GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON MAR 27

HURRIYET

-- COMMON INTELLECT ON RISE

Seven most influential non-governmental organizations of Turkey made a call for common sense against polarization. The NGOs said, "if we want consensus, everybody should take a step back from their positions." The statement by Turkish Confederation of Public Laborers' Unions (Kamu-Sen), Turkish Confederation of Labor Unions (Turk-Is), Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen's & Craftsmen's Unions (TESK), Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions (TISK), Turkish Agricultural Chambers' Union (TZOB) and Moral Rights Workers' Union (Hak-Is) was read out by Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu. It said, "we should take into consideration concerns of every individual; and we should not call anybody 'the others'."

-- WE ARE HERE UNTIL A PERMANENT PEACE IS SETTLED

General Staff Chief Gen. Yasar Buyukanit was welcomed with a great enthusiasm and slogans in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Gen. Buyukanit who met TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat said, "Turkish soldiers are on the island for peace. This sacred mission will continue until a fair and permanent peace is settled."

MILLIYET

-- EVERYBODY SHOULD TAKE A STEP BACK

Seven NGOs, all representing Turkish employees, made a call for "common sense for Turkey" from 81 provinces. ''Turkey is actually having a tough test on democracy and law. While we are starting to feel the waves of an international financial crisis nowadays, it is a misfortune that we are still looking for common sense instead of economic measures," NGOs said in a statement.

-- WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN BEFORE?

Addressing the NGOs which made a call for comprise, Republican People's Party (CHP) chairperson Deniz Baykal said, "You should have reacted harshly much earlier. I have been making a call for compromise since 2002."

SABAH

-- EVERYBODY SHOULD STEP BACK

Seven NGOs, led by Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), made a call for common sense. "Everybody should take a step back from their current positions if they want the public to reach a compromise on the necessary issues," NGOs declared in a statement.

-- GUL STEPS IN

A "common sense" summit will take place in Ankara. President Abdullah Gul will firstly receive CHP chairperson Baykal at noon, and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) chairperson Devlet Bahceli in the afternoon. Latest political developments are also expected to be brought up during the meeting between Gul and Baykal. Gul's talks coincided with the recent "common sense" call of NGOs.

VATAN

-- GUL STEPS IN TO PREVENT TENSION

President Abdullah Gul will meet main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) chairman Deniz Baykal over luncheon and also Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) chairman Devlet Bahceli over dinner. Baykal accepted the invitation, but he told his party members, "we will not talk about domestic politics. The invitation was made on March 14th. The issue we will discuss is fight against terrorism." Cankaya Presidential Palace confirmed Baykal's statement, and said on its web-site that the invitation was made before the closure case was filed against Justice & Development Party (AKP).

-- OUR NATIONAL INCOME PER CAPITA IS 9,000 USD!

State Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Nazim Ekren announced the national income of 2007. "Gross national product is 650 billion USD. National income per capita is 9,000 USD.

CUMHURIYET

-- STEPS OF CONSENSUS

Seven non-governmental organizations made a call for common sense while President Abdullah Gul invited opposition leaders to Cankaya Presidential Palace. The call of "Common Sense for Turkey" of seven
non-governmental organizations was made public by representatives of these organizations in 81 cities simultaneously.

-- TSK TO STAY ON ISLAND TILL PEACE

Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, who met President Mehmet Ali Talat of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), gave important messages to the world and especially to Greek Cypriots. Gen. Buyukanit said Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will stay on the island until a fair and permanent peace is settled.


RADIKAL

-- BAYKAL AND BAHCELI TO MEET GUL TODAY

President Abdullah Gul has invited CHP chairperson Deniz Baykal and MHP chairperson Devlet Bahceli to the Presidential Palace. As the invitation took place following the "common sense" call of NGOs, certain circles commented that "Gul has initiated talks for a compromise".

-- BUYUKANIT IN TRNC

General Staff Chief Gen. Yasar Buyukanit travelled to TRNC five days after the first meeting between TRNC President Mehmet Ali Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias, during which they decided to start negotiations for a solution. "Everybody talks about a lasting peace. Officials in TRNC and Turkey know what this means for sure, however the south of Cyprus should understand it well," Buyukanit said.

YENI SAFAK

-- BUYUKANIT IN TRNC FOR FIRST TIME

Gen. Yasar Buyukanit paid his first visit to TRNC as Chief of General Staff. He defined isolation of TRNC as "cruelty", and said the sacred mission of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) will continue on the island until a fair and permanent peace is settled.

-- ERDOGAN: WE ARE READY TO TAKE ANY STEP
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he was pleased with the call for common sense of non-governmental organizations in 81 provinces. Erdogan said, "we are ready to take any step."