MYERS The president of Uzbekistan defended a harsh crackdown on a violent uprising as new protests unfolded. NYT-0515 Karzai Says Afghan Progress Is Protests' Real Target ... By CARLOTTA GALL President Hamid Karzai on Saturday blamed opponents of his plans to develop long-term ties with the United States for four days of protests that left 15 people dead. NYT-0515 Palestinian Leader to Meet Bush in Washington Next Week ... By STEVEN ERLANGER The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, is now scheduled to meet President Bush in Washington on May 26, after trips to China and Japan, Palestinian officials said Saturday. NYT-0515 SAT Essay Scores Are In, but Will They Be Used? ... By TAMAR LEWIN Three months after the SAT test with a new handwritten essay made its debut, many universities are still grappling with how, when and even whether they will use the new scores. NYT-0515 Following Editor's Ouster, Some Catholic Theologians in U.S. Expect More Papal Scrutiny ... By ANDY NEWMAN Many Catholic intellectuals in the United States are feeling the spotlight of papal scrutiny swinging this way. NYT-0515 3 Endangered Monkeys Die at Chicago Zoo ... By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS An endangered monkey is in quarantine while experts at the Lincoln Park Zoo try to determine what killed three others, the latest in a series of animal deaths at the zoo. NYT-0515 At Center of Senate Showdown, a Boxer Takes On a Surgeon .. By DAVID D. KIRKPATRICK and CARL HULSE The public battle over judicial confirmations comes down to two starkly different men: Senator Bill Frist and Senator Harry Reid. NYT-0515 Senators Say Bush Lags on Creating Terror Panel ... By ERIC LICHTBLAU Five months after a board was created to ensure that the campaign against terrorism does not erode privacy and civil rights, President Bush has yet to name any members. NYT-0515 As Nations Lobby to Join Security Council, the U.S. Resists Giving Them Veto Power ... By JOEL BRINKLEY The United States has warned Brazil, India, Germany and Japan that it will not support their cause unless they agree not to ask for the veto power that the five current permanent Council members hold. NYT-0515 Who's Preying on Your Grandparents? ... By GRETCHEN MORGENSON Lured by the promise of high interest rates, retirees are being persuaded to buy annuities, investments that usually lock up their money for decades and exact hefty fees for early withdrawals. NYT-0515 How to Succeed in Business, Without Really Succeeding ... By MICHELINE MAYNARD Glenn F. Tilton, the chief of bankrupt United Airlines, took home $1.1 million last year, making him the highest-paid executive at a major domestic airline. NYT-0515 Finally, Sisyphus, There's Help for Those Internet Forms ... By JAMES FALLOWS Interactions with many Web sites boil down to modern and extremely fast versions of an old and often slow process. NYT-0515 A Grand Central Made of Thin Air ... By J. D. BIERSDORFER Using original blueprints and old photographs, the designers of "Madagascar" build a virtual Manhattan with a Grand Central Terminal in all its magnificent detail. NYT-0515 Blogging, as in Slogging ... By DAVID GREENBERG Blogging is no longer for amateurs or the faint of heart. Blogging - if it's done well - has evolved into an all-consuming art. NYT-0515: CARDINALS 7, METS 6 Bad Outcome, Maybe, but Mets Are Feeling Good ... By LEE JENKINS At some point in September, the Mets might look back at Saturday's game and fool themselves into thinking they had won. NYT-0515 La Russa Sends Cards' Script Out for a Rewrite ... By JACK CURRY Even with the modestly revamped Cardinals in first place, Manager Tony La Russa spoke humbly and expressed concerns. NYT-0515 Nittany Lions Pull Together After Plane Crash Claims 3 Members of Player's Family ... By PETE THAMEL Penn State's improbable journey to the men's N.C.A.A. lacrosse tournament began in late March at Temple Beth-El in Providence, R.I. NYT-0515 The Day After Peace: Designing Palestine ... By JAMES BENNET A California architect and political naif has proposed an elegant plan for a new state. Against all odds, people are listening. NYT-0515 Hollywood Has a New Hot Agency ... By DAVID M. HALBFINGER The real-life trials and triumphs of the C.I.A. have usually eluded the movies. In seasons ahead, however, that will change. NYT-0515 Master of the Dark Arts ... By RANDY KENNEDY Banks Violette, the artist behind the Whitney's foray into arson, suicide and black metal. NYT-0515 With Vigorous Defense, Arsenal Stays Open ... By JONATHAN MILLER If the Defense Department recommendation stands, Picatinny Arsenal, an Army weapons research center in northwest New Jersey, will add nearly 700 jobs from seven other bases. NYT-0515 A New York Detective's Tricky Beat in Israel ... By JUDITH MILLER The presence of New York detectives overseas has strained the department's often tense relations with the F.B.I. NYT-0515 Venit, Vidit, Vicit. Then He Was Charged With Fraud. ... By ALAN FEUER The federal government obtained an indictment against Hakan Yalincak, prosecutors say, after he tried to pass a fake check for $25 million. NYT-0515: IN THE MAGAZINE Russian Icons ... By NICOLAI OUROUSSOFF Soviet architecture of the 20th century began with utopias and ended with kitsch. Soon the best of it may be gone altogether. NYT-0515: TODAY'S EDITORIALS What to Like About Base Closings By closing and consolidating facilities it no longer requires, the Pentagon would free about $5 billion a year for the additional personnel and equipment it needs very badly. NYT-0515: TODAY'S EDITORIALS Dick Cheney's Right to Conceal The Bush administration hardly needs encouragement to deny public access to vital government information. NYT-0515: TODAY'S EDITORIALS A New York Moment for Arkansas A painting that portrays a definitive link in the history of New York's artists and writers is bound elsewhere. NYT-0515: TODAY'S EDITORIALS (EDITORIAL OBSERVER) The Fine Art of