SCAN-1222 Religion and secularism trade ... From a Dec. 21 article by Hurriyet's ENIS BERBEROGLU Did France take Turkey as an example for the turban ban? Well, maybe. But didn't Turkey has some lessons that it can take from France? For example, the turban ban in France is valid only in primary and lycee state schools. Private schools including religious schools are not under this ban. In other words, French people are loyal to the dictionary meaning of secularism. They do not allow religious symbols on students, teachers of state schools, on civil servants, doctors and nurses. Religion is not allowed in the state organs. State pledges giving service to people of all religions after maintaining its neutrality. But in our country we all know that the state has the ambition to control religion while religion "traders" have the ambition to gain control of the state. In this light, the General Directorate of Religious Affairs affiliated to the state is among the state organs that has crowded staff and has one of the biggest budgets. Imam-hatip clerical schools are not private schools, they are affiliated to the state. They were mostly founded due to vote calculations of political parties. They accept female students within this framework and finally the state created the turban issue with its own hands. Then those who say religion is under danger and those who claim there are threats against secularism battle in the political arena. Such secularism deserves such religion problems. SCAN-1222 Confused minds ... From a Dec. 21 article by Milliyet's Fikret Bila: United States' Special Envoy for Cyprus Thomas Weston is said to have a confused mind. This is what he himself said. At the end of his talks in Greece, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) and Turkey, he said he was leaving with a confused mind. He added that this confusion was one that was shared by many other people. Weston is right! There are other people with a confused mind, like himself. For instance, Guenter Verheugen. Probably, he is confused as well. How can it not be? He is the one who said the European Union would consider Turkish Cypriot polls as legitimate if opposition parties won and would deem polls to be illegitimate if pro-Rauf Denktas parties won. Now, what is going to happen? If he says the election polls are legitimate, that would not be considered as a polite move by opposition Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat. If he says they are not legitimate, that would be tantamount to recognizing Denktas and the KKTC. This is a complicated situation. So, naturally, like Weston, Verheugen must have a confused mind. This is not easy... But what creates this confusion? There is no doubt that Cyprus polls created the confusion in the minds of Weston, Verheugen and people who are thinking on the same line as them. If the opposition bloc had won a sweeping victory and thus Denktas had been sidelined, they would not have had a confused mind. They would have known what to do in this case. But this did not happen. Pro-Denktas parties and the opposition bloc came out of polls with equal number of seats. This situation strengthened the position and function of President Rauf Denktas. This is what created the confusion. But Denktas has a clear mind. He says: "Does the EU want Cyprus to become a member as a united island? Yes, it does. Does it also want Turkey to become a member? Yes, it does. Then, it should accept the accession of Turkey and a united Cyprus simultaneously. Until that happens, it should start and conclude talks with Turkey and the KKTC." This is a very clear proposal. But it may not sound right for those who have a confused mind. SCAN-1222 ... Hurriyet said: That last image The daily Hurriyet got the images of last month's terrorist bombings in Istanbul, which targeted the British Consulate General. In the image, there is an explosive-loaded truck, which entered the Consulate by destroying its door. The images were taken one second before the bombings. The Hino type truck is seen in front of the Consulate. The security camera monitored the suicide bomber Feridun Ugurlu, who was driving the truck. As soon as the truck accessed the Consulate, two police officials got out of their guard post and watched the truck loaded with bombs. This image reflected the last moment before the bombs went off. SCAN-1222 ... Hurriyet said: Headscarf protests in France In Strasbourg, France, many headscarved women held a protest in the streets and opposed the government's ban on political symbols -- French President Jacques Chirac previously banned the headscarf in public schools. During the protest march organized by the Muslim French Party, hundreds of women chanted slogans, saying that their rights were being infringed. SCAN-1222 ... Hurriyet said: Serious threat for Islam: Headscarf Tahar Bekri a Tunusian who lives in France and has published a few books lectures at Nanterre University about Arabian and Islam civilization. He says Muslim women should not take refuge in a headscarf in a bid to be liberated and they should oppose the Vehhabi approach, which bans any kind of comment with regard to the Koran and Islam. Bekri went on to say: "A headscarf is a threat for Islam as well as for France. A female student does not want to attend physical education lessons due to her religious belief. Islam is both a civilization and culture. However, Islamic students are not concerned with that side of the story. They don't know Arabic. They have not read the Koran. But some fundamentalist associations have brain-washed them. They think they will be a Muslim thanks to the dogmas imposed on them and after a while, they begin to put pressure on their environment." SCAN-1222 ... Milliyet said: Two Kurdish parties close to forming unity gov't Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (KYP) leader Jalal Talabani are forming a joint government in northern Iraq. According to the New York Times, the two leaders will form a unity government and increase pressure for a federal structure in Iraq. In the new government there will be six ministers from the KDP and four from the KYP. The Iraqi Governing Council's Kurdish members asked that the Kurds should supervise the oil basins in Kirkuk. Barzani said: "A federation will solve the problems of both the Kurds and the Iraqis. Kurds have their own land. It's Kurdistan. Kurdistan split up in the aftermath of World War I and one part remained in Iraq." SCAN-1222 ... Milliyet said: 'Where is the money you stole?' Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan sent tough messages to the Uzans without pronouncing their names and said: "Don't make me crazy. Where is the money you stole?" -- Turkey's Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) seized the Imar bank belonging to the Uzan family. The case against the bank is continuing while several members of the family are missing. Visiting Ankara's Siteler district, the biggest furniture-manufacturing center of Turkey, Unakitan responded to questions from the press and criticized the bank siphoners. The minister said, "We raised swindlers, not producers." SCAN-1222 ... Milliyet said: Temel's ambition Yasar Temel, 26, did not answer a question in the competition "Who wants TL 500 billion?" although he knew the right answer. -- Who wants TL 500 billion is a quiz show. Competitors have the chance to earn more if they give right answers. Temel just got TL 64 billion instead of TL 125 billion. The daily Milliyet interviewed Temel and his family. Temel said he has prepared for the competition for five years and he fell asleep at nights with the competition's music in a bid to prepare himself for the show's ambiance. He also watched every episode of the show many times. Temel said he bought many books to learn more. "I was graduated from Bursa's Uludag University. If I had studied for the university exam that much, I would have attended Oxford University," Temel added. SCAN-1222 ... Sabah said: Deal a blow to heroin use Police have found a rationalistic method in their fight against heroin. The testimonies of heroin addicts were published in a caricature format and this will be handed out to students. Writer: Ranking police officer Zafer Ercan... Cartoonist: Bahadir Boysal, who is very polular among the youth and he is also the cartoonist of Leman -- a comics book. Publisher and distributor: Istanbul Police Department. This interesting project's name is OMKEP. That is, Project to Prevent Drug Use by means of Stories. Istanbul police were aware of the fact that the youth do not like conferences or advice. That is why they prepared caricatures, telling the stories of drug addicts. Books will be delivered today in Istanbul through a meeting attended by 5,000 students and 500 families. Afterwards, caricatures will be sent to schools. Also, stories will be staged in theatres. Here is a story from the said book: "I was born in 1965. I went abroad with my family in early ages. I attended school in Germany until the 10th grade. Nobody guided me to attend my education. After school, I worked and did any kind of job. All of my friends were German. One day, we went to a disco with friends. One of them said he had a harmful substance. When my turn came, I inhaled it and then once more and more. I joined their parties so as not to be excluded or not feel lonely. When I was 17, I was sentenced to jail. Since I was not an adult, German police did not extradite me. When I was 18, I was arrested again. They did not extradite me. Finally, at the age of 19, police captured me and sentenced to prison for 14 months. At 20, I was expelled from Germany. In 1990, I did my military service. After I returned from the army two years later, I began to drink. Then I got married. I was using heroin through injections. It is a bad method. In 1996, I understood that I was afflicted with AIDS. My wife and I have carried HIV for five years. She can fight since she is strong. But I cannot fight against both heroin and AIDS. Do you wonder what I am doing. I am waiting for death..." SCAN-1222 ... Cumhuriyet said: Age of smoking reduced to 11 Prof. Murat Tuncer, head of a Department in Fighting against Cancer and an academic from Hacettepe University, said that the age of people starting to smoke has reduced to 11 and that approximately 17 million people were smoking throughout the country. "Smoking is a weapon of mass destruction," said Tuncer, adding that hundreds of medical centers can be established with the money that is spent on cigarettes. (no SCAN-1223) (no SCAN-1224) SCAN-1225 Jacobin France ... From a Dec. 24 article by Milliyet's Taha Akyol The French Council of State has made many decisions, last being on Oct. 3, 1996. According to this decision, the headscarf cannot be banned from public schools. However, if there is activity that obstructs education or refusal to attend classes, only then and only the school executive can take precautions. Meanwhile, French President Jacques Chirac formed a political "Secularism Commission" and banned the headscarf -- and if too ostentatious, the crucifix -- to public servants and high-school students. This ban, which pleased our Jacobins immensely, compared to our totalitarian prohibition, is very innocent. These symbols are free at universities, private schools and public places. Chief Rabbi of France Joseph Sitruk already went to Chirac's reception on Dec. 17 wearing traditional Jewish head-gear. Chirac did not accuse anyone of being "the enemy" as he was announcing the ban. The French Prime Minister in the 19th century Gambetta used to do that. Nowadays, our Jacobins use that kind of language. "Reactionary, phony liberal, fickle, stupid, degenerate etc." They say there are many reasons behind the ban. For example, they burnt a girl wearing a mini skirt in Algiers! And, the French Council of State did not hear this! In reality, this political decision made by Chirac has cleared the way for racism anti-Semitism. Those who support the ban say, "What business do they have here? Let them return to where they came from." There is no similar panic in Germany or Britain. German Prime Minister Gerhard Shroder supports the ban on public servants, but draws the line there, because, he knows letting them be educated is much better than excluding them. What Jacobins fail to understand is this. Is banning and excluding those different from the majority or mutual respect and social integration good for the country? SCAN-1225 Either 'federal Iraq' or disintegration (1) ... From a Dec. 24 article by Dunden Bugune Tercuman's Cengiz Candar Is there a possibility that Iraq could disintegrate? Yes, there is. However the "most courageous project of the 21st century" of the United States involves spreading democratic regimes throughout the Middle East and the Muslim world. Iraq is the beginning of this project; therefore, the United States won't allow Iraq to disintegrate. Besides, the disintegration of Iraq would destabilize the whole region due Iraq's structural characteristics and its relations with neighboring countries. The only solution that can assure the territorial integrity of Iraq is the establishment of a "federal and democratic" Iraq. A centralist, powerful regime that pressures people like the former regime id is no longer an alternative. We should view a federal Iraq as being in the best interests of Turkey. We know that the Kurds in Iraq long for an "independent state." The only thing to prevent such a development is a "loose federation." Peter Galbraith, the number-one expert on the Kurds who helped them draft their constitution, has written an article that appeared in a November 2003 publication of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace titled "Kurdistan and a Federal Iraq: How the Kurds Created Facts on the Ground." Galbraith concluded his article with the words: "Given a genuinely free choice, few of Iraq's Kurds would choose to remain part of Iraq. After twelve years of separation, the rest of Iraq is a foreign land to a younger generation brought up in the relative freedom and isolation of the Kurdish speaking north. For the older generation, Iraq is mostly associated with repression and genocide. The Kurdish leaders understand that independence is not a practical option today, but they face a public that is increasingly assertive on the matter. For instance, Kurdish non- governmental organizations have launched a petition drive for a vote on Kurdistan's status. "Over the long term, it is almost impossible to have a country that is both unified and democratic when the people of a geographically defined region almost unanimously do not want to be part of that country. By meeting many Kurdish aspirations, a loose federation may be the best hope to hold Iraq together. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that the CPA, preoccupied as it is with the deteriorating security environment and with constitutional timetables and modalities, sees any of this." L. Paul Bremer, head of the CPA, favors a federal Iraq formed by 18 Iraqi states and a relatively powerful central government in Baghdad. The Kurds are categorically against this plan. If Washington is forced to choose between Bremer's plan and the Kurds' determined attitude opposing this plan, it will probably choose the latter. SCAN-1225 ... Milliyet said: Police create panic It all began when two police officers from the Istanbul police department issued a warning to security guards at Akmerkez, Istanbul's largest shopping mall. The warning said: "Militants associated with Habib Aktas, the planner of last month's devastating terrorist bombings that targeted two Jewish synagogues and British interests in Istanbul, have arrived from Syria to carry out a third attack in the city. Akmerkez is one of the possible targets." This was a confidential warning; however, it was leaked to the Internet, creating panicked among residents. Istanbul Police Chief Celalettin Cerrah said it was a tip-off that had not been corroborated or confirmed. The department head and superintendent who were responsible for leaking the confidential warning have been placed on administrative leave. SCAN-1225 ... Milliyet said: Prime minister has changed, but what about his undersecretary? Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has had radical views in the past, but then he announced, "I have changed." But what about his undersecretary and Turkey's number-one bureaucrat, Omer Dincer? Has he changed? Does he still defend the opinion, "The republic should be abolished and secularism should be integrated with Islam"? Prime Ministry Undersecretary Dincer had given an address at a symposium in Sivas in 1995 in which he made the aforementioned remark. Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) parliamentary group acting chairman Ali Topuz delivered a speech in Parliament on Tuesday that made reference to Dincer's remarks. According to the text, Dincer's speech titled "Islam on the Agenda of Turkey and the World While Approaching the 21st Century" said that the republic meant nothing. Who is Dincer? Dincer was born in Karaman in 1956 and graduated from Ataturk University. He became the advisor of then-Greater Istanbul Mayor Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He worked as an academic at Marmara University and after Erdogan became prime minister became his undersecretary. SCAN-1225 ... Sabah said: The children died first The boat that sank off Turkey's southwestern coast on Sunday was carrying 69 illegal migrants, later identified as victims of a human trafficking gang. Only one Iranian national, Huseyin Dadkhani Maroi, was rescued. Maroi related the terrifying ordeal on the boat, which he had boarded in hope: "They made us get into a bus in Marmaris. Then 70 people squeezed into the boat. The pilots said we had arrived on the Greek island of Rhodes. The two pilots collected $1,000 from each one of us and then fled in a powerboat. One of us tried to steer the boat but was unsuccessful since the boat was taking on water and soon capsized. What I heard was screams. First children, then everyone became silent." SCAN-1225 ... Sabah said: 'They pressured me to become a radical' French daily Le Monde investigated the headscarf issue in Istanbul and made a headscarf-wearing student's remarks into the headline, "They pressured me to become a radical." Following the announcement of French President Jacques Chirac's proposal to ban religious symbols in public schools and state institutions, France has begun to discuss the law on secularism. Le Monde correspondent Nicolas Bourcier came to Turkey, where debates on the headscarf continuously take place, and met with students from Istanbul University. One of the students was Nur from the Faculty of Letters. Nur, who removes her headscarf at the door of the school, made some interesting comments about radical circles. Stating that the terrorist attacks in Istanbul had no connection with Islamic terrorism, Nur went on to say: "Youths who are financially disadvantaged can easily be dragged into radical circles. These circles give financial aid and manipulate young people. A similar proposal was made to me a couple of times." Murat, one of the leaders of Muslim Youth Organization, said: "We have Islamic views, and we want to have religious freedom." Ayse, who has leftist views, noted that the country was going through political change: "Islamic circles in particular have been changing. Those who have very strong Islamic leanings have left politics. We can sometimes meet on common ground with those with Islamic views since they are more moderate now." SCAN-1225 ... Radikal said: Erbakan escapes punishment for time being The Ankara prosecutor's office agreed Tuesday to postpone for one year the imprisonment of former prime minister and leader of the Saadet (happiness or contentment) Party (SP) Necmettin Erbakan for fraud at the request of his doctors. The postponement came just one day after the prosecutor's office issued an arrest warrant for 76-year-old Erbakan. Earlier this month an appeals court upheld a two-year-four-month prison sentence for Erbakan on charges of falsifying financial documents of his now-defunct Welfare Party (RP). Prosecutors accused Erbakan and other party leaders of falsifying party records to hide millions of dollars of cash reserves that were ordered to be seized after the party was closed in 1998. Erbakan has denied any wrongdoing. Welfare Party leaders said $3.5 million was given to local party branches. Turkish law prohibits those convicted of fraud from joining political parties and running for Parliament. The court ruling could ban the pro-Islamic politician from politics. The prosecutor's office agreed to the postponement after a group of doctors requested it while Erbakan received medical treatment for several health problems. SCAN-1225 ... Zaman said: IBDA-C on terror list The European Union will include the Islamic Great Eastern Raiders Front (IBDA-C) on its terror list in the wake of last month's terrorist bombings in Istanbul. The Turkish government had previously informed