GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON SEPT 20

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on September 20, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. (UPDATED)

HURRIYET
-- THIS IS THE DEMOCRATIC ETHIC
Japan's Agriculture Minister Seiichi Ota offered his resignation after the tainted rice scandal disclosed. He did not even think about urging boycott on the media organs who covered the scandal.

-- LESS THAN WHITE?
The Deniz Feneri case in Germany and the latest remarks of Prime Minister Erdogan were covered by the foreign media organs as well. The prominent English weekly the Economist published an article titled as "Less Than White?"

-- ANTI-DEMOCRATIC MENTALITY DIVIDES THE NATION
The press organizations said "This is anti-democrat. This is an unprecedented hospitality against media," on Erdogan's call.

-- DALI IN ISTANBUL
People can visit the exhibition of artworks of Salvador Dali, one of the most important artists of 20th century and also the representative of surrealism, at Sakip Sabanci Museum in Istanbul till January 20th, 2009. The exhibition was formally inaugurated by President Abdullah Gul.

-- HEAVY RAIN IN NORTH, HOT WEATHER IN SOUTH
Heavy rain has affected northern and eastern parts of the country however southern part still enjoys hot weather. Temperature was 32 degrees Celsius in southwestern resort town of Bodrum.

MILLIYET
-- DO NOT BUY THIS MAGAZINE!
Prime Minister Erdogan does not want people to by the publications that he doesn't like. A day after Erdogan's boycott call the prominent English magazine The Economist used this headline for AKP: Less than white?

-- AKP PROTECTS AKMAN
Demanding Zahid Akman's, the chairman of the Turkish media watchdog, resignation was rejected by the votes of the RTUK's members from AKP. Akman is claimed to be the courier in the Deniz Feneri case.

-- GOOD NEWS FROM USA MAKES A POSITIVE IMPACT ON IMKB
US Bank Rescue Plan has made a positive impact on stock markets including the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB). IMKB National-100 Index rose by 4.153,73 points, and stocks gained 12.89 percent in value. The index closed at 36.370,16 points.

-- SALVADOR DALI EXHIBITION OPENS IN ISTANBUL
A reception took place on Friday to inaugurate the exhibition "Salvador Dali: A surrealist in Istanbul" hosted by Sabanci University Sakip Sabanci Museum (SSM), with the sponsorship of Akbank and in cooperation with the Gala-Salvador Dali Foundation. The exhibition consists of a comprehensive retrospective of the works of Salvador Dali; in addition to 270 works including oil paintings, drawings and works of graphic art, a variety of manuscripts, photographs and other documents.

SABAH
-- 4-DAY ADDITIONAL CUSTODY PERIOD
The custody period of 19 people, who have been recently detained in 5 provinces under Operation Ergenekon, has been extended for 4 days. Among those detained, there are five lieutenants, a military student, lawyer Levent Temiz, actress Nurseli Idiz and Seyhan Soylu.

-- TURKS IN GERMANY SHOCKED BY DENIZ FENERI
We talked Turks who live in Germany about the Deniz Feneri charity fraud scandal. Turks said: "They asked for donation, we gave them. Didn't the Turkish government see this? We thought it was an official organization, wasn't it?"

-- REACTIONS TO NEWSPAPER BOYCOTT
Media organizations slammed Erdogan's call to boycott Dogan Group newspapers.

VATAN

-- MAKE YOUR CHOISE MR. TAYYIP ERDOGAN

Erdogan's call for boycott to newspapers who covered the Deniz Feneri scandal opened a debate over his law and democracy understanding. Erdogan's remarks created question marks given the fact that his rhetoric over Europe, freedom, and democracy. No democrat leader had called for boycott by now. Moreover in democratic countries leaders are tolerant to even the most harsh criticism.

-- IMKB RISES, DOLLAR FALLS

The precaution package of the Bush administration aiming at the establishment of a company that will takeover the credits of the wrecked banks, has revived the stock exchanges all over the world. The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) rose by 12.8 percent yesterday, overcoming the 4-day loss at once. Meanwhile, dollar dropped to 1.24 YTL.

THY TO FLY TO BAGHDAD AFTER 17 YEARS

Turkish Airlines (THY), which stopped its flights to Baghdad during the Gulf War, will start flying to the Iraqi capital again after 17 years. Starting from October 26th, THY will conduct 3 flights to Baghdad every week.

CUMHURIYET

-- "THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED"

The politicians and NGOs underlined Prime Minister's call in fact showed his real philosophy. The leader of CHP slammed Prime Minister. He said Erdogan picked the wrong target and if he has the power he should implement an embargo over Germany.

-- ADDITIONAL CUSTODY PERIOD IN OPERATION ERGENEKON

The interrogation of 19 people, who were taken into custody under Operation Ergenekon, continues at the relevant military and counter-terrorism branches. The custody period of 13 civilians, including lawyer Levent Temiz and actress Nurseli Idiz, has been extended.

-- "CIVILIAN DISOBEDIANCE" PROTEST IN TRNC

Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has initiated a "civilian disobedience" protest against the Turkish Cypriot government, with the support of 8 NGOs. Within the framework of the protest, electricity bills and social security premiums of employees will not be paid, motor vehicle licenses will not be issued and land registry transactions will be stopped.

RADIKAL

-- FOOTSTEPS OF FASCISM

Erdogan's call for boycott created huge reactions all over the country. In May 10, 1933 the Nazis launched a campaign against the publications they dislike and hundreds of thousands books were destroyed in three weeks.

-- PRESIDENT GUL TO VISIT USA

Turkish President Abdullah Gul will leave for New York to participate in the 63rd session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. Accompanied by Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, Gul will address the General Assembly on September 23. Gul will hold bilateral talks with heads of state and government of various countries, and meet UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the secretary general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). During his bilateral talks, Gul will discuss international developments. Also, he will underline the importance Turkey attaches to its candidacy for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for 2009-2010, and ask for support for Turkey's candidacy.