Getting It Down on Paper, Fast ... By BRENT STAPLES What we need now is a revolution in writing instruction, not just another test prep exercise. NYT-0515: OP-ED COLUMNIST Just How Gay Is the Right? ... By FRANK RICH Homosexuality is the ticking time bomb within the conservative movement that no one can defuse. NYT-0515: OP-ED COLUMNIST Liberal Bible-Thumping ... By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF Liberals can confront conservative Christians on their own terms. NYT-0515: OP-ED COLUMNIST Meet the Poor Republicans ... By DAVID BROOKS The Republican Party succeeds among the poor because it is seen as the party of optimistic individualism. NYT-0515: OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR Saving Our Lives and Protecting Their Turf ... By JOHN FARMER Without developing a culture of cooperation, no incident command system - whoever is in charge - can work. NYT-0515: ON THIS DAY On May 15, 1911, the Supreme Court ordered the dissolution of Standard Oil Company, ruling it was in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. (exceptionarily read Head only about Ocalan) ================================================================================================= HEAD-0513: DIPLOMACY Turkey braces for tough choice in Ocalan case (Friday, May 13, 2005) The European Court of Human Rights concludes the PKK leaderfs trial was not fair ANKARA - Turkish Daily News: Ending months of deliberations, the European Court of Human Rights issued a widely expected ruling and said Turkey did not grant a fair trial to Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), in 1999, thus pressuring Ankara to retry him. Despite fears of a nationalist backlash, the Turkish government signaled readiness to grant the retrial to Ocalan, saying it would deal with the issue gin line with requirements of the Turkish Constitution and international treaties.h In a bid to calm fears, government leaders also called for a gcold-blooded reactionh and said the public must have full trust in the Turkish judiciary. The ruling comes at a time when rising nationalist sentiments are feeding skepticism about Europe, which some believe is promoting Kurdish separatism in Turkey. The government says the judgment was unlikely to differ even if a retrial was held. "Whether this file is legally reopened or not, it is a file that has been closed in the conscience of the people,h Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters. The military, which fought against the PKK in the past, criticized the court's ruling as gpolitically motivated,h while the prosecutor at Ocalan's 1999 trial warned of ggreat upheavalsh if Ocalan is retried. Despite domestic unease, the price of non-compliance is likely to be high in terms of Turkey's bid to join the European Union, with which Turkey hopes to start accession talks in October. In Brussels, European Commission spokesman Amadeu Altafaj Tardi said the commission followed implementation of all the court's decisions closely. "This also a part of the implementation of the Copenhagen criteria [for EU membership], so it is very important for us,h he said. HEAD-0513: DOMESTIC Lawyers welcome European court verdict (Friday, May 13, 2005) ANKARA - Turkish Daily News: Lawyers for the imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, Abdullah Ocalan, welcomed yesterday's European court ruling that said the 1999 trial of Ocalan was not fair and they called on Turkey to retry their client, news reports said. "This is one of the most significant cases to come before the European Court of Human Rights," the Associated Press News Agency quoted Mark Muller, a lawyer for Ocalan, as saying. "Turkey must respect the judgment -- the court indicated that a new trial would be the only reasonable redress," he said. Another lawyer for Ocalan, Mahmut ?akar, also welcomed the verdict but described it as deficient for what he said was the rejection by the court of another Ocalan appeal over the conditions of bringing him back to Turkey from Kenya, the Anatolia news agency said. Anatolia quoted ?akar as saying that he also launched a separate appeal to the European court relating to the conditions of the ?mral? prison island where Ocalan is serving a life sentence. (not-yet-bellow) HEAD-0513: DOMESTIC Military warns against increased terrorist threat (Friday, May 13, 2005) ANKARA - Turkish Daily News Land Forces Commander Gen. Ya?ar Buyukan?t said on Wednesday that the terrorist infiltration into Turkey was continuing and warned that the recent spate of explosives seized increased the risk of urban and rural attacks. Speaking during his tour of the Southeast, Buyukan?t brought to mind his earlier warning that the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) presence in Turkey had reached 1999 levels, adding that the terrorist threat was even more serious now. Last month saw a dramatic increase in the number of urban attacks perpetrated by terrorists, fortunately causing no deaths. In addition to the confiscation of explosives, police and gendarmerie forces have been recovering a large number of guns in the southeastern part of the country, believed to be smuggled in from Iraq. On Thursday, security forces discovered a cave used by the PKK as a depot in the village of Kavakl? in Hakkari, seizing guns and ammunition stored there. Security forces in ?zmir arrested a suspected terrorist in ?zmir who was believed to be recovering from injuries sustained while conducting attacks in rural areas. HEAD-0513 Ocalan's brother asks for amnesty Friday, May 13, 2005 DOMESTIC All News â â Lawyers welcome European court verdict â Foreign capital spurned in media â Military warns against increased terrorist threat â Ocalan's brother asks for amnesty â Determined deputy returns to the fold â Army: Threat from terrorism increasing â Two moderate earthquakes shake central Turkey â Ocalan's brother welcomes verdict â Intelligence chief requests retirement â Opposition blames gov't