the union on terrorist organizations, sending the names of 10 organizations to Brussels after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks against the United States. Then Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit included IBDA-C on the list, which was sent to EU Commission Chairman Romano Prodi; however, the union only mentioned the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C). In addition, the PKK's new manifestations, the Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (KADEK) and the Kurdistan People's Congress (KHK), are not yet on the EU list. SCAN-1225 ... Zaman said: Regulations on Koran courses annulled A resolution voiding regulations that had previously been promoted by the Religious Affairs Directorate concerning Koran courses was published in the Official Gazette on Tuesday as a result of adverse reactions from the president and the military. According to the regulations enacted on Nov. 24 within the framework of a project to revise Koran courses, students would attend courses in summer and stay in dormitories or guesthouses during the school term. The regulations would also have provided imam-hatip graduates with employment since they were to lecture during the courses. SCAN-1225 ... Dunden Bugune Tercuman said: Christmas alarm from US U.S. authorities warned the Turkish government against a possible terrorist attack to be carried out by al-Qaeda. The warning revealed that the outlawed terrorist organization might conduct attacks using weapons of mass destruction. Also, the United States has boosted security at the nation's airports, train stations and bridges since the government raised the national threat level and said attacks were possible during the holidays. Many people shrugged off the heightened alert but some were nervous. Connecticut state troopers watched highway bridges and rode commuter trains heading in and out of New York. (On Sunday, the federal government raised the national terror-attack warning to "Code Orange," its second-highest level, following warnings that al-Qaeda may be plotting attacks against the United States during the holidays.) SCAN-1225 ... Dunden Bugune Tercuman said: Sezer and Arinc issue message for Christmas President Sezer and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc issued a message on the occasion of Christmas. Sezer said: "Turkey is a country where Muslims, Christians and Jews live in peace, tolerance and solidarity. Turkey is an example country for this. I hope Christmas will bring happiness and peace to the Christian world." SCAN-1225 ... Milliyet said: Support for EU rises by 10 pct Sixty-four percent of people backed Turkey's EU bid in June and this figure has now risen to 74.4 percent. According to a survey conducted by Hakan Yilmaz from Istanbul's Bogazici University and his team, the number of EU supporters in the country has increased by almost 10 percent. It was stated that the reason for the increase in the figures was due to the fact that the ruling AK Party convinced its supporters on Turkey's determination to access the bloc. In the Marmara region 80.5 percent of people favored the country's EU bid and the lowest figure was from Central Anatolia with 67.1 percent. Almost 40 percent of people surveyed considered the EU a Christian club while 45.3 percent thought that the union might include Muslims as well. HEAD-1225 Fire destroys Ankara mall HEAD-1225 Sezer, Erdogan issue Christmas messages HEAD-1225 ... ANKARA - Turkish Daily News ECHR to decide on headscarf case against Turkey in February * Warnings given for insisting to wear headscarves in classes ends up in ECHR The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is expected to make a decision on a headscarf case filed against Turkey sometime next February. According to a report by Anatolia news agency, the case filed by two Turkish citizens will be decided either in Feb. or March, 2004. During the court session on Nov. 19, 2003, lawyers from both sides made their cases. Aegean University Nursing Faculty student Zeynep Tekin and Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine student Leyla Sahin had argued that the academic warning they received for insisting on attending classes while wearing a headscarf infringed their human rights and filed a case at ECHR against Turkey for violating Article 9 of the European Declaration of Human Rights dealing with religious freedom. HEAD-1225 ... ANKARA - Turkish Daily News Dincer dismisses speech accusations * 'It's unfortunate that a scientific study submitted as part of a symposium is being misrepresented,' says the prime ministry undersecretary Prime Ministry Undersecretary Omer Dincer, who was criticized by Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy group chairman Ali Topuz for supporting Islamic Shariah law in a speech he made in 1995, said on Wednesday that if the study was examined in its entirety, it would become clear that it dealt with how the relationship between Islam, politics and culture existed in other countries and how it was perceived by political groups in Turkey...... HEAD-1225 Heavy rain and floods inundate Antalya HEAD-1225 Doctors protest government ... ANKARA - Turkish Daily News The Turkish Doctors Association and members of the Health and Social Service Workers' Labor Union on Wednesday staged a one-day protest against government's pay hike policy...... HEAD-1225 Japan give grant to retirement home in Tuzla Ankara - Japanese Ambassador to Turkey Tomoyuki Abeand and Chairman of the Executive Board Kamil Cetin Oraler, are signing the Grant Contract to support Kadikoy Health and Education Center Foundation (KASEV) in Tuzla today. The Embassy of Japan has supported the activities of the KASEV in order to establish direct friendship with the Turkish people. After the completion of this project, KASEV Elderly House will be provided with a special care unit of 44- bed capacity and the required special care services will be given to the elderly in need of nursing care. ... Turkish Daily News HEAD-1225 World put on year-end terror alert ... ANKARA - TDN with wire dispatches * Defense Secretary Rumsfeld says the terror threat against the United States is 'serious,' while Turkish police try to play down concerns, saying the 'best measures' have been taken The United States said Wednesday a threat of possible year-end terror attacks against the country was serious, and other parts of the world were also on alert on Christmas Eve, while police in Istanbul attempted to ease fear from an escalated risk of terrorist attacks in major centers of the city. "You ask, 'Is it serious?' Yes, you bet your life," U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told a Pentagon briefing, underlying the gravity of the terror threat...... HEAD-1225 Turkey to contribute $10 mln to Afghan restructuring HEAD-1225 Turkey, Israel sign security protocol HEAD-1225 ... WASHINGTON - Reuters US battles worldwide fallout from BSE * Washington firm, Verns Moses Lake Meats, recalls beef on mad cow concerns The United States battled the fallout on Wednesday from its first case of mad cow disease as the world's leading importers slapped bans on American beef and nervous investors punished fast-food giant McDonald's. In a huge blow for the $27 billion U.S. cattle industry, Japan and South Korea, the top two buyers of U.S. beef, swiftly halted imports along with Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Russia, Ukraine and South Africa. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman urged Americans not to panic, saying the risk to their health was extremely low. "I plan to serve beef for my Christmas dinner," she said. Washington firm recalls beef Meanwhile, Verns Moses Lake Meats has voluntarily recalled 10,410 pounds of raw beef because of concerns the products may contain meat tainted with mad cow disease, the U.S. Agriculture Department said on Wednesday...... HEAD-1225 Prosecutors postpone imprisonment of Erbakan for health reasons HEAD-1225 Coast guard calls off search for dozens of illegal migrants feared lost in shipwreck HEAD-1225 Kremlin says three Turkish militants killed in Chechnya HEAD-1225 Gaddafi's son: Bush, Blair to visit Libya HEAD-1225 Jury spares Malvo life in sniper case HEAD-1225 China arrests 24 Taiwan 'spies' HEAD-1225 Emergency declared in California county ... PASO ROBLES - The Associated Press * Aftershocks rattle beneath wine county; damage appears limited to the rural county between Los Angeles and San Francisco Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger toured the community hardest hit by the state's first deadly earthquake in nine years, declaring a local state of emergency even as aftershocks rattled beneath the central California wine country. "Obviously it's going to be a rough Christmas for people here in Paso Robles and the economic impact on the city has yet to be felt," said Paso Robles Mayor Frank Meacham...... HEAD-1225 Jackson lawyer Geragos achieves own stardom ... LOS ANGELES - Reuters When pop superstar Michael Jackson needed legal help recently, he turned to a high-profile lawyer who specialises in attacking his clients' attackers. Some joke that Saddam Hussein should seek the same lawyer -- Mark Geragos. In his unsuccessful defence of actress Winona Ryder, 46-year-old Geragos blamed the Saks Fifth Avenue security guards who caught her shoplifting. With accused wife killer Scott Peterson, Geragos says over-zealous California police prematurely implicated his client and bungled clues that could have led to Laci Peterson's real killer. Now in defending Jackson on charges that he sexually molested a young boy, Geragos is once again striking a familiar chord, saying 45-year-old Jackson is being victimised by a greedy mother and an over-zealous prosecutor. The charges against the self-declared King of Pop "are not only categorically untrue, but they're...driven by two things: money and revenge. We will prove that," Geragos said last week after the charges of seven "lewd acts" on a boy under the age of 14 were filed against Jackson. Defence lawyers say such indignation is especially important when representing a celebrity because of the need to clear the client not only before a jury but also in the court of public opinion. "Michael Jackson's ability to succeed as a performing artist turns on his ability to protect his reputation, and (Geragos) has to be aggressive in getting out there and getting out the other side of the story," said Los Angeles defence lawyer Chris Caldwell. Sounds like asparagus While most people still mispronounce Geragos's name (it rhymes with asparagus) and he hasn't quite achieved the status of star lawyer Johnnie Cochran, he seems well on his way. His list of clients -- who include Whitewater figure Susan McDougal, former U.S. congressman Gary Condit, Bill Clinton's brother Roger and rapper Nate Dogg -- has grown long enough that those drafting his firm's Christmas party invitation omitted Ryder's name (unintentionally, they say) from a paragraph listing their most notable clients. While Geragos claims to get no special thrill from the attention, he doesn't seem to mind it either. The walls near the entrance to his high-rise office are jammed with newspaper clippings. And a biography posted on his firm's Web site notes that he has been called by various publications as "arguably the hottest defence lawyer of the moment," "seemingly unbeatable" (likely an accolade predating Ryder's 2002 conviction on shoplifting charges) and "one of the best white-collar criminal defence lawyers in California." Before he went into voicemail-always-full mode earlier this year, Geragos was a frequent guest on CNN's "Larry King Live." And while he and his partners insist it's not hard to juggle the extremely high-profile Jackson and Peterson cases, an official at one Los Angeles-area court house said her office has been flooded with faxes seeking continuances for other cases Geragos is handling. Geragos said that about 10 percent of his workload is done pro bono, or without fee, often representing low-income Armenian defendants referred by an Armenian church in Glendale, near his home in the Los Angeles suburb of La Canada Flintridge. SCAN-1217 Will Turkey wait for France to solve headscarf issue? ... From a Dec. 26 article by RADIKAL's Haluk Sahin The headscarf issue which has long been discussed and has never been able to find a solution for, has been on the agenda in France in recent weeks. Since France is one of the leading countries in the world, the issue has been closely followed by many other countries, including Turkey. The difference between these countries and Turkey is that we follow the developments on the issue by taking sides, not in an objective way. More clearly, the sides of the headscarf debate in Turkey are waiting for France to solve the issue for us. If France bans headscarves in schools, some will stand up and say, "We told you! Even France, the country of liberty, has banned this." If the opposite happens, another group will claim, "We told you! Civilized countries do not favor such bans." We are used to leaving our problems to other people and wait for them to solve the problems for us. Will it be like this once again? I'm not claiming that conditions in France and Turkey are exactly the same. The debate on the headscarf in France is the concern of middle schools, ours is mostly related with higher education. The proposed French ban doesn't involve private schools, however in Turkey both state schools and private schools are obliged to obey the same rules. However, there are some similarities between the two countries. Turkey is more concerned, compared to Anglo-American countries, about the fact that religion takes control of the public domain. The situation of France is the same on this point. France's history of 220 years is the history of struggling against the church which wants to take control of everything. Similarly, in Turkey the intellectuals of the Ottoman period perceived religion as the cause for the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. They believed that the country could be saved only if they succeed in keeping state and religion apart and in decreasing the influence of religion on the public domain. This understanding is still valid in today's Turkey. Both France and Turkey have strict views against "reactionary movements" due to their past experiences. Britain and the U.S. who have no such experiences cannot understand the issue. They perceive these views as some kind of "fundamentalist secularism." Therefore sides should keep these in mind while interpreting comments from such countries. Now, let's look at how the decision of France will affect Turkey. I think Turkey should solve this problem on its own, without waiting for France and a solution can only be achieved by allowing girls who want to receive a higher education wear their headscarves. Closing doors on these girls pushes them to the extremes and makes them radical people. After all isn't the aim of a secular education to include and encourage women to take active roles in public life? SCAN-1217 ... Hurriyet said: Missing identity Daily Hurriyet discovered that Mustafa Salli, one of three Turks reported to have been killed during conflicts between Russia and Chechnya, was working at a restaurant in Istanbul as a waiter. Russian President Vladimir Putin's assistant on Chechen affairs, Sergei Yastrzehmbsky, had previously held Salli's passport in his hand at a press conference and declared him an international terrorist. However, Salli said that he had lost his identity card. The person who carried the waiter's identity card had received a passport from the police department in Istanbul on May 15, 2002. Nine days later, this person went to Georgia via the Sarp border gate using the passport. This incident brings to mind last month's terrorist bombings in Istanbul that targeted two Jewish synagogues and British interests. The militants who carried out the suicide attacks used others' identity cards and passports in order to fool the police. SCAN-1227 ... Milliyet said: YOK chairman's line on headscarf Higher Education Board (YOK) Chairman Erdogan Tezic said that the judicial bodies have sorted out the headscarf problem and no other authorities should be involved in the issue from now on. (Tezic replaced former YOK Chairman Kemal guruz since his office term ended.) At his first meeting, the new YOK chairman handed out French President Jacques Chirac's speech on the secularism principle in the republic. Tezic said that YOK, the government and the president were responsible for adhering to the judiciary. Speaking about the YOK bill, which led to controversies between the government and the board as the bill enabled the prime minister to control state universities and YOK personnel, Tezic went on to say: "We should prepare a bill that will not require any constitutional amendment. We want the government to take up the bill in Parliament without any delay. We prefer a bill which will be in accordance with the Constitution. There is no doubt that the government will also have its own preferences." 'Kurdish Constitution' is unacceptable The Turkish government will give a diplomatic fight for the rejection of the Kurds' draft constitution. Ankara has evaluated the "Federal Iraqi Constitution" and the "Kurdistan Constitution," which have been designated by the Kurdish Parliament in Arbil. The government declared that the draft was "unacceptable" since it was disregarding all ethnic minorities except for the Kurds and Arabs and now the government will try to have the draft turned down. However, Ankara is continuing to assess the draft, which has been formulated by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani and submitted to the interim Iraqi Governing Council. Diplomatic sources say Ankara will take the following steps on the issue: * The United States, which is the main authority in Iraq, will be informed on Turkey's uneasiness concerning the issue. During his talks in Washington, Prime Minister Erdogan will tell U.S. President George W. Bush the drawbacks of a federation in Iraq based on ethnicity and ask him to prevent these attempts. * The Turkish Embassy in Baghdad will establish contacts with ethnic communities in Iraq and ask them to voice their objections to the draft. * Turkmens, who will be mostly affected by the said draft, will be encouraged to present models to form a federation, which is more democratic and include all ethnic elements. * The government will hold talks with Syria and Iran and ask them to oppose the said draft. SCAN-1227 ... Sabah said: Rumors that spoil the league When two soccer players accused each other of being a lesbian, the age limit of the females' soccer league was increased to 16. Players ypunger than 16 will not be allowed to play in the league. The Football Federation's decision concerning the age limit for female soccer players has led to debates. The federation declared that the decision was made for a healthy structure within the soccer clubs; however, there were interesting allegations which were lying behind the said decision. It was stated that the federation made this decision due to mutual accusations between two female players during a final game last year. Now, 250 female players have been eliminated from the league due to the federation's decision. Many female players, who were left out of the league, reacted against the decision and said, "We are not lesbians and we should not pay for this." SCAN-1227 ... Sabah said: Istanbul celebrated Christmas Christian communities in Istanbul celebrated Christmas by praying and worshipping. Christian citizens living in Istanbul attended Christmas ceremonies held at churches. Despite last month's terrorist attacks, there has been no change in churches' Christmas programs. However, there were tight security measures around churches and their entrances. Police did not allow drivers to park in front of churches and there were security guards at the entrances. Apart from Christians in Istanbul, several tourists also attended ceremonies at churches. George Marovitch, spokesman for the Catholic community was very pleased with the messages of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc on the occasion of Christmas. SCAN-1227 ... Radikal said Police seize explosives in Istanbul Police confiscated almost 500 kilograms of explosives, which were to be used in a possible attack to be carried out in Turkey. The Anatolia news agency reported that al-Qaeda's links in Turkey were to carry out terrorist bombings in the country by using the seized explosives. SCAN-1227 ... Zaman said: Antalya flooded: Seven missing Stormy weather and heavy flooding have wreaked havoc in and around Turkey's Mediterranean resort of Antalya. Many streams were flooded, disrupting life in the city, and seven people were reported missing. In addition, four bridges collapsed in a village, putting a halt to traffic. The area also suffered severe power shortages due to the storm. (no HEAD-1227) (no SCAN-1228, no HEAD-1228) SCAN-1229 