ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on February 27, 2009. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
TURKIYE
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THY SAYS TECHNICAL MAINTENANCE BEFITS PROCEDURES
Turkish Airlines (THY) said that technical maintenance of the plane which crashed in the Netherlands during a flight from Istanbul to Amsterdam, was carried out in line with procedures. THY released a statement to deny allegations by some media organs about Wednesday`s accident. "The plane underwent thorough maintenance on December 22. Another maintenance was carried out on February 19. All technical maintenance was carried out in line with procedures. Since then, the plane had 52 hours of flight," it said.
FLIGHT DATA RECORDERS IN PARIS
Flight data recorders of the Turkish Airlines (THY) plane which crashed near Amsterdam`s Schiphol Airport were sent to Paris for further examination. Analysis of the flight data recorders is expected to be completed next week.
USA: WE NEED TURKEY`S ASSISTANCE IN MIDDLE EAST
U.S. President Barack Obama`s Special Envoy for Middle East George Mitchell met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and said that the United States needed Turkey`s leadership to ensure truce in Gaza Strip.
ZAMAN
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"WE EXPECT LEADERSHIP OF TURKEY REGARDING GAZA"
U.S. Middle East Special Envoy George Mitchell asked for support of Turkey in regard to solution of problems in the Middle East. Mitchell said that they expected the leadership of Turkey for a durable cease-fire. The special envoy had meetings with President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.
GUL EXPECTED TO VISIT PALESTINE AND ISRAEL
President Abdullah Gul is expected to pay formal visits to Israel and Palestine. Haaretz, Israel`s daily newspaper, said the Turkish president would visit Israel to reduce tension. The daily said Gul would probably visit Israel in the second half of 2009.
YENI SAFAK
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MARKET LEADER TURKCELL
Turkcell earned 7 billion USD of income in 2008 and its net profit reached 1.8 billion USD, the company said. Turkcell controls two thirds of Turkish market and holds 55 percent of Turkey`s mobile phone subscribers.
60 BLN USD PARKS ABROAD
Tevfik Bilgin, Chairman of Turkey`s Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK), said that Turkish people have 60 billion USD just in one bank in northern Europe.
Bilgin pointed out that external debts of the private sector frighten Turkey and said, "we will be relieved if there are assets parked outside the country in return for external loans."
VATAN
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"BOTH ENGINES STOPPED"
Dutch experts examined the Turkish Airlines plane that crashed near Amsterdam`s Schiphol Airport. Head of the Dutch investigation team said, "according to our preliminary investigation, cause of the accident seems to be the failure of both engines."
"The plane possibly fell to the ground like a rock while approaching the runway. If a plane`s engines stop as it lowers its speed to land, it is impossible for the plane to hold in the air," Dutch expert Pieter Van Vollenhoven said.
THIS IS GALATASARAY
Galatasaray football team eliminated French Bordeaux with a last-minute goal in UEFA Cup. The "Lions" defeated Bordeaux 4-3 in Istanbul. Galatasaray`s opponents will be Hamburg of Germany in the next round.
CUMHURIYET
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ALLEGATION OF ENGINE FAILURE
Pieter van Vollenhoven, chairperson of the Dutch Transport Safety Board, indicated that engine failure might have caused the Turkish Airlines (THY) crash that killed nine people in the Netherlands. German Der Spiegel magazine claimed that 29-year-old third pilot of the plane stopped the engines by accident while trying to slow down for landing. THY denied allegations that there were failures in the plane, adding that all technical maintenance was carried out in line with procedures. Meanwhile, Dutch officials identified the dead as five Turks and four Americans.
"THIS CRISIS COULD BE MORE SERIOUS"
Global crisis and its likely impacts on Turkey were discussed in detail during a meeting held in Istanbul with the participation of a number of Turkish and foreign experts. World Bank Turkey Director, Ulrich Zachau, warned that Turkey could go through an economic crisis worse than that of the year 2001. Zachau said that Turkey could face an increasing problem of employment.