YENI SAFAK

-- TURKISH AIRLINES TO FLY TO BAGHDAD AFTER 17 YEARS

Turkish Airlines (THY) will resume its flights to Baghdad after 17 years of interval. THY flights to Baghdad would begin as of October 26th. The airlines suspended its flights to that city during Gulf War in 1991. Flights will be held mutually between Istanbul and Baghdad three days a week; on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

-- WORLD WATCHES TURKEY WITH A GREAT ADMIRATION

Moody's Vice President Kristin Lindow has said Turkey has managed well global tsunami. Turkish economy has been more powerful now when compared to 2001 and that's why it was not negatively affected by global crisis, Lindow said.

hurriyet

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Turkish army officers arrested in relation to Ergenekon case

19/09/2008

ANKARA, Turkey -- The army announced on Thursday (September 18th) the arrests of five lieutenants and a cadet, the first active military officers reportedly involved in the shadowy separatist group Ergenekon, which faces charges of planning a coup d'etat. Authorities have detained 90 people so far. They also rounded up on Thursday actress Nurseli Idiz and talent agent Seyhan Soylu. The Ergenekon case began after police discovered a stash of hand grenades in June 2007 in an Istanbul house owned by a retired noncommissioned officer. The grenades matched those used in attacks against the Istanbul offices of the Cumhuriyet daily newspaper in 2006. (Sabah, Hurriyet, Milliyet, Radikal - 19/09/08; Reuters, CNN Turk, NTV, Anadolu news agency - 18/09/08)

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TEACHER'S CORNER

Ramadan in central Istanbul

Friday, September 19, 2008

This is the fourth time I have been in Turkey during Ramadan. The first time, I was living in a less central part of the city and was very aware of the month of fasting. For one thing, I was woken up every night by a drummer in the streets whose job it was to go about waking everybody up in time to eat before sunrise

Living in the center of Istanbul, on the European side, it would be easy not to notice the Ramadan month of fasting.

Most of my Turkish friends are not fasting this year. Some are not religious, while others are religious but do not feel it is necessary to fast.

All the restaurants and cafes remain open and appear as busy as always. Only in the evenings, when long queues form outside these places before iftar, am I reminded that it is Ramadan.

This is the fourth time I have been in Turkey during Ramadan. The first time, I was living in a less central part of the city and was very aware of the month of fasting.

For one thing, I was woken up every night by a drummer in the streets whose job it was to go about waking everybody up in time to eat before sunrise.

But this year I am living in an area the drummer does not come to, perhaps because there are almost as many foreigners here as Turks.

I have also noticed, in past years, how difficult it can be to get a taxi close to the time of iftar, as drivers are understandably much more interested in eating their first meal since before morning.

I have a lot of respect for the people who are fasting. I could not imagine going without food during the day for an entire month. And with Ramadan coming at the end of summer this year, it must be very difficult to go without drinking water.

This is also one of the reasons I respect Islam as a religion. The fasting is done partly to remember the poor and less fortunate, who cannot eat and drink whenever they want to.

This month I have been reading “Islam, a Short History,” by British writer Karen Armstrong, author of books about a number of religions.

It begins with the time of Muhammad and explains how his people, the Quraysh, had become rich through trading.

But the people who became rich did not care about the poor people. Instead they tried to make more money out of them. It was at this time that Muhammad received his message from Allah.

The message that we need to think less about ourselves and more about people who are less fortunate, is just as important today, of course, as it was 1,400 years ago

.*** Quentin Poulsen is a former New Zealand journalist who has been teaching English and traveling for nine years.

turkishdailynews

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Çeşme hotels left to foreign tourists

Friday, September 19, 2008

Most hotels in the Aegean resort town of Çeşme, which had a very good season in August, are plagued by low occupancy rates in the month of Ramadan. But this year some took measures to prevent the drop, reaching out especially to foreign tourists

İZMİR - Anatolia News Agency

Many hotels experience a decline in occupancy rates during the month of Ramadan. This is especially true of those in the Aegean holiday resort town of Çeşme, a prime destination for domestic tourists.

In response, some hotels took measures before this year's Ramadan period to attract international tourists from countries such as Germany, Russia, Britain, Denmark and Sweden.

According to the Çeşme representative of the Aegean Hotels Association, Bülent Taner, occupancy rates have fallen to 20 percent in many of the hotels that did not take measure against the stagnation that Ramadan brings. But Taner said the Destination İzmir group had prepared an action plan to increase the number of foreign tourists for the month of Ramadan.

�Because Ramadan is a holiday season, we, as Destination İzmir hotels, have prepared a 10-year action plan. Our goal was to increase the number of foreigners. We have attended all prominent international fairs for two years. This year we started to see the results of these efforts,� he said.

Taner said hotels that did not prepare for the month of Ramadan saw a sharp fall in their occupancy rates, but that other hotels in the district have enjoyed a 50 percent occupancy rate. �We expect this rate will remain at 40 to 45 percent in the winter season. Hotels in the Pamucak region have a 100 percent occupancy rate. There is a tourist flow, especially from Germany, Denmark and Sweden, to that region in this period. Rooms left by domestic tourists are occupied by those from northern countries.�

Season extended to 180 days

Kaan Bayhan, the manager of Süzer Sun Dreams Hotel in Çeşme's Alaçatı district, said domestic tourism dried up in the month of Ramadan and that they were only able to host foreign guests. Çeşme tourism was heavily affected by events in the country because it primarily served domestic tourism, said Bayhan. �That's why the summer season started late this year and ended earlier than previous years.�

He said most hotels in the district did not work with foreign tour operators. �Çeşme is empty since the beginning of September. But the facilities working with foreign tour operators are still full. Our hotel's occupancy rate is 100 percent right now.

�I believe that other hotels in the district realized the importance of working with foreign tour operators in this season. We extended the season to 180 days thanks to contracts with new foreign tour agencies this year. We have made contracts with four tour operators for the next season. We hosted Russian guests this year for the first time. We also communicate with British and German markets and got positive results,� he said.

Preparations for Bayram holiday

Grand Ontur Hotel general manager Gökçe Kesitçiler said occupancy rates in Çeşme, which had a very good season this year, saw a sharp decline with the opening of schools. She said hotel occupancy rates remained at 95 percent in August but declined to 35 percent in September.

�The summer season ends in Çeşme every year with the opening of schools, but this year there was a sudden fall due to the month of Ramadan. However, because of the long Bayram holiday, hotels are now preparing to serve special packages to guests.�

turkishdailynews

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GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON SEPT 19

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on September 19, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET

--5 LIEUTENANTS UNDER CUSTODY

17 people, including five lieutenants and a military student, were detained with the directives of Prosecutor Zekeriya Oz under Ergenekon operation. General Staff made a statement and announced detention of the military personnel. Among those detained, there are lawyer Levent Temiz, artist Nurseli Idiz and Seyhan Soylu.

--REASONABLE MAJORITY TAKES ACTION

Reasonable majority was offended over the imprisonment sentence given to three Turkish citizens within the scope of Denizfeneri case on charges of swindling Turkish contributors. Everybody wants the perpetrators in Turkey to be punished. Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan said, "Turkey can not disregard the decision. It should not say Turkey does not have any links with the matter. Turkish prosecutors should do whatever necessary." Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said the prosecutor's office could ask for the file from Germany.