First revolt ... From a Dec. 28 article by Hurriyet's Ferai Tinc The leader of the German Christian Democrat Party's youth organization, Philipp Missfelder, claimed, "Elderly people are spending the financial resources of the country," bringing on to the agenda an important European problem that also interests Turkey. Missfelder mentioned the "old age" problem of Europe in a very realistic way, saying: "They go to the doctor every other day regardless of whether they really need to or not. If they were to pay 10 euros for each visit, they would sit in their houses." This was a negative statement for the Christian Democrats, since in the "old Germany" governments were determined primarily by the votes of the elderly. In fact, I was wondering when somebody would make such a statement. Young people are always accused of over-consumption; however, they are targeted by many sectors since they are perceived as the perfect buyers. They are given no opportunities for the future, and there are many unemployed young people due to the fact that the retirement age is continually being raised. Asked why he had made such a statement, Missfelder said, "We are paying everything for them, but when we get older, our needs will not be met." This is the first revolt by European youth. And this is an "opportunity" that should be closely followed by Turkey, which has a very young population. Europe has gotten older. Although governments are encouraging young people by giving them money to have children, they are first and foremost involved in efforts to guarantee their future. Turkey is a country with a young population. This has a negative impact; young Turks are viewed as rivals to young people in Europe, where the rate of unemployment is increasing. But this can have a positive effect as well. The need for a young population that will take on the economic burden of the elderly in Europe has been increasing. Turkey could be the one to meet this need. We should clarify and defend those things with which we can make a contribution to Europe on the way to European Union membership, such as the need for a young population in Europe. SCAN-1229 ... Hurriyet said: Ankara warns Kurdish groups The Turkish government reacted negatively to Kurdish groups who had previously drawn up a draft constitution that included only the Kurds and the Arabs in Iraq. A statement from the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that an overwhelming majority in Iraq would not accept this. The statement also included a message for the United States, claiming that such a move was against an agreement made in Ankara on March 19, one day before the start of the Iraq war. The statement pointed out that any constitution to be drafted in Iraq should take into consideration all Iraqis. SCAN-1229 ... Hurriyet said: Kurdish proposal will lead to civil strife Arab and Turkmen members of the Kirkuk Assembly opposed demands made by the Iraqi Kurds, who want Kirkuk to be included in a federal formation. Turkmen and Arab representatives stressed in a joint communique that they were against a federation based on race. "The request for a federal formation will lead to civil strife in the region," read the communique, which was sent to top U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer as well as the Iraqi Governing Council. Turkmen representative Mustafa Kemal Yaycili said that the Kurds' demand was one-sided and would bring about crisis and hostility. Ali Medhi Sadik from the Kirkuk Assembly said: "We also have a project. We request that Iraq be divided into four distinct regions. The Kurds should be represented in Sulaymania, the Turkmens in Kirkuk, the Arab Sunnis in Ramabi and the Arab Shiites in Nedyas. Baghdad should be the capital." SCAN-1229 ... Hurriyet said: Turkish drivers stranded in Iraq Approximately 170 Turkish trucks transporting food sent by the United Nations to Iraq were unable to proceed into the Arab region of the country for security reasons. Turkish drivers said they were to take foodstuffs to the Arab region but that local administrators there had blocked their passage. Fearful of a possible attack, the drivers called on authorities to find a solution to their problem since they had been stranded in the region for 15 days. SCAN-1229 ... Milliyet said: Uzans' report sent to U.S. court: Four yachts, two private jets, seven flats in Trump Tower and trillions-worth of jewelry were purchased with $2.6 billion obtained from Nokia and Motorola. An expert report on the Uzans, accused on charges in connection with the collapse of Imar bank, revealed the Uzans' money transfers, that is, the Uzans used money that they recieved from Nokia and Motorola to finance their luxurious lives. The report forced the Uzans to pay $4.2 billion-compensation in the case opened by Nokia and Motorola against Telsim on charges of swindling. SCAN-1229 ... Milliyet said: Where will you escape? Here is the Avcilar district of Istanbul. The paper shows the district's photo taken from a helicopter. People in this region will feel a possible earthquake more than anywhere else in Istanbul. Despite this fact, construction of high buildings continues in the district. Daily Milliyet obtained an earthquake report from the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK). According to the report, the ground increases the effect of an earthquake even more. The region is not convenient for multi-storey buildings. However, construction continues. SCAN-1229 ... Milliyet said: Who are the metrosexuals? Nowadays, we frequently come across the word "metrosexual." Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen, in a column titled "Confessions of a Retrosexual" that appeared in the Dec. 27 edition of the Post, defined the term metrosexual as follows: "It has something to do with going to the gym and having facials and caring about things that real men are not supposed to care about, like their appearance." Cohen said that Italians are metrosexuals and so are some French, but not the British because among other things, they cannot keep their socks up. However, David Beckham is cited as being the most famous "metrosexual." SCAN-1229 ... Sabah said: Well done Food banks that will feed 2 million people will be established in Diyarbakir and Ankara in January. The directors of food retailers Migros, Taris and Karadenizbirlik have announced that they would support the food banks. The banks will be set up thanks to the efforts of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Diyarbakir deputy Aziz Akgul. Akgul said that the food supplies in the banks, which will also be set up in other provinces, would be directly conveyed to people in need. SCAN-1229 ... Sabah said: Iran in ruins The number of fatalities in a magnitude-6.7 earthquake that struck the city of Bam in southeastern Iran on Friday has reached 25,000, and it is estimated this number could climb to more than 40,000. According to Iranian officials, the quake also injured 30,000. Officials said the number of fatalities could increase due to the harsh weather conditions in Bam. Turkey has extended a helping hand to Iran, and a 79-person team traveled to the stricken area to help in search-and-rescue efforts. However, Iran turned down an offer of help from Israel. SCAN-1229 ... Sabah said: YOK bill not welcomed The government has criticized a Higher Education Board (YOK) bill formulated by a sub-committee of the Inter-university Council. The government considers the draft empty. Here are the government's criticisms: There is no academic freedom. Rectors will determine the future of academics. The bill paves the way for a structure that will be a "republic of rectors." There are deficiencies in the draft, that is, the Inter-university Council is being defined as the highest academic organ, but this is not true. Even a scientific ethics committee has not been formed. The draft does not include democratization or transparency. There is no administrative-financial autonomy. The bill has been carelessly designed and contains numerous ambiguous sentences. The bill, which sparked controversy between the government and academics, has also confused the rectors. Some rectors claimed certain articles of the current YOK law should be amended instead of legislating the bill, while some said the bill should be carefully analyzed and submitted to Parliament. SCAN-1229 ... Radikal said: Baykal: Gov't escapes Claiming that the ruling AK Party avoided enacting a law to lift deputy immunities, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said that Turkey is a country governed by rule of law and nobody should escape from the judiciary. Baykal went on to say: "Saadet (happiness or contentment) Party (SP) leader Necmettin Erbakan was sentenced to two years and four months imprisonment. Former Prime Minister Erbakan was accused of falsifying financial documents and misappropriating his now-defunct Welfare Party's (RP) funds. There were also deputies and ministers tried with Erbakan. Thirty out of 60 suspects were accused during the case. Six people are in Parliament now. Turkey is carefully watching the developments." Criticizing the government for escaping from the judiciary, Baykal said: "It was the prime minister who sent former Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and his friends to the Supreme State Council. An inquiry motion has been submitted to Parliament regarding former Motherland Party (ANAP) leader and party members for corruption. When it comes to himself, the prime minister is preferring to escape." SCAN-1229 ... Radikal said: Sezer: Ankara is the symbol of secularism The 84th anniversary of Ataturk's coming to Ankara was celebrated with a ceremony on Saturday. Political leaders in their messages drew attention to the importance of Ankara. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that Ankara is a symbol of secularism, democratic republic and contemporary values. SCAN-1229 ... Radikal said: Worldwide help for quake-victims in Iran Many countries are trying to help the earthquake-victims in Iran. Iranian President Mohammed Khatami thanked international society and world leaders for sharing the sorrow of Iranians. Here are organizations and countries helping quake-victims in the country: UN: First, it will send $90,000 and a specialized team. UNICEF will send $350,000 in humanitarian aid. Red Cross: Blankets, generators, medicine, 10 million EUR EU Commission: 2.3 million EUR Britain: 60-person rescue team and dogs Ireland: 1 million EUR France: 25-person rescue, 35-person medical team and a field hospital Italy: Dogs, rescue teams and firefighters Germany: Rescue team Belgium: Humanitarian aid, a field hospital, a medical team and $124,000 Greece: $300,000, rescue team and doctors Austria: Rescue team, dogs and generators Russia: Rescue team, dogs, 12 doctors and two planes loaded with rescue materials Japan: One million yen, medical team and $934,000. SCAN-1229 ... Cumhuriyet said: Unemployment rate on the rise CHP deputies who toured Anatolia in anticipation of the local elections to be held on March 28 have written a report demonstrating that the unemployment rate in the country was growing. CHP General Secretary Sinan Yerlikaya said that the elections would be between the AK Party and the CHP, adding that the CHP might garner 30 percent of the vote with qualified candidates. Yerlikaya went on to say: "Unemployment is growing in the country. Coffee houses [where the unemployed tend to congregate] are increasing in number. For example, there are four or five in every village. The situation is quite bad." SCAN-1229 ... Yeni Safak said: Cyprus summit changed to 2004 The fact that no government has been formed in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) has affected the plans of the Turkish government: A summit to be chaired by President Sezer that was planned for late 2003 will now be held in 2004. Turkey's Cyprus plan, which is based on a plan put forward by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, will be submitted to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Dec. 30. After the government assesses the plan, it will contact the KKTC administration. In the event that no government is formed in northern Cyprus, two summits will be held at the Cankaya Presidential Palace, with the second attended by KKTC President Rauf Denktas. Scan-1229 ... Zaman said: PKK was to carry out attacks Outlawed terrorist organization the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (KADEK), most recently known as the Kurdistan People's Party (KHK), was to carry out a large-scale attack using C-3 and C-4 explosives. During operations, police confiscated 55 kilograms of C-4 explosives and the gendarmerie seized a large amount of C-3 and C-4 explosives. The organization was reported to carry out bombings in greater cities. Scan-1229 ... Zaman said: Ozan Ceyhun: European leaders take to Erdogan Ozan Ceyhun, a member of the European Parliament and a deputy from the German Social Democrat Party, said that European leaders took to Prime Minister Erdogan. Paying a visit to his hometown Adana, Ceyhun said that it was possible for Turkey to get an accession date from the European Union since Erdogan was really effective. Ceyhun stressed that there were certain countries within the union which do not favor Turkey's full membership to the EU but Turkey was an important country for the union's interests. Scan-1229 ... Dunden Bugune Tercuman said: Passport saves life Omer Yoruk, working as a tanker driver at an airport construction in Mosul, had a narrow escape from death since his passport in his shirt pocket saved his life during the conflicts in which 17 U.S. soldiers died. Yoruk is married with one child. He recently found this job and went to Iraq for six months. After two days working as a driver, Yoruk experienced difficult moments during conflicts in the region. "One U.S. soldier and a Turkish driver were injured from shrapnel. I was at a parking lot. I couldn't decide what to do. While attempting to escape, I was shot in my arm and waist. Then I returned to Turkey although I needed money, Even if they offered me $10,000, I would never return to that region. After I get well, I will find a job here in Turkey." scan-1230 Democracy lesson from France ... From a Dec. 29 article by Zaman's Etyen Mahcupyan Our media loves people who give "lessons." Statements from officials who give their "lessons" to, for instance, northern Iraqi Kurds or European Union officials, appear in our dailies occasionally. Among these lessons, our media loves mostly those given by the military or bureaucrats to politicians, when they show the politicians their places. The theme of such lessons has always been the issue of democracy. This is in fact a huge mistake. In Turkey, democracy is perceived as a whole, comprised of certain ideas and certain stances. For that reason, those who don't wear headscarves think they dress more appropriate to democratic norms compared to women wearing headscarves. Because, their style of dress is more suitable to the image of democracy in their minds. What lies behind is the belief that there is only one truth for every issue. In addition, in this case when the people who are thought to know the truth, say something, the others should only listen and "take their lessons." In this sense, bureaucrats have always been presented as objective people, whereas politicians are presented as unreliable people. Therefore, bureaucrats appear to be "teachers" and politicians seem to be "students" taking their lessons. The fact that certain ideas are presented as democracy, causes other "lessons" to appear. Some people interpret the report of France's Stasi Commission on headscarves as a "secularism lesson." Because people in Turkey think that there is only one truth about secularism. However, even many European countries conflict with each other on the issue and there is not only one practice on headscarves. This is what is true. Social diversity does not allow a standard norm to be emposed into the public domain. Even modernity had to broaden some definitions of the concepts from which it takes its basis. Therefore, every country should produce its own "truths" on its own by society. This is what they call democracy in the Western world, because democracy is not a whole of certain ideas and symbols but rather a method for a social decision making process. France formed a respected commission to decide whether to ban headscarves in schools or not, this commission prepared a report working for months on the issue, this report has been widely discussed among people and as a result, it was used as a reference in giving a final decision. But this result does not mean that this is the general and universal truth. Even France forms a commission to decide on the issue of secularism. Because France doesn't favor to deviate from the path of democracy even in the name of secularism. We may interpret the decision of the Stasi Commission as right or wrong, but there is one difference between us and them; that is France is a democracy and Turkey is not. We are still busy with taking and giving wrong lessons. scan-1230 ... Hurriyet said: Controversial disclosure Erzurum Deputy Chief of Police Ali Ayazlar spoke at a press conference about a Ukrainian woman afflicted with HIV, claiming that she had had sexual intercourse with 1,335 men. The Ukrainian woman sat next to him at the briefing. Ayazlar said: "This woman is even more dangerous than a suicide bomber." Then the governor and the chief of police entered the hall where the press conference was being held. Afterwards, the press began to ask the woman questions. The woman was in tears and responded via a translator. Legal experts are divided on the matter. The chairman of the Erzurum Bar said that the woman should be publicly exposed, while some said: "The woman should have received medical treatment. Putting her on display like that is an infringement of her human rights." scan-1230 ... Milliyet said: We are losing our heritage Many cities in the world attract a large number of tourists every year thanks to their historic works of art; however, Istanbul's artworks are either being abandoned or are becoming shelters or shops for some shrewd people. The deteriorating situation of historic sites in Istanbul demonstrates our negligence. Most of the sites, which are on UNESCO's World Heritage list, are decaying. Even those historic sites that should be protected by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism are being neglected. Officials say that Istanbul is full of cultural works of art but admit that they are unable to protect them. Here are some examples of the neglect of Istanbul's cultural and historic wealth: * Tarsus Mosque is now being used as a shelter. * The walls of Tekfur Palace, dating from the Byzantium Empire, are collapsing. * A historic house on Dervishzade Street was set on fire two years ago. People said that the committee responsible for the protection of historic houses refused to allow anyone care for the house. * A dervish lodge belonging to Emir Ahmed Buhari, responsible for bringing members of the Nakshibendi sect to Istanbul, needs protection. * A cistern in the city has become a refuge for drunkards and glue-sniffers. scan-1230 ... Milliyet said: Hope is fading Hope is quickly fading that any more survivors will be found in the earthquake-devastated Iranian city of Bam. An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale struck the ancient city on Friday as residents slept. A spokesman for the Iranian Interior Ministry said that search-and-rescue operations would continue until they were sure that no survivor was trapped under the rubble. "I believe the toll will reach 30,000," said an official from Kerman province. However, armed looters in vans raided providers of aid who were brought into the destroyed city. Earthquake victims reported seeing young men armed with pistols and Kalashnikov rifles driving into Bam. They stole Red Crescent tents, while others on motorbikes chased aid trucks and picked up blankets thrown out by soldiers. In addition, a prison housing 600 inmates collapsed in the quake; some inmates died while others reportedly escaped. The world rushed to help Iranian earthquake victims, sending aircraft loaded with tents, food, medicine and rescue workers. Twenty-three countries pitched in to help, including the United States, Iran's arch enemy. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Iranian Ambassador to Turkey Firuz Dolatabadi and said the Turkish government was prepared to help the Iranians. Erdogan proposed that Turkey send Iran prefabricated houses, used when a major quake hit Golcuk in Turkey's Marmara region in 1999, an offer accepted by the ambassador. Public Works and Housing Minister Zeki Ergezen said that 700 prefabricated houses would be sent to Iran within three days. scan-1230 ... Sabah said: Turkey has a lot of homework to do 1- Judicial independence: The EU wants Turkey to eliminate shortcomings within its judicial system. For example, EU officials say the government should not intervene in the promotion or appointment of judges and prosecutors. The EU is also criticizing the situation of Turkey's State Security Courts (DGMs). 