GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON APR 06

HURRIYET

-- EU TUNING Â

Ambassadors of the EU countries (in Ankara) convened the previous day and determined the messages that must be given by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn to Turkish government. Barroso and Rehn are scheduled to visit Turkey between April 10th and 12th. Some of these messages are that the government should move on the EU path with great determination and interior developments should not prevent progress. Another message is that the government should end stagnation and speed up reforms.

-- DEMIREL VISITS SELCUK

Suleyman Demirel, the 9th president of Turkey, paid a visit to Ilhan Selcuk -- publisher and a columnist of daily Cumhuriyet -- who has been receiving medical treatment at at the Amerikan Hospital in Istanbul. Demirel said, "I hoped he will have his health soon. I wish quick recovery to Selcuk."
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MILLIYET

-- LETTER FROM U.S. TO PM ERDOGAN, ASKING "PROTECTION FOR SULUKULE"

U.S. Helsinki Commission, one of the most influential bodies of the U.S. Congress, opposed the project aiming to carry Sulukule out of Istanbul. Congressmen Alcee Hastings (Democrat), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), Co-Chairman Senator Benjamin Cardin sent a letter  expressing concern over the demolishment of Sulukule home to romany community since 1054. The letter said "it will not only destroy this historic neighborhood, but will force Sulukule residents to move to 40 kilometers outside of the city." The letter regarded the Romany Gypsy community as one of the largest, poorest, and fastest growing minority populations in Europe, and said it "remained the target of pervasive racial attacks and discrimination." It said the Helsinki Commission - was particularly concerned about the condition of the Romany community in Sulukule.
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-- NUMBER OF COMPANIES SHUTTING DOWN RECAHED RECORD LEVEL

In the first quarter of 2008 the number of companies shutting down is rising rapidly, and rise in number of new companies nearly came to an halt. According to data by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), the number of new companies in 2008 fell behind the number in the same period of 2007. On the other hand a record rise of 53 percent was seen in the number of companies that shut down.
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SABAH

-- THOSE WHO HAVE TAX DEBT WILL NOT ABLE TO BUY HOUSE

An important change has been made on the draft law on collection of assets which has been debated at the Parliamentary Planning and Budget Commission. According to the draft law, those who have tax debt will not be able to purchase house.
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-- PM ERDOGAN REITERATES HIS CALL

Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while addressing citizens in northeastern province of Trabzon, reiterated his call that every family should have at least 3 children. Erdogan said Turkey could be a country of elders in 2037.Â

 

VATAN

-- THOSE WHO SET FORTH OBSTACLES WILL SALUTE YOU

PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan who addressed Justice and Development Party (AKP) members in the eastern province of Erzurum said, "I believe snow storm will give way to peace and those who set forth obstacles in front of you, will salute you in your service." On the other hand in Trabzon, making an allusion to former President Adnan Menderes Erdogan said, "I addressed you in 2001 from the same spot deceased PM Adnan Menderes had addressed, and said 'enough, it's the people's say now'. We came to power and made reforms. Tomorrow will be better."
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CUMHURIYET

-- BAYKAL ON CLOSURE CASE

Deniz Baykal, chairman of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), said the closure case against the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) was completely a legal process. "We will not be included in any initiative which might interrupt this procedure. We have been making our political call for 6 years," Baykal stated.
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-- CINDORUK WARNS AKP

Husamettin Cindoruk, one of former parliament speakers, said the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) should not have full confidence in the EU.
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RADIKAL

-- FELDKAMP QUITS

Galatasaray's coach Karl-Heinz Feldkamp who could not head his team for the past five matches, and who drew criticism from the players, resigned. According to rumors, Gheorghe Hagi will be Galatasaray's new coach.
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-- NAZMI AVLUCA BECOMES EUROPEAN CHAMPION

Turkish wrestler Nazmi Avluca competing in 84kg weight category won the gold medal in Greco-Roman style at the European Wrestling Championship in the Finnish city of Tampere, while Atilla Guzel competing in 120 kg weight category won the bronze medal.

YENI SAFAK

-- WORLD WILL LISTEN TO VEYSEL

World wide renown electric guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani dedicated two of the new tracks in his new album to Asik Veysel. "I listened to Veysel's music for the first time in Istanbul last year. The music resonated within me as if I'd known it all my life," said Satriani. "We have dedicated the two tracks; "Asik Veysel" and "Analusia" as an extended tribute in to his memory. We tried a new approach and instead of playing an actual baglama we used guitar reefs played with baglama samples."
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-- DON'T DEMOLISH SULUKULE, BRO!

U.S. Helsinki Commission sent a letter to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan asking Sulukule to be preserved. The letter stressed the thousand year old history of the settlement should be preserved and pointed out that 3,500 Sulukule residents would be forced to move out side the city.