GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON DEC 29

HURRIYET
-- RADIO BROADCAST IN ARMENIAN LANGUAGE IN FEBRUARY
After signing a cooperation agreement with Armenian State Television, Turkish state-run Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) will start radio broadcasting in the Armenian language as of February. Moreover an internet web-site will be opened and a television broadcast will start within a year.
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-- GREAT ANGER EVERYWHERE
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, speaking at his Justice and Development Party (AKP)'s meeting, said, "bombing innocent civilians is a crime against humanity" while commenting on the bomb attack in Palestine. Upon his words, all the people in the hall shouted the slogan, "God damn Israel". Rallies were organized in various regions of Turkey to protest Israel.
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MILLIYET
-- ERDOGAN DESCRIBES ISRAELI ATTACK AS A SERIOUS CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has described the recent Israeli air offensive against Gaza as a serious crime against humanity. "Excessive use of force is unacceptable. This strike will create an outrage in Muslim countries, and will not make a contribution to any of efforts to find a solution to the problems in the region," Erdogan said.
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-- LEGAL MASSACRE
The flora in Istanbul has been destroyed. Mine owners in the Ayazaga district of the megacity destroyed a number of pine trees to enlarge their area with permission received from both the Ministry of Forestry and the Ministry of Industry.
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SABAH
-- TPAO TO SIT AT NEGOTIATION TABLE WITH CHEVRON
Turkish oil company, TPAO that signed cooperation agreement with the U.S. Exxon Mobile Company to search for oil and natural gas in deep sea areas of the Black Sea, will also meet U.S. Chevron company in January which also has interests in the Black Sea. TPAO earlier had works with Brazilian Petrobas company within the scope of oil research works in the Black Sea.
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-- FIRST ROUND IS WITH JAPAN IN UN
Turkey will have the power to take decisions in the U.N. Security Council as of Jan. 1, 2009. Turkey comes up against Japan for the committees which serve as a basis in U.N. decisions. Turkey is willing to lead the Afghanistan committee, however, Japan is also a candidate for this committee.
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VATAN
-- TURKEY TAKES ACTION
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has called United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon on the phone and asked him to mobilize the United Nations to send humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza after Israeli air strikes caused heavy damage in the region and killed a number of civilians. President Abdullah Gul, in a separate initiative, held a telephone conversation with President Muhamed Mubarak of Egypt. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said that the indirect talks between Israel and Syria were halted. The Turkish Red Crescent sent ten truckloads of foodstuffs to Gaza.
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-- GOKCEK'S FATE TO BE REVEALED TOMORROW
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has disclosed the names of 18 more Justice and Development Party (AKP) candidates for the upcoming local elections. The AKP Central Executive Board will make a decision about the party's candidate for the capital city of Ankara. Three out of the seven Ankara deputies from the AKP support the current mayor of the capital city, Melih Gokcek.
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CUMHURIYET
-- OZKAN ELECTED LEADER IN PRISON
The first regular congress of the New Party was held in Ankara. During the congress, Tuncay Ozkan, who has been under arrest under the Ergenekon case, was elected as the new chairman of the political party. In his message, Ozkan said that the economic crisis could be resolved through the method of populist democracy.
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-- NEGATIVE SIGNAL
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has disclosed the names of 18 more Justice and Development Party (AKP) candidates for the upcoming local elections. Ankara Mayor Melih Gokcek did not attend the meeting. Meanwhile, Erdogan did not mention the name of Ankara among the successful municipalities.
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RADIKAL
-- ERDOGAN: THIS IS DISRESPECT ALSO TO TURKEY
Ankara is furious as the operation against Palestine took place immediately after Gaza was discussed during Israeli Prime Minister Olmert's visit. Erdogan said, "This is disregard also to Turkey. It is a blow on peace, and a crime against humanity. I have told the U.N. Secretary General about the requirement of intervention in the matter."

-- TURKEY IS AN OPPORTUNITY DURING CRISIS
British economy newspaper, the Financial Times wrote that there is an opportunity for those who have money to invest in Turkish real estate during the crisis. The newspaper said Turkish resort towns Belek, Altinkum and Bodrum are among the secure places.

YENI SAFAK
-- "WE WILL DEVELOP A SOLUTION WITH ALEVIS"
State Minister Said Yazicioglu said that they wanted to develop a solution to the Alevi problem together with the Alevi people. "This problem is a reality. Whenever we try to find a solution, a marginal group of people tries to do everything they can to hamper the process," he said.
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-- TURKEY SENDS AID TO GAZA
Recent Israeli air strikes against Gaza have mobilized relief organizations in Turkey. The IHH Humanitarian Aid Foundation launched a new campaign for Palestine while Turkish Red Crescent sent ten truckloads of foodstuffs to the region.