MILLIYET

--CUSTODY TO FIVE LIEUTENANTS IN OPERATION ERGENEKON

Ergenekon inquiry was extended to commissioned officers. During operations staged in five cities, five lieutenants and a military student were taken under custody. A total of 17 people were detained during the operations held in Ankara, Istanbul, western province of Izmir, southern province of Mersin and southeastern province of Hakkari under the directives of prosecutor Zekeriya Oz.

--PRICE INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY

Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) approved the price increase in electricity as 9.07 percent in residences and 9.27 percent in industry as of October 1, 2008.

--TWO GOOD RESULTS IN UEFA

Galatasaray soccer team of Turkey defeated AC Bellinzona of Switzerland 4-3 in an UEFA Cup first round match in Basel. Meanwhile, Besiktas soccer team of Turkey defeated Metalist Kharkiv of Ukraine 1-0.

SABAH

--A SURREALIST IN ISTANBUL: DALI

270 works of art of Dali, one of the most important artists of 20th century and also the representative of surrealism, will meet with people of Istanbul at Sakip Sabanci Museum. President Abdullah Gul, who opened the most comprehensive exhibition of Dali after the one in Spain, congratulated Sabanci family.

--FIVE LIEUTENANTS UNDER CUSTODY IN ERGENEKON

General Staff stated that five lieutenants were taken under custody under the directives of prosecutor. Eight wave custodies in Ergenekon inquiry were made in Ankara, Istanbul, western province of Izmir, southern province of Mersin and southeastern province of Hakkari.

VATAN

--THIRD PRICE INCREASE TO ELECTRICITY

Energy Market Regulatory Board (EPDK) made price increases to electricity. There will be 9.07 percent rise in electricity used in houses, 9.27 percent rise in electricity used in industry, and 9.35 percent rise in trading companies. The price increases will take effect starting as of October 1.

--SIMSEK: OUR HOUSE IS IN ORDER

State Minister Mehmet Simsek said there had been a very big crisis going on in the world. He said, "reflection of this crisis on Turkey is limited so far. This is not accidental. Turkey's reserves and public finance are good. Our home is in order. "

CUMHURIYET

--PRICE INCREASE IN ELECTRICITY AGAIN

Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) approved the price increase in electricity tariffs which envisage 9.2 percent rise in average as of October 1. With the recent price increase, the total rise in the price reached 54 percent in the last nine months.

--SALVADOR DALI IN ISTANBUL

The inauguration of a comprehensive exhibition "A Surrealist in Istanbul: Salvador Dali" --which is comprised of masterpieces and letters of Dali-- was made at Istanbul's Sakip Sabanci Museum with participation of President Abdullah Gul and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay.

RADIKAL

--ONE MILITARY STUDENT, FIVE LIEUTENANTS AND 10 CIVILIANS UNDER INTERROGRATION

7th wave of Ergenekon operation was launched in three cities on Thursday morning. The first operation was in Istanbul against lawyer Levent Temiz, former head of the organization of idealists. Temiz was detained on July 2 and later released. He earlier threatened Hrant Dink. Actress Nurseli Idiz and a manager known as Seyhan Soylu were detained together with Temiz.

Another surprise was a statement from the General Staff. In the statement General Staff said, "upon a directive from the Istanbul Prosecutor's Office on September 17, military authorities detained five lieutenants and a military student."

--TWO VICTORIES ONE DEFEAT

Three Turkish soccer teams were struggling to remain in groups in UEFA Cup. One of those teams, Besiktas defeated Metalist Kharkiv of Ukraine 1-0, and the other Galatasaray defeated AC Bellinzona of Switzerland 4-3 in Switzerland. However, Kayserispor was defeated 1-2 to Paris Saint Germain (PSG) of France.

YENI SAFAK

--TSK HANDS TO PROSECUTOR

17 more people were taken under custody in the last wave of operations under Ergenekon inquiry. Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) handed five lieutenants and one military soldier to the prosecutor. Manager Seyhan Soylu and artist Nurseli Idiz were also detained in Istanbul.

--DO THE NECESSARY THING IN DENIZ FENERI

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that a connection could not be established between Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Deniz Feneri case in Germany. He wanted the investigation which was opened in Turkey to be comprehensive.

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GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON SEPT 18

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on September 18, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET
--IT IS NOW TURKEY'S TURN
"This is the biggest charity corruption case (Deniz Feneri e.V fraud case) in Germany’s history, I have seen. Kanal 7 was controlling the all. Mehmet Gurhan and Mehmet Taskan move according to the instructions they received from Zeriya Karaman, Ismail Karahan and Mustafa Celik.The real responsible ones were in Turkey," the Judge Jochen Mueller, at the Supreme Court of Frankfurt said Wednesday when he announced the ruling.

--AND THEY WERE SENTENCED
Mehmet Gurhan, the director general of the private Kanal 7 TV station in Europe, was found guilty of using donations for other purposes, than charity and was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison. Gurhan has been in prison since April 23, 2007. The judge decided to keep Gurhan in prison, and said, "Gurhan still has a possibility to run away to Turkey."

Mehmet Taskan, the head of the Deniz Feneri Association in Germany, was sentenced to serve two years and nine months in prison. He has been in prison since August 13th, 2007, so the court ruled that he should be released from prison. He will be sent back to prison later to serve the remaining ninemonths. Firdevsi Ermis, an accountant, was sentenced to one-year-and-ten-month imprisonment. However, his sentence was suspended because he made confessions. He has been imprisoned since April 23rd, 2007, but was released on Wednesday.

The suspects were convicted of fraud. 17 million of 41 million euros, collected in five years, was sent to Turkey. 8 million Euro was given to the Deniz Feneri Association in Turkey. The whereabouts of 2.8 million euros is unknown.

--ERUYGUR SUFFERS FROM CEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE IN PRISON
Retired general Sener Eruygur, who was in Kandira prison, fell from stairs when he suffered from high blood pressure on Wednesday. Eruygur was hospitalized. Doctors said he had a cerebral hemorrhage and there was a fracture in his neck bone. Eruygur is now kept in intensive care unit.

MILLIYET
--ERUYGUR IN SERIOUS CONDITION AFTER FALLING DOWN IN PRISON
Former commander of the Gendermary Forces Ret. Gen. Sener Eruygur fell down from the stairs in prison Wednesday morning. A four-point fracture was diagnosed in his neck at the hospital. "The hemorrhage in his brain, increased by 10 percent in the evening. He is in critical condition. We are closely monitoring him," said Prof. Nazım Mutlu, head physician of the Kocaeli University Hospital where Eruygur was hospitalised.

--UNLUCKY BEGINNING IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Turkish soccer team Fenerbahce, which went on its first game in the Champions League against Porto, was shocked by two goals, in the first 13 minutes of the game. Fenerbahce, which started playing better in the rest of the first half, scored a goal with Guiza. Fenerbahce missed many goal opportunities in the second half. Porto scored another goal in the over time and won against Fenerbahce with a score of 3-1.

