GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON SEPT 3

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on September 3, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET

--BRIBE RESIGNATION

Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy chairman and Sakarya deputy Saban Disli, who did not accept the claims of Republican People's Party (CHP) that he took $1 million as a bribe for a land issue in Silivri, resigned from all of his posts in the party. During the ruling AKP's central executive board meeting two days ago, Disli said that this issue started to exhaust both him and his party.

He could not see any support form Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and he announced his resignation with a written statement yesterday.

--TUSIAD URGES "GO TO YEREVAN"

Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) said that Turkey's Caucasus opening should be supported by covering Armenia, too. TUSIAD stated that President Abdullah Gul's visit to Yerevan to watch Turkey-Armenia soccer game would contribute to the normalization of relations. Also, Gul called U.S. President George Bush on the phone, and briefed him about the party’s "Caucasus Stability and Cooperation Platform" proposal.

MILLIYET

-- RULING AKP SAID "NO", EYES ON CANKAYA (PRESIDENTIAL PALACE)

Some MPs wanted to go to Armenia to watch Turkey's national match between the two countries on Saturday. The Central Executive Board of the ruling AKP told the parliamentarians that it would neither be politically right nor be right in regard to security. President Abdullah Gul has not yet responded to the invitation of Armenian President Serzh Sargsian, while a delegation from Turkey's Foreign Ministry went to Yerevan. Gul will make a decision according to a report from the delegation.

--HE SAID "I MADE A MISTAKE" AND RESIGNED

Saban Disli, the deputy chairman of the ruling AKP, released a written statement in which he announced his resignation from his posts in the party. Earlier, the Republican People's Party (CHP) documented that Disli took $1 million as a bribe to settle some issues and problems with the state. Disli said, "Politically, I made a mistake."

The AKP Central Executive Board convened the previous day, and many members of the board said that the document would harm the party even if Disli did not take any bribe. It was claimed that Premier Tayyip Erdogan told Disli to decide between trade or politics. Then, Disli resigned from his posts as the deputy chairman of the party and member of the Central Executive Board. He will continue to be a parliamentarian from the AKP.

SABAH

--MESSAGE FROM TERIM: THIS IS ONLY FOOTBALL MATCH, NOT WAR

Coach of Turkish national soccer team, Fatih Terim relayed moderate messages for the match that will be played between the national soccer teams of Turkey and Armenia.

Terim said, "This is only a match for us, not a war. We can not carry the burden of history on our shoulders. This will disrupt our match if we try this."

--SABAN DISLI RESIGNS

An MP of ruling AKP, Saban Disli on Tuesday resigned from his posts as AKP deputy chairman of the Central Executive Board as well as the AKP Executive Council because of allegations from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) that he took bribe.

In a written statement, Disli said "he resigned from his posts to prevent further exhaustion of the AKP because of groundless claims of CHP. "The second reason of my resignation is to deal with the defamations against my honor before the law," Disli said.

VATAN

--PRESIDENT GUL WILL GO TO YEREVAN BEFORE GIVING INFORMATION

It has been confirmed that President Abdullah Gul will go to Yerevan to watch the match between the Turkish and Armenian national soccer teams. Preparations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are underway accordingly, but no formal statement will be made.

Turkish and Armenian diplomats will discuss the details of the visit in Yerevan today.

Sources from the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Turkey's plans for an "opening to Armenia" will be facilitated in the case Armenia makes new steps in response to Turkey's nice gesture.

--HE RESIGNED IN 20 DAYS

The bribery scandal resulted in the resignation of Saban Disli from his posts in the ruling AKP. The AKP deputy chairman was accused of accepting $1 million as interest in return for resolving a land area planning issue.

In AKP's Executive Board meeting, party members said Disli must also resign as parliamentarian, not only from his posts in the AKP.

This is the first time that an executive of the AKP has resigned because of allegations of bribery.

CUMHURIYET

--SECOND REJECTION TO CAUCASUS PROPOSAL

Foreign Minister Ali Babacan hosted his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Istanbul. Lavrov did not support Turkeys Caucasus Platform proposal. "Required conditions should be ensured for this. We have seen attacks against South Ossetia. The negative impact of the aggression against South Ossetia should be eliminated," Lavrov said. Earlier, Babacan met his Georgian counterpart Eka Tkeshelashvili. The Georgian minister said that some conditions had to be fulfilled for the platform.

--PKK ATTACK: THREE SOLDIERS DIE

The terrorist organization PKK, which has recently increased attacks in the northern province of Giresun, attacked on troops patrolling around Uzundere region in Dereli town. A sergeant died in the clash. In a separate attack in Kigi town of the eastern province of Bingol, terrorists opened fire on troops who were headed to a dam construction site. Two soldiers died, and nine others were wounded in the attack.

RADIKAL

--DISLI RESIGNS, CHP WANTS LAWSUIT

When it was confirmed that ruling AKP deputy chairman Saban Disli made some follow-up work for money, he resigned from his all posts in the party. Disli said that he resigned from his posts to prevent further exhaustion of the AKP over the groundless claims of the Republican People's Party (CHP). On the other hand, the CHP says it is not enough; Disli must be judged.

--EVEN IF WE HAVE DIFFERENT OPINIONS, WE ARE FRIENDS

Foreign Minister Ali Babacan found the support --which he failed to get from Georgia-- from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov regarding the "Caucasus Platform". The message which emerged from the Babacan-Lavrov meeting was "we think differently about Georgia's territorial integrity, but this does not affect relations."

YENI SAFAK

--THIRD BOSPHORUS BRIDGE TO BE BUILT BETWEEN TARABYA AND BEYKOZ

The Transportation Ministry decided to construct the third bridge on Istanbul Strait between Tarabya (on the Asian side) and Beykoz (on the Anatolian side), taking into consideration the development of the city, traffic jams, environmental issues and the situation of the lands and the surrounding area. The two-storey third bridge will be built to the north of the other two, and be used for only transit vehicles. Thus it will solve the existing traffic problem at a great extent.

The bridge will be constructed using a build-operate-transfer model. The tender will be opened in coming months. There will be highway on the first storey, and a tube railway on the second storey. A second option would see building a wider bridge and constructing the railway in the middle of the highway.

--BLACK SEA SUMMIT ON KEMALREIS

Turkey’s Naval Forces Commander Admiral Metin Atac met Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky, the commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy, aboard the Kemalreis Frigate, currently sailing on the Black Sea. The commanders exchanged views on recent regional developments.

--ALL GREEK CYPRIOTS THINK ABOUT IS GUARANTOR STATUS

Mehmet Ali Talat, the president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), and Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias will meet on Wednesday to discuss the future of Cyprus. Christofias said, "Turkey and Greece should abdicate their right as guarantor state."