ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 8th, 2007. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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"DON'T WORRY, HE'LL BE LIKE MERKEL"
Ankara remained calm upon the election of Nicolas Sarkozy as French president, who is against Turkey's EU membership.
"He will also change his discourse when he takes office, just like German Chancellor Angela Merkel," officials said.
Recalling that Merkel used Turkey as a source of propaganda during the elections in Germany, a high-level official from Turkish MFA said, "Her attitude became more flexible later on and she expressed many times that they would be attached to the principle of "pacta sunt servanda". Sarkozy would act the same way".
BAYKAL: "WE HAVE ADOPTED DSP'S PROPOSAL"
Republican People's Party (CHP) Chairman Deniz Baykal announced that they have reached a consensus on Democratic Left Party's proposal (DSP), within the framework of the talks they carried out aiming to establish a union among left parties.
"We have agreed on the proposal to form an 'electoral coalition'," Baykal said.
"We actually wanted a union under one roof. However, our friends at DSP said that it should be considered as a cooperation and we accepted their offer," he added.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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SIDE BY SIDE AFTER 22 YEARS
Chairman of Republican People's Party (CHP) Deniz Baykal said they can cooperate without Democratic Left Party (DSP) being shut down. "We hope that this picture will be a step towards union" added Baykal.
CHP and DSP replied the call (by people) at the demonstrations and came to an agreement. The candidates of DSP will stand for election from the lists of CHP.
"We are looking for a permanent unity. We hope that the picture after the general elections would be a step towards union" said Baykal.
"WE HOPE HE WOULD NOT DO WHAT HE SAID ON THE SQUARES"
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan voiced his view about new president of France Nicolas Sarkozy, who said he will prevent Turkey's membership to European Union (EU) during his election campaign.
"We wish that we would not see what Mr. Sarkozy said on the squares in bilateral relations, both regarding the EU membership process and Turkey - France relations" said Erdogan.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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DON'T TOUCH TURKEY
European Union (EU) warned French President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy who made statements against Turkey's bid to join the EU. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn said that "it would be a mistake to suspend negotiations with Turkey." On the other hand, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed hope that "from now on we do not see the same statements that Sarkozy has made in election meetings."
YSK SAID LAST WORD: GENERAL ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD ON JULY 22ND
Higher Board of Election (YSK) rejected the appeal of the opposition Youth Party (GP) to change general elections date. The general elections will be held on July 22nd, 2007 as it was set earlier.