Turkey press scan

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on March 23rd, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. HURRIYET (LIBERAL)  HOW LOW CAN ONE GET? After a group of individuals tried to burn the Turkish flag in Mersin during Nevruz celebrations, the Turkish Chief of Staff responded by stating that the Turks have the utmost respect for their homeland and flag. ''How low can one get and burn the Turkish flag?'' asked a Turkish general. ''Our seriousness about the protection of our homeland and flag could be understood by looking at Turkish history.''    ANNAN NOMINATES DERVIS FOR THE POSITION OF UNDP CHAIRMAN United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan has nominated the Turkish Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Kemal Dervis for the position of UNDP (UN Development Program) Chairman. A committee comprised of senior UN officials will conduct interviews with all the candidates.    MILLIYET (LIBERAL) "I QUIT BECAUSE OF AKP'' President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said that he decided to quit after running counter to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Denktas said that the AKP could not understand the sensitivity of Turkish people about the Cyprus issue.     ''OUR PATIENCE IS COMING TO AN END'' The General Staff harshly condemned burning of the Turkish flag by protesters in a demonstration in southern city of Mersin to mark Nevruz. ''Turkish nation has never seen such a vileness by its so-called citizens in its own territories. Everyone should know very well that neither this country's indivisible integrity nor the glorious Turkish flag, which is a symbol of that unity and integrity, will ever be left without their protectors,'' the General Staff said.     HARASSMENT BY GREEK WARPLANES The General Staff said that Greek warplanes seriously endangered the Turks' flight safety by harassing Turkish jets over the Aegean Sea. The General Staff said in a statement that two Greek F-16 fighter planes harassed two Turkish RF-4 planes during a routine exercise southwest of the Greek island of Rhodes.     SABAH (LIBERAL)  SEZER: ''CURSE UPON HIM WHO BURNED THE TURKISH FLAG'' Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has said that he wishes a curse on the individual who burned the Turkish flag in Mersin during the recent Nevruz celebrations. ''We ask all those in and out of Turkey, who are trying to destabilize and destroy our society, to get their act together before it is too late,'' told Sezer.     ERDOGAN: ''WE WILL NOT BE SILENT ON THE ISSUE OF OUR FLAG'' Reacting to the burning of the Turkish flag in Mersin during Nevruz celebrations, Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that, as the children of this heavenly homeland, we will neither tolerate nor permit the burning of our flag. ''There is absolutely no way to tolerate the burning of our flag. We will take all the necessary legal steps to bring to justice those who have burned our flag.''     CUMHURIYET (LEFT)  ''TURKEY COULD EXPERIENCE A SOCIAL ERUPTION SOON'' Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal expressed his concerns about increasing rate of crime in recent years. Stressing that the increase stemmed from economic and social policies, Baykal accused of the government of failing to take any measures to prevent it. Baykal called on the parliament to take urgent action.    HEINOUS ATTACK IN MUMCU'S GRAVE Unidentified people attacked on the grave of Ugur Mumcu, a columnist of the Cumhuriyet daily who was assassinated in a bomb attack on January 24th, 1993. The assailants painted the grave. Officials of the graveyard tried to clear off the paint, but failed.      RADIKAL (LEFT)  FAKE HONEY Turkish Ministry of Agriculture authorities said that, out of 42 samples, they have detected that 22 were fake honey. ''Six honey producers are now under investigation. We will increase our tests in the agricultural field,'' said minister Sami Guclu.     HOLLYWOOD COMES TO ISTANBUL Istanbul will be the center for the taping of an Hollywood film, namely 'The Net 2.0' in 2005.  The film will be directed by Charles Winkler. Co-stars will be Nikki DeLoach and Hope Cassidy. One of Turkey's best actors Sener Sen may also join in the production of the film.     TURKIYE (RIGHT)  ONAL AND OZKAN DEFEND THEMSELVES The High Tribunal continued hearing the cases of former State Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Husamettin Ozkan and former State Minister Recep Onal who are accused of alleged irregularities and abusing powers by implementing wrong and illegal policies that caused the State to lose money. During the hearing, Ozkan and Onal defended themselves saying that they did not have any misdoing. The High Tribunal decided to listen to seven people including Selcuk Demiralp, the former undersecretary of Treasury, as witness during the next hearing to be held on April 19th, 2005.     MDHP JOINS BBP The National Democrat People's Party (MDHP) joined the Grand Unity Party (BBP) after dissolving itself. MDHP leader Yusuf Erikel will act as advisor of BBP leader Muhsin Yacizioglu, and as party spokesman.     CRESCENT AND STAR EVERYWHERE People throughout Turkey reacted to burning of the Turkish flag by a group of supporters of the separatist organization in southern city of Mersin. Houses and streets were decorated with the red crescent and star flag of Turkey.            ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)  TURKEY BECOMES NINTH BIGGEST ECONOMY OF EUROPE Turkey has become the ninth biggest economy of Europe on the basis of its current prices and gross national product in 2004. The Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) said that Turkey with its dynamic population of 72.8 million people, is one of the most important commercial partners of the European Union.         YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)  BAYKAL: ''THOSE WHO BURNED THE TURKISH FLAG ARE NOTHING BUT LOOTERS'' Turkish Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal has said that those who burned the Turkish flag in Mersin, during Nevruz celebrations, are nothing but looters. Baykal remarked that, after the War of Independence, Ataturk was requested to walk on the Greek flag in Izmir. ''At that time, Ataturk refused walking on the Greek flag bysaying that a flag symbolizes the honor and integrity of a nation. Just look at Ataturk's viewpoint and those of the looters.''     DEHAP: ''WE CONDEMN BURNING OF THE TURKISH FLAG'' Turkish Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) leader Tuncer Bakirhan has remarked that the Turkish flag is also the flag of the Kurds. ''Our legal authorities should have a comprehensive investigation on who tried to burn the Turkish flag. Those trying to destroy the Turkish homeland should be brought to justice and soon! Burning of the Turkish flag is a provocation that we do not approve. The Turkish flag was created by our grandparents and we have absolutely zero tolerance for its burning.''    Â