GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON AUGUST 28

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on August 28, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET

--APPLAUSE FOR FENERBAHCE

Fenerbahce soccer club of Turkey defeated Serbian soccer club Partizan 2-1 in European Champions League third round second leg match in Istanbul. Fenerbahce qualified to compete in the European Champions League groups.

--GLOBAL THREATS ARE MORE DANGEROUS

Land Forces Commander General Isik Kosaner said the preservation of basic features of the Republic did not have relation to domestic politics. He said that efforts were under way to eradicate the nation state which was considered the biggest threat in front of globalization. The Turkish Armed Forces would keep preserving nation state, unitary state and secular state, Gen.Kosaner stated. Global threats and risks were more dangerous than military threats, he said.

MILLIYET

--TURKEY IN THE MIDDLE

Russia's officially recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia has escalated tension in the relations between the East and the West. The West accused Russia of violating the international law and NATO said that Moscow should take its decision back.

Despite the harsh reaction of the West, Turkey was content with expressing its concerns about recent developments in Georgia. The name of Russia was not mentioned in the statement and Turkey did not condemn Russia frankly. Diplomatic sources said that the Cyprus issue and the recognition of Kosovo as an independent state prevented Turkey from reacting harshly.

--TSK'S EMPHASIZE ON SECULARISM

Gen. Isik Kosaner has taken over the command of Turkish Land Forces from Gen. Ilker Basbug, who was appointed as the new chief of General Staff.

During the ceremony, Gen. Kosaner gave important messages about new threats of globalization against Turkey's secular structure of state. "Protection of fundamental characteristics of the Republic cannot be considered an intervention in domestic politics," he said.

SABAH

--PKK'S MONEY LAUNDERER INTERROGATED IN PARIS

A Turkish judicial delegation has interrogated Nedim Seven, a senior member and money launderer of the PKK terrorist organization, in the French capital city, Paris, for five hours. Seven, who has been imprisoned at Paris' Le Sante Jail, was accused of laundering monies obtained from the PKK's illicit drug trafficking in Europe. The Turkish delegation also handed over a dossier containing documents about the PKK's drug trafficking and money laundering traffic in Europe.

--"MY CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR"

President Abdullah Gul has said that he had never made any discrimination among the nation’s citizens from the day he took office as president. "The principles mentioned in the presidential oath and impartiality are the most important elements. I believe that I have remained loyal to those during my first year in office. I invited civil society and all political parties to the Presidential Palace without making any discrimination," he said.

President Gul also added that he paid the vacation costs and the other personal spending from his own bank accounts.

VATAN

--IMPORTANT MESSAGES FROM NEW COMMANDER

Turkey's incoming Chief of General Staff General Ilker Basbug handed over Land Forces Command to General Isik Kosaner at a ceremony. Gen. Kosaner delivered a speech in the ceremony and said preserving basic principles of the Republic did not have any relation to domestic politics. He said Turkish Armed Forces would keep preserving nation state, unitary state and secular state. Gen. Kosaner said Turkish Armed Forces did not need an external supervision apart from Turkish nation.

--FENERBAHCE DEFEAT PARTIZAN 2-1

Fenerbahce soccer club of Turkey defeated Serbian soccer club Partizan 2-1 in European Champions League third round second leg match in Istanbul, qualifying for the group stage 4-3 on aggregate. Fenerbahce will compete in the European Champions League groups for the sixth time.

CUMHURIYET

--NATION STATE ON TARGET

General Isik Kosaner said Turkey was forced to assume a role in the international platform. There have been some efforts to eliminate the nation state structure of the country, Gen. Kosaner said. Turkish Armed Forces would keep preserving the nation state, the unitary state and the secular state, he said.

--WATER FOR EDUCATION

Some 240 entrepreneurs from the eastern province of Tunceli joined forces and established Munzur Water Inc. facilities. The income that they have earned from this company has been used to provide education grants for the youth of Tunceli.

RADIKAL

--SARGSIAN'S INVITATION FOR SOCCER MATCH

President Serzh Sargsian of Armenia said that recent developments regarding Turkey-Armenia relations required the leaders of the two countries to take important decisions.

President Sargsian reiterated his invitation to President Abdullah Gul to Yerevan to watch the 2010 Word Cup qualifying group match between the Turkish and Armenian national soccer teams on Sept. 6t. He said that the match would create a significant opportunity to develop bilateral relations.

--TENSION IN BLACK SEA

Russia has reacted to the transit of NATO vessels from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea through the Turkish straits. Russia said that it was a violation of the Montreux Convention.

The convention signed in 1936 imposes restrictions on the passage of combatant vessels.

YENI SAFAK

--"MY CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR"

Abdullah Gul gave important messages as he evaluated his first year in office as the president of Turkey. "A broad participation is required for a new constitution," he said. Gul described the Ergenekon probe as a significant milestone in the history of Turkey. He also said that rectors of universities should not be appointed by the president.

BACK TO TL

The Turkish lira (TL) will return to circulation as of Jan. 1. New banknotes and coins will enter into circulation with new designs, size and enhanced security features.