GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON APR 02

HURRIYET

-- PREMIER SAYS TURKEY'S ECONOMY IS BIGGER THAN EVER

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey had become the 17th biggest economy in the world, calling Turkey "a team of the premier league." Turkey's national income has crossed a 500 billion-USD mark, which is an important threshold," Erdogan said. Premier also noted that Turkey's economy grew uninterruptedly for the last six years. Erdogan also called for caution concerning a closure case filed against his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). "The trial process will be concluded on its own course and we will manage that process with strength and in calm."

EU OFFICIALS TO PAY CRITICAL VISIT TO TURKEY

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and EU commissioner for enlargement, Olli Rehn, are scheduled to pay a two-day working visit to Turkey beginning on April 10th. Barroso and Rehn will meet Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Premier Erdogan and leaders of the political parties and non-governmental organizations.


MILLIYET

-- AND ONE WARNING TO AKP

Joost Lagendijk, co-chair of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliament Committee, said AKP should not lose Europe's support. Europe will turn its back to AKP if reforms are not made, he said. In a conference on Turkey's EU accession process in Istanbul, Lagendijk
gave important messages. Lagendijk qualified the closure case against AKP as a very bad thing, and said opponents of Turkey will be very pleased with the case. "They will ask why we should negotiate with a country where the ruling party faces closure case," he told. Lagendijk said this year will be a wasted year for EU bid as last year. Lagendijk listed his expectations from the AKP as follows: "Europeans including myself expect Turkey to make reforms, but reforms have not been fulfilled yet. I suggest AKP to make new reforms. Otherwise, they have to struggle with two things. Not only the opposition (in Turkey) but also Europe will turn its back to AKP. If AKP wants to stand on its feet in political sense, it has to show that it wants to make Turkey European."

-- USA OPPOSES TO CLOSURE CASE

U.S. administration said in its recent statements on the closure case of AKP that it is concerned over the trial process. In its last statement, the USA said, "what we would expect and hope from this process is that those involved would proceed in a way that is political and reflects the commitment to representative democracy which has been expressed by the Turkish voters in recent elections." This statement was interpreted as the reflection of a negative perspective on closure case.


SABAH

-- GOLDEN START

Turkish wrestlers began the first day of the European Wrestling Championships taking place in Finland's Tampere city with medals. Ramazan Sahin in men's 66 kg won a gold medal while Sezer Akgul in men's 55 kg won a bronze medal.

-- THY JOINS STAR ALLIANCE

Turkish Airlines (THY) has become the 20th member of Star Alliance. Star Alliance carries 25 percent of all passengers in the world. President of the THY, Candan Karlitekin, told that "with this membership, the number of passengers carried by THY will increase".

VATAN

-- TUZMEN PROUD OF TURKISH EXPORTS

State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said Turkish exports in March rose by 23 percent when compared to the same month last year and reached 10.9 billion USD. In the first three months of 2008, Turkish exports were worth 31.4 billion USD.

-- WE WILL DESTROY CHELSEA, CARLOS

Turkey's Fenerbahce soccer club will host England's Chelsea in a European Champions League quarter finals first leg game in Istanbul. "We will destroy Chelsea. If we win tonight's game 2-0, we advance to the semi-final. Surely, Chelsea have stars but our fans will place a pressure on Chelsea," said Roberto Carlos of Fenerbahce.

CUMHURIYET

-- WORKERS PROTEST NEW SOCIAL SECURITY BILL

Members from a group of workers' unions marched in protest of a new social security bill, going on a half-day strike. Protestors gathered in various spots in downtown Ankara wanted to march to the parliament but were stopped by police.

-- FENERBAHCE TO HOST CHELSEA IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GAME

Turkey's Fenerbahce football team is set to play with England's Chelsea in a Champions League quarter finals game. The match will kick off at 9:45 p.m. local time at Fenerbahce's Sukru Saracoglu Stadium. Claus Bo Larsen of Denmark will referee the game.


RADIKAL

-- LEGAL SYSTEM TO BE STRENGTHENED

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan addressed the members of his Justice & Development Party (AKP). Erdogan argued that Turkish legal system would get out of the closure case against AKP more strongly.

-- EU WANTS COMPROMISE ON CONSTITUTION

European Parliament's Turkey rapporteur, Ria Oomen-Ruijten, said what is really wanted to be done in Turkey step by step is to topple down the parliament, when commenting on the closure case against AKP. Oomen-Ruijten asked Turkey to prepare a new constitution based on compromise.

YENI SAFAK

-- TURKEY SHOULD WIN IN END

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his AKP does not have a personal case. "This is Turkey's problem," he commented on the closure case against his party. On the other hand, AKP has drawn a road map and submit the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) a former proposal that makes it more difficult to close a political party. If these two parties fail to reach a compromise, the government will resort to referendum.

-- BENEFICIAL VISIT

Kuwaiti Amir Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah came to Istanbul for a 4 billion USD of investment. Arriving in Istanbul by a giant jumbo jet, al-Sabah rented 50 luxurious vehicles. Al-Sabah will participate in Turkish-Kuwaiti Business Forum and seeks for a good investment for his 4 billion USD.

-- THY IN LEAGUE OF GIANTS

THY became a member of "Star Alliance" that enables a person to fly to 965 different destinations from 160 countries by a single ticket. THY becomes the 20th member of the league of giants. THY Director General, Temel Kotil, said, "we have reached the place we deserve."