2- Fundamental freedoms: This deals with the freedom to form an organization, freedom of expression and freedom of religion. Turkey has done what was required, but EU officials say that subsequent legislation has prevented implementation of these freedoms. 3- Civilian-military: The EU is asking Turkey to reduce mililtary influence in politics and eliminate military domination of the National Security Council (MGK). Turkey has taken steps to rectify the issue but the amendments were not made in a timely fashion, thus resulting a military officer still serving as MGK secretary general. This should be changed before Aug. 30, 2004. Also, the EU does not approve of the military commenting on political issues. 4- The southeastern issue: What the EU means when it refers to problems and cultural rights in southeastern Turkey is actually the cultural rights of the Kurds. One of the major problems is the ban on Kurdish names, followed by broadcasting in Kurdish and Kurdish education. 5- Economic imbalance: The term "structural deficiencies" mentioned in the final declaration of the EU's recent Brussels summit refers to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In fact, this issue is related to Turkey's negotiation process. That is, the EU has for the first time asked a candidate country to adhere to such criteria. 6- The Cyprus issue: According to the EU, Turkey should sort out the Cyprus problem before May 2004. The EU wants negotiations to proceed on the basis of the so-called Annan plan, a blueprint for settlement proposed last year by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. scan-1230 ... Radikal said: PM Erdogan: Turkey happy with its regime Prime Minister Erdogan dismissed the opposition party's criticisms of anti-secularist policies against his government and accused it of deliberately creating controversies on Turkey's political regime, in order to undermine government's successes in all fields. Criticizing the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) for reigniting discussions on the country's regime, Erdogan went on to say that the country was happy with its regime. Meeting with the AK Party members at the Kocatepe Culture Center in Ankara in a bid to determine the party's strategies for the upcoming local elections, Erdogan touched upon the debates over the Turkey's political regime. The CHP has launched criticisms against Erdogan's AK Party government, saying it wanted to undermine Turkey's secular regime. The CHP accusations centered on a past speech of Omer Dincer, who is now the Prime Ministry undersecretary, which the CHP said revealed Dincer's anti-secularist inclinations. Defending Dincer, Erdogan said that Turkey was determined to keep the republic alive with all of its constitutional institutions, governmental structure and the country's regime. scan-1230 ... Radikal said: Twenty universities to be built Education Minister Huseyin Celik stated that he would not comment on the Higher Education Board (YOK) bill prepared by the Inter-universities Council before he analyzed it. In response to questions from the press regarding remarks from the new YOK Chairman Professor Erdogan Tezic, Celik said that he would not talk about possibilities as he would revise the YOK bill when finished. "I do not have extra time to talk back, I will continue to do my job," said the minister. (Tezic previously said that the government cannot impose sanctions due to having the majority of seats in Parliament.) Stating that the number of universities in Turkey was low, Celik promised before the upcoming local elections that the ministry would build 20 universities in different provinces of the country. Replying to a question concerning the theological school in Heybeliada, which is the second largest in the Prince islands in the Marmara, Celik said: "We will solve this problem but it is not the problem of only the ministry. I cannot give a definite time but I assure you that we will solve the issue." (According to the Constitution, the opening of private universities is under the supervision of the state. However, the Patriarch did not admit this condition, that is why, the theological school has not been opened.) scan-1230 ... Cumhuriyet said: Turkey to determine stance on Cyprus The Foreign Ministry has prepared a document based on the Annan plan titled "The Turkish Side's Position on the Cyprus Question." The document revealed that the Turkish side thinks the Cyprus issue can be solved within the framework of the Annan plan. Prime Minister Erdogan will be briefed Tuesday on the details of the document, but Turkey's position on the Cyprus issue is expected to become clear at a summit to be held by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. scan-1230 ... Cumhuriyet said: Ceyhun: Headscarf is a political uniform Ozan Ceyhun, a member of the European Parliament, said the headscarf was a political symbol in Turkey just as it was in France and Germany. Ceyhun discussed developments on the headscarf, which has appeared on the agenda of Europe. Drawing attention to remarks made by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who said he could not allow teachers to wear headscarves in schools, Ceyhun stressed that educators should not wear religious symbols. "France has been a secular country since its establishment. That is why they do not allow things that will spoil impartiality at schools. They are discussing the headscarf issue while certain circles are using the headscarf as a symbol of their political views," noted Ceyhun. Stating that Turkey had been experiencing problems, Ceyhun added: "The headscarf is a political uniform and it represents dogmatic Islam. There is no place within the EU for symbols that have political motives." scan-1230 ... Dunden Bugune Tercuman said: 'Popstar' Serkul Serkul, one of the finalists of "Popstar," who was eliminated last week, will appear on stage for New Year's Eve celebrations while many famous singers have been unable to land a suitable gig due to their astronomical financial demands. ("Popstar" is a music competition to determine Turkey's pop star. Finalists are eliminated every week according to results received by a public voting system.) Serkul will appear at a nightclub in Eskisehir. Club owner Cengiz Ivedi said he was counting on Serkul, adding: "In my opinion, Serkul deserved to win the competition. Unfortunately, he was eliminated, but we appreciate his talent in music. I believe he'll entertain our guests on New Year's Eve." (no SCAN-1231 though still 1231) SCAN-0101 Women are guilty ... From a Dec 31. article by Hurriyet's Bekir Coskun To be frank, I though she was a wooden female puppet. Her head was gazing at the floor. Then she moved and tried to hold her head high. I understood, she was alive. The 28 year old Ukrainian woman who was arrested in the eastern city of Erzurum on charges of carrying the HIV virus and slept with 1,335 men for money was on show infront of television cameras. She was forced to stand there throughout the press briefing. The woman who had escaped from a hungry and despair country founded by men was now in the hands of other men maybe having more money but no command of civilization or humaity. She was forced into prostitution. But men are not guilty! If they were, then the 1,335 men that she slept with should have been on display, too. In response to the outcries saying that such a woman already harmed both mentality and psychically should not be abused in such a way, the Erzurum Governor said, "But she is already a prostitute." In this country, no man who robbed banks or was involved in corruption has ever been put on display. There is no similar example among those who killed innocent people by forming gangs in the name of patriotism. Because they were considered as the "sons of this land." If that woman was guilty, then she must face the courts but it is clear that the males prefer to abuse her in front of the public. But I know that women are more courageous, more friendly, more honest than men. SCAN-0101 ... Sabah said: Twenty-one parties to run at the upcoming local elections ...... Also, State Water Works (DSI) Director Veysel Eroglu declared that he would be a candidate for Istanbul mayor at the local elections from the AK Party and that is why, he resigned from his post. However, it is being said that Prime Minister Erdogan does not warmly welcome Eroglu's decision. According to sources, Erdogan supports Istanbul's Tuzla, Pendik and Beyoglu mayors for Istanbul mayor post. SCAN-0101 ... Radikal said: Alawis: Omer Dincer should face death penalty The Pir Sultan Abdal Association filed a complaint against Omer Dincer, who is now the Prime Ministry undersecretary, due to his past speech at a symposium in Sivas in 1995 and asked that Dincer, who had anti-secularist inclinations, face the death penalty. The complaint sent to the Ankara Public Prosecutor's Office revealed that Dincer was in efforts to undermine the republic's fundamental principles and this was a crime according to the Turkish Criminal Code (TCK). SCAN-0101 ... Radikal said: Iran witnessed devastating quake after 2,000 years in Bam After an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale struck the ancient Iranian city of Bam, a Turkish rescue team "GEA" was among the first groups who went to the city. The rescue group, returned to Turkey on Tuesday and explained the moment of disaster: It was Dec. 26. A couple of hours after the quake, volunteers from the GEA obtained permission from the Iranian Embassy to go to the city. A seven-person team did not wait for a military plane and instead went to Iran immediately by regular plane and then to Bam. The group conducted search and rescue operations and then other teams from different parts of the world arrived in the city, hoping to find survivors trapped under rubble. Ozgur Bozoglu, the team's leader, said that the earthquake in Bam was much different from other ones. "We learnt that there had been no major quake to hit the city for 2,000 years. A 2,000-year-old castle in the city also proves this. All houses have been destroyed. I estimate the death toll would reach 40,000," added Bozoglu. SCAN-0101 ... Zaman said: Ecstasy pills seized in Ankara Ankara police captured three people, who brought more than 126,000 ecstasy pills to Turkey from the Netherlands. Police said that these people aimed to sell the pills in Istanbul before New Year. The suspects were sent to a public prosecutor's office to be tried on charges of drug trafficking. SCAN-0101 ... Zaman said: Five hundred people take HIV test in Erzurum At least 500 people went to hospitals in Erzurum after the disclosure of a Ukrainian woman afflicted with HIV at a press conference. Erzurum Assistant Health Director Dr. Serdar Yarar said that nobody among those who have been to hospitals in the city so far was infected with HIV. SCAN-0101 ... Milliyet said: Kutlu's remarks anger Gen. Yulman Land Forces Command Gen. Aytac Yalman has reacted strongly to comments made by Husrev Kutlu, a member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), who recently called for the removal of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's picture from Parliament. During an interview on Tuesday with Daily Milliyet's columnist Fikret Bila, Yalman expressed regret at Kutlu's comments and said that opposition to Ataturk and his principles, which has recently become more common, would not produce results. "It should be clearly seen that despite these kinds of remarks, Ataturk's principles will be defended and kept alive forever," said Yalman. Kutlu, head of the commission on parliamentary immunity, said the picture of Ataturk in a military uniform made him feel as if he were at a barracks, not in Parliament. Kutlu's comments have also caused distress within his own party. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has instructed AK Party parliamentary group Chairman Salih Kapusuz to initiate a disciplinary process that could result in Kutlu's dismissal from the party. SCAN-0101 ... Milliyet said: Celebrate the New Year like Mothers' Day Stressing that citizens should not confuse the New Year with Christmas, Religous Affairs Director Ali Bardakoglu said the New Year should be regarded just like Mothers' Day. Bardakoglu went on to say that the adoption of Christmas, a Christian 'religous festival,' was a sign of Turkey's degeneration. SCAN-0101 ... Yeni Safak said: Earthquake diplomacy Will the earthquake that hit the ancient Iranian city of Bam open a new page in Iranian-U.S. relations? According to observers, the doves in Washington want to establish dialogue with Tehran while the hawks insist on their tough policies against. Two important developments have taken place in Iran in one month. One of them was that Tehran admitted to open its nuclear energy facility for supervision upon pressures from Europe. The other was that the country warmly welcomed the request of countries except for Israel to help. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage held a telephone conversation with Cevad Zarif, Iranian permanent representative in the United Nations, who went to Tehran and told him that the United States was ready to help the Iranian quake-victims. After the approval of the U.S. request to help its arch enemy, U.S. military planes loaded with humanitarian aid and rescue teams landed in the Iranian territory with tons of aid. Diplomacy or war? All of these developments showed that relations between the United States and Iran might enter a new phase. Interviewed by The Washington Post, Powell said that the United States should open the door for the possibility of starting dialogue with Iran. Stating that Iran seemed to assume a new attitude, Powell went on to say that his country had still doubts on terrorist activities, al-Qaeda and other issues. (no SCAN-0102 but 0103 though still 0102) SCAN-0103 No need for tension ... From a Jan 2. article by ZAMAN's Ekrem Dumanli Let's take a look at Turkey's political picture: the EU schedule is running and the government desires to reach a solution in 2004; this is first. Second, a new puzzle has emerged from the Cyprus elections--the government wants to be rid of this problem, which will put the government in trouble in the international arena. Third, local elections are close, and the government is about to have a greater victory than it had in the November 3 polls. AKP's proportion of votes is about 50 percent in the public polls. The opposition is surprised and cannot produce reasonable objections and criticisms that could gain public support. The ruling party's unstoppable rise and the opposition's being helpless are carrying the debates out of democratic limits. Every event nearly turns into a regime problem. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a very clear message early this week: "We are determined to keep the regime alive". This warning was not pointless. I guess the Prime Minister wanted to warn his friends in the party and also respond to the people who frequently discuss the AKP government's legitimacy. He was not counted as wrong. For instance, a leaflet, distributed by the CHP Menemen District Organization and its meeting went beyond political opposition. It was at least provocative. It included incitements threatening social peace. It was obvious that some organizations, going to Menemen by buses, would cause trouble for CHP as well. The headquarters reacted against the police raid, it was right. However, the real issue to be reacted against was the content of that leaflet and the organization itself. Because pushing the country into a tense atmosphere is not a move that will help the oppositionc There is another side of the medallion: deputies, who failed to read Erdogan's warnings correctly. AKP Deputy Husrev Kutlu's statement regarding Ataturk's picture with marshal uniform, which is in the parliamentary, was not nice and could not be approved upon. The party administration has already initiated an inquiry on Kutlu. First Land Forces Commander Aytac Yalman reacted then General Staff made a similar statement. Yalman's said, 'one should not forget that the parliamentary itself promoted Ataturk to marshal rank' to illustrate the validity of the reaction. It would not be right to turn an 'irresponsible statement', which was criticized by both the government and Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), into a reason to fight or even to try to make a Hasan Mezarci case out of it. Because Turkey's sensitive balances do not permit fights. And there is a funeral prayer performed in the Fatih Mosque on the agenda. Mahmut Ustaosmanoglu's daughter passed away and thousands of people's wearing turbans and robes attending the funeral generated debate. Meanwhile, Muhsin Yazicioglu's picture with Mahmut Efendi was issued by the newspapers leading to harsh criticism of the BBP leader. Upon protests that 'this is not Turkey', Yazicioglu says, 'of course it is not all of Turkey but a minority view' and adds, 'I did not kiss his beard, I just offered a very old person my condolences by getting closer to his ear.' No need to exaggerate that. Turkey is sincerely faithful to democracy and Turkish people are convinced that they cannot give up democracy. There are groups that want foggy weather and hope for something to grow from chaos in this country. One should not be a fall guy for traps that are planned behind closed doors. SCAN-0103 ... Hurriyet said: Turkey can access the EU European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Gunter Verheugen, who always spoke negatively concerning Turkey's EU bid, said that it was meaningless to discuss whether or not Turkey would access the bloc. Verheugen criticized the German Christian Democrats, who opposed Turkey's integration with the union and said: "In Helsinki, Turkey was granted with the EU status. In the same way, this was repeated at the Copenhagen summit. This decision has been made with the support of countries where Christian Democrats are in power. That is why, it is meaningless to discuss Turkey's full membership to the bloc. In the event that Turkey fulfills the Copenhagen criteria, the country will gain the right to access the union." Stating that he decorated the walls of corridors with the paintings of young Turkish artists, the EU commissioner said that it was clear that no cultural difference was noticed when one looked at the paintings. Thus, Verheugen has indirectly criticized the German Christian Democrat Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), who claimed that the Turks had a different cultural identity and this would harm the EU's identity. (Verheugen's study room on the fifth floor is adorned with paintings and sculptures belonging to 30 Turkish artists. Some of these artists are Arzu Basaran, Leyla Gediz, Guler Gungor, Ergin Inan and Raziye Kubat.) German main opposition CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group Chairman Angela Merkel, in a statement to the German news agency, said that the EU's expansion towards the east was a historic decision. "However, the EU should adopt 10 countries which would be an EU member in May. Turkey's full membership to the union will harm the EU's enlargement process and the union cannot endure this," added Merkel. SCAN-0103 ... Milliyet said: The military uneasy with Dincer It has turned out that after reacting against Kutlu who criticized Ataturk's picture, the military informed the government of its uneasiness about a past speech of Omer Dincer at a symposium in Sivas, who is now the Prime Ministry undersecretary and had anti-secularist inclinations. SCAN-0103 ... Milliyet said: British intelligence needs Turkish speakers British intelligence agencies are looking for personnel who can speak Turkish in the aftermath of the Nov. 20 terrorist attacks which targeted the London-based HSBC bank and the British Consulate General. According to The Guardian, British intelligence units need personnel who know Turkish and other Middle Eastern countries' languages within the framework of the new world order, which took shape in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks against the United States. SCAN-0103 ... Sabah said: Count down in forming KKTC gov't Republican Turkish Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat, who won the Dec. 14 elections in northern Cyprus by a narrow margin, was appointed by the president to form the next government. Frequently stating that he was determined to settle the Cyprus dispute, Talat will have taken an important step in the event that he solves the issue. SCAN-0103 ... Radikal said: Turkey meets EU standards for passports The Interior Ministry will amend the law on passports to meet EU security standards, in compliance with a decision made by the International Civilian Aeronautical Organization. The new passports will include markings visible only under ultraviolet light. The 