ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 12th, 2006. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
3 BOMBS TO CUMHURIYET IN 6 DAYS
Turkish Cumhuriyet daily was thrown a hand bomb on Thursday. This was the third attack on Cumhuriyet in the past six days. There have been no reported injuries after the bomb attacks.
GE: EU WILL BE STRENGTHENED WITH TURKEY'S MEMBERSHIP
World famous American firm General Electric's CEO Ferdinando Nani Beccalli has remarked that Turkey must enter the European Union as a full member. ''The EU will be strengthened with Turkey's membership,'' stressed Beccalli.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
THIRD BOMB ON CUMHURIYET
Three persons threw hand grenades on Cumhuriyet newspaper's building (in Sisli district of Istanbul) at 4.30 p.m. yesterday. Windows of the building were broken when the bomb exploded. Hand grenades which were hurled at the newspaper on Wednesday and last week did not explode.
SURVEYS ON TABLE OF ERDOGAN
Reports which reflect the stance of people are brought to table of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan every month. Here are the results; the popularity of Justice & Development Party (AKP) is decreasing, but Erdogan's image is not being affected. People are against early elections. In general, people think Erdogan's presidency will bring instability.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
PM'S FIRST GOAL IN EUROPE
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Emperor Fatih Terim (the coach of Turkish national soccer team) were among the players of the EU-candidate countries match which took place in Vienna. The match ended 7-7. But, the team of the candidate countries defeated the team of the EU member states 10-7 at the end of penalties. Before the match, Erdogan was declared as the ''leader who will score a goal''. Erdogan scored a goal in the 22nd second. Also, Erdogan hit a penalty goal during the match.
TWO MORE HAND GRENADES TO CUMHURIYET
Two unidentified persons hurled two hand grenades to the garden of the Cumhuriyet daily, and then escaped. Only one of the bombs exploded. Also, hand grenades were thrown to Cumhuriyet daily's garden on May 5th and the previous day. ''This is an attack against media,'' said columnist Hikmet Cetinkaya of Cumhuriyet.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
-------------------
1 DAY MILITARY SERVICE FOR THE DISABLED
Disabled men, who could not be drafted for a regular military service, served in the army for 1 day in Ankara on Thursday. Disabled soldiers were sworn in and seemed to be pleased with their symbolic military service.
TURKCELL'S PROFIT REACHES 187 MILLION USD IN THE FIRST 3 MONTHS
The number of Turkish GSM operator Turkcell's customers has reached 29 million. Turkcell's total sales reached 1.1 billion USD. In the first three months of 2006, Turkcell's profit reached 187 million USD.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
THEY CANNOT DAUNT US
Cumhuriyet daily has been attacked for three times in a week. Three assailants prayed and hurled a hand grenade. After the attacks on Cumhuriyet daily on May 5th and 10th, a hand grenade was hurled on the Cumhuriyet building for a third time yesterday. The assailant escaped after the attack, while Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu said that they will pursue the developments, and added, ''we have formed a special team (to deal with this matter).''
LEADERS PLAY MATCH FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN
EU leaders and leaders of candidate countries played a friendly match to grant the donation to homeless children. Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish national soccer team's coach Fatih Terim also played in the match. The candidate countries won the game 10-7. Erdogan scored two goals, including a penalty goal, in the match.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
THREE GRAVE CLAIMS AGAINST AKP
After Isparta and Karaman, Bingol Municipality is under investigation. The Republican People's Party (CHP) says: Natural gas formula was changed secretly, and its price increased. On the other hand, Egitim Sen accuses the National Education Ministry of implementing illegal tenders worth 21 million new Turkish liras (YTL).
USD REACHES PEAK
Foreign exchange rates have risen in Turkey as foreigners started to invest in foreign exchange. Yesterday, the USD reached its highest level of this year. One USD was sold at 1.3730 new Turkish liras (YTL). It reached 1.3640 YTL with 1.3 new kurus (YKr) rise at the end of the day. On the other hand, Euro was sold at 1.7360 YTL with 1.1 YKr of rise.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
8 TURKS APPLY FOR NUCLEAR
Energy & Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler said, ''we have received 8 applications for nuclear power plant so far. None of the applicants say they will build the power plant completely by themselves; they want the state to be involved in as well. In today's summit, we will reach a decision. The place is ready if private sector takes a decision.''
THANKS FOR TURKISH CITIZENS LIVING IN AUSTRIA
Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel who met Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Vienna thanked for Turkish citizens as they are integrated to Austrian society very well. Erdogan said, ''Turkish students are complaining about high education fees,'' and Schuessel said, in return, that he will take care of the issue.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
36 PUBLIC SERVANTS ARRESTED
36 public servants have been arrested in eastern city of Mus. The public employees are being charged with establishing an illegal gang, corruption in tenders and bribery.
MHP CENTER IN ORDU GETS BOMBED
Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) representation in northern city of Ordu was bombed on Thursday. No casualties were reported due to the time bomb.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
-------------------------
ULEMA SHOULD DISCUSS HEADSCARF
Former PM Bulent Ecevit said that headscarf is a ''traditional'' life style of Turkish women, and noted that it will be more correct if this matter is discussed by ulema (Muslim theologians and scholars) instead of politicians.
ALSO BELGIUM HAS GENOCIDE GREED
Turkey is lobbying against France which is preparing to vote a resolution that makes any denial of the so-called Armenian genocide a crime. Meanwhile, Belgium has brought up a similar resolution. The resolution, taken up by the Belgian Senate, envisions imprisonment terms from eight days to one year, and fine worth 26,000 Euros.