Turkey press scan

 
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)

DID HE ORDER THE KILLING?
It has been claimed that Vavilis, a drug smuggler who is said to be one of the men of Athens Archbishop, killed Turkish diplomat Haluk Sipahioglu in 1994. According to a story of Etnos newspaper, ''Stive'', an inmate who is kept in a prison in Trikala city, made this claim. The confession of this inmate was handed over to Greek Supreme Court prosecutor Linos.
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ONE AKP, FIVE CHP PARLIAMENTARIANS RESIGN
After Sisli Mayor Mustafa Sarigul was expelled from the (main opposition) Republican Turkish Party (CHP), five more opponent parliamentarians resigned from this party yesterday (Monday). Ahmet Guryuz Ketenci, Hakki Akalin, Ersoy Bulut, Zuheyir Amber and Mustafa Sayar announced that they would join the Social Democrat People's Party (SHP) today (Tuesday). On the other hand, (ruling) Justice and Development Party (AKP) parliamentarian Mirac Akdogan, who is one of  the members of Erkan Mumcu's team, resigned from this party. Akdogan is expected to join the Motherland Party (ANAP).
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MILLIYET (LIBERAL)

MINI CRISIS ON KARDAK
Mustafa Yilmaz, a Turkish man, held a protest against his ex-wife on Kardak rocky islet which had brought Turkey and Greece to the brink of war 10 years ago, and this protest caused a difficulty for both countries. Reporters and Interior Ministry officials who followed the incident said that Yilmaz was detained and taken to Kalimnos Island by Greek coast guards. However, Greek officials said that they did not detain Yilmaz. When Yilmaz appeared in Turkey in the evening, a crisisin Aegean ended.
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LETTER OF APPROVAL TO PROTOCOL
Ankara decided to sign Ankara Agreement Adjustment Protocol which calls Greek Cypriot side 'Cyprus republic'. Turkish Ambassador in the EU Oguz Demiralp will convey the letter to European Commission today. The letter will formally declare that Turkey is ready to sign the protocol.
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SABAH (LIBERAL)

ALLIANCE AGAINST TRANSFER
Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Republican People's Party (CHP) cooperate to limit Treasury assistance to the party which will establish parliamentary group through parliamentarian transfer. One parliamentarian from AKP and 5 parliamentarians from CHP resigned yesterday. Those who resigned from CHP announced that they will join Social Democrat People's Party (SHP). Thus, SHP will establish group and receive Treasury assistance. AKP and CHP may cooperate against this.
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PRICES OF ANTIBIOTICS DECREASE
Social Security Agency stated that it will buy the cheapest medicine having the same active material. Thus, foreign medicine companies decreased prices of many antibiotics by 50 percent. Augmentin's price decreased from 31.4 new Turkish liras (YTL) to 18 YTL and the price of Duocid decreased from 22 YTL to 16 YTL.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)

PROTOCOL GIFT TO GREEK CYPRIOTS
The supplementary protocol which the Turkish government will sign,brings the responsibility of not making discrimination between Greek Cypriot administration and other EU member countries. Thus, many restrictions which Turkey imposed on Greek Cypriot side will become disputatious.
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WE MAY CHANGE TCK
Turkish Parliamentary General Assembly will debate draft law which changes new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) today. TCK will come into force as of April 1st. Articles about press may change before April 1st.  Â

RADIKAL (LEFT)

DNA PERIOD IN JUSTICE
The draft regulation that will come into force together with the new Turkish Penal Code (TCK) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CMK) are ready. Doctors and jurists are criticizing the regulation on molecular genetic examination of the suspect or the victim. The draft envisages examination by force when police search for evidence. This will cause problems for doctors, and mean a violation of the body unity of a person, i.e. examination by force will violate the principle that 'evidence can't be collected from the suspect by force'. The part of the draft regarding ''examination of women'' is also discriminative.
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LETTER TO BE CONVEYED TO EU TODAY
Turkey's response to the European Union's (EU) letter on the protocol which will expand the Customs Union so that it will cover ten new members including the Greek Cypriots, is ready. The letter will be sent today (Tuesday).
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TURKIYE (RIGHT)

GREEK CYPRIOTS IN PANIC
When Turkey stated that it will sign the protocol extending Customs Union but not recognize Greek Cypriot side and the EU approached this statement positively, discussions started in Greek Cypriot side. Meanwhile, Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister, who made threatening statements like 'we veto Turkey's EU membership', received reaction from his own people.
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SIX-PARTY PARLIAMENT
Politics agenda started the week actively. Firstly Erkan Mumcu joined Motherland Party (ANAP), then Justice and Development Party (AKP) Malatya parliamentarian Mirac Akdogan resigned from his party. Akdogan is expected to join ANAP today. Following this development, 5 parliamentarians from CHP who supported Sisli Mayor Mustafa Sarigul resigned from their party. Ahmet Guryuz Ketenci, Hakki Akalin, Ersoy Bulut, Zuheyir Amber and Mustafa Sayar announced that they would join
the Social Democrat People's Party (SHP) today.
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ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)

DEHAP MEMBER PROBING ATTACK ON FLAG CONVICTED OF DESECRATING FLAG
It has been revealed that Alaattin Erdogan, the head of the delegation sent by the Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) to (southern city of) Mersin to investigate the attempt against the flag (during Nevruz celebrations), was tried on charges of desecrating the flag. Erdogan was tried by the Adana State Security Court on charges of ''trampling Turkish flag, and then throwing it to the garbage can'' in
1998 when he served as the head of the branch of People's Democracy Party (HADEP). Erdogan was released after he benefited from the conditional release law which was named as ''Rahsan amnesty'' by the public.
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''STEPS TOWARDS AFRICA DON'T CHANGE OUR EU PRIORITY''
Numan Hazar, Turkey's Ambassador to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said that those who were criticizing Turkey's steps aiming at improving relations with Africa, were wrong. Hazar noted that Turkey's foreign policy priorities were known, and Erdogan's visit to Africa would not mean changing these priorities.
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YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)

NO IMPOSITION ON ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL
The text of the additional protocol of the Customs Union has been conveyed to Ankara. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''the text on which compromise was reached has been conveyed. Recognition of the Greek Cypriot administration is out of question.'' Noting that the Customs Union would be signed with the countries which became an EU member as of May 1st, 2004, Gul said that movement of goods was free among these countries, and this (situation) was also valid for the Greek Cypriot administration.
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SYRIA IS TALKING ABOUT TURKEY
One of the most important topics discussed by Syria these days is Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's scheduled visit to this country. According to Syrian Prime Minister al-Utri, who considers Sezer's step as a brave decision, the United States wants Syria to support Iraq's occupation. On the other hand, Syrian Minister of Information Dakhlallah states that Turkey is much closer to Syria than other Arab countries.