SABAH
--FENER'S LIGHT FADES AWAY
Fenerbahce soccer team of Turkey, which made a bad start to this football season, also started badly in the Champions League. Fenerbahce, who lost two of their three matches in the Turkish league, were also disappointed in Europe. Fenerbahce lost against Porto of Portugal 3-1 on Wednesday.

--TWO ASSOCIATIONS ARE PARTNERS
Mehmet Gurhan, the director general of the private Kanal 7 TV station in Europe, was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison in the Deniz Feneri Association case in Germany. Mehmet Taskin, the head of the Deniz Feneri Association in Germany, was sentenced to two-year-nine-month imprisonment, whereas accountant Firdevsi Ermis was sentenced to one years and ten months of prison term. German judge Johann Muller said the Deniz Feneri associations in Turkey and Germany were working together.

The judge said the case was the biggest charity scandal in Germany, and announced that investigation into Zekeriya Karaman (the head of the Executive Board of private Kanal 7 TV channel) and Zahid Akman (the head of Turkey's Supreme Board of Television and Radio) wouldcontinue.

--TURKEY LEG SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED
Regarding Deniz Feneri Association, State Minister Cemil Cicek said prosecutors should do what they had to do. Also, Deniz Baykal, the chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), said, "the Turkey leg should be investigated. A judicial process should be launched regarding those who got the money."

VATAN
--GERMAN PROSECUTOR: WHY IS TURKEY STILL WAITING?
Kerstin Lotz, the prosecutor of the Deniz Feneri Association case in Germany, spoke to Vatan daily and said the court would prepare its reasoned verdict in six weeks. "Till then, we will expect Turkish Justice Ministry to demand the file. We will send them if they do not request the file," she said. The German prosecutor said that the court had a strong belief that the donations were used for political purposes in Turkey and said they had completed the Germany leg of the case. "We have also revealed the Turkey links. We have traced the donations till Zekeriya Karaman. The rest is Turkey's business," she also said.

--HIS BONE NECK WAS BROKEN, HE HAD CEREBRAL HEMORRHAGE
Retired general Sener Eruygur, who is in prison within the scope of the Ergenekon investigation, fell down from the stairs due to high blood pressure and hit his head. He was hospitalized immediately. Nazim Mutlu, the chief doctor of the Kocaeli Faculty of Medicine hospital, said that Eruygur had a neck fracture and cerebral hemorrhage. Mutlu said fortunately, Eruygur would not be paralyzed and said he was in critical condition.

--DALI EXHIBITION IN ISTANBUL
The Sabanci University's Sakip Sabanci Museum will host Salvador Dali, one of the most important painters of the 20th century, as of September 20. Suzan Sabanci Dincer, the head of the Executive Board of Akbank, personally launched initiatives to organize the most expensive artistic event in Turkey (worth 7 million YTL) and brought the exhibition to Turkey. Art centers in New York, Los Angeles and London were also eager to host the exhibition. 269 artifacts will be on display in the exhibition.

CUMHURIYET
--ERUYGUR IN INTENSIVE CARE
Ret. Gen. Sener Eruygur, who has been detained under the Ergenekon investigation, fell down from the stairs due to hyper-tension at the Kandira Penitentiary and had a brain stroke. Eruygur, who was hospitalised at the Kocaeli University Hospital, has four fractures in his neck. Eruygur is in critical condition. Nazim Mutlu, head physician of the hospital, said, "the hemorrhage in his brain increased by 10 percent. He may be paralysed. He has hyper-tension and diabetes which makes his situation more critical."

--NOW IT'S TURKEY'S TURN
The accused in the Germany leg of the Deniz Feneri, charity fraud, were convicted. The German court sentenced Mehmet Gurhan, a key name in the fraud who is said to work under Zekeriya Karaman and Zahid Akman, to five years and 10 months of imprisonment. The court sentenced Mehmet Taskan to 2 years and 9 months and Firdevsi Ermis to 1 year and 10 months of imprisonment. Judge Muller said though Gurhan was one of the directors of the Deniz Feneri foundation, he was directed from Turkey and was not the only decision maker.

After the verdict in the case all eyes were turned to Turkey. Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said, "we will not be the protector of criminals. We will back the investigation wherever it may lead." Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said, "it is saddening for Turkish citizens to be convicted." Republican' People's Party, Turkey's main opposition, pointed out that the actual extension of the fraud incident was in Turkey, and said it was necessary to bring the perpetrators in Turkey before justice.

RADIKAL
--THREE CONVICTIONS IN "DENIZ FENERI" CASE
German authorities punished the perpetrators of the fraud of the century. All eyes are turned to Turkey now. Three of the defendants in the "Deniz Feneri e.V" case in Germany, Mehmet Gurhan, Mehmet Taskan and Firdevsi Ermis were sentenced to, respectively, five years 10 months, 2 years and 9 months and 1 year and 10 months of imprisonment. The judge regarded the case as "Germany's biggest charity scandal," while pointing out that Mehmet Gurhan was controlled from Turkey. He said Zekeriya Karaman had an important role in the incident

--ANOTHER WARNING TO PM ERDOGAN COMES FROM WAN
After World Press Institute, World Association of Newspapers sent a letter to Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan calling on him to stop threatening the press.

YENI SAFAK
--THREE SUSPECTS SENTENCED TO PRISON TERMS IN DENIZ FENERI CASE
In the Deniz Feneri Association case in Germany, Mehmet Gurhan was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison. Mehmet Taskan was sentenced to a two-year prison term and Firdevs Ermis to one year imprisonment. State Minister Cemil Cicek said, "we will not stand behind any criminal. Prosecutors are free to file lawsuits."

--HIGH INTEREST RATES LOCKING ECONOMY
The Monetary Policy Board will hold its ninth meeting on Thursday. The board kept the overnight interest rates constant at 16.75 percent. Experts think the board will reduce the interest rates this time. The markets think that the only solution is to reduce interest rates in days when economy is locked, growth rate is slowed down, oil prices fall down and budget has a surplus.

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GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON SEPT 17

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on September 17, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET
-I AM SORRY. WE SPENT THE DONATED FUNDS.
"We were aiming to help more people who were poor an in need of aid. This is why, I am sorry for spending the received funds for some activities without asking to those contributors," Mehmet Gurhan, vice president of Kanal 7 Europe said in his arguments, at Deniz Feneri Fraud case, in Germany.

