GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON APR 18

HURRIYET

--TURKISH PARLIAMENT PASSES SOCIAL SECURITY BILL

The Turkish Parliament approved a bill which envisages amendments to the Social Security and General Health Insurance law on Thursday. According to the newly adopted law, the retirement age will be raised to 65 for both women and men by 2048. The retirement age was previously 58 for women and 60 for men. The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) will apply to the Constitutional Court for annulment of the Social Security Reform.

--SHOCK FOR KARAMEHMET

Turkey's Savings Deposits Insurance Fund (TMSF) discovered that Mehmet Emin Karamehmet's Interbank gave credit to fake companies. The TMSF fined Karamehmet half a billion dollars ($500 million). The TMSF also seized 17 percent of shares of Karamehmet's privately owned channel, Show TV.

MILLIYET

--BUSINESS SLUMP IN ANATOLIA

Economic problems affected especially small-sized enterprises. Chamber representatives described the dire picture to Milliyet daily: "Enterprises that were nearly 50-years-old were shut down in the eastern province of Erzurum. Large-scale lay offs have begun in the southern province Adana. A fourth debt collection office opened in the northern province Kastamonu. The number of bad checks rose by 50 percent in the central province Kayseri."

Figures of the Turkish Board of Statistics reveal that the number of small-sized enterprises that have closed has increased 255 percent in Turkey.

--"COURT DECISION WILL BE THE ANSWER"

It has been one year since the deadly attack on a publishing house in the eastern province Malatya that killed a German and two Turkish citizens. German Ambassador to Turkey Eckart Cuntz spoke to Milliyet on the first anniversary of the killings.

"The important thing here is the decision to be made by the court. That decision, at the same time, will be Turkey's answer to the world. We have confidence in Turkish justice," he said.

SABAH

--BIG AWARD TO PARTNERSHIP

The American-Turkish Society presented the "corporate partnership" award to U.S. conglomerate General Electric and Turkey's Dogus Group. Turkish National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Turkish businessman Rahmi Koc also attended the award ceremony in New York.

--TMSF HAS BECOME SHOW TV'S SHAREHOLDER

Turkey's Savings Deposits Insurance Fund (TMSF) holds a 17.07 percent share of AKS Television Corp., which has the broadcasting rights for Show TV. The TMSF will be represented by one executive board member and one supervisory board member in AKS Corp.

VATAN

--COMMANDERS NOT TO ATTEND APRIL 23RD RECEPTION

Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit and army commanders will attend only the meetings at Turkey's first parliament and the current parliament during ceremonies due to be held on April 23 for National Sovereignty and Children's Day. They will not participate in the reception to be hosted by Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan in parliament. President Abdullah Gul will attend Toptan's reception.

--CLASH IN SIRNAK: 1 SOLDIER KILLED, 7 INJURED

Security forces clashed with PKK terrorists during operations in the Bestler-Dereler region of the southeastern province of Sirnak at 11:00 p.m. (GMT 20:00) on Wednesday night. Corporal Sezayi Kan was killed and seven other soldiers were injured in the clash.

CUMHURIYET

--RULING AKP PASSES SOCIAL SECURITY LAW DESPITE PROTESTS

Despite reactions from the country's workers and retirees, the Turkish parliament approved the social security bill which will increase the retirement age to 65 by 2048. Those retiring after this new law is passed will be paid less. The IMF-backed law will come into effect in October.

--IRAQ SWINDLES TURKEY ON OIL

The Iraqi central government did not include the Turkish Petroleum Corporation in the list of 35 foreign companies that will prospect for oil in the country's south. However, companies from thousands of miles away, including those from Malaysia, Indonesia and South Korea, are included on the list.

Iraq also cancelled Turkey's oil exploration rights in deals made in the 1990s.

RADIKAL

--PERMISSION TO LAUNCH INQUIRY ON SIX POLICE OFFICERS

Istanbul governor's office gave permission for inquiries into six police officers charged with "neglect of duty" in relation to the case involving the murder of Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. Colonel Ali Oz, a former gendarme commander in the northwestern province of Trabzon, is expected to testify to the human rights committee of the Turkish parliament.

--MEETING REGARDING MAY 1 CELEBRATIONS

The government will hold talks with the unions that plan to meet to celebrate May 1 in Taksim Square in Istanbul. Interior Minister Besir Atalay will meet representatives of the Confederation of Revolutionary Labour Unions (DISK), Confederation of Public Employees Labour Unions (KESK) and the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Turk-Is) today.

YENI SAFAK

--WEAPON EMBARGO FROM TURKEY ON U.S.

When Turkey complained that "pistols smuggled from Iraq to Turkey," the Austrian government halted the sale of 100,000 Glock pistols which U.S. army ordered. The same initiative was launched in Germany. The sale of Walter pistols, which are produced in Germany, to the U.S. via Poland was also halted.

--BAYKAL WILL NOT SIT AT TABLE WITH LEADERS

Republican People's Party (CHP) chairman Deniz Baykal will not attend the luncheon to be hosted by President Abdullah Gul for country's leaders on April 23.