for Ocalan verdict â Foreign media ownership discarded â Government takes the rap â Domestic Newsline ANKARA - Turkish Daily News Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK/Kongra-Gel) leader Abdullah Ocalan's brother, Mehmet Ocalan, said they welcomed the European court's decision, calling for a general amnesty for his brother and all PKK members. He said if the PKK leader had been tried fairly in Turkey, the European Court of Human Rights would not have made such a decision. Meanwhile, pro-Kurdish Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) leader Tuncer Bak?rhan said Ocalan's retrial could be an opportunity for Turkey to resolve the Kurdish question, asking Ankara to accept the court's decision. Bak?rhan also accused the opposition Republican People's Party of fueling nationalist sentiments. HEAD-0513 Army: Threat from terrorism increasing Friday, May 13, 2005 DOMESTIC All News â â Lawyers welcome European court verdict â Foreign capital spurned in media â Military warns against increased terrorist threat â Ocalan's brother asks for amnesty â Determined deputy returns to the fold â Army: Threat from terrorism increasing â Two moderate earthquakes shake central Turkey â Ocalan's brother welcomes verdict â Intelligence chief requests retirement â Opposition blames gov't for Ocalan verdict â Foreign media ownership discarded â Government takes the rap â Domestic Newsline Land Forces Commander Gen. Buyukan?t warns of increased risk of urban and rural terrorist attacks ANKARA - Turkish Daily News Land Forces Commander Gen. Ya?ar Buyukan?t noted on late Wednesday that terrorist infiltration into Turkey is continuing, warning that urban and rural attacks in the coming days were a definite possibility. Speaking during his tour of the Southeast, Buyukan?t brought to mind his earlier warning that the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) presence in Turkey had reached 1999 levels, adding: gMy statement created quite a stir. The increasing PKK concentrations are a fact. Unfortunately such infiltrations are continuing. We also have taken certain precautions against them.h He continued: gThe terrorist threat is even more serious now. Terrorists infiltrating into the country are unfortunately carrying C-4-class plastic explosives with them.h He noted that during recent raids by security forces, significant amounts of explosives were seized, adding, gI would like to let people know about the present threat.h Recent attacks: Last month saw a dramatic increase in the number of urban attacks perpetrated by terrorists, fortunately causing no deaths. It was reported that a suspected female suicide bomber was detained last week carrying 1.5 kilograms of C-4 plastic explosives in Diyarbak?r. Also, two people were arrested and the 7.5 kilograms of plastic explosives they were storing were seized in Ankara and Istanbul. In addition to the confiscation of explosives, police and gendarmerie forces have been recovering a large number of guns in the southeast part of the country, believed to be smuggled in from Iraq. Police in Istanbul found two unexploded bombs on April 26. One was located under the Halic (Golden Horn) Bridge and the other near a bus stop in ?kitelli, Buyukcekmece. The police received a tip and cordoned off the area around the bridge before bomb disposal experts defused the 20-kilogram bomb. Terrorist cave discovered: On Thursday, security forces discovered a cave used by the PKK as a depot in the village of Kavakl? in Hakkari, seizing guns and ammunition stored there. Meanwhile, security forces arrested Elif Dayan (22) in ?zmir on Thursday. Dayan was receiving medical treatment and reportedly was involved in several rural attacks carried out by the terrorist organization. She already had a criminal record for publishing and distributing documents for the PKK. Reports say that she was injured during an attack and had come to ?zmir to receive treatment. HEAD-0513 Foreign media highlights Ocalan verdict Friday, May 13, 2005 DIPLOMACY All News â â Turkey braces for tough choice in Ocalan case â Legal wrangling ahead â US Congressmen plan to visit northern Cyprus â Foreign media highlights Ocalan verdict â Turkey, Ukraine aim for advanced cooperation Giving the event extensive coverage, the foreign media emphasizes violation of the right to a fair trial and possible mounting tension in Turkey over the Ocalan case ANKARA - Turkish Daily News The French media highlighted Turkey's violation of the principle of the right to a fair trial, and BBC emphasized that a retrial could stir tension within the country in their coverage of a European Court of Human Rights' decision that Turkey's trial of the imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was unfair. Announcing the event in a news bar, French news channel LCI said Turkey had violated the principle of the right to a fair trial. The channel also emphasized that the European court had called on Turkey to retry Ocalan. Also reporting the same event, French daily Le Monde carried the news as the lead story on its Web site. Le Monde highlighted the court advising Turkey to retry Ocalan. France's official radio station, Radio France Internationale (RFI), reported the news that the European court ruled that the trial of Ocalan was unfair. BBC: A retrial in Turkey could stir tension: The BBC reported that a retrial of Ocalan, a hated figure for the majority of hard-line Turkish nationalists, could stir up tension within the country as it makes its bid for European Union membership. The BBC's Steve Bryant in Istanbul says a retrial would awaken violent passions among both Turkish and Kurdish nationalists. HEAD-0513 Turkey will do what it has to do Friday, May 13, 2005 OPINIONS All News â â Turkey will do what it has to do (Yusuf KANLI) â Rule of nine (DAVID JUDSON) â Understanding genocide (3) (Gunduz AKTAN) â Political games around Ocalan (Mehmet Ali BIRAND) TDN editorial by Yusuf KANLI Yusuf KANLI Within