10 million Turkish passports currently in circulation will be gradually updated over the next few years. The process must be complete by 2006. SCAN-0103 ... Radikal said: No influenza epidemic in Turkey According to the Health Ministry there is no evidence of an influenza epidemic in Turkey. A comparison of statistics from previous years shows no significant increase in flu or any other contractable disease. The Health Ministry Basic Health Services Directorate previously asked the Contractable Diseases Scientific Advisory Committee to hold a meeting after press reports indicated a flu epidemic was spreading throughout the country. The committee has since released a report declaring: "Closing schools will not prevent the contraction of influenza. Citizens should be informed that infections are contracted through the respiratory tract and that proper protection should be taken." Schools in the Sason, Besiri, Gercus and Hasankeyf districts of Batman have been closed for two days due to outbreaks of flu. SCAN-0103 ... Radikal said: Assailants stone Ukrainian prostitute's hotel A group of assailants have stoned the hotel where Oksana Topar, the HIV-positive Ukrainian prostitute, was staying in Erzurum. Local police officials are unsure whether the attackers were disgruntled former customers of Topar or members of a human-trafficking organized-crime syndicate. "Those involved in the trafficking of women might have staged the protest because Topar's capture has ended the trafficking of women in this area." Police were unable to capture the stone-throwers, who escaped into the dark. SCAN-0103 ... Dunden Bugune Tercuman said: Kurdish banned in local elections The Interior Ministry has restricted political parties to the use of Turkish when campaigning for the upcoming local elections. Stating that the rights to broadcast and receive education in languages other than Turkish have been misinterpreted by certain circles, the Interior Ministry has warned provinces prior to the March 28 elections that only Turkish is to be used for election campaigns. SCAN-0103 ... Zaman said: Deputy's salary too small for comfort AK Party Bingol deputy Feyzi Berdibek claims he can't survive on his small salary. Berdibek, who said he was uncomfortable discussing salary matters, said his duties as a deputy required a large expense. "It is true that some deputies cannot manage to survive. Those criticizing deputy salaries should take this into consideration -- I receive approximately 100 visitors a day and I sometimes host them at hotels." Berdibek is currently spending about TL 30 billion per month, almost five times more than his salary as a deputy. SCAN-0103 ... Milliyet said: New year festival Thousands of people living in Istanbul rushed to squares in Taksim, Nisantasi and Goztepe to celebrate the new year. People from all ages enjoyed the concerts. Istanbul Municipality first announced that New Year's activities were cancelled for security reasons but then the municipality changed its decision and people in Istanbul enjoyed a lot during the activities. Istanbul Municipal Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna said that the best answer to terrorism would be to show that they were not frightened by it, otherwise terror would have reached its goal. (no SCAN-0104) SCAN-0105 How could we earn $48 billion in exports revenue? ... From a January 4 article by Milliyet's Osman Ulagay: "Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) recently announced that Turkey sent $47.9 billion worth of exports abroad in 2003. This was not a surprising figure but it was still interesting that Turkey could realize almost $48 billion exports. Turkey had earned $4.7 billion in exports revenue in 1981, while it sent $4.9 billion in exports only in December of 2003. These figures show that Turkey made a significant leap on the exports front after 1980. The first step in export rise took place in the first half of 1980. Turkey increased exports to $8 billion in 1985 from $2.9 billion thanks to its markets in Islamic countries from where it was buying oil. In that environment exports were encouraged by low real wages and generous export incentives. The second step pulled up the exports revenue to $11.5 billion in 1987. We had to wait for another leap in exports until 1994 when Turkey faced an important economic crisis. After the lira and real wages dropped significantly in 1994, exports surpassed $26 billion in 1997. The last step in export rise started with 2001 crisis and our exports rose to $48 billion in 2003 from $28 billion in 2000. The exports bounced in an environment where the domestic market narrowed and the fall in real wages followed the devaluation shock. Exports rose over 30 percent in 2003 partially due to depreciation of the dollar against the Turkish lira. Moreover, the exports rose in an environment where Turkey's export markets did not expand. When we compare Turkey's export leap with other countries which succeed in boosting their exports, there are a few interesting points: * Turkey made an export leap with its own investments in the absence of significant direct foreign capital. * Turkish entrepreneurs' dynamism and flexibility played an important role in this success and they realized such export revenue under instable conditions. * Turkey gained competitive power thanks to the flexible real wages and its ability to tolerate low wages in crisis periods. * Turkey's exports continue depending on traditional sectors except for the automotive and some allied-industry sectors. * There's no visible attempt of strengthening exports in sectors where advanced technology is used. $48 billion is not a little figure in terms of exports revenue but Turkey now needs new fields to increase its exports further. SCAN-0105 Serious or not? ... From a Jan. 4 article by Milliyet's Fikret Bila I mentioned the drawbacks of playing a dangerous game in Kirkuk. While Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was assessing the developments in northern Iraq, he said, "There is nothing serious in forming a Kurdish federation." The prime minister does not take the developments serious but the news coming from the region is quite serious: It is being reported that at least five people died during the protest staged by the Arabs and Turkmens. There is news revealing that Arabs and Kurdish police engaged in conflict in the southern part of Kirkuk. While Arabs killed one Kurd, one Arab was killed as a result of gun fire by Kurdish police. Also, police found near a bridge the dead bodies of two Kurds, who were stabbed to death. These are developments that should be taken serious. The efforts for a federation based upon ethnic groups caused tension in Kirkuk and led to conflicts between ethnic groups. The mentioned incidents should be taken serious due to their political results. The stance of the United States in the course of the developments in the region, acting like a bystander, should also be questioned. The United States does not even give a response to the Foreign Ministry's meetings in Baghdad. Iraqi Turkmen Front's Ankara Representative made a statement, which warns the United States and criticizes its wrong policies by drawing attention to the conflicts in which eight people had died. How can one explain the prime minister's not taking the developments serious since the government declared a "red line" in the face of the similar events that erupted in the region prior to the U.S.-led invasion in Iraq? The political results of the developments will have an important impact on Turkey's future. Ankara should act by taking into consideration these results. There is no doubt that the developments in northern Iraq which resulted in conflicts are the problems of only Turkey and Turkmens. Arabs in Iraq should also take into account the one-sided approach of the United States. According to the United States' current policies, it does not seem easy to restore stability and security in Iraq and protect and safeguard the country's territorial integrity. Also, U.S. goals on Iraq contradict its one-sided attitude. Furthermore, degrading serious developments means lack of policy. Ankara should take into consideration the developments in the region after the U.S.-led occupation and pursue a policy in line with this rather than not care. Otherwise Turkey's effectiveness in the region will be zero as a result of contradictory policies that it has pursued so far. SCAN-0105 ... Hurriyet said: Eight-and-a-half days later Ninety-seven-year-old Shahbanu Mazandarani, trapped under piles of rubble, was rescued eight-and-a-half days after an earthquake struck the ancient Iranian city of Bam on Dec. 26. The old woman, who emerged without even a scratch on her face, survived thanks to a lifesaving air space formed by the wood that fell on her. An official from the Iranian Red Crescent said that the old woman was lucid and answering questions. SCAN-0105 ... Hurriyet said: Federation trio Chief U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer went to Salahaddin together with Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani in a bid to alleviate the concerns of Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani, who had reacted adversely to the establishment of a federation in Iraq based upon provinces. Talabani signed an agreement with Bremer regarding the future of the country on Nov. 15 when Talabani was president of the Iraqi Governing Council. According to this agreement, Iraq will be set up as a federation based on provinces. However, Barzani, who has wanted an Arab-Kurdish federation for years, said this was unacceptable. As a result of this disagreement, Bremer took the initiative and went to Barzani's headquarters in Salahaddin. After a lengthy meeting, Barzani declared his opposition to a federation based on provinces and claimed this would harm the Kurds. At the end of the meeting, Bremer said everyone agreed that Iraq should be built on democracy and equality, adding: "We are trying to decide what kind of a structure a federation in Iraq should have. That is why we should negotiate more on the issue." SCAN-0105 ... Hurriyet said: We will fight for Kirkuk Federation of Eurasian-Turkish Associations Vice Chairman Umit Beyatli said the day the Kurds declare a federal Kurdish state, they would declare a federal Turkmen state. "If they claim Kirkuk is their capital, we say it is also our capital. We are ready to fight for Kirkuk," added Beyatli. Making the remarks during a press conference at Istanbul's Topkapi Ersein Hotel, Beyatli went on to say: "The Iraqi army and police and the clans and groups in the region have been disarmed, but Kurdish peshmergas and militias have gotten more arms. They have been granted power. Nobody dares to ask them anything since they are the ally of the United States and are acting in line with instructions from Israel." SCAN-0105 ... Milliyet said: Gangs in charge of begging Begging has become a professional sector. Gangs force physically handicapped children to beg on the streets in return for TL 15 million a day and hire healthy people from TL 10 million. The mafia controls beggars in Istanbul and gangs share the city and hire handicapped and healthy people in return for money. People from poor families come from Anatolia and when they earn enough money, they call other members of their families. They go to certain districts of Istanbul every morning and tour the streets with begging children. They shave the heads of healthy people and give them a face mask to wear to make them appear as though they are suffering from leukemia. SCAN-0105 ... Milliyet said: Lottery winner Ates feels sick Declaring that he won TL 2.5 trillion in the New Year's draw for the lottery, Volkan Ates doesn't leave his flat in Tokat. He first said he was one of four who won the big prize but later made contradictory statements saying that he had lost the lottery ticket. Two police officials visited Ates in his flat and asked him to confirm whether he was one of the winners or not. After a while, medical teams arrived in the flat of Ates, who was reportedly having a heart attack. Doctors measured Ates's blood pressure and said his health condition was good. Ates then said he was waiting for his relative, who was a police official in Izmir and added that he would make a statement later. Mayor Duran Evren said that Ates might have won the lottery but said he did not have the ticket. "Maybe he is frightened and that is why he is acting like he is but we advise him to declare if he is the winner or not," added the mayor. Dogan Porsuk, who sells cars confirmed that Ates came to his gallery one day after the lottery draw saying that he was very excited and that he would return again on Monday. "It seemed to me that he had won the lottery," added Porsuk. SCAN-0105 ... Sabah said: Bush invites Erdogan for lunch Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet U.S. President George W. Bush on Jan. 28. Then they will hold a press conference and have lunch at the White House. Erdogan will have the chance to talk with Bush concerning bilateral issues ranging from Cyprus to Iraq. U.S. authorities say that personal dialogue between the two leaders will improve after their personal meeting. According to Washington's protocol language, an invitation for lunch is considered the best invitation, which comes after being invited to Bush's farm in Crawford. Erdogan is expected to arrive in the United States on Jan. 26. He will meet with Turkish representatives and international finance circles in New York and then go to Washington. Erdogan here will meet key U.S. authorities and then lecture at Harvard University, which his son Bilal also attends. Erdogan's visit to the United States has been scheduled by his advisors. Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Istanbul deputies Egemen Bagis and Cuneyd Zapsu, the PM's advisors, aims at stressing the importance of bilateral relations between both countries and reviving Erdogan's image in the United States. Turkish and U.S. authorities say that the Cyprus issue will appear high on the agenda during the talks between the two leaders and Erdogan will ask Bush to support a package for a solution to the Cyprus question on the basis of the Annan plan. Bush is expected to stress that there is a chance to settle the Cyprus dispute before May 1. Also, Erdogan is expected to inform Bush on his concerns regarding the Kurdish leaders' plans for a federation and the escalated tension in Kirkuk. SCAN-0106 Kirkuk should not be Jerusalem ... From a January 5 article by Hurriyet's Ferai Tinc Last year, on a warm autumn night, they brought me to the Musalla district of Kirkuk to help me understand what was really going on in the city, which seemed tranquil at first glance. What I saw surprised me. Armed young people around the monument in the middle of the square were on the lookout for trouble coming from another area. The Turkmens were able to sleep comfortably only in this way. They told me the Americans hadn't taken any weapons away from the peshmerga while giving permission for only a restricted number to the Turkmens, and they were complaining about this attitude. The atmosphere I encountered in the streets of Kirkuk is not the atmosphere of a society that is heading for a regime of liberty. It sometimes resembled Bosnia and sometimes Jerusalem. The entire city was nervous. People have been standing guard against possible attacks in Kirkuk since April 9, when Saddam was toppled. In addition to the Turkmens, the Assyrians and the Arabs are also on guard. Meanwhile the Kurds are acting as if Kirkuk belonged only to them. Kirkuk is not an ordinary city. But oil is not the sole reason for that. It is a symbol of independence for the Kurds, the land of the ancestors for the Turkmens and for the Arabs it is the guarantee of Iraq's future. The common feature is its indispensability. This is what makes it similar to Jerusalem. The tension in Kirkuk has increased, especially after the Kurdish members of the Iraqi Governing Council put the federation proposal on the agenda on Dec. 20. First, the Kurds marched to show their support for the proposal; then the Turkmens and the Arabs marched to protest it, and it ended in bloodshed. I think the existing tension, still at a high level, is the result of an untimely step. The system and structure of the administration in Iraq will be brought to the agenda in 2005 according to the schedule that American administrator Paul Bremer made the various sides sign as part of the process of transferring power to the Iraqis. The fact that the Kurdish leaders have brought the federation problem to the agenda is not in line with the agreement they signed. Transferring power to the Iraqi Governing Council by June is on the agenda of the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority, and the federation issue is the one that will be taken up next year. So why make such an attempt now? The answer is what an Iraqi living in Kirkuk said to me: "These days, local elections, elections in civil organizations, are being held in the north. The competition to win the elections has heated up. That's why such an untimely step has been taken." Whatever the reason is, unless a common decision on the territorial integrity of Iraq is reached, Kirkuk will continue to be the riskiest region in Iraq for the stability of the country. Kirkuk runs the risk of becoming involved in a civil war that could spread throughout the whole region. SCAN-0106 What did Omer Dincer say? ... From a Jan. 5 article by Zaman's Etyen Mahcupyan The media critisized Prime Ministry Undersecretary Omer Dincer for an article he wrote eight years ago. The real reason was not his opinions, but the old bureaucratic structure trying to protect its hegemony at a time when the European Union and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) were questioning its very foundations. That's why it decided to blacken the name of a person whose integrity and academic career is well known. According to claims appearing in newspapers, Dincer wants the republic replaced with an Islamic structure. Most probably those who wrote this did not read Dincer's article. In Dincer's article he says that the time has come for the replacement of the foundations of the republic with a more inclusive, humane and more Islamic-oriented structure. If you don't read further, you might get the impression that he is pushing for a more Islamist government structure. Instead, what Dincer is saying is that as the world becomes more inclusive and people have a bigger say in what the government does, Turkey will become more Islamic, because, as Dincer points out, globalization goes hand-in-hand with localization. Regionalism and more authority to local governments would weaken nationalism and the nation-state, says Dincer, adding that people were after broader independence from the central government. When we combine these trends, Turkey will become more Islamic as it becomes more decentralized. At the same time, this will make Muslims more up to date with global developments and ideas. Dincer is warning Muslims about what type of government structure they want before this development takes place. In short, Dincer, when addressing the Muslims in Sivas eight years ago, said that world trends would make Turkey more Islamic but that this would be only possible with Muslims becoming true followers of modernity and progress. SCAN-0106 US troops raid Kurds The Kurds, who want to establish a federation in Iraq that includes Kirkuk, have been raided by U.S. troops who conducted an operation against the offices of the Kurdistan Democracy Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Kirkuk following Turkmen and Arab protests that erupted in the city last Wednesday. According to a spokesman from the U.S. Fourth Infantry Division based in Tikrit, U.S. troops confiscated two hand grenades, two Kalashnikov rifles, two rockets and a rifle during their raid. The spokesman also stated that a high-level official from the KDP was detained. The Iraqi Governing Council's rotating president, Adnan Pacaci, said that they were not against a federal system in Iraq but advised the Kurds to be patient. In an interview on Iraqi television, Pacaci warned neighboring countries not to intervene in Iraq's domestic affairs. Touching upon the protests staged by Turkmens and Arabs in the region, Pacaci called on Turkmens, Arabs and Kurds to reach an agreement and protect Iraq's territorial integrity. SCAN-0106 ... Sabah said: Turks prefer to marry to Germans Turkish women mostly prefer to marry German men and the United States and Europe follow. As for Turkish men, they generally marry girls from Russia, Moldova and Azerbaijan. The number of men who marry foreigners is higher than women, according to statistics from the Registry Office. SCAN-0106 ... Sabah said: He votes for the leader who toppled him An interesting event was experienced Sunday in Georgia. Former Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze voted for Mikhail Saakashvili, who deposed the