RADIKAL
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HUMANE LESSON FROM DUTCH AUTHORITIES
After nine people including three crew members lost their lives when a THY passenger plane bound from Istanbul to Amsterdam slammed into a muddy field while attempting to land at the Schiphol Airport, Dutch authorities assumed a very careful attitude regarding announcement of names of those who died in the crash. Dutch authorities said the names of the people killed in the crash would be made public after their families were informed.
"WE POSITIVELY AFFECT HAMAS"
U.S. Middle East Special Envoy George Mitchell had talks with Turkish authorities including President Abdullah Gul, Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan in Ankara. Turkish authorities gave Mitchell the message that "Turkey positively affects Hamas."
HURRIYET
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LESSON FROM DUTCH AUTHORITIES
After the Turkish Airlines (THY) plane crash in Amsterdam, Turkish premier, transportation minister and THY director general made some contradicting statements on the numbers of casualties. However Dutch authorities did not make any statement before a certain number of casualties. A meeting will take place on Saturday with relatives of those who died in the plane crash.
MAGNIFICENT NIGHT
Galatasaray soccer team of Turkey qualified to next round in the UEFA Cup. Galatasaray took on FC Girondis de Bordeaux of France in the second leg of the UEFA Cup last-32 tie at Istanbul`s Ali Sami Yen Stadium, and defeated the French team 4-3. Thus, Galatasaray qualified to the fourth round in the cup. Arda (2), Kewell and Sabri from Galatasaray scored the goals while goals of Girondis Bordeaux were scored by Bellion, Chamakh and Cavenaghi.
SAYLAN DONATES AWARD OF 100,000 USD TO EDUCATION
Modern Life Support Association chairperson Prof. Dr. Turkan Saylan won Vehbi Koc award. Saylan worked for education of 36,000 Turkish girls. Saylan will use Vehbi Koc award worth 100,000 U.S. dollars for education of Turkish youth.
MILLIYET
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ALLEGATION OF ENGINE TROUBLE
Pieter van Vollenhoven, chairperson of the Dutch Transport Safety Board who also leads the team investigating the cause of Wednesday`s crash said that the Turkish Airlines (THY) plane fell almost directly from the sky and it was a sign of engine trouble. There are many other scenarios about cause of the accident. Analysis of the plane`s flight data recorders in Paris is expected to be completed next week. Meanwhile, officials identified the dead as five Turks and four Americans. Ten slightly injured passengers were brought to Turkey while 63 others are still in Dutch hospitals for medical treatment.
"WE WERE CRYING FOR CHILDREN"
Mustafa Bahcecioglu, who survived Wednesday`s crash of the Turkish Airlines (THY) plane near Amsterdam`s Schiphol Airport, said, "everybody was screaming and punching windows. I cannot describe the expression of fear on children`s faces. We were crying for them. I helped another man to help people get out of the plane. There were people who were stuck in the front part. They were screaming for help.
SABAH
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ANTI-RACISM LAW
Silvyo Ovadya, chairman of the Turkish-Jewish Community, visited President Abdullah Gul and requested an anti--racist law in Turkey. Ovadya complained about anti-semitism in Turkey and said, "what is going on in Turkey are not isolated incidents and there is clear hostility."
Ovadya said insulting or derogatory expressions about Jewish people should be regarded crime and added that new legal arrangements could be made like that of Austria, Germany and France.
Gul said, "you are equal citizens in Turkey. We hope that it is all going to calm down after the cease-fire (in Palestine). There may be some extreme acts but we and the government are sensitive about it."
TURKS HAVE 60 BILLION USD IN SWITZERLAND
Head of Turkey`s Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) said that Turkish people had large amounts of money outside Turkey.
Tevfik Bilgin said that some Turkish people could not get loans from Turkish banks as they were not credible. He said those people could easily borrow money from outside the country thanks to their assets in Europe.
However, he said BDDK could not reach such information because of confidentiality.