hours after the much-expected decision of the European Court of Human Rights that the 1999 trial of separatist terrorist chieftain Abdullah Ocalan was gunfair,h government spokesman Cemil Cicek -- ignoring the possibility of being exploited by political adversaries -- appeared in front of the cameras and announced that Turkey would do gwhat it has to do.h That is, Ankara has quickly ended speculation over how it would handle the expectations -- further consolidated -- that come with the European Court of Human Rights ruling, although the decision still requires the approval of the Council of Europe's ministers for a retrial of the terrorist leader. Of course, everyone has to trust the Turkish legal system, as Cicek and other top government officials have been trying to stress over the past several weeks. The Turkish government, without waiting for the Council of Europe meeting ordering Ankara to find a remedy -- that is, the retrial of the separatist gang leader -- must start the process for a retrial and demonstrate confidence in the Turkish judicial system. We should not forget that Turkey cannot remain indifferent to this court ruling and cannot refuse to take action on it. The verdict, issued by the court's Grand Chamber, is final and cannot be appealed. The rulings of Europe's top human rights watchdog are binding on all 46 members of the Council of Europe, pending formal confirmation by the council. Does Turkey have the luxury of becoming the odd man out of Europe by refusing to comply with the court's ruling and not retrying Ocalan? Although the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights have no formal linkage to the European Union, a Turkey that faces expulsion from the Council of Europe would have no place in the EU. Therefore, Cicek's statement was a prudent one from a gresponsibleh minister of a country serious about reforming itself and conforming with EU norms and values -- even if walking this road can sometimes be painful. The European court's decision will most likely enrage the gnationalistsh of this country, while political opponents of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) have, unfortunately, already started exploiting the issue. But is it nationalism or service to the nation to exploit an issue in a manner that amounts to harming the interests of the country and the nation? Branding the European court's verdict as gpolitically motivatedh and accusing the government of gnot explaining itself sufficiently on national sensitivities over this issueh is in itself a contradiction. How can one complain that a court decision is political but, at the same time, accuse the government of not making enough effort to get a political decision from the court in Turkey's favor? The ruling of the European court was something that we were anticipating for obvious reasons, and a retrial of Ocalan by a Turkish court in line with reformed procedures for trial will neither be an insult to the Turkish judiciary or our national honor, nor will it be the end of the world. On the contrary, a smooth resolution of this problematic situation with minimal domestic social hassle and conformity to new trial procedures will demonstrate Turkey's determination to adopt European norms and values and to become a full-fledged member of the EU. We are confident that Turkey will do what it has to do and start this process without waiting for the approval of the court verdict by the council. SCAN-0513 ... Turkish press yesterday Friday, May 13, 2005 PRESS SCANNER All News â â Turkish press yesterday â Turkish press yesterday II â From the columns â From the columns II A university rector's refusal to go to a ceremony held at his school and attended by the prime minister as a way of protesting the premier and the government was the lead story in some dailies yesterday. Turkish newspapers also featured the European Court of Human Rights decision on the retrial of imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Abdullah Ocalan. Disrespect or boycott?: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted harshly to the absence of Abant ?zzet Baysal University Rector Ya?ar Akb?y?k at a foundation-laying ceremony for a new building on the university campus. Cumhuriyet reported that Akb?y?k said in a written statement that he did not attend the ceremony in which the prime minister was in attendance in a bid to protest the government in general and its politicizing of university campuses. gUniversities are institutions that adopted the principles of Kemalism and the Turkish Republic. They are autonomous institutions where free thought is encouraged and embraced,h said Akb?y?k, reported Cumhuriyet. Cumhuriyet also quoted Akb?y?k as saying, gScience cannot be put under the pressure of political power.h Radikal reported that Akb?y?k didn't attend the ceremony as required by bureaucratic protocol because the event was held without informing the university administration. Yeni ?afak and Tercuman reported the event under headlines referring to the rector's protest as a disrespectful incident. gRector's disrespect to the republic,h read yesterday's banner headline in Yeni ?afak. Tercuman reported that Erdogan said in his speech at the ceremony: gBy not attending the ceremony, the rector acted disrespectfully towards the Turkish Republic. I am the prime minister of the state for which he is working as a civil servant.h gThis disrespectful behavior does not target me but rather the Turkish Republic,h Yeni ?afak quoted Erdogan as saying. Erdogan also said that such educators have nothing to offer students. gThere would certainly be anarchy and terror given the influence of such educators,h said Erdogan, adding: gThis rector didn't fulfill his duty. He should have at least sent one of his deputies, but he didn't do that.h Turkish press yesterday II Friday, May 13, 2005 PRESS SCANNER All News â â Turkish press yesterday â Turkish press yesterday II â From the columns â From the columns