former president through a velvet revolution. It was six weeks ago ... The opposition in Georgia did not recognize the elections results that resulted in the victory of Shevardnadze's party. Over 30,000 people led by Saakashvili raided Parliament in Tbilisi, saying that the elections were not fair and although Shevardnadze's term should have ended in 2005, Shevardnadze resigned. Nino Burjanadze ruled the country until the early elections. The leader of the coup Saakashvili (36) also stood in the elections, backed by the United States and Russia. However, all eyes were focused on Shevardnadze on Sunday's elections. The deposed leader made everyone surprised and said that he voted for Saakasvhili. SCAN-0106... Milliyet said: Negotiations with Denktas Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said that the Turkish government would prefer Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) President Rauf Denktas act as negotiator in settling the Cyprus dispute. Appearing on CNN-Turk's "Kafe Siyaset," Gul said that Denktas was a symbol of the island and added, "The KKTC president should take part in negotiations with the Greek Cypriot side after a new government is formed in northern Cyprus." Stating that as a Muslim country, Turkey's full membership in the European Union carried a significant amount of meaning when compared to the membership of other candidates, Gul said, "Turkey will send a message to Middle Eastern countries that they can be Muslim and at the same time democratic, modern and transparent." SCAN-0106 ... Milliyet said: Deputy's wife killed in traffic accident CHP Mersin deputy Huseyin Guler (39) lost control of the vehicle he was driving on Saturday on the Tarsus-Pozanti highway, hitting a truck on the slippery road. Guler, his son Berdan and his daughter Bersu were injured, while his wife Zahide and mother-in-law Atiye Canbolat immediately died. After spending New Year's in Mersin, Guler was involved in the accident on his return to Ankara. Dr. Ozcan Ozalpat said that the injured were not in serious condition but added that the deputy did not know his wife and mother-in-law had died. SCAN-0106 ... Radikal said: Name cover for Islamic terror Preparing for training its personnel against radical Islamist terrorist organizations such as Hizbullah, the Great Eastern Islamic Raiders-Front (IBDA-C) and al-Qaeda, the Police Department defined the course that it will give police staff as "the analysis of religiously-motivated formations." In the aftermath of November's terrorist attacks, which targeted two Jewish synagogues and British interests in Istanbul, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said it was unfair to associate Islam with terrorist activities and then he defined the attacks as religious terror. It seems that the police department was also affected by the prime minister's efforts to name the terrorist attacks. Now the department will train its personnel against radical Islamist terrorist organizations. According to the training program formulated by a commission led by Police Chief Gokhan Aydiner, the personnel will receive education concerning 256 subjects. Police staff combating radical Islamist terrorist organizations will be informed on the methods to fight against these organizations. Courses will be held in September and October. SCAN-0106 ... Radical said: Pocket Hercules candidate from MHP Former national weight lifter and World and Olympic Champion Naim Suleymanoglu has become a candidate for the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) to stand in the upcoming local elections. Suleymanoglu is running to be Kirac county mayor. "I am running for mayor to serve Turkish citizens in politics as well as in sports," said Suleymanoglu. SCAN-0107 Handshake OK; too early for a hug ... From a January 6 article by ZAMAN's Fikret Ertan Syrian President Bashar Assad is arriving in Turkey today for an official three-day visit. The visit is being hailed as historic since it is the first official visit of a Syrian president to Turkey. It could also be said to have military and political importance since Syria has abandoned its hostile attitude towards Turkey in recent years. It has strategic importance, both in regional and international terms, since the visit coincides with a period in which regional balances have not yet been determined in the aftermath of the Iraq war. What Syria expects from Turkey is more or less clear: Assad wants to improve bilateral relations with Turkey in an effort to balance pressure from Israel, Iraq and the United States. Turkey's demands of Syria have always been the same: Turkey wants the security of the borders between the two countries to be maintained and is insisting that Syria stop supporting terrorist activities that target Turkey. Turkey also insists that Syria give up its unacceptable behavior on the Hatay issue. Syria has now complied with a majority of these demands. Syria no longer supports Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorism (although it was forced on the country rather than being a voluntary move). It doesn't perceive the water issue to be a problem; it is engaged in efforts to preserve border security, after a fashion; and it is trying to boost economic ties with Turkey. However, Syria is still insisting on maintaining its traditional attitude on Hatay. Syria is under pressure from both Israel and the United States. Israel, despite denying the allegations, is attempting to build settlements in the Golan Heights, which it seized from Syria in 1967. One of Israel's generals said recently at a security conference, "In a situation of a conflict, Israel should seize Damascus as speedily as the United States seized Baghdad." The United States is issuing stern messages to Syria and is preparing to impose economic sanctions against the country. In addition to this, Syria has poor relations with the existing Iraqi administration, and its ties with Jordan are not that good, either. It also has problems with Lebanon. Therefore, Syria and Bashar Assad are facing heavy pressure that would have been impossible to predict for Syria even a few years ago. Syria now wants to smoothe its relations with Turkey and to feel secure on at least that front. Assad's visit is important when considering these facts. Turkey should shake hands with Bashar Assad and Syria and build strong relations with it; however it's too early for Turkey to hug Syria. 1982's Hama events and Syria's 20-year-long hostility towards Turkey are still fresh in people's minds. A handshake is OK, but it's too early for a hug. SCAN-0107 No democracy without women ... From a January 6 article by Radikal's Turker Alkan The Loya Jirga that will act like the founding father in Afghanistan assembled and approved the Constitution draft. Afghanistan will be an Islamic Republic, its laws cannot be against religion and women will be equal with men in terms of the law, the draft said. What if the laws do not accept the equality of men and women? What if the laws agree that a man can marry four women, what if the laws stress that women are not allowed out at night alone? Will that be equality in terms of the law? Will laws free women and will it help society to become democratic under these circumstances? I do not think so. There is such a dilemma in democracies based on religion. In this light, secularism is one of the fundamental elements of democracy. In administrations based on religion, you have to obey the never-changing laws such as the orders of God. People cannot make laws, they have to obey the existing ones. Of course, there are those who say, "this is how Islamist democracy can be." In this light, we have to agree with those who state, "every society is ruled by the regime they deserve." We cannot create a modern and democratic society from a tribe in one day. And we cannot expect women to break their chains and take off their burkas immediately and sit at the same table with men. I do not believe that the U.S. that invaded Afghanistan has such concerns. The U.S. would prefer an Afghanistan that obeys its orders without a thought. It doesn't bother if this society is democratic or not. It may even prefer an authoritarian regime that will be loyal to its own benefits. But there is a problem. Societies do not stay where they are. They change. They cannot imprison them to the narrow and never-changing horizon of a closed society as in the future due to mass communication tools. Islamic fundamentalism tries to redefine and prove itself over the gender issues. Turban or Burka, they are the flags of this war. Women that might rebel against the strict religious rules can put their stamp on the Islamic world. You cannot force women to hide themselves behind a burka forever in a world that is getting smaller. This transition might be slow and peaceful but it amy be swift and harsh, too. I do not believe that such a transition will be possible in the short run in Islamic countries. Just look at the chic spouse of the visiting Syrian leader and compare her with the spouses of our leaders. Don't you think, there is a mistake somewhere? SCAN-0107 ... Hurriet said: Misha's term in Georgia Thirty-six-year-old Mikhail (Misha) Saakashvili, who won the Jan. 4 elections in Georgia, said he would wage war on corruption and poverty in the country. Backed by embattled Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, who said he had voted for Misha because he wanted to believe that Georgia had a future, Saakashvili declared that he has opened a new page to save the future of his country. Garnering 95 percent of the vote in the presidential elections, Misha said at a press conference said that this represented a victory for the Georgian people, adding that he would implement reforms gradually, not all at once. SCAN-0107 ... Milliyet said: EU leaders back Turkey's EU bid European Union Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said EU countries backed Turkey's efforts in its efforts to join the union, particularly in view of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States. In an interview with German Focus magazine the EU commissioner said: "In 1999, EU leaders were saying that Turkey might be an EU member, but they did not actually want it; however, the majority of EU countries now back Turkey's EU bid due to security and foreign policy concerns." SCAN-0107 ... Milliyet said: What my father says will take place! Appointed by the KKTC president to form the next government in the northern part of Cyprus, CTP leader Talat has been conducting talks with Democratic Party (DP) leader Serdar Denktas, the son of KKTC President Rauf Denktas, with the result that the DP has become a key party for a possible coalition government in northern Cyprus. Talat abandoned his efforts to form a coalition government with National Unity Party (UBP) leader Dervis Eroglu, whose party had come in second in the Dec. 14 elections. Serdar Denktas will apparently pursue a policy similar to that of his father, saying that it would be impossible to find a solution to the Cyprus problem that is not favored by the KKTC president. Interviewed by Greek Cypriot daily Politis, the DP leader said that in reality it was President Denktas who had won the KKTC elections. "Denktas knows the rules of the game very well. If he says he will not sign an agreement for a solution, then we all have to go along with this. Everyone, including Talat, is aware of this," said the DP leader. "The Turkish government is also involved in efforts to settle the Cyprus dispute; however, it has not consulted with us. We only read about it in the paper," said Serdar. Believing that the military would not dictate its views to the Turkish government concerning a possible solution to the issue, Serdar Denktas said, "If a decision is going to be made on the issue, then the government and the military should make it harmoniously." SCAN-0107 ... Sabah said: He's only seven but he'll give a concert in New York Mertol Demirel is only seven years old, but he has been invited to give a piano concert at New York's Carnegie Hall, one of the most prestigious concert halls in the world, followed by another performance in Britain. Mertol is only a young boy, but concert halls are packed with audiences who want to hear the young pianist play. Even music critics admire the child prodigy, who performs famous composers such as Schumann, Bach and Tchaikovsky. "I worked hard to be successful, and my family helped me. I believe that I will be a world-famous pianist some day," says Mertol, who attends Bilkent University's music preparatory school. He would like to play football and ride a bicycle just like his peers, but has been forbidden to engage in these activities since they could injure his fingers, which are crucial to his success. He instead plays with a ball made of sponge. He practices at the piano four hours a day and is not allowed to watch music station Kral TV or to listen to other kinds of music. He's never even heard of famous pop-star Tarkan. When he was six, Mertol won an international competition in Sicily and has since then received special awards from several other competitions. SCAN-0107 ... Sabah said: Kutlu before the disciplinary board The ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) on Monday unanimously decided to send Adiyaman deputy Husrev Kutlu before the party's group disciplinary board on grounds of harming the party's image and causing misunderstandings. Kutlu had said last week that a picture of Ataturk in military uniform should be removed from Parliament. Acting to squelch resistance within the party, acting parliamentary group chairmen Faruk Celik and Haluk Ipek were able to persuade deputies who had objected to the proposed disciplinary action against Kutlu. The board will hear Kutlu's case over the course of one week and will either warn or censure him, but in the event the board orders Kutlu's dismissal from the party, he will be sent to the AK Party's central disciplinary board. SCAN-0107 ... Radikal said: Reforms in birth registration The Interior Ministry is preparing to make alterations to Law No. 1587 on birth registration. According to the said law, the Registration and Citizens Affairs Directorate asks for documents from non muslim citizens to prove their religious tendencies, so the directorate could fill in the religion part on identity cards in line with the documents. However, with the new alterations the directorate will not require a document proving their religious status. The person's declaration will be enough. Also, if a person doesn't want to disclose their religious affiliation they don't have to fill in the identity card's religious part. The proposal for making alterations to the law on birth registration will be clear in a month. SCAN-0107 ... Radikal said: US opposes Kurdish federation plans for the time being The United States is for the time being objecting to the plans of the Kurdistan Democracy Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) for a federation in Iraq by including Kirkuk. After U.S. Chief Administration in Iraq Paul Bremer's meeting with KDP leader Massoud Barzani and PUK leader Jalal Talabani, The New York Times said that the Bush administration wanted semi-autonomous Kurdish region's continuity in the country. According to The New York Times, the United States supports a federation in Iraq based on provinces. However, according to the agreement between the Iraqi Governing Council rotating President Talabani and Bremer on Nov. 15, Iraqis themselves will begin to rule their country as of June 30, 2004. According to Kurdish sources in the Iraqi Governing Council who gave information to al-Jazeera, Bremer opposed a Kurdish federation for the time being and asked Talabani and Barzani not to bring this issue to the surface until things begin getting better in Iraq. SCAN-0107 ... Cumhuriyet said: Headscarved girl dismissed from school Following remarks made by French President Jacques Chirac regarding secularism, a 12-year-old student was dismissed from a school in Strasbourg for refusing to attend class without a headscarf. Belgian senators Anne-Marie Lizin of the Socialist Party and Alain Destexhe from the Liberal Republican Movement have proposed a commission be set up to ban religious symbols in Belgian schools. SCAN-0107 ... Zaman said: Israel sends message to Ankara for rapprochement before Assad's visit Israel and Syria have been making efforts to improve their bilateral relations with Turkey. It seems that Syrian President Bashar Assad's historic visit to Turkey will help improving relations between Damascus and Ankara. Israel has taken the initiative prior to the Syrian president's Ankara visit and declared that it approved the Manavgat Water Supply Project. (Turkey will be ready to export water to Israel and other Middle East and African countries after the implementation of the Manavgat Water Project in the south. The project, located in the Mediterranean port city of Antalya, was also known as the "Peace Water Project" which was launched in 1992 to sell potable water from Turkey's Manavgat River to Israel. However, the implementation of the project came to a halt due to opposition by Israel's powerful religious Shas party which then controlled Israel's Ministry of Infrastructure.) Planning to use Manavgat water in 2006, Israel wants to invite Energy Minister Hilmi Guler to Israel for an agreement. Israeli Infrastructure Minister Joseph Paritzky declared that Israel planned to buy Manavgat water to strengthen relations with Turkey apart from its water need. Also, Israel proposed Turkey last month to act as a mediator to solve the problems between Syria and Israel and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan warmly welcomed this request. SCAN-0107 ... Yeni Safak 'Yellow-red-green' house owner subject of investigation The Hakkari Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into Yusuf Ciftci, who had painted the exterior of his two-story home yellow, red and green. According to the Dicle news agency, police asked Ciftci, who had been detained by the gendarmerie for the same reason, why he had painted his house these colors since they represented the flag of the outlawed Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (KADEK). SCAN-0108 ... Hurriyet said: Organization lies behind headscarf issue Following French President Jacques Chirac's recent comments proposing the banning of religious symbols in state institutions, an 11-year-old Turkish girl known only as Hilal was dismissed from a school in France for refusing to attend classes without a headscarf. Dr. Thomas Milcent, believed to be close to the fundamentalist Muslim Brothers' Organization, ironically turned out to be responsible for the dismissal of the student at the Charles-Walch College in France's Haut-Rhine region. Milcent began to be called "Dr. Abdullah" after his conversion to Islam. He went to the school's disciplinary board and consulted with the principal in an attempt to prevent the girl's dismissal. In an interview with daily Hurriyet, school principal Serge Blanchard said the girl's mother had previously attended the same institution without wearing a headscarf but that when she was 16, she was taken out of school by her family and got married. The principal said: "We began to follow her. She at first refused to take off her headscarf and then refused to attend physical education classes. We informed her family since this was against school regulations. Her family came here with Dr. Milcent, and they forced us to make a decision on the headscarf issue. On Nov. 27, the disciplinary board ordered the student's dismissal from the school." The family applied to the regional rectorate to complain about the board's decision. On Dec. 18, a commission set up by the rectorate approved the dismissal. The family is now planning to go to court with the help of their consultant, Dr. Milcent. SCAN-0108 ... Sabah said: We don't want to risk Turkey's friendship Meeting with Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc on Tuesday, Syrian President Bashar Assad thanked the Turkish Parliament and Turkey for rejecting a March 1 troop deployment motion that would have allowed U.S. troops to invade Iraq through Turkish territory, adding that this decision had contributed to peace in the region and saying that his country was ready to do its best to avoid jeopardizing its friendship with Turkey. Assad and Arinc spoke on several issues ranging from outlawed terrorist organizations, particularly the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), most recently known as the Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress (KADEK), to regional peace. Arinc said that developments taking place in Turkey should positively affect other countries in the region after Assad mentioned that Syria was closely following developments in Turkey such as the implementation of the EU harmonization packages. SCAN-0108 ... Radikal said: At least 150 Turks have links with al-Qaeda According to an intelligence report prepared by Police in 2003, after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks against the United States, two organizations and eight groups having connections with al-Qaeda were found to be active in Turkey. According to the report, there are two organizations in the country which have links with al-Oaeda. These are Beyiat-I al Imam (the Union of Imams) in Istanbul and Bursa and the Jihad Movement, which is responsible for some explosions in Ankara. The report reveals that there are eight groups from Vahhabi and Selefi sects. The Turkish members of these sects previously fought in Bosnia, Chechnya and Afghanistan. The report indicates that Turkish al-Qaeda militants received political education in Pakistan and military training in Afghanistan. Almost 50 of them have died in conflicts. SCAN-0108 ... Radikal said: AK Party's Kutlu: I do not regret AK Party Adiyaman deputy Husrev Kutlu said he did not regret what he said about the picture of Ataturk in military uniform. Last week Kutlu commented that Ataturk's picture in military uniform should be removed from Parliament. Prior to his party's parliamentary group meeting, Kutlu replied to questions from the press and said that the disciplinary board would make a decision on him and he would respect the board's decision. SCAN-0108 ... Zaman said: Ankara waits for Israel's initiative for water The Turkish government is waiting to finalize an agreement with Israel on the sale of water from Turkey's southern Manavgat River. Turkey and Israel have been negotiating on the Manavgat Water Project, which will allow Turkey to export water from the Manavgat River to Israel. The countries reportedly have not yet agreed on the method of transportation and price of the water. Stating that Turkey does not want to sell water at too low a price, State Waterworks Authority (DSI) acting director Mustafa Eldemir said that Israel had approved the project on Sunday and that a final agreement would soon be concluded. SCAN-0109 ... Hurriyet said: He rejected $150,000 Kadikoy Police Chief Hulusi Celik rejected a bribe of $150,000 from a gang selling illegally purchased oil. Celik recorded the bribers handing over the money on secret camera. An oil gang buying cheap fuel oil from ships passing through the Marmara Sea and later selling the fuel oil at inflated prices in Istanbul offered Celik a bribe of $150,000 to turn a blind eye to their practices. Orhan Halil who owns two petrol stations in Istanbul arranged a meeting with Celik and said to him, "Just let us do our jobs and we will give you money." The gang offered him $150,000 (TL 210 billion). On Jan. 2, Halil was captured on film handing over $65,000 to Celik. The cassette and money were then submitted to the prosecutor's office. Police raided a house in Haydarpasa yesterday and took Halil and six of his friends into custody. SCAN-0109 ... Milliyet said: A lesson on leadership Greece recently encountered an incident which Turkey is not used to. Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis turned over his party leadership to Foreign Minister Yorgo Papandreu, saying, "A leader should leave his post when the time comes." Simitis moved the elections in Greece one month ahead (March, 7), then resigned from the leadership of his party, PASOK, and nominated Papandreu as a candidate for his post. 'I am leaving because...' Simitis briefed the public for the reason of his resignation and said, "A leader should know when the post should be renewed and leave his ambitions aside. There is nothing like being a leader forever. I am starting the process of change myself. I will carry out my prime minister post until the end of the elections." SCAN-0109 ... Sabah said: Compromise on headscarf Baykal and Gurtuna have agreed not to make Gurtuna's headscarved wife a problem for his candidacy for the post of Istanbul Mayor. Ali Mufit Gurtuna, whose chances of becoming the Republican People's Party's (CHP) Istanbul mayor candidate has been increasing, said, "My wife told me that she would not wear her headscarf if I become a candidate for CHP. And I left the decision to her. I don't think this would be a problem." 'There is no need for that' The CHP leader who received Gurtuna's message, said, "There is no need for that. If we create the impression that we are forcing Gurtuna's wife to not wear her headscarf, this may harm us. We will not turn this into a precondition for his candidacy." Gurtuna is currently the Istanbul Mayor and was elected to the post as the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) candidate. Gurtuna has been perceived among the most popular candidates for the Istanbul mayor post. SCAN-0109 ... Sabah said: Powell: The north is part of Iraq While debates on the establishment of a Kurdish federation in northern Iraq are heating up, Washington is involved in efforts to calm Ankara prior to Prime Minister Erdogan's visit to the United States, scheduled to start on Jan. 26. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell expressed support for the Kurds preserving their identity but added that northern Iraq would remain part of Iraq. After receiving Tunisian Foreign Minister Habib bin Yahya in Washington, Powell responded to questions from the press, saying: "In fact, the Kurds want to protect their historic identity and bind themselves to a piece of land. However, I think it is clear that northern Iraq should remain part of Iraq." SCAN-0109 ... Sabah said: A grievous crime Pregnant 11-year-old B.O. said she had been raped numerous times over the course of three years and named 13 men, who claim that she did this in return for money. It became obvious that a grievous crime had been committed after the preganancy of B.O., a resident of Adana's Seyhan district, began to show. B.O. went to a gendarme station and said she had been raped by numerous men for the past three years. B.O. who works in the fields with her family, gave the names of the 13 men to the gendarmes. Some of them confessed to the rape, claiming, "She used to call to us in the fields, and we had sexual intercourse with her in return for money, for TL 250,000 or TL 500,000." Nine of the accused were then taken into custody. SCAN-0110 Will there be 'Ankara Criteria' instead of 'Copenhagen Criteria?' ... From a Jan 9. article by Sabah's Mehmet Barlas Now, it is time to make the issue of "Ankara Criteria" clear. What are these claims of "Ankara criteria?" Do they mean more welfare, or more freedom and democracy, or a higher production rate, or a more speedy improvement? Or do they mean a military coup every decade? Or do they mean isolating the southeastern reality in Turkey, Cyprus issue and Turkey-Greece relations from the facts in the world and transmitting them to other generations as subjects of huge crises? Those who present these "Ankara Criteria" as Turkey's vision in the 21st century should leave this attitude aside at once. If being in harmony with the international arena and being a state who can generate solutions mean to be "submissive," why did the military regime of Sept. 12, 1980 sign the Rogers plan accepting in silence the turning of Greece into a military structure of NATO? How did they not say anything to the disappearing "red line" in northern Iraq after our soldiers had sacks placed on their heads? Why did Kirkuk-Mousul-Cyprus and Western Thrace not get involved within our borders in 1923? Why did Turkey not react when 12 islands were given to Greece by the Rome Agreement in 1947? Protecting national sovereignty and independency means making Turkey a democratic, free and developed country. However, the "Ankara criteria" means closing political parties, toppling presidents and prime ministers? Greece has gone beyond this understanding? Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland are today more in harmony with the democratic model of the West compared to us. However the "Ankara Criteria" is far away from maintaining rule of law or ending this continuous atmosphere of crises. If the local elections are not enough then let another national election be called again. Because, some people in Ankara still behave as if the Nov. 3 elections were never held! SCAN-0110 ... Milliyet said: Interview with a German terrorist Alkan Steven Smyrek, a German terrorist captured in Israel in 1999, was recently interviewed by the German ARD television station. Smyrek, a member of the fundamentalist organization "Kaplancilar," was sentenced to 10 years in Israel's tightly protected Ashkelon prison for attempting a sucide bombing. Smyrek told the German reporters that he converted to Islam while working at a pizza shop run by Turkish family in Germany. "I love the Turks. They help everyone," said Smyrek. After converting to Islam, Smyrek decided to heed the call for "jihad" by joining the Kaplancilar. "We are so loyal to our religion that we will die for it without any hesitation." After being trained by the Hezbollah in Lebanon, Smyrek traveled to Israel where he was captured during an operation. SCAN-0110 ... Radical says: CHP takes action against Dincer CHP reacted adversely to Prime Ministry Undersecretary Omer Dincer due to a speech he made at a symposium in Sivas in 1995, which was perceived by some as being against secularism and asked Dincer to resign. CHP Parliamentary Group Acting Chairman Kemal Anadol said that unless Dincer resigned, CHP would not consider the draft law on public administration, which was formulated by Dincer, as legitimate. "The draft aims to undermine the country's secular regime. We are calling on the prime minister to take the initiative. He should dismiss Dincer. We will be insistent on not taking up the draft law in Parliament," added Anadol. SCAN-0110 ... Zaman said: Logoglu warns US against federation plans in Iraq Turkish Ambassador to the United States Faruk Logoglu warned the U.S. administration not to encourage ethnic groups concerning a federation based upon ethnic elements in northern Iraq. Interviewed by Reuters, Logoglu said that Prime Minister Erdogan would inform U.S. President George W. Bush regarding his concerns in Iraq during his visit to the White House on Jan. 28. Stating that the Iraqi Kurds were getting more insistent on a federal structure to be formed in their own region, the ambassador went on to say that the United States should not support the Kurds in this way. Logoglu said that many developments taking place in Iraq distressed Turkey and drew attention to the Kurds' attempts to convert Kirkuk to a Kurdish city. Also, U.S. chief civilian administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer reportedly met Wednesday with Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani to have talks about the status of northern Iraq. SCAN-0110 ... Cumhuriyet said: Police detain three al-Qaeda suspects Kocaeli police detained three people suspected of having links with November's terrorist bombings, which targeted two Jewish synagogues and British interests in Istanbul. Police captured the suspects during a raid in the city's Gebze district and seized a number of communiques, books and magazines in Turkish and Arabic. The suspects were reported to be members of an organization called the Imams' Union. (no SCAN-0111) SCAN-0112 ... Hurriyet said: Towards a federation in Iraq As a result of talks between the United States, the Iraqi Governing Council and Kurdish groups in Iraq, U.S. chief civilian administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer said the best solution for Iraq was a federal administration. Iraqi Governing Council rotating president Adnan Pacaci also said the council had come to the same conclusion. The Kurdish groups' insistence on a federation also had an impact on the making of such a decision for Iraq. In an interview with Iraq TV, Bremer claimed that a federal administration was the most appropriate structure and the most fitting for the conditions of the region. "I believe that a federal system warmly welcomed by the Kurds is [appropriate] for the unity of the country. There are other examples in the world such as India, Germany and Switzerland," said Bremer. Declaring that the federal structure would not be based on ethnic groups, Bremer went on to say, "However, it is necessary to take into consideration the special position that the Kurds have had for 12 years." Bremer's remarks highlighted the fact that the Kurds would have privileges within a federal system. Stating that he had been holding talks with Kurds, Arabs, Shiites, Sunnis, Assyrians and Turkmens concerning a federation in Iraq, Bremer added that they would conclude the issue within six or seven weeks. In addition, Pacaci said he was ready to help draw up a new constitution and organize the upcoming elections to be held next year, adding that he favored a federal system in Iraq. "However, an elected government should be formed to discuss the details. Everything will become clearer in 2005," noted Pacaci. Also, Dara Nureddin, a Kurdish member of the interim council, claimed that the talks concerning Iraq's future had resulted in the approval of a federation that would include Arbil, Sulaimaniyah and Dohuk. SCAN-0112 ... Hurriyet said: Kurds' proposal puts Turkey on alert According to The New York Times, the powerful sides on the Iraqi Governing Council decided to preserve the Kurds' right to autonomy. Under these circumstances, a federal system -- instead of a single political structure -- will be set up. The Kurds are prepared to hand over control of foreign affairs, fiscal and national defense issues to the central authority. According to The Washington Post, two proposals put forward by the Kurds at a meeting in Selahaddin -- one on domestic security and the other on the status of oil-rich Kirkuk -- have led to tension. The Kurds do not favor the Iraqi army entering their territory. They propose instead a national force consisting of all ethnic groups in the region and affiliated with the Iraqi army. The Kurds will oversee this force. The Post commented these proposals might push Turkey to action. SCAN-0112 ... Milliyet said: US to use Incirlik for troop rotatation According to The Washington Post, Turkish and U.S. officials have agreed on terms allowing the United States to use Incirlik Air Base in Adana for moving thousands of U.S. troops and equipment in and out of Iraq over the next few months. The undertaking has been described as the most complex U.S. troop rotation since World War II. The Post commented that the deal reflected an improvement in U.S.-Turkish ties, which had been strained before the U.S. invasion of Iraq when the Turkish Parliament refused to allow U.S. forces to use its territory as a staging ground for invasion. Ships loaded with equipment for the U.S. Army's Fourth Infantry Division waited for weeks off the coast of Turkey before Ankara issued the final word in March and rejected the troop deployment request. The ships then traveled to Kuwait, where they were offloaded. According to the Post, more than 100,000 U.S. soldiers and marines will move into Iraq to replace troops already there. Military officials announced that the rotation had begun and that the troops had started to move in both directions. "It's strategically important to us," said Gen. Robert Foglesong, the senior U.S. Air Force commander in Europe. SCAN-0112 ... Milliyet said: Coalition is OK, but... Although Turkey favors a broad-based government in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC), Republican Turks' Party (CTP) leader Mehmet Ali Talat and Democratic Party (DP) leader Serdar Denktas have reached a deal on a coalition of both parties but have failed to agree on which party would take over which ministry. This impasse concerning the allocation of ministries has delayed the formation of the Cabinet. Denktas said both parties continued to exert efforts to overcome the obstacle. Stating that he had had a telephone conversation with Talat on the issue, Denktas said certain circles had pressured the two parties to refrain from forming a coalition government in the northern part of the island. In the event this deadlock is broken, then a political party leader from the left will be prime minister for the first time in KKTC history. After National Unity Party (UBP) leader Dervis Eroglu, whose party came in second in the Dec. 14 elections, declared his opposition to a CTP-DP coalition, Peace and Democracy Movement (BDH) leader Mustafa Akinci announced he would not support a government in which KKTC President Rauf Denktas acted as negotiator in attempts to settle disputes between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Here is the distribution of seats in the KKTC Parliament: CTP-DP: 26 UBP: 18 BDH: 6 SCAN-0112 ... Sabah said: Iran supports Turkey on Iraq issue Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on Saturday met with his Iranian counterpart, Kamal Kharrazi, and later with President Mohammad Khatami over concerns that the Iraqi Kurds could establish an independent Kurdish state. After concluding an official visit to Azerbaijan, Gul traveled to Iran to express the view that a possible Kurdish federation in the region might destroy existing balances and divide Iraq. During the talks, Kharrazi noted that Iraq has been discussing a federal formation in the region but said the Iraqi Governing Council had not yet announced a joint agreement on the issue. Turkey has a history of disputes with Iran and Syria, but the three governments have found a common ground in the perceived threat from the Kurds. Syria's president, Bashar Assad, visited Turkey this week and backed the Turkish position, highlighting the fact that Iraq's three important neighbors have adopted a common position against a Kurdish federation in the region. SCAN-0112 ... Zaman said: Aksu: Corruption leads to replacement of Red Crescent Society staff Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said the corruption of the Turkish Red Crescent Society's (Kizilay) personnel has required the dismissal of organization head Ertan Gonen and his team. In a written statement, Aksu said the Red Crescent Society's personnel were replaced with the approval of the Cabinet and President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The ministry will take measures to reform the Society by initiating a new elections process. SCAN-0113 While a new era begins in Georgia... ... From a Jan.12 article by Zaman's Hasan Unal The atmosphere of chaos and uncertainty that appeared after the parliamentary elections in Georgia ended last week. This southern Caucasus country has entered a new era. Let's remember what happened in Georgia. The opposition parties raised their voices claiming there occurred irregularities in the elections in November and the strained atmosphere began. Then foreigners watching the elections and the U.S. embassy in Tbilisi stated that there were irregularities in the elections process. The talks between Saakashvili and Shevardnadze didn't help the tension. And finally a new era began after the elimination of Shevardnadze and his team in the last week of November. This new era became official on Jan. 4, 2004 when Saakashvili was elected as president. This term of the American-educated leader seems to bring many positive and at the same time negative events with it. First of all it is important to see what kind of impact the toppling of Shevardnadze will make in regional politics. Shevardnadze pointed to the Western countries and especially the United States to which he displayed all kinds of assistance, as responsible for his toppling. The Russian Federation also admits that the events leading up to the toppling of Shevardnadze were designated by the U.S. I wonder how Russia will perceive the new leader and his policies. Will the new leader be able to stop being labeled as "the man of the U.S." and to develop good relations with Russia? The problems that await the new leader do not only concern regional politics. The country has many problems in itself. Three regions of Georgia have almost drawn apart from the center. Especially the Abkhazia and South Ossetia regions are like separate states. In fact, these regions have already declared their independence and their territories are already under their own control. Moreover these two regions are like parts of the Russian Federation in economic, military and political terms. They hold their own elections and form their own governments. In addition to these, there is also the Adjaria region. This part is very important in strategic terms. Though Adjaria is not like the other three regions -- since it participates in the elections in Georgia and does not withdraw itself from Georgia -- it is clear that there is tension between Saakashvili and the Adjaria leader Aslan Abashidze who has probably tried to become the Georgia leader and who seems to have lost his chance now. The rest of Georgia also has diverse ethnicity. There is a powerful and huge Armenian minority. In addition to this, there are also the Azaris and other Turk groups. In such an environment, a leader who favors a transparent administration like Saakasvili is needed. However, it is certain that