ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on March 11th, 2008. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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YES, I DID NOT WANT OZKOK
One of the former Chiefs of General Staff Huseyin Kivrikoglu, commenting on the statements of one of the former prime ministers Mesut Yilmaz to daily Hurriyet, stated that he did not want Hilmi Ozkok to be the chief of general staff.
Kivrikoglu said, "I watched Ozkok for two years as commander. As a result of my evaluations, I did wanted somebody else, who would deal with fundamentalism effectively, to be the chief of general staff".
A MATCHBOX IN POST OFFICE BOX
As the suspicious fires against the Turkish citizens living in Germany continues, threat has been added to this. A matchbox and notices of war were left to the post office boxes of Turks residing in Bielefeld City of Germany.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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IT IS DIFFERENT IF THEY INSULT, BUYUKANIT
Turkish General Staff Chief Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said that he was a person open to criticism, however, he would not let anybody insult Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).
Commenting on the recent tension with the opposition parties, Buyukanit said, "I delivered such a statement when I was faced with insulting remarks. I personally wrote that statement. No ordinary soldier can write a statement of this level".
"EU TYPE" PRISON IN SILIVRI
A prison recently built over a 745,000 sq.m. land in Silivri has the capacity to host a total of 17,000 people including 2,000 personnel and visitors. This giant complex comprises of 9 prisons one of which is an open prison.
This EU-standard prison looks like a campus with its sports halls, cinema, conference and concert halls, shopping mall, ateliers and classes.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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TOPTAN OPENS DOOR TO DTP
Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan became the first one to open door to Democratic Society Party(DTP) which has been asking for an appointment from him and the PM since the July 22nd general elections. DTP group chairman Ahmet Turk expressed his views on the Kurdish issue to Toptan.
TENSION BETWEEN OPPOSITION AND SOLDIERS ESCALATE
"The success of the operation was shadowed. I am very sad over this. Those who insult the Turkish Armed Forces will have to face me. I wrote the press release in person," said Turkish General Staff Chief, Gen. Yasar Buyukanit yesterday.
On the other hand, Mustafa Ozyurek, deputy chairman of the Republican People's Party said, "we are behind our remarks, the operation was ended early. The Chief of General Staff does not have the right to accuse us of treason." Meanwhile, Oktay Vural from Nationalist Movement Party said their addressee was not the General Staff.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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I AM NO BULLY, BUYUKANIT
Regarding the harsh statement describing the opposition as a "betrayer", Buyukanit said he personally wrote such statement.
"It should be called insult, not criticism. You know me, I am open to criticism. However, I will not let anybody insult Turkish Armed Forces (TSK)," Buyukanit told reporters.
Later in the day, Buyukanit's remarks became softer."I did not want to get involved in such a polemic, I am not happy with this situation," he said.
CLUBS INTERESTED IN 8 FOOTBALLERS FROM FENERBAHCE
Footballers of Turkish team Fenerbahce, which won every European match it played home this season and which left Spanish team Sevilla out of competition most recently, are on the lists of renowned football clubs.
While Spanish A. Madrid and Getafe want to sign a contract with Semih, Valencia football team of the same country is interested in Aurelio.
On the other hand, Italian Juventus wants Lugano, while Milan watches Edu closely.
Moreover, Sevilla and British Blackburn are interested in Ugur Boral. Brazilian football clubs want to have Alex, while European football teams show an interest in Gokhan Gonul and goalkeeper Volkan. Milan is after Zico as well.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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NUCLEAR TERROR WARNING
Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit underlined that terrorist organizations would take a great advantage in case they seize weapons of mass destruction. Gen. Buyukanit said, "I wish Pakistan to reach stability soon. Otherwise, in case this administration is rendered ineffective, it is possible that a Taliban type structure will control Pakistan. Following such a formation, the world for the first time will face with a terrorist organization having nuclear power."
ERDOGAN TO TRAVEL TO SOUTHEAST
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will go on a tour covering southeastern provinces at the weekend.
Erdogan will underscore that the government will focus on socio-economic measures to the region and note that the government will initiate a new study related to Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP).
Erdogan is also expected to relay the messages that the government would accelerate construction of irrigation canals and motorways.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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WORKERS TO GO ON A TWO-HOUR STRIKE ON FRIDAY
Turkey's major labour unions like Turk-Is, Disk, and Kesk which form the Emek Platform took a decision to launch joint protests against the draft law on Social Security and General Health Insurance. Workers will go on a two hour strike as a warning.
BUYUKANIT: WE TOOK THOSE REMARKS AS AN INSULT TO TSK
Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, chief of Turkish General Staff continued to criticize the reactions of the opposition parties claiming a U.S. influence over the Turkish Armed Forces' (TSK) operation in the north of Iraq. He said, "our poor soldiers! This is why I am sad. We took those remarks as an insult."
Meanwhile, Republican People's Party immediately replied and said, "unfortunately, Buyukanit is unnecessarily prolonging the discussion."
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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DEPUTY PM CICEK: WE WILL ERADICATE PKK TOGETHER WITH IRAQ
Deputy PM and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said, "terrorist organisation PKK is a terrible disaster poisoning the relations between Turkey and Iraq. We have reached an agreement with Iraq for the eradication of it."
TERROR WILL ONE DAY HIT THOSE WHO EMBRACE IT
Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, chief of Turkish General Staff, who addressed 690 people from 80 counties at the Global Terrorism & International Cooperation Symposium gave important messages. "Supporting terrorism is like feeding a venomous snake," Buyukanit said. "You can never make sure that the snake would not bite the feeder. The boomerang effect of terrorism will sooner or later harm collaborators of terrorism."
Buyukanit said the developments in information technology expanded terrorism into the cyber space and drew attention to the nuclear threats. He warned that the world would come face to face with a terrorist organization having a nuclear power at its disposal, for the first time, if Taliban controlled Pakistan.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKEY TO EXPAND IN AFRICA WITH 19 EMBASSIES
Ankara is starting to pay more interest in African countries which have been neglected by Turkish foreign politics for a long time.
Turkey aims to improve its commercial relations with the countries of the continent, while it will deepen its political relations with them. Within this framework, new Turkish embassies will be inaugurated in 19 African countries within the next 2 years.
LET'S THINK TWICE WHILE SELLING AN IRREPLACEABLE BANK, EMINSOY
Oyakbank, which was recently purchased by Dutch finance giant ING, is getting prepared to change its nameplate in July 2008.
Oyakbank's Director General Hakan Eminsoy said that criticisms against the bank's sale were unfair and ideological. Eminsoy, who said that Oyakbank was not a wide-scale bank like Turkish Ziraat Bankasi or Halkbank, also noted that the bank's place could be filled in quite easily.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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GENERAL SCENE MIXES UP AGAIN
Chief of General Staff General Yasar Buyukanit said claims of Republican People's Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) that "we withdrew from the ground operation upon the demand of the United States," overshadowed the success of the operation.
Gen. Buyukanit said he did not meet CHP chairman Deniz Baykal, noting that, "we have considered the statements of the opposition as an insult and I personally wrote the counter statement. I will not let anybody talk anything about the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK)."
WE MANUFACTURED FLANNEL PURIFYING SEA WATER
Turkish and Japanese researchers manufactured "fabric" purifying water that was polluted by waste materials and heavy metals.
This special cloth collects the poisonous metals like arsenic, uranium and nitrate in the water, and those metals can later be used again after being decomposed.