ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on April 30th, 2008. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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GOVERNMENT, TRADE UNIONS FAIL TO RESOLVE DISPUTE OVER MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS IN ISTANBUL
A meeting on Tuesday between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and leaders of the major trade unions proved to yield no result as they could not come to terms on where to hold Workers` Day celebrations in Istanbul. Trade unions had pressed to stage a rally in Istanbul`s Taksim Square but the government said it would not allow it.
"Trade union representatives can lay a wrath at the Ataturk monument in Taksim Square and make a press statement," Erdogan said. The Turkish labor minister and the interior minister are expected to hold a press conference on Wednesday to say the government`s final word on the issue.
TWO TURKISH TROOPS KILLED IN EASTERN TURKEY
A sergeant was killed in a clash between the Turkish security forces and a group of PKK terrorists on Tuesday in the eastern province of Bitlis. Another sergeant, a non-commissioned officer and three government-paid village guards were wounded. In a separate incident in the eastern province of Agri, close to the Iranian border, one private was killed when he stepped on a land mine.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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KOC: WE WERE CRITICIZED FOR MAKING A WARNING ON CUSTOMS UNION
Chairman of the Executive Board of Koc Holding, Mustafa Koc, said that his group was criticized when they made a warning on Customs Union in 1995. "We suggested that Turkey should not say `yes` before getting certain things from the Customs Union. We now see that Turkey suffered losses due to the Customs Union," Koc said.
MOST YOUNG HEART DISEASE PATIENTS IN EUROPE ARE TURKS
Europe`s youngest heart disease patients are living in Turkey. According to a research conducted in 22 European countries, 20 percent of Turks under the age of 50 are heart disease patients. Only 13 percent of individuals under the age of 50 are heart disease patients in other European countries.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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43 PLANES HIT PKK
After being informed that PKK was getting ready to attack Turkey from north of Iraq, Turkish security forces bombed 4 camps of PKK for two days.
General Staff said PKK camps in Zap, Avasin-Basyan and Hakurk were bombed in April 25th and 26th and 111 targets belonging to PKK were destroyed.
A large group of PKK terrorists was also neutralized in the operation about which the General Staff released video footage.
13 SOLDIERS DEAD IN 10 DAYS
A sergeant died in clash with the terrorists in Genc town of the southeastern province of Bingol. Two soldiers and 3 village guards were wounded.
Separately, private Mesut Sanir died in land mine explosion in the eastern province of Igdir.
Thirteen soldiers died in 10 days.
VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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GOVERNMENT SAYS `NO` TO MAY DAY
RALLY AT ISTANBUL`S BIGGEST SQUARE
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan rejected a demand by labor union leaders to hold workers` day celebrations in Istanbul at city`s Taksim Square. Leaders of the three major labor unions met the Turkish premier on Tuesday and proposed to hold a commemoration ceremony instead of a rally at Taksim Square. Social Security and Labor Minister Faruk Celik said only a group of 100 to 150 labor union representatives could lay a wrath at the Ataturk monument in the square.
QATARI BUSINESSMEN DUE IN ISTANBUL
A number of leading Qatari businessmen is set to arrive in Istanbul on Wednesday to seek investment opportunities on energy, real estate and tourism projects. They will gather with Turkish businessmen in Istanbul`s Ceylan Hotel at a Turkish-Qatari business council meeting.
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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AK PARTY BARRICADE TO WORKERS
After Istanbul governor announced that police officers would use force in case groups wanted to stage demonstrations in Istanbul`s Taksim Square on May 1st Workers` Day, leaders of several labor unions met Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan transferred the matter of May 1st to his ministers. Holding talks with the interior minister, Labor and Social Security Minister Faruk Celik said that a group of 100-150 workers might enter the Taksim Square. "This is our definite attitude," Celik said.
