GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON MAY 12

HURRIYET

-- HAT TRICK FOR MASSA

Brazilian driver Felipe Massa of Ferrari won the Petrol Ofisi Turkey Grand Prix, which is the fifth race of the season in the F1 World Championship, for the third time. McLaren's British driver Lewis Hamilton came second, while Ferrari's Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen completed the race in the third place.

-- THE CRAZY CELEBRATIONS LASTED TILL MORNING

Supporters of Galatasaray celebrated the championship of their team till the morning. Galatasaray club president, Adnan Polat praised the players of the team, and said, "This championship can be a thesis subject."


MILLIYET

-- FAREWELL

Six young men, who lost their lives in the PKK's latest attack on a gendarmerie station in the southeastern city of Hakkari, were laid to rest in their hometowns. Thousands of people took to the streets to attend their tearful funeral. They chanted slogans damning the terrorist organization.

-- SIX-HOURS IN HELL

The residents of a village where nearly 200 PKK terrorists attacked a gendarmerie station and killed six Turkish troops, said that the clashes lasted for six hours. Villagers said that terrorists also opened fire on their homes, and that they had to hide under beds to survive. Meanwhile, the Turkish military said that it launched overnight air and artillery attacks, and targets proven to belong to the PKK terrorist organization in northern Iraq faced heavy artillery fire.

-- MASSA AGAIN

Ferrari's Felipe Massa won the Turkish Grand Prix starting from pole position for the third year in a row. The Brazilian finished 3.7 seconds ahead of the McLaren's British driver Lewis Hamilton, who had to make an extra third pit stop because of concerns that his front right tire could not take the punishment. Ferrari's world champion Kimi Raikkonen finished a close third and saw his overall lead trimmed to seven points from nine.


SABAH

-- HISTORICAL EXCHANGE

A total of 65,000 title deeds, inherited by the grandfathers, will be exchanged between Turkey and Syria. Turks will at least have an advantage of $20 billion. According to the executives of the national estate, talks have started for the exchange of 15,000 immoveable properties of Syrian's in Turkey and 50,000 immoveable properties of Turk's in Syria. The value of properties of Syrians in Hatay and regions is estimated at $10 billion. On the other hand, the properties of Turks are estimated to be $30-50 billion.

-- QUEEN WILL BE IN TURKEY AFTER 37 YEARS

Britain's Queen Elizabeth will pay a formal visit to Turkey after 37 years. Speaking about Mustafa Kemal Ataturk at her earlier visit, Queen Elizabeth said, "I did not know he was so handsome."

-- PKK'S PRESS CENTER RAZED

Camps of PKK terrorists, who raided Aktutun military outpost, were razed to the ground. Press and propaganda centers of the organization were also destroyed.

VATAN

-- HE WANTED A TURKISH PASSPORT

Brazilian driver Felipe Massa of Ferrari won Petrol Ofisi Turkey Grand Prix, the fifth race of the F1 World Championship season. McLaren's British driver Lewis Hamilton came second, while Ferrari's Finnish driver Kimi Raikonnen completed the race in the third place. Massa, who won his first championship in Istanbul in 2006 and in 2007 to make 2008 his "hat trick" win. Massa said he wanted a Turkish passport, and was presented the winner's cup by Turkish President Abdullah Gul.

-- GOODBYE HAKAN SUKUR

Galatasaray soccer team's administration will break ties with Hakan Sukur, the team's 37-year-old captain. Sukur is planning to play soccer for at least one more year although his contract with Galatasaray has ended. As Sukur will continue to play football, a jubilee will not be held for him. Sukur, who was not named in the Euro 2008 team, is expected to sign to a team in Qatar.


CUMHURIYET

-- MEMORIAL AT LA SCALA FOR LA DIVA TURCA

Italian famous La Scala Opera will hold a memorial at the Santa Babila Church in Milan for Leyla Gencer, one of the most talented divas of the 20th century. Gencer, who was known as La Diva Turca, died of respiratory problems and heart failure at her home at the age of 80. Her body will be cremated and her ashes will be brought to Istanbul to be scattered on the Bosporus, according to her wishes.

-- TURKEY TO ACT AS OBSERVER

Turkey said it was positive, but will deliberate France's project for a Mediterranean Union. Turkey does not want to take a place among the founders of the Union since it could subordinate its EU membership process. Therefore, Turkey will attend the opening meeting in Barcelona on July 13 as an "observer."

RADIKAL

-- SINCERITY EXAM OF GOVERNMENT WITH EU

The European Union negotiations face difficulty as police and gendarme resist calls for investigation by an autonomous committee regarding violations of rights. The political will may be necessary to prevent a probable crisis. The 24th chapter heading of membership talks with the EU titled, "Justice, Freedom, Security," signals problems for Turkey. According to the chapter heading, an autonomous committee including esteemed individuals, vocational organizations, and representatives of human rights organizations, will inspect the country's security forces.

-- OPERATION LASTS THE ENTIRE WEEKEND

The Turkish Armed Forces staged uninterrupted operations over the weekend after a terrorist raid on a military outpost. Avasin Basyan was under artillery and warplane fire and 500 commandoes were sent to the region for an operation against the terror organization.

YENI SAFAK

-- BROADCAST FROM QANDIL STOPS

The PKK terrorist organization's head escaped and also it counted huge losses from Turkey's air operations. The PKK's propaganda machine was also shut down and transmitters for Roj TV's broadcast in Denmark were destroyed.

-- THEIR SPIRIT MADE GALATASARAY CHAMPIONS

Galatasaray Football Club President Adnan Polat, who celebrated the championship of the team till morning, said, "Some said Galatasaray had died. They said Galatasaray did not have a coach. But they did not count on the spirit of Galatasaray." Polat said, "Galatasaray is the only team in the world to become champions without having a coach. Their spirit brought the championship to Galatasaray."