Press Scan

ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their summaries in Turkish press on May 23rd, 2005. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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CHAMPION FENERBAHCE
Fenerbahce won the Turkish title for the 16th time on Sunday, beating their Istanbul rivals Galatasaray 1-0.

INFLATION RATE TO BE 2 PERCENT IN 2009
According to a medium-term scenario of International Monetary Fund (IMF) prepared for Turkey, inflation rate will be 3 percent in 2009. Current deficit will be 7.2 billion USD in 2006 but it will increase again in 2007 and 2008.

GUL DUE TO SWEDEN
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will go to Sweden today to attend NATO Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council Security Forum. After attending the panel discussion on women's rights to be held in Swedish capital of Stockholm on May 24th, Gul will represent Turkey in the Forum to take place in Are.

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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NEW YORK IN RED AND WHITE
Totally 60,000 people who came to New York from all parts of the world had red and white Turkish flags in their hands and they marched in Manhattan on Turkish Parade. The 24th Turkish Parade in New York turned the streets into a carnival.

POLICE SAVE IMMIGRANTS
41 illegal immigrants who hid in a lorry on a ferry in Yalova city would almost die because of the hot weather and lack of oxygen. People who heard the noise and cries coming from the lorry on the ferry informed the police. Police came to the ferry and saved 41 immigrants.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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SHIP ORDER TOO HIGH, NO PLACE REMAINED IN SHIPYARDS
Maritime Trade Chamber Executive Board Chairman Metin Kalkavan said that export amount in ship construction sector will exceed 1 billion USD for the first time.

BAYKAL AND LAURA BUSH IN JERUSALEM
Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal who went to Socialist International meeting, and Laura Bush who tours Middle East were both in Jerusalem. Baykal and Bush visited sacred places.

VATAN (INDEPENDENT)
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Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal who went to Israel to attend the Socialist International meeting, firstly visited Jerusalem. Baykal visited the mosques and attended the noon prayer. Meanwhile a fundamentalist group which was leaving Al-Aqsa mosque shouted against four Turkish women who were in CHP group for not covering their heads when they were visiting Al-Aqsa Mosque.

EMINE ERDOGAN ATTENDS INTERNATIONAL BUSINESSWOMEN FORUM
Emine Erdogan, the wife of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan went to Damascus, Syria as the guest of Esma Asad, the wife of Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad at the weekend. Emine Erdogan attended the International Businesswomen Forum and said in the meeting that ''we hope that peace, friendship, justice, rights and freedoms will be globalized in the world.''

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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FUNDAMENTALISTS CALL FOR CALIPHATE
A fundamentalist group in Ankara protested the incidents in Uzbekistan, but they shouted slogans supporting the illegal fundamentalist organization Hizb-ut Tahrir. The group also called for foundation of the caliphate system. Police only watched the protest which took place in Abdi Ipekci Park.

DOUBLE STANDARD
Responding to the question motion of CHP deputy Deger, Transportation Minister Yildirim said that money was paid to the relatives of those people who died in the plane crash in Diyarbakir in 2003. According to the figures, Turkish Airlines (THY) paid the relatives of foreigners (who died in the crash) nine folds more than the money it paid to relatives of Turks who died in the same crash.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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TRAGEDY SCATTERED FROM TRUCK
A total of 41 illegal migrants who were stacked in a truck got themselves out while they are about to die due to lack of air. Illegal migrants punched the doors of truck while travelling in a ferryboat. Security forces heard the voices and brought illegal migrants out of the truck. Two of the illegal migrants were taken to hospital.

IMF: INFLATION TO DROP TO 3 PERCENT IN 2009
According to a medium-term scenario of International Monetary Fund (IMF) prepared for Turkey, inflation rate will drop to 3 percent in 2009. Current deficit will be 7.2 billion USD in 2006 but it will increase again in 2007 and 2008.

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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DALLARA: FOREIGN CAPITAL TO FLOW IN TURKEY
The Institute of International Finance (IIF) expects 20 billion USD of foreign capital flow in Turkey within the following two years. Charles Dallara, the Managing Director of the Institute, said that Turkey recorded a great progress in public finance area, adding that Turkey has taken important results especially in decreasing the inflation rate.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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HABUR TO BE CONSTRUCTION FIELD
Visit of Iraqi Premier Ibrahim al-Jaafari to Turkey created an opportunity to open a second border gate between Turkey and Iraq. However, new Iraqi administration does not have a clear attitude. On the other hand, Turkey is getting prepared to start construction activities to modernize Habur customs.

TURKISH JOY IN U.S.A.
The 24th Traditional Turkish Day Parade which was pioneered by the Federation of Turkish American Associations was held in New York, the United States. Turkish State Minister Besir Atalay; Egemen Bagis, the foreign policy adviser of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan; Turkey's Ambassador to the United States Faruk Logoglu; Turkey's Permanent Representative to the UN Baki Ilkin; and Turkey's Consul General in New York Omer Onhon joined the parade.

YENI SAFAK (CONSERVATIVE)
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CICEK'S INSISTENCE CONTINUES
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek insists on the protection of some 'restrictions' brought to freedom of religion by the new Turkish Penal Code. Cicek opposes the view that some articles of the Penal Code restricted religious freedoms. Cicek is also criticized by members and deputies of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) due to his insistence.

YILDIRIM TO DISCUSS ONUR AIR IN MOSCOW
Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim will also bring the file on Turkish private airline Onur Air to Moscow, where the European Transportation Ministers meeting will be held. After the meeting, Yildirim will meet the Dutch and German transportation ministers and discuss the ban imposed by the two countries on the flights of Onur Air.