II AKP: Ocalan decision is judiciary's concern: Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy leader Dengir Mir Mehmet F?rat told reporters, gWe are witnessing with astonishment a controversy being created, as if this case has been brought against the AKP. There are hundreds of cases pending at the European court and they have all been launched against Turkey,h reported Radikal. Daily Tercuman quoted F?rat as saying, gThe court's decision is a legal decision, and it is something that our judicial authorities will deal with, not the government.h F?rat also said the political procedure will start and Parliament will play a role only if the judiciary refuses to retry Ocalan, reported Cumhuriyet. The AKP reportedly preferred that the Constitutional Court decide whether the retrial would take place or not, said the paper. Radikal reported that Land Forces Commander Gen. Ya?ar Buyukan?t emphasized that the military is a gpartyh to the issue since it has been fighting against the PKK, the actions of which were masterminded by Ocalan. The daily also said that Gen. Buyukan?t also tried to distance the military from the brewing controversy when he said, gAll of Turkey knows the sensitivities of the military and its attitude towards the issue.h Cumhuriyet reported that Gen. Hur?it Tolon, commander of the First Army, insisted yesterday that Ocalan's trial and punishment were fair. gThe trial was conducted in line with our Constitution and laws,h he said. gThe punishment given to the terrorist leader has found its place in the conscience of the Turkish people.h Republican People's Party (CHP) parliamentary group deputy leader Haluk Koc criticized the government for being gincompetenth in its ability to adopt the correct attitude towards the court's decision. The court announced its decision today that Ocalan was not given a fair trial in Turkey. SCAN-0513 ... From the columns Friday, May 13, 2005 PRESS SCANNER All News â â Turkish press yesterday â Turkish press yesterday II â From the columns â From the columns II The European Court of Human Rights decision concerning the retrial of the imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan, dominated the columns yesterday. The court's decision was announced after the columns were published, with the court ruling in favor of a new trial for Ocalan. Ocalan case: Radikal's Turgut Tarhanl? focuses on the court's decision and approaches the issue from a legalistic point of view. gWe should keep in mind that this decision will be the decision of a court and is a legal development. And the court that is to decide on the case was established according to the European Convention on Human Rights, which is an international convention that was ratified by Turkey,h says Tarhanl?. Tarhanl? says there is no way to oppose this decision legally but that Turkey has the right to engage in diplomatic efforts in the ministers' committee at the Council of Europe, to which the European Court of Human Rights is attached. Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal's advice for trying to affect the committee's decision on implementation of the decision seems ambiguous, argues Tarhanl?. The committee is also responsible for supervising the implementation of the ruling. Tarhanl? also says this decision was not specifically passed for Turkey and that the court ruled for retrial in other cases during 2004. gThere is another issue in Turkey's case -- a new regulation that impedes the retrial of Ocalan along with other cases.h By limiting the validity of the court's ruling for retrials beginning from Feb. 4, 2003, this regulation prevents the implementation of the court's ruling. However, there is also a constitutional article dictating that when a contradiction with domestic law and international laws ratified by Turkey occurs, the domestic courts shall abide by the international law, says Tarhanl?, which he argues could pave the way for a retrial. From the columns II Friday, May 13, 2005 PRESS SCANNER All News â â Turkish press yesterday â Turkish press yesterday II â From the columns â From the columns II Retrying Ocalan: Milliyet's Taha Akyol comments on the same issue and spotlights the decision of the European court, which he anticipates will be in favor of a retrial. Akyol says that the European Court of Human Rights' objections to the trial of Ocalan were on procedural points. gIf the court had accepted other objections made by Ocalan's lawyers, it would had been necessary to call for his release, but the court didn't do that,h says Akyol. gIf we had tried Ocalan without making procedural mistakes, then the court would have accepted the decision of the domestic court, which would have dealt a significant blow to terrorism both legally and politically,h argues Akyol. Akyol also says that if Turkey refuses to retry Ocalan, this will be interpreted as Turkey admitting misdeeds in the process leading to the original verdict handed down to Ocalan and to a fear of retrying him. Turkey should retry Ocalan while abiding by all necessary procedural rules and should end this process, ruling out any possibility of having to again deal with it in the future. eNo change in law for Ocalan': Milliyet's Fikret Bila comments on Justice Minister Cemil Cicek saying that the government is not working on any amendments concerning the retrial of Ocalan and reports that Cicek said the court's decision is a legal one and is something that our judicial authorities would deal with, rather than the government.h Bila lists three alternative scenarios that could happen following the court's decision. First, the local court could refuse to retry Ocalan and there won't be a retrial. Second, a court could rule that due to an article of the Constitution, international laws supercede domestic laws that exclude the possibility of a retrial for Ocalan and could pave the way for a retrial. The third scenario is that Ocalan's lawyers could apply to the Constitutional Court for the