GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON AUGUST 6

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on August 6, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET

--WE HAVE DONE A LEGENDARY JOB, FORESTRY DIRECTOR GENERAL

The biggest fire in the history of the Mediterranean province of Antalya was fully taken under control on its sixth day.

Forestry Director General Osman Kahveci said that the forestry department had fulfilled a legendary task. "We hope we would never face such a disaster again," he said.

--FOR BOTH VACATION AND MEETING

Syrian President Bashar al-Asad, accompanied by his wife Esma Al-Asad, arrived yesterday in Bodrum resort town of the southwestern province of Mugla to spend his holiday and meet Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Erdogan and Al-Asad families had lunch at a hotel together. Erdogan's daughter, who speaks English and Arabic, attended the luncheon as a translator.

MILLIYET

--THE WHOLE FAMILY WELCOMED IN BODRUM

Syrian President Bashar al-Asad and his wife Esma al-Asad arrived in Bodrum resort town of the Aegean province of Mugla for vacation. They were welcomed by Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, his wife Emine Erdogan and their daughter Sumeyye. Esma al-Asad and Emine Erdogan were very sincere to each other. The Erdogan-al-Asad meeting is considered very important for Middle East peace.

--FENER RUNNING FOR NEXT ROUND

Fenerbahce will play an away match against MTK Budapest of Hungary in the second leg of the second qualifying round of the European Champions League. Fenerbahce enjoyed a 2-0 home win over MTK in the first leg played in Istanbul.

--GUL'S TUNING FOR BALLOT BOXES IN UNIVERSITIES

While appointing new rectors to 21 universities, President Abdullah Gul did not take into consideration the results of elections at the universities. Gul appointed 12 rector candidates who won the highest vote while he appointed six candidates who won the second highest vote and three candidates who gained the third highest vote.

SABAH

--WE ARE PUSHING BUTTON FOR EU, BABACAN

Foreign Minister Ali Babacan explained the EU road map which was suspended due to the closure case filed against the Justice and Development Party (AKP).

"We are now pushing the button. We do not have the luxury to stop. We need to work until Turkish democracy reaches EU standards. Otherwise this issue would always be on the table, making our full membership impossible," Babacan said.

--BIDS FOR UNDERGROUND TUNNEL

Bids were submitted in the tender for the construction of a two-storey tunnel that will connect the two sides of Istanbul under water. The tender was previously cancelled on six separate occasions.

The best offer came from Cengiz Insaat-Makyol-Dogus Insaat and French Vinci consortium for a 19-year contract.

VATAN

--BODRUM SUMMIT

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan welcomed Syrian President Bashar al-Asad and his wife Esma al-Asad at the airport of the Bodrum resort town of the Aegean province of Mugla. They all made their way to the Rixos Hotel for luncheon and formal talks. Tight security measures were taken for the al-Asad couple, who are vacationing for the first time in Turkey and chose Bodrum. Problems of Middle East as well as Syria-Israel relations were discussed during the formal talks.

--FOREST BURNED DOWN, TICK GAFFE REMAINED

A total of 4,500 hectares of forested area burned, and 15 million pine trees turned into ashes in southern province of Antalya. The words of Forestry Deputy Director General Mustafa Kurtulmuslu regarding this scene will be recorded in history; he said, "The only good side of the fire is that no ticks remain in this forest."

CUMHURIYET

--BOTH MEETING AND SUMMIT IN BODRUM

Syrian President Bashar al-Asad and his wife Esma Al-Asad arrived in Turkey on a private plane to spend their holiday. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, together with his wife and daughter, welcomed the Syrian president in Bodrum resort town of the southwestern province of Mugla.

The two leaders had lunch at the five-star Rixos Hotel where they discussed the latest developments regarding the ongoing talks between Israel and Syria held with the mediation efforts of Turkey.

--ANTALYA LIKE HIROSHIMA

The forest fires, which destroyed numerous villages of Manavgat and Serik towns of Antalya, were taken under control after five days.

Forestry Department's Deputy Director General Mustafa Kurtulmuslu said that the damage in the region was similar to the damage caused by the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

RADIKAL

--TEDAS MAY PAY THE PRICE FOR FIRES

The fire in the Mediterranean province of Antalya was taken under control on its sixth day after it burned down 15 million pines on a 4,550-hectare forest land.

Turkey's Forestry Directorate General is getting prepared to file a case against Turkish Electricity Distribution Company (TEDAS), claiming that the fire might have started due to a failure in the electricity line.

--ARMY'S HARSH RESPONSE TO CHP

Turkish General Staff reacted harshly upon Republican People's Party's (CHP) statements which criticized the institution for not taking any expulsion decisions at the Supreme Military Council meeting and which claimed that "there was a warm relationship between the government and the army".

"It is a sorrowful defamation and an unfortunate assessment," the General Staff said in a statement.

YENI SAFAK

--BODRUM SUMMIT

Syrian President Bashar al-Asad arrived in Bodrum resort town of Aegean province of Mugla for vacation. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan met with Syrian President at Rixos Hotel, and they discussed the Israeli-Syrian talks.

--COME ON FENER ONE MORE TIME

Turkish football team Fenerbahce will play an away match against MTK Budapest of Hungary in the second leg of the second qualifying round of the European Champions League. Fenerbahce enjoyed a 2-0 home win over MTK in the first leg of the second round. The game will be played at 9:45 p.m. in Hungary.

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