Selections From Todays Turkish Press

Leading businessman Uzeyir Garih stabbed to death at the Eyup cemetery last Saturday was laid to rest, following two different ceremonies. The first was held at the Istanbul Technical University, the other at a religious ceremony at the Neva Shalom Synagogue in Sishane. Many dignitaries and religious leaders attended the funeral ceremony, such as Minister of State Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz and his wife, the Minister of Internal Affairs Rustu Kazim Yucelen, the Minister of Labor and Social Security Yasar Okuyan, Istanbul Mayor Ali Mufit Gurtuna, the True Path Party (DYP) leader Tansu Ciller, the Justice and Development (AK) Party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, some other politicians, Garih's family, the diplomatic corps, Alarko Holding employees, Jewish community members and representatives of the NGOs, Fener Greek Patriarch Bartholomew and Armenian Patriarch Mutafyan. Garih's body then was laid to rest at the Arnavutkoy Jewish Cemetery in Ulus. On the otherhand, Garih's cell phone which has been missing since the day of murder, was found in a military barracks in Hasdal. Regarding the case, private Yener Yermez who is said to have brought the phone to the barracks is now being hunted by police. Yermez was released from prison with the recent Amnesty Law. /All Papers/

BAHCELI: "ECONOMIC STRUCTURE SHOULD BE CHANGED"

Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Nationalist Action Party (MHP), Devlet Bahceli, said that the structure of the Turkish economy should be radically changed. Bahceli said that, Turkish citizens should not be pessimistic about the current economic crisis. He added that, as soon as the economic equilibrium and confidence in markets which were destroyed by the crisis, were re-sustained, the Turkish economy would begin to develop and the social inequalities would be eliminated. /Cumhuriyet/

CIA DRAWS TURKEY'S ATTENTION TO HER NEIGHBOURS

Deputy Governor of Central Intelligence (CIA), John. E. Mclaughlin, said that Iran would begin to use the Shahab-3 missile soon. Delivering a speech at the fourth Annual Conference of the Space and Missile Defense in Huntsville, McLaughlin pointed out that Israel and many regions of Turkey, and Saudi Arabia were in the range of the Shahab-3 missile. Adding that, Iraq was also continuing her works on missiles confidentially, Mclaughlin stated that the range of Iraq's El-Huseyin missile covered Turkey, Israel and Saudi Arabia. He emphasized that since Iran and Iraq developed their missile technologies, the threat for Turkey and Israel coming from these countries increased significantly. He reminded the necessity for the establishment of a missile defense system to protect the US allies such as Turkey and Israel, and the US territory which will be accessible for the Iranian, Iraqi and North Korean missiles in 10-15 years. /Cumhuriyet/

DENKTAS MEETS ANNAN

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)President Rauf Denktas, met with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan yesterday in Salzburg. Prior to the meeting which was held with the aim of resuming proximity talks to solve the Cyprus problem, Denktas had met with EU Commissioner responsible for EU enlargement, Gunther Verheugen, in Zurich two days ago. Denktas said that they discussed EU-Cyprus relations with Verhuegen and that both parties conveyed their evaluations about the current situation on the island. After his meeting with Annan, Denktas stated that Annan conveyed his request for UN Special Envoy to Cyprus, Alvaro de Soto, to visit Cyprus. Stating that De Soto would visit the Island on August 30th, Denktas said that De Soto would try to find common views of the both sides during his meetings with the TRNC and Greek-Cypriot Administration. Meanwhile, the Greek-Cypriot side is concerned about the meetings with Turkish side. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH TROOPS IN MACEDONIA

One part of the Turkish troops which will take part in NATO operations in Macedonia arrived in Skopje via air yesterday. On the otherhand, 20 military vehicles carrying 60 Turkish soldiers entered the country from the Blace border gate. The Commander of the Macedonian Security Forces Risto Galevski said, "There can be no barricade for Turkish soldiers in Macedonia. The barricades were meant for the other NATO unions, not for Turkish troops. Turkey is Macedonia's ally and the first NATO country to recognize her independence with her constitutional name." /Turkiye/

TURKEY AND IRAQ REACH CONSENSUS

Iraqi Oil Minister Amir Muhammed Rashed stated that Turkey and Iraq have reached a consensus for the construction of a natural gas pipeline from Iraq to the southwestern region of Turkey. Speaking to Errafideyn, published in Baghdad, Iraqi Minister said that 11 billion cubic meters of natural gas will be transferred through the pipeline. Commenting on the smart sanctions that threatened the Iraqi economy, Minister Rashed said that the draft is aimed to harm not only Iraq but also the neighbouring countries. /Turkish Daily News/

PRISON STAFF TO BE TRAINED

Minister of Justice Hikmet Sami Turk said on Tuesday that hunger strikers in F-type prisons, their supporters, and prisoners refusing to join social activities organized in prisons were isolating themselves. Turk, who delivered a speech at the Prison Staff Training Center, said that studies to improve the standards in prisons were continuing. Underlining that the biggest problem in prisons were the physical conditions, Turk said that the aim in opening F-type prisons was to improve the physical conditions of prisons. "There has been a considerable decrease in the number of death fasters and hunger strikes, but there still remain some who are continuing the protest. This is not the right type of action, because it puts the prisoners' health at risk. Protests ending in death are nothing more than murders. They should stop at once. We expect all prisoners to take part in the social activities organized that are especially for them." /Turkish News/

