Turkey press scan

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on March 4th, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.HURRIYET (LIBERAL)DEATH TOLL RISES TO 18 : Nine people including three women died in Istanbul and Bursa raising to 18 the number of deaths blamed on illegally produced raki. Prosecutors in Istanbul, meanwhile, questioned 10 people on suspicion of producing and selling fake raki, a popular anise-flavored drink. Police over the past two days have raided underground distilleries in Istanbul and other cities, confiscating thousands of bottles of illegally produced raki, apparently made using methyl alcohol.     SIGNALS OF HOPE: A military plane crashed in rural area between northern cities of Bolu and Karabuk. Pilots of the F-16 plane have still been missing. Officials said that they received signals from the plane giving rise to their hopes to find the pilots alive.     CRISIS OF CHIEF NEGOTIATOR:The difference of opinion between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul about candidates for chief negotiator has escalated tension in the government. Turkey may attend the EU Troika meetings on Monday without a chief negotiator.     MILLIYET (LIBERAL)INFLATION RATES CONTINUE DECREASING:The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced that consumer prices increased 0.02 percent and producer prices rose 0.11 percent in February 2005. Annual inflation rate in February has become 8.69 percent in consumer prices while it has become 10.58 percent in producers prices. Inflation rate on averages of twelve months base in February 2005 has become 8,44 percent in consumer prices while it has become 14.70 percent in producers price.    ''EU HAS STILL BEEN ON TOP OF OUR AGENDA'': Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that Turkey's EU process had still been on top of their agenda. ''Turkey has been taking determined steps in its EU process,'' he said. Upon a question about criticisms of EU Representative in Turkey Kretschmer, Gul said that he could not respond to Kretschmer as the foreign minister.     SABAH (LIBERAL)ERDOGAN IN AFRICA : Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that boosting ties with African countries and supporting the continent's economic development plans were among Turkey's top foreign policy objectives. During talks, Erdogan and Deputy President Jacob Zuma of South Africa discussed providing support through the Turkish Agency for International Assistance to the New Partnership for African Development plan that has been adopted by the African Union. Erdogan said that Turkey declared 2005 the Year of Africa, and would seek to strengthen its ties with countries on the continent.    ''IT WAS A MISTAKE'': European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice President Wolfgang Roth said that the EU's decision to accept membership of the Greek Cypriot side was a mistake. Roth will pay a visit to Turkey to attend a conference on ''Investments in Turkey'' in Istanbul on March 17th. He said that solution in the island should have been a pre-condition for membership of the Greek Cypriot side. CUMHURIYET (LEFT)MILITARY PLANE CRASHES IN NORTHERN TURKEY: A military plane crashed near Yenice town of northern city of Karabuk. Two pilots of the plane have still been missing. Bad weather conditions in the region have been hampering efforts to rescue the pilots.     SECURITY FORCES IMPOUND 55 KG OF HEROIN: Security forces impounded 55 kg of heroin in Yuksekova town of eastern city of Hakkari. A person was detained in the operation. A full investigation into illicit drug trafficking is under way.     ''THERE ARE 1,357 TURKISH SOLDIERS IN IRAQ'' : The Ministry of National Defense said that there were 1,357 Turkish soldiers in northern part of Iraq. The Ministry said that target of Turkish soldiers in the region was to prevent threats of theterrorist organization PKK against Turkey.        RADIKAL (LEFT)22ND INTERNATIONAL ANKARA MUSIC FESTIVAL TO START ON APRIL 4TH: The 22nd International Ankara Music Festival will be held between April 4th and 30th. Ankara will host a number of worldwide famous musicians during the festival.     INFLATION RATES CONTINUE DROPPING:The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced that consumer prices increased 0.02 percent and producer prices rose 0.11 percent in February 2005. Annual inflation rate in February has become 8.69 percent in consumer prices while it has become 10.58 percent in producers prices. Inflation rate on averages of twelve months base in February 2005 has become 8,44 percent in consumer prices while it has become 14.70 percent in producers price.            TURKIYE (RIGHT)''AMNESTY FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WILL BE DEBATED AGAIN'': National Education Minister Huseyin Celik said that the legislation that would allow thousands of students expelled from universities on academic or disciplinary grounds after June 29th 2000 to return, would be debated by the parliament again on Tuesday. Earlier, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer vetoed the legislation on technical grounds, saying that although it received a majority of votes by lawmakers, support from two-thirds of parliament was needed for an amnesty to become law. Meanwhile, the Republican People's Party (CHP) said that the legislation could not be brought onto parliamentary agenda before a year.     ESKIYAPAN RESIGNS :Muharrem Eskiyapan resigned from the Republican People's Party (CHP). As a result, number of CHP deputies decreased to 169.    ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)TURKEY AND SOUTH AFRICA TO COOPERATE IN NUCLEAR ENERGY: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey and South Africa would cooperate in peaceful nuclear energy and mining. Erdogan met Deputy President Jakob Zuma of South Africa. During the talks, the parties have decided to cooperate in peaceful nuclear energy and mining. Meanwhile, Zuma said that they would support a solution in Cyprus under the good-will mission of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.    YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)70 PERCENT OF TURKISH PEOPLE SUPPORT EU PROCESS : The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) carried out a public survey on Turkey's EU process. According to results of the survey, 70.2 percent of Turkish people support Turkey's becoming a member of the EU.           Â