he has to bear some risks. He has to be a U.S. supporter without scaring Russia and a Georgian nationalist without getting the Abkhazians and Ossetians angry. In addition, Adjaria should not be provoked and Georgia should develop. This is not an easy task. SCAN-0113 ... Hurriyet said: First warm message from Chirac In an interview with daily Hurriyet, French President Jacques Chirac sent warm messages to Turkey prior to the upcoming EU summit and said the reforms implemented by the Turkish government within the framework of the Copenhagen criteria had considerable importance. Responding to questions at a reception at Elysee Palace, Chirac said that France has been closely following the developments taking place in Turkey on its track to the European Union. "It is also important to spread the reforms to every part of the world, that is, the reforms implemented by Turkey should encompass all of the nation," added Chirac. Stressing the importance of the steps taken by Turkey concerning human rights and free market economy, Chirac went on to say that in the event Turkey fulfilled the Copenhagen criteria, then this would reflect in the EU Commission's Progress report and Turkey would gain the right to access the union. Stating that France and Turkey enjoyed friendly relations, Chirac said that he would visit Turkey in June. The French president will come to Turkey to attend the NATO summit to be held between June 25-26. SCAN-0113 ... Hurriyet said: US military starts using Incirlik Air Base After Turkish and U.S. officials agreed on terms allowing the United States to use Incirlik Air Base in Adana for moving thousands of U.S. troops and equipment in and out of Iraq over the next few months, the U.S. military has started to use the air base, a U.S. official said on Sunday in an interview with the AP. This undertaking has been described as the most complex U.S. troop rotation since World War II. In a sign of Incirlik's continued significance, the U.S. military recently started using the base to transport soldiers out of Iraq as part of the Iraq troop rotations, the U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity said. He added that the arrangement had been worked out through negotiations between the two countries and "a large number" of troops were expected to pass through Incirlik in the coming months. SCAN-0113. ... Sabah said: Turkey should be an EU-member According to The New York Times communist Thomas Friedman, Turkey, which is a bridge between the East and West, should gain accession to the European Union, adding in the event that Turkey cannot join the bloc, then Turkey should become a member of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). "Turkey should be made a member of the EU, which the union will basically decide this year. Turkey has undertaken a huge number of reforms to prepare for EU membership," added Friedman. "I think Turkey's membership to the EU is so important that the United States should consider subsidizing the EU to make it easier for Turkey to be admitted. If that fails, we should offer to bring Turkey into NAFTA," said Friedman. SCAN-0113 ... Zaman said: Tourism, conferences continue despite attacks Despite November's terrorist actions in Istanbul, tourist numbers in Turkey are not significantly down and conferences and conventions are proceeding as planned. In the wake of the bomb attacks, which targeted two Jewish synagogues, the British Consulate, and the london-based HSBC Bank, only one major event -- the European Eurology convention -- was cancelled. Various Turkish organizations, including the Economy Congress, the Customer Relations summit and the International Navigation Conference, have been working hard to disprove predictions that the terrorists attacks would have serious consequences for Turkey's travel and tourism industry. SCAN-0113 ... Yeni Safak said: Second revolution in tourism Prime Minister Erdogan stated that the Turkish government made a second revolution in tourism after the one made by deceased President Turgut Ozal and the government's target for 2010 was 30 million tourists and $30 billion income from tourism. On Sunday, PM Erdogan explained Turkey's vision for 2010 and the government's policies and goals in tourism. Stating that the government put aside TL 100 trillion to preserve Turkey's natural and cultural heritage in 2004, Erdogan went on to say this amount would be more than $300 million thanks to funds from the Foundations General Directorate and administrations in provinces. Erdogan also called on Turkish businessman to support the government's attempts to preserve historical artifacts. SCAN-0113 ... Yeni Safak said: People's confidence in politicians' increases State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said people's confidence in politicians and Parliament has increased thanks to the ruling AK Party government. Attending a dinner organized by the AK Party's Avcilar branch in Istanbul, Sahin responded to questions from the press. Mentioning that the polls conducted by Izmir's Dokuz Eylul University in 2002 revealed the government, Parliament and political parties were among the least trusted institutions, Sahin went on to say the polls conducted last year unveiled the government and parties turned out to be among the most trusted institutions after the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). "It is the most important development accomplished by the government," added Sahin. (no SCAN-0114) SCAN-0115 Can't Turkey be more transparent? ... From a Jan. 14 article by Milliyet's Sami Kohen: It is odd that the Turkish press has to learn developments concerning Turkey from the foreign press, but sometimes this is exactly what happens. The latest example for that is the permission for the U.S. military to use Incirlik Air Base for the rotation of its troops in Iraq. When the report on Incirlik was published in the Washington Post last week, Ankara was silent. U.S. journalists covering the issue managed to get the official confirmation from Pentagon and State Department sources. The Turkish press, on the other hand, could do nothing but report what the U.S. press and sources in Washington said on a development taking place on Turkish territory. Why does the Turkish public have to get its news from foreign sources? Should we attribute this to lack of skillfulness on the part of the Turkish media to get the news or to reticence of the Turkish officials? After the report was confirmed and it was learned that the rotation had started last Wednesday, Ankara came up with an announcement. It has been announced that, under an arrangement worked out with United States, some 120,000 U.S. troops will pass through Incirlik on their way to or from Iraq in the next four months. The fact that a "secret" about Incirlik, about which the Turkish public is highly sensitive, was disclosed in such a way started a public debate. Why was this arrangement with Washington kept a secret? What was the legal basis that justifies the permission to use Incirlik for rotation? Why did the government not inform Parliament? Is this kind of behavior against Constitution? Let's leave aside the legal aspect of the issue. All this fuss and unnecessary worry about the Incirlik decision would not have happened if the officials had acted in a more transparent manner and given the information to the press, and even to Parliament, beforehand. Now, it is pointless to draw links between the use of Incirlik for rotation of troops and the government motion to allow deployment of U.S. troops in Turkish soil for invasion of Iraq, rejected by Parliament on March 1. It is pointless to create a new controversy now. General Staff and Foreign Ministry sources have said that a Cabinet decree issued in June 2003 and on the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1483 paved the way for this permission for transit passage of U.S. troops and therefore there is no need for a parliamentary approval. At such a critical stage, it would be counterproductive to dwell solely on the "legality" of the Incirlik permission and leave aside the political dimension of it. An inappropriate attitude ahead of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Washington in late January is likely to have negative impacts on the prime minister's talks with U.S. leaders there. Turkey loves to keep talking about its geo-strategic importance. Developments in Iraq has once again highlighted this importance for the U.S. policy makers, especially in connection with Incirlik. This importance will be valuable only if it is used in time. The Turkish stance in connection with the use of Incirlik puts Ankara in a stronger position vis-a-vis the United States while defending its views, for example, regarding the situation in northern Iraq. We should wait to see how the prime minister will use this in his upcoming talks in Washington. SCAN-0115 ... Milliyet said: This EU would not be able to access the EU The European Union, which is constantly defending human rights and criticizing countries such as Turkey on their way to the union, itself has deficiencies in the human rights area, according to a report released by Amnesty International (AI). AI warned the EU to eliminate its own shortcomings before levelling criticism at other countries. The 2003 AI report said that if human rights infringements continued to be committed within the union, then the EU would not be taken seriously. According to the report, in which only Luxembourg and the Netherlands received passing marks, the following EU countries have committed human rights violations: Germany: Death in custody, ill treatment on the part of police, death occurring during deportation procedures, the extradition of Chechens to Russia. Austria: Ill treatment on the part of police, use of force against detainees, harsh refugee policies. Belgium: Ill treatment and racist inclinations on the part of police, use of force in deporting illegal immigrants. SCAN-0115 ... Milliyet said: AK Party's Kutlu has no regrets Ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Adiyaman deputy Husrev Kutlu, who had previously said a picture of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in military uniform should be removed from Parliament, refused to show any regret over his statement. Questioned by the party's disciplinary board, Kutlu maintained that what he said was not illegal. SCAN-0115 ... Sabah said: Incirlik air base has become a problem The approval of the rotation of about 120,000 U.S. troops through Incirlik Air Base over the next four months has caused distress within the ruling AK Party, mainly because the decision for the agreement was given without Parliament's approval. The AK Party's Goksal Kucukeli and Faruk Unsal, who previously opposed motions on troop deployment, declared that Parliament should make a decision on the issue, not the Cabinet or the United Nations. However, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said there was no need for a motion on the issue because the decision of the Cabinet and the United Nations is sufficient. SCAN-0115 ... Sabah said: Unprecedent number of AK Party applicants A total of 8,000 people applied to the AK Party to run in the March 28 local elections. No other party has drawn such a huge number of potential candidates. It is interesting to note, however, that of the 8,000 hopefuls only 50 were women. SCAN-0115 ... Sabah said: Laws approve the secretary's 'image' Melike Danisik, the secretary of Erzurum Deputy Governor Aydin Olmez who was fired from her job for supposedly inappropriate dress, has won her court appeal, allowing the 32-year-old to return to work. Danisik, who was fired last August, said during the hearing that she did not dress in an inappropriate way, adding she was just concerned with her personal appearance. The court also decided in favor of Danisik, who will also be paid compensation for her time away from work. SCAN-0115 ... Radikal said: CHP: The government caught in act Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal claimed that the arrangement on the rotation of U.S. troops through Incirlik air base was not legal. Speaking at the CHP parliamentary group meeting on Tuesday, Baykal said: "The government, as usual, presented another example of fait accompli with no regard to constitutional requirements and while doing it, it was caught in act." Stating that Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc's attempts to examine the issue was pleasing, Baykal went on to say that Parliament should not remain silent in the face of the developments. SCAN-0115 ... Radikal said: Boycotting the reform Touching upon the law on the public administration formulated by Prime Ministry Undersecretary Omer Dincer, recently criticized for supposed anti-secular sentiments, Baykal added: "The Public Administration reform, which we call the "Omer Dincer law," will be discussed in Parliament this week. However, the CHP will not attend the meeting in Parliament." SCAN-0115 ... Radikal said: Ministries take measures against drug use The Education and the Health Ministry have taken the initiative after news revealing that a number of people had died from drug use. The Education Ministry warned schools through a circular while the Health Ministry has made regulations concerning drug addicts' treatment centers. SCAN-0115 ... Zaman said: Businessmen protect historical, cultural heritage While the government is in efforts to develop a strategy in a bid to restore historical monuments without spending from the state's budget, the businessmen in Adana have taken the initiative to protect the historical sites in the city. Adana Chamber of Trade (ATO) Chairman Saban Bas financed the restoration of a historical building in the city and opened the second floor of the building to the public and used the first floor as an office. According to the government's strategy, businessmen who want to help restore ancient monuments or buildings will inform the Foundations' Directorate, so that businessmen will pay less taxes at the end of the year in proportion with the amount of their expenditures on restoration. (no SCAN-0016 but SCAN-0117 though stil 0117) SCAN-0117 ... Radikal said: Khameni takes a backward step Iranian religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni intervened in a decision made by the Guardian Council, a hard-line constitutional watchdog, to bar hundreds of reformist candidates from next month's parliamentary elections. Iran's President Mohammad Khatami previously criticized the decision by hard-liners and said the right to free elections must be observed. Khatami also threatened to resign if the hard-liners did not withdraw their decision. This caused Khameni to take a backward step. Having met the hard-liners, the religious leader went on to say: "There are several stages to determine the reformist deptuies' sufficiency since their qualities to run in the elections had been confirmed in past elections. They have the right to be elected again." SCAN-0117 ... Zaman said: AK Party to hold face-to-face meeting with Kutlu The AK Party wasn't satisfied with the statement made by AK Party Adiyaman deputy Husrev Kutlu at the party's disciplinary board. Kutlu was sent to the AK Party disciplinary board for previously saying that a picture of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founding father of the Turkish republic, wearing military uniform should be removed from Parliament. Ahmet Inal, head of the disciplinary board, said on Thursday that there was a difference between Kutlu's the statement that he made to the board and the one reflected in the press. Inal added that the board decided to hold a face-to-face meeting with Kutlu and the board would make a decision in line with Kutlu's statements. SCAN-0117 ... Cumhuriyet said: Alliance on the left The following Turkish political parties, the Freedom and Democracy Party (ODP), Democratic People's Party (DEHAP), Laborers' Party (EMEP), Free Party, Social Democrat Party (SDP) and Social Democrat People's Party (SHP) agreed on an alliance on the left for the upcoming local elections to be held on March 28. Representatives of the alliance said at a press conference that the upcoming local elections were the last chance for the left. Speaking on behalf of the representatives, SDP Istanbul Chairman Ridvan Turan drew attention to the necessity of unity on the left. SCAN-0117 ... Yeni Safak said: Tezic makes rectors angry Higher Education Board (YOK) Chairman Erdogan Tezic has made the university rectors angry due to amendments he made in the YOK bill. Interviewed by daily Yeni Safak, some rectors said that they had come up with a totally different draft and added that the bill in its present form was not the universities' draft but rather that of YOK. The rectors went on to say that the bill paved the way for YOK to maintain its control over universities. The Inter-universities Council will discuss the YOK bill as revised by Tezic at Istanbul's Yildiz Technical University on Jan. 19. SCAN-0117 ... Hurriyet said: I promise, there is no new condition for Turkey's EU bid European Union Commission President Romano Prodi said on Thursday that Turkey was very close to membership and promised that there would be no new condition for Turkey's EU bid. Prodi urged Turkey to press forward with reforms and push for a solution to the Cyprus issue, as he began the first visit by the executive chief of the European Union to Turkey in 40 years. Prodi was the first EU Commission president to visit Turkey since 1963, when Ankara signed an agreement that made it an associate member of the Common Market -- a precursor to the EU. The country was accorded official candidate status in 1999 but lags behind other nations wanting to join. "My main message is to continue along the path of reforms because impressive progress has been achieved. The country is now closer to the Union," Prodi told a news conference after talks with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. PM Erdogan said Turkey was determined to implement reforms by the end of the year and would press for a solution to Cyprus by May. Later, in an address to Turkey's Parliament, Prodi conveyed the following messages: 1- Turkey is unique: Predominantly Muslim Turkey has a unique position with its secular and democratic structure when compared to other European countries. I believe that Turkey will contribute to peace and regional stability early this century. 2- The union has been impressed by the Turkish government's determination to gain accession to the EU. The bilateral relations between the Turkish government and the EU have entered a new phase. 3- No new conditions: I assure Turkey that there will be no new conditions for Turkey's EU membership. 4- EU criteria are objective: Turkey's EU bid will be equally assessed with that of other candidates. What we tell the candidate countries to do on their path to the EU is based upon objective criteria. 5- Cyprus warning: A solution to Cyprus is not a "precondition" but this will be a big help and facilitate Turkey's membership aspirations ... This is not a formal condition, but a political reality. SCAN-0117 ... Milliyet said: CHP continues to oppose public administration draft law Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin asked Ali Topuz, one of the leading deputies from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), whether or not the CHP would vote for the public administration draft law in the event Prime Ministry Undersecretary Omer Dincer was dismissed from office. The CHP recently reacted against the public administration reform package, declaring that the draft aimed at undermining the republic's main principles and foundations. The draft law designed by Dincer who previously escalated tension in the Interior Affairs Commission and on Thursday the draft law caused controversies in the Constitutional Commission. While CHP deputies referred to the past speech of Dincer, criticized for supposed anti-secular sentiments, Aksu said that if there was a mistake in the bill, then the ones who designed it were the guilty party. "It is our duty to dismiss people against the republic's principles. It is impossible to continue on our path with people attempting to establish a theocratic state order," said Aksu. After dialogue between Aksu and CHP deputies, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputies agreed on taking up the articles of the draft law, which caused CHP deputies' reaction. Then AK Party deputies discussed the draft law and it was approved at the Constitutional Commission after some alterations were made by the ruling party. SCAN-0117 ... No transition without parliamentary approval Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Thursday that he agreed with CHP leader Deniz Baykal, who previously said there was a need for parliamentary approval on the rotation of about 120,000 U.S. troops through Incirlik air base over the next four months. Arinc said that his advisors worked on the issue and added Parliament should make decision on such issues. SCAN-0117