annulment of laws excluding the possibility of Ocalan's trial. The Constitutional Court could then resolve the issue. HEAD-0514 Ocalan retrial inevitable, risks touching raw nerve Saturday, May 14, 2005 DIPLOMACY All News â â Ocalan retrial inevitable, risks touching raw nerve â Armenia says Turkey border may open this year â FM Gul promotes improved relations with Ukraine â Turkey to press for inter-religion dialogue at Europe summit â Preparatory UN talks ahead for Cyprus The idea of a retrial may get even more unpopular in Turkey, as Ocalan describes any fresh trial as ea new chance to resolve the Kurdish questionf FATMA DEM?RELL? ANKARA - Turkish Daily News Turkey has little choice but to retry the imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) after the European Court of Human Rights ruled his original trial in 1999 had been unfair, and any failure to comply with the ruling may risk Turkey's bid to join the European Union just months before Ankara is due to open accession talks with the 25-nation bloc. The idea of a retrial, however, may be even more unpopular in Turkey than ever before, as Ocalan describes any fresh trial as ga new chance to resolve the Kurdish question.h If a retrial is held, Ocalan will have the chance to promote his idea of ga peaceful solution to Kurdish issueh in a court trial that is sure to be watched carefully by the outside world. Despite all the risks at home, however, a retrial is the only way to abide by the court ruling, contrary to arguments in Turkey that Thursday's ruling did not make a retrial compulsory. In the past, Turkey refused to pay compensation for several years to a Greek Cypriot woman for blocking access to her property in northern Cyprus as required by a ruling of the European Court of Human Rights. But now, the ongoing EU process gives Turkey little room to maneuver to delay compliance with the court's ruling. gTurkey does not have the luxury of playing with time,h said Bak?r Ca?lar of Istanbul University. gThe verdict is very clear. There must either be a retrial, or the case must be reopened.h HEAD-0514 Nationwide protests held over European court verdict Saturday, May 14, 2005 DOMESTIC All News â â A pioneer in food safety â Nationwide protests held over European court verdict â Opposition up in arms â Gov't downplays Ocalan verdict â AKPfs Cetinkaya: Next election November 2007 â Three soldiers die in terrorist ambush â Press Council proposals a non-starter â Press council await TCK to be amended in General Assembly â Eighth DYP congress â Police: Common sense required following Ocalan decision â Journalists point the way to democracy â Opposition holds AKP responsible â Domestic Newsline Members of ultranationalist associations and martyrs' relatives are unhappy with the Ocalan ruling ANKARA - Turkish Daily News Members of the Martyrs' Mothers Association and ultranationalists staged small-scale protests across Turkey protesting the European Court of Human Rights' ruling that the 1999 trial of the imprisoned terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan was unfair, reported news agencies yesterday. A group of approximately 150 people, mostly members of a local branch of the ultranationalist Idealist Clubs (Ulku Ocaklar?), gathered in Be?ikta? Square in ?stanbul to chant slogans under a banner stating, gIdealists will keep their word, now and in the future.h Speaking at a press conference held after the demonstration, Istanbul Idealist Club Chairman Yuksel Kalec said the verdict passed by the European court again demonstrated Europe's anti-Turkish stance on human rights. gA retrial of Ocalan would mean not taking into account the will of the Turkish nation,h he said. Elsewhere, Idealist Workers' Association Adana branch members protested the decision by hanging an effigy of Ocalan. eNo one can retry Ocalan without asking us': The Martyrs' Mothers Association held a press conference in front of association headquarters in Ankara to protest the decision. gThose who want to divide Turkey are active now,h said Chairman Hamit Kose. He claimed that Turkey would be dragged into chaos if a retrial takes place. Also holding a press conference to convey their displeasure, Martyrs' Mothers Association Erzurum branch head Hatem Tetik said, gNo one could retry Ocalan without asking us.h Hailing the verdict, pro-Kurdish Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) Diyarbak?r branch chairman Mesut Be?ta? said that only more democracy and justice could resolve the Kurdish issue. gCurrent statements from the government and some opposition parties put the judiciary under pressure.h HEAD-0514 Gov't downplays Ocalan verdict Saturday, May 14, 2005 DOMESTIC All News â â A pioneer in food safety â Nationwide protests held over European court verdict â Opposition up in arms â Gov't downplays Ocalan verdict â AKPfs Cetinkaya: Next election November 2007 â Three soldiers die in terrorist ambush â Press Council proposals a non-starter â Press council await TCK to be amended in General Assembly â Eighth DYP congress â Police: Common sense required following Ocalan decision â Journalists point the way to democracy â Opposition holds AKP responsible â Domestic Newsline Deputy PM ?ahin says there is no need to overreact to the European court decision, noting that the matter will be studied the by relevant European institutions ANKARA - Turkish Daily News State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali ?ahin said on Friday a European Court of Human Rights decision that terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK/Kongra-Gel) leader Abdullah Ocalan's rights were violated during his trial was a matter that should not be exaggerated. He said the relevant European Parliament institutions would study the verdict, as would Turkey. Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy leader Hayati Yaz?c? said on Friday that no one had any reason to fear a retrial of Ocalan. gThe Turkish people have set standards in applying justice throughout history. The European court's decision will be reviewed from this perspective,h said the deputy leader. Ar?nc: Domestic laws prevent retrial: Parliamentary Speaker Bulent Ar?nc said even if the European Court of Human Rights had recommended Ocalan's retrial, it would be impossible to execute the ruling due to changes made in Turkish law. Speaking during an official visit to Australia, he said the Criminal Procedures Law (CMUK) had been passed with a provision preventing Ocalan's retrial. He believes the European court decision is just an opinion and that Turkey must do what is necessary in accordance with the rule of law. He said he was sure Turkey would argue at the European Council's Ministerial Committee that the decision does not translate into Ocalan's retrial. (Yet Another Exception) HEAD-0514: FOREIGN Protests over insults to Koran spread (Saturday, May 14, 2005) ISLAMABAD - Reuters: If the reported desecration of the Koran by U.S. interrogators in Guantanamo Bay detention center had happened in Pakistan the guilty men would be staring at a probable life sentence or worse. Muslims consider the Koran the literal word of God, treating each book with deep reverence, and the episode has embarrassed the United States with its Muslim allies in the war on terrorism. There have been bloody protests in Afghanistan and public outrage in Pakistan, which has called for a U.S. probe. SCAN-0514 Turkish press yesterday Saturday, May 14, 2005 PRESS SCANNER All News â â Turkish press yesterday â From the columns Turkish press yesterday The highlight of Turkish newspapers yesterday was the European Court of Human Rights ruling on a terrorist organization leader. The press commented on the ruling and covered reactions to it in Turkey. European court issues expected verdict on ebaby murderer': The European Court of Human Rights ruled yesterday that Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), was not tried fairly by Turkish authorities, recommending a retrial, Hurriyet reported. The court's 17 judges unanimously decided that the ability of Ocalan's lawyers to defend him had been restricted. Featuring the same story Radikal said the European court found deficiencies in the 1999 ruling and claimed that Turkey had breached the three articles of the European Convention on Human Rights: 1- Turkish authorities did not fairly try Ocalan; 2- Turkish authorities detained Ocalan for a longer period time than permitted before he appeared before a judge; and 3- Ocalan was subjected to ill treatment. Radikal said the court did not take into consideration nine out of 12 demands made by Ocalan's lawyers and called for a retrial. The political process will begin at a meeting of the European Council Ministerial Committee scheduled for July at which Turkey will have the opportunity to object to the court's ruling. However, diplomatic sources state that Turkey refusing to abide by the court's decision would damage Turkey's stance in the eyes of the Council of Europe and the European Union, which Turkey aspires to join. Cumhuriyet featured the military's reaction to the court's ruling and quoted Land Forces Commander Gen. Ya?ar Buyukan?t as saying that the court issued a political verdict, while First Army Commander Gen. Hur?it Tolon said the verdict demonstrated a lack of acknowledgement of the independence of the Turkish judiciary. Milliyet commented that the government had remained cool in the face of the court's ruling and quoted Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo?an as saying that the Turkish judiciary would have the final say in the case, while Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said the government would do what was necessary on the issue. Deputy Undersecretary Taner to replace Atasagun: Deputy Undersecretary Emre Taner, 63, is likely to replace ?enkal Atasagun, the head of the National Intelligence Organization (M?T) who recently requested retirement, although his term in office has not yet expired, Hurriyet said. The paper went on to say that Taner had played a key role in the capture of PKK leader Ocalan in 1999. Posta said there were three candidates for the office of M?T chairman, among whom were Turkish Ambassador to Portugal Zergun Koruturk, Turkish Ambassador to Argentina ?ukru Tufan and Deputy Undersecretary Taner. The paper commented that if Koruturk, the daughter-in-law of deceased President Fahri Koruturk, were to be named, a female chairman would lead the M?T for the first time in its history. New penal code is still controversial: Parliament's Justice Commission disregarded concerns raised by civil society with regard to the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK), which will come into force in June, Zaman reported. Only 10 out of 20 controversial articles of the penal code were amended. The new code did not meet the expectations of nongovernmental organizations, which called for greater freedoms, the paper said. The press as well as professional organizations claimed the new code was not promising. Algeria: France should clean up its own front yard: Algeria made a shocking statement criticizing France for standing in the way of Turkey's ambitions for EU membership, Hurriyet said. According to news appearing on the ABHABER.com Web site, Algeria reacted adversely to France, which it feels is trying to prevent Turkey's possible membership by using excuses such as the alleged Armenian genocide. Amar Bakhouche, the head of the Algerian Senate, in a statement on ABHABER.com, said France insists on not apologizing to Algeria for the massacre of Algerians in 1945. gFirst of all, France should clean up its own front yard. France is making so-called genocide claims on Turkey. France does not want a Muslim population within the EU,h Bakhouche said. gWhat France did to the Algerians [referring to the incidents of 1945 when Algeria was struggling for independence] was genocide,h he added. SCAN-0514 ... From the columns