ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on April 6th, 2007. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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OZAL`S LONG-SECRET PROPOSAL TO ERDOGAN
Late Turkish Prime Minister Turgut Ozal once proposed Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the then Istanbul provincial head of the Welfare Party, to be his private secretary, revealed a newly published book on the youth branches of the Welfare Party. Book`s author Halis Ozdemir said Premier Erdogan confirmed that the story was true.

TUSIAD THANKS BULGARIA FOR SUPPORT OVER EU
Turkish Industrialists` and Businessmen`s Association Chairwoman Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag, who recently held talks in Bulgaria, said both Turkish and Bulgarian businessmen should play an important part to improve economic and commercial relations between the two countries. "And we are grateful for Bulgaria`s support for the Turkey`s accession to the European Union," she said.

UNIVERSITY RECTORS PUSH FOR STRICT PROCEDURE IN PRESIDENTIAL VOTE
Head of Turkey`s Higher Education Board Erdogan Tezic and other university rectors demanded strict obedience to the constitutional rules governing the presidential vote in the parliament, saying that a total of 367 lawmakers should stand present in the general session to commence a first round of the presidential vote.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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BLACK SEA CELEBRATES COAST HIGHWAY
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will inaugurate the new Black Sea Coast Highway on Saturday, April 7th. The inauguration will take place in the province of Ordu.

RUSSIANS SEE TURKEY AS A "PARTNER"
Looking at Turkey as an "enemy" during the Cold War, the Russians have changed their opinions on Turkey in the past 15 years. According to a survey conducted in Russia, 53 percent of the participants referred to Turkey as a "partner" country while 11.5 percent described Turkey as a "friendly" country.

ANKARA HEATING UP
The issue of presidential election tops the political agenda in Ankara nowadays. The great majority in the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) believe that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will become Turkey`s next president. University rectors throughout Turkey wish for a president who is and would stay as neutral.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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BLAIR THANKS TURKEY OVER RELEASE OF BRITISH SAILORS
British Prime Minister Tony Blair thanked Turkey over the release of 15 British sailors by Iran. "We thank Turkey for its efforts in helping the release of British sailors," said Blair.

VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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GUL: "ERDOGAN IS WELL-SUITED FOR PRESIDENCY"
"Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is well-suited for the presidency and there is nothing wrong with that," Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told Financial Times Deutschland. "Turkey is on the road to the European Union with all its democratic and religious freedoms. We do not have any secret agenda," Gul said. "In Turkey, the real power is in Premier`s hands, and today the premier is Erdogan."

AGAR: "SEEKING FOR 367 WOULD BE BENDING THE LAW"
Chairman of the True Path Party (DYP) Mehmet Agar rejected a call to seek a total of 367 lawmakers to stand present in a parliamentary general session to begin a first round of the presidential vote. "Seeking 367 would be bending the law. Minimum number of parliamentarians needed to commence a general session is 184," he said.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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SECOND KABUL DUTY
Turkish Armed Forces will assume the command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan on Friday. The number of Turkish troops in Kabul will rise to 1150 from the present 750. Turkey`s ISAF duty will last eight months.

TURKEY`S NEXT PRESIDENT SHOULD BE A FEMALE JUDGE
The Mustafa Kemal Association (MKD) suggested on Thursday that Turkey`s next president should be elected from out of the parliament and should appeal to all in the Turkish society. In a written press release, MKD Chairman Kamran Baran remarked that a female candidate chosen from among the high level judges will contribute to Turkey`s image in the European Union and world in general.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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HISARCIKLIOGLU: "WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS NOT WHO WILL BECOME TURKEY`S NEXT PRESIDENT. WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS STABILITY"
Chairman of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges Rifat Hisarciklioglu indicated on Thursday that "what is important is not who will become Turkey`s next president. What is important is stability." He added that the Turkish parliament is the place to elect Turkey`s next president.

CONSTITUTIONAL COURT RULES AGAINST FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PARTIES BY ASSOCIATIONS
Turkish Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday that Turkish associations can not make financial assistance to political parties. The court, however, ruled that Turkish associations may receive assistance from foreign institutions.
ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on April 6th, 2007. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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"WE OWE ANKARA," SAYS BRITISH MEDIA
The British media praised Turkey`s and other regional countries efforts to convince Tehran for the release of 15 British sailors, who eventually returned their homes yesterday. The Times and the Daily Telegraph wrote that Turkey and Syria made terse warnings to Tehran to avert a possible war between Iran and the West.

KAPUSUZ OF AKP REFUTES RECTORS` DECLARATION OVER PRESIDENTIAL VOTE
Deputy Chairman of the Justice and Development Party`s parliamentary group Salih Kapuz strongly rejected remarks by head of Higher Education Board Erdogan Tezic over the presidential vote. "There is no tension on this issue, but certain circles are trying to create political crisis out the matter," he said.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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PREMIER MEETS WORKERS` UNION LEADER, LAWMAKERS ON PRESIDENTIAL VOTE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan started a tour of consultations over the upcoming presidential vote and met with a delegation from the Turk-Is, a workers`s union. The Premier then received a group of lawmakers from the his Justice and Development Party and listened to their views about May`s presidential vote.

YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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BARDAKOGLU: "LOVE WILL SAVE OUR WORLD"
Chairman of the Religious Affairs Directorate General Dr. Ali Bardakoglu indicated that humanitarian love, as described by Holy Prophet Muhammad, will save the world. All of humanity must study the life of Prophet Muhammad in order to reach a climate of peace, said Bardakoglu.

EVERYONE IS INVITED TO CELEBRATE NEW BLACK SEA COAST HIGHWAY
After a construction period of two decades, the new Black Sea Coast Highway will be inaugurated on Saturday, April 7th. Turkish Minister of Public Works and Housing Faruk Nafiz Ozak indicated that "everyone is invited to celebrate the new highway."