`KURDISTAN` FAUX PAS BY ITALY
A political world map printed by Italian Belleti firm shows Turkey`s southeast as `Kurdistan`. Across from the Turkish flag on the map there is a map of `Kurdistan`. Maps printed by Belleti are used at schools in Italy.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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BARGAINING TILL LAST MOMENT FOR MAY DAY
Turkish Confederation of Labor Unions (Turk-Is), Confederation of Revolutionary Workers` Unions (DISK), and Confederation of Public Sector Unions (KESK) met Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to discuss celebrations marking the May 1st Workers` Day.
Erdogan said 300-500 people together with the union leaders might attend the celebrations. "Of course, wreath may be laid. However, this would be something else if you make press release with 20,000 people."
Representatives of labor unions later met Labor Minister Faruk Celik. He said the government was resolute not to allow celebrations in Taksim square. Final statement is expected to be made on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.
DEMIRTAS ENLISTED
The chairman of the Democratic Society Party (DTP) has been handed over to the Gendarmerie Command to fulfil his military service for 15 months after being released by a military court overnight, pending trial.
Nurettin Demirtas still faces charges of using fake health reports to avoid military service, which is obligatory for all healthy Turkish men.
DTP has to elect its chairman within 45 days.
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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THEY CAN NOT DISRUPT OUR TRANQUILITY
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said some circles felt uneasy as the economy progressed. "Those who think of their interests, make use of global crisis and drought to make nation feel uneasy."
Replying to those who criticize Gulf capital, Erdogan said, "businessmen of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia make investments in the world. The stance changes when they invest in Turkey. It means capital racism."
SUPPORT FROM GENERAL STAFF TO NUCLEAR
General Staff said Turkey`s energy need would rise till 2016. "Nuclear power plant is a must to meet our energy need."
WARNING FROM RAHMI KOC
Businessman Rahmi Koc said there was a slow-down in world economy. "Economic issues should have priority to get rid of such developments with the least damage."
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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TURKISH GOVERNMENT TO EMPLOY NEW TEACHERS
Turkey`s Ministry of National Education will employ 24,000 new teachers in August, 2008. An examination will take place in June that candidates must take in order to get appointed as teachers.
HOMES OF 50 SQUARE METERS SELLING LIKE HOT CAKES
50 square meters homes in major Turkish provinces are selling like hot cakes. Alptekin Basarir of Basarir Construction said that residential units with four or five rooms would soon become history in major Turkish provinces. "Turks living in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir are more and more choosing small residences due to high costs of real estate property. There is a great interest in homes that are 50 square meters large," Basarir said.
YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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COURT FAILS TO CONNECT MAN WHO KILLED SENIOR JUDGE TO ILLEGAL ORGANIZATION
A criminal court in Turkey ruled that a man, who killed a senior judge of the counrty`s top administrative court in May 2006, had acted out of his reaction to a court decision on headscarf, failing to see his connections with a illegal organization in Turkey called "Ergenekon" which was brought to daylight after police seized hand grenades, TNT explosives and fuses in a house in Istanbul on June 12th, 2007.
However, there was evidence that the killer, Alparslan Arslan, had links to Veli Kucuk and Muzaffer Tekin, two leading figures in Ergenekon. Police have found manifesto of Ergenekon in Arslan`s house and revealed that three hand grenades which Arslan tossed at daily newspaper Cumhuriyet`s offices in Istanbul came from Ergenekon. Another suspect said Arslan and he had taken the grenades from Kucuk.
DTP LEADER IN ARMY NOW
Leader of the Democratic Society Party (DTP), Nurettin Demirtas, has been enlisted as a private in Gendarmerie forces after he was released by a military court where he was tried on charges of using fake health reports to avoid military service. He was handed over to the Gendarmerie Command in Safranbolu town of the northwestern city of Karabuk to fulfil his military service after being released by a military court. Demirtas will do 15 months of military service. Meanwhile, Demirtas`s trial will continue. Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence up to 10 years for the DTP chairman under Article 81/1 of the Military Penal Code.
(AY-SOL-YMB-MS)