--DO NOT TRY TO INVOLVE US IN POLITICS
In his first meeting with the media, Gen, Ilker Basbug, the chief of Turkish General Staff, said, "nobody, including the media, should not make politics over the Armed Forces. Please do not include the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in daily incidents." Basbug said, "we are sensitive about this matter and we are uneasy about those making politics over the TSK and including the armed forces in daily incidents. Otherwise, we will have to use our own defense mechanism."

--24 YEAR BALANCE SHEET OF TERRORISM
Gen. Ilker Basbug, the chief of Turkish General Staff, talked about the figures related to 24-year fight against terrorism. Basbug said, "the number of terrorists taken out of action is 32,000. The number of civilian casualties is 5,560 and the number of soldiers lost in the fight is 6,482." Basbug said, "nobody should try to make cheap politics over our martyrs. We are uneasy about the questions as to why we are still losing our sons. Who would want to lose sons?"

--ERDOGAN REPROACH TO EU
Turkish Premier Tayyip Erdogan talked reproachful during the fast-breaking dinner he hosted in honor of ambassadors of the European Union (EU) member states in Ankara. Erdogan said the EU was slowing down Turkey's EU membership process. "You should not open the door in the first place, why did you open the door then," he said.

MILLIYET
--LINES OF GENERAL BASBUG
Chief of Turkish General Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug's "communication meeting" on Tuesday broke a record based on its duration. The meeting lasted 3.5 hours and was divided into three parts. Gen. Basbug drew a "new line" with the meeting that dealt with expectations from the press, suggestions from the media and question-answers.

--DIGITAL HOSPITALS TO DECREASE COSTS
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Nasuh Ozmen said that information on patients would soon be stored in a digital atmosphere. Keeping patient information on "digital hospitals" would decrease costs, Ozmen stressed.

SABAH
--BASBUG CRITERIA
Gen. Ilker Basbug, the chief of Turkish General Staff, talked about many issues from the EU to Georgia, from terrorism to the motion enabling cross-border operation during his three-and-a-half-hour meeting with media executives. On the EU, Basbug said, "for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), EU full membership is an important means to climb above the level of contemporary civilizations, an aim of Ataturk. Do not play with our nation state structure, and do not weaken our unitary state structure."

On politics, Basbug said, "none of the institutions should try to make politics over TSK. Do not include the TSK in daily matters. Martyrs should not be used as a tool for cheap politics."

Regarding terrorism, Gen. Basbug said, "the separatist terrorist organization is coming to a breaking point. Only people from Syria, Iran and Europe are joining the organization. Those joining the terrorist organization are around 14 and 18 years old. It is an important thing to save these people from the terrorist organization." Basbug did not comment on the April 21st statement, but said the armed forces would reduce press statements.

On social state, Basbug said, "religion is used as a tool for economicinterests. You are pushing people to become a social group in places where social state is not implemented, whether you call it a community or a society."

--FIRST STEP FOR ROME AT 9:45 P.M.
Fenerbahce soccer team of Turkey, who played a Champions League quarter final last football season, aim to play the final this year in Rome. Their first match is against Porto on Wednesday. Semih could not fly to Portugal due to his injuries. Eyes are on Alex, Emre and Guiza.

VATAN
--KURDISH PROGRAMS TO BE BROADCAST ON TRT
Turkey's national tv station, TRT, would soon begin broadcasting programs in Kurdish, Zazaki, Persian and Arabic. These programs would begin in March 2009.

--IF ISTANBUL BECOMES A FINANCIAL CENTER WHOLE WORLD WOULD BE SAVED, MINISTER

Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Nazim Ekren said that Turkey had taken precautions against the global food, energy and financial crisis. "If Istanbul became a financial center, the whole world would be saved," Ekren said.

CUMHURIYET
--"OUR STANCE WILL NOT CHANGE"
Gen. Ilker Basbug, the chief of Turkish General Staff, assessed secularism, unitary structure, European Union (EU), terrorism and regional developments in his meeting with the editors-in-chief of newspapers and their representatives in Ankara. Gen. Basbug said that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) did not have an opposite view about Turkey's EU membership, and said that EU membership was a means, not a goal in Turkey's modernization path. Basbug said, "we expect the EU to behave equally and not to lay down demands regarding nation and unitary state structures. We will not find it appropriate if the EU makes such demands. What we are telling the EU is that if it does not admit Turkey as a member, this will be the end of the union in the Balkans."

--DEFENSE WITH ATATURK FROM DTP
Ahmet Turk, the chairman of the Democratic Society Party (DTP) making a verbal defense at the Constitutional Court regarding the closure case against the party, recalled Ataturk's remarks in 1923. Ataturk had said, "any province with a population of Kurds shall rule themselves autonomously." Turk said that the PKK "was formed due to the denial and assimilation policy" pursued in later years, and "developed with torture after the September 12th military intervention."

RADIKAL
--NOBODY SHOULD MAKE TSK A TOOL FOR POLITICS
Gen. Ilker Basbug, the chief of Turkish General Staff, spoke to the media on Tuesday. "None of institutions, including the media should not make politics over the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). Nobody should make cheap politics over martyrs."

--STOCK EXCHANGE DOWN, FOREIGN EXCHANGE UP
Giant insurance company AIG was seeking $40 billion to stand on its feet but could only acquire half of this amount. Therefore, it is in a life-and-death struggle. If AIG bankrupts, there will be a "disaster" in markets. Also financial companies Washington Mutual and Wachovia Bank are in a difficult situation. Also markets are shattered in Turkey. The two-day loss of Turkey's Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) is 8.9 percent, whereas one U.S. dollar rose to 1.5 YTL.

YENI SAFAK
--NOBODY SHOULD MAKE POLITICS OVER TURKISH MILITARY
Gen. Ilker Basbug, the chief of Turkish General Staff, gave important messages in an informative meeting with the media executives and representatives of media in Ankara. Basbug said that none of institutions, including the media, should make politics over the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). Basbug said, "nobody can use the TSK for his/her own interests. Nobody should make cheap politics over martyrs."

--ITALIAN MEDAL TO OZPETEK
Turkish film director Ferzan Ozpetek will be presented with an Italian state medal of merit. Ozpetek, who has directed successful Turkish-Italian co-productions, will be honored with a medal for the constructive role he plays in cultural relations between the two countries.

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Wanna have your partner's puppet?

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Puppet artist Deniz Orhon’s Web site, where she sells puppets she creates, is a new favorite of couples. By making a purchase online, a wife can get a puppet of her husband

VERCİHAN ZİFLİOĞLU
ISTANBUL - Turkish Daily News

Puppets of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Turkish Finance Minister Kemal Unakıtan are the favorites of 25-year-old puppet artist Deniz Orhon. She said her preference was to produce puppets reflecting social problems, taking her biggest source of inspiration from daily life.

