ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on March 18th, 2008. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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CALL FOR RESTRAINT
Supreme Court of Appeals judges visited Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, the chief prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals, (who filed a lawsuit for closure of the ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party) to express their support. They later had a meeting with Hasan Gerceker, chief judge of Supreme Court, and requested him to make a harsh statement. However Gerceker made a rational one. "Chief prosecutor used his authorization. Criticisms should be made according to the law and be respectful," Gerceker said.
I WILL NOT TAKE A BACKWARD STEP
Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, the chief prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals, had talks with judges of the Supreme Court. Yalcinkaya told them he was the chief prosecutor of the Republic and he did his job in order to preserve the regime. "The Republic is threatened by 'shariah state'. All evidences are included in the indictment. I will not take a backward step," he stated.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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DON'T VIOLATE BOUNDARIES OF COURTESY
Hasan Gerceker, chief judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals, replied to criticism directed to Chief Prosecutor Adrurrahman Yalcinkaya who filed a closure case against Justice and Development (AK) Party. Gerceker said the Chief Public Prosecutor had filed the lawsuit under the authority given to him by the laws.
Issuing a press release on the issue, Gerceker said, "every individual and institution has the right to make criticism provided that they don't violate the law or insult others."
Gerceker said, "people should not force the boundaries of criticism." He asked the media to show the necessary care. Meanwhile many judges of the Supreme Court visited Yalcinkaya in his office and congratulated him.
"As the Chief Public Prosecutor I have fulfilled the duty and responsibility entrusted to me by the laws and the Constitution. I have prepared the indictment very carefully," said Yalcinkaya to Supreme Court judges.
11 SCENEARIOS IN CLOSURE CASE
The Constitutional Court may accept or refuse the case. It can accept it and fine Justice and Development (AK) Party. If it closes AK Party, an interim party may be opened. Or AK Party may go to early elections with another party.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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EARLY ELECTION IS NOT ON AGENDA
Regarding some claims that there would also be early general elections on the same day of the local elections, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said those claims are "ridiculous". Erdogan replied to questions on the closure case against Justice & Development (AK) Party. Upon scenarios which said parliamentary elections would be held earlier, Erdogan said, "they are nonsense. There is the local elections ahead of us and we will hold it."
VERDICT TO TAKE SIX MONTHS
Constitutional Court Chief Judge Hasim Kilic told the daily that the closure case against the ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party normally takes a period of about five or six months. "I relayed the file to the rapporteur. I guess he will examine it within a week, write his opinion and then the process will begin. It will take five or six months to conclude the case of AK Party," Kilic said.

VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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AK PARTY SEEKS WAYS TO DROP CASE
The ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party is debating a constitutional amendment which will make it difficult to close down a political party. Replying to questions on constitutional amendment, AK Party Deputy Chairman Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat said, "my friends are discussing the matter. Some developments can happen."
TURKISH ECONOMY SHAKEN
The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) dropped 7.5 percent on Monday due to global crisis and political uncertainty in the country. One dollar climbed to 1.2755 YTL and then dropped to 1.265 at the end of day.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS WARNS
Supreme Court of Appeals backed Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, the chief prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals, (who filed a lawsuit for closure of the ruling Justice & Development (AK) Party) and said Yalcinkaya used his authorization. Hasan Gerceker, chief judge of Supreme Court, said there must be respect for the Court.
IMKB SHAKEN
Markets in Turkey started the week with double shocks due to situation in global markets and closure case that was filed against the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party. Dollar and interest rates climbed and the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) dropped sharply.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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BAYKAL PRAISES CLOSURE INDICTMENT
Republican People's Party (CHP) chairman Deniz Baykal broke his silence: "the appearance of the fact that jural grounds of the closure of a ruling party have emerged, is democracy staggering. Indictment is very objective, quite lawful. Reactions show its righteousness."
SUPREME COURT:EVERY ONE SHOULD BE RESPECTFUL
Hasan Gerceker, chief judge of the Supreme Court of Appeals, warned those who criticised Chief Public Prosecutor Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, "Chief Public Prosecutor had filed the lawsuit under the authority given to him by the laws. Constitutional Court is authorized to say the final word on the issue. Every individual and institution has the right to make criticism provided that they don't violate the law or insult others."

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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TOUGHEST REACTION FROM MERKEL
The toughest reaction to the closure case came from German government. Chancellor Merkel's deputy spokesman Steg said, "the indictment is an initiative against the will of the people." Steg said they watched the case with concern. "AK Party is a democratic party. The indictment is prepared against the will of the people. It is incomprehensible," said Steg.
18 BILLION USD MAN
The closure case doubled the impact of the global fluctuations. The loss in the stock market was 18 billion USD. The stock exchange lost 7.46 in value and 1 Euro climbed to 2 YTL. Experts said, "the closure case aggravated the fluctuations. the loss in the markets reached 18 billion USD."
Meanwhile Prof. Aydin Ayaydin said, "intensifying the discussions in domestic politics is harming Turkey."

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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COUNCIL OF EUROPE: WE ARE CONCERNED OVER CASE
Important warnings are coming from Europe, which carefully monitors developments regarding the closure case against the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party. A written statement by the Council of Europe said they were concerned over the case. Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis said political problems were solved through elections in democracies, and government policies and political views should be open to debates in media and parliament.
GREAT LOSS
When the tension of U.S. origin continues in global markets, the closure case filed by Abdurrahman Yalcinkaya, the chief prosecutor of the Supreme Court of Appeals, against Justice & Development (AK) Party turned markets in Turkey upside down. The Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) dropped 7.46 percent.

YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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STOCK EXCHANGE DROPS, FOREIGN CURRENCIES CLIMB
The closure case against Justice and Development (AK) Party negatively affected the economy. In the free market 1 USD climbed to 1.275 YTL and 1 euro to 2.015 YTL. Stock Exchange Index went through a sharp decrease. The National 100 index lost 7.5 percent in value and closed at 39.409 points.
ERDOGAN: WE WILL PROCEED ON OUR PATH HAND IN HAND WITH OUR PEOPLE
Answering questions from reporters on the closure case against its party, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "the elections will be held on the scheduled time. Turkey should get used to this. We will never allow stability to get harmed."
Erdogan said, "democracy has no tolerance to get harmed. Democracy and economy go hand in hand. We will increase the national income per capita to 10,000 USD and take Turkey to the desired place."

(OZG-EÖ-MS)