MIRZAOGLU: VARYAG'S PASSAGE STILL CONDITIONAL

State Minister in Charge of Maritime Affairs Ramazan Mirzaoglu received on Tuesday Chinese Deputy Transport Minister and State Minister in Charge of Maritime Affairs Hong Shanaxiang in his office. Speaking to reporters after the 20-minute meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Mirzaoglu said that they had turned down previous requests by China for the passage of the giant platform, which China had purchased from Ukraine, for security reasons. "We could not give permission to the passage of the gigantic platform, thinking that the risks of its passage through the Straits, which get very narrow at certain points, were too many. However, as a result of China's persistence about the passage, and with the permission of Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit, the Maritime Affairs Undersecretariat Outlined the technical conditions required for the passage, and the technical delegations of both countries will start discussing the issue today." /Turkish News/

IMF'S 10TH REVIEW MEETINGS

During the "10th review meetings" to be held with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation that will begin on September 7th, the control of foundations will be discussed. The public foundations, whose number have reached 1,950 and which control a source amounting to more than 1.5 quadrillion TL, and the control of their expenses and purchases will have an important place in the meetings. During the meetings, the latest stage that was reached in the "fight against corruption" project will be discussed. It is also planned that the "employment of qualified personnel in the public sector and high salary" project will be implemented in Turkey. The World Bank and the IMF support the implementation of this project in Brazil also for the solution of similar problems. /Milliyet/

CHHIBBER'S STATEMENT ON NATURAL GAS LAW

World Bank's Turkey Representative, Ajay Chhibber, stated that the Law on Natural Gas Market should be fully implemented in Turkey. Stating if the law is fully implemented, a market open to competition with low prices could be created, Chhibber said the World Bank was ready to provide Turkey with the loan she needed for such an implementation. /Cumhuriyet/

TRANSPORT MINISTRY TO HOLD JOINT MEETINGS

A meeting will be held each month by the Ministry of Transportation to ensure cooperation between the Ministry and relevant institutions to improve their mutual levels of cooperation, Anatolia reported on Tuesday. According to information received, the meetings will be held on the first Monday of each month, and the first meeting will be held September 3. The actual agenda of the meetings and the topics that will be touched upon were not mentioned by the news agency. /Turkish News/

IFC'S SUPPORT TO TURKISH COMPANIES

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) attached to the World Bank, will increase the amount of the loan it extends to the Turkish companies to 100 million US dollars. During the signing ceremony of the loan agreement with Ipek Paper Company, the IFC's Director to Southern Europe and Middle East, Khosrow Zamani, said they saw great potential in Turkey. In addition, the signing ceremony of the loan amounting to 10 million US dollars, which was extended by the IFC to the TEBA Group of Companies, was made. It was stated that the loan would be used in the research and development activities. /Milliyet/

POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN ECONOMY

The positive atmosphere, which was created with the Central Bank's reduction of interest in the monetary and capital markets, continued today as well. In the free market the value of the US dollar decreased to 1,409,000 TL. In the 99-days-term bonds that were presented to sale by the Treasury, nominal 817,9 trillion TL of sale was made. The net sale amounted to 693.2 trillion TL. The Treasury has considered the amount of sale as enough and decided not to continue the sale. Meanwhile, the Istanbul Stock Exchanges will not work on August 30th due to the Victory Day Holiday. /Cumhuriyet/

TURKISH FIRMS IN DAMASCUS FAIR

The 48th International Damascus Fair was opened yesterday. The fair which was opened by the Syrian Minister of Economy and Trade Muhammed Imadi, Turkish Minister of State Tunca Toskay and Ministers of Economy, Trade and Finance from various Arabian countries all attended the ceremony. 26 Turkish firms are participating in the Fair to be open until Sep. 7th. /Turkiye/

PROTOCOL SIGNED FOR JOINT BID

Turkish Soccer Federation President Haluk Ulusoy and his Greek counterpart Vassilis Gagatsis signed a protocol concerning the joint bid of Turkey and Greece for the 2008 European Football Championship. UEFA Vice-President Senes Erzik also participated in the meeting. /Turkish Daily News/

ANCIENT CITY TO STAGE CONCERT

Restoration of the theater in the ancient city of Metropolis has been completed, and a concert will be held there on Victory Day, Anatolia reported on Tuesday. Dokuz Eylul University Archeology Department's Professor Recep Meri, who is in charge of the excavations, said that the excavations in Metropolis have been going on for 12 years, but only 5% of the city has been uncovered as yet. Restoration and landscaping of the amphitheater at Metropolis has been going on for two years, he added. The Metropolis amphitheater is one of the best protected theaters in the world, with its 900-seat capacity. Professor Meri indicated that during restoration they used suitable stones to improve its capacity which was raised to 1,500 seats. /Turkish News/

IN THE NAME OF "PEACE" BY SAMI KOHEN (MILLIYET)

Columnist Sami Kohen writes on NATO's mission in Macedonia. A summary of his column is as follows: "NATO's mission in Macedonia differs in character with respect to previous operations. This time, their duty is to collect the weapons in the hands of the Albanian militia. This cannot be defined as establishing the peace or preserving it. However it is doubtful if it will achieve the goal that has been set. The number of weapons in the hands of the Albanian militia is estimated differently by the NATO sources, and the Macedonian Government. Therefore after the completion of the mission, new weapons may surface. This may show the reaction of some to be reasonable when they ask what their sons are doing in a far away country, taking part in a battle which do not concern them directly. Certainly no one wants their child to lose his life for a mission said to be waged in the name of peace away from his country. However, it is in the interest of all of us to preserve the peace all over, particularly today, when all the countries in the world have become much closer. We have to find different and new methods to achieve this goal, such as forming an international professional force to establish and protect the peace. An experienced international force comprising individuals who have chosen this as a career voluntarily, trained for this purpose, can be sent to such duties when the UN or NATO decide to intervene." END Due to Victory Day, the Turkish Press Review will not appear tomorrow.