Last year, Orhon designed a Web site where puppets she created were displayed. Unexpectedly, her site was flooded with orders. �All of a sudden, the orders increased so much that I began spending 24 hours in my workshop,� she said.

Nowadays, Orhon is busy producing a six-minute slow motion picture, hoping to show it at national and international festivals. Inspired by Czech writer Franz Kafka's �Metamorphosis,� Orhon decided to produce a puppet of Gregor Samsa, the main character in the story. She took 9,000 snapshots, designed hundreds of costumes and drew eight different heads in order to get a perfect final product.

Bride & groom puppets

The first puppet character Orhon gave life to was named Edith. The bug-eyed Edith is a hunchback and bears a weary facial expression. �Edith embodies social problems,� said Orhon.

Another puppet, a bride wearing a torn-off wedding dress, is called �Bride-Groom.� The expression on her face reflects pure sorrow, �for she was forced to marry an old and wealthy men,� Orhon explained.

Orhon shot a film starring the two puppets set on the Marmara coastline near Istanbul's Bostancı district.

�Puppets I dream of are a part of my life. Puppets for sale on my Web site finance the puppets in my dreams,� she said. The price of the puppets sold on Orhon's Web site ranges from YTL 450 to 1,000. She receives most orders from married couples and art lovers.

Her customers have many unusual requests, Orhon noted. �A customer asked me to make her husband's puppet in sexy underwear. Another one asked me to make her mother's in a swimsuit and her father's in tennis apparel. She asked me to make her brother's puppet in women's apparel.�

Facial expressions

Orhon uses as models for her puppets the photographs customers provide her. �I work on a puppet for days and days to make it look exactly like the person in the photo,� she said.

�When I look at someone's face, I can easily do a character analysis because I analyze details of faces in photos for days,� she added.

Orhon's materials are wood, plastic foam, mud and plaster. She produces three types of puppets: puppets on a string, hand puppets and desktop puppets. But she said the first type is definitely her favorite.

�Every minute, I dream of giving life to a puppet I am dreaming of,� the artist said. She is always saving the hundreds of faces she sees on the streets in the labyrinths of her memory. �Those faces becomes faces of puppets I dream of and then I produce them. �



http://www.kutukutupense.net

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GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON SEPT 16

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on September 16, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET
--DENIZ FENERI CASE, IN RETURN FOR MARCO
A surprise development happened in the ongoing Deniz Feneri case, in Frankfurt, Germany. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, asked the Deniz Feneri case in return for the Germany teenager Marco case, who arrested in Turkey for a rape crime.

--RESPONSE IF NOT DEAD
A total of 101 people, 34 whom were wounded, have been rescued from the ferry ship that sank near Bandirma Port on Sunday evening. One person died at the accident and 4 were missing, officials said. There was a big chaos while determining the number of the dead and wounded after the incident. Officials determined the names of the drivers of the trucks on board through phone calls.

MILLIYET
--CALL FROM ERDOGAN AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended a fast breaking dinner with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in Istanbul. Erdogan said, "Islamophobia should be declared crime of humanity like anti-Semitism."

--SUPPORT FROM U.S. FOR CROSS-BORDER OPERATION
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen, who visited Turkey, supported extension of the period of motion which lets Turkey to stage cross-border operation in the north of Iraq against PKK terrorist organization. Mullen said that exchange of intelligence about the issue would continue.

--THEY DID NOT GIVE LIFE JACKET
A ferry boat sank immediately after it took anchor from Bandirma Port. One person was killed and four were reported missing. Officials are concerned that the number of missing people will increase. The survivors said, "we asked for life jackets. They gave us raincoats."

SABAH
--IT WAS THE CAPTAIN WHO SINKS THE SHIP
The reason of the ferry boat disaster (a ferry boat sank immediately after it took anchor from Bandirma Port) was learned. The captain of the boat loaded the ferry wrong by knowingly.

--HE WENT TO PLANE IN A RUSH
The Turkish citizen who was killed in the plane crash in Russia was identified as Levent Nuri Kocak, an engineer of Ant Yapi Company. It was learned that Kocak left the construction site in a rush to catch the plane.

VATAN
--THEY GAVE RAINCOATS INSTEAD OF LIFE JACKETS
It was reported that the cause of the ferry boat accident which killed one person near Bandirma Port was a faulty loading."The ferry continued to move pitched to the right side. Then it turned to the other side and sank. There was no warning siren. They gave raincoats to those who wanted life jackets," said Mustafa Secik, a truck driver who was rescued after the accident.

--STOCK EXCHANGE DROPS BY 5 PERCENT
Due to the global crisis that arose after the bankruptcy of the world's leading investment bank Lehman Brothers, Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) dropped by 5.3 percent to the 35,000 point limit. Meanwhile in USA, Dow Jones experienced the sharpest daily decline since
September 11 and dropped by 4.42 percent.

CUMHURIYET
--EARTHQUAKE IN MARKETS
The bankruptcy application of the leading U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers caused chaos in the world markets. Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) dropped by 5 percent and European exchanges decreased by more than 4 percent after the incident. IMKB, which started the day with sharp sales, dropped by 1,952 points and closed at 35,081 points.

--ACCUSATION TO PERSONNEL IN FERRY ACCIDENT
One person died and 4 were missing after a ferry boat sank near Bandirma port on Sunday evening. There were 106 passengers on board. The passengers said that the boat listed to one side after it departed from the port and it continued to move that way despite warnings. "We were given raincoats instead of life jackets," a passenger said.

RADIKAL
--SAILED 300 METERS, SANK
A ferry boat "Hayat-N" departed from Bandirma Port for Ambarli with 106 people, 73 trucks and two automobiles. The ferry boat sank after it sailed for 300 meters. One person was killed and four others were reported missing. It was claimed that the boat sank as it was loaded wrongly.

--BLACK MONDAY
Lehman Brothers, the fourth biggest investment bank of the United States, bankrupted. World markets collapsed. Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) lost 5.27 percent in value. IMKB National-100 Index dropped by 1,952.43 points and closed at 35,081.44 points.

YENI SAFAK
--WHO WILL DRIVE THIS CAR
World's most expensive sports car Bugatti Veyron is on sale for 4.2 million YTL in Turkey. Dogus-Bugatti director Bottaro said that next year's quota in Turkey was only one Bugatti Veyron.

--JACKALS ON BLACK SEA
The United States initiated a huge sea exercise in Black Sea with participation of several NATO member states and Ukraine. The exercise, which was like a war rehearsal, was named "Jackal Stone."

