GOOD MORNING--TURKEY PRESS SCAN ON APR 16

HURRIYET

--EUROPEAN LAWMAKER URGES TURKISH GOVERNMENT TO SHOW ITS COMMITMENT FOR EU

A European Parliament member said that Turkey's ruling AKP should remove "fears it had a secret agenda" to ease tensions in the country. "The AKP should show that it  wants to bring Turkey into the European Union, not Iran," Joost Lagendijk told a meeting of the Turkish-American Council in Washington.

Lagendijk said in the case of an AKP closure, the EU would suspend membership talks. "Reforms should be made not because the EU wants them, but for the Turkish people," he said.

--ERDOGAN: "I DO NOT BELEIVE MY PARTY IS GOING TO BE CLOSED"

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that he did not believe that Turkey's highest court would close his ruling AKP. Speaking to Al-Jazeera news channel, Erdogan also said they would not founder a "back-up party," adding that they did not have any plans to conduct a referendum.

 

MILLIYET

--MODERATE ISLAM REACTION FROM AMBASSADOR

Turkish Ambassador to Washington D.C. Nabi Sensoy said he felt uneasy over Turkey being termed as "moderate Islam country." "The only thing that can be mentioned while speaking about Turkey is secular democracy," Sensoy said.

--TRUMP TOWERS TO MECIDIYEKOY

World famous developer, Donald Trump, reached an agreement with Turkey’s Dogan family to invest in Istanbul. The first Trump Towers of Europe will be constructed in the Mecidiyekoy district of Istanbul. It is planned that one of the two towers will be office space, and the other, residential.

--CALL TO THOSE IN THE MOUNTAINS

There has been a significant rise recently in the number of terrorists surrendering as members of the Turkish Armed Forces speak to the families of those fighting in the mountains to convince their children to leave the outlawed organization.

 

SABAH

--I DO NOT BELIEVE PARTY WILL BE CLOSED, ERDOGAN

Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke about the closure case against his ruling AKP during his visit to Qatar. "I do not even have the slightest notion that my party will be closed," he said.

Speaking to TV Arab news channel al-Jazeera, Erdogan said he did not believe that they (party members) had committed a crime that would require a closure because his party had fulfilled its duties under the Constitution and the law.

On the constitutional amendment which would make closure of political parties more difficult, Erdogan said, "my friends continue their research, and we will discuss it when I return to Turkey." Erdogan said his party will debate with other circles and look at what alternative steps could be taken. "Then we will decide and launch the next process," he added.

--GONUL SENDS THREE MESSAGES

National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said it was not possible for Turkey to take part in the missile shield system of the United States. Gonul said Turkey might contribute troops to Afghanistan, but Turkey would not undertake a mission under Operation Enduring Freedom. "We will not allow NATO membership of the Greek Cypriot administration," Gonul also said.
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 VATAN

--ERDOGAN: I DON'T BELIEVE MY PARTY WILL BE SHUT DOWN

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaking to Al Jazeera TV in Qatar, said, "There is no stand-by party and referendum on the agenda as I don't believe my party will be closed."

When asked, "Do you think of founding a standby party," Erdogan responded, "I even don't think that my party will be closed. I don't think that we have committed a crime that will require closure."
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--TRUMP TOWERS COME TO ISTANBUL

U.S. property king Donald Trump will construct the first Trump Towers of Europe in the Sisli district of Istanbul. One of the two Trump Towers has been as office space and the other as a luxurious residence.

--SALE REAL PROPERTY TO FOREIGNERS STOPPED

The Ministry of Public Works said it halted the sale of real property to foreigners until a new law is issued.

 

CUMHURIYET

--RICE: "U.S. IS WATCHING THE CLOSURE VERY CLOSELY"

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that Turkey was passing through a difficult period politically, adding that the U.S. administration was watching very closely the closure case against the ruling AKP. "We hope that the issue will be settled within secular and democratic principles and of course the decision will be made by Turks," Rice told a meeting of the Turkish-American Council in Washington.

--TURKISH WEIGHTLIFTER CLAIMS GOLD MEDAL IN EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Turkey’s Halil Mutlu (56kg) won a gold medal in the snatch category at the 87th European Men's Weightlifting Championships in the Italian city of Lignano.

Mutlu, who holds three Olympic championship titles, lifted 120 kg in his third attempt to win the gold medal. In the clean and jerk category, Mutlu failed to lift 151 kg, taking the silver medal (with 149 kg). This is a gold medal is a comeback for Mutlu, banned from weightlifting for three years for doping in tournaments.

 

RADIKAL

--FIRST TRUMP INVESTMENT OF EUROPE FOR ISTANBUL

World-famous realtor, Donald Trump will make its first investment in Europe in Istanbul's Sisli neighborhood. Turkey's Dogan family, Tasyapi and Yesil Insaat (construction) will be partners with Trump in the project. The Trump Towers, comprised of two towers and a giant shopping mall is due to be completed by 2010.

--GENCLERBIRLIGI: TURKEY CUP FINALIST

Turkey's first-division soccer team, Galatasaray's star Lincoln missed a penalty in the last minutes of the Turkey Cup semi-final. Thus, Genclerbirligi became the first finalist of the cup defeating Galatasaray 1-0 in the first game and drawing 1-1 in the second match.

The second finalist will be the winner of Wednesday's Kayserispor-Rizespor match. Kayserispor won the first game 3-0.

 

YENI SAFAK

--I DON'T BELIEVE IT WILL BE CLOSED

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, currently in Qatar, said they would not establish a stand-by party against the probability of the closure of his party, "anyhow I don't believe that the party will be closed."

--TEARS FOR MERVE

The funeral for Turkey's record holding national swimmer, Merve Terzioglu, who died from injuries she received in a traffic accident in the United States, was brought home to Turkey where she was buried. Murat Terzioglu, father of Merve, said they would file a medical malpractice suit against the U.S. doctors, who they claim, neglected their duties.