Saturday, May 14, 2005 PRESS SCANNER All News â â Turkish press yesterday â From the columns From the columns Turkish columnists focused on the European Court of Human Rights' ruling concerning a terrorist party leader's trial in 1999. Some of the columnists said Turkey must abide by the court's decision, while others said the government should object to a possible decision to retry the terrorist party leader, asserting the independence of the judiciary in Turkey. Turkey should act with common sense on Ocalan case: Milliyet's Sami Kohen said the European Court of Human Rights ruling on Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), was totally legal but he said it seemed inevitable that it would soon take on a political dimension. The Strasbourg-based court recommends a retrial for Ocalan due to certain violations in the way Ocalan was tried in 1999 and the procedures the Turkish authorities followed during the trial. Mentioning that the 44-member European Council Ministerial Committee would decide how the European court's verdict should be implemented, Kohen said the committee was a political body and as such the issue would take on a political dimension after being assessed by the committee. gIf the committee asks for the implementation of the court's ruling, that is, if it asks Turkey to retry Ocalan, then the price of an objection to such a ruling would be very high,h he said. He said Turkey should act with common sense in the upcoming process since a long legal procedure lies ahead for Turkey. gThere is no reason for Turkey to be afraid or to have an inferiority complex.h Drawing attention to the possibility of the politicization of the matter, Kohen said anti-Turkey circles in the European Union along with anti-EU circles in Turkey may attempt to abuse the issue but made it clear that the EU had no links with the European court and the Council of Europe. gHowever, the court's ruling came at a time when Turkey's EU membership is being discussed,h he said and added that Turkey should ensure that the issue is not dragged onto a political platform. Ankara should evaluate the European court's ruling from legal aspects: Milliyet's Derya Sazak said the violation of the right to a fair trial [on the Ocalan case] was among the complaints sent to the Prime Ministry Human Rights Board and added that the data collected by the board was made available to the public in a document titled g2005 Information Dossier.h Praising the study for enhancing human rights standards, Sazak said safeguarding the right to a fair trial was a solution to reducing the number of cases filed against Turkey in the European court. gTurkey evaluating Ocalan's trial from a legal point of view, that is, without politicizing it, is in the national interest of a country on its way to the EU,h he said and warned that Turkey could be subjected to sanctions such as the cessation of EU accession talks or suspension of its possible membership. gI hope Ankara does not make such a mistake,h he said. Don't retry Ocalan: gAllow me to make the following points very clear,h said Hurriyet's Emin Cola?an, who also mentioned the European court's ruling on Ocalan. gIf the government decides to retry Ocalan, then the public will raise hell. Chaos will prevail in Turkey and the Turkish nation will not put up with such an inconsiderate decision. The government should announce at once that it will not agree to a retrial,h he said. Leveling criticism at the remarks made by Turkish officials who said the matter concerned the state, Cola?an said: gThis matter does not concern the state. The state has three branches: legislative (Parliament), executive (government) and the judiciary. The legislative body, namely Parliament, will have no part in deciding on a retrial for Ocalan, nor will the judiciary. Then who will make a decision on the issue? The government! So not the state but the government will make a decision. The government will bear responsibility.h gImagine Ocalan being retried. This will be a nightmare for the Turkish Republic,h he said. Cola?an mentioned that 35,000 people died as a result of terror wreaked by the PKK and thousands of security officials, little babies, teachers, grandfathers and grandmothers were killed. gTheir blood has not dried yet.h He said what is important is the national honor of the Turkish Republic. Three questions: Berkan said he wanted to share the following three questions that came to mind following the court's ruling with his readers. First, he said Ocalan was the most bloodthirsty criminal in the history of the republic and asked why Turkish authorities failed to try Ocalan in accordance with European standards. He then asked the meaning of depriving Ocalan and 90 criminals who were tried at the same time the right to a retrial. Third, he asked whether the ruling party saying that it was up to the independent judiciary to retry Ocalan was correct. Berkan said the issue was very important for security and stability in Turkey and emphasized that it was the government and the prime minister's duty to act courageously. European court's decision is a test for everyone: Sabah's Erdal ?afak said the European court's decision, which was not surprising at all, would be a test for everyone. gIt will be a test of courage for the ruling party; a test to act with responsibility for the opposition; a test to adopt contemporary and universal law for the judiciary; a test to act with common sense for the man on the street; and a test for the nation to adapt to the painful but inevitable changes brought by the EU process,h he said. ?afak said Turkey should immediately draw up a strategy within the legal framework on the issue and stressed that the judiciary should be involved in the process. gIn other words, the issue should not be turned into a technical problem to avoid strengthening the hand of anti-Turkey circles within the EU,h he added. HEAD-0514 HEAD-0514 HEAD-0514 HEAD-0514 HEAD-0514 HEAD-0514 HEAD-0514