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GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON SEPT 15

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on September 15, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET--THE BEST RESPONSE TO PRIME MINISTERA pro-government daily newspaper in Greece has published the document of a corruption incident related with an abbot which put the Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis on the spot, at a time, while Turkish Prime Minister put his effort to silence journalists in Turkey.
--BULGARIAN PM INAUGURATES CHURCH IN EDIRNEBulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev and Turkish Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay opened 140-year-old Eleni church which was repaired by paying 500 million euro in northwestern province of Edirne. 3,000 people came from Bulgaria to attend the ceremony. Gunay said this second church in Edirne was the sign of positive relations with Bulgaria.
--THERE WAS A TURK IN PLANE WHERE RUSSIAN COMMANDER DIEDA Boeing 737 type passenger plane belonging to Russian Airlines Aeroflot burst into fire in the air and crashed into Ural Mountains in city of Perm early on Sunday while travelling from Moscow to Perm killing all 88 people aboard. There was a Turkish citizen, Levent Nuri Kocak, in the plane.
MILLIYET--RUSSIAN ACT COST TURKISH EXPORTERS $1 BILLION Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said that procedures applied by Russia to block the entry of Turkish goods into this country have already cost Turkish exporters $500 million. "By the end of Ramadan, Russian act on Turkish exports would cost Turkish exporters $1 billion," Tuzmen said.
--JAPANESE MUJI IN TURKEYJapanese department stores chain Muji will open its Istanbul branch in Nisantasi in October. Muji has 400 stores in five continents. The company sells quality goods whose trade marks are not well known.
SABAH--RO-RO CALAMITY IN BANDIRMAHayat N., a Ro-Ro ship listed shortly after departing from Bandirma port and sank while heading to Istanbul. There was 101 people, 25 of them crew members, in the ro-ro ship. Most of the passengers dived into the sea in panic. 66 passengers were rescued, however Ozer Erdogan (42) died. One of the 31 injured passengers were reported to be in serious condition. 34 passengers were reported to be missing.
--PLANE CRASH IN RUSSIA: 88 PEOPLE DIEDNuri Kocak, a Turkish citizen, was among the passengers of the Boeing 737 plane which crashed in Russia. Plane of the Russian airlines company Aeroflot, heading from Moscow to city of Perm, exploded in the air as it was about to land. Turkish Embassy launched initiatives to get the body of Levent Nuri Kocak.
VATAN--SENER MAKES A CALL ON TURKISH GOVERNMENTFormer Turkish State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said that "whatever resource has been allocated to any one or group should be publicized on the internet site of the Turkish Prime Ministry." Speaking to reporters in southern province of Gaziantep, Sener stressed that one of the foremost problems of Turkey is terror. "Turkey lost 78 security officers due to terrorist activities in a year," Sener said. "50,000 companies or shops have gone out of business in the past eight months in Turkey. Those managing Turkey have no concerns about Turkey," Sener said. Had those in the government had concerns about Turkey, they would not have had time for fighting with others, Sener also said.
--GOOD NEWS FROM RUSSIARussian authorities made a statement on a possible natural gas crisis with Turkey. Russia announced that it will not cut down the amount of natural gas being sent to Turkey. "We will continue to be a reliable suppplier of natural gas," Russian officials said.
CUMHURIYET--GETTING EDUCATED IS VERY EXPENSIVEUniversity students in Turkey have to spend somewhere between 2,131 new Turkish liras (YTL) and 2,954 YTL at the beginning of the new academic year. This amount includes tuition fees, transportation, food expenses, social activities, course equipment, photocopy expenses and books. On a monthly basis, each university student has to spend 715 YTL.
RADIKAL--TURKEY IS AWAY TO MAASTRICHT CRITERIA IN INFLATION AND INTEREST
Turkey, a candidate for EU full membership, met half of the Maastrict criteria, including economic principles of the EU. The weak part of Turkish economy is interest rates and inflation. With 8.8 percent in inflation, Turkey exceeded EU criteria which was 2.8 percent. Deviation from the EU criteria in interest is more than three times: Interest rates are around 18.3 percent in Turkey, however, the EU criteria is 5.3 percent.
--PLANE CRASHES IN RUSSIA KILLING 88, ONE OF THEM A TURKISH CITIZENA Boeing 737 plane, belonging to Russian Airlines, crashed as it was about to land near Perm city of Russia. None of the 82 passengers or 6 crew members could rescue. There were 8 Azerbaijanis, 5 Ukrainian, one Turk, one Swiss, a German, A Latvian, and an American among the passengers.
YENI SAFAK--35 STUDENTS OUT OF EVERY 100 ARE SUBSTANCE ADDICTSA report prepared by the Turkish Police says that, out of every 100 secondary and high school students, 35 students are substance addicts. Among the substances being heavily used by students are cigarettes, alcohol and hashish.
--TURKISH CONSUMER LOANS REACH 110 BLN YTLThe amount of loans used by Turkish consumers reached 110 billion YTL in 2008. Loans utilized by Turkish consumers were worth 35 billion YTL in 2005.

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One dead, some 30 missing as ferry sinks off Turkish coast: officials

14/09/2008 23h39

A ferry passes the Bosphouros in a foggy day in Istanbul in 2007
©AFP/File - Hocine Zaourar

ANKARA (AFP) - At least one person died and about 30 remained unaccounted for after a ferry carrying at least 100 people and 75 vehicles sank late Sunday off northwestern Turkey, officials said.

The 118-metre roll-on-roll-off ferry sank within half an hour after leaving the port town of Bandirma, on the southern shore of the Marmara Sea, for Istanbul at 11:30 pm (2030 GMT).

One person died in hospital and 28 were injured, Selahattin Hatipoglu, the governor of Balikesir province, where the town is located, told NTV television.

"Sixty-seven people were rescued... We estimate that at least 30 people remain unaccounted for, but we cannot be sure because the exact number of people who boarded the vessel is unclear," he said.

"The search-and-rescue efforts are continuing but the dark is a problem," he added.

Some drivers were asleep inside their vehicles when the ferry sank, reports said.

Two night-vision helicopters were sent to Bandirma to assist the coast guard, civil defence teams, divers and local fishermen mobilised in the operation, officials said.

Television footage showed survivors being carried to the shore on dinghies and put on ambulances.

The entire 27-man crew was among the survivors, rescuers said.

Several people wearing life jackets were seen from the shore floating in the waters, the Haberturk news channel reported.

Bandirma sub-governor Salih Keser quoted the vessel's captain as saying that the ferry was carrying about 150 people as well as 73 trucks and two cars, Anatolia news agency reported.

The head of Turkey's maritime agency, Ozkan Poyraz, said they estimated that 101 people were on board.

The captain suggested the accident might have happened because of misplaced cargo, Keser said.

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GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON SEPT 14

These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in the Turkish press on September 14, 2008. Hurriyet English does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET
--MY RESPONSE TO PRIME MINISTER
"An effort of a prime minister to try to suppress a media group by using all state resources has no ground within democracy," Aydin Dogan, the owner of Turkey's media Dogan Holding said as a response to Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.

