ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on April 16th, 2008. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
EUROPEAN LAWMAKER URGES TURKISH GOVERNMENT TO SHOW ITS COMMITMENT FOR EU
A European Parliament member said that Turkey's ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party should remove "fears as if it had a secret agenda" to ease tensions in the country. "AK Party should show that it wants to bring Turkey into the European Union, not Iran," Joost Lagendijk told a meeting of the Turkish-American Council in Washington. Lagendijk said in case AK Party was closed, the EU would suspend membership talks. "Reforms should be made not because the EU wants them, but for the Turkish people," he said.
ERDOGAN: "I DO NOT BELEIVE MY PARTY IS GOING TO BE CLOSED"
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that he did not believe that Turkey's highest court would close his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party. Speaking to Al-Jazeera news channel, Erdogan also said they would not found a "back-up party," adding that they did not have any plans for referendum.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
------------------
MODERATE ISLAM REACTION FROM AMBASSADOR
Turkish Ambassador to Washington D.C. Nabi Sensoy said he felt uneasy over Turkey's being termed as "moderate Islam country".
"The only thing that can be mentioned while speaking about Turkey is secular democracy," Sensoy said.
TRUMP TOWERS TO MECIDIYEKOY
World famous real estate company Donald Trump reached an agreement with Dogan family to make investment in Turkey. The first Trump Towers of Europe will be constructed in Mecidiyekoy district of Istanbul.
One of the towers will be office, the other will be residence.
CALL TO THOSE AT THE MOUNTAIN
There has been a significant rise recently in number of terrorists who surrendered because members of the Turkish Armed Forces have been talking to the families of those people to convince their children to leave the organization.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
---------------
I DO NOT BELIEVE PARTY WILL BE CLOSED, ERDOGAN
Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke about the closure case against his Justice & Development (AK) Party during his visit to Qatar. "I do not even have the slightest idea that my party will be closed," he said. Speaking to TV channel al-Jazeera, Erdogan said he did not believe that they (party members) had committed a crime that would require a closure because his party had fulfilled its duties under the Constitution and laws.
On the constitutional amendment which would make closure of political parties more difficult, Erdogan said, "my friends continue their studies, and we will discuss it when I return to Turkey." Erdogan said his party will talk with other circles and ask what type of a step could be taken. "Then we will decide and launch the next process," he also said.
GONUL GIVES THREE MESSAGES
National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said it was not possible for Turkey to take part in the missile shield system of the United States. Gonul said Turkey might contribute troops to Afghanistan, but Turkey would not undertake mission under the Operation Enduring Freedom. "We will not allow NATO membership of the Greek Cypriot administration," Gonul also said.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
-------------------
ERDOGAN: I DON'T BELIEVE MY PARTY WILL BE SHUT DOWN
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Al Jazeera TV channel in Qatar. "There is no standby party and referendum on the agenda as I don't believe my party will be closed."
Asked, "do you think of founding a standby party," Erdogan said, "I even don't think that my party will be closed. I don't think that we have committed a crime that will require closure."
TRUMP TOWERS TO ISTANBUL
U.S. property king Donald Trump will construct first Trump Towers of Europe in Sisli district of Istanbul.
One of the Trump Towers was projected as office and the other as luxurious residence.
SALE REAL PROPERTY TO FOREIGNERS STOPPED
Ministry of Public Works said it halted sale of real property to foreigners till the new law is issued.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
-----------------
RICE: "U.S. IS WATCHING THE CLOSURE VERY CLOSELY"
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that Turkey was passing through a difficult period politically, adding that the U.S. administration was watching very closely the closure case against ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party. "We hope that the issue will be settled within secular and democratic principles and of course the decision will be made by Turks," Rice told a meeting of the Turkish-American Council in Washington.
TURKISH WEIGHTLIFTER CLAIMS GOLD MEDAL IN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Halil Mutlu (56kg) of Turkey, won gold medal in snatch category at the 87th European Men's Weightlifting Championships in the Italian city of Lignano. Mutlu, who holds three olympic champion titles, lifted 120 kg in his third attempt which brought him the gold medal. In clean and jerk category, Mutlu failed to lift 151 kg and won the silver medal (with 149 kg) in this category. This gold medal is a comeback for Mutlu who has been banned from weightlifting for three years for doping in tournaments.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
--------------
FIRST TRUMP INVESTMENT OF EUROPE IS IN ISTANBUL
World-famous real estate company Trump will make its first investment in Europe in Istanbul's Sisli neighborhood. Turkey's Dogan family, Tasyapi and Yesil Insaat (construction) will be the partners of Trump in the project. The Trump Towers, comprised of two towers and a giant shopping mall, will be ready by 2010.
GENCLERBIRLIGI: TURKEY CUP FINALIST
Turkey's first-division soccer team, Galatasaray's star Lincoln missed a penalty in the last minutes of Turkey Cup semi-final. Thus, Genclerbirligi became the first finalist of the cup as they defeated Galatasaray 1-0 in the first game and drew with this team 1-1 in the second match. The other finalist will be the winner of Wednesday's Kayserispor-Rizespor match. Kayserispor won the first game 3-0.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
---------------
EU LAWMAKER WARNS: AK PARTY'S CLOSURE COULD SUSPEND NEGOTIATIONS
European lawmaker and head of a EU-Turkey parliamentary committee Joost Lagendijk said he hoped that Turkey's ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party would not be closed, otherwise, EU membership talks might be suspended. "This is a coup by the judiciary to shut down the party. The lawsuit may look legal, but but it is certainly a political case against the governing party," Lagendijk said.
U.S. SECRETARY: "TURKISH VOTERS' VOICE MUST BE HEARD"
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the U.S. administration was watching the closure case closely. "We believe that the issue would be resolved within the confines of the Turkey's democratic and secular system. It is in everyone's interest that the voice of the Turkish voters be heard," Rice told a meeting of the Turkish-American Council in Washington.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
--------------------
'IMPORT' SOLUTION FOR LACK OF DOCTORS
Health Minister Akdag and administrators of private hospitals held a meeting. Determining their most significant problem as lack of doctors, they listed the steps to be taken as follows: Facilities will be provided for foreign doctors to work in Turkey. Facilities will be provided for hospitals that employ foreign doctors. The quotas of medicine faculties will be increased.
WE ARE CLOSELY MONITORING CLOSURE CASE
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States was monitoring the closure case against the Justice & Development (AK) Party closely. Rice said her country believed that the case would be solved within the framework of Turkey's secular and democratic principles. Rice said listening to the voice of voters would be for the best interests of every one.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
-------------------------
I DON'T BELIEVE IT WILL BE SHUT DOWN
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, currently in Qatar, said they would not establish a stand-by party against the probability of closure of his party, "anyhow I don't believe that the party will be closed."
TEARS FOR MERVE
Funeral of Turkey's record holder national swimmer Merve Terzioglu, who could not recover after a traffic accident in the United States, was brought to Turkey and buried.
Murat Terzioglu, father of Merve, said they would file a suit to U.S. doctors who neglected their duties.
(YMB-BRC-AY-AÖ)