"The prime minister's effort to suppress a media group by showing it as a target at its party meetings is unacceptable in a democratic country. The history is full with the examples revealing the grave results of this. The unmeasured show of strength destroys our democracy and the basis of the state, as it victimizes the individuals, institutions," Dogan said.

--GIZEM WINS GOLD MEDAL
Gizem Girismen of Turkey has won gold medal in archery in the Paralympic Games in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. Girismen became paralyzed after being injured in a traffic accident in 1992. She dedicated her medal to her father who died years ago. Girismen can speak four languages. She was chosen the most beautiful archer during the European Archery Championship in 2007. It was Turkey's second medal in the games. Earlier, Neslihan Kavas of Turkey won bronze medal in table-tennis after beating her Polish opponent Malgorzata Grzelak.

--PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FROM GERMANY
Worldwide famous Turkish pianist and composer Fazil Say has been presented with the 2008 award of the Bremen Music Festival, one of the most prestigious music festivals in Germany. The award was earlier given to leading musicians such as Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Sir John Elliot Gardiner, Marc Minkowski, Andras Schiff and Anne Sofie von Otter. Say will attend the award ceremony in Germany on September 20.

MILLIYET
--TURKEY IS PROUD OF GIZEM
Turkish national archer has won gold medal in the Paralympic Games in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. Gizen Girismen became paralyzed after a traffic accident she had at the age of 11. She lost her father three years after the accident. She dedicated her medal to her father. Girismen became the first sporstwoman winning a gold medal in the Olympic Games.

--U.S. NAVAL SHIP BACK IN BLACK SEA

U.S. navy ship USS McFaul, which passed through the Turkish Straits on August 22nd to deliver humanitarian aid to Georgia, has passed the straits once again. The ship returned to the Aegean Sea on September 1st under the Motreux Convention allowing such vessels to remain in the Black Sea for only 21 days. U.S. destroyer returned to the Black Sea after spending 13 days in the Aegean Sea.

--PAMUK IN GERMAN PRESS

Suddeutsche Zeitung, one of the leading dailies in Germany, has published a special supplement to introduce Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk. Thomas Steinfeld, one of editors of the daily, said that their readers showed great interest in Pamuk's latest book "the Museum of Innocence".

SABAH
--NO MORE SIPHONING FOR MEDIA HAT
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan responded to media magnate Aydin Dogan's letters that he sent both as a businessman and publisher. "In his letters, Dogan says he has two hats as a publisher and a businessman. He writes his demands and expectations from me as a businessman. I hope he will not ask for any privileges from now on as a publisher," Erdogan said.

"Discomfort has begun because siphoning was over. It was the way of making their life. No more growth with that routine. We would have been friends if I had met their demands. We will fight the media terror under the rule of law no matter where it comes from," he added.

--HE HAD A BANK
Turkish hacker Cagatay Evyapan, who was wanted by the Interpol and apprehended by Turkish police in Istanbul, had established a virtual bank in the internet, it was revealed. Police discovered that Evyapan, or "chaO" with his nickname, ordered several equipments from abroad to make fake credit cards. Chao printed a fake bank name "Banker Trust" on credit cards and made shopping in Turkey and abroad.

VATAN
--GIZEM'S AMBITION BRINGS GOLD MEDAL
Turkish national archer Gizem Girismen has won gold medal in the Paralympic Games in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. Born in 1981, Girismen became paralyzed after a traffic accident she had at the age of 12. She lost her father at the age of 16. She never gave up and graduated from university. Girismen can speak English, French and Italian. She dedicated her medal to her father.

--FBI AGENTS TO COME TO TURKEY FOR CHAO
Turkish hacker Cagatay Evyapan, who has been wanted by the FBI for ten years for making a haul of millions of dollars in ten different countries, has been captured in his luxury villa in Istanbul by the Turkish police. FBI agents will come to Turkey to interrogate Evyapan about his plans to corrupt the Bank of America, the biggest in the USA.

CUMHURIYET
--"NATIONAL CAPITAL SHOULD BE PROTECTED"
Ersin Ozince, Director-General of Turkiye Is Bankasi, said that global capital could control countries and added that national capital should be protected. Ozince said political ideologies that rule the world were built over the capital. "Global capital does not just get its profit and leave. It also has a political stance," he said.

--ONE SOLDIER KILLED IN PKK MINE TRAP
Senior sergeant Yakup Ceylan was killed in a mine blast in the southeastern province of Sirnak.

--DELIGHTED ON THE COURT
Turkish national basketball team maintained their lead in Group C of the European Championship qualifiers after a 86-64 victory over Ukraine.

RADIKAL
--FOUR IN FOUR
Turkish national basketball team has defeated Ukraine 86-64 in Eurobasket 2009 qualifier in Kiev, Ukraine. Turkey, playing in the Group C, also won the first three matches, and are actually the leaders in the group. Turkish national basketball team defeated Ukraine 86-73 in a home match on September 3rd. Later they defeated Belgium 78-63 in an away match on September 6th, and they beat France 77-65 in a home match on September 10th. Turkey will take on Belgium in a home match on September 17th and France in an away match on September 20th. The 36th European Basketball Championship will take place in Poland in September 2009.

--UNDER THE SAME ROOF
The Social Insurances and General Health Insurance will take effect as of October 1st. Accordingly, workers, self-employed people and new civil servants will be subject to the same criteria.

--ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATRE TO PERFORM IN ISTANBUL
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, of the most renowned modern dance companies in the world, will perform in Istanbul under its 50th anniversary tour. The three performances sponsored by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV) will take place at the Lutfi Kirdar International Congress and Exhibition Hall on September 17, 18 and 19. Founded in New York in 1958 by choreographer Alvin Ailey and and a group of young African-American modern dancers, the company is currently made up of 30 dancers as well as artistic director Judith Jamison and associate artistic director Masazumi Chaya.

YENI SAFAK
--BARDAKOGLU SUPPORTS EXPERIMENT IN CERN
Professor Ali Bardakoglu, head of the Religious Affairs Directorate, has extended support to the experiment made in the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) to figure out the beginning of the universe. He said that it was not right to resists against scientific discoveries with prejudices.

--MED STREAM TO BE COMPLETED IN 2011
Hezi Kugler, Director General of the Israeli Ministry of National Infrastructure, has said that the Med Stream, a multi-purpose offshore pipeline project to connect Turkey and Israel via the Mediterranean Sea, drew international interest with its great potential. Kugler said that construction of the pipeline would start at the end of 2009, the earliest, or in 2010. He said